Five Towns Jewish Home 11.30.23

November 30, 2023

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58 An Attitude of Gratitude

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76 Thousands of Boots for Soldiers Sent to Israel PAGE 9

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Dear Readers,

I

We are so grateful for their release, so happy that they are with people who love them and wish for them to be healed. We are so grateful to One Above who listened to our prayers and reunited them with their families.

And yet…and yet…what about the others left behind? The almost 180 people still trapped in Gaza… the scores of people who are still shackled in that horror…

As people, when faced with trauma, we help ourselves to heal as we move farther away from those traumatic events. We try not to focus on the ordeal that we experienced as we try to mend our wounds. And parts of us, almost two months since the massacre of October 7, want to turn away from the raw pain that we are facing.

But as Jews, as people who feel our brothers’ and sisters’ suffering as acutely as our own, we need to maintain the sense of urgency for the horrors that our people are enduring as if it were just one day after the attacks. We need to storm the heavens with our tefillos as if we just heard of the slaughter. We need to be as careful with our ahavas Yisroel and our connection to each other as if it were October 7.

And we need to beg Hashem to bring us miracles today, as He did for our ancestors millennia ago – b’yamim ha’heim b’zman ha’zeh.

am sure that many of you are experiencing the same emotions that I’ve been feeling over the past few days.

We’re elated that many of our brothers and sisters are finally back home. At the same time, there are still so many trapped in enemy territory, being held by evil terrorists whose only desire is their demise. And even for those who have made it home, they are far from healthy and whole. They have a long road and journey to recovery.

My heart hurt when I read of those who were brought home this week. So many of them are coming back to shattered lives – families that are grappling with intense losses, homes and communities that have been destroyed. Some thought that they were coming back to loved ones, only to be told that those family members were killed on October 7. And inside, they are all broken, grappling with the horror they experienced for more than seven weeks held underground.

Who cannot feel the pain of a little girl who was forced to whisper for weeks on end? Or of a little boy, kept all alone and forced to watch Hamas’ atrocities on a video loop? Or of grandmothers who had to sleep on plastic chairs and beg their captors for a bathroom, only to have to wait two hours to relieve themselves? Or of children who subsisted on bread and oil or cheese, losing 15 pounds in less than two months?

Not seeing the light of day, being moved erratically from place to place, crying themselves to sleep every night…

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

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Community Happenings

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NEWS Global

12 National

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That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

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Israel News

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Local RNSP Members Join ZAKA in Their Sacred Mission

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Partition by Larry Domnitch

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Walking Through War

by Emmy Leah Zitter

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The Failure of U.S. Jewish Leadership by Martin Oliner

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JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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The Hands of Eisav by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

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Inspiration Nation

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Heroes in the IAF by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Navigating Nutrition Information by Aliza Beer, MS RD

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FOOD & LEISURE Food for Thought

118 The Aussie Gourmet: Deep Fried PBJs120 LIFESTYLES

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Dating Dialogue, Moderated

by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

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Parenting Pearls

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School of Thought

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Mind Your Business

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Your Money

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Shoot for the Moon by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

Dear Editor, Etti Siegel’s recent response to parents on how to deal with children who repeatedly ask to be picked up from school was pretty timely. As an educator and a parent (and a former student in elementary school, those memories sit deep for us all, don’t they?), I felt the frustration of the mother getting the call, the child complaining of not feeling well, and also the teacher who now has one more student absent from class.

Compound that with the fact that the school year begins to go full throttle during the change of seasons, when viruses multiply faster than a fourth grader taking his math quiz.

While physical ailments are definitely something to look out for, and attention to the health factors that might contribute to said child’s need to go home, I really believe that digging deeper into why one’s child wants to come home on what feels like a chronic basis is called for.

Mrs. Siegel touched briefly on the possibility of a student not wanting to be in school for reasons not related to physical health. I wanted to underscore the importance of seeing the whole child and the whole school picture before dismissing any possibilities. Perhaps a student wants to go home, not due to disease, but dis-ease; bullying, social uncomfortability, incompatibility with a teacher, and, of course, overwhelming educational struggles. The misery of being in any of these situations for eight hours a day can make anyone feel sick!

That said, being careful to not jump to conclusions before getting a full picture is really important. I think our kids need to know that we support them and also believe that they have the tools to help figure out situations for themselves.

Wishing everyone a mentally and physically healthy school year.

Chaia Frishman Dear Editor, A few weeks ago was Parshas Toldos.

My dad had a dvar Torah laying on the table that caught my eye, entitled, “It Was Only a Cat!” (From JEP, the Jewish Education Program, by Rabbi Yaakov Finestone.) It opened with this story: a cat ran into a rabbi’s house and started eating from the table. The rabbi’s daughter chased the cat out, cursing and insulting the cat as it ran. The rabbi scolded his daughter. She replied, “It was only a cat!” to which he replied, “True, but you defiled your mouth.”

Although I love cats and would never call one “only” a cat, I read on. The author went on to discuss how, though Jacob had disguised himself as Esau and logically should have changed the way he spoke when he talked to his father to sound more like the gruff, less-than-polite Esau, he just couldn’t. He fell back on his kind, gentle manner, quick to mention Hashem in gratitude as he spoke, because it had become part of his nature. He had spoken this way his whole life. (Guess he wouldn’t have made a very good actor!)

The author goes on to emphasize how important it is to watch the way we speak, because it ultimately becomes part of our nature.

This is why I write this letter, for the sake of answering the question, “Why shouldn’t we when they will?”

Whatever you believe must be done on the battlefield, whether you believe there should be a ceasefire or you believe one would endanger us; whether you believe in a two-state solution or not; whether Continued on page 10

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HUMOR Centerfold

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The Pesicha Fiasco by Country Yossi Toiv

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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The “Cease-Fire Now” Imposture by Bret Stephens

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A Fraught Battlespace Awaits Israel by David Ignatius

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CLASSIFIEDS

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What do you eat with your latkes on Chanukah?

68 24 8 %

Plain

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Applesauce

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Sour Cream

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Continued from page 8

you believe one is possible or not; whether you believe the world cares about us or not; whether you believe anyone would do the same for us or not…

When you hear about the number of people in Gaza being killed, do not cheer.

Do not laugh. Do not shrug coldly. I have come across people on social media laughing at the people of Gaza.

“Why shouldn’t we when they will?”

Because you will defile your mouth.

You will deaden a holy part of yourself.

You will shape your nature in such a way that you will be unrecognizable.

After we crossed the Red Sea and the waters closed over the Egyptian army, Hashem stopped the angels from joining in our singing. He asked, “How can you sing? My people [the Egyptians] are drowning!”

It must become part of our nature to spill wine when others are in pain, regardless of who they are. It must become part of our nature to cry when the Egyptians are drowning.

Don’t ever underestimate the human heart – it can hold so much more than you realize.

Thank you, Sharon Kew Garden Hills, NY

Dear Editor, “Yishmoel will...attempt to eradicate the name of Yisroel as if it never existed” is found in Psalm 83:5. This statement has been echoed down in Jewish history.

Nimrod used the line when Avraham was the one Jew in the world. Pharaoh and Haman used the same line.

I have always associated this Psalm with World War II. It was Hitler who said those exact words. The following lines explain what happened when those words were spoken. “All the nations took counsel together. With a single mind, to strike a covenant against Hashem.”

The first name on the list of nations is Edom – Christianity. This was the Holocaust. Hitler lit the match, and all countries joined him in the war against the Jews. This included countries that were conquered by Hitler, like Poland and France; countries that were neutral, like Cuba and Turkey; England, who by a miracle, stood alone against Germany for one year, and the U.S., who pledged unconditional surrender. None of these countries cared about saving Jewish lives.

The second name listed in this Psalm is Ishmaelites followed by a list of Arab countries, including Amalek. That is where we are today. Israel is attacked by violence of the worst kind and the head of

the UN condemns Israel. The president of the U.S. says that the U.S. supports Israel but speaks about a war “between” two groups, and the poor Palestinians are suffering.

The universities, who are supposedly concerned with diversity and inclusion, having “safe spaces” and not hurting the feelings of men who say they are women.

They now turn the full force of verbal and physical abuse against Jewish students.

This situation makes Jews realize that we have no one but Hashem to rely on.

Ein od bilvado. Prayer, Torah study and concentrating on mitzvos are our weapons to overcome the current Amalek.

An example of Hashem’s ways is how a soldier experienced a miracle. He had been using a rifle successfully during a few days of fighting. Later, he discovered that the “good” rifle was broken.

There is a Yiddish saying, “Az G-t vil, sheest a bezem. If Hashem wills it, a broom can shoot.” That is a good general principle. We need the Iron Dome, but Hashem lets them work for our benefit.

Haman chose the 13 of Adar as a good day to destroy the Jews, but Hashem caused his plans to backfire. In 1946, on Hoshanah Rabah, ten top Nazis were hanged. Julius Streicher, the leading propaganda minister, called out “Purimfest 1946.”

Hamas chose Shemini Atzeres to continue where the Nazis left off, to destroy Israel. This day was the culmination of three weeks of prayers to Hashem, proclaiming Hashem as Creator and King of the universe, doing teshuva, and asking Hashem Hoshianu, Hatzlichonu – save us and grant us success. Let us pray that in the darkness and destruction of that day, a seed was planted by Hashem to create the coming of Moshiach.

Elli Epstein Ocean, NJ Dear Editor, Lately, one of the books I’ve been reading to my son is called, The Bad Seed.

This bad seed metamorphosizes throughout the book to become a “pretty good” seed but not a “perfect” one.

Rabbi Yaakov Harrari emphasizes that the work of our generation is to

uproot our bad seeds from within and change our behavior. Of course, this isn’t a quick process, but it’s the only way to become an earnest person. Exemplary external service can often cover inner failings. He says a person should chart out their middos. For instance, one should ask what don’t they do that doesn’t bother them and what do they do that does bother them that they want to change; also, what must they fight to overcome and what comes naturally. This is a starting point for identifying where the work is necessary. On those things that bother you and that require change, great effort must be focused on uprooting those bad seeds and replanting good ones.

Behavior change recreates the person anew, removing any judgements from his new persona. We must all become good seeds, slowly and methodically in order to change our spiritual selves and thus the spiritual balance of the world.

Steven Genack Dear Editor, On contentious issues, many people will claim they are on the “right side of history” or, more likely, that their opponents are on the “wrong side of history.”

No one can be 100% certain – only time will tell.

However, we should be 100% sure that anyone who supports, defends, or justifies the barbarism of October 7 is not just on the wrong side of history but on the wrong side of humanity and civilization. These atrocities were pure evil on Earth.

That evil is exacerbated by the antisemitism it has spawned (or perhaps released) in America. I don’t mean anti-Zionism or compassion for Palestinian civilians – I mean overt Jew-hatred.

We’ve seen it on our streets, in classrooms, and even in government offices.

Americans must not be apathetic in the face of this hatred. It is against our values, and it poisons our society. It is wrong and must be confronted.

Paul King Former candidate for Congress Belle Harbor, NY

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The Week In News

Riots In Dublin

criminals, who are using this appalling attack to sow division,” Justice Minister Helen McEntee asserted. “Every force possible is being used by the Gardai (police) to restore order. This will not be tolerated.”

Protests of this sort are unusual in Dublin, as there exists no far-right parties nor politicians in the Irish parliament. However, with recent increases in immigration to Ireland, anti-immigration protests have been more frequent in the country.

Three-Year Cruise Canceled A five-year-old girl and a woman in her thirties were seriously wounded in a knife attack on Thursday in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were also slightly hurt in the attack. The stabbing triggered riots in the Irish city, as many anti-immigrant protesters are claiming that the assailant is a migrant and that the tragedy would have been prevented if Ireland didn’t tolerate immigration.

During the riots, a double-decker bus and a police car were incinerated, protesters broke windows at a local Holiday Inn and McDonald’s, and a Footlocker store was ransacked.

Police clashed with rioters who began the protest next to O’Connell Street’s main thoroughfare where a statue of Daniel O’Connell, a revered nineteenth-century Irish political leader, stands. Fireworks were directed at officers, and several objects were hurled as well. Some protesters yelled, “Get them out” in reference to immigrants. Four hundred police officials were sent to deal with the riots.

“They are disgraceful scenes. We have a complete lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology engaged in serious violence,” said Drew Harris, the police commissioner of Dublin.

The attacker’s motive is currently unknown, but police have not ruled out the possibility that it was a terrorist attack.

After the stabbing, police arrested a middle-aged man who was also seriously hurt and announced that they are not, as of now, searching for other suspects.

Police have not specified the suspected stabber’s race, and government officials have asserted that the rioters are exploiting the tragic stabbing of children in order to divide the country.

“There is a group of people, thugs,

Anticipation had been building for Life At Sea Cruises’ three-year luxury cruise around the world, but in a sudden turn of events, the cruise was canceled, leaving many stranded in Istanbul, Turkey, where the cruise was planned to begin. Many passengers had sold their houses, businesses, and belongings in anticipation of living on a ship for three years. Now, they have nowhere to go. The cost of the trip was hundreds of thousands of dollars, and those who planned to take part in the voyage will have to wait months to receive a refund.

The original departure date was supposed to be November 1 in Istanbul, but the cruise was delayed to November 11 and was instead set to begin in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Then, it was once again pushed off to November 30, and the location was changed back to Istanbul.

On November 17, Life At Sea announced that the cruise was canceled.

Life at Sea was going to buy the AIDAaura ship, which they had planned to use for the cruise. However, on November 16, the ship was instead bought

by Celestyal Cruises, another cruise line.

Life at Sea’s cancellation announcement came the following day and was made

by Kendra Holmes, who was CEO of the company but had resigned just days prior.

Two days later, Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Life at Sea’s parent company, Miray Cruises, sent a video to passengers in which he said he was “extremely sorry for the inconvenience” but could not go forward with the cruise because they didn’t

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have enough money to buy a ship. The company “presented the project to investors and had official approval from some of them to buy the vessel,” he added, but later on, investors “declined to support us further due to unrest in the Middle East.”

Ugurlu made reference to a potential make-up cruise, but those hopes were shattered a day later when Life at Sea’s COO, Ethem Bayramoglu, announced that the cruise was definitely canceled and that passengers would receive “pods” containing the luggage they had sent in advance for the cruise.

Holmes announced that her new company, HLC Cruises, might be able to start its own cruise in December for those who planned to go on the Life at Sea cruise, but those plans were also quickly canceled, and she added that HLC would now be “targeting an official start date sometime in March.”

Beijing Hospitals Overwhelmed With China entering its first winter since the country eased its strict zero-Covid policy at the end of last year, hospitals in northern China, including in

Beijing, have seen a massive uptick in respiratory illness cases in children. However, with over 7,000 patients a day, a number which “far exceeds the hospital’s capacity,” in Beijing Children’s Hospitals and other medical facilities, hospitals are struggling to treat each patient, and children are forced to wait for hours before being seen. On Saturday, November 15, Tianjin Children’s Hospital had over 13,000 child patients in its emergency and outpatient units, a local state news outlet said.

“Right now, we have a lot of kids here.

Those who booked an emergency appointment yesterday still weren’t able to see the doctor this morning,” said a staffer at the Beijing Friendship Hospital.

China has seen a large increase in influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and mycoplasma pneumonia, a mild bacterial infection usually seen in children,

which are the main current causes of child hospitalizations in the Asian country.

“Some of these increases are earlier in the season than historically experienced but not unexpected given the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, as similarly experienced in other countries,” explained the World Health Organization.

In these cases, “no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens or unusual clinical presentations” were found, according to Chinese officials, although such a discovery, if made, would be of much concern.

On Weibo, a Chinese social media website, many posted pictures of a hospital screen alerting people that there were over 700 patients on the waitlist, with an anticipated waiting period of 13 hours.

On Thursday, the National Health Commission cautioned that large medical facilities may have “long wait times and a high risk of cross-infection.”

“During zero-Covid, these (common respiratory) diseases would be under-estimated (as people avoided hospitals), and because everyone was practicing some social distancing the incidence was low,” explained Jin Dongyan, a virologist who works for the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biomedical Sciences.

Addressing Ecuador’s Drug Problem

ing” and characterized them as a “harmful element for Ecuadorian society.” Noboa also directed the ministries of interior and public health to develop “coordinated information, prevention and control programs on the consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances” and to offer treatment and rehabilitation to “habitual and problematic occasional users.”

The guidelines were adopted in 2013 during the presidency of Rafael Correa under the argument that illegal drug use was a public health problem and users should not be sent to prison. Under the old parameters, an individual could carry for personal use up to 10 grams of marijuana, 2 grams of cocaine paste, 1 gram of cocaine, 0.10 grams of heroin and 0.04 grams of amphetamine.

Noboa was sworn into office on Thursday after defeating Luisa Gonzalez, a Correa mentee, in a runoff election October 15. His term will run only through May 2025, which is what remained of his predecessor Guillermo Lasso’s tenure. Lasso cut his term short when he dissolved the National Assembly in May as lawmakers pursued impeachment proceedings against him.

Under Lasso’s watch, violent deaths in Ecuador soared, reaching a record 4,600 in 2022, which was double the number from the year before.

The spike in violence is tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru. Mexican, Colombian and Balkan cartels have set down roots in Ecuador and operate with assistance from local criminal gangs.

Rescued from Underground Less than two days into the job, Ecuador President Daniel Noboa is tackling Ecuador’s rising illegal drug problem.

On Friday, Noboa repealed controversial guidelines established by the country’s left a decade ago that eliminated penalties for people found carrying illegal drugs under certain amounts. He had been sworn into office the day before.

Noboa’s decision fulfilled a campaign promise to fight drug trafficking.

Consequences of the illegal trade, particularly cocaine, have kept Ecuadorians on edge as killings, kidnappings, robberies, extortion and other crimes reached unprecedented levels.

A statement from Noboa’s office announcing the move argued that the old guidelines “encouraged micro-traffick-

On Tuesday morning, rescuers in northern India said that they had managed to free all 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, chief minister of Uttarakhand state, met the workers, who appeared to be in good health, as they were removed from the tunnel amid jubilant scenes.

The men had been trapped for more

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than two weeks. Part of the tunnel they were helping to construct in India’s northern Uttarakhand state had given way, blocking their only exit with more than 200 feet of broken rock, concrete and twisted metal.

Authorities managed to send them hot food last week through a 173-foot pipe.

Another pipe had been supplying oxygen.

The first workers were removed following a series of agonizing setbacks, during which rescue efforts were halted when the heavy machinery used to drill through the debris broke down, forcing workers to partially dig by hand and adopt other riskier methods to bring them to safety.

The tunnel is part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Char Dham Highway route, a controversial multimillion dollar project to upgrade the country’s transport network and improve connectivity to important Hindu pilgrimage sites in the region.

Accident at a Platinum Mine Eleven people were killed and 75 others were injured on Monday night when

an elevator suddenly dropped about 650 feet while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa.

The incident took place at the end of the workers’ shift at a mine in the northern city of Rustenburg.

Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) CEO Nico Muller said in a statement it was “the darkest day in the history of Implats.”

Operations were suspended at the mine on Tuesday. An investigation into what caused the elevator to drop has commenced.

All 86 mine workers killed or injured were in the elevator, Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said. Some of the injured had “serious compact fractures,” he added.

South Africa is the world’s largest producer of platinum.

Netherlands Election

The Party for Freedom (PVV), led by far-right political figure Geert Wilders, won the Netherlands general election last Wednesday. While early polls did not indicate that Wilders, who has been in politics for twenty-five years, would win, later polls were in his party’s favor.

Wilders is known for his controversial proposals, including banning immigration, having the Netherlands leave or “Nexit” from the European Union, and outlawing the Quran and mosques in the country. With 37 seats secured for his party, Wilders now must form a majority coalition in the 150-seat parliament with other parties to become prime minister, but doing so will likely prove to be a big challenge for him.

According to Sarah de Lange, a political science professor at the University of Amsterdam, a very possible scenario is that PVV allies with Pieter Omtzigt’s New Social Contract party and current prime minister Mark Rutte’s VVD party to form a right-wing government. However, several parties have vowed to refrain from partnering with the PVV, and as such, if Wilders hopes to form a majority coalition, he might have to abandon some of his extreme views.

The PVV’s populist policies, said Ester Barengredt, Rabobank’s chief economist, are one of the party’s defining features.

“So, a lot of wishes for more public spending, for instance, pensions, higher minimum wages, and lots of other things, but much less clear ideas on how to pay for it. Certainly, one wish of Geert Wilders is to pay less to Europe. Of course, it remains to be seen how much room for maneuver he will have,” Barengredt said.

Although the EU is generally liked in the Netherlands, with polls showing 67% in favor of the union, there are several European leaders, including those in Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, and Italy, who have indicated that they aren’t in favor of the European Union.

“In the unlikely event that Wilders does become prime minister, the biggest

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impact would be in the European Council. This is where there is the potential for Wilders to team up with other Eurosceptic leaders like [Hungary’s] Viktor Orban to disrupt policymaking, especially on foreign policy issues like sanctions, which require unanimity, and support for Ukraine,” explained Alexandra Kellert, the associate director of Control Risks, a global consulting firm.

NZ Axes Smoking Ban

Last year, New Zealand passed a sweeping smoking ban that would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The legislation was due to come into effect in July 2024 and would have included harsh penalties for those flouting the law.

But now, the country is backing down from the ban to help pay for tax cuts – a move that is angering public health officials and anti-tobacco groups.

The country’s new Prime Minister Chris Luxon, whose conservative National Party entered a coalition alliance with the populist New Zealand First party and the libertarian ACT New Zealand party following elections in October, defended the controversial move, saying he disagreed with parts of the policy and argued that a ban would result in a black-market boom.

Luxon noted that smoking rates in the country had been on the decline and reiterated that he remained committed to reducing tobacco use. He said his government would encourage people to take up vaping to quit from smoking tobacco products.

New Zealand’s initial smoking ban was hailed by public health officials around the world.

Months after New Zealand’s announcement, Britain also unveiled plans to phase out smoking for new generations.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this week that the British government remained committed to phasing out smoking,

even after New Zealand’s reversal. “We are committed to that,” the spokesperson said. “This is an important longterm decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generations.”

New Zealand’s new finance minister Nicola Willis on Saturday said the measures would be axed before March 2024, with revenue generated from cigarette sales going towards tax cuts.

Smoking leads to more than eight million deaths globally each year, according to the World Health Organization – with one in four people across the world using tobacco.

Smoking rates in New Zealand, already among the world’s lowest, have been falling and were at their lowest since records began, experts noted, with an estimated 56,000 smokers quitting in 2022.

Fatal Floods in Somalia This past October, the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole climate patterns triggered strong downpours in several countries in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia. Since then, the country has seen

nearly one hundred deaths due to intense flooding.

“Somalia’s flood death toll climbs to 96,” SONNA, a national news agency, said on the X social media platform, referencing figures announced by Mahamuud Moallim, the head of Somalia’s disaster management agency.

According to the United Nations, the floods, which are the worst the region has seen in decades, have made approximately 700,000 people homeless. Considering the humanitarian issues and ongoing violence and rebellions in the area, the flooding will only serve to further worsen conditions in the region.

In Kenya, a country that shares a border with Somalia, seventy-six people have died from the floods, according to the Kenyan Red Cross. Additionally, the natural disaster has also caused the mass destruction of houses, roads, and bridges,

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and a large number of Kenyans now have little or no food, water, and shelter, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a humanitarian charity organization which, in English, is known as Doctors Without Borders.

The U.N.-backed Somali Water and Land Information Management project said that more than 1.6 million people in Somalia could be affected by flooding events in the rainy season lasting until December.

Beledweyne, in the central region of Hiran, may be the most devastated community. The densely populated area is where the Shabelle River has burst its banks, destroyed many homes, and caused thousands to flee to higher ground near the border with Ethiopia.

Bringing Them Home As part of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terrorist or-

ganization, the first group of thirteen kidnapped Israelis were released on Friday, November 24, after being held captive for forty-nine days by the terror group who murdered over 1,200 Israelis and abducted more than 240 people on the tragic day of October 7.

Thirteen hostages were released from Gaza on Friday, including four children, six elderly women, and three other female hostages. A different arrangement, which was mediated by Egypt, saw the release of ten Thai citizens and a thirty-three-yearold Filipino man named Gelienor “Jimmy” Leano Pacheco.

The thirteen Israelis who were freed on Friday in the first exchange with Hamas included: Doron Katz-Asher and her five- and two-year-old daughters, Raz

and Aviv; Danielle Aloni and her five-yearold daughter Emilial; Keren Munder, as well as Ohad, her nine-year-old son, and her seventy-eight-year-old mother Ruti; eighty-five-year-old Yaffa Adar; Adina Moshe, a seventy-two-year-old; Margalit Moses, who is seventy-eight; Hanna Katzir, a seventy-seven-year-old, and Channah Peri, who is seventy-nine.

Everyone in this group was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, except for Channah Peri, who was from Nirim.

At a south Gazan hospital in Khan Younis, Hamas gave the hostages over to the International Red Cross who brought the kidnapped women and children to Egypt via the Rafah crossing, at which point they were brought back to Israel

by Israeli soldiers as part of an operation called “Heaven’s Door” from the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

Each hostage received a brief physical examination and a mental evaluation at Hatzerim Airbase, which is located close to Beersheba, after which they were brought to Schneider’s Children’s Medical Center and the Wolfson Medical Center to see their family. Schneider Children’s Hospital said that the four mothers and four children they evaluated were physically healthy and were released from the hospital, while Wolfson, where

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five elderly hostages were sent, said that some hostages were “feeble and exhausted” and could not yet be released.

Each family or child was accompanied by a soldier who brought them to Israel, where mental health professionals waited to help the hostages.

On Saturday, after a hours-long delay, Hamas released another 13 Israeli hostages. This group included six members of an extended family from Be’eri.

Shoshan Haran, 67, was released along with Adi Shoham, Shoshan’s daughter, and her children, Naveh, 8, and Yahel, 3.

Adi’s husband, Tal, 38, is still being held captive. Sharon Avigdori, 52, and her daughter, Noam Avigdori, 12, were also released. Sharon is the sister-in-law of Shoshan.

Emily Hand, 9, who celebrated her birthday in captivity, was also released.

Her story made headlines around the

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were taken from the family’s safe room in Be’eri on October 7.

Noga Weiss, 18, was released on Saturday with her mother, Shiri, 53. Noga had been hiding under the bed when she texted the family chat that Shiri had been taken by terrorists from the safe room.

After Hamas terrorists burned the house down, Noga ran out of the house and tried to hide in the bushes before she was kidnapped. Shiri’s husband is still missing.

Shiri’s brother was killed while trying to defend Be’eri from terrorists.

On Sunday, fourteen more Israelis were released from their Hamas captors.

Avigail Idan, 4, was one of those released. Avigail is a dual Israeli and U.S. citizen and turned four while in captivity.

Her parents, Roy Idan, 43, and Smadar Idan, 38, were killed in Kfar Aza on October 7. Her two siblings, Michael, 9, and Amelia, 6, both survived after hiding in a closet for 14 hours with their mother’s body nearby. Avigail’s aunt and uncle are taking care of the three orphaned children.

“They are not OK,” their aunt said.

“They hear the wind blow, and they are shaking.”

Chen Goldstein Almog, 49, was kidnapped from Kfar Aza along with her three children, Agam Goldstein Almog, Gal Goldstein Almog, and Tal Goldstein Almong, ages 17, 11, and 9. They were all released this week. Chen’s husband, Nadav, 48, and their oldest daughter, Yam, 20, were killed in the October 7 massacre.

Hagar Brodutch, 40, was released this week along with her children, Ofri Brodutch, 10, Yuval Brodutch, 8, and Uriah Brodutch, 4. They had been snatched from their home in Kfar Aza. Their father, Avichai Brodutch, was out defending the community when they were taken hostage.

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world when her father, Thomas, in an interview, expressed that he had been relieved when he was initially told that his daughter had been killed rather than taken hostage. He was terrified of the torture Emily would endure in captivity. A week or so later, Thomas was informed that his daughter had been taken hostage.

Since then, he has been a vocal advocate for her and the hostages’ release. When Emily first met with her father and family after her release, she would only whisper,

as she had been conditioned by the terrorists for more than seven weeks to only speak in low tones.

Maya Regev, 21, was kidnapped at the Nova music festival. She was released on Saturday. Her brother, Itay, is still believed to be held in Gaza.

Mirit Regev, Maya’s mother, expressed the mixed feelings of many families on Sunday, “I’m excited and happy that Maya is on her way to us now. Nonetheless, my heart is split because my son,

Itay, is still in Hamas’s captivity in Gaza,” she said, adding, “I am going to hug Maya so hard. We will not stop until Itay and all the hostages get back home.”

Alma Or, 13, and Noam Or, 17, were taken from their home in Be’eri. Their father, Dror, is still being held hostage.

Their mother, Yonat, was slaughtered on October 7.

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12, was finally released on Saturday. Her mother is also believed to be held by Hamas. They

Dafna Elyakim, 15, and Ella Elyakim, 8, were brought home on Sunday. Their father and two other family members were killed on October 7.

The girls’ mother, Maayan Zin, said on Sunday, “After a long period in which I lived in terrible uncertainty, my daughters are finally with me. These were 51 days in which I lived between despair and hope, between pain and optimism.

“The girls are returning to a new and

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complex situation, and now we have a period of recovery that will take time,” she said.

Aviva Siegel, 62, was living in Kfar Aza with her husband when she was taken hostage. She was released on Sunday. Aviva was born in South Africa and moved to Israel as a child. Her husband, Keith, 64, a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen, is believed to still be held by Hamas.

Eighty-four-year-old Elma Avraham was kidnapped from her home in Nahal Oz. She was flown to the hospital immediately after her release and is in critical condition after being without vital medications for 50 days.

Russian-Israeli Roni Krivoi was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7. The 25-year-old was working as a member of the sound crew. He was the first adult male hostage with Israeli citizenship to have been freed from Hamas’ clutches. Krivoi had managed to escape his captors at one point but could not get to freedom. Palestinians who found him in Gaza returned him to Hamas.

On Monday, the fourth day of the ceasefire, 11 Israeli hostages were brought home from Gaza. All those who were released on Monday were from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Sharon Alony Cunio, 34, was released along with her 3-year-old twins, Emma Cunio and Yuli Cunio. They had been hiding in their bomb shelter with Sharon’s husband, David, 33, who is still being held in Gaza. Sharon’s sister, Daniella Alony, and her daughter, Amelia, 5, were also hiding with them and were taken captive. They were released on Friday.

Karina Engelbert, 51, and her entire family, including her husband, Ronen Engel, 54, and their daughters, Mika, 18, and Yuval, 11, were taken from the safe room inside their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Karina had been recovering from a procedure following a bout with cancer.

Karina, Mika, and Yuval were released this week. Ronen is still being held captive.

Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was in the safe room of his home with his family when the terrorists entered their house. Ohad, Eitan’s father, had tried to prevent

Hamas from entering. The militants took Batsheva, Eitan’s mother, and Liel, 1, Yael, 10, and Eitan hostage. Ohad was left bleeding on the floor after being attacked by the terrorists but was then taken into Gaza. Eitan, a dual citizen of Israel and France, was separated from his mother and sisters and driven into Gaza. Batsheva and her daughters managed to escape and hide in a field. Ohad has not yet been released.

For the first 16 days of his captivity, Eitan had been held alone, without anyone else from Israel. Later, he was placed with other people from his kibbutz, which gave him some comfort. He had been forced to watch videos of the Hamas atrocities, which Hamas terrorists filmed on October 7. Eitan’s aunt recounted that Palestinian children beat up Eitan when he was being held captive.

Esther Yahalomi, Eitan’s grandmother said that the 12-year-old appears to be thinner than normal and will not smile or really even speak. “He’s very, very subdued. I think it’s going to take him some time. It’s going to take a lot of work to get him to a place where he is able to talk.”

Siblings Erez Kalderon, 12, and Sahar Kalderon, 16, were taken from their home in Nir Oz along with their father, Ofer, 53.

Both Erez and Sahar are dual citizens of Israel and France; they were released this week. Their father, Ofer, is still being held hostage.

