Five Towns Jewish Home 2.08.24

February 8, 2024

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Dear Readers,

I

n times of crisis – both on a personal level and on a communal level – one very quickly finds out who their friends are. The Jewish community learned quite suddenly after the events of October 7 who their supporters are.

And we have seen, quite clearly, who is not one of those who support us.

Nowadays, it’s not hard to discern who is on our side. Social media has made it easy for supporters and detractors to be vocal about their views. And it has created a society where people are proud to speak up – whether they agree with or are against an issue. Perhaps it’s just easier to be “loud” when you’re typing words into Twitter.

This week’s election in the Third Congressional District has shifted national eyes to Long Island. The race has become not just about representing parts of Queens and Long Island. It has become a way to observe what is on voters’ minds as they head to the ballot box.

Most of our community does not live in the Third Congressional District. Still, we need to remember that a galvanized community that is vocal in the political process is a community that politicians do not forget. When they come to office and see that a community came in strongly in the elections – whether or not they voted for them – they understand that this is a community fighting for their rights. And then, they will feel compelled to fight for them, too.

It’s not just election time when we can – and should – be active participants in the process.

As we have seen since October 7, politicians

need to hear from us. They need to know that we appreciate their support of our community.

And, on the other hand, they need to hear from us when we don’t approve of what they support or what they are doing. It seems obvious, but not everyone wants to take the time to call or write to their representatives. But they’re people, too. If they hear from numerous constituents about an issue, that issue will surely be on their minds.

I have met numerous politicians over the years. You can tell immediately which politicians are genuine “people people.” They look you in the eye; they take time to hear your concerns. They went into politics because they actually like people and like to help people. But that doesn’t define a good representative. A good politician is someone who truly hears their constituents’ concerns and works for them. He or she understands that they are sitting in their seat because the residents of that area had confidence that they could speak for them. And they work for those residents to ensure that they earn their respect and esteem.

I have always believed that voting is not just a right; it’s a privilege that we should make sure to utilize when given the opportunity. These days, when we have been made aware of our friends and our foes, it behooves us to make sure to exercise that right and privilege.

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 9 – February 15

Friday, February 9 Parshas Mishpatim

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Candle Lighting: 5:04 pm Shabbos Ends: 6:06 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 6:36 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

30 That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

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Israel News

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When Pizza is More Than Just Sauce and Cheese

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My Israel Home

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Dreams Come True by Barbara Deutsch

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JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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To Serve G-d by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

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Inspiration Nation

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TJH Speaks with Mazi Melesa Pilip, Candidate for 3rd Congressional District 98 Winter Warriors by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Avoiding Winter Weight Gain by Aliza Beer, RD

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FOOD & LEISURE Food for Thought

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The Aussie Gourmet: Stuffed Dates with Lamb in Pomegranate Sauce

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LIFESTYLES

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Dating Dialogue, Moderated

by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

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Parenting Pearls

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School of Thought

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Mind Your Business

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Your Money

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The People of the Book by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

Dear Editor, I agree with the panelists in last week’s Navidaters column about how a guy doesn’t need to spend a lot of money on the first few dates. However, the young man wrote about the dating expenses falling on the guy and his family. The panelists did not mention that there are financial resources involved for a young woman dating too. Some of these expenses are having a selection of dressy and casual dating outfits for both seasons, accessories, routine manicures, and cosmetic procedures that make her look and feel her best for the date. It was surprising there was no mention of how much thought and resources a woman puts into a date as well.

A Reader Dear Editor, In my youth, there was an exceptionally talented frum basketball player by the name of Eric Davis. Besides his exceptional talent, he had other standout qualities.

He was exceedingly humble, as his talent didn’t affect his personality. He lived on the ground like everyone else. In addition, he made everyone feel like a king, whether they had issues or not. He had the ability to hone in on those who needed encouragement, and he provided it.

When I think of him, I think of last week’s parsha when we read about Yisro.

Yisro was a listener, he humbled himself before others, and he looked to solve problems for others.

Looking to this week’s parsha, of laws between people, there’s a key connecting vav, “V’elah haMishpatim...” which serves as a bridge to last week’s parsha,

where the Torah was given. This vav equalizes Sinai to human interactions.

There is no Torah without human refinement, in humility and interaction.

There’s a powerful midrash on the verse in Yeshaya (60:1) that says, “Arise, Shine, for your light has come; the glory of G-d has shone upon you.” The Midrash Yalkut Shimoni (499) comments on this verse that when Moshiach comes, he will go to the rooftop of the Beis HaMikdash and announce “Anavim, humble ones,” the time of redemption is here. The final call is to the humble ones.

This letter began by saying that Eric Davis had exceptional talent along with great humility. Therefore, talent and humility are not a contradiction. How is this to be understood?

We must look at Moshe, the paradigm for humility, who was a person of exceptional talent. How did Moshe live by both?

It has been suggested that Moshe was angelic, but he never felt he reached his potential. Interestingly, he’s viewed as someone who did, probably because he never thought he did.

He always felt he fell short. Therefore, he had nothing to be arrogant about. Regarding others, he felt they were performing fine with their talents. If you think your exceptionalism doesn’t reach perfection, then, in fact, there’s nothing to feel proud about, only to contemplate how you can do better. In this way, we must all utilize our talents to the highest degree, but because we know a higher level remains to be conquered, we can always live humbly.

Steven Genack Continued on page 10

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HUMOR Centerfold

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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In Responding to Iran, the U.S. Should Take the Godfather’s Advice

by Fareed Zakaria

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Abolish the U.N.’s Palestinian Refugee Agency by Bret Stephens

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The U.S. Tacks Hard Toward a Mideast “Moment of Truth” by David Ignatius 122 Republicans Have No Excuse For a Bad Border Deal by Marc A. Thiessen

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Does your family do anything special for Rosh Chodesh?

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Yes

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No

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Continued from page 10

Dear Editor, In the spring and summer of 1942, the world was covered with a dark cloud of the Nazi flag, which flew all over Europe, except for England. The German army was stopped at the gates of Moscow early in December of 1941, by “Hashem’s General Winter,” but the army was still entrenched in a large area of Russia.

In the summer of 1942, Britain lost a stronghold, Tobruk, in North Africa.

General Rommel was about 60 miles from the Suez Canal. This was a dangerous time for the Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael and the countries in the Mideast. At that time, Hitler started building Auschwitz and other death camps. The use of bullets to kill thousands of Jews in Babi Yar on Yom Kippur of 1941 proved to be too inefficient.

We remember on a daily basis how the Bnai Yisrael left Egypt and then were pursued by Pharaoh at the Yam Suf. In the summer of 1942, the Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael was, in a sense, standing at the Yam Suf, just as the Bnai Yisrael were, when they left Egypt. There existed the fear that Rommel would soon be in Jerusalem. All the Jews came to the Kosel to pray. There was also a remarkable intensive prayer vigil at Kever Rochel that prevented the Nazis from entering Eretz Yisrael. Some 60 people arrived, Mekubalim, talmidei chachomim, businessmen, and simple workmen from the Iraq community, dressed in sackcloth, with ashes on their heads. They prayed from morning straight to the following morning. They blew the shofar dozens of times throughout the night and wept bitterly, shouting to Hashem to have mercy upon His people. “Never again shall a despised enemy enter the gates of Jerusalem.

The Gates of Tears are never sealed.” At the end, everyone shouted seven times, “Rommel will not come.”

Then some events happened in the general war effort. The British army was given a new general named Montgomery.

General Rommel left North Africa on sick leave. His substitute suffered a heart attack. The U.S. sent new tanks for the British army. Mussolini, who expected to ride on a white horse in a victory parade in Egypt, received the same fate as Haman did in the Purim story.

The clear lesson for today is that ein od milvado. When B’nai Yisrael stood at the Yam Suf, the Egyptians fired arrows at them. Hashem intercepted the arrows through the Clouds of Glory. In modern

terms, many missiles have been thrown towards Israel, but the Iron Dome (Hashem’s cloud) has intercepted them.

Mass rallies in Tel Aviv and before the government may have their place, but constant prayer rallies at the Kosel and Kever Rochel will surely help to end the fighting in our favor and bring the captives home. As it says in Psalm 126, “When Hashem returns our captives, we will be filled with laughter and glad song.”

Elli Epstein Ocean, NJ Dear Editor, First, we have a group of migrant asylum seekers assault two police officers in Times Square. They took turns kicking their heads and torso. After being arrested, they were released within hours without bail. Neither the District Attorney nor the Judge requested bail. More than one migrant already had a previous arrest record. Second, NYPD has been tracking another larger group of migrants who are roaming Manhattan as pickpockets.

What’s next, carjackings?

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be allowed to immediately deport any migrant assaulting law enforcement officials or committing crimes against citizens. Being in America is a privilege earned by going through the legal process of becoming a citizen, not an automatic right upon your first steps on our sovereign soil. Migrants should obey the same laws we do and suffer the same consequences for any crimes committed.

Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck Dear Editor, Country Yossi manages to give mussar in the most witty way. I, too, see that too often cellphones impede my davening.

Even if someone’s phone isn’t ringing but is just “buzzing,” my concentration is ruined. It is time for each person to either leave their phones at home (or in the car or in the coat room) or turn them off completely. If not, you are ruining the davening of many others.

Unfortunately, I’m not as funny as Country Yossi, but he is one of a kind.

And this is kind of a serious topic, so I’m all out of jokes.

Y. Leiner

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The Week In News

E.U. Approves Ukraine Funding

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting many countries to provide significant financial and military assistance to Kyiv. Now, nearly two years later, international support for Ukraine has seemingly begun to dwindle, as U.S. lawmakers argue over whether to continue funding the attacked country.

On Thursday, the European Union reached an aid deal, with the E.U.’s 27 member states agreeing to send Ukraine €50 billion ($54 billion) over the next three years, €33 billion of which will be “in the form of loans” and the rest in “non-repayable support” that may be “generated from frozen Russian assets,” according to a document released by the E.U. Council. The document also references the possibility of the money being utilized to make Ukraine an official member of the Union.

Although the E.U. had been trying to cement the deal since December, Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, prevented the bloc from doing so during a past summit by using his veto powers to block the arrangement. With Russia beginning to overpower Ukraine, the aid comes at an urgent time.

“Grateful to @CharlesMichel and EU leaders for establishing the €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X. “It is very important that the decision was made by all 27 leaders, which once again proves strong EU unity. Continued EU financial support for Ukraine will strengthen long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military assistance and sanctions pressure on Russia.”

As part of the deal, the E.U. will conduct an annual discussion on the funding, as well as a review in two years, “if

needed,” according to a senior European diplomat.

Critics of Orban, who is known for his friendship with Russian Pr esident Vladimir Putin, have alleged that he initially rejected the deal because the EU had frozen funds for Hungary after the country allegedly violated one of the union’s rules. Orban, however, has asserted that the frozen funds hadn’t motivated him to block the deal; rather, he was against the package because it would take money away from each E.U. member state.

Orban also said that Hungary wouldn’t have approved the deal if there wasn’t a mandatory yearly discussion on the matter. According to the senior diplomat, the deal, at least as it stands now, does not involve the resuming of E.U. funding to Hungary.

Pro-Gazan Took Hostages In Turkey

A gunman took seven workers hostage on Thursday, February 1, at a factory in Turkey by Procter & Gamble, an American consumer goods corporation. The hostage situation took place in the Gebze District of Kocaeli, a Turkish province located near Istanbul. The assailant’s actions were motivated by the war in Gaza, as was later confirmed by a police spokesman.

The hostage situation lasted for about nine hours, after which Turkish police officials stormed into the plant while the terrorist was using the restroom. No hostage injuries or deaths were reported.

The man, who wore a Palestinian scarf around his face, held a gun, and had on what might have been a suicide vest, was arrested uninjured by police, according to district governor Seddar Yavuz. On the wall, the words “the door will be opened for Gaza” were written with red paint, alongside a drawing of the Palestinian flag, which the terrorist stood next to.

“Earlier today, we evacuated our Gebze facility and are working with local authorities to resolve an urgent security situation,” P&G stated. “The safety of P&G people and our partners is our top priority.”

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Fire trucks and ambulances were on the scene, as police blocked off the area and families of the hostages waited for updates to pop up on their phones.

The gunman acted in protest of the war in Gaza, which was triggered on October 7, when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdered 1,200 people, and kidnapped over 240 others, 132 of whom are still in captivity in Gaza. The Jewish state has since launched a ground offensive in Gaza in an effort to annihilate Hamas.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has made no effort in hiding his grievances with Israel, which he has labeled a “terrorist state.” Erdogan has also likened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler, ym”sh, and criticized the United States for supporting Israel in what he asserts is the “genocide” of the Palestinian people.

Fees for SUVs in Paris Voters in Paris have approved an effort to drastically increase parking fees for large SUVs and other heavy cars, the latest move by Mayor Anne Hidalgo

to reshape the French capital with environmentally conscious and pedestrian-friendly policies.

The new parking fees are expected to be approved in May by the Paris City Council, where Hidalgo’s Socialist Party and Green allies have a majority. The new fees are then expected to come into effect in September, Hidalgo said.

Some car owners have complained that they are being shut out of the capital, but Hidalgo was unrepentant at a news conference Sunday night. “Parisians made a clear choice,” she said. “We are very proud of this result.”

Still, turnout was extremely low. Although about 54.5% of those who voted favored the measure, only about 5.7% of eligible voters went to the polls.

Although much of the public debate was focused on SUVs, the new fees will apply to all cars that weigh more than 1.6

metric tons if they have traditional combustion engines or are hybrids, or more than 2 metric tons if they are electric.

People with those vehicles will have to pay 18 euros, a little more than $19, for the first hour of public parking in central Paris, and 12 euros in the French capital’s outer neighborhoods — triple the normal rate. For additional hours, prices rise sharply, so drivers of SUV-like vehicles will end up paying more than $240 for six hours of parking in central Paris, instead of about $80 for regular cars.

But there are several exemptions, so the measure will mostly apply to outside visitors.

Paris residents who park in their neighborhood will not be affected. Neither will taxis or other professional vehicles, or people who use larger vehicles because of a disability.

City authorities had argued that big SUVs and other large cars emit more greenhouse gases than average cars and are more dangerous for pedestrians because of their bulkiness, citing a report suggesting pedestrians are twice as likely to be killed in a collision with an SUV than with a standard vehicle. (© The New York Times)

King Charles Has Cancer

King Charles III has been on the throne for a bit more than a year, but he will be taking a step back from royal duties as he has been diagnosed with cancer.

“Thankfully, this has been caught early, and now everyone will be wishing him that he gets the treatment that he needs and makes a full recovery,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a radio interview with the BBC. Sunak said he was “like everyone else … shocked and sad” at the news.

The palace announced on Monday that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer after being admitted London hospital for a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate last month.

Although King Charles will step back from public-facing duties while he

undergoes treatment, he will continue to carry out state business and official paperwork.

It has been only about 17 months since Charles acceded to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. She reigned for more than 70 years, longer than any British monarch in history.

Prince William, Charles’ son and the heir to the throne, and Queen Camilla are expected to take on more public engagements to account for Charles’ absence.

William’s wife Catherine had surgery last month and was hospitalized for quite a few days. As such, William had taken time off to support his family during that time.

There are only eleven public-facing “working royals” – those who carry out engagements on behalf of the King. More than half of those are over the age of 70. The list includes King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Waleses, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Elections in El Salvador

Elections in El Salvador are handing a clear victory to President Nayib Bukele, with more than 70% of the votes counted on Monday.

His party is enjoying a wide lead over the opposition. Preliminary results showed Bukele’s Nueva Ideas party securing 1,662,313 votes compared to runner-up FMLN’s 139,025 votes, as of Monday afternoon.

Bukele is extremely popular in the country, where he has been cracking down on gangs that once roamed and terrorized the nation.

Bukele had already declared himself the winner in the race late Sunday, saying: “Today, El Salvador has broken all the records of all the democracies in the world. Since democracies have existed, never has a project won with the quantity of votes that we have won today.”

Bukele, 42, faced little in the way of

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organized opposition and enjoys one of the highest favorability ratings in the region, regularly polling above 70% in independent surveys.

Still, he is not without his detractors, who say that his crackdown on gangs has led to mass incarceration. El Salvador now has the world’s highest incarceration rate.

The debate between the two sides has elevated an election in a small Central American state into a broader referendum on the extent that voters are willing to relinquish basic liberties in exchange for relative peace and safety.

U.S., U.K. Strike at Houthis

A day after the United States launched a series of strikes on Iran-backed terror groups in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. and

U.K. jointly struck over thirty Houthi targets in ten or more locations in an attempt to further deter the rebel group from continuing its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, two U.S. officials said.

The two militaries targeted Houthi weapons, an underground weapons storage facility, and command and control areas.

“Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” said the U.S. and U.K. in a statement together with Canada, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Bahrain.

As part of the strikes, Tomahawk missiles were launched from two U.S. destroyers, as the USS Gravely and USS Carney attacked the Yemeni targets with land-attack cruise missiles, according to a U.S. official. Additionally, F/A-18 fighter jets, coming from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, participated in the strikes.

According to U.S. Central Command, the United States neutralized six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles earlier on Satur-

day. A day before that, the U.S. hit four locations in Syria and three in Iraq, striking over 85 targets.

Although Iran provides funds, weapons, intelligence, and training to the groups it backs, Tehran claims that its proxies make independent decisions and are not under Iranian control.

The U.S.’s strikes in Iraq and Syria were in response to the attack last week in which three U.S. servicemembers were killed in Jordan, while the United States’ attacks on Houthi forces are an attempt to stop the rebel group from continuing its attacks on the Red Sea. “This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

“We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”

In response to U.S. and U.K. attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen, top Houthi Political Council official Mohammed Al Bukhaiti echoed past Houthi assertions, insisting that the rebel group will not back down in the face of international aggression.

“The U.S.-British coalition’s bombing

of a number of Yemeni provinces will not change our position, and we affirm that our military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us,” he said.

Austin has asserted that recent U.S. strikes on the Houthis represent just “the start of our response.”

Leniency for Former Malaysian PM

Authorities in Malaysia have halved the sentence of Najib Razak, a former prime minister convicted of stealing millions of dollars from a government fund, a move that has triggered outrage in the country.

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The leniency for Najib comes after weeks of speculation in Malaysia that he might be pardoned by King Sultan Abdullah, whose tenure under Malaysia’s unique rotational monarchy ended Tuesday. But many analysts had said it was unlikely that Najib, who has served only 17 months of his term, would receive any form of clemency because he is still facing three continuing criminal cases related to what is known as the 1MDB scandal.

On Friday, Malaysia’s Pardons Board said that Najib, who began a 12year sentence in 2022, will instead be released in August 2028 and his fine reduced to $11 million, one-quarter of the previous fine. But according to Malaysian law, he could be released even earlier, in August 2026, if he applies for parole after serving half of his term.

The announcement spurred a wave of anger over what many Malaysians said was a culture of impunity among the country’s top officials. Much of the money that disappeared from the 1MDB fund has yet to be recovered.

In September, a court suddenly dismissed 47 embezzlement charges filed against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister.

The decision is likely to reignite questions about the rule of law in Malaysia. It is also likely to increase the public’s disillusionment with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who entered office on an anti-corruption platform but who critics say has made too many compromises, like the alliance with Ahmad, to stay in power.

The first allegations against Najib appeared in news reports nearly a decade ago. Malaysians — although long accustomed to graft by high-ranking officials and politicians — were shocked to learn that the premier had funneled $700 million from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund, or 1MDB, a government investment fund, to his personal bank accounts.

Infuriated citizens took to the streets to demand Najib’s resignation.

The scandal also upended politics in the 2018 election when voters cast Najib out of office — the first time in Malaysia’s independent history that his political party, the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, had lost in national elections. (© The New York Times)

New First Minister In Northern Ireland

This week, Michelle O’Neill, a Catholic politician from the Sinn Féin political party, became the first nationalist to be appointed the first minister of Northern Ireland.

“Today opens the door to the future.

I am honored to stand here as First Minister,” O’Neill said, promising to “serve everyone equally and be a First Minister for all.”

“I am wholeheartedly committed to continue the work of reconciliation between all of our people. The past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. But what we can do is build a better future,” she said.

As part of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which concluded a decades-long period called “The Troubles,” in which Catholic Republicans and Protestant

Unionists fought bitterly, both sides agreed to share an equal amount of power in the government. Although O’Neill won the position in May 2022 after her proIrish unity party won the election, the opposition party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), hadn’t allowed the victorious party to come to power based on concerns over new trading rules started after Britain exited from the European Union.

Now, two years later, the DUP came to an agreement with the United Kingdom’s government and, at last, allowed O’Neill to become the first minister.

As per the equal power-sharing rule, Emma Little-Pengelly, who was nominated by the DUP, became the country’s Deputy First Minister, a position that has the same power and status as the First Minister. The only difference between the two positions is symbolic.

“Michelle is an Irish Republican, and I am a very proud Unionist,” said Emma Little-Pengelly. “We will never agree on those issues. But what we can agree [on] is that cancer doesn’t discriminate, and our hospitals need [to be] fixed.”

The island of Ireland is split into two parts: Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, which is an independent country in Northwestern Europe.

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Senegal Election Canceled

Three weeks before voting was to begin, Macky Sall, the current president of Senegal, announced on Saturday, via a social media livestream, that he decided to cancel the presidential election for the time being. He asserted that the cause for the deferment is a current court corruption case. Critics of the president, however, allege that Sall is guilty of treason for carrying out a coup d’état.

“For the first time in its history, Senegal has just suffered a coup d’état,” said researcher Ousmane Diallo from Amnesty International, adding that Sall’s reasons are no more than “a manufactured crisis, a crisis created in a week to stop the electoral process.”

Claims of judicial corruption stem from the court’s rejection of Karim Wade,

whose father was Abdoulaye Wade, the president who served before Sall. Sall had been denied a place on the ballot on the grounds that he was ineligible to run based on his dual citizenship. Since Wade’s mother is from France, he had to renounce his French citizenship to be allowed to run. However, even though Wade no longer has French citizenship, the court still banned him from running, and thus, Wade’s party has since alleged that the court’s judges are guilty of corruption. According to Sall, he will be unable to ensure the election’s credibility until the court controversy ends. The president has yet to set a date for the rescheduled elections.

Before 2016, presidents of Senegal were allowed two consecutive seven-year terms. After 2016, the people voted to shorten the term length to five years.

Since the change came in the middle of Sall’s first term, he has alleged that he should be eligible for a third term. However, in July, Sall announced that he would not be running for reelection but instead pointed to Prime Minister Amadou Ba as the new presidential candidate for his party. In his announcement on Saturday, the president insisted that he is still committed to not running for another term in 2024.

Although the U.S. Embassy predicted that riots might be triggered by the announcement, the majority of people were merely dissatisfied with Sall’s decision.

“Macky Sall knows that his candidate, Amadou Ba, cannot win the presidential election,” said Thierno Sall, a presidential candidate, asserting that the president is guilty of treason. “He is afraid of the consequences of his actions during all his years as the head of our country.”

Wildfires in Chile

With wildfires raging through Chile, over 120 people have been killed, according to the city of Valparaíso’s Legal Medical Services. President Gabriel Boric said on Sunday that the death toll will likely “increase significantly.”

Videos of the wildfires show houses and vehicles being burnt to a crisp, with residents riding on a bus through the flames of Valparaíso. According to the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), there are, as of now, 161 raging wildfires, 102 of which are under the control of firefighters and 40 of which are being actively fought by officials. The remaining 19 are currently being watched, SENAPRED Director Álvaro Hormazábal said. Controlling the fires in Valparaíso is currently the priority of emergency teams on the scene.

As the cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso became consumed with smog and fire, President Boric declared a state of emergency, with evacuations taking place in central regions of Chile. Boric designated Monday and Tuesday as days of national mourning and said that the defense ministry will send the army to devastated locations to help those harmed by the wildfires. Three hundred seventy two residents of Valparaíso are currently missing, according to local officials.

Santiago, the capital of Chile, has been facing an intense heatwave, with temperatures rising over 91.4°F. “Uncontrollable and devastating wildfires are becoming an expected part of the seasonal calendars in many parts of the

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world,” warned the U.N. Environment Programme in 2022, with the United Nations predicting that there will be a 14% increase in devastating wildfire incidents by 2030 and a 30% increase by 2050.

Colombia, another South American country, has also experienced intense wildfires as of late and has requested international assistance.

Chile Finance Minister Mario Marcel estimates there to be “hundreds of millions of dollars” in damages from the wildfires.

Authorities have arrested a suspect who allegedly was welding at his home in central Chile, which may have caused the fire to break out. According to the Maule Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday, the man will likely be charged with the crime in Talca, Chile.

Biden Sanctions Israeli Settlers

With an executive order signed on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden declared Israeli settler violence a “national emergency” and sanctioned four Israelis for allegedly perpetrating violence against West Bank Palestinians.

No U.S. president has gone this far in penalizing the actions of Israeli “settlers,” with Biden implementing travel bans and monetary repercussions for four Israelis who reside in Judea and Samaria. Since October 7, the U.S. president has been under intense pressure from progressives to denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza and to demand an immediate ceasefire.

“The situation in the West Bank — in particular high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction — has reached intolerable levels and constitutes a serious threat to the peace, security and stability,” said Biden.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Biden’s sanctions, asserting that “the vast majority of residents of Judea and Samaria are

law-abiding citizens, many of whom are fighting right now in active and reserve duty to protect Israel.”

“Israel acts against all violators of the law in all places,” Netanyahu’s office continued. “Therefore, there is no place for drastic steps on this matter.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called Biden’s settler violence campaign an “antisemitic lie that enemies of Israel disseminate with the goal of smearing the pioneering settlers and settlement enterprise and to harm them and thus smear the entire State of Israel.”

“This is an immoral BDS campaign that turns victims into attackers and sanctions the spilling of settler blood. It’s too bad the Biden administration is cooperating with these actions,” Smotrich said.

David Chai Chasdai, Eitan Tanjil, Shalom Zicherman, and Yinon Levi have been named by the U.S. State Department as the four sanctioned settlers. Chasdai has been accused of leading a rampage in Huwara last year that killed one Palestinian; Tanjil allegedly hit Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists with stones and clubs, causing injuries; Zicherman purportedly blocked Israeli activists from driving down a West Bank street and tried to break some car windows; and Levi has been accused of assaulting Palestinian and Bedouin residents.

According to Joel Braunold, the managing director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, Biden has “built a tool that can cut off the entire settler movement from U.S. financial services” in an effort to eliminate threats to the prospect of a two-state solution.

Argentina’s Milei Visits the Holy Land

On Tuesday, Argentinian President Javier Milei landed in Israel, where he announced that he would be moving Argentina’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Milei took office in December. During his campaign, he had pledged to move the embassy.

The Hamas terror group blasted Milei’s statement, saying it viewed the move as “an infringement of the rights of our

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NYT: 32 Hostages Have Died

Palestinian people to their land, and a violation of the rules of international law, considering Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land.”

Currently, the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusalem. Other countries, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, have embassy branches in the capital.

It is expected that Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, Milei’s “personal rabbi,” will be-

come the nation’s envoy to the Jewish state.

He also joined Milei on this week’s trip.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz met Milei at Ben Gurion Airport and thanked the Argentinian leader for supporting Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“You are a person of values ​​who is committed only to the truth,” Katz told Milei, “and it is no wonder that you chose to come to Israel right away to support us in the just struggle for the defense of the Jewish peo-

ple against the murderers of Hamas.”

Milei scheduled to visit the Kotel during his visit and to meet with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet on Wednesday. He will also visit the Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was decimated during the October 7th attacks.

Argentinian citizens are still being held hostage in Gaza, including brothers Eitan and Yair Horn, who were kidnapped from Nir Oz.

According to the New York Times, 32 of the more than 130 hostages still held captive by Hamas are no longer alive.

The Times cited an assessment made by Israeli intelligence officials that more hostages have been killed than previously thought. Until now, the IDF had only confirmed the deaths of 29 of the captives still in Gaza.

In addition to the 32 confirmed deaths, the IDF is assessing “unconfirmed intelligence” that at least 20 additional hostages may have also been killed, the report said, quoting four military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The families of the deceased have all been informed of their deaths, the officials said and confirmed that the majority of the dead were killed during the deadly Hamas terror onslaught on October 7 and their bodies were taken to Gaza.

In response to the report, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that it was told by the IDF ahead of the article’s publication that 31 of the hostages, not 32, had died.

“According to the official data we have, there are 31 victims,” the Forum said in a statement. “Before the article was released, an official message was given to all the families of the abductees by the liaison officers that there is no change in the situation assessment.”

Of the 253 hostages captured when thousands of Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 1,200 people across more than 20 communities in southern Israel on October 7, it is believed that 132 are still in captivity. A weeklong truce in late November saw the release of 105 people. Four hostages were released prior to the truce, and troops rescued one other.

The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three others were mistakenly killed by the military.

Tuesday’s report came amid ongoing efforts by negotiating parties to secure the release of the remaining hostages and a new temporary truce in the fighting in Gaza, through which Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and end its 16-year rule of the Palestinian enclave.

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Congress Tech CEO Hearing

If there’s one thing that Republican and Democratic lawmakers agree on, it’s holding tech CEOs accountable for the effects their social media platforms have on the younger generation and society as a whole.

Last Wednesday, five CEOs testified in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee: Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Linda Yaccarino of X, Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of Tiktok, and Jason Citron of Discord. Their testimonies focused on how their social media platforms impact children and teenagers.

Unlike other hearings, this one had an audience of family members of people who are said to have died or suffered directly because of social media. At certain points of the hearing, relatives jeered and laughed at the CEOs and held up pictures of their harmed loved ones.

Zuckerberg, when addressing the families directly, said he was sorry for the harm Facebook has done.

“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” said Zuckerberg. “No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.”

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, in response to Zuckerberg’s apology, urged him to “compensate” the families, making a direct reference to the Facebook founder’s billions of dollars of wealth.

Democrat Sen. Laphonza Butler of California requested that Spiegel apologize to those whose children died after using Snapchat to buy drugs.

“I’m so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies,” the Snapchat CEO said, mentioning some of his company’s plans to make his products safer for children.

Internal documents in Meta have indicated that the company values each of its teen users at around $270 in terms of their lifetime contribution of data to the platform.

“How could you possibly even have that thought? It is astounding to me,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn asked Zuckerberg of the “$270” statistic. “Children are not your priority. Children are your product.”

“You have convinced over 2 billion people to give up all of their personal information — every bit of it — in exchange for getting to see what their high school friends had for dinner Saturday night,” Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told Zuckerberg. “You’re in the foothills of creepy. You track people who aren’t even Facebook users… I just wonder if our technology is greater than our humanity in the interest of this funnel.”

Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared stories of teenagers who killed themselves after being targeted by predators on social media and expressed her dissatisfaction with the Senate’s failure, thus far, in passing any bills to protect children from online harm.

Chew, a Singaporean, asserted that there is little connection between TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party, which holds a 1% stake in the video entertainment service’s parent company, ByteDance. Chew said it was “a coincidence” that he became chief executive one day after the party bought a stake in Tiktok’s parent company.

“Elizabeth [Warren] and I see an abuse here that needs to be dealt with.

Sen. [Dick] Durbin and I have different political philosophies, but I appreciate what you’ve done on this committee.

You’ve been a great partner. To all my Democratic colleagues, thank you very, very much. To my Republican colleagues, thank you all very, very much,” said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, pointing out this rare display of political unity.

“I am tired of talking. I’m tired of having discussions,” Graham added.

“Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that, nothing will change. Until these people can be sued for the damage they’re doing, it is all talk.”

it was an AI voice trained to sound almost exactly like the commander-in-chief.

According to YouMail, a company that provides robocall-blocking services, about 58.5 billion robocalls were made in 2019. In 2023, around 55 billion robocalls were placed. While scam calls have always been an issue, new AI technologies make robocalls more dangerous and believable. Today, voice cloning is a relatively accessible technology, allowing people to, for instance, generate near-perfect recordings of politicians or celebrities saying things that have never actually been said. Experts say that artificial intelligence poses a risk to the 2024 election, as it can be used to potentially misinform and lie to voters.

Following the Biden robocall scam, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began work on illegalizing “voice cloning [technologies] used in common robocalls scams targeting consumers,” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which was passed in 1991, allowing the FCC to regulate scam calls.

“The rise of these types of calls has escalated during the last few years as this technology now has the potential to confuse consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of celebrities, political candidates, and close family members,” the FCC stated on Wednesday. “By taking this step, the FCC will provide new tools to State Attorneys General across the country to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls and hold them accountable under the law.”

In 2023, the FCC fined Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, two fraudsters who used robocalling technologies to scare people into not voting in the 2020 election. The two were fined $5 million, which was, at the time, the largest fine ever issued under the TCPA.

FCC Wants to Illegalize Robocalls Category 6 Hurricanes?

Two weeks ago, thousands of voters from New Hampshire received phone calls with a voice that sounded like President Joe Biden, urging them to not vote in the state’s primary. However, it wasn’t the president’s voice that they were hearing;

Currently, hurricanes are measured from Category 1 to 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Scientists are now considering adding Category 6 to the list, according to a study published this

week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

A Category 5 hurricane is a storm that has sustained winds of 157 mph or greater. The new scale would cap Category 5 storms at 192 mph and anything above 192 mph, would become a Category 6 hurricane.

The study’s authors, Jim Kossin and Michael Wehner, argue that as “climate change” leads to soaring ocean temperatures, the potential wind intensity of hurricanes – also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons in oceans outside the Atlantic and East Pacific – is increasing.

Of the 197 tropical cyclones that reached Category 5 between 1980 and 2021, five of them would have fit into the new, proposed threshold for Category 6 storms. All five occurred since 2013, including 2015’s Hurricane Patricia, which hit Mexico, and Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013.

The Saffir-Simpson scale, which has been around since the early 1970s, also has limitations in that it is only a wind scale and does not include the impacts of storm surge and rain-induced flooding, which can be the most deadly and damage-causing aspects of landfalling storms.

Chicago Mayor Wants Gaza Ceasefire

Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, broke a 23-23 tie at the Chicago City Council last week and voted for a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The vote made Chicago – which followed Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis,

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Oakland and San Francisco – the largest city in the nation to support a ceasefire, CBS reported.

“Today, a divided Chicago City Council adopted a highly controversial resolution calling on Israel to engage in an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” stated the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.

“This resolution undermines the position of the Biden administration, the International Court of Justice and the

European Union and the overwhelming majority of Americans, who understand that the release of all the hostages held in Gaza and dismantling Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure are preconditions to any ceasefire,” the consulate said.

It added that the resolution “will have no impact in the Middle East” but “will create more division among communities in Chicago and inspire more antisemitism, as we saw on the floor and in the galleries of City Hall today.”

The debate got so heated that the mayor “cleared the public gallery after repeated interruptions from protesters, just as he did in October during a contentious vote on a resolution condemning the Hamas surprise attack that sparked the war,” per CBS. “The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote. Skeptics wonder when

the mayor will support a ceasefire on the West Side,” wrote The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

The editorial board noted that the Chicago mayor has cited casualty numbers from “the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry” and that the vote caused a “flag-waving ruckus in Chicago City Hall Tuesday but has zero effect on Israel or Hamas.”

The board added that Chicago Public Schools aided the resolution by letting students walk out for a ceasefire and that the mayor said he is “incredibly proud” of the students.

“We hope those students got home safely from the walk-outs. Chicago had 617 murders in 2023, and its murder rate is five times that of New York City. On some weekends in the warmer months, dozens of people are killed by gunshots or stabbings,” the Journal’s editorial board wrote. “Two high school students were killed in the Loop last week in the early afternoon.”

“Amid national notice of this mayhem last summer, Mr. Johnson said critics had to live in Chicago before they had the right to criticize,” it added. “Israel might ask the same of Mr. Johnson.”

The Chicago Tribune editorial board wrote that one of the mayor’s largest mistakes “can be summed up in one sentence: He seems to have decided to speak only to his base.”

“Everyone else? Either a sworn enemy or chopped liver. This is the kind of thinking that can cleave a city,” the Tribune board added, referring to Johnson’s “ridiculous posturing” on the resolution.

