Five Towns Jewish Home 9.7.23

Dear Readers,

Afew years ago, I wasn’t feeling well. But there were deadlines that had to be met, dinners that had to be made, and shopping that had to be done. And so, I went about my day, looking as if I was feeling perfectly fine but really not feeling well. As I drove down the street, I saw many people taking walks, schmoozing with friends, and doing errands. And I thought to myself: I know that if these people looked at me, they would think that I was feeling fine, that I was not in pain. There is so much that we don’t show the world. But then I looked at these other people, doing their errands and doing their jobs, and I reminded myself that although they looked like they were feeling fine, there is so much that is going on in their lives that I am not privy to. Perhaps one is struggling with a diagnosis that is looming over their head, or maybe their child has trouble making friends, or maybe their spouse just lost their job, or maybe they just found out that there’s a huge bill to be paid and not enough money to pay for it.

We don’t have to share everything with the world. In fact, we shouldn’t share all our thoughts, challenges, and angst. But sometimes, when someone is struggling with a certain situation, their burden can be eased when they share that struggle with others who are dealing with the same challenge. Together, they can commiserate, understand, and support each other. Just knowing that they are not alone, knowing that others are concerned for them and care for

them, is a comfort and an elixir.

In this week’s issue, Jessica Tsur, a resident of our community, bravely shares her struggle with mental illness. In our community – and in many other communities as well – mental illness is something that is talked about in hushed tones. The stigma that was prevalent many years ago surrounding mental illness is somehow still attached to it, despite the many strides that we have made in other areas. And when there’s shame, there’s a barrier to acceptance and understanding.

Jessica is a hero for sharing her story and her struggle. She is representing so many others who suffer in silence and in anonymity, those who are muzzled by the standards that we have set in society. And Jessica is a hero for drawing attention to the fact that the shame that people feel can be debilitating and stifling. Instead, Jessica urges those who are suffering to join together. She has created a community of support for those who suffer from mental illness. In that loving embrace of kinship, fellow sufferers share support, love, and understanding. They are no longer ashamed of their challenges and their struggles. Their pain is acknowledged, accepted, and understood.

Hopefully, together, as a community, we can publicly support those who suffer in silence, helping to ease their torment and struggle.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Shabbos Zemanim

Friday, September 8

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech

Candle Lighting: 6:57 pm

Shabbos Ends: 7:56 pm

Rabbeinu Tam: 8:27 pm

Thunderstorms

Scattered Thunderstorms Mostly Sunny Showers Showers Showers

Dear Editor,

In 2015, the Obama administration cut a deal with the Iranian mullahs to offer a plane-load of cash in exchange for prisoners and their postponement of developing nuclear weapons. They gave us a hard time to verify it and instead, they silently pursued their original goal underground.

As a result, President Trump canceled the contract and triggered, among other sanctions, the freeze of Iranian bank accounts in South Korea and around the world.

Now, according to FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), the Biden administration reached an unwritten agreement with the Iranian regime on August 10, 2023 to swap prisoners and also consent to unfreeze 6 billion dollars of Iranian money from South Korean bank accounts.

The money will additionally be transferred to Qatar to become available for Iran to use it for humanitarian purposes only. No doubt, the hostile regime will utilize this money to further their military agenda. Most likely, they will increase their deliveries of drones to Russia. Indirectly, the United States will be supporting and fighting Russia at the same time.

What a disgrace! What a shame! The whole world is laughing at us.

Heinz Mayer

Dear Editor,

For as long as I have been a shopper, I have been troubled by the problem of consumers being mistakenly overcharged (or undercharged) at store cash registers.

This issue has become more pronounced and localized over the past thirty years, as kosher food stores have grown exponentially, both in physical size and in the number and range of available products. (This issue is unique to food stores, due to the sheer volume of shoppers and the volume of units being bought.)

As an example of this growth, in the 1970s, my local grocer dedicated an area at the back of the store for Pesach products. I do not exaggerate when I say that I was able to stand at the center of that room and reach almost every “dry” Pesach product available! (At the time, many small groceries did not carry meat, fruit, or vegetables, and dairy had its own, refrigerated section, but most other products were at arm’s length.) Today, just the frozen selections alone can take up several aisles in the Pesach section.

And here is where I come to my point. As the number of products (year-round and for Pesach) has multiplied, so has the potential for errors in pricing. There is no doubt that the mistakes, whether on the part of the merchant or the consumer, are unintentional, but they do occur, and they occur frequently.

As an example, I recently bought nectarines at one of our supermarkets. There were two categories of nectarines: one selling for $5.99 a pound and the other for $2.99 (the numbers are illustrative). When I went to the register, my $2.99 nectarines were charged at $5.99. I noted this to the checkout person, and it turned out that both types of nectarines had been stickered with the same product code! Fortunately, I had been observing as my Continued on page 12

Best Friend Many Friends

Continued from page 10

purchases were rung up, but what if I had not? There are doubtless instances when customers are mistakenly overcharged and don’t notice the error.

Another mistake, this one on the consumer’s part, can occur when two grades of the same fruit are placed near one another. These commonly become mixed, and when the consumer picks peaches from the less-expensive bin, it is conceivable that she will mistakenly bag some more expensive ones as well. If the cheaper barcode is rung up, the purchaser will have underpaid.

Decades ago, when shopping at Waldbaum’s (ob”m!), I kept a running tally and found that there was an error (usually overcharging on Waldbaum’s part) with approximately three percent of purchases. If the average buyer brought thirty items to the register (a likely scenario), statistically an error was almost certain to occur with each checkout.

Conversely, I have periodically been undercharged for an item, usually when a cashier “looks up” an item and enters the wrong one. Of course, if I notice the mistake, I insist that it be corrected, but it is likely that I don’t catch every error. (I would much rather overpay than underpay!) There are other scenarios as well wherein an item is overcharged or undercharged.

There is not, in my view, an easy resolution to this conundrum. Store managers are human and consumers are human, and humans make mistakes. Therefore, I believe that both consumers and store operators should resolve, before every Rosh Hashana, to forgive any unintentional errors that have occurred in transactions that were conducted over the previous year.

I conclude with a heartfelt prayer that by forgiving these errors, we will incur favor in Hashem’s eyes, and that, in turn, He will forgive our transgressions

and grant us all a k’sivah v’chasimah tovah and a wonderful 5784.

Avi Goldstein Far Rockaway, NY

Dear Editor,

Rachel Greenberg makes a wonderful point in her letter this week in which she states that we should look at things in a positive light and not complain as much.

I have found that seeing things more positively is like a muscle. At first, it’s hard to always see the good in every situation. It’s much easier to complain and find the bad. But once I force myself to look for the good, eventually, it gets easier to find and I find myself seeing the good in things without even trying.

Keeping a journal and writing down good things that happen to you – even small things like finding a good parking spot or seeing an item that you wanted to buy is on sale – is super helpful to strengthen the muscle. And make sure to re-read the “good” entries that you wrote from time to time! It’ll make you smile! Wishing everyone a great year!

A Reader

Dear Editor,

The double parking on Central Avenue is really getting out of hand. Too many people are sitting in their cars to drop off or pick up passengers and this is blocking traffic. I am sure these people don’t want to inconvenience the entire community; they just don’t want to circle around to get a spot.

Nowadays, just getting down Central Avenue on a regular weekday takes so much time with so many cars blocking other cars. There has to be something that can be done.

Stop being inconsiderate and think before you pull over!!

C. Durban

Johannesburg Building Fire

address this problem and root out those criminal elements,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. “It is these types of buildings that are taken over by criminals, who then levy rent on vulnerable people and families who need and want accommodation in the inner city.”

This catastrophe is perhaps just a symptom of the housing crisis that has been impacting residents of Johannesburg, a city that has had six mayors in the past three years, all of whom have been largely unsuccessful in finding a solution to this growing problem.

Cairo Geniza Shul Restored

On Thursday, a fire consumed a five-story apartment building in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, killing at least seventy-four people, a dozen of whom were children. Another eighty-eight people were injured and hospitalized.

While the cause of the fire is not known at this time, preliminary investigations point to the fire having started on the ground floor of the building. Most people, including authorities and citizens, say that they were not surprised by the catastrophe, instead calling it a disaster “waiting to happen.”

The building, which neighbors say has been poorly managed and filled with criminal activity for years, was a firetrap in every sense of the word. Exits were blocked, the insides of the building were made with flammable materials such as sheets and cardboard, and exposed electric cables hung down from the ceiling. Additionally, the building was last subject to a safety check around four years ago, in 2019. Electricity is scarce, and as such, many residents had relied on candles and fires for light and heat.

As the fire blazed through the structure, some people even jumped out of windows to escape the inferno, with at least one person having died from the fall.

Some of those killed in the fire, many of whom were migrants, were burnt to the point of being unidentifiable, and as such, officials will have to use DNA testing in order to put a name to the victims.

According to authorities, many buildings in Johannesburg have been taken over by criminal groups who force the occupants to pay them in order to be allowed to continue living there.

“The lesson for us is that we’ve got to

After an extensive restoration project, the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt, was reinaugurated last week. The shul is home to the famous Cairo Geniza.

According to a statement on the Egyptian cabinet website, the renovation project included “careful architectural restoration work” including repairing the ceiling, cleaning and treating stones, and maintaining the lighting system.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa said the Ben Ezra Synagogue is “one of the most important and oldest synagogues in Egypt.” He was accompanied to the site by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, as the pair visited a number of historical sites in Cairo, newly renovated to attract tourism.

The Ben Ezra Synagogue is believed to date back to 882 CE — making it by far the oldest synagogue in Cairo — and is named for Avraham Ibn Ezra. The building was ordered torn down around 1012 CE, but was rebuilt a few decades later. Over the centuries, the synagogue suffered a number of fires and was restored several times.

The current building is believed to have been largely constructed in the 1890s — shortly after the discovery of the famed Cairo Geniza, which became an invaluable resource for many Jewish scholars.

The documents were discovered in 1896 by Jewish scholar Solomon Schechter, who climbed a rickety ladder into an attic-like opening behind a wall in the

synagogue’s women’s section upstairs and discovered close to 10 centuries’ worth of the Jewish community’s detritus — numbering hundreds of thousands of items.

In the more than 100 years that have followed, historians have pored over the collection of documents, which provided unprecedented insight into the life and activity of the community. The material has since been spread around some 70 institutions and collections around the world.

There are only five shuls remaining in Egypt after masses of Jews fled in 1952 following the forced abdication of King Faruq. In early 2020, Egypt rededicated the 14th-century Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in Alexandria, following a threeyear, multi-million-dollar project.

Less Aid for Afghanistan

Due to a funding shortage, the United Nations World Food Program said this week that it will have to drop another 2 million people from food assistance in Afghanistan this month.

In April and May, the WFP said it

was forced to cut off 8 million people from food assistance. That means that this month’s announcement will leave 10 million people cut off from the agency’s support this year in the country. The new cuts mean the agency will be able to provide food assistance to about a fifth of the 15 million people who need it in Afghanistan, the agency said.

Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were pulling out after two decades of war.

Among their actions, the Taliban have prohibited Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental organizations. Aid agencies have been providing food, education, and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover of August 2021 and the economic collapse that followed. The ban was extended to employees of the United Nations in April.

WFP is often the last lifeline for women, who are increasingly being pushed out of society and face dwindling options for making a living and feeding their children.

tween the two Middle Eastern countries. The mission responsible for keeping the peace is known as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The force’s operation must be reauthorized by the UN Security Council annually.

“Amid already worrying levels of hunger and malnutrition, we are obliged to choose between the hungry and the starving, leaving millions of families scrambling for their next meal,” said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP’s director in Afghanistan. “With the few resources we have left, we are not able to serve all those people teetering on the edge of utter destitution.”

The Taliban promised a more moderate rule than during their previous period in power in the 1990s. But they have imposed harsh measures since seizing

The cuts announced Tuesday mean that 1.4 million new and expecting mothers and their children are no longer receiving specialized food designed to prevent malnutrition, the program said. WFP expects to see a sharp rise in admissions to nutrition centers in the months to come as children slide deeper into hunger.

UNIFIL To Stay

UN officials have been stationed on the border separating Israel and Lebanon since 1978, there to prevent fighting be-

On Thursday, the UN voted to continue the UNIFIL’s mandate for another year, following disagreements regarding the terms of renewal on Wednesday. In the end, thirteen nations voted for the force’s reauthorization, while Russia and China chose to abstain from the vote. Thus, the peacekeeping mission will continue operating until August 31, 2024, at which point the UN will once again have to vote on whether to renew it for 2025.

Last week’s argument concerned the force’s freedom of movement, with some countries asserting that by giving UNIFIL a higher level of access to places in Lebanon, there is an infringement on

the nation’s freedom. Others claim that such measures are necessary in order to prevent terrorism and further conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates, along with other countries, argued that removing restrictions and allowing the force to work independently of the Lebanese government is incredibly important in these times, as the mission won’t be able to operate effectively unless it has access to all parts of the Blue Line,

the temporary border set between the two countries.

“UNIFIL’s freedom of movement is absolutely paramount at a time when tensions in the area are rising to dangerous levels,” a UAE foreign policy leader said.

The resolution’s text “urges all parties...to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL in all its operations and UNIFIL’s access to the Blue Line in all its parts is fully respected and unimpeded.”

Thus, as of now, “UNIFIL does not

require prior authorization or permission to undertake its mandated tasks and...

UNIFIL is authorized to conduct its operation independently, while continuing to coordinate with the Government of Lebanon.”

Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon spoke positively of the force’s renewal and said that the text “takes into account a key element requested by Lebanon, concerning the role of UNIFIL to operation ‘in coordination with the Leb-

anese government.’”

Other Lebanese officials and members of Hezbollah have spoken against the mandate.

“[Thursday’s] text unfortunately did not reflect all of our concerns,” Jeanne Mrad, the UN representative of Lebanon, said. “This freedom of movement should be upheld, yes, but also should involve controls.”

On Thursday, Israel said that it “welcomes” the force’s renewal.

“UNIFIL helps preserve stability in southern Lebanon,” said Israel’s foreign ministry. “We call on the international community to adopt a decisive attitude in the face of attempts by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to try to provoke and escalate (violence).”

Typhoon Haikui Hits Taiwan

Typhoon Haikui stormed through Taiwan on Sunday, injuring about forty-four people and leaving nearly 50,000 households without electricity.

At around 3:40 pm local time, the typhoon hit Taiwan at the coastal and rural township of Donghe, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. Before it hit land, the storm was carrying winds traveling as fast as 96 miles per hour, and Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, experienced heavy rains. The typhoon barreled through the country, and at 8 pm, had left. Two hours later, 48,506 homes were left without power.

In anticipation of the storm, more than seven thousand people from eleven Taiwanese cities and counties were evacuated, and several places canceled school and work for Sunday and Monday, according to authorities. Additionally, 246 flights to and from Taiwan were pushed off or canceled until 6 pm on Sunday.

Floods and landslides could still potentially happen as a result of the storm. Hualien County may experience rainfall of over 500 millimeters, according to the country’s weather bureau.

Hong Kong experienced a similar situation on Saturday when Typhoon Saola hit, injuring at least eighty-six people,

prompting evacuations and canceled flights. Additionally, the PRC administrative region has seen over 1,500 fallen trees, 21 floods, and two landslides. Since then, Hong Kong’s typhoon has diminished into a tropical storm.

Nazi Guard, 98, Indicted

worked at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1943 and 1945.

The man, who was a minor at the time of the alleged crimes, is accused of “having assisted in the cruel and insidious killing of thousands of prisoners,” prosecutors said.

He will face a juvenile court because he was under the age of 18 when he served at Sachsenhausen.

Germany is racing against time to bring the last surviving perpetrators of Nazi war crimes – now well into old age – to justice.

Last year, another former Sachsenhausen guard, aged 101, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted for aiding and abetting the murder of 3,518 people during the Holocaust.

200,000 prisoners passed through the camp during the war – half of those are said to have died there. During World War II, the camp’s inmate population fluctuated between about 11,000 and 48,000 people.

S. Korea Teachers Protest

according to organizers — an unusual tactic used to sidestep the law that makes it illegal for them to strike in South Korea.

On Monday, when teachers also mourned the suicide of a teacher who claimed to have suffered at the hands of abusive parents, some elementary schools canceled classes, according to the Education Ministry — a rare occurrence.

In a country known for its fiercely competitive schools and the weight that society places on education, students and parents are not the only parties under immense stress. Teachers say they often face pressure from parents who make excessive or impossible demands of them, including favoritism for their children.

An unnamed former Nazi concentration camp guard has been indicted on charges of aiding and abetting the murder of more than 3,300 people during the Holocaust. He is 98 years old.

The man’s name was not made public by prosecutors, in accordance with German privacy laws.

The public prosecutor in the western city of Giessen, near Frankfurt, said in a statement on Friday that the man

A 96-year-old German woman fled before standing trial for crimes she was alleged to have committed while working as a stenographer and typist in the commandant’s office at the concentration camp in Stutthof, near what is now the Polish city of Gdansk. She was later found by local authorities and brought before court, where she was convicted on similar charges.

Sachsenhausen was built by prisoners and opened in 1936. Around

Tens of thousands of teachers across South Korea have protested in the streets since July amid worsening complaints over student misbehavior and harassment by parents.

On Saturday, a large protest was held near the National Assembly in Seoul, estimated by local police at 100,000 people. On Monday, tens of thousands of teachers nationwide took a coordinated leave of absence and held rallies nationwide,

“Teachers aren’t able to do their jobs right now,” said Jo Chan-woo, 34, a teacher in Seoul who attended the rally Monday. “Let us do our jobs.”

One of teachers’ central demands includes revising an ambiguous clause in the country’s Child Welfare Act meant to prohibit child abuse. Teachers say the ambiguity allows parents to file — or threaten to file — child abuse charges against teachers who take reasonable disciplinary action against student misbehavior. Even if a teacher is falsely accused, they could be suspended from their job and left alone to defend themselves in court, teachers

and education experts say.

Teachers say the fear of facing such allegations has scared them from responding to misbehaving students and empowered some parents to harass teachers.

Teachers have demanded that the government provide clear guidelines on disciplining students. (Teachers in South Korea are government employees whose conduct and duties are defined by the country’s laws.)

The Education Ministry implemented

protections Friday to prevent teachers from being harassed, including requiring parents to set up appointments to speak with teachers; no longer requiring teachers to respond to parents’ calls via their personal phones; and increasing the penalties for student misbehavior.

The ministry said that it was continuing to work on education changes, including amendments to the Child Welfare Act, but offered no time frame. (© The New York Times)

JOIN ME ON THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

contested win in the late August presidential election. His whereabouts and well-being are currently unknown, but the junta claims that he is being treated like a “normal Gabonese” citizen. Before Ali Bongo came to power, his father, Omar Bongo, became leader in 1967 and ruled for 42 years.

Gabon President Ousted

After ruling for almost fourteen years, Ali Bongo, president of the Central African country Gabon, was overthrown by a military rebel group last week. The former president is now under house arrest, and his son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has been arrested for “treason.”

The mutiny was sparked by Bongo’s

With the country in a state of poverty, many citizens have criticized Bongo, and some have even celebrated his downfall, praising the rise of a new government.

The coup began when militia members appeared on live Gabonese television, announcing that they had gained control over the country, that the election results had been nullified, and that several parts of the government were no longer existent, including the nation’s two houses of parliament.

The ruling group swore in Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema as interim president on Monday. According to a spokesperson, the rebel government will form the “institutions of the transition,” revive the nation’s constitutional court, and allow for domestic flights again. As of now, the country’s national borders have been closed and curfews are in place.

The rebellion has been denounced by much of the world, including the United States, the European Union, and the African Union.

“[The U.S.] is strongly opposed to military seizures or unconstitutional transfers of power,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, adding that “the United States stands with the people of Gabon.”

The U.S. embassy in Gabon has warned Americans living in the country to “keep a low profile … avoid demonstrations … make contingency plans to leave … have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance,” and avoid “unnecessary movements around town.”

The African Union, a group of fifty-five states in the region, has also criticized the militia group, and has banned Gabon from taking part in the union “until the restoration of constitutional order.”

The European Union, United Nations, United Kingdom, Economic Community of Central African States, Spain, and others have similarly rejected the actions

-RONNIE GROSS

of the ruling junta and urged a return to peace and political stability.

Gabon is located on the equator and is home to around 2.3 million people. It is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of per capita income, yet large parts of the population are very poor. The official language of the country is French.

India On The Moon

A day and a night on the moon are both equivalent to about fourteen days on Earth. And since the lander is charged through solar energy, it will not be able to run through the lunar night.

“Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on. Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments,” ISRO went on to say.

The lander is not equipped to handle extreme cold, and since the moon experiences temperatures of about -184°F at night, there is a possibility that the rover may not survive the next few weeks, noted Pallava Bagla, an expert on Indian space exploration.

“Making electronic circuits and components that can survive the deep cold temperature of the moon — that technology doesn’t exist in India,” Bagla said.

The mission started over a month ago and is estimated to have cost $75 million. India’s Chandrayaan-3 was originally in a race with Russia’s Luna-25 to see which rover would arrive on the moon first. However, Russia’s mission was unsuccessful as its lander went out of control and crash-landed on the moon.

With this recent landing, India has become the fourth nation to go to the moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.

Swedish Citizen Imprisoned Iran

week, as it was kept under wraps by Swedish and EU authorities.

The prisoner, Johan Floderus, 33, a native of Sweden, has held several positions in the EU’s institutions, coming up through its civil service training program. He had visited Iran last spring on what people familiar with the case described as a private tourist trip with several Swedish friends. As he prepared to leave Tehran on April 17, 2022, he was detained at the airport.

Iran announced in July of last year that it had apprehended a Swedish national for espionage, charges that have been denied.

Floderus is now being held in the notorious Evin prison in the Iranian capital.

This is just one incident in a pattern of Iran’s hostage diplomacy.

After almost two weeks of studying the moon, India’s lunar rover, Chandrayaan-3, has been put into sleep mode, as night approaches on the moon.

“The rover completes its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into sleep mode,” the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced on Saturday, September 2.

As part of the rover’s mission, it was able to detect sulfur, manganese, iron, calcium, oxygen, aluminum, chromium, titanium, and silicon on the moon, while as of now nothing has been announced concerning frozen water findings. The data the rover has collected thus far has been sent to scientists and will be extensively analyzed.

A citizen of Sweden, who was working for the European Union diplomatic corps, has been imprisoned in Iran for more than 500 days.

The arrest was made public only this

Tehran has been nabbing dual Iranian nationals and foreigners on bogus charges, seeking to trade them for Iranians held in Europe or the United States, or to use them as leverage to extract money and other concessions.

Last month, the United States concluded a deal with Iran to free five Americans held there in exchange for $6 billion in withheld Iranian oil revenues as well as the release of Iranian prisoners in America.

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign

Affairs said it would not comment on the details of the case, citing a need for secrecy.

“The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Sweden in Tehran are working on the case intensively,” its press department said.

UK’s Crumbling Schools

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a mounting crisis over Britain’s crumbling schools after a former government official said Monday that Sunak had refused to rebuild more schools while he was head of the Treasury, despite warnings that lightweight concrete used in hundreds of buildings was a risk to life.

The former official, Jonathan Slater, who held one of the most senior roles in the Department of Education, said that in 2021, when Sunak was chancellor of the Exchequer, he cut in half an internal recommendation to rebuild 100 schools every year. That number had already been scaled back from the department’s original recommendation in 2018 that the government rebuild 300 to 400 schools a year.

“We weren’t just saying there was a significant risk of fatality,” Slater said on

BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “We were saying there was a critical risk to life if this program is not funded.”

For the Conservatives, who are burdened by a stagnant economy and lengthy waiting lists at hospitals, a crisis in schools poses an acute political risk. They lag the opposition Labour Party by nearly 20 percentage points in polls and are resorting to divisive issues, including immigration and climate policy, to draw sharp contrasts with their opponents.

Sunak heatedly rejected Slater’s charges, saying it was “completely and utterly wrong” to hold him responsible for the funding shortfall. He said that as chancellor, he had announced a 10-year program to rebuild 500 schools. And he said the problems with the concrete, which was used from the 1950s to the 1990s and has been found to have deteriorated, affected just 5% of England’s 22,000 schools.

Last week, the government ordered more than 100 schools known to contain the material not to reopen after summer vacation or to move their students online or to temporary buildings.

Builders used the material, known as reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete or RAAC, in roofs and walls because it is lightweight and cheaper to work with than traditional concrete. But engineers say it degrades more quickly than standard reinforced concrete, with a life span of only about 30 years. It is also vulnerable to structural failure.

The Labour Party has seized on these warnings to argue that successive Conservative-led governments failed to prioritize child safety. (© The New York Times)

Maksym Molchanov, HY”D

An IDF soldier was killed and six others were injured after a Palestinian

terrorist drove a truck into a group of Israelis at the Maccabim checkpoint in the West Bank near the city of Modiin last week.

Corporal Maksym Molchanov, the twenty-year-old off-duty soldier who died in the attack, immigrated from Ukraine to Israel in 2017 as part of an Israeli high school completion program. In 2021, he became an Israeli citizen, and in 2022, he was drafted into the military’s Artillery Corps. He lived in Herzliya, a city in the

Tel Aviv district. After his death, the IDF honored the fallen soldier by promoting him to the rank of sergeant.

According to the Magen David Adom ambulance service, two other soldiers were hurt, both in their twenties. One of them was seriously wounded, while the other had minor injuries. Additionally, a Palestinian teenager and an Israeli couple were also slightly injured.

The attacker, who was later named as Daoud Abdel Razak Faiz, a forty-one-

year-old Palestinian man with no criminal record in Israel, had driven to the Maccabim checkpoint, at which point he made a U-turn and slammed into a group of people who were walking nearby. The terrorist then attempted to escape through the Hashmonaim checkpoint into the West Bank but was shot by security officials. He later died in a hospital.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the terrorist walked into Israel through a checkpoint early that morning.

While in the city of Gedara, he somehow got possession of a truck which was not his own.

“Sending my condolences to the family of the person killed in the ramming attack this morning, and I wish a full recovery to the injured,” said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “This is an attack with serious consequences. [My] full appreciation to the security forces for their determined action that led to the elimination of the terrorist in a short time.”

Maksym is being buried in Israel, after his family arrives from Ukraine for the

Israel Priciest Place to Buy a House

According to newly released statistics by finance advisory network Deloitte, the most expensive place to buy a house out of a list of twenty-seven surveyed countries in 2022 was Israel, where the average house price was $6,204 per square meter.

Israel is also, incidentally, the only Middle Eastern country included in the report, while the other countries, such as France, Estonia, Lithuania, and Germany, are all in the European region.

The runner-up was Austria, where the average house price was $5,312 per sqm, followed by Germany, with an average price of $5,200, in third place. In fourth place was France, where the price was $5,004 per sqm, and in the fifth slot was Norway at $4,534.

