Five Towns Jewish Home 9.21.23

Dear Readers,

Time moves quickly – even fifty years. To many people, the Yom Kippur War is a very fresh memory. My mother-in-law vividly remembers davening in shul on Yom Kippur morning while in seminary in Israel, when suddenly, all of the young men quickly filed out in their kittels and talleisim. The women stood in silence as the men from their now-disbanded minyan clung to overloaded IDF jeeps taking them to the frontlines. Many never returned home.

Fifty years later, the war is still discussed and debated, and the wounds are still raw. 2,222 young Jewish men died defending the Jewish land. Those who lived, though, suffered from the emotional trauma of seeing their brothers bleed to death before their eyes. They carried with them physical wounds that haunted them for a lifetime.

Several years ago, a writer for TJH approached a man in the community who had fought in the Yom Kippur War. Before speaking to the veteran about his experience, the writer assured me, “He’s a good friend of mine and a great guy. He’ll gladly give me an interview.”

But when the writer met with him and asked to discuss the war, the man’s countenance changed as if he was reliving a trauma. He began weeping and told the writer, “I can’t talk about it.” This man saw his closest friends – fellow tankers – die in the most tragic way.

When we land in Israel in the palatial Ben Gurion Airport and feel the cool flow of perfect central air on our necks as we walk down the long marble ramp towards the giant mezuzah and “Welcome to Israel” sign, that wasn’t just built with money; it was built with Jewish

blood – soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Yom Kippur War and other wars to protect their brethren and their homeland.

The story of the Yom Kippur War needs to be remembered even now, fifty years later, because we owe it to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Lawrence resident Uri Kaufman is a real estate developer by trade, but he’s a history buff in the truest sense of the word, with a particular focus on the Yom Kippur War. He spent twenty years writing his recently published book, Eighteen Days in October. Uri is a skilled writer, weaving the history of Israel and the events of the Yom Kippur into a captivating tale – one so incredible that you almost can’t believe it really happened. The Yad Hashem is so apparent in every decision, maneuver, tactic, and miraculous turn as you read through the pages of Uri’s book.

TJH recently sat down with Uri for a fascinating conversation about this important episode in our modern history. I urge you to read through the article we prepared for this week –and then read Uri’s book so you can truly feel what those soldiers went through.

As we approach Yom Kippur, I wish you and your family a gmar chasima tova. This year should be filled with health, happiness, and success, and Hashem should accept all your tefillos and should answer kol meshalos l’bcha l’tova This should be the year that all Jewish hardship ends. We should merit to see the geulah and join together in joy in Yerushalayim.

Gmar chasima tova, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Shabbos Zemanim

Friday, September 22

Parshas Haazinu

Candle Lighting: 6:34 pm

Shabbos Ends: 7:32 pm

Rabbeinu Tam: 8:03 pm

Dear Editor, I have a few suggestions regarding the letter a few weeks ago complaining that there is a time gap between when summer camp ends and when school begins.

First, there have arisen some minicamp programs that span that particular period. Of course, that is yet an additional expense for hard-working and often cash-strapped families, but at least it exists.

Second, if many of the children in the neighborhood are home at the same time during this period, it should not be that hard to arrange play dates. Obviously, it works best when there are many families in the neighborhood with children are at home and many who have at least one parent home so that they can rotate supervision fairly.

Third, although not everybody has this flexibility, many employment situations allow, or even encourage, employees to take vacation during the latter half of August. I did that once and took two of my teenagers on a 2-day car trip to Baltimore and Gettysburg. Less ambitiously, if one’s children are old enough or if a parent can take off a day here or there, they can do something that they rarely have a chance to do during the year, such as visiting a museum, zoo or aquarium.

Fourth, for some children, the time can be used to focus on a special project. It might be building an intricate plastic model of an airplane or a car (my favorite was a NASA launch pad and rocket) or it might be learning Torah or some secular subject for an hour a day with a grandparent. (While I was in college, I arranged for a particular 5-week summer course to be squeezed in during the two weeks between school and camp and the three weeks between camp and school.)

Finally, think back to your own child-

hood. What did you do 30, 40, 50 or 60 years ago? I remember with great fondness my summers in a bungalow with my extended family. My brother and I and one cousin around the same age were almost always together. The fathers were around only on the weekends, and the mothers didn’t drive, so the furthest we really could go was to walk to another colony a bit down the road where we could go swimming. I cannot tell you what we did minute by minute or hour by hour, but we built things with random pieces of wood, nails, hammers and saws, we caught frogs and salamanders after the rains and in the stream across the road and fireflies in jars at dusk (and always let them go), over and over we pulled a wagon up a hill and rode it down the hill with wild abandon, and at night we listened to baseball games on a staticky radio. Somehow, we managed to fill the time and not hurt ourselves too badly, and we have glorious memories of those summers.

Robert Kantowitz Lawrence, NY

Dear Editor,

I was looking around my shul on Rosh Hashana, and I felt such comfort in being together with such an exalted crowd. When we daven, we ask Hashem to judge us as a group, so that any aveiros that we have will be small compared to the huge zechusim that we have a tzibbur.

And I thought to myself: how many times, throughout the year, have I looked down on someone and seen their flaws and faults? I’m sure there were times (I hope not too many!) that I did that. But now, on Rosh Hashana, looking around, I only see the good in the people around me. And not only that, but I beg Hashem to see us as a cohesive network, all part

Continued on page 12

Continued from page 10 of one group. How then, can I see the flaws in my fellow Jew? How can I ever look down on the people who, on Rosh Hashana, I connect with and want to be connected with?

And so, perhaps, this year, we should remember the feelings that we have on Rosh Hashana, the desire to be connected to each as a group, and the beautiful zechusim that each of us have. In that way, we will only see the good shining through our fellow Jews.

Wishing everyone a year filled with light and bracha.

A Reader

Dear Editor,

In 1968, when CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite declared that the Vietnam War was unwinnable, President Lyndon B. Johnson knew that he had lost the support of middle America. He subsequently announced that he would not run or accept his party’s nomination for a second term. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius joined by other media commentators across the political spectrum have questioned President Joe Biden’s re-election bid for a second term. The President should head the words of Kenny Rodgers in the “Gambler,” “You’ve

got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run.”

Sincerely,

Larry & Wendy Penner Great Neck, NY

Dear Editor,

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, ever since the Abraham Accords were signed. I know that they were a step forward in diplomacy in the Middle East. But some people see the Accords as the answer to all hatred and all violence. But let’s be clear: a signed piece of paper does not mean that people’s feelings toward each other change. It does not mean that Israel will now suddenly become friends with its neighbors.

There are rumors that the Saudis will be the next to sign a peace agreement with Israel. That’s amazing. But remember that the 9/11 hijackers did not come from Iran or Iraq. They came from Saudi Arabia. The people living there will not suddenly become Jew-lovers. They may do business with us, they may visit our country, but they will not be our friends.

Don’t think that the Abraham Accords is the answer to any peace that Israel needs. That’s up to Hashem only. Daven for peace.

Yerachmiel Hershkowitz

15.7 Million Jews Worldwide

them living in the United States.

These figures come from Jewish demographic expert Professor Sergio DellaPergola of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and will be published in the American Jewish Year Book 2023.

Adjustments were made to last year’s estimates that are in line with newly released data, including the results of national censuses in several countries with significant Jewish populations. For example, the estimates for Russia and Ukraine were revised according to the significant migration that followed the hostilities in the region.

Muslim countries, including 14,200 in Turkey, 9,100 in Iran, 2,100 in Morocco, and 1,000 in Tunisia.

5 Americans Freed from Iran

meeting of world leaders in New York on Tuesday.

The five Americans — some of whom had been held for years in Evin Prison, one of the most notorious detention centers in Iran — flew to Doha, the capital of Qatar, for a Cold War-style exchange with two of the five Iranians. Three others declined to return to Iran, according to U.S. officials. The Americans were given a brief medical checkup in Doha before they boarded a U.S. government plane headed for the Washington area, officials said.

As we start a new year, the number of Jews worldwide stands at approximately 15.7 million, an increase in one million, according to newly released statistics from The Jewish Agency for Israel.

Among the global Jewish population, the number of Jews in Israel is 7,200,000, an increase from 7,080,00 last year. Meanwhile, about 8.5 million live outside Israel, with approximately 6.3 million of

Who is a Jew? These numbers merely include those who identify as Jews by religion and do not identify with another religion. The proportion of Jews living in Israel stands at 46%, an increase of one-half percent over the previous year’s adjusted data.

According to the numbers, there are 440,000 Jews living in France; 398,000 Jews living in Canada; 312,000 living in the UK; and 171,000 living in Argentina.

Russia has 132,000 Jews; Australia boasts 117,000; Germany is home to 125,000 Jews; and Brazil is the homeland of 90,000 Jews.

Around 27,000 Jews live in Arab and

Five Americans who had been imprisoned in Iran were allowed to leave the country on Monday, President Joe Biden said, after two years of high-stakes negotiations in which the United States agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue and dismiss federal charges against five Iranians accused of violating U.S. sanctions.

The announcement that the Americans took off in a plane from Tehran just before 9 a.m. Eastern time came as Biden and President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran were to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly

The terms of the deal have generated intense criticism from Republicans who say that releasing billions in oil revenue amounts to paying a ransom and would lead to the taking of more hostages.

Top aides to Biden have said financial sanctions and strict monitoring will prevent Iran from spending the money on anything except food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. They acknowledge, however, that the deal might free up money that Iran is already spending on those items for other purposes.

The Americans — Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi and Morad Tahbaz, as well as two others who have not been named at their families’ request — had been jailed on unsubstantiated charges of spying.

They had spent the last several weeks in Iran in home detention after Tehran agreed to release them from prison while the $6 billion transfer, a complicated process, was completed.

U.S. officials said Namazi’s mother and Tahbaz’s wife were also on the plane out of Iran. Both women are Americans and had been prevented from leaving the country. (© The New York Times)

Kim Jong Un Back Home

six days – his longest foreign travel as leader of the Hermit Kingdom. According to reports, the two countries discussed bolstering their defense ties, although no specifics were given. It is speculated that Russia and North Korea were talking about arms transfer deals, a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Kim had traveled to Russia onboard a bulletproof train. His locomotive crossed a river on the border into North Korea on Monday morning.

While traveling through Russia’s far eastern region, Kim met Putin at Russia’s most important space launch center before visiting military sites to see some of Russia’s most advanced weapons systems such as nuclear-capable bombers, fighter jets and hypersonic missiles.

Russia can send North Korea much-needed food and supplies.

Nipah Virus in India

seven villages are, as of now, “containment zones.”

On Tuesday, North Korea announced that its leader, Kim Jong Un, had returned home from a trip to Russia where he deepened “comradely fellowship and friendly ties” with President Vladimir Putin.

Kim had been away from home for

In live comments during their meeting last Wednesday, Kim offered “full and unconditional support” to Putin. KCNA later said Kim and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also met and discussed expanding “strategic and tactical coordination” between the countries’ armed forces.

Russia is facing a depletion in military supplies due to the war in Ukraine. North Korea, a country that spends a huge percentage of its budget on weapons, can possibly fill that shortage. In exchange,

An uncommon disease known as the Nipah virus has killed two people in Kerala, a state in southern India, prompting concern over a potential serious outbreak.

This marks the Nipah virus’ fourth outbreak in Kerala in just five years. This recent spread has prompted authorities to shut down schools and administer mass viral testing. According to Veena George, the state’s health minister, there are over seven hundred individuals who were in close contact with someone infected and, as such, are currently being tested. The authorities requested that seventy-seven people who are at “high risk” stay at home for the time being. According to reports,

Generally, people contract the illness through coming in contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat or pig, but the disease can also spread from one person to another or through infected food. Those with the virus may suffer minor or serious illness. At the start of infection, a person usually experiences headache and drowsiness, which may then turn into a coma a few days later, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, in severe cases, those with the virus may have acute respiratory syndrome, in which the lungs aren’t able to bring sufficient amounts of oxygen to the body, or fatal encephalitis, also known as deadly inflammation of the brain. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent or treat the virus.

“We should not be afraid, but face this situation with caution,” Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, posted on social media.

In 2018, the Nipah virus killed seventeen people. In 2019, one man contracted the illness, and in 2021, a 12-year-old boy died from the disease.

According to the CDC, the virus was first found in Malaysia during the 19981999 outbreak, in which about 300 people

22 were diagnosed with the disease and over a hundred people died.

Gershkovich Appeal Denied

instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.” Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich has been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo pre-trial detention center, notorious for its harsh conditions, ever since. Last month, a court in Moscow extended his detention until the end of November. He and his employer deny the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained.

victed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout –only in the event of a verdict in his trial. In Russia, espionage investigations and trials can last for more than a year.

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Crops Destroyed in Hailstorm

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on what he, his employer and the U.S. government say are phony espionage charges since March, had an appeal for his release denied by a Moscow court on Tuesday, according to reports.

He is now going to remain in custody at least until November 30.

Gershkovich, 31, a U.S. citizen was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow, while on a reporting trip on March 29.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service, Gershkovich, “acting on the

If convicted, the journalist could be sent to prison for twenty years. His trial date has not yet been set.

When asked if the U.S. would consider a prisoner swap, as they did earlier this week with Iran, Almar Latour, CEO of Dow Jones CEO and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said, “It’s Evan. It’s a highly personal situation for him, for his family, for his colleagues. But there’s also this massive underlying issue of freedom of the press without freedom of press and no free society.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously said it would consider a swap for Gershkovich – similar to the exchange of WNBA star Brittney Griner for con-

Crops in the southeastern Spanish city of Valencia were struck by severe weather over the weekend and were destroyed. Farmers in the area are reeling by the nearly $43 million worth of crops across thousands of acres of land that are now ruined. In some cases, some farmers had all their crops destroyed.

The significant agricultural loss came as several regions in Valencia and Castellón – both of which are on the coast of the Balearic Sea – were struck by an intense hailstorm on Sunday.

Some of those crops were on the verge of being harvested.

Spain’s meteorological agency for the Valencia region warned on Sunday that the storm would move “quickly,” but that it would bring “very heavy rainfall and large hail.” “Strong gusts of wind” and more than 1,300 lightning strikes were also recorded. The hail was bigger than the size of a quarter.

Initial estimates say that the weather resulted in roughly 40 million euros worth of losses — an amount equal to $42.8 million in U.S. dollars — across more than 37,000 acres worth of land. Some farmers had nearly “100% of the harvest” impacted, the farmers’ association said, with a range of produce being hit, including vineyards, citrus fruits, persimmons, avocados, almond trees, olive trees, rice and vegetables.

The hardest-hit area seems to be the Utiel-Requena region, which saw “a carpet of stones about four centimeters thick” across more than 19,700 acres, the association said. That area alone is believed to have more than $12.8 million

24 in losses, with some wine growers losing “their entire grape production in the middle of harvest season,” the association said.

Many of those same farmers are also grappling with “severe damage” to their vines that could create problems in the next season, the association said, adding that they believe that Utiel-Requena – the region’s primary grape producer – will see a more than 60% decrease in the harvest compared to recent annual averages.

Connecting India to Europe

trade route from India to Europe and the Middle East has finally begun, thus bringing about a “new era of connectivity.”

The new project is made up of an eastern route, which connects India to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as a northern route, which connects India to several parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Germany, as well as the European Union.

According to some analysts, the development of this project may reflect the United States’ ambitions to compete with, and potentially take down, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a trillion-dollar infrastructure project that is said to connect China with over 150 countries, including the Gulf Arab states, through land and sea routes.

Just last month, Biden spoke of the new project as if it were an alternative to China’s BRI, as opposed to something which may coexist or complement already existing routes.

However, on Sunday, September 10, Biden said that he is not looking to contain China’s influence and that he hopes for the East Asian country’s success, provided that they play “by the rules.”

If this new U.S.-led initiative tries to compete with or overtake the BRI, then the Gulf states and Italy, who are a part of both China and the U.S.’s projects, may be forced to take sides. According to Italian media, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is seeking to enhance his country’s relationship with China, he is currently looking for a painless way out of the BRI.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, are trying to avoid picking sides.

sia, India, China, and South Africa, sent Saudi Arabia and the UAE an invitation to join the economic group.

NagornoKarabakh Region Under Attack

During the annual G20 conference, on Saturday, September 9, U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside officials from India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, announced that a new port and railways

“We got together literally billions of dollars in the G7 nations to provide for alternatives to China’s – what they call Belt and Road Initiative, which is basically a debt and noose agreement that they have,” Biden said at a campaign event in Salt Lake City, Utah, in August, pointing out China’s manipulative business tactics.

The U.S. project, which connects India to the Middle East, is “a manifestation of the global connectivity agenda the UAE and the region (are) perusing,” said Mohammed Baharoon, the director general of the Dubai Public Policy Research Center. “It will complement, more than compete, with China’s BRI since both of them are attempts to facilitate the movement of goods (including energy) money, people, and data.”

Just a few weeks prior to this announcement, BRICS, which is comprised of the developing countries of Brazil, Rus-

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said it had begun an “anti-terrorist” campaign in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, as Armenian media and local authorities reported heavy bombardment of the regional capital of Stepanakert.

Two civilians, including a child, were killed, and 11 people were injured, amid shelling by the Azerbaijan military. Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has been the

26 cause of two wars between the neighbors in the past three decades, most recently in 2020.

Tensions have been simmering around the region for months, after Azerbaijani troops blockaded the Lachin corridor in December, cutting off the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and preventing the import of food to its roughly 120,000 inhabitants.

Russian peacekeepers, who deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh under the terms of the 2020 ceasefire, have been tasked with preventing a fresh conflict from breaking out. But Moscow has been accused of being unable or unwilling to intervene to protect Armenia, its long-term ally, in the face of continuing aggression from Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry demanded in a statement on Tuesday “the complete withdrawal of ethnic Armenian troops and the dissolution of the government in Stepanakert.”

The ministry claimed its army had come under “systematic shelling” from Armenia’s armed forces, adding that its action was designed to “neutralize their military infrastructure” and “ultimately restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

Armenia has denied the presence of

its army in the region.

The previous war, which ended in a crushing defeat for the de-facto Nagorno-Karabakh state backed by Armenia’s government, lasted 44 days. Russia, a long-term ally of Armenia but which has also recently strengthened ties with Azerbaijan, helped end the war by negotiating a ceasefire. The deal provided for around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to deploy to Nagorno-Karabakh to guard the Lachin corridor.

Dominican Republic Closes Haiti Border

land, and air border it shares with Haiti, effective Friday, September 15. This decision comes after years of conflict between the two nations, culminating in the mass deportation of Haitians from the Dominican Republic as the country tries to fight against Haiti’s attempts to build a canal over a shared river.

With Haiti on the brink of absolute collapse, consumed by gang violence, poverty, and the threat of famine, many have asserted that the border closure will only serve to push Haiti over the edge.

“A border closure would essentially lock Haitians within their country amid extreme levels of violence, including large-scale killings, [and] kidnappings, and with much of the population struggling to feed their families or access clean water and health care,” said Ida Sawyer, a crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch,

And because the Dominican Republic is one of Haiti’s biggest trading partners, Haiti will also face even more economic challenges as a nation.

for irrigation, agriculture, and industry but permits neither to change the water’s “natural course.” Dominican officials claim that the Haitian government does not support the canal’s construction but has no power to stop it. Abinader added that the building of such a canal would be a “totally inadequate construction without any type of engineering,” as well as a “provocation that this government is not going to accept.”

Haiti has argued that the canal, which could irrigate over 7,400 acres of Haitian land in the Maribaroux plain, would not go against any of the treaty’s rules. Some have even gone as far as to say that the canal is just an excuse to close the border and that the Dominican Republic is doing so solely because they feel threatened by Haitian immigration.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader recently announced that his country would completely close the sea,

Haiti has been working on constructing a canal in a river that divides the two Caribbean countries, a plan which the Dominican Republic says would be in violation of the nations’ 1929 treaty, which allows both countries to access the river

The canal’s construction started in 2021 and was not initially considered problematic by Dominican officials. However, in July 2021, the building was temporarily halted when Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was murdered. Once construction continued in 2023, the Dominican Republic began claiming that the canal violated the 1929 treaty. Even before this absolute closure, certain parts of the border had already been closed off.

As of late, Dominican officials have

been repeating the age-old sentiment that the country is being actively invaded by Haiti.

Eleven million people live in the Dominican Republic, half a million of whom are Haitian. In 2022 alone, over 170,000, the majority of whom were from Haiti, were deported from the country. According to the UN, many pregnant Haitian women were immediately thrown out of the Dominican Republic upon seeking medical help.

Canada Says India Carried Out Killing

in British Columbia in June, an explosive allegation that will likely further sour relations between the two nations.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Trudeau said he had raised India’s involvement in the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Group of 20 summit meeting earlier this month “in no uncertain terms.” He said the allegation was based on intelligence gathered by the Canadian government.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau told lawmakers. He said Canada would pressure India to cooperate with the investigation into the killing of Nijjar, who advocated Sikh separatism.

Mélanie Joly, the foreign minister, later announced that Canada had expelled an Indian diplomat whom she described as the head of India’s intelligence agency in Canada.

year — it now appears because of the assassination allegations. During the G20, Modi excluded Trudeau from the list of leaders with whom he held formal bilateral meetings.

Nijjar, 45, was shot near a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. At a news conference in June, investigators from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said he had been ambushed by masked men but would not say whether the attack appeared politically motivated.

Nijjar was known for his advocacy of the creation of an independent Sikh nation, Khalistan, that would include parts of India’s Punjab state, and India had declared him a wanted terrorist.

(© The New York Times)

China Clothing Ban

targeting male clothing companies that offer unmasculine styles, citizens who have tattoos, as well as those spotted wearing traditional Japanese clothing which may be considered unpatriotic in China.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that “agents of the government of India” carried out the assassination of a Sikh community leader

The allegation that India’s government was involved in a political killing in Canada is likely to further corrode relations between the two countries. This month, Canada suspended negotiations on a trade deal with India that were scheduled to have been concluded this

A new Chinese amendment has been proposed that, if put into law, would ban Chinese citizens from wearing clothing that the government perceives as unpatriotic or anti-China.

Although it is unknown what exactly would be prohibited under such a law, Chinese authorities, as of late, have been

As proposed in this new law, an offender who “wear[s] or force[s] others to wear” clothing which is forbidden to wear – whatever that may be – may be jailed for upwards of fifteen days or fined as much as 5,000 yuan ($681).

Many have criticized the generic, nonspecific way in which the proposal was written, which may be intended to give Chinese authorities the liberty to discipline anyone for any reason.

“If (the Standing Committee) passes this article according to the current draft, it will inevitably lead to law enforcement and the judiciary arresting and convicting people based on their leaders’ will, which

30 will cause endless harm,” said Tong Zhiwei, a constitutional studies professor who works at Shanghai’s East China University of Political Science and Law.

In alignment with current Chinese social trends, one’s choice of clothing may reflect the wearer’s political standing, with many opting to wear traditional Chinese clothes known as hanfu. Just a year ago, a Chinese citizen was arrested for wearing a kimono, a traditional Japanese garment, although it is unclear if such attire is or is not illegal.

“State power directly interferes in the field of individual citizens’ daily clothing, which is obviously an overreaching intervention,” said Lao Dongyan, a criminal law professor at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. And the passing of such a law may even “intensify antagonism with some countries, putting (our country in) a passive position diplomatically.”

Life in Prison for Brussels Bombers

A jury in a Belgian criminal court recently sentenced seven men responsible for organizing a series of bombings in Brussels in March 2016 to prison

terms ranging from 10 years to life. The sentences arrived seven years after the deadliest terrorist assault in Belgium’s history, which ruptured a multicultural society and sent shock waves across Europe.

in 2016, having assessed that the existing sentences were “enough.”

The presiding judge, Laurence Massart, read the jury’s sentences in the former NATO headquarters in Brussels, which had been transformed into a court for the purpose of this trial.

Three homemade bombs packed with nails were detonated in an airport departure hall and a busy subway station on March 22, 2016, killing 32 people from eight countries and wounding 340 others. The assaults were claimed by the same Islamic State group cell that took responsibility for a string of terrorist attacks in Paris the previous year.

Ben Gurion Smoking Rooms

Three of the men, found guilty of murder and attempted murder this year, were sentenced to life imprisonment, including one who is presumed dead in Syria. Four others, including two whom the jury acquitted of murder charges but found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, were handed sentences from 10 to 30 years.

The jury did not give a new sentence to Salah Abdeslam, who was condemned to life imprisonment over the organization of 2015 attacks in Paris and to 20 years over participation in a separate shooting

A much-anticipated trial of 10 men accused of preparing the Brussels attacks lasted eight months, ending in July, and was the largest ever in Belgium, with testimony from almost 1,000 registered survivors, witnesses and experts.

This year, a jury of Brussels residents of varied ages and ethnic backgrounds found eight men guilty and acquitted two before disbanding for a summer recess. They restarted their work on Monday and reached an agreement on the sentencing after five days of deliberations. (© The New York Times)

Around three years ago, Ben Gurion Airport discontinued all its smoking zones and became an area in which smoking was banned. However, on Tuesday, the airport decided to reinstate its smoking areas.

According to reports by Channel 12 news, the airport decided to reestablish smoking rooms because people refused to comply with the anti-smoking rules and instead smoked secretly in bathrooms.

The Ynet news website said that the move was made in order to accommodate the needs of travelers and that another three smoking rooms would be added in Terminal 3 in the next month.

The head of public health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, criticized the decision, asserting that it undermines Israel’s mission of lowering the rate of smoking cases which, after decreasing in number for decades, suddenly rose to 20%. About 8,000 Israeli citizens

die from smoking annually, 800 of whom die from secondhand smoke.

This “destructive decision will take Israel back to the 1950s when smoking was permitted at the back of buses and there were smoking areas in planes,” the Israel Cancer Association warned.

“We are smarter today and aim to raise a generation of children free of active and passive smoking. Have we not learned anything in the last decades? While other nations are moving forward

and passing legislation prohibiting smoking and airports around the world are closing smoking areas and rooms, Israel is taking a step backward.”

Many are concerned that smoking within designated airport zones will still hurt others, as the rooms are not completely insulated and, as such, may expose people to secondhand smoke, which can cause several symptoms such as nausea and eye irritation in the short term and while after repeated exposure may

cause heart disease, stroke, and cancer, among other serious diseases.

Bibi Meets Musk

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Elon Musk, the owner of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, have both faced intense scrutiny and criticism for most of the year.

Netanyahu has been the target of a nine-month wave of mass protests against his effort to reduce the power of Israel’s Supreme Court. Musk has been accused, among other things, of tolerating and even encouraging a surge of antisemitic abuse on X.

On Monday, the two men sought to find a respite from those furors — in each other’s company.

Netanyahu, beginning a weeklong trip to the United States, took a 15-hour overnight flight to California, where the men met at a factory for Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, and broadcast an hourlong conversation live on X that allowed them to deflect from their respective crises.

The discussion was jocular, if disjointed. At some points, the two men were expressing mutual admiration; at others, they were delving into the perils and opportunities of artificial intelligence.

The conversation allowed Musk to defend against accusations of antisemitism and Netanyahu to give a positive spin to his judicial overhaul, which critics say has undermined Israel’s democracy.

“Balance between the three branches of government — that’s what I’m trying to achieve, nothing more,” Netanyahu said. Turning to Musk, he added, “It’s not an easy thing to be maligned — I know you’ve never seen that, right?”

“Me, maligned?” Musk said, laughing. “Never.”

For Netanyahu, an encounter with the world’s richest man allowed him to dismiss claims that his judicial overhaul had put off investors and harmed Israel’s startup ecosystem.

For Musk, the meeting with the leader of the world’s only Jewish state gave him a chance to deflect a barrage of criticism from some people who say he has allowed

X to become a vessel for antisemitic hatred.

Still, the Israeli prime minister did use the opportunity to press Musk on the matter of hate posts.

“I hope you can find, within the confines of the First Amendment, the ability to not only stop antisemitism as best you can, but any collective hatred of the people that antisemitism represents,” Netanyahu said,

Netanyahu was scheduled to leave Monday evening on another overnight flight, to New York, where he is set to meet President Joe Biden and make a speech to the U.N. General Assembly later in the week. (© The New York Times)

Israel’s New Tank

tary’s new main battle tank, the Merkava Barak. It took five years to develop the new tank.

The first models of what the ministry called “5th generation Merkava battle tanks” were delivered to the 52nd Armored Battalion of the 401st Brigade.

The Barak tank was developed jointly by the Defense Ministry’s Armored Vehicles Directorate and the IDF’s Ground Forces and Armored Corps, and includes systems developed by several Israeli defense firms, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta subsidiary, among other companies.

In 2015, the Defense Ministry and military began research into developing a new tank for the Armored Corps, with development beginning in 2018. In 2020, initial tests were carried out, and in recent months, the first tanks were delivered to the IDF.

The ministry said the Barak tanks are equipped with “a wide infrastructure of reliable sensors” to detect targets, and intelligence information can be shared between the tank and other parts of the military, which will be “a real revolution on the battlefield.”

reduced signature and in all combat scenarios, on the current and future battlefield, against the entirety of threats that exist for the maneuvering force,” the ministry said.

With this new tank, the commander is equipped with a helmet developed by Elbit — similar to a fighter jet pilot’s helmet — that gives them a full view of their surroundings and displays relevant information about ongoing fighting.

According to Elbit, the helmet, dubbed IronVision, “generates an image that enables the crew to ‘see through’ the vehicle’s armor” and will help the soldiers “overcome inherent visibility limitations, while improving mission efficiency and safety.”

“The system will allow 360-degree scanning by moving the head and locating targets in real-time with the help of artificial intelligence capabilities,” the ministry said.

oped by Elbit, enables “accurate attacks while idle and while moving” during the day or night, with improved ranges, according to the defense firm.

According to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the new tank is “symbolic” as it debuted as Israel marks 50 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War “and the heroic battles fought by the Armored Corps soldiers in defense of our country.”

Charedim to Join Mossad

This week, the Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces revealed the mili-

“The Barak tank will strengthen the capabilities of detecting enemies and will enable fighting against an enemy with a

Using the technology, soldiers can fight in the tank while the tank is completely closed, with no hatches open. It is also equipped with the Windbreaker, made of a radar detection system to spot incoming missiles. The Barak tanks’ firepower has also received a “significant upgrade,” increasing the “lethality” of the military. The fire control system, devel-

This week, the Mossad spy agency and Shin Bet internal security service announced that the agencies will begin to take in charedi volunteers as part of a new national service program.

The Mossad and Shin Bet will begin the program by each taking in 100

charedi yeshiva students who are over the age of 21, after they undergo professional training. The enlistees will serve for two years.

The program is expected to launch next month.

National service is typically done on a volunteer basis as an alternative to mandatory military service.

The drafting of charedi men into the military has long been highly controversial, and even more so in recent months, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government planning a law to facilitate increased exemptions for charedim from military service.

Using Facial Recognition Technology

This week, a ministerial panel voted to lend cabinet support to a government-sponsored bill to legalize police usage of facial recognition cameras placed in public spaces across Israel.

The legislation, backed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, is being billed as a government effort to tackle

crime in Arab communities. Critics are concerned that the bill lacks sufficiently clear oversight guardrails on the powerful technology, especially in light of recent alleged police misuse of other advanced tools.

and assassination attempts in the Arab sector,” Shabtai told his senior command staff at their weekly meeting.