“On Wednesday Johnson became, in the tortured syntax of one report, ‘the biggest city mayor now calling for a ceasefire,’ as if the size of a Midwestern metropolis is a measure of its likelihood of affecting the trajectory of a war 6,000 miles away,” the board wrote. “After flicking away the Hamas atrocities, Johnson discussed the crucible of the Middle East in terms of Black ‘liberation,’” and “in stark terms of the oppressor and the oppressed.” (JNS)

NYCHA Bribery Crackdowns This week, dozens of New York City Housing Authority employees were accused of corruption for allegedly taking millions of dollars in exchange for work contracts.

At least seventy current or former NYCHA employees are facing charges.

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demanded bribes from contractors for repairs or construction work on NYCHA properties. If those contractors refused to pay the bribes, the work would go to another company.

The bribes – more than $2 million in total – allegedly took place at nearly a third of all NYCHA buildings across all five boroughs of New York City.

“As we allege, the 70 defendants charged today allegedly demanded over $2 million in bribe money from contractors in exchange for giving out over $13 million of work on NYCHA buildings. And if the contractors didn’t pay up, the defendants wouldn’t give them the work. That’s classic pay-to-play, and this culture of corruption at NYCHA ends today,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “The corruption we’ve alleged infected every corner of the city. As the charges show, superintendents accepting and extorting bribes from contractors had become business as usual, occurring at almost 100 NYCHA buildings across all five boroughs. That’s nearly a third of all NYCHA buildings.”

It was the largest single day bribery takedown in the history of the U.S. Justice Department.

NYCHA – the largest public housing authority in the nation – receives more than $1.5 billion a year from the federal government. One in 17 New Yorkers lives in a NYCHA building.

All of the charged NYCHA employees are being suspended.

Prepaid Credit Cards for Illegals in NYC

If you’re an illegal immigrant, New York City seems to be the place to be. This week, it was announced that illegal immigrants in the Big Apple will soon start

receiving pre-paid debit cards.

Supposedly, the illegals need to pledge to use the cards to only buy food, under the $53 million pilot program.

New York City has awarded a $53 million contract to a company called Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), which will create and distribute the pre-paid cards, called Immediate Response Cards.

Under the program, MoCaFi will begin delivering the cards to the Roosevelt Hotel, which is the first touchpoint for newly-arriving illegal immigrants in New York City, where MoCaFi staff will hand the cards out “directly to asylum seekers receiving financial assistance.”

The first to receive the cards will be families with children under the care of NYC’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) agency.

“MoCaFi looks forward to partnering with New York City to disburse funds for asylum seekers to purchase fresh, hot food,” MoCaFi CEO and founder Wole Coaxum said. “MoCaFi’s goal is to expand access to financial resources for individuals excluded from banking, such as asylum seekers, while helping the local economy.”

New York City Councilman Joe Borelli was vocal about his opposition for the program and echoed many New Yorkers’ sentiments when he said, “We’re just giving this migrant population more free stuff at the expense of New York City taxpayers.”

The news also comes as taxpayers in New York City face sharp cuts to services like policing and education because the city has had to divert money to cover expenses associated with the influx of illegal immigrants to the Big Apple. It also comes just days after videos of illegal immigrants beating up police officers and running people down have been circulating.

According to Mayor Eric Adams’ office, “We will provide pre-paid debit cards to an initial 500 migrant families with children who may use the pre-paid cards exclusively at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores to ensure the money is spent on food and baby supplies.”

Recipients will have to sign an affidavit promising to spend the money on the cards only on food and baby supplies, otherwise they will be removed from the program. The size of the family will affect the amount provided on the pre-paid cards, with a family of four set to receive around $1,000 per month.

Adams’ office says that the program will save the city money in the long-run.

At least 172,000 illegal migrants have come to New York City in the past year.

Hero of 9/11 Dies

Bob Beckwith, who famously stood with President George W. Bush on the rubble of the 9/11 terrorist attacks just days after the Towers fell, died this week.

He was 91.

Beckwith had already retired before the attacks in which 2,753 people were killed when the planes crashed into the Towers. Another hijacked plane crashed that day into the Pentagon, killing 184 people, while 40 passengers and crew aboard a fourth hijacked plane died when their plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Like many retired firefighters, Beckwith rushed to the scene of terror in Lower Manhattan – and he soon became a symbol of strength and resilience.

“When the terrorists attacked, Bob suited back up and, like so many brave first responders, raced toward the danger to save and search for others,” Bush said on Monday in a tribute to Beckwith.

“His courage represented the defiant, resilient spirit of New Yorkers and Americans after 9/11. I was proud to have Bob by my side at Ground Zero days later and privileged to stay in touch with this patriot over the years.”

Beckwith was 69 years old at the time and was living on Long Island when he heard the news on September 11, 2001.

“I told my wife, ‘I’m going down,’” Beckwith recalled in a 2005 interview with CNN. His family tried to stop him from going to Ground Zero. But after Beckwith learned one of his colleague’s sons was among the hundreds of firefighters missing, he put on his old uniform, strapped on his helmet and rushed out the door.

“I go start digging with the guys in the North Tower, and we come across a pumper with a 76 Engine,” Beckwith said. “And we’re working because we’re looking for survivors and we’re looking for people, and we’re hoping they found an air pocket or something.”

During that devastating first week of horror, heartbreak and hope, word

trickled down among rescuers that Bush was going to visit Ground Zero.

Beckwith climbed atop the charred hull of a fire engine to try to get a better look at where he thought the then-president might speak.

Beckwith was alone atop the truck when a man he assumed was Secret Service approached him. It turned out to be Bush’s deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove.

“He comes over and he dusts off (the spot) next to my foot and he says, ‘Is this safe?’” Beckwith recalled.

“And the president came, and he is shaking hands with all the ironworkers and all the cops and all the firemen that were down there … and I figure he’s going over to the microphones, but he makes a quick right, and he puts his arm up and I said, ‘Oh my G-d!’”

After helping Bush onto the truck, Beckwith started to crawl down – but the president stopped him.

“He says, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘Uh, I was told to get down.’ He said, ‘No, no, you stay right here.’”

As chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” settled down, Bush started speaking. Still, someone from the crowd yelled they could not hear him.

Bush draped his arm around Beckwith, then said, “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” The crowd erupted in cheers.

Images of Beckwith – stoic but resolute – with the president’s hand on his shoulder became an iconic symbol of fortitude.

A Nose Knows

All dogs go to heaven. But a bulldog might find itself headed there years before a border terrier, according to a new study of nearly 600,000 British dogs from more than 150 breeds.

Large breeds and breeds with flattened faces had shorter average life spans than smaller dogs and those with elongated snouts, the researchers found. Female dogs also lived slightly longer than male ones. The results were published in the

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average, while medium- and long-faced breeds had average life spans of 12.8 and 12.1 years.

As a group, small, long-nosed breeds, such as miniature dachshunds and whippets, lived 13.3 years on average — roughly 2½ years longer than large, shortnosed breeds such as boxers and bull mastiffs, which together had an average life expectancy of 10.7 years.

The researchers also found that purebred dogs, as a group, had average life spans of 12.7 years compared with 12.0 years for crossbred dogs. (© The New York Times)

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CA Wrecked by Mudslides

journal Scientific Reports on Thursday.

There are exceptions to those broad trends, and the findings might not apply to dogs outside Britain, where breeding practices — and gene pools — may be different, the researchers noted.

More research will be needed to determine why some breeds have shorter life spans than others.

“Now that we have identified these populations that are at risk of early death, we can start looking into why that is,”

said Kirsten McMillan, an author of the new study and the data manager at Dogs Trust, a dog welfare charity in Britain that led the research. “This provides an opportunity for us to improve the lives of our dogs.”

The study is based on a database of 584,734 British dogs, which the researchers assembled from breed registries, pet insurance companies, veterinary companies and other sources.

Across all dogs, the median life span

was 12.5 years, the researchers found, but average life span varied “quite spectacularly” among breeds, McMillan said. Lancashire heelers, a breed of petite herding dogs, were canine Methuselahs, living 15.4 years on average. The much larger Caucasian shepherd dogs, though, had an average life span of just 5.4 years.

As a group, small breeds lived 12.7 years on average, compared with 11.9 years for large breeds.

Flat-faced breeds lived 11.2 years on

At least 307 mudslides and debris flows have been reported in Los Angeles, as of Monday. Officials have also said that they are determining if 35 structures that were damaged in the storms that have been slamming the area are safe.

All across Southern California streets were filled with mud and gushing waters were enveloping parked cars. Some people’s homes were also filled with mud. Large boulders and tree branches littered the streets.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency on Monday after the storm dropped nearly 1 foot of water in some areas, triggering mudslides, evacuations and rescues.

“As the storm continues, there are many water-soaked hillsides that have the potential to slide,” noted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Monday. “We would like to reiterate to use extreme caution if you live or travel in these areas.”

Two evacuation orders remained in place Tuesday – one at the Owen Fire burn scar in Topanga Canyon and one at the Agua Fire burn scar near Acton.

Record-breaking rain was recorded across Southern California on Sunday and Monday. Some of the most jaw-dropping totals unfolded across the greater Los Angeles area.

Downtown Los Angeles had its third-wettest two-day stretch on record

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compromise on the border issue, giving President Joe Biden and the Department of Homeland Security the authority to place strict limitations on illegal migration. However, according to some Republicans, the legislation doesn’t go far enough and will instead be used to permit thousands of migrants to come through the border each day.

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Sunday through Monday, receiving 7.03 inches of rain, or 49% of its average yearly rainfall. New daily record rainfall amounts were set on both days when 4.10 inches and 2.93 inches fell, respectively.

A few areas of Los Angeles outside of downtown picked up even more rain.

Two-day rainfall totals in the city’s Bel Air neighborhood fell just shy of a foot.

Los Angeles was not the only city that saw record-breaking rainfall this

week. Nearby Long Beach smashed its daily record rainfall amounts both Sunday and Monday, while Santa Barbara eclipsed its daily record Sunday.

More than 150,000 customers across California were without power early Tuesday morning, particularly in the northern parts of the state, where violent winds knocked down trees and power lines over the weekend.

Senate Border Deal Senators proposed a new deal on Sunday in an effort to address the border crisis and give more aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Gaza. However, many Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, have asserted that, if the deal makes it to the House, it will be shot down immediately.

The $118.2 billion deal serves as a

If the deal somehow passes, of the $118.2 billion, $60 billion would be given to Ukraine, $14.1 billion to Israel, and $20.3 billion – which is $6 billion more than originally requested by the president – will address the situation at the border, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Billions of dollars will also be used to help U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The bill is the result of bipartisan efforts in the Senate from Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy, independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, and staunch Republican Sen. James Lankford. On Sunday, Biden said that he “strongly supports” the border bill, which he says is “the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades” and will give him the power to “shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed,” an action which he vows to do right away if the deal is passed into law.

On Saturday, Johnson said that the House, this week, would vote on a separate aid deal for Israel, thus setting the issue of the Israel-Hamas war apart from the border crisis and other foreign policy issues. However, it remains to be seen whether such a package would be passed, as a large number of Senate Republicans have insisted that they would only support aid packages if the border issue is also addressed.

The Senate is anticipated to vote on whether to debate the border and foreign aid deal by Wednesday. Sixty votes will be required to move forward.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, asserted that “the Senate must carefully consider the opportunity in front of us and prepare to act” and expressed his gratitude to Lankford “for working tirelessly to ensure that supplemental national security legislation begins with direct and immediate solutions to the crisis at our southern border.”

“I have never worked more closely with Leader McConnell on any piece of

Soaring High

Ava Shelly is reaching great heights.

The Port St. Lucie teenager is now the youngest female pilot to complete three solo flights.

She already had high aspirations when she was ten years old and learned the craft from her grandfather.

“He was an airline pilot, so for my 10 birthday, he got me a Discovery Flight, and ever since, I kind of stayed hooked,” she said.

Her grandfather was accomplished in the cockpit.

“He was also triple-rated, so he had his helicopter, glider and pilot’s license,” Shelly said.

She idolized her grandpa and wanted to become triple-rated, so at 13, she embarked on her aviation journey in his honor.

Over the past six years, Shelly has completed more than 125 hours in multiple aircraft.

On her 16th birthday, Shelly complet-

ed her first glider flight, making her the youngest woman in history to complete a glider, helicopter and powered flight.

“It was pretty amazing, honestly,” Shelly said. “I was nervous, but in a good way, because I was confident in what I was doing. I knew I was safe, and I knew everything was going to go well. I just still had those butterflies.”

Sounds like she’s soaring high.

Pick a Winner

When a group of employees won the $1 million Powerball prize, they found the perfect spot to hide the winning ticket: a math book.

“No one looks in a math book,” one of the winners said. “I knew it would be safe there – page 200. I have checked this a thousand times.”

The group of 30 current and former workers at the Kentucky middle school has been playing the lotto together with the same numbers since 2019.

“We all taught at the same school at one point or another,” a member of the group told Kentucky Lottery officials.

“We’ve got counselors, admins, special-ed teachers, the school nurse ...

Some have moved on or retired but we still continue to do it. We’ve remained buddies for all of these years.”

The group’s organizer discovered the ticket for the January 27 Powerball drawing was a $1 million second prize winner. She was the one who thought to hide the ticket in the math book.

The winning numbers were drawn at random.

“Our math teacher and assistant principal pulled them out of a hat,” one winner explained. “At first, we didn’t have the right amount of numbers to choose from, so we drew again. Thank goodness we did.”

Each member took home $24,000 after taxes.

“We always have so much fun. It’s just cool to win as a group and share this experience.”

What’s a million dollars between friends?

Rarest of All

If you’ve never been to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, we understand. Although the Knights of Malta has a 1,000-year-old history and is a sovereign nation with its own stamps, currency, and passport, it is a country without any land.

Yes, that’s right. The Knights has UN observer status and its own constitution but there are no buildings, trees, or grass to its name. It’s also a multi-million-dollar-budget humanitarian aid organization, with operations including refugee camps and disaster relief programs in some 120 countries around the world.

The Knights originated as a chivalric order in Jerusalem around 1099 and were gifted the Maltese archipelago in 1530 by the King of Spain. Napoleon Bonaparte forced the Knights out of Malta in the French invasion of 1798, and these days the Order is headquartered in Rome.

The first passports for the nation were issued by the Order of Malta in the 1300s when its diplomats traveled to other states with documents attesting to their role as ambassadors. After World War II, the use of the diplomatic passport took on characteristics of passports used in other countries. Today, there are only around 500 of the diplomatic passports in circulation – making it the rarest passport in the world.

The passport is only for members of the Sovereign Council and leaders of diplomatic missions and their families.

It’s adorned with gold lettering stating the organization’s name in French, “Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte,” and a crest.

“The Order grants passports to members of their government for the duration of their mandate,” Daniel de Petri Testaferrata says. Grand Masters’ passports are valid for the longest period as they’re elected for 10 years, can serve two terms, and must retire by 85.

Other passports are valid for four years and are only used for diplomatic missions.

Sounds too good to pass up.

Spy Bird

Indian authorities cried foul when a pigeon was captured near a port in Mumbai last May with two rings tied around its legs. Thinking it was a spy sent by China, the police held the bird in detention for eight months. This week, authorities confirmed that the two-legged feathered creature was not a spy for China and released it into the wild.

At the time, authorities said that the rings around the bird’s legs had words that looked Chinese. It arrested the pigeon and sent it to Mumbai’s Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals.

This is not the first time a bird has come under police suspicion in India.

In 2020, police in Indian-controlled Kashmir released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after a probe found that the bird, which had flown across the heavily militarized border between the nuclear-armed nations, was not a spy.

In 2016, another pigeon was taken into custody after it was found with a note that threatened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sounds like a bird-brained scheme.

Did you know?

In 1928, American adventurer Richard Halliburton swam the length of the Panama Canal. All vessels crossing the canal must pay a toll based on their weight. He paid a whopping 36 cents.

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legislation as we did on this. We both realized the gravity of the situation and how important passage is both for the United States and the world,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, adding that he is “confident the majority of senators” want to take this “monumental step towards strengthening America’s national security abroad and along our borders.”

Sen. Steve Daines of Montana said on X that he wouldn’t support the bill since it doesn’t secure the border but instead “provides taxpayer-funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups.”

Trump has been instrumental in convincing much of the Republican Party to reject this bill, with some asserting that the former president is only against the bill because he is campaigning against Biden’s weak border policies and such a deal would help the incumbent’s political standings.

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Around the

Community Children at the Special Children’s Center in the Five Towns Making Cake Pops and Having Fun

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Around the Community

First MTA Dorm Shabbaton of 2024

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TA has a thriving dorm, which services many out-of-town, as well as several in-town talmidim. Many MTA talmidim arrange to spend some nights in the dorm to allow them to take full advantage of the campus, and its varied resources. There is a weekly dorm dinner where everyone gathers together to enjoy time as a dorm community. In addition, there are a few dorm Shabbatons throughout the year which further bond the dorm talmidim.

This past Shabbos was the first dorm Shabbaton of 2024. After an uplifting Friday night davening, the talmidim enjoyed a seudah in the YU cafeteria with a fun ice-breaker. There was a tisch featuring divrei Torah from RA Yonatan Ganchrow as well as MTA alum Shua Pariser.

Shabbos morning began with davening led by MTA talmid Yehuda Laub, and Head RA Yossi Dietz. Seudas Shabbos followed, which included a game about how well you know your roommate.

There was time to rest, and have menuchas Shabbos with time to hang out with the RA’s built into the day.

Motzei Shabbos included an indoor beach volleyball tournament and pizza at the melave malka. As Azriel Avraham (‘26), one of MTA’s dorm members, put it, “It is important for us to have events like this, so we get to grow as a group and as a community.” The dorm is one of the

Now through February 15

many highlights that sets MTA apart. No other school combines the involvement that in-towners have, with a full-to-ca-

pacity dorm that allows so many other talmidim to enjoy the MTA experience.

The talmidim of Siach Yitzchok had a beautiful “peiros tisch” on Tu B’Shvat with the Menahel Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlita

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YCQ Students Receive Their Starter Siddurim

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n Monday January 29, every YCQ kindergarten student received their very own “starter siddur.” This siddur is an introduction to tefillah readiness skills they will need when receiving their first siddur in Kitah Aleph. The siddur will follow them into first grade and help with the transition to the use of a real siddur.

The siddur was compiled by Morah Sharon Korn, Early Childhood Director,

Morah Mashie Kopelowitz Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator and Instructional Leader K-8, and the kindergarten Morot. “One of our goals is to teach the kedusha of tefillah. By teaching them how to correctly handle a siddur, which direction to open it up, and by looking at the words and the pictures they will learn the significance of the tefillot,” they explained.

Hashem always hear their tefillot!

The Lloyd and Mochan families in the Five Towns participating in packing and sending packages to the chayalim

Did you know?

Between 35-40 ships cross the Panama Canal each day.

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Mazi and Suozzi Make Final Pitch To Voters

By Moshe Hill

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he special election that will decide the fate of the Third Congressional District – and the country – is coming on February 13. For the moment, this is the most watched race in the country, where Republican phenom Mazi Pilip is taking on Democrat Tom Suozzi, who left Congress in an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid. As early voting began, each of them, and their parties, made their final pitches to the voters.

Suozzi has the fundraising advantage, and money from around the country is pouring in by the truckload as Democrats try to win back a piece of Long Island and narrow their minority in the House. Suozzi reportedly outspent Mazi by over $4 million on TV ads alone, yet all the finances will be revealed well after the votes are counted. Suozzi also brought in outside help from Las Vegas and Houston, as well as D.C., to doorknock around the district.

Despite all of that, Suozzi seems to

be running scared. In an interview with CNN, Suozzi is attempting to temper expectations. “It’s a very tough seat,” Suozzi told CNN. “Democrats have been losing everything on Long Island and northeast Queens for the past three years. The Democratic brand is in trouble here, and we have to do a lot to overcome that.”

Suozzi is both right and wrong. Joe Biden won this district (which had some line shifting in 2022) by 8 points, yet disgraced Republican George Santos won it by 9 points. In state and local races, however, Republicans have consistently won in Nassau County going back to 2019 when Don Clavin retook the Town of Hempstead Supervisor seat back for the GOP. The momentum grew when Bruce Blakeman and Anne Donnelly became the County Executive and District Attorney, respectively, in 2021, and Republicans swept all four congressional seats in Long Island in 2022. This past November, Republicans gained a majority in every town and city in Nassau, earning the most seats they’ve had since 1971.

Whitestone, in Queens, has also seen a Republican resurgence thanks to New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who almost singlehandedly grew a solid GOP base in that part of NYC. The Third Congressional District stretches into this part of Queens, giving Mazi a red advantage in a deep blue city of a deep blue state.

This systemic advantage was brought to the forefront of the Mazi campaign.

While Suozzi needs to bring in outside help and money, Mazi is funded and sup-

ported by the district itself. In a campaign fundraiser at Milleridge Cottage in Jericho, Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo was flanked on both sides by dozens of elected representatives who have all, as a team, been campaigning for Mazi.

This truly has become a race between the grassroots candidate and the big money political machine-backed one.

Democrats are banking on buying this race, while Republicans are hoping that the gains and goodwill earned over the past few years pays off.

Learning about Middos at TAL Academy

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he children at TAL Academy are beginning a new and important program on kavod habrios, respecting others. To initiate this important program, TAL heard from their Mara D’Asra, Rabbi Eitan Feiner, who came to the school to talk to the students and staff about the importance of respecting all of Hashem’s creations. Rabbi Feiner shared stories and ideas to help the students see the many different ways and different opportunities to show respect to everyone and everything in the world. The schoolwide program will continue to run over the next few months and will cover many different facets of this important topic throughout the course of the program.

Another exciting program at TAL is their new community lectures series. At the first lecture the school’s Language and Methodology consultant, Dr. Lydia Soifer, and the Director of Kriah at TAL, Mrs. Brocho Kresch, will present on how to better understand language-based learning disabilities and describe how they affect children. The free inaugural lecture is open to the entire community.

The lecture will take place on Tuesday, February 13, at TAL Academy in Belle Harbor.

For more information about this program, or to register, visit talacademy. org or call 516.218.1929.

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Morah Tara Schimmel visits the Kindergarten classrooms in Lev Chana to teach the students about Zones of Regulation

Rabbi Dovid Frischman, menahel of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s middle school, delivering a hesped on Rav Matisyahu Salomon, zt”l, to the eighth grade

BYAM Second Grade Kriyah Celebration

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he second graders at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam celebrated the completion of authoring and illustrating their own mini books in Hebrew!

The students’ work is a culmination of their efforts using the school’s new language-based small group approach to Kriah and Hebrew fluency. Each girl authored her own book based on the leveled decodable readers which they read during Kriah groups. They had the opportunity to read their own books to Mrs Leah Zytman, principal, while enjoying hot cocoa and marshmallows. It was a wonderful celebration of the girls’ success and the school’s differentiated approach to Hebrew fluency through language.

Mrs. Miri Rosenthal is the Kriah Coordinator and Kriah support service educator who is leading and initiating the

new Kriah program school wide. Using a language-based approach combined with direct instruction of phonics, all grades are learning Hebrew in small groups and using multiple hands-on methods. High interest short story readers engage the students through language. Grammar and phonics are taught in a customized fashion and practiced in fun and engaging ways. Small groups and the tracking of student progress allows for differentiated and personalized instruction.

BYAM students are able to connect their Hebrew reading skills to their learning of Chumash and Navi, due to their increased knowledge in these areas.

The girls eagerly tackle new pesukim, and the more they see their ability to understand the pesukim on their own, the

more confident they have become. Feeling confident and positive about one’s Hebrew skills plays a crucial role in a

person’s connection to Torah and Tefillah and BYAM talmidos are enjoying the new Kriah program and its benefits.

HAFTR Invitational Girls Varsity Basketball Tournament

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he HAFTR Invitational Girls Varsity Basketball Tournament celebrated its fourth year in style, wrapping up a weekend filled with exciting basketball, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. Emerging as a standout event in the Yeshiva League for women’s basketball, this edition exceeded expectations and solidified its reputation as a remarkable success.

Teams from various locations, such as Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Canada, converged with local New York schools, creating a platform for spirited competition that extended well beyond the court. The tournament served as a meeting point for students, united

by their shared passion for the game, fostering connections that went beyond basketball, and establishing bonds over shared interests and experiences.

HAFTR showcased an impressive 3-0 record in the pre-playoff matches, including a remarkable 12-point comeback against the Katz Yeshiva Storm, securing a thrilling overtime victory at 35-34. Although falling short in the championship game against North Shore by a narrow 3-point margin, HAFTR took pride in their accomplishments and unwavering efforts throughout the tournament.

The tournament also served as a touching tribute to the seniors, recognizing their years of dedication and out-

standing play. Joey Hoenig, HAFTR’s Athletic Director and Girls’ Basketball Coach, underscored the broader significance of the event, stating, “Every year, this tournament is about more than just basketball, and this year was no exception. This year’s tournament is especially meaningful.” Hoenig praised the outstanding basketball displayed by all teams and extended congratulations to the winners, emphasizing that the event went beyond showcasing athletic prowess to affirming values and connections within the Yeshiva League community.

The pride stemming from the tournament extends beyond on-court triumphs to the connections, camaraderie, and

sportsmanship fostered within the Yeshiva League community. As the tournament concluded, participants, organizers, and spectators carried away lasting memories of a weekend marked by competitive spirit and unity. Special thanks were extended to those who hosted players, the dedicated maintenance crew, Frazier Elite for their referee teams, and the enthusiastic spectators who fervently supported their teams. The shared appreciation for values and connections reaffirmed the HAFTR Invitational Girls Varsity Basketball Tournament’s status as a standout event on the Yeshiva League calendar, promising continued success in the years ahead.

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Ezra Academy Joins Inspirational “Chayal a Day” Program

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Congratulations to HALB Middle School Spelling Bee winners. Elana Hersh came in first place, Moshe Lib in second, and Sheelo Gabay in third place. Well done!

Tending To Our Seedlings in Gan Chamesh

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aking inspiration from Tu B’Shvat, the children of Gan Chamesh explored Hashem’s natural world. The young students experimented with soil, seeds, twigs, acorns and pinecones, and created forests, replete with real tree stumps, leaves, branches and grass. The Shivas HaMinim came to life as the children used magnifying glasses to examine every detail of the beautiful species of Eretz Yisroel. The children experienced pattern-making with fruit kabobs, and tree-making at a light table, among other exciting activities. The children gained a deeper appreciation of Hashem’s beautiful natural world.

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n a heartwarming initiative, Ezra Academy has introduced the innovative “Chayal a Day” program, connecting students with the heroes of the Jewish People serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. The program was launched

by Faygie Sillman, Sarah Lina Tropper, and Ahuva Davis to connect American schools with communities in Israel.

Each morning, a new picture and biography of a different chayal (soldier) are sent to the school, Students and staff put the picture and bio up in the classrooms each day and take pictures of students fervently davening and engrossed in Torah study. These are compiled and shared with the family of the featured chayal. This unique exchange creates a powerful bond, as the students dedicate their prayers and learning to the safety

and success of the day’s chayal. It makes the prayers so much more personal and real when they see the face and name of the chayal right there with them.

The program not only promotes awareness of the sacrifices made by these brave individuals for Am Yisrael but also instills a sense of responsibility and community among the students. Through this powerful initiative, Ezra Academy is weaving a tapestry of support that transcends geographical distances, fostering a unity that extends from the school to the brave soldiers protecting their homeland.

Contact chayaloftheday@gmail.com for more information, or to have your school join this beautiful program.

Mercaz Academy Students Welcome Kashrut Authority to Plainview

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ith a schoolwide Bracha Bee planned for later in the month, students at Mercaz Academy in Plainview have been focusing their attention on the food we eat.

As students analyze how to determine a correct bracha, older students have been asking many questions about kashrut procedures and hashgacha. Fortunately, they had the opportunity to consult with an expert: Rabbi Dov Schreier, the Rabbinic Coordinator for OU Food Services, visited the school to share his knowledge of kashrut and hashgacha with fifth and sixth graders.

Student reporters Leah Goldsammler and Lytal Kersch shared the following information about his presentation.

Rabbi Schreier began by posing the

question, “What is kosher?” He explained that it means fit, proper, and that animals must be properly prepared. What makes something not kosher? Rabbi Schreier pointed out that several common ingredients can cause kashrut problems, such as gelatin (an animal product), carmine (a food coloring that can be derived from insects), any grape products, and some natural flavors.

When Rabbi Schreier is determining if a product is kosher or not, he checks the ingredients, the equipment, and the manufacturing process. For example, if the machines that process the food have been used to process dairy foods, Rabbi Schreier would certify it as OU kosher, but would add a DE for “dairy equipment.” He explained that shoppers must

check labels very carefully to make sure that each product is kosher–if one product bears an OU, it doesn’t follow that all of the other products of the same brand or type are also kosher.

The fifth and sixth grade students found the presentation interesting and informative, and thank him for sharing his knowledge with them.

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An Extraordinary Bris Milah

By Mordechai Segal

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azal tov! A 34-year-old young professional had his bris this past week! His growth in Torah and mitzvos has been astonishing to witness and his extraordinary mesirus nefesh for Hashem exceedingly inspiring!

Equally astonishing is the dedication of the rabbis and staff who run the Brooklyn Jewish Xperience (BJX) organization.

“The rabbis are extremely dedicated towards our success and growth. They truly care about us and love us,” shared one student who just returned from learning in Israel.

The goal of BJX is to ensure that every single Jew no matter their background or past has the ability to connect to their heritage in a loving, joyful and meaningful way. The moto at BJX is “it’s never too late.”

It isn’t easy for anyone to voluntarily go under the knife. Most of us never had to make such a decision as the choice was made for us by our parents as babies. BJX runs transformational outreach programs

Last week, the Village of Cedarhurst appointed Christina M. Sardo to the office of Associate Village Justice

MTA Talmidim Excel in for local public high school students, colFall Semester YU Courses lege students and young professionals.

They also help many frum Jews who left the fold – for whatever reason – return to Avinu Sheba’Shmayim.

Certainly, the dedication and care shown by the rabbis to their BJX students had resulted in this miracle and many others.

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By Mr. Murray Sragow

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t MTA, seniors reserve the last two periods of each day for electives, where they can choose from a range of courses including various APs, advanced Spanish, Entrepreneurship, and Sugyos in Maseches Brachos. But by far, the most popular choice is for seniors to take a course or two at Yeshiva University. Each semester, many MTA seniors take at least one YU course.

These courses offer many opportunities to MTA seniors. They can find out what it means to learn on a college level, satisfy YU core requirements, sample a major they might wish to choose, or simply learn about an interesting topic.

The final results from the fall semester are in, and MTA students did exceptionally well. Over 80% of the students earned an A, with their GPA as group over 3.65. And they did not take easy courses to earn those grades. Among the courses that MTA students earned an A in were Multivariable Calculus, Constitutional Law, Epidemiology, Architectural Design and Biology Principles. The last of these was particularly impressive, because Biology Principles is the gateway course to the pre-med and pre-dent programs, which are among YU’s most challenging and competitive. Part of the reason why YU students have such a high rate of success in acceptance to medical and dental schools is that students learn in their first year, when they take Principles of Biology, whether they can handle that demand.

Yaakov Erdfarb and Yitzi Rosenbluth not only sat in Biology class and lab with students two or three years older who knew they needed an A to proceed in their chosen programs, but they held their own and grabbed two of the few A grades given in that class.

This semester, Yaakov and Yitzi and more than 30 other seniors (plus underclassmen who are so advanced as to meet the college requirements) are back at work. By the time they finish 12th grade, they and many of their classmates will have the equivalent of a full semester’s college work already completed. This means that they’ll be able to take a lighter load in college, or have time for another minor in an area of interest.

MTA is incredibly proud of these talmidim and their success, and wishes them hatzlacha rabbah in the spring semester.

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YUHSG Field Trips Include Crown Heights Tour, YU Seforim Sale

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he Yeshiva University High School for Girls is starting the spring semester by making the world its classroom. On January 30, Central’s senior-level Modern Jewish Thinkers course, led by History Department faculty member Mr. Richard Isaacs, ventured outside Queens for a day in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where the group was treated to a guided tour through the home neighborhood of the Chabad Lubavitch.

“We’ve studied the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s ideas for a couple of weeks now, and we wanted to see how his ideas were actualized – how they’ve been brought to life,” Mr. Isaacs said. “His ideas are that Judaism and Torah should engage and interact with the world and be a force of positivity.”

With this in mind, the tour included a stop at the Levi Yitzchok Library, one of the largest Jewish libraries in the country, as well as a visit with a Chassidic Scribe during which students observed how holy Judaica items are crafted.

“It was really interesting to see where the Sofer worked,” said senior Atara Peretz. Senior Chana Weinberger agreed that the day was informative, as well as

fun. “The tour – while filled with many great puns – was also enlightening,” she said. “It gave a window into the history and inner workings of Chabad.”

Other stops included a visit to the 770 Synagogue, the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and an inside look at the control center of Chabad.org, the internet’s most visited religious website, and the main studios of Chabad’s global cable TV system. The day provided Central seniors with a diversity of perspectives.

Other recent outings included the sophomore class’s excursion to Bryant Park’s Winter Village to enjoy the park’s ice skating rink on Monday, February 5.

That same day, the class of 2024 began their last semester at Central by being the first school to visit Yeshiva University’s annual Seforim Sale. Started in 1964, the event is the largest Jewish book sale in North America, welcoming over 15,000 customers to browse over 10,000 titles. This is a highly anticipated event for Central’s seniors and one more example of the special relationship that exists between YU and Central.

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ast week, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Comptroller Elaine Phillips Honored Holocaust survivor and Cedarhurst resident Fred Zeilberger. In 1941, Zeilberger’s father

was arrested and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp; Fred was sent to a work camp in Latvia. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947 and was drafted into the Korean War in 1951.

Did you know?

It takes between 8-10 hours for one ship to cross the Panama Canal.

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Holocaust Survivor Honored

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Revolutionizing Healthcare in Israel, One Oleh At a Time In its third year, Nefesh B’Nefesh’s “MedEx” is more than a career leap, it is meeting a critical national demand

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s we move further into 2024, the shadows of war still loom large in our collective consciousness, serving as a powerful reminder of the need for resilience and unity in challenging times. It’s in this spirit of renewal and commitment that the Olim community emerges as a beacon of hope and progress for the State of Israel. With March on the horizon, Nefesh B’Nefesh is gearing up for its annual “MedEx” event, a transformative opportunity for doctors and medical professionals who dream of making Israel their home. This annual gathering isn’t just an event; it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in Israel’s healthcare landscape.

Together with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and the Jewish National Fund-

USA, alongside Israel’s Ministry of Health and the Israeli Medical Association, Nefesh B’Nefesh launched MedEx as a stand-alone event to enable medical professionals to take major steps towards transferring their North American licenses before making aliyah. The event is offered to physicians, nurses, physician assistants (PA’s), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, audiologists, dietitians/nutritionists, dental hygienists, and medical laboratory professionals.

Last year’s MedEx, held in Teaneck, NJ, was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of attendees. As a one-stop shop for medical professionals interested in making aliyah, MedEx streamlines the immigration process to ensure they’re able to practice medicine as soon as they touch down in Israel. Already in its third

year, MedEx has become a pivotal platform for healthcare workers, both those in advanced stages of aliyah and those who are just beginning the process.

The MedEx experience is multifaceted. Participants delve into the Israeli medical licensing process, guided by onsite representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Health and experienced Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah advisors. It’s a unique chance to cut through red tape and make significant strides towards practicing medicine in Israel. Additionally, networking opportunities with Israeli hospitals and medical facilities are abundant, paving the way for a seamless transition to the Israeli medical workforce.

By reflecting on both the success of last year’s event and the current conflict in Israel, it is clear that MedEx has become part of a larger narrative. The collaboration between Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Israeli Ministry of Health during the Iron Swords War is a testament to the power and impact of the medical community. At the onset of the war, Nefesh B’Nefesh launched an initiative to immediately address the country’s healthcare emergency by arranging and facilitating the arrival of hundreds of highly skilled physicians who volunteered their time and expertise throughout Israel. This program was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Marcus Foundation, an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.

