Five Towns Jewish Home 05.16.24

TAL Academy Visits

Reuven Feinstein, shlita

Dear Readers,

People often tell me that one of the things that they appreciate about TJH is that they can get a snapshot of all the news of the week, without having to follow the headlines daily. I can certainly appreciate that. The news is usually toxic and, like clockwork, gets our neurons to transmit negative messages to our brains and body. What use is that for our life? What good does it do for us? How does it make our short trip back from carpool more enjoyable? On the other hand, we don’t want to feel like we live under a rock.

But I confess that I am usually pretty tuned into the news. After all, it’s my job to see what is going on in the world.

Over the past few weeks, the main focus of much of the news has been the anti-Jewish protests and “encampments” popping up at – usually elite – universities.

This week, an entire day’s headlines were centered on a group of students that “stormed” out of Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement address at Duke University. (These hate-filled radicals never could appreciate good humor, anyway.) But the joke is on us. As Sen. John Fetterman pointed out, 30 students out of 7,000 protested. That comes out to a whopping 0.43% of the student body who left their graduation early.

And, by the way, the other 99.57% of the students were privy to a firsthand, in-person illustration of just how pathetic the Jew-haters are. But the news won’t talk about them.

In fact, according to a recent Axios poll of college students, 81% believe that the protesters should be held accountable for violating campus policy; 87% listed the current war in Gaza as the least important issue to them, when given a list of nine issues which included items such as healthcare, educational funding, immigration policy, and climate change.

In short, these protesters and encampments are a “nothing burger.”

So why are they getting so much attention?

There is a lot that drives the media. And the me-

dia is driving this narrative. When a few students wearing black and white keffiyahs and covering their faces with masks leave a graduation address, they suddenly become a huge mass demonstrating for Palestine. It’s an easy story for reporters to use to inflate a “movement” comprised of purple-haired, nose-ringed outcasts who have finally found a way to lash out at society and smash windows and destroy campuses in the name of Hamas.

But there is also a surprising twist to the attention being given to these protests.

I recently heard from a rav that what is happening on college campuses is a sure sign of “geulah b’rachamim,” Hashem bringing in the redemption with mercy. Because of the protests of a few groups of Jew-haters, whose voices are amplified by the media, thousands of teens on college campuses are waking up to the fact that they are Jewish. And they are becoming proud of their Jewish identity.

Until now, it probably cost thousands of dollars for college kiruv organizations to reach even one lost Jewish soul on a college campus. But now, it’s free! It’s seemingly happening on its own. The haters are doing the work for us. They are awakening these slumbering souls and reminding them that they are part of a Chosen nation.

A relative of mine in Los Angeles just befriended a college student who is becoming religious. The student told my relative that he was dating a non-Jew for seven years and thought that he would marry her. But the recent protests at his college campus caused the Jews on campus to band together, and as a group, they began discussing and exploring what being Jewish really means. This ultimately led to the college student breaking up with his girlfriend and going down the road towards understanding his faith.

Slowly, surely, Hashem is bringing His people back to Him. May we merit to joyfully experience the ultimate redemption soon.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Dear Editor,

I was blessed to hear the following story over Pesach at the Ne’ilat Ha’Chag seudah. Someone who often hosted Rabbi Ruderman, zt”l, relayed that one night a bachur came from Borough Park to Baltimore to get a bracha for his learning from the rosh yeshiva.

The rosh yeshiva told the bachur the following story to explain how to succeed.

The Ohr Sameach once bumped into Reb Chaim Soloveitchik at a train station. Reb Chaim seemed down and depressed, and the Ohr Sameach inquired why. Reb Chaim told him that he couldn’t understand peshat in a certain Rambam. The Ohr Sameach gave him peshat, and Reb Chaim was restored and jubilant.

When Reb Chaim returned to Brisk, one night he was having dinner with his three sons. He banged his hand on the table and said, “If you don’t learn, you won’t know anything.” Reb Chaim’s lack of understanding of a Rambam was symbolic of not knowing anything.

This coincides with a drash my late relative, Rav Avrohom Genechovsky, zt”l, told me on the Gemara (Sukkah 21b) that says, “Afilu sichat chulin shel talmidei chachamim tzrichim limud, even from the ordinary talk of talmidei chachamim one can learn.” In drash, he explained: what is the ordinary talk of talmidei chachamim? Tzrichim lilmod, one needs to learn. The theme being without learning you will never advance.

The bachur now knew what’s needed to excel in Torah: to internalize that he will never become anything without knowing that only learning itself can bring him to great heights, not brachos.

Steven Genack

Dear Editor,

I went to Columbia and had to sign a paper at registration in 1980 that I wouldn’t participate in any subversive activities! I was bewildered, as a young woman from out of state! Then I learned about what had happened in the 1960s when students took faculty and staff as hostages to protest the war in Vietnam, necessitating this form to be signed. I wonder if students are still required to sign this declaration!

Shame on them!

Shoshana Averbach Brooklyn, NY

Dear Editor,

It’s time we changed our outlook on how we and our children participate in community sports leagues.

I have observed and coached hundreds of sports games, including soccer, baseball, football, hockey, and basketball. My children play or have played in all the local leagues, and I am not a parent who uses the league as a babysitting service. I attend almost every game, and I coach as well. I am enthusiastic about my team’s performance, and I encourage my kids to run faster and play harder. However, I have been very concerned about what I have witnessed at the games of late. There are codes of conduct posted on many of the leagues’ websites, but they are not enforced at all, and as a result, I have seen some very worrying developments.

1 – Bad middos:

Too often, after a team or an individual player makes a good play, the children begin to dance or make gestures to antagonize the other team. These moves include dancing (i.e. hitting The Griddy), making rude hand gestures or performing other

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Continued from page 10 in-your-face celebrations after scoring a goal, basket, or a touchdown. While I very much enjoy watching professional sports with my children, I do not approve of my children learning from the professional athletes’ tasteless conduct. There is no place for this behavior in a Jewish sports league. These displays demonstrate poor sportsmanship, and worse, bad middos. They must be discouraged.

Solution: There should be a penalty, automatic out, or technical foul called if any celebratory gloating occurs during a game. Plain and simple. No warnings. Absolutely not allowed.

2 – Parents behaving badly:

I’ve seen parental outbursts too many times to stay silent. Parents should attend games to cheer on their children and to ensure that their children are safe. They should not become so invested in the games’ outcomes that they lose control when the ref’s or umpire’s calls don’t go the parent’s way. Too often, I witness parents yelling at teenagers who choose to take some time on a Sunday to ref local sports games. I’ve seen fathers get in the ref’s face and point fingers and throw things on the field of play. This is an outrageously poor example for our children. Our children need to learn that mistakes happen and that not everything goes the way we hoped. People make bad calls, and that’s okay. A parent stepping in and yelling at an ump, ref or coach is highly inappropriate and teaches our children to behave with flagrant disrespect for others.

Solution: If a parent loses control and openly disrespects a ref, ump, or coach, the parent and their child are removed from the game. The child can return the next week. The parent cannot. No warnings. Absolutely not allowed.

Our children can learn so much from participating in our sports leagues, such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, communication skills, resilience, self-confidence, and respect for authority. But we need to do better to enforce codes of conduct so the lessons our children learn on the field are empowering and character-building.

Let’s join together to make necessary changes – for our children’s sakes.

A Concerned Parent

Dear Editor,

Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are our representatives in Washington for the past 25 and 15 years respectively. They are supposed to serve New Yorkers first, but in reality, their first managerial prerogative is to adhere to their radical democratic/socialistic party’s policy.

Have either of them ever voted on anything where you and I benefitted from? I can’t recall! Do you? If yes, please have the courtesy in referring to specifics. They are great in spending billions of dollars, which we don’t have, helping other countries to secure their borders except ours which are wide open. Did either of them ever stand up to fight against the horrendous inflow of illegals into our country taking place for years? Just look at the sanctuary New York City, overrun by illegals!

To no avail. It looks like it doesn’t exist. What tops it all off is the shenanigan Senator Schumer used to nullify the impeachment procedure of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House of Representatives impeached him since he willfully and systematically refused to comply with the law and breached the public trust.

Both of our senators voted against impeachment. Thus the misery continues. The November election cannot come fast enough. To save our country, we need a change in Washington. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who is up for election, must be voted out. We have an excellent replacement in Mike Sapraicone, who comes from Uniondale, Long Island. He is no career politician, but a retired first grade NYC detective and has overseen an impressive Squad Security business. Presently, the firm employs more than 600 security personnel.

He is the right man at the right time! Our country is at stake. You must go voting in November!

Heinz Mayer

Dear Editor,

I would like to commend The Jewish Home for the tasteful way in which you mourned the loss of several people in our community who recently lost their lives. I came away inspired from each person you eulogized and vowed to take on certain traits that they exhibited.

Ms. Soroka, you particularly emphasized that these three individuals symbolized the Torah, avodah, and gemilas chassadim of our community. How true that is! With their passing, we must continue their great work.

One thing in particular struck me: when you wrote that Reb Dov Wolowitz would ask people, “Nu, what are you doing for Klal Yisroel?” He wanted each person to find something that connected to them and their essence and help the Jewish nation with those tools. What a powerful lesson and surely one we can take to heart and implement, each in our own way.

Sincerely,

Rachel Weider

Canadian Wildfires Are Back

Over 100 wildfires are raging through Canada, forcing hundreds to evacuate and endangering a number of communities.

By Monday evening, over 86,000 acres of land were devoured by wildfires in the eastern province of Manitoba, prompting over five hundred evacuations, Manitoba authorities said.

“I’ve been working in wildfires for 40 years. I’ve never seen a fire move like this

fire moved,” said Earl Simmons, the province’s Wildlife Service Director.

