Five Towns Jewish Home 2.01.24

February 1, 2024

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Dear Readers,

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were asking random strangers to bring back home for them rings or glasses or jackets that they had left at the hotel.

A few months ago, we had the privilege of spending a Shabbos meal with a couple who were both geirim. When they spoke about their journey to Yiddishkeit, they both expressed their appreciation for the sense of belonging that they feel now. They told us that before they became Jewish, they were accomplished people in their own right, but they never felt they were “needed” in the community. Becoming Jewish changed all that. Now, they said, they are part of a huge family, and they feel how integral their presence is in the community.

So much of our lives now is overshadowed by the war in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with those being held hostage, with those fighting for our nation, and with those who are hurting from their physical and emotional wounds. But the inspiration that we absorb comes from the connection that we have with each other. Regardless of our religious stance or our political views, we are intrinsically aware that we are all one nation with one heart. We belong with each other.

e take for granted the closeness and the sense of community we have – regardless of where we live and regardless of shul/yeshiva/school affiliation. You see, when frum Jews see one another, there’s a sense of connection we have with each other, an awareness that we have each other’s back.

Those feelings are felt most strongly when we’re out of our comfort zones, on vacation or on the road. There’s no hesitancy to approach another frum family to inquire about kosher food options or the nearest Chabad. And of course, because so many of us have young children, if you need Tylenol or a few extra diapers and there’s no CVS close by, you feel comfortable enough to ask your fellow traveler if they have some to spare.

On a trip with my kids this week, I was reminded of the special kinship we have with each other. As the group chat at the hotel became deluged with requests for extra slices of pizza and Cholov Yisroel milk and another minyan for Mincha, I looked at the people around me who were not from our community. And I understood that, for many of them, a trip with their family was, well, just a trip with their family. Few of them were asking random strangers for an extra pair of goggles. And none of them

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 | February 2 – February 8

Friday, February 2 Parshas Yisro

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Candle Lighting: 4:55 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:58 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 6:27 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

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National

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That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

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Israel News

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Chesed Under Fire by Rafi Sackville

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Lone Soldiers are Not Alone

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Hats and Chayalim by Barbara Deutsch

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JEWISH THOUGHT Being Jewish is a Gift by Kylie Ora Lobell

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Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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The Missing Listen by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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The Five Stages of Torah by Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

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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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Gifting the Torah by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

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PEOPLE The Community Mourns an Extraordinary Torah Scholar

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A Meaningful Partnership: A Deeper Look into Smach Zevulun

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A House Full of Lev by Malkie Schulman

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Inspiration Nation

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The Heroes of Machal and the Haganah by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Slowing Down for Better Health by Tehila Soskel, RDN, CDN

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FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Pavlova

107 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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JWOW!

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Mind Your Business

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Your Money

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Visits from the Fam by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

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HUMOR Centerfold

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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The Meaning of Gaza’s Tunnels by Bret Stephens

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The U.S.-China Relationship is Back On Track by Fareed Zakaria

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Biden Calibrates His Response As a Slow-Motion Crisis Arrives

by David Ignatius

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Dear Editor, The world is loaded with stupidity. It is being forced at society from nearly every communicable forum. TV, radio, social media, streaming videos, advertisements, and newspapers are merely starting forums. College curricula are loaded with stupid “junk food” courses that offer easy credits toward graduating with a degree in “liberal worthlessness.” Many jobs are overloaded with stupid workers who have no clue how to handle even minimally challenging situations that require some brain cell movement.

Indeed, the world is much dumber than it was 20-30 years ago. I think we have reached the point where we can no longer educate the stupid and make them smart. The best that we can do is to invest the smarts in our children. Yeshivot can educate children in some areas. Ultimately, though, parents need to be vigilant about their children’s discipline, behavior, and their smarts. Here are some suggestions: I have no social media presence. I have managed well for many years before it existed as well as for the past few decades since it started. I think it’s a forum for gossip, bullying and worthless chitchat, mostly. I think social media is useful and necessary for most businesses and marketing.

Unless your child is running his own business, he doesn’t need to spend time minding someone else’s business on Instagram.

My 7th and 8th grade English teacher made our class learn college-level vocabulary. She had the foresight to believe that if you give kids a tough challenge, they will meet the challenge. If she were still alive, I would hug her for that action. I encourage parents to do as my teacher did. Kids

inherently like to compete with their classmates. Why not encourage your kids to be the smartest in the class? If you encourage your kids to tackle a tough challenge, even if they don’t reach the goal, the effort and problem-solving skills will make them smart.

My grandmother strictly monitored my friends. She told me, “Smart boys like to be with other smart boys. If you stay with stupid boys, you’ll become stupid like them.

And don’t think that if you’re smarter than them, you can encourage them to be smart like you. You can’t.” Strictly monitor your children’s friends. When they come to play with your kids, don’t just monitor how they communicate and interact with each other. Have a conversation with them. You can get a good idea of their interests and how they respond to you. Some kids interact well with each other but are rude to adults. If your child’s friend is rude to you, this is a danger to your own child, and he should not be your child’s friend.

I applaud the parents that do not own a TV and use “kosher” cell phones. While I am not a follower of this practice, I think that reducing the routes to wastefulness and stupidity in any way possible is always a good idea. My English teacher made us write a book review each month. Encourage your children to read and handwrite a journal or a composition or article. Computers don’t always work!

We live in an era where there’s a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence.

Why not make this, instead, an era where there is a growing emphasis on real genius?

Daniel Feldman

Continued on page 10

Would you rather stay in during a snowy day or go outside and build a snowman?

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Stay in

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Go out

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Continued from page 8

Dear Editor, So I’m davening Shacharis in my shteeble last week when it happened again.

I was really getting into my Shemonah Esrei with some extra special kavanah due to the current tragic situation in Eretz Yisroel when inevitably someone’s cellphone starts ringing!

Now, it wouldn’t have been so bad if it was just the old fashioned, classic ringing – I might have been able to ignore that – but no, this guy had “Oh, When the Saints Come Marching In” as his ringtone!

Now, had he immediately turned it off, I might have been able to resume my concentration and continue davening but no, this genius doesn’t know how to shut it off! Everyone in shul starts NUUUing and NEEEing, but to no avail!

Louis Armstrong is already into the second verse and everybody is looking up and staring daggers at him when he finally gives up trying to figure out how to shut it off and decides to answer the phone.

“Hello, who is this?” he yells loudly into the phone. “Who? Fanny?

“Whaddaya want? Speak louder, WHAT? I can’t hear you. I left my hearing aid home! What? WHAT? One dozen or two? WHAT? Cholov Yisroel? Blue or red? WHAT’S THAT? Honey nut or plain? I can’t talk now. I’m in shul davening! GOODBYE!” Thus 100+ men had their concentration shattered and their Shemonah Esrei ruined, but at least we all knew what he would be having for breakfast!

But that was only the forshpice (appetizer)!

A few days later, after the gabbai warned everybody to silence their phones, some Yookle’s phone went off, this time playing “Who Let The Dogs Out?” Wouldn’t it be ironic but appropriate if somebody’s ringtone would play “The Sound Of Silence!”

Country Yossi Toiv Dear Editor, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you.

Several months ago, we conducted an interview to showcase The Just One Life project. Malkie Schulman, an exceptional writer and interviewer, devoted extensive hours to our discussions. A few weeks ago, the culmination of our collaboration materialized in a story featured in your publication, shedding light on Just One Life and offering a glimpse into its significance.

In The Jewish Home newspaper, this narrative illuminated Just One Life’s mission —to support and empower women and families during pregnancy in crisis.

Over the years, our collective efforts have led to the saving of over 20,200 babies in various circumstances, including twins, triplets, and quadruplets. The ongoing war has brought an additional challenge, with 300-400 new cases emerging.

The impact of this interview is tangible. A couple, only married a few months earlier, came across this newspaper, read the interview, and were deeply moved.

Their emotional response translated into a generous donation of $50,000. This interview, facilitated by your paper, has directly contributed to the birth of 30-35 children, forming the foundation of two new kindergartens.

The sacred nature of Just One Life’s mission is widely recognized. Many years ago, during my time with Rav Matisyahu Salomon, zt”l, he requested a bracha (a blessing) from me. He held my arm tightly until I fulfilled his request. As I offered a blessing to him, I now extend a similar blessing to all those dedicated to this noble cause. May the upcoming Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur be moments of prayer for you, and as your tefillos (prayers) immerse in sacred texts that speak of the multitude of births, take pride in the tangible impact your actions and this newspaper have had. Through your collective efforts, new lives have come into existence in the Holy Land of Israel.

In these challenging times of war, our collective wish is for shalom, peace.

Again, I thank you and the 20,200 babies whose lives have been positively affected by our shared dedication to this meaningful cause.

Thank you all for your unwavering support.

Sincerely, Rabbi Martin Katz, EVP Just One Life Dear Editor, A Holocaust survivor recently conveyed that the emotional turmoil she experienced by the October 7th massacre exceeded the anguish she experienced during the Holocaust. Dovid HaMelech refers to these two haunting events in Chapter 35 in Tehillim, the “Shoah” and “Chamas.” The chapter begins with Dovid pleading to G-d that G-d should fight Dovid’s fights. We know well that G-d fights our wars when we’re spiritually in order. Yehoshua began to lose one of his battles because he stopped learning. Military victory and service to G-d go handin-hand.

We pray, too, that G-d should fight our fights as we continue to grow spiritually.

Steven Genack

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The Week In News

Russian Military Plane Crash

A Russian cargo military plane crashed last Wednesday, killing everyone on board, including 65 Ukrainian war prisoners, six crew members, and three others, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry alleged that the plane, which had been flying near the Russia-Ukraine border, had been shot down by two missiles launched from Ukraine in the Kharkiv region.

The prisoners were being flown to Belgorod’s airport in preparation for the prisoner exchange that was supposed to take place that day, the ministry claimed.

Kyiv has yet to confirm whether Russia’s accusations are true. However, Ukraine’s general staff headquarters said Wednesday afternoon that their country is justified in defending itself against Russian aircraft flying near the border.

Later that day, Kyiv’s military intelligence agency said that, unlike with previous prisoner exchanges between the two countries, in this instance, Russia hadn’t notified Ukraine that prisoners were being brought to Belgorod.

According to Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the plane flew in from a military airport close to Moscow and crashed into a field in the Korochansky district. Footage published on Telegram shows the craft crashing in Yablonovo, a settlement in the district.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Ukrainian government was “well aware that, in accordance with established practice, Ukrainian servicemen were to be transported by military transport aircraft to Belgorod airfield today for exchange” and added that the “event was to take place in the afternoon” at a checkpoint located on the border.

The military intelligence agency of Ukraine said that the exchange “was supposed to take place today but did not,”

and added that, in preparation for the exchange, Ukraine had safely brought captured Russian servicemen to the border.

“The security of our defenders, according to the agreements, was to be ensured by the Russian side,” the Ukrainian agency said, asserting that Russia’s failure to notify Ukraine that the plane had prisoners on board may just have been a “planned and deliberate … [action] for the Russian Federation to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and weaken international support.”

“It is clear that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners, the feelings of their loved ones, and the emotions of our society.” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the night of the crash, urging international parties to investigate the incident.

Prison for Pakistan’s Imran Khan

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets.

The hearing took place in a closed court established under the Official Secrets Act in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were incarcerated on corruption convictions.

The pair “have been sentenced 10 years each in a sham case with no access to media or public in Cypher Case,” Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said. The party added that their legal team “will challenge the decision in a higher court” as they hope to get the sentences suspended.

The sentencing is the latest in a string of legal battles faced by Khan and comes ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8 – a vote the ousted former leader is unable to contest due to his previous conviction.

Tuesday’s sentencing in what is popularly known as the “cypher case” comes after Khan was accused of leaking an encrypted diplomatic cable written by a Pakistani diplomat in March

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2022, based on a meeting with a U.S. State Department official.

Khan had claimed the document proved that his ouster in a parliamentary no confidence vote in 2022 was a conspiracy to remove him from power.

The former prime minister repeatedly alleged that Pakistani officials conspired with the country’s powerful military and the U.S. to remove him from office. All parties deny Khan’s accusations.

In the weeks after his ouster, Khan drew tens of thousands to nationwide rallies that became a fixture in the country’s volatile political scene, with his supporters thronging the streets in his defense.

Khan has been facing a litany of legal issues and has dozens of pending cases against him. He has been behind bars since August after he was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to three years in prison.

Khan is still a popular figure among many people in the country despite his speeches being banned from TV stations and many of his PTI colleagues also being arrested.

ANC Suspends Zuma

South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, in a remarkable rebuke, suspended its former president, Jacob Zuma, on Monday, for launching “vitriolic attacks” against the organization after throwing his support behind a rival political party.

Calling Zuma’s behavior “erratic” and “disruptive” before crucial national elections this year, one of the ANC’s top officials essentially assailed the former president as an agent of right-wing forces seeking to stifle Black progress.

“Former President Zuma is actively asserting himself as the figurehead of counterrevolution in South Africa,” said Fikile Mbalula, the ANC’s secretary-general, reading from a statement by the par-

ty’s top decision-making body.

It was a stunning turn of events for a former freedom fighter who was once imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela.

Zuma later rose to power as the leader of the ANC and the nation, dispensing populist rhetoric that attracted a fervent following.

The suspension signals a break from Zuma’s corrosive legacy by party leaders who had spent years defending him against accusations of corruption and wrongdoing, even as his actions eroded public support. It is also a show of strength by President Cyril Ramaphosa, a nemesis of Zuma’s, as he seeks reelection.

In the weeks since he announced that he would not vote for his party this year, Zuma, 81, has been drawing huge crowds at rallies for a new political organization, Spear of the Nation, which bears the name of the ANC’s apartheid-era armed wing.

Analysts say the effect of Zuma’s support of the new party, also known as uMkhonto we Sizwe, or MK, was unpredictable. It might draw votes away from the African National Congress, but it might instead rally its supporters.

The suspension letter to Zuma, obtained by The New York Times, said he had violated his oath of membership and the party’s constitution. It said he had brought the party into disrepute and that he had collaborated with a political organization that opposes its objectives.

It was not immediately clear whether Zuma would be allowed to challenge his suspension or face an internal disciplinary process.

Lebogang Moepeng, second deputy leader of the MK Party, said it would meet with Zuma on Monday night to discuss his response to the suspension.

Zuma has denounced members of Ramaphosa’s government as “sellouts” and said he was campaigning for another party to punish them. (© The New York Times)

nents is likely.

Local media reported that the judges ruled only on technical aspects and have yet to decide on the case’s merits.

Bullfighting Returns to Mexico City

Kamila Valieva, a Russian figure skater who won the gold at the 2022 Olympic Games, has been found to have violated anti-doping rules. As such, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland has instituted a four-year ban on her skating from Dec. 25, 2021. As a result, all of Valieva’s results from that date forward, including at the 2022 Olympic Games, have been voided.

Most notably, this affects the results of the team figure skating event, which took place on February 7, 2022. At that event, Russia — with Valieva as a member

On Sunday, Mexico City held its first bullfight in the city in almost two years.

In 2022, a judge had ordered the indefinite suspension of the practice – which dates back to the 16th century in Mexico – agreeing with animal rights activists who had filed a suit. The Supreme Court revoked the decision last month, although a legal battle between supporters and oppo-

“Torture is not art; it is not culture,” demonstrators shouted near the Plaza de México bullring, the largest bullfighting arena in the world.

People waved banners with slogans, including “no more deaths of innocents.”

Others wore bull masks and painted themselves in red.

But inside the venue, thousands celebrated its return, with chants of “long live freedom.”

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed a referendum on the future of bullfighting in Mexico City.

Around 250,000 bulls are killed in bullfights globally each year, according to Humane Society International.

Bullfighting is still legal in many areas of Mexico, which is one of the few countries that still allows the practice. Other countries include France, Portugal, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. While also legal in Spain, some cities have outlawed the practice.

Russian Banned from Olympics

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— won gold, the United States won silver and Japan won bronze. However, the IOC did not present the athletes with their medals because there were already questions at the time about Valieva. Fifteen years old at the time, Valieva was found to have tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication, at a Russian event a few weeks before the Olympics.

“Having carefully considered all the evidence put before it,” CAS said in a statement announcing the decision on Monday, “the CAS panel concluded that Ms. Valieva was not able to establish, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of the evidence before the Panel, that she had not committed the (violation) intentionally.”

While Valieva’s positive test was taken more than a month prior to the 2022 Games, the results were not returned until February 8, a day after Russia took home gold in the team figure skating event. Once revealed, controversy ensued in Beijing.

When the results came back, Russian officials initially suspended her. As the Olympics carried on, she appealed that decision, won, and was allowed to continue to compete at the 2022 Games. The World Anti-Doping Agency subsequently appealed that decision to CAS, leading to

Monday’s verdict.

Now that it is determined that Valieva should not have competed in that event, the United States will likely move up to the gold medal spot; Canada – which was in fourth place – will likely nab the bronze.

Valieva, the unquestioned star of Russia’s figure skating team, did not medal as an individual.

Valieva will be ineligible to compete until December 2025, roughly two months before the 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin in Milan, Italy.

Haiti Losing Hope

Racked with violence and chaos, Haiti has lost control of around 80% of its capital, Port-au-Prince, to gangs. While the U.N. had approved a security mission meant to fight against the gangs in October, with 1,000 Kenyan police officers

expected to have been deployed to Haiti soon thereafter, the high court of Kenya blocked the deployment plans on Friday, plunging the unstable Caribbean country into further despair.

“Absent a robust external mission that would be deployed very soon, we are facing quite a tragic scenario in Haiti,” said Diego Da Rin, a consultant with the International Crisis Group.

Around 4,500 Haitians were murdered last year and 2,500 kidnappings were reported, the U.N. said. Simultaneously, members of Haiti’s police force have been leaving at “an alarming rate,” with over 1,600 officers having left last year, according to the United Nations.

According to the U.N., international parties have sent armored vehicles to Haiti to increase the police department’s strength, but of the 47 vehicles sent in, 19 were “severely damaged during anti-gang operations” and seven were somehow rendered “permanently disabled.”

The government of Kenya has pledged to appeal the court ruling, but the timeline for doing so is unknown at this time.

The Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Burundi, Chad, and Senegal all promised to deploy some of their own forces alongside Kenya’s, but it is currently unclear, at this point, if those countries will go along with

the U.N.-backed plans now that Kenya is no longer involved.

“All I will say at this time is that this is a major setback for the people of Haiti who yearn to have a stable country to live in,” said Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. “The decision of the Kenyan court warrants an emergency meeting of the friends of Haiti to determine with the Haitian people the plan B.” At this point, Haiti must seek out a backup plan to find a way to defeat its gangs. According to former Haitian diplomat Edwin Paraison, the ruling will give Haiti the opportunity to use its own resources to tackle the problem.

“One entity that has never been mentioned, and we don’t understand why it’s never been mentioned, is Haiti’s military, even if it’s at an embryonic stage,” he said, noting that more than 600 Haitian soldiers, who had been trained in Mexico, could potentially join the police in the battle against gang violence.

“We have to look at the resources we have at the local level to deal with this situation,” said Paraison.

According to Da Rin, since the U.N. Security Council did not specifically select Kenya as the leader of the mission, another country might be able to step up to the plate and help Haiti.

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Farmer Standoff in Paris

Irate farmers deployed tractors to block the main roads in and out of Paris on Monday in an intensifying standoff that has left the capital girding for disruptions and has become the first major test for France’s newly appointed prime minister, Gabriel Attal.

Last week, Attal rushed to farming regions in the south of France and offered a series of rapid concessions as he tried to head off widening demonstrations on roadways from farmers nationwide. But the steps failed to appease many of them.

Many farmers complain that imports are undercutting their livelihood, that wages are too low, and that regulation from both the government and the European Union has become suffocating.

But their concrete demands are so

varied that the protests present an increasingly precarious moment for the government, one that defies easy solutions.

“I am determined to move forward,” Attal said Sunday. But he also warned that “there are things that cannot change overnight.”

Hundreds of farmers have now converged on the French capital for what they termed a “siege” of undetermined length, a major escalation after a week of protests and roadblocks that have gripped the country.

Attal met with the main farmer unions on Monday evening, but it was unclear whether he would convince farmers to pack up the makeshift camps that they had just set up at highway ramps, gas stations and rest areas around the capital, with rolling shifts to last at least several days.

The protesters have erected barricades on eight major roads within 5 to 25 miles around Paris.

Miles of traffic jams built up on some roads around the capital, but disruptions to Paris have otherwise been limited so far. The main unions said that they did not want to completely blockade the city.

“Our goal isn’t to bother the French or ruin their life,” Arnaud Rousseau,

the head of the FNSEA, France’s largest farmers union, told RTL radio. “Our goal is to put pressure on the government.”

Authorities deployed 15,000 police officers and gendarmes across France to secure the protests, which also disrupted traffic near cities such as Lyon and on other highways. President Emmanuel Macron’s government has tread carefully so far in its response to the movement, which enjoys support from more than 80% of the public, according to opinion polls. (© The New York Times)

Sweden Moving Towards NATO

With Turkey voting in favor of Sweden’s entry into NATO on Thursday, the Nordic country currently only requires Hungary’s ratification in order to join the intergovernmental military alliance.

Although Sweden has a long history of military neutrality, the Northern European country, along with Finland, sought membership in NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In April, Finland became NATO’s 31st member.

The Turkish parliament, after postponing its endorsement of Sweden for a year and a half, voted in favor of the Nordic country joining the organization on Tuesday. Turkey has, until now, hesitated in ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership based on Ankara’s concerns over the Northern European country’s supposed lenient treatment of Kurdish militants in the country and other security threats.

Additionally, Turkey has taken issue with Sweden’s allowance of protests from supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as instances of people burning Qurans.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, asserted that he made his country’s ratification of Sweden dependent on the U.S. selling fighter jets to Ankara. He also linked his country’s approval of Sweden to Canada and other NATO countries ending their arms embargoes on Turkey, which had been imposed because of humanitarian concerns.

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and Canada keeping its promises will accelerate our parliament’s positive view on (Sweden’s membership,)” Erdogan said.

“All of these are linked.”

According to Fuat Okta, a senior ruling party legislator in Sweden, the Nordic country has addressed most of Turkey’s concerns, with Sweden enacting stricter laws against terrorism, limiting PKK’s financial affairs, and removing restrictions on selling arms to Turkey.

The parliament of Hungary has yet to schedule a vote on the issue. Unless the parliament has an emergency session, a vote will likely not happen until late February, if not later.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has asserted that his country’s government is generally supportive of Sweden’s goal of joining NATO, but certain party members are on the fence because of “blatant lies” espoused by Swedish officials concerning the wellbeing of Hungarian democracy.

40+ Dead In Mali Mine According to statements released by Mali’s mines ministry on Tuesday and

Wednesday, over forty artisanal gold miners died on Friday, January 19 while working in the Kangaba Cercle, which is located in the south-western Koulikoro Region. While at work, the shaft in which they had been mining collapsed.

is popular in West Africa, the job is notably dangerous, and fatal mishaps are common as artisanal workers tend to use outdated and unregulated digging techniques.

In Mali, six tons of gold were produced in artisanal mines in 2023, according to data published by the country’s mines ministry.

Chinese RE Firm to Liquidate The death toll is subject to change, according to Baye Coulibaly, a spokesperson for the West African country.

“Gold panners have dug galleries without complying with the required standards, and we have advised them against it on several occasions in vain,” said Coulibaly.

On Thursday, the mines ministry is expected to send a team to the scene of the disaster to investigate what went wrong, the spokesperson added.

Artisanal miners are not employed by a mining company, but rather, work independently with their own tools and resources. Although artisanal mining

A court in Hong Kong has ordered the closure of Evergrande Group, the world’s most indebted property developer. This decision adds to concerns about China’s struggling real estate sector affecting its economy.

The court’s order on Monday came after 19 months of unsuccessful talks between the troubled Chinese real estate giant and its overseas creditors on how to handle its massive debt. The company defaulted on its debt in 2021, causing a property crisis in China. Evergrande, with a total debt of $333 billion, filed for bankruptcy in New York in 2023.

Overseas creditors are owed $25 billion, and one of them, Top Shine Global, filed for Evergrande’s closure in Hong Kong in June 2022 to recover its losses.

The court appointed Alvarez and Marsal as liquidators to manage the company, giving them the power to seize assets in Hong Kong.

Evergrande CEO Xiao En stated that the liquidation order won’t affect independent legal entities, including its main business in mainland China, Hengda Real Estate Group. However, the implications for Evergrande’s vast business in China remain uncertain.

The Hong Kong court’s decision may have limited immediate impact on Evergrande’s onshore operations or assets, according to experts. The reactions of Chinese markets were mixed, with Hong Kong stocks rising but Shanghai and Shenzhen indexes falling again.

While the broader fate of Evergrande is unclear, the liquidation order negatively impacts investor sentiment. If mainland China doesn’t recognize the order,

international creditors are likely to face heavy losses on their exposure to Evergrande.

China’s real estate crisis, with $100 billion in maturing obligations for developers and $650 billion in debt due for local governments’ financing arms, has started affecting the wider financial system. Evergrande’s creditors may face significant losses, contributing to the crisis of confidence in China’s capital markets.

The property downturn, along with concerns about Chinese deflation, debt, falling birthrate, and Beijing’s ideological shift, adds to the challenges faced by China’s economy. For decades, China’s growth was fueled by a booming housing sector, contributing 30% to the GDP. However, the government’s crackdown on excessive borrowing in 2020 led to a slowdown, causing many developers to default.

The real estate industry has become a burden on the broader economy, which is already grappling with pandemic-related challenges, high youth unemployment, and financial stress at local governments.

In 2023, new home prices experienced the largest decline in nearly nine years and property investment slumped by 9.6%, marking a second consecutive year of declines.

UNRWA Involved in Oct. 7

Following reports that members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an UN organization that gives aid to Gazans, collaborated with Hamas in its October 7th terrorist attacks, several countries have announced that they will, for the time being, stop funding the agency.

The U.S., Canada, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, and Australia were the first to freeze funding to the organization amid allegations, with Germany and

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idence of each one’s involvement in the massacre. According to the news outlet, many UNRWA workers died in Israel on the day of the terrorist attacks.

In 2018, under the Trump administration, the U.S. stopped funding the organization. In 2021, President Joe Biden reversed Trump’s move and continued giving hundreds of millions of dollars to the UNRWA.

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ICJ to Israel: “Prevent Genocide”

Scotland announcing on Saturday that they too would cut funding.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini declared that the funding freezes were “immensely irresponsible” and would jeopardize the lives of two million Gazans. Lazzarini noted that the organization no longer employs those accused of terrorist activity and will hire an independent party to investigate the matter.

“It is shocking to see a suspension

of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” said Lazzarini.

In response, Yisrael Katz, the foreign minister of Israel, asked Lazzarini, in a post on X, to “please resign.”

UNRWA began as an organization that gave assistance and aid to Palestinians displaced as a result of the 1948

war, which ended with the founding of the state of Israel. Today, the agency is responsible for educating and providing medical assistance to Gazans. Having donated about half of the $1.1 billion in funds the agency received in 2022, the U.S. and Germany are the organization’s two largest funders.

Israel’s Kan public broadcaster has reported that the Jewish state has provided the U.S. with the names of all guilty UNRWA employees, as well as “clear” ev-

With South Africa accusing Israel of genocidal intent and urging the world court to order an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, in a 15-2 decision, said on Friday that there is “plausibility” in South Africa’s accusations and that Israel must take immediate steps to prevent genocide.

Notably, the court did not order a ceasefire, as demanded by South Africa, and it also left out the word “desist” from its ruling, which, if included, would have suggested that the court believes Israel is guilty of genocide. Additionally, the ICJ made it clear that its initial rulings do not serve as a definitive decision on whether South Africa’s allegations are founded; such matters will likely be decided later on.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the court’s decision, asserting that the ruling showed that the ICJ does not subscribe to South Africa’s belief that Israel has no right to defend itself against Hamas.

“The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected,” said Netanyahu, adding that the genocide accusations are “not only false, it’s outrageous” and that “decent people everywhere should reject it.”

At the same time, South Africa praised the ruling as a “decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.”

With seventeen judges on the stand, fifteen voted that Israel must make sure that the IDF does everything in its pow-

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er to prevent genocide; ascertain that no evidence relevant to the genocide case is destroyed; and inform the court in one month of any actions taken to address the matter. Sixteen voted that Israel must take steps to better living conditions for Gazans and punish those who incite genocide against Palestinians.

“In the court’s view, at least some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the genocide convention. In light of the following, the court concludes it has prima facie jurisdiction to entertain the case on the basis of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention,” said ICJ president Judge Joan E. Donoghue, adding that certain controversial comments made by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, President Isaac Herzog, and then-Energy Minister Yisrael Katz have concerned the court.

“The aforementioned facts and circumstances are sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection are plausible. This is the case with respect to the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts identified in Article 3 of the Genocide Convention, and the right of South Africa to seek Israel’s compliance with the latter’s obligations under the convention,” said Donoghue, before concluding with a statement in which she called for the immediate release of all hostages in Gaza.

UK to Consider a Palestinian State

On Monday, the United Kingdom foreign secretary and former Prime Minister David Cameron said that the U.K. would consider recognizing a Palestinian state to create “irreversible progress” toward an end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

His remarks were made at a reception for Arab Ambassadors in London.

“We have a responsibility there because we should be starting to set out what a Palestinian state would look like; what it would comprise; how it would work,” Cameron said. “As that happens, we, with allies, will look at the issue of

recognizing a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations.”

Currently, 139 of the 193 U.N. member states recognize Palestinian statehood.

Most of the countries that do not are Western countries like the United States, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and most Western European countries.

“There is a path that we can now see opening up where we really can make progress, not just in ending the conflict, but progress in finding a political solution that can mean peace for years rather than peace for months,” Cameron said.

The comments come as the U.K. and other Western allies step up efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war. The U.K. has released a five-point plan to end the war, including the creation of a technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank, the release of all hostages, and security guarantees for Israel.

Cameron also said that the U.K. would like to see a two-state solution implemented in the region that ends the conflict for good and is based on 1967 borders.

Cameron is set to fly to the Middle East on Wednesday, starting with a visit to Oman. Houthi rebel attacks on international shipping are expected to be “a major focus of his discussions,” according to a press release from the British government.

Undercover Raid in Jenin Hospital

Disguised as Muslim men and women – one carrying an infant car seat – Israeli commandos entered a hospital in Jenin in the West Bank on Tuesday and killed three members of an armed Hamas cell hiding there.

The cell was allegedly planning imminent terror attacks, inspired by the October 7 Hamas onslaught in Gaza-adjacent Israeli communities.

The operation at Jenin’s Ibn Sina Hospital was carried out jointly by the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security agency, and the Yamam police counter-terrorism unit. The mission took ten minutes to carry out.

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The Israeli forces reportedly entered the medical center at 5:30 a.m. dressed as doctors, nurses, and Palestinian women, headed to a room on the third floor, and shot the surprised trio dead in their beds before escaping the building unscathed.

The commandos reportedly used guns with silencers in the raid.

In a joint statement, the IDF, Shin Bet, and police said the leader of the terror cell, Muhammad Jalamneh, 27, had been in contact with Hamas officials abroad.

He was previously injured while preparing a car bomb attack, armed other operatives for shooting attacks, and planned “a raid attack inspired by the events of October 7,” according to the statement.

Jalamneh was also reported to be a spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing in the Jenin camp. The two others who were killed were brothers Muhammad and Basel Ghazawi. Muhammad was involved in shooting attacks at Israeli troops in the West Bank, while Basel was a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, according to the military.

Israeli troops have carried out dozens of raids in and around Jenin in recent months. Israel says that the PA has lost control of areas of the northern West Bank, allowing terror groups to entrench themselves and launch attacks on Israelis on both sides of the Green Line.

Abramovich Funds Zaka

This week, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Yardena Seroussi ordered Mizrahi Tefahot Bank to transfer NIS 8 million from the bank account of businessman Roman Abramovich to Zaka, an Israeli humanitarian organization. The bank had initially refused to transfer the funds due to EU and UK sanctions against Abramovich. Abramovich is not sanctioned by Israel or the United States.

The case, represented by attorneys Shmulik Cassuto and Bella Pel, drew attention as it contradicted the stance of Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who had deemed the bank’s refusal reasonable two days prior.

Judge Seroussi’s decision also includes a delay of 72 hours to account for a

potential appeal and an order for the bank to pay the applicants’ legal expenses. She also criticized the bank for its unnecessary investigation into the applicants and ordered it to cover their legal expenses of NIS 15,000.

The judge noted that despite sanctions against the billionaire in the EU and the UK, the transfer of the funds are being made from one bank account in Israel to another bank in Israel.

“Is it reasonable that the bank comes and adopts European sanctions when there is no dispute that they do not apply in Israel?” the judge said. “Especially if it is a donation to a charity that helps the State of Israel in its difficult time. The across-the-board refusal by the bank is unreasonable.”

