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December 7, 2023

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DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

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Dear Readers,

n Yom Kippur, 50 years ago, Zvika Greengold noticed warplanes overhead. He was on leave from the army and was staying at home when the planes thundered over the kibbutz. Knowing that the Israeli army does not do training exercises on the holiest day of the year, Greengold understood that war had broken out. He hitchhiked to the north and eventually took over a tank that had been repaired. For the next 20 hours, Greengold – sometimes singlehandedly and other times with other tanks – held off Syrian forces in the Golan, switching to different tanks as his tank became damaged in the fighting. Some estimate that Greengold was responsible for destroying 20 enemy tanks in that battle; others say he destroyed 60. I thought of Greengold this week and wondered what was going through his mind. What compels a soldier to move forward and hold the line, despite the obvious dangers to themselves? What mindset does a person have to have to overcome their innate fear of death, run towards the battle, and then fight until exhaustion? I have never had the opportunity to speak with Greengold, but I would think that the answer he would give is that, at that moment, in the height of the battle, he was cognizant of the fact that he was fighting not just for his survival; he was fighting for the very existence of the Jewish nation. Without him on the frontlines, staving off the enemy, the entirety of the Jewish state was in existential peril. In Rebbetzin Debbie Greenblatt’s newest book, Secrets of a Connected Marriage, she

quotes Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, who would tell his talmidim that “a Jew has to paint the canvas of his life with broad brushstrokes.” We tend to get bogged down in the minutiae of our lives and become myopic in our thinking about our roles in the world. Instead, we should take a step back and look at the bigger picture; think about how we fit into the schema of the Jewish nation; understand that each person has a role to play – and that there is a vital, cosmic function for each person in story of the Jewish people. On Chanukah, as we light the menorah and we recall the miracles that Hashem performed for us, we say that Hashem made these miracles for our fathers in those days and in our times – “she’asah nissim l’avoseinu, b’yamim ha’heim, b’zman ha’zeh.” We remind ourselves that the miracles that our ancestors witnessed are indeed also being performed in our days as well. Hashem’s guiding Hand reaches across generations; it His love and intervention that has carried us throughout the years. We were put into this world with an essential mission. Gazing into the lights of the menorah reminds us that our roles are part of the long, wondrous story of the Jewish People. Wishing you a freilechen Chanukah, Shoshana P.S. We’d love to see your Chanukah photos! Send them in by Monday evening for a $10 Berrylicious gift card (who doesn’t love ice cream on a cold winter night?). Can’t wait to see how you celebrate Chanukah with your family!

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

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Candle Lighting: 4:09 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:13 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 5:40 pm

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

NEWS Global

National

38 That’s Odd

ISRAEL

Israel News

Community by Barbara Deutsch

104

The Future of the Gaza War by Dan Schwartz

106

Is the U.S. Suddenly Allergic to the Word “Palestinian”? by Rafael Medoff 140

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Re-examining Our Chanukah Mission by Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

A Chanukah With Great Potential by Rav Yaakov Feitman

How to Tap Into the Eternal Light of Chanukah by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

Then and Now by Rabbi Benny Berlin

Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

100

Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

102

PEOPLE How Odd of G-d by Country Yossi Toiv

108

Inspiration Nation

110

Pick A Card, Any Card by Malkie Schulman

112

Some of My Favorite Forgotten Heroes by Avi Heiligman

141

HEALTH & FITNESS A Happy and Healthy Chanukah by Tehila Soskel, RDN, CDN

124

FOOD & LEISURE Dairy Delights by Rivky Kleiman

128

The Aussie Gourmet: Crispy Fried Mozzarella

131

Dear Editor, In these times when it’s hard to think straight, we hold on to our tefillos and beg Hashem to continue to show us miracles. Every year, right before shabbos Chanukah, we send out a reminder to the community to make sure that everyone has working carbon monoxide detectors, as 10 years ago we as a family survived carbon monoxide poisoning. This year, I hesitated for a moment, thinking there is just so much going on, how can I phrase it the right way, maybe I should skip it this year? And then I realized that even through the heartbreak and sadness, there are miracles happening all around us and at every moment. Each miracle should be publicized to help bring light to these very dark times. This Chanukah, may we be worthy to see an abundance of miracles, the destruction of evil and the coming of Moshiach. The Korman Family Far Rockaway, NY Dear Editor, Rav Herschel Schechter, shlita, recently captured and summarized how to understand the times we live in. He quoted from the verse (Psalms 37:20), “...all evil will go up in smoke.” This connotes that all evil will instantly disappear. Based on the Da’at Tevunot, he explained that as the geulah comes closer, the forces of tumah will match the levels of tahara. We have seen a general explosion in Torah over many years now, which means the strength of tumah is exploding as well. In

LIFESTYLES

Dear Editor, What are we waiting for? A miracle or our own self-destruction? There is just another Chinese adventure ready to hit the United States. You may still remember the Chinese spy balloon, China buying American farmland, stealing our technical property, poisoning our youth with fentanyl, and indoctrinating our students in higher education. Not to mention the recent closing of a Chinese police station in Manhattan-Chinatown. China is an expert in infiltrating our country in all different kinds of ways. Now, in one of the recent Fox Sunday Morning futures with Maria Bartiromo, Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Congressman and Chair of the House Select CMTE on China, let out his frustration. He reported the existence of a secret Chinese biolab in California purchased by a Chinese citizen who came to America illegally and set up the lab. Just by accident, a local inspector discovered the lab and found out that it has bought dangerous pathogens online that can cause Ebola, tuberculosis and HIV. He reported his findings to the FBI which negated the investigation since Continued on page 10

Cover art, 8 Nights, by artbyabish.com

Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

116

Parenting Pearls

120

School of Thought

122

JWOW!

126

Mind Your Business

132

Your Money

148

HUMOR Centerfold

parable-like fashion, Rav Schechter explained that at the end, the evil will “pop” like a balloon and the remaining physical piece of the balloon remains, symbolic of the tahara that will ultimately prevail. Steven Genack

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

134

The Lessons from My 40-Year Conversation with Kissinger by David Ignatius

138

Biden and Xi, Clinching in the Ring by David Ignatius

139

CLASSIFIEDS

142

Do you play dreidel with your family on Chanukah?

71 29 %

Yes

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Continued from page 10

end us your photo(s) of what Chanukah means to you – it could be your family lighting candles, you and your siblings at your Chanukah party, baking Chanukah cookies, Bubby playing dreidel, or Zeidy eating a jelly doughnut (or two… or three!).

We want to see what makes Chanukah special to you. But you have to act fast! The photos must be sent in by Monday, December 11 at 8 p.m. Make sure the photo includes the people you love most. Send us your photo(s), and we’ll send you a $10 Berrylicious gift card!

there were no ties to WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). He also called the CDC (Center of Disease Control) which hung up on him. They sent a team to analyze the situation only after a local congressman forced them to. Unfortunately, there is no safeguard in place to prevent a hostile actor from harming the U.S. We still have not determined the origin of Covid-19, AND NOW THIS! Our national security is at risk! We better get our act together before it is too late! Heinz Mayer Garden City, NY Dear Editor, Generally speaking, the speech which Hillary Clinton gave on “The View” program seemed positive and reasonable. But the Democratic Party is a very controlling organization. Members in good standing must obey and become a part of the Guiding Force of the Party, or they will suddenly develop problems, like Sen. Menendez and even Mayor Adams. Hilary’s speech did not exactly follow Democratic talking points. Yet she was able to give her speech, without interruption, from a group that likes to put their own Democratic spin on any topic. In my opinion, this speech was very carefully scripted to target a very specific audience watching “The View” – the traditional Jewish Democratic voter. The real message to them was: Don’t worry, the Democratic Party is still the same old Democratic Party of Roosevelt – who achieved unconditional surrender in World War II. All the antisemitism that you experience, is the fault of Republicans. Remember Charlottesville and David Duke. In other words, her talk was meant to reassure their sincere belief through all these years: Democrat-good, Republican-bad. I pray that their voting pattern will finally change. Elli Epstein Ocean, NJ Dear Editor, It is truly unbelievable that President Biden, Vice President Harris, Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, et al, can pub-

TJH so

licly call on Israel to fight a war against Hamas that limits civilian casualties. Hamas wants Palestinian casualties as propaganda since they put their combat operations under hospitals, schools, and mosques. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is the only army in the history of armed conflict that has and is fighting a moral war. Israel allows humanitarian aid and notifies Palestinian non-combatants to move out of the way when there is aerial bombing. This, despite the fact that Hamas does not allow the Red Cross to visit innocent Israeli civilian hostages brutally taken from their homes. If Hamas is concerned about their own people, they can surrender and end all further combat. Why isn’t the Biden Administration calling for Hamas to surrender? It is because the Democrat Party cannot afford to lose Palestinian votes in the 2024 election. Jan Henock Woodmere, NY Dear Editor, Country Yossi’s “Pesicha” article this week was Laugh Out Loud funny! I remember his (he may deny it!) Kayla Kuchleffel articles from years past. No one was funnier than him! How did he know the intricacies of a harried frum housewife? I used to read them and reread them – and I always laughed! I hope that he continues to write for The Jewish Home, my favorite Shabbos morning companion! Gitty Friedman Dear Editor, Over the past two months, we have noticed an explosion of goodness and good will towards others. So many people are reaching out and giving to one another. As we celebrate Chanukah, remember to keep others in mind – specifically those who may not have families who they can celebrate with. You can invite these people to a get-together at your home, a Shabbos meal, or even just drop something off at their homes to remind them that you remember them during this busy and joyous time. Remember to spread the light! Chana Leah H.

Make your voice heard! Be part of TJH’s weekly poll. Email the editor to be included in the weekly poll at Editor@FiveTownsJewishHome.com

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

The Week In News

perpetrated the attack had pledged his allegiance to Islamic State and shouted, “Allahu Akbar” while stabbing people with a knife and hammer. He was later arrested by police.

Fatal Volcano Eruption

Thirteen climbers died and 10 others are missing in Indonesia after Mount Marapi erupted on Sunday in the province of West Sumatra. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia has 127 active volcanos – more volcanoes than anywhere else in the world – and Mount Marapi is among the country’s most active. The 2,891-meter-high (9,500 feet) volcano erupted earlier in the week, spewing volcanic ash and sending giant plumes of smoke into the sky. Officials are now searching for survivors. As they find those who died in the blast, they are bringing their bodies down the mountain. At least 40 rescuers were on the mountain while eruptions were still taking place. At least three climbers had been found alive. A total of 75 people, including the climbers, have so far been evacuated, and those injured sent to the hospital. The areas surrounding the volcano are covered in soot and ash. Residents are being told to wear masks and stay away from the mountain. Officials are warning of possible dangers coming from flowing molten lava, which could reach roads and rivers. Marapi is one of the most-active volcanoes on Sumatra island; its most deadly eruption was in April 1979, when 60 people died.

Attack Near Eiffel Tower On Saturday evening, a Muslim terrorist stabbed and killed a German man and injured two other people on a street near Central Paris, near the Eiffel Tower. The 26-year-old French man who had

Armand R. was born in France to Iranian parents. He converted to Islam when he was 18 and was imprisoned in France in 2016 after making plans to travel to Syria to join IS. He supposedly had been following treatment for psychiatric problems and had been under surveillance for suspected extremism. The German man who had been killed had been walking with his wife when he was attacked and fatally stabbed. His wife’s life was saved by the intervention of a taxi driver. After hurting the two tourists, the terrorist then fled over a bridge and began to attack two more people on the north side of the River Seine: a French man aged around 60 and a 66-year-old British tourist who was hit in the eye with a hammer. The murderer told police he was upset because “so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine.” The attack in Paris comes less than two months after a teacher was killed in a knife attack at a high school in the northern city of Arras, prompting the French government to put the country on its highest level of national security alert.

Under-the-Sea Discovery in Guatemala

A previously undiscovered seamount, which is a giant underwater mountain, was recently discovered off the coast of Guatemala in the Pacific Ocean. The mountain – which is speculated to have originated from a volcano that is now extinct, as the majority of seamounts do

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

FO ON LLOW @SP INSTAG US FOR RUCEDVRAM SAL E IN INE FO

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

– is double the height of the world’s tallest skyscraper: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Standing at 5,249 feet, the seamount spans 5.4 square miles, with its base 7,874 feet underwater. The Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI), an ocean exploration non-profit company, found this mountain in July while conducting research aimed at exploring more of the ocean. During the expedition, the institute used a ship called Falkor, which, with an instrument known as a multibeam echosounder, was able to detect the seamount. SOI hydrographer and marine technician Tomer Ketter was onboard the ship at the time of the discovery. According to Ketter, the existence of this seamount had not been recorded in any relevant databases, such as the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans. “A seamount over 1.5 kilometers tall which has, until now, been hidden under the waves, really highlights how much we have yet to discover,” noted Schmidt Ocean Institute’s executive director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “A complete seafloor map is a fundamental element of understanding our ocean so it’s exciting to be living in an era where technology allows us to map and see these amazing parts of our planet for the first time.”

The underwater mountain was found 84 nautical miles away from the Guatemalan Exclusive Economic Zone. There likely are over 100,000 seamounts that are taller than 3,280 feet, according to NOAA. However, humankind has yet to explore even one-tenth of a percent of such mountains. “Seamounts have been explored only relatively recently due to the advent of human-occupied submersibles and very capable remotely operated vehicles (ROVs),” Les Wailing, biology professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, explained. While the height of this particular seamount exceeds that of the Burj Khalifa, some mountains are far taller, with a handful measuring at 13,213 feet; the Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which originated as a seamount, is the world’s tallest mountain, standing at over 33,500 feet tall. Seamounts generally host diverse marine ecosystems, often made up of corals, sponges, and other invertebrates that are attracted to the structure due to its hard rock substrate, which is formed by fast-moving sea currents. In fact, seamounts around the world are home to about 15% to 35% of endemic marine species.

Houthis Attack Ships On the Red Sea

Houthi rebels from Yemen launched drones and missiles at commercial ships in the Red Sea on Sunday, December 3. A United States warship came to the defense of the attacked vessels, firing down the terror group’s rockets. The USS Carney, which was the U.S. vessel present at the time, shot down three Houthi drones after responding to distress calls from the attacked ships. “Today, there were four attacks against three separate commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on the day of the attack. “The Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer USS Carney responded to the

distress calls from the ships and provided assistance.” Unity Explorer, M/V Number 9, and M/V Sophie II – the first of which is a bulk carrier registered in the Bahamas, while the latter two sail under the flag of Panama – were targeted in the attack. Unity Explorer and M/V Sophie II sustained minor damage from Houthi missile hits, while M/V Number 9 was damaged. There were no deaths onboard. According to a U.S. official, the Carney was neither damaged nor was anyone on board hurt as a result of the attack. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman, claimed the terror group’s responsibility for the attack but did not refer to U.S. involvement in the conflict. He noted that the first attacked ship, Unity Explorer, is owned by a British company, which Dan David Ungar, a resident of Israel, works for as an officer. “The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” said Saree. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

COP28 Leader: We Need Fossil Fuels

Sultan Al Jaber, the leader of the COP28 climate summit and the head of a UAE state oil company, has come under fire for making a controversial comment on climate change during the She Changes Climate meeting on November 21. Many claim that it is essential to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, a specific temperature established during the Paris climate agreement, to prevent a climate “crisis.” However, many countries are divided as to whether it is necessary to “phase-out” or to just “phasedown” fossil fuels, the former of which would mean eliminating these energy sources, while the latter would be a matter of merely lessening their use, in order to accomplish this goal. When questioned by former Irish

president Mary Robinson with regard to whether he plans on phasing out fossil fuels, Al Jaber responded that “there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5.” He went on to say that he decided to attend the She Changes Climate conference, expecting that he would have a “sober and mature conversation” instead of participating in a “discussion that is alarmist.” He then called the 1.5-degree mark his “north star” and added that while a phase-down and phase-out are “inevitable,” we still “need to be real, serious, and pragmatic about it.” When Robinson went on to question his answer, he requested that she “please, help me, show me a roadmap for a phaseout of fossil fuels that will allow for sustainable socio-economic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.” Al Jaber is the United Arab Emirates’ climate envoy, the leader of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and the president of the COP28; his selection for the latter position was criticized by many. He has since claimed that his comments were misinterpreted and has assured the public that his ambitions align with others in the climate change community.

“I honestly think there is some confusion out there, and misrepresentation and misinterpretation,” said Al Jaber. “I have said over and over that the phase down and the phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable. In fact, it is essential … it needs to be orderly, fair, just, and responsible.” A spokesperson for the COP28 came to Al Jaber’s defense, asserting that “this story is just another attempt to undermine the presidency’s agenda, which has been clear and transparent and backed by tangible achievements by the COP President and his team.”

Hong Kong Activist Flees to Canada Agnes Chow, a prominent pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong who was arrested as part of a sweeping crackdown, said over the weekend that she had fled to Canada and planned to skip bail, in a bold challenge to authorities. Chow had been arrested in 2020, along with several other dissidents, including newspaper mogul Jimmy Lai, after Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong to curb dissent.

Authorities were investigating Chow on suspicion of collusion with external elements, a vaguely defined political crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. She was later released on bail.

Chow wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday that she had traveled to Canada in September to study at a university. She said she had decided not to return to Hong Kong in December to report to police, as authorities had requested. “Perhaps I will never go back again in my lifetime,” she wrote. Hong Kong’s national security police condemned her expressed intention to “jump bail” and urged her to “immediately turn back.” In a statement on Monday, the Hong Kong government said that it would “spare no effort” in bringing Chow to justice and warned that she could not “evade legal liabilities by absconding.”

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Chow, 27, rose to prominence as a teenage activist in 2012 protesting government plans to introduce “patriotic education” in Hong Kong’s schools, alongside Joshua Wong. She later became one of the more prominent young leaders of the pro-democracy movement in 2014. In 2020, she was imprisoned for her role in a protest outside the police headquarters during a wave of anti-government demonstrations the previous summer; she was released early after serving nearly seven months. She was also separately arrested in 2020 on suspicion of a national security offense, and, as part of her bail conditions, her travel documents were confiscated, and she had to routinely check in with police. In explaining her decision not to return to Hong Kong after settling in Canada, Chow said she did not want to run the risk of being arrested again or of not being able to leave. “There are still many unknowns in the future, but what I do know is that I finally no longer have to worry about whether I will be arrested, and I can say and do what I want,” she wrote. (© The New York Times)

85 Killed in “Mistaken” Drone Attack

At least 85 people were killed in a “mistaken” army drone attack on a religious gathering in northwest Nigeria on Sunday night. The victims were killed by drones “targeting terrorists and bandits” in Kaduna state’s Tudun Biri village, according to government and security officials. They were observing a Muslim holiday. “Eighty-five dead bodies have so far been buried while a search is still ongoing,” Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said in a statement that listed children, women and the elderly among the victims. At least 66 people were injured, the agency added.

Wishing Everyone a Happy Chanukah!

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered “a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident.” Civilians in Nigeria often find themselves in the crossfire of wider conflicts between Nigeria’s military and rebel groups, which have destabilized the country’s northern region for more than a decade. Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice president and the main opposition presidential candidate in this year’s election, described the latest civilian casualties as part of a “worrisome” pattern. Nigeria’s military often conducts air raids to fight against extremist violence and rebels, who often occupy dense civilian areas, according to Nigerian officials. “Terrorists often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centers,” Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, noted on Tuesday following the deadly drone strike. In January of this year, 39 civilians were killed in Nasarawa state in a similar attack. In December 2022, dozens died in Zamfara state. Since 2017, more than 400 civilians have been killed by airstrikes that the military said were targeting armed groups.

Paris’ New Metro

It’s been seven years, but Parisians will soon be able to travel in style. In France, the “construction site of the century” is underground. The new Paris metro, formally titled Grand Paris Express (GPE), will more than double the territory encircling France’s capital city with over 120 miles of new tracks, four new underground lines and 68 new metro stations. Authorities want to better connect Paris and its suburbs to each other and help connect neighborhoods and business districts. The idea is to better connect distant Paris suburbs to the city and to each other—and in so doing, improve the commercial viability of its connected neighborhoods, business districts and municipalities.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Construction began in 2016 but that doesn’t mean it’s anywhere near completion. It’s expected to be up and running by 2030, with at least 2 million passengers each day. Authorities hope more Parisians will use the metro instead of cars. In 2011, President Nicholas Sarkozy called for a new metro in a national address, extolling the virtues of the new metropolis: “We want to rebuild the city on top of the city, remove the divide between Paris and its suburbs, reduce the divides which separate the neighborhoods, which separate the inhabitants, we want to restore unity, continuity and solidarity.” His vision has survived three presidential administrations, despite running years late and billions over-budget. Costs have since reached €36 billion ($39 billion), according to the Société du Grand Paris (Grand Paris Society), the state-owned infrastructure agency Sarkozy tasked with designing and implementing the project. Originally, it was meant to open in time for the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. With the pressure of the Games on the horizon, the first new station hub at Orly Airport is set to open by June 2023. Forty out of 68 stations are

already underway. Of course, the City of Lights is the epitome of culture. Around 35 million euros are set aside for contemporary art for each station, making it a vast, underground gallery for those who enjoy the arts. “In the 19th century, we had Hector Guillmard who designed the iconic art nouveau entrances of the Paris métro for all the stations. For GPE, we want to have a unique architecture for each urban context, because each community is very different. Our co-design program creates a real dialogue for each station,” said Pierre-Emmanuel Becherand, head of architecture, design and culture at Société du Grand Paris. The station at Orly Airport, for example, tapped Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, a.k.a. VHILS to work with French architect François Tamisier and design a monumental mural for the new space. Spanning 16 meters long and 12 meters high, it comprises 11,000 individual pieces of azulejos (traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles) depicting inhabitants’ faces blended into the fabric of the city as if each forms the identity of the other.

The Kiwi is Coming Back

At the foot of a fern, Pete Kirkman pushed his hand into a burrow. His fingers settled on a lump of feathers. Gently, he withdrew a fist-sized hatchling. Baffled by the daylight, the chocolate-colored nocturnal bird shook its pencil-like beak from side to side. “You’re OK,” Kirkman, a conservationist, said soothingly, as he made the discovery last week. Then he heard a scratching from the burrow. He watched in delight as another hatchling charged out, searching for its sibling, and fell into his arms. The kiwi — a native bird so beloved by New Zealanders that its name has long been a shorthand for them — once roamed throughout the country. Starting in the 1800s, millions were slaugh-

tered by nonnative predators like stoats, a mammal related to the weasel. Now only 70,000 or so kiwis remain, most in remote parks or islands. Accordingly, any hatchling is special. These two, however, were remarkable. The burrow they were born in lies 3 miles west of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, in the suburb of Makara. The bustling city’s dangers meant that the kiwi vanished from this part of the country for more than a century. But last year, following a half-decade effort to reduce stoat and rat numbers, dozens of kiwis were reintroduced to the hilly farmlands of Makara. The two hatchlings were the first to be born in the wild in the Wellington area in living memory, experts said. The resurrection of the kiwi is part of an intensive government program established in 2016 with a highly aspirational goal: eliminate most nonnative avian predators from the country by 2050. In addition to the kiwi, the predator-free program has had notable success. Earlier this year, prehistoric-looking takahē and Muppet-like kākāpō were reintroduced to New Zealand’s main islands after a decades-long absence. Experts estimate that there were once 12 million kiwis in New Zealand, across

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

five different species. They are flightless and nocturnal, with the whiskers of a mouse and dinosaur-like legs, usually growing just 2 feet tall. To protect the birds, Capital Kiwi, a conservation group, laid almost 5,000 predator traps across Mākara, relying on volunteers. Eventually, so few pests remained that Capital Kiwi asked a kiwi sanctuary whether it could bring some of its birds to Makara. Gradually, they released about 60 birds. More than a year on, all the birds appear to have survived. (© The New York Times)

Did Israel Know of Hamas Attack?

The October 7th massacre shocked Israel to its core; thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 Israelis, taking more than two hundred forty hostages, and leaving thousands more injured and displaced. The failure to prevent this tragedy has been widely dubbed Israel’s worst intelligence failure since the Yom Kippur War fifty years ago, and the Israeli government will likely launch an investigation to determine how one of the best intelligence agencies in the world failed to prevent the worst day in Israel’s history. According to reports, Israeli intelligence officials may have known of Hamas’ plans for over a year but did not take them seriously because it was thought that the terrorist organization had neither the ability nor the audacity to carry out attacks of such scale. Israeli authorities are said to have gained access over a year ago to a forty-page plan they titled “Jericho Wall,” which had detailed the attack with astonishing accuracy. The document began with a verse from the Quran and went on to outline that the attack would begin with the terror group

launching rockets at Israel, eliminating border security cameras with drones, and sending thousands of terrorists to invade the Jewish state via paraglider, motorcycle, and on foot – all of which happened on October 7. Specifically included in the document was the goal to take over Israel’s military base in Re’im, which the terrorist organization accomplished during the tragic events that led up to this current war. While no specific attack date was mentioned in Hamas’ leaked plans, the document included sensitive details about the IDF, such as the army’s location and size, as well as the presence of communication hubs and more. How Hamas had access to these details is currently unknown. It has yet to be determined whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government leaders had knowledge of the document, but military and intelligence leaders are said to have known of the plans but didn’t take them seriously because it was thought that Hamas did not have enough resources to carry out such an attack. Additionally, at the time, Israel and Hamas were engaging in talks concerning allowing Gazans to find employment in Israel, and thus, it was thought that Hamas wasn’t interested in launching imminent attacks that would sabotage those efforts. This past July, Israeli intelligence leaders were informed that Hamas was conducting training simulations that resembled the plans outlined in the document, but these exercises were dismissed by the Gaza division’s colonel as Hamas simply playing out an imaginary scenario rather than preparing for a full-scale invasion. It was thought that if such plans were ever executed, they would only be carried out on a much smaller scale with an insignificant number of invading terrorists; no one would believe that thousands of terrorists would attack. In truth, over the past few years, Hamas has expanded its military capabilities, recruiting more terrorists and gaining access to more advanced weapons. Intelligence officials have admitted that the attack might have been stopped if the warning signs were taken more seriously.

An End to the Ceasefire A short-lived truce between Israel and Hamas, which saw the release of eightyone Israeli hostages captured during the terrorist organization’s October 7th attacks in exchange for a few hundred

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we all saw the meaning of the strikes. It was seen in Israel and by the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip,” Gallant said. “I watched the attacks and saw their intensity from the cockpit of an Air Force combat helicopter over the Gaza Strip. As I said from the first day, and I repeat now: Hamas only understands force.”

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The conflict has also continued along Israel’s northern border, as the IDF and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist organization, also backed by Iran, exchanged fire. The terror group announced that it launched rockets at Israeli military border posts, and the IDF confirmed that two rockets heading for Kiryat Shmona were stopped by the Iron Dome. The military added that, in response, it hit terrorist targets in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has said that two terrorist officials have been killed as a result of Israeli retaliation, including Mohammed Mazraani and Wajih Mshek. “It’s important to understand why the pause came to an end. It came to an end because of Hamas. Hamas reneged on commitments it had made,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained to reporters at the end of his trip to Dubai, where the COP28 climate conference was held. “In fact, even before the pause came to an end, it committed an atrocious terrorist attack in Jerusalem, killing three people and wounding others, including Americans.”

Some Hostages Died In Captivity Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, came to a sudden end on Friday, December 1, when Hamas refused to release a list of abductees it planned to set free by the 7 A.M. deadline and subsequently began firing rockets at central and southern Israel, with Hezbollah resuming its attacks on Israel at the northern border. The Jewish state responded by striking more than two hundred Hamas targets throughout Gaza, including in the cities of Khan Younis and

Rafah, and underground areas used by the terrorist group. The rockets were launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are two terrorist organizations supported by Iran. No Israeli civilians were injured in the attacks which were directed towards Jerusalem, Ashdod, and other major Israeli cities and communities, but five soldiers sustained non-serious injuries from a mortar strike early Friday. This marks what the IDF has called

the “start of the second phase of the war,” kicked off with Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the army’s chief of staff, meeting with high-ranking Israeli military officials, as Israel anticipates to move its ground offensive deeper into southern Gaza. Israel’s response on Friday was seen by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who watched the strikes from a helicopter flying over Gaza. “Last night…I approved the continuation of the IDF offensive. This morning,

Four hostages who lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz died while being held in captivity by Hamas, the terror group that invaded southern Israel, murdering over 1,200

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

people, most of whom were civilians, and kidnapping more than 240 individuals. The news of these deaths was announced by Kibbutz Nir Oz on Friday and was later confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces. The names of the four abductees who were killed by Hamas are Aryeh Zalmanovich, Maya Goren, Ronen Engel, and Eliyahu Margalit. Zalmanovich, an 85-year-old life-long farmer born in Haifa, who was one of the founders of the kibbutz, was the oldest person to be kidnapped on October 7. He is survived by two sons and five grandchildren. A month ago, Hamas published a video of Zalmanovich, which prompted concern over his health and safety. “Aryeh was all his life a man of the earth, engaged in agriculture and farming,” the kibbutz said. “He was a man of books and had extensive knowledge in the fields of history and the land of Israel.” Age 56, Maya Goren was a beloved local kindergarten teacher. She was kidnapped while she was setting up the kindergarten room in the morning. Avner Goren, her husband, was killed by terrorists in their home. The two had four children, ages 18, 21, 23, and 25, two of whom were away from the kibbutz during the slaughter, and the other two who reside

in an area of the kibbutz for teenagers, where terrorists did not attack. Maya was murdered by Hamas while in captivity, and her remains are still in the possession of the terror group. Engel, a 54-year-old photographer, Magen David Adom volunteer, and motorcycle fan, was also killed by Hamas while in captivity. His body is still in Gaza. Three family members survive him: his wife Karina Engel-Bart, as well as his daughters Mika and Yuval, all of whom were also abducted on October 7 and were released during Israel and Hamas’ short-lived truce. Eliyahu Margalit, 75, was abducted while he was feeding his horses in the kibbutz. Nili, his 41-year-old daughter, was also kidnapped and was freed after 55 days of captivity. Nili Margalit’s home at the kibbutz was burned down by Hamas. “We are continuing to invest many intelligence and operational efforts, to bring information on the conditions of the hostages,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. The IDF was able to confirm the four deaths “based on findings that were collected, and intelligence,” he added. Last week, the IDF said that they found the body of Ofir Tzarfati, a soldier who had been abducted near the Re’im

army base on October 7, in Gaza. The IDF brought his body back to Israel for burial. The army also said that Guy Ilouz, 26, who had been abducted from Re’im, was also found in Gaza. He had been at the Nova music festival working as a music and sound technician when Hamas terrorists kidnapped him. One-hundred-and-thirty-six hostages remain in Gaza, 125 of whom are Israelis. According to Eylon Levy, a spokesperson for the government, 114 of the remaining abductees are men, 20 are women, and two are children. Ten are 75 and older.

Attack in Jerusalem

Early Thursday morning, two Hamas terrorists shot at people standing at a Jerusalem bus stop, murdering three Israe-

lis. A fourth Israeli civilian was mistakenly shot and killed by two off-duty IDF soldiers who misidentified him as one of the terrorists. Livia Dikman, 24, Elimelech Wasserman, a 73-year-old rabbinical judge in Ashdod, and Hannah Ifergan, a woman in her sixties, were all shot dead by the gunmen. Video of the terrorist attack shows 38-year-old Yuval Doron Castleman shooting at the terrorists while the gunmen were trying to get back into their car to flee. Castleman was on the opposite side of the vehicle as the soldiers were, and since the IDF officers thought he was one of the terrorists, they shot him. One year ago, in November, there was a terror bombing at the same bus stop. Five were injured in last week’s attack, three of whom sustained moderate injury, one who was seriously wounded, and another who is in good condition, said Magen David Adom. The terrorists, Nurad Nemer and his brother Ibrahim Nemer, lived in Sur Baher, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Both were in their thirties and were part of the Hamas terror group. Additionally, each one spent time in jail. From 2010 to 2020, Murad was imprisoned for being involved in the planning of terrorist attacks, while Ibrahim was imprisoned

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

in 2014 for similar crimes. Both gunmen were shot and killed at the scene of the crime. Hamas claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack and praised the two gunmen, declaring them both “jihad-waging martyrs.” After the attack, Israeli police searched the terrorists’ residence and apprehended their parents and four other family members for interrogation to determine whether they too played a role in the shooting. This attack came during a temporary ceasefire between the Hamas terror group and the Jewish state, whose inhabitants it slaughtered, kidnapped, injured, and displaced on October 7, triggering an all-out war. The truce came to an end a day after the bus shooting when Hamas launched rockets at central and southern Israel.