Brothers Or Yaakov, 16, and Yagil Yaakov, 12, were kidnapped along with their father, Yair, and Meirav Tal, 53, on October 7. Only Or and Yagil came home this week. Yair and Meirav are still being held captive.

Hamas Violates Ceasefire Three explosive devices were detonated in two separate incidents near IDF forces in the northern Gaza Strip in violation of cease-fire agreements, the IDF said on Tuesday.

In one of the incidents, “terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire” and a number of soldiers “were

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the U.S. hopes to find a way to extend a cease-fire in Gaza and get more hostages released, the State Department said Monday. It will be his third trip to the region since the October 7th attacks.

In Israel and the West Bank, Blinken will “discuss Israel’s right to defend itself consistent with international humanitarian law, as well as continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, protect civilian life during Israel’s operations in Gaza, and accelerate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association and secretary of Fatah’s Central Committee, said in an interview with MBC Egypt that “what happened on October 7 was part of a defensive war by the Palestinians, and the next, more violent explosion will be in the West Bank.”

Refeeding the Released Hostages

lightly injured.”

“In both incidents, the troops were located in positions as per the framework of the operational pause,” the IDF said in a statement.

Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, claimed that the terror organization’s militants engaged in a battle with the IDF in the northern Gaza Strip.

“Due to a clear violation of the ceasefire by the enemy, there were clashes, and

our fighters dealt with it. We are committed to the cease-fire as long as the enemy adheres to it and call on mediators to press the occupation to comply with all cease-fire conditions on the ground and in the air.”

Since Tuesday morning, Palestinians have reported gunfire in the area of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.

Mossad Director David Barnea arrived in Doha on Tuesday to meet with CIA Di-

rector William Burns and Qatari officials to advance ongoing and future negotiations for releasing hostages held in Gaza.

As part of the hostage exchange, both sides were required to halt fighting.

Negotiations are now focusing on securing the release of male captives and soldiers. Until now, only children and female civilians have been released as part of the deal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return this week to the Middle East as

Those who were held captive by Hamas for more than seven weeks were fed a minimal diet, some subsisting on just bread and olive oil over the past 50 days. Now, the Israeli government is making sure that they become accustomed to eating real food again.

The Health Ministry instructed all security personnel to provide the captives with the food and drink they will need until they reach the medical centers due to concerns about refeeding syndrome, which is characterized by increased food consumption after a period of malnourishment.

Infants up to one years old were given a bottle with just 120 ml of infant formula.

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Children, ages one to three years old, were given water, unsweetened applesauce in a personal portion, one sweet biscuit, and sweetened tea with a teaspoon of sugar. Teens and adults were given water, a sweetened hot drink with a teaspoon of sugar, three units of sweet biscuits, and unsweetened applesauce in a personal portion.

A guide written under the leadership of the nutrition department managers at Sheba, Wolfson and Clalit HMO hospitals noted, “Increased food consumption after a significant period of reduced eating may cause metabolic disorders as well as serious imbalances in fluids and electrolytes that can result in severe clinical conditions, including damage to the nervous and respiratory systems, cardiac function, muscular systems and blood. This condition is called refeeding syndrome. Therefore, uniform guidelines are important in every medical framework in accordance with the points specified in this document.”

Life-threatening fluctuations in electrolytes and fluids may occur within approximately 72 hours from the start of feeding in patients suffering from severe malnutrition, including prolonged starvation.

Supporting Israel in Antarctica

Dr. Tal Luzzatto Knaan and Associate Professor Tali Mass, both from the Charney School of Marine Sciences at the Department of Marine Biology from the University of Haifa, attended a scientific conference in Antarctica last week. While there, they proudly displayed the Israeli flag, along with pictures of several hostages being held by Hamas.

“This expedition and the idea to wave the Israeli flag was planned long before the war, but now it takes on an added meaning, right here in Antarctica,” they said.

Knann and Mass are part of the Homeward Bound initiative. The global project brings together women who have experience in STEMM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Med-

icine) to establish a worldwide network of scientifically trained women who will take the lead in addressing global issues to benefit everyone across the globe.

While on the ship, the two Israeli women used the opportunity to discuss the situation in Israel with the other women onboard.

“We knew that on a trip all about leadership, we couldn’t not talk about our hostages,” they said. “At first, they didn’t want us bringing up politics, but we didn’t back down. In the end, we got to share what’s happening here in Israel from our own perspective. We showed them pictures and videos of the hostages. We’re pretty sure a good number of them, who were hearing about this stuff for the first time, now comprehend the situation a lot better.”

Elma Avraham Critically Ill

Elma Avraham was taken hostage by Hamas militants on October 7. On November 26, the 84-year-old was finally sent back home. But Elma is now hospitalized in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, fighting for her life.

“My mother didn’t deserve to return like this,” Tali Amano, Elma’s daughter, said. “My mother was medically neglected. The Red Cross refused to bring her her medications. She arrived with a heart rate of 40 bpm and a body temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, on the verge of losing consciousness and injured all over.”

According to Tali, Elma did not have her medications for 50 days.

“She was abandoned twice — once on October 7, and a second time by all the organizations that should have saved her,” Tali said.

“I hope they haven’t managed to defeat her,” she added.

the massacre. Since then, Bangkok has been negotiating its citizens’ release with Hamas. As of November 26, seventeen Thai citizens had been freed from Gaza, along with one Filipino.

Regarding the freed captives, Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister of Thailand, said that “everyone is healthy” and “glad to be released.” Each of the Thai nationals has been taken to Israeli hospitals.

According to lead negotiator and Thai politician Areepen Uttarasin, Thai officials met with senior members of Hamas in Tehran, Iran, on October 26, to discuss the hostage situation. During that meeting, Hamas officials asserted that Thai abductees were in “good care” and would be freed at the “right time,” Areepen said, adding that these negotiations were conducted “through special personal relations” between Iran and Islamic Thai politicians.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, 7,000 Thailand citizens living in Israel have been sent back to their country of origin, but many nationals choose to remain in the Jewish state despite the war. The government of Thailand has promised 50,000 baht (approx. $1,400) and soft loans to every worker who returns in an attempt to persuade its citizens to return to the southeast Asian country. The prime minister of Thailand said that he spoke to Israel’s ambassador about accusations that Israelis have been giving or withholding money from their Thai workers in order to make them stay in Israel, but the Israeli embassy has rejected such claims.

“The government disagrees with them [Thai nationals] returning to risky areas [in Israel], but we cannot force them,” Srettha said. “If they decide to do so, they have to take care of themselves.”

At least 39 Thai workers were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists in the October 7 massacre.

Palestinians Kill “Collaborators” in On October 7, thirty or more citizens West Bank

Thai Hostages Released

of Thailand were among the more than 240 people in Israel taken captive by the Hamas terrorist organization during

Palestinian militants fatally shot two Palestinian men in the West Bank on

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Since the attack, tensions in the West Bank have flared. Israeli security forces have carried out daily raids, erected scores of new checkpoints and enforced curfews for Palestinian residents in some areas of the territory.

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In Tulkarem refugee camp, home to more than 20,000 people in the northwestern area of the West Bank, the Israeli military has conducted frequent raids, arresting dozens of people.

According to three residents of the camp, the two men who were killed on Friday were kidnapped by Palestinian militants earlier this month. The militants suspected that the men had provided information to Israeli security forces that led to a deadly raid at the camp, the residents said. (© The New York Times)

NYC Thanksgiving Parade Disrupted

Friday evening after accusing them of collaborating with Israel, according to residents in the area and videos circulating on social media.

A Palestinian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the two men had been killed and that the videos posted to social media were authentic. The official declined to comment on the motive for the killings but said security forces were investigating, though they had not made any arrests.

Around 9 p.m. on Friday, masked assailants dragged the two men to the main entrance of Tulkarem refugee camp, shouting, “Collaborators! Collaborators!” residents in the camp said.

As a crowd formed around them, the assailants beat both men and shot them about a dozen times each, according to residents. Afterward, others from the crowd spat and stomped on their corpses, residents said. Videos posted to social media show men hanging the two men’s

bodies from an electrical tower near the entrance of the camp.

“Who are they? They are collaborators!” one man yelled as he kicked one of the bodies, one of the videos shows.

The killings come as tensions have risen in the West Bank since the militant group Hamas carried out a terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Israel retaliated by launching a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory the group controls.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which took place in New York City on Thursday morning, was disrupted by a group of pro-Palestinian protesters who jumped over police barriers at 10 a.m. and stood in middle of the street at Sixth Avenue and W. 45th Street. The parade had been going on for approximately 90 minutes when the protesters gathered in the streets and held up signs accusing Israel of genocide. Some protesters glued their hands to the street, while others covered themselves in fake blood.

Thirty-four demonstrators were arrested, thirty of whom for trespassing

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and the other four for resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and disorderly conduct, the NYPD said.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called for unity earlier that day when they called into the parade broadcast on NBC. “We have to come together. You know, we can have different political views, but we have one view. And the one view is that we are the finest, the greatest nation in the world,” the president said. “We should focus on that. We should focus on dealing with our problems and being together.”

The Israel-Hamas War, which was sparked by Hamas’ unspeakable terrorist attack on October 7, has triggered pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protests all over the country and across the world.

For instance, on Sunday, November 26, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked off the Manhattan Bridge, causing a traffic standstill on Thanksgiving weekend, a time when traffic is already extremely busy. Several protesters were arrested by police in that incident.

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924. The three-hour parade has been televised since 1953 and ends at Macy’s Herald Square. Around 44 million viewers watch the parade broadcast on NBC.

Tragic Alaska Landslide

Four died as a result of a landslide that occurred on November 20 in Wrangell, a borough in Alaska. The victims are Kara Heller, an eleven-year-old whose body was found on Saturday, November 25, as well as her family members, Timothy Heller, 44, and Beth Heller, 36, whose remains were found on November 21, and Mara Heller, 16, whose body was discovered on the day of the landslide. At least two others are missing, according to authorities in Alaska: sixty-five-yearold Otto Florschutz and twelve-year-old Derek Heller.

The landslide destroyed three homes, and has prompted extensive search efforts, which on Thursday transitioned “from an active search to a reactive search.” Officials announced on Friday

that they are trying to remove debris from the road and will still have a smell-sensitive K9 team “on standby to resume searching if new information or evidence” is discovered.

“While the active search is concluding, it remains a priority of the State of Alaska and your Alaska State Troopers to locate the three missing Alaskans so that we can bring closure to their families and the community,” the authorities announced on Thursday. “Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and loved ones of the three deceased and three missing Alaskans.”

Several search methods have been employed in these efforts, including the use of “drones, helicopters, and planes; ground teams with K9 scent detection dogs and trained professionals; and water-based searching with K9 teams and sonar,” said the Department of Public Safety.

According to Alaska’s Department of Transportation, the landslide spanned approximately 450 feet wide. Andy Park, a meteorologist who works for the National Weather Service, said that, at the time of the landslide, the area hit by the landslide was wetter than usual due to heavy rains that came down over the preceding 24 hours. Fast wind speeds, which measured from 61 to 87 mph, also likely contributed to the disaster.

Busy Skies

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Sunday was the agency’s busiest day ever. More than 2.9 million people were screened at airports across the United States on the Sunday of the Thanksgiving weekend, marking it “the busiest day ever for air travel.”

TSA had predicted that the holiday weekend would be busy.

The number of airline passengers on Sunday broke the record from June 30 — when nearly 2.9 million people were screened at airports across the country. This uptick in air travel comes after last year’s holiday season meltdown, when millions of passengers faced delays and cancellations amid the busiest time of the year for travel.

However, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said earlier this month that 2023 had seen the lowest rate of flight cancellations in the past five years, signaling optimism as the U.S. approached the holiday season.

“This year, we are seeing more people flying than ever with fewer cancellations than we’ve seen in years and we’re investing to make sure it stays that way long term,” he said at the time.

There were no major cancellations or travel snafus during the Thanksgiving weekend this year.

Derek Chauvin Stabbed in Prison

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, was stabbed on Friday in a federal prison in Arizona. He is in stable condition.

Chauvin was assaulted at the medium-security prison while serving two concurrent sentences in Floyd’s murder.

Greg Erickson, Chauvin’s attorney, has said that he has not been able to reach prison officials since Chauvin was stabbed. He added that Chauvin’s parents haven’t been able to reach him.

In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of seconddegree unintentional murder, thirddegree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. Months later, Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Chauvin, who is White, knelt on Floyd’s neck and back for more than 9 minutes on May 25, 2020, after officers responded to reports suspecting Floyd used a counterfeit $20 at a Minneapolis corner store. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was handcuffed and lying face down on a street as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.

Floyd’s death sparked massive riots and looting across the nation.

Erickson noted that Chauvin’s notoriety makes him a target in prison.

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“There’s a huge portion of the inmate population that wants to make a name for themselves by killing him,” he said.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Chauvin on his state conviction after he argued he didn’t receive a fair trial.

Google to Delete Accounts

There are a few exceptions to the deletion move: Accounts with YouTube channels, those with remaining balances on gift cards, those used to purchase a digital item like a book or movie, and those that have published apps that are active on a platform like the Google Play store, the company said in August.

Don’t want your account to be deleted? Sign into your Google account or any Google service at least once every two years and read an email, watch a video, or perform a search.

School Chancellor: Kids Not “Radicalized” Haven’t used Gmail in a while? Better use it or lose it, says Google.

The company announced back in May that it will begin to delete accounts that have been inactive for at least two years. This Friday, Google is moving ahead with its promise.

The new policy is intended to prevent security risks. Internal findings show older accounts are more likely to rely on recycled passwords and less likely to employ up-to-date security measures like two-step-verification, making them far more vulnerable to issues like phishing, hacking and spam.

Google has been sending warnings to affected users since August, with multiple alerts sent to impacted accounts and user-provided backup emails.

In the first phase of the rollout of the policy, Google will first cut accounts that were created and then never revisited by the user.

“We want to protect your private information and prevent any unauthorized access to your account even if you’re no longer using our services,” Google wrote in an August policy update.

Google accounts include everything from Gmail to Docs to Drive to Photos, meaning all content sitting across an inactive user’s Google suite is at risk of erasure.

On Monday, New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks was adamant that the 400 students who swarmed the halls of Hillcrest High School in Queens last week, demanding the ouster of a Jewish teacher who had supported Israel, were not “radicalized.”

“This is a really good school with wonderful young people. And I’m so taken aback by this notion that these kids are terrorists … or radicalized. Even that kind of language is just terrible, and it’s irresponsible,” Banks said.

He added that some students had been suspended and were facing disciplinary action after the incident that went viral.

The students began to riot after the Jewish teacher changed her social media profile photo to one of her attending a pro-Israel rally.

On November 20, a teacher at Hillcrest High School “was targeted based on her support for Israel expressed in a permissible way outside of school hours and her Jewish identity,” Banks said, outlining how the “safety of multiple of our

Did you know?

Vincent van Gogh officially only sold one of his paintings during his lifetime.

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staff and students were put at risk after approximately 400 students acted disruptively during class changing time, roving the school and calling for the removal of a Jewish educator.” Officials said the Jewish teacher was on a different floor at the time the crowd of students stormed the halls.

But conservative members of the New York City Council categorized the incident differently. In a statement released Monday, the NYC Council Common Sense Caucus said it “strongly condemns the deplorable antisemitic assault and riots at Hillcrest High School.”

“On November 20th,” the statement states, “students not only disrupted the school but also horrifyingly threatened to execute a Jewish teacher due to her pro-Israel stance, obtained her personal address, and demanded her dismissal.”

“This unconscionable behavior severely violates almost every value to which New York City Department of Education is purportedly committed,” they wrote. “Furthermore, we are extremely troubled by what appears the lack of immediate response and an attempt to sweep this incident under the rug by an agency entrusted with the safety of our children.”

Banks promised that the targeted Jewish teacher – expected to return to work this week – would be kept safe but also warned of a vague protest planned Thursday.

“This notion that this place, these kids are radicalized and antisemitic is the height of irresponsibility. The height of irresponsibility. And I, for one, will not accept that at all,” Banks told reporters.

“In fact, the greatest concern that the students had here today, as well as of the staff, was that there is a protest planned of people who are coming here Thursday, and staff fearing for their safety as well as students, very concerned with people just making statements who have never even been here. They don’t even know us. But somehow or another we have become the symbol of hate. Look at these kids. This is the ultimate teachable moment. That’s why I’m here today. Not to … cast judgment on our children. But to make sure we as a school community live up to what we need to live up to.”

Around 2,500 students attend Hillcrest High. About 30% of them are Muslim.

“They consume their information through social media, specifically TikTok and others, and what they are seeing on a daily basis are children and young people in Palestine, Palestinian families being blown up. That’s what

they’re seeing, that’s what they’re consuming,” Banks said. “They feel a kindred spirit with the folks of the Palestinian community. And because this is a very visceral and emotional issue for them, and that is what they’re seeing, those images every single day, when they all of a sudden saw this image of a teacher that says ‘I stand with Israel,’ the students articulated to me, they took that as a message that I am affirming whatever is happening to the Palestinian family and community.”

In a separate incident at the school, students surrounded and pummeled a security guard on November 15.

$4.4B Lost to Shoplifting

According to store owners, $4.4 billion in merchandise was lost last year in New York due to retail theft amid a rise in organized shoplifting rings.

Retailers say that Governor Kathy Hochul has to crack down on the thefts. Last week, the governor rejected a proposal that would have created a 15-member panel made up of experts appointed by the governor, Legislature and the state attorney general that would have put together a list of recommendations to respond to retail theft.

The Retail Council of New York State, the Albany-based lobbying group which represents retailers statewide, said it was “extremely disappointed” by Hochul’s veto.

Melissa O’Connor, the president and CEO of the group, released a statement saying that she urged the governor to take “immediate action” so as to formulate “an effective, collaborative response to this problem.”

A spokesperson for Hochul said that adopting the proposal would have cost the state $35 million — an expenditure that wasn’t allotted in the most recent budget.

Law enforcement officials from New York City to Albany to Syracuse have reported increases in incidents of retail theft — blaming the spike on progressive prosecutors who encourage criminal behavior with lenient punishment for shoplifters.

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Last month, the chief of police in Syracuse said that the city has seen a 55% spike in shoplifting since 2021.

“That number is likely higher because businesses often don’t report it — but they do continue to express concerns,” Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said. He added that small businesses are “having trouble sustaining themselves” in the face of the shoplifting campaign.

A Stewart’s convenience store in Albany had 14 shoplifting incidents in 2022 and has suffered 23 incidents this year so far. The thefts have forced the store owner to close the location.

“Retail theft at convenience stores throughout the state is not as organized as at some other retailers but is as dangerous and impactful,” Kent Sopris, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores, noted. “My members have reported theft that leaves stores in shambles as criminals seek cigarettes, lottery tickets, and anything they can get their hands on.”

Organized theft isn’t limited to upstate New York.

The Big Apple saw a 64% increase in reported incidents of retail theft during the four-year period between mid-2019 and June of this year, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. A New York Police Department spokesperson pointed to crime statistics showing that there were more than 93,000 incidents of petty larceny through the end of October — which is 29% higher compared to the same period two years ago.

Around one-third of all shoplifting arrests in the five boroughs last year involved just 327 people who were collectively arrested and re-arrested a total of more than 6,000 times, according to the NYPD. These 327 alleged shoplifters targeted 18 department stores and seven chain pharmacy locations, which accounted for 20% of all complaints, the NYPD said.

Baby Brain

word “red” on the tablet, and to their amazement, Isla effortlessly read it. Subsequent words like “blue,” “yellow,” “cat,” and “dog” followed, each met with the same confident response.

Isla’s parents also noticed that she would form words from toy letters left around the house, spelling out words like “chair” next to a chair and “sofa” by the couch.

Isla’s parents said they enrolled Isla in Mensa in the hopes of finding resources to nurture her talents.

“The biggest benefit to Mensa is the community,” Jason noted.

Can she change her own diaper?

been paralyzed from the waist down since a tree fell on him as a young law school student. He joked to reporters after the jump that his biggest fear was realized: “I would land, and I would not be able to walk away,” he quipped.

Sounds like he was flying high.

Authentic

Flying High Isla McNabb is one smart baby. The 2-year-old from Kentucky is now part of the vaunted Mensa group.

Isla has proved intelligence beyond her years by becoming the youngest-ever member of high-IQ society Mensa.

Guinness World Records said Isla was accepted into Mensa after scoring in the 99th percentile of intelligence for her age group on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales.

Mensa is the largest high-IQ society in the world, and members must score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized IQ test to be eligible.

Parents Jason and Amanda McNabb said Isla learned her alphabet at the age of 18 months and was soon reading.

“At seven months of age, she would pick out certain items from picture books when asked,” Jason told Guinness World Records.

According to Guinness World Records, on her second birthday, Isla received an erasable writing tablet from her aunt Crystal, setting the stage for an astonishing revelation. Jason wrote the

On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott dropped from the sky. The threeterm Republican governor skydived for the first time, completing a tandem jump from about 8,000 feet.

He was joined on the plane by 106-year-old World War II veteran Al Blaschke, who jumped separately.

Blaschke is a previous Guinness World Records title holder for oldest tandem skydive. Last month, a 104-year-old Chicago woman skydived in an effort to become the new record holder. She died a week after her jump.

Abbott said skydiving has crossed his mind before.

“The most shocking sensation is when you immediately exit the plane, and you’re just in freefall,” Abbott said after he got back from the jump.

Abbott, 66, uses a wheelchair and has

Merriam-Webster has announced that its word of the year is really true. In fact, 2023’s most looked-up word was “authentic.”

The trend was supposedly driven by people reading and talking about artificial intelligence, celebrity culture, identity, and social media.

“Authentic” beat out other contenders such as “deepfake,” “rizz” (young-people speak for charisma) and “coronation” for honors as the word that most often sent people to the dictionary.

“Authentic” has several shades of meaning including “not false or imitation,” and “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character,” Merriam-Webster said.

“Although clearly a desirable quality, authentic is hard to define and subject to debate – two reasons it sends many people to the dictionary,” the publisher said in a news release.

Merriam-Webster has been picking year-defining words for the past 20 years.

Last year, it was “gaslighting.” The year before, it was “vaccine.”

How about “get a life”?

Did you know?

“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh depicts the view from his window at an asylum that Van Gogh had been admitted to for a year.

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Around the

Community Mesivta Ateres Yaakov’s Annual Dor L’Dor Breakfast

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esivta Ateres Yaakov held its annual Yonatan Andrusier Dor L’Dor Breakfast last Thursday, during which fathers and grandfathers joined their sons for an enjoyable morning of ruchniyus and gashmiyus at the Mesivta.

The morning began with a warm, leibidik Shacharis followed by a lavish, catered breakfast in the Mesivta’s expansive gymnasium. To begin the program, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, addressed the 400+ fathers, grandfathers and talmidim welcoming them and expressing his own personal feelings of hakoras hatov.

Senior Yehuda Bolsom, representing the Mesivta student body, followed and delivered a heartfelt message about

his and his classmates’ growth in learning and the strong connection he and his peers have with their rabbeim. he con-

cluded by thanking his rabbeim for their warmth, care and guidance throughout his years at the Mesivta.

The event also featured the Mesivta’s annual Fall Essay Contest, with excerpts being read from the four first place essays. Awards were distributed by General Studies Principal, Rabbi Sam Rudansky, and Menahel, Rabbi Yossi Bennett.

The highlight of the breakfast was a visit from Rabbi Avi Schulman, former rebbe at the Mesivta and current S’gan Menahel at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. Rabbi Schulman shared amazing divrei Torah and anecdotes on the sugya of dreaming big and believing in yourself.

The program concluded with a raffle organized by the Student Government including a gaming system, a restaurant package, MAY merch and some very happy winners.

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Around the Community

Chanukah is in the Air at Lev Chana

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ev Chana has already begun their Chanukah workshops. Each morning, another class invites their parents in for a special presentation of songs followed by Chanukah crafts. The children and parents all have a great time singing and doing arts and crafts together!

Special Father & Son Breakfast/ Learning Seder at Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah

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eshiva Nishmas Hatorah recently hosted a memorable Father & Son Breakfast and Learning Seder, bringing together the warmth of the Yeshiva’s parent body within the familial, warm atmosphere that Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah is known for.

The day began with an uplifting Shacharis davening together with fathers and sons. Following Shacharis, everyone sat down to enjoy a delicious catered breakfast.

The Menahel, Rabbi Yehuda Orlansky, shlit”a, started off the program with a schmooze, emphasizing the special

partnership fathers have with the Yeshiva in enabling the talmidim’s personal growth. Yosef Fleischman, a bochur in the 12th grade, also addressed the gathering, sharing his reflections on the significance of Torah learning and the special bond he and his fellow chaverim have with the Yeshiva. The event capped off with a shiur on Chanukah from the Rosh Yeshiva.

The echoes of this special morning will surely resonate with fathers and talmidim alike, carrying warmth and chizuk into the cold winter months ahead.

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Around the Community

MTA’s Honor Society Hosts Blood Drive

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TA’s ARISTA Honors Society takes on leadership roles within the school in various ways throughout the year. They offer peer tutoring, run all kinds of programs, and organize several events. One such event is the long-standing, highly popular Blood Drive. Twice a year, ARISTA organizes a blood drive that MTA talmidim, teachers, and YU students frequent. Giving blood has become something MTA sophomores especially look forward to doing, as they turn 16 during the school year.

It is always a popular event, and the one held this week was no exception.

The blood drive ran smoothly, and MTA is listed among the schools who get the most donors! MTA is proud of those who

On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, HALB students wrote letters and posters to HALB’s security and maintenance staff

HAFTR’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah Workshops give blood and those who help organize the event. Kol hakavod!

We’re Thankful at HANC ECC

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reparing for Thanksgiving was the focus last week in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead. Each class discussed what they are thankful for, and their responses were adorable: our families, our toys, Hashem, our freedom and Magnatiles. The yeladim then put their fine motor skills to work, creating beautiful turkey table decorations and centerpieces for their family’s holiday table. Utilizing feathers, and repurposing paper bags, tissue boxes, milk cartons and cardboard tubes, the children created delightful turkeys, using their tiny hands and fingers as paint brushes to add the finishing touches. In Morah Temira’s class, the children created beautiful fall centerpieces utilizing tree branches and leaves that were painted with silver and gold paint. Some of the classes also created colorful placemats to be used at their festive Thanksgiving feasts both in school and at home.

In some of the Nursery Bet classes, the yeladim painted wooden beads and, utilizing their patterning skills, created their own magnificent necklaces. Other classes created colorful necklaces out of fruit-flavored circular cereal. After learning about the history of the first Thanksgiving, the children made Native American headdresses with colorful feathers.

During the course of the three days leading up to the holiday, the hallways were filled with fragrant scents. Each class prepared a food item for the gradewide Thanksgiving Feast. The dishes in-

cluded: corn bread, pumpkin bread, corn salad, turkey cookies and cranberry relish. When the big day came, the tables were festive, with lovely, decorated centerpieces that the children created, and each class brought their delicacy for all to taste at the feast. The children arrived wearing their headdresses and necklaces, and the teachers wore Pilgrim hats.

One class even wore paper bag costumes, which added to the festivities.

HANC Early Childhood Center Director Mrs. Trudy Rubinstein said, “The children enjoyed singing Thanksgiving songs together with all of their friends from the other classes. They proudly wore their headdresses, patterned beaded necklaces and costumes, which added to the festivity of the Thanksgiving meal.”

At the conclusion of the day, the children were so proud to take all of their Thanksgiving projects home, which brought great joy to their families and enhanced their own Thanksgiving feasts.

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n a culmination of meaningful engagement, HAFTR recently concluded its innovative program aimed at educating the next generation of Bar/Bat Mitzvah attendees. The two-part series incorporated workshops, chesed projects, and a mock bar/bat mitzvah ceremony to instill valuable lessons in Jewish tradition, respect, and celebration.

The first segment of the program commenced with a workshop where students, accompanied by a special adult in their lives, delved into the significance of relevant mitzvot, explored texts central to their place in the Jewish world, and honed their simcha dancing skills. Adding a heartwarming touch, the girls engaged in a chesed project, crafting beautiful bracelets for Israeli girls in shelters, coinciding with their bat mitzvah celebrations. Thank you to Emunah of America for this meaningful collaboration.

Meanwhile, the boys, in a separate but equally impactful initiative, dedicated class time to creating tzitzit for soldiers defending the Jewish homeland.

The second part unfolded with a visit to Congregation Beth Sholom, where students experienced a Mock Bar/Bat Mitzvah and received a primer on decorum and appreciation for the ceremony. The session covered a range of etiquettes, including patiently waiting for a mazal tov or respectfully giving one to those involved, utilizing a coat check, writing appropriate remarks on the bar/bat mitzvah photo/card, displaying respect for caterers and event spaces, and attentively listening to speeches by parents, rabbis, and the baal/baalat simcha. Principal Josh Gold emphasized, “We want

to teach you how to elevate, not detract from the simcha.”

The event allowed students to put their acquired skills into practice, honing their dance abilities from the previous day and participating in a mock simcha celebration with a classmate. The overarching goal was to impart essential values that extend beyond the walls of the school, nurturing an understanding of how to contribute to a meaningful and respectful celebration.

Throughout the program, emphasis was placed on the importance of carrying these lessons into every future simcha attendance, fostering a positive impact on events, and creating a more meaningful experience for all involved. Thank you to all our sponsors for these events.

In the words of Principal Josh Gold, “It is our hope that students will take these lessons with them to every simcha they attend and use them to create a meaningful event for those involved, including themselves.” The program at HAFTR continues to be a beacon for shaping responsible and culturally aware individuals within the community.

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YOSS sixth grade Bachurei Chemed winners for the middah of Ahavas Yisroel

The kindergarten students in Gesher learned about the letter M this week. They had an all-immersive experience learning about mailmen and mailing letters to their families!

Mercaz Academy is Thankful at Thanksgiving Feast

Day of Gratitude at SHS

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howing gratitude every day of the year is a fundamental value of Judaism, beginning from the moment we wake up and continuously emphasized throughout the day through our tefillos and brachos. Even so, we occasionally need to pause our daily routine to focus overtly and intentionally on hakaras hatov. At SHS, we devote the week leading up to Thanksgiving to this idea every year, culminating in our Day of Gratitude.

This year’s program, emphasizing the theme “Grateful to be a Jew,” began with a “family” lunch at which the full school and faculty feasted on Thanksgiving food.

Mrs. Munk spoke about our renewed pride in our Jewish identities amidst the terrifying rise of terrorism and antisemitism. She focused on the unity and love that have ensued as a result and how thankful we feel to be part of such a special nation.

The luncheon continued with singing

and dancing and concluded with four students reading aloud letters to recipients toward whom they feel particularly grateful. One student thanked the teacher who models relentless and sincere kavana in davening each morning, while another thanked a friend for her nonjudgmental acceptance and the confidence it has made her feel.

The school then split between two locations, half partaking in the crowd-favorite Gratitude Cafe and the other half spray painting and decorating thematic “Am Yisrael Chai” sweatshirts. After the two halves swapped, the day ended with a presentation by Rachie Shnay on the feelings of Jewish pride stirring throughout the Jewish world right now.

We are grateful for this opportunity to focus on gratitude and for the reminder of how lucky we are to be a part of this proud and incredible community.

tudents in the first, second, and third grades at Mercaz Academy in Plainview collaborated on a Thanksgiving feast, with each class filling a different role. Third graders, under the guidance of Ms. Vasiliou, prepared for their role as Pilgrims by reading about the events of the first Thanksgiving, comparing and contrasting it with a modern Thanksgiving. They have also become experts on the table manners and customs of Colonial times. At the feast, they made and brought fruit salad to the meal and performed the songs “Albuquerque Turkey” and “Over the River and Through the Woods” for the guests at the feast.

Second graders represented Native Americans at the feast. They have been studying Native American culture and have even designed and constructed model villages to represent the Inuit, Eastern Woodlands, Plains, and Northwest Native American ways of life. They made and brought cranberry sauce to the meal, as the Native Americans first introduced the Pilgrims to cranberries. The second graders also performed a song, “People of the Drums,” accompanying

themselves on that instrument.