The Parker Lake Fire, which is in northeastern British Columbia in Western Canada, tripled in size, now spanning 13,000 acres, and is currently approaching Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson First Nation, where around 4,700 people have been ordered to evacuate as of Monday morning, according to Bowinn Ma, British Columbia’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

With wildfire MMF-017 approaching, evacuation orders were also issued in parts of Alberta, including Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, and Anzac.

“CN [Canadian National Railway Company] has suspended service on our network between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in British Columbia and north of High Level, Alberta due to wildfire activity,” Ashley Michnowski, a spokesperson for the company, said. “We are working with impacted customers as our crews assess damages and identify any required repairs.”

Recent fires have been intensified by dry conditions and 25-mph winds. According to the Canadian Interagency Fire Centre, thirty-nine of the over 100 Cana-

dian wildfires are currently out of control. Last year, Canadian wildfire smoke traveled to the United States, rendering the air quality in eleven states “very unhealthy” and “hazardous.” Now, some of the smoke has once again crossed the border into the U.S., triggering “unhealthy” air quality levels in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Devastating Floods Hit Brazil

Around 113 people are dead in Rio Grande du Sul, after floods consumed the southern Brazilian state, according to the state’s civil defense agency. The aggressive flooding was triggered by intense rainfall that began on Friday.

Brazilian authorities are, as of now, strongly discouraging displaced residents

of the devastated areas from returning home.

The National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) forecasted 150 mm of rainfall in the areas in the center and east of the impacted state for Sunday, with areas to the north of Porto Alegre, the state’s capital, expected to see around 100 millimeters of rain.

“It is important to highlight that the predicted volumes of rain may cause new disruptions in areas already affected previously,” INMET said in a statement.

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have been displaced as a result of the intense rainfall, with over 1.9 million people in the South American country bearing the brunt of the storms.

Over 2,000 animals in Rio Grande du Sol have been rescued from the floods, including a horse who was saved after being trapped on a roof for four days. Other animals rescued by authorities include chickens, pigs, cats, and dogs.

Uruguay, a neighbor of Brazil, has also been impacted by the heavy rainstorms, which have displaced over 1,300 individuals and cut off electricity to thousands more, according to the country’s national emergency system. The disastrous weather in Brazil and other neighboring nations has been blamed on the naturally

occurring El Niño weather pattern.

In Brazil, forty-one individuals were arrested for ransacking houses and places abandoned in the floods; six others were arrested for allegedly assaulting those seeking shelter, according to reports from Agencia Brasil.

With many areas submerged in water, the government of Rio Grande du Sol will need 19 billion Brazilian reals (USD 3.7 billion) to pay for the damage and rebuild devastated areas.

Putin Shuffles Cabinet

Sergei Shoigu, who had served as Russia’s defense minister for 11½ years, was pushed to the side on Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin reshuffled his Cabinet as he commenced his fifth term in

office. Shoigu was replaced with Andrei Belousov, an economics expert and former deputy prime minister. Putin named Shoigu the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, a role roughly similar to the U.S. national security adviser, replacing Nikolai Patrushev.

Patrushev, a hawkish and powerful member of Putin’s inner circle who held the job for 16 years, was appointed a presidential aide. Alexei Dyumin, the governor of the Tula region and often mentioned as a potential Putin successor, also was named a presidential aide. Patrushev will oversee Russian shipbuilding industries in his new job.

Shoigu’s deputy, Timur Ivanov, was arrested last month on bribery charges and was ordered to remain in custody pending an official investigation. On Monday, Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov, the 55-year-old chief of the Defense Ministry’s main personnel directorate, was arrested in his suburban Moscow villa. He was detained on charges of bribery and jailed pending an investigation and trial.

Kuznetsov is accused of accepting an “exceptionally large bribe,” a charge punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The committee alleged he received the bribe in his previous post as head of the military General Staff’s directorate in charge

of preserving state secrets, a position he held for 13 years.

Officials had stormed his home while the family was sleeping and seized gold coins, luxury items, and more than $1 million in cash.

Speaking on Tuesday at the upper house of parliament, Belousov said Putin has given him the task to more closely integrate the defense sector into the national economy.

“It’s not an easy task, it’s comprehensive and primarily implies optimization of military spending,” he said. “First and foremost, optimization means increasing efficiency.”

Belousov also cited the need to increase supplies of modern artillery and missile systems, drones and electronic warfare assets. He said the military would continue bolstering its ranks with volunteers, noting there is no need for another round of mobilization.

Belousov said, in a possible jab at Shoigu, that he would proceed from the “ironclad principle: it’s possible to make mistakes but it’s inadmissible to lie.”

Socialists Win Catalonia Elections

In Catalonia’s recent regional elections, Spain’s ruling Socialist party emerged victorious, marking a significant milestone in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s tenure, especially regarding his contentious amnesty proposal for separatists.

Despite not securing an outright majority, the Socialists hailed the outcome as a historic win. However, forming a government independently seems unlikely, paving the way for negotiations and the potential for another round of elections if consensus isn’t reached. Nonetheless, there’s a possibility of the region witnessing an anti-independence party leading the government for the first time in over ten years.

Addressing jubilant supporters at the Socialist headquarters in Barcelona, party leader Salvador Illa proclaimed, “After 45 years, we’ve achieved victory in both seats and votes. This marks the beginning of a new era as decided by the people of

Catalonia.”

Yet, Illa faces the challenge of securing 68 seats in the 135-seat Catalan Parliament to establish a government. With the Socialists only garnering 42 seats, they need to build a coalition to form a government, potentially involving the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and left-wing Comuns.

The main contender against the Socialists was the pro-independence Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), led by Carles Puigdemont, campaigning from exile in France. Although Junts secured a close second with 35 seats, their inability to form a coalition with other separatist factions signifies a setback.

Pere Aragonès, leader of ERC and outgoing Catalan president, triggered the snap elections due to the failure in passing a regional budget. However, with only 20 seats won, his party faces introspection.

Aragonès attributed the party’s underperformance to its collaborative stance with the Socialists, which, according to him, was not appreciated by voters. He announced ERC’s shift to opposition status, indicating a reluctance to engage with Illa. Without ERC’s support, Catalonia could brace for another election cycle as early as October.

An autonomous region in northeastern Spain with its own linguistic and cultural identity, Catalonia is a popular tourist destination and economic powerhouse. Many in Catalonia have been pushing for independence from Spain.

Kuwait Emir Suspends Parliament

The emir of Kuwait announced Friday that he would suspend the elected parliament for up to four years, stoking fears that he could move to dismantle one of the Middle East’s last semi-democratic political systems.

“I will not permit for democracy to be exploited to destroy the state,” the emir, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, said in a televised speech, declaring that a recent period of political turmoil required “hard

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decisions to save the country.”

The emir also suspended several articles of the constitution and said that the transitional period would be used to review “all aspects of the democratic process” in Kuwait, an oil-rich state along the Persian Gulf. During the suspension, the emir and the Cabinet will take over the 50-member parliament’s legislative powers.

The decisions came a month after elections in which Kuwaitis chose a new parliament, and its members had not yet begun their new session. While Kuwait’s parliament has frequently been dissolved in favor of new elections — most recently by Sheikh Meshal in February — a parliamentary suspension has happened only twice in Kuwaiti history, in 1976 and 1986.

“This is a serious setback for democracy in the Middle East,” said Michael Herb, a political science professor at Georgia State University. “This suspension of the parliament threatens to make Kuwait as authoritarian as the other Gulf monarchies.”

There is still hope that the country could take a different path, he added; after both past suspensions, parliament was eventually restored.

In Kuwait, frequent deadlocks be-

tween parliament and the executive branch have led to political turmoil, which has intensified over the past five years. The country has experienced much parliamentary turnover and frequent Cabinet resignations, and officials have had little time to execute their agendas. Kuwait has also lagged behind the rest of the hydrocarbon-rich Gulf in infrastructure development and economic diversification.

Kuwait is far from a full democracy: Its ruler is a hereditary monarch, and political parties are illegal. But across a Middle Eastern region where many states are becoming more repressive, Kuwait represents a rare alternative, scholars say, nurturing elements of democracy even after Arab Spring uprisings were crushed more than a decade ago and countries including Tunisia and Egypt began to march back toward authoritarianism. (© The New York Times)

Georgia’s Foreign Agent Bill

This week, Georgia’s parliament passed a “foreign agents” bill which will require organizations receiving more

than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence” or face crippling fines. The bill was passed despite opposition that warned that its enactment would imperil the country’s chances of joining the European Union.

Opponents say that the legislation was modeled after similar laws in Russia that the Kremlin has used to increasingly snuff out opposition and civil society.

The law was approved on Tuesday by 84 lawmakers voting in favor to 30 against. After the vote, riot police moved on protesters in Tbilisi after some individuals smashed down the barriers and broke into the grounds of the parliament.

The bill is not yet law. The parliament now has 10 days to send the bill to President Salome Zourabichvili, who has already vowed to veto it. Zourabichvili has two weeks to do so, but parliament can override her objection with a simple majority.

The bill has become a cultural flashpoint in a country which, like Ukraine, finds itself caught between Russia and Europe. Polls show that an estimated 80% of Georgians want to join the EU, but Moscow’s geopolitical orbit has proven tough to exit.

Georgia applied for membership of the bloc in 2022 and was granted candidate status in December, a move seen as an effort to reverse the former Soviet republic’s drift toward Russia. However, EU leaders have made it clear that the foreign agents bill’s passage would jeopardize Georgia’s chances of accession.

The United States also voiced concerns about the bill and “democratic backsliding” in the country, which is located in the Caucasus Mountains, bordered by Russia to the north and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south.

The bill was pushed through by Georgian Dream, the ruling party, which says that it will help promote transparency. But many say that the party has been suspected of harboring pro-Russian sympathies, especially given that its founder, the billionaire former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in the Soviet Union.

Many are calling the bill “the Russian law.” Thousands have joined protests,

that break out almost nightly.

“It is a Russian law. It is an exact duplicate of the Putin law that was adopted a few years ago and then complemented in order to crush civil society,” Zourabichvili, the Georgian president and a longstanding opponent of Georgian Dream, said.

