Five Towns Jewish Home 3.21.24

Aish Kodesh Annual Dinner Inspires

Unity and Connection at Chabad Five Towns Annual Gala

Dear Readers,

I’m surprised that Disney hasn’t yet hijacked the Purim story (or maybe it has and I’m behind the times). The narrative in Megillas Esther almost reads like a fairytale – there’s a villain, a hero, a heroine, and a silly king. There’s a plot against the hero and heroine, and then, a few chapters later, there’s salvation. All the little details and twists and turns are tied up in a neat bow. And they lived happily ever after. The end.

But we know that Purim is not a cute story. There’s so much more to what is seen on the surface. That, as we know, is the ultimate lesson of Purim: that Hashem is always there, orchestrating and coordinating world events to ensure our nation’s survival and success. It is perhaps the most comforting message we can ever receive, knowing that regardless of how frightening a situation may be, there is Someone there Who will make sure it all works out in the end. Man plans, but Hashem has a Plan.

I know that when we talk about Purim, we generally focus on the joyous salvation at the end of the narrative. But I sometimes try to put myself in the mindset of the Jews of Shushan and really feel what they were going through. We know, two thousand years later, that the Jews were being punished because they joined in Achashveirosh’s feast. But it wasn’t so clear to the Jews at the time, nine years after the banquet, that Haman’s lots were in direct correlation to the sins at the festival. And it wasn’t so clear to the Jews that Esther, who had been queen for just a short while, would be the per-

son through whom salvation would transpire.

And so, for three days, they fasted. And they davened. And they fasted and they davened as if their lives depended on it – because it did. Can you imagine those prayers? Can you imagine the fear coursing through every one of those Jews’ veins? Terror, knowing that in just a few months their neighbors would come after them with sharp knives and daggers. There would be nowhere to turn – Achashveirosh’s empire encompassed the entire world. There would be no place to hide.

But those tefillos, impassioned and fervent, managed to smash a decree up Above. And Hashem, in His glory, showed us His plan, swooping in to transform world events for the salvation of His people.

Purim is a time for tefillah. But so much happens on this day that we sometimes get caught up in the ribbons and the cellophane and forget to harness the awesome power of the moment. This year, when Purim is such a long day, let us use the time we have to take advantage of this auspicious occasion and pray for ourselves and all of Klal Yisroel.

May Hashem hear our tefillos and bring us a yeshua really soon.

Wishing you a freilechen Purim, Shoshana

P.S. We would love to see your creative and beautiful costumes! Send us your photos to be included in the TJH Purim Album! Better send them in soon – the deadline is Shushan Purim at 7 p.m.

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.

Dear Editor,

I am surprised, but not shocked, that Senator Chuck Schumer has come out against supporting our ally Israel and advocates for the overthrow of the current Israeli government in wartime. He demanded that Israelis hold new elections to topple the current “right wing” government. Senator Schumer has previously threatened the Supreme Court justices on the steps of the courthouse when he said, “You won’t know what hit you…and you will reap the whirlwind.” The outcry was so palpable from the majority of Americans, he had to go to the Senate floor to apologize. He is not apologizing for his current statement as President Biden is agreeing with him.

What is occurring is that he is wrong on so many levels. First and foremost, Israel is the ONLY democracy in the Middle East and a reliable ally of the U.S. As such, Israelis are entitled to elect their own leadership and not be told by an “outside” power to hold elections.

Second, Hamas poses a real threat to the existence of Israel, as was seen on October 7, 2023, when the worst day of horrors since the Holocaust occurred. The threat remains with more than 130 captured innocents, and Hamas who refuses to even provide a list of captives that are alive. Hamas could stop the war at any time by surrendering and letting the hostages go free. While Senator Schumer and President Biden initially agreed with the aims of the war which was to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages home, they have bowed to political expediency. They changed their minds because of Arab communities in Michigan and Minnesota who refuse to support President Biden as a result of his aid to Israel. Not only

has Senator Schumer held up aid that was passed by the House of Representatives as a standalone bill, but he is supporting the slowing down delivery of weapons to Israel. They are also insisting on a twostate solution that would threaten Israel’s very existence. Senator Schumer and President Biden are in effect giving aid to Hamas, the “enemy” that the U.S. has declared a terrorist organization.

If you believe in the right of Israel to exist, please have your group text, write, or call Senator Schumer’s office demanding that he retract and apologize for what he said about Israel and new elections.

Jan Henock Woodmere, NY

Dear Editor,

With “shomer Yisroels” like Mr. Schumer, we are better off dealing with those who blatantly call for our demise. I would say that this week Schumer has singlehandedly contributed to sentiments of antisemitism in the United States in a major way.

Time for him to resign. And perhaps check out if his cognitive abilities are in the decline.

Naama Herzman

Dear Editor,

News has spread that a regal rosh yeshiva had his first child at the age of 88. Known to many as “Reb Tzvi,” Reb Tzvi Kushelevsky was recently blessed with a son. I had the opportunity to see him in the recent past when I went to Israel for a simcha. Of course, when I saw him, he was writing chiddushei Torah.

He is someone who is beloved by his students, as he pushes them to the greatest of heights.

Continued on page 10

Be included in the TJH Purim Photo Album

Monday, March 25, at 7pm

Continued from page 8

I will never forget something he said: “If you can’t say it over, then you don’t understand it.” Havana is key to him. His regal appearance brings one back to the time of the European gedolim, whose faces were radiant. He is a treasure just as they were, and his aura shines to the masses.

Adar and Nissan are months of rebirth, of accepting the Torah anew and reliving an experience of becoming formed as a nation. These two ideas speak well to Reb Tzvi who is constantly mechadesh in Torah and who shapes talmidim to lead others in furthering the formation of our nation.

A son is now alive that will carry on the name and legacy of a shining star in Torah, a reason for every Jew to celebrate.

Steven Genack

Dear Editor, Senator Chuck Schumer has nerve calling on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and a growing humanitarian crisis.

I was not aware Schumer was a citizen of Israel and member of the Israeli Knesset. Since when does the Senate Majority Leader have a right to tell another nation’s leader when to hold an election? Israel has every right to preserve their security by eliminating Hamas. The crisis would not have taken place had Hamas not launched their October 7th terrorist attack.

Schumer has lost his way by not securing our own border with both Mexico and Canada. We have no idea how many terrorists, criminals, gang members, drug dealers and pedophiles were among the seven million illegal migrants who have come into our nation without being first vetted. Schumer has become treif for those who really stand with Israel.

Sincerely,

Larry Penner Great Neck, NY

Dear Editor,

We all like to think of ourselves as kind people, good people and helpful people. Mostly, we are. We at Aim Hire, Employment with Dignity, have encountered a recurring issue that I’d like to shine a light on: The lack of a response.

A candidate will send an email to a potential employer and receive no response.

A candidate will send an email to a recruiter and receive no response.

We work with a population that is uniquely vulnerable. They’ve been out of work for a minimum of 16 weeks. They’ve been rejected after interviews; they’ve been unable to provide for their families and they’re hurting.

In all situations, but especially when working with people who are going through challenges in life, please always take a moment and respond. Even “no” is an answer and it’s better than deafening silence.

Esther Miller

Houthis Not Releasing Captives

It has been over 116 days since the Galaxy Leader cargo carrier was hijacked by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, taking the ship’s crew captive. The attack, which took place on November 19, led to the kidnapping of seventeen Filipinos, three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans, and one Romanian. Now, months later, the crew is still in Houthi captivity, and there is no sign that they will be returned anytime soon.

“There’s really not much that can be

done to influence them [the Houthis], because the word we get from the Houthis is … that they will keep holding the ship and all the crewmen, until we see an end to the hostilities in Gaza,” said Filipino foreign affairs official Eduardo de Vega.

On Thursday, the Houthis, an Iranian proxy terror group based in Yemen, said that it’s Hamas’ decision whether to release the crew. Ever since war broke out on October 7, with the Hamas terror group invading southern Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people, and kidnapping 253 others, Houthi rebels have been attacking ships on the Red Sea in an effort to pressure Israel into a ceasefire.

“The ship and its crew are in the hands of the brothers in the Hamas resistance movement and the Al-Qassam Brigades,” said Nasr Al-Din Amer, a spokesperson for the rebel group, adding that the Houthis were directly discussing the situation with Hamas. “We have no claims of our own regarding this vessel.”

De Vega speculates that the rebel group, which has been fighting for control over Yemen, may be willing to return the hostages if the Philippines recognizes the Houthis as Yemen’s rightful government.

“It will be difficult for any government to recognize a government which attacks ships on the sea,” de Vega observed.

After the crew was kidnapped, the Houthis published footage of the hijacking, showing rebel officials telling the group that, in Houthi custody, they would be treated well and that “anything that you need we are ready to provide it for you.” According to de Vega, the kidnapped crew members are given a good amount of food and are allowed short, once-a-week calls with their loved ones. Additionally, the Filipino official said, there is nothing to suggest that the hostages have been dealt with violently. The majority of the kidnapped crew members, including every Filipino, have been kept on the ship and are allowed some freedom of movement, while others are being held on land.

“I think it’s in the interest of the Houthis to treat them well. Those people are victims, at the end of the day,” said Mohammed Al-Qadhi, a Yemeni conflict analyst based in Cairo. “They don’t want them to create a bad image about themselves.”

While the Philippines does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Houthis, the southeast Asian country appointed an “honorary consul” – a person from Yemen who represents the Philippines. According to de Vega, in January, the consul paid a visit to the hostages. However,

since the consul works in Aden, which is controlled by the Saudi-endorsed Yemeni government which is against the Houthis, it has been a “labyrinthian maze” to communicate with the rebel group through the honorary consul.

Shock: Putin Wins Reelection

On Sunday, no one was surprised when Russian President Vladimir Putin won reelection, coming in with 87.3% of the vote in which 77.5% of the country voted.

The result means Putin will rule until at least 2030, when he will be 77. Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, he will secure a third full decade of rule.

Putin sailed to victory, with most opposition candidates either dead,

14

jailed or exiled. His nearest rival, Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party, had won just 4.3% of the ballots counted.

Elections in Russia used to be held every four years. In 2008, presidential terms were extended to six years. Presidential term limits have also been removed, allowing Putin to stay in power almost indefinitely.

On Sunday, Putin said the election had “consolidated” national unity and that there were “many tasks ahead” for Russia as it continues its course of confrontation with the West.

“No matter how hard anyone tries to frighten us, whoever tries to suppress us, our will, our consciousness, no one has ever managed to have done such a thing in history, and it won’t happen now and it won’t happen in the future. Never,” Putin said.

Some of Putin’s opponents have mysteriously been moved out of the picture. Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed a few months ago when his plane crashed while traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Just a few weeks ago, Alexey Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony. Putin had not acknowledged his death until this week, when there was discussions

over a prisoner swap.

“As for Mr. Navalny – yes, he passed away,” Putin said. “It is always a sad event. And there were other cases when people in prisons passed away. Didn’t this happen in the United States? It did, and not once,” he said.

Putin said that a few days before Navalny’s death, he was told of a proposal to exchange him for prisoners held in Western countries. “The person who spoke to me had not finished his sentence yet when I said I agree,” Putin said. “But, unfortunately, what happened [Navalny’s death] happened. There was only one condition that we will exchange him for him not to come back. Let him sit there. Well, such things happen. There’s nothing you can do about it, that’s life.”

Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had urged Russians to turn out collectively as a show of opposition on Sunday, the final day of voting across Russia’s 11 time zones and 88 federal subjects. In the runup, the Kremlin warned against unsanctioned gatherings. Still, people lined up at polling stations in the “Noon Against Putin” demonstrations.

Similar protests were staged at Russian embassies across Europe, with

large crowds gathering at noon in London, Paris and elsewhere. Navalnaya attended a demonstration in Berlin, waiting in line with other voters in a display of opposition.

Russia also held the presidential election in four Ukrainian regions it annexed during its full-scale invasion. Ukraine said the elections violated international law and would be designated “null and void.”

After the release of preliminary results on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin a “dictator” and Russia’s election a “sham.”

Water Shortage in India

Bengaluru, a city that has been dubbed the “Silicon Valley” of India, is experiencing intense water shortages, with resi-

dents being forced to significantly limit the amount of water they drink, bathe in, and use for cleaning.

The city, which is also known as Bangalore and is where Infosys, Wipro, and other major companies are based, is home to around 14 million people who, in all, need approximately 2 billion liters of water each day. Over the past week, residents have been told to cut their usage of water in half.

Of the crisis, T.V. Ramachandra, a climate scientist from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, asserted, “It’s a culmination of unplanned urban growth, rapid deforestation, and the ongoing ‘climate crisis’ – and everyone is paying the price.”

Once known as “India’s garden city,” Bengaluru, with a moderate climate, a number of man-made lakes, and an elevation of almost 3,000 feet, was surrounded by trees and greenery. However, starting in the early 1990s, developers transformed the garden city into an urban metropolis, eliminating the trees and increasing the number of houses threefold.

“Today 83% of Bangalore is covered in concrete,” noted Ramachandra. “There is no vegetation. There is no way that groundwater recharging can happen further to go to the underlying layers. This is a big problem.”

Although over 70% of Bengaluru’s water is from the Cauvery River, an important waterway that spans the southern Karnataka state, the city’s rapid expansion left authorities with little time to extend the water pipe network to the newly built neighborhoods. Thus, residents of the new areas are left with no option other than to use groundwater from borewells.

Last year, a minor monsoon resulted in lower groundwater levels, leading to a water supply shortage in the city.

“For the 11 million people (dependent on the Cauvery River), there’s a bit of scarcity but not too much of a crisis,” said Vishwanathan, a civil engineer and water researcher based in Bengaluru. “For the other three and a half million people who are completely dependent on groundwater, there is a crisis because groundwater is going dry.”

Once every fifteen days, a water tanker is brought in and residents line up, filling buckets with water. The issue has specifically impacted residents from the lower class and middle class, with many people having to spend half of their income to buy water.

“Children are [relieving themselves] on the streets as there’s no water at home, they’re going thirsty, people are unable to

cook,” said social worker Geeta Menon. “This is not just a short-term problem, but will have long-term repercussions if it continues.”

France Against Fast Fashion

On Thursday, France’s lower house of parliament unanimously voted in favor of fining those who buy “ultra-fast” fashion items, such as those sold by Shein, a Chinese retailer. According to lawmakers, fast fashion negatively affects the environment. Before becoming a law, the bill must first be passed by the Senate.

The rise of fashion retailers such as Shein and Temu, known for their ability to rapidly adjust orders according to demand through highly adaptable supply chains, has shaken up the retail industry. Meanwhile, traditional retailers such as

Zara and H&M still primarily depend on consistent consumer preferences to guide their operations.

The bill said, “This evolution of the apparel sector towards ephemeral fashion, combining increased volumes and low prices, is influencing consumer buying habits by creating buying impulses and a constant need for renewal, which is not without environmental, social, and economic consequences.”

In a statement, Shein asserted that the bill would only serve to “worsen the purchasing power of French consumers, at a time when they are already feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis” and boasted that the vast majority of their products are sold, while other companies waste up to 40% of their clothing items.

Christophe Béchu, the environment minister of France, said on X that the bill is a “major step forward” that represents “a big step [that] has been taken to reduce the textile sector’s environmental footprint.”

France has also been placing an emphasis on the reuse of old clothing, with the country, last year, promising to give out $27.20 (25 euros) for each fixed-up clothing item. France’s Ministry of Ecology said in 2022 that citizens of the country throw out 700,000 tons of clothing each year. The French environmental ministry has recently promised to propose a law to the European Union that would ban the export of used clothes.

According to a report by McKinsey’s State of Fashion, fashion waste is responsible for 3% to 5% of all global carbon emissions.

Volcano Erupts in Iceland

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon and the nearby town of Grindavik were evacuated over the weekend when a volcano erupted in the country’s Reykjanes Peninsula.

Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly towards north of the town of Grindavík, just as it did during the eruption on February 8. It was also flowing toward the Grindavíkurvegur road – the main road leading to Grindavik.

“The fissure is about three kilometers long [about 1.9 miles], and runs from Stóra-Skógfell towards Hagafell,” Iceland’s public broadcaster RÚV said.

Barriers put up to help stem the flow of lava outside of the town seemed to be holding. The airports were still operational, and no significant infrastructure seemed to be in danger.

The current eruption is the most powerful in the recent sequence of seismic activity, geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson told RÚV after returning from a helicopter flight over the site.

Guðmundsson said the fissure, which is very active now, extends from the northern side of Hagafell and north to Stóra-Skógfell. He estimated it was about 3.5 kilometers wide.

“Based on the speed of the lava flow,” Guðmundsson estimated that “it will not be long before it flows over Grindavíkurvegur road.”

Geophysicist Páll Einarsson told RÚV that the earthquakes at Grindavík clearly follow the same pattern as they have since October, with repeated magma flows that sometimes reach the surface. The earlier eruptions “were strong, lasted a short time, but were powerful while they lasted,” Einarsson added.

Just under an hour’s drive from Iceland’s capital and largest city Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic areas on the planet. Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones.

The lagoon was evacuated earlier in March due to seismic activity. In November, it was closed for a week after 1,400 earthquakes were measured in 24 hours.

Hong Kong

National Security Law

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s legislature unanimously passed sweeping new powers that some say would put the territory’s national security laws more in line with China.

The lengthy national security bill was rushed through the city’s opposition-less Legislative Council with unusual haste at the request of city leader John Lee and debated over just 11 days.

Coming into effect on Saturday, the law introduces 39 new national security crimes, adding to an already powerful national security law that was directly imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests the year before.

With that law on the books, Hong Kong has been jailing dozens of political opponents and forcing certain groups and media outlets to disband.

Known locally as Article 23, the new national security legislation covers a slew of new crimes including treason, espionage, external interference and unlawful handling of state secrets, with the most serious offenses punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Lee described it as a “historical moment for Hong Kong.”

“We … have completed a historical mission, lived up to the trust of the country and did not let the Central government down,” he said, referring to China’s Communist Party leadership in Beijing.

China’s and Hong Kong’s leaders say the new laws are needed to “plug loopholes” as part of their drive to “restore stability” following the huge 2019 protests. They say that their legislation is similar to other national security laws around the world.

But there are many who disagree. They point out that what China’s Communist Party views as national security offenses are far broader and more sweeping than in other countries.

“The Hong Kong authorities are eager to further tighten information control in the city as a corollary of stricter security legislation,” said Eric Lai, research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law and an expert on Hong Kong’s legal system.

Lai expects a “chilling effect” to deepen across society.

“The business community would be particularly affected by the new ‘theft of state secrets’ and ‘espionage’ offenses,” Lai noted.

The new legislation has outlawed “unlawful acquisition,” “possession,” and “disclosure of state secrets,” alongside the crime of “espionage.” Offenders can be jailed for up to 20 years in the most serious circumstance.

Observers say the law’s wording

has a broad interpretation for what counts as a state secret.

Bolsonaro Indicted

This week, Brazil’s federal police indicted the country’s former president Jair Bolsonaro for suspected fraud on his vaccination records.

Federal police allege that Bolsonaro falsified information in the country’s public health database in December 2022 to make it appear that he, his daughter and several other close allies had received the Covid-19 vaccine. He also faces charges of criminal association. This indictment comes after a long investigation by federal police into whether Bolsonaro falsified his Covid-19 vaccine card to get around U.S. requirements.

In addition to Bolsonaro, one of his

former aides, Mauro Cid, who was arrested in May last year as part of the investigation, was also indicted.

Bolsonaro has insisted that he never took the Covid-19 vaccination.

“It’s a selective investigation. I’m calm, I don’t owe anything,” said Bolsonaro. “The world knows that I didn’t take the vaccine.”

During his tenure, Bolsonaro repeatedly downplayed the importance of immunization and social distancing measures during the pandemic, which killed more than 700,000 people in Brazil. Instead, he advocated the use of hydroxychloroquine to combat the illness.

Bolsonaro is also being investigated for his suspected role in a series of attacks on government buildings on January 8, 2023 by his supporters after he lost the election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this year, federal investigators launched “Operation Tempus Veritatis” — “Hour of Truth” in Latin — by conducting dozens of searches and arresting several of Bolsonaro’s allies.

a pariah in the region.

“The American presence in the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal,” Niger’s military spokesperson, Col. Amadou Abdramane, said on national television. He added that the U.S. military presence “violates all the constitutional and democratic rules, which would require the sovereign people — notably through its elected officials — to be consulted on the installation of a foreign army on its territory.”

Matthew Miller, the chief State Department spokesperson, said it was in touch with the ruling military junta, known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, or CNSP, about the move.

“We are aware of the statement from the CNSP in Niger, which follows frank discussions at senior levels in Niamey this week about our concerns with the CNSP’s trajectory,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Many of the Americans posted to Niger are stationed at U.S. Air Base 201, a 6-year-old, $110 million installation in the country’s desert north. But since the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and installed the junta in July, the troops there have been inactive, with most of their drones grounded.

Because of the coup, the United States had to suspend security operations and development aid to Niger.

Bazoum, the country’s elected president, is still under arrest. (© The New York Times)

Niger Tells U.S. to Leave

Niger said it is revoking its military cooperation deal with the United States, ordering 1,000 American armed forces personnel to leave the country and throwing the United States’ strategy in the region into disarray.

The announcement by the West Afri-

can nation’s military junta Saturday came after meetings last week with a delegation from Washington and the top U.S. commander for Africa, Gen. Michael E. Langley. The move is in keeping with a recent pattern by countries in the Sahel region, an arid area south of the Sahara, of breaking ties with Western countries. Increasingly, they are partnering with Russia instead.

U.S. officials also voiced alarm in the meetings about several other issues,

including whether Niger’s military government was nearing a deal to give Iran access to Niger’s vast uranium reserves, a concern that was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

Niger’s rejection of military ties with the United States follows the withdrawal from Niger of troops from France, the former colonial power that, for the past decade, has led foreign counterterrorism efforts against jihadi groups in West Africa, but which has lately been perceived as

India’s Cities are Choked with Pollution

According

24 worst air pollution last year were in Asia. Eighty-three of those cities were in India, and all exceeded the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines by more than 10 times.

The report was produced by IQAir, which tracks air quality worldwide.

The study looked specifically at fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest pollutant but also the most dangerous because it can enter the body in so many ways. Only 9% of more than 7,800 cities analyzed globally recorded air quality that met WHO’s standard, which says average annual levels of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

When inhaled, PM2.5 travels deep into lung tissue where it can enter the bloodstream. It comes from sources like the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires, and has been linked to asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer, and other respiratory illnesses, as well as cognitive impairment in children.

Begusarai, a city of half a million people in northern India’s Bihar state, was the world’s most polluted city last year with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 – 23 times the WHO guidelines. It was followed in

the IQAir rankings by the Indian cities of Guwahati, Assam; Delhi; and Mullanpur, Punjab.

Across India, 1.3 billion people, or 96% of the population, live with air quality seven times higher than WHO guidelines, according to the report.

Central and South Asia were the worst performing regions globally, home to all four of the most polluted countries last year: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Tajikistan.

South Asia is of particular concern, with 29 of the 30 most polluted cities in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. The report ranked the major population centers of Lahore in 5th, New Delhi in 6th and Dhaka in 24th place.

IQAir found that 92.5% of the 7,812 locations in 134 countries, regions, and territories where it analyzed average air quality last year exceeded WHO’s PM2.5 guidelines.

Only 10 countries and territories had “healthy” air quality: Finland, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and French Polynesia.

North America was badly affected by wildfires that raged in Canada from May to October last year. In May, the monthly average of air pollution in Al -

berta was nine times greater than the same month in 2022, the report found.

And for the first time, Canada surpassed the United States in the regional pollution rankings.

The wildfires also affected U.S. cities such as Minneapolis and Detroit, where annual pollution averages rose by 30% to 50% compared to the previous year. The most polluted major U.S. city in 2023 was Columbus, Ohio, for the second year running.

IDF: Terrorists Killed Those Waiting For Aid

Hamas has claimed that Israeli soldiers shot into a crowd of Gazans who were waiting for aid at Kuwait Square late Thursday. The terror group had alleged that the IDF opened fire from “tanks and helicopters,” killing 21 Gazans and injuring 150 more. However, the Israeli army has found, after performing an “intensive preliminary review,” that “the IDF did not open fire at the aid convoy at Kuwait Square.” Rather, it was Palestinian terrorists who killed Gazan civilians waiting for the arrival of 31 trucks filled with food and humanitarian aid.

“As aid trucks were entering [the corridor], the Palestinian gunmen continued to shoot as the crowd of Gazans began looting the trucks,” the Israeli military said, adding that the aid trucks also ran over a number of Palestinians.

“A review of our operational systems and IDF troops [on the ground] found that no tank shelling, airstrike or gunfire was carried out toward the Gazan crowd in the area of the aid convoy,” the IDF said, backing up the assessment with aerial footage of Palestinian gunmen shooting the crowd of civilians.

“[While the IDF] continues its humanitarian effort to supply food and humanitarian aid to the civilians of the Gaza Strip, Hamas terrorists continue to harm

Gazan civilians who are seeking food, and Hamas is blaming Israel for it,” the army said in a statement. “As a result, on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan, a smear campaign was created with the aim of spreading baseless misinformation for the sake of instigating violence in other arenas.”

Weeks before the killing of 21 Palestinians in Kuwait Square, 100 civilians were allegedly killed near aid trucks in Gaza City. While Hamas has blamed Israel for the incident, an investigation into the matter found that the IDF only shot at those who were threateningly approaching the soldiers.

Abbas Appoints New PM

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has appointed Mohammad Mustafa, a business leader and one of Abbas’ closest allies, as prime minister of the new Palestinian government. Abbas designated Mustafa as prime minister amid international calls for a reformed Palestinian Authority.

On Friday, Hamas, the terrorist organization that controls Gaza, condemned Abbas for his “unilateral” designation of the PA’s new prime minister, with the terror group adding that it was disappointed that it had no say in the decision.

“We express our rejection of continuing this approach that has inflicted and continues to inflict harm on our people and our national cause,” the terror group stated. “Making individual decisions and engaging in superficial and empty steps such as forming a new government without national consensus only reinforces a policy of unilateralism and deepens division.”

Mustafa takes the place of Mohammed Shtayyeh, the former prime minister of the PA, who stepped down in February along with the entire Palestinian government. According to the designation letter, Mustafa will be responsible for leading the relief and rebuilding effort in the Gaza Strip and will overhaul the PA’s institutions.

Hamas has insisted that any effort on

the PA’s part to marginalize the terror group from the political landscape after the Israel-Hamas war ends would be “delusional.” The terror group added that it would treat any acts of cooperation from clans or community leaders with Israel as “treason” which would be responded to with an “iron fist.” Despite its threats, Hamas has denied recent reports that it executed a Gaza City clan leader who allegedly stole aid and had connections to Israel.

Although Arab and international parties have tried to unite Hamas and Fatah, Abbas’ party, such attempts have failed. The Palestinians’ vision of an independent state, however, would require that the West Bank and Gaza be united under Palestinian control.

Over Half of Southern Evacuees Back Home

According to an official from the Israeli government, over half of the people who evacuated from southern Israel in the wake of the October 7th terror attacks are now back home. Of the 60,000 evacuees who lived within 4.3 miles of the Gazan border, 32,000 have returned, while 22,000 currently reside in hotels paid for by the government, and the rest are renting homes and receiving around NIS 6,000 ($1,650) per adult a month from the government.

To those who returned prior to March 7, the Israeli government has pledged NIS 15,000 ($4,100) per adult and NIS 62,000 ($17,000) per family. For each week, the repopulation grant will be decreased by 50%, until July, at which point, the evacuees will no longer be receiving accommodations. No return deadline has been set for the 60,000 people who evacuated from communities near the northern border that Israel shares with Lebanon.

The Tekuma Authority, a group within the government that has been tasked with rehabilitating the south, will have until March 18 to finalize its five-year rehabilitation plan and send it to the government. The Israeli government will supply around NIS 18 billion ($5 billion)

towards the plan.

A draft of the plan has outlined the construction of an amphitheater, beach strip, research and development center, two medical facilities, and more. NIS 1.35 ($370 million) would be used towards the reconstruction and renovation of damaged homes and towards providing temporary living places to evacuees, according to the draft. Around 30% of the construction budget would be used on public facilities.

“We’re investing heavily in cultural and pastime activities because community, belonging, and, by extension, the resilience this creates, come from more than just having a roof over one’s head,” said one official. “The cultural community events are the glue that keeps the fabric of society together.”

As part of the plans, Zikim Beach will likely be renovated and an amphitheater in Kibbutz Gvaram that has been closed for decades will be reopened to the public.

According to the draft, NIS 512 million ($140 million) would go towards agriculture and industry, while NIS 2 billion ($550 million) would go towards education. Another NIS 600 million ($165 million) of the budget would be used for health, and around NIS 720 million (approx. $200 million) would go towards security.

Biden Hails Schumer’s Anti-Bibi Speech

On Thursday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered a speech in which he urged Israel to elect a new prime minister to succeed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The following day, U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Schumer “made a good speech.”

“He expressed serious concerns, shared not only by him but by many Americans,” the U.S. president said.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, said that the choice of holding new elections is “up to the Israeli people.”

“We [the community of Jewish Americans] love Israel in our bones,” Schumer

declared. “What Israel has meant to my generation, within living memory of the Holocaust, is impossible to measure. The flowering of the Jewish people in the desert from the ashes of the Holocaust, and the fulfillment of the dream of a Jewish homeland — after nearly two thousand years of praying and waiting — represents one of the most heartfelt causes of my life.”

He then went on to express the fact that he understands Israel’s struggle in fighting Hamas and other enemies in the Middle East, adding that he is “anguished by the plight” of the Israeli abductees who are still in Hamas captivity. Schumer then said that, while the number of Gazan casualties is tragic, Israel is not entirely to blame, as Hamas “knowingly invited an immense civilian toll during this war.”

He then went on to speak of what he believes to be four obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace, including Hamas, far-right parties in Israel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and, last but not least, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Schumer says, “lost his way.”

In response, the Likud Party, which is led by Netanyahu, said, “Israel is an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu, not a

banana republic… It is expected of Senator Schumer to respect Israel’s elected government and not undermine it.”

Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Minister Benny Gantz, and other Israeli officials issued similar statements against the American politician who has called himself “shomer Yisroel.”

Cpt. Daniel Perez, HY”D

The death of Cpt. Daniel Perez, a 22-year-old soldier who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas on October 7, was confirmed on Sunday by the Israel Defense Forces.

Daniel was from Yad Binyamin, a settlement in central Israel. He fought as a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion. He was born in

South Africa and made aliyah with his family at age thirteen. He was killed after trying to fight off the invading terrorists on October 7, and his body was dragged to the Gaza Strip.

Daniel’s death was confirmed by the military’s chief rabbi based on new evidence and intelligence information. Now, a funeral will be held for Perez, and his family will be able to sit shiva for him.

On October 7, the tragic day when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people and kidnapping 253 others, Daniel’s brother, Yonatan, was also injured by terrorists. Two weeks later, with Daniel’s fate still unknown, Yonatan got married.

The fallen soldier’s father, Rabbi Doron Perez, is the executive chairman of World Mizrachi Movement. Following news of Perez’s death, World Mizrachi’s acting CEO, Rabbi Danny Mirvis, said, “Over the past 163 days, we have desperately davened [prayed] for better news. Throughout that time, the Perez family has inspired us and strengthened us as we have sought to strengthen them. The global tefillot for his well-being will now become global wishes of comfort.”

Experts say that 130 people whom Hamas abducted on October 7 are still

in the Gaza Strip, although at least 33 of those have been killed, according to the IDF.

Of the 592 Israeli soldiers who have been murdered since the war began, 249 were killed while fighting in Gaza as part of Israel’s ground offensive.

100K Gun Licenses Approved Since Oct. 7

This week, the National Security Ministry announced that it had approved 100,000 gun licenses since October 7.

“This week, we reached a milestone at the National Security Ministry: The 100,000th citizen received their firearms license,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, standing in front of a

32 poster with an image of a handgun and the slogan “100K Israelis armed.”

“In fact, out of 299,354 applications submitted since the war…more than 100,000 citizens have already been approved to arm themselves, because weapons save lives,” he added.

“We have seen throughout the last months how much a weapon saves lives,” he continued, stating “the dimensions of the [October 7] disaster were less” in places where “civilians could protect themselves.”

“We have also seen this in recent [terror] attacks, and I think that the work at the National Security Ministry is proving itself,” he said.

Responding to concerns that domestic violence may increase with the influx of guns, Ben Gvir said that his ministry is working to make sure that weapons only end up “in the right hands.”

Women were assaulted and murdered on October 7 “because there were not enough weapons,” he argued, adding that he had given out permits to “tens of thousands of armed women who can now defend themselves.”

Requests for gun permits surged following Hamas’s massive attack on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were slaughtered, many amid brutal

atrocities. The National Security Ministry also granted temporary authority to approve gun license applications to Ben Gvir’s personal staff appointees, Knesset employees, and others.

Between October 7 and mid-November, more requests for gun permits were filed than in the previous 20 years.

“Elchanan’s Team” Awarded Prize

Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced that the Israel Prize for civilian bravery would be awarded to Menachem Kalmenson and Itiel Zohar, who have become known as “Elchanan’s Team.”

“Menachem Kalmenson, along with his brother Elhanan and nephew Itiel Zohar, left their house in Otniel on October 7 to save lives in the Gaza region. Despite being told that they were unneeded, they

made their way to [Kibbutz] Be’eri and went into the besieged town again and again saving dozens of the inhabitants. In the last house they entered, a terrorist was waiting, who killed Elchanan.”

Elchanan Kalmenson made history after his death as well. His headstone is the first one in the history of Israel’s fallen to bear the symbols of two different arms of Israel’s security services – both that of the Mossad and the IDF.

Minister Kisch decided that due to the war, the Israel Prize – Israel’s most prestigious award – would be awarded to civilians who showed exceptional brotherhood and friendship, demonstrated unusual courage, or brought exceptional hope to Israel, while contributing significantly to the recovery from the October 7th massacre.

Minister Kisch recounted his conversation with the winners, saying, “I had the honor of speaking this morning with the families of Menachem Kalmenson and Itiel Zohar, and announcing to them that they had won the Israel Prize. I thank them for the amazing family and the great heroes they had produced, who are a lighthouse of bravery for all of us and a source of unity and national pride. We are a nation of heroes, and the winners are part of a long line of heroes who risk their lives for the nation and the land. We cannot forget that.”

Hamas Leader Killed in Strike

Marwan Issa, a top commander of Hamas’ military wing and one of the masterminds of the October 7 massacre, was killed last week in a Israeli airstrike.

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security advisor, told reporters this week that Issa, one of the highest-ranking officials in Hamas, had been killed. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on March 11 that Israeli military warplanes had targeted the terror leader and another senior Hamas official in an underground compound in central Gaza.

So far, Issa is the senior-most Hamas leader to have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Israeli officials have characterized the strike as a breakthrough

in their campaign to wipe out the Hamas leadership in Gaza.

Issa had served since 2012 as a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. Supposedly, Issa was an important strategist in the terror group who played a key role as a liaison between Hamas’s military and political leaders. According to Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman, the former Israeli military intelligence chief, Issa was simultaneously Hamas’s “defense minister,” its deputy military commander, and its “strategic mind.”

Although his death deals a significant blow to Qassam Brigades, it is certain that another terrorist will take his place in the organization.

No More 6% Realtor Commission

After facing unprecedented antitrust lawsuits, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), along with other organizations, has agreed to a settlement, with the NAR paying $418 million in damages and reworking commission rules.

The NAR, representing over one million realtors, added several rules, including new regulations that force the buyers’ brokers to enter an agreement with their clients in writing and ban the inclusion of an agent’s fees in the listings of multiple listing services. Most notably, the 6% commission traditionally paid by the seller to the broker and the buyer’s broker has been eliminated.

According to projections from TD Cowen Insights, the price of real estate commissions may decrease anywhere from 25% to 50%.

Following news of the settlement, stock market shares of Zillow and Compass, two prominent real estate companies, fell by over 13% over concerns that lower commission rates may potentially take business away from real estate platforms.

“If agent commissions are meaningfully impacted, it could reduce the marketing budgets of real estate partners or reduce the number of real estate partners participating in the industry, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations,” Zillow said in its 10-K filing last month.

To sell an average-priced, $417,000 house, the seller would likely have had to pay more than $25,000 in brokerage fees. Since the expensive fees are, in

turn, handed over to the buyer, housing prices have increased. According to TD Cowen Insights, the cost of the fee might decrease by $6,000 to $12,000, thus decreasing housing prices.

“While the settlement comes at a significant cost, we believe the benefits it will provide to our industry are worth that cost,” Kevin Sears, NAR’s president, stated.

Last November, the NAR and two brokerages were ordered by a federal jury in

the brokers.

If approved by a judge, the settlement will likely impact the housing market, making it more competitive. Buyers would likely try to find cheaper commission rates, and realtors may try to offer the most competitive rates in order to attract clients.

According to Norm Miller, a professor emeritus of real estate at the University of San Diego, this change would likely benefit the best agents, while subpar brokers may be forced to leave the industry.

What Causes Havana Syndrome?

In 2016, a group of American diplomats were in Havana, the capital city of Cuba, when they were struck by a sudden illness. Symptoms they experienced included sudden dizziness, serious migraines, and other issues commonly observed in those suffering from head trauma. This mysterious condition, which has been reported around 1,500 times by U.S. government officials and has been seen in Bogota, Colombia, and Vienna, Austria, has since become known as Havana syndrome.

What causes the condition is unknown, although some have suggested that a U.S. enemy is responsible. However, U.S. intelligence officials have dismissed such claims as improbable, asserting that there is no evidence that another country is targeting U.S. officials with illness.

Missouri to pay $1.8 billion in damages after the organizations were found guilty of conspiring to keep agent commissions artificially high. However, due to the antitrust nature of the case, the NAR could have faced a potential payout of $5.4 billion. Although the organization vowed to appeal the ruling, the NAR, along with the other guilty parties, settled.

The lawsuit was brought by a group of home sellers who charged that the buyer should be the one responsible for paying

On Monday, researchers with the National Institutes of Health released findings from two studies conducted on the mysterious syndrome. In the first study, scientists took brain scans of those who reported having Havana syndrome. In the second study, 86 U.S. officials and family members who had symptoms of the illness were given hearing, vision, blood, and cognitive tests. After comparing the brain scans and clinical and biomarker measures of those who had Havana syndrome with those who did not, researchers found no consistent differences between the two.