In response to the court’s ruling, attorney Shmulik Cassuto said, “We thank the court for its decision to allow Mr. Abramovich to donate NIS 8 million to Zaka. The purpose of this lawsuit was to enable Zaka, which receives minimal government support, to be prepared for future challenges and be able to continue doing its holy work on behalf of the Israeli people. Zaka is an important asset for the State of Israel, and Mr. Abramovich is proud to support its activities.”

3 U.S. Soldiers Killed In Jordan

While stationed in northeast Jordan, near the border that the country shares with Syria, three U.S. service members were killed and over thirty soldiers were wounded in an airstrike launched by an Iranian proxy group.

U.S. personnel were at Tower 22, a small outpost in Jordan, when a drone attack, which officials say seems to have been launched from Syria, hit the troops on Sunday. This is the first time that U.S. service members have been killed in the Middle East since October 7, when Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 Israelis, abducting 240 others,

and maiming thousands more.

The exact group that bears responsibility for the attack is currently unclear, but the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an organization that encompasses multiple Iranian-proxy militia groups, said on Sunday that it had attacked several targets at the border. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.

“We believe the region does not need more tension or a new war,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, adding that “regional resistance” groups are not under Tehran’s command.

President Joe Biden has promised to hold the responsible party accountable with an appropriate response.

“These service members embodied the very best of our nation: Unwavering in their bravery. Unflinching in their duty. Unbending in their commitment to our country — risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. …

[H]ave no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” said Biden.

With Sunday’s airstrike, new concerns over a potential escalation in the Middle East have been sparked. Although U.S. troops were in the region to defeat ISIS and try to prevent a regional war, the American army has been attacked by Iran-backed militia groups many times since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Many have urged Biden to retaliate against targets in Iran instead of just attacking proxy groups, such as the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah.

“The Biden Administration can take out all the Iranian proxies they like, but it will not deter Iranian aggression. I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces but as deterrence against future aggression,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Neuralink Implants Chip in Brain

According to Elon Musk, his company, Neuralink, implanted a chip in a human brain for the first time on Sun-

day. The patient is recovering well, he said.

Musk’s announcement could mark an important milestone for Neuralink’s efforts to usher potentially life-transforming technology out of the lab and into the real world. The company had received approval to study the safety and functionality of its chip implant and surgical tools.

“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk, the world’s richest man and Neuralink founder, said on X, the social media platform he owns.

Neuralink’s first product would be called Telepathy, he said in another post, adding that its initial users will be people who have lost the use of their limbs.

“Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal,” he wrote.

Neuralink has been working toward using implants to connect the human brain to a computer for half a decade, but the company faced scrutiny after a monkey died in 2022 during an attempt to get the animal to play Pong, one of the first video games.

In May last year, Neuralink received FDA clearance for human clinical trials, and a few months later, the startup began recruiting patients with quadriplegia caused by cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The trial is part of what Neuralink is calling its “PRIME Study,” short for “Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface,” which aims to study the safety of its implant and surgical robot and to test the functionality of its device, the company said in a September blog post about recruiting trial participants.

Trial patients will have a chip surgically placed in the part of the brain that controls the intention to move. The chip, installed by a robot, will then record and send brain signals to an app, with the initial goal being “to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone,” the company wrote in September.

While Neuralink and Musk have received significant attention for their attempts at a brain-computer interface, a number of other companies have also been working in this space, including a company called Synchron, the first company to gain FDA clearance to test a device in humans in 2021. Synchon

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has since been enrolling and implanting patients in a trial.

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NYC Councilman Controversy

Yusef Salaam, the newly elected New York City Council member who was wrongfully convicted in 1990 as a member of the Central Park Five, was in Harlem on Friday night, driving downtown to dinner with his wife and four of his children, when the flashing lights of a police car appeared behind him.

He pulled over. An officer walked toward his car, asking him to roll down the tinted windows. When the officer reached the driver’s side, Salaam identified himself as a councilman. The officer asked Salaam if he was working; Salaam replied that he was and asked why he had been stopped.

The officer did not answer but sent Salaam on his way. “Take care, sir,” the officer said.

The stop soon prompted outrage, with Salaam and his allies saying that it demonstrated the importance of police transparency when stopping New Yorkers. Other elected officials viewed it as an example of a City Council member invoking his position to try to get out of a ticket.

The police quickly released body camera footage of the stop, as well as a statement that said Salaam had been stopped because his car had illegally tinted windows. The statement also noted that the car had a Georgia license plate. Mayor Eric Adams defended the stop as “a picture-perfect example” of a professional and courteous police response.

But Salaam, who was one of five Black and Latino teenagers convicted in the 1989 assault of a jogger in Central Park and exonerated decades later, said Sunday in an interview that the officer had not been appropriately transparent because he failed to give a reason for the stop. Officers are not required to give a reason, but Salaam said the officer should have done so voluntarily.

In an interview, Salaam denied hav-

Now through February 15

ing used his title to try to avoid a ticket.

He said he was in the process of having the Georgia registration on his vehicle switched to New York.

He said he had been unaware that his tinted windows, which are legal in Georgia, were illegal in New York City. (© The New York Times)

Billions of Cicadas Coming

harm to your pets either. If you have a young tree, however, you should cover it in cicada nets, as the insects could cause damage.

These insects, which only emerge after thirteen or seventeen years, are different from their standard, annual counterparts, which are more common and larger and are more green and found in the summer.

“These are some of the coolest insects in America,” said Larson. “I really hope that people will appreciate this for what it is: this unique natural phenomenon that you don’t get anywhere else.

It’s beautiful.”

Beware of Pet Dragons Once in every thirteen years, three species of cicadas, known collectively as Brood XIX, emerge from the ground, while every seventeen years, another four species of cicadas, known as Brood XIII, rise to the surface. Once in every 221 years, these two groups, or broods, of cicadas emerge simultaneously.

In May, for one and a half months, this rare “double brood phenomenon” is expected to take place for the first time since 1803 – when Thomas Jefferson was president. Cicadas from Brood XIII will likely appear in northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa, and northwest Indiana, while insects from the other brood will likely make an appearance in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. Experts say that there is a low possibility of places seeing cicadas from both broods.

“We’re not even sure that they’re really going to overlap,” said Dr. Chris Simon, an ecology and evolutionary biology professor at the University of Connecticut.

Although there will likely be little to no overlap between the two broods, the emergence of just one group will still usher in countless insects.

“You should expect lots and lots of cicada exoskeletons to be covering your trees and shrubs. You should expect to hear lots and lots of noise,” predicted Dr. Jonathan Larson, an extension entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky.

Although they’re loud, cicadas are harmless, said Larson; they don’t bite or sting, and they won’t pose much

The outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella that sickened scores of people, including several infants, across the United States and Canada has been linked to pet bearded dragons, some most likely obtained from the same breeder in Southeast Asia, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak covered in the study occurred in 2021 and 2022, but salmonella infections associated with bearded dragons have become increasingly common in recent years, mirroring the rising popularity of the lizards as household pets.

Last year, a salmonella outbreak in 20 states affected nearly three dozen people, 10 of whom were hospitalized, according to the CDC. No deaths were reported.

Bearded dragons, scientifically known as Pogona, are native to Australia, but most of those sold to pet owners are bred in captivity. The banana-size lizards have won the hearts of pet enthusiasts across the world.

The study the CDC published this week highlights the risks associated with keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets, especially in households with young children. As with many animals, the digestive tracts of bearded dragons harbor salmonella bacteria, which are a natural part of their microbiome and

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Trump Defamation Suit

cause the animals no evident harm.

The bacteria are shed in the lizard’s feces and can end up on the animal’s skin and just about anywhere the bearded dragon rambles. Problems can occur when humans handling the creatures do not properly wash their hands and inadvertently transmit the bacteria to their mouths.

The study published this week in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases used genetic whole-genome sequencing

to determine the origin of salmonella infections that sickened two infants in Ontario, Canada. Researchers determined that the illnesses were caused by salmonella vitkin, a rare strain that had not been detected in Canada or the United States before 2021.

Dr. Katherine Paphitis, an epidemiologist at Public Health Ontario who was the lead author on the study, said the discovery prompted health officials in both countries to join forces to deter-

mine its origins.

Sequencing of the bacteria allowed researchers at Public Health Ontario to link the two infants who had been sickened. Each family, they discovered, had bearded dragons. With genetic fingerprints in hand, Canadian officials reached out to their CDC counterparts, who then identified a dozen cases of salmonella vitkin in the United States. (© The New York Times)

Donald Trump, former president and current presidential hopeful, was ordered on Friday by a New York City jury to pay $83.3 million for defaming E. Jean Carroll, an 80-year-old writer who had claimed that the former commander-in-chief hurt her in the 1990s.

The jury, in less than three hours, ruled that Trump must pay Carroll $65 million in punitive damages and $18.3 million in compensatory damages. Carroll exited the courthouse, walking arm in arm with her lawyers.

“This is a great victory for every woman who stands up when she’s been knocked down and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down,” said Carroll.

Carroll had asserted that Trump insulted and taunted her publicly, thus triggering his supporters to attack her on social media. Additionally, she claimed that her reputation as a popular columnist for Elle magazine had been “shattered” by Trump’s comments.

In the middle of the closing arguments of Roberta A. Kaplan, Carroll’s lead lawyer, Trump got up abruptly and exited the courtroom. He came back 75 minutes later when his attorney, Alina Habba, began her summation.

“The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom,” said Judge Kaplan, who is not related to Carroll’s lawyer. Judge Kaplan had, at certain points during the trial, threatened to kick Trump out of the courtroom after the former president began muttering “con job” and “witch hunt.”

Habba asserted that Trump’s remarks had only improved Carroll’s reputation in the public eye, and she further claimed that no evidence had been brought to prove that her client’s statements caused people to threaten or defame Carroll.

Carroll’s legal team urged the jury to award Carroll a significant amount of money based on Trump’s wealth.

“Donald Trump is worth billions of dollars,” said Kaplan, pointing out videos in which Trump has valued his company at around $10 billion and his real estate

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investments at $14 billion.

“The law says that you can consider Donald Trump’s wealth as well as his malicious and spiteful continuing conduct in making that assessment,” Kaplan added.

“Now is the time to make him pay for it, and now is the time to make him pay for it dearly.”

Trump has vowed to appeal the decision.

Trump is currently facing an additional civil fraud trial, with New York Attorney General Letitia James requesting that the judge order Trump to pay $370 million, as well as four criminal indictments, which include 91 felony charges.

The former president had just won primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire, at the time of the ruling, in his fight against Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination.

Muslims Sue Harvard

On Monday, a federal civil rights complaint was filed against Harvard University on behalf of Muslim and Palestinian students who say the school failed to protect them from harassment and intimidation.

The Muslim Legal Fund of America said students faced “rampant harassment and racist attacks including doxxing, stalking, and assault simply for being Palestinian, Muslim and supporters of Palestinian rights.”

“The issues these students faced are, quite frankly, heartwrenching,” Christina Jump, the lead attorney for the students and the head of the MLFA’s Civil Litigation Department, said. “They are trying to walk the campus but they’re getting accosted because they look like someone who might be Palestinian or Muslim. And they are being called terrorists.”

The complaint was filed on behalf of more than a dozen students who say they faced harassment, intimidation, and threats based solely on them being Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and supporters of Palestinian rights, according to MLFA, a legal defense fund dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Muslims

and Muslim organizations.

Earlier this month, Harvard Interim President Alan Garber launched a presidential task force designed to fight Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias. The task force, like one launched to fight antisemitism, is being asked to examine the history of bias, identify root causes, and recommend ways to address it.

“Reports of antisemitic and Islamophobic acts on our campus have grown, and the sense of belonging among these groups has been undermined,” Garber said. “We need to understand why and how that is happening –and what more we might do to prevent it.”

Last fall, the Education Department launched a federal investigation into Harvard and other universities over alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

pliance Standards Awareness Project.

The DOE said that the new standards will save Americans about $1.6 billion on their utility bills over 30 years. The energy savings would also do good for the environment, decreasing harmful carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 4 million metric tons over three decades, the DOE claimed.

The compliance will be required by newly manufactured models beginning January 31, 2028, and includes imported stoves.

Soup-er Soaker

Diesel Explosion In Ohio

Gas Stoves Will be OK

A year ago, there was an uproar that the Biden administration will be banning gas stoves because they could possibly be linked to childhood asthma.

This week, people can breathe easier knowing that the government is not coming for their gas stoves.

On Monday, the U.S. Energy Department released its new standards for ovens and stoves. For now, not much is changing. The department revealed that the vast majority of gas stoves on the market – 97% – already meet the standards.

The main target of the new efficiency standards is electric stoves, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project said, ensuring that all new models of smoothtop units use at least 30% less energy than the lowest-performing models today. At least 77% of the electric ranges already meet those standards.

“It’s a modest money saver for consumers, with changes that would be challenging to even notice. There was disagreement over this stoves rule last year, but then the stakeholders came together and resolved it,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Ap-

“I don’t have a timeline on that,” said Bruning. “I also have not yet heard details about the bridge inspection. We will not reopen anything until we deem it safe to motorists.”

A truck driver who had been driving on State Route 8 in Macedonia, Ohio, on Saturday, lost control of his vehicle while attempting to merge on Interstate 271.

The truck, which had been carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel, crashed and exploded, killing the driver.

Multiple roads in northeast Ohio were shut down after officials, as well as a hazmat team, arrived on the scene of the disaster at 9:15 AM. According to the sheriff’s office, diesel from the truck had fallen into a river that was nearby and leaked into the 60-foot waterfall Brandywine Falls.

“The nearby Brandywine Creek has been impacted with diesel from the crash,” said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson Bryant Somerville. “The creek briefly caught fire initially after the accident, and Ohio EPA’s on-scene coordinator is reporting the fire is out.”

According to Somerville, the Environmental Protection Agency is now taking steps to contain and stop the diesel spread and will work towards removing all contamination.

Ramps from State Route 8 to Interstate 271 “will remain closed until the bridge can be inspected for safety,” a process which is underway, officials said.

Matt Bruning, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said that bridge and road inspections are ongoing and that a part of the road “will need to be repaved.”

Protesters for the environment brought the “Mona Lisa” into their fight on Sunday, when they hurled orange soup at the famous portrait in the Louvre in Paris.

The precious piece of art was protected from the food fight by a clear piece of glass.

The environmental group Riposte Alimentaire — which roughly translates to “Food Response” — said two protesters involved with its campaign were behind the vandalism.

After the two people hurled the orange pumpkin soup from bottles at the painting, they ducked beneath a protective barrier to address onlookers.

“What is more important: art or the right to a healthy and sustainable diet?” one queried.

Quickly, staff members at the Louvre moved black screens in front of the protesters.

The museum evacuated the “Salle des Etats” room, which houses the “Mona Lisa,” though it has since reopened.

In a series of social media posts about the incident, Riposte Alimentaire said it wanted to draw attention to unsustainable food production and hunger in France, calling for “the integration of food into the general social security system.”

This is not the first time environmental activists defaced artworks in the name of the environment. Just Stop Oil orchestrated a similar attack on Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” in London in 2022.

Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece the “Mona Lisa” hangs in the Louvre museum and is arguably the most famous

FEBRUARY 1, 2024, BROOKLYN, NY

In a significant milestone, the Elementary School at the Yeshivah of Flatbush announces its new naming, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Houllou Elementary School. This historic naming comes following a generous donation by Claudie and Avi Houllou, marking the largest contribution ever received by the institution since its founding in 1927.

“A heartfelt thank you and hakarat hatov to Claudie (ES '95, HS '99) and Avi for their ongoing support of the Yeshivah. The Houllou family gift, the largest in our Yeshivah's history, enables us to continue to build strong Jewish identities rooted in principles of Torah and Mitzvot. This gift ensures our ability to promote our shared values and ideals for generations to come,” said Abe Hanan, President.

For 15 years, the Houllou family has been a steadfast supporter of the Yeshivah of Flatbush, consistently demonstrating its generosity.

Flatbush has relied on the Houllou family's contributions in the past, and its commitment is further emphasized by its legacy naming for the future. This gift follows a generous donation in 2017 to dedicate The Naomi Houllou A"H Ladies Auxiliary in memory of Naomi Houllou A”H, Avi’s late wife and former president of the Ladies Auxiliary. Naomi A”H had a deep affection for the Yeshivah, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the institution. She tirelessly devoted herself to enhancing the Flatbush experience by making impactful improvements to the daily lives of our students.

While humble in demeanor, Naomi A”H exuded strength as a formidable presence, embracing a profound love for her children and all children.

Avi Houllou expressed, "I am proud to contribute to the Yeshivah of Flatbush on its upcoming expansion. Yeshivah of Flatbush is a place where our children build strong Jewish identities filled with Torah, Mitzvot and chesed. Investing in their education is not just a gift for today, but a promise for the limitless possibilities they will discover and create in the years to come. Together, we are shaping a future where knowledge, growth, and success know no bounds. Flatbush holds a significant importance to me, as it was deeply cherished by

Naomi A”H and held a special place in her heart. I sincerely hope that this gift serves as a catalyst, inspiring other generous individuals to step forward and contribute to the Yeshivah."

“The news of the Houllou naming comes with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. It provides us the certainty that our Yeshivah will continue to flourish and trailblaze into the coming years with the resources and support necessary” shared Rabbi Yahel Tsaidi, Head of Houllou Elementary School.

“As we eagerly anticipate commemorating the Yeshivah's centennial anniversary and start embarking on the Elementary expansion project for the next century, the Houllou family is taking the initiative to pave the path forward. Known for its longstanding friendship with the Yeshivah, the Houllou family is stepping up to champion this significant endeavor. We are honored to have the Houllou name as part of our Yeshivah,” said Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Rothman, Executive Vice President.

Since opening its doors in 1927, the Yeshivah of Flatbush has stood at the forefront of American Jewish education, setting the standard of excellence emulated by other academic institutions. It has imbued its students with a thirst for knowledge, a commitment to Torah and Zionism, a love of the Hebrew language and the dedication to serve the greater Jewish and secular communities. The school philosophy is a synthesis of Judaic studies, liberal arts and extracurricular activities that places great emphasis on the students' character development.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

A Historic Day: Yeshivah of Flatbush Announces the Naming of the Houllou Elementary School

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painting in the world. Millions of visitors each year line up to see, photograph, or pose with the small masterpiece, which is just over 2.5 feet tall and under 2 feet wide.

Small but really soup-er.

Diamond in the Rough

Julien Navas was visiting the United States from France when he decided to stop at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. His detour turned out to be fortuitous, as he discovered a beautiful gem at the park.

Navas had come to the United States to see the launch of the first U.S. moon landing mission in decades from Cape Canaveral, Florida. He had panned for gold and searched for ammonite fossils before, so a stop at the diamond park

was within reason.

On January 11, Navas arrived at the park, bought his ticket, and rented a basic diamond hunting kit.

“I got to the park around nine o’clock and started to dig,” Navas said.

“That is back-breaking work, so by the afternoon, I was mainly looking on top of the ground for anything that stood out.”

Lucky for Navas, the park had received more than an inch of rain a few days before he arrived, so it was wet and muddy.

“As rain falls on the field, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface,” Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox explained.

Many of the park’s biggest diamonds are found on the surface, Cox said, and the park periodically plows the 37.5 acre search area to loosen the soil and to promote natural erosion.

Eventually, Navas emerged at the park’s Diamond Discovery Center with his findings. There, he was told he had found a 7.46-carat brown diamond.

The stone is about the size of a gumdrop, with a chocolate brown color.

Navas named his diamond the Carine Diamond, after his fiancé, and

plans to have the stone divided into two diamonds, one to gift to his bride-to-be and the other for his daughter.

The Carine Diamond is the eighth-largest diamond found in the Crater of Diamonds since it became a state park in 1972. On average, park visitors find one or two diamonds there every day.

According to Navas, the park is a “magical place, where the dream of finding a diamond can come true! It was a real great adventure.”

A gem of a find.

Snow Nice

Mongolia is a great destination during the summer months. But now, Mongolia is trying to attract winter travelers with eye-dazzling displays of ice and snow.

The inaugural Mazaalai International Snow and Ice Festival, which kicked off on January 14 until January 28, took place at Sky Resort, a golf and ski resort on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.

The free event “marks a major milestone in the development of Mongolia’s winter tourism sector,” Mongolia Culture Minister Nomin Chinbat said in a statement.

“Over the next two weeks, visitors will be captivated by our winter landscapes and the beauty of the sculptures on display, and I hope many more from around the world will be inspired to visit our country during the winter season.”

The event is not just dazzling. It also nabbed a Guinness World Record for the most people to descend an ice slide in one hour.

As part of the opening festivities, 408 attendees helped secure the win by whooshing down the festival’s 16.4-meter-long ice slide, one after the other.

Other attractions at the festival include a five-meter-high snow and ice sculpture of the country’s protected Gobi bear (Mazaalai in Mongolian) and her cubs, aimed at raising awareness of the critically endangered animal.

Fifty-two other ice Mazaalai statues were erected at the festival to represent

the 52 Gobi bears that remain in the wild.

There was also a 56.4-meter-long snow and ice sculpture with a large ice skating rink.

Before you pack your bags for this unusual midwinter adventure, keep in mind that Mongolia’s capital is considered to be one of the world’s coldest cities in the winter, with temperatures in January averaging anywhere from 5 degrees to -22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures can get much colder in the country’s northern region.

So pack your gloves.

Matchmaker Money

The village of Xiangjiazhuang in China is dealing with a shidduch crisis. Now, the community is offering incentives to matchmakers to help young gentlemen and women tie the knot.

The committee will give a reward of 600 to 1,000 yuan (US $84 to US $140) to matchmakers who successfully facilitate a marriage. The program will start next year and will continue for three years.

Concern came after the severely declining birthrate in the Xiangjiazhuang village community. The community consists of approximately 270 households, and there are more than 40 unmarried young men between the ages of 25 and 40 within the village. Last year, there were just 7 to 8 births, compared to around 16 to 17 from previous years.

This is not just an issue in Xiangjiazhuang. All across China, officials are grappling with ways to boost the birth rate. China dug itself into a demographic hole largely through its one-child policy imposed between 1980 and 2015.

Authorities raised the limit to three in 2021, but that has not necessarily changed the attitude across the county.

Young people cite high childcare and education costs, low incomes, a feeble social safety net and gender inequalities as discouraging factors to get married and start a family.

Sounds like a great place for an enterprising shadchan or two.

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Community MAY Rabbeim Visit Talmidim in Eretz Yisroel

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esivta Ateres Yaakov made their annual visit to Eretz Yisroel last week to “check up on their investments” in their respective post-high school yeshivos. 12th Grade Rabbeim and Eretz Yisroel Advisors Rabbi Yonason Sprung and Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield embarked on a whirlwind, jam-packed trip checking in with and giving chizuk to MAY alumni.

The week-long journey was a nonstop excursion from yeshiva to yeshiva; over 20 different yeshivos, over 100 talmidim, from the early hours of the morning – davening Shacharis together with various yeshivos – until way

past midnight. The MAY rabbeim met privately with each talmid, their roshei yeshiva, mashgichim and current rabbeim, to ensure that each talmid’s needs were being met and that their particular kochos were being properly cultivated.

The trip also gave the rabbeim an opportunity to “scout” each institution for MAY’s current and future talmidim.

This is necessary since new yeshivos continue to emerge annually and even established yeshivos revamp their programs.

The culmination of the trip was the Shabbos spent together with close to 100 talmidim at Yeshivas Aderes Ha-

Torah, Rabbi Senter’s Yeshiva. Mesivta Ateres Yaakov alumni gathered for a Shabbos of chizuk and spent, what many talmidim referred to as, “the best Shabbos they’ve ever had” together with their rabbeim. The entire weekend was saturated with inspiration. The enthusiastic tefilos, the leibadik meals, the heartwarming divrei Torah and intense learning was the perfect mix of ruchniyus and gashmiyus.

Reflecting on the Shabbos, Rabbi Greenfield commented, “We were really inspired that the deep-rooted camaraderie that the bochurim had while in the Mesivta has not waned. Not only

did each of them respectfully listen to their fellow talmid’s words of chizuk and divrei Torah, they often made reference to each other’s remarks and made a point of both raising and praising each other when they could. Rabbi Sprung and I are so proud of their continued growth.”

The Shabbos left all in a reflective state of mind, more focused on their goals and confident of their ability to overcome all forms of adversity. It reminded them of the solid foundation that unites them, and which prepared them for who they are now – the formative years of nurturing and growth at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov.

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Together We Shine Bright at the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC

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u b’Shvat. A New Year for trees. A time of rebirth and regrowth and a time of hope.

This year, on Tu b’Shvat, reeling from the October 7th war in Israel and the ongoing acts of terror in our beloved homeland, it was more important than ever to stand with our families in Eretz Yisroel and to send messages of resilience and hope.

At the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC, we have worked on several fronts to unite, give guidance, and support to our brethren in Israel as well as to the struggling community here. Particularly, we have taken our Holocaust survivors under our wings, knowing that the ongoing tragedy in Israel has had a triggering and devastating effect on this vulnerable population who has already lived through the nightmare of the Holocaust.

On Tu b’Shvat, we decided to celebrate the New Year for Trees along with the incredibly resilient people of Israel and our own beloved survivors, our “Chaverim,” connecting them through

the theme of strength, resilience and rebirth in our “Together We Shine Bright” program. This event was made possible by the JCC Association of North America in partnership with Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.

Despite the dismal weather, close to thirty survivors showed up at the JCC on Tu b’Shvat.

We started off the day painting. Art teacher Felicia Bernstein helped our survivors create a colorful and uplifting painting of a tree in honor of the occasion. As Felicia is a third generation and her husband a second generation survivor, this project, creating “messages” of beauty and positivity, was especially meaningful to her. While the paintings were drying, our members enjoyed a delicious Israeli meal from Geffen Gourmet, which was followed by our own JCC staff member Debbie Bienenfeld telling the group about her recent trip to Israel where she was on a mission to visit war-torn areas,

meeting with families of terrorist victims and wounded soldiers. In a vivid slideshow, she showed both painful and powerful pictures, including ones where she shared the blankets of resiliency the survivors had created some weeks before that she had brought to Israel and gifted to the wounded soldiers.

The JCC’s social hall was vibrant, filled with survivors, volunteers, staff and special guests, including the family of Helen Senders, who joined us to celebrate their mother/grandmother’s 94th birthday.

We capped off the day with a special presentation from Rick Abrams from JNF who spoke to our group about the amazing and important agricultural work JNF does in Israel. Many of the survivors were familiar with JNF and had planted trees in Israel through them over the years. Rick then gave each member a planter, soil and seeds to plant parsley which they could watch grow and would be ready for use for the Pesach seder.

Despite the frailty of our Chaverim group and the distance from their beloved homeland and the great difficulties we are currently experiencing, this Tu b’Shvat at the Gural JCC together we stood and shone bright.

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Around the Community

Back and Better Than Ever

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week of winter vacation is always a great opportunity to reinvigorate. At Ezra Academy, the week off gave teachers and students alike that opportunity. While most yeshiva days schools returned to regular classes on Monday, January 29, Ezra took an extra day to celebrate their teachers before inviting students back to school. Although formally the day was about professional development, there was also a catered lunch, a celebration of fall semester successes, and the welcoming of new faculty

YCQ Marks Tu B’Shvat with Amazing Shuk

as the school grows and develops. Not surprisingly, Director of Students Mr. Daniel Miska took Tuesday, January 30, the first day back for students, as an opportunity to cater a breakfast for students as well and enumerate so many successes of first semester by recognizing student stars. From basketball and debate wins, to chessed project leaders and Israel effort champions, so many students were called out and appreciated for the growth and successes they have achieved. Everyone is pumped for a great semester.

B

efore winter break, the grade 6 girls of YCQ, alongside Morah Rina Bienenfeld, hosted an amazing Shuk Tu B’Shvat for the students at YCQ. When students arrived at the shuk, they were handed a passport, “shekalim,” and a sheet with Tehilim that had

the name of a YCQ alumnus currently serving in the IDF. Students had their passports stamped and were transported to Machane Yehuda. They used their shekalim to “purchase” Israeli foods and make all the different brachot.

Did you know?

Flamingoes aren’t born pink.

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Around the Community

MAY Eagles Win Mesivta Hockey League Inaugural Varsity Season

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he inaugural season of the Mesivta Hockey League’s Varsity Division came to a close last Motzei Shabbos. With the advancement of the top-seeded MAY Eagles beating the DRS Wildcats 6-0 in the semifinals and the YFR Tigers upsetting the #2 seeded Netzach Knights in a double overtime win 3-2, the stage was set for an epic Championship Game. An incredible display of quality, rugged floor hockey, when the dust settled, the MAY Eagles were victorious, 2-0.

In front of a sellout crowd, the first eight minutes of the first period were a tremendous demonstration of tenacity, strength and coordination. Both teams with dozens of skilled shots on net, excellent ball movement and calculated passes. Both goalies – the Eagles’ Dovi Barnett and the Tigers’ Yosef Okun – locking down their goals to chants from both teams’ fanbases that their goalie “is a wall!”

However, with just over four minutes left in the first period, Captain Aryeh Wisnicki recovered a long rebound in

the offensive zone and found defenseman Gabi Newman across court who slung a beautifully precise wrist shot from midcourt over the stick-side shoulder of Okun. MAY was up 1-0.

This would be the deciding goal of the game. Midway through the second period, star offenseman Chaim Shapiro would add on to the MAY tally an unassisted goal to make the final score, 2-0.

“This Championship was a really impressive game!” commented Commissioner Mr. Zack Kessler. “Two great teams, great players, great camaraderie.

A fitting ending to an incredible inaugural season.”

Mesivta Athletics, which administers the Mesivta Football League, the Mesivta Basketball Association and now, the Mesivta Hockey League, congratulates coaches Yehuda and Shua Behar and the MAY Eagles on their championship victory and thanks all the participating yeshivos – players, coaches, administrators, and fans – for making this season so successful.

Mercaz Academy Learns About Tu B’Shevat

T

he Early Childhood Program at Mercaz Academy in Plainview wasn’t in session on Tu B’Shvat due to winter break, but our students did not miss any school-based Tu B’Shvat fun! On the last day of school before the break, the youngest students at Mercaz “flew to Israel” and attended their own Shevat Shuk. Tables held tempting displays of Israeli snacks labeled in Hebrew, and students received shekalim to use as currency from ECC Ulpan teacher Morah Levana Gil. It was an immersive and delicious experience as the children learned new Hebrew vocabulary in the shuk, with some math included as well as they added up their shekel coins to “pay” for their snacks.

The second grade also did their part

in teaching their younger contemporaries about Tu B’Shvat. Kitah Bet students wrote their own books about the holiday and brought their stories along on a visit to the kindergarten. There, each second grader read his or her book to one or two admiring kindergarteners. The older students enjoyed their lofty teaching positions, while the younger ones were thrilled to spend time with their older counterparts – for several fortunate kindergarten students, it was even an older sibling!

Each family at Mercaz Academy also received a bag of treats to celebrate Tu B’Shvat at home from the PTA, completing the school “to-go” Tu B’Shvat experience.

Did you know?

Owls have eye “tubes,” not eyeballs.

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Around the Community

IDF Soldier Injured on Oct. 7 Joins Miami Marathon For Sick Children

Team Lifeline participants cross the finish line at the Miami Marathon

T

he morning of October 7 began like any other day for Moshe Marwick, a 21-year-old IDF combat soldier. Serving as a lone soldier in the elite Sayeret Nachal infantry unit, the Baltimore, MD, native had just returned from a trip to the U.S. a few days earlier and rejoined his unit at Suffa, a kibbutz

only a kilometer from the Gaza border.

But that morning, Marwick’s life, alongside that of all the people of Israel, would be changed forever. The events of that day would take him on a personal path of heroism, injury, recovery and resilience that will soon reach a new milestone as he takes part in the Miami Mar-

Team Lifeline, including Chai Lifeline families, supporters and friends, as well as a special IDF delegation, celebrate at pre-Marathon party

athon. In a show of solidarity and unity between Israel and the Jewish people, Marwick and a special group of 10 Israeli soldiers join Team Lifeline, helping raise critical funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health organization that benefits families coping with serious illness and trauma.

Chai Lifeline runners and supporters gathered in Miami for the marathon weekend from cities across North America, and included current and former runners battling illness, family members of sick children, and those running in memory of those who have lost their battles with illness.

“After our armored vehicle was hit by two rocket propelled grenades (RPG), seven of us, myself included, were shot and injured during a seven hour firefight, but I guess survival instinct kicks in because you don’t even think about your injuries and giving up is not an option.

I was shot three times: in the arm, the back and the foot, and two of the bullets are actually still lodged in my body.”

Marwick was eventually by helicopter, underwent several surgeries and would remain hospitalized for the next two months. “Being hospitalized for two months is a long and grueling journey, but during that time I met very generous people that took care of me, both medical personnel and regular people that visited me, brought food and gifts, and showed a

tremendous outpouring of love and support. All of this gave the strength and inspiration I needed to get back to normal,” he recalls.