Chinese Covid Journalist to be Freed

Zhang Zhan, thought to be the first person in China imprisoned for documenting the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, was expected to be released Monday, after serving a fouryear sentence.

But in a sign of how eager the Chinese government remains to suppress public

discussion of the outbreak, it was unclear on Monday evening whether Zhang, 40, had actually been set free. The lawyer who represented Zhang during her trial, Zhang Keke (the two are not related), said he could not reach her mother all day. Reached by phone, officials at the Shanghai prison administration declined to comment.

“Even though she will have served her sentence, there are doubts regarding the Chinese regime’s willingness to give her back her freedom,” Reporters Without Borders, the international media watchdog group, said in a statement several days before her expected release. The group, which gave Zhang a press freedom award in 2021, noted that journalists released from imprisonment in China are often kept under surveillance.

Zhang was an early symbol of the mistrust that many Chinese harbored toward the government’s handling of the outset of the pandemic and the hunger they had for unfiltered information. A former lawyer from Shanghai, she traveled in early 2020 to Wuhan, the city where the virus was first detected, as a self-styled citizen journalist.

For months, she filmed amateur, often shaky videos that contradicted the government’s narrative of a smooth, tri-

umphant response to the crisis.

The government, busy trying to contain infections and maintain the lockdown of the city of 11 million, for a time let a small measure of independent reporting on the outbreak slip through.

But before long, the crackdown on independent reporting began in earnest. Zhang acknowledged the risks but kept posting — about the lockdown, and then, after it was lifted in April 2020, its aftermath. Then, that May, she was arrested and brought back to Shanghai.

Zhang was sentenced in December 2020 to four years in prison, on the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a catchall offense the government frequently uses to silence critics.

Asked about Zhang’s case at a regularly scheduled news briefing Monday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that he did not have information about her case, but that anyone who violated Chinese law should be punished. (© The New York Times)

Fatal Flash Floods in Afghanistan

Over 300 Afghans, mostly women and children, are now dead after flash floods swept over Afghanistan, obliterating entire villages, destroying more than two thousand homes, and displacing thousands of civilians, officials from the United Nations said.

Baghlan, a northern province of Afghanistan, was hit the hardest by the floods, which were triggered by intense seasonal rains last Friday. The province’s death toll is expected to increase, said Hedayatullah Hamdard, the director of the provincial disaster management department. The government posted images on Saturday, showing Baglan roads covered in muddy water and vehicles trapped in the mud.

Two people are missing in the Baghlan Province’s Burka District, said school principal Barkatullah Sulaimani, adding that around 100 individuals from his village, Haji Wakil, evacuated safely.

“Everything was flooded. There are three villages in our area where no houses are left; all have been razed by the flood,”

said tribal elder Abdul Aziz Ayyar, whose niece and her two daughters were killed by the floods.

The mountainous province of Badakhshan, which is in the eastern part of Afghanistan, lost at least one civilian, with the floods wiping out two thousand livestock and destroying homes, small dams, and bridges, according to the provincial disaster management department. Ghor and Herat, two other provinces which are in central and western Afghanistan respectively, were also hit by the floods, Taliban officials said.

The intense rainfall that struck Afghanistan was partly triggered by the El Niño weather pattern, according to experts. Last month, over 100 people were killed, more than 1,000 homes were destroyed, and 60,000 acres of farmland were ruined in another series of floods.

“Any additional flooding will have a detrimental impact on large swaths of the population, which are already reeling from an economic collapse, high levels of malnutrition and conflict,” the International Rescue Committee said.

Bus Falls Into River in Russia

On Friday afternoon, a bus that was driving on the Potseluev Bridge in St. Petersburg, Russia, crashed into the Moika River, killing seven of its twenty occupants. The crash occurred after the bus veered into oncoming traffic and collided with two vehicles, after which the bus drove through a bridge barrier into the river.

The bus driver was arrested following the rescue of the bus’s passengers, with authorities launching a criminal investigation into the incident.

Immediately following the crash, several bystanders, including Idris Gadzhiev, Shahban Jabrailov, and Muhammad Hasanov, jumped into the river to try and rescue those who were on the bus.

Gadzhiev said, “We were driving to Friday prayers when we saw the bus falling into the river.”

Jabrailov added, “We weren’t being heroes, but just fulfilling our civic duty.”

The Emergency Ministry reported that nine occupants were rescued from the sunken bus. Seven individuals died soon thereafter.

A video published by officials shows emergency authorities using heavy machinery to lift the bus out of the river.

The bus driver, 44, only identified with the name Rakhmatshokh, can face up to seven years in prison if found guilty.

St. Petersburg, a historic city founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, is Russia’s second-largest city, after Moscow.

Djokovic Defeated

Alejandro Tabilo became a household name this week after beating Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open on Sunday after 67 minutes of play.

The Chilean defeated the world No. 1

and top seed 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the Italian Open in what was the first meeting between the pair.

“It’s incredible. I came on court just looking around and soaking it all in, trying to process everything. I’m trying to wake up right now,” said Tabilo, 26, “Obviously every time you feel like you are closer to the end, your arms start to get a little tighter and you start to swing shorter, so I was just trying to not think about it and take it point by point. It’s crazy, I can’t believe what just happened.”

After losing the first set, Djokovic served up two double faults in the opening game of the second set to gift his opponent a crucial advantage. It was another Djokovic double fault which gave Tabilo his fourth break of the match to secure an incredible victory.

On Friday, Djokovic was accidentally hit in the head with a water bottle. He has not said if that impacted his performance.

“I didn’t feel anything, but I also didn’t feel the same,” Djokovic said. “Today (Sunday) under high stress, it was quite bad – not in terms of pain, but in terms of this balance. Just no coordination.

“Completely different player from what it was two nights ago. Could be. I don’t know. I have to do medical check-

ups and see what’s going on.”

Tabilo is the first Chilean to beat a world number one since Fernando Gonzalez beat Roger Federer at the ATP Finals in 2007.

Vatican Labor Rules

Forty-nine Vatican Museums employees, upset with labor conditions, have started a dispute against the Vatican City State over unfair and poor conditions at their workplace.

The workers, mostly museum attendants, have sent a petition to the Vatican’s “Governatorato,” the body that administers the Vatican City State, lamenting rules that cause “labor conditions undermining each worker’s dignity and health,” said lawyer Laura Sgrò, who is representing them.

The grievances include working extra hours at lower rates and insufficient health and safety provisions.

Around 700 people are employed at Vatican Museums. The 49 involved in the dispute are all Italian and have worked there for many years.

The Vatican Museums have a priceless art collection and include the renowned Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Sgrò said that, due to the absence of furlough schemes in Vatican labor legislation, workers who had been left inactive during the pandemic because of the Vatican Museums’ closure were now being asked to hand back salaries paid during that period.

“With this action we want to be constructive, we hope this can prove the right occasion for a general rethinking of the Vatican labor rules,” Sgrò said.

Mona Lisa Mystery

She’s been smeared with cake and doused with acid. Vigilantes have stolen her, and protesters have defaced her. She’s been lasered and prodded, displayed for the masses, and relegated to her own basement gallery. More recently, thousands urged billionaire Jeff Bezos to buy her, and then eat her.

There is no bottom, it seems, to the mysteries of the “Mona Lisa,” the Leonardo da Vinci painting that has captivated art lovers, culture vultures and the rest of us for centuries. Who is she? (Most likely Lisa Gherardini, the wife of an Italian nobleman.) Is she smiling? (The short answer — kind of.) Did da Vinci originally intend to paint her differently, with her hair clipped or in a nursing gown?

While much about the art world’s most enigmatic subject has been relegated to the realm of the unknowable, now, in a strange crossover of art and geology, there may be one fewer mystery: where she was sitting when da Vinci painted her.

According to Ann Pizzorusso, a geologist and Renaissance art scholar, da Vinci’s subject is sitting in Lecco, Italy, an idyllic town near the banks of Lake Como. The conclusion, Pizzorusso said, is obvious — she figured it out years ago, but never realized its significance.

“I saw the topography near Lecco and realized this was the location,” she said.

The nondescript background has some important features: among them, a medieval bridge that most scholars have held as the key to da Vinci’s setting. But Pizzorusso said it is rather the shape of the lake and the gray-white limestone that betrays Lecco as the painting’s spiritual home.

Such features were so clear to Pizzorusso that she had concluded years ago on a trip to Lecco that the quaint, lakeside village was the setting for da Vinci’s masterpiece. She assumed, she said, that such facts were self-evident. It was not until a colleague approached her, seeking information on the painting’s possible settings, that Pizzorusso realized her conclusions had scholarly merit.

“I would tell people, but I just never did anything,” she said. Now though, mapping technology has made her thesis more palatable.

“Everything has conspired to really make my idea much more provable and presentable,” she said, speaking from Lecco, where she will formally present her conclusions at a geology event.

(© The New York Times)

Ariel Tsym, HY”D

On Friday, Staff Sgt. Ariel Tsym lost his life fighting in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. The 20-year-old was part of the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion and hailed from Modiin.

Four other soldiers were also killed in fighting on that day.

Tsym was killed during a gun battle with Hamas operatives in Zeitoun. The other four troops were killed by an explosive device in the same area. Those who were killed in the blast were identified as Sgt. Itay Livny, 19, from Ramat Ha-

sharon; Sgt. Yosef Dassa, 19, from Kiryat Bialik; Sgt. Ermiyas Mekuriyaw, 19, from Beersheba; and Sgt. Daniel Levy, 19, from Kiryat Motzkin. All four were from the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion.

Sadly, with Tsym’s death 272 IDF soldiers have lost their lives in the current war.

The IDF has returned several times to the Zeitoun neighborhood since the war’s outbreak, as Hamas has managed to regroup in areas previously cleared by the army.

