Five Towns Jewish Home 1.11.24

January 11, 2024

Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn

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Community 36 A Journey of Support

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Dear Readers,

W

e are soon approaching 100 days since the October 7th massacre. One hundred days is a sobering milestone, a heartbreaking reminder that at least 136 of our brothers and sisters are still being held by terrorists miles away from their homes and families.

Rachel Goldberg has been a vocal advocate for her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken by Hamas militants on October 7 at the Supernova music festival. Rachel has been to the UN, advocating for her son’s release. She has implored world leaders – such as Elon Musk and the pope – for their help and has been featured on scores of talk shows, news programs, and rallies, reminding the world that there are innocent people being held against their will by terrorists who salivate for their demise.

Hersh is 23 years old, but he is still his mother’s baby. Rachel has the steely determination of a mother bear whose baby cub is being attacked; she will stop at nothing to implore the world to advocate for his release. Rachel has become one of the most prominent faces of those representing the hostages. When you see her and hear her, you can feel a mother’s love; you can sense the urgency and the pain that she faces every day.

And you can see how each day without Hersh by her side is another stab of agony for this grieving mother.

Ever since Hersh was kidnapped, Rachel has been physically marking the days. She wears a piece of tape on her shirt, each day changing the tape to reflect the amount of days since Hersh’s capture. When asked why Rachel doesn’t wear a photo of her son on her clothing instead of the tape, she explains that a photo of her smiling child is “static,” but the number of days he has

been held captive, sadly, increases each day.

Although it’s hard for us to feel the same terror and horror we felt on October 7 as we do today, there are moments when we can take the time to contemplate the terror that our brothers and sisters are still feeling under the watch of murderers, holed up in dark tunnels, being deprived of basic human rights. Do they have blankets to keep them warm? Enough food to provide them sustenance? Are they alone with just their thoughts? Are they able to bathe – even once a week? When you hear reports from other hostages who have been released, you can try to catch a glimpse of the horror they are going through.

Rachel is asking the world to join her in advocating for Hersh’s and the other 135 hostages’ release by placing a piece of tape with the number “100” on it on our clothes on January 14. By doing so, she says, we are reminding the world that it has been far too long since these innocent people were stolen by Hamas. She acknowledges that in these uncertain times, some people may feel scared to place that sign on their clothing. If that’s the case, she asks that they put the piece of tape under their clothes or in their pocket, because “it will take a molecule of the pain that I am carrying knowing that you are carrying it as well.”

Rachel, my hope is that you and your family will see your beautiful son, Hersh, before we reach Day 100. And my wish is that all those being held by Hamas will be returned to their families alive and whole before that heartbreaking milestone, please, Hashem.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Shana Brecher Lani White Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classified Deadline: Monday 5:00PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH CLASSIFIED ADS The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine.

Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | January 12 – January 18

Friday, January 12 Parshas Vaeira

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Candle Lighting: 4:30 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:35 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 6:02 pm

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Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

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Community Happenings

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NEWS Global

12 National

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That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

JEWISH THOUGHT

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Israel News

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My Israel Home

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Israel’s 669 Unit by Tammy Mark

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Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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Belief in G-d, Belief in Oneself by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Yetzias Mitzrayim by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

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Inspiration Nation

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World War II Medical Procedures by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Increasing the Antioxidants in Your Diet by Aliza Beer, RD

96

FOOD & LEISURE Food for Thought

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The Aussie Gourmet: Maple Orange Short Ribs

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LIFESTYLES

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Dating Dialogue, Moderated

by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

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Parenting Pearls

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School of Thought

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A Summons by Barbara Deutsch

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Mind Your Business

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Your Money

Dear Editor, I extend a huge yashar koach to Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg upon the recent publication of his monumental book, Rays of Hope; Finding Chizuk in Challenging Times. Although this book was written prior to Simchas Torah, 5784, the essays within are relevant and exceedingly helpful in enabling us to cope with the terrible pain and excruciatingly, difficult scenarios we are faced with right now. Sharing details of his personal challenges, drawing on the wisdom of our Gedolim, contemporary and from earlier generations, there is a wealth of chizuk contained within this book. I highly recommend Rays of Hope to all.

Wishing Rabbi Ginzberg many vibrant, healthy years up ahead, till 120, to continue his Avodas Hakodesh, b’ezras Hashem Yisbaruch.

Miriam Liebermann Dear Editor, I had been both privileged and cursed to serve on the tuition scholarship committee of my local yeshiva here in the 5T/ FR area for many years. For anyone who has served in this capacity, the obvious privilege is to have a hand in bringing a Torah education to a child whose family might not have been able to otherwise afford one. The curse is more multifaceted. First, to the extent one is a caring human being, to observe the suffering of others, regardless of the degree, takes a tremendous mental toll. That being said, your readers should understand that there is a wide array of issues that exist in our community (the root cause of the financial stress). In today’s social media curated world where it seems like everyone else’s life is great, you realize that the proverbial airbrushing is so widespread

that you are far from alone in facing life’s challenges. Second, it can make you bitter, resentful and/or cynical as there are too many people out there trying to “cheat the system” and despite your best efforts to weed them out, there are those that make it past your committee’s best defenses. Volumes can be written about this function and how well it is executed across the various yeshivot, but that is not the purpose of why I am writing this opinion piece/letter to the editor. I will acknowledge that the system at every yeshiva is far from perfect (yes, even yours, dear reader), but these committees are made up of people (often the most caring of people), not robots, and they can only get it so right.

I have become increasingly troubled by a rather recurring observation. People’s financial situations tend to improve as their children grow up, move out, get married and become independent, autonomous beings capable of supporting themselves (G-d willing). Assuming one’s earnings remain stagnant, or even decline somewhat, the net impact of advancing in life and seeing a significant drop off in tuition expense, which is usually the largest household expense for any frum family, naturally leaves you with more disposable income in the post-high school and/or post-college years. The general trend that I am now seeing is that as these expenses ease, spending on family vacations, luxury cars, Succos and Pesach getaways, and many other types of gratuitous spending (almost immediately) begin to spike.

What I see very little of from too many of these families is increased donations back to the schools that helped them in their most challenging years now that they have made it through.

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HUMOR Centerfold

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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Immigrants Aren’t Poison by Marc A. Thiessen

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Can the Spread of War Be Stopped? by David Ignatius

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Don’t Look Away From the Primary Cause of an Epidemic of Antisemitism

by Jonathan S. Tobin 108 CLASSIFIEDS

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Have you ever flown in a helicopter?

81 19 %

No

%

Yes

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BIRD !

Y L R A E N. 15 A J G IN EXPIR

Continued from page 10

Generally, it seems that fewer and fewer people these days view scholarships as something other than what they are intended to be – an option of last resort.

In my view, this is the result of a broader societal sense of entitlement that has pervaded our American culture (entitlement spending per capita has increased by 59% from 2012 to 2022). Increasingly, families believe it is the obligation of the yeshivas to provide supplemental assistance to help defray their largest expenses so they can enjoy a standard of living that they believe they are entitled to.

My message to our community, and specifically to all those out there that benefitted from yeshiva scholarships who, baruch Hashem, find themselves in a measurably better financial situation as their tuition bills decline (or disappear) is very simple. Enjoy what you have worked hard for; I know you have gotten through some hard times and the easing of financial stresses can feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders. However, please remember who was there for you when you needed help. Before taking that expensive trip, before leasing that new luxury car, and before going away to that Pesach program, please understand that paying it back (actually paying it forward) should really be top of mind.

Sincerely, Seeking More Hakaras Hatov Dear Editor, To the astonishment of many, there is now a sign located at the entrance to Tel Aviv saying, “Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad.”

But then again, when you hear certain stories, hopes for a new world are possible. In one, a chareidi family extended an invitation to a few chilonim on the Shabbos of the October 7th massacre which saved them.

Rabbi Motti Neuberger of the White Shul wonderfully points out that Moshe had the redemptive quality of being nosei b’ol im chaveiro, feeling the burden of his friend. His first act upon emerging from

the palace was eliminating someone who was torturing his “brother,” a Jew. The word ratzon, will, spelled backwards is notzar, create. If we have the will to relate to the troubles of our brethren with action steps and present our will and need of salvation to G-d, a new world is possible.

Steven Genack Dear Editor, We often say that mental health is important equally as physical health. When attempting to break the stigma of seeking a professional to help us heal and manage the mental, emotional and traumatic obstacles we encounter, we compare it to seeing a professional for one’s physical health.

Cancer is commonly used as an example because it’s a very scary and painful illness that comes with a lot of baggage.

When one is suffering from cancer, they are usually on chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is accepted and not looked down upon. Cancer victims aren’t judged for what they’re experiencing and are given time to gain strength back after the chemo treatment. For many, it feels that as soon as they feel a little better they have to go through their next painful chemo treatment.

The same way we compare physical and mental health equally, we need to see the healing process equally as well.

The same way we understand and have compassion for chemo patients that they are just trying to survive to be able to have enough strength for the next treatment, we should be accepting what comes with emotional therapy.

Emotional therapy can be scary and painful and can leave the client with a need for a lot of understanding and compassion as well. They also need to be supported and recognized as one living in survival mode. Those struggling with mental health need to be allowed to feel what they’re really feeling and need the space.

Crying for Justice

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The Week In News

On-Time Flights

Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Exchange

As part of the largest prisoner exchange since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, more than two hundred Ukrainians were released from Russian imprisonment, while 248 Russian soldiers were set free from captivity in Ukrainian territory.

Included in the group of released Ukrainians were seven soldiers who were captured while protecting the Ukrainian territory of Snake Island from the Russian invasion in February 2022. The island has since become symbolic of Ukraine’s refusal to surrender in the face of attack.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that Ukrainian soldiers, who had fought to protect the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and the city as a whole, and war prisoners, who were held in the infamous Chernobyl nuclear plant, were among those released.

Upon their return home, some freed Ukrainians wore their country’s flag.

Yermak said that it was a “difficult exchange after a long pause,” and added on Wednesday, January 3, that he is trying to get all Ukrainian prisoners back home.

After the prisoner trade, the Russian defense ministry said on social media that the exchange was made possible thanks to the United Arab Emirates’ “humanitarian intervention,” with the ministry adding that it will give the “necessary medical and psychological assistance” to the released Russian soldiers.

The Russia-Ukraine war is entering its third year, but the battles are as fierce as ever. Just this past December, Russia carried out its most significant aerial attack, killing at least 47 people in Ukraine and wounding more than 150. Ukraine retaliated later that month, striking the Russian city of Belgorod, causing 24 deaths and 107 injuries.

When heading out on a trip, getting to your destination on time feels pretty important. Recently, aviation analytics company Cirium revealed which airlines and airports around the world have the best on-time ratings.

Avianca, the Colombian flag carrier, nabbed the crown for the most punctual airline in the world. Still, the airline that got the most on-time award in South America was Copa, the national airline of Panama.

The most on-time airline in Asia was Japan’s All Nippon Airways. In North America, it was Delta Air Lines, while Iberia Express won the title for Europe.

The most punctual airline in the Middle East and Africa was Oman Air, which celebrated its 30th birthday last year.

Digging a bit deeper, other airlines are doing quite well.

According to Cirium’s analysis, Avianca had 85.73% on-time arrivals out of 213,039 total flights.

Meanwhile, two U.S.-based airlines – Delta and American Airlines – far outpaced the rest of the list in terms of flight totals. Delta had 1,635,486 flights take off in 2023, with an 84.72% on-time arrival rate; American was responsible for 1,998,844 flights with an 80.61% successful on-time arrival record.

Also scoring highly were Qatar Airways (85.11%) and Japan Airlines (82.58%).

Some delays are not always the airline’s fault. They struggle with the weather, airport traffic and staffing issues that may affect their timing.

Want to get to your destination on time? It’s not just about choosing a punctual airline. You also need to get to a good airport.

According to Cirium, the best airport in the world for punctuality in 2023 was Minneapolis-St Paul in Minnesota.

The most punctual medium-sized airport was Osaka International in Japan.

However, that’s not the primary air hub for Osaka, as most international visitors come via Kansai International Airport (KIX), about an hour outside the city.

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Meanwhile, the winner in the small-airport category was Mariscal Sucre International Airport, which serves Quito, Ecuador.

Reserves of Helium in South Africa

In 2013, Renergen, a startup company based in South Africa, paid $1 for the right to explore and use the resources of a few fields located close to the town of Virginia, which is in the African country’s Free State province. The company initially expected to discover some minor natural gas reserves, but instead found an incredible amount of helium, a rare element necessary for the production of microchips, MRI scanners, and other important technologies.

Below the fields of Virginia, Renergen found helium reserves that span over 7 billion cubic feet, making the area worth anywhere from $4 billion to $12 billion.

“We had humble, modest aspirations of setting up a small scale [gas] power station that could deliver a couple of megawatts to some nearby mining opportunities,” said Renergen COO Nick Mitchell.

“We had no idea of the extent and scale and the sheer world-class nature of this helium deposit.”

January 2023 marked the first time the startup had success in producing helium in its liquid form. Although the company was forced to postpone further production due to a leak in the helium cold box’s vacuum seal, the startup is expected to resume work this month.

According to Renergen’s CEO Stefano Marani, the natural gas reserves they acquired for $1 contain extraordinarily high concentrations of helium, with the average at 3% and peak levels at 12% in certain areas. In comparison, the average helium concentration in the United States, which supplies the largest amount of helium in the world, is 0.35%. In Qatar, the average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, is 0.04%.

While helium, according to climate researchers, generally has a high carbon

footprint due to the methane that is produced alongside it, in this case, since the helium concentration is high, there will likely be less methane and, by extension, the helium produced by Renergen will likely have a lower carbon footprint than usual.

“What makes the Renergen prospects so interesting is that (while) there are hydrocarbons associated with their helium production, it’s a much smaller footprint.

They’ve effectively found a primary helium gas system,” noted Chris Ballentine, Oxford University’s chair of geochemistry.

France’s Youngest Prime Minister

When Gabriel Attal became France’s prime minister this week, he made history as the youngest to ascend to that position.

The 34-year-old is a rising star in Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party and has served as minister of education and national youth since July. During his tenure, he enacted a controversial ban on the wearing of the abaya in French public schools and has worked on raising awareness of bullying in schools.

“I know I can count on your energy and your commitment,” Macron said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the announcement.

Before leading the education ministry, Attal served as the government spokesman and then as minister of public works and public accounts. As prime minister, he will be charged with forming a new government and ensuring the passage of legislation that advances the president’s agenda.

Attal replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned from her post on Monday after a tumultuous 20-month tenure marked by unpopular retirement reforms and the urban riots last summer that followed the police shooting of a teenage boy of Algerian descent. On at least 20 occasions, Borne controversially used a constitutional clause that allowed the government to push through bills in the lower house without a vote, earning her the nickname “Madame 49.3,” a reference to the clause

itself.

Borne’s father was Jewish. He was a Holocaust survivor.

In the same vein, Attal’s father, film producer Yves Attal, was Jewish; he was born in Paris to Tunisian Jewish and European Jewish parents. Attal’s mother raised Attal and his siblings in her Russian Orthodox Christian faith.

“My father said to me, ‘Perhaps you’re Orthodox but you’ll feel Jewish all your life, mainly because you’ll suffer antisemitism because of your name,’” Attal told Liberation in 2019. Attal is a common North African Jewish name and would be recognized as such in France, where there are large populations of Tunisian and Algerian Jews.

Attal said that he doesn’t consider himself religious.

Attal was named on an antisemitic poster displayed at a Paris protest during the pandemic. A government spokesperson at the time, he decried “absolutely abject comparisons” between Nazi persecution and public health measures, a theme of anti-vaccine protests.

The previous youngest prime minister in France is Laurent Fabius, a Socialist who was 37 when he started his two-year stint in 1984. Fabius was born to Jewish parents who converted to Roman Catholicism and raised him in that religion.

No More Pepsi in Carrefour

Carrefour, a major retail chain based in France, announced on Thursday that it will stop selling popular PepsiCo products, including Lay’s, Doritos, Lipton teas, and more, due to PepsiCo’s high prices.

Carrefour is one of the biggest grocery chains in the world, with over 12,000 stores. PepsiCo products will be dropped from the chain’s France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium locations, according to reports.

A PepsiCo spokesperson said that the corporation has “been in discussion with Carrefour for many months and…will continue to engage in good faith to try to ensure that our products are available.”

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In December, France saw a 7% yearover-year surge in food prices, and in March 2023, prices rose nearly 16 percentage points. With food prices rising in Europe and the U.S., similar measures have been implemented as of late to encourage companies to lower their prices. Stores in the United States have penalized food companies for high prices by, for example, strategically placing certain products in less noticeable places on shelves. In Europe, where stores carry their own popular brands, the effects of certain products being dropped will likely only be significantly felt by the penalized company.

“While consumers are still very loyal to certain national brands, it’s a bit less disruptive when they’re pulled from the shelf because they’re already used to, and more willing in many categories, to shift to the private brand equivalent,” Randall Sargent, a partner at Oliver Wyman, explained.

Carrefour’s own products made up 33% of food sales in 2022. The retail giant’s goal is to have its brand account for 40% of food sales in 2026.

PepsiCo’s sales in Europe make up roughly 14% of the company’s entire profit, accounting for $9 billion, according to reports by the Wall Street Jour-

nal. The decreased availability of PepsiCo products in Carrefour “will definitely hurt the suppliers’ business in Europe, if not globally,” said Sargent.

Al Jazeera Journalist Arrested In Tunisia

Samir Sassi, a journalist who works for Al Jazeera, was arrested by police last week after his home in the Tunisian capital of Tunis was raided, with many of his possessions, including his family’s phones and computers and his novels seized by “anti-terrorism” authorities.

Lotfi Hajji, who works as Al Jazeera Bureau Director, said it took Sassi’s lawyers twelve hours to determine where he was being detained.

“They went from one police station

to another, one court to another, until finally they were able to find out that he had been taken to the anti-terrorism unit in Ariana,” said Hajji. Ariana is a coastal city in Tunisia near Tunis.

The Tunisian government has yet to declare what Sassi is being charged with, but if he was detained on charges of terrorism, he will be unable to contact his attorneys for at least forty hours following his arrest. According to Hajji, Sassi’s family – his wife and kids – were deeply frightened by the raid and arrest, and they are nervous about Sassi’s wellbeing.

The conditions in which he is being kept are currently unknown, but Sassi is believed to be in decent health.

With the implementation of Decree 54 in September of 2022, the Tunisian government has been progressively cracking down on journalists. Since the decree’s introduction, twenty or more journalists, activists, and government opposers have been arrested, according to Human Rights Watch. The law, which was supposed to address fake news, has given the Tunisian government the license to silence critics.

In July 2021, the government shut down Al Jazeera’s bureau, although journalists from the Qatar-based news network have been able to continue

working in the country.

Tunisia has come under fire from other countries for arresting those who oppose its government. In late 2023, Tunisian authorities detained three journalists: Khalifa Guesmi, who works for Mosaique FM, as well as popular radio journalist Zied el-Heni and Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, who were both arrested on December 28.

“The arrest of these journalists is an ominous start to 2024,” said Salsabil Chellali, Human Rights Watch’s Tunisia Director. “We’re still finding out the details of Sassi’s arrest, but it’s clear that this year, the threats against the free press and journalists are becoming action.”

Killer Sues Norway Anders Behring Breivik, the madman who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway in 2011, appeared in court this week to launch a legal bid to end his years in isolation. Breivik, 44, is serving a 21-year sentence, the longest a Norwegian court can impose.

The court was set up in prison.

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“He has been isolated for about 12 years,” lawyer Oeystein Storrvik told the hearing. “He is only in contact with professionals, not with other inmates.”

In earlier court filings, Storrvik had argued the isolation had left Breivik suicidal and dependent on the anti-depression medication Prozac.

Breivik, who emailed out copies of a manifesto before his attacks setting out his theories, is suing the state and also asking the court to lift restrictions on his correspondence with the outside world.

The murderer killed eight people with a car bomb in Oslo and then gunned down 69 others, most of them teenagers, at a Labour Party youth camp in Norway’s worst peacetime atrocity.

Norway is a firm believer in the power of prison to rehabilitate prisoners.

Breivik spends his time in a dedicated section of Ringerike prison, the third prison where he has been held. His sep-

arated section includes a training room, a kitchen, a TV room and a bathroom.

He is allowed to keep three birds as pets who fly freely in the area.

Lawyers representing the justice ministry say Breivik must be kept apart from the rest of the prison population because of the continuing security threat he poses.

They also noted that his isolation was “relative” given that he has contacts with guards, a priest, health professionals and, until recently, an outside volunteer whom Breivik no longer wishes to see.

He also sees two inmates for an hour every other week.

Breivik is seen as a possible inspiration for those who want to commit other acts of terror. He was cited as an inspiration by Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019.

Breivik also sued the state in 2016, arguing it was breaching the European Convention on Human Rights, including sections saying no one should be subject to “torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

He initially won the case but that was overturned on appeal a year later before any restrictions were lifted.

Oscar Pistorius Released Three Missing Israelis in Gaza On Friday, Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter, was released from prison on parole. He was being held there after shooting Reeva Steenkamp in a killing that shocked the world.

A parole board granted Pistorius’ petition in November on the grounds that he had served half of his 13-year sentence for murdering Steenkamp, making him eligible according to South African law.

Pistorius will be subject to parole conditions until 2029.

In a statement Friday, Steenkamp’s mother said her only desire following Pistorius’ release is that she would be allowed to live her remaining years “in peace.”

“There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back,” June Steenkamp said. “We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.”

Pistorius killed Steenkamp in a shooting in his home on February 14, 2013.

He said that he had mistaken her for an intruder. The trial garnered worldwide attention.

He was initially convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years in prison. A higher court overturned the conviction and upgraded it to murder a year later, increasing his sentence to six years in prison. After an appeal by prosecutors, his sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal.

Pistorius – known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs – was once feted as an inspirational figure, having competed against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics in 2012.

At his second court sentencing in 2016, the judge described him as a “fallen hero.”

According to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, three Israelis who went missing on October 7 were among the more than 240 people who were taken hostage by Hamas on that day when three thousand terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 people. There are currently 132 abductees remaining in Gaza, some of whom have perished while in Hamas captivity.

The three Israelis confirmed by Hagari to be in Gaza were named by members of their family as Hanan Yablonka, 42, Idan Shtivi, 28, and Ilan Weiss, 56. Both Yablonka and Shtivi were at the Supernova music festival when they were taken hostage and are believed to still be alive. Weiss was among the 1,200 people slaughtered on October 7; his remains are in the possession of Hamas.

Weiss was part of the Kibbutz Be’eri security team and was murdered while defending his kibbutz from the terrorists.

His wife and daughter were taken hostage and were set free as part of the temporary ceasefire that took place in November.

The war continues on with fierce fighting in the Gaza Strip, as Israel soon enters its 100th day of fighting against the Hamas terrorist organization.

On Thursday, January 4, the IDF announced that its Kiryati Armored Brigade and the 55th Paratroopers Brigade were responsible for killing several terrorists in Khan Younis. Kiryati Brigade Col. Mickey Sharvit declared that “there is no innocent infrastructure” targeted in their missions in Gaza.

“We encounter terror in almost every home, in hospitals and schools. Our

Did you know?

The average size of an IKEA store is 300,000 square feet.

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forces even eliminated terrorists who emerged from an underground [tunnel] in a school,” Sharvit added.

In one instance, around twenty Hamas gunmen working within a tunnel were killed by the IDF, while five others attempted to flee and were subsequently forced to surrender to the Israeli army.

In another instance, Mamdouh Lulu, a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed as part of an IDF airstrike in Gaza, the Israeli military announced Thursday.

“Lulu was a central figure in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, initiating and leading numerous terror attacks and assaults from Gaza against the State of Israel, routinely and during the war,” the Shin Bet and IDF noted.

Families of Hostages Visit Qatar Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and other Qatari officials met with families whose loved ones were taken captive

by Hamas on October 7. The meeting took place in the Qatari capital of Doha

over the weekend.

As part of a press conference that took place outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the families who visited Qatar said that the meetings went well.

“We met with the Qatari prime minister,” said Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandfather Oded is among the 132 hostages in Hamas captivity. “It was important for them to directly hear the perspectives of the hostages’ families. The key message given to us in the meeting we held: that a ceasefire will speed up the advancement of negotiations to release all hostages.”

“We felt the Qatari government was committed to the goal of releasing all the hostages and considers it [a mission] of the greatest humanitarian importance that will bring quiet to the region,” Noam Perry, son of hostage Haim Perry, claimed.

“They were attentive, familiar with our stories, and showed sympathy to us,”

said Ruby Chen, the father of hostage Itay Chen.

According to family members of the hostages, Qatar said that the recent killings of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy leader of Hamas, and other top Hamas officials, have made Hamas less willing to negotiate the release of hostages. The terror group has refused to set any more abductees free until a permanent ceasefire is achieved.

Doha hosted the families of six Israelis whose families were taken hostage on October 7, marking the first time that abductees’ families have gone to Qatar. The Qatari capital has also, in the past, hosted Hamas officials.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a similar meeting with families of Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped by Hamas, in which he promised that the IDF’s ground campaign into Gaza will continue until all hostages are released.

A Qatari official said that the country is “painfully aware of the suffering of the remaining hostages and their loved ones” and that “we have engaged directly with the hostages’ families to share as much information as possible, and to assure them that Qatar is committed to using every resource to secure their release. We will continue to engage with these families.”

“We are using every possible channel and collaborating closely with our counterparts in the U.S. and Israel…but Qatar is a mediator. It does not control Hamas,” the official said, adding that it has been “increasingly difficult” to mediate the conflict due to the “escalation of bombardment in Gaza and elsewhere, which candidly complicates the hostage negotiations.”

The attack that killed Arouri in Beirut, Lebanon, has been credited by many to Israel, but the Israeli government has yet to confirm whether they were indeed responsible for his killing.

Largest Gaza Weapons Plant Uncovered Israeli forces operating in central Gaza have found the largest weapons manufacturing site discovered since the start of the war, containing rockets capable of reaching north of Tel Aviv, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday.

The weapons plant was part of a massive tunnel system 30 meters (nearly 100 feet) underneath the Al-Bureij camp, according to the IDF. The rockets produced

in the facility had a range of over 100 kilometers (62 miles). Other weapons factories were also found for the production of explosives, rocket guidance systems, mortar shells, small arms and drones.

“This is the largest weapons manufacturing site we have discovered since the beginning of the war,” IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Monday during his daily press briefing.

“This factory was connected to an underground tunnel system, through which weapons were transferred throughout the Gaza Strip. The rockets manufactured there were launched toward central Israel and other areas in the State of Israel. We will continue to operate against Hamas’ manufacturing infrastructure, against their underground system and against Hamas leaders throughout the Gaza Strip,” he said.

According to the IDF, the Al-Bureij camp is where Hamas terrorists produced many of the weapons used during their October 7 invasion of southern Israel. On that day, thousands of terrorists rampaged across the northwestern Negev, murdering around 1,200 civilians and soldiers, wounding thousands more and taking about 240 hostages back to Gaza. While a large number of hostages were released as part of a ceasefire deal in November, it is believed that 132 are still being held captive. Thousands of rockets were fired at Israel during the assault.

(JNS)

9 Precious Lives Lost in 1 Day

On Monday, six IDF soldiers were killed in an explosion in central Gaza; three others died in intense battles in the south of the Strip. The deaths of those who perished this week raises the count

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of those we lost in fighting to 185 since troops entered the Gaza Strip in an effort to eliminate Hamas and free the hostages being held by the terrorist organization.

The army said the six reservists, all combat engineers, were killed when explosives intended for demolishing a tunnel detonated during activity in central Gaza’s al-Bureij refugee camp.

The explosion, which is being investigated by the IDF, occurred close to where officers were leading reporters on a tour of a Hamas rocket manufacturing plant.

The six fatalities were named as Sgt. First Class (res.) Gavriel Bloom, a 27-year-old reservist from Beit Shemesh; Master Sgt. (res.) Amit Moshe Shahar, 25, from Ramat Yohanan; Cpt. (res.) Denis Krokhmalov Veksler, 32, from Beersheba; Cpt. (res.) Ron Efrimi, 26, from Hod Hasharon; Master Sgt. (res.) Roi Avraham Maimon, 24, a paramedic from Afula; and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Akiva Yasinskiy, 35, from Ramat Gan. Other soldiers were injured in the explosion. Among them was actor Idan Amedi, who plays an operative in the hit TV show “Fauda.”

Also on Monday, in Khan Younis, Sgt. First Class (res.) David Schwartz, 26, and Sgt. First Class (res.) Yakir Hexter, 26, were killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. The two combat engineers, part of a paratrooper force, were from Elazar in the West Bank and Jerusalem, respectively. Sgt. Roi Tal, a 19-year-old infantryman from Kfar Yehoshua, was killed in another mission during a battle with Hamas operatives.

Although the army has said that it will be scaling down the intensity of the fighting, on Tuesday, it said it was expanding ground operations in Khan Younis and fighting Hamas deep within the southern Gaza city.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel once again this week, pushing for lower intensity fighting. He is also supposed to be pushing for a release of the 132 people who are being held hostage by Hamas.

Israel also expects Blinken to focus on the “day after” — who will rule Gaza, who will be responsible for security, who will handle civil matters and where will funds come from.

At a meeting with Blinken on Tuesday morning, President Isaac Herzog underscored that Israel is doing its “utmost under extremely complicated circumstances on the ground, to make sure that there are no unintended consequences and no civilian casualties.”

Standing next to Herzog, Blinken spoke about Washington’s “relentless

efforts” to bring the remaining hostages home from Hamas captivity.

Kfir Bibas Turns 1

babies is important to the UN.” Erdan asked that Kfri’s cake “remain here as a painful reminder so that every speaker today remembers Kfir and our duty to bring him home.”

3 Million Visited Last Year

Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage to be held by the Hamas terrorist organization, turned one years old this week.

In acknowledgment of Kfir reaching this milestone while in terrorists’ hands, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan reminded delegates about it in a UN General Assembly discussion on the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday.

Kfir was just nine months old when he was kidnapped, together with his parents Shiri and Yarden, and his four-year-old brother Ariel. The entire Bibas family has been held hostage for over three months.

“Many of you are here, parents or grandparents,” Erdan said. “Every milestone in your children’s lives is a celebration. Their first step, their first word, their first smile and laugh. Babies are a source of light and hope – a symbol of life.”

He added that Kfir “has become a symbol of the most despicable cruelty that humanity has known, the cruelty of Hamas.”

“A quarter of a Kfir’s life has been spent in captivity. He was kidnapped before he even learned to say the word ‘mother.’ Does he get the food and vitamins he needs to grow and develop? Does he crawl? How can a baby be a target for fighting? What kind of monsters are able to deliberately take a baby captive and treat him as an enemy? Instead of receiving love and warmth, Kfir is surrounded by pure evil.

“If you ignore the suffering of our children, the suffering of little baby Kfir, I will stand here today and mark Kfri’s first birthday,” Erdan told the General Assembly. “I will remind you of your moral obligation to fight for Kfir and his right to celebrate his birthday.”

Erdan held up a birthday cake with a picture of the little boy and said, “Kfir, this birthday cake is for you. You are the reason Israel is fighting day and night. My only wish for you, for your first birthday, is that next year, G-d willing, you will celebrate your birthday surrounded by the love of your family, and that we will live in a world where the suffering of Israeli

to offer the country additional resources for rehabilitation and growth,” said Tourism Minister Haim Katz.

“While some tourists postponed their vacations because of the war, many did not cancel their reservations and are waiting for the right time to travel. Israel has much to offer as a tourism destination and we are looking forward to once again welcoming tourists to our country,” he added. (JNS)

Plane Blows Open Three million tourists visited Israel Midair

last year, with the first nine months before the outbreak of the war with Hamas setting a record for tourism from the United States, the Israeli Tourism Ministry announced on Monday.

Annual tourism for 2023 fell precipitously short of the 4.5 million who visited during the record tourism year in 2019 due to the sudden collapse of tourism in the last quarter of the year, when most international airlines suspended flights to Israel, but was still higher than the 2.67 million figure for 2022.

The top 10 countries for incoming tourism last year were the United States, France, England, Russia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Poland, Canada and Spain.

The average tourist stayed in Israel for eight days, with 70% coming independently and 30% as part of organized groups, according to a tourism survey carried out during the first nine months of 2023.

Half the tourists were Christian and nearly a quarter were Jewish.

Fifty-seven percent of incoming tourists were first-time visitors, while 43% had visited Israel more than once.

Sixty percent stayed in hotels or holiday villages, while 19% stayed with relatives and friends and 13% stayed in shortterm rentals.

In all, Israel’s tourism revenue last year reached $4.85 billion.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa, along with its subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines, resumed flights to Israel this week, becoming one of the first major foreign airlines to renew service to Tel Aviv since the outbreak of the war.