Dr. David Relman, a professor who teaches microbiology and immunology at Stanford and has, in the past, studied people who had Havana syndrome, said that it “would be ill-advised” to make firm assumptions about the illness based on the NIH’s research, as, in past studies, scientists have discovered abnormalities. Additionally, since symptoms differ from person to person, medical professionals do not have the ability to accurately determine what is causing the issue.

“Clearly, new, sensitive, standardized, non-invasive tests of nervous system function, especially involving the vestibular system, are needed, such as more specific blood markers of different forms of cellular injury,” noted Relman.

A panel of intelligence officials, in 2022, determined that certain “anomalous health incidents” (AHI) may have been caused by “pulsed electromagnetic energy.”

The brain scan study involved 81 individuals who reported symptoms of Havana syndrome and 48 healthy people. The brain scans of 29 people from the healthy group were found to be similar to those in the group of patients.

“These findings suggest that the origin of the symptoms of participants with AHIs may not be linked to an MRI-iden-

tifiable injury to the brain,” researchers explained.

However, there were some issues with the study, including the fact that the control group was very small and that the patient group was made up of people who had symptoms within the past two weeks. Had the tests been conducted at a different time, they may have yielded different results.

“While we did not identify significant differences in participants with AHIs, it’s important to acknowledge that these symptoms are very real, cause significant disruption in the lives of those affected, and can be quite prolonged, disabling and difficult to treat,” said Dr. Leighton Dhan, NIH Clinical Center’s acting chief scientific officer who served as the lead author of one of the research papers.

U.S. Bans Asbestos

The Biden administration on Monday finalized a ban on the only type of asbestos still used in the United States, the first time since 1989 the federal government has moved to significantly restrict the toxic industrial material.

The regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency would prohibit the

use, manufacture and import of chrysotile asbestos, which has been linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer that forms in the lining of some internal organs.

Chrysotile is the only raw form of asbestos known to be currently imported, processed or distributed for use in the United States. Known as white asbestos, the mineral is used in roofing materials, textiles and cement as well as gaskets, clutches, brake pads and other automotive parts. It is also a component in diaphragms used to make chlorine.

In some ways, the ban is a weaker version of a proposal the agency announced in 2022, which would have required a two-year phaseout for most commercial uses.

The final rule would require the ban on imports to begin as soon as the measure comes into force. But it would allow up to 12 years for companies to phase out the use of asbestos in manufacturing, depending on the facility. The change followed lobbying efforts by companies, such as the Olin Corp., a major chemical manufacturer, as well as trade groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chemistry Council.

“With today’s ban, EPA is finally slamming the door on a chemical so dangerous that it has been banned in over 50 countries,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a telephone call with reporters. “President (Joe) Biden understands that this concern that has spanned generations and impacted the lives of countless people.”

Health advocates who have been battling for decades to prohibit all forms of asbestos said the new rule was insufficient.

Mesothelioma disproportionately affects firefighters, who are exposed to asbestos through damaged buildings and have a much higher risk of developing the cancer than the general population.

The American Chemistry Council, a lobbying organization, had asked for 15 years to phase out the use of asbestos. The council said that eliminating the use of asbestos in the manufacture of drinking water treatment components would “cause substantial harm to America’s drinking water supply, and unwarranted alarm for products in the marketplace

which are essential to ongoing climate, sustainability, and infrastructure projects.” (© The New York Times)

SCOTUS: TX Can’t Detain Illegals

The Supreme Court on Monday indefinitely blocked Texas from enforcing an immigration law that would allow state officials to arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the country illegally.

The so-called administrative stay will remain in place while the court considers emergency appeals from the Biden administration and others, who want the justices to block enforcement of the law while their legal challenges to it play out.

Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in December, immediately raised concerns among immigration advocates of increased racial profiling as well as detentions and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas, where Latinos represent 40% of the population.

“The Supreme Court has temporarily halted enforcement of SB 4, but it didn’t halt Texas’ pre-existing authority to arrest for criminal trespass and other violations of the law,” Abbott said in a statement on Monday, adding that “Texas will continue utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to this Bidenmade border crisis.”

The Justice Department has argued that the law would “profoundly” alter the status quo “that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.”

“People can disagree about immigration. They always have. And Texas may be deeply concerned about recent immigration,” attorneys for a pair of immigration groups and El Paso County wrote in court papers. “But the same was true of California in the 1870s, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the 1930s, and Arizona in 2012. Nevertheless, for 150 years this Court has made clear that states are not allowed to regulate the core immigration field

entry and removal.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, and other officials told the Supreme Court that the “Constitution recognizes that Texas has the sovereign right to defend itself from violent transnational cartels that flood the State with fentanyl, weapons, and all manner of brutality.”

The state officials described Texas in court papers as being “the nation’s firstline defense against transnational violence” and said the state has been “forced to deal with the deadly consequences of the federal government’s inability or unwillingness to protect the border.”

California Superbloom

Want to see nature at its finest? Head to California.

Much of the state will be bejeweled in a rainbow of wildflowers after drenching winter rain set the stage for a spectacular spring superbloom. A superbloom is generally considered to be a vivid display of colorful wildflowers all blooming at once.

Wildflowers began to bloom this February in some of Southern California’s low elevation deserts and will continue to inject new life into the dry landscape throughout the spring, likely reaching a peak in scope and color around April. Neighboring mountains, where snow and chilly conditions reign supreme through spring, won’t bloom until the summer.

The phenomenon isn’t unique to California; wildflowers can paint parched desert landscapes, mountains and grasslands in Arizona and Nevada, too, but some of the most dense and therefore spectacular displays are found in Southern California.

Wildflowers need plenty of water to bloom en masse, and this winter brought a series of atmospheric river-fueled storms with soaking rain to the Southern California deserts.

Wildflower blooms in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, about 50 miles south of Palm Springs, have

already begun to paint the normally tan, dry landscape with vivid purples, yellows, greens and whites. Blooms are also underway in Chino Hills State Park, outside of Anaheim, and Tule Elk State Natural Reserve, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara.

There’s No Place Like Home

Almost two decades ago, the iconic ruby-red shoes from “The Wizard of Oz” were stolen by two men from the Judy Garland Museum in Minneapolis. This week, the shoes were finally brought back home after the FBI charged two men in the theft.

During the ceremony, the famous footwear was placed on their original pedestal. The FBI said that when the owner, Michael Shaw, accompanied by his niece, laid eyes on the slippers for the first time in nearly two decades, he likened the experience to a heartfelt reunion with a long-lost friend.

“It was incredibly rewarding and fitting to see Mr. Shaw reunited with the Ruby Slippers, at Judy Garland’s home, accompanied by his friends on the museum staff,” said Special Agent Christopher Dudley, one of the investigators who worked on the case. “It is a privilege for the FBI and our Art Crime Team to work alongside law enforcement partners who truly value the importance of protecting our nation’s cultural heritage.”

Not only did Special Agent Dudley return the ruby slippers to Shaw, he also presented a single red sequin that was left at the scene of the crime nearly two decades ago.

The Judy Garland Museum was rocked by the theft, as the slippers were there on loan from Shaw. Although they were insured for $1 million, museum leaders say the theft shattered a long-standing friendship with their owner and tarnished the organization’s credibility.

“The Judy Garland Museum survived the impact of this violation and is grateful to be a part of the homecoming,” reflected John Kelsch, who was director of the museum at the time of the heist, noting that it negatively impacted operations for many years. The return of the slippers to Shaw, if not the museum, promises a fresh start.

For his part, Shaw introduced representatives from Heritage Auctions at the reunion ceremony, announcing that he is partnering with them to launch a worldwide tour of the slippers so people can see them before they are auctioned off later this year. Officials at the Judy Garland Museum say they are “working diligently” to find a way to buy them and keep them in a place where Garland’s life and legacy is celebrated.

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

On Speed

Better watch your speedometer when driving in Norway.

A Frenchman who had been in Norway for just over a month was been handed a 21-day prison sentence for amassing 25 speeding tickets – in just 19 days.

The 23-year-old, who traveled to Nor-

way in search of a job, was caught speeding 25 times between February 6 and 25.

He was first caught speeding on February 20 while driving 113 km/hr in a zone with a speed limit of 70 km/hr.

The man “represents a danger in traffic,” the Oslo district court said.

Still, because he confessed, his sentence was reduced from 24 days to 21 days in jail. His license is also going to be suspended for a year.

It may be hard for him to find a job while behind bars.

Toothy but Not Tame

Tony Cavallaro is mourning the loss of his pet. The 11-foot, 750-pound pet alligator was removed by conservation officials from his home in upstate New York last week.

Cavallaro, of Hamburg, NY, had put in an in-ground swimming pool on his grounds so his gator “Albert” could swim and cool off.

Albert the alligator is around 30 years old, is blind in both eyes, and has spinal issues.

According to officials, Cavallaro allowed members of the public “to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator.”

They say that Cavallaro had had a permit to keep the reptile in his home, but he did not renew it in 2021. The lack of a permit, the access given to visitors and the alligator’s health caused the DEC to

Did you know?

remove Albert “in the interest of public safety and the health, safety and protection of the alligator,” the agency said.

According to Cavallaro, he had been complying with regulations that including taping Albert’s mouth shut when he was around humans and installing a fence around his property.

Albert’s removal surprised Cavallaro, who had come home from running errands on Wednesday, only to find Albert being removed from his home.

But Cavallaro is angry that his beloved friend is now gone. He is seeking to regain custody of Albert and said that he was treated “like a terrorist” when officers removed him and hauled him away in a truck. A petition that circulated online to reunite Cavallaro with Albert garnered 20,000 signatures within 24 hours.

“He’s like family,” he said. “Everybody loves him. He has thousands of people, as you see, that love him.”

See ya later, alligator.

The horse that Mordechai rode on was called Shifregaz.

Around the Community

Chabad Five Towns 29th Annual Gala

With over 450 attendees, the Chabad Five Towns 29th Annual Gala was a night filled with unity and inspiration. We were privileged to have IDF Heroes Noam Buskila and Mordchey Sheynveld lead the music, creating a powerful atmosphere.

The evening began with a touching moment as Hebrew school student Lior Zelinski presented his father, David, with a personalized Tehillim. David, who recently returned from 4.5 months of service on the front lines, was deeply moved. Lior led us in a heartfelt prayer for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel. Additionally, we were honored to have Einav Danino, the mother of hostage Ori, join us. Noam led a prayer for the safe return of all the hostages, underscoring the importance of solidarity and hope in

challenging times.

Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, Director of Chabad Five Towns, was honored to share inspiring stories of community members who are “on the front lines,” making a difference and bringing Moshiach closer through their mitzvot. The same idea was featured in the video presentation, “Armed on the Front Lines,” which shared inspiring moments of connection of three Five Towns residents: CTeen Member Jonah Kirshbaum, Morton’s store owner Steve Silverman, and 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Fred Zilberger. The theme of the evening resonated deeply throughout the dinner, reminding us that each of us has the power to impact the world.

The moving video introductions provided a glimpse into the hearts and minds

of our esteemed Guests of Honor: Avi and Leah Begun, Dr. Joseph and Jenny Felder, Aaron and Michal Gorin, and Alex and Irina Kopach. Their unwavering dedication to our community is truly commendable.

Additionally, congratulations are in order for our CTeen Leaders representing Hewlett High School and our Friendship Circle Presidents representing Central, HAFTR, Shulamith, SKA, Tag, DRS, Rambam, and MAY for their outstanding dedication and leadership. Together, we can continue to make a difference for Am Yisrael here and around the world.

Thank you to our incredibly talented and creative friends, Yosef Yitzchak & Penina Batsheva Popack, Gidon & Alla Shema of Jerusalem Florist, and Su-

zanne & Gary Wallin of Gary Wallin Productions and Photography by Three Star Photography for your dedication and generosity to Chabad! We are deeply grateful for your efforts in going above and beyond. Special thanks also go to our dinner chairmen and the entire dinner committee, as well as Table One catering for the delicious food.

A heartfelt thank you to our Raffle Sponsors, and congratulations to the WINNERS! Dr. Neil and Susy Adler won the Tickets to Israel, Jeff and Shira Eisenberg won the flowers for a year from Jerusalem Florist, Aaron and Michal Gorin won the beautiful megillah, Mr. Jacob Yunger won the $1,000 Visa card, and Shlomo and Ayelet Katz won the $1,000 to Gourmet Glatt. Mazal tov to all the winners!

Rabbi Bender Visits TAL Academy

TAL Academy was privileged to host Rabbi Yaakov Bender, shlita, the Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway.

YUHSG Promotes Positivity With Spring Experiential Learning

It’s springtime at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls, and the warmer temperatures match the sunny outlook for the semester. This past week, Central celebrated positivity in spirit by hosting a highly-anticipated annual event: the Yachad Ivdu Carnival, hosted for the benefit of students from the Ivdu Elementary School for Girls. The carnival is a much-loved event and a way to combine event coordination practice with valuable chesed experience. The 2024 theme, “Crayola: Everything is Possible,” called for lots of colors from faculty and students alike (one highlight of the day: Central faculty doing their part by dressing as different Crayola crayons). The theme was a throwback to the most therapeutic of elementary school pastimes: coloring.

A coloring station, with Central students administering coloring books and working with Ivdu students, was one of the first attractions.

“I was so excited to see the smiles on their faces as they colored,” said senior Ora Nakhon.

Other booths included darts, face painting, duck races, hair braiding with beads, a Coke versus Pepsi tasting booth, ring toss, and a new variation on an old classic, “Pin the Cloud on the Rainbow.” Games were followed by clowns and an adorable magic show. It was hard to say who had a better time – the students

of Ivdu or the Central students hosting them!

“It was a lot of fun giving the students from Ivdu a great experience,” said junior Dena Joshua, who helped to run the “Pin the Cloud on the Rainbow” booth. “And the kids were so cute!”

The success of the day was a testament both to Central’s commitment to positive action, and the planning and collaboration of the student body, as well as Central Judaic Studies faculty member and Director of Programming, Mrs. Yael Axelrod, who facilitated the event.

“The students had such a great time coordinating the carnival for the kids from Ivdu,” she said. “Chesed is such a meaningful part of their time here at Central, and being able to open the school up for an event like this is a fun way to do good in the community.”

TAL Academy is the first dual-curriculum Yeshiva, school in New York exclusively for children with Language-Based Learning challenges. Rabbi Bender visited TAL to observe the classrooms, tour the school and speak to the students. Rabbi Bender and his team were visibly impressed by the school. Rabbi Bender commented that the atmosphere was clearly “lichtig,” bright, the kids are happy and are learning. Rabbi Bender tested the boys from Rabbi Avi Karr’s TAL 2 class on teitch, word translations. The boys knew

their words flawlessly. He then listened to a short lesson on a Rashi the boys were learning on the parsha. He commented that the boys were remarkable as they were learning a complex Rashi that is appropriate for middle school or even mesivta boys. In an impromptu moment, after Rabbi Bender heard that it was crazy hat day at TAL, Rabbi Bender joined in with the Adar fun and offered the boys a chance to try on his own hat for pictures. Before Rabbi Bender left, he gave warm brachos and words of chizuk to the administration. He shared his sentiment that TAL serves an important, critical role for the community.

5 Towns Flag Football League

What a week it was at 5 Towns FM Home Loans Flag Football League – Opening Day! Week 1 was off to a great start. The boys came ready to play. The Pre-1A division had so much fun and started learning to play together as a team. The 1st grade division had a blast and learned how to catch the football correctly. They have amazing coaches and had a fantastic time in the first week. In the 2nd grade division, the Eagles beat the Patriots, the Vikings beat the Jets, and the Giants beat the Broncos.

In the 3rd and 4th grade division, the Dolphins beat the Eagles, with amazing pick 6 by the one and only Mo Friedman. The Giants beat the Vikings, the Steelers and the Patriots had a very intense game that ended in a tie, the Falcons beat the Raiders, and the Saints beat the Seahawks led by Avi Abramson with some great flag pulls. In the 5th and 6th grade division, the Seahawks beat the Packers, the Broncos beat the Giants, the Jets beat the Raiders, the Patriots beat the Steelers, and the Dolphins beat the Panthers with some awesome catches by Berel Bodner. In the 7th and 8th grade division, the Giants beat

the Broncos, the Vikings beat the Jets, and the Patriots beat the Eagles led by Aharon Faivish who threw 2 touchdowns and got an interception.

Week 1 was unbelievable! We’ll see everyone next week! Follow all the action at 5townsflagfootball.com.

Sportsmanship of the Week Award: 1st grade: Eli Hollander; 2nd grade: Menachem Bornstein; 3rd & 4th grade: Yehuda Yakubov; 5th & 6th grade: Moshe Feld; 7 & 8 grade: Yehuda Harary.

The Ganger Early Childhood Center at TAG made a siyum on Sefer Shemos last week.

The talmidos reviewed the parshios, sang their parsha songs, and received a special yummy treat

Shulamith Celebrates Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet at Shulamith Elementary School was celebrated in grand style. Memorable special events included students and teachers dressing up in the colors of Eretz Yisrael or Tzahal, a middle school special Rosh Chodesh breakfast, a Yom Iyun and a concert. Digital Dov, an interactive and custom-content game show host, challenged and entertained the girls in grades 1-5. Girls raced against each other to answer a variety of Torah-related questions.

In honor of Purim, all students en-

joyed a spectacular neon carnival run by the Shulamith amazing 8th graders. The booths included face painting, guessing the number of chocolate chips in fluff, knocking down Haman, and a photo booth. There were also bouncy rides for the girls to enjoy as well as cotton candy, fresh popcorn and pickles.

While the simcha of Purim permeated the walls of Shulamith, our hearts and tefillot are with Acheinu Beit Yisrael. Purim cards and letters were sent to our chayalim to spread our Purim cheer.

Ezra Debates in Philadelphia

In a resounding testament to their intellect, resilience, and their school pride, several members of the Ezra Academy debate team traveled to Philadelphia to join a special debate at KTA. After the team of Nathaniel Chanimov and Rivkah Gavrilov took first place in New York (several months ago), the debate team was accompanied by Ms. Fish and Ms. Zakutinsky on a road trip to Philadelphia. The team’s long road to another triumph was highlighted by the debate, but also included stops to popular Philadelphia landmarks along the way.

The team was comprised of: Eliana Borokhov, Hannah Shimunov, Liel Pinhasov, Rivkah Gavrilov, Milena Abraham, Natalie Gavrielov, Nava Alishayev, and Kaila Meltser. The girls brought their history lessons to life at the Liberty Bell, then ascended the iconic Rocky steps memorializing all their hard work and determination.

In true Ezra Academy fashion, no academic trip would suffice without a spiritual component. Prior to the debate the girls were blessed to be able to visit the home of Rabbi Sholom Kaminetsky where they were treated to a Q and A, inspirational words and individual brachas. The Rebbetzin shared some beautiful insights to be mechazek the girls as well.

The long journey culminated in an another victory for Ezra Academy where Liel Pinhasov was awarded First Place Speaker and Eliana Borokhov and Hannah Shimunov took home Second Place Team. While the debate team proudly told everyone in Philadelphia they represented Ezra Academy and spoke about the pride they feel for their school, Ezra recognizes that it is their students’ dedication and aspirations which truly embody the school.

How is Yeshiva Nesiv Hatorah Different From Other Yeshivos?

What is Yeshiva Nesiv Hatorah?

Our Yeshiva is catered to boys who want to be part of the “system” but feel that they are not cut out for full-time learning. Many boys as they get older realize that full-time learning is not for them. They are ready to go to work but feel conflicted, as they don’t want to be thrust into the working world without the anchor that a yeshiva provides. Our yeshiva is geared for these boys. In the past, boys who were working were made to feel that they were “working boys” in a negative way. Many people assumed that they were not committed to learning or aligned to the mainstream yeshiva system anymore. Our boys are shteiging and growing in their ruchniyus, even though they are spending their days in the workforce.

What is the seder hayom of the yeshiva?

Shacharis is at 8:30, which is followed by breakfast. At 9:30 am. sharp, first seder begins. We learn specific sugyas that talimidim can relate to and apply to their lives. Seder continues till 10:50, followed by a lively engaging shiur given by the Rosh Yeshiva. At 11:15 seder concludes, and the bachurim go to their respective jobs. The boys return to yeshiva for a gourmet supper. At 8:45 pm. Night seder begins, and concludes with Maariv at 9.45.

Are there specific chavrusas for the bachurim to learn with?

The Yeshiva is structured so that all bochurim learn together b’chavrusa with talented yungerleit whom yeshiva pays to learn with. There are two advantages of this. Firstly, bochurim are able to advance in their learning from those that

are older and more learned. In addition, each bachur is able to have a real “role model” out of the sidrei hayeshiva. It’s beautiful to see this sense of closeness amongst each chavrusashaft.

What is the age range of the bachurim at Yeshivas Nesiv Hatorah?

The age ranges from 20-25 years old.

How many bachurim are in Yeshiva?

We have well over 25 bochurim, as well as over 10 young married men who are of similar age and background.

Where do the boys come from?

There are a variety of places from where boys come from. Although we have some boys from the general Lakewood area, many boys are from “out of town,” including Passaic, Baltimore, South Bend, Chicago.

In what way would Yeshiva Nesiv Hatorah stand out as unique?

The most unique aspect that stands out about our yeshiva is that we are a full time 365, 24-7 Yeshiva for those who spend a larger part of the day outside the actual Beis Medrash. Yeshiva Nesiv Hatorah is a yeshiva where every boy knows that he is part of, even outside the confines of seder. We work very hard to provide a sense of being part of a greater “family” of Yeshiva Nesiv Hatorah. Shabbos is very often spent in yeshiva. It’s not that we need to “encourage” bachurim to stay for Shabbos – the boys want to stay. Additionally, the Rosh Yeshiva frequently hosts the entire Yeshiva at his house in Jackson. Although it takes a lot of logistical planning to host over 25 bachurim for Shabbos, there is no question about not having it! Who doesn’t invite all of their children for Shabbos?!

Ignite the Light at HANC

“Ignite the light” has been the theme this year at HANC’s Elementary School in West Hempstead. In keeping with this theme, the students have been creating glow in the dark artwork inspired by the works and techniques of renowned artists that they have studied. Under the guidance of HANC’s creative art teacher, Mrs. Chana Grossman, the children ingeniously incorporated luminous elements into their art, transforming the pieces into mesmerizing displays of light and color.

On Monday evening, the entire school was invited to a gala Gallery Walk, with the glittering artwork displayed creatively throughout the auditorium. After receiving a guidebook with descriptions of the numerous displays and the artists that the works were based on, the guests entered the darkened rooms to view the luminous creations of the talented students. In the Kindergarten display, the children created alphabet pendants that they formed from clay balls, painted with secondary colors that were blended from primary colors. After learning about geometric shapes in art, they created robots by combining multiple shapes to form the face and body of a robot and then tie dye

painted the background to make them come alive. The children also explored symmetry and created symmetrical butterflies. Examining the artwork of James Rizzi, the children created their own citiscapes with comical facial expressions on the buildings. Ceramic turtles completed the exhibit, which were made by imprinting their own footprints on clay and creating a textured shell using carving utensils.

In the second grade gallery, the students displayed their pout fish sculptures that they formed from a sphere, a slab and a coil of clay. They used complementary colors to paint their fish and added extra details with Sharpies. After studying the artwork of Erik Abel and Alma Thomas, they also created graphic bear paintings and outer space collages that were truly inspiring.

The next section displayed artwork from the third graders. These students learned about foreground, middleground and background, thereby creating their own magnificent citi-scapes that reflected the style of John Behnke. Textured bird sculptures completed their display, created with the use of textured plates, oil pastels and ink resist to create prominent

textures on their remarkable sculptures.

Fourth graders created snowy landscapes using one point perspective. After studying well-known Renaissance artists and how one point perspective can create depth and realistic space in artwork, the classes created magnificent scenes that included a vanishing point, a horizon line and orthogonal lines. Three dimensional houses, winter scenes and the magnificent inclusion of colorful northern lights created from color pastels combined to create gorgeous masterpieces.

The fifth grade students created a beautiful display of colorful lanterns that spelled out the pasuk “LaYehudim hayita ora v’simcha v’sasson vikar,” which is recited during Havdalah and on Purim. Completing the displays was the sixth grade’s magnificent Ner Tamid inspired

by the artwork of Dale Chilhuly. What made all of these displays so unique is that the exhibits were displayed in a darkened room and illuminated by black lights to bring out the extraordinary colors. Hakarat hatov goes to Mrs. Grossman for enlightening the HANC students to fine art and for giving all of the children opportunities to develop art skills and express their own creativity in remarkable ways.

Digital Lost and Found Revolution: Return and Search for Lost Items Online

We have all been there before. I will set the scene...

You remember walking out of shul with your tefillin bag in hand, you even think you recall bringing it into the car, only to find that it is not there. Could it be in the house? No, couldn’t be, considering you went straight to work after Shacharis. It will be there in shul tomorrow, you say, more to comfort yourself than anything else. Tomorrow comes, and your tefillin bag is nowhere to be found. Aside from trying the lost and found, which you have already checked, there is nothing more that can be done... or is there?

Now, there is. A new website, Aveidah. com, will make finding and returning lost objects seamless.

Aveidah.com, also known as JewishLostAndFound.com, is a central place for the Jewish community to show togetherness, help each other out, bring joy to one

another and fulfill the important mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah (returning lost objects). During the times of the second Beis Hamikdash, when items were lost, the finders went to great lengths to return them to their rightful owners. There was a rock in Yerushalayim called the Even Ha’Toein, the Stone of Claims. We know from the Mishnah and Talmud that those who found items that did not belong to them would climb onto this rock and scream out, “Who lost an item?” in the hope that the owner would hear it, give the necessary signs, and claim the item. Nowadays, people post lost items on Facebook and WhatsApp groups or put signs on community bulletin boards, trees or other public places. All these methods have limited reach and audiences, especially considering the frequency of travelers and visitors from other communities. Many times, those who find lost objects don’t want to bother their friends and

family with ‘lost and found’ announcements. It is for these and many other reasons that Hashavas Aveidah is now being facilitated through a user-friendly and central website.

As our community becomes more sophisticated, we can make “ignored” mitzvos more relevant. By using the internet, this mitzvah can be expanded to become accessible to all Jews across the globe. Having one universal database for Hashavas Aveidah is something that has the potential to revolutionize the way we observe this important mitzvah. The website functions in a unique way that makes the mitzvah of returning a lost object easier for both the person who lost the item, and the one returning it, all within the guidelines of halacha. Options for anonymity are available for the safety of users. There are educational videos and materials on the site to help individuals of all ages perform this important mitzvah optimally.

Focusing first on the areas of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, the hope is to expand to communities around the world, and inspire a real change for Klal Yisrael. Aveidah.com will allow individuals to fulfill the mitzvah and bring joy to others, while helping those looking to recover belongings find what they are desperately searching for.

Torah Shiurim on Hashavas Aveidah in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway will be given by: R’ Eytan Feiner, R’ Yaakov Trump, R’ Yehoshua Kalish, R’ Yair Hoffman, R’ Uri Orlian, R’ Matisyahu Blumenthal, R’ Elisha Horowitz, R’ Mordechai Kamenetzky, R’ Simcha Lefkowitz, R’ Pinchas Weinberger, R’ Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz, R’ Tzvi Krigsman, R’ Dovid Fordsham, R’ Moshe Weinberger, R’ Elysha Sandler, R’ Shay Schachter, R’ Isaac Rice, and R’ Aaron Glatt.

Meah Brachos

As part of the Meah Brachos contest, in which each boy keeps track of the 100 brachos that they say daily, boys received special prizes and incentives. If someone davens Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv, he will have said 90 brachos. Between eating and using the facilities, he/she can easily reach 100 brachos a day. Pictured here are Rab -

5 Towns Hockey

The fall season of the 5 Towns Hockey League is off to a tremendous start. The teams are evenly matched, and the kids are having a great time. They are learning to play the game of hockey at a high level with middot and great sportsmanship. The premier hockey league in the Five Towns teaches the participants how to play at a high level, preparing them for the next level of competition. Looking forward to a great rest of the season.

Gesher Chumash Fair

Gbi Eisikovic’s class at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island and Rabbi Cooper’s and Rabbi Erlbaum’s class at DRS. Charts to keep track of your brachos can be downloaded on www.meahbrachos.com. For more information, reach out to outloudbrachos@gmail. com

esher’s second grade’s Chumash Fair was an amazing experience. The event was kicked off with an amazing thought by Rabbi Levitt, a father from our second grade class. He spoke about the chashivus of learning Torah and about being part of our mesorah. Then, each student had an opportunity to create their own tri-board spanning from Adam and Chava all the way to Yehoshua. The creativity and hands-on learning that each child experienced was amazing to

witness. Each student explored our Avos and Imahos and what they learned from each one. When presenting their boards to the parents and grandparents, each child described how lucky they feel being part of our mesorah and what they learned from each Torah character.

Thank you to the Tchachanatchavili family for sponsoring the event and for the beautiful Chumashim that were given out. Mazal tov second grade on this milestone.

Rav Yaakov Bender delivering chizuk to the members of the morning kollel of Mevakshei Hashem, Lakewood, NJ, on their visit to Yeshiva Darchei Torah

YOSS Celebrates Tech in Check Members

Yeshiva of South Shore boys from the fourth and fifth grades who are active members of the Tech in Check movement celebrated in high style this past Sunday. They were treated to two hours of unlimited bowling at Bald-

win Lanes rented exclusively for their enjoyment, not to mention the unlimited nosh, drinks and a delicious pizza lunch. We are very proud of their dedication to Tech in Check – may it be a zechus for them, their families and all Klal Yisroel!

Aish Kodesh Annual Dinner

The 31st Annual Aish Kodesh Dinner took place last week at the Woodmere Club to a packed room of hundreds of shul members, friends and the greater Five Towns community. The evening was elegantly set with a beautiful program highlighted by the inspiring and emotional words from the Mara D’asra, Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita. The dinner theme of “Al Tira

– Don’t be Afraid” has been a constant refrain in the shul since Covid and ultimately a theme dating back to the shiurim and Torah of Rav Weinberger over the last 31 years. The theme and emphasis of faith in Hashem and “Al Tirah” has taken on a particular significance in the wake of the Oct. 7 tragedies. Rav Weinberger continues to passionately impart the message of “lo l’fached klal”

and the importance of all Jews uniting together as we approach these days of Geulah. While this theme reverberated powerfully throughout the night, it was also an opportunity for the kehilla and the dinner guests to express their hakaras hatov to four dedicated couples who have given so selflessly over the years. The night’s guests of honor were David & Shoshanah Lawrence and

a beautiful and inspiring evening.

Andy

& Lauren Lauber. The Nahum Gordon, z”l, Community Service Award was presented to Yishai & Liat Honig, and the Young Leadership Award to Elie & Talia Erreich. The kehilla thanks these most deserving honorees as well as the tremendous efforts of the dinner committee who ran such

The Rosh Chodesh Adar assembly at YOSS ECC featured the Biggest Best Bubble Show by Lena

Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh Yarchei Kallah

Rav Shaya Cohen, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh in Bayswater, recently led a Yarchei Kallah to Eretz Yisroel alongside his dedicated talmidim, all proud alum-

Adar

Madness:

Ani of the Yeshiva. Throughout the weeklong expedition, genuine connections were forged – reconnection amongst themselves, with their esteemed Rosh Yeshiva, and with Hashem. In addition

to engaging in intensive learning sedarim in Yeshiva Ohr Hatzafon, the Eretz Yisroel branch of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh, they had the privilege of meeting numerous gedolim, visiting Yerushalayim of

YCQ Junior High School Color War

t the conclusion of a Junior High assembly Thursday afternoon, students were genuinely shocked as Rabbi Landsman suddenly proclaimed breakout for CW 5784. The students loudly cheered as the teams Tzafon/Bitachon (Green) vs.. Darom/Emnuah (Orange), and their respective leaders were announced.

Then the competition hit the ground running. Students found their teams, competed in thrilling Panoply games and relay races, and had time to prepare for 2 full days of activities.

A sea of green and orange flowed through the JHS Friday morning as students arrived at school covered from head to toe in their team colors. After tefillah, students from each team presented divrei Torah connected to their respective team themes. At breakfast, students also had a special opportunity to write letters to chayalim.

The day continued with a jam-packed schedule of games that included a freeze dance competition, a yarn hunt, Minute to Win It, Coke and Pepsi, musical chairs, and “It’s a School Game.” Students also had team meetings to review for the grand presentations and Torah Bowl competitions on Monday.

The students came back to school on Monday, well rested and ready for the final day of action. After another beautiful tefillah and breakfast featuring divrei Torah and cheers, students headed to their classrooms for an intense Torah Bowl face off with questions related to the themes. Ultimate dodgeball, line-up, sports mania, and other competitions followed and completed the rest of the morning.

But wait, there’s more!

After lunch and more divrei Torah, everyone turned out to participate in and watch the amazing Apache relay race. Students took part in a variety of activities including singing Hatikvah, wheel-barrow races, moving a ping pong ball with a spoon in their mouths, and then passing a baton when the task was completed.

Students then gathered for one last team meeting to prepare for the final presentations. Hebrew and English songs, stomps, dances, skits, and videos wowed the students, teachers, and administration. Banners were presented by students who had spent days creating masterpieces connected to their team themes. A third achdut banner that was created by both teams in unison was also presented to the packed crowd in the lunchroom. After all the scores were tallied, Rab-

old, and providing chizuk to wounded soldiers. This experience fostered deep bonds and spiritual growth, leaving an indelible mark on all participants.

bi Landsman announced that the orange team had emerged victorious! This Color War was closely fought by both teams, and a great time was had by all. While, of course, students enjoyed the days of activities, this was more than just a fun time. YCQ strongly believes in the pairing of a strong academic program with education outside of the classroom, and this was a tremendous opportunity for experiential education. From athletes to artists, to techies to Torah bowlers, every single student had the chance to apply their individual talents and strengths. Everyone was given the opportunity to shine and develop their personal and collaborative skills, alongside their leadership

abilities. This truly enables students to develop a healthy sense of self-worth and confidence that will help them mature into successful bnei and bnot Torah. A huge thank you must be given to Mr. Jacob Grossman for organizing the best Color War to date. Thank you to all the teachers and staff members for helping Mr. Grossman execute his vision and turn it into a reality. Special shout-out to all the student leaders who really shined during this year’s competition: Yoel Basalel, Josh Gadol, Tammy Matatov, Kayla Solemani, Yigal Haimoff, Yona Canter, Adina Masheyev, Ilana Ismailov, Eliyahu Babayev, David Inoyatov, Miriam Feder, and Audrey Rafael.

Sending Mishloach Manos to the Families of Lone Soldiers

Vicki’s Delights is known throughout New York for its delicious and beautiful cakes and confections.

Vicki Davis, the owner of Vicki’s Delights, is known for her warm and friendly personality. When one purchases a cake – or two or three – from Vicki’s Delights, one knows that Vicki is going to go the extra mile to ensure that her customer is more than satisfied.

One of the busiest times at Vicki’s Delights is Purim, when hundreds of orders for delectable mishloach manos come in.

“Purim is one of the busiest times of year for me, especially since there are so many details that go into each order,” Vicki observes. “But being able to make each person smile makes it all worth it!”

One of Vicki’s customers, Eliana, lives with her family in Yerushalayim. Each year, Vicki sends out mishloach manos to Eliana’s friends and business associates in the United States on Eliana’s behalf. But when she reached out to Eliana this year to confirm the order, Eliana had a different idea.

“I didn’t think it felt right to send out mishloach manos this year to people in

the United States as if everything is ‘normal,’” Eliana shared. “Really, everything is calm in Yerushalayim, but there are a lot of people who are suffering.”

Eliana is on a few chats where people are asked to help lone soldiers with different things they may need. Before the war, the requests were about extending a meal to a lone soldier who may have needed it. But now, with the war raging in Gaza, the requests for helping the lone soldiers became more pressing: “A soldier is just coming out of Gaza and needs a shower and a bed” was one recent request.

Eliana thought about the lone soldiers and their families back at home. She understood how hard it is for a family that has children fighting in the army – and even more for the families that are thousands of miles away. In the spirit of Purim, she asked Vicki if she would be able to give Vicki a list of mishloach manos for these lone soldiers to send to their families in the United States.

Vicki, of course, was excited to take on this initiative.

“I thought maybe I would find five, six, maybe ten lone soldiers who would want

to send mishloach manos to their families,” Eliana said. “But when I reached out to different chats, so many soldiers wanted to send these messages of love to their families.”

According to Vicki, 115 mishloach manos to families of lone soldiers were sent out this year.

Each mishloach manos included a note. Some soldiers took the time to write personal notes to their parents and families, many of them acknowledging how difficult it is for a family when they send their children off to war, especially when they live so far away.

“These families are so gratified. It’s something they’re not expecting, and they are so touched when they see the package coming from their sons and daughters fighting in Gaza,” Eliana pointed out.

“Vicki has been so amazing at getting this all together,” she added. “There were a lot of logistics behind getting it all together, and yet she put her heart and soul into every package. She really took this on and ran with it.”

Vicki notes that she has been to Israel at least two times since October 7, both

times working with organizations in different capacities to help in the war effort. But with this initiative, she is gratified that she has been able to contribute and help in this unique, uplifting way – by bringing a sense of connection and optimism to the families of those who are fighting so far away.

“It has been the most incredible and rewarding experience,” Vicki enthuses. “It’s an honor to be able to be part of such an unbelievable opportunity. Hashem is amazing, and I am so grateful He and my friends have given me this experience.”

Yeshiva High School Students Face Off in Science Olympiad

More than 160 students from 11 yeshiva high schools across New York and New Jersey competed this week in the Jewish Education Project Science Olympiad competition, hosted by Lander College for Men (LCM), Touro University. They spent hours vying for the top spot and at the end of the day, SAR High School finished first, with North Shore Hebrew Academy coming in second, followed by The Frisch School and DRS Yeshiva High School, respectively.

The competition consisted of 12 events related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) research, considered necessary for success in today’s job market. High school students from each of the participating schools competed in at least one event, which tested various aspects of biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, earth science, and physics, as well as applications of engineering and technology. Schools were required to send at least two faculty coaches to the Olympiad to supervise students and serve as judges.

One student participant shared that

he really enjoyed “the Codebusters event because it was a logical puzzle, incredibly fun to solve.” Another student liked Chem Lab because he “got to mix a lot of cool chemicals.”