Just weeks after being discharged from the hospital, and still coping with the physical and emotional scars of a near-death experience, Marwick was proud to be part of supporting an organization that embodies the spirit of unity and giving he experienced throughout his recovery. “Chai Lifeline is a powerful reminder that in times of crisis, our differences fade away, and that when we come together, we can overcome the most challenging situations.”

“Each mile, we run, each dollar we raise, is not just a solitary act of charity; it’s a building block of a larger, communal act of love and solidarity. We are not just running a race; we are running towards a world filled with more compassion and more support for those who need it most.”

“Over the last few months, hundreds of thousands of Israeli heroes have been fighting a battle on behalf of the people of Israel,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “We are honored to have a delegation of soldiers proudly running alongside Team Lifeline families to salute the bravery of those dealing with illness and loss. This is the true spirit of unity for our people during these difficult times.”

Did you know?

An adult polar bear’s skin is black.

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Chessed at HALB

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E

very month, HALB fourth and fifth graders focus on a different chessed. This month, students

In a touching gesture, HAFTR extended gratitude to soldiers fighting in Israel, delivering inspiring letters written by HAFTR students expressing appreciation for their courageous service and dedication to safeguarding our sacred homeland.

decorated pillowcases for people in the hospital in Israel.

Disappointed after Miami

D

ear Ahuva, I just got back from Miami, and I am so disappointed. For the first time ever, I actually stayed on my plan while on vacation. I didn’t touch the bread basket or desserts by restaurants, stayed away from the late-night munching aside from my treat, and chose sugar-free frozen yogurt instead of milkshakes. However, when I came to weigh in, I found that I had lost less than half a pound, despite all my efforts! What went wrong?

-Signed, Devastated about Maintaining

down a bit. Finally, traveling, particularly flying, can throw your digestion off a bit, and being constipated can definitely slow weight loss.

For these reasons, we tell our clients that even with tremendous effort, your goal on vacation should be to maintain your weight! So the fact that you lost even a bit is excellent and proves that you truly were on your game. Be proud of yourself and keep up the excellent self-control!

The weight loss will continue, and you will get to your goals. you got this!

-Ahuva

Dear Devastated, I understand your frustration! You were surrounded by temptation for five days straight and did not cave in even once! Surely the scale should appreciate everything you sacrificed. However, as far as the scale/reality is concerned, your week in Miami was good but had some issues.

Eating out at restaurants for several days straight, even when choosing the best from the menu, usually brings extra calories in the form of sauces and fats used during preparation. Additionally, there is a good chance your dinner was later than recommended. Also, treats are meant to be eaten only when needed, and if used nightly can slow your weight loss

Ahuva Silver is a nutrition counselor, manager, and Emsculpt technician at Nutrition by Tanya. Ahuva makes everyone feel so welcome and comfortable, as well as motivated and encouraged. Ahuva’s motto is that caring for yourself will make you a better and happier person, parent, spouse, and friend. It is never too late to start!

For more information on Nutrition by Tanya, including the 12 NBT locations, the TAP (Tanya-approved products) food line, or Emsculpt please visit NutritionbyTanya.com or call 844-Tanya-Diet (844-826-9234). For daily tips and inspiration, follow @nutritionbytanya on Instagram.

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Around the Community

Chazaq’s Jwave Teens Division

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he Jwave Teens Division of Chazaq is upping its game with transforming the learning experience by introducing unique daily mentorship learning. Since the beginning of the new school year, teens have engaged in more open discussions, posed tough questions, and delved into topics that resonate with their experiences, all facilitated by Chazaq mentors and friends.

This groundbreaking daily learning, held in addition to regular sessions with their rabbis and mentors, provides an exciting opportunity for teens to gain fresh perspectives and hear from successful

mentors within the community.

The mentorship learning brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to the learning environment, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among the participants.

The success of this underscores Chazaq’s commitment to providing enriching and diverse opportunities for the community’s youth. The Jwave Teens Division continues to evolve, offering engaging programs that resonate with the unique needs and interests of the teenagers it serves.

MTA Talmidim Do Chesed and Increase their Learning Over Break

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ll MTA talmidim, rebbeim, teachers, and staff look forward to winter break as an opportunity to unwind and take a break from the day-to-day routine. This year was no exception, but took on a new look, as everyone’s minds are more chesed-focused and their thoughts are with the people of Eretz Yisrael. Several of our talmidim spent their vacation doing chesed, both in Israel, and in their hometowns. MTA rebbeim, faculty and staff are so proud of their talmidim for choosing to spend their break in such a positive way.

Here are but a few examples of how the MTA community channeled their energies over break: Many families participated in organized opportunities for volunteers to help out. Israel-based Jewish organizations like JNF and Leket planned times when people could pick fruits and vegetables, to assist the farmers who are so short-staffed. While this was laborious, it was also extremely rewarding, as it gave the boys a literal hands-on feel of working the land of Eretz Yisrael in such an important and time-sensitive way.

“I felt like I was having a real impact on helping in the war effort, as many of

the farmers had to leave their farms because they were called up, so we picked tomatoes before they went bad, and helped keep this farm operational,” said Davey Kivelevitz (‘24).

Others boxed the already picked produce, to be distributed all over Israel, and some packaged dry goods at Pantry Packers to be sent to families in need.

There were also talmidim who focused their chesed in their own communities, by attending rallies to stand up to antisemitism in Scarsdale, or delivering food to needy families in Brooklyn.

In addition to the acts of chesed, many talmidim signed up to learn perakim of Mishnayos towards a community siyum in Bergen County.

“I felt that it was important to spend my downtime over break learning for something that was important to me and my family,” Yehuda Pfeiffer (‘24) commented.

As MTA begins its second semester, chesed and special learning opportunities within yeshiva are continuing to be a major part of the MTA experience, and those events are appreciated by both the talmidim and their families.

Did you know?

Snails can have between 1,000 to 12,000 “teeth.”

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Around the Community

Revocable Living Trust Or Irrevocable Trust: Which One Is Right For You?

By Monet Binder, Esq.

Y

ou’ve probably heard you need a trust to keep your family out of court and maybe out of conflict in the event of your death or incapacity.

And, if you own any assets in your name at the time of your incapacity or death, without the right legal documents, your family must go to court for per-mission to access them. While you may understand this, you still need clarification about whether you need a revocable or irrevocable trust. Since more and more people are coming our way asking for an irrevocable trust, this article is designed to help you learn the difference between these types of trusts so you can be prepared to discuss your options.

What is a Revocable Trust?

A trust is an agreement between the Grantor of the trust (that’s you) who retitles your assets to your trust, with a Trustee (someone named by you) to manage assets now in your trust for the beneficiaries (whoever you name to receive your assets).

With a Revocable Living Trust (RLT), prepared for your use during your lifetime and after your passing, you will be the “Grantor,” the “Trustee,” and the “Beneficiary.” And you can put your assets in, take them out or change the trust terms any time as long as you are alive and well. With an RLT, once you become incapacitated or in the event of your death, the trust becomes irrevocable, and the person or persons you’ve named as the next trustee in charge (Successor Trustee), steps in to control and distribute the assets held in the trust. If you are still living but incapacitated, you would remain as the Beneficiary. If you pass away, then the Trustee distributes what is left in the trust to the Beneficiaries.

At that point, assets can pass outright to your Beneficiaries or be held in continuing trust for them – protected from creditors, future divorces, future lawsuits, and even estate taxes (if the trust is drafted properly) – if your trust terms provide for continuing protection.

What is An Irrevocable Trust?

Now, let’s clarify what an Irrevocable

Trust is and where it might fit into your plan. An Irrevocable Trust is also an agreement between a Grantor and Trustee to hold the property for a Beneficiary.

But, since the trust is irrevocable, it cannot be changed. There are some exceptions to this, but for the most part, that is the case. If you put your assets into an Irrevocable Trust, you cannot then take them out of the trust and return them to yourself because the transfer of your assets to the trust is irrevocable.

An Irrevocable Trust can remove assets from your individual name and protect them from future lawsuits or future growth in your estate, which removes them from your estate for estate tax purposes. We will recommend Irrevocable Trusts when we are preparing your estate for the potentiali-ty of needing long-term nursing care that you would like covered

by Medicaid to preserve your family’s inheritance, without spending all of it on your care, or on the other end of the spectrum, if you have an estate that could be subject to estate tax or that could be at risk of lawsuits.

Never choose a type of trust without working with a lawyer who understands you, your family, your assets, and your goals. When you meet with us for our Planning and Design Session, we’ll look at your assets, family dynamics, personal desires, and how the law will apply to all of it. Then, together, we will decide on the right plan for you – whether to include a trust or not, whether that trust should be revocable or not, and how long it should last for the people you love. Contact us today to get started: 718.514.7575 or 732.333.1854.

Monet Binder, ESQ., has her practice in Lakewood NJ, Queens and Brooklyn, New York, dedicated to protecting families, their legacies and values. All halachic documents are approved by the Bais Havaad Halacha Center in Lakewood, under the direction of Rabbi Dovid Grossman and the guidance of Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky, shlita, as well as other leading halachic authorities.

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MTA Rebbeim Visit Alumni in Israel Letters of Support from HALB

O

ver winter break, several students and staff, including Rabbi and Lisa Zakutinsky, delivered letters to Chayalim in Israel written by HALB, Lev Chana and SKA students.

Each and every letter brought smiles and feelings of hope to those protecting Israel and the Jewish people.

I

t has become a tradition for MTA rebbeim to spend their yeshiva break visiting former talmidim who are learning in Eretz Yisrael over yeshiva break. This year, Rabbi Avraham Shulman visited the alumni in their respective yeshivos, and everyone came together for a melave malka that Rabbi Ezra Wiener and Rabbi Netanel Danto attended as well.

This year had a particularly large showing, and it was a great opportunity for the rebbeim to catch up with former talmidim, and for the boys to see their former classmates and friends who are learning in various yeshivos. Everyone was excited to see each other, and that

made the evening into a great success replete with a Melave Malka seudah and shared Divrei Torah. It was a special experience to have so many MTA alumni joining together in Israel and supporting each other during this difficult time for Eretz Yisrael. It was a memorable and truly enjoyable night.

MTA talmidim keep in touch with their rebbeim long after they graduate and are always excited to have opportunities to see them while their learning in Eretz Yisrael. It is one of the many things that makes MTA the special and unique yeshiva that it is. MTA plans to send more rebbeim to visit talmidim during the second semester!

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MMER JOIN US FOR THE SU

Moros & counselors needed

OF A

A H C M I S S R O I N JU

All Girls

Environment

Staff

Youth Corp Approved Worksite

Summer 2024

ly 26 1st Session July 2-Ju August 22 2nd Session July 29-

Top dollar paid

INTERVIEWS will be held on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH from 10-11AM Please call / text Morah Etty to schedule a slot For more information please call or text Morah Etty 917.584.4403 To Apply, go to https://simchadaycamp.com/staff-application-juniors-division

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Attention eminary S & l o o h c High S Girls!

LIFETIME!

Fun and excellent work experience

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Around the Community

Amud HaYomi, the Ultimate Antidote At a Time that Klal Yisrael is in Need of Great Rachamim, Amud HaYomi Poised to Begin Masechta Shabbos

Davening at the kever of the Chasam Sofer in Bratislava-Pressburg, 2018

By Chaim Gold

“S

hall I tell you that the sun shines?” was the response of the senior posek, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, shlita, when asked what he thinks of the idea of Klal Yisrael coming together to learn Masechta Shabbos and hilchos Shabbos together in Dirshu’s upcoming Amud HaYomi and Daf Hayomi B’Halacha programs. The Gemara teaches us that if Klal Yisrael would keep two Shabbosos, they would merit the geulah immediately. Perhaps two Shabbosos can refer to the concurrent learning of Masechta Shabbos and hilchos Shabbos!

“We all know that Shabbos, limud haTorah and shemiras Shabbos are the ultimate shemirah, the ultimate protection from our enemies,” Rav Zilberstein emphasized. “How much more so is learning Torah and learning about Shabbos, a protection in these times when Klal Yisrael needs so much shemirah. Thus, it is important to tap into that shemirah and invoke rachmei Shomayim on behalf of Klal Yisrael and enhance our limud haTorah, especially in areas of Shabbos, which is the mekor habracha, the source of all blessing.”

These words were said in advance of the upcoming siyum on Masechta Brachos and the commencement of the learning of Masechta Shabbos in Dirshu’s new Amud HaYomi program that has, in the short months since its inception on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, taken Klal Yisrael by storm.

Beginning in Vienna … and Circling the World Siyumim will take place throughout the world, starting this coming 10 Adar 1 with a massive siyum being held at the Sofiensäle Hall in Vienna, the city where the original Daf HaYomi was inaugurated

by Rav Meir Shapiro at the first Knessiah Gedolah. How fitting it is that this first si-

yum on Masechta Brachos, the first Masechta in Shas learned in this new “Yomi” program, the Amud HaYomi that has so successfully penetrated, becoming an integral limud of Klal Yisrael towards completing Shas, should be celebrated in Vienna and graced by Gedolei Yisrael from Eretz Yisrael, Europe and America!

There will also be a massive siyum in America at the upcoming Dirshu convention in Stamford, Connecticut, graced by Gedolei Yisrael and more than one thousand lomdei Dirshu. In addition, there will be large siyumim across Eretz Yisrael, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. All the siyumim in these varied global locales are a testament to the worldwide impact that the new Amud HaYomi is having on Yidden the world over as they connect with the unique geshmak of being able to comprehensively learn an amud every day while deriving a taste of the depth of the Gemara that they are learning.

Neutralizing Eisav’s [and Yishmael’s] Koach of War The fact that the Amud HaYomi providentially began almost simultaneously with the difficult war that broke out in Eretz Yisrael is certainly no coincidence. As Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein pointed out, “The war situation demands something of us. We are on the frontlines in fighting this war. The more Torah we learn, the more dedicated we are to truly deepening our connection with Torah, the more Heavenly mercy rests on Klal Yisrael and its efforts.”

A fascinating Chasam Sofer (Drashos Volume I, page 183) explains that Hashem put everything into the world for a purpose. If we use it for its intended purpose, it is a great boon for Klal Yisrael and if we don’t…the opposite is the case. For example, he says that Hashem put the concept of machlokes, of fighting, into the world.

When that fighting is used properly, then it will not be used in battles of war or other

Partial view of the crowd at the siyum on Seder Nezikin at the Sofiensäl Auditorium in Vienna, 2018

dangerous areas. What is the right way to use the concept of fighting? The Chasam Sofer answers that machlokes is beautiful and proper when it is a machlokes over Torah. When talmidei chachamim spar over a fine nuance in Torah with each talmid chacham holding strongly to his opinion, just like the machlokes between Hillel and Shammai, this prevents other aspects of machlokes, of war and battle in the world.

That is what Chazal mean when they say that talmidei chachamim increase peace in the world. When talmidei chachamim fight over Torah, they ensure that the concept of “fighting” exists in the world the way it is supposed to exist thereby preventing other fighting, war and bloodshed.

The pasuk says, “Hakol kol Yaakov v’hayadayim yedei Eisav – the voice is the voice of Yaakov but the hands are the hands of Eisav.” The Chasam Sofer then expounds on the famous words of Chazal on that pasuk that “at the time that the voice of Yaakov is found in the shuls, the hands of Eisav have no control over them, but if not, the hands of Eisav do control them…”

The Chasam Sofer says that when the voice of Yaakov, the talmidei chachamim are engaged in fighting and debating nuances of Torah and halacha in the beis medrash, the fighting and violence on the war front will be stilled and Eisav will have no control over Klal Yisrael.

The message is clear. The way Klal Yisrael will prevail in this terrible war against Hamas and the entire world that seeks to maim, kill and uproot Klal Yisrael is through our “warring” in the beis medrash over a sugya. This is the antidote of the Amud HaYomi. The pilpul in Torah that tens of thousands of Yidden the world over are engaging in, is the ultimate way to neutralize Hamas, Iran, the Houthis and all the many Jew haters who have come out of the woodwork since Simchas Torah. As a result of the milchamta shel Torah, we will merit

to prevail in the other milchamos.

Invoking the Zechus of the Chasam Sofer The words of the Chasam Sofer take on extra urgency in our time. After all, it is the Chasam Sofer who teaches us that our milchama shel Torah is what neutralizes Eisav’s [and Yishmael’s] power of milchama.

That is why a Dirshu delegation led by Gedolei Yisrael will be going to the kever of the Chasam Sofer in Pressburg on the day of the first siyum in the Amud HaYomi on Mesechta Brachos, to daven on behalf of Klal Yisrael during these trying time. In addition, the delegation will place a special, “Sefer Gibborim,” at the kever of the Chasam Sofer to serve as an ongoing source of rachmei Shomayim and siyata d’shmaya for lomdei Amud HaYomi and their families.

What exactly is the Sefer Gibborim?

The idea is based on the Gemara (Bava Metziah 85) which teaches that one of the Amoraim, who was ill, prostrated himself at the kever of his rebbi and said, “I learn your Torah!” In that merit, he was healed.

Acting on that lesson, Dirshu’s hanhala came up with the concept of compiling a sefer containing the names of all current Amud HaYomi learners and their families, as well as the names and family names of any person who accepts upon himself to learn the Amud HaYomi.

The Sefer Hagibborim will be placed in a special, weather-sealed, locked receptacle next to the Chasam Sofer’s kever, to remain there as an eternal merit for those inscribed in it.

Now is the time to join Amud HaYomi!

Now is the time to join the war to protect Klal Yisrael. Now is the time to tap into the unique koach of the Chasam Sofer.

To join Amud HaYomi, please contact Dirshu at info@dirshunj.org or at 1-888-5Dirshu.

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Around the Community

A Conversation with Rabbi Nachman Seltzer Author of Angels in Orange

H

ow did you feel when United Hatzalah president Eli Beer first told you about the miracles that his volunteers – more than 1,700 (!) of them – experienced on October 7, when they raced to the battleground to rescue the wounded?

Rabbi Seltzer: I was very proud of the volunteers for being willing to be moser nefesh for Klal Yisrael on such an incredible level.

The subject of the book is so difficult, and yet this is a book that uplifts rather than frightens. How did you manage to make this so inspiring?

Rabbi Seltzer: It’s about what you choose to focus on. I could have focused on how terrible the whole situation was (and still is). Instead, we look and are truly inspired by the courage and caring of

the volunteers, and by the amazing miracles that happened and continue to happen all the time.

What was it like speaking to people about their experiences under fire?

Rabbi Seltzer: I conducted many, many interviews. Most of the volunteers wanted to talk. If someone did not want to speak about their experiences, we respected that and canceled the interview.

Speaking to the volunteers was challenging at times, since some of them used our sessions as an informal type of therapy.

Some of them were still shell-shocked by what they’d been through, though it was a few weeks afterwards. Others described what they had seen in graphic detail, and I had to tone things down for my readers.

We cried together and laughed together, and they transported me to the plac-

es they had been and to the moments of great danger they experienced and how Hashem helped them rescue hundreds of our brothers and sisters.

Is there one lesson that you hope readers will take away when they read Angels in Orange?

Rabbi Seltzer: That nothing random happened on Simchas Torah. Every person who was down there was there as part of Hashem’s plan. People whom Hashem chose to live were in the most dangerous situations, with terrorists on all sides, being shot at, but they walked out without a scratch. Someone was in control and Someone had a plan, and we need to remember this and not to feel like we are helpless. Because we are not helpless.

We have the greatest and most effective weapon on our side: Hashem.

Just One Life Update

by Chaya Katzin

W

hile we all continue to follow the developing situation and struggle to come to terms with our new reality the ongoing difficulties give our staff a tremendous amount of motivation to keep working hard so we can help mitigate some of the difficulties and challenges families are facing in these trying times.

To date, Project Chai financial support has been provided to more than 300 families from cities including Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Eilat, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Kfar Maimon, Kiryat Shmona, Ofakim and multiple kibbutzim.

We have also been very busy delivering baby gifts to hospitals and ho-

tels housing evacuees. We are so very grateful for the many suitcases we received filled with beautiful new baby clothes. Thank you to our donors, Bergen County New Jersey families, Yeshiva of Flatbush families, Jet Set Companies, Cutie Pie Baby Company, and to Jack Forgash and family. Thank you also to the Aish Hatorah seminary girls who helped us with the packing.

You should all know that we have received a lot of positive, appreciative feedback from these gifts. They make the mothers feel very cared about.

We are happy to announce that we recently launched a program in partnership with the Jerusalem municipality facilitating the support groups for evacuated mothers placed in Jerusalem

hotels, and we’ve already filled our first group and they have begun meeting in Just One Life’s offices on King George St. This week, we got a referral from a woman named Rifkah, from Sderot, who just gave birth to triplets who need to be in the NICU, while the rest of her children are in a hotel and her husband is fighting in Gaza.

Another client, Sarah from Ashkelon, gave birth to a baby boy and very soon after her husband was wounded in Gaza.

Sadly, this is the reality of many families. Dealing with so much overwhelming sorrow and fear, with every aspect of their lives, from the largest to the smallest, impacted by their being displaced and removed from their homes and their usual support systems.

On behalf of the many families who have been calling to thank us for the support of Just One Life, I want to thank our incredible donors in the U.S. who have given us the opportunity to help, financially and emotionally, families whose lives were turned upside down by terrorism and war. In this most difficult time for so many families, it matters so much.

I also want to thank you on behalf of our professional staff. More than ever we feel grateful and humbled to be part of Just One Life and to serve as your emissaries in this critical mission.

Chaya Katzin, MSW is the director of Just One Life, Israel.

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YOSS Mechina completed its first term of HIKON with a trip to United Skates of America

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Around the Community

T

he fifth grade students in HANC’s Elementary School in West Hempstead had a very special experience in welcoming an inspiring guest to visit them. The experience stemmed from reading the book “Out of My Mind,” written by Sharon Draper, about a fifth grade girl who has cerebral palsy and how she navigates her life as a fifth grader. The students were captivated by how the protagonist was able to thrive in school, despite her physical challenges. In addition to their reading and discussions in class, the students did their own research on cerebral palsy and how it affects a person’s ability to function in life.

Through a connection of one of the students, their teacher, Mrs. Joy Sutton, invited Sigal Miller to visit the class, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Yardena Miller. Sigal, who is 22 years old and has cerebral palsy, arrived in a special van that is equipped to accommodate her wheelchair. Mrs. Miller explained to the children that like other people, Sigal likes to be treated like everyone else. She has feelings, likes and dislikes, and although she is unable to speak, she communicates with family and friends in other ways. She responds to questions with

particular hand motions and through the help of a specialized device that tracks her eye movements, she is able to select pre-programmed phrases so that she can communicate with her family. She understands a great deal of what is said to her and uses these various methods to convey her needs to others.

Mrs. Miller then explained to the children how to acknowledge people with disabilities in ways that make them feel welcome and treated with respect. The students also had an opportunity to ask thoughtful questions to learn how Sigal manages life routines, school, social interactions, etc. By the nature of the questions asked, it was very clear that the children were not only fascinated but had deep compassion for Sigal and others like her who overcome challenges with such strength of spirit and joy. As Mrs. Sutton reflected, “This interactive session served as an excellent means for the students to bridge the gap between the literature they studied and real-life perspectives.” This was an experience that had a deep impact on both the children and the staff that had the privilege to attend this program. Thank you to the Miller family and teachers for making this program possible.

Did you know?

Giraffes are 30 times more likely to get hit by lightning than people.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

An Inspiring Guest at HANC

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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The Five Towns Far Rockaway Community Mourns an Extraordinary Torah Scholar

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

L

ast week, the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community lost a unique and extraordinary individual, Rabbi Dr. David Kadosh, a”h. Rabbi Kadosh was a brilliant Talmid Chochom who studied in the Mir Yeshiva of Brooklyn under Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, zt”l ,and Rav Shmuel Brudny, zt”l, and was known as the “ilui from Morocco.”

Rabbi Kadosh was also an accomplished scholar with a PhD who taught at Yeshiva University and was fully fluent in Hebrew, English, French, a number of Arabic dialects, and German.

Some in the community remember him as giving the first Daf Yomi on the LIRR to Manhattan. Others remember him as giving the first Daf Yomi shiur in Shaaray Tefillah. And yet there were those who remember him as their all-knowing Machsheves Yisroel professor at Dov Revel Graduate School and at Yeshiva University.

But everyone who knew him recalled him as a remarkable mensch who exhibited the apogee of ehrlichkeit and a baal mussar extraordinaire. He received his PhD in 1969, and his dissertation dealt with Rabbi Moshe Narvone’s commentary on Al Ghazali’s Kavanot.

Rabbi Kadosh was born in 1935 in Demnate, a town in central Morocco, located at the foot of the high Atlas Mountains roughly 110 km east of Marrakech. This had a downside and an upside. The downside is that Denbate was prone to earthquakes. The upside was that the city is surrounded by beautiful mountains and close to natural attractions, including the natural land bridge Iminifery and the Ouzoud Falls.

Tragically, Rabbi Kadosh lost his mother when he was four years old. His aunt, who loved her sister’s children immensely, did not wish that a step-mother would raise them. She took it upon herself to raise her nephews herself and married her former brother-inlaw. Rabbi Abuchatzerah, who knew her well, would describe her as an absolute tzadeikes.

The young Rav David was very much taken with the works of the Rambam.

Recognized as a genius at a very young age, it was decided that a young Rabbi Dovid Kadosh should go to Gateshead England to study under Reb Leib Gurwich, a talmid of the Brisker Rav and the Mir Yeshiva in Poland. Rav Gurwich eventually authored the Roshei She’arim, now a classic collection of Talmudic discourses and shiurim.

After a year, he transferred to the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn and became quite close to Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, zt”l, who was credited with saving the entire Mir Yeshiva in Poland when they traveled through the Soviet heartland to Japan and then onto Shanghai.

He referred to Rav Kalmanowitz as “the Rav.” Rav Kadosh also became close to Rav Shmuel Brudny, zt”l, whose shiurim he savored greatly.

While studying in Mir, Rav Kadosh continued his studies of the Rambam and was captivated not only by the Rambam’s Mishna Torah but also by his Moreh Nevuchim. He taught himself to be extremely proficient in English, German, Yiddish, and various dialects of Arabic. He attended Brooklyn College in the evenings and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from there.

Rav Kalmanowitz was so enamored by his young prodigy that he would take Rav Dovid with him on fundraising visits and referred to him as the “Ilui from Morocco.” Rav Kalmanowitz also recruited other talmidim from Morocco who felt very comfortable in Mir. Rav David spoke to his Rosh Yeshiva about pursuing a parnassah as a college professor in Judaic studies. Rav Kalmanowitz tried to dissuade him but understood. He received his ksav semicha from the Mir Yeshiva after having studied there for over ten years.

Rabbi Kadosh continued his studies at the Bernard Revel Graduate School where he received his PhD and formed a close bond with the dean, Dr. Arthur Hyman – with whom he found a kindred spirit in his love of Maimonidean philosophy and machsheves Yisroel in general. Dr. Hyman himself had published four volumes of Maimonidean Studies, as well as an English translation of Averroes’ De Substantia Orbis.

Rabbi Kadosh chose to write his dissertation on Rabbi Moshe Narvonne’s commentary on Al Ghazali’s philosophical work. He taught there for nine years after receiving his PhD. Unfortunately, Rabbi Kadosh had lost his younger sister to illness. He went to the levaya in Eretz Yisroel. It was there that he met his future akeres HaBayis, a well-regarded mechaneches who eventually became the principal of Machon Sara Torah Academy for Girls.

The young couple decided to move to Eretz Yisroel, where Rabbi Kadosh taught at both the Michlala as well as Machon Meir.

Eventually, they returned to the

United States and moved to Lawrence, New York. Rabbi Kadosh gave shiurim at Shaaray, the Agudah of Long island, the White Shul, Beth Shalom, the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, and some shiurim at the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway.

Rabbi Kadosh’s main scholarly pursuit, however, was studying and teaching Shas, and he loved studying and teaching the Daf HaYomi.

An article by JTA published in June of 1999 discussed the Siyum HaShas that took place on the LIRR. “’This is a phenomenal experience,’ one observer said. ‘Only in New York could you experience something like this.’ He was referring to the crowd that had jammed into the car last Thursday to celebrate the accomplishment by a group of 20 commuters who had studied a page a day of Talmud (known as daf yomi) on the train each weekday morning for the last 72 years. On this morning, the group finished reading the entire Talmud, which comprises the Oral Law upon which Jewish laws, practices and traditions are derived.”

The family got up from shiva on Monday morning. The aveilim are his wife and wonderful children: Shlomo, Yisrael, Tamar, Michael, Shoshana, Zeeva, Shmuel, Shimon, and Daniel. May Rabbi David Kadosh, z”l, be a meilitz yosher for the entire community.

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

Voice N

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tes

Pho to by Mir iaM

(Pa sca l) coh en

By Kylie Ora Lobell

W

hile i was still in the process of converting, my husband Daniel and i were sitting at kiddush when an orthodox Jewish man asked me, “Why would you want to become a Jew?” “What do you mean?” i said. “being a Jew is such a hassle. it’s so much work, and everyone hates you. i don’t know why anyone would choose to be a Jew.” i was taken aback and surprised to hear this from someone who, on the outside, seemed so sure of himself and his faith. i’ve thought back to that conversation often since october 7 and how there must be other Jews out there who feel exactly the same as he does.

How sad that is. i recently attended a talk with rabbi noah Farkas, and he said something that stuck with me: “being Jewish is a gift.” i totally agree. being Jewish is a wonderful gift. in fact, becoming Jewish may have just saved my life.

Prior to converting, i was a depressed atheist who was obsessed with pop culture, who learned her morals from television and movies. i thought that when you died, that was it – just eternal darkness – and that life was a

random assortment of events that made no sense. i frequently had devastating panic attacks in college, where i’d lie in bed all night, staring up at the ceiling until sunrise, worried about my future. i had no way of giving up control, no source of comfort and no gratitude for all the blessings in my life. then, when i met my husband and he took me to chabad for Friday night din-

bask in the glory of spiritual calm. and of course, i gained a relationship with hashem, which gave me a purpose.

“Why would you want to become a Jew?” Why wouldn’t i want to become a Jew? the Jews are the chosen people because hashem took the torah to all the other nations, and none of them wanted it. We chose to take it on. We chose the

We chose the responsibility to communicate Hashem’s presence to the world and spread love and light.

ner, i felt hashem’s presence – there was a warmth in my chest that i’d never previously felt. My soul was sparked. i knew he existed.

When i started converting, i gained the torah, a guidebook for life. i gained a community full of wonderful people whose mission in life was to give to others. i gained shabbat, a day when i could turn off that anxious part of my brain and

responsibility to communicate hashem’s presence to the world and spread love and light. We are obligated to follow the torah and teach the other nations about the noahide laws and why it’s important to have a relationship with hashem as well.

What an honor.

We choose to take the moral high ground, to do what’s right even if others are mischaracterizing us. What other

army alerts residents that there are going to be airstrikes like the iDF does? or rushes to provide lifesaving assistance to other countries when there is a disaster, like israel does? or helps other minority groups as much as the Jews?

What a blessing.

We have endless texts we can study to become closer to hashem and form a special relationship with him. We know the right path to take to live a meaningful and fulfilled life. We have direction on what true happiness is and how to attain it.

What a gift. in a time when the entire world seems to be going after us, we must remember our purpose and higher calling. if hashem made you a Jew – or you converted like me – there’s a reason.

We learn in the torah that hashem can turn curses into blessings. right now, if you feel like it’s a burden to be a Jew because of what’s going on in israel, because of all the hatred of Jews, remember: hashem can turn it around in an instant. in the meantime, your job is to be thankful, every single day, to be a Jew. Don’t take that precious gift for granted.

Do you feel blessed to be Jewish? Email me: Kylie@koldigitalmarketing.com.

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1. *

TJH

Centerfold

International Space Station Trivia In honor of the February 7th anniversary of the U.S. Lab Module becoming part of the International Space Station, let’s see what you know about this incredible…well, piece of machinery!

1. When was the International Space Station (ISS) launched into space? a. 1996 b. 1998 c. 2000 d. 2002 2. How many spaceships can dock at the ISS at once? a. 1 b. 2 c. 8 d. 240 3. What is the span of the ISS, end to end? a. 356 feet b. 4,902 feet c. 4 miles d. 16 miles 4. What is the average speed of the ISS as it orbits the Earth? a. 4 miles per hour b. 5,000 miles per hour c. 10,000 miles per hour d. 17,500 miles per hour 5. What is the approximate crew capacity of the ISS at any given time? a. 6-8 astronauts

b. 10-12 astronauts c. 15-20 astronauts d. 3-4 astronauts 6. What is the average duration of a mission for astronauts on the ISS? a. 3 months b. 6 months c. 9 months d. 1 year 7. Approximately how many sunrises and sunsets does an astronaut witness during a 24hour period aboard the ISS? a. 4 b. 8 c. 12 d. 16

Answers: 1-B 2-C 3-A 4-D 5-A 6-B 7-D Wisdom Key 6-7 correct: Get ready to feel weightless!