“We are preparing the necessary infrastructure that will enable us to operate swiftly and efficiently on the day after, in order to help jumpstart the economy and

The 177 passengers on Friday’s Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, went into a state of frenzy after a giant, fridge-sized hole suddenly opened up in the airplane’s wall.

How the fuselage door plug broke off twenty minutes into the flight when the Boeing 737 MAX 9 was 16,000 feet in the air is currently unknown, but the fact that no one was injured or killed is nothing short of a miracle.

The large airplane part was later found in the yard of Bob Sauer, a teacher from Portland. The National Transportation Safety Board had launched a search for the part in hopes of discovering what went wrong.

During the panic, the cabin depressurized, thus causing oxygen masks to lower.

Those onboard screamed in fright and bid farewell to loved ones via text, convinced that they wouldn’t survive the flight.

Headrests, cushions, and some passenger possessions, including airpods and garments, were blown away. The shirt of a boy sitting near the hole was blown out the plane. The plane successfully landed soon after, and no one was seriously hurt.

Following the major mishap, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded some Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes. The grounded crafts will undergo thorough inspections. Since Friday, hundreds of Alaska Airlines flights have been

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canceled – 160 on Saturday, 170 on Sunday, and an additional 60 were canceled on Monday. United Airlines similarly canceled 270 flights over the weekend and paused use of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes.

The part that blew off was located between sections 26A and 26B of the plane.

Fortunately, not a single passenger was seated in those areas. And since the plane had not yet reached cruising altitude, those on board were seated – which likely saved lives.

Thirty-three-year-old passenger Nick Hoch said he heard a “boom,” after which the aircraft “jolted.”

“We had our oxygen masks fall from the top and we put those on immediately, but it was a disorienting experience,” Hoch said. “A mist or cloud whooshed past me that kind of hit me in the face.”

He had been seated a few rows in front of the panel that had flown away.

Some were physically injured, but each passenger has “been medically cleared,” said Alaska Airlines in a statement.

“Safety is our top priority, and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers,” Boeing stated. “We agree with and fully support the FAA’s decision to re-

quire immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane.”

Boeing is no stranger to major issues in their crafts. In 2019, there were two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes; in October of that year, 189 passengers died while flying from Jakarta, Indonesia, while only a few months later, in March, all 157 passengers on an Ethiopia Airline Flight were killed as a result of another plane crash.

Gas Explosion at TX Hotel

At least 21 people were hurt on Monday when a blast caused by a gas explosion occurred at a downtown Fort Worth, Texas, hotel.

The blast at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel sent a thick

plume of smoke billowing over downtown high-rises and scattered debris on roads.

Firefighters rushed to tend to the injured and rescue people trapped in a basement.

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the explosion. Some opine that it may have originated in a restaurant where some construction was underway.

The nearly 104-year-old building, which officials say had recently been renovated, is located in the busy downtown area near the Fort Worth Convention Center and City Hall.

Of the 21 injured, one person suffered critical injuries, while four others were listed in serious condition.

Three employees of the Musume restaurant in the Sandman hotel were injured in the explosion. Musume was closed at the time, and no customers were dining when the blast happened. Twenty-six rooms at the hotel were occupied at the time.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the blast was “heartbreaking for downtown Fort Worth.”

“It’s a beautiful building. It was just recently renovated and opened and so we’ll work with the ownership of that building as quickly as possible,” Parker said. “Our hearts and prayers are really with the victims at area hospitals.”

Across the street from the hotel, Thompson’s Bookstore and Speakeasy was also significantly damaged in the blast.

Plastics in the Water

Think you’re just drinking water when you take a sip from your bottled Poland Spring thirst-quencher? Think again.

In a trailblazing new study, researchers have discovered bottled water sold in stores can contain 10 to 100 times more bits of plastic than previously estimated — nanoparticles so infinitesimally tiny they cannot be seen under a microscope.

At 1,000th the average width of a human hair, nanoplastics are so teeny they can migrate through the tissues of the digestive tract or lungs into the bloodstream, distributing potentially harmful

synthetic chemicals throughout the body and into cells, experts say.

One liter of water — the equivalent of two standard-size bottled waters — contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics, of which 90% were identified as nanoplastics and the rest were microplastics, according to the new study.

Microplastics are polymer fragments that can range from less than 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) down to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer). Anything smaller is a nanoplastic that must be measured in billionths of a meter.

The new finding reinforces long-held expert advice to drink tap water from glass or stainless steel containers to reduce exposure. That advice extends to other foods and drinks packaged in plastic as well.

“People don’t think of plastics as shedding, but they do,” said Sherri “Sam” Mason, director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend. “In almost the same way we’re constantly shedding skin cells, plastics are constantly shedding little bits that break off, such as when you open that plastic container for your storebought salad or a cheese that’s wrapped in plastic.”

Mason was the coauthor of a 2018 study that first detected the existence of micro- and nanoplastics in 93% of samples of bottled water sold by 11 different brands in nine countries.

In that past study, Mason found each tainted liter of water held an average of 10 plastic particles wider than a human hair, along with 300 smaller particles. Five years ago, however, there was no way to analyze those tiny flecks or discover if there were more.

“It’s not that we didn’t know nanoplastics existed. We just couldn’t analyze them,” Mason explained.

In the new study, published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Columbia University presented a new technology that can see, count and analyze the chemical structure of nanoparticles in bottled water.

Lloyd Austin was MIA On Friday, the Pentagon announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been in the hospital since January 1. The announcement took many by surprise.

The top general had been in the hospital for an elective procedure on December

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22, when he was on leave. He went home the following day, and “continued to work from home through the holidays.” The White House was not told that Austin was having the procedure.

On January 1, Austin began experiencing “severe pain” and was transported from his home to Walter Reed by an ambulance, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

“He was conscious, but in quite a bit of pain,” Ryder said. He underwent “tests and evaluations” at the hospital that evening and on January 2, and delegated some authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks “on the basis of medical advice.” The same day, Austin’s chief of staff Kelly Magsamen, senior military assistant Lt. Gen. Ronald Clark, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown were notified of Austin’s hospitalization.

Many are concerned by these revelations. Ryder noted that at “no time was national security in jeopardy,” and that as he understood it, Austin was “capable of executing his duties as the Secretary of Defense.”

Among those who knew of Austin’s trip to the hospital were his personal security detail, who accompanied him to the hospital, and a junior military aide who met with him at Walter Reed on January 2.

For days, other Pentagon officials and senior members of the Biden administration — including President Joe Biden — did not know that the defense secretary was in the hospital. Among those in the dark was Hicks, to whom Austin transferred some of his authorities on January 2.

Supposedly, Lloyd’s chief of staff Kelly Magsamen was sick with the flu and wasn’t able to tell Hicks about the procedure earlier.

In a memo on Monday, Magsamen directed a 30-day review of the Pentagon’s processes and procedures for notifying senior national security leaders and the White House when the secretary needs to transfer his authorities to the deputy secretary of defense.

The memo, which appears to be the first public memo from Magsamen, re-

LAST G ININ REMA MS ROO

flects the Pentagon’s understanding that the notification process surrounding Austin’s hospitalization was lacking.

Chinese National Owns Tons of U.S. Land

company private in 2012 and moved his holding group’s headquarters from China to Singapore.

The U.S.’s biggest landowner is the Emmerson family, owners of timberland empire Sierra Pacific Industries, followed by billionaires John Malone, Ted Turner, and Stan Kroenke.

Tiger and Nike Split

Chen Tianqiao made his fortune from online gaming. Now it has been revealed that the Chinese national is one of the most significant non-American holders of land in the U.S. Chen owns 198,000 acres (80,127 hectares) of Oregon timberland, making him the country’s 82nd-largest property owner, according to the Land Report’s latest ranking.

The 50-year-old acquired the acreage from Fidelity National Financial Ventures for $85 million in 2015. Oregon tax records last month disclosed the name of the beneficial owner as Shanda Asset Management, the same name as Chen’s Singapore-based holding group.

Chen’s Oregon property makes him one of the biggest individual owners of American land by a non-U.S. citizen. The Irving family of Canada — No. 6 on the Land Report’s list with over 1.2 million acres of Maine timberland — owns more.

Foreign ownership of U.S. land — particularly land used for farming — has become a sensitive political issue in recent years. About 40 million acres of American agricultural land was owned by nonU.S. interests as of 2021, according to the most recent Department of Agriculture data, with entities from China owning the equivalent of .03% of all U.S. farmland.

Some lawmakers have pushed for national rules restricting foreign investment in American agricultural property.

The Senate voted in July to ban the sale of farmland beyond a certain acreage or value to people or businesses from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, but the measure wasn’t ultimately signed into law. Almost half of all states have some sort of restrictions on foreign ownership.

Chen started an online gaming company, Shanda Interactive, in 1999. Within five years, it had become one of China’s largest internet companies and was listed on the Nasdaq in the U.S. Chen took the

It’s been 27 years, but now they are parting ways.

This week, sports legend Tiger Woods announced a split from Nike after a 27year collaboration with the world’s largest sportwear company.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods wrote on X. Woods went on to write that “there will certainly be another chapter.”

Nike bid adieu to Woods on Instagram, saying “it was a [heck] of a round, Tiger.”

“Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking. You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge we’re grateful,” the company added.

Nike has almost been synonymous with Woods, from when he first went pro in 1996 to his Masters win in 2019, his first major tournament win in 11 years.

In 1996, Nike launched the iconic “Hello World” commercial, based on Woods’ professional debut at the Greater Milwaukee Open, where he began the press conference with, “I guess, hello world, huh?”

At one point, Woods’ Nike deal was reported to be worth as much as $20 million a year. In 2013, the 10-year deal that Nike and Woods signed was worth around $200 million.

NRA Chief Resigns Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president and CEO of the National Rifle Association and one of the most influential figures on gun rights issues,

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announced his resignation from the association on Friday. On January 31, his spokesman and top NRA official Andrew Arulanandam is expected to take his place as the organization’s interim leader.

LaPierre, 74, attributed his resignation to medical issues. However, the announcement of his departure came only days before a civil trial would start, as New York Attorney General Letitia James had filed a lawsuit against him and two other former NRA executives. James alleges that LaPierre stole millions of dollars from the association and used the money to go on all sorts of fancy vacations.

“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” said LaPierre, who has been leading the association since 1991.

“I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life,

and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”

James said that news of LaPierre’s resignation “validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability” and is an “important victory in our case.”

While the NRA continues to be an influential organization, it has, to a certain extent, diminished in power over the last few years, with the association struggling financially, losing members, and failing to maintain peace in its quarreling board.

In 2018, the company reported a $36 million deficit, which has been attributed to wrongful spending. In 2021, the NRA filed for bankruptcy and failed in its attempt to move from New York to Texas.

Aside from LaPierre, three others were sued by James in 2020: NRA general counsel John Frazer, retired finance chief Wilson Phillips, and former chiefof-staff Joshua Powell. James similarly accused them of misusing tens of millions of dollars that belonged to the organization. The attorney general hopes that the four defendants compensate the NRA and be blocked from leading any nonprofits that operate in New York. Powell has since admitted wrongdoing and has re-

solved to pay the organization $100,000, give testimony in court, and sacrifice any future leadership positions at charitable organizations. LaPierre, Frazer, and Phillips reject James’ accusations, with the CEO asserting that his trip to the Bahamas was a “security retreat” he went on to protect himself from people who were threatening his life at the time. He also claims that his purchase of a $6.5 million house in Texas was a “safe house” for him and his wife. However, he admits that his failure in reporting his yacht trips was a mistake.

In 2020, the FDA launched the Canadian drug importation program for states in hopes of significantly reducing the price of prescription drugs in the United States. Uneasiness from health officials over the safety of these drugs triggered long delays, but in 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order, putting an end to the program’s postponement.

In 2020, Canada banned exports of medications that are in short supply.

Canadian officials worry that U.S. drug imports will trigger drug price hikes and shortages.

FL to Import Canadian Meds

Antisemitism at HS Basketball Game

Florida will now be able to import drugs from Canada, as per a decision announced on Friday from the Food and Drug Administration permitting the state to do so.

Florida has, for decades, been trying to get the FDA’s permission to buy medications in bulk from Canada for use in its Medicaid program and in government clinics and prisons, as drug prices are much lower in the U.S.’s northern neighbor. The FDA has said that Florida will have to detail which drugs it would like to purchase and divulge the potency and legitimacy of the imported medications prior to the drugs’ distribution.

In 2019, Florida sued the FDA for delaying its decision on whether to allow the state to import drugs from Canada. The lawsuit ended with the FDA’s approval late last week.

According to state officials, Florida could save $150 million by buying drugs from Canada.

Colorado, New Hampshire, Vermont, and other states are seeking the FDA’s approval to be included in the Canadian drug importation program. The agency denied New Hampshire in 2022 since it did not specify which vendor would provide the drugs. Vermont’s application for the program was deemed incomplete, and before reapplying, Vermont will watch other states that apply to determine how to successfully join the program. The FDA has yet to make a decision for Colorado.

A coach and player from Yonkers’ Roosevelt High School Early College Studies’ girls’ varsity basketball team have been ousted following an antisemitic incident at a game the school was playing against The Leffel School, a Jewish school in Hartsdale, NY. According to a school newspaper oped written by Robin Bosworth, who was playing on Leffel’s team, some of her teammates were hurt by “the other team’s physical style of play” during the game’s third quarter, after which members of Roosevelt’s team yelled “antisemitic slurs and curses” at her team. The Jewish private school’s basketball team put an early end to the game, after the third quarter.

“Attacking a team because of their school’s religious association is never acceptable, but especially due to the current war in Israel and the world’s rise in antisemitism, this felt extremely personal to me and many members of my team,” wrote Bosworth.

Reports of antisemitism have increased 337% since October 7, in comparison to last year, the Anti-Defamation League said.

“The Yonkers Public Schools along with the City of Yonkers sincerely apologize to the students and community of The Leffel School for the painful and offensive comments made to their women’s basketball team during a recent game with Roosevelt High School- Early College Studies,” said Yonkers Public Schools Interim Superintendent Luis Rodriguez and Mayor Mike Spano in a joint statement on Sunday. “Collectively, we do not

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and will not tolerate hate speech of any kind from our students and community.

The antisemitic rhetoric reportedly made against the student athletes of The Leffel School are abhorrent, inappropriate, and not in line with the values we set forth for our young people.”

Yonkers Public Schools investigated the incident and decided to fire the offending group’s coach and kick one student off of the basketball team. Neither the coach nor the student have been named.

“The investigation is ongoing. Should the District determine other students were involved in the incident, further action would be taken by the school District where appropriate,” they added.

The Yonkers public school system will give classes and training sessions in an attempt to prevent such an incident from happening again.

“A high school basketball game. This cannot be who we are as New Yorkers. No one should ever be subjected to antisemitism or any kind of hate,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on X on Saturday in response to news of the incident.

Marathon Earth Challenge

Ben Pobjoy is joyful about running.

The Toronto native ran 242 marathons in nearly 70 countries in 2023 in his Marathon Earth Challenge.

The challenge was Pobjoy’s attempt to complete more than 240 solo marathons in one year and surpass Larry Macon’s 2012 title for 239 marathons completed that year.

Now, it looks like Pobjoy is ready for his crown. He cranked out three more marathons over the December holidays, making it a total of 242 marathons for 2023. He is waiting for Guinness World Records to acknowledge his feat (or is it feet? He certainly was pounding the pavement).

Pobjoy used to work in marketing, but he’s also a documentarian, and he made

sure to chronicle his journeys.

“Step by step, word by word, and image by image, each freestyle marathon is a way to nurture my curiosities and document my findings—in written essays via my newsletter, on social media, and photographic books—for others to enjoy,” he said.

Pobjoy’s running journey spanned more than 7,000 miles across South America, the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Along the way, the Canadian encountered -20 degree temperatures in Mongolia— and had to make do with makeshift winter gear—as well as extreme humidity in Malta.

“This past year has been mentally and physically taxing,” he said of the experience, “but it’s an incredible feeling to have achieved this momentous goal of mine and meet incredible people along the way.”

He wasn’t always so physically fit.

Back in 2015, Pobjoy was severely overweight and dealing with many health issues. He began taking outdoor walks and lost 100 pounds in eight months. He eventually began running.

“The big takeaway?” he wrote on Instagram. “BET ON YOURSELF.”

He Beat Tetris

Willis Gibson has achieved the impossible: he beat Tetris.

The 13-year-old is believed to be the first human gamer to reach level 157 of the classic video game nearly 40 years after its release.

“I’m going to pass out; I can’t feel my fingers,” Gibson said after his feat caused the game to crash in a video posted to YouTube last week.

“When I started playing this game I never expected to ever crash the game, or beat it,” Gibson wrote in the video’s description.

It took Gibson 38 minutes to shut down the nostalgic game.

Tetris was created by a Soviet engineer in 1984. It involves fitting falling blocks of various shapes into straight rows. As the levels go up, the blocks begin to fall faster.

To date, over 200 official variants

of Tetris have been released on at least 70 systems, a world record, according to Guinness World Records. The Electronic Arts developed mobile version released in 2006 has been sold 100 million times, making it the third best-selling video game of all time.

The Dog Ate It

tell their son one day.

“We’ve kept at least one of the tornup bills so we can do a piece of artwork and frame it to commemorate the entire situation,” Carrie said. “Not that we’d ever forget.”

Despite this unforgettable experience, Clayton and Carrie love Cecil.

“We couldn’t be mad at him – he’s a very lovable dog,” Carrie said.

With very expensive taste.

Senior Skier

Clayton Law and his wife Carrie love Cecil, their 7-year-old goldendoodle.

But this week, Cecil gave them a run for their money.

The couple had left an envelope filled with $4,000 cash on the counter. They were having a fence installed and the worker had asked for cash. But it seems that Cecil couldn’t resist the sweet smell of money. After Law came back to the kitchen around a half-hour later, he found Cecil munching on the greenbacks.

“I walked back into the room and then all this cash was on the ground.

He’s just like this, standing there, and I’m just like, oh my gosh, he ate some of this money and was in shock. I yelled to Carrie, ‘He ate the money, he ate $4,000,’” Clayton said.

The couple tried to reassemble the shredded bills, coming up with $1,500 worth of cash with serial numbers that were intact enough to have them replaced by the bank.

Later that evening, when Cecil threw up, a few more $100 bills were recovered. But the rest of the cash was pieced together after a few days, when the couple cleaned up Cecil’s messes, if you can understand what we’re saying. Yup, it was really dirty work.

They washed those shreds of bills and then taped them together to be brought to the bank.

“I never thought I’d be able to say I’ve laundered money, but there is apparently a first time for everything,” Carrie told The Washington Post.

In the end, the couple were able to salvage $3,550.

The couple said they are going to mail the rest of the bill remnants to the U.S. Treasury Department in the hopes of recovering more of the money, but if not, they will at least have a fun story to

Dwan Jacobsen Young is now the world’s oldest female water-skier.

The 92-year-old from Utah has been making a big splash since she was 29, when she first dipped her toes into the water sport. She had purchased a home on a lake and noticed that waterskiing was popular among the locals.

Now, she and her family water ski every summer and spend as much time on the lake as possible. Dwan says that the sport is the most fun when the water is smooth. She insists that once you know how to water ski, the sport begins to feel “natural.”

Still, “I always get butterflies before I get in the water,” she confessed.

Initially, Dwan learned to water ski by using two skis. Her favorite waterskiing moment is when she was finally able get up on the slalom.

Dwan’s daughter had entered her into the Guinness World Record and presented her with a plaque of her achievement during their family holiday party.

“Our daughter announced that our granddaughter had a surprise,” she said. “Up on the screen came a video of me skiing this summer.”

Her granddaughter Becca presented her with a Guinness World Records plaque as everyone applauded.

“I could not believe it. I still cannot believe it,” said Dwan. “What a surprise and what an honor.”

She encourages those who want to try out new endeavors to make the effort.

“Do not be afraid to try a new sport when you are older,” the nonagenarian asserts. “You are more capable than you think.”

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Community IDF Chesed Center Hosts Combat Medic Yosef Traube

Yosef addressing the scores of people who came to hear him at the Israel IDF Chesed Center

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n Wednesday night, January 3, the IDF / Israel Chesed Center, the largest “Chamal” outside of Israel serving the needs of Chayalim, Kittot Konnenut (Security Response Teams) and Mifunim (displaced people), hosted IDF Soldier Yosef Traube. Yosef grew up in Cleveland, and after completing high school at Adelphia Yeshiva and a year in Beis Medrash at Waterbury, moved to Israel and joined the IDF. Yosef, a Combat Medic, was called into service on Simchat Torah, and after a few weeks of preparation and training, has been serving with his unit in Gaza.

Over 150 people from the community attended the event and were also introduced to the work of the Chesed Center in real time, assisting with packing of duffel bags filled with gear and with sorting clothing being sent directly to the various hotels that are housing displaced families.

Yosef’s speech was dedicated in memory of two members of his unit, Eyal Meir Berkowicz, Hy”d, and Gal Meir Eisenkot, Hy”d, who were killed in battle on Erev Chanukah. Yosef focused on three main areas in his presentation.

1. Gratitude – Yosef began by reciting Birchat HaGomel, thanking Hashem for the many miracles that he experienced and for the fact that Hashem saved him from many difficult situations. He then thanked us and all of the people around

Yosef with his wife, Barr, and Moshe Bodner and Raylie Bodner

the world who have provided support and who have davened on behalf of the chayalim. Yosef also mentioned that the letters that are sent to the soldiers are very warmly received and make the chayalim feel that they are fighting not only for Eretz Yisrael but for all of Am Yisrael.

Yosef also thanked his community in Karmiel for their support, and he saved his biggest Hakarat Hatov for his wife, Barr, who he thanked for watching over their five children while he is on active duty!

2. Responsibility – While soldiers are living up to their responsibilities as members of the IDF, Yosef encouraged all of us to continue to take responsibility for each other. Aside from making donations

Eyal Meir Berkowicz and Gal Meir Eisenkot, Hyd, on the screen as Yosef speaks

(which are very much appreciated), Yosef inspired the crowd to step up even more – to spearhead projects, to volunteer in Israel and to remember that every little bit of help is appreciated and needed.

3. Unity – Eyal Meir Berkowicz, Hy”d, and Gal Meir Eisenkot, Hy”d, came from very different backgrounds. Eyal grew up in a daati family, learned in yeshiva and served in the IDF as a proud religious Jew. Gal grew up in a chiloni home in the Tel Aviv area and lived a very secular lifestyle. Yet Eyal and Gal were close friends, fought together for a common cause and were killed in battle Al Kiddush Hashem.

To them, the differences between themselves were not nearly as big or as im-

portant as the ties that bound them to our land and to each other. Yosef reminded us that unity does not mean uniformity. Unity means working together with a shared goal. It does not mean agreeing on everything (Eyal and Gal did not!) but it does mean being able to remain close despite those disagreements. As Yosef said, even though the flag of Israel might have had different meanings to Eyal and Gal, together they held the flag without ripping it.

The IDF / Israel Chesed center is open to the community and is prepared to help all organizations and individuals in supporting Eretz Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.

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From Yeshivas to Hospitals to Farms, Rambam Students make an Impact in Israel

Eitan Sonnenblick, Shimon Dahan, Reb Joe Wertman, Rav Eliezer Schenvald, Joshua Horowitz, and Yosef Ben-Ishay

By Rabbi Joe Wertman, Rambam Rebbe and Alumnus

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ast week, students from Rambam Mesivta traveled to Israel to volunteer and show support to soldiers and civilians alike during these challenging times. The trip was characterized by giving all that the group had to offer and gaining a deeper understanding of the ongoing war and how it has impacted all facets of Israeli life, leaving no one unaffected.

The trip began with the group visiting Hesder Yeshiva Meir Harel located in Modiin to meet Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Schenvald, who also serves as a colonel in the IDF. The group immediately noticed the eerily empty large Beit Medrash – a yeshiva typically filled by 115 boys is currently down to an attendance of only 40, with most of the yeshiva serving in the IDF, frequently as combat paramedics.

Rav Schenvald spoke about the effect of the war on his yeshiva, what makes this war different, and the religious texture of the IDF right now. As a Talmid Chacham with extensive experience serving in the IDF, having had a brother and student killed by terrorists in the early 2000s (Meir and Harel, the namesakes of the Yeshiva), and as a father of a soldier who was seriously wounded during this war, Rav Schenvald provided a perspective unlike any other.

The group then visited Tel Hashomer hospital to pay visits to wounded soldiers and to distribute chocolates, cold drinks, and Tefila Hoda’ah cards. The soldiers were touched by the visit and gestures, though one soldier, who had lost a leg, requested a snack with more protein because he “had to get back to training.”

Meeting with Amiram Moerman, founder of Karmet Yosef farm

The students participated in a kumzits going from room to room, where one soldier played along on the guitar, resting it on his remaining leg. Finally, the group had the opportunity to meet Mordechai Schenvald (son of the Rosh Yeshiva) who was seriously wounded early on during operations in Gaza. He has made a miraculous recovery and is able to stand on his own two feet. Indeed, he did stand on his own two feet in his hospital room when he played Hatikva on his violin for the visitors and when he davened Mincha with them.

The following day, the group met with evacuated civilians from southern and northern communities in Israel who are currently living in kibbutzim Almog and Kalya. These courageous evacuated people spoke about being a refugee in their own country, not knowing when they’ll return home, family issues that arise in such conditions, and dealing with children’s education. One representative of these hundreds of thousands of Israelis recounted his first visit home since October 7, where he found his food from Simchat Torah still hauntingly where they had left it. The group also heard from a member of Kibbutz Shuva about how their kibbutz was miraculously saved from attack on that tragic Simchat Torah morning. The meetings were graciously facilitated by Colonel Binyamin who spoke about how neither he, nor the other colonels and soldiers with whom he’s working, are career soldiers; they are consultants, teachers, electricians, etc., totally leaving their business and livelihoods on indefinite pause to serve their country and people.

On the final morning of their trip, the group went to volunteer to prune Loquat

Meeting with a mother of five who has been evacuated from her home and whose husband is in the air force

Soldiers holding letters written by Rambam students

flowers at Moerman Farm located in Karmei Yosef. The massive farm, which typically employs between 20-40 workers each day, is down to a labor force of zero due to the ongoing war. The only workers are the volunteers who show up each day. They met with Amiram Moerman, the 88-year-young founder of the farm, who told the story of how he cleared out the massive area of farmland in the early ‘50s. The group was trained to prune effectively by Amiram’s stepson, Tomer, who runs the daily farm operations. The group labored in the mud, with bees and mosquitos about, to make a small contribution to the crisis farmers are experiencing across Israel.

The final stop of the trip was volunteering at a BBQ for soldiers, a mere few kilometers from the border of southern Gaza. The students took initiatives, running the grills and manning the fryer, meaningfully contributing to the facilitation of the BBQ. Finally, the group distributed letters written by students

of Rambam Mesivta to the soldiers. On multiple occasions, the soldiers insisted they call the student who had signed the letter so they can thank them personally over video call. In another instance, the soldiers asked that the students take a video of them to share with Rambam Mesivta. The soldiers were deeply touched by the letters, and the group left feeling that they made a meaningful impact.

Through the various stops of the trip, the students gained a holistic perspective of life in Israel during these tumultuous times. They saw from the perspective of a Hesder Rosh Yeshiva, a father of a wounded soldier, wounded soldiers themselves, evacuated families, high ranking reservists, farmers, and active-duty soldiers. The group’s visitations were deeply appreciated by all whom they visited, and as much as they gave, they felt they received.

With G-d’s help, the need for such a trip should never arise again.

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Orthodox Union Communal Growth Initiative Appreciates Major Gift from Steve and Genie Savitsky

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he Orthodox Union is anticipating 2024 as a year of communal development and sustainability because of a generous gift from former OU President Steve Savitsky and his wife Genie, reaffirming their commitment to the Jewish community.

“Within larger Orthodox communities, there is significant local peer partnership and support,” says OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer.

“Smaller communities tend to be more isolated, making ongoing support from national organizations so important. The Savitsky family’s generosity will enable the OU to assist our emerging communities.”

During his seven-year tenure beginning in 2004, Steve often spoke on behalf of the OU and traveled for Shabbatot with

Genie to diverse Jewish communities across North America. These visits led him to create the OU’s Community Home Relocation Fair in 2008 to showcase the vibrancy of Orthodox Jewish amenities of smaller communities to singles and families considering relocation. The event has become a significant event that inspires hundreds of people to move to communities with the amenities needed for a religious life style while benefiting greatly from a more affordable cost of living. Making aliyah has been a popular option for many Fair participants, and in the current atmosphere, there is no doubt that it will be an integral part of the Fair.

“The Savitsky Home Relocation Fair will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, and is an exciting virtual event that people can access from the comfort of their

homes. Over 60 North American communities will be on display. The Orthodox Union encourages aliyah, and many of our relocators will appreciate the resources that are provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh and Israeli CAPITIL realty,” noted Rebbetzin Judi Steinig, Senior Director, CPP, and Fair Coordinator.

Funds from the new Savitsky Communal Growth Initiative will enable enhancements for the Fair, Community Guide, reimagined Communities website (https://communities.ou.org) and other programming throughout the year. A new biennial award will recognize one community for its commitment to sustaining Jewish life outside major city centers, and funds will also be used to boost the department’s marketing and program staff.

“The Savitskys are the perfect part-

ners to work with on this critical initiative,” says CPP National Director Rabbi Simon Taylor. “Their understanding and commitment to building Jewish communities is unparalleled, and thanks to their incredible generosity, we look forward to taking our Communal Growth Initiative to the next level.”

For Steve Savitsky, the gift represents an extension of his and Genie’s abiding commitment to chessed and the Jewish community. “Chessed to me is what we’re here to do,” he says. “Taking advantage of opportunities to do chessed makes you feel good and adds meaning to your life.

Every day, we can get up and change the world.”

HAFTR Invitational Scott Satran Memorial Tournament

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he HAFTR Invitational Scott Satran Memorial Tournament concluded this weekend, culminating in a vibrant celebration of basketball, camaraderie, sportsmanship, and friendship. Now in its 38th year, this tournament proudly retains its status as the longest-running invitational in the Yeshiva League, and the latest edition surpassed expectations as an immense success.

Welcoming ten teams from diverse locations, including Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and local New York area schools, HAFTR created a platform for spirited competition that extended beyond the court. The emphasis on unity was particularly evident during Shabbat, where students, united by their love for the game, forged connections that transcended basketball, fostering bonds over shared interests.

This year’s tournament took a poignant turn due to the unfolding situation in Israel. Friday night, typically reserved

for post-Shabbat dinner entertainment, assumed a more solemn tone as the boys listened to accounts from Joey Hoenig, who just returned from a mission trip to Israel, and Ilona Diamond. Amit Ya’akov from Friends of the IDF (FIDF), fresh from Gaza, also shared insights.

The objective was clear: to raise awareness among participants about the ongoing events in Israel, leaving each player with a tangible reminder of unity and the plight of hostages in Gaza. Beyond the court, the tournament transcended mere sports, offering an experience that underscored the importance of community.

As the host, HAFTR expressed pride in the weekend’s success. Despite HAFTR’s 3-2 record, including a semi-final defeat against North Shore Hebrew Academy, the occasion served as a tribute to the seniors, acknowledging their years of dedication and outstanding play. Joey Hoenig, HAFTR’s Athletic Director and Basketball Coach, emphasized the tournament’s broader significance, stating,

Did you know?

IKEA’s Billy bookcase is sold at a rate of approximately one every five seconds.

“Every year this tournament is a lot more than basketball, and this year was no exception. Hearing about Scott Satran’s life and the lessons learned from the resilience of his family and learning about what’s happening in Israel from people who just returned from the war zone, this year’s tournament was more meaningful than ever. And of course, the basketball was awesome. Congratulations to HAFTR who played really great but fell a bit short and to Magen David on winning their 5th championship in a row.”

HAFTR eagerly anticipates hosting the tournament again next year, expressing immense pride not only in the

on-court victories but also in fostering connections, camaraderie, and sportsmanship within the Yeshiva League community. The tournament’s conclusion left participants, organizers, and spectators with lasting memories of a weekend filled with competitive spirit and unity. Special thanks were extended to all who hosted players, the maintenance crew, Frazier Elite for their referee teams, and the supportive spectators who cheered on their teams. The shared appreciation for values and connections affirmed the HAFTR Invitational Scott Satran Memorial Tournament’s status as a highlight on the Yeshiva League calendar.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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HANC Remembers Rabbi Kelemer, zt”l

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very Friday morning, in HANC’s Elementary School in West Hempstead, the students and staff gather in the auditorium for a weekly Shabbat assembly. This past week was even more special as the whole school came together to honor the memory of West Hempstead’s beloved Morah D’Atra, Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, zt”l, whose third Yahrzeit was commemorated on Friday.