Dr. Linda Padwa, of the Institute for STEM Education at Stony Brook University, has been organizing the Sunday competition for yeshiva high schools since 2005. She loves “the excitement and joy of seeing students apply classroom learning to new situations.” The majority of events involve written test questions on selected topics that students have studied in advance. But several events are completely hands-on and these “provide outlets for students’ creative efforts.”

Hands-On Competition

One of the most difficult exercises of the day is The Write-It/Do-It where a team of two students work in separate rooms. One student views a 3D display and writes instructions on how to assemble it, and then the teammate reads the description and builds the display in a separate room, all within 50 minutes.

A perennial hands-on favorite is the Scrambler, where teams construct a ve-

hicle in advance—using wood, elastic bands, compact discs for wheels, and other assorted materials—and push it down a ramp. An egg is placed on top, and the vehicle that goes the furthest, while keeping the egg intact, wins. Students from the different schools gathered around the contestants to watch the event and cheer on their classmates and contestants.

For another popular event, participants constructed a tower out of wood and glue. To test the stability, a bucket was attached to the bottom of the tower and then slowly filled with sand until the bridge inevitably broke. Teams earned points according to how much weight their tower could hold, and the fewer materials used, the higher the potential score.

“It was truly remarkable to see high school students wholeheartedly embracing the sciences, a journey that took me 22 years to fully appreciate. Equally inspiring was the dedication of their teachers, whose passion and commitment made the sciences not just accessible but enjoyable for their students,” said David Gastman, a biology major at Lander College for Men who volunteered for the day

at the Science Olympiad.

When not competing in events, students watched their friends compete or played games like ping pong, bumper pool, foosball, and pop-a-shot in LCM’s student lounge.

Dr. Ann Shinnar, a professor and chair of the Lander College Chemistry Department, has been serving as a liaison between LCM and the event organizers since 2011. In recent years, Dr. Shinnar has invited scientists to address the students about careers in science. This year’s guest scientist, Dr. Pia S. Pollack, was inspired by two Jewish women, her high school biology teacher and her college professor and research mentor. Dr. Pollack talked about her pathway to becoming a clinical cardiologist and later on, to work on drug safety in major pharmaceutical companies. She also shared the challenges of being a religious Jew in the sciences and balancing her career and raising a family. Dr. Shinnar hopes that “the Science Olympiad participants will be motivated to pursue their interests in science.”

Vicki Davis with some of the packages for the families of lone soldiers

Practicing Breathwork

When was the last time we allowed ourselves to be fully witnessed?

We generally perform by showing people our best selves. It’s rare that we allow access to the less attractive and more vulnerable parts of the self. In fact, many of us don’t feel comfortable seeing those traits within ourselves.

Here’s the thing! We are all craving connection. When we aren’t connected to ourselves it is very difficult to create attachment with other people in our lives.

So what do we do? We have to do the hard and brave inner work by facing the pain and confronting the fears. We must interact with the parts and pieces we’ve hidden from ourselves. Learning to be comfortable in the discomfort can liberate us from the panic and anxiety that has been driving our lives.

As a somatic breathwork practitioner, I’m not going to tell you that adding breathwork into your life will be the magic you need to cure your pain. There is no one stop shop to our process for relief. We all have different journeys and needs. My suggestion is to try what resonates with you. If you are curious or attracted to a particular technique begin to explore . Breathwork is truly experiential. I also suggest you have a mix of practices and support incorporating work on your thoughts, beliefs and body.

Breathwork is an incredible modality for multiple reasons. One breath practiced – inhale through the mouth, exhale through the mouth – activates the sympathetic nervous system allowing the body to release stress, trauma and

unresolved emotions. It helps to create a space in the body to just “be.” This type of breath facilitates access to one’s inner knowing and sense of self. A second breath practiced – deep inhale through the nose, elongated exhale through the mouth – activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Once we create space, we can begin to invite the feelings, dreams and intentions for how we want to show up in our lives.

Breathwork may be a new and possibly scary space to enter. To accomplish difficult work with vulnerability builds confidence and grit. The entire experience is fueled by our own breath. We are our own drivers and that is incredibly empowering.

To be led, witnessed, and held when we are in process ignites the humanity in us. Feeling seen and safe is potent medicine. It heals connection within ourselves and others. HUMANS HUMANING.

I am so passionate about sharing breathwork. In partnership with CATCH, I am hosting a free workshop. CATCH is a community organization offering support to individuals struggling with anxiety and depression. They offer in-person, clinician facilitated support groups. These groups provide a safe and confidential space for individuals to give and gain support, validate and connect to one another.

Space is limited. To reserve a spot please text 3474334742 or email info@ catchsupport.org.

Looking forward to meeting all of you.

Seeing Things from a Different Perspective

Talmidim of Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim enjoyed a trip to the TILT Museum at American Dream Mall. The TILT Museum features interactive art exhibits of which one can become part of the picture when seen from a specific perspective. Aside from having a great time, talmidim learned one of the valuable lessons from Purim that applies very much to our times as well, which is, the importance of seeing things from a different perspective. The Jewish nations thought they were getting ahead

Purim is Here!

in the political world by going to the party of Achashveirosh, however, they were told not to attend by Mordechai who had the proper vision and ultimately brought us the redemption through his stance on being TC (Torah Correct) and not PC (Politically Correct). The paintings at the TILT Museum don’t make sense if looked at from an incorrect outlook; as in life, things will seem distorted if our perspective isn’t according to the proper ways of the Torah and HKB”H.

ALB’s third grade girl’s Purim Play was a success! Lower school students, teachers and parents had the chance to watch the story of King Achashverosh, Queen Esther and Mordechai. The girls did a wonderful job!

At Lev Chana, our morahs love to bring the learning to life. Last week, students had the chance to dress up and act out the Purim story. It was a fun and interactive way for them to learn about Purim!

Rabbi Sternhill’s 2nd grade class of Siach Yitzchok was misayem Parshas Toldos this week. Seen participating in the siyum is the Menahel, Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlit”a

YOSS Heirloom Project

The fourth grade in Yeshiva of South Shore celebrated their 100th day of school by taking a look at the past 100 years. In preparation for the 100th day the boys in the fourth grade were instructed to go home and speak to their parents and grandparents about a family heirloom. Each student chose one of their family’s greatest treasures to showcase. By engaging in this multigenerational project, the boys learned about their family’s precious past. Some things the boys were required to find out were, WHO the item belonged to, WHERE the item came from, WHAT mesiras nefesh did their ancestor go through to have this item, and HOW does this item affect them, in fourth grade, in 2024?

The boys came to school with the most incredible pieces of their family’s history. There was an array of Judaica items from past generations. Well-loved siddurim, special Shabbos bechers, beautiful silver bisamim holders and challah covers which have been part of many Shabbosim throughout many generations! Other boys brought in special jewelry like special Shabbos cufflinks and beautiful broach pins worn by their grandparents and great grandparents.

“What was so special about the heirloom was that it was my mother’s, and it is special to me. My son saw its impor-

tance and was excited to bring it in,” one parent, Mrs. Gornish, expressed.

We saw so many items that were bought after the war. These items helped these families recover and find joy in fulfilling the mitzvos and celebrating their Yiddishkeit. In addition to Judaica items and precious valuables, some boys brought in items that were used and passed on from generation to generation such as beautiful needlepoints and a shaving kit that was passed from father to son.

Our brand-new lunchroom was set up as an Heirloom Museum. The boys dressed as museum curators and welcomed the third grade to view the heirlooms. Each boy had a poster board which displayed a picture of their heirloom and 2-3 paragraphs describing its value. As the third grade visited, the fourth graders presented their heirlooms with pride and excitement. They especially loved being visited by our Principal, Mrs. Girnun, and our Menahel, Rabbi Robinson.

At last, we finished our museum and celebrated with a beautiful cake. The boys in the fourth grade have so much to be proud of. They have gained tremendous insight into their family members and a gained better understanding of their own family’s history. They now look forward to creating heirlooms for their future generations!

JSL Winter: Week 10 Recap

It was the final Sunday of the JSL 2024 Winter season by FM Home Loans, and it did not disappoint! The JSL Juniors finished up their end of season tournament with all the boys receiving trophies for their great play throughout the season. The basketball divisions finished off with some incredible championship games, and there were some incredible finishes and individual performances in the 1st grade Hockey championship and 2nd/3rd hockey semi-finals. The hockey championships for 2nd-8th grade will take place on April 2nd.

JSL Juniors

K/P Hockey: In the 1st place game, despite SWS jumping out to a quick 2 to 0 lead, John’s Automotive regrouped and scored 3 straight goals. With the game tied up at 4, John’s Automotive’s offense went on a run, scoring 6 more times to close out the game strongly with some great goalie stops. This victory avenged their last season championship letdown loss late against SWS and coach Daniel, giving the team and coach Eli J the win. In the 3rd place game, PIP Printing scored early with 3 quick goals, looking like they were going to run away with the game. However, Posh Home + Bath managed to scrape together 2 goals midway through the game to get within 1. After some backand-forth scoring by both teams, Posh Home + Bath took a late lead, 4 to 3, but PIP rallied in the final 6 minutes, scoring 4 straight goals to win.

K/P Soccer: Island Roofing and Graber Interior Design played to a 0 to 0 tie to end the season. The defense and top-tier goaltending by both teams, along with some big scoring chances shutdown with immaculate saves, resulted in them being crowned co-champions in the tournament.

Football: Bright Futures initially led 6 to 3 at halftime, but Home & Stone mounted a fierce comeback, tying the game with 3 consecutive goals in the final 5 minutes. The match remained intense, with both teams exchanging leads until the final moments. In OT, Home & Stone secured a 9 to 8 victory in overtime, with Momo Caller scoring the game-winning touchdown to give them the championship win.

Hockey

1st: In the 3rd place game, it was a close match with a lot of great defense. However, Bright Futures star season MVP Daniel Hammer put a shot from the middle past the goalie to give Bright Futures the lead and victory. In the inaugural 1st grade hockey championship game, 5 Towns Central scored in the first few minutes of the game with a goal by Ezra Gruen to take the 1 to 0 lead through the 1st period. In the 2nd, PinIt Realty took advantage of a defensive turnover behind the net in 5 Towns Central’s zone, scoring the equalizer. Later in the 2nd, 5 Towns Central would return the favor with a nice takeaway and beautiful pass to the center, with game MVP Shimmy Greenspan taking that pass and going top shelf to regain the lead 2 to 1. In the 3rd period, 5 Towns Central would get 2 big insurance goals, including Ezra Gruen’s 3rd goal of the game. PinIt Realty had a few more opportunities on net but Ari Davidowitz was stellar in goal as 5 Towns Central took home the cup.

2nd/3rd: In a defensive-driven game, Target Exterminating was able to come out with the victory thanks to goalie Dovid Perl stopping shot after shot and shutting out Built By Nate after an early first-period goal. Shalom Kopelowitz had both goals for Target Exterminating to

give them the tight 2 to 1 win and send them to the championship.

4th-8th: The 4th/5th and 6th-8th divisions were off this past Sunday and will play their championship games on April 2nd.

Basketball

3rd/4th: The top 2 teams in the division, Newman Dental and Maidenbaum matched up in the championship game. The game was close heading into halftime, with Eli Oratz and Dovid Bauman playing great for Newman Dental. However, it was a different story in the 2nd half as Aaron Winograd caught fire for Maidenbaum to help put the game away and give Maidenbaum the Championship. Aaron had 35 of the 43 points for Maidenbaum and was named Championship MVP.

5th-7th: TimePiece4Torah and Island Roofing matched up in the primetime 5th-7th championship game this past Sunday as Coach Yossi Mlynsky looked to take home his 3rd JSL title. Dan Weissman secured many clutch rebounds for Island Roofing and Ezra Fricker added it on offensively. The game went back and forth until the league’s top scorer Shane Obadiah pulled the game away for TimePiece4Torah, hitting clutch shot after

clutch shot to help TimePiece4Torah take home the title. Shane scored 18 points including 3 threes in the victory.

Men’s Basketball

In the Sliced game of the week, Jeremy Brody was too quick and shifty for Extreme Vent Cleaning’s defense, scoring 20+ for TimePiece4Torah in their victory. Dovid Winter knocked down 3 threes in the half but Ashie Schreier came alive in the 2nd half to help Sliced narrowly defeat Future Care Consultants 69-68. Aron Azose was automatic, helping lead Town Appliance to 70 points and remain undefeated. Nussie Felder and Yoni Bobker led the charge for Island Roofing in their close 54-52 victory.

Game of the Week

In one of the most intense playoff games in JSL history, SDF Architect held a 4 to 2 lead midway through the third but consecutive goals from Pinny Weinstein and Shmuli Sitzer tied the game to send it to sudden death OT. In OT, Zechariah Kogel of SDF Architect shot a beautiful goal on a rebound to give SDF Architect the overtime victory over Marciano Pediatric Dentistry and send them to the championship game.

YOSS students recognized for their outstanding achievements receive their student of the month awards

Spreading the Joy of Purim at Five Towns Premier Rehab and Nursing Center

Purim is a delightful occasion to cast aside worries, stress, or sadness and bask in joy! On March 11, the eighth grade girls from HALB brought the infectious joy and spirit of Purim directly to the older adults at Five Towns Premier. Our residents cherished the opportunity to partake in fun, laughter and treats with these delightful students. Over 45 girls adorned in festive costumes sang Purim songs to our residents, creating an atmosphere of merriment that transcended generations. Young and old

alike joined in this festive celebration of togetherness with an exchange of smiles, love and laughter. Other upcoming Purim festivities at the Five Towns Premier include a visit from the students at South Shore Yeshivia, Purim Trivia, a historical lecture on Jeremiah and the Kings of the World, hamentaschen baking, music and a strolling clown.

For more information about the Five Towns Premier Rehab and Nursing Center please call (516) 374-9300.

Rabbi Mendelson Hosts Incredible

Shiur Shabbaton

Rabbi Mendelson’s shiur at MTA had a meaningful, fun and unique experience this past Shabbos in Brooklyn. The talmidim joined Rabbi Mendelson in his hometown of Marine Park, Brooklyn, joining him in his kehilla, and seeing many of the unique attractions.

The day began on Friday with a visit to the Living Torah Museum in Boro Park, which included a fascinating look at the Torah Animal World exhibit. The boys enjoyed “toameha” at Rabbi Mendelson’s home, followed by a beautiful Shabbos with davening and learning at

the Kehila of Marine Park, where Rabbi Mendelson is the shul rav.

Many Shabbatons end after Shabbos, but not Rabbi Mendelson’s! The talmidim traveled to Flatbush where they visited the Jewish Escape the Room and Amnon’s Pizza. The experience concluded with a team-building Blitz in the shul on Sunday morning, before the talmidim returned home, fulfilled and probably exhausted. Thank you, Rabbi Mendelson, for investing in your talmidim and giving them experiences they are sure to remember for many years to come!

Local Students Take Top Prizes at Touro College of Pharmacy Research Week

Adina Kagan of Passaic, N.J., and Miriam Sprei of Monsey, N.Y., won first and second place prizes recently at Touro College of Pharmacy’s (TCOP) annual Research Week.

The students’ research focused on understanding the use of cannabinoids in treating exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) –the world’s third largest cause of death according to the World Health Organization – and genetic regulation in the onset of colon cancer.

“Pharmacy research drives the future of drug development and delivery, creating new medications, discovering different uses for existing drugs, and applying the latest technologies to create better patient outcomes,” said TCOP Dean Dr. Henry Cohen. “Research Week also underscores the College’s full-time commitment to research, with a unique research track and exceptional practice experience electives alongside a dedicated research faculty who involve students in their ongoing projects.”

Adina Kagan took the top prize for her work studying the effects of cannabis-derived molecules on biofilms, which are communities of bacteria that are especially resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria she investigated, Pseudomonas

aeruginosa, enters the lungs and is then encased in biofilms. It is responsible for many hospital-acquired infections and can also lead to COPD exacerbations.

In Kagan’s research, cannabinoids were shown to both inhibit the development of biofilm as well as eradicate it. “It appears that cannabinoids are a reasonably promising treatment for those with this type of infection, who have few other treatment options,” said Kagan, who received a $500 prize.

In her research, Sprei focused on identifying how a gene, TPM4, is regulated and controlled in colon cancer.

“In colon cancer, the gene becomes misregulated but not much is known about how it’s controlled. This is why we’re trying to find the parts of the DNA that control the gene. Once we know that, we can develop new treatments for colon cancer,” she said.

Both students did their undergraduate work at Touro’s Lander College for Women – The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School. Adina Kagan began her research in Associate Dean of Research Dr. Zvi Loewy’s laboratory the summer prior to starting pharmacy school. Once a student at the school, Kagan became part of TCOP’s two-year Research Track.

Sprei joined the lab of Research Assis-

tant Professor Dr. Michael Papetti during her first year at the school. Sprei majored in biology at Lander College for Women and took a year off before starting TCOP, during which time she worked for a health center and as a dental assistant but returned to her first-choice career of pharmacy. She said she was motivated by her love of chemistry and moved by misinformation circulating regarding vaccines and supplements when COVID-19 was at its height.

“I always loved science,” she said. “There are so many meds out there and people don’t know much. I wanted to be that person who knows about medication and be able to help them.”

Kagan grew up in Woodmere, Long

Island. At LCW, she took prerequisites for pharmacy school, concentrating on biology. “I knew I wanted to do something in health sciences and after doing a lot of research, I decided on pharmacy,” she said.

In February, she along with two other students at TCOP and Dr. Zvi Loewy published their research on current treatment options for biofilms and COPD in the peer reviewed European Medical Journal.

Kagan says her research has become even more meaningful now that she’s begun hospital rotations. “A lot of patients in the hospital have COPD. Everything has come to light, which I learned both in class as well as in the research lab,” she said.

3 Estate Planning Documents Your Parents Need Right Now

By Monet Binder, Esq.

In these digital days, more than ever before, there are strict financial institutional privacy regulations and physician privacy and confidentiality laws in place to protect a person and their belongings. While on one hand, we want the protections these laws and regulations provide, on the other hand, it makes it nearly impossible to step in for a loved one who needs assistance to manage their financial and medical affairs without the right legal documentation. As your parents are approaching or navigating through their golden years, ensuring their peace of mind (and yours!) becomes a high priority. Questions you need to start asking now are: How will you help them if they become ill or injured? Who will take care of their bills and make sure their health needs are met? How do

they want to be cared for, if and when they cannot care for themselves?

To make sure your parents can always get the help they need, legal documents need to be prepared. The most crucial of the legal document include a Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy/Living Will, and HIPAA Waiver. Having these 3 documents in place right now will legally protect them and you in the event they cannot manage.

Now, let’s break down why these tools, which are part of comprehensive estate plan, are so critical for your parents, no matter how much or how little money they have in the bank.

1. General Durable Power of Attorney (POA). A Power of Attorney (or POA) grants a person you choose and trust the authority to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. From handling bills to making investment decisions, the POA ensures

that your money matters are handled, whether you’re experiencing a temporary illness or long-term incapacity, such as in the case of memory problems.

2. Healthcare Proxy and Living Will It’s possible your parents already rely on you for guidance with their healthcare decisions, and it’s equally possible they don’t share details of their healthcare with you at all. No matter which side of the spectrum your parents position themselves, the question of what will happen to their healthcare needs if they become seriously ill can feel overwhelming — even more so during a medical crisis. The Healthcare Proxy designates someone to make medical decisions on behalf of your parents if they’re unable to do so. This trusted individual becomes the advocate, ensuring that healthcare choices align with your parents’ values and preferences.

3. HIPAA Waiver. The HIPAA Waiver is the ultimate tool for opening commu-

nication roadblocks in times of need. A HIPAA Authorization releases the restrictions placed on medical providers and allows them to speak to someone else other than their patient and to provide medical records.

By proactively planning ahead, you’re investing in your parents’ peace of mind and yours. Schedule your Estate Planning Design Session 718.514.7575 or 732.333.1854. We’ll guide you and your family through it all.

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

Adina Kagan

Miriam Sprei

NYC: 1,000 Strong and Counting

By Tammy Mark

Last Thursday night, in the heart of New York City, advocates, leaders, influencers and philanthropists of all affiliations gathered together to support Israel, raise money and lift spirits.

As the Torah portion for that week recounted Moshe’s gathering, counting and lifting up of the nation, 1,200 like-minded souls came out to show support for Israel, pay respects to the victims of terror, honor the heroes of war and ignite a fire of hope for the future. Like two halves of a fiery biblical shekel, Jews from Israel and the U.S. joined together as one family, as one nation united by ancient and modern history and heritage.

1000 Strong NYC is a collective of young passionate and creative Israel supporters, with the sole goal of raising money for soldiers and families affected by the Gaza war through spectacular events. The fully volunteer committee ensures the ability to donate 100% of the proceeds directly to Israel, through three organizations whose needs have multiplied since October 7: Bulletproof Israel, funding crucial lifesaving equipment to IDF heroes on the frontlines; Widow of Warriors, providing baby supplies, childcare and more to the young families left behind; and Kol HaNearim, an at-risk children’s home aiding Israel’s orphans and other children in need. The team also funded construction of a bomb shelter at Kibbutz Karmiya.

Founded by Mark Weiss of Weiss Properties, Mickael Benichou, and Jillian Weisleder Chera, along with a team of movers and shakers, the 1000 Strong

Purim at Gan Chamesh

Teachers at Gan Chamesh have provided their students with a multitude of opportunities to internalize the Purim story through dramatic play, music, art, literacy and many multi-sensory hands-on activities. The joy is contagious, and the children are so excited for Purim! Happy Purim!

event was supported by donors such as Lee Maschler, founder of Trillium Trading and Trillium Cares, as well as an impressive list of sponsors all committed to the mission. Weiss, a graduate of Yeshiva University and NYU Law, has been an ardent supporter of Jewish causes throughout, and observed the disturbing proliferation of anti-Semitism on NYU’s campus back in 2022.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams was in attendance with his team, including Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, the newly promoted highest ranking Orthodox Jew in the NYPD. Mayor Adams addressed the crowd stating, “We could never again create an environment where you have to take off your yarmulka to get on the subway station…We will never never never surrender to hate in our city.” He emphasized the need for unity between Jews and non-Jews, and called upon Joel Eisdorfer, the first chassidic Jewish senior advisor, to join him on stage. “This cannot be your fight alone,” stated the Mayor.

The evening featured a dynamic lineup of performers; organization co-founder Chera led with the National Anthem; Lizzy Savetsky sang the Hatikvah. With hearts crying for the Jewish brothers and sisters still in captivity, the crowd was moved as Cantor Netanel Hershtik sang a soul-stirring prayer together with 10 IDF soldiers who recently returned from Gaza. Singer Itzik Dadya followed with a mesmerizing rendition of Shema Yisrael. Violinist Ada Pasternak performed her song “100 Days,” in honor of those still being held, as the digital screens surrounding the room displayed their pictures, while the number at that moment in time was at 153 days – five months since October 7

and counting to date.

The theme of “We will dance again” pervaded as the music played throughout the venue and into the night, featuring headliner DJ Shalos from the fateful Nova music festival, DJ Matt Dub, and DJ Jordan. NOVA Festival survivor Nehoray Levy took the stage as well.

Event organizer and artist Danielle Yablonka, a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, created her own handpainted gown for the occasion which featured a solider with tallit and tefillin and Israel and American flags. Other artists and vendors set up stations with artwork, jewelry and other projects, all in support of Israel.

In attendance was a long list of Israel advocates and influencers, including Ari Ackerman, Tanya Zuckerbrot, Yechiel Jacobs, Bianca Jade, Elizabeth Sutton, Marlene Kolangi, Victoria Zirkiev of Hoshen Media Group, and human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein. Sponsors included Ari Hoschander, MD and Israel Bonds.

Held at LAVAN Midtown, the venue was kept quiet until the day of due to the rise in anti-Semitism and subsequent

protests in and around NYC in recent months. With a strong police presence at the door, the gala event thankfully went on without disruption.

This is the organization’s second event – the first held on October 19. Weiss had been in Israel on the dark day of October 7; he immediately reached out to co-founder Benichou and they planned the sold-out inaugural 1,000 Strong in a week’s time.

“1,000 Strong stands as a testament to the next generation that with unwavering dedication and boundless creativity, we can make a lifesaving impact in Israel, here in America,” says Weiss. “Today, we just held our second consecutive sold out event with 1,200 young leaders, raised $250,000, hosted the Mayor, all viewed by millions on social media. This is the power of young Jewish passion.”

While people in Washington, Hollywood and around the world attempt to deny recent realities, rewrite Jewish history, and even refute their own Jewishness – the Jewish people in NYC are standing proud, united and strong.

Photo credit: Abbie Sophia

Rabbi Jonthan Shippel with founder Mordechai Weiss

Mayor Eric Adams, with NYPD Deputy Chief Richie Taylor

Talmidim dressed up as Mordechai HaTzaddik at Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Harriet Keilson Early Childhood Center

Shulamith ECC enjoyed dress up week as they got ready for Purim

HAFTR Hosts Mother of Hostage Ori Danino

Last Thursday, HAFTR High School welcomed Mrs. Einav Danino, the mother of Israeli hostage Ori Danino, for a profoundly moving school-wide event. Facilitated and translated by HAFTR Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Ira Wallach, Mrs. Danino’s presentation brought many to tears as she recounted the tragic events surrounding her son’s abduction and her unwavering strength in coping with the ordeal.

Through tears only a mother could shed, Mrs. Danino shared the heartbreaking details of the day Ori was taken hostage. He had attended the Nova Music Festival with friends when the terrorist attack unfolded. While attempting to flee, Ori turned back to help others, only to become a victim himself. He was 24 when the ordeal began and has since turned 25 while in captivity.

Mrs. Danino’s speech shifted to her

resilience in the face of adversity, emphasizing her unwavering faith in G-d’s plan and the power of prayer. She spoke passionately about the importance of unity within the nation and the need for strength and solidarity.

The event concluded with a moving rendition of the songs “Acheinu” and “V’hi She’amda,” leaving attendees deeply inspired. The HAFTR student body presented Mrs. Danino with a gift, of-

fering heartfelt questions and warm embraces.

HAFTR expresses profound gratitude to Mrs. Danino for sharing her and Ori’s story, vowing to never forget their experience and praying fervently for Ori’s safe return, along with that of all hostages. The event served as a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Mercaz Academy’s Color Shalom: Cooperation in Competition

Spring seems to have arrived early this year, and just in time for Color Shalom! At Mercaz Academy in Plainview, students know that they are never at war with each other but that it’s sometimes fun to enjoy a little friendly competition. The school was divided into four teams: Team Torah (blue), Team Tzedakah (orange), Team Tefillah (green), and Team Ma’asim Tovim (yellow). This year, the themes of Color Shalom were collaboration and support for Israel in the war. Each team was assigned an active-duty IDF soldier to support with letter-writing, and Israel was on our minds and figured prominently throughout Color Shalom.

In the first collaborative event, each team stood in formation to shape one Hebrew cursive letter, which in combination spelled the words “Mercaz” and “Torah.” This was an impressive lesson on the power of working together, particularly when photographed from the air by the school’s new drone.

In addition to clever and thoughtful skits and divrei Torah explaining the significance of their team names, there was fun and collaborative competition

throughout the three-day program. Teams competed in soccer, football, newcomb, and kickball and ran relay races, often with two teams working together. “Tug of strength” was another exciting arena for competition. Students in grades one through four enjoyed a contest of creative engineering, using a bag of various recycled materials to design a protective case for an egg. These protective cases were intended to keep the eggs from breaking when they were dropped off a six-foot ladder. Incredibly, several

worked as intended and got the egg safely to the ground.

Because Klal Yisrael is best with everyone working together, the team songs were actually one song, based on “Am Yisrael Chai,” by Eyal Golan. Each team sang its own stanza about its name, but all came together on the chorus for a truly moving performance. The banners, while standing alone as team banners, could be combined to complete a map of Israel in all four colors, another beautiful and thoughtful show of unity.

All the teams performed admirably; Team Tefillah ran the speediest relays, Team Ma’asim Tovim did particularly well with their creative and funny skit, Team Torah’s art skills were unmatched, and Team Tzedakah presented an exceptional d’var Torah. When all the points were totaled, Team Tefillah was declared the winner. However, just as a rainbow is beautiful because it includes all the colors, our Color Shalom was most beautiful with all our teams shining together.

YUConnects Launches Fundraising Campaign in Celebration of 650 Engagements

YUConnects (YUC), the celebrated matchmaking service based at Yeshiva University, is thrilled to announce its 650th engagement, Leora Lasson ‘17SB of Baltimore, Maryland and Daniel Lefkowitz of Toronto, Canada. This momentous engagement was matched by connector Shani Goldschmidt of Queens, New York and underscores YUC’s 15-year commitment to fostering meaningful relationships throughout the broader Orthodox Jewish community. In celebration of this milestone, YUC is launching a CauseMatch fundraising campaign with matching dollars starting April 7, with the goal of raising $300,000. These funds will support the expansion of YUC’s programming and staffing to better serve its growing membership.

Just a few months ago, YUC celebrated its 613th engagement. The happy couple is Eliana Steinreich of Teaneck, New Jersey, and Uri Strauss of Staten Island, New York. “We are honored to be the 613th engagement through YUConnects!” exclaimed Steinreich. The success of this match was facilitated by Talya and Abie Weinstock, whom Eliana and Uri thanked

for bringing them together. Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky, director of YUC, added, “It is heartwarming to experience firsthand the joy of new couples as they plan their futures. Every chuppah celebrated inspires us to work harder to create more Jewish families.”

In addition to its matchmaking success, YUC emphasizes the importance of relationship education. The organization is hosting two educational events on March 27 featuring discussions on healthy and successful relationships. These events will be held at Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and Young Israel of Woodmere in Woodmere, New York. Speakers include Dr. Miriam Adler, Rabbi Josh Blass, Malky Galler of YUConnects and Rabbi Larry Rothwachs at the Bergenfield event; and Mindy Eisenman of YUConnnects and Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz at the Woodmere event.

The organization also offers the CandiDate podcast, a valuable resource for singles, which has released over 65 episodes and attracted thousands of listeners. In addition, YUC has embarked on a new initiative in partnership with SawYo-

uAtSinai (SYAS) utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its matchmaking capabilities. This pilot program, developed by Yeshiva University computer science students Zach Fish, Yitzy Richter, Alexander Shapiro, Eitan Jesselsohn and Daniel Zolty under the guidance of Prof. Dave Feltenberger, aims to complement YUC’s personalized matchmaking service.

Recent initiatives also include the addition of two male matchmakers, Rabbi Andrew Israeli and Rabbi Jordan Ginsberg, on the Wilf campus – both of whom have already developed a warm rapport with many of the young men they’ve met during their weekly visits to the Beis Medrash. “This is such an invaluable expansion, as we are able to collaborate on match ideas for our wonderful men and women,” said Eisenman. While this initiative is recent, dozens of dates have already been generated.

YUConnects has been at the forefront of Orthodox Jewish matchmaking for more than a decade since it was founded at Yeshiva University. Its success is built on the dedication of over 100 volunteer online matchmakers, a committed staff,

Masbia is Mayor Adams’ Favorite Mitzvah

In the latest episode of “Inspiration for the Nation” podcast, where Yaakov Langer of Living L’Chaim engages in a profound conversation with some of the most impactful individuals globally, Langer posed a question to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, asking about his favorite mitzvah. In a spontaneous response, Mayor Adams passionately highlighted

Masbia as his favorite organization.

The Mayor emphasized his longstanding familiarity with Masbia and its commendable efforts in providing food assistance, not only within the Jewish community but also extending support to others in need. He recounted a significant event where Masbia stepped in to aid individuals affected by a fire on New

Year’s Eve in East New York, demonstrating the organization’s dedication to serving the broader community.

To be part of this big Kiddush Hashem and feed so many of your brothers and sister for Purim go to: Masbia. org/Purim.

and the support of numerous interdisciplinary professionals. As YUC launches its fundraising campaign, the community is invited to support this vital service that plays a crucial role in building more Jewish homes.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit yuconnects. com, call 646-592-4259 or email yuconnects@yu.edu.

To donate to the upcoming CauseMatch campaign, please visit https://causematch.com/yuconnects.

Rav Shmuel Dishon delivered divrei hisorirus at the Yeshiva Darchei Torah middle school in advance of Purim

Then-state senator Eric Adams serving at Masbia in 2018

Around the Community

This Week at the Israel Chesed Center

In the weeks leading up to Purim, the Israel Chesed Center has seen a whirlwind of activity, from packing and sending costumes to Israel for evacuees, to three Mishloach Manot campaigns, and a slew of special visitors and events that have kept the community engaged.

On March 13, Rav Yitzhok Kolodetsky, the son-in-law of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, paid a surprise to the center. He was blown away by the chesed being performed in the Center and gave a bracha that while we all pray for an end to the war, for as long as we are needed, we should have continued hatzlacha in all of our efforts. He also praised all of the volunteers and extended a personal bracha to each and every volunteer for hatzlacha and success in all of their endeavors.

On Thursday night, Jillian Felder hosted an event featuring Einav Danino,

the mother of hostage Uri Danino. Einav was greeted by an overflow crowd of over 200 women, who said Tehillim, listened to her story, and answered “Amen” to Einav’s hafrashat challah

Getting into the Purim spirit, Esther Greenberg, one of the Center’s most active

A Large Collection of Jewish Gangster Memorabilia  and a Letter From Albert Einstein

JGreenstein and Company of Cedarhurst, New York, is having a massive spring auction with several highlights including:

- Meyer Lansky’s Bow tie and 14K gold belt buckle deaccessioned from The Mob Experience Collection of Las Vegas

- A collection of original press photos of Jewish gangsters.

- A period press photograph of Dutch Shultz in the hospital dying after being shot.

- An autographed autobiography of Mickey Cohen

- A collection of documents from Meyer Lansky’s bid to stay in Israel to avoid U.S. prosecution

- A rare original photograph of Meyer Lansky overlooking Jerusalem.

- Four original NYPD wanted posters for Jewish gangsters

In addition, this auction includes:

- A letter from Albert Einstein to the National Council of Young Israel, declining an invitation

- 229 lots of rare and important Judaica. Where: 417 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516

When: APRIL 16, 2024 11:00 AM EST

volunteers, hosted an awesome Hamantashen Bake for kids. Special thanks to Congregation Beis Tefillah for hosting the event and for their continued partnership.

Monday night was “Game Night” at the Center – over 80 women participated in Mahjong, Canasta, Rummikub and other games, raising over $5,000 for Israel!

The Shulamith High School Israel Advocacy Club, under the direction of Mrs. Munk, visited the Center on Tuesday, where they were privileged to hear from Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, who encouraged

J. Greenstein & Company, Inc., was founded in 2004 by antique Judaica expert Jonathan Greenstein. For over 40 years, since the age of 14, Jonathan has been the “go to guy” when it comes to authenticating antique Judaica. The gallery holds a number of Judaica auctions each year and has collectors, museums and other institutions that purchase these ritual objects to build their collections of Jewish art. J. Greenstein & Company, Inc. Auction house is exceptionally well respected as experts in antique Judaica and Jewish Art.

them to maximize their advocacy for Israel and to step up as the next generation of leaders. They have already planned their next visit, on March 26, which will feature a discussion with Fayge Feder, the Five Towns’ leading Israel Advocate.

The Israel Chesed Center will be open all day on Purim, with Megillah reading, cotton candy, chesed activities and events all day long. Drop by anytime – 1315 Peninsula Boulevard – to share in the special atmosphere and to do chesed on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Rav Yitzchok Kolodetsky at the Center

Einav Danino speaking at the Center

Amud HaYomi Siyum Rouses Mexico

By Chaim Gold

“What a special maamad of kavod haTorah! Dirshu’s siyum yesterday was without precedent in our community! It was a maamad that made an impact on many hundreds of people, who themselves will influence and impact many thousands, and spur them to advance their Torah knowledge, take tests on what they learn and enhance their yiras shamayim. I am so thankful to you and your entire team for the amazing work that you have done. May Hashem enable you to expand even more and enrich every makom Torah in our city with your wonderful programs.” Those words were sent by Rav Nissim Betech, rav of the Monte Sinai Community, in a note to Rabbi Moshe Perets, Dirshu’s Mexican Director.

Rav Betech was referring to the tremendous kiddush Hashem and chizuk derived by the entire community of Mexico City at the recent Dirshu Amud HaYomi Siyum on Masechta Brachos held at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico. The event was graced by guest rabbanim, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, HaGaon HaRav Rapahel Abuchatzeira, shlita, and Rav Dovid Hofstedter shlita, Nasi Dirshu. They were joined by tens of prominent local rabbanim including Rav Avraham Shabot, Rav David Choueka, Rav Michael Perets, and Roshei Yeshiva, Rav Menachem Juni and Rav Shmuel Badoush.

One of the most gratifying aspects of the event was the fact that virtually every one of the city’s prominent rabbanim came to the event and urged their kehillos to attend. Another treat for the community was the amazing musical inspiration presented by the phenomenal singing of

Rabbi Boruch Levine and Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, accompanied by a large orchestra. The kumzitz at the evening’s culmination was a deeply moving, inspiring event. Simply put, the large crowd just didn’t want to leave, despite having already been there for well over four hours.

“A New Kabbalas HaTorah”

HaRav Avraham Shabot, shlita, rav of Kehillas Keter Torah, one of the most prominent rabbanim in Mexico City who leads a cheder and yeshiva with close to 1,600 talmidim addressed the crowd.

Rav Shabot related that when he heard the mindboggling figure that more than 250,000 people have taken a Dirshu test since Dirshu’s inception, he said, “We are not that far away from 600,000. That will be more than the number of people at Matan Torah! This event,” said Rav Shabot, “is like a new kabbalas haTorah for the community of Mexico.”

The event was also addressed by HaRav David Choueka, shlita, rav of Kehillas Aram Sovah, and HaRav Shaul Credi, shlita, Rosh Midrash Keter Torah.

Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi: A Celebration of Amalei Torah!

A highlight of the event was the address by the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi. With great passion, Rav Ezrachi emphasized the paramount nature of ameilus baTorah, toiling in Torah. Chazal teaches us that Hashem is misaveh, has a taavah that Yidden should be amelei Torah. The Gemara tells us that a person cannot achieve selicha, forgiveness without toiling in Torah. That is what we are celebrating tonight! We are celebrating the myriad of people in this community who are amalei Torah!

Rav Raphael Abuchatzeira: “Torah Is What Unites Us All!”

The words of Rav Raphael Abuchat-

zeira, also made a profound impact on the assemblage. Rav Raphael began his remarks by focusing on the tremendous achdus in the kehillah and how important achuds is.