As for the least expensive countries, at the very bottom was Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the price for a home was on average $1,335 per square meter. Greece and Romania were ranked the second and third most affordable countries on the list, where houses tended to go for

funeral.

around $1,435 per sqm and $1,529 per sqm respectively.

As part of the same report, Tel Aviv was named the most expensive city in 2022 out of a list of 76 cities in the European region, with the average cost for a new house being $15,908 per sqm in the Israeli city. Paris, at $15,782, came in as a close second and was in the top spot only a year prior. Munich was the third most expensive city, with an average house price of $12,304 per sqm.

Deloitte went on to attribute increasing housing costs to the Ukrainian War, the rising prices of energy and building materials, as well as interest rate hikes.

Many Israelis Become Portuguese Citizens

According to Portuguese authorities, Israelis applied for citizenship in Portugal more than any other foreign group, even though few choose to actually live in the country.

The number of Israelis seeking a Portuguese passport through a 2015 law passed for the descendants of Jews expelled during the Spanish Inquisition reached 20,975 in 2022, according to sta-

tistics from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF).

Jewish authorities certified to vet applications. The Porto community came under fire for approving the citizenship of Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Jewish billionaire who made his fortune in Russia’s energy sector and has been called a close ally of Vladimir Putin, although he has denied being part of the Russian president’s inner circle.

injured while trying to stop the violence. The riot started when a group of Eritreans began protesting against their home country’s president, Isaias Afwerki. Eventually, a group of pro-Afwerki Eritreans came, and a violent clash between the two groups ensued thereafter.

That exceeded the 18,591 applicants from Brazil, whose population is over 20 times larger than Israel’s and has longstanding cultural ties to Portugal, including a shared language.

The year before, in 2021, Israelis were also the largest group, with 21,263 people applying for citizenship.

The surge of Israeli applicants began after Portugal passed its “law of return” in 2015, allowing the descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who were forced to flee the 16th-century Inquisition to apply for nationality. The Portuguese government has announced plans to end this policy in December 2023, saying its purpose of reparation will be “fulfilled.”

The policy came under scrutiny last year amid allegations of fraud in the Jewish Community of Porto, one of two

Portuguese citizenship has wide-ranging appeal for Israelis, including the freedom of movement that comes with a European Union passport. Portugal has lower taxes and a lower cost of living than Israel, although its income levels are also proportionately lower. Some Israelis are attracted to the more relaxed acceptance rates at public universities in Europe and lower attendance costs for EU nationals.

Eritrean Migrants Riot

On Saturday, September 2, a riot in south Tel Aviv broke out between migrants from the African country of Eritrea, leading to about 170 injuries, including fifteen people who were sent to the hospital in serious condition, as well as around fifty police officers who were

Eritrea has been under the rule of Afwerki for more than 30 years after the former partisan led his forces to a victory that ended the 30-year-old war for independence from neighboring Ethiopia. The 77-year-old has never held elections or formed a parliament or independent judiciary. He has banned political parties and ranks as one of the worst leaders in the world in terms of freedom of expression and press freedom.

On Saturday, the Eritrea embassy in Israel held an event to mark 30 years since independence. Critics of the Afwerki government saw this as an affront and

40 amassed at the embassy, eventually fighting with those who support Afwerki. The crowds smashed windows and cars and terrorized the city.

The police were allowed to detain around fifty migrants through a government-authorized administrative procedure. Now, the Israeli government is trying to prevent such a situation from happening again and is seriously considering deporting those involved in the riot.

Israel serves as a temporary home for around thirty thousand African migrants, most of whom are from Eritrea and Sudan and claim to be refugees. However, the Israeli right, for the most part, does not acknowledge the refugee status of migrants and instead refers to such people as “illegal infiltrators.”

Migration from African countries presents “a real threat to Israel’s character and future as a Jewish and democratic state,” asserted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the government is “seeking strong steps against rioters, including immediate deportation of those who took part.”

“Israel is a nation of laws. Those who riot in the streets, destroy shops, and assault police officers must be punished severely and be deported immediately,” said Culture Minister Miki Zohar in a

statement. “Everyone who resides here must respect our laws.”

In 2013, Israel built a wall around its southern border to stop Egyptians from migrating to Israel. Since then, the number of migrants has decreased significantly, but tens of thousands still illegally remain, according to Netanyahu.

The day following the riots, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir went to south Tel Aviv to assure the people that the situation “will be dealt with.” However, some locals shouted and booed at Ben Gvir, accusing him of neglecting his duties and making unfulfilled promises. While at the scene where the violence took place a day prior, the national security minister claimed that he would back any police officer who shot at protestors in self-defense.

Jack Lew, New Amb. to Israel

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden nominated Jack Lew, former secretary of treasury under President Barack Obama, as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Lew, an Orthodox Jew, will succeed Tom Nides, who vacated his position in

July.

Although Biden announced his pick on Tuesday, his appointment needs to be confirmed by the Senate.

port for the infamous 2015 Iran nuclear deal. With regards to peace, Lew has reiterated that the two-state solution is the only pathway to peace.

“The more you hear talk about a onestate solution, the more it means it’s not a democratic state. That is not the Israel that I want for my grandchildren to love,” Lew said a few years ago.

Lew earned a BA at Harvard and a JD at Georgetown University.

Lew has many friends in Washington. He had served as Obama’s chief of staff before leading the Treasury. He is also a skilled negotiator and knowledgeable about several issues.

Representing the United States in Israel requires a strong sense of character and knowledge. Israel is grappling with judicial reform and an increase in Palestinian terrorist attacks. Additionally, the ambassador will need to be able to work towards an agreement with Israel and Saudi Arabia, which many are hoping to achieve.

Although Lew has many supporters, there are those who criticize him for the Obama administration’s anti-Israel stance. Lew was also vocal about his sup-

He would be the second Orthodox Jew to serve as ambassador to Israel, after Amb. David Friedman, President Donald Trump’s envoy in Jerusalem.

Arab Violence Surges

At least 167 members of the Arab community have been killed in violent crimi-

nal incidents in 2023 so far. The year is shaping up to be tragic, as the numbers are well over double the numbers for the same period last year.

On Tuesday of this week, a man was shot dead and two others were injured near the northern town of Iksal, as the Arab community went on strike. The protesters have been asserting that police have not been paying attention to the crime wave that has been surging in their communities. Police said the man was killed by gunfire directed at a vehicle, although he was not the intended victim of the shooter.

A man in his 50s from Nazareth was in serious condition and one other individual was lightly hurt, Magen David Adom said. The man who was lightly wounded was in fact the target of the hit.

Of the many people who have been killed this year, 152 were killed by gunfire.

The National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities and the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee blame the Israeli government for the spate of killings in the Arab community and accuse it of neglecting Arab-Israeli citizens.

The strike saw local authorities, community centers and businesses shut their doors along with a shortened school day. Demonstrations were set to be held with the partici-

pation of lawmakers from Arab parties.

Last week, thousands of people took part in a protest rally in Haifa excoriating the police for not curbing the wave of violent crime.

Many in the Arab community say police have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars, and violence against women. The communities have also suffered from years of neglect by state authorities.

In recent weeks, the wave of violent crime — much of it fueled by feuds between underworld criminal organizations — has appeared to spill over into the upcoming municipal elections, with mayoral candidates and city officials being targeted.

Banned for Life

An Iranian weightlifter has been banned from the sport for life after he was seen shaking hands with an Israeli competitor.

Mostafa Rajaei took a photo with Maksim Svirsky at the World Masters Weightlifting Championships in Poland.

Iran does not recognize Israel, and

contact between Iranian and Israeli athletes is forbidden.

“The weightlifting federation bans athlete Mostafa Rajaei for life from entering all sports facilities in the country and dismisses the head of the delegation for the competition, Hamid Salehinia,” the Iran Weightlifting Federation announced.

Rajaei finished second overall in the men’s over-35 age group in the 240-pound division at the event. He broke the world record with a 430-pound clean and jerk.

4 Astronauts Return

The federation called the act “unforgivable.”

In 2021, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked competitors “not to shake hands with a representative of the (Israeli) criminal regime to obtain a medal.” Iranian athletes were even disqualified and provided medical certificates to avoid Israeli athletes in recent years.

Rajaei “crossed the red lines of the Islamic Republic” at the event where the Iranian delegation had been “sent with the support of the federation.”

Four astronauts have returned home from a six-month stay on the International Space Station, making a splashdown landing aboard their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida on Monday.

The astronauts, members of the

44 Crew-6 mission run jointly by NASA and SpaceX, departed the space station on Sunday at 7:05 am ET. The crew spent the day aboard the 13-foot-wide Crew Dragon vehicle as it maneuvered through Earth’s orbit and toward its target landing site off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, where they landed after midnight ET.

The Crew Dragon capsule was traveling at more than 17,000 miles per hour, and as it began the final leg of its descent, the spacecraft’s exterior heated up to about 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit while it sliced back into the thickest part of Earth’s atmosphere. Inside the spacecraft cabin, the passengers were protected by a heat shield.

The capsule then deployed sets of parachutes to further slow its descent. Rescue crews waiting near the splash down site were prepared to haul the spacecraft out of the ocean and onto a special boat, called the “Dragon’s nest,” where final safety checks take place before the crew can disembark.

The four astronauts that make up the Crew-6 team include NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, as well as Sultan Alneyadi, the second astronaut from the United Arab Emirates to travel to

space, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

The group spent six months on board the orbiting laboratory after launching to the station in March. Over the past week, the Crew-6 astronauts worked to welcome and hand over operations to Crew-7 team members, who arrived at the space station on August 27.

During their stint in space, the Crew-6 astronauts were slated to oversee more than 200 science and tech projects and conducted three spacewalks.

During their stay, the Crew-6 astronauts also hosted the Axiom Mission 2 crew, a group of one former NASA astronaut and three paying customers that included an American businessman and two astronauts from Saudi Arabia. That flight was part of a plan to fly tourists and other paying customers regularly to the International Space Station, as NASA has sought to increase the amount of commercial activity in low-Earth orbit.

“It’s been a big adventure and a lot of fun,” Hoburg said.

Not Singing in the Rain

Twitter, late Monday evening. “You might be much happier hanging out in camp with your friends than sitting in a static line of cars for many hours. Wake up refreshed on Tuesday and hit the road then.”

The wait time to leave the city Monday night was roughly seven hours, organizers said. But that’s not unusual: It’s taken between six to nine hours during peak travel times in past years, according to a Burning Man website.

Thousands of people were stuck over the weekend at the Burning Man event, a week-long festival in the Nevada desert, after intense rain stranded more than 70,000 revelers in the mud.

It wasn’t until Monday that organizers officially lifted the driving ban that had been imposed amid heavy rains on Friday and allowed people to leave Black Rock City, the temporary city that it is erected every year for the event.

Still, the area was muddy and parts were still difficult to navigate, organizers warned. Organizers urged festivalgoers to postpone their departure to Tuesday to avoid creating massive congestion.

“If you are able to depart BRC tomorrow 9/5, please do so,” event leaders wrote on X, formerly known as

For many attendees, getting stranded in the desert and missing flights and other responsibilities was stressful and unsettling. But others said the weather issues brought camp communities closer together, as people shared food and resources, offered shelter to those who needed it, and gathered together.

“As soon as the tents started getting water-logged or unlivable, people in RVs started taking in some of the tenters, so everybody was warm,” Kaz Qamruddin, who attended the event, said.

“We are a community that comes together in hard times,” he said. “It’s all about coming together and working as a team.”

Despite the travel ban, thousands of people had left in the rain – some on foot – navigating the muddy terrain.

Of the 72,000 people who were still on site late Sunday evening, roughly 64,000 remained midday Monday, organizers said.

Bill Richardson Dies

Bill Richardson, who served two terms as governor of New Mexico and 14 years as a congressman and then continued to

devote himself to liberating Americans who were being held hostage or who he believed were being wrongfully detained by hostile countries overseas, died Friday at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He was 75.

Under President Bill Clinton, Richardson was also ambassador to the United Nations, succeeding Madeleine Albright in early 1997, after having served in the House of Representatives, as a member of the New Mexico delegation, from January 1983 to February 1997, and as chair of the

Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He was Clinton’s secretary of energy from 1998 until 2001.

Born in California — his mother had traveled to Pasadena from Mexico City, where the family was living, to give birth so there were would be no question about his citizenship — and descended from William Brewster, a passenger on the Mayflower, Richardson was the nation’s only Hispanic governor during his two terms, from 2003 to 2011.

scribed Richardson in a statement as “one of the most powerful Hispanics in politics that this nation has seen.”

Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., de-

After Richardson completed his second term as governor, he honed the quasi-public and freelance diplomacy skills that he had learned first in college and further developed on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and when he worked on congressional relations for the State Department under Henry Kissinger.

His separate humanitarian missions on behalf of some 80 families won the release of hostages and American servicemen in countries hostile to the United States, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba and Colombia.

“I plead guilty to photo ops and getting human beings rescued and improving the lives of human beings,” he once said.

William Blaine Richardson III was born November 15, 1947, in Pasadena. His father, who was of Anglo-American and Mexican descent, was a bank executive from Boston who worked in Mexico for what is now Citibank and had been born on a ship en route to Nicaragua when his own father, a biologist, was on his way to collect museum specimens.

(© The New York Times)

More Illegal Migrants Than Ever

In August, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested around 91,000 migrants who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with their families, eclipsing the previous record for most arrests of migrant families in a single month, which belonged to the Trump Administration in May 2019, when 84,486 people were arrested.

Although since the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency there have always been more single adults crossing the border than families, in August, the opposite

was true: more families illegally crossed the border than single adults.

For the past two months, the number of border detainments has increased by 30%. In August, a total of 177,000 were arrested at the border, while in July the number was 132,652, and in June, 99,539.

According to Erin Heeter, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, the government is trying to discourage illegal entry by creating more legal ways to immigrate, and by also cre-

ating stricter punishments for those who cross the border. Since May, the Biden administration has deported over 17,000 parents and children who illegally entered as a family.

“But as with every year, the U.S. is seeing ebbs and flows of migrants arriving fueled by seasonal trends and the efforts of smugglers to use disinformation to prey on vulnerable migrants and encourage migration,” Heeter noted.

During the first year of Biden’s pres-

idency, the president vowed to bring together the migrant families that Trump allegedly broke up. He also promised to defend undocumented schoolchildren, as well as pregnant or nursing migrants, from immigration enforcement. However, under the stress of the increasing number of undocumented migrants, the commander-in-chief has supposedly been working on discouraging families from illegally crossing the border. Biden, for example, has reportedly shared videos

of children on deportation flights with Spanish-language media, in an attempt to dissuade undocumented families from entering the U.S.

Hurricane Idalia Hits Florida

Last week, Hurricane Idalia smashed into Florida, damaging thousands of homes, prompting mass evacuations, and leaving around 90,000 households without power.

While the category three hurricane, which later became a post-tropical cyclone, was the most destructive the state has seen in the past century, there have only been two fatalities in the state, none of which were directly caused by the storm.

On Saturday, August 26, the National Hurricane Center began warning that Hurricane Idalia, which was at the time in Mexico, would be coming to the States soon. Five days later, the storm hit the state of Florida next to Keaton Beach, within 10 miles of where the center had predicted it would. The hurricane then went on to southern Georgia and South Carolina and is expected to hit the Bahamas next.

By the time Idalia hit Florida, twenty-eight or more counties had already evacuated its residents. Many say that the accurate and in-advance forecasting saved lives and prevented even worse further devastation.

“These forecasts were pretty doggone accurate, particularly compared to what happened with Hurricane Ian – where we went in a matter of 48 hours to potentially having a Big Bend impact, then all of a sudden migrating all the way down to southwest Florida,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Thursday.

The small number of deaths was “probably something that most people would not have bet on four or five days ago, knowing how strong the storm was going to get,” the governor said. “So my hat’s off to the people on the ground there who did a good job.”

Some parts of Florida were completely destroyed by the hurricane, while other areas weren’t majorly damaged. Hundreds had to be rescued from floods, as some areas experienced three- to fivefoot increases in water levels.

In response to the devastating impact of the storm, which carried winds blowing at 125 miles per hour, President Joe Biden declared the hurricane to be a major disaster.

“The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, and Taylor,” according to a statement released by the White House. Biden toured the sites most devastated by the storm on Saturday, September 2.

Pier Collapses

Tens of University of Wisconsin-Madison students plunged into a lake near campus when a pier they were on collapsed beneath them.

The Memorial Union Terrace pier at Lake Mendota folded into the lake, sending an estimated 60 to 80 students into the water on Labor Day Monday afternoon.

One spot of the pier collapsed first; the rest fell like dominoes.

“I turned to this one girl, and we were like, ‘Oh my G-d. Did that really just happen?’” student Gabrielle Willbrandt told WMTV. The freshman was one of the many standing on the pier when it went down.

At least 25 people were injured, although only one needed to be hospitalized. Ironically, the pier was supposed to be removed for the season Tuesday.

public. The latest incident occurred last Wednesday during a press conference in Kentucky, when he froze for more than 30 seconds before being escorted away. The other incident took place at the U.S. Capitol on July 26 while speaking with reporters.

hand smack, the paper towel splat.

People across all five boroughs in New York have dutifully followed the city’s directive to kill the invasive insects on sight. But is it working?

“Me and my friend who I was swimming with heard a big noise, and the whole dock was collapsing,” student Nicole Mitchell told WISC. “There were dozens and dozens of students on it, just tanning or jumping into the lake or talking with their friends and suddenly the whole thing gave way.”

Students swam back to shore with their phones in the air to keep them from getting wet.

Dr.: McConnell is OK

In the past six weeks, U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell seemed to have frozen twice while speaking in

This week, Congress’s doctor stated that these episodes are not indicative of a stroke or seizure disorder.

In a one-paragraph letter to the 81-year-old lawmaker, Dr. Brian Monahan said he reached his conclusion after a comprehensive neurological assessment including several medical evaluations that included brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists.

“There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease,” Monahan wrote. “There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall.”

The two incidents have raised fresh questions among Republican and Democratic members of Congress about McConnell and other aging lawmakers.

McConnell had been sidelined from the Senate after he tripped at a Washington dinner on March 8 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a concussion. He also suffered a minor rib fracture and was later moved to a rehabilitation facility. He returned to the Senate in April.

The Senate returned to Washington on Tuesday of this week after its summer recess. There’s a lot of work to be done to keep the government funded past September 30, when the current fiscal year ends. McConnell in the past has typically played an important role in negotiating and passing spending bills.

Lanternfly Invasion

There are many ways to kill a spotted lanternfly.

One is the classic stomp: raising a foot high before hammering it into the sidewalk and hopefully flattening one of the distinctive bugs. Then there are the more standard insect-squishing techniques, such as the rolled-up magazine swat, the

So far this year, the bugs have been documented riding the subway, littering streets and even infiltrating apartments, evidence of a trend that experts anticipated: New York City’s lanternfly problem is getting worse.

While the grassroots effort is not likely to significantly curb the lanternfly population, experts said, it can help raise public awareness of the problem while scientists seek a lasting solution. In short: Keep stomping.

Spotted lanternflies, native to Asia, were first identified in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. They have swarmed New York City every summer since 2020 and have become a nuisance across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest. While they pose no risk to humans, lanternflies can damage agricultural crops, particularly grapevines.

Brian Eshenaur, an entomologist at Cornell University, said the population of lanternflies in New York City is much higher than it was last year.

“This is typical when the spotted lanternfly moves into a new location,” Eshenaur said. “The first couple of years, the populations build up, and then around year three, they level off, and then often there is a drop in the population in future years.”

At first, officials urged members of the public to scrape lanternfly eggs — which can look like bark — off trees. But that was far more labor-intensive than simply squishing the bugs underfoot, so the city switched tactics.

Each female spotted lanternfly lays 30 to 60 eggs, so the hope is that when people kill the lanternflies they come across, they can help mitigate the population growth.

While the increase in lanternflies has led to an increase in irritation, New York has so far been spared the agricultural damage that Pennsylvania experienced.

Vintners in the Finger Lakes region and on Long Island have been on high alert since lanternflies attacked grapevines in Pennsylvania and reduced their yield but said the bugs had not yet adversely affected New York’s wine industry. (© The New York Times)

Giraffe Gaffe

which means “she is most beautiful”; and Jamella, “one of great beauty.”

The baby giraffe is believed to be the only known solid-colored reticulated giraffe in the world, according to Brights Zoo. Reticulated giraffes are a subspecies of giraffes.

In fact, Kipekee is the first giraffe of her kind without spots since one that was born in Tokyo in 1972.

“So there are no other living giraffes of this color,” Bright said.

Kipekee, who was born on July 31, is already 6 feet tall.

“She’s still very laid back, curious about everything, and checking everything out every day,” Bright said.

A few weeks ago, zookeepers at the Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, were surprised when a newborn giraffe was born – without any spots. Now, the cute calf has a new name: Kipekee, which means unique in Swahili.

“For a lot of guests we talked to, that was the easiest name for a child to say,” David Bright, the director of Brights Zoo, told the TODAY show.

The zoo had created an online voting platform to decide what to name the new baby animal. Almost 40,000 people voted.

The zoo asked fans to vote between four names: Kipekee; Firyali, which means unusual or extraordinary; Shakiri,

The spotted coat pattern of a giraffe provides more than just camouflage in the wild. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation says that each spot, or patch, has a system of blood vessels beneath the area that acts as a thermal window and allows the release of body heat.

Well, you can’t just change your spots.

The Big Cheese

A 4.8-pound wheel of Spanish cheese broke a world record when it was auctioned for more than $32,000.

The Cabrales blue cheese, manufactured by Guillermo Pendás at his family’s Los Puertos factory and aged in the mountain caves of Asturias, sold for $32,408.10 last week after taking top honors at the 51st annual Cabrales Cheese Competition in Las Arenas.

pulled over a driver on Route 275. The driver wasn’t speeding or driving erratically. It was the passenger that raised eyebrows.

Norfolk officers were responding to a call about a “vehicle with a cow inside” rolling through the town. They had assumed that a small animal – however crazy that would be – would be riding shotgun in the vehicle.

The buyer was restaurant owner Iván Suárez.

“We knew we had a good cheese but also that it is very difficult to win,” Pendás told Spanish news agency Efe.

Suárez previously set the Guinness World Record for most expensive cheese sold at auction when he bought a wheel of Cabrales for $22,129 in 2019.

Un-brie-lievable.

A Moo-ving Violation

Last week, police officers in Nebraska

“They thought that it was going to be a calf, something small or something that would actually fit inside the vehicle,” Captain Chad Reiman told News Channel Nebraska.

Instead, they saw “Howdy Doody,” a full-size Watusi bull owned by Lee Meyer of Neligh.

Reiman said the officers carried out a traffic stop and “addressed some traffic violations that were occurring with that particular situation.”

Meyer was only given a warning — not a moo-ving violation — and was asked to take Howdy Doody back home and out of the city.

Howdy Doody is a celebrity in his hometown, often appearing at parades. But the bull’s fame apparently hadn’t reached Norfolk at the time of his joyride, according to Meyer’s wife, Rhonda Meyer. “I get a phone call at work from my son wanting to know if (his) Dad’s in jail,” she told News Channel Nebraska. “Someone sent this (news) to him, and so yeah, it just kinda went downhill from there.”

Cowabunga!

Cat Living in Home Depot

tomers have been flocking to the warehouse in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, for a glimpse of the famous feline.

Leo is now a social media celebrity, as TikTok videos of the cat went viral.

Jeffrey Simpkins said he wanted to document the feline after first encountering him at the store last month.

“The very first one I did, the first day it hit 4.5 million [views],” Simpkins said. “I’m happy if I get 1,000 views on a video before this.”

Simpkins told WPVI-TV that Leo’s devoted fans admire “his unique personality, like he’s friendly, he wears clothing unlike other cats, and he has several places he sleeps at.”

According to Simpkins, “He has two name tags that say ‘Hello my name is Leo,’ and then the other one says like ‘Mount Laurel Store.’”

Leo loves the attention that customers give him.

a cozy bed, food, a cat tree, and stairs for exercise (he likes to climb them to perch on the top shelf), Leo also has a little “mobile bed” shopping cart.

A former barn cat, Leo was invited into Home Depot last summer to solve a mouse problem. The employees take care of Leo and make sure he gets regular vet check-ups and has a place to sleep when the store is closed on holidays.

Now we know what the employees are busy with when we need to find someone to answer our questions.

Major Mullet

sion of the mullet length record when the “party in the back” part of her hair was measured at 5 feet, 8 inches long.

Manis said she keeps the front and sides of her hair short but hasn’t cut the back since Feb. 9, 1990. She said she grew a mullet when she was young, inspired by a music video and immediately regretted cutting it off in 1989.

“The weirdest thing I find is that people remember me from years ago,” Manis said. “I’ve had people recognize me from 20 years ago because I’ve kept the same hairstyle.”

Manis took second place in the “femullet” category at the 2022 U.S. Mullet Championships, earning her a $300 prize. She said she learned shortly after the contest that Guinness World Records had opened a category for the longest competitive mullet.

This feline has a special home – the Home Depot. The cat has been living in the home improvement store, and cus-

“He doesn’t want to be left out of things, so if you have a team gathering after hours or before store opens, he always makes an appearance,” the manager said. Leo begins his days doing a “lap” as the store is opening and makes sure to walk by the staff’s morning meetings before he takes to the aisles.

In addition to his nook that includes

A Tennessee woman who hasn’t cut the hair on the back of her head since 1990 earned the Guinness World Record for the longest competitive mullet.

Tami Manis earned the female ver-

Although the process was long, it was worth it when she received her certificate from the famous enterprise.

“When I opened it, I thought, ‘This is amazing,’” she said. “I confirmed it with the gentleman from Guinness World Records and then I reverified that I’m actually in the 2024 edition of Guinness World Records for the longest mullet and that is pretty amazing!”

More like hair-raising, to me.

Around the Community

The Five Towns Shul League wrapped up this past Sunday after a highly competitive season. In the A League, Steve Pollan pitched YIW to victory over both Edward Avenue and Anshei Chesed. Jonny Meyers did the same for his Shteeble team, beating YIH and Ohr Torah. Congratulations to all the winners.

Welcome Back BYAM

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam welcomed their students back in a celebratory and big way, with a stunning balloon arch, large welcome back sign, and energetic music. Teachers and administration alike were thrilled to meet the new students and reconnect with past ones. The school is likewise delighted to welcome veteran first grade morah, Mrs. Shira Kaplan, to the educational administrative team, as well as Rabbi Shlomo Hirschey, who has assumed the role of Executive Director.

The excitement of the new year is palpable in the hallways by both teachers and students. BYAM looks forward to a successful and productive year with many new programs and additions on the horizon for the upcoming year.

Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, in conversation with a Mesivta maggid shiur (left) and a Beis Medrash bachur (right) in the main bais hamedrash during first seder.

YCQ Welcomes New Faculty Members for 2023-2024

The Yeshiva of Central Queens is thrilled to introduce their newest staff members, a dynamic group of experienced and enthusiastic educators and administrators who will complement their spectacular returning faculty. Four new positions have been created for this year to best serve our students and teachers.