While he was known for his sweet nature, delightful sense of humor and extraordinary depth of Torah knowledge, the middah that he was most remembered for was his chesed. When a congregant or friend was in need, no matter whether it was daytime or the middle of the night, Rabbi Kelemer always made himself available to help, to visit a sick person, to pay a shiva call, to help solve a problem, or whatever was required. There were no bounds to how far he would travel to provide comfort, guidance and chizuk to anyone in need.

How do we honor the memory of such a special tzaddik? We light a candle, share divrei Torah, relate stories

about him and his many good deeds, and try to emulate him in every way we can.

Amongst its guests for this special occasion, HANC welcomed Rebbetzin Ruchie Kelemer, their son, Rav Shalom Kelemer, as well as several of their other children and grandchildren. Rav Kelemer shared stories with the children about his father, as well as recognized his wonderful mother who supported Rabbi Kelemer so that he could perform his many roles to their fullest.

For Morah Elana Jacobs, a fourth grade morah who grew up in West Hempstead and was a student in HANC as a child, honoring Rabbi Kelemer was an important mission due to her personal experience of having him as a teacher and rebbe. She compiled a video of HANC staff members and students who shared their own personal stories of Rabbi Kelemer going out of his way to perform chesed and to make each person feel special and appreciated.

“Rabbi Kelemer was someone who impacted our entire community on a daily basis through his chesed. How do

we give back to someone who gave us so much? By following in his ways and becoming more like him with the middah of ahavat chesed. By performing acts of chesed in his memory, his neshama will have an aliyah.”

As a result, Morah Jacobs developed a Chesed Program called C.A.K.E. (Chesed And Kindness Every day) so that all of the students of the school could emulate this remarkable Gadol Ba’Torah who had

such a profound influence on the community, the school and the world at large. As each act of kindness or chesed was performed, a specially designed chesed note was filled out and posted for all to see.

At the conclusion of the assembly, the entire school stood together, read two perakim of Tehillim in Rabbi Kelemer’s memory, and sang Shabbat songs. May his memory be a blessing for us all.

Second place winner Kayla Muratov

Second place winner Rivi Freund

Last week, all HALB students whose art is on display took a trip with Mrs. Bernstein and Mrs. Rusgo to see their art hanging on the synagogue walls and

to meet Rabbi Ari Kornblit. The students had a great time and were very proud!

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

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he Cedarhurst Village Board met on January 8 to commemorate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and the Village Board presented a citation to two outstanding individuals from Nassau County’s 4th Precinct: Commanding Officer Inspector Vincent Boden (pictured)

and Administrative Lieutenant Charles Sollin. Their unwavering dedication and service to our community deserve recognition and celebration. These exemplary men embody the spirit of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, as they tirelessly work to safeguard our communities, uphold justice, and ensure our safety.

HALB Works of Art at JFK

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everal HALB students submitted their original works of art to the Jewish Press Chanukah Art Contest. Nineteen HALB students were cho-

sen to have their art displayed at the JFK Synagogue in Terminal 4. Congratulations to Rivi Freund and Kayla Muratov on winning second place in the contest!

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New Amud Yomi in the Five Towns

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ehilas Yismach Moshe of Woodmere is inviting all to join their new Amud yomi shiur. The shiur is given by Rabbi Heshy Blumstein, Mora D’asra and a well-known mashpia for the Thank you Hashem movement.

The shiur is known by its acronym, DAY, Dirshu Amud Yomi, and is being livestreamed on Zoom at http://bit. ly/3GXWLnK for all those who are not able to attend in person. The shiur is being given Monday-Thursday at 5:45 am, 1:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:30 pm. On Sunday and holidays, it will be given after

Mincha and Maariv, which is b’zmano.

The goal of the shiur in to understand the Amud in a methodical way where there is time to learn Rashi and Tosafos and have pilpul chaverim. The shiur also focuses on the simcha and joy found in the Amud, which are lovingly called simcha moments.

An example of this simcha is based on the halacha that small pieces of bread still have the bracha of Hamotzi as long as it has the tzurah of bread. A Yid can sometimes feel broken and small and perhaps lost but he is still awesome because he is

always part of our great nation because he has the tzurah of a Yid, the pintele Yid. The D.A.Y. shiur is perfect for people who feel the daf is a bit too much for them and want a slower pace. It’s also perfect for chevra who want to review the Daf. Many haskamos were given for this new program. Rav Yussie Zakatinsky writes, “This is such a beautiful program!

Consistent learning at a pace that is conducive for chazarah and iyun will certainly bring great sipuk hanefesh to all who join.”

For any question or more info, please email amudyomi5t@gmail.com or feel free to call Rabbi Heshy Blumstein to shmooze about this amazing program at 516-668-6554.

Other learning chaburos and additional Amud yomi programs can be formed. Humbly, the Kehila has established Yismach Moshe at 1034 Broadway, Woodmere, NY, as a Dirshu Amud learning Center.

Make the DAY Amud the best part of your DAY!

JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Rav Moshe Brown, rav of Agudas Yisroel of West Lawrence, spoke at Aish Kodesh last week on the sugya of Talmud Torah.

The shiur was presented l’ilui nishmas Shlomo Mayer, z”, Shlomo Yisroel ben R’ Yehudah Aryeh

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Budding Artists at HANC

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eveloping artistic talent and exploring various modes of creative expression are pillars of the educational program for the young students in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead. Introducing art to preschoolers is so important because it has a positive impact for their overall development. Art allows preschoolers to express themselves creatively and provides a multitude of opportunities to explore their imagination. Through their artistic creations, they can share emotions, ideas and stories, fostering effective communication skills. This is particularly valuable for very young children who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. Children can explore various mediums through which to share their thoughts and perspectives. In addition, art encourages cognitive development by promoting problem solving skills, critical thinking, and decision making.

The child can learn to make choices regarding color, materials, and techniques which helps to further develop their cognitive abilities.

Morah Trudy Rubinstein, Director of HANC’s Early Childhood Center, explained, “We should encourage our children to create freely and not stifle their

‘masterpieces.” Many children like to share their artwork and provide a narrative of what they have made. Many times, it is quite informative of what is happening in the inner, emotional life of the child so it is important to listen and observe what they have drawn.”

On Wednesday, Mrs. Elana Kaplan, a Museum Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Derfner Judaica Museum, presented a wonderful program to the nursery bet students as an introduction into Tu B’Shvat and the HANC ECC Artist Enrichment Program. Her program, entitled “Trees and Fruits in Art,” was an introduction into Tu B’Shvat and served as a spinoff into our nursery bet art enrichment unit. Through an interactive, multisensory presentation, Morah Elana was able to share different artwork and sculptures to focus the children’s attention on various colors, shapes and materials that artists used. Morah Elana then provided the children with materials to recreate some of the styles that they had just seen. The subsequent creations were truly remarkable.

What an enriching morning was shared by all, and the morot can’t wait to see what the children will create next!

HALB’s first graders received their very own Siddurim on Sunday. Mazal tov!

Ambassadors in Peru And India

By Rabbi Yitzchok and Rabbi Moshe Fingerer

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n this week’s parsha, Hashem states to Moshe: “I appeared to the forefathers in the name of Sha-kai; with the name of Hava-ya I did not appear to them.” These different names of Hashem seem confounding. What exactly does this mean? What was the message Hashem was communicating?

The Gemara in tractate Chagiga says that the name Sha-kai denotes confinement and limitation. In a Kabbalastic and meta-cosmological sense this means that Hashem ordained constraints on the

expansion of the physical universe.

Perhaps this means that Hashem appeared to the patriarchs in a confined sense (Sha-kai denoting confinement) because they did not see the entire fulfillment of the prophecies. They merely saw the predictions but did not live to see the outcomes. However, to Moshe, Hashem appears totally transcendental as the name Hava-ya denotes past, present, and future. This name indicates that Moshe will see the predictions and prophecies, all of Jewish destiny, converge in time.

He will see the enslavement of the Jews but also witness the redemption.

There is a similar feeling and sentiment at BJX. The Navi promises

that despite all the travails and exile, Hashem›s children will return. The youth will impact and influence their elders and imbue them with a sense of Torah and truth. Baruch Hashem, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy on a regular basis at BJX. Our college students on winter break with their families are keeping Yiddishkeit alive. Eric traveled to India. He purchased the Ben Ish Chai sefer and sent us a photo with his precious acquisition. Gabe visited Peru where he proudly wore his tefillin and tzitzis. Today, these students know that wherever they are – on the college campus, home or far away in India or Peru – Judaism is alive and thriving.

Why? Because they are our ambassadors who carry with them a renewed sense of Torah and truth. May we all imbue others with true ahavas HaTorah.

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JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Art at Lev Chana

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ev Chana’s Art Program focused on the work of artist Paul Klee last week. Students learned about his style and then made their own Klee-inspired pictures of the Kotel.

Names, Not Numbers at HANC

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he eighth grade at HANC had an amazing experience shortly before yeshiva break. The grade was divided into groups and had the opportunity to interview Holocaust survivors.

The students prepared extensively for these interviews. The students studied their survivor’s bio and used it to prepare questions to discuss the survivors’ memories from before, during, and after the war. The experience was one the students will never forget. As each survivor entered the building, he/she was greeted by our students. The interactions were wonderful. One of the highlights of the program was the intergenerational component. Seeing the faces of the survivors light up and seeing the students’ faces respond in kind was nothing short of mag-

ical. The survivor was escorted to the Beit Medrash which was turned into a real set complete with video, sound, and light equipment. The students took turns in the roles of interviewer, sound, video, and observer. The students were trained and directed by the Names, Not Numbers© production crew. We thank Drew Aldridge for all of his hard work on the project. Special hakarat hatov to Mr. Dov Rosenberg and Mrs. Tova Rosenberg for all of their effort in making this week so special for the students. The interviews themselves were the most memorable.

There were so many poignant moments.

I do not want to play the role of spoiler, so everyone will have to wait until the movie comes out with the interviews.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Connecting Hearts Across the Globe

YUHSG Annual Dinner of Tribute Celebrates Central Community

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n a heartwarming initiative, the 5th grade girls from Morah Handler’s class at TAG displayed compassion for girls in Netivot, near the Gaza border.

Expressing genuine concern, each student crafted heartfelt

cards and cozy sweatshirts, aiming to convey solidarity and support. The “L’Achosi b’mizrach mei’achoscha b’maariv” initiative was spearheaded by Chana Weinstock and hosted by her gracious parents Dov and Shani. The undertaking profoundly displayed the powerful impact of nesios ol, in connecting hearts across the globe.

Did you know?

IKEA’s founder, Ingvar Kamprad, was dyslexic, and so he named products using proper names and words because it made them easier for him to identify.

n Tuesday, January 9, the Yeshiva University High School for Girls held its annual Dinner of Tribute at The Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. The theme of this year’s dinner, “Strengthening our Community,” was a fitting nod to solidarity with Israel in a year of conflict and challenge. Since October 7, Central has come together to show support for Israel through Torah, chesed, and tefillah. There has been a strong emphasis on the value of Jewish education during a time of rising antisemitism worldwide. The dinner was a tribute to those who enable the meaningful Central experience.

This year’s Guests of Honor were Mr. and Mrs. Hillel and Rachel Tuchman, parents of current senior Tiferet Tuchman. The award is an expression of the Central community’s gratitude for their generosity and service. “We are incredibly proud and grateful Central parents,” the Tuchmans said. “Central and all its staff have been invaluable partners in helping us educate and inspire our daughter, Tiferet, to continue realizing, nurturing, and developing all of her amazing gifts and talents. We hope that, in accepting this honor, we can continue to support Central as they instill a passion for learning, activism, and a strong sense of Jewish pride and a love for Israel in the next generation of young Jewish women.”

The recipient of the Chesed Leadership Award, Mrs. Keli Rifkin, was recognized for her work as an outstanding parent partner. Central thanked Mrs. Rifkin for lending her talents to the Parents Council and the Parent Strategic Ad-

visory Board, as well as coordinating the school’s Jobs Fair.

The YUHSG Alumna Award goes to Ms. Estee Ackerman on behalf of the Class of 2019. A world table tennis champion, Ms. Ackerman has, among other achievements, competed against – and defeated – Rafael Nadal. Not only has she coached Central’s tennis team, but she declined to try out for the Olympics because the trials took place on Shabbat, proving herself to be an exceptional representative of Central and an inspiration for YUHSG students.

This year’s Ethel Dworetsky Faculty Award was given to Judaic Studies faculty member and Senior Grade Dean, Mrs. Rebecca Teper. Currently in her eighth year of teaching at Central, Mrs. Teper is an essential part of the Central community. Her dedication to her students in her capacity as a teacher of Navi and Chumash, in her capacity as Senior Grade Dean, and via longtime contributions to programming for Shabbaton and Central G.O. is beyond measure. She has made a meaningful impact in the lives of countless students. She has also been a creative and compassionate force within the Central faculty, and has the respect and admiration of every one of her appreciative colleagues. “I’m so excited to spend the evening with our amazing faculty, students, and parent body to recognize the learning and achievements that happen in our building,” Mrs. Teper said.

The evening was a testament to the power of unity – the strength derived from a community coming together as one.

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Around the Community

Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim Welcomes Roi Assaraf

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eshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim had the privilege and honor to host Mr. Roi Assaraf during his visit to the Five Towns. Mr. Assaraf is a survivor of the October 7th Nova Music Festival Massacre. Roi shared his story and the incredible series of miraculous events that occurred to him and his wife as he escaped from the festival.

Roi and his wife woke up later than they planned and arrived at the festival with parking only available in the back of the lot. They put a milk container on the antenna of their car in order to identify it easily when they would leave. This was a life-saving decision as they were able to find their car right away as they fled from the terror shortly afterwards.

On their way, running to their car with rockets exploding, sirens ringing, bullets flying, and people yelling, Roi noticed someone asleep in another car and woke him up, informing him of the attack and the urgency to leave, thereby saving his life. As Roi began to drive, he noticed his GPS telling him to make a U-turn like the cars ahead of him. However, in his head, he kept on hearing, “Keep on driving straight,” so Roi continued driving straight ahead. As they neared an Israeli army base, Roi’s friend who was in the car with them suggested they stop at the base, but once again something was telling Roi to continue driving. Afterwards, they found out that that specific base was full of terrorists waiting to murder Israelis who stop there.

Pajama Night Two in Plainview

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ercaz Academy’s Early Childhood Center enjoyed its second Pajama Night of the school year, with ECC Coordinator Morah Jo Mlotok welcoming families old and new to check out Mercaz Academy after dark.

This Pajama Night focused on introducing younger current and potential students to the Hebrew language learning taking place at Mercaz Academy.

ECC students wore their pajamas to the evening event–but no one was ready for bed yet at Mercaz! Children from the Toddlers, Nursery Aleph, Nursery Bet, and Kindergarten classes and their parents welcomed guest families and ate a delicious meal of pasta, hummus, and Israeli salad. Afterward, the children divided into two groups to enjoy some all-Hebrew language pre-bedtime entertainment, switching midway so no one missed anything.

In the Kindergarten room, the children found Morah Dalia Ozarko reading a Hebrew story, Hayom Halavan (The White Day) by Shulamit Tzorfati. Morah Dalia, who donned a fluffy winter hat for the story, drew the children into her

expressive reading of the Hebrew text, making her meaning understood to all. In the Nursery Bet room, ECC Ulpan teacher Morah Levana Gil led students in an interactive and rousing performance of “Five Little Monkeys” completely in Hebrew. Morah Levana used a felt board to teach the vocabulary of the song to the children without using any English words. Then she directed the children in a lively performance of the unfortunate monkeys jumping on the bed, complete with a telephoning mother and a doctor decreeing, “no more monkeys jumping on the bed!” in Hebrew.

The evening finished with delicious cookies and then home, ready for bed after an exciting evening of Hebrew fun.

As Roi continued to drive, they saw soldiers with Hamas bands around their heads. Roi held his wife’s head down below the glove compartment and ducked under the steering wheel while the Hamas terrorists fired rounds of bullets at the vehicle. With guns aimed at his vehicle and bullets flying in all directions, Roi drove without seeing the road as he cried out, “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad,” and said “Shir HaMaalos Esa Enei.”

They drove until Be’er Sheva where they ran out of gas. As Roi and his passengers were filling up gas, rockets landed in Be’er Sheva, but with the guidance of Hashem, they remained safe.

Mr. Assaraf gave chizuk to the talmidiim and community members through retelling his experience and revealing the moment he and his wife took upon themselves to return to the path of Torah. Roi and his wife began with keeping Shabbos

because Shabbos is a mitzvah that includes many more mitzvos and signifies the ultimate connection and treaty between Hashem and His people.

Roi plans on publishing a book, when his friends who are being held hostage are released, so that their stories can be added to the one hundred miraculous stories similar to his from other survivors who have difficulty retelling and reliving these terrifying moments that changed their lives forever.

On October 7, Roi lost thirteen close friends, HY”D, who were murdered by the Hamas terrorists, and another two close friends who are being held hostage in Gaza.

May we all be zoche to be united and have all of our brothers and sisters returned and the ultimate redemption with Moshiach tzidkeinu bimheira b’yameinu.

Amen!

YCQ Junior High School Students Master Parshat HaShavua

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fter learning Parshat HaShavua in depth each week, the Junior High School boys and girls at YCQ made respective siyumim on Sefer Bereishit last week during breakfast.

Since Parshat Bereishis, JHS Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Rovner, has been recording a weekly video that thoroughly covers the major points and themes of the parsha. Rabbi Rovner, Morah Mashie Kopelowtiz (Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator & Instructional Leader K-8), and Mr. Teddy Richter (Director of Educational Technology) work together to create an EdPuzzle, an interactive lesson that incorporates the video with relevant questions, that is sent to the JHS students (and 5th grade) each week.

This new program enables students to grasp the relevant parsha knowledge and develop the skills necessary to learn Chumash on their own. Students and teachers have praised the program, and parents are particularly proud of their children who now have the ability to contribute high level divrei Torah to the Shabbat table every week.

At the siyumim, students gave divrei Torah that highlighted the connection between the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael. Shalom Peled, Yona Canter, Ezra

Barth, Leah Vaysband, Naomi Matatov, and Maya Davidov referenced different moments from the beginning, middle, and end of Sefer Bereishis that emphasized the importance of Eretz Yisrael.

They spoke about how the very Rashi in the Chumash describes how the land was given to us, the various promises Hashem gives to the avot, and how Yosef HaTzaddik insists that his bones be buried in the land.

Special thank you to Rabbi Rovner, Morah Mashie, Mr. Richter, Rabbi Knapp, Rabbi Nat, Morah Schussheim, and Rabbi Steinberg for all their help organizing this beautiful program and special siyum. Looking forward to coming together at the end of Sefer Shemot for another celebration of Talmud Torah.

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BYAM 3rd Grade Publishers

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Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) presented Mr. Richard and Lisa Altabe, guests of honor, with an official NYS Citation at the Agudah of West Lawrence Melave Malka

he third graders at BYAM just celebrated an important milestone – becoming published authors!

After spending some time learning about realistic fiction, the girls wrote their own.

Through the steps of the writing process the students experienced the time, effort, and attention it takes to produce a book, and they reaped the satisfaction as well! Each girl painstakingly and carefully copied her story into book form and added illustrations. They then carefully bound their stories using ribbon and sheet protectors. Lastly, they celebrated! They each had a chance to read their story to the class, and even had the

opportunity to learn about book reviews and critique their classmates’ work. The party ended with some food art. The girls

worked their creative magic again and turned some graham crackers into beautiful looking books!

Chazaq’s Annual Night of Gratitude Draws Large Crowd

O Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Chairman of Eretz HaKodesh, meeting with Aviv Ezra, Acting Consul General, in the Israel Consulate in New York. Rabbi Lerner recently met with Ambassador Tzippy Hotovely, Israel Ambassador to the United Kingdom, at her residence in London

n the eve of December 31, Chazaq, the dynamic organization committed to community enrichment, hosted its highly anticipated Annual Night of Gratitude at Beth Gavriel. This annual event, designed to provide chizuk (strength) and inspiration to the community, once again witnessed an extraordinary turnout this year, with a large number of attendees coming together to be inspired.

The highlight of the evening was the stellar lineup of distinguished speakers who shared their wisdom and insights with the eager audience. Rabbi Paysach Krohn, renowned for his storytelling prowess, captured the hearts of the crowd with anecdotes that resonated deeply. Rabbi Menachem Nissel, known for his engaging and thought-provoking talks, provided a unique perspective on personal growth and spiritual development.

The audience was also privileged to hear from Rabbi Yaakov Mizrahi, whose dynamic and passionate delivery left a

lasting impact. Adding to the richness of the event was Rabbi Tomer Zino, who brought his unique blend of scholarship and inspiration to the stage.

Beth Gavriel, the chosen venue for this memorable occasion, provided a warm and inviting space for the diverse crowd. Families, individuals, and community leaders gathered to share in the collective sense of gratitude and renewal

as the year came to a close.

Chazaq’s Annual Night of Gratitude has become a staple in the community, fostering unity and a sense of purpose among attendees. The event serves as a platform for individuals to connect, reflect on the past year, and draw inspiration for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Did you know?

Morah Shana Katz’s kindergarten boys at Yeshiva Darchei Torah learning the letter “kaf” with the help of an ample supply of cups

The IKEA catalog is one of the world’s most widely distributed publications, surpassing the Bible and the Koran in terms of copies printed.

“Building” friendships at Shulamith ECC

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JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

MTA’s Dinner of Tribute is a Huge Success

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TA held its annual Dinner of Tribute last week at Marina Del Rey, and it was a tremendously successful event! With a packed room, and a meaningful program, the entire MTA community felt proud of their yeshiva. In these troubling times, it can be difficult to balance the celebratory mood of a dinner with the current situation in Eretz Yisrael. In order to maintain proper balance, MTA paid special tribute to their alumni who are currently serving in the IDF. Several of the soldiers’ parents were in attendance and appreciated the Yeshiva’s efforts in davening for and highlighting their children at the event.

The Yeshiva’s honorees that evening were respected Community Pillars at MTA, hailing from four prominent communities. Dr. Rebecca (‘99) and Dr. Elly (‘95) Gamss are pillars of the Bergen County community. They are devoted MTA parents who, in their humble way, lead by example and instill the values they learned in the Yeshiva University High Schools to their children. Mrs. Alison and Dr. Ari Gross, pillars of the West Hempstead community, started sending their sons to MTA when very few others in their community did. Today, West Hempstead b”H has a full bus of talmidim attending the Yeshiva daily.

Mrs. Bracha and Mr. Ami (‘98) Avraham, pillars of the Edison/Highland Park community, are MTA parents who exemplify what it means to be doers. The Avrahams are always among the first to sponsor events and offer to help. No job is too small nor too demanding for the Avrahams. Dr. Leah and Rabbi Shalom Rosenfeld are model dorm parents and

pillars of the Silver Spring community.

The Rosenfelds typify, and have instilled in their children, all of the ideals that the Yeshiva stands for. Each family contributes so much to MTA by embodying the values of the yeshiva and transmitting them to both their children and their communities.

In addition to honoring the aforementioned families, MTA also recognized Rabbi Avraham Shulman (‘90), with the faculty award. As a treasured member of the MTA faculty for over 18 years, Rabbi Shulman’s impact is far-reaching. In addition to being a beloved twelfth grade Rebbe, he also serves as the grade dean/ mashgiach for the Seniors, and director of Israel guidance. Rabbi Shulman carefully helps each talmid find a post high school plan that works best for him. Rabbi Shulman is known for keeping in touch with his talmidim for many years after they graduate and can often be spotted at their weddings!

With everyone’s minds and hearts in Israel, it is more challenging than ever to fundraise for local institutions. Undaunted, MTA’s fundraising team embraced the challenge, and with the help of their incredible honorees, increased the number of unique donors by 33%!

These funds will greatly help MTA continue to forge a path of excellence in Limudei Kodesh, as well as a first-rate gener-

al studies program coupled with a wide array of extra-curricular options.

To join the esteemed list of dinner donors, you can make a donation through yu.edu/yuhsbdinner2024 or reach out to Yeshiva University High School’s Director of Institutional Advancement, Sari Kahn at sari.kahn@yu.edu or 646-5926152.

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Around the Community

Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato Attends Agudas Yisroel Yeshiva Summit

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ew York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato attended the annual Agudas Yisroel Yeshiva Summit last week. While there, the Assemblywoman spoke with administrators from a range of yeshivas, along with education related business operators, and mapped out upcoming legisla-

tive ideas. In addition, Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, who is considered the leading advocate for yeshivas and the Jewish community in the State Legislature, was thanked for her unwavering support of yeshivas over the years and her unprecedented success for securing funding for nonpublic schools.

MTA Celebrates Varsity Hockey Senior Night

By Mark Rosenstock

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his past Monday was a special night for MTA’s Varsity hockey team. Senior Night has become a tradition in many schools, giving the team an opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to their Senior players. At MTA, the evening began with a special presentation, and each senior was presented with a sefer. Many parents were in attendance, as the Lions were about to take on the SAR Sting, a worthy contender. Here is how the game played out…

In that night’s 7-3 win vs. SAR, the Lions quickly went out in front and never looked back! Being Senior Night, it only seemed fitting that senior captain Avi Glick had a hat trick with 3 goals, along with junior Chaim Simon with another hat trick and Shua Ratzker with 1 goal.

MTA started the game off strong, with

early goals by Avi Glick and Chaim Simon. Going into the second period, MTA was up 3-0 and hoped to keep up the seemingly perfect game so far. SAR could only watch as Chaim Simon scored again off an excellent assist from Shua Ratzker.

Shua wanted to get in on the goal fest, and less than a minute later scored a goal of his own on a sweet backhanded shot.

After 2 late goals in the second period for SAR, the Lions were up 6-2 going to the third in this lopsided game.

After five minutes in the third with no action, Avi Glick broke the silence with his powerful slap shot making it 7-2 and completed his hat trick. Later in the third period, SAR scored again, but MTA could just sit back and relax knowing they played an incredible game against a playoff contender, and showing they could do real damage in the playoffs going forward!

Munkacser Beis Medrash Annual Lawrence Breakfast

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he multitudes that typically walk past the bustling intersection of Boro Park’s 14th Avenue and 47th Street are accustomed to the imposing edifice of the Munkacser Beis Medrash. The iconic building has been a Chassidic landmark for over four decades and is a familiar sight to many. But while many pass without an additional glance, an occasional more discerning passerby may pick up the faint yet powerful reverberations from within. Looking up, just past the “Binyan Menachem Ostreicher” letterings on the facade of the building, comes the robust sound of Torah learning; a sound that resonates echoes of the past, yet holds the promise of an eternal future.

Yeshiva V’Kollel Chaim V’Shulom Zichron Tzvi is a crown jewel of the Munkacs Torah institutions specifically, and a source of pride to the Torah community at large. Commonly referred to as a chiddush in the world of Chassidishe kollelim, its avreichim are known to be of a rare caliber, and the level of iyun and lomdus is famous for being highly exceptional.

The Kollel is led by the Munkacser Rebbe’s son-in-law, Harav Yosef Horowitz, shlita. Rav Horowitz leads the Kollel with a unique devotion, with his weekly shiur being widely acclaimed for its breadth and depth of the sugya. The Roshei Chaburah, Harav Leibel Cisner, Harav Yaakov Yosef Katz and Harav Chaim Eluzer Horowitz are each renowned talmidei chachamim and do much to increase the overall stature as well as individual learning of each of the yungerleit. Harav Moshe Green, a veteran talmid chochom, serves as Shoel Umeishiv in the morning.

An additional notable feature of the Kollel is the two-pronged learning track of either Gemara and halacha offered in the afternoon seder. Enhancing the halacha track is the noted dayan Harav Yitzchok Eizik Spitzer who delivers shiurim to that chabura.

The Munkacser Rebbe consistently shows great connection and appreciation to the Kollel. Occasionally, the Rebbe personally visits and delivers shiurim enabling the avreichim to utilize the opportunity to benefit from the the mesorah which the Rebbe shlita passes on from his Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbeim,

zt”l. The Rebbe, shlita, shows much interest in the progress of the Kollel’s limudim as well as all aspects of the success of this notable makom Torah.

The Five Towns community bears a particular connection to Kollel “Zichron Tzvi,” named for one of the pillars of the community, the legendary R’ Hershel (Tzvi) Ostreicher, a”h. The Ostreicher family’s connection with Munkacs spans back to the era of the previous Munkacser Rebbe, the revered Minchas Eluzar, under whom R’ Hershel’s father, R’ Menachem Ostreicher, a”h, served as one of the Roshei Kehilla.

Mr. & Mrs. Yussie Ostreicher along with Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Zitter befittingly dedicated the distinctive Torah edifice that is Yeshiva and Kollel Chaim V’Shulom as an everlasting memory to their father R’ Hershel. In doing so, they have combined two of R’ Hershel’s greatest values, Torah learning and Munkacs, into “Zichron Tzvi,” assuring a relationship for eternity.

An enthusiastic partner to this lofty endeavor was the late Mrs. Helen Ostreicher, a”h. Befittingly, Mrs. Ostreicher’s noble demeanor and character is commemorated on a daily basis through “Keren Chaya Nechama”; a program that promotes rigorous testing and extra learning hours, taking the hasmada and level of Torah learning in the Kollel to the next level.

The Ostreicher family relationship with the Yeshiva and Kollel is more than just a commemoration of the past though, but rather a recognition of its vibrant and intensifying future. As such, R’ Yussie is continuing his tradition of hosting the Yeshiva’s annual Lawrence breakfast.

The reception will take place this Sunday January 14th in the Ostreicher home at 184 Wildacre Avenue and is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. The Munkacser Rebbe is expected to attend and to address the event with Divrei Torah. The Rebbe’s coming to the Five Towns is seen as both a privilege and an opportunity for all. Rav Elysha Sandler, Rav of Kehilas Bais Yisroel in Far Rockaway, will enhance the program as its guest speaker.

The Five Towns community at large, and friends of Munkacs and R’ Yussie Ostreicher in particular are looking forward to show respect and appreciation for this most notable mosad of Torah.

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TAL Academy is Filled with Excited Learners

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This past Friday, the talmidim of Siach Yitzchok heard divrei hesped on the Mashgiach of Lakewood, Reb Matisyahu Solomon, zt”l. Rabbi Sitnick shared inspiring stories and lessons from the tremendous gadol that klal Yisroel lost.

Netzach Knights MBA JV Basketball Champions

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ongratulations to the MBA JV Basketball Champion Netzach Knights!

Netzach Hatorah’s incredible stretch of athletic triumph and victory continues. Coached by Simcha Reich and Yosef Mittman, the Knights took down top seeded Darchei in a hard-fought Championship thriller by a score of 55-41.

Darchei Coach Gregg Mohamed had his guys prepared and playing hard to the very end, but ultimately the scorching hot Knights were too much to overcome, putting an end a truly impressive season for Darchei. Star point guard Donny Mittman led the way for the Knights with 19 points, pouring in deep 3s all game long.

As captain and leader of this Knights squad, Mittman put his team on his back in the biggest moments. Dominant big man Yechiel Benayon was a force, impenetrably protecting the rim and anchoring his stout knights defense all night long.

Benayon secured rebound after rebound and came up with big points in the paint.

Sharpshooter Shmulie Futersak came up huge for the Knights, burying four mas-

sive 3s at crucial spots in the game. After missing a few games due to injury, Moish Gestetner, one of Netzach’s leading scorers, made a timely return for the big game. Gestetner was incredibly efficient, drilling his signature mid-range jumpers all game long. Netanel Adar, an elite defender and playmaker, was tremendous for the Knights, making winning plays throughout the game. Athletic and versatile big man Eli Tiegman played an outstanding game and came up huge on both ends of the court for the Knights. Key contributions from Kirshenbaum, Davidson, Lapidus and Cohen throughout this incredible run for the Knights played a critical role in the team’s success.

This Knights JV Basketball Squad closed out an epic season in style. After already bringing home The Shoresh Basketball Invitational Trophy, the Knights now add another trophy to the case: MBA Champions.

Thank you to Rabbi Bennett and Zack Kessler for running yet another successful MBA season.

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e all have jobs and responsibilities in one form or another. One very important job for children is going to school. As we all know, not all jobs are pleasant, easy, or rewarding, especially for children who learn differently and need to be taught in the ways they can learn.

When TAL Academy opened its doors to the children of our communities, who so wanted to learn but often struggled, we made several commitments that are so essential for the children, their families, and to each member of the TAL faculty. First, enroll children with a clearly defined learning profile, so that learning could be focused, directed, and intensive.