“It is very appropriate that this gathering is taking place during the week of Parshas Vayakhel,” he said. “Parshas Vayakhel is the only time in the Torah that we find that Moshe gathered the entire Bnei Yisrael together. When did Moshe gather them all together? When he erected the Mishkan. The lesson is clear. The central part of the mishkan was the Torah, the aron. Torah is what unites us all!”

Rav Abuchatzeira, a grandson of the Baba Sali and son of the famed mekubal Baba Meir Abuchatzeira, spoke not only about the importance of learning Torah but also about the importance of learning Torah b’kedusha. He explained how Torah learned b’kedusha has the ultimate potency. He said, “We live in a generation when there is such an assault on our kedusha, but when we possess yirat Shamayim and learn to overcome these challenges, this enhances our understanding of Torah and the kedusha that we carry enables the Torah to have the maximum impact.”

Rav Dovid Hofstedter: “Our Machatzis Hashekel is an Amud Yomi, Half a Daf!”

Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, gave a comprehensive address, wherein he straddled three languages, Spanish, Hebrew and English. With great pain, Rav Hofstedter asked a burning question. “We know that, boruch Hashem, in our time there is a tremendous increase in Torah learning all over the world. Perhaps there is more learning in Klal Yisrael now than at any time since the churban

habayis. Torah, Chazal teach, protects and shields us. Why then have we recently seen such a terrible massacre of Jews?! Why are we living in such challenging times of rabid antisemitism and violence against Jews? Yes,” he continued emotionally, “we are learning! The question is whether or not our Torah is being learned in a complete way. Are we learning Torah in a way that we truly want to understand every nuance, in a way that we want to remember it and retain it and have a true kinyan in it? Perhaps Torah fully protects only when it is done from the depth of the heart and with true ratzon?”

Rav Hofstedter ended with a charge and a challenge. “This week,” he explained, “we are leining parshas Shekalim where the pasuk teaches us that every single Jew must give exactly half a shekel. The rich cannot add and the destitute cannot minimize. Now,” Rav Hofstedter exclaimed passionately, “it is our turn to give a machatzis hashekel! What is our machatzis hashekel? An amud yomi, half a daf! The ‘rich’ person, who is a talmid chochom, should still learn the amud yomi! The ‘poor’ person, who is not a talmid chochom should also learn it, each person at his level! Let us take this machatzis hashekel and let us spread the Amud HaYomi from Mexico to Melbourne, from Montreal to Monsey. Let us forge a true inner bond with Torah from the depth of our hearts!”

Perhaps the words of Rabbi Moshe Perets, Dirshu’s Director in Mexico, encapsulated the impact best when he said, “Since the siyum, everywhere I go Jews stop me and say, ‘Wow! What a kiddush Hashem Dirshu made…!’ and then they add, ‘We want to join. How can we set up a shiur in our shul? How can I join Amud HaYomi and/or Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. I want to have a true kesher with Torah!’”

Festive dancing at the Dirshu Siyum in Mexico

HaRav Shmuel Badoush reciting Kaddish at the Dirshu Siyum

Shulamith Elementary School Brachot Bee

This past Friday, Kittot Gimel and Daled in Shulamith participated in the annual Shulamith Elementary School Brachot Bee. The girls spent weeks preparing, reviewing in class and on their own time. They learned about the various brachot we say before and

after enjoying Hashem’s delicacies. The girls had a great deal of fun and, once eliminated, they graciously cheered their friends on. Congratulations to all for a job well done! Mazal tov to the first place winner Ella Rosenberg and runner-up Rachelle Akhavan.

Preparing for Purim at HANC

ECC

The month of Adar is a truly exciting time for the children in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead. The month began with a Rosh Chodesh Adar party, complete with a Purim sing along with Morah Kaylie, and in keeping with HANC’s theme of “Ignite the Light,” the children had a great time swinging their light-up groggers. To add extra joy to the day, the children had an extra surprise waiting for them in their classrooms: a makeyour-own clown sundae with ice cream, sprinkles and ice cream cones. What a delightful treat to kick off the fun-filled month of Adar Bet.

Bringing the Purim story to life was the focus in the classrooms this week. After learning about the Purim story, the children dressed in costumes and acted out the dramatic scenes in the Megillah. In the block corner, the children created their own models of Shushan and decorated them to add extra details. Each child decorated their own Purim crown with jewels, glitter and pearlized paint, giving them a royal touch. Using their skills, each class designed a Mishloach Manot basket. One class created theirs from paper mâché, another formed baskets with woven yarn, and others recycled cereal boxes and milk cartons to create their baskets. Each basket was packed with delicious treats, and the children enjoyed delivering them to the office staff, security guards, maintenance staff, and all of the helpers who work in

HAFTR Evening of the Arts

HAFTR’s fourth grade Evening of the Arts shone brightly last Wednesday, showcasing the remarkable talents of its students while honoring the brave chayalim defending Israel with their presentation entitled, “An Evening of Chizuk and Gratitude: Dedicated to Tzahal, the Brave Soldiers of Israel,” written by their music teacher, Mrs. Janet Goldman, and her husband Judge Goldman.

the ECC. One basket was reserved for each child to take home to their family, so that they could enjoy the creativity of their own child as well.

Recording the story of Purim in their own words was another project that kept the children busy. The Nursery Alef students created a booklet called, “Purim, Purim What Do You See?” which included photographs of each child dressed in costumes portraying the different characters in the Megillah. In Nursery Bet, the children also dressed up, reenacted the dramatic events and then retold the story in their own words. Their handmade Megillot will certainly be cherished by their families for many years to come.

With great anticipation, the big event will be coming next week, when the children will be treated to a full Purim Carnival, staffed by some of HANC’s Middle School students. The children can’t wait for that fun-filled event.

The evening showcased a dazzling display of artwork, featuring an impressive array of paintings, sculptures, and a breathtaking mural spray-painted live during the event with visiting artist, Yitzchok Moully. This mural was replicated and its duplicate will be sent to Israel to a school that was relocated due to the conflict. The students’ creativity and skill left attendees in awe as they explored the vibrant world of artistic expression. We have Mrs. Royce Maron and Ms. Naomi Elterman to thank for bringing out the artist in all of our students.

Transitioning to the stage, the students delivered captivating performances that touched hearts and stirred emotions. From uplifting songs to poignant prose recitations and melodious recorder

performances, each act was infused with sincerity and dedication, reflecting the students’ commitment to their craft.

However, the event transcended mere artistic celebration as it paid tribute to the courageous chayalim fighting in Israel. The students’ performances served as a heartfelt tribute to these heroes, fostering a profound sense of unity and solidarity within the HAFTR community.

Parents, teachers, and guests were deeply moved by the students’ talents and the poignant tribute to Israel’s defenders. A former IDF soldier and current HAFTR parent expressed profound gratitude, sharing clips of the evening with his former unit who were deeply touched by the students’ music and sentiments, commenting that “living here in America, it is often hard to discern whether our actions, thoughts and tefillot make a difference to our brethren in Israel, but as this shows, they do.”

Overall, the Evening of the Arts stood as a powerful testament to the resilience, creativity, and compassion of HAFTR’s fourth grade students, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended and reaffirming the school’s commitment to excellence and values.

The Purim Wine Reveal

By Gabriel Geller, WSET III – Royal Wine/Kedem

Purim stands out as a unique holiday on our calendar, partly because G-d’s name is absent from Megillat Esther. However, the miracle of Purim serves as an obvious revelation of Hashem’s omnipresence and intervention, almost akin to the explicit mention of His name. L’havdil, without, G-d forbid, making any inappropriate comparisons, I would like to reveal here some special wines that might have gone under the radar of our readers. I highly recommend these wines for the upcoming Purim seudah. It is a diverse selection to suit every palate, as indulging in wine at the seudah is not only a tradition but also a great mitzvah. It becomes an even greater mitzvah when you genuinely enjoy drinking it. L’chaim!

Domaine Chante-Bise, Côtes-duRhône Villages, 2021: Valérie Rousselle, the proprietor and CEO of Château Roubine in Provence whose rosé wines I have reviewed several times in this column, also owns wineries in other great French region such as Domaine ChanteBise in the Rhône Valley. This blend of Syrah and Grenache is a juicy, earthy, and spicy expression, typical of this beautiful region. Enjoy it with lamb kebabs or seared portobello burgers.

Domaine Les Marronniers, Chablis, Valmur, Grand Cru, 2021: The wines of Chablis are always made from Chardonnay. However, most of them are not aged in oak, resulting in straightforward, crisp wines that are best enjoyed young and fresh. Some Chablis wines of

the higher levels such as Premier Cru and Grand Cru like this Valmur (the name of the vineyard’s plot from which the grapes were sourced) are either fermented and/ or aged in oak barrels, and can even gain further complexity with some bottle aging. The result is a delightful wine with nice weight and viscosity in the mouth, notes of lemon and Bartlett pear with saline minerals, and mouth-watering acidity leading to a long and refreshing finish.

Morad, Passion Fruit Wine, NV: Whether you know me personally or not, you must think I’m a wine snob. I cannot deny it, but I’d lie if I pretended that I did not like this delicious Israeli “wine” made from passion fruit rather than grapes. Passion fruit is one of my favorite fruits, and its essence, aroma, and flavors are perfectly preserved here in great balance

with the alcohol. Drink it with or as dessert, with hamentaschen, fruit pie, or fresh fruits.

Herzog, Special Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2021: OK, OK, forget the “under the radar”

thing. If you don’t know about this wine or have never seen it before, then you must have been living under a rock for the past 25 years or so. With that said, even if you do know about this wine, the 2021 vintage is a true revelation. It packs power, concentration, and depth like never before, and while it drinks amazingly well now, it should reward cellaring for decades to come. Wagyu ribeye, anyone? I’ll bring the wine!

Netofa, Tel Qasser, Moursyr, 2021: With its flashy purple label, this wine is hard to hide. And what a wine this is! An unusual blend of mostly Mourvèdre, a French-Spanish (also known as Monastrell in Spain) variety, and Syrah. Perhaps a touch more fruit-forward than most Netofa wines, it features notes of ripe raspberries and blackberries with hints of wood smoke and leather. Medium to full-bodied, it is juicy and meaty on the palate with balancing acidity and touches of roasted herbs and oriental spices that linger long on the finish. Enjoy with a lamb chili or a beef tajine.

The Guardian Slumbers: Responding to Senator Schumer

By Rabbi Moshe Hauer

Leader Schumer’s speech to the Senate yesterday, Thursday March 15, was profoundly disappointing and concerning. While Leader Schumer claimed to speak on behalf of a silent majority of Jewish Americans, he did not speak for a great many of us.

Over many years, Senator Schumer has been a critical partner for the Orthodox Union in many of our efforts on behalf of our community and the people of Israel. We appreciate this.

Earlier in this crisis, on November 29, 2023, the senator gave a speech that we encouraged “every Jew and every American” to “read and absorb,” describing it as epic, thorough, thoughtful, educational, moving, and personal, but above all “plainly and simply a Jewish speech.” This week’s speech was also epic, but in all the wrong ways.

His call for elections to replace Israel’s elected leaders and his threats of intervention should they not be replaced were – in the words of Minister Benny Gantz, PM Netanyahu’s leading rival – “counter-productive and unacceptable.” We can only imagine Leader Schumer’s reaction were PM Netanyahu to call upon the U.S. Senate to replace its leadership for clearly echoing the talking points, proposals, and threats of Senators Van Hollen, Sanders, and others who – unlike Senator Schumer – focus virtually all their efforts on criticizing Israel.

At a time of great danger to Jews in Israel, the United States, and the world, the Senator who consistently invokes his role and responsibility as Shomer Yisroel — a guardian of the People of Israel – accused Israel of attitudes and behaviors that give ammunition and fuel to the campaigns of our enemies in international forums, his party in Congress, and the streets of New York.

In a speech that derided those who insanely do the same thing over and over and expect a different result and who have a governing vision that is stuck in

the past, the Senator advocated for immediate progress towards the two-state solution, a step that the vast majority of Israelis – including 99 of the 120 members of Israel’s Knesset – have roundly rejected as insanely stuck in the past, in the delusional and widely discredited worldview of October 6th Israelis know that there is no responsible way to consider advancing Palestinian statehood absent a clear commitment on the part of the Palestinian leadership and people to deradicalize, disavow terror and violence, and educate their children and society to recognize the Jewish state and seek a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The speech was neither thorough nor thoughtful as, while expressing much sympathy for the plight of Israeli victims, it faithfully repeated the biased critiques and caricatures of Israel and its government’s harshest critics. It cast opponents of immediate progress towards two states – the vast majority of Israelis and their leaders – as bigoted, while claiming without basis and contrary to every public opinion poll that the vast majority of Palestinians innocently crave peace with Isra-

el. And while there are constant references to Israel’s extremists, the Palestinian Authority that pays to slay are not murderous terrorists; they merely “incite instability through the martyr payment system.”

This is not the speech of a Shomer Yisrael. Jews treat each other as family.

We reject Secretary Blinken’s formulation that Israel’s “first priority” should be the protection of innocent Gazans. Every nation is morally bound to prioritize the protection of its own people. Israel is duty-bound to defend and protect its citizens by irreversibly destroying and dismantling Hamas and bringing the hostages home. Both its values and strategic considerations move Israel to do everything it can to protect and to minimize the harm to Gazan civilians, innocent or not, while not compromising on its “first priority” to protect its people.

Jews humbly and respectfully follow our sages’ admonition that we not judge our fellow until we stand in their place. We recognize that we American Jews are not more principled than the Israelis; we are just in a safer place. The

peaceful future that we dream of must take the back seat to the nightmares of our Israeli brethren.

Jews stand up for each other. Yes, we offer each other constructive criticisms, argue with each other vigorously over the correct path forward, and refuse to defend the indefensible even within the family. But when Israel is under attack from so many fronts, we are both morally and viscerally committed to standing up for them. West Point military historians declare that the Israeli army has done more to prevent civilian deaths than any army in history, while the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history seems to be embarrassed by them. To us, that is not the Jewish way.

Israel is a state that was founded and continues to operate based on the highest principles of morality. We admire Israel’s continued commitment to its values despite the vicious attacks of many enemies that have constantly sought its destruction. Israel needs no lectures from us on ethics. It does need and deserve our humble respect for the difficult work ahead as it fulfills its primary moral obligation of providing safety and security for all Israelis.

Senator Schumer occupies a historic role at a critical inflection point in Jewish and American history. We need him to use his voice to cut through the lies and the caricatures rather than amplify them. We need him to help Israel and its duly elected government project more loudly and clearly the core values and considerations driving its actions. We need him to stand up for the Jewish people, to be shomer Yisrael, for as Mordechai told Esther in the Purim story, it is for this moment that he has been placed in this historic role.

Rabbi Moshe Hauer is the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union.

TJH Centerfold

Dear Underlings,

How many boring pictures do you have on your phone? News flash– - if you take a photo of an inanimate object, there’s no reason to take more than one picture. But you are addicted to options. One day, you will sit down and go through each picture to winnow down your pictures to the best ones. Guess what? That’s not happening. Look through your camera roll now have you ever deleted the duplicates? No. So what’s gonna change? You are going to be more bored than you already are. How do I know that you are really bored? Because you are still reading this letter!

Just kidding. I am not boring. I am very exciting. I am not AI. I am a funny person.

Anyway, let’s keep the spirit of Purim going for a while. Send in a picture or two or three to TJH and be included in our Purim Photo Album, which will come out the weekend after Purim. (Did you guess when it is coming out on your own? If so, you are really smart.)

Send your photos to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com and write “picture” in the subject. (You do not have to include the quotation marks if you don’t want to but you can include them if you insist.) We definitely want your picture because you look funny all the time, kal v’chomer on Purim. (If you don’t know what kal v’chomer means, you obviously don’t speak Russian.)

Have a happy, healthy, safe, enjoyable, meaningful, candy-ful Purim! Forever your Centerfold Commissioner, Me

(P.S. I accept mishloach manos from everyone, unless your name happens to be Vladimir Putin.)

Pu im Personality Quiz

1. When “Haman” is read in the Megillah, do you feel like you need to be the guy/girl who won’t stop making noise once everyone else stops?

a. I bring a cowbell to Megillah and make sure to hit it as soon as it gets quiet again.

b. I bring a big wooden gragger and as soon as the lainer is about to continue reading ….gggrrrr.

c. we gotta get that obnoxious person out of here. What nerve he has. This is gonna take forever.

3. You sing “V’nahapoch”:

a. All day non-stop.

b. At least 55 times.

c. I don’t know that song.

d. I bring earplugs with me because the graggers and cowbells are too loud.

2. When a group of collectors surrounds you and starts singing and dancing:

a. You dance with them and have a blast.

b. You say, “Wow, that’s an amazing cow costume you are wearing. The most unbelievable thing about it is that you even smell like a cow!”

c. You say, “Excuse me, please, would you guys please get out of my way.”

4. When you get sprayed with disappearing ink:

a. You whip out a supersoaker and shoot the person with gallons of Hawaiian Punch.

b. You feign shock and make believe you don’t know what it is… Then you laugh and say, “Fooled you last!”

c. You scream at the kid and say, “You are going to pay for my cleaning bill. This stuff really doesn’t come out.”

5. When you deliver mishloach manos to someone and then two minutes later they present a beautiful mishloach manos in return – the only problem is it’s the mishloach manos you just gave them:

a. You laugh and say, “I knew you would do that… Isn’t that what Purim is all about?”

b. You say, “Thank you so much.

Picking on Vayzusa

Vayzusa walks into a bar in Persia…

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Do you hang here often?”

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Hey, man!”

I actually think my mishloach manos is the best. I look forward to eating it.”

c. You frown and say, “That is quite insulting. I really worked hard on this mishloach manos.”

6. When you are stuck in serious Purim traffic, you:

a. Roll down your windows and blast your favorite Purim song.

b. You beep your horn…beep. Beep…. beep.beep.beep….beep.beep.beep. beep…beep.beep.

c. You get out of your car and scream, “Some of us need to get places!”

PU IM PERSONALITY KEY

If you answered A or B to all 6 questions: You are fun to be with on Purim….for 5 minutes or less.

If you answered A or B to 5 or more questions: You are made for Purim and will have a blast.

If you answered C to 2 or more questions: Sorry, Charlie. I guess this holiday was not meant for you. Can we offer you some marror?

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Wow! That name takes my breath away!”

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Gosh, what happened? All the cool names like Parshandasa were taken?”

Parshas Vayikra

By Rabbi Berel Wein

This Shabbos, we begin to read the book of Vayikra. This book of Vayikra has very little narrative to it and concentrates mainly on the sacrifices that were offered in the Temple service of the Mishkan and the Beit Hamikdash; the laws of purity and defilement; and a listing of many of the commandments of the Torah and Jewish ritual.

This makes this section of the Torah a difficult one to comprehend, in -

ternalize and attempt to teach to others. Our educational sense would have postponed the teaching of this book of the Torah until the years of maturity and life experience have fashioned us as Torah devotees and scholars. Yet the rabbis of Jewish tradition have ordained that children begin their Torah experiences by studying the book of Vayikra. Their statement is: “Let those who are still pure and holy begin their education by studying the concepts of puri-

ty and holiness.” These are difficult concepts to study. They are states of being, more of the heart and soul than that of the mind. Someone who does not ever deal in being holy and pure will never be able to fathom the secrets of the Torah that lie in this book of Vayikra. That person will only see a seeming hodgepodge of laws and rituals, many of which would be judged to be anachronistic in our “enlightened” age.

But our Torah is a Torah of experience and emotion as much as it is one

achievable goals.

In a very contaminated environment, it is most difficult to keep oneself clean and pure. It requires great discipline and restraint, care and will – in short, a supreme sense of sacrifice. In life, we are always faced with myriad, daily choices. Every choice that we make indicates that we have sacrificed another choice that we could have made. Then the only question that remains is whether we made the correct sacrifice. Will our choice bring us closer to a sense

Every choice that we make indicates that we have sacrificed another choice that we could have made.

of soaring intellect and deep analytical thought. To begin to understand these concepts, one must be, or at least strive to be, a person of holiness and purity. And that is a most significant lesson that the book of Vayikra teaches us.

Purity and holiness are inextricably bound to the overriding value of constant sacrifice in Jewish life. It is no coincidence that the laws of the sacrificial worship in the Temple are connected to the laws of purity in this book of Vayikra. Without sacrifice, constant daily sacrifice, purity and holiness are un -

of holiness and purity and purpose in our lives or, perhaps, will it do the opposite? The seeming jumble of laws in the book of Vayikra is meant to guide our choices of which sacrifices we should wisely make in our lives.

The Torah details for us all of the categories of sacrifices – public, private, those of leaders and of paupers – and points the way to our sacrificing wisely and productively. This is the overall thrust of this great biblical book of Vayikra.

Shabbat shalom.

Parshas Vayikra – Zachor

Remembering the King

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

Moshe Rabbeinu received a wondrous invitation from Hashem when the pasuk says (Vayikra 1:1), “And He called to Moshe.” G-d invited him into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him. How did he merit this? The Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 1:7) gives an allegory to explain: “A king commanded his servant and said to him, ‘Build me a palace.’ On every single thing that he built, he would write the name of the king... When the king came [into the palace], he said, ‘My servant has done all of this honor for me! Is it right that he should remain outside?!’ Immediately, he called out to him with these words, ‘And He called to Moshe.’”

Most contractors and artists write their own name on their work. But the servant in the Midrash wrote the king’s name on everything. At each step in the process, all he thought of was the king’s honor. Moshe Rabbeinu was the same way. This is why he received that one-of-a-kind invitation from the Master of the World: “Come inside with me. Let’s talk.” But we must understand how Moshe wrote Hashem’s name on everything he did. What does this refer to? And Moshe does not want any of us to remain outside while he goes inside. How can we internalize Moshe’s approach in order to merit an invitation like his?

And as it is Parshas Zachor, when we think about what Amalek did to us in advance of Purim, let us remember how Moshe originally taught us to fight Amalek (Shemos 17:11): “And it was that when Moshe lifted up his hand, the Jewish people were victorious. And when he put down his hand, Amalek was victorious.” The Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 3:8) explains this

as follows: “Could it be that the hands of Moshe make or break war? Rather, [the pasuk means] to say: As long as the Jewish people gazed toward Heaven and attached their hearts to their Father in Heaven, they were victorious...”

Moshe taught us that the key to victory against Amalek then – and now – is constantly remembering our Father in Heaven. We can never forget. How can we internalize this? The Kotzker, zy”a, teaches homiletically regarding the pasuk (Devarim 34:6), “And no person knows the place of [Moshe’s] burial,” that no one knows the physical place of Moshe’s burial because he is buried within each and every Jew. Moshe embedded the way to be victorious over Amalek inside each of us. We have the power to remember and never forget to bind our hearts to G-d’s will.

Our relationship with Hashem after the giving of the Torah through Moshe is like that of a bride and groom (Pesachim 49b). When it comes to a husband and wife, the key is that they must always remember each other. Woe is to the woman who does not always remember her husband and woe is to the husband who does not always remember his wife, especially in the world in which we live today. The relationship depends on both of them binding their hearts to each other every single day, even if they are physically separate because of work or other obligations.

It is the same way between us and G-d. The Rama quotes in the Rambam in the very first halacha in all of Shulchan Aruch: “‘I place Hashem before me always’ is the great principle of Torah and the greatness of the tzaddikim who walk

before G-d...” The goal is to stay connected all of the time, to always remember our connection with Hashem.

Amalek wants us to forget this connection. It does not deny the existence of a Creator. But it bristles at the idea of a personal, constant, loving G-d Who is with us at every moment. The Rishonim teach that the word Amalek has the same numerical value as “exalted – ram,” as in the pasuk (Tehillim 113:4), “Exalted above all nations is G-d, His glory is above the Heavens.” Amalek can accept the idea that there is a G-d. But only if He is far, far away, above the Heavens, transcending any care or concern for us or the details of our lives. Amalek wants us to forget Hashem in our lives.

That is why the Torah tells us in Parshas Zachor (Devarim 25:17, 19), “Remember... Do not forget.” Amalek wants us to forget that Hashem is with us, inviting us to speak with Him, to be with Him. It is the tendency within us not to remember. It is why someone can go to the mikvah, learn the daf, daven, and then go out to work and act dishonestly with money. He believes in Hashem when he is in shul, and maybe even at home, but when it comes to business and money, G-d is far away, high above pedestrian human concerns. That is Amalek.

But Moshe Rabbeinu taught us to write Hashem’s name on everything we do. He taught us to gaze up at the Heavens as we fight our battles here on earth. That is how we stay connected to G-d. That is how we earn that amazing invitation into the Mishkan, into the Beis HaMikdash.

Rav Yisroel of Ruzhin, zy”a, once commented to the son of another tzaddik, “Your

father is such a great tzaddik because he always reminds himself of G-d. But the difference between me and him is that I never forget.” That is how it is when it comes to a father and a mother. A father always remembers and reminds himself of his children. But a mother never, ever forgets them even for a moment. And Hashem always remembers His children. He never forgets us for a moment. The goal is to follow in the path of Moshe Rabbeinu by not only always remembering our Father in Heaven, but never forgetting Him.

That is how we can overcome that Amelek-like tendency to forget Hashem, to relegate Him to some exalted place above the Heavens. By writing Hashem’s name on each thing that we do, even outside the shul, home, and beis medrash, we channel the essence of Moshe Rabbeinu within us and merit to be invited inside, into Hashem’s inner sanctum.

May Hashem help us always remember Him. In that merit, may we soon merit the time when Hashem will call out to us to invite us inside, into His rebuilt Beis HaMikdash on Har HaBayis, to connect with Him again like we once did. Then we will see the destruction of Amalek, the seed of Eisav, and the fulfillment of the pasuk (Ovadiah 1:21), “And the saviors ascended the mountain of Tziyon to judge the mountain of Eisav, then shall Hashem have the kingship.” May it be fulfilled soon in our days!

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

the Daf

Drunk on Mitzvos

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

Those who study the daf will notice that the last word of Friday’s daf (Bava Metzia 23b) can be translated as “bed” or “Purim.” Rashi translates it as bed. The Maharsha says it means Purim. We trust a scholar to identify a lost object as belonging to him even without any identifying mark as long as he is established as being scrupulously honest. The Gemara states that

the definition of a scrupulously honest scholar is that he only lies about three things. He lies about the identification of his host to ensure that his host isn’t overrun with hundreds of people seeking lodging. He humbly says he didn’t learn a certain mesechta when he really did. He also lies about “puraya.” The Maharsha says that a scholar will lie and say he is drunk on Purim even when he isn’t.

Why is the scholar lying about this? Moreover, if there is a mitzvah to get drunk on Purim, why isn’t the scholar getting drunk?

A few explanations of the Maharsha have been offered. The simplest explanation is that the scholar isn’t feeling well enough to drink on Purim. However, he is embarrassed that he isn’t fulfilling the mitzvah properly for reasons beyond his control. Alternatively, he doesn’t want people to conclude that there is no mitzvah to drink on Purim. Therefore, he lies and says he is drunk. This way, he won’t be embarrassed, and people will not get the wrong impression.

The Chaya Adam (quoted by the Biur Halacha) rules that someone who knows that he will not be able to perform mitzvos properly when he becomes drunk should not become drunk on Purim. Therefore, someone who will not bentch properly or daven Maariv due to his intoxication should not become drunk. Moreover, someone who acts frivolously when he becomes drunk should also not become drunk. This is in line with the Meiri, also quoted by the Biur Halacha, that drinking is supposed to lead someone to sing songs of praise to Hashem. Based on the Meiri and Chaya Adam, another explanation of the Maharsha is suggested. This scholar knows that when he becomes drunk he might not bentch properly. Therefore, he cannot become drunk. However, to save himself from embarrassment from not being able to hold his liquor, he feigns

drunkenness. Alternatively, his drunk friends are pressuring him to drink. He knows he cannot because he will miss Maariv with a minyan. Therefore, he tells them he is drunk so they leave him alone.

Another reason he may feign drunkenness is because that’s what he holds the mitzvah is! The Nimukei Yosef (Megilla 7b) opines that the Gemara never meant literally that one should become drunk on Purim. One should act jovially to the point where an onlooker would assume that he is drunk. He is not literally lying but misleading people to assume that he is drunk.

Perhaps the scholar is lying to say he is drunk because he holds that the Gemara that says one should become drunk on Purim is not accepted as practical halacha. Indeed, Rabbeinu Efraim holds this way. It is for that reason that the Gemara cites the story of how Rabba killed Rebbe Zaira at a Purim seudah to demonstrate that one should not become drunk on Purim. That story had a happy ending. Rabba davened to Hashem, and Rebbe Zaira came back to life. Still, Rebbe Zaira himself refused to party with Rabba the following year. He reasoned that “an open miracle doesn’t happen every day.” Rabbeinu Efraim says the takeaway is that one should not become drunk on Purim. (The Ben Ish Chai said that the story should not be taken literally and offers a deeper explanation.)

Perhaps the scholar is saying he is

drunk because there is no wine left. Those partying with him are now drinking liquor instead. The scholar is of the opinion that the mitzvah to drink on Purim is only with wine. After all, the parties mentioned in the Megillah were all with wine. Rashi, in explaining the mitzvah to drink on Purim, says “with wine.” Therefore, the scholar is refusing to drink the other alcoholic beverages because he holds the mitzvah to drink is only with wine. Indeed, Rebbe Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, is reported to have ruled like this. The other partygoers hold that the mitzvah can be fulfilled with any alcoholic beverage. Rashi merely mentioned wine as an example of an alcoholic beverage. Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, is reported to have ruled this way.

Perhaps the scholar is saying that he is drunk because he holds that he already drank enough wine. The Gemara says that one should drink on Purim until he doesn’t know “bein arur Haman l’boruch Mordechai.” The Darchei Moshe explains that the numerical value of “arur Haman” and “boruch Mordechai ” is the same. One should drink until he can’t figure out the calculations.

The scholar feels he has already drunk enough and cannot perform the math in his head. The other partygoers understand the Gemara literally and are pressuring the scholar to drink more. Alternatively, the scholar and the partygoers can be arguing about a classic rule in Shas. When the Gemara states “Ad , until” does it mean up to and not including or up to and including? The

The scholar might say he is drunk because he holds like the Rema cited in the Shulchan Aruch. One should drink more wine than he is accustomed to until his eyes are heavy and he wants to sleep. When he sleeps, he is blissfully unaware of the difference between “arur Haman” and “boruch Mordechai.” The scholar is following the ruling of the Pri Megadim and the Mishna Berura, that

Drinking is supposed to lead someone to sing songs of praise to Hashem.

scholar holds like the Korbon Nesanel. If one drinks to the point where he doesn’t know the difference between “Cursed is Haman” and “Blessed is Mordechai,” he has already drunk too much! The Gemara meant one should drink up to that point, but not including! The Seder HaYom seems to have understood the Gemara like the partygoers – up to and including.

the Rema’s opinion should be followed. Therefore, he feigns drunkenness so he is not pressured to drink any more wine. The partygoers hold like the simple reading of the Shulchan Aruch that one should become drunk.

Finally, an absolutely fascinating pshat in the Maharsha is cited by the Eshkol Yosef (Gilyon 266). Chazal tell us

that due to the miracle of Purim, there was a new kabbalas haTorah. People drink to celebrate and achieve an extreme level of joy to show that they are happy with the beautiful gift of the Torah. They leave all their worldly worries and cares behind. The righteous scholar does not need to drink. He is filled with ahavas Hashem to the point where an alcoholic beverage will not make him any happier. He is already exuberant! He demurs wine and says he is drunk because he does not want to show off his level of spiritual perfection. Just as he lies and says he did not learn a specific mesechta even though he did, he lies and humbly says he does not need a drink because he is already drunk. He obscures the true reason for his ecstasy.

L’chaim!

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

The Ten Sons of Haman

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is eerie. It is also what can be called an “emunah builder.” One could perhaps suggest that it is coincidence, but the combination of all of these coincidences in one area, particularly when they are otherwise unexplained, is perhaps too much of a coincidence.

Let’s look at the listing of the ten sons of Haman as they are being hanged at the end of the Megillah. There are two columns – the names are to the right side. On the left side is a series of ten of the same words – “v’es.”

But why? Why not just have the connecting vav appear before each of the ten names? Why the ten extra words?

To answer this question, we go to one of the Tannaim. It is either Shimon HaAmasuni or Nechemiah HaAmasuni, a debate in the Talmud. Either way, he was a second generation Tanna and perhaps even the person known as Nachum Ish Gamzu, according to some sources. The Gemara in Psachim (22b) and in Kiddushin (57a) both discuss him and his method of exegesis. He looked at every “es” in the Torah and stated that it comes to include something else. But what? Or who?

The Four Strangely-Sized Letters

Now let’s take a deeper look at the letters of the handwritten Megillah itself. There are four unexplained irregularities in the orthography of the letters. Three letters are written in a significantly smaller size. One letter is written in a much larger size.

In the listing of the ten sons of Haman found in the Megillah (Megillah 9:7-9), there are three letters that are written smaller: the taf of Parshandasa, the shin of Parmashta, and the zayin of Vayzasa. The Gematria value of these smaller letters is 707.

In that last son of Haman, Vayzasa, the vav is written much larger. Rav Michel Dov Ber Weissmandel, zt”l, a tzaddik who saved thousands of people during the Holocaust and who tried to save hundreds of thousands of others, made the following discovery:

If this vav represents the sixth millennium of creation, and the other three smaller letters represent the years, the total is 5,707. 5707 corresponds to the year 1946 – the year that ten Nazis were also hanged at the Nuremberg trials.

The Hanging Date

Although the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg delivered its verdicts sentencing the leaders of the Nazi party to death by hanging on October 1, 1946, they were hanged on October 16, the 21st of Tishrei. That date corresponds to the final judgement day of the Hebrew year – the point of no return – Hoshana Rabbah.

The Bizarre Declaration

Kingsbury Smith of the International News Service, who was chosen by random lot [ pur in Hebrew] to represent the American press at the execution of the ten Nazis wrote as follows:

…Julius Streicher made his melodramatic appearance at 2:12 a.m.

While his manacles were being removed and his bare hands bound, this ugly, dwarfish little man, wearing a threadbare suit and a well-worn bluish shirt buttoned to the neck but without a tie (he was notorious during his days of power for his flashy dress), glanced at the three wooden scaffolds rising menacingly in front of him. Then he glanced around the room, his eyes resting momentarily upon the small group of witnesses. By this time, his hands were tied securely behind his back. Two guards, one on each arm, directed him to Number One gallows on the left of the entrance. He walked steadily the six feet to the first wooden step but his face was twitching… He was pushed the last two steps to the mortal spot beneath the hangman’s rope. The rope was being held back against a wooden rail by the hangman.

Streicher was swung suddenly to face the witnesses and glared at them. Suddenly he screamed, “Purim Fest 1946.”

This is very strange. Why would he scream Purim fest 1946?

The Request

“And the king said to Esther the Queen, ‘The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the capital, and the ten sons of Haman…Now whatever your petition, it shall be granted; whatever your request further, it shall be done.’

“Esther responded, ‘If it pleasing to the King, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do tomorrow also as this day, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.’” (Megillas Esther 9:12-14)

Our sages tell us that every place in the Megillah that it mentions the king, it also refers to Hashem – the King. Esther’s request, or prayer, was also directed to Hashem Himself, the Ultimate King.

Who Were the Original Ten Sons of Haman?

1. Parshandasa

2. Dalfon

3. Aspasa

4. Purasa

5. Adalya

6. Aridasa

7. Parmashta

8. Arisai

9. Aridai

10. Vayzasa

Who Were the Ten Future Sons of Haman?

1. Wilhelm Frick, ym”sh , Reich Minister of the Interior of Nazi Germany and then the last governor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

2. Alfred Jodl, ym”sh, Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command. He also signed the surrender documents of Nazi Germany.

3. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, ym”sh, Obergruppenführer (general) in the SS. He was also the chief of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Main Security Office).

4. Wilhelm Keitel, ym”sh, Field Marshal and chief of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht – the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.

5. Joachim von Ribbentrop, ym”sh, Nazi Germany’s Foreign Minister.

6. Alfred Rosenberg, ym”sh, chief Nazi theoretician and ideologist. He was also the head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, where he oversaw the establishment and administration of the extermination camps.

7 Fritz Sauckel, ym”sh, Gauleiter of Thuringia and the General Plenipotentiary for Labour Deployment from 1942 until the end of the war.

8. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, ym”sh, an Austrian Nazi politician who worked with Hitler to create the Anschluss. After Germany invaded Poland, he served in the General Government of Poland. He was also Reichskommissar in Holland.

9. Julius Streicher, ym”sh, early member of the Nazi Party and founder and publisher of Der Stürmer, that encouraged the hate toward Jews.

10. Hans Frank, ym”sh , Hitler’s personal lawyer and Nazi Germany’s chief jurist in German-occupied Poland.

Is There a Correlation Between These Nazis and the Original Ten?

There was a great Kabbalist named Sason Ben Mordechai Shanduch (1747-1830) who lived in Iraq. In his sefer entitled Davar B’Ito, he provides a Hebrew root that indicates the specific evil quality inherent in each of the original ten sons of Haman. Based on Rabbi Shanduch’s writings, we can perhaps conjecture which each of the sons of Haman comes to include:

1. Parshandasa is one who is mafrish a person from the religion (dasa). This possibly refers to Alfred Rosenberg whose ideology and theology was directed against Judaism. In his 1920 book, Immorality in the Talmud, Rosenberg identified Jews and Judaism as evil incarnate. Publicly, Rosenberg attributed what was wrong with Christianity as due to the influence of Judaism. He initiated many of the anti-Jewish laws.

2. Dalphon is a person who is a deles, a door, to pnios ra’os, bad directions or steps. Possibly this refers to Alfred Jodl who signed the Commissar Order of 6 June 1941 (in which Soviet political commissars were to be shot) and the Commando Order of 28 October 1942 (in which Allied commandos, including properly uniformed soldiers as well as combatants wearing civilian clothes were to be executed immediately without trial if captured behind German lines).

3. Asafta is a gatherer. Ernst Kaltenbrunner was a committed anti-Semite. According to former SSSturmbannführer Hans Georg Mayer, Kaltenbrunner was present at a December 1940 meeting among Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, and Heydrich where it was decided to gas all Jews incapable of

heavy physical work. Under Kaltenbrunner’s command, the genocide of Jews picked up pace as “the process of extermination was to be expedited and the concentration of the Jews in the Reich itself and the occupied countries were to be liquidated as soon as possible.” He oversaw the rapid gathering of Jews in order to exterminate them.