3-5 correct: You’re little bit of a space cadet…

0-2 correct: You’re the type of person who would forget to put on a spacesuit while exiting the ISS….

Good luck getting home!

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“You might be a redneck if you celebrate Groundhog Day because you believe in it.”Jeff Foxworthy “To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring.” – WJ Vogel

You Gotta be Kidding Me! Billy

Bob

frantically

goes to the police precinct to report that his wife is missing.

The sheriff asks what her height is.

“I’m not sure. A little over five feet tall,” replies Billy Bob. “And what’s her weight?” asks the sheriff.

“I’m not sure about that, but I think she would be average weight for her height,” replies Billy Bob. “How about the color of eyes?” asks the sheriff.

“The groundhog is like most other prophets; it delivers its prediction and then disappears.”- Bill Vaughan

Billy Bob replies that he never really paid too much attention to the color of her eyes.

The sheriff asks about the color of his wife’s hair. Bill Bob responds that he can’t remember exactly because it changes once in a while.

“The trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it.”Patrick Young “Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.” - Kin Hubbard “There’s one good thing about snow. It makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s.” – Clyde Moore “[Groundhog Day] is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.” – Phil Conners

“What was she wearing?” asks the sheriff; Billy Bob confesses that he has no idea.

The sheriff asks whose vehicle she was last driving.

“She left the house in my truck,” replies Billy Bob. “What kind of truck was it?” asks the sheriff.

Billy Bob replies, “A 2022 pearl white Ram Limited 4X4 with 6.4 V8 engine ordered with the Ram Box bar and fridge option, LED lighting, back up and front camera, Moose hide leather heated and cooled seats, climate controlled air conditioning. It has a custom matching white cover for the bed, Weather Tech floor mats. Trailering package with gold hitch, sunroof, Wifi with full GPS navigation, satellite radio, Cobra 75 WX ST 40-channel CB radio, six cup holders, 3 USB port, and 4 power outlets. I added special alloy wheels and off-road Toyo tires. It has custom retracting running boards and under-glow wheel well lighting.”

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You Can Say That Again

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Torah Thought

Parshas Yisro

By Rabbi Berel Wein

T

here are two different viewpoints as to the timing and to the nature of the visit of Yisro to the Jewish encampment in the desert of Sinai. One opinion is that he came before the revelation of G-d to the Jews and the granting of the Torah to them.

The other opinion is that he came after Sinai and the Torah revelation. I think that these two different opinions really delve into the character and nature of Yisro himself as much as they deal with chronological events recorded for us in the Torah.

Rashi indicates that Yisro came because of his awareness of the miracle of the splitting of Yam Suf and of the subsequent battle between Amalek and Israel. If so, as Rashi seems to indicate by not mentioning the Torah revelation as one of the causes for his leaving his country, his position and his faith to come to join Israel in its journey, then it seems that Yisro’s “conversion” to Judaism was motivated by seemingly outside influences rather than by personal soul-searching.

If, however, Yisro arrives at the

camp of Israel after the revelation at Sinai, then one can justifiably argue that it was an inner recognition of the veracity of the newly revealed Torah.

Recognition of the truths of its monotheistic moral code that Sinai represents would have motivated his abandonment of past idols and ideals and drove him to his new attachment to the G-d and people of Israel.

In this seemingly pedantic discussion on the timeline of events that befell the Jewish people in their forty

The world is aware of the miracles that have accompanied us while crossing the sea of history and of the constant battle that we have been forced to fight against Amalek. This awareness has provided us with a few allies from the outside world to aid us in our quest for equality and fair treatment. These people are valuable friends and allies but are rarely if ever true converts to Judaism. However, we have been blessed in every generation by the attachment of people to Judaism and Israel because

From the ancient pharaohs to the modern age, the survival of the Jewish people has remained a troublesome mystery to world society.

year sojourn in the desert of Sinai lies a very deep and relevant understanding of the Jewish world and its obstacle-laden path to faith and belief.

Throughout Jewish history, there have been many who were influenced by outside, historical events that made them wonder in amazement at the survival and influential presence of the Jewish people. The Jew was always outnumbered and discriminated against by world society. It has always been felt by many that it was only a matter of time that Judaism and Jews would finally cease to exist. Yet, from the ancient pharaohs to the modern age, the survival of the Jewish people has remained a troublesome mystery to world society.

of the appreciation and recognition of the G-d-given moral code that the Torah represents.

It is the inner spiritual drive of their souls that drove and drives these people to become converts to Judaism. Since it is difficult, if not well nigh impossible, for any Jewish rabbinic court to explore the inner soul of any other human being, the problems of formal conversion to Judaism, especially in our time, are many and difficult. Yet, Yisro stands as an example as to the benefits to the individual and the nation as a whole of those who are not born Jewish and who resolutely wish to attach themselves to the people and destiny of Israel.

Shabbat shalom.

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74

From the Fire Parshas Yisro

The Missing Listen

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

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t is agreed that the two primary disciples of Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohein Kook, zy”a, were Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap, zt”l, and “the Nazir,” Rav Dovid Cohen, zt”l. The Nazir, in his monumental sefer called Kol HaNevuah – The Voice of Prophecy (p. 7), teaches us what he believes is the core characteristic necessary for a real and deep connection with G-d: “The sages of Israel open up

the power of binah, understanding, by unblocking their ears to hear the chain of tradition from all earlier generations, stretching back when our fathers heard G-d’s voice directly. ‘If they are not prophets, they are the students of prophets’ (Pesachim 66a).” The key is listening.

The second Lubavitcher Rebbe, zy”a, known as the Mitteler Rebbe, in his work Kuntrus HaHispa’alus, concentrated

this idea into a few impactful words: “One must hear deeply until the heart is moved.” Let us understand the significance of the Mitteler Rebbe’s words.

We know that everything flows from the beginning (I Likutei Moharan 62:11).

Our entire way of life begins with the giving of the Torah in this week’s parsha. And the first words of the parsha are, “And Yisro heard...” (Shmos 18:1).

Hashem prefaced His giving of the Torah with the words (ibid. 19:5), “And now, if you will surely listen to My voice and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure among all the nations, for the entire earth is Mine.” We see based on the opening words of our parsha and Hashem’s introduction to the Aseres HaDibros, the Ten Commandments, that listening is the necessary precondition to our receipt of the Torah.

Our parsha is named after Yisro, who is first mentioned at this point in connection with his ability to listen. What did he hear that caused him to come contemporaneously with the giving of the Torah?

He learned about the miracles in Egypt and by the sea. But everyone in the world heard about these things as well. What differentiated Yisro? He “heard deeply until his heart was moved.” He stopped and paid attention to the significance of what he was hearing. He internalized the new landscape in the world. He took note of the meaning of everything he heard and realized that “the times they were a’changing.” A new era was dawning with the birth of the Jewish people as a nation

and their exodus from Egypt. But he was not satisfied with his new understanding alone. He took action. He traveled to join the Jewish people.

Unfortunately, the masses, both in Yisro’s time and today, do not know how to listen. As one singer put it, the problem is “people hearing without listening.”

One fundamental part of listening deeply is paying attention with an ear to understand when things have changed and how they have changed. One must listen to the significance of what happens around him, acknowledge when there is a new reality, and then act with bravery like Yisro based on his new understanding.

Chazal (Shemos Rabah 27:6) teach that in the merit of “And Yisro heard [va’yishmah],” he merited “And Moshe heard [va’yishmah] the voice of his fatherin-law [Yisro]...” (Shemos 18:24). When Chazal teach that two pesukim which use the same word have a deeper connection, this is called a gezeirah shavah.

The Rama MiPano tells us that the word gezeirah in this phrase comes from the Hebrew root meaning “to cut away.” The idea is that when Chazal make a gezeirah shavah, they are cutting away all of the space between two pesukim to show that they are really one idea – that they are intimately connected. Yisro and Moshe seem to be two different worlds, people on two incomparably different planes of existence. So Chazal cut away the gaping chasm between them to show that with all of their differences, they both share the ability to listen intensely, to internalize

veracity of the Oral Torah and came to both Shamai and Hillel to convert (Shabbos 31a). Shamai threw him out because of the absurdity of his request. One cannot convert to Judaism if he denies the Oral Torah on which all of Yiddishkeit is built.

But Hillel agreed to teach this prospective convert the Hebrew alphabet, “Aleph, Beis, Gimel, Daled...” When the

The letters that we read and all of written seforim in the world have no context or meaning for us at all without an oral tradition, passed from teacher to student, connecting us today to the Oral Torah Moshe received at Sinai.

Our generation has largely lost the ability to hear the messages they receive from Heaven. They cannot focus on them or listen deeply to their significance be-

Listening is the necessary precondition to our receipt of the Torah.

non-Jew came back to study with him the next day, he taught him the same letters, but in the reverse order, “Daled, Gimel, Beis, Aleph.” The man said to Hillel, “But yesterday, this is not how you taught it to me!” Hillel then answered him, “If you relied on me yesterday [as a reliable transmitter of the correct order of the Hebrew alphabet], you should also rely on me for [the accurate transmission of] the Oral Torah!”

cause their eyes are constantly glued to those little devices in their hands. They never focus on anything very long before swiping on to the next one. So many people become more and more closed off within themselves. They become lost in the stories, pictures, and videos flashing before them and rarely listen to or think deeply about what is really happening in the world or even in the lives of their children, husbands, wives, or friends.

The Gemara (Brachos 40a) says, “If you listen to the old, you will hear the new.” A Jew who listens to those who came before him, those who made themselves receptacles for the Oral Torah, develops within himself the ability to hear deeply. He becomes able to listen to the point that his heart is affected. By training himself to listen in this way, he makes himself a vessel for new ideas, new messages, and an awareness of each new reality as it appears. One who listens intently, and does not always demand to be heard, develops the intellectual and emotional depth to become worthy of being heard as well.

May Hashem grant us the will and strength to listen to the wisdom of previous generations in order to “hear deeply until the heart is moved.” May we listen to the old so that the new reality of redemption, Moshiach, and the Beis HaMikdash will penetrate our hearts and reveal themselves in the world.

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

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the significance of that which they hear in order to “hear deeply until the heart is moved.”

The halacha that teaches us the fundamental nature of one’s ability to hear is found in the following Gemara: (Bava Kama 85b) “Rava says, ‘If one cuts off another’s hand, he gives him the value of his hand... If he breaks his leg, he gives him the value of his leg... If he blinds his eye, he gives him the value of his eye... If he makes him deaf, he gives him the value of his entire body.” The perpetrator does not merely pay the victim the value of his ear. He pays him the value of his entire body. This profound Gemara teaches us that one’s ability to hear defines his very humanity.

The ability to hear gives meaning and significance to whatever a person sees.

That is why, as the Nazir says, learning Torah from a bearer of the oral tradition is a necessary prerequisite for any true understanding of Torah, Yiddishkeit, and Hashem’s will for us in the world. The written Torah, by itself, even with all of the seforim in the world to complement it, can never replace hearing the Torah from one’s rebbe.

The Gemara itself makes this point in the story of the non-Jew who denied the

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Think. Feel.Grow.

The Five Stages of Torah

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

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n our previous article, we began exploring the five spiritual stages of the creative process. As the Vilna Gaon explains, everything in the universe is comprised of five stages or parts. To briefly review: 1. The initial stage of every thought is a flash of inspiration, the instant when an idea enters the mind but remains ethereal, undefined, and still somewhat elusive.

2. The second stage of the creative process is where the flash of inspiration becomes more expressed and further defined as a general idea or concept.

3. The third stage is where the general idea of the second stage begins to take on detail, becoming a full-fledged, defined thought-process.

4. The fourth stage is where the concrete thoughts within your mind become expressed outwards into the physical world.

5. The fifth stage is the final, expressed form of that original flash of inspiration, now a fully expressed entity in the physical world.

Fascinatingly, the Vilna Gaon explains the structure and layout of the Chumash in accordance with this fivestep template. The Torah is not split into five parts for convenience or practical organization. The five books represent the five spiritual stages of the Torah.

Bereishis Bereishis is the inception of the physical world, as well as the seed of the Jewish People. The ultimate purpose of creation is for humanity to reach its perfection and achieve absolute oneness with Hashem. Adam was initially entrusted with this mission, and when he failed, the opportunity and responsibility to accept this mission was passed down through each generation — from Noach, to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and fi-

nally to Yaakov, from whom Klal Yisrael emerges.

Thus, Bereishis is the initial flash of inspiration, the spark of conception, the initial stage of humanity’s mission and evolutionary story.

Shemos Shemos is the second stage of this process, where the flash of inspiration develops into a more fully formed, tangible idea. In Sefer Shemos, the Jewish People are born as they leave Mitzrayim. Yetzias Mitzrayim was not simply a physical process, by which the Jewish People departed from the land of Egypt and headed toward a new location. It was a spiritual metamorphosis, an existential transition, the birth of a people.

Prior to leaving Mitzrayim, the Jewish People was a collective of individuals, but upon leaving, we became a nation, a single people, a unified whole.

Klal Yisrael then received their identity and idealistic mission at Matan Torah, collectively accepting the responsibility to fulfill the original goal of Creation: to help humanity reach its perfection and achieve absolute oneness with Hashem. We became destined to bridge the gap between the infinite and finite, the spiritual and physical. Klal

Yisrael built the Mishkan, which would serve as the focal point of connection between the spiritual and the physical, as well as the medium of connection between Hashem and Klal Yisrael.

Once the general plan has been set in place, the details must come next.

Vayikra Vayikra is the third stage in the process, where the general principles of Sefer Shemos become expressed and manifest in full detail. In Shemos, we received our mission on Har Sinai and accepted our responsibility to devote our lives toward connecting with Hashem, as well as the task of building the Mishkan, the focal point of this connection. In Vayikra, we are shown the extensive details regarding how to achieve this connection with Hashem. Vayikra thus includes all the halachos of the Mishkan, korbanos, and kehunah. This allows us to translate the general ideas set forth in Shemos into a concrete, expressed reality.

Bamidbar Bamidbar is the fourth stage, where the theoretical, conceptual plan transitions into action; where the expression begins to unfold within time and

space; and where the implementation of the ideas and ideals are attempted. This is the stage of dibbur, speech, the process of taking thoughts and ideas and expressing them into the world. This is why the shoresh of the word “Bamidbar” is dibbur, which means speech.

However, Bamidbar is also where everything goes wrong, where problems begin to arise. In the transition from thought to speech and action, challenges emerge. Sefer Bamidbar features many of the sins of Klal Yisrael, most of which relate to the misuse of speech, representing the inability to transition from higher to lower, from ideal to practice, from idea to speech.

Miriam is reprimanded for speaking lashon hara about Moshe (Bamidbar, perek 12). The Meraglim fail to learn from her mistake and speak lashon hara as well (Rashi, Bamidbar 13:2). Korach misuses speech to create machlokes and chaos within Klal Yisrael (Bamidbar, perek 16). Moshe strikes the rock, using action when words were appropriate (Bamidbar 20:11–12). Bilaam attempts to use speech to curse the Jewish People (Bamidbar, perek 24). The Misonenim (complainers) use their speech to complain and criticize Hashem (Bamidbar, perek 11.

This is why the sefer is called “Bamidbar,” which refers to the misuse of speech. The word “midbar” literally means “from speech” (mi-dibbur), representing a breakdown and departure from proper speech. The word “midbar” also refers to a desert, a place that represents the breakdown of speech. The desert represents the concept of spiritual emptiness; it is the place where the process of life breaks down and spiritual direction erodes. A road provides a path toward a clear destination, but in the desert, there are no roads, no paths, and therefore no clarity of purpose or

beings learn from comparison and contrast. We understand the concept of wisdom by seeing foolishness, goodness from witnessing evil, and wealth from seeing poverty. The Torah includes countless examples of proper and ideal speech, but only by seeing the misuse of speech can we truly understand the es-

every process in life. Everything in this world, even that which appears chaotic, scattered, and disorganized, shares this underlying pattern. Everything in life begins with a spark; every creative process begins with a big idea. Then comes the rigorous journey of bringing that spark to fruition, turning that idea

Finding direction in the midbar was a true journey of creating light in the darkness, creating clarity amidst chaos and confusion.

sence of proper speech. Only by seeing the corruption of speech can we learn and strive to perfect our own speech.

The purpose of the Torah is to uplift a darkened, shattered world to connect the physical to its spiritual source. The fourth stage is where we struggle to achieve our goal, where we must push through the roadblocks as we build and actualize that original flash of inspiration. Our job in this world is to build the road in the wasteland of this world, to express Hashem’s will into a world that has lost its direction. In Sefer Bamidbar, the Jews travel through the midbar, struggling to express Hashem’s will into the world, struggling to live up to their lofty mission as Hashem’s chosen nation. Finding direction in the midbar was a true journey of creating light in the darkness, creating clarity amidst chaos and confusion.

Devarim Devarim is the fifth stage of the Torah, where the process of Yetzias Mitzrayim and our journey in the midbar results in Moshe’s actual words, where the journey to Eretz Yisrael is completed, and where the goal is achieved. For this reason, it is called Devarim (words), as Moshe speaks the words of Devarim himself, representing the culmination of the process, the final expression. This is also why the content of Sefer Devarim is mostly a repetition of the previous sefarim. As the Vilna Gaon and Maharal explain, Devarim does not represent a new sefer; it is a revelation and reformulation of all that preceded it.

Order Within the Chaos This five-stage pattern exists within

into something tangible, and expressing the spiritual creation into the physical world. May we be inspired to grab hold of the initial stage of inspiration and follow through with our commitment to actualize it, bringing our spiritual greatness into full expression in this world. May we also, both individually and collectively, continue to accept the responsibility of fulfilling the original

goal of creation: to help humanity reach its perfection and achieve absolute oneness with Hashem.

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

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

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

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direction. It is a place of wilderness and chaos without growth, water, or life.

Fascinatingly, this is why mirages appear specifically in the desert. Mirages are a mysterious phenomenon, and while there are scientific explanations for them, it is still astonishing that people in the desert sometimes see water, structures, or even whole cities when there is actually nothing there.

The fact, though, that mirages occur specifically in the desert reflects a deep spiritual concept. The desert is a place of illusion, where our perception of reality breaks down. The Midrash explains that the Malach HaMaves (Angel of Death) showed the Jewish People an illusion of Moshe’s death while they were in the midbar to convince them of their helplessness (Rashi, Shemos 32:1). This breakdown led to the Cheit Ha’egel, the most terrible sin in Jewish history. The midbar is the place of illusion, where we lose the ability to correctly translate what we see; where the process of communication shatters. Speech, intelligible pathways, and life itself cannot exist in the desert.

(This is why the Torah was given in the midbar; it is the only place where truth can be heard. (The Maharal [Tiferes Yisrael 26] explains that just as the timing of Matan Torah was fundamental, the physical location was fundamental as well.) When there is noise and distraction, truth cannot be properly heard or internalized. Only when there is silence, and the complete absence of ego, can the truth be heard, understood, and accepted. The Torah is the absolute and whole truth and can therefore only be given when there is absolutely nothing else competing against it. If one thinks that the Torah is “one” of many truths, that Moshe was “one” of the many prophets, then it will not be possible to arrive at the truth.

Torah is not just one of the options; it is the absolute truth, the definition of reality. As such, it was given in a place where nothing else speaks to show that Torah stands alone as the holistic and absolute truth.)

There is, however, an obvious problem: why is Sefer Bamidbar full of misuses of speech? Why is the fourth stage of the Torah, the stage that is supposed to represent the spiritual concept of speech, replete with corruptions of speech?

The answer is profound: The best way to learn a principle is to see the principle and its opposite. As the Maharal and Ramchal explain, human

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Delving into the Daf

A Fruity Matter

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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here is a well-known prohibition against cutting down fruit trees needlessly. Indeed, many non-Jewish gardeners are even aware of this. Some non-Jewish gardeners preemptively ask the religious owners to buy the fruit trees from them so that they may be cut down.

Still, some individuals would rather suffer with the mess of a fruit tree than have it cut down. What is the basis for the stringency?

Rav said concerning a palm tree that still produces fruit in the amount of a kav that it is prohibited to cut it down due to the prohibition of: “When you shall besiege a city…you shall not destroy the trees” (Deuteronomy 20:19). (See Bava Kama 91b.)

Yet, there is a firm basis to permit cutting down a fruit tree in some situations.

Ravina said, “If the lumber was greater in monetary value than its fruits, it is permitted to chop it down, and this does not violate the prohibition against destroying a tree.” Indeed, the Gemara even quotes a beraisa that supports Ravina.

The Gemara further cites two stories where fruit trees were cut down. The sharecropper of Shmuel brought him dates.

Shmuel ate them and tasted the taste of wine in them. He said to his sharecropper: “What is this?” The sharecropper said to him: “The date palms stand among the grapevines and therefore the dates contain a taste of wine from the grapes.” Shmuel said: “Do they weaken the wine, i.e., the grapevines, so much that it is possible to taste the wine in the dates? Tomorrow, cut down the date palms and bring me from their marrow (i.e., hearts of palm) to eat.”

The Gemara relates a similar incident: Rav Chisda saw date palms growing among grapevines on his estate. He said to his sharecropper: “Uproot the date palms, since the grapevines are more valuable.”

Moreover, the Mishna in Tamid states that fruit tree wood was specifically preferred for the arrangement of wood on the mizbayach! “Wood from all the trees is fit for the arrangement, except for wood from the vine and from the olive tree, but the kohanim were accustomed to assemble the

arrangement with wood from these trees: young branches of the fig tree, of the nut tree, and of pinewood.”

Why was it permitted to use wood from fig and nut trees when other wood was available? Isn’t that forbidden due to the prohibition of destroying fruit trees? The Mishneh L’melech opines that simply cutting branches from a fruit tree was never included in the prohibition. However, the Be’er Sheva says that even cutting down a fruit tree for a mitzvah is permitted because it is a constructive purpose. HaRav Nachum Katz, shlita, of Lawrence, NY, (author of the sefer HiNacheim Nafshi on Chumash) suggested that the Be’er Sheva’s proof is from a Gemara in Pesachim. The Gemara there says that one-year-old pomegranate branches were the preferred wood to be as a spit for roasting the korbon Pesach. The issue is that one-year-old branches would seem to be pretty flimsy and not capable of being used as a spit. HaRav Katz suggests that the Gemara is referring to one-year-old rooted cuttings. The central stem would be strong enough to be used as a spit. It would thus be evident that one can uproot an entire fruit tree for a mitzvah.

It should be noted that the Mahril Diskin was of the opinion that fruit trees that are still subject to the Orlah prohibition (first three years of its growth) are exempt from the prohibition of cutting down fruit trees. According to his opinion, no proof can be brought from one-year-old cuttings which are subject to Orlah and are therefore permitted to be uprooted even for non-mitzvah purposes. (Although his opinion seems to be contradicted from Rashi on 90b) From the Be’er Sheva, we see that cutting down fruit trees is permitted for a constructive purpose such as a mitzvah.

Shumel and Rav Chisda cut down fruit trees to help their vines. Ravina said a fruit tree may be cut down if the wood is more valuable than the fruit. Usually, when the question arises about cutting down a fruit tree, it is for a constructive purpose. For example, someone wants to expand their

house or a shul, and a tree is in the way.

A mulberry bush is causing a tremendous mess, and clothes are being soiled and the mess is tracked through the house. In these situations, it should be clear that it is permitted to cut down the fruit tree.

Moreover, the Taz is bothered why the Tur in his encyclopedic magnum opus does not cite the prohibition against cutting down fruit trees anywhere. What could be the reason for the glaring omission? The Taz explains that the prohibition against wastefulness applies not just to fruit trees but to any item a person owns. The Tur did not feel the need to cite the law specifically about fruit trees, because he cited the same law in reference to myriad other situations.

Evidently, the Tur is of the opinion that the same criteria for destroying any object applies to a fruit tree. One is permitted to knock down a house to build a better one!

So why is there a reticence to cut down fruit trees? It should be treated as destroying any other plant.

The Gemara in Bava Kama (91b) quotes a frightening statement. “Rabbi Chanina said: ‘My son Shivchat did not die for any reason other than that he cut down a fig tree before its time.’” Presumably, the tree was not cut down for a bona fide constructive purpose. Still, the frightening punishment gives people pause.

Additionally, there is an incident related in Bava Basra (26a). Rava bar Rav Chanan had palm trees in his field near Rav Yosef’s vineyard. Birds that flocked to Rava bar Rav Chanan’s trees would damage Rav Yosef’s fruit, and Rav Yosef demanded that Rava cut down his trees. Rava insisted that he had planted his trees reasonably distant from Rav Yosef’s field and therefore had no obligation to cut down his trees. Rava explained that his trees produced a significant amount of fruit and could not be cut down because of baal tashchis (Devarim 20:19). He concluded by telling Rav Yosef that if he felt that the trees had to be cut

down, he would have to do it himself. Surely, Rava bar Rav Chanan held that the trees may be cut down according to the letter of the law. He would not have told Rav Yosef to do an aveira. Moreover, Rava was a saintly individual and would not have wanted his trees to cause harm to others. But Rava explained that he was in between a rock and a hard place. He would like to act piously and cut down the fruit trees, but some other esoteric reason is holding him back.

Thus, some conclude that one has to be extra careful not to cut down fruit trees even when it is technically permitted. Additionally, there is a statement from Rebbe Yehuda HaChassid warning against cutting down fruit trees. Therefore, the permissibility of cutting down fruit trees is a serious issue. Additionally, some are even careful against cutting down any tree. There is a ruling of the Piskei Tosfos that seems to indicate even non-fruit-bearing trees should be treated the same as fruit-bearing ones.

Indeed, the Minchas Yitzchak was not so quick to permit cutting down a regular tree unless certain conditions were met. However, his ruling is controversial.

The Sefer Taharas Yom Tov recounts how the Belzer Rebbe, zt”l, once ruled that a fruit tree should not be cut down. This, despite the fact that the fruit produced by the tree was wormy and was inedible. Even more significant, the tree was standing in the way of expanding a beis medrash that was too small!

Practically, cutting down a fruit tree to enable construction is treated as a serious question, even though technically according to halacha it is permitted.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@ gmail.com.

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79

Halacha

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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arning labels come in all shapes, forms and sizes. Allergens, for example, are listed on labels. Imagine, for a moment, if foods that were susceptible to halachic problems came with halachic warnings.

In terms of the Shabbos malacha of Borer, selecting, most people know the three permitted methods. It has got to be all of the three yads: • M’yad – for immediate use (l’alter), • B’yad – by hand (or extension of it) and not a selecting tool, and • Good from “b’yad” (sorry) – and not bad from good also called ochel mitoch psoles and NOT psoles mitoch ochel.

But let’s further explore the definition of “immediate use” discussed in Shulchan Aruch (OC 319:3).

Many of us know that there are three opinions cited in the Rishonim.

1. There is the opinion of the Mordechai (cited in the very beginning of Klal Gadol in tractate Shabbos) that “immediate” means – right now. There is no concept of “for the Shabbos meal.”

2. There is the opinion of Rabbeinu Yerucham that “immediate use” even extends to the early part of the meal – even if it is not immediately consumed but does not extend to the end of a stretched out meal. (This is the Bais Yoseph’s reading of Rabbeinu Yerucham, but the Prisha puts the Mordechai as #3 below.)

3. And there is the opinion of the Rosh and Ran that “immediate use” even extends to the end of a stretchedout meal.

The Mysterious Ramah The Ramah seems to add an additional leniency. Not only does he pasken that immediate use extends to the end of Seudah (like the Rosh and Ran), but he adds that the borer can be done “samuch l’seudah” – close to the meal – and does not have to be at the beginning of the meal. And for hundreds of years, the Acharonim have posed two questions: 1) What is the Ramah’s source?

2) How long is this “samuch l’seudah” period?

In answer to the first question, there seem to be three different theories as to the Ramah’s source.

The Pri Magadim in his Aishel Avrohom (319:6) states that the Ramah

native reading of Rabbeinu Yerucham, and his source was from that alternative reading, namely, that Rabbeinu Yerucham defined l’alter as for the next meal.

The Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon provides an entire-

There is the opinion of the Rosh and Ran that “immediate use” even extends to the end of a stretched-out meal.

conceived of this through his own reasoning (svarah d’nafshei). This author’s understanding is that since the underlying concept is that it is permitted for derech achilah, the manner of eating, the Ramah understands derech achilah to including derech food prep for the achilah – in that that is how people make the food – right before the meal starts.

The Pri Magadim further explains the possibility that the Ramah had an alter-

ly different thought. He writes that the Gemara in Shabbos 74a states that if the person does the selecting for that Shabbos day, it is considered as if he has selected for his storehouse. This indicates that if it is less than that Shabbos day, it would be permitted.

Answering The Second Question The Eglei Tal writes that the param-

eters of samuch l’seudah are specifically one hour.

Most poskim (the Aruch HaShulchan (321:9); Rav Elyashiv zt”l cited in Ayil Meshulash 8, fn #45, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l IM OC IV 74:13, and Rav Neuwirth SSK 3: 68,69) are of the opinion that the term “hour” means according to the time that it would require. In other words, if it is a small meal, then one does not have even an hour, and if it is a significant meal, then one has even more than an hour.

The Chazon Ish’s opinion, first cited in Nachalas Eliyahu Vol. I #45,by Rabbi Eliyahu Doshnitzer zt”l of the Lomza Yeshiva is that the maximum samuch l’seudah is 30 minutes, and even if there are many people, this time period is not to be extended for any reason because many people makes no difference. People are not connected to each other in regard to this halacha.

There is great debate, however, as to how to understand this Chazon Ish. The Ayil Meshulash (by Rabbi Menachem Aryeh Schlesinger) and the Chut Sheini (by Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l) understand the Chazon Ish’s position that the 30 minute maximum even applies to family events.

Rav Fellman, zt”l, writes in his Shalmei Todah (Borer p. 13) otherwise – that he understood the Chazon Ish as being of the opinion that family simchas do connect people to each other. The Shvus Yaakov (p. 218) cites Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, (who studied in Lomza and went back to the Chazon Ish’s home every Shabbos) that it is likely that the Chazon Ish was ruling only for the specific situation of the Lomza yeshiva and not for family gatherings.

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

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Warning: For Immediate Use Only

Gifting the Torah to the Children of Hashem

By RaBBi Daniel Glastein

T

he tefillah of Shacharis begins with Birchos HaShachar, the morning blessings. One of these brachos is “shelo asani goy,” a blessing in which we thank Hashem for not making us nonJews.

The Midrash Pliah reveals that this bracha has unique and ancient origins: At the time when Hashem said, “I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt” (Shemos 20:2), Moshe exclaimed, “Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, for not having made me a non-Jew.” Thus, it would seem that this blessing can be traced to the giving of the very first of the Ten Commandments.

This Midrash is quoted in the sefer Divrei Shaul (Parashas Yisro), where R’ Shaul HaLevi Nathansohn opines that it is not authentic and has no true source.

However, he writes, even if the actual Midrash is unsourced, the concept can be explained nonetheless.

The Jewish people are required to believe in the One and Only Supernal G-d. Non-Jews are also required to believe in G-d — this is one of the seven Noahide laws that all nations of the world are commanded to observe. However, there is a difference between the Jew’s mandate versus that of the non-Jew. The Shulchan Aruch rules that if a non-Jew believes in shituf, a partnering force with G-d, he is not liable for violating the commandment to believe in G-d. This is not the case for a Jew, who must believe in One, and only One, Hashem.1 Where, in fact, do we find that a Jew is forbidden to believe in shituf, partnership? The Divrei Shaul offers that it derives from the first two of the Ten Commandments: “Anochi Hashem Elokecha, I am Hashem, your G-d…”; and “Lo yiheyeh Elohim acheirim al panai, You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence” (Shemos 20:2–3). Our belief in Hashem must be exclusive, barring any supposed accompanying force.

This, says the Divrei Shaul, would be the explanation of the words of the Midrash. When the commandment “I am Hashem” was issued, it distinguished our belief system from that of the non-Jews. Thus Moshe exclaimed, “Blessed are You, Hashem, for not having made me a non-Jew!” The Divrei Shaul concludes that he later heard from a darshan that this Midrash is sourced in the Midrash Avkir. As Midrash Avkir is a reliable source, quoted many times in the Yalkut Shimoni, we must therefore strive to understand the depth of its words.

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Cosmic Clash The Gemara (Shabbos 88b) describes that when Moshe went up to the Heavenly spheres to receive the Torah, he was subjected to a heated debate. The angels did not want the Torah to be handed over to mankind. The Gemara says: And R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moshe ascended to the Heavenly heights [to receive the Torah], the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed is He: “Master of the Universe! What is one born of a woman doing among us?” [The Holy One, Blessed is He] said to them, “He has come to receive the Torah.” They said before him: “The coveted and treasured [Torah] that was stored by You as a treasure for 974 generations before the world was created! You intend to give that to flesh and blood?”