Mrs. Wald’s first graders represented turkeys, and in addition to learning all about Thanksgiving through stories, songs, and crafts, they brainstormed ideas for alternatives to turkey as the main dish in a writing project. Their suggestions included popular items like pizza, sushi, macaroni and cheese, and ice cream. They also made and brought sweet potatoes with marshmallows to the feast, successfully preventing turkey from appearing on this particular menu.

The first graders performed a song recommending that turkeys eat at pizzerias on Thanksgiving.

After a delicious Thanksgiving feast, second grade teacher Mrs. Kirschenbaum led all the students in singing Thanksgiving songs. Of course, all the students discussed things for which they were thankful, with Hashem, families, and friends topping most lists.

Pilgrims, Native Americans, and turkeys were all grateful to the class parents and PTA members for helping, as well as providing beautiful table settings and delicious cornbread to make the feast complete.

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Around the Community

Far Rockaway Chanukah Extravaganza

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t’s Chanukah time again, that great time of year when adults and children alike all recall the amazing nissim Hashem did for us long ago. Why not have a super fun time at the annual Young Israel of Far Rockaway Chanukah extravaganza on Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.?

We have planned some exciting activities, such as a bounce house with slide and other engaging activities such as face painting, balloon fun, and cook-

HAFTR Lower School students enjoyed a scrumptious feast of Thanksgiving delights while learning about the holiday

HALB Running Club

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rs. Sharoni Botwinick and Ms. Janina Gravina are both avid runners and decided to bring their passion to HALB by creating a Running Club for Middle School Girls. A few of the team members participated in the

ie decorating. There will also be latkes and delicious refreshments to enjoy! A photo booth will be there so we can take home memories of all the fun we will have!

We hope to see everyone there; we are sure that everyone will have a fantastic, fun-filled time.

The event will be held at Young Israel of Far Rockaway at 716 Beach 9 Street in Far Rockaway, NY.

Torah Bowl at HANC

Long Beach Turkey Trot, and their collective goal is to run a 5K together as a team at the end of the school year. Huge thank you to the team’s sponsors, Zoe & Co and Upper Crust, whose owners are both avid runners themselves.

Netzach Knights - Shoresh Basketball Invitational JV Champs

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ongratulations to the Netzach Knights, who emerged victorious as Shoresh Basketball Invitational JV Champions. After cruising past the

JEC Thunder in the Semifinals, Netzach went on to defeat the Heichal Hornets 56-43 in the Championship Game.

he 2023/24 Torah Bowl season is now underway at HANC, as the boys had their first competition last week at HALB. The boys performed beautifully and finished the day’s competition with a 2-2 record. Many weeks were spent going over the material for the first match, and the boys did an amazing job beating Silverstein Hebrew Academy and HALB. Both losses came down to the final question that was asked. The boys were led by Yonah Lalezari, Yehuda Weissman, Kaleb Lerner, and Yitzchak Engelsohn, who all answered many questions. We look forward to our second meeting, which will be held in December

at HAFTR. The girls Torah Bowl team had a wonderful experience going to HALB last week to compete against numerous schools. They spent weeks independently learning extra Torah (Parshiot Shemot, Vaeira and Bo) and then got to buzz in and answer questions. They won their games against HAFTR, HALB and North Shore, tied Silverstein, and lost one game to Shulamith. They enjoyed a pizza lunch and spending time with like-minded girls from across Long Island. We are very proud of their hard work and look forward to our next meet in December.

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Around the Community

YOSS Mishmar Special, 2.0!

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ach Tuesday night, the sweet sound of Torah learning fills the Beis HaKnesses of North Woodmere, when 7th & 8th grade talmidim of the Yeshiva of South Shore come out to learn. This optional learning program, under the direction of Rabbi Yehuda Neuman (8th grade rebbi), gives talmidim the opportunity to “go to the Beis Medrash” after a full day of yeshiva, an ideal that will remain with them for the rest of their lives! Each week, after

the chavrusa-learning, they hear divrei chizuk from a local rav.

This week, the Moreh D’Asrah, Rabbi Leibowitz, spoke to the boys and expressed that these boys are elevating the entire beis haknesses with their Torah learning!

As these young men grow up, this Mishmar will serve as a part of their foundation of limud HaTorah for years to come.

HALB Thanks Local Businesses

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ALB students created hakarat hatov posters for local businesses who have shown their support for Israel. A few students and a teacher then went around town delivering them. Students went to Dunkin Donuts, Zoe & Co, Gifts and Crafts, and Jildor. The manager at Dunkin Donuts was so touched, he insisted on giving the girls doughnuts with an Israeli star!

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Around the Community

West Hempstead Supports Israel

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he West Hempstead community has a very large Jewish population, and we all are showing support for the people of Israel in different ways. In addition to collecting medical and tactical supplies to send to the IDF, as well as clothing collection for the displaced people who needed to evacuate, we are displaying Israeli flags as well as lawn signs in support of Israel.

One West Hempstead resident took it a step further, using plastic crates from soda bottles to create a giant lawn menorah and dreidel. She attached posters of all the hostages onto the giant menorah and dreidel. As they are released, she is updating it with a freed sign by their picture.

May all of the brave soldiers serving right now and the hostages come home soon.

Central Volunteers at Yad Leah

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entral High School Seniors visited the Yad Leah warehouse in Passaic, NJ, where volunteers sorted and packed over 1,950 items of clothing for our brothers and sisters in need in Israel, including displaced families.

Yael Axelrod, who coordinated the event for Central, said that the girls

“loved helping out in such a concrete and meaningful way, especially at a time when we know how much it is needed” and that they wished they could have stayed longer.

Contact info@yadleah.org for volunteer and donation opportunities.

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Around the Community

YSZ Expresses Gratitude

kin pie,” where each piece represented someone or something they were grateful for. In the end, they enjoyed a real pie as a celebration of their gratitude! Similarly, 4th grade painted rocks, with each rock symbolizing someone or something they appreciate. In these challenging times, YSZ aims to spread positivity and light with these beautiful projects, focusing on the positive.

Nutrition by Tanya Dear Ahuva, I enjoy your plan very much. However, I feel so resentful that I have to even be on a diet. My sisters are all thin, and I watch all Shabbos as they eat whatever they want. It’s so unfair that I have to work so hard to lose weight while everyone else has it easy. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others, but I can’t help but feel frustrated. I end up going off track because a little voice in my mind tells me I shouldn’t have to work this hard, and I deserve to enjoy just like everyone else.

Can you help me get some perspective on this?

Signed, Resentful Dear Resentful, I understand your frustration about the seeming unfairness around you.

Keep in mind, however, that we really only have tiny glimpses into people’s lives. Here’s a great example. Recently, my close friend was eating a danish at a bris. I was surprised so I asked her if she watches her weight or if she eats “whatever she wants.” She responded, “Are you kidding?! I have been dieting for months knowing that when our friend gives birth, I will have a danish at the bris or kiddush!”

In the case of your sisters-in-law eating freely, you may not have noticed if they gained a couple of pounds over Shabbos, but they likely did and chose to enjoy Shabbos and then deal with the results later. Also, even if those around you do have it easy, it might help to shift your focus to how good it feels when you eat in a controlled manner. Rather than feeling deprived, focus on how healthy and controlled you feel as you work towards your set goal. Sure, others (very few) may not need to work hard, but they will also never feel the sense of accomplishment you feel. We grow from our struggles because we prove to ourselves that we can change our habits with time and patience. At the same time, keep in mind that most people are watching their waistline, or at least trying to. Over 50 percent of America is overweight or obese, which means that more than half of America is struggling with their weight. So you are definitely not alone in your struggle, though, at times, it may seem so.

Stay strong, Ahuva Remember, we’re here for you! Call, text, or email, whether it’s with questions or just for support. Wishing you a healthy and TAPtastic week!

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t’s YOSS Literacy Week 2023. and the boys in Mrs. Sebag’s 2nd grade class have been going all out to celebrate!

We are learning all about adjectives and how they spice up our writing. The boys put them to use immediately by creating acrostic poems for each of their names.

We also spoke about imagery and how to use our five senses so that our writing paints clear and exciting pictures in the reader’s mind. We’ve been working hard to understand how to combine two words into contractions and played an exciting matching game that helped remind us where the apostrophe in a contraction belongs. If that wasn’t enough, we attended a huge book fair filled with a variety of amazing books. The boys were so excited to peruse through all the exciting titles!

The most incredible part of the week was the amazing visit from author and illustrator Ann Koffsky. Mrs. Koffsky spoke about what it’s like to be an author and illustrator, showed us some of her books such as Kayla and Kugel, Avi For President and Judah Maccabee Goes To The Doctor. Mrs. Koffsky shared with us

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

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SZ took the opportunity this week to spread gratitude amongst its students. Every class, from Pre1A to 8th grade, worked on a gratitude project, taking the time to learn what it means to be grateful and why it’s important to express gratitude. The students celebrated the people and places they are surrounded by and appreciated the important things in life.

For example, Pre1A created a “pump-

Literacy Week at YOSS

where she gets her inspiration from and taught all of us how to draw illustrations of our own. The visit ended with a gift from the school of a book on how to draw illustrations. Perhaps we will inspire some young budding future illustrators.

Literacy week was a week of fun and learning for everyone. All the boys can’t wait to go to the library and get a book!

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Around the Community

JSL Week 9 Recap

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he JSL playoffs by FM Home Loans commenced this past Sunday with some incredible plays, games, and individual performances! The JSL Juniors, whose skills and knowledge of the game have improved drastically over the season thanks to the incredible coaches, enjoyed the start of a fun end-of-season tournament. Our incredible coaches and staff were treated to an appreciation BBQ by “I Am Your Chef.” The final week of the JSL Fall Season is this Sunday, and it’s primed to be a dramatic one. Registration for the JSL Winter Season (starting Jan 7) is nearly full. Registration and more info at 5TJSL.com JSL Juniors K/P Hockey: Town Appliance put on a dominant performance in their win Sunday morning. They will face PinIt Realty in the end of season championship game next Sunday. Bright Futures got on the board first but John’s Automotive couldn’t be denied for long as they went on to lighting the lamp six straight times to get a decisive win.

K/P Soccer: Dovid Dubin scored a goal for Simcha Day Camp but Yaakov Grossman and Target Exterminating ultimately won 5-2. Game MVP Gadi Menche displayed tremendous hustle to help lead Island Roofing to the victory over Dead on Pest Control.

1st Hockey: Chesky Klein of Zahav Asset Management had an incredible snipe on a breakaway, roofing it over the goalie’s shoulder to hit the back of the net. 5TownsCentral played an all-around great game, scoring 5 goals from 3 different players in their win as they move on to the end of season title game where they’ll match up against a feisty Zahav Asset Management team.

1st/2nd Football: Mendel Berkovsky was incredible for Adventure Media as they scored 7 TDs to head to the title game where they’ll play against a formidable PIP printing team.

Basketball 3rd/4th: Nosson Rappoport of Maidenbaum scored 14 points in their loss.

Moshe Blumenthal came ready for the playoffs – scoring 14 points and adding 15 rebounds and 6 blocks to help Miller Realty win 30-18 and move on to the Semi-Finals next week. Dovid Goldman and Dovid Schattner combined for 18 points and 15 steals to lead I Am Your Chef past Newman Dental 23 to 14 and onto the next round of the playoffs.

5th/6th: Yehuda Niyazov had 10 rebounds and played incredible defense as 4SeasonsAc beat Sliced 34 to 15 to advance to the Championship Game next week.

Hockey 2nd/3rd: Shmuely Sitzer led Insight Optiks in scoring with 5 goals and 4 assists in their win Sunday vs Built By Nate.

Ezra Donowitz played great in net and Dovi Weiss & Asher Newman each scored 2 goals as SDF Architect cruised past Marciano Pediatric Dentistry 5-2.

4th/5th: JNT and Miller headed to shootouts but Carter Zeitlin was a wall in net for JNT, stopping all 3 shootout attempts, while JNT scored to advance to the semi-finals. Binyamin Flegmann had a HAT TRICK for Town Appliance in their commanding victory over AutoClick CarKeys 7 to 4.

6th/8th: Simcha Hochheiser played great Sunday night as he scored the first goal of the game and added the goal that would ultimately give BayRock Insurance the victory over 925 Sterling.

Game Of The Week: In the 4th/5th Hockey game between Marciano Pediatric Dentistry and Tamir Law, the 2 teams were evenly matched. The game went back & forth and saw 4 lead changes but at the end of regulation time both teams had scored 5 goals and headed to shootouts. In shootouts, Marciano Pediatric Dentistry was unable to get anything past goalie Dovid Lifshitz, while Eliyahu Zachter and Yaakov Jeger both scored on their attempts to give Tamir Law the exciting win and a spot in the semi-finals.

Game MVPS: Gavi Marks, Nechemia Oratz, Asher Melohn, Aryeh Wechter, Mendel Berkovsky, Nosson Rappoport, Moshe Blumenthal, Binyomin Parnes, Chesky Klein, Dovid Goldman, Dovid Schattner, Drake Gertellma, Shmuely Sitzer, Yehuda Niyazov, Carter Zelint, Binyamin Flegmann, Simcha Hochheiser, Gadi Menche, Simcha Becher, Dov Stein, Yehuda Schwartz, Ezra Donowitz, Dovid Lifshitz

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iur Tefilah class came alive in seventh grade at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam this week, as they studied and incorporated life lessons from the words of “Mizmor L’soda.” The girls, in groups, had the opportunity to paint, dance, or act out one of the fundamentals of this tefillah. From the words “Hariyu l’Hashem kol Haaretz,” the girls were reminded of the concept of Teruah, a familiar word from The Yamim Noraim.

They learned that just like the shofar makes three distinct sounds, one continuous, and then some with short or even longer breaks, so too life can have times

that are smooth sailing and times that are punctuated with difficulties. The girls internalized that all these come from the same source, Hashem.

They made a beautiful painting, depicting the words “Ivdu es Hashem Bsimcha, Serve Hashem in Happiness,” and translated it as meaning that serving Hashem and doing the actual mitzvos can actually be the catalyst to making us happy. The girls portrayed a man going out to learn despite his hardships in order to turn his mood around.

This past Thursday, the students in the second grade were gifted beauti-

ful Chumashim, while at the same time gifting their parents with much nachas.

The girls put on an adorable presentation based on “V’sain chelkeinu b’sorasecha” that we all have a part, or a chelek in Torah. The girls sang in an acting choir, in the roles of kollel men, mothers, working men and students. At the conclusion, each girl received a special Torah-themed bag of nosh including Torah shaped Oodles and alef-bais cookies. Thank you to the Katz, Leyton, Moskowitz and Neumann families for their sponsorship of the Chumashim. It was truly a morning that the girls will treasure forever.

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Kabbalas Chumashim and Biur Tefillah in BYAM

Talmidim of Siach Yitzchok are preparing and counting down the days to the famous Dreidel Drop

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Central Preparing Students for the Future with College-Level Courses

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entral faculty and administration are always working to expand curriculum offerings – and doing so with an eye toward students’ futures.

For this reason, several advanced courses offering college credits have been introduced to the curriculum to put Central graduates ahead as first-year college students. These courses are taught by Yeshiva University professors and are one of the many examples of the strong relationship that exists between YU and YUHSG. One popular class is Psychology and Torah, taught by psychologist Rabbi Dr. Chesky Gewirtz, Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. In its second year on the roster, the class is seeing full enrollment, and those who pass the course will receive college credit for Psychology 101. “It’s a great opportunity for seniors because instead of taking an AP exam for credit, this course converts directly to college credit,” said Dr. Gewirtz. The prospect of college credits isn’t the only draw for Central seniors –

the course’s unique curriculum figures into its appeal. “Part of why I think the girls connect to the material is because I try to make it relevant to them, incorporating the course material into everyday life – giving them practical ways to understand themselves and society around them better,” Dr. Gewirtz continued. “We started the semester by discussing that over the past few decades, psychology has become more of a science in which theories are proven or disproven with the use of scientific research methods. For example, psychologists will not prescribe a treatment without backing it up with research. Then we discussed the biology behind psychology and human behavior.

A major theme we’ve returned to repeatedly is “nature versus nurture” – how we understand human beings while keeping in mind that both genetic backing and environment play a role.”

This is one of many topics that have captured student attention. “Psychology and Torah is one of my favorite classes this year,” offered senior Sari Beer. “Even before the class started, I heard so many

great things about it from past students.

Right now, we are learning about developmental psychology and the psychology of infants and how that experience plays into our psychology as adults.” Discussions of science are also balanced with discussions of theology. “Another aspect of the class I enjoy is the connection between psychology and Judaism, and how Jewish ideas connect to many psychological ideas,” said senior Leah Kalantarov.

“I think that’s a very unique perspective on psychology. I’ve really enjoyed the class so far.”

Dr. Gewirtz agreed: “Anyone who studies Torah would be able to find many connections and parallels between what modern psychology has to say, and what the Torah has to say,” he said. “For instance, we had a discussion recently

about the Torah’s perspective on educating a child based on the child’s stage and individual needs. We’re seeing how the Torah and wisdoms of the world can combine into one.”

Upcoming student assignments will require students to develop their own ideas for a psychological study, identifying both an independent and a dependent variable to create a study design. Another assignment will require “each student to do their own research using reliable sources to answer a question related to psychology that piques their interest – and to research what the Torah has to say about the topic,” Dr. Gewirtz said.

Central students are meeting these new challenges with enthusiasm: “I can’t wait for all of the new things I will learn in this class!” Sari added.

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Supporting Our Wounded Soldiers

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By Isaac Seinuk

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At the recent Yeshiva Kol Torah Shabbaton in Ellenville, NY

here is not a day that I don’t check to see if anyone died. I thought that at least during the short ceasefire my heart would be spared. But there were ceasefire violations. Thank Hashem, none of our soldiers were killed.

Wait, there were casualties.

Nir Askenazi is a twenty-year-old Jerusalem resident. Playing the guitar has been his longtime passion. Nir was in Gaza when an IED caused a wall to collapse. He suffered fractures to his left hand and arm, but sadly two of his squadmates did not survive. With nerve and muscle injuries, he is not sure about his future.

Captain R. was serving as an elite commando in the Maglan unit when a missile crashed down near him. Shrapnel embedded in his head, and he was left with complete hearing loss in his right ear.

As a civilian, he is a television producer, a job that requires him to constantly wear headphones.

Tzur is a career soldier and was wounded on the first day of the war. His squad, part of the spec-ops Yahalom unit, was called to defend Kibbutz Be’eri. He was hit in the shoulder with a bullet when they reached their destination. Tzur spent two weeks in the hospital but fought hard to be released early. His motivation was his bride Shira and their planned wedding day. He made it to his wedding along with Shira’s cousins from West Orange, NJ. Each of these wounded soldiers visited Beit Halochem this past Monday to get acquainted with the services that were available. Nir Ashkenazi perked right up when he visited the music room.

The staff commented to him how with the

proper rehabilitation many soldiers with similar injuries return to playing music.

For Captain R. Beit Halochem’s advocacy services through their Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization will make sure that he gets maximum recognition of his disability from the Ministry of Defense.

Shira and Tzur are happy newlyweds.

The support that they are receiving from their family and friends has made a huge difference according to Shira and Tzur.

They have said that they know that they are not alone and feel the love and unity of Jews from around the world. Tzur will still need the services of Beit Halochem to rehabilitate his shoulder. For some who are in need of more support, Beit Halochem provides care for PTSD through qualified therapists and support groups.

More than 5,000 members of Israel’s security forces have been injured in fighting. This includes IDF soldiers, reservists, police officers, and rapid response squad members. Of those so far, 1,850 of the injured have been recognized as disabled veterans by the Ministry of Defense. More will soon be added to this list of the wounded. Beit Halochem has been active with over one thousand visits to new and existing disabled veterans in the hospitals and at home, with support for the wounded and their families.

On Tuesday, December 12, at the “Space” in Westbury, we have a chance to show our support for our wounded and disabled. Join our community leaders.

The only organization that is authorized by the Israeli government to rehabilitate our wounded is Beit Halochem. We have much work to do. Rehabilitation is often lifelong. Don’t let our heroes down. Be there for them. Register at: https://fidv.org/50-years-later/

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HANC Girls’ Challah Bake

Shevach’s Morning of Inspiration

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O

n November 6, the 7th grade girls at AHNC embarked on a memorable morning visiting Rebbetzin Jaeger’s home for an extraordinary challah bake experience. We delighted in quality conversations with the Rebbetzin, mastered the art of challah

braiding, and even got to explore the enchanting Jaeger Torah study room. It was a day filled with laughter, learning, and the warmth of shared moments – a cherished adventure that created unforgettable memories for all.

his past week, Shevach High School students were privileged to hear words of inspiration in these trying times from Mrs. Shaindy Kappel, founder of Aneinu and creator of the Tehillim Mechulak booklets. Thanks to Mrs. Kappel’s creative thinking and desire to help bring a yeshuah to a friend in need, these booklets were crafted and are regularly used across the globe. Now many women around the world not only say Tehillim regularly but can collectively say the entire sefer in a short amount of time.

Shevach’s theme of the morning was “Imo Anochi B’Tzara.” Mrs. Koppel brought home the feeling that we are like “soldiers” in the war going on now in Eretz Yisrael. We are experiencing events that are unprecedented in the memory of all of us alive today. At the same time, we need to be focused on our individual “missions.” In this world of darkness, we need to be the light. That is our goal visa-vis ourselves and vis-a-vis others as

well. In order to be the light among the nations, we have to challenge ourselves to be all that we can be. We must realize that even small changes accumulate to make a great impact.

There may be confusion as to why this is all happening. But if we were to look deeply into ourselves and tap into our emunah and bitachon, we would find clarity. This is a test for all of Klal Yisrael as they come together in unity to play a part in the conflict facing Eretz Yisrael.

Tehillim gives us the connection we are looking for. Our tefillah, coupled with our chesed activities, make our Yiddishkeit real, Mrs. Kappel emphasized. It replaces the confusion with tranquility and has the power to bring us yeshuos.

The students left empowered to make a difference personally, and play their roles using the kochos of tefillah and chesed for the sake of the Jewish people overall.

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With Israel Still Reeling From Oct. 7, Jewish Educational Group Steps Up Its Support At Star-Studded Evening In New York City

By Larry Luxner

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lan Abecassis of Sderot is still reeling from the events of October 7.

That morning, he watched from the window of his home as terrorists in pickup trucks overran his city, gunning down Israelis in the streets and in their homes.

In the ensuing days, he and almost all of Sderot’s other residents were evacuated. Abecassis, along with many others, was sent to Israel’s southern resort city of Eilat.

A teacher and vice principal at the AMIT high school in Sderot, Abecassis barely took a breath before swinging into action. With the help of the AMIT organization, an educational network of nearly 100 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs in some 30 Israeli cities, Abecassis moved quickly to lead an alternative school in Eilat for evacuated children.

Following the trauma of October 7, the focus has been largely on evacuees’ emotional, social and mental health.

“Throughout all of this, AMIT has been covering our physical and emotional needs,” Abecassis said. “Principals, teachers, management teams all left their families to come and offer us their support.”

Abecassis spoke at AMIT’s 2023 National Event in New York on November 20 to recognize the donors who support AMIT’s network of religious Jewish educational institutions. Incorporating academic and technological studies, AMIT institutions have a special focus on children from underprivileged backgrounds and from Israel’s peripheral areas.

“Ninety-nine percent of the aid we received came directly from AMIT,” Abecassis noted in his remarks. “A significant portion of this was thanks to your generous donations.”

AMIT’s Evening of Solidarity with the Children of Israel took place at Manhat-

tan’s Sony Hall and attracted about 250 of AMIT’s major donors and national leaders as well as notable figures such as Gilan Erdan, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

The high school in Sderot is far from the only AMIT institution directly affected by the tragedy of October 7. All nine public schools in Sderot are under the aegis of AMIT. In the wake of Hamas’s attacks, about 4,300 students at those schools were evacuated — mostly to Eilat and the Dead Sea and with smaller numbers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. In addition to the significant regular funds AMIT raises via its annual campaign, since the war began AMIT has generated over $1.5 million in additional funding just for the children of Sderot. It’s being used to fund trauma therapy and a variety of other services to help evacuees from the city.

With over 40,000 students in various schools and institutions around Israel, AMIT is an integral part of Israeli society. Hostage Noa Argamani, the 25-yearold woman who was seen being taken by Hamas terrorists on a motorcycle while being kidnapped at the Nova rave party near Re’im that morning, is a graduate of the AMIT Wasserman High School in Beersheva.

The November 20 event, which had been scheduled before the war, turned into an opportunity for AMIT donors to express support for the people of Israel – and for each other – in this difficult time.

“This event is to honor all those people who have already made investments in Israel,” AMIT President Shari Safra said. “Although the tone is a little more subdued, the substance of the program is still just as relevant.”

Andy Goldsmith, AMIT’s executive vice president, said the evening reflected the seriousness of the crisis in Israel “while providing the opportunity to join together and recognize those who have distinguished themselves with their ex-

Did you know?

The figures depicted in “American Gothic”

by Grant Wood are supposed to be a father and his daughter.

Announcing The Gabel & Straus Campus at Kfar Batya, dedicated by Joyce and Daniel Straus, with AMIT President Shari Safra and AMIT Executive Vice President Andy Goldsmith

traordinary commitment.”

Among those recognized at the event: Joyce and Daniel Straus of Englewood, New Jersey, who officially named the $70 million Gabel & Straus Campus at Kfar Batya; Ellen Spitzer-Kronitz and Emanual Kronitz, for their support of Tiferet Guy Aryeh Junior College; and Shawna Goodman of the Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, for supporting the AMIT Summer Camp program.

In a particularly emotional exchange, Goldsmith presented Joyce and Daniel Straus with a Torah scroll written in Poland more than 100 years ago — “rescued from the ashes of Europe and fully restored to its original glory, much like the Jewish people,” Goldsmith said.

“Joyce and Daniel, you epitomize the finest qualities of the American Jewish community. When the news from Israel is good, you celebrate with pride in her accomplishments and victories,” Goldsmith said. “And when the news is bad or, as now, laced with tragedy, you feel it with every fiber of your being and are moved to respond—in tefila [prayer], in protest, and in action.”

The Kfar Batya campus is a 10-acre educational site under construction in the central Israeli city of Ra’anana that is designed to incubate ideas and level the playing field for children from Israel’s social and geographic periphery. The campus’s name recognizes Stefanie and Jack Gabel, the parents of Joyce Straus, and Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus, parents of Daniel Straus. Its naming represents the largest donation in AMIT’s 98-year

history. The campaign to fund the brandnew campus is still underway.

“We wanted to give this gift in honor and memory of our parents, to benefit AMIT and the state of Israel,” said Joyce Straus. “We hope that this will inspire others with the ability to give, to make a significant investment in AMIT and Israel’s future.”

The Gabels, Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the United States in 1949, rebuilt their lives in Queens, New York. While still in her teens, Gwendolyn Straus joined AMIT — then known as the Mizrahi Women’s Organization of America — and was a lifelong Zionist. Joyce Straus, a longtime AMIT board member and officer, is AMIT’s former chair and its current vice president for financial resource development.

Founded in 1925, AMIT largely was a women’s organization until recently.

In 2019, Alex Luxenberg of Great Neck, New York, became one of the first three men to join AMIT’s board in its nearly 100-year history. Luxenberg has been involved with AMIT for about 15 years and currently serves as AMIT’s vice president of marketing.

As the November 20 gala event wound down and board members bade each other goodbye, some were careful to note that it was only “l’hitraaot” — see you later. Several board members will be joining an upcoming three-day support mission to Israel that begins on December 4.

For more information about AMIT, go to www.amitchildren.org.

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o show their love and support, the children of Gan Chamesh created banners, wrote letters and drew pictures for children in Eretz Yisrael.

The letters and banners were delivered to a Gan in Yerushalayim that was created

to service displaced families currently living in hotels. The letters uplifted the spirits of the children in the Gan, their families and the morahs and put a smile on their faces. A beautiful show of achdus! Am Yisrael chai!

Hakarat Hatov at Shulamith

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n the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, the girls in Nursery-8th grade at Shulamith have learned a great deal about hakarat hatov, in particular, thanking those who we don’t always notice what they do for us every day. The students wrote thank you cards and created thank you posters for Nurse Barbara, the administrative assistants, the se-

curity men and maintenance people who take care of so many of their needs. The girls had a sense of pride and felt grateful as they personally delivered their notes and cards. It’s amazing how good it feels to bring a smile to someone’s face!

As we know, thanks is a trait of our people, and our girls don’t forget it.

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Gan Chamesh Writes Letters to Children in Eretz Yisrael

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Congratulations to the YOSS Torah Miles Chinese Auction winners

Ezra Alumni In Israel

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t was a record-breaking year for the Ezra graduates of 2023 who were able to go spend a gap year in Eretz Yisrael this year. As the staff and faculty celebrated the departures of 18 students to Israel to learn Torah this September, it was clear that Ezra Academy was growing significantly in their mission to help students develop and grow their foundation for a Jewish future.

After October 7 and the outbreak of war, it was unclear whether the year would transpire for these students as everyone would have hoped. Although it was understood that some families would not allow their children to remain learning in the midst of an uncertain and potentially dangerous situation, baruch Hashem, the majority of students have stayed. Even the small minority that returned home in the initial phases of vulnerability have begun to return to their yeshivas. (The girls all stayed for the du-

ration.)

This past week, their principal, Sima Fish, visited Israel and arranged a reunion for almost all of her students and some other guests. She had the opportunity to catch up with all of the alumni and to hear about the tremendous experiences they are having at their yeshivot and seminaries. Each participant shared words of Torah and chizuk as well. Some explained how being in the land of the Avot has influenced them. Others shared how different events during the times of war have helped them take on new observances. Special shoutout to Adam Ilyasayev who shared how he inspired he was to wear tzitzit all the time after hearing stories of chayalim who took on the same mitzvah.

Overall, it was a tremendous experience for the students and even more so for Ms. Fish.

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Boots for Israel – Putting our Best Foot Forward

By Dr. Jeffrey Galler

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hen you see videos of Israeli soldiers operating in Gaza or at the Lebanese border, they may very well be among the 9,000 soldiers who now wear combat boots supplied by the Boots for Israel organization.

The volunteer organization was formed at the Young Israel of Holliswood, in response to IDF General Daniel Jacobs’ report that “many of the over 300,000 reservists who reported for duty, came equipped with their old, worn, threadbare boots, completely inappropriate for the rough Gaza terrain.”

There is still a great, unmet need for new, U.S. Army-grade tactical boots for IDF soldiers. Together with the Soldiers Save Lives organization, they are responding to urgent, daily requests from units across Israel. Unfortunately, the Israeli army, taken by complete surprise, is still unable to respond to the sudden request for tens of thousands of new boots.

Yakir Wachstock reported, “Army units send us the specific boot sizes that they need, and we pack them in duffel bags and send them to Israel the very

Boots for Israel volunteers pack duffel bags with combat boots and deliver them to El Al Airlines

next day, via El Al airlines.”

Each pair of boots is packaged along with a poignant letter from students attending different yeshivas, including Bnos Malka, Chabad of Northeastern Queens, Eitz Chaim of West Hempstead, Flatbush Yeshiva, Forest Hills Jewish Center, Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, SAR Academy, Westchester Torah Academy, and Yeshiva University for Girls (Central), and even battle-hardened soldiers get teary-eyed on reading the children’s letters.

The impact on our soldiers goes far beyond the pragmatic. Lisa Solomonov, an Israel volunteer, received a phone call from a soldier from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His house and all his belongings, including his army boots, were completely burnt on October 7 th. He heard about Boots for Israel and asked for help.

When he received his brand-new combat boots, free of charge, he was overcome with gratitude. Lisa reported, “His wife was 9 months pregnant, and they had absolutely nothing. He said that

A simple note from a yeshiva student to an IDF soldier has a major impact.

the boots were not only so essential to his duties as a soldier but were also able to make him feel so much love and support from people he doesn’t even know. He is grateful and invigorated.”

In order to keep supplying new combat boots, the organization needs financial help to “foot the bills.”

Please respond to the ad on the adjacent page.