4. Porasa alludes to untoward an unchaste behavior. While overseeing the Dutch, Arthur Seyss-Inquart behaved in a manner that compromised many Dutch women.

like a lion. Possibly this refers to Wilhelm Frick who used ruthless methods to counter any dissent.

7. Parmashta is one who rips apart ( porem) the inner fabric, the shasi (the crisscross of the garment) of the Jewish nation. This could possibly reference Wilhelm Keitel who issued a series of criminal orders from April 1941 The orders went beyond established codes of conduct for the military and broadly

Suddenly he screamed, “Purim Fest 1946.”

5. Adalia refers to one who lifts himself up with arrogance and haughtiness – likely being Joachim Von. In his arrogance, he added the fake title Von to his name. When he was an ambassador to England, virtually everyone commented about his complete arrogance.

6. Aridasa is one who scares others

allowed the execution of Jews, civilians and non-combatants for any reason. Those carrying out the murders were exempted from court-martial or later being tried for war crimes. The orders were signed by Keitel.

8. Arisai is one who possesses the venom (aras) of a snake. Perhaps this refers to the venomous nature of Julius Streicher – publisher of the venomous Der Stürmer.

9. Aridai is one who subjugates people (rodeh). This best references Fritz Sauckel who worked directly under Göring through the Four Year Plan Office, directing and controlling labor. In response to increased demands, he met the requirement for manpower with people from the occupied territories. Voluntary numbers were insufficient and forced recruitment was introduced within a few months. Of the five million foreign workers brought to Germany, around 200,000 came voluntarily, according to Sauckel’s own testimony at Nuremberg.

10. Vayzasa is one who symbolizes the bitter and warped judgment of an olive. It is likely that this references Hans Frank who served as the warped judge that allowed many Nazi goals to become law.

The ten prominent v’es es in the left column of the Megillah when talking about Haman’s sons do indicate that it comes to include specific people, possibly referring to the correlation between the original ten sons of Haman to the future sons of Haman.

The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com

Torah Thought

The Uniqueness of the Purim Miracle

By Rav Yaakov Feitman

We have all known, probably since the early years of elementary school, that there is a fundamental difference between Purim and all the other yom tovim. Pesach, Shavuos, Sukkos and Chanukah all celebrate nissim g’luyim – open miracles. Purim, however, commemorates a nes nistar – hidden miracle. All the others broke the laws of nature with events such as the splitting of the Red Sea. Purim, however, could be read

and was written in the Megillah as a story which could have been, l’havdil, a secular novel. An evil henchman tries to convince a foolish king to destroy the Jews. Instead, the new queen, who happens to be of Jewish origin, intervenes, through the good offices of a relative and the nation is saved. End of story and all live happily after.

The truth, though, is completely different. The king is as guilty as his advisor, the queen is actually married to the relative,

Eliyahu HaNavi and the angel Gavriel are involved behind the scenes, and there is a side story which is about the Jewish culpability in the evil decree itself. We committed a major sin by joining in the king’s feast, for which we were judged and convicted by heaven to r”l be wiped out. Only fasting, teshuvah and tremendous mesiras nefesh on the part of Mordechai and Esther saved the day. Why doesn’t the Megillah tell us all of these secrets, and it must wait for Maseches Megillah to reveal the truth?

Furthermore, if this is indeed the only hidden miracle amongst the yomim tovim, why does the Gemara (Megillah 11a) teach that it was Purim which was referenced by the Torah (Tehillim 98:3) as “all ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our G-d”? It would seem that the exact opposite is true. No one but Klal Yisrael knew of all the hidden miracles, since even the Megillah itself, which was sent out to the media of the world, offered only the story line that what transpired was natural, humanly driven and as normal as could be. What did “the ends of the earth” see and hear that caused such a kiddush Hashem? The Chasam Sofer (Parshas Tetzaveh) actually even strengthens this question by proving that the beginning of this pasuk in Tehillim refers to the miracle as a Shir Chodosh – a new song – in the masculine instead of the feminine Shirah Chadasha. He cites the Mechilta (B’Shalach, beginning of the Shirah) that Shirah in the feminine indicates a miracle which arrives with pain, but the masculine refers to a miracle which is not followed by suffering. He therefore asks how the miracle, referenced in this

kapital Tehillim, is devoid of pain. Surely, at the end of the Megillah, we are still under the evil aegis of Achashveirosh and far from a complete and final redemption!

I would like to offer an answer based upon an extraordinary teaching by my rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l. He writes (Pachad Yitzchok, Purim, inyan 34, page 86) that in a leap year, such as this one of 5784, Chazal (Megillah 6b) rule that Purim is celebrated in the second Adar “to place one geulah next to the other.” This means that although there are compelling reasons to celebrate Purim in the first Adar, such as not to delay a mitzvah, it is more important to join the redemption of Purim to the coming one in Nissan of Pesach. He concludes from this juxtaposition that “just as the redemption of Pesach has an anochi of its own, so does Purim have one of its own.” He elaborates that the purpose of leaving Egypt was to receive the Torah (Shemos 3:12) which began in the Ten Commandments with the word Anochi (Shemos 20:2), meaning “I.” So does Purim have its own Anochi, which is “V’Anochi hasteir astir ponai – I will hide My face” (Devarim 31:18).

What the Rosh Yeshiva means is both extraordinary and life-changing. Just as the importance of the Aseres Hadibros was defined by our total acceptance of Hashem as our G-d, so was Purim defined by our acceptance of His presence in our lives even though He is hidden from us. He offers us a parable or metaphor as to why the Purim Anochi is even greater than the first word of the Aseres Hadibros

Two people are ordered to prepare themselves to recognize others in the

dark. I cannot help but add to the Rosh Yeshiva’s mashal – the situation many of the Israeli soldiers found themselves in the recent Hamas attack. They had to follow the enemy into tunnels which were pitch black and shrouded in darkness. Often, the difference between friend and foe was nearly indiscernible. To return to the Rosh Yeshiva’s mashal, one decided to light a lamp but the other taught himself the skill of sound recognition and how to navigate in the darkness.

When the two emerged into daylight, the man who had lit a lamp extinguished it because the light of the sun made it superfluous (see Chulin 60b). However, the one who had developed a new skill, had gained a tool for life which would always help him to get through the darkness. The Megillah (9:28) indicates that Purim will last forever, from which Chazal (Medrash Mishlei 9) derive that “even when all the yomim tovim will become boteil (extinct), Purim will not.” The Rosh Yeshiva explains that this doesn’t mean, G-d forbid, that mitzvos such as eating matzah on Pesach or eating in the sukkah will become obsolete. It means that the miracles which are commemorated by these mitzvos will be eclipsed and overshadowed by the events associated with Moshiach’s arrival.

However, while the lights of these yomim tovim will be outshined by Moshiach, like the man who emerges from darkness who has the ability to “see” in the darkness, we will be able to discern Hashem in the daily miracles which other people call nature but which we know to be Hashem. This is expressed by the pasuk, (Michah 7:8) “Though I sit in darkness,

only difference between the current world and the Messianic world will be that in that future world iy”H there will be no anti-Semitism or oppression by our enemies and we will be free to learn Torah and practice our Yiddishkeit in peace. Thus, even in that future world, although we will no longer focus on the miracles of the Exodus, we will still need to perceive the Hand of

So was Purim defined by our acceptance of His presence in our lives even though He is hidden from us.

Hashem is my light.” The Ramban (end of Parshas Bo) famously teaches that the open dramatic miracles such as Kriyas Yam Suf were only done to teach us that the “daily miracles” (Siddur “Modim”) are also the work of the Creator.

We should add that the Rambam writes in several places that we follow the opinion of Shmuel in the Gemara Sanhedrin that even after Moshiach arrives, nature will initially continue to function. The

Hashem in the growth of a child, the healing of the sick, and all the other wonderful events of our daily lives.

We can now return and answer our original question about Purim. What makes Purim so special and what so impressed the rest of the world? Utilizing Rav Hutner’s parable, we can explain that the world understood very well what had happened in the domain of Achashveirosh. They, too, can understand the grand mes-

sage of a hidden miracle. They had all heard of the great miracles enumerated in “the Bible.” However, no one had ever taught them, as we recite in Modim, about the “everyday miracles.” This impressed them even more than the more obvious ones which involve the open overturning of the laws of nature. In effect, anyone can believe in those being the work of G-d. But Hashem had now given us the tools to navigate in the darkness and that is truly Yeshuas Elokeinu.

Purim teaches us to look beneath the headlines and the hype, behind the public relations lies and distortions. It is almost unavoidable to see the sheker in the outside world. The Hamas attempt at genocide, chas v’sholom, has been turned into Klal Yisrael being the perpetrators of genocide on those who attacked us so savagely. We must therefore learn to see the light and the truth even in the darkness, which is the message of Purim and the Megillah.

May we soon see the great light of Moshiach, even as we retain the crucial key to spotting, in the midst of darkness, the kindness and benevolence of Hashem guiding us to the End of Days.

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

Why Does Eliyahu HaNavi Make So Many Surprise Appearances in the Megillah?

By Ra BBi Daniel Glatstein

We read in the Megillah, “When he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his splendrous majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days (Esther 1:4). Rav Aryeh Leib Tzintz (1768–1833) explains the significance of Achashveirosh’s party lasting one hundred eighty days.

The duration of the party thrown by Achashveirosh corresponds to the years of Yitzchak Avinu’s life, and it was the merit of Yitzchak Avinu that protected those who inexcusably chose to attend. The one hundred eighty righteous years of Yitzchak Avinu protected the participants of the mishteh that lasted one hundred eighty days.

We must ask, in what way did Yitzchak Avinu save the Jews of Shushan?

THE SoNS of H AMAN

Maseches Megillah records a dispute as to how many sons Haman had. Rav posits that Haman had thirty sons. Ten died, ten were hanged, and ten were reduced to abject poverty, compelled to beg for food.

The Rabbanan disagree, stating that the group of paupers begging for alms consisted of seventy sons. That is, Haman had ninety sons, among whom there were seventy impoverished survivors.

Rami bar Abba has a third opinion. He believes Haman to have fathered two hundred eight sons. The Megillah alludes to this in the pasuk: “Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and of his many sons, and all [the ways] in which the king had promoted him and elevated him above the officials and royal servants” (Esther 5:11).

The word “va’rov” numerically equals 208, an allusion to the two hundred eight sons of Haman. The Chasam Sofer explains why Haman felt it necessary to allude to the number of his sons. It is because the gematria of the name “Yitzchak” is also two hundred eight.

Yitzchak Avinu represents middas hadin, the strict letter of the law. Haman sought to arouse Hashem’s Middas HaDin against Klal Yisrael. He did this by referencing the number two hundred eight, which is both the number of his sons and the numerical value of the name Yitzchak, the forefather who exemplified middas hadin. By doing so, Haman intended that Hashem’s attribute of strict judgment would be aroused, bolstering the chances of Haman’s success.

Once again, we find a connection between Yitzchak Avinu and Purim, and this association warrants further exploration.

HoW iS CHArvoNA SpE llED?

The Megillah states: “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he told Mehuman, Bizsa, Charvona, Bigza, and Avagsa, Zesar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who attended King Achashveirosh” (Esther 1:10).

In this pasuk, Charvonah is spelled with an aleph as the concluding letter. This is not the case when the name is mentioned further in the Megillah: “Then Charvonah, one of the chamberlains [in attendance] before the king, said, ‘Furthermore, the gallows which Haman made for Mordechai — who spoke good for the king — is standing in Haman’s house; it is fifty cubits high.’ And the king said, ‘Hang him on it’” (Esther 7:9).

Here, Charvonah is spelled differently; the last letter of the name is a hey. Why isn’t his name spelled consistently in each pasuk? Which is the correct spelling?

SHoSHANAS YAA kov

After the reading of the Megillah, we sing the piyyut Shoshanas Yaakov. The final phrase of the song is “V’gam Charvonah zachur la’tov, and Charvonah, too, may he be remembered for good.” If Charvonah is among those deserving blessing, why not simply state, “Baruch Charvonah, blessed be Charvonah”? This would be in keeping with the format of the rest of the song, which states “baruch Mordechai, blessed be Mordechai,” and “baruch Esther, blessed be Esther ” And, if he is unworthy of blessing, then we should refer to him in the same way we refer to Haman and his wife and say, “A rur Charvonah, accursed be Charvonah.” Why is Charvonah mentioned in this unique manner?

The sefer Kikayon D’Yonah on Shas explains. Charvona was not an advocate of the Jewish people and had no interest in saving Bnei Yisrael. The single good deed he did for Klal Yisrael was when he advised Achashveirosh about the gallows that Haman had erected.

He told Achashveirosh: “Gam hinei ha’eitz asher asah Haman l’Mordechai.” His statement began with the word “gam.”

This is what is meant when we sing, “V’gam Charvonah zachur la’tov.” The “gam” of Charvonah (with a hey), the sentence he told Achashveirosh that started with gam, is the one reason he deserves to be mentioned for good.

This helps us appreciate the meaning of the word “v’gam” in Shoshanas Yaakov. However, this does not explain why we alter the pattern that has been employed previously: V’gam Baruch Charvonah would have served to maintain consistency. Why do we state that Charvonah is “zachur la’tov”?

iT WASN’T rEAllY CHArvoNA

The one individual about whom we routinely use the phrase “zachur la’tov” is Eliyahu HaNavi: “Eliyahu HaNavi zachur la’tov.” Incredibly, the Midrash states that the individual who advised Achashveirosh about the gallows was not Charvona.

When we meet Charvona in the first perek of the Megillah, he was, in fact, Charvona. In the seventh perek, however, it was not Charvona who addressed Achashveirosh. Eliyahu HaNavi assumed the appearance of Charvona, and it was he who stated, “Gam hinei ha’eitz.”

This understanding also helps explain the words in Maseches Megillah. The Gemara states that Charvona was a rasha who was complicit in Haman’s plot to kill the Jews. When he realized that Haman’s plans were not going to come to fruition, he fled. He was no longer there at the conclusion of the Purim story, and it must have been someone else who informed Achashveirosh about the available gallows. The Gemara applies to Charvona the pasuk, “He casts misfortune upon him, and will not show mercy; from His hand he desperately flees” ( Iyov 27:22). In Charvona’s absence, Eliyahu HaNavi stepped in and took his place.

The Maharil therefore explains that since this time Charvonah was actually Eliyahu, we say, “V’gam Charvonah zachur la’tov,” since Eliyahu HaNavi is indeed “zachur la’tov.”

The sefer Beis Shmuel speaks extensively about the accurate halachic spelling of names. This is critical when someone is writing a get. He discusses whether names in which the final syllable is “–ah,” such as Yehudah, Rivkah, Akivah, and Charvona, conclude with an aleph or a hey.

The Beis Shmuel presents the following rule. When the name is secular, it ends with an aleph. However, when the name is kadosh, a holy name, then the correct spelling has a hey at the end.

Charvona himself was an official in the Shushan government. His secular name, Charvona, appropriately ends with an aleph. The second time his name is mentioned, however, it was Eliyahu HaNavi, and as a holy name, it rightfully ends with a hey.

WHY iS CHArvoNAH Z ACH ur lATov?

As Charvona was really one of Haman’s co-conspirators, and he played no role at all in the salvation of the Jewish people, why do we then sing, “V’gam Charvonah zachur la’tov”? It wasn’t Charvona who saved the Jews; it was Eliyahu HaNavi. Charvona himself ought to be included among the arurim, the accursed enemies of the Jews. The sefer Vavei HaAmudim explains that Charvona

was not deserving of a “baruch” because he was, as the Gemara tells us, an enemy of the Jews. However, neither can he be included among the arurim

Of all the identities he could have chosen, Eliyahu HaNavi chose to take the place of Charvona. His doing so indicates that there must have been some redeeming factor, something admirable about Charvona. This is in keeping with the principle of m’galgilin zechus al yidei zakai, i.e., Heaven causes a meritorious deed to be performed by one who is worthy.

Thus, Charvona merits at least an honorable mention – a zachur latov.

Interestingly, there are several other instances when Eliyahu appears in the Megillah.

EliYAH u H A NAvi CoNv EYS MoSHE’S MESSAgE

The Midrash tells us that Haman aroused strong accusations in Shamayim against Klal Yisrael.

The Megillah states: “And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the capital, great and small alike, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace” (Esther 1:5).

The word “ha’am, the people,” mentioned in the pasuk refers to Klal Yisrael. We know that the Jews are referred to as am, as the Torah states, “Fortunate are you, O Yisrael: Who is like you! O people delivered by Hashem, the Shield of your help” (Devarim 33:29).

Haman educated Achashveirosh that the G-d of the Jews despises immorality and promiscuity. He advised him to throw a party for the Jews of Shushan and to provide them with ample food, drink, and harlots. Entice the Jews and get them to sin. Give them whatever they want: “La’asos k’ritzon ish v’ish, according to each man’s pleasure” (Esther 1:8).

Mordechai saw what was being planned and decreed that no Jew may participate in Achashveirosh’s party. He warned that the king’s intention was to induce Klal Yisrael to sin. The outcome would be a kitrug against Klal Yisrael and would result in severe and swift judgment against the Jews.

Tragically, eighteen thousand five hundred Jews did not listen, and they willingly enjoyed themselves at the party. They ate, drank, became inebriated, and succumbed to sin.

The Satan stood before Hashem and presented the facts as described. He asked Hashem how long He was willing to put up with such disregard for His Torah and mitzvos. He advised Hashem to destroy the Jewish nation, since they sinned and did not do teshuvah.

Hashem responded, “Torah mah t’hei alehah?” What will happen to the study of Torah?

The Satan advised Hashem that the Torah will remain in the heavens and no longer needed to be studied or retained on this world.

Hashem consented to the Satan’s argument. He instructed the Satan to provide Him with a surface on which to write the decree to annihilate the Jews. The Satan brought a Megillah, and Hashem wrote the decree.

The Torah donned mourning garments, sat before the Ribbono shel Olam, and wept. The malachim cried as well, exclaiming, “Ribbono shel Olam, if the Jews are wiped out, what purpose is there for us to exist?”

The sun and the moon heard the cries of the angels,

and they ceased to provide light to the world.

Eliyahu HaNavi, zachur latov, immediately ran to the Avos, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. He ran to Moshe Rabbeinu. He beseeched them to take heed of the threat hanging over Klal Yisrael. He informed them that the angels, the sun, and the moon were all weeping at the prospect of the destruction of Klal Yisrael.

When Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov were apprised that the Jews had, in fact, sinned, the Avos recognized that the Jews deserved punishment and responded that there was nothing they could do to save them.

Eliyahu turned to Moshe Rabbeinu, the shepherd of Klal Yisrael, who had successfully come to their defense many times in the past, and implored him to once again come to the defense of Klal Yisrael.

Moshe asked if there was any tzaddik among them who was slated to be killed. When he learned of Mordechai HaTzaddik, Moshe advised Eliyahu to instruct Mordechai to daven on behalf of Klal Yisrael, and told him that he would do the same from his place in Shamayim. The combination of their tefillos would save the Jews.

Eliyahu, the gilgul of Yitzchak Avinu, therefore serves to help k lal Yisrael emerge victorious from this galus.

Eliyahu HaNavi wasn’t convinced that this would be effective. Hashem had already written and signed the decree of destruction. As the decree had been set in motion, there was no way to rescind it. Moshe Rabbeinu responded that the finality of the decree was dependent on the form of signature Hashem had applied. If He signed the edict in cement, then it could still be changed. Our tefillos can effect the change we need, and Klal Yisrael can be saved. If, however, Hashem had signed the decree in blood, then there was no way to change the decree.

Eliyahu HaNavi informed Moshe Rabbeinu that the decree was written in cement, not in blood. Moshe was then confident that his prayers would be able to join forces with those of Mordechai and save the Jewish people from annihilation. Eliyahu then told Mordechai to daven, and therein lay the seeds of redemption, as his prayers merged with those of Moshe. The tefillos that saved Klal Yisrael can be attributed to the efforts of Eliyahu HaNavi, who aroused Moshe Rabbeinu, and then served as messenger to convey his message to Mordechai.

SigNED i N CEMENT

Rav Chaim Volozhiner was at his Purim seudah when many aniyim came to collect matanos la’evyonim. In accordance with the halachah to give tzedakah to whomever stretches out his hand in need on Purim, Rav Chaim gave generously. One elderly gentleman reached out again and asked him for a second coin. He told Rav Chaim that upon

receipt of a second donation, he would tell Rav Chaim a novel idea about Purim.

Rav Chaim’s curiosity was piqued, and he gave the man a second coin.

The man then asked Rav Chaim if he knew where in the Megillah there is a raayah that there was hope for salvation because the Divine signature had been applied in cement and not in blood. He then showed Rav Chaim two pesukim that hint at this in the Megillah:

“If it please the king, let it be recorded that they be destroyed, l’abdam” (Esther 3:9).

“For Haman son of Hamedasa the Agagi, enemy of all the Jews, had plotted to annihilate the Jews, l’abdam” (ibid. 9:24).

Haman’s plans were implemented only l’abdam, which can be read as a contraction of the two words: lo b’dam, not with blood. The decree was written and signed in cement, and not in blood.

Rav Chaim Volozhiner was very moved by this novel idea, and he told it to the Vilna Gaon. Incredibly, the Vilna Gaon informed Rav Chaim that the elderly Jew who told him this amazing insight had to be none other than the same person who had advised Mordechai of this: Eliyahu HaNavi.

WHY DiD ESTHE r iNviTE H AMAN?

Maseches Megillah wonders why Esther chose to invite Haman to the party. Her objective was to rescue her nation from Haman, and it would seem more sensible to reveal her identity to Achashveirosh and plead her case without Haman present. Why did she want him there? The Gemara offers a number of answers.

R’ Eliezer explains that Esther was setting a trap. She reasoned that perhaps she would cause him to slip up and make a mistake in the presence of Achashveirosh. R’ Yehoshua takes a different approach, based on the pasuk that Esther had learned at home: “If your foe is hungry, feed him bread” ( Mishlei 25:21).

R’ Meir says that Esther was afraid that if Haman was not present when Achashveirosh learned that his wife’s life was in danger, Haman would stage a military coup and overthrow Achashveirosh. He would then proceed with killing the Jews. His presence at the feast mitigated that possibility.

R’ Yehudah explains that Esther was concerned that had she not invited him, he would have become suspicious that she was Jewish and would have been able to undermine her efforts.

R’ Nechemiah teaches that Esther wanted Klal Yisrael to be reliant solely on HaKadosh Baruch Hu. She was concerned that had she not invited Haman, the Jews would rely on their “connection” in the palace. They would then shift their trust from Hashem to her and neglect to daven wholeheartedly.

R’ Yose posits that she invited Haman so that she would know where he was at that crucial moment.

R’ Shimon ben Menasya explains that Esther thought that having Haman present would highlight to Hashem how influential he was against the Jews, and this would inspire Hashem’s mercy to miraculously save Klal Yisrael.

R’ Yehoshua ben Korcha suggests that Esther was willing to sacrifice her own life to save Klal Yisrael. Inviting Haman to the party was a ruse to make Achashveirosh suspect her of infidelity, a crime for which he would exe -

cute both her and Haman.

Rabban Gamliel explains that Esther knew how fickle and indecisive Achashveirosh was. She hoped that the more time he spent with Haman, the more likely it would be that he would change his opinion of him. She expected him to tire of Haman and strip him of his power.

R’ Eliezer HaModa’i suggests that Esther sought to create jealousy. If Achashveirosh and the other royal ministers were jealous of the attention Haman was receiving, they would remove him from power and his plans would be foiled.

Rabbah explains that Esther based her decision on the pasuk “Pride precedes destruction” ( Mishlei 16:18). She sought to inflate Haman’s ego, after which his downfall would follow.

Abaye and Rava suggest that Esther invited Haman in fulfillment of the pasuk, “ During their drunkenness I will spoil their drinking parties; I will intoxicate them so they become merry; they will sleep an eternal sleep and never awaken – the word of Hashem” ( Yirmiyahu 51:39).

The Gemara then relates that Rabbah chanced upon Eliyahu HaNavi and asked him, considering the broad range of viewpoints, what Esther’s true intention was when she invited Haman to the party. He answered that every explanation mentioned above is correct. She had all these in mind when she invited Haman.

WHY iS EliYAH u So iNvolv ED?

Eliyahu HaNavi seems to be making an unusual number of appearances in the Megillah. What is his connection to Purim?

By exploring a wondrous teaching of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh in Parshas Tetzaveh, we can gain insight as to why Eliyahu HaNavi is so prevalent in the events surrounding the Purim narrative.

iN WHoSE ME riT DoES THE gEul AH CoME?

The very first pasuk of Parshas Tetzaveh states: “Now you shall command Bnei Yisrael that they shall take for you clear olive oil, crushed, for illumination, to kindle a lamp continually” (Shemos 27:20).

The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains this pasuk based on the well-known fact that the Jewish people have been in four different exiles: Bavel, Madai, Yavan, and Edom. He cites the Zohar that teaches that Klal Yisrael’s redemption from each exile was in the merit of one specific great individual.

Galus Bavel ended in the merit of Avraham Avinu, and it was in the zechus of Yitzchak that we were redeemed from Galus Paras u’Madai. It was the merit of Yaakov Avinu that helped Klal Yisrael emerge victorious from Galus Yavan

nal Redemption from Galus Edom, in which we now find ourselves. Moshe’s zechus is the great merit of limud haTorah. Since bitul Torah is so prevalent, our galus is the longest of all the exiles.

Hashem told Moshe, “Va’atah titzaveh es bnei Yisroel, Now you shall command the Jewish people.” Tzav is a term reserved for when a king instructs his subjects to fulfill his wishes. The Ohr HaChaim is of the opinion that when the redemption comes, Moshe Rabbeinu will serve as the Melech HaMashiach. The directive “tzetzaveh” is thus appropriately suited to him.

The command states, “V’yikchu eilecha shemen zayis zach,” implying that if Klal Yisrael wants to be redeemed from Galus Edom, the Jews must engage in the study of Torah, which is referred to as shemen. Just as oil provides light, so too does Torah illuminate the world.

To merit the Geulah, our Torah learning must be lishmah, which is alluded to by the word zach, pure. Learning Torah for an ulterior motive or personal benefit will not assist in bringing the Geulah closer.

The word ka’sis, crushed, implies that at times the Torah learning may be accessible only by enduring physical challenges and discomfort. To bring the Geulah Sheleimah closer, we must study Torah in earnest even under trying circumstances. Physical pain and distress must not deter us from our studies.

As noted, the Zohar HaKadosh teaches that the geulah from the second galus, the exile of Persia and Media, was in the zechus of Yitzchak Avinu. Now we have insight into the significance of Achashveirosh’s party lasting for one hundred eighty days: Yitzchak Avinu is the designated individual who could provide the merit needed to survive and eventually be redeemed from Galus Paras, and he lived for one hundred eighty years. The duration of the party is hinting at the merit in which we were ultimately redeemed. Additionally, our forefather Yitzchak, whose name has the numerical value of two hundred eight, countered the two hundred eight sons of Haman.

THE fi NA l rEDEM pTioN

The Ohr HaChaim then explains that the zechuyos of Moshe Rabbeinu are what are needed to help us merit the Fi-

EliYAH u H A NAvi’S CoNNECTioN To puriM Maseches Berachos presents a hierarchy of the heavenly angels, based on the number of flights required by each to arrive at his destination. Michoel, the malach harachamim, performs his shelichus, his assigned task,

with one flight. Gavriel, the malach of din, pauses on his way to execute justice and arrives with two flights.

Eliyahu HaNavi requires four separate flights. The great Rishon the Panei’ach Raza, master of the secret remazim of the Torah, provides insight into Eliyahu’s four flights. Eliyahu was Pinchas. The name Pinchas has a gematria of two hundred eight. This is four times the numerical value of the name Eliyahu, fifty-two, and signifies that Eliyahu accomplishes his shelichus in four flights.

When the Final Redemption will eventually come, bimheirah v’yameinu, Eliyahu HaNavi — Pinchas — will herald the news. This is symbolized by the fact that the name Pinchas has the same gematria as Nachamu, nachamu, Comfort, comfort.

Yitzchak and Eliyahu — as Pinchas — each have the same gematria: two hundred eight.

When Pinchas passed judgment and killed Zimri and Kozbi, he was employing middas hadin. This was one of Yitzchak Avinu’s primary character traits, which Pinchas borrowed. Pinchas is spelled in full with a yud, which was added to his name as a result of standing up for Hashem and employing the middas hadin.

This is why the vav in brisi shalom ( Bamidbar 25:12) is split — with the top half appearing as a yud. This demonstrates that what Pinchas received was the yud, to allow his name to be numerically equivalent to that of Yitzchak Avinu, whose characteristics he inherited.

The commentary Raza D’Meir, authored by the sonin-law of the Maharal MiPrague, is a peirush on the Panei’ach Raza. He writes that Pinchas did not merely employ the character trait of Yitzchak when taking action against Zimri and Kozbi. Pinchas, Eliyahu HaNavi, was actually the gilgul of Yitzchak Avinu!1

We can now comprehend why Eliyahu HaNavi is repeatedly present in the Purim narrative. The redemption from Galus Paras u’Madai came about in the merit of Yitzchak Avinu. Eliyahu, the gilgul of Yitzchak Avinu, therefore serves to help Klal Yisrael emerge victorious from this galus. He went to rouse the Avos and Moshe Rabbeinu to rescue the Jewish people from Haman’s decree. He informed us that the gezeirah had been sealed only in cement, not in blood, and could therefore be overturned. He revealed to Mordechai that fasting and doing teshuvah could abolish the evil decree. It was he who understood Esther’s reasoning in inviting Haman to her party. And it was he who, in the guise of Charvonah, advised Achashveirosh of the gallows on which to hang Haman.

This Charvonah, spelled with a hey, who was none other than Eliyahu HaNavi impersonating Charvona, is zachur la’tov, because he is, in fact, none other than Eliyahu HaNavi zachur la’tov.

May we be zocheh to have Eliyahu HaNavi zachur la’tov herald the news of the arrival of the geulah sheleima b’mheira b’yameinu, Amen.

1 Amazingly, Eisav also came back as a gilgul — as Zimri. Pinchas, as the gilgul of Yitzchak, who had been fooled by Eisav, rectified this by returning and killing Zimri.

Feel.Grow.

Haman and Today’s Battle Against Amalek

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

After an overwhelming week at work, Daniel decides to go on a nature hike to recharge. Without letting anyone know of his plans, he heads off into the mountains. As he is enjoying the view and the peaceful quiet around him, he suddenly slips and tumbles off the edge of a cliff. He plunges downwards but somehow manages to grasp onto a branch jutting out of the cliff face. He clings to the branch for dear life, trying not to look down at the ravine below.

As his life flashes before his eyes, he is struck by a disheartening thought: “I am alone. Nobody knows I am here, and I have no way of escaping. I am going to die.”

He begins to take stock of his life, thinking about the good times he’s had and what he has managed to accomplish in his short existence. He thinks about his family and how much they are going to miss him. Just then, a rope soars past his head, hanging directly in front of him. After a moment’s shock, he grabs the rope and holds on for dear life as someone on the other end begins to pull him up over the cliff edge.

As Daniel reaches the top, he is still gasping and amazed at the fact that he just survived. He immediately asks the man who saved him, “How did you know that I was hanging off the edge of the cliff and needed rescuing?” The man stares back at him blankly and says, “I didn’t. This morning, I randomly decided to practice throwing ropes over cliff faces.”

There are two reactions that Daniel can have to this series of events. He can recognize the miracle that just occurred, thanking G-d for sending him salvation when all hope seemed lost. Or he can

laugh at the unlikely coincidence that this man decided to practice rope-throwing the same exact day that he fell over a cliff face, thankful that he happened to get lucky this time.

This is the exact decision we face in every moment and aspect of life, and this theme runs through the entire Purim story.

Haman and Our Battle Against Amalek

As we approach Purim and our victory over Haman, let us delve deeper into the unique spiritual and existential battle

that the Jewish people must continue to wage against the philosophy of Amalek. As a descendant of Amalek, Haman continued their legacy of Jewish obliteration.

As the Maharal explains, Amalek rejects Hashem’s connection to this world or any connection between the spiritual and the physical. Essentially, Amalek denies Hashem’s control of this world and the ability for man to uplift himself to the level of the spiritual. Torah is the epitome of both of these principles, and it provides the guidelines for how to achieve this spiritual elevation. It is based on the axiom of Hashem’s connection with this world,

and it is the means for elevating ourselves and all of physicality to a higher purpose. Amalek stands in direct opposition to this, and when they saw that the Jewish people were ready to adopt the Torah way of life, they had no choice but to attack. Amalek’s entire existence is predicated on a lack of connection between Hashem and this world; therefore, an acceptance of that principle would mean the cessation of Amalek’s existence. Amalek therefore attacked the Jewish people in order to prevent Matan Torah – to stop the world from accepting Hashem’s Torah and the truth that lies within it.

Let us delve deeper into the spiritual nature of Haman in order to understand our battle against Amalek on an even deeper level.

“Ha’min Ha’eitz ” –the Source

of Haman

The essence of Haman, the person who most potently expressed the characteristics and mission of Amalek, is revealed in a very strange discussion in the Gemara (Chullin 139b). The Gemara asks, “Where is Haman found in the Torah?” Before we discuss the Gemara’s answer, it is essential that we fully understand the nature of this question. After all, Haman was a man, not a halachic principle, so why is it important to find a source for Haman in the Torah?

Torah is not simply a guide to living a life of truth; it is the blueprint and DNA of this physical world. In other words, our physical world is a projection and emanation of the deep spiritual reality described in the Torah. This is the meaning behind the famous Midrash that says, “Istakel b’Oraisa u’bara alma – [Hashem] looked

into the Torah and used it to create the world” (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1). Torah is the blueprint of the world; the physical world is an emanation and expression of Torah, the spiritual root of existence.

To illustrate this concept, imagine a projector. The image that you see on the screen emanates from the film in the projector so that everything you see on the screen is simply an expression of what is contained within the film. So too, every single thing that we see and experience in the physical world stems from the spiritual world – the transcendent dimension of Torah. This is what the Gemara means by “Where is Haman found in the Torah?” Haman’s spiritual root as well must be found within the Torah, and by understanding this source, we can understand his spiritual nature and purpose.

The Gemara answers: “Ha’min ha’eitz.” Ha’min shares the letters as Haman. Right after Adam and Chava sinned, they were embarrassed, so they hid behind a bush. Hashem then asks them, “Ha’min ha’eitz – Did you eat from the tree?” (Bereishis 3:11). Let us try to understand the profound meaning of this Gemara.

Before Adam sinned, he was on an angelic level, almost perfect. He saw reality through a crystal-clear lens; his body itself was transcendent, and he lived in the spiritual realm of Gan Eden. However, once Adam sinned, his entire existence, his body, and the world itself fell to a lower, incomparably more physical level. The physical no longer revealed the spiritual; it now hid it instead. Once he ate from the Eitz HaDaas, his spiritual vision became distorted, and he became confused. At this point, he tries to do the impossible: he tries to hide from Hashem. The problem is obvious: How can Adam expect to hide from Hashem? He knows fully well that this is impossible, but he does so because he is confused. Evil and doubt have become mixed into his very self. While he knows this behavior is ridiculous, a small voice of doubt within him whispers, “Maybe it is possible to hide from Hashem.” In fact, it was the very shame and embarrassment of having eaten from the Eitz HaDaas that made him want to hide from Hashem. He was hiding from the truth – from the consequences of his actions.

However, deep down, Adam hoped that Hashem would come and tell him that everything will be OK, that Adam would be able to recreate the closeness to Hashem that he previously possessed, and that everything would go back to the way it was. This was the true pain of Hashem’s response: “Ayekah, where are

you?” “Ha’min ha’eitz, [did you eat] from the tree?” The moment Adam acts as if Hashem can’t see him, i.e., the moment he relates to Hashem with doubt and uncertainty, Hashem responds in kind. This is because Hashem relates to us in exactly the way we relate to him. As the pasuk says, “Hashem tzilcha — Hashem is your shadow” (Tehillim 121:5). However you relate to Hashem, He will mirror (Nefesh Hachaim 1:7).

this world. Our challenge is to see past the surface, to see the miraculous within the natural, the ethereal within the mundane, and the infinite within the finite.

A Timeless Battle

Amalek fights for a God-less reality, devoid of spirituality and meaning; a world of Haman, of doubt, where a gap exists between us and Hashem. Only when you look closer, deepening your

It is this question itself that represents the gap between us and Hashem, a gap that Amalek battles to keep open.

Ayekah, a question of doubt and uncertainty, would become the foundation for all of history. Ayekah has the same letters as “Eichah,” the Megillah we read describing the destruction of the Jewish People’s connection with Hashem. Our destruction is the direct result of denying Hashem’s connection to the world, acting as if He does not see what occurs here. The question of “Ha’min ha’eitz ” is the source of Haman, the source of Amalek, the source of all doubt and uncertainty in this world. Hashem asks, “Did you eat from the tree?” as if He does not know. It is this question itself that represents the gap between us and Hashem, a gap that Amalek battles to keep open, a gap that the Jewish people must forever strive to close.

Hashem Isn’t Mentioned in the Megillah

Megillas Esther is unique in that it is one of the only books in Tanach in which Hashem’s name is not mentioned. This is because Purim marks a transition in history, when our battle against Amalek manifested in a new form. Until Purim, history was permeated with consistent open miracles, nevuah was common, and Hashem was openly revealed in the world.

The second stage, ushered in by Purim, is characterized by hidden miracles. In our present world, Hashem is no longer openly manifest and clearly visible. In this stage, we must choose to see Hashem within the darkness – to peer past the façade of a meaningless world. It is in this stage that Amalek’s claims are all the more tempting to believe, as it is so easy to ignore Hashem’s involvement in

gaze, do you see the deeper layer of reality, the transcendent root. Hashem is Echad – One – and our goal is to see the spiritual oneness inherent within every event and object in this world. Amalek seeks to hide the truth, to disconnect us from our Source, and thus to strip all meaning from life. Only when we see past the surface,

when we trace everything that happens in this world back to Hashem, our spiritual Source, will we ultimately defeat Amalek and all that they stand for.

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

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

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

By tjh Staff (Not aI verSIoN)

Takanah Terminal Comes to the Five Towns

After years of opposition to development of The Sixth Town on the Woodmere Golf Course, the plan has been scratched, and the golf course will be transformed into something else entirely: A Takanah Terminal.