Next, our faculty committed to answering the question, “Who is this child?” ©, using research-based approaches for teaching and meeting the specific learning needs of the children. Next, help the children feel assured that they are fully capable of learning, that they would learn, and that ultimately learning would become easier for them, and will be fun!! Finally, our determination was to insure, that each student, as he or she learned both secular and Judaic studies came to understand his or her own learning style, mastered skills for learning, and consciously used those skills with assurance and pride.

TAL Academy has become a fully joyful learning environment for our students. Steadily the children began to see that learning at TAL was different – and they could learn!! The feedback from the parents has been so gratifyingly positive.

Even more delightfully, the children are so committed to TAL. They requested “jobs”! For example, we have the “walkie-talkie deliverer” and the “in-house video team,” who take pictures and create videos of daily TAL activities. We are all

delighted and so are the children.

In the four months since we opened our doors, TAL Academy has become a dream come true for the founding team, Mrs. Sara Taib, Dr. Lydia Soifer, and Mrs. Brocha Kresch. Moreover, the faculty are life-long learners, who work so very hard to create instruction that is consistent with the research and the learning needs of the children – direct, explicit, multi-sensory instruction. T A L is a community of learners. The children are learning. Moreover, they are learning how to learn. Our highly trained Rebbeim, Moros, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and school psychologist provide a full dual curriculum, but most importantly, our immersive language rich environment is infused with Ahavas Hatorah, Yiras Shamayaim and Kavod Habrios.

TAL is proudly a special education school. It reflects the most positive meaning of the word, special – unique, exceptional, distinctive, wonderful! TAL Academy is looking forward to expanding our school next year to serve children in grades one through five. We are blessed to have the opportunity to teach these children in the ways they can learn and empower them to love learning.

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Rav Dovid Frischman’s seventh grade talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei Torah talking in learning with Hagaon Rav Moshe Brown, r”m at the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway and rav of Agudath Israel of West Lawrence.

The talmidos of the Ganger Early Childhood Center at TAG joined the elementary school’s “Vehu Keili” program, learning to use their “emunah glasses” to see Hashem’s hand in everything and to feel how much He loves every one of us!

Nefesh B’Nefesh Closes 2023 with 720 North American Olim Amidst Iron Swords War

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efesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA, has recorded 720 newcomers who arrived in Israel since the onset of the war, with 200 of them landing just in the last week of 2023.

In the last quarter, 4,175 requests to open Aliyah files were submitted by individuals and families interested in making Israel their new home, in comparison to 1,985 in 2022. 3,709 of these individuals plan to make Aliyah from North America (as opposed to from within Israel as part of the “Guided Aliyah” process), which is a 142% increase compared to last year.

Deeper analysis of the data has shown that the main reason for the increase in Aliyah interest is due to Zionism (50%), while the issue of Antisemitism drives only a small amount of the applicants (6%).

“The significant number of new immigrants to Israel during the Iron Swords War and the tremendous increase in requests to open Aliyah files are an important demonstration of Zionism and a beautiful expression of solidarity with the country, providing us with a much-needed boost to our morale,” said Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir

Sofer. “Together with our partners at The Jewish Agency for Israel and Nefesh B’Nefesh, we are working to improve the absorption process by easing the bureaucracy as well as helping with Hebrew learning and job placements. We believe that full integration of the newcomers will contribute greatly to Israeli society and economic growth.”

In total 3,020 individuals from North America have made Aliyah in 2023.

Among the newcomers who arrived this year with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh are 545 families, 616 children, 958 single men and women, and 432 retirees. The average age of Olim over the last year is 32 years old, with the oldest being 100 and the youngest a 3-monthold baby. The Olim came from all over North America, most notably New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Maryland, and Ontario. The most sought-after destinations of the Olim this year were Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Beit Shemesh, Netanya, and Ra’anana.

“Our Olim never cease to amaze us as they prove their commitment to fulfilling the Zionist dream of making Israel their home,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh.

“These individuals have not only remained steadfast in their desire to make

Aliyah despite the war and escalating regional tensions but have felt an even stronger impetus to do so out of a profound sense of connection and solidarity with the Jewish people and our homeland. In light of the significant surge in Aliyah submissions, we are entering 2024 with optimism and, together with our partners, are prepared to welcome every individual who chooses the State of Israel with open arms.”

The Olim who arrived in Israel in 2023 hold a variety of occupations, the most prominent of which is the field of medicine. In 2023, 65 doctors and 28 nurses arrived in Israel, most of whom began the process of converting their medical licenses during the annual Nefesh B’Nefesh “MedEx,” established to expedite the license conversion process and enable the medical practitioners to swiftly integrate into Israel society upon

their arrival.

“Aliyah in these times is another expression of the partnership of world Jewry in building, and now in rebuilding, the State of Israel,” said Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog. “I embrace each and every one of the Olim who are building their lives in Israel these days and call on all of Israel to receive them with love and open arms. The Jewish Agency will continue to work, together with its partners in Israel and around the world, to strengthen the resilience of Israel’s society as a whole.”

In addition, 231 young individuals who made Aliyah in 2023 will serve as lone soldiers in the IDF as part of the FIDF-Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program, and 35 young women will be lone national service volunteers with the “Ori” Program.

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Around the Community

Howard Kopel Named Presiding Officer of 15th Nassau County Legislature

By Moshe Hill

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n a momentous ceremony marking the commencement of the 15th term of the Nassau County Legislature, seasoned Republican Legislator Howard J. Kopel, hailing from Lawrence, NY, was inaugurated as the presiding officer.

At 72, Kopel, a former attorney with a background in running a national title insurance and settlement services business in Valley Stream, was reelected for an impressive eighth term on November 7. Having previously served as the deputy presiding officer for six years, Kopel now assumes the role of the official head of the legislative branch of county government, overseeing a Republican majority of 12-7.

The Friday installation ceremony witnessed the swearing-in of all 19 members of the legislature, signifying the transition of power. Kopel takes the reins from his predecessor, Republican Legislator Rich Nicolello of New Hyde Park, who opted not to seek reelection after more

than two decades of dedicated service.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman delivered remarks at the opening of the ceremony, spotlighting key achievements and future prospects. Notable highlights encompassed efforts to establish a casino, securing the cricket world final between India and Pakistan, and recognizing the Korean American Games for cultural celebration. Blakeman highlighted health tourism’s potential and reported a substantial $140 million increase in sales tax revenue, indicating a robust economic outlook.

The announcement of a book festival in Oyster Bay added cultural vibrancy to the community. Blakeman expressed confidence in the leadership team, stating, “We have the team that can produce the results that the people in this county deserve.” He commended Pat Ryder’s 41 years of service in the Nassau County Police Department. He said he looked forward to working with the County Legislators on both sides of the aisle, noting, “Each and every one of them will add in

their own unique way to the fabric of this body of government.”

After the swearing in, in his inaugural address, Kopel outlined his priorities, emphasizing a commitment to “fiscal responsibility,” particularly in managing federal pandemic funding, enhancing public safety, and addressing infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Quoting the late New York City Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia, Kopel underscored the nonpartisan nature of certain responsibilities, stating, “There is no Democratic or Republican way to pick up garbage.”

A key theme in Kopel’s speech was the importance of collegiality, as he referred to County lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum as friends. Expressing optimism, he declared a commitment to collaboration, stating, “We’ll work together. We’ll agree on what we can, argue when we must, and we’ll shake hands and go home as friends.”

The leadership team was solidified with the election of Legislator Thomas McKevitt as deputy presiding officer and

John Ferretti as alternate deputy presiding officer. Notably, this year saw notable turnover in Nassau’s government, with five new legislators sworn in, including Democrats Scott Davis and Seth Koslow, and Republicans Patrick Mullaney, Scott Strauss, and Samantha Goetz.

Among the changes, Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton assumed the role of the leader of the Democratic Minority caucus, succeeding longtime Legislator Kevan Abrahams. DeRiggi-Whitton, expressing her honor at the selection, highlighted the unpredictable nature of political careers and encouraged others to consider such paths, emphasizing the potential to positively impact people’s lives.

The ceremony was a standing-room only event, with notable elected leaders like Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo, Assemblyman Ed Ra, and many other political and faith leaders in attendance with the family, friends and supporters of the elected Legislators.

and friends in need.

The initiative works by sharing, through WhatsApp groups and email, verified causes that require financial assistance, with many coming directly from respected organizations within the community.

Members are encouraged to donate amounts that allow them to give consistently, with the promise that every dollar donated goes to the person in need. This is another unique aspect to Nedivos L’ir, that every dollar given goes to the person you are giving to. Nothing is taken from your donation. When they say every dol-

lar counts, they mean it!

Nedivos L’ir covers a wide range of needs such as simchas, mental health, yomim tovim, home repairs, tuition, bills, rent, groceries and much more.

Monthly achievement reports are shared through the WhatsApp groups and email, showing their accomplishments as a group, so each member can see the impact they are having on these individuals and families that they helped.

With the backing of numerous well-respected and local rabbonim, Nedivos L’ir has already raised nearly $30,000 since its inception in early September, helping

over 14 families and individuals with difficult situations.

“Utilizing the great power of community can allow each and every one of us to donate measured amounts and secure the funds for a family in need, no matter the number!” said Executive Director Yossi Ehrenfeld

Nedivos L’ir

N

edivos L’ir is a community-based initiative that has been making waves in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.

The initiative aims to provide tangible relief and assistance to friends and neighbors struggling with various financial challenges. By empowering individuals to make a meaningful difference, Nedivos L’ir is fostering increased levels of achdus and care in our community.

All causes are from Five Towns and Far Rockaway, giving you the unique opportunity to achieve one of the highest levels of tzedakah by helping your neighbors

If you want to join the initiative or have questions about any other details on this initiative or any other Nedivos L’ir projects, you can visit their website www. nedivoslir.org or reach out to them at nedivos.lir@gmail.com.

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Around the Community

Exciting Things at YOSS Motzei Shabbos Learning Program

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eshiva of South Shore Motzei Shabbos Learning Program joined the initiative, “Just One Thing.” This is a program that motivates boys to accept upon themselves one kabbalah through which they will bring a zechus to their “partner soldier” in Eretz Yisrael. Additionally, this past week, YOSS recognized over 25 boys for coming to learn first thing after Shabbos 10 out of 11 weeks at its highly successful Motzei Shabbos Learning Program. Each awardee received a choice of one of four beautiful, framed photographs of the Gadol Hador, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

All of these master photos were taken by Reb Tsemach Glenn, famed photographer of gedolim throughout the years.

This year’s program season is about

half over. Many more winners are expected over the remaining nine weeks of the program. There are over 250 boys who come to learn with their fathers each Motzei Shabbos at Yeshiva of South Shore and its satellites in the community including the Shteeble, the Island Shul, and Shaarei Emunah.

We often have special guest rabbanim who grace our event. A couple of months back, we had the privilege of having Rav Zev Leff, shlita, address us. Last year, we hosted the Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, shlita, and Rabbi Paysach Krohn, shlita, among others. On special occasions, we have entertainment, too. This past Chanukah, the boys were regaled by the magnificent magic and comedy of magician and mentalist, Chaim Syltig. And then

there’s the tasty nosh given to everyone at each event graciously sponsored by Gourmet Glatt. But the boys and fathers keep coming back week after week, most-

ly because of the positive energy and ruach haTorah.

Yasher koach to them all!

ball in the offensive zone for most of the game and Binyamin Flegman knocked in all 3 goals for a 3 to 0 victory for Posh Home + Bath against Miller Realty.

6th/8th: Weider Orthodontics dominated from the start with Chezkel Jeidel scoring 4 goals in the win vs. JNT. BayRock Insurance and 925 Sterling matched up Sunday in an intense opening day game. The game went back and forth and ultimately headed to shootouts where Aryeh Perl delivered the game winner for BayRock Insurance.

Semi-Finals took place this past Sunday night, and the games did not disappoint.

Aaron Levi scored 3 from behind the arc for DJ Haim in the 1st half but they were unable to stop Simcha Klien and Aron Azose as Town Appliance went on to win 43-37 and will head to their 2nd JSL Championship game. They will match up against Posh Home + Bath who defeated Insight Optiks 49-46 in a very close game behind another legendary performance from Shelby Rosenberg. This will be Posh Home + Bath’s 3rd consecutive Championship game.

Game of the Week: In 2nd/3rd grade hockey AdVenture Media and Arielle Rosenblatt Interiors matched up in the opening day game of the week. AdVenture Media fell behind 3-1 but Yumi Ehrlichman caught fire, scoring 3 goals including 1 with only 4 seconds remaining in the game to give AdVenture the incredible come from behind opening day win.

JSL Winter: Week 1 Recap

I

t was the opening day of the JSL 2024 Winter Season by FM Home Loans this past Sunday. Our Basketball, Football, and Soccer divisions held player evaluations in order to create fair teams for the season. In Hockey, it was the opening day of the regular season, and it was arguably the most exciting JSL Hockey opening day in recent memory as a record 6 games went into shootouts.

The boys also received drawstring bags courtesy of Future Care Consultants.

The JSL 2024 season looks to be our best one yet. JSL thanks all of their incredible sponsors and the head staff looks forward to an amazing season.

JSL Juniors K/P Hockey: John’s Automotive beat Maidenbaum 10 to 1 behind a HAT TRICK from Jacob Kret and a sweet wrap-around goal from Moshe Obadia. Team SWS beat Future Care Consultants 5 to 4 with one second left. Zach Pearlman scored a HAT TRICK, Yosef Feldman played INSANE defense with 2 assists and a goal and Julius Berger had 15 saves as Pip Printing defeated Graber Interior Design 7-5.

K/P Soccer: Our young soccer phenoms held player evaluations on Sunday in order to create fair teams for the season. Some of the boys got their very first taste of the great sport of soccer and were taught the fundamentals and rules by our incredible coaching staff.

1st Hockey: Nissi Berman scored a FULL-COURT goal for I Am Your Chef in their win. In the highly anticipated re-

match of last season’s title game between Coach Prince and Coach Jaroslawicz, this game did not disappoint. 5 Towns Central jumped out to a 2 to 0 lead heading to the 3rd period but PinIt Realty stormed back to tie it and send the game into OT where neither team was able to score, resulting in an exciting tie.

Football: There was a lot of talent to be seen from our 1st/2nd graders in our football division. Led by our incredible coaching staff, the boys were taught the sport’s fundamentals and rules as they look forward to an amazing season.

HOCKEY 2nd/3rd: Built By Nate and Marciano Pediatric Dentistry matched up for a very exciting contest. Pinny Weinstein ducked through the opposing team to score a beautiful goal to tie the game at 1 late in the 1st period. The game would eventually head to shootouts where Mickey Benderly made the incredible save to give Marciano the victory. Asher Newman scored his 3rd goal of the game for SDF Architect to tie the game at 4s with under 2 minutes left forcing the game into a shootout.

SDF Architect would go on to win in the shootout.

4th/5th: Elchonan Schwadel scored a HAT TRICK and Daniel Treuhaft played incredibly in goal to give Town Appliance the 4-1 win over JNT. Marciano Pediatric Dentistry dominated from the start behind Game MVP Levi Yeger’s 4 goals as they defeated Extreme Vent Cleaning 115. Posh Home + Bath was able to keep the

Basketball JSL Basketball held player evaluations Sunday in order to create fair and balanced teams for the season. There was a lot of talent to be showcased as the season looks to be very competitive and exciting. Opening day of the regular season begins next week.

Men’s Basketball The JSL 2023 Fall Men’s Basketball

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Getting in “shape” at Shulamith ECC

Rabbi Eli Schwadel’s class at Yeshiva Darchei Torah broke out into spontaneous dancing during the 3rd grade Erev Shabbos farbrengen

TIPS at Shulamith

S

hulamith’s technology incentive program has been a huge success this year! From tablets to TV, Shulamith recognizes that today’s children are inundated with technology. It is everywhere, and while it is important for children and teens to learn how to responsibly use technology, it is more important to recognize the potential effects of technology on children and develop different strategies to limit screen time.

Building a partnership between parents and the school is vital. Shulamith’s “Technology Incentive at Shulamith,” or

“TIPS,” is a weekly program with over a hundred student participants. Shulamith students commit to refrain from using devices from Monday morning until Thursday nights and earn prizes and raffle entries. Each week, student participants grow as they proudly walk down the hallways on Friday with prizes in hand. As the success of TIPS continues, the program grows.

After Winter Break, Shulamith’s TIPS program will earn larger rewards for participating four weeks in a row! Shulamith is grateful to the parent partners

and for the sponsors that allow the pro-

gram to happen.

HAFTR Attends NCSY Leadership Summit

By Natalie Bellehsen

S

tudents at HAFTR High School are presented with many opportunities that allow them to learn and grow. On December 28, a group of 13 sophomores and juniors traveled to the Hilton in Stanford, Connecticut, to participate in an engaging program organized by NCSY called the NCSY Leadership Summit. The program is designed to prepare students for leadership positions within the community. Students embarked on a journey where they met with Jewish students from different schools along the East Coast, including public schools and yeshiva day schools, as a first step to gaining an understanding of how to take initiative and become leaders.

The sophomore participants were Laila Cohen, Leesy Berger, Natalie Bellehsen, Hailie Avigdor, Serena Mann, and Leah Kammerman. Juniors representatives were Olivia Baruch, Aaron Lazarus, Nathan Solomon, Michael Porter, Eliyahu

Blumenkranc, Shirel Avidan, and Tzvi Krieger.

Participants heard from a number of speakers and received coaching in public speaking skills, while having the chance to connect with students outside of the modern Orthodox community. Students also focused on ways to address and speak out against antisemitism. The day’s events included opportunities to bond through engaging activities, listen to educational lectures, have a delicious dinner together, and enjoy a concert by Shulem Lemmer.

After relaxing, eating snacks, and becoming familiar with the environment, the girls were introduced to Shayna Gerwitz, a young motivational speaker with a unique and enthusiastic energy. She spoke to the girls about teenage mental health and explained how “imposter syndrome,” the lack of self-confidence, and the inability to believe in the legitimacy and deservance of one’s work, can impede someone’s role as a leader. Ger-

witz offered insights and strategies on how to overcome this challenge. Next, she hosted four of the presidents of the Jewish Student Union (JSU) panel, who answered questions from the audience on how they have overcome extreme antisemitism, faced and responded to the attacks of pro-Palestinian students, and maintained pride in their religion in such a conflicted atmosphere.

Rav Moshe Hauer, Vice President of the OU, discussed the qualities of a leader, highlighting Moshe Rabeinu’s humility and strength: “This is what man is all about; he wasn’t created for himself, just to benefit others, and whatever he finds himself able to do.” Rav Hauer taught students how to handle a crisis when it arises and explained that Bnei Yisrael will prevail so long as our leaders are selfless, humble and responsible, just like Moshe Rabbeinu. The session continued with Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin’s intuitive and humorous words on how to engage in public speaking properly. He ran exer-

cises, selecting students who specifically chose not to volunteer as an example of how to improve one’s comfort when speaking to a group of unfamiliar people.

He coached the group on public speaking by using four steps: body language, eye contact, voice, and vulnerability. He quieted everyone down and boomed, “The room will only be as quiet as the moment you start speaking!” This educated everyone on how to ensure your voice is heard with confidence and passion. The seminar concluded with Rabbi YY Jacobson delivering an inspiring message of the importance of unity.

The students then enjoyed the rest of the evening eating, chatting, and listening to the uplifting music during the concert. HAFTR students enjoyed this program and, along with making new memories, they learned many lessons and skills they plan to share with the rest of the school.

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Supporting Our Brothers and Sisters: Bnei Akiva’s Adult Mission Brings American Jews to Volunteer and Bear Witness in Israel

I

t was when a group of American Jews found themselves in the south of Israel in late December 2023 with artillery fire sounding in the background that they felt safest. “We knew it was the Israeli army fighting on behalf of the Jewish people and we felt protected,” said Avi Matanky, Bnei Akiva Board Member and Executive Director of Bnei Akiva in Los Angeles.

The group was there as part of Yad Achim, Bnei Akiva’s five-day adult mission to Israel. In a departure from their usual youth-focused and family initiatives, the religious Zionist youth movement brought close to 50 Jewish men and women from across the U.S. including Chicago, Cleveland, New Jersey, Manhattan, and the Five Towns to provide support amid the current war. After October 7, participants felt a calling to witness Israel during this time — beyond the news and social media — and to provide support — which is exactly what they did.

“This mission was a natural extension of what we do,” said Wayne Yaffee, Bnei Akiva of the U.S. & Canada Chairman.

“The way that Israel has come together is amazing. And we know that in order to be successful, we need to connect not only with kids but with their parents to help them understand how Israel truly unifies the Jewish people.”

The itinerary of the trip included many meaningful experiences including visiting the grave of a fallen soldier on Har Herzl, spending time with displaced families, packaging thousands of meals for Israeli Defense Force soldiers, and picking kohlrabi to help with Israel’s farming needs. Participants also visited the sites of the Nova Musical Festival and Kfar Aza massacres.

“It’s core to the mission of Bnei Akiva that when something happens to our brothers and sisters in Israel, we don’t run away — we try and get closer,” said Matanky. “And seeing things in person makes a difference. You can’t walk away feeling anything other than inspired.”

Alex Wolf, a participant on the mission from Woodmere, New York, was particularly amazed that they were welcomed into the hospital during their vis-

its to wounded soldiers, and to the shiva of a family whose son had just been killed in battle.

“Israeli culture is very community focused. After all, Israel is a country fighting for its survival with citizens serving in the army and sacrificing their lives,” said Wolf. “It was so impactful to see the value of prioritizing community and how much our visits to wounded soldiers and those sitting shiva were appreciated. We can learn so much from this in America, and moving forward, I want to integrate Israel more into my family’s daily life.”

With Bnei Akiva’s robust programming and contacts across Israel, the organization was poised to create a meaningful experience during this time — and had a waiting list that was 70 people long.

Bnei Akiva’s programming starts when children are young, and creates an impetus for its thousands of members to become leaders who advocate and support Israel across campuses and in their communities, make aliyah, join the IDF, and build homes in Israel — impacting Israel and the Jewish people throughout the

world. The sentiment across all the participants has been the absolute necessity of strengthening Bnei Akiva programming nationwide and in Canada to continue this momentum, this connection to Israel, well beyond the war months.

At the end of the mission, Yaffee referenced an analogy from Rav Soloveitchik, sharing that as parents, it is their responsibility to give light to their kids so that one day they can be bright enough to be like the sun producing its own light.

“Now, Israel needs you to be our light.

When you return home, we want you to spread what you’ve seen here and infuse and energize your communities,” said Yaffee.

This summer, due to popular demand, Bnei Akiva plans to host an abbreviated Mach Hach Ba’Aretz summer experience in Israel for adults.

To start a snif (chapter) in your community or find year-round and summer programming near you, visit bneiakiva. org.

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1. *

TJH

Centerfold

High-Frequency Lines Somebody just gave me a shower radio. Thanks

You are no more in your body than Beethoven is

a lot. Do you really want music in the shower?

inside your radio. - Deepak Chopra

I guess there’s no better place to dance than a slick surface next to a glass door. - Jerry Seinfeld

Sandy Koufax throws a “radio ball,” a pitch you hear, but you don’t see. - Gene Mauch

The great improvement of the radio over the telephone is that it may

I love sports. Whenever I can, I

be turned off without offending the

always watch the Detroit Tigers on

speaker. - Richard Armour

the radio. - Gerald R. Ford

On some nights, I still believe that

Television contracts the

a car with the gas needle on empty

imagination and radio expands it. -

can run about fifty more miles if you

Terry Wogan

have the right music very loud on the radio. - Hunter S. Thompson

If people can finally recognize you on radio without being told who it is, that’s

The radio craze will die out in time. -

what you aim for. - Johnny Marr

Thomas A. Edison People in America, when listening to radio, like to I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio. - Rodney Dangerfield

lean forward. People in Britain like to lean back. Alistair Cooke

If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of

In radio, you are the game, so to speak – you have

television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners.

to describe every aspect. - Marv Albert

- Johnny Carson In radio, you have two tools: sound and silence.

I got my start in silent radio. - Bob Monkhouse

- Ira Glass Radio...that wonderful invention by which I can

I have the perfect face for radio. - Virginia Graham

reach millions of people...who fortunately can’t reach me. - Milton Berle

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1. Who is credited with the invention of radio? a. Thomas Edison b. Guglielmo Marconi c. Nikola Tesla d. Alexander Graham Bell 2. What event marked the first transatlantic radio transmission? a. The Titanic sinking b. Lindbergh’s solo flight c. The first moon landing d. The conclusion of World War II 3. What does AM stand for in AM radio? a. Audio Modulation b. Analog Mode c. Amplitude Modulation d. Antenna Multiplex

Age of Radio” typically refers to which era? a. 1900-1910 b. 1920s-1940s c. 1960s-1980 d. 1990s-2010s 5. Which radio host is known for the phrase “the rest of the story”? a. Paul Harvey b. Rush Limbaugh c. Dick Cavett d. Sean Hannity 6. According to Pew Research, what percentage of Americans listen to the radio at least once a week? a. 25% b. 40% c. 62% d. 80% 7. What did Rush Limbaugh call his

4. The “Golden

You Gotta be Kidding Me! Two windmills are on a hill with a radio.

One turns to the other and

broadcasting network? a. The Conservative Network (TCN) b. Rush On the Radio (ROR) c. Excellence in Broadcasting (EIB) d. Taking Care of Business (TCB) Answers: 1-B 2-A 3-C 4-B 5-A 6-D 7-C Wisdom Key: 6-7 correct: How many transistor radios do you have?

3-5 correct: You only stay for 11 minutes of “22 minutes and we give you the world.”

0-2 correct: You are not exactly in the Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Riddle Me This What type of radio has a crew cut?

asks, “What’s your favorite music?” responds, “I’m a big metal fan.”

Answer: A short-wave radio.

The other windmill

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Torah Thought

Parshas Vaeira

By Rabbi Berel Wein

T

he L-rd, so to speak, bemoans to Moshe the lack of faith exhibited by him and the Jewish people during the moments of crisis in their encounter with Pharaoh and their Egyptian taskmasters. G-d points out that the previous generations of the founders of the Jewish people never wavered in their faith and belief that G-d’s covenant would be fulfilled, no matter how harsh the circumstances of their lives were.

And now, when the process of redemption from Egyptian slavery is already underway, whenever there is a

hitch or a delay or an apparent reversal, the complaint immediately arises against G-d and against Moshe as well. Now the Torah itself clearly makes allowances for this behavior due to the bone-crushing physical work imposed on the Jewish slaves by their Egyptian taskmasters.

It is difficult to be optimistic when one’s back is being whipped. Nevertheless, the L-rd’s reproof of Moshe and of Israel is recorded for us in strong terms in the opening verses of this week’s Torah reading. G-d, so to speak, is pointing out to Moshe the existence of a genera-

tional disconnect. The previous generations were strong in belief and faith and possessed patience and fortitude in the face of all difficulties.

Moshe’s generation, in fact many Jewish generations throughout history, demand action and that action must be immediate. Their faith is conditioned upon seeing and experiencing immediate results and the changed society and world that they desire. Otherwise, they

Patience and faith are the essence of G-d’s message to Moshe. Part of Moshe’s leadership task will now be to instill this sense of patience and long-lasting faith within the psyche and soul of the Jewish people. This daunting task will take forty years of constant challenges and withering experiences before it will see results and accomplishments. At the end of the forty-year period – forty years after the Exodus from

Faith, to be effective, has to be long-lasting.

are prepared to abandon ship. That is what the prophet means when he chides Israel by saying that “your goodness and faith resemble the clouds of the morning that soon burn off when the sun rises. “ Faith, to be effective, has to be long-lasting. Since mortality limits our vision and naturally makes us impatient, it is often difficult for us to see the big picture and witness the unfolding of a long-range historical process. Our generation, unlike those of our predecessors – even our immediate predecessors – has rightly been dubbed the “now generation.” Instant gratification is not only demanded but is expected, and when it does not happen, our faith is sorely tested, if not even diminished.

Egypt – Moshe will proclaim that the Jewish people have finally attained an understanding heart and an appreciation of the historical journey upon which the L-rd has sent them.

Both patience and faith are difficult traits to acquire, and they remain very fragile even after they have been acquired. But in all areas of human life – marriage, children, professional occupations, business and commerce, government and politics, diplomacy and conflict – patience and faith are the necessary tools to achieve success. That is the message that G-d communicates to Moshe and to Israel in all of its generations and circumstances in this week’s parsha.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parshas Vaeira

Belief in G-d, Belief in Oneself

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

he beginning of the parsha is infused with the spirit of Pesach.

Hashem assures Moshe that He will take the Jewish people out of Egypt.

He promises to redeem them with the four expressions of redemption (Shmos 6:7-8) upon which the mitzvah to drink four cups of wine at the Seder is based.

But the Jewish people were not ready to hear it (ibid. at 6:9). They had no room in their hearts for the hope for redemption. So the pasuk says (ibid. at 6:13): “And Hashem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon and commanded them to regarding the children of Israel and regarding Pharaoh the King of Egypt to take the Jewish people out of the land of Egypt.” In other words, the Jewish people were not ready to hear about the redemption. The time for talking was over. It was time to take them out. But inexplicably, in the very next pesukim (ibid. at 14-16), the Torah interrupts the story of redemption with “these are the heads of the fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuven… the sons of Shimon… And these are the names of the children of Levi…” Why the interruption?

Rashi first gives the simple explanation for the interruption. Because the Torah is about to recount the exodus through Moshe and Aharon, it first tells us their “credentials,” their ancestry from Levi, the son of Yaakov. But it would be disrespectful to Levi’s older brothers Reuven and Shimon if the Torah would have skipped them and began recounting Moshe and Aharon’s ancestry from Levi.

So the pesukim begin with Reuven and trace Yaakov’s sons’ ancestry until Levi.

But Rashi offers a second explanation. He says, “I saw in Pesikta Rabasi that because Yaakov rebuked these three tribes at the time of his death, the pasuk returns here and traces their

lineage alone in order to show that they are of high esteem.” This is beautiful, but why would the Torah emphasize that these three tribes are important here at this point in the story? Yaakov died almost two hundred years earlier!

Perhaps we can understand this by studying the Meshech Chochma on our parsha (“V’yitzavem” and “Vayitaken”).

He explains that the Egyptians made the members of the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi taskmasters over the members of the other tribes who were enslaved. The members of those three tribes were not enslaved and lived a relatively easy life in Egypt. Hashem’s providence saw to it that they would not be enslaved for the following two reasons: The Meshech Chochma first explains that they were disheartened as a group because rather than blessing them as he did with his other sons, Yaakov Avinu’s last words to them were an expression of sharp rebuke. In addition, none of the three tribes which came from Reuven, Shimon, and Levi inherited a proper portion in Eretz Yisroel. Reuven inher-

ited a portion with a lower level of holiness, the trans-Jordan. Shimon did not inherit a proper portion of the land in fulfillment of Yaakov’s curse (Bereishis 49:7), “I will separate them throughout Yaakov, and I will scatter them throughout Yisroel.” And Levi did not inherit the land because his descendants were the kohanim and the levi’im.

The members of the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi were disheartened by their father’s rebuke and lacked the hope for a proper portion in Eretz Yisroel to get them through the suffering of the Egyptian exile. The Meshech Chochma explains that Hashem knew they would not have been able to withstand enslavement like the other tribes because of the rebuke and their inability to cling to the hope for a portion in the land of Israel. Hashem therefore relieved them of the burden of slavery, and they were taskmasters instead.

With the Meshech Chochma’s explanation, we can now understand something that happened somewhat earlier.

Following Moshe’s initial meeting with Pharaoh, after which he made the Jew-

ish people’s slavery even more unbearable, the pasuk (Shmos 5:14) says, “And the Jewish taskmasters were beaten…”

Soon after that (ibid. at 20), these taskmasters met Moshe and complained to him about their suffering. This affected Moshe deeply, and he approached Hashem (ibid. at 22) with the “complaint,” “Why have you hurt this people?” At first glance, this is somewhat difficult to understand. The Jewish people were unfortunately already accustomed to beatings and hard work. What was the qualitative change that shook Moshe to the core and caused him to complain to Hashem?

Based on the Meshech Chochma, however, we can understand. The taskmasters were from the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi who felt little self-worth because of Yaakov’s rebuke and lacked the hope for the future because they would not inherit regular portions in Eretz Yisroel. In addition, as taskmasters, they were not used to the beatings. When they began to experience the torment to which their brothers were accustomed, they were immediately broken. When they complained to Moshe, he saw this brokenness and asked Hashem, “Why have you hurt this people?!”

This is along the lines of Yirmiyahu’s lament (Eicha 4:2), “The precious children of Zion, praised with fine gold, how they are [now] compared to clay pitchers…” It is bad enough when people accustomed to suffering are tormented, but it adds a qualitatively different level of affliction when those who are not used to such treatment are thrust down into the dirt with everyone else.