Executive Director Mrs. Malka Fishman comes to YCQ from Shulamith School for Girls, where she served as Executive Director for the past six years. Mrs. Fishman was a driver of the school’s growth and success by focusing on operational quality and professionalism in every aspect of the school experience. She will bring her passion for excellence, responsible fiscal management, and communication to YCQ as she refines the organizational culture and structure of our school.

Junior High School Principal Rabbi Stephen Knapp is a well-respected and distinguished Jewish educator with decades of teaching and administrative experience. For the past six years, he has served as the Principal of Grades 1-8 at

the Hillel Yeshiva in Deal, New Jersey. Under his leadership, Hillel achieved unprecedented growth in academic initiatives, student engagement, culture, and student registration.

Director of Technology Mr. Simcha Sommer is back in the building. He is a graduate of YCQ and is a technology whiz. Mr. Sommer has significant experience in the IT and coding worlds, including doing previous work for YCQ’s systems and website.

Morah Morin Biton, Fifth Grade Judaic Studies, practiced law in Israel, working with the District Attorney, in addition to her training in education. She has exemplary Hebrew speaking and writing skills as well as an amazingly patient and professional demeanor. After joining the YCQ staff last year, the yeshiva is eager for Morah Biton to bring her enthusiasm and high-level Hebrew to the 5th grade students this year.

Mrs. Linette Boghossian, First Grade General Studies, is a dedicated educator with a diverse background in teaching. She has four years of classroom expe-

rience and holds a master’s degree in teaching. She is passionate about helping her students achieve their full potential. She is excited to build memorable relationships with the YCQ staff, students, and families.

Morah Eden David, Junior High School Ivrit, is a proud YCQ graduate and former Assistant Teacher. She spent the past 5 years in Israel where she served as a combat instructor in the IDF and taught in a high school. Morah David is so excited to reunite with the YCQ family.

Mr. Brian Goldstein, Junior High School Math, previously served as a substitute, and the YCQ administration is thrilled that Mr. Goldstein will be in the building on a daily basis this year. Mr. Goldstein is looking forward to teaching Math, and they are confident that he’ll be a fantastic addition to the faculty.

Rabbi Tzvi Greenberg, Junior High School Judaic Studies, grew up in Queens, NY. For the past six years, he has been teaching in Yeshiva Ohr Dovid in Brooklyn where he taught Gemara, Chumash, Halacha and Yediot Kelaliot. He places a strong emphasis on skill building and critical thinking development. Rabbi Greenberg’s engaging manner encourages student participation and generates a positive learning environment.

Morah Nelly Hershcovich, Kriyah Instructor, is a caring educator and fluent Hebrew speaker with experience working with children. She will be incorporated into the Elementary school classrooms and work with small groups of students to help develop their Ivrit Kriyah skills.

Morah Courtney Isler, Kindergarten Associate Teacher, is a proud graduate of YCQ. She recently graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in Psychology. She has experience working with children during the year and during the summer. She is looking forward to returning to her roots at YCQ, this time as a member of the dedicated team of faculty.

Mrs. Hadassah Kaplan, Second Grade General Studies, taught at Yeshiva of South Shore in Hewlett for the past four years. She has spent her summers as the Head Lifeguard at the JCC Day Camp in Lawrence. She is excited to be joining the YCQ family, especially because her husband and all his siblings are proud YCQ alumni. She can’t wait to get started.

Mrs. Kara Keppel, Junior High School English Language Arts, has 10 years of

teaching experience for the NYC Board of Education. Her specialty and passion lay in teaching middle school English. Mrs. Keppel is so excited to join the YCQ community and is looking forward to getting to know the students and families throughout the year.

Mr. Noah Myers, Junior High School Social Studies, hails from Indiana and recently moved to New York. After graduating from Indiana University, he taught middle school and high school Social Studies. He is very much looking forward to meeting the students and staff, and having a great year.

Rabbi Yisroel Schonfeld, Fifth Grade Judaic Studies, has lived In Queens his whole life. He received his semicha from Chofetz Chaim and worked in Ptach as an Assistant Rebbe. He is looking forward to a great year in YCQ.

Ms. Paula Ambagtsheer, Director of K-8 General Studies Curriculum and Instruction, will be serving in this new position, in addition to her role as a fabulous JHS ELA teacher. With her experience and talents, we are confident that she will bring our curriculum to even greater heights this year throughout the school.

Mrs. Allison Blass, Curriculum Coordinator K-2 General Studies, will be serving in this new role in addition to her position as an outstanding First Grade teacher. Mrs. Blass is a literacy specialist with 15 years of teaching experience. She recently received a degree in educational leadership from Queens College and has a deep understanding of what children need in order to be successful. She is looking forward to a highly effective year of helping students and providing guidance and support for teachers.

Mrs. Shirly Pourad-Kaikov, Director of Transportation, will be taking the reins of coordinating how our students get to and from school each day, in addition to her role as Director of Student Activities and After-School Programs in the Elementary School. Since she began working at YCQ six years ago, Mrs. Pourad-Kaikov has been a pillar of our school, always stepping up to the plate to serve the needs of our students, faculty, and administration.

Mrs. Milana Ustayev, School Nurse, is looking forward to joining the YCQ team. She is licensed as a Registered Nurse and Medical Assistant and has experience working with patients of all ages.

MTA Welcomes New Faculty

MTA’s opening week was full of energy, as everyone was eager to begin a year of learning and growth. The excitement actually began the prior week, as our faculty arrived for opening meetings and an opportunity to learn together. It was particularly thrilling to welcome so many new faculty members who are a fantastic addition to the yeshiva!

Mrs. Heather Benjamin joins the MTA team as the History Department Chair. Mrs. Benjamin comes to MTA from Ma’ayanot, where she was a member of the faculty since 2017, teaching History, Government, and Introduction to Sociology. Prior to that, she taught History at Heichal HaTorah after seventeen years teaching social studies at RYNJ. Heather also served as an adjunct lecturer and Associate Professor of Sociology at Drew University. She earned a B.A. in History from Rutgers University, graduated Summa Cum Laude, earned an M.A. in Sociology from NYU, where she completed her PhD Comprehensive Exams in American Law, and Family.

Rabbi Benyamin Bortz joins MTA’s faculty as a Tanach Rebbe. Rabbi Bortz holds a degree in Psychology from Yeshiva University and is currently pursuing semicha at RIETS. He is currently in the final year of a Masters in Social Work program at Wurzweiler. Rabbi Bortz has a wide range of educational experience, including serving as a Chinuch Rebbe at Camp Kaylie, directing an NCSY TJJ bus, and working in MTA as a guidance counselor intern.

Ms. Melanie Gordon-Felsman has spent 20 years as a marketing and com-

munications executive for a variety of software and IT service companies. As a PR practitioner, Ms. Felsman represented some of Wall Street’s top executives and even helped develop a show for CNBC. Working in not-for-profits and education is a passion that Felsman looks forward to bringing to MTA every day as she builds on the success of the Business and Entrepreneurship portion of the unique MTA Areas of Concentration electives program. Ms. Felsman is currently co-authoring a book on communications for branding purposes to help companies understand language, social media, and speaking and blending of idioms based on the specific medium being used.

Mrs. Shayna Haberman is an accomplished science educator who will be joining a strong MTA Science department. She graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Connecticut. Following her undergraduate degree, she earned a Research M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Tel Aviv University. During her Master’s, Mrs. Haberman researched the structure-based design of drugs targeting the M2 channel of the influenza virus. Mrs. Haberman joins MTA after teaching science at York Preparatory School in New York.

MTA is excited to welcome Rabbi Zvi Kaminetzky, brother of fellow MTA Rebbe, Rabbi Shai Kaminetzky. Rabbi Zvi Kaminetzky spent three years learning at KBY followed by Yeshiva University where he majored in Political Science, was a member of the Masmidim Honors program, and is now a member of the YU Kol-

lel Elyon. Rabbi Kaminetzky spent a number of summers as a Madrich on NCSY Kollel, and served as a Night Seder Rebbe in the Heichal HaTorah Beis Medrash. For the past three years, Rabbi Kaminetzky comes to MTA most recently from the Gruss Kollel, where he also served as a Vaad Rebbe at Yeshivat Torat Shraga.

Another exciting addition to the Areas of Concentration program is Mrs. Leah Korach, a teacher of Graphic Design. Mrs. Korach graduated from Stern College with a BFA in graphic design and studio arts. She later received her MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design at The New School.

With a decade-long tenure in design and art trading, Korach’s work leverages art and design skills in commercial settings. Finally, MTA welcomes Rabbi Jed Zaslow who spent two and a half years in Eretz Yisroel learning at Yeshivat Hakotel followed by Yeshiva University where he majored in psychology, received Semicha, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Education at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. Rabbi Zaslow brings a strong background in NCSY, as well as service as the Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park. He is now beginning his second year of the Beren Kollel Elyon.

Rabbi Zvi Kaminetzky

Mrs. Heather Benjamin Rabbi Benyamin Bortz

Klal Yisrael To Unite Through Tefillah and Chizuk at Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefillah on the 90th Yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim

By Chaim Gold

Multitudes of Jews across the globe will gather together on 24 Elul, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit, to learn the Chofetz Chaim’s seforim, learn inspirational lessons from his life, and daven to Hashem to have rachmanus on Klal Yisroel in advance of the Yamim Noraim.

The fact that the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit falls on 24 Elul, a week before Rosh Hashana, offers a special, auspicious eis ratzon for tefillah at the time when we need it most.

There is perhaps no one in recent generations who did so much to help and enrich Klal Yisrael – both in sur mei’rah and asei tov. Whether it is the sefer Chofetz Chaim that brought to the forefront of Klal Yisrael’s agenda the importance of being careful with one’s speech, or Ahavas Chessed that codified all the halachos of chessed, or, of course, the Chofetz Chaim’s magnum opus sefer Mishnah Berurah that continues to be the foundational daily halacha sefer in Klal Yisrael, we are still today being spiritually enriched by the Chofetz Chaim. Certainly, the Chofetz Chaim, through his sefer Likutei Halachos on hilchos korbanos in the Beis Hamikdosh also brought the concept of tzipisa l’yeshua, longing for the ultimate redemption to the forefront of public consciousness. Thus, there is no doubt that the day of his yahrtzeit is a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time for tefilla and for invoking rachmei

shomayim on behalf of all of Klal Yisrael. Indeed, if there was ever a time that Klal Yisrael needed to unite in a massive outpouring of tefillah and achdus; if there was ever a time when tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban needed to come together to invoke rachmei shomayim, that time is now!

That is why Dirshu’s 9th Annual International Yom Limud and Tefilla, to be held on Sunday, 24 Elul/September 10, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit, can’t come sooner.

This year’s Yom Limud and Tefilla will also showcase a special videocast with divrei chizuk by leading Gedolei Yisrael including, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita; HaGaon HaRav Yissocher Frand, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Ner Yisrael of Baltimore; HaGaon HaRav Reuven Elbaz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr Hachaim; HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Berkovitz, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Aish HaTorah; Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi Dirshu; and Rav Zev Smith, shlita, Maggid Shiur, Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and Irgun Shiurei Torah. The videocast will also feature inspirational Yamim Noraim niggunim

One of the highlights of the videocast promises to be historical footage of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Kamenitz Yeshiva. The videocast will be available to hear on a dedicated audio-line, via USB that will be available for viewing by contacting Dirshu’s offices and several other platforms.

Undoubtedly, the video and divrei chizuk from the Gedolim in honor of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit and in advance of the upcoming Yamim Noraim will serve as an ideal way to prepare and derive chizuk for the Yom Hadin.

An even greater zechus is the remarkable achdus that will be seen on that day! Klal Yisrael in six continents, across various countries will be united by learning the same page of Mishnah Berurah, from siman 162 in hilchos netilas yadayim, the page learned in the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program for 24 Elul, and the same page in the Chofetz Chaim’s sefer Ahavas Chessed, chapter 10.

Klal Yisrael will also come together to recite chapters 20 and 130 of Tehillim followed by the tefillah of Acheinu Beis Yisrael. From Melbourne, Australia, to Bnei Brak, from Lakewood, New Jersey, to Johannesburg, South Africa, from Cleveland, Ohio, Buenos Aries, Argentina, and Phoenix, Arizona, to Toronto, Canada, from Antwerp to Pinsk, Klal Yisrael will come together to daven and invoke rachmei shomayim in advance of the Yamim Noraim

Schools Learning from the Ways of the Chofetz Chaim

Simultaneously, a unique program for schools will take place in more than 300 cities across the world with many hundreds of yeshivos, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs participating. In Eretz Yisroel alone over a half million boys and girls will be participating in the special programing.

The remarkable, school-age program designed by Dirshu is sure to have a tremendous impact on multitudes of children both in major Jewish centers and in places far from Yiddishkeit hubs. Created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim, the program offers some hilchos Rosh Hashanah together with hashkafa and mussar as taught by the Chofetz Chaim and compiled into an age-appropriate, user-friendly, easy-to-understand booklet replete with magnificent illustrations and rare stories of the Chofetz Chaim.

Dirshu has made extremely compelling, artfully designed booklets for three different age groups: grades 1-3, 4-5 and 6-8.

The captivating stories and graphics are sure to motivate the children in each age group to read and be inspired. In addition, the combination of riveting graphics and clarity of the lessons has been hailed by leading menahelim and mechanchim as a tremendously successful way of bringing alive the lessons of the Chofetz Chaim.

This is aside from schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs across the length and breadth of Eretz Yisrael and Europe who will also participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla. According to Rabbi Gershon Kroizer of Dirshu, “Hundreds of schools in Eretz Yisrael, North America and Europe that together encompasses hundreds of thousands of children will participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla utilizing the unique content provided to commemorate the auspicious day. The impact on young boys and girls learning about the Chofetz Chaim will be huge,” he exclaimed.

There will also be tens of schools in the former Soviet Union, schools in South Africa, Australia, and South America participating in this momentous day, making it truly worldwide!

With Rosh Hashanah nearly upon us, we realize what a monumental Yom Hadin we are facing. The world is an extremely unstable place. Klal Yisrael needs you to daven together with hundreds of thousands throughout the world on Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefilla.

Join with Klal Yisrael in the Yom Limud and Tefillah on Sunday, 24 Elul/ September 10, 2023 –along with the guidance and chizuk from our Gedolim in advance of the New Year – and tap into this unique eis ratzon!

Stella K. B’Lev Echad

New year, new beginnings, big things are happening at SKA. With the start of the school year and excitement brimming from every corner of the building, not only are there new furnishings, new classrooms, new students, new teachers and new classes, there are new and innovative programs being implemented at SKA at every turn.

With the now famous SKA song’s mantra of Stella K. B’LEV ECHAD, a new schoolwide initiative has been created. Unveiled to teachers and students at orientation (new logo and all), Stella K B’lev Echad will foster the notion of community in every way. From teachers and students building on the foundations of meaningful experiences and relationships, to students cultivating deeper and more personal friendships.

In that vein, a brand-new Creative

Arts program is being launched at school. The groundbreaking brainchild of master mechanechet, Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Head of School, and under the creative leadership of beloved teacher Mrs. Arielle Parkoff, the Creative Arts program is designed to channel students’ expressions through different modalities, such as drama, song, written expression, chessed and more. To advance the creative learning model for teachers as well, and aligned with SKA’s religious Zionist mission, the staff was treated to a private viewing of the new movie, Golda. It was a special way to start the school year.

At student orientation, the girls were delighted to be back at their home away from home, with their teachers and friends. Greeted by all of the members of the SKA Administration, the girls were excited to reconnect with old friends, meet

new friends and enjoy yummy treats. The freshmen were greeted by Grade Level Advisors, Mrs. Tzippy Calm and Mrs. Rachel Joszef and Social Worker Gabby Shultz, as well as representatives from the student body to help facilitate their smooth transition to high school. A thoughtful day of programming, including tours of the campus and informative

sessions with both student ambassadors and teachers, was planned and capped off with ice cream and SKA swag.

As the first week drew to a close, Friday potato kugel, dancing, and that indomitable SKA spirit were enjoyed by all. We’re off to a great start. Big things are happening at SKA!

Perhaps you didn’t know that every day a group of chashuve Yidden gather daily at the Kosel on your behalf and daven for your health, your success, your parnassa, and your children.

In the late 1960’s, the previous Sulitzer Rebbe, zt”l, felt that our local community was in trouble – people were moving out and the neighborhood was not prospering. He wasn’t sure how to rebuild it, what to do, or where to go. In 1968, the Rebbe visited Eretz Yisroel, and after davening at the Kosel, he stood there, reciting heartfelt words of Tehillim, beseeching Hashem for the success of the small dying community that was then on the border of Far Rockaway and Lawrence. The Rebbe was reminded of the pasuk we recite daily, “N’shalmah parim sfaseinu” [The prayers of our lips take the place korbanos].” Just as we once had shluchim from every town travel to Yerushalayim to offer korbanos on our behalf at the Beis Hamikdash, the Rebbe, zt”l, believed, it seemed fitting for our community to partner with a group of shluchim in Yerushalayim to offer tefillos on our community’s behalf at the kosel.

The Rebbe turned to his Rebbetzin and committed to reciting Tehillim for the community each day until their departure and to ensuring that the recitation continues daily even after they leave Eretz Yisroel. Thanks to their determination, the Sulitza Tehillim Kollel, Kehilas

Yakov, was born. Since its creation, and perhaps due to the Kollel’s sincere tefillos, the small, faltering, threatened town of Far Rockaway has exploded into neighboring communities, burgeoning schools, countless shuls, and as far as we can tell, the growth of the Five Towns is nowhere near its end.

While we live our daily lives here in the Five Towns, learning Torah and driving carpool, the members of the Tehillim Kollel join together daily in an excavated underground shul where the stones of the Kosel are unblemished and where a small sign by the Aron Kodesh reads, “Mul Kodesh HaKadoshim.” In the holiest accessible spot on Earth, they sit and recite the entire Sefer Tehillim every day, literally davening for you and me and our next-door neighbors. We have shluchim in Yerushalayim offering korbanos for us! And we certainly cannot know which brachos and yeshuos we receive moment to moment because of this incredible zechus

It is appropriate that our mispallelim in Yerushalayim recite Sefer Tehillim in particular because what connects all of us to the Borei Olam and to one another is our Jewish neshama, which finds no greater expression in Olam Hazeh than in the poignant words of Dovid HaMelech, Klal Yisroel’s very first king, who was able to articulate every hope, dream, fear, and emotion inherent in the Jewish soul. All of our deepest sentiments – from grief to

joy to uncertainty to delight – can find expression through the psalms that have remained pillars on which we have leaned for generations. During trying times, we have seen our great grandparents, our grandparents, and our parents turn heavenward with their tattered tear-stained Tehillims, begging for rachamei shamayim in the countless forms He bestows it. It is therefore no surprise that the previous Sulitzer Rebbe, zt”l, turned to his Tehillim and that the Kollel engages the one language that unites us in order to daven so genuinely for us.

We know that the power of one “amen” or one tefillah can move mountains. Do we dare desert the spiritual strength of a Tehillim Kollel, organized just for us, for our very own well-being, at a time when tefillah can change our communal and personal din for the better?

All community members, the beneficiaries of the tefillos being recited by our shluchim at the Kosel – perhaps even the very moment you are reading this – are

encouraged to support the continuation of the Sulitza Tehillim Kollel, under the leadership of the Sulitzer Rebbe, Reb Yankel Rubin, shlit”a. Supporters of the Tehillim Kollel readily send to the mispallelim the names of their family members and friends who are anxiously awaiting their particular yeshuos– from health to parnassa and everything in between. What better time is there for you to send them the names of your loved ones and to join those who make this unique kollel possible day after day?

Men are invited to a parlor meeting for the Kollel at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eliyahy Klein, 559 Cedar Hill Rd, West Lawrence, NY 11691, Tuesday evening, September 12, at 8:30 pm. We look forward to greeting you in support of this matchless mainstay of our community. In the zechus of your support and the tefillos of the kollel, may each and every one of us merit a gmar chasima tova this year and every year.

Sulitza Tehillim Kollel

Ishay Ribo Makes History

Ishay Ribo became the first Israeli artist and the first Orthodox Jew to headline a concert at New York’s renowned Madison Square Garden arena on Sunday, September 3, in what became a historic evening of heartfelt songs that united thousands.

A packed Madison Square Garden arena waited with bated breath as Israeli singer Ishay Ribo ascended the colossal stage at New York City’s premier entertainment venue on Sunday evening. Hours later, when his final song dissolved into thunderous applause, the electrified emotions coursing through the audience bore witness to an unforgettable evening of Jewish unity and inspiration.

Coming just twelve days ahead of

Rosh Hashana, Ribo’s performance immersed those present in the moving melodies of Elul.

“We’re bridging worlds tonight,” Ribo said of the concert’s theme. “These are songs I grew up on in the synagogue and in my parents’ home; I never imagined a day when thousands would sing those songs here in Madison Square Garden.”

Ribo’s Madison Square Garden debut—partnered with Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada—reflected the diversity and unity of today’s Jewish world. Jews wearing jeans danced alongside those wearing black hats, and Chassidic, secular, Sephardic, and modern orthodox Jews sang along to a heartfelt repertoire of traditional Mizrachi tunes,

The Event: Focus on our Future

This Sunday, a historic event, “Focus on our Future,” will be taking place in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns community. Developed in partnership between KETER (KEhilla Technology Education & Resources) and Project Focus, this Sunday’s program serves as a kickoff to a year-long initiative to approach technology in a thoughtful, deliberative and strategic way in order to benefit from what technology has to offer and mitigate its many social, psychological and behavioral challenges.

Ask yourself this: “Is technology serving as an enhancement in my life? Or an intrusion?” For most people, the answer

is yes to both. Today’s advancements in digital technology provide tremendous opportunity for productivity, access to information, communication and connectivity. But it also interferes with our social and psychological well-being, our relationships, and individual development. But what if we, as a community, could take small steps to shift our technology use to more of an enhancement than an intrusion? Can we? Can you?

Small steps can make a huge difference. It can shift the dynamic from the technology being in control of you, to you being control of the technology. Our community is challenging itself to take

modern Israeli rock, Chassidic Niggunim, and original pop songs.

Secular Israeli rock star Amir Dadon— performing in the United States for the first time—joined Ribo on stage for a stirring performance of Ribo’s hit song Nafshi and other classic hits, alongside Israeli popular star Akiva.

Midway through the concert, the music cut short.

“I am honored by the presence of an artist who has been a personal inspiration and mentor,” Ribo said. “I stand before him as a student before his teacher,” he added before inviting Chassidic singer Avraham Fried to the stage. Surprised to find himself on the big screens, Fried made his way to the stage amidst uproar-

ious cheering from the audience. United on stage, the two performed an emotional rendition of Avinu Malkeinu in honor of the concert’s auspicious date: the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Baal HaTanya on 18 Elul.

For all those present, the event’s immense scale evoked powerful emotions. “A venue of this scale once seemed unachievable for Jewish music,” Ribo said. “But the world is changing today. There are challenges, but as artists, we’re here to bring light and create togetherness.”

To view Bnei Akiva’s extraordinary offer to concert-goers considering aliyah, including a year of free groceries and a concert with Ishay Ribo, visit bneiakiva.org/welcomehome

these steps together. In September and October, we are challenging ourselves to Shut Down for Shul. In November, we will go dark for dinner, and we will continue to take small steps together as a community.

But it all starts on September 10 at 7:30 p.m. with two parallel programs with the singular goal of redefining our relationship with technology. The program taking place at The Young Israel of Woodmere will feature Morah D’asra

Rabbi Sholom Axelrod, Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, rav of The Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton, and noted attorney Benjamin Brafman, Esq. The program taking place

at Congregation Kneseth Israel – The White Shul in Far Rockaway will feature Morah D’asra Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Harav Sholom Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and Dr. Michael Rich, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital.

To date, more than 25 shuls and nearly 20 schools in the area have signed on to this historic initiative. Will you?

Learn more at ketertech.org and theprojecfocus.org.

See ad on page 11.

DoorDash Donates an Additional $50K Worth of Deliveries to Masbia

By Laura Allen

The Silicon Valley based delivery giant DoorDash granted the Masbia Soup Kitchen Network an additional $50,000 worth of deliveries to help feed the needy during the upcoming High Holiday season.

This year, Masbia plans to distribute close to $1,000,000 worth of food this High Holiday season. A large part of that will be delivered to families in need using DoorDash’s delivery service. Preparations began in the beginning of the summer, and some deliveries were already sent out in the last days of August.

“There is always an uptick in demand during holiday seasons. We need to juggle

between the everyday dinner, the regular food pantry pick-up, the in-house Yom Tov meals, and the thousands of families who will be getting multiple deliveries throughout the season,” said Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia Soup Kitchen Network. “We need all the

JSL Season Launches

The JSL Fall 2023 Season, sponsored by FM Home Loans, kicked off this past Sunday! Over 500 boys from Darchei, YKLI and around the community signed up for the fall season, and week one featured evaluations and scrimmages and tons of swag!

The JSL features eight divisions across K-8th hockey, 3rd-7th basketball, 1st/2nd football, and K/P soccer. This season, due to the growth of the league, games are played every Sunday across three different gyms! The JSL Scholarship Fund also was able to provide nearly 100 full or half scholarships thanks to the support of the many corporate team sponsors and the Hall of Fame sponsors – Town Appliance, Wieder Orthodontics, Maidenbaum, and Island Roofing, along with the MVP sponsor, “I Am Your Chef.”

This week was player evaluations, a crucial step in forming fair and competitive teams for the remainder of the season. The league is already showcasing an abundance of talent, both from returning players and new boys.

In the 2nd/3rd Hockey division, Dovid Levitin scored a buzzer-beating game-winning goal, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for his team. Later in the day, in the 6th-8th Hockey League, Simcha Hersh scored a crucial goal with just 9 seconds remaining, clinching a hardfought win for his team.

Meanwhile, Sam Teitlebaum had a standout performance in 1st/2nd Football, making multiple receptions and effectively shutting down the opposing team’s offense. In 3rd/4th Basketball, Nosson Rapapport sank a buzzer-beating

help we can get.”

“We at Masbia are extremely grateful to DoorDash. They’d already given Masbia a sizable grant for 2023, but we had used it all up mainly with our Passover distribution. So this additional grant will help us during the High Holiday season

and hopefully beyond,” added Rapaport. Throughout the High Holiday season, Masbia plans to distribute approximately 10,000 food packages and serve 28 holiday meals in-house – with the three sites combined, that is a total of 84 seudahs. Masbia is hoping to be able to pay for all this with a crowd-funding campaign where people can choose exactly which meals they would like to sponsor at which location. Learn more about it out here: www.Masbia.org/HH23

Masbia Soup Kitchen Network was founded in 2005 and is currently in its 18th year of operations. Millions of kosher-certified meals have been served yearly out of three locations.

shot, and Pinny Eisenberger in the 5th7th Basketball division earned the title of Game MVP for his incredible baskets. Even the youngest players in KP Hockey showcased their impressive skills, with 6-year-old Moshe Silberberg scoring an almost full-court goal!