Violence in Arab communities is a real concern. So far in 2023, 166 Arab Israeli citizens have been killed by violent crime, according to the Abraham Initiatives, in addition to nine non-citizen Palestinians. This figure is more than double the 79 Arab victims of crime over the same period in 2022.

Ari Fuld’s Killer

Paid More

Prior to Monday’s meeting, a Justice Ministry legal adviser issued a legal opinion that supported the bill but also highlighted the expectation for follow-on legislation to refine the tool’s usage and privacy protections.

The Israel Police supports the bill, and on Monday, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai hailed facial recognition tech as a “life-saving tool” that could be critical to fighting organized crime, especially in Arab communities.

“The bill that is being submitted today for approval by the ministerial committee is a life-saving tool, without which the Israel Police would not be able to deal with criminal terrorism, murder incidents,

According to the bill, police will be allowed to deploy the facial recognition technology to “prevent, thwart or uncover serious crime and those involved in planning or carrying it out.” The legislation is similar to another bill, awaiting its final Knesset votes, that would retroactively legalize the use of the controversial, unregulated Hawk-Eye program, which can track and identify license plates and determine whether the vehicle was stolen or if its owner’s driver’s license is expired.

The bill would also let the police retain and use data gathered by the biometric facial recognition cameras to investigate criminal activity but requires the police to purge data not used for a real-time identification within 72 hours.

The Palestinian Authority has doubled the terror “salary” it pays every month to Khalil Jabarin, the murderer of Israeli-American father of four Ari Fuld, according to the Fuld family’s attorney.

Jabarin is serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison for the fatal stabbing of Fuld, 45, and attempting to murder three other people at the Gush Etzion shopping area on Sept. 16, 2018.

In a heroic and split-second decision, Fuld drew his gun and managed to shoot his attacker, preventing him from harming other civilians in the area, before collapsing and being rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The Efrat resident was posthumously awarded the Medal of Distinction, the third-highest award granted by the Israel Police.

Since the attack, Jabarin’s family has received a monthly stipend as part of the P.A.’s practice of rewarding those who kill and wound Israelis. The amount will increase the longer Jabarin remains in jail, Ramallah confirmed in 2018.

“Yesterday, the Palestinian Authority doubled the monthly salary it pays the terrorist murderer of Ari Fuld, [of blessed memory], from $522 to $1,044,”

Israeli attorney Maurice Hirsch announced this week, noting that the Pal-

estinian Authority has already paid Jabarin $25,726.

“The P.A.’s pay for slay policy incentivizes terror & rewards terrorists,” Hirsch wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, asking: “Why are the U.S. & E.U. helping the P.A. to reward terrorists & Jew-murderers?”

Shortly before Fuld’s murder, Congress passed the Taylor Force Act, named for an American Army veteran who was

visiting Israel as a graduate student and was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist in Jaffa, barring U.S. funding to the P.A. as long as it continues its “pay for slay policy.”

Despite the law, aid continues to flow to the P.A. with the U.S. State Department acknowledging that the P.A. has not terminated payments for acts of terrorism against Israeli and U.S. citizens.

On Monday morning, Hillel Fuld eulogized his brother as “the Lion of Zion.”

“Five years. Cannot believe it’s been that long, and if I’m being totally honest and transparent, I can’t even believe this really happened. I can’t believe he’s really gone. Maybe one day I’ll internalize that. For now? We just all miss the goofy, passionate, intense, motivated, truthful and learned Ari,” wrote Hillel Fuld on Facebook.

Moonquakes Caused By Apollo 17 Lander

According to a new study funded by NASA, a 1970s-era lunar lander left behind by U.S. astronauts on the moon might have been responsible for minor moonquakes, which are the lunar equivalent of an earthquake.

Extreme temperature changes on the moon repeatedly hit the spacecraft, which contracted and expanded, thus causing small tremors on the moon. These moonquakes, however, were benign and so insignificant that a human standing on the moon wouldn’t even realize that one was occurring. Scientists now know more about the phenomenon because of new advances in artificial intelligence which have allowed researchers to reinterpret and reanalyze data collected during the Apollo 17 mission.

Experts say that knowing how moonquakes work is essential for the future of lunar exploration and building, especially if NASA chooses to construct an outpost on the moon as part of the agency’s upcoming Artemis mission.

“How strong do we need to build our structures, and what other hazards do we need to mitigate for?” Dr. Angela Marusiak, an assistant research professor at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, said.

The Apollo 17 mission, which began in 1972, brought several seismometers to the moon, which were capable of measuring thermal moonquakes, which are

rumbles caused by the moon’s extreme changes in temperatures.

“Thousands of these signals were recorded during an eight-month span from 1976 to 1977 on four seismometers deployed during the Apollo 17 Lunar Seismic Profiling Experiment, but the poor quality of data makes analysis difficult,” the researchers explained. “We developed algorithms to accurately determine the arrival timing of the waves, measure the strength of the seismic signal, and find the direction of the moonquake source.”

This new level of data analysis brought about by artificial intelligence has allowed scientists to finally realize that these impulsive thermal moonquakes were not caused by natural means but rather by the heating and cooling of the Apollo 17 lunar lander.

Now, researchers seek to understand other types of moonquakes, such as deep and shallow tremors, as well as rumbles which may be caused by meteorite strikes.

Romney Retiring

Senator Mitt Romney, who has been in politics for over twenty years, announced last week that he will not be seeking another term as U.S. senator for Utah.

Romney was the governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. In 2012, he was nominated by the GOP to run against Barack Obama in the presidential race, which he lost. In 2019, he became a senator.

asserting that people his age are “not the right ones to be making the decisions for tomorrow.”

Once Romney’s term is up and he retires, his goal will be to encourage the younger generation to get involved with voting and politics, he said.

form, lying to a federally authorized gun dealer, and having a firearm while on drugs. The gun was in Hunter’s possession for eleven days.

Romney, who is seventy-six years old, cited his age as the reason he is not running for reelection and said that he believes the nation would be in better hands if the younger generation rose up and became leaders. He also urged Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who are 80 and 77 respectively, to give up their election bids and allow younger candidates to run in their stead.

“The times we’re living in re-demand the next generation step up and express their point of view and to make the decisions that will shape American politics over the coming century,” Romney said during a news conference at the Capitol,

Over the past few years, the senator has become a controversial figure within his political party, with many calling him a RINO (Republican In Name Only) for opposing Trump, voting to impeach the former president twice, and frequently siding with Democrats on several political issues. Still, Romney insists that he merely belongs to a different “wing” of the GOP, a faction that “talks about policy and about issues that will make a difference in the lives of the American people,” as opposed to his party’s group of Trump supporters who, he says, instead talk “about resentments of various kinds and getting even and settling scores and revisiting the 2020 election.”

Romney said that he discussed his decision with Biden, who wished him luck.

On Truth Social, Trump praised the announcement, asserting that Romney “did not serve with distinction” and that his retirement is a big win for the Republican Party and America.

Hunter Indicted

Special Counsel David Weiss, who led the indictment effort, is also considering bringing charges against Hunter Biden for tax evasion. Through his team’s investigations into Hunter, which started in 2018, several issues have been involved, including alleged money laundering, foreign lobbying, and the like.

Originally, prosecutors and the defense were working out a deal in which the charges would be dropped in exchange for an admission of guilt and a two-year period in which Hunter Biden would need to regularly pass drug tests and not get into any more legal troubles. However, this deal fell through, according to prosecutors, although Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said that the charges should be dropped based on the agreement.

“We believe these charges are barred by the agreement the prosecutors made with Mr. Biden, the recent rulings by several federal courts that this statute is unconstitutional, and the facts that he did not violate that law, and we plan to demonstrate all of that in court,” Lowell said.

Lowell additionally asserted that the indictment is biased and politically driven.

“Hunter Biden possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days was not a threat to public safety, but a prosecutor, with all the power imaginable, bending to political pressure presents a grave threat to our system of justice,” Lowell said.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Hunter Biden is in California now, and the details of his surrender have yet to be decided.

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been indicted on three charges of gun possession, marking the very first time the child of a U.S. president has faced criminal charges.

In October of 2018, Hunter Biden bought a gun in Delaware. During the purchase, he filled out a federal form in which he verified in writing that he was neither a user nor an addict of any illegal drugs – a claim which ended up being proven false as, at the time, he was a crack cocaine addict.

According to the indictment, Hunter “provided a written statement on Form 4473 certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious,” thus violating three crimes: lying on the ATF

If Hunter is convicted on all charges, he could technically be imprisoned for up to 25 years in jail and fined as much as $750,000, although it is unlikely that he will get the strictest punishment, as he is a first-time offender whose crime did not involve violence. Oh, and his father is the President.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee

At least two people have died from severe weather conditions brought about by post-tropical cyclone Lee in the United States, as the storm, which was once a hurricane, sweeps through northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada. On Saturday, it hit Long Island, a Canadian island in Nova Scotia, carrying winds at 45 mph,

according to the National Hurricane Center.

In Fernandina Beach, Florida, a 15-year-old drowned “due to turbulent wave conditions as a result of Hurricane Lee,” officials said. His body was found last Thursday. On Saturday, a fifty-yearold man from Winterport, Maine, died when a big tree branch, blown off by the storm’s powerful winds, slammed into the roof of his truck while he was in Searsport, Maine.

New Brunswick officials warned its citizens to exercise caution by making sure they have enough food and medicine for seventy-two hours or more and by staying inside their homes.

“Once the storm starts, remember please stay at home, if at all possible,” said Kyle Leavitt, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization’s director, on Friday before the storm hit. “Nothing good can come from checking out the big waves and how strong the wind truly is.”

States of emergency were declared in Maine and Massachusetts before Lee’s arrival, and President Joe Biden had the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency help the impacted areas work through the disaster.

lawmakers are no longer expected to suit up to conduct business on the Senate floor.

continue to wear a suit.”

Power outages have swept through the impacted regions of the U.S. and Canada, with hundreds of thousands of homes left without power. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada, almost 60,000 homes were left without electricity, while in Maine, where fallen trees lay near homes and on highways, over 90,000 were experiencing power outages as of Saturday.

Senate’s More Relaxed Dress Code

In the tradition-bound halls of the Senate, customs die hard and rules can be next to impossible to change. But on Monday, a major change had the Capitol abuzz.

For the first time in centuries,

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, has established a new dress code — or rather, done away with the old one — allowing members to take a more business-casual approach to their workwear.

The change, reported earlier by Axios, involved directing the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms — whose job, aside from directing security in the chamber, also entails enforcing outfit standards for all who enter it — that the previous policy that all senators must be clad in business attire when on the floor is no longer to be enforced.

“There has been an informal dress code that was enforced,” Schumer said in a statement. “Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will

The modification is in many ways a bow to reality: In recent years, there have been plenty of senators who have departed from the suit-and-tie uniform that for decades was considered the only acceptable attire. It most clearly reflects the influence of Sen. John Fetterman, the 6-foot-8, tattooed, first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania. After briefly donning a suit and tie for his first few months in Congress, he has recently reverted to wearing his signature Carhartt sweatshirts and baggy shorts.

As is the case with any sartorial change in Washington — be it footwear, dress color, suit shade or wigs — the announcement has generated a big reaction.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, was disdainful of the change in rules. “It’s just not that hard to wear a jacket and tie,” he wrote on social media, adding that “pants are a must — not optional.”

Unlike most rules that govern the Senate, there is no official, written dress code. But by custom, senators have for decades been informally required to wear business attire: typically suit and tie for men and dresses with covered shoulders or pantsuits for women. (© The New York Times)

Auto Workers

Want 4-Day Workweek

Senator Bernie Sanders was present at the auto strike and spoke about why he’s in favor of the four-day workweek.

Last year, in the United Kingdom, a six-month-long study with around 2,900 employees in sixty-one companies showed that people who had a four-day workweek experienced improved sleep, less burnout, and spent more time with their children.

worker is going to be much more productive,” the Vermont Independent said. “The question as a nation that we have to ask ourselves is: Who is going to benefit from this productivity? We should begin a serious discussion — and the UAW is doing that — about substantially lowering the workweek.”

August.

On August 24, a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet combat jet crashed near San Diego, and the pilot was killed. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

After the United Auto Workers failed to reach an agreement with General Motors, Ford, and Stallantis, the union decided to go on strike on Friday, September 15. The workers made several demands, including a 36% increase in pay, as well as better job security. Most of all, the union is calling upon top U.S. auto companies to shorten employees’ workweek to a four-day, thirty-two-hour week, with no pay decreases as a result.

As an increasing number of people work online and use artificial intelligence to make their jobs easier, many have come to believe that a forty-hour workweek is unnecessary.

In another study, set in Iceland, which began in 2015 and ended in 2019, shortening the workweek to four days did not decrease or hurt the amount of work productivity, and in a separate study conducted in the U.S. and Canada, of the forty-one studied companies who tried out a thirty-two-hour workweek, none chose to revert to the traditional forty-hour week once the study was concluded.

“It would be an extraordinary thing to see people have more time to spend with their kids, with their families, to be able to do more cultural activities, get a better education,” Sanders said. “People in America are stressed out for a dozen different reasons, and that’s one of the reasons why life expectancy in our country is actually in decline.”

“We are looking at an explosion in this country of artificial intelligence and robotics. And that means that the average

Fighter Jet Debris Found

Days later, a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey crashed during military exercises in Australia, killing three U.S. Marines and leaving five others in serious condition. That crash also remains under investigation.

All of the incidents are classified as Class-A mishaps by the Marine Corps, defined as an incident that leads to a fatality or more than $2.5 million in property damage. There is no indication that there is any connection between the crashes.

City-Run Grocery Stores

After a day of searching, authorities finally found the debris field of an F-35 fighter jet that had gone missing a day earlier after its pilot ejected.

The debris field is approximately two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. It took the army 28 hours to find the crushed aircraft.

On Sunday, the pilot ejected safely after a “mishap” involving the jet and was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition, Joint Base Charleston said.

The aircraft’s last known position had been near Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, two large bodies of water northwest of the city of Charleston, according to Joint Base Charleston, which had asked for the public’s help finding the aircraft.

The plane was flying in tandem with another jet, which returned to base after the mishap rather than following the pilot-less aircraft.

The $80 million jet belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, a unit focused on training pilots to meet annual training requirements, according to the unit’s website.

Following three “Class-A aviation mishaps” over the past six weeks, the Marine Corps ordered a pause for two days in flight operations. During that time, all aviation units within the service will review safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures, and the maintaining of combat readiness.

The two other mishaps occurred in

Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson wants grocery stores to be “equitable.”

The Democrat politician wants to create city-run grocery stores to promote “equitable” access to food after half of the city’s Walmart and Whole Foods stores closed.

Johnson announced a partnership with the Economic Security Project to open municipally-owned grocery stores in Chicago in a bid to tackle many of the city’s so-called “food deserts.”

Johnson’s new moves are set to help “repair past harms that have contributed to purposeful disinvestment and exclusion and lack of food access” in historically underserved communities.

The liberal mayor asserted, “All Chicagoans deserve to live near convenient, affordable, healthy grocery options. We know access to grocery stores is already a challenge for many residents, especially on the South and West sides. My administration is committed to advancing innovative, whole-of-government approaches to address these inequities.”

44 Johnson faces a slew of criticisms for this initiative. Many are pointing out that large-scale stores closed due to crime that is rampant in the city. Others are wondering why taxpayers need to shell out money for these stores. The city has a budget shortfall of $538 million.

In April this year, Walmart announced that it was shuttering four main stores across Chicago because they were simply not profitable enough.

To date in 2023 over 2022, thefts are up by 25 percent, according to the Chicago Police Department, while robberies are up 11 percent.

In 2022, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon had warned that theft in stores around the country could impact stores and cause additional closings.

4 feet, 9.5 inches long.

Chahal said his hair is a symbol of his Sikh faith. The religion calls on its adherents to grow their hair long.

Longest Locks

Sidakdeep Singh Chahal may seem like an ordinary teenager – until you see his hair. The Indian boy has now set a Guinness World Record for longest hair on a male teen, with his locks measuring

Thankfully, the fifteen-year-old usually keeps his tresses tied in a bun and covered in a traditional dastār, or turban.

“Many of my relatives were shocked to see how long it was,” Chahal told Guinness World Records.

It takes him at least an hour to wash his hair – and that’s with his mother’s help.

“It would take an entire day if it wasn’t for the help of my mother,” he said.

The hirsute teen washes his hair twice a week.

Chahal said he used to consider cutting his hair shorter when he grew older, but he is now planning to continue growing it indefinitely.

“I plan to keep my hair uncut until the day I die,” he said.

A hair-raising feat.

Never Too Late

with all 75 seats on the fast-moving locomotive selling out within a half-hour.

The fight, which pitted Minoru Suzuki against Sanshiro Takagi, took place on the 180mph Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Nagoya on Monday.

The fighters exchanged blows and performed daring maneuvers, while onlookers recorded the rumble and took pictures from their seats.

The entire carriage had been reserved for the match.

More than five years ago, a patron took out two books from a library in Ontario but never returned them. Last week, the books were returned – to a library more than 600 miles away.

The two books, No Man’s Land by G.M. Ford and Hog Wild by Cathy Pickens, were checked out at some unknown point in the past from the Dorchester branch. Last week, those two books were dropped off at the Claire T. Carney Library at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

The library, having no record of those books, shipped them to the original library in Canada.

Library officials in Ontario said the books are no longer listed in their system, but they were added to the collection in 2005 and 2007. Librarians estimated they may have been checked out about seven years ago.

Aimee Sparzynski, the Dorchester library’s coordinator of technical services, said the books weren’t even the most well-traveled of the tomes to be returned to the library by mail.

“We had one book that actually came back to us from Paris a few years ago. A patron had borrowed it to read on the plane and left it behind in the hotel,” Sparzynski said.

Books can take you to some really far places.

Train Wrestling

Two men wrestled with each other in the aisle of a packed bullet train in Japan this week, with patrons filming the spectacle.

The wrestling match was planned,

Did you know?

This is not the first time the wrestling group used an interesting venue for its sport. The group has used a bookshop and a campsite as the venues for previous fights.

Suzuki won the latest out-of-ring fight on the train.

Fighting to the finish.

Ig Nobel Prize

Well, if you want to know why scientists lick rocks or a way to repurpose dead spiders, the Ig Nobels are perfect for you.

The annual ceremony for the prize for humorous scientific feats was held online last Thursday in a prerecorded event. Ten spoof prizes were awarded to the teams and individuals around the globe.

Among the winners was Jan Zalasiewicz of Poland who earned the chemistry and geology prize for explaining why many scientists like to lick rocks.

“Wetting the surface allows fossil and mineral textures to stand out sharply, rather than being lost in the blur of intersecting micro-reflections and micro-refractions that come out of a dry surface,” Zalasiewicz wrote in The Palaeontological Association newsletter in 2017.

The Literature Prize went to a team of researchers who were offered “congratulations and congratulations and congratulations and congratulations and congratulations” for their research into

Chickens can run around 9MPH.

“jamais vu,” the experience of finding a familiar thing unfamiliar, in the repetition of language. The researchers found that about two-thirds of people reported feeling “peculiar” when they repeated the same word about 30 times.

A team from Rice University in Texas won the Mechanical Engineering Prize for re-animating dead spiders to use as mechanical gripping tools, able to grasp objects up to 130% of their own weight.

Other winning teams were lauded for studying the impact of teacher boredom on student boredom and how electrified chopsticks and drinking straws can change how food tastes, according to the organizers.

“Each winner (or winning team) has done something that makes people LAUGH, then THINK,” according to the “Annals of Improbable Research” website.

Each winner received a (now defunct) 10 trillion Zimbabwe dollar bill and a pack of “Ig Pseudo Cola.” Ig-credible.

No Baggage

Passengers on a Swiss International flight from Zurich last weekend were not

too pleased when they landed in Bilbao –without any luggage.

The airplane had taken off without any checked bags because there was no ground staff to put the luggage on the plane. The plane left the airport without waiting for the suitcases because it needed to be able to make its return flight to Zurich before the night-time flight ban kicked in.

Mailing It In

dates back over 300-plus years.

“I was an avid stamp collector as a child and to discover that Mary’s ancestors were from the local area was fate….

“I am also proud to be this post office’s 17th postmaster, which isn’t that many considering its long history.”

The post office opened in 1712 and is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest one in operation.

The second oldest in Stockholm opened in 1720 – while the third, in Santiago, Chile, opened in 1772.

But when passengers landed in Bilbao, no one told them of the situation. They all waited at the luggage carousel for two hours, hoping for a glimpse of their bags. Alas, it was not meant to be.

“It was possible to deliver most of the luggage to Bilbao the following day,” a Swiss spokesperson said, while the rest arrived on Monday.

If it makes these passengers feel any better, around 26 million bags went missing in 2022 while people were traveling.

Barry Ford has always loved stamps. The avid stamp collector, originally from Scotland, has now moved back to his home country to run the world’s oldest post office.

Ford and his wife Mary took over Sanquhar Post Office in Dumfries and Galloway, which has been in continuous operation for 311 years.

They had been living in Florida for many years when they first heard the post office was for sale three years ago. They are now only the 17th operators of the world’s oldest post office.

Ford enthused, “It is amazing that I have gone from living in Florida for 20 years, where the history is mostly 19th to 20th century, to becoming the postmaster for the world’s oldest post office which

Post Office chief executive Nick Read related, “As a nation we should be so proud to have the world’s longest-running post office. Just 16 previous operators have kept it going for more than 300 years.

“Not only does it support the wider economy by attracting tourists from all over the world, but it continues to provide everyday essential banking and postal services that local residents, like anywhere else in the country, rely on.”

The post office is a popular attraction for postal and philatelic enthusiasts from across the UK and the world, and many visit to have their letters marked with a special handstamp bearing “The World’s Oldest Post Office.”

A prestigious stamp of approval.

Around the Community

Cedarhurst 9/11 Ceremony

On September 11, we observe a day of remembrance, not solely for the tragic terrorist attack that befell our great nation, but as a day to honor and pay tribute to our fallen heroes and loved ones. Twenty-two years have passed since that momentous day, and once again, the Village of Cedarhurst hosted its annual memorial ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial within Andrew J. Parise Park.

Religious leaders and elected officials attended the ceremony to share words of inspiration, healing, and prayer with our community, paying homage to the fallen heroes and loved ones we hold dear.

With each toll of the bell, the Village paid its heartfelt respect to the individuals who perished I the collapsed towers: Kevin O’Rourke, Joseph Rivelli Jr., Thomas Jurgens, Neil D. Levin, Bettina Browne Radburn, Ira Zaslow, and How-

ard Selwyn. Their names shall forever stand as a testament to the enduring legacy we deeply respect and uphold within our Village.

Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and the Cedarhurst Board of Trustees would like to personally thank the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, Meadowmere Fire Department, American Legion Lawrence-Cedarhurst Post 339, Rabbi Moshe Monczyk, Executive Director of LI Shu-

lamith Schools, Deacon Tom Costello of the R.C. Parishes of the Five Towns, Lawrence High School, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Assemblyman Ari Brown and TOH Councilwoman Melissa “Missy” Miller for their participation in the program.

JCCRP’s Successful Rosh Hashana Distribution

On September 12, , Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) distributed Rosh Hashana food packages to over 560 local Jewish families, including single mothers, Holocaust survivors, and those who teach in local yeshivas. Preparation for the event began the week before, as over 25 volunteers and JCCRP employees worked together to package the

food boxes at JCCRP headquarters. The eighth grade of Yeshiva of South Shore volunteered to package food boxes the day before our distribution, which JCCRP greatly appreciated. On the day of the event, volunteers and JCCRP staff members placed boxes of carefully prepared holiday foods in the cars of local Jewish families with a smile. Local families greatly appreciated the food pack-

ages and thanked staff and volunteers profusely.

We are grateful to our community partners who made this distribution a success, including community donors who enabled us to gift each family a gift card and a robust holiday package containing seasonal items worth over $100. Thank you to our elected officials who came and volunteered at our distribu-

tion, including Assemblywoman Stacey Pfeffer Amato and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. Thank you to UJA Federation of NY for their support of JCCRP programming. If you are interested in volunteering at future JCCRP distributions, please email volunteer@jccrp.org.

Grow Torah is Back at Lev Chana

Lev Chana was thrilled to welcome back Farmer Shoshi Ehrenreich from Grow Torah. Children love working in the garden and learning Torah and Brachot while growing flowers and vegetables. Over the summer, Farmer Shoshi harvested vegetables and herbs from the Lev Chana garden and brought them to the Hewlett Food Bank. Last week, Lev Chana children had the chance to pick their own vegetables and make the bracha before eating them fresh from the vine!

Central’s Great Round Challah Bake

On Wednesday, September 20, Central held its annual Great Round Challah Bake.

The Challah Bake is an event that many at Central have come to eagerly anticipate – an opportunity for the school community to bond and daven during the Aseret Yimei Teshuva.

“The Great Round Challah Bake is always a meaningful occasion for Central – a chance to be together at the beginning of the semester,” said Dean of Students Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz (‘06). “This week’s Challah Bake will be even more significant as we work to promote the year’s theme of positivity. Spending time together as a community is a positive act that will influence students in a lasting way.”

Much of the Central community attended, and the crowds of mothers, aunts, daughters, sisters, alumnae, and even incoming eighth graders made for a bustling, dynamic evening. The night began with a delicious dairy dinner, followed by the Challah Bake. While the dough was rising, participants were privileged to hear an inspirational speech by special guest Mrs. Maya Namdar, who lost her daughter, Liel, a”h, in a car accident in December 2021. In her talk, “L4L: Live

for Liel,” Mrs. Namdar spoke movingly about drawing strength from faith in the wake of her loss and the power of prayer.

One of Central’s Programming Directors, Mrs. Yael Axelrod, spoke to the significance of the event. “The Central Challah Bake is always a meaningful way to kick off the new school year,” said Mrs. Axelrod. “We invite our students to bring their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and any other special women in their lives to Central for the spiritually uplifting experience of baking challah together and fulfilling the mitzvah of hafrashat challah. This year, hearing the heartwarming story that Maya Namdar had to share added even more inspiration to the evening.”

Following Maya’s keynote, Central students and guests had fun braiding and “topping” their challahs. This event was made possible with the assistance of the Central Parent Council and the Central Cooking Club, led by Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz. Many thanks to them, and a hearty thanks to Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, Mrs. Yael Axelrod, and Ms. Leah Moskovich, whose leadership and coordination made this special event a success.

The Ganger Early Childhood Center at TAG was treated to a special honey expo last week, where the talmidos learned all about how bees make honey. They got to see how nectar from different types of flowers makes different kinds of honey, and they each received some honey to take home.

The Shaar Connects with the Community

SHS Freshman Retreat

The holy brothers of the Shaar –the unique kiruv yeshiva program based in Lawrence/Far Rockaway – integrate often with the wonderful community members, kehillos and shuls of the Five Towns through weekly Shabbos meals and other community events.

One of the more notable connection points is via the Shaar’s legendary Thursday night community Shteig programs, where the Shaar comes to a shul for oneon-one learning with the shul members, followed by a legendary Shaar-style gesh-

mak get-ready-for-Shabbos farbrengen with live music, singing, ruach, l’chaims and unbelievable achdus between the Shaar chevra and the community members.

Before Rosh Hashana 5784, the Shaar joined the balabatim of Aish Kodesh in Woodmere for a beautiful evening of learning, growth and connection, uniting together in preparation for Hashem’s coronation!

To learn more about the Shaar, please visit, https://www.the-shaar.com.

By Rachel Brazil, Shira Levine, Shoshi Mosak, and Rivkala Rosner

Last week, the ninth graders at Shulamith High School went on their Freshman Retreat. The retreat took place in Camp Oneka, deep in the heart of Pennsylvania. For 48 hours, the freshmen had the opportunity to build new friendships, learn to face their fears, and be courageous in so many different ways. Throughout the two days, we did

many activities such as pottery, rock climbing, boating, and team building activities. As the days went on, we had tons of fun and made memories to last a lifetime.

Our retreat was an amazing opportunity for us to bond as a grade and leave our comfort zones to make new friendships. Late at night, we all joined together at a campfire to eat smores, sing, and dance together as a grade. This trip was a great start to the next four years.

New York State Senator Jack M. Martins To Lead Nassau County Antisemitism Roundtable

New York State Senator Jack

M. Martins (7th SD) will host a Nassau County Anti-Semitism Roundtable on September 26, 2023, from 6 to 8 pm. at the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative Building, 550 Franklin Avenue, in Mineola, NY.

Senator Martins serves as Chair of The New York State Republicans AntiSemitism Working Group whose members include Senator Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick, Senator Joseph Griffo, Senator Peter Oberacker, and Senator

Bill Weber. The group is convening a series of discussions throughout the state, bringing notable Jewish leaders and security experts together with the public to discuss how best to address the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents.

Senator Martins explains, “The data is shocking. The Anti-Defamation League tells us that antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high in the United States last year. What’s worse, that trend is true for New York. It’s time we sound the alarm. This is a call for all good people,

from all faiths, backgrounds and political persuasions, to come together and reverse this before it gets any worse.”

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick added, “It is troubling that hate towards other groups is not tolerated, yet antisemitism is still prevalent in our local communities. I hope these roundtable discussions will allow us to explore why this is occurring and bring us solutions to eliminate this problem one and for all.”

Scheduled speakers for the September event include Professor Jeff Lax of CUNY

and Avi Posnick of “Stand with Us.” Additional guests will be announced as they are confirmed.

The panel will also hear testimony directly from stakeholders who have experienced and witnessed antisemitism as well as those who work to educate about antisemitism. At the conclusion of the roundtables, the working group will issue a report and make a series of legislative recommendations. The nonpartisan effort is open to all New Yorkers who seek to combat hate.

MTA Freshmen Go On Their Annual Hike

The class of 2027 took a break from their regular classes last Thursday and headed into the

woods for their annual Freshman Hike. After shiur, the boys boarded the busses together with their rebbeim

MTA Juniors Receive Divrei Bracha from Rav Hershel Schachter, shlita

and enjoyed the challenging trail. Along the way, they participated in a series of team building activities and had the chance to win MTA swag. After a quick stop at 7-11 to refuel, the talmidim enjoyed playing sports and eating a delicious BBQ in a nearby park.

“It was really great to see the guys begin to gel together as a grade,” said ninth grade mashgiach Rabbi Eli Cohn. “The hike is always a key part of our Freshman Experience carefully crafted to help each talmid feel part of the MTA family.”

Every year before Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Mendelson brings his shiur at MTA to meet with Rav Schachter, shlita, and receive divrei bracha before the Yamim Noraim. This year, the talmidim met with the Rav right outside the Gleuck Beis Medrash, where they were privileged to hear from the Rav and shake his hand.

Each talmid approached the Rav with the utmost respect, and some had personal stories to share as well, as he spoke briefly with each talmid. It is so special for the MTA talmidim to be on the Yeshiva University campus and have the opportunity to meet with gedolei Torah on a regular basis!

Rep. D’Esposito Leads Field Hearing

Examining Evolving Terror Threat Landscape in Post-9/11 America

Just one day after Americans across the country gathered in observance of the 22nd anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) convened members of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology as well as area members of Congress for a field hearing at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Manhattan to discuss the evolving terror threat in a post-9/11 America. D’Esposito, who serves as Chairman of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, also gathered an array of first responder agency leaders from the New York City area and stakeholders involved in the September 11th emergency response including Fire Department of the City of New York First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer, who was the first fire official to respond to the attacks at Ground Zero. Members of Congress who joined Chairman D’Esposito at the hearing included: Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY11), Congressman Josh Breechen (OK02), Congressman Dale Strong (AL-05), Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01), Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08).