Finding “SoleMates” When Boot Packing

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n a heartwarming and unique event on November 19, a number of meaningful “shidduchim” were made. YUConnects partnered with Young Israel of Woodmere, the “Singles Doing Chesed”‘ group, and Young Israel of Holliswood to pack boots for Israeli soldiers. The event, held in a bustling warehouse in Freeport, brought together 40 enthusiastic attendees motivated by shared values and a love of Israel. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of camaraderie and purpose as participants worked diligently, blending the spirit of community service with the excitement of meeting new people.

The warehouse, typically a space for storing Amazon goods, has been transformed in recent weeks into a hub of activity as the “Boots for Israel” initiative has been purchasing and shipping much-needed military boots to the reservists fighting Hamas. Many local community volunteers, from Long Island and Queens, have assisted. This specific singles event on a sunny Sunday afternoon aimed not only to foster connections between community members

– “solemates” – but also to contribute to a greater cause. Over 66 duffel bags, with 900 pairs of boots, were carefully sorted, tied, packed and labeled by the enthusiastic group. Handwritten notes of support were rolled and inserted into many of the pairs of boots. Attendees shared stories, laughter, and a definite sense of purpose as each care package was carefully assembled and prepared for shipment to Israel.

Amidst the organized chaos of the warehouse, there was an unmistakable buzz of goodwill and accomplishment.

As participants sorted through stacks of boots, conversations flowed seamlessly, breaking the ice and creating connections that extended beyond the immediate task at hand. Then, after much of the work was completed in record time, a speed dating component was inserted, followed by a light bagel lunch, enabling the men and women to refuel and socialize even more.

In the end, this unconventional singles event in Freeport proved that love, community, and service are a powerful

combination. The warehouse that once stored goods became a space where boots were packed with care, connections were forged, and a shared sense of purpose brought people together. As the duffels made their way to Israeli soldiers, they carried not only essential items but also the warmth and goodwill generated by a community that came together in the spirit of unity and love.

Indeed, couples have begun dating from the event and some of the afternoon’s volunteers have signed up to assist the Young Israel of Holliswood which is leading this vital continuing initiative of sending boots to Israel.

We thank all the groups that participated and organized. Appreciation to our volunteer facilitators and to Adopt-aShadchan and National Council of Young Israel for promoting.

To learn how to volunteer with the Boots For Israel initiative, contact Ayelet Goldberg at 917-923-7644.

YIW Meet Group, a dedicated committee of the Young Israel of Woodmere, plans social events and recurrent activ-

ities for singles. Contact them at yiwmeet@gmail.com.

Singles Doing Chesed is a new organization where Orthodox professional singles (ages 24-32) have the opportunity to help out local chesed organizations and connect with like-minded singles. Please reach out to Singlesdoingchesed@gmail. com.

YUConnects, open to the Jewish community, offers unique social activities, targeted matchmaking and educational programs to foster healthy relationships toward marriage. Celebrating over 625 engagements, YUConnects welcomes further event inquiries by visiting www. yuconnects.com or calling Marjorie Glatt 516-603-8141.

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Current Events and Chanukah- A Message of Contradictions

By Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW

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he Chanukah season is really a time of contradictions. Winter has just started, it gets dark early, the weather has turned cold and rainy. Depression and anxiety are on the rise during the dark winter season. The school year is in full swing bringing a barrage of tests and homework. In fact, about 5% of Americans (or an estimated 10 million people) suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) where they experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during the colder, darker months of the year.

And in the midst of this exact time comes the yom tov of Chanukah – ironically known as the Festival of Lights.

Suddenly, houses are aglow with lights, music, dancing, presents – a special simcha that permeates our homes specifically during this time. And Chanukah itself is the holiday of contradictions. The army of the few defeating the mightiest army in the world, the tiny amount of oil lasting for eight days, the fight of the spiritual against the material.

I have observed over the years that even the experience of Chanukah is a time of contradiction for many. Kids look forward to Chanukah all year long, fly high with excitement, and love every minute of it. I remember when I was younger that Chanukah was my absolute favorite yom tov of the year. But as you get older, some of the magic fades. There are no days off of work, no big meals to plan, no break from everyday work. Aside from candle lighting, it becomes harder and harder to feel the magic of this time when

you are still stuck in your daily routine.

And yet, for me, even as I struggle to feel the simcha I once felt, when the candles are lit and I look at those flames dancing, there is no denying that something in my heart and soul flickers inside. That simcha, though harder to access, is certainly not completely dormant.

This year, more than any other, the entire Jewish nation heads into Chanukah with our hearts full of contradictory feelings. We are worried, scared, angry and full of anxiety for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Our prayers are with our hostages and their families and our soldiers and their families. And ye,t we are full of relief and happiness for those hostages that have finally been freed and returned to their families. We are scared of what is happening in the world around us, yet we have never felt prouder to be part of the Jewish nation. We are being attacked and trodden on, and yet we are standing tall b’achdus and united in ways we have not seen in a very long time.

At Madraigos, we have a front row view to the many varied responses people are experiencing to these tragedies.

Mothers, fathers, teenagers, children – each one is going through his or her own unique experience. There are those that are suffering from anxiety and trauma, fear and depression, who are reaching out for help for themselves and their families. There are parents who want to shield their children from what is happening yet have family members in Israel and in the army. There are teenagers who are involved in chessed projects and tefilos and yet also want to live their lives and not feel guilty for being happy and

“normal.” There are those who have deleted social media accounts not wanting to expose themselves to images and videos they will never forget, and those that feel the need to see everything in order to truly feel the pain of those that are on the front lines of suffering.

And while every reaction is different, every reaction is valid and every reaction needs to be addressed individually.

Therefore, at Madraigos, we have created and innovated various responses to the war effort to address the different needs we are seeing in the community. Our Boy’s Lounge holds discussion groups and engages in musical healing for the boys that wanted that connection. Our Ignight Girls do not want to focus on the war, and so we created a safe space for them where individual discussions with the facilitators are open and welcome while the group engages in creative art expressions allowing for the safety and separate focus that they wanted. Rabbi Dr. Dovid Felt, our Director of School Based Services, created three new Project Based Learning curriculums that are available to every school for their students focusing on vicarious trauma, social media and responses to antisemitism. Rabbi Dr. Dovid Felt is also offering free mental health first aid training to parents, therapists and educators who may have concerns about some symptoms their children, students or clients are experiencing. The Madraigos clinical staff is forming a DBT group for high school age girls and continuing to provide individualized free assessments and referrals for anyone in need.

The most important message to take

from Chanukah is the following. We can feel pain and happiness, pride and defeat, despair and hope all at the same time. We are a people with hearts big enough to hold it all. Chanukah is a time of contradictions because this world is a world of contradictions. And while everything may seem dark and hopeless, if we look in the windows of the Jewish people, we will see sparks of light shining out, ready to show the world that we will not give up. We will stand strong and we will survive and we will thrive. Every day our light will continue to grow. And iy”H soon we will merit to see this world full of Hashem’s light and all of the darkness and contradictions dispelled.

Learn more about Madraigos’ programs and services at www.madraigos.org or call 516-371-3250.

Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW, is the Clinical Director of Madraigos.

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Kiddush Hashem Across the Globe as Tens of Thousands Take First Amud HaYomi Test

By Chaim Gold

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colossal kiddush Hashem’ were the words that came to mind when I observed the first Amud HaYomi test last week,” related Rabbi Moshe Fisher, Co-Director of Dirshu’s operations in North America, in describing what he saw at multiple testing sites in Brooklyn. “What I saw on the night of the bechina in Brooklyn, and what I heard later from those who were at other sites all over the world, was a kiddush Hashem of tremendous proportions. Yidden just came and came and came, wanting nothing more than to be tested on their knowledge of Hashem’s Torah. They wanted a kinyan in Hashem’s Torah, and what shone through perhaps more than anything was a tangible love for Hashem’s Torah. The ahavas haTorah that Klal Yisrael has displayed since the onset of the Amud HaYomi and that culminated in the excitement of taking that first test on the first fifteen blatt in Shas is the greatest tribute to the nitzchiyus of Klal Yisrael,” concluded Rabbi Fisher.

In fact, Rabbi Yitzchok Spigelman, Co-Director of Dirshu, North America, related, “When I came to Yeshiva Ketana of Lakewood, one of the four Lakewood testing sites, it was long before the test was slated to begin, and already a large crowd was waiting outside in anticipation to take the test. At that moment, I realized that this is not just another Dirshu test; this is a revolution in progress.

A Torah revolution!”

In truth, there are no words to describe the huge response to the beginning of the new Amud HaYomi program.

Even Dirshu’s hanhala, who have seen numerous massive growth spurts over the years, were flabbergasted by the worldwide response as untold thousands gathered all over Eretz Yisrael in testing centers from Tzefas in the North to Be’er Sheva in the south. The entire North America and Canada, Europe, England, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, France, Holland, even Gibraltar, as well as Argentina and Australia, all had a massive uptick of new participants.

In Eretz Yisrael alone, there were more than 900 testing sites with people of all ages, all types and stripes gathering to take the test. Tens of thousands of

Yeshivas Porat Yosef

Lakewood, NJ

people took the tests! Yes, you read that right, 900 testing sites and tens of thousands of test-takers, an absolute record!

From Nebraska to Hadassah Hospital!

The Amud HaYomi program began with daf beis in Masechta Brachos this past Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. In the course of that first month, hundreds of new shiurim opened all over the world, taking even the hanhala of Dirshu by surprise.

In far-off Nebraska, a shiur takes place in the Solomon’s Shechita Plant where the shochtim, bodkim, menakrim and mashgichim sit down every day for their Amud HaYomi shiur. In Eretz Yisrael, there are over 500 shiurim with hundreds more in America and Europe.

There is even a daily shiur in the shul of Hadassah Hospital!

Another amazing aspect of watching the first test was the sight of such a wide range of people!

“Mena’ar v’ad zakein!” exclaimed Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of the Dirshu hanhala in Eretz Yisrael. “Boys under bar mitzvah were sitting alongside great-grandfathers with long white beards who needed the aid of a cane to walk. They were all there. Ashkenazim and Sefardim, Chassidim and Yeshiva types, baalei battim and kollel yungeleit, all united by the Torah and a program that enables them to comprehensively and systematically go through Shas with a plan.”

“I was at the main Boro Park testing site,” Rabbi Moshe Fisher relates, “and within a half hour after the test began, I realized we would need more space then was available in the main Munkatcher Beis Medrash. We therefore opened the basement where hundreds more were

able to take the test. I looked around and couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw two chassanim in the middle of sheva brachos taking the test and several children under bar mitzvah. Seeing literally hundreds of people coming in and out of that test site with smiles and visible sipuk hanefesh showing true spiritual satisfaction, was deeply gratifying.”

At A Chasuna…In the Army…A Disabled Bachur…

Numerous stories of perseverance and heroism have made their way to Dirshu’s office, poignant stories offer that insight into how the Amud HaYomi is having a transformative impact on all of Klal Yisrael.

Recently, Dirshu received a call from a father of a disabled bachur who is learning the Amud HaYomi but finds taking a test in Hebrew difficult. The question was whether someone could translate the questions for him and would he be permitted to write the answers in English.

A mother called Dirshu’s office with a request, “I have three bachurim ages 13, 14 and 17, who are all planning on taking the test. They have been learning so hard for the entire month. Dirshu has a policy that they hold in an escrow account all the money earned by bachurim who take the test to be given to them when they marry. Can an exception perhaps be made because these bachurim worked so hard and having the money in their hands might give them chizuk?”

Another father called to ask if the Amud HaYomi test can be sent to him because he has a son who had not yet been accepted into a yeshiva who is learning the Amud HaYomi at home every day.

“My son is embarrassed to be seen in public and wants to know if he can take the test at home.”

There is a yeshiva in Monsey where almost the entire yeshiva took it upon themselves to learn the Amud HaYomi during their free time. The yeshiva called Dirshu to ask if perhaps the tests and a proctor could come to the yeshiva, so that the bachurim would not have to leave yeshiva and go to a testing site.

There is a rosh yeshiva of a religious Zionist yeshiva located in Yehuda V’Shomron who decided that every day during bein hasedarim he would deliver an Amud HaYomi shiur to the talmidim.

When the Israel Army started calling up reservists for the present war, he was among those called. His task is not in combat, but he is involved in an integral engineering area. That Rosh Yeshiva has been giving the shiur to his talmidim every day via zoom.

Iyun Ha’Amud is a Gamechanger Another amazing innovation that has seen success above and beyond anyone’s dream is the comprehensive, gevaldik kuntress called Iyun Ha’Amud compiled by great talmidei chachomim that Dirshu has published and distributed. The kuntress, designed to assist the lomdim of Amud HaYomi with their learning, includes the pages of the Gemara, explanations and supplements, marei mekomos and practical applications of the halachah, as well as the basic “reyd” on each sugya. It also offers “sikumim”, small encapsulations of each sugya to assist lomdim in remembering the important parts of each sugya.

Rav Bernstein relates, “It is very important to note that the tens upon tens of thousands of people who have come to take the test, represent only a small percentage of those who are actually learning the Amud HaYomi. Our internal statistics have shown that for every person who takes a test, there are some eight times that number learning the material in the program, but not taking the tests.”

The “Buzz” That Can Protect Klal Yisrael!

Rabbi Bernstein said, “It is clear that in the world of Torah, the ‘buzz’ today is Amud HaYomi. The Amud HaYomi has truly become the nachlas haklal, the inheritance of all Klal Yisrael. It is our fervent tefillah that the zechus of the Amud HaYomi will continue to protect Klal Yisrael!”

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Around the Community

By Gabriel Geller – Royal Wine/Kedem

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s I write these few words, the war on Hamas and Hezbollah is in its seventh week. Klal Yisrael has responded with an outpouring of support for our brethren in Eretz Yisrael through any means possible. Including, of course, consuming, drinking, and eating more Israeli wine and food products.

Adam Montefiore, the famous UK-born wine writer for The Jerusalem Post, published a letter a few weeks ago calling to support the Israeli wineries, as Israelis aren’t drinking much wine in these difficult times. I am reviewing in this column a wine from Odem Mountain, Israel’s northernmost winery which sits at the border with Syria. They have had difficulty tending to their vineyards, as Hezbollah constantly targets the region with missiles and suicide drones.

This coming Chanukah, more than warming up our body, we need to warm up our soul and mood. Perhaps more than in any other culture, wine symbolizes celebration for the Jewish people. Indeed, we drink wine as part of our Shabbos and Yomim Tovim and at all simchas.

That’s great, of course. But the Torah tells us that wine gladdens man’s heart. It is wine itself that triggers us to feel happy and joyous. I only write in these pages ahead of Jewish holidays. Hopefully, by

the time you read my next column, Am Yisrael will have IY”H emerged victorious, and those who were abducted will have been returned to their families, as healthy as possible.

Razi’el, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, NV For over 25 years, the Ben Zaken family has been producing excellent Bordeaux-style reds and Burgundy-style Chardonnay from grapes grown in their Judean Hills vineyards. Razi’el, the new winery launched by the family with the 2017 harvest continues the same pursuit of excellence while exploring different styles of wine, also inspired by French regions. This Blanc de Blancs is a complex Champagne-method sparkling wine, with a medium to full body and deep flavors of fresh brioche, lemon zest, and green apple that linger long on the palate.

Yatir, Creek White, 2020 This is a brilliant dry white blend that highlights the amazing potential the Yatir Forest terroir has created for grape growing. Medium in body, this dry and restrained white shows nice viscosity with notes of pear, lime, quince, and almonds. It has refreshing acidity and would pair well with chicken teriyaki or with a turkey roast in a creamy mushroom sauce.

Herzog, Special Reserve, Quartet, 2021 Easily the least known wine of this

Hatzioni Canteen for Israel

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n response to the terrible events of October 7th and ongoing war since then, Hatzioni, MTA’s Israel Club and Publication, knew that they needed to organize something that could make a difference in helping the soldiers in Israel.

After hearing that the army base of MTA alumnus Gavriel Pudell needed kippot, a cookie sale was organized, and $340 was quickly raised. The money reached Gavriel’s unit through Lev LaChayil, an organization dedicated to helping Lone Soldiers.

From there, the Israel canteen has flourished. Stocked with snacks and candy, the table is set up during lunch and Mincha break for students to purchase.

A bowl with change is left alongside the snacks as students pay on the honor system. As Rabbi Eli Cohn, faculty advisor for the Hatzioni, said, “The canteen very much speaks to the values of our Yeshiva

– the talmidim and faculty are invested in doing anything they can to help – and there is a wonderful culture of trust and working together that makes it all possible.” The canteen has raised over $500 so far. All proceeds will continue to go to chayalim serving in the IDF.

series, and it certainly does deserve attention! A blend of four grape varieties that changes every vintage, displaying the harmony that can be achieved in the exceptional California wine country. The Petite Sirah takes the lead here, and one can taste the flavors of ripe blueberries, roasted herbs, and freshly cracked pepper, alongside notes of baker’s chocolate on the finish.

Shiloh, Secret Reserve, Cabernet Franc, 2020 Made with ripe Cabernet Franc grapes from the Judean Hills by the great Amichai Lurie, Shiloh’s general manager and winemaker in collaboration with Gad Elbaz, the famous singer.

The nose shows distinct aromas of ripe plums, black cherries, vanilla, and toasted oak. Medium to full-bodied, showing mouth-filling flavors of sweet blackberries and cherries, hints of oak, and vanilla with touches of roasted coffee beans.

It has a rich texture, with high acidity, and chewy tannins. Full-flavored beef or lamb dishes pair best with this style of wine.

Bin Nun, Cuvée, 2020 A relative newcomer, Bin Nun is a charming boutique winery located near the city of Modi’in in Israel. This wine is a classic Merlot-based Bordeaux-style blend. Deep ruby color, with notes of ripe blackberry and raspberry, with hints of vanilla and pine needles. It is ripe, concentrated, and full-flavored on the palate with nearly sweet, gripping tannins that coat the mouth and medium acidity. I would pair it with a juicy roast and lots of rich gravy.

May these wines contribute to celebrating Chanukah joyfully and chase away the darkness! Chag Chanukah sameach.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

To Life! Wines that Bring Light

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TJH

Centerfold

Cheers!

December 5 marks 90 years since Prohibition was reversed. Let’s go down the watering hole to see what you know about this law that banned the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of alcohol from 1920 to 1933.

1. What was the name commonly given to places that illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition? a. Booze Bazaars b. Speakeasies c. Dry Dens d. Alchohides 2. Who was the notorious Chicago gangster known for profiting immensely from bootlegging during Prohibition? a. Meyer Lansky b. Al Capone c. Bugs Moran d. John Dillinger 3. What was the nickname for homemade alcoholic beverages produced illegally during Prohibition? a. Crooked Cocktails b. Sneaky Spirits c. Moonshine d. Bootleg Brews 4. What was the name of the federal agency responsible for enforcing

Prohibition laws? a. Alcohol Patrol Bureau b. Bureau of Prohibition c. Anti-Liquor Task Force d. Booze Control Agency 5. Which state never ratified the 18th Amendment, thus allowing alcohol to remain legal within its borders during Prohibition? a. New York b. California c. Maryland d. Illinois 6. What was the term used for the secret entrances or hidden rooms in illegal bars that were used to conceal alcohol during raids? a. Booze Hideouts b. Trap Doors c. Secret Coves d. Liquor Lockers 7. Who was the president of the United States when Prohibition was enacted?

a. Woodrow Wilson b. Warren G. Harding c. Calvin Coolidge d. Herbert Hoover 8. Which amendment repealed Prohibition, making the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages legal again? a. 19th Amendment b. 20th Amendment c. 21st Amendment d. 22nd Amendment Answers: 1-B 2-B 3-C 4-B 5-C 6-B 7-A 8-C Wisdom Key: 7-8 correct: You must be Al Capone… Got to know the system to beat it!

4-6 correct: You are a moderate person; Prohibition was not needed to curb your habits.

0-3 correct: You are definitely the type of person who has malt bear at home. L’chaim!

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Prohibition was not America’s only strange law. All of the following, except for one, are laws that are still on the books in various places. Can you spot the one law that is made up?

Alabama: It’s illegal to drive while

Tennessee: You can’t hold

blindfolded.

public office if you’ve been in a duel.

Arizona: You are not allowed to interfere

Florida: It is illegal to feed alligators.

with a crane game. (That’s the claw machine where you try to get a stuffed doll).

Massachusetts: You can be fined if you

Arizona: It’s illegal for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub.

California: You can’t eat frogs that have died in frog-jumping competitions.

sing the National Anthem incorrectly.

North Carolina: It’s illegal to hold a meeting or demonstration while wearing a hood or other costume.

New Jersey: You must apply at least 3 ounces of hair gel to

Colorado: You may not use “indoor furniture” outside.

every ounce of hair on your head.

Connecticut: A pickle must be able to bounce.

Louisiana: Bear wrestling is prohibited.

(Technically, the law is that a pickle must be fit for human consumption. However, in 1948, the Connecticut Food and Drug Commissioner said that seeing if a pickle could bounce is a good way to see if it is fit for human consumption.)

Gainesville, Georgia: Town ordinance requires that people eat fried chicken with their fingers.

Wyoming: It is Illegal to ski while drunk.

Virginia: It is illegal to hunt on Sundays unless you’re killing raccoons.

Kansans: You can be fined for putting ice cream on cherry pie.

Montana: You can’t “drive” animals on a railroad track.

Oklahoma: Tripping a horse is outlawed.

Pennsylvania: You can’t fire guns or set off explosives at weddings.

Montana: It’s illegal to give a rat as a present.

(Answer: Although New Jersey doesn’t have a hair gel requirement, it’s certainly “minhag hamakom.”)

You Gotta be Kidding Me! How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

In the Name of the Law

Answer: Six. One supervises; one arranges for the electricity to be shut off; one checks safety and quality standards; one monitors compliance with government regulations; one fills out paperwork; and one who screws the lightbulb into the water faucet.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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Torah Thought

Parshas Vayishlach

By Rabbi Berel Wein

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any commentators over the ages have seen in the two confrontations between Yaakov and Eisav – first the struggle with Eisav’s angel and then the meeting with Eisav in the flesh – the two-front war that Judaism and the Jewish people have been forced to fight over millennia in order to simply survive.

The struggle with Eisav’s angel, as

described in the parsha, represents a spiritual and intellectual fight, a contest of ideas, beliefs and debate. The meeting with the physical Eisav, in turn, represents the struggle of the Jewish people to simply stay alive in a bigoted, cruel, and nearly fatal environment.

Yaakov does not escape unscathed from either confrontation. He is crippled physically and somewhat impoverished financially. Eisav’s “evil eye” gazes upon his children, and Yaakov is relieved to escape alive, even if damaged in body and purse, separating himself from Eisav physically and from his civilization and worldview.

The scenario is pretty much set for the long dance of Jewish history, with the Jews always attempting to survive in a constantly challenging and brutal society governed by Eisav. The rabbis of Midrash discussed the possibilities of coexistence and even cooperation with Eisav. Though this debate did not result in any permanent or convincing conclusion, the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai that Eisav’s hatred of Yaakov is completely irrational and implacable seems to be borne out by history, past and present. The anti-Semitism in today’s seemingly enlightened world is so pervasive as to be frightening. And we seem to be powerless to do anything about it.

As is painfully obvious to all, these struggles for continued Jewish existence are ongoing and seemingly unending. All of the foreign ideas and current fads of Western society stand almost unanimously opposed to Torah values and traditional lifestyle. The angel of Eisav changes his program from time to time, but he is always opposed to Torah

and moral behavior. He wavers from totalitarian extreme conservatism to wild liberalism but always is able to wound the Jewish psyche and body no matter what philosophy or culture he now advocates. We limp today from this attack on Jewish values and Torah study and practice.

Jewish parents in America sue school boards for anti-Semitic attitudes, policies and behavior. Yet they would not dream of sending their children to a Jewish school or giving them an intensive Jewish education. The lawsuits are indicative of the limp inflicted upon us

by Eisav’s cultural angel.

All agree that Europe is currently a lost continent as far as Jews are concerned. The question most asked of travel agents by Jews today is: “Can I wear a kippah on the street there?” Billions of dollars of Jewish treasure pillaged during World War II and immediately thereafter still lie in the hands of Eisav.

And yet we certainly would be satisfied if the world just let us alone, but that seems to be a forlorn hope. So our struggle continues, but the L-rd’s promise to us that we will somehow prevail remains valid and true. And that is our hope for continuing on as loyal and steadfast Jews.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parsahas Vayishlach

The Hands of Eisav

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

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e gain a remarkable perspective on how to see the Torah’s eternal relevance in our lives from a remark by Rav Shmuel ben Meir, Rashi’s grandson, known as the Rashbam, zt”l. The Rashbam writes in his introduction to Parshas Vayeishev, “Rebbeinu Shlomo [Rashi], my mother’s father, who illuminates the eyes of the exile and who explains all of Tanach, was very careful to explain the simple meaning of the pasukim. I, Shmuel ben Meir, the grandson, also intend, with him and before him [to explain according to the simple meaning]. And he conceded to me that if he had time, he would have necessarily offered other explanations according to the explanations which renew themselves every day.”

The Rashbam’s words are astounding. New understandings of the Torah make themselves known constantly.

The Torah always reveals itself in new ways we would never have been able to understand in earlier times and places.

It only reveals its new depths when the proper time comes from such revelation.

For example, anyone who has ever studied the seforim of Rav Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, Hy”d, the Aish Kodesh, is astounded by the way he explains pasukim in light of the horrendous suffering he and his chassidim faced during the valley of tears that was the Holocaust. It is clear that only a sanctified heart and soul enduring such unspeakable suffering at that time and place could have explained the Torah the way he did.

Another example of this was a conversation that took place between a survivor of the Holocaust and the Pshevorker Rebbe of Antwerp, Reb Itzikel, zy”a.

The chassid asked, “There are two lines in the Avinu Malkeinu that seem to echo the same sentiment: ‘Our father, our

From the Hands of My Brother, from the Hands of Eisav

King, act for the sake of those who were murdered for Your Holy Name,’ followed by ‘Our Father, our King, act for the sake of those slaughtered for Your Oneness.’

What is the difference between those who are murdered ‘for Your holy Name’ and those who are ‘slaughtered for Your Oneness’?”

The survivor asked if he might suggest his own answer, and the Rebbe assented.

“The Nazis marched into my town and rounded up the Jews, approximately a hundred men, and lined them up side by side, at the river’s edge. Then one of the Nazis lifted his machine gun and began to shoot, starting from the right side. All the Jews raised their voices at once and cried out, “Shema Yisroel!”

The ones on the right side were unable to complete Shema, while those on the left managed to say all the words before falling into the river. Those on the right side were murdered by the word ‘Hashem,’ His holy Name, while those on the left, who managed to finish the phrase, were slaughtered after reciting the word

‘Echad,’ His Oneness. That is the difference between those who are killed ‘for Your Holy Name’ and those who were killed ‘for your Oneness.’”

Only a Yid who survived the Holocaust, the worst nightmare in our history, could have explained the words of davening in this way.

Everything that happens in the world becomes part of the lens through which the human mind delves into the Torah.

That explanation then becomes part of the way the eternal Torah communicates its message according to the unique character and experiences of each Jewish community, wherever they live and in whatever age. Chazal say, “The Holy One looked into the Torah and created the world” (Zohar 161a). Because the Torah is the “blueprint” for the world, the way the world exists at every time and place is a manifestation of some nuance of the Torah’s truth. So when we look to see the Torah’s message for us in our own unique circumstances, we actually reveal an aspect of the Torah’s light that only first became discernable right now.

Let us see how to understand Yaakov’s tefillah in light of our own circumstances today. The Zohar (139a) quotes the pasuk (Bereishis 32:12), “Please save me from the hands of my brother, from the hands of Eisav, for I am afraid of him, that he may strike me [and] a mother with children.” It explains, “We see from here that when one prays, he must explain his words clearly. ‘Please save me…’ If you will say that this means ‘Please save me from Lavan,’ [the pasuk continues,] ‘from the hands of my brother.’ And if you will say this means ‘from other relatives’ who are also called ‘brothers,’ [the pasuk continues,] ‘from the hands of Eisav.’”

Hashem built all of world history into the Torah. Yaakov’s tefillah to be saved from his brother is the eternal prayer for our salvation from Eisav’s threats throughout our continuing struggle against Eisav even now.

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt”l, also known as the Beis HaLevi, explains that Eisav, the progenitor of the Western world, attempts to destroy us in two very different ways. Through most of history, Christianity attacked us with evil decrees, forced conversions, wars, inquisitions, expulsions, and physical annihilation. These are “the hands of Eisav.” The second method employed

by Eisav is an attempt to induce us to abandon our faith by acting like a good and caring friend, as Eisav personally attempted to do when he said to Yaakov (Bereishis 33:12), “Let me go along together with you.” These are “the hands of my brother.”

This is similar to the way Reb Elazar explains the Torah’s description of the Jewish slaves’ work in Egypt as

mans, who “strike me [and] a mother with children.” Reb Mendeleh was then quiet for a moment before continuing, “Who knows who will be left? Perhaps one in a city or two in a family... Whoever can, should try to escape to Eretz Yisroel or to America.” Because of his

in the Roman exile, Yishmael will take over “the hands of Eisav.” They plot to destroy us every single day. These are the forces we must call out by name in our tefillos.

Chanukah is the time of “the hands of my brother.” The Greeks’ primary

It was an attempt to reach out to us in “friendship” to induce us to abandon Hashem in favor of Greek religion and culture.

great influence on his students, many of them were saved. Reb Mendeleh’s students later moved his burial place to Eretz Yisroel in 1964.

Yaakov’s Tefillah for Us What does Yaakov Avinu’s tefillah in the Torah, whose meaning renews itself for us every day, mean now? In this golden exile in the Western world, “Please save me from the hands of my brother,” no doubt refers to the Western world, whose welcoming approach threatens to cause us to forget the true “I” – “I am the L-rd your G-d.” Eisav has never felt more welcoming than he does right now. They are no longer persecuting or killing us. They are no longer throwing us into gas chambers. Just the opposite. They embrace us, offering us every delicacy and luxury, killing us softly with their song. The sweet embrace of college life, the street, workaholism, and the Internet snuff out so many Jewish souls.

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 98a) says that Moshiach will come like a poor man riding on a donkey, chamor. The Maharal, zt”l, explains, based on the fact that the Hebrew word for physicality, chumriyos, shares the same root as the word for donkey, that Moshiach riding on a donkey means that he “rides” – exerts control over – physicality. At this time in history, we are meant to harness and ride physicality, enlisting it to assist us in our Divine service. But in the hands of Eisav, physicality is riding us. We are its servants, snapping to attention at every peep and buzz emitted by our phones. These are “the hands of my brother” from which we ask to be saved today.

Chazal teach that in the last chapter

modus operandi was not the sword.

Rather, it was an attempt to reach out to us in “friendship” to induce us to abandon Hashem in favor of Greek religion and culture.

The Megaleh Amukos, zt”l, explains the following tefillah by Dovid HaMelech (Tehillim 118:7) in a remarkable way, “Hashem is for me with my friends and I shall see my enemies.” Dovid is

asking Hashem, “Master of the World, if I have enemies who masquerade as my friends, please help me recognize who they truly are so that ‘I shall see my enemies.’” At least by recognizing the pleasant culture of the Western world as a form of anesthesia, numbing us to feelings of Yiddishkeit, we will not let our guard down. Instead, we will vigilantly ride and utilize the physicality at our disposal for our Divine service and not be ridden by it.

We need Moshiach so much right now. The descendants of Yishmael are killing Jews all over the world. And we are bleeding on the inside as well. The “hands of my brother” are sapping the feeling from our souls. We need Moshiach to once again cause us to regain mastery over physicality. We therefore beg Hashem to save us from the enticing “hands of my brother” as well as the fearsome “hands of Eisav” through the arrival of the complete redemption, may it come soon in our days!

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

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“b’pharach, backbreaking” (Shemos 1:13). He says that “pe’rach, backbreaking,” is a contraction of the words, “peh rach, soft mouth.” In other words, Pharaoh enslaved the Jews by first speaking softly with them, pretending to be their friends. He thus lulled them into letting their guards down and volunteering to work to fulfill their civic duties. It only became apparent afterward that he had manipulated them into slavery.