At the end of week one’s scrimmage games, all the boys received JSL Swag Bags sponsored by our Hall of Fame and MVP Sponsors. Additionally, the hockey division received custom JSL FM Home Loans hockey tape to wrap their sticks with. JSL boys also enjoyed the opportunity to take pictures with the league mascot, the JSL Jaguar! The first week was a fantastic start of what promises to be a highly enjoyable and competitive season!

JSL is the premier local sports league for boys from Darchei, YKLI and across

the community. Games are played each Sunday in local gyms. The fall season is sold out. Winter Registration opens soon. Visit 5tjsl.com to see more info about the league!

Rabbi Reuven Nierenberg, Ram Bais Medrash Chaim Berlin, and Rabbi Yitzchok Schechter, grandson of Rav Aaron Schechter, zt”l, and rebbe in Talmud Torah Siach Yitzchok, were maspid Rav Aaron Schechter, zt”l, last week at Mesivta Shaarei Chaim

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky in conversation with Rav Matisyahu Lesman of Bnei Brak. At right is Rav Avrohom Wachsman

DoorDash deliveries going out from Masbia of Boro Park August 31, 2023

Mesivta Netzach HaTorah was privileged to have HaRav Yaakov Feitman, shlita, Mora d’Asra Kehillas Bais Yehuda Tzvi, give an inspirational message of striving for a lifetime of gadlus, as the Yomim Nora’im approach and the new zman begins

Year-Round Support For Single Jewish Parents at the Gural

Back to school. Parents everywhere breathe a sigh of relief as the two, two-and-a-half-month summer break finally comes to an end. Even parents fortunate to have been able to send their children to summer camp or take extended family trips, even parents who are also off from work in the summer or don’t have to juggle family life with the responsibilities of a job, feel a huge burden lifted when the structure of the school year begins and the stress of having the kids off-schedule comes to an end.

But imagine dealing with the ten-week break as a single parent. Trying to give your children a positive summer experience but not being able to afford to send them to a camp program or take them on a family vacation. Imagine having to juggle your job while your kids are home with no set plans and the younger ones without childcare. Imagine trying to get through the chaotic summer break with little support, with financial constraints and all on your own.

The staff at the Kadima program for single Jewish parents at the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC in Cedarhurst does not have to imagine this heartbreaking scenario. They have been working with single Jewish parents of all ages and backgrounds for nearly a decade, offering year-round support and guidance through the often extended years of trauma and adjustments that are a part of being a single parent. From one-on-one counseling to support groups, lectures and workshops, holidays parties, entitlements education, emergency cash, gift cards and many other services, they have

JCC

been providing assistance and holding their clients’ hands throughout the difficult and challenging journey of being a single parent.

This past summer, thanks to the support of generous donors, we were able to help send many children to day camp. With the continuous backing of UJA-Federation New York, one of the many things we provided was a two-day respite to parents at the end of the summer with our own mini gap camp. As the summer and all its trials and strains approached, we gave moms a much-needed boost of joy and confidence in a relaxing pre-summer night out with great conversation, refreshments, games and gifts. Throughout the summer, our in-person and virtual support groups continued with heartfelt conversation and plenty of laughter to remind our clients that they are not alone. Noted therapist, writer and columnist Esther Mann, LCSW, addressed our group in a warm, interactive lecture about getting back into the dating scene again for those who were ready to move on and take next steps. Early August, we worked with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) to send select children to their amazing Back-to-School program where they were outfitted with a new coat, sneakers, backpack and other clothing and accessories to start the school year with confidence and gear just like their classmates. At the end of the summer, Supplies for Success equipped hundreds of children with brand new backpacks and supplies for the new school year. As we head into the fall, we look forward to starting up our free pi-

ano lessons, made possible by UJA Federation, for select Kadima kids, as well as our therapy groups for young children. If you are a single parent or know one who can use support, or if you would like to help single parents in this new year by making a donation, please contact Ra-

chayle Deutsch at (516)569-6733 ext. 222 or at rachayle.deutsch@guraljcc.org

The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC is a proud non-profit partner of UJA-Federation New York.

Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Yaakov Bender, foreground, left, and Menahel Rav Shmuel Strickman, foreground, right, meeting with Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s first and second grade rabbeim on the first day of yeshiva

Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, greeting the elementary school talmidim on their first morning of yeshiva

Living Higher Stories That Inspire Your Heart and Elevate Your Soul

Afarmer, a lawsuit, a shekel coin ... and an amazing story of emunas chachamim.

Could he really make a person become a baal teshuvah ... in the space of two minutes?

A nasty airline agent, a messed-up flight – and a mother’s tears. Yes, the impossible sometimes happens.

There are some people who can’t live “same old, same old” lives. People not satisfied with mediocrity, who seek growth and are not afraid of challenge.

People who want to “live higher.”

Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky knows all about those kinds of people, and he knows the stories they tell. In Living Higher, he’ll tell you about the barber who brought an angry young man back to Torah observance – with a shaver. The terror victim, still suffering from his wounds, limping towards the shul’s menorah to light a candle of defiance and faith. Stories of hashgachah, emunah, and transcendence. Stories that show

how people can live higher. Stories that inspire us to live higher as well.

The following is one of the incredible stories in this new book.

A Special Shofar In-deed

When we daven, we must not simply mouth the words; we must concentrate on their meaning and feel them, too. This applies to mitzvos as well. It’s not enough to simply do the mitzvah. Hashem wants us to use each mitzvah as a vehicle through which to connect to Him. More than anything, Hashem wants our heart: “Hakadosh Baruch Hu liba ba’i” (Sanhedrin 106b).

It was the end of Mussaf of Rosh Hashanah, a most magnificent davening. Aside from the beautiful renditions of every part of the prayers by the baal tefillah, the sounds of the shofar had also been flawless, piercing heart and soul. Now, the baal toke’a arose to sound the last ten blasts of the shofar.

Rabbi Shmuel Grama, the baal tefillah, noticed that the baal toke’a was not using

the same shofar he had used for the rest of the tekios. At first, he surmised that this shofar would produce even better sounds than the first one. To his surprise, it was just the opposite; the sounds emanating from this shofar were of poor quality, and the baal toke’a had to struggle to emit a sound that was anything close to the original one.

Why, wondered Rabbi Grama, did he switch to a shofar that is not as good? What was wrong with the original shofar?

After davening, Rabbi Grama asked the baal toke’a, Reb Eli Kriger, for the reason behind the switch.

Reb Eli explained by sharing a story

When I was learning in Eretz Yisrael as a bachur, my friend and I decided to learn how to blow the shofar. After trying out the yeshivah’s shofar, I realized that if I wanted to do this for real, I had to purchase my own. I went into a store in Meah Shearim and asked the proprietor to show me his merchandise, and a little while later, I walked out of the store with my very own shofar. After practicing for a while, I eventually got the hang of it.

Fast forward several years. I was married and living in Eretz Yisrael. During Elul, I kept my shofar in my tallis bag in case it was needed after davening. (It is customary to sound the shofar each day of Elul in shul.) One day at the end of davening, I noticed that no one else had a shofar. I pulled mine out and blew it.

After davening, a man came over and asked if I could blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah at a nearby shul. I eagerly accepted the offer and was instructed to go to a certain rav, who would train me how to blow according to the custom of that shul, which I did. Next, I was told to buy a new shofar from a particular vendor; the shofros he sold were known to produce a most beautiful sound, and the one I had been using until that point was not the best one.

Again, I followed instructions. I purchased a new shofar, which I blew in that shul on Rosh Hashanah, following the customs for that shul.

When I moved back to America, I offered to blow the shofar at my new shul in Flatbush and was given the job. I used the shofar I had been instructed to purchase for my first shofar-blowing job in Eretz Yisrael, and everything ran

smoothly for several years.

On August 19, 2003, we heard of another tragedy in Eretz Yisrael, the work of Hamas terrorists. Twentythree people were killed and over 130 wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated a five-kilogram device packed with ball bearings on the Number 2 Egged bus in the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood. Many of the passengers were returning from davening at the Kosel. Our nation was, once again, plunged into mourning.

As I read the list of victims, I recognized one of them: the proprietor of the store where I had bought my original shofar. This was a personal blow to me, as I felt a certain connection to him. I went to the rav of my shul and asked if it would be okay to use my new shofar for the first ninety blasts, and the shofar I had bought from the Yid who had been martyred for the final ten. It would serve as a merit for his neshamah.

Reb Eli continued, “Ever since then, I switch shofros and use this old shofar for the last ten blasts. I do it for that Yid’s neshamah, and it means a lot to me.”

Rabbi Grama was moved by the story. From then on, the sounds emanating from that shofar no longer bothered him but inspired him instead.

This “original” shofar may not create the most pleasing sounds to the human ear, but it most likely creates the most pleasing sounds to Hashem’s ear. It is not always about how something sounds or looks; it is the inside — and the story behind it — that counts the most.

CAHAL Closes After 31 Years

By Shimmie Ehrenreich

After 31 years of outstanding service to the local Jewish community, CAHAL, the special education program for children with learning disabilities, will not open classes for the 2023-24 school year. The program was established in 1992 by the rosh hayeshivas and principals of local yeshivas, bais Yaakovs and Hebrew day schools, and community leaders, Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Richard Altabe and Paul Reinstein. They served as officers of the program until the very end. The original principals were Rabbi Moshe Gottesman and Mrs. Pearl Greene of HANC, Rabbi Mordechai Besser of HAFTR, Rabbi Armon Friedman of HALB, Rabbi Yaakov Bender of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Rabbi Chanina Herzberg of Toras Chaim of South Shore, Rabbi Moshe Weitman of Torah Academy for Girls, and Mrs. Judy Hartstein, Yeshiva of Belle Harbor. Mrs. Naomi Nadata was recruited as the Program Director. Rabbi Yaakov Reisman served as Rabbinic Consultant.

All the schools in the community had children who were not succeeding in mainstream classes and needed additional support beyond resource room and tutors. CAHAL was established to educate these children in classes with a 4-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, a maximum of 12 students per class, and rebbeim and teachers who were certified in special education.

Since each school did not have enough students to open a class in a specific grade

for their children who needed special education, they began a collaborative effort to combine students in each grade in a different school. The principals strongly encouraged the parents to send their child to CAHAL with the goal to mainstream him or her back to their original school. As the program grew, Mrs. Alice Feltheimer was brought in as Educational Coordinator. Within 10 years, the program grew from one class with five students to 11 classes and 100 students. Over the years, additional yeshivas joined the consortium of schools in the program: Bnos Bais Yaakov, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, and Shulamith. In 2003, Mr. Avi Weinstock was brought in as President, and Mr. Shimmie Ehrenreich was recruited to be Executive Director. Mr. Moishe Mishkowitz came on as a Vice President in 2006. At its peak, CAHAL had 12 participating schools and as many as 13 classes and 120 students.

After several years of declining enrollment, CAHAL announced in January that it would not open classes in September 2023. The Five Towns, Far Rockaway, West Hempstead and greater Nassau County communities are losing a vital program that has educated hundreds of children with learning disabilities these past 31 years. The CAHAL administration and Board of Directors expresses hakorat hatov to the participating schools for hosting CAHAL classes all these years. They also thank the generous donors of the local community for financially supporting this outstanding program.

Lechu V’Nelcha Kickoff Event

Lechu V’nelcha is back, and we are excited to kick off the year with a grand Pre-Rosh Hashanah event this Wednesday night, September 13.

Lechu V’nelcha (LVN), spearheaded by Rebbetzin Dina Fink, is a global program for post-seminary girls with branches worldwide. LVN has weekly shiurim for post-seminary girls in each local branch as well as joint Shabbatons, trips, and other events.

For our first shiur of the year in the Far Rockway branch, we are honored to have

the zechus of hearing from renowned speaker Rav Nechemya Grama who will be speaking about Tefilas Rosh Hashanah. The event will be at 8:30 PM at 635 Oak Drive in Far Rockaway (back basement door). After Succos, we are excited to start our weekly shiurim every Monday night in Far Rockaway.

For a full list of our upcoming speakers, feel free to contact us at lvnfarrockaway5t@gmail.com. We are looking forward to greeting you personally!

Elevating Wines for Rosh Hashana

By Gabriel Geller, Royal Wine/Kedem

As 5783 comes to a close, so does the harvest season for many wineries, marking yet another remarkable year of growth for kosher wine in terms of diversity and availability. In the upcoming year, 5784, there is a treasure trove of high-quality wines from some of the world’s most prestigious regions to look forward to.

Rosh Hashanah holds a unique place in the Jewish calendar. It’s a time for reflection, encompassing both the lessons of the past year and the potential of the one ahead. While davening, our focus shifts to introspection and teshuva. Despite being solemn, the Yomim Noraim are also joyous holidays, deserving wines that echo this spirit – special bottles that bring smiles to our tables.

My ideal way to begin the year is with a bottle of sparkling wine. Bubbly wines radiate positivity and perfectly complement festive meals. Refreshing, exciting, and versatile with food, sparkling wine pairs beautifully with a wide array of dishes. While the selection of kosher French Champagne continues to grow, I’d like to highlight one from Israel crafted just like Champagne.

For over two decades, Yaakov and Naama Berg and their team at Psâgot winery have been producing rich and thought-provoking wines, drawing inspiration from both old and new worlds. Psâgot just released a Blanc de Blancs: a Champagne-method sparkling wine made entirely with Chardonnay grapes that is nothing short of exquisite – crisp, dry, with lively effervescence, and adorned

with yeasty and mineral notes that elevate any meal to a first-class experience.

This year, let’s embrace patience as a virtue. Being patient with wine can be extraordinarily rewarding. Consider wines that, when stored correctly, continue to evolve and improve for years after their release, gaining smoothness and complexity, layering on delicious flavors and aromas. L’havdil, it is a bit the same with the soul. The more we nurture it, the closer it grows to G-d. Except for wine, there is no teshuva possible; if wine was damaged due to improper storage, it cannot be “fixed.”

The key to enjoying aged wine, besides having a wine cooler or a cellar, is to purchase a few bottles (or better yet, a few cases!) of each wine you intend to cellar. Start by tasting a bottle upon release, and then revisit it every 2 to 3 years to monitor its evolution. Special occasions like yom tov or a family simcha provide excellent opportunities to assess its progress and appreciate its growth.

Two wines that consistently exhibit aging potential are the Shiloh Mosaic from Israel and the Herzog Special Edition Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford from California’s Napa Valley. These wines can continue to improve for a decade or more after their harvest year. While the Shiloh tends to develop a spicier and juicier character, the Herzog Rutherford offers bold, concentrated berry notes, with some earthy undertones reminiscent of the finest Bordeaux wines.

Speaking of Bordeaux, keep an eye out for the Château Lagrange 2021. This amazing classed growth wine, hailing from the Saint-Julien appellation, presents youthful notes of red berries with a

velvety mouthfeel, complemented by a distinctive austerity. Over the years, this austerity will transform over time into mouth-filling, smooth, and captivating secondary and tertiary notes of forest floor and chocolate.

Italy holds a special place in the hearts of wine lovers, offering some of the most intriguing and flavorful wines. The Piedmont region in northern Italy, in particular, produces a wide array of wines. The new Lovatelli Barbera d’Asti comes highly recommended. It boasts notes of ripe

strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries with herbaceous nuances and high acidity, delivering a unique experience with each sip.

Celebrating yom tov by uncorking a special bottle like those mentioned above will enhance any meal. It is entirely appropriate and even encouraged to indulge in such wines on yom tov. Sipping these wines reminds us of the value of patience and how time can transform a wine, just as it transforms us through our choices and decisions. Shana tova!

Time to Get Back to Grammar

The bar was walked into by the passive voice.

Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They drink. They leave.

A comma splice walks into a bar, it has a drink and then leaves.

A dangling modifier walks into a bar. After finishing a drink, the bartender asks it to leave.

A question mark walks into a bar?

Two quotation marks “walk into” a bar.

A run on sentence walks into a bar it is thirsty.

Riddle Me This

The past, the present, and the future walked are going into a bar. It was tense.

A synonym ambled into a pub.

A gerund and an infinitive walk into a bar, drinking to drink.

A hyperbole totally ripped into this bar and destroyed everything.

Falling slowly, softly falling, the chiasmus collapsed to the bar floor. A group of homophones wok inn two a barre.

It was the first day of school at the start of the new school year. Shira set her alarm clock for 6 a.m. Monday morning. but hit the snooze button one too many times. She showed up an hour late to school that day. First impressions last, and she needed to prove herself to her strict teacher. So, the next 2 days she got to school an hour early. But, unfortunately, the next day, her little sister unplugged her alarm clock and she was once again late for school. The next day, it rained and she needed her mother to drive her. Of course, her brother was shlepping along, and because of him she got to school 15 minutes late. (By now, the teacher is starting to think that Shira could just never get there on time).

What is the probability of Shira coming late to school the next day?

Answer: The next day is Shabbos. There is no school!

School Trivia

1. What term describes the fear of going to school?

a. Didaskaleniophobia

b. Scholarprocrastananphobia

c. Normal

d. Educationallergia

2. How do students at the Los Pinos grade school in a remote valley in Colombia get to school?

a. By horse

b. They hike 3 miles

c. By zipline

d. They drive ATVs, starting at age 3

3. Approximately how many students are in Texas A&M University, which is the largest college in the U.S?

a. 12,000

b. 45,000

c. 75,000

d. 240,000

4. Which country has the shortest school year, at 36 weeks?

a. U.S.

b. Israel

c. Mexico

d. France

5. In which country are there no janitors in schools because they want to teach the children how to clean up on their own?

a. Singapore

b. Israel

c. Austria

d. Japan

6. Which U.S. state is known for having the first public school system in the country, established in 1635?

a. Massachusetts

b. New York

c. Virginia

d. Pennsylvania

7. What is the average tuition for private schools in the U.S.?

a. $7,600

b. $12,350

c. $14,000

You Gotta be Kidding Me!

Little Johnny just came back from his summer break where he’d toured the Italian countryside. His language teacher, wanting to spur grey matter in the classroom, asked the children to make a sentence with the words defense, defeat and detail.

$18,100

What is the average student-to-teacher ratio in U.S. public schools?

a. 10:1

b. 15:1

c. 20:1

d. 25:1

Wisdom Key

7-8 correct: You are made for school! Definitely no didaskaleniophobia.

3-6 correct: You are mediocre… American school system!

0-2 correct: Considering a move to France? Only 36 weeks of school!!

After a few minutes of silence, Little Johnny raised his hand and confidently said, “Well, de horse jumped over de fence and de feet got tangled in de tail...”

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech

By Rabbi Berel Wein

He harkens back to the covenant of remembrance as being the instrument of his continuing presence throughout all of Jewish history.

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech

These final parshiyot of the Torah always coincide with the approaching end of the old year and the beginning of the new year. This is in line with the contents of these parshiyot which contain the review of Moshe’s career as the leader of Israel and of his life and achievements. So, too,

does the end of the year demand of us a review, if not of our entire past life, but at least a review and accounting of our actions during the past year.

Moshe’s review is really the main content of the book of Devarim itself. Though it recalls historical and national events, there is no doubt that Moshe himself is the central figure of the sefer. He records for us his personal feelings and candidly admits to his disappointments and frustrations. But he never

departs from his central mission of reminding the people of Israel of the unbreakable covenant that has been formed between them and their Creator.

That covenant is renewed again in this week’s parsha. It is no exaggeration to assert that it is constantly renewed, and at the year’s end, we are reminded of this. That is the essential essence of remembrance that characterizes this special season of the year. Remembrance brings forth judgment and accountability and leads to an eventual renewal of faith.

he tells us in this week’s parsha that he “can no longer go forth and return.” For humans exist by the will of G-d, and when that Will decrees the end of life, then the human being will cease to function on this earth. Who can claim greater merits in this world than Moshe had? Yet the hand of human mortality struck him down. Part of the great lesson of Torah is that life continues without us necessarily being present. Moshe sees far into the distant future but knows that he will not be present to see those events actually unfold. He

Moshe reminds the people that the future is also contained in their remembrance of the covenant. All the generations past, present, and future are bound together in this covenant of accountability. And through this process, the mortal Moshe gains immortality, as all of us can acquire this immortality through our loyalty to the covenant.

Moshe at the end of his life has in no way lost his acumen, strength, or vision. He leaves this world in perfect health and free of bodily ailments and restraints. Yet

harkens back to the covenant of remembrance as being the instrument of his continuing presence throughout all of Jewish history. As long as the covenant is remembered and observed, Moshe is still present with Israel. It is this covenant that defines us as a people and even as individuals. Our relationship to it is under constant heavenly review. It should be self-evident that for our part we should enthusiastically renew our allegiance to it at this fateful part of our life and year.

Shabbat shalom.

He harkens back to the covenant of remembrance as being the instrument of his continuing presence throughout all of Jewish history.

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech Children of One Father

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

The parsha begins (Devarim 29:9, 11), “You are standing here today, all of you, before Hashem your G-d, your leaders, your tribes, your elders, your officers, every Jewish person…that you may enter the covenant of Hashem your G-d.” The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh explains the nature of this covenant. He posits that it is one of interpersonal responsibility. It means that every Jew has an obligation to ensure that those with whom he wields influence keep mitzvos and avoid aveiros. Guarantorship also means that Hashem will hold us to account if we abrogate this responsibility. In saying this, the Ohr Hachaim is addressing the following implied question: Why is this covenant of interpersonal responsibility “before Hashem your G-d”? Because each Jew is responsible for another, it is more logical for the covenant to be between the members of the Jewish community, and not between the Jewish people and Hashem. Why is the covenant of guarantorship a covenant between the Jewish people and G-d?

In the sefer Mesilas Yesharim, Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal, outlines one of the highest levels of human attainment, that of a chassid, a pious individual. Although the Ramchal lived at the same time as the Baal Shem Tov, he uses the word “chassid” in the classical sense, not as it would later be used to connote a specific sect within the Jewish people with distinctive clothing and customs. He explains that the chassid is distinct from a “regular” good Jew. A good Jew avoids sins and does mitzvos. But he does so in order to accumulate reward in the World To Come and because he fears punishment. His primary concern is his own spiri -

tual wellbeing, so he does whatever he can to ensure that he and his immediate family and circle of friends are doing well, but he does not concern himself with the spiritual or physical welfare of anyone outside his sphere of personal concern.

A chassid, on the other hand, is one who is not only motivated by his own reward and punishment. He keeps the same mitzvos and avoids the same aveiros as any other righteous Jew. But he does so not with his own wellbeing in mind, but to give pleasure and pride to the Master of the World. That is primary motivation. The chassid is therefore not satisfied if he does well spiritually while others are not doing well. Because he only wants to give Hashem pleasure and satisfaction, he cannot rest while Hashem’s other children are far from who they ought to be. He knows that this causes G-d pain, so he is not indifferent to others’ spiritual state. He

does whatever he can for those within his own sphere of influence to help and encourage them to draw closer to their Father in Heaven. This way, he can fulfill his true goal, to give G-d more and more satisfaction from His children.

When Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, zy”a, became very old, he was blind and extremely weak. During that period, he once said that if Hashem ever gave him the choice to switch places with Avraham Avinu, with all of Avraham’s merits and mitzvos, he would not trade. Why? Because in the end, G-d would still have one Avraham Avinu and one “Blinder Bunim, Blind Bunim.” While he would have had additional merits if he was Avraham, Reb Simcha Bunim’s only concern was whether such a trade would give anything new to Hashem. There would still only be one Avraham Avinu and only one “Blinder Bunim.” It would not create any net gain for Hashem.

We now understand the difference between the covenant in last week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, and the one in this week’s parsha. The covenant of Parshas Ki Savo is one between each individual and G-d, where each person is responsible for himself. But the covenant of Parshas Nitzavim is one of interpersonal responsibility. The later covenant is also one between the Jewish people and G-d, because the primary reason we take responsibility for others’ physical and spiritual wellbeing is our desire to give pleasure and satisfaction to our mutual Father, the King of Kings. That is why the covenant is with “all of you… every Jewish person.” Because our main concern as Jews should not be only for ourselves, but for our Father in Heaven, we must not be indifferent to the welfare of any of His children.

This is the choice which must be foremost in our minds as we approach Rosh Hashana, when we acknowledge that Hashem will judge us “whether as children or as servants.” A servant is satisfied if he simply does the minimum necessary to receive his salary and avoid punishment by his master. The relationship is also not permanent because a master can sell or free his servant. But a child’s relationship with his father is permanent, and his main concern is not reward, punishment, or even simply doing his job. His main interest is in making his father happy. He would happily do something for his father even if he would not receive credit for it as long as it makes his father happy.

That must be our goal on Rosh Hashana. If we want Hashem to judge us like his children, then we must be loving children who are concerned with making Hashem happy rather than simply

checking off all of our obligations in the big checklist in the sky. That is why we read Parshas Nitzavim just before Rosh Hashana. By doing so, we take upon ourselves the mitzvah of guarantorship, interpersonal responsibility, to internalize the realization that all Jews are one family, part of one precious team whose goal is to coronate Hashem as King and reveal His Presence in the world.

There is a famous story of the Baal Shem Tov which illustrates this concept beautifully. Every Shabbos in shul, the Baal Shem Tov davened a very long Shemonah Esrei. Normally, the men in shul waited until the Baal Shem Tov finished. But one week, the Baal Shem Tov was taking particularly long. Although it is hard to believe, the men in shul decided to leave and meet back in shul an hour later, thinking that the Baal Shem Tov would still be davening at that time. Just to be safe, however, they sent someone to check on the Rebbe after 15 or 20 minutes, and the man quickly ushered everyone back into shul. The Rebbe was standing by his shtender, waiting for them. Embarrassed because they caused the Baal Shem Tov to wait for them, they returned to shul and finished davening.

After davening, the Baal Shem Tov explained why he finished Shemonah Esrei unexpectedly quickly with a parable. The subjects in a certain kingdom found an exceedingly beautiful, rare bird high on top of a tree. It was so high that no one knew how to reach it, but they very much wanted to bring this bird to the king as a gift. Not knowing what else to do, they told the king about

bottom of the tower realized that he had some personal matters that required his attention, and he left. Understandably, the tower collapsed, and the man on top was unable to bring the bird to the king. The Baal Shem Tov then went on to tell the chassidim that he was like that man on top of the tower. He was only able to achieve what he could achieve in the higher worlds for G-d’s sake because

friends and family. We are one nation with one Father and one ultimate goal: to reveal the depth of Hashem’s Kingship in this world. The main thing is that we make Hashem proud.

it. Being a wise man, the king instructed them to stand in a tower, each person on the shoulders of the one below. That way, the king told them, the person on top could reach the bird and bring it to him. The king’s subjects excitedly did as the king suggested and created a human tower. Just as the top person was about the retrieve the bird, one man on the

he was together with other Jews in the shul. He depended on them. Everyone is necessary, and no one is expendable. The concept of guarantorship, interpersonal responsibility, is based on the fact that we are all children of the same Father. We are all on the same “team.” None of us can remain content worrying only about ourselves or our immediate

May all of us merit entering into Rosh Hashana as children, and not servants, of the King of Kings. May we care not only about ourselves but about others’ physical and spiritual wellbeing because all of us are children of one G-d. May we not remain indifferent to the spiritual stature of others and do what we can to give more pleasure and satisfaction to our Father in Heaven by working to bring all of His children closer to Him. And may we all be written and sealed for a good year of blessing, health, joy, growth, and happiness, a year in which we will finally experience the long-awaited final redemption with Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash.