Charedi Girls Excel in Math

The Israeli education system’s disparities have widened significantly, positioning the country among the highest globally, as confirmed by the latest international PISA test results. These results, disclosed by the National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education (RAMA), stem from the 2022 PISA test, delayed from 2021 due to the pandemic. This assessment serves as a lens into Israel’s educational landscape

post-pandemic. Highlighting the outcomes, charedi girls notably excel in mathematics and reading, surpassing their counterparts in Israel. The PISA test, conducted triennially by the OECD since 2000, holds substantial sway over educational policies worldwide. In the 2022 study, encompassing 625,000 students from 81 countries, Israel contributed roughly 6,250 students across 193 schools, a representative national sample. Three pivotal revelations emerge from the data. Firstly, Israeli students’ achievements remained steady, in contrast to declines observed in OECD nations. Notably, Israel’s positioning improved, particularly in reading, nearing the global average. Secondly, a stark decline in achievements among girls in state-religious education contrasts sharply with the surprising excellence exhibited by charedi female students in mathematics and reading. Thirdly, linguistic disparities manifest significantly, notably between Hebrew and Arabic speakers, predominantly in reading. Hebrew speakers show weakened mathematical prowess but marginal scientific improvements among Arabic speakers. However, the most pressing concern from these results is the widening educational gaps against socio-economic and cultural backdrops within the Israeli education framework. Across mathematics, science, and reading, advancements favor students from established backgrounds while decline plagues those categorized as average or socio-economically lower, especially in mathematics. While stability is maintained among the latter groups in science and reading, the chasm in mathematics widened by 20 points, and by 10 points each in science and reading, signifying disparities

of about 120 points in mathematics and reading, and 115 points in science among students from varying socio-economic backgrounds. Israel fares unfavorably in achievement inequality, exhibiting a substantial gap between the top and bottom deciles, surpassing OECD averages. The achievement gap in Israel ranks second highest in reading and third in mathematics and science among all participating countries. The gap between Hebrew and Arabic speakers has marginally diminished but remains pronounced, standing at approximately 100 points in mathematics and science, and 136 points in reading. This translates to a five-year educational gap between the two groups. Despite a slight narrowing of the gap, the majority of Arabic-speaking students struggle across all areas, with minimal excellence. While there’s a surge in science achievements among Arabic speakers, there’s a decline among Hebrew speakers in mathematics. Disparities persist even within Hebrew-speaking groups across state, state-religious, and charedi schools, with larger gaps in state-religious education than state-supervised ones, notably in mathematics. Interestingly, charedi girls outper-

form their peers in state education, excelling in mathematics and reading, showcasing a 12-point lead in reading and 9 points in science over girls in state-religious education.

Nelson Mandela Relatives Join with Hamas

Nelson Mandela made a Palestinian state one his main international causes when he became South Africa’s first black president. This week, senior Hamas officials joined the family of Nelson Mandela to mark the 10th anniversary of his death. South Africa has strongly condemned Israel’s response to the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attacks that unleashed a war between Israel and the terrorist organization.

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. On Tuesday, Hamas representatives were among Palestinians who laid a wreath when the Mandela family paid tribute at a giant statue of the anti-apartheid icon. Basem Naim, a former Hamas health minister in Gaza, and Khaled Qaddoumi, the terror group’s representative in Iran, were among those there to visit for a twoday conference on the Israel-Gaza war and the anniversary of Mandela’s death. “We were waiting to gain first-hand experience of the daily atrocities that are being carried out in Gaza,” Mandla Mandela told national broadcaster SABC. “It was a real experience for them to be in South Africa and learn from our experience as we had to face one of the most brutal apartheid regimes on the continent and we were able to defeat it.” He said his grandfather considered a Palestinian state “the great moral issue of our time” and added: “We are carrying on where he left off.” Mandla Mandela is part of the ruling African National Congress, which last month backed a national assembly motion calling for the closure of the Israeli embassy and for a suspension of diplomatic ties in protest at the war. South Africa has also officially called on the International Criminal Court to investigate what President Cyril Ramaphosa has called Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza.

Santos Expelled From The House

Trade Center on September 11th, his grandparents were in the Holocaust, his niece was kidnapped by Chinese men who might be part of the PRC, and much more – all of which has either been disproven or has no evidence to back it up. Despite his outlandish claims and the series of controversies that he has been facing in recent times, Santos has resisted calls for his resignation and has denied wrongdoing, instead asserting that he is merely guilty of “embellishing” but not of lying. Last week, Santos became the first House representative to be expelled in over twenty years when, on Friday, over two-thirds of the House voted to remove him. Of the 435 House representatives, 311 voted to expel Santos, while 114 did not. In order to expel a member of the House, two-thirds must vote in favor of the expulsion. Before Santos, only five others were expelled from the House in U.S. history, including James Traficant, an Ohio Democrat who was stripped of his position in 2002 after being convicted of racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice, and tax evasion; Michael J. Myers, a Pennsylvania Democrat who was expelled in 1980 after being convicted of bribery and corruption; and three others who were removed from their positions after the Civil War in 1861 for supporting the Confederacy. The Senate has only expelled 15 senators, fourteen of whom were removed for backing the Confederacy and one who was expelled in 1789 for treason. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to choose a special election date to fill Santos’ now empty position; both parties will likely put in significant effort in trying to gain his seat. According to state law, she has ten days to schedule an election date, which must be sometime around seventy to eighty days later.

First Female SCOTUS Justice Dies A controversial political figure, New York GOP Rep. George Santos has been making headlines as his large web of lies continues to unravel. He has claimed to have graduated from Baruch College, but the college found no evidence of such. He said he held positions at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, a claim that both companies have denied. He asserted that his mother is Jewish and died in the World

Sandra Day O’Connor passed away on Friday, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of ninety-three. The very first female Supreme Court justice, O’Connor was

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She retired in 2006 to take care of her husband who had Alzheimer’s and was succeeded by Justice Samuel Alito who was appointed by George W. Bush. According to the Supreme Court, she died “of complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness.” In 2018, her short-term memory issues forced her to exit public life. “A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor,” Chief Justice John Roberts said of the late justice. “We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot.” Five other female justices have been appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court since O’Connor: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed in 2020, as well as current justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Julie O’Sullivan, a professor at Georgetown University, recalled her time working as a judicial clerk for O’Connor in the 1980s, and described the late justice as “a very courageous woman.” O’Sullivan noted how O’Connor always put politics aside and maintained a friendly relationship with the other justices, having each justice to eat lunch with one another. She cared for those who worked for her and even made lunch for her clerks when they worked on Saturdays. Born in El Paso, Texas, O’Connor worked as assistant attorney general of Arizona, majority leader of the Arizona state senate, Maricopa County Superior Court judge, and Arizona Court of Appeals judge before she was appointed to the Supreme Court. Her husband, John, passed away in 2009. O’Connor leaves behind three sons, six grandchildren, and her brother.

An Assassination Plot in New York? It was described as a New York hit job with international implications: an audacious assassination plot against a Sikh separatist.

The unsuccessful attempt was outlined last week by federal prosecutors in Manhattan who charged an Indian national with involvement in a scheme to kill the separatist and political activist, who is a U.S. citizen and has been outspoken in his belief in a Sikh-majority homeland.

The indictment says the plan was devised by an Indian agent and was linked to the June assassination of a separatist in Canada. The hit was planned by an Indian government official who told the man tapped to carry it out, Nikhil Gupta, that there was a target in New York and another in California, according to prosecutors. The indictment included a photo of a roll of $100 bills that prosecutors said was an advance payment for the New York job. “We have so many targets,” Gupta told a hit man he had hired, the indictment said.

But the supposed hit man was, in fact, working for the U.S. government. Just months ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada accused the Indian government of involvement in the June killing of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia. U.S. intelligence agencies provided information to the Canadian government about that killing. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is conducting the investigation in British Columbia, has offered no information about its progress on the case. It was not immediately clear who was representing Gupta, who was arrested in June in the Czech Republic, or where he was being held. Gupta, 52, faces charges of murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, prosecutors said, with each count carrying a potential sentence of 10 years in prison. The target of the plot was identified by U.S. officials as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is general counsel for the New York-based group Sikhs for Justice. Pannun is an outspoken proponent of independence for the northern Indian state of Punjab, which is home to a large number of Sikhs, a powerful minority group in the nation.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

“The attempt on my life on American soil is the blatant case of India’s transnational terrorism, which has become a challenge to America’s sovereignty and threat to freedom of speech and democracy,” Pannun said in an email. (© The New York Times)

Henry Kissinger Dead At 100

Henry Kissinger, the most powerful secretary of state of his time, served under President Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and worked as an advisor to twelve presidents, starting with John F. Kennedy and ending with current President Joe Biden. Known for his controversial foreign policy decisions and his role in shaping the United States as it is known today, Henry A. Kissinger died at age 100 on Wednesday, November 29 at his residence in Connecticut. Born in Germany in 1923, Kissinger, a Jewish immigrant, fled to New York from Nazi Germany with his family in 1938 when he was fifteen years old. Set on becoming an accountant, he would go on to attend City College in 1940, where he proved himself to be an academic success. Kissinger’s career plans, however, quickly changed when he was drafted into the army in 1943. His military service in Germany, where he worked as a private, an interpreter, and a Gestapo interrogator, earned him a bronze medal. Upon his return to civilian life, he sought to continue his college career, and he applied to several prestigious institutions, including Harvard, where he graduated with the highest honors in 1950. Post-graduation, he went on to work as a U.S. government consultant, after which he went back to Harvard to pursue his Ph.D. Although he was awarded a doctorate, he grew frustrated when he was offered no positions as an assistant professor. Deciding to go a different route, Kissinger became involved in a prestigious study group at the Council on Foreign Relations where he and his colleagues would study nuclear weapons’ effect on foreign policy. This led him to write a best-selling book called Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy, released

in 1957, which had a message appropriate for the time: “limited nuclear war represents our most effective strategy,” Kissinger asserted. His book’s fame enabled him to find employment as a Harvard professor. Kissinger eventually met and became friends with Nelson Rockefeller, former governor of New York, who would become a presidential rival to Nixon and later Ford’s vice president. Kissinger wrote presidential campaign speeches in 1968 for Rockefeller in which the soon-to-be secretary of state portrayed Nixon as unfit for office. When Nixon became the Republican nominee, he invited Kissinger to be a part of his foreign policy team, and once Nixon became president, he chose the Jewish immigrant as his national security advisor. In 1973, Kissinger was selected as secretary of state and continued to serve as national security advisor. As secretary of state, he was simultaneously praised and condemned for his foreign policy decisions. For instance, his critics accused him of being responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Cambodian civilians after he authorized the saturation bombing of the neutral Southeast Asian country, and many have asserted that he supported a genocide in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971, which saw the deaths of 300,000. Others have condemned him for permitting Indonesia to invade East Timor, causing the deaths of 100,000 civilians. At the same time, he received a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Vietnam War, and he won the praise of the masses for playing a part in easing U.S. relations with Communist China and the former Soviet Union. Even though Kissinger was a Jew, he showed disdain for the Jewish people in many circumstances. He supported Reagan’s wreath-laying ceremony at a military cemetery in Germany where many SS members were buried. He opposed the idea of a U.S. Holocaust museum in D.C., saying it might create “too high a profile” for American Jews. In a recording of a conversation that took place in March 1973 with Richard Nixon, Kissinger said, “The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy, and if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern.” In another transcribed telephone conversation from November 1973, Kissinger declared, “I’m going to be the first Jew accused of antisemitism.” He used derogatory terms for those who defended Jews, including Daniel Moynihan, who was a supporter of Israel and a presidential advisor. He once said of Moynihan – who

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

was not Jewish – “We are conducting foreign policy.… This is not a synagogue.” Even after Kissinger stepped away from politics, he continued to publish several books on a variety of topics, including foreign policy, politics, and artificial intelligence.

Sky-High Merger

This week, Alaska Air announced that it will buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. The acquisition was the culmination of “several months” of negotiations, according to Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. It will include $900 million in Hawaiian Airlines debt. “This is a fantastic deal that brings two airlines that have amazing loyalties in our regions together,” said Minicucci, adding that the merger will give custom-

ers in both states expanded domestic and international choices. The deal, which is forecast to take between nine and 18 months, will see both companies keep their brands, a unique decision Minicucci and Hawaiian Airlines CEO and President Peter Ingram say was made out of respect for the nearly 100year legacy of the two airlines and the communities they serve. Both states are “uniquely reliant upon air travel,” Alaska Airlines noted in a press release. The airline currently serves 19 cities, many of which are not connected by roads. The deal would need to be approved by federal antitrust regulators before it could be complete. Most airline mergers in recent decades have been approved with little trouble, which has allowed a series of mergers that took the 11 largest U.S. airlines down to only four major carriers that control 80% of the nation’s air traffic. Hawaiian Airlines has been struggling financially for a while and needed help to stay afloat. While major U.S. airlines have all returned to profitability with the help of strong demand for travel and high airfares, Hawaiian has been facing increased competition in its home market from the entry of Southwest Airlines into

the market in 2019. Part of the financial strain comes from rising labor costs. The merger would also shape Honolulu into the company’s second-largest hub, “enabling greater international connectivity for West Coast travelers throughout the Asia-Pacific region with one-stop service through Hawaii,” according to the news release. Alaska Airlines’ fleet will expand from about 300 to 365 planes, and serve a total of 138 destinations, including “non-stop service to 29 top international destinations in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific,” the company said in the release. Minicucci, who will become the CEO of both airlines, heralded the move as “pro-consumer” and would allow for the nation’s fifth-largest airline to compete more robustly with United, Delta, Southwest and American Airlines, which currently own 80% of the domestic market share.

Free Phone Calls in Jail

WISHING ALL OUR FRIENDS AND PATRONS, A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHANUKAH! There are now five states in the United States that allow inmates in prison to make phone calls for free. Massachusetts joined the other four states on Friday when a new bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey. It includes all 14 correctional facilities in the state and asserts that there is no limit to the number of calls each prisoner can make. The change will “provide equitable access to sustained communication between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones,” says the news release. “The Massachusetts Department of Correction recognizes the importance of incarcerated individuals maintaining bonds with their loved ones,” said the Department of Correction commissioner Carol Mici in the release. “No cost calls will alleviate the financial burden and remove barriers for an individual in MA DOC custody to stay connected with their outside support system. Strong family support helps to advance the rehabilitative process, reduces recidivism, and contributes to successful reentry upon release.”

“For years, prison phone companies have profited off the backs of some of the most economically vulnerable families in Massachusetts,” said Caroline Cohn, Equal Justice Works Fellow at the center, in the release. “We commend Massachusetts for joining the growing list of states that no longer force their residents to choose between paying the rent or speaking with their incarcerated loved ones.” In 2019, New York became the first major city to offer inmates free calls from jail. Connecticut became the first state to make phone calls free for inmates in 2021. Nonprofits and advocacy groups have called attention to the high cost of prison calls, which could be as much as $14 a minute before the Federal Communications Commission ruled on a price cap in 2015.

U.S. Ambassador Was a Spy

Federal prosecutors on Monday said that a retired State Department official worked for decades as a secret agent for Cuba and was heard referring to the United States as “the enemy,” a previously undisclosed intelligence breach with potentially significant diplomatic and national security implications. In a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Miami, the prosecutors said that Manuel Rocha had secretly aided Cuba’s “clandestine intelligence-gathering mission against the United States” since at least 1981 as he rose through the ranks at the State Department and worked briefly in a top White House role. Rocha, 73, appeared to have met with handlers from Cuba’s spy agency as recently as 2017, prosecutors said, and boasted that he had spent 40 years spying on behalf of the communist government in Havana and “strengthened the revolution.” For over two decades, Rocha handled matters related to Latin America in a series of roles at the State Department under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, including a stint as ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002. A native of Colombia who grew up in New York, Rocha served as an advisor to the U.S.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

military command that includes the Cuba region from 2006 to 2012. The complaint charged Rocha with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and two other crimes, but prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and could result in more serious charges. The case has prompted an internal damage assessment to determine what secrets might have been revealed and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of counterespionage programs created to ferret out spies, senior officials said. “This action exposes one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the U.S. government by a foreign agent,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters in Washington on Monday. He said that Rocha had “sought out employment with the U.S. government that would provide him with access to nonpublic information and the ability to affect U.S. foreign policy.” Rocha broke down in tears during his initial appearance at the federal courthouse in Miami on Monday. A prosecutor indicated that more charges might soon be presented to a grand jury, and the magistrate in the case scheduled a detention hearing for Wednesday. (© The New York Times)

Grandmaster Sibs

It runs in the family. When Vaishali Rameshbabu won the title of grandmaster on Friday, she joined her brother in the prestigious role. Vaishali, 22, is only the third woman in India to earn the title. Her brother, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, became one of the youngest grandmasters in history in 2018 at the age of 12. Together, the siblings have now become the first brother and sister duo to become grandmasters. “Becoming a [grandmaster] has been my goal since I started playing chess,” Vaishali told Chess.com after earning the title at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain.

“I was so close to it, so I was really excited but also I had some pressure… I’m very happy I finally managed to complete the title.” Becoming a grandmaster is not easy and takes time. To achieve the title, players must win three norm tournaments – competitions which themselves must meet certain criteria – and surpass an International Chess Federation (FIDE) rating of 2500. Vaishali had already won three norm tournaments and eventually crossed the 2500 rating with her second-round win in Spain last week. Vaishali’s brother, one of the best players in the world, said he always knew his older sister would one day accomplish the feat. “I felt long back that she has GM strength for a long time already,” he told the FIDE last month as his sister approached the rankings points needed. “I’m happy to see that she’s finally getting to where she belongs.” Checkmate!

The Justice Department said when Jacob later informed federal investigators about the crash, he was told he would be held responsible for preserving the wreckage. He also agreed to disclose its location before lying and saying that he did not know the location. But later, Jacob and a friend flew to the site in a helicopter to gather the wreckage to bring it to another location and then they moved the parts with a trailer attached to his pickup truck. The plane was later cut up and the parts were thrown away. Jacob is now being held for obstructing the investigation. Sounds like a real crash and burn.

You Gotta Be In It to Win It

Crash and Burn

Trevor Daniel Jacob crashed his plane in California on November 24, 2021, and then parachuted to safety. But Jacob is far from safe. The YouTuber is now heading to jail for six months because of the crash. Jacob posted his video titled “I Crashed My Airplane” in December 2021 onto YouTube. The clip shows Jacob’s small plane having engine failure over the mountainous Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. Jacob, a pilot and skydiver, was already wearing a parachute when he jumped out of the plane with a selfie stick camera in his hand. The jump and the plane plunge were recorded by the camera Jacob was holding, as well as cameras mounted on the wing and tail of the plane. Jacob hiked to the crash site after his landing and recovered video from the cameras mounted on the plane. Investigators were suspicious when they spoke with Jacob after the crash. It turns out that Jacob had a sponsorship deal to promote a company’s product in a video, and he never planned to complete the flight.

One vote was all that was needed – and it was one vote he didn’t have. Damion Green ran for Rainier City Council last month but didn’t cast a vote in the election. “I didn’t feel comfortable,” Green told KING-TV. “I thought it was kind of narcissistic, so I didn’t.” According to the machine vote, Green lost to opponent Ryan Roth by a single vote, triggering a hand recount, which resulted in the same findings. Roth won by a single vote. Amazingly, Roth said he also very nearly didn’t vote in the race, but his wife urged him to vote for himself. “That was the one vote,” Roth told The Seattle Times. “We would’ve been tied. If we were tied, I would have called tails on the coin toss.” Despite losing, Green said he wishes Roth well in his new position. “I don’t feel discouraged at all. We both have kids in the schools and are looking for the best thing for our community. We’re different people wanting the same thing,” he said. Green, who ran for city council once previously, said he is planning to run again in the future. “I can run again. The third time will be a charm,” he said. Well, he better vote next time. You gotta be in it to win it.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Community Nissim Black Kicks Off His Chanukah Bright Lights Tour With Young Israel of Hewlett Shabbaton

ccording to Rav Simcha Hopkovitz, Mora D’Asra of the Young Israel of Hewlett (YIH), “The excitement in the community was infectious as Nissim Black led davening, conducted a joyous tisch, and shared intricate and personal details of his journey to Judaism. Together with his genuine warmth, sincere and engaging personality, he left an entire congregation uplifted and inspired.” Shabbat Parsha Vayishlach, December 1-2, YIH was proud to invite the world-renowned Jewish singer, songwriter, and religious inspiration Nissim Black to the Five Towns community. While many are familiar with the music, YIH provided the local community an opportunity to understand the person behind the powerfully inspirational story. The Shabbaton program began with a communal Shabbat night dinner and Oneg, as he engaged with the shul’s youth in song and achdus. Mr. Black spoke for an hour after Shabbat morning services, detailing his journey into Judaism and song; and at Seudah Shlishit to provide a smaller, more intimate group the opportunity to participate in a discussion with an individual whose story is truly unbelievable. The Seattle native came to Hewlett before kicking off his Chanukah Bright Lights Tour. Mr. Black performed at a benefit concert Motzei Shabbat organized by Shop Differently, an Israeli non-for-profit initiative. Their “Light the Night” program, with special guest MC Aleeza Ben Shalom, star of Netflix’s “Jewish Matchmaking,” ignited the crowd. Echoing the message of light and peace, she took center stage with her friend, Shop Differently co-founder Anya Farber. They provided opportunities for the Long Island community to shine the light for Israel, and continuously support initiatives through the Israeli based non-profit platform created by the www.

thinkdifferently.world firm’s founders Anya and Tal Rachmani. When offered the invitation to host Nissim for Shabbat by Think Differently Consulting, YIH seized the opportunity to be his first engagement. As Sisterhood co-President Alana Krul stated, “This past Shabbos we were extremely honored to have Nissim Black share with us his incredible life story, immense love of Hashem and his journey towards connecting with Hashem, tefillah, emet, and the Jewish people. The past weekend with Nissim was nothing short of uplifting, inspirational, soulful, insightful, heartwarming, relatable and awe inspiring.” Nissim Black, previously known as D Black, began recording as a rap artist at an early age. Following a near death experience, he began to learn about Judaism, studied extensively and ultimately converted. Currently a resident in Beit Shemesh, Israel, and member of the Breslov community, Mr. Black uses his unique blend of musical talents, Torah knowledge and Judaism, to share his message of love of Hashem and the Land of Israel. YIH President Ivan Goodstein echoed the general sentiment of the congregation when he said, “It was a truly enjoyable Shabbos. Everyone sat quietly, in awe, as though waiting for a megillah reading or shofar blowing. We were so happy to host Nissim for a spiritually uplifting, informative and amazing experience that will be talked about for months.” The Young Israel of Hewlett, located at 1 Piermont Avenue, regularly looks to bring unique personalities to the Five Towns community and provide exposure to those who can strengthen our community’s understanding and involvement of Jewish life. To find out more about Young Israel of Hewlett’s upcoming programs, please contact the shul office at office@ yihewlett.org

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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STEM Engineering at YOSS

rs. Ayzin’s fourth and fifth grade students at YOSS are budding engineers! We learned about the scientific method and applied it to some STEM competitions. It has been great to see how each group works together to share ideas and use different strategies to build successful structures. We started by using basic household items like straws and newspapers to build towers. Then, we measured how tall each tower was and if it was able to hold weight. We continued our STEM engineering with a boat float challenge. Each team was given a budget to “buy” supplies to build the best boat that could hold the most weight. There was so much excitement in the room as we watched each boat float and counted how much weight it could hold before sinking.

We learned that buses and trucks are not allowed to drive on the Brooklyn Bridge due to weight restrictions. Using our engineering skills, we planned and built a better Brooklyn Bridge that could support more weight within a budget. Using math and strategic thinking, we made shopping lists within our budget to get the supplies and build boats and bridges. In addition, we did an egg drop challenge and a marble run challenge using basic home supplies. In conjunction with our science unit on engineering, we are working on our final project of the unit: an Invention Convention! This project will take some thinking and ingenuity and will provide the students with an opportunity to put their STEM/Engineering skills to the test. We are all very excited to see the final results!

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Fourth Grade at Shulamith

he banot in Kitah Dalet at Shulamith are busy with many exciting happenings! For the second year in a row, Shulamith introduced a special program called “Beautiful Me.” The girls in fourth grade will learn lessons about increasing positive self-awareness and building healthy friendship skills. “Beautiful Me” lessons are designed to teach girls of all ages how to think positively and with assurance about themselves, their abilities, and their relationships with others. These sessions take place weekly in small groups of girls at a time. Using the “Beautiful Me” program as a springboard, the sessions focus primarily on relationships, adding a Torah and hashkafic perspective on a fourth grade level. In addition to the launch of the Beautiful Me program, Kitah Dalet celebrated finishing Parashat Vayeitzei. The girls enjoyed delicious doughnuts and an exciting hot cocoa bar. Morah Idit Avitan prepared a fun Jeopardy game, and the girls

Letters for our Brothers

listened attentively to a beautiful student Dvar Torah. We are so proud of our 4th grade Banot and all they are accomplishing.

ev Chana student, Charles Neumann, is so proud of his big brother who is in the IDF. Before his trip to Israel to visit him, Charles’ classmates wrote letters of encouragement for his brother and the entire unit. The soldiers were all so excited to receive the letters. And of course, the students were so happy to see a picture of their letters in the soldiers’ hands!

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DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

JULY 2 - JULY 26

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Central Continues Positivity Initiative with “Thank You Hashem” Day

entral continued this year’s focus on the Power of Positivity with “Thank You Hashem” day on Wednesday, November 29, one of many self-care days that will be held for students throughout the year. The focus for the end of the semester is “Positivity in Action,” a push that has incorporated various activities and outings stressing the importance of a positive mindset into student interactions with the outside world. For this year’s “Thank You Hashem” day, Central students concentrated on the concept of gratitude, adopting the Dunkin-inspired theme, “Central Runs on Gratitude.” “We’re taking the event in some different directions this year,” said Central Judaic Studies Teacher and Programming Team Member, Ms. Tamar Pollock. On the schedule: a psychoeducational presentation by Central School Psychologist, Dr. Ariella Gettenberg, exploring

how gratitude and service to others has a positive impact on one’s psyche, and a presentation on Modim led by Ms. Pollock. Another presentation featured a short film in which Central students thanked the operations team of Central, the members of the Central and Yeshiva University community who make possible the fun, safe space for learning that exists on Central’s campus. Freshmen and seniors took on a gratitude letter writing project during their advisory classes, and a bake-and-give project was held during the day’s plus period. “I think it’s a really effective initiative,” Ms. Pollock said of this month’s work. “The additional focus on positivity in school is really powerful – the reinforcement is helping the students to incorporate a more positive mindset into their lives on their own initiative, and it’s even having a positive impact on the environment of the school.”

One recent demonstration of positive action from Central students is chesed activities. Central students organized a bake sale to support the Israel Defense Forces, worked at Bobbie’s Place, a Brooklyn-based organization providing families in need with brand-new clothing that comes at no cost, and worked at Yad Leah, which provides clothing to those in need in Israel. Students also visited Masbia of Queens, to contribute to the soup kitchen, and the Ivdu Elementary School for Girls for a day of service working with young students. “It was a lot of fun to spend time with the kids at Ivdu,” said sophomore Orly Fish. “We did projects with them and danced with them. All of the kids had so much energy and were so fun to be around!” Sophomore Kayla Taub also embraced the experience of channeling positivity into volunteer work. “I had a wonderful time at Ivdu,” Kayla said. “The

kids were so happy and warm. They had huge smiles on their faces and were so enthusiastic. It brought me so much joy being able to see them jumping and singing along with us.”

First Ever Sephardic Sefer Torah at YCQ: Beautiful Display of Achdut

CQ celebrated a historic act of generosity and achdut on Wednesday, November 29, as the yeshiva welcomed its first Sephardic Sefer Torah in honor of Brandon Rakhminov’s Bar Mitzvah. The day started with each class assembling around the perimeter of the school yard. Early Childhood students proudly wore their Torah hats and students waved their special flags, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Sefer Torah. After everyone was in place, the Torah arrived. As the glistening new Sephardic Sefer Torah made its way around the YCQ yard surrounded by the existing Ashkenazi Sifrei Torah and over 1,000 students, faculty, and community members, a special feeling of achdut was in the air. The Sifrei Torah were paraded around under a beautiful chuppah, as everyone cheered its arrival. Throngs of students danced to the soundtrack of festive music as the

Torah was displayed on a beautiful sunny day. When the procession concluded, N-5 students made their way back to their classrooms. They continued the celebrations with their own personal parties while the JHS made its way to the shul for more dancing. The ruach continued as students danced in circles and formed

Did you know? The world’s most expensive dreidel is valued at $70,000 and is made from 18 karat gold and has 222 diamonds on it.

trains to continue the simcha. Eventually the sixth and seventh grade students were dismissed and only the eighth grade remained. As the music slowed down, boys and girls formed their own respective circles and joined together to powerfully sing songs including “Acheinu” and “Vehi She’amda.” Rabbi Landsman powerfully spoke about how the parsha described Yaakov’s struggle with his enemy. He explained that just as Yaakov was injured, but nevertheless emerged victorious, so too Bnei Yisrael will always come out on top. He noted that with the matzav in Eretz Yisrael, we are all very much “limping,” but we are confident that we will always preserve and ultimately thrive.

After putting away the rest of the Sifrei Torah, students had the opportunity to hear Brandon practice his kriyah on the new Torah. Students were eager to see the final Torah after they had spent the day before watching the Sofer carefully and meticulously fill in the final letters. The opportunity for all N-8 students to see the Torah up close and watch the sofer on Tuesday was an amazing experience and helped provide additional meaning for Wednesday’s festivities. The Yeshiva of Central Queens is so grateful to bring the light of a new Sefer Torah into the world during these especially dark times. Mazal tov to the Rakhminov Family and the extended YCQ community on this wonderful occasion.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Healing Through Art at HAFTR

n a compassionate initiative, HAFTR Middle School students dedicated this past Monday to creating art therapy kits aimed at providing solace for children in the Gaza Envelope region of Israel grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Partnering with Artists4Israel, the kits, assembled by the students, include heartfelt handwritten notes, coloring and instruction books, as well as an array of artistic mediums like crayons, clay, paper fans, fidget toys, finger puppets, shakers, and scented spray bottles. The materials, designed to promote emotional healing, will be distributed by Artists4Israel to children in need. Students poured their hearts into the project, recognizing the profound im-

pact such gestures can have on vulnerable populations. With a shared hope for positivity, these young artists aim to bring comfort and support to those facing challenges in Israel, particularly the Gaza Envelope region. Dr. Yali Werzberger, HAFTR Middle School’s Assistant Principal, remarked, “It was heartwarming to see the dedication and excitement with which our students assembled kits and decorated letters for children in Israel. Participating in this project gave our students a sense of agency, and the knowledge that they have the power to make a difference in the lives of children their age living in Israel.” We thank Mrs. Talia Goldwyn, Director of Guidance, for spearheading this meaningful project.

JCCRP Distributes Food Boxes to Holocaust Survivors

n November 29, Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) distributed food packages to 300 local Holocaust survivors. Preparation for the event began on November 28, as JCCRP packaged the food boxes at JCCRP headquarters. On the day of the event, Rabbi Lemberger’s 7th grade class from Yeshiva of South Shore distributed boxes of carefully prepared foods to Holocaust wurvivors with a smile and engaged them in conversation. The Holocaust wurvivors greatly appreciated the food packages and thanked the volunteers profusely for them. The boys came away grateful for

the meaningful experience. One of the Holocaust survivors, Mrs. Riasa, commented on how beautiful it was to see the “Yiddishe yingelach” distributing food to the Holocaust survivors with a smile. JCCRP is grateful to Rabbi Lemberger’s 7th grade class for all of their hard work during the distribution. Thank you to our funders and community members for making this distribution such a success, including RNSP, Claims Conference and UJA-Federation of NY. If you are interested in volunteering at our next Holocaust survivor event, please email volunteer@jccrp.org.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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MTA Hosts Memorable 8th Grade Event

ast week, MTA hosted prospective eighth graders at an amazing “Only at MTA” event. The evening began with a smorgasbord of Golan Heights food – arguably one of the best restaurants in the Heights. Following dinner, everyone attended two brief shiurim from MTA’s up and coming star rebbeim, Rabbi Shai Kaminetzky and Rabbi Jeremy Borgen. All talmidim had the oppor-

tunity to learn in the MTA Beis Medrash that is shared with YU. The night was capped off with a MACS game against Merchant Marine Academy, which resulted in a big win for YU! It was a great game and a great night. It was a wonderful evening giving the prospective MTA talmidim a taste of the incredible opportunities they can experience in MTA.