This is why Yaakov Avinu asked Hashem, “Please save me from the hands of my brother” and also “from the hands of Eisav.” He was davening that Hashem save him not only from Eisav’s attempt to kill him, i.e., “the hands of Eisav.” He also asked to be saved from “the hands of my brother,” which can be even more insidious.

It is known that shortly before the death of the tzaddik Reb Menachem Mendel of Visheve, zy”a, of Vizhnitz, in 1939, the Nazis were already a looming presence in Romania, which ultimately allied itself with Nazi Germany. Reb Mendeleh was the son of the Ahavas Yisroel of Vizhnitz, zy”a, and was known as a great genius. Before the War, he led a yeshivahwith 400 students, many of whom moved to Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe was in in the city of Khust on Parshas Vayishlach when he taught at seudah shlishis that Yaakov Avinu saw what would happen at the end of days, when he davened, “Please save me from the hands of my brother, from the hands of Eisav.” He saw that the Jews would be squeezed between the Nazis on one side and the Russians on the other.

Reb Mendeleh explained that the Nazis say openly that they want to wipe us out. “But,” he said, “the Russians closed the shuls, yeshivos, and mikvahs thirty years ago!” Yaakov therefore davened for us, “Please save me from the hands of my brother.” This refers to the Russians who act like brothers and call themselves our “comrades.” But Yaakov Avinu also davened for our salvation from the Germans when he said, “from the hands of Eisav,” i.e., from those who make no secret of the fact that they are trying to destroy us.

Reb Mendeleh then explained the continuation of Yaakov’s tefillah, “…for I am afraid of him, that he may strike me [and] a mother with children.” When Yaakov said, “I am, anochi, afraid of him,” he was referring to Russia, which worked to extinguish any Jewish spark and make us forget that “I am, anochi, the L-rd your G-d.” But Yaakov was also saying that he was afraid of the Ger-

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Delving into the Daf

Roaring Lions and Goring Oxen

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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imby wandered the streets of Ladispoli, Italy, in early November. It was evening, and few people were around. Kimby didn’t get into any trouble. It was a good thing too, since Kimby was an escaped circus lion. Residents who found out about the escaped lion roaming their residential streets were obviously nervous. Yet, Rony Vassallo, who is responsible for the animals in the Rony Roller Circus, claimed the residents were in no danger. After all, the lion was born and raised in captivity and was domesticated. On the other hand, Alessandro Grando, the mayor of Ladispoli, near Rome, told residents to stay at home on Saturday while police and circus staff sought to catch the animal.

There seems to be a dispute between Rony and Alessandro about whether or not the lion posed any danger. Interestingly enough, this very subject was discussed recently in the daf (Bava Kama 15b). Rony holds like Rebbe Eliezer that even predatory carnivores can be domesticated. The Tana Kama says that these wild animals cannot be trained enough to put them in the category of domesticated animals.

If the lion would have eaten a pet it encountered in the street, would the circus be liable according to halacha? Shumel seemingly says it would not be liable.

In fact, the Gemara does not quote any disagreement on this issue. Tosfos indeed holds this way. Yet, the Vilna Gaon points out that the Rambam disagrees with Tosfos’s understanding of the Gemara. The Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch both rule that the circus would be liable. This is but one example of the danger of ruling based on a Gemara without further research. One can learn the Gemara, Rashi, and Tosfos without even an inkling of the idea that there is a debate on this issue.

The Vilna Gaon’s notation on the page is the learner’s sole hint to something being amiss. However, that notation itself is only two words, and is itself cryptic! As

an aside, even Tosfos may concede nowadays that the owner of the circus is liable.

The reader might say, “I’ve been learning all these halachos of damages caused by animals in Bava Kama, and none of them have been relevant. OK, at least there is one solitary application of the Gemara I studied.”

Whether Gemara has any practical application or not, there is still a mitzvah to study the entire Torah and know it to the best of one’s ability. However, even if there is no exact application of the material, the concepts may be relevant elsewhere. Indeed, Rashi on Kesubos says that even the logic of a sage who is clearly wrong (he misquoted someone for example) still has relevance. While the application the sage was positing is incorrect, the logic may be relevant elsewhere. A recent Gemara provides a great example.

The first part of Mesechta Bava Kama deals extensively with the halacha of a goring ox. The first three times an ox gores and injures another animal, the owner must pay half of the resultant damages for each goring. The fourth time an ox gores, the owner must pay full dam-

ages to the owner of the injured animal.

(This is a very simplistic rendition. The actual halachos or much more complex.)

Rebbe Yehuda says that for the owner of the goring ox to be liable for full damages, the ox must gore three times, each time on a different day. Rebbe Meir disagrees. He reasons that if goring on three separate days renders the owner liable, certainly if the animal would gore three times on the same day, the owner would then be liable to full damages on the fourth time. The halacha follows Rebbe Yehuda.

Seemingly, this discussion about goring oxen has little practical relevance (Although, every few years, a cow escapes from a slaughterhouse in Kew Gardens, Queens, NY.) Certainly, the opinion of Rebbe Meir isn’t relevant because we don’t even pasken like him!

Yet, the Mahram M’Rottenburg cites Rebbe Meir for a very relevant halacha.

The Sages instituted that one recite “V’sein tal u’matar” during the growing season in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei. We ask Hashem specifically for dew and rain instead of the generic “blessing.” This change takes place at Maariv

on December 4th or 5th in the United States (not in Israel). (During the year before a solar leap year, it is Dec 5th.)

If one does not say the correct formula, he must repeat Shemoneh Esrei, if he already finished. What if one is not sure if he said the correct formula or not? Must he repeat Shemoneh Esrei? Less than 30 days after making the switch, he must assume that out of habit he recited the wrong formula and must repeat Shemoneh Esrei. After 30 days of reciting the correct formula, he may assume he indeed said the correct one.

The Mahram M’Rottenberg offered a creative idea. One can just say the words “V’es kol minay sevuasah l’tova v’sein tal u’matar l’vracha” 90 times to get into the habit of saying the correct formula.

Thereafter, if one is unsure what he recited even a week after the formula change, he would not need to repeat Shemoneh Esrei. We would say that the 90-time recitation habitualized him to recite the correct formula. Where did the Maharam source his idea from? Rebbe Meir of our Gemara. Rebbe Meir reasoned that if goring an animal three times over three days develops a bad habit of goring, then certainly goring three times in one day develops the bad habit. So, too, here, if saying the correct formula over 30 days develops a habit of saying the correct formula, then saying all the occurrences in one day should certainly develop the habit. Although, we don’t pasken like Rebbe Meir regarding an ox goring, possibly due to a verse, we still accept his logic and apply it elsewhere!

The Maharam’s ruling is cited as practical halacha by the Shulchan Aruch.

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.

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Headlines

Halacha

Rage Rooms and Halacha

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

B

When Breaking Things is Permitted

ig corporations are always looking for team-building opportunities.

And now there is something new on the block. WARNING: Pun imminent. They are the latest “rage” in entertainment, so to speak. Instead of “escape rooms,” indoor skiing, or axe-throwing venues, people are now paying money to enter a room with safety gear and baseball bats – and smashing and breaking things. They are called “rage rooms,” and they are available in different packages.

You can buy a package where you smash high-end electronic equipment, computer equipment, fax machines, printers, etc. A cheaper package will give you plates, glassware and low-quality artwork to break.

The question is: what does halacha say about all of this?

The short answer is that it seems to be strictly forbidden. One might as well take a date to a Heritage Pork-Tasting Menu in Riverhead and try out the Red Wine Cured Pork Jowl with Honey Crisp Apple, or the Pork Belly in Celery and Sesame Broth with Shitake Mushrooms, or the Pork Loin with Pickled Beets.

Shabbos as an exaggeration (YO OC Vol. I 28:9), there is no doubt that Chazal found it terribly wrong and deeply offensive.

One could argue that the Gemara says that it is only prohibited if one does it in anger. Different poskim say that even if one does not do it in anger but just rips or destroys them is still in violation of the prohibition (see Mivchar HaPninim p. 241).

Three Relevant Sources

Three Violations

The Gemara in Shabbos 105b states, “Kol hameshaber keilim b’chamaso k’ilu oved avodah zara – one who breaks vessels in his anger – it is as if he is worshipping idols.”

The Gemara in Yevamos 96b goes even further. It seems that there was an argument in a certain shul in Teveriah that ultimately ended in the Sefer Torah being torn. Rabbi Yossi Ben Kisma was present and remarked, “I would be very surprised if there was no avodah zarah in that shul.” They searched and apparently there was some avodah zara there.

There is a third source, (Avos DeRabi Nosson 3) wherein Rabbi Akiva remarks that whoever stomps his bread on the land and whoever throws out his money in anger does not leave this world without needing to receive charity from others.

Now while it is true that Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, understood this Gemara in

Rabbeinu Yonah in his Shaarei Teshuvah (3:82) explains that there is a double violation in this. The first is the wanton destruction and violation of baal tashchis, destroying things, and the second is that he is allowing and giving opportunity and expression to his evil inclination dominion over his actions which will violate the Torah. There is also a view that there is a possible third prohibition – Darchei Emori – following the ways of Ovdei Avodah Zara.

verses that all types of wasting is forbidden. This is the ruling of the Rambam (Malachim 6:10) – that it applies to all forms of waste and destruction. The Baal HaTanya in his Hilchos Shmiras HaGuf v’Nefesh also understands that the Torah prohibition is across the board and is not just limited to fruit trees.

The Netziv writes in his commentary on Chumash that the reason is that whatever is necessary to benefit mankind is forbidden to destroy. On the contrary, one must seek to benefit from it.

Most authorities, however, are of the opinion that destruction of items other than fruit trees are of rabbinic origin (See Sefer haChinuch Mitzvah 530), so at least according to these authorities, it is not exactly equivalent to the pork tasting – but one does get the picture.

It is interesting to note that the author of the Shulchan Aruch did not devote a section to this area of halacha.

Baal Tashchis

What if The Items are Ownerless?

The prohibition of baal tashchis is the wasteful destruction of trees and the like. The prohibition is found in Devarim 20:19. Although the verses refer to a wartime situation, the Ramban explains that after you defeat the enemy, you will be able to utilize them. That being the case, the halacha is extrapolated from these

It seems that there is a debate among the Rishonim whether the prohibition of baal tashchis applies to items that are ownerless. In Responsa Yehudah Yaaleh (YD #164), the Mahari Assad cites a debate between the Rosh and Rashi who are lenient versus the Rambam, the RaN and Tosfos who hold it is a prohibition.

There are times when the notion of breaking something is permitted. We do find leniencies in the Talmud where some forms of smashing are permitted in order to assert a healthy respect and fear. Also, we find that some form of smashing is permitted to ascertain the middos of a child and to see whether more specific instruction is necessary in middos.

The Maharsha (Shabbos) writes specifically that one may only do so with pre-broken items. Also, there are two other caveats that are presented. One should make sure that people do not learn from him to get angry (Meiri) and one should take extraordinary care not to allow such actions to affect his temperament (Yeshuos Chochma).

But Doesn’t It Relieve Tension?

One could possibly put forth the argument that when there is a purpose to breaking something, perhaps this does not fit into the Gemara that forbids it. Don’t we find that we smash a glass at a chuppah and a plate at a tanaim?

This argument is specifically rebuffed by the quote of this Gemara, according to Rav Yonasan Shteif in chadashim gam yeshainim and by sefer Yichusei Tanaim v’amoraim, page 313.

When An Alternative Exists The Chikrei Lev (Mahadurah Basra YD 11 “shuv ra’isi”) writes that when an alternative choice exists, then it is entirely forbidden to accomplish it through the medium of breaking a vessel. The Orech Meisharim 19:6 writes this as well. The newly printed Ritva (also on Shabbos) cites the same qualification.

In short, if one is planning to go to one of these during Chanukah vacation, winter vacation, or just a plain date – don’t. It is at least a debate among the Rishonim.

Change your plans instead.

This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com.

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The Wandering

Jew

Manhattan Part II

By Hershel Lieber

Grand Central Station

Brooklyn Bridge walkway

I

n my previous article, I expressed my infatuation with New York City and especially with Manhattan.

Even before getting married, I tried to take in the many attractions this borough offered. After marrying Pesi, I had a partner to share my passion in seeing the cultural and historical wealth that the city possessed. Pesi’s interest was not as intense as mine, but she is a great sport, and we were able to enjoy visiting museums and historic places together for over fifty years.

We love art and have been to almost every major and some minor museum in the city. Among others, we viewed the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Whittney, the Brooklyn Museum, the Frick Masion, and the Cloisters, as well as our recent visit to the Neue Galerie. We have taken guided walking tours of Central Park, Brooklyn Heights, the Financial District,

Grand Central Station, the High Line Walk, South Street Seaport, and sadly to Ground Zero where the Twin Towers once stood. After a tour of Downtown Brooklyn, we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall. About three years ago, we took a walking tour of the Lower

East Side, but more about that later.

There were some places that I went alone. I once got up well before dawn and headed to the Fulton Street Fish Market to see the action of the incoming fishing boats and the fishmongers selling their catches. I walked along the Bowery,

The Guggenheim Museum

sadly viewing the effects of alcohol addiction among people who lost hope and meaning for life. The street was lined with cheap liquor shops and bars as well as flop houses to sleep off their drunken stupor.

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I was interested and curious about every aspect of life in this vibrant city and attempted to gain knowledge through these experiences.

The Lower East Side always had a nostalgic meaning for me. No, I did not grow up there, but I went there from time to time with my parents, alone, and later with Pesi. It was once the hub of Jewish life in America. Yiddish was the franca lingua. Religious and secular Jews lived side by side, argued and debated each other, yet felt part of one big family. I remember going shopping with my parents for clothing on Orchard Street and for seforim and religious articles on Canal Street. I remember com-

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Boyaner Shtiebel on East Broadway

Eldridge Street Synagogue

ing to Canal Street before Sukkos, which was the center to obtain the Arba Minim.

I proposed to Pesi after taking her out for dinner at the Tel Aviv Restaurant on East Broadway. The proposal took place during a red light stop at the corner of Essex and Canal.

After getting married, we came almost every Sunday to the Lower East Side to shop. Housewares at East Side China, clothing fabric on Grand Street, ties on Allen Street, drapery material on Ludlow Street, Prince Ferrari shirts on Orchard Street, mezuzos on Essex Street, loose candy on Rivington Street…. We bought Danskin outfits for our children

by Kurtz’s and electrical appliances by Dembitzer on Essex Street. We were ensnared by the aromas of Gus’s Pickles down the block and stopped there to get an immediate relief for our craving. A crunchy sour or half-sour straight out of the barrel was followed by a purchase of sour tomatoes and sauerkraut fresh from the buckets.

There were a number of milchig restaurants in the area that did not have any hechsher. Eventually, they all took on rabbinical supervision. Ratner’s and the Garden Cafeteria (originally the favorite meeting place of secular Yiddish writers and actors) comes to my mind

Orchard Street

Eldridge Street Synagogue interior Polish Shtiebel on East Broadway

now. The Yiddish newspapers were published on East Broadway just off Essex.

The popular socialist leaning Forward and the more traditional Morgen Journal were situated on the same block. My cousin Beinish Horowitz, who did linotype at the Morgen Journal, once gave

mispallelim. Bialystocker Shul (still around), Beis Medrash Hagodol, and Allen Street Shul are some examples. The Roumanishe Shul on Rivington Street where I went daily for Mincha/Maariv during my year of aveilus in 1966/67 was demolished in 2006.

I once got up well before dawn and headed to the Fulton Street Fish Market to see the action of the incoming fishing boats and the fishmongers selling their catches.

me a tour of how that paper was printed and published.

Then there were the myriad of shuls and shteiblech over a two-block span of East Broadway covering every nusach tefillah and minhag Yisroel. There were two major yeshivas in the East Side at that time, Tiferes Yerushalayim of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, (still there) and Rabbeinu Yakov Yosef (RJJ). Some large shuls still existed but had dwindling

There is no reason for us to go to the Lower East Side nowadays, yet we have gone a number of times. Many years ago, we took an excellent tour of the Tenement Museum which depicted the life of a Jewish and Italian family who lived in the tenement at 103 Orchard Street.

On one visit, we explored the Eldridge Street Synagogue after it was renovated, and it was fascinating. Again, about three years ago, we took a walking tour

Guss’ Pickles

House of Sages on East Broadway

with a guide who was surprised at the amount of knowledge I had about his expertise, the East Side’s history.

I am going to turn the clock back to 1981. Working in Manhattan I used to pick up a free publication called “The Learning Annex.” The magazine advertised courses that one could take in every discipline – art, crafts, music, writing, acting, languages and physical education. They also had interesting activities one could subscribe to. These courses and activities charged a small fee. I noticed one activity which was just up my alley. It was aptly named, “The Great Limousine Race.” The challenge was to find the listed twenty-five places or items which were all located within Manhattan. Covered in the price for five attendees was a chauffeured limousine for a two-hour period. During that span of time, the contestants would have to find as many of the twenty-five places or items within the city as possible.

The area was from Central Park South to the tip of Battery Park. I contacted my friends, Motel Bergman, Itchie Friedman, Chanoch Lubling and Asher Urbach, who were equally excited about this contest. We subscribed to this contest and met the organizer and other

Fulton Fish Market at dawn

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contestants at an East Side bar on the evening of March 31. We were briefed about the rules and were told that we had two hours from the starting time to complete the task. The group that would have the most answers and artifacts would be declared the winner. When all the participants were present, we were given a sheet with twenty-five items. Most of them were questions that could be answered only by going to specific locations within the city. Those places were either city landmarks, statues, or plaques that had the information that we needed in order to answer those questions. In addition, there were some items that we were required to bring back with us.

We sat down for a few minutes to review the questions before getting into the limousine. Although I did have some difficulty with some of the questions, many of them were easy since I had a great deal of knowledge of Manhattan’s buildings and neighborhoods. I remember the question about the quote made by the patriot Nathan Hale before he was hanged by the British. I knew there was a statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park, and that quote was on the statue’s base.

I was able to answer a question about the first group of Jews that came to New

nounced as the winners. The prize was to register for any course or program that was offered by the Learning Annex without a charge. We never followed up on that offer. The fact that we won the contest was enough of a reward!

The Limousine Hunt

Amsterdam by remembering that the memorial plaque to those immigrants was on the bottom of a flagstaff in Battery Park.

After we made a driving plan according to the information I provided, we were driven to those locations and garnered almost all the answers to the contest’s questions. Obviously, I cannot recall all the questions, but I do remember driving over to Madison Square Park and later to the Pulitzer Fountain by the Plaza Hotel for some information. Among

the items that we were required to bring back was a matchbook from an exclusive restaurant with a celebrity clientele. I mustered up my courage and went in and explained our predicament and was graciously offered two matchbooks. I don’t recollect what the other items were, but we returned with most of them.

Our group was the first to return and had to wait for the others. After everyone was present, our answer sheets were reviewed and our artifacts were collected, and after a short wait, we were an-

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit.

He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences.

Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

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nspiration Nation

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Alex Clare

Giving Up Singing For Shabbos

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

In His Words…

When we have a contradiction, a stira, it’s the most beautiful thing; it means you’ve got a whole space between the two contradictions to find something that’s true, and that’s where the Torah happens.

”

shabbos is the focus of my life in many, many ways, especially in yerushalayim, i really live for shabbos... i love shabbos. i love the shabbos seudah, i love the davening, taking a day to rest and reflect; it’s brilliant, but the ultimate reason i keep shabbos is because it’s a mitzvah in the Torah and it’s a means to connect to hakadosh Baruch hu.

”

Whenever there is a big shift in life, a big shift in direction, whether it’s emotionally, whether it’s financially, whether it’s in terms of family structure – whatever that change may be – part of that change is accepting that things will never be the same as they were before.

”

Be authentic and don’t self-censor. Don’t worry if you have a feeling or a thought you want to share... listen to your thoughts, listen to your feelings; they’re valid, they’re real, and create from that place.

”

T

here’s a fairly common view, especially among those who aren’t observant, that the 613 mitzvos are really 613 restrictions. Of course, most frum Jews wouldn’t use those specific words, but many would concede that Judaism inherently entails some level of self-sacrifice. As you read the following story, I invite you to consider whether this paradigm is true: does an Orthodox lifestyle involve depriving oneself or does it only sometimes seem that way?

Alex Clare grew up in southeast London, a quiet, rather dull part of England’s capital. Judaism could be found neither in his home nor in his neighborhood, as few shuls stood in the surrounding area and his family wasn’t the least bit observant. Beginning at a young age, Alex attended a Catholic school, but he quickly found himself itching for a truth he simply couldn’t find in Christianity.

“I’d ask questions, and I’d always meet this sort of resistance,” Alex recalled. “There’d be glaring contradictions, and no one could ever really resolve those contradictions in that environment. They weren’t interested in resolving contradictions; they were happy to live with it, whereas by us [in Judaism], when we have a contradiction, a stira, it’s the most beautiful thing: it means you’ve got a whole space between the two contradictions to find something that’s true, and that’s where the Torah happens.”

As a young boy, Alex found himself drawn to his father’s jazz records, and some of Alex’s earliest memories of listening to music were of him listening to old music in his mother’s car. He later developed a passion for the drums and started dreaming of playing with a band and touring around the world. It was only years later that his ambitions shifted to becoming a singer-songwriter.

Despite his secular upbringing, Alex believed in G-d, and as he learned more and more about religion, he began to develop an interest in Judaism. Little by little, he became more and more religious until he was, at last, a complete baal teshuva.

“By the time I signed my first record deal, I was shomer Shabbos,” he shared.

From the outset, he told his record label, Island Records, that he would be unable to work on Friday nights and Saturdays, and they accepted that. However, when Alex released his first single and it failed to gain any sort of popularity, the higher-ups at the record label were upset. Alex’s bosses realized that all of the opportunities he was given to promote his new song were on Friday nights and Saturdays, and they asked him why he was turning all of them down. When Alex reiterated that he couldn’t work on Shabbos because he was frum, they were surprised because they thought he just wanted the weekends off so that he could relax and have fun.

A few months later, in spring of 2011,

97 be a concert for a design exposition that night, but the singer got sick and they wanted Alex to sub in for him. They offered him 11,000 pounds, and with that money, he was able to instantly pay off his debt to his bandmates. While being in less debt was certainly nice, his confidence in his musical future was still absolutely shattered. As far as he was concerned, his music career was finished, and so he decided to go a different route: he packed up and went to learn in yeshiva in Yerushalayim.

In 2012, when Alex was around twenty five years old and still in yeshiva, Microsoft, out of the blue, decided to use one of his songs for a major commercial watched by millions of people: an advertisement for a new version of their Internet Explorer browser. Alex’s song, which is titled, “Too Close,” became an overnight sensation. And since he had no smartphone or laptop at the time, he was the last to know.

It was then that he received a phone call, asking him if he could travel to Germany the following day. He said he probably wouldn’t be able to, considering how he was a yeshiva bachur in Yerushalayim, but they told him that he should really come because the song is going to be a number one hit in Germany and that they had already bought him a plane ticket. He explained the situation to his rosh yeshiva, and the rabbi told Alex that he should go to Germany for the sake of making a parnassa.

The song went on to be a hit in dozens of countries, and won two Platinum records in the U.S., where it had sold three million copies.

What’s more? If the record label hadn’t fired him and he was still on the original record deal, he would have been paid very little for his newfound fame, but because he was dropped, the label was forced to offer him a far more gen-

This article is based on a podcast, “Inspiration For the Nation,” hosted

by Yaakov Langer. To catch more of this conversation, you can watch it on LivingLchaim.com or YouTube.com/LivingLchaim or listen wherever you listen to podcasts (just search for “Inspiration For The Nation”) or call our free hotline: 605-477-2100.

erous salary to get him back.

“Every label in the country was trying to sign me,” Alex explained. “I was now one of the top-selling artists in the world, and they [Island Records] had to give me a new record deal that was worth three times more than the original.”

It was a surreal experience which, in Alex’s words, was “extremely validating” for him. When he was experiencing rejection from the music industry, he was confused; why was he being forced to sacrifice so much when he was just trying to be a better person? However, it is clear to all that Alex didn’t sacrifice a thing. In fact, his decision to choose Shabbos and yom tov over music only brought him more fame and fortune in the end.

In 2015, Alex returned to teshiva, and today, he lives in Eretz Yisroel with his wife and children, still devoted to music but infinitely more so to Yiddishkeit.

As human beings, we tend to be very myopic. Who can see past tomorrow?

Who can even see past today? The story of Alex Clare may seem inspiring because of its happy ending, but imagine an alternate reality in which he found absolutely no success in the music industry, where he seemingly received no validation or reward for his sacrifices.

Would the story still be inspiring?

You may try and fail to see Alex’s story in your own life. Perhaps you’ve made significant sacrifices for the sake of Hashem but have yet to see any sort of salvation. The one thing you must know is that your story isn’t over, and while today it might seem like you’ve given up everything, tomorrow you may realize that you have sacrificed nothing at all. As Jews, we know that G-d is kind and just and that no good deed goes unrewarded. But we also sometimes get so sucked into this illusory world that we’re blind to what lies beyond this existence. To sacrifice this world for the next is not a sacrifice at all.

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Alex was offered an incredible opportunity to tour with a famous pop singer… and he declined. Why? Because Pesach was right in the middle of the tour.

The final straw broke several months later on motzei Yom Kippur when Alex received a call from the label.

“Alex, we’ve got an amazing opportunity for you,” they told him. “The best thing is that it’s not on a Friday night; it’s only Thursday night, and it’s to play live on the BBC.” The only problem: Thursday night was Sukkot, and so he declined the opportunity once again.

“They fired me. They actually fired me,” Alex said. “I had a debt of around 150,000 pounds to them for making my record, and I had like no money in the bank.”

To make matters worse, as per his contract, he owed his band 11,000 pounds.

For Alex, Simchat Torah that year was anything but joyful. He lost his career, he was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and all because he didn’t compromise on his commitment to Judaism.

Desperate and depressed, Alex asked his rebbi for advice, and he got the answer he needed. His rebbi gave him the following message: “Alex, you’re a shtikel Avraham Avinu. Avraham was given ten tests, and in his final one, he was told by Hashem to sacrifice the most important thing to him: his son, Yitzchok, and because Avraham passed the test, Hashem promised him that his children would be as numerous as the stars of the sky. Alex, we’re all standing here because of Avraham’s willingness to sacrifice the most important thing in his life for Hashem, and I promise you, Alex, if you’re moser nefesh, you too will see siyata dishmaya.”

The next day, Alex received a phone call from a promoter in Germany, and he was told that there was supposed to

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With Dignity and Respect Local RNSP Members Join ZAKA in Their Sacred Mission

By ReBecca ByRd

O

n October 7, when the news of the horrific massacre being perpetrated by Hamas terrorists slowly filtered out of Israel, the members of Rockaway Nassau Shomrim Patrol (RNSP) were receiving alerts put over their radios advising them to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for any dangers in the Far Rockaway-Five Towns community.

Since it was yom tov, the news that they received was minimal, they just heard the alerts, and the details that they received came from outside sources like security guards who had read of the horrific attacks online.

But RNSP members are trained to help, and days after the massacre, Jesse Vogel, Micha Lader, and Y Isaac Stern – specially trained RNSP members and members of Chessed Shel Emes – knew that they wanted to be with their brothers and sisters in Israel to help in any way they could.

Some RNSP members are trained in search and rescue, and as Chessed Shel Emes members, they are trained to deal with the horrific but vital task of burying all body parts, blood and body tissue of Jewish victims. Jesse’s cousin, Simcha Greiniman, has been a member of ZAKA in Israel for many years, and Jesse reached out to him to see if ZAKA could use their assistance.

At first, right after the attacks, the situation in Israel was overwhelming, with ZAKA members barely sleeping for days, as they dealt with the shocking and grueling task of burying the victims of the attacks.

“The ZAKA members were physically exhausted, but even more than that, they were emotionally exhausted,” Micha shared.

Finally, after two weeks of navigating bureaucracy and red tape, Jesse, Micha, and Isaac boarded a plane to Israel to help ZAKA members in their recovery mission. Their plan was to stay for eight days, to spend that time ensuring that Jewish bodies and parts are given proper burial.

From the time they landed at Ben Gurion Airport, the three men knew their energies and emo-

tions would be dedicated to the victims.

On Sunday night, when they landed, they went straight to the Kotel to tear kriyah. Only a few staircases from where they were, ZAKA members were gathered for their nightly get-togethers where ZAKA members meet after a grueling day to connect with each other and to decompress.

“It’s an impressive thing when you see these guys who are doing a herculean task that’s far above and beyond what people would say you’d have to be macho to deal with, and they’re literally singing and crying on each other’s shoulders at the same time,” Jesse shared. “They’re not embarrassed about it at all because it’s what allows them to decompress and be able to carry on.”

Singer Ishay Ribo and Yonatan Razel were at the get-together that night to give the ZAKA members chizuk. Other people were there as well, trying to uplift the ZAKA members.

Wearing protective gear

“That’s the part that becomes a huge burden and a big emotional task because there’s so much heavy energy going on

A field of cars and carnage

because you know what happened.”

Isaac recalled, “This rabbi, whose child is one of the hostages, was there giving them chizuk. It was unbelievable. Some people were crying, singing, talking, or processing. Some of the guys, you look

at them, and it looks like they’ve got nothing left in them, like they’ve seen a ghost, and then you have other people who are reacting in a different way – everyone deals with it differently.”

Each Home Tells a Story During the October 7 th massacre, many people

99 nades and check for bombs. Some of the terrorists had put grenades underneath bodies so that when the bodies would be turned over, the grenades would explode. Therefore, the soldiers went in with dogs to the homes to make sure the homes weren’t boobytrapped.

“After that, ZAKA was allowed to go in, and, under heavy fire, they managed to take out the bodies. They walked in the same way they walked out, not wanting to risk stepping in something that they shouldn’t have. After that, they closed up the houses.”

Jesse, Micha, and Isaac described the trauma of having to “clean” the homes two weeks after the massacre. This is not the first time they had been involved in the recovery of Jewish remains, but it was certainly the most emotionally draining.

“When you know this person died because they were beaten to death or tortured, that’s the part that becomes a huge burden and a big emotional task because there’s so much heavy energy going on because you know what happened,” Isaac shared.

“The scene might look the same as a terrorist explosion, but the story behind it is so much greater.”

He added, “You’re in a person’s home. You know that there were children there. You are cleaning off their toys. It’s not like here, where something happens and it’s just one place that you need to take care of, and then you go back to your regular life.

It was a whole town, you’re going from one house, to another, to their neighbors.”

Jesse noted that every home looked different inside depending, unfortunately, on what went on in the home. There were “rimon houses,” which the army referred to if the victims were killed from a grenade, called a rimon in Hebrew. Those homes required a lot more effort and attention from the team.

Every item containing blood from a Jewish victim has to be buried. The team spent hours cleaning all the areas of the home. The wipes they used needed to be buried as well. All the furniture needed to be taken apart, and parts of it needed to be buried if blood or other fluids were found on it.

Their day was exhausting – physically and emotionally. On the drive back to Yerushalayim that night, they each spent time processing what they witnessed in their own way.

ZAKA members are volunteers who spend their own personal time to help with the klal in this intense and vital task. Jesse and Isaac are raising funds for individual ZAKA members to help support them during this time. Many volunteers have left their jobs or have closed their businesses so they can volunteer with ZAKA. To help donate to ZAKA members, you can send money through Zelle to donate@rockawaypatrol.org; be sure to put “for ZAKA” in the memo so it will be earmarked for ZAKA members who so desperately need our help.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

were killed by terrorists in the Kissufim kibbutz, located just 400 meters from the Gaza border, and many others were taken hostage. On the first day that Jesse, Isaac, and Micha went with ZAKA to help with recovery efforts, they were taken to Kissufim.

The men were driven in a caravan, with army vehicles in the front of and behind their car. As the rockets were still flying, it was dangerous for them to travel alone near the Gaza border. Additionally, some terrorists were still in Israel, and army members were cautioning them to be careful.

The three men, dressed in protective gear, were

given a rundown of what to expect when they entered Kissufim. But suddenly, they heard gunfire – a terrorist, only a block or two from where they were standing, had been found and neutralized.