The Woodmere Golf Course is the perfect place for Takanah Terminal because there is space for multiple runways. There will be a total of six runways – one will service everyone from the Five Towns and five other runways will be for people from Lakewood who fly here in their private jets to dine out in Fuego, which is not called Fuego but everyone knows it’s Fuego because they want you to know it’s Fuego but they don’t want to call it Fuego.

“This terminal will help defray the cost of people having to pay for Ubers to go to Kennedy Airport when they fly to Vail for the mini winter vacation between Chanukah vacation and the January winter vacation,”

said Jonathan Nimby, who is overseeing the project.

Takanah Terminal will also have a chassidishe shteeble led by one of Rabbi Spiegel’s sons-in-law.

One excited jetter told TJH, “Now I can have my daughter go to Israel on my private jet to deliver pizza to chayalim. While there, she will also do the great chessed of sitting through a private Ishay Ribo concert. Because it’s important to teach your kids empathy.”

One Miami ECAP-bound flyer with a Ferragamo belt and a buckle the size of Alaska noted, “I’ve come a long way since I agreed to go to a farher at Rabbi Zweig’s yeshiva just so I can check out Miami Beach.”

As a takanah terminal, there will be rules to keep the costs down and the modesty up.

Food pictures will not be allowed. You don’t have to take pictures of every gluten-free avocado sandwich that you eat. We get that you are gluten-free between outings to Doma.

Another restriction is that if you are from the Five Towns, you may not call your plane a PJ. That is too Lakewood. Many still suffer from the trauma of the Five Towns becoming Brooklyn; we can’t become Lakewood just yet.

To keep up to the standards of the Five Towns baalebus (if you don’t know what that is…it looks similar to a small school bus), there are certain learning requirements if you want to use Takanah Terminal: besides for going to Eli Stefansky’s Daf Yomi shiur, you have to carry a Chayeinu that looks like it came out of a washing machine. And it can’t be the pink one – way too feminine looking.

Takanah Terminal will also have two heliports. This way, if you forget to send your ten-year-old a meat platter in camp, you can fly it to him on erev Shabbos. Otherwise, visiting day is going to feel a lot longer than it already is.

Having a terminal so close to home is also useful if you happen to be on Instagram and some influencer tells you that “you must check out this remote island resort.” Now, you can instantly fly there and be just as miserable as you are at home.

(There I go with the mussar shmooze: “money doesn’t make you happy” … “but it sure helps.” Wow! That’s two bowls’ worth of cholent wisdom!)

One nice feature about taking off from Takanah Terminal is that you can circle the Five Towns a few times so your friends see you in your private jet. How will they see you up in the air, you wonder. Don’t worry, they’ll see your belt buckle! It’s bigger than a UFO.

Why do you think that there have been so many UFO sightings recently? Because yeshiva guys started flying private.

Nobody can fool the government better than yeshiva guys can… PPP… I mean poo, poo, poo.

Around the community

Javier Milei Visits Darchei

Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, visited Yeshiva Darchei Torah this week while here for his bi-weekly trip to the Ohel (yes, we know the pre-Covid cookies are back; everyone can chill now).

While surrounded by Rabbi Bender, Rabbi Bender, Rabbi Bender, and Rabbi Baruch Rothman, Milei met the students who greeted him with chants of “felicidades y buena suerte ” on his new position.

Javier was then taken on a parade route through the Five Towns in Joey Newcomb’s station wagon. They played Joey’s new song about one note. (I don’t get what the big deal is. I always sing in one note – the wrong one.)

The procession moved pretty quickly because Javier tends to go eighty MPH in a thirty zone. In fact, in high school, he was voted mostly likely to need a haircut and to lose his license due to red light violations.

Milei paid a visit to The White Shul and took a tour of the tunnel that some attempted to dig from Rabbi Neuberger’s house to the shul. However, Milei was scared away when Shemoneh Esrei started and a burly fellow announced, “Shut your cellphones or this will be the last anyone hears from you!”

Perhaps The White Shul should just put up a sign about it; they like signs.

Once we are talking about signs and The White Shul, instead of a “Mi Keamcha Yisroel” sign, perhaps they should consider a “I’ve been waiting to make a left out of this parking lot for 20 minutes already. Can one person be kind enough to let me go?” sign.

The parade procession in Javier’s honor then stopped for 45 minutes at the corner of Central Avenue and Doughty Boulevard, waiting for the traffic light to turn green. People lined the rooftops – even the really high

ones – to see the South American president who repeatedly shouted, “I love you!” to the adoring audience.

When the light finally turned green for three seconds, the parade made its way up Central Avenue.

Since Javier only speaks Spanish and Joey only knows Chinese, they were unable to discuss too much in the station wagon. But Joey was smart and hooked a hard left on Lawrence Avenue to get a quick Penemius injection for Javier at Khal Mevakshei Hashem Happy Clappy Thank You Hashem Rabbi Zakutinsky’s Shul.

For many people on the parade route – especially Agudah types – it was their first time at KMHTYHHCRZ. In honor of the visit, the Blumsteins paid tribute to Javier by writing a Spanish album for him. The singer on this album is a young Five Towns star by the name of Angel Cuevas.

Some who have never been to KMH were surprised to see that each parking spot says, “Reserved for a Big Tzadik.”

“What? Every Yid is a big Tzadik?” wondered one Litvak who joined the parade route.

“Yes!” replied the KMHTYHHCRZ-er.

“Really? Even Bernie Sanders?!”

“Yep, even Bernie Sanders.”

“Even George Soros?”

“Yep, including Soros.”

“Even your neighbor?”

“Oh, him… well, let’s just say that he ain’t exactly on the back of the wagon of the Baal Shem Tov!”

The truth is, although Bernie Sanders is permitted to use a spot at KMH, there’s no way Bernie is going there. There are way too many fumes…from their big, white pickup trucks.

One parade-goer was excited that he finally found the real men in town at KMHTYHHCRZ – big pickup trucks, Hatzalah lights, fire chiefs, guns, ammo. Then he went inside and saw them dancing around the bimah every time someone made an asher yatzar.

The Penemius injection worked. In fact, by the time Javier got to Central Avenue and Rockaway Turnpike, he felt a sudden need for hisbodedus.

But where can one find a forest to do hisbodedus smack in the middle of town?

Well, what do you know? There’s a forest right there…

Very Juice!

Javier went in and found a thicket of trees to contemplate life…between one group of people talking about Aviator Nation socks and the other talking about Gucci scarves.

Javier then went next door to Rita’s for some quick brain freeze and was excited that they too have a forest for hisbodedus – for people who are more comfortable climbing the walls.

Continuing up the street, Javier walked into Mur.

“Hey, where’s your forest?” he cried, to which they replied, “Wow! Great idea! OK, we are closing for construction…putting in a forest everyone!!”

By the time Javier got to Zundel Berman’s, he was

Around the community

giving out Breslov pamphlets… “Don’t worry about a thing because every little thing is gonna be alright.” (That’s a Matisyahu song.)

Ah, you want to know what happened to Joey?

He was arrested by the Argentinian guards for turning their dear president into a M-Mi-Mil-Milei Uman-going, pamphlet-distributing, Na-Nach-chanting Breslover.

Joey’s punishment?

He was sent down south to be the president of Argentina.

Zelensky Shops on Central Avenue

In town to raise money on Purim, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky visited the Under 5’10 clothing store in Cedarhurst, looking to replace his green undershirt. Although they didn’t have any clothing that was ugly enough for him, they offered him a free lunch at 550.

“$550?” he cried. “I get minimum $550,000,000 for a photo-op.”

Before the negotiations continued, though, a redglassesed gabbai from Hachaim Vehashalom came by looking for a tenth man for the 2:01 (and thirty seconds) Mincha. Although he declined at first, Zelensky agreed to go when he heard that at Hachaim Vehashalom he can grab a Mincha and enjoy some kibbeh at the same time. And, of course, he could get Pesach candies all year.

If you think that’s crazy, it’s completely normal for the Five Towns. Even in Yeshiva Gedolah, they offer Shacharis and shakshuka; in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, they have Selichos and Slurpees. (I’m joking – they don’t.)

Zelensky asked to daven for the amud, but the minimum height requirement was 5’11”. The Ukrainian president was given a tour of Hachaim Vehashalom and was shown a rendering of their expansion plans, which includes taking over Cedarhurst Park. The plan is not only to have extra space for additional minyanim and a full food court but also to expand its gaming operations by adding several more Wheel of Fortune machines. Those plans, though, have hit bumpy ground because Mets owner Steve Cohen refuses to move the Mets horse from the park, especially now that the Mets have joined the Five Towns Little League.

Rav Daniel Obadia promised Steve Cohen and the Mets tremendous yeshuot if they compromise. However, some things are beyond hope. Namely, the Mets.

While Zelensky was touring town, they made sure to keep Putin away. Rabbi Berel Lazar commissioned Rabbi Wolowik to take him to the Ohel.

While driving on Brookville Boulevard towards the Ohel, Putin observed: “Let me get this straight, you guys built this road two inches below swamp level and you think that Russia is backwards?”

Putin was also intrigued by the brick and stone store on the corner of Brookville Blvd. “It’s a great place for a brick store – they even have free parking…in Jamaica Bay!”

ZELENZKY’Z FIVE ZTAR FASHION

“We have styles to fit every need.”

Brought to you by:

Front Line Fashions

Sukkah Building

$50 Billion Appeals

We’ll make your friends green with envy. “O’live in it and O’love it!”

Viyzchleskov Gordovskiskviliyashnov, a satisfied customer

Weddings

Location:

“Tanks to these shirts, I am ready for any mission.”

Viyzchleskov Gordovskiskviliyashnov, (Not related to the other satisfied customer)

Around the community

Upon arrival at the Ohel, Rabbi Wolowik did not want people to notice Putin, so they put a white yarmulka on him and gave him a leather jacket. Everyone thought that he was just another guy who is a driver for Masada Car Service coming to the Ohel for not-Covid cookies.

Eventually, people realized that he was just Putinit-on.

George Santos to Run For Mayor of Lawrence

Disgraced former Congressman George Santos has announced that he is running for the mayor of Lawrence. Santos, who is Jew-ish, sent out his announcement to Lawrence residents in Hebrew. (Please beware: the announcement notification is shaimos.)

Santos explained in his bio that he is the best choice for the mayoral position because his grandfather was the founder of Beth Sholom. He also claimed that his father had a kosher burger joint at the Lawrence Golf

Club. Evidence is found in old pictures from 1965 that show a sign at the golf course that reads “Santos Kosher Burger Joint,” but people who frequented the golf course at the time say that there was indeed a kosher burger place built at the course in 1962 but it never actually opened. They also point out that the owner’s name was actually Mendel Goldberg, and he named the restaurant after his burger flipper named Santos, which sheds light on another potential fabrication by Chaim Yankel (George) Santos.

Santos said that the claims about his history here are true and any claims of fabrication are coming from people in the Village trying to prevent him from cutting the line of people waiting to be mayor.

Santos hit the ground running and campaigned

throughout town. He insisted on stopping in Jews Meat Market, which is the official local hip-hop chapter of the ADL. At Traditions, he gave a speech about Jewish tradition from Moses to Sandy Koufax. He also went to Chosen Island, because he is one of the chosen people. He was greeted by Younis, and they each wished each other a “Good Shabbos, baruch Hashem!” He refused to go to Upper Crust, though, because “I am with the people, not the elites!” In addition, he visited Very Jews, Jew-nees, and Molly’s Jew-elry shop. He made a special visit to David’s Pizza, since he claims to be a direct descendant of Dovid Hamelech.

He then made his way to Jew-lett and visited Trader Jews. When someone pointed out that Jew-Lett is not part of Lawrence, Santos replied that if it feels like it’s part of Lawrence, then it is part of Lawrence.

Gourmet Glatt Offers New Herring Flavors

Always at the cutting edge of what their customers are looking for, Yoeli Steinberg of Gourmet Glatt recently unveiled the newest herring flavors: Ozempic Shmaltz, Wegovy Shtiglitz, and Mounjaro Matjes.

After extensive testing, kiddush club members who pounded this herring through haftorah were less likely to eat by the Shabbos seudah and lost considerable weight. Yoeli recommends starting with one container the first week and gradually working your way to four containers. Pharmaceutical companies are reporting record profits coming out of Long Island, Monsey, and Lakewood.

Whereas Five Towns men used to stuff their faces at various restaurants, now they get their satisfaction from just a few pieces of herring.

One user told TJH, “In the past, my wife would send me to Gourmet Glatt to pick up something for her, and the next thing I knew, I would find myself in Carlos & Gabby’s instead. That doesn’t happen anymore. I even left my Carlos & Gabby’s WhatsApp group.”

Please don’t judge him for being on the Carlos & Gabby’s group chat. You want him to be on the Five Towns’ bikers’ chat when he wants to go out to eat? Those biker guys would walk into the restaurant and the whole place would instantly gag!

Trust me, you'd rather they just ride to Ronkonkoma. Don’t worry about their triumphant return down Central Avenue when they pedal with their heads on a swivel, making sure that everyone is checking them out. It’s OK to look at them; they are an interesting specimen.

And besides, you look at everybody…and so does everyone else.

Let’s be honest, do you really need to know who is in the Honda Odyssey near you every time you are at a red light?

It’s either someone who is exactly like you – dropping off three kids at night seder, two at Harmony, and taking one to Seasons Express because she is too young to be in Harmony – or it’s a middle-aged man from China.

Those are the only two options. Nobody else drives Odysseys.

And, I’ll give you a clue how you know if it is a frum person in the Odyssey: if there is a dancing pickle bumper sticker on the back of the van.

And then you wonder why people think we are strange. A gentile thinks for four years before putting a “Don’t tread on me” or NRA bumper sticker on their pick-up truck, and we slap pickle bumper stickers on our cars before the ink dries on our leases.

JEW-ISH JEW-ISH

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: GEORGE SANTOS

When you walk the boardwalk, make sure you touch the gate on each lap, otherwise the lap doesn’t count

Whenever you go to a hotel, think about how non-Jews sleep with these little flimsy sheets as their blankets

Always wear black, even in the summer

By red lights, always make sure to check out who’s in the car near you

Join every single WhatsApp group because it’s totally worth scrolling through 1,000's of dumb messages because maybe once in 6 months you will get a bottle of soy sauce for free from someone who is moving (as long as you pick it up from porch in Woodmere in 20 minutes)

Tips for playing better Jewish geography, including tips on how to start and finish the game

The significance of having 17 dips at very meal

Some always travel with hot sauce; when you are Jewish, you always travel with corn-thins or rice cakes

How to sneak Traditions into Citi Field

Around the community

Maybe now that we are all applying for gun licenses, can we cut down on the pickle bumper stickers and get a little more serious?

I’m not saying to put on a Second Amendment bumper sticker. You can even start with a sticker advertising that there is a Mincha on the half hour at The White Shul.

I’m not talking to you, biker guys. We know you are very tough. You bike every Sunday morning for four hours, while your wife does two carpools, picks up the stuff from the tailor, does the food shopping, and tries to get down Peninsula, all while trying to keep tabs on who the people in the Honda Odyssey are near her. But you are the tough one.

Instead of biking to Ronkonkoma, try some Ozempic herring…same result, same smell, less stress.

Moose Knuckles Gemach Raising Self-Esteem

A Moose Knuckles gemach (l’zecher nishmas Reb Shaya ben Reb Moshe) has signed a lease with the vacant Amazing Savings store to open their first brick and mortar coat gemach. With inflation high, meat board prices rising, and Teslas becoming more expensive than ever, families are turning to the gemach to get their kids the “must have” Moose Knuckles gear.

One happy client exclaimed, “For a long time, my son refused to do anything because he didn’t have a Moose Knuckles coat. But now he feels so good about himself again.”

The shopper explained that she purchased a book on Amazon about how to raise her child’s self-esteem. The whole book was six words: Get…him…a…Moose… Knuckles…coat. (If you don’t get the joke, you actually

should get some self-help books.)

But one critic of the gemach told TJH, “These people are behind the times.”

He explained that Moose Knuckles are on the way out; that’s why everyone is walking around with big, boxy, long fabric coats. “Don’t you get it? See the trend –after a while, it is no longer cool to have the expensive-looking coat. Fashion is cyclical. It is becoming cool to have the grunge look. So if you really want to stay ahead, ditch the Moose Knuckles and take a deep dive into the NCWJ thrift shop.” (Just make sure that you wear a mask; Covid is raging.)

Although for now the gemach is still up and running because some want to experience the self-esteem that comes once you don a Moose Knuckles, within a year, most Moose Knuckles coats will be on shipments to the Houthis, along with the losing Super Bowl team’s gear.

Admit it, you are proud that you knew that the losing Super Bowl team’s gear is shipped to third-world countries. In fact, when there’s like seven minutes left to the Super Bowl and they advertise that the winning team’s gear is available, you proudly tell your son this incredible fact about what they do with the losing team’s gear. Never mind you just bet his mother’s diamond ring away on BET EMG!

You should have stuck to good apps like All Daf. That’s educational. In fact, it’s a study for the ages –thousands of ADHD men getting together and learning a daf every day by a teacher who is… “Alrrrerrriiiiiiggggghht Raaaabboooosai. Let’s learn!”

Now, you think that I’m trying to show off that I do Daf Yomi. No, if I wanted to raise my self-esteem, I would just get a coat from the Moose Knuckles gemach and stick some extra ptcha in the lining. I happen to have gone to R’ Eli Stefansky’s shiur once or twice.

Why?

Because I was hoping that maybe it would make my hair grow back.

Why am I obsessed with my hair?

Because I want to give a Daf Yomi shiur, and you need a full head of hair to give a Daf Yomi shiur.

The truth is, I’d prefer Aaron Rodgers’s Dirshu shiur. The only problem is that he lost his voice after saying four words.

Elon Musk Moves to Woodsburgh

After a long search for a new place to call home, Elon Musk announced on X that he is moving to the Five Towns. He explained that the decision came down to the Five Towns or Lakewood because the most Teslas are sold in those locations.

For a Meaningful Minute, Elon thought of moving to North Woodmere, thinking that’s where he would have his best shot at being an Inspiration to the Nation, alongside Mordy Shap. Living L’Chaim would also be easier in North Woodmere because they serve the best scotch. However, he is not an exact fit for North Woodmere because he wears socks, and they are into longer names than he is: they have a shul called “Kodesh.”

Why such a long name? X is long enough.

Whoever gave that shul such a long name?

There is a science to branding. If you don’t know it, go read in Ami Magazine about the yeshiva guy gazillionaire who built a $70 million branding company by the time he was 22. Then you can read about how he deals with stress by doing 20 Eli Stefansky Daf Yomi sit-ups. (Just in case you weren’t feeling inadequate enough already.)

Musk also considered moving to Toms River. However, a kol koreh went out against him because his name sounds way too Zionistic. He was told that his name would need to be changed from Elon to Elya...or Ex^Y+*. In addition, they made him promise to open Beis Medrash Ha-Elyon and that his wife wouldn’t wear a lacetop sheitel.

Musk ended up settling in Woodsburgh so he can daven at Vayigdal Moshe because he likes Reb Bono…I mean Reb Ari.

Around the community

Elon also likes Woodsburgh because he recently got hooked on zeppolies from Pizza Pious.

Let’s stop for a minute for a quick life-lesson:

One man makes sugar dough that is deep fried and battered in oil and makes little kids who mumble some brachos feel like they went to the moon. The other by mistake spent $40 billion to buy Twitter and has to deal with exploding rockets and self-driving vehicles driving over cliffs. Who do you think is happier?

Discuss…

Musk also likes the area because he can record his next podcast with Joe Rogan from Yismach Moshe, now that Sid Rosenberg stopped by and approved the acoustics. Rogan and Musk could also order pizza from one of the 15 pizza shops in the Five Towns if they get hungry. (Go ahead, count!)

And, with Takanah Terminal nearby, Elon can launch his latest rocket into oblivion.

Oh, and if you give $5 to Oorah, you will have a chance to have a cardboard cutout of yourself go up in Elon’s next rocket.

Although he loves the Five Towns, Musk is not interested in becoming Jewish, though, because he wants to continue to be able to go to the Bagelry – which is not kosher, even though they try to trick us with the conspic-

uous bags of kosher deli chips. Imagine having a bagel shop all to yourself; you wouldn’t have to wait on line and hear a half conversation about how Aunt Lucy loves the Bristol.

Maybe now that Musk is in town, he can figure out why the railroad crossing always goes down for no reason on Rockaway Turnpike.

Or why it goes up and then quickly goes down again –psych! You thought you would get home in time to go to the bathroom!

Is there some ghost train that comes by to buy pizza in BOGO or something? Or, is that cemetery as creepy as it looks?

Howard Schultz Becomes a Venti Baal Teshuva

When his private jet was diverted to Takanah Terminal, Starbucks founder and president Howard Schultz inquired about the best coffee in town and was quickly routed to the Agudah of Long Island, located on Balsam Court in Far Rockaway. (Not to be confused with the Agudah of West Lawrence, which is actually East Lawrence, depending on your perspective.)

Upon tasting the coffee, Schultz instantly became a baal teshuva and checked into the Shaar program.

Now, in Starbucks shops across the nation, in addition to Pike Place Brew, all stores are brewing Balsam Court Roast.

It’s good that you can get an early morning cup of Balsam Court in the Agudah because their vasikin minyan is the slowest in town – their “tzur Yisroel ” is longer than

Aish Kodesh’s and they don't even sing it.

No, I’m not showing off that I daven vasikin there. I’m not such a tzaddik. I only daven there when I need to fly out early in the morning (yes, on my private jet). It’s actually amazing that there are people who daven that early every single day! I do it once a year and I’m winded; no matter how hard I try, I could never be one of these “mow your grass in your black hat” types.

Now that he is an Orthodox Jew, Schultz raised the price of coffee to $17.99 a cup because he has chasunas to make.

Well, he could make weddings in The Sands, which offers great wedding packages. The nice thing about The Sands is that maybe the back will be open during the wedding, and guests can sneak onto the beach for a nice view.

Which begs the question: Why don’t they let guests go out back to see the beach? Are they worried that they will steal some sand or something?

I guess if you want to keep your look, you need to protect it. How else do they have the same waiters who look like they have been the same age for the past 30 years?

Now that there is EZ-Pass on Atlantic Beach Bridge, it is also easier to get to The Sands. You no longer have to back up after going to the tollbooth that says “decals only.” No, I don’t know what a decal is either, but I know that I don’t have it. So why would I go to that tollbooth?

Even though EZ-Pass is convenient, I feel bad for the toll collector at Atlantic Beach Bridge. That position is officially extinct. Gone. Kaput. Sayonara. Dos v’danyana.

The former toll collector is now practicing doing doughnuts with his 1992 Camaro in the abandoned Macy’s parking lot in Smithtown.

He had a good run, though.

International Beard Competition

The annual Interna tional Beard Competi tion was held in the Five Towns last week. There was one contestant and he won: Alex Clare.

The Wandering Jew Great Britain

Part I: Manchester

By Hershel Lieber

Though I have visited England three times – twice alone and once with Pesi – London was always the final destination. In my mind, I was forever looking for an opportunity to visit other cities and regions but somehow, for various reasons, it never happened. Manchester’s attraction was to spend time there and connect with the large Jewish Orthodox community that this Northern English city possesses. Scotland had a different appeal to me. The distinctive Scottish culture, history and even language fascinated me and beckoned me to come.

The best time for us to make any European trip would be just before we go for our annual trip to Poland where I am the shliach tzibbur in Warsaw’s Nozyk Synagogue for the Yomim Noraim. It nearly happened in 2021. We had a bar mitzvah to attend in Manchester late August, about ten days before Rosh Hashana, and I started to make plans to attend it. It was at the tail end of the Covid-19 epidemic, so I consulted with my doctor who was adamant that I should not risk traveling. Reluctantly, I heeded my doctor’s advice and accepted his judgment. Still, I was very disappointed.

At this point, a little background history is in order. The bar mitzvah was for Moishy, the son of Mati and Vanessa Kos. I had written an article about Mati four years ago. I got to know Mati when he was still known as Mateusz in Warsaw when he was a teenager at the Lauder summer retreat in Poland. We connected three times every year during my teaching trips for the summer and winter retreats and again when I came for the Yomim Noraim. I also arranged his bris when he came to the States and he spent time with us. He was very personable and bright. He was interested in Yiddishkeit, but it took nearly two decades until he was totally immersed and

committed to a Torah lifestyle.

Mati eventually enrolled in Ohr Someach’s semicha program where he was awarded the title of Rav U’Moreh B ’Yisroel in the mid-2000s. He married a wonderful woman, Vanessa, whose jour -

They had two children: Esther, who is now in a London seminary, and Moishy, who is learning in a yeshiva in Manchester. I have been constantly in touch with Mati all these years and have kept up with the family’s progress and happenings.

The city does not have that much to offer for tourists unless one is a loyal soccer fan.

ney took her from Berlin to London and ultimately to the States. Mati worked for a while at Aish Hatorah in Passaic, which was followed by a rabbinical position in Hamburg, Germany, and eventually to a teaching/kiruv position for Jewish university students in the Gateshead area.

Fast forward to 2023. Our annual trip to Warsaw was coming up in mid-September, and we committed ourselves to making Manchester a part of our itinerary. We also added Edinburgh, Scotland, to our plans, which would result in a total of eight days in England.

We arrived in Edinburgh on Thursday morning, September 7 and headed straight to the railway station. I had not been able to daven on the plane so I must have been quite a spectacle sitting in the packed Waverly Station wrapped in my tallis and tefillin, davening. Accompanying us were two large suitcases and two wheelies. Our entire trip was just under three weeks, and we needed clothing, yom tov paraphernalia, and some kosher food for Scotland, so we were traveling quite heavily. The train trip to Manchester took just under four hours. We were disappointed that it was drizzling outside so we could not maximize the beautiful pastoral scenery that was unfolding before our eyes. Farmlands with lush green meadows teeming with flocks of sheep and occasional rushing streams kept us glued to our window seats during the entire route.

We arrived at six in the evening with Mati and Vanessa awaiting us at Piccadilly Station. They took over the burden of our luggage as we squeezed into their car. It was a welcome relief to see them after a long arduous journey.

The Koses took us to their home in the peaceful residential neighborhood called Prestwich. There are many religious Jews living there with all the amenities that they require: shuls, schools, kosher food, etc. Mati & Vanessa have a small home so they arranged that we stay at their neighbor Mrs. Lopian, the daughter-in-law of the famed Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian, zt”l. She was a gracious host who insisted that we have our breakfast in her home as well as the evening traditional tea and biscuits. The Shabbos seudos we ate with the Koses – more about that later.

I joined Mati on Thursday night and Friday morning in two different shuls to get the flavor of the local batei midrashim and their mispallelim. Mati, who is now working as a computer analyst, took off

Davening Shacharis in Ediborough’s Waverly Station

at the Lauder Summer Retreat -Michoel Yosef & Rachel Lokietek and their four sons

Friday to take us to the city center to show us the major sights and attractions. Of course, we traveled downtown by way of a double-decker bus. The city does not have that much to offer for tourists unless one is a loyal soccer fan. Nevertheless, we would have felt deprived if we didn’t see what Manchester is about. We rushed back for lunch, and I ran to the mikvah and we readied ourselves for Shabbos.

The shul that Mati davens in is under the leadership of Rabbi Yitzchok Reuven Rubin. I remember Rabbi Rubin as a bochur when he became a Bobover chassid. I was learning in the Bobover Yeshiva at that time and was about 14 or 15 years old. He was a bit older. We knew each other from those years but lost contact when he moved to Israel. I had heard that he became a rav in Manchester and was quite popular. Mati told me that he was excited to meet with me, and he showed his enthusiasm when we finally met. After Kabbalas Shabbo,s he walked us partially back to Mati’s home so that we could catch up on the missing decades. On Shabbos morning, he walked us again while sharing stories and comparing notes. We hit it off very well and have been in touch by email since.

Joining us for Shabbos was Moishy Kos. Esther was in seminary, but we got to meet her in November when she stayed with us after coming for a friend’s wedding in Lakewood. Moishy is a delight. He has his father’s sense of humor and at the same time is very dedicated to learning. He became chassidish over the past few years and speaks a beautiful Yiddish. He identifies with Gerrer chassidus and learns Sfas Emes regularly. We enjoyed a lovely seudah with zemiros and divrei Torah and delicious food. I had an additional treat this Shabbos since it was Moishy’s bar mitzvah parsha, and he leined the next morning at Rav Rubin’s shul. I missed the event two years before but got a repeat performance in my honor.

Joining us at the Koses’s home for the Shabbos morning seudah was Michoel Yosef and Rachel with their four sons. A little history is now due as well.

We met Michoel at the same time that we met his parents, Matisyahu and Margalit, in the early 2000s at the Lauder summer retreat in Poland. I saw Michoel’s dedication to Torah and mitzvos as he followed in the footsteps of his committed parents. It was even odd that he and his father were the only ones wearing black hats in Warsaw’s Nozyk Shul. I spoke to him about going to yeshiva in the States, and he was very excited about the prospect. In 2006, I brought him to the States and registered him in the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore (Chofetz Chaim). Having brought previous students there, I was familiar with the yeshiva’s program and how they would be able to integrate him among their student body. Michoel did very well that first year and he would spend off Shabbosim and many yomim toivim with our family.

Unfortunately, he didn’t do so well his second year there. I sent him to summer camps for two sessions, but he managed constantly to get into trouble. I had many discussions with the yeshiva administration about his future, and the following year, I transferred him to Sh’or Yoshuv. My hope that a new start would bring about a change for the better did not pan out. After various infractions in the dormitory, he eventually returned to Poland. After a short stint back home, his parents enrolled him in the Lauder Business School in Vienna. They hoped that even if they would not be able to safeguard his religious commitment, he would receive an excellent secular education and a professional future. After meeting Rachel at the school, they became engaged and eventually married under the guidance of Dayan Chanoch Ehrentrau in London. Michoel and Ra-

chel started out their lives in Vienna and had four sons. They recently moved to Manchester, England. They lead a strictly Orthodox religious lifestyle with their children attending yeshivos and are a source of great nachas for us. Throughout Michoel’s complex journey, I have been in touch with him and have learned a great lesson about the ability of anyone to make positive changes in their lives.

We were thrilled that they joined us for the seudah, and we renewed our relationship. We were impressed with his bright, albeit lebedige boys. We caught up on their personal lives and were glad that Michoel was financially successful.

The rest of the Shabbos was equally fulfilling. Motzei Shabbos, I was asked by Rabbi Rubin to be the baal tefillah for the first night of Selichos which, baruch Hashem, came out very well.

On Sunday, we shopped for kosher food for the Scotland leg of our trip. Mati and Vanessa drove us to the train station where we sadly parted. Saying goodbye was very hard for us, especially in light of our thirty-five-year relationship with Mati. We look forward to more encounters in the near future.

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.

Touring historic Manchester

Mati Kos gave us a personal tour of Manchester

With Mati Kos

With Michoel Yosef after Selichos

Pesi with Vanessa Kos

With Moishy Kos

With Rabbi Yitzchok Reuven Rubin after Silichos

2019

The angels sing the praises of G-d, and so did our ancestors three thousand years ago when they crossed the Yam Suf. Today, the Jewish nation still sings songs of joy and thanksgiving to the One Above, whether in shul, around the Shabbos table, or at a kumzits. Music is special, for it can reach the soul in a way nothing else can. A song can bring smiles, laughter, or tears to its listeners. A melody can trigger feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality, bringing back memories long forgotten. Music can change everything.

Jewish music has never been more popular or widespread than it is today. With new hits coming out regularly, the frum music genre is developing at a very fast pace, but the classics still remain relevant decades later. In fact, many “oldies” still have a special place in the childhood soundtrack of Jewish boys and girls to -

In His Words…

Abie Rotenberg A Musical Journey

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

day. But few songs have captured the hearts of the masses as strongly as those written by Abie Rotenberg, one of the pioneers of American Jewish music, whose compositions have stood the test of time and have indisputably helped shape the Jewish music industry into what it is today.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Abie Rotenberg grew up in a musical home. His father enjoyed singing and playing piano, and his mother could sing as well. Both of Abie’s parents had fled from Europe before the war, and much of their family was murdered in the Holocaust. The majority of adult Jewish New Yorkers at the time were people who had escaped from Europe, and many Holocaust survivors, who had endured the concentration camps, lived in Abie’s childhood community. America was a new world for everyone.

“We were in America. Life was great.

i hope that i ’ve been able to enhance people’s lives – not just from an entertainment basis – but by inspiring them to grow and to examine the subjects that are spoken about or taught in the Journeys songs.

i don’t know why he [hashem] picked me as a shliach for those songs, but he did, and i’m very grateful for that because there’s no greater feeling when a musician hears his music being played, walks down the street and hears somebody in the car playing his song, or goes to a wedding and the chassan and kallah are walking down to his niggun. There’s really no feeling like it. it’s a sense of accomplishment. it’s gratifying.

a niggun is something special. a niggun can lift you up, it can make you laugh, it can make you dance, it can make you happy, it could make you cry. a niggun can be simple; it doesn’t have to be too complicated to be meaningful.

There was baseball and there were hot dogs, and it was a whole new world that was never seen before for the Jewish people,” explained Mr. Rotenberg.

The Rotenbergs had a record player at home, and music played a big role in young Abie’s life. As a young boy, Abie found himself deeply influenced by the music of Shlomo Carlebach. He also found himself listening to classic folk, rock, and pop music. Besides for a few piano lessons, he taught himself how to play the instrument by ear, and he also picked up guitar along the way. By the mid1970s, Abie Rotenberg had released his first few albums.

Initially, he exclusively composed melodies to accompany the words of Tanach, Chazal, and davening. In fact, he hadn’t begun writing his own lyrics until he was 32 years old, in the early 1980s. At the time, Jewish songs with English lyrics were hard to come by, as most popular songs were written in Hebrew or Yiddish.

Inspired by the high-quality English songs of Megama, Abie Rotenberg decided to try his hand at writing English lyrics, motivated by two things in particular: 1) having been involved in kiruv, he felt that the masses would derive more benefit from music they could understand; and 2) since much of the Jewish people had settled in the United States, English had become the language most were able to connect to and understand best.

And so he set out on a songwriting journey. By 1984, he had crafted the highly successful Journeys Vol. 1, an album about transition and growth. Each song on the album, in some way, contains a story or an idea that pertains to the concept of moving from one place to another, hence the title “Journeys.” From the Sefer Torah – brought from Europe to America – that longs to return to the little wooden shul where it was once cherished (“The Place Where I

Belong”), to the “bums” from the East Side whose love of Torah was born after their rebbi helped them win a Lag B’Omer baseball game (“The Ninth Man”). Or the song about the incredible miracles Hashem has done over the years for his people – from Noach being able to fit all the animals in the teivah to the tiny land of Eretz Yisroel being able to survive and thrive in the face of challenges that seem absolutely insurmountable (“Fantastic Amazing Miracle”). In later iterations of the album, listeners hear the story of Rochel Imeinu (“Mama Rochel”), the tale of a neshama who is scared to go down to Earth and is even more frightened when it comes time for its return to Heaven (“Neshomele”).

“My music was always more about the ideas, the lessons, the concepts, especially my English music,” said Mr. Rotenberg. “I don’t know why He [Hashem] picked me as a shliach for those songs, but He did, and I’m very grateful for that because there’s no greater feeling when a musician hears his music being played, walks down the street and hears somebody in the car playing his song, or goes to a wedding and the chassan and kallah are walking down to his niggun. There’s really no feeling like it. It’s a sense of accomplishment. It’s gratifying.”

Abie Rotenberg has released five volumes of the beloved Journeys album. Most recently, in 2022, he released the fifth iteration of Journeys, eighteen years after the fourth. But aside for Journeys, he has released several other albums, including six volumes of Dveykus, two volumes of Lev V’Nefesh, three volumes of Aish, and four volumes of a children’s audio series titled The Marvelous Middos Machine, which he produced in collaboration with Moshe Yess, a talented musician who was part of the popular Megama Duo and was one of Abie’s greatest friends. In addition to his music, Abie Rotenberg has worked on other creative projects, including a book called

The Season of Pepsi Myers, which is an introduction to Judaism in the form of an entertaining baseball-centered novel, and a sefer on the life of Eliyahu HaNavi.

In terms of his career as a musician, Abie views himself as more of a songwriter than a performer. However, with regard to the music itself, he is arguably far more a teacher than a lyricist. Abie Rotenberg has always strived to infuse meaning into his music, with the goal of teaching people how to act as a Jew should.

“I hope that I’ve been able to enhance people’s lives – not just from an entertainment basis – but by inspiring them to grow and to examine the subjects that are spoken about or taught in the Journeys songs,” he explained.

“I remember Avraham Fried asked me recently, ‘Which song of yours, when you heard it, made you cry?’ And I told him the answer: When those three boys were kidnapped and we were still hoping that there would be a positive resolution, I saw that there were thousands of people at the Kotel, singing my song “Acheinu.” When I first heard that, it made me cry because I saw that people connected to my song… and that they felt that the music was something that would bring their tefillos closer to the Kisei HaKavod,” Abie Rotenberg recalled.

Abie Rotenberg has written hundreds of songs and has released over twenty albums over the past fifty years, but despite his dedication to the art of songwriting, music has always been his side job.

“I feel very fortunate that I never

needed to come out with an album in order to survive financially. If I didn’t want to come out with the album or if I didn’t feel it was ready before Purim, I’d wait until Chanukah. I didn’t care, I wasn’t doing it for parnassah…and I feel blessed for that,” Mr. Rotenberg said.

Always hiding behind his piano, Abie has long resisted adopting the persona of a performer. In fact, at the beginning of his musical career, he was very nervous on stage and would rehearse extensively before concerts in fear of disappointing his audience.

Today, Abie Rotenberg lives in Toronto and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren. Although he is now retired from his family business, he hasn’t stopped putting out music, and he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

He hopes to make a Journeys Vol. 6 once he has enough material for the album, and he continues playing concerts now and then.

“As long as there has been a Jewish nation, music has been an integral component of its history and culture. From the shira sung by our ancestors at the Yam Suf to the brilliant compositions of Dovid Hamelech,” said Abie Rotenberg in his song “We’ve Got The Music.”

“From the exquisite harmonies of the Leviim in the Beis Hamikdash to the musical expressions of faith contained in the melodies of the great chassidic Rebbes of Europe. But in this century, and even more so over in the past thirty years, we have witnessed a virtual explosion of creative Jewish songs…

“Yes, we’ve got the music.”

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.

My Israel Home Modern Day Miracles

By Gedaliah Borvick

Purim is a holiday of hidden miracles. In the Purim story, one can observe the Al-mighty’s Hand stealthily moving the pawns across the global chessboard, delivering salvation to the Jews.