“Gathering colleagues in government, leaders of first responder agencies, and brave Americans involved directly in the September 11th emergency response operation provides the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology with unique insights into ways we can learn from the events of that tragic day and how we can best work to combat

Madraigos and The Living Room

16th Annual Rosh Hashana Retreat

terrorism from occurring in the future,” said Chairman D’Esposito. “Holding this hearing at the site of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum serves as a reminder of what can happen when evil strikes, but also a reminder of the perseverance of Americans and our ability to rebuild.”

A major topic discussed during the field hearing was best ways to improve communication between local, state, and federal first responder agencies. To that end, witnesses in attendance at the field hearing led by Chairman D’Esposito included: Fire Department of the City of New York First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer, New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence Rebecca Weiner, Fire Department of the City of New York Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh, Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder, and Greg Ehrie, the chief security officer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“While Americans gather each year on September 11th to remember their loved ones, friends, and neighbors lost as a result of violent extremism, the day also allows us a time to recommit ourselves to doing everything possible to prevent bad actors around the world from threatening our nation,” said Chairman D’Esposito. “The gathering of emergency management professionals at this important subcommittee hearing also allows us to formulate ideas on how to better communicate between first responder agencies and enhance counterterrorism coordination across the country from the most local level all the way up to the federal government.”

The 16th Annual Madraigos Rosh Hashana Retreat, held at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown, NY, was a unique experience. It was a catalyst for introspection and spiritual growth for close to 600 attendees. Madraigos and The Living Room provided unique Rosh Hashana programming for young adults and families. The Retreat uplifted each participant at any station in life while the delicious food and amenities enhanced their holiday experience.

Throughout the program, many captivating talks and workshops were delivered by mental health professionals and rabbis who specialize in community outreach and education. Speakers and discussion panelists include Dr. Debbie Ackerman, Wurzweiler School of Social Work; Rabbi Dr. Dovid Felt, Director of School-Based Services, Madraigos; Gittel Follman, LMSW, The Living Room; Mr. Yaakov Gade; Rabbi Mayer Pasternak, CTO of Artscroll; Mr. Menachem Poznanski, LCSW, The Living Room; Rabbi Dov Silver, Madraigos; and Mr. Yudi Weiner, M.S CASAP.

This year’s Retreat theme, “Seize The Moment – If Not Now, When?” focused on how we can use our unique talents to help one another, strengthen our inter-personal relationships, and ultimately, deepen our bond with Hahem.

One attendee remarked that the lectures and program were moving and life changing. Another attendee said that it was the most meaningful and spiritual davening she ever experienced.

Prayers led by Yaakov Gade and Stuie Bienenstock were full of beautiful melodies and spiritual fervor. At especially moving times in the davening and the

meals, spontaneous dancing broke out, demonstrating a brotherhood of spiritual yearning that transcended all sectors of religious background or observance.

The Retreat ended with a poignant Havdalah service. It was heartfelt and moving, elevating attendees to a “spiritual high” which carries them through the coming year.

The Rosh Hashana program could not have been made possible without the prodigious efforts and dedication of Mr. Berel Gelbstein, Mrs. Eta Bienenstock, and Jack Klagsburn who planned the program, managed logistics, and much more. In addition to other programs and support services that take place throughout the year, Madraigos’ highly successful Rosh Hashana program demonstrate its true essence – unconditional and wholehearted acceptance of all members of the Jewish community. This message and transformative experiences of the holiday program uplifts and inspires the participants and their loved ones throughout the year.

To learn more about Madraigos programs and services, please contact Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW, Clinical Director at mwerblowsky@madraigos.org or 516-371-3250 x 112. Visit www.madraigos.org for more details.

Madraigos, a 501c-3 not-for-profit organization, offers a wide array of innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults overcome life’s everyday challenges one step at a time. Our goal is to provide all of our members with the necessary tools and skills to empower them to live a healthy lifestyle and become the leaders of tomorrow.

The children at HAFTR are learning while having fun

A Spirited Freshmen Shabbaton at DRS

This year, DRS Yeshiva was excited to welcome 101 freshmen to the Class of 2027. This is the Yeshiva’s largest class in its 26-year history. DRS now boasts 386 students – another DRS record.

For the first Shabbos of the school year, DRS took the grade to Camp Kaylie for the annual Freshmen Shabbaton. The excitement was palpable as freshmen at DRS Yeshiva High School eagerly boarded the buses on Thursday evening, ready for an exciting weekend. “The goal of the Shabbaton is for everyone meet each other and create a sense of achdut within the grade in an enjoyable and fun way,” said DRS Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky to the freshman class.

Upon arrival, students unpacked, davened Maariv, and headed to the gym for “Wacky Olympics.” Students faced off in shiur-vs.-shiur competitions in

a variety of events, in which every student had a unique role. The night was far from over, as students enjoyed a latenight barbecue and basketball in the gym with their new friends. Students woke up Friday morning, eager for the events to come. After Shacharis, breakfast and shiur with the freshmen rebbeim, students

Pheffer Amato Welcomes $5 LIRR Ticket at Far Rockaway Station

New York State Assemblywoman

Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) was standing on the platform at the Far Rockaway LIRR station when MTA Chairman Janno Lieber announced that years of advocacy had been successful as Far Rockaway will finally be part of the MTA’s CityTicket Program. The new program, which has been a crucial topic that Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato has fought for, will allow anyone to purchase a ticket from the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Far Rockaway station to Manhattan’s Penn Station for a set price of $5 during off-peak times, or $7 during peak hours.

“As Dr. Seuss said, ‘Oh, the places you’ll go’ – and when you leave from Far Rockaway station it will now cost $5 on the LIRR,” said Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato. “After years of advocating, Far Rockaway and the entire Peninsula are being recognized just as every other neighborhood in the City. All that’s left to do now is shout all aboard.”

For years, those interested in taking the train to Penn Station would have to pay full fare when other LIRR stations throughout the City were eligible for the reduced fare. That price, depending on the time, could range from $9-$12 for a one-way ticket. Far Rockaway, due to

the train line “passing through” Nassau County, was excluded from this program. However, due to the work of local electeds like Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, this is no longer the case and the Far Rockaway train station is now included in the program.

Commuters will need to purchase the train ticket at the Far Rockaway station, or use the MTA mobile app, for the CityTicket price. For those looking to return from Penn Station to Far Rockaway, commuters would need to purchase a roundtrip ticket in Far Rockaway as the CityTicket option is only available upon originating from Far Rockaway. Purchasing a ticket from Penn Station will be full price, but purchasing a roundtrip ticket from Far Rockaway to Penn Station will provide individuals with the CityTicket price.

took to the gridiron for a competitive flag football tournament, while bonding with new friends. After the tournament, the class enjoyed the camp’s spacious facilities, and went go-carting, swimming and played sports before preparing for an amazing Shabbat to come.

After a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat, seudat Shabbat with zemirot and divrei Torah, the annual Shiur Vs. Shiur Family Feud game, students gathered for a hallmark DRS-style tisch with Rabbi Kaminetsky and rebbeim (and cholent and

kugel, of course). The spirit continued with a lively Shacharit, kiddush, a creative session highlighting the boys “Fresh Start,” another spirited seudah, and intriguing shiurim and games throughout the day. The Shabbaton ended with slow songs and heartfelt words from Rabbi Kaminetsky. The boys are so excited for the friendships made and ruach experienced to last all four years of high school and beyond.

18 Young Adults with Mobility and Medical Challenges Enjoy Birthright Israel Trip With OU’s Israel Free Spirit

Of the 17 Birthright Israel trips that Yael Tamari organized this past summer as director of OU’s Israel Free Spirit, the final trip of the season — geared for Americans ages 18 to 32 with chronic illnesses and mobility issues — was among the most magical.

“This particular cohort was extremely varied in age range and Jewish and personal backgrounds, representing a truly diverse spectrum,” she says. “The participants and staff were an amazing and fun group of people, open to one another, to the adventure of the experience, and even to testing their limits at times.”

Of the 18 participants, 17 use mobility devices, including power and manual wheelchairs and/or walkers regularly or occasionally. Participants’ medical issues include various forms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spina bifida; some use ventilators and require assistance with basic needs, including eating. There were also a few post- cardiac and

kidney transplant recipients. Thanks to Yad Sarah, a Jerusalem-based agency that provides health and home care services for people of all ages in Israel, the group was able to borrow six extra wheelchairs, shower and bath chairs, and other equipment which contributed to participants’ comfort.

“Sometimes participants with mobility devices are denied the chance to equally participate in activities and experiences, either because of a lack of accessibility or because of a misconception that a disability means a lesser desire or capability to take part in social, academic or professional settings,” says Tamari. “This trip serves as an equalizer — everyone gets to participate just like on every other Birthright trip, and everyone’s voices matter.”

Israel Free Spirit is a provider of Israel trips on behalf of Birthright Israel, the largest educational tourism organization in the world. Its mission is to provide all young Jewish adults ages 18 to 26 with

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opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel, and a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection. Founded in 1999, Birthright Israel has gifted over 800,000 free, life-changing, 10-day trips to Israel with the goal of ensuring a vibrant future for the Jewish people by strengthening Jewish identity, Jewish communities, and connection with the Jewish homeland.

Tamari commends Birthright Israel and the Birthright Israel Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to invest in accessible Birthright trips despite this year’s budget cuts.

“They made an important decision to unflinchingly maintain their investment in these special trips,” she says. “Birthright Israel’s long-time partnership with the OU has changed participants’ lives. Many more will potentially be inspired to take this journey and these values one step forward.”

Israel Free Spirit organized three accessible Birthright trips this summer: OU’s Yachad trip, for participants with special needs – which has been partnering with Israel Free spirit for years, “Recovery,” a trip dedicated to individuals overcoming addictions, and this final summer trip, led in conjunction with Yalla, a Brooklyn-based organization dedicated to providing year-round programming for individuals with physical disabilities and special medical needs, in-

cluding accessible trips to Israel.

“People in their late teens and early 20s generally travel,” says Yalla’s founding director Faigie Schwartz-Baise, who initiated the partnership with Israel Free Spirit. “Often, the only way people with physical disabilities or chronic conditions can go away or do a fun activity is with their parents. When you are 19 and 20, you want to enjoy life with your peers.”

Schwartz-Baise, a physician assistant who works in a hospital emergency room, and her husband Daniel Baise, an EMT and director of Yalla’s male division, interviewed all participants and oversaw everything from pre-trip screening and medical management to the recruitment of volunteer staff and the collection of medical equipment.

Twenty-eight staff members from the U.S. and Israel, including volunteer paramedics, nurses and physical therapist Rachel Rosenberg, supported participants and facilitated their enjoyment every step of the way.

All Birthright Israel trips include a contingent called a “mifgash”, comprising young Israelis who are either serving in, or have just completed, the IDF. While these men and women typically stay with Birthright groups for part of the journey, the four Israelis who joined the Yalla Birthright trip were able to stay for the trip’s duration, thanks to Birthright Israel’s generous support.

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C O N S E CUTIVE TUES D AY EVEN IN G S STARTING

Chazaq’s New Youth Center

Chazaq, a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to community enrichment and youth empowerment, recently hosted an Open House at its brand-new Youth Center in Forest Hills. The event served as an opportunity for the community to explore the multitude of programs Chazaq offers, including the Shaping Lives Sunday School Program, the daily Jwave teens Program, and the Public School to Yeshiva placement division. Knowledgeable rabbis and rebbetzins were on hand to answer questions and assist with registrations for the upcoming school year.

Chazaq’s Youth Center is a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to providing a nurturing environment for the community’s youth. This state-of-the-art facility has been thoughtfully designed to offer a home away from home, tailored to the needs

and interests of boys and girls of all ages.

The Open House was met with enthusiasm from both parents and children, who eagerly embraced the chance to discover the diverse educational and recreational opportunities available within the Youth Center’s welcoming walls. Families explored the center’s classrooms, recreational spaces, and interactive learning areas, getting a firsthand look at the new Youth Center.

Rabbis and rebbetzins from Chazaq’s experienced team were present to guide parents and students through the array of programs offered, ensuring that every child finds an opportunity for growth and enrichment. Whether it’s academic support, leadership development, recreational activities, or spiritual growth, Chazaq’s programs are designed to nurture the holistic development of young minds.

Touro Law to Offer Hybrid, FlexTime JD Program in NYC Shavua Iyun at BYAM High School

The second week of school was one that involved a lot of introspection at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam High School. Labeled “Shavua Iyun,” the girls spent the week exploring the concept of “Taking the First Step.” The keynote introductory speech was given by Rabbi Yaakov Bender, who enraptured the girls when he shared a bit of his personal history. Rabbi Bender discussed the historical narrative of Bais Yaakov in America and his personal connection, as his mother a”h had the zechus to serve as a founding teacher at the first Bais Yaakov. The speech was both thought-provoking and inspirational.

The concept of “Taking the first step” continued the next day with two interactive workshops led by coordinator Mrs. Ora Goldman. Students were encouraged

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to take small, tentative steps towards self-growth to actualize their ideal self. Additionally, the girls were treated to a stirring choir and beautiful art depiction of the theme, which helped all girls internalize these important life concepts.

The week ended with a thought-provoking activity, with teachers on a panel sharing some of their own experiences with regard to personal growth and the Yamim Noraim. The students, in their own words, “felt ready to take responsibility in the coming year and began to think what choices each of them had control over.” Thoughts of change and teshuva were encouraged through the multifaceted and interactive experiences. The staff and students at BYAM High School look forward to a growth-oriented year ahead!

There are more than 20 billion chickens in the world.

Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center will offer a hybrid FlexTime Program based at the University’s new, state-of-the-art Cross River Campus at 3 Times Square, Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish announced last week.

The FlexTime program, which is currently offered at Touro Law Center’s Central Islip campus, is designed for qualified law school candidates whose employment or family responsibilities prevent them from attending classes full time. FlexTime students will attend in-person classes only on Sundays and complete asynchronous work throughout the week on their own time and at their own weekly pace. Offering the lowest in-person class attendance requirement of any program in New York, graduates earn their degrees in only four years and are eligible to sit for the New York State Bar Exam. The program, which has received American Bar Association (ABA) and New York State Education Department approval, will begin in August 2024, and applications will be accepted starting in September 2023.

“Since the launch of the FlexTime program on our Central Islip campus in

2018, it has had a track record of success. We are pleased to be able to expand the program and offer it at our Times Square Campus, making the program even more accessible to qualified candidates who bring their career and life experiences to the classroom,” stated Dr. Kadish.

While it is a unique program, the only accredited law degree program with in-person requirements exclusively on Sundays, FlexTime students are also fully integrated into the fabric of the law school. FlexTime students have the opportunity to become involved in every aspect of law school life including clinics, pro bono activities, student organizations, and honor societies including Law Review, Moot Court, and TAPS.

“The FlexTime program provides uniquely tailored combinations of online and in-person instructional components. The program will provide students with maximum flexibility while maintaining a rigorous course of study that will prepare them for the realities of law practice, and will do so using the latest in evidence-based teaching and learning tools,” said Elena Langan, Dean and Professor of Law at Touro Law Center.

Rav Yisroel Feder, maggid shiur and mashpia at Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, delivering divrei zikaron at the yeshiva about his rebbi, Hagaon Rav Aharon Moshe Schechter, zt”l

After the drasha, L-R: Rav Shimon Dov Notis, Rav Dovid Bender, Rav Yisroel Feder and Rav Yaakov Bender

Rambam Steps Forward

September 10th marked a momentous occasion for the Rambam Mesivta Community as they celebrated their new home with a Chanukat HaBayit and a Hachnasat Sefer Torah. After 32 years instilling values of Torah, Middos, and Excellence, Rambam continues its mission of raising Bnei Torah and the leaders of tomorrow at its brandnew, state-of-the-art facility located at 284 Mott Avenue in Lawrence.

The program featured many prominent politicians and rabbanim. Those in attendance were privileged to hear from Congressman Anthony D’esposito, who presented a Citation from the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing Rambam as an integral neighborhood institution, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman who congratulated Rambam on this milestone and expressed how proud he felt to be a part of the community.

Rabbi Friedman spoke next sharing his deep passion for Jewish education, which was sparked by his parents, who

were survivors of the Holocaust and their unshakeable commitment to Judaism. He displayed the shofar that his fatherin-law risked his life to blow for Rosh Hashana davening for a minyan held in secret in concentration camp in 1944.

Rabbi Friedman also expressed his hakaras hatov towards his rebbe who inspired his love of learning and his desire to share that with others. Rabbi Friedman went on to convey his appreciation of Ben Diamond of the One70 group who undertook this enormous project and completed it in record time.

Rabbi Avi Hershman, Assistant Rosh Mesivta and an alumnus of Rambam, spoke to the crowd to talk about his evolution at Rambam where he started out as a student, later to become a coach and is now a beloved rabbi and administrator who also oversaw much of the construction project.

Rabbi Dr. Zevi Isseroff, Rambam President and founding member of the school, conveyed how much Rambam has grown over 32 years and how proud

Multi-Sensory Rosh Hashana Fair at Gan Chamesh

he is to still be a part of such a wonderful yeshiva that values each and every student.

Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, took the microphone next and spoke glowingly about his relationship with Rabbi Friedman and the impact that Rabbi Friedman has had on the students that walk through the walls of Rambam. Other rabbanim in attendance included Rabbi Elon Soniker, rav of Anshei Shalom, Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, rav of YILC, and Rabbi Uri Lesser, himself a Rambam alumnus, rav of Bais Torah U’Tefilah. The crowd also heard from Michael Gordon, Rambam 12th grader, who spoke

beautifully, sharing words of Divrei Torah that he related to the excitement of being in Rambam’s new building.

Following all the speeches, there was a joyous Hachnasat Sefer Torah written and donated by Ben Landa and family with spirited dancing to the joyous music of Rabbi Ari Boiangui and Zvi Lampert. All remarked about the beauty of the new building, the joyousness of the occasion and program, and the happiness of those that participated. The entire event took slightly more than an hour – as promised!

We wish Rambam much success in the future as it continues to educate, build and inspire the next generation.

& SONS

The children at Gan Chamesh enjoyed a hands-on, fun-filled Rosh Hashana fair that helped them to internalize the meaning of Rosh Hashana using all their senses. The Rosh Ha-

shana fair is an innovative experience where children explore, experiment and love to learn in a meaningful way. Wishing you all a G’mar chatima tova!

A Special Hanachat Tefillin at HALB

If you’ve passed by HALB during arrival or dismissal, you’ve seen Mr. Shwom smiling, and sometimes even dancing, as he helps children cross the street. Simply helping kids get to and from school makes 84-year-old Fred Shwom happy.

When Rabbi Engander first joined the HALB team as Head of School, he noticed Mr. Shwom’s work ethic right

away. Everything he does, every job he takes on, he gives 100% of himself. Two years ago, when speaking together, Rabbi Englander learned that Mr. Shwom never had the opportunity to put on tefillin. And so, Rabbi Englander started putting tefillin on Mr. Shwom a few times a week. It was a special experience for everyone to see, a man in his 80s starting to do the mitzvah of tefillin. A HALB parent heard

HANC Prepares for Rosh Hashana

There was excitement in the air in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead this past week. In every classroom, you could feel the energy as the children prepared for the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashana. After learning about the significance of this most important holiday, the children began making projects that would enhance their families’ celebrations. The Nursery children created beautiful honey dishes that they could place proudly on their families’ yom tov tables. The yeladim used various types of materials, such as finger paints, dip dots and paint brushes to create their own cardstock shofar. After cutting it out, they sewed the two sides together and stuffed them to create a three-dimensional shofar that they could “blow” on Rosh Hashana.

The children also taste-tested red, yellow and green apples and created a graph that displayed which apple each child liked the best. They created their own Rosh Hashana booklets that illustrated everything they had learned about the upcoming Chag.

The children also crafted their own beautiful Rosh Hashana cards using a multitude of art techniques and then walked across the street to the local post office to mail the cards to their families. While visiting the post office, the children took a tour of the post office, observed how the mail is sorted and stamped, and had an opportunity to learn about community helpers and the important service that they provide in West Hempstead. The children couldn’t wait to see their families’ faces when their Shana

Shaar Lev Kick-Off at HALB

HALB’s Shaar Lev Program kicked off last week, and over 20 children were warmly welcomed by HALB staff and students. At Shaar Lev, HALB rabbeim and morot teach Torah to those community children who are enrolled in local public schools due to their special education needs. Last week, the children completed a project for Rosh

Hashana, learned about the shofar, and got to hear Rabbi Eli Herzberg blow the shofar. Everyone learned a lot and had a great time!

HALB is excited to be able to have the Shaar Lev program again this year and continue to teach students from the local public schools.

about this and decided to take it one step further by anonymously purchasing Mr. Shwom his first pair of tefillin!

On Tuesday, HALB students gathered in the Beit Midrash, singing and dancing, as Mr. Shwom put on his very own tefillin for the first time. The students, teachers and staff then continued to celebrate with a delicious bagel breakfast. Emotions were high, and the excitement was

palpable throughout the school.

“A few years ago, had an accident and didn’t know what my future would be,” says Mr. Shwom. “It gave me a whole new outlook on life. Who knew this would happen for me today? I’m overwhelmed.”

After 84 years, Mr. Fred Shwom now has his very own set of tefillin to put on every day. Mazal tov!

Tova cards arrived in the mail. Creating multiple experiential opportunities for learning is always a priority in HANC’s ECC – learning songs with Morah Kaylie that the children can sing at home, hearing parent volunteers blowing the shofar to the amazement of the young children, and having the chance to taste holiday foods which appeal to the children’s senses and build intrigue as Rosh Hashanah approached.

Morah Trudy Rubinstein, HANC Early Childhood Director, stated, “What a beautiful beginning of the school year we experienced. I think that the highlight for the children was singing and dancing at our Rosh Hashana assembly along with Rabbi Hazan blowing the shofar.”

Shulamith Yom Iyun on Tzom Gedalia

On Gimmel Tishrei, Tzom Gedalia, the Middle School girls at Shulamith experienced a meaningful Yom Iyun. Following the words of our tefillot, the Yom Iyun consisted of three parts: Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah. To represent our Teshuva segment, the students heard from Mrs. Leeane Safier who shared her story of returning to Hashem and what life is like as Baalat Teshuva. The students couldn’t help but be awed by her journey and were inspired to focus more on their connection with Hashem. In the Tefillah part of the

SKA’s Teshuva Journey

Yom Iyun, students completed Sefer Tehillim together and heard from our new 7th and 8th grade choir. The Yom Iyun concluded with a focus on the Tzedakah portion with numerous chesed organizations represented and then with a project in which they created their own tzedakah boxes with the organizations’ logos to remind them of the importance of chesed and giving to others.

The students’ appreciation for these important elements was tangible and will iy”H eradicate all evil decrees and bring a year of bracha.

Assemblyman Brown Calls to Defund CUNY

On Tuesday, September 12, Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) joined fellow Assemblymen Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and Jake Blumencranz (R, C-Oyster Bay), Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Sen. Jack Martins, and County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip outside the CUNY’s chancellor’s office in Manhattan for the End Jew Hatred Rally, which is aimed at holding CUNY accountable for the antisemitic attacks, attitudes, threats and hatred from CUNY students, faculty and uncaring administrators. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos, which polled more than 3,000 Jewish undergrads nationally about Jewish hate on college campuses, found that nearly 60% of Jewish students reported facing antisemitism directed towards them; CUNY is no exception, in fact, it leads to a path of Jew hatred.

“The City University of New York has become a pervasively hostile environ-

ment for Jewish students and faculty. It would be an understatement to say that I am outraged by all of this. Allowing this vile level of Jew hatred to transpire and escalate on your campuses, to this degree, is appalling enough, but the refusal of the CUNY chancellor to do anything about it is simply beyond the pale. I just want to remind CUNY, its chancellor and faculty, we Jews are survivors. We survived Pharoh, the Romans and Hitler. They are but a footnote in history, yet here we are. We beat them, we will certainly beat you,” Brown said.

“The only way they will understand is if we hit them where it hurts, which is why I am calling on my colleagues on the Education Committee and Ways and Means Committee to defund CUNY. We are going to go back to Albany and will fight for meaningful change. Fighting antisemitism requires more than meaningless gestures and platitudes, there will be consequences,” Brown added.

Aseret Yimei Teshuvah at SKA was AWEsome. The hallways were humming with a sense of renewal between the girls as their friendships and ties with Hashem were both strengthened and renewed. SKA provided the girls with the space to connect with and feel the kedusha of the time period. The girls experienced a meaningful davening at the beach, watched Yoel Gold’s new selichot film, Reset, and participated in a stirring school-wide kumzits with inspiring words by Mrs. Leora Kaminetsky, SKA’s new Beis Midrash fellow.

A highlight of the week was “Our Teshuva Journey,” which offered a wide range of opportunities to connect to Yiddishkeit. Rabbi Rice offered lessons and inspiration from American Gedolim of the past. Girls marveled at the fact that we have access to kivrei tzaddikim in our backyard, including the kevarim of Rav Yaakov Kamintesky, zt”l, and the wife of the Chofetz Chaim. Girls remarked that visiting these kevarim were so inspiring and helped them get ready for Yom Kippur. The next stop on this journey was a Tashlich workshop with TJJ moms. TJJ moms are mothers looking for opportunities to connect with their Jewish heritage. The girls found it refreshing to hear mothers from different backgrounds talk about their relationship with Hashem and the methods they use to come closer to Hashem.

The significance of Tashlich was imparted to the girls by their Judaic Studies teachers. We generally don’t think about the meaning of Tashlich. We perform the act by rote and neglect to reflect upon the act itself. Thus, the teshuva workshop was designed to help participants think about something they have done that

they want to reflect and improve upon. It was an experience that led to growth and awareness of oneself. In addition, the girls not only went through a process of self-reflection, but they also shared this experience with their friends and shared their transformative experiences with them. The day concluded with words of chizuk delivered by Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, where he offered his joyful and refreshing approach to connecting with the Ribbono Shel Olam in preparation for Yom Kippur.

SKA Shabbat Shuva drashot were offered by a myriad of speakers, from those within the SKA family, alumni speakers, and beyond. Four drashot were offered in Woodmere, as well as programs in Brooklyn, Queens, West Hempstead and Great Neck. The uplifting experiences SKA offered their students and alumni helped them achieve a deeper understanding of how the teshuva process helps every Jew feel and get closer to Hashem. Wishing Klal Yisrael a Gmar Chatima Tova.

Last week, Far Rockaway community leaders attended a golf outing in support of the re-election campaign for Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers. Pictured, L-R: former State Senator Malcom Smith, Dr. Moshe Lazar, Aaron Zupnik, Pesach Osina, Judge Scott Dunn, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, and Baruch Rothman.

Inaugural HAFTR Day

On September 12, the inaugural HAFTR Day brought together Lower and Middle School students for a day of unity and inspiration. Principal Josh Gold underscored the importance of understanding HAFTR’s mission of instilling a love for Hashem, lifelong learning, community, and a connection to Israel, emphasizing their presence in all aspects of school life, from classrooms to extracurricular activities.

Following Principal Gold’s motivational address, Rabbi Asher Klein and Janet Goldman led a dynamic song session, featuring lively singing and dancing to the moving melody of “Tatty, My King” and a specially adapted version of Moshe Storch’s rousing “Geshmak to be a Yid,” tailored for HAFTR.

Empowered by the music and the palpable energy, students later delved into a series of engaging HAFTR Day discussion activities, guided by their teachers. Each class revisited and internalized HAFTR’s mission and vision, gaining a deeper appreciation for how these principles shape their journey as HAFTR

students. Classrooms buzzed with discussions unpacking the significance of HAFTR’s guiding ideals.

Collaborating with local artist Jordana Hanono and led by Art teachers Royce Maron and Naomi Elterman, students also participated in a shared art project, featuring a vibrant tree mural and an assortment of HAFTR-colored rocks. Inspired by their newfound insights, students selected words that resonated with them and that reflected the school’s mission and vision, such as Tzionut, Chesed, Innovation, Ahavat Yisrael, Middot Tovot, among others, which they then painted onto rocks. These personalized rocks found their place in the Lower School Atrium, beneath Ms. Hanono’s masterful tree mural.

HAFTR Day served as a catalyst for students to contemplate the goals and vision of their yeshiva. It deepened their grasp of the school’s mission while instilling a deep sense of pride in the history of HAFTR, and a sense of enthusiasm and optimism for the yeshiva’s future.

The first and second graders at Shulamith made honey plates in honor of Rosh Hashana

L’chaim! Chill Out or Warm Up – No Need to Choose

By Gabriel Geller, Kedem/ Royal Wine

This year, Sukkos presents us with somewhat of a culinary and vinous dilemma. Over these recent weeks, we’ve witnessed a bit of a rollercoaster of weather changes and temperature fluctuations. Deciding between a hearty chicken salad and a succulent roast won’t be an easy task. This predicament is further complicated by the uncertainty of whether we’ll be dining al fresco in the sukkah or, chas v’shalom, indoors in the dining room. Baruch Hashem, “wine gladdens the heart of man” (Tehillim, 104:15). So, regardless of the weather, we’ll still have excellent wine to celebrate Sukkos and Simchas Torah.

It’s important to remember that whites and rosés are not exclusively reserved for summertime sipping, and such wines will be just as enjoyable if it’s chilly out. Consider, for instance, the Sonoma Loeb Dignitary Chardonnay 2021. It was made in cooperation with Herzog’s

head winemaker David Galzignato, and hails from Sonoma County, California. Its harmonious blend of generous acidity and delicious tropical fruit notes render it both invigorating and a great pairing with a stuffed veal pocket. The Jezreel Rosé 2021 is an excellent rosé that despite being now two years past harvest, has retained its freshness. It is the perfect choice for cooling off during those warm moments in the sukkah. It also makes for a delightful accompaniment to challah, lox, and cream cheese during shalosh seudos, since the first day of Sukkos falls on Shabbos this year.

Many of us eagerly anticipate indulging in some BBQ galore on Chol Hamoed, or even on the second day of chag. Château Malmaison 2021, a classic Bordeaux, would complement the grilled and meaty flavors magnificently. This Château hails from the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation, in the northern Bordeaux’s wine country and belongs to the heirs of the late Barons Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild. The recent improvements and updates to the winery’s facilities and

equipment along with a talented winemaker have resulted in a wine characterized by richness and a velvety texture. While it may initially taste somewhat fruity, proper cellaring is likely to reveal earthy aromas and layers of additional flavors and complexity over time.

Les Roches de Yon 2020 , a classic Right Bank Bordeaux from Saint-Emilion, offers layers of elegance and intricate notes of red fruit, earth, graphite, and minerals. Regardless of whether you opt for a chilled chicken salad or a big steak, this wine will significantly elevate your meal.

With numerous meals and copious amounts of food, there’s a delightful way to unwind before a nap or while engaging

in Torah study: indulging in a digestif. A digestif, customary in Europe to aid digestion, finds its worthy representative in the world-class Poire Prisonnière from Massenez in Alsace. With notes of sweet Anjou pear, this spirit shines when served ice-cold but also provides a comforting warmth when savored at room temperature on chillier evenings. Last but certainly not least, nothing exudes the elegance of a yom tov celebration quite like a glass of Cognac. Whether enjoyed neat or paired with light snacks like caramelized pecans or salted peanuts, a sip of Roland Bru XO Cognac will undoubtedly bring a smile of satisfaction to your festivities.