A new Chofetz Chaim shiur after Shacharis in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway was started by the bochurim and is led by Zev Klein

R.A.I.S.E. the Bar….

AG students, grades 1-8, were introduced to a fabulous new behavior initiative program which has already taken hold within our classrooms. R.A.I.S.E. The Bar is our fun mnemonic to remind the girls to Respect And Include Students Everywhere. Each month, the students will be introduced to a new habit to promote a culture of achdus and respect. At the official breakout, the first

monthly habit was introduced, and girls were encouraged to “Open the Circle” and make sure that their peers feel welcome in different social situations. A new song was introduced, and by week’s end, TAG students were not only sporting their “Open the Circle” pins with pride but they were proud of the way that including other girls at recess was slowly becoming second nature.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Mercaz Hosts Grandparents for a Pre-Chanukah Event

tudents in the Mercaz Academy Early Childhood Center and Kindergarten were delighted to welcome their grandparents (and some other special people) to a Chanukah program on the last Friday morning before the holiday. As these beloved guests entered the school, they greeted their grandchildren and posed for a photo together and were then formally seated at round tables. Kindergarten students opened the event by demonstrating their knowledge of the brachot for Chanukah and followed this with a rousing performance of “Maoz Tzur.” Morah Joanne Mlotok hosted a Chanukah trivia game, with several questions such as, “how big is the world’s biggest menorah?”— eliciting some adorable guesses from the younger participants. After these activities, each table received copies of the photos that had been taken on arrival, as well as a stack of wooden picture frames, markers, and Chanukah-themed stickers. The young

Mercaz students got to work designing and coloring frames (with some help and advice from their grandparents). After a delightful snack of Chanukah-themed cookies and fruit, the children presented their grandparents with the finished product – a beautifully decorated, framed photo – to take home as a souvenir of the event.

Kollel Ohr L’Halacha

n Sunday morning, December 3, Kollel Ohr L’Halacha of Kiryat Sefer hosted its 20th fundraising breakfast in West Hempstead. Long-time supporters of the Kollel came to the breakfast to listen to divrei Torah from the Rosh Kollel, Rav Mordechai Feigenbaum. Rav Feigenbaum formed the Kollel twenty-five years ago. The Kollel places a special emphasis on diligently learning halacha. The shiurim and sedarim are centered on the application of halacha. The avreichim, in turn, often become rabbonim or rebbeim to share and teach what they learned at the Kollel.

A Joyous Celebration

n a heartwarming ceremony this past Sunday, the halls of HAFTR echoed with the jubilant voices of second graders as they proudly received their Chumashim at the annual Chagigat Chumash celebration. This momentous occasion marked a significant step in their journey toward becoming accomplished and learned Jewish individuals. Amidst a vibrant atmosphere, many parents, some grandparents, and even great-grandparents gathered to witness this milestone event, underscoring the intergenerational significance of the day. The festive celebration not only symbolized the individual achievements of these young learners but also embodied the timeless continuity of the Jewish people and their rich traditions. The Chumash, the foundational sacred sefer, now holds a special place in the hands of these 2nd graders, serving as a tangible link to their heritage. They received a bracha from HAFTR Lower School’s Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Asher Klein, who blessed them that they should use this opportunity to start on the right path. As they received their Chumashim, the young students sang meaningful songs inspired by the timeless words of the Torah, infusing the ceremony with a profound sense of spirituality and connection. Following the ceremony, the students were treated to a series of engaging work-

shops and experiences designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the Torah. They delved into the intricate details of a Torah scroll, exploring the sacred text’s history and significance. Students exercised their creativity by designing personalized covers for their newly acquired Chumashim, infusing the experience with a sense of ownership and identity. The students wrote notes about the special day, which they tucked inside the covers of their Chumashim. These notes will serve as cherished mementos, preserving the memories of this significant occasion for years to come. The entire event radiated the greatness of the Jewish tradition, showcasing the joy that accompanies Torah learning and study. The commitment to passing down these traditions from generation to generation was palpable in the presence of family members spanning multiple age groups. And in near seamless continuation from the ceremony, the very next day in school, students immediately began using their personalized Chumash with excitement and anticipation for the unlimited learning they would gain from it. The annual Chagigat Chumash celebration at HAFTR had not only equipped these young minds with a powerful tool for spiritual growth but had also woven another chapter into the rich tapestry of Jewish heritage.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Touro University Political Science Students Visit Maltese Embassy, UN Security Council

Touro’s Lander College for Men political science students visit the UN. They are seen here with Deputy Adam Kuymizakis and Touro University Profs. Daniel Friedman and Israel Singer

By Chaya Nessa Krycer

altese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier wanted to “save the children of Gaza.” Given the terrifying global climate in which the Jewish people and the State of Israel currently finds themselves, one could only assume this was another attempt to delegitimize Israel at the United Nations. And with the passing of the resolution at the Security Council, Israel’s vociferous denouncement came as no surprise. Is there anything we as American Jews can do to help? Touro University’s political science students weren’t prepared to sit back and wait for the establishment to write “letters to the editor.” Although a classroom is traditionally where learning occurs, much can be gained outside the university’s walls. Balancing conventional lectures with real-life experiences is critical to the educational process. Last week, political science students at Touro University encountered this idea firsthand on their visit to the Maltese embassy and the UN Security Council. Seventeen students from Lander College for Men (LCM) and Lander College for Women (LCW) participated in this field trip which was organized by their shared political science professor, Dr. Daniel Friedman. Both Dr. Friedman and Dr. Israel Singer, another professor in the LCM political science department, escorted the students through the embassy and United Nations, utilizing their personal governmental connections and extensive political experience to enhance this exclusive opportunity. One-on-One with the Maltese Ambassador The excursion began at the Maltese embassy in midtown Manhattan, where Touro students enjoyed a one-on-one

discussion with the Maltese Ambassador to the United Nations, Vanessa Frazier. Ambassador Frazier explained her unique role in the UN resolution regarding a humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza. As the sponsor of the resolution, she helped facilitate the temporary truce, making it clear that Hamas must return, in her words, “all the hostages, especially the children.” Basically, the media had misrepresented her intentions with their biased reports of her efforts to “save the children in Gaza.” The truth is, she was unequivocal in her determination to leverage the UN to insist on the release of all the hostages. And she reminded us, emphatically, that Malta is an EU member – a body that considers Hamas a terrorist organization. Through this encounter, the Touro students gleaned an inside perspective into Israel’s recent cease-fire, gaining a newfound understanding of the role the United Nations plays in modern-day world events. They also discovered the invaluable role of a mediator in international conflicts, who collaborates with both sides with the objective of uncovering any concurrences they may share and concessions they may allow. Tzivia Lutch, a political science major at LCW, commented that “learning about the practical actions being arranged by Ambassadors such as Her Excellency Ambassador Frazier with the specific goal of protecting civilians in this conflict was very powerful. While I would hope that the UN would do more to support Israel in this conflict, it was fascinating to learn about the process of submitting, modifying, and passing resolutions at the UN.” Addressing “The Palestinian Question” at UN Security Council Meeting Next, the Touro students were

Touro’s Lander College for Women political science students at the Embassy of Malta to the United Nations with Ambassador Vanessa Frazier and Touro Profs. Daniel Friedman and Israel Singer

brought to the United Nations, where they observed the Security Council’s monthly meeting regarding “The Palestinian Question,” aptly occurring on the 76th anniversary of the UN’s resolution for the creation of a Jewish state. With China as the current president of the Security Council, the students heard the ambassadors from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, Malta, and many other countries declare their sentiments concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict. As most Americans carried on with their regular lives, much was astir at the United Nations. Foreign ambassadors from over a dozen countries congregated to affirm their beliefs, as well as the prince of Saudia Arabia, who flew in especially for the occasion. To the students’ surprise, many of the speeches mirrored each other in their calls for a two-state solution and their sole concern for the innocent civilians of Gaza. Highlighted within all the anti-Zionist propaganda were the lone voices of the Japanese and British ambassadors, who stressed that Israel has a right to defend themselves and that Jewish lives matter just as much as the Palestinian civilians. At the United Nations, even the obvious cannot be taken for granted when it relates to Israel and the Jewish people. “The purpose of this event today was to demonstrate to the students that engagement with the sources of power is not beyond their reach,” explained Dr. Friedman. “It’s important that our political science students understand that being able to have an influence on the global stage means picking up the phone, writing that email, or sending that LinkedIn request. People are people and the more human relationships we cultivate, the greater impact we can make on the world.”

This visit also displayed the unfortunate unfavorable bias of the United Nations against the State of Israel. Dr. Singer expressed that “the students felt the isolation of Israel in the hall of the Security Council. Even Israel’s best ally – the United States – gave them tepid support along with a mouthful of two-state solution preferences. There was no particular emphasis on Israel’s threatened situation, nor the atrocities they had experienced.” When a student questioned the causation of this reality, Singer elucidated that “the United Nations is a mirror. It reflects what’s going on in the world. The situation in the world is not favorable toward Israel. This has become quite clear after the explicit display of barbarism on October 7 and onward.” The Experience of a Lifetime Despite coming face to face with some difficult realities regarding the viewpoint of the UN toward Israel, the Touro students had a positive experience. Hillel Pinsky, a political science student at LCM, described the trip as “an experience of a lifetime.” Pinsky emphasized the delegates who spoke in favor of the State of Israel and conveyed strategies to unify the Israelis and Arabs. “I think with this path we will be able to reach peace in the Middle East,” he said optimistically. At the conclusion of the visit, the Touro students wondered if the establishment of loyal ties within the United Nations will rectify its notoriously systemic antisemitic bias. They understand that as the future of American Jewry, the answer to the query lies with them. Chaya Nessa Krycer is a political science major and honors scholar at Touro’s Lander College for Women.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Chanukah in the Shadow of War: How Meir Panim Lights Up the Darkness

By Hadassah Bay

s Israel celebrates the Festival of Lights in a state of war, Meir Panim is diligently ramping up activities to bring as much light and joy as possible to those in need. Their unwavering commitment extends beyond the core mission of providing nourishing meals to vulnerable individuals, the elderly and Holocaust survivors. During these tough times, Meir Panim’s dedicated staff and volunteers are going above and beyond to expand services on behalf of soldiers and displaced families. Remarkably, Nissim Elmakayes, the devoted branch manager from Dimona, successfully secured a vast amount of essential items, including clothing, footwear, cribs and children’s beds, for a group of 350 displaced people sheltered in a nearby kibbutz. “It’s hard to imagine being a refugee in your own country, often with no personal possessions other than the clothes on your back,” reflects Nissim. “And being unemployed has only heightened their distress and anxiety.” The profound impact of Meir Panim’s compassionate outreach was seen in the heartfelt gratitude of those they served. In the Or Akiva branch, staff and volunteers have been working overtime since the beginning of the war to prepare enough food for regular patrons, in addition to soldiers and displaced families. As the cold weather approaches, here, too, volunteers are bringing blankets, pillows and other necessities for the families who left everything behind. In response to a request from Sheba Hospital for visitors and support for 40

injured soldiers, staff and volunteers at the Meir Panim Or Akiva branch prepared carloads of care packages with treats, toiletries, food and even video game consoles to make their recovery more pleasant. From the moment branch manager Ilanit Hafuta received the call, volunteers came together to purchase and pack up the items, including handwritten notes sending love and strength to these injured heroes. Also under intense economic pressure due to the war are Israel’s farmers in the south. With foreign workers having fled the country, Palestinian workers not permitted to enter Israel, and many drafted for reserves, these farmers are struggling to find replacement workers to harvest produce before it spoils in the field. Meir Panim has sent a busload of volunteers to join the thousands of others from around the country to help with what they can, picking, sorting and packaging produce. Mimi Rozmaryn, Director of Global Development, remarked that “despite the turmoil, Meir Panim remains committed to alleviating as much pressure and pain as possible, with the knowledge, expertise and spirit of giving and togetherness, as well as with the dignity and respect that guides our work all year round.” You, too, can be a part of this noble giving! Make your donation today online at www.mpdonate.org, through the toll-free number at (877) 7-DONATE / 877.736.6283 , or by mail to American Friends of Meir Panim at 88 Walton Street, Suite B1 Brooklyn, NY 112064479. All donations made in the U.S. are tax-deductible under EIN# 20-1582478.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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KAY Shul Pre-Chanukah Party

t may have been cold and rainy this past Sunday, but it was warm and the atmosphere was buzzing at the KAY shul’s annual pre-Chanukah party! The children got to show off their vast knowledge of Chanukah while participating in “The Live Game Show” hosted by Yisroel Erps. Children excitedly jumped out of their seats vying for a chance to be called up to answer Chanukah themed questions and to win fabulous prizes. Additionally, children got to prepare packages with cozy socks and letters for displaced families in Israel by a packaging

booth prepared and sponsored by Miriam and Daniel Muller.

Mitzvos on Central

HANC ECC Prepares for Chanukah

he young yeladim in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead are gearing up for an exciting week of Chanukah celebrations. As they explore the holiday, they have been developing and practicing a myriad of skills and had so much fun learning as they go. After examining different types of Chanukiot, each class designed and created their own style of interactive menorahs using an assortment of materials, paints and even recycled materials. Some were created with test tubes filled with colored sand and others were patterned after the artistic style of Yaakov Agam. The children created their own Chanukiot to display, but not light, which will adorn their windowsills at home. Incorporating their counting and patterning skills, they prepared their creative masterpieces to the delight of their proud teachers. They also made gifts for their families, handpainted aprons for the parents of Nursery Bet, and handpainted oven mitts for the Nursery Aleph parents. The children also designed beautiful drip mats, played interactive Chanukah Bingo games, and perfected their dreidels spinning skills in anticipation of this most fun holiday. As you walked through the halls of the ECC, you could hear delightful voices singing songs and practicing dances for the upcoming Chanukah Interactive pro-

Rabbi Shonek’s eighth grade shiur at YOSS “speaking in learning” with Rabbi Meir Braunstein

ver the weekend, several HALB students went to Dimples to pack coloring books and write letters for children in Israel. This chessed event was organized by Avid Fitness and Dimples and gave the community another opportunity to do mitzvot and good for our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Rabbi Leo Dee Speaks to YU and MTA Talmidim

grams to be shared with their parents and special guests. Morah Kayli, the ECC music teacher, has been busy working with each class to prepare them for the upcoming festive performances. Morah Trudy Rubinstein, Director of HANC Early Childhood Center, stated, “I am not sure if the children were more excited with their personalized HANC, ‘Ignite the Light’ glow-in-the-dark water bottles filled with Chanukah chocolate gelt, and dreidel they received as a gift or their delicious doughnuts!” What a great week for our yeladim!

t is a truly amazing phenomenon that a person who went through so much personal pain and tragedy can be in a position to offer chizuk to others, but that encapsulates who Rabbi Leo Dee is and how he is coping with tremendous personal loss. MTA talmidim were privileged to be able to attend Rabbi Dee’s lecture to YU students on Monday afternoon in MTA’s own Beis Medrash. The room was packed with talmidim from 9-12 grades, YU students and rebbeim as well. It was standing room only, as everyone realized how much they could benefit from Rabbi Dee’s moving words.

Rabbi Dee spoke about living in two different worlds: the one before his tragic loss and his new world, as a single parent raising three children. He has experienced so much loss, yet Rabbi Dee spoke from a place of strength and extremely strong emunah and bitachon. Rabbi Dee tied everything into what Klal Yisrael has been experiencing since October 7, also emphasizing what everyone’s role needs to be during this time. The need for Yishuv Eretz Yisrael was a point driven home at the end. Everyone who attended the lecture left feeling inspired and ready to pack their bags for Israel!

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

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Bikur Cholim Brunch

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Shulamith ECC prepares for Chanukah

he 42nd Brunch of Bikur Cholim of Far Rockaway & Five Towns was held at Congregation Kneseth

Israel, The White Shul, on Sunday. The participants were welcomed by Marilyn Wolowitz. Tzippy David recited the Te-

Photos by Ivan H Norman

hillim. The Guest Speaker was Rebbetzin Amit Yaghoubi.

Chag HaChumash Play at HANC

What a CATCH!

o, this article is not upon a major sports achievement but an achievement nonetheless for the amazing C.A.T.C.H program. C.A.T.C.H, which stands for Creating A Team of Courage & Hope, is the brainchild of one woman who understands and fights on a daily basis the effects of anxiety and depression. Jessica Tsur, a mother, wife, active community member, and teacher, presents herself as a woman who has it all. However, underneath this surface is a woman who is a warrior fighting her own depression and anxiety. While Jessica was hospitalized during one horrific time in her life, she found the key to not only helping herself but others as well. That key is connection. For many, the stigma of mental health issues prevents them from seeking help and they suffer in silence. But CATCH offers an alternative, a place where they can meet others who are also struggling, where no one judges them, where everyone understands what they are going through. Led by qualified mental health professionals, these support groups have become a beacon of hope for those who are living in the darkness. In the past, CATCH has sponsored an evening with Dr. David Pelcovitz, who explained why this mental health issue remains hidden and how we, as a community must erase this stigma. The burden of raising funds to pay the therapists remains an impediment in being able to offer more groups. To date, there are two groups running for women with the hope that with more funding, CATCH can expand to offer more to the many silent sufferers in our

T Jackie Bitton, guest speaker, and Jessica Tsur, founder of CATCH

community. On Sunday, November 26, CATCH once again arranged for an evening to focus on this life-altering issue, especially during these stressful times when we are all experiencing due to the situation in Eretz Yisroel. A standing room only group of women gathered at the Manchester House in Woodmere to not only learn about what services CATCH can offer but also to enjoy hearing from noted speaker, Mrs. Jackie Bitton. Mrs. Bitton lived up to her sterling reputation as a motivational, emotional speaker who had the women both crying, laughing and absorbing the theme of the evening, The Power of Connection. For further information or to help CATCH provide their invaluable services, please contact 347-433-4742. www.catchsupport.org

he auditorium of HANC’s West Hempstead Elementary School was filled with excitement as the families of the second grade students waited with great anticipation for the children’s Chag HaChumash Play. Accompanied by the joyful melodies of HANC’s music teacher, Mrs. Kari Levine, a HANC alumna and parent, the children marched in with enthusiasm emanating from their faces. As the students took their places on stage, it was evident that the audience was about to witness an inspiring milestone in their children’s lives. Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Director of HANC’s West Hempstead campuses, welcomed the parents into the gathering of happy Chumash recipients: “The moment a child receives their first Chumash is very significant in a child’s life and today is about marking this time with meaning to make it memorable.” Throughout the electrifying performance, the children sang a series of songs focusing on the importance of learning Torah and how happy they were to be receiving their first Chumash. By studying Torah and performing mitzvot, everyone has the ability to illuminate the world. As the children delivered their speaking parts with confidence and sang their inspiring songs, the students’ enthusiasm was felt throughout the room.

The much anticipated moment finally arrived. Each student was called forward by their teacher and was presented with a beautiful Chumash with a leather cover that was personalized with their full Hebrew name. The children also received a Chumash lollipop that was provided by the HANC PTA. Following the presentations, the entire crowd was invited to a collation to celebrate the meaningful occasion. The children discovered that they were filled with many emotions during the course of the Chumash Play. It was truly a spectacular event and the children brought tremendous nachat to everyone who was in attendance. The second grade teachers were especially proud of their young students who had worked so hard to prepare for this auspicious day. Special thanks to the PTA for its continued support and the generous Chumash sponsors for the beautiful personalized covers that created a truly magnificent gift of lifelong learning for our students. Tremendous Hakarat haTov to all of the second grade teachers and to Mrs. Daniella Hirt for her assistance with so many details to make this program a resounding success. Mazal tov to all of the students and may their families derive much nachat in the future from their wonderful children.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Photos by Yoel Hecht

Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Inaugural Alumni Yarchei Kallah

JSL Week 10 Recap

t was the final week of the JSL Fall Season, and it did not disappoint! The JSL juniors finished up their end-of-season tournament, and the basketball and hockey leagues played their semi-final and Championship games. It may have been the most thrilling final week in JSL history, with some unbelievable finishes and multiple games heading into OT/Shootouts. We give a tremendous thank you to our incredible staff and volunteer coaches for making this season the best one yet. JSL Juniors K/P Hockey: Matis Teitelbaum scored once and had two assists for Posh Home + Bath in a game that saw three lead changes in the final 3 minutes. Shmuli Lazar finished the year with a HAT-TRICK to help Bright Futures beat VirtAir 6 to 1. In the end-of-season tourney championship game for the 11:00 slot, Pinit Realty had a 3 to 1 lead with a few minutes left, but Town Appliance scored 4 straight goals to win the game. Congrats Coach Yan Daniel on the victory and great season. The 12:00 slot title game was a high scoring affair with John’s Automotive defeating Maidenbaum 11 to 6, capping an undefeated season led by Coach Eli. K/P Soccer: Yehuda Jacobson had a goal and an assist in a strong finish to the season as Simcha Day Camp shutout Dead on Pest Control 2-0. In the highly anticipated rematch from 5TLL, coaches Richie Grossman and Eli Jaroslawicz faced off in an epic end-of-season tourney title game. Island Roofing played amazing defense to win the championship trophy. 1st Hockey: Shimmy Dicker scored two big goals to keep PinIt Realty in the lead as they won 10 to 7 against Hewlett Auto Body. In the 1st grade Hockey tourney title game, Shimmie Greenspan started 5TownsCentral off strong with a goal in the opening minute but Zahav Asset

Management fought back with 3 straight goals from Gav Prince to take the lead and the title. Yaakov Polansky played great in goal and Nissi Berman was an anchor on defense which helped Zahav Asset Management hold on. 1st/2nd Football: PIP Printing matched up against AdVenture Media in the tourney title game and it was a close one. PIP Printing was up 5-4 as Adventure Media moved down the field on their final drive and were within a few yards of sending the game into OT but Asher Melool made the game stopping tag on 4th down to end the game and hand PIP the title.

Basketball 3rd/4th: I Am Your Chef, led by Brian Revzin, narrowly defeated Miller Realty 27 to 22 to advance to the Finals where they will face a formidable Traditions team. Dovid Goldman scored a CLUTCH deep 3 with a minute remaining to put the game out of reach. Hockey 2nd/3rd: Dovid Perl had some amazing saves in goal and Eliyahu Ruzohorsky scored the game winner as Believe & Achieve knocked off SDF Architect 3-2 to advance to the ship. Insight Optiks and I Am Your Chef were neck & neck all game. Tied 3-3 midway through the 3rd period, Pinny Weinstein continued his impressive JSL/5TLL legacy with the go-ahead goal and Shmuli Sitzer added another on an empty net to send Insight Optiks to the championship. 4th/5th: Town Appliance went up 2 to 0 but Tamir Law fought back and cut the deficit to 4 to 3 with a third period goal off a face-off from Levi Yeger. However, Town Appliance put it away with an empty net goal from Binyamin Flegman and took the win 5 to 3 to advance to the championship game. Posh Home + Bath came out early and dominated with

both Abie Kreiser and Gavriel Levine recording a DOUBLE HAT-TRICK, as Posh scored 13 and cruised on to the title game. 6th/8th: BayRock Insurance took an early lead but Extreme Vent Cleaning was able to cut the deficit to 4 to 3. In the 3rd period, Chezkel Jeidel scored a big goal to extend the lead to 5 to 3 and then Aryeh Perl put the game away with his third goal of the day to advance to the championship. Wieder Orthodontics defeated JNT 8 to 5 in a very tight game, setting up a highly anticipated match-up with Bayrock Insurance for the title. Championship Games Hockey 2nd/3rd Grade: Insight Optiks and Believe & Achieve battled it out with both teams scoring 3 as the game headed into the 3rd. Shimmy Biegelson broke the tie with an incredible goal and goalie Avi Flegmann stopped everything that came his way down the stretch to hold the lead and give Insight and Coach Flegmann the victory. 4th/5th: In a back-and-forth game, Town Appliance was barely holding on to a 5 to 4 lead against Posh Home + Bath. With just 30 seconds remaining, Abie Kreiser tied it up to send the game to OT. Tzvi Greenspan did not allow a single goal in the shootout and Yeduda Bender scored the game-winner for Town Appliance to give them the exciting victory. It was the first time in JSL history that a coach won 2 hockey championships in the same season – congrats Coach Fleg-

mann. 6th-8th: In a highly anticipated matchup, Wieder Orthodontics got on the board early against Bayrock Insurance and never trailed, leading the game from start to finish, while YY Polansky was a wall all night in net, allowing nothing to get past him. Wieder Orthodontics would go on to win 3-0, giving Coach Ari Treuhaft the Championship trophy in his first season coaching. Basketball 3rd/4th: Dovid Schattner was on fire for I Am Your Chef, as they dominated all game long to defeat a great Traditions team 26-16 and give Coach Yaakov Goldman his first JSL trophy. 5th-7th: The Championship basketball game was an absolute thriller between 4SeasonsAC and Island Roofing. Noam Rosman came down with some big rebounds and Yaakov Benedek continued his stellar play including a key steal and layup with little time remaining to help 4SeasonsAC win it 27-24. Congrats to Coach Yossi Mlynsky on the amazing season. Game MVPS: Yehuda Jacobson, Matis Teitelbaum, Shmuely Lazard, Gav Prince, Gavi Kestenbaum, Asher Melool, Shimmie Greenspan, Dovid Perl, Shmuli Sitzer, Dovid Schattner, Moshe Geizhals, Asher Kaminetzky, Noam Rosman, Abe Krieser, Aryel Perl, Cheskel Jeidel, Avi Flegman, Shimmy Biegeleisen, Binyamin Flegman, Tzvi Rosenberg, YY Polansky.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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It’s Pajama Time!

Chanukah Play

he Early Childhood Center Pajama Night was an exciting change of pace for Mercaz Academy students aged two through four and offered an opportunity to welcome some new faces as well. This opportunity to see what Mercaz looks like after dark–and, for families interested in Mercaz Academy, to check out the Toddler, Nursery Aleph, and Nursery Bet program–took place after sunset, evening wear only, bunny slippers optional. Following the adults’ recitation of Tehillim with Rabbi Fogel–because even in times of joy, we cannot forget Israel–children and parents partied in their PJs over a delicious dinner of salad and pizza, with games for early finishers led by Assistant Principal Karen Leeper. Following the meal, the children enjoyed Music and Movement with Morah Barbra Cohen and ECC Coordinator Joanne Mlotok, dancing to the beat and finishing with “Hokey Pokey”...in Hebrew! After all their youthful energy had been thoroughly shaken up, the children enjoyed bedtime stories with Ms. Leeper and

eading up to Chanukah, the third grade girls put on an original play telling the story and miracles of

Chanukah to their friends and parents. The play was filled with emotion, beauty, and hope. The girls did an excellent job!

Civic Spirit

Mrs. Melissa Reinhardt. Of course, no pajama party would be complete without a late-night snack of chocolate milk and cookies, and afterwards, students headed home, tired-out parents in tow, ready for a good night’s rest.

eachers from HALB Middle School, SKA, and DRS attended Day One of the Civic Spirit Educators Institute earlier this week. At the Institute, teachers from all three schools worked with neighboring schools to gain

the tools to cultivate student connection to our country’s founding values and institutions, to empower them to become influential in their communal landscape, and to increase knowledge of foundational American texts and ideas.

Shalsheles Learning Program at YOSS

his past Sunday, fathers and grandfathers of talmidim in Rabbi Oberlander’s 7th grade shiur joined together for a morning of Torah learning and inspiration at the first annual Shalsheles Learning Program! After davening together and enjoying a deluxe breakfast, they came to the beis medrash and began to learn b’chavrusa. This year, the theme was Chanukah, and Rabbi Oberlander created a kuntress of maareh mekomos addressing the Beis Yosef’s famous question about Chanukah. The kol Torah filled the beis medrash, as three generations learned through the sugya. At the end of the program, individual talmidim were given a chance to

present their answers and to ask POW questions on the sugya. It was a morning of true nachas, and all three generations walked away with the type of chizuk that only comes from connecting to Toras Hashem!

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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Rav Nota: The Story of Rav Nota Greenblatt – Champion of Torah Judaism

rom a quiet community in Memphis, Tennessee, came a man whose Torah brilliance, profound compassion, and willingness to go anywhere, anytime, to help another made him the rav and posek for thousands of Jews throughout America. Within Memphis, he founded one of America’s first Hebrew day schools, saving an entire community from leaving Orthodox Judaism. Nationally, he helped develop the kashrus standards that we all enjoy today. He brought countless Jews back to Torah observance before the kiruv movement ever started. And he traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to write kosher gittin, enabling men and women to rebuild their lives. His name was Rav Nota Greenblatt, and his story – and the many stories others tell about him --- will amaze you. Rav Nota was a brilliant talmid chacham, one of Rav Moshe Feinstein’s foremost talmidim. Yet he chose to live in Memphis, Tennessee, far from the Jewish metropolises that would have afforded

him honor and recognition. But as humble as he was, as small as he made himself, his enormous heart was too big to hide. The new book, Rav Nota: The Story of Rav Nota Greenblatt – Champion of Torah Judaism, magnificently written by Shmuel Botnick, is the story of humility and Torah greatness, and the endless compassion of a very unique rav. The following are some excerpts from the new book. ••••• Rav Nota Greenblatt was once sitting in the beis medrash of Far Rockaway’s Sh’or Yoshuv and a group of students gathered around him, drawn by his magnetic personality. He began sharing story after story with his riveted audience, describing in impeccable detail his many interactions with the leading gedolim of bygone eras. “Rabbi Greenblatt,” one boy commented, “you knew such great people.