We are one nation with one Father and one ultimate goal: to reveal the depth of Hashem’s Kingship in this world.

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.

Rosh Hashanah: The Three Stages of Teshuvah

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

The second Daniel woke up, he knew something was wrong. He felt perfectly fine, but he had no memory of who he was. After searching his house, the only useful thing he could find was a book that he seemed to have written. It contained a list of instructions, explaining his life’s story and how he suffers from a form of amnesia, sometimes forgetting who he is. He had written this book as a guide for him in these situations.

As he continued reading through the book, he realized that it also included a detailed philosophy of life, a deep spiritual perspective of the world, and an emphasis on living with a mission-centered focus. The book instructed him to seek out a specific mentor, and when he does so, the mentor takes Daniel under his wing and agrees to teach him the true path to greatness. Daniel has an incredible desire to grow and improve, and although he finds the learning difficult, he enjoys the challenge.

As Daniel goes through life, he faces a number of challenges: financial difficulties, relationship struggles, and some health battles. However, the principles in the book and his mentor’s guidance help prepare Daniel for these challenges. He faces each one head-on, always battling through and never giving up. Most of all, they help Daniel deal with his arch-nemesis, Aaron. It appeared as though Aaron’s mission in life was to crush Daniel’s dreams and thwart his every goal. For every step forward Daniel takes, Aaron is always there to challenge him, attempting to push him two steps back. But Daniel never gives up, always managing to push past his challenges. Even when Daniel has a minor setback, he always manages to pick himself back up, re-harness his willpower, and keep pushing forward.

After a lifetime of growing, learning, and contributing to the world, Daniel is now a nearly perfect being. One day, just after waking up, the entire world disappears from under him and Daniel finds himself in another dimension, standing face to face with…himself.

“I’m sure you are confused,” the other Daniel says, “but I will explain everything. I am the real Daniel, or at the very least, the original Daniel. I was created perfect. Everything in my life was easy, clear, and perfect. But at the end of my life, I felt that something was missing. I suddenly realized that I didn’t want to be perfect, I wanted to become perfect. I therefore devised a plan.

“I created a younger version of myself without any memory of who he was. I then created a perfect archnemesis who would challenge him, thereby pushing him to grow. This archnemesis would develop along with him, continuing to counter and challenge him as he evolved and grew. But I did not leave Daniel to fend for himself;

I created a book of instructions that would guide Daniel back to perfection.

“You, Daniel, are a part of me. Therefore, through your journey, a part of me gets to experience the process of becoming perfect.

“You have just finished your journey; you have reached a perfect state. Now, you get to enjoy the perfection you’ve built.”

A New Year

The birth of a new year is a time of reflection and resolution; a time when hope and inspiration fill the air. We dream about what this upcoming year holds in store; how we can make the rest of our life the best of our life. We all have ideas, ambitions, and aspirations that we yearn to bring to fruition, and the new year gives us “permission” to revisit these goals and breathe new life into them. For a brief moment, everything is crystal clear; we see our purpose and our path with vivid clarity. However, there is an underlying frustration

that accompanies this time period as well. If we reflect honestly, we often realize that our new year’s resolutions are awfully similar to those of last year, and the year before, and the year before…

We have brief moments of inspiration, but they soon fade into oblivion, only to be resuscitated for a few more days the next year in the hopes that somehow this year might be different. However, there is another option — a way to actually make this year different. By truly understanding this time of year and fully tapping into its powerful themes, we can turn what was previously fleeting inspiration into lasting, eternal change.

The Deeper Themes of Teshuvah

Elul and Rosh Hashanah center around the concept of teshuvah, and Parshas Nitzavim is clearly linked to this theme as well. The pesukim in Nitzavim discuss the theme of teshuvah, the importance of choosing life — choosing what is right and connecting ourselves back to Hashem (see the first pesukim of perek 30 in Sefer Devarim). As Parshas Nitzavim is connected to the transition from Elul into Rosh Hashanah, let us delve deeper into the concept of teshuvah.

Teshuvah literally means “return,” but whom, or perhaps what, are we returning to? The Gemara (Kiddushin 39b) explains that Hashem created teshuvah before creating the world itself. What is the meaning of this enigmatic statement, and what lessons and implications does it have for us as we proceed through the teshuvah process?

Returning to Your Higher Self

The Rambam (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 1:1) discusses the three-step

process of teshuvah:

• First, one must reflect on their past and acknowledge that a problem exists.

• One must then transition into the present and strongly feel the pain of their mistake, regretting it wholeheartedly.

• Finally, one must look toward the future and resolve to never again commit this same mistake.

This three-step guide is the practical process of teshuvah. However, there is a deeper essence of teshuvah that is the foundation for these three steps, and understanding this deeper essence is the key to truly transforming ourselves through these three steps.

Genuine teshuvah is not just about self-transformation; it’s about self-expression, returning to your true and higher self. As we previously stated, the Gemara (Niddah 30b) explains that while we were in the womb, we were in a perfect and transcendent state of being, and a malach taught us kol haTorah kulah. As the Vilna Gaon explains, this refers to the deepest realms of Torah, a transcendent Torah that lies far beyond this world, beyond the confines of space and time. (Quoted in Maalos HaTorah by Rabbeinu Avraham, brother of the Vilna Gaon. See also Even Sheleimah 8:24.) This Torah is the very root of reality, and you were granted complete understanding of its every detail. Not only were you shown this level of Torah, but you also learned your specific share of Torah; you were shown your unique purpose in the world and how your unique role fits into the larger scheme of the human story as a whole. You were given a taste of your own perfection, of what you could, should, and hopefully will become. And from this transcendent realm, you were birthed into the physical world with the mission to actualize everything you were shown in the womb while in your primordial, perfect state.

In essence, your job in this world is not to create yourself, but rather to recreate yourself — to re-attain your original state of perfection, as you were shown by the malach. This time, however, it must be done through free will — by choosing to become great. Only by overcoming challenge and difficulty and only by asserting your willpower can you fulfill your true potential. In essence, our entire life is a story of teshuvah — returning to our original, higher, and true self.

The shofar is a wake-up blast, meant to shake us from our stupor and return us to our true self. When we hear the shofar’s piercing cry, we yearn to return to our source, to our higher selves. The word “shofar” shares a root with “le’shaper,” to perfect and beautify. Strikingly, it also

shares a root with “mei shafir,” the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus while in the womb. When we blow the shofar, we are reminded to improve and perfect ourselves, to return to the fetal state of perfection we once knew, and to return to our true selves.

The Three Stages of Teshuvah

There are three stages of genuine teshuvah:

• The first is individual teshuvah, where we return to our higher selves, our fetal selves, our true selves.

This is the second stage of teshuvah: returning to our collective self, to the single soul of Klal Yisrael.

The Third Stage of Teshuvah

The third stage of teshuvah is returning to our absolute root and source, to the Source of all sources, to Hashem Himself. The Nefesh Hachaim refers to Hashem as the “neshamah shel neshamos” (the Soul of all souls). Hashem is the root of existence, the absolute root of all our souls. Our journey through life is about sourcing

reflect its absolute root — Hashem. May we be inspired to fully actualize all three stages of teshuvah this Rosh Hashanah and seal ourselves in the book of life, the book of true existence.

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.

• The second stage of teshuvah goes beyond the limited self, turning the focus from individual to community.

• The third stage of teshuvah is returning to our absolute root and source, to the Source of all sources, to Hashem Himself.

• The Rambam, in discussing the laws of teshuvah, states that someone who removes himself from the Jewish community has no share in Olam Haba (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 3:11). In other words, even if this person keeps all of Torah and mitzvos and is an upstanding Jew, if he disconnects himself from the community, he loses his eternal existence. This requires explanation. After all, this person didn’t commit a heinous or evil act; he merely chose a life of isolation. Why should this warrant such extreme punishment?

• The answer is profound. As human beings, we begin our lives as completely self-centered creatures, perceiving ourselves as isolated, separate, and disconnected from everyone else. As we progress through life, we learn to break down those walls and psychological barriers, recognizing that we are part of a bigger self, a collective self, and a higher consciousness. At root, all of Klal Yisrael is one, an interconnected self. Each of our individual neshamos are part of a greater whole, like individual cells that make up a single human body. A central aspect of Olam Haba is experiencing yourself as part of Klal Yisrael, as part of a greater collective reality. If, however, one disconnects themselves from Klal Yisrael, they have uprooted themselves from reality. Just as unplugging a light bulb from its electrical circuit extinguishes its light, a soul simply cannot exist when disconnected from its root. This is not a punishment, but merely a consequence.

our existence back to Hashem; this is the ultimate teshuvah.

We can now explain the Gemara that states that teshuvah preceded creation (Kiddushin 39b.). This is not merely a chronological description; it is a fundamental principle: Teshuvah is the root of this world. All of existence is created with the purpose of returning to its source, to fully

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.

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

The new year gives us “permission” to revisit these goals and breathe new life into them.

Water in the Desert and Pillows for Servants

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

HaRav Meir ben Jacob HaKohen Schiff (1608–1644) wrote a commentary on a number of mesechtos that are commonly studied in yeshiva. The commentary, commonly referred to as the “Maharam Schiff,” is cryptic and often challenging to understand. One prevalent theory is that his manuscript was not ready for publishing. Perhaps he never had the chance to finalize it due to his short life. Others suggest that HaRav Meir Schiff intentionally wrote his commentary in a concise fashion, choosing to maximize his available time for communal endeavors. He was already serving as a rav at the tender age of seventeen!

HaRav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, was invited to speak at a yahrtzeit gathering. His lecture followed an intricate Talmudic discourse. HaRav Kamenetzky noticed that one of the sources used for the discourse was from the Maharam Schiff. He lamented that, sadly, his students did not even know where to find the Maharam Schiff in the Gemara, “Is it (printed) before the Maharsha or after?” He further noted that the state of intensity in Torah learning has diminished in our generation. HaRav Kamenetzky noted that students stopped learning the Maharam Schiff “because you have to count words.” Students nowadays tend to use commentaries that are easier to read. (These remarks were recorded for prosperity by Rav Nosson Kamenetzky, zt”l, who transcribed hundreds of his father’s lectures.)

The Maharam Schiff notes that there seems to be a contradiction between our Gemara in Kiddushin and a Gemara in Bava Metzia (62a).

The Gemara in Bava Metzia states: “Two people were traveling, and [only] one of them had a canteen of water. [There was only enough water so that] if both of them drank they would both die,

but if one of them drank [only] he would make it back to an inhabited area [and live]….” It had been assumed that they should both share the water and perish. However, Rebbe Akiva taught otherwise. “Rebbi Akiva came and taught: ‘Your brother should live imach, with you’ (Vayikra 25:36)—your life takes precedence over the life of your friend.’” Therefore, the owner of the water keeps it for himself and saves his own life.

This would appear to be at odds with our Gemara in Kiddushin (20a). The Gemara expounds the following verse: “For it is good for him imach, with you” (Devarim 15:16). An eved Ivri (Jewish slave) must be “with you,” i.e., equal to you in terms of eating and drinking. The Gemara tells us that if the master eats fine bread, he must provide his eved Ivri with bread of similar quality, and the same applies in other aspects. In conclusion, the Gemara relates the well-known saying, “From here Chazal derived that buying an eved Ivri is like buying a master for oneself.”

Tosefos ask, why does the Gemara say that the eved has become his master, when, in fact, they are now on equal standing? Tosefos answer that if the master has only one pillow, the eved Ivri has priority, and the master must give the pillow to his slave, resting his own head on the ground. The Gemara therefore says that when one buys an eved, it is as if he is buying a master for himself. If possible, they are treated as equals; if not, the eved Ivri is treated better.

The Maraham Shif (B.M. 62) notes that the verse quoted related to the two people traveling in the desert says “imach.” We take that to mean that you, the reader of the Torah, are more important. You keep the water that you have; you need not yield it to the other party. However, the verse regarding the eved Ivri also says “imach.” We take that to mean that you, the reader, must surrender your pillow to the other person. In the absence of equality, the eved Ivri takes precedence. This is inconsistent.

The same word should be expounded similarly in both places; either both the master of the eved Ivri and the owner of the water should keep what they have (the pillow and water, respectively) or they both should be required to surrender it.

The Maharam Schiff offers three answers. The first is that really imach, with you, means that you are secondary: you must surrender what you have. However, the two Jews traveling in the desert with limited water are equal. If one would surrender his water, the recipient would be commanded to give it right back. It would be a vicious game of catch. The Torah must mean, therefore, that the owner of the water keeps it. Because understanding the word imach in the traditional way (meaning the reader is secondary) would lead to an impossible situation, we are forced to interpret the word differently. On the other hand, the verse relating to an eved Ivri is directed at the master. The owner of an eved Ivri has specific laws on how he must treat his slave. The eved Ivri, on the other hand, does not need to reciprocate, because he has no such commandments. We are therefore left with the traditional explanation of the word imach. The slave owner is treated as being secondary, and he must give the lone pillow to the eved Ivri, and that is where it stays!

The Maharam Schiff asked about the contradiction between the two Gemaras cited above in five words. His answer took a whopping 32 words!

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.

L’Shana Tova

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is the one greeting that has found its way into the codified minhagim of Klal Yisroel. The Ramah tells us (OC 582:9) that it is the custom, after Maariv of Rosh Hashana, for everyone to say to each other, “L’shana tova tikasaiv – For a good year, you should be written.” The reader should forgive the awkward translation – it is for a reason. The parenthesis in Shulchan Aruch shows that the source of the Ramah is the Tur.

Do We Add The Word “Sealed”?

This wording, of course, is not the only version, however.

The Magen Avrohom writes that one should add u’sechasaim – and sealed –right after tikasaiv, giving us the famous wording “written and sealed.”

The Vilna Gaon, however, writes that it should not be added.

The Greeting Has Changed

The wording of the greeting, however, has changed significantly over the years. The Tur’s version is “ Tekasaiv b’shana tova – Be written to a good year.” The Ramah and Vilna Gaon have “l’shana tova tikasaiv.” The Magen Avrohom, Chayei Odom and Mateh Ephraim all have “l’shana tova tikasaiv u’sechasaim.”

The Slabodka Version

In the Yeshiva of Slabodka, the wording was much more extensive: l’shana tova tekasaiv u’sechasaim l’alter ul’chaim tovim u’l’shalom – You should be written and sealed for a good year, immediately, and for a good life and for peace.”

So where did the words “l’alter l’chaim ” come from? The wording of course comes from the Gemara in Rosh Hashana 16b where it discusses the three seforim that are opened and that complete tzaddikim are inscribed for life immediately.

Three Versions

The dispute, of course, is not random.

It is based upon how to understand the various Gemaras that discuss the three books of Rosh Hashana. The three Gemaras are Rosh HaShana 16b, the Talmud Yerushalmi (Rosh Hashana page 7), and Rosh hashana 17b.

The disputes revolve around whether a particular Gemara is referring to life in this world or life in the World To Come

middlings who are sealed on Yom Kippur. Rav Aharon Kotler (Mishnas Rav Aharon Vol. II) has a lengthy explanation of it.

Teshuvah or Just More Merits?

There may also be another fundamental debate between the Ran and the Rambam as to whether a bainoni, a spir -

nian Talmud’s understanding, or at least the simple reading of it.

The End Deadline

There is an end deadline (no pun intended) to the greeting as well. The Lvush writes that one may only say this greeting until three hours. The reason is that the righteous are judged in the first three hours of the day, according to the Gemara. We do not want to make the tragic mistake of assuming that our friend is not a tzaddik. The idea that we should consider ourselves a bainoni, a spiritual middling, is only for ourselves – but decidedly not in regard to others.

The Magen Avrohom extends the time until chatzos – until half the day.

The Aishel Avrohom allows tekasaiv to be said until chatzos and allows techasaim after chatzos.

The Eliyahu Rabbah allows it to be said until the end of the first day of Rosh Hashana.

This debate as well is predicated upon how the aforementioned Gemaras are understood.

Rav Hutner’s Explanation

Rav Hutner, zt”l, has a maamar (Pachad Yitzchok RH #14) explaining why the Vilna Gaon did not say “and be inscribed.” In a nutshell, he explains that the sealed refers to the great Yom haDin that is to occur in the future.

and also whether it refers to an individual or a tzibbur, a community. There is a debate between Tosfos and the Ran regarding these matters.

According to the Vilna Gaon’s understanding of Tosfos, all three groups (tzaddikim, rasha’im and bainonim , spiritual middlings) are written on Rosh Hashana and sealed on Yom Kippur.

According to the Ran, it is only the

itual middling, is required to do repentance or whether it is sufficient just to have more mitzvos.

The Ran states that it is enough to have more mitzvos.

The Rambam holds that repentance is actually required.

This debate may also depend upon whether we follow the Yerushalmi’s understanding of the books or the Babylo -

So which one should we do? The answer, of course, is to follow our mesorah, our traditions, as to exactly what to say. When we follow our family traditions, we fulfill another mitzvah of following mesorah.

May everyone have a ksiva vachasima tova – l’alter u’l’chaim tovim ul’shalom.

We do not want to make the tragic mistake of assuming that our friend is not a tzaddik.

American-Like Chinuch Emerges in Eretz Yisroel

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

There has been a dramatic seachange in chinuch institutions for American/yeshiva families that have moved or are contemplating a move to Eretz Yisroel. The landscape is now vastly different than it was a mere twenty years ago. Chinuch mosdos have now entered a phase of “Chinuch For Olim by Olim.”

And many are extremely satisfied.

Back in the late 1990s and early aught years of the new millennia, there were essentially three main issues that the yeshiva-like Olim families had:

• American parents enjoy a lot of input in their schools and they like having it and exercising it. Israeli schools, however, are run differently. “Giveret, I am the menahel here – if you do not like it, you can try to find another mossad” was a refrain that was often heard back then.

• The second issue was that the attitude of the hanhalah of the yeshivos was not to intervene – “Just leave him alone and he will be fine.” In other words, menahelim and rebbeim had a handsoff approach to issues and or potential problems. American parents are not onboard with this.

The Larger Anglo Communities

Now, however, there is a wide variety of mosdos that are available – at least in the largest of the Anglo neighborhoods. Those communities include Ramat Beit Shemesh, Ramot Bet in Jerusalem, Ramat Shlomo in Jerusalem and Rechovot – about 35 minutes from Jerusalem –among others.

Ramat Eshkol, Sanhedria HaMurchevet, Maalot Dafne, Arzei haBirah and French Hill also have large Anglo communities. Many in these areas are kollel couples in their first one to three years of marriage. Now, however, even the landscape in Yerushalayim education is changing (but more on that in future articles, be”h.) When these couples do eventually look for schools, many of them switch their residences to places like Ramat Beit Shemesh. Interestingly enough, only about eight percent (author’s estimation) of married couples from these neighborhoods stay on in Eretz Yisroel past three years. In this article, we will begin the

focus b’ezras Hashem, on the mosdos in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

(For those who wish to avoid those larger communities, for one reason or another, they may opt to educate in a Chareidi Dati Le’umi school, even though they may not be the best fit for their child. Some, however, have made enormous strides in those schools. Even in the communities around the country, including regular Israeli communities, there are Olim that choose to go there and join the regular Israeli schools. Afula and Karmiel have received a number of Olim of late, and, to some extent, these communities have an infrastructure. The real estate there is more affordable, too.)

The Bubbles

What the American yeshiva families have done in Ramat Beit Shemesh is that they have essentially developed “Open Bubble Communities” that are also relatively “soft-landings” for the Olim. They are all taught in Hebrew, and the catchup time is generally between five and six months to acclimate to Hebrew, but they have American Yeshiva values. With an estimated population of 152,000-plus

(author’s estimate) residents, there are some 66 different boys’ yeshivos in Ramat Beit Shemesh, and there will probably be another half dozen more that will open up shortly.

These yeshivos have been enormously successful. Rabbi Lavey Friedman, founder and director and the menahel of Darchei Noam, remarked, “Last year, we had five new seventh graders, and they are doing fabulously well.”

The Pilot Trip

Potential new Olim usually make a “pilot trip” to check out the educational possibilities for their children. In this pilot trip, each family should do their due diligence and homework as to where each of their children belong. A mistake can be very costly, because switching schools midstream can be detrimental to a child, who has already left both home and community.

There are mosdos that are similar to schools such as Yeshiva of South Shore; there are mosdos that are similar to a Talmud Torah Siach Yitzchok; some similar to a Yeshiva Darchei Torah; and there are some that are similar to Yeshi-

• The third issue was that limudei chol was taken far less seriously by the mosdos than their current counterparts.

va Ketana of Long Island. Some of the yeshivos (we are using the term “yeshiva” in the American sense – Pre-K to 8 th grade) are more like a Lakewood Cheder as well. Of course, there is certainly crossover and mosdos vying for the same families – just like schools in the United States. Most of the bigger schools are in Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph.

The schools that more closely resemble a Yeshiva Darchei Torah are Darchei Noam, Magen Avot, and Torat Moshe. Those that are slightly more to the right are Torat Shalom Mem Shalosh (a sub-neighborhood of RBS Aleph) and Beit Eliyahu. VeZos LiYehudah is located in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimel and not Aleph. If someone has a Lakewood-type family, they would be more comfortable in Beit Eliyahu and VeZos LiYehudah.

Girls’ Schools

As far as girls’ schools are concerned, Bais Yaakovs in general are not private schools but are government funded through the Chinuch Atzmai. Ramat Beit Shemesh, however, has a number of private Beis Yaakov type students. (By the way, these schools are run as a private model but in reality they belong to Mayach Chinuch Bnei Yosef – the sefardic version

of Chinuch Atzmai.) How did they start?

Once again, the theme of “By Olim and for Olim” comes through. It was the parents who launched the private schools.

Bais Yaakov Magen Avot is a private school. Bnos Malka is also a private girls’ school with excellent Chinuch. Beit Yaakov HaRamah is often the school where sisters of Torat Moshe boys attend. (But this comparison can be tricky since RBS can have siblings in various schools as well.) Beit Yaakov HaRamah, Magen Avot and Toras Moshe originally offered a remarkable Aliyah coordinator. And now numerous schools offer good Aliyah coordinators as well. Twenty years ago, this term didn’t even exist in reference to schools!

The high schools educate toward passing and even excelling at the Bagrut tests – equivalent to the NY State Regents. Psychometry, by the way, is equivalent to SATs or ACTs in the United States.

Rabbi Shmuel Zalman Eidensohn, the Menahel of Toras Moshe, of Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph, remarked, “Twenty years ago, it was quite challenging. There was only one yeshiva, Magen Avot, and it was a one size fits all. The rabbanim felt that there was a need, and the three rabbanim decided that something had to

be done. They are Elimelech Kornfeld, head of Kehilas HaGra, son-in-law of Rav Aharon Feldman of Ner Yisroel, and Rav Tzvi HaKohen Dovidovitch (a nephew of the famous sofer), and lehavdil bain chaim l’chaim , Rav Malinowitz, zt”l, from Artscroll.”

It was on account of the three rabbanim that schools first opened at different levels. Each school, of course, has their own unique style. This all came about because the parents demanded it and the regular steady growth of Ramat Beit Shemesh allowed them to do it.

The downside to having so many schools is that it is very challenging for the hanhalah. Their budgets are typically one-third government funding, one-third fundraising, and one-third from the tuitions.

Toras Moshe is from ages 3 to 14. The graduates are generally split three ways: One-third go on to a Torah only Yeshiva Gedolah (again, we refer to high school). One-third go on to Mesivta, a high school in Ramat Beit Shemesh which opened about ten years ago. One-third will go to Maarava, Rabbi Boruch Chait’s Yeshiva.

What all this means is that there are options – finally. If parents want to eventually send their children to a high school

where they become fully proficient in every Rav Boruch Ber, the Yeshiva Ketana system in Ramat Beit Shemesh can handle it. If parents want full integration in existing Israeli schools, they can – with a full bagrut diploma, and yet maintaining yeshiva and full Torah hashkafos.

Olim should also be aware of the significant contrast in tuition payments between the U.S. and Eretz Yisroel. An average Bais Yaakov tuition in Eretz Yisroel is a mere few hundred NIS a year. The so-called private schools will charge 2-3-thousand NIS a year (around 200300 NIS a month), and the chadarim can charge a bit more, a few thousand NIS a year, depending on the type of cheder, but this is a mere drop in the bucket compared to American tuitions. Olim should keep in mind, however, that, depending upon age and the type of child, they may be in for a big tutoring bill.

These schools enable chareidi families from New York, Baltimore, Monsey, Passaic, Toronto, London – you name it – to make it and truly thrive in Eretz Yisroel.

The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.

The Power of a Mitzvah

by Yudi Hercenberg

Ifrequently travel within the United States for business purposes. To ensure my personal protection and provide reassurance to my wife, she often sends me with a few dollars to give to charity. There is a widely accepted concept in the Torah: shluchei mitzvah einan nizakin –those people who are messengers for a mitzvah will not be harmed.

In February 2023, I had a flight on Super Bowl Sunday from Florida to California to attend a conference. As I said goodbye to my wife, she expressed a desire to send me with cash for tzedaka, but she didn’t have any. She decided to send me on a different mission, urging me to perform another mitzvah. Curious, I looked at her, waiting for her challenge. “While you’re on your trip,” she said, “try to find someone to put on tefillin with.”

Initially hesitant, I expressed my concerns to her.

“I’ll be staying at a hotel with 3,000 finance professionals. I’m not a rabbi, nor did I grow up surrounded by Chabad shluchim. I’m unsure if I can fulfill this task. In fact, I think I’ve only helped one person put on tefillin in my entire life.”

However, my wife was determined, refusing to accept my reluctance.

“Give it a try,” she insisted, “and make a sincere commitment. Hashem will guide you and make it easier for you.”

Encouraged by her unwavering attitude, I committed.

Less than 20 minutes later, while standing in line to board the flight, I overheard the guy behind me muttering something under his breath. It wasn’t clear if he was addressing me, talking about me, or something unrelated. He said, “I wish I had one of those.” I couldn’t figure out, whether he was referring to my watch, sunglasses, or something else entirely.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I turned around. The fellow appeared to be heading to the same conference as me. I asked him, “What did you wish you had?”

He responded, “That beautiful leather tefillin bag with a nice strap on it. If I had a tefillin bag like that, I would bring it with me on every trip.”

I didn’t even know he was Jewish. Never before had anyone commented on my tefillin bag, let alone while standing in an airport queue. I realized that this whole conversation was somehow connected to the commitment I had just made to my wife. So I asked him, “Have you worn tefillin today?”