“Addressing Israel’s escalating physician shortage, particularly amidst wartime challenges, is of the utmost im-

portance, and MedEx has emerged as an effective response to this crisis,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Witnessing the profound impact that our wartime initiative had on the State of Israel reinforces our commitment to continually finding solutions for the most pressing challenges facing our nation. It is our hope that this year’s MedEx will help pave the way for hundreds medical professionals to turn their Aliyah dreams into a reality and start their meaningful work.”

In times of peace and in times of crisis, the strength and resilience of Israel’s healthcare system are paramount. MedEx is not only the opportunity to take a step in your career, but it’s an opportunity to become a part of a vital mission to ensure top-tier medical care across Israel. The future Olim who leave MedEx and make their way to Israel will embark on a journey where they will leave a lasting imprint on the health and well-being of the Jewish state.

Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA, facilitates the process of making Aliyah from North America by minimizing the financial, professional, logistical, and social obstacles. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh to its over 75,000 new immigrants have ensured that 90% have remained in Israel.

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Assemblyman Brown Honors Tova Plaut for Exemplary Advocacy

YCQ Debate Team Wins First Place at Tournament

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n a ceremony held this week at the Cedarhurst Village Hall, Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) presented a citation to Tova Plaut, founder of the New York City Public School Alliance, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to championing the rights and well-being of individuals within the educational system.

As the driving force behind the New York City Public School Alliance, Tova Plaut has showcased unwavering dedication to advocating for inclusivity and combating discrimination and, most recently, the extreme increase in antisemitism. Brown commended Tova’s outstanding commitment to fostering a more equitable and harmonious educational environment for all.

“Tova Plaut’s notable leadership, particularly in the aftermath of the events of the October 7 massacre and terrorist attack in Israel, exemplifies her resolute stance against all forms of hate. In defending the rights and dignity of the Jewish people, both within the New York

Tova Plaut with Michael Edery and husband and Village Trustee Dan Plaut

City public school system and beyond, Tova exhibited extraordinary courage and leadership,” Brown said.

The citation presented by Brown and his staff serves as a testament to Tova Plaut’s tireless efforts to create a more just and inclusive educational landscape.

He expressed sincere appreciation for her invaluable contributions to the betterment of our community.

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he YCQ team secured a remarkable seven medals and proudly clinched the coveted trophy for Best School at the recent league debate tournament hosted by Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus, NJ. Competing against formidable opponents in a four-team tournament, which included Ben Porat Yosef, Yavneh, and SAR, YCQ showcased unparalleled skill, determination, and teamwork. This achievement not only underscores the dedication of the YCQ debaters but also solidifies their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the realm of competitive debate.

Said Coach Mr. Miles Ehrenkranz, “The team’s success adds another chapter to the school’s rich history of academic achievements. The seven medals, and Best School trophy, stand as a testament to the YCQ community’s ongoing commitment to fostering intellectual growth, critical thinking, and effective communication skills among our students.”

Special Congratulations to 1st Place Speaker Mikey Fried, 2nd Place Speaker Sophie Sisser, 3rd Place Speaker Yona Canter, 2nd Place Team Sophie Sisser & Yonatan Gemal, and 3rd Place Team Moria Cohen & Mikey Fried.

BACH Jewish Center Partners With JLIC

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mid escalating antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the country, the BACH Jewish Center partnered with the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) – an organization that provides adults aged 1830 with vibrant Jewish life, innovative educational, and leadership development programming in communities and college campuses across the United States, Canada and Israel. The BACH community opened its doors to JLIC students for the opportunity to relax, recharge and reconnect over a weekend in Long Beach.

The first JLIC campus to participate in the collaborative program brought 21 students from the City University of New York’s Queen College in early February 2024, along with JLIC Co-Directors Rabbi Shlomo and Ruchie Brukirer and Chaya Pollack. Other groups from Brooklyn and Manhattan have already made arrangements to join the BACH for respective Shabbatons later in the semester.

The first of the series of weekend retreats saw BACH community members,

JLIC educators and college students join together for an uplifting ruach-filled Kabbalas Shabbos followed by dinner, and an oneg that provided both physical and spiritual sustenance to all who participated. Throughout the weekend, participants and community members heard divrei Torah and hisorerus from the BACH’s Rabbi Benny Berlin, himself a former campus educator for JLIC at Queens College, as well as Rabbi Shlomo and Ruchie Brukirer and Ms. Pollack.

“In the last four years alone, campuses shut down for COVID and now, antisemitism on campus is growing at a pace never seen before,” said Rabbi Benny Berlin. “College was already challenging enough when it was only about better understanding yourself, the academic and career path you plan to take and on the religious side, your independent connection to our shared faith and values.

Unfortunately, while the world outside goes mad, we hope you will return to campus on Monday, refreshed from the comfort and warmth within our community and inspired by the understanding

that you are not alone, that Am Yisrael is there together with you when you are walking to class and sitting through a lecture.”

On Shabbos morning, the group participated in the BACH’s minyan followed by a delicious lunch along with divrei Torah from students, Rabbi Berlin and the JLIC educators. Shabbos concluded with a musical Havdalah in the shul with everyone singing and dancing along as they geared up to face the upcoming week.

“We extend our gratitude to the BACH Jewish Center for opening its

doors and hearts to JLIC students. The warmth, hospitality, and sense of community provided during the weekend are invaluable,” said JLIC Executive Director Rabbi Josh Ross. “We look forward to future collaborations, fostering a stronger bond with this inspiring community.”

Founded in 1946, Bachurei Chemed – BACH Jewish Center is one of Long Island’s most prestigious and oldest synagogues. Members hail from Long Beach, Lido, Atlantic Beach and Island Park. For more information, please visit https:// www.bachlongbeach.com/.

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Around the Community

IDF Soldier Visits HALB

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ALB Middle School students had the incredible opportunity to hear from an IDF soldier and to thank him for protecting Israel and Am Yisrael. It was an informative, moving and inspiring experience for the students and teachers alike. Thank you to Moshe Bodner from the Israel Chesed Center for arranging this.

Bnei Akiva’s Moshava Ba’ir Long Island Day Camp

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ith its premises at the expansive HANC Uniondale campus, which features three outdoor pools, sports fields, a huge gymnasium, and a gaga pit, children of all ages will immerse themselves in a love of Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Israel, all while swimming, playing sports, dancing, gardening, hiking, enjoying woodworking and arts and crafts, exploring technology, participating in field trips, competing in Color War, celebrating Shabbat, and so much more.

This summer, Bnei Akiva’s Moshava Ba’ir Long Island Day Camp, which launched in 2023 to much excitement, will be rolling out a range of enhancements — including a smaller staff-tocamp ratio, a new Director of Early Childhood, Dr. Eric Taber, Psy. D., and a brand new program for incoming pre-K children that’s designed to introduce them to a well-rounded camp experience while meeting their developmental needs.

Chessed for Israel

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hulamith School for Girls feels very fortunate to consistently participate in many chessed opportunities, to help chayalim and their families, as well as the many displaced families in Israel. In a show of hakarat hatov to the chayalim risking their lives for our people, our students have sent letters offering them chizuk and thanks for all they do to protect our homeland. Gloves and socks decorated by Shulamith students were delivered to displaced families in Israel along with decorated beef jerky bags for the chayalim. In addition, the Shulamith students raised funds to purchase toys for displaced families, which Shulamith families delivered to Israel to help support a toy store and purchase special toys for children living in hostels. Shulamith is very grateful to all of our families who have participated in missions and personally made these deliveries. The responses from Israel have been both heartwarming and inspiring.

It is of utmost importance to Shu-

Not Spending This Summer in Israel? This is the Next Best Option

lamith that our students feel connected to Israel each and every day by engaging in chessed activities for our brothers and sisters in Israel as well as through tefillah.

Iy”H, through these acts of chessed and our tefillot, there will be yeshuah b’karov.

A summer program that’s designed with each age group in mind As a full-time school psychologist who served as a leader at Moshava Ba’ir Long Island last year, Eric Taber is looking forward to his new role in making the Bnei Akiva experience accessible, as well as pedagogically sound and enjoyable, to some of the youngest members of the Jewish community.

“The summer is a unique opportunity to open up a whole new world for children in a non-academic space — to give them a deeper love of Israel, a love of camp that will continue for years to come, and to just have fun,” said Taber.

In addition to developing the Early Childhood program at camp, Eric will mentor early childhood division heads, ensuring that staff has the training they need to meet each child in pedagogically and developmentally suitable ways. This year, all staff will take part in continuous leadership and skills training with a specific focus on child development, as well as a deep connection to Bnei Akiva’s mission of truly

connecting to the land and people of Israel.

“The starting point for any good educational environment is a real, deep love for children and a commitment to their growth — it is and must be characteristic of all of our leadership and sets the tone for our entire program,” said Malka Fleischmann, Director of Moshava Ba’ir Long Island.

An Israel experience that’s more important than ever before Fleischmann, who was raised in the movement — first spending summers at Bnei Akiva’s Camp Stone from the time she was just three months old, attending as a camper and then serving on staff and in leadership for 17 sessions– believes that the Bnei Akiva experience especially answers a critical need for families and children at this time.

“Following October 7th, it has never been more important to give our children roots in a love for Israel, to instill a level of literacy in them about our unbreakable ties to the land, and to engender a sense of belonging, as well as a sense of responsibility, for the Jewish future. As parents, how better to ensure your child has a profound and sophisticated Zionist education?” she said. “While many of us may not be able to be in Israel at this moment, we can be active members in Am Yisrael and support Israel through tzedakah, volunteering, and education.”

This summer, the camp curriculum will be entirely Israel-focused both at Moshava Ba’ir Long Island, as well as at other Moshava camps across the country and the world — connecting generations and making the community experience feel like family.

“While this is one of the darkest times in Jewish history, it’s also a time of unity for the Jewish people and Israel,” said Fleischmann. “Our responsibility is to make our campers and staff fall in love with their roles as essential members in this chain — and we can’t wait to continue doing so this summer at Moshava Ba’ir Long Island.”

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Around the Community

Harmony Jr. – What Even Is It?

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ow that midwinter vacation is behind us and we are still more than six weeks to Purim, you would expect the Five Towns to be in the doldrums. But no, there’s a distinct buzz in the air.

Harmony is finally here, with ticket sales opening this coming week!

This bi-annual extravaganza serves as a gathering point for girls from the greater Five Towns, showcasing the true essence of unity through song and dance.

This project is particularly appropriate for our time when unity amongst Jews is so vital. The performers come from a swath of schools in our neighborhood, and they all work together beautifully.

This year, over 720 girls, along with 100 volunteer staff, have dedicated themselves to this amazing project.

“Going to Harmony has been something I have been looking forward to for many years. My older sister went to Harmony, and I’m so glad it’s my turn,” said Chanala Feldman, six grade Harmony performer.

More than just a show, Harmony Jr. provides children with a positive and enjoyable platform to strive for greatness. It challenges them to overcome obstacles, fostering real relationships and instills values like confidence, work ethic, and teamwork. The girls will be performing

dances and songs that are produced and choreographed by talented heads, many who themselves performed in earlier Harmony productions.

“Being a Harmony head this year is such a great experience! It’s a lot of work, but it’s so fun to be working on a dance for the girls and giving them the same amazing experience that I had when I was in Harmony, too!” commented one of the many high school girls who are leading the various acts.

The lead sponsors of this year’s Harmony Jr. are Eliyahu and Rebecca Berger of PRIME and Blue Sky Basin. Many other local merchants and families have joined as sponsors.

This labor of love is directed by Mrs. Evy Guttman and Shira Frechter and produced by Dr. Rivka Molinsky.

The impact of Harmony extends beyond the event itself. It benefits JEP/ Camp Nageela. Directed by Rabbi Dovid and Basi Shenker along with Executive Director Ohavia Feldman, Camp Nageela offers joyous Jewish experiences to children and families who want a stronger connection to Judaism. The proceeds of Harmony Jr. will help many more children develop relationships with the many JEP and Nageela staff volunteers from the Five Towns and help all involved build their connections to Jewish values.

Did you know?

Around 25,000 workers lost their lives building the Panama Canal, mostly due to disease.

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Around the Community

HALB Truman Scholars

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he Tikvah Fund announced this year’s seventh grade Truman Scholars at HALB. Congratulations to Daniel Amar, Rose Bluestone, Talia Feder, Yakira Rogoff, and Dov Zachter. Over the next two years, they will have the opportunity to study the great ideas, texts, thinkers, and leaders of the Jewish, American, and Zionist traditions.

Hands On Math with Mrs. Ratner at YOSS

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rs. Ratner’s first grade math class in the Weinstein Learning Center is racing away with addition and subtraction facts! The boys have mastered addition facts from 1-20 and are working diligently on their subtraction facts. The boys enjoyed learning

double facts with fun games and songs.

Subtraction is coming to life while manipulating and building their own Lego towers and taking away piece by piece.

The hands-on learning never stops! The boys are so excited to see what’s next.

The Shulamith ECC Nursery class unwrapped a beautiful Torah as they began learning the Aleph-Beis

Words of Chizuk at SKA

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KA students and faculty were privileged to hear words of inspiration and chizuk from Mrs. Jen Airley, mother of fallen soldier Binyamin Airley (HY”D). With her signature warm smile and her unwavering emunah in Hashem, it was impossible not to be moved by her words. Speaking about Binyamin, Mrs. Airley shared how Binyamin’s deep love for Eretz Yisroel and Am Yisrael shaped his everyday life, leading Binyamin to work on a farm ensuring protection for the neighboring yishuvim, and handling the machine gun “the Negev” in his army unit. Mrs. Airley was so upbeat and positive while sharing tidbits about Binyamin’s life, conveying how she found a list of 55 aspirations Binyamin had for himself, such as “to understand why I was brought into the world,” “to daven with kavanah,” and “to be in an elite army unit.” Mrs. Airley challenged the girls to create their own list and strive every day to become a better person, a better Jew and a better eved Hashem. The girls each received a bookmark with a few of Binyamin’s aspirations and space for the students to cre-

ate their own.

Her talk culminated in a kumzitz where Mrs. Airley explained the words to her favorite song “Anavim,” words from Yeshaya that depict the coming of Moshiach and the final redemption. Mrs. Airley then presented Mrs. Kaminetsky with a gift of a tambourine to get ready to welcome Moshiach.

It was an absolute honor to hear from Mrs. Airley. May Binyamin’s memory be a blessing.

On Sunday, HALB held their Annual Fifth grade Sukkah Fair! Students presented to their peers and parents and put together displays explaining what they learned.

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aidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC proudly announces its collaboration with Jewish Sports Leagues (JSL), marking a significant step towards enhancing local sports initiatives. The newly formed Maidenbaum JSL Scholarship Fund, which will headline the league’s scholarship program, is poised to extend support to deserving young athletes in the community.

JSL, renowned for its premier hockey, basketball, soccer, and indoor football leagues during the fall and winter seasons, has been a cornerstone of local sports engagement. Complementing this, 5 Towns Little League (5TLL) contributes to the sporting landscape by offering Little League baseball and soccer in the Spring.

The Maidenbaum JSL Scholarship Fund represents a beacon of opportunity, providing financial aid to nearly 100 boys for each season of JSL and 5TLL. This support is mainly directed towards

candidates from single-parent homes or families facing financial hardships, broadening access to these invaluable sports experiences.

Local organizations such as Achiezer, Bright Futures, and the JCCRP are crucial in nominating scholarship participants, ensuring a fair and comprehensive

selection process. Additionally, local yeshivas and rabbanim actively contribute to the nomination process, enriching the diversity of candidates.

As the next little league season approaches in March, the Maidenbaum JSL Scholarship Fund has already facilitated full scholarships for over 75 boys. This

tangible impact underscores the transformative potential of strategic partnerships between businesses and local sports organizations.

To reach Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC, call 516-715-1285 or visit mptrg.com/tjhome.

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Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC Elevates Local Sports Opportunities through Maidenbaum JSL Scholarship Fund

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Around the Community

Migdal Ohr’s “Magen Israel” Connecting Communities to Israel, Caring for New Orphans and Victims of the Massacres and Evacuees in the North

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Partnership between Yeshiva Flatbush and Machane Shura Base

or over 50 years, Migdal Ohr has been caring for Israel’s orphans, youth at-risk, and families in crisis. Since the outbreak of the war, the organization has been using its resources and connections to operate the largest humanitarian relief effort in its history, Magen Israel, under the leadership of tzaddik and Israel Prize Laureate Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman.

Among its core operations, Magen Israel is operating an ongoing Fund for Victims of the Oct. 7th massacres, caring for vulnerable populations (including thousands of wounded patients in Israel’s hospitals, farmers in the south, and front-line soldiers) and supporting displaced families from the north and the south who have been away from home for months. Simultaneously, Migdal Ohr has continued to operate and ensure the safe operations of its dormitories, schools, and programs for over 10,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in their care.

An Ongoing Fund Magen Israel has created an ongoing fund that will provide for the long-term needs of newly orphaned children and victims of the Oct. 7th massacres. Seeing the initial confusion around donations and attempts to help, Rabbi Grossman felt it necessary to lend Migdal Ohr’s legitimacy as a highly respected nonprofit to help. The Rav’s sensitivity and 50 years of experience working with orphans and families in crisis have shielded these traumatized children and parents from overexposure, helping them organize their affairs and plan for the future.

Of the families devastated by the massacres, Migdal Ohr has built a close relationship with the Wiener-Rosenfeld family from Kfar Aza. This winter, we hosted Shaylee Wiener, Ofer Wiener, and cousins Maya and Dvir at a joint event with the JCC in Manhattan where they had an opportunity to tell their story and screen one of the films produced by Yahav Wiener, z”l. It was very heartwarming to see the warm reception and embrace of the community that welcomed them and extended a helping hand to support them.

This resilient, incredible extended family has suffered the loss of three family members, killed by terrorists by protecting their children. Couple Hadar and Itay Berdichevsky were killed protecting their ten-month-old twins, Roi and Guy, while Yahav Wiener was murdered giving his wife Shaylee and one month old baby, Shaya, the opportunity to escape.

Shaylee and Shaya hid for 27 hours, without water or food, and were eventually saved. Hadar and Itay’s babies miraculously survived and were found by rescue teams after 14 hours of crying alone.

Magen Israel’s Fund for Orphaned Children and Victims of the Oct. 7th Massacres continues to raise funds for the Wiener-Rosenfeld families and hundreds more like them who will need a tremendous amount of support to rebuild and heal from the devastation.

Designer and Artist Elizabeth Sutton One of the ongoing challenges for Israel is the evacuation of thousands of

Donations from Bnos Leah

families from the south and the north.

These families are living in hotel rooms and rental apartments while watching their towns become battlegrounds and rockets rain on their homes. Sadly, many are mourning the loss of loved ones and neighbors. Some families even have one parent away in the reserves while the other is caring for the children at the hotel on their own.

As you can imagine, this is taking a huge toll on people’s marriages, their relationships with their children, their mental health, and their finances.

As the north has evacuated its towns, Rabbi Grossman has extended Magen Israel’s support beyond the center of the country.

Last month, we were very proud to partner with NYC designer and artist Elizabeth Sutton who planned an exclusive Israel volunteer mission using art to connect with various populations affected by the war. Elizabeth said, “Working with evacuees through Migdal Ohr was our last volunteer activity in Tiberias.

These are people who haven’t been home in 4 months, have been living in hotel rooms without their belongings and with little to do. Many have lost loved ones as they are so close to the border (some were still in mourning).

“After the Nova survivors, I’d say this was the second heaviest energy I felt all trip. The depression was like a thick fog.

They’ve gotten very few visitors as they are far away and were shocked that we came all the way from New York just to volunteer.”

While families in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have gotten a lot of support and donations, families in more remote places like Tiberias and throughout the Galilee have gotten few, if any, visitors or donations.

Elizabeth’s positive energy, bold artistic style, and therapeutic activity lifted the spirits of everyone involved in the workshops. It was exactly the burst of positivity and expression that this group needed!

Another exciting project that Migdal Ohr facilitated was a donation of several hundred brand new toys and games from Bnos Leah of Prospect Park Monsey to evacuee families. While the community originally intended for the gifts to arrive in time for Chanukah, they were held up in customs.

After weeks of follow-up, the toys finally made it to one of the larger hotels in Tiberias that is hosting evacuees. The children there had not received many donations and were thrilled to get the extra love and support from abroad!

Facilitating Donations and Partnerships AFMO’s Executive Director, Atara Solow, joined an inspiring delegation that came to strengthen the people of Israel with Rabbi Simcha Willig of Keter Torah Congregation and Rabbi Levine of The Manhattan Jewish Center.

Not only did these groups come ready to roll up their sleeves, they arrived with dozens of duffle bags of brand new toys, clothes, and donations for the children of Migdal Ohr and evacuated families!

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Around the Community Supporting the IDF’s Unsung Heroes Migdal Ohr also facilitated a beautiful Torah learning partnership between the Yeshiva of Flatbush and the Machane Shura IDF army base which culiminated in a siyum.

During a previous delegation visit partnering with Migdal Ohr, the students from Flatbush learned how, since October 7th, the Machane Shura army base was dedicated to tirelessly caring for wounded soldiers, identifying victims of the massacres, or those who had fallen in battle. This group was one of the first from the US to visit the Shura base and left a profound impact, uplifting the spirits of the soldiers and reservists.

Deeply moved, the students not only

donated a BBQ but created a learning initiative over the course of a month to

5 Towns Central 4-1.

2nd/3rd: Joseph Beren scored his first goal as CleverBee Academy turned defense into offense in the 7 to 4 victory against AdVenture Media. Avi Walden, Dovid Gersen and Akiva Greenspan each chipped in with goals as Built By Nate defeated Gourmet Glatt 4-1. Marciano Pediatric Dentistry rode 5 goals from MVP Shmuli Sitzer and 2 from Pinny Weinstein to give Marciano Pediatric Dentistry the 8 to 2 victory against Target Exterminating. Mickey Benderly was a wall in net. Mordechai Kirschner had a gorgeous wrist shot to the back of the net to score the shootout goal in the first round of OT to win it for Arielle Rosenblatt Interiors.

4th/5th: Posh Home + Bath fell behind early to Extreme Vent Cleaning, but Binyamin Flegmann caught fire, scoring 5 goals as Posh came back to win 6-4.

6th/8th: The Kirshner Brothers

played great all game to help JNT defeat 925 Sterling 6-4. Game MVP Yitzchok Polansky held a strong Wieder Orthodontics team to zero goals as BayRock Insurance won 2-0.

complete the entire Mishnah with the soldiers. They returned to Israel for a siyum with Rabbi Grossman, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rav Krim, and two of his second-in-commands.

We are so proud of the students who acted on their inspiration and came up with such a powerful way to strengthen the soldiers of the IDF! To learn more about Migdal Ohr’s many Magen Israel relief efforts and how you can get involved, visit migdalohrusa. org/israel.

Designer and artist Elizabeth Sutton pays a special visit to evacuees in the north

JSL Week 4 Recap

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t was another amazing day at JSL by FM Home Loans this past Sunday marked by some incredible finishes!

The NY Islanders set up a booth at our Inwood Gym with great games, prizes, and swag.

JSL Juniors K/P Hockey: John’s Automotive scored early and often, lighting the lamp 7 times to get the decisive win. Gabriel Sipzner scored a goal in the win. In the highly anticipated bout between PIP Printing and Graber Interior Design, Graber Interior Design jumped out to a quick 2 goal lead but PIP Printing wouldn’t go down without a fight, scoring 3 straight to take the lead. After it was tied up at 5, PIP Printing, led by Dov Stein, went on to score 5 and clamped down on defense for the win in a tough, exciting game.

K/P Soccer: Doniel Ptalis was perfect in goal and Moshe Obadiah had a hat trick as Island Roofing held the highest scoring team with shut down defense.

Football: PIP Printing did not stop scoring touchdowns, but Home & Stone did not give up. Down 6 to 2, Home & Stone fought their way back but was unable to complete the improbable comeback, as PIP held on 9-7.

Hockey 1st: Yehuda Knoll of I Am Your Chef had the save of the day as he lunged to stop the puck with his right foot to save the goal late in the third period, holding the game to a tie. Gavi Kestenbaum and Yair Kupfer played phenomenal defense for PinIt Realty as they went on to defeat

Basketball 3rd/4th: Akiva Lesser of I Am Your Chef had a double double, leading his team to victory. Avi Weinberg had the highlight of the day with an impressive And-1. Solly Schattner had 12 points and the game sealing block to help Newman Dental defeat King Davids Contractors.

5th-7th: Shane Obadiah of TimePiece4Torah helped his team to victory by scoring 20 points. Yedidya Nathenson was clutch in the end, scoring a breakaway layup and then running back to the other end of the court to stuff a potential game-tying score. Island Roofing was leading by 2 against Wieder Ortho-

dontics as the game clock ticked close to zero when Shlomo Licht hit an amazing layup to send the game to overtime at the buzzer. In OT, Ezra Fricker scored a free throw with 5 seconds remaining to give Island Roofing the exciting 23-22 victory.

Game of the Week: In 3rd/4th Basketball, Home & Stone and Maidenbaum went back and forth in a heated contest.

The game was tied with a little under 30 seconds remaining, when Maidenbaum drove up the court and scored to take a 24-22 lead. As time dipped below 10 seconds remaining, the ball found its way into the hands of Nosson Rappaport who put up a tough shot that went in to tie the game. Miadenbaum missed on their last shot attempt, resulting in an exciting tie.

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While at Migdal Ohr, the groups renovated a multi-purpose bomb shelter with bright murals, TV screens, and games for children to enjoy. The mural was a collaboration with international street artist and muralist Benzi Brofman who has lent his support for the families of hostages and done a lot of graffiti art advocating for the return of their loved ones.

The group was greeted by a musical performance from the children and hosted for an intimate lunch with words of inspiration from Rabbi Grossman .

The unbreakable bond between the communities was instantly apparent.

Despite the language barrier, the girls in the group bonded braiding each other’s hair, and the boys played a game of soccer together.

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Senior Gedolei Yisrael from Eretz Yisrael, Europe and America to Participate in Historic Amud HaYomi Siyum in Vienna Siyum on Masechta Brachos and Haschalas Masechta Shabbos in Hall Where Knessiah Gedolah was Held

By Chaim Gold The Amud HaYomi has taken Klal Yisrael by storm. Tens of thousands of Yidden across six continents are poised to complete Masechta Brachos on Monday 10 Adar I/February 19. From taking note of the august group of senior Gedolei Yisrael who will be attending, one can begin to understand how important they deem this new “Yomi” to be for Klal Yisrael.

Leading Gedolei Yisrael such as HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron; HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz, shlita, senior Skverer Dayan; HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Salim, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Torah; HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Meir Stern, shlita, Rav of Zichron Meir and Kiryat Vizhnitz, Bnei Brak; HaGaon Harav Aharon Schiff, shlita, Rav of Antwerp; HaGaon HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlita, a Rosh Yeshiva at the Ponovezh Yeshiva and son-in-law, of HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh; HaGaon HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, Sephardic Rav of Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshivas Ohr Elitzur; and HaGaon HaRav Binyomin Finkel, shlita, Mashgiach of Mir. These are a sampling of the many Gedolim who will grace the siyum at the Sofiensäle Convention Hall, the same hall in which the Knessiah Gedolah was held in pre-war Europe.

Large delegations of lomdei Dirshu will be coming from Eretz Yisrael, the United States, Canada and all over Europe to participate in the historic event and to simultaneously daven for Klal Yisrael in the eis tzarah in which it finds itself.

Indeed, the ultimate antidote to the terribly difficult times facing Klal Yisrael with enemies raising their heads all over the world, is limud haTorah. Learning Torah and the toiling in Torah of tens of thousands of lomdim the world over, has the power to neutralize the gezeira, as Chazal teach us, “Torah, protects and saves.”

Of course, the highlight of the journey will be the beautiful siyum graced and addressed by numerous Gedolim, where Klal Yisrael will both celebrate the Torah while begging for rachmei shomayim in the zechus of the Torah.

Rav Dovid Hofstedter discussing the Dirshu Amud HaYomi Program with HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon

There will also be deeply inspiring visits and tefillos at the kevarim of the Chasam Sofer and Ksav Sofer in nearby Pressburg, and in the beis hachaim in Vienna to luminaries such as the Chortkover Rebbe, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Engel, zt”l, and others.

There will also be a special maamad of tefilla at the kever of Rav Yeshaya of Kerister in Kerister, Hungary.

An Appropriate Response to Today’s Tzaros The trip that celebrates the protective power of Torah and that will be full of heartfelt tefillos on behalf of Acheinu Bnei Yisrael hanesunim batzara is an appropriate response to the times in which we live. At the same time, it will celebrate thousands of additional lomdim who will be joining the Amud HaYomi program and beginning Masechta Shabbos.

Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of the hanhala of Dirshu, related, “The very fact that tens of Gedolei Yisrael, Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbanim and Poskim will be taking time from their busy schedules in the middle of the zeman to participate in this special maamad is in itself the greatest testament to the importance of this new journey in limud haTorah that has encompassed all of Klal Yisrael.”

Meeting the Learning Needs of Today As Rav Dovid Cohen, who will be giving a keynote address at the siyum in Vienna, said, “The daily learning of Daf HaYomi established by Rav Meir Shapiro is extremely necessary for Klal Yisrael because the fact is that every person needs a mechayev and a framework that obligates him and empowers him to learn, with a

HaRav Aharon Schiff imparting divrei chizuk at a past Dirshu event in London, 2023

plan, in an orderly manner. Otherwise, the daily obligations get in the way and rob him of his time for learning. In Rav Meir Shapiro’s generation, people had more time for learning. They would spend hours in the shteibel every day and the Daf HaYomi was therefore an ideal limud.

“Today,” Rav Cohen continued, “people are much busier with the overwhelming obligations of everyday life and need a limud with more geshmak to engage them. Even bnei Torah need a certain geshmak to enable them to sustain their goals in bekius. The Amud HaYomi which gives a person more time to cultivate a real geshmak in learning addresses all these needs. That is why I have encouraged this program.”

Rav Cohen related that the Iyun HaAmud kuntress distributed by Dirshu is a critically important component of the limud because it brings much of the “reyd,” the main points of the meforshim and injects a tremendous geshmak in the learning. In today’s generation the spiritual delight of delving in a sugya is vital because that is what spurs people to learn even more.

At the siyum, there will be drashos from Rav Avrohom Salim, shlita, Rav Yaakov Meir Stern, shlita, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi Dirshu, Rav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rav Aharon Schiff, shlita, Rav Pesach Horowitz, shlita, Belzer Dayan of Ashdod, Rav Benzion Rabinowitz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Boyan, Rav Nissan Kaplan, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Daas Aharon, Rav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, and Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlita.

The Battle of Torah Prevents Physical Battles Following the siyum, the entire del-

egation will head to Pressburg where a special maamad tefillah on behalf of Acheinu Bnei Yisrael will be held at the kever of the Chasam Sofer. At the kever, words of hisorerus will be given by HaGaon Hatzaddik HaRav Binyomin Finkel, shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, shlita, senior Posek and Rav of Western Bnei Brak. A special “mi shebeirach” for lomdei Dirshu will be recited by Rav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita.

This will be followed by a visit to the ancient beis hakevaros where the Ksav Sofer is buried and tefillos will be said at his kever.

The historic trip to Vienna, where the original idea of a daily limud for Klal Yisrael was instituted just over one hundred years ago by Rav Meir Shapiro, zt”l, promises to be not only a deeply inspiring trip, but much, much more!

It is a trip that heralds the fact that Klal Yisrael was mekabel, accepted upon themselves a new yomi limud that has the power to transform the daily limud haTorah of tens of thousands throughout the world.

In addition, the fact that this new limud that was instituted at virtually the same time as the war on Hamas broke out in Eretz Yisrael, perhaps is telling us that it has the power, zeh l’emuas zeh, to neutralize the power of Amalek. Indeed, the Chasam Sofer wrote, “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.”

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Around the Community

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t is with great pleasure that ArtScroll presents the all-new Ciment Edition Tefilasi, a compendium of personal prayers for women. In both troubled and joyous times, this beautiful anthology serves as a heartfelt means for expressing your most profound hopes and aspirations.

Tefilasi is not just a prayer book. It’s a personal prayer companion. With facing Hebrew text and English translation, it includes a wide range of tefillos selected from a broad spectrum of authoritative sources, from prayers for one’s children and spouse to petitions for health, livelihood, and special moments of gratitude.

The dozens of tefillos include those for a kallah, for warding off ayin hara, for separating challah, for those in captivity, for faith, humility, and purity of thought – and so much more.

We spoke with Rabbi Avrohom Biderman, who compiled the techinos in Tefilasi.

Over the centuries, so many great Torah personalities have written techinos.

How did you go about choosing which

ones to include in this collection?

RAB: That may have been the most challenging part of this undertaking. Yes, there are many techinos that were written

by Torah giants, and dozens more were considered. We certainly do not intend to be disrespectful of any that were not included in this collection.

Techinos are meant to come from the heart, recited with passion and emotion.

Therefore, our guiding principles were to identify techinos that were inspiring and that reflect the needs of contemporary women, while at the same time keeping the volume a manageable size.

Many techinos were authored by mekubalim, and include Kabbalistic references, Sheimos, etc. We did not include those both because they cannot be properly translated and because they are too esoteric to be meaningful to someone who is not well-versed in those concepts.

The English translation is so flowing and readable. What were some of the challenges the translators had to deal with?

RAB: As noted, techinos are meant

to come from the heart and are therefore written in a highly poetic style, frequently borrowing phrases from pesukim from Tanach, but using them in completely different context. A literal translation would fail to convey the meaning and message of the techinos.

The readability of the translation is testimony to the skill of Rabbi Dovid Oratz, who did most of the translations, and the genius of Rabbi Nosson Scherman, who did some of the translations and edited the others.

What are some of the life events and challenges that the techinos deal with?

RAB: This volume includes a wide range of situations and needs — not to mention simple, everyday life.

A brief look at the table of contents takes us from starting our day right to lighting the Shabbos candles, from prayers for many aspects of spiritual growth to those for life, success, and protection. Of course, there are supplications for parnassah, finding a shidduch, shalom bayis, and raising a family, from prayers to be blessed with children to

those for raising them properly. And so many more – prayers that come from the heart of the Jewish woman.

Life in the Shtetl Was Harder Than You Think New Book From Touro University Press Details Jewish life in Ukraine and Crimea

W

e don’t have to wonder what life was like in the shtetl or rely on stories we heard as children. While Orthodox Jews did not traditionally write memoirs in past generations, Pinkhes Dov Goldenshteyn (1848-1930), a talmid chacham and a shochet, tells us in raw detail about his life as a poor orphan in Ukraine without nostalgia or white-washing in The Shochet: A Memoir of Jewish Life in Ukraine and Crimea, a new book from Touro University Press. Goldenshteyn wrote his Yiddish memoirs to strengthen the belief in Hashem and hashgacha pratis of his children and grandchildren in America and elsewhere, some of whom were wavering in their religious commitment.

With the translation of those memoirs into English by Touro University librarian Michoel Rotenfeld, a new generation can also feel that wave of complete faith while also seeing the difficulty of life in nineteenth century Ukraine. Many Jews then were entrenched in poverty, scared of forced enlistment in the Czarist army and surrounded by family and communi-

ty who struggled to survive on a daily basis. Despite all these basic challenges, the hard life was full of faith, love, plentiful moments of shared joy and the profound feeling of Hashem’s presence throughout life.

In this first of two volumes which traces the years from his orphanhood, when he was raised by his doting sisters, through his maturation into a Torah scholar and shochet, Goldenshteyn endures tremendous hunger, suffering and humiliation. Readers see what life was like in the shtetl — the cold, the hunger, the difficulty of travel. They see both good and bad marriages, family members who give away their last piece of bread to a loved one and others who have more but refuse to help, the hierarchy of suitable candidates for shidduchim, the corruption caused by desire for money and honor. Despite these hard truths of life, Goldenshteyn’s story uplifts readers. His faith carries him through his difficult time. His struggles bring him into personal contact with the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch.