Chag sameach and l’chaim!

Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim Starts a New Zman

Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim recently began a new zman. Student orientation was fantastic! Thank you to the Fruchter family for their sponsorship. Talmidim are shteigen in limudei kodesh and shining in limudei chol. Last week, the Yeshiva had the opportunity to visit and hear divrei Torah and divrei chizuk in preparation for the upcoming Yomim No-

raim from the Krula Rebbe in Williamsburg. Talmidim also received a personal bracha along with an apple and honey from the Rebbe.

Upon returning to Yeshiva, yalmidim enjoyed lunch sponsored by the Bleicher family.

We are looking forward to an incredible year!

Rays of Hope

Finding Chizuk in Challenging Times

By Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg

Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev

Ginzberg

is a beloved rav in Cedarhurst who has engaged thousands of readers with his incisive articles in the Torah world’s most prestigious periodicals. Rabbi Ginzberg has a genius for weaving together personal stories, Torah hashkafah, encouragement and chizuk, communal issues, and, yes, gentle and spot-on mussar.

In Rays of Hope, his new book of a collection of his writings on many different topics, he takes us “up close and personal” with memories of his own nisyonos — including his terrifying bout with Covid, when the doctors felt there was no hope left for him; as well as the losses of his beloved daughter Sarala and his oldest grandson, Chanoch Jeger.

Rabbi Ginzberg’s courageous and uplifting responses to these losses — which include his founding of the wellknown Ohel Sarala global initiative — give us chizuk and meaning to the challenges we all face.

The following is an excerpt from this uplifting book.

Saving Klal Yisrael…With Chessed

We live in frightening times. A number of years ago, no less a personality than Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv expressed to those closest to him that this is the most dangerous and frightening time in Eretz Yisrael since the founding of the Jewish state. His grandson wondered whether that was not somewhat of

a guzmah (exaggeration). In all his years in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Elyashiv had surely witnessed indescribable difficulties and suffering. (In fact, he lost a twelve-year-old daughter in one of the many bombings of Yerushalayim during the 1948 War of Independence.)

Rav Elyashiv responded briefly and pointedly, “There is a madman in Iran who is consumed with hatred for Klal Yisrael and has or will have nuclear weapons, with every intent of using them on Eretz Yisrael. Is there anything more dangerous than that?”

If we are truly living in such a dangerous time, as the gadol hador posited, what can we do about it — other than, of course, pour our hearts out in tefillah? Even the most ardent Zionists, who always looked to some form of political leadership to help us out of a mess, have had a change of outlook. After Oslo, the expulsion from Gaza (not disengagement, but expulsion), and recent political and military debacles, it is patently obvious that not one of the colorful cast of personalities in leadership positions in Eretz Yisrael today has a clue as to how to move forward from here. Is there anything we can do to somehow turn the tide and bring rachamei Shamayim upon us in these troubled times? The answer, Chazal teach, is yes.

The Midrash relates that when Avraham Avinu met Shem for the first time, he asked him, “What did you do while you were in the teivah during the Mabul?” Shem replied, “Our days and nights were spent providing food for the many

animals that were with us in the teivah.”

This Midrash needs explanation. Why would Avraham Avinu, who was not alive during the Mabul, want to know how they occupied their time in the teivah? What practical lesson could he glean from this information?

The Philadelphia rosh yeshivah, Rav Elya Svei, explained that what Avraham Avinu wanted to know was: When the Flood was raging in all its fury, what did you do to arouse Hashem’s mercy? Shem responded that their days were filled with feeding the animals, which is pure chessed. Performing genuine chessed is the most potent method of arousing Divine mercy.

Avraham absorbed this message well and derived the following lesson: If caring for animals provided the merit to save people during the total destruction of the Flood, how much more effective would it be to care for human beings, created in the tzelem Elokim, as a way of invoking salvation during a time of Hashem’s wrath! And so Avraham Avinu dedicated his life to performing chessed for his fellow man, to the extent that he became forever associated with chessed, as the pasuk testifies: “Titein … chessed l’Avraham.”

Every small act of chessed is of paramount importance, and every person must make time for chessed in his daily life. Our gedolei Yisrael have taught us this by example, through their commitment to doing chessed despite the multifaceted responsibilities they carry in leading Klal Yisrael.

The Chofetz Chaim, even at an advanced age, would personally make the bed for an overnight guest at his home, despite the availability of others to do so.

The Chazon Ish, who never wasted a moment from learning, would give of his precious time to speak with anyone who came to him, because, he would explain, he is obligated to perform chessed like anyone else.

When the Manchester rosh yeshivah, Rav Yehuda Zev Segal, would leave yeshivah at night to return to his home, he would deposit the students’ letters in a mailbox on his way, and before doing so, he would say, “Hareini mechavein lekayeim mitzvas asei shel chessed” (It is my intention to fulfill the positive

commandment of doing chessed).

The Individual Dimension

We are a community of great chessed, boasting more wonderful organizations than I can list. But these are communal chessed undertakings. What about us, as individuals? Do we let even one day go by without doing chessed for another person?

The Chofetz Chaim, in Ahavas Chessed, challenges us to perform a cheshbon hanefesh every night before we go to sleep, and ask ourselves if we did at least one act of chessed for someone on that day. That someone else can be a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or stranger; it’s not the identity of the recipient that is important, it’s the act of chessed that counts.

If, as Rav Svei teaches us, based on the Midrash, chessed is the only thing that can arouse Divine mercy in a time of din, then it behooves each and every one of us to do our part — to do a little more chessed for our fellow Jew. It is not a difficult assignment. We just have to open our eyes a bit wider and then grab the opportunities.

Years ago, the menahel of Mesivta Torah Vodaath, Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, entered his shiur room to begin a session, and there were not enough chairs in the room. He noticed that two students had gone out, and each had brought back just one chair for himself. He said to them, “You each brought back a chair for yourself, so you are each a shlepper. Had you each brought in the chair for the other fellow, you would be a baal chessed.”

Chessed opportunities abound. We just have to open our eyes to notice

them. Recently, the first real snowfall of the season happened early on a Friday morning. One fellow, quietly, without being asked, came early and shoveled the walkway and steps to our shul, so it would be easier for people to enter.

Everyone saw the need, but one individual reacted, and his individual act of chessed was mezakeh the rabbim. An insignificant act, no big deal, you may be thinking. The Midrash begs to differ. The Midrash says it’s these very acts that avert Hashem’s wrath.

A Chaver in Need

And then there are some acts of chessed that provoke such a tumult in Heaven that you can practically hear the footsteps of Mashiach around the bend. One such act of chessed happened to a member of my family a while back. My eldest daughter, Shoshana, was on her way to her special-ed teaching job in Brooklyn one winter morning and turned onto the road leading from the Nassau Expressway to the Belt Parkway. Apparently, a large pothole had developed, and it caused one of her tires to be sliced in half. After her incident, another six or seven cars hit the same pothole with the same results.

Stranded on the side of the road in an unsafe place, she called me for help. But being far from the area (and, truthfully, not knowing how to change a tire, either), I did not know what to do. I decided to try Chaverim. Within minutes, they called back and said that one of their members was driving in the area, and he would attempt to help.

About half an hour later, my daughter called me with the most uplifting story that I have heard in a long time. A

member of Chaverim named Binyamin (no last name given) stopped and quickly changed the tire on my daughter’s car. The other stranded motorists expressed out loud to my daughter that “you Jews are always available to help each other out.”

Then, Binyamin did a most incredible thing. He proceeded to change the tires on all the other stranded cars in that spot, and that included people from a wide range of races and nationalities. When they wanted to pay him, he refused. My daughter explained to her new friends that he belongs to an organization called Chaverim, whose members volunteer their time and expertise to help people, for free. (My daughter did hand them envelopes from Chaverim, in case they would want to send a donation to the organization to help defray their costs. They all said they would gladly do so.)

Then — to underscore the message — the following occurred: As the various folks were getting back into their cars to return to their own little worlds, they turned to my daughter and said,

“You Jews are such special people. It’s surprising that with people like Benjamin, your Messiah still has not appeared. You truly do deserve his coming.”

If Chazal record in the Talmud for posterity the statement of one Arab praising the Tanna Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach (“Blessed be the G-d of Shimon ben Shetach”) for his act of integrity, then I wonder what was going on in Shamayim when those words of praise for the kindness of the Jewish People were expressed on the Belt Parkway that cold morning!

Undoubtedly, those other drivers never heard of the Midrash we quoted earlier, or of Rav Elya’s explanation of it. But one thing is certain. That morning of chessed brought the footsteps of Mashiach that much closer.

Let’s not underestimate the great power and influence that a little chessed can have in arousing Hashem’s mercy and bringing an end to all our suffering. After all, it may truly be said one day that saving Klal Yisrael is as easy as changing a flat tire.

United Nations Trivia

1. Who is the current SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations?

a. Ban Ki-moon

b. Kofi Annan

c. Antonio Guterres

d. Boutros Boutros-Ghali

2. Since 2015, The U.N. has passed 140 resolutions condemning Israel. In that same period, how many resolutions in total have they passed condemning all other nations combined (including Afghanistan’s beheading people; North Korea starving people; and China enslaving people)?

a. 20,505

b. 4,010

c. 1,050

d. 920

e. 760

f. 410

g. 380

h. 310

i. 255

3. Which of the following is not one of the six official languages of the U.N.?

a. English

b. French

c. Spanish

d. Bengali

e. Russian

f. Arabic

g. Mandarin

4. How many nations are members of the U.N.?

a. 54

b. 131

c. 193

d. 209

5. Which of the following is the only country that is not a member of the U.N.’s Human Rights Council?

a. Israel

b. Afghanistan

c. China

d. Libya

6. The U.N.’s budget is approximately $50 billion a year. Approximately how much of that is paid for by United States taxpayers?

a. $2 billion

b. $4.5 billion

c. $12.5 billion

d. $37 billion

7. Which of the following is not one of the five nations that are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and each have veto power over any resolution?

a. U.S.

b. Netherlands

c. France

d. Russia

e. England

f. China

Answers:

Wisdom key:

6-7 correct: You must be a U.N. peacekeeper. Your white hats and 1980s shorts are very threatening!

3-5 correct: Not bad for such useless information.

0-2 correct: You don’t know much about the U.N. Finally, we have a smart one!

Anagram…Bananagram

Sometimes, when you rearrange the letters of a word, they spell out the truest meaning of the word!

A Decimal Point = I’m a Dot in Place

Butterfly = Flutter-by

Conversation = Voices Rant On

Debit Card = Bad credit

Dormitory = Dirty Room

Election Results = Lies, Let’s Recount!

Eleven Plus Two = Twelve plus one

You Gotta be Kidding Me!

A concerned mother contacts a therapist because her son Dovid has a crazy phobia that he is scared of kreplach.

The therapist says, “Kreplach? He’s afraid of the meat dumplings we make for Erev Yom Kippur?”

The mother responds, “Yes. I’ve tried to tell him there’s nothing to be afraid of, but whenever he sees kreplach, he runs out of the room screaming.”

The therapist thinks for a few minutes and then says, “Bring him into the kitchen before you start making kreplach. Show him the steps to make a single piece. Do them one at a time and explain each one slowly and clearly. He’ll see that there is nothing at all to be afraid of!”

The mother does exactly that.

“Dovid, come to the kitchen!” she says as she is about to make the kreplach. “Now, watch this. I’m going to make kreplach.”

Dovid looks like he’s going to bolt but she adds, “Don’t worry, you’ll soon see that there isn’t anything

George Bush = He bugs Gore

Slot Machines = Cash Lost in’em

Snooze Alarms = Alas! No More Z’s

The Eyes = They see

The Morse Code = Here come dots

Vacation Time = I am not active

to be scared of,” and he stays put. She takes a small piece of meat and puts it in the middle of a triangle of soft dough. “See, right now, it’s just a bit of flour and a piece of beef. Is there anything scary so far?”

Dovid says, “No, not at all. It’s just flour and meat.”

She then takes a corner of the dough and folds it over the top of the beef. “So now it just has one little fold in it here, right? This isn’t scary.”

Dovid nods. “Yeah, it does, and it isn’t scary.”

Then she takes a second corner of the dough and folds it over the top. “So now we have two corners. It’s just the same as before!”

Dovid says, “You’re right! There isn’t anything scary here at all!”

The happy mother blesses the therapist in her heart, before folding over the third piece of dough. “And here is a piece of kreplach!” She turns to Dovid...

Only to find him running out of the kitchen, yelling at the top of his lungs, “Aaaaaaaah! Kreplaaaaaaaaach!”

Parshas Ha’azinu

By Rabbi Berel Wein

The special nature and all of the events of Jewish history are outlined for us in this week’s parsha. Ramban in the 13th century comments that anyone who can, so many centuries earlier, accurately foretell the later fate of a people is an exceptional prophet. Moshe certainly fits that description and test. And what more can we add to this phenomenon, now more than seven hundred-fifty years after Ramban!

The rabbis of the Talmud attributed the crown of wisdom to the one who has a vision of the future. Even though Moshe is the greatest of all prophets, his title amongst the Jewish people is Moshe

the Teacher, indicating his wisdom and knowledge are translated into his ability to view the future.

Moshe lays down the basic pattern of all of Jewish history – the struggle to remain Jewish and not succumb to the blandishments of current cultures and beliefs, the illogical and almost pathological enmity of the world to Judaism and the Jewish people, the awful price paid by Jews throughout history, and the eventual realization of Jews, and the non-Jewish world as well, of G-d’s guidance in history and human life.

This entire, very complex story is foretold to us in this week’s most re -

markable parsha. It is no wonder that Jewish tradition dictated that Jewish children should commit this parsha to memory, for within it is recorded the entire essence of Jewish history.

Though we never really know the exact details of the future of the Jewish people, the broad outlines of the story have been known to us for millennia. Just read and study the words of this parsha.

Moshe establishes heaven and earth as witnesses to the covenant and the historical fate of the Jewish people. Rashi explains that not only are they honest

eternal covenant. It is the very wonders and mysteries of nature itself that point to the Creator. And it is all of human history that rises to testify as to the uniqueness of the Jewish story and the special role that the Jewish people played and continue to play in human events.

The witness testimony of heaven is found in the wonders of the natural world. The witness testimony of earth is found in the history of humankind and of the role of the Jewish people in that amazing, exhilarating, and yet depressing story. Moshe begs of us to listen to these

and objective witnesses, but most importantly, they are eternal witnesses. Human witnesses are mortal and passing. Later generations cannot hear their testimony, and even though current video technology attempts to correct this deficiency, much of the personal nuance and force, which colors all human testimony, is lost.

So we rely on heaven and earth to reinforce our belief and commitment to the

two witnesses for it is within their and our ability to know our past and future through their testimony.

Much of their testimony is frightening and worrisome, but it is even more frightening to be unaware of our past and future. We should listen carefully to the parsha. It has much to teach us about our world and ourselves.

Shabbat shalom.

It is all of human history that rises to testify as to the uniqueness of the Jewish story and the special role that the Jewish people played and continue to play in human events.

Yom Kippur Neilah Abandoning Self-Deception

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

Rabbeinu Bachaya says that the purpose of everything one does during the day is the Torah we learn at night and that the ultimate purpose of the Torah we learn at night is to prepare ourselves for Shabbos. He continues that the purpose of all of the Shabbosim of the year is to prepare one to reach the Yomim Tovim. And the purpose of all of the Yomim Tovim is to enable one to prepare for Rosh Hashana and the ten days of teshuva. But the purpose of Rosh Hashana and the ten days of teshuva is to prepare for Yom Kippur, and the purpose of all of Yom Kippur is to reach that one last hour of Yom Kippur: Neila. And the pinnacle of Neilah is when we call out, with a whole heart and with simplicity, “Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad!” and “Hashem Hu HaElokim! Hashem is G-d!”

The pasuk we quote (Melachim 1:18:39), “Hashem is G-d!” is from the Jewish people’s reaction to Eliyahu Hanavi’s showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mr. Carmel. Eliyahu Hana-

vi used that opportunity to rebuke the Jewish people for lacking any sense of embarrassment at the double life they were leading. He told them (Melachim 1:18:21), “How long will you dance on two sides of the fence?! If Hashem is G-d, go after Him! And if Baal is, go after him!” On one hand, they were Jewish and kept mitzvos, but on the other hand, they were immersed in one of the basest forms of idol worship. He wanted to imbue them with a sensitivity to such contradictions. Even if they were not perfect, they should at least feel embarrassed when they serve the Baal and see it as a contradiction to the holiness they longed for as Jews.

Because this recognition that Hashem is G-d is the culmination of Neila, it means that if we focus on nothing else at Neila, it must be this recognition of the truth. While cultivating a feeling of embarrassment and shame is not in vogue these days, it is critical to living a meaningful life. As the Gemara (Nedarim 20a) says, quoting the pasuk in

Shmos (20:16), “‘In order that fear of Him should be upon your faces’ refers to embarrassment; ‘in order that you not sin,’ teaches that embarrassment brings to fear of sin.” We cannot continue pretending that the aveiros we do are nothing and do not pose a contradiction to righteousness and attachment to G-d.

Several times throughout Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we say the piyut, “Supernal King,” in which we contrast the true King’s splendor with the “impoverished king,” man. The paytan tells each of us with our little fiefdoms, “You dwell amidst deception.” We indulge in whatever our weaknesses are but deceive ourselves into not realizing that our indiscretions are incompatible with our true aspirations.

A person must be sensitive to the contradiction of davening Mincha from the same electronic device on which he looks at things at which a Jew is forbidden to gaze or on which he has wasted so much time with idle entertainment. If it were permitted, many people would

download the machzor and daven from them on Yom Kippur as well! We so often fail to recognize the contradictions we live with. We must live with the simple recognition that Hashem is G-d, and He sees everything. In our lives of deception, we may delete our browsing history and think that we have fooled our wives, won’t get caught, and have erased what we have looked at. But we cannot deceive G-d. He sees everything. Recognition of this fact is the simplest element of faith.

Our tefillos at Neila have such potential. We do not have to promise Hashem that we will not sin at all in the coming year; that we will be like the Chofetz Chaim, the Chazon Ish, or the Baal Shem Tov. Nor could we. But it would bring such blessings down in to the world and into our lives if we simply said to Hashem, “I’m not going to live a lie anymore. I can’t promise that I won’t slip up again this year, but I’m not going to live in my little kingdom of deception anymore. I won’t live a lie. If I fail, I will at least feel

a little embarrassed about it.”

There is a whole crop of deeply spiritual musicians in Eretz Yisroel, many of whom are baalei teshuva through Breslov. One of them, Amichai Chasone, expresses this feeling so beautifully in his song “Aba Yakar,” “Precious Father” in an album called “Alma,” “World.” In this song, he sings, “For me to cross the imaginary boundary I have created for myself, I must, I must be true. And if I do not have truth, there is no faith. And this hurts me. It hurts me, precious Father!” This is exactly the feeling we must have. We must recognize the truth.

One of the great tzaddikim of our generation was the Bobover Rebbe, Reb Shlomo’le, zt”l. Anyone who met Reb Shlomo’le is fortunate, and one can even inspire himself to do teshuva just by looking at a picture of him. The Rebbe survived the war with his son Naftul’che, and the two of them originally settled in the Upper West Side. The Rebbe was so broken that he felt he had no strength to attempt to build up Bobov chassidus again and wanted to live the rest of his life learning in the back of a beis medrash somewhere, were it not for the Satmar Rav’s encouragement and chizuk. At the beginning, the Bobover Rebbe and his son started a little shtiebel in the Upper West Side. It was so small, they sometimes did not even have a minyan.

One Friday night, the Bobover Rebbe was in the street looking for a tenth man for Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv, and he spotted someone he thought was Jewish, so he said to him in Yiddish, “Come – we need a tenth man for the minyan.” Initially, the man refused, but the Rebbe insisted, so the man, Yankel, told him, “You know, back home, I was the baal tefilla, and I led davening. I will join you if I can lead the davening.” The Rebbe complimented him, telling him that they were fortunate to have found someone to lead the davening. The few chassidim in the shtiebel were a bit put off since it appeared this man, a fellow survivor, was not at all observant. But the Rebbe invited him to lead, so he led the davening.

The following Friday night, Yankel did not wait to be invited to shul or to lead the davening. He walked right into shul and straight up to his place and began leading Kabbalas Shabbos. The next morning, it was the same thing, and he led Shabbos morning davening as well. This went on for several weeks, and the regular attendees in shul began to get more and more annoyed. It was clear

that this man was not observant, yet he walked straight into shul to lead the davening every week. Then, one Friday night, Yankel did not show up. The Rebbe waited a little bit for him, but they eventually started without him. And he did not show up Shabbos morning either. Worried, the Rebbe asked his son Naftul’che and his friend to go find Yankel. They initially protested, point-

with hundreds of chassidim, and a new face walked into the room crowned with a beautiful beard and peyos. The man approached the Rebbe and asked, “Do you remember me?” The Rebbe looked at him and thought for a bit but could not place the face. The man explained, “I’m Yankel, the one who led the davening in the Upper West Side.” The Rebbe was overjoyed! He hugged and kissed

compare what we have been through to what Yankel and the Bobover Rebbe went through in the war. What we have been through has put us in a position where we find ourselves doing things that do not reflect who we really are. We must hear the voice of Reb Shlomo’le of Bobov saying to us, “It’s not really you. It’s the German. The evil inclination. The other side.” Let’s be honest about what we’re doing wrong but recognize who we really are. Our mistakes are not who we are. They are a departure from our essence, our true goals.

ing out to the Rebbe that this was Manhattan and not Bobov. They had no idea where to look. But the Rebbe insisted, so they went out.

Naftul’che and his friend went to a nearby park, and lo and behold, they found Yankel right away, sitting, reading a newspaper, and smoking. This confirmed what they already knew; that Yankel was not at all observant. Not wanting to embarrass him by approaching him and “catching” him in the act of smoking on Shabbos, they returned and told the Rebbe that they had found Yankel. “Well, where is he?” They answered that they had found him smoking.

But the Rebbe argued, “No, he was not smoking.” But the Rebbe’s son, Naftul’che, told his father that indeed, they were fairly close to him and got a good look. It really was Yankel. “No, that wasn’t Yankel smoking. You made a mistake.” Naftul’che’s friend spoke up, confirming that indeed, it was Yankel, and that he recognized him and saw him smoking on Shabbos.

The Rebbe told them, “No, Yankel was not smoking. The ‘Daitsche,’ the German, the Nazi, was smoking. It wasn’t Yankel. Now go get Yankel.”

They were bewildered and did not fully comprehend what Reb Shlomo’le was saying. But they went back to the park only to find that Yankel had already left. They returned to the shtiebel and told their father, who was very upset and disappointed. Yankel never did return to the shtiebel.

The Rebbe went on to move to Crown Heights, and then Boro Park, where he began slowly rebuilding the Bobov dynasty. About thirty years after Reb Shlomo’le’s time in the Upper West Side, he was making a weekday tisch

the man and asked him what brought him to Boro Park. Yankel placed an envelope in front of the Rebbe and told him that he was making a chasuna and wanted to invite the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him on the spot that he would be there and then turned to his son Naftul’che and told him, “See, I told you it was the German smoking. Not Yankel.”

We are also damaged by the coarseness of this world. While none of us can

May we merit to daven with truth and keep in mind that while we cannot promise G-d that we will be perfect, we can resolve to end the lies and abandon our little kingdoms of deception. May we merit to see the return of the Navi who taught us sensitivity to the truth and an intolerance for living a life of contradictions, Eliyahu Hanavi, with the coming of Moshiach, may it be soon in our days.

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

Our mistakes are not who we are.

Flying Amongst Angels

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

Aspeaker once started his seminar by holding up a $100 bill.

“Who would like this $100 bill?” he asked.

Every hand in the room went up.

The speaker looked around and then crumpled the bill in his hand.

“Who wants it now?” he asked.

Every hand in the room remained in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what about now?” He dropped the bill on the ground and stomped on it with his shoe.

He picked up the crumpled and dirty bill and showed it to the crowd.

“Who still wants it?”

Every hand was still up in the air.

“My friends, you have just experienced a very powerful lesson. No matter what I do to this money, no matter how crumpled or muddy it gets, it does not decrease in value. Many times in our lives, life has a way of crumpling us up and grinding us in the dirt. We make bad decisions or deal with poor circumstances, and we begin to feel worthless. We feel that Hashem has abandoned us, that He no longer values us. But no matter what has happened, and no matter what will happen, you will never lose your value. You were created b’tzelem Elokim, and nothing can change that.”

A Mysterious Day

As we approach Yom Kippur, we recognize that it is unquestionably one of the most important days of the year. And yet, in many ways, it is a mystery. While one might assumedly categorize it as a day of suffering and sadness, Chazal refer to Yom Kippur as a spiritually uplifting day of atonement and rebirth (Taanis 4:8). There is even an element of the day that is associated with the happiness of Purim (Yom “Ki”-Purim, a day like Purim). At the same time, though, it is a fast day. We normally characterize fast days as

times of mourning and sadness, such as Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av. How is Yom Kippur different, and what is the nature of this day?

Arguably the most important concept in life, though often misunderstood, is the nature of the soul. Most people believe that they “have” a soul, some spiritual essence they possess within themselves. However, the deeper Jewish sources reveal a profound spiritual secret: you don’t have a soul, you are a soul. In other words, the soul is not an aspect of your self or some spiritual component of your being; it is your very self. You are a soul, a consciousness, a spiritual being. When you say “I,” you are referring to your soul, your inner sense of self. You have a body, emotions, and an intellect, all different aspects and expressions of your soul. But you are a soul, a neshama, an infinitely expansive consciousness.

The Birth of Finitude

A soul is angelic, perfect, pure, and transcendent. This is what Chazal refer to

as your “fetal self,” when you were still in the womb, just before entering this physical world (Niddah 30b). However, the moment one enters this physical world, the infinite expansiveness of the soul is confined within the physical body. The body is the container of the soul, but it is also the soul’s vehicle and tool, allowing the soul to manifest its will in this world. This is our mission in life. We enter this world with an undeveloped vehicle, our limited body. The soul, our existential self, is already perfect, but we don’t yet have access to the fullness of our true self. As we journey through life, we tap into greater and greater aspects of our soul, our self, and we must then manifest them into the world through our physical bodies. In doing so, we uplift our physical vessels, and enable them to tap into greater and greater aspects of our true self. This is the beautiful cycle of life, the endless expansion and expression of self into this physical world.

While this perspective is both powerful and fundamental, its implementation is elusive and perhaps humanity’s most

central struggle. Many people believe that they are a body, a physical, finite being. Having forgotten our true selves, we are born with the illusory belief that we are only that which we can see. We look in the mirror, seeing only flesh and bone, and we believe that this is all that we are.

However, this is merely our starting point. The turning point in life is the moment we realize that we are angelic souls in a physical casing. We are not physical beings attempting to have a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings trying to uplift our physical experience. This is the central theme of Yom Kippur.

Flying With Angels

Yom Kippur is the one day of the year when we completely free ourselves of our physical limitations, embracing our angelic self. This day embodies true teshuva, when we return to our ultimate root, to our spiritual, perfect self. Chazal characterize Yom Kippur as the one day of the year when we have the ability to become a malach (angel). On this day, our lower self and physical urges are powerless – they cannot bring us down. They formulate this idea through the following gematria:

“Ha’Satan,” the evil inclination, has the numerical value of 364. There are 365 days in the year, but the Satan only has power on 364 of those days. Yom Kippur is the one day where the Satan, the Yetzer Hara, has no power over you. On this day, you can completely transcend and experience angelic perfection (Yoma 20a).

There is a paradoxical relationship between the body and the soul:

Your soul, which is your “self,” is transcendent, infinite, and purely spiritual. You cannot see, smell, or touch the consciousness, the mind. You will never see someone else’s inner world.

The body, however, is finite, limited, and physical. Your soul will never die, but your body will eventually age and wither.

If the soul and body are complete opposites, how do they manage to coexist as one? One would expect them to repel each other, like two opposite sides of a magnet.

This is the powerful purpose of food. There needs to be something to keep your soul attached to your body, some kind of “glue.” Eating food generates the energy which keeps your neshama connected to your body. That is why the lack of eating has the opposite effect. What happens when you don’t eat? You become faint. What happens if you continue to fast? You will pass out. And if you still don’t eat, your soul will leave your body and you will die. Eating maintains the connection between your soul and your body; it is what keeps you alive.

This is the depth behind the phrase “u’mafli la’asos,” Who performs wonders, that we recite in Asher Yatzar (the blessing we recite after using the bathroom). What “wonder” are we referring to? The Beis Yosef suggests that it is the wonderous paradox that our soul, infinitely transcendent, can remain connected to our bodies, a physical, finite vessel. We mention this specifically after using the bathroom because we have just filtered out the unneeded parts of what we ate or drank, the very means of forging the

connection between body and soul.

We can now understand the concept of fasting, especially on the day of Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, we attempt to live as malachim, completely transcending the physical world. We therefore fast, allowing our soul to somewhat transcend our body, enabling us to experience one day of living in an angelic state.

This principle sheds light on all the issurim of Yom Kippur. We don’t engage in the physical world because Yom Kippur is a day of transcending the physical aspects of human experience.

The Opportunity of Yom Kippur

This is the unique opportunity that Yom Kippur presents: to transcend, to experience the infinite. Unlike other fast days, it is not a day of suffering and mourning but one of spiritual transcendence. As the famous quote goes: On Tisha B’Av, who can eat? On Yom Kippur, who needs to? This is why the Rambam (Hilchos Shevisas He’Asor 1:4) states that on Yom Kippur we “rest” from eating. This is not a day of prohibition and suffering, it is one of completely embracing the spiritual, tapping into our absolute root, our truest sense of self.

The transcendent experience of Yom Kippur lays the foundation for the rest of the year. While the physical can be destructive if misused, the ideal is not to completely transcend the physical but rather to use the physical in order to reflect something higher. Our goal as humans is not to escape the physical, but to use it as a means of connecting to the transcendent.

This is the key behind the process we undertake throughout the Yamim Noraim. We first experience Elul, then Rosh Hashanah, and then Yom Kippur, a developmental process of elevating ourselves higher and higher above the physical world and deeper and deeper into the spiritual world. Only once we establish this transcendent root can we then re-immerse ourselves into the physical world, but this time on an entirely new level. Sukkos, which immediately follows Yom Kippur, embodies this lesson in embracing the physical. Our root must be transcendent, grounded firmly in the spiritual, and then atop that foundation we can descend into the physical and use it in a transcendent way.

May we be inspired to fully experience our angelic selves this Yom Kippur, and then infuse the totality of our spiritual

acquisition into our physical life, elevating our actions and intentions as we move this physical world towards its ultimate spiritual root.

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

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

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 Profound Opportunities of Yom Kippur

By Rabbi Yaakov Feitman

It is brought in the name of the Gra that in one moment of Yom Kippur a person can accomplish what it usually takes an entire year. Rav Aharon of Belz once entered the Bais Hamedrash on Yom Kippur breathing heavily. Since his health had always been fragile, the chassidim became concerned. “I am fine, baruch Hashem,” the Rebbe declared in a robust voice. “I am merely drinking in and absorbing the holy atmosphere of Yom Kippur.” Before we approach the topic of Yom Kippur, we must realize that we are not just discussing holiness; we must first orient ourselves properly to this incredible annual opportunity.