Many street names across Israel serve as a testament to the Purim miracles and G-d’s active, albeit hidden, role in our lives. Take a stroll in Rishon Lezion, and the colorful Purim story will come alive. Some examples of these Purim-themed streets include “Shushan Habira,” the capital of the Persian empire where the story unfolded, the month of “Adar” in which the miracles took place, the heroes “Mordechai Hayehudi” and “Esther Hamalka,” and “Hapur,” the lots which the wicked Haman cast to determine which day to exterminate the Jews.

Today, we continue to experience miracles; let’s focus on two of them.

Despite the slaughter and unspeakably barbaric actions that Hamas terrorists perpetrated against our citizens on October 7 and the agonizing pain that countless people have endured, we have experienced a major miracle, which is arguably the key to Jewish continuity. Achdut, or unity, is an exceptional miracle, especially as we have been known as

a stiff-necked, or stubborn, people.

Throughout the millennia, we have had difficulty remaining united. It is no coincidence that there are so many jokes of the “two Jews, three opinions” genre. And most recently, the terrible rift emanating from the judicial reform issue threatened the very fabric of our nation. The numerous demonstrations and threats did more than merely rattle the country; it emboldened our enemies. Our enemies understandably thought that this division in our country was real, and therefore they were unprepared for Israel’s surprising unity and unwavering national resolve. The positive side of being a stiff-necked nation came to the fore, revealing our united and unrelenting resolve to protect our families and homeland.

Another manifestation of this miracle has been the vast majority of our nation uniting in support of the abducted hostages, our soldiers, and the families forced to relocate during the war. The myriad Jews doing so much for Am Yisrael – such as going on missions, attending rallies, donating funds, advocating on social media, picking vegetables, returning to serve in the army, sending gear, making tzitzit, purchasing tefillin,

and saying Tehillim – all serve as the glue that is bonding and unifying us in these challenging times.

Last week, I had the privilege to watch our national resolve and unity firsthand at the Israel housing fairs in Teaneck and the Five Towns. Outside, the commotion generated by hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters, many of whom were chanting hate-filled slogans, and proud Pro-Israel counter-protestors, plus a gigantic police presence, all combined to create disturbing mental images. Inside the fairs, I heard things that I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. I met dozens of people comparing these days to Germany in 1933. I met children of survivors who see the writing on the wall, and I met the granddaughter of a survivor who recently passed away at the age of 97 and right before he took a turn for the worse pleaded with her to move to Israel.

This shocking experience helped me – and I’m sure many others – appreciate the remarkable miracle of the State of Israel.

In 1939, British Mandatory Palestine implemented the infamous White Paper to impede Jewish immigration, and most of the ships that attempted to smuggle

Jews into the Holy Land to escape the Nazis were forced to return to Europe, where almost all of these people perished along with over six million of their brethren in the Holocaust.

Today, Israel’s borders are wide open to welcome Jews back to their homeland where our two Temples proudly stood until almost 2,000 years ago, and where the third and eternal Temple will be built. This safe haven for all Jews is truly a miracle. My great-grandparents who fled Russia and its state-sponsored pogroms in the early 1880s could never have imagined in their wildest dreams that, less than a hundred years later, we would establish the State of Israel and build a flourishing country and thriving economy.

Thankfully, the biggest difference between 1933 and 2024 is the miraculous State of Israel, which welcomes home all Jews with open arms.

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.

With Pesach looming in the nottoo-distant future, many families are making plans to go away for yom tov. While some are happy to stay local, many others are scanning the globe for new, exotic locations to fly to. Many of these wonderful, heimishe places like memorable Uganda, nostalgic Vietnam, cheinidik Bangkok, unforgettable Outer Mongolia and the warm shteebles of Iceland involve long, tedious flights.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I hate flying…especially in planes!

I’m a very nervous flyer. I once asked the flight attendant, “How often do these planes crash?”

She said, “Generally, just once!”

To me, flying is the second greatest thrill known to man.

Landing is the first!

It took me many hair-raising flights until I realized that serving coffee on a plane causes turbulence.

Speaking of turbulence, I was once on a plane in middle of a terrible storm. The plane was shaking violently. Everybody thought we were going down. The ashen-faced flight attendant saw my yar -

Fear of Flying

By Country Yossi Toiv

mulke and asked me to do something religious, so I made an appeal!

But I gotta admit some flights do go very smoothly. I remember once, after about three hours, the pilot came over the speaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news. The good news is we’re safely on the ground. The bad news is we never took off!”

up with another way of losing our luggage Don’t get me started on luggage!

I discovered there are two types of luggage: carry-on and lost.

I tell people I own property in Paris… that’s where they sent my luggage!

I once went to the ticket counter and told the lady I wanted a ticket to Miami but I wanted one suitcase to go to Texas,

I discovered there are two types of luggage: carry-on and lost.

Flying always gives me a splitting headache. I usually take two aspirins and keep away from children, like the bottle says!

Long flights get me slightly unhinged. If you see me talking to myself, just ignore me. I’m self-employed, and we’re having a meeting!

BTW, you realize that if it weren’t for the Wright brothers, we’d have to come

one to California, and one to Kalamazoo.

She said, “Sorry, sir, but we can’t do that.”

I said, “Why not? You did it last time!”

Last year, I went to the desk to complain about my lost luggage.

I noticed the guy behind the counter was wearing my suit!

Did you know that at JFK, they recently installed a mezuzah at the baggage

check-in counter?

Now, you can kiss your luggage goodbye!

Oh, and I never fly those cheap, nofrills airlines – like Spirit.

I was once involved in a mid-air disaster… it was my kosher meal. I was gonna throw it out, but the flight attendant explained that in case of emergency, the meatloaf could be used as a flotation device.

For a snack, they handed me a sandwich and told me to take a bite and pass it back.

On one overseas flight, they served dinner buffet-style.

There was no movies, but every now and then, you could see your life flash before your eyes!

The last straw was when the pilot walked down the aisle handing out his resume.

And what’s with these NON-STOP flights? I want my flight to stop…preferably at an airport.

So now, when I fly, I just think about three things: faith, hope and gravity!

Wishing you all a freilichen Purim and ah zeesin Pesach.

What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I’m not sure what to do. I’m dating a guy I really like, and I totally saw myself marrying him. I just noticed online there’s a video of his shul’s Purim seudah last year, and he was stone cold drunk and seemed totally out of control. I’d be so embarrassed if I was his wife, and he was acting like that. I don’t want to embarrass him by bringing it up, but I feel like I have to say something. What’s the best way to go forward with this kind of conversation?

Thank you,

Chana*

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

You seem to want to give him an opportunity to explain himself and provide context perhaps. Why not open up a conversation about Purim celebra-

tions past and present and see where it goes? You could use many avenues to avoid putting him on the spot directly. Talk about your own memorable Purim experiences, what your friends do, how community norms have changed, etc. Then you can see if he is being honest, has regrets, or other reactions.

Learn to get another person to open up by being careful, sensitive, and re -

flecting back his or her words.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

What a difficult situation!

This will offer you a great op -

portunity to practice the art of effective communication. You’re hesitant to bring it up because it feels uncomfortable. Here are some thoughts that might be going through your head right now. What will he think? Will he poo-poo your worries and concerns? Will that lead to an ultimate break-up? Are you just rocking the boat by bringing up this video? Will he shoot you down and say

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.

The Panel

it’s no big deal? What will you do then?

Try to silence these thoughts by telling yourself that Hashem is in control, and as long as you are doing your hishtadlus, everything will work out the way that it’s supposed to.

Bring the conversation up sensitively and explain why it concerned you. Share with him your worries and concerns about drinking, even on Purim. Ask him what he plans to do this year so that such behaviors might be avoided. If he reacts in an awful or insensitive way, perhaps you should explore his middos.

A cave can exist, but only once you know what is inside of it can you analyze whether it is safe to walk in. You are now aware that this guy can have a potential affinity towards inappropriate and rash behavior when he is drunk (the cave). You must explore this further before being completely sure you are comfortable proceeding safely through.

Communicate directly and see where this leads you!

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

Dear Chana, yikes. Seems like he was captured at his worst. These conversations can feel uncomfortable to have, but they are the foundation of every relationship. If you marry him, you will need to communicate many, many times about everything and anything under the sun, whether it makes him feel bad or not.

Communication can often be uncomfortable and feeling “bad” doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. On the contrary, it probably means you’re doing something right.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

It’s incredible to me that in this day and age, there are still some rab -

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Chana,

Thank you for writing in. The best way to move forward is often the hardest way to move forward – with complete transparency and honesty. With gentility and kindness, approach him the truth. Bring him into your emotional world surrounding what you found. Tell him your concerns. A sample script may look something like this.

I have developed strong feelings for

you. I am enjoying dating you and can see myself with you, potentially. I found a video of you online from last Purim. You seemed fairly inebriated, and I am very concerned. I have been sitting with this, and it has been weighing on me. Can we please talk about this?

We sometimes believe we don’t have

banim who condone, or even encourage, this kind of behavior.

Yes, it is a mitzvah to fully experience the joy of Purim, and, if drinking a little wine or alcohol helps achieve a higher level of simcha, that’s perfectly okay.

BUT, getting drunk and acting like a fool is never, ever acceptable. Our Torah demands a high standard of behavior at all times and in all circumstances.

Our Talmud (Eruvin 65B) discusses how you can tell a lot about a person’s character by observing how he behaves under three circumstances: when he drinks, when he has financial dealings, and when he’s angry.

(It sounds better in the Hebrew alliteration: “B’koso, b’kiso, b’kaaso.”)

So, Chana, you need to discuss this with your boyfriend. You could say, “I saw a video online of you at last year’s Purim seudah, and I felt worried when I saw how drunk you were.”

Now, how he reacts will be very important.

Hopefully, his response will be something like, “That is so embarrassing! I let peer pressure affect my good judgement! You can be sure that will

“Alcohol is a perfect solvent. It dissolves marriages, families, and careers.”

never happen again to me!” If so, he’s a keeper.

However, he may respond, “I resent that you were snooping,” or, “Everyone knows you’re supposed to get drunk on Purim,” or, “How I act with my friends is none of your business.” If so, you might want to consider dumping him.

Professional career counselors warn employees to avoid ruining their reputations and their career opportunities, and to never, ever drink alcohol at annual December holiday parties. They wisely remind everyone that “alcohol is a perfect solvent. It dissolves marriages, families, and careers.”

the words or don’t know the best way to go about having a conversation, but I often wonder if this is because it is very hard to be honest and direct and/or we fear the other person’s response. This is something you absolutely need to know about. It could be he had a one off great Purim or he may have a drinking problem. His response will be very telling. Look out for the way he responds. If he is defensive or invalidates your concerns, this is something else to be concerned about. If he listens and shows concern and understanding for the situation you have been put into, this will be very telling of his character as well.

I completely validate not wanting to embarrass someone. But this is your life. And direct and honest conversations need to take place. Every time we confront a difficult situation with honesty and confront our interpersonal fears, I believe we grow as people into our truest and kindest selves. There is no room for “nice” in dating. Replace “nice” with kind and direct. Look your fear in the face, and do this anyway. You will only benefit.

All the best, Jennifer

Parenting Pearls Revealing the Hidden

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

We have a number of illustrated Megillahs for children, and the kids enjoy the pictures even in the off-season. I was passing by when I noticed one was on the floor, and I quickly gestured towards my son to pick it up. Trying to be clever, he asked why and if it was because Hashem’s name was in it. Unthinkingly, I immediately responded, “Yes.” With a smile, he pointed out that Hashem’s name isn’t mentioned in the Megillah. Not wanting to give up, I told him, “Yes, it does,” and I pointed to the brachos printed on the front page.

Purim is noteworthy for the concealment of Hashem’s ever-present presence. As much as Hashem is no less involved in Purim than Pesach, it’s in Pesach that we see open miracles while the Megillah never once mentions Shem Hashem.

There are so many lessons we can learn from the hidden nature of Purim. Hashem’s constant presence was always there, but we could easily miss it. Interestingly, there are many people that are in plain sight, yet we never see them. With children, this may be the child who is never picked during recess, the little

one who never gets playdates, or the teen that never receives the invitation.

Our happiness increases in Adar, and Purim may be the happiest day of the year. Children wait all year for this 24-hour period that they magically bring over into Shushan Purim. Some are even makpid to extend Purim until

pose behind the giving of mishloach manos was not to give to those we were already friends with but to create new bonds. I took this very seriously and went home to tell my mother which new child I wanted to give to. Without telling me, my mother contacted the other mother to give a heads-up and find out

With everyone giving to everyone else (whether you feel close to them or not), it doesn’t take much effort to reach out to one more person.

their junk food has been cleared away for Pesach. Yet, with all this excitement and joy, there are still children that may not feel it deeply. As the festivities swirl around them, they remain just a bit apart.

When I was in elementary school, our teacher taught us that the real pur -

that child’s favorite snack. For the next decade or so, each Purim, we prepared a dedicated mishloach manos with that child’s favorite treat to be given on Purim. Without fail, I received one in return with my favorite snack inside, too. I know that both of us youngsters looked forward to that special mish -

loach manos exchange.

One of the goals of mishloach manos is to create a feeling of togetherness. In the Megillah, we are described as a nation that is “scattered and dispersed” (Esther 3:8). As a nation that prides itself on unity, it’s sad to think that there are those among us that may feel isolated and alone.

Too often, it feels hard to go beyond our comfort level and extend ourselves towards others we don’t know well. But, on Purim, there is something different in the air, and children may find it that much easier to reach out to others. With everyone giving back and forth, Purim opens us up to sharing with those we may not normally speak with or interact.

This can be taken a step further, and we adults can more easily reach out to those in our community. Whether we send mishloach manos or invite someone to our seudah, these are simple ways to show we care.

That Purim Feeling

Isolation feels that much more alone on holidays. While a person may feel left out on a normal day, the pain is that much more acute on a chag when ev-

eryone is spending time together. Children with disabilities, social issues or a different family structure may be more likely to feel excluded, but any child can fit into this category. Some kids are just less popular than others, but they should be no less treasured.

While we often tell children to include those they’re not friends with, it’s very challenging for a child to do so. Not all children feel comfortable speaking with those they don’t know well, and it really does take a lot for a child to go outside their own circle.

Purim is different. Everyone is giving to everyone. While I can’t speak for vehicular traffic, it doesn’t emotionally take much to add one more child to your list. When you’re dressed as a police officer/ballerina/firefighter or famous character, driving around in a car screaming “mishenichnas Adar” and handing out enough sugar to stop an elephant, giving to a less popular child doesn’t sound so strange. With everyone giving to everyone else (whether you feel close to them or not), it doesn’t take much effort to reach out to one more person.

The mishloach manos don’t need to be fancy nor do they need to be expen -

sive. They simply need to be delivered with a smile and a hearty “happy Purim.”

Similarly, the Purim seudah is generally more enjoyable when shared as a group. If it’s not too much work for you to host, then consider adding a family that would otherwise be alone. It may be better to have simpler foods and include a lonely family than to up the menu but limit your company.

Purim is also a special time to show our hakaras hatov to others. Your child’s rebbi/morah puts their full kochos into your child all year long. Purim is a natural time to give them a thank you in whatever way you can. The same can be said for a family’s rav or anyone else who deserves our gratitude.

Receiving Graciously

While we know that Purim stresses giving, it’s only natural that children will focus more on the receiving. Not everyone can afford to buy the more exciting nosh. Other parents make a conscious decision to limit the amount of junk food they put into the mishloach manos. Children (and adults) should always be courteous and cheerful when receiving misloach manos from another

person. It may not be what they like, it may not contain much, but it still comes with feelings of friendship.

It’s normal for children to react before they think. It may be a good policy that children don’t open their mishloach manos in front of others – especially the child they received it from.

Purim Safety

Purim is a time of fun and excitement, but as parents, we still need to be mindful and protect our most precious treasures. Please know where your children are and who they are with. Many have an open door, and people go in and out constantly. In these cases, too, we need to be aware of where our child is and who has access to them, even within our homes.

Review safety instructions for crossing the street, and make sure your child is visible as it gets dark. Purim traffic is even crazier than usual, and the street is that much more hefker. Adults should not drive after drinking, and it’s wise to hand over the keys before the first drink.

I see bochurim travel from house to house, and I can’t even guess how much they’ve drunk. The only clue is

the amount of their stomach contents that I find in front of our property. Whatever your family’s minhag is regarding drinking on Purim, do not give intoxicating beverages to other people’s children. This is especially important because you don’t know who else has already given them a l’chaim. There are many different drinks and delicious flavors of grape juice through which we can see the bracha of “b’gan edan mi’kedem ” fulfilled. It’s important to remember that Purim isn’t about being hefker but about fulfilling the unique mitzvos of the day.

I want to wish all TJH readers a wonderful Purim. It’s been a difficult year, but Adar has always been a time that is propitious for our nation. May all of Klal Yisroel see many yeshuos this Purim as we look forward to preparing for Pesach and the geulah that is soon to come.

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.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, I listen to the kids in the carpool discussing Purim, and I worry they are in for lots of disappointment! They have these grandiose plans of visiting their teachers, all of their friends, and of course, how their costumes are going to be. They are each in families with more than one sibling, and there aren’t enough hours for all that they are planning to do!

I remember Purim being a disappointing holiday as a kid. How can we make Purim fun for them without bursting their fantasy bubbles?

Thanks.

-Carpool Realist

A:Dear Carpool Realist,

Thank you for that very realistic question. This is a situation families all over will be dealing with this Sunday, iy”H!

The truth is, when expectations are high, and those expectations are not met, the feeling one is left with is disappointment.

Life is full of disappointment. The way children process disappointment may be through crying, acting out, yelling about unfairness, or even shutting down. Adults need to remember not to take the process personally. This can be hard, as many times, parents and teachers are trying their best to meet their children’s expectations, and they just can’t meet them all.

Trying to bribe a child to happiness might be a good quick fix, but there is so much to learn from disappointment. A child who experiences a letdown might rage, cry, and have a meltdown, but when they work through it, they come out stronger. The process helps them build resiliency and coping skills. When they

Mrs.

are faced with another disappointment, they begin to realize that they can handle it and can come up with other solutions. They also begin to figure out how to deal with negative emotions.

This does not make handling disappointment easy.

However, not all disappointment is necessary!

If you can plan ahead with your child and help them manage their expectations, their Purim experience might be more exciting.

Ask your child to make a list. Who do they want to visit on Purim? Where do the people live? Is it feasible? Should you give mishloach manos to certain people in advance since you know you will not be able to get there on Purim Day?

If you can plan ahead with your child and help them manage their expectations, their Purim experience might be more exciting.

Remind your child that this is a holiday of giving and the focus should therefore be on who to give to, not just thinking about how much candy and fun food they will get.

Are there any events to keep in mind? Time has a way of disappearing, and having a schedule really helps children understand the realities of the day. Megillah reading and Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik can cut into the day. What time is the seudah? Mapping out a schedule really helps children understand what is happening and when.

Children worry about keeping their foodstuff separate. They want the security of knowing that what came for them will be kept for them. Being proactive means figuring out in advance where food will be kept when it arrives at the door. Children want the food their friends drop off. Can large paper bags or boxes be labeled with individual names so children know the

family will respect their mishloach manos by placing them in the correct place when they arrive?

A long day full of candy might not be the best setup for a happy child. Plan a hearty and healthy breakfast and lunch for your children to eat on Purim so the sugar-laden treats are not the only things being devoured the whole day. They don’t have to be time-consuming foods, just protein-based and filling. (Sandwiches, pasta, chicken nuggets.)

Remember to plan for the children by the seudah. The meal can become overwhelming as the drinking, singing, and dancing intensifies. Does your child need a place to sit and color? Print some Purim pictures in advance. Have some crayons on hand. Make sure there is a place for children to go play if the seudah becomes overstimulating (or understimulating) for them.

What should you do if your child is disappointed on Purim?

Empathize. Your child needs to know you understand how he/she is feeling before you try to offer any ideas or fixes. Don’t worry about bystanders who might be judging. (They probably aren’t.) Your job is to tune into your hurting child and be there for them.

It takes time to master proper coping skills. Even adults struggle with disappointment. But with support and pre-planning, and frequent conversations about disappointments and dealing with obstacles, children will learn to strategize and be more solution oriented. And they will learn to handle disappointment and be happier overall.

Have a happy Purim!

- Etti

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

Health & F tness Purim Safety

By Hylton I Lightman, MD, DCH, FAAP

The title here alone may put me at risk to be called a curmudgeon. I enjoy structuring the environment for success and believe that the words “Purim” and “safety” are not oxymorons. We – you and I and all Klal Yisrael – want a happy and safe Purim. Here are some guidelines so we can affect a freilichen Purim.

1. Do NOT use firecrackers or other pyrotechnic materials.

2. Costumes should be fire retardant. No matter, please keep away from all fires.

3. Masks should not obstruct vision, breathing or movement.

4. Avoid costumes with string, ropes or cords longer than 6 inches. This will avoid entangling around the neck and causing choking.

5. Dressing babies in costumes is beyond cute, but make sure there are no removable parts that a baby can put

They should go around together and are responsible for one another. It keeps kids accountable and responsible.

9. Supervise your children! Yes, even with a buddy system. Purim is a busy day, and we cannot afford for even a moment to throw all caution to the wind.

10. Start the day with a hearty breakfast and make sure there is a protein-laden lunch. The candy and nosh are going to flow, but at least there will be a modicum of a solid foundation for energy.

11. Drink water. Water will keep you hydrated, especially when wearing the costumes and going around.

12. Park at the curb and not in the middle of the street. We want to avoid children exiting cars and then running in the middle of the street.

13. Drivers, watch for pedestrians.

The title here alone may put me at risk to be called a curmudgeon.

in his/her mouth and G-d forbid choke.

6. Speaking about avoiding choking – Mommy and Daddy should remove all gumballs, small candies, nuts and other goodies from the bags.

7. For body and face painting, use only makeup colors that don’t block skin pores. Don’t use ones that cause allergic reactions upon contact.

8. Each child should have a buddy – perhaps a sibling, cousin or friend.

ing and other kinds of behaviors cause too many Hatzalah calls and trips to the Emergency Room on Purim. Such behavior is selfish and causes medical professionals and Hatzalah members to

14. When riding a bicycle (on Purim or any time), don’t let the tzitzis hang too low to be caught in the spokes of the wheel.

15. Wear a reflector at night.

16. Never text while walking.

17. Don’t mix drinking and driving. If you’re going to drink, you must be of age and not operating any kind of vehicle. There are no exceptions for “Purim DUI.”

Excessive and irresponsible drink-

Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

be absent from their families and Purim festivities.

I wish each and every one of you a freilichen Purim

As always, daven.

Fasting and Feasting On Purim

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

In the month of Adar, when joy does bloom

We celebrate Purim dispelling the gloom

With costumes bright and spirits high

We remember the past, uncovering secrets we try

In the shadow of Esther’s tale, under Purim’s moon

A fast of reflection, before the feast after noon

A story of courage, of triumph and jest

Prepare for this fast and you will pass the test

Adequate hydration is key to the success

Avoid diet sodas; they cause a bodily mess

Water will be your companion the day before

Lean protein, healthy carbs, and veggies galore

As the fast concludes, a feast awaits

Don’t overeat, please slow down, mate!

Instead, let us break our fast with care,

With nourishing choices, light and fair

A warm vegetable soup is a great way start

It’s gentle on your stomach and good for the heart

Add fish or eggs with a side of whole grain toast

Finish off with some fruit, a healthy meal to boast

Purim day brings us many delightful sweets

Especially hamantashen, triangles of joyful treats

Cakes, candy and wine, oh, how we cheer

Please mindfully indulge, in moderation let’s adhere

Don’t abandon regular meals on Purim day

For resulting hunger will lead you astray

Get breakfast in your belly before going to shul

Bring lunch on the road, while driving carpool

Select one or two favorite treats, and enjoy the day

Donate all surplus to the poor, it’s the right way

Avoid leaving the mishloach manot lying around

Too great a temptation, not smart, wise or sound

But amidst the feast, let’s not forget

Healthy foods on our table set

Fruits and vegetables, fresh and bright

Adding color to the festive night

Challah and cake, already an abundance of starch

Make most sides carb-free, ready, set, march

Roast varieties of veggies, spiced just right

Adding fiber and flavor to the Purim night

Nuts and dark chocolate, a healthy treat

In our celebration, they will find a seat

Paired with fine wine, but just a sip

Ensuring our health doesn’t take a dip

To feast with joy, and yet to heed

The body’s needs, don’t eat with greed

So let us dance in Purim’s embrace

With healthy choices, we grace this place!

In the spirit of Purim, a lesson so dear

About balance and health, year after year

To enjoy the feast, with laughter and song

But remember our well-being, all life long

The day after Purim, it’s time to get back on track

Having some trouble? Don’t worry, I got your back!

Wishing all of my readers a freilichen Purim!

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

In The K tchen

Brisket Fries

By Naomi Nachman

I am sharing one of my most popular recipes from my cookbook Perfect Flavors. It is literally “Perfect” for your Purim seudah.

When I gave a cooking demonstration at Chabad of Memphis, I visited the local sights with my friend Angie. We ate at the JCC, where I ordered brisket fries. The owner, Shelley Ostrov, sat with me, and we chatted about kids, recipes and Jewish life in Memphis. I became obsessed with the brisket fries and went back again before I returned to New York to have another plateful. After I got home, I developed my own version that would be perfect to serve to my family at a Shabbat dinner or even at a Purim seudah.

Ingredients

Brisket

◦ 1 (3-4-pound) second cut brisket

◦ 1 cup barbecue sauce

◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

◦ 1 teaspoon paprika

◦ ½ teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 1 large onion, sliced

Fries

◦ 8 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges

◦ ¼ cup olive oil

◦ 2 teaspoons kosher salt

◦ 2 teaspoons dried minced onion

◦ 1 teaspoon paprika

◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

◦ 1 Tablespoon seeded mustard

◦ Garlic mayo, for serving

Preparation

1. Prepare the brisket: Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Place onion in a roasting pan large enough to hold the meat.

3. In a small bowl, mix spices together; sprinkle them all over meat.

4. Place seasoned meat onto onions.

5. Cover; roast for 3 hours, until tender.

6. Cool slightly; using 2 forks, shred meat. Set aside until ready to assemble brisket fries.

7. Prepare the potatoes: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

8. In a large bowl, toss together potato wedges, oil, spices, and mustard until combined.

9. Divide potatoes between prepared baking sheets. Roast for 40 minutes, or until brown.

10. Assemble the brisket fries: Arrange potatoes on a platter. Top with pulled brisket; drizzle with Garlic mayo.

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.

Fd for Thought Seared

FBy Nati Burnside

rom the moment you enter the Seared parking lot, you get the feeling that you’re about to have a special night. The façade of the impressive standalone building is not the kind of edifice you see at other kosher restaurants.

And that uniqueness is matched once you are told that your table will be ready in just a minute. As your waiter makes sure everything is just right at your table, the host takes you to a special nook with a few couches where you are served a one-bite amuse-bouche before you are directed to your table.

At this point, it’s obvious that you’re not in Kansas anymore. This bespoke high-end experience is the brainchild of Seared CEO Eitan Eliraz. At just 33 years old, Eitan oversees every aspect of Seared, a stunning task given how much goes into the kind of experience provided. With several innovative flourishes, Seared is trying to make its mark on the kosher restaurant world.

Before even diving into the interesting items on the menu, we have to discuss the different menus that Seared offers. Sure, there’s a standard menu like you might find at other high-end restaurants. But Seared also offers two different prix fixe options (a four-course for $120 and a five-course for $150). Considering the level of culinary luxury provided, these prices seem almost too good to be true. Those menus don’t include the most expensive entrees, but the value is still certainly there if you’re looking to go out to one of the fanciest restaurants possible and keep your bill under a certain number.

When I was invited to Seared, the first creation that impressed me was the Three Little Bites. These three fancy finger foods are each tiny, tasty teasers for what’s to come. My favorite was the wild rice with apple caviar, rhubarb, and lime.

Of the cold appetizers, the one simply known as “Tuna” was the most noteworthy as the textures involved were simply divine. While the ahi tuna tartare base wasn’t much different than in many other places,

the combination of gazpacho, aioli, and basil oil made for a nice pairing. The fish is topped with a tomato consommé blanket and a roasted cherry tomato. The firm gel disc of the blanket provided a firmness, while the tomato itself was slightly crisp.

If you didn’t find the blanket interesting enough, let me draw your attention to the Qatayef. No, it isn’t already time for dessert. Seared has commandeered the technique of the Arab sweet and used it instead with a duck filling. The dumplings are powdered with Persian lemon and served alongside a traditional Peking sauce and a Japanese seaweed salad. The balance is unmistakable in the crafting of this dish. The pastry is sweet, the lemon powder is acidic, the duck is savory, the sauce is tangy, and the salad is salty. Everything comes together wonderfully.

When you’re ready for a main course, you might find it hard to choose, and you likely can’t go wrong. A steak option like the Boneless Ribeye will certainly hit the spot if you aren’t quite as adventurous. Wet aged for 45 days, the meat has a great depth of flavor that any palate can appreciate. That said, I’d suggest ordering the Lamb Chops. They come lightly crusted and served with onions, carrots, a house salsa, and a demi-glace. You could eat one with the vegetables, one with the salsa, and one with the demi-glace, and it would be like having three totally different dishes. Each one might be a valid choice on its own.

If you are tempted into ordering a side dish, go down whichever road you see fit. But if I was forced to choose one, I think I would have to favor the Pommes. This is basically potatoes three ways. The first is a gratin preparation that is very popular these days for good reason. The almost pastry-like texture of the potato has an intriguing mouthfeel. The second is essentially very large house-made potato chips. Eating one of these will make you understand how potato chips became one of the top snacks in the history of the planet. But the third version might be the best of all.

Pomme Noisette (two-bite balls of fried mashed potatoes) just aren’t found in kosher restaurants, and the ones here are so good that you’ll spend the next hour wondering why not. The light outer crust gives way to the smooth inside – you’d probably eat a dozen if you could.

Seared offers several private dining options and event spaces to go along with their regular dining room. There’s also seating at their spectacular bar which might attract those patrons who want to see the bartenders make the handful of signature crafted cocktails that go along with the extensive wine list.

In some fine dining establishments, desserts are an afterthought. Not here. Even with a bunch of great choices, I’d still select the chocolate cake. But if you thought this was your grandmother’s chocolate

cake, you must have forgotten where we were. At Seared, the Chocolate & Olive Oil is a very dense olive oil cake that’s some of the richest chocolate you’ll find anywhere. It’s accompanied by chocolate mousse, a piece of pecan meringue, and a caramel olive oil sauce. It may not be for everybody, but if it sounds like something you’d appreciate, don’t miss it.

When the time comes for your meal to end, they’ll bring you the check. But even that has some extra flare. It comes on the bottom of a three-tiered tray where the middle shelf carries hand towels that are brought to life by your server pouring boiling water on them, and the top spot is occupied by a lemon macaron for each member of your party.

Needless to say, Seared has some serious style.

Meat - Contemporary - Waiter Service (732)-719-5499

SearedNJ.com

8

Central

A Look into the World of Wine

This 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.

Since 2015, Yitzchok Saftlas has been speaking with leading industry experts on the “Mind Your Business” show, sharing insightful business and marketing strategies.

With Purim approaching, we’ve collected some of the best segments from five major connoisseurs across the world of wine to give you an in-depth look at this fascinating industry.

The T ru T h abou T Kosher Wine a lex haruni, CEO of Dalton Winery

When people hear the words “kosher wine,”

they tend to think about cheap, overly sweet, and sticky wines. This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about kosher wine. I believe that this idea actually came about during the Prohibition, when the Jews were allowed a permit for producing “sacramental” wines. These sacramental wines tended to be made much cheaper, and they were not as nice as the refined wines you would be getting from a typical winery. So, this false

association has now been created that kosher wine is the same as sacramental wine, which, in turn, is the same as cheap, sweet wine. But, if you look at the modern kosher wine market, that idea couldn’t be any further from the truth. Especially with modern technology and wine-making techniques, we’re producing kosher wine of the same quality and variety as the mainstream wine market, if not better.

The 5 s’s of Wine

Jay buchsbaum, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Royal Wine Corporation

I’ve found that the more a customer understands a product, the more they will enjoy and consume the product. Now, of course, with wine, it’s important not to overconsume, but we can still use wine education to enhance our customers’ enjoyment. I like to teach the basics of wine with the “5 S’s.” The first is Sight, in which you’re looking for color and clarity. Second is Swirl, in which you’re trying to aerate the wine as much as possible. This will help enhance the third S, Smell. The aeration will allow more aromatics to escape. In Smell, you’re looking for specific aromas to identify. Does it smell like alcohol? Oak? Grapefruit? The fourth is Savor, which is where we swish the wine around in our mouths to enhance the taste. G-d has endowed us

with different shaped tastebuds in different areas of the tongue. For example, the molecule of sugar will taste best on the tastebud that’s placed on the tip of the tongue. Swishing allows us the flavors to hit every tastebud. Finally, the fifth is either Swallow or Spit. This is about seeing how long the flavor will remain with you and how pleasant the aftermath of the wine is.

Gif T inG Wine

e ric a simov, Chief Wine Critic of The New York Times

they themselves will get to try some of the bottle. Don’t necessarily expect the recipient to open it right then and there, and to offer you a glass. I’ve seen a lot of people get grumpy when they gift an expensive bottle of wine, and the recipient just puts it away for later. It’s a generous thing to give a bottle to somebody else for their use at whatever moment gives them pleasure. If they choose to open it then and share it with you, that’s great. But, if they don’t, that should be up to them. After all, the very point of a gift is for the other person’s enjoyment.

Trends in

Kosher Wine

Gabriel Geller, Director of PR & Advertising and Manager of Wine Education at Royal Wine Corp.

If you are selecting a bottle of wine as a gift, as a general rule, you can almost never go wrong with Champagne. It’s a festive wine, usually of good quality, and indicates a general sense of generosity. But there are two other things one should keep in mind when gifting wine. First, anybody who gives wine has to offer it without the expectation that

Second, if you don’t know a lot about wine, don’t be afraid to ask a wine merchant for suggestions. Just tell them your price range and the type of gift you’re trying to give, and they’ll likely give you some great suggestions. I always think that results in a much better gift than simply picking out whatever labels you recognize.

n e W Labe L s

ruvane r ibiat, President of OnlineKosherWine.com

The impetus behind having new labels is what grapes are available. This depends on the weather or the area of the world that the grapes are coming from. Let’s say there’s a tremendous amount of Sauvignon Blanc grapes available. Somebody who has all these grapes is going to think, “Well, there’s a glut of Sauvignon Blanc on the market. Let’s try to make a wine that has mostly Sauvignon Blanc and call it something else.” That would be the purpose of them having a new label. That’s the strategy from the producer’s viewpoint.

From the retailer’s viewpoint, anything new has an advantage. If somebody comes in and says, “I tried all these whites. What do you suggest?” the retailer can say, “Try this, it’s new.” Hopefully, as the seller, you’ve tried it, you like it, and you can describe it.

These are the primary questions as far as new wines are concerned. This strategy is simple. Make sure you know what your product is, make sure that you understand the product, and make sure you have people that will like the product. If you don’t have the clientele for it, there’s no point in buying that product. But new labels are constantly coming out. Probably between 150-200 different wines come out every year, sometimes even more.

The kosher wine market has grown tremendously with the millennial generation. Unlike earlier generations, they did not grow up with the same limited selection of mostly sweet kiddush wines. With this wider and finer selection of wines from all over the world, and with the available online resources to learn, they have become more educated about wine. As the kosher consumer becomes more educated, the demand for more sophisticated wines grows and the producers follow suit.

When it comes to the kosher wine industry, a good way to stay ahead is by looking at the broader, more mainstream wine industry. Trends tend to hit the kosher world a few years after they enter the mainstream industry. For example, rosés became very popular in kosher wine three years after they had begun to trend in the broader wine world. The same happened with sparkling wines, like Champagnes. At first, they were not selling very well, but just a few years after they were trending in the mainstream market, they became very popular among kosher consumers.

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

At this stage, I don’t have any expectations from the Secretary-General. He has already proven that he is not worthy of heading an organization which is supposed to fight terror and prevent wars. He has turned into an accomplice of Hamas.

- Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan talking about UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Our big plan to cancel student debt doesn’t apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up to me and said, “I’m being crushed by debt. I’m completely wiped out.” I said, “Sorry, Donald, I can’t help you.”

- Pres. Joe Biden at the Gridiron Dinner joking about a judge who levied a $395 million fine on Trump for allegedly inflating the value of his real estate to get bank loans

I think you desperately want censorship. You want censorship so bad, you can taste it.

– Elon Musk in a contentious interview with Don Lemon

I believe that the stronger one is the one who sees the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate.

- Pope Francis calling on Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war with Russia

Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags.

- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in response

The strongest is the one who, in the battle between good and evil, stands on the side of good rather than attempting to put them on the same footing and call it “negotiations.”

- Ibid.

Let me tell you something, to China, if you’re listening, President Xi … those big, monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now, and you think you’re going to get that, you’re going to not hire Americans and you’re going to sell the cars to us? No, we’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole…that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it.

- Donald Trump at a weekend rally

Trump says some migrants are “not people” and predicts a “bloodbath” if he loses.

- New York Times headline

My last name is Schumer, which derives from the Hebrew word shomer, or “guardian.” Of course, my first responsibility is to America and New York. But as the first Jewish Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the highestranking Jewish elected official in America ever, I also feel very keenly my responsibility as Shomer Yisroel — a guardian of the People of Israel.

- How Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began his speech that called for a two-state solution and that essentially equated Netanyahu with Hamas as obstacles to peace

Chuck Schumer is a total disgrace. Not only isn’t the man who says that Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t fit to lead Israel not fit to lead the Senate. He isn’t fit to lead a synagogue’s Men’s Club. He deserves to be primaried by AOC. She’s a more convincing anti-Semite.

– Tweet by Caroline Click

It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all.

- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell responding to Schumer’s speech

There are those in the international community who are trying to stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved. They do this by hurling false accusations against the IDF, against the Israeli government, and against the Prime Minister of Israel. They do this by trying to bring about elections now, in the midst of the war. And they do this because they know that elections now will stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months.

- Prime Minister Netanyahu in response to Schumer’s speech

So let’s be clear: if we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, it means that Israel has lost the war, and we will not allow that. Therefore, we must not give in to these pressures, and we will not give in to them. No international pressure will stop us from realizing all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, freeing all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat against Israel.