His search for parnassah brings him to

the hometown of the Malbim, who receives him with honor. His quest for a bracha and advice leads wealthy laymen to give him the unusual role of a minor celebrity for carrying a cherished esrog to the Lyever Rebbe. His faith and his personal integrity ensure that his life is filled with blessings even if he chronically lacked food and money.

The story of Pinkhes Dov Goldenshteyn’s life is enhanced by his literary skill. He writes like a professional storyteller, leading readers in suspense and dropping bits of foreshadowing until we turn every page hoping to learn the next twist in his eventful life. Ultimately, the reader sees how the different pieces of his life fit together like a puzzle, as if a plan was always there waiting for Goldenshteyn to walk into it. Hashem is the true protagonist of this story of life in the nineteenth century shtetl. The rich often lose their wealth. Social status comes and goes. Strength of character, loyalty, honesty, piety and generosity last longer than the vanities of this world. As we read about Goldenshteyn’s tumultuous life,

we learn about one person’s unvarnished experiences in the legendary shtetl of a world that no longer exists. The Shochet: A Memoir of Jewish Life in Ukraine and Crimea: Volume I can be ordered through Academic Studies Press or on Amazon.

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

New From Artscroll: Tefilasi

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

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1. *

TJH

Centerfold

San Francisco 49ers v. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Trivia 1. He owned the Kansas City Chiefs and brought the team from Dallas to Kansas City in 1963. He also coined the phrase “Super Bowl.”

Who was he? a. Vince Lombardi b. Lamar Hunt c. Andy Rooney d. Wellington Timothy Mara 2. How many Super Bowls have the 49ers won so far? a. 2 b. 4 c. 5 d. 6 3. When was the last time the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl? a. 1959 b. 1969 c. 2021 d. 2023 4. Which team drafted more Super Bowl-appearing quarterbacks? a. Detroit Lions b. Detroit Tigers 5. In what way did the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium make history on September 24, 2014? a. Their quarterback Matt Nagy threw 5 interceptions before making one completion. b. The game was played in blizzard conditions with 7 inches of snow falling during the actual game. c. There was a blackout, and the game had to be postponed.

d. The loudest crowd roar ever was recorded.

6. In the waning seconds of the 1981 NFC Championship Game, played between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park, Joe Montana completed a pass to Dwight Clark in the end zone, winning the game for the 49es, ending the Cowboy’s 1970s dynasty, and giving the rise to the 49ers’ run of Super Bowls. What is that play referred to as today? a. The Catch b. The Reception c. The Knockoff d. Alabama Joe Montana 7. What is Patrick MaHomes’s Super Bowl record? a. 2-1 b. 2-2 c. 1-0 d. 2-0 8. Which pick in the 2022 NFL draft was 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy? a. 1 b. 105 c. 204 d. 262 Answers: 1-B 2-C 3-B 4-B (Kansas City quarterback Patrick

Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as a pitcher; the Detroit Lions never made it to the Super Bowl and never had a quarterback that did.)

5-D (According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium of 142.2 dbA was achieved by fans of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium with 8 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Chiefs defeated the New England Patriots 41-14.

6-A 7-A 8-D (Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 draft, earning the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant,” until Trey Lance and primary backup Jimmy Garoppolo each suffered season-ending injuries, resulting in the irrelevant rookie being called on to lead the team.)

Scorecard: 6- 8 correct: You win a pair of Super Bowl tickets!! (Just send me the $2,500 mailing fee.)

3-5 correct: You are right in the middle. You are pretty much Utah— smack between Kansas City and San Fran.

0-2 correct: You probably think that the Kansas City Chiefs play in Kansas, right? Check again! It’s a long story…there’s a Kansas City in Kansas and one in Missouri; the Chiefs play in Missouri.

Why? Probably just to confuse people like you.

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You are from Kansas City if…

You keep a list of companies to boycott in your wallet.

The only companies that your wallet supports are Burger King, McDonalds, Arby’s and Stewart Gas Station.

The only Republican you know is your great uncle in Missouri

The only Democrat you know of is some lady from San Francisco, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and you are happy that you don’t know her personally.

You believe that everyone should be free to do whatever they want to do, except engage in capitalism, but you can.

You think that capitalism is a system of touring the U.S. Capital.

You think we never gave peace a chance.

You come from three generations of military men who gave peace a chance and fought so that “them folks in San Francisco can run around talking about ‘how we don’t give peace a chance.’”

Your Cooper Mini runs on vegetable oil.

Your pickup truck car runs on diesel.

You think that the words “to promote the general welfare” in the Constitution mean to promote welfare generally.

You think that when the Constitution said “to promote the general welfare” it is referring to a doc in a box company.

You often kill passionate conversation by wondering out loud, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

You responded to someone wondering why we can’t all just get along by saying, “Get along out of here before I kick you to that barn.”

You are intolerant of people who don’t agree with your ideas of what constitutes tolerance.

Your idea of tolerance is being friends with a dude who drinks Budweiser rather than Coors.

You think that kids in elementary school should be exposed to everything under the sun but prayer should be banned.

The only way you got through school was with prayer, “L-rd, help me figure out what two plus two is.”

You think that counseling is the answer to every crime.

You remember when Bubba was your “camp counseling.”

Riddle me This A bus with 24 people was crossing the Gold Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

When they reached the other side, not a single person was left.

What happened to the people?

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

You are from San Francisco if…

Answer: They were all married.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

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Torah Thought

Parshas Mishpatim

By Rabbi Berel Wein

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he Torah does not allow us to have illusions about how people will behave when money, emotions, negligence and spite are present in society and in the lives of people.

The Torah reading of this week deals with the difficulties and pettiness of human life. I find this to be extraordinary since only last week the Torah dealt with the exalted principles and values system of holiness as represented by the Ten Commandments. It seems to be a letdown to have to speak about oxen goring

and people fighting, enslaving and damaging one another when we were apparently just elevated to the status of being a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

The beginning point of the education of many a Jewish child in Mishnah and in Talmud is located in the very prosaic laws of torts and damages discussed in this week’s Torah reading. In effect, the law book part of the Torah begins by showing us people at their worst behavior and weakest moments. Would it not be more inspiring if the Torah somehow began

this detailed part of Jewish law with more inspiration and spirituality?

Yet we are all aware that the most studied volumes of the Talmud – the real meat and potatoes – are those tractates that deal with many of the laws presented in this week’s Torah reading. The rabbis in fact advised us to study these laws of torts and of human failures, translated into negative actions and behavior, in order to sharpen our brains and somehow make us wiser.

And most of the study effort concerns itself with how to deal with the damage

Slavery is wrong, perhaps the greatest wrong, but it has been a fact of life in human history till and including our time.

Slavery breeds inequity, and as we have witnessed time and again, ending slavery does not in any way end bigotry. The Torah comes to address the how and why of overcoming this inequity and of making slavery subject to such rigorous legal restraints as to prompt the Talmud to say that he who acquires a slave for himself in reality is acquiring a master for himself.

People will be people, damages and hurts will occur, and the temptation of

The Torah does not allow us to have illusions about how people will behave when money, emotions, negligence and spite are present in society and in the lives of people.

and hurt that has already been done and very little time and effort, so to speak, with the moral strength necessary to prevent these very damaging events from occurring.

The Torah is a book of reality. It does not gloss over situations nor is it in the least bit hagiographic in dealing with the main characters that appear in its narrative. The perfect Torah speaks to a very imperfect world. The Torah does not allow us to have illusions about how people will behave when money, emotions, negligence and spite are present in society and in the lives of people.

wealth and money will not disappear from the face of this earth. We have to have a set of rules and an ability to deal with these problems so that they do not completely consume us. The Torah, of necessity, must propose a program of compensation to help the victims and restrain the perpetrators. It is this recognition of human behavior that sets the Torah apart from all other so-called spiritual and religious texts. These assume the best of behavior and values. The Torah makes no such assumption. It is the book of reality and the most holy of all works.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parshas Mishpatim

To Serve G-d

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

I

t is impossible not to notice how we went from the drama and intensity of Hashem’s revelation at Har Sinai and the giving of the Aseres HaDibros amidst Divine revelation, thunder, and lightning at the end of last week’s parsha to the minutiae of civil laws that fill the majority of this week’s parsha. The Torah then returns to the drama of the events leading up to the revelation at Sinai and our acceptance of the Torah at the end of the parsha. One could get whiplash from the quick transition between Har Sinai, the litany of laws governing interpersonal relationships, and back to Sinai. Why does the Torah interrupt the revelation narrative with this legalistic intermission?

I once heard an answer to the wellknown question on the Pesach Haggadah from my Rebbe, Reb Dovid Lifshitz, zt”l, in the name of Rav Meir Shapiro, zt”l.

Why do we sing, in Dayeinu, “If He had drawn us close to Har Sinai but not given us the Torah, it would have been enough for us.” The whole point of bringing us to Sinai was to receive the Torah. How could coming to that place without receiving the Torah possibly have been enough?

Rav Shapiro answered by quoting Rashi (dibbur hamaschil “lakol” on Zevachim 116a), who says that something new happened when the Jewish people arrived at Sinai. Before that, Jews and Bnei Noach both only brought olos (elevation) offerings. But after arriving at Sinai, Jewish people then began bringing shlamim (peace) offerings. What is the difference between olos and shlamim?

An olah offering is completely consumed by fire on the altar. And a shlamim is consumed by the altar, as well as the kohanim and the one who brought the sacrifice. This explains why we were thankful for arriving at Sinai even if we would not have received the Torah. We were

then able to bring shlamim offerings.

But what is the deeper meaning of this? What is the deeper benefit for being able to offer one additional type of sacrifice? Are we really singing our praises to G-d for being able to eat more meat?

What was the reason for this change and what underlying transformation was it expressing?

The Volozhiner yeshiva was in dire financial straits. Rav Chaim Volozhiner, zt”l, therefore sent out meshulachim to different cities and towns throughout Europe to raise desperately needed funds for the yeshiva. One particular meshulach arrived in a certain very poor village. No one was able to give more than a few pennies. But the people there told him that there was one rich man in town. However, he was very stingy and never gave to anyone for any reason. The meshulach asked where the man davened. The people told him, so the man planned to speak to the wealthy person every day after davening.

The meshulach went over to the man immediately after Shacharis the next morning. As he approached, the man im-

mediately sensed where this was going and told him, “Don’t even bother. I’m not giving you any money.” But the meshulach persisted, “No, let me just tell you about the great Reb Chaim Volozhiner!”

He proceeded to tell him about the quality of the Torah learning, how this was the only yeshivah in Lithuania, and the great merit of Torah learning created by the boys in the yeshivah. But the man still refused to give.

The meshulach then carried out his plan by approaching the man after Shacharis, Mincha, and Maariv every day. Finally, after a few days, as he approached the man to extol the virtues of the yeshiva, the man said that the meshulach should come to his home at a certain time that night to meet with him there. Everyone around was extremely impressed because no one had ever even gotten that far.

That night, at the appointed time, the meshulach arrived. When he got there, the man said that he would give an extraordinarily large amount – an amount which would have supported the yeshiva for months. The meshulach was elated.

But, knowing that meshulachim were entitled to take a percentage of the amount donated to support themselves and enable them to continue collecting, the man said, “I am giving this donation on one condition: that you do not receive any portion of the gift. It must all go to the yeshiva.”

He would not consider any arguments or any alternatives. Having no choice, the meshulach agreed to the condition.

The wealthy man, however, decided that he did not fully trust the meshulach to carry out his instructions, so he told him, “I am not going to send this money to the yeshiva with you. Rather, I am going to give it to the great Rav Chaim Volozhiner personally.” The man then arranged to travel with the meshulach to Volozhin. When the man arrived, he greeted Rav Chaim and happily handed him the entire donation. Pleased with himself, he told Rav Chaim the amount of the donation, and the rosh yeshiva was both happy and quite relieved. But the man could not help himself. He clarified, “I must tell the Rav that I have placed a condition on this gift. It is only to be used to support the talmidei chachamim in the yeshiva. None of it may be used for ancillary purposes such as payment to the meshulach. It is completely sanctified to the yeshiva.”

Rav Chaim then made a face and immediately handed the gift back to the donor, commenting, “Ah korban fun a goy – a gentile offering.”

Shocked that his gift was refused, the man asked the rosh yeshiva, “What do you mean a gentile offering! This is the first time I am making a donation. Why would the Rav say that to me?”

Rav Chaim answered, “Non-Jews also bring sacrifices, but only olos, which are completely burned on the altar. They want their sacrifices only to go to Heav-

ters. This revelation alone, even before we received the Torah, was cause for gratitude and celebration because only then were we truly “like one man with one heart” (Rashi on Shemos 19:2).

We can now also understand why the Torah places the civil laws of Parshas Mishpatim between the beginning and end of the story of the revelation at Sinai. Hashem is telling us that the way we

na Rebbe of Yerushalyim, lived a very simple life, but always helped some of the lost Jews of Yerushalayim by allowing them to live in his small apartment and sharing what he and his family had with them. One year, at the Pesach Seder, the Rebbe noticed that one of these men had been seated between the children at the table. To his horror, he noticed the boys sitting on either side of him inching their

We must make each other whole and allow others to make us whole. treat other people is not an interruption getting in the way of our Divine service.

It is an integral part of it. “Just as these [the Aseres HaDibros] are from Sinai, so too these [the civil laws in Parshas Mishpatim] are from Sinai” (Rashi on Shemos 21:1). We must make helping and doing good for other Jews an integral part of the aspects of our Divine service we work on continually improving because it is an inseparable aspect of it.

Rav Yochanan Twersky, zy”a, the Tol-

chairs as far away from him as they could.

To ensure that the man did not notice and get embarrassed, he called out, “How did this happen that my esteemed guest was seated with the children? He should sit by my side!” He proceeded to ensure that the man was seated to his right, in the most honored seat at the Seder. The man felt amazing.

When Chol HaMoed began, the Rebbe summoned the children to his study and rebuked them, which was generally

quite out of character for him: “When you moved away from that man at the Seder, it could have embarrassed him, One cannot do such things!”

One of the boys protested, “But Rebbe, the man smelled so bad. We couldn’t stay beside him.”

The Rebbe was taken aback, “No! A Jew smells good! A Jew smells very good!

I am a connoisseur of scents, and this Jew smelled very good.”

We must see the grace and beauty in other Jews to recognize that caring for them is part and parcel of how we serve Hashem.

May we merit to serve Hashem not only with service directed Heavenward but also by taking care of all of His children, our brothers and sisters. May we then merit to see, soon in our days, the time when Moshiach will teach and judge us by smelling so much deeper that one can see externally (Yeshayahu 11:3; Sanhedrin 93b).

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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en – to G-d. They do not want them to benefit human beings here on earth. But Jewish people also bring shlamim offerings, which benefit not only the altar, but also the kohanim, himself, his friends, and his family.”

Jewish people understand that that their service of G-d is not exclusively for Heaven. We serve Hashem by giving other Jews whatever they need, some food to eat or a place to live. We want our gifts to G-d to also benefit His children, our brothers and sisters.

Based on what Rav Chaim taught that man, perhaps we can understand why we would have felt satisfied if Hashem had brought us to Har Sinai without giving us the Torah. Only then were we able to start bringing shlamim offerings.

The word shlamim comes from a root word meaning not only “peace” but also “whole.” We were able to bring shalmim offerings because we recognized that none of us can do everything by him or herself. We must make each other whole and allow others to make us whole. We became a nation that finally understood that serving G-d does not only mean doing things for G-d alone. It also means doing good things to benefit Hashem’s children, our Jewish brothers and sis-

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Delving into the Daf

Putting You First

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

T

he Gemara in Bava Kama (92) says that whoever davens for his friend and he needs that same relief, he will be answered first. Does this mechanism work even though one knows that he will be answered first? The Acharonim cite proof from our Gemara. Iyov prayed that his friends should be relieved of their suffering, and Hashem relieved Iyov of his suffering first. This was even though Iyov knew this result would occur. He already learned this lesson from Avrohom Avinu.

Avrohom Avinu prayed that Avimelech’s household be relieved of their suffering, and Hashem answered Avrohom Avinu first by “remembering” Sara Imeinu.

The Mogen Avraham cites this concept as practical halacha. When one prays to Hashem for relief for a bad dream, one should first daven for his friend and then daven for himself. It is in the very same tefillah one is davening for himself and his friend, and yet the Mogen Avraham holds that the Gemara’s bracha still applies.

What is the reasoning behind the Gemara? The K’sav Sofer says that Hashem rewards a person middah k’neged middah.

He tried helping someone else, so Hashem will help him. Therefore, a local rosh yeshiva suggested that the bracha isn’t limited to just tefillah. Any time a person tries helping his friend and he needs the same relief, Hashem will help the helper first.

Rabbi Rafi Butler speaking at the AJOP convention declared: The best way to get public school children to attend yeshiva is to send them to Jep’s Camp Nageela. Period. Thousands of children have attended Camp Nageela and are now upright members of our community. There is an interesting story about the source of the funds used to build Camp Nageela over thirty years ago.

Rabbi Dovid Shenker, CEO of JEP of Long Island, approached a local rosh yeshiva for help in a delicate situation. There was a large bequest that JEP was hoping to receive, but some objectors were tying it up. Rabbi Shenker was hoping that the

rosh yeshiva would be able to eloquently explain to all those concerned about the great work that JEP does to guarantee Jewish continuity. Further, he would impress upon them that an organization like JEP is crucial to ensure that Jewish youth are aware of their rich heritage and the nation they are part of.

The rosh yeshiva readily agreed to assist but was curious how much JEP actually stood to receive. Rabbi Shenker explained that if everything went well, the bequest could possibly be as much as $100,000.

Rabbi Shenker made an appointment to meet with the attorney handling the estate at his office in Manhattan. Later that day, the rosh yeshiva received a phone call. An excited acquaintance happily related that, baruch Hashem, he just completed a profitable business transaction and will be sending the yeshiva a donation of $100,000.

When the rosh yeshiva met with Rabbi Shenker, he told him that he believed that his yeshiva received a $100,000 donation because he agreed to help JEP in its quest for a $100,000 endowment. He cited as proof the Chazal cited above, “Someone who prays for his friend for assistance and he needs that very same thing, he will be answered first—techilah.” The rosh yeshiva explained that this statement of Chazal is

not limited to tefillah. In any area where someone helps an individual and requires the very same assistance, Hashem will help him out first. The rosh yeshiva said, “I agreed to help your organization attain financial assistance, so Hashem helped out my yeshiva as well. Further, I am confident that our meeting today will be successful.

Chazal said, ‘He will be answered techilah.’

Techilah means first in a series, not first and only first. Since Hashem has already helped me first, He will surely help you second.”

The meeting with the attorney was deemed a success. Three years passed, however, and JEP still had not received any of the funds. Throughout those years, the rosh yeshiva continuously reassured Rabbi Shenker that JEP will definitely receive the money based on the Chazal cited above.

One day, Rabbi Shenker called the rosh yeshiva with the good news. The judge approved the bequest, and JEP will be getting $250,000! The rosh yeshiva’s immediate response was: “Great! That’s good to hear. Furthermore, it’s great for me as well because it means that my yeshiva will receive another $150,000 (the yeshiva already received $100,000), and I will receive it before you!”

Two days later, the rosh yeshiva re-

ceived a call from one of his supporters.

“You know that $155,000 that the yeshiva owes me? I forgive the entire amount.”

The rosh yeshiva called Rabbi Shenker with the news. “See, I received my additional $150,000! Moreover, I received an extra $5,000. There must be $5,000 somehow missing from the bequest!”

The next day Rabbi Shenker called back: “You’re not going to believe this, but the total amount given to tzedakah was $255,000. Once the bequest was approved for JEP, a $5,000 donation was approved for another institution as well.”

Ultimately, when JEP actually received its check, Rabbi Shenker showed it to the rosh yeshiva. The rosh yeshiva was a little troubled. “The actual amount written on the check was $252,600 instead of $250,000. ($5,000 was sent to the other organization) What is the extra $2,600 for?”

“A token interest payment the judge ordered applied since the whole process took so long,” Rabbi Shenker replied.

The rosh yeshiva wondered why didn’t his yeshiva receive $257,600 including the extra $2,600? The yeshiva only received $255,000! A few days later, the yeshiva received papers in the mail from the comptroller of his supporter. The loan forgiveness needed to be documented for tax and accounting purposes. The rosh yeshiva looked at the actual dollar value of the loan and smiled. The yeshiva’s actual debt was $157,500. So the yeshiva had, in fact, received $257,500. Still being $100 short, the rosh yeshiva forgave $100 of his salary!

The $250,000 was used to build Camp Nageela, and the rest is history.

This story was confirmed by both Rabbi Shenker and the rosh yeshiva.

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.

Headlines

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Halacha

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

I

t is Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Adar Rishon this coming Shabbos. And when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos, there is a fascinating yet unresolved halachic question: Is it for one meal or for three meals?

As a preface, we know that Rosh Chodesh is a special and festive occasion that symbolizes the renewal of the Jewish people. It is for this reason that the Shulchan Aruch rules that it is a mitzvah to add food on the seudah of Rosh Chodesh. The Tur (Siman 419) cites a psikta that states in regard to Rosh Chodesh that if one adds to Rosh Chodesh [in a seudah] then that person receives additions from Heaven.

The Mishna Brurah’s View What many people do not necessarily know, however, is that the Mishna Brurah writes (419:2) that when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos the medakdekim – those that are careful in mitzvos – add a special dish beyond what one normally does on Shabbos on account of Rosh Chodesh. He cites the shaarei Knesses Hagedolah, the Eliyahu Rabba and the Chayei Odom.

The Mishna Brurah, however, is not clear as to whether it should be done just once on Shabbos or for each of the three meals on Shabbos. The question perhaps is predicated upon the notion that Shabbos might be different because there is an obligation for three meals on Shabbos. Whereas, on Rosh Chodesh, there is no obligation of a night meal.

Indeed, the author of the Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa (54: footnote 151), Rav Yehoshua Neuwirth, zt”l (19272013), raises this question and remains with no answer. When Rosh Chodesh falls during the week, it is sufficient just to have extra food during the day meal. But it is not so clear whether this is true for when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos. [As an aside, Rav Neuwirth, zt”l, was born in Berlin and escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.

Imagine, chalilah, the loss if this wonderful attempt to save children did not exist.]

Perhaps as a slight indication that three times is preferable, the Bach writes that on a two-day Rosh Chodesh

Ovadiah Vol. I #8, he writes that one can fulfill two mitzvos with the same kezayis. However, the Mishna Brurah clearly indicates that for medakdekim, there should be a recognizable difference – unlike Rav Ovadiah Yosef’s

If we can afford it and it won’t cause us to go into debt, it would be worthwhile to add an extra dish or item to each of the three meals.

that occurs on Shabbos and Sunday, it would not be sufficient to merely add to the Shabbos meal since it would not be identifiable that it is being done for Rosh Chodesh. On the other hand, the Yaavetz writes that one could just have a larger Melaveh Malka than one is accustomed to have which would indicate the other way.

Rav Ovadiah’s View Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, has a different approach. In Responsa Chazon

view. It would seem that this would be a debate between Sefardim and Ashkenazim as to whether even medakdekim should do this or not. For those who follow Rav Ovadiah, there is no need. For those who follow the Mishna Brurah, it should be done.

the predetermined sum we are destined to make that year. In other words, Hashem covers our Shabbos expenditures. In light of this Gemara, the Mishna Brurah and the aforementioned Tur say that if we can afford it and it won’t cause us to go into debt, it would be worthwhile to add an extra dish or item to each of the three meals.

We see something fascinating from Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s explanation of honoring Shabbos in his Mesilas Yesharim, chapter 9. He writes that Rav Nachman would contemplate what he would do according to hivs means to honor another person. The operative term is “according to his means.” So based upon this Mesillas Yesharim, here are some suggestions: For the night seudah – it could be a nicer meat (but mention that it is for the honor of Rosh Chodesh) such as ribs or London Broil. If money is somewhat tighter, adding another type of fish in addition to gefilte fish such as salmon can do the trick. If money is even tighter, preparing a second choice of gefilte fish with a different recipe is sufficient.

For the Shabbos day meal, adding a deli platter or just adding something to the salad that one normally doesn’t do.

For Shalosh Seudos, one can add sushi, or salmon or even an extra fruit platter. During longer Shabbosim, if one is milchig, a cheesecake can do the trick. If money is tight, one can add ice cream for dessert.

Let us keep in mind that thinking of possible suggestions like we are doing in this article is actually a mitzvah of vechibato, honoring Shabbos. This is clearly seen from the Mesilas Yesharim’s explanation of Rav Nachman.

Wishing everyone a gut Shabbos and a gutten chodesh.

Suggestion There is an important Gemara that may weigh in on this question. The Gemara (Beitzah 15b) tells us that money we spend for Shabbos is excluded from

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

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

One Meal or Three?

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My Israel Home

Rabbinic Love and Guidance During War

By Gedaliah Borvick

Rav Shlomo Goren blowing the shofar at the Kotel, 1967

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ver the past century, eminent rabbinic figures have helped the Jewish nation navigate halachic issues relating to the State of Israel and its armed forces. Many of these rabbanim who impacted our nation have been memorialized with streets named after them.

An early example is Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine and founder of the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. In the years prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, Rav Kook wrote numerous responsa addressing issues relating to Yishuv Eretz Yisrael, rebuilding the land of Israel. Half a dozen streets across the country attest to the nation’s admiration of this saintly figure who loved, and was deeply concerned for, all members of the Jewish nation.

During the War of Independence, Rav Shlomo Goren was a sniper on the frontlines in Jerusalem and was often called upon to resolve questions concerning religious observance under wartime conditions. Word spread about his halachic

expertise and, in 1948, Rav Goren was appointed the first chief rabbi of the army, a role that he served with distinction for over two decades. He later became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. As the IDF’s first chief rabbi, Rav Goren established religious guidelines for the armed forces and wrote many responsa concerning observance of Jewish law in the military.

It makes sense that Rav Goren was honored with a street named after him in Jerusalem’s Old City, as one of the most iconic photos of the Six Day War was of Rav Goren holding a Torah scroll and blowing the shofar at the Western Wall.

Presently, many prominent rabbis are guiding our nation and answering our war-related questions, including Israel’s chief rabbis, Rav Asher Weiss, and Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, to name just a few.

Permit me to share an extraordinary question submitted by a soldier to Rav Rimon. The soldier’s question and Rav Rimon’s answer reflect the true heart and soul of our nation’s holy army: One is re-

quired to bow his head during Tachanun when “Lifnei Hashem” – in the presence of the Al-mighty. Generally, if there’s no Torah present, then one is not considered “in front of Hashem” and doesn’t bow their head during Tachanun. We do not have a Sefer Torah in our Gaza base. Should we bow our heads when saying Tachanun, as the Al-mighty’s presence is found among the soldiers, as stated in multiple Biblical passages?

Rav Rimon’s response is splendid (please email me to receive a copy of the teshuvah), but for the sake of brevity, Rav Rimon answers affirmatively, and declares that, in his many visits to soldiers during the war, he has felt the presence of the Shechinah among our troops. He then ends with an inspiring blessing for the soldiers.

This article would not be complete without mentioning the unsung heroes: the soldiers’ wives who are tasked with the impossible job of keeping their families strong and positive, while their husbands are defending our homeland.

I would also be remiss not giving a shout out to the myriad Jews who are going on missions to Israel, attending rallies, donating funds, advocating on social media, picking vegetables, cleaning hospitals, etc.

Nor can we overlook the many people who cannot do enough for our soldiers, such as sending gear, barbecuing, making tzitzit, purchasing tefillin, etc. These magnificent acts of chesed are helping to heal Israel’s fragmented society. It is heartening to see our nation reuniting, thanks to the tremendous unity being modeled globally by Jews and friends of Israel.

This war is truly a national effort, bringing out the best in our rabbinic leadership, soldiers and civilians. We are blessed to be part of Am Yisrael.

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

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School of

Thought

Dreams That Come True

By Barbara Deutsch

I

spent a milestone birthday on a 10hour flight to Israel. We fly EL AL most of the time; right now, there are sadly no options. On the old ElAl and Delta planes, there were three rows of seats in the very back that were two seaters; we called it Poor Man’s Business Class. There are no rows like this on the new planes; we were sorry to see them go.

When the price is right – it varies – we fly Premium Plus. We happened upon this option when we were forced to fly home quickly during Covid; Premium Plus seats were the only ones available.

The comfort and treatment is worth the little extra price.

When I woke up from a very short and restless sleep, two stewards greeted me, with a glass of wine and delicious chocolates, singing happy birthday. It was so weird. How did they even know it was my birthday? It was a really nice gesture but EL AL being warm and cozy? Was I in an alternate universe?

We landed, and I turned on my phone to announce our presence in our family chat. As I scrolled through the missed messages, I learned that our Cedarhurst house had sold and that there was a lineup of three apartments for us to view in

preparation for our big move.

Welcome to Israel!

Over the course of the next two weeks, we sold the house, found an apartment to suit our needs on a cozy little street in Jerusalem, hired a designer for the closets (there are none – not even one) and bought a table and chairs at the big twicea-year IKEA sale. .

Aside from doing some heavy lifting focused on getting the serious preparation in place for our aliyah, we also had some very poignant experiences. This “vacation” was unlike any other time that we have ever spent in our beloved future home.

The airport felt deserted, no other airlines flying, the streets of Jerusalem eerily quiet and sadly empty. There are no happy tourists apart from families, not many, visiting children in their gap year and people on missions.

There are very few milestone occasions being celebrated at the sparsely populated Kotel walls.

For the past seven years, we have stayed in a lovely apartment in the Leonardo Plaza, known simply as “the Plaza” to most. It’s an old formerly grand hotel mostly used as a resting station for tour groups and weekend simchas by native

Israelis. Visitors like the location – it is near everything. The Plaza is easily walkable – even for bad knees – to the Kotel, the Shuk, Ben Yehuda, the train, our kids, and all that’s important to us and to most.

During summers spent with our kids in Israel, having a deserted pool is awesome for our grandkids who love to swim and spend overnights in the extra bedroom.

During these complicated times in Israel, the Plaza has become a cramped government-funded boarding house for the hundreds of displaced southern families needing shelter from the rockets and hardships of the war. Over 70 percent of the rooms are filled with displaced families; they are squeezed into one or two rooms. The hotel lobby serves as their living room, and the conference rooms operate as their playgroup and babysitting spaces. The rooms are equipped with diapers, toys, playpens, and cribs.

The elevators are the children’s playground. How many times can you go to the 21st floor, run down the stairs, and catch a ride midway?

Every morning, big sleek coach buses line up in front to take a group of displaced children to a temporary school in Yad Vashem. There are classrooms set up

in all kinds of makeshift meeting halls, museums, malls and conference spaces throughout the city.

Children with heavy backpacks run up the community staircase from the dining hall to start their long days. The staff provides plastic bags to fill with treats and lunches for their day at school. Despite all of the turmoil in their lives, the children laugh, tease, play, and try to hold onto whatever sense of home and normalcy that they can.

The parents are exhausted and have no jobs.

Stores are empty. Storekeepers we met were thrilled to welcome us. A favorite storekeeper of ours – he has a small crowded gift shop on Ben Yehudah – told us that the gift of choice that everyone buys is anything Israel/Jewish-related: charms of maps, Jewish stars and, most popular of all, dog tags with encouraging messages. He sells them to the men and women who are on the multiple missions.

The volunteers come in as a pack and buy for themselves and their friends.

Their sales keep his lights on.

We grappled with volunteering – joining a mission to pick fruit, pay our respects at a shiva house for a chayal,

passion and kindness. Additionally, out of care and concern for the cold, long trips taken by the refugees to get their allocation, Danielle cooks a big pot of delicious soup for the weary pick-up volunteers.

Sometimes, one person does a pickup for his or her family. Oftentimes, it is a family

through the Arab Shuk; it is down many winding, slippery staircases to the exit.

On both sides of the steps are shopkeepers hawking their colorful ethnic wares.

In the summer, it is our preferred route as the shaded tunnel is very cool and comfortable.

Despite all of the turmoil in their lives, the children laugh, tease, play, and try to hold onto whatever sense of home and normalcy that they can.

rep getting for a group. As each recipient person steps up, she/he is checked off from a prepared list.

With so many in need, enough money for the program can be an issue. Last week, one donor picked up the tab for the whole group.

The families are so grateful for the help; all they want is to go home.

We went to the Kotel. We grappled with going our usual shortcut route

We chose to take the long way to the Old City down the narrow paths; war makes you cautious. At the Kotel, we davened for the wounded and the strong, the people held hostage and the displaced families. We davened for Moshiach.

On our last night walking back to the Plaza to get ready, we ran into my old camper and friend, Rebbetzin Shana Feiner Tarigan. We go back to camper days at Morasha. We meet on the streets

of Jerusalem. Last time we met, I told her of our aliyah plans. This time, she asked me about our progress. “We are almost here; we are up to the FBI check; we got an apartment and we sold our house.”

Shana hugged me hard and smiled her magnificent smile.

I felt her blessing.

We like to frequent a small family business, Meira, located in the Cardo.

Through the years, we have bought countless gifts, art and jewelry in this wonderful shop hidden in the byways of the Old City. While there, a young girl on Taglit happened to stop by; she was looking to purchase her first mezuzah. As the merchants were busy with another client, I offered to help her.

I explained that the filigree silver one she was eyeing needed a polish and a klaf, Torah scroll, that she needed to purchase from a special scribe. I made the sale.

That’s how I got my job.

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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pack sandwiches for soldiers, or visit the museums that have been created on the sites of the music festival or once robust villages. But not this time.

We packed chickens for the displaced families of Rechavia, whole and cutlets.

The packages are accompanied by donated supermarket vouchers for this group of tired families who the government did not mandate evacuation. These terrified families chose the safety of Rechavia, in Jerusalem, out of an impending fear of rockets and assault.

On Tuesdays, a huge, refrigerated truck brings the chicken order to the distribution center in an apartment hallway on Ben Tzvi. My kids live there. The chicken committee in charge of giving out the supplies consists of two women – one, our daughter – and their children ranging in age from 1 to 22 years old. Every girl, young and older, has a job. Some are tasked with unpacking, another group builds the piles of chicken, another repackages them into bags for distribution.

Based on size and need, a family can get one, two, or three chickens and cutlets.

Everyone gets a voucher.

Danielle Renov is the chief fundraiser and coordinator behind the project. Everything is done with full-hearted com-

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The Wandering

Jew

Croatia Part I: Plitvice & Split

By Hershel Lieber

Plitvice’s Lake National Park

T

his was not the first time we went to Croatia. In July of 2007, we made an extensive journey to some of the Balkan countries that once made up Yugoslavia. We spent a beautiful Shabbos in Zagreb, the country’s capital, and our Sunday flight to Sarajevo was scheduled for 9 PM. We technically still had a full day to do something in Croatia. Looking through travel brochures, we discovered the Plitvice Lake National Park. This natural beauty with its sixteen lakes and stunning waterfalls is a

View of path in Plitvice’s canyon between two of the lakes

UNESCO World Heritage site. The are great walking paths and the cascading lakes are renowned for their different colors. We were told that Plitvice was about an hour and a half each way by bus, so we figured we would have about three hours’ time to explore the Park.

This would allow us ample time to return, pick up our luggage, and head to the airport.

Well, we were in for a surprise when we realized on the way there that the Park was actually more than two hours

away. We still thought we would have more than an hour to walk around but found out that the return bus was leaving in fifteen minutes and the next bus was two hours later! What can we say? We traveled a round trip of over five hours and did not get to see the world-famous site at all! We were quite disappointed and resolved to make another attempt in some distant future.

We did make another attempt in October of 2016. We were in Warsaw for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and trav-

Stunning scenes at Plitvice Lake National Park

Plitvice waterfalls emptying into a lake

eled to Croatia in between the yomim tovim. Our itinerary, of course, included Plitvice, but we added the city of Split and magnificent Dubrovnik, where we spent our Shabbos.