For human beings, who are sometimes jealous of others who experience better fortunes, it is tempting to relish

This is a remarkable concept. A person can survive almost anything if he feels that he is important, valuable, and worthwhile. If he feels that his life and his service of G-d matter, he can endure virtually any external trial, any temptation, and any evil inclination. A person is only too weak to stand up for his spiritual life if he feels deep inside that he doesn’t really matter, that he doesn’t really count. But when a person recognizes that he is a child of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, that he possesses a Divine soul, and that Hashem loves him and watches over him and hopes that he will succeed, he can overcome any obstacle or temptation. No computer or smartphone in the world can shake a person who understands that he is important, who believes in himself.

While many people leave the path of Hashem after experiencing serious trauma that can truly break a person, there are others who leave after relatively minor difficulties. For such people, a moderately difficult parent or a tactless rebbe or teacher is enough to bump them off the path. For people who are not accustomed to suffering and have not been infused with the feeling that they matter, even the slightest wind can blow him off course. Those of us over forty or fifty years old remember a time when a person was lucky if he had one rebbe in his entire school career who spoke to his students with sensitivity and respect. It is horrible, but one rebbe of mine in high school called one boy “shoteh, idiot,” and another boy “golem, dumb one” throughout the year. Such behavior is inexcusable, but people were raised with more grit, and within a certain range, such things did not break the souls of the students.

In our times, we are like the children of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi. We are not accustomed to suffering and do not appreciate how precious we are to Hashem. We do not know how valuable each of us is to Him. This is one of the major reasons we have difficulty standing up to spiritual challenges. A person will not feel encouraged by all of the promises of redemption in the world if he does not believe in himself, if he does not recognize how important his life is.

Rebbe Nosson (Sichos Haran 140) relates that when he heard a certain teaching from Rebbe Nachman, he was unable to do anything but stand back, dumbfounded. What did Rebbe Nachman teach him that confounded him to such a great extent? Rebbe Nachman told him, “You may believe [in Hashem], but you do not believe in yourself.” There is no end to what difficulties a person can endure, what challenges and temptations he can overcome, and what he can accomplish in life if he believes in himself and recognizes how important he is to Hashem.

May each of us merit to believe in ourselves these last few minutes before the ultimate redemption in order to hold on till we can greet Moshiach and return to claim our inheritance in Eretz Yisroel with the ultimate salvation, may it come soon in our days.

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

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the suffering of privileged people who are cast down to bear the torment which the lower classes had been experiencing all along. But Hashem and Moshe his servant have mercy on everyone, including the “privileged” who suffer even more than others when they endure trials to which they were not accustomed.

The members of all of the other tribes were at least able to hold onto the hope of redemption and a proper portion in Eretz Yisroel to get through the day-to-day suffering. They may have been able accept Moshe’s promise of redemption. But when the members of the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi heard the four expressions of redemption, they were not consoled. While the other tribes heard the fifth expression of redemption (Shmos 6:8), “And I will bring you to the land,” the members of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi heard a promise for a redemption in which they were not worthy to participate. How would these tribes receive the encouragement they so desperately needed to survive until the fulfillment of Hashem’s promised redemption? Hashem Himself told them what they needed to hear.

Right after the pesukim tell us that the taskmasters were unable to hear any hope in Moshe’s promise of redemption, Hashem began recounting the impressive ancestry of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi “in order to show that they are of high esteem.” Although justified, their great-grandfather left them without any words of encouragement to help them survive the exile. So Hashem Himself told them, “You are important. You are worthwhile. You are worthy of salvation.” With this, they were able to hold on through the last few minutes of exile.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Torah Thought

Yetzias Mitzrayim No Place Too Low

By Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

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etzias Mitzrayim is the foundation of our mesorah and demonstrates the fundamental lessons of Judaism that we continue to transmit to this very day. Uppermost on this list is the reality that Hashem loves us. The Midrash offers a metaphor to demonstrate the level of “sacrifice” that Yetzias Mitzrayim entailed on Hashem’s part.

The Midrash likens it to a Kohen whose terumah fell into a graveyard.

This places the Kohen in a dilemma, as it is forbidden for him to enter the graveyard, but at the same time, forbidden for him to allow the terumah to remain there. The Kohen then makes the following calculation, “If I enter the graveyard, I can later purify myself. It is preferable that I become tamei for a limited period rather than allow my terumah to be lost forever.”

This very dynamic was at play, says the Midrash, when Hashem freed the Jewish people from Mitzrayim. Being in Mitzrayim was like being in a graveyard, and Hashem would have to enter that graveyard to redeem us.

The Yefeh To’ar finds this comparison perplexing. True, the Kohen, being bound to physical limitations, would have to physically enter the graveyard in order to retrieve his terumah. But in the case of Hashem, how can there be such a parallel? Does Hashem need to enter the territory of Mitzrayim in order to free the Jewish people? Surely, He can orchestrate all the miracles of the Ten Makkos without having to descend into the murky world of Mitzrayim!

Years and Tears To begin answering this question, let us discuss a well-known difficulty.

Hashem, in informing Avraham that his children would be slaves, says explicitly that this decree will endure for 400 years (Bereishis 15:13). However, as we know, the exile in Mitzrayim lasted only 210 years. How can Hashem’s words be reconciled with what actually transpired?

The truth is that Moshe Rabbeinu himself struggled with this question. The Midrash tells us that when Moshe was told of the impending redemption, he responded, “But aren’t we sentenced to 400 years?” Hashem’s cryptic reply was, “The time has been completed, as it says, ‘Ki hinei ha’stav avar, For behold, the winter is past’” (Shir HaShirim 2:11).

What does Hashem mean by this statement? How does this answer Moshe’s question? The Yefeh To’ar explains that just as the winter can be fiercely intense, so too, the slavery in Mitzrayim had reached an unbearable level of intensity.

Thus, although Hashem had originally decreed that it would last for 400 years, the sentence was commuted due to the severity of the suffering.

Too Much to Tolerate The Chidah takes this idea a nuance further. That Hashem would shorten the exile due to its level of pain was a product of a father-child relationship. A father cannot bear to watch his child suffer.

However, when a slave suffers, the slave’s pain does not affect the master in a personal way.

Therefore, writes the Chidah, the fact that Hashem took the escalated level of pain into consideration demonstrates

that our bond with Him is one of a child to a father.

It is because of this, explains the Chidah, that Hashem descended into Mitzrayim itself. The halacha is that a Kohen may not allow himself to come in contact with a corpse and thereby contract tumas meis. However, an exception to that rule is where the deceased is a close relative of the Kohen. Hashem’s descent into Mitzrayim was akin to a Kohen coming into physical contact with a corpse. This can be allowed only if the Jewish people are a close relative of Hashem. By entering Mitzrayim, Hashem demonstrated to all the angels and celestial beings that the Jewish people are His close relatives — i.e., His children.

In other words, while theoretically Hashem could have effected the same results by redeeming the Jews from a distance, He went “out of His way,” so to speak, in order to show the extent of the relationship He shares with His people.

Thus, the Yefeh To’ar’s question is answered: Hashem entered Mitzrayim rather than redeeming the Jews from afar, because that way, His love for His children is more openly demonstrated.

Shabbos and Yetzias Mitzrayim In the sefer Pnei David, the Chidah goes one step further. The fact that Hashem descended into Mitzrayim, he writes,

does not conclusively demonstrate that we are His children. There can be an alternative explanation. There is an additional exception to the prohibition against a Kohen becoming tamei: in the case of a meis mitzvah, a deceased person who has no one to arrange for his burial. It could be argued, says the Chidah, that Hashem’s descent to Mitzrayim was legitimate not because we are His children, but because we had the status of a meis mitzvah.

The Chidah responds to this argument by pointing to the mitzvah of Shabbos. The mitzvah of Shabbos is described as the sharvito shel melech, the King’s scepter, accessible only to the son of the King himself. The verses in Va’eschanan (Devarim 5:12–15) make it clear that Shabbos is a reminder of Yetzias Mitzrayim. As a day to focus on Hashem’s sovereignty over the world, Shabbos uncovers the true meaning of Yetzias Mitzrayim.

Shabbos, a gift that can be received only by Hashem’s children, reflects on Yetzias Mitzrayim, revealing that Hashem’s entering Mitzrayim was, in fact, due to our being His children rather than implying our status as a meis mitzvah.

Indeed, in this context, it is worthwhile to reiterate the immortal words of the Chidah that from Yetzias Mitzrayim onward, the fact that we are Hashem’s children is the foundation of all the great principles of the Torah.

This article has been excerpted from Rebbi Meir Baal Haness and the Eternal Children of Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein.

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.

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Delving into the Daf

Do Not Despair

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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n intense debate erupted in the Beis Medrash. According to the Gemara, the debate spanned at least three decades (Bava Kama 67b). The debate was so long that there were three different Roshei Yeshiva during this time.

In fact, four of the sages involved in the discussion were all destined to become the Rosh HaYeshiva. One wonders if any of them could have envisioned at the time that they would all succeed one another as the Rosh HaYeshiva. The four future Roshei Yeshiva were: Rabba, Rav Yosef, Abaya, and Rava.

The discussion centered around a seemingly simple question: when a thief steals an item, he has an obligation as part of his teshuva process to return the stolen item. If the thief no longer has the item, he must provide monetary restitution. If he has the original item, he must return it and cannot give money in its place. The question arose regarding a situation where the victim despaired of ever receiving his stolen item back. This is referred to as a state of yiush. May the penitent thief keep the item he stole and offer money instead? The Gemara refers to this as yiush kedi kani. Perhaps, he must still return the original item – yiush kedi lo kani.

Rabba maintained that the repentant thief can offer monetary restitution. Rav Yosef maintained that the thief must still return the original item, despite the owner’s despair. There is still some lingering confusion as to Rava’s opinion, as he seemed to have made contradictory statements. (Perhaps, one of the contradictory statements was expressed by his talmid Rav Pappa.) Abaya, who was a star pupil of Rav Yosef, asked his rebbi a very strong question on his position. Rav Yosef, to his dismay, could not find an answer.

Meanwhile, the current Rosh HaYeshiva passed away. It was agreed that certainly either Rabba or Rav Yosef would be appointed to this illustrious position. However, it was unclear who

should be chosen. Rav Yosef’s breadth of encyclopedic Torah knowledge surpassed Rabba’s. Yet, Rabba’s sheer genius was incomparable. The rabbis ruled that since in those days,the majority of Torah remained oral, the Rosh HaYeshiva should be the one with the unparalleled encyclopedic knowledge. Rav Yosef

The Gemara notes that when Rav Yosef became Rosh HaYeshiva he was finally able to answer that sharp question that Abaya asked on his position regarding the situation where the victim of the theft despaired. What happened that all of a sudden he was able to come up with an answer? Those not aware that Rav Yosef

Hashem gave Rav Yosef as a reward the same trait that Rabba had possessed.

nevertheless refused the appointment.

Rabba became the Rosh HaYeshiva.

During Rabba’s tenure, Rav Yosef refused any display of honor, so as not to diminish the respect due to the reigning Rosh HaYeshiva. Twenty-two years later, Rabba passed away and Rav Yosef became Rosh HaYeshiva. He served for two and half years until his passing. At that point, Abaya became Rosh HaYeshiva to be eventually followed by Rava.

was the preferred candidate twenty-two years ago might opine that now that Rabba passed away, they must accept the second best. Of course, he might still be the greatest living sage, but to some extent, his honor could have been unduly slighted. Therefore, Hashem gave him the answer so that it would bolster his prestige. The Gemara notes that even Rabba was unable to come up with Rav Yosef’s brilliant answer. When Rav Yosef solved

the 22-year-old mystery, he would get the reputation as an unparalleled sage that he rightly deserved (see Rashi in Kesuvos).

The Chofetz Chaim was quoted as offering a different explanation. Rav Yosef could have been Rosh HaYeshiva first if he wanted to. However, he did not run after the honor. He graciously allowed Rabba to take his place. Moreover, he shied away from any honor for twenty-two years to ensure that Rabba received the honor that he deserved. Therefore, after Rabba’s passing, Hashem gave Rav Yosef as a reward the same trait that Rabba had possessed. Rav Yosef now became a sheer genius to use in conjunction with his encyclopedic Torah knowledge. With that great gift, he was able to answer the question that was simmering for 22 years.

One has to be inspired by the fortitude of Rav Yosef. He staked out a position on a halachic matter that was hard to defend.

Abaya’s strong question had been lingering for 22 years. Yet, Rav Yosef was strong in his conviction. He did not retract his psak or waver. He maintained his ruling hoping that one day he would discover an answer. Rav Yosef’s own ruling was that the victim’s despair is not enough of a force to allow one to keep the stolen object. Rav Yosef lived and breathed this very ruling. He did not despair! He did not let the despair of not finding an answer sway him or overpower him. Rav Yosef held that despair can be surmounted. Twenty-two years later, Rav Yosef finally found the answer. Moreover, the halachic debate has now finally come to a conclusion. Rav Yosef’s resilience paid off. The halacha follows his ruling.

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.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Headlines

Halacha

Shomer Shabbos Owned Businesses

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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o to Amazon, and you will see that you can check off buying only from women-owned businesses or minority-owned businesses.

Keeping Shabbos is a declaration to the world that we believe that Hashem created the world and that those who do good are rewarded and those who opt for evil are punished. And, believe it or not, there are halachos concerning our obligation to do our business with those who are shomrei Shabbos.

Buying from shomrei Shabbos brethren demonstrates a concern for their welfare. The act of directing our purchases can also make a paradigm shift in our own psyche. It can affect who we are, making us into better people. When witnessing the impact that our own consumer choices can make, it is clear that we have to re-analyze our purchasing habits and bring them closer to home.

Reb Tsemach Glenn relates that when one of Rav Yisroel Belsky’s zt”l sons got married, every single possible vendor and worker, m’choitev aitzecha ad sho’ev maimecha, was shomer Shabbos. This is something that not everyone can do.

The Source There is a Rashi (Vayikra 25:14) that sheds much light on this fascinating concept. He cites a Sifra (Parashas Behar, 3), one of the oldest commentaries on Sefer Vayikra: From where do we know that when one makes a purchase, he should purchase only from his fellow? The verse therefore tells us “or when you purchase, from the hand of your fellow.”

While this Rashi tells us the existence of this mitzvah, it does not provide the “why” behind it. What might be the reasons for this mitzvah? A cursory examination will reveal three fundamental issues: (1) It is an expression of the mitzvah of Ve’ahavta lerei’acha kamocha, loving thy neighbor as thyself; (2) it supports our own economy; and (3) it creates a stronger bond among our own citizenry.

This is not to say that we should entertain an antipathy or a xenophobic attitude toward foreigners. Our sages (Pesikta Sh’mos 20:23) tell us that all people were created in the image of Hashem and thus must be treated with respect and dignity.

Indeed, we find in the Midrash Rabbah (Bamidbar 8:4) that Hashem tells Ye-

hoshua concerning the Givonim that “if you distance those that are far, you will end up distancing those that are close.”

Clearly, we must be concerned about everyone. Notwithstanding these concepts, however, there is clearly an obligation to look out for one’s own first.

This mitzvah is cited by numerous halachic authorities: the Sefer HaChinuch (end of mitzvah #337), the Chofetz Chaim in Ahavas Chesed (5:7), the Rama in his Responsa (#10), and the Chasam Sopher (C.M. V #79), among many other authorities (Tashbatz Vol. III #151; Maharam Shick C.M. #31; Minchas Yitzchok III #129).

Possible Issues We will attempt here to discuss some of the issues that pertain to this important concept.

Logistical difficulties: What happens if, from a logistical perspective, we encounter difficulties? The mitzvah applies even if it is more difficult to make the purchase at an establishment owned by one’s fellow than at one owned by other vendors (Maharam Shick, C.M.

#31). Thus, distance, a lack of adequate parking, and just general inconvenience are not factors that exempt one from the mitzvah.

Price: Is price a factor? Most authorities (Rama, Tashbatz, Chofetz Chaim) rule that the obligation to purchase from a fellow citizen exists even if his price for the item is higher than that of the other vendor (See Note 1). There is a distinction, however, when there is a significant difference in the price.

When the price of the other vendors is significantly less, some authorities rule that there is no obligation to purchase from a fellow citizen (See Note 2). Other authorities rule that even in such a case one must still purchase from his fellow citizen (Minchas Yitzchok’s reading of the Rama). Certainly, if the fellow citizen is having difficulty making ends meet, all would agree that one must purchase from him even if there is a significant difference in price (Ahavas Chesed 6:10).

The question arises as to what exactly constitutes a “significant difference” in price. Dayan Weiss (129:5) explores the possibility that “significant” may

This is further qualified to only include minor purchases. Major purchases must still be made at an establishment owned by one’s fellow citizen.

End consumers: Some authorities (Responsa Maharam Shick C.M. #31) have written that this obligation only applies to the end consumer. However, a person who has a business, where his live-

In conclusion, we can say that this is an area which has unfortunately been rather neglected. Often, we may erroneously place our values of thriftiness and economic prudence above some of our other values. But this should not be.

We must look toward our fellow citizens as if they are our brothers. If your own blood brother was an electrician, and

you were in need of such a contractor, wouldn’t your father want you to conduct business with him instead of a stranger?

In the merit of our observing this mitzvah may our nation be safe, strong, and dwell in peace.

with an interest-free loan before he may loan his money to a stranger for interest.

Similarly, we find in Pesachim 22a and in the first chapter of Tractate Avodah Zarah that one is obligated to give neveilah meat to a ger toshav rather than selling it to a stranger.

2. The Chofetz Chaim rules this way in Ahavas Chesed 5:7, and this is the way that Dayan Weiss in Minchas Yitzchok reads the Tashbatz. It is interesting to note that the Chofetz Chaim seems to read the Rama in this manner, as well; however, the words of the Rama seem to clearly indicate otherwise. Dayan Weiss’s reading of the Rama (Minchas Yitzchok Vol. III 129:3) is that even if the price of the other vendors is significantly less than his fellow citizen’s price, he must still purchase at his fellow citizen’s establishment. It is possible that the Chofetz Chaim was referring to the view of the Tashbatz, who indicates that there is no obligation if there is a significant difference in price.

NOTES: 1. The Ramah and Tashbatz cite some proofs from the Talmud to prove their point. In Bava Metziah 71a, we see that one is obliged to provide his fellow

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

We must look toward our fellow citizens as if they are our brothers.

lihood is to resell items at a profit, may purchase from other vendors if their price is cheaper. It is meritorious, however, to purchase from his fellow citizens even in such a case.

Difference in quality of item: Others have written that if there is a difference in quality between items purchased from different vendors, then the concept does not apply and one may purchase from other vendors (Nesiv Yosher 1:4, by Rabbi Yehudah Itach).

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be equivalent to the concept of “hefsed merubah” – “a large loss” – found in the poskim regarding issur v’heter (certain kashrus issues). If so, there would be a distinction between someone who is wealthy and someone who is poor.

Another possible definition of “significant difference” is if the price is onesixth more than the other vendor’s price (Responsa Nachalas Shiva #55, cited

by Dayan Weiss 129:5). Finally, a third possibility is that the term varies from person to person.

Exclusion of price gouging: It should be noted that price gouging by the citizen-owned store is also forbidden and if the citizen store owner engages in this type of activity, shoppers may purchase at other vendors (Dayan Weiss 129:7). If the citizen storeowner is not engaging in price gouging but merely cannot receive the price discounting from wholesalers that other vendors (such as foreign chain stores) can receive, then this does not constitute price gouging.

Occasional purchases: Some authorities (Responsa of Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, in T’shuvos VeHanhagos #805) have written that occasionally one may make purchases at other vendors, as long as one does not do so on a regular basis.

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My Israel Home

Central Jerusalem’s Newest Neighborhood

By Gedaliah Borvick

View to the northeast from Givat Hamatos

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fter many years of planning and delays, Givat Hamatos is finally moving forward as the newest neighborhood in central Jerusalem.

Givat Hamatos, which means Airplane Hill, was named in memory of pilot Dan Givon, who was killed when his airplane was downed on this hilltop in the 1967 Six Day War. Located west of Derech Chevron in southern Jerusalem, between Gilo to the south and Talpiot to the north, Givat Hamatos is infused with Jewish history, as archaeologists have discovered remains of buildings and relics from the period of the Second Temple, which stood from 516 BCE until 70 CE. After its liberation in 1967, Givat Hamatos remained vacant and neglected for almost 25 years. In 1991, the site was outfitted with 400 caravans and housed Ethiopian immigrants who were airlifted to Israel in Operation Solomon.

Givat Hamatos will have 2,600 apartments. Another 2,400 residential units will be built adjacent to this neighborhood along Derech Chevron, plus 5,000 units are being planned in Amat Hamayim, on the eastern side of Derech Chevron next to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. This 10,000unit community will be Jerusalem’s first

modern urban-planned neighborhood and will feature large parks, a wealth of public buildings – such as schools, community centers and shuls – plus shopping centers, office buildings and hotels. We are thrilled to watch this corner of Jerusalem roar back to life as a large and flourishing center of activity.

The new neighborhood will have excellent public transportation via the

In addition, Derech Chevron has numerous bus lines, offering access to all sections of Jerusalem and beyond. Finally, a new road from Givat Hamatos will be built to access nearby Begin Boulevard, offering residents a quick getaway from the city.

We feel fortunate to be involved in the beautifully designed Givat Hamatos project called Aderet Yerushalayim. It will be built to extremely high technical

We are thrilled to watch this corner of Jerusalem roar back to life as a large and flourishing center of activity.

Light Rail’s Blue Line, which is under construction. The line will start in Gilo and have multiple stations along Derech Chevron. The trains will stop at a large station to be constructed next to the First Station, where the high-speed train to Tel Aviv will begin. The light rail will then wind its way through the City Center, past the Har Hotzvim high-tech hub, and end in Ramot.

specifications, and offer a host of modern amenities, including underfloor heating pumps and VRF air conditioning systems.

This situation harkens us back to 2012, when we did the presales at nearby Savyoney Arnona located in the southern tip of Arnona. Savyoney Arnona, a 10-minute walk from Givat Hamatos, was the first project built in a new 800-unit community. Our clients, who yearned

to buy in Jerusalem but were priced out of the market, were able to purchase an apartment at half the price of new projects in the capital’s fanciest neighborhoods. Today, the southern end of Arnona, which was literally a meadow when we commenced sales a dozen years ago, is a thriving community and has attracted many Anglo families.

We are delighted to replicate that story and offer buyers this relatively affordable Jerusalem opportunity. The first apartments will be priced at just under 30,000 NIS per sqm, or half the price of apartments being sold in Jerusalem’s most fashionable neighborhoods.

The combination of location, communal infrastructure, superb building amenities, excellent public transportation, outstanding demographics, and reasonable pricing leads us to believe that Givat Hamatos will be the next big success story in Jerusalem real estate.

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

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

The Wandering

Jew

A Sefer Torah for Krakow

By Hershel Lieber

With Rabbi Chaskel Besser at the Ronald Lauder Retreat

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My mother, Lola Lieber, telling stories at the Ronald Lauder Retreat

he summer of 1996 was the ninth year that we spent at the Ronald Lauder Summer Retreat in Poland. Our camp was located in Rychwal, a small village about a half-hour’s drive from Bielsko-Biala. The pastoral setting was so conducive to the relaxed atmosphere that our participants enjoyed at the retreat. Our mission was to teach Judaism to the generations of Polish Jews that were cut off from their heritage and were interested in reconnecting.

We taught either from classical texts or through inspiring lectures, as well as by using innovative programs that generated interest in Jewish tradition.

We generally had three separate programs that respectively catered to teenagers, families, and Holocaust survivors. Pesi and I usually were most successful in the presence of the latter two groups. Each of the three programs attracted about one hundred participants plus a number of staff members and teachers. Although almost everyone present was not religious, most enthusiastically participated in the daily and Shabbos davening, joined the Shabbos

seudos, and attended the study sessions.

All the rituals that were incorporated into our daily program (e.g., washing for meals, birchas hamazon, Shabbos candles, public observance of Shabbos restrictions, etc.) to be in conformity with our mission were willingly accepted by all. Jewish song and music was a major attraction and was integrated at every given opportunity. The retreat was headed by Poland’s current Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich, who was then the Director of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in Poland.

Getting back to the summer of 1996.

That summer was very special to Pesi and me. My mother Lola Lieber, a”h, joined us during our entire nine-day journey to Poland. My mother, who survived the Holocaust and had written about her dangerous and fraught experiences in Poland (1939-1943) and in Budapest (1944-1945), joined me in Warsaw for Yom Kippur in 1987. This was her second visit, and we were thrilled that she would spend time with us in Rychwal.

Mother was an unbelievable “people person,” and she immediately attracted

Pesi and my mother teaching art at the Ronald Lauder Retreat

the attention of all the participants at the retreat. She spoke Polish well, but her communication talents were beyond making conversation. She had a magnetic personality that enticed people to spend time in her company. This was evident at the retreat where people gathered around her as she shared her life stories and experiences. As an accomplished artist, she also involved herself by giving arts and crafts lessons, whereby she was able to share her creativity with old and young alike. Mother added another dimension to the activities we were running at this retreat.

As usual, we had special guests that either gave lectures or provided entertainment for our participants. Abe Foxman, who was the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, addressed us one evening. Aside for relating the important activities of his organization, he opened up his own personal World War II saga. Born at the beginning of the war in Poland, his parents left him with a Catholic family in Vilna who raised him in that faith until he was returned in 1944. He spoke about the struggle

that he endured returning to his parents and to the Jewish faith. He presented a very moving story that touched everyone’s heart.

Over Shabbos, we were honored to have Rabbi Chaskel Besser as our guest.

Rabbi Besser was a leader of the revival of Jewish life in Poland. He partnered with the Ronald Lauder Foundation to help steer this revival in a traditional path. Rabbi Besser sent me to Poland on a number of missions in the ‘80s and to help establish the first retreat in 1988. I found Rav Chaskel’s personality and his demeanor as traits that I always wanted to emulate. He taught me about life and was open-minded and accepting of everyone. His pleasant soft voice, his friendliness, his intelligence, his patience and even his smile and sense of humor were qualities that I so strongly admired. Spending Shabbos with him was a special treat for Pesi and my mother as well.

Wednesday, July 31, 1996, was a special day in Krakow. A newly written Sefer Torah was donated to the community and a dedication and induction

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Torah Dedication in Krakow in 1995. L to R: Rabbi Yakov Pollak and Chief Rabbi of Poland Menachem Joskowicz. Behind me are Rabbi Chaskel Besser and Abe Foxman

ceremony was being held at the Remu Synagogue, the only active shul in the city. In attendance was the matriarch Roza Jakubowicz and her nephew, the kehilla’s president, Czeslaw Jakubowicz.

Also present were Poland’s Chief Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Joskowicz and Rabbi Chaskel Besser. Rabbi Yakov Pollak of the Shomrei Emunah Shul in Boro Park, who was active in Polish-Jewish issues

held in Krakow for the past sixty years.

When the Torah procession approached the Remu Shul, very few people were able to enter the small building.

Inside, the ceremonies continued until the Torah was placed in the Renaissance-style Aron Kodesh that dates back to 1558.

Indeed, it was a very special day in Krakow.

An event like this probably has not been held in Krakow for the past sixty years.

and was the one who sent me to daven to Warsaw in 1979, also attended. Joining the festivities were Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Abe Foxman.

Ulica Siroka, the street where the Remu Shul is situated, is actually a very large square and was jammed with partakers, including all the participants of the Lauder Retreat. On the sidelines were dozens of neighborhood residents.

Almost no one in the large crowd had ever witnessed a Torah dedication and parade. The music was blaring, and everyone marched along singing the traditional songs for this occasion. All the rabbis and dignitaries had a chance to dance with the Torah, me included. An event like this probably has not been

Niepolomice and Bochnia The most moving and meaningful moments of our trip to Poland occurred on the Tuesday before we left. That was the day we set aside to go the village of Niepolomice, 24 kilometers from Krakow, and from there to the town of Bochnia, another 20 kilometers further.

Pesi and I, together with my mother, were joined by her brother Ben and his wife Jean who came to Poland to make this heart wrenching pilgrimage together as a family. Before continuing, a little background would be appropriate.

In 1939, my parents, Mechel and Lola, who lived in Krakow, were engaged to be married. The war broke out on September 1, and everyone’s lives changed

With Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League

overnight. While the Krakow Ghetto was being created, many Jews felt that they would be safer to live in the smaller provincial towns nearby than move into the Ghetto. My father arranged that his parents and some of his siblings move to

With Chief Rabbi Menachem Joskowicz and Rabbi Michael Schudrich in Krakow

Niepolomice, and he also rented a section of the town’s mayor’s home for my mother’s parents and her siblings.

My paternal grandparents were able to bring over much of their belongings, including a large amount of fabric from

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With Rabbi Yakov Pollak at Torah Dedication in Krakow in 1995

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My mother with her brother Ben in the rear of the building in Krakow where they lived at before the war

their textile shop. My maternal grandfather was left penniless since his apartment was ransacked by neighbors when they left suddenly. He was creative and used the oven of his apartment to bake pretzels which sold enough to support their minimal needs.

The relative quiet and peace in this small town soon came to an end. My paternal grandfather was taken by the Nazis on a supposed work detail from which he never returned. The mayor, who was sympathetic to my parents, told them that the Nazis’ next move would be to arrest the Jews from the smaller towns. Both families realized that the war would not be ending soon and that my parents should marry immediately.

On August 5, 1941 (12 Av, 5701), my parents got married in Niepolomice with the town’s rav officiating.

In autumn of 1941, my parents and their families felt they would be safer in the presence of a larger Jewish community. The closest place was the Ghetto of Bochnia, a nearby town. In August 1942,

In the house in the town of Niepolomice where my parents lived for a short My mother and her brother Ben davening in the Bochnia cemetery time during the war. (R to L) Uncle Ben, my mother, Pesi, myself and Ben’s wife Jean

the Nazis raided the Ghetto, and about 600 Jews were killed and 2,000 were deported to be killed in the Belzec Concentration Camp. Jews had a premonition that another raid was imminent and tried to create hiding places. The raid came in November 1942, and though my parents escaped death, my father’s mother, two sisters, a niece and nephew were killed in that Aktion. My parents retrieved the bodies and wheeled them in a wheelbarrow to the Jewish cemetery. There, they shared one shovel and dug a large mass grave in the snow-covered hardened soil to bury their loved ones. My mother took note of where this mass grave was and promised to return one day.

The story of my parents’ survival took many twists and turns until the war was finally over. When my parents left the Ghetto (that is an entire story by itself), they were transported by smugglers over the Slovakian border to Hungary. My mother’s parents were going to be on the next transport but were found

The matzeiva we erected in the Beis Olam of Bochnia for family members killed in the Bochnia Ghetto

and killed on the spot. After the war, my mother was informed that Jews were given the task to take their bodies to the Bochnia cemetery for burial.

In 1989, I asked the Bobover Rebbe, Rav Shloma Halberstam, zt”l ,about putting up a plaque on an existing large monument which was on the spot where the mass grave was. He encouraged me to do it, and besides for the names of my father’s family who are buried beneath that monument, I included my mother’s parents, who lay somewhere within the confines of that Beis Olam.

Back to Tuesday. I had hired a van that took my mother, her brother Ben and his wife Jean together with Pesi and me to Niepolomice. We actually found the mayor’s house where my mother’s parents lived in a back section and the oven where my grandfather baked his pretzels. From there, we traveled to the Bochnia cemetery where we davened and cried over the tragedies that befell our families amongst six million other

innocent Jews during the war.

That emotional day will remain in our memories forever.

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

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

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

Family at the wedding of Mechel and Lola in Niepolomice, 1941. Sitting below Mechel and Lola are their mothers with Ben and Tuli

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nspiration Nation

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Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau

The Holocaust Survivor Who Became Chief Rabbi

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

T

here is a direct correlation between triumph and trial, as is abundantly clear based on the stories behind some of the world’s most inspirational people. There is simply no such thing as true success without

struggle. But when we consider the challenges that our heroes have overcome – and the greatness they have achieved thereafter – we likely think of situations that we have, to a certain extent, experienced ourselves. However,

In His Words…

Come here [to Eretz yisroel]. This is your home. it’s not easy, it’s difficult – a language, a profession. Everyone finds himself here, knowing that this is home, waiting for the full redemption of the Jewish people when Moshiach will come, as soon as possible.

”

During the holocaust, we were lonely... Today, we have a home. We have an israeli army, and today, all of them [the nations] are afraid of us. Can you tell me if the united states of america, our good friend and the greatest land today, ever won a battle in five, seven, or eighteen days?... We did because we have a Father in heaven, and he wants us to be in our homeland. We are here forever.

”

Be proud to be a Jew. learn and study, know the Torah, know the laws of the Jewish people, the laws of our history, the laws of our tradition.