“The guys there, they’re used to it,” Jesse recalled. “For us, it was brand new. When we heard the gunshots, we just couldn’t figure out if it was from far away because there’s artillery that’s going off constantly; tanks that are firing the entire time. You’re not sure what’s close and what’s not close. It was a rough introduction to our time there.”

The introduction was even more tumultuous due to the rockets going off around them.

Isaac explained that because they were so close to the Gaza border, there is only a five-second warning from the time the siren goes off until you need to get to a shelter or drop to the ground. During the debriefing that morning, “a rocket came right over our heads, and the Iron Dome intercepted it right above our heads,” he said. “Thank G-d, we didn’t have any shrapnel hit us, but we had to lie down with our hands over our necks to protect our necks – our helmets protected our heads – and hope that we didn’t get hit by shrapnel in our legs.”

There were around 25 men in their group, heading from house to house in the kibbutz. Three to four men entered one home at a time, with soldiers guarding the homes from the outside.

In the immediate days following the October 7 th massacre, ZAKA members and officials had been through the homes to take out the victims’ bodies.

This time around, ZAKA members were needed for another round through the homes, to empty the areas of all body parts and blood for burial.

Isaac explained, “In the day or two after the attacks, the soldiers would enter the homes before they even took out any bodies to remove any gre-

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 30, 2023

100 targets of Hamas terrorists on October 7. While thousands of people attended the festival that was billed a “peace party,” militants stormed in on paragliders and vans, murdering and kidnapping festival-goers.

More than 350 people were killed at the festival; at least 40 others were taken hostage.

Many revelers at the festival and the kibbutzim attempted to flee in their cars, although their exit was blocked by Hamas terrorists. Scores of cars littered the road after the attacks, their passengers killed for being Jews.

The Israeli government, in an effort to help with the recovery of bodies, corralled those cars – along with other cars of other Israelis attempting to flee the south and cars from the kibbutzim that were attacked – into one location. Jesse, Micha, and Isaac were sent to that location – which held around 450 cars at first – to start with the cleaning of those vehicles. The work was grueling and intense, with the blazing sun beating down on recovery teams who had to clean every spot in the cramped vehicles.

It took a few hours for a team of five to six guys to clean one car.

“Everyone is there just to work Y Isaac Stern, Micha Lader, Simcha Greiniman, and Jesse Vogel and to work as hard as they can to get this done as quickly as they can while being careful,” Isaac explained. “The air conditioning vents have to be The Horror in Be’eri The next day, the group headed to Kibbutz Be’eri. cleaned. The fabric has to be cut…. You’re literally More than 100 Israelis had been slaughtered in Be’eri in a field filled with 450 cars – you can’t imagine on October 7. The kibbutz is now being used as an army base. Jesse, Micha, and Isaac spent a few hours with other team members to create a plan on how to handle the cleaning of the homes in the kibbutz.

“In Be’eri, you didn’t have to use all your senses to know how bad it was. We smelled death everywhere.

It was a very, very hard one,” Micha shared.

Jesse’s cousin Simcha is a 32-year veteran of ZAKA. He had come back to Be’eri that day with the group.

“When he came back, he was as white as a ghost,” Jesse recalled. “Literally, as white as a sheet, and he said, ‘I can’t believe I’m in Be’eri again. I can’t even how big that is. Some of the cars are burnt to a tell you.’ He was visibly shaken just that one time crisp. Some of the cars just have a bullet hole in going around because Be’eri was hit so hard. He said, them. We’re hearing rocket fire, and we’re seeing ‘All I can see are the bodies that were here before.’” helicopters above our heads firing missiles, and we’re feeling and hearing artillery going off constantly. It’s a surreal experience.”

Over the two days that Jesse, Micha, and Isaac Hundreds of Cars The Nova music festival was one of the first were working on cleaning the cars, the government

“In Be’eri, you didn’t have to use all your senses to know how bad it was.”

had been bringing in more cars to be dealt with.

“By the time we left, there were probably around 2,000 cars in the area,” Micha said.

Ultimately, the government received a psak to bury all the cars that were too difficult to clean.

A Huge Zechus The eight days spent in Israel for Jesse, Micha, and Isaac were intense, a physically all-consuming endeavor that sapped their energy and emotions.

Still, they each said that they would sign up again to help ZAKA with recovery efforts if they were needed.

Isaac spoke about how his time in Israel connected him to the neshamos of those who were killed al kiddush Hashem on October 7.

“For me, during my time there, it was connecting with the bodies and with their neshama and kind of feeling like, ‘I’ll take care of you. I’m going to put you back together. I’m going to get you buried.’

“The intensity was crazy, but we were on a mission,” he added, “and there was no time for anything else. After heading back home, for a few days, I didn’t really want to talk about it or discuss it at all until I gave myself enough space to process what I went through and what I saw, and then, of course, I opened up to different people and to a therapist to be able to process it.”

Micha noted, “Those who were killed were killed al kiddush Hashem, and it was a zechus to be able to take care of them. We’re the types of people who want to be doing something; we can’t just sit on the sidelines. And we felt it was a zechus to go and give chizuk to people as well. We did a lot of work there, but when we left, we left feeling that we left the job undone. There was so much more that had to be done.”

For Jesse, the time spent in Israel for those eight days were fast-moving and intense.

“It was like being a race car driver. You’re in your lane. You can go as fast as you can. You can go around curves and obstacles, and then you come back here. And you just open the door, and you get out and the world stops moving. And all of a sudden, the world’s not moving anymore, and things seem so useless at times. While we were there, every minute had a purpose.

“One of the things that I noticed when we were cleaning the cars was that it didn’t make a difference if they were chiloni, Sephardi or Ashkenaz; they were our brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, all the carnage looked the same. All of these preconceived notions are just silly. Ultimately, we’re all Yidden, and the least we could do was bury them with dignity.

He concluded, “The lesson I took away for the future is to work on ahavas Yisroel and to be more inclusive of all types of Jews.”

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Israel Today

Walking Through War

By Emmy Leah Zitter

“A

m hanetzach lo mifached miderech arukah”—the eternal nation is not afraid of a long road. These words hang on a home-made painted banner across from my front porch in Beit Shemesh. I see them every morning as I drink my cup of tea and read the war news in the daily newspaper. You hear them sung often in Israel these days.

Today’s war is part of the long road that began with the words Lech Lechah and kum hishalech ba’aretz, Hashem’s command to Avraham to go to Eretz Yisrael and to walk through the land.

I’ve been walking a lot in our beautiful country these last weeks, taking my own short walks along our people’s long history, our long road, walking through the first three weeks of war….

Walking—Week One The first days of the war. We’d begun hearing about atrocities of the Hamas pogrom, reading stories we thought we’d never hear outside a Holocaust history class, seeing pictures we never imagined in our worst nightmares. And slowly, we started hearing names of the dead.

Among the approximately 300 soldiers killed defending our people the first day of the war were three boys from our neighborhood, two sons and a son-in-law: Yosef Malachi Guedalia, Daniel Kastiel, and Moshe Yedidya Raziel, Hy”d. In those early days, the Home Front Command discouraged large groups from attending funerals. Instead, a new and sorrowful minhag emerged on the streets of Israel.

When a community learned of a family leaving their home for the saddest journey imaginable, the drive to a military cemetery for the burial of a son, neighbors and friends gathered near their home with Israeli flags, lining up to give a final kavod to the fallen soldier and to offer love and support to the bereaved family.

I walked to three such processions for my community’s fallen soldiers. At each, hundreds of neighbors stood, waiting for the family to drive by. Some quietly said Tehillim; others stood silently, speechless

in the shared grief. As cars with family members drove slowly by, the crowd followed, walking mournfully. At these solemn processions, people began spontaneously to sing quietly. We walked to the sound of Ani Ma’amin. We cried to the sound of HaMalach HaGoel, the tune parents all over the world sing to their children as they close their eyes in sleep…

Walking—Week Two Though missiles were still flying in the south and center of Israel, Beit Shemesh had been quiet for days. I decided to chance an exercise walk through the neighborhood.

I remembered walks I took during Covid. In those days, the threat was other walkers. If anyone passed by, I’d cross the street. What if they sneezed?

Today, though, different time, different dangers. I felt a heightened sense of place, a need to notice everything around me: If the siren sounded, where could I find safety in the ninety seconds Beit Shimshis have to run to shelter? I passed our local playground. During an azakah, could I crouch beneath the bright-colored climbing equipment? Continuing down the road, I walked quickly by the city’s rose gardens, not stopping as usual to smell their fragrance. I must move fast: a fragile bush gives no protection.

Past the gardens, I faced two possible

routes. Straight ahead a neighborhood of homes—homes with stone walls, shelter if necessary. But instead, I turned left.

This direction was more open, more dangerous. I passed a small copse with benches and tables: in happier times Beit Shimshis would picnic here. Right past, I reached my goal—the andartah, the memorial for fallen soldiers and terror victims of Bet Shemesh.

Strangely, I felt no fear here. I walked across the large open area in front of the looming stone memorial to better read the 100 or so names etched on plaques affixed to the monument. The earliest names were of those who fell before the State of Israel was established. I sighed, thinking of new names soon to be added.

Silently davening for no more deaths, no more plaques to attach to the sad wall, I walked back home.

Walking—Week Three The third week of the war. Schools, stores, even some restaurants were re-opening. Mail delivery resumed. I received notice of a package waiting for me in Old Beit Shemesh. Instead of taking the car, I decided to enjoy the nice weather and the quiet—no sirens in about a week— and walk there. What could happen on a half-hour stroll in middle of the day?

Ten minutes from my house, that question was answered, literally with a

bang. The wail of the siren. Missile attack. No time to find indoor shelter. I felt as if I was watching myself from outside, following Home Front Command instructions: find a stone wall, lay down flat in front of it (new directive: they used to say crouch in a ball to make less of a target, but now they say lying flat lessens the chance of multiple shrapnel hits), cover your head with your hands.

Time moved slowly, like a slow-motion film. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bus screech to a halt and dozens of young passengers race out to find cover. Our enemies shot their missiles just as schoolchildren all over the city were heading home.

Lying on the ground, I told myself, say Tehillim. The perek I know best by heart is, of course, Shir HaMaalos of benching.

I said the first line. I suppose I was a bit in shock, because I couldn’t remember what came after that. I kept repeating those opening words: when Hashem returned to Zion, we were like dreamers… we were like dreamers...like dreamers….

The siren stopped, followed by four thunderous booms. This had been a heavy barrage of missiles in our area, with some landing in open areas nearby.

I got up a little shakily. Now, the smart and responsible thing to do would have been to head home, to my safe room with its concrete walls. But something in me said, no, I’m not going to let them stop me.

I continued my walk, oddly and perhaps irrationally unafraid.

I got to the store where my package awaited with no further drama. I hadn’t ordered anything, so I had no idea what to expect. There it was, a small package, wrapped in layers of brown paper. I opened it and found…

Tehillim Mechulak. A present from the organizer of my Tehillim group. David haMelech’s words of anguish and fear, comfort and faith, made to be said

by Jews davening together for the safety of our families, our soldiers, our nation.

A gift of hope, worth a walk through a war.

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Jewish History

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Partition: November 29, 1947

By Larry Domnitch

N

ovember 29, 1947, at 5:50 p.m.

EST, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution that would divide the Land of Israel between a Jewish and Arab state. Thirty-three nations voted in favor, thirteen in opposition, and ten abstained. Rival superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, supported partition. The UN would recognize a small but nonetheless soon to be Jewish state, which would follow the British evacuation on May 14.

The world body which would be a repository for so much hostility towards Israel over the next seventy-six years apparently experienced a moment of common sense and sound judgement.

With the long-awaited prospect of Jewish statehood now a reality, Jews rejoiced and danced throughout that night. People embraced and offered congratulations. At a gathering at the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, David Ben Gurion called for everyone gathered to sing the Hatikvah. Jewish Agency official Golda Meyerson (Meir) assured those Holocaust survivors still languishing in Displaced Persons camps in Europe and Cyprus that “together with us, you will live in a free Jewish state.” According to the UN Resolution 181, the Jews would soon receive a small sliver of land consisting of the Negev Desert, a large portion of the coast, and parts of the Galilee region, which made up about twelve percent of the original Jewish home called for by the 1917 Balfour Declaration. Jerusalem was designated to be an international city. Those Jewish communities outside the designated Jewish controlled areas would become incorporated in the proposed Arab state.

As Jews of the Yishuv celebrated and danced horas, their lives were in jeopardy, with escalating Arab opposition.

Arab UN delegations reacted swiftly in expressing opposition. Ambassador

Amir Arslan of Syria proclaimed that his nation “will never recognize such a decision”; Ambassador Jamali of Iraq declared that resolution 181 “undermines peace, justice and democracy,” as

launched against Jews throughout the Palestine Mandate.

In the first month following the UN vote, 118 Jews were killed and 217 were wounded. Civilians on the streets, con-

As Jews of the Yishuv celebrated and danced horas, their lives were in jeopardy, with escalating Arab opposition.

they and their Arab colleagues abruptly walked out the halls of the UN in Lake Success, New York, in protest. Almost immediately, Arab labor strikes in Palestine were called, and acts of terror were

voys to cities, and institutions such as medical clinics were attacked. Violence also extended into the Arab world as Jewish communities were violently attacked.

In the Yemenite city of Aden, anti-Jewish

riots broke out with reports of 82 Jews killed and 74 others wounded. In Tripolitania, Libya, 130 Jews were murdered.

Soon, the Arab Legion of irregular troops led by Nazi trained commandoes Hassam Salameh and Abdul Kader Husseini, nephew of the infamous Mufti, Amin Al Husseini, led the Arab campaign of violence and terror while the surrounding Arab nations preferred to wait until the British evacuation before launching an invasion. On February 11, 1948, a bombing on Ben Yehudah Street in central Jerusalem killed and wounded hundreds.

As attacks against the Jews were waged, troops of the Haganah and Irgun came to the defense. Jerusalem and its one hundred thousand Jews faced siege with supply routes under assault and supplies dangerously low.

The Jewish State, given international approval but not yet officially born, was fighting for its very existence.

United Nations Resolution 181 represented the rebirth of the Jewish State and also dealt a crushing blow to the proposed two-state solution which was rejected by Arab leadership.

Seventy-six years later, Israel thrives but still faces dangerous, existential threats. Today, significant dangers come from the Iranian regime and its terror proxies who have caused devastation and threaten the wellbeing of the Jewish State.

Resolution 181 and the process of Jewish statehood, which it helped put into motion, should be remembered as well as the lessons from that triumphant yet traumatic era.

Larry Domnitch is the author of The Impact of World War One on the Jewish People, by Urim Publications. He lives in Efrat.

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Thanks for providing this opportunity for people to get their questions out. My family loves reading it!

This is a question I have had for a while, and I’m wondering what you guys think. For some background, I’m a 28-year-old guy, and I’ve been dating

for four years. I am dating a girl I met at a singles Shabbaton. She is one of the first out-of-towners l’ve dated (shout out to your recent question about location!). I’m really impressed with her on many levels. She’s down-to-earth and very relaxed, not high maintenance, kind, super giving – all things I appreciate.

I’m wondering though if things continue to go well how I can properly “break the news” to my parents. Although I am handling my own dating, they have made it clear that they would like me to focus on dating local to the tri-state area. All my other siblings married local girls. My parents are used to local mechutanim and having everyone close by. I’ve been hesitating telling my parents about the girl I’m dating because of this exact issue.

I would love to hear your advice on this. Thank you so much.

Ari*

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

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CHANUKAH EDITION!

DECEMBER 7 TH

516.734.0858

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

ONE MEGA

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The Panel

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

A

ri, why not break the news to your parents that you have decided to open up your dating pool to include outof-town girls now? This way, you will have a chance to explain your reasons and that this is a deliberate decision.

You won’t spring something on them suddenly if things move towards an engagement with the young woman you are currently dating. They will have a chance to get used to the possibility. In the interim, even though they may complain and disagree, if you are calm and not defensive, they will begin to pay attention to their friends whose children married young people beyond the tri-

state area.

Learn to stand up for a legitimate choice. Convenience of local mechutanim should not be a factor at this point in your life when you are a developed adult. And don’t say that you asked the panelists of the Dating Dialogue even if they may see this column. In other words, don’t act defensive. Own your decision, but speak with respect, of course.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

F

irstly, I just want to congratulate you on meeting a great girl whom you connect with. As I’m sure you have experienced over the last four years, that

alone is an amazing feat and something to be super grateful for. I understand that bringing the topic of familial distance up to your parents is going to be hard to navigate; however, it is crucial.

What I suggest you do as a precursor to bringing up the topic is the following: sit down with the woman you are dating and discuss the topic. Whether or not your parents are against it, this is actually a crucial element of discussion. If the woman expects to travel back to her family every weekend (or if that is your expectation), this is something you both need to know beforehand. (Note that I am only bringing this up as it has come up in prior shidduchim I have worked on.) If she is a reasonable, normal woman, she will not hold to that standard, and the two of you will discuss together where it makes sense to live and when to visit.

Stay focused on the bracha at hand, and the things that seemed important will no longer be significant.

You are a grown man and can make your own decisions about your life choices. Armed with all the info about how amazing this woman is, your parents will definitely come around.

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The Single Man

The Zaidy

Tzipora Grodko

Ben*

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

A

H

R

hhh! That is SO EXCITING, Ari! I personally always find comedy to be a comforting way to be vulnerable and honest. How about “Man plans and G-d laughs”? Keep in mind that there is no perfect answer, since none of us know the dynamics of your family. Start the conversation without any expectation for their approval. Stay focused on the bracha at hand, and the things that seemed important will no longer be significant.

i Ari, would your parents rather you “focus on dating in the tristate area” or actually get married? Regardless, 28 is a good age to start making your own decisions that are in your best interest.

Wishing you clarity and mazal!

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

D

ear Ari, Thank you for making our column a part of your Shabbos table.

What an honor! You strike me as a very “together,” very capable person with the gift of gab and communication.

With regard to what to say to your parents, it could be something as simple as “Mom and Dad, I met a wonderful woman on a Shabbaton. We have been dating seriously. She is kind, down-toearth, relaxed and super giving. She has all the qualities I have been looking for. I know you specifically asked me not date anyone from out of town. It just happened. And I am so happy.”

Your discomfort is completely natural as you want to honor and respect your parents. I think that is an admirable

quality in an adult child.

However, there does come a time in life when we are allowed to individuate and do not have to make huge life choices for our parents.

We have to make them for ourselves. If your parents have a negative reaction, give them a little time to come around and adjust. Validate their experience: “I know this is hard for you. It is hard for me too. I am happy with her, and I know that is ultimately what you want for me.”

I hope they have a good reaction but ultimately you get to marry the person you want… regardless of where she lives.

All the best, Jennifer

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

eally?

You’re 28 years old, you’re the last single sibling, and you don’t understand how happy your parents will be to hear that you’ve found the right girl?

You really don’t understand how eager they are for you to move out of the house?

Haven’t you noticed that your parents have been collecting Florida condominium brochures?

Don’t be surprised when your parents offer to help you pack your bags.

ADDENDUM: I had some time on my hands, so I asked the online AI program, ChatGPT, for its opinion about my advice. In a millisecond, the computer

Learn to stand up for a legitimate choice.

responded to me: “Your proposed answer seems to take a humorous and sarcastic tone, which may not be the best approach when addressing a serious and potentially sensitive issue, like discussing a long-distance relationship with parents.

Try a more constructive and empathetic response.”

(Lately, I’ve noticed that this AI program is starting to sound more and more like my wife.)

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The Single

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Parenting Pearls

Answering the Questions

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

I

anxiously checked the news this past Friday, desperate to see reports confirming the safe return of our brothers and sisters being held in Gaza. I thought I was going to cry, and I didn’t want to break down in front of my daughter. She asked me what was going on, and I hesitated, trying to think what would be appropriate to share. During those moments that I collected myself and contemplated my words, I reflected on how crucial it is that we give our children information in an appropriate way. As those questions flew through my mind, I thought of how many parents are

likely encountering the same challenge.

I didn’t want to ignore her question. If she is asking, then she wants that information. I also realized she was likely to hear about the situation from a different source.

It was important to me that I be her first – and main – address for information.

In the past few weeks, we’ve faced questions we never expected and may not feel prepared to answer. No article can make us fully ready to answer each question or anticipate every one of our child’s needs.

It can never be said – or written – often enough that parents should take advantage

of the many community resources available to best guide them with their child.

To the Child As with every aspect of chinuch, we have to target that child’s particular needs and be mindful when answering their questions. We want to consider their age and cognitive development, as well as their individual personality, when deciding whether something is appropriate to share.

Age is only one factor since kids mature at different rates. It’s not uncommon for parents to find a younger child may be more mature than an older one in certain areas. Additionally, a child may be more mature in one area than in another. Personality is another important factor. For example, some kids are naturally more sensitive than others.

We’re not judging these children or the way Hashem made them. If they’re more or less mature, sensitive or aware, it does not make them better or worse. Everyone – children included –process painful or difficult situations in their own, unique way. Just as we want others to respect our needs, we can do the same for them.

It’s usually unnecessary to use big or scary words, and we can make our point clearly without resorting to language that will increase their anxiety. Additionally, children may not have an accurate understanding of the intent or the subtle nuances of our words. We want to ensure that we speak in a way that our children will correctly understand what we’ve said.

Understand Their Questions Many years ago, I did a lot of substitute teaching. Usually, I was given some advanced notice by the school, and the regu-

lar teacher would have submitted work for me to do with their class. One time, I got a call from a Hebrew school that needed a teacher at the last minute for a coed class of young teens. These students generally did not come from religious families, and it was important to explain things in a way they could understand, despite not having a strong Judaic background. I had just enough time to commute to the building and run in before class began. It must have been a truly unexpected teacher absence, because when I arrived, I discovered they had not left any assignments for me.

I entered the classroom, hoping I could use one of their textbooks to give me a clue what they were studying. It was really frustrating when the kids told me, “We don’t use textbooks, we just have discussions.” I didn’t know whether that was true, but I couldn’t argue it with them.

There is a unique skill to substitute teaching, and thinking fast is one of them. I quickly decided to try telling over the parsha. Parsha seemed safe, and because we were in Bereishis, there were plenty of inspiring stories from the Chumash to share.

I was explaining how Hashem commanded Avram to perform a bris mila. As I was telling over this momentous event, a young man raised his hand and asked, “Why did Abraham need to have a bris?”

I was shocked; I had not expected such a deep question.

I took a moment to compose myself and think of a proper response to such an important question. In my head, I debated how to properly explain some of the hashkafos behind the mitzvah of a bris. I also wanted to be sensitive when speaking to a young teen in a coed crowd.

their questions shows how much we value them and want to be available to them.

General Guidelines There are general guidelines to keep in mind during difficult discussions. While there are certain guidelines to help us, we need to remember that (almost) every (non-halachic) rule was meant to be broken. I never thought I’d write that in an article. It doesn’t matter how perfectly something works for children; if it doesn’t work

time to think it over” can be better than an unthought-out, but immediate, response.

We don’t need to say everything there is to be said on the topic. For example, I could mention there were hostages being held in Gaza without giving every detail of what their evil captors were capable of doing. It would be enough for her to know they were away from their families and that we all missed them.

We don’t need to say everything at one time. It’s often helpful for children to hear

Respecting all their questions shows how much we value them and want to be available to them.

for your child, then you don’t follow that guideline. This is why so much of what I’m writing may sound contradictory.

We often feel pressured to answer as soon as a child asks. It’s hard to respond to such an emotionally heavy query. Saying to your child, “That’s a really important question; I’d like to answer later after I’ve had

things in smaller, bite-sized pieces. Some information now, a little more later, and the rest over another discussion or two often helps children to assimilate the information. It also gives us a chance to see how they’re tolerating what they’ve already heard. For example, seeing signs of anxiety or a child having trouble sleeping can

indicate they have heard too much and are not ready for more. As with all words, we can always add more later, but we can never take back ones already spoken.

Each child can handle different information, and parents may find it helpful to have this discussion separately with each child. Other kids get more stressed when they’re the only one being addressed. For these kids, a family or group discussion may be more helpful.

It can be tempting to add details so the child will really “get” what’s happened, but this may backfire. Children – even teens – are too young to understand the depths of the suffering of others, nor do they know how to digest such painful information.

Kids won’t truly comprehend what happened, and that’s probably for the best.

Parents have an important role in helping children understand the world around them. It’s both a privilege and a responsibility. May Hashem give us the right words to say and only simchas to speak of.

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.

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Before I said anything, as I was mentally going through the possible explanations, he made a comment, and I realized I had completely misunderstood his initial question. I had made the assumption that he was asking why Jews are commanded to do bris mila. He was actually asking why Avraham Avinu specifically needed one, since – as this young man assumed – Avraham had a bris at eight days old like all Jewish boys. He wanted to know why Avraham needed a second one!

As I calmed down the rest of the class that was laughing, I gently explained how Avraham had not had a bris at eight days old, and this was not only the first bris for Avraham Avinu but also when the commandment started.

Kids have less life experience and see the world differently than we do. It’s so important to ascertain what they’re really asking so we can make sure we’re answering the correct question.

Also, we don’t want to mock them for their naivete. Yes, the average person realizes a man only needs one bris, but this young man clearly was confused and was bold enough to ask. Mocking a child or their question is not only harmful emotionally but is also a way to almost guarantee they’ll stop asking. Respecting all

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 30, 2023

112

School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q: A:

Dear Etti, Why do children cheat?

I got a phone call from my son’s school and am so surprised and concerned.

-Curious Father

Dear Curious Dad, Children who are little, until at least kindergarten age, might cheat because they don’t understand the rules of a game or understand the difference between right and wrong.

They cheat because they want to win, as they see that winning is the goal of the game or activity. They want to beat you up the stairs, be first to get a treat, be the fastest running, and win at every game.

As they get older and begin to understand the rules, they begin to cheat for various reasons.

They might cheat if they find the work too hard to do or if it takes extra effort.

They might cheat because of the pressure they feel from themselves or from others around them to do well.

They might cheat because they don’t know how to handle the disappointment of losing.

They might cheat because their parents have given them the impression they cannot do well on their own (examples might include parents redoing the task the child completed to do it better – a parent rewashes the dishes the child just washed; homework is checked and corrected so there are no mistakes; parent will stay up and do the project or report for the child so it is done correctly).

They might cheat because their parents cheat for them. When parents sign reading logs and middos checklists and the information is not true, it teaches children that the results matter more than the process.

We are modeling untruths.

There are other ways adults model not following the rules. Parking in a handicapped-only spot, double parking just for a minute, telling the ride operator that a child is older or younger to save money or allow them into the ride… these are all things children pick up

on and it all becomes part of that when children learn to value their moral compass. They effort over appearing smart, we Sometimes, follow what we do more than have helped children learn that what we say. there is value in hard work. for a child to The follow ing stor y We also have to be careful comes to mind whenever what messages we send when we come home this conversation comes up. think we are having harmless fun. with a grade A teacher recounted that Parents might allow their chilshe was setting up her classdren to win each game and act upthat he thinks set about losing to make a child room for PTA, and a father feel even better about winning, suddenly ducked into the will make his but it might be sending the wrong room. message about the whole concept “I know PTA didn’t start parents happy, and importance of winning and yet,” he apologized. “My wife losing. Teaching children the thinks I am still at work, he might feel he rules, playing by those rules, and but I wanted to hear more then complimenting each other on about why you called to say needs to cheat. a good game no matter who wins our daughter is lying. It conor loses is a better lesson in havcerns me.” ing fun –and it is actually fun!

We all want our children Keep in mind that there is a lesson in losing as well, to be healthy, kind, successful, and happy. Unfortunately, studies show that our children think success is as it helps us figure out what we did wrong and how we what parents care about most. Sometimes, for a child can do better next time. When we are always allowed to come home with a grade that he thinks will make his to win, our skills do not improve, and we can never be any better than we are. As our child matures, you can parents happy, he might feel he needs to cheat.

We need to show our children that effort and hard teach that as well.

Side point: We also need to teach our children how work matter. We can’t just say it; they need to feel that to win. Children who brag or make sure everyone we really believe it.

When a child comes home with a test grade, ask- knows how great they are will not get invited to play ing, “Did you do your personal best?” might be a more or hang out with others over time as they make others meaningful question than “I expect 100% all the time.” feel uncomfortable.

If a child continues to have a problem with cheatTaking the time to be on top of their test schedule and teach them how to study (breaking down the material ing, give it time. Have an open dialogue. If the probso every night is focused and productive) is helpful, lem persists, they might need professional help. pressuring them to do well without giving them study skills is not.

Best, Carol Dweck, author of Growth Mindset, explains 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.

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Health & F tness

Navigating Nutrition Information on Social Media

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

W

hen people are in search of nutrition information, many will utilize their social media apps.

These apps can include Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where content can be spread fast and is readily available. While it’s great that nutritional information can be shared easily with one another, there is also the concern that misinformation will be spread. There are countless nutrition bloggers who may not share credible and evidence-based resources with their followers which can lead to more confusion and false claims on different nutrition topics. Many of these influencers lack formal education in nutrition.

There are a few reasons why we must be wary of the spread of unreliable nutrition information.

1. The goal of nutrition education is for people to make proper dietary choices to improve their health and quality of life.

Nutrition advice shared online may seem harmless, but if the information is inaccurate, it may lead people to make poor dietary choices. For example, many supplement companies have created “green powder” supplements that state they include many servings of fruits, vegetables, and other benefits. The companies pay different influencers to promote these drinks which can encourage people to buy them.

While most of these supplements are safe to consume, it may cause people to decrease their actual intake of real fruits and vegetables, since they are being told these drinks contain everything they need. It’s best to get our nutrients from fruits and vegetables because it’s easier to absorb into the body. Many supplements may not contain antioxidants, carotenoids, and flavonoids, and supplements are a lot more expensive than fruits and vegetables.

Another common way health influencers promote poor dietary choices is by promoting a gluten-free diet. While many people need to go on a gluten-free

diet since they’re celiac or have gluten-sensitivity, other individuals choose to be gluten-free since they’re told it’s healthier. There are gluten-free products that are higher in calories, lack essential micronutrients like iron, folate, and B-vitamins, have added sugar and fat, and can also be more expensive than gluten options. If you don’t need to avoid gluten, it’s best to incorporate your diet with whole grains to gain the nutritional benefits and also choose healthier gluten-free options like quinoa and brown rice. It’s crucial to follow the serving size guidelines for weight management!

Nutrition influencers can misinform their audience by promoting “healthy” recipes that can actually cause people to gain weight. Many people love to indulge in doughnuts but they are high in calories, sugar, and fat, so “healthier” dessert recipes are being made but some can actually cause you to still gain weight. For example, one can make stuffed dates with almond butter and chocolate chips as a dessert that’s much less calories than processed than doughnuts. Even though they are healthier than doughnuts, one serving can still be high in calories since dates and almond butter are energy-dense. One

serving can have around 150 calories, and it’s easy to eat multiple of these dates since they are small in size. If you eat three, that’s 450 calories and about the same amount of calories as a doughnut!

2. Misguided Practices: Not all diets are supported with credible and evidenced-based information. These diets can be promoted by influencers that lack scientific support. Examples of fad diets that influencers talk about are the Carnivore Diet, Keto Diet, and juice cleanses.

The Carnivore Diet is a diet based on animal foods like meat, eggs, fish, small amounts of dairy and animal fats, and excludes most or all plant-based foods.

This diet is unbalanced since there are nutrients one can miss if they don’t eat fruits and vegetables. Since the diet is also high in fat, many fat sources are saturated or trans fat, which can lead to higher levels of LDL cholesterol (the bad one) and triglycerides. Over time, this can increase your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. The diet also has limited evidence and data so health influencers shouldn’t encourage people to do it until we know more about the long-term safety of the diet.

The Keto Diet was first developed to

control epilepsy in children, but now it has turned into a diet for weight loss. It consists mainly of high fat intake, moderate protein, and low carb. There have been successful studies done on obese individuals who went on Keto to lose weight, but the diet is hard to do long-term. If one goes off the Keto Diet, then they can easily regain all the weight they lost. Similar to the Carnivore Diet, there are concerns about LDL and triglyceride levels.