After davening on Tzom Gedalia, we picked up prepared dinners by Kosher Delite, the restaurant in Warsaw, and headed to the airport. After arriving in Zagreb, we picked up our rental vehicle and drove about three hours towards Plitvice. We had rented a room in Villa Samrak which was a far cry from a villa

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but that did not matter to us. The owner, Mark, was very accommodating to our special needs. He told us that as beautiful as the park is, the weather in the morning can be quite nippy. When he saw that we were ill-prepared with our outerwear, he gave us two well-padded windbreakers which would serve us well. We warmed up and ate supper, davened, learned the Daf, and went to sleep early. Tomorrow would be a big and long day, a day we looked forward to for nearly ten years.

We arrived at ten in the morning at Plitvice Lakes National Park and entered the wonderland. For the next hour and a half, we walked the paths of the Lower Lakes. After that, we took a bus to the Upper Lakes and hiked for over two hours in that area. Then we took a boat ride for an hour and headed back to our lodge at Villa Samrak.

Plitvice is world famous for its lakes, which are arranged in descending cascades. Sixteen lakes can be seen from the surface and are a result of the confluence of several small rivers. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colors ranging from cobalt to green, grey, blue or turquoise. The lakes are laced together by nearly one hundred gushing

Palace of 3rd Century Roman Emperor Diocletian in Split

waterfalls with heights reaching up to 250 feet. There are eight different paths ranging from two and a half hours long to eight hours long, but the terrain is easy. The foliage is stunning in any season other than winter. There is a wealth of wildlife within the Park’s confines,

A rootop view of Split from our room

of that experience. Along the way, we entered and exited a fourteen-mile enclave of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which bisects Croatia into two halves. Upon arriving in Split, we had to park outside of the Old Town and wheel our suitcases to our lodging place. We were in for a sur-

We traveled a round trip of over five hours and did not get to see the world-famous site at all!

but other than ducks and fish, we did not encounter any. It is difficult for me to be more descriptive of the stunning beauty that we encountered. Being that a picture is worth a thousand words, I asked the editor to allow me to share more of my photos with you.

We left at 3 p.m. and drove along the Adriatic coast to Split. The scenery was exquisite. The crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Ocean, the picturesque towns, and a breathtaking sunset were all part

prise at the ultra-modern penthouse that we had reserved, which was right above the city’s most famous sight.

The Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian was built at the end of the third century and occupies almost half of the city of Split. It is the world’s most complete Roman palace in existence, and the degree of preservation enshrines its importance. We went down and spent a good two hours wandering within its plazas and alleyways. It was somewhat

Stunning scenes at Plitvice Lake National Park

eerie walking on a moonless night with occasional spotlights highlighting the palace’s architectural features and designs. While walking, we even discovered a synagogue which was built into the palace’s western wall in the 1500s.

It was already late evening, and the synagogue was closed. We were glad that we had an opportunity to view the vast palace complex, because early Friday morning we were already on the way to Dubrovnik for Shabbos.

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people.

Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

View of Split from our room

nspiration Nation

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

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Judge Ruchie Freier Be True To Yourself

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

P

eople often portray life as if it were a series of either/or decisions: I must do this or I must do that, but I can’t do both. We may sometimes even feel disadvantaged by the commitments we’ve made and the morals we’ve adopted, convincing ourselves that we are limited by the rules of life.

Some completely abandon their morals, go off the path, and rebel against the ways of the past – all in an attempt

to free themselves from a prison that exists only within their minds. Others succumb to the opposite extreme and thus shy away from any opportunities for growth or change, opting to live passively in fear of violating their most sacred values. And yet, there exists a middle ground that few dare to explore.

Although it’s simpler to just float to extremes, the world is not binary, and true success can only come from em-

In Her Words… all you have to do is stretch out your arm, do your hishtadlus, and let hashem do the rest.

”

if you share your values with people, you will get respect.

Don’t think that to succeed in the corporate, the legal, the outside secular world, you have to compromise your values.

Whatever connects you to hashem, keep that as tight as you can because that is what will help you.

”

The Torah values which someone may think are going to hold them back from succeeding will do just the opposite.

The rabbis who wrote the gemara knew what they were talking about. What applied thousands of years ago still applies today, because human nature doesn’t change.

”

bracing a life of balance. To pursue your dreams, to unlock your true potential, while refusing to abandon your values, is the only way to become a true leader.

We live in a world where rebels are often touted as the greatest, most courageous individuals. To leave your life behind, abandon your values, and slander the community you once belonged to is almost in style now; you can star in your own TV show, be featured in magazines, and even write an autobiography.

Now, I am not at all referring to people who went off the derech after going through trauma and abuse; those people should never be judged, but rather, should only be cared for and loved.

Rather, I am speaking of people who have a false victim mentality and, in an effort to gain fame and wealth, invoke and promote negative stereotypes, fuel drama, and misrepresent entire communities through over-exaggeration and falsehood. Contrary to popular belief, courage is not found in those who discard morals; it’s found in those who keep their values and are still able to achieve greatness.

In 2016, Ruchie Freier made headlines as the very first chassidish woman to be elected as a judge in the United States of America. Born and raised in Borough Park, where she and her family reside till this very day, Judge Freier credits much of her accomplishments to her ultra-Orthodox upbringing, lifestyle, and values, which, according to

her, have done anything but limit her potential.

“My mot her, a n incred ible, open-minded, very frum woman, always told us [me and my sisters], ‘Girls, you could do whatever you want, so long as it isn’t illegal, immoral, or against the Torah,’” explained Judge Freier. “Here we were, growing up ultra-frum, ultra-Orthodox in Borough Park, but I never felt restricted or confined. I knew that whatever I wanted to do within the parameters of Torah, I could do it.”

After graduating from Bais Yaakov High School, Ruchie Freier started working in the law field, and over the decade that was to follow, she found herself employed as a legal secretary and assistant in several prestigious law firms. One day, she realized that the satisfaction she felt in working as a legal assistant had begun to fade away. She hadn’t made any progress in her career, she wasn’t moving anywhere, and she feared that there would one day come a time when she would have to explain to her grandchildren why she didn’t push herself to become a lawyer when she knew she could. She decided, at age thirty, with three children and a fourth on the way, to go to college.

Six years later, Ruchie Freier, with six children and with endless support from her husband and family, graduated from Touro College. Although she was surrounded by voices of encouragement from her loved ones, everywhere she

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coming a lawyer, she became involved in helping at-risk chassidish teenage boys and went on to start a support group and a high school equivalency program for those in need.

“Not too long after that, I got a phone call from a random group of women, saying that they wanted to join Hatzalah; they were EMTs and doulas, and they wanted to help primarily when women were having emergency labor,” said Ruchie Freier. “And I asked myself: who are these women? I mean, who needs them anyhow? But, I had a deal with G-d, so I had to at least go and see what it’s all about.”

Who was at the meeting? Some of the frummest, most chassidish women Ruchie had ever seen; principals, teachers, and other important community members stood before her.

They explained to her how, early on in Hatzalah’s life, three hundred women were trained as part of the organization’s women’s division. However, due to concerns with men and women working together, the women’s team was immediately disbanded.

“When the women reached out to me, which was around 2010, the Rebbe in New Square had started to incorporate women in Hatzalah of New Square because women there, who would give birth in Manhattan, would very often give birth enroute to the hospital, and they went to the Rebbe, and said: ‘We’re very embarrassed when we deliver babies by the hands of our nextdoor neighbors. As well-intentioned as they are, it’s embarrassing,’” Freier explained. “Then the women from Borough Park woke up and they said, ‘Hey, maybe now the rabbanim from Borough Park will let us start again.’”

But it wasn’t so simple. The group

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.

was told that they would need to hire a lawyer to work pro bono if they wanted to get anywhere. They compiled a list of five lawyers, and the only one to answer their call was Ruchie Freier.

“I interviewed women and I realized that there’s a need for this, and I said: ‘If I went to law school for this cause alone, it was worth it’,” Judge Freier said.

Before this incident, Ruchie Freier had zero medical experience and she had never envisioned herself in the field.

And yet, she felt so strongly about the cause that she went through EMT and paramedic training in order to start her very own volunteer ambulance service: Ezras Nashim.

While there are people who fiercely oppose Ezras Nashim and accuse Ruchie Freier of having a “radical feminist agenda,” she says that the organization is not at all about women’s rights; it’s about women’s dignity and modesty.

“I embrace the role of the traditional Jewish woman with pride. The irony is that I always tell people that I am not a feminist,” asserted Judge Freier. “The problem I have with genuine feminism is that having a family is always on the back burner. I have a profession, but my family comes first.”

When she was in her early fifties, Ruchie Freier became a civil court judge.

For the first time in her life, she had to campaign for a job; she had entered the public eye. But with help from her husband, children, mother, and others, she was successful. In 2023, she became a New York State Supreme Court justice.

Who knows what’s next for Judge Ruchie Freier?

Judge Ruchie Freier’s message to the world is as follows: Never compromise on your values, because your values can only push you forward. Being true to yourself will never hold you back.

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

went, she would encounter naysayers who would predict that she would fail.

“The biggest fear that people instilled in me was: ‘Ruchie, if you go on to higher education, you won’t be as frum, you won’t be as chassidish. You’re going to let go.’ And that really bothered me,” she said. “Why? Why does having a profession and being chassidish have to be mutually exclusive? Why can’t I have both?”

Of course, Touro, where classes aren’t mixed and nearly everyone is frum, didn’t present any challenges to Ruchie in terms of religion; she was concerned about the unknown, mysterious world that lay ahead. Having been admitted into Brooklyn Law School, a new world with mixed classes and liberal, non-religious professors, Ruchie was concerned of the possibility that her naysayers may just be right: that she couldn’t become a lawyer without becoming less religious in the process. Conflicted about what she should do, Ruchie made a promise to Hashem.

“I turned to Hashem, and I said: ‘Gd, I’m going to make a deal with you.

Help me get through law school without compromising my standards, and when your children come to me for help, I’ll help them,’” Judge Freier recalled.

In fact, instead of becoming less religious in law school, Ruchie somehow found herself more connected to Judaism, as she became involved in kiruv and began organizing all sorts of events for secular Jews and professors on campus. According to Judge Freier, through her efforts, two lawyers even became religious.

When Ruchie Freier was forty years old, she graduated from Brooklyn Law School, and in her words, “G-d wasted no time in testing” her. Shortly after be-

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When Pizza is More Than Just Sauce and Cheese TJH Speaks with Sruly Lieber, Who Has Been Facilitating Thousands of Pizza Deliveries to the IDF Heroes Sruly, we hear that you have been facilitating the delivery of almost 4,000 pies of pizza to IDF soldiers inside Gaza since the war started on October 7.

Sruly Lieber: That’s mostly true. Part of those deliveries went to IDF units in other areas, not just inside Gaza. We sent pizza as a thank you to soldiers fighting at the Egyptian border in the South, the Chevron region, the Jerusalem area, northern Samaria, Jordan Valley, the northern border, up to the Lebanese border, and the Golan Heights.

How is it possible to deliver pizza inside Gaza and in the middle of a war? Are you the Uber Eats for the IDF or what?!

Not quite, but suffice it to say, the risky delivery fee is included. There is an incredible chayal named Elisha Kuchar; he’s a reservist currently stationed in the north.

He runs an organization called PizzaIDF. He took it over from his father who started it during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. Elisha is very well connected in the IDF and handles the logistics. Every delivery is arranged with the army and cleared with each commander before delivery is set up. We don’t just show up unannounced.

The backend is run by his awesome wife Tanya from their home in Ranana, where she is the mom to their four kids and is also in United Hatzalah.

I’m just helping them out with their mission. The

main goal has been the same since his father Menachem started it all those years ago: to allow people all over the world to send love, thanks and support in the form of, yes, delicious, fresh kosher pizza!

Maybe this is a weird question coming from a New Yorker, but why pizza?

Well, the IDF feeds the soldiers mostly items like canned tuna and canned corn. We love our IDF heroes and want to send love and thank them for their sacrifice in other ways. The logistics of pizza are easy, much easier than a BBQ, and much less expensive. A pie is only $18 and it feeds four soldiers. You don’t need to set up or cook anything, it’s not a huge production, and they eat it immediately on delivery. Also, did you know Israelis love pizza?! The kitchen staff at the bases told us that the IDF is so strict with kashrus that all their kitchens are exclusively fleishig. They said pizza was genius because they have so many meat-based meals that this occasional alternative is a “real treat” and “breath of fresh air” for the soldiers.

What kind of units have you sent pizza to?

Well, my personal involvement is a drop in the bucket. Elisha himself has received worldwide donations and facilitated delivery of over 35,000 pies since the war started! Together with what we raised they have cov-

ered just about everyone – commandos, special forces, artillery, tank units, K9 squads, counter-terrorism units, the air force, Mishtara, and many others. We also made deliveries to volunteer border patrols and injured soldiers in hospitals. We even delivered to IDF bases all over Israel and beyond, some of them personally. I’ve arranged deliveries for friends and their families (and continue to) to be able to deliver the pizza themselves.

My extended family and I did this twice at two different bases over Chanukah during a trip for my son’s bar mitzvah. I will tell you firsthand, yummy food aside, they are so touched by the gesture and really feel the support. All these deliveries were beyond meaningful and hard to put into words. I’m happy to set this up for anyone who emails me.

What’s it like for the soldiers when they get delivery of the pizza in the field? We’ve seen the videos of the army in Gaza, so readers might find it hard to imagine a pizza delivery with bullets flying and explosions going off. How does it work?

It’s crazy. The soldiers are shocked almost every time they get the pizza. I give the order details to Elisha, and he calls one of the pizza shops in his database that he has used for many years, which is closest to that area.

It’s always a shop he can personally vouch for – vouch for their quality and reliability, hechsher, and, of course, clearance with the IDF. If it’s a location outside of Gaza

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Sruly with his son on Chanukah delivering pizzas to soldiers

or near the border, the delivery is made in a normal fashion. If it’s inside Gaza, it’s usually handed off to the soldiers who transport it to its further and riskier destination – Jabalia, Khan Younis, even the West Bank in areas like Jenin.

of pies of pizza and they tell them a bunch of New Yorkers sent them, with tons of love and support. The whole atmosphere transforms in an instant. A pizza party in a hellish war zone is a real thing. PizzaIDF makes this happen.

Are the deliveries random, or can you pick what kind of unit you want to send it to when you place your order/make your donation?

Great question! Elisha makes things happen. He’s just good like that. And everyone knows him and PizzaIDF. They will take small, random orders, no problem, but for medium-sized and larger ones, not only can you request it go to a specific unit, but he can track down specific soldiers and deliver to him/her and their units.

This is where I made it more personal on my end.

Elisha helped me get pizza to my cousins’ units, to units of my friends’ relatives who are serving, and even for strangers who called or emailed me who wanted to set up an order and delivery for their own relatives or friends’ kids. Baruch Hashem, we made it happen every time.

No matter where their mission took them, the pizza followed. Usually, they don’t think we can do it and donors are always shocked when they get back a video from the war zone, in the middle of hell, with a bunch of soldiers eating what they sent, saying, “Thank you to my…friend, family, school or camp – by name – for the pizza, thank you for thinking of us! It means so much, we love you guys! Am Yisrael chai!” It brings both sides so much joy.

It keeps us connected. They can’t believe we care. But that’s really only part of it.

And what’s the other aspect most overlooked?

Parnassah! And the Israeli economy. When the war broke out, many businesses and, of course, pizza shops around the country had to close or began to struggle mightily. Elisha has texts from pizza shop owners who sounded borderline suicidal. One was a very young entrepreneur who had just opened days before the war!

Elisha told him, “Stop. Don’t worry. Go open your brandnew shop. Fire up the ovens. I am ordering 200 pies from you. Per week!”

It is everyone’s donations that helped keep these pizza shops afloat these last few months. We are feeding Israeli families from multiple angles.

That’s amazing. What do you mean just a part of it?

What else is there?

Well, there is the “feeding” of the soldiers. There is the show of support and showing them you are thinking of them. But two more aspects are very much overlooked.

The first is the boost in morale. It’s just pizza, but you can’t imagine what kind of change comes over them when an army truck or Humvee pulls up to them full

Many people around town know you as the person who constructs their kitchen cabinets. What’s your connection to this? Is there any profit in this for you?

Another great question. The short answer is no.

Zero. The longer answer is that we all see guys going on missions and making barbecues for soldiers all the time, right? Well, I can’t do that. So this is my barbeque. This, I can do. I can juggle this chessed in my not-so-spare time.

Initially, I really just wanted to do something after October 7, anything to be involved, to help. I was awestruck by the 400K strong, running to fight and protect Am Yisrael. I just wanted to say thank you!

This fell into my lap…

No, it was sent my way, and with Hashem’s help, and the help of awesome friends, relatives,

schools and local businesses, it really took off. We have done some very meaningful things, like feeding multiple brigades l’zecher nishmas loved ones, donations for a refuah sheleimah, and tracking down three brothers, nephews in three separate units in Gaza for one uncle and aunt, just to send some love and support. We have made some really interesting deliveries and many crazy things have happened along the way – so many I could write a book.

Can you tell us one or two of the most interesting or meaningful deliveries?

Sure. One interesting delivery was for 100 pies that a group of my awesome friends donated collectively to a brigade in Gaza. The commander of these 400 soldiers set up the delivery with Elisha for a specific time for a surprise dinner. The pizza was made and boxed, loaded in vans and brought to the border. It was halfway to their location in Gaza when the commander called and said, “Turn around, we can’t take it. We had a mission and ate a late meat-based lunch. I’m sorry, but it won’t be six hours for a while and so I cannot give the pizza to these guys.”

The pizza ended up in the hands of basically any units or soldiers scattered along the route back to the border. “Mi

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Elisha, head of PizzaIDF, with the mayor of Shomron

Moishy, on top, with his unit, holding the boxes of pizza delivered with love

k’amcha Chalav Yisrael!”

Another story was really touching. My wife’s friend contacted me. Her friend in Israel had a son in the IDF. Moishy was allowed to go home for 24 hours, because he was switched out of his unit that day with his close friend, who was pulled back in from his own 24-hour leave – another frum fighter. Unfortunately, the friend was killed on that mission. Moishy felt that his taking the 24-hour leave caused this to happen. He thought it should have been him! His whole unit was distraught.

Morale was at its lowest. Moishy and his unit were in aveilus. Moishy’s mom had heard about what kinds of things we were doing with pizza for the soldiers. She wondered what we could do and thought maybe it could help in some way. This friend didn’t hesitate. She made the donation for the unit, and we set it up for a day or two later. The video and pictures this mom got back, of her son and his friends in Gaza, with boxes of fresh pizza was incredible. They were smiling, and they were truly uplifted by this delicious distraction, delivered with a simple note saying, “We are with you! all the way from ‘Kfar Rockaway,’ NY!” The mom wrote us a letter of thanks that really chokes me up when I think about it.

That is so beautiful! I don’t think I’ll ever look at pizza again the same way and can’t wait to buy the book!

But where are all these donations coming from?

Mainly through my small group of friends, clients and contacts using mainly my WhatsApp status. But I’ve had some help along the way. My son’s class in Yeshiva Darchei Torah raised money, my nephews’ and nieces’ class and other classes in HAFTR; multiple classes in YKLI and North Shore Academy did the same. Camp Lavi sent pizza to many former staff currently serving.

They fed entire units and platoons.

We have also fed entire brigades with the help of incredible corporate sponsors like Electric And Beyond, SDF-A Architects, Extreme Vent Cleaners, Fruit Platters & More, as well as Mittman Electric. These companies jump to lift the spirits and fill the bellies of our IDF heroes.

Sruly Lieber personally delivering pies of pizza to IDF heroes

Wives and families of soldiers receiving a delivery of support in the form of pizza

You raised about $100K in three months. For a hardworking cabinet guy with no fundraising experience, that’s not bad at all. How have things changed three months later?

Well, yes and no. We are still taking orders anytime someone asks to send pizza to soldiers. But we pivoted two weeks ago to a bit of a spin-off: pizza for the families of the soldiers.

“It’s just pizza, but you can’t imagine what kind of change comes over them when an army truck or Humvee pulls up to them full of pies of pizza and they tell them a bunch of New Yorkers sent them, with tons of love and support.”

That’s sounds amazing. Tell us more.

We are focusing on the Shomron right now. Through the mayor, Elisha was given a list of how many fami-

lies in each yishuv have a father or husband fighting in the war. We decided to give those moms and kids some thanks and support as well. We want these moms to get a night off from making dinner, and so we are bringing them pizza. It’s also a night off from the cost of making dinner while their husbands aren’t working. With help from my Five Towns and Queens friends, clients, and friends, we already raised enough to feed 103 IDF families in “Migdalim”! The mayor came to the event and thanked us. The soldiers’ wives were in tears that we thought to do this for them. We also raised enough to feed 105 IDF families in “Itamar,” 50 IDF families in “Riyhan,” and my cousin in Montreal raised enough for 78 IDF families in “Gilad.” Those deliveries will be over the next week or so. We are hoping more people will help us deliver fresh support to more of these yishuvim, with donations for these IDF families who sacrifice so much.

Incredible stuff! So simple, yet so powerful. Anything else on the horizon?

Yes. Purim is going to be amazing. Sending mishloach manos to soldiers, their kids and/or their families is going to be important, and we have some special things planned to make it a Purim sameach for them.

Stay tuned! For general donations or to set up random unit deliveries, you can contribute at www.PizzaIDF.org.

If you want to send pizza to a specific chayal, email me at slieber7@gmail.com.

If you, your friends, shul, camp, school, etc., want to take on a yishuv and collect for a delivery on your own or to sponsor one (it’s tax deductible), email me at the address below. We can set up a team page for you. Or, if you want to visit an IDF base and hand-deliver your own pizza, email me as well.

B’yachad n’natzeach. Am Yisrael chai!

To donate, visit PizzaIDF.org or email Sruly Lieber directly at SLieber7@gmail.com. For the special Purim deliveries, visit PizzaIDF.org/purim.

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TJH Speaks with Mazi MeleSa PiliP, Candidate for 3rd Congressional District Special election to be held February 13

By SuSan Schwamm

Mazi, just two years ago, you were running for Nassau County Legislator and now you’re running for a federal office.

Yes. I’ve been a legislator since 2021, and I was just reelected for the second time for that position.

It’s been a great experience. I have always loved working with people. As Legislator, I had a great opportunity to help people and to bring people together. I was able to accomplish a lot. I can tell you, together with my colleagues and our County Executive Bruce Blakeman, we were able to freeze taxes for two years, basically – for two budgets here, which is a big deal. Especially during this difficult time of our hurt economy, we made sure that we didn’t increase taxes. But at the same time, we also made sure to fully fund our police. We believe in public safety. We believe supporting our law enforcement is our obligation as leaders. We want safe communities.

We want people to feel comfortable. Therefore, we fully funded our police departments with technology, training, and we even increased the amount of police officers in our departments. We have more of a police presence around our district, especially during this time when there is a war in Israel. I was also able to work with all the mayors here in my district. I was able to bring funds to their communities based on the needs of each village.

We helped villages with their police funding and with their roads. Two of the villages received flood mitigation in case of a hurricane or heavy rain, which is so important.

Speaking of roads, I was able to fix almost all our roads in my district. I was also able to transfer open land that belonged to the county to a Great Neck Park District because that land was neglected for many, many years and was collecting water and dirt. The park district is going to turn it into a beautiful land and park so people can come from all over Nassau County to enjoy that land.

I was one of the legislators who sponsored the Anti-Semitism Task Force. We work with law enforcement

so residents can report any antisemitic incidents. We held public hearings to hear from residents whether they are feeling any antisemitic sentiment or are the targets of hate crimes. I brought a lot of leaders from the federal government and Congressmembers to our district to meet with state senators and others to see how we can fight antisemitism, especially in colleges. And I was happy to see, as a result of our initiatives, a few Congressmembers were involved in the public hearings in Congress where they held accountable the presidents of Harvard and Princeton and MIT.

You’ve been very busy for the past two years, and it sounds like Great Neck benefited greatly from having you as a representative. But the Third Congressional District is a lot larger than the Great Neck area. Tell us about the district that you’re running for.

There are some parts of Queens included in the district, along with Jericho, Syosset, Oyster Bay, Massapequa, Levittown – it’s a great district and I’m excited to serve those who live there.

The people living there want public safety. They support law enforcement. They are worried about the open border policy that President Biden and his squad members supported. Although I am for immigration – this country was founded by immigrants, and it’s so important to give that opportunity for others to live the American dream the way I am living it –I do believe, as a government on a national level, you have to make sure, first of all, that the safety of Americans comes first. You need to ensure that drugs and criminals are not making their way in through the borders. The amount of drugs coming through now is scary. It is a crisis right now.

We’re talking about fentanyl, a deadly drug that can kill people on the spot, and other drugs that are so addictive to many of our young people. I have seven children. Like

so many other parents, I am worried about my children.

I think we should support immigration, but it has to be done legally and it has to be done correctly. If we want to bring in immigrants, we also need to be able to support them. These are people who are coming for a better life. They want good opportunities. They want good schools. They want their kids to grow and to live the American dream. So you can’t bring them in to sleep in tents. When a country brings in immigrants but doesn’t have a plan to have them to integrate into society and turn them into functional members of the country, they are going to suffer. If they have mental health issues, they may turn to crime. So how did you help them? What did you do for them? You hurt the American people and you hurt the immigrants. What Biden is doing is so unfair. It’s so irresponsible. As a person who immigrated twice, there has to be a better way.

Abortion has been a key issue on voters’ minds. What are your thoughts on abortion, especially running as a female in this race?

As a mother and as a female, I feel that abortion is a very personal decision. I have seven children. I’m religious. Therefore, I am pro life. However – and I really want to emphasize this because it’s very important – I am not going to push my own personal views on anyone.

And I’m not going to support a national abortion ban because women’s health is very important to me.

Democrats are using the abortion issue to sway voters, saying that Republicans are going to take away women’s abortion rights. What do you say to those people?

I am going to stand behind my words. I am not going to support a national abortion ban. I am not going to force my own beliefs on any woman. If I decided to have seven children, it’s my choice to have seven children. My

You’re running against Tom Suozzi in this special election. He represented part of the district for quite a few years. What would you say to residents who are familiar with him? Why should they vote for you over Suozzi?

I think people realize that the issues we’re facing right now are stemming from policies that the Biden administration and his squad members and the lefty progressive Congressmembers implemented. They are for all open borders, not supporting law enforcement, supporting cashless bail, and they’re not improving the economy. Suozzi is part of that. He had an opportunity when he was Nassau County Executive years ago, and he increased taxes. When he was mayor, he increased taxes.

That’s what people know and remember about him.

If people want a fresh face and a fresh voice to help them, it’s going to be me. He had his chance. He was in Congress for six years, and he created more problems. He wants his seat back. Why? To fix problems that he created? People are sick and tired of old politics. They want people who are going to stay behind them, not people who say, “Yes, I have experience.” Experience of what?

Experience of increasing taxes. Experience of supporting the lefty progressive agenda. That’s not what the Third District would like to see. They would like to see a strong person, a strong woman, a mother of seven children willing to go all the way to Congress to solve problems. And to be honest, the fact that a mother of seven children wants to go all the way to Congress to fix problems is showing you how bad the situation is in Congress.

As you mention, you are a mother of seven children. How are you going to be able to balance going back and forth to Washington? That can’t be easy.

It’s not easy, but I’m a fighter. All my life I always took challenges on myself. From a little girl who was born in Ethiopia, grew up in Israel, served in the IDF, completed my first bachelor’s degree, master’s degree …

I came from parents who didn’t even know how to read and write in their own language and I was able to accomplish everything I did and moved here with my family and became a mother and then a legislator in Nassau County. That shows you that I’m not afraid to take any challenges.

I’m doing this because I want to make sure my children and my residents’ children will have a bright future, something that I benefit from in this beautiful country.

In order to secure a better future, you have to give and be part of the process. I don’t like to complain from the sidelines. I like to be involved. I like to go in. I like to fix things. And when I say that I promised to do things, I will deliver and I will be there to fight for my district.

Thankfully, I have a very supportive family, who will be able to help with things at home.

I’m very excited for February 13, for when there will be a strong showing of support for me at the polls.

Politics has become so divisive and there’s so much mudslinging going on between parties and candidates. How do you make sure that you rise above the pettiness of what goes on?

When I was running for county legislator, the seat that I was running for – and that I’m holding now – was

“it’s not about politics, not about seats, not about power. it’s about getting things done.” never held by a Republican – ever. At that time, I had five kids, and I was pregnant. I introduced myself to people, and I said, “I’m running.” People told me, “Oh, Mazi, forget about this. You have five children. You are pregnant.

We never won here. It’s not going to happen.” They kind of gave up already. But I said, “Listen, I’m not here to cry.

I’m here to build. Let’s build it. Let’s win.” And I was able to bring people together here and motivate people. I was able to educate people about the importance of voting.

And I had a great victory two years ago, and this time, with my second term, I had even greater victory. I won my second term by 4,000 votes.

Two years ago, I promised them that I was going to be a legislator for all. Not just for the people who voted for me. Not just for Republicans. For all – and I meant it.

One of the first things I did when I got elected was that I

met every mayor – Democrat, Republican, mayors that didn’t support me for the first time. I didn’t care, but I said, “No, I’m not going to punish people. It’s not the reason why I decided to go to politics. I’m here to help everyone.”

I was able to help anyone and work with everyone. I was able to bring people together to work together. Because it’s not about politics, not about seats, not about power. It’s about getting things done. It is about serving the people, doing the right things for the people, taking their concerns, taking their calls, answering their messages and respecting them. Not every time you can fix things for them, but the fact that you were there to listen and tried to help them, that can be a huge thing for people.

I want to bring common sense to the people. This country has been so good to so many people, so many immigrants, and we have to keep this country a beautiful place for the generations to come. The only one who can do this is someone like me. You need people who bring people together. You don’t need extremes from either side. That doesn’t work. Unfortunately, politics has really divided our nation. But that is not what we need.

America needs to come together to unite, to solve the problems. Even when we don’t agree about things, we have to come together and say, “Okay, I don’t agree with you this way, but maybe we can come together and find the middle ground.” That is the outlook and attitude that I bring to this position.

Earlier, you mentioned antisemitism. I see that you very proudly wear a Star of David necklace and are proud to be a Jew. Have you experienced any antisemitism as you ran for office or as a public official?

Personally, no. I’m very proud and loud about my religion. I am not afraid. This is who I am. I grew up in Israel and served in the Israeli army. I know what Israel is about. I know what the IDF is about. October 7 really destroyed so many of us emotionally. It hurt so many people. But I want to empower people. After October 7, I found myself hugging and crying with people at supermarket, at the bank, on the streets. I was very vocal. I was rallying in front of Columbia, CUNY College. Even last year, I was rallying for the Jewish people. I was at two rallies in CUNY College when they were encouraging hate speech at their law school. My message to my people, to my Jewish community here, is to be strong, be proud. We’re going to hold everyone who is antisemitic accountable.

Congress is voting on aid packages to Israel and Ukraine. What are your thoughts on the United States funding these wars?

We, as American people in a powerful country, have a responsibility to stand up against injustice. We need to support our allies. Israel is our true friend, our democratic friend, the only true democratic country in the Middle East that shares the same values as America. It’s in our national interests to support Israel and help give it the edge that it needs. We need to send what Israel needs because Israel is fighting a terrorist organization. And by

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faith, my religion – it’s my choice. That’s what I believe.

And that’s what my district’s hearing, and they’re going to continue to hear it. Not everybody’s agrees with my opinion – even in my own party – but I stick with my beliefs.

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fighting a terrorist organization, it’s not just helping Israel. It’s helping the entire region.

It’s helping the entire world.

What about Ukraine? We’ve poured a lot of money into Ukraine, and people are tired from sending so much funds.

I think that Ukraine is our ally. We’re supposed to support Ukraine. But at the same time, if members of Congress have questions, like how are we spending the money inside, to understand how the money is spent, that’s a legitimate question and we need an answer for that. You’re right, we have been supporting Ukraine for a long time, for two years. At this point, we need some explanations on how the money was spent so far.

And then, if we see everything was working correctly in terms of how they are allocating the money and that it’s going to the right hands, of course, we will support Ukraine as well.

What is your main message when you speak with voters?

As I said, I’m all about the people. I’m all about being the voice for the people. I would like to lower taxes.

I would like to restore the state and local exemptions for New Yorkers. I would like to improve our economy.

I would like to support small businesses. We are living in a very difficult time when everything’s so expensive.

The people are wondering if they can afford to put food on the table. Inflation is high, interest rates are high, and the cost of living is high. Food prices went up 20% since Biden took office; electricity went up 24%. Rent went up by 18%. It’s become really impossible for a middle-class family to live. Sixty percent of the American people reported they are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s a big problem. And I am here to fix that. We also have to make sure we are supporting our law enforcement. We can’t advocate defunding the police. We have to bring safety

to all residents. This is our number one responsibility as a government – local government, state government, and national government.

The Third Congressional District is ready for a new face, a fresh face. Somebody who cares about them. It’s not about politics and power. It’s really about delivering for residents. And I’m the only person who can deliver here for the Third Congressional District.

Early voting is ongoing for the special election for the Third Congressional District. Election Day is Tuesday, February 13.

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I started dating a guy from across the country on Zoom, and everything was going well for the first two months. We got along well, and we enjoyed talking. We decided that we had to meet in person, so I got a plane ticket and flew out to meet him. Instead of the wonderful time I

was expecting to have, I had the worst time ever! He treated me like one of his buddies, not like a girl, let alone a date! For example, not only did he not hold the door open for me, but he also didn’t even wait for me to walk though! When I held the door for another group who was right behind us, he just kept on walking and didn’t even notice I wasn’t with him and I had to run to catch up to him. I told this to the shadchan, who relayed the message and told me he would be better. The next day, we met again, and it was exactly the same!

I want to end it, I have no interest in him at all anymore, but the shadchan and my mother are pushing me to continue. What should I do?

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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The Panel

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ou are not telling us what worked between the two of you, even as you tell us that things went well. Do pay attention to what does work when you date.

Now, to respond to your question. You seem very irate about the young man’s manners and you are not going to change your emotional reaction. You don’t have room for connection with this level of reaction, so I would say, trust your gut. If you invested so much in traveling to meet this young man and he was not courteous enough to try to put you at ease with respect, say goodbye.

Y

The Shadchan Michelle Mond he same shadchan who encouraged a two month Zoom relationship and who encouraged you to fly out to him is now encouraging you to continue after you are clearly sure that the boy you are dating has a clear diagnosis of bad middos. I usually try to avoid run-on sentences; however, this run-on situation warranted one. While there can be excuses for what this guy did, such as being clueless (twice!), it does not give you an excuse to drown your intuition and forego your self-respect.

I’m all for being dan l’kaf z’chus; don’t get me wrong. If you had made an informed decision to keep going based on the things you had appreciated about this guy despite his actions, that is one thing.

However, you are saying in plain English that you’re done, and your mother, plus the shadchan, are pushing you to continue. Gather the courage to make your own decision based on basic feelings and facts and stick to it. This will not only help you with this guy but will help you in the future as well.

As an aside, I would like to mention that I am not a fan of long-winded Zoom relationships. Zoom, in many cases, is a cop-out. It’s an easy way of saying you tried. “I gave it a shot, but it’s not sha-

T

yach.” If one must, due to geographic limitations, have two Zoom meetings – maximum – before going on a real in-person date. Imagine, you could have known these things months ago, had you just had one in-person experience with him. There is no replacement for an in-person date.

Hopefully, you will also adapt to this mehalach in the future as well.

would be concerned. Middos is number one, and they are very, very difficult to see through Zoom dating, unfortunately.

Although you didn’t ask this, I would first encourage you to have a conversation with him to see if he understands the moments lacking respect for you or if that’s his nature. If he still isn’t receptive or a mensch about it, then it sounds like you know what’s best for you. Nobody’s going to honor your gut better than you!

The Mother The Zaidy Ariella Weinstock t’s funny, because you’re not telling us anything else about this gentleman that you are dating except that he doesn’t hold doors for you. I concede that holding a door for someone is just plain courtesy, but there must be something about him that you connect with, since you have been chatting for two months on Zoom.

Still, perhaps it’s your gut that is telling you, in the form of a “slamming door,” that this boy is turning you off.