He replied, “No, I don’t wear it every day, only sometimes.”

Without hesitation, I blurted out, “Well, would you like to wear it right now?”

Excitedly, he agreed! We both stepped out of the line, and I helped Eduardo put on the tefillin. In that moment, I felt like a million bucks. I took a photo of him wearing the tefillin, and once he finished saying Shema, we returned to the line to board the plane.

After five minutes on the plane, I turned around and discovered that Eduardo was sitting directly behind me. What a remarkable coincidence! If the story had ended at that point, it would have been astounding. But it continues...

Thirty minutes later, I shared Eduardo’s photo of wearing the tefillin on my family chat. I wanted my wife to see that I had successfully met her challenge, and I hoped that the rest of my family would find inspiration in it as well. Unexpect-

edly, my brother Ezra decided to initiate a conversation:

Ezra: Who is that?

Me: My wife didn’t have cash to give me for shliach mitzvah, so she sent me on a mission to wrap tefillin on strangers instead. Twenty minutes later, I wrapped this guy’s tefillin.

Ezra: So you’re now wrapping people with tefillin for Chabad?

Me: It was not for Chabad. It was for you to see and realize that you can do it too :)

Ezra: Got it, so you’re doing it for me and not for Chabad, but you are doing it.

Me: Exactly!!!

Me: Ezra, go wrap today before the sun goes down, if you didn’t already! And if u did, go find someone who didn’t and get them to wrap!! Take a picture and send it on the chat ;)

Surprisingly, Ezra then sent me a photo of him and one of his friends wearing tefillin during the Super Bowl, captioned, “Done. During the Super Bowl!”

Ezra: Can you get another one?

My wife: Yudi – come on – another one on the plane!! Or is it too late in the day?

Me: Actually, since we are flying west, it’s still good. Let me try. I’m not sure who I can get right now since the

flight attendants are giving out drinks and snacks.

I showed the family chat to Eduardo, to demonstrate how his act of wearing tefillin had inspired others. Eduardo read through the entire conversation and then had an amazing idea! “Let’s get the guy sitting behind me to wear tefillin too!” A few minutes later, I sent a photo of “Jay” wearing tefillin.

It all started with my wife’s initial challenge to me. Inspired by Eduardo, I then extended the challenge to my brother, who, in turn, challenged his friend. The chain continued as my brother challenged me again. Remarkably, during that Super Bowl trip, a total of FOUR people ended up wearing tefillin—all because my wife had urged me to commit, assuring me that Hashem would make it easier. The power of one mitzvah had a ripple effect, touching multiple lives along the way.

So I challenge each of you. Commit to doing something outside your comfort zone. Commit to reaching out to another person, even if you’re used to saying, “The rabbis, the shluchim, do that; it’s not for me.” You and I can have a tremendous impact on a fellow Jew that others may not reach.

Join me in reaching out and inspiring more people to do a mitzvah, even while you are on a business trip somewhere. Jay, Eduardo, Ezra, and Ezra’s friend are all real people who would normally not wear tefillin every day.

As a result of this challenge, Jay, Eduardo and I connected on a personal level, even though we were each on our way to a work conference. We have kept in touch until today. Who knows what the future brings.

Mr. Yudi Hercenberg is a Senior Managing Director at Walker & Dunlop. He is also the President of Hercenberg Mitzvah Mission, a non-profit that focuses on empowering laymen to be leaders in their communities. He lives in Parkland, FL, with his wife, Simcha, and their three sons.

The Wandering Jew Montana, Idaho, & Wyoming Part II

By Hershel Lieber

The alarm startled us at 4 AM. It was Tuesday morning, and dawn was slowly giving way to sunrise. I davened at the earliest time possible, and we ate a hearty breakfast. We loaded up the car and headed towards Glacier National Park. We arrived forty-five minutes later at seven o’clock. We were not the first ones there, but traffic at the park’s entrance was sparse and the Going to the Sun Road was still wide open. What we experienced for the next four and a half hours is impossible to put into words. Photos can only capture a small glimpse of the beauty that met our eyes. The fact that the sun was not in the center of the sky contributed to the stunning landscapes that were displayed before us. Mountain peaks capped by age-old glaciers, rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, pristine lakes, lush forests, valleys flourishing with wildflowers, and rock formations in every size and color gave us a new definition to Hashem’s wonderous creations. We made numerous stops at vantage points to marvel at the beauty that we encountered. It goes without saying that my camera did not stop clicking!

The fifty-mile distance between the two ends of Glacier took over four hours, but anything less would have been our loss.

Our next drive was towards Missoula, where we planned to stay overnight. It was a long distance, taking well over five hours, but I was not fazed by the distance nor the time since we were passing stunning landscapes along the entire way: farmlands alternating between fields in different shades of color yielding an array

of crops ranging from wheat, dry peas, lentils and flax. The lavender-colored fields of bitterroot were also in full bloom. They were originally cultivated by Native Americans and are still being used in the production of food and medicine.

The next morning found us heading in the direction of Idaho. We took the Salmon River Scenic Byway, passing dozens of ranches along the river. We were privy to see an assortment of farm animals ranging from cattle (steers and cows) and sheep to donkeys and horses. We even stopped at a llama farm. We stayed overnight in the small town of Salmon and continued the next day driving within the Salmon-Chal-

lis National Forest. Later, we passed scenic flatlands and rocky hills while eyeing distant mountain slopes. Driving these two days, the scenes kept on changing as we went from pastoral settings to woodlands and on to rugged terrain.

Thursday, we went a bit out of the way to experience the Craters of the Moon National Monument. This vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush was formed as a result of volcanic activity. The whole area has an otherworldly look which is why the unusual name caught on. We took a short hike and climbed some of the ash-grey shaded hills. We found it interesting that

amidst the harsh volcanic setting, smatterings of plant life were thriving.

We had two more stops to make before calling it a day. The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot featured the history of the most famous vegetable from Idaho. The museum itself was not so fascinating, but we did learn a thing or two. We ended our day with a visit to Pocatello’s Museum of Clean. An entire museum was created around the theme of what it takes to achieve cleanliness. Products ranging from antique cleaning devices (e.g., washing boards, brooms) to modern equipment (e.g., washer/dryers, vacuum cleaners) were exhibited. Hundreds of brands of soaps, cleansers, detergents, turpentines, scouring cloths, etc. were on display, many bringing back memories of our childhoods. We met the creator of this presentation, and he personally took us around to show off his collection. He even gave us one of his books on cleaning tips as a gift.

Friday, we headed back to Bozeman for Shabbos. We passed potato fields and made our way along a scenic river setting during the four-hour drive. We stayed again near Rabbi Chaim Bruk’s home/ shul. Our second Shabbos was equally inspiring, and we had a larger attendance in shul as a group of six Lubavitcher bochurim arrived to help with kiruv-related activities over the summer. We befriended a couple from Boca Raton and spent time with them over the Shabbos. We also connected to some of the local mispallelim of the Chabad shul.

Sunday, we went to the Lewis and

Bison at Yellowstone National Park

Elk at Yellowstone National Park

Craters of the Moon National Monument

At a scenic stop on the Bear Tooth Highway

Yellowstone’s Prismatic Pond in all its glory

Clark Caverns. We joined a group tour, then climbed a steep path and entered the caves through a narrow opening. We have been to caves before, and this one was not much different than the others. Nevertheless, the cool air, the formations of stalactites and stalagmites, the tall columns, and the underground pools and rivers are always a captivating sight.

On Monday, we drove to Butte, which was a little over an hour away. Butte’s gold rush past is evident in its historic buildings and vintage signs. The historic district has some of the best preserved Victorian houses from the early 20th century. We visited the Copper King Mansion and took an excellent trolley car tour of the city. The tour included a visit to the cop -

per mines at the edge of town. Butte once supplied 50% of the copper used in the U.S. There was once three synagogues that catered to its Jewish population. For a small town in remote Montana that is something. We then headed back to Bozeman and made it an early night.

The next morning, on Tuesday, we left at 6:30 AM. The next two days were going to be a major climax of our trip as we were headed towards Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. We travelled two hours out of our way to enter the park via the

grass. Wildflowers, pines, firs, sunflowers and paintbrushes competed for space near the edges of the meadows. We were privileged to see herds of bison and elks and a lone red fox carrying its prey, a rabbit, in its mouth. This was a special day to remember. We drove eleven hours in the park, and we did not tire. The natural wonders that Hashem displayed in front of our eyes kept us going.

That night, we slept over in a motel in West Yellowstone to be close to the park for the next morning’s expedition. Again,

way disappointed. The eruption began in small spurts, and within seconds, it shot up toward the sky with an impressive precision. We were so glad to have witnessed this natural magnificent performance.

Aside from Old Faithful, there are five hundred other geysers and an extraordinary collection of hot springs, with a total of over 10,000 hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. The Prismatic Pond with its dazzling array of color is truly mindboggling. Of course, we only saw the major sights which are accessible to tourists.

Early afternoon, we headed back to Bozeman and started packing for the next morning’s flight back home. Like the final hours of every trip, there is a mixture of melancholy and anticipation. We wish we could stay longer, and yet we look forward to getting back home.

Bear Tooth Highway. Our daughter Chavi recommended that we take this route. She was right! The stunning feast of beauty was in stark contrast to the hair-raising curves winding over the elevated mountain terrain, mostly without any guardrails. We made a number of stops along the way to take photos at vista clearings.

We eventually descended from the higher elevations and entered Yellowstone. The scenery changed dramatically to lush meadows spread out between hills covered with small trees and patches of

we began our day before six in the morning and were in the park at 8:00 AM. Our destination was the famed Old Faithful Geyser. The geyser erupts on clockwork about twenty times a day, spurting from 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of boiling water into the air to an average height of 145 feet. The eruptions last between two and five minutes and are the most prominent attraction of Yellowstone. We planned a time slot when we should be there so that we can get a seat closest to the front row and await the event. We were in no

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

We were privileged to see herds of bison and elk and a lone red fox carrying its prey, a rabbit, in its mouth.

Motzei Shabbos with Chabad Rabbi Chaim Bruk and guests

A rushing river at Glacier National Park

At Glacier National Park

Old Faithful Geyser

The Salmon River in Idaho

Glacier National Park Bear Tooth Highway’s winding roads

12 Questions for Sam Berger Candidate for NYS Assembly District 27

BY SuSAN SChwAmm

Sam, there is a special election being held for NYS Assembly District 27 on September 12. Can you tell us what it is for?

I’d love to! The previous Assemblymember for District 27, Daniel Rosenthal, has stepped down. This special election determines who will replace him for the rest of his term.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Kew Gardens Hills. I went to Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe for elementary school and Mesivta Ateres Yaakov for high school. I spent three years learning in Yeshiva Bircas HaTorah in the Old City where I formed a student board and helped raised over $100,000 for our yeshiva. I also went to law school at St. John’s University where I was the secretary of the Trust & Estates Law Society and was an active member of the Jewish Law Society. Now I’m happily married and raising my two daughters here in Queens.

You are a newcomer to politics. What character traits or background do you have that you feel will help you in this new position?

My family has always been involved in chessed and local communal support. My father has been president of Bnos Malka Academy for Girls for over 25 years, and my mother has been a teacher at Shevach High School for over two decades. I was raised with public service as a core value and taught to help the community, work for the klal, as the ideal. I have an even temperament and a natural affinity to working with people of diverse natures and cultures.

You mentioned a background in law. Is that something necessary for someone in the Assembly?

Although it is not a requirement, it is certainly something that will give me a leg up on accomplishing a positive agenda in Albany. Understanding how the

Assembly works and what can be done, things that are taught in law school, makes me uniquely suited to succeed as an elected official.

Not everyone knows what each branch of government does. What does the Assembly do and how does that affect residents?

The New York Assembly, similar to the federal House of Representatives, at its basic level creates and modifies laws that affect all New Yorkers. Together with the New York Senate and the Governor, the Assembly drives the course of the legal framework of New York. The Assembly also works on the State’s budget and guides the flow of government funds to all communities throughout the State. Residents see the direct influence of the Assembly, and the controlling Democratic Party, in its support for local public services, such as security and education, as well as local non-profits

such as food pantries for the poor and emergency service organizations like Hatzolah. The Democrats have had a 102 to 48 majority of the Assembly for quite some time, and our community has seen direct benefits from having a Democrat representative as a part of that governing body.

Dan Rosenthal has endorsed you as his successor. Are there are any things that you feel Dan was not able to accomplish and that you want to take on?

Dan accomplished a great deal for our District while in office, and I am deeply humbled that he believes I can build on his accomplishments. I intend to combat harmful bills being introduced at the Assembly such as the “Not on Our Dime” attack on Israel, as well as other issues being pushed on the legislature by the extreme left. I also intend to do my best to bring home results

Sam, with his wife and two daughters

on the issues most on everyone’s mind throughout the District, those centered around security and education.

ueens is a very diverse borough, and so is your district. How can you represent every community in your district?

You have to get out of your bubble, go talk to people, and find common ground in order to succeed. Everyone wants to feel safe. Everyone wants their children to get the best education. Representing every community in my district is going to be a challenge; by listening to people and following up on their concerns, I believe I can unify the District behind the common issues that affect us all. It is in fact a diverse District, and I believe I can find the commonality amongst its peoples to bring us all back to basics –to make our streets safe, our citizens respected, and our schools exceptional.

What are some issues that you hear from constituents continuously as you campaign?

Public safety is the number one issue I hear about. People are rightly concerned, and this is something I can bring to Albany and work on immediately.

What are some issues that are high on your agenda once you get to the Assembly?

As I’ve said, public safety and enhancing our educational resources are my top priorities. The current migrant crisis has been mishandled from the start, and we need strong leadership to guide us

solutions for our communities, which is why I’m proud to have the endorsement of the city’s police officer’s union, the PBA.

Politics has become so partisan. You are running as a Democrat. How will you be able to work across the aisle with your fellow Assemblymembers?

want to find my own middle path to accomplish great things for my District. We have concerns on a very local level, concerns about housing, concerns about the cost of living, concerns about our safety and about our children’s education. I will work with whomever has these same concerns, and we will band together to accomplish our agendas.

Will being a frum person affect how you will be doing your job in the Assembly?

Of course it will. Every action I take as a frum Jew is made with the knowledge that I’ll either be making a kiddush Hashem or a chillul Hashem.

Why is it important for people to go out and vote on September 12?

through it. We need to put our communities first and to support and have the support from our security establishments who maintain and enforce the laws that protect us. I intend to work directly with our local law enforcement agencies to find

As a moderate Democrat, I am more concerned with meeting the needs of my constituents than making misleading promises of carrying on a partisan war. I am neither concerned about the radical left nor beholden to the radical right. I

The eyes of the State’s leadership are all watching this election. In this race, we will have our chance to show Albany the strength of our numbers and the weight of our unity. Every single vote will be counted, and the more unified the vote, the greater the voice I will have in Albany to further our community’s needs. We do need to send a message to Albany – the message that we stand strong and we stand together.

--In this race, we will have our chance to show Albany the strength of our numbers and the weight of our unity---

Freeing the Stigma of Mental Illness From Its Prison of Shame

My Struggle with Anxiety and Depression and My Mission to Support Others Who are Suffering

By Jessica Tsur

It’s 4:53

am.

I’ve been tossing and turning all night. Here’s my chance. I’ve got your attention. What do I want the world to really know? What can I say that will penetrate your hearts? How do I find the words to describe depression – the deep, throbbing emotional pain that overtakes your being. Thoughts of hopelessness and sadness so intense that daily tasks and survival feel impossible. How do I describe the fear that arises each time I have a panic attack? Will you understand that anxiety and depression are illnesses, not choices? Can you comprehend that these struggles often strip our lives of light, leaving us feeling alone in the darkness?

Mental Illness. What do you experience as you see these words? Fear? Sadness? Shame? Do you or someone you know struggle with this often invisible illness? An illness whose companions are loneliness and isolation. An illness that is often expensive to treat and doesn’t come with enough support. An illness that car -

ries shame on its shoulders, leaving those struggling behind closed doors. An illness that forces so many to pretend they are okay, while internally they are losing their will to live.

have something to be embarrassed about. And I refuse to let shame win.

My name is Jessica. I am a mom of five incredible children. I have been running an athome daycare for 13 years. I run a gemach for women’s and children’s clothing. I’m a regular person, just like you, trying to balance being a mom and a wife, a teacher and an active community member. Trying to live my life to the fullest with meaning and purpose. And I have been diagnosed with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and clinical depression. And I choose to stand up to the shame – because I’m a pretty awesome person even with these diagnoses.

Shame derives its power from being unspeakable. Shame tells us to hide. Shame convinces us that we

Living with mental illness is hard. I often feel like a prisoner inside of my own brain. Sometimes, basic tasks such as laundry and grocery shopping feel impossible. And the craziest part is, those who

I would beg Hashem to take away this battle that was ripping away at my existence.

don’t know me have absolutely no idea. This is what leaves many of us feeling as if we are the only ones in the world battling these demons.

Growing up as a secular Jew in New Hampshire didn’t offer me the best exposure to Yiddishkeit. Yet, there was always this spark lit deep within connecting me to a religion I knew very little about. From a young age, I tried to wrap my head around why bad things happen to good people. For many of us who struggle with our mental health, we tend to be quite empathetic individuals. We often experience our emotions on grandiose levels. I couldn’t understand the hardships so many were forced to endure, including my own.

While my “illness” didn’t have the term anxiety until I was in my twenties, I was bombarded for years with debilitating symptoms including dizziness, choking sensations, shaking and sweating. As I got older, the anxiety grew more intense. As I began my journey towards Orthodox Judaism, I often felt angry at a G-d I had little connection to. Why would He make me feel so physically sick and doctors would never find anything on an X-ray or MRI? Why did I have to suffer with pain that so many couldn’t understand and at times didn’t even believe. I would beg Hashem to take away this battle that was ripping away at my existence.

Two years ago, I spent a month in a rehabilitation facility in Arizona. I spent a month away from my family, working on gaining more coping skills and building further strength and resilience. It took three days of debilitating social anxiety – not being able to eat or come out of my room – until I had the courage to step out of my comfort zone and start interacting with others. In this environment, people are constantly coming and going. New patients come in; graduates go home. On Rosh Hashana, a new woman joined our group. She had a head full of dreadlocks, tattoos from head to toe, and appeared quite disheveled. My gut told me she wasn’t someone I would form a close connection with. As we crossed paths later in the day, she rolled up her sleeve to show me a Jewish star tattoo and said, “Shana tova.” I froze. And then we embraced. Tears started pouring down my face. Two Jewish women from completely different worlds, different states, different lifestyles. And yet there was a bond so strong that I had never experienced before. We both struggled with our mental health. We both eagerly wanted to heal. In a rehab facility where rich and poor, young and old, black and white join together to fight through the hardships of mental health challenges. A completely judgement-free zone.

This experience struck a chord deep within me. Why couldn’t we replicate this in our own Jewish communities? We, as Jews, show up for those in pain. We have organizations that service physical illness, infertility, widows and orphans. It’s time we take a stand for the multitude of our fellow brothers and sisters struggling with mental illness.

Over the last few years, I have started to share my mental health journey more and more, through newspaper articles, magazine interviews, podcasts and conversations on park benches. At first, it helped take away the stigma I had within myself. It normalized it for me. Little did I know how many others it would resonate with. And it’s often when my depression is

highest that Hashem will send His little kisses – individuals reaching out who have read my story or heard me speak – moms, teenagers, children of survivors, divorcees, etc. People who understand the hardships of intense anxiety and depression. Many who relate to the constant fears and worry anxiety throws in our laps.

Recently, I had a teenager reach out from London who came across our page on Instagram. She shared how she didn’t want to live anymore. She couldn’t bear the pain of this illness no one seemed to understand. I picked up the phone. We connected, shared similar

group meets weekly for an hour and a half. Between meetings, each group has a WhatsApp chat so members can continue to give each other support after the session is over. We are there to support each other as we try to understand each other’s pain. Of course, confidentiality between members is taken very seriously.

We have created a tribe of healing and understanding.

The criteria to join are as follows:

1. You struggle with anxiety and or depression;

2. You have found the courage to reach out for support;

3. You are aware that being human means experiencing pain and you choose not to go through it alone.

I’d like to share some powerful words from our group members.

“I had always been craving a support group of women who understood mental health challenges. I felt alone and isolated and as if I were the only one suffering. CATCH has become my lifeline now. Meeting weekly with a group of women who really get it normalizes the difficulties I’m facing and provides me with a safe, nonjudgmental space where I feel comfortable. To say that CATCH has been life changing for me would be an understatement.”

experiences, and even had some good laughs. When you realize you aren’t alone walking through the hardships and challenges of life, it truly makes the journey a little less heavy. A burden shared is a burden halved.

I thank Hashem every day for giving me the ability to turn my pain into purpose. While living with mental illness is not easy, I am grateful to see Hashem’s hand in these chal lenges. It opened my eyes to a void within our community. I knew that if I had a place to turn to and people to connect with who shared similar journeys, I would be able to avoid the intense and dangerous feelings of isolation and loneliness. And I was desperate to find it. I didn’t want to connect by phone or email. I wanted pure, raw, intimate connection, in-person connection. And with Hashem’s help, CATCH was born.

Another member wrote, “CATCH is such an important part of my recovery. Having depression and anxiety can be debilitating at times. It helps me to know I’m not alone and that I have a close network of friends to help me through the rough patches. In addition, in the better times, I have a place to go to learn new strategies that help me deal with the normal stuff in life. Without CATCH, I wouldn’t be where I am, today – a functioning person – mother, wife and teacher.”

As more members join, we are hoping to create a Zoom CATCH group in the near future. And we’d like to create a CATCH support group for men and for spouses of those who are struggling.

CATCH stands for Creating A Team of Courage and Hope. We now have in-person clinician-facilitated support groups in the Far Rockaway-Five Towns area where those who struggle come together and support one another. For two years now, we have had two groups running. Each

A favorite quote of mine from Brene Brown is “when we have the courage to walk into our story and own it, we get to write the ending.” My story has just begun. My mental health journey continues to have its ups and downs. Knowing I have people to reach out to, those to hold me up when I feel I can’t do it on my own, makes this journey a smoother ride. These women have become my family. They know firsthand what it’s like to live with mental illness. And sometimes simply sitting with someone in their pain, without answers, without suggestions, just being, is better than any therapy and medication in the world.

When you realize you aren’t alone walking through the hardships and challenges of life, it truly makes the journey a little less heavy.

What Would You Do If…

Dear Navidaters,

This is not necessarily a dating question, but I appreciate your columnists’ viewpoints and would love to hear their advice.

I am 27 years old, single, and living with my parents. I have a great job at an accounting firm and enjoy my single life while dating and looking to settle down with the right one.

On yom tov, my married siblings come with their children. They don’t all come at the same time, so it’s usually around two siblings in our home on yom tov at one time. I am not someone who always talks about my dating life with my siblings. We are seven siblings in all, and me and my younger brother are not married. I don’t like feeling pressured from my married siblings and hearing their advice about dating, so I don’t really talk to them about my dating life.

Here’s my question: inevitably, when yom tov comes, and my married siblings move in, the topic at the yom tov table comes to shidduchim. Sometimes, it’s not really about my shidduch life, just shidduchim in general. But other times, it’s more about my shidduch life, which I like to keep private. I have a hard time shutting down the conversation, and I feel very violated when these conversations come up. They also tend to come up between meals, when we’re in the den or just schmoozing. My siblings love to offer their advice and show their concern, but it’s uncomfortable for me. My siblings are not being malicious; I just think that they think that shidduchim is all I have on my mind. (It’s not!)

How do I make yom tov more pleasant for me? I don’t want to have a pow-wow with them before yom tov about this. I also wonder why people who are married think that every person who is not married’s shidduch situation is fodder for their conversation. Aren’t we more than just going on dates?

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Ifeel your pain and upset at being the subject of your family’s conversations and opinions. An adult woman is more than her marital status. She should not be the subject of unsolicited advice and should be respected by all for who she is, especially in her own home. I do not think you should ignore the looming yom tov situation with your family which causes you discomfort.

Bite the bullet. Prepare some remarks on paper and call each sibling individually as soon as you can. Give the siblings (and their spouses) a chance to process your carefully chosen words for the shortand long-term. Put together some kind of sandwich set of comments and focus on yourself. To make sure you are heard,

don’t focus on the other person’s past behaviors. Practice your words if you must. Your script can read something like this: I’m looking forward to your coming for yom tov with your family. I enjoy spending time with you and your children and developing relationships with them. I do want to share something. When shidduchim are discussed in my presence, in general or specifically my dating life, I am not comfortable. I would appreciate some sensitivity and avoidance of this topic. Let’s keep it off limits. I welcome discussion about anything and everything except shidduchim. You have lots of insights about many topics which I’d love to hear. Let’s each do our part to make this yom tov enjoyable for all.

As far as the community is concerned, we are still currently in the state of being educated. While many new initiatives and efforts are being tweaked to help the unmarried, attitudes and understanding still need a lot of modification.

Sarah Lavane’s recently published memoir “Unmatched” gives members of our community a taste of the inner struggle and slog of trying to find a partner in the contemporary Jewish world. My review of the book and other pieces in the current issue of Jewish Action reveal how much further we must go to actualize respect, understanding, and helpful measures to help others meet their matches.

Michelle Mond

Firstly, it’s incredible and refreshing to hear how you’re seizing the day and making the most of life before marriage. Family gatherings could be overwhelming as it is; throwing personal conversations into the mix makes it even worse.

My best advice is for you to have a

one-line response any time an uncomfortable topic arises, and repeat that line over and over, rather than hemming and hawing to get out of the discussion. Your line might be, “Thank you, but I’m not interested in talking shidduchim now.” Once you repeat something like this, it

The Shadchan

Why is it that it’s okay to talk a single person’s ear off about his/ her shidduchim but it’s not okay to talk with a married person about their marital issues?

will draw a pretty obvious line that you are not talking about shidduchim, period.

I would like to take the opportunity while we have your question to present social etiquette for singles 101:

Why is it that it’s okay to talk a single person’s ear off about his/her shidduchim but it’s not okay to talk about a married person about their marital issues?

Just like you would not ask a married person, “How is your marriage? Are you getting along OK?” DON’T ask a person who is not married, “How’s shidduchim treating you?”

Just like you would not ask your sister-in-law to regale you with stories of her funny shalom bayis issues stories, DON’T ask your single sister to entertain you with her funny shidduch stories.

Just like you would not start a conversation at the Shabbos table, in the presence of your relative who’s been married for a while without kids, “Did you know there is a fertility crisis? What do you

think is the answer to it?” DON’T make the Shidduch Crisis Conversation a focal point of the Shabbos meal discussions. Imagine being the one single at a yom tov meal surrounded by married siblings and friends all discussing your personal vulnerability.

Obviously, you have to read the room, if your relative brings up the topic and wants to tell stories, then gesundheit! The point is to be sensitive.