The kadmonim – early teachers – revealed that there are three dimensions to everything that we do. The Hebrew word ashan is comprised of the words olam (universe), shana (literally year but also time), and nefesh (literally soul but also personhood). Its superficial translation is “smoke,” but it actually represents the dimensions of space, time, and human being. On Yom Kippur,

the three coalesce in the sublime actions of the Kohein Gadol in the Kodesh Hakodoshim, Holy of Holies. The holiest person in the world enters the holiest place on the holiest day. During the Yom Kippur Mussaf repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei, we recite aspects of this an-

missed the auspicious moment by inches or minutes. Many Baalei Mussar and Chassidic masters have taught that the entire year is preparation for Yom Kippur so that this will not happen to us. Yet, as been attributed to the Chasam Sofer, Satmar Rebbe and others, the To -

cient ritual, but it is understood that for a precious few moments we have joined the Kohein Gadol there during our own Yom Kippur service.

Often in life, we discover that we were granted an immense opportunity, only to realize belatedly that we have

rah speaks of Yom Kippur first as Hashanah – the year – and later as shanah – just year (Devarim 11:12). The reason is that we tell ourselves, and even mean it, that this year will our turning point. We will change and be different. We will look at this year as the pivotal moment

in our lives, but it ends up being just another mundane year. Some apply this saying to Rosh Hashanah and others to any opportunity, but it certainly applies to Yom Kippur. It is the one time we become like angels, we have prepared for a minimum of forty days, and all the factors are perfect and in place. Yet, in the end, all seems to have gone up in smoke, with no lasting fire. Our goal this year should be no less than seizing the moment so that we don’t just climb the mountain ( yaaleh), but we remain at that glorious level ( yakum). Obviously, the question is: How do we accomplish this lofty but elusive goal? First of all, let’s study a famous vertel – a seemingly witty statement –by one of the mussar giants. He pointed out that when Yom Kippur begins, we recite Kol Nidrei in dramatic tones. No one says, “Vehu rachum yechaper avon” – no sin is even mentioned. However, after over twenty-four hours of fasting and avodah, we do recite the obligatory fact that we have sinned at the first Maariv after the fast. Why? He explains

Our teshuvah can be so powerful that even the earth beneath changes as well.

that we have had a large mandated meal at the beginning of Yom Kippur so we are not quite hungry and therefore not thinking of food. Yet, as Neilah approaches and our stomach is complaining, all we can think of is the first cup of coffee and cake we will soon have. That is the signal that we have not absorbed and internalized the lessons of Yom Kippur. The opportunity has been lost. Therefore, let’s prepare. If we are to emulate the angels, let’s do so happily, looking forward to the experience and seeking to derive as much as we can from these special 24 hours. I remember returning home as a child for the break during Yom Kippur, complaining to my mother that I was hungry. Although I was an only child, she showed me no sympathy. “When we were in the concentration camp,” she began in an ominous tone, “we also fasted on Yom Kippur. But we didn’t know if we would receive any food at all after the fast was over. The Nazis ym ”sh didn’t want us to fast, although they regularly starved us. Therefore, as they realized that we were fasting, they withheld even the so-called minimal rations they distributed so that

we should suffer more.” My mother was teaching me that true fasting means not knowing that you will be able to break that fast successfully. However, the rest of the lesson, which took me years to recognize, was that on Yom Kippur, we must try to be as close to a malach as possible so that food is not even necessary. My rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, used to say that the difference between the Tisha B’Av fast and that of Yom Kippur is that on Tisha B’Av ver ken essen – who can eat? But on Yom Kippur, ver darf essen – who needs food? That is the goal. We must try to rise as much above gashmiyus – the material world – as possible.

Why did we try to be frummer –more religious and scrupulous – during the Ten Days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? After all, we knew that in just a few days we would give up the extra measures of chumra? The answer is that even temporary elevation results in permanent change. Entering the rarified atmosphere of Yom Kippur can be a life-changing experience if we make it so. Of course, after Yom Kippur, we will eat and perhaps eat what we didn’t

touch for ten days, but the question is what will we take with us in the aftermath? That is how we must approach the ashan of Yom Kippur.

Another approach to the goal of taking Yom Kippur with us is offered by the Bnei Yissaschar. He reminds us that we refrain from wearing shoes because the Gemara (Shabbos 129a) teaches that a person should sell everything he has to buy shoes. The Dinever Rov goes on to ask that we can understand why a person must have pants, a shirt, etc. without which he will be embarrassed. But why shoes? His answer (in his Sefer Igra D’Pirke) is that man sinned, and the earth was cursed because of him. If he walks barefoot, he immerses himself in the results of sin once again. We therefore generally place the barrier of a foreign substance such as leather between ourselves and the ground. However, on Yom Kippur, when we become like the angels, the earth, too, changes and we no longer require the barrier and can walk barefoot.

So let us imagine: we have done teshuvah, so we are higher and better. But what about the earth? It hasn’t changed,

so why don’t we wear leather? The answer is that in the realm of ashan, sometimes, it is we who change the world. Our teshuvah can be so powerful that even the earth beneath changes as well.

The Ramchal (beginning of Derech Hashem) writes that when Adam sinned, it was inevitable that the world would sink spiritually as well, since we are the purpose and driving force of Creation. Conversely, on Yom Kippur when we change, the world changes with us as well. This opportunity and responsibility rests heavily upon us but is also a tremendous compliment. It reminds us that as we go, so does the world. Unlike the current prevalent attitude that practically every creature takes precedence over man, it is the human being who justifies and either elevates or reduces nature in his path. Let us reaccept our grandeur on this crucial day and carry it with us wherever we go throughout the year, im yirtzeh Hashem

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

The Divine Purity of the Name of Hashem That Manifests as Yom Kippur

By Ra BB i Daniel Glatstein

Parshas Acharei Mos begins with the Torah’s instructions to be delivered to Aharon regarding his Avodah on Yom Kippur. However, the pesukim omit a crucial detail. In discussing the various korbanos and other aspects of the Service, the Torah does not mention that this Avodah is to be performed on the tenth of Tishrei! It is only at the very end of the parsha that the Torah finally states the date:

This shall remain for you an eternal decree: In the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and you shall not do any work, neither the native nor the proselyte who dwells among you. For on this day, He shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you; from all your sins before Hashem shall you be cleansed (Vayikra 16: 29-30).

This is the one yom tov for which the Torah first provides the instructions for the Avodah of the festival, and only later relates when to do it. This anomaly is pointed out by the Bnei Yissaschar, who asks why the Torah departs from its normal practice of discussing a yom tov after telling us when it is to be celebrated. It seems that the Torah telling us the date of Yom Kippur is an afterthought.

historical compendium of events, with a special focus on the lives of the Gaonim who preceded him. He writes that in the year Taf-Taf-Chaf-Beis, Rav Achai b’rei d’Raba bar Avuha — namely, Rav Achai Gaon — passed away on Yom Kippur at a time of anger, followed four years later, in the year Taf-Taf-Chaf-Vav, by the petirah of Rav Tachna and Mar Zutra ben Rav Chinana. This addition — that Rav Achai Gaon passed away at a time of anger — is a deviation from his standard writing style. When recording the passing of the other Gaonim, he merely states the dates without commenting that they were “times of anger.” Why does he add this description to the passing of Rav Achai Gaon?

Avoiding the Name “Yom HaKippurim”

In years gone by, observes the Bnei Yissaschar, chassidim and anshei maaseh, pious individuals, referred to Yom Kippur by the title Yom HaKadosh, the holy day. Why, asks the Bnei Yissaschar, wasn’t it simply referred to by its proper name, Yom HaKippurim? Furthermore, he asks, the masechtos that deal with our holy days are titled Shabbos, Rosh Hashanah, Succah, Pesachim. Why isn’t there a Maseches Yom HaKippurim? The masechta that discusses Yom Kippur is called Yoma, the Day.

The Bnei Yissaschar advances a dramatic idea. Yom Kippur is a day that

comes from a hidden realm; it is, in fact, the Name of Hashem materializing and crystallizing as a day of the year. It is the Shem Hashem that manifests as a day. There is a Divine energy and power inherent in Yom Kippur. The essence of the day is kadosh and powerful, so much so that we dare not utter its name, which is a manifestation of the Shem Hashem Therefore, we even call the masechta discussing Yom Kippur by the name Yoma. It is from a different realm altogether, as if it were beyond the Torah itself, and therefore the date is not mentioned in the Torah until the very end of the parsha Hashem allows His Name to become a day — and therefore we are reluctant even to verbalize the name of the day — because it is tantamount to saying the Name of Hashem. Out of respect we refer to Yom Kippur by a pseudonym: Yom HaKadosh. From here we see that there is a supernatural quality to the day of Yom Kippur it-

self; it is the manifestation of the Name of Hashem.

Hashem vs. BaShem

The sefer Az Yashir, written by a dear friend and noted talmid chacham, Rav Moshe Schwerd, cites Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik, who advances the same concept. He quotes the Bnei Yissaschar as he expands the idea further.

During the Avodah of Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol says the Vidui, Confession, three times. First, he recites the Vidui for himself and his household. Next, he says Vidui for all of the Kohanim. Third, he recites Vidui for all of Klal Yisrael.

The Mishnah describes the procedure as the Kohen Gadol recites Vidui for himself and his family, in which he says, “Ani u’beisi, I and my household.” The text that the Kohen Gadol recites includes two sentences that both begin with the words, “Ana Hashem, please, Hashem”: First,

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“Ana Hashem, we have sinned,” followed by “Ana Hashem, forgive us.” The Mishnah subsequently describes the Vidui recited by the Kohen Gadol for himself, for his family, and for all the Kohanim. The same two sentences are recited, and both sentences begin with Ana Hashem. However, the third iteration of the Vidui, the one for all of Klal Yisrael, is slightly different. The second sentence begins with the words, Ana BaShem.

The Tosafos Yom Tov makes note of this, wondering why the language has changed, and if, in fact, the version recorded is correct. He concludes that the correct text is actually for all three iterations to begin the second sentence with “Ana BaShem.”

Rav Soloveitchik addresses this question of the Tosafos Yom Tov. The relationship that Klal Yisrael enjoys with Hashem is unique and multifaceted. On the night of Yom Kippur, our relationship with Hashem is especially distinctive. On that night, Hashem serves as our Mother. The kittel we wear is comparable to a mother who swaddles her child in white. When an infant soils his garments, the mother cleans him and changes his clothing.

On the night of Yom Kippur, we are like the soiled infant, with aveiros sullying our pure neshamos. Hashem, our Mother, yearns to help us. He cleanses us, He swaddles us, and He dresses us in white. It is not beneath Hashem’s dignity for Him to personally clean up our mess.

The process Hashem utilizes to cleanse us, as it were, is to take the Shem Hashem and manifest it as a day: the day of Yom Kippur.

We know that Hashem stands where there are three dayanim, where a beis din is being convened. At the onset of Yom Kippur, we want to bring the Shechinah to us, so we convene a beis din. This beis din does much more than just annul the vows in the form of Kol Nidrei; it serves as the conduit through which the Shechinah can come to forgive our sins. When the beis din is in place, the Shechinah comes down from the seventh Raki’a, the loftiest level of Shamayim. Hashem approaches each and every one of us to cleanse the filth that has polluted our neshamos. Hashem accomplishes the cleansing process with the Yom, the Day, which is the manifestation of the Shem Hashem, the Name of Hashem. Therefore, says Rav Soloveitchik, the Tosafos Yom Tov is correct: The kapparah we seek — for the Kohen Gadol, for the Kohanim, and for Klal Yisrael — is the kapparah that is brought about BaShem, with the Name of Hashem. That is why we say, “Ana BaSh-

em, kapper na, please, with Your Name, atone for me.”

The tefillah should be read as follows: Ana, Please, BaShem, with Your Name, kapper na, please atone! (And not as it is commonly read – Ana BaShem, Please, Hashem, kapper na ….) We are asking that through the power of the Shem of Hashem, He should cleanse us of all sin.

The source of the kedushah of Yom Kippur and the power of the kapparah of Yom Kippur are fueled by its manifestation as the Shem Hashem, by the Name of Hashem descending to us and concretizing as the day of Yom Kippur. Uttering the name Yom Kippur is considered to be akin to stating the Shem HaMeforash,

om means “with the day.” It would seem more logical for the verse to state, “In the course of this day, Hashem will atone for you.” The shva seems to fit the meaning of the pasuk much better than the patach. B’yom implies that the kapparah takes place on the day of Yom Kippur; baYom, on the other hand, implies that the Day itself is the tool with which the kapparah is affected. BaYom, it is with the Day, utilizing the Day, that the kapparah happens. In light of what we have learned, we can explain this vocalization. The word baYom is employed to indicate that the atonement does not merely transpire during the course of the day, but Itzumo shel Yom mechapper, the very essence of

and this atonement is effected even if one does not do teshuvah. Thus, “itzumo shel Yom mechapper, the very essence of the day [inherently]atones” refers to this concept.

Despite the fact that we do not pasken according to Rebbe, the Rambam employs the expression, “itzumo shel Yom mechapper.” This shows that this terminology does have halachic standing. The Rambam is teaching us that although Yom Kippur alone is not mechapper, and one must also do teshuvah to achieve atonement, nevertheless, the atonement does not come solely from one’s teshuvah. Rather, once one does teshuvah, then the itzumo shel Yom can, in fact, be mechapper. The process of teshuvah activates the power inherent in the day of Yom Kippur that allows one to be forgiven for his wrongdoings. However, it is interesting to note, as we shall present below, that there are some instances where we seem to pasken, like Rebbe, that itzumo shel Yom is mechapper

Kippurim, in the Plural

the Name of Hashem. Therefore, it was customary not to refer to Yom Kippur by name, but rather to call it Yom HaKadosh, the holy day.

“Hashem Hu HaElokim”

Seven Times

During the final moments of Yom Kippur, we repeat the phrase “Hashem Hu HaElokim” seven times, thereby affirming that Hashem, He is G-d. What is the significance of these words and why do we say them as Yom Kippur is drawing to a close?

When Yom Kippur is over, the Shechinah departs, so to speak, and Hashem re-ascends the Seven Rakios. We recite, “Hashem Hu HaElokim,” seven times to escort, so to speak, the Shechinah to the highest heavens.

Hashem is mechapper our aveiros with His Name. As the Name of Hashem ascends the Seven Rakios, so too, the Day slips away.

BaYom, Explained

“Ki baYom hazeh yichaper aleichem

l’taheir eschem mi’kol chatoseichem l’fnei Hashem titaharu.”

This pasuk is only one of six places in Tanach where the word baYom is vocalized with a patach under the beis rather than a shva. In fact, in this context, the word should really be b’yom, not baYom B’yom means “during the day,” and baY-

the day inherently atones. BaYom, with the day itself, which is the manifestation of the Name of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Hashem atones for our sins.

Shedding Tears on Yom Kippur

Parenthetically, the words “ki baYom hazeh yichaper” contain a remez to an important avodah of Yom Kippur. The roshei teivos of these words, when rearranged, spell the word b’chiyah, crying, conveying the importance of shedding tears on Yom Kippur. The roshei teivos of the words “mi’kol chatoseichem l’fnei Hashem titaharu,” when rearranged, form the word chamalti, I was merciful. Rav Chaim Palagi writes that if a person cries, shedding tears on Yom Kippur, he will merit mercy and forgiveness for his sins.

Does Yom Kippur Need Teshuvah?

From the above, we see the unique atonement power of the day of Yom Kippur itself. However, it would seem that this is not our halachic conclusion, because if someone fasts for the entire duration of Yom Kippur, but he does not do teshuvah, his Yom Kippur has accomplished nothing for him. We rule as the Chachamim do: Ein Yom Kippur mechapper bli teshuvah, Yom Kippur does not atone unless it is accompanied by repentance. Rebbe, however, differs with the Chachamim; he maintains that the very essence of Yom Kippur serves to atone for one’s aveiros,

The full and proper name of this yom tov is Yom HaKippurim. Why use the plural form? Why not use the singular, as we usually refer to it, Yom Kippur? The Darchei Moshe explains that not only is Yom Kippur a day of kapparah for those who are alive, it is also a day of atonement for those who have passed away. The plural form refers to the atonement of these two groups.

How can the day be a kapparah for those who already have passed away? As mentioned above, we pasken like the Chachamim that ein Yom Kippur mechapper bli teshuvah, and one who is no longer among the living cannot do teshuvah. So how can Yom Kippur affect kapparah for the deceased? If they cannot do teshuvah, then Yom Kippur cannot atone for them.

Rav Yaakov Orenstein, the Baal Yeshuos Yaakov, explains that most people do not pass away immediately after Yom Kippur but rather some time during the course of the year. In that case, how do those people achieve atonement and forgiveness? Any sin that may have been committed between the previous Yom Kippur and the day he was niftar will not have been privy to the awesome forgiving power of Yom Kippur. How is atonement for these final months achieved? The answer is in the name Yom Kippurim. The Yom Kippur following one’s demise is mechapper for aveiros committed during the final months of one’s life, from the day after Yom Kippur until the day of petirah. This unique kapparah is

Yom Kippur is a day that comes from a hidden realm; it is, in fact, the Name of Hashem materializing and crystallizing as a day of the year.

effective even without teshuvah.

When we rule that the essence of Yom Kippur is not mechapper without teshuvah, that ruling applies only to one who is able to do teshuvah. If one is unable to do teshuvah, then the essence of the day can be mechapper, and the next Yom Kippur will effect a kapparah for the sins that may have been committed between the prior Yom Kippur until the petirah. Thus, for someone who cannot do teshuvah, we do pasken that itzumo shel Yom is mechapper

Attending Rebbe’s Levaya

Guaranteed Olam Haba

There is another illustration of the concept that itzumo shel Yom is manifest. The Gemara relates that at the time that Rebbe was niftar, a Heavenly voice proclaimed that anyone who had attended the levayah of Rebbe is mezuman, prepared, for chayei Olam Haba, life in the World to Come. A launderer had missed the levayah, and when he heard what was declared from Heaven, he jumped off the roof in despair. A Bas Kol then declared that he, too, merited Olam Haba even though he had not attended the funeral.

What was so unique about Rebbe’s levayah that anyone who attended was mezuman l’chayei Olam Haba? Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spector gives an incredible answer.

Chazal ask why the death of Miriam is juxtaposed to the instructions about the Parah Adumah. They answer that it is to teach us that just as the Parah Adumah is mechapper, so, too, the death of the righteous also provides kapparah. Miriam’s passing away was mechapper for the Bnei Yisrael. That is why we read about the Asarah Harugei Malchus on Yom Kippur: Their deaths provided kapparah for the Jewish people.

We stated earlier that Rebbe and the Rabbanan disagreed about whether or not Yom Kippur itself is mechapper, or if one must do teshuvah in order to activate the kapparah of Yom Kippur. Rebbe held that itzumo shel Yom, the essence of the day, is itself enough to provide atonement.

The Rabbanan disagreed and maintained that it is only with teshuvah that Yom Kippur can

provide atonement.

Extrapolating based on this machlokes, says Reb Yitzchak Elchanan, Rebbe and the Rabbanan would also disagree whether the death of a tzaddik on its own can provide atonement even without teshuvah. Rebbe maintained that it does, while the Rabbanan stated that the passing of a tzaddik can atone only if the person also did teshuvah and repented.

There is a mystical concept that on the day of an eminent sage’s petirah, we pasken in accordance with his opinions in halachah. Thus, on the day that Rebbe passed away, we paskened as he did: One need not do teshuvah in order to acquire the atonement that can be achieved with the passing of tzaddikim. Therefore, a message was received from Shamayim stating just that. Today, in accord with Rebbe’s shitah, opinion, all in attendance receive automatic atonement through his passing, even without having done teshuvah. In honor of Rebbe, on the day he passed away, the halacha was

good or evil omen?

This question really hinges on whether the atonement of Yom Kippur takes place incrementally as the day progresses, or does it atone only at its conclusion? If it takes place incrementally, one who passes away on Yom Kippur at least achieved a degree of atonement. However, if the atonement is achieved only upon its conclusion, it would be a bad sign to pass away on Yom Kippur. Rav Elchanan Wasserman explains that Rav Sherira Gaon clearly held that Yom Kippur does not atone until the day is over, which would make it a bad sign to pass away on Yom Kippur.

Therefore, when he recorded the passing of Rav Achai Gaon, which happened on Yom Kippur, he was afraid that it would reflect poorly on Rav Achai Gaon, for he was niftar before the conclusion of Yom Kippur, and he had not yet been granted the kapparah that Yom Kippur would have afforded him had he lived another few hours. This would have led to a

“Ohr zarua latzaddik u’l’yishrei leiv simchah, Light is sown for the righteous; and for the upright of heart, gladness” (Tehillim 97:11). Why do we begin the davening on the Yom HaKadosh with this sentence from Tehillim? It is suggested that the reason we start this way is because the pasuk spells, with its sofei teivos, “Rabbi Akiva.” Just as Rav Elchanon explained regarding Rav Achai Gaon, the death of Rabbi Akiva was not a siman ra, negative portent; rather, it was also a time of anger, as evidenced by the harsh decrees the Roman promulgated against us.

The Source of the Power of Atonement of Yom Kippur

There is an inherent power of Divine atonement in the day of Yom Kippur. Bnei Yissaschar writes that the day of Yom Kippur and the concept of teshuvah come from a special, remote, and hidden place.

The Yalkut Shimoni teaches that Hashem asked Chochmah (Wisdom) what should happen to one who sins. Chochmah responded that the offender deserves the death penalty. The Neviim (prophets) were asked the same question, and they offered the same response. Hashem asked the malachim, and once again the response was that the offenders deserve to be punished by death. Even when the Torah was asked, the only suggestion given was to bring an offering to gain atonement, but the possibility of teshuvah was not offered.

that itzumo shel Yom was mechapper, and all in attendance were mezuman l’chayei Olam Haba.

Even though we must do teshuvah to activate the kapparah, the day itself has great power to be mechapper: ki baYom hazeh yechaper, because with this day, Hashem forgives us.

When Does the Kapparah Happen?

We have begun to uncover the extraordinary power inherent in the day of Yom Kippur itself. The Gemara says that if one passes away on Erev Yom Kippur, it is an evil portent because he lost out on the atonement of Yom Kippur. However, if he passes away on Motza’ei Yom Kippur, the Gemara states that it is a good siman that his sins were all completely forgiven. What about someone who passes away on Yom Kippur itself? Is that a

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p’gam, defect, in the honor of Rav Achai Gaon. Therefore, to explain why Rav Achai Gaon did not live to the conclusion of Yom Kippur, Rav Sherira Gaon wrote that it was “a time of anger” to convey the message that the petirah of Rav Achai Gaon was prompted by Hashem’s anger toward the entire generation, rather than, chas v’shalom, a negative judgment that did not allow Rav Achai Gaon to achieve the kapparah of Yom Kippur.

The Petirah of Rabbi Akiva

This same idea can also be applied to the petirah of Rabbi Akiva, who, we are taught by Yalkut Shimoni, was killed on Yom Kippur. In fact, it is suggested that we even recite a hidden hesped for Rabbi Akiva on Yom Kippur. On the night of Yom Kippur, our davening begins with Kol Nidrei, which starts with the phrase,

Only HaKadosh Baruch Hu could conceive the idea of teshuvah. It was beyond the scope of Chochmah, the Neviim, and the malachim to comprehend that a sinner could be given a second chance.

The day of Yom Kippur comes from Olam Haba, from the hidden World to Come. When Yom Kippur begins, it is as if Olam Haba itself is coming down to This World. As in Olam Haba, Yom Kippur is a day, without eating or drinking, and we conduct ourselves like the Heavenly angels. And since it comes from a hidden source, the date of the yom tov is hidden until the very end of the Torah’s discussion about it, when it is finally revealed so we will know when to observe it.

May we always be zocheh to taste the Divine quality of this day that emanates from Olam Haba and may we return to Hashem with teshuvah sheleimah and merit a chasimah tovah

This article has been excerpted from The Mystery and The Majesty by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, ArtScroll Publications.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime.com, podcast, his

It is not beneath Hashem’s dignity for Him to personally clean up our mess.

Yom Kippur’s Integration with the Rest of the Year

by Rabbi Michael Rosensweig

Despite its clear uniqueness, there is strong evidence that Yom Kippur is also integrated with other mo’adim and, even more strikingly, with the daily routine and rhythms of life. A variety of examples demonstrate this point.

The context of the Avodah itself reflects the theme of integration and continuity. Rambam surprisingly begins Hilchot Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim by noting that the standard Tamid offerings are brought on Yom Kippur, just as they are offered every single day, a peculiar way to set the tone for a unique seder Avodah. Furthermore, the structure of the Avodah requires the Kohen Gadol to constantly switch between singular Yom Kippur avodot and routine avodot, thereby emphasizing the integration of the singular Yom Kippur with broader themes. This is demonstrated even more starkly by the obligation for the Kohen Gadol to repeatedly change from his standard bigdei zahav to unique bigdei lavan and back. Reinforcing this theme, the donning of each set of clothing (and discarding of the sanctified sets), including the routine bigdei zahav, demands independent tevilah (immersion) and kiddush yadayim v’raglayim (sanctification of hands and feet).

The korbanot of Yom Kippur themselves reveal elements of integration. The Torah divides the discussion of the korbanot of Yom Kippur between two separate parshiyot. The unique korbanot of avodat Yom haKippurim are detailed in Parshat Aharei Mot, the section that focuses exclusively on the Avodah, whereas the more generic korban Mussaf of the day is discussed together with all the other Mussaf offerings in Parshat Pinchas. However, Rebbi contends that there is an overlap between the two passages: The ram that Acharei Mot requires the community to offer (Vayikra 16:5) is the same as the ram legislated as part of the mussaf-

in in Pinchas (Bamidbar 29:8).

The theme of integration and continuity is certainly evident with respect to the mo’ed character of Yom Kippur. First, notwithstanding the significant differences cited earlier, Yom Kippur remains firmly ensconced in Parshat Emor in the parsha of the mo’adim, located in the proper chronological order, between Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. If one were not to notice the subtle difference in presentation, one could easily assume that Yom Kippur is a mo’ed like any other.

Second, there are points of connection between Yom Kippur and Sukkot that demonstrate that Yom Kippur, despite all its singularity, relates meaningfully to the other mo’adim. Rema rules that one should begin building the sukkah immediately upon the conclusion of Yom Kippur. Significantly, he includes this halachah in the framework of Hilchot Yom Kippur. Indeed, it is conceivable that the omission of Tachanun in the period between Yom Kippur and Sukkot reflects a significant link between these two mo’adim, despite the fact that they are quite different, and even opposite, from one another. This reinforces the conclusion that with all its singularity, Yom Kippur remains an integral part of the unit of the mo’adim.

Third, Maharsha notes that Moshe’s enactment that one begin to review the halachot of a particular festival one month prior was never articulated with respect to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Maharsha explains that the theme of teshuvah that dominates this period belongs to the entire year, while Moshe’s takanah applies only to themes that are unique to a particular festival. This reflects that Yom Kippur, the most unique of the mo’adim, is actually the most pivotal, relevant, and integrated of the mo’adim vis-à-vis daily routine – not despite, but because of its unique character!

Dual Sense of Yom Kippur’s Integration

This tension between Yom Kippur’s singularity and integration does not pose a problem. Rather, it attests to the remarkable statue of Yom Kippur, reflecting its ambition and opportunity. In order to understand how, we must recognize that this complex relationship between Yom Kippur and the rest of the year is itself dual and reciprocal.

On the one hand, Yom Kippur constitutes the inspiration, spiritual ambition, raison d’etre, and justification for the whole year. Maharam Schiff articulates this point explicitly: “Tachlit ha’shana yomim tovim; tachlit yomim tovim Yom Kippur, The purpose of the year is festivals, and the purpose of festivals is Yom Kippur.”

The achat ba’shanah on which Klal Yisrael, through the Kohen Gadol, physically enters lifnai v’lifnim, sustains every Jew throughout the year. What occurs on this singular day reflects the intensity of the relationship with Hashem at all times and man’s lofty spiritual potential every day of the year. In fact, there is evidence that the Kohen Gadol must be worthy all year round to serve on Yom Kippur; his qualifications as Kohen Gadol may be determined and even defined by the anticipation of his role on this special day.

As noted, the Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim includes standard, year-round elements, such as the tamidim and mussafim, in addition to the unique korbanot for the day. But this is not simply a blending of standard korbanot with unique ones. The very integration of these korbanot transforms them into part of the unique kedushat Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim. This is clearly evi-

denced by the need for all the korbanot to be offered specifically by the Kohen Gadol. The fact that this unique day prominently integrates the standard bigdei zahav and the routine daily or mo’ed korbanot demonstrates that Yom Kippur’s towering potential inheres all year round; it is merely expressed differently.

Yom Kippur thus impacts the rest of the year more than any other day. Far from being an isolated bubble, it is actually the most relevant day of the year.

On the other hand, Yom Kippur is also the most dependent and contingent experience of the year. If Yom Kippur remains isolated, detached from routine life, it becomes reduced to a hollow, frustrating, and haunting memory of potential unrealized, ambitions just beyond one’s grasp, accenting the gaping chasm between one magical spiritual moment and a daily routine devoid of significant spiritual meaning. Yom Kippur’s supremely aspirational Avodah performed in bigdei lavan would be inconceivable without the introduction and integration of standard korbanot.

It is striking that Rema cites the link between Sukkot and Yom Kippur twice – at the end of Hilchot Yom ha-Kippurim and at the beginning of Hilchot Sukkah. This conveys that not only does Sukkot draw from the halachic-spiritual attainments of Yom Kippur, but that it is equally important for Yom Kippur to be linked immediately to Sukkot and beyond.

This article has been excerpted from Mimini Mikhael by Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, published by The Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University Press and Maggid Books.

We are Hashem’s Children

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

This time of year is designated for teshuva. We really should be paralyzed with fear because of the impending judgment. Yet, there is a contradiction. On Rosh Hashana, we enjoy festive meals. Nice clothing should be worn. Haircuts are taken in preparation for the holiday. How could there be rejoicing when facing an intense court case, where life and death hang in the balance?

HaRav Shaya Cohe, shlit”a, Rosh HaYeshiva Yeshivas Zichron Aryeh, often explained this dichotomy with a parable. A prisoner is shaking uncontrollably with fear. He is being brought into court to hear his fate. Charged with capital crimes, the prisoner fears for the worst. Yet, when the doors to the courtroom open, he is astonished to see that the judge is his own father! Immediately, a sense of relief envelopes him. True, he still faces judgment, but he knows his sentence will be meted out with compassion.

During this time of year, we all face judgment. However, Hashem is the Av HaRachaman, the Most Merciful Father. Knowledge of this allows us to feel some measure of confidence in the graciousness of the judgment.

The pasuk states, “You are children to Hashem, your G-d.” (Devarim 14:1). It is with immense love that Hashem considers us to be His children. There is a caveat, however. Rebbe Yehuda states taht the Bnei Yisrael are only called Hashem’s children when they are following the proper path (Kiddushin 36a).