Sometimes it’s helpful to write things down to give you clarity. I would suggest you make a list of things that are “going for” for this guy and things that bother you about him. You can show that list to your mother and shadchan to help them understand why you don’t want to continue dating him.

Yes, I know you invested time and money and effort into dating him. It’s frustrating to you (and your mother and the shadchan, too) that this is not going to work out. But I don’t suggest you spend any more time or effort or money pretending that this relationship has a future.

I

The Single Tzipora Grodko

O

h man, that sounds so disappointing. I am so sorry you had that experience and would feel equally confused and frustrated. If these small examples that you gave reflected further moments where he lacked beautiful middos, then I

Dr. Jeffrey Galler ait.

Who would be marrying this guy? Your mother, the shadchan, or you?

It is YOU who would be spending the rest of your life with him.

If they cannot accept a simple, “No,

W

Perhaps it’s your gut that is telling you, in the form of a “slamming door,” that this boy is turning you off. thank you,” as your answer, then there is something wrong with them, not with you.

If they refuse to get the message, try: “I would agree to go out, but then I’d have to spend time with him.”

Or, “I would totally go out with him, but I can’t. I try to avoid dating people who creep me out.”

(You can’t choose another mother, but you can choose another shadchan.)

Be firm! You can, and you will, do better than this guy.

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

T

hank you for writing into the panel. This guy is something else. His rudeness and lack of etiquette and manners seem almost too extreme to be real.

What is more concerning than his behavior is that your mother and the shadchan are encouraging you to keep seeing him.

I would reconsider taking dating advice from either of them.

I think you know what you need to do, and I’m wondering what comes up for

you around asser t ing you r sel f to your mother and the shadchan. “No” is a complete sentence. Them pushing you, considering how awful these dates were, is bordering on unboundaried and dangerous advice. No one is respecting you. Creating a boundary is necessary right now. “Thank you for setting us up.

I won’t be seeing him again.” I imagine

both will keep pushing the boundary at this point. And you can simply double down: “I have already told you why I won’t be seeing him again. I can repeat it again. He is rude, insensitive, and disrespectful. I won’t be seeing him again.”

Another tactic to use is to ask questions. “I’ve told you how disrespectful this guy is to me and how much I don’t want to see him again. Why would you encourage me to see someone like this?”

To anyone struggling with boundaries, I recommend The Big Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban. If you struggle with making and holding boundaries and worry how others may feel after saying what you want or need, please know that you are not responsible for any reaction anyone has to you if you have expressed your boundary politely and respectfully.

You are allowed to have wants and needs that are different from your mother’s.

You are allowed to have wants and needs that are different from your mother’s.

If she is upset, you are not responsible for that. You get to live your life, and girl, good for you for seeing that this guy is one giant, flapping red flag of a disaster.

Bright woman!

All the best, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

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Parenting Pearls

Whatchamacallit

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

“C

an you please pass that thing to me? I need to write something down.”

“Please give this to the man that sits next to Tatty. I forgot his name, but he always wears a gray tie.”

We often forget the names of things.

Sometimes, we can’t even remember the name of someone we know very well. We may describe it or use some other method to convey what we are referencing.

Often, it’s the silliest things we can’t remember, and it can make us feel a little embarrassed.

What if we never learned the name for an item? We could probably describe its function or appearance to clue in the other person. What if we never even understood what the word meant? We’d certainly find it challenging to express our intentions.

There are so many assumptions we erroneously make about our child’s or teen’s ability to understand a word or comprehend a concept. One area where this comes up is regarding emotions. We incorrectly assume children can both

identify or isolate their feelings and label them.

Describing our feelings and naming them is a challenge even for adults. But, at least we know what the words mean.

“Anger,” “frustration,” “excitement,” and “pride” are vague to one who isn’t familiar with naming them. Anger is different from frustration – it’s nuanced but indicates a completely different emotion.

It’s only by consistently pairing a feeling with its name that we learn to recognize the uniqueness of each feeling.

Our children enter this world without any language. They begin by learning concrete objects: Mommy, Tatty, milk and cookies. Other words, such as love, anger and joy, are abstract and more difficult to learn. Children will usually, on their own, quickly learn the concrete words, such as “cookie” (it’s a childhood favorite). Words that identify abstract concepts need to be more actively taught and require greater time to acquire.

Once something has a name, it can remove some of the fear that surrounds

it. Only once we can identify something can we then begin to accept it and work with it. Teaching children to name their emotions is an important step in helping them to navigate their world and the many interpersonal relationships they will encounter.

Give It a Name Being able to label our feelings gives us an effective means of communicating both our emotions and our needs.

Children find it challenging to express themselves and can resort to ineffective means such as violence, tantrums or screaming. When a child can say “I’m so mad,” they can express themselves verbally and not just physically.

It takes time to learn this skill, and even a highly verbal child may forget their words when they’re extremely emotional. We can’t always understand exactly what we’re feeling, and even teens may find it challenging to accurately name their emotion.

We can name a child’s emotions for

them as they are being experienced. “I can see you’re disappointed you didn’t win the raffle.” “You look frustrated trying to button your shirt.” “I can see you’re excited for your first day of school.”

It’s often the negative emotions that can be extra challenging for a child and where they will require the greatest assistance. This is also when they are most likely to find it hard to use words instead of acting out, such as throwing things. It takes a certain amount of calm and focus to be able to stop and tune into our inner feelings.

There are many labels for emotions, and each expresses a slightly different feeling. Negative feeling emotions can include anger, frustration, jealousy, hurt, embarrassed and anxious. Positive feeling emotions can include happy, excited, proud, cheerful, respected and satisfied. Children can even learn to name feelings they can’t fully categorize, such as uncertainty and confusion.

The more developmentally advanced the child, the more likely they are to be

cued into their feelings and recognize the more nuanced ones.

I was reading a Jewish book on marriage, and the author saw fit to describe what “love” means. I realized how appropriate it was to take a few paragraphs devoted to an explanation.

While it seems obvious to most of us what “love” means, not everyone has the same definition. Sadly, not every child is raised in an environment where feeling love was natural, and the concept may be foreign to them.

It’s easiest for children to connect the meaning to a word while they’re experiencing it, but sometimes, they need more help to understand. We want to keep our explanations simple and practical. Children, particularly the youngest ones, will get lost in long descriptions and become confused by big words. Many older children and teens can appreciate a more complete explanation, but we always need to remember to educate to the child’s needs.

There are many charts and flash cards available online to help children recognize the difference between var-

acknowledging their feelings and their experience, not blaming or putting them down. Acknowledging their feelings doesn’t mean we think they’re correct for wanting to smack the boy who took their ball, it means we are understand-

Teaching children to name their emotions is an important step in helping them to navigate their world and the many interpersonal relationships they will encounter.

emotion. Each child is unique, and you want to find the method that your child will connect with.

Our Chinuch It’s important to remember that during this time of intense feelings, it is not the time to judge their feelings or criticize them. We are just helping them put a label on their inner reality. We are

ing that they are deeply feeling that anger in this moment.

We are not specifically encouraging them to feel angry, disappointed, or jealous, but at this moment, we’re not judging them or berating them for having those feelings. We would quickly stop confiding in our spouse or close friend if each time we shared our feelings they told us we shouldn’t feel that way. Our children are no different and

will quickly shut down if we criticize them each time they verbalize their emotions. The goal here is to give our children and teens a tool for recognizing and expressing themselves.

Chinuch and middos are crucial to a child’s development, but our attempts to educate them will be more effective once they’re feeling calmer and more stable.

Trying to have a serious conversation when they’re emotionally heated is only going to make them even less receptive to our teachings. But allowing them a little time to get past their initial negative feelings can give them an opportunity to really absorb our chinuch.

As our children grow, so will the complexity of their emotions. Helping them to understand and acknowledge the many feelings they will encounter is one step towards building healthy adults. May our children experience many positive feelings for us to teach them.

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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Describe the Emotion

ious feelings. These helpful tools are often used by therapists and educators.

The named emotion is frequently accompanied by a smiley (or unsmiling) or child displaying the facial expressions that often accompany the labeled

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, I have been teaching for many years, and I love my job.

I hope to be able to do this for many more years! There is nothing more rewarding than teaching. I love the way the girls’ faces light up when they get a concept for the first time or the way a girl glows when I give a compliment.

I am writing because I have seen a very disturbing trend. Many parents are hovering over their children.

They rush in to help when their children don’t need to be helped! In my personal opinion, they are actually hurting them. Here is an example: If I compliment a girl on her test but write that she needs to look over the rubric and make the necessary corrections to get a higher grade (I am giving her a second chance to raise her grade which means I am giving myself another paper to mark but I made the decision that this girl needs the opportunity I am offering her), I get a phone call from her mother! Note that the phone call was to my personal cell, minutes after the girl arrived home…how much could the mother have even processed the situation before picking up the phone to call and intervene (read “argue and yell”) to try to convince me not to make her daughter retake her test?

I understand wanting to help your child; I am also a mother. But responding to every situation by swooping in and trying to fix the situation is enabling students to work less, try less, and believe in their abilities less.

What is your take?

-Longtime Teacher

A:

Dear Longtime Teacher, There is a term being used in articles I have been reading recently, and it aptly describes what you are talking about. It is called Snowplow Parenting. Web MD defines the term as “snowplow parenting, also called lawnmower parenting or bulldozer parenting, is a parenting style that seeks to remove all obstacles from a child’s path so they don’t experience pain, failure, or discomfort.” This kind of over-involved parenting, similar to helicopter parenting, comes from a place of love but is known to have negative consequences for children as they grow. Experiencing failure and disappointment is important for skill development and growth. If a child is protected from feeling disappointment in the small events that occur in school, they end up being ill-equipped to deal with bigger problems that occur when they reach adulthood.

Children who experience failure must figure out a way to recover and deal with the ramifications. This helps them

ster to break its shell so it can grow learn about the world and cause and a larger one. effect. They often figure out different To allow our Rabbi Twersky ends his mesways to handle issues and other ways children to to succeed. sage with a reminder. “Times of grow, we need In the world of school, snowplow stress are times that are signals for parents are the ones who “help” their growth, and if we use adversity propto allow them to children with their projects or homeerly, we can grow through adversity.” deal with their (https://forward.com/communiwork and intervene for their child for ty/465481/what-the-rabbi-learnedevery low grade. age-appropriate from-the-lobster/) Such involvement might indeed discomfort To allow our children to grow, we help the child in the short term, but and come up need to allow them to deal with their in the long term reinforces the idea age-appropriate discomfort and that the child is incapable of doing with their own come up with their own solutions. anything on their own without a parsolutions.

Sometimes, parents can do some ent’s involvement. These over-caredhelping behind the scenes, but that for children often do not develop the should be a decision made with lots skills to deal with stress, failure, and making decisions. Some of these children also become very of forethought and one that a child is not aware of.

If parents choose to call a teacher, it should be at a time entitled, as they know Mommy or Daddy will take care of the issues that arise. Many of these children struggle so- that is not rushed and with respect and curiosity. The child cially in school as they do not know the art of dealing with should not know of the phone call unless it is helpful to big or small conflicts and they are used to getting their way. share after the fact.

When a child comes home from school, parents would I am reminded of a message on stress told by Rabbi Dr. Avraham J Twersky, z”l, a noted psychiatrist specializing be wise to reserve judgement. After a long day, your son or in substance abuse, an author of over 90 books, and a man daughter is probably hungry and tired, and every complaint will be magnified. Teachers usually have a child’s best inknown to truly understand human nature.

He was once waiting at a dentist’s office to be seen, and terest in mind. Listen, be there, praise effort rather than he saw an article in a magazine about lobsters. They are success, and above all, don’t rush to fix the problem. Talk made of soft tissue but have a hard shell. As the lobster the situation out with them. Help them develop a strategy gets larger, the shell begins to confine it, and it becomes to deal with the problem. Help them recognize stress, and so uncomfortable, it goes to a rock and breaks out of the what might help them through it. shell and then it grows a larger one. This happens once a Parents, be your child’s cheerleader, not a snowplow year for adult male lobsters and once every two years for (or helicopter). Your future adult child will thank you later! adult female lobsters.

Dear teacher, keep believing in your students. Show “The stimulus for the lobster to be able to grow is to feel them they have the power to solve their problems and deal uncomfortable,” Rabbi Twersky explains, and “if lobsters with issues. Remember that children are more sensitive were able to go to a doctor, they would be given a Valium than ever, so demand high standards from a place of love. or Percocet and never grow.”

May you have much nachas from all of your students, It is the pressure and discomfort that leads the lob-Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

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Health & F tness

Avoiding Winter Weight Gain

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

A

your weight goals.

s the temperature continues to drop, many of us find it difficult to maintain our normal routine. The colder months can cause changes in our healthy lifestyle and habits which directly impact the numbers on the scale. This phenomenon is called “winter weight gain”, and the average person can gain 5-7 pounds during the winter season! It may seem inevitable with the colder and shorter days, but there are ways to manage this seasonal gain and stay on track with your goals. This article will provide effective weight management strategies you can utilize in the winter season.

Let us first explore the factors that contribute to winter weight gain. Understanding this phenomenon will help you make more informed choices, develop strategic plans, and set realistic goals for preventing weight gain.

These holidays can make it harder for us to get back on track the remainder of the winter season, causing us to gain more weight.

Reduced Physical Activity

Hormonal Changes

Cold weather encourages us to stay indoors, reducing our exercise as we become less inclined to go to the gym or engage in walking or jogging activities. Not everyone has their own workout equipment at home if they can’t make it to the gym. Cold weather often tempts us to stay in bed or on the couch for warmth, making it harder to stay active.

Hormonal changes during the winter are influenced by different factors such as daylight exposure, temperature, and seasonal fluctuations. Some of the key hormones involved in the regulation of appetite, metabolism, and mood that may be affected during the winter include: 1. Melatonin: Since the winter has shorter days and longer nights, this can contribute to an increase in melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Its increased production during the winter months may contribute to feelings of fatigue and a potential decrease in overall energy expenditure. Energy expenditure is the number of calories you burn throughout the day due to essential body functions and as a result of physical activity.

2. Serotonin: Reduced exposure to sunlight can lead to lower serotonin levels.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation. Low serotonin levels are associated with feelings of depression and anxiety. Some individuals may turn to comfort foods, which are often high in calories, to boost serotonin levels

Comfort Foods When we are cold, we crave meals that are warm and comforting. Examples of comfort dishes are macaroni and cheese, pizza, burgers, and fries, all of which are high in calories and unhealthy carbs. The colder weather makes us less likely to cook our own healthy meals, so we are more likely to order take-out. Take-out foods are usually higher in calories, added sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats which contribute to weight gain.

Holidays The winter season starts off with Thanksgiving and Chanukah, where we consume large amounts of unhealthy foods.

Stay Active

and improve their mood.

3. Leptin and Ghrelin: These hormones play a role in appetite regulation.

Leptin signals satiety and inhibits hunger, while ghrelin stimulates appetite. Changes in daylight and temperature during the winter can influence the balance between these hormones, potentially leading to increased feelings of hunger and a decreased ability to recognize fullness.

4. Cortisol: Stress can increase cortisol levels during the winter due to various factors such as holiday preparations and weather-related challenges. Elevated cortisol levels are associated with an increased appetite, particularly for high-calorie and sugary foods.

Dehydration In the summertime, it’s easy to remember to keep drinking since it’s hot outside.

In the winter, it’s harder to remember to stay hydrated since the weather is cooler.

Dehydration can make you feel hungrier and lead you to eating more food. Additionally, in the winter, people crave hot beverages like lattes and hot chocolates which contain a lot of sugar and calories.

These factors may make it seem unavoidable to gain weight during the winter, but here are some strategies to combat these challenges and stay on track with

It’s tempting to skip working out in the winter, but exercise is essential for preventing weight gain. If you work out at the gym, try preparing your workout clothes the night before so everything is ready to go.

It can also be helpful to wake up earlier to work out because you can get it done earlier in the day instead of after work when you’re tired. A workout buddy or a trainer can help ensure you stay accountable and motivated to consistently go to the gym. If it’s too cold to leave your house or if you don’t have a gym membership, there are many ways to work out at home. YouTube has a variety of cardio, bodyweight strength training, yoga, Zumba, and other workout videos to do at home. You can also purchase your own workout equipment like weights, bands, a treadmill, and a stationary bike.

Plan Weekly Menus At the beginning of each week, plan out all the meals you’ll eat that week. Each meal should be balanced with protein, healthy fats, whole-grains, and vegetables to ensure you’re eating healthy and satiating meals. Here are a few meal ideas you can choose from: 1. Salmon with a side of quinoa and asparagus.

2. Grilled chicken with roasted cauliflower, and sweet potato.

3. Ground turkey lettuce wraps with a side of zucchini soup.

It’s important to plan meals that are easy to make. If you decide to cook something that’s too complicated or time consuming, you may be less likely to make it and opt in for something unhealthy. If you intend to eat out at restaurants or order take-out, peruse the menus in advance to make sure you have healthy options.

Limit Sugary and High-Calorie Snacks Eating snacks that are high in sugar and calories can contribute to weight gain. Sim-

Have Consistent Mealtimes Having consistent mealtimes is crucial for weight management and overall health. It helps prevent overeating during later meals due to prolonged hunger and promotes a more controlled calorie intake.

If you push off or delay eating your meals, this will lead you to overeat at other meals and/or snack throughout the day, resulting in weight gain. Regular mealtimes also provide a steady source of energy, which enables you to exercise and manage your weight.

Make Healthy Comfort Meals It is hard to avoid eating comfort foods during the winter months, so try cooking healthier comfort meals instead. Making healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods can be beneficial for managing

weight because it will allow you to enjoy the comforting aspects of your favorite foods while eating ingredients with better nutritional content. These meals are lower in calories and fat, are less processed, and are higher in nutrients and fiber.

overeating. Low water intake can trigger you to eat more since it can confuse your thirst sensation with the desire to eat. To maintain proper hydration, have a glass of water at each meal, set reminders on your phone to drink, have a water bottle near

It’s tempting to skip working out in the winter, but exercise is essential for preventing weight gain.

Here are a few examples of healthier comfort dishes you can make: 1. Crustless chicken pot pie 2. Chicken meatballs over spaghetti squash 3. Cauliflower mac and cheese 4. Oven-baked sweet potato fries 5. Homemade chicken and vegetable soups 6. Chickpea vegetable curry

Stay Hydrated Drinking enough water is necessary for hunger and appetite control to avoid

you at all times, and eat water-rich foods like watermelon and cucumbers to help increase your fluid intake. Drink healthy hot beverages like herbal tea to warm yourself up – hot beverages make you feel fuller than cold ones!

Get Adequate Sleep Good sleep can aid in weight management because lack of sleep will increase our energy intake and stimulate ghrelin to increase our hunger and appetite levels, so we are hungrier. When we are sleep deprived, we are also less likely to exercise

since we don’t have enough energy. Physical activity can help burn off excess calories so adequate sleep is essential for weight management. Make sure you avoid eating large meals before bed because eating too close to bedtime may disrupt sleep.

The colder months often bring about changes in activity levels, eating habits, and hormonal fluctuations that can contribute to unwanted weight gain. Even though the winter season poses a few challenges for your weight goals, you can avoid winter weight gain by following these strategies: staying physically active, planning well-balanced meals, limiting sugary snacks, establishing consistent meal times, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and choosing healthier comfort foods are effective ways to support weight management during the winter.

By incorporating these tips into your routine, you can navigate the winter season without the worry of weight gain!

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show.

Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

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ilar to your main meals, prioritize snacks that are nutrient-dense. Your kitchen should have healthy snacks like fresh fruit and vegetables, pretzels, dark chocolate, nuts, and seeds. A hot baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon and a bit of granola or sugar-free whip cream is a wonderfully comforting and healthy snack idea! Limit high sugar and calorie snacks like candy, chips, granola bars, and cookies.

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F

d for Thought

Thyme & Tonic

By Nati Burnside

M

ost restaurants go through changes over the course of time.

Whether it’s learning more about what their customer base wants or just wanting to modify things a bit, change is generally seen as being a good thing.

But Thyme & Tonic recently underwent a change that’s pretty uncommon, even in the kosher restaurant world.

They switched from offering dairy to offering meat.

And as infrequent as that kind of switch is, it’s not as rare as the type of restaurant Thyme & Tonic remains. As a “plant first” establishment, their standard menu is actually vegan. It’s only when the guest chooses to substitute that they are able to order otherwise (dairy in the past, meat in the present). It’s there where the switch starts to seem like it might not be the biggest deal.

Most of the menu stayed the same. The option used to be to swap out the vegan cheese with real cheese. Now, the choice is whether to replace the house-made soy “chick’n” or Impossible patty with organic free-range chicken or grass-fed beef.

But serving meat came with another change; they upgraded their kosher supervision. In order to attract a wider customer base, owners Josh Borenstein and Orly Gottesman brought in Rabbi Aaron Mehlman and National Kosher Supervision (NKS). Now armed with a mashgiach tamidi and stricter supervision that is widely accepted in the community and approved by area shuls, they’ve seen an increase in Orthodox patronage.

The switch involved changing a few things, but nothing too major. A couple of ingredients needed to be up to the stricter standard, all wine is now mevushal (though the mashgiach opens everything anyway), no sherry cask whiskey is available at the bar, all vegetables are washed and checked, and the entire kitchen was kashered.

When I was invited to check out the new and improved Thyme & Tonic, I decided to start with something that I thought captured the theme. The Zucchini Fries were a delight, and I advise anybody who walks

in to try them. The spears of zucchini were lightly fried and seasoned and would have been great on their own, but the citrus aioli that they were served with was the perfect combination of acidity and zest.

As a “plant-first” restaurant, the kitchen actually has two separate tracks. Anything ordered in its standard vegan construction is made on vegan equipment so even the strictest adherents to the diet would be able to eat it. Another track covers anything ordered with fish, chicken, or beef.

If you’re looking to try something from the latter, I’d recommend the Popcorn Chicken. Served with three sauces (buffalo, barbeque, and a pareve ranch), this was the best of its type that I’ve ever had. The pieces were tasty and crunchy on their own and managed to achieve the difficult balance of the chicken pieces being the correct size and the thickness of the breading being substantial but not overzealous.

These nuggets of wonderfulness are the result of brining, marinating, and a triple dredge before they hit the fryer. It turns out that the process they use for their fried chicken (also used for chicken fingers and sandwiches) has been such a success that they look forward to launching a fried chicken ghost kitchen in the near future.

Getting back to the healthier side of things, I’d suggest you try the Chattanooga Chopped Salad. This is the kind of thing you expect a place like Thyme & Tonic to get right…and they absolutely do. I added grilled salmon to the top of mine (great choice, by the way) as an enhancement. It has greens (baby spinach, kale, romaine, castelfranco), veggies (broccoli, red onion) peppers (red, pepperoncino), root vegetables (radish, carrot), fruit (cherry tomato, avocado), some stuff to add crunch (roasted chickpeas, grilled green beans, charred corn), and a pareve ranch dressing. Even without the fish, this might be a whole meal on its own.

With salads like this, it’s no wonder that they are close to the launch of their first ghost kitchen concept, Salad Thyme. The plan is to have ten types of salads and salad

wraps available (chicken and fish optional, of course). This may be a gamechanger for those who work in the city and want fresh, healthy, kosher food delivered to their office for lunch. It’s a wonder nobody has stepped in before now, but Salad Thyme is ready to step up.

One of the more adventurous options on the menu at Thyme & Tonic is One Night in Bangkok, their pad thai dish. Made with tamarind, mushrooms, and tofu, this bowl of rice noodles will leave you wanting more.

While much of Thai cooking uses non-kosher ingredients as staples, I wish more kosher restaurants would pick one plate and make it as well as this is made. It’s a palate that kosher consumers don’t have much exposure to, so it’s amazing to have it as an option.

With so many sandwiches to choose from, it may be hard to pick just one. But as I’m running out of space, I’ll just say how much I loved the Diablo Burger. Topped with charred jalapeño, onions, avocado, imitation pepper jack cheese, and chipotle aioli, this burger was a delight. It’s obviously not for the faint of heart, but you get a great balance of heat and creaminess that you won’t soon forget. The fake cheese

was better than I thought it would be and definitely added to the originality of the burger. And speaking of great imitations, Thyme & Tonic is entirely gluten free, not that you’d notice by eating the bun this burger came on.

There’s so much going on at Thyme & Tonic. They’ve started hosting pre-paid Friday night meals, they are going to launch a daily (meat optional) brunch menu, and their bar (18 signature cocktails to go along with a bevy of other options) is as busy as ever. The prices are very reasonable (especially for Manhattan), and the atmosphere is one of fun times and good friends.

If you haven’t been, now’s the thyme.

Plant First (Meat Optional) Gastropub - Waiter Service (646)-596-7434 474 Columbus Avenue, NY, NY ThymeAndTonic.com National Kosher Supervision (NKS) - Rabbi Aaron Mehlman

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In The K tchen

Stuffed Dates with Lamb in Pomegranate Sauce

By Naomi Nachman

I was recently asked to do a cooking class for an Israeli and Middle Eastern cooking class as a fundraising event. I prepared for the class this incredibly delicious date and la mb recipe. It has so many great flavors coming together and presents so beautifully. If you don’t like la mb, you can use chopped meat instead.

Ingredients

◦ 24 large, pitted dates, preferably medjool Lamb Mixture ◦ 1 pound ground lamb

◦ 1 tablespoon silan

◦ 1 small shallot, finely minced

◦ 1 tablespoon tomato paste

◦ 2 cloves garlic, minced

◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

◦ Crush black pepper

◦ ½ teaspoon cumin

◦ 2 cups boiling water

◦ ½ teaspoon allspice

◦ 1 cup red wine

◦ ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt ◦ 1 ⁄8 teaspoon pepper ◦ 2 tablespoons pine nuts

Preparation

Mix the ground lamb with all the ingredients.

Gently fill the dates with the meat mixture. Set aside.

In a large wide saucepan, add sauce ingredients on a medium-low heat until

Sauce

ingredients are dissolved. Add the stuffed dates to the sauce and simmer on low,

◦ 1/3 cup pomegranate molasses

covered for an hour, basting halfway through.

◦ 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

Garnish with pomegranates and fresh parsley.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

Mind Y

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ur Business

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Running Your Non-Profit Like a Business

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his column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show – broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

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 2017 to take a look at a classic edition of “Mind Your Business,” in which Yitzchok sat down to speak with David Mandel, CEO of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services.

Read on for Mandel’s top 5 business techniques you can use to optimize your non-profit organization: * * *

1. Have a Board of Directors

Every once in a while, my colleagues in the non-profit field will call me and ask for advice on how to deal with a certain situation or crisis. Whatever the case is, whether I’m speaking with a school principal, CEO, or community leader, my very first question is always, “Tell me about your board of directors.” And too often, their responses are either: “we don’t have a board

of directors,” or “we kind of have a board of directors, but they’re not really active.”

That’s where your solution will almost always begin. For any organization that’s publicly financed for whatever amount of money, regardless of what they do, regardless of what field they’re in, a board of directors is essential. Without an active board of directors, the organization is like a car without a steering wheel, which can lead to serious problems over time. An active board of directors will help you steer the organization in the right direction, by providing guidance, and obligating you to take action and put your hands on the wheel.

2. Think About Your Shareholders If you’re in charge of a non-profit organization, just like in a business, you have a responsibility to your shareholders. Those shareholders are your board of directors, your donors, your benefactors, the people that you serve, etc. So, you have to manage it like a business. The underpinning of business education is that there is only one goal the CEO of a company has. And that goal is: return on shareholder value. To the extent that you can increase the profit, the quarterly earnings, and the stock price of your company, you’re a star.

How does that translate into public service? At first glance, it doesn’t. The IRS doesn’t permit IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) in the non-profit sector, meaning that they can’t list their shares on a stock exchange. But, I posited to my friends in Wall Street that perhaps in non-profits, the return on shareholder value is the good feelings that you get from seeing people get better, being able to know that you’ve made a difference in the world. I asked my friends on Wall

Street, on that basis, would it be possible to invest in the public sector, for organizations like Ohel. They told me, “It’s a very nice thought, but that’s just not how we sell IPOs.” Lo and behold, years later, someone out of Harvard worked out a similar method that has allowed us to now issue IPOs in the non-profit sector.

3. Don’t Ignore Your Finances Even though it’s called a “non-profit,” that doesn’t mean that you should be losing money. Running a successful non-profit means that at the end of the fiscal year, you are not running deficits. If you are running deficits on a short-term basis, you must be able to sustain it through the support and understanding of your board of directors and by standing by your donors with absolute transparency of your filings.

I once sat down with a very sophisticated donor, who would not even give $1 to an organization before holding an hour-long interview. Before making a donation, he asked us endless questions, not just about our programs and services, but about the funding and financing. He knew that Ohel had an understanding of social services, but he wanted to make sure that we also had an understanding of the relationship of money to social services before deciding to be a donor. That was an excellent experience that every non-profit CEO could benefit from going through, in order to appreciate the financial side of what they are responsible for.

4. Embrace Transparency In 2002, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, because Wall Street companies were getting into trouble restating their earnings on billions of dollars. This act ensured that those companies had to

remain transparent in their future statements. Now, non-profits are not required to follow these same standards that were imposed on for-profit businesses, but I highly recommend that non-profit organizations do so anyway. At Ohel, we made a decision that we would follow transparency laws to every extent possible. We established a very active finance committee, audit committee, and risk management committee of the board of directors. Those are three legs that will help an organization and their leadership deal with transparency.

We, as professionals, have an obligation to our board. Our board has an obligation to the community and the donors. Once you understand what your responsibility is, it’s fairly easy to implement it.

5. Expand Without Compromise When it comes to expanding, it’s good to approach your non-profit like a business, in the respect of growing to allow your organization to provide even more services to even more people. But, it’s also important to never forget the people that you’re already serving. Two of our board members, Saul Friedman and Jay Kestenbaum, have a very good philosophy when it comes to this issue. “It’s good to expand, but at what expense?” They don’t mean “expense” in terms of finances; they mean it in terms of the quality of your services.

Yes, you should expand, but never at the expense of current clients that you serve, and never via the elimination of services.

Your services and benefactors are the one thing you can never compromise on. Always make sure that your base continues to be served. If you expand to serve people in one place, but you’re taking away services from another, what did you really accomplish?

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

No one looks in a math book. I knew it would be safe there – page 200.

– The organizer of a group of 30 employees at a Kentucky elementary school who won a $1 million Powerball, disclosing where she stored the winning ticket

I remember saying, “Guys, what are the chances that dozens of terrorists would get to the border and the IDF wouldn’t have any indication of it?

That they wouldn’t be shot down? They’d be killed before they got close, surely.”

- Avi Issacharoff, creator of “Fauda,” which is a show about Israel and Hamas, disclosing to the UK Jewish News that he rejected a plot line that included a Hamas invasion of Israel

Let me tell you something, what … is the world coming to if you could be from another country, beat up a cop in New York City and walk out with no … bail? What … is the world coming to?

Can’t explain this I’m stuck maybe TRUMP is the answer.

- A well-known rapper posting on social media in response to New York City’s plan to distribute $53 million to city migrants in pre-paid credit cards

– Liberal comedian Michael Rapaport in a social media video post

On the same day that that happens, Cadaver Joe Biden issues an executive order about four … “settlers” in Judea, Samaria – aka the West Bank.

Some troublemakers, three of the four have already been arrested. You’re talking about that, but you’ve got nothing to say about … beating up cops in New York City?

– Ibid.

This is why when I say voting for pig … Donald Trump is on the table, voting for pig … Donald Trump is on the table!

- Ibid.

I have no answer.

- Left-wing activist Aybee Binyamin, after stating that the hostages must be “released regardless of the cost,” when asked whether he would agree to a hostage deal if one of the conditions were that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would remain prime minister for the next five years

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Biden’s strategy is very simple: 1. Get as many illegals in the country as possible.

2. Legalize them to create a permanent majority – a one-party state.

That is why they are encouraging so much illegal immigration. Simple, yet effective.

- Tweet by Elon Musk

This explains why there are so few deportations, as every deportation is a lost vote. As happened this week, you can literally assault police officers in broad daylight in New York, be released with no bail…and not be deported!!

– Ibid.

A few other things you probably don’t know: illegals in America can get bank loans, mortgages, insurance, driver’s licenses, free healthcare (California & New York) and instate college tuition. What’s the point of being a citizen if an illegal gets all the benefits, but doesn’t pay taxes or do jury duty?

I just stopped doing politics in my act altogether. You know, when I did “The Tonight Show,” the idea was you made fun of both sides equally… they’d both be angry. And I’d go, “Oh, that’s good.” You know, they both think you’re supporting the other guy. Now, you’ve gotta take a side, and people are angry if you don’t.

- Ibid.

- Jay Leno in an interview with Piers Morgan

No military fighting an entrenched enemy in dense urban terrain in an area barely twice the size of Washington, D.C. can avoid all civilian casualties. Reports of over 25,000 Palestinians killed – be they civilians or Hamas – have made headlines. But Israel has taken more measures to avoid needless civilian harm than virtually any other nation that’s fought an urban war.

I live in frustration. Every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart.

- John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, writing in Newsweek

In fact, as someone who has served two tours in Iraq and studied urban warfare for over a decade, Israel has taken precautionary measures even the United States did not do during its recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- Ibid.

The sole reason for civilian deaths in Gaza is Hamas. For Israel’s part, it’s taken more care to prevent them than any other army in human history.

- Ibid.

– Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaking at Berkley School of Law about the frustration of being in the liberal minority on the Court

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The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tiebreaking vote. Skeptics wonder when the mayor will support a ceasefire on the West Side [of Chicago].

- The Wall Street Journal editorial board

Chicago had 617 murders in 2023, and its murder rate is five times that of New York City.

On some weekends in the warmer months, dozens of people are killed by gunshots or stabbings.

– Ibid.

Amid national notice of this mayhem last summer, Mr. Johnson said critics had to live in Chicago before they had the right to criticize.

Israel might ask the same of Mr. Johnson.

- Ibid.

It’s just like riding a bike.

- Charles Baldwin, 102, who flew a fighter jet in World War II, after he flew solo last weekend in Texas

If Osama bin Laden was in the hospital and his thumb was injured, do you go in and kill him? The answer is yes.

- Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on CNN, when questioned about Israel eliminating three Arab terrorists who were receiving treatment in a hospital

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Political Crossfire

Abolish the U.N.’s Palestinian Refugee Agency

By Bret Stephens

U

nited Nations agencies and officials are no strangers to scandal and infamy.

U.N. peacekeepers caused a cholera epidemic in Haiti and committed horrific abuses in Congo. The U.N.’s oil-forfood program for Iraq became a multibillion-dollar kickback scheme through which Saddam Hussein all but bribed his way out of international sanctions.

In the 1980s, Kurt Waldheim, a former U.N. secretary-general, was unmasked as a former Nazi. He was the same secretary-general who denounced Israel’s 1976 rescue of Jewish hostages in Entebbe as “a serious violation” of Uganda’s national sovereignty.

Now comes the latest scandal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, better known as UNRWA. Last Friday, Israeli officials presented the U.S. government with an intelligence dossier detailing the involvement of 12 UNRWA employees, seven of them schoolteachers, in the massacre of Oct. 7. As reported by the Times’ Ronen Bergman and Patrick Kingsley, the charges range from kidnapping an Israeli woman to storing rocket-propelled grenades to murdering civilians in a kibbutz.

Awful enough — and the U.N. rightly moved swiftly to terminate the employment of nine of those identified by the dossier. But that may be the least of it. “Intelligence estimates shared with the U.S. conclude that around 1,200 of UNRWA’s roughly 12,000 employees in Gaza have links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and about half have close relatives who belong to the Islamist militant groups,” The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The figures are worth bearing in mind the next time you weigh the credibility of information about the Gaza Strip sourced to the U.N. Also worth bearing in mind is that this has been

going on for years. As Bassem Eid of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group noted over a decade ago, “In order for UNRWA to survive, they accept [Hamas’s] conditions because they want to continue their activities.”

The new revelations were enough for the Biden administration to suspend its funding for the agency — worth nearly $350 million in 2022 — while it investigates the allegations. As of last Tuesday, other major funders, including France, Germany and Japan, have followed suit.