”

the greatest role models of all are those who endured struggles that are impossible for most to imagine.

There was once an 8-year-old orphan who immigrated to a land whose language he didn’t know. Before his arrival, he experienced a series of unspeakable traumas: his father was murdered; he and his family were taken from their home and brought to a labor camp; he was separated from his mother whom he would never see again; he went into hiding for some time, narrowly escaping death. He was a young Jewish boy who knew little about his religion but realized from his youth that he had inherited an enormous responsibility – an incredible life mission granted to him because of his miraculous survival.

This young orphan, who didn’t know Hebrew upon his arrival in Israel, whose entire family – besides his brother and uncle – were murdered by the Nazis, and who suffered the horrors of the Holocaust became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. His name is Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. * * * They were in the ghetto for three years: Yisrael, his mother, and his brother Naftali, who was eleven years his senior. At age seven, the memory of his father was still fresh on his mind; Yisrael was only five years old when the Nazis took his father away to Treblinka.

Rabbi Lau recalls how his father spoke to him before the end. His father, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau, the chief rabbi of Piotrków, Poland, explained to his son that they had come from a long line of rabbis; an unbroken chain of 37 generations. He looked at his son and, with a great sadness in his heart, admitted that he expected the chain to break. It seemed unlikely to him that any of his children would survive the Holocaust.

But if you are to miraculously survive, his father told him, you must make sure to continue the Rabbinic dynasty.

Yisrael Meir Lau was seven, living in the ghetto of Piotrków, when an alarm was sounded by the Gestapo. Ears were pierced by the horrific sounds of gunshots and screams, as the Nazis demanded that the Jews of the city be at the train station in five minutes.

At the station, the Nazis separated the Jews into two groups: one line had women, children, and the elderly, and the other consisted of men who were capable of working in a labor camp.

Naftali, the boy’s 18-year-old brother, was with the men, while Yisrael and his mother were on the other line.

“We understood that they [the Nazis] didn’t waste time. They wanted the men to go to work. They could use them,” explained Rabbi Lau. “But women, elderly people, and babies – they had no benefit from them. They were going straight to their death.”

Just as everyone was about to board

83 in that group.

The boy’s older brother saw him watching from beyond the barrack’s fence. Naftali went over to Yisrael, and he told the boy the following: “They’re taking me, and I understand that we will not meet again… I must tell you that if a miracle will happen and you will stay alive, if you will make it – everyone will want to take you… I don’t know how old you will be if you survive the Holocaust, but everyone will want to adopt you.

“And home, we don’t have anymore, [we have] no father, I don’t know what happened to Mother – where she is, if she is – I speak to you frankly. You are seven and a half years old, old enough to understand the situation. Remember one thing: there is one place that you have to go. All those who want to take you with them, say, ‘Excuse me, I’m not going back to Europe. You took my parents, you took my home, you destroyed everything. I have my own home: Eretz Yisroel.

“Eretz Yisroel. This is the place that belongs to us, to the Jewish people, and you will insist that you are going only to Eretz Yisroel.”

Yisrael knew not a word of Hebrew.

He asked his brother why Eretz Yisroel – why is it our homeland?

“Why is it our homeland?” Naftali answered. “Because it’s [the land] where they don’t kill the Jews.”

Miraculously, Naftali Lau-Lavie was able to jump from the train. He was free, and he could have easily escaped, as it was 1945, in the last months of the war.

But instead of fleeing to safety, Naftali smuggled himself back into Buchenwald to see his younger brother again. He promised his father that he would take care of Yisrael, and he fulfilled that promise. After liberation, Yisrael and Naftali immigrated to Eretz Yisroel together.

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.

In Israel, 8-year-old Yisrael was raised by his uncle, who was the Chief Rabbi of Katowice, Poland, before fleeing to Israel in 1940. When the boy turned thirteen, he moved to Yerushalayim to study in yeshiva. Each day, he would leave yeshiva for two hours to learn Shulchan Aruch, which he needed to master in order to receive Rabbinical ordination. When he was in his twenties, he received his semicha, becoming the thirty-eighth generation in his family’s unbroken chain of rabbanim – and the first in the dynasty to be ordained in Israel.

Rabbi Lau hadn’t aspired to become chief rabbi, but with Hashem’s help, he found himself gradually drawn to the position. He started as a rabbi in two Tel Aviv shuls. Twenty years later, he was elected to become Chief Rabbi of Netanya. Nine years later, he was elected Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. Five years later, he became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel.

Rabbi Lau’s brother, Naftali, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, said that Eretz Yisroel is our home because it is the place where Jews are not killed. On October 7, his statement was challenged, as Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 of our brothers and sisters on Jewish land. Many have compared the unspeakably tragic events that occurred on October 7 to the Holocaust. However, says Rabbi Lau, October 7 differs from the Holocaust in one important way: “During the Holocaust, we were lonely... Today, we have a home. We have an Israeli army, and today, all of them [the nations] are afraid of us. Can you tell me if the United States of America, our good friend and the greatest land today, ever won a battle in five, seven, or eighteen days?... We did because we have a Father in Heaven, and He wants us to be in our homeland. We are here forever.”

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the wagons, the boy’s mother suddenly pushed him away to the men’s side. She called out to her elder son Naftali, telling him to take care of Yisrael.

“The last time that I saw my mother was when they went to close the doors.

She looked back to the people of the station… She waved with her hands. That was the last time I saw my mother,” Rabbi Lau recalled. He was only sevenand-a-half years old. It’s been eighty years since he was traumatically separated from his mother, but the memory is unforgettable and constantly with him to this very day.

When they arrived in the Buchenwald labor camp, Naftali hid Yisrael in a sack, for he knew that if the Nazis saw his younger brother, the young boy would be immediately murdered, as children had no place in Buchenwald.

But when Yisrael was taken out of the sack, he was spotted by a German officer. Miraculously, the officer had mercy on the boy and saved Yisrael’s life by taking him away to Barrack Number Eight, which held Russians instead of Jews.

“I don’t have the words to explain it,” said Rabbi Lau. “The German who saved me…his name was Haman.”

While in Barrack Number Eight, young Yisrael was protected by an 18-year-old Russian prisoner named Fedor, who was from Rostov-On-Don. “He [Fedor] took over for my brother to keep guard of me. He stole food for me. He made for me a cover of wool for my ears,” said Rabbi Lau. In 2009, Fedor was posthumously awarded the title of “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem for saving Rabbi Lau’s life.

For a few months, Yisrael Meir Lau stayed in the barrack. The gate of Buchenwald was close by, and one day, the young boy saw a group of Jews being taken to the gate, from where they were to be sent to their deaths. Naftali was

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The Heroes of Our Heroes: Israel’s 669 Unit

By Tammy mark

“In distress you called, and I rescued you.” – Tehillim, 81:8

It

was 50 years ago in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War when the elite rescue unit of 669 was first created. The war had begun on the afternoon of October 6, 1973, as Egypt and Syria simultaneously launched attacks against Israel on two fronts, on the holiest day of Yom Kippur.

Hundreds of aircraft were shot down and crashed behind enemy lines; Israeli pilots were taken captive. There was no official

Bar Reuven

rescue plan in place. IDF Air Force commander Benny Peled had previously petitioned for a designated rescue force, and the need for such a unit then became critically evident.

In 1974, the Israel Defense Forces formally established the 669 Unit “Yechida Tactit LeHilu’tz Meyuchad 669” – a tactical unit for special rescue as a division of the Israeli Air Force. Yoram Shachar and Avner Ilnai steered this specialized airborne combat search and rescue unit and served as the unit’s earliest commanders.

Unit 669’s comprehensive range of capability encompasses helicopter maneuvers, land warfare – including jungle, desert and urban terrains – scuba and rescue diving, rappelling and high angle rescue, parachuting, solo navigation, and even counterterrorism. Each team in the elite unit includes doctors trained in combat and soldiers trained as medics, and every soldier is trained to be a leader. Though its initial mandate was to extract and provide treatment for downed IDF pilots, the unit has grown to become the safety net of the Israeli and the Jewish people, standing ready and able to rescue anyone in need, nearly anywhere around the globe.

Fast forward to October 7, 2023, almost

50 years to the day, when vicious terror attacks came upon Israel on the morning of the holy and traditionally joyous day of Simchat Torah. Deployed within minutes, Unit 669 members arrived on the scene to begin the grueling search and rescue process. Since that day, they have been utilizing their specialized set of skills to help soldiers and civilians alike, working nonstop to save lives on all fronts.

Bar Reuven is one of these elite Unit 669 soldiers, serving as an officer in the unit. Currently a reservist, Reuven is the co-founder of the Elite Unit 669 Alumni.

The Cat Association, its logo symbolizing the agile “flying cat” soldiers of 669, was established in 2014 with a mission to help 669 veterans successfully return to civilian life. In 2018, the American Friends of Unit 669 was founded to raise awareness and additional resources as needed. Reuven serves as Executive Vice President of Development. At present time, the AFU 669’s work is focused on the tremendous necessity of additional supplies and support for the unit and its reservists through the operations of the current Gaza War. Reuven was born in the small Israeli town of Gedera. His grandfather had served in the Indian Navy and his father

in the Israeli Navy. Reuven himself opted to apply for Unit 699 for the opportunity to focus on the mission of saving lives. He describes his unique unit and its exceptional group of soldiers, who are often the first line of medical treatment.

“We know how to extract people from airplanes and from cars, how to do water rescues and jump from the helicopters; we know how to do rope rescues from caves and cliffs,” he shares. “We’re all medics – we’re a combat medical evacuation unit.

Each team includes one paramedic and one doctor. Some are not 669 veterans but are doctors in their civilian lives who have combat experience in their military service. In the last 15 years, 25% of 669 vets go on to study medicine because of the nature of our work. So they also come back as reservists – these are the best doctors we can get.”

During their military training, these young, determined soldiers live in uncertainty, never knowing when they will eat or sleep in order to prepare for the unpredictable and harsh situations they will encounter during active duty – whether at sea, under fire, or in the dark of night.

While on duty, the 669 soldiers remain ready for any scenario at any moment –

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from rescuing a stranded hiker in the desert to the extraction of a soldier in an active combat zone, often with no warning of the conditions before arrival. The missions are among the most physically and psychologically demanding of the IDF, yet nothing they previously experienced would compare to the events of October 7th.

Reuven

relays the timeline of

the tragic day.

“The soldiers on base had 15 minutes.

Those who got calls at home early Shabbat morning arrived at 9:30 AM. Because there was no information and nobody knew what was going on and what the threat was to the helicopters, a lot of the active soldiers took cars from the base and started driving south. Those called from home took their equipment and drove south. People arrived at the kibbutzim three, four, five hours after everything started.

“We have specific equipment for specific scenarios, but because it was so extreme, they lacked medical equipment,” Reuven adds. “Some of them just didn’t have enough tourniquets, for example, so they started using belts and shirts -- whatever they could find. At some point, even these things ran out. It was ongoing. They got called from one kibbutz to another.”

Reuven continues, “I spoke with someone who was there as a first responder, and he didn’t sleep for three days. They just moved from one to another, under fire – they worked nonstop.

“Unfortunately, there’s something called triage. When you get to a mass casualty event, you need to decide who you’re treating first, because you cannot treat everyone and you need to give up on some people. It’s very difficult,” he says.

“This is another thing that our soldiers deal with – thinking, ‘Did I do everything right? Did I save enough lives? Could I

Members of 669 celebrating Chanukah near the Gaza Strip

have done more? Why didn’t I save this person, but I saved this person?’”

Reuven shares, “It makes for a lot of difficulty in the future for some people.

Because there were so many casualties and lack of medical forces, they had to give up on a lot of people. If you see someone that is really badly injured and the chance of saving him is very low and instead you can save two others for sure, then you have to go and save the other two. It’s a very hard decision to make – on the field, under pressure.”

Bar Reuven representing Unit 669 at last year’s AFU event

average of five people a week, depending on the period. This year, in just 60 days, they saved approximately 700 people – and 100 of those were in those first 36 hours.

Sadly, since the beginning of the war, the unit also lost more people at once than ever before. In one week, they lost three soldiers in just three days.

“It’s never happened before,” Reuven shares. “It’s very difficult.”

Refraining from disclosing exact numbers, Reuven describes the increased stress on the soldiers. Unit 669 currently has

“I spoke wIth someone who was there as a fIrst responder, and he dIdn’t sleep for three days.”

Understandably, a huge part of Reuven’s focus during peacetime is on helping support the mental health of his 669 Unit members.

Another mission for the unit included caring for the incoming hostages.

“For the days that hostages were getting released, Unit 669 was on call to meet them with helicopters, with troops and medical personnel. The unit was responsible to bring the hostages who needed medical treatment or medical supervision until they could get them to the hospitals. Some of them had to get critical medical procedures during the flight.”

Reuven talks about the magnitude of the October 7 th attacks and the people whom the unit were helping.

In the first 36 hours of the October 7 th attacks, Unit 669 rescued more people than in the 50 days of 2014’s Operation Protective Edge. In the 50 years since the Yom Kippur War, the unit rescued 15,000 people, civilians and soldiers – typically at an

three and a half times the forces than usual, serving two and half times the amount of locations. Reservists are now serving 60 days in a row, not a week at a time. Some have gotten a few days off, as many are parents who want to visit their loved ones back home. Soldiers flew to Israel from the States and around the world, leaving families and businesses behind.

What

kind of soldier is a 669 soldier? The unit is one of the four elite units in the IDF. Incoming soldiers have to volunteer to participate and are then required to serve at least two more years past the compulsory service. Each year, thousands of 16-18-yearolds apply for admission to the unit during “Yom Sayarot” – the Special Forces tryout day. About 10,000 soldiers are able to move to the next stage after the basic evaluations. These 10,000 will endure six days of training and intense physical and mental tests. Once they pass those tests, only 50

candidates are selected to begin the grueling 669 training course, one of the longest in the IDF at one and a half years. Only 30 soldiers will ultimately graduate per year.

This year, for the first time, two women were eligible to start the training course, potentially making them the first female soldiers to join the 669. The 669 reservists train more often than those in other units and serve between 50-60 days a year to ensure that they are always ready, with their skills strong and ready. They are doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, parents – all prepared to leave to be soldiers.

“Because the missions are very diverse and surprising, you need to know how to adjust to the situation,” Reuven relates.

“It’s not like other units where you may have months to years to plan a specific mission. Here, you have 15 minutes once you hear the siren to be in the helicopter with equipment ready for the worst scenario. It could be a mild car accident in the south, but in the same preparation time you can find yourself in Gaza with mass casualties under fire working with ropes. You need to be very flexible and creative – not just strong and tough – but then you also need to have the sensitivity when you speak with the injured.”

He points to Eitan Yahalomi, a 12-yearold hostage rescued after 50 harrowing days in captivity. Eitan was hesitant to exit the helicopter with the press and the attention. 669 members gave him a coat for comfort and warmth, eventually helping to coax him out to safety.

Unit 669 soldiers regularly participate in international missions. In 2010, they took part in the rescue mission after the earthquake in Haiti, helping set up advanced field hospitals and saving lives.

They were among the IDF personnel sent to Nepal in 2015 to join rescue efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake and ensuing avalanches. In 2012, 669 sent soldiers to

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Eitan Yahalomi, 12, upon his release on November 27, 2023, wearing a jacket from a member of Unit 669

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Bulgaria following the Burgas bus bombing which targeted Israeli tourists. Within a few hours after the attack, the 669 soldiers were already en route back with the wounded for treatment in Israel.

Reuven’s own unit was in Bulgaria during the rescue mission. They brought back 33 injured people, heroically performing medical procedures while in flight. Reuven recently heard an interview with an Israeli actress who shared her experience in this attack, recalling being comforted when the soldiers gave her a chocolate bar.

Reuven was moved by how this was a detail that she remembered, with all the chaos of that day; this woman was Reuven and his partner’s rescue.

Reuven was recently asked a question after an interview about the Golan bombing. 669 members had been there, utilizing the special vehicle division that could get deep into urban areas like the Gaza Strip.

“Two soldiers were killed in Golani bombing,” he recalls. “Eight people died there, and they were two of them. When they heard the force got hit by a bomb, they just ran into the situation to help.

Then there was another bomb, and more people died. I was asked, ‘If you know there is fighting, why risk more people to extract the soldiers?’” Reuven explained, “This is what we do. This is exactly what 669 soldiers do. This is what we were trained for.

You asked me about what kind of people serve in the unit – this kind.

“We see a crisis scenario – blood, dead bodies, fires, any risk – we jump right into it and do not hide or run away from it. You also don’t know how many missions were accomplished in the same way with no casualties from our side and how many lives were saved.”

Reuven’s

civilian l i f e as an entrepreneur is likely less stressful – his first start-up was Mishlohof in 2016, a GPS-based delivery app delivering

food and beach supplies to people on the beachfront. Prior to October 7, Reuven had been working remotely from Israel, traveling one week a month to the U.S. Though his military work is so specialized and so vital, Reuven was nonetheless tasked with a different type of “deployment” – Reuven has now been in the States since early in the war, leaving his wife and daughter in Tel Aviv.

“We didn’t know exactly what was going on at the time. I saw the footage and everything that was happening. I texted the deputy commander if I should come or not.

Should I stay and keep doing my work for the organization to support the unit? Since they knew it was going to be long, they said, ‘Stay and do what you do; there are others who could do the combat work but there’s no one else who can do what you do’. And this is what I’ve done since.”

Reuven admittedly has mixed feelings.

“My family is there, my friends are there. I feel proud and I feel it’s important to represent the unit here and my friends, but it’s also difficult to talk about it again and again and to show the pictures…but I do feel complete with the work I do because I know how important what we do here is.”

Since the beginning of the war the AFU 669 has supported the = members of Unit 669 with necessary equipment – gloves, kneepads, medical kits, and food for all the bases. Reuven’s work also helps support their spirits with a challah operation.

“Every Friday, we are making sure that we send fresh challah made by volunteers to every solder, no matter where they are.”

Addressing the emotional toll on the soldiers is vital. Reuven worries about the “day after” and the 669 team dealing with the very difficult images and situations – the kids of 20 and 21 years old going into a kibbutz and seeing what they saw.

In that vein, he says, “We raise funds to be able to give them preventive PTSD workshops and treatment to be able to cope with the experiences. We do this on a regular

basis because it’s the nature of the unit to always get into crisis…blood, dead bodies…

This time it was extreme, as we all know.

There are more people to take care of and also so many reservists. The transition is difficult from civilian to active duty – an engineer in an office and a few hours later on the battlefield...

“My teammate is currently in Gaza, in a special division that operates in cars and not only helicopters. He’s been there since October 7th. He’s a physician. He served with me; he’s my age. Married with two kids, and he’s there every day since then.”

Reuven recalls his perspective during his time in the November 2012 Pillars of Defense operation. “As active combat soldiers, you want to do something… Back then, we said this is what we’re trained for. But when you grow up and you lose people…when you actually know someone – not someone who knows someone – or you’re a parent and you have more to lose, you don’t want a war. You just want to live in quiet and do your thing. We’re not looking to have another war or two or three.

It’s not something that they want or Israel wants. But this is my opinion.

“Now we’re fighting the social media and hasbara war, not only the war on the battlefield,” Reuven notes. “It’s important that it’s part of the discussion to know that Israel risks lives of soldiers on an ongoing basis to save other people. Sometimes, it’s the Sudanese who run from the Egyptian border to Israel. Sometimes, Syrians who ran from their civil war, who know we’ll treat them as if they were our brothers and put them in our Israeli hospitals. Even during the earthquake in Turkey – and we all see now how they treat Israel in this conflict – but we sent teams to Turkey to extract people from the earthquake. We want people to understand. 669 is a very humanitarian unit. We save lives all around the globe – not only Israelis and Jews.”

AFU 669 was scheduled to hold a gala event on October 12 to celebrate the unit’s

50 years of achievement. Reuven is instead now urgently working to raise funds to support the unit through the ongoing Gaza War. Medical supplies, protective gear and tactical equipment are among the highest priorities, with funds for PTSD workshops topping the list.

“We have a lot of needs to accomplish,” says Reuven. “We were supposed to celebrate 50 years of the unit this year with a big event, and we, of course, postponed it. Now, our target is also to be able to build a new monument to the fallen soldiers in the unit as a result of this war – to understand the dissonance between what we planned to do versus what we’re dealing with now.”

For more information, visit American Friends of Unit 669 www.afu669.org.

These members of Unit 669 lost their lives in the current war Hy”d Chief sergeant first Class dudy digmi reservist, combat paramedic major Ben shelly, 26 years old, combat platoon commander sergeant first Class rom hecht, 20 years old, combat soldier lieutenant shay ayeli, 21 years old, cadet at officer’s school lieutenant nethanel menachem eitan, 22 years old, cadet at officer’s school major dr. eytan neeman, reservist, combat physician Captain Ido Joshua, Veteran

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I want to thank you for your column. I’m a weekly reader, and the different perspectives provided are so enlightening. I am in the market for a new car lease, and after doing my research, it seems

that a Tesla Model 3 is one of the cheapest cars right now (after all the EV tax incentives). I am leaning towards getting it but am concerned about the impression it may give. I am not overly materialistic and pretty low maintenance. I do enjoy nice things from time to time, but my main reason for getting this car would be the low cost. I want people to judge me for who I am and not based on a certain stigma that may or may not exist out there. Should I be concerned about this, or should I just do what I want and hope people would get to know the real me before making any generalizations? I don’t want to create a facade, but at the same time don’t want to give off any false impressions.

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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The Panel

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Y

ou are asking a sincere question which puts economy versus impression front and center as you invest in a new car. If you are ready to handle the comments, go ahead. You should not be on the defensive if you buy the Tesla and may want to roleplay some reactions with a friend. You may want to think about some good responses such as: isn’t it a strange world where a showy car turns into the practical choice?

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

G

o for it!

You need to do what is best for you, which is getting a Tesla right now.

It makes sense financially, and I’m sure you will enjoy the new car. There are many stigmas surrounding things when a person is in the shidduch parsha. The best way to navigate it is to lead from a realistic perspective. If there is a stigma against something which is truly best for you and your life, then you must go

with what is best for you in the long run.

Enjoy the ride!

The Mother Ariella Weinstock

I

t sounds to me like you are struggling with who you are and who you are concerned people will perceive you as.

This is something many people struggle with. We don’t want to send people a certain message about ourselves that is different from what we are trying to convey. In this instance, you are concerned that your date will see you as “higher maintenance” because you are driving a more expensive car, but that in your core, you are a more “low maintenance” person.

Here’s one important thing to keep in mind. We all make judgments about people when we first meet them. That’s very normal. But that initial impression is not necessarily the impression that will stay with us forever. For example, if you meet someone wearing a professional-looking suit and he’s sitting behind a desk at a huge law firm, you’d expect him to be smart, professional, and competent. But if you are speaking with him for an hour and he begins to go off

on unhinged rampages about weird topics, your impression of him will change.

When you take a girl out on a date, she will have an initial impression of you (and you will have one of her as well). But that impression may change over the date(s) as she gets to know you.

Will you be talking only about materialistic topics throughout the date? Well, that may cement her impression of you that you are a high-maintenance, materialistic person. If your focus is on more substantial topics, then she will see you as a more substantive person.

The car doesn’t make the person.

Drive whatever car you feel would be best for you, and show your date your “real” side during the date so she can truly get to know you.

Good luck to you!

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

I

had two different approaches to this problem.

Approach #1 – Humorous puns Wheely?! This question drives me crazy. The editors should put the brakes on transmissions that are absolutely exhausting.

But my wife (who is also my best friend and harshest critic) said, “No, Jeffrey. First of all, readers won’t understand that you were trying to be

We all make judgments about people when we first meet them.

funny. And, second, maybe the guy who wrote this letter really needs a serious response.”

So: Approach #2 – A Serious response Unless you are driving a very junky car (like a 1995 Chevy that has been in a few collisions) or an ultra-fancy, expensive car (like a bright red Lamborghini Sports Coupe), the make and model of your car really does not matter.

What matters is that: You make sure that the car is clean and free of odors.

You act like a gentleman and hold the door open for your date.

You drive safely and obey the traffic laws.

You’re sure that the car is a Fordable.

And, of course, after you give your date a ride in your new car, you hope that she’ll say, “I a-door you!”

And, of course, if you buy an electric car, make sure that your driving license is current.

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

T

hanks for reading the column and writing the letter! I say, go for it! Get the car.

Live your life. Enjoy it. Your personality will shine through. And the woman who is meant for you will see that. I believe it is as simple as that.

Sincerely, Jennifer

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

JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

The Rebbetzin

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Parenting Pearls

Beyond the Classroom

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

T

oday’s child has a plethora of extracurricular opportunities.

Previous generations had few options, and a significant number of children went to school, came home, and that was the end of their day. Sundays, too, were simpler. Now, children can count the various activities they attend after school and on weekends, with their schedules requiring a personal secretary.

Like all parenting topics, the role of extracurricular activities will have those

on both sides arguing for or against. It’s truly interesting what diverse topics will be the subject of parenting debates.

This can be reflected in the schedules of children, with some having back-to-back activities scheduled, while others have few or none. Finances, availability, and interest will all impact a child’s options.

For this article, we’ll use a very open meaning to the term “extracurricular activities.” This can be anything from sports and gymnastics, to playing an instrument or a Tehillim group. Learn-

ing – Torah and secular – can be enjoyed even outside of the usual academic structure, and many children will be excited to join debating teams and halacha programs. It’s fascinating to see the variety of activities that children will enjoy when given the opportunity to experience them in a relaxed environment.

These extracurricular activities may take place in school, but our community also offers a number of options.

Shuls and community organizations have classes for children. Many private individuals have also stepped forward to share their talents with our youth.

Gymnastics and dance – including professional level performances – are popular, alongside various sports leagues.

Benefits There are tremendous benefits to these extra activities. An obvious advantage is that these activities are just a lot of fun. There is nothing wrong with kids having fun and enjoying themselves. We don’t need to have a deep philosophical reason to give our children a little extra excitement in their lives.

There are also inherent benefits to learning a new skill. For example, playing an instrument increases cognitive function, and sports improve balance and coordination. Art and writing can be therapeutic and are a healthy emotional outlet children can use well into adulthood.

Success breeds success. A child that

struggles in one area can benefit from the confidence built doing well in other activities. This is particularly important for a child that does poorly academically or socially. Some may be hesitant to enroll an academically struggling child in an outside activity, assuming the child needs their full focus on schoolwork.

While this child does require more time dedicated to their work than their peers, they also need to recognize their capabilities and can benefit from participating in outside areas they enjoy.

Ultimately, some enjoyment outside the classroom can lead to success within it.

Any new group of children increases a child’s social circle and offers new opportunities for friends. While many children will already have sufficient friends from their current peer group, there are some youngsters that haven’t found a special buddy yet.

Doing activities together is a great way to connect to other children. The kids already have something in common: they all like the same activity.

Children that find socializing challenging may benefit from this social bonus.

Our youth work very hard in school with demanding academic schedules.

Outside activities can be a healthy outlet for children to unwind and relax. Just like vacations are spaced to give children a time to refresh themselves, we can use outside activities similarly.

In general, being well-rounded is healthy both physically and emotionally.

Giving our precious children a balanced

mix of academics and relaxation is important to their overall wellbeing.

There are always limits, and creating balance in life is crucial and necessary to gain these benefits. Some children have schedules that are too full. They are shuttled continuously between different places and their various activities. It’s possible to have too much of a good thing, and children need enough time for both schoolwork and for themselves.

It can be hard for children to study and do their school projects if they don’t have the time or menuchas hanefesh.

School is a major part of a child’s life, and they need to succeed there, too.

We certainly don’t want to compromise their chances of success. We want our child to benefit from these special addons, not feel burdened.

Adults often underestimate the importance of children having time for themselves. Whether they spend their time coloring, doing somersaults or simply moving a toy car back and forth, children require “downtime” to relax

ents often feel guilty taking their own needs into account, but it’s important for us to respect ourselves, too.

Having to be somewhere at a particular time complicates getting everything else done. We all know the frustration of wanting to start something, such as dinner, but knowing we can’t

Giving our precious children a balanced mix of academics and relaxation is important to their overall wellbeing.

ative outlet and a chance for children to unwind.

Parents, too, can easily get overwhelmed providing a professional chauffeur service. Driving around is more exhausting than many recognize.

A tired parent is not a good one, and our children need us at our best more than they need another outside activity. Par-

because we need to run out before it would be finished.

Children benefit from having daily structure, which is harder to maintain if the household is running everywhere.

Even if dinner and bedtime happen each night, the time and schedule may be haphazard. Kids thrive on a certain level of predictability to their day, and

their bodies become trained to sleep and eat on schedule. When we think of yomim tovim, we can readily see how children react to their daily rhythm being interrupted.

Parents may have an activity they highly value and insist their child takes part in. It’s good for children to expand beyond their comfort zones, but we don’t want to pressure them into doing an activity they hate just because we enjoy it or always wished we could have done it when we were younger. Our children are unique individuals, and their activities need to match their particular needs.

Learning new things and discovering hidden talents are all wonderful parts of childhood. By stepping out of their usual routine and expanding themselves, children build confidence and discover their capabilities. Balancing their many needs and interests can be challenging, but ultimately worthwhile.

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 RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.

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Hesitations

their minds. We can easily forget how much learning and skill building comes through play.

Play is important, and kids must have it in their schedule, too. We may assume a fun, structured activity is sufficient to fulfill this need, but free play and unstructured time provides a cre-

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, I have the strangest problem. Although my daughter is a marvelous student and has adjusted to elementary school from preschool very well, my daughter hates recess! I used to love recess when I was in school, so I am confused and worried. How concerned should I be? How can I help her?

-Concerned Mother

A:

Dear Concerned Mother, This is an important topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

Schools work hard to teach their subject matter, but when it comes to recess, it just happens. The bells ring, and kids are free until the bells signal that it is time to return to classroom learning.

Recess is an important part of a child’s day!

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a recess policy, stating, “Recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that may not be fully appreciated when a decision is made to diminish it.

Recess is necessary for the health and development of children and should never be withheld for punishment or for academic reasons.”

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends unstructured play at recess. They feel that the school day is so controlling and structured; some unstructured time is healthy.

Studies have shown that being active helps children learn and is beneficial for both physical and mental well-being.

But what about the children, like your daughter,

who find recess stressful?

First, I want to address the overall concept of recess and ask educators to understand that there are many children like your daughter who find break time uncomfortable.

I give workshops on recess. It might seem like a funny topic, but totally unstructured time can cause chaos and also breed social anxiety in some children.

In a world where children at home are never idle, are given devices to fill their time, and have parents jumping to their call every time they are bored, recess can be a very stressful time of day. For other children, it

It is time to shift the recess mindset.

is the unstructured nature of the time that confuses them. And finally, for some, they just don’t know what is expected of them, so they find themselves a step behind everyone else.

I was very validated to discover that others agree with me. Rebecca London is an associate professor of sociology at the University of California and the author of Rethinking Recess. She believes that many of us are doing recess all wrong. “There has to be an intentionality as to how we set our recess up to serve the needs of children,” she states. “We can’t just say, ‘Throw everyone in the yard with a couple of balls.’”

It is time to shift the recess mindset.

In Yeshiva Ketana of Waterbury, kindergarteners

(the grade before first grade) and 1st graders learn how to jump rope. This is a wonderful skill, and the children can then play on their own or with others, being active and exercising so sitting at their desks and learning can be even more productive.

When a teacher in a school I coach in was complaining about the wildness of her class and how they were even opening the teacher’s desk and creating general chaos, I commented that it sounded like they did not know what to do with their free time and asked her if she ever taught “recess.” Though she was surprised at first, I shared that all she needed to do was create two student-generated posters: one with ideas of what to do during indoor recess, and one with what to do during outdoor recess. Once they were part of creating the list, all the teacher would have to do was remind the class of their list before recess began. When I met with her a few weeks later, she told me the problem was gone. They loved the list of suggestions and sometimes even added more.

Many schools have a recess policy that no class can ever be unattended. Children behave better with an adult on scene. However, Bnot Yaakov of Great Neck is very intentional about their break time. Teachers are encouraged to walk around and engage with their students. Whenever possible, children are taken outside to experience some fresh air and a quick jog even if it is too cold to stay out long. While many teachers are involved with their classes during recess (for example, the 6th grade teacher has two UNO games running during bad weather indoor recess), Mrs. Sheva Mandel, the 4th grade teacher, takes it to a whole different level. On nice weather days, she is either playing or refereeing the sport her class is involved in, and on bad weather days, the children sign up to take out one of the many board games she purchased for her class. On

You might find out that the pressure to be social with so many people is hard for her, and she would rather do a more quiet activity like read or draw. Some children are more social than others. Some might be shy and would appreciate some help; some might be introverts.