Yet, Rebbe Meir vehemently disagrees. He states that even when Klal Yisrael sin, they are still called Hashem’s children. He cites a verse in Yirmiya (4:22), “They are foolish sons.” Even when Klal Yisrael acts foolishly, they still have the appellation of

Hashem’s children. More so, even when Klal Yisrael is considered wicked, they are still deemed Hashem’s children. As proof, Rebbe Meir cites the verse, “Sons in whom there is no faithfulness” (Devarim 32:20). Even when Klal Yisrael worships idols, which is considered a brazen sin, they are still considered Hashem’s children. Proof of this can be found in the verse, “A seed of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly” (Yeshaya 1:4). Rebbe Meir cites one more verse to bolster his position, but it isn’t readily clear what his intent is: “And it shall come to pass that, instead of what was said to them: You are not My people, it shall be said to them: Sons of the living G-d” (Hoshea 2:1).

Rashi notes that in the first few verses cited, Klal Yisrael are indeed called sons, but they have negative descriptors appended to their titles. They are called foolish sons, faithless sons, and corrupt sons. Can the relationship be repaired? What can Klal Yisrael do to regain their original glorious appellation of simply “Hashem’s children”? The answer is teshuva. Teshuva is so powerful that even if Klal Yisrael sinned grievously, the relationship with their Creator can still be repaired. As proof of this fact, Rebbe Meir cites the verse, “Sons of the living G-d.” Klal Yisrael can regain their good name.

HaRav Yosef Trani, the Maharit (1568–1639), is at a loss to explain Rashi. While Hashem’s acceptance of teshuva is a magnificent act of kindness and charity, it is no secret. Indeed, even Rebbe Yehuda, who disagrees with Rebbe Meir, would nevertheless concede this point. Rebbe Yehuda would likewise say that Klal Yisrael can regain their good name by doing teshuva. Why did Rebbe Meir feel the need to support the power of teshuva from a new

verse? Elsewhere, the Gemara cites many different verses to demonstrate the power of teshuva. Why does the Gemara seem to suggest that Rebbe Yehuda would argue on this point?

The Maharit offers a different interpretation of the final step in Rebbe Meir’s exposition. Even before Klal Yisrael does teshuva, they are still called wonderful sons! At the same time that they are called corrupt, foolish, and faithless, they are also still called simply “Hashem’s sons.” This demonstrates the intense love that Hashem has for us that even when we sin grievously, we are still his beloved sons. The Maharit is an Acharon, albeit an early Acharon, and he is nevertheless arguing with a Rishon. Yet support for his position can be found in the words of another Rishon, the Rashba.

The Rashba is of the opinion that the graves of idolaters do not transmit tumah via ohel. (Other Rishonim disagree. Fascinatingly, part of the debate is based on the question of whether Eliyahu Hanavi was a Kohen or did he come from a different shevet, perhaps Gad or Binyamin?) Therefore, the Rashba was asked if a Jew renounced his religion R”L, and adopted pagan beliefs, does his grave still transmit tumah via ohel, or is his grave considered like one of an idolater’s? Among other sources, the Rashba cites our Gemara. Rebbe Meir is of the opinion that even if a Jew practices idolatry, he would still be called Hashem’s

son! The person who died is likewise called Hashem’s son, and his grave would transmit tumah via ohel.

The Rashba cited the entire Gemara to bolster his proof. Apparently, he is of the opinion that the entire Gemara, even the last verse, is discussing a person’s moniker before he does teshuva. Therefore, he ruled that the grave of the person who died before he did teshuva still transmits tumah via ohel. Even though generally, the halacha follows Rebbe Yehuda when he argues with Rebbe Meir, that rule doesn’t apply in this case. The halacha accords with Rebbe Meir that we are called Hashem’s sons even when we sin. According to the Rashba, we are even called beloved sons before doing teshuva.

This is a powerful lesson that we should have in mind during these days. The Yetzer Hara may want to convince us that we are worthless in the eyes of Hashem; we are simply beyond redemption. That is simply untrue. Hashem loves us even in the state we are in and looks forward to our teshuva.

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.

Halachically Speaking

Eating on Yom Kippur for the Dangerously Ill

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is one of those things that no one really learns, almost like that invisible elephant in the room that we don’t want to talk about. Perhaps it is because it reminds us of our own mortality. But it is a set of halachos that we should be familiar with, because people become dangerously ill all the time. So

what are the parameters of feeding a dangerously sick person on Yom Kippur?

Psychological Dimension

It is important to know that the Torah does not want us to endanger ourselves by being overly stringent in

matters of fasting. If it is determined that a patient must not fast, then it is a mitzvah to eat. A serious punishment is exacted upon people who refuse to eat when it is medically mandated (see MB 618:5).

Experience, however, tells us that when people get very ill or very old, they often do not think logically when it comes to their own health. It is often excruciatingly painful for old and sick people to eat – even though they must. As a consequence, they will often use their lifelong strict adherence to halacha as an excuse not to eat even when instructed to do so.

Family members should patiently and lovingly say that their mitzvah now is to eat, just like there is a mitzvah to eat on erev Yom Kippur. Often, the best manner to approach it is to divert their attention with other matters or questions when one feeds them. Sometimes, switching the feeder or laying guilt trips can work, too. (This is all referring to situations when there is no feeding tube or parenteral nutrition port.)

There are other situations when a generally healthy person may have recently just taken ill. It is therefore important to be familiar with the definitions and parameters found below.

“Below the Threshold” Prohibition

There are actually two different prohibitions that are violated when a regular person eats on Yom Kippur. The less commonly known prohibition is called “below the threshold prohibition” or the

“chatzi shiur prohibition.” Although this prohibition is a Torah one, it does not invoke the serious punishment of kareis. It is also set aside whenever there is anyone who is dangerously ill.

But what about the regular “abovethe-food-threshold” prohibition? May a dangerously ill person violate this regular prohibition if he can be eating “below the threshold”? Although this issue is actually a debate, the consensus of opinion is that if it is completely feasible from a medical perspective, such a person should just eat and drink “below the threshold.”

The parameters involve both time and food amounts. The “food amounts” are volume measures, not weight measures. And guess what? Food and drink are different.

Food Amounts . The food measurement is a constant – two-thirds of a medium egg (see SA OC 618:7) – understood as one fluid ounce. The liquid measure varies according to each person. If it is determined that the patient should be fasting on Yom Kippur, then, if feasible, the maximum quantity of food that may be eaten at one eating session is one fluid ounce – or 30 milliliters (cc). It is a good idea to prepare these amounts in schnapps cups in advance. Proteins are more filling than starches.

Liquid Amounts . The amount for liquids varies depending upon the person’s individual cheek volume. Remember, it is not a mouthful, but rather a cheekful – one side of the mouth. For the average person, one can figure 35 milliliters. For a small person, it could be 30 milliliters.

Time Amounts . What is considered an eating or drinking session? Ideally, one should try to space them every nine minutes. The view of Rav Chaim Na-eh for food is eight minutes (see Shiurei Torah 3:15). Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, writes (Igros Moshe OC IV #41) that b’dieved, in a case of need, they should have a gap of four minutes between them. In regard to liquids, one should shoot for a nine-minute gap, but if not, a four-minute gap. If this is not possible, then, for liquids, one should try to fulfill the view of the Chasam Sofer (Responsa Volume VI #23) of a gap of at least two minutes. These are the main views.

Pagum

All this refers to regular water. However, a few years before his passing (before Yom Kippur of 5769), Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, ruled that a person could actually use a different option — consuming water that has a pagum (unnatural) taste that is not normally consumed because of its negative taste. The rationale for this ruling (based upon a Rema) is that such drinking does not constitute a normal form of drinking and is thus only

forbidden by rabbinic ruling. The rabbis, however, never made such enactments for people who are dangerously ill.

But what should be the recipe for such water? It should be distasteful enough that a normal person would not drink the water, yet not so distasteful as to cause the drinker to get sick or to violate the prohibition of baal teshaktzu

lated onion powder and three shakes of salt. (The onion powder should first be dissolved in a small amount of hot water before Yom Kippur if possible. This will keep it as pagum but will help reduce possible stomach unrest later.) If there is a negative reaction to the pagum water, one can always go back to the “below the threshold” method.

antibiotics must be consumed with a significant amount of water. Because of this, the pagum water suggestion of Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, would be the most appropriate approach to this dilemma.

Conclusions

— doing something disgusting.

One should always check with one’s doctor, but this author has experimented with various concoctions to create the pagum water. (Do not take the pagum water if your doctor does not advise it for you.) The recipe that best fits the bill, in this author’s opinion, is a room-temperature 16.9-oz. bottle of water mixed with a half-teaspoon of granu-

Experiments conducted by this author have revealed the following revelation: The colder the water, the more onion powder and salt one can tolerate.

Antibiotics

Some people have some life-threatening illnesses that require the consumption of a potent antibiotic. These

It is this author’s opinion that the material under discussion should be more widespread and made more available to others. Whenever there is a doubt as to whether one is dangerously ill and there is no doctor or knowledgeable rabbi that is present or available, one should feed the patient. We should all know the 1-oz. food figure and then a nine-minute-gap formula (and the four-minute gap if this is not possible). It may also be worthwhile to have prefilled 1-oz. food containers available for emergency situations.

May Hashem, the Healer of all illness, grant us all a year of health, parnassah, and nachas from our families and ourselves.

For any halacha questions, please consult your own rav or posek.

Family members should patiently and lovingly say that their mitzvah now is to eat, just like there is a mitzvah to eat on erev Yom Kippur.

After Surviving a Serious Accident, EMT Continues To Save Lives

By Raphael Poch

On Monday, just after 3 a.m. in Petah Tikva, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Elchanan Shoshani was attempting to fall asleep after another long day of work and emergency calls when his communications device beeped, alerting him about a man nearby who was suffering from shortness of breath. The volunteer quickly got dressed again and rushed to his “minilance,” a narrow electric car used to respond to emergencies. He arrived first at the scene of the incident, along with another first responder.

Upon entering the apartment, the EMTs discovered a man who was unconscious and not breathing. Shoshani detected a weak pulse that disappeared completely after less than five seconds. The pair immediately initiated CPR, joined a few minutes later by an intensive care crew.

Following an effort of close to 45 minutes, which culminated in the man’s pulse being restored, the medical personnel at the scene began the process of transporting the patient to the ambulance. However, as they reached the

lobby, the pulse disappeared once more, prompting the joint medical team to restart CPR. After a strenuous 15-minute effort, the pulse was successfully regained.

However, as the EMTs placed the patient into the ambulance, the pulse was lost a third time, necessitating further

gency, when he collided with a bus at full speed. Shoshani was critically injured. An ambulance crew and fellow United Hatzalah volunteers who were also on their way to the other less serious emergency arrived on the scene within seconds. They stopped the massive bleeding and transported Shoshani to Beilinson

but with his brain and spine unharmed.

“The first thing I thought about was how and when I can go back to saving lives,” Shoshani said. “Saving lives is addictive.”

A month and a half of surgeries and rehabilitation later, he was released from the hospital, able to walk, and two weeks after that, Shoshani was volunteering again as an EMT using his private vehicle or doing ambulance shifts.

Six months ago, United Hatzalah surprised him at an event of the local chapter of the organization and provided him with a minilance, which he now uses daily to beat traffic and arrive quickly at the scene of emergencies, as he did on Monday.

rounds of CPR. Remarkably, they managed to reestablish his pulse yet again before he was transported to the hospital, his pulse now steady.

Shoshani’s ability to help save the patient’s life was not a given. In February 2022, the volunteer was on his ambucycle on the way to respond to a medical emer-

Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition, sedated and intubated. The doctors gave him little chance of survival. They predicted that even if he lived, he would be heavily handicapped for the rest of his life due to likely neurological damage. Five days later, he woke up, aching and unable to move from his bed,

“Having been on the other side, understanding what it is to be a patient, changed the way I approach my role as an EMT,” he said. “It adds a new understanding to the precept from the Talmud, that whoever saves a life saves an entire world. Thanks to my fellow volunteers who saved my life, I’m able to continue saving lives myself. I don’t take it for granted.”

“The first thing I thought about was how and when I can go back to saving lives,” Shoshani said. “Saving lives is addictive.”

Eighteen Days in October Author Uri Kaufman Talks about the History, Heroism and Lessons of the Yom Kippur War

By SuSan Sch Wamm

t took Uri Kaufman twenty years to write Eighteen Days in October. For the history buff who loves all things history and especially enjoys studying Israeli history, it wasn’t twenty years of work that went into his wide-ranging and fascinating book; it was a labor of love that compelled him to delve into myriad manuscripts, documents, books, and interviews to craft the captivating tome. In fact, the actual writing of the book only took him one year— after he dedicated nineteen years to researching and uncovering every aspect of this incredible saga in Israeli history.

Eighteen Days in October is not just a history book about what took place in Israel fifty years ago. Uri weaves fascinating and juicy tidbits about Israeli history and figures onto almost every page. It reads like a fast-paced, action-packed thriller – and yet, it’s all true.

“It’s more fascinating than anything a novelist could have contrived,” Uri, a resident of Lawrence, NY, relates about the miraculous story of the Yom Kippur War. “If I had brought this to my editor as a novel, she would have kicked me down the stairs. She would have said, ‘This can’t happen. It can’t work.’ But it all happened.”

The Yom Kippur War is a miraculous tapestry of scheming and spies, of mettle and pluck, of heroes and brave men, of last-minute maneuvers and mind-blowing manipulations. Indeed, a more intriguing novel could not have been written.

Reading through the book, you’ll understand why Uri dedicated so many years to producing this the tome. History, as we know, just doesn’t live in the past. And with Israeli history, there is so much that is still pertinent today, so much that is to be learned from reading about the events that took place decades ago.

Take, for instance, the Abraham Accords. According to Uri, it is the Yom Kippur War and its diplomatic aftermath that eventually led to countries like Bahrain and United Arab Emirates signing peace accords with the Jewish state. Without Egypt leading the way back in the ‘70s, these nations wouldn’t have had the moxie even today to extend an olive branch to the Jewish State.

The Yom Kippur War led to several other firsts as well. Uri notes that the Yom Kippur War is the time first time that Hesder yeshiva boys joined in the war

effort and with valiant efforts managed to stave off Syrian enemies. And, Uri says, Golda Meir – despite polling in Israel that may say otherwise – was strengthened into a lioness that saved a state that was on the cusp of being decimated by numerous bloodthirsty neighbors.

TJH recently spoke with Uri about his recently published book. Uri’s passion was evident in the little tidbits he shared sprinkled throughout our talk and the side notes he threw in about historical figures and events. Although the Yom Kippur War took place 50 years ago, to Uri, it is not just a riveting event in history, rather it is a saga that is as relevant today as it was when it took place.

Wars don’t take place in a vacuum. The backstory and lead-up to the war are oftentimes more important to understand than the actual battles themselves.

“You need to set the context,” Uri explains. The Yom Kippur War was proceeded by Israel’s miraculous victory in the war of 1967, named the Six Day War because that’s how many days it took Israel to defeat the multitude of Arab armies that attacked.

“The ‘67 war broke out, in New York time, on a Monday morning, and it ended Shabbos morning. My dad got up in shul that Shabbos and said, ‘I was away on vacation this past week. Did anything happen in Israel while I was gone?’” Uri quips. “The ‘67 war shocked the world, and it shocked the Jews.”

Uri sums up the victories of the Six Day War.

“After the Six Day War, Israel was four times larger than it was the week before. To put this into perspective, though, a country as big as New Jersey was now as big as Indiana. They gained the Sinai, Judea and Samaria, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the Golan. It went from 8,000 square miles to 32,000 square miles.”

At the time, Israel had a united government after Prime Minister Levi Eshkol brought the opposition led by Menachem Begin into the coalition in the days before the Six Day War. The governing coalition included 108 out of 120 seats in the Knesset – the all-time record never to be broken. Immediately after the war, they voted unanimously to trade Sinai and the Golan Heights for a peace treaty. The only non-negotiable? Jerusalem.

But the Arabs balked and refused to accept Israel’s olive branch.

Uri sums it up: “The Arabs said three nos: no negotiation, no recognition, no peace.”

In the Arabs’ minds, the Six Day War was a minor setback. The Arab have more money and more people. They also have an insatiable drive to conquer the land.

At the time, President Gamal Nasser of Egypt, the great communicator for the Arabs, summed up the Arab sentiment: “That which was taken by force will be returned by force.”

But then, Nasser died suddenly at the age of 52 (he was a six-pack-a-day smoker). Anwar Sadat, Nasser’s righthand man, took over. Many thought that this transition would weaken Egypt’s resolve. Sadat was seen as a placeholder, but he was smarter than people thought. Sadat quickly declared, “I’m willing to live in peace.”

Uri notes, “The world was stunned. He dropped the P-word. This was a bombshell.”

But Sadat had conditions for peace. He wanted Israel to withdraw from all areas, including East Jerusalem and the Western Wall. And, he said, Israel has to solve the Palestinian problem.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan came back with a creative response to Sadat, which became known as the interim agreement. Dayan told Sadat, “Look, I understand the three nos. We’re not living in peace. However, we don’t have to be shooting at each other.”

Dayan agreed to pull Israeli troops further back in the Sinai Peninsula and allow Egypt to keep the Suez Canal— a major revenue generator—on the condition that Egypt would pull back most of their surface-toair missiles, which were their only defense against the Israeli Air Force.

Sadat, though, was not going to give up his only defense against the Israeli Air Force. He said he would only acquiesce to a deal if Israel would give Egypt the whole Sinai Peninsula and Egypt would be able to bring their tanks right up to the border. Egypt knew that Israel’s air force was a force to be reckoned with. By bringing Egypt’s tanks to the border, with their surface-to-air missiles, they would be protected from

the Israeli air force and Sadat would be able to wage a war of attrition.

But Sadat’s ultimate goal wasn’t just a war of attrition. He wanted to use the war of attrition as an element of surprise to attack the Israelis.

The Egyptians were taking a page from the Soviets’ book. When seeking to capture land, the Soviets would mass at the border to perform military exercises. But these exercises weren’t just to train men. They were used by the Soviets to lull their enemies into thinking that the Soviets wouldn’t attack. After all, they’re just there to perform training exercises – until

the novel: that Sadat didn’t know his righthand man, Ashraf Marwan, was selling secrets to the Israelis.

“No one really knows why Marwan did it, although the best guess is that he did it for money.”

Still, Uri explains that the episode of Ashraf Marwan is still up for debate in Israel. There are those who say that he was a double agent. Others call him a triple agent.

“According to [Israeli intelligence officer] Rafi Eitan, you always have to remember: there are no double agents,” Uri shares. “There are only triple agents. There’s the country they serve, the country they betray, and then there’s that highest loyalty, which is to themselves. What Rafi meant by that was that a guy like Marwan was only in it for the money, but he was still an Egyptian. He wasn’t a Labor Zionist. He only wanted to give the Israelis the minimum information to keep the money flowing. That’s why he warned them of an attack, but only the night before. How valuable was it really? It turned out to be quite valuable, but if you’re Marwan, you’re like, ‘All right, I’ll tell them but at the last minute.’”

Uri notes that Marwan was ultimately killed in London by being pushed off a balcony – an end that was fitting for a traitor to his country. His violent murder almost certainly indicating that he was not, in fact, acting as a double agent on Egypt’s behalf.

Marwan warned the Israelis many times that attacks were imminent. He warned them in December 1972, and no attack materialized. He also warned them in May 1973, and there was no attack. Some people in Israel’s intelligence were becoming wary of hearing of Marwan’s predictions that never came to fruition.

one day, under the pretense of “training,” they attack. This indeed happened when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The Egyptians employed this tactic before the Yom Kippur War on a heightened level. In the year before the war, Egypt mobilized on the border twenty-two times. This way, Israel couldn’t possibly plan for attack every time Egypt performed their exercises.

Unbeknownst to the Egyptians, though, the Israelis were in on the secret.

Uri shares, “That takes us to the next aspect of

But Marwan wasn’t Israel’s only intelligence window into Egypt’s plans; they had another secret weapon, called the “extraordinary measures.”

Uri explains, “We know that Israel had something deep in Egypt called the extraordinary measures. These were listening devices in the most sensitive places in Egypt. The catch was, with the technology of the day, these devices ran on a battery, and the battery drained quickly. Most of the time, they kept the extraordinary measures turned off. They only turned them on under circumstances that were, well, extraordinary.”

Golda fearlessly told her commanders, “Keep going. I don’t care about the a mericans; I don’t care about the Russians; I don’t care about the world.”

Eli Zeira, head of Aman, Israel’s military intelligence, was in charge of the extraordinary measures. But, in the leadup to the Yom Kippur War, Zeira firmly believed that there was no need for Israel to mobilize. As Egypt began to amass once again at the border in early October, Zeira was asked to turn on the extraordinary measures to listen to the Egyptian chatter and ascertain if an attack was imminent. So convinced of his position, Zeira (“a megalomaniac,” Uri asserts) lied and told Moshe Dayan and Golda Meir that he had turned them on and that there was nothing to worry about. In reality, he hadn’t turned on Israel’s secret listening devices. If he had, Israel would have had time to prepare for an attack.

(Zeira is also the source behind the leak of Marwan’s name, which eventually led to the spy’s fatal fall off a balcony.)

On the morning of October 6, 1973, Israel was caught by surprise.

No one was more surprised than its leader, Golda Meir.

“The morning of October the 6th ,” Uri says, “they called her up and said, ‘There’s going to be a war, and we’re not mobilized. And we have a serious problem.’

“Golda was chain-smoking furiously. Obviously, she turned pale as a ghost. [U.S. Secretary of State Henry] Kissinger told the Israelis, ‘You cannot launch a first strike. We will not allow it,’ so she couldn’t.

“Think about what that means. If, in ’67, Israel had not struck first and the Arabs had struck first, they would have been spending the early days defending the borders and not taking out the Arabs. Striking first is a

big deal. Now, in the Yom Kippur War, the Arabs strike first both at the Sinai Peninsula on the Suez Canal and the Golan Heights. Israel was penetrated deeply from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.”

The situation was dire. Israel was caught flatfooted, reeling from an attack that they hadn’t anticipated. In normal times, Israel had 30 tanks on the line in the south. But on the day that Egypt attacked, they had a mere three tanks on the line. When General Shmuel Gonen, who commanded the division in the south, heard about the imminent attack, he anticipated that it would take place in the evening, under the cover of darkness. As such, he held back his men so he wouldn’t tip his hand to the Egyptians. But the Egyptians outmaneuvered him, attacking at 2 p.m. Israel’s borders were left bare.

Thankfully, in the north, the Israelis held out a little bit better, but the Syrians penetrated the southern Golan.

It’s impossible to talk about the Yom Kippur War without recounting the tremendous acts of heroism performed by the soldiers who made up Israel’s ranks. Some of them, as Uri notes, were yeshiva students.

“The image of guys sitting and learning Gemara was not like a fighter generally looks,” Uri says. “They turned out to be terrific soldiers. They won the battle in the Golan Heights. Ori Orr, a kibbutznik, was put in charge of a bunch of yeshiva boys, but these boys were amazing.

“Being a tanker was such hard work. You weren’t allowed to leave the tank during the day. Think of how hot it is in your car on a hot day. They were wearing

these asbestos-type suits with a helmet inside the tank inside a desert. I don’t know how they did it. And then when the night comes, the work was only getting started. They had to get out of the tank, reload it, refuel it, grease it…. Each tank had a team of four: the shooter, the driver, the loader, and the commander. There wasn’t time to sleep. They were working basically 24/7. But the yeshiva boys did all this. And they still managed to daven and put on tefillin. That’s when people realized, ‘You know these guys can actually fight.’”

There are stories of tanks getting “lost” but ending up in the perfect spot to stem the enemy brigade.

Zvika Greengold, an officer who was at home on leave in a kibbutz in the north, noticed military jets flying overhead on Yom Kippur day, a day when military exercises are not performed. Relying on his intuition that this means war, Greengold hitchhiked to the front up north and took command of the area, commandeering two tanks and rolling toward the enemy. One of those tanks was eventually damaged, and Greengold, in his one tank, nicknamed “Zvika’s Force,” managed to destroy 20 tanks. The IDF says that Greengold took out 60 Syrian tanks in the battle.

Tanks had to be loaded with shells and those shells had to be stored under controlled conditions. Under pressure to load these tanks with shells in record time – each tank took 60 shells – the Israelis used forklifts to move the shells from these special warehouses.

“Can you imagine that they did that?” Uri reflects. “If one had blown up, if one had dropped off a forklift…. Luckily that didn’t happen. Using the forklifts, they managed to save a lot of time, and they got the tanks where they needed to be to stop the enemy.”

In the midst of it all, in the race for Israel’s survival, Golda Meir was presented with a string of difficult decisions.

“The bottom line is she got every single one of them right,” Uri maintains. “And it was only because she got every single one of them right that Israel won the war.”

Uri notes that Golda falls at the bottom of every poll conducted in Israel when it comes to Israel’s prime ministers. But, he asserts, Golda’s tarnished reputa-

tion is a hatchet job by those on the left.

“It’s classic cognitive dissonance,” he observes. “When people have deeply held beliefs and then facts contradict the beliefs, people change the facts, they don’t change the beliefs. There’s a lot of cognitive dissonance in that.”

He adds there is not one instance in which Golda played her role imperfectly. She was given bad information from her intelligence chiefs before the war, only finding out at the last minute that Israel was under attack. And yet, he notes, Golda was a skilled leader who managed to make critical decisions under pressure. She was bold, decisive, and had plenty of Jewish chutzpah in the face of adversity and global pressure.

The first decision that Golda had to make in the war had to do with a spare division the army had.

“One thought was what if Jordan attacks Israel? You need something to defend Jerusalem. So one thought was to leave that spare division back,” Uri shares. “The intelligence officials said King Hussein wouldn’t attack. But intelligence had just messed up [with not predicting the attack]. So how do you rely on them?

“Golda threw the dice. She said, ‘Send it up north.’ And that’s what pushed the Syrians back. For two weeks, Jerusalem was totally exposed to attack. But sending the division up north was what held the Syrians back.”

On the other side of the country, in the south, Israel was losing weapons and equipment in the Sinai Peninsula at an alarming rate. Moshe Dayan wanted to pull back to the Mitla Gidi Pass. If they had done that, they wouldn’t have been able to cross the Suez Canal later and win the war. Golda, with her vision, told the army to “dig in and fight.” Her resolve paid off. The Israelis held the line, and the equipment loss eased.

On October 10, Israel heard that the Russians were going to propose a ceasefire. But a ceasefire would mean that Israel wouldn’t have any bargaining chips in pending negotiations. Hearing about this, Golda commanded her troops, “Attack Syria.” Israel won that battle and eventually used that as a crucial bargaining chip.

In the heat of battle, with numerous life-anddeath decisions to consider, the generals were split

right down the middle. Half wanted to do one thing; the others thought the other decision would be best. But Golda went with her gut, emerging as a leader immensely qualified to lead the Jewish state to victory.

In the south, the Israeli forces were unsure if they should cross the canal. They had 650 tanks sitting there. Eventually, they sent 400 of those tanks into Egypt, surrounding the Egyptians. But then, the Arab

book, Uri says that Kissinger’s aides noted that the American secretary of state made a mistake in not demanding a lifting of the embargo in exchange for a halt to the fighting.

Even though Kissinger agreed to the ceasefire, the Israelis were still in Egypt, about to surround the Third Army. With long supply lines and in the Egyptian heartland, the Israelis could have been exposed. But Golda fearlessly told her commanders, “Keep going. I don’t care about the Americans; I don’t care about the Russians; I don’t care about the world.”

The UN Security Council passed a resolution saying that Israel must stop their advance. Golda simply ignored them.

In Washington, the politicians were up in arms. Al Haig was the head of the National Security Council, at the time. He said, “The Russians are going to intervene. This might be World War III.” But back in Israel, they weren’t concerned about World War III. General Haim Bar-Lev told Golda, “You have nothing to worry about.”

Finally, on October 24, eighteen days after Egypt launched its attack on the Jewish state, Egypt’s Third Army was completely surrounded by Israel. There was a final ceasefire. The war was won.

nations imposed an oil embargo, telling the world that they wouldn’t sell any oil to the United States or to other countries until Israel withdraws.

Now, a conflict between Israel and her neighbors was brought onto the world stage. Kissinger, without even consulting the Israelis, flew to Moscow and agreed to a ceasefire.

Incredibly, says Uri, despite agreeing to the ceasefire, Kissinger didn’t predicate the ceasefire on the lifting of the oil embargo. During his research for the

But Golda held on. The Egyptians wanted Israel to pull back. So did the UN Security Council. And so did the United States. But the fearless leader said, “We’re going to keep you surrounded, and we’re not budging.” And, she added, “I’m only going to supply the Egyptian Third Army if you agree to a prisoner exchange.”

But the Arabs held on tight to their embargo. And the U.S. desperately wanted the embargo lifted.

And so, Golda flew to Washington. A representative from Egypt, Ismail Fahmi, was there as well. Kissinger shuttled back and forth between the two parties, attempting to iron out a compromise between the two.

“You needed that first country to make peace with Israel, and it had to be a big country and a leader in the a rab world.”

Finally, Kissinger lost patience with Golda. He told her, “Golda, you are going to have one hard time explaining to the American people in the winter why they have to endure an oil embargo because you took land after a ceasefire was declared.”

Golda responded, “I don’t care about the embargo, and I don’t care what the American people think. I’m not going to budge.”

Kissinger warned, “If fighting breaks out again, you’re on your own. We’re not going to supply you.”

Golda commanded, “You march back over there. You tell that Egyptian that these are going to be the terms.”

Kissinger, worn out, answered, “I’ll do it, but this is a waste of time. They’re never going to agree.”

But then, Kissinger called Golda in surprise, “The Egyptians gave in. Israel won the war.”

uri explains the terms upon which the war was won.

“Remember, I told you about what Dayan proposed, the interim agreement? Israel pulls back, but Egypt also pulls back, and the Suez Canal is in between. Now, Egypt isn’t a threat because their surface-to-air missiles are outside the range, and the Israeli Air Force can wipe them out.

“Now, Egypt has the Suez Canal, but it does not have 95% of the Sinai Peninsula. And the only way to get that back is by signing a peace treaty, which is what Israel wanted all along. In other words, the war ended on Israel’s terms. Ironically, this is what Dayan offered the Egyptians, the interim agreement, before the war.”

The same thing happened on the Syrian front. Israel gave them a small sliver of land, and both sides agreed to pull their forces back. Since then, the border with Syria has been relatively quiet.

Uri notes how impactful the effects of the Yom Kippur War were.

“Here we are 50 years later,” he observes. “Syria did not get back the Golan Heights. It never will. That ship has sailed. Even the Meretz Party has said we will never give up the Golan Heights. Sadat got back the Sinai Peninsula, but he had to give Israel a piece of it.”

In terms of territory, Israel earned premium parcels of land in the spoils of the Yom Kippur War. But even more than land, the Yom Kippur War gave Israel a foothold into the Arab world.

Uri explains further.

“Think of it this way: If Egypt had not signed the peace treaty with Israel, do you think King Hussein of Jordan would have? Of course not. A little country like that, he couldn’t be the first. And if King Hussein had said no, do you think the Abraham Accord countries would have said yes? Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates? Never. They’re tiny little countries. You needed Egypt; you needed that first country to make peace with Israel, and it had to be a big country and a leader in the Arab world.”