Today, we don’t have anyone like that.” Rav Nota nodded, deep in thought. He then grew very emotional. “Uber s’veht nuch zein,” he proclaimed. “There will yet be!” This attitude was evident each time he shared a story about one of his sacred rabbeim. Rav Nota was a masterful storyteller, and his voice quivered at the mere mention of their names. He laughed at the funny stories and shook his head in consternation at the ones he never comprehended. He loved to tell stories, sharing a revivified past with a hopeful future. Rav Nota had witnessed greatness throughout his lifetime and was determined to relay it to the next generations. “S’veht nuch zein!” Rav Nota insisted. “There will yet be!” ••••• Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Mandelman’s relationship with Rav Nota had a unique genesis. Long enamored by the great gaon tucked away in southwest Tennessee, Dr. Mandelman made it his mission to receive semichah from Rav Nota. This was an ambitious goal; Rav Nota seldom conferred semichah. Nonetheless, Dr. Mandelman traveled to Memphis and made an appointment to speak with Rav Nota. He arrived at the given time and waited in the study. Rav Nota entered and shared a recently developed Torah thought. Dr. Mandelman responded in kind, and the two engaged in conversation, sharing Torah thought after Torah thought for a whopping eight hours. None of this followed the protocol of a typical semichah exam, but that didn’t seem to be a problem. Rav Nota pulled out pen and paper and drafted the coveted certificate. “Now, what is your mother’s phone number?” Rav Nota asked. Dr. Mandelman’s eyebrows furrowed. “Uh, why does the rav need her number?” “Well,” said Rav Nota, eyes twinkling, “I’m sure you caused her enough headaches. It’s time to give her some nachas.” Dr. Mandelman had admired Rav Nota’s prowess as a posek, but, in a later encounter, he also came to recognize his ocean-deep compassion. It happened when Dr. Mandelman placed a call to Rav Nota on erev Yom

Kippur. His wife was expecting, and there were complications. The question for Rav Nota centered on if and how his wife could break her fast should the need arise. Rav Nota, before addressing the question, issued an unasked-for ruling: “You have no permission to go to shul,” he said with no uncertainty. “You will daven at home.” They then discussed the question, reached a halachic conclusion, wished each other a gemar chasimah tovah, and ended the conversation. Yom Kippur came and went, and all was well in the Mandelman home. After nightfall, they made Havdalah and, sometime later, Dr. Mandelman’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen: Why was Rav Nota calling? It turned out to be a brief conversation. “Reb Shmuel,” said Rav Nota, “how did Yom Kippur go? How is your wife doing?” Dr. Mandelman assured him that all was well and hung up the phone. It took some time before he realized that Memphis was an hour behind Eastern Standard Time. Rav Nota had called just moments after his own Havdalah. This was an ongoing facet in Rav Nota’s model of issuing halachic rulings; he provided the relevant answer but was always sensitive to the circumstances that lay behind the question. ••••• One Chol Hamoed, Reb Shuey Scheinberg called Rav Nota with a question. Sometime during yom tov, his baby con-

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Around the Community tracted a stomach virus and had vomited all over his wife’s primary yom tov outfit. Could the outfit be sent to the cleaner’s on Chol Hamoed? Before Rav Nota answered, there was a more pressing issue to discuss. “First of all,” said Rav Nota, “Vuhs macht der yingel? How is the baby feeling?” ••••• Rabbi Sholom Fishbane, kashrus administrator for the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), was present at a question-and-answer forum held at the 2017 Association of Kashrus Organizations’ conference. The panel featured several leading poskim in the field of kashrus, Rav Nota among them. One of the questions focused on the halachic reliability of cameras as a method of kashrus oversight: Could modern camera surveillance replace the trained observation of the traditional mashgiach? Rav Nota skipped the expected recitation of sources. “It is possible that cameras are sufficient for oversight,” he said. “But if you use a camera instead of a mashgiach, you’re taking parnassah away from a fellow Jew. And that has to be given serious consideration.” ••••• Rav Nota Greenblatt carried his experiences in Yerushalayim throughout his lifetime, in one instance quite literally. For decades to come, Rav Nota would tell of his encounter with his brothers’ rebbi, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook. Rav Nota described how he had been a weak child, and, at the age of nine, his health

began to seriously decline. His concerned father brought him to Rav Kook to receive his brachah for a full recovery. Rav Kook pulled young Nota under his tallis and gave him a heartfelt brachah, reciting the pesukim of Bircas Kohanim. He then davened for Nota’s refuah sheleimah and concluded with the blessing that he “live a long life and become a talmid chacham.” Rav Nota was mesmerized by this story. He relived those minutes that he stood beneath the tallis, watching a tzaddik daven on his behalf. The effects of Rav Kook’s brachah were evident for nearly ninety years, as Rav Nota traveled from city to city, often surviving on only matzah and sardines, going to sleep after eleven o’clock and, not infrequently, rising in the predawn hours to catch his next flight. When he was ninety-two years old, he was staying in the home of Rabbi Yosef Grossman in Houston, Texas, when Rabbi Grossman noticed that he looked somewhat uncomfortable. “Is everything okay?” Rabbi Grossman asked. “I have a headache,” Rav Nota admitted. “Can I get you an Advil?” Rabbi Grossman offered. “Advil?” Rav Nota responded. “In all my life I took only six pills! I have a brachah from Rav Kook — who needs pills?” Indeed, until his final illness, Rav Nota very rarely visited a doctor. But Rav Kook had given two brachos: one, that he live a long life; the other, that he become a talmid chacham. Rav Nota would quip that “at least the first half came true.” Undoubtedly, Rav

Kook himself would have differed with him on this. ••••• One of the Israeli members of the Greenblatt family had a four-year-old son who was diagnosed with a rare condition. To receive the best treatment, they had to travel to New York to consult a specialist in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. It wasn’t easy. With their critically ill son, they had to relocate to the United States, a foreign country, whose culture was unfamiliar and whose language they barely knew. Rav Nota flew to New York from Memphis to be there with them and do what he could to make their stay easier. While he was there, Rav Nota learned that his mother, who had lived her last few years in an assisted living facility in Eretz Yisrael, had passed away. As the youngest child in the family, who was always exceptionally close to his parents, it was assumed that Rav Nota would board the next plane to Eretz Yisrael. But Rav Nota wasn’t budging. “She has passed away already,” he explained. “If she’s no longer alive, there’s no question of pikuach nefesh (saving a life). Here, on the other hand, there is pikuach nefesh. They need me here. I’m not going.” Only after Rav Nota’s son promised that he would take over his role in the hospital and fully take his Israeli cousins under his wing, did Rav Nota board a plane and head to his mother’s levayah. Years later, he would demonstrate a similar concern, this time, for worried children rather than worried parents. Rav Nota’s nephew, Rav Efraim Greenblatt,

had to undergo complex heart surgery. A doctor in St. Louis was recommended as an ideal surgeon to conduct the operation, and so Rav Efraim traveled to St. Louis. Many of his children traveled to St. Louis to be with him. As the time of the operation neared, the children huddled together in the waiting room, whispering Tehillim and apprehensively glancing at their watches. Then the door swung open. A tall man with a straw hat and tan jacket entered. “Uncle Nota!” they exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” Rav Nota simply nodded, took a seat beside them, and joined them in saying Tehillim, stopping every now and then to offer a few words of encouragement. He stayed for one hour and then rose to leave. It had been a five-hour drive from Memphis to St. Louis, and now he had a five-hour drive home. Ten hours of travel for a one-hour visit. ••••• Rav Nota’s son, Reb Yaakov, once drove to a correctional center in southern Illinois to procure a document needed for a get from a Jewish prisoner who was found guilty of murder. A teenage boy from Memphis accompanied him. When they returned, the boy found a picture of the inmate online and brought it to Rav Nota’s house. “This is the man we went to visit in Illinois,” he told Rav Nota. “He actually looks like a murderer, no?” Rav Nota glanced at the picture. “He looks like a Jew in pain,” he responded.

A Conversation with Shmuel Botnick Author of Rav Nota: The Story of Rav Nota Greenblatt – Champion of Torah Judaism

av Nota was a household word in some parts of the United States and unknown in others. For those who don’t recognize the name, tell us a little about his life and achievements. SB: Nota Greenblatt was born in 1925. From a young age, he demonstrated marked brilliance and incredible diligence in his learning. He learned under many of the 20th century’s greatest rabbanim and became an exceptionally close talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. In 1949, he

moved to Memphis, Tennessee, originally hired as a chazzan and Talmud Torah teacher. Within days, however, he began to change the community, soon successfully founding a Hebrew day school, saving hundreds from assimilation. (The fact that an iluy was teaching alef-beis didn’t bother him at all!) With time, Rav Nota’s genius in Torah gained national and international recognition, and he became a much sought after posek. He had singular expertise in gittin and travelled all over the world – literally millions of miles! – to ensure that gittin were given properly. When a husband was unwilling to give his wife a get, he would invest huge amounts of time and energy trying to convince the

husband to change his mind. Did Rav Nota ever discuss why he was satisfied living in a quiet southern Jewish community, far from the Torah centers? SB: Rav Nota was very clear in his position that a person must do what he can to help Klal Yisrael and make a difference. It was obvious to him that he could make a greater difference in a community that has fewer resources than the larger Jewish centers, and so he was perfectly content with living in Memphis. He saw it as his life’s mission. What were the unique challenges that you faced in writing this biography? SB: Locating interviewees! Rav Nota

traveled all over the world and there was no real way to know who on Earth (literally) had interactions with him. It was a challenging search that sometimes had results and sometimes didn’t. What are some lessons we can learn from Rav Nota’s life? SB: The main takeaway, in my opinion, is the ability to take a step back from yourself. Rav Nota deserved so much honor and recognition and he pursued none of it. He gave of his time, his money, and his energy to help everyone who needed his help, anywhere, anytime.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

1. *

TJH

Centerfold

Potato Trivia 1. Approximately how many varieties of potatoes are there? a. 12 b. 100 c. 600 d. 4000 2. The Guinness World Record for the heaviest potato was grown by Peter Glazebrook in the UK in 2011. How much did it weigh? a. 7.5 pounds b. 24.2 pounds c. 48.4 pounds d. 112 pounds 3. How many potatoes does the average American eat a year? a. 12 pounds b. 59 pounds c. 120 pounds d. 290 pounds 4. Which state grows the most potatoes? a. Washington b. Colorado c. Wyoming d. Idaho

5. What is the scientific name for the common potato? a. Solanum lycopersicum b. Solanum melongena c. Hyperchulentine d. Solanum tuberosum 6. Which cooking method typically retains the most nutrients in potatoes? a. Boiling b. Steaming c. Frying d. Baking Answers: 1-D 2-B 3-C 4-D 5-D 6-B Wisdom key: 5-6 correct: You earned your potato latkes! 3-4 correct: You are just an average potato! 0-2 correct: You can do better, Mr. Potato Head!

You Gotta be Kidding Sara walks into Yankel’s restaurant which advertised fat-free French fries and orders a portion. Yankel hands her the fries…which are dripping with oil. “Wait a minute,” she says. “Those don’t look fat-free.” “Sure, they are,” replies Yankel. “We charge only for the potatoes. The fat is free!”

Charlie Munger, who died last week at 99, was Warren Buffett’s partner. Although Warren is quoted more often, Charlie too was witty and filled with common sense sayings, such as these:

  

“All I want to know is where I’m going to die so I’ll never go there.” “If something is too hard, we move on to something else. What could be simpler than that?”

 

“The best armor of old age is a well spent life preceding it.” “People calculate too much and think too little.”

“Envy is a really stupid sin, because it’s the only one you could never possibly have any fun at. There’s a lot of pain and no fun. Why would you want to get on that trolley?”



“People have always had this craving to have someone tell them the future. Long ago, kings would hire people to read sheep guts. There’s always been a market for people who pretend to know the future. Listening to today’s forecasters is just as crazy as when the king hired the guy to look at the sheep guts.”



“In my life, there are not that many questions I can’t properly deal with using my $40 adding machine and dog-eared compound interest table.”



“When any guy offers you a chance to earn lots of money without risk, don’t listen to the rest of his sentence. Follow this, and you’ll save yourself a lot of misery.”



“People are trying to be smart – all I am trying to do is not to be idiotic, but it’s harder than most people think.”



“In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn’t read all the time – none, zero. You’d be amazed how much Warren reads – and at how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I’m a book with a couple of legs sticking out.”



“Go to bed smarter than when you woke up.”

Hey Folks, So, are you o ne of those p eople who ta w ith your fo kes a selfie od every tim e you go out to look g reat n eat? (You ear that pen ne ala vodka can keep tho ). Well, you se photos. H owever, we’ d your Chanuk love to see ah photos. Send in you r Chanukah, Chanucka, C or e ven you hannnuka r Ch anukca h p ic tu re s in order w in a g if t ce to rt ificate to B e rr y li c io on Letters to us! See deta ils the Editor p age (the pla people air th c e se ri ou s eir g rievanc es). Hey, do Smile big in m e a fa v or? the pictures, no sour face s, OK? Happy Chan nuuukkkcckc kh h a a a ! Your Favorite Centerfold C ommissione r

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

It’s Just Common Sense

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Torah Thought

Parshas Vayeishev By Rabbi Berel Wein

he Torah parsha begins with the simple narrative statement that Yaakov settled and “dwelled in the land of the sojourn of his forefathers, the Land of Canaan.” That last clause in that sentence – the Land of Canaan – seems to be superfluous. We are already well aware from the previous parshiyot of Bereshis that Avraham and Yitzchak dwelt in the Land of Canaan. Since every word and phrase in the Torah demands our attention and study, the commenta-

tors to Torah throughout the ages examined this issue and proposed a number of different lessons and insights. I believe that the lessons for our time from these words that open our parsha are eerily relevant. Yaakov is forced to live in a hostile environment. The story of the assault on Dina and the subsequent violence and bloodshed between Yaakov’s family and the Canaanites serves as the backdrop to this type of life that living in the Land of Canaan

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entails. Yaakov is living in a bad neighborhood amongst many who wish him and his family ill. He is forced to rely on the sword of Shimon and Levi to survive but that is not to his liking or ultimate life purpose. The Land of Canaan is not hospitable to him and his worldview. The Philistine kings who wished to kidnap and enslave his mother and grandmother are still around or at least their cloned successors are. At the funer-

he realized that this was the land of his ancestors and that the L-rd had entered into a covenant with them to grant them that land. Now it could be that it is called the Land of Canaan but eternally it would be called after his name, the Land of Israel. The land would know many populations and rulers, but that would never change its eternal nature of being the Land of Israel. The land is home for Yaakov – the land of his past

The land is home for Yaakov – the land of his past and his future.

al of his father at the Cave of Machpela, he must have ruefully mused as to how his grandfather was forced to pay such an exorbitant price for a burial plot. The Land of Canaan had many unpleasant associations connected to it for Yaakov to contemplate: a king’s ransom to Eisav, a rock for a pillow, and crippling encounters with an anonymous foe. All of this and more was his lot in the Land of Canaan. So what is Yaakov’s stubborn attachment to living in the Land of Canaan? Why does he believe that he will be able to eventually dwell there in serenity and security? The answer to these issues is that

and his future. It is what binds him to his great ancestral heritage and mission – and he will demand to be buried there as well. Yaakov overlooks the difficulties and challenges inherent in the Land of Canaan because he lives not only in its geographic confines but rather in the ideal land of his forefathers – in a land of G-dly revelation and holy purpose. Yaakov will undergo much more pain and suffering in the Land of Canaan before he returns there in final tranquility. But his descendants, the Jewish people, will always know it to be the land of their fathers, the Land of Israel. Shabbat shalom.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

From the Fire Parshas Vayeishev

Reading Between the Lines By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

want to talk about the connection between Chanukah and Yud Tes Kislev, the anniversary of the day Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe (the Baal Hatanya), was released from prison. When the Baal HaTanya was arrested, he was very upset that he was forced to discuss matters of G-dliness with the Russian authorities. At one point, they asked him if he was a follower of the Baal Shem Tov and his movement. He faced a horrible dilemma. If he answered that he was not a follower of the Baal Shem Tov, he would probably be liberated and out of danger. If he answered affirmatively, his very life was at stake. However, he could bring himself to disavow his connection to the holy Baal Shem Tov and answered in the affirmative. Was it possible that the Baal HaTanya, who was a genius and well-versed in the laws of pikuach nefesh, did not know that he was permitted to disavow his connection to the Baal Shem Tov? Denial of Chassidic affiliation is not one of the cardinal sins! How could he give an answer that would most likely cause his own death? It must be that the Baal Hatanya’s connection to the Baal Shem Tov was part and parcel of his belief in Hashem. For him to deny the Baal Shem Tov as his master and teacher would have been like saying he does not believe in Hashem. This concept is very difficult to understand and almost smacks of heresy. How are we to understand it? Chanukah is the holiday of ohr, light. It is the victory of light over darkness and the Jews over the Greeks. On Shabbos Chanukha, it is customary to greet each other with “a lichtegeh Shabbos” (“an illuminated Shabbos”) instead of

the usual “Good Shabbos.” Chanukah brings with it a light that penetrates much deeper than any other yom tov. The light of Chanukah is an ohr penimi, an internal light. It is connected to the hidden light of Creation that goes much deeper than the eyes can see. We see this notion in marriage. I sometimes meet with a couple because they are having marital troubles. Oftentimes, I ask the husband, “What is the matter?” He will answer that he does not know and add, “I take out the garbage, I change the light bulbs, I fix things around the house, etc.” All the while, his wife is shaking her head at each statement. I then turn to her, and she will say, “I did not marry a handyman.” The light of the marriage is missing. This light cannot be expressed in words. It is hidden from physical reality. You could not explain this “light” to someone. It is either felt or it is not. There is an old song, “I know a woman, became a wife, these are the very words she uses, to describe her life.” The light is now missing from her life; she has been reduced to a wife, no longer a woman permeated with the ohr penimi. When the light of the marriage is missing, the people are merely a husband and a wife, trying their best to get along and make it through the daily grind. I was recently at a levaya for an elderly woman. There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs at funerals. One of the children will get up to speak and talk about Mommy’s apple strudel. A grandchild will get up afterwards and describe how no one made stuffed cabbage like Bubby. People sitting and listening will wonder, all these years and all they have to talk about is Bubby’s yom tov menu? The truth is, however, that when her children and grandchildren tasted those

foods, they could taste the sweetness of their bubby that could not be explained in words. Every detail of her life, even the smallest, was infused with the ohr penimi, this internal light, which she invested in every piece of food she lovingly prepared. When we look at a child and we’re overwhelmed by his or her beauty, we simply say, “He is shining!” We’re not referring to a particular characteristic or feature of the child. We’re simply trying to describe his essence, who he is. In Parshas Yisro (20:1-2), the Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments, begins, “And Hashem said all of these things saying, ‘I am Hashem your G-d…’” The Torah prefaces “I am Hashem your G-d” with the seemingly superfluous phrase, “all of these things.” The Torah should have said, “And Hashem said, ‘I am Hashem…’” In our relationship with Hashem, there are mitzvos, good deeds, and all of the other things. However, that is not the essence of our relationship with Hashem. Yiddishkeit is not just a to-do list. The essence of the relationship is between the lines, not visible to the eye. This is what we have to learn to “see” and feel. Chazal (Shabbos 105a) explain that “I, anochi,” stands for “ana nafshi katvis ya’havis, I have written and given myself into the Torah.” A deeper reality exists beyond the actions and conditions of a relationship. This point of the relationship cannot be expressed; it is an inherent connection. The specifics of the what we do is not the ohr penimi of the relationship. The “I am Hashem” is the ohr penimi of our relationship with Hashem, the light of Hashem that must be felt in everything we do. As the pasuk says, “With the light of His face, He gave to us…” The Torah consists of wisdom and light. It is made up of “things” and the “I

am Hashem.” The Greeks were interested in the wisdom of the Torah but not the light of the Torah, not the ohr penimi. Moshe Rabbeinu transmitted this to Yehoshua. Chazal write (Avos 1:1) that “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transferred it to Yehoshua.” Rav Yosha Ber Soloveichik explained that Moshe did not just teach Yehoshua a lesson. He shined the light of Torah into Yehoshua. He showed him the inner light of Yiddishkeit. Yehoshua’s face shone like the moon. The moon reflects the light of the sun. Yehoshua was shining with Moshe’s light, the light of Torah. Rav Avraham Tzvi Kluger explains that there was a time when Jews prayed without a set text. They used their own words to pray. Before the traditional kabbalas Shabbos that we know, we assume people went out into the fields. Lecha Dodi was only introduced in the 1500s. Rav Kook explained that at that time, the relationship between Jews and Hashem was natural. We do not know much about this time, but we do know there was no blueprint for serving Hashem to guide people. The Vilna Gaon said that Jews in his time (all the more so now) had no understanding of the exalted level of the simple Jews in the time of the Beis HaMikdash. The connection between a Jew and Hashem in those times was natural and felt. The ohr penimi was apparent. They understood the white parchment in between the black letters of the Torah. Prophets were everywhere, and Hashem’s words were heard loud and clear. The exile of Greece is characterized by “they darkened the eyes of the Jew-

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

ish people.” The Greeks did not want to destroy the Torah. They did not burn it like they did in Paris. They coveted its wisdom but wanted no differentiation between Jew and non-Jew. According to the Midrash (Bereishis Raba 2:2), they decreed that every Jew “write on the horn of a ram that you have no portion in the G-d of Israel.” The word for horn, keren, also means a “ray,” as in a ray of light. The Greeks told the Jewish people that the light of Torah has no place in their lives. They tried to convince us that it does not exist because it cannot be seen. There is no “between the lines.” One time when I was younger, my family was driving through a town during Chanukah. There were many plastic menorahs in the windows. I was going through a “frum” stage at the time, and I said, “You cannot even be yotzei the mitzvah of lighting with these menorahs.” My father said to me, “How beautiful is it that there are Jews who still want people to know they are Jewish.” The light of Chanukah is this hidden light, the inner light of Yiddishkeit that shouts “I am Jewish!” The Greeks wanted to extinguish this light, to extinguish the internal flame of Yiddishkeit. This is why there is no Meseches Chanukah in Gema-

ra or Mishna. The light of Chanukah is inexpressible. This is the inner meaning of Chazal’s statement (Shabbos 21b) that “the miracle of Chanukah cannot be written.” The light of Chanukah is the victory of the inner light of Torah over the Greek battle to destroy it. The ohr penimi of the

mon Bar Yochai, to illuminate the space between the lines of Yiddishkeit with the Zohar. He revealed the G-dliness inherent in everything. However, his circle was small, only consisting of a few people. Later, when Jewish law was beginning to be codified, and a similar state of

The light of Chanukah is this hidden light, the inner light of Yiddishkeit that shouts “I am Jewish!”

Jewish people’s relationship with Hashem survived and continued. This miracle cannot be expressed or transcribed. At certain times in history, when there existed an extraordinary darkness, Hashem sent into the world extraordinarily illuminated souls to save us. After Chazal instituted prayer and other fixed methods of worship, the service of Hashem became routine. People heeded the commandments of Chazal but did not feel G-dliness in their service. Hashem therefore sent us our master, Rabbi Shi-

stiffness was setting in, Hashem sent the Arizal into the world to illuminate the Zohar and all of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s teachings. The circle widened but was still small. Most people were practicing the rituals of Yiddishkeit but were not feeling Hashem in anything. In the 1600s, the Jews experienced a terrible state of darkness after the debacle of Shabtai Tzvi and the Frankists. Hashem therefore sent the light of the seven days of Creation, the Baal Shem Tov HaKadosh, into the world, to bring G-dliness to the masses. He showed people the light in all of Creation. Whereas in the past, only a select few were privileged to understand this, the ohr penimi was now revealed to all. He was able to reveal the hidden light of Creation, the G-dliness within the soul, to the simplest Jew. He revealed the inner light of their relationship with Hashem to them. He taught them “to see” the light of Moshiach, the ohr penimi of Torah and mitzvos. Hashem was once again part of the daily lives of people. They were able to taste Hashem’s love for them in the apple strudel. When the Baal HaTanya was arrested, he managed to give a note to a chassid to bring to the Kedushas Levi, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. When the chassid arrived in Berditchev, he forgot the Baal HaTanya’s mother’s name. Reb Levi Yitzchak opened a Chumash and placed his finger on the page. The pasuk his finger was on was “And Yaakov saw that there was sustenance, shever, in Egypt.” The word for Egypt can also mean a situation of trouble or danger, as in meitzarim, straits. In addition, the word for sustenance, shever, can also mean brokenness. Reb Levi Yitzchak said, “Shever, Shneur ben Rivkah [and Rivkah was actually the Baal Hatanya’s mother’s name] is in Mitzrayim/straits. Hashem’s existence in this world had en-

tered into the straits, into prison, with the Baal HaTanya. Only a tremendous light could save it.” The Baal Hatanya’s name, Shneur, can be split into two words, “shnei ohr, two lights.” He was a double-light to stand up to the double darkness of that time. The Baal Hatanya was carrying on the light of the Baal Shem Tov, which was the unity of the revealed and the hidden light of Hashem. The “things” and the “I.” Now we can understand why the Baal HaTanya could not answer “no” when asked if he was a follower of the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov brought knowledge of Hashem back into the world. The ohr penimi that the Greeks wanted to extinguish was faced with extinction once more. Denying his connection to the Baal Shem Tov would have been tantamount to denying his connection to the ohr penimi. This light is needed for Moshiach to come. His connection to the Baal Shem Tov was an extension of his faith in Hashem. Even though his life was in danger, the ohr penimi of the world was in danger too. There is a poem from a woman named Ruth Lewis called “Concepts,” from her a wondrous book of poetry called “Memo to Self.” In it, she is talking to a woman who does not have children. What keeps you going? An unmarried friend once asked I said something about the children, about doing it all for them I see, she said. So, it is the concept of Children that gives you strength? I gave up trying to explain. The concept of children wouldn’t inspire me to lift a finger. No, it’s Aidey’s arms flung ‘round my neck; the pull of Feigy’s hair, tangled, on the comb; Nechamy’s soft cheek on mine; the baby’s little form, snug-fitting in my arm… It’s not the concept of children, but the solid reality of them that fills my days. Hashem Yisborach should help us that we merit to feel this ohr penimi in our own lives. May the lights of Chanukah open our eyes to what is between the lines. With this, may we merit to see the coming of Moshiach speedily 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.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Think. Feel.Grow.

Re-examining Our Chanukah Mission By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

here was once a public debate between a rabbi and an astrophysicist regarding the nature of our universe. The astrophysicist, representing the atheist perspective, confidently approached the podium and began addressing the audience: “I don’t know much about Judaism, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” With that, he went on to detail how physicists could now adequately explain the nature of our universe, without the need for religion. When he finished his speech, it was the rabbi’s turn to address the audience and represent the religious approach. With a sparkle in his eye, he turned to the crowd, and said: “I don’t know much about astrophysics, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” With that, he went on to deliver the rest of his speech.

The Age-Old Debate Spiritual debate has been a recurring phenomenon since the beginning of time. Chanukah is when we tap into the spiritual debate between the Jews and the Greeks, as the Greeks specifically attempted to destroy our spiritual way of life. They aimed to cut off our connection with Hashem and replace it with the worship of the natural, physical world. Yavan, the Hebrew name for the Greeks, means quicksand (Tehillim 69:3) – the Greeks sought to “drown” us in their secular culture, replacing spirituality with atheism and hedonism. The Midrash says that the Greeks attempted to darken our eyes,

“hichshichah eineihem” (Bereishis Rabbah 2:4). Darkness represents a lack of clarity, the inability to perceive true form. Physical darkness prevents physical clarity; spiritual darkness prevents spiritual clarity. This was the Greek attack on the Jewish People: a distortion of truth, a darkening of knowledge and perception. For this reason, the Jewish People went to war against the mighty Greek army, and to this day, we carry on that fight against Greek culture, a culture that we view as damaging and antithetical to Judaism.

Greek Culture However, if we take a deeper look into Jewish literature, we find a strikingly different picture of the Greek nation and their culture. In Parshas Noach, Noach blesses his two sons, Shem and Yefes, with a seemingly peculiar

bracha: “Yaft Elokim l’Yefes, v’yishkon b’ohalei Shem,” Hashem will grant beauty to Yefes, and he (Yefes) will dwell within the tents of Shem. Yefes is the precursor to the Greeks, and Shem to the Jews. This seemingly paints the Greeks in a positive light, as a beautiful nation fitting to dwell within the framework and boundaries of Judaism. In a similar vein, the Gemara (Megillah 9b) states that despite the general prohibition of translating the Torah into different languages, it is permissible to translate the Torah into Greek due to the beauty of the language. According to both of these sources, it seems as though Greek culture does not contradict Judaism but is meant in some way to complement it, harmonizing with Jewish ideology. How can we understand this contradiction? In order to explain it, we must

first develop a deep spiritual principle. The Spiritual-Physical Relationship How do we understand and perceive Hashem? Is Hashem within time and space, limited to this world alone, as Pantheists believe? Or is Hashem completely transcendent, beyond time, space, and this physical world, as many of the ancient philosophers believed? The Jewish approach, as explained by the Rambam, Maharal, Ramchal, and others, is a beautifully nuanced blend of these two approaches. Hashem is transcendent, completely beyond our physical world of time and space, and yet, He is also immanent, within our physical world. This principle applies to all spirituality; we believe that the spiritual and transcendent is deeply connected to the limited and physical world. In other words, our physical world is a projection and emanation of a deeper, spiritual reality. This is the meaning behind the famous Midrash, “Istakel bi’oraisa, u’bara alma,” Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1). This means that the physical world is an emanation and expression of the Torah, the spiritual root of existence. To give an analogy, imagine a projector: the image you see on the screen is emanating from the projector. The projector and film are the source, the image on the screen is the expression. Similarly, each and every one of us was once a zygote, half and male and half a female genetic code. From that single cell, a fully developed and expressed human being ultimately manifested. The same is true regarding the physical world, it stems from a spiritual root, a transcendent dimension.

The Battle of Chanukah The Greeks sought to uproot this Jewish perspective, to detach the physical world from its higher root. They claimed that human beings have no connection to anything higher than the physical world itself and that it’s therefore impossible to connect to Hashem. As the Ramban explains (Ramban Al Ha’Torah, Vayikra 16:8), the Greeks believed only that which the human intellect could grasp. Anything that requires spiritual sensitivity, that transcends rational proof alone, was dismissed as false. Even the Greeks gods were glorified humans – as anything that transcended the physical, human world was dismissed. In essence, the Greeks served themselves. The Jewish approach is much more nuanced. We embrace human intellect and reason but are aware of a realm that transcends it. We recognize the wisdom of science, medicine, psychology, mathematics, and other forms of worldly wisdom, but also recognize a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. As the Vilna Gaon explains, where logic and human intellect ends, Jewish wisdom begins. The reasoning behind this principle is based on the aforementioned idea: the physical world is an expression of the spiritual world. Just as the physical world stems from a higher, spiritual realm, physical wisdom is an expression of a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. While the wisdom of the physical world is true, it stems from a higher truth, the Torah. Torah is the absolute foundation and root; all physical wisdom is its expression.

The Ideal Relationship The ideal is for the physical wisdom of the Greeks and Yefes to reside within the tent of Shem, for science and the wisdom of the world to be in harmony with Torah. The problem occurred only once the Greeks denied the existence of

Hashem most intimately connects to this physical world. After our victory on Chanukah, we reignited the flame of that spiritual building, and every year since, we must reignite that same flame within our own homes; we must inaugurate our own personal Beis Ha’mikdash.

Where logic and human intellect ends, Jewish wisdom begins.

nal home, our eternal self, our eternal existence.

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

anything beyond their independent intellectual wisdom. This was the battle of Chanukah. The Greeks tried to destroy the Torah, which contradicted their ideology, and the Jews were forced to fight for their beliefs, to defend their spiritual connection with Hashem and the transcendent wisdom of Torah. Rav Hutner explains that Chanukah is the chag of Torah Sheba’al Peh, the Oral Torah. Chanukah is the one holiday with no source in Torah Shebiksav. Unlike Purim, it does not even have a Megillah; it is completely of Rabbinic origin. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have a Mishnah; the only canonized source for Chanukah is a few Gemaras which mention Chanukah in an almost coincidental manner. Why is this so? Chanukah represents the battle against the Greeks. The Greeks claimed that the only source of truth is the human intellect; nothing transcends human logic. The Jews not only showed that there is a transcendent source of truth but took it one step further. When done appropriately, with humility and proper recognition of the Torah’s transcendent root, the limited human being can actually use his human intellect to participate in the creation of Torah. This is the unbelievable nature of Torah Sheba’al Peh: human beings are given the ability to participate and even create novel Torah ideas and insights. The greatest victory over the Greeks wasn’t to simply prove that transcendent Torah exists; it was to reveal that even the human intellect can connect to Torah; even limited human beings can connect to the infinite.

Our Place of Connection The Greeks tried to spiritually destroy our Beis Ha’Mikdash, the point of connection to the transcendent, where

Every day, we get to choose whether we’ll become further entrenched in secular and Greek culture, or if we’ll build our connection to the infinite, the transcendent, and carry the message of Chanukah deep within our hearts. Our life is like building a personal Beis Ha’Mikdash, building an ever-deeper and ever-closer relationship with Hashem. It’s the result of every brick we lay down; every day is like another brick, another opportunity to add to our eter-

versity, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To invite Rabbi Reichman to speak in your community or to enjoy more of his deep and inspiring content, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Thus, we are able to understand and experience the spiritual through the physical, as the two are intrinsically connected. If you’re wondering how to understand this concept, consider the way other human beings experience, relate to, and understand you. All they have ever seen is your physical body. They’ve never seen your thoughts, your consciousness, or your emotions. The only way they can understand you is by relating to how you express yourself and your internal world through your physical body. Through your words, actions, facial expressions, and body language, other people experience what’s going on inside of your body, inside of your head, inside of you. The same is true regarding our experience of Hashem and the spiritual. We can’t see spirituality, only physicality. We must therefore use the physical to connect back to the spiritual root.