The military is also moving into other areas of northern Gaza where Hamas is re-establishing itself. Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, told Palestinians in Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya and surrounding areas to leave their homes and head to shelters in the west of Gaza City, warning that people were in “a dangerous combat zone” and that Israel would strike with “great force.”

The army is also moving ahead with its operations in Rafah, ordering civilians to leave the area. The IDF has uncovered several tunnels in the city along with several Hamas terrorists.

UN Backs Palestinian State

On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly voted heavily in favor of admitting the “State of Palestine” into the UNGA, with 143 member countries voting for the motion, 25 abstaining, and nine, including the U.S. and Israel, against. This move does not grant the Palestinians membership into the U.N., but rather, merely supports the notion “that the State of Palestine … should … be admitted to membership.”

A month ago, the U.N. Security Council tried to grant the Palestinians full recognition and member status but failed after the U.S. vetoed the vote. This UNGA resolution “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”

Although the Palestinians, a non-member observer state, still do not have voting power in the U.N., the UNGA resolution grants the Palestinians a seat in the assembly hall, among a few other added rights.

Following the resolution’s passing, Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the vote as a “prize for Hamas.”

“The absurd decision taken today at the UN General Assembly highlights the structural bias of the U.N. and the reasons why, under the leadership of U.N. Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres, it has turned itself into an irrelevant institution,” said Katz.

In order to become a full U.N. member, a country must first be voted in by the Security Council, which is composed of fifteen members, including its five permanent members the U.S., UK, Russia, France, and China, and ten temporary members voted in for two-year terms. After earning the UNSC’s approval, a prospective U.N. member must then be approved by the General Assembly.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N., condemned the resolution and shredded a copy of the Charter of the U.N. in front of the assembly.

“As long as so many of you are ‘Jew-hating,’ you don’t really care that the Palestinians are not ‘peace-loving’,” said Erdan to the assembly. “Shame on you.”

Afterward, Erdan held up a poster of

Yahya Sinwar, which contained the text, “President Sinwar, the terror state of Hamas, sponsored by the UN.”

The U.S. has made it clear that, despite its recent votes in the U.N., it is not against a two-state solution.

“Our vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood; we have been very clear that we support it and seek to advance it meaningfully. Instead, it is an acknowledgment that statehood will only come from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties,” said the U.S.’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood.

“Additionally, the draft resolution does not alter the status of the Palestinians as a ‘non-member state observer mission.’ Even if the resolution were adopted, the text explicitly outlines that the Palestinian non-member-state observer mission would not gain the right to vote in the General Assembly. It also would not gain the right to put forward candidates in UN organs or to be elected as a member of the Security Council,” the U.S. mission added.

The U.N.’s recent attempts to recognize a full Palestinian state come seven months into the Israel-Hamas war, which began after Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 Jews and kidnapping more than 250, 131 of whom are still held in Gaza.

Four Soldiers Killed As Israel Enters

Rafah

Four 19-year-old soldiers from the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion were killed by Hamas on Friday in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, bringing the number of fallen soldiers to 271 since Israel began its ground campaign in Gaza. An early IDF investigation suggests that the four were killed after being hit by one or more explosives in an alleyway.

The four fallen soldiers were named as Sgt. Itay Livny, from Ramat Hasharon; Sgt. Yosef Dassa, from Kiryat Bialik; Sgt. Ermiyas Mekuriyaw, from Beersheeba, and Sgt. Daniel Levy, from Kiryat Motzkin. They were murdered while storming a school area in Zeitun where Hamas

maintained a military presence. After searching through the location, the IDF found a Hamas tunnel and weapons in the area.

In the same attack, an officer and soldier from the 931st Battalion sustained serious injuries. In a separate incident, two other soldiers were seriously injured by RPG fire in Rafah, where intense fighting is taking place between the Israeli army and Gaza-based terrorist groups Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

On Friday, the military said that it eliminated dozens of terrorists and confirmed its continuing operation in eastern Rafah, where the IDF seized the Salah-aDin road and the Rafah Crossing to Egypt.

In light of U.S. President Joe Biden’s threat to stop supplying certain weapons to Israel if it launches a major operation into Rafah, the Jewish state is, for now, limiting its expansion into the Gazan city. Two sources have said that the Biden administration is satisfied with the small scope of the current operation and a third source claims that the limited operation still crosses the U.S.’s red line.

On Friday, Hamas, for the first time since December, launched five rockets at Beersheba, a city in southern Israel. Shrapnel lightly injured a 37-year-old woman who was treated at Soroka Hospi-

tal, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. The Iron Dome neutralized one of the rockets, and the other four crashed in open areas. Later that day, Hamas launched nine more rockets from Rafah to Beersheba. Each rocket hit open areas, according to the IDF.

Israel’s Darkest

Year

Over the past year, 766 Israeli soldiers and security officials were killed, according to the Defense Ministry. Since October 7, 716 officials have died, including 603 IDF soldiers, 68 police officers, 39 local security officers, and six Shin Bet officials, with almost all of the casualties taking place during Israel’s ground operation in Gaza or on the tragic day of October 7.

Since 1860, the year that Jewish com-

munities in Israel began counting casualties of public service officials, 25,040 soldiers, police officers, Shin Bet officials, and civilian security officials, have died, either in the line of duty, by accident, or by way of sickness or suicide in Israel. Since 1851, 5,100 civilians in Israel have been killed in terror attacks, including 531 men, 291 women, 40 minors, and 68 foreigners who were murdered by Hamas on October 7, according to the National Insurance Institute.

“Unfortunately, since the outbreak of hostilities, we have conducted many respectful funerals, in some places under rocket fire and fear of terrorist infiltration; we have expanded cemeteries within moments, with the clear goal of bringing the fallen to their final resting place with respect,” said Aryeh Moalem, a Defense Ministry official.

The institute added that before October 7, in the past year, twelve individuals were killed as a result of terror attacks, including Chana Tova Chaya Nachenberg, who sustained critical injuries in a Jerusalem terror attack in 2001 and succumbed to her wounds in 2023.

Additionally, 252 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. Of the 128 who have yet to be released from Gaza, 36 have passed away, according to the Israeli military. The institute says that 65 of the unreleased abductees are civilians, while 67 are either officials from the IDF, police, or other security teams in southern Israel.

These numbers were released to coincide with Yom HaZikaron.

UN Cuts Number of Fatalities

In a rare admission of error, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sharply decreased the number of “identified” female and child fatalities in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The data now differentiates between the total number of deaths reported by Hamas (over 34,000) and the number of “identified” fatalities (over 24,000).

The new figures reported by OCHA reduce by more than half the number

of women and children that it previously said had been killed during the war, though other “unregistered” deaths may be pending.

The UN relies on data from the Hamas-run health ministry for its reporting.

Having previously reported that 9,500 women and 14,500 children had died during the war (some 69% of all fatalities), OCHA is now reporting far lower numbers, stating that among “identified” deaths, 4,959 women have died, along with 7,797 children (or 52% of the total number of identified deaths in the war). Hamas considers anyone under the age of 18 to be a child; many combatants are still in their teens.

Israel differs from the Hamas-run health ministry when it comes to numbers.

According to a recent statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli agencies believe that some 14,000 terror operatives have been killed in the fighting (the IDF has given that number as 15,000), along with some 16,000 civilians, which would give a civilian casualty figure of 53%. In an interview released Sunday, Netanyahu said the ratio of Hamas combatants to Gazan civilians killed was about one-to-one.

Until May 6, OCHA was citing only the over-34,000 death toll, and the far higher figures for women and children fatalities which were reported by the Hamas-controlled Government Media Office (GMO) organization in Gaza.

According to those figures, the total death toll was 34,735, of whom 9,500, or 27%, were women and over 14,500, or 42%, were children.

But on May 8, the agency adopted new figures. While it still kept the higher “reported” death toll (now at 34,844), it said “identified” fatalities stood at 24,686, of whom 4,959 (20%) were women and 7,797 (32%) were children.

Those revised figures constitute a 52% reduction in the reported number of women killed and a 53% reduction in the reported number of children killed during the war.

Hamas’ Secret Police

According to The New York Times, Hamas has a secret police force that it utilized in the Gaza Strip to spy on Palestinians living there. The force built files on young people, journalists, and those deemed to be concerning to the Hamas government.

The General Security Service, as it is known, was under the purview of Yehia Sinwar and relied on a series of informants.

Hamas has long run an oppressive system of governance in Gaza, and many Palestinians there know that security officials watch them closely. But the breadth of the surveillance – highlighted in a 62-slide presentation on the activities of the General Security Service which was delivered only weeks before the October

7 attack on Israel – reveals the degree to which the largely unknown unit invaded the lives of Palestinians.

The slideshow was supposedly prepared specifically for Sinwar.

Hamas leaders would not tolerate any dissent against them. Officials would trail people thought to be suspected of immoral behavior. People were removed from social media if they were seen as too critical of the regime.

“We’re facing bombardment by the

There are two other powerful internal security bodies in Gaza: Military Intelligence, which typically focuses on Israel, and the Internal Security Service, an arm of the Interior Ministry.

The GSS consisted of 856 people, with monthly expenses of more than $120,000 before October 7. Many people were paid to spread Hamas propaganda and launch online attacks against opponents at home and abroad. The GSS used censorship, intimidation and surveillance to quash dissent.

“This General Security Service is just like the Stasi of East Germany,” said Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer specializing in Palestinian affairs. “You always have an eye on the street.”

Jack Lew: Nothing Has Changed

occupation [of Israel] and thuggery by the local authorities,” Ehab Fasfous, a journalist in Gaza who appeared in the files of the General Security Service, said in a phone interview with The New York Times from Gaza.

Fasfous, 51, is labeled in one report as among “the major haters of the Hamas movement.”

The General Security Service is formally part of the Hamas political party but functions like part of the government.