Also, yom tov is a GREAT time to think of shidduch suggestions for the single people in your life. The guys are home, and shul is filled with a sea of black hats and a bunch of new potential suitors.

DON’T point out an amazing guy in shul and ask the single young woman, “What about him for you?” Trust me, she would love to be set up with him. What is she going to do with this comment? Go over and introduce herself? YOU be the one to remember the idea and redt it to the guy. Be proactive! If he is interested

and says yes, you can bring the idea to the young woman. At this point, you can call her or her parents and say, “There was an impressive young man I met at shul, and seeing you there gave me an intuition that this might be a good idea. I redt it after Shabbos, and he said yes. Here is his info.”

DO initiate a private conversation with someone if you think of an idea for him/her. A sensitive way to broach the topic is, “I’d love to think of potential matches for you if you are currently dating. Feel free to fill me in on what you’re looking for.”

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

Ahh, I totally understand, and you do NOT need to feel trapped or forced to talk about dating if you don’t want to.

Firstly, share my podcast interview with your family from Meaningful People called “There is no shidduch crisis” and inform them that it will help them understand you better.

Secondly, BEFORE your siblings come over, send out a mass or personal text stating how you feel and that you would

prefer not to talk about your personal dating life as it doesn’t make you feel good. Understand that some may or may not be receptive and may need friendly reminders at times. Stand up for yourself with confidence and humility. People don’t know what you need until you tell them.

The Zaidy

Dr.

Jeffrey Galler

The Zaidy empathizes with your discomfort. Print a dozen posters with the following message and display them prominently throughout the house: Important Notice: This home has been designated as an official No-Shidduch-Discussion Zone. Please respect management’s wishes, and refrain from any and all Shidduch related discussions. Violators will be prosecuted. And, then, if anyone disobeys your clear warnings, hand them an index card, saying:

“You’ve been warned.”

Thank you for writing into our panel. I’m so glad you wrote in with this question before the holidays. There are so many people in your situation or in similar situations. Being around family can be stress-inducing before the holidays for a myriad of reasons; and for many single people it can be stressful, for you, in particular. I find that

most people are very well intentioned when they ask questions or of- fer advice. I don’t believe any- one wakes up in the morning with the intention of making another person uncomfortable in this regard. Inherent in asking questions and offering advice, especially publicly, is a few

dynamics. It can evoke shame, frustration and even anger because boundaries are being violated. So, to all the well-intentioned question-askers and advice-offerers, please think twice about bringing up dating, certainly at a yom tov table or in any public setting. And always ask if it is OK to ask questions or offer advice.

I understand that you do not want to have a pre-yom tov pow-wow with your family. It’s going to come down to boundaries. It seems as though you’ve explained all your feelings about this to your siblings before, and they simply can’t help themselves. I find this behavior to be lacking in sensitivity, to be quite honest. If you have tried speaking with them and sharing how you feel, and they refuse to respect your wishes, there is a good like -

lihood that they will never understand. There may be some emotions around this for you. So I invite you to think about and process all your feelings surrounding this reality that your siblings can’t seem to respect your wishes and to hold space for the likelihood that they are completely motivated by love and concern.

When a sibling makes a comment, you simply say, “I don’t want to talk about this” or “I won’t be talking about this.” You can follow it up by offering an alternative conversation. “How’s the new job?” “How was Sarala’s first day of school?” The idea of making a boundary is not that you can change another person’s behavior. It is letting someone know in a kind and respectful way what you will and won’t tolerate that behav-

ior and, making our peace with the fact that some people will never respect our boundaries. If your siblings don’t get the hint or continue pressing you about dating, you can take a more drastic measure. “I have told you several times I am uncomfortable with these questions, and I don’t want to talk about it. If this continues, as much as I don’t want to, I’m going to leave the table.” Hopefully, it won’t come to that.

Another approach to take, when we want to keep the peace in an environment that is completely disrespectful of our wishes, is to play the ignorance card. Keep it light, ignore, or throw them a bone... “I’m dating and I’m just private about it” or “Thank you for the advice.”

The bottom line is that we cannot

change other people. I don’t even like referring to “singles” as singles. I find there is something inherently pigeonholing about it. We are all people. Some of us are married, and some of us are not married. We are so much more than our marital status. Always hold on to that. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Wishing you a sweet new year!

Sincerely,

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

Jennifer Mann

An adult woman is more than her marital status.

People in Motion

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

“My husband asked me to learn to like kickboxing bec Thursday is the only day I don’t come in and he says I’m not in as good a mood ” was the text that popped up on my screen from one of the ladies on the Warrior Women chat of Warren Levi Martial Arts. I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed her comment; many of us have joked that we work out each day as a chessed to our husbands and children. We often hear of exercise as the solution to so many problems. Keeping active is credited for everything from maintaining your cholesterol levels to keeping your endorphins high and happy. It’s like one-

stop shopping for nearly every physical and mental problem. The truth is that I never believed that working out could have a major effect on mood until I experienced it myself.

The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of physical activity for children. They list an improvement of lean body mass and muscle and bone strength, as well as emotional benefits such as improved self-esteem and the ability to learn and handle stress among the positives children can gain.

We are at the beginning of what we hope will be an amazing school year full of growth and success. As the communi-

ty’s children load the buses, they are leaving behind a summer of fun and activity. They will be spending hours indoors –seated at tables or desks – learning intently. Additionally, the warm weather and long daylight hours will transition into the colder months. An unfortunate result is that our previously active children will begin a sedentary period. Now is the perfect time to ensure those days of running and jumping don’t end with the weather.

Keep It Fun

Movement is beneficial for young bodies, and they become all around happier little people. Teens are no different, and they, too, benefit from staying active. Getting kids to move is often not difficult – some kids can’t stay still, while other kids will need some prompting.

When we think of exercise, we often picture boring repetitions of painful movements. Not all exercise needs to be sit-ups and running on a treadmill. Anything that gets you moving counts. It’s even better if your child enjoys the activity because they’re more likely to do it and gain the subsequent benefits.

Kids enjoy the park. It’s hard to match the thrill on a toddler’s face when they see the simplest of playgrounds. Our community has plenty of free play space to keep children of all ages occupied. Let them run, climb and swing. They’ll be getting out their energy in a healthy way, and you may get an easier bedtime that night.

Most playgrounds are outdoors, but

there are some locations that have an indoor option for colder weather. Even though parks are best in the warmer weather, kids are usually less bothered by the cold than we are – especially when they are running happily. You may find that with a good sweatshirt, playgrounds are an excellent option even as the temperature descends.

Sports are a very popular choice. There are so many different options that it’s generally not difficult to find a winner for your child. When properly supervised, sports can also be used to teach social skills such as encouraging others and teamwork. There are local leagues, sports clubs, and informal games for the neighborhood kids.

Gymnastics, dance, and similar exercises are fun ways to stay in motion. Many of the girls’ camps provided their campers with these activities weekly. Children will not only gain a new skill but will also learn coordination and flexibility. It is incredible to see what these young athletes can do with a bit of training.

Any open space is a potential play area as any resourceful child can demonstrate. Kids can create games out of anything. Perhaps I shouldn’t confess to how much fun we had as children running around in the shul’s parking lot. No equipment necessary! We all knew which landmarks were bases and what rules to follow. Learning to follow rules and act appropriately in various situations are important life skills that children gain during games and sports with their peers.

Being outdoors, when possible, is beneficial on its own and another joy of childhood. Adults may like climate-controlled buildings, but kids want to run free in the fresh air. A good sweatshirt or other cool weather gear may be all you need to extend the outdoor fun well into the colder season.

Take appropriate safety measures. This includes safety gear such as helmets and padding. Everyone needs to stay hydrated, even as the weather gets colder. Your child’s pediatrician can better guide you.

Routine

Going to the park once is nice but won’t do much. Making physical movement a part of your child’s routine can have a powerful impact. Choose something that is not only enjoyable but can be maintained over the long term. A backyard may not seem as glamorous as a distant playground or fancy class but is far more realistic as a frequent solution. Keeping it easy for you is another way to ensure you’ll maintain the schedule. We have busy schedules, and parents are running around everywhere. Take your own needs into account and

don’t sacrifice your own sanity to get your child to the far-flung corners of the exercise world.

Bonding Through Movement

Staying active can also be a means to bond with our precious youngsters. Joining alongside them or cheering from the sidelines – whatever is appropriate – shows how much we enjoy their com-

not always possible to pull off, it can be a very simple way to build a relationship with a child that may be otherwise distancing themselves. This can be especially helpful for parents of teens.

Parents In Motion

Parenting is a tough job. Anyone who thinks it’s easy is probably doing it wrong or never worked with kids. We, too, need

emotional benefits. Keeping active decreases rates of depression and stress, increases mood and energy levels, and improves sleep patterns.

Routine physical activity increases self-esteem, and you’ll feel great seeing how much you have accomplished.

Knowing you can chase a toddler, be flexible enough to reach difficult spots, and keep up with your teens are additional perks. You walk out needing a shower but feeling incredible. The many women in my class acknowledge yelling less and having more patience for those who are important in their lives.

pany. Talk to them during the ride or just let them know how well they did.

Some parents have chosen to take classes or do other activities with their child. Together, they learned a new skill and enjoyed meaningful time as a unit. Even after the activity was over, they still had something to connect them and build lifelong memories. While this is

to get moving and stay active. Kids aren’t the only ones that benefit from physical activity, and adults can enjoy the many physical and emotional benefits that come with routine workouts.

I’m not a doctor so I won’t go into how happy it’ll make your cholesterol levels or bone density, especially in women. I’d like to focus on some of the

Let your child have fun and get healthy at the same time. Taking simple steps now can set your child up for a healthy habit they can carry well into adulthood. Join your child in whatever activity is available and feel better, too. I look forward to seeing our female readers at kickboxing on Thursday!

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.

Joining alongside them or cheering from the sidelines – whatever is appropriate –shows how much we enjoy their company.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:Dear Etti, I am really upset. I just heard that my daughter is having a general studies teacher this coming year who does not have a degree. I do not want my daughter to have a subpar education! What are my next steps?

-Frustrated Parent

A:Dear Frustrated Parent, I hear your concern, and I am glad you wrote in.

As a master’s degree professor in an acclaimed college program, I help train teachers to become masters in their field. As an educational coach in many schools around New York City and Long Island, and a workshop presenter across the U.S. and Canada, you would think I would wholeheartedly agree with you.

But I don’t.

My experience has taught me that a good teacher is so much more than a piece of paper. I have met teachers who graduated from very elite colleges who lack basic classroom management skills and therefore could not teach their wonderfully prepared lessons. I have met teachers who have no degree at all who run their classrooms in a manner that would make you wish all your child’s teachers could be so proficient and warm. I have worked with teachers with excellent credentialing who made embarrassing mistakes as they gave their lessons, teaching the information so incorrectly it was disconcerting to watch. I have worked with first year teachers who were attending college at night, overloaded with assignments and college level papers, who still came in each day and taught with clarity and patience and their classes scored well on all tests and loved being in school.

It is not just my opinion. Dr. Martin Kozloff, a professor of education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, overall finds degrees pretty worthless!

In a 2007 New York Times opinion page, “Do Teachers Need Education Degrees,” he writes the following: “[A] master’s degree in most education subfields further stamps in the ‘progressive,’ ‘child-centered,’ ‘constructivist, ‘developmentally appropriate,’ postmodernist, pseudo-liberationist baloney that infects the undergraduate curriculum, and which leaves graduating ed students unprepared to provide their own students with coherent, logically sequenced instruction.”

He ends his piece with: “[I]f you ask graduating master’s students who have managed to escape indoctrination

(because they are fortunately endowed with a wide streak of skepticism), they will tell you that they learned nothing new. Yes, many teachers with master’s degrees in education are more skilled teachers. But this is not because they got a master’s degree. They went for a master’s degree because they are intelligent, were already skilled teachers (self-taught), and had the gumption to go back to school.” (Emphasis are mine.)

In 2023, his points are even more applicable than before.

The question you should be asking is not “Does the teacher have a degree?” but “Does the teacher care about this job?”

The truth is that teachers must be dedicated to their students. They need to be able to present information in a way that captivates the mind of the charges in front of them. They need to believe that their job matters and that they are making a difference in their students’ lives. They need to love coming to school and teaching. They need to be optimistic people who care.

These are not characteristics or skills one learns through getting a degree.

Does your teacher have the qualities you want your child to be exposed to? Does your child’s teacher seem energized by teaching? Does your child’s teacher know the material she needs to teach? Does she care?

She will make mistakes along the way; we all do. But if she cares about her charges, she will learn from those slipups and she will be a growing person who has a mentor to turn to, to help her prevent future lapses.

When I entered the hallowed field of education many decades ago, most of my fellow teachers and I did not have any degrees at all. We had fire and passion, and we cared. We spent hours pouring over our material, preparing

sheets and visual aids to best reach our students. And we were, for the most part, successful, baruch Hashem!

I got my degree after years of teaching, and it validated what I knew, gave me fancy terms for strategies I was already using, and gave me the degree I was aiming for. But college did not teach me the material I needed for teaching. It did not magically give me emotional intelligence or a formula for a perfect class. Do you want your daughter to have a teacher who learns from others and can gain from their experience? That is more helpful than a degree. Find out if the school provides mentoring, and if there are workshops that the teacher is attending to ready herself before school begins. Check if there are Professional Development days in the school, and if the teacher will be required to attend.

Most importantly, be positive about the teacher to (and around) your daughter and be ready to have a wonderful year. Look for the positives and send in appropriate thank you notes and gifts.

Schools should be able to advertise for a position, evaluating prospective teachers and making sure that they are engaging, dynamic and inspiring and are committed to learning or already know the course material.

You are lucky. You are part of a school system that can hire the best and are not limited to those who apply with the “right” pieces of paper.

The teacher will be spending hours all summer, weekends, and nights preparing to make your daughter and her class have an amazingly successful year. Give her a chance and some appreciation while you are at it. You are lucky to have her.

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.

My experience has taught me that a good teacher is so much more than a piece of paper.

Healthy Skin is More than Skin Deep

By Tehila Levine-Soskel, RDN, CDN

Healthy, radiant skin has been a goal for individuals for generations and across cultures. While skincare products and routines may have a big part in healthy skin, it’s important to look at the impact nutrition has on our skin health. I like to say that our skin reflects our overall well-being, with the food we consume bearing significant influence.

This article discusses nutrition and its relationship to healthy skin and key nutrients that may contribute to a healthier complexion.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are most commonly known for their anti-inflammatory properties which can help maintain healthy skin and improve hydration to help prevent moisture loss. Fatty fish are a major source of omega-3s. While fatty fish – including salmon – is the most common source of fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseeds are excellent sources of omega-3s as well. In addition, fatty fish is a source of vitamin E, which is very important for your skin. The high quality protein of seafood is also beneficial as it is needed to help maintain the strength of your skin. Fatty fish contains zinc, which provides many health benefits such as reducing skin inflammation, regulating skin health, and helping the production of new skin cells.

Vitamin

E

Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant properties and is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. It is also a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning your body absorbs it, unlike water-soluble vitamins, which leave the body quickly. While avocados are healthy fats, they are also a good source of vitamin E. Other good sources of vitamin E are nuts, seeds, and spinach. Vitamin E combined with vitamin C gets absorbed even greater than vitamin E alone. The

Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin E for both females and males ages 14 years and older is 15 mg daily, yet most Americans don’t get enough of this vitamin in their diet. Women who are pregnant need a higher dose of vitamin E, so be sure to check with your doctor.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays a role in collagen synthesis, which is crucial for the maintenance of skin elasticity and to help prevent premature aging. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties, along with its role in collagen synthesis, make it a crucial molecule for healthy skin. Dry skin and hair can be a sign of vitamin C deficiency, although more severe symptoms of vitamin C deficiency are bruising, dental and gum problems, and anemia. Rich sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, and tomatoes.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps to prevent dry, flaky skin, supports a healthy complexion, and is crucial for skin cell production and repair. It also plays a role in your vision, immune system function, and organ func -

tions such as heart, lungs, and kidneys. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin A for women and men ages 19 and older are 700 mcg for women and 900 mcg for men.

Sources of vitamin A are salmon, liver, milk, eggs, fish, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and dark leafy greens.

Collagen

As most may know, collagen is crucial for skin firmness and elasticity. Collagen acts as a building block for our skin, hair, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While our body makes collagen naturally, as we age, it is produced less. Consuming foods that are rich in collagen-boosting nutrients like cabbage, lean meats, fish, and egg whites can help your body’s collagen production.

Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Antioxidants play a vital role in protecting the skin from free radicals, which can accelerate aging and damage cells. Therefore, consuming antioxidant-rich foods may help reduce the appearance of aging on your face. Including antioxidant-rich foods like berries, dark choc -

olate, and green tea into your diet may ensure a steady supply of antioxidants.

Hydration

Staying well hydrated is crucial for our skin and overall health. Some of the roles water plays in our bodies is flushing out toxins, maintaining skin moisture, and helping with a smoother, more radiant complexion. Some food sources that have high water content are watermelon, strawberries, peaches, oranges, cucumbers, and lettuce.

Limit Processed Foods & Sugar

Diets that are high in processed foods and sugar often may lead to inflammation and worsen skin conditions like acne. High intakes of sugar can lead to blood sugar spikes, which may result in inflammation causing more red and dull looking skin. Try limiting sugar and processed foods and opt for lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Keep in mind that sugar has lots of names, so read your food labels.

While topical treatments may be your first thought at achieving healthy skin, it is more than just that. Achieving healthy skin starts from within. Nutrition plays a very important role in skin health maintenance as well as promoting a radiant, youthful complexion. Ensuring your diet is well-rounded and rich in antioxidants, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and proper hydration helps ensure you are nourishing your skin from the inside. As always, consistency is key.

Tehila Soskel is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a private practice in the Five Towns. She sees clients for weight loss, diabetes, and other various diseases. Appointments can be made for in-person or virtual sessions: 516-457-8558, tehilasoskelrd@gmail.com, tehilasoskelnutrition.com

In The K tchen

Tzimmes Soup

By Naomi Nachman

Ingredients

◦ 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus 1 tablespoon

◦ 2 medium onions, cut into half-moon rings

◦ 2 pounds second cut brisket or strips of flanken on the bone

◦ 1 tablespoon sumac (optional)

◦ 1 tablespoon cinnamon

◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 1 teaspoon cumin

◦ 3 large loose carrots, sliced

◦ 3 sweet potatoes, small-cubed

◦ 1 cup dried prunes, pitted

◦ 8 cups broth

◦ 2 cups crushed tomatoes

◦ Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

In a small bowl, mix sumac, cinnamon, salt and cumin. Rub spice mixture on the brisket.

In a large soup pot, add 2 tablespoons canola oil and put over high flame. When oil is hot, sear the brisket for a few minutes on each side till it forms a nice brown crust. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.

In the same pot, lower heat to medium and add remaining oil. Sauté onions until translucent. Add carrots, sweet potatoes, and dried prunes, and sauté for five minutes.

Add the briskest back to the pot along with the crushed tomatoes and 8 cups broth.

Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer and cook for three hours.

Remove meat from pot and shred it with two forks. Then return meat back to the pot.

Cook’s note: This soup freezes really well

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.

When I prepare my menu for Rosh Hashana, I try to include twists on traditional recipes. I turned a tzimmes recipe into a hearty soup. You can also cut back on the broth and use it as a main course with a built-in side dish with the vegetables.

Chuck Garcia: “Be Prepared for What You Can’t Predict”

This column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show –broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

On a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas (YS) spoke with guest Chuck Garcia (CG), CEO of Climb Leadership International.

* * *

YS: Can you explain how perception of a situation, especially in times of challenge, can make or break a person?

CG: Think about the way we were brought up in school. In school, you are rewarded for getting things right and punished, so to speak, for getting things wrong. So, if you got 92% of an exam right, congratulations. However, I know

that whenever I finished an exam, once it was over, I would forget that 92% I had learned, because I was already on to the next test. What school didn’t teach me is what to do when you face adversity. There’s nothing in that exam model that helps me to confront or to overcome challenges. So, instead, we just wing it. And what I’ve found is, as I was training people to speak or as I was hearing their stories, there was a common thread among all of them. They never learned the tools to operate when facing challenges. If you spend your time perceiving the situation with too much focus on the problem and not enough focus on the solution, or you’re too busy trying to fill your mind with information, because that’s how

we were taught, what happens if, in that moment of adversity, you take a moment to clear your mind? We know that when a machine isn’t working, we need to hit the reset button. But, as human beings, who teaches us to reset? Who teaches us to stay calm and to count to three in our heads? Think of all that needless energy that is burned focusing on the problem. What if we could flip our perception, our awareness of the situation? What if instead of putting all that energy into the struggle, we put that energy into the resolution? Our minds are so cluttered with the avalanche of all of this information, solutions, the 64 brands of toothpaste you could buy, the hundreds of choices you have for bottled water, etc. How are

we supposed to get through a day when our minds are so exhausted? So, this is the lesson that I learned. What happens when it begins to rain? You could complain about it, but that’s not going to solve your problem. Instead of focusing on the weather, the survivalist figures out, “I need a roof. I need food. I need water.” So, when you’re facing a challenge, you need to change your perception of the situation. Instead of thinking, “Oh my gosh, what am I going to do,” just calm the mind.

What are the most important qualities for effective leaders?

Every year, LinkedIn publishes two

important lists based on the top skills employers are looking for. One of them is a list of “hard skills,” science, technology, cloud computing, and all of those things. My realm is the other list, which they call “soft skills,” but to me, they are not soft at all. I call them “leadership competencies.” If you look at LinkedIn’s “soft skill” list, it is remarkable what comes up. Number one is creativity. This appears more than anything else. It’s not just for the musicians and artists. Think about an engineer or a doctor and the need to bring creative solutions to conventional problems. Number two is persuasion. Number three is collaboration. Companies are actually telling you how important it is to play on the team and that it’s not all about you. Your ability to make others better makes you more valuable. Number four is adaptability. And number five is emotional intelligence.

The message here is, as the world has changed, have we changed with it? Have we retooled and been taught the skills that the employers continue to demand? These skills that I’m describing, they work in an office, they work on a mountain, and they work in marriage. Every human being has two sides of the brain. The left is the logical and analytical side, and the right is the creative and emotional intelligence side. To me, you will never be at full career capacity until you have found some equilibrium between your left and your right brain. Many of my students are great with the left brain. They get A’s and are technically perfect. But that only brings you to half capacity, until you have activated and developed creativity, persuasion, and adaptability. All of those have become critical for someone starting a career or for someone trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Why is emotional intelligence so important to learn?

In the midst of my career ascension, I had a speaking engagement in Tokyo. I got in front of this large Japanese audience, the lights went down, and I had everything ready to go. The same speech and passion I had delivered to an audience in New York only a week before, by golly, I was going to deliver the same thing in Tokyo. But, as I was speaking to my Japanese audience, they weren’t even looking at me. They weren’t listening. I didn’t know what was happening. But, what I knew the moment I stepped on that stage was that I couldn’t do for this audience what I had done for my New York audience. It hit me like a lightning bolt. I

was looking into the eyes of an audience that wasn’t paying one lick of attention to me. It was a moment that was startling for me. I forgot to adjust my style. I didn’t know my audience. It wrangled me emotionally when I was on that stage, but it was the best teacher I ever had.

The first thing it taught me was that I was unprepared and ill equipped, because I didn’t know my audience. I should have taken the time to understand how to get in front of that crowd. But, more importantly, it also made me ask the question, “Where do I learn how to deal with this emotion?” Throughout the ‘90s, a social science called “emotional intelligence” was sparked by a book called, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, written by a Harvard guy named

that you didn’t like. Instead, start counting and clear the mind. It is much harder to stop the momentum of a behavior you’ve been doing all your life than to learn a new one. So, the first thing you have to do is become aware that part of learning to be emotionally intelligent is stopping certain behaviors. It’s no different than breaking habits.

How does one prepare for unpredictable challenges?

If we think about our lives, the one conclusion that I have found is that we overestimate the value of planning. I’m not saying it’s bad to plan. It’s good to have a plan. But what any general will tell you is the battle plan never survives

formation. The pitcher doesn’t have anything to memorize. He’s about to face the greatest hitter in history. So, how do we learn to deal with these moments when they come? And they will come. We can’t predict it. But as a human being, you will encounter life-defining moments. How are you going to act and react when those moments come to greet you? It’s your choice. You need to be prepared for the things you can’t predict. Think about the enormity of that.

Daniel Goleman. And he talked about the Four Models Of Emotional Intelligence. These are the four things that make us who we are. Number one, Self-Awareness. Am I aware of the impact I had on that Japanese crowd? Number two, Social-Awareness. That’s reading the room and knowing where you stand. Am I aware of the audience? I had no social awareness in Tokyo. I was talking to a wall, instead of adjusting and speaking in a way that I thought would connect with them. Number three is Relationship-Management, and number four is Self-Management. So, think about what we have gone through in this model. If I’m not self-aware, what implication does that have toward the ability for other people to want to be in my gravity? As I was reading about emotional intelligence, I was adapting myself to fit the things that I was reading. And I didn’t know whether it was right or wrong, because nobody ever taught me this, I just had to test and try it. But, it taught me how to clear the mind.

When I’m in a situation, instead of getting all riled up and reacting, I use a simple technique called “stop talking, start counting.” Think about any situation you encountered recently. Think back to that confrontation. You likely talked too much, too fast, or responded too quickly in reaction to the thing that you heard

the first shot. I feel that we underestimate two things. One, we underestimate the importance of self-correction and adapting when things do not go as planned. Two, we underestimate temperament. How do we behave in adversity? Anyone who sits around and plans, I appreciate that, but I can guarantee that it’s not going to go as you planned it. So, how do you act, and how do you react, when the outcome is not what you expected? If things don’t go according to plan, people are going to notice how you respond. They don’t notice your planning because they don’t see your planning. They don’t know what you planned. But what they do know is how you act and how you react. And what is the consequence when react by blaming someone else because the plan didn’t work? You’re not solving the problem. You’re only exacerbating it whenever you start thinking, “Oh my gosh, it didn’t go as planned.” I’ll give credit to the athletes. They are taught how to respond in unpredictable situations. For example, if you’re a pitcher in baseball, and there’s a guy on second and third, and you have the greatest hitter in history coming up – they are taught how to deal with that situation and how to pitch out of that jam. Why aren’t we taught as children or college students how to pitch out of our own jams? We just keep memorizing in-

I remember there was a massive storm in the Hudson Valley. There was eight inches of rain in two hours. Who could have predicted that? It was the storm of a lifetime. But how did people react? It was wonderful. F.E.M.A. (Federal Emergency Management Agency) came out with the policeman and the firemen. It was a phenomenal reaction, because they were trained to do it. We’re not trained to react to a sudden blizzard or flood. So, I wrote my book, The Moment That Defines Your Life, for if you’re struggling, if you’re facing a challenge, or even if everything is going great. I hope you will get lost in the stories of the people that I had the privilege of writing about in this book. I hope that you will be able to relate to them, learn from them, and that they will become your teachers. You may not be going through the exact same thing, but at some point, you’re going to be going through something similar. And when you do, will you be ready? Think about that. Are you ready, or are you ill-equipped and unprepared for the unpredictable? Get ready for what you can’t predict, so that when it happens, it’s going to be just another day without worries. Clear the mind and learn how to adapt to the things you can’t predict, because they will come.