Torah Thought

A Chanukah With Great Potential By Rav Yaakov Feitman

e have all shed many tears since Shemini Atzeres. It was already hard to dance on Simchas Torah. We have lost precious souls, who were all murdered al kiddush Hashem, and others are still in captivity. Yet the world strangely blames us. Our eyes are still red with tears, but we must light the menorah b’simcha, and it will be hard. So we must learn from the Rebbe of Vizhnitz, Rav Yisrael, the author of the Sefer Ahavas Yisrael, how to cry and yet add more light; how to cry yet feel the joy of the moment. His son, Rav Boruch of Seret-Vizhnitz, described the scene of his father’s hadlakah: “My father’s tears were not the kind that extinguish a flame. They strengthened the tiny flames and made them glow ever larger and brighter” (Igros Mekor Boruch, letter 104). But how do we weep with happiness, when so many have suffered and continue to endure so horribly? Perhaps this is just the right time to remember those who lit Chanukah lights in potato peels in Buchenwald, who for months saved up the precious margarine so that they would have “oil” for their makeshift menorah in Theresienstadt. This is the moment to remember how Rav Yisroel Shapira, the Bluzhever Rebbe, had to pause before reciting the Shehechiyanu bracha in the concentration camp on the first night of Chanukah. He waited a moment so that he could reflect upon the amazing fact that hundreds of Jews stood behind him, risking their lives, so that they could participate in the lighting of the Chanukah lichtelech in the gehennom of Bergen Belsen. When this thought had completely penetrated his soul, he was able to say the bracha thanking Hashem for this moment with feelings of joy and gratitude. It is that moment which we, too, must recall at this difficult time. Perhaps we should just borrow a word from the Meiri about how to light the menorah properly. The Gemara (Shabbos 23b) teaches that one who lights the menorah regularly (haragil b’ner) will merit having children who are Torah scholars. Now, for centuries, Jews have lit the me-

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norah, but not every one of them has raised talmidei chachomim. Why? The Meiri, in his commentary, adds three words: derech chibuv mitzvah – with absolute love of the mitzvah. That explains the lack of multitudes of talmidei chachomim. Not everyone can perform the lighting with such dedication and love. However, in our present situation, when we are searching for zechusim – merits – for ourselves and our brethren in Eretz Yisrael, surely, we can find that chibuv mitzvah in ourselves. This needn’t even be a segulah or mystical formula. It is simply that children who witness their parents’ simcha, excitement, kedushah and elevation at the performance of this mitzvah will naturally become talmidei chachomim and devoted bnos Yisrael. This itself can destroy any machinations our enemies have plotted against us. A few words from the Sfas Emes (Chanukah 5633, sixth night, page 202) may help us to achieve this goal. He quotes, as always, from his grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim, that “there is point deep inside of every Jew which is pure and unadulterated by any outside force. However, our job is to spread this power throughout our body

and soul. This is done through our avodah on Chanukah of Hallel (praising Hashem) and hoda’ah (gratitude) for all He does for us. This will lead to our being grateful for the very fact that we are fortunate enough to be a part of Klal Yisrael.” Now, we must try to understand and internalize these incredible words. Our nation has always endured horrible suffering. During the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition, during Tach Ve’tat, the Chmelnicki massacres of 1648-49, during Churban Europa, the Holocaust, we were often challenged to maintain our faith. We struggled to appreciate our Yiddishkeit despite the inhumane and cruel way we were treated by the world. Today, with social media, instant knowledge of what is happening across the world, we are more connected with the fate of our brethren around the world. This can be extremely trying but also revealing. The Sfas Emes (Ibid., page 203) adds that in general Hashem does not perform miracles so that we can do mitzvos. Since the halacha is that a person is not blamed for something he cannot do, there would no reason for such a miracle. Indeed, the Maharal (commentary on Al Hanisim, Sid-

dur) tries to prove from the absence of any mention of the miracle of the neiros in Al Hanisim, that the miracle was to save us from the attack and war against the Egyptians. But the Sfas Emes asserts that the purpose of the miracle was to demonstrate Hashem’s love for us. Indeed, it has never happened before nor since that Hashem did such a miracle for us. Chanukah, however, showed us how precious each mitzvah is to our Father in heaven. If hopefully, we can find it in our hearts and souls to recognize this beneficence on Hashem’s part toward us this year, it could go a long way toward His showing us His love through the eradication of our sworn enemy. Almost everyone agrees that this has been the worst attack on the people of Israel since Churban Europa, the Holocaust. Additionally, we are being tested by a rise of anti-Semitism in the world at large, when, if anything, there should have been sympathy. All of this leads us to the inevitable conclusion that we must turn back to Hashem alone, for there is now no place to run or hide. The concept of a nisayon is well known to us. We are being tested. However, the Ramban reminds us that the word nes, which is generally translated as a miracle, actually means a flag or similar indicator of identity and purpose. Our present situation has given rise, thank G-d, to many good things. There seems to be a religious revival that must be called at this point a teshuvah movement. Ordinary Jews have volunteered their time, money and dedication to those on the frontlines, be they soldiers or displaced persons. This is nos’ey b’ohl of the highest order. When Moshe Rabbeinu showed such caring about his brethren, it soon led to the geulah from Mitzrayim. Let us hope and daven that the present phenomenon as well will lead to the great geulah for which we wait so desperately.

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

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

R’ Meir Teaches How to Tap Into the Eternal Light of Chanukah By RaBBi Daniel Glatstein

here is an established minhag in Klal Yisrael to recite the words “Elaka d’Meir aneini, G-d of Meir, answer me,” in times of distress. This concept is rooted in the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 18a) where R’ Meir himself uttered this prayer and was saved from being attacked by vicious dogs. The Maharsha, commenting on the Gemara, asks a pointed question. We have a principle that G-d does not associate His Name with any individual while that person is still alive. The Torah referred to Hashem as Elokei Avraham, G-d of Avraham, only after Avraham had passed away. As long as he was alive, the Torah refrained from that usage. That being so, how can R’ Meir, during his lifetime, reference Hashem as the “G-d of Meir”? The Maharsha offers two answers. First, “Meir” in this context does not refer to R’ Meir as an individual. Rather, it refers to Hashem, Who illuminates, meir, and provides light to all the world and its inhabitants. Let us focus on the Maharsha’s second answer, where he still utilizes the interpretation that the term “Meir” refers to Hashem Himself; however, he explains that the light alluded to is a very specific one: Hashem illuminated Klal Yisrael with the great miracle of Chanukah, when we were saved from the clutches of the Syrian-Greek Empire. This second answer of the Maharsha is difficult to understand. The Jewish

people are no strangers to miracles; we have experienced many Divine salvations throughout our history. Why, then, when in need of a personal yeshuah, should one invoke the miracle of Chanukah in particular? Additionally, if the reference to “Meir” in this context refers to Hashem rather than to R’ Meir, then why is it that R’ Meir, of all people, established this prayer? Before endeavoring to answer these questions, let us study the practice cited by the Magen Avraham, who writes, “It is the custom of the young and destitute to collect charity on Chanukah, and in the sefer Chanukas HaBayis a reason is provided for this.” The sefer Chanukas Habayis, by R’ Shaul ben David, an early Acharon who lived in the times of the Maharshal, reveals that the mitzvah of tzedakah is indeed linked with Chanukah on a very mystical level. He shows how, using the system of gematria of A”t Bash, the numerical value of the word Chanukah is the same as sod tzedakah, the secret of tzedakah. Why is tzedakah such an integral part of celebrating Chanukah, such that the word Chanukah itself reflects the very foundation of the mitzvah of tzedakah?

Children and Children

On Chanukah, we add the Al HaNissim paragraph to our daily Shemoneh Esrei as well as to Bircas HaMazon. The passage states, “K’sheamdah malchus

Yavan ha’rishaah al amcha Yisroel, When the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Yisrael.” Then, toward the end, it reads, “V’achar kein ba’u banecha l’dvir beisecha, Thereafter, Your children came to the Holy of Holies of Your House.” These two sentences seem at odds. The first refers to the Jewish nation as “Your people,” while the second clearly states that we are Hashem’s children. What is the meaning of this sudden emphasis? Why does the text transition from calling us “Your people” to the more intimate appellation “Your children”? In truth, we also find an association elsewhere between Chanukah and our being Hashem’s children. The Pesikta Rabbasi quotes the pasuk, “V’orarti banecha Zion al banecha Yavan, And I will stir up your children, O Tzion, against your children, O Yavan” (Zechariah 9:13). The Pesikta then explains that this refers to the miracle of Chanukah, during which the Chashmonaim were victorious over the Syrian-Greeks. Interestingly, the pasuk specifically refers to the Jewish people in this context as banecha, your children. We see, once again, that Chanukah appears to be linked with the theme of our being Hashem’s children.

Gezeirah of the Syrian-Greeks Before attempting to answer these questions, let us first examine exactly

what it was that the Syrian-Greeks decreed upon the Jewish people during their occupation. From the authentic sources recounting the narrative of Chanukah, there doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus. The Midrash tells us that they commanded the Jews, “Write upon the horn, keren, of an ox that you have no portion in the G-d of Yisrael.” In Megillas Taanis, however, we are taught that the Syrian-Greeks banned the observance of Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, and bris milah. The Chida asks a two-pronged question. First, what is it about these specific three mitzvos that the Syrian-Greeks felt compelled to prohibit them? Second, these two sources seem almost to contradict one another. On the one hand, Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, and bris milah are three isolated mitzvos. If that were all the Syrian-Greeks outlawed, it implies that other practices were permitted. On the other hand, forcing the Jews to inscribe that they “have no portion in the G-d of Yisrael” suggests that they barred the practice of religion entirely. The Chida introduces his approach to addressing these questions by focusing on an era many centuries prior to the Chanukah story. In Parshas Mikeitz, Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and then advises him on drafting and implementing mass economic legislation. In that context, the Torah uses the phrase “v’chimeish es Eretz Mitzrayim, and he shall prepare the land of Egypt”

tion in the G-d of Yisrael.” In Chapter 1, we quoted the Chessed L’Avraham, who explained that our being Hashem’s children stems from the fact that we are a cheilek Eloka miMaal, a portion of G-d On High. The Syrian-Greeks, who wanted to quash this reality, specifically chose to attack this very concept, claiming that we do not have a portion in the G-d of Yisrael and thus we are not Hashem’s children.

Triple Celebration The eight days of Chanukah, by their very nature, allude to all three of these mitzvos. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days, symbolizing the eight days leading up to the bris milah.

Hashem’s children allows for yet another explanation of the meaning of the message inscribed on the ox’s horn. The Maharal writes that the ox’s horn was meant to evoke the sin of the Golden Calf. The Syrian-Greeks’ instruction that the words “you have no portion in the G-d of Yisrael” be inscribed on this horn implied that through the sin of the Golden Calf, the Jewish people surrendered the right to be a “portion of Hashem.”1 The Vilna Gaon writes that at the time we sinned with the Golden Calf, we did in fact lose our title of banim, children, and instead were called avadim, servants. With the insights of Maharal and the Vilna Gaon taken together, we can

Chanukah is a time to commemorate our victorious claim to being Hashem’s children. In fact, R’ Aharon HaKohen MiLuniel, in the name of the Baal HaItim, brings this idea to answer the famous question as to why we celebrate eight days of Chanukah. If the amount of oil in the jug sufficed to last one day without a miracle, then the miraculous element only applies to the additional seven days. (This question is attributed to the Beis Yosef and is often referred to as “the Beis Yosef’s question.” However, the question is discussed by the Rishonim as well.) R’ Aharon HaKohen MiLuniel answers that although the miracle was only during the seven days, the Chachamim instituted an eight-day festival nonetheless. This was in order to commemorate the abolition of the ban on bris milah. The Chida adds that during these eight days, inevitably a Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh will be included, thus completing the remembrance of all three mitzvos that the Syrian-Greeks sought to terminate.

Shades of a Golden Calf The Chida’s insight that the Syrian-Greeks’ intention was to demote the Jewish people from their status as

suggest that the Syrian-Greeks made us write the message on the ox’s horn because they wanted to invoke the sin of the Golden Calf — for that sin has the power to make us forfeit our title as Hashem’s children.

Children’s Triumph The Bnei Yissaschar quotes the Chida, using his insight to explain the expression in Al HaNissim — “V’achar kein ba’u banecha l’dvir beisecha, Thereafter Your children came to the Holy of Holies of Your House.” Since the decree was primarily intended to challenge our status as Hashem’s children, the victory must emphasize it was we, Hashem’s children, who reentered the Beis HaMikdash. This idea is implied in the language of the Rambam, who codifies the halacha to recite Al HaNissim on Chanukah. He describes this as saying Al hanissim, etc., until “v’achar kein ba’u banecha.” The implication is that the words v’achar kein ba’u banecha are crucial to the recitation. Based on the Bnei Yissaschar that this is a defining factor of the miracle, the Rambam’s wording is very understandable. Similarly, the Avudraham writes,

“There are those who do not say v’achar kein ba’u banecha; however, it is correct to say it for that is the primary component of the miracle.”

Significance of Tzedakah on Chanukah Earlier, we cited the Magen Avraham who discusses the minhag to distribute tzedakah on Chanukah. In light of the above, we can appreciate the profound meaning in this custom. As explained throughout our sefer, the mitzvah of tzedakah demonstrates that we are Hashem’s children. Should we be considered Hashem’s servants, providing support for a servant whom the king maintains is undeserving of sustenance would be considered a capital offense. Since Chanukah is a celebration of our being Hashem’s children, it is an especially auspicious time to give charity.

R’ Meir and Chanukah We began with the comments of the Maharsha, who explained that the expression Elaka d’Meir aneini is a supplication to Hashem Who “illuminated with the Chanukah miracle.” We asked, why is it specifically R’ Meir who established this tefillah? Any sage could have instituted a prayer that evokes the miracle of Chanukah. We are now privileged to understand that Chanukah is a time to commemorate our victorious claim to being Hashem’s children. Since R’ Meir is the proponent of the concept that we are always called Hashem’s children, he in particular has a soul-bond with Chanukah, and it was he who innovated the powerful tefillah Elaka d’Meir aneini. Whenever a Jew is in distress, at any time during the year, he says Elaka d’Meir aneini and invokes the miracle of Chanukah. The theme that Chanukah represents — that we are forever Hashem’s children — is an idea of which we must always be cognizant, an idea from which we must never divert our attention. Thus, the salvation of Chanukah is carried with us throughout every step of our lives. This same idea is found in the “peirush attributed to Rashi” on the Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 2:5). 1

This article was excerpted from Rabbi Glatstein’s newest sefer, Rabbi Meir Baal Haness and the Eternal Children of Hashem, published by Artscroll. Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime.com, podcast, his website rabbidg.com, and other venues.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

(Bereishis 41:34). The word “v’chimeish,” the Chida points out, spelled ches, mem, shin (omitting the prefix vav), is an acronym for chodesh, milah, Shabbos. The Chida explains that each of these mitzvos is unique in that they signify our being Hashem’s children. Shabbos is off-limits to anyone but the Jewish people. This is because Shabbos is akin to the King’s scepter, which no one may use other than the King and His children. Regarding milah, the Zohar says explicitly, “Those who guard the bris are called children.” And Rosh Chodesh, the Chida continues, is established by the word of Beis Din. The idea that Hashem would defer to the ruling of human beings in determining the new month is an outgrowth of His great love for us. We are His children and He therefore endows us with the power to establish calendrical realities. When Yosef stood before Pharaoh, he understood that what was about to evolve geopolitically was the very beginning of Galus Mitzrayim. His statement, “v’chimeish es Eretz Mitzrayim, and he shall prepare the land of Egypt,” was hinting to the idea that in the merit of these three mitzvos — which demonstrate that we are Hashem’s beloved children — we would be freed from Mitzrayim. The Chida uses this idea to explain the depth of the Syrian-Greeks’ intentions and thereby resolves the discrepancy regarding the precise nature of the decree. The Syrian-Greeks wanted to abolish Chodesh, Shabbos, and milah because they intended to abrogate our status as Hashem’s children. The inner meaning of “Write upon the horn of an ox that you have no portion in the G- of Yisrael” is that Yosef is referred to as an ox (see Bereishis Rabbah, Parshah 75). The Syrian-Greeks wanted the Jews to do away with Yosef’s emphasis on these three mitzvos, thereby undermining our claim to being Hashem’s children. With this insight of the Chida, we can better understand the specific language mandated by the S y r i a n- Gr e ek s , “you have no por-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Sparks of Light

Then and Now: Reflecting on Chanukah’s Enduring Miracles By Rabbi Benny Berlin

ometimes, a subtle difference in wording can significantly alter the meaning of a phrase. This is particularly evident in the bracha of “she’asah nissim,” which we recite during Chanukah. The blessing is “Baruch atah Hashem, Elokeinu Melech Haolam, she’asah nissim la’avoseinu ba’yamim ha’hem ba’zman hazeh” (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time). The Rambam, in his Mishneh Torah, discusses this bracha in the contexts of both Chanukah and Purim. Notably, he presents a slight variation in each context. In one, the phrasing is “ba’yamim ha’hem ba’zman hazeh” (in those days at this time), emphasizing the historical aspect of the miracles. However, the Rambam introduces a variation with the addition of a “vav,” changing it to “ba’yamim ha’hem u’vi’zman hazeh” (in those days and at this time). That one letter transforms the meaning. This variation in the bracha reflects a profound message. Chanukah is not just a commemoration of past events like the miracle of the pach shemen (oil) or the military victory over the Greeks. It is also a time for us to recognize and reflect upon the miracles in our own lives. Halachically, we follow the version “ba’zman hazeh,” but Rabbi Soloveitchik argued that the correct version within Rambam’s text was “u’vi’zman hazeh.” He believed this was not an error but intentional, highlighting the ongoing nature of divine intervention. The Rambam also mentions in hilchos Chanukah that lighting the Chanukah lights serves to publicize the miracle and to offer praise and thanks to G-d for His continuous blessings. The act of lighting the Chanukah lights is an opportunity to layer our gratitude for both historical and personal miracles. This year, we have collectively faced challenges, notably the events in Israel

since October 7th, which have caused horrific pain but also moments of miracles. There have been accounts of the miraculous salvation of our brave IDF soldiers. A picture circulating on WhatsApp shows a brave Israeli soldier in the heart of

soldier, accustomed to the practice, ignited the can, but another soldier warned him of live ammunition nearby. Reacting quickly, he threw the can as far as he could. The can traveled a few hundred feet and caused a tremendous explosion. When the

The act of lighting the Chanukah lights is an opportunity to layer our gratitude for both historical and personal miracles.

the Gaza conflict, facing the unthinkable. Armed with courage and a Book of Psalms, his life took an extraordinary turn when a terrorist’s bullet, instead of harming him, lodged itself in the sacred pages, becoming an unexpected shield that saved his life. Another story I heard from Rabbi Shlomo Landau involves soldiers in Poshati who were eating lunch. A common practice in the Israeli army is to heat standard cans of tuna and oil. Soldiers typically light a match and put it in the can, causing the oil to catch fire and smoke the tuna. This

soldiers aimed their guns at the spot of the explosion, a white flag emerged from underground, followed by a Hamas terrorist with hands raised, and more followed. The can of tuna had landed inside the opening of a tunnel where terrorists were waiting to ambush. The explosion caused them to assume the Israelis were attacking, leading them to surrender. Rabbi Gradon, the Rosh Kollel in Los Angeles, shared the story of a unit called in on Shabbos. The South needed a battalion, so they responded quickly, arriving at

Kfar Azza. Weapons were distributed on the spot without any prior testing or calibration. Despite their notorious unreliability and the sights not being zeroed in, one soldier’s AK-47 rifle functioned perfectly, cycling every round without a jam. This soldier later thanked G-d for providing a reliable rifle during battle. After three days of fighting and clearing Kfar Azza, the unit was switched out and went to a base to clean and check their weapons. At the firing range, the rifle jammed repeatedly, worsening with each round. The soldier used pliers and a utility knife to attempt to clear the jams. The rifle was taken to the armory and all the internal parts needed to be switched out, essentially rebuilding it from the inside. The gun did not work; it was a broken rifle from the moment it was handed to that soldier on Shabbos morning. But in Kfar Azza, it worked to perfection, doing exactly what it needed to do. This soldier remarked that he looked forward to the day when he could stand in shul on Shabbos to say the Birchat HaGomel, expressing gratitude for this miracle and countless others that have been performed by Hakadosh Baruch Hu. These stories highlight contemporary miracles. Recognizing and appreciating these, especially as we light our Chanukah candles, will elevate our experience, casting a light in the darkness and embodying the idea of “sheasah nissim la’avoseinu ba’yamim ha’hem u’vi’zman hazeh.” As we celebrate Chanukah, let’s embrace this time for reflection and introspection, acknowledging both the historical miracles and the ones in our own lives. Wishing everyone a joyful and meaningful Chanukah.

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

As we celebrate Chanukah, we focus on the resiliency of the Jewish people. Having recently returned from Israel, I was struck with a renewed sense of pride after seeing the strength and perseverance of survivors from the October 7th terrorist attack and all the people of Israel. Even more so, I am so proud of the opportunity to do the job that I love and represent our community in the State Legislature. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you! Happy Chanukah!

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato

HAPPY CHANUKAH

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Dear Friends,

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Delving into the Daf

Sweet and Salty By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

he following is based on a true story. Chaim the Customer: Shaya, do you have any sugar in stock? Shaya the Shopkeeper: Sure, and it’s on sale today! Chaim: Sweet! I’d like 5 pounds, please. Shaya measures the sugar, pours it into a bag, and hands it to Chaim. Chaim returns home, fills all his sugar shakers, and begins to prepare an elaborate array of desserts. That Shabbos, during the Kiddush, guests begin to gag and cough. “Oh! What’s wrong with this cake?” Many guests echo the sentiment. Chaim tries a dessert and gags, too. The desserts are extremely salty. Realizing that the shopkeeper sold him salt instead of sugar, his blood begins to boil into caramel. Livid, Chaim returns to the store on Sunday. “Shaya, it wasn’t sugar that you sold me, it was ‘assault’! I’m liable to be sued by my guests.” Shaya: Please forgive me. Even though I’m usually above the salt, mistakes happen. Here is a 5-pound bag of sugar. Keep the salt; it’s on the house. Chaim: That’s not enough. I will take you to a rabbinical court, which will force you to pay for all of my ruined food. Shaya: You don’t even have the sense to pound salt. I didn’t actively ruin your food. At most, the damage caused by my mistake is indirect, a grama. A rabbinical court will not obligate a person to pay for indirect damage. Chaim: I hate to pour salt on your game, but even if it is a grama, you still have an obligation to pay for the damage. It is just that beis din won’t enforce it. Shaya: Let me spice up your Torah knowledge with this bit of information: The obligation to pay for indirect damage is only when one intended to cause damage. As you know, my mix-up was an honest mistake. Chaim: This seems to be a serious

question. Let’s ask this question about the salt and sugar mix-up to a posek who is a mover and a shaker. Shaya: OK. We’ll ask Rav Shlomo; he is the salt of the earth. Rav Shlomo: Shaya did not directly cause the damage. Shaya: I knew I was right!

to Chaim’s food did not happen in my store. Furthermore, mined salt is not exactly a pit. Rav Shlomo: Actually, a “pit” is just a name for a category of damage. Any object capable of causing damage could potentially be qualified as a halachic “pit.” Furthermore, the Gemara discusses the

“Shaya, it wasn’t sugar that you sold me, it was ‘assault’!”

Rav Shlomo: However, the Gemara says that one is responsible for damage caused by a pit he dug in the street. In that case, the digger did not directly cause the damage, yet the digger of the pit is responsible. Chaim: I knew I was right! Shaya: I would still take that ruling with a grain of salt. In the case of the pit, the damage was caused in the location where he dug the pit. The damage

case of someone who left a rock in the street. It was subsequently kicked by others and caused damage. The person who put the rock in the street is liable for the damage his rock eventually causes. The case in the Gemara is called bor ha’megalgel, otherwise known as “rolling stones.” Chaim: That’s music to my ears. Shaya: Chaim, of course it would sound good to you–you’re a stoner. Rav

Shlomo, even if my salt was deemed to be a halachic pit, it is well known that one is not liable for damage caused by a pit if the damaged item was a utensil. Even if the salt qualifies as a pit, I should be exempt. Chaim: And I’m the stoner? I’m asking to be compensated for damage caused to my food, not to my utensils! Shaya: You think you have this subject hung up and salted? Tosfos say that anything that is not alive is categorized as a utensil, even food items. I sure hope your food was not alive. Rav Shlomo: Shaya, you are right, of “coarse.” This might become too technical, but we can argue that the damage falls under the category of “fire.” When one lights a fire, one is even liable for the damage caused when the fire becomes windblown. So, too, your salt was moved to a damaging location, namely Chaim’s kitchen, by an unsuspecting Chaim, who can be considered like the wind. Chaim: I knew that Shaya was liable, sure as the wind blows. Rav Shlomo: Chaim, I’m sorry to knock the wind out of your sails, but one could argue that the damage in this case to your food is not recognizable. Since Shaya did not intend to cause the damage, he would be exempt. Chaim: So what is your final ruling? Rav Shlomo: I don’t want to throw caution to the wind by issuing an erroneous ruling. Why don’t you both agree to settle? Chaim and Shaya settle, and Chaim resolves, henceforth, to use agave nectar in place of sugar.

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

The Case of the Melted Chanukah Oil Holders By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

any people are aware of some of the dangers of poorly manufactured pre-filled Chanukah “glass.” Truthfully, they are not made of glass but rather a type of plastic. Most of the pre-filled Chanukah containers use too thin of a plastic, and they use an incorrect plastic – one that is not so fire retardant. This author has yet to see a container that is UL approved. Even if they are tested by the manufacturer, they are not tested under many “real-life” conditions, such as multiple menorahs next to each other. They are dangerous and, in this author’s opinion, should not be used on account of the danger associated with using them. If one does use them, they should be watched carefully, and after the requisite thirty minutes, they should be extinguished. This article also deals with a different issue – that of possibly being allowed to return them to the store in which they were purchased. We will begin with that issue and then discuss the first issue. A case in point: A person lit the Chanukah licht from a kit of pre-filled Chanukah oil holders. It melted from the heat and the carpet caught on fire. May he return the kit to the store? The Shulchan Aruch (Choshain Mishpat 232:3) clearly states: One who sells his friend land…or an animal, or other portable goods, and a deficiency is found in the item purchased that the purchaser was unaware of, he may return it even after many years. For this is considered a Mekach Ta’us – a faulty transaction. This is on condition that he did not use the item after he became aware of the deficiency. But if he used it after he observed the deficiency, he has forgiven it and he may not return it [for a refund]. The owner of the Chanukah glass, however, claims that it was his own fault, and it is probably not subject to the laws of Mekach Ta’us.

How so? The instructions stated to use the metal clasp to hold the wick up higher above the middle glass. He did not do so. Instead, he inserted the wick in the glass tube itself, which caused the greater intensity in heat. But is he correct? What if there weren’t sufficient warning labels? It would seem that this is a common type of mistake, and such a deficiency should not happen even if there was a warning sign placed.

After 30 Minutes Is one permitted to extinguish the Chanukah candles after they have been lit for thirty minutes? The Shulchan Aruch (672:2) rules that it is permissible to do so. The Magen Avrohom writes that one should avoid doing so. This is also the view of some other authorities as well (Bach, Chayei Odom). However, it is cited in the name of both the Chofetz Chaim (Meir Einei Yisroel Vol. I p. 62) as well as the Chazon Ish (Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. III Chanukah #45) that they did put out the Chanukah candles after 30 minutes.

Certainly, if one must leave their home, then one should extinguish the licht on account of the danger involved in leaving burning candles as well as the Torah mitzvah of taking safety precautions. Another situation where, according to all opinions, one may extinguish the Chanukah lights after thirty minutes is when there is only one Chanukah lamp available and another person needs to light. The Sefer Mekadesh Yisroel (Siman 125) writes that this is permitted according to all opinions. One can fulfill a Torah obligation when lighting the Chanukah menorah. The Torah mitzvah one fulfills is “V’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoseichem” (Devarim 4:15), which stipulates that one must take safety precautions and protect oneself and others. Fire is extremely dangerous, and many people have been injured or killed, r”l, when proper safety measures were not taken regarding Chanukah flames. The other mitzvos of Chanukah are d’Rabbanan. According to the fire department spokesperson in Eretz Yisroel, house fires

go up ten to fifteen percent more during Chanukah than during other times. This is no joke; it places many people in grave danger. The ten to fifteen percent is not just numbers – there are real people behind these numbers. There is nothing more heart-breaking than to see a small child in an intensive care unit who is permanently scarred for life with burnt skin. What follows are a number of points that we should watch out for: · Make sure to place the menorah on a level and sturdy surface. Place foil underneath or something else made of a non-flammable material such as stone, glass, or metal. · Remove any paper, books, and especially curtains near or under the menorah. · Choose a safe location for the menorah or menorahs. · Make a rule that there is no ball-playing indoors on Chanukah. · Avoid spots where something could fall on it or it could be easily knocked over. · Keep the menorah safely out of reach of small children or grandchildren or pets. · No matter how cute your child or grandchild is, do not use their “arts and crafts” Chanukah menorah. They are not suitable for lighting and may burn down when used. While we are at it, let’s not forget the following choking hazards, too: · Dreidels that are swallowed. · Gold coin wrappers (silver ones, too) that are swallowed. · Small parts of Chanukah presents and other toys that are swallowed. · Money that is swallowed.

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 Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

School of

Thought

Community By Barbara Deutsch

ommunity is a hallmark of Jewish life. In order to lead an observant life, we need certain things to be in place: a shul with a sefer Torah, kosher food, a mikva, and a school, yeshiva; without these, we would not be able to build a Jewish community. This week, we went to a fundraiser hosted and presented by the Irving Place Minyan. The shul has taken upon itself the responsibility of helping the Kibbutzim of Nir Oz and Kissufim, located in the south along the border known as the Gaza Strip. They were attacked and devastated by the Hamas terror storm. Rob Schechter, a shul stalwart and founding member, is the heart and soul of the impetus to support Israel in any way possible; it’s his passion and his calling. Donny Kerstein, whose son Amiel is serving in the IDF stationed in Gaza, is his partner in the planning and implementation of the myriad of programs that IPM sponsors in support of the community and Israel. Both of these “boys” were students in my Yeshivah of Flatbush social studies class a long time ago. I’m so proud of them. A prominent roster of featured speakers included Lior Raz, actor and creator of

Fauda; Yossi Cohen, former Mossad head; Yadin Gelman, soldier and actor wounded during an attempt to rescue hostages in Kibbutz Be’eri; and relatives of a hostage (mother/grandmother) that has just been released and whose father/grandfather is still held captive. Listening to the stories, we laughed and cried, then cried some more. Every story

that when my parents discussed their years growing up in prewar Poland, they would lovingly refer to it as “de heime,” home. As the members of the kibbutz family – Ran Metzer, his daughter Omer and brother Nirold – told their story of life in their Nir Oz Kibbutz community, we sat in the dining hall, attended the school, swam in the swimming pool, picnicked

Nirold and Ran still believe that the terror of living so close to the border will never go away, but that does not in any way deter them from going back.

was compelling and riveting. For me, the stories of life on the kibbutz before the attack resonated the most. In the Holocaust museums in Washington, D.C., and Israel, Yad Vashem, there are exhibits that depict life before the war. Images of houses, green lawns and smiling families dominate. It always amazed me, despite the troubles that they endured,

in the parks and slid down the slides in the playgrounds with them. The children in the kibbutz don’t know how to cross city streets as the kibbutz has no cars. In a dream-like voice, Nirold spoke of his recently released hostage mother, Tamar, and still captive father, Yaron, describing the vast fields of flowers, vegetable

gardens and potatoes that surround every plantable space. He calls his home “paradise.” When asked what the defining aspect of the kibbutz was, he said in a firm clear voice: “Community.” Everyone in the room got lost in Nirold’s descriptions of “before.” Nirold and his niece Omer then recounted the day of the attack. I can’t and won’t go there. The trio talked of rebuilding; the physical space may be destroyed and many of the people broken or gone, still, the longing to be together in their special home remains. As they rebuild with the help of the young American families listening in that vast ballroom in Woodmere, they wait for the war to be over. Nirold and Ran still believe that the terror of living so close to the border will never go away, but that does not in any way deter them from going back. The young girl, Omer, will be called up to serve in a month. And though she was given dispensation because of the attack on the village, Omer is determined to serve; that is what Israeli boys and girls do. The survivors of the community now live in Eilat waiting to return to what was once, and will be again, their “paradise.”

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Listening to the presentations, I could not help but sit in awe of how poised and normal everyone seemed. The soldier, the actor, and the “kibbutznicks” shared their stories in clear and strong voices; their horrific experiences were not reflected in their faces or body language. Yes, Yadin Gelman wore a sling across his body and a Band-Aid covered his finger; he is recovering from what could have been mortal wounds. His soldier buddy, David, was not so lucky. And yes, Omer spoke of terrorists ransacking her living room as she huddled with her cousins in a blanket under the bed. The presenters spoke matter-of-factly and

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Yossi Cohen speaking

Lior Raz

without a tinge of bitterness or despair. What Israelis have come to expect as “normal” is this. With swastikas broadly paraded down Fifth Avenue and hostage posters ripped from windows and walls, what’s “normal” anyway? This past summer, when we landed in Israel for our yearly vacation trip, we were met with the protests and angry chants that were dividing the country. We could not get out of the airport in a car or cab. We had to shlep all five of our heavy duffel bags through the Jerusalem streets after we finally disembarked from the railroad and then the train. It was an adventure that we had not

wanted nor anticipated. All summer long, there were rallies and protests dividing the country. No more. Whatever has divided the country and almost brought it to the brink of civil war has been set aside to fight Hamas and terror as a community. Chanukah, the holiday of miracles, is coming. We need this Chanukah’s miracles to help free the rest of the hostages, end the war, and obliterate now and forever the face of Jew hate. As we pack our belongings, give away what we won’t need, and plan for life in our new community in Israel, I wonder if I have what it takes to live in a country

where peace in the morning is not guaranteed. I hope so because I’m going – the passion and desire to get there stronger than ever before. Our family, our community, and our country are waiting for us. I believe in miracles.