- Ibid.

I don’t think guns are the issue. I think we need strong fathers in the home that are being great examples.

- Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in a recent interview responding to those pushing for more gun control after a shooting at the Super Bowl parade

The minute we came in, all the nurses were standing there and going like this [cheering]. They were all so happy that they came back with prey, with Israeli-Jewish prey.

- Released hostage Judith Raanan in a recent interview

Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.

- Donald Trump in a recent interview

Bye. Don’t come back.

– Tweet by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) in response to some bands pulling out of Texas’s SXSW Festival because of the war in Gaza and because the U.S. Army was one of the sponsors of the festival

The best way to oppose fake news is for people to watch MSNBC where you report real news all the time.

- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)

Sorry so late!! It’s been a long, strange trip.

- A note posted in a book titled Psychedelics that was returned to a library in Colorado this week 37 years late

It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. It’s life.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin talking about opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death last month in prison, while denying involvement

Israel Today Schumer Provides Cover For Biden’s Smears of Israel

By Jonathan S. Tobin

In a city packed with cynical opportunists, few people in Washington can match the cynicism and opportunism that are on display when Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks. He’s been in public office continuously since the age of 25, and the 73-year-old Senate Majority Leader has spent his adult life grandstanding for the cameras and the press while always seeking some momentary political advantage as he schemed, back-stabbed and bloviated his way to the top of his profession.

Yet in a career replete with disingenuous rhetoric and Machiavellian maneuvering, nothing Schumer had done before was ever quite as loathsome as his most recent speech on the floor of the Senate. In it, he demanded a change in the government of the State of Israel and for the Jewish state to change its policies on the war against Hamas. He also pushed for postwar policies that the people of Israel adamantly oppose.

That’s not just because the substance of his remarks was deeply misleading in terms of his claims about what the

obstacles to peace in the Middle East are, as well as highly inappropriate, especially when you consider how much we Americans resent foreigners interfering in our own political life.

Appeasing the Israel-haters

This was a disgraceful performance because, despite Schumer’s much-ballyhooed stance as Israel’s guardian in Congress, the point of the effort was not to bolster its alliance with the United States or to lend support at a time of unique peril to the Jewish state and a surge in antisemitism in America. To the contrary, his agenda was to lend assistance to the Biden administration’s tilt away from Israel to curry favor with the Democratic Party’s left-wing Israel-haters.

That’s the only reason why a senator supposedly devoted to protecting the Jewish state against its foes would choose this particular moment to launch a fullscale attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and essentially call for regime change in Jerusalem. Contra-

dicting both the facts and his rhetoric about loving the Jewish state, he placed equal blame for the lack of peace on Israel’s elected leaders and drew a moral equivalence between them and the tyrannical Palestinian Authority, in addition to the genocidal Islamists of Hamas.

Exhibiting the sort of insufferable condescension towards the opinions of the Israeli people that is generally the preserve of those who have little sympathy for them, he also backed up Biden’s immoral demand that the Jewish state agree to a Palestinian state as part of a postwar plan—something that would grant a reward to Hamas for having committed the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

Yet even worse than all that was Schumer’s decision to echo the libelous attacks on Israel being aired by the Biden administration. For Israel’s supposed best friend in Congress to join with the mob of antisemites who have been howling about “genocide” and to validate their unfair smears, coupled with Hamas propaganda about the campaign being waged against it

in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces, was truly beyond the pale.

What could have possibly motivated Schumer to have done this? Unlike the band of Obama administration alumni who run foreign policy for Biden, the senator was not known to hold a grudge against Netanyahu for his opposition to the disastrous 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Nor is he someone who routinely engages in scapegoating Israel, as do some members of the Senate Democratic caucus.

What’s more, he is someone who has condemned the post-Oct. 7 surge in antisemitism. Further, he has acknowledged the reality of the left-wing mobs that have targeted Jews on college campuses and in the streets of American cities while calling for the destruction of Israel and terrorism against Jews wherever they live.

The “Shomer” Of His Own Ambition

The only plausible explanation for the speech can be found in the plight of his party’s leader. A week after his hy-

Schumer with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv a week after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks

per-partisan State of the Union speech that Democrats hoped would revive his re-election campaign, President Joe Biden has seen no bump in the opinion polls. His favorability ratings are disastrous for an incumbent hoping for another term.

And he’s trailing former President Donald Trump in head-to-head matchups and in surveys where third-party candidates are also considered and in the battleground states that will decide the election.

Part of the problem is the distinct lack of enthusiasm for the president being shown by the party’s left-wing activist base because of their distaste for any support being given to Israel by Biden. A fullscale civil war has been raging inside the Democratic Party over the Israel-Hamas war. That has led administration officials, congressional staffers and even those working on Biden’s re-election campaign to sign petitions demanding that Israel be abandoned.

In response, Biden has sought to appea se left-wing Democrats like the proHamas mayor of Dearborn, Michigan. But merely talking out of both sides of his mouth about the war while still providing Israel with the arms to fight Hamas has not proven persuasive. Hence, the switch in the last week to an effort to blame Netanyahu for the continuation of the war was part of a vain effort to justify a pivot away from his post-Oct. 7 stance of support for Israel’s efforts to eradicate Hamas.

And that’s where Schumer comes in. As anyone who has covered New York politics in the more than 40 years during which the Brooklyn native has served in both the House and the Senate, Schumer never tires of telling Jewish audiences that a Hebrew translation of his name means shomer or “guardian.” That makes him, he likes to say, a guardian of Israel – a line that is followed with a solemn pledge that he will ensure that no harm comes to the Jewish state on his watch.

Leaving aside the dubious nature of his linguistic claim and whether even an ardent pro-Israel senator should be speaking in a way that validates dual-loyalty smears, this particular piece of schtick has become his calling card for Jewish voters.

That stance was already called into question by his devious behavior during the debate about Obama’s Iran deal. He declared his opposition to a measure that empowered and enriched Israel’s most lethal enemy but then undermined it by declaring that he would take no actions to try to persuade any other senator to join him, thus ensuring that his stance would be seen as meaningless. That helped guarantee the passage of Obama’s policy while also doing

no harm to his plan to become Senate Democratic leader in the next Congress. That stance made it obvious that the only thing that he has ever been the shomer of is his own unquenchable ambition.

Appeasing the Leftist Base

That is the proper context for understanding his speech, which doubles down on Biden’s effort to blame the prime minister for his decision to back away from Israel. At the heart of this dilemma is the way a false narrative about the IDF committing “genocide” – based on the lies of Hamas, a terror organization – has not merely been spread by a corporate media that is deeply biased against Israel but is being validated by statements by Biden and now Schumer.

While the senator paid lip service to the basic truth that Palestinians have rejected peace and started this war with

tinians to reject numerous offers of peace and statehood, and to launch terrorist wars like the one that began five months ago with Hamas’s spree of murder, rape, torture and kidnapping in 22 southern Israeli communities.

His advocacy for a two-state solution that would guarantee that Hamas – which, contrary to the mendacious claims of both Biden and Schumer, has the support of most Palestinians – survives doesn’t so much put him at odds with the prime minister as it does with the overwhelming majority of Israelis from one end of the political spectrum to the other. They know firsthand what happens when Palestinian terrorists are granted power; retrying that experiment in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem would be not so much ill-advised as suicidal.

For Schumer to essentially echo the

That stance made it obvious that the only thing that he has ever been the shomer of is his own unquenchable ambition.

attacks so barbaric that many refuse to believe them, that apparently proved the set-up for a series of smears against both Netanyahu and Israel.

For Schumer to claim, as he did in his speech, that preventing Palestinian casualties should be a higher priority for Israel than defeating Hamas – despite talk about supporting its right to self-defense – is to articulate a policy that would prevent it from exercising that right. To say that it is causing a “humanitarian catastrophe” and that it is “falling short” of upholding “Jewish values” honored by Diaspora Jews like himself is both deeply offensive and a brazen falsehood. Schumer knows that the Israel Defense Forces do far more than any army, including that of the United States, to prevent civilian casualties. And he also knows that Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for everyone harmed in this war.

The speech’s “analysis” of the problems of the Middle East also puts him squarely in the same camp as the very same Israel-bashers that he has previously denounced for legitimizing antisemitic attacks on Jews.

The notion that Oct. 7 was part of a “cycle of violence” that Netanyahu will not act to end is just as wrong. It is a deliberate misreading of what has caused the Pales-

newsworthy –and appalling – was his open call for a change of government in Israel. While he claimed that he only wanted to give Israel’s people a “choice,” they gave the current coalition a clear majority only 16 months ago. It’s been a stormy term for Netanyahu, and the fact that the Oct. 7 disaster happened on his watch may ultimately end his political career.

But even though Americans like Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have been trying to interfere in Israeli politics for decades, never has a U.S. official been so brazen in demanding that Israel’s democratic system bow to Washington’s wishes that it produce a government more amenable to the diktats of the White House on the Palestinians and Iran.

That isn’t merely hypocritical, given the nonstop bleating of Democrats over the past eight years about Russian efforts to intervene in U.S. elections. Schumer thinks that Netanyahu should condemn Israeli politicians who are part of his coalition, like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, because of their extremism. But has Schumer done the same to the antisemitic extremists in his own party of the left-wing “Squad” or sought to expel its members from Congress?

claim that there is some sort of moral equivalence between Netanyahu and his democratically-elected government, and the undemocratic Palestinian leadership that seeks the destruction of the Jewish state and its people, is as malicious as it is wrong.

But the problem here is not just that Schumer is playing Jewish wingman to Biden.

Shifting the blame for the war and the problems with the United States solely on Netanyahu is a way for the pair to signal their party’s activist base that they are on their side. Democratic activists hate Israel because of their indoctrination in critical race theory and intersectionality, which holds that Israel and the Jews are guilty of being “white oppressors.” These “progressives” will never be satisfied with Biden’s “even-handed” stance, though Democrats hope that it will be enough to convince them to turn out to support Biden over Trump in November. Schumer toeing this line gives Biden cover with pro-Israel voters who would normally decry any American leader buying into this kind of false moral equivalence.

Advocating Regime Change

Yet what made Schumer’s speech truly

The damage Schumer is doing to the U.S.-Israel relationship is evident from the condemnations that his speech has received across the board from Israelis, including chief Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz . The irony is, as Gantz knows well, that by seeking to oust Netanyahu by unfairly attacking the IDF’s war effort and saving Hamas, as well as by demanding a two-state solution that Israelis from right to left oppose, Biden and Schumer are helping rather than hurting the prime minister. They are making new elections – something that is not going to happen in the middle of a war – even less likely than before.

Treating Israel as a client state that must sacrifice its security for the sake of discredited policies like a two-state solution that has been tried and failed is bad enough when it comes from those who don’t pose as advocates of the Jewish state as Schumer does. Yet his stance is rooted entirely in partisan political interests rather than principle. This is one of the most perilous times in Jewish history, when Jews are being attacked for backing Israel, and others are fighting and dying to ensure that the Jewish state will live. For Schumer to speak in this disgraceful manner and to undermine Israel in wartime for the sake of helping Biden hold onto office is a decision that should permanently associate his name with that of betrayal and dishonor. (JNS)

Jewish History

The Unmentionable Jew, Then and Now

By Rafael Medoff

Acollege dean’s demand that Jewish students remove the word “Jewish” from their event honoring the victims of October 7 has sparked outrage, and rightly so. Sadly, however, the dean’s action was not unprecedented.

On October 10, 2023, students at Middlebury College, in Vermont, showed Dean of Students Derek Doucet their poster for an upcoming vigil honoring the 1,200 Jews massacred, tortured, assaulted and beheaded by Palestinian Arab terrorists three days earlier. The poster’s headline read, “Stand in Solidarity with the Jewish People.”

That was too much for Dean Doucet, according to emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. He told the students to stop focusing so much on the Jews and be “more inclusive.” The vigil should “honor all the innocent lives lost,” the dean asserted. It should refer to “tragedies that have struck Israel and Gaza.” The dean added a dark note: calling for solidarity with the Jews might cause “unhelpful reactions,” he warned.

Doucet does not seem to have objected when the Muslim Students Association at Middlebury held a “Vigil for Palestine.” It does not appear to have been a particularly inclusive event, according to the extensive coverage by the student newspaper, The Middlebury Campus. The vigil attendees did not mourn for the Jews slaughtered by Hamas. To add insult to injury, Middlebury’s Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, Khuram Hussain, attended the “Vigil for Palestine” but did not attend the Jewish vigil.

There was a troubling precedent for Dean Doucet’s actions during the Nazi years, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration repeatedly downplayed or denied the Jewish identity of Hitler’s victims.

In September 1933, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. visited the White House to request a public statement about the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. FDR

told Morgenthau, his longtime friend and soon-to-be Treasury Secretary, that he preferred to say something about human rights abuses in Germany in general, without focusing on the Jews. In the end, however, the president made no statement at all.

In the eighty-two press conferences President Roosevelt held in 1933, the subject of the oppression of Jews in Europe arose just once, and not at Roosevelt’s initiative. It would be five more years, and another 348 presidential press conferences, before FDR would again say anything publicly about the Jews.

Even at the peak of the Holocaust, Roosevelt and his administration avoided mentioning that Jews were being targeted by the Nazis. The U.S. statement announcing a conference in Bermuda in 1943 to discuss the Jewish refugee crisis emphasized: “The refugee problem should not be considered as being confined to persons of any particular race or faith.”

Senior American, British, and Soviet officials, meeting in Moscow in late 1943, issued a statement threatening postwar punishment for Nazi war crimes against “French, Dutch, Belgian or Norwegian

hostages...Cretan peasants...[and] the people of Poland”—but not Jews. President Roosevelt did not use the word “Jews” even in his 1944 statement commemorating the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto revolt.

Early in 1944, officials of the U.S. War Refugee Board drafted a proposed presidential message to the people of Axisoccupied countries, warning them not to collaborate in atrocities against Jews. White House aides informed the Board that President Roosevelt “wanted the statement rewritten so as to be aimed less directly at the atrocities against the Jews.”

The final version deleted the reference to Jews being murdered “solely because they were Jews.” It removed three of the statement’s six references to Jews. And it added three opening paragraphs naming various other nationalities who were suffering because of the war.

In September of that year, the War Refugee Board ran into a similar problem with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. The Board drafted a leaflet which it wanted U.S. planes to drop over Europe, warning civilians to refrain from participating in Nazi atrocities

against Jews. Eisenhower insisted on deleting the leaflet’s reference to Jews. The final version urged readers not to “molest, harm or persecute” any of the “great many men” being held by the German authorities, “no matter what their religion or nationality may be.”

Arthur Szyk, the famous artist and Jewish activist, charged that the persecution of Europe’s Jews was being “treated as a [inappropriate] subject – you cannot discuss it in polite society.”

There was a reason behind the Roosevelt administration’s policy of downplaying or denying the Jewish identity of Hitler’s victims. The president and his advisors were concerned that if they publicly recognized that the Jews were being singled out, then “the various [Allied] Governments would expose themselves to increased pressure from all sides to do something more specific in order to aid these people,” as one State Department official explained in an internal discussion.

The action by the Middlebury College dean stems from a similar mindset. Focusing attention on the Jews who were murdered and assaulted on October 7 could increase pressure on the dean to do something about the campus extremists who are cheering the murderers and rapists – just as focusing attention on the Jewish victims during the Holocaust risked creating pressure to do something about their plight. Eighty years have passed, and the names and places have changed, but it seems the tragic phenomenon of “the unmentionable Jew” is still with us.

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

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia

Forgotten Her es

The “Real Purim Story” by Midrash Avi

By Avi Heiligman

It’s that time of year again, when we delve in the annuls of history and dig up previously unknown records. This time, we have found a sefer called “Bein Hashuros – Between the Lines” that quotes Midrash Avi which somehow only gets quoted once a year around Purim time. Well, this time, we will delve into until-now-unidentified Purim characters as well as side gigs from some of our favorite people from the Megillah.

The first person we have to mention is the father of Achashveirosh, who is only referred to as “Sleepy Joe.” He waited many years to become king, and most people knew that his cholent was missing a few beans, if you know what I mean. It was his love for chocolate chip ice cream that compelled Achashveirosh to make it the kingdom’s official ice cream flavor and to serve it at all functions including Kiddush Club. Achashveirosh was always playing tricks on his father by switching words on his cue cards and adding steps into random parts of the palace, causing his father to trip and fall.

Achashveirosh himself had been the head cheerleader for his favorite soccer team, the Shushan Shakshukas. However, he was dropped from the squad when he put on too many pounds eating doughnuts.

The official social media representative of Shushan was Hagai. This was in addition to his role as head of the department for getting the queen candidates ready for the king’s contest. He was constantly making TikToks and posting play by play on Twitter under the username #HashtagHeyGuy. He was also the public address announcer at all royal parties. Together with his sister, Chatterbox Smith, they came up with a line of cosmetics called HeyGirl. Their cousin, Rich Guy, was the official treasurer of the king, and was it Rich that got Haigai his job, because, as you know, money is a powerful influencer.

Mordechai’s roommates in yeshiva were always making late night phone calls so he stayed up learning all night. Mordechai be-

came the gadol hador while they became their local shul’s candy men. Mishmar in yeshivas has been attributed to Mordechai because he stayed up all night learning. Other bochurim joined him for Thursday night but mainly stayed up for the cholent. On Shabbos, they wanted everyone to stay in shul during davening, so they started a Motzei Shabbos program called the Kiddush Levanah Club. These bochurim became lesser known gedolim coming out with seforim like the “Lechaparas Pasha,” which was only learned seven out of every nineteen years, and the “Kil-achar Yad,” who only moved things with the back of his hand.

Esther was sent to a faraway land for seminary at Bnos Esther which was named after because of her stellar middos. Her madricha had had to convince her parents to let her stay for shana bet and helped mold Esther into the true bas Yisroel that she would become. Before she became Queen of the Persian Empire, she was known as the Challah Queen. On the other hand, Vashti was a drama queen.

Bigsan and Seresh ran a music studio that also doubled up as a radio station for

Shushan Radio. Their band in the studio was quite eclectic and had members like flutist Mosley Sharpe, organist Paige Turner, trumpet player Howie Spits, and guitarist Rex Yurears. The other guards at the king’s palace got their start as keyboard warriors and were hired as part of the DEI initiative by the palace after a money laundering scheme was caught by the FBI – Farsi Bureau of Inevitability.

Even before Haman rose to become second to the king, it was popular to have a body-double. History records his name as Stinkalicous, but professional wrestling fans knew him as the Stinker with his signature move being the stink bomb. Stinkalicous’s descendant was not only was the main body-double for Saddam Hussein, but he was in the palace eating overnight baked beans when the Americans found him.

The original architect of Haman’s gallows was Bill Ding, but Haman had him fired when he found out that he was a secret Mossad agent reporting back to Mordechai. Haman then hired soldiers from the Revolutionary Guards Ancient Persian Unit as construction workers but the money they were given somehow always disappeared.

Then, they tried hiring pro-terrorist groups, but they insisted on blocking traffic as people were trying to get to work and weren’t doing any actual work themselves. After that came illegals but they insisted on getting paid in cash. Left without much choice, Haman and his sons did the work themselves, but the work was so sloppy that the first attempt was rejected by the Royal Persian Safety Commission led by their Chinese counterpart Sum Ting Wong. It was finally fixed by UN workers who had to take a break from their important work of building tunnels under hospitals.

Zeresh was the regional director of the HOA and was the local Karen. Her sidekick, Nora Morse, sincerely enjoyed fining neighbors for having uncut lawns. Zeresh and her crew wore a mask both outside and inside a horse and buggy, even though no one else was around. She hated when anyone asked to speak to her boss whose name was Mike Romanage.

There are several rumors and conspiracy theories circulating around yeshiva coffee rooms worldwide so let’s clear off the dandruff on the davening jackets and get to the truth. First, there were shluchim from the Rebbe in Shushan at the time of the Purim story. Next, Donald Trump’s ancestor was Achashveirosh’s political opponent to become king but Achashveirosh stole the election by allowing undocumented slaves to vote. Also, Charvona started off as ancestor Trump’s speechwriter but left when he refused to read off of the script. The official royal chronicles’ reader for the king in the middle of the night, Kent Reed, failed reading class in elementary school.

Well, there you have it, folks. Another edition of Midrash Avi is in the books. Have an uplifting, safe and healthy Purim!

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.

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

SERVICES

MAJOR APPLIANCE REPAIR

Servicing Washers , Dryers , Refrigerators , Dishwasher, stoves All work guaranteed. Call 718 3762288

MY MOTTO IS DON’T WAIT TO buy real estate

Buy real estate and wait Your realtor for life 516-784-0856 Alexandra at Realty Connect USA

PEACEFUL PRESENCE STUDIO

Men’s private yoga, Licensed Massage & Holistic Health Guidance

436 Central Ave, Cedarhurst Info. & free video training www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715

GERBER MOVING

FULL SERVICE MOVING

Packing Moving Supplies

Local Long Distance. Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422

HANDYMAN AVAILABLE

For big or small jobs, Sheetrock, carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, install & repair appliances Call Ephraim at 347-593-4691

VACUUM SALES AND REPAIR

All areas call Max Flam 718-444-4904

MANAGEMENT STAFF WILL ASSIST

you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust

* In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling

* Securing reliable home care assistance

* Case and Care Management services

Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

HAIR COURSE:

Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs. Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009

ZEVIZZ WOODTURNING JUDAICA

Challah knifes, batei mezuzah, besamim holder, kiddish cups, havdalah candle holders, yad for sefer torah, pens, stenders, bowls and more  952-356-2228

HOUSES FOR SALE

DON’T GET STUCK WITH A TWO STORY HOUSE YA KNOW, IT’S ONE STORY BEFORE YOU BUY IT BUT A SECOND STORY AFTER YOU OWN IT!

Call Dov Herman

For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection

Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

HEWLETT

Exquisitely renovated and modernized residence situated on a picturesque 50x200 lot. 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms. First floor features dining area, huge living room, expansive kitchen with modern cabinetry, two sinks, two ovens, and two islands. Second floor features 4 bedrooms, a nursery, primary suite with WIC. Private backyard with 400 square foot inground pool house/ guest house, cabana with a kitchen and grill, playground, basketball court. Fully paid solar panels. A fully renovated basement featuring a wet bar, separate outside entrance. Close to all houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

Stunning One of a Kind Mid Century Modern 6 Bedroom, 6.5 Bath, Contemporary Ranch. Resort Style Home on Over an Acre of Property in Back Lawrence. Incredible Views, Regulation Size Tennis Court - Deco Turf. IG-Gunite Pool, Low Taxes, 5318 sq. ft. of Main Floor Living Space. Plus 5000 sq. ft. Basement With Very High Ceilings. Call Mark 516-298-8457 for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457  mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Beautiful, brick, colonial boasting 5 bdr 3.5 Bth in pristine condition. Excellent location, near all! Move right in! RCUSA 516-512-9626

CEDARHURST JUST LISTED

Magnificent renovated 4 bedroom 3 bathroom in SD#15, new roof, windows, plumbing + electric, gas cooking, new marble bathrooms, marble kitchen with stainless steel appliances, LED lighting, security cameras and speakers throughout the home, custom closets, outdoor patio, 1 car garage, near all. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

NORTH WOODMERE

Stunning Split, 5 Bedrooms With 3 Full Baths. Custom Features Throughout. Well Maintained Home. Hardwood Floors, Granite Counters in kitchen, Formal Living Room and Dining Room, Den, Full Finished Basement. Relax in the Private Backyard With Inground Pool. SD#14. A must see! Close To All Houses of Worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Charming Colonial on beautiful tree lined street in the heart of Old Woodmere. Home features 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, kitchen, dining area, living room, full basement. Relatively new heating system + hot water tank. Large & beautiful backyard. Great for entertaining. Close to all. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

Exquisite contemporary colonial residence boasts a prime location set back from the street, enhancing its striking curb appeal. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this move-in-ready home is bathed in natural light thanks to its four spacious skylights. Expansive formal dining room, full basement offers 8-foot ceilings. Stunning inground gunite pool and a beautifully designed patio in the welllandscaped yard. Located in school district 14 and conveniently close to all amenities, this property is a rare find that won’t stay on the market for long! Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

WOODMERE

New to the market renovated 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom ranch home with a full finished basement in the heart of Woodmere, sd#15, on a lot size 90x118, gas heat, central air conditioning, garage, new windows, roof, siding, appliances, lighting, kitchen and bathrooms. Eat in kitchen with 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, double oven, island, lots of cabinets and storage. Spacious renovated basement with lots of storage, washer dryer and utilities, minutes to the railroad, shopping and houses of worship.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES?

MORTGAGE?

Must sell for any reason?

Call for FREE Consultation.

Call now 212-470-3856

Cash buyers available!

LAWRENCE

New to the market 5 bedroom 3.5 bathrooms prime location with a lot size 77x130 features an eat-inkitchen, formal dining room , main floor den , formal living room with vaulted ceilings, finished basement, 2 car garage, gas heat, central air conditioning, in ground sprinkler, alarm call for more details.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

NORTH WOODMERE

Meticulously maintained fourbedroom, two-bathroom home on an expansive corner. Main floor: entrance foyer, generously sized bedroom, a full bath, attached two-car garage. On the next level: sophisticated formal living room with cathedral ceilings, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, sleek black banisters, hardwood floors. Third floor: master suite, two additional bedrooms, and another full bath. Lower level: cozy den with brick fireplace, laundry facilities, ample storage space, and utilities. New heating system, central air conditioning, custom closets throughout, inground sprinkler system. Conveniently located near parks, shopping centers, and houses of worship, and situated within SD#15 with low taxes. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Welcome to this stunning residence situated on a tranquil residential street in Lawrence SD#15. This spacious and flawlessly maintained home boasts 4 to 5 bedrooms. Bright, airy living room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and wet bar. Central air conditioning, elegant quartz countertops, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, main floor den with fireplace, master bedroom with bathroom snd dressing room, Jacuzzi tub, three other bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Inground sprinklers, lush landscaping, alarm system. Spacious playroom. Twocar garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

HEWLETT-WOODMERE

School district. New to the market. 4 bedroom 3 full bathroom home features living room with a fireplace, formal dining room leading out to the deck, eat-in-kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 2 dishwashers, double oven, new microwave, primary bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, plus 3 additional bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, large family room, central air conditioning, gas heat, in-ground sprinklers, hardwood floors, modern high hat lighting, custom window treatments, driveway has recently been done, 2 car garage, beautifully landscaped plus so much more.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WEST HEMPSTEAD

Introducing a stunning new construction home. Nestled in a picturesque neighborhood. Large windows, open-concept layout that merges the various living spaces. The expansive living room is bathed in natural light, thanks to the windows that offer great views of the surrounding area. Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, expansive center island with a breakfast bar. Ample counter space and a welldesigned layout. Wonderful dining area providing. Large glass doors, spacious patio. Luxurious master suite with a spacious bedroom, a lavish ensuite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Additional bedrooms. High-end finishes, premium flooring, and custom details throughout. Call for pricing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

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

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Woodmere just listed 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom hi-ranch in sd #15 with central air-conditioning , gas heat, 2 car garage, eat-in-kitchen, l/r, d/r, den, hardwood floors, minutes to transportation , shopping, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Spacious home within school district 14 with exquisite upgrades and central air conditioning, splendid kitchen with dual sinks, five bedrooms. Main level encompasses a spacious great room, office space, complementing the formal living and dining areas. Unfinished basement, detached garage. Expansive lot, measuring 80 x 100. Conveniently located near shopping, railroad, restaurants and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

1st showing spacious bright and sunny 5 bedroom 3 full bathrooms in school district 15. Features an expanded gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, 2 sinks, double oven, warming drawer, great counter space, central air conditioning, gas heat, 2 of the bathrooms are new, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, in ground sprinkler, gas line for the barbeque, 2 car garage and minutes to all.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Introducing a stunning 14-side hall colonial home in the Hewlett Woodmere School District. Formal living room, formal dining room, den with a skylight. Eat in Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, a warming draw and a microwave. First floor bedroom, a full bathroom and laundry room. Two-car garage. Upper level has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Finished basement with playroom, storage and utilities. Well-groomed exterior with porch adjoining the master bedroom. Hardwood floors and back patio. Central air conditioning, inground sprinkler system, alarm system. Close proximity to schools, shopping centers, restaurants, and transportation options.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

NORTH WOODMERE

New to the market magnificent 5 bedroom 3 full bathroom split level.

Bright & sunny, living room with vaulted ceilings, formal dining room, eat-in-kitchen, den with fireplace, sunroom, 2 car garage, gas heating, central air conditioning, master bedroom with en-suite, hardwood floors, in ground sprinkler system, plus so much more.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

LAWRENCE

359A Central Av Lawrence  1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $179k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

New to the market 2 bedroom 2 full bathrooms top floor elevator building, 24 hr doorman, open concept, totally renovated kitchen, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, 2 dishwashers, island, 2 new bathrooms, terrace, central air conditioning, u/g parking, high hats throughout, custom closets minutes to shopping, railroad, park, and houses of worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

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. $130K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Generously proportioned, first-floor apartment in an elevator-equipped building in the heart of Woodmere. This Co-op boasts three bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Lofty ceilings, spacious foyer, formal living area and dining space. Expansive kitchen with gas stove, microwave, dishwasher, washer-dryer. Hardwood floors provide an elegant touch, and the comfort of five air-conditioning units ensures year-round climate control. Three bedrooms, with the primary bedroom having en-suite full bathroom. Dedicated storage. Near shopping centers, railroad, dining and places of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

New to the market spacious 1

bedroom 1.5 bathroom condo, elevator building, central air conditioning, garage parking, 24hr doorman, many closets, kitchen with granite countertops, generous counter space, washer/dryer, minutes from shopping, park, transportation and houses of worship Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International

516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

LAWRENCE JUST LISTED

This amazing two-bedroom two full bathroom condo Features a luxurious lifestyle in the beautiful city of Lawrence. What more could you ask for? The building has a 24-hour doorman and elevator access, with a social room, library, washer/dryer inside the unit, and terrace. Plus, the added benefit of having a live-in super to ensure maximum safety and security! And don’t forget about your new kitchen complete with a gas stove, refrigerator, microwave, and even two dishwashers! The living room and dining room are spacious and have recessed lighting installed throughout. Both bedrooms feature lots of closet space for storage. To top it off, there’s even garage parking available to make your life just that much easier! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Please call for a private showing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

Spacious 2BR, 2 Full Bath Apt with an enclosed terrace in the heart of Lawrence. Well maintained & manicured building. New hardwood floors, updated Eat-in Kitchen with gas stove. warming draw, dishwasher & microwave. New windows on the enclosed terrace & one of the bedrooms. 3 New A/C Units & New Refrigerator. Close to shopping, transportation, library, schools, and houses of worship. $339K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

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

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

APT./COOP/CONDO RENT

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

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

HEWLETT

Welcome To Luxury Living in The Heart of Hewlett! This Spacious 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom Condo Boasts in Unit Separate Laundry For Ultimate Convenience. Enjoy Lovely Courtyard Views from Your Private Terrace. With Elevator Access and A Doorman, Experience The Epitome Of Comfort In This Prestigious Building. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

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

Classifieds

COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE

1500SF LOFT OFFICE

(formerly Shmuel Flaum Architect) 2 store/offices; ~600sf each 2 Cedarhurst offices; ~100sf each Starting at $650 Also… Large Parking Lot & Storage available Utilities, Internet & Parking incl. with some Kosher kitchen – Minyan Next to LIRR - No broker fee Call/text/Whatsapp:  516-206-1100

5 TOWNS - OFFICES FOR LEASE

CEDARHURST —OFFICE SPACE

Executive Office Suites small and large, short term and Long Term INCLUDES  access to beautiful conference room, kitchenettes, all utilities and internet included.  Text/ Whatsapp Sam 516-567-0100

INWOOD — OFFICE SPACE

700 sq Office space w/ 3 Interior Offices  next door to beautiful Inwood Park, Mincha Minyan Text/Whatsapp Sam 516-567-0100

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

MUSIC ‘N MOTION

A preschool music program, is looking to hire a music teacher in the Five Towns region.

Qualifications are: musical, lively, warm personality, great with children, responsible and dedicated. Training, music activities and props are provided.

Call 929-322-4202 ext 202 or email resume to gela@mnmotion.com

JOIN OUR FIVE TOWNS OFFICE

Full time position available in our AP department! Great benefits and generous pay!

Email resume to  jobs@fcc-corp.com

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

In our Medicaid pending department  and Medicaid billing department . Great environment, lots of room for growth!

Email resume to jobs@fcc-corp.com

SHEVACH HS

Has these open teaching positions available pm M-Th for 2024-5. Computer science (AP Comp Principles, Graphics, Google apps), Spanish, Algebra, AP Biology, Phys ed. Candidates with credentials and/or experience should send their resume to mshepard@shevachhs.org

REGENTS EXPERT

Tutoring regents in Algebra and Geometry

A Darchei Torah instructor Guaranteed results Text 347-491-8045

WhatsApp 347-767-1755

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

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

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

Assistant Teachers Needed in Lawrence for Fall, 2024 and Camp Staff over 16-years-old for Summer, 2024. The Gural JCC Early Childhood Center is hiring Assistant Teachers for the 2024-2025 school year, and Camp Staff over 16-years-old for Summer, 2024. Please send resumes to JCC.Nursery@guraljcc.org or call (516) 239-1354.

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED MISC. HELP WANTED

BNOS MALKA ACADEMY

is seeking a 4th grade kodesh teacher, starting immediately. MondayThursday 8-12:30, Friday 8-11.

Please send resume to rungar@bnosmalka.org

BOOKKEEPER

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

A YESHIVA IN QUEENS

is looking for an experienced part/ full time secretary, 2-year-old morah, kindergarten morah, kindergarten morah assistant and Pre-1A English teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Nice and timely pay. Please email resume to mshelt613@gmail. com or call/text 718-971-9799.

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

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

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!

GOING TO FLORIDA FOR PESACH?

Get your favorite wine and spirits delivered for free for all orders over $400

vintagekosher.com/pesach 646-768-8800

Istart these missives with the premise that nobody should pay more tax than they have to. Then, I launch into a story about someone finding a way to pay less. Usually, the story involves federal income taxes, which are the biggest tax bills most of us ever face. Sometimes, the story involves estate taxes, which can reach well into the millions. But people in other countries hate paying taxes, too. So, this week, let’s spend spring break in Paris, where a French appeals court just told a billionaire he has to live by the same rules as the rest of us. Sort of.

For five generations now, the Wildenstein family has been buying, selling, and collecting some of the most precious works of art in Western history. Nathan Wildenstein founded the Wildenstein Gallery in Paris in the 1870s before moving the operation to New York in 1903 and opening branches in London and Buenos Aires. Since then, Nathan’s son Daniel and Daniel’s sons Alec and Guy, grew a $10 billion empire selling and collecting works by artists like Raphael, Cezanne, Caillebotte, and Van Gogh. Guy filled one room of his family’s New York mansion with 10 paintings by French impressionist Pierre Bonnard. (What, you

Your Money Art, Not Science

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

don’t have a room in your house dedicated to the work of a single painter?)

The Wildensteins are regulars in the art world press. But they’re no strangers to the media, either. Alec’s wife Jocelyne drew headlines for a series of plastic surgeries designed to make her look like a

Islands, a 66,000-acre ranch in Kenya, and various artworks, including Caravaggios, Gaugins, and Monets. Unfortunately for Guy, his stepmother Sylvia didn’t appreciate being swindled out of her inheritance. So she and her attorney went to French authorities to narc on the

Of course, “house arrest” means something different when the “house” is a hotel particulier in the 16th Arrondissement.

cat, which led to nicknames like “Catwoman” and “The Bride of Wildenstein.” (Seriously.)

Anyway, back to Paris, and our tax story already in progress. When Paris-based Daniel died in 2001, his son Guy reported the value of his estate at just €41 million. Apparently, he “forgot” to include assets held in a series of trusts. These included a compound in the Virgin

“maze of trusts and shell companies”

Guy used to hide Daniel’s wealth.

French prosecutors accused Guy of perpetrating “one of the longest and most sophisticated frauds of the Fifth Republic.” In 2017, a court found he clearly tried to avoid tax. However, the judge acquitted him because there was no law in effect at Daniel’s death requiring estates to report foreign trusts. An ap -

peals court upheld that verdict; however, France’s top court overturned it in 2021. That court found Guy had managed the trusts for his own benefit, meaning they should be included in Daniel’s estate.

Last fall, prosecutors retried Guy, seeking four years in jail and a €250 million fine. Last week, the court convicted him. He’ll pay a €1 million fine and spend two years wearing an ankle bracelet under house arrest. Of course, “house arrest” means something different when the “house” is a hotel particulier in the 16th Arrondissement. (In other words, a “mansion” in “the high rent district.”)

Fortunately, you don’t need a maze of trusts and shell companies to pay less tax. You just need a proactive planner with a menu of legal deductions, credits, loopholes, and strategies. Like us. You don’t even need to speak French to win big!

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.

Life C ach Peek a Boo –Who Are You?

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

Am I putting on a mask so you don’t see me? Are you putting on a mask so I don’t see you?

The Sages say we’re putting it on so we can see ourselves. Does that make sense to you?

We dress up like anyone but ourselves – and that’s exactly when we are supposed to see ourselves.

Talk about the v’nihafochu of Purim –everything turning upside down, nothing making sense.

But guess what? This one does make sense!!

So let me tell you how it works.

If people recognize you, they have expectations from you. Then you think you have to live up to those expectations. And that puts us all in a dilemma. Because what happens if we want to be a new version of ourselves, and we want to explore a new and improved version? You may feel stuck!

Only if we block out all the pressures, the noises, the preconceived notions we and other people have of us can we truly ask the question: who are we? And are we who we want to be?

And on Purim, we are supposed do just that!

Why?

Because that’s what the Jews in Persia

needed to do.

They needed to find out if they are the Jews who only connect to G-d when they see the outright proofs. The blunt miracles: outrageous plagues, splitting seas, the cost-free food. Or can they see G-d everywhere? In all that happens around us.

When we get hung up on the obvious, the things that are showing or what we are used to, then we think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We don’t realize that it’s a daily gift – not a norm.

We have a hard time seeing beyond it.

But if we block out the normal and natural – in other words, what we are used to seeing – then maybe we free ourselves up to look with a new and more perceptive eye, to really tap into what’s been hidden behind all this.

So, load on those costumes. And start seeing yourself and the world anew.

Happy Purim.

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 917705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com. A book is the ultimate apparatus.