He asserts, “Only by winning the Yom Kippur War did Israel pave the way for peace with other countries in the Middle East.”

Israel lost 2,222 men in the eighteen days of fighting in the Yom Kippur War. The losses on the Syrian side are believed to be around 6,000; the losses for Egypt are estimated to be between 15 to 20 thousand men.

Each person defending the Jewish homeland believed in a higher cause. Many gave up their lives for the cause. Throughout the course of his research, Uri came across so many heroes whose stories of miraculous feats helped to bring Israel to victory.

He mentions Asa Kadmoni, who had lost feeling in his hand in the ’67 war. Deemed handicapped, he was not allowed to re-enlist. Determined to prove that he can still use his hands, Kadmoni told commanders that he can even pour water from a bottle into a cup. Kadmoni used a stick to pour the water into the cup to prove that his arm was still useful and that he was capable of reentering the army.

In the battle on the Egyptian front, Ariel Sharon needed to conquer Chinese Farm in order to get the Rolling Bridge that the Israelis had built into the Canal. But the Egyptians were guarding the Farm, and Sharon needed a diversion. Kadmoni was sent to attack the Egyptians in the north in a village called Serabaeum. Once there, Kadmoni managed to hold off Egyptian troops for more than three hours while hiding out on a rooftop. According to one journalist, Kadmoni was the greatest hero in the history of the state of Israel.

Uri mentions Zvika Greengold as another hero in the miraculous tale of the Yom Kippur War. He admires Moshe Peled, a commander who is also honored by the Americans in a tank museum in Fort Knox.

Among the many heroes, Golda, perhaps, is the person who Uri seems to admire the most.

“Golda is loved in America, but in Israel, she was reviled because there’s this perception that she could have signed a peace treaty but she said no. Or as they like to say, she chose war over withdrawal. So Israel got war and then it got withdrawal. But that’s totally false.

“When you go into history, you find that very often, you have situations that can be interpreted in more than one way. And sometimes, you’ll even have two different people who say completely conflicting things about one event. Sometimes, you just have to lay it out and let the reader decide because there’s no way to decide who’s right and who’s wrong. Here’s a perfect example: Ashraf Marwan, was he a traitor to Egypt or was he a double agent? It’s impossible to know.

“I thought that maybe the same thing would work with Golda and making peace. Maybe there are two sides. But there’s not a kernel of truth to it. It’s complete nonsense. Remember, she was completely cleared by the Agranat Commission.

“Golda did everything right. And because of her, Israel won the war.”

What Would You Do If…

Dear Navidaters,

My brother just got married for the first time in his lower 30s. We are happy for him but also somewhat concerned. His wife is Ashki and he is Sefardi. He has informed our father that he’s letting go some of our Sefardic traditions that have been in our family for generations. He’s also not going to be davening with us at our shul anymore, rather, davening with the young couples Ashki shul because that is where all her friends go.

My father feels betrayed and our whole family has been looking down at his wife for this. Our brother is really kindhearted and giving, and we are worried for him. Should we have someone say something to his wife? I, for one, can’t stand this new dramatic turn our family has taken.

Thank you.

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

It is hundreds of years, over 2,000, since the Shvatim were permitted to permitted to intermarry. Why are you acting like G-d’s policeman? Your brother is joining an Ashkenazi congregation; it is his choice, and it is OK religiously and socially.

Do not alienate your brother for this. Show your brother understanding and stay close even if it takes effort on your family’s part. Particularly during this season, give your brother the gift of family and don’t cause a rift. Make your sister-in-law feel accepted and welcome in a large Sefardi family with unique traditions, recipes, and memories.

Feel confident that your brother is not abandoning his Sefardi heritage altogeth-

er. He is surely consulting a rabbi and will make choices in accordance with his lineage when it comes to raising a family.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Iknow that in this day and age we are so used to seeing red flags in everything, but let’s call a spade a spade. Your brother might be adapting Ashkenazi minhagim not because he is being henpecked but because he simply connects to that style. He did marry an Ashkenazi girl, didn’t he? They almost certainly spoke about these things while they were dating.

I recognize the initial shock that this might cause your parents and extended family. Traditions are very personal, and in some ways, when one veers from tradition, it can be taken as a personal

offense – a proverbial slap in the face to our forefathers. Please, however, take a step back and think logically for a moment. Your brother has been dating for years and finally got married in his early 30s to a woman that he felt was right for him, and she happens to be Ashkenazi. Is there any way you can gather your family together and suggest that everyone just shower him and his new bride with love and warmth? Embrace his new customs, friends, traditions, and even his new shul (gasp!). You can invite them for meals where he can get some delicious tahdig, rosewater (I had to google these), or other delicious tastes of his heritage. Above all, be nice to his new wife and don’t let her differences get in the way of your relationship. If you treat her differently based on her background, she will feel it, and you will end up just alienating your brother and his new family.

Good luck with this perspective shift and mazal tov to your family!

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Iwould like to share three reflections:

First, some time ago, my wife and I went on a Jewish tour of Italy and visited the Jewish ghettos in Venice, Rome, and Sienna.

The concept of forcing Jews to live within a walled, confined area was “invented”

Please, please, embrace our cultural diversity and our sisters and brothers from different backgrounds.

in 1516 in Venice. The initial Jews in the Venice Ghetto were 923 immigrants from Germany. Over time, they were joined by Jews from other parts of the world, and the population swelled to over 5,000 Jews.

The ghetto became a crowded place, and it expanded into distinct sections. According to History of the Jews in Venice, “The large number of Jews in the Venetian Ghetto never assimilated. The synagogues were clearly divided according to ethnic identity: separate synagogues existed for the German…Spanish and Portuguese… and Sephardi communities.”

Our tour guide showed us where Jewish Ghetto leaders in Italy had stationed Jewish guards, in order to block Jews from visiting other sections of their ghetto and prevent them from socializing or davening

with other ethnic groups.

When my wife and I heard this, we thought, “Unbelievable. Persecuted Jews discriminated against each other.”

During the Holocaust, when the Jews of Venice were deported to Auschwitz, the Germans didn’t seem to care if their captives were Ashkenazi or Sephardi in origin. Only eight survived.

Second, several years ago, my teenage grandchildren were interested in our family’s origins. I explained that my father was from Poland and came to the United States as a young boy in 1927, that my mother was from Hungary and came to the United States as a young girl in 1931, and that my in-laws were Holocaust survivors from Poland who came to the United States after the war.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Thank you for writing to us! I can certainly appreciate your position. You are concerned that your brother’s wife is calling the shots. He is kindhearted and giving and maybe has a tendency to “go with the flow” and you are worried that his wants and needs are going unmet in his marriage. It is also causing your family heartache, watching him abandon his customs. These situations are never easy, and they are always delicate. The first factor at play is that you really don’t know how your brother feels. He may love his new shul with his new Ashkenaz friends. This may be exactly what he wants as this is a young couples minyan and he is part of a young couple now. Or, he may be someone who has some codependency issues and lives to serve and appease others. Another person’s happiness becomes his own, and he loses himself in the process.

The sec - ond factor, as I see it, is that inserting yourself, even with the best of intentions and appropriate insight, may cause serious shalom bayis issues for your brother and his new wife.

I am curious as to whether or not you have already spoken with your brother. He should be the first person you speak with about your concerns, not his wife. Without your brother’s input, it is impossible to know what is actually going on. I am learning of this through your perspective (which may be entirely accurate...or not). Speaking directly to his wife may or may not go well. It is impossible to know and only you can make that decision.

As you decide, keep in mind that your brother is a fully grown thirty-year-old man. As unbearably painful as your broth-

When I joked about how my Polish in-laws could never understand why my father, a descendant of Polish Jews, could have possibly married my mother, a descendant of Hungarian Jews, my bewildered grandchildren responded with, “Huh? What do you mean?”

Third, my oldest granddaughter is a very white-skinned Ashkenazic descendant of Eastern European Jews. She went on Aliyah, served in the IDF Navy, went to college in Israel, and married a wonderful Israeli who is a very darkskinned Sephardic descendant of Middle Eastern Jews.

No one in our family, and certainly no one in Israel, thinks that there is anything peculiar or unusual about this marriage.

So, what am I trying to tell you? Your father will probably always be somewhat disappointed about his son not following all of the family traditions. But, please, please, embrace our cultural diversity and our sisters and brothers from different backgrounds.

Please invite your sister-in-law to a traditional Shabbat meal and expose her to your Sephardic delicacies. Exchange recipes with your expanding family. Spend a Shabbat morning visiting her shul and invite her to visit your shul. We are a much stronger, united people when we focus on our similarities rather than on our differences.

er’s rejection is of family customs, you stand to lose him if you don’t approve and make an issue out of it. Another choice is to accept your brother and his decisions and love him and be his family and try not to view it as a personal rejection. I completely understand how you would have concerns that his wife may be controlling and that your brother just wants to please her. They may or may not have an unhealthy dynamic at play. Again, impossible for me to know and entirely up to them to address. Even if they do, the only thing we can really do when our loved ones are in controlling relationships, or on some subconscious level allow and even like the control, is to support them fully and be there for them should they decide to seek out your company, counsel, listening ear or shoulder to cry on.

I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you. You end your email stating, “I, for one, can’t stand this new dramatic turn our family has taken.” Families are forever changing and evolving; sometimes, the evolution is completely not what we imagined

or hoped for, and, for lack of a more clinical word, it is hard! Most of us in this life are no strangers to pain and hardship. It feels to me as though you are very empathic and deeply feeling everyone’s feelings in all of this, as well as your own. You may want to consider speaking to someone about this, to learn how to cope with all of this big, uncomfortable change and ultimately to let go of the feelings that aren’t yours and help you deal with the ones that are.

I hope this was helpful. Wishing you, your family and all of our wonderful readers peace, physical and mental health, happiness, shalom bayis, menuchas hanefesh, clarity, nachas, parnassah and hope for the New Year. Thank you, as always, for reading our column, for writing in, for responding, for giving me incredible feedback and for allowing us to enter your homes every week.

Looking forward to a wonderful year of columns!

Sincerely, Jennifer

If you treat her differently based on her background, she will feel it, and you will end up just alienating your brother and his new family.

Forgiveness in Parenting

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Icame into the room and discovered one of our prime mischief-makers at work. There he was, looking among my things – including my jewelry. I happen to not wear much jewelry, but I treasure the gifts my husband gave me during our chosson-kallah days. I was very upset and did an immediate headcount of each item. The rings were there, baruch Hashem, but my watch

wasn’t. Being a yichud room gift, this clearly had tremendous value to me. It’s sufficient to say I was really upset.

I was faced with two options: take out my frustration and yell at him, or control my temper and try to keep things in perspective. After some fuming, I was able to get myself together. I was still really upset, but I didn’t want to ruin him with my anger. It was diffi-

cult, and that watch meant a lot to me, but I kept reminding myself that my son was even more important.

We’re coming up to the time of year when we take stock of our deeds and seek forgiveness from others. While it’s uncomfortable to discuss, there are many times we can get upset at our children. Whether they damage the new carpet, eat our favorite dessert off our plate, break the lamp, or act disrespectful, there are plenty of times we can become angry at our precious children.

Learning to forgive and move on is an important skill and takes years of training. Like any other middah, it is a goal to work for and not an immediate expectation. Patience, calm, judging favorably and all other bein adam l’chaveiro middos take time and dedication to cultivate. Forgiving our children can be one step in attaining these beautiful goals.

While walking off with a piece of jewelry is an expensive mistake to make, children get into all kinds of mischief. The need to forgive and move on applies to both big and small situations. Spilling milk on the kitchen floor (no, it was not me) won’t cause permanent damage but it will frustrate parents. With kids, there are limitless possibilities for the trouble they can make, and each is an opportunity for us to get upset or keep control of our emotions and be mechanech our children properly. Throughout this article, when I mention forgiving

a child, that does not mean we ignore the negative behavior; it means we respond calmly and are mechanech them afterwards.

I have not given up on finding my watch, but at least I have a cute mischief-maker to enjoy instead.

Relationships First

Our ability to influence our children is based primarily on our connection to them. They don’t listen to us simply because we’re bigger and stronger but because we’ve built that relationship over many years. My teens have each been thrilled when they realized they were getting taller than me and “might makes right” only works for so long.

When we hold grudges against a child, we are distancing them from us and destroying some of that hardearned connection. We certainly don’t want to take that risk over a petty grievance.

A parent who is angry will potentially say something hurtful or critical. That isn’t chinuch; that is taking out our frustrations on a person smaller than us. Those careless words can stay with a child for years. It can be painful again and again, each time they remember what we shouted in anger. A moment of self-control in the present can truly prevent much pain in the future.

There are times we may need to appear angry. Even in these situations, we

want to limit the duration. The longer we hold onto it, the more difficult it is for a child. It’s important to remember that appearing angry is different than actually feeling the emotion. When we’re angry, we lose some of our ability to control ourselves, but when we merely show anger, we are able to stop the moment our point is made. Additionally, we are less likely to say something we’ll regret. We only want to utilize this when absolutely necessary and when our child’s chinuch requires it, not because we want to blow off steam.

We have to be very careful before accusing a child of doing something wrong. We’d be very upset and hurt if we were wrongly accused, and children are no different. Too often, the blame falls upon the child closest to the accident or the first within the parent’s view. As strongly as the evidence pointed to my son, I had no proof he was the watch thief. It may have been taken before he even got there, and I couldn’t risk wrongly accusing him.

We also need to take into account the child’s age. Children don’t understand the world with the maturity we have gained, and they can make many mistakes without realizing their errors. As

I’m writing this, an innocent toddler has tried to walk off with my cell phone numerous times, with each attempt saying “mine” – her favorite word. She is unable to comprehend that others can maintain ownership. One of our little ones played ball in the house despite the rule against it. He looked absolutely shocked when it hit the chandelier and broke part of the glass. He had never made the mental

Being Realistic

I’m a practical person, and I know it’s not realistic to expect we’ll suddenly never get angry, lose our cool, or make mistakes. There are very few people that we can say are always in control of their anger. This is a goal and not an immediate expectation. Just knowing there are risks in staying angry can help us forgive the culprit that much faster.

won’t find this perspective helpful, and you need to find what works for you. Whether it’s deep breathing or picturing yourself calm, knowing how to regain emotional control is the goal. Again, we’re being realistic and recognizing that just calming down quicker after getting upset is a step towards that aim.

It’s important to remember that kids may do the wrong thing, and it’s unreasonable to expect otherwise. We are responsible for our behavior, and we don’t want to use the excuse of “well, they made me upset” after we get angry. I will reassure you that you will have plenty of opportunities to practice this skill.

In this time of forgiveness, may we learn to forgive others as Hashem forgives us. May we all be sealed for a year of all good things.

connection that playing ball could cause damage and thought our rules were created randomly.

We can help rebuild our relationship by controlling our temper and showing them affection afterwards. A kind word, hug, or pat on the back with a smile can help reassure them of our love for them.

We can’t expect perfection. Decreasing the time before we forgive them is an important step, as is lessening the frequency of the times we do get upset. Remembering that it’s their job to destroy things and make mistakes while it’s our role to have self-control can be helpful for some parents. Other parents

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.

We can help rebuild our relationship by controlling our temper and showing them affection afterwards.

The Journey to Resilience: How to Nurture it in Children and Ourselves

By Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman

In a world teeming with uncertainty, resilience—the capacity to withstand or recover swiftly from difficulties and press on despite setbacks—is an essential life skill. In our zeal to protect our children from disappointment and sadness, sometimes we unwittingly deny them the opportunity to develop their resilience muscles. While our intentions are good, we are actually leaving them unprepared to handle life. As the New Year begins, we can all start fresh and change patterns that may be ingrained. Let us explore vital facets of resilience and ways to cultivate this robust quality within our children and ourselves.

Be the Charismatic Adult

Like so many other character traits, some of us are naturally more resilient than others. No one is completely resilient, and no one is without a trace of resilience. Each of us needs someone to help us over the hump so we can build this most critical skill. Psychological studies show that one way to beat the odds of misfortune is for children to have a charismatic adult in their lives. Each of us, as parents and as teachers, can be that person. We can show support for our children while standing beside them and empowering them to make their own decisions. We can be there when they fail or make mistakes. We can encourage them to continue trying. And ultimately, we can help them develop their own strengths and become the best and most resilient version of themselves.

Learning from the Wisdom of Rabbi Akiva

The Talmudic narrative of Rabbi Akiva provides us with profound insight into fostering a positive life outlook, even amidst adversity. When Rabbi Akiva witnessed a fox running near the ruined and desolate Bais Hamikdash, he chose to smile instead of weep. When the other rabbanim questioned his response, he shared that it was

not rooted in ignorance but in an unfaltering belief in the prophecy of return and regrowth. Just as the prophesy of doom and destruction was realized, so will the prophecy of rebuilding come true.

Rabbi Akiva’s story elucidates the power of maintaining a positive attitude and finding meaning even in misfortune. As educators and parents, we must cultivate this outlook within ourselves and instill the same in our children. When we show children that we believe they can achieve success, whether socially or academically, they begin to believe in themselves as well. Conversely, when it’s clear to them that we think they are incapable or inept as we manage every aspect of their lives, they too begin to see themselves as weak and ineffective.

At this time of year, it should be easy to remind ourselves that change is always within our reach. To underestimate our children’s potential for growth and transformation is to undervalue G-d’s belief in our capacity to change. We must dare to believe in the boundless potential that lies within every child and within ourselves. G-d believes in it, so we must as well.

Effort Over Achievement

An old parable is told of a young man who came across a spring of delicious, crystal-clear water. He filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to his teacher, a tribal elder. After a long journey, he presented the water to the old man who took a drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student profusely. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.

Later, the water was shared with another student who spat it out and said it was awful. It had apparently become stale because of the old leather container. The student asked, “Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?”

The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container of an act of lovingkindness, and nothing could be sweeter. Heartfelt gifts deserve the return gift of gratitude.”

Despite the water turning stale, the act of kindness remained pure, undiluted and sweet. This story reflects not just the spirit of determination but also the

significance of hakarat hatov, or thankfulness, a pillar of resilience.

In our journey to foster resilience, it’s imperative to emphasize effort over mere achievement, to appreciate the hard work and to reward the determination. By focusing on the effort, we gift our students and our children a precious sense of worth, enabling them to believe in their potential to succeed.

Einstein once said, “I’m not smarter; I just stay with things longer.” This sentiment should echo in our classrooms and homes, teaching our children that persistence, not speed, marks the road to success. Especially for those aiming to foster a positive association with Torah and Judaism, emphasizing effort and appreciating the gift becomes crucial.

With sufficient support, most children can achieve. Sadly, too many children do not believe they can succeed or think that if they make a mistake it must mean they are not smart or capable enough.

As we navigate the path to nurturing resilience, remember that how we perceive others and how we communicate that perception can be life-affirming or spirit-killing.

So let’s all try to be the charismatic and supportive adults in the lives of the children in our care. Let’s encourage children to be active participants in their own learning and let’s foster an environment where mistakes are viewed as a natural and expected part of the journey. And most importantly, let us all recognize and appreciate the fruits of our own efforts, thereby setting an exemplary standard of resilience for our children and students to emulate.

Dr. Jeff Lichtman is a clinical psychologist and the Lucille Weidman Program Chair, Jewish Childhood Education & Special Education at Touro University. He is also the Director, Student Mental Health Services at Touro University.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

I felt this was time-sensitive, so I responded privately. Now I can share the whole story!

Q:Dear Etti, Since the school my daughter attends has parallel classes, I asked the school to not put my second grade daughter with a certain child for the school year as that child is very dominating and I want my daughter to find her voice. Last year, my daughter followed this popular child around like a duckling after its mother. When the popular girl was not around, my daughter was much more herself and often was a kind-of leader among her friends, with middos that made me proud.

I just discovered that the school listened to my request but put my daughter in the other class and did not move anyone else around. She is my oldest, and I did not know how the school operates. It seems I was also supposed to make some requests indicating who I did want her with, and I didn’t. This is my first – how was I supposed to know? I am very nervous that I messed up my daughter’s year.

She cried a lot when we first found out but we talked a lot, and now that school started, she seems happy. She really likes her teachers, so maybe it will be okay, but I could use any and all advice so she keeps

her friendships from the last year.

-Messed Up Mom

A:Dear Mom, I refuse to call you Messed Up Mom because I cannot validate the concept. Who says you messed up? I really believe that while we have bechira, free choice, we also are guided by siyata dishmaya, the help of heaven, especially when it comes to decisions about our children. The fact that she likes her teachers is a major win for you, and you don’t mention tantrums or refusing to go to school.

Keep up her relationships with her classmates from last year by intentionally making playdates. Allow her to also make new friends from her new class. If you feel worried about the situation, try not to be visibly anxious around your daughter.

Keep in mind, if she is happy, and has good teachers, then she can grow her friends network and really make herself lasting friendships.

In the future, use the “ask three before me” rule that many teachers use in their classrooms. In class, it means asking three other girls for the instructions for information before asking the teacher to repeat them. In your case, you might want to have a few parents on your personal contact list who have been through the system

to turn to whenever the school reaches out, to find out if there is unwritten information others might know that you need to know going forward.

Let us know how it is going!

Kesiva v’chasima tova, -Etti

Dear Etti,

Thanks for your advice. It was what I was planning to do, but it was comforting that you answered and reassured me that with good teachers and effort on my part, it would be okay.

My daughter is really, really happy. Her teachers are excellent, and might I say, more experienced and in tune with the children than the parallel class’s teachers are? It is working for her, and by extension, for me.

Thanks!

-Not-Messed-Up Mom

Dear Mom,

I am so happy for you! There will be ups and downs, but that would have been the case in whichever class she would be in.

A shout-out to our wonderful teachers; you make a difference!

G’mar

chasima tova, -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.

The Benefits of Carbohydrates in Your Diet

By Tehila Levine-Soskel, RDN, CDN

Whether you believe that low-carbohydrate or high-carbohydrate diets are the key for better health, neither can deny the benefits and the crucial role carbohydrates play in your body.

Carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient that contains numerous health benefits from giving us energy to helping our bodies function properly. Let’s discuss the roles carbohydrates play in our diet and why we should include them in our diets.

The three main macronutrients are carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram, protein provides 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram. Carbohydrates help fuel our body; protein helps with building muscle and healthier skin; and fat is crucial for brain development and cell function. Our bodies break down carbohydrates into glucose, which is our body’s main source of energy. We need energy to engage in everyday activities such as walking and talking to more intense physical activity such as exercise. Furthermore, our brain needs glucose to function properly. Making sure to consume carbohydrates ensures that our brains are receiving enough glucose, which helps cognitive functions like memory, decision-making, and concentration.

The main types of carbohydrates are sugars, starches, and fiber. Sugars or simple carbohydrates are in the most simple form and are found in candy, desserts, processed food, and regular soda. Complex carbohydrates, or starches, are a long chain of sugar molecules. In order for our body to use them for energy, the starches first need to be broken down into sugars. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods like bread, pasta, sweet potatoes, corn, and peas. Fiber is also a complex carbohydrate, although most fibers cannot be broken down, therefore leaving you to feel more full. Fiber also helps promote

the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which contributes to a healthy gut microbiome. Many foods contain fiber such as fruits, vegetables, nuts seeds, whole grains, and beans.

As you see, carbohydrates play an essential role in our bodies, so let’s discuss the specific health benefits carbohydrates have to offer. First, let’s clear the air that eating carbohydrates does not specifically lead to weight gain. As a matter of fact, the right amount of carbohydrates in your diet can help contribute to better weight management. Aim to include complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which are often high in fiber and may help you feel more full, into your diet.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Consuming whole grains is associated with improved heart health. Whole grains help lower the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of LDL cholesterol, which may sometimes be referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

Let’s debunk the myth that carbohy-

drates are the enemy, especially for those who have diabetes. Yes, carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, which is why the type and quality of carbohydrates you eat matter. Try consuming complex carbohydrates such as whole grains to help regulate your blood sugar levels and to help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes. Furthermore, pairing carbohydrates with protein or healthy fat will help stabilize your blood sugar, too. If you usually grab a fruit, try pairing it with some nuts or nut butter, or eat hummus with whole grain crackers for more filling and blood sugar friendly snacks.

Carbohydrates are also essential for athletes and those who are physically active. They provide fuel and energy which is needed for high-intensity workouts and proper endurance. To help prevent fatigue and for better performance, proper carbohydrate intake before workouts can be beneficial.

While carbohydrates help give your body energy, it’s important to choose ones that will be of greater benefit to your health the most. Try eating more whole grains,

unprocessed carbohydrates like brown rice, whole wheat bread vs. refined grains like white flour and white bread. Whole grains contain so many important nutrients that our bodies need. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, so be sure to include a variety of them in your diet.

The “plate method” is a helpful way to plan your meals that can help you better manage your blood sugar and overall health. According to the American Diabetes Association, the plate method consists of filling half your plate with non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, filling one quarter with lean protein foods like chicken and fish, and the other quarter with carbohydrates like brown rice, beans, quinoa, and butternut squash. This method is an easy way to help you create meals that are healthy and balanced. It’s important to be mindful of the portion sizes of carbohydrates, protein, and fat and create well rounded meals. Try reducing the amount of foods and drinks you consume with added sugars.

In all, carbohydrates offer a wide range of health benefits and are fundamental to a healthy diet. They provide fuel and energy and help with brain function, weight management, and overall well-being. Understand the role carbohydrates play in your body – it’s important to make informed choices and help you achieve better health. Those with specific dietary needs should consult with a registered dietitian or healthcare professional to help create a plan to meet their specific requirements.

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.

sweet curry green beans and onions

By Adin A Sil B erm A n

In my opinion, green beans are one of the most versatile vegetables. They can easily be served on their own as a green accompaniment to any main dish but are also the perfect blank canvas for sauces, dressings and proteins. When shopping for green beans, you may notice two options — green beans and haricot verts — both of which are edible podded beans, but they differ in a few key ways. Green beans are a type of common bean that is larger, more fibrous and slightly sweeter than haricot verts. They are also typically less expensive and more widely available than haricot verts. On the other hand, haricot verts (French for “green beans”) are a thinner, more delicate variety of green bean. They are also known as French green beans and are harvested earlier than traditional green beans, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bean that doesn’t necessarily need to be trimmed. When it comes to cooking, both green beans and haricot verts can be prepared in a similar manner. However, because of their delicate texture and thinner size, haricot verts require less cooking time than green beans.

Serves: 4-6

The reason I love this recipe is because half the prep can be done in advance, which makes it a perfect option for Shabbos lunch.

IngredIents

For the green beans:

12-16 ounces green beans, trimmed, or haricot verts

10-12 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced lengthwise, then halved

½ cup golden raisins

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the sweet curry sauce:

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 clove garlic, grated

1½ teaspoons curry powder

½ teaspoon maple syrup

½ teaspoon kosher salt

For the garnish:

3 scallions, thinly sliced

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ cup chopped toasted cashews, optional

PreParat Ion

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Toss green beans, scallions, raisins, oil and salt on a parchment-lined baking sheet; roast for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prepare sauce by whisking ingredients together until well combined.

3. To serve, arrange warm or room temperature roasted green beans on a serving platter, drizzle with curry sauce and top with scallions, parsley and cashews.

Recipe from Fleishigs Magazine, Rosh Hashana issue. The groundbreaking 50th issue of Fleishigs is taking you on a journey through 10 themes to carry you through the New Year and beyond. Subscribe at www.fleishigs.com.

Kreplach for Yom Kippur

By Naomi Nachman

This is my mother’s Miriam Stein of Sydney, Australia, famous kreplach recipe. When my mum came for a visit last year, I had her film an episode on my cooking show “Sunny Side Up” on Kosher.com with me making this. Make sure to watch it. You can pick up some great cooking techniques for folding the kreplach. We make these huge batches and freeze them raw, so we always have them on hand. We just throw some frozen kreplach in boiling water before serving.

As an alternative, I often fry them up for a great appetizer with a mushroom sauce.

Ingredients

Kreplach Dough

(For this amount of meat, you will need to prepare four batches of kreplach dough)

◦ 2 cups flour

◦ 1 egg

◦ ½ cup water

◦ Salt

◦ 1/8 cup oil

◦ 1½ teaspoons baking powder

Filling

◦ 1 large onion, diced

◦ 2 tablespoons oil

◦ 1 pound chuck steak, cubed

◦ Salt and pepper, to taste

◦ 2-3 bay leaves

◦ 1 tablespoon flour

◦ 4 ounces cooked liver

Preparation

Prepare the Dough

Combine all ingredients for the dough in a food processor until a ball forms. Remove and knead till you get a soft dough. Cover and set aside.

Prepare the Meat Filling

1. Sautee onions for five minutes in oil on medium heat. Add meat, salt, pepper, and bay leaves, and cook for one hour with lid on. When meat is cooked, add flour to thicken. Remove from heat.

2. Let mixture cool a little. Remove the meat from the mixture, and using a food processor or hand blender, blend the meat. Return the meat to the pan with the sauce and add the liver and mix well. Remove bay leaf.

Assembly

1. Roll out dough as thin as you can or use a pasta machine.

2. Cut out 2-inch circles. Place a teaspoon of meat mixture in center of the dough, then close it up. The kreplach can be frozen at this point to be used at another time.

3. When ready, boil the kreplach in soup or water until they float to the top.

4. Drain with a slotted spoon.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

Mind Y ur Business

Shep Hyken: The Moment of Truth in Business

This column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show –broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

On a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas (YS) spoke with guest Shep Hyken (SH), customer service expert and NSA Hall of Famer.

YS: What role does marketing play in the customer experience?

SH: I use an acronym called A.C.A., Achieving Customer Amazement. In the customer experience, everyone should be able to amaze their customers, and that ties directly into marketing. Customer experience is the new form of marketing. Traditional marketing is what companies typically do to get peo -

ple interested in or aware of a product. But, if you want to create awareness of your product, one of the best ways to do it is to let your customers do it for you. And when you deliver an amazing level of service, or create an experience that gets people to want to come back, guess what else they do? They introduce other people to the brand. They talk about you to their friends, their work colleagues, their family members, and the next thing you know, your best marketing is coming from that word of mouth. Like Bonnie Raitt said, “Let’s give them something to talk about.” Now, she was talking about love, but the same is true about the customer experience. You’ve got to provide the experience that makes your

customers say, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back.”

Your 2023 A.C.A. study showed that 82% of customers are likely to recommend a company if it provides a convenient customer service experience. Could you explain why convenience is so important?

Convenience is truly a differentiator. When you create that easiness and convenience, customers stop looking at price and start wanting to do business with you. And when the experience is super easy, they start to share. “You wouldn’t believe how easy it was for me to order this. You wouldn’t believe how easy it was

to return something that I bought from them.” When you start creating ease in the experience, you start to create loyalty. Customers don’t become loyal to you because of a low price. They become loyal to you because of the way you do business.

I’ll give you an example. I happened to be driving by a car dealership and saw a beautiful car in the window, but they were about a 30-minute drive from where I live. I’m very sensitive to how much time I have in a day to work. If I’ve got to drop my car off for service, get a ride back, and then do the same thing when I go pick it up, that’s about two hours of my day. Twenty-five percent of the typical workday will be spent driving back and forth to the dealer. My usual dealer was less than half

a mile from my office. It was within walking distance. But when I walked into this dealership, the salesperson came up and started asking my questions about what I was interested in. I said, “I don’t want to offend you or waste your time. Your dealership is half an hour from where I live, and my usual dealership that has the same car is less than half a mile. So, I don’t want you to spend your precious time working on a customer who’s not going to buy.” He said, “Look around. Do you see a waiting room anywhere in this place?” I looked around, but I didn’t see one. He goes, “We have one, but it’s very small. The reason it’s small is because nobody ever uses it.”