Jack Lew, the United States Ambassador to Israel, has declared that “fundamentally, nothing has changed in” Israel and the U.S.’s “basic relationship,” following President Joe Biden’s decision to postpone the shipment of certain bombs to Israel and the issuing of his threat to stop supplying weapons if the Jewish state launches a major operation into Rafah.

Only “one set of munitions” has been delayed, said Lew, adding that “everything else keeps flowing.” Lew continued, saying that Israel and the U.S. “need to talk through” concerns about “large diameter bombs, heavy bombs, particularly when there’s the possibility of them being used in densely populated urban areas.”

When asked about Biden’s promise to stop supplying offensive weapons to Israel if the Jewish state crosses “the

line,” Lew walked back the president’s statements, explaining them to mean that Biden “doesn’t think it is a good idea to have a massive ground campaign in a heavily populated area. But he specifically said that 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs shouldn’t be used in that setting.”

Furthermore, Lew shared that Biden hasn’t taken significant issue with anything Israel has done in Rafah as of now. Currently, Israel’s expansion into Rafah hasn’t “crossed over into the area where our disagreements lie. I’m hoping we don’t end up with real disagreements,” the ambassador said.

In discussing the U.S.’s post-war vision, Lew insisted that the U.S. would never use the language, “eliminate Hamas.”

“The challenge is to reduce Hamas to the point that it’s no longer a threat,” said Lew. “We have said consistently that Hamas should not be either a political or a governing body. That doesn’t mean that you’ve eliminated every last member of Hamas.

“We’ve never said that it’s not a legitimate goal to go after the four battalions [in Rafah],” he reiterated. “We’ve said there’s a better way to do it, [namely through] targeted operations.”

Lew is uncertain how much longer the war in Gaza will last, but he added that the Israel-Hamas war is “already Israel’s longest war since the War of Independence” and that Israel has “paid a dear price.”

“Everyone wants this war to end, I hope. We certainly want it to come to an end that leaves Israel safe and secure, so that your sons and daughters don’t have to go and fight, and people can get back to their homes and live in their homes. And that ought to be our common goal.”

Mark Suzman, wrote in a statement on Monday. “Melinda has new ideas about the role she wants to play in improving the lives of women and families in the U.S. and around the world. And, after a difficult few years watching women’s rights rolled back in the U.S. and around the world, she wants to use this next chapter to focus specifically on altering that trajectory.”

As part of her separation agreement from former husband Bill Gates, French Gates said she will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her charitable work.

“This is not a decision I came to lightly,” she said in a statement posted on X. “I am immensely proud of the foundation that Bill and I built together and of the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequities around the world.”

French Gates said she plans to leave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on June 7, and she will share more about her future charitable plans in the near future.

The organization will change its name to the Gates Foundation, and Bill Gates will become the sole chair.

Melinda’s ex-husband, Bill, posted on X, “I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.

“Looking ahead, I remain fully committed to the Foundation’s work across all our strategies, and to realizing the opportunities we have to continue improving the lives of millions around the world,” he wrote.

Both Bill and Melinda have pledged to donate the vast majority of their wealth to the foundation as well as to other philanthropic endeavors. With plans to give away $9 billion a year, Bill anticipates he will give away all of his money in about 20 years.

Healthcare Cyber Attack

Prominent healthcare network Ascension, a nonprofit based in St. Louis which owns 140 hospitals located in 19 states, was hit with a major ransom attack, forcing the company to redirect ambulances away from its hospitals, officials from the healthcare system said on Thursday.

The cyber-attack also forced Ascension into using its “downtime procedure for some time,” wherein the network’s hospitals have to temporarily rely on paper records and other backup processes until computers are up and running again.

Sources claim that hackers attacked the network with Black Basta ransomware, which has been used for a number of other healthcare cyber-attacks in the past few years. Two or more healthcare companies in the U.S. and Europe have “suffered severe operational disruptions” due to Black Basta, according to an advisory published by the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center, an organization that warns healthcare providers about cyber-attacks.

February, Change Healthcare, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, was hit with a major ransom attack. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty, while testifying to Congress earlier this month, shared that the medical data of a third of Americans may have been stolen in the hack. UnitedHealth, a giant in the healthcare industry, paid $22 million to the hackers who were holding patient data ransom, according to the company’s CEO.

Chinese Nationals Sue Florida

In May 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that banned Chinese nationals and citizens from buying property in agricultural parts of the state, as well as land within ten miles of military bases and other “critical infrastructure.” On Friday, four Chinese nationals brought legal action against Florida at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to stop the bill.

The four nationals’ lawyer, Ashley Gorski, said that “Florida is unlawfully restricting housing for Chinese people” and asked the three judges, Robert Luck, Barbara Lagoa, and Charles Wilson, to block the law. Luck and Lagoa were appointed by DeSantis to the Florida Supreme Court in 2019 and then were appointed to federal court by Donald Trump, who was president at the time, later that year. Wilson was appointed to the court by former President Bill Clinton in 1999.

Melinda Gates to Resign

This week, Melinda French Gates announced that she would resign as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization she helped lead since 2000. The foundation has made around $78 billion worth of grant payments in the nearly 25 years since its founding.

French Gates made the decision “after considerable reflection, based on how she wants to spend the next chapter of her philanthropy,” the foundation’s CEO,

The couple had announced their divorce in May 2021. At the time, they said they would allow themselves a trial period through 2023 to determine if they could continue working together at the charitable foundation.

The $75.2 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s mission is to improve health care in developing countries, enhance educational opportunities, and reduce poverty by providing grants and support to various initiatives and organizations around the world.

Melinda also founded Pivotal Ventures, a separate charity that focuses on removing barriers for minorities and women in the United States, in 2015. She committed $1 billion to the organization in 2019.

Ascension, like many targeted healthcare providers, has informed federal authorities about the attack, employed U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant to assist in the healthcare system’s recovery from the hack, and closed down its systems in order to avoid the situation getting further out of hand. Joseph Impicciche, the CEO of Ascension, is reportedly in contact with senior U.S. officials.

“We are actively supporting our ministries as they continue to provide safe, patient care with established downtime protocols and procedures, in which our workforce is well trained,” Ascension stated on Thursday.

In recent years, a number of hospitals have fallen victim to cyber-attacks. In

“It is singling out people from particular countries in a way that is anathema to the equal protection guarantees that now exist,” Gorski said.

Florida’s attorney, Nathan Forrester, defended the law at the federal court, noting that the law aligns with the Biden administration’s national security concerns, namely the issue of Chinese espionage.

When DeSantis signed the law, he declared China the “greatest geopolitical threat” that the United States currently faces.

“It is not about race,” Forrester added. “The concern is about the Chinese government, and that is what this law is designed to do. The concern is the manipulation of the Chinese government.”

40 The law also bans citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from buying land in much of Florida, although the strictest punishments are given to Chinese nationals and those who sell land to them.

Luck, during the arguments, noted that the Chinese nationals represented by Gorski may not have the right to sue the state since they were likely not personally harmed by the law.

Gorski argued that Florida, as a state, does not have the right to sign such a bill into law.

“Congress vested only the president with the authority to prohibit a transaction because it is a major decision with significant foreign policy implications,” Gorski said.

Luck, however, argued with Gorski on that point, alleging that “Florida took it [the law] from what the federal was doing and piggybacked.” Forrester added that the Biden administration hasn’t supported the four Chinese nationals represented by Gorski.

Wilson noted that Florida has almost two dozen military bases and criticized the vague term, “critical infrastructure.” When asked about whether there are any areas in Florida where citizens from China and other blocked countries are still

allowed to buy land, Forrester said that maps are still in the process of being prepared.

Dealing with the Baltimore Bridge

The trapped cargo ship Dali will hopefully be freed this week, seven weeks after it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. On Monday evening, authorities set off controlled explosives on portions of the collapsed bridge to help free the massive ship.

During the detonation, a chunk of the collapsed structure appeared to fall away from the ship and into the water, though a portion of wreckage remained on top of the ship.

Officially are “very pleased” with the demolition but are conducting surveys to

ensure nothing damaged the hull of the ship and that the ship can be refloated. Once authorities give the go-ahead, four tugboats will bring the ship to the pier, where any repairs will be made and additional wreckage and containers will be removed from the ship.

“Hopefully we’re going to refloat the Dali in the next few days. We still anticipate to be on time to open full channel by the end of the month,” U.S. Coast Guard Capt. David O’Connell said.

The 213-million-pound Dali cargo ship veered off course on March 26 and struck a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the bridge to fall into the Patapsco River below. Six construction workers were killed in the collapse. The incident also halted traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major hub.

The body of the sixth victim was recovered from the water last week.

The 21 members of the ship’s crew –who have not left the ship in the almost seven weeks since it struck the bridge –remained onboard during the operation, according to Darrel Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group, which manages the Dali. The crew members “are all safe and standing by to continue assisting the response,” Wilson said.

The crew has been taken care of, but they feel cut off from the world, as their cellphones were confiscated by the FBI as part of the investigation. They have internet access on the ship.

Mateo Made It

Mateo has arrived. The name made it to the boys’ names top 10 list for the first time, making it the sixth-most popular boys’ name in the U.S. 2023, according to recently released data from the Social Security Administration.

“Mateo had a huge jump.… The fact that Mateo went from No. 11 in 2022 to No. 6 in 2023 is insane. We don’t see that very often at the top of the charts,” says Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of the baby name website Nameberry.

Liam and Olivia are topping the rankings for the fifth consecutive year.

More than 11,000 babies in the U.S. were named Mateo, a Latino name, last year, the highest number on record, ac-

cording to the Social Security Administration. It began ranking in the top 1,000 in 1995. Two decades later, it had reached the top 100.

Kaeli was the fastest-rising girls’ name last year, jumping to No. 678 in the rankings. The second fastest rising girls’ name in 2023 was Alitzel, fueled by a popular TikTok in Spanish.

The boys’ name Chozen also saw its popularity skyrocket, to No. 813 on the list, after a character with that name became a hero in the latest season of a karate show.