Giving children social cues is helping them learn a skill set. (They are called social skills for a reason – making and keeping friends is a skill!) Some children have social skills more naturally, and some children need help practicing them and becoming more confident.

Some areas your child might need help with might include the following and can be taught through stories, in real-life situations, and through modeling and practicing.

• Turn-taking • Seeing another person’s point of view • Making compromises • Initiating conversation • Not interrupting • Commenting at appropriate times with appropriate comments

• Dealing with peer pressure • Being assertive • Noticing other people’s feelings • Handling rejection All children need to have basic social skills, but not every child is born to be the class leader. Trying to make your child into something she is not would be a mistake because she can’t be comfortable being something she isn’t. If your encouragement is starting to be pressure for your child, notice and enlist help from a professional.

We don’t need mini copies of ourselves; we just want happy and well-adjusted children. With support, some lessons on social skills, ideas, and props she can bring in to play with, and unconditional love with no judgment, your daughter will figure out how to make recess work for her. *This is assuming she is not being bullied or mistreated in any way. If you keep the doors of communication open, you will know if this is a more serious matter, one that a letter to me cannot do justice to.

Hatzlacha, - Etti

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

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Tuesday, children have to play with an assigned partner (each Tuesday partners are switched) with a game they brought from home. They even bring a snack to share with each other.

While teachers might not want to be as structured as Mrs. Mandel, when a teacher is handling altercations during the first few minutes of class that happen during recess, when children are hard to calm down after recess, and when girls are crying as the end-ofrecess bell rings, it is time to rethink how recess is conducted.

When recess is inclusive and productive and students have a pleasant recess experience, everybody benefits.

Now I would like to address the letter writer, the concerned mother.

The person who can help you understand what your daughter hates about recess is your daughter!

But avoid adding pressure to an already stressful topic. Our children might talk more if we talk less. We should be listening to listen and understand, not to fix or solve the problem.

Ask, “What would make recess more fun for you?”

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School of

Thought

A Summons

By Barbara Deutsch

L

ast week, some “real” mail was delivered to our house mailbox. It seems that mailboxes, like landlines, are becoming obsolete. Everything is either emailed or texted, and everyone has a cell phone.

What comes into the mailbox is usually “junk mail.” It used to be so exciting to hear that comforting thud and click that heralded the mailman. I used to feel sorry for the mailman and his travails of walking through whatever inclement hot or cold weather he encountered on his mission of getting that important piece of mail to its destination in a timely manner.

Now, the mail is mostly solicitations.

There also may be a random invitation to a simcha – always a treat – a bill that we don’t pay online (even old people do that now) or a summons. This week, two summonses dropped into our lives; both caught on camera.

My husband and I both got one; Bob went through a red light, I guess he did.

There goes $150 into the garbage. If possible, I one-upped him. I was caught on a school bus camera passing a school bus.

How could that even happen? As an educator, I am doubly careful around school buses. Even when there are no flashing lights or STOP flappers, I wait to pass.

I even remember that particular school bus. I couldn’t tell if it was parked at a convenience store or waiting empty; no flappers, no flashing lights, and it seemed no kids. I waited and waited, then passed it on my way to school.

Looking at the summons, we noticed that it did not come from Nassau County; it was from some company called School Safety located in Massachusetts.

Reading further, it gave me all kinds of options, a picture of the bus and a link

told me to watch the video. It seems that school buses are now equipped with mirrors that have cameras. The mirrors are not all positioned correctly so there is opportunity for making mistakes and awarding a summons for both the guilty and the innocent.

The newspaper article reported that most people just pay the fine; they don’t have the time to appear in court and can’t be bothered. Apart from the money, there is no penalty.

We have to learn to dig deeper and not take things at face value.

to a video of the incident. It also had the plea – deny the ticket or accept the fine.

There are no license points attributed. Then the fine in mega print: $275.00. That’s right!

Coincidentally, an article came out in New York Newsday about scams and school buses. I don’t get that paper, but my good friend Sharyn does. When I complained to her about my ticket, she

Because of Sharyn’s recommendation, my husband watched the video; it clearly shows that as I passed the bus, the flappers opened; another car passed right behind me.

I denied the ticket, signed and mailed it. I await my hearing.

This whole thing got me thinking about taking things at face value. Have we all become lazy and overwhelmed by

the bombardment of information and expectations? For many, if it’s just about money, they just pay the fine. For others, it’s about following the law; the camera is proof and you have had it hammered into you not to question “authority.” And for others, they have all kinds of different reasons for paying the fine and not being hassled with court appointments and cross examinations.

We have to learn to dig deeper and not take things at face value. We have to learn not to believe everything we read or hear. This is not just about an expensive ticket that most of us can’t just simply pay and walk away from.

Look up from your computer and phone screens; the world around us is full of wrong and misleading information.

Read carefully and ask questions, or you will be scammed. There is lots more than a traffic ticket on the line.

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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Health & F tness

Increasing the Antioxidants in Your Diet

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

I

f you are up to date on current health and wellness, you may have heard of the term “antioxidants.” Antioxidants are substances that play a role in protecting the body from oxidative stress and maintaining cellular health by preventing or delaying cell damage from free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that our bodies make either through normal bodily processes or external factors like pollution, UV radiation, cigarette smoking, and alcohol. These molecules have an unpaired electron in their outer shell, which makes them unstable and highly reactive. Since free radicals have an unpaired electron, they want to steal electrons from important cellular components like proteins, DNA, and cell membranes which can damage those structures. The damage is known as oxidative stress, which is associated with many health issues like inflammation, aging, and the development of diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants work by donating electrons to free radicals to stabilize them and stop them from taking electrons from important cellular structures. This can help prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage caused by the free radicals.

If free radicals are harmful, why does our body make them? Our bodies need to produce free radicals to remove pathogens. Pathogens are microorganisms that can cause infections and illnesses when they invade and multiply in our bodies.

Bacteria and viruses are two examples of common pathogens. When the body detects pathogens, our immune cells make free radicals to help remove the invading viruses and bacteria. This is done through a process called an oxidative burst where white blood cells (phagocytes) make free radicals to eliminate and neutralize pathogens by damaging their protein, DNA, and cell membranes. While free radicals keep

dants, but there are many spices that contain antioxidants as well. Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cumin, coriander, saffron, paprika, and black pepper are spices you can include in different dishes to boost your antioxidant intake.

There are antioxidants supplements you can purchase, but obtaining antioxidants from your diet is the best for our health.

For example, vitamin E supplementation was found to not offer the same benefits as vitamin E obtained from food. Antioxidant vitamins and minerals can also act as damaging oxidants if we consume them at levels above the recommended amount.

You should aim to have a well-balanced diet of consuming antioxidants from healthy, whole-foods and then determine with a health professional if you need to supplement. our immune system in check, an excessive amount can be harmful for our health.

We need a balance of free radicals and antioxidants to maintain cellular health and overall wellbeing, so having a diet rich in antioxidants is essential to prevent the negative health consequences of free radicals. This article will talk about the benefits and sources of antioxidants and what happens if we don’t obtain enough antioxidants.

Dietary Sources Antioxidants are abundantly found in fruits and vegetables, but they can also be found in other food sources like whole grains and nuts. It’s essential that we consume a diet with a variety of antioxidant-rich foods to support our body’s immune system and prevent oxidative damage. Here are some dietary sources of antioxidants that you can include in your diet: • Vitamin A: Dairy, eggs, liver, carrots, and sweet potatoes

• Vitamin C: Berries, bell peppers, and oranges • Vitamin E: Green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, nuts, seeds, sunflowers and other vegetable oils • Beta carotene: Carrots, spinach, mangos, and peas • Lycopene: Watermelon, apricots, grapes, and tomatoes • Lutein: Corn, oranges, papaya, avocados, and green leafy vegetables • Selenium: Corn, rice, wheat, cheese, eggs, legumes, and nuts.

• Allium sulfur compounds: Leeks, garlic, and onions • Anthocyanins: Grapes, berries, and eggplant • Catechins: Strawberries, tea and red wine • Indoles: Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage • Polyphenols: Blueberries, plums, cherries, apples, strawberries, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and coffee Not only do whole foods have antioxi-

Benefits Many research studies have investigated the relationship and effects of antioxidants on our health. Some benefits of antioxidants include: • Cancer prevention: Since having an excessive amount of free radicals can lead to cancer, antioxidants can help with cancer prevention. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage have been shown to slow the growth of many cancers.

• Promote Eye Health: The most common cause of permanent vision loss in adults over the age of 50 is age-related macular degeneration. Antioxidants may lower your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration by up to 25%!

If you already have developed vision loss, antioxidants can help you retain more of your vision. Vitamin E and C also slow the progression of cataracts.

• Prevent Heart Disease: Eating a diet high in antioxidants, primarily fruits and vegetables, lowers the risk of heart dis-

What If We Lack Antioxidants?

Antioxidants can help regulate the amount of free radicals our bodies produce. If we don’t eat enough sources of antioxidants, our bodies will make an excessive amount of free radicals. The harm that overproduction free radicals can bring can include: • Aging: Free radicals can cause premature aging and cause wrinkles and sunspots, loss of skin elasticity, graying hair, hair loss, and changes in skin texture • Inflammation: When cells are exposed to high levels of oxidative stress, free radicals can activate signaling pathways that attract immune cells to the site of damage and cause inflammation. This is an important defense mechanism that our bodies use to remove damaged cells and promote healing, but chronic inflammation and prolonged oxidative stress can

contribute to the development of various diseases.

• Disease: Free radicals can increase the risk of numerous diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

• Cellular Damage: Free radicals can react with important cell molecules like proteins, lipids, and DNA. This inter-

Antioxidant-Rich Meals If you’re looking to increase the amount of antioxidants in your diet, here are a few ideas for healthy and easy to prepare meals. Feel free to utilize onions, garlic, other spices and herbs into these dishes to increase the amount of antioxidants.

Breakfast 1. Scrambled eggs with bell peppers, spinach, and avocado on whole grain toast.

2. Low-fat yogurt with strawberries,

We need a balance of free radicals and antioxidants to maintain cellular health and overall wellbeing.

action can lead to structural damage and functional changes in these molecules and interfere with normal cell function.

From just these four negative health consequences alone one can glean the importance of antioxidants and the crucial role they play by ensuring our bodies function properly and avoid diseases and damage.

pumpkin seeds and walnuts and high fiber cereal.

Lunch 1. Salmon bowl with quinoa, roasted kale, tomatoes, mushrooms, and peppers.

2. Tuna sandwich with roasted cauliflower soup on the side.

Dinner 1. Grilled chicken with brussels

sprouts and sweet potatoes.

2. Broiled Bronzino with peas and carrots and an Israeli salad with citrus dressing.

In summary, antioxidants are essential for regulating the amount of free radicals our bodies produce. We need free radicals to help protect our immune system from pathogens, but an overabundance of free radicals can contribute to negative health consequences that include premature aging, development of diseases, chronic inflammation, and cellular damage.

Antioxidants provide us with many benefits including eye, skin, and heart health and cancer prevention. Having a diet with a variety of antioxidant-rich foods is essential to help support the body’s natural defense mechanisms against oxidative damage.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show.

Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

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ease and stroke.

• Enhance Skin Health: Some research shows that vitamins C and E provide us with skin benefits that include improved appearance of wrinkles, protection of UV rays and sun damage (used also with sunscreen), making the skin softer, reducing moisture loss, and making dark spots less visible.

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F

d for Thought

Noi Due Cafe

By Nati Burnside

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very once and a while, you walk into a restaurant and are hit with an immediate vibe. As a person who walks into many restaurants, I’ve encountered many such vibes. Sometimes, it’s a sophisticated one, a casual one, or maybe even a homely one. But when I was invited to Noi Due Café, I was hit by an inherent impression that the crowd was having fun.

Even dining on the later side of a day in the middle of the week with suboptimal weather, Noi Due was packed when I got there. The Upper West Side staple was full of young professionals seemingly hanging out with their friends while sharing conversations, pizzas, and laughs. The space isn’t huge and the demand is high, so there’s a good amount of people (and therefore, noise). But don’t be deterred – the cuisine is worth it.

The first thing that I spotted on the menu that I couldn’t pass up was the Fried Goat Cheese. This set of six medallions comes with cherry tomato marmalade. While uncommon on kosher restaurant menus, fried goat cheese has become a very popular dish in non-kosher places over the last decade. The crunchy outside, rich and creamy inside (goat cheese is best for this reason), and the sweetness of the marmalade made for an awesome balanced appetizer.

Though not really an appetizer, the personal pizzas are perfect for sharing.

Nobody will blame you for ordering one as a first course. After all, many people start meals with bread. Pizza is bread.

Whether you need an excuse or not, try the MVP Pizza. Though I have selected it as being the most valuable pizza, the MVP here stands for marinara, vodka, and pesto. Those three sauces are laid across the top of the pie (above the crust and cheese) in stripes. This is sometimes called a “flag pie” because the sauces are (kind of) green, white, and red like the stripes on the Italian flag. Whatever you

want to call it, it’s delicious. My pizza was cut in such a way that each slice had some of each sauce. This allowed me to get full appreciation for the variability between the tart and flavorful marinara, the creamy and rich vodka sauce, and the herbaceous and bright pesto sauce.

After a million jokes about how Jews want their restaurant food to be made in a very precise way (thanks, Jackie Mason), that’s not something you need to worry about here. Noi Due allows you to design your own meal by choosing both your pasta and your sauce. My personal recommendations are to order the housemade pastas. Noi Due makes their own gnocchi (I’d pair that with the creamy Basilico sauce) and their own ravioli (both cheese and sweet potato). For me, there’s nothing like a good cheese ravioli paired with an arrabbiata sauce. The spiciness offsets the filling of the ravioli perfectly.

One downside of building your own bowl is that you have to make a decision.

If that’s the kind of thing you have trouble with, don’t worry. Noi Due also has a few featured pasta dishes for you to choose from. I absolutely loved the Spinach Pinwheel Lasagna. This is more of an expertly crafted pasta dish than a big bowl of carbs (though we all love a big bowl of carbs). The plate features a trio of pinwheels made of a lasagna noodle rolled up with spinach, mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan. Served with some of their pink sauce, you’ll delight in dredging a piece of a pinwheel in the sauce before tasting the great combination of flavors and textures.

The best part is that the pasta is slightly crispy on the outside from being baked, while having a more classic texture on the inside. I’d even venture to say that you might want to order this as an appetizer to split if you are in a party of three.

The pasta might be the biggest attraction at Noi Due, but there’s also a great choice out there that allows you to try some great fish while still getting your

carb on. The Sole Francese features a few filets of pan-seared sole laid over a pile of spaghetti. The sauce (lemon, butter, white wine) works well for both the fish and the pasta, the cherry tomatoes and capers provide a nice punch, and there’s a slight crunch from some slivered almonds. Fish and pasta are an underrated combination, and this is your chance to really get a good taste of what the two can do together.

While there are desserts on the Noi Due menu, I’d urge you to head next door for your final treat. Noi Due Gelato has a wide selection of flavors including ones that are pareve and vegan (save those for another time when you can’t have the dairy choices). They are most famous for their Halva Nagila flavor that was crowned the best gelato in North America at the Gelato Festival World Masters in Los Angeles earlier this year. Owner Golan Chetrit will take the flavor to the next

Noi Due Cafe Dairy - Italian - Waiter Service (212)-712-2222 NoiDueCafe.com 491 Columbus Avenue, NY, NY New York, NY 10024 OK Kosher (Cholov Yisroel)

stage of the competition in 2025, hoping to earn a spot in the finals in Italy.

Even if halva isn’t your thing, try the Peanut Butter (rich and smooth) or the Salted Caramel Pretzel (great blend of salty and sweet). If you’re looking for suggestions for when you come back and need to stick to pareve, I’d recommend the Passionfruit or Limonade if you are looking for something very acidic and strong, or the Mango if you want something more mellow and creamy.

Noi Due Cafe has been around for a while, and my money says that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. As popular as ever, it is most people’s go-to for dairy dining in Manhattan. The newer additions such as Noi Due Carne (their meat sister restaurant), Noi Due Gelato, and their event space next door to NDC,show the growth of Chetrit’s business.

It’s popular for a reason. Join in on the fun.

Noi Due Gelato Dairy - Counter Service (212)-712-2222 NoiDueGelato.com 489 Columbus Avenue, NY, NY OK Kosher (Cholov Yisroel)

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In The K tchen

Maple Orange Short Ribs

By Naomi Nachman

I made ribs last week on Gourmet Glatt’s Instagra m page. I received a mazing feedback from the viewers and my fa mily. I served the dish on Shabbat, and my fa mily and guests licked the platter clean.

It’s important to sear the ribs, so don’t skip that step.

It really helps lock in and enrich the flavor.

Ingredients

◦ 10-12 pieces short ribs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°F.

◦ ½ cup your favorite spice blend

Coat the ribs on all sides with the spice rub.

◦ Canola oil

In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat oil on medium heat. When oil is hot, sear each

◦ 6 cloves garlic

rib for a few minutes on each side till brown, then place in an oven-to-tableware

◦ 1 tablespoon mustard

dish. Set aside and repeat with all the pieces.

◦ ½ cup orange juice ◦ ½ cup BBQ sauce ◦ ½ cup maple syrup

In a small bowl, mix remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat on the dish.

Cover the meat and cook in the oven for 3 hours.

◦ 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

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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ur Business

24 Strategies to Run a Successful Business

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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.

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n a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas spoke with guest, Executive Chairperson at L&R Distributors, Marc Bodner. On this show, Bodner discussed his top 24 strategies for running a successful business across six essential categories. * * *

Strategy

1. Milestone Setting: When running a business, new challenges, tasks, and opportunities are constantly approaching. That’s why it’s so important to keep setting milestones for yourself along the way. If you have multiple facets to your business, setting up a budgeting process will help you understand each piece of revenue by the particular service or product that you’re providing.

As you’re setting your milestones, this process will help you understand which levers you can move to drive improvement.

2. Scaling: The key to scaling is being able to look toward the future.

You always need to be thinking about things your clients don’t know that they need yet. This means understanding your client’s business just as well as, if not better than, them and understanding where their industry is going. It’s all about being able to see around the corner. When you bring that kind of insight to the table, it adds tremendous value to your customer relationships.

3. Focus Days: Focus days are all about setting dedicated times to focus solely on strategy. Take out a laptop or a notepad and start thinking about ways you can help your clients or help your own business become more productive and generate more revenue. If you don’t set aside the time to think about it, it’s not going to happen. Dedicate a focus day, focus hour, or even a focus lunch break to think about strategy.

4. Progress Reviews: At least once a quarter, you should be looking back and measuring how successful or unsuccessful you’ve been during that time. That’s where our milestones really

come in, to help give us an exact measurement for success. As you advance more, it’s also a great idea to start utilizing business analytics for “little window reports,” frequent little glimpses into each area of your business to ensure things are on track.

5. Mentors: CEO is perhaps the loneliest role in any business. Who can you turn to for help? We all have periods where we don’t know what to do next.

So, find yourself a mentor. It doesn’t matter if it’s a paid coach or a colleague with more executive experience. Having someone to bounce things off of can be incredibly valuable.

6. K n o w Yo u r Pe r s o n a l Strengths/Weaknesses: Understand what your unique abilities are.

This is not the same as what you’re excellent at. Even when you’re excellent at something, it’s still work. When you’re using your unique abilities, five hours should feel like five minutes, and you’d probably even do it for free. Once you identify your unique abilities, repriori-

tize to spend as much time in that zone as possible.

7. K now You r C ompa ny ’s Strengths/Weaknesses: This goes hand-in-hand with tip #6. Once you know what your unique abilities both are and aren’t, make sure that your business has people whose unique abilities lie in those areas that are not your strength. You’ll be doing yourself and your employees a great favor by building a team where everyone is playing to their strengths.

Human Resources 8. Corporate Culture: Establishing corporate culture is about much more than having “Blue Jeans Fridays” or putting a ping pong table in the breakroom. It’s about enacting real behavioral changes, and that starts from the top. If you want your team to behave in a certain way when they’re talking to customers, vendors, or to each other, you have to set the example. Culture is not like installing a piece of software on

Sales

13. Hiring Salespeople: Salespeople are almost their own kind of breed. To do this job requires a certain sense of outgoingness, self-confidence, and understanding. These are the tal-

ents to look for when hiring a salesperson. Everything else can be taught.

Don’t limit your candidate search to the sales industry. You might find someone demonstrating those superstar sales talents in any field. Hiring for talent is the number one key when it comes to sales.

14. Sales Goals: It’s essential to have both top line goals, as well as goals having to do with the profitability being brought in. Both of those things are very easily measured. It’s also good to have

(Business-To-Business) marketing is creating a situation where your clients can interact and transact with you on the internet. Can they easily order products and get status updates on their orders? B2C (Business-To-Consumer) marketing is about selling directly to a consumer. It’s a completely different mindset. If you’re planning to move from B2B into B2C, that’s a tremendously large step. In a B2B mindset, if you get 95% of things right, you’re doing

“You’ll be doing yourself and your employees a great favor by building a team where everyone is playing to their strengths.”

a strong bonus structure as a sales incentive plan, where there’s a base salary and some significant upside for achieving goals.

15. Sales Timeline: When it comes to sales, one of the biggest challenges is that you’re operating on someone else’s timeline. Your prospect’s decision-making process will not always fall in line with your preferred timeline.

This is something you need to understand when budgeting for the future. If you’re looking at a potential million-dollar sale for March, consider that revenue as not coming in until May-June.

Marketing 16. Branding: Whether you’re building a brand around a product, service, or an entire company, it’s all about referability. The first thing you need to ask yourself is: “Am I referable? Would a client refer me? Would a vendor refer me? Would an employee refer me?” The answer to that question is the biggest indicator as to the success of your brand.

17. Social Media: It is essential to maintain a presence on social media platforms like LinkedIn today, but you need to have precision with what you post. It’s not just about putting up a bunch of information. It needs to be useful. Many people fall into the trap of turning business social media into regular social media. Is it that important to be posting about a holiday party?

There are cases where those kinds of posts can be good, but overall, you need to be posting to be real, industry-type content.

18. B2B vs. B2C: The key to B2B

amazing. In the B2C world, 95% is considered a complete failure.

19. Internal Communication: If we use email for all internal communication, it can take 3-4 hours out of every day. Do the research to find the right tools for internal communication and think twice before sending an email blast out to the whole company. You want something within your company’s process to be able to get any internal messages out in a way where it’s not going to create another 25 emails for the day. You need a place for “pull information,” rather than “push information,” so that people aren’t constantly getting notifications, but there’s somewhere they can look to see those messages.

Management 20. Work-Life Balance: Worklife balance is extremely important for your own personal success. There’s time for everything if you’re willing to make the time to create a schedule.

Take the time to make a plan. That plan might not always work out, but if you don’t have one, it’s definitely not going to work out. In order to have a good work-life balance, you need to be very scheduled and structured. The proper balance does exist, it just takes putting in the time to make a plan.

21. Dealing With Setbacks: Setbacks are going to happen, and it’s natural to get upset. But, it’s also important to remember that setbacks are the number one driver of learning. We don’t learn from our successes; we learn from our failures. With each setback you encounter, ask yourself, “How do I make

my learning greater than the setback?”

You can convert any negative into a positive simply by learning from it.

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your computer. It’s something that takes a long time, starting from the top and flowing its way down.

9. Hiring: Hiring can be difficult. To ensure that it goes smoothly and effectively, it’s important to start off with a very clear job description. It can’t just be a couple of bullet points.

Put some real thoughtfulness into your descriptions so that you attract the right candidates. In the interviewing stage, prepare a scorecard of 5-7 questions that you can ask yourself right after the interview to determine how successful that candidate would be in the role on a scale of one to five. This will take a lot of the noise and emotion out of the hiring process.

10. Firing: Firing someone is never easy. It can be very stressful, both for the person you’re letting go, as well as yourself. So, it’s important to always have someone else in the room, especially in today’s more litigious world.

The language that you use is also very important. Try to send a message along the lines of: “we have to part ways. This is not working out for either of us. We both deserve to be happy, and clearly, we’re both not getting that here.” And, of course, it’s always nice to send them with some kind of severance package.

11. Evaluation: The best way to perform employee evaluations is through cognitive tests that determine how a person operates and what drives them. For example, if you’re hiring for a job, and that job requires a lot of deep thought, try and see how your applicant’s mind works. Do they think before acting or do they move quickly with little preparation? Cognitive evaluation tools, like Kolbe or PRINT, will help you pick up on those traits.

12. Dealing With Difficult Employees: Time is a very valuable commodity in business. So, to have to spend time dealing with potential bad actors in the workplace, no matter how skilled they are, is often just not worth the effort. Ask yourself, “Is this person bringing my team down?” They might work great individually, but if they can’t work in a team setting, that’s a real problem.

If there’s really no way that they can fit into your company culture, then it’s probably time to let them go.

22. Making Time for Torah: In the business world, we live very, very busy lives. That’s why it’s so important to stay grounded. Nothing keeps us more grounded than limud haTorah.

Find a set time that you can dedicate to learning and a chavrusa to learn with.

With so many Torah resources out there today, there is really no excuse to keep us from making the time. Regularly learning Torah will help you stay grounded, settle your mind, and provide a sense of stability.

23. Tefillah: Tefillah is a gift that we have where we can stop what we’re doing and talk to the Source that it all comes from. A part of that gift is the opportunity to give thanks. Interestingly, the first word that we use to give thanks, “modim,” actually means to admit. In order to give proper thanks, we first have to admit where it all comes from. There’s an incredible nuance to that, and we need to recognize what an unbelievable gift it is.

24. Hishtadlus: At the end of the day, we’re in the effort business, not the results business. Ultimately, we don’t control the results; G-d does. We can only put in the effort. It goes back to the idea of the work-life balance from tip #20. You know you’re not achieving that balance when you’re missing out on the important things in your life, like family, learning, and davening. How we spend our time is something we do have control of. If you’re missing those things, you’re probably putting too much hishtadlus into your business.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I’m going to pass out. I can’t feel my fingers.

- Willis Gibson, 13, of Oklahoma, after becoming the first person to ever reach level 157 of Tetris

A few hours after the implementation of the operation, the Zionist regime ordered the ISIS caliphate to accept the responsibility for this action.

- Tasnim News Agency, associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran, claiming that a bombing in Iran by ISIS which killed 80 people was at the instruction of Israel

It’ll take time, as it took time after the Munich massacre, but we will put our hands on them wherever they are.

- Mossad chief David Barnea after Israel killed senior Hamas leader Saleh Arouri in Lebanon

They see what is happening in Gaza. They know we can copy - paste to Beirut.

- Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, declaring that Israel is not scared of going to war with Hezbollah in Lebanon

By giving us money or weapons, you are supporting yourselves. You are saving your children, not ours. Putin senses weakness, like an animal, because he is an animal. He smells blood; he feels his strength. And he will eat you for dinner with all your EU, NATO, freedom, and democracy.

I am not afraid of faith…. I want to go to synagogue; I want to put on tefillin.

It’s part of me, and I am not giving up on it. If I were to see a massive ad of someone reciting the Shema prayer with tefillin on his forehead, why shouldn’t I be emotional about it?

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with the Economist arguing that the world should provide more support to Ukraine

– Israeli Actor Guri Alfi in an interview with the Yediot Achronot

I want to extend a warm greeting to all the Jewish people and in particular to those who have family or loved ones near the front lines.

I accompany you in this difficult moment and I want to ratify at this moment my unalterable commitment to the State of Israel and to the Jewish people in their fight against Islamic terrorism.

The world sees us as one piece. We have entered such a deep mindset of political identity for so many years that every side is certain that the other side is trying to take something from its identity. I am not part of any group and don’t feel like anyone is taking my identity.

- Ibid.

Cool, so when should we expect to see a short white/Asian women [sic] on the Mavs?

- Elon Musk, responding to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s tweets in which he argues that focusing on diversity when hiring employees is good for business

- Argentinian President Javier Milei at the opening ceremony of the Pan American Maccabi Games, an international tournament for Jewish athletes

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Hamas is reeling after losing two of their most cherished leaders on the same day: military commander Saleh al-Arouri and Harvard President Claudine Gay. - The Babylon Bee

I just think the Democrats wake up every morning and look at the calendar, the iPhone, the date says January 6, 2021. The date never changes.

- Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway on Fox News

The Jewish settlement should be established in the territory of the Gaza Strip so that there will be Jewish presence there for a long time, so that terrorism does not grow there. If not, there are two million Nazis in Gaza who want to destroy us when they get up every morning.

- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

BREAKING: Buses are now pulling up to @ JMHSBklyn and dropping off illegals. School is closed tomorrow because illegals will be sleeping in the school’s gym. This is disgraceful!

NYC is prioritizing illegals over Americans.

– Tweet by Libs of TikTok

This is what happens when you run out of hotel rooms. Soon, cities will run out of schools to vacate. Then they will come for your homes.

- Elon Musk in reply

This is a joke that the NFL would do this with their playoff product. It’s bad enough they would do it with a regular season game on a Thursday night or do it with a regular season game on a Saturday; but to do it with a playoff game is the biggest slap in the face to their national fanbase.

– Sports radio host Mike Francesa criticizing the NFL for putting some of the playoff games on a streaming-only platform

People wait all year for these playoff games.

They love these playoff games; and you’re gonna now charge them extra for a playoff game? They don’t give enough? You don’t make enough?

- Ibid.

It is not lost on me that I make an ideal canvas for projecting every anxiety about the generational and demographic changes unfolding on American campuses: a Black woman selected to lead a storied institution.

- Ousted Harvard president Claudine Gay, who was found to have repeatedly plagiarized in her papers, writing in The New York Times that she was really ousted because of her race

Almost every time Al Sharpton speaks, I get angry, because Al Sharpton pretends that he knows what every single person of color in this country thinks, believes, how they should live, how they should act, how they should vote. I just wish he would go away.

- Former ESPN host Sage Steele on Fox News

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I’ve spent more time in the Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, than most people I know, black or white, have spent in that church because that’s where I started a civil rights movement.

- Pres. Joe Biden at a campaign stop in South Carolina invoking a debunked claim that he started the civil rights movement in Delaware

Ron: “We must protect our environment and the great outdoors.”

- Tweet by Florida Democrat Party after a recent heavy storm, imploring Gov. Ron DeSantis to do something about the weather

You want to turn Florida into California, where entire towns burned to the ground due to uncontrolled wildfires. Was that Gavin Newsom’s fault or is it only Republican politicians who can control the weather?

- Gov. DeSantis’ spokesperson in response

How dare Governor DeSantis not walk on water and not calm the storm with his hands.

- Another tweet in response

MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart pulls out a tissue and starts crying as he struggles to compose himself while discussing the events of January 6th These people are pathetic paid actors!

- Tweet by Libs of TikTok

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Political Crossfire

Immigrants Aren’t Poison.

They’re America’s Lifeblood

By Marc A. Thiessen

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o understand what is wrong with Donald Trump’s repeated claim that migrants who are in the United States illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country,” take a moment to watch Bill Murray’s 1981 comedy, “Stripes.” In the movie, Murray is trying to inspire a ragtag group of losers struggling to pass Army basic training.

“We’re all very different people,” he exhorts them. “We’re not Watusi. We’re not Spartans. We’re Americans, with a capital ‘A.’ You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse! We’re the underdog! We’re mutts!”

Our country does not have a singular bloodline to be poisoned. Americans can trace their roots to every corner of the planet. Even if your ancestors came here on the Mayflower, you’re descended from boat people, the riffraff of 17th-century Europe. They came here for the same reasons most immigrants come today: seeking a better life than what they faced in the place of their birth.

The reason we can make the audacious claim that we are an “exceptional” nation is because we are the first in human history not built on blood and soil, but on an idea: the idea of human freedom. Anyone (including Spartans) can become an American. Our mixed-breed heritage distinguishes us. “You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman,” President Ronald Reagan once said. “You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk or Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”

This is precisely why we need not fear the rise of nationalism in America.

In most countries, nationalism is based

on ethnicity. But ours is a creedal nationalism – a commitment to the supremacy of the American idea. European nationalism is inherently exclusive; American nationalism is inherently inclusive, open to those who come here legally and accept our creed, our Constitution and our founding principles.

Today, our creedal nationalism is under assault from both the left and right.

On the left, some are trying try to convince us that America is a systemically racist country that isn’t really all that great. On the right, some self-styled “national conservatives” are seeking to foist European-style blood-and-soil nationalism onto the American body politic. This is inimical to our founding principles. The Declaration of Independence says that “all men” – not all “Americans” or “U.S. citizens” –are created equal. Although we have sometimes failed to live up to those principles, when immigrants come here and jump into what we used to call the “great American melting pot,” they can

become as American as any of us.

Fortunately, most Americans still believe this. According to a Gallup poll from July, a 68 percent supermajority says immigration is a good thing for the country (up from 52 percent in 2002).