Ultimately, the angels lost the argument, and the Torah was given to Moshe to be delivered to the Jewish people.

We must understand, what was the angels’ claim?

Why did they feel that they deserved the Torah rather than the Jewish people?

The Chida explains this based on the Gemara (Bava Metzia 108a) that outlines a halachic principle called dina d’bar metzra. This means that if one wishes to sell his field, his neighbor has the right of first refusal. The source for this rule is the verse in Parshas Va’eschanan, “You shall do what is fair and good” (Devarim 6:18). Since the neighbor stands to

gain by having two fields adjacent to each other rather than in different locations, it is “fair and good” to allow him the right to purchase the field before any other person is contacted.

The Chida says that the angels were invoking this claim. They, who dwell in the heavens, were “neighbors” of the Torah, which also existed in the heavens.

Thus, in line with the rule of dina d’bar metzra, they held the right of first refusal with regard to the gifting of the Torah.

If the angels were basing their claim on legitimate halachic grounds, why did it fail?

The answer lies in an exception to the rule. The Sifsei Kohen (known as “the Shach”) writes that when the would-be purchaser is the seller’s son, it may be that the rule of dina d’bar metzra should not apply.

The logical reason is that since the source for dina d’bar metzra is the verse “you shall do what is fair and good,” it may be more “fair and good” for one to sell a property to his own son rather than to a non-relative, albeit a neighbor.

The Shach writes this as a possible consideration.

However, the Shitah Mekubetzes brings in the name of the She’eilos U’Teshuvos HaRif that the rule of dina d’bar metzra definitely does not apply when it is a son who wishes to purchase.

It is with this idea, the Chida explains, that we triumphed over the angels’ claim. While it is true that they were the Torah’s “neighbors,” this did not preclude our right to receive the Torah. This is because the principle of dina d’bar metzra did not apply since we, the Jewish people, are Hashem’s children. And a child’s claim takes precedence over that of a neighbor.

Four Sons The Chida uses this concept to explain the continuum between two segments of the Haggadah.

We recite the paragraph, “Blessed is the Omnipresent, Blessed is He. Blessed is the One Who has given His Torah to His people Yisroel.” This is a statement of gratitude to Hashem for giving us the Torah.

This paragraph is followed by the recitation of the Arbaah Banim, Four Sons: the wise son, the wicked son, the simple son, and the son who does not know how to ask.

The Chida explains: We first say “Baruch HaMakom, Baruch Hu…” to express our thanks for having been given the Torah. But our right to the Torah faces a challenge. According to R’ Yehudah, the angels’ claim of dina d’bar metzra should continue to

One Heart That we must be Hashem’s children in order to receive the Torah is an idea that can help explain a phenomenon described in Parshas Yisro, when the Jews arrived at Har Sinai. The pasuk says, “And Yisroel encamped there, opposite the mountain” (Shemos 19:2). Rashi comments on this verse, “K’ish echad b’lev echad, like one man with one heart.” Why was it critical, prior to encamping opposite the mountain, that the Jews join in absolute unity?

We can answer this question based on the words of R’ Chaim Palagi, commenting on the pasuk in Parshas Re’eh that says, “Banim atem l’Hashem Elokeichem, You are children of Hashem, your G-d” (Devarim 14:1). The verse doesn’t end with this statement. It continues with a prohibition: “You shall not cut yourselves … for a dead person.” This commandment forbids one from cutting himself in grief upon the demise of a loved one. The Gemara (Yevamos 13b) interprets these words homiletically: Lo saasu agudos agudos, do not make multiple assemblages. According to this interpretation, the Torah is cautioning us from dividing congregations into separate groups adhering to disparate practices.

R’ Chaim Palagi writes that these two parts of the verse — “banim atem” and “lo sisgodidu” — go hand in hand. Unity among Jews reflects our being Hashem’s children. Since we are children of Hashem, we shall not impose divisiveness among our gatherings.

This idea sheds light on the emphasis of our unity prior to Matan Torah. As we have learned from the Chida, we — rather than the angels — merited to receive the Torah by virtue of our being children of Hashem. In order to affirm this reality, we had to act with utmost unity which, as R’ Chaim Palagi taught us, is a reflection of the fact that we are Hashem’s children.

Just and Good In Parshas Re’eh (Devarim 13:19–14:1) we find the following two pesukim juxtaposed: “When you hearken to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, to observe all His commandments that I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of Hashem, your G-d”; and “You are children of Hashem, your G-d — you shall

not cut yourselves and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person.”

The first verse concludes with a command to do “what is right in the eyes of Hashem,” and immediately thereafter it says, “You are children of Hashem, your G-d.”

What is the connection between these two verses?

The Bnei Yissaschar says we can explain based on the words of the Chida cited above. The commandment to do “what is right in the eyes of Hashem” is the underlying reason behind the rule of dina d’bar metzra.

This sparks the claim of the angels: According to this principle, they deserve the Torah! To this, the Torah responds: You are children of Hashem, your G-d.

Since the Jewish people are Hashem’s children, the rule of dina d’bar metzra does not apply.

We — rather than the angels — merited to receive the Torah by virtue of us being children of Hashem.

Angelic Appeal The Klausenberger Rebbe, in the Divrei Yatziv, utilizes the Chida’s approach to explain why Moshe Rabbeinu broke the Luchos upon seeing the Jewish people worshiping the Eigel HaZahav, Golden Calf.

Wouldn’t it have been more logical to simply turn around and return the Luchos to Shamayim rather than break them?

According to the Klausenberger Rebbe, Moshe feared that the Cheit HaEigel was so grave that the Jews might lose their status as Hashem’s children.

Therefore, were he to return the Luchos to Shamayim, the angels would appeal their case, claiming once again that they deserve to receive the Torah, in line with the principle of dina d’bar metzra. This time, however, there would be no counterclaim that the Jewish people, as Hashem’s children, take precedence over the angels. Following the Cheit HaEigel, the angels could say that the argument was no longer valid: The Jews were no longer Hashem’s children.

Thus, were Moshe to return the Luchos to Shamayim, he risked losing them forever. By breaking them, he ensured that the Torah could still be reclaimed through Bnei Yisrael doing teshuvah.

Ours to Inherit The connection between our being Hashem’s children and the Giving of the Torah can be further demonstrated by the Yalkut Shimoni in Bamidbar.

There, the Yalkut teaches that when the Jews accepted the Torah, the nations of the world were jealous, protesting that the Jews were no more deserving of the Torah than they were. Hashem responded by saying, “Bring me your sefer yuchsin (ledger book of genealogy) as My children have brought [theirs].”

The Navah Tehillah explains this Midrash based on the Gemara (Kesubos 53a) that teaches that one may not transfer an inheritance from one son to another — even if the transferee is a better son. This principle would support the claim of the nations of the world, that “even if the Jews are the ‘better son,’ nonetheless, Hashem should not appropriate our inheritance (the Torah) in favor of the Jews!”

What Hashem is telling them is that they have no “yichus” — they bear no “familial” relationship with Hashem. The Jews, on the other hand, are Hashem’s children. Thus, the issue of transferring an inheritance from one child to another is irrelevant — for only the Jews are Hashem’s children.

Blessings of a Son With all we have learned, we can return to explain the Midrash with which we began. The moment that Hashem said, “I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt,” Moshe responded by saying “Baruch… shelo asani goy.” For it was at that moment, when the very first of the Ten Commandments was proclaimed, that Hashem gave us the Torah, overcoming the angels’ claim of dina d’bar metzra and affirming our identity as Hashem’s children.

This is further demonstrated by the very words “… Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt.” As we have learned, our being redeemed from Mitzrayim was also made possible only through our being Hashem’s children. Thus, the moment that Hashem declared “Anochi Hashem Elokecha,” Moshe became overwhelmed with gratitude that we, rather than the nations of the world, are His children. Moshe therefore exclaimed the blessing, “Shelo asani goy!”

For there is no greater blessing than being Hashem’s child.

The sefer Noam Megadim writes something incredible.

How, in fact, did we merit to become Hashem’s children over all other nations? The author explains that a slave is a material possession and, just like any other possession, can be owned by two masters. A child, however, can have only one father. Therefore, the Jewish people, who believe in only one Hashem, merit to relate to Him as a Father.

Non-Jews, on the other hand, who believe in shituf, must relate to Him as a Master, since only in a slave-master relationship is a partnership possible.

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This article was excerpted with permission from Rebbi Meir Baal Haness and the Eternal Children of Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, ArtScroll Publications.

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

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stand. In R’ Yehudah’s view, when the Jews sin, they are no longer called Hashem’s children. At that point, the Torah should revert to the angels, who maintain the right of first refusal as dina d’bar metzra. The Haggadah therefore continues with the “Four Sons” paragraph. There, we express that all four — even the wicked one — are called a “son.” This reiterates that the halachah is like R’ Meir and thus, we will never lose our designation as Hashem’s children.

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Israel Today

Chesed Under Fire

By Rafi Sackville

David with company commander Amit, right, and Dan, left

D

espite having recently moved south to Yerushalayim, I still remain employed in Ma’alot.

Every Wednesday morning, I leave for the north at 4 a.m., returning Thursday evening. There’s not much left of our apartment in Ma’alot, and until we rent it out, it sits sans cutlery, crockery and, most importantly, food.

Blessed with good friends, I eat out most Wednesday nights. On the eve of Tu B’Shvat, I was invited to my close friend David Bellin, a gentleman with indefatigable spirit.

He cooked goulash accompanied by a number of salads. We talked about current events, shul politics and life in general. At one point during the meal, he pulled out his phone, looked at me and announced that we had only a few minutes before we had to leave. Why and where, I asked. To the artillery unit sitting in the middle of the tobacco fields in Meilya, the Christian Arab village up the hill. He told me they were making a Seder Tu B’Shvat and that we were both invited.

I thus found myself driving along a wet, bumpy farm path in the middle of a light drizzle. There were no lights to guide us, and when we eventually arrived at the outpost, we had to make our way to the gate with our phone torches.

For good reason, David was welcomed like a returning hero.

Every weekday for months, David had arrived at the outpost around 10 a.m., where he attached a table to the back of his van, started a small generator, pulled out an espresso machine,

coffees, teas, and homemade muffins.

When all was ready, he treated the unit’s 25 soldiers to homemade breakfast.

As we entered the dining tent, Amit, the commander of the base, was addressing his troops. On the long trestles sat boxes of fruit and snacks all in honor of Tu B’Shvat. The proceedings stopped while each soldier greeted David. As David’s friend, I was included in the bonhomie.

David, who, back in his army days was also in artillery, told Dan, an impressive young father of three, that when his military service had ended, none of the soldiers had swapped contact information. Dan thought the current situation had had profound effects on the bonding among the platoon. They had all bonded closely. The makeup of the unit crossed the gamut of Israeli society; from Dati to secular; from right wing to left wing political views.

David and I were asked to make up a minyan. As we davened, the secular soldiers sat in the corner of the tent. The respect was mutual. My boots were covered in mud, and despite the green turf squelching under our feet, the tent felt warm and welcoming.

David’s service is one of thousands that have been occurring across the country since the start of the war. My friends, the Krietenbergs, traveled to the same outpost three times a week to deliver hot soup.

On the last day of their service, a few days after Tu B’Shvat, these same soldiers came to Ma’alot where they were welcomed by the community who came

David preparing the daily breakfast for the soldiers

out in numbers to show their thanks.

Back in Yerushalayim – as in all cities across the country – one can’t avoid the many acts of chesed both large and small. In our building on the fifth floor, Helen arranges meals for soldiers weekly. Her network of helpers is extensive.

When meals or foods are required, the corridor outside her fifth floor apartment acquires the aroma of Shabbat mid-week.

Friends volunteer at soup kitchens and food distribution centers. Another neighbor is a collection point for dry cleaning for people who have been evacuated; I know one of the recipients who has been living out of a hotel room for four months.

From seven a.m. every morning, the building next to our shul in Ma’alot becomes a beehive of activity; families across the city bring food, which is turned into lunches for soldiers across the western Galil.

It’s not surprising that this is happening. These acts of chesed are part and parcel of our Jewish DNA. At heart, we all share common goals.

Immediately after the events of October 7, the terrible divide in Israeli society seemingly dissolved. We’ve since become more unified, more focused on the deeper meaning of our existence in this volatile region.

David and I made our way through the mud and slippery path out of the base. Before we drove off, he asked me a question I have battled with for so long.

“What’s pshat to the feelings I have when I’m here?” he asked me. “Explain

why and how these guys all get along so well together?”

I don’t think there is any one answer.

What I can say is that for too long we have become accustomed to acting like we’re living in a bubble of safety here in the Middle East. We have experienced a growing, healthy economy, seen the development of a tech sector that rivals anything in the world, and wrongly believed that money could appease our enemies. The pogrom awakened us from our slumber. We have returned to the distant mindset of the early years of the state. Yes, we only have ourselves to depend on. Unlike then, our greatest enemy is our hubris. Once the October bubble burst, we’ve had to discard those misguided notions of national safety.

Our very existence depends on our restarting the Zionist experiment.

This is how we feel when we have to gird our loins as one and face the precarious reality of life here. When we are all on the same page, it matters not if our skin color is different or what our beliefs are.

That feeling of goodwill for all our fellow Israelis, I wanted to tell David, is what happens when the stuffing has been knocked out of us, when we stop to take a deep breath and realize that our small acts of chesed in our fight for survival is the first step to building a stronger country.

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, NY, teaches in Amirim High School in Kfar Vradim in the Western Galil.

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Lone Soldiers are Not Alone

By David J. Glenn

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“These are all our children, and they are craving a bit of home, which is what we try to provide for them on a continuous basis.”

Rabbi Ari Abramowitz, Dr. Eric Pollak and David Devor on a recent visit

“N

ever leave a fallen warrior behind.”

The Nevut organization, currently on its fourth mission to Israel to care for Lone Soldiers serving on the front lines, takes this commitment to heart ---- and is in a unique position to fulfill it.

Directed by Rabbi Ari Abramowitz, Executive Director and founder of Nevut, who himself recently returned from serving in reserve duty, this compassionate team navigates the warfront, journeying from base to base, distributing much-needed warm gear and supplies, and the even more needed hugs and emotional support.

Rabbi Abramowitz started Nevut in 2017 when he saw thousands of lone soldiers coming back to the United States with no specific program geared towards helping them.

“So many were struggling and there was no one to turn to,” he recalls. “We went to build up a community for the chayalim so they can have a support system in place.”

Their presence is more than just a delivery of physical provisions; it symbolizes a piece of home, a comforting touch, and indispensable emotional support for these brave soldiers.

Nevut (meaning “to navigate” in Hebrew) is a nonprofit organization based in Rockland County, New York.

Nevut’s mission is to ensure that the approximately 600 Americans that leave the comforts of home each year to serve in the IDF have the support they need to succeed. Before the war broke out, Nevut steadfastly worked with IDF lone soldier veterans empowering them to successfully reacclimate to civilian life after completing their IDF service and returning back to the States. As a matter of fact, on Simchas Torah of this year, Nevut was hosting a program for lone soldiers in New York, when many of them began receiving calls from Israel, calling them back to join in the fight. Rabbi Abramowitz himself was one of those soldiers who were called back to Israel.

October 7 transformed Nevut’s work to a whole new level. As the outbreak of the war shifted hundreds of veterans back into active duty, Nevut stepped up its role to support these reservists.

“We turned our organization into an operation center 24/7 to give to these soldiers,” Rabbi Abramowitz explained.

During the first two weeks of the war, Nevut received

more than 3,000 calls from people who needed guidance, support and help. Because they were an established organization, Nevut was already in a position to help.

“We’re delivering essential gear and on-the-ground support to our chayalim stationed throughout the country,” related David Devor from Far Rockaway, NY, and Nevut’s Board Chairman. “We have strong relationships with most of them, so our visit is a familiar face, bringing them emotional support, a touch from home, as well as physical supplies. We’re showing these young people from the U.S. who joined the IDF in defense of Israel that we have not forgotten them.”

David’s son, Yitzchok, had served in the IDF and is now a reservist, “who could be called up at any time,” his father shares.

Rabbi Abramowitz adds that it’s not just about the gear. “The soldiers know us, and they know we care for them. We’re there to give them that hug or to show them a familiar face. We come with therapists; we speak with them on the frontlines. They know that we have been for them before, and we’re there for them now.”

Dr. Eric Pollack, from Woodmere, director of the Department of Behavioral Health at Ezra Medical Center in Boro Park and advisor to Nevut, felt “I had to go there” when the war against Israel broke out. As a psychologist, he has helped in “field therapy” for the soldiers in Gaza.

Having worked with Nevut for several years, Dr. Pollak is a welcome and familiar face for the reservists.

“They often suffer from everything from homesickness to post traumatic stress syndrome,” Dr. Pollak notes. “They are really excited about seeing us on the field.”

Nevut will be waiting with open arms for these reservists to return home as well. The commitment never to “leave a fallen soldier behind” extends past the battlefield to when these soldiers return home. After finishing their service, these lone soldiers face the challenges of reacclimating to civilian life, sometimes with physical or mental wounds that need healing, support and understanding.

“While the Israeli soldiers now fighting against Hamas will have a broad range of services and support networks in Israel when they complete their service, American IDF soldiers typically lack almost all of that,” David explains. “We give them the tools to acclimate to civilian life.”

In the toolbox are services such as psychological counseling (including suicide prevention), job and career guidance, Zoom and in-person gatherings, Shabbatons, weekend retreats “for camaraderie,” and emergency funding for reservists.

Rabbi Abramowitz recalled how he and other Nevut members prevented a lone soldier from committing suicide.

“There was one young man who, when he returned home, felt that nobody really understood what he had been through,” he said. “At one point, he took out his revolver from the drawer. But then he remembered our conversation and heard my voice reassuring him and comparing him to a mighty Macabee. He returned the gun to his drawer and resolved to reach out to me the next day. We spoke at length, and he began therapy through Nevut, attending our events and meet-ups.

“Today, he is a happily married man with a beautiful family. ‘You guys saved me,’ he told me.”

Off the field, Eric and others from Nevut help soldiers return to the community, to work or school, and to family life with their spouses or parents.

Rabbi Abramowitz notes that many soldiers are being sent home now, after being in the field for many months.

They bring with them feelings of guilt – of being sent back home when there are still hostages being held in captivity and friends who are still on the frontlines.

Nevut is there to help them grapple with those feelings.

Working with these lone soldiers, who are mainly in their 20s, is intense, Dr. Pollak adds. Still, “I feel it’s really meaningful and purposeful.”

David Devor echoes his sentiments. “The connections made with the soldiers is priceless, whether it was before the war, during the time of war or post the war, iy”H. The visits we are currently making and the hugs we are receiving are appreciated more than anyone can imagine. When I show up at a base and see a soldier’s eyes light up, I think to myself: this could be my son, this could be my nephew, my friend’s son. These are all our children, and they are craving a bit of home, which is what we try to provide for them on a continuous basis.”

Putting Life on Hold

A Lone Soldier (Hebrew: Chayal Boded) is a person without direct ties to Israel who nonetheless joins the

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Israeli Defense Force as a volunteer (or is paid a low stipend). Many are from the United States, but some 60 other countries are represented in their ranks.

Their motivation is to defend Israel and the Jewish people; they place school or career and family life on hold. They serve in regular IDF units, including in combat. Not surprisingly, their numbers have soared since the start of the war.

Usually when someone fights for a nation other than his own, he’s called a mercenary, in it just for the money. Lone soldiers in the IDF decidedly are not mercenaries. That’s obvious from the fact that many are volunteers, and that those who are paid get a whopping $300 a month, hardly an incentive to leave their home countries and risk death.

Their incentive, as one lone soldier put it, is “to come to the aid of Israel and the Jewish people.”

All in the Family

The work of Nevut and other such organizations is particularly important for the spouses of lone soldiers.

Lilly Schwartz of Cleveland is one example.

Her husband, Zalmen, currently is serving in Gaza.

Although the couple, both in their 20s, have been married less than a year, her parents — her dad, a vet of the Korean War, and her mother, an employee of the Veterans Administration — are “very supportive of him,” Lilly says. “They know how vital it is to defend Israel now. I would go myself if I could.”

Lilly does offer help outside the battlefield, though.

She organizes support groups at Nevut to aid other wives of lone soldiers. The mental health volunteers “understand what we’re going through,” she said.

Zalmen had been in Israel as a police reservist, but “nobody could have anticipated this war,” she said. “It’s been horrible for both of us.”

Nevut has also proven to be of vital support for the parents of lone soldiers. Yacov Cohn, 25, the son of Nevut volunteer Malka Cohn and the stepson (actually, “bonus son,” as his new father likes to put it) of Jeffery Singer, has been a reservist in a Special Services unit of the IDF since March 2022. Malka helps organize Nevut support programs for parents of lone soldiers.

Just as he was finally getting settled back home in Monsey, Yacov was called up on October 8 – at night – and rejoined his “Golan” unit.

The men in his unit “are his brothers,” Malka said.

“Once the war started, he would have joined again even if he hadn’t been called up.”

Like any other military mother, Malka is constantly concerned about her son’s safety, but the anxiety is not new. “Yacov previously served in the IDF for two years and eight months,” she said. “Even when there’s not a war, the soldiers are always in danger.

“I’m extremely proud of him.”

Serving Anytime

Although Yosef Davis of Monsey, NY, inevitably took pride in co-founding the widely followed Torah Anytime website, he is really proud of serving in the IDF for two years starting in 2004 and recently for a month near Gaza following the October 7 terrorist attack.

“It was all hands on deck when Hamas attacked,” Yosef said. “I had to help in the defense of Israel and my people.”

Although he was settled in Monsey and married with four young children, he didn’t hesitate to serve once again, this time in Gaza. “My wife was supportive,” Yosef said. “She would have gone herself if she could.”

“The Hamas terrorists are like the Nazis,” he said.

“I couldn’t stay on the sidelines.”

Yosef did not see the videos of Hamas’ October 7 slaughter of families and the assault of women. Hamas gleefully released the videos – some taken with the terrorists’ own body cams – as “psychological warfare,” Yosef said. “I purposely did not watch it.”

Those who did view the footage often “had a look of horror” afterward, he said.

While many in the U.S. and Europe criticize Israel for the killing of non-combatants, Yosef said it’s very difficult to avoid civilian deaths since “there are huge bastions of Arab civilians who harbor the terrorists,” and many other civilians are forced to stay amid terrorists as human shields.

He stressed that Israel warns communities of impending IDF attacks by dropping pamphlets and other measures. “What other military does that?” he rhetorically asked.

Yosef now is back in Monsey with his wife and children. But “if I’m needed, I’ll go back.

“And I know that Nevut would be there for me again.”

“I Had to Aid My Jewish Brethren”

Moshe Wolf of Queens had been a member of the organization MACHAL, an acronym for the Hebrew words meaning Volunteers from the Diaspora.

He had been leading a comfortable life with his wife and three young children, but when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, “I couldn’t focus on my day-today,” he recalled. “I had to come to the aid of my Jewish brethren.”

Moshe re-enlisted for a two-month tour. Among his duties was to help guard a farm in the hills of Chevron which was vulnerable to attacks from the terrorists.

(The farmer also was Moshe’s commanding officer.)

Moshe was given other assignments during his tour as well. Although he wasn’t engaged in direct combat, the missions were important because “we had to show our presence” to the terrorists.

At one point, he and his fellow soldiers came upon a new structure which appeared to be an entrance to a potential tunnel. The men were able to dismantle it.

Now, more than three months into the war, “civilians in Gaza are starting to rise up against Hamas,” Moshe said. “The question is, where were they before?

Why did they allow Hamas to get to this stage?”

To those who decry the civilian casualties, Moshe responds, “It’s war. Israel takes pains to avoid civilian deaths. The critics aren’t there. You can’t judge from a living room couch or a television studio.”

And the casualty figures that the general media disseminate are from the so-called Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, Moshe stressed. “You can’t trust them,” he said. “They could make up numbers, and besides, they don’t distinguish between terrorist and civilian deaths.”

Hamas’ propaganda extends to making videos of mothers or fathers holding “dead babies” that are really just dolls, Moshe notes.

Any nation “with a moral compass” should realize the true nature of Hamas, he said. “They’re not ‘freedom fighters.’ They’re not ‘militants.’ They’re brutal terrorists.

“They don’t have a place on the planet.”

Nevut, Moshe said, was instrumental in helping him to re-adjust back into his peaceful life in Queens.

“The counseling, the personal visits, the general caring — it was really important,” he said.

“It made a big difference.”

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A Meaningful Partnership

A Deeper Look into Smach Zevulun and the Unique Rewards It Produces

W

e recently had the opportunity to sit down with Rabbi Yechiel Greenblatt and Jordan Odinsky, the founders of Smach Zevulun, an organization that facilitates authentic, halachic Yissachar-Zevulun partnerships with vetted, prestigious talmidei chachamim in Eretz Yisrael. As we spoke, we explored how it began, where they are today, and the unique power behind the concept.

TJH: What’s the origin story behind Smach Zevulun?

Jordan Odinsky: One day, I received a phone call from a friend that is a fellow venture capitalist in Michigan. He told me an unbelievable story about the hashgacha that happened to him after his rav encouraged him to partner with a local man who was learning in Kollel. After signing the shtar [contract], they were walking back to their cars. His rav turned to him and said, “You have no idea how much bracha you’re going to see from this.” He mentioned that he shrugged it off as a nice thing to say after undertaking a commitment of this size. A mere twelve hours later, he received an email saying that one of the startups he invested in was being purchased by PayPal, the brachos of Yissachar-Zevulun unfolding almost instantly.

Inspired by the story and the power of Yissachar-Zevulun, my wife and I decided that we wanted to do a partnership of our own. Naturally, we turned to our neighbor at the time, Rabbi Yechiel Greenblatt,

who founded the main tzedakah organization of the community, Kupat Givat HaMivtar.

Yechiel Greenblatt: When I began discussing the idea of the partnership with Jordan, we began to envision an organization to facilitate these types of partnerships, connecting Yidden from different cities and backgrounds on the shared mission of bringing more Torah into the world.

Soon after, we decided to test the waters and sealed our first partnership. From there, it grew gradually until we were featured on Dovid Lichtenstein’s Halacha Headlines podcast with R’ Ari Wasserman. That episode has been listened to thousands of times and kickstarted our momentum.

What’s unique about the way you facilitate these partnerships?

Yechiel Greenblatt: We strive to create meaningful partnerships between businessmen, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals with elite and prestigious talmidei chachamim in Eretz Yisrael.

It sounds easy, but there’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into each match.

What type of work?

Yechiel Greenblatt: When a “Zevulun” comes to us, they let us know what they are looking to gain from the relationship. We then share suggestions of talmidei chachamim that we think could be a good fit and why.

After getting the green light, both parties sign the shtar (based on the shtar of the Chazon Ish), and the partnership is active. We handle the flow of funds from the U.S. to Israel and then facilitate the relationship to the extent the Zevulun prefers.

We have partners that learn together, others that speak before Shabbos, share divrei Torah, or lean on Smach Zevulun to share updates with learning milestones, family simchas, and more.

Are the talmidei chachamim located specifically in Israel or in other places too?

Jordan Odinsky: The talmidei chachamim that we facilitate partnerships for are exclusively located in Eretz Yisrael. This is for a few reasons, however, the most important being that the cost of living is such that these stipends pack a big punch for a family. Typically, the wives of these talmidei chachamim earn an income and the talmidei chachamim earn some sort of income from their positions as well (Dayan, Rosh Kollel, Posek, etc.). Our job is to plug the gap as best as we can to lift the burden off their shoulders, giving them the menuchas hanefesh to concentrate on their learning and the Klal.

How many partnerships have you facilitated to date?

Yechiel Greenblatt: Baruch Hashem, we have facilitated over 100 partnerships to date.

Are you affiliated with a specific organization?

Yechiel Greenblatt: Smach Zevulun isn’t affiliated with a specific group within Yiddishkeit, we strongly believe that this is for all. We have Zevuluns and Yissachars that range the spectrum from Litvish, Yeshivish, Chassidish, Sefardi, and everything in between.

Are there any Gedolim involved?

Yechiel Greenblatt: We’ve been grateful get backing for Smach Zevulun from Gedolei Yisroel across Eretz Yisrael and the U.S. including Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, Rav Shraga Shteinman, Rav Shimon Galai, Rav Yitzchok Berkowitz, Rav Dovid Pinto, Rav Avraham Schorr, Rav Dovid Cohen, and more.

The spark for this amazing program came from an amazing story in Michigan (I’m still waiting for PayPal to call me!). Have you heard of your “Zevuluns” seeing bracha in their lives since starting their partnerships?

Yechiel Greenblatt: Absolutely! While we recog-

Jordan and Rabbi Yechiel Greenblatt meeting with Rabbi Shraga Shteinman, shlita

nize that Hakadosh Baruch Hu runs the world and we can’t possibly begin to understand His ways and chehsbonos, our Zevuluns have shared countless first-hand jaw-dropping stories of added hashgacha in their lives since starting their partnerships.

Like what?

Yechiel Greenblatt: Zevuluns that stretched to afford this partnership have shared unprecedented success in business whether landing new jobs, unexpected promotions, or Siyata Dishmaya in deals going through.

Zevuluns have seen added bracha in the chinuch of their children, especially after visiting their Yissachar in Eretz Yisrael! Some have received unexpected inheritances and one that signed up as an older single met his wife just two weeks after signing the shtar!

What is the financial commitment and how can

You are obviously a tax-deductible charity, correct?

Jordan Odinsky: Yes, Smach Zevulun is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization with offices in New Jersey and Yerushalayim to handle all aspects of the partnership in both locations. It’s important to note that our operations are completely funded by generous donors, thus 100% of each partnership dollar donated goes directly where it’s needed most— the talmid chacham and their family.

Now the important question— what is your contact info?

Yechiel Greenblatt: Yes, that is important. If you would like to learn more, feel free to send us an email at partner@smachzevulun.com or WhatsApp/call us at 516699-2095. We would love to hear from you and help you experience a connection to Torah like never before!

It really is an amazing idea and tzedakah. You should have much-continued success!

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people get involved?

Jordan Odinsky: While there are varying opinions in regards to the appropriate amount a Yissachar needs to receive, according to the Daas Torah that we designed the program with, an authentic, halachic Yissachar-Zevulun partnership is based on the cost of living and financial situation of the talmid chacham. As such, our guidance is that partnerships start at $1,500 per month, however, many choose to begin at $2,000 and even $3,600 per month, depending on what the Zevulun is able to do.

Wow! That’s a lot!

Yechiel Greenblatt: By the way, these partnerships are usually in one-year intervals, giving the Zevulun and Yissachar the option to end if their circumstances change. What gives us great confidence in our offering is that heading into our second year of operations, so far 95% of Zevulun’s opt to continue, and of those that continue, nearly half increase their monthly donation amount.

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A House Full of Lev

Following in Yisro’s Footsteps, the Hart Family Made the Ultimate Journey

By Malkie SchulMan

heir vibe is upbeat and magnetic. Engaging in conversation with Akiva and Chava Hart, one cannot help but be inspired.

Maybe it’s the way they talk about their relationship with Hashem, or the way they talk about their relationship with each other or their relationship with their children. Or maybe it’s their inner and outer glow that radiates through every word they utter. Whatever it is, our Zoom call that was supposed to last 40 minutes ends up lasting another 40 minutes and then another 40 minutes. Even then, it feels like I’m only skimming the surface of their remarkable journey to Judaism.

In his pre-Judaism days, Akiva Nachman, formerly known as LaDerryl, was a professional hip hop dancer, at one time dancing backup for Stevie Wonder at the 2005 Super Bowl halftime show. Akiva says he traveled to 150 countries during his dance career including Israel with famous rapper Missy Elliot in 2010. Chava Emunah, formerly Danielle, was a make-up artist for television and film in Hollywood, including gigs with the BET network and an ad campaign for Cover Girl.

The two first met outside a nightclub in Detroit.

“I saw Chava talking to a friend of mine, and I walked right over and introduced myself,” shares Akiva. “Two days later, I got the courage to give her a call.” “ After the first date,” says Chava, “we were inseparable, and ten months later we were married.”

These days, Akiva admits his (hip-hopping) bones are a little rusty. Maybe that’s because he’s busy filling his time with the more serious business of creating a

relationship with Hashem. Not that he’s given up on music entirely. Though professionally today he works for threedmedia.com, a creative advertising agency that helps companies grow their businesses through social media, and is busy with their YouTube channel, House of Lev, Akiva still plans one day to get back to his music – just a Jewish religious version of it.

Chava is a full-time mom, caring for their six children ranging in age from 6 months to 15 years old. She admits that she got to a place in her career as a makeup artist where the secular world and its emphasis on external appearance wasn’t for her anymore. She hasn’t given up on all her G-d-given artistic talents, though. Chava has a beautiful unique turban-wearing style, so she is often asked to do turban-tying tutorials for women. Additionally, down the line, Chava says she’d like to create Shabbos makeup for darker skins or partner with someone who has a line and create more shades for those with darker complexions.