Juice cleanses have gained a lot of popularity over the years. They’re promoted by many health coaches to help detoxify your body and help you lose weight. Juice cleanses are unhealthy since they lack important vitamins and minerals found in protein, whole grains, and healthy fats, and they are low in fiber, which is important for digestion, satiety, and maintaining blood sugar levels. Juice cleanses can promote loss of muscle mass and lead to many other health risks that include fatigue, electrolytes imbalances, and dizziness. Our bodies have their own detoxifying methods like the liver and kidneys, so juice cleanses are not needed!

Encouraging fad diets can lead people to dedicate their time and effort into approaches that are ineffective and detrimental to their health. Depending on your health goals, it’s essential to find diets that have been researched and tested on many individuals. A weight loss diet that has been tested and studied is intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is a diet where you switch between fasting and eating for periods of time. There are different types of fasts based on what schedule works for you. If done correctly, many people have success with weight loss and management, and other benefits include heart health, physical performance, and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

3. Undermining Credibility: Many health professionals go through years of schooling to educate themselves

Who Should You Get Your Nutrition Information From?

It’s best to listen to registered dietitians when it comes to nutrition. They’re trained and licensed professionals in the field of nutrition and dietetics and experts on food and nutrition. Other healthcare professionals may take a nutrition class here and there, but dietitians go through intensive schooling and must stay current on credible nutrition data. The steps of schooling that registered dietitians go through include: 1. Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics: Typical classes nutrition students take are nutrition classes, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and food science.

2. Dietetic Internship: The di-

etetic internship is a supervised practice to become a registered dietitian. Interns are provided with hands-on experience in many settings where dietitians work such as hospitals, community settings, and foodservice.

3. Passing the Registration Exam: After completing the internship, aspiring dietitians need to pass the national registration examination for dietitians.

4. Graduate School: Previously optional, but after 2024, one is required to have a master’s in order to take the exam.

One doesn’t have to get their master’s in nutrition, but many internship programs offer a combined master’s in nutrition and internship for their interns. If one receives their master’s in nutrition, they are able to advance their degree and learn more about dietetics.

5. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs: Like most healthcare fields, dietitians will need to continue their education to stay up to date with the latest research and practices.

6. Specializing: Some dietitians end up specializing in certain fields. Examples include weight-loss, GI issues, diabetes, and eating disorders. It’s better to rely on dietitians for specific nutrition information if they specialize in it, since

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they are more knowledgeable on it than a general dietitian.

What Websites are Credible?

If you’re researching nutrition information on your own, here are a few ways to make sure you’re reading resources that are reliable.

1. Government Health Agencies: Examples include Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

2. Educational Institutions: Many universities, medical schools, or academic medical centers have reliable and well-researched content.

3. Professional Healthcare Organizations: These websites can include the American Medical Association (AMA), American Heart Association (AHA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), or the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

4. Medical Journals and Research Studies: Information published in peer-reviewed medical journals is typically reliable.

5. Some Blogs: Reading blogs and articles can be an easy and fun way to learn more about nutrition. It’s important to make sure the author of the article is

credible and preferably a registered dietitian, and their claims are backed up by reputable sources. It’s also important to look at the publication date to make sure the content is up to date, since nutrition data can change.

When it comes to navigating nutrition information on social media, be cognizant of where you get your information from, since a lot of nutrition content available can be unreliable. There is an increase in the number of nutrition bloggers without formal education in the field that can contribute to confusion and the spread of false claims. This can impact health choices of people, promote misguided practices, and undermine the credibility of trained healthcare professionals.

To combat this, it’s crucial to seek nutrition information from credible sources, especially registered dietitians who are experts in nutrition and dietetics.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show.

Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

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on different health topics so they can provide proper care to their patients. We see this for doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and even registered dietitians. Listening to nutrition influencers who aren’t dietitians can take away the credibility of trusted nutrition experts. When false information is widely spread, it becomes challenging for people to tell the difference between evidence-based recommendations and unreliable claims.

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Hum

r

The Pesicha Fiasco

By Country Yossi Toiv

FULL DISCLOSURE: The following story is 100% true (except for some minor exaggerations)

L

ast week, I was approached by a gabbai before the Torah reading and was kindly offered to do pesi-

cha.

I didn’t have to think for even a moment before politely declining the honor. He looked at me strangely, like, what chutzpah, turning down a beautiful kibbud! But then he mumbled something, shrugged and turned and offered it to someone else. It might have been the first time in his 30 year “Gabbaihood” that somebody turned him down! I saw him whisper something to the rabbi, who gave me a dirty, disapproving look, waved his finger and disparagingly shook his head from side to side in utter contempt – but I didn’t care!

Little did he know there was a good reason for my seeming disrespect!

You see, last year, I was davening in a crowded Young Israel minyan with over 800 mispallelim in Florida one Shabbos when I was approached by a well-meaning gabbai offering me to do pesicha. Naturally, I was honored and

quickly agreed. Then, at the proper time, I strode up to the Aron Kodesh, stood on the right side of the huge, embroidered, velvet curtain, and looked for the cord to pull on which would slide the paroches to the side. But much to my surprise, there was no cord to pull!

I quickly looked behind the curtain (sometimes, the cord is hidden), but still no luck.

I thought that perhaps it was placed on the other side for some reason, so I walked quickly to the left side of the curtain and searched – to no avail!

Still no cord!

A murmur went up from the crowd.

I was holding up the davening! The chazzan was already standing there nervously tapping his foot, waiting for me to give him the Sefer Torah. He was staring daggers at me! My face started to turn a bright crimson just like the velvet curtain that was giving me such problems. I turned around, looking for help, but no one was coming to my aid.

Then I had a brilliant idea! I recalled that in some shuls, the Aron doesn’t have any cords at all to pull. You have to slide the curtain to the side with your hand. Sheepishly smiling, but now, with

a growing confidence that I had solved the problem, I tried pushing the curtain to the side. But it wouldn’t budge! It was big and heavy, and hardly moved. Aha, I thought to myself, I probably have to push it not from left to right but from right to left. Beaming at my brilliance, I quickly jumped to the other side and tried pushing it that way. But again, it wouldn’t budge an inch!

By now the murmuring had turned into angry shouts, hooting and laughter!

“NEEE, NUUU, SHOITEH EFFIN SHOIN!” I started to panic!

The blood drained from my face!

For a brief second, I thought of bolting off the stage, out of the shul and running home. But then I had a brilliant idea. I turned and picked up the curtain from the bottom and raised it over my head and dropped it behind me. So now I was invisible to the deafening crowd and had access to the Aron. I thought, perhaps, this was a new security feature to protect against anyone seeing the combination used to open the Aron.

At this point, the agitated shouting and insults (“meshugeneh, ferd, shlemazel”) were mostly muffled, but I could hear

footsteps approaching me.

The gabbai had finally come to my rescue.

He lifted the curtain and guided me back to the proper position on the right side of the curtain.

Now, utterly mortified, I half-turned to witness the devastation I had unleashed. To my horror, there was utter chaos in the shul. Eight hundred exceedingly agitated, starving men were calling for my head. I thought at any moment I would be rushed, bound and quartered by the crazed crowd already salivating from the scent of pickled herring, cholent and kishkeh wafting in from the lobby.

The rabbi’s face had turned a deep, royal purple livid with anger! The aging president was apoplectic; his whole body was twitching uncontrollably while his mouth was convoluted, foaming and twisted with an expression I’d never seen on a living person before.

Suddenly, the gabbai glared crosseyed at me and pointed repeatedly and spastically above my head. Perplexed, I looked up, and lo and behold, I couldn’t believe my eyes! There, hanging about three feet above my head, was the beau-

A year later, I was davening in a shteeble this time, when, once again, I was approached by a well-meaning gabbai offering me…guess what? Pesicha!

What it is about my face that makes me the perfect candidate for pesicha I’ll never know. Is it my beard, my nose, my 10-gallon cowboy hat?

Whatever!

By this time, the pain, embarrassment, and anguish of the first sordid affair had somewhat dissipated, and I figured, what can possibly go wrong again, right?

So I reluctantly accepted!

As I approached the curtain, I was horrified once again to see there was no

cord! I don’t know who designs these things, but they should be fired!

Horrible memories flooded my mind, nearly paralyzing my muscles!

I ran to the other side – still no cord!

Remembering the last time, I looked up to the ceiling, but this time there was no blessed cord hanging there!

Nervous murmurs and giggles rose from the congregation. I began to sweat

heavy, gray metal doors. Should be easy, shmeazy, right? Wrong! As hard as I tried, I couldn’t get them to swing open!

Each door must’ve weighed 100 pounds.

I couldn’t even turn the handles!

Some men started yelling out instructions from the back of the shul.

Turn them to the left, turn them to the right, pull, push – nothing worked!

The room began spinning!

My face started to turn a bright crimson just like the velvet curtain that was giving me such problems.

profusely and heretofore repressed visions of deja vu paralyzed my feverish mind!

Thankfully, the rabbi saw my predicament and made a swiping motion with his hand. I quickly got the message and swiped the curtain. It slid easily to the side.

Whew!

Now, I only had to open the two

Pandemonium broke out as my heart started palpitating, and I felt a dizzying nausea rise from my bowels! My nightmare scenario was coming true…once again!

Overcome by overwhelming vertigo, I tried to maintain my balance, but I swooned and collapsed to the floor!

Luckily, a Hatzalah member jumped out of his seat, pulled out his walk-

ie-talkie and proceeded to tear off my favorite tie and rip open my custom-made, slim fit shirt! He pounded on my chest with both fists, but before he could reach for the defibrillator, someone shouted, “It’s open, it’s open!”

In my semiconscious, horizontal state, I thought they were talking about my chest, but when I gazed up from the floor, I saw that the two iron doors had swung wide open and the beautiful Sifrei Torah stood majestically within, waiting to be taken out.

I immediately felt better, got up, and handed the Torah to the chazzan who looked at me and my torn shirt with a mixture of horror, shock, and pitiful disgust.

As I slowly staggered back to my seat, people were giggling, patting my back, and wishing me well, but right then and there, I made me a solemn vow: I would never accept pesicha again!

THAT’S IT! So, to all you “Gabboim” reading this out there. If you see me in shul and are thinking about giving me a kibbud, be forewarned: I’ll accept any aliyah, hagbah, galilah or even Maftir but PLEASE, PLEASE no pesicha!

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tiful, blessed, triple-braided, tasseled cord! I’d have to have been 8 feet tall to have seen it – but there it was.

I quickly pulled it down, and the curtain smoothly slid to the side. The cacophony quickly subsided, and I handed the Torah to the chazzan. I then followed closely behind him for protection as he carried it to the Bimah, and to the audible sound of snickering laughter, I quickly left the shul.

I haven’t gone back there since!

End of story? Hardly!

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F

d for Thought

Napoletana

By Nati Burnside

S

ome restaurants are out there to fill a niche. Everyone who walks through the door is making the trip for the same reason. Whatever the niche is, their ability to fulfill the need is the question upon which the existence of the restaurant rests.

Other restaurants, however, strive to be many things to many people. While a tougher road to hoe than the former, this approach allows the business to potentially have multiple outlets as it strives to succeed in multiple disciplines simultaneously.

Napoletana, a new dairy restaurant inside the Armon Hotel in Stamford, is the latter. As you look through the menu, you’ll find many possible paths to go down. As your tour guide, I can tell you that there are delicious options whichever way you decide to turn.

When I was invited to Napoletana, I decided to begin in the most logical section of the menu… breakfast. Among a plethora of choices, I’d recommend getting the Eggs Benedict. With the restaurant being milchig, we are served smoked salmon instead of meat, but the trade is more than fair given the real dairy being used to make the hollandaise sauce.

Though the base often gets ignored in this dish, the house-made brioche challah is a great part of this item. It acts as an amazing vehicle to soak up the hollandaise, as well as the egg (once you puncture the perfectly poached pods). If you’re looking for a breakfast or brunch item, this is the way to go.

But let’s say you’re there a little later in the day and are looking for lunch. For that, the Israeli Platter is a can’t-miss.

The two pitas, eight falafel balls, a large plate of hummus, bowls of Israeli salad and French fries, and sides of tehina and sumac onions are easily enough to feed

two people. In fact, if you ask for an extra pita, you might be able to stretch it to three people. The hummus, falafel, and tehina are all made in house and will make you feel like you’re sitting in the homeland itself. The Israeli salad is classically done, and the pitas are as soft as the fries are crispy. Did I mention this platter is only $25? Maybe it has something to do with the exchange rate.

A third lane that Napoletana is able to occupy is that of a classy dairy restaurant. While the ambiance is middle tier, some items both on and off the menu will impress you with their plating and highend feel. Speaking of off menu items, Chef Doron Ginat is usually willing to whip up something interesting if that’s a challenge you would like to extend to him. For me, he made a tomato and red pepper carpaccio that was fabulous. Ask for him, and you might get a special treat you won’t soon forget.

As for something in that category that is actually on the menu, try the Wild Mushroom Risotto. It could be because the last handful of risottos I’ve had were all at fleishig restaurants, but I thought this was the best risotto I have ever had.

There’s nothing like using real butter and parmesan, and the mix of wild mushroom and truffle flavor make for a rich texture and flavor combination.

Even though Napoletana offers items such as these, it should be noted that the restaurant is also the local pizza joint. With no other kosher pizza places around, the 16” pies that Napoletana makes are crucial to the kosher landscape of the area. A bit more artisan than your hole-in-the-wall standard 18” pie place, the pizza here is really good. Everything I had came with a good char on the bottom, virtually no flop, and a flavorful crust.

While you certainly could order the

regular, try the All About the Greens Pizza if you’re a little bit more adventurous.

This white pie has a spiral of pesto sauce atop the mozzarella as well as a sprinkling of garlic confit and arugula. The pairing of the garlic and the pesto makes for an interesting marriage, and it works well here. I’m not usually a fan of white pies, but the lack of sauce is effective given the toppings.

Maybe you want comfort food, but would rather eat something with a fork and knife? In that case, go with the Cheesy Lasagna. It’ll take a few minutes, but that’s how you know they are making it fresh. This is your classic staple. It’s pasta, sauce, and cheese. That’s it. That’s the list. Yet there’s a reason why simple things last forever. Something as basic as lasagna can be exactly what you didn’t know you needed until you saw it on the menu. And I promise you that it won’t disappoint. Maybe you make lasagna at home, and maybe it’s really good. So this

is like that, but almost certainly better.

Give it a shot if you’re tempted.

They say that there’s always room for dessert, but there probably isn’t room for you to finish the Ooey Gooey Chocolate Calzone. That is, unless you brought a handful of friends. This dessert calzone uses the same dough as the pizza, but the inside is Nutella and halva, while there’s strawberry syrup and powdered sugar for the outside. The dough is as good as ever, and while the Nutella flavor overpowers the halva, the halva’s texture certainly makes a strong appearance. The result is a unique item that could feed the whole block if patrons wanted to limit themselves to only one slice. That said, one slice might be unrealistic given how delicious it is.

Napoletana has something for everyoney. And in a place without a ton of kosher restaurants, that’s a good thing. Depending on what you order, Napoletana can be everything from a pizza joint to an upscale Italian eatery. Or maybe everything from breakfast to brunch and from lunch to dinner. Either way, it’s worth stopping in and taking a look at the menu.

Or maybe just go off menu, and have some fun. What are you waiting for?

Dairy - Mediterranean - Waiter Service (203)-276-0688 2701 Summer Street, Stamford, CT Tarnopol Beis Din (TK)

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In The K tchen

Deep Fried PBJs

By Naomi Nachman

My friend Naomi Elberg, aka @naomi –tgis on Instagra m, gave me the inspiration for this recipe.

We made it together last year during Chanukah. The recipe is so easy and simple and a little fun idea for Chanukah.

You could even use a cookie cutter to make additional fun shapes or keep it simple as the recipe below with just the regular shaped bread. Try using different sandwich fillings, like chocolate spread, lotus butter or even try something savory like guaca mole.

Ingredients

◦ 1 loaf white bread ◦ 2 eggs ◦ 2-3 tablespoons milk

Preparation

In a small bowl, whisk up your eggs and milk until well combined; set aside.

Place cereal on a plate and set aside.

Take two slices of bread and put your desired amount of peanut butter and jelly

◦ 1-2 cups Frosted Flakes cereal, crushed

on either side, making a sandwich. Then, take the whole sandwich and dip it into

◦ 1 stick butter

your egg wash on each side. Once coated in egg wash, dip the sandwich into the

◦ Peanut butter

Frosted Flakes on both sides, making sure to heavily coat.

◦ Jelly

In a large pan on medium heat, melt about half a stick of butter (save remaining butter in case you need more for later).

Place your sandwich into your pan for a couple of minutes on either side (or until desired crispness is reached).

Eat and enjoy immediately after frying.

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.

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Mind Y

ur Business

5 Vital Banking Insights for Small Businesses

T

his 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.

O

n a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas, along with co-host Mike MacIntyre, head of Business Banking Sales at Citizens, spoke with five experts on the most prevalent banking trends that small businesses need to look out for.

Here are some of their top insights: Changes in the world of payment: Mark Williams (SVP, Head of Business Banking Treasury Solutions, at Citizens): The pace of change in the payments arena has been almost staggering, especially for small businesses. With the rise of digital payment platforms, it’s becoming easier for businesses to accept payments and manage cash. This can be difficult with so many different options out there, like Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, etc. That’s why it’s important that small business owners put the research in. All

of these services, at the end of the day, are ultimately beneficial to small businesses. They are designed to really empower small business owners to get a hold of their cash flow.

Another major change in the payment landscape has been the evolution of invoicing. This evolution is important because it can massively accelerate one’s time to revenue. When you send an invoice in the mail, it takes time for the customer to pay it. But with SMS or email invoicing, the customer is more likely to click “pay” immediately. This is a great way to speed up collection and maximize cash flow and liquidity.

The future of business on-the-go: Kate Conroy (SVP, Enterprise Payments Strategy & Innovation at Citizens) Business on-the-go is more important than ever. That’s why banks like Citizens,

as well as a lot of fintech providers out there, are adopting a mobile-first strategy. That’s where most of our customers are doing their banking now. Everyone is doing business on the go, and they don’t have time to get in front of a computer to do their banking. So, going mobile-first is about making banking easy and accessible no matter where you are.

One place where we’re seeing that is through the rise of RTPs (Real Time Payments), which is a 24/7/365 immediate payment method. With RTPs, the receiver of the payment has the money in their account within seconds, even if it’s a holiday or 3:00 AM. It takes a while for business systems and processes to adapt to new options like this, but I think we’ll definitely be seeing RTPs becoming much more standard in the ecosystem of payments.

And I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more consolidation in the market, espe-

cially with bringing banks, fintech providers, and payment software all together, so that customers and businesses are able to do whatever they need to do in one place, without having to go somewhere else for their financial services. They will have just one system with all of their financial services integrated.

The impact of rising interest rates: Thomas Grech (President & CEO at Queens Chamber of Commerce) Rising interest rates are currently hindering the expansion plans of any small businesses that are looking to grow, take out a loan, or even do a home equity line of credit on properties that they may own.

As a result, they’re primarily trying to work off of cash and continue to gain market share. However, any actual business expansion that might include capital requests has been put by the wayside. This

Getting the right kind of loan: Abe Schlisselfeld (Senior Managing Director at CBIZ Marks Paneth) When looking for a loan from a bank, there are three types of financing to consider. First, there’s real estate financing.

This is when people use their homes or buy investment properties (such as office, commercial, or industrial buildings) as an asset to securitize a loan from the bank.

The bank needs to make sure that the value of the asset is sufficient to cover the debt. Second, there’s fixed asset financing, which is generally in the manufacturing and distribution world. For people who own manufacturing plants, a lot of the equipment used to produce their inventory is very expensive. So, instead of taking

the money out of their bank account, they can get financing by using this equipment as their asset. Fixed asset financing is generally more expensive than real estate financing, because buildings are usually easier to sell than heavy pieces of machinery that are specific to certain industries or locations. Third, there’s inventory and receivables financing, which some people

whether they can collect the receivables or sell the inventory.

Getting behind innovation: John Harmon (Founder & CEO at African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey) It’s important to look out for innovation in order to remain on the cutting

“I’m a pen-and-paper type person myself, but staying relevant means breaking out of your comfort zone and learning to leverage technology.”

call “factoring.” If a company has inventory or receivables, they can go to the bank and come up with some sort of rate that they’re comfortable paying to ensure collectability. The bank secures the loan by taking a percentage of the receivables or inventory as payment. This gives the bank both some risk and reward depending on

edge. For example, New Jersey has made supporting emerging industries like wind energy, film, and AI top priorities. If you’re not embracing technology, you’re losing out. I’m a pen-and-paper type person myself, but staying relevant means breaking out of your comfort zone and learning to leverage technology. It’s important that we

position small businesses to take advantage of these emerging fields, help them get aligned for capital investment, and engage with those industry leaders. Innovation is a game changer, it’s a disrupter, and it’s transformational. You cannot be afraid of technology. There’s always something that can be leveraged, just like a good piece of fish. You eat the good part, and you throw away the bone.

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situation underscores the importance of supporting our local small businesses, such as restaurants – not just in Queens, but anywhere you live, the ethnicity of the people and their restaurants can define their neighborhoods. When a restaurant closes, it’s not just a business shutting down. A whole cultural segment is being ripped out of the heart and fabric of their community. That’s why it is so crucial that we help and support our local small businesses.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I was talking to a hostage negotiator this morning. He made the comparison between the 50 hostages that Hamas has promised to release, as opposed to the 150 prisoners that are Palestinians that Israel has released. And he made the comparison between the numbers and the fact that “does Israel not think that Palestinian lives are not valued as highly as Israeli lives.”

- Sky News host Kay Burley, asking perhaps the dumbest question ever on TV to Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy

That is an astonishing accusation. If we could release one prisoner for every one hostage, we would obviously do that.

– Levy in response

We got it wrong in the past.

- WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani on CNN explaining why it is getting into the business of prescription weight loss medications

Notice the question of proportionality doesn’t interest Palestinian supporters when they’re able to get more of their prisoners out. But really, it is outrageous to suggest that the fact that we are willing to release prisoners who are convicted of terrorism offenses, more of them than we are getting our own innocent children back, somehow suggests that we don’t care about Palestinian lives? Really, that’s a disgusting accusation.

– Ibid.

They have concluded that Vice President Harris is not capable; that when her IQ gets to 75, she should sell.

- Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) on Fox News pontificating about why the Democrats won’t pick Vice Pres. Harris to replace Pres. Biden

Excuse me for a second. Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? It’s got no class; it’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.

– San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who grabbed the PA microphone mid-game to admonish fans for booing former Spurs player Kawhi Leonard

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Thank you for having me. It was certainly an emotionally difficult day, to see the places where people were murdered. And also to watch the video where the murderers are rejoicing.

Celebrating the murder of innocent people is extremely disturbing. So we have to do whatever is necessary to stop the hate. Essentially these people have been fed propaganda since they were children. And it’s remarkable what humans are capable of if they’re fed falsehoods, from when they are children, they will think that the murder of innocent people is a good thing. That is how much propaganda can affect people’s minds. So you know, I actually did talk with the Prime Minister. And I think there’s three things that need to happen in the Gaza situation: there’s no choice but to kill those who insist on murdering civilians. You are not going to change their mind. But the second thing is to change the education so the new generation of murderers is not trained to be murderers. And the third thing, which also very important, is to try to build prosperity.

- Elon Musk’s remarks while visiting President Herzog on his trip to Israel this week

I can recognize a Jew hater from a long distance, and let me be very, very clear. Elon Musk is not an antisemite, and you really know it. He has made some serious mistakes…but an antisemite? No way.

– From a video tweeted by Dov Hikind vouching for Elon Musk and explaining how the left is trying to label him an antisemite to destroy him

Thanks, indeed you are correct.

- Elon Musk, in response

There’s no purchase that I regret more than my Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which is easily the worst car I’ve ever owned.

- Entrepreneur Luca Netz, in a recent interview with Fortune Magazine, talking about mistakes that he made when he was younger

It’s a great car on its face. But it’s big and clunky—I call it the oil rig. It has no gadgets and no functionality. Outside of the pretty orange interior I have, it serves no purpose.

- Ibid.

Jordan indeed is Palestine. I already spoke about it many years ago in Israel in 2010. Changing its name to Palestine will end the conflict in the Middle East and provide the Palestinians with an alternate homeland.

- Netherland politician Geert Wilders, who may form a coalition and be the new prime minister, on Fox News responding to criticism for his assertion that the Palestinian people should be moved to Jordan because “Jordan in Palestine”

Hamas releases 13 more Israeli soldiers and four foreign nationals to the Red Cross in a second exchange.

- Tweet by Reuters referring to the old women and young kids that were released on the first day of the ceasefire as “Israeli soldiers”

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My biggest fear was realized, and that is I would land and I would not be able to walk away.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is paralyzed from the waist down, joking to reporters after he completed a tandem 8000-foot jump with 106-year-old World War II veteran Al Blaschke, who jumped separately

This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.

- Tweet by Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, after 9-year-old hostage Emily Hand (who has Ireland citizenship) was released

She was abducted by an evil terrorist organization. What is with you and your government and your paid for media affiliates constantly downplaying/attempting to repress horrific acts that happen to children. You are a disgrace. The day after a stabbing of children in Ireland, NOT ONE PAPER HAD IT ON THEIR FRONT COVER. We will not forget.

Hamas Awarded Nobel Peace Prize For Releasing A Few of the Children They Kidnapped.

– MMA fighter Conor McGregor in response

- Babylon Bee satirical headline

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Political Crossfire

The “Cease-Fire Now” Imposture

By Bret Stephens

O

f all that’s been said and written about the war between Israel and Hamas, nothing has cut through the mental fog quite so brightly as a remark this month from Hillary Clinton on “The View.”

“Remember,” the former secretary of state said, “there was a cease-fire on Oct. 6 that Hamas broke by their barbaric assault on peaceful civilians and their kidnapping, their killing, their beheading, their terrible, inhumane savagery.”

Those three words — that Hamas broke — aren’t trivial. They give the lie to the “Cease-Fire Now” mirage, or imposture, that has become a rallying cry at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

They are at the heart of what the war is about, and the key to how it can end.

And they are the bright dividing line between those who would allow Hamas to get away with murder, and those who would refuse.

Why should it matter that it was Hamas that broke the cease-fire when Palestinian civilians are being killed in large numbers by Israeli bombs and bullets? Those saying that it shouldn’t matter argue that questions of culpability become secondary, if not irrelevant, when kids’ lives are at stake. If Israel has the power to save those kids by halting its campaign, goes the argument, then it has a moral obligation to do so.

But wait: Doesn’t Hamas also have the power? Hamas has a long record of firing those rockets from the vicinity of schools. It has sought to prevent ordinary Palestinians from obeying evacuation orders, deliberately putting them at increased risk. It hides in a vast network of tunnels while civilians must fend for themselves above ground.

The Israeli government and Hamas agreed last Wednesday morning to a fourday cease-fire in which Hamas would free 50 of the hostages. But Hamas did that only because it’s under intense military pressure. It could get a real and lasting cease-fire for the people of the Gaza Strip — and probably safe passage out of the territory for many of its members — in

exchange for releasing all the hostages, surrendering its arms, and renouncing its rule in favor of some other Arab power.

That Hamas has done none of these things isn’t shocking: it’s a terrorist death cult. What’s shocking is that people in the Cease-Fire Now crowd don’t appear to have much interest in making any demands of Hamas equivalent to those they make of Israel.

Palestine” for all its people. But I never hear them criticize Hamas’ dictatorship, or its contempt for the civil and human rights of its own people, or its members’ avowedly antisemitic boasts of slaughtering Jews.

There is a buried, unwitting compliment to Israel in this asymmetry — an assumption that, as a Western democracy, the Jewish state is susceptible to

Whatever else one thinks of Israel, no country can be expected to sign its own death warrant by indulging those who, if given the chance, would annihilate it.

They want Israel to stop firing. But do you often hear them insisting that Hamas return the favor? They want Israel to provide Gaza with humanitarian relief in the form of electricity, fuel and other goods. But I haven’t seen those protesters in the street demanding that Hamas provide Israel with humanitarian relief in the form of immediately freeing all hostages. They claim to want a “free

moral suasion, public shaming, or at least diplomatic pressure in a way Hamas and its patrons in Iran aren’t.

Yet that compliment is rarely accompanied with even a gesture of respect for Israel’s grief, or the legitimacy of its grievance with Hamas, or its need to keep its citizens safe, or even its right to exist as a sovereign state. Even when Israel’s notional right to self-defense is

briefly acknowledged, every exercise of it is immediately deemed a war crime, whatever the evidence.

For Israelis, what “Cease-Fire Now” means is “Surrender Now.” No wonder they decline to heed the call.

What about for Palestinians — women, children and noncombatant men for whom the calls for a cease-fire are supposedly intended? Would they benefit?

In the short term, of course: Palestinian lives would be saved if Israel held its fire.

But a cease-fire wouldn’t spare just civilians. It would spare, and embolden, the main fighting force of Hamas. It would also embolden terrorist allies like Hezbollah. That’s a virtual guarantee for future mass-casualty attacks against Israel, for ever-larger Israeli retaliation, and for deeper misery for the people of Gaza. No Israeli government of any political stripe is going to allow the territory to rebuild so long as Hamas remains in charge.

That gives a second meaning to “CeaseFire Now”: Either a demand for Israel’s total capitulation, or a recipe for a perpetual cycle of violence between a terrorist group sworn to Israel’s destruction and a Jewish state that refuses to be destroyed. Whatever else one thinks of Israel, no country can be expected to sign its own death warrant by indulging those who, if given the chance, would annihilate it.

There are good intentions, if also ignorance and shortsightedness, among many of those demanding a cease-fire.

But there is also the bottomless cynicism of others who accept, and even celebrate, Hamas as it uses living Palestinians as human shields and dead Palestinians as propaganda victories. The tragedy of these protests, like so many “anti-war” movements in the past, is that the naïve and earnest are again being manipulated as tools of the cunning and cruel.

Instead of Cease-Fire Now, we need Hamas’s Defeat Now. Only on that basis does a lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike have any chance to follow. © The New York Times

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Political Crossfire

A Fraught Battlespace Awaits Israel After the Pause

By David Ignatius

I

srael faces an agonizing and probably controversial dilemma ahead: After pausing the Gaza war for humanitarian reasons, how will the Israel Defense Forces start it up again to complete its objective of destroying Hamas’s political power?

Friday’s celebrations of the release of 13 Israeli women and children didn’t mask the concern among senior Israeli officials about what’s ahead in this stop-start war as Israel seeks to recover all 240 hostages and also crush the Hamas forces that hold most of them. “It’s bittersweet,” said one senior Israeli official in an interview on the eve of the hostage release. “I’m thinking of those who will not come out tomorrow.”

Israel hopes this round of trading hostages for Palestinian women and teenage prisoners can be extended until all the roughly 100 women and children held in Gaza have been freed. “At this point in time, Israel is focused on getting all 100 women and children released,” the senior official said. It will be far harder to expand the process further to include the more than 100 male civilians and soldiers. That probably means a return to battle soon.

“The next stage will be high-intensity conflict,” said the senior Israeli official.

“The IDF is determined to go to the next stage of the war. We’re not at the stabilization phase yet.” Asked about the likelihood that this renewed Israeli attack will draw international criticism, he responded: “There is very strong determination on the part of the IDF and the Israeli people that we can no longer live with Hamas ruling Gaza.”

Here’s the nub of the problem: Israel will seek to resume offensive operations at a moment when international pressure will grow for a permanent cease-fire.

An example is Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari, who told reporters Thursday in Doha, “Of course,

our aim is for this deal to end in a lasting truce.” Qatar has been the key mediator between Israel and Hamas in the hostage-release negotiations.

I’ve watched Israel repeatedly face similar dilemmas in past wars – of diplomatic pressure to halt fighting before the IDF believes it has completed its mission. In the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Israel had trapped

ganization chairman Yasser Arafat to leave the city with his forces.

Perhaps the most relevant example of stop-start warfare against Hamas was Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Israel invaded Gaza to destroy Hamas tunnels and stop rocket fire. Israel attacked July 7. The United States and Egypt brokered temporary, short-lived cease-fires on Aug.