Just 27 percent of Americans consider it a bad thing.

The problem at our southern border is not that so many people want to come here. It’s that many are coming here illegally. It’s that our government lets millions of people enter without screening out criminals and those who wish our country harm. It’s that transnational drug cartels take advantage of the porous border to flood our country with deadly fentanyl. It’s that economic migrants abuse the asylum system and crowd out actual refugees. It’s that the border chaos makes it impossible to reach bipartisan consensus to fix our immigration system.

But the fact is, we need legal immigrants. There are 8.7 million unfilled jobs in the United States, and there are

not enough native-born workers to fill them. According to Census Bureau data, the U.S. population is now growing at less than replacement levels. The only thing stopping us from overall population decline is immigrants, who are projected to account for 88 percent of U.S. population growth through 2065.

Far from poison, immigrants are a lifesaving transfusion into the American bloodstream. That includes the Trump family. The former president is descended from a mix of German and Scottish immigrants. (His grandfather came here in 1885 as a 16-year-old German barber, while his mother was a domestic worker who grew up in hardscrabble circumstances in Scotland.)

His children by Ivana Trump and Melania Trump are German-Scottish-Czech or German-Scottish-Slovenian mix.

His grandchildren on the Kushner side have a Polish-Jewish background. And his grandchildren by Eric and Lara Trump have Slovak, English, German, Swiss-German and Dutch heritage.

Like most of us, the Trumps are mutts.

And this is the real source of American greatness. “We lead the world,” Reagan told us, “because, unique among nations, we draw our people – our strength – from every country and every corner of the world.… Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier.”

Yes, we urgently need to secure our border. But the moment we start worrying about the purity of our blood, we will abandon what makes us exceptional – and become just another country. And that is no way to make America great again. (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

By David Ignatius

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t the dawn of 2024, we should recognize that violence is ravaging our planet and the mechanisms to prevent it are failing badly.

U.N. peacekeeping resolutions are routinely vetoed by combatants or their protectors; “deterrence” doesn’t deter Russia, Hamas or the Houthis. The “rules-based order” that President Joe Biden proclaims has become a slogan rather than a fact.

The folly of war is the belief that it solves problems. Israelis and Palestinians have been battling for more than 50 years without gaining lasting security.

Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine began as a fever dream of President Vladimir Putin. He failed to conquer Kyiv, thanks to brave Ukrainian resistance, but the bloody war of attrition has cost Russia an estimated 320,000 casualties and Ukraine an estimated 170,000 to 190,000.

The biggest national security question for 2024 and beyond is how to craft new mechanisms that would actually combat the spread of war. Drums are already beating for future conflicts that would be far more deadly even than the current round: a battle between the United States and China over Taiwan, for example, or a military campaign to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

As we think about avoiding future wars, a good guide is President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a heroic commander in World War II and a determined opponent of what he called the “military-industrial complex.” “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity,” he said in 1946.

“The only way to win the next world war is to prevent it,” Ike said in 1956 as president. He succeeded in avoiding a nuclear catastrophe, and every subsequent commander in chief has echoed his message. The latest version was President Biden’s reported avowal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that “a

nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won.”

Under its nuclear umbrella, the United States pays lip service to conflict resolution. But in reality, we’ve been an enabler of limited wars nearly as much as Russia, thanks to use of the U.N. veto power. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.N. Security Council immediately crafted a resolution calling for withdrawal; Moscow vetoed it. In December 2023, as the civilian death toll in Gaza climbed toward 20,000, the Security Council crafted a cease-fire resolution with broad support. Washington vetoed it.

Yes, I know, there are reasons to oppose a cease-fire now in Gaza. Hamas remains a threat; Israel has killed less than half of the CIA’s prewar estimate of the group’s 20,000 fighters. But Israel doesn’t have a good plan for obliterating the rest and “winning” this conflict.

Israel needs the United States as a stabilizer and bridge-builder in Gaza, not just an arms dealer.

The United States embraces the “rules-based order” when it suits its purposes. When President George W. Bush wanted to wage a misconceived war against Saddam Hussein in Iraq, he

steered around U.N. objections; when he wanted to battle the Taliban in what proved a fruitless 20-year war in Afghanistan, he used the shopworn authorization of military force from Sept. 11, 2001, along with a beefy coalition from NATO. The United States insists on the primacy of international law but won’t join the International Criminal Court for fear its officials might be targeted.

America has often invoked its values in going to war or supporting insurgencies. That interventionist spirit is infused with idealism, and often I’ve shared it. But it has led to an almost unbroken chain of U.S. involvement in conflict overseas, from Vietnam to Central America to the Balkans and, most of all, to the Middle East.

Putin is wrong about most things.

But there was an element of truth in his 2015 address to the United Nations about the effects of U.S. intervention in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt: “Rather than bringing about reforms, an aggressive foreign interference has resulted in a brazen destruction of national institutions and the lifestyle itself. Instead of the triumph of democracy and progress, we got violence, poverty and social disaster.”

Because the United States has been so willing to intervene abroad to help its friends and values, it creates a kind of moral hazard for smaller, weaker countries or political groups. They start wars they can’t finish, expecting the United States will come to their aid. That was true in the Balkans in the 1990s and in the Middle East during the Arab Spring of the 2010s, and I fear it might become true again as Israel moves toward a direct confrontation with Iran. America isn’t good at saying no.

Deterrence has kept the peace between superpowers, but even here, technology is chipping away at restraint and reason. As China builds its strategic forces, it disguises nuclear and nonnuclear missiles so that it’s hard to know which kind has been launched. Russia has developed hypersonic cruise missiles that shorten decision times and prevent assessment of whether the intended target is civilian or military. Artificial intelligence will evolve radically new strategies. And space weapons will allow first movers to blind and cripple their adversaries.

Worse, deterrence is increasingly a one-way street. The United States acts with restraint, but its adversaries don’t.

That’s what we’ve seen with Russian nuclear saber-rattling in the Ukraine conflict: America is checked from providing weapons that could prove escalatory, and Russia keeps on committing war crimes.

Military strategists always insist that the best way to prevent war is to prepare for it. But we have to admit to ourselves, as another year of bloody conflict begins, that the current model isn’t working. We need new rules at the United Nations to stop wars and a new framework for crisis management with allies and adversaries. Otherwise, in 2024 and beyond, we’ll have to think about the unthinkable. (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Can the Spread of War Be Stopped?

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Political Crossfire

Don’t Look Away From the Primary Cause of an Epidemic of Antisemitism

By Jonathan S. Tobin

W

e could look at it as just another day in New York, where protests on behalf of one cause or another have been part of the culture of the place for more than a century. But the organized effort to snarl traffic with demonstrations blocking a tunnel and three major bridges by people chanting support for the killing of Jews ought to be treated as more than just another day in Gotham.

The answer as to why this is happening is linked to recent controversies about college presidents who had trouble deciding whether advocacy for the genocide of Jews violates their academic institutions’ rules of conduct. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, there has been an epidemic of antisemitic incidents throughout North America. Jewish businesses and even Jewish neighborhoods have been targeted for boycotts or harassment. Jewish students are harassed and heckled with vicious antisemitic taunts, most recently during a high school basketball game.

The people committing these antisemitic actions are not right-wing extremists, neo-Nazis or members of the Ku Klux Klan – groups that Jews have long feared and whose existence was highlighted by the 2017 “Unite the Right” violence in Charlottesville, Va., as well as the synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh in 2018 and Poway, Calif., in 2019. Instead, so-called “progressives” are the ones engaged in behavior that seeks, at the very least, to silence and drive Jews from the public square unless they are prepared to join with those opposing efforts to defeat genocidal anti-Jewish terrorists.

The reason for this is no secret. The pervasive influence of intersectional and critical race theory (CRT) teachings, coupled with diversity, equity and inclusion

(DEI), is the cause. These toxic ideas divide the world into two immutable groups: white oppressors and people of color, who are always the victims. It has created an atmosphere in which people who think of themselves as enlightened liberals think it is acceptable to single out Jews for opprobrium and ill-treatment because the woke catechism that is their secular faith falsely labels Israel and the Jewish people as “white” oppressors. The side whose goal is to destroy the Jewish state and slaughter its people are considered the victims, not terrorists who must be defeated rather than appeased.

Peaceful Protest or Domestic Terrorism?

While The New York Times referred to it as a “pro-Palestinian protest,” those who shut down the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges, as well as the Holland Tunnel, on Jan. 8 – effectively preventing vehicular access to Lower Manhat-

tan during rush hour on a Monday morning – were doing more than demonstrating support for a cause or inconveniencing tens of thousands of people. They were effectively holding a city hostage and creating circumstances that might have led to the loss of life had there been an emergency of any sort during the two hours they blocked these arteries on which the city’s economy and normal life depend.

That, in of itself, ought to dictate that those involved – 125 of them were arrested by the New York Police Department, which struggled to regain control of the situation for hours – would be subject to serious punishment. But there is an aggravating factor that also ought to be taken into account.

They and their apologists claim that they are only doing this to show New Yorkers what Gazans are allegedly experiencing during the war begun by Hamas by the Oct. 7 atrocities. While blocking traffic, they were also voicing chants that were a thinly veiled call for more terrorist attacks on

Jews, both in Israel and around the world.

That’s what the “long live intifada” and “globalize intifada” slogans heard at these and other “pro-Palestinian” protests mean.

Along with the “from the river to the sea” chant, this is ample evidence that what was going on was an antisemitic protest carried on by a coalition of groups, including some like Jewish Voice for Peace that pose as Jewish, which make no secret about the fact that they share a goal with the Hamas terrorists: the destruction of the one Jewish state on the planet. It’s also a goal that can only be accomplished by the genocide of the Jewish people.

That ought to mean that such protests would be treated as hate crimes or at least prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Unfortunately, it’s likely those involved will – like those involved in other recent protests in what they themselves describe as an effort to “flood” various sites, a reference to the “Al-Aqsa flood,” the name Hamas gave its orgy of murder, rape, torture and kidnapping – get the usual slap on the wrist that weary city officials have given to most demonstrators in recent memory.

Much like the crowds that participated in the “mostly peaceful” protests in the summer of 2020, the antisemitic traffic disruptors will likely get off scot-free.

In the Black Lives Matter riots, many of those who assaulted cops, destroyed property and looted stores went largely unpunished. Indeed, the Times referred to what happened at the bridges and the tunnel as “peaceful.”

Prejudicial Double Standards But just imagine if three New York City bridges and a tunnel were similarly shut down by MAGA red-cap-wearing support-

than throw these people in jail, the police brought them coffee and doughnuts in a vain effort to “manage” the situation rather than restore public order.

To put that into perspective, this outrage is taking place in a country in which truckers protesting COVID-19 policies by parking their vehicles paralyzing traffic in the capital of Ottawa in what they called a “freedom convoy” were treated as insurrectionists. Their bank accounts and those of their supporters were frozen, and their leaders are being tried now on a variety of charges that could land them in prison, even while pro-Hamas protestors were given kid-gloves treatment in the same city.

It’s all part of the same mindset that led to a private Jewish high school’s girl basketball team withdrawing from a game being played in Yonkers, N.Y., against Roosevelt High School – a college-prep magnet school – after they were repeatedly subjected to antisemitic taunts and rough play by their opponents. One Roosevelt High player screamed at the Leffel School players, “I support Hamas, you [expletive] Jew.” Roosevelt forfeited the game. One player was suspended a day later, and the coach was fired. But again, just imagine, if one of the Jewish girls or any non-minority had yelled, “I support the Klan” at an African-

American player. It would have made the front page of the Times and become a national cause-célèbre. But as of this writing, the Times has yet to even acknowledge it in much the same manner that it was late to account for the antisemitic riot that took place in a Queens high school that targeted a pro-Israel teacher.

These incidents and the growing total of opinion surveys that point to a spike in antisemitic attitudes are not just a result of indoctrination in the intersectional lie about the Palestinian war to destroy Israel being analogous to the struggle for civil rights in the United States. It’s also a product of the mainstreaming of anti-Zionist invective and barely disguised prejudice against Jews in publications like the Times and the willingness of pop-culture outlets like the “Saturday Night Live” show to take the side of those justifying the advocacy of genocide of Jews rather than those calling it out.

The problem is that the people who are committing the growing list of antisemitic acts on the streets and on college campuses are not part of a tiny radical fringe like the tiki-torch-bearing neo-Nazis who gathered in Charlottesville. These demonstrators are educated “progressives” who claim to support human rights and are often con-

nected in one way or another to the elites who run the institutions of academia, the media, the arts and liberal politics. In other words, the new shock troops of antisemitism are people that liberal Jews are used to considering as allies. That’s why it is so hard for even groups such as the Anti-Defamation League, which is supposed to be protecting the Jewish community, to stop defending DEI policies that are behind this rise in antisemitism.

Jews cannot afford to look away from the main cause of their current woes. Instead, they must focus on why it is that progressives think that Jews are the one minority group that can be discriminated against with impunity. The community needs to mobilize its resources and demand that political leaders start treating those who are carrying out these antisemitic hate crimes in the name of supposed sympathy for the Palestinians with the harshness they deserve. It must also insist that mainstream publications go back to treating anti-Zionism as a form of hatred against Jews. Only then can we hope to quell this dangerous surge of hate. (JNS)

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

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ers of former President Donald Trump, protesting efforts to prosecute or throw him off the 2024 presidential ballot. They would almost certainly be labeled as “insurrectionists” and deemed by the U.S. Department of Justice to be “domestic terrorists” whose tactics were a threat of civil disorder not to be tolerated. And the treatment they’d get from authorities would be harsh.

But because endangering New Yorkers while calling for the death of Jews is treated by the chattering classes as merely exercising free speech about a topic on which reasonable people ought to agree to disagree, the protesters will likely be free to terrorize some other thoroughfare as soon as they like.

Similar incidents have happened elsewhere in the country, with highways blocked and businesses that the “pro-Palestinians” associate with the Jewish community subjected to harassment with few, if any, repercussions for those engaged in this conduct.

In Toronto, Canada, “pro-Palestinian” demonstrators were even less subtle about their antisemitism. They have been blocking traffic on a highway bridge in a Jewish neighborhood, causing not just inconvenience but creating an atmosphere of intimidation for its residents. Yet rather

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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Forgotten Her es

World War II Medical Procedures

By Avi Heiligman

The USS Silversides

M

edical procedures during World War II were much more advanced than in previous conflicts and by the end of the war had progressed tremendously. For exam-

ple, a wounded soldier with a bleeding wound would need a blood transfusion.

The medical knowledge to give plasma was there at the beginning of the war.

By the end of the war, other procedures

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like giving serum albumin – blood which is rich in red blood cells and is more effective than plasma – were developed.

The military medical professionals often performed procedures and surgeries in less-than-ideal conditions, including in places like mountaintops, in the rain, or submerged on a submarine.

Submerged submarines on patrol in dangerous waters in the Pacific Ocean were an unlikely location for surgeries, but that is exactly where three emergency appendectomies took place during 1942. While larger ships had medical teams with doctors, submarines usually only had a pharmacist mate to look after the health of the crew. Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Wheeler Lipes was on the USS Seadragon (SS-194) when, on September 11, 1942, a fellow submariner, Darrel Rector, was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Lipes, who had been trained as a corpsman and had assisted during several similar surgeries, knew that he had to operate immediately to save the submariner’s life. The commanding officer then took the boat to a depth of 120 feet, and Lipes then took stock of the meager medical supplies that were on board. Instruments had to be improvised, and the ship’s communications officer served as the anesthetist.

Lipes then got to work and removed the appendix without serious complications.

Rector was then stitched up and within a few days returned to duty. When they got back to shore, doctors examined Rector and said that Lipes saved his life.

Similar successful surgeries occurred on two other submarines. The second submerged appendectomy occurred on December 14, 1942, by Pharmacist’s Mate Harry Roby onboard the USS Grayback (SS-208). The patient was Torpedoman William Jones, but the submarine did not have proper medical equipment. Roby noted, “It takes maybe 60 instruments to do an appendectomy. I had three or four.”

Medical equipment was improvised from other parts of the submarine, and the surgery was done at a depth of 100 feet.

On December 22, Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Thomas Moore operated on Fireman Second Class George Platter.

The emergency appendectomy was on the USS Silversides (SS-236), and as with the surgery on the USS Seadragon, kitchen implements were improvised and ether was used as an anesthetic.

Some of the top brass in the Medical Corps weren’t too happy with the surgeries being done by pharmacist’s mates instead of by certified surgeons and put an end to submarine surgeries. Many more cases of submariners needing surgery were diagnosed by the end of the war, and the boats were forced to find the closest ship with a doctor or port to perform the operations.

The fighting at Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword and Juno Beaches on D-Day was fierce as the Nazis were determined to force the large Allied invasion back into the sea. Medical personnel landed with the troops, and makeshift facilities were

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JANUARY 11, 2024 | The Jewish Home

soon behind the first waves of soldiers to land on the French coast. Those first waves suffered high casualties and two Jewish doctors, Major Benjamin Cohen from Brookline, Massachusetts, and Captain Samuel Horowitz of New York, set up a temporary field hospital while under enemy fire. Aides brought back wounded soldiers while bullets were flying, and occasionally, the ground would shake under enemy shelling. Still, the two doctors operated on the severely wounded and worked well into the night. All they had that illuminated their field hospital was a single flashlight.

Major Isadore Goldberg was a Jewish medical officer from St. Louis, Missouri,

serving the 63rd Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division on Luzon in the Philippines. He was the regimental surgeon when they were attacking the Japanese on the sleep slopes of Dutchman’s Hill during the battle for Couringan. Two companies had almost reached the summit when Japanese artillery found their range on their position. There were no medical personnel with the troops on the top, and it took sixteen men to bring down each one of the more than two dozen wounded soldiers. Major Goldberg arranged for a fifty man litter team and led them up the steep jungle path. Multiple times, he stopped to administer plasma to soldiers that were being brought

down to safety. During the night ascent, they stopped for a seriously wounded soldier who needed plasma. With one foot wedged into a crevice and the other dangling precariously on the 1,600-foot cliff in the rain and at night, Dr. Goldberg gave the soldier lifesaving plasma while the patient was held up by two other soldiers. The soldier was moved to a field hospital and survived. Dr. Goldberg, who was wounded by shrapnel, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in saving the soldier’s life. He was wounded on two other occasions and had another close call while administering plasma at a medical aid station. A sniper’s bullet smashed the plasma bottle but neither

the surgeon nor the patient was hurt in the incident.

There are many stories of surgeries and medical procedures performed while in combat. Often disregarding their own safety, the medical personnel went through enemy gunfire, depth charging (on the submarines), extreme weather conditions and hazardous terrain to save the lives of fellow service members.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 11, 2024

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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 WOODMERE CEDARHURST CEDARHURST International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE New to the market 2 bedroom 2 full bathrooms top floor elevator building, 24 hr doorman, open concept, totally renovated kitchen, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, 2 dishwashers, island, 2 new bathrooms, terrace, central air conditioning, u/g parking, high hats throughout, custom closets minutes to shopping, railroad, park, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE WOODMERE LAWRENCE WOODMERE WOODMERE CEDARHURST

WOODMERE 1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $179k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE CEDARHURST LAWRENCE

WOODMERE Introducing a stunning 14-side hall colonial home in the Hewlett Woodmere School District.

Formal living room, formal dining Quality New Construction!!!

Construction!!! room,Quality denNew with a skylight. Eat in Wide Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious and Stucco Col.Wide with 2 Story Entry 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which Spacious Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious and Spacious Stucco withCharming 2 Story EntryColonial 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which New ToCol. Mkt. on Beautiful Tree Spacious Split Level Home In Academy Charming Colonial on Beautiful Tree lined Street, Spacious Split Level Home InPrestigious Prestigious Academy Serene Cul-de-Sac in Village of Lawrence , Main Flr Master Bdrm includes Radiant Heat, with LotsFlr of Master Natural Bdrm Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, Serene Cul-de-Sac inAnderson Village ofWindows Lawrence , Main includes Radiant Heat, Anderson Windows with Lots Natural Area.HOUSE Lg EIK, w/2 FLR/FDR, Attic, Lower lvl Den Features, Large Primary Suite Addional w/WIC, Main and Bath, FLR, lined Street, Features FLR FDR, EIK, Den andofLibrary OPEN 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 highland Suite with Many Closets and Bthrm, Flr Bdrm & Bath, Area.

Lg EIK, w/2 sinks, FLR/FDR, Attic, Lower lvl Den OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue Light Flr sinks, Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 highland SuiteThroughout, with Many Closets and Bthrm, Addional Main Flr Bdrm & Bath, Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End Totally renovated Colonial.

New. High Ceilings, Chefs EIK, 5 a warming draw and, 6aLike microwave.

Hall Huge Colonial with Main Level+Den 3 BRs 23Bths Baths Lg EIK, Mudrm, 4 Bdrms onFinished Second Flr, FinFlrBsmt, Bsmt, Playroom &Like 22Mudrm, add’l rooms, Oversized Prop.

FDR, EIK, DenDen, and Library Appliances, Ovens ,EIK, 6 Burner Cooktop Pot Filler, Totally renovated Colonial.

New. High Ceilings, Chefs Large Primary Basement Prime Center HallDble Colonial with Level Den 3with BRs Baths Lg Fdnr Huge Den, +rooms, 4 Bdrms 23Bths onFinished Second Flr,Flr Fdnr Fin Playroom &Main add’l Oversized Prop.Center Appliances, DbleSuite, Ovens Finished Burner Cooktop within Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere location!

Basment Beautiful Property Wrap Around Property, $1.690M 2Basment Dishwashers, and more.

Master Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath Beautiful Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere location!

Beautiful Property $1.1M Finished Basement in Prime Location.

Beautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M First floor bedroom, a full 2 Dishwashers, and more.

Masterbathroom Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath $1.659M Location $1.39M $1.1M $999K and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr $1.659M $999K and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr $1.39M Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge and laundry room. Two-car garage.

Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge Playrm 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful WOODSBURGH CO-OPS/CONDOS Playrm 2has Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful Upper level four bedrooms, two WOODSBURGH CO-OPS/CONDOS Manicured Garden.

CEDARHURST WOODMERE CO-OP Manicured Garden.

CEDARHURST WOODMERE CO-OP PROPERTIES FOR RENT CEDARHURST full bathrooms.

Finished basement N. WOODMERE FAR ROCKAWAY Cedarhurst LAWRENCE - 144 Grove 9 Room Doctor’s with playroom, storage and utilities.

LAWRENCE 261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen. suite, spacious waiting rm, all on main 261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen.

Large LR/DR Overlooking the Courtyard $229K Well-groomed exterior with porch Large LR/DR Overlooking the Courtyard $229K floor. Location! adjoining the master bedroom.

LAWRENCE- 29 Bayberry Road Charming Lawrence 240 Central Avenue LAWRENCE Hardwood floors and back patio.

Spacious 1 Bdrmon 1 Bthbeautiful Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg 5BR home cul-de-sac 240 Central Avenue Central air conditioning, inwith Terrace Overlooking Garden, Near All $229K Spacious 1 Bdrm 1 Bth Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg with Terrace Overlooking Garden, Near All $229K ground sprinkler system, alarm FAR ROCKAWAY CO-OPS FOR SALE system. Close proximity to schools, 156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH FAR ROCKAWAY Cedarburst Beachfront Condo— 553 Central Avenue Large This spacious s/h col2BR, , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, 156 B 9th St Mint 2 BTH shopping centers, restaurants, and with Wraparound sits on 1/2 acreCondo property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful 1BR, 1bth. Terrace, Magnificent Beachfront This spacious s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, Sunrise & Sunset waterviews, magnificent sunsets . Flr banquet fdnr , transportation options. with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent Brick C/Hand Colonial 4+ BR, 3 Bths, Hardwood floors, sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful COMMERCIAL RENTAL! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located $589K Open floorBlvd plan!

FLR, FDR,Mint, kit.Corner w/ 1 Bdrm breakfast rm, main level NEW! den /fpl master with his Woodmere Apt 2B Renovated, Sunrise &of Sunset waterviews, and magnificent sunsets . Flr banquet , New! Renovated High Ranch, 4BRs, 2 Bths,fdnr New 5FLR Brher Home in Heart Far Rockaway, 3Bth, EIK, FDR, 29 inand the Heart Cedarhurst, Spacious room, Reception FDR, Finished in bths, quiet Exclusive Tree Mark Lipner Associate Broker closets and bth Basement, + 4of bdrms , waiting new newly renovated with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located $589K breakfast area, all new carpeting, many breakfast rm, main level den /fpl master with his Area and Exam Rooms, all on Main Floor.

Close to Public 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm finished basement with laundry rm, playrm, lots of storage, Kitchen & of Bths,3 Zone Heating & CAC, Den FLR, Den, Walk in Closets 130’ Deep Property. lined Foyer, area. $1.599 Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large inand theher Heart Cedarhurst, room, Reception Berkshire Hathaway Laffey Transportation closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new bths, newly renovated with 9ft Ceilings.

In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite many special detailsSpacious thruout Eat $1.9M+ Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows closets, terrace, $299K Area and Exam alllaundry on Mainrm, Floor.

Close to of Public FDR, SD# 14Rooms, $1.4+M $6,000 finished basement with playrm, lots storage, Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large REDUCED $299K International 516-298-8457 Transportation many special details thruout $1.9M+ $1.279M Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows $6,000 REDUCED $299K mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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Classifieds

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APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

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

LAWRENCE JUST LISTED This amazing two-bedroom two full bathroom condo Features a luxurious lifestyle in the beautiful city of Lawrence. What more could you ask for? The building has a 24-hour doorman and elevator access, with a social room, library, washer/dryer inside the unit, and terrace. Plus, the added benefit of having a live-in super to ensure maximum safety and security! And don’t forget about your new kitchen complete with a gas stove, refrigerator, microwave, and even two dishwashers! The living room and dining room are spacious and have recessed lighting installed throughout. Both bedrooms feature lots of closet space for storage. To top it off, there’s even garage parking available to make your life just that much easier! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Please call for a private showing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Generously proportioned, first-floor apartment in an elevator-equipped building in the heart of Woodmere.

This Co-op boasts three bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Lofty ceilings, spacious foyer, formal living area and dining space. Expansive kitchen with gas stove, microwave, dishwasher, washer-dryer. Hardwood floors provide an elegant touch, and the comfort of five air-conditioning units ensures year-round climate control. Three bedrooms, with the primary bedroom having en-suite full bathroom. Dedicated storage. Near shopping centers, railroad, dining and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Totally renovated bright and sunny 1 bedroom corner unit apartment with a washer/dryer. Features quartz countertops, ss appliances, recessed lighting, bathroom with chrome fixtures, close to the railroads, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT 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

FOR RENT IN HEART OF FAR ROCKAWAY Extra large 2800 Square foot trailer with bathrooms available for rent, suitable for offices, Yeshiva etc Please call 718.327.8007

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

TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.

Weekly Classifieds Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................$20 2 weeks .............. $35 4 weeks .............. $60 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info and zip code

Deadline Monday 5:00pm

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Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

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

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

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

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

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

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 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

TEACHER/TEACHER MENTOR Join our Collaborative Team at HASC. Looking for an experienced Teacher/ Teacher Mentor to help with the administration of a SEIT Program.

Great Pay! Part-time!

Flexible hours!

Warm & Caring Environment.

SAS/SBL a plus Email resume: jobswd@hasc.net

COORDINATOR An organization is looking for a female volunteer as a coordinator.

Call / Text 929-430-4047 YESHIVA KETANA of Long Island Seeks Full Time Office Secretary. Computer skills required Great work environment.

Email Resume to office@ykli.org BOOKKEEPER Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE OPENING PM Substitute Assistant Teacher for lower grade special ed class, 5 Towns/ Far Rockaway Yeshiva. Great Salary.

Hours: 1:00 - 4:00, Mon. - Thurs.

Email: nnadata@zareinu.org or call 516-316-6633.

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

SECRETARY WOODMERE, PART-TIME HASC, a leader in special education, is seeking a part-time SEIT Secretary to add to our Team.

Job includes general office and administrative tasks related to the tracking and maintenance of SEIT student and staff files.

Computer skills required.

Attention to detail a must.

Great pay.

Warm and caring environment.

Room for growth.

Training provided.

JOBSWD@HASC.NET 516-295-1340

Classifieds

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HELP WANTED HE LOVES COMPUTERS, animals, and exercise. Can you share his interests? Spend time with a 29-year-old young man with developmental disabilities in Lawrence, NY. Part time, flexible hours, starting salary $27.

Contact: Jobs@hamaspikking.org or 718-387-8400 Ext. 249

BOOKKEEPER/OFFICE ASSISTANT Cedarhurst Office. A/R ,A/P P/R, Quickbooks, data entry, scanning & filing. 25 -30 Hrs,good Pay. 516 404-1802 A YESHIVA IN QUEENS is looking for an experienced part/ full time secretary, 2-year-old morah, kindergarten morah, kindergarten morah assistant and Pre-1A English teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Nice and timely pay. Please email resume to mshelt613@gmail. com or call/text 718-971-9799.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

SECRETARY Woodmere, Part-Time HASC, a leader in special education, is seeking a part-time SEIT Secretary to add to our Team.

Job includes general office and administrative tasks related to the tracking and maintenance of SEIT student and staff files.

Computer skills required.

Attention to detail a must.

Great pay. Room for growth.

Warm and caring environment.

Training provided. jobswd@hasc.net 516-295-1340

DO YOU PLAY GUITAR? Earn money doing what you love!

Help a friendly 14-year-old boy with ADHD gain confidence and overcome struggles by teaching him to play.

Sundays, Lawrence. jobs@hamaspikkings.org or call 718.387.8400 ext. 413 to apply.

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

JOIN OUR TEAM! ABA company located in the 5 Towns looking to fill multiple full-time administrative positions Knowledge of Central Reach a plus, but will train the right candidate Great work environment Call 516-670-5374 or Email your resume to: Careers@supportivecareaba.com

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

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

“Shotime”

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

I

f you’re a football fan, you’ve just come off a weekend-long binge full of college and NFL games. If you’re a basketball fan, March Madness is just around the corner. If you’re a hockey fan… well, does anyone but another hockey diehard know what’s going on in your head right now? So you might not be thinking much about baseball. But L.A. Dodgers fans are excited to host their season opener against St. Louis on March 28. That’s because, just last month, they lured twoway star Shohei Ohtani away from their crosstown rivals, the Angels.

Ohtani is one of the hottest players in baseball. So how did the Boys in Blue lure him north from Anaheim? They did it the Los Angeles way – with money. Lots and lots of money. Specifically, they signed him to a 10-year, $700 million contract making him the highest-paid athlete in the history of pro sports. But the real value isn’t just the number. Ohtani’s record-breaking contract includes a unique twist designed to “help” the Dodgers spend more to build a competitive team around him. And it offers him yet another bonus – it could help him save nearly $100 million in tax.

Baseball lets teams pay their players

up to $237 million per year on total salaries. Pay anything more and they owe the league a “luxury tax” on amounts above that cap. Ohtani and his agent didn’t want to swallow the team’s entire allowance. So they structured his deal to earn just $2 million per year while he’s playing. When that period ends, he’ll get $68 million more for each of the next 10 years.

Assuming the rate hasn’t gone down, that puts nearly 98$ million more in Ohtani’s pocket.

“But wait?” you might be asking yourself. “Won’t California just tax him anyway since he still earned that income playing in the state?” Fortunately for Ohtani, Washington passed legislation almost 30 years ago forbidding states

It offers him yet another bonus – it could help him save nearly $100 million in tax.

So, here’s how the tax angle works.

As long as Ohtani plays in the United States, he’s subject to 37% federal income tax. However, as long as he plays in L.A., he’s also subject to California’s highest-in-the-nation state income tax. That tax just went up this week to %14.4 on wage income over 1$ million per year. When he reaches that point in the contract – at age 40 – he can retire outside the state and avoid that bite.

from clawing back tax on former residents’ retirement income so long as it’s paid in “substantially equal installments” over 10 years or more.

Of course, that means “Shotime” won’t be able to start spending those installments until 2034. But don’t feel too bad for him. He’s expecting to earn another 50$ million in endorsements next year, including his own line of branded shoes and apparel through New Balance.

Like many athletes, Ohtani’s finances haven’t all been roses. In November of 2021, he took an equity stake in cryptocurrency exchange FTX to become a “global ambassador.” A year later, FTX declared bankruptcy, costing investors and customers billions. Ohtani is currently a defendant in a class-action lawsuit against him, along with Tom Brady, Steph Curry, and Naomi Osaka. At least he’s not chilling with FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in the same Brooklyn jail where Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself.

And so, baseball fans, what have we learned today? It’s not just how much you make that counts – it’s how you make it, when you make it, and sometimes even where you make it. That’s the sort of planning we love to do. So call us before you step into the batter’s box and let us help you hit a financial grand slam in 2024!

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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