That’s a start. But the fundamental problem with the agency isn’t that it appears to be infested with terrorists and their sympathizers, or that their salaries are paid by naive foreign donors. It’s that UNRWA may be the only agency in the U.N. system whose central purpose is to perpetuate grievance and conflict.

It should be abolished.

Think of it this way. The United Nations has two agencies dedicated to the plight of refugees. One, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, is responsible for the well-being of nearly all the world’s more than 30 million refugees, with a mandate to help them resettle in

third countries if they can’t go home.

The other is UNRWA, which theoretically operates under the umbrella of the high commissioner but is really its own organization. No other group except for Palestinians gets its own permanent agency.

Why? In part, because neighboring Arab countries such as Lebanon cruelly refused to fully absorb Palestinian refugees, refusing them not only citizenship but also, in many cases, the right to most forms of work. In 1991, Kuwait went further by expelling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in a matter of days, because Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had supported Saddam Hussein during the Persian Gulf War. Think of that the next time Arab governments profess solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As bad as the cruelty is the cynicism.

The changing borders and independence movements of the postwar era produced millions of refugees: Germans, Indians, Pakistanis, Palestinians and Jews, including some 800,000 Jews who were kicked out of Arab countries that had been their homes for centuries. Nearly all found new lives in new countries —

except for Palestinians. They have been kept as perpetual refugees as a means of both delegitimizing Israel and preserving the irredentist fantasy that someday their descendants will exercise what they believe is their “right of return,” effectively through the elimination of the Jewish state.

It’s upon that alleged right that efforts at a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal have foundered. It’s also the right that UNRWA’s very existence keeps alive. Palestinians should be citizens of the countries in which they live — just as some 2 million Arabs are in Israel. They should not be cudgels in a never-ending struggle, subsidized from one aggrieved generation to the next by international largesse.

Defenders of UNRWA insist that without it, Palestinian civilians will suffer even more. But there is no reason other international agencies can’t shoulder the burden of the immediate relief effort for Palestinians in Gaza. In the meantime, the Biden administration and other governments need to ask hard questions of UNRWA’s senior officials, starting with Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini.

To wit: If Lazzarini and his deputies didn’t know that UNRWA in Gaza was employing potentially hundreds of Hamas members or sympathizers, what sort of oversight were they exercising?

And if they did know, are they not responsible? In either case — gross negligence or quiet complicity — they need to resign now.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be insoluble. But it can’t be solved so long as millions of Palestinians have been turned into the world’s only permanent refugees. By doing that, UNRWA makes itself an obstacle to peace — reason enough for it to finally go away. © The New York Times

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Political Crossfire

by Fareed Zakaria

I

t’s perhaps fitting that the line that best describes U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East over the past 15 years comes from the Godfather movies. In the third part of the series, the aging Michael Corleone has been trying to distance himself from his old mafia businesses and ties.

But inevitably crises flare up that demand his attention. “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in,” he cries.

President Biden might be thinking just that as he wonders how to respond to the recent attack on U.S. forces that claimed the lives of three American soldiers in Jordan.

Ever since George W. Bush’s second term, American administrations have been seeking to reduce their exposure to the Middle East. The argument makes logical sense. The United States imports only a tiny amount of oil from the region. Its efforts at regime change and reform in Iraq backfired spectacularly. The most important challenges to the U.S.-led international order come from Russia in Europe and China in Asia. The Middle East is a side show.

But crises come not at times and places of your choosing. And the withdrawal of American power has itself set in play a series of moves that are now shaping the region. As Washington has lost interest in the Middle East, anti-American militias have been gaining strength and influence — from the Houthis to Hezbollah to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (the umbrella group believed to be responsible for the attack that killed the American troops).

Iran is allied to all these groups, which helps it preserve its influence and weight in the region. Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has provided an ideal opportunity for these forces, because they can claim to be protesting Israel’s actions — and in thus asserting themselves, demonstrating their might and gaining legitimacy.

Ironically, the Biden administration, which has been working hard to prevent these militia attacks from turning into something bigger, now needs to decide whether to itself escalate and respond massively. Biden is under pressure at home from Republicans who will accuse him of

weeks before becoming Richard M. Nixon’s national security adviser, there is a simple rule: “The guerrilla wins if he does not lose.

The conventional army loses if it does not win.” The tragedy of U.S. foreign policy is that having seen the dilemma so clearly, once Kissinger entered government, he got

There is a simple rule: “The guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.”

looking weak. Senators such as Lindsey Graham (S.C.) are urging him to strike Iran to preserve America’s credibility.

A large U.S. escalation would be a mistake. These militias thrive on conflict with established armies. The Houthis endured nearly a decade of massive Saudi bombardment and came out largely unscathed. As Henry Kissinger noted in a Foreign Affairs essay on Vietnam mere

seduced by the need to preserve American credibility and perennial pressure not to look weak. He supported massive military action against the North Vietnamese forces, which ultimately failed. The North won in Vietnam by not losing, and the United States lost by not winning.

Iran’s proxies are trying to stir up as much chaos as possible to force the United States and Israel into large-scale strategic

blunders, which would among other things spoil a possible normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The attacks by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq on U.S. forces have a specific goal — pressure the government of Iraq to expel U.S. forces stationed in that country. The group’s militias are the very ones that support the current Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. In a battle between Washington and these militias, the Baghdad government would have to side with these groups that sustain it in power. This would complete the takeover of Iraq by Iran, symbolized by the expulsion of U.S. troops. And it would further the larger Iranian goal of unraveling the U.S.-built security system in the Persian Gulf.

The Biden administration will have to respond to the attacks on U.S. troops, but it should search for a way to do so that does not involve a major escalation. The Iranians have signaled in several different ways that they are not looking to escalate either.

The most effective response to this broader Iran-backed push against U.S. interests in the region would be to show not that Washington can escalate militarily — which of course it can — but that it can de-escalate politically. That means using the crisis in Gaza to create conditions for longer-term stability by addressing Israel’s need for security and Palestinian aspirations for a state. Success on this front would then make it much easier for not just Saudi but also broader Arab-Israeli reconciliation. That kind of political and diplomatic response would not appease the war hawks in Washington, but it would be the most effective counter to America’s foes.

As Michael Corleone says in that same movie, “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 | The Jewish Home

In Responding to Iran, the U.S. Should Take the Godfather’s Advice

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Political Crossfire

The U.S. Tacks Hard Toward a Mideast “Moment of Truth”

By David Ignatius

L

et’s try a thought experiment: Imagine the Middle East as a pool table surrounded by a raging fire. The United States, amid this inferno, is about to attempt a complicated three-cushion shot with balls that we’ll call “Saudi Arabia,” “Israel” and “Hamas.”

If successful, this bold stroke could switch on the sprinklers and extinguish the flames. But some of our imaginary balls are explosive. And one more thing: There’s a clock ticking.

This sounds like a daredevil act out of Las Vegas, right? But it makes an apt metaphor for an intense diplomatic push by the Biden administration. Unlikely as it might sound, this high-risk shot might be the best way to put out the raging inferno of the war in Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken

plans to travel to the Middle East soon.

He’ll probably stop first in Saudi Arabia, where he hopes for a renewed pledge from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to normalize relations with Israel if – and only if – Israel ends the Gaza conflict and commits to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state that includes Gaza and the West Bank.

Blinken is then likely to travel to Israel, where he’ll meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader, mired in war, deeply wants a breakthrough peace deal with MBS, as the Saudi leader is known. But at the same time, Netanyahu and his hardline coalition refuse the Saudis’ conditions of a quick end to the fighting in Gaza and a path to Palestinian state.

Here’s President Biden’s game: He wants to make Netanyahu an offer his

coalition can’t accept politically – but that the prime minister, whose legacy as a historic Israeli leader has been shattered, personally might not be able to resist. If Netanyahu embraces the Saudi proposal, his coalition will fracture, and he’ll need to find new partners. If he refuses, his government might be toppled by rivals who embrace the U.S. formula for ending the war.

Martin Indyk, twice a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and perhaps the United States’ wisest observer of the Israeli-Arab conflict, offers a colorful metaphor of his own to describe the U.S. diplomatic gambit. “Biden wants to make Bibi swallow the frog (and do the deal), or gag on the frog (and make way for another government).” Either way, the United States hopes, the impasse will be broken.

What chance is there that Netanyahu would shake hands with MBS? You might think it’s zero, given his repeated public rejection of a Palestinian state.

But an Israeli who knows him well says that Netanyahu realizes he faces a serious choice and that he will weigh the political factors carefully. To be blunt, becoming a peacemaker with the Saudis might be Netanyahu’s only way to avoid lasting infamy over the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

Timing is critical. The United States has told Israel that the Saudi normalization deal must get rolling within the next two months. That’s partly because MBS is demanding, as part of the normalization package, a treaty providing NATO-like guarantees for Saudi security. Because it’s an election year in the United States, such a deal would likely

Lebanon might be possible, and progress toward an eventual Palestinian state could begin.

“The only way to calm Gaza is the hostage deal,” says one person who’s involved in negotiations, stressing that it’s the key to reversing the cycle of vio-

its military leader, Yehiya Sinwar, to make a deal. A new approach is flooding Hamas tunnels with seawater from the Mediterranean, a tactic that was considered early in the war, then shelved because of technical and environmental problems. It has now been revived with

He wants to make Netanyahu an offer his coalition can’t accept politically – but that the prime minister, whose legacy as a historic Israeli leader has been shattered, personally might not be able to resist.

lence that has brought the Middle East to the brink of all-out war. The reason he’s hopeful is that Israelis see release of hostages as an overriding priority after the trauma of Hamas’s terrorist attack.

Israel keeps pounding Hamas in its underground Gaza kingdom to convince

some new techniques.

Israel still doesn’t have coherent plans for the “day after” the war ends.

Its governance plan for Gaza – involving clans, merchants and local power brokers – sounds to me like a formula for creating a chaotic ungoverned en-

clave on Israel’s borders. U.S. officials hope that Israel will eventually recognize that the only sound plan is a U.S.backed mission to train security forces of a “revitalized” Palestinian Authority – which officials are beginning to describe as the “RPA.” That force could be ready in eight months to a year.

Then there is the problem of stopping settler violence and relocating as many as 200,000 Israelis from a future Palestinian state. Biden took a strong step Thursday by sanctioning four Israeli West Bank settlers who committed violence against Palestinians. That’s just a start, but it enhances U.S. credibility with Palestinians as peace-broker.

“The moment of truth is not quite here yet,” says one official who has been involved in the complex negotiations.

But it’s coming. What U.S. diplomats envision is an unwieldy structure with unsteady partners, risky bets and untested resolve – with an American president with strategic vision but political weakness. There’s a lot that could go wrong but, given the bleak alternatives, it’s worth a shot. (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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have to get Senate ratification by June before it gets buried in campaign politics.

But we haven’t gotten to the hardest part yet. None of this complicated diplomacy can really begin until the fighting in Gaza ends. That’s the last element of the three-cushion shot. CIA director William J. Burns and White House aide Brett McGurk, guided by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, have been working with Israeli officials and Qatari and Egyptian mediators to craft a hostage-release deal.

It would be a phased swap: Over many weeks, Hamas would trade the roughly 136 remaining Israeli hostages and the dead bodies it holds in exchange for what it could call a cease-fire. Israel would call it something different – a freeze, or an extended pause – but such turns of phrase are how diplomats make their living.

That hostage deal is tantalizingly close, according to U.S., Israeli and Arab sources. But it might take weeks to finalize. Once the guns fall silent, a broad de-escalation is possible: The Saudis could move toward normalization, a border deal between Israel and

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Political Crossfire

Republicans Have No Excuse For a Bad Border Deal

By Marc A. Thiessen

A

lthough the specifics of the border agreement being negotiated by Senate Republicans and the Biden administration have not yet been released, this much is certain: There’s no excuse for a weak deal. The border crisis could cost Democrats this year’s election and put Donald Trump in the White House – and Democrats know it. That means Republicans have all the leverage in these negotiations.

And it explains why so many GOP skeptics are unwilling to go along with major concessions.

Every year of his presidency, Biden has broken the record for most encounters at the southern border. In fiscal 2021, there were 1.73 million encounters, which was a record until fiscal 2022, when the number rose to 2.37 million, which was a record until fiscal 2023, when there were 2.47 million encounters. And that does not include 1.7 million known “gotaways” who have evaded apprehension during Biden’s presidency.

If you’re Joe Biden and you know that illegal immigration propelled Trump into the White House in 2016, why, on winning the presidency, would you proceed to unleash the worst border crisis in American history? It boggles the mind.

This disaster is catching up with the president. The January Harvard CAPS-Harris poll found that immigration is the No. 1 issue for voters, ahead of inflation, jobs, crime, health care and others.

The reason is that Republican governors such as Greg Abbott (Tex.) have nationalized the problem by sending migrants who crossed the border illegally to Democrat-led cities such as Chicago and New York. “Once migrants started to show up in the cities, once budgets started to get stretched … once urban mayors raised alarm flags, this became an issue of concern to the national public,” says Mark Penn, co-founder of the Harvard-Harris poll.

Not only has the issue risen in importance, according to a recent Fox News poll Democrats are also completely out of step with the American people on illegal immigration: 67 percent of all voters said they want to deport those who are here illegally, 58 percent want to use the military to stop illegal immigration, and 54 percent want

hotels, only to see five of them alleged to have beaten up New York police officers and then get released without bail. They are done with the surge of deadly fentanyl that is crossing our borders. And they blame Biden for the calamities befalling their communities.

All these facts undermine the chances

Every year of his presidency, Biden has broken the record for most encounters at the southern border.

to build a border wall. And according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, voters say they trust Trump over Biden to do a better job on immigration by 12 points.

This should come as no surprise. Americans are tired of seeing children kicked out of classrooms and recreation facilities so they can be turned into temporary migrant shelters. They are sick of having their tax dollars used to house migrants in luxury

of a weak border deal passing Congress.

First, Republicans have little incentive to let Biden off the hook for his failed border policies a few months before voters go to the polls to render judgment on his leadership. For three years, Biden has demonized them on immigration while presiding over an unprecedented border debacle.

Why provide him with last-minute cover if the deal does not actually solve the

problems he created?

Second, Republicans are rightly skeptical that Biden actually wants to secure the border. At the same time that Biden promises that if Congress passes the deal he’ll “shut down the border tomorrow,” he’s pushing Texas to cut razor wire that it put up to secure the border. If he really wants to detain migrants, why is he leaving thousands of detention beds empty in facilities across the country? And why is he abusing parole authority and not deporting those who enter the country illegally the way President Barack Obama did?

The fact is, if Biden really wanted to shut down the border, he could today. The same laws are on the books today that were there when Obama and Trump got the border under control. If we had a president who was using all the immigration laws on the books and needed extra authorities, that would be one thing. But Biden is choosing not to enforce the law.

So, any deal that Republicans reach needs to force Biden to take steps that will cause some in his party to balk – such as funding and expediting the construction of the same amount of border wall that Trump proposed; reinstating the policy requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated; barring applications for asylum for those who have transited through a safe third country; and deporting the millions of migrants who are here unlawfully. What would Democrats get in return? The ability to plausibly tell fed-up voters they’re finally getting serious about trying to solve the No. 1 problem voters say they care about.

And if Biden won’t do these things, it will be clear that he doesn’t want to stop illegal immigration. He only wants to stop Trump from entering the Oval Office again. (c) 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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126

Forgotten Her es

Winter Warfare Heroes

By Avi Heiligman Simo Hayha, also known as White Death

C

old weather can be the worst enemy of a military, but sometimes, it can be used to their advantage.

Historically, many armies will camp for the winter and wait until the spring to begin campaigning again. For the Continental Army in 1777-1778, this encampment was at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and they remained there for six months. However, for other armies, winter campaigns have proven successful, and some soldiers have demonstrated bravery on winter battlefield with heroic actions.

The Winter War was an early World War II campaign that saw Russia invade Finland in late November 1939. The Red Army had more soldiers and was eager to regain Finnish land they thought belonged to Russia. The Winter War ended in March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty but not before both sides suffered heavy casualties. The Russians, in particular, were ill equipped for the harsh conditions and were at a disadvantage since they didn’t know the Finnish terrain. The Finns, on the other hand, outfitted their soldiers to blend in with the snowy background, and many troops used skis as an effective mode of transportation.

One Finnish soldier from the Winter War who stands out as historically the best in his field is sniper Simo Hayha. The Soviets called him the “White Death,” and he is believed to have killed over 500 enemy soldiers. Born in 1905, on the Finnish-Russian border, Hayha was a natural farmer, and even more important to the military, he was a skilled hunter. Temperatures during the 1939-1940 Winter War ranged between -4° and -40° Fahrenheit, and Hayha used that to his advantage. He wore an all white winter military outfit to camouflage with the snow and used a M91 Mosin-Nagant rifle that was great at long distances.

Instead of using a scope like most other snipers, he only used the iron sights on the rifle. These sights are quite small and placed near the trigger and the muzzle. Only a skilled marksman can hit a target hundreds of yards away, but that’s what Hayha did hundreds of times. Hayha used the iron sights because a scope would reflect the sun and create a glint. By not using a scope, he didn’t reveal his position as many Soviet anti-snipers teams that were sent to look for him couldn’t find him because there was no glint from the scope. He also packed his mouth with snow and placed more snow at the end of the rifle to prevent the muzzle flash from being seen. On May 6, 1940, after killing many of the enemy, Hayha was hit by a counter-sniper but survived the war.

There were other freezing battlefields of World War II, including the Battle of Stalingrad and Siege of Leningrad on the Eastern Front. For the American troops, they would have to fight on remote Alaskan Islands and through the bitter winter of 1944-45 in Western Europe.

In mid-1944, the Japanese were expanding their em-

pire, and as part of their plan to take Midway Island in the Pacific, they sent a divisionary force to the Aleutian Islands. The islands of Attu and Kiska, near Russia, were invaded by the Japanese. Much of the Aleutian Islands were uninhabited and unexplored because of the rough conditions. Colonel Lawrence Castner knew that having a scouting team would prove invaluable to the American forces. The Alaskan Scouts, otherwise known as Castner’s Cutthroats, were created. They were trained to live off the land and would face rain, snow, and blizzards and winds up to 120mph.

Led by Captain Robert Thompson, the unit’s first mission was to report on enemy troop movements and tactics on Kiska and Attu. They were sent on reconnaissance missions, including operations to find suitable landing zones for counter attacks. They were also instrumental in scouting and building a temporary landing strip for airplanes on Adak Island in preparation for the landing on Attu and Kiska. These landing strips shortened the flights for the planes and allowed them to land in bad weather. The 37 scouts were dropped off on the deserted island by two submarines, USS Triton and USS Tuna, and created the landing strip by damning up a lagoon. They used steel mats to complete the landing strip. During the American landings on Attu and Kiska to retake the islands, the scouts were used as guides and messengers.

For their leadership and courage in the harsh conditions, Private Raymond Conrad and Corporal Bagby were awarded the Silver Star. The last major mission of the Alaska Scouts was the retaking of Kiska Island, which had been abandoned by the Japanese.

The harshness of winter weather made regular road vehicles impractical, and troops from many countries turned to using skis for transportation. The American 10th Mountain Division was trained specifically for their mission to the mountains of Italy. They were in combat for 114 days and kept five German divisions in check. Since the 10th Mountain Division fielded approximately 20,000 men in total during that time, they were able to capture several mountain peaks while fighting alongside Brazilian units.

World War II winter battlefields were some of the harshest, most inhospitable terrain that was ever contested.

Those that serve in the units trained and tasked to fight in those conditions proudly defend their country in a professional manner. The missions that they undertook continue to be the trendsetters for future operations.

A plane landing on the Aleutian Islands

The Alaskan Scouts in World War II

An army building on Aleutian Islands, 1944

American troops carrying a wounded soldier on Attu, May 1943

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.

A younger photo of Simo Hayha

The Allied invasion of Kiska

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Classifieds

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FAR ROCKAWAY

156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH FAR ROCKAWAY Beachfront This spacious s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, 156 B 9th StCondo Mint 2BR, 2 BTH with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful Beachfront Condo 4+ BR, 3 Bths, Hardwood floors, This 5 spacious s/h in colthe , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, BR home heart of Far Rockaway, Bths, Brick C/H Colonial Sunrise & Sunset waterviews, and magnificent sunsets . Flr banquet 3 fdnr , EIK, with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent sitsCOMMERCIAL on 1/2 acre property in a. most9serene setting, with beautiful RENTAL! NEW! Dr office Suite, Located $589K breakfast rm, Foyer, main level denin /fpl ,Room master bdrm suite with his FDR, Den, Walk Closet, 130 Deep Property.

FLR FDR, Finished Basement, in quiet Exclusive Tree 29 Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner & Sunset waterviews, and sunsets .new Flr banquet , New! Renovated High Ranch, 4BRs, 2 room, Bths,fdnr New 5Sunrise BrWoodmere Home inBlvd Heart of Far Rockaway, 3Bth,1 Bdrm EIK, FDR, inand the Heart ofmagnificent Cedarhurst, Reception her closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting bths, renovated with 9ft Ceilings.

Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! 9 ,Room DrClose officenewly Suite, Located $1.495M lined area. $1.599 $589K breakfast rm, main level den /fpl master bdrm suite with his Area and Exam Rooms, all on Main Floor. to Public 29 Woodmere Blvd 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm finished basement with laundry rm, playrm, lots of storage, Kitchen & of Bths,3 ZoneSpacious Heatingwaiting & CAC, Den FLR, Den, Foyer, Walk in Closets 130’Lvgrm/Dnr Deep Property.

Counter tops and S.S.Apt Appliances.Large and Large inand the Heart Cedarhurst, room, Reception Transportation her closets and bth + 4 bdrms , new bths, newly renovated with 9ft Ceilings.

Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite many special detailsallthruout $1.9M+ Bdrm/BR with LotsSpacious of Windows Area and Exam on Main Floor.

Close to of Public FDR, SD# 14Rooms, $1.4+M 5 bedroom home on beautifulLvgrm/Dnr cul-de-sac $6,000 finished basement with laundry rm, playrm, lots storage, Charming Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large and Large REDUCED $299K Transportation many special details thruout $1.9M+ $1.279M Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows $6,000 REDUCED $299K

LAWRENCE RENTAL

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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

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

LAWRENCE JUST LISTED This amazing two-bedroom two full bathroom condo Features a luxurious lifestyle in the beautiful city of Lawrence. What more could you ask for? The building has a 24-hour doorman and elevator access, with a social room, library, washer/dryer inside the unit, and terrace. Plus, the added benefit of having a live-in super to ensure maximum safety and security! And don’t forget about your new kitchen complete with a gas stove, refrigerator, microwave, and even two dishwashers! The living room and dining room are spacious and have recessed lighting installed throughout. Both bedrooms feature lots of closet space for storage. To top it off, there’s even garage parking available to make your life just that much easier! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Please call for a private showing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE Totally renovated bright and sunny 1 bedroom corner unit apartment with a washer/dryer. Features quartz countertops, ss appliances, recessed lighting, bathroom with chrome fixtures, close to the railroads, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE New to the market studio co-op apartment, elevator building, high ceilings, low maintenance, laundry room on premises, minutes to the railroad, shopping, restaurants and houses of worship. $ 135K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 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

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

FOR RENT 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 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 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 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

CEDARHURST 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, totally renovated private entrance , central air conditioning, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, garage parking, dishwasher, recessed lighting, private playground, close to railroad, park, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com LAWRENCE 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 LAWRENCE New to the market Jr. 4 apartment in an elevator building with a terrace and underground parking, laundry on premises. Kitchen with granite countertops, 2 sinks, ss appliances, spacious step down living room with high ceilings, guest room/ office, spacious primary bedroom with 3 closets, full bathroom with full vanity, medicine cabinet, toilet and lighting, custom blinds, near the railroad, shopping and houses of worship.$289K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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Classifieds

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver Newspaper every Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Minivan or SUV and availability to work consistently every week!

Please e-mail gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

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

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

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

SHEVACH HS Has an opening to teach 10th grade Global Regents. 3 classes/day, M-Th, 1:07-4:12 pm, to start immediately.

Salary competitive. Email resume to mshepard@shevachhs.org.

PART-TIME OFFICE SUPPORT 5 TOWNS Office Admin. Assistant for busy office.- Bookkeeping experience/ Quickbooks required. Looking for a team player to multitask projects and interact with vendors, etc. Inoffice position. Flexible hours.

Fivetownsoffice02@gmail.com

HEAD MORAH, LIMUDAI KODESH, AFTERNOON POSITION Join our team at Zareinu.

Looking for an experienced Morah for a small, 5th - 6th grade girls class in a Bais Yaakov in the Five Towns.

Immediate Opening!

Great Opportunity! Great Pay! Warm environment with administrative support.

Email resume: jlepolstat@zareinu. org or call 516-993-2142 BOOKKEEPER Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE OPENING PM Substitute Assistant Teacher for lower grade special ed class, 5 Towns/ Far Rockaway Yeshiva. Great Salary.

Hours: 1:00 - 4:00, Mon. - Thurs.

Email: nnadata@zareinu.org or call 516-316-6633 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.

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.

ASSISTANT TEACHER Secular Studies, Afternoon Position Join our team at Zareinu.

Looking for a warm and caring assistant teacher for a small 3rd - 4th grade girls class in a Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway.

Immediate Opening!

Great Opportunity! Great Pay! Warm environment with administrative support.

Email resume: jlepolstat@zareinu. org or call 516-993-2142

Classifieds

133

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

SECRETARY Woodmere, Part-Time HASC, a leader in special education, is seeking a part-time SEIT Secretary to add to our Team.

Job includes general office and administrative tasks related to the tracking and maintenance of SEIT student and staff files.

Computer skills required.

Attention to detail a must.

Great pay. Room for growth.

Warm and caring environment.

Training provided. jobswd@hasc.net 516-295-1340

ENHANCED P3 JOB Opening at Absolute-ED Grade: 6/7 Boys Caseload: 20H/Week - Afternoon Hours Location: Forest Hills, Queens Setting: School Setting Requirements: Masters in special education Email Resume: hello@absolute-ed.com

SUBSTITUTES FOR Limudai Kodesh and Secular Studies Morning and Afternoon Positions available Join our team at Zareinu.

Looking for substitutes for our special education classes located in Yeshivas and Bais Yaakov’s in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.

Immediate Openings!

Great Opportunity! Great Pay! Warm environment with administrative support.

Email resume: jlepolstat@zareinu. org or call 516-993-2142

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

ASSISTANT REBBE, MORNING POSITION Join our team at Zareinu.

Looking for an Assistant Rebbe for a 7th - 8th grade boys class In a boys yeshiva in the Five Towns.

Immediate Opening!

Great Opportunity! Great Pay! Warm environment with administrative support.

Email resume: jlepolstat@zareinu. org or call 516-993-2142

FULL TIME SUBSTITUTE for Pre1A Teacher on Maternity Leave Beginning in March 2024 Join our team at Zareinu.

Looking for an experienced teacher to substitute for teacher on maternity leave in a small Pre1A boys class in Far Rockaway. Immediate Opening!

Great Opportunity! Great Pay! Warm environment with administrative support.

Email resume: jlepolstat@zareinu. org or call 516-993-2142 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

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership.

Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

MDS REGIONAL NURSE 5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office.

Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required.

Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered.

Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well.

Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

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!

5 Towns High School Looking for PART-TIME SECRETARY SUNDAY: 9:00-1:00 MONDAY - THURSDAY: 1:00-6:00

Excellent Pay REQUIREMENTS AND SKILLS: Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Exceptional knowledge of MS Office, Google Workspace, and other basic programs.

Please send resume to 5thighschoolsecretary@gmail.com

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE Notice is hereby given that I shall, commencing on February 20, 2024, sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on real estate herein-after described, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party-in-interest in such real estate shall pay to the County Treasurer by February 15, 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 per cent per six month’s 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 20, 2024 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.

The liens are for arrears of School District taxes for the year 2022 - 2023 and/or County, Town, and Special District taxes for the year 2023. The following is a partial listing of the real estate located in school district number(s) 2, 1 in the Town of Hempstead only, upon which tax liens are to be sold, with a brief description of the same by reference to the County Land and Tax Map, the name of the owner or occupant as the same appears on the 2022/2023 tentative assessment roll, and the total amount of such unpaid taxes.

IMPORTANT

THE NAMES OF OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE 2022/2023 TENTATIVE ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND MAY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.

TOWN OF HEMPSTEADSchool:1

Hempstead SD

Name Amount Parcel Group Lot LUNA ELVIA 7,553.46 34 E 01530 153-154 USB INC 9,828.28 34 E 01820 182-183 LEGACY INV & MANAGEMENT GROUP L 11,966.14 34 E 03610 361-362 CARBONE RUSSELL & 1,099.01 34 J 01870 187-188 AGUIAR MARTINE 3,689.91 34 J 05550 HILTON AVE REALTY INC 2,417.88 34173 0012UCA00850 12 CA 85 UNIT 216 BUENO PEDRO 762.66 34180 02750 275-276 GARCIA JOSE & CLEMENCIA 797.09 34182 00280 28-29 FENNELL GERALDINE 706.77 34184 03500 PEREZ FELIX & RODRIGUEZ FAUSTO 817.72 34187 02780 COMBEST PETER 6,042.79 34188 01180 118-124 ESPINAL MARCOS 8,109.77 34189 00500 50-51 PEKICH PETER A & MEDCOR HOLDING 2,611.55 34193 00120 KHAN ASHRAF & CLAUDETTE 3,585.61 34195 00190 BAST CHEVROLET INC. 38,407.37 34195 00330 33,34 BARNETT MICHAEL 10,327.12 34202 03890 389-390 TAB EQUITY GROUP LLC 956.29 34203 03570 TAB EQUITY GROUP LLC 13,284.45 34203 03580 JHLP CORP 5,218.14 342040100090 9,108 330 WASHINGTON LLC 46,384.73 34205 02380 BH FIFTY FIVE LLC 1,081.35 34207 02390 239-240

CARDENAS EUGENIO 6,459.71 34208 01780 MODERN CUSTOM FLIPS, LLC 716.23 34211 00850 85-86 ULOSWCEH IRIS M 1,371.30 34211 01230 123-125 TOWN OF HEMPSTEADSCHOOL:1 SD

HEMPSTEAD

Name Amount Parcel Group Lot MORRIS JAMES 6,414.60 34217 00210 BECK ESTHER & LORRAINE 9,322.04 34218 00120 CORREA HARRIS & DEOKI SHARWANI 8,466.86 34219 00040 ALEXANDER DENNIS 1,399.57 34222 09300 930-931 FERGUSON FRANK R & FRANCES G 1,212.17 34223 00340 CHOWDHURY AZIZ M & SANA 304.41 34223 00360 36,38 DOUGLAS VERDA D 740.32 34226 00570 57,865 HAMMOND L E ANNIE BRYAN,FLOIA 5,188.59 34228 01120 112-113,765 LAWRENCE CARLA D 790.19 34231 01570 157-159 TOPPIN WILLIS & MARY 754.07 34232 01950 195-196 222 BENNETT LLC 4,140.98 34233 05740 574-575 GEORGE DONNA 750.64 34233 05870 587-588 KERNOCHAN AVENUE PROPERTIES LLC 8,189.28 34236 00030 WASHINGTON GEORGIA 760.95 34240 02970 297-298 CEDOR DIEUSEUL 8,688.07 34244 01400 HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN GREATER N 24,207.15 34245 05540 554-558,563 & 567 JONES DEPREE 1,201.55

34246 01750 175,204-205 HARRELL RHONDA & MOORE OLANDER 795.35 34247 01440 144-145 JEANTY NADEGE & JEANTY CELITA 7,168.32 34250 04840 484-485 WOLFE MARY & FELICIA 5,100.08 34254 03660 366-367 MALKIEL MORAD 4,562.54 34257 00110 11-13 TERAN LUIS & LOURDES 11,538.53 34257 00480 48-50 BURGESS IMELDA M & WILLIAMS-COL 10,569.05 34262 00930 93-95 CITIMORTGAGE INC 1,456.16 34264 00410 41-43 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot BERNIER ERNST & QUERLANDE 10,077.69 34264 01120 112-113 SUMLEN REALTY DE LLC 840.08 34265 03510 DANIELS ELIZABETH 9,354.49 34274 02810 281-283 CATHEDRLA AVE GROUP CORP 23,154.04 34282 00120 NOVAS DIANNA J 21,016.24 34282 00140 JONES LAWRENCE, T. 2,018.28 34283 04340 MOSSA MICHAEL 17,631.36 34284 02360 ALL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS INC 8,968.24 34285 04200 58 HILTON LLC 40,455.58 34285 04310 CORBETT EDDIE B 6,233.47 34286 02440 CORBETT SR EDDIE B 5,158.76 34286 02450 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH OF HEMPSTE 3,504.24 34291 00890 KHR PROPERTIES INC 4,987.45

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot HEMPSTEAD SHG 2 LLC 58,111.16 34340 03180 NAQVI KAZIM 2,304.27 34359 00150 GLEN COVE GARDENS INC 1,529.39 34359 00340 JACKSON IDA B 1,224.02 34360 00270 27-29 MCKEITHAN SYLVESTER JR & 10,897.21 34360 00300 30-32 ROBINSON CAROLYN 6,955.95 34360 00370 37,818-819 WRIGHT HAWARD & DESIREE 23,521.81 34360 03460 FUENTES JOSE & 843.52 34366 02040 KAROWOFELA ENTERPRISES INC 11,859.22 34366 02120 HILL EVA M 884.06 34367 00370 37-40 TEEMER ROGER F & DAISY C 7,558.22 34367 00410 41-43 JIMINEZ HARRY & ISABEL MUNIZ 12,393.67 34372 02560 256-258 HAYWARD WILLIAM I & HAYWARD SYL 10,362.77 34375 00660 66-67 GRAY DENISE 8,901.89 34375 00760 76-77 33-37 LINDEN AVE LLC 790.19 34378 00970 97-98 118 LAUREL AVENUE LLC 4,413.40 34378 02040 PINEDA SALVADOR & ANA 2,522.74 34380 04440 444-445 AGUILAR EMILIANO 745.48 34380 04830 BALTZER STEPHEN 937.19 34380 04880 LJLS DEVELOPMENT LLC 5,970.65 34383 06430 BRONSON ARAMINTA E LIFE ESTATE 1,470.27 34395 00090 9-10 RODNEY CASWELL 1,254.57 34398 01000

INTERIANO CARLOS A & MARTINEZ H 34398 03540 GREEN BETTY 18,442.31 34399 02520 252-253

338.89

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot SNR DEVELOPMENT CORP 17,435.52 34400 01270 127-130,623-624 YAUCAN ROBERTO CARLOS 12,607.46 34400 02020 CATER BETTY 6,172.47 34400 06300 JMB HOMES REALTY LLC 1,392.47 34402 00350 35-36 WHITE JOAN & GREER MAURICE & 9,639.62 34404 01170 LLEWELLYN CORINA 1,569.27 34408 01450 145-147 LONG ISLAND N Y PROPERTIES CORP 848.68 34409 02150 215-217 UNITED MIDWEST SAVINGS BANK 1,271.79 34410 03180 YEARWOOD EDNA & YEARWOOD PATRIC 994.88 34424 01220 122,124 LIFE BY THE U INC 6,536.30 34436 01150 DIEDRICK ANDREW & OSCAR 11,574.19 34438 01110 111-112 JBL DEVELOPMENT LLC 9,008.77 34438 01330 133-135 MILLER SANDRA C 1,289.98 34520 02500 250-251 DREXLER ESTHER & ROBERT 10,255.83 34520 03440 344,542 AGRIOGIANIS T MARION & N 971.75 34547 00110 NATIONS CYCLE AIRBRUSHING INC 4,320.94 353280104730 NATIONS CYCLE CENTER LLC 17,300.49 353280206620 MARTINEZ RAUL P 14,666.55 35367 01390 139-143 DEBROSSE GERARD J 6,227.25 35369 00040 ALONSO ARMANDO & IRMA 810.25 35439 01190 D & A UNIVERSAL LLC 319.12 35439 01260 D & A UNIVERSAL LLC 2,521.20 35439 01340 D & A UNIVERSAL LLC 356.60 35439 03240 PERSAUD ARJUNE 6,076.67 35442 01840 184,185 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot FOGGIE WILLIAM & BELLE 692.53 35442 01930 193-194 VIRDI PROPERTIES LLC 1,413.72 35442 02470 BRONX HOUSING NYC INC 14,388.99 35452 00340 SMITH J JOHNSON & WILLIAM 5,074.18 35455 00300 30,73 JABEZ POSSE LLC 3,943.97 35640 00680