Mrs. Barbara Deutsch is currently the associate principal at HANC 609 and a longtime reflective educator, parent, grandparent, and new great-grandparent. Even after all these years, she still loves what she does and looks forward to working with kids every single day.

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The Future of the Gaza War What the Ceasefire Really Meant, How Hamas Plans to Leverage it, and What’s Next By Daniel Schwartz

t was a gloomy afternoon. We were a few days into the truce, and the IDF had just pulled us out of Gaza. Gaza was not fun, but at least it was better than the uncertainty we had to face after leaving. One soldier optimistically claimed that the truce was only a temporary, one-off deal. It was an opportunity to free some hostages, after which we will return to Gaza and get the job done. Another soldier disagreed. He pointed out that Hamas is not stupid. There is no way it agreed to release so many hostages just to delay its inevitable destruction by a few days. This truce is the beginning of the end, he said. Once it ends, there will be another. And then another. Until Hamas finally achieves an open-ended ceasefire that leaves it in control of Gaza. Why? Because Hamas knows that Israel’s twin war aims of destroying its Gaza regime and securing the release of all the hostages are incompatible. The remaining hostages will only go home if Hamas chooses to release them. Hamas will refuse to let them go unless Israel makes some major concessions, the most basic of which is clearly giving up on destroying Hamas. Hamas knows that it’s only a matter of time until Israel is forced to choose between its competing war aims. Hamas’ goal is to make sure that when the time comes, Israel prioritizes releasing the hostages over military victory. Everything Hamas has done since the Simchat Torah massacre, including the hostage swap, is geared towards that goal.

How Hamas Plans to Win Hamas has already achieved more in this war than it could have possibly hoped. It is the first Arab force to conquer multiple Israeli towns since 1948; it has been responsible for the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the

IDF soldiers in Gaza

Holocaust; it had inflicted on the IDF the most stinging humiliation in its history, capturing an unprecedented number of prisoners in the process. As far as Hamas is concerned, those achievements are priceless. They are worth the temporary setbacks it has suffered since then: the martyrdom of some replaceable jihadis, the physical destruction of much of Gaza, and its occupation by the Israelis. The IDF will eventually pull out of Gaza, and then Hamas will re-occupy it. Easily. Foreign aid will flow in to rebuild Gaza, and a host of young recruits, desperate to bask in Hamas’ glory, will gladly replenish its depleted ranks. All Gaza’s Hamas regime needs to do to achieve that dream is survive the war. Hamas knows that it can’t survive by achieving military victory. Yes, it has done an impressive job of fortifying Gaza. Hamas has mined every major road, booby-trapped every building it expected Israeli soldiers to enter, and dug an impressive network of underground attack tunnels. Those tunnels are so well-stocked that the terrorists hiding in them could hold out for months, if necessary. Nevertheless, given enough time, the IDF can overcome all these obstacles. Armored bulldozers are already clearing mined roads and building new ones. Infantrymen are slowly but surely discovering and destroying hundreds of tunnel shafts. With each passing day, airstrikes collapse

more Hamas tunnels, and the army seals the ventilation shafts of others, rendering them unlivable. So instead of gunning for military victory, Hamas is going for the one type of victory that really matters: diplomatic victory. And the hostages are the weapon with which Hamas hopes to win. As of today, the idea of Israel agreeing to end its campaign against Hamas in return for a hostage swap seems nuts. The Israeli public realizes that the war is both justified and necessary: allowing Hamas to remain in power would only lead to more October 7th-like massacres. But Hamas believes that circumstances are changing. Perhaps most importantly, Israelis’ priorities are shifting. In the immediate aftermath of the Simchat Torah massacre, Israel’s mantra, repeated by politicians and ordinary people alike, was “mah she’hayah hu lo she’yihiyeh, what was will not be” – things must change. It was time to ditch the old policy of negotiating with Hamas, because Hamas is pure evil and needs to be eradicated. But as time passed, Israelis shifted their focus from the dead victims of the massacre to the living hostages languishing in Gaza who might still be saved. For many Israelis, the savagery Hamas displayed during the Simchat Torah massacre has actually become an argument for Israel to negotiate with Hamas. That savagery is now directed against the helpless Israeli hos-

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tages in Gaza. The thought of their suffering all kinds of horrors while Israel has a chance to return them home is just too painful for most Israelis to stomach. True, they recognize that dealing with Hamas will result in future victims. Hamas uses ceasefires to regroup and prepare to kill more soldiers, and some terrorists whom Israel releases in exchange for hostages will inevitably murder innocent Israelis. But those future victims are hypothetical, faceless concepts, while the hostages who are languishing in captivity right now are real people with real faces and real, grieving families. Besides, the country had let the hostages down by allowing Hamas to capture them in the first place; and many Israelis argue that Israel therefore has a moral duty to bring the hostages home, whatever the cost. Hamas took full advantage of the shift in Israeli public opinion by offering Israel a deal that is very favorable on paper. Of course, as far as Hamas is concerned, it is only the first deal, one that is meant to pave the way for future swaps that will not be as favorable to Israel. Israelis have reacted ecstatically to the release of the first batch of hostages. Large crowds celebrated in the streets. The whole country watched live as the former hostages were reunited with their loved ones and listened with horror to the stories they told about how their Hamas captors had maltreated and tortured them. No doubt Hamas’ leaders knew that those stories and images would persuade many Israelis that the hostages who are left behind must be brought home, whatever the cost. So far, Hamas’ strategy has been wildly effective. Polls show that most Israelis now want to prioritize returning the hostages over defeating Hamas. There is reason to believe that the trend will continue with time, as public enthusiasm for the war cools. Even two months into the war, few Israelis realize just how momentous a task the conquest of Gaza is. Most note that the IDF had already conquered large parts of Northern Gaza, destroying in the process complex fortifications, booby traps, and ambushes that Hamas has spent years perfecting – while sustaining relatively few losses in the process. They assume that the rest of the war will follow a similar pattern. However, soldiers who have spent any length of time in Gaza know that it will not be that easy. Yes, the IDF nominally controls much of Northern Gaza, but gaining full control of the territory, by flushing out the terrorists who are hiding underground, will be a slow, painful process. Moreover, the task of clearing Hamas out of the southern

IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi talking with soldiers in the Gaza Strip

Part of the ground offensive in Gaza

half of the Gaza Strip, where it is deeply embedded in a large civilian population, will be much trickier than conquering Northern Gaza after its civilian population and many of its terrorists have moved south. In fact, conquering Gaza is so tricky that at least one former IDF general believes that Israel should not even try. As the war drags on, it is likely that more and more Israelis who initially expected a quick, easy victory would come around to that general’s opinion. They’d argue that destroying Hamas is impossible, or at least unnecessary – because the IDF has already done enough to “teach Hamas a lesson it will not forget.” Hamas hopes that as Israelis increasingly convince themselves that destroying Hamas is impossible, they will exert more and more pressure on the government to agree to a long-term ceasefire in exchange for achieving Israel’s other war aim – the release of the hostages. It is reasonable for Hamas to hope that at the very least Israel would agree to ever-extending truces in exchange for hostages until the U.S. finally forces Israel to end its Gaza campaign altogether. Hamas knows that Israel cannot fight the war without American goodwill and support. The IDF’s war effort relies heavily on U.S.-produced military equipment. The bunker-busters Israel uses to destroy Hamas tunnels are American. Even the camping toilet bags IDF soldiers use in Gaza are made in the U.S. And that precious American support is eroding. Part of it is due to the footage, both real and staged, of the terrible destruction in Gaza. Unwise comments by Israeli politicians haven’t helped either, nor have disagreements between Israel and the Biden administration regarding the future of Gaza post-Hamas. Even worse, Hamas has used the hostage deal to paint a picture of moral equivalence with Israel. The Hamas narrative, which has been widely adopted by the media, is that the deal was all about swapping the Israeli women and children which Hamas held for some of the many Palestinian women and “children” which Israel had imprisoned. The fact that Israeli hostages were dragged from their homes for being Israeli while Palestinian prisoners were jailed for trying to murder Jews has been largely overlooked. Moreover, winter is about to set in, which will provide Hamas with a fresh opportunity to garner sympathy. Gaza will become cold, wet, and unhealthy – especially for the many refugees who are forced to live in tents. It’s only a matter of weeks until horrific accounts of the suffering of Gazan refugees, both real and imagined, make the headlines everywhere. These stories will inevitably result in

more pressure on Israel to agree to an open-ended “humanitarian” ceasefire.

The Future of Israel’s Offensive Hamas hopes the Gaza campaign is living on borrowed time; that this conflict will be like all the other Gaza wars. Israel had entered all the past Gaza conflicts with poorly defined war aims, which have allowed both sides to declare victory after a few days or weeks of bloody, albeit strategically pointless, fighting. But there are reasons to assume that this war might play out differently. For the first time in years, the Israeli public is united in the belief that Hamas’ military power must be crushed. Even the hostages’ friends and family, who prioritize rescuing their loved ones from captivity over anything else, recognize that. Many of them live in the “Gaza Envelope” – Israeli towns and Kibbutzim bordering the Gaza Strip – and they know that they would not be safe if Hamas remains in power. Moreover, it is possible that Hamas’ strategy of weaponizing its hostages to obtain a ceasefire would fall apart with time. As the IDF continues pounding Hamas, eliminating top commanders and communication tunnels, it is likely that many of the hostages’ captors will find themselves isolated from Hamas’ central command. In that case, those individual terrorists would probably opt to either murder their hostages or make their own terms with Israel. Either way, Hamas’ leadership will lose much of its leverage visa-vis Israel. Finally, there is reason to assume that U.S. support for Israel is more solid than Hamas hopes. True, there are plenty of policy disagreements between the Biden administration and Israel. But the most serious disagreements are about what should happen to Gaza after the Hamas regime is toppled, rather than about whether Hamas should be crushed. Biden wants Israel to hand Gaza over to a reformed Palestinian Authority and to use the opportunity to kick-start yet another peace process. Israel realizes that Biden’s “reformed Palestinian Authority” is a mythical, other-worldly being. Either way, Biden still wants Hamas gone; even he must realize that it is an obstacle to his dream of a new Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. It might be a while before we know for sure whether Hamas’ Gaza leadership will succeed in using its Israeli hostages to ensure their own survival. But the course of the war over the following few weeks should give us a pretty good indication of the likely outcome.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Troops operating in the Gaza Strip

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

Hum

How Odd of G-D (with apologies to Ogden Nash) By Country Yossi Toiv

“H

ow odd of G-D To choose the Jews,” my old professor said. “It would have made A lot more sense To pick on us instead. We’re big and strong and many While you are but a few What could He have been thinking When He chose to choose the Jew? Did He forget our heroes The idols we adore Like Aaron Judge and Curry And movie stars galore. There’s Trump and Musk and Cuomo, All heroes we admire, Men of sterling character What more could He require? You guys are weak and ancient Somehow you all survived Pogroms, Crusades and Holocaust You’re lucky you’re alive.

While we’re a mighty nation There’s nothing to discuss Because you see, it seems to me He should have chosen us.

He’s not impressed by numbers By power or by size But he looks for a people That are humble, small but wise.

Though we’re stiff-necked and stubborn That’s what’s allowed us to survive The crucible of history And enabled us to thrive.

So tell me, son, before you go With that skullcap on your head And those strings you wear a flappin’ Did you hear a word I said?

You see, He peered into our very souls And probed our DNA In search of strength of character That’s lasted till today.

So it’s really not that odd of G-d To choose the Jews, my friend, He chose the only people That would be loyal to the end.

Do you have an answer I’d love to hear your views Why in G-D Al-mighty’s name Would He choose to choose the Jews?”

So when He found a faith so pure That trusts in the divine He shone His light upon our souls And said, “I’ll make them mine.”

You see, my dear professor, It seems we’ve paid the dues He knew we’d keep the faith till now And that’s why he chose the Jews.

I turned and looked him in the eye And said, “Sir, if you please Your question is a good one But it seems G-D disagrees

And through the generations We tried to make him proud Through trials and tribulations We’re bloody but unbowed.

And when the End of Days arrives, Soon may it be His wil,l He’ll treasure us eternally Because He loves us still.”

You see, when He selects a people He knows just where to start He doesn’t look for wealth or fame But deep into the heart.

And all those mighty nations Who shared your mystery Have vanished in the mists of time Condemned by history.

He gazed at me in silence He found no words to say. I politely tipped my kippah… Then turned and walked away.

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DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

nspiration Nation

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Shimon and Rubin Kolyakov Torah Anytime, Anywhere By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

ut of the 613 mitzvos, one of the most important commandments of all is to teach Torah to others; to spread the words of G-d and the teachings of our forefathers to our children and students. So essential is the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next that one might rightfully conclude that much of the future rests on the shoulders of those who teach it. Most frum Jews have heard of TorahAnytime, but not everyone realizes just how much of an impact it has had on the Jewish nation. With over one million users, TorahAnytime is responsible for more than 12 million hours of Torah learning each year. However, what might be more surprising than the website’s massive success is the story behind its founders. You’d think that the platform responsible for the most Torah learning in history would have been created by a rabbi or a team of scholars, but it was not. In fact, TorahAnytime was created by two brothers, neither of whom

are rabbis and both of whom actually grew up in a non-religious home. Having left communist Uzbekistan in 1979, two-year-old Shimon Kolyakov and his family moved to a Bukharian community in Queens, New York, where he and his younger brother, Rubin, like most other non-observant Jewish children, would attend public school. While they knew they were Jewish and had knowledge of basic religious concepts, they otherwise had very little connection to Judaism. One day, that all changed. When Shimon was in third grade, the Jewish Education Program (JEP) of Queens, an organization dedicated to teaching Jewish public school children about Yiddishkeit, reached out to his parents and asked if he would like to participate in the program. “The rabbis from JEP got in contact with the school, found out who the Jewish kids were, and contacted their parents,” Shimon recalled. “Next thing I know, my

In Their Own Words… Do something. it doesn’t matter how big or small. Just be involved in some way.

”

hashem is not going to ask why you weren’t Moshe Rabbeinu after 120; hashem is going to ask why you weren’t you.

”

Everything that’s created by g-d you could use in two ways. here, we’re using the internet in a very good way.

” ”

With tears in people’s eyes, we get feedback. We get feedback from people from all over the world on how it has literally changed their life; they’re in a dark situation in life, things aren’t going well, and it really, really helped them.

parents are asking me, ‘Would you like to be pulled out of school one hour early once a week?’ What kid is going to say no to that?” The program was so entertaining and enjoyable that the hour of learning, in Shimon’s words, “felt like it was five minutes.” The lessons were about simple things like Jewish holidays and stories, but their impact on the young boy was so incredible that it changed the entire trajectory of not only his life but of his brother’s and parents’ lives as well. A year and a half later, when Shimon was in the middle of fourth grade, the people behind JEP convinced his parents to switch him from public school to Yeshiva Institute, a kiruv school which is now known as Yeshiva Primary. “It was a great time, we had a blast, and I learned a lot. A lot of seeds were planted,” Shimon said. “I was having fun with people who were similar to me: Jewish kids.” Naturally, Shimon began bringing certain elements of Yiddishkeit back home, and his parents, at the time, were not happy about that. While they didn’t take Shimon out of yeshiva, they made sure that Rubin stayed in public school, as they didn’t want another one of their children coming home every day, talking about all the Jewish practices the family should adopt. “I’m forever thankful for him [Shimon] for setting up the road for me to never actually be a day in yeshiva,” Rubin Kolyakov said, “But there was a good trade-off because he actually was my yeshiva.” “Now my parents are totally frum,” Shimon clarified. “My mother reads Tehillim and my dad is in shul and learning all day. It’s an amazing ending.” After completing eighth grade, Shimon

and many of his classmates, for some reason, decided to go back to public school. He attended Forest Hills High School, much to the dismay of the head of Yeshiva Institute, Rabbi Zalman Deutscher, who tried endlessly to convince each of his students to go to a Yeshiva high school. It was around the time when Shimon began high school when the Soviet Union collapsed, resulting in mass immigration to the United States. Suddenly, a massive number of Bukharian Jews moved to Queens, many of whom started going to the same high school as Shimon. Many of the new teenagers began to respect, admire, and relate to Shimon, a fellow immigrant, Bukharian, and non-observant Jew. “This feeling came over me that I gotta start sharing some of the things I learned from yeshiva,” Shimon explained. “I don’t know what possessed me…but I just started doing kiruv with them [my classmates], even though I myself wasn’t really holding there.” Simultaneously, several rebbeim were doing kiruv on Shimon, and he started attending shiurim every single week. As the weeks passed by, he began to realize that he was growing in ways he could have only imagined; he was, at long last, becoming religious. As Shimon continued attending shiurim in the early 2000s, he felt as though the lectures were so incredible that he just had to record them. He began videoing the shiurim with a camera his parents gave him as a wedding present, and several people began asking for copies of the videos. Eventually, Shimon and Rubin began considering the idea of distributing the videos on the internet, which was in its infancy at the time. It was at this point that Rubin, hungry

111 passing month, the number of visitors and watchers kept increasing until the amount became unbelievable, at which point Shimon and Rubin realized that they had created something really special. Since its inception, TorahAnytime has evolved in tremendous ways. Now, it is far more than a website; it’s a nonprofit, forever-growing organization with the mission of spreading Yiddishkeit. There is now a TorahAnytime app and phone hotline for those without internet access. The platform has also expanded into several ambitious projects, including the Daily Dose, an app which provides a daily two-minute inspirational video; ChesedAnytime, a WhatsApp status which gives people the opportunity to help others; RebbeAnytime, a website with educational videos specifically for elementary schoolers who

need extra help in Gemara; and JewishAnytime, a website for those who want to learn the fundamentals of the religion. Additionally, there is a weekly Shabbos newsletter known as “TheTorahAnyTimes,” and a TorahAnytime book titled “It’s All About Change,” which is a compilation of lessons told over by Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein, zt”l. If that’s not enough, the TorahAnytime team, led by the Kolyakov brothers, is also working on an app for ChesedAnytime, a website called YeshivaAnytime, and an upcoming book which will serve as a compilation of the greatest daily doses. But despite all of this and more, the Kolyakov brothers aren’t satisfied. “We haven’t even gotten started yet,” Shimon said. “There are fifteen million Jews in the world, and we have a million users. We need to do better.”

One might say that TorahAnytime, which is one of, if not the greatest, Jewish educational website ever made was created by two people who aren’t educators, but I would be inclined to disagree. While Shimon and Rubin Kolyakov may not be giving over their own lectures, their story is one of many lessons and their ambitions to help the Jewish nation in any way possible is something certainly worth emulating. Not everyone is equipped to teach Tanach or Gemara, but you don’t have to be in order to be a teacher of Torah because Torah is so much more than holy words and halachos. Torah is the life and the values of our nation, and if you set an example and influence others to live by the values of G-d in the best way you possibly can, then you will have the potential to be one of the greatest teachers of Torah in history.

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.

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for more Torah content and knowledge, began an internet quest for Torah lectures, only to be disappointed to find that the few sites available at the time had little to offer him. And thus, the brothers decided to step up to the plate and make their own website. Rubin, who was working in the IT department of Touro College at the time, learned how to develop a simple website where people could download the few dozen lectures Shimon filmed, and in March of 2006, TorahAnytime officially launched – and the rest is history. TorahAnytime started out as a website with video lectures for those who couldn’t make it to the shiur when it was actually happening. The Kolyakov brothers were thrilled when there were fifty hits on the site. But with each

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Pick A Card, Any Card By Malkie SchulMan

“P

ick a card, any card...” is arguably one of the most famous magician starting lines. But magic is much more than guessing the number in a deck of cards (although that still is quite a popular trick!). “The tricks that blow audiences away the most,” relates Shlomo Levinger, master magician and illusionist based in Far Rockaway, N.Y., “is when it seems like I’m reading their minds.” Telling folks he’s never met before their names, social security numbers, and/ or license numbers are some of many mentalist acts Shlomo will perform with his audiences. “One that audiences really love,” he shares, “is where I tell a volunteer to think of anything in the world, and then I tell him exactly what he’s thinking.” Shlomo’s interest in performing “magic” began in the ninth grade. “But I was into performing even before that,” he admits. “I did juggling acts, handstands, anything that connected me with people through performing for them to make them laugh.” He also acknowledges that starting when you’re a little older like he did is a good thing. “Starting too young can lead to burnout, because the tricks, when done right, are often too hard for a little kid to manage. By the age of 14, you’re usually old enough to un-

derstand how the magic works.” Shlomo recalls the first time he watched a video of someone performing magic. “It was one of the coolest things I ever saw. I knew then that I wanted to be the one doing the performing.” That’s when Shlomo went to work googling and discovered the whole wide world of magic and how it works. “All these awesome swallowing-a-sword or vanishing objects feats are tricks,” he explains. “It’s about learning how to do them.” Once Shlomo would master a move, he’d try it on his guinea pig, aka, his mom. “My mom has seen more of my tricks than anybody,” says Shlomo with a grin. “So, I guess you could say, she’s my biggest fan. Or not. LOL.”

It’s All An Illusion The way magic performances are staged has changed over the years, maintains Shlomo. Today, magicians perform many different genres of magic: closeup magic (also known as strolling or walk around magic), comedy stage magic, illusions, and mentalism. But it wasn’t always like that. Primarily, it used to be that the magician would perform his magic from a stage in front of a seated audience. Today, one of the more popular types of magic performance is close-up magic. “Well-known illusionist David Blaine really changed magic performance,” shares Shlomo. “He’s the first one to bring magic to the street, to do closeup magic, and get everybody’s stunned reactions up close.” Close-up magic, in contrast to stage magic, is magic that’s performed in a more intimate setting.

“The performance seemed so real that the officer was convinced I could actually help him solve crimes.” event). If he’s booked that evening, Shlomo will go to the venue an hour before to set up and prepare. “If I’m doing a walk-around,” Shlomo shares, “the show can take up to three hours, while a stage show will take about an hour.” Sometimes, at corporate events, he’ll do both. During cocktails, Shlomo will perform the close-up magic acts, and later on, he’ll do the show. As to has anyone ever called his bluff, it comes down to the atmosphere he tries to establish, Shlomo maintains. “I try to make it a fun, light vibe – it’s not about going one up and tricking people, in that way, anyway,” he asserts. On the rare occasion Shlomo gets hecklers, he says there are techniques to make the situation less disruptive. There are always ways to move on with the show.

A Method to His Magic Getting specific information from a volunteer is really the secret behind the magic – or at least a secret that Shlomo is willing to share. In the following story, Shlomo reminisces about the time he was filming a short YouTube clip in Manhattan when he saw a kid with his name stitched onto the back of his knapsack. “I went over to him and told him I was a mentalist. I asked him if he’d be impressed if I could tell him what his name was. He said, ‘Sure.’ When I told him his name, he freaked out. He went nuts all the while not realizing that his name was right there on the back of his knapsack. That video got half a million views.” Of course, the downside was that when people saw the video and met Shlomo, they’d come over and ask him to tell him their names. “I had to come up with a whole new method of figuring it out,” says Shlomo. So what is Shlomo’s trick to get into people’s minds? He says that it’s about picking up information that everybody else overlooks. Of course, it’s usually not as simple as finding the name on a backpack, but it is usually about asking the right questions that elicit information the individual doesn’t realize they’re giving. A good illusionist also has to be a good actor, knowing when to ham things up or when to play them down. And, of course, the more experience you have, the better you get at it and the more you can figure out the right questions to ask. Shlomo loves meeting all different types of people in all different types of settings. He’s also an outgoing, gregarious guy who’s not opposed to shaking things up

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The audience is usually very close to the magician, sometimes even one-on-one. This form of magic often uses everyday items as props, like cards, coins, and seemingly “impromptu” effects. The magician may be sitting at a table or standing in one place in front of a small group of people, or he may be doing a walk around, which involves the magician strolling around the crowd, going from table to table, performing magic right under their noses. Shlomo admits that he likes the close-up style best. At a bar mitzvah, a fundraiser, or a corporate event, for example, Shlomo will mingle with the crowd showing them various magic feats. One amazing trick he likes to use involves marking an X on his hand with a Sharpie. In front of the spectators, he “vanishes” the X on his hand and has it magically appear on a guest’s hand. Another fun close-up trick is the card-in-pocket trick. That’s where he has a spectator pick a card, sign the card, and put the card back in the deck. Then Shlomo snaps his fingers and pulls their signed card out of his pocket! After that, he’ll say, “I’m going to do this again.” And he places the card back in the deck. After the spectator agrees it’s back in the deck, Shlomo will once again pull the card out of his pocket! In the last part, he’ll say, “Let’s do it one more time, but this time you push the card into the deck.” Again, Shlomo will snap his fingers and tell the volunteer to pull the card out of his pocket which turns out is not the signed card. Then Shlomo will reach into his pocket and keep pulling out cards until he shows that somehow the entire deck ended up in there and the one card that the spectator signed is in his hand (where the deck previously was)! Shlomo reveals that he has tons of these types of fun sleight-of-hand card tricks up his sleeve. The key word here is fun. Having fun while making sure your audience is having fun, that’s Shlomo’s goal. In that way, he says, renowned American magician and

comedian Justin Wilman, star and creator of the hit Netflix series Magic For Humans, is his inspiration. “Justin makes magic fun. His goal is to give everybody a good time. A lot of magicians like to create spooky atmospheres. Justin’s style is more on the light side. I try to model my style after his. Of course, I want to creep out my audience but in a fun way.” What does a typical workday look like for a magician? Actually, the first half of Shlomo’s day is not even typical for a magician. He learns every morning in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. “My morning seder is very important to me,” says Shlomo. Only after that does Shlomo begin his work, usually spending the afternoons doing “back end” stuff – invoicing, booking events, purchasing props, etc. since most shows are at night (unless it’s chol hamoed or a corporate lunch

Although, there was one situation, way in the beginning of his career at one of his first shows, that was not cool, he recalls. “I did a trick where I was supposed to take a cup of water and make the water disappear so that when I turned it over and poured it over the volunteer’s head, nothing would come out. Unfortunately, I messed up, and the kid got soaking wet. “I did not do that trick again for a long time. Some tricks you can recover from and move on – this trick was not one of them.” Usually, though, Shlomo’s magic acts are super cool. “I was doing a show somewhere, and there happened to be a high-ranking police officer in the audience. The trick I did was to take a volunteer’s cell phone, ‘read his mind,’ and tell him what the password was to unlock his phone. After the show, the cop came backstage and said, ‘We need you on our team. We have criminals’ phones, and we can’t break into them to get important information that we need.’ That was cool. The performance seemed so real that the officer was convinced I could actually help him solve crimes.” Needless to say, Shlomo had to gently explain to the officer that, for various reasons, his act couldn’t be duplicated if the person wasn’t there to unknowingly provide certain information.

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a bit. Even if it’s not showtime, he’ll walk into an ice cream shop and say something like, “If I can guess your phone number, will you give me a free ice cream?” The store owners get a kick out of it, and Shlomo gets his free ice cream! Shlomo laughs as he recalls the time he walked into a Starbucks for an iced coffee latte. “The guy behind the counter told me the coffee was $6. I said to him, ‘Shoots, I only have a five-dollar bill. Wait one sec,’ then I snapped my fingers and the fiver became a five hundred dollar bill. The guy was blown away. ‘You sure it’s real?’ he asked me. ‘Yup,’ I replied and showed him that it was. That was lots of fun!” Another big hit with Shlomo’s audiences both on stage and in walk-arounds is where Shlomo asks a spectator to hand him a dollar bill. With a snap of his finger, voila, Shlomo will make the bill vanish and with a second snap of his fingers, he makes the dollar bill appear in – an apple! Though Shlomo is young (26), he’s already performed for some big corporations like Champion, Hanes, Sony, and other large companies. But for Shlomo, a huge sports fan, the more exciting news is that he’s broken into the baseball world. Shlomo tells how it came about. “I did magic for a well-known influencer on social media who has a big following of athletes. One of his followers, a top baseball player by the name of Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, began to follow me because he saw me on the influencer’s page. He obviously liked what he saw, because he reached out to me to bring me to Los Angeles to perform live in front of him and a bunch of other baseball players. We had a great time, and from there, it snowballed.” So far, Shlomo has performed for other baseball greats like Alex Bregman (Houston Astros), Pete Alonso (N.Y. Mets), and Cory Seager (Texas Rangers). This summer, he’ll be performing for full teams. Shlomo admits it’s a dream come true for him. “I never imagined these two worlds colliding.” But what’s it like as an obviously Orthodox Jew doing his magic stuff with baseball players? “It’s an interesting experience,” shares Shlomo. In many ways, Shlomo believes the fact that he’s frum makes his shows even better. “They see a kid with a yarmulke,” he says, “something they’ve probably never encountered up close, and they’re not sure what to expect.” When he does an amazing trick, they’re blown away. Shlomo also maintains that he does his best at all times to make a kiddush Hashem. “I work hard to give them a good time, so they associate positivity with Orthodox Judaism.” In fact, Shlomo relates, at a recent celebrity golf event, a professional golfer came up to him to say how bad he felt about the horrific situation going on in Israel. It felt gratifying, Shlomos says, that this guy felt comfortable enough to come up to him and be empathetic about a situation that would clearly be disturbing to anybody identifying as a Jew. “I think it’s because I try to bring in fun energy to my gigs. I get

people in the zone where they feel comfortable and feel like they can be normal with me.” He adds, “The main thing about my work is that I love making people happy, especially through creating amazing illusions. The audience’s reactions really get me pumped. When the audience is enjoying themselves, so am I.” Shlomo has also done events for Chai Lifeline and other organizations for children who are not well. “It makes me so happy when a parent calls and tells me, ‘You don’t understand what you did for my Moshe; you made his day.’ That’s the best feeling I can possibly have.”

“I said to him, ‘Shoots, I only have a five-dollar bill. Wait one sec,’ then I snapped my fingers, and the fiver became a five hundred dollar bill.” Still, Shlomo has his quirky side. He shares another outside business hours story. “I used to do this trick where I’d make a straw float in mid-air. I was in a restaurant once as a regular eating customer, and I decided to levitate my straw a little bit off the table just to see people’s reactions. I wasn’t even sure anybody would notice. Then I saw someone at the table to my right do a double take. He looked once and then quickly looked again, and I could tell he was thinking, ‘Did I just see what I thought I saw?’” The best part was Shlomo just left it at that. He didn’t go over to the guy to explain that he was a magician. For all Shlomo knows, this guy is going around telling people about the guy in the restaurant who could levitate straws. Or maybe went to get his eyes checked out. It’s anyone’s guess. One thing that is important to Shlomo is his professionalism and dedication to his craft and to his clientele.

“It’s easy to get stuck on autopilot,” he shares, “to just stick with what’s working.” But that’s not the way Shlomo does business. He consistently makes an effort to come up with new material to work into his shows, always bearing in mind the important principle – the customer always comes first. While it’s true that the customer always comes first, Shlomo won’t take on every client if he doesn’t feel it’s appropriate. “I was once offered what seemed like a great, lucrative opportunity,” he shares, “but the venue was not appropriate. It was a hard decision, but I turned it down. Right after that, another much better opportunity came along through the same source. I saw it directly as a message from Hashem – ‘You do the right thing, Shlomo, and I’ll make it worth your while.’ And that’s how I try to live my life.” Perhaps the biggest reveal from our fascinating interview as it draws to a close is that whether you’re a magician, an illusionist, or a mentalist (and basically, they’re all the same thing depending on how cool you want to sound, says Shlomo), the “magic” or “mind reading” they perform are simply well-learned tricks. I say “simply” not because they’re simple tricks or tricks that are simple to learn but because you don’t have to be a psychic to perform them. It’s not voodoo, no matter how mind-altering these feats look. On the flip side of the coin, however, the world of magic is not just about learning how to do sleight of hand or pulling rabbits out of hats (Shlomo has never done that one); it’s a realm where creativity, skill, and the joy of enchanting audiences merge. Magicians like Shlomo, with their dedication to their craft and their desire to connect with and amaze their audiences, remind us that magic is more than just tricks—it’s an art form that continues to evolve and inspire. Whether through a classic card trick or a mind-bending illusion, the true magic lies in the moments of wonder and joy they create, keeping the age-old tradition of magical performances alive and thrilling.