Presently, she and Akiva create content for House of Lev at night after the kids are asleep. Nowadays, their content is mostly about their long-anticipated conversion to Orthodox Judaism, interspersed with marriage and parenting advice. They also sell House of Lev merchandise, from sweatshirts to tote bags, on social media and through their website.

Whys and Wherefores The obvious question, of course, is: Why? Or, perhaps, what? What would make a professionally successful and happily married African American couple give up their entire way of life in exchange for a new one which is

sure to be fraught with difficulty and challenge?

Perhaps the answer can be found in every ger tzedek’s (true convert) story – the calling of the soul that doesn’t let up.

Growing up, though, Chava admits she was not attuned to the calling. “My mom was not religious, but she did pray to G-d every night. Her belief in a G-d stuck with me along with the realization that we don’t come from nothing.”

Akiva, on the other hand, grew up in a devout bornagain Christian home. “My family instilled faith in me from an early age. My uncle is a pastor. I grew up going to church a few times a week and was taught that it was important to have a relationship with G-d.”

In fact, Chava claims, that’s what stood out for her when they first met. “I was intrigued when I saw how much Akiva loved G-d, always putting Him first.”

Akiva admits that as the years went by, he began to have questions about Christianity. Coming late into the faith, Chava also had unanswered questions. So apparently did their older children, Leah and Betzalel (ages 9 and 10 at the time). “We were just told to believe. That’s what everything came down to. You don’t understand something, just have faith. But why should we believe in this? Why do we believe what we believe? How could G-d be a man and also G-d? How does the ‘messiah story’ make sense? Let’s unpack that. But in the Church, if you ask too much, you can be kicked out.”

That’s when, out of the blue – or rather out of Hashem’s divine plan, as Akiva puts it – his cousin called. “He told me, ‘I believe the real children of Israel are African Americans who came over in the slave trade.’”

Akiva’s cousin had a whole discourse substantiating

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Akiva and Chava under the chuppah with their children

his view. However, ultimately, Akiva discovered it to be not so simple nor very accurate. (There are Jewish communities in Africa who have oral traditions about their ancestors being sold into slavery via the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and there are some Hebrew Israelites who do not hold any Christian beliefs and live their lives from a Torah perspective.) The main thing Akiva gleaned from all his research was the stress that the Hebrew Israelites placed on the “Old Testament.”

“The emphasis on the ‘Old Testament’,” says Akiva, “is what sparked our interest and led us down the rabbit hole. I got rid of my King James Bible and bought an ArtScroll Stone edition Tanach.”

This decision was the initial step that brought the Harts into contact with the idea that perhaps Judaism held the answers they were seeking. Something that stood out to Akiva while studying his new Tanach was Moshe’s statement that the Torah is eternal; it cannot be added to or taken from. Christianity, he noted, did not honor this principle, to say the least!

“When I learned about the Jewish idea of the Moshiach, that was it. I weighed the Jewish messiah against the idea of the Christian messiah and said this [Yoshka] thing does not fit the bill.”

Rabbi Tovia Singer, founder and director of Outreach Judaism, was also instrumental at this point, providing a lot of information about the contradictions inherent in Christian doctrine that the Harts weren’t even aware of.

Akiva and Chava started looking online for Orthodox Jews of color, eventually connecting with, among others, Nissim Black, a well-known Chassidic American-Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

“We didn’t even know then that you could convert to Judaism,” Akiva shares. They have since become good friends with Nissim Black, benefiting greatly from the experiences his family had already gone through. Motivated now to pursue their own conversion and join the Jewish faith, the Harts delved deeper into learning about Hashem, His Torah, and the Jewish people.

Residing in Santa Clarita, California, however, they faced the challenge of not living in an Orthodox community, a prerequisite for conversion by the beit din. Their solution came when they learned of Yehuda Pryce, another Jewish convert of color, living in Irvine, California.

Putting on tefillin as a full-fledged Jew

“My husband saw him on Instagram,” shares Chava, “and under his name it said, ‘Beth Jacob of Irvine.’ We knew we wanted to stay in Orange County. That sealed the deal for us. We were moving to Irvine.”

Despite the financial challenges of relocating, Akiva notes, “When you live with your sincere desire, Hashem honors that and opens the doors.”

To Akiva and Chava, the wait from the time they decided they wanted to convert to the day they actually converted had sometimes seemed interminable. But they strongly believe in Hashem’s timing.

“It’s not a coincidence that we officially converted in

“We WaNteD to be able to celebrate SHabbat everY SiNgle Week.” the middle of a war,” says Akiva. “Now there are eight more Jewish souls who can pray and perform mitzvot for the safety and welfare of the Jewish people.”

When they finally got the date of geirus, November 5, 2023, from the beit din for the mikvah immersion and their final test, the Harts were ecstatic. Not that everything was to be finalized on that day. Since they weren’t Jewish when they first got married, the two had to also have a chuppah and kiddushin.

“It was a lot of work,” admits Chava. “After we got the official conversion date, we still had to plan our wedding!”

“We also had to kosher our kitchen as full-fledged Jews who were now allowed and required to tovel (immerse) all new dishes and utensils in a kosher mikvah,” adds Akiva.

Defining Jewish Names An exciting part of the conversion process is choosing your very own Jewish name.

“I admire the great Rabbi Akiva not only because he was a Torah giant but because he became who he became

only because of his wife, Rachel, who encouraged him to be the best he could be and never held him back,” shares Akiva. “Chava is like that. I am who I am today only because of my incredible wife who has always encouraged me to grow and develop my relationship with Hashem.

Also, Rabbi Akiva first came to Torah at the age of 40. I’m 39, which means I’m in my 40th year, so that’s another connection.”

Akiva chose Nachman for his second name because of his resonance with Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s teachings which has revolutionized their lives. (The Harts consider themselves “Breslovers.”)

“I fell in love with hisbodedut [the practice of self-secluded Jewish meditation],” says Akiva as he proudly displays his t-shirt with the word “Hitbodedut” emblazoned across the front.

“The name Chava was sitting with me for a long time,” explains Chava. “I had this strong feeling that there must be some deeper meaning behind the name besides that Chava was the mother of all life, which itself is a big enough statement to go on with. When I started learning more about the first woman, it struck me that not only was she the mother of all life but the nurturer and nourisher of life, someone who enhances all facets of the development of life. I realized,” continues Chava, “the Jewish generations of our family start with us, with me as first mother and Akiva as first father. That’s why I connected so deeply with the name. I’m here to nourish and create, not only physically but spiritually as well.”

Even beyond family, on their YouTube channel, Chava nourishes and nurtures, reaching out to give followers a spark.

“As far as Emunah [Chava’s second name], my husband said that’s spot-on the name for me. People are always asking me, ‘Why do you have so much faith?’ I just feel we’ve been through so much on our journey, and time after time, Hashem has consistently shown up for us.”

The Harts’ two older children, Leah Nava, age 15, and Betzalel Moshe, age 14, were allowed to choose their names because they came to Judaism of their own volition.

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believe in splitting up families.”

Leah just felt connected to both names. She felt 100% for sure right before going into the mikvah.

Betzalel Moshe connected with his first name because the biblical Betzalel was the builder of the Mishkan. “Our son loves to build so he saw himself in Betzalel.” He chose Moshe because he was a leader, and he identified with that as well.

Akiva and Chava chose their younger children’s names. Basya Chaya: Basya means daughter of G-d and the Basya in the Torah lived a long full life. In the end, she was taken up alive to Gan Eden. “We want our daughter to live a long full life.”

“Five-year-old Malkah Rivkah’s original name was London Royal. She’s always had a ‘royalty’-like personality so the name Malkah, which means queen, was a perfect fit.”

Three-year-old Aliyah Tzipporah’s name came about because Aliyah means ascent and their whole life has been an ascent figuratively…and practically – the Harts are desperate to make aliyah. She’s also like a bird because she sings herself to sleep.

Finally, six-month-old Yosef Simcha was named Yosef because the biblical Yosef was a powerful representation of purity and strength, protecting the bris milah.

“We wanted our son to live in that essence as he grew up, and we added the name Simcha because he has increased the joy in our lives.”

it takes a village When a couple embarks on a journey, it not only affects their children but often their families of origin.

How did the Harts’ parents react to their new way of living?

“Our families want the best for us,” Chava says. “My mom is supportive, she wishes us happy Chanukah and everything, but it’s hard for her to grasp why I chose Orthodox Judaism – why not be Conservative? A lot less rules! We always explain why we do what we do, teaching them as we go like, this is why we can’t call you on Shabbat.”

Akiva adds, “No one can ever fully understand why we went on this journey, but they can support and accept

us. It was a shocker when I told my parents. I mean, I was going against everything that I was taught. But with time, they see how committed we are, and they accept that we’re happy on our journey.”

The good news is that Akiva’s father attended their son’s bris and got to personally see the amazing community they live in. After meeting Beth Jacob’s warm and loving rabbi, Rabbi Yisroel Ciner, and the congregants, Akiva’s father said, “Wow, these are some beautiful people and the food – ya’ll know about eating!”

Akiva adds with a laugh, “We made sure his stomach was full.”

“it’S HarD becaUSe For YearS YoU’re liviNg iN tWo DiFFereNt WorlDS. YoU Feel like a JeW bUt YoU’re Not a JeW.” “After a woman in our community has a baby,” Chava explains, “the meal trains start coming. My father-in-law couldn’t believe that every day someone was knocking on our door with another meal for us.” After eating the kosher food, he said, “My body never felt this good.” And when tasting Chava’s challah, he literally broke down in tears.

Pleasantly surprising is that Akiva and Chava maintain that they’ve gotten little negative feedback about their monumental life change.

“The only pushback we’ve gotten online,” claims Akiva, “was from a few non-Jews. Also, some Orthodox Jews told us that being a Jew of color in Israel will be hard and that we won’t be accepted there. Otherwise,” he continues, “it’s been nothing but love on our YouTube channel and from our new community. From the minute we moved in, we were made to feel like we’d been living here for years.”

Nevertheless, the experience of being neither here

nor there over a long period of time can be unsettling.

“It’s hard because for years you’re living in two different worlds. You feel like a Jew but you’re not a Jew,” shares Akiva. “I could go to daven, but I couldn’t put on tefillin.”

“We tried to keep a steady mind,” adds Chava. “Thank G-d, for our rabbi and rebbetzin who were there for us all along the way.”

They both acknowledge the mental strength required not to succumb to frustration and the importance of maintaining a continual conversation with Hashem, trusting in His timing.

“The thing is, once you taste the truth, there’s no way you’d ever want to go back,” Chava states. “But as with most challenges, that’s where the yetzer hora is the strongest, so it was important to us throughout the process to maintain a connection with our rabbi and rebbetzin.”

Akiva shares that before he became Jewish, he’d go to shul to daven but couldn’t be counted to complete a minyan.

“I didn’t say anything, but my rabbi knew. Now and then during Shacharit, he’d put his arm around my shoulder and say, ‘I know it’s tough that we can’t count you in a minyan, but I see you.’”

taking on Mitzvos “Our number one joy is keeping Shabbat,” maintains Akiva.

The ability to disconnect from the world and have this holy time together with Hashem is so precious to the Harts.

“The midrash says that Shabbat (as it were) complained to Hashem at Creation, saying ‘Every day has its mate except for me,’” Akiva explains. “Hashem reassured her and said, ‘The Jewish people will be your mate.’ That idea helped us understand the essence of Shabbat, a day of rest just for the Jewish people which makes it so much more special.”

Their first Shabbos as a Jewish family was “next level,” he says. “I will never forget Kabbalat Shabbat, the part in ‘Lecha Dodi’ where we get our neshama yeseira [extra soul]. I begged Hashem to let me feel my neshama yeseira entering me and when we got to ‘bo’ei kallah,’ I

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was in tears, I was so in the zone.”

“Shabbat is what really motivated us to want to convert,” says Chava. ‘Before that, we were living like Noahides (observing the seven mitzvot of Bnei Noach), but once you understand the truth, you just want the whole experience.” At least that’s how it was for Akiva and Chava.

“We wanted to be able to celebrate Shabbat every single week.”

And ever since converting, Chava says she feels an inner peace every Friday night after candle lighting. Even the food, the Harts contend, is different on Shabbat. The lettuce looks brighter, everything tastes different – “Our kids say it all the time.”

Chava admits that sometimes observing the laws of family purity can be challenging. But the laws of taharas ha’mispacha allow them to relate to each other more on an intellectual level during certain times. “Now I understand why many Orthodox marriages are so beautiful, and there’s respect on both sides,” she says.

Akiva continues and shares their belief that the challenges they’ve had to experience are there to make them grow. That’s the way Hashem pulls out the best of them.

When do we pray most? When things are hard. Our challenges bring out the best and connect us to Hakadosh Baruch Hu in the most beautiful way, this is the journey of Jewish life, he maintains.

Not only that, adds Chava, but they now realize that some challenges they’ve gone through weren’t solely for their benefit. “We look back and see things we went through whether marital, parenting or conversion issues, and people come to us and say, ‘How can we deal with this issue, what should we do?’” The Harts observe that maybe they had to go through these issues just to be able to help others on their journeys.

the buck Starts Here Akiva and Chava are conscious that they are the progenitors of a new family tree in Klal Yisrael and admit to feeling blessed that their children, especially the older ones, are so on board with the conversion. Even now, they don’t force their older children to take on observance. On her own, Leah came over to her father one day and said, “I think I should wear dresses now.” And

on Lag B’Omer this year, Betzalel will celebrate his bar mitzvah.

Regarding their YouTube channel, the Harts insist that it’s never been to proselytize to others; it’s there to inspire. Whether they’re discussing marriage, parenting, or their journey to Judaism, it’s about shining Hashem’s light and showcasing His goodness.

Back in 2021 when Akiva and Chava first started their YouTube channel, they spoke about the importance of family and love. “It was a challenge for us because we were transitioning to Judaism, but we didn’t feel comfortable talking about it,” says Chava. However, on No-

“FiND tHe piece oF gooD iN everYoNe, aND MoSt iMportaNtlY FiND tHat gooD iN YoUrSelF. WHeN YoU FiND tHat gooD, YoU caN bUilD oN it aND elevate YoUrSelF.” vember 7 , 2022, after friends advised them to document their journey publicly, they renamed their channel “House of Lev” and began sharing their experience of embracing Judaism.

“We’d no idea then it would take the form it’s taken,” reveals Akiva. “We hear from all kinds of folks, FFBs (frum from birth) and BTs (ba’alei teshuva) telling us they feel more ignited and want to explore their own Judaism more deeply.”

Non-Jews considering conversion, particularly people of color, reach out to Akiva and Chava to share their process. “We all know each other, and we stick together.”

A strong belief that Akiva actively promotes is Rabbi

Nachman of Breslov’s dictum to judge everyone favorably. “Find the piece of good in everyone, and most importantly find that good in yourself. When you find that good, you can build on it and elevate yourself.”

Talk to G-d every single day, he also advises. “Take time for self-introspection. Ask yourself, ‘What good deed did I do today? What are my good points?’ How we see ourselves is how we will see others. That’s the correct frame. Saying to someone, ‘I love your shirt, thank you for your bright smile, I love your energy,’ that’s a game changer.”

Chava and Akiva speak about the ongoing tragic war in Israel. Chava believes that to keep moving forward, we have to keep in mind that Hashem is in control and the Creator of everything.

“We don’t understand Hashem’s ways,” she asserts, “but we trust He’s good.” It’s okay to ask why, she continues, but there’s a difference between asking why and questioning G-d. Asking why helps us to accept. It’s a way of saying, “Hashem, I’m hurting and I don’t understand You and never will, but I accept Your will because I know You only want what’s good for me.”

Akiva shares his perspective on divine understanding and trust, “G-d, You know me better than my wife knows me. You’re my Molder. Who am I? In my limited understanding, I don’t know Your ways, but I always know You have my back.”

looking to the Future Regarding future goals, Akiva mentions starting Daf Yomi.

“Learning Gemara, that’s a whole ‘nother monster,” he says with a laugh.

The main thing, the Harts agree, is their desire for continued dveikus (closeness to Hashem).

As our interview concludes, I note that Chava and Akiva’s journey to Judaism is not only a testament to their resilience, faith, and commitment to spiritual growth, but a story of transformation and dedication, marked by a continual pursuit of closeness to Hashem.

Their inspirational journey far from over, is, I’m sure, destined to influence and inspire all who care to learn from their deep commitment and unwavering faith.

nspiration Nation

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Rav Gav

From Money to Meaning

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

E

ach day at the beginning of davening, we humbly ask Hashem to sweeten the words of His Torah so that we may enjoy learning it.

It’s one thing to study the holy words of our prophets and sages, and it’s another thing entirely to genuinely cherish and enjoy each opportunity we have to learn.

The latter, although difficult for many to achieve, is the goal.

One of the most popular Torah lecturers today is Rabbi Gavriel Friedman, who is commonly referred to as “Rav Gav.” Humorous and unconventional in style, Rav Gav has achieved an incredible balance in his classes and speeches; his lessons are wrapped in layers of come-

dy, covered in shells of wittiness, but beneath it all are words so unbelievably ripe with meaning. He has truly mastered the art of making Torah sweet.

Rav Gav, who grew up in Woodmere, New York, was always the most religious one in his circle of friends. Perhaps he was destined to become a Torah educator; his friends, somewhat teasingly, referred to him as the “rabbi” of the group based on his level of observance, and his grandfather was the first to nickname him “Rav Gav.” But young Gavriel Friedman had little interest in pursuing a career in education or engaging deeply in Torah study. Why? Well, his only real interest at the time was in becoming in-

In His Words…

The gemara says: ‘i learned a lot from my rabbis, i learned more from my friends, and i learned the most from my students.’ Why? Because your students ask you tons of questions that you never thought about.

”

i would go through a day of praying, learning, blessings, praying, learning, blessings, praying, shema, and not thinking of hashem even one time. how is that even possible? … We get used to things and we end up doing it just out of habit…

”

The very end of shabbos is the greatest time of my week, because it’s finally kicked in: it takes a good day to just be detoxed from something. shabbos is my favorite mitzvah, because it allows me to disconnect. once that happens, i can start connecting to hashem.

”

dependently wealthy.

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a policeman. And then, I wanted to be a scientist,” Rabbi Friedman recalled. “And then, I just wanted to make a hundred million dollars.”

His dream was to be rich. His priority was to make money, and that was the extent of his ambitions when he was fifteen years old. But one summer, everything changed.

When he was around sixteen years old, he went to Israel for two months to learn at NCSY Kollel, the summer program which he credits to having transformed his life. Somehow, the sports-centered program left him hungry for meaning. The way he viewed money had changed, and he realized that the attainment of wealth brings no happiness. The program didn’t change Gavriel from the outside; he was always religious and he didn’t just suddenly adopt new halachic standards upon his return to the States. Rather, the program changed him from the inside, as he had become more concerned with his own personal growth, goals, and accomplishments. It had changed the trajectory of Rav Gav’s life.

Only a few years later, Gavriel Friedman would find himself in Israel once again, this time learning in a post-high school Beis Medrash. During the gap year, he, along with his class, visited the Yerushalayim headquarters of Aish HaTorah, a worldwide organization that helps Yidden explore their Jewish heritage and connect to G-d.

When Rav Gav got married, his parents and in-laws supported him financially for a couple of years while he

learned in Kollel, after which he found himself in need of a job. His wife’s cousin, who worked at Aish, recommended that he seek employment at the organization.

“It’s a long story. I met with a guy, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, I got myself into it, and thank the good L-rd I did,” said Rav Gav. “In reference to a career choice, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Until Covid hit, he taught a widely successful three-week course called the “Essentials Program” at Aish HaTorah’s headquarters. Although initially for men who had just graduated college, the class, with time, began attracting people of all ages and religious backgrounds. Men and women, religious and secular, old and young – everyone would come to learn from Rav Gav. Seven years into teaching the Essentials Program, Rav Gav became – for lack of a better word – bored from teaching the same concepts over and over again.

He thus decided to scrap the organized learning system that he had been employing until then, instead opting for a more improvised, discussion-based, freeflow system. He would talk about everything and anything. Eventually, he found that he was able to answer basically any question a student could throw at him.

“The Gemara says: ‘I learned a lot from my rabbis, I learned more from my friends, and I learned the most from my students.’ Why? Because your students ask you tons of questions that you never thought about,” Rav Gav explained.

“When I went to Aish HaTorah, it opened up my mind in a way that I never experienced; people coming from all different places of the world, all different ages and

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is, in many cases, little awareness and mindfulness in what is being done.

“If anyone’s ever driven to work enough times, you end up there wondering: how did I get here so fast? You’re spacing out, not paying attention, because you’re so used to the route,” he explained. “We get used to things and we end up doing it just out of habit… I would go through a day of praying, learning, blessings, praying, learning, blessings, praying, Shema, and not thinking of Hashem even one time.”

One of the biggest reasons why many have an emunah issue, Rav Gav explained, is because a lot of people treat the Torah as if it’s just a storybook. People read the stories of Avraham Avinu’s life, and they don’t picture him as though

he was a real person of flesh and blood.

People often tell the stories of the Mabul or the slavery in Egypt in an underwhelming manner as if they didn’t actually happen.

“If I told over a story about a tsunami that hit Japan, even though I wasn’t there, I would tell it over like: There was this massive, ridiculous wave!” Rav Gav said. “We talk about the Torah sometimes like: ‘So yeah, there was Noach and there was a flood and people died, and uhhh, good Shabbos.’ Are you living with this as if it really happened or is it just some sort of nice story?”

Yes, indeed, Noach, Avraham, and Moshe lived thousands of years ago. And of course, the Yam Suf split millennia ago. But regardless of the timeline, we

all must strive to envision the events of the Torah in the same way that we might picture the things that happen today. A lack of faith is often just a failure of being aware and that applies to the way we live our lives, and also the way we relate to the historical events that are outlined in the Torah. Just as mindlessness makes for a poor relationship with Hashem, so, too, does it make for a blurry lens through which we may try to imagine the stories of our forefathers.

The key, Rav Gav stresses, is to be aware. Infuse intention and mindfulness into your routine, and you will be able to connect to G-d. Be mindful of the reality behind the stories of the Torah, and you will be able to deeply love the Torah just as every Jew should.

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.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

stages, and they were asking so many questions.”

His classes are particularly enjoyable, as they often serve as discussions about deep philosophical subjects such as how to cultivate faith in G-d. According to Rav Gav, there are three stages in connecting to Hashem and becoming a better Jew. He calls those stages “KAA” (pronounced “kaw,” like the sound that a crow makes) – knowledge, action, and awareness. All too often, Rabbi Friedman explains, people achieve success in the first two levels but fail to reach the third. Most frum Jews know that Hashem is real (knowledge) and live a frum lifestyle in which they daven, put on tefillin, keep Shabbos, etc. (action), but there

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I know that a guy recently asked you if he should buy a Tesla or if it would make a girl think he was too materialistic. I have another question that focuses on money, but on another aspect of money when dating.

I am a “working boy” and have been dating for a few years now. Being that I am 25 years old, I don’t ask my parents for money when I go out on dates. But dating has become extremely expensive. It has become normal to go out to eat with a girl even on a

first date, which I’m happy to do. I’m also hungry and enjoy having a good dinner. But that meal runs at least $150. And that’s not even factoring in the parking (which is around $50) and tolls and gas. So each date with a girl costs me at least $200. That’s a lot of money, especially since I go out with a girl a few times or go out with different girls during the month.

I am finding that dating is pretty much becoming a very expensive proposition, and it stresses me out to think that so much money is being poured into it – especially since I don’t even marry the girl. I can use that money to save for my expenses when I get married, IYH. I know that you will suggest that I go out on cheaper dates (I’m open to fun, cheaper suggestions), but I don’t want to look like a cheapskate to the girl (I’m really not a cheap guy in real life – this just is becoming a lot). My question is what we can do as a community to make it more “normal” that dating doesn’t have to be so expensive. It’s not fair to the guys (or their parents), and it’s really a waste of money in the long run.

What are your thoughts?

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

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

B

y bringing this up in this forum, you are definitely raising public awareness. Your points are well taken and can be addressed directly if someone brings it up to you that not planning a restaurant date makes you look cheap. Live within your budget and be your own man. Don’t imagine a chorus of peers and shadchanim giving you opinions.

Make the choice that feels right for you and don’t feel apologetic about it.

Planning creative dates can demonstrate how creative and invested you are in giving a woman a pleasant stimulating experience. Restaurant dates at the beginning are an expensive, easy way out that sometimes are way too public.

Depending on your interests, you can go for culture, games, nature, sports, and interesting venues in the metro area.

Don’t forget to let the girl know that she may want to wear comfy clothes if you are doing something sporty or outdoorsy. She’ll appreciate consideration of her heels and variety in dates. You can splurge on eating out later on when there is connection.

Remember, don’t feel defensive or apologetic. You want a woman who values you and your values, not the venue.

well earned money on dates that might not get you anywhere feels like a waste, but you must shift your mindset on this.

If you do not change your mindset, your negative attitude will bleed out on dates and it will negatively affect your whole dating journey.

I do not think it is just about making more monetarily friendly choices such as taking the woman to a lounge for a drink rather than a restaurant, although that can help as well. Personally, I do not believe there is any need to take a date out to a fancy restaurant before you have an idea if she is even someone you would like to have another conversation with. So, in addition to finding nice ideas that cost less money, your whole mindset does need to shift. Even if you are going to a lounge for a Coke, you will be stressed while driving, with the young woman in the car, because you want to find the cheapest or free parking. You will circle around blocks rather than parking because you do not want to use the garage. You will feel anxious to get to know the young woman quicker, thereby rushing the process, because you don’t want to spend more money than you have to on another date with her. (You get the picture.)

By both thinking of less expensive but also classy dating ideas, and recognizing that spending money is part of the process, hopefully you will be able to recognize that this is a worthwhile investment that will pay off in the long run.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

D

ating is an investment of time, money, and emotions – there is no way to get around any of these. If someone is a workaholic, he will have to take off a few nights a week to designate those nights for dating. If someone has their walls up emotionally, they have to work through the process of becoming more emotionally receptive and open. If there is monetary strain on the shidduch process, a person must work through this as well.

I know you work hard and using your

The Single Tzipora Grodko

D

ear Dater, Kudos to you for your chivalry in desiring to treat your date with tremendous class. As someone who has dated for over 10 years, I often think about how expensive it is for a man who’s had the same experience as me.

I don’t know what your community standards are, but I think you may benefit from changing your own perspective on what a “quality” date looks

like. Taking someone out for drinks at a classy bar can be as equally chivalrous as dinner.

Dating is simply expensive. Period. I know more “yehsuvish” circles often do lobbies and games, avoiding spending money until dates progress.

Whatever you choose, there are definitely options. Overall, dating is just expensive, and I think it kind of just is what it is.

You want a woman who values you and your values, not the venue.

Approach #3 – Creative Frugal-

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

T

here are three approaches to your dilemma.

Approach #1 – Funny, Inexpensive, but Probably Impractical What you might wish to consider is to identify, and officially designate your dating status, as “Yeshivish.”

Then, all you’ll need to do is take your date for a Diet Coke at a hotel lobby. After two or three dates, if it seems like the relationship might be worthwhile, splurge on a dinner at a restaurant.

And, think of how much you can save on wardrobe! Get a black hat and wear the same white shirt and black pants on each date.

(But my wife said: “No, Jeffrey. If that’s what you recommend, you will manage to antagonize not only Yeshivish readers, but also non-Yeshivish readers.” So:) Approach #2 – Date European Women Think transatlantic.

If you date a girl from the Netherlands, you can tell her, beforehand, that the date will officially be “Dutch Treat.”

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Dutch Treat is “an outing, meal, or other special occasion at which each participant pays for their share of the expenses.”

(But my wife said: “No, Jeffrey.

You’re showing your age. Young people never heard of ‘Dutch Treat’ and won’t understand what you’re talking about.”

So:)

ity Please do not be insulted, but it seems like you are simply taking the easy way out when it comes to planning your dates. You do not need to park in Manhattan and go to a restaurant on every date!

Unless the date is on a weekday night when both of you are probably hungry, dates do not always need to be about food. You can be creative and plan for activities that will give you and your date a better chance to interact meaningfully.

New York is blessed with some of the most interesting museums in the world.

You can stroll through the Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Hayden Planetarium, or the Jewish Museum.

How about the two of you creating a work of art at a craft store? Or interacting together at a Board Game Café?

Have you considered volunteering together at one of the many sites where you could help sort, pack, and ship needed supplies to Israeli soldiers and displaced families?

When the weather gets warmer, how about a stroll in the Brooklyn Bridge Park, with its stunning views of Manhattan and waterfront promenade?

Your dates will appreciate and enjoy the thought and creativity that goes into planning a date, more than how much you actually spend on a date.

Of course, make sure to tell her the plans ahead of time so that she can dress accordingly.

And, if all this advice turns out to be helpful to you, you can, if you’d like, offer to take my wife and me to a nice dinner at a fancy Manhattan restaurant.

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The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

T

hanks for writing into the panel. It doesn’t seem very realistic for you to continue dropping $200 on every date. As generous as you are and as much as you’d love to continue dating this way because it is a reflection of the generous guy you are, if it isn’t feasible and you are break-

ing the bank to do this.

I simply don’t think it is reasonable for you to go on like this.

I think it is very commendable that you are a self-made man and don’t ask your parents for help. And the woman

for you will be very impressed by this quality of integrity and your sense of responsibility. These are masculine qualities that the right woman will find attractive.

Many people meet for drinks or do a walk or a cute activity together on a first date. There are so many fun things to do in every city and state. It’s a matter of having the confidence in yourself and making the decision about how you are going to date from hereon in. When you like someone and get past a second or third date (or even past the first), you can go out to lovely dinners and treat your

woman like the queen she is, all while balancing your checkbook.

Best of luck!

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.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Pulling It All Together

Dating is an investment of time, money, and emotions – there is no way to get around any of these.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Parenting Pearls

Talking Tefillah

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

D

avening is always relevant and a part of our daily life. Still for a boy just becoming bar mitzvah, the daily minyan requirements may be one of the most challenging adjustments. Hakol kol Yaakov, we always call out to Our Father In Heaven. With the current matzav, we’re davening more than ever. At a time when we feel overwhelmed and powerless, it’s to the Ultimate Power that we turn.

On a personal level, there are so many times that I want to do something for our brethren, yet I feel helpless. I’m not joining the IDF (nor do I think they want me), and I can’t leave my family to

travel to Israel and spend months providing hands-on help. While davening assists others, knowing that I can daven, and have a spiritual impact, helps me, too.

It’s a natural part of development that children rely on their parents. Children learn to trust, love and grow from us. I’ve found it so incredible to watch how a young child will literally leap in the air to reach their parent’s arms, knowing they will be caught safely.

Adults would find it challenging to trust someone enough just to lean into the arms of another and completely let go.

As parents, we want to tell our kids

we’re always there for them. But we can’t be. As parents, we want to help whenever they’re in trouble. But it’s impossible. As human beings, we will never be capable of being everywhere and doing everything. We do our best, but we’re limited.

It makes an impact on a child when they see a parent daven. Seeing the trust we have in Hashem as The Source makes a meaningful impression on their young hearts. We are our child’s main teacher, and they learn most from our example. Beyond the educational benefits, children, too, need to know they have One to rely on at all times. They, too, live in a world that is scary and difficult to understand. Knowing how to pray is a gift that is appreciated beyond the Jewish world, with even research studies citing the benefits. Certainly, we want our children well equipped with this mighty tool.

Security Besides the benefits to the neshama, davening gives one an increased feeling of security. Whether it’s being alone, in a situation that causes discomfort, or just feeling uncertain, there are so many situations in which a person – adult or child – can feel insecure and needs the reassurance of there being Someone Greater.

Knowing there is One in charge is very therapeutic, but the knowledge that we can speak to that One and ask for our needs takes that awareness to

the next level. When we daven, we know we’re not alone, and that we’ve done the ultimate hishtadlus. When we’re scared, Someone is with us.

Children also benefit from that same awareness of never being alone and that they can always reach out to The Ultimate Source of it all. There are so many situations that can evoke fear in a child – even just being in a dark room. The emotional benefits of prayer are tremendous. We can encourage our children to reach out to Hashem whenever they need and reassure them that Hashem is always listening. We may not always get the answer we wished for, but we’ve definitely been heard.

For Every Situation It’s not often you find a single solution for every problem! We often think that davening is only for big things like world peace. Healing the world is important, but Hashem wants to hear from us continuously.

Children should recognize how beloved their tefillos are to the Ribbono Shel Olam. They may think they’re smaller or less important, but the opposite is true. Throughout this entire matzav, it’s been the Tinokes Shel Beis Rabban that we’ve called to the frontlines beseeching for mercy.