I go, “What do you mean?” He says, “When you buy a car from us, we will deliver the car to you. So, you don’t even have to come back to the dealership. And when you need service, you can just call us, make an appointment, we’ll bring a brand-new car out for you to drive during the day, and when your car is ready, we will drop your car off and take ours back. We don’t ever expect you to come in here again, until it’s time for you to buy a new car. And if you already know the car you want to buy, you don’t have to come in. We’ll just bring it to you.”

Guess what? I’ve bought three cars from them so far. Convenience sells.

Why is it so important to factor in every single touchpoint into your customer experience?

A great example is Jan Carlzon, the former CEO Of Scandinavian Airlines. He was asked to take over in the early 1980s, when the airline was literally losing millions of dollars. So, he took all of the employees in every city they had a presence, brought them into an airplane hangar, and gave a little presentation on something he called, “the moment of truth in business.” And he said that the moment of truth in the airline business is any time a passenger comes into contact with any aspect of Scandinavian Airlines. At each of these touchpoints, they’re going to form an impression. And those impressions can be good or bad. For example, if you are going to fly on an airline in the early 1980s, you had to actually pick up the telephone and make a call. That call is a main moment of truth. When you drop off your bags in front of the airport, that’s a main moment of truth. When you go to the ticket counter, that’s a main moment of truth. Every touchpoint along the way, every interaction, even the smallest ones, are moments of truth. As you’re walking by a flight attendant and they smile at you, it’s not a big moment of truth, but it’s still im-

portant, because it adds to the experience. What you’re trying to do is manage every interaction to be a positive experience. And when all of those interactions are positive, and you don’t let your customer down, then they’ll want to come back and fly the airline again.

Jan Carlzon got everybody on board and managed to turn the airline around to not only become profitable again, but to become the most admired airline in the entire industry. All with this simple idea of managing every moment of truth you have with a customer.

I call the good moments of truth “moments of magic” and the bad moments of truth, “moments of misery.” But, there’s another kind of moment that Jan Carl-

word. They’re more like recruiting programs. Ideally, you want to create a loyal customer, but these programs are just designed to get customers to come back. Repeat customers are not necessarily loyal customers.

I’ll give you another example. A customer keeps coming into your store again and again. But, one day, they don’t come back at all. You happen to see them six months later and ask, “How come you don’t come back anymore? We thought you were one of our loyal customers.” The customer says, “Oh yeah, you guys are great, but somebody moved in that’s a little bit closer to where I live.” So, that means they were loyal to the location, not the business.

It is important to understand why

create a demanding customer. Now, most people think of a demanding customer as somebody that will just complain and demand of you. That’s not what we want to do. We want to be so good at what we do that if the customer were, for some reason, to try another business, they would demand the same level of experience.

How is AI going to change the world of customer service?

zon didn’t talk about. The moments in the middle. The moments that are just average or satisfactory. We don’t just want to avoid the moments of misery. We want to avoid these average moments of truth as well, because if your customer can find a place that’s better than just okay, they’re probably going to go there instead. Now, that doesn’t mean that moments of magic have to be over the top and blow people away with the most incredible service they’ve ever had. The main goal is to create an experience that’s just the tiniest bit better than average. In the end, what your customers really expect is common sense. If they call you, they expect you to return that call in a reasonable timeframe. If you can consistently and predictably meet their expectations just a tiny bit better than average, customers will say, “I love doing business with them. They always call me back quickly. They are always so friendly. They always give me the answers I need.” That word, “always,” followed by something positive, lets you know that you’re in a consistent zone of amazement. When your customers start talking about you that way, then you know you’re doing the right thing.

What is the difference between a repeat customer and a loyal customer?

A good example is loyalty programs. I don’t think “loyalty” is really the right

your customers keep coming back. If it’s because your prices are better, the moment there’s a better price somewhere else, they’re going to leave. If it’s because of a particular employee that you have, that employee might leave and go to a competitor. The next thing you know, the customers will follow. There are many reasons why customers come back. Loyalty programs are designed to give incentives for repeat business. If you are a restaurant offering a card that customers can get marked each time they visit, for a free sandwich on the fifth visit, that’s not a loyalty program. It’s a repeat customer program. An airline might give you points in exchange for the amount of money you spend or how far you fly. But, if they were to take away those perks, would you still fly on that airline? If the answer is yes, then they have a truly loyal customer. If the answer is no, it means you’re loyal to the perks, not necessarily to the experience that they offer. So, it’s very important to understand the difference between repeat business and loyal business. That doesn’t mean loyalty programs are bad, by the way. I encourage you to do them. But, at the same time, figure out a way to make an emotional connection that makes your customers say, “I wouldn’t want to do business anywhere else.”

In one of my books, Amaze Every Customer Every Time, I give many examples on how to create amazement. One is to

Most people think AI technology is brand-new, but we’ve been using it for years. Think about Outlook, for example. Outlook automatically sends emails you don’t want to the junk folder. Today, I can go online and interact with programs like ChatGPT, through typing, or even voice recognition, and the AI is going to come back to me with good answers. Now, how can this be used in customer service? And is it going to eliminate jobs? Well, back in the 1960s, when Barclays Bank first introduced the ATM, everybody said, “We don’t need bank tellers anymore.” Well, the last time I went to a bank, there were plenty of tellers working in there, with an ATM right outside for customers to use outside of regular business hours. So, I don’t think customer service reps are going to go away. As a matter of fact, we just did a study and asked customer service leaders, “With the addition of ChatGPT, are you going to start cutting down on staff?” Around 70% said, “On the contrary, we’re actually increasing staff, because ChatGPT is meant to deal with the easy questions that you shouldn’t have to call and wait on hold for. That way, we can leave the more sophisticated and complicated questions available for our people to answer, while building a relationship through empathy and understanding of a customer’s situation.”

“You’ve got to provide the experience that makes your customers say, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ‘I’ll be back.’”

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

This is a terribly sad development for the U.S. Senate. I’ve never seen civility enhanced or a sense of decorum enhanced by dressing like a slob.

Just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America & Israel because you believed false narratives! Let’s hope you learned from your mistake & make better choices moving forward! Happy New Year!

When you dress like that around here, which is the very sloppiest that a person would dress even if they’re going to a gym by themselves … the bar is lowered, the Senate is degraded. It’s debased. It should not be typical of how we dress when we go to the floor of the United States Senate.

- Ibid.

I think we should all want to be more comfortable, and now we have that option.

– Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) in response

I am troubled by the Governor’s remarks. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election. There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed — and needed for more than a few months.

- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) criticizing California Gov. Gavin Newsom who said that if Sen. Feinstein retires, her temporary replacement would be a black female

Did they not wonder about the naming? Daniel is a Hebrew prophet

- Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) responding to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s directive to stop enforcing the business attire dress code on the Senate floor because Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) likes wearing baggy shorts and a hoodie

- Tunisian President Kais Saied, claiming that a secret “Zionist” influence was behind the recent deadly storm, called Storm Daniel, that killed thousands in Libya and elsewhere

- Donald Trump on Truth Social in a post that included a list of his accomplishments on behalf of Israel

From the Fanatical Jews, Through The Assassins to the Jihadists.

- The title of a BBC article appearing on 9/11 that posited that since Jews willingly gave up their lives to fight the Romans, Jews were the first suicide bombers

This is the most bizarre example of false equivalence by the BBC I have seen. The Sicarii did not travel to Rome and murder thousands of Roman civilians doing their normal work. Their country, Judea, was then under Roman imperial rule – in contrast to the 9/11 terrorists who were from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the Lebanon, none of which are now under U.S. rule. And the Sicarii did not set out to commit suicide and usually escaped after carrying out their attacks on Romans in Judea – although, according to the famous account of Josephus, a group of Sicarii eventually committed suicide at Masada rather than be captured by the Roman army.

- Jonathon Turner, from UK Lawyers for Israel, in an interview with The Jerusalem Post

FANTASTIC NEWS FOR AMERICA, THE GREAT STATE OF UTAH, & FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. MITT ROMNEY, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS PIERRE DELECTO, WILL NOT BE SEEKING A SECOND TERM IN THE U.S. SENATE, WHERE HE DID NOT SERVE WITH DISTINCTION.

– Donald Trump social media post after Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) announced that he will not seek reelection

Tell everybody don’t rely on the fact that you had a vaccine in the past, it will not help you this time around.

- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul

So, the fact that we had a vaccine in the past, didn’t help in the past, didn’t help in the present, and won’t help in the future. Got it. Too bad Hochul and her ilk got people fired from their jobs, wouldn’t allow them to eat at restaurants, etc., etc. over this vaccine.

– One of many Twitter responses

Unfortunately, 9/11 is just a bad day to New York.

11th

One of his primary insecurities is that he doesn’t want to be perceived as stupid. He has this plagiarism scandal back in the 1980s. So when he walks into an interview, he wants to have mastery of what he’s discussing.

I felt it was time to have a more public discussion about this. It is, as I say, something, I’d be surprised if you and Joe and the people you talk with are not discussing it in private. I find that everywhere I go, it’s a subject. And what journalists like me should do is take issues like that, that people are talking about in private, and bring them forward so we can have a better discussion. So that’s a simple explanation.

- Football Hall of Famer and double murderer O.J. Simpson on a sports podcast after Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending injury on September

- Biographer Franklin Foer in a “Meet the Press” interview about his new biography on Biden

- Washington Post columnist David Ignatius on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” explaining why he penned a column arguing that Pres. Biden should not run in 2024

The first thing the astute climate researcher knows is that his or her work should support the mainstream narrative—namely, that the effects of climate change are both pervasive and catastrophic and that the primary way to deal with them is not by employing practical adaptation measures like stronger, more resilient infrastructure, better zoning and building codes, more air conditioning—or in the case of wildfires, better forest management or undergrounding power lines—but through policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

– Climate scientist Patrick Brown, who was recently published in a leading climate change journal, in a bombshell confessional titled, “I Left Out the Full Truth to Get My Climate Change Paper Published”

I mean, you name it. We’re leading in every single sector. Just imagine if we all just decided to just take all our bags, withdrew all our money and go to Africa. Where would America be today? It would collapse overnight.

- Black singer and businessman Akon, in a recent podcast

So instead of the insight that AI can potentially bring, what it will evolve into, essentially, is maggot-ridden mind mold.

- News Corp CEO Robert Thomson at a tech conference, talking about how AI is being fed radical left ideology

In Afghanistan, the Taliban Has All But Extinguished Al-Qaeda

By David Ignatius

When thinking about catastrophic historical dramas such as al-Qaeda’s assault on America in 2001 from Afghanistan, we look for “the sense of an ending,” as British literary critic Frank Kermode put it. We want a victory parade, a treaty, a last chapter.

But in the case of al-Qaeda’s cadres in Afghanistan, the villains just seem to have slipped off into irrelevance, with people paying little attention to their apparent demise. The vicious successor group, Islamic State-Khorasan, is on the run, too. The calamitous story appears to be over, but we missed the ending.

What gives this endgame a bizarre twist is that al-Qaeda’s submission has been overseen by the Taliban, the Islamist militant group that the United States fought in Afghanistan in a largely fruitless 20-year war. Having won power in Kabul, the Taliban has sheltered al-Qaeda but suppressed any foreign operations –and it has attacked ISIS-K as a mortal threat to its rule.

The U.S. intelligence community announced what amounted to an obituary for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan this month, details of which were provided to me by a National Security Council official. Because it coincided with the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, some observers saw the release as politically motivated, and it received relatively little public attention. But it’s worth examining because, if accurate, it suggests a moment of closure in what was a consuming American drama.

Al-Qaeda “is at its historical nadir in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and its revival is unlikely,” said Christy Abizaid, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center in a Sept. 11 statement. She cited declassified intelligence that the group “has lost target access, leadership talent, group cohesion, rank-and-file com-

mitment, and an accommodating local environment.” Its ability to threaten the United States from Afghanistan “is at its lowest point” since the group migrated there in 1998.

Al-Qaeda “has only a small number of members left in Afghanistan,” the intelligence summary continued. A senior intelligence official specified that the number of core al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan now is less than a dozen. A second senior administration official likened this handful of surviving Islamist militants to “a nursing home for AQ seniors.”

Other analysts are less upbeat. A United Nations report this spring put the number of core al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan at between 30 and 60, and the number of fighters in the country at 400. A group called Critical Threats warned on Sept. 11 that “al-Qaeda is rebuilding its transnational attack capability.”

But career U.S. intelligence professionals argue that these more pessimistic accounts are wrong. U.N. reporting “describes an [al-Qaeda] presence that does not align with the [diminished] threat they present,” one senior intelligence officer told me. “I haven’t seen any data to

support the idea that there is any real resurgence,” said Michael Leiter, a former chief of the National Counterterrorism Center, in an interview.

The Taliban’s unlikely role as a counterterrorism partner is a matter of self-interest for the mullahs. Part of the bargain for the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul was that the Taliban would stop al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a platform for foreign operations. U.S. officials say they have generally lived up to that commitment.

Some members of the Taliban probably knew that al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was hiding in Kabul, likely sheltered by members of the extremist Haqqani faction. The CIA learned of his presence, too, and he was killed by two U.S. Hellfire missiles while standing on a balcony in July 2022. The Taliban didn’t react.

Against the renegade ISIS-K, the Taliban has conducted a brutal but effective campaign. “The Taliban has intensified [counterterror] operations this year, which prompted some ISIS-K leaders to relocate to outside of Afghanistan,” notes the declassified intelligence find-

ings, adding that “Taliban raids in Afghanistan have removed at least eight key ISIS-K leaders.”

The CIA shares counterterrorism information with the Taliban, the senior administration official said, but not targeting data or “actionable intelligence.” U.S. officials describe other Taliban policies, such as their harsh repression of women and girls, as “appalling.” But in containing terrorist groups that challenge the mullahs, an implicit alliance of convenience continues. “We’re lucky, our interest and the Taliban’s interest align,” said Leiter. This is a story that ends not in comforting black-and-white certainties, but, rather, in the shades of gray of the intelligence world. It’s hardly a unique example. The CIA worked with the intelligence chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization for nearly a decade in the 1970s even though he was viewed by Israel as a terrorist. To defeat the Islamic State in Syria, the United States continues to ally with a Kurdish militia that Turkey regards as terrorist.

A useful caution about the Taliban comes from Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA case officer who served in Afghanistan. “This may work for a very short period of time when our narrow interests converge, but I would not bet the safety of the American people on a medieval Islamic fundamentalist group with an extraordinary amount of American blood on their hands.”

Afghanistan is one of those places that recalls the saying: It’s not over until it’s over – and even then, it’s not over. But when the U.S. intelligence community says al-Qaeda has reached a “nadir” there, it’s worth notice – and reflection on the tangled process that brought about its expiration.

Trying to Disqualify Trump is Lawlessness Masquerading As Legality

By George F. Will

Mae West (1893-1980), an actress, once played a character who said that when facing a choice between two evils, she opted for the one she hadn’t tried before. A 2024 presidential choice between today’s incumbent and his immediate predecessor would preclude West’s cheerful strategy: Both have been tried, and together have produced a whopping bipartisan majority eager to see the last of them. This partly explains the spreading flirtation with the idea that the 14th Amendment bars Donald Trump from seeking the presidency.

Many advocates of this idea are academics eager to infect presidential politics with the cancel culture of their campuses: Do not refute your adversaries, ban them. Less nakedly partisan people might think that using the 14th Amendment to remove Trump would thereby prompt President Biden to totter off into the sunset. But recourse to the amendment would be lawlessness masquerading as legality. And there already is a surfeit of illegality.

The 14th Amendment, passed by Congress 14 months after Appomattox and ratified by the states 25 months later, is among the nation’s most majestic accomplishments. Properly understood (by Randy E. Barnett and Evan D. Bernick in “The Original Meaning of the 14th Amendment: Its Letter and Spirit”) and properly construed by courts (which it has never fully been), its Section 1 envelops the rights (“privileges or immunities”) of civil equality in national citizenship with “due process” and “equal protection” guarantees.

But people who would wield the amendment to extinguish Trump’s elec -

toral career are trying to solve a political problem by cleverness, citing the amendment’s Section 3. It says that no person may “hold any office, civil or military, under the United States” who, having taken an oath as “an officer of the United States” to “support the Constitution,” has subsequently “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Leave aside (as a court will be unable to do) the fraught questions about what causal connections there were between Trump’s rhetoric before and on Jan. 6, 2021, and the actions then of his acolytes: They, after all, had agency. And never mind how to calibrate “aid or comfort.” Just concentrate on “insurrection.”

The Confederacy – the attempted secessions of 11 states; rebel cannon firing on federal installations; armies on the march against U.S. forces – was unambiguously an insurrection. A riotous rabble – whatever its motivations and

delusional aspirations – on a January afternoon? Rather less so. They were criminal and disgusting, but closer to vandals than to the Army of Northern Virginia.

Arguments about the continuing force and sweep of Section 3 are interesting; unleavened by prudence, they are dangerous. There could be no surer way to further embitter and calcify Trump’s supporters than to stretch constitutional language to eliminate an electoral choice. And, in the process, to preempt judicial determinations about the nature and legal status of Trump’s Jan. 6 behavior.

People can find other outlets for their justifiable concerns about legalities. For example:

Peter Navarro, former Trump adviser, has been properly convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena. If unpunished, such behavior could largely nullify Congress’s powers of investigation and oversight. Progres -

sives pleased by this were, however, not noticeably offended when (the Wall Street Journal remembers) Barack Obama’s Justice Department refused to prosecute Lois Lerner, who used her IRS position to impede conservative advocacy organizations, and for her noncooperation was held in contempt by the Republican-controlled House.

Today, progressives’ silence conveys complacency about Julie Su’s imminent illegality. She is wielding power as Biden’s labor secretary, even though the Democratic-controlled Senate has not confirmed her (at least 51 senators seem opposed). The Vacancies Act limits to 210 days the time someone can serve unconfirmed in an advice-and-consent position in a federal department. Su’s legality expires Oct. 7. Her supporters say a Labor Department succession statute stipulates no time limit on her ability to serve as acting secretary, so she can continue. But this would be an unconstitutional abridgment of the Senate’s power to advise and consent.

People advocating a 14th Amendment solution to the problem of Trump are spreading the acids of cynicism and suspicion that are corroding trust in institutions. And some states’ election officials – watch Colorado – are apt to seize this occasion for grandstanding, trying to keep Trump’s name off their ballots. This will thicken his armor of martyrdom.

Besides, this nation was founded on a good idea: the pursuit of happiness. In 2024, for many Americans, happiness will come from casting a vote against Trump.

The Biden Impeachment Inquiry Was Inevitable

By Marc A. Thiessen

President Biden couldn’t dismiss the recently announced impeachment inquiry as a “witch hunt” because that turn of phrase had already been claimed by Donald Trump. So his administration had to settle for “goose chase” (they probably meant “ wildgoose chase”).

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But here’s what it definitely was: inevitable.

From even before Trump took office, Republicans watched as Democrats engaged in a nonstop effort to undermine and destroy him. First, they falsely accused him of conspiring with Russian President Vladimir Putin to steal the 2016 election, paralyzing our country for nearly two years with an investigation into a conspiracy theory. Then came Trump’s first impeachment, launched after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which most Americans believed was deplorable but not impeachable. Then came his second impeachment on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, riot; the politicized hush-money indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg; a federal indictment over mishandling classified information (after Hillary Clinton was not indicted over her mishandling of classified information); a federal indictment around Jan. 6 and the most recent indictment in Georgia on charges of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. And now some Democrats are seriously talking about using the 14th Amendment to kick Trump off the ballot – effectively asking secretaries of state to do what Trump shamefully asked Vice President Mike Pence to do and deny the American people their votes.

As I have repeatedly made clear, Trump has given Democrats every pretext to go after him. But this has been a

sustained and unprecedented onslaught against the man Americans legitimately elected to the presidency in 2016.

At the same time, Republicans have watched as Democrats abused our institutions to protect the Bidens. First came the apparent collusion between the FBI, the intelligence community, the Biden campaign and social media platforms to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story and falsely discredit it as Russian disinformation. Then came the allegations by IRS whistleblowers that the Biden Justice Department repeatedly undermined their investigation into Hunter Biden. Then Attorney General Merrick

Garland named David Weiss special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation – although Weiss had already mismanaged the ongoing probe, including by offering Biden a sweetheart plea deal so bad that it fell apart after a federal judge questioned its terms. Republicans on Capitol Hill see Garland’s move as nothing more than an effort to stymie congressional investigators – thus necessitating this impeachment inquiry to give Congress the expanded subpoena power it needs to get to the bottom of the Biden family’s alleged corruption. This should come as a surprise to no one; it was only a matter of time before

Republicans used the same tools and followed precedents set by Democrats to go after Biden.

The first 222 years of U.S. history saw just two presidential impeachments. We could be on a path toward the third in four years. And it won’t end there. There will be enormous pressure on the next Republican president to use the justice system against Democrats the same way Democrats have weaponized it against Republicans. If this goes on, it won’t be long before we truly become a banana republic where each sitting president’s administration indicts his or her predecessor.

Meanwhile, public trust in the integrity of our key institutions has effectively collapsed in recent years. The irony is: The left justifies its campaign against Trump by citing the threat he poses to our democratic institutions. Yet their efforts to stop him have done as much damage to those institutions as he has.

This is precisely why Danielle Pletka and I called on President Biden to pardon Trump when he was indicted in the classified documents case – not because Trump didn’t do anything wrong, but because of the dangers his prosecution poses to our democracy. Newton’s Third Law – that for every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction – applies to politics as well. The more Democrats use extra-democratic means to try to stop Trump from retaking the presidency, the more likely it becomes that Republicans will renominate him and that he will return to the Oval Office.

So, brace yourself, folks. Because this impeachment inquiry is only the beginning, and the blowback might have only just begun.

Heroes of the Skies in the Yom Kippur War

By Avi Heiligman

While some commanders and political leaders were aware of a buildup of Arab forces on the Israeli borders, the Israeli military was not prepared for a surprise attack on October 6, 1973. The Yom Kippur War lasted less than three weeks, but the first few days were the bleakest in both the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. The Israeli Air Force suffered heavy losses during the first days of the war, and most of them were above the front lines. The IAF eventually regained air superiority, which helped defeat the Arabs. The ground war gets a lot of media attention, especially for the tank battles of the Golan Heights, but the pilots of the IAF deserve to be mentioned for their bravery in the air.

Squadron 107, nicknamed the Knights of the Orange Tail, was under the command of Yiftach Spector and flew F-4 Phantom fighter jets during the Yom Kippur War. They were responsible for shooting down 14 enemy aircraft. Although four of its own planes were shot down, none of the pilots became casualties. Squadron 107 flew 760 sorties during the war, including a mission to bomb Syrian General Staff Headquarters. Although they had to turn back due to heavy cloud cover, they attacked Syrian tank formations in the Golan Heights.

Shlomo Agozi was the deputy commander of Squadron 107 and on the first day of the war, brought down five Egyptian Mi-8 helicopters. He shot down four of them with cannon fire. The fifth helicopter went down when Agozi positioned his Phantom jet in the slipstream of the Mi-8, causing a disruption in the airflow. The helicopter fell out of the sky, and Agozi became an “ace in a day.” Later in the war, he shot down two Syrian MiG-21 fighter jets to bring his total to eight aerial victories as he had shot down another plane a few weeks before the war began.

Not all front-line aircraft were fighter jets. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a single-seat attack plane that first flew in 1954. Israel received its first Skyhawks in the mid-1960s, and they became a major piece in close air support missions.

Squadron 109, under the command of Yitzchak David, operated Skyhawks during the war and were the first air units to reach the Golan Heights. The IDF tank forces in the Golan Heights were facing a much stronger Syrian force and needed all the help they could get from the IAF. However, the planes faced another threat in the form of upgraded surface-to-air (SAM) missiles. An anti-aircraft missile hit the plane of Chanan Eitan on the first mission to the Syrian frontlines. The loss of Eitan was the first casualty for the IAF

during the war. SAM missiles continued to harass the squadron, but they kept on targeting launch sites while providing air-to-ground support, observation and electronic warfare for the air force.

On the Southern Front, the Ofira air battle took place on the first day of the war. Twenty Egyptian MiG-17 and 8 MiG-21 were taken on by just two Israeli F-4 Phantoms that were stationed at the Ofir Air Base in the Sinai. The base was in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh and had a new base commander, Yaakov Nevo. The day before the war started, he warned the pilots about the possible breakout of war. Pilot Amir Nachumi and his back-seater, Yossi Yavin, were in their Phantom when radar picked up enemy aircraft. Pilot Daniel Shaki and David Regev were in another Phantom ready to take off. Both pilots ignored orders to stand down and took off just as the enemy began bombing the base.

Nachumi and Shaki went after the enemy who were surprised to see any Israeli resistance based on the fact that it was a surprise attack. Nachumi destroyed two aircraft with Sidewinder missiles and damaged two with his cannon, before having engine trouble. After quickly resolving that issue, he went after the remaining MiGs and killed two more with Sidewinder missiles. Na-

chumi and Shaki, who shot down three enemy aircraft, both landed safely on the damaged runway at Ofira. All four airmen received Israel’s third highest decoration, the Medal of Distinguished Service, for their actions that day. One of the Egyptian pilots killed was Captain Atif Sadat, Egyptian President Sadat’s half-brother. One Israeli soldier was killed on the ground from the bombs that were dropped by the MiG-17s.

In subsequent action, Nachumi shot down three more enemy planes bringing his total to seven – the most for a Phantom pilot during the Yom Kippur War.

In all, the Israeli Air Force lost 53 soldiers in the Yom Kippur War.

This year marks 50 years since the Yom Kippur War. The war ended with the Israelis victorious, but it changed the way the military and intelligence services operated to prevent another surprise attack. It took heroes like the pilots of the IAF to keep the Arabs in check long enough to finally turned the tide of war to ensure an Israeli victory.

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.

Amir Nachumi Chanan Eitan

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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.

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.

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

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

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!

KOLLEL IN 5 TOWNS UNDER R’ Y. Kalish - Limited slots available  Option for 1 or 2 sedarim Competitive compensation Call/Text (718) 207-1050

From 1874 through the early 1900s, hundreds of fabulously rich American heiresses crossed the Atlantic to find love—or at least suitable marriage— with titled British peers. These so-called “dollar princesses” included Jennie Jerome (mother of future Prime Minister Winston Churchill), Consuelo Vanderbilt (Mrs. Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough), and Mary Leiter (a Marshall Fields heiress who became Baroness Curzon of Kedleston and Vicereine of India). At one point, more than a third of England’s House of Lords had taken rich American brides. Even a fictional TV series included an American heiress, Cora Crawley, marrying the Earl of Grantham.

Today, you might dismiss an American woman marrying into British nobility as a common gold-digger. (No offense, Meghan Markle.) In fact, the glass slipper was on the other foot. American robber barons enjoyed vast new-money fortunes but suffered from crushing social insecurity. British nobles had manors, manners, and titles, but no money. The obvious solution was for the robber barons to trade their daughters (and dowries) in exchange for social respectability back home.

Would it surprise you to learn that taxes played a role in this particular trans-Atlantic trade? It shouldn’t. Look hard enough at any story, and I’ll find a tax angle!

Husband Hunters

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

In 1815, Parliament passed a set of tariffs known as the Corn Laws designed to support British farmers. Beneficiaries of the tariffs included the eldest sons, who had inherited all those vast estates with picturesque country manors. (Second sons were out of luck. Many of them had to suffer the indignity of something called “work.” Daughters were even worse off.

ed flooding British markets and forcing all those dukes, earls, and viscounts into depression. Some found themselves auctioning family heirlooms to make ends meet. Others suffered silently as they descended into genteel poverty. But fortunes started changing when America’s Gilded Age rich discovered just how easy it could be to buy the status they craved. (Today, it’s even eas-

day’s dollars). The Duke of Marlborough openly confessed that he had married “Commodore” Vanderbilt’s great-granddaughter to save his family’s Blenheim Palace. And her $2.5 million dowry did the trick—today, Blenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Life was rarely a picnic for the newly titled brides. They traded modern American comforts for drafty rural manors. Bath time might involve multiple servants traipsing from basement kitchens with jugs of hot water to fill tubs. Their homes were stately, filled with vintage paintings, jewelry, and furniture. But they were also dark, dingy, cold, and distant from friends and family.

(See, e.g., Pride and Prejudice.) However, the tariffs raised food prices for the vast majority of Brits who didn’t own agricultural estates. It also handicapped the budding Industrial Revolution by diverting disposable income into the landowners’ pockets.

In 1846, Conservative Prime Minister Robert Peel, working across the aisle with parliamentary Whigs, repealed the Corn Laws. At that point, American grain start-

ier—you can buy a square foot of land in Scotland and become a Laird or Lady for just to bucks!)

Most of the dollar princess marriages were more business than pleasure. Jennie Jerome announced her engagement just three days after meeting Lord Randolph Churchill. But his parents didn’t approve until Jerome’s father, the “King of Wall Street,” agreed to a $4.3 million dowry. (That’s a whopping $115 million in to -

In the 1910s, America imposed the current income and estate taxes. The age of the robber barons came screeching to a halt, and the flood of dollar brides slowed to a trickle. But the challenge of responding to taxes remains just as important. So, call us when you want to pay less without packing your daughter off to a foreign land!

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

His parents didn’t approve until Jerome’s father, the “King of Wall Street,” agreed to a $4.3 million dowry. (That’s a whopping $115 million in today’s dollars).

Choose Spice

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

There’s that transitional moment.

You know, the one where things suddenly change.

It’s all going right, and then suddenly, it’s a disaster.

It could be pasta noodles bubbling up al dente, and with one look away go completely mealy!

It could be making your string beans, one moment fresh and perky, and with that inadvertent extra moment of cooking, get soggy and depleted.

It could be a yummy roast. That goes from juicy and succulent to dry and rubbery.

I bet the intro made you think this was going be deep and meaningful.

OK, here goes:

It could even be a relationship that you failed to nurture.

Bam, bet you didn’t see that one coming. Certainly not dropped between all these funky food items.

Well, let me tell you, it’s all the same! The rule holds true that that which we don’t pay enough attention to often winds up wilting.

How do you make sure things stay on the right course?

Live a conscious life.

Yup, I know. That can be work. But the

good news is then we are not suddenly shocked by a turn of events.

The crazy thing is sometimes with the things you can observe, like food, we see them turn in a moment and you learn your lesson pretty quickly. However, in relationships, it happens more slowly and then you’re shocked.

So that’s where the work really plays a part. Constantly pulling yourself back to the moment is the job. Being there. Looking, listening, and concentrating.

So that the moment things start turning, allegorically, from bright green to overdone or perky to wilted, you can take them off the fire and cool things down.

And even more so, in relationships, you can spice it up. You can show the other person that you care and that you want to be in it with them. You can show them that there’s no more precious thing than to be connecting with them.

You can do that with mates, kids, friends, parents, and this time of the year, with your Father above.

And then just continue all year to pull yourself back to the present moment before you start to wilt. Have a wonderful year Choose life! Choose spice!

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.