The top boys’ name in 2023 was Liam, followed by Noah, Oliver, James, and Elijah. Mateo, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, and William rounded out the top ten for boys.

Olivia led the list for girls’ names. Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, and Sophia came in the top five. Mia, Isabella, Ava, Evelyn, and Luna also came in the top ten for girls.

Bob Menendez on Trial

Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey is facing a trial over charges of taking bribes, including gold bars, cash, and a luxury car, to help push U.S. aid and weapons to a foreign government. His wife, Nadine, is going to be charged separately.

Menendez, a Democrat, is facing 16 charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to obstruct justice but has rejected calls to resign. He is not going to be running in his state’s primary for his seat, though, but has left open the possibility of running as an independent following his trial.

According to prosecutors, both Sen. Menendez and his wife helped several New Jersey businessmen – all of whom were charged in the conspiracy – obtain lucrative contracts with Egyptian and Qatari officials and attempted to pressure authorities to stop investigations into the businessmen and their associates.

Menendez is being tried with two of his co-defendants: Wael Hana, an Egyptian American businessman, and Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer.

NEWDATE!

According to the indictment, Hana and Nadine Menendez – who were friends for years before she started dating the senator in 2018 – worked together to connect the senator with several Egyptian officials to help secure U.S. military aid as well as an exclusive contract with Hana’s company.

The contract, prosecutors say, made Hana’s company the only business able to certify U.S. food exports to Egypt as compliant with halal standards.

including by talking with a top prosecutor on one case and by working to recommend a candidate for the job of New Jersey’s U.S. attorney, who Menendez believed would help quash a case against Daibes.

Authorities found 13 gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in the Menendez home. Menendez is claiming that he keeps gold and cash in his home because of intergenerational family trauma as well as a psychological disorder stemming in part from his father’s suicide.

Shortly after he was indicted on bribery charges last year, Menendez told reporters he had withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash over the course of 30 years, citing “the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba.”

The family trauma and death of his father, defense attorneys say, led to a fear of scarcity through which Menendez developed “seemingly unusual” coping mechanisms.

Melodie & MartyScharf

Menendez, who at the time held senior positions on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a post with power over foreign military sales, met several times with Hana’s contacts in the Egyptian military and helped steer U.S. military sales and aid to the country, according to prosecutors.

The indictment also alleges that Menendez ghostwrote a letter on behalf of the Egyptian government attempting to persuade other senators to lift a hold on $300 million in aid.

He also supposedly passed along information to his wife, who passed it along to Hana, who forwarded it to the Egyptian government.

In exchange for gold bars and other items, Menendez helped his co-defendant Daibes secure a multimillion-dollar investment from Qatari officials in a real estate project, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also say that Menendez attempted to influence several cases in New Jersey involving his co-defendants,

A Furry Fake

The Taizhou Zoo in China is under fire after visitors noticed that the zoo had painted two dogs to look like panda bears, attempting to deceive patrons into thinking they were viewing the cuddly bears.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media show the two “panda dogs” in an exhibit that opened on May 1. Though the animals are patterned to look like pandas, which are endemic to China and an international symbol of the country, their wagging tails give them away.

Zoo officials told Chinese state media that they were Chow Chows — a fluffy dog breed originally from northern China — painted black and white to resemble giant pandas, adding that they had clearly advertised them as “panda dogs” and did not make any false claims.

Many were critical of the innovative measures to attract visitors. But zoo officials defended the exhibit, saying the dogs had not been harmed.

“Normal people dye their hair,” a

44 spokesperson told Qilu

“Dogs can dye their hair, too. It’s the same as hair.”

This is not the first time that “panda dogs” have set off social media discussion in China.

In 2019, a dog cafe in the southwestern province of Sichuan raised animal rights concerns with its six Chow Chows that were also dyed to look like the bears.

In 2020, in the same province, a “panda” being walked by a woman in a video that went viral was revealed to be a dyed Chow Chow.

We’ll bear that in mind.

Mountain-High Records

Kami Rita Sherpa made headlines on Sunday when he made the most-ever summits by a human being when he con-

quered Mount Everest for the 29th time. The Nepali Sherpa, 54, had beaten his own record.

Sherpa had first climbed the summit in 1994 and had made it to the peak almost every year since.

Sherpa reached the 8,849 meter summit on Sunday at about 07:30 local time.

Last week, he had posted on Instagram from the Everest base camp saying he was back to try a 29th summit “to the top of the world.”

“One man’s job, another man/woman’s dream,” he wrote.

The climbing season has just started on Mount Everest, which is expecting hundreds of climbers to make the trek over the coming weeks.

On Sunday, Kenton Cool, from Britain, marked his 18th peak to the summit, the most times a foreigner has ever completed the trek. Cool is a mountaineering guide.

Nepal’s government has issued about 400 mountaineering permits to climbers this year for the spring season which runs from April to June. Almost all climbers are accompanied by a local guide, meaning about 800 people are expected to make the ascent.

More than 600 people made it to the peak last year. But it was also one of the deadliest climbing seasons – with 18

deaths recorded on the mountain.

It’s a mountain of challenges.

A Double Marathon in a Desert

It’s hard enough running a marathon; now imagine running two. And then imagine running them in a desert.

That’s what Philippa Morris did last month when she crossed the finish line in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

The 33-year-old had completed two grueling 26.2-mile jogs in two days in the Jordan Ultra Challenge.

The architect said many of her fellow runners dropped out during the event due to soaring temperatures and fears about being alone in the desert. Morris acknowledged that the race(s) weren’t easy. She said she was “absolutely loving life” on the first day, but anxieties crept in on the second.

She is the first female to complete both runs.

“My experience from day one to day two was very different,” Morris said. “I initially embraced the atmosphere a lot and there were more of us running, so you were engaging with people, and I really enjoyed it.

“But the atmosphere that evening was diabolical. A lot of people had got heat stroke or were too anxious about running alone in the desert.

“The next day I carried a lot of other people’s fears and became anxious.”

Despite her anxiety, Morris made great time, finishing her first marathon with a time of six hours and 52 minutes, before beating it by 24 minutes the following day.

“It was quite an overwhelming thing, and I ended up crying for quite a while

Marathon Man

Speaking of marathons, Steve Edwards is quite the expert. The 61-year-old has run 1,000 marathons over the course of 43 years. He finished his one-thousandth race on Sunday at the Milton Keynes Marathon in England.

At the race, Edwards was presented with a Guinness World Records certificate for the fastest aggregate time to run 1,000 marathons (male).

His total time pounding the pavement in all these races? 3,363 hours, 4 minutes and 2 seconds.

Edwards, who ran his first marathon at the age of 18 in 1981, averaged a time of 3 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds in his 1,000 runs. He finished every race in under 4 hours.

Edwards is now one of 51 people known to have completed 1,000 marathons, but the rest of the runners all had average times of over 4 hours.

Running hasn’t always been easy for Edwards.

“I’ve had a hip injury since marathon number 996, and in any other circumstances I would have rested, but it was just a case of keeping going,” he added.

“And as soon as I hit the stadium it was like the pain disappeared. The support – literally hundreds, thousands of people were supporting me. I crossed that line and was so excited and relieved, and five seconds later I was on the floor crying my eyes out. I just couldn’t control myself.”

After the race, Edwards said it was the “finale to what has been an incredible 43year journey.”

He really is one in a thousand.

Did

you know?

Sunflower heads move throughout the day with the direction of the sun from the east to west.

Around the Community

From

Darkness to Light

HAFTR Commemorates Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut

This past week, HAFTR students commemorated Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut in meaningful and inspirational ways.

Starting things off, the High School participated in a somber ceremony discussing the relevance of the day to the students. The students learned the story of Ben Shimoni, a hero who saved 12 people from Hamas before having his own life taken on October 7 at the Nova Festival. The students then watched the documentary “And We Will Dance Again” which highlighted another two heroes from that tragic day. The ceremony concluded with Acheinu.

The Lower School made a meaningful musical and narrative program with songs and prayers relevant to the day’s mood. Colored by the horrors of October 7, this Yom HaZikaron made an immediate impact on all involved. The 5th grade students performed all segments of the tekes beautifully. The audience (which included proud parents) was in tears at the emotional program.

The Middle School also had a very heart-wrenching program. The students honored all the chayalim and victims

with a full heart and soul by reciting moving poetry and prose through the ceremony. The event was accented with songs fitting for the occasion. There was not a dry eye in the house.

To commemorate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, HAFTR masterfully transitioned from Yom HaZikaron in a stirring night ceremony where HAFTR Lower School made a beautiful program for their parents.

The event featured a play about Rebbe Nachman and his love for Israel, HaTikvah performed by a student soloist on her violin, and a HaTikvah and Misheberach for chayalim sung by a small chorus. The event culminated with the ever-popular Daglanut, which was spectacularly performed-the whole evening was rousing and exciting. The students also highlighted their Mini-Israel exhibit which featured different cities in Israel through special art projects and research. It was a spectacle to behold.

The day of Yom Ha’Atzmaut was no less inspiring. The Early Childhood students performed an adorable rendition of HaTikvah and other Israeli songs for their parents and grandparents. After the performance, the participants were invit-

ed to dance with their children. The high school held a special school-wide davening with musical Hallel followed by an exhilarating concert with Dovid Pearlman and special shuk-style breakfast. The high school then departed for North Woodmere for a special Maccabiah in celebration for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Students in the Lower and Middle School participated in an impassioned Hallel tefillah with their divisions and came together

for another performance of Daglanut and incredible Yom Ha’Atzmaut performances by their colleagues. Throughout the day, students continued to learn about Israel, whether through classroom learning or programs like “What Israel Means to Me.”

Israel’s importance to us all is evident more than ever this year, and HAFTR students expressed their pride in our beloved home.