Children can understand that nothing is too small to request from Hashem. After all, it’s not like Hashem is too busy doing other things and won’t have time for whatever we need now. We’re

was that they couldn’t daven. As they explained, “We can’t daven the tefillos; all we do is talk to Hashem in our own words.” Clearly, they were very hesitant about their inability to daven, but their pain precluded traditional tefillos. Each time they said they couldn’t daven and they just spoke in their own words, the rav said loudly, “So you dav-

Talk It Out

en.” He wanted to stress that davening isn’t speaking randomly in Hebrew but talking to Hashem meaningfully. While these women were pained to think they couldn’t daven, this rav reassured them they were certainly connecting to Hashem through tefillah.

Few of our children are fluent Hebrew speakers, but Hashem understands English. And Spanish. And Rus-

Sadly, we tend to associate tefillah with mumbling Hebrew words that we may or may not understand. Children assume that whoever davens loudest davens best. This leads to davening sometimes being the noisiest time of day.

A few trauma survivors reached out to a rav to discuss some sensitive hashkafic issues. One of their concerns

Seeing the trust we have in Hashem as The Source makes a meaningful impression on their young hearts.

“IF YOU REALLY

?

CareD ?

ABOUT ME, YOU WOULD...”

A

Normal dating overture

C

Red flag

B

Proceed with caution

D

Maybe I should speak to someone?

THE

choice

IS YOURS.

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sian. And Tagalog. We and our children should feel comfortable using the language we find most comfortable with when speaking to Hashem. I specifically use the word “speaking” because we don’t need to maintain an awkward formality. Yes, we need to be respectful and remember we’re talking to the King of all kings. But we don’t need to focus on

888.883.2323

sentence structure and grammar. Many chashuve people talk to Hashem and build a special bond with their Creator.

become adults who focus properly on their tefillos.

We tend to underestimate our children, but they can already begin building a special connection to Hashem. The relationship they create now can continue to flourish throughout their life.

At such a young age, they won’t understand the idea of what it means that Hashem is our creator – or any of the other lofty concepts – but ultimately, neither do any of us fully comprehend them either.

With so much going on, and our hearts continuously focused towards our holy land, it only seemed appropriate to discuss davening and the role it plays in our lives. We all await the safe return of our brothers and sisters being held captive and our soldiers to their families. May we be able to daven with sincerity, and may our tefillos be answered l’tovah.

For the Future It’s clear that learning meaningful tefillah at a young age is a gift forever.

The habits formed as children carry over into adulthood. Children who learn to pray meaningfully are more likely to

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at Rayvych Homeschool@gmail.com.

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not taking away Hashem’s attention from other issues, nor are we overloading Hakadosh Baruch Hu. They can ask Hashem to help them do well on a test, get their favorite dessert for Shabbos or shoot the ball in the hoop. After all, how will anyone do well on a test, get their favorite dessert for Shabbos or get the ball through the hoop if Hashem doesn’t help them? We’re so used to assuming it’s our efforts that ensure success, but davening for something reminds us that ultimately – like everything else – it’s not in our hands.

Along with davening comes a certain responsibility. It’s important to think carefully before making a request as not every desire is appropriate. For example, children should learn to not ask that bad things happen to others.

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, The last time I checked, it was winter. Yet the papers are all running ads for sleepaway camps. A friend told me that most camps are closed out by now. In January! This got me thinking. How do I know if my 10-year-old daughter is ready for sleepaway camp?

-Planning Ahead

A:

Dear Planning Ahead, While this is a school-related column and this is more of a parenting question, I am answering this letter because the place to start is to look at her classmates and her friends.

Camp is a special place where children learn independence and grow their self-confidence. Going at too young an age can make a child write off sleepaway camp forever.

Are the children in her class all going to sleepaway camp? Has your daughter talked about wanting to go to sleepaway camp? Ideally, it should be your daughter’s idea to attend sleepaway camp for the best outcome. If she is begging to go, it is usually a sign she is ready. Some parents do have to bring up the topic. Her reaction will help you determine if you should continue pushing the idea or dropping it for another year.

The most popular age for children to start attending overnight camp is usually 12-13 years old. This is the age most camps find children are most ready.

Whether your daughter is ready or not also is an individual question.

Can your daughter take care of her hygiene regularly without help? Does she shower often and wash her hair on her own? Can she take care of her wet hair after her shower? Does she remember to brush her teeth each night? Can she put away her laundry and make her bed? These are all personal responsibilities a child in camp will be expected to follow and take care of on her own.

Has your daughter gone to sleepovers and been happy about them? Was she able to sleep? Was there any anxiety?

Was it okay to share a room with others? If she has had overnights at other people’s houses, it can be Bubby, a relative, or at a friend, and it went okay and she had no issues, then she is probably going to be able to handle sleepaway camp. There are children who do great at sleepovers but still experience homesickness, but overall, being able to handle a night or two away from parents is a good indicator of camp readiness.

How is your daughter with babysitters? Does she listen

Suddenly, there isn’t a mother to jump in when it is time to go to bed? Needing to and save the situation. The more ready a stay up until you come home might indiChildren child is to go to camp, the more camp will cate that she still needs you at night for brave new have a positive effect on the child. her security. Overnight camp usually has worlds in Note to mothers: camp directors are a rotating counselor who is in charge of telling me that even though they have a “putting a section of bunks to bed.” This camp. no cell phone rule, they cannot enforce a allows the counselors time to hang out no-call-home rule, which means children with each other after spending the whole are not getting to be as independent as day taking care of their charges.

How does your child deal with new experiences and they could be. Often, children will call in the middle of a situations? Camp is full of new experiences, from making situation, complain, and get their mothers all worked up, new friends to trying new “stuff.” In fact, camps all try to and then the child handles the situation or the situation outdo each other, coming up with thrilling events for their dies down, and the mother is still angrily calling the office campers to experience, from ziplines, boating, and other to fix the problem that is no longer a problem. Camp diwacky daily activities, to the occasional special events like rectors would like to remind parents that to encourage the hot air balloons and midnight scavenger hunts. independence and resilience they sent their child to camp Does your daughter enjoy trying new things? Camps for, listen to your child, validate how hard it must be for will often teach new sports, a different type of arts and her, tell her you believe in her, and do nothing unless the crafts, and other such activities, and it would be a shame problem persists. Then call the camp and ask someone to if your daughter always stood on the side. look into the situation and call back with the full picture.

Sleepaway camp builds resilience, as children can’t turn Whatever you decide, it will be your mindset that will to their parents to cover for them or help them out in a help your daughter be best prepared for camp. There will tough situation. Every child has chores in the bunkhouse, always be the clothing “everyone” buys or the food “everymust take care of their own belongings, and even though one” brings. Ask around, do your best, and then build your the camp does the laundry, has to prepare the clothing ac- daughter up to have confidence with what she has.

It is helpful to choose a camp where family members or cording to the laundromat’s instructions. Leaving socks balled up will result in getting back socks that didn’t get classmates are attending. It is hard to be in a new situation and know no one. Listen to your daughter as she describes cleaned.

Everyone is in the same boat; no one has their families the camps her friends are attending and read between the lines. Which friends will build her? Are there popular girls with them. This is very comforting to some children.

Children brave new worlds in camp; some have tame going to a camp that are not true friends? That could lead animals the campers can help care for and some have to a summer full of disappointment.

Ask the teacher to give her insight; she knows the girls leagues to play on. Some camps have both. Color war is exhilarating, and there are lessons in winning and losing. very well at this point in the year and can help you be Some camps host bunks for special needs campers, and confident in your choice of camp and campmates for your your child will be able to visit and get to know the camp- daughter.

Hatzlacha! ers, helping her realize that special needs are external and handicaps don’t define people.

Etti There are conflicts, and children learn to handle them.

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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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Health & F tness

Slowing Down For Better Health

By Tehila Levine-Soskel, RDN, CDN

W

hen’s the last time you slowed it down just a little bit?

Whether you are anxiously waiting for that parking space, scrolling through your phone while in traffic, rushing through the aisles at the grocery or even ravenously eating your meals, do you converse with the person behind you in line or is your head faced down to your phone? Are you properly thanking the cashier or are you answering your next call? We live in a rather fast-paced culture with everything constantly on the go. The most common consequences of a fast-paced busy schedule are our eating habits, weakened immune systems, and an increased risk of chronic diseases.

Let’s discuss further how we can improve on different areas to help be our best self.

One crucial area that slowing down can help with is our eating habits. With the constant rush, many people often find themselves either skipping meals, rushing their meals, or choosing the most accessible option regardless of what it may be.

Breakfast specifically is the meal most often skipped due to lack of time or lack of appetite. If you fall into the category of lack of time, here are some quick breakfast options: oatmeal, overnight oats, chia seed pudding, yogurt parfait, egg muffins, and smoothies. Those options are all super quick to make and can be made ahead of time and are also nutritious. If you lack an appetite in the morning, are you eating very late at night? If so, try pushing dinner to little earlier in the evening. Breakfast is such an important meal and helps control how we feel the rest of the day. Taking the time to sit down, chew slowly, and eat more mindfully can help contribute to better overall health and well-being.

Stress is the next major thing that gets majorly overlooked when it comes to our health. The hectic pace of daily life can lead to chronic stress, which contributes to numerous health issues. By slowing down even just a little bit, you are helping to reduce the risks of many health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. There are many things you can do to help alleviate stress,

such as yoga, meditating, and even spending more time outdoors. Nature can have a variety of positive health effects on stress levels, which can help improve mental and emotional well-being.

As I mention time and time again, quality sleep is another loss of fast-paced

fore bed to slow down and create a calming bedtime routine can help promote better sleep, improve cognitive function, and even help boost our immune systems.

Sleep deprivation can contribute to physical illness. Try to aim for at least seven or more hours per night. According to some

Taking the time to sit down, chew slowly, and eat more mindfully can help contribute to better overall health and well-being.

lifestyles. Sunlight exposure can help greatly improve your sleep by affecting your circadian rhythm. Your body has an internal clock which keeps you awake during the day and tired at night. Spending time outdoors helps you feel more tired at night, improves your quality of sleep, and helps you fall asleep quicker.

Ample sleep is crucial for both our mental and physical health. Using the time be-

studies, a third of most adults in the U.S. get less than the recommended amount of sleep.

It might sound counterintuitive in the conversation of slowing down to talk about physical activity; however, incorporating moderate activity and low impact exercises allows the body to recover while at the same time helping with flexibility and building strength. You do not need

to go to the gym to reap these benefits. Go for a walk outside, take the extra stairs, park farther away from your destination, and find movement you enjoy. One of the most natural stress relievers is nature, giving you a sense of haven amongst the chaos of daily lives. The benefits for our health and well-being of being outdoors is unmatched. Studies have shown a decreased risk of anxiety and depression in those with exposure to the outdoors.

The trees and water have a calming effect on our minds, helping reduce stress and promoting our mental well-being. Interestingly enough, studies show that any exposure to nature such as in person or through a picture or video of nature leads to positive emotions.

With the world around us being incredibly high-tech, the constant information and connectivity helps contribute to a sense of urgency. How often or fast do you reach down to check your notifications?

Taking breaks and unplugging from time to time allows our mind to recharge. It’s important to establish boundaries for all the technology to help promote a more relaxed and balanced lifestyle. The technology around us helps contribute to so much good and opportunities around us.

Still, it’s crucial to know when you can disconnect to reconnect.

Slowing things down does not mean stranding all productivity – more so, it is to help yourself find a balanced pace that helps promote your well-being. Take time for meaningful connections, self-care, and things that bring you joy. By adopting a slowed down, more intentional approach, you can help yourself promote better health – both physical and mental – and greater fulfillment.

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

105 jewish women of wisdom FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Golden Sagers

By Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz

I

t confounded me years ago. A colleague ten years older than I frequently spoke about her wish to pass on with all her faculties intact.

Being in my thirties, I wasn’t focused on this topic at all. Paying for seminary and weddings were the next big things on my list. But the point registered. It’s now decades later, and many of my friends are caring for aging parents. Quality of life in the face of longer life expectancies and advanced medical intervention are regularly discussed subjects. My peers are health-conscious and doing their best to exercise their bodies and minds with weights and Sudoku puzzles, respectively.

Visiting a friend in her sixties, who has both an aging mother-in-law and mother, I expressed my current thoughts.

I thought they were age-appropriate, and she would understand when I said that I really have to start davening about my later years. She didn’t. Her response was, “Faigie, don’t be a wise guy and try to outsmart Hashem. What will be, will be.” I was polite and didn’t argue with someone who had already dealt with several life challenges.

But I did think she was wrong. Why shouldn’t I daven for a seivah tovah, with my faculties intact? Isn’t that part

of kichlos kocheinu al taazveinu? Why shouldn’t I respond to the sight of old people in my neighborhood being walked by their aides by expressing myself to Hashem? Shouldn’t my reaction be uttering a tefillah for myself as well as for these frail elderly?

One formerly gracious woman’s situation made me focus. When I stop her

My own grandmother was a more hopeful model. During her late nineties, her ability to follow a conversation and focus became limited. She needed to be actively engaged and drawn into a conversation with a lot of effort. When she did speak, her responses were limited to three- to five-word sentences. They were multipurpose comments that were full

The avodah of decades of character improvement and self-discipline produced pure gold.

on the street to say hello, she responds with a hodgepodge of common Yiddish and Hungarian words that do not reflect the dignity this woman once manifested.

How tragic, I think to myself. I don’t stop this elderly woman and the aide anymore to say hello. It’s more dignified for her if I merely nod and go on, instead of trying to pierce her foggy awareness. And I don’t want to be reminded of what can happen.

of bracha and positivity. “Die bentchers zollen gebentcht zein” was an oft-heard comment. It could be equally applied to a baal simchah at a bris, a birthday, Shabbos, or an ordinary visit.

As I understood my grandmother’s sincere reactions to people even when at her most feeble, I was struck by more than the regal way she “vinched” (blessed) with a warm, gracious smile. Every-

one remarked on the ever-present manifestation of her noble spirit.

It seemed to me, however, that this was the product of a lifelong effort to watch her words and refine her character.

She was able to smile and benevolently bentch us during the few moments she was “there.” A lifetime of forging gratefulness from adversity yielded only a few sweet words at the end. The avodah of decades of character improvement and self-discipline produced pure gold.

This, then, is my prayer and my objective during these middle years: to refine my character and speech to the point that when and if Hashem takes away many of my cognitive abilities, only solid goodness will remain. My grandmother began serious work on herself in her twenties, when she was confronted with difficult personal circumstances. The shining example of Rebbetzin Bobptche Eichenstein-Pinter of Chicago, London, and Yerushalayim lights my way on the path to aging with grace.

May Hashem help me get there.

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

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School of

Thought

Hats and Chayalim

By Barbara Deutsch

Y

osef is our youngest grandchild; his bar mitzvah will be right before Pesach in Israel. His grandfather Bob has taught the leining to all nine of our grandsons in our three far-flung families. Teaching first our son Dov and, as they came of age, all of the boys has been a priceless privilege.

As a father and a grandfather, it is an extraordinary honor to be given the opportunity to teach one’s child/grandchild the beautiful musical notes, taamim, that guide the reading of the passages of the weekly Torah portion. Even though we have six grandsons who live in other countries, Canada and Israel, through the magic of Facetime and Zoom, Grandpa Bob and our compliant and flexible grandsons have made it work.

Along with the learning that is at the core of the bar mitzvah milestone, there is the purchase of the tefillin. Great care goes into the selection and purchase of the right ones. Then there is the matter of the “hat.”

Depending on the particular “hashkafa” of the individual family, this is a very big deal.

From the time of his brother Dovid’s bar mitzvah two years ago, it has been Yosef’s dream to get his turn at bat to get his own hat. This week, we “finally” went shopping.

Choosing the right shape, size and brim is just the beginning. For Yosef, “the hat” could not be just any random brand; it had to be a pricey Borsalino, not a Bartilino, cheaper, or a Bronzalino, cheaper still. Yosef’s needs require the acquisition of two hats: one for every day, tipped back on the top of his head to accommodate his tefillin, and another one for Shabbat, to be worn slanted over his eye.

Yosef’s heart was set on getting the real thing, a Borsalino; try to visualize mob days and the ‘40s. As his doting grandparents, we were determined to make it happen.

Where does one find such a thing?

Just as in all important rites of passage, information for all young men and women marking milestones, Yosef asked his friends. His peers provided the guidance as they are well versed in all things bar mitzvah. They know where to go and how

to find whatever is needed.

Mom, Dad and grandparents drove through the narrow winding streets of Jerusalem to Geulah to score the perfect hat for Yosef. Geulah is a part of town frozen in time. Late into the night, the streets teem with people; hatted men with long beards dressed in white shirts, black suits, some even wearing frock-like fancy coats on a weekday.

Women can almost always be seen pushing a baby, or even one filled with two, carriage, wearing a hat atop a wig dressed in dark clothes and thick stockings; the women are usually surrounded by numerous more children of all shapes and sizes.

There is a purpose and goal to their stride.

The sounds of young and old speaking Yiddish fill the streets. As a Yiddish speaker, it is quietly amusing for me to hear the “Yinglish” (a garbled blend of Yiddish and English) being spoken in the streets. It is somehow strangely comforting in a world gone crazy to be able to step, leap, back in time to a place where the outside world has not been allowed to intrude, neither in body nor soul.

Along the winding streets, you must venture in a single file; it is hard for anyone to walk down the cobbled, broken streets without waiting for someone to pass before you can get by.

Getting a parking spot on these narrow lanes is not for the faint of heart nor for a timid driver. When you finally find one,

maneuvering your car into place usually stops all traffic. It’s accomplished with the accompaniment of loud impatient horns.

We got lucky; the stars aligned, and we found parking in front of a hat store but not “the” hat store. Yosef, anticipating what awaited him up the winding staircase, rushed ahead and into his dream. He tried on a few hats. They all look the same to me.

He looks good in all of them, alas, it’s not what he wants. A Borsalino it’s not; it’s a Brandalino.

We encourage Yosef not to settle; his dream hat waits for him five blocks and two turns away, deeper into Geulah.

Soon enough, we found the Borsalino store, with the most patient, smiling, helpful and understanding salesman, who picked out the “perfect hat” for Yosef.

As we waited for Yosef to figure out which brim, 5, 6 or 7 centimeters different for Shabbat and for weekdays and a circumference of 57 or 58, we understood that dreams come in all sizes. For our dear Yosef, it came in the shape of a hat.

At the weekly Torah class that I attend with my daughter and her friends – I am the very old lady – the participants grapple with a variety of issues and questions with their guide and teacher, Dina Schoonmaker. It is a joy and a privilege to learn with her as she guides, teaches, empathizes and empowers the women in our class.

Looking at the interested and engaged participants, as in all things, one does not

know more about them than what they are willing to share.

During this week’s class, we talked about sympathy and empathy. It’s a very complicated distinction, and I’m still grappling. One of the women, with a warm Australian accent, talked about her son serving in Gaza. Her voice cracking and tears filling her eyes, she spoke of his needs. He told her, “We have enough food, we are well fed in the army. We want news of the real world. Do people know what is happening?

Do they remember us? We need letters filled with the ordinary – what’s happening at home and in the world outside this darkness. Do not forget us.”

As I listened, cried, I thought of the thousands of letters being written daily to soldiers by schoolchildren. It was only at that moment did I fully understand their import. I will take that message back to my school.

In the Borsalino hat store, there was a showcase featuring old-time hats. In a world that is black and white, we saw Borsalinos of old; they were created in pink, lavender and blue and with jaunty feathers in the hat band.

Those brightly colored Borsalinos in a black world made me think of light and hope. They made me laugh. Yosef got his hats – they were not as pricey as everyone predicted; he was happy, and so were we. His parents were the happiest of all (we paid).

Hats off to the fine young men who are fighting to ensure the safety of all. The courage and sacrifice of our Israeli soldiers make it possible for the young boys who are preparing for their bar mitzvah to secure their own place in our enduring future.

We must do our best to support them.

May all dreams come true, Shabbat shalom.

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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FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

In The K tchen

Pavlova

By Naomi Nachman

Note: This dessert can be made on Pesach.

Ingredients ◦ 4 egg whites ◦ 1 cup sugar ◦ 1 teaspoon (Pesach) vinegar ◦ 2 teaspoons potato starch, sifted Topping ◦ 1 (16-oz) container nondairy whipped topping ◦ 6 strawberries, sliced

Add sugar, vinegar, and sifted potato starch; beat until a soft and glossy meringue forms.

3. Pour the meringue mixture onto prepared parchment paper, shaping it into a large circle with a narrow rim.

4. Bake for 1½ hours, or until crisp on the outside.

5. Turn off oven and allow the meringue to cool inside the oven.

6. Prepare the topping: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk

◦ 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced

attachment, beat whip until stiff peaks form.

Preparation

Cook’s Tip:

until soft peaks form.

whipped cream. No need to double the fruit, as that only goes on the top layer.

1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites

Pho To By MIr IAM

Because of my visit, I just had to include for this week’s recipe Australia’s most fa mous dessert, the pavlova.

(PA ScA L) coh eN

I a m writing this from my parents’ house in Sydney, Australia, on a visit here during the su mmer. (In Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, it is su mmer.). It is my first time enjoying the Sydney su mmer in 35 years, and it is a mazing to be away from the chilly New York weather.

7. Spread whipped cream over the top of the cooled meringue shell. Fill with fruit.

1. Feel free to replace the strawberries and kiwis with the fruit of your choice.

2. To make a layered Pavlova as shown in the photo, double both the meringue and

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.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Mind Y

ur Business

Captain “Sully” Sullenberger on Achieving Success Under Pressure

T

his column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show – broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

S

ince 2015, Yitzchok Saftlas has been speaking with leading industry experts on the “Mind Your Business” show, sharing insightful business and marketing strategies.

In this article, we’re going all the way back to take a look at one of the very first editions of “Mind Your Business,” in which Yitzchok sat down to speak with Captain Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger, who heroically piloted the emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009.

While running a business may not usually require making life or death decisions, it certainly does come with its own challenges and pressures. How can we maintain our presence of mind in times of great, sudden stress? Read on for Captain Sullenberger thoughts on the most essential factors for making calm and effective decisions when under extreme pressure. * * *

Teamwork and Preparation

In the years since the landing on the Hudson, I’ve made a point to remind people it was due to the combined efforts of many people on the airplane, as well as the first responders and ferry company that rescued us, that led to the successful outcome in which no one perished. The same is true when it comes to achieving success in any field or industry. As the leader of your company, it is up to you to create a culture of excellence and to share your vision with your team, so that together, you can coordinate group efforts toward achieving a common goal. In aviation, captains are taught how to lead and build a team. We’re well-schooled in the consistent application of best practices and methods of communication. It’s because of this that we didn’t have to com-

pletely reinvent the wheel when the ultimate challenge arose on Flight 1549. We simply had to put the last several spokes in place.

On a team, we all have our own roles to play. Success in the face of sudden pressure will hinge on ensuring that everyone on your team is fully aware of their role and prepared to carry it out in times of crisis. When it came to our landing on the Hudson, I had only met my copilot, Jeff Skiles, just three days before the flight.

Yet, if you were to have watched us in the cockpit, you would have thought that we’d been working together for years, because we knew our roles and responsibilities so well. This is a key element that is often overlooked.

often just isn’t enough. We can accomplish much more as an effective team than we can as a collection of individuals.

On Flight 1549, when I met the flight attendants that I hadn’t flown with before, we very quickly aligned goals and created this shared sense of responsibility for the outcome before we started boarding passengers. That’s part of this critically important human skill set that’s often not taught in business schools. You’ll see in peer reviewed articles in major medical and industry journals that these kinds of human skills and leadership abilities have the potential to move the needle far more than other financial and technical skills.

Leadership and Ego

When it comes to moments of sudden pressure, your success will often come down to the foundation of training that you’ve laid out for yourself. To operate efficiently and functionally in a time-sensitive situation, it helps tremendously to be able to draw from a bank of regular small deposits of experience that you’ve made over the years based in your education, training, and on-the-job lessons. When it came to our landing on the Hudson, we only had 208 seconds from the thrust loss of our plane until our flight path would intersect with the surface of the Earth. In that brief moment, I had to choose where that intersection was going to happen in a way that would lead to the best outcome.

We didn’t have time to learn everything we needed to know for this kind of emergency. We had to have a well determined paradigm already in our minds on how to solve any problem that might suddenly confront us and then adapt that series of plans to meet the circumstances of this

How can we ensure that our team is ready when it comes to those high-stress moments? It’s all about making a commitment to lifelong learning and striving for excellence. It’s about having an understanding that “good enough” won’t cut it. One of my great mentors from afar was the late Warren Bennis, a longtime professor at University of Southern California, who wrote around 30 books on leadership. He said that there’s really no difference between being an effective leader and being a completely integrated human being. It starts with each of us having the discipline and diligence to continue to learn and control our egos. Ego can be a powerful motivating force for good, but left unchecked, it can also separate us from those who could be providing help in an effective team setting. Ego closes us off to their communication, their collaboration, and their innovation, leaving us stuck with only our own ideas. And that

Experience and Decision-making

unique situation. So, having a mental paradigm of priorities I could draw and adapt from was really key. There simply is no substitute for having that kind of preparation and training already in place, to allow you to operate and innovate in such a stressful, time-critical situation.

When making a crucial decision in a short span of time, it needs to be a decision that is based upon real core values and grounded in reality. If I had not been able to so quickly narrow my decision down to, essentially, three options, and then quickly choose among them, or if I didn’t have as much experience flying in the New York metropolitan area, to know what options were near me, then we would have run out of time before we could have eliminated the choices that wouldn’t work.

Having values which provide guardrails from egregious mistakes and having specific experience and knowledge to determine your best options can help you make quick, critical decisions, while avoiding major errors.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

The hate of the Jews is the most ancient and continuous hate in human history, and you can dress it up any way you want – anti-Israel, antigovernment, any way you want. It is basically exactly what it has always been – the Jewish people brought morality to the world thousands of years ago and some people are still mad about it.

- Oracle CEO Safra Catz, who was born in Israel, in an interview with Ynet.com

Trump says awful things about Democrats and supporters of Joe Biden… and no one seems to care.

This is a free country. People say whatever they want. You don’t go to jail for speech. Look more at what the people are actually doing. They’re going to fields and picking oranges; they’re making packages for soldiers. Standing with the microphone is one thing and anyone can do that, but what’s been really incredible is what the citizens of Israel are doing for each other. And that’s really what I look at.

- Ibid., when asked about certain statements by Israeli politicians

- CNN anchor Phil Mattingly, talking about Trump, whose supporters have routinely been called white supremacists

What can I say that has not been said? Don’t flood our highways and inconvenience our hardworking, tax-paying New Yorkers. If you do, we will try to flood our jail cells with you and take your car! On behalf of the 99.9% of New Yorkers, enough already! Strength and Honor!!!!!

- NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, tweeting about a plan by agitators to “Flood JFK for Gaza”

I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some are connected to Russia, and I say that having looked at this for a long time… I think some financing should be investigated, and I want to ask the FBI to investigate that.

- Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), on CNN, talking about the agitators demonstrating for a ceasefire in Gaza

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The U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do. They will do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders, and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia. We Somalians must have the confidence in ourselves that we call the shots in the U.S. - Somalian immigrant Ilhan Omar, who serves as a Democrat member of the House of Representatives

Omar herself is, of course, an antisemite and a radical leftist. Her remarks are only important because they illustrate how her presence in the United States is a searing indictment of our entire immigration system and much of our foreign policy over the last 40 years. We should never have allowed people like her into our country, and by “people like her” I don’t have race in mind. I mean people whose national allegiances lie with other lands and other people, and whose priorities and way of life are incompatible with American republicanism and our national character.

- John Daniel Davidson, The Federalist

What would I tell my parents and grandparents, who built this country and fought for each grain of sand, if I let it shut down by staying away. No, Kfar Aza must rise again. Children must return to play on these lawns.

- Shahar Shnorman, who, along with his wife, became the first two people to move back to Kibbutz Kfar Aza this week after the October 7 massacre, in an interview with Times of Israel

If the White House were a football team and performed like this, we would have already fired the coach, the athletic director, and the mascot.

Americans want better, and it keeps getting worse.

- Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) on Fox News

Trump had a stumble this week while talking about banks, and he introduced an interesting new term: de-banking. I don’t know what… “debank” means but he might have to take “deambulance” to see “de-doctor.”

- NBC’s Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost, obviously completely unaware (as were SNL’s writers) that the word de-banked is a well-known financial term used to describe the denial of banking services to someone

I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That’s not what I’m looking for.

- Pres. Joe Biden, when asked about an Iranian proxy’s killing of 3 U.S. troops last weekend in Jordan

I am an image of victory.

- Ibid.

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I am grateful for all the messages, love, and support I have received from thousands of people. My spirit is stronger than ever. I will return to acting and singing. If I can, I will even go back to fighting in the war.

- Israeli singer-songwriter, actor and reserve soldier Idan Amedi, who was seriously injured while fighting in the Gaza Strip

The Israeli people are the strongest in the world.

When we are united, we are invincible. We will win this war, but it will take time. It’s not just a slogan for me. I truly believe we have to be united.

– Ibid.

Joe Biden has cut a deal somehow where these cartels transport people directly to the Border Patrol and then they move them around the country. So we’re in a terrible situation.

- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Fox News

I am not a religious Jew in the simple sense of the word. There is no modern question whatever, starting from genetic diseases to gene therapy, that doesn’t have a halachic precedent.

- Professor Aharon Ciechanover, the first Israeli scientist to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, during a recent address

Every single week from the start of my show to the very last show I did, it was a battle. It was a battle to cover things that I wanted to talk about.

The network’s philosophy was Trump, Trump, Trump. They wanted me to be part of the echo chamber.

- Former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross in an interview with Fox News Digital

I was spoken to in the most condescending ways. I mean, anything from being told the definition of news… I would have somebody sit across from me and explain to me how news works. I had my intelligence questioned.

- ibid.

I have such, such great ideas for all the good I’m going to do with this money. First thing, Rachel, you and I are going to go shopping. We’re going get completely new wardrobes, new shoes…A penthouse? It’s yours, Rachel. A penthouse in France? You want France? You want to go fishing in France?

- Writer E. Jean Carroll on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” when asked what she will do with the $83.3 million Trump was ordered to pay her in a New York City defamation trial, which appears to be based on a dubious claim

Political Crossfire

The Meaning of Gaza’s Tunnels

By Bret Stephens

E

ver since Israel withdrew its soldiers and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, critics have accused it of blockading and immiserating the territory — turning it, as Israel’s inveterate critics say, into an “open-air prison.”

The charge was always preposterous. Gaza shares a border with Egypt.

The people of Gaza were often treated in Israeli hospitals for cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Israel provided Gaza with much of its electricity and other critical goods even after Hamas came to power in 2007.

Now, as Israeli troops uncover more of Gaza’s vast underground city, the falsity of the accusation has become even more apparent.

According to a report this month in The New York Times, Israeli defense officials now estimate that Hamas’ tunnels measure between 350 and 450 miles in a territory that’s just 25 miles long. (By comparison, the London Underground is only 249 miles long.) Some of Gaza’s tunnels are wide enough for cars; some are more than 150 feet deep; some serve as munitions depots; others are comfortably kitted out as command bunkers.

Israeli officials also estimate that there are 5,700 separate entrances to the tunnels — many of them with access from civilian houses and some directly beneath Gaza City’s main hospital, which U.S. intelligence agencies say was also used as a Hamas command center. Within that maze, scores of Israeli hostages, including a year-old infant, are being held without fresh air, sunlight, adequate medicine or food, or visits from the Red Cross.

All this should radically reconfigure the world’s understanding of what Hamas has done in, and to, Gaza. It has turned the territory into a gigantic military fortress purpose-built to attack Israel, endure Israeli retaliation and interpose civilian lives and infrastructure as part of its means of defense. Imagine any other government doing something similar to its people — say, putting the NORAD command center directly below Times Square — for a sense of the out-

PHOTO By TAMIR KALIFA-NyT

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rage Hamas is perpetrating against its own people.

That’s not the only outrage. How much did it cost to build these tunnels? How much concrete, steel and electricity did it divert from civilian needs? How many millions of hours of labor were given to the effort? What was the cost of building

ing Israeli military officials, reported that the cost of building 32 tunnels (a small fraction of what has since been uncovered) came to around $90 million.

“Some tunnel-building materials also came from aid earmarked for development projects by international aid agencies in Gaza or were purchased on the

It has turned the territory into a gigantic military fortress purpose-built to attack Israel, endure Israeli retaliation and interpose civilian lives and infrastructure as part of its means of defense.

up its stockpile of thousands of rockets, which continue to be fired at Israel? How many ordinary Gaza civilians had to be conscripted into the effort of miserably shoveling dirt deep underground — and how many perished in the effort?

We may never know for sure. But in 2014, around the time Israel first started to get a sense of the scale of Hamas’ tunnel network, The Wall Street Journal, cit-

open market when Israel allowed some imports into Gaza starting in 2010,” the Journal added.

In other words, Hamas stole from foreign donors, subtracted what probably amounted to billions of dollars over several years from Gaza’s gross domestic product, and diverted labor from productive to destructive ends, all to feed its war machine. Western progressives are

usually against this sort of thing, at least when it comes to the guns-to-butter ratio in their own democracies. Why are they virtually silent about it now?