“What if instead of putting all that energy into the struggle, we put that energy into the resolution?”

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

He’ll stand up 10, 15, or maybe 30 feet away from me and he’ll just say, “Hey batter, batter, hey batter, batter.” I can hear him, so I just aim at the sound.

- Cameron Black, of Kansas City, who is blind since birth, explaining to the media how he prepared for throwing out the first pitch at a Royals game this week, fulfilling a lifelong dream

You just need to go for it, man, you need to go for life, and being blind or visually impaired, you know it’s a challenge but that’s all it is. A challenge. It can be overcome, and it’s no excuse to not live your life to the fullest.

- Ibid.

I’m on Highway 77 going north, and there is somebody that is on the wrong side of the road.

- A caller to Nebraska 911, shortly before he was pulled over for driving while intoxicated…on the wrong side of the road

In this part of Florida, you’ve got a lot of advocates and some proponents of the Second Amendment…. I would say probably here: You loot, we shoot!

- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warning potential looters in advance of Hurricane Idalia

You never know what’s behind that door. If you go break into somebody’s house and you’re trying to loot, these are people that are going to be able to defend themselves and their families. So I would not do it. We’re going to hold you accountable from the law enforcement perspective at a minimum, and it could even be worse than that depending on what’s behind that door. So let’s all band together and lift people up and not take advantage of a difficult situation.

- Ibid.

She went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil.

- Elon Musk talking to biographer Walter Isaacson about one of his children who went to a woke school and now refuses to have anything to do with Elon

It’s interesting how incurious our corporate media is about what happened in Maui. I don’t see them interviewing parents who can’t find their kids.

- Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)

Trump won!

- Dominic Pezzola, as he was escorted out of a Washington courtroom after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the January 6th protest

Did you get robbed on your way back from a bank or ATM? Call 3-1-1- or make an online report.

- From an Austin, Texas, police department bulletin in response to a major increase in crime in the only liberal controlled major city in Texas

The ADL, because they are so aggressive in their demands to ban social media accounts for even minor infractions, are ironically the biggest generators of anti-Semitism on this platform!

- Elon Musk tweeting about the Anti-Defamation League

The ADL has done a lot of good work in prior decades but has been overzealous in recent years & hijacked by woke mind virus.

- Ibid.

Hebrew, which officially became the national language of the state of Israel in 1948, is spoken by about nine million people around the world. For some, the language symbolizes far-right Israeli militarism.

- From an article in The New York Times

Y’all gotta understand, when it’s dropping down, it looks like it’s coming directly to you. So I reached, and my body went for what I know.

- A man who just moved to Houston and interfered in a play at an Astros game by reaching onto the field and swatting a playable fly ball on the right field warning track, in a now viral interview with ESPN

As a father, I felt like it’s my job to make sure I give [my son] the best moments.

-Ibid., whose young son was at the game with him

Truthfully, Houston loves me, and I love Houston. They cannot stop me from supporting the Asteroids.

- Ibid., talking about his relationship with Houston, despite not exactly knowing the baseball team’s name

There is no evidence that Biden is behind Trump’s indictments…. Biden has declined to comment on Trump’s cases, saying the Justice Department operates independently from his White House. He has also stayed silent on criminal charges against his son Hunter Biden, who is the subject of a special counsel investigation.

- NBC News reporter Sahil Kapur

You can be woke, with all the nonsense that that now implies, but don’t say that somehow it’s an extension of liberalism.… They believe race is first and foremost the thing you should always see everywhere, which I find interesting because that used to be the position of the Ku Klux Klan.

- Bill Maher, talking to Joe Rogan about wokeness

For the U.S. and Vietnam, the Road to Reconciliation is Paved By the Personal

By David Ignatius

It was a moment when time seemed to evaporate, as if dawn and sunset were converging. A young Vietnamese diplomat, new to her post in the embassy’s political section, was trying to explain to older American guests at a formal luncheon what she called her country’s resilient DNA.

Sitting across from her in the embassy’s grand dining room was an American man nearly 70 years her senior, who had served as a senior Pentagon official during the Vietnam War. Like most Americans who were involved in the war, he doesn’t talk about it much. But this was a special occasion, as I’ll explain.

The young diplomat said the war had touched her family, as it did everyone in Vietnam. She lost an uncle, a cousin, probably many more people than that. But by the time she was born, the family’s scars had healed, and the war was mostly a distant memory. Her grandmother, who recalled the painful days, explained to her: “Life has to move on.” The young woman repeated the words for us.

The United States today is admired by about 90 percent of Vietnamese, another young Vietnamese diplomat said, adding that few foreign countries have such a level of support in Vietnam. There’s no foreign country that has such support. Vietnamese people know about the horrors of war, the carpet-bombing of villages and the defoliation of jungles with Agent Orange. But time and growing trust in the United States have dulled what anger remains.

The setting for this encounter was timeless, in its way: A Beaux-Arts mansion along Embassy Row, with elegant parquet floors dating perhaps to the 19th century. The food reflected mostly the delicate flavors of Vietnam: lightly fried spring rolls of minced prawn; stir-fried mien glass noodles topped with crabmeat. And for American tastes, pan-seared filet mignon.

This story of reconciliation between the United States and Vietnam should be

a “case study,” taught at Harvard Business School, the young woman said. It teaches how conflicts are resolved. The older American man nodded. As it happened, he had begun his career as a junior instructor at the business school before he founded a company and then went to the Pentagon.

A third young Vietnamese diplomat offered a lesson from his country’s history. Vietnam prevailed in most of its wars through the centuries, he said. After the conclusion of these conflicts, Vietnam would often send emissaries to its former rivals, to soften the pain of their defeat. It was our fault, the emissaries would say. We regret any suffering. That was a way of allowing the other nation to save face and maintain respect.

The older ex-Pentagon official nodded at that, too. He said that America’s problem in Vietnam had been partly that it couldn’t see the war through its adversary’s eyes. He recalled that when the Viet Cong attacked a big U.S. military facility at Pleiku in February 1965, during a visit by national security adviser McGeorge Bundy, the Johnson administration responded by bombing North Vietnam, a sharp escalation.

The Pentagon’s retaliation mirrored its own thinking. The Pleiku attack was so provocative that officials believed it must have been ordered by Hanoi to coincide

with Bundy’s visit. In fact, said the former American official, it turned out that it had been ordered by a local Viet Cong commander who had no idea who Bundy was. That brought nods of assent from the Vietnamese hosts. Wars often turn on misread signals.

So what was this special occasion? The lunch was hosted by Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung. It was meant to celebrate a breakthrough moment that’s just ahead in the long and complicated journey of the United States and Vietnam.

President Biden plans to visit Hanoi on September 10. During his trip, Vietnam will formally upgrade its diplomatic relationship with the United States. The visit will mark one of most important strategic realignments in the Indo-Pacific in recent years.

Biden will underline the theme of reconciliation by offering American help in finding the remains of the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who went missing during more than a decade of war. That’s a reciprocal gesture, to match at last Vietnam’s help, starting more than 35 years ago, in finding the remains of Americans missing or killed in action.

Dzung toasted one special guest of honor at the lunch, Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council coordinator for

the Indo-Pacific. Campbell has been the chief American architect of improvement in U.S.-Vietnam relations, traveling there repeatedly over the past two years. It was Campbell who asked the young diplomats at the table to describe their work, and their sense of how their country’s relationship with the United States had evolved.

Another guest of honor was the older man, the former Pentagon official. He’s named Paul Ignatius, now 102, and he’s my father. During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, he served as assistant secretary and undersecretary of the Army, assistant secretary of defense and secretary of the Navy. He may be the oldest surviving presidential appointee who served in the Kennedy-Johnson Pentagon through the Vietnam years. He uses a walker now, but he spoke in a firm, measured voice.

As the lunch was ending, my father told a story about the aircraft carrier on which he served during World War II. He explained to the Vietnamese hosts how the USS Manila Bay, as his ship was called, had survived the ferocious Battle of Leyte Gulf, perhaps the greatest naval battle in history, and several subsequent Japanese suicide bombing attacks.

Many years after the war, my father recalled, he read in a newspaper that the Manila Bay was being towed to Japan as scrap metal to produce steel for Toyotas or other industrial products. It was his way of saying that life goes full circle. Like the young Vietnamese diplomat, my father journeyed back in time to grasp the significance of the present.

Some wounds never heal. But when President Biden touches down in Hanoi, we should take a moment to remember how far the United States and Vietnam have come since their terrible conflict. If that pain can be overcome, almost anything is possible.

Biden’s Disastrous Pullout From Afghanistan Could Cost Him Reelection

By Marc A. Thiessen

President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has largely slipped from public consciousness, but it could very well cost him the presidency.

Don’t get me wrong – when Americans vote next year, most won’t be thinking about Taliban forces marching into Kabul in 2021, horrific images of Afghans clinging to and then falling from departing U.S. military aircraft, or the 13 Americans killed by a suicide bomber at the Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate. But those catastrophic moments indelibly shifted Americans’ opinions of Biden’s presidency.

Biden goes into the 2024 election one of the most unpopular presidents since World War II. Before Kabul fell, Biden’s approval in the FiveThirtyEight average had never dropped below 50 percent. After the calamitous U.S. withdrawal, the floor fell out from under Biden. On August 17, 2021, his approval dipped below 50 percent for the first time. A week later, his disapproval rating exceeded his approval for the first time. And by October 10, 2021, his disapproval breached 50 percent – and has remained above it ever since.

It’s not just disapproval of Biden’s performance in office that shifted. In October 2021, a Quinnipiac poll found that 55 percent of Americans said his administration was incompetent. The next month, a Politico/Morning Consult poll found that 48 percent thought Biden was not mentally fit to be president. This summer, the share of Americans concerned about his mental and physical fitness for office hit 68 percent, according to NBC News polling in June. Presidential approval ratings rise and fall, but once people decide that you are incompetent or mentally unfit, it is extremely hard to recover.

Americans also decided after Afghanistan that Biden was dishonest. They lis-

tened as he said no Americans were having trouble getting to the airport, which they could see on TV was untrue. They heard him say al-Qaeda was “gone” from Afghanistan, when in fact al-Qaeda was deeply embedded with the Taliban. They heard him say that none of his military advisers had recommended leaving a residual force, only to hear his top military advisers testify they had advised just that. They heard him try to blame Donald Trump, claiming he was boxed in by the withdrawal agreement Trump had signed with the Taliban – yet the Taliban violated that agreement, and Biden had no problem reversing many other Trump policies he disliked – including on border security, the Keystone XL pipeline, the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal. And they heard Biden declare the Afghanistan withdrawal an “extraordinary success.”

Americans are not stupid. They knew it was not a success. And so trust in Biden’s honesty collapsed. In April 2021, just 33 percent said Biden was dishonest,

according to University of Massachusetts Amherst polling. But in October 2021, Quinnipiac found that just 44 percent said he was honest, while 50 percent said he was not. This spring, 54 percent said no when asked if Biden is honest and trustworthy in Washington Post-ABC News polling.

Americans’ perception of Biden’s dishonesty and incompetence has colored their opinion of all his policies, and his approval cratered in the wake of the Afghanistan pullout. In November 2021, Gallup found that the president’s approval on the economy fell from 54 percent before Afghanistan to 38 percent after; on handling of the coronavirus, he dropped from 67 percent before to 49 percent after; on immigration from 41 percent to 31 percent. He has never rebounded. Today, there is not a single issue where Biden has majority approval. According to the RealClearPolitics average as of last week, his disapproval outweigh his approval by about 20 points on the economy, 29 points on inflation, 15 points on foreign

policy, 27 points on immigration and 20 points on crime. He is underwater by 4 points on his handling of Ukraine, which, despite his slow-rolling of weapons, is still arguably a foreign-policy success. While there are other contributing factors (inflation is unacceptably high, the border is out of control), the Afghanistan withdrawal was a turning point.

All this could have been avoided had Biden simply listened to his military commanders and left behind a residual force. In January 2015, Afghan forces assumed responsibility for combat operations against the Taliban – and with U.S. support they succeeded in holding the Taliban at bay for six years. It was only after Biden withdrew the U.S. mission planning, intelligence and air support that Afghan forces were overwhelmed. By removing all U.S. troops and explicitly rejecting a conditions-based withdrawal, Biden gave the Taliban a green light to carry out the murderous offensive that Americans watched with horror.

There is not much Biden can say or do to turn things around. When people decide you lied about one thing, they assume you lie about everything – so millions have tuned out Biden’s arguments on other policy matters as well. Most Americans are done with his presidency: NBC News reported in April that 70 percent of Americans (including 51 percent of Democrats) don’t want him to run for reelection. Biden’s only hope for a second term is that voters find the alternative Republicans put forward even less palatable than he is.

But this much is certain: The American people’s confidence in Biden’s leadership has been shaken. If Biden loses the presidency, his political demise started in Kabul.

This column has covered many Forgotten Heroes throughout the years. Researching information for the articles the author has come across many Jewish pilots who may not have fit in a particular story or topic.

Heroes in the Sky

By Avi Heiligman

Here are several Jewish World War II pilots that served across the globe and were noted for their bravery in the air.

Bomber and fighter pilots usually were the ones grabbing the headlines with their daring exploits against en -

emy planes and targets. Many more pilots were needed for other types of aircraft such as transport, reconnaissance and ferrying planes from the U.S. to overseas destinations. Charles Lazin of Pennsylvania was part of the Army

Air Transport and was one of the first pilots to land in Sicily. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for transporting and dropping hundreds of paratroopers onto their targets during the airborne portion of the invasion.

Selma Kantor Cronan

Kenneth Holden

Evelyn-Greenblatt

Some members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots group

The Troop Carrier Command, which Lazin flew with, was cited by General Carl Spaatz for “a brilliant job” in dropping paratroopers on location without losing a single plane.

Both Russia and the United States had female pilots within their ranks. Some female Russian pilots made a name for themselves as fearless fighter pilots such as ace Lydia Litvyak, who may have been Jewish. In the U.S., the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) was formed as a civilian group that was attached to the U.S. Army Air Forces to fly aircraft in all situations besides combat. They ferried planes to Europe and other destinations, carried cargo, flew reconnaissance missions, and flew every type of military plane the U.S. had in service.

Selma Kantor Cronan and Evelyn Greenblatt were two Jewish pilots with the WASPs. New Jersey native Cronan flew for the WASPs starting in 1943 and continued flying well into her 80s. Greenblatt was from Atlanta and paid for her own flying lessons before the United States entered the war. She was in the first class of WASPs and flew planes from manufacturers to bases and training centers. It takes a lot of skill to

fly more than one type of aircraft, but Greenblatt flew 30 different types of planes while logging over 3,000 hours in the air. The planes she flew included the B-17 and B-24 bombers, as well as six different fighters. WASPs were not part of the military but Greenblatt was accepted to and graduated the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics. Later in the war, she was sent to Colorado Springs as an instructor for male pilots. Despite Eastern Europe being annexed or captured by the Nazis early in the war, pilots from some of these countries found their way to Great Britain. The RAF was in desperate need of pilots, and squadrons of refugee pilots soon formed to fight the Nazis. The names of all of the pilots aren’t fully known but some who didn’t survive the war are known. Zygmunt Joe Klein was one of these pilots who were killed while fighting during the Battle of Britain. Klein was born in Poland and joined the Polish Air Force in 1936. At the start of the war, he was in a fighter plane and scored a kill of a Nazi plane with three other pilots. After Poland fell, his unit made their way to Romania, and then he went through France on his way to Great Britain. He was attached to 234

Squadron in the RAF and had to bail out after his plane was shot down over friendly territory. Soon he was back in the air but again experienced setback as he had to crash-land. Determined to get back at the Nazis, he began to shoot down German aircraft and soon added more enemy kills to his record. One on occasion, all aircraft at his airbase were grounded due to poor flying conditions but that didn’t stop a Nazi pilot from patrolling over the RAF base. Klein defied orders, suited up, and took off after the plane. Despite the hazardous conditions, Klein brought down the enemy plane. On November 28, 1940, Klein’s plane went missing, and it is believed that he was shot down by a Bf-109. There were at least nine Jewish ace pilots that fought during the Battle of Britain, and incredibly, two of them were brothers. The Holden brothers of Doncaster, England, were the only set of Jewish brothers to fly during the battle. Eustace “Gus” Holden flew with 501 Squadron and shot down three planes in May 1940 while flying over France. In July, he was wounded during a flight but continued flying. Two months later, he shot down five more with three enemy planes damaged. In 1941, he became

commander of his squadron and later in the war served in the Far East.

Kenneth Holden, Gus’s older brother, joined the Auxiliary Air Force with 616 Squadron in 1939. He shot down three Me109 fighters while flying protective cover over Dunkirk in late May to early June 1940. Later, he was transferred to 610 Squadron and shot down three more Nazi fighter planes. His Distinguished Flying Cross for the latter three aerial victories reads, “This officer has consistently led his flight with skill and courage in action against the enemy. He has destroyed three and damaged a further four hostile aircraft.”

These heroes are just a few of the pilots who flew during World War II whose contributions went largely unnoticed by the press and public. There were other Jewish aircrew members who weren’t pilots whose exploits we will dive into in a future article.

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.

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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

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

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

CEDARHURST

Move Right into This Very Spacious & Renovated 6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Colonial on a Lovely Quiet Street. 5 Very Large Bedrooms All on 2nd Floor. Beautiful Den W/Fireplace & Playroom; Both on 1st Floor. Gorgeous Hardwood & Granite Floors, New Wood & Granite Kitchen With Stainless Steel Appliances. Great Backyard For Entertaining! Very Low Taxes. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.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

Open house on Sunday 12 - 2 !!

Completely renovated 5 bdrs, 3.5 bath in the heart of Cedarhurst. High end kitchen, radiant heated floor, fire place, low taxes and much more. Just turn the key and move. 322 Madison Avenue for private showings call Alexandra at Realty connect usa at 516-784-0856

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 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Woodmere just listed 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom hi-ranch in sd #15 with central air-conditioning , gas heat, 2 car garage, eat-in-kitchen, l/r, d/r, den, hardwood floors, minutes to transportation , shopping, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Welcome to this stunning residence situated on a tranquil residential street in Lawrence SD#15. This spacious and flawlessly maintained home boasts 4 to 5 bedrooms. Bright, airy living room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and wet bar. Central air conditioning, elegant quartz countertops, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, main floor den with fireplace, master bedroom with bathroom snd dressing room, Jacuzzi tub, three other bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Inground sprinklers, lush landscaping, alarm system. Spacious playroom. Two-car garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

New to Market! Newly Renovated Balcony Split Located In The Heart of Woodmere! Spacious Layout

Featuring 6 Bedrooms & 3 Full Baths. This Stunning Home Has Everything You Want. This Gorgeous Open Floor Plan, Offers New Roof, New Electric, New Plumbing, Gas Home. Don’t Miss This Opportunity For A Gracious, Airy, Open Layout. Close to All. A Must See!!! Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

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.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

WOODMERE

Dream waterfront house. New to the market! Double lot 100 X 155. Taxes only $14,414

Completely renovated 5 BDRS, 3.5 Bath with expansive gourmet kitchen with state of the art appliances, radiated heated floor and MUCH MORE....

Don’t miss your chance to claim this exceptional water view property and create a lifetime of cherished memories in a place you will proudly call home. Act swiftly and seize this once in a lifetime opportunity!

FOR PRIVATE SHOWING CALL ALEXANDRA AT REALTY CONNECT USA AT 516.784.0856

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

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

HOUSES FOR SALE

WOODMERE

Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas. Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10 •

1:30-3:30PM 223 HICKOX AVENUE

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

1st Showing • Introducing a stunning 14-side hall colonial home in the Hewlett Woodmere School District. Formal living room, formal dining room, den with a skylight. Eat in Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, a warming draw and a microwave. First floor bedroom, a full bathroom and laundry room. Two-car garage. Upper level has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Finished basement with playroom, storage and utilities. Well-groomed exterior with porch adjoining the master bedroom. Hardwood floors and back patio. Central air conditioning, inground sprinkler system, alarm system. Close proximity to schools, shopping centers, restaurants, and transportation options OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10

11:30-1:00PM • 1016 SOUTH END

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

VALLEY STREAM

Meticulously cared-for high ranch with four bedrooms and two full baths. Expansive dimensions, measuring 58 x 133. Two-zone, gas-heated system, central airconditioning, and an inground sprinkler system. The upper-level features three inviting bedrooms, accompanied by a full bathroom. The well-appointed living room, elegant dining room, and an eat-in kitchen complete this level. On the ground floor, you’ll find an additional bedroom and bathroom, a spacious den with sliding doors that lead to the backyard, convenient washer and dryer facilities, and an attached garage. Great access to schools, shops, restaurants, and public transportation. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

443-929-4003

HOUSE FOR SALE HOUSE FOR RENT

North Woodmere

New to Market. Split Level; 4BR; Low Taxes; Priced to Sell; Solar Panels; Walk to All; SD# 14. Vaulted Ceilings. Central A/C;  Tel 516/808-9610; No Brokers

NEW TO THE MARKET

Completely renovated 5 bdrs, 3.5 bath in the heart of Cedarhurst!!!

Radiant heated floor, new kitchen with high end appliances, Formal dining room with fire place, library, master suite bedrooms with walking closets, finished basement with separate entrance and much more…. For private showings call Alexandra at Realty connect usa at 516.784.0856

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Warehouse /Flex Office / Storage   Space 206 – 2400 sf & Sp. 211 – 3200 sf

Loading Dock. LIRR, Bus, Bank, Shopping, City Center. Owner 516-654-4986

WOODMERE

Just listed - House Rental 6 bedroom residence. Living room with soaring vaulted ceilings and fireplace. Oversized den with fireplace. Family room. Central air conditioning. Five bedrooms on a single level. Close proximity to the railroad, shopping destinations, and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

WOODMERE

Exquisite and expansive 1 Bedroom co-op in Heathcote. Recently renovated. Large foyer, vast Eat-InKitchen. Classic pre-war building with elevator. Private storage room. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the perfect combination of space, style, and convenience in the most desirable location. Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

Totally renovated 1 and 2 Bedroom, Apartments with washer/dryer, kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances. Recessed lighting, hardwood floors, storage in basement. Close to RR, shopping, and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship

$179k 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

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

CEDARHURST

Rental Just listed 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom apartment with spacious rooms, central air conditioning, underground parking, washer/dryer, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, kitchen with refrigerator , microwave, stove and dishwasher, minutes from shopping, transportation restaurants and houses of worship. 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

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE ISRAEL REAL ESTATE

WOODMERE

Well maintained 1 Bedroom apartment. Elevator Building. Pet Friendly, SD#14, Corner Unit, Bright + Sunny, Hardwood Floors, Eat-in Kitchen, Full Bathroom, 3 Closets, 2 Ceiling Fans, 1 A/C Unit, Full Time Super on Premises. Minutes from the Railroad, Shopping, Houses of Worship, and Laundry Room on Premises. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 • $175K

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

SOVRl'7J.o

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

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 516-298-8457 • 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

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

LAWRENCE

New to the market Generously sized 1 bedroom 1.5 bathroom coop in an elevator building, with a 24 hour doorman, underground parking, double terrace, central air conditioning, washer/dryer and storage on the floor, eat-in-kitchen, living room and dining room, no steps into the building or to the apartment, minutes from shopping, park, transportation, and houses of worship. $479,000 Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH G1

*Available this summer in RBSG1*

5 bedroom/4 bathroom (3 full- 1 half) 1st floor • Building w/ an elevator

Quiet street • Close to bussing (local and to Yerushalayim)

Across the street from a few different Shuls

Walking to G1 Mercaz

Available July 12 - Aug 9 with flexibility

For more info WhatsApp 347-831-5128 or call 053-412-7194

HELP WANTED

BOOKKEEPER

Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

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

SEEKING ELA TEACHER

Teaching position for Gr. 6. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Great salary, warm, supportive environment. Training in our curriculum is provided. Teachersearch11@gmail.com

5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA

Seeking Elem Gen Ed Teachers

Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE OPENING

ELA teaching position for Gr. 5. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary, warm supportive environment. Teachersearch11@gmail.com

SHEVACH HIGH SCHOOL, the Bais Yaakov High School of Queens, seeks a dynamic, warm, and experienced Limudei Kodesh teacher for Chumash and additional subjects. Full morning hours, Monday through Friday. Please send resume to rwittenstein@shevachhs.org.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

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

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

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

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

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

GROWING YESHIVA IN QUEENS

Seeking: 1st Grade General Studies

Teacher (Boys)

Pre-1A Morah (Limudei Kodesh Girls)

Preschool assistants

Secretarial position

Great pay-on time! Please email resume and references to staffing@ ybtschools.org

YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE

Seeking the following positions: Assistant teachers

Learning Center Teacher for ELA and Math, MS Science Teacher

Please send resume to: monika@yoss.org

MISC.

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!

SEEKING TO RENT

Any Property with Option to buy. Good credit. Cash. Terms$$$$. 212-470-1708

Life C ach Magic

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

There is magic in the air, olé, olé, olé! Can you feel the magic?

It’s all around us.

Yes, new beginnings and the High Holidays are all converging on us at the same time.

Buses beeping. Kids laughing (and… crying). People planning. Travel agents smiling.

A’s are being taught. While B’s and C’s are being put on hold till after the holidays. Because we have to start already!

After all, parents, as loving as they are, would have a really hard time if they didn’t get their kids out and into some structured activities.

Really, how much vacationing, shopping, prepping, biking, scootering, swing-pushing, project-doing, and going out for ice cream can even the most dedicated parent do?

Eventually, they all realize that maybe a little time apart would be healthy for everyone involved. i.e., “loving” siblings could use a break, parents and kids could use some time apart, even pets should spend some time alone without the kids hugging them too tightly.

School starts just in time. Though homework starts way too soon!

Kids don’t usually enjoy doing it and

neither do parents. So why pay this stressful price for keeping your kids busy during the day?

On the other hand, kids do need some healthy evening structure.

That’s the perpetual struggle.

After-school activities, at the school, are usually a super solution. Because it’s kind of like a play date, with stimulation and a babysitter, all wrapped up in one. And parents only have to drive one way to boot! These are one of the times we feel the magic in the air, olé, olé, olé!

Also, if you have a kid who loves to read, hates TV, and uses a computer only for healthy pursuits. There’s another piece of magic.

The most magical gift is if we can remember to not take it all too seriously. Stressful moments can pass. We want everyone to emerge on the other side of childhood and parenthood unscarred and connected.

So remember to tap into the magic in the air. The funny thoughts, the witty comments, the successes, the efforts that kids have and make. Mention it to them, celebrate it with them, and admire them for them. And most of all, as the holidays remind us, remember that every day is a new beginning.

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.