Lechu V’Nelcha

LVN FR/5T continues to inspire the post-seminary girls in our community! As part of the global Lechu V’nelcha organization, dedicated to providing shiurim and events to post-seminary girls, LVN FR/5T offers weekly shiurim on Sunday nights. During the pre-Pesach season, the girls enjoyed hearing from Rabbi Nosson Schreiber and Rabbi Pinchos Birnhak. In the final stretch before summer vacation, we are

Shulamith High School Commemorates Yom HaZikaron

From the moment the news of the October 7 massacres reached our American outlets, we understood that Yom HaZikaron this year would take on new significance, heavier and more tragic than ever before in Israel’s short history. The despair and mourning for Israel’s fallen victims has only increased in the succeeding months, as we receive almost daily reports of new casualties of the war forced upon us.

The Yom HaZikaron Tekes at SHS sought to drive home the unprecedented scope of the tragedy, while also hon-

oring the memory of the fallen soldiers and civilians. The opening speakers, Mrs. Naomi Munk and Mrs. Temima Miller, spoke of the incomprehensible loss that is each individual victim, to the myriad of people in the concentric circles surrounding him and to our nation as a unit.

Rabbi Jonathan Muskat noted the hope and promise of “az yashir” – that we will soon sing again when we merit the ultimate redemption just as Bnei Yisrael sang so many years ago. The tekes then centered on the story of Matty Feldman, a hero of Tzahal who was involved with

clearing the kibbutzim in the aftermath of the massacre, after which he served in Khan Yunis.

The program closed out with a vow to breathe life and growth into the darkened world, by planting flowers in memory of

looking forward to more shiurim given by our local teachers and speakers. Join us this week with Rebbetzin Bender at 8:30 PM at 635 Oak Drive in Far Rockaway, NY.

LVN is grateful to the Ostreicher and Hershkowitz families for graciously hosting our shiurim. To sign up for our weekly fliers or for more information, please email lvnfarrockaway5t@gmail.com.

each victim. We will forever mourn for the thousands of our brothers and sisters who we’ve lost, but we will never let it stop us from working to bring more light into the world.

Exploring Future Paths: Ezra Academy’s High School Career

Night

On Wednesday, May 8, Ezra Academy hosted a vibrant and informative High School Career Night, welcoming students, parents, and community members to an evening dedicated to illuminating diverse career paths. The event was a resounding success, with over 50 students eagerly participating in enlightening discussions and interactive sessions.

The event featured 23 panelists, all distinguished professionals representing a wide array of career paths. These experts were divided into four groups, each focusing on a specific area of expertise: STEM, Medicine, Law and Business, and Education and Therapies. This thoughtful division allowed students to gain insights into a variety of fields, catering to their diverse interests and aspirations.

What made this program particularly special was the fact that the majority of panelists were Ezra Academy alumni. This added a unique and personal touch to the event, as these alumni were able to share their own journeys and experiences, offering invaluable advice and inspi-

ration to the current students.

Throughout the evening, students were divided into small groups and rotated through each panel room in a round-robin fashion. This format ensured that every student had the opportunity to engage with each panel and gain a well-rounded understanding of the various career paths presented.

The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn from successful professionals who had once walked the same halls they now do. The insights gained from the panelists were not only informative but also deeply inspiring, motivating students to explore their own passions and interests with renewed vigor.

As the event drew to a close, the impact of High School Career Night was palpable. Many students left with a clearer sense of direction and purpose, armed with valuable insights and advice to guide them on their own career journeys. Others left with their heads spinning, considering new paths they had never

dreamed of before. It was a night filled with learning, inspiration, and empowerment—a true testament to the spirit of Ezra Academy and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Thank you to our distinguished panelists: Dr. Albert Fuzailof, DDS, Aviva Deil, BSN, RN, Leah Neiman, RN, Moshe Rafailov, BPS, PharmD, P.O. Farazmand, Ruben Mirzakandov, Esq., Avi Shakarov,

Joseph Nathan, Reuben Mirzakandov, Esq., Rudy Gavrilov, Mark Akilov, Esq., Amira Rubin, Sarah Press, David Jacobson, Jonathan Matatov, Jonathan Shakhmoroff, Cindy Gold, Rebecca Pinkhasova, Jordan Einbinder, RRTACCS, Zahava Praeger, M.S., SLP, Gabrielle Weber, OTR/L, Rena Blatt, LCSW, Rena Fish, M.S. ED, Beth Weiner, RD, CDN

Students at Lev Chana celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut

5TLL

Week 5

Dark clouds loomed overhead, but as the 5TLL commenced, they dispersed, and the sun shone bright for another amazing Sunday at the 5TLL! Reaching the season’s midpoint, 5TLL week 5 was intense, with incredible plays and late game finishes galore.

K/P Baseball & Soccer Highlights

K/P Baseball: KP Baseball was rained out unfortunately this past Sunday. However, with the sun shining in the afternoon, the boys were treated to a fun baseball clinic led by 5TLL staff.

K/P Soccer: Ben Galler dominated all game, leading Maidenbaum to a 4-1 lead but Eli Chovev of Hamaspik helped mount an incredible comeback, scoring 3 goals to help tie the game. However, Maidenbaum was able to add on a few more to secure the victory.

1st/2nd Soccer: Tikva Fire and Maidenbaum battled it out defensively, with both teams only able to find the back of the net once, as the game ended in a tie. Nojo Promo slipped past Wieder Orthodontics 1-0 with an incredible all-around performance.

Minors (1st-3rd) Baseball Highlights

1st Grade: In a dazzling display, Avaham Olshan secured an incredible double play to cap off the game. Mittman Electric powered past Cork & Slice, clinching an 11-7 victory. Aryeh Whechter smashed a 3-run homer, propelling Wieder Or-

thodontics to a commanding 13-3 win against Barbacoa. Not to be outdone, Marciano Pediatric Dentistry clinched a nail-biter against Spray Foam Insulation, edging them out 17-16 with a heroic 3-run homer by JJ Weiss. Alexander Hirt sealed the deal in extras, securing a thrilling 1815 win for Exclusive Cabinetry against The Jewish Home.

2nd Grade: Simcha Sperling knocked it out of the park with a tremendous 2-run homer, leading Extreme Vent Cleaning to a dominant 12-2 victory over Executive Dry Cleaners. NOJO Promo, led by Binyamin Bamburger’s clutch RBI, secured a solid 10-3 win over Graze. Dr. Fluency and Wieder Orthodontics engaged in a tense battle, with Dr. Fluency ultimately clinching a 5-inning victory, thanks to a dramatic walk-off hit by Zev Finestone. In a game of ups and downs, Sr Whee rallied in the final inning to snatch an 11-8 win against Town Appliance, highlighted by Eli Jacobs’ game-saving catch.

3rd Grade: Target Exterminating narrowly edged out 5 Towns Central 1514, with Benny Kaplan’s decisive home run sealing the deal. BayRock Insurance secured a thrilling 13-12 victory over Marciano Pediatric Dentistry, thanks to Dovid Feigenbaum’s game-winning walk-off homer. Ezra Donowitz’s grand slam heroics earned him the MVP title as Molly’s Jewelers triumphed over Wieder Orthodontics with a score of 12-7. CG

Flooring dominated Elegant Lawns with stellar defense and impressive offensive displays, clinching a resounding 29-12 victory.

Majors (4th & up) Baseball Highlights

4th Grade: Built By Nate emerged victorious with a 5-3 win against JNT, with Daniel Teuhaft earning MVP honors. Bathtique staged a remarkable comeback against ARG, tying the game with a grand slam by Gavriel Levine and ultimately securing a 6-5 win.

5th Grade: Bayrock Insurance dominated Marciano Pediatric Dentistry with a commanding 26-6 win, fueled by Elchonon Schwadel’s stellar batting and fielding display. Five Towns Landscaping triumphed over NY Custom Closets with a resounding 20-11 victory, thanks in part to Yitzi Zachter’s grand slam. Chu’s Meat Market emerged victorious in a pitching and fielding showcase, defeating Hamaspik 6-3.

6th Grade: Carving Block nearly mounted a comeback in the last inning,

but Maidenbaum held strong to win it 147. Meir Greenfield was incredible, leading Wieder Orthodontics to a 12-1 victory. 7th/8th Grade: Wieder Orthodontics showcased both tight defense and strong pitching, defeating Bathtique 5-1. Maidenbaum and JNT engaged in a tense battle, resulting in a 7-7 tie.

Men’s Basketball

Judah Dvir caught fire in the 2nd half, but Rita’s defense held strong in the 5550 victory. Jesse Slone and Abie Perlow were automatic from the free throw line, blocking any attempt for a comeback from Piu Bello. Shimmy David scored 20+ in Extreme Vent Cleaning’s victory. Nussie Felder and Yoni Bobker helped lead Island Roofing to 92 points in their decisive win against Wieder Orthodontics.

5TLL Game of the Week

In the 5th grade matchup between CG Flooring and DOMA, spectators witnessed an electrifying game that culminated in one of the season’s most exhilarating finishes. With CG Flooring clinging to a narrow 9-8 lead as the bottom of the final inning unfolded, DOMA managed to load the bases with just two outs remaining. With the crowd holding its breath, DOMA’s next batter launched a powerful hit deep into left field. However, Akiva Hildeshaim, displaying remarkable agility and speed, swiftly tracked down the ball, executing an extraordinary catch that sealed the game.

Celebrating Yom Ha’Atzmaut at HANC ECC

Library Time at YOSS

What’s happening at the YOSS library? Glad you asked! We’ve been having an awesome year. Shortly before Pesach, our yearly new book order arrived…boxes and boxes overflowing with the latest novels, picture books, biographies…you name it! Actually, many of our boys did name it, by recommending their favorite book, authors, and series.

Here’s what we’ve been reading over the past few weeks: as part of our library Shoah program, our fourth graders are reading about the legend of King Christian X of Denmark, who encouraged the Danish people, at great personal risk, to save their Jewish friends and neighbors (The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy). Our first and second graders have been honing their “friendship” skills by reading Enemy Pie (by Derek Munson), and Teammates, a story about Jackie

Robinson (by Peter Golenbock).