The tunnels also help explain the level of destruction that Israel has wreaked on Gaza since the war began. If Hamas hides the bulk of its fighters and munitions in the tunnels, Israel somehow has to find, search and destroy those tunnels.

If Hamas builds the entrances to those tunnels inside private homes, schools or hospitals, those places all become military targets.

And if there are nearly 6,000 such entrances, the destruction is all but guaranteed to be epochal — just as it was in Mosul when the United States assisted Iraq in destroying the Islamic State group (which was much less deeply entrenched there than Hamas is in Gaza) over nine months in 2016 and 2017. I don’t recall “Cease-Fire Now” demonstrations on college campuses back then.

It’s possible that Israel could fight with more discrimination to spare Palestinian lives while still destroying Hamas’ ability to make war. If so, it behooves Israel’s constant critics to explain precisely how and to do so in a way that doesn’t let Hamas off the hook. Otherwise, the tragic reality of this war is that it is going to be catastrophic for Gaza — not because Israel wills it, but because Hamas spent years of cynical efforts to make it so.

Hamas could have averted this tragedy if it had turned Gaza into an enclave for peace rather than terror. It could have averted it if it had not started four previous rounds of war against Israel. It could have averted it if it had honored the cease-fire that held on Oct. 6. It could have lessened the blow against the people of Gaza by fighting in the open, not behind civilians. It could have eased it by releasing all of its hostages. It could end it now by surrendering its leaders and sending its fighters into exile.

Till then, something I wrote in October holds true now: Hamas bears the blame for every death in this war. © The New York Times

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Political Crossfire

Let’s Hope It Stays That Way

by Fareed Zakaria

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one of this is to suggest that things are now warm and friendly.

For all the focus on the many geopolitical crises around the world, the one that is potentially most dangerous has actually been trending in a positive direction. Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group, told me: “The biggest upside surprise of recent months has got to be the stabilization of U.S.-China relations.”

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, for private talks this week is one more sign of a thaw in relations that in 2021 had both sides yelling at each other in Anchorage. Military-to-military talks have resumed. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo have both had constructive trips to China. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command noted earlier this month that since the Biden-Xi summit in November, Chinese military planes seem to have stopped their dangerous maneuvers. Over the prior two years, since the fall of 2021, there had been nearly 300 such incidents against U.S. aircraft and those of U.S. allies and partners.

And the Taiwanese elections, while going against China’s hopes, were handled maturely by both sides.

This is all to the good. The mistrust, miscommunication and lack of contact that characterized the relationship for the first two years of the Biden administration was dangerous. This rivalry could easily spiral into an unconstrained arms race in everything from artificial intelligence to space weapons, splinter the global economy, and descend into the first great power war since 1945.

Both sides have adjusted their attitudes. But the larger shift has come from Beijing. President Xi Jinping came to power

in the wake of the global financial crisis, convinced that the United States’ power was waning. He explicitly said, “The East is rising and the West is declining.” He wanted China to lessen its economic dependence on the United States and make the technologies of the future at home. He initiated a more ambitious and aggressive foreign policy.

Flash forward to recent months. Xi publicly declared to an audience of American business executives that China has no intention or desire to replace the United States as the global hegemon. He and Wang Yi have argued that cooperation between the United States and China is imperative.

Xi courted U.S. business in San Francisco and the premier, Li Qiang, did the same in Davos, Switzerland. Much of this shift in rhetoric probably stems from Beijing’s recognition that its own economy has been foundering while the United States’ is booming. But, more generally, it must see that its “wolf warrior” diplomacy has failed, alienating people from India to Australia

to Germany. A recent Pew Research Center study showed that 22 of the 24 countries surveyed viewed the United States more favorably than they did China.

Washington, for its part, came to realize that U.S.-China relations were veering badly off course and could lead to dangerous spirals, crises and conflict. If Taiwan, in particular, were badly handled, everyone would suffer – including the Taiwanese who by large majorities want the status quo to continue. There is also an upside to better relations between the two powers, which remain deeply intertwined economically. Many U.S. allies have made clear to Washington that while they seek America’s security help, China will remain their largest economic partner.

None of this is to suggest that things are now warm and friendly. New crises will emerge. As China’s affordable EVs flood the markets, expect a big debate in some Western countries over how to respond. For Germany, China was the great savior for its auto industry, absorbing a large share of

German exports. But today, Chinese cars are the greatest threat to that same industry. There will be new tensions over pharmaceuticals and bio-tech products. But they will now happen in the context of a working relationship between Washington and Beijing, which is reassuring.

Part of what has allowed the shift in Washington’s attitudes is the realization that China is not 10 feet tall. Just as with Japan in the 1980s, policymakers in Washington projected China’s growth forward and panicked. But as the German saying goes, “Trees don’t grow to the sky.” China’s growth has slumped substantially, made worse by many bad policies in recent years. Its demographics and productivity – the main two components of economic growth – are both weak. China remains a powerful force, but it is not going to take over the world.

A crucial attribute of America’s age of hegemony, which began 80 years ago, was that Washington created a security system in which other countries could grow and prosper. As long as they did not try to disrupt the international order, they could thrive economically, politically, socially and culturally. This attitude was rooted in a confidence that the United States could compete and do well with rivals; but it insisted that the rivalry not turn into a geopolitical one, where there is no winwin solution and the global system would break down. If China plays by these rules, Washington should give it some space.

As America’s economy powers ahead, the country would do well to maintain confidence in itself and design a foreign policy based on that accurate premise rather than one forged in doom and despair. (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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The U.S.-China Relationship is Back On Track

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Political Crossfire

Biden Calibrates His Response As a Slow-Motion Crisis Arrives

By David Ignatius

“T

arget Tehran” after this past weekend’s drone strike on a U.S. base in northeastern Jordan, thundered Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.). Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sneered that President Biden would be “a coward unworthy of being commander in chief” unless he attacked Iranian forces and their proxies, inside and outside the country.

Calling for irresponsible actions without bearing responsibility for the outcome is a senatorial “perk,” I guess.

Fortunately, Biden is thinking carefully about how to respond to the attack by an Iranian proxy that killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded some 40 others – without, in the process, getting the United States into another open-ended Middle East war.

As the Biden White House weighs options, what thoughts are going through policymakers’ minds? Based on conversations with current and former officials, we can make some guesses about the president’s decision-making.

He’s likely to take decisive action but think hard about the consequences of the option he chooses.

For months, this crisis has been coming toward Biden in slow motion.

Iranian-linked groups declared open season on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria (and, now, Jordan) after the start of the Israel-Gaza war. The U.S. officials count more than 160 attacks since then, more than one a day. The Shiite militias were lucky (or unlucky, in their view) that they didn’t kill an American until this past weekend.

These groups are “undeterred,” to use the antiseptic language of strategists. The Pentagon has retaliated after some attacks but not forcefully enough.

Experts estimate 50,000 to 80,000 Iranian-backed militia fighters operate in Iraq alone. These Shiite militias apparently think the United States is a low-risk target. So, evidently, do the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been firing missiles at ships traveling toward the Red Sea, disrupt-

ing international shipping. These calculations must change.

Job No. 1 for the Biden team is “attribution.” It must identify precisely which Iranian proxy launched the deadly drone and determine whether it did so on orders from Tehran. With that information, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, can prepare a plan to destroy the group’s ability to kill Americans. The umbrella “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” has claimed responsibility. That’s not enough. Kurilla has to attack targets, not news releases.

We’ll get to the question of striking Tehran later, but let’s start with hitting the proxy group that fired the drone on the base known as Tower 22 in Jordan.

This won’t be a quick or easy mission.

The first obvious question is how this group might retaliate for our counterstrike. Most of the big Shiite militias have additional capabilities they haven’t yet used against U.S. targets – such as longer-range ballistic missiles and bigger rockets and drones.

The aim of retaliation is to reduce threats to U.S. forces, not increase them. But the United States has a big embassy in Baghdad and about 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. That’s a lot of targets. Before launching retaliatory strikes, commanders must be sure these Americans are well protected.

The irony of this campaign is that the Biden administration had planned to begin talks with Iraq soon about a possible drawdown of some or all of these troops. Part of the thinking was that the Islamic State, the nominal reason for the U.S. presence, was no longer a major threat, and American soldiers were walking targets.

Now that U.S. forces are under attack, Biden won’t want to look weak by withdrawing them under fire. But he should remember a similar dilemma faced by President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Then, the United States had been planning to remove outdated liquid-fuel nuclear missiles from Turkey. When

Sometimes, that means using military force, but more often it involves credible warning. This administration’s chief warning officer is CIA Director William J. Burns, Mr. “Back Channel,” to quote the title of his memoir. He traveled secretly to Moscow before Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine to warn

tack on Iranian territory strikes me as a bad idea, especially with the Middle East already on fire, so I’d keep a Burns back channel on the shelf – for now. But superpowers can take other measures to protect their interests. Iran isn’t alone in its ability to conduct lethal covert action.

Let’s be honest: Whether or not Iran is ordering the strikes, it is supplying the weapons, training and political support for these groups.

President Vladimir Putin of the consequences in terms of U.S. and NATO support for Kyiv. His warnings were precisely accurate.

Sending a warning to Tehran is more complicated because the United States must be ready to back up whatever threat it makes. An overt U.S. at-

The last two cards in Biden’s deck are diplomatic. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, just returned from a meeting in Thailand with Wang Yi, China’s top foreign policy official.

Sullivan asked China to use its influence with Iran to de-escalate tensions.

He stressed that Houthi attacks will

eventually sink a ship in the Red Sea, which could have a cascading impact on global markets.

Wang seems to understand that China, with its dependence on global sea trade, has more to lose from the Houthis’ recklessness than does the United States. Let’s see whether Beijing will use its power to shape global events in a crisis where its interests coincide with Washington’s.

What’s the most reliable pathway to curbing the Iran-fomented violence that followed the Gaza war? It’s to bring that conflict to a quick end. Burns was in Paris last week to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas that would lead to an extended lull in fighting – one that Hamas could call a cease-fire and Israel could call a long pause. Biden needs to use every tool in his kit to achieve that breakthrough.

Once the Gaza war winds down, de-escalation will spread to the other theaters – in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. Conversely, if Gaza doesn’t stop, the other fires will intensify.

(c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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Moscow demanded their removal as the price for pulling its missiles out of Cuba, Kennedy couldn’t openly accede to Soviet pressure. But he privately told the Soviets the missiles would be gone soon if they kept quiet – and the crisis was resolved.

What about aiming for the head of the octopus? Striking Iran directly would risk a much wider war. Going to war also requires solid evidence, especially after the Iraq fiasco. Iran’s foreign ministry says that claims of Iranian direction are “baseless accusations,” and U.S. officials don’t appear to have proof of such direct command and control.

But let’s be honest: Whether or not Iran is ordering the strikes, it is supplying the weapons, training and political support for these groups. It’s fighting a classic covert campaign, acting against the United States through proxies – in Iraq, Syria and Yemen – to drive America from the region without taking direct responsibility. Iran’s “death to America” obsession has been steaming since the 1979 revolution, so it won’t end overnight. But Biden can take steps to deter the current, indirect warfare.

Deterrence is about sending signals.

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Forgotten Her es

The Heroes of Machal and the Haganah

By Avi Heiligman

Zipporah Porath in downtown Jerusalem, November 30, 1947

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housands of soldiers currently fighting in the IDF are not originally from Israel. Called Lone Soldiers, they don’t have family in Israel but have come to defend the Jewish homeland. This concept dates back to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Some 4,000 volunteers, called Machal, came to Israel to help defend her from the attacking Arab countries. Around 1,100 of those volunteers were from the United States.

Here are some of their stories.

Many women from around the world joined the fledgling IDF and served in many capacities. Zipporah Porath was born in New York and arrived in Yerushalayim in 1947. She joined the Haganah and served as a medic during the Battle of Yerushalayim. The battle started in December 1947 and ended in July 1948, with Israel only maintaining control of the western part of the city. By that point, Israel became a country, and Haganah members had joined the IDF. Later in the war, she transferred to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) where she helped set up medical services. Zipporah then was assigned to the IAF’s intelligence service and became a liaison for overseas correspondents.

Experienced pilots were in high de-

mand, and the Haganah sent representatives to the States looking for volunteers. Milton Rubenfeld from Peekskill, New York, was approached by Hyman Shamir to see if he wanted to fly for the not-yet-formed IAF. Rubenfeld had flown for both the British Royal Air Force with the 420 squadron and the U.S. Army Air

Haganah members patrolling Katamon, May 6, 1948

on May 29, 1948 successfully turned back an armored column that was advancing on Tel Aviv. Rubenfeld was not on that mission but was sent out on another sortie the next day. His wingman was Ezer Weizman, and the objective was targets near Tulkarm. Rubenfeld’s fighter was hit, and he landed in the Mediterranean

They started shooting at him so he started screaming some Jewish words he knew, and this was enough to convince the Israelis that he was Jewish.

Corps as a ferry pilot after the U.S. entered the war. Rubenfeld agreed to fly for Israel and went to Czechoslovakia for training. After training in the Avia S-199 fighter, Rubenfeld was sent to Israel and was one of the IAF’s first five fighter pilots.

The Arabs were shocked that Israel had an air force, as the first IAF mission

Sea. He was injured in the landing but soon realized that he could walk to the shore. Moshavniks from Kfar Vitkin thought he was an Arab pilot since they didn’t know that Israel had an air force.

They started shooting at him so he started screaming some Jewish words he knew, and this was enough to convince the Israelis that he was Jewish. He then

returned to the U.S. to receive medical care for his injuries.

(As an interesting aside, Milton was actor Pee-Wee Herman’s father.)

Like many Jewish American World War II veterans, Frederick Gronich was born in Europe but moved to the U.S. before the war broke out to escape the Nazis. Gronich, originally from Czechoslovakia, had moved to the U.S. when he was thirteen. He joined the army and was a staff officer for General Dwight Eisenhower’s headquarters. Gronich was wounded in Algiers during the North African Campaign but recovered in time to parachute during the Sicily Campaign.

He later served in Italy and then England in preparation for the D-Day landings.

Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he spent months with the intelligence units gathering and cataloging records and documents captured from the Germans. He also interrogated German POWs and after the war was part of the effort to capture Nazi criminals. Gronich handled many important documents including personal papers of Hitler, ym”sh.

Frederick Gronich returned to the U.S. but was soon contacted by Haganah representative Teddy Kolek. Kolek had wanted to establish ties with American

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intelligence but had been unable to make much headway before meeting Gronich.

Gronich set up a meeting with Kolek and two senior American intelligence officers.

This was the beginning of the cooperation between the two country’s intelligence services.

After the establishment of the state of Israel, Kolek convinced Gronich to come to Israel and advise Israeli leaders in military matters. During his journey to the Middle East, Gronich posed as a journalist while passing through Arab countries. He put together a report of

his findings that included information on Arab military strength and capabilities and presented it to Israeli officials when he arrived in Israel. He was taken to see Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion who was so impressed with the American intelligence officer that he made him his senior military advisor. Gronich went by the nom de guerre of Fred Harris and toured the IDF facilities. He gave detailed reports on their readiness, and Ben-Gurion readily listened to his advice. Gronich was very critical of the lack of military professionalism in the service, which he

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Haganah members in 1948

Milton Rubenfeld

said caused many casualties, and shared his criticism of high ranking IDF officers.

This ruffled some feathers, and when a meeting with former Palmach officers didn’t go well, Gronich felt that his service in Israel was completed.

Gronich left Israel in November 1949 but had made quite a positive impression on the recently formed IDF. He returned to live in Israel in 1990 and was awarded a medal for his participation in the War of Independence.

Many Machal volunteers returned to their home countries after the Israeli

War of Independence but still maintained connections within Israel. It was tough being a soldier, sailor or airman fighting thousands miles away from home for a country that was just created against a formidable foe. Yet the contributions that the Machal volunteers made helped shape the IDF for decades to come.

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 | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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Ranch home in the heart of Woodmere, SD#15, on a lot sized 90x118, gas heat, garage.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE New to the market spacious 1 bedroom 1.5 bathroom condo, elevator building, central air conditioning, garage parking, 24hr doorman, many closets, kitchen with granite countertops, generous counter space, washer/dryer, minutes from shopping, park, transportation and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Woodmere just listed 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom hi-ranch in sd #15 with central air-conditioning , gas heat, 2 car garage, eat-in-kitchen, l/r, d/r, den, hardwood floors, minutes to transportation , shopping, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Welcome to this stunning residence situated on a tranquil residential street in Lawrence SD#15. This spacious and flawlessly maintained home boasts 4 to 5 bedrooms.

Bright, airy living room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and wet bar.

Central air conditioning, elegant quartz countertops, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, main floor den with fireplace, master bedroom with bathroom snd dressing room, Jacuzzi tub, three other bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Inground sprinklers, lush landscaping, alarm system. Spacious playroom. Twocar garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

121

HOUSES FOR SALE

HOUSES FOR SALE

HOUSES FOR SALE

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

HEWLETT-WOODMERE School district. New to the market.

4 bedroom 3 full bathroom home features living room with a fireplace, formal dining room leading out to the deck, eat-in-kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 2 dishwashers, double oven, new microwave, primary bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, plus 3 additional bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, large family room, central air conditioning, gas heat, in-ground sprinklers, hardwood floors, modern high hat lighting, custom window treatments, driveway has recently been done, 2 car garage, beautifully landscaped plus so much more.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas.

Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

FAR ROCKAWAY New Construction Prime location Beach 9th & Hicksville 5 bedrooms, 4bathrooms, Eating kitchen, Dining room /living room , Laundry room, Large unfinished basement, Driveway and backyard 516-206-2005 ALLGOING Realty

WOODMERE 359A Central Av Lawrence 1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $179k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WEST HEMPSTEAD Introducing a stunning new construction home. Nestled in a picturesque neighborhood. Large windows, open-concept layout that merges the various living spaces.

The expansive living room is bathed in natural light, thanks to the windows that offer great views of the surrounding area. Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, expansive center island with a breakfast bar.

Ample counter space and a welldesigned layout. Wonderful dining area providing. Large glass doors, spacious patio. Luxurious master suite with a spacious bedroom, a lavish ensuite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Additional bedrooms.

High-end finishes, premium flooring, and custom details throughout. Call for pricing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas.

Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

VALLEY STREAM Meticulously cared-for high ranch with four bedrooms and two full baths. Expansive dimensions, measuring 58 x 133. Two-zone, gas-heated system, central airconditioning, and an inground sprinkler system. The upper-level features three inviting bedrooms, accompanied by a full bathroom.

The well-appointed living room, elegant dining room, and an eat-in kitchen complete this level. On the ground floor, you’ll find an additional bedroom and bathroom, a spacious den with sliding doors that lead to the backyard, convenient washer and dryer facilities, and an attached garage. Great access to schools, shops, restaurants, and public transportation. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey WOODMERE CEDARHURST CEDARHURST International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE 5 Towns Home for Sale Amazing Location 60 Meadow, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms.

Large den, Living Room/Dining Room. Kitchen + 2-car garage.

Near Shuls. Call or Text ALLGOING Realtor 516-206-2005.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 5 TOWNS - OFFICES FOR LEASE and large Parking LOT Utilities & Internet & Parking Included with some Various sizes - starting at $695.

No broker fee Kosher kitchen - Minyan Next to LIRR Call/text/Whatsapp: 516-206-1100

WOODMERE WOODMERE LAWRENCE WOODMERE WOODMERE CEDARHURST

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 FAR ROCKAWAY 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 Col.Wide with 2Line Story Entry 9 ftRanch Ceilings, Zone Heat which Spacious Expanded on 14 Most Prestigious and Spacious Stucco withCharming 2 Story EntryColonial 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which Stucco New ToCol. Mkt. on Beautiful Tree Spacious Split Level Home In Academy 5 BR home in the heart of Far Rockaway, 3 Bths, EIK, Spacious Split Level Home InPrestigious Prestigious Academy Serene Cul-de-Sac in Village of Lawrence , Main Flr Master Bdrm includes Heat,inAnderson with Lots Flr of Natural Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, Serene Radiant Cul-de-Sac Village ofWindows Lawrence , Main Master Bdrm includes Radiant Heat, Anderson Windows with Lots Natural OPEN Area.

Lg EIK, w/2 sinks, FLR/FDR, Attic, Lower lvllvl Den FDR,with Den, Foyer, Walk Closet, 130 Deep Property.

HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue lined Street, Features FLR FDR, EIK, Den andofLibrary HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 highland Suite Many Closets andin Bthrm, Addional Main Flr Bdrm & Bath, Area.

Lg EIK, w/2 sinks, FLR/FDR, Attic, Lower Light Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High EndDen OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 SuiteThroughout, with Many Closets and Bthrm, Addional Main Flr highland Bdrm & OPEN Bath, Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End Totally renovated Colonial.

Like New. High Ceilings, Chefs EIK, 5 a warming draw and, a microwave.

Center Hall Huge Colonial with Main Level+Den 3 BRs 23Bths Baths Lg Flr Fdnr Den, EIK, Mudrm, 4 Bdrms onFinished Second Flr, FinFlrBsmt, Bsmt, Playroom 22Mudrm, add’l rooms, Oversized Prop. $1.495M Appliances, Ovens , EIK, 6& Burner Cooktop with Pot Filler, Totally renovated Colonial.

New. High Ceilings, Chefs Large Primary Basement Prime Center HallDble Colonial with Main Level Den 3 BRs Baths Lg Fdnr Huge Den, +rooms, 4 Bdrms 23Bths onFinished Second Flr, Fin Playroom & add’l Oversized Prop.

Appliances, DbleSuite, Ovens Finished 6Like Burner Cooktop within Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere location!

Basment Beautiful Property 2Basment Dishwashers, and more.

Master Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath Beautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere location!

Beautiful Property $1.1M Beautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M First floor bedroom, a full bathroom 2 Dishwashers, and more. Master 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 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 has 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful CEDARHURST INWOOD Upper level four bedrooms, two WOODSBURGH ManicuredCO-OPS/CONDOS Garden.

CEDARHURST WOODMERE CO-OP Manicured Garden.

CEDARHURST WOODMERE CO-OP full bathrooms. basement N.Finished WOODMERE FAR ROCKAWAY LAWRENCE with playroom, storage and utilities.

LAWRENCE 261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen.

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 adjoining the master bedroom.

LAWRENCE 240 Central Avenue LAWRENCE Hardwood floors and back patio.

Spacious 1 Bdrm 1 Bth Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg 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 system. Close proximity to schools, 156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH FAR ROCKAWAY Beachfront Condo This spacious s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, 156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH shopping centers, restaurants, and with Wraparound Terrace, sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful Brick C/H Colonial Charming 4 bdrm capeMagnificent in prestigious country Beachfront Condo 4+ BR, 3 Bths, Hardwood floors, This spacious s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, Sunrise & Sunset waterviews, and magnificent sunsets .

Flr banquet fdnr , transportation options.

FLR Finished Basement, inDrquiet Exclusive Tree club area, open concept, fir, fdnr, eik, full height with FDR, Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful COMMERCIAL RENTAL! 9 ,Room officesuite Suite, Located $589K breakfast rm, main level NEW! den /fpl master bdrm with his 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm Sunrise & Sunset waterviews, and magnificent sunsets .

Flr banquet fdnr , lined area. $1.599 beautiful oversized property with above inand Heart of Cedarhurst, waiting room, Reception New! Renovated High Ranch, 4BRs, 2 Bths, New 5the Br Home in of Far ,Rockaway, 3Bth, EIK, FDR,basement, Mark Lipner Associate Broker her closets andHeart bth + 4Spacious bdrms new bths, newly renovated with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located Area $589K breakfast& rm, main level den /fpl master with and Exam Rooms, all on2B Main Floor.

Close to of Public 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm ground pool; fish and greenhouse, finished basement with laundry rm, playrm, lots storage, Counter tops and S.S.pond Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnrlow and taxes Large Kitchen Bths,3 Zone Heating & CAC, Den FLR,his Den, Foyer, Walk in Closets 130’ Deep Property. inand theher Heart of Cedarhurst, room, Reception Berkshire Hathaway Laffey Transportation closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new bths, newly renovated withspecial 9ft Ceilings.

Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite many detailsSpacious thruout $1.9M+ Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows endless potential! location!!! $995K 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

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

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122

Classifieds

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APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

FOR RENT

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 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 516298-8457 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

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

CEDARHURST Apartment Modern 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2nd floor. SS appliances, double sink, quartz countertops, walk up finished attic, split units.

Rivka 917-639-6169

CEDARHURST 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, totally renovated private entrance , central air conditioning, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, garage parking, dishwasher, recessed lighting, private playground, close to railroad, park, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE 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

LAWRENCE Spacious, Sunny 1 BR with screened in Terrace, new A/C, Move-in Condition, Well kept Bldg w/ Friendly neighbors, Lo Maint - $239K Paul (917) 579-4243

LAWRENCE New to the market 1 bedroom 1.5-bathroom condo apartment, elevator building, 24 hr doorman, central air conditioning, washer/dryer, u/g parking, terrace, many closets, social room, gym, library minutes to shopping, restaurants, transportation and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

FOR RENT CEDARHURST 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, private entrance, washer/dryer, central air conditioning, freshly painted, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, garage parking, stainless steel appliances, great courtyard, minutes to the railroad, shopping, restaurants, park and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

BENSONHURST 3 fam, 2nd fl, 3 bed, 2 bath, EIK, lg LR, lg DR, bonus area, front porch, backyard, renov, sunny, lg windows, $2900, 347-598-9608 WOODMERE Totally renovated bright and sunny 1 bedroom corner unit apartment with a washer/dryer. Features quartz countertops, ss appliances, recessed lighting, bathroom with chrome fixtures, close to the railroads, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE Spacious 2BR, 2 Full Bath Apt with an enclosed terrace in the heart of Lawrence. Well maintained & manicured building. New hardwood floors, updated Eat-in Kitchen with gas stove. warming draw, dishwasher & microwave. New windows on the enclosed terrace & one of the bedrooms. 3 New A/C Units & New Refrigerator. Close to shopping, transportation, library, schools, and houses of worship. $339K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com WOODMERE Well maintained 1 Bedroom apartment. Elevator Building. Pet Friendly, SD#14, Corner Unit, Bright + Sunny, Hardwood Floors, Eat-in Kitchen, Full Bathroom, 3 Closets, 2 Ceiling Fans, 1 A/C Unit, Full Time Super on Premises. Minutes from the Railroad, Shopping, Houses of Worship, and Laundry Room on Premises. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 • $179K

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FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

124

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

WOODMERE House rental 4 bedroom 2 full bathrooms, central air conditioning, kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, dual sinks, formal dining room, den, hardwood floors, washer and dryer Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

BAIS YAAKOV FIVE TOWNS is looking to hire a warm, enthusiastic Second Grade Hebrew Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year.

Great opportunity to work with experienced teachers in a friendly and collaborative environment. Please email: Principals@by5t.org

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver Newspaper every Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Minivan or SUV and availability to work consistently every week!

Please e-mail gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

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

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

BAIS YAAKOV FIVE TOWNS Is looking to hire a warm, enthusiastic Second Grade English Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. Great opportunity to work with experienced teachers in a friendly and collaborative environment.

Please email: Principals@by5t.org BOOKKEEPER Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.

Weekly Classifieds Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................$20 2 weeks .............. $35 4 weeks .............. $60 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info and zip code

Deadline Monday 5:00pm

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

ACCOUNTANT F/T Beitel Group is seeking to hire F/T Staff Accountant. Min 2 years’ experience required. Competitive pay, benefits, and growth potential.

Please email resume to jobs@beitel.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 A YESHIVA IN QUEENS is looking for an experienced part/ full time secretary, 2-year-old morah, kindergarten morah, kindergarten morah assistant and Pre-1A English teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Nice and timely pay. Please email resume to mshelt613@gmail. com or call/text 718-971-9799.

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership.

Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

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 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Mesivta Shaarei Chaim is looking for a part time, experienced, Administrative Assistant. Monday- Thursday for 3 hours between 2:30 and 6:00 Please send resume to rdniman@gmail.com.

5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA Seeking Elem Gen Ed Teachers Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply.

Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com 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!

PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE

Dated: January 24, 2024 Mineola, New York

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 20th, 2024, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 15th, 2024 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.

Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale.

Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/526/County-Treasurer Should the Treasurer determine that an in-person auction shall be held, same will commence on the 20th day of February 2024 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/527/Annual-Tax-Lien-Sale A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 07th, 2024.

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

Dated: January 24, 2024 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork________________ TERMS OF SALE Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.

The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.

Furthermore, as to the bidding, 1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Your

Money

Mack the Knife

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

F

ive thousand years ago, give or take, the Mesopotamians invented the shekel. It was the world’s first currency and represented a huge step forward from primitive barter, the direct trade of goods and services. Since then, ingenious humans have used all sorts of objects to store and exchange value, including beaver skins, tea bricks, cowrie shells, and those 12-foot stone disks they use on the Micronesian island of Yap. Today, a new generation of financial innovators is working to displace the dollars, pounds, pesos, euros, rubles, and yuan that most of us think of as money.

Cryptocurrency bulls promise a brave new world of decentralized money free from government control. Crypto bears remind us that you can’t spell “crypto” without “cry.” Maybe both sides are winning: the SEC has just approved the first crypto-based exchange-traded fund even as the DOJ continues indicting the biggest names in the market. That includes Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the FTX crypto exchange.

Eighteen months ago, you had probably never heard of SBF. At one point, he was worth a nominal $25 billion. Today, he’s the poster man-child for hubris and financial arrogance. He abused his customers’ trust and found himself in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Cen-

ter, the federal jail where Epstein didn’t kill himself. He abused his bail and wound up back in that same jail three months before his trial. His insistence on taking the stand at that trial helped cement his conviction – it took the jury barely four hours to return with a verdict of “so guilty it hurts, why do you even need to ask?” On March 28, he’ll be sen-

Today, the currency of choice is canned mackerels, or “macks,” which cost roughly a dollar each at the commissary. Prisoners can buy up to 14 cans per week and exchange them for all sorts of services, including haircuts, shoeshines, and legal services from jailhouse lawyers. Unlike other commissary staples like summer sausages, Velveeta,

Prisoners can buy up to 14 cans per week and exchange them for all sorts of services, including haircuts, shoeshines, and legal services from jailhouse lawyers.

tenced to up to 110 years in a place where there’s no currency at all.

But that doesn’t mean SBF can’t still trade and even rack up tax bills as he works to regain his billions. Microeconomies can exist anywhere that people who can’t use money can find something else to exchange for goods and services. In jail, that used to be cigarettes. However, federal prisons went smoke-free in 2004.

and candy, few prisoners actually eat the fish, which makes them a good successor to cigarettes. The Wall Street Journal reported that SBF traded four macks for a haircut before his trial.

Here’s the tax angle. Services inmates perform for each other are taxable, at fair market value, just as if they had gotten paid in cash. That barter income gets added to the income they earn from

prison work assignments. Hourly wages typically range from 12 to 40 cents for in-house jobs like laundry, landscaping, and food service. However, they can climb as high as a whopping $1.15 for jobs with Federal Prison Industries (FPI), a government-owned corporation that sells market-priced services and quality goods made by inmates.

Of course, federal prisoners as a group don’t have a great reputation for following the rules. So we’re willing to bet that not a lot of macks make their way into Form 1040. Most prisoners aren’t required to file tax returns anyway, simply because their incomes aren’t high enough.

But, this week’s story reminds us yet again how deep taxes are embedded in every financial decision we make. That’s why planning is so important, so you can make the right decision to owe the least possible tax. That’s what we do best. It’s just too bad you can’t pay us in macks.

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

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Life C ach

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Visit from the Fam

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

T

here is vacation…and then there’s reintegration.

I, as a mom of married kids, must get used to the departures when the kids and grandkids leave after winter vacation or holidays, just as I’m sure many of you do, too. Especially when they visit and move in. But then move out.

The greatest part is when the onslaught shows up. All the kids, suitcases, and opinions storm through the door.

The days are filled with activity, hectivity, and life.

That’s what we love. Who wants the peace and quiet?

Kids add the pizazz.

But then everyone has to readjust to life. Get back to routine. The kids must go back to school. The parents and grandparents need to get back to work and other routines.

The house has to be resurrected and reconnected. In other words, newly respected. After all, you cannot be both – busy enjoying the kids and cleaning up constantly. You’ve got to just let it go, and hope for the best.

After all, to vacate (vacation) means to let it go. In other words, they vacate their homes and let it go at your house.

And you need to let go of the response.

The best way to appreciate this kind of experience is to recognize that there may be havoc, but there are also other rewards.

And when they leave, there may be

more quiet, less mess, and that might be the reward you need to focus on.

As they say, pick your poison – or more likely in this case, your passion.

Once they move out, if they’re willing to come back, that’s a gift already. Mess, noise, boys, toys, whatever they bring with them, at least they’re coming – and that’s a reward right there!

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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