BROOKS WADE & BESSIE 659.28 35640 00970 FRANKLIN THOMASINA ELIZABETH 795.35 36002 00510 ARGUETA-LOPEZ GUSTAVO A 11,859.22 36003 00080 8-9 TIME OUT CLUB DEVELOPMENT CORP 107,766.17 36003 00210 21-23,54 CURL DOROTHY 700.75 36003 00440 44-45 CRUZ JOSE CRISTOBAL & CRUZ JOSE 6,201.99 36004 00160 16-18 476-478 SOUTH FRANKLIN ST LLC 1,845.51 36005 00580 TURNER RICHARD & SADIE T 1,377.32 36006 00450 45-46, 54 RMC CONSULTING LLC 34,700.80 36007 00310 31-32 MENZA CLAUDIA 5,671.13 36008 00060 6-14 AMEL PARK HOLDONGS LLC 13,391.34 36012 02680 CLAIBORNE ETHEL & DAVID 7,269.39 36013 02580 1864 FLUSHING LLC 13,320.08 36013 02680 HANNAYS WOODY 7,915.01 36016 00240 24-25 ROBINSON WOODROW & DOROTHY 10,212.75 36017 00290 29-31 WILBUR MAGBIE TRUST 8,285.59 36020 00420 42-43 CARTAGENA GEORGE 5,176.10 36020 00460 46-47 JB CONSTRUCTION LONG ISLAND COR 11,004.05 36021 00010 1-2 OMARLON PROPERTIES LLC 12,322.45 36021 00180 18-19 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot BRADFORD PAMELA 10,683.43 36021 00560 HERRERA FRANCISCO E & ESTEBANA 1,243.98 36023 00030 3-4 BRAXTER V A HAWKINS & M J 5,245.42 36023 00050 5-6 ONE LONG BEACH ROAD REALTY LLC 8,447.41 36023 00160 16-22 BROCKINGTON SAM 12,201.21 36025 00340 34-36 CRAFT WANDA 6,344.79 36027 01490 LLOYD SONALI JOSEPHINE 1,285.84 36029 00600 TYSON ANTHONY D 8,680.63 36030 00460 46-47,57 HARRELL YVONNE 9,785.17 36031 00350 35-37 ESPINOZA GRACIELA A.M. LIFE EST 10,462.20 36042 0016A 16A,16B,17A,17B,18A, 1 WEISSMAN MARK 10,576.56 36043 00140 14-15 6 OAK AVE LLC 18,058.92 36047 00870 87-92 PAYNE FRANK T & FLORENCE 5,782.76 36047 01250 125-126 BACCHUS BIBI Y & RICHARDSON KER 11,396.07 36047 02140 GREGORY JOSEPH E 14,887.79 36048 00650 65-68

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34300 00150 15-16 VICKERS ARCELL & MARION 5,559.67 34302 00510 TINKER RICHARD L & LOURICE 5,114.96 34314 01520 PETRILLO DEBRA 13,009.58 34319 00650 LAROCCA JR DONALD & MICHELE 6,982.67 34321 00220 22,28,439 SAUER ROBERT & MAE TRUST 1,226.00 34321 00290 29-30 ZEOLI-SMITH PROPERTY DEVELOPMEN 17,702.62 34324 01220 122-125 DURKIN LEO & PHYLLIS 1,349.65 34324 04200 HEMPSTEAD 9 LLC 15,081.29 34331 00250 RAMOS ROBERTO 1,215.66 34338 00050 CALVARY TABERNACLE INC 1,883.38 34338 00060 HEMPSTEAD GROUP HOLDING CORP 76,358.04 34339 01480 148 & 150

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MAYFAIR REALTY CO LLC 109,321.41 36048 00820 82-86,291-293 CLARKE OVID & ERNESTINE 2,893.09 36048 02960 BOWEN JAMES 14,246.46 36049 00140 CARTER INEL 692.43 36051 00340 SERVELLON ANTONIO 4,357.77 36054 00790 ELM CAPITAL LLC 10,469.64 36055 00110 11-12 & 140 WOODALL AUDREY G 5,316.83 36055 00420 42-43 HEAMPSTEAD PROP VENTURES II LLC 9,650.10 36055 00740 74-75 SILVESTRY LILLIAN 10,291.49 36056 00330 33-34 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot ELCOCK ETAL VERNAL 8,617.36 36056 00420 42-44 & 159 OTTEY JENNIFER 11,467.28 36057 00370 37-38 CATER BETTY 783.33 36057 00530 53-54 IREGBULEM PETER 9,713.91 36057 00830 83-84 SELLAM JOSIANNE 13,003.86 36058 00150 15-16,190 POPE JAMES W & LOTTIE 793.63 36060 01030 103 & 337 THOMAS RHONDA 10,433.96 36060 02070 207-208 BETHUNE APRIL 13,961.43 36060 03580 WATTS THOMAS R & IRENE 3,152.73 36060 03610 WATSON JR WILLIAM A 12,001.75 36060 03660 AGUIRRE ALEX F 13,177.55 36062 01390 VANBUREN TRUST FRANCES 9,856.46 36064 00710 71-74 THOMAS GEORGE H & WILMA 475.82 36064 00810 81-82,283 LUXX CAPITAL INC. 14,674.00 36064 03210 CRUTCHLEY FRANCIS & BEATRICE 11,039.70 36065 03270 WATKIS ROY W & TERRICITA 11,422.16 36066 01020 NORRIS JOHNNIE & ARLESTER 7,556.95 36066 01160 ARROYO ENTERPRISE INC 11,431.68 36069 01300 DANIS PROPERTIES INC 6,906.57 36070 01500 MARSHALL LARRY & IDELL 12,339.96 36077 00240 24-26 RUBAN RODRIGUE & MARIE 10,034.60 36085 02020 VARGAS JUAN & PINCHINAT CAROLE 9,735.91 364690100400 CULLUM BARRY 12,714.35 36486 00020 MAYO BETTY TRUST 10,006.43 36486 00040

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:1 Hempstead SD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot DIXON IVERSON & EVELYN 5,332.09 36486 00060 SMITH CAROLE A 2,236.80 36486 00140 SOUTH FRANKLIN LLC 28,715.92 36486 00300 SIMMS DOUGLAS L & SHELVA 7,971.70 36487 00160 HALE KIMBERLY & LIBBY KEVIN 5,661.43 36487 00260 MOORER SHEILA M 1,261.67 36487 00330 HARRIS EDWIN & MIRIAM G 5,014.39 36487 00360 WAITHE EUGENE & MABEL 5,895.56 36495 00050 POLLAN LAWRENCE & DIANE 7,810.30 36495 00090 SINGLETON ROBERT & MILDRED 8,324.33 44031 00010 HOLDER TR LANCELOT & MARGARET 699.55 44031 01040 104-106 ADM OF VETS AFFAIRS 9,828.28 44031 02470 247-248 FRANCOIS JOSEPH S 6,536.30 44032 02800 280-281 RAMSEUR JAMES EDWARD & TRUMILLE 3,940.33 44039 00830 83-86 BROWN RANDOLPH & MARY 4,885.37 44039 01950 195-196 ROGERS MICHAEL & YOLAND 14,085.42 44039 02440 AWAY TEAM 25 LLC 13,569.48 44065 00530 RHODES 111 LLC 11,039.70 44065 00660 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot COSTA GAS STATION INC 5,370.07 34281 00120 12,13 550-552 UNIONDALE AVENUE LLC 24,496.00 34281 00190 19,20 550-552 UNIONDALE AVENUE LLC 4,301.48 34281 00210 COSTA GAS STATION 10,782.71 34281 00870 GUNDEL HAROLD & PATIENCE TRUST 6,574.02 34343 00250 25-26 MCCLYMONT DESMOND & LELITH 11,089.80 34361 00560 56-58 SARTORI JOSEPH & JUDY 4,111.03 34361 00640 MILLER ROBERT 11,593.66 34388 02220 222-224 SUNSHINE ON THE GROUP OF CHILDR 4,480.96 34391 02790 279-281 FOSTER ROSALIE LIFE ESTATE 971.75 34414 0632UCA00160 632 CA 16 UNIT 2 SENDAR ANN YVETTE 2,311.56 34414 0632UCA00160 632 CA16 UNIT 10 MILLER GRACE CAROLYN 2,051.93 34414 0632UCA00160 632 CA 16 UNIT 20 HUTCHINS ESSIE P 631.96 34414 0632UCA00160 632 CA16 UNIT 21 CAUNTER JR WILLIAM & EILEEN M 2,301.88

34416 00220 22-23 MC COY LINNELL & HANNAH 5,312.32 34428 01120 MOSCOSO MARIA 948.44 34433 00440 44-46 27 KERNOCHAN AVENUE LLC 7,693.62 34438 0136A 136A-136B KERNOCHAN AVENUE PROPERTIES LLC 7,317.94 34438 02120 KERNOCHAN AVENUE PROPERTIES LLC 7,472.62 34438 02130 CHRISTOPHIDES SALLY I 1,565.73 34439 00150 15-16,243 HOME TEAM INVESTORS LLC 8,113.48 34439 00290 29-31 LIFE BY THE U INC. 8,555.46 34439 00530 53-55 87 MEADOWBROOK RD LLC 7,870.41 34439 01420 OFF CAMPUS INC 6,809.69 34439 01860 186-187 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot ST ROSE S ADILLIA & LINDA 948.44 34439 02130 213-215 JBL DEVELOPMENT LLC 8,400.76 34439 02160 216-217 HENDERSON EUGENE LIFE ESTATE 4,631.47 34440 00130 13-15 BERNARD SARENA K 922.63 34440 00430 43-45 TURCIOS JOAQUIN & MARIBEL 7,384.27 34440 00480 48-51 JOSEPH WILLIAM & FLORISE 6,372.27 34440 00690 69-71 PENNELLA MICHAEL & LUISA 4,556.21 34440 00790 79-81 KERNOCHAN AVENUE PROPERTIES LLC 6,964.32 34445 01080 RAJU RAMA B 3,653.18 34448 00220 22-23 MCDUFFIE ZESHAWN & LAFFITTE EUG 4,684.04 34448 00300 30-32 FALOYE ADEYEMO 8,643.85 34461 00500 50-52 MAYNARD MATTHEW & JEANNINE 6,703.76 34461 02060 WONG GEOFFREY & PATIENCE 328.28 34462 02210 WONG GEOFFREY & PATIENCE 802.23 34462 02220 222-224 CURRY ANDREW S 2,549.99 34464 00690 69-70,271 TILTON DOUGLAS 7,102.46 34469 04050 405-406 MONACO DAVID & EILEEN 1,790.65 34469 04180 418-419 190 GREENGROVE AVENUE LLC 7,794.78 34470 04740 474-475 186 GREENGROVE LLC 10,405.93 34470 04760 476-477 178 GREENGROVE LLC 8,900.50 34470 04800 480-481 AGJM HOLDINGS LLC 9,765.16 34471 05740 574-575 979 FRONT STREET LLC 5,247.65 34477 02470 247-248 FORAN JAMES F 6,173.38 34480 02640 264-265

JERRY EUGENE & LILLIE M 34481 04030 403,404

1,265.12

Name Amount Parcel Group Lot FINGALL DERRICK 3,709.13 34482 01400 JOYA PEDRO 8,135.55 34485 00260 26-27 HILL GERALD & SHERE & 2,191.87 34491 02060 206-207 WILLIAMS WILLIAM C & EDITH 4,827.68 34491 02440 244-246 TYSCHAK LUCY G LIFE ESTATE 354.88 34492 03780 378-379 TYSCHAK LUCY LIFE ESTATE 1,437.42 34492 03800 380-382 TYSCHAK LUCY G LIFE ESTATE 449.72 34492 03830 383-384 JONES ANDREW & GEORGIA 9,780.20 34493 05070 507-508 SOLIS RAMON M 12,098.58 34496 03420 342-343 PEREZ ALMA MELBA & PEREZ ANDRES 9,765.16 34497 04640 464-465 PACHECO JOSE 8,669.95 34502 05040 504-506,701 YANES NAPOLEON 10,155.31 34506 01340 134-135 BESPOKE HOLDINGS LLC 8,387.99 34510 07570 757-758 2M1 REALTY LLC 8,665.93 34523 07480 260 BEDFORD AVE LLC 3,171.71 34523 08080 LIFE BY THE U INC 7,516.81 34542 00230 23-24 HOME TEAM INVESTORS 8,113.48 34542 00370 MARIN MANUEL J & BLANCA E 17,155.86 34548 01160 116-118 VACA ANTONIO & GUADALUPE 7,311.92 34549 01460 KONDAUR CAPITAL CORP 8,047.19 36032 00010 1,52 HIBBERT EDWARD & WHITING SANDRA 3,504.88 36075 02130 213-214 RASHEL REALTY CORP 22,591.73 36075 02500 250-254 DAVIDSON WAYNE & PAULETTE 2,414.52 36076 03440 FERTULLIEN ZULEIKA 7,632.36 360 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot WARNER ERNEST & WARNER MARK 9,041.61 36080 00270 27-29 DECARLO ANTHONY 6,875.99 36081 00690 PETROWSKI ANDREW TRUST 679.86 36081 01430 DONEGAL FRANCES 7,826.21 36084 02940 294-296,322 RUSSELL-ARBOUET CHERYL 4,115.44 36086 01070 PARHAM RANDOLPH & BERNICE 7,211.28

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot MORGAN NOEL L 3,991.32 36120 03390 339-341 GRIER GEORGE 9,799.88 36121 00040 BROWN LEE E & JUANITA 3,607.34 36121 04740 474-476 NORVILLE LIONEL 2,041.33 36121 04850 485-486 RODRIGUEZ LINDA 3,332.85 36121 05440 HOFMANN TRUST 1,692.37 36122 00110 11-12 NATARI1326 CAPITAL LLC 9,325.38 36122 01150 115-116 PASCUAL & ASSOCIATES INC 2,692.27 36122 05120 WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY 12,963.44 36122 05150 WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOC 10,319.45 36124 00810 81-83 PEOPLES REAL ESTATE CONSULTING 10,773.92 36124 01120 112-113 COLE FONTESSA S 807.39 36126 01860 GALLER(WILL) CARL A & JOAN 10,773.92 36128 00580 58,174-175 DOUGLAS MELVIN & SHIRLEY 7,409.02 36128 01580 158-160 RUSSELL GENE & DOROTHY 3,425.96 36128 01820 182-185

CAMPBELL WINSTON 24,119.98 36128 05300 PJET REALTY CORP 26,592.08 36130 02690 DEROSENA MARIE M 8,242.16 36133 05030 MANZINI O LILLICH & J & R 9,581.84 36139 04640 NELSON DOXSY A & PATRICIA 11,477.47 36140 00110 SECONDARY CAPITAL CORP 6,577.26 36147 01140 114-117 THOMPSON C COHEN & CLIFFORD 17,460.39 36148 01720 172-173 TULLOCH DOYEN 21,127.14 36148 01950 MARCANO RICKY RAPHAEL 12,425.72 36149 02520 252-255 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot BARTOLOMEO JOSEPH 7,067.41 36149 02730 273-274 CURRIE JAMES A 8,007.23 36150 04080 408-409 ESTRADA FREDI O SOTO & 1,485.54 36152 06780 678-680 ANTHONY JOHNNY H & GERALDINE 4,703.99 36153 06450 645-648 ADEYEMI OMOLOLA O 10,882.82 36154 05970 597-598 MC COLLOUGH AGNES SALLY 6,871.25 36165 00640 64-67 MARCAL PRODUCTIONS CO INC 2,023.80 36190 03880 388,389A,389B ORIOL GLORIA 2,169.32 36195 06450 HOWELL HERBERT & GLADYS 2,333.25 36196 06480 648-649 BARNIAK ALEXANDER 11,634.70 36201 08840 884-885 BETHEA NATALIE Y 6,147.31 36257 01190 CHRISMA FOUNDATION 7,340.03 36257 01330 CHRISTIE ANDRE & CHRISTINA 8,400.76 36259 00090 9-12 MARTIN JOSEPH E & SYLVIA G 6,896.80 36260 00480 48-50 REDMAN SANDRA 5,841.90 36261 00510 51-52 DAMICO STELLA 9,925.56 36266 00010 1-4 RILEY JR MORRIS & ANNA 3,985.66 36267 00220 MALKIEL MORAD 3,207.86 36286 01360 JL INTERNATIONAL REALTY INC 3,433.61 364690100100 ALLEYNE MABEL 8,842.72 36473 01150 MARINELLO MARIE TRUST 6,986.48 36473 01210 JASMIN JEAN B & MICHELE D 8,764.69 36474 00060 6, 144 ARSELL LESTER G TRUST 7,671.51 36475 00280 28-31 DOLABAILLE RAYMOND 4,308.95 36477 00370 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

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TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD

36087 01560 IGLESIA PNTCSTL DEHMPSTDASAMBLE 503.30 36091 03570 357 IGLESIA PENTECOSTAL DE HEMPSTEA 925.04 36091 03620 KAMI HOLDIG CORP 4,721.72 36095 00350 35-36 SHARIFF ZALLYMOON LIFE ESTATE 824.60 36095 00650 65-66 DABREAU BARRY 1,420.73 36096 01210 RYAN DIANE C LIFE ESTATE 5,144.91 36101 00430 43-44 LETLOW CHARITY L TRUST 8,469.76 36102 02820 CAVE JAMES R & ROSETTA 7,759.90 36103 01530 153-155 HOUSTON JR ROBERT & BERNETTE 5,464.21 36104 05550 555-556 VICTOME PATRICK & SABINE 7,808.66 36105 04090 409-414 TAX LIEN INVESTORS FUND LLC 7,251.65 36105 04650 465-466 HANIFF DANNIELLE & KIM B 8,467.08 36106 01260 126,174 GREENWICH ENTERPRISES INC 6,222.27 36106 07700 CRUZ MEYBIN & GARCIA MARIA 3,236.13 36108 00850 85,492-493 CAVOLI M O’BRIEN & M 3,440.36 36108 01570 157-158 SORTO ALEX 888.24 36108 05020 AUGUSTIN RACHEL 6,588.64 36115 01690 169-170,268 REILLY PATRICIA ANN 9,678.68 36117 01720

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School:2

Uniondale UFSD

Name Amount Parcel Group Lot HENDRY CHARLES & CHARLES 5,054.92 36477 00390 LANGUEDOC HOLDINGS CORP 13,017.79 36504 00460 TAIT LAURENCE 10,973.28 36508 00030 BELL ETAL MARCIA 7,840.91 36511 00050 PINDER MARYANNE 6,099.90 36511 00100 DMTJ HOLDINGS LLC 10,913.08 36511 00130 107 CHARLES LINDBERGH LLC 133,105.62 44 F 03680 BETHEA JAMES & BEVERLY 2,353.99 44038 00930 LEE-WYNTER JUDY IVY 9,636.07 44038 00990 ELCOCK CORAL J 11,917.97 44038 01940 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HEMPSTE 598.61 44039 00560 58-LAWRENCE ST UNIONDALE LLC 2,888.12 44066 00340 JONES HENRY A 9,278.90 44066 00400 MONICA SUDHA LLC 12,189.11 44074 0013UCA02130 13 CA 213 UNIT 24 JRIT HOLDING CO LLC 3,701.44 44076 0032UCA02820 KITZES ARNOLD 4,921.87 44078 0101UCA02653 ABBATE EMMA & CRESPO DENISE MAL 10,636.02 44078 0103UCA02506 103 CA 250 UNIT 61205 TYMA THOMAS A & CATHY S 3,073.85 44078 0110UCA02241 110 CA 224 UNIT 12103 LERNER LOIS LIFE ESTATE 11,047.90 44078 0110UCA02241 110 CA 224 UNIT 16103 JACKSON JOHNNIE & HATTIE M 8,882.25 50 D 01480 148,247,349 NEAL ANDREW G 13,921.25 50 D0200030 MORATAYA JOSE & MARIA 13,416.68 50 D0200700 LEWIS AUBREY & AGNES 10,391.39 50 D0200720 DUTHEL ROSE 4,499.56 50 D0200740 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot ALLEN GEORGE T & LORRAINE LIFE 3,302.76 50 M0100090 DEJESUS RAMON & ESTHER 3,983.07 50 M0200230 MAZILE PIERRE YVON 3,466.40 50 Y 02350 MAZILE PIERRE & MARIE 310.28 50 Y 02690 WILLIAMS KEIFFER 2,205.45 50016 01140 114,214,268 WALLER ANDRIA 4,137.02 50016 01640 CARASCO JOSEPH & SAINTALIE 4,321.33 50021 00870 US BANK TRUST NA TRU 3,849.02

50023 00740 1193 FRONT LLC 3,095.77 50030 00110 11-12 199 MARVIN AVENUE CORP 772.93 50036 00990 CHERY ETAL ROSE & FRANCOIS 3,505.85 50041 02370 FLORES JOSE & MATILDE 4,089.35 50047 00450 45-46 NICOLAS JOSEPH & ELSIE 5,643.59 50048 00400 40-41 STAFFORD LE BARBARA, R & A 5,574.19 50048 00440 44-45 RIOS SILVESTRINA 8,951.35 50052 00190 ANGUS IVY BLAGROVE & FAY 1,931.92 50053 00210 CALIPH GRAHAM 3,821.92 50054 00330 LEWIS DOMINIQUE & GREGORY 4,659.41 50110 01650 165-167 KMETZ TRUST 3,871.50 50120 01980 198-201 CRUZ LUIS 4,157.18 50122 06440 644-647 X13Y11P LLC 5,855.10 50122 06930 MALDONADO ZOILA 2,260.24 50137 03190 CLARKE CLYDE & ADELINE 4,052.18 50262 00160 HYDE OWEN & PHYLLIS 4,704.02 50262 00170 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot GUTIERREZ MARIA E & 3,993.52 50276 00200 DELANEY MARTHA 4,904.37 50276 00210 BRYAN DARLENE 4,167.40 50286 01320 CHURCH OF GOD PROPHECY UNIONDAL 10,802.70 50307 01530 RELIABLE HOMES CORP 9,016.58 503330101830 PAZMINO ANGEL H & PAZMINO DAYAN 2,121.55 503330101950 ACD DEVELOPMENT CORP 1,883.90 50338 00550 BROOME WALTER & VALERIE 10,359.94 503390101100 UMANZOR JOSE & ANA 11,754.02 50340 00410 NICHOLSON SHIRLEY 5,500.43 50340 00500 SAIEVA MARY 9,485.80 50346 00030 3-4 COSME VICTORIANO & ROSA 2,121.55 50346 01540 GRACE CATHEDRAL OF UNIONDALE 381.65 50359 00160 VOLCY DENIEUSE 2,884.10 50361 00190 WALKER JR THOMAS JAMES TRUST 3,759.01 50371 00200 FRANKLIN JOAN LIFE ESTATE 10,089.92 50372 00250 QUINTANA OSCOR RENE HERNANDEZ 3,942.90

50372 00480 SOTILLO GILBERT & MIGDALIA 5,261.65 50386 00440 RAHMINGS CLEVEN & BELINDA 2,006.79 50387 00370 OSTROSKY ANNA M 4,577.73 50394 00780 78-81 CULMER CHARLES L & RUBY 9,390.45 50400 00190 EZALERT INC 16,440.71 50418 00010 LATTA ANGELA 5,159.34 50418 00160 MOORE LARONDA 5,749.23 50447 00070 TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD School:2 Uniondale UFSD Name Amount Parcel Group Lot JAMISON ARTHUR LIFE ESTATE 2,068.16 50447 00210 CHARLES FREDERICK & MARIE 8,423.16 50449 00100 CHAVEZ A & M 1,901.60 50451 00010 ARRESTO LEWIS & NANCY 3,742.74 50451 00160 RANCE BARBARA 9,468.73 50452 00340 ZINDANI MOHAMED 4,006.49 50453 00010 BELL OBRISE 6,509.32 50489 00090 SCOLARO DIANA 8,311.14 50591 00080 RAY CORINE 2,532.39 55531 00180 HAMPTON GRADY 1,723.12 55532 00080 MCCLENDON MARY G 11,916.57 55532 00090 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 Soldier’s 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 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) the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of

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 rate of interest and penalty 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 from 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 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 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 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.

This list includes only tax liens on real estate located in Town of Hempstead. Such other tax liens on real estate are advertised as follows: TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD Dist 1001 FIVE TOWNS JEWISH HOME NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEW YORK TREND NEWSDAY UNIONDALE BEACON Dist 1002 FIVE TOWNS JEWISH HOME NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY UNIONDALE BEACON Dist 1003 EAST MEADOW BEACON EAST MEADOW HERALD NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEIGHBOR NEWSPAPERS NEWSDAY Dist 1004 BELLMORE HERALD MERRICK/BELLMORE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEIGHBOR NEWSPAPERS NEWSDAY Dist 1005 HICKSVILLE ILLUSTRATED NEWS LEVITTOWN TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEIGHBOR NEWSPAPERS NEWSDAY Dist 1006 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN Dist 1007 BELLMORE HERALD MERRICK/BELLMORE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY Dist 1008 BALDWIN HERALD BALDWIN/FREEPORT TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD Dist 1009 BALDWIN/FREEPORT TRIBUNE FREEPORT HERALD NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY Dist 1010 BALDWIN HERALD BALDWIN/FREEPORT TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY Dist 1011 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY OCEANSIDE TRIBUNE OCEANSIDE/ISLAND PARK HERALD Dist 1012 HERALD

MALVERNE/WEST HEMPSTEAD

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY VALLEY STREAM/MALVERN TRIBUNE Dist 1013 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY VALLEY STREAM HERALD VALLEY STREAM/MALVERN TRIBUNE Dist 1014 FIVE TOWNS TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NASSAU HERALD (FIVE TOWNS) NEWSDAY Dist 1015 FIVE TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FIVE TOWNS TRIBUNE JEWISH STAR NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY Dist 1016 FRANKLIN SQ/ELMONT HERALD FRANKLIN SQUARE BULLETIN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD Dist 1017 FRANKLIN SQ/ELMONT HERALD FRANKLIN SQUARE BULLETIN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

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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.

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NEW HYDE PARK ILLUSTRATED NEWS NEWSDAY Dist 1018

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 1029

GARDEN CITY LIFE GARDEN CITY NEWS GARDEN CITY TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY Dist 1019

MERRICK HERALD MERRICK/BELLMORE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 1030

HERALD

EAST ROCKAWAY TRIBUNE LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY ROCKAWAY JOURNAL DIST 1020

HERALD

LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD DIST 1021 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD ROCKVILLE CENTRE TRIBUNE DIST 1022 FLORAL PARK BULLETIN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY THE GATEWAY DIST 1023 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN DIST 1024 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY VALLEY STREAM HERALD VALLEY STREAM/MALVERN TRIBUNE

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DIST 1025 MERRICK HERALD MERRICK/BELLMORE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 1026 HICKSVILLE ILLUSTRATED NEWS LEVITTOWN TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 1027 HERALD

MALVERNE/WEST HEMPSTEAD

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON DIST 1028 LONG BEACH HERALD LONG BEACH TRIBUNE

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY VALLEY STREAM HERALD VALLEY STREAM/MALVERN TRIBUNE DIST 1031 ISLAND PARK TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY OCEANSIDE/ISLAND PARK HERALD DIST 1201 EAST MEADOW BEACON EAST MEADOW HERALD NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WESTBURY TIMES DIST 1205 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEW HYDE PARK ILLUSTRATED NEWS NEWSDAY WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD DIST 2001 MINEOLA AMERICAN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WESTBURY TIMES DIST 2002 MINEOLA AMERICAN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WILLISTON TIMES, WILLISTON PARK

EDITION DIST 2003

MANHASSET PRESS NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY ROSLYN NEWS ROSLYN TIMES DIST 2004 MANHASSET TIMES NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY PORT WASHINGTON NEWS DIST 2005 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEW HYDE PARK HERALD COURIER NEW HYDE PARK ILLUSTRATED NEWS NEWSDAY DIST 2006 MANHASSET PRESS MANHASSET TIMES NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY PORT WASHINGTON NEWS

DIST 2007 GREAT NECK NEWS GREAT NECK RECORD JEWISH STAR NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 2009

EDITION

MINEOLA AMERICAN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WILLISTON TIMES, WILLISTON PARK

TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD DIST 2010 MINEOLA AMERICAN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEW HYDE PARK ILLUSTRATED NEWS NEWSDAY DIST 2011 MINEOLA AMERICAN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY WESTBURY TIMES DIST 2122 FLORAL PARK BULLETIN NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY THE GATEWAY DIST 2301 GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT LOCUST VALLEY LEADER NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 2315 JERICHO NEWS JOURNAL NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE TOWN OF OYSTER BAY DIST 3001 GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT LOCUST VALLEY LEADER NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3002 GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT LOCUST VALLEY LEADER NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3003 JERICHO NEWS JOURNAL NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE DIST 3004 LOCUST VALLEY LEADER LONG ISLAND PRESS NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY DIST 3006

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY OYSTER BAY ENTERPRISE PILOT OYSTER BAY GUARDIAN DIST 3009 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY OYSTER BAY ENTERPRISE PILOT OYSTER BAY GUARDIAN DIST 3011 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY OYSTER BAY ENTERPRISE PILOT SYOSSET ADVANCE DIST 3012 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET ADVANCE SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE DIST 3013 NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET ADVANCE SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE DIST 3014 JERICHO NEWS JOURNAL NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE DIST 3015

HICKSVILLE ILLUSTRATED NEWS HICKSVILLE/LEVITTOWN TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY TOWN OF OYSTER BAY DIST 3018 BETHPAGE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY PLAINVIEW/OLD BETHPAGE HERALD DIST 3019 BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY PLAINVIEW/OLD BETHPAGE HERALD DIST 3020 BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM BETHPAGE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3021 BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM BETHPAGE TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3022 FARMINGDALE OBSERVER MASSAPEQUA POST NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY

MASSAPEQUA POST MASSAPEQUAN OBSERVER MID-ISLAND TIMES NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3024 GLEN COVE HERALD GAZETTE GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3203 LONG ISLAND PRESS NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY ROSLYN NEWS ROSLYN TIMES TOWN OF OYSTER BAY DIST 3306 FARMINGDALE OBSERVER MASSAPEQUA POST MASSAPEQUAN OBSERVER NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY CITY OF GLEN COVE DIST 4005 GLEN COVE HERALD GAZETTE GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT LOCUST VALLEY LEADER NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY CITY OF LONG BEACH DIST 5028 LONG BEACH HERALD LONG BEACH TRIBUNE NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY

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. 13715.

Dated: February 07, 2024

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER MINEOLA, NEW YORK

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LOCUST VALLEY LEADER LONG ISLAND PRESS NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY DIST 3008

JERICHO NEWS JOURNAL NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE NEWSDAY SYOSSET JERICHO TRIBUNE DIST 3017

DIST 3023

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Your

Money

Coffee Talk

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

A

merica has always been a land of opportunity, but most Americans don’t seem very good at managing those opportunities. The average American has just $87,000 saved for retirement, dimming hopes for endless days of pickleball in the sun. Nearly 4 in 10 can’t cover $400 in an emergency, which explains a landscape littered with dollar stores, pawnshops, and payday lenders.

Those depressing numbers create an opportunity for personal finance gurus to make a buck or two helping the rest of us save a buck or two. Folks like Suze Orman, Dave Ramsay, and Dave Bach understand that the difference between what we make and what we spend is the fuel that powers long-term growth. Widening that gap puts more to work for the future. And so, to create more savings, they’ve taken dead aim at America’s coffee cartel. That’s right—blame Starbucks and their endless imitators for your retirement insecurity.

Suze Orman is especially snide about the future poverty brewing in your morning java. “I wouldn’t buy a cup of coffee anywhere, ever — and I can afford it — because I would not insult myself by wasting money that way,” she told CBNC.

That’s because takeout coffee is a “want,” not a “need.” Instead, she says, you should put that money to work in the market!

Just how much does your caffeine habit cost your future? “You need to think about it as: You are peeing $1 million down the drain as you are drinking that coffee,” she fumes. And where does

man’s 12% return is a fantasy. Even if we assume you put your entire account in stocks, the average long-term return of the S&P 500 is just 10% per year. Third, inflation eats away at the long-term value of that return.

So, let’s assume a more realistic 30year timeframe and an after-inflation

That’s right—blame Starbucks and their endless imitators for your retirement insecurity.

she come up with that million dollar figure? Let’s say you spend $100 on coffee each month. If you were to put that $100 into a Roth IRA instead, after 40 years, the money would have grown to around $1 million with a 12 percent return.

The problem here is that Suze has loaded up her cup with a couple of shots of “lying with statistics.” First of all, most Americans don’t have 40 years left to grow their savings. And if they did, Or-

real return of 7%. Now, that monthly $100 grows to just $122,000. And how much pickleball will that pay for? Well, one common rule of thumb holds that you can spend 4% of your nest egg every year to keep up with inflation and never run out of money. Four percent of $122,000 means…hey, look at that, a whopping $93 per week! At least you’ll finally be able to enjoy your coffee without guilt!

The coffee scolds aren’t afraid to be hypocrites, either. Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary agrees that Starbucks is an unnecessary splurge: “I never buy a frape-latte-blah-blah-blah-woof-woofwoof.” But O’Leary is one of America’s biggest wristwatch collectors, with millions of dollars of wrist candy. Surely, he doesn’t need more than a dozen Rolexes. Yes, it’s important to weigh needs against wants, especially when it comes to balancing tomorrow’s big needs against today’s fleeting wants. But no one looks forward to a spartan lifestyle of necessities only. Besides, have you ever turned on a TV and seen how much stuff there is for sale?

Saving for retirement doesn’t have to mean cutting out everyday luxuries like your morning joe. If you’re like most Americans, you spend way more on taxes than coffee. Call us, and let’s take a look at cutting that bill first!

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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The People of the Book

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

W

hat’s a book? I think this generation still knows what it is…but it’s quickly becoming a thing of the past.

The more you can get books on Kindle or information on the internet, the less it seems important to get a physical book.

I used to buy thesauruses, dictionaries, and other language dictionaries.

Now you can get all that on your phone, so why bother owning them – unless you need to keep the score in a Scrab-

there is self-correct, spellcheck, and ChatGPT. Parents are obsolete when it comes to this skill.

And when people are just texting, no one cares about correct spelling. They just want to get their message across as quickly as they can. LOL. Shabbos observers are the one group trying to keep bookstores in business and newspapers printing. So far, they still exist, but we certainly would appreciate others joining the crusade.

Shabbos is a time when we actual-

A book is the ultimate apparatus.

ble game on Shabbos. Then you need these weighty books with a lot of page numbers.

Actually, most kids today don’t even need reference books for spelling because almost everything has an abbreviation, and when it doesn’t, most of the time, no one cares how you spell it anyway.

When we were kids, I remember calling from my room to my parents: “How do you spell…such and such?” Today,

ly need tangible board games as well. I probably own more games in my house than the memory on a computer.

Books, newspapers and board games are the tools of Shabbos or holiday afternoons. Along with the big meals, long walks, and learning, these are the important implements of relaxation, family bonding, and time to reconnect that Shabbos affords.

A book is the ultimate apparatus. It can replace a plane and transport you

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

anywhere. It can replace a video and capture your interest. It can entertain, educate and inform. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about your internet shutting down.

Books can be light enough to just stuff in your purse or pocket, and as opposed to your phone, they can’t be

tracked or rung when you are trying to concentrate. They don’t run out of battery either or need to be plugged in.

I would hate to see them disappear from use.

After all, we are called the People of the Book. They obviously play an important role in our lives.

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