I’ve watched Israel repeatedly face similar dilemmas in past wars – of diplomatic pressure to halt fighting before the IDF believes it has completed its mission.

the Egyptian Third Army on the east side of the Suez Canal and was stopped only by the intervention of U.S. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. In the 1982 siege of Beirut, Israel resisted repeated calls for a cease-fire before finally agreeing to a U.S. deal that allowed Palestine Liberation Or-

1, Aug. 10, Aug. 13 and Aug. 19 before a lasting truce was reached Aug. 26.

For all the devastation this latest war has brought to Palestinian civilians, Hamas fighters remain well-entrenched underground. Clearing operations aren’t over in northern Gaza, and those in south-

ern Gaza have barely begun. A second Israeli official said the Hamas tunnel network “is more developed than we thought” and that at least 600 tunnel shafts have been discovered and closed in the north alone.

The next phase of the war probably will include heavy assaults on Khan Younis and other Hamas strongholds in southern Gaza. But Israeli officials hope that during this stage, more international humanitarian aid will be available to ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, reducing the horrific images that drew global protests during the first six weeks of the war.

Hamas will undoubtedly use the pause to rest and regroup, and so will the IDF. “The pause will let our fighters get better prepared for the next stage of the war,” said the first Israeli official.

After the pause, Israel must make some tough decisions about IDF force levels.

After the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack, Israel called up an estimated 300,000 reservists – an unprecedented number that left the Israeli economy badly depleted of young talent. Some unneeded reservists may be sent back to their civilian jobs.

But the first Israeli official stressed that destroying Hamas is an overriding concern. “There’s an understanding that from an economic perspective, we need to win the war,” he said. “The costs of war are short term, relative to the long-term benefit of people going back to living safely.”

In the political-military sphere, one of the hardest maneuvers is advancing forces against an information barrage to stop the conflict. After the joy of the hostage releases in the coming days, Israel will face that difficult challenge – of how to finish the job it started against Hamas without triggering renewed international outrage. (c) 2023, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

By Martin Oliner

O

ctober 7 will go down in history as the most colossal failure and worst surprise in the history of the State of Israel.

Recognizing the enormity of the disaster, the IDF chief of staff and the heads of Southern Command, military intelligence, and the Shin Bet Security Service have already prepared resignation letters that they intend to submit soon after the end of the war in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized for not doing the same.

But has anyone called for the resignations of the leaders of the top Jewish organizations in the United States?

I will not be calling for them to quit either. But serious questions must be raised.

Were American Jewish leaders not caught similarly off guard by a dangerous situation that had been bubbling beneath the surface that they had been ignoring for too long, with disastrous results?

Could anything not have been done to prevent the startling rise of antisemitism?

Could the scary situation on American college campuses not have been averted?

Netanyahu has rightly been slammed for facilitating the transfer of suitcases of money to Hamas. Did American Jewish leaders similarly facilitate money going to causes that have undermined the safety of American Jewry?

Perhaps before October 7, such questions could have been dismissed as exaggerating or fearmongering. Had I asked them at a public gathering, it is possible that eyes would have rolled, and no proper answer would have been given.

But here we are on what Bret Stephens rightly wrote in The New York Times must be seen as a perpetual October 8. Every single day after the most catastrophic day in Israel’s history must be devoted to righting its wrongs. We cannot afford to move on until the policies of American Jewish groups that

were proven so dangerously incorrect are changed dramatically.

Jewish Federations, Hillel groups, and the Anti-Defamation League in particular must reconsider their priorities, programming, and alliances.

Did they veer too much away from helping American Jews in need in order to adopt universal causes? Did they go too far in criticizing Israel for its internal policies and proposals that only showed the vibrancy of Israeli democracy?

Such questions can also be asked of individual American Jews, too many of whom gave money to Black Lives Matter, colleges, and universities, and now regret it. Some even gave money to charities that once helped Jewish immigrants and now facilitate the integration of immigrants who will make American policies less pro-Israel over time and lay the seeds for antisemitism.

Tikkun Olam (the Jewish concept of fixing the world) sounds great on paper.

But now it is the fixing that needs immediate fixing.

It is becoming increasingly clear that

intersectionality is not helpful to the Jewish people.

Polls showing support for Hamas and opposition to Israel among Americans, especially among young adults, prove we are losing an important battle and the situation is out of control. Prior to October 7, it was unimaginable that in America there would be so much support for Hamas and that Jewish power in the U.S. could be so diminished.

Just as the Jewish state has failed its population in the critical mission of ensuring that there would never be a day justifiably comparable to the Holocaust, so too have American Jewish organizations failed the people they purport to serve.

Every Jewish organization in the United States needs to refocus and reconsider what it is trying to accomplish.

People came to the November 14 “March for Israel” in Washington with different motives. Some came because of Israel and the just war that it is fighting.

Some came because of the unbearable antisemitism experienced since October

7. Some came because of the unabashed complicity of university administrations with Hamas supporters and their failure to protect Jewish students on campus.

No one could have imagined the full extent of antisemitism that existed in the United States. Organizations that fight antisemitism and the constituent organizations of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations must acknowledge that they did something wrong if unmasked antisemitism has gotten this bad.

We knew that the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia were pouring tons of money into American universities, yet, like the missiles fired from Gaza and Lebanon, we thought the problem would just go away. Meanwhile, millions of young minds have been corrupted and taken hostage.

Now we must wage war against antisemitism. A window of opportunity following the atrocities of October 7 is quickly closing.

Just like Israel must destroy Hamas – and ideally, other proxies of Iran – while it has sufficient support in the United States, American Jewish organizations must act before the tide turns completely against us.

And just like, in Israel, groups that bitterly fought each other have abandoned their platforms and united against a common foe, we American Jews must unite in an unprecedented effort to turn our horrible failure into the success that we so desperately need for our future.

Martin Oliner is chairman of the Religious Zionists of America, chairman of the Center for Righteousness and Integrity, president of the Culture for Peace Institute, and a committee member of the Jewish Agency. He was appointed by former U.S. president Donald Trump and serves as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Mr. Oliner is the former mayor of Lawrence, NY.

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The Failure of U.S. Jewish Leadership

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Forgotten Her es

Heroes in the IAF

By Avi Heiligman

I

n the current conflict in Israel a lot of media attention has been focused on the ground units that have been entering Gaza and protecting the other borders. Both the Israeli Navy and Air Force have also been quite active and have performed many operations in both Gaza and around the country. The Israeli Air Force (IAF), commanded by General Tomar Bar, has been operating the Iron Dome missile defense system, carrying out thousands of strikes against Hamas and other terrorists, and has conducted many special operations.

The Iron Dome is a mobile, all-weather air defense system that has been operational since 2011. The system detects an incoming missile and determines its current location and where approximately it will land. If the rocket is projected to land in an unpopulated area, the Iron Dome won’t fire. Most of the Hamas rockets are unguided and often land in empty fields. However, if the rocket is on a crash course to cause damage, the Iron Dome comes to life by firing a missile that destroys the incoming rocket. Other systems like the Arrow and David’s Sling can shoot down lon-

ger-range missiles that are beyond the capabilities of the Iron Dome. Hostile UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have become increasingly more common for use by the terrorists. Both the Iron Dome and David Sling systems have been used to shoot these threats out of the sky.

There are at least ten Iron Dome batteries deployed across Israel, and

is a directed energy defense system and uses a fiber laser to destroy incoming projectiles. It is much more cost effective than the Iron Dome, but the Iron Beam is not currently an all-weather system.

Both manned planes and drones of the Israeli Air Force have been very active since the start of the war and are performing a variety of missions. Fol-

There are at least ten Iron Dome batteries deployed across Israel, and the effective rate is at least at 90%.

the effective rate is at least at 90%. Iron Dome, which is operated by the Israeli Air Force, has shot down thousands of rockets since the beginning of the war.

At the time of the writing of this article, there are reports of the first successful use of the Iron Beam. The Iron Beam

lowing the October 7 attacks, the Israeli Air Force started an intensive campaign of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Precession bombs and missiles were used against compounds, command centers, and tunnels. Many Hamas and Hezbollah commanders

were eliminated by fighter jets and armed drones. Also targeted and destroyed were members and commanders of the Nukhba Force, the unit responsible for the October 7 th attacks. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the IAF used helicopters and drones to track and eliminate terrorists who had infiltrated Israeli territory.

The IAF currently has F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in its arsenal. On November 2, an F-35I “Adir” shot down a cruise missile over the Red Sea. The missile originated from the Houthis in Yemen. It was the first intercept made by the stealth fighter. Another ballistic missile coming from Yemen was shot down by the IAF using the Arrow system.

Two IAF squadrons have been tasked as heavy transport units and have conducted a wide range of missions. The 103rd Squadron, operating C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, and the 131st Squadron, who fly transport and aerial refueling planes, have been working around the clock. Their missions include cargo transport, mid-air refueling, troop transport and air support.

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The Iron Dome defense system

Unit 669 was launched in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. A dedicated pararescue unit was needed for combat search and rescue, and Unit 669 was soon created. Training of these elite airmen takes 18 months, while they go through a variety of schools and courses. They take basic training with paratroopers and learn how to parachute.

Other courses include learning how to be a combat medic, SCUBA and rescue

diver schools on counterterrorism, jungle, desert and urban warfare, and helicopter entry and exiting and navigation.

Some of the unit members are Special Forces soldiers, while others are doctors to provide critical care at the scene. As of November 13, the unit has already performed 260 medavac missions and special operations during the war. Hundreds of IDF soldiers have been rescued by the unit, including many missions

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under intense fire from Hamas.

The many missions performed by the IAF, especially the targeted airstrikes, have put increasing pressure on Hamas and Hezbollah and have reduced their ability to fight back at Israeli troops. For security reasons, the Israeli Air Force doesn’t usually release the names of its operators or details of many of its operations. However, some information has been made available to the public, and

it is clear that those who serve in the Israeli Air Force are a major part of the war effort. These heroes deserve to be remembered.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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SERVICES SHOMER SHABBOS DRIVERS With Suburbans available for airport, hourly rates, out of town trips 646-208-6593 PEACEFUL PRESENCE STUDIO Men’s private yoga, Licensed Massage & Holistic Health Guidance 436 Central Ave, Cedarhurst Info. & free video training www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715 GERBER MOVING FULL SERVICE MOVING Packing Moving Supplies Local Long Distance Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422 HANDYMAN AVAILABLE For big or small jobs, Sheetrock, carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, install & repair appliances Call Ephraim at 347-593-4691 VACUUM SALES AND REPAIR All areas call Max Flam 718-444-4904 MANAGEMENT STAFF WILL ASSIST you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242 HAIR COURSE: Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs. Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009 ZEVIZZ WOODTURNING JUDAICA Challah knifes, batei mezuzah, besamim holder, kiddish cups, havdalah candle holders, yad for sefer torah, pens, stenders, bowls and more 952-356-2228

HOUSES FOR SALE

HOUSES FOR SALE

HOUSES FOR SALE

DON’T GET STUCK WITH A TWO STORY HOUSE YA KNOW, IT’S ONE STORY BEFORE YOU BUY IT BUT A SECOND STORY AFTER YOU OWN IT! Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

CEDARHURST JUST LISTED Magnificent renovated 4 bedroom 3 bathroom in SD#15, new roof, windows, plumbing + electric, gas cooking, new marble bathrooms, marble kitchen with stainless steel appliances, LED lighting, security cameras and speakers throughout the home, custom closets, outdoor patio, 1 car garage, near all. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES? MORTGAGE? Must sell for any reason?

Call for FREE Consultation.

Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!

WOODMERE Introducing a desirable colonial located in the heart of Old Woodmere, situated on an oversized lot. This charming home boasts 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths, along with a full finished basement. The first floor features a formal living room, dining room, kitchen with a breakfast room, and a spacious den. It is conveniently located in School District #14.

Don’t miss out on this must-see property! Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com HEWLETT Exquisitely renovated and modernized residence situated on a picturesque 50x200 lot. 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms. First floor features dining area, huge living room, expansive kitchen with modern cabinetry, two sinks, two ovens, and two islands. Second floor features 4 bedrooms, a nursery, primary suite with WIC. Private backyard with 400 square foot inground pool house/ guest house, cabana with a kitchen and grill, playground, basketball court. Fully paid solar panels. A fully renovated basement featuring a wet bar, separate outside entrance. Close to all houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com LAWRENCE Stunning One of a Kind Mid Century Modern 6 Bedroom, 6.5 Bath, Contemporary Ranch. Resort Style Home on Over an Acre of Property in Back Lawrence. Incredible Views, Regulation Size Tennis Court - Deco Turf. IG-Gunite Pool, Low Taxes, 5318 sq. ft. of Main Floor Living Space. Plus 5000 sq. ft. Basement With Very High Ceilings. Call Mark 516-298-8457 for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Beautiful, brick, colonial boasting 5 bdr 3.5 Bth in pristine condition.

Excellent location, near all!

Move right in! RCUSA 516-512-9626

NORTH WOODMERE Stunning Split , 5 Bedrooms With 3 Full Baths. Custom Features Throughout. Well Maintained Home.

Hardwood Floors, Granite Counters in kitchen, Formal Living Room and Dining Room, Den, Full Finished Basement. Relax in the Private Backyard With Inground Pool. SD#14.

A must see! Close To All Houses of Worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Charming Colonial on beautiful tree lined street in the heart of Old Woodmere. Home features 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, kitchen, dining area, living room, full basement.

Relatively new heating system + hot water tank. Large & beautiful backyard. Great for entertaining.

Close to all. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com HEWLETT Exquisite contemporary colonial residence boasts a prime location set back from the street, enhancing its striking curb appeal. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this move-inready home is bathed in natural light thanks to its four spacious skylights.

Expansive formal dining room, full basement offers 8-foot ceilings.

Stunning inground gunite pool and a beautifully designed patio in the well-landscaped yard. Located in school district 14 and conveniently close to all amenities, this property is a rare find that won’t stay on the market for long! Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 CEDARHURST New listing 5-bedroom 4 bathroom split level home in school district # 15, hardwood floors, central air conditioning, minutes to all $899k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

WOODMERE New to the market. 3 bedroom 2 full bathrooms with a full basement.

Ranch home in the heart of Woodmere, SD#15, on a lot sized 90x118, gas heat, garage.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com CEDARHURST Move Right into This Very Spacious & Renovated 6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Colonial on a Lovely Quiet Street.

5 Very Large Bedrooms All on 2nd Floor. Beautiful Den W/Fireplace & Playroom; Both on 1st Floor.

Gorgeous Hardwood & Granite Floors, New Wood & Granite Kitchen With Stainless Steel Appliances. Great Backyard For Entertaining! Very Low Taxes. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Woodmere just listed 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom hi-ranch in sd #15 with central air-conditioning , gas heat, 2 car garage, eat-in-kitchen, l/r, d/r, den, hardwood floors, minutes to transportation , shopping, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Welcome to this stunning residence situated on a tranquil residential street in Lawrence SD#15. This spacious and flawlessly maintained home boasts 4 to 5 bedrooms.

Bright, airy living room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and wet bar.

Central air conditioning, elegant quartz countertops, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, main floor den with fireplace, master bedroom with bathroom snd dressing room, Jacuzzi tub, three other bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Inground sprinklers, lush landscaping, alarm system. Spacious playroom. Twocar garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

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HEWLETT-WOODMERE School district. New to the market.

4 bedroom 3 full bathroom home features living room with a fireplace, formal dining room leading out to the deck, eat-in-kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 2 dishwashers, double oven, new microwave, primary bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, plus 3 additional bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, large family room, central air conditioning, gas heat, in-ground sprinklers, hardwood floors, modern high hat lighting, custom window treatments, driveway has recently been done, 2 car garage, beautifully landscaped plus so much more.

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 12:00-2:00PM • 1027 DARTMOUTH LN Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas.

Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CEDARHURST 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, private entrance, washer/dryer, central air conditioning, freshly painted, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, garage parking, stainless steel appliances, great courtyard, minutes to the railroad, shopping, restaurants, park and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Welcome to this exquisite and expansive 1 Bedroom co-op in the highly sought-after and prestigious Heathcote. Recently renovated, generously sized foyer. Vasr Eat-InKitchen. Situated in a classic pre-war building, this residence features 9-foot ceilings that add an air of elegance and sophistication. The convenience of an elevator ensures easy access to all levels, making everyday living a breeze. Private storage room. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WEST HEMPSTEAD Introducing a stunning new construction home. Nestled in a picturesque neighborhood. Large windows, open-concept layout that merges the various living spaces.

The expansive living room is bathed in natural light, thanks to the windows that offer great views of the surrounding area. Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, expansive center island with a breakfast bar.

Ample counter space and a welldesigned layout. Wonderful dining area providing. Large glass doors, spacious patio. Luxurious master suite with a spacious bedroom, a lavish ensuite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Additional bedrooms.

High-end finishes, premium flooring, and custom details throughout. Call for pricing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas.

Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 • 11:30-1:00PM 223 HICKOX AVENUE Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

VALLEY STREAM Meticulously cared-for high ranch with four bedrooms and two full baths. Expansive dimensions, measuring 58 x 133. Two-zone, gas-heated system, central airconditioning, and an inground sprinkler system. The upper-level features three inviting bedrooms, accompanied by a full bathroom.

The well-appointed living room, elegant dining room, and an eat-in kitchen complete this level. On the ground floor, you’ll find an additional bedroom and bathroom, a spacious den with sliding doors that lead to the backyard, convenient washer and dryer facilities, and an attached garage. Great access to schools, shops, restaurants, and public transportation. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Introducing a stunning 14-side hall colonial home in the Hewlett Woodmere School District.

Formal living room, formal dining room, den with a skylight. Eat in Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, a warming draw and a microwave.

First floor bedroom, a full bathroom and laundry room. Two-car garage.

Upper level has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Finished basement with playroom, storage and utilities.

Well-groomed exterior with porch adjoining the master bedroom.

Hardwood floors and back patio.

Central air conditioning, inground sprinkler system, alarm system. Close proximity to schools, shopping centers, restaurants, and transportation options.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE 1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $179k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE CEDARHURST CEDARHURST

Quality New Construction!!!

Stucco withCharming 2 Story EntryColonial 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which New ToCol. Mkt. on Beautiful Tree includes Radiant Heat, Anderson Windows with Lots Natural lined Street, Features FLR FDR, EIK, Den andofLibrary OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End Totally renovated Colonial.

New. High Ceilings, Chefs Large Primary Basement Prime Appliances, DbleSuite, Ovens Finished , 6Like Burner Cooktop within Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere 2 Dishwashers, and more.location!

Master Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath Location $1.39M $1.659M and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge Playrm 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful Manicured Garden.

WOODSBURGH CEDARHURST N. WOODMERE

HEWLETT Totally renovated 1 and 2 Bedroom, Apartments with washer/dryer, kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances. Recessed lighting, hardwood floors, storage in basement. Close to RR, shopping, and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE WOODMERE LAWRENCE

Spacious Wide Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious and Spacious Split Level Home In Prestigious Academy Serene Cul-de-Sac in Village of Lawrence , Main Flr Master Bdrm Area.

Lg EIK, w/2 sinks, Attic,Main Lower lvl Den OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 Suite with Many Closets andFLR/FDR, Bthrm, Addional Flr highland Bdrm & Bath, Center Hall Huge Colonial with Level+rooms, Den 3 BRsOversized Baths Lg Flr Fdnr Den, EIK, 4 Bdrms 23Bths onFinished Second Fin Bsmt, Playroom &Main 2Mudrm, add’l Prop.Flr, Basment Property BeautifulBeautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M $1.1M $999K

CO-OPS/CONDOS WOODMERE CO-OP FAR ROCKAWAY LAWRENCE

261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen.

Large LR/DR Overlooking the Courtyard $229K

LAWRENCE

240 Central Avenue Spacious 1 Bdrm 1 Bth Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg with Terrace Overlooking Garden, Near All $229K

FAR ROCKAWAY

This spacious s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful waterviews, and magnificent sunsets4BRs, . Flr banquet , New! Renovated High Ranch, 2 Bths,fdnr New COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located breakfast& rm, main level den /fpl master with Kitchen Bths,3 Zone Heating & CAC, Den FLR,his inand theher Heart of Cedarhurst, room, Reception closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new bths, newly renovated Area and Exam alllaundry on Mainrm, Floor.

Close to of Public FDR, SD# 14Rooms, finished basement with playrm, lots storage, Transportation many special details thruout $1.9M+ $1.279M $6,000

156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH Beachfront Condo with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent & Sunset 5Sunrise Br Home in Heart of Far Rockaway, 3Bth, EIK, FDR, $589K 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm Den, Foyer, Walk in Closets 130’ Deep Property. with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite $1.4+M Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows REDUCED $299K

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APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

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APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

LAWRENCE JUST LISTED This amazing two-bedroom two full bathroom condo Features a luxurious lifestyle in the beautiful city of Lawrence. What more could you ask for? The building has a 24-hour doorman and elevator access, with a social room, library, washer/dryer inside the unit, and terrace. Plus, the added benefit of having a live-in super to ensure maximum safety and security! And don’t forget about your new kitchen complete with a gas stove, refrigerator, microwave, and even two dishwashers! The living room and dining room are spacious and have recessed lighting installed throughout. Both bedrooms feature lots of closet space for storage. To top it off, there’s even garage parking available to make your life just that much easier! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Please call for a private showing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Generously proportioned, first-floor apartment in an elevator-equipped building in the heart of Woodmere.

This Co-op boasts three bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Lofty ceilings, spacious foyer, formal living area and dining space. Expansive kitchen with gas stove, microwave, dishwasher, washer-dryer. Hardwood floors provide an elegant touch, and the comfort of five air-conditioning units ensures year-round climate control. Three bedrooms, with the primary bedroom having en-suite full bathroom. Dedicated storage. Near shopping centers, railroad, dining and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE Spacious 2BR, 2 Full Bath Apt with an enclosed terrace in the heart of Lawrence. Well maintained & manicured building. New hardwood floors, updated Eat-in Kitchen with gas stove. warming draw, dishwasher & microwave. New windows on the enclosed terrace & one of the bedrooms. 3 New A/C Units & New Refrigerator. Close to shopping, transportation, library, schools, and houses of worship. $339K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Well maintained 1 Bedroom apartment. Elevator Building. Pet Friendly, SD#14, Corner Unit, Bright + Sunny, Hardwood Floors, Eat-in Kitchen, Full Bathroom, 3 Closets, 2 Ceiling Fans, 1 A/C Unit, Full Time Super on Premises. Minutes from the Railroad, Shopping, Houses of Worship, and Laundry Room on Premises. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 • $175K

CEDARHURST 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, totally renovated private entrance , central air conditioning, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, garage parking, dishwasher, recessed lighting, private playground, close to railroad, park, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE New to the market Jr. 4 apartment in an elevator building with a terrace and underground parking, laundry on premises. Kitchen with granite countertops, 2 sinks, ss appliances, spacious step down living room with high ceilings, guest room/ office, spacious primary bedroom with 3 closets, full bathroom with full vanity, medicine cabinet, toilet and lighting, custom blinds, near the railroad, shopping and houses of worship.$289K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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138

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WOODMERE Totally renovated bright and sunny 1 bedroom corner unit apartment with a washer/dryer. Features quartz countertops, ss appliances, recessed lighting, bathroom with chrome fixtures, close to the railroads, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE New to the market studio co-op apartment, elevator building, high ceilings, low maintenance, laundry room on premises, minutes to the railroad, shopping, restaurants and houses of worship. $ 135K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Well maintained 1 Bedroom apartment. Elevator Building. Pet Friendly, SD#14, Corner Unit, Bright + Sunny, Hardwood Floors, Eat-in Kitchen, Full Bathroom, 3 Closets, 2 Ceiling Fans, 1 A/C Unit, Full Time Super on Premises. Minutes from the Railroad, Shopping, Houses of Worship, and Laundry Room on Premises. $179K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE Spacious 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom Co-op on 1st Floor of Beautiful Garden Apartment Complex in Prime Location. Large DR/LR. 3 A/C Units, Hardwood Floors. Recently Renovated Kitchen w/ Ceramic Tile Floor, Granite Countertops, Double Door Refrigerator/Freezer, Gas Stove, and Pantry. Plenty of Closet Space.

Washer/Dryer Inside Unit. Storage in basement. Close to Shops, RR, Park & Houses of Worship. Call 516-316-6633.

BENSONHURST 3 fam, 2nd fl, 3 bed, 2 bath, EIK, lg LR, lg DR, bonus area, front porch, backyard, renov, sunny, lg windows, $2900 347-598-9608

ISRAEL REAL ESTATE RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH G1 *Available this summer in RBSG1* 5 bedroom/4 bathroom (3 full- 1 half) 1st floor • Building w/ an elevator Quiet street • Close to bussing (local and to Yerushalayim) Across the street from a few different Shuls Walking to G1 Mercaz Available July 12 - Aug 9 with flexibility For more info WhatsApp 347-831-5128 or call 053-412-7194

HELP WANTED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Mesivta Shaarei Chaim is looking for a part time, experienced, Administrative Assistant. MondayThursday for 3 hours between 2:30 and 6:00 Please send resume to rdniman@gmail.com YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND Seeks Full Time Administrative Assistant. 3 years experience required Great work environment Email Resume to office@ykli.org ABA PARAS ABA Paras needed in Queens.

Great position for young adults to help mentor children in their homes after school a few evenings a week.

Call/Text/WA: 917 968 2292

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver Newspaper every Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Minivan or SUV and availability to work consistently every week!

Please e-mail gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

JOIN OUR TEAM! ABA company located in the 5 Towns looking to fill multiple full-time administrative positions Knowledge of Central Reach a plus, but will train the right candidate Great work environment Call 516-670-5374 or Email your resume to: Careers@supportivecareaba.com

TEACHER/TEACHER MENTOR Join our Collaborative Team at HASC. Looking for an experienced Teacher/Teacher Mentor to help with the administration of a SEIT Program.

Great Pay! Part-time!

Flexible hours!

Warm & Caring Environment.

SAS/SBL a plus Email resume: jobswd@hasc.net

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

ABA PARAS ABA Paras needed in Far Rockaway.

Great position for men/women in therapy centers during the day, and helping children in their homes after school a few evenings a week.

Call/Text/WA: 917 968 2292 ORTHODOX SHUL IN Hewlett looking to hire a youth coordinator for Shabbat and Sunday.

Good opportunity for young couple to make extra income.

Please email to sch.shul@gmail.com SEEKING ELA TEACHER Teaching position for Gr. 6.

Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Great salary, warm, supportive environment. Training in our curriculum is provided.

Teachersearch11@gmail.com 5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA Seeking Elem Gen Ed Teachers Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply.

Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE OPENING ELA teaching position for Gr. 5.

Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary, warm supportive environment.

Teachersearch11@gmail.com A YESHIVA IN QUEENS is looking for an experienced part/ full time secretary, 2-year-old morah, kindergarten morah, kindergarten morah assistant and Pre-1A English teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Nice and timely pay. Please email resume to mshelt613@gmail. com or call/text 718-971-9799.

BOOKKEEPER Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.

Weekly Classifieds Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................$20 2 weeks .............. $35 4 weeks .............. $60 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info and zip code

Deadline Monday 5:00pm

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

BAIS YAAKOV in Far Rockaway looking for a Kindergarten asst from 12:153:00 Monday-Thursday. Please email teachingpositions1@gmail.com

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!

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Your

Money

Excedrin Headache #1,367

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

W

hat do sophisticated tax cheats, drug cartel money launderers, Russian potash oligarchs, and quite possibly you all have in common? Well, if you operate your business as a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company, you’re all about to find yourself caught up in a sticky new web of Grade A federal red tape.

Washington is constantly trying to close the loopholes that bad guys use to hide taxable income or other ill-gotten gains. An ethically-challenged business owner looking to avoid tax might run his operations through Partnership A, which is owned by Partnership B, which routes income through Foreign Partnership C, which sends the money back to domestic Partnership D. But by the time that income is supposed to reach his 1040, it’s disappeared and never gets taxed.

(How does that happen?) Or a Russian billionaire might want to park some of his assets outside Vladimir Putin’s reach, so he uses a shell corporation to buy a 50$ million condo on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row. All of those entities make it harder for Uncle Sam to track ownership and collect taxes.

And so, in 2020, Congress added the blandly named “Corporate Transparency Act” to that year’s defense spending bill. The law requires corporations, LLCs,

and any other business entities formed by filing documents with the Secretary of State or similar office to report its “beneficial owners.” These include anyone who owns 25% or more of the ownership interest or exercises “substantial control” over the company.

Of course, it wouldn’t be red tape without a laundry list of 23 exceptions to the new rules for companies that already disclose ownership information. These

ment’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). That report will include your full legal name, date of birth, current legal address, and your driver’s license or passport number, and photo.

If your company is in existence before the end of this year, the report is due by January 1, 2025. If you form a new one after December 31, the report is due within 30 days. The penalty for failing to report is $500 per day up to $10,000. If

A Russian billionaire might want to park some of his assets outside Vladimir Putin’s reach, so he uses a shell corporation to buy a $50 million condo on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row.

include “large operating companies” with more than 20 employees, banks, investment advisors, and even certain public accounting firms. (Yay, us!)

If you’re not fortunate enough to slip through one of those loopholes, you’ll have to report your “Beneficial Ownership Information” with the Treasury Depart-

that failure is willful, or you knowingly include incorrect information, you can owe an additional $10,000 plus spend up to two years in jail.

Oh, and if any of that information changes, you’ll have to update it within the same 30 days. If you get a new driver’s license and forget to submit it, will Fin-

CEN really fine you $500 per day? Maybe!

FinCEN just published a helpful 56page summary of the law if you need help falling asleep some night. It would be really helpful if we had examples of forms (paper, web portal, carrier pigeon?) we’ll need to comply with the new law. Sadly, they don’t exist. Hey, if Congress can wait until the night before the government runs out of money to pass legislation extending the debt ceiling, shouldn’t we cut FinCEN the same slack?

We also don’t know if the penalties are calculated per reporter or per company.

Details, shmetails.

Don’t look to accountants to navigate the new rules. This is a job for Legalman! But it’s important to understand that the new red tape grows out of the government’s efforts to track down more business income to tax. It’s just another reminder of how important it is to have a proactive plan to pay the least amount possible and survive any sort of audit.

You know who to call!

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.

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Life C ach

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Shoot For the Moon

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

W

hat’s going on with all this controversy about shots?

Did you ever see a guy at a kiddush club struggle with this? Is he ever equilibrating or vacillating?! Never happens. He’s all in. Give him a shot in a shot glass, even filled all up, and he’s a happy guy.

But when it comes to hypodermic shots, honestly, I can’t tell you what to do. Yet, I’m wondering what is going on these days with all these strong emotions about vaccinations.

kiddish shot and one medical shot is that the kiddush shot wears off pretty soon – at least, hopefully, before Mussaf starts or one inadvertently overeats the cholent.

The other shot lingers in your system, and we worry about the long-term effects.

Historically, when we wanted to explain to our children how much we love them, especially when they thought we seemed too harsh , the old imagery we’d paint was the parent holding the child still for a shot because we care for them

We don’t want to feel as if what we are doing is taking a shot in the dark or shooting ourselves in the leg.

It used to be that if the doctor told you that you needed an inoculation, you’d get one. Just because the doctor said so!

Today, we research and worry.

I thought originally that they came up with vaccinations as a form of prevention. Now they just seem to be getting overused in some spaces and places. And people feel passionate about absolutely or absolutely not taking them.

The difference between taking one

and it’s ultimately for their own good that we are doing this.

Is that imagery slipping away? Are vaccinations becoming too dramatized and politicized?

I’m not advocating anything here. I’m just exploring the sense of our security slipping away.

We don’t want to feel as if what we are doing is taking a shot in the dark or shooting ourselves in the leg.

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 917-7052004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

We want to feel strong, confident, and trusting. Not, of course, like some bigshot or hotshot. And not that what we are doing is taking too much of a long shot.

We want life to have a little more dependability. Especially, when we are responsible for others.

This is just a snapshot of how a number of people are feeling these days.

But, hopefully, the uncertainty will find a resting spot.

After all, there’s always more to come.

There’s always the potential for more progress and clarity. We should never give up or break down. Because the most important mindset is that we should always be shooting for better. We should always be shooting for the moon!

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | The Jewish Home

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