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I am 26 years old and working in the banking industry. I go out on shidduch dates and generally let my parents still handle my shidduchim. Many of our clients at work are frum. Recently, at a work event, I met a

frum young man who works in a similar field, and we began to chat about work-related topics. At the end of the conversation, he asked me if I would want to go out with him sometime. I was caught off guard – I never met a guy “on my own” before – and I told him that I was busy. I’m wondering what I should do next time I’m in this situation. The guy who I was speaking with seemed like a nice guy. It seemed like it would fit frum-wise (although I don’t know much about him). We had a good conversation. At the same time, I don’t want to become someone who is meeting prospective men on her own; I’m so comfortable now that my parents are handling my shidduchim and checking out the guys before I date them. Any advice and insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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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F R O M O U R FA M I LY T O YO U R S .

The Five Towns Premier Care team wishes you and your family a happy, healthy Chanukah. No matter the time of year, we celebrate each one of our residents and the opportunity to be a part of their lives. Our residents are special to you and to us, and we’re honored to have the privilege of caring for them. They’re your relatives, friends, neighbors and role models, and that makes them our priority.

S C H E D U L E YO U R TO U R TO D AY ! 5 1 6 . 5 8 8 . 3 2 0 0 F I V E TOW N S P R E M I E R .CO M | 1 0 5 0 C E N T R A L AV E , WO O D M E R E , N Y 1 1 5 9 8

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

HAPPY CHANUKAH

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The Panel

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

his is a situation that some Bais Yaakov girls find themselves in. They are used to the formal shidduch dating processes. They don’t go to singles events and try to meet men casually. Then they find themselves in situations where someone asks them out. This will happen again in the professional world and in the regular world of bashert encounters. It is life, and you never know. You are a mature person and smart. You are preparing to handle this more comfortably next time. Visualizations and practicing scripts or scenarios in your head can be very helpful so that you are not caught off-guard.

You may want to be direct and say something like: “We seem to have a lot in common. I’m used to/more comfortable using a shadchan for potential dates. Would you mind doing that?” That will give you a chance to check him out and keep your parents in the picture. You may not want to bring your parents into the conversation on one hand because you may not want to be perceived as still relying on your parents. On the other hand, if you do bring your parents into the conversation, you are saying something about your parents, your practices, etc. You may want to talk this over in the future with someone you trust who knows you a long time and knows your values. Staying a Bais Yaakov girl, yet being a mature professional woman, does take some thought and navigation. There are exceptions to almost ev-

ery rule, however. Adjusting to realities without changing your values doesn’t put you into a box of a certain type.

The Shadchan

I find that the most natural and healthy way to connect with someone is to meet impromptu.

Michelle Mond

hank you for your thought-provoking question! I’m sure this happens often in the professional world. In your circles, forward “ask outs” without a middle-man might be considered unconventional; however, based on his background and religious level, it’s clearly considered completely standard. I would say the best way to get through a situation like that is with

class and grace. Smile and show appreciation for being asked and communicate that you generally date through a shadchan. Offer to give over your favorite shadchan’s name and phone number so that he can call him/her directly to see if the match is shayach. My personal thoughts are the follow-

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The Single

There’s no wrong answer, as you need to do whatever feels best suited for you.

Tzipora Grodko

The Zaidy

totally understand how you can be thrown off when getting asked out on the spot, especially if you’re not used to it. Personally, I find that the most natural and healthy way to connect with someone is to meet impromptu. Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities in many Orthodox settings, leading to more formal arrangements. You can always be honest stating, “I’m flattered by the offer and a bit caught off-guard.” “I would be happy to think about it if you would like to share your number.” If you choose to, you can arrange for a shadchan to act as an intermediary or embrace the excitement of connecting yourself (after doing some research on him if that makes you more comfortable).

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Adjusting to realities without changing your values doesn’t put you into a box of a certain type.

man was stranded on his rooftop during a raging flood, desperately praying for divine assistance. As he clung to the rooftop, a kind-hearted individual passed by in a rowboat and called out, “Jump in! I can rescue you!” The stranded man firmly responded, “It’s alright. I’m relying on G-d to save me.” With that, the rowboat continued on its way, while the floodwaters relentlessly surged. A little while later, a motorboat approached, and the driver shouted, “Hop aboard! I can save you!” Once again, the man on the rooftop declined, saying, “No, thank you. I trust that G-d will rescue me.” And so, the motorboat moved along,

and the floodwaters continued to rise. Finally, a helicopter appeared overhead, and the pilot urgently shouted, “Grab this rope, and I’ll airlift you to safety!” Yet again, the stranded man refused, insisting, “I appreciate your offer, but I have faith that G-d will save me.” With that, the helicopter flew away. As the waters rose and submerged the rooftop, the drowning man cried out, “G-d, I had faith in you! Why didn’t you save me?” In response, a heavenly voice echoed, “Who do you think sent you the rowboat, the motorboat, and the helicopter?”

ly felt good because it is normal. Out in the world (and back in the day during the times of the Torah), men and women very often met on their own. It is a wonderful feeling to be approached by a man who is showing that he is interested. Somehow, somewhere along the way, this has become vilified or at best, frowned upon. It is an inherently healthy behavior and will inherently make a woman feel good. I think it should be encouraged in a kosher way. I’m always sad to see a bird in a cage with clipped wings. Does that bird know it is a bird and can fly? I wonder how the bird feels. Does he know something is missing? I want you to ask yourself what might come up for you if you stepped out of your comfort zone and entertain the idea of

going on a date with the next man who approaches you. Most people agree that there is a shidduch crisis. But most people will not do anything about it, for fear of being judged and rejected in the world of shidduchim. It is a big problem. Only you can decide if you would be willing to take a risk the next time this happens. P.S. There are plenty of frum people who meet on their own and practical ways of working backwards through a shadchan, if you are so inclined. It may not be too late to date the guy who approached you! You never know! Here’s to living our most authentic lives!! Sincerely, Jennifer

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

hank you for writing! I can certainly feel your hesitation surrounding meeting a man on your own. There is a comfort in letting your parents handle it, and it certainly fits your societal norms, which also can bring an extreme sense of comfort. I cannot tell you what to do next time you are in this situation. I can try to offer you some food for thought that may be worth exploring internally. You write that you “don’t want to become someone who is meeting prospective men on her own.” I’m wondering what that means to you. Who is

“someone who meets prospective on her own”? What do you think of “her” character? What would it mean to you if you met someone on your own? Would it speak poorly of your character? Would you question the man interested? And if so, what would you be questioning? It seems to me (and perhaps I am wrong) that there was something exciting about this man introducing himself to you and showing interest. From a purely human perspective and outlook, this like-

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.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

ing: If you have been dating for six years and still have not met the right match, I would consider looking into this as a prospective option. A pervasive pattern I see with singles who have gone years without finding the right match is that these singles keep doing the same things for years without making any changes to how they operate their shidduchim – so stuck within the status quo that their dating simply stays status quo. This guy may not be from the exact same world you come from, perhaps he is a baal teshuva or comes from a more modern background. This does not mean that you shouldn’t give him a chance. You create your bashert; you don’t find him in a haystack. You just met someone who runs in your professional circles who obviously was impressed with you. Take this lead and see where it goes, and do keep us posted!

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Parenting Pearls

Light Chasing the Darkness By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

here are certain divrei Torah that you hear repeated again and again. We’ve often been told that one of the differences between Chanukah and Purim is what our enemies intended. On Purim, they sought physical annihilation; on Chanukah, they desired to destroy our spiritual existence as Torah Jews. On Purim, they didn’t care what mitzvos we kept or how pious we were; they couldn’t tolerate a single Jew remaining in their land. But, on Chanukah, it was our soul they sought to ruin. It was our very essence they found intolerable. A life of connection to the Divine was the antithesis of their worldview. We have often learned how the Jewish year is cyclical, not linear. As we reach each yom tov, we are once again reconnecting to that original date. Pesach isn’t merely commemorating our miraculous exodus from bondage; it’s reliving those glorious moments anew. As we sit down to our seder, we are commanded to feel as if we were once again leaving Egypt. The pain, the tears, and the freedom are all ours. Many of us find it is a struggle to feel that deep level of connection to each special day as it arrives. We know we’re supposed to feel the bondage in Mitzrayim, yet, baruch Hashem, we’re sitting in climate controlled homes surrounded by those closest to us. We try to remember the deep threat we felt in Shushan, as we attempt in vain to prevent children from inhaling the sugar equivalent of their body weight. Each Chanukah, we have to work hard to reimagine the spiritual awakening of years past – but not this year. As we entered Kislev, we already knew we were in a different place. This Chanukah, we still feel the recent massacre and shameful levels of antisemitism. It was a physical devastation reminiscent of Purim but a Chanukah thirst for mitzvos and spirituality. Months ago, we never could have imagined the soldiers of the IDF desperate for tefillin and tzitzis alongside bulletproof vests. It’s beautiful that the army

of tzitzis knotters is composed of yeshiva bachurim and kollel men. As never before, we see our national response to tragedy is turning to the One Above. I rarely forward videos to my husband, but this gem was an exception. As the captives returned, a mother was emotionally reunited with her family and there was a microphone placed in front of her. I had trouble understanding the rapid Hebrew, but I had no difficulty understanding her last words as she emotionally shouted out, “Shema Yisroel,” adding tearfully, “Hashem echad!” twice. I got chills hearing her say those words. As I told my husband, “We often say the Shema, but have we ever said it like that?” Every essence of her being was announcing how only Hashem will ultimately return our brethren. What made this even more phenomenal is that I don’t think she considers herself religious. We’ve recently been zocheh to hear even the most ardently secular Jews proudly, and publicly, proclaim Hashem’s Oneness.

The Best and the Worst I was speaking with another mother, and we were discussing some of the changes we’ve noticed since October 7. We both felt the recent devastation only brought out the worst of many people.

There were too many individuals who have shocked us with their hatred. As pleased as I was to see the support from unexpected sources, I was stunned to hear that anyone was capable of blaming the victims. Those who hated us have only had their appetite whetted. Academia, once considered a place of enlightenment and knowledge, was shown to be nothing more than distorted values and outright antisemitism. The media stooped to new lows in their biased reporting, shocking us each time with their misinterpretation of the unbiased truth. The hatred, threats and violence have reached previously unheard of levels in this country. But – as we all agreed – the challenge and pain has only brought out the best in us. As we each expressed pride in our nation, we could list numerous examples of this in action. Every possible cause has someone collecting for it and trying to alleviate it: clothes, classes and even exercise equipment for the evacuees. Layettes of new clothing for women giving birth in Israel. Sruli Lieber organized pizza for chayalim in Gaza, West Bank, and the training bases, and hot soup for those leaving Gaza. The chayalim can also look forward to sufganiot for Chanukah. On the front lawn of the Frishman home stood 111 boxes of new toys for Israeli

children forced to leave their homes. Every Thursday, the area in front of Dimples (554 Central Ave. Cedarhurst) features a bake sale. What started as a onetime initiative by Cindy Merrill (Dimples’ owner) has been running for six weeks strong. With each sale featuring a different theme – Kugels for Kibbutzim, Pies for Chai, and Yummies for Yehudim – it’s become a popular location for Shabbos challos and baked goods. Dayna, a workout friend, told me about it, and I was very impressed to hear how much they’ve raised – $27,000, so far. With no overhead, it can all go to tzedaka, helping individuals and families throughout Eretz Yisroel. For the past few weeks, I’ve been zocheh to bake challos for them. I was impressed by how many people volunteered their time to contribute to this successful sale. The community’s bakers work their kitchen magic (and donate their ingredients), the Wednesday night packers beautifully wrap each item, and others run the stand on Thursday. Of course, we can’t forget the important role of the buyers. Every item is carefully labeled with the baker’s name so you know where it came from. There was a place where each individual could contribute their individual talents, uniting together to bring so much good. They’re planning to keep the momentum going, and Chanuka goodies are next on the agenda. During the Year of Shabbos, sh’miras Shabbos has been elevated with many new adherents joining daily. One Israeli store distributed free “platas” to those willing to accept the gift of Shabbos. Many are proclaiming the personal miracles they experienced from this holy day. Tehillim groups have popped up on every block. Some of us belong to more than one! A list that is painfully long was distributed containing the names of the hostages so we could daven for each person individually. Many men have started wearing tefillin. On college campuses, where so many students have been mistreated for being part of the Jewish nation, young men

Chanukah Today As much as I hope you experienced pride and inspiration from the article so far, you may be asking yourself the obvious question, “What does this have to do with parenting?” The obvious answer is “nothing.” But, looking a bit deeper, perhaps the answer should be “everything.” We know children can have selective hearing towards a lot of what we say, but they have their eyes wide open to our actions. Many of the biggest baalei chessed will say it was natural for them since they saw it so frequently in their own homes growing up. It’s truly our living example that is their greatest lesson.

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Eliahu Frishman in his yard in Far Rockaway with boxes of new toys for children who had been evacuated

Let the next generation see that, like Chanukah centuries ago, we only strengthen our beliefs when faced with challenge and tragedy. When we’re under pressure, we only come closer to our Father in Heaven, not societal expectations. We are who we are and proud of it. We are seeing an unprecedented outpouring of unity and chessed. Include your children and help them to feel a part of our incredible nation. I don’t have the time to pack or sell the baked goods, but, baruch Hashem, I have the ability

to bake the challah. Each week, my kids see me baking and my husband walking out the door to deliver the loaves. I wonder if this is why my kids have recently been saying how much better my challah tastes. There are so many opportunities and a place for each person. Some are drawn to Tehillim, others to raising money for worthy causes, while others are adding in five minutes of extra learning. Include your children, even if it’s just to bring the Tehillim booklet to a neighbor. We have

Selling goods in support of Israel in front of Dimples on Central Avenue

an unbelievable opportunity for a Chanukah unlike any other. Let’s not squander it. May we continue to see the light chase away the darkness. Have a wonderful Shabbos and a very meaningful Chanukah!

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.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

have been joining together in the center of campus to put on tefillin and recite Shema together. Many Jewish students have expressed the chizuk they receive from seeing this spiritual unity. So far, this initiative has spread to 30 colleges. Many of us have seen the powerful hafashas challah video of the mother of a female soldier being held hostage. Her emotions and sincere tefillos moved the world. Chasdei Hashem, her daughter returned home the next day. Many women have started prioritizing hafrashas challah to enhance their family’s Shabbos.

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Dear Etti, My daughter ordered an expensive, monogrammed gift for a girl in her class as a Chanukah grab bag prize, some sort of Secret Maccabee idea. Now, the administration is saying that they cannot have the grab bag because it was not approved by the school, and the girls should not have arranged it on their own. My daughter is obviously disappointed. I am curious to know your thoughts on this matter. Thank you. -Curious

Dear Curious, The school is lucky to have you! Instead of getting upset, you are wondering about the policy so you can understand and support it. That is so great. All children should have parents who support their school, so they feel a sense of safety and security that everyone is on the same page. When children make plans on their own, out of school, they usually only involve a small number of children, often from their direct family or circle of friends. A grab bag is perfect for such an intimate gathering, but when applied to a group as large as an entire class, it can become complicated. When children make plans in school without school approval, they fail to consider the bigger picture. The school usually has a policy when allowing events like a grab bag to make sure there is a price cap for all the students to ensure everyone stays within a school-mandated, socially acceptable budget. This also ensures less jealousy among the children receiving such a wide variety of their presents’ quality and size. Because of this, teachers usually have to approve the gift choice to make sure it is appropriate and fair to all the other students. The economy can be a factor. There are families who were doing much better before Covid, and though they are trying to live to their old standards, extras can be difficult. They are hoping things will still turn around, so no one knows that they are struggling. The school is often aware and tries to minimize these situations. A Chanukah party, and specifically a grab bag activity, is supposed to be a time when children feel included and among friends. Each girl goes shopping to get something she feels their friend would like, but of

to have a grab bag exchange, and course, often ends up getshe was excited to give the gift ting something they themLearning to she ordered to her friend. Let her selves like. The potential talk it out. Try to just listen as she for this to cause pain, when deal with talks it through. Be careful not to unchecked, is immense. Let dismiss her feelings. me explain. disappointment Encourage perspective-takSarah opens up her gift helps children ing. Why does she think the and is pleasantly surprised. school canceled the grab bag? She is so excited! Rachel is develop Ask her to expand her thinkthrilled to see how happy ing. What can she do with the Sarah is with her choice. resilience and the gift she ordered? (Maybe she can Chana, having grown to put away the monogrammed gift expect something in the confidence that for a private birthday present.) price range her friend was What can she do about the cantreated to just moments they can survive celed activity? (Talk to the girls, ago, opens her gift and is ask the teacher if they can plan so let down that she says when things don’t something more in line with the something hurtful. Chana go their way. school rules…) is angry and disappointed. Praise her character. This is Malka, who bought the gift your chance to share your values for Chana, is in tears. and what makes you proud. The This is the kind of situation a school wants to avoid, and policies like requiring fact that she can see why the activity was nixed, and how permission for such activities help ensure all children it would make some people feel, is mature and difficult. We all have disappointing times in our lives. Let her feel comfortable in school, as well as in the community. This situation can be seen as a gift; a teachable mo- in on some of your disappointments, now and when they ment for a child that could strengthen her for life. Life is happen. Let her see that you are frustrated, but also let her see how you handle the situation and deal with the full of expectations and disappointments. Every child needs to experience disappointment and setbacks. Take the long view; allow your daughter to feel some learn how to deal with it. Learning to deal with disappointment helps children develop resilience and the con- discomfort now so she is better able to navigate when fidence that they can survive when things don’t go their things don’t go her way later. These life experiences, with way. As parents, we often try to minimize the let-down you right there to show support, will help her grow up and distract with candy, or promises of other fun, but stronger and ready to deal with what life brings her. allowing children to experience disappointment is the Have a happy Chanukah, growth we ultimately want for our kids. -Etti Validate your daughter’s feelings. She really wanted

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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Wishing Everyone A Happy Chanukah

Bruce A. Blakeman County Executive Nassau County

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Health & F tness

A Happy and Healthy Chanukah By Tehila Levine-Soskel, RDN, CDN

hanukah is a time when you are surrounded by family, friends, good times, and lots of food. There is usually an array of delicatesses at every Chanukah party you attend, from fluffy delicious donuts to crispy hot latkes. For some, they might find themselves overindulging and left feeling sick. Let’s discuss some tips to help you avoid overeating and enjoy your Chanukah and latkes, too.

Eat Your Meals Even with all the parties going on, it’s important to eat all your meals. Don’t skip your meals, as that may lead you to just overeat later on. In addition, making sure to eat all your meals will help ensure you pace yourselves instead of overindulging as soon as you get to sit and eat. More so, don’t “save” your calories for later on. If you are not going out until later, enjoying a light meal or snack before you go may be beneficial, so you won’t attend the meal ravenously. Next, slow down. Put your fork down

between bites. It’s important to realize that it takes our brains around 15-20 minutes to signal to our stomachs that we are full.

Enjoy the Party When you are trying to be mindful of your health, dining out can sometimes be a struggle. If you are attending a party, I

fill your plate with half non-starchy vegetables, a quarter protein, and a quarter carbohydrates. That could look like half your plate is roasted vegetables, a quarter is filled with baked salmon, and a quarter contains brown rice. If there is dessert or something else you want, take a piece and move on.

Make a plate for yourself and enjoy it while sitting.

recommend bringing a healthy dish. This gives you the option to add that option to your plate. Additionally, there is often an abundance of food displayed everywhere you look. Make a plate for yourself and enjoy it while sitting. Try to avoid standing and eating. Using the plate method,

As always, moderation is key to success.

Exercise I get it. It is a busy week with some people attending parties almost every night! I always recommend trying to get a

workout in in the morning if that’s a possibility for you. Whether it’s five minutes or forty-five minutes, it’s so important to move your body. Exercise has endless health benefits for you, from improving your mood to helping control health conditions. Regular exercise can also help give you more energy, which is something most of us need more of. If you are finding it difficult to fall asleep, exercise can help as well. According to the American Heart Association, it’s recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity. Try spending less time sitting and more time moving.

Hydrate Staying well hydrated is crucial for our health as it helps our body maintain a normal temperature and lubricate our joints, as well as with other processes. Individual specific fluid recommendations

Sleep Did you know that most adults need around 7-9 hours of sleep each night? Lack of sleep may lead to health conditions like high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, and high cholesterol. Our food choices can also be affected by lack of sleep, such as an increased appetite. The benefits of sleep are endless from a stronger immune system, better mood and energy, and better brain function, including better focus and memory. While it may seem difficult to get enough sleep, here are a few ways to help ensure you attain better sleep. Firstly,

move your phone away from your bed. If you usually charge it on your nightstand, move it to a further surface – even better, out of the room. Dim your screen light and try turning off your screens before you are planning to go to bed. Set timers on your phone to remind you to start winding down. Lastly, try turning on the “do not disturb” mode to prevent you from waking up from notifications at night.

Be Realistic Remember, the most important thing is to be present and enjoy Chanukah. If your meals don’t look the same as usual, that is okay. If you don’t get to make it to the gym as you usually would, that is also okay. It’s one week, and a few extra desserts won’t ruin your progress. With that, if you are looking to enjoy a healthier version of latkes, here is a recipe I came across that is baked and lower in fat. Fried foods in oil have higher amounts of calories and are high in saturated and trans-fat. You can also try baking or using the air fryer for your latke recipe as opposed to frying.

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Zucchini Latkes Ingredients -3 medium zucchini, shredded -2 small garlic cloves, grated -2 large eggs -½ cup whole wheat flour -½ cup green onion finely chopped -1¾ tsp salt -Ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation 1. In a large bowl, add shredded zucchini mixed with 1 tsp of salt and let sit for 10 minutes. 2. In another large bowl, whisk eggs, garlic, flour, herbs, ¾ tsp of salt and pepper. 3. Using your hands, squeeze liquid out of the zucchini in batches as well as you can and add the zucchini to the bowl with batter. Stir well to combine. 4. Bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Fill a large ice cream scoop with batter, place on a prepared baking sheet and flatten with the back of the scoop. Repeat with remaining batter. 5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 12-15 minutes.

Tehila Soskel is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a private practice in the Five Towns. She sees clients for weight loss, diabetes, and other various diseases. Appointments can be made for in-person or virtual sessions: 516-457-8558, tehilasoskelrd@gmail.com, tehilasoskelnutrition.com.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

vary from your age, physical activity level, and other factors. If you find yourself struggling to drink water, here are some tips that may help. First off, carrying a water bottle along with you can help as a reminder to drink. Adding lemon or other fruit to your water may help improve the taste. Try swapping water for sugary drinks as they can lead to health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, as well as tooth decay and cavities.

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jewish women of wisdom

The Exodus Song By Miriam Liebermann, MSW

This land is mine, G-d gave this land to me This brave and ancient land to me And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plains Then I see a land where children can run free. So take my hand and walk this land with me And walk this golden land with me Tho’ I am just a man, when you are by my side, With the help of G-d, I know I can be strong So strong, to make this land our home, If I must fight, I’ll fight to make this land our own. Until I die, this land is mine!

any of us, of a certain age and demographic, will recognize this moving song, words by Pat Boone, music by Ernest Gold. You may be singing the melody even now, as you read these words. The sheet music of this song has been sitting on my piano the last few weeks. The words are certainly relevant now. I believe it’s time to resurrect the song and melody, bringing it back to life. This sheet music belonged to my dear

mother, a”h. I recall her playing it on our piano, in my childhood home, with great feeling. It was written in 1960 as the theme for the movie, based on the book written by Leon Uris. We are all familiar with the story of the ship called Exodus. It left war-torn Europe, filled with young survivors. Its destination: the land of Israel. It was a complicated period in history. Not a simple story.

caz HaRav, begins with these words: “These days, the only thing that keeps me from drowning in despair is remembering the Exodus from Egypt.” As we experienced miracles then, please G-d, we should be worthy to witness miracles in our days, too. It has been advised by many to select a mantra, to help us keep our calm, help us maintain our equilibrium while we wait

As we experienced miracles then, please G-d, we should be worthy to witness miracles in our days, too.

The term “Exodus” generally refers to the miraculous redemption of our people from the land of Egypt. I’ve been contemplating that Exodus and hoping and praying for similar miracles, or even greater, right now, at this very moment. Sara Rigler, in an article written in 5768, after the terrible massacre at Mer-

for an end to battle, while we wait for the Final Redemption, may it come speedily in our day! Sefer Tehillim, written by Dovid Hamelech, has many beautiful phrases that may be appropriate for this task. I recently heard Rebbetzin Esther Baila Schwartz speak. She too recommends selecting a mantra to help us

through this chapter. And which phrase did she opt for her personal mantra? A phrase from Sefer Bereishis, referring to Sara Imeinu and her future pregnancy, “Hayipaleh m’Hashem davar?” Is there anything that is impossible for Hashem? Everything, absolutely everything is within the realm of possibility. That is Rebbetzin Schwartz’s mantra. A pretty good one! I am adapting it for myself also. Thank you Rebbetzin Schwartz! As I pen this essay, we’re approaching Rosh Chodesh Kislev; the new month is beginning. The new moon. We, Klal Yisrael, are comparable to the moon. We wax and wane. There are times when we are abundant and successful, on a national level, and on a personal level as well. There are times when we are oppressed and find ourselves under attack. No matter the circumstances, we know that we will recoup our strength with G-d’s help and ultimately persevere. Am Yisrael chai!

JWOW! is a community for midlife Jewish women which can be accessed at www.jewishwomanofwisdom.org for conversation, articles, Zoom events, and more.

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Dairy Delights by Rivky kleiman

French Toast Churros DaiRy / yielDs 12 Roll-ups

The most insanely delicious French toast you will ever have. When my grandson, who is really a picky eater, gave it two thumbs up, I knew we had a winner. Try it and see for yourself; every bite of these caramel-filled churro roll-ups will leave you wanting more.

IngredIents

* 12 slices white bread, crusts removed * 6-8 Tbsp caramel sauce, homemade or store-bought * ½ cup milk * 2 eggs * 1 Tbsp sugar * 1 tsp cinnamon * ½ tsp vanilla sugar * pinch kosher salt * pancake syrup, optional * Whipped cream, optional

Cinnamon Sugar Coating * ½ cup sugar * ¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed * 2 tsp cinnamon

Chocolate Sauce * 3½ oz. good quality chocolate, chopped * ½ cup heavy cream * 1 Tbsp butter, melted * 2 Tbsp light corn syrup

PreParatIon

preheat oven to 400°F. line a baking sheet with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. using a rolling pin (or a bottle), roll out bread slices as thinly as possible. place caramel sauce in microwave for 20 seconds to soften. spread each slice of bread with caramel sauce. Roll up, jelly roll-style, as tightly as possible. set aside. in a medium bowl, combine milk, eggs, sugar, cin-

namon, vanilla sugar, and salt. Whisk until combined. Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating: in a small bowl, stir together coating ingredients until combined. Dip each roll-up in the milk mixture to evenly coat; then dip and evenly coat in the cinnamon sugar coating. place on prepared baking sheet. bake 13-15 minutes.

Prepare the chocolate sauce: place chopped chocolate and butter into a bowl. in a small saucepan, heat heavy cream until bubbles start to form, but do not bring to a boil. pour heated heavy cream over chopped chocolate and butter. allow to sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate. add corn syrup; stir to combine. serve churros with chocolate sauce and/or pancake syrup and whipped cream.

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DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Malawah Calzones

DaiRy / yielDs 6 seRvings Classic vegetable-and-cheese calzone wrapped in flaky, crispy, heavenly goodness.

IngredIents Filling * 2 Tbsp butter or olive oil * 1 small red onion, finely diced * ½ orange pepper, finely diced * 4 oz white mushrooms, sliced or 1 (8-oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained * ½ cup frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry * 1 clove garlic, crushed * 1 scallion, sliced * 1 tsp sea salt, plus more, to taste, divided * ½ tsp black pepper, plus more, to taste, divided * ½ cup shredded cheese (muenster, mozzarella, or mexican blend) * ¼ cup cottage cheese * 2 Tbsp cream cheese or sour cream * ½ tsp garlic powder * 1 package malawah dough (6 rounds), defrosted * 3 Tbsp duck sauce, for brushing * sesame seeds, for garnish, optional

PreParatIon

Prepare the filling: Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. add onion; sauté for 3 minutes, until softened. add remaining vegetables. season with 1 teaspoon sea salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. add shredded cheese; stir until cheese begins to melt. add cottage cheese and cream cheese; stir until cheese mixture is completely smooth. season with additional salt and pepper to taste; add garlic powder. stir to combine. Remove pan from heat. Cool slightly. Prepare the calzones: preheat oven to 400°F.

line a baking sheet with parchment paper. place 1 malawah dough round on your workspace. Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling onto the center of the round. Fold dough in half; seal by pressing edges together. Reinforce the seal by pressing down around edges with a fork. Transfer calzone to prepared bak-

ing sheet. Repeat with remaining malawah rounds and filling. brush each calzone with duck sauce. garnish with sesame seeds, if desired. bake on center rack for 20-25 minutes, until golden. serve hot.

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Stuffed Shells

DaiRy / yielDs 30 sHells When I introduced this dish to my family, I knew it was a hit. The creamy texture and cheesy goodness in the shells coupled with the flavorful homemade marinara turned a normally chatty bunch into a silent group, focused on finishing their first helping to ensure their seconds, before it was all gone.

IngredIents

* 4 cups homemade marinara sauce or store-bought marinara * 1 (12-oz) jumbo pasta shells package * 1 (16-oz) cottage cheese container * 1 (8-oz) whipped cream cheese container with garlic or plain whipped cream cheese mixed with 2 cloves crushed garlic * ½ cup sour cream * 3½ oz grated parmesan cheese or white cheddar cheese * 1 egg * ½ tsp kosher salt * ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper * ½ cup chopped fresh chives

PreParatIon

preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. add pasta; cook for 3 minutes less than the recommended cooking time for al dente. Drain pasta; rinse under cold running water. in a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, grated cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and chives.

pour marinara sauce into the dish and spread to cover the entire bottom of the dish. spoon cheese mixture into shells. nestle shells into the marinara sauce. bake, covered, for 25 minutes. Tip: The stuffed shells are freezer friendly.

Recipes reprinted from simply gourmet and simply, by Rivky Kleiman, published by Artscroll/Mesorah.

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In The K tchen

Crispy and Oozy Fried Mozzarella By Naomi Nachman

I had so much fun developing it, eating it and serving it to my

lI NDa ST RauS

oozy mozzarella slice is so delicious. It’s perfect for Chanukah

fa mily (and they enjoyed eating it as well!). This crispy and or Sunday brunch — or any time. It’s crucial that you don’t

PHoT o by Me

forget the freezer step; it really helped stop the cheese from seeping out during the frying process as you fry the cheese while partially frozen. The best thing about this is that Natural and Kosher Cheeses makes a pre-sliced package of mozzarella cheese — making it so convenient.

Ingredients

◦ ½ cup all-purpose flour ◦ 3 eggs, beaten ◦ 1 log pre-sliced mozzarella (Natural and Kosher) ◦ 1 cup panko bread crumbs ◦ ½ cup parmesan cheese ◦ 1 tablespoon dried dill ◦ ½ cup canola oil

Preparation

1. Place the flour, eggs, and panko bread crumbs mixed with parmesan and dill

in three separate shallow bowls.

2. Dip a slice of the cheese, first in the flour, then in the eggs (letting any excess drip off), then the panko-cheese mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.

3. Set aside each slice of crumbed cheese on a tray lined with parchment paper and continue to batter up the rest of the cheese.

4.. Place the cheese slices in the freezer for up to 2 hours. Don’t skip this step. It stops the cheese from oozing out when you fry it.

5. Remove from freezer, then repeat again the dipping process of the already crumbed slices, but just dip them in the egg and panko/cheese coating. This gives the cheese a super crunchy coating.

6. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the cheese slices until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

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

Three Tips for Attracting Customers

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.

n a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas spoke with guest Business Strategy and Marketing Consultant Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg. Rabbi Ginzberg drew from his many years of experience in helping companies grow to share the top three ways that you can attract and retain new customers for your business. * * *

Mindful Marketing Mindful marketing means establishing yourself as an authority to build

credibility with your target. Let’s say, for example, that I’m trying to market my business. Imagine I just cold called everyone in my target market and said, “Hello, my name is Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg. If you Google me, you’ll see that I’ve accomplished the following things and spoken at the following places.” This is all true, but at the end of the day, they’re still going to see me as just another cold call, and most people are going to hang up on me. And even if they don’t hang up, it’s going to be a difficult, uphill sell from there, because I’ve set myself beneath them. There’s a very famous book called Influence, by Dr. Robert Cialdini, in which he explains the benefits of marketing with authority. He frames it with the following example. When you walk into a doctor’s office, and he’s sitting behind a desk in a white coat with 20 diplomas behind him, you’ll immediately think to yourself, “Oh, this guy knows what he’s doing.” Just the way you set yourself up lends a lot of credibility. A customer has to be able to trust the person that they’re doing business with. When a person takes the time to stop and position themselves properly, they can potentially move from constantly making cold calls to having new customers start calling them directly. Look at any successful business and you’ll see, instead of just cold calling and trying to forcefully push their way into success, they put a lot of thought into

how to properly position their business to help sales go that much more smoothly.

3rd Party Validation Having another source promote your brand can have a very powerful impact on potential customers. People are naturally nervous when trying out a new business. For example, if they’re buying something from your website, they’re going to want to be sure that your business is legit before they start typing in their credit card information. So, even doing something as simple as paying the Better Business Bureau to get their seal of approval on your business can make a big difference in building a customer’s confidence in your brand. That little badge on your website helps customers put their trust in you. Another great form of 3rd party validation is media representation. If you or your business is mentioned in a piece media, such as an article from a reputable paper, that will validate your business to anyone who comes across that piece. This is especially true for earned media, but even an interview or article that you paid for can make a difference. This not only helps you reach whoever comes across that piece of media in its initial release, but it will also potentially show up whenever someone is Googling you, to further bolster your credibility.

Loyalty Programs Once you have a person’s business,

how can you build on that to foster loyalty and get the most out of that relationship? This is where loyalty programs can be a big help. When a bagel shop tells customers, “Hey, if you buy 10 bagels with us, you will get your next one for free,” they’re building on something called a “loyalty loop.” The shop is essentially hoping that if the customer keeps coming in to get their card stamped for a free bagel, they will build more loyalty over the course of these repeated transactions. But loyalty programs can benefit businesses in even more ways that most customers don’t even realize. A fantastic example of this is El Al. When you fly El Al enough times, they will grant you certain benefits as a repeat passenger. One benefit is that they will let you use their airport lounge, even when you’re flying on a completely different airline. Now, not only does this build loyalty to their brand, but it also supplies El Al with valuable data. Since you are always using their lounge, no matter who you fly with, they will get to scan your boarding pass to better understand how often you fly, where you fly to, and which airlines you use. These are major pieces of information that can help them going forward. So, loyalty programs can help you retain customers by both building loyalty and by supplying you with data that you can use to improve your service.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

What I see all over the place is people who care about looking good while doing evil. - Elon Musk to Andrew Ross Sorkin at a New York Times/DealBook summit talking about woke corporations

This immoral garbage pseudo-child is a perfect distillation of the generation of morons created by the toxic combination legacy media, social media, and wokeism. - Ben Shapiro, in response to self-proclaimed climate activist Greta Thunberg leading chants of “crush Zionism”

Greta Thunberg is Hitler Youth. - Author David Steinberg

Is that nuclear? Now look, my Marine carries that, but it has the code to blow up the world. - Pres. Joe Biden to a random factory worker while touring a factory in Colorado

I just listen to them. You can just tell. Body language matters, the harder they have to try to sell, the worse the deal.… When someone walks in Shark Tank, you can tell if they are trying too hard. I have this rule: the longer the back story, the worse the deal. The minute you start telling me how hard it was for you – it’s hard for every … entrepreneur, tell me about your business, tell me why you are going to be successful. - Mark Cuban on a recent podcast disclosing that this will be his last season on Shark Tank and explaining how he goes about evaluating a business

The cabinet set an objective for us – in the language of the street, that is the elimination of Hamas. And we are intent on doing so – this is our Munich. Anywhere: in Gaza, in Judea and Samaria, in Turkey and in Qatar. Anywhere. It will take a few years, but we will be there to do it. - Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar

The Red Cross has done a good job being the Uber service for the released hostages. - Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin is being held hostage in Gaza, calling out the Red Cross for not making any efforts to help the hostages in Gaza

I think you and all of your viewers saw our hostages being paraded through the streets as they were released to Israel over those seven nights and hundreds of Gazans holding their phones, videoing them. So clearly, there’s enough power to power their phones when they’re parading our hostages throughout Gaza. - IDF spokesman Doron Spielman when a Sky News host claimed that Gazans don’t have power to charge their phones and are therefore not getting Israel’s evacuation warnings

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I’ve had a lot of offers to do it, and I’ve tried to do as much as I can because I know what it means. - Actor Michael Rapaport talking to Ynet News about putting tefillin on recently and how what’s happening now is making him feel so much more Jewish

I feel like G-d gave me a mission: to make people happy with this song. It’s a happy song. I think that Israel, in its DNA, is a happy nation. We like to say “Am Yisrael Chai.” We like to say, “There will be good days to come.” - Yagel Oshri, whose song has become the unofficial anthem for the emotional reunions between soldiers and their loved ones

Organizations, governments, and individuals who are committed to a better future for women and girls have a responsibility to condemn all violence against women. It is outrageous that some who claim to stand for justice are closing their eyes and their hearts to the victims of Hamas.

It’s extremely important that the world hears those stories. - Arnold Schwarzenegger at an event with families of hostages

- Hillary Clinton

You are now entering as young recruits. And even though you may be 40 years old and have five children, you have come here to enlist with a yarmulke on your head; that says everything. - Prime Minister Netanyahu while meeting with chareidi men who joined the IDF since the war started

I have never dealt with anything like this before. I always want to be there for the Jewish people and for Israel. - Ibid.

I didn’t feel comfortable. I thought it was kind of narcissistic, so I didn’t. - Damion Green, who ran for Rainier City, Washington City Council explaining to a TV station why he didn’t vote in his own election on November 7. (He ended up losing the election by one vote.)

With G-d’s help, together we will win. - Ibid.

Susan Sarandon is a classic example of the horseshoe theory, where woke progressives try and outwoke each other to the point that they are, in fact just actually exposing themselves to be racist bigots. Like the tiki torch lunatics – they are all poison, presented differently. - Meghan McCain, reacting to Jew-hater Susan Sarandon essentially saying that Jews in America deserve to be harassed

No, I will not! On the contrary — are you filming this? I want you guys to get this— I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on. These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes, and I hope you guys post that, because that’s my position. - Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) when Code Pink Co-founder Medea Benjamin approached him and asked if he will call for a ceasefire

I blame Hamas for [civilian deaths]. Hamas should stop hiding behind civilians, putting civilians in the way. Hamas knew that this was going to lead to this. So Hamas must stop building their military installations underneath hospitals, underneath civilian outposts. – Ibid, when asked about civilians in Gaza getting killed

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After World War II, we destroyed Tokyo and Berlin. We didn’t think twice about destroying the capital cities of our enemy. If you would have told us after 9/11 that we needed to enter a ceasefire with al-Queda, we would laughed you out of the room or done a lot worse. So, October 7th was thirty 9/11s for Israel. – Sen. Lindsey Graham on Fox News, explaining why Israel can’t stop the war until Hamas is destroyed

It’s those kids who are spewing anti-Semitic hate that have no idea if they stepped foot in an Islamic country. These people who want us to call them “they/them” or whatever they want us to call them, which I have respectfully really made a point of doing – like be whoever you want to be. It’s those people that will be the first people beheaded, and their heads played with as a soccer ball, like a soccer ball on the field.

The truth will set me free.

- Actress Julianna Margulies

- Former Republican Rep. George Santos, after the House voted to expel him

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Political Crossfire

The Lessons from My 40-Year Conversation with Kissinger By David Ignatius

enry A. Kissinger’s life ranged across every octave. He was arguably the greatest statesman of his age, but he could be a manipulator, too. He was a global leader in his own right, but he was sometimes a courtier to the wealthy and powerful. He had rare intellectual gifts, but he could be surprisingly insecure. The one constant with Kissinger, who died on Wednesday at 100, was that he was always interesting. He was a charmer and a flatterer to people he liked or thought could do him some good (or harm). You would think someone so famous wouldn’t care what journalists wrote about him, but he did, almost obsessively. He was very funny in conversation, with a dry and sometimes wickedly mean sense of humor. Journalists often see more of our subjects than we let on. We glimpse the points of personal vanity, the insecurities, the things that people want to hide even as they advertise their opinions. That was my experience with Kissinger, with whom I talked many dozens of times, concluding with a startling conversation about artificial intelligence. My first interview with the former secretary of state was nearly 40 years ago, for a long article in the Wall Street Journal pegged to the 10th anniversary of the United States’ defeat in Vietnam. He was peeved at the topic but entirely unrepentant about his role in a conflict for which his critics had branded him a “war criminal.” A big lesson of the war for him, Kissinger said, was that the United States should have bombed Hanoi and Haiphong earlier. “We are to be blamed for not doing in 1969 what we did in 1972,” he argued. “You do not have the choice to lose with moderation. If you use power, you must prevail.” Kissinger’s chroniclers discovered long

ago that there is a kind of Rosetta Stone to decode his thinking in his 1954 Harvard doctoral dissertation. It was published three years later with the title “A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace, 1812-1822.” He planned it as the first volume in a trilogy that would extend to the breakdown of the European order in World War I, but he abandoned the larger project as he became an apprentice to the foreign policy elite. It was an odd dissertation, with no primary research, few footnotes and a style that was closer to extended historical essay than academic paper. It’s an astonishing piece of writing and thinking that explains many of Kissinger’s later policies. Kissinger’s subject was the diplomacy that surrounded the 1815 Congress of Vienna that ended the Napoleonic Wars and brought nearly a century of relative peace to Europe. It was the story, in Kissinger’s telling, of how the status quo powers of the time (Britain and Austria-Hungary) found a way to contain the rising powers –

post-revolutionary France and Germany. The hero of the book was the Austrian foreign minister, Count Klemens von Metternich. Though Kissinger denied it later, Metternich seems a model for what the young graduate student became. Kissinger’s descriptions of Metternich are acute: “His genius was instrumental, not creative; he excelled at manipulation, not construction.… He preferred the subtle maneuver to the frontal attack.” Metternich’s triumph was that he created an architecture for stability that endured for decades. That was Kissinger’s aim throughout his diplomatic career. His primary challenge was to check an expansive, post-revolutionary Soviet Union. He did that through a lattice of arms-control negotiations and personal diplomacy that came to be known as “détente.” To help check the Soviets, he orchestrated the famous opening to China that culminated in President Richard M. Nixon’s 1972 visit to Beijing. Kissinger’s diplomacy, like Metter-

nich’s, was avowedly amoral. Stability was a goal in itself. Realism about national interest was the policymaker’s only reliable guide; idealism created more trouble than it solved. He feared, for instance, that overemphasis on peace could actually benefit warmakers, writing in the book’s second paragraph: “Whenever peace – conceived as the avoidance of war – has been the primary objective … the international system has been at the mercy of the most ruthless member.” Kissinger explained his passion for stability to a Harvard colleague by invoking Goethe: “If I had to choose between justice and disorder, on the one hand, and injustice and order, on the other, I would always choose the latter,” according to a biography of Kissinger by Walter Isaacson. That’s the kind of lacerating realpolitik that made Kissinger a target for so many analysts. Kissinger had a lifelong preoccupation with the Middle East. And it’s useful now, when war between Israel and Hamas is ravaging the region, to understand Kissinger’s perspective. As Martin Indyk explains in his book “Master of the Game,” Kissinger thought that “peace” might be a chimera. But a stable balance of power in the region that avoided open conflict was achievable – and might be as good as it gets. My last interview with Kissinger was a year ago. He wanted to speak about his new passion, which was the control of artificial intelligence, a technology that he thought was supremely dangerous. He sat slumped in a chair, his body nearly limp as he approached 100. But his nimble mind was wrestling as it always had with hidden risks and dangers and thinking about how to meet them. Kissinger was hungry to the last – for recognition and influence, certainly, but also for truth. (c) 2023, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

By David Ignatius

hink of the recent summit meeting between the Chinese and American presidents as two boxers clinching during a long bout. The Chinese leader wasn’t throwing any punches, happily, but he might be saving his strength for later rounds. China’s President Xi Jinping has used the clinch metaphor to characterize the state of Sino-American relations, according to intelligence reports described by U.S. officials. And it’s probably an apt summary of where the two superpowers stand now – in a tactical pause during what might be protracted competition. The meeting between Xi and President Biden in San Francisco last month produced some modest gains. Most important, the two leaders agreed on new military-to-military contact that could prevent unplanned incidents at sea or in the sky from becoming fatal combat. This interaction would include discussions between defense secretaries, military chiefs and operational commanders. Xi got to deliver a pitch for investment in China to an audience of top U.S. business leaders. Biden won a Chinese promise to curb production of precursors for the drug fentanyl. Both sides stopped trading rhetorical blows and instead spoke about greater cooperation in areas of mutual interest. There was a little trash talk, too, as the two presidents huddled. Biden told Xi that he shouldn’t pay too much attention to public-opinion polls reporting his sagging popularity, according to one knowledgeable U.S. official, teasing the Chinese leader, “You’ll be meeting with me in five years.” Biden is also said to have warned China against interfering in next year’s presidential election. Biden also cautioned Xi against escalating his tactics in the South China Sea, according to the knowledgeable official. A Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a Philippine supply boat last month, and Biden stressed that the United States would keep its security commitments to

the Philippines, the official said. Xi’s demeanor was calm and confident throughout the summit, the U.S. official said. Determined that the meeting go smoothly, Chinese officials bused in hundreds of flag-waving pro-China

tion Army Rocket Force because of what the U.S. official said were allegations of corruption in military procurement. For Xi, the clinch metaphor describes a modest tactical change in approach. China’s economy is slowing,

Rather than “hide and bide,” the Chinese over the past decade have embraced what became known as “Wolf Warrior diplomacy” as they pressed their interests abroad.

demonstrators to greet the visiting leader as he arrived at his hotel, according to the official. The Chinese president has demonstrated his total control of Chinese politics this year. He fired Qin Gang as foreign minister. Xi also dismissed Li Shangfu as defense minister and two senior generals in the People’s Libera-

and he needs some time to regain his balance and momentum. The United States, meanwhile, has turned out to be a stronger and more resilient competitor than Xi expected. As Xi conceded in his speech to U.S. business leaders in San Francisco, “the United States is revitalizing its economy.” So, rather than punching itself out

prematurely, China appears to be coasting for a few rounds to try to recover its strength. It wants the United States to join the pause, too. Here’s how Xi made the pitch in his speech to the business leaders: “If one sees the other side as a primary competitor … and a pacing threat, it will only lead to misinformed policymaking, misguided actions and unwanted results.” China experts see Xi’s stance as the latest phase in Beijing’s carefully calibrated public profile. For the decades of rapid modernization under Deng Xiaoping, China’s approach was summed up in his famous phrase, “Hide your strength, bide your time.” That caution encouraged an American transfer of trade and technology that helped make China an economic superpower. When Xi became China’s leader in 2012, he took a more aggressive approach – proclaiming China’s ambition to become a global leader. This new policy emulated “Wolf Warrior,” the title of a Chinese movie celebrating the country’s ability to project military power in Africa and other regions. Rather than “hide and bide,” the Chinese over the past decade have embraced what became known as “Wolf Warrior diplomacy” as they pressed their interests abroad. Now, after what many analysts saw as an overly aggressive drive for power that alienated many countries in Europe and Asia, Xi might have decided on a tactical pause. A clinch, as the U.S. official says the president has termed it in internal guidance for party members, is where he holds his American opponent close. Xi proclaimed at the San Francisco summit that “Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed.” Let’s hope so. For now, the value of the San Francisco summit was to keep the long-running U.S.-Chinese competition inside the ring – with better consultation about the rules. (c) 2023, Washington Post Writers Group

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Biden and Xi, Clinching in the Ring

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Jewish History

Is the U.S. Suddenly Allergic to the Word “Palestinian”? by Rafael Medoff

ecretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew were quick to condemn Thursday’s slaughter of Jewish civilians in Jerusalem. But just who was it that committed the massacre? You wouldn’t know the answer from the statements issued by these senior American officials. “My heart goes out to the victims of this attack,” Blinken said. “We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence,” Lew tweeted. Who carried out the attack? Who perpetrated that brutal violence? To judge from the words of the secretary of state and the ambassador, they could have been disgruntled postal workers, drivers inflamed by road rage, or any other type of non-political lunatics. There was no acknowledgment that the killers were Palestinian Arabs who were members of Hamas. Just five months ago, Lew’s predecessor, Thomas Nides, did almost exactly the same thing. His response to the slaughter of four Israelis in a restaurant near Eli was to tweet about “the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank,” without identifying the perpetrators. When critics—including President Isaac Herzog—expressed outrage that Ambassador Nides was grouping the terrorist attack together with an Israeli counter-terror raid in Jenin, Nides issued a second tweet specifically condemning the murder of the Israelis—but he again refused to acknowledge that the killers were Palestinian Arabs. The official State Department statement about that attack likewise failed to identify the murderers. Senior U.S. government officials are usually extremely careful in their choice of language. They know that every word they speak or tweet is being scrutinized for policy implications. It’s hard to believe that the repeated omission of the

words “Palestinians” and “Hamas” in these contexts is accidental—especially considering the verbal shenanigans in which other political leaders have engaged concerning Jewish victims in recent history. In late October 1943, the foreign ministers of the Soviet Union and Great Britain, and the U.S. secretary of state, met in Moscow. It had been nearly year since the Allies had publicly confirmed that systematic annihilation of the Jews was underway. Yet in their final statement threatening postwar punishment for Nazi war crimes, they referred to the victims as “French, Dutch, Belgian or Norwegian hostages … Cretan peasants … [and] the people of Poland.” There was no mention of the Jews. In February 1944, officials of the U.S. War Refugee Board presented President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a draft statement that they wanted him to issue, in which he would warn that the Germans were trying “to exterminate all the Jews

within their grasp” and acknowledging that “more than two million men, women and children already have been put to death solely because they were Jews.” After two weeks of stalling, presidential aides informed the Board that FDR “wanted the statement rewritten so as to be aimed less directly at the atrocities against the Jews.” The final version that the president and his staff produced deleted the reference to Jews being murdered “solely because they were Jews”; removed three of the statement’s six references to Jews; and added three opening paragraphs naming various other nationalities who had suffered during the war. Similarly, Roosevelt’s 1944 statement commemorating the anniversary of the Jewish revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto did not mention Jews. In the same spirit, the heads of FDR’s Office of War Information instructed their staff that any article they intended to write about the Nazi mass-murders would be “confused and misleading if it appears to be simply

affecting the Jewish people.” Words spoken by political leaders have political implications. President Roosevelt and his administration were concerned that too much emphasis on the persecution of the Jews would increase pressure for action to help them, such as admitting more Jewish refugees to the United States—something the president strongly opposed. Arthur Szyk, the famous artist and Jewish activist, remarked bitterly that Allied officials seemed to be treating the persecution of the Jews “as a … subject– you cannot discuss it in polite society.” At the very moment that Europe’s Jews most needed someone to speak up on their behalf, the theme of Roosevelt’s policy toward the Jews was to downplay and minimize their plight. Today, when Jews most need their American friends to speak loudly and clearly about Palestinian Arab terrorism, senior U.S. officials suddenly seem to be allergic to the words “Palestinian” and “Hamas.” Are political motives at work in the Blinken and Lew statements? Are they concerned acknowledging that Palestinian Arab terrorists from Hamas perpetrated the Jerusalem slaughter might undermine the Biden administration’s pressure on Israel to make more concessions to Hamas and the Palestinian Authority? Statements by Biden administration officials in the days ahead will merit careful scrutiny for the answers to those questions.

Dr. Medoff is founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and author of more than 20 books about Jewish history and the Holocaust. His latest is America and the Holocaust: A Documentary History, published by the Jewish Publication Society & University of Nebraska Press.

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Forgotten Her es

DECEMBER 7, 2023 | The Jewish Home

Some of My Favorite Forgotten Heroes By Avi Heiligman

istory and writing about those who served bravely while in battle or played important roles behind the lines has been a passion for this writer for many years. This passion includes researching and seeking out information for this column. Over the years, a few heroes and stories have stood out for reasons including extraordinary heroism or unique circumstances. This is the 600th “Forgotten Heroes” article in TJH, and I would like to share some of my favorite heroes that we have covered in the past. A good way to search for heroes is to look for highly decorated servicemen and women. The record for most medals for a Jewish servicemember is 30 and is held by Brooklyn native Abraham Todras. Researching his record proved difficult due to the fact that his last name is spelled in at least three different ways in documents. Technical Sergeant Abraham Todras left college at the age of 19 in 1941 to join the army and served as a bombardier on a plane. He was stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and, together with his crew, flew to Leyte, which had just been bombed. Contemporary accounts have Todras being shot down during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He parachuted behind enemy lines on the island of Bougainville where he crawled through Japanese lines. He was rescued by friendly forces and soon was back in the air. Todras was shot down again during the Battle of Midway, and together with the rest of his aircrew, they were rescued by friendly ships. Todras then fought in the Aleutian Islands and help sink a Japanese destroyer. He was then sent to England and parachuted into France prior to D-Day to photograph enemy positions. On D-Day, he flew on a bombing mission but was shot down and taken prisoner. Together with

Hyman Rickover, left, with Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball, inspecting a model of an atomic submarine

other prisoners, he overwhelmed the German guards and escaped. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters (the equivalent of three such awards), the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with nineteen Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Croix de Guerre, and a Presidential Unit Citation. Hyman (Chaim) Rickover was born under the rule of Russian Czar Nicholas II and fled to the United States to escape the anti-Semitic pogroms. His family settled in Chicago, and he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. He first served on a battleship, but he longed to be assigned to smaller ships like submarines. Eventually, Rickover was posted to submarines, starting with the S-9. There, he felt he could bring the war closer to the enemy than any other ship, with enormous potential. The U.S. submarine service had very little war experience and had to learn from the powers that used them extensively during World War I. In 1933, Rickover translated the Das Unterseeboot (The Submarine), a book written by a World War I German admiral. This laid down the foundation for American training in their own submarines. The Manhattan Project brought nuclear power to the world, and Rickover was assigned to the Clinton Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, that had started work on a nuclear electric generating plant. Rickover realized what implications a nuclear navy would have for the U.S., which was entering the Cold War against Russia. However, his enthusiasm was not shared by all of the navy’s top brass, and he was reassigned after a short stint in Oak Ridge. Before being transferred, he learned the details of nuclear power and took this knowledge with him as he

lobbied for a nuclear navy. Rickover was not a pushover, and after being reassigned, he lobbied Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Chester Nimitz, who was a World War II hero and himself was a submariner. In 1948, with Nimitz’s blessing, Rickover became the head of the newly created Nuclear Power Division within the Bureau of Ships. He soon began working The USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine with the scientists at Oak Ridge to determine the best way to fit a pressurized water reactor in ing a curve when his unit suddenly came a submarine. For the next five years, the across a German armored car that was scientists, with Rickover leading them, three yards away. German fire rang out overcame many obstacles in creating the of their vehicle but missed the Jewish USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear officer. Sheff quickly got out of his Jeep ship. In August 1958, the Nautilus made and climbed on top of the enemy vehicle. history when she sailed under the ice He unloaded his .45 caliber pistol into an range of the North Pole. The second nu- open port, killing the crew before jumpclear submarine, USS Seawolf, used a liq- ing down from the car. However, he nouid sodium reactor, as the scientists were ticed movement in the car and realized looking for methods to improve on the the German driver was still alive. Once original design and capabilities of a nu- again, Sheff jumped on the car and killed clear sub. Rickover, known as the Father the driver. General Clark personally of the Nuclear Navy, had set in motion for awarded Sheff the Distinguished Service other ships, in particular aircraft carri- Cross. ers, to be fitted with nuclear reactors. Sheff was also awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for other actions. Lieutenant Colonel Bertram Sheff These are just of the Forgotten Heroes from Salem, Oregon, received the Distin- that we have covered in the past. In our guished Service Cross. He was a regimen- next article, we will discuss some the Fortal S-2 officer with the 361st Regimental gotten Heroes from Israel including from Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, the current war. nicknamed the “Red Bull” Division. The division was part of Lieutenant General Mark Clark’s Fifth Army, and in mid- Avi Heiligman is a weekly contribu1944, they were a part of a push into the tor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes heart of Italy. your comments and suggestions for fuSheff was on a reconnaissance mis- ture columns and can be reached at sion on June 9, 1944. His Jeep was round- aviheiligman@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 7, 2023

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HOUSES FOR SALE 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. 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 10 11:30-1:00PM 223 HICKOX AVENUE Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

WOODMERE Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas. Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. 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

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

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 CEDARHURSTWOODMERE LAWRENCE CEDARHURST

Quality New Construction!!! Stucco Col. with 2 Story Entry 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which

Spacious Wide Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious and

Serene Cul-de-Sac in Village Lawrence Main Flr Master Bdrm includes Heat, Anderson Windows with LotsTree of Natural New To Radiant Mkt. Nestled on a Most Desirable, Lined Street, this Colonial offersof a Blend of,Comfort and Classic OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 Suite with Many Closets and Bthrm, Addional Main Flr highland Bdrm & Bath, Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End living Elegance. It features a Formal Dining Room, a luxurious room with fireplace, leading a 2beautiful library, Totally renovated New. High Ceilings, Chefs Center Hall Huge Colonial with Main Level 3to BRs 3Bths Baths Lg Flr Fdnr Den, EIK, Mudrm, +Den 4 Bdrms onFinished Second Flr, Appliances, DbleColonial. Ovens , 6Like Burner Cooktop with Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms. Woodmere location! the eatPrime in kitchen is just stepsBdrm away from cozy den. TheBasment secondBeautiful floorAround offers a generously sized primary suite Property Beautiful Wrap Property, $1.690M 2 Dishwashers, and more. Master Suite withaLuxurious Bath $1.659M $999K and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr with a spacious walk in closet. The finished basement ads extra living space to enjoy with company. The perfect Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge combination of charm and elegance, In a most desirable location. $1.39M

WOODSBURGH

CEDARHURST WOODMERE CEDARHURST CEDARHURST LAWRENCE RENTAL

Playrm 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful Manicured Garden.

CO-OPS/CONDOS WOODMERE CO-OP WOODMERE WOODMERE LAWRENCE WOODMERE 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 Quality New Construction!!! waterviews, and magnificent sunsets . Flr banquet fdnr , COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! Drbdrm office Suite, Located Stucco with 2main Story Entry 9on ft9Desirable Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which breakfast rm, level den /fpl ,Room master suite with his New ToCol. Mkt. Charming Colonial on Beautiful Tree New! Beautiful Splanch Cul De Sac. in the Heart of Heat, Cedarhurst, waiting room, Reception and her closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms ,Finished new bths, newly renovated includes Radiant Anderson Windows with Lots of Natural 4 Brms 3 Bths, Spacious Den, Basement. lined Street, Features FLR FDR, EIK, Den and Library Area and Exam Rooms, all on Main Floor. Close to Public OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223 Hickox Avenue finished basement with laundry rm, playrm, lots of storage, Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs Eik with High End Transportation $8,000 Totally renovated Colonial. New. High Ceilings, Chefs Large Primary Finished Basement Prime many special details $1.9M+ Appliances, DbleSuite, Ovensthruout , 6Like Burner Cooktop within Pot Filler,EIK, 5 $6,000 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

WOODSBURGH

156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH Beachfront Condo with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent Sunrise & Sunset Spacious Wide Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious $589K Spacious Split Level Home InInPrestigious Academy 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm and Spacious Split Level Home Prestigious Academy Serene Cul-de-Sac in Village of Lawrence , MainGranite Flr Master Bdrm with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Area. Lg EIK, w/2 sinks,Eat FLR/FDR, Attic, Lower lvl Den Area. Lg EIK, w/2 Attic, Lower lvl Den OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 highland Suite with Many Closets andFLR/FDR, Bthrm, Addional Main Flr Bdrm & Bath, Counter tops and S.S.sinks, Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large Fin Bsmt, Playroom &&Main 22Mudrm, add’l rooms, Oversized Prop. Center Hall Colonial Level Den 3 BRs Baths Lg Flr Fdnr Huge EIK, +rooms, 4 Bdrms 23Bths onFinished Second Fin Bsmt, Playroom add’l Oversized Prop.Flr, Bdrm/BR with LotsDen, ofwith Windows Basment Beautiful Property $1.1M REDUCED $299K Beautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M $1.1M $999K

CO-OPS/CONDOS

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Classifieds

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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

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 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 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

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 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 • $179K 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

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 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 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 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 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 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

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Classifieds

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HELP WANTED

JOIN OUR TEAM!

A YESHIVA IN QUEENS

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

ABA company located in the 5 Towns looking to fill multiple full-time administrative positions Knowledge of Central Reach a plus,

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

but will train the right candidate

year. Nice and timely pay. Please

Great work environment

email resume to mshelt613@gmail.

Call 516-670-5374 or

com or call/text 718-971-9799.

Email your resume to: Careers@supportivecareaba.com

HEBREW ACADEMY OF LONG BEACH seeks a Full Time Middle School math teacher. Please go to the link Career

IMMEDIATE OPENING

Opportunities at halb.org

ELA teaching position for Gr. 5. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far

BOOKKEEPER

Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary,

Excellent growth potential, Frum

warm supportive environment. Teachersearch11@gmail.com

environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

HELP WANTED 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

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!

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Your

Money

TikTok Tax Tip By Allan Rolnick, CPA

arely five years ago, in September 2018, a Chinese company named ByteDance rolled out a video-sharing social media app called TikTok. The company’s Chinese origin has caused headaches around the globe, with concerns that they might pass sensitive user data to the Chinese government. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Montana have banned the app entirely, while a dozen other countries, including the U.S., have banned it from government devices. Despite those concerns, the app has over one billion monthly users. But hey, let’s throw security out the window—anyone selling anything wants to capture those two billion eyeballs. Naturally, that includes tax pros. Many of them have uploaded videos discussing a little-known strategy called the “Augusta Rule.” It’s also a popular topic on Facebook and Instagram. (It might be popular on Twitter, too, but who would know?) And that raises the question, can you really trust your tax planning to a social media video sandwiched between jumping monkeys and lip-syncing teenagers? The Augusta Rule takes advantage of code section 280A(g), which says you can rent your home for up to 14 days per

year without owing tax on that income. It got that name because homeowners in Augusta, Georgia, can make some nice tax-free coin renting their homes for the Masters golf tournament every April. But you can use it anywhere there’s demand for your house. If there’s a golf tournament, Super Bowl, or Olympics

one of those strategies with no explicit IRS support. However, two recent Tax Court decisions affirm that it’s kosher, so long as you dot your i’s and cross your t’s. In August, the Tax Court issued an opinion in a case involving three partners operating a chain of Planet Fitness locations. They used the rule to deduct

Now, does the tax code really say you can rent your house to your own business?

rolling into town, knock yourself out! And there’s a special angle that thrills the TikTok crowd. You don’t have to rent your house to a bunch of out-of-towners who trash your couch and spill red wine on your carpets. You can rent it to your own business—for bona fide business functions, of course—to turn taxable business income into tax-free rent. Now, does the tax code really say you can rent your house to your own business? Well, it doesn’t say you can’t. So, for years, the Augusta Rule has been

an average of 300,2$ per day for each of their three homes over a three-year period. The frontline auditor who examined their returns determined that $500 was more reasonable and allowed it where the taxpayers had properly documented the meetings. The court upheld the auditor’s decision. Many “glass-half-empty” observers see the decision as an IRS victory because the taxpayers lost most of their Augusta deductions. But the “glass-half-full” crowd gets it right. The taxpayers didn’t get the rule wrong. They

just didn’t follow it right. Last month, the court issued a second opinion in a similar case involving an engineer and his two sons, who deducted up to 500,2$ per day to rent their homes to their marketing business. The planner who recommended it warned they should support their rental rates with independent comps within a 100mile radius and urged them to engage an independent appraiser to value them every three years. But the taxpayers skipped that step and lost all of their Augusta Rule deductions. Again, the problem wasn’t a bogus strategy; it was bogus execution. So, social media fans, what have we learned today? Tax deductions are great, even if you learn about them on social media. No boring law books required! Just make sure you can document why you’re entitled to the deduction and why you’re entitled to the amount. We’re here to help!

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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