And the library fun continues as the boys (and their teachers) work together to decide our weekly themes. Even some of the Mechina rebbeim join in! Whether your son is an accomplished reader, a soon-to-be avid reader, or a boy who loves “reading” the illustrations, there’s always a good time to be had in the YOSS library!

Mother’s Day Challah Bake at HANC

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, the Nursery Bet children in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead prepared for a very special event that would enhance the weekend for their mothers and grandmothers. Early in the day, the young students prepared challah dough with their Morot in class. Later in the day, the children joined their mothers and grandmothers in the auditorium for the very first Mother’s Day Challah Bake event.

Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Director of HANC’s West Hempstead campuses, addressed the crowd with warm greetings. Then, Rebbetzin Soniker, from Congregation Anshei Shalom, recited the bracha for separating the challah. Following this mitzvah, the children and their mothers decorated a special cloth to place over the challah as it was rising.

Once the dough was ready, the mothers and their children braided two challot together to be used on Shabbat in their homes. While they waited for the challot to rise some more, Rebbetzin Soniker read the children a funny Shabbat book. To make the event even sweeter, the children were offered a sweet Shabbat treat of chocolate brownies and the mothers enjoyed a chocolate croissant. At the end of the event, the children proudly took home their challot home on a wooden HANC challah board, to enhance their Shabbat tables. It was a delightful scene

NY State Approves $470 Million in Historic Funding for Nonpublic Schools

to see two generations working together to prepare these special challot.

What made this event even more meaningful was that money was collected for the Vaad Hatzedakah, an organization in Israel that supports and comforts soldiers, widows and orphans. Close to $2,000 was raised, and it will all be donated to this worthy cause for the widows and orphans of our brave soldiers and the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers in Eretz Yisroel.

Reflecting on this most meaningful event, Mrs. Trudy Rubinstein, Director of HANC’s Early Childhood Center, remarked, “This event was such a meaningful experience and lovely to see the connection and memories created between the mom and child. We look forward to hosting this new program for many years to come.”

The New York State budget for fiscal year 2025 has allocated unprecedented levels of funding for nonpublic schools, including yeshivas and Jewish day schools across the state. The budget, which recently passed in April, has earmarked an incredible $470 million for nonpublic school funding, a total increase of $90 million, far more than previous years.

What was once deemed improbable has now become reality, instilling confidence in the trajectory of yeshivas and Jewish day schools. The historic achievement has boosted tremendous morale for New York Jews, especially among Jewish day school advocates.

As the community grasps the new budget’s significance, community and lay leaders alike are applauding the effort.

Lance Hirt, Chairman of the Board at Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) and Teach NYS Executive Committee Member, reflects on the transformative impact this funding will have on Jewish schools like HALB. “These dollars that Teach NYS helped secure are going to drastically change the way HALB’s board approaches the annual budget,” he explains. “More funding for these programs translates to more resources for our students, not only benefiting them but also their families and the community at large.”

This funding addresses the most critical areas of need within nonpublic schools. The majority will be focused on enhancing security, improving STEM education, and enriching art and music programs. The expanded initiatives are anticipated to not only elevate the quality of education but contribute to the overall wellbeing and resilience of the Jewish day schools they serve.

Such monumental changes in the state budget were made possible through an intense advocacy push such as the recent Teach NYS mission to Albany. The mission, along with other advocacy efforts, highlighted the importance of building relationships with legislators in the state capital. These partnerships were instrumental in driving the passage of the new budget.

This momentum is poised to promote continued growth for nonpublic education. Community members and leaders are grateful for Teach NYS’s advocacy and legislators’ support in helping nonpublic schools feel protected and thrive.

“With all the challenges and uncertainties we are currently facing in the greater Jewish community, this funding comes as a mark of hope and reassurance,” says Lance Hirt. “It highlights a commitment to investing in our students and strengthening diverse educational institutions in New York.”

The Ganger Early Childhood Center at TAG kicked off their S.A.F.E. TAG Talmidah program on Rosh Chodesh Iyar last week. The talmidos talked about carpool and bus safety, sang their S.A.F.E. song, and received gorgeous (and yummy!) cookies, made by their own Morah Goldie of Iced by Goldie!

Yom Hazikaron at MTA – Unique Perspectives on the Day

Monday marked the day that the international Jewish community commemorated Yom Hazikaron – a day that was perhaps more solemn and meaningful than ever before. MTA talmidim can all relate to the current matzav in Eretz Yisrael. Many were in Eretz Yisrael on October 7 and since their return have heard many speakers who add to the talmidim’s understanding and appreciation of what is happening now. Everyone is living through the War of Iron Swords and is acutely aware of the rise in antisemitism everywhere, including their own neighborhoods.

MTA’s programming on Monday was incredibly powerful and moving. A tekes was held, the mishaberach l’chayalim was sung, but what was perhaps the most poignant part of the morning programming was hearing about Captain Ori Shani, a captain who was unfortunately killed on October 7, on Kibbutz Kissufim. One of the things found among Captain Shani’s possessions was a list titled “Al Atzmi” and looked much like a list someone might write during the time of Aseres Yimai Teshuva, when one takes on kabbalah towards self-improvement.

Rabbi Konigsberg delivered a powerful presentation to initiate a school-wide campaign to adopt one item from Captain Shani’s list. An inspiring program served to encourage all MTA talmidim to sign up for one of several chaburahs that focuses on the same kabbalos that Captain Shani

was intent on working on throughout this year. In an effort to continue his legacy and allow the spirit of his neshama to live on, MTA talmidim and rebbeim will pick up where he was forced to leave off, by growing in their in personal avodas Hashem in areas like: learning Mishnayos, strengthening their study and observance of halacha, self-reflection and working on middos, among other items from Captain Shani’s list, in his merit.

In addition to this moving morning program, talmidim packed the library later that day to hear from MTA alum and current RA of the MTA dorm, Kovi Pahmer (‘20), who returned a few months ago from active duty, after being called up on Shmini Atzeres. Kovi told his own story of getting back to Eretz Yisrael to re-enlist, as well as the unfortunate losses he personally lived through. The packed room was silent as he spoke about his experiences, and everyone left with a bit more of an understanding of what it has been like to be called up to serve in Gaza.

As MTA transitioned from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut, there was a much deeper feeling of appreciation for the role that Eretz Yisrael plays in everyone’s lives and how important it truly is to every Jew, regardless of where he lives. It is the hope that all of the talmidim will take that feeling of belonging to something greater and support Acheinu Bnei Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael in every way possible.

Teacher Appreciation Week TV Weatherman Visits Mercaz Academy

Last week was teacher appreciation week, and the teachers at HALB enjoyed special treats each day. They had a snack cart brought around to the classrooms by the administrators, coffee from the Cheese Store, pastries

from Kayx, iced tea from Mom’s Pastries, lunch from Lollibop, and fresh personalized pies baked on the premises by The Pizza Bar.

To all our HALB teachers, thank you for all you do every single day!

Yom HaZikaron at HALB

The Ivrit teachers at HALB ran a beautiful tekes for the students on Yom HaZikaron. They spoke about the lives lost, both soldiers and vic-

tims of terror. The students sang together and lit candles in memory of those who are no longer with us. It was a meaningful day for the students and staff alike.

Yom HaZikaron at Shulamith

Shulamith School for Girls commemorated Yom HaZikaron with a moving and impactful Tekes focused on our Chayalim, the hostages and the terrible events of this year. The eighth grade class presented the program, created and directed by Morah Tali Koz, Shulamith Lashon Coordinator and middle school teacher, to the middle school students and mothers in attendance.

The program began in the darkened school auditorium with Tehillim, Mi Shebairachs, tefillot for the hostages, lighting of a yizkor candle, and a moment of silence, and continued with slides and

RHoffman, the weatherman for News12 Long Island, visited Mercaz Academy in Plainview to provide students from kindergarten through grade six with a fascinating insider’s view of the science of meteorology. He brought some of the tools of his trade with him, including an anemometer for measuring wind speed, a specialized thermometer, and even an actual weather balloon. (“How do you blow that up?” one student wanted to know. Mr. Hoffman assured him that he doesn’t do it himself, as it requires a helium pump.)

Mr. Hoffman, over the course of three presentations targeted to each age group, shared a wealth of information about how he obtains his data and the skills necessary to process it into an actual weather forecast. Older students

were impressed by the number of math and science courses Mr. Hoffman took to earn his advanced degree and astonished by the length and complexity of one of many equations meteorologists use to predict weather. Younger students were more surprised when Mr. Hoffman demonstrated the usage of another tool he needs to do his job – a makeup bag! He explained that makeup is necessary on TV just to look normal, because of the bright lines shining on performers. Meteorologists usually just predict snow, but Mr. Hoffman delighted his audience by actually mixing up a handful of snow for them. However, his most impressive feat occurred the morning after his presentation, when the thunderstorm Mr. Hoffman predicted for approximately 8:00 am arrived, right on schedule.

explanations of the events of October 7th and its aftermath. A seventh and eighth grade choir, directed by Morah Rachel Ash, sang emotional songs that highlighted the feelings that we all share for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Israel. Videos about fallen chayalim, their families and their heroism impacted everyone present as well. The statement of one family member of a chayal – “we have so much pain but no regret” – resonated with our audience and expressed the sentiments of so many families.

There was not a dry eye in the room as the Tekes ended. Every student, teacher and mother who attended was moved

by the presentation and truly appreciated the weight of the families who give of themselves every day in Israel. May we

experience a quick yeshua and a cessation of all wars.

ich

Around the Community

Pesach Tikvah Announces New Executive Director

Pesach Tikvah is proud to announce the appointment of Yerachmiel Stern, LCSW as its new executive director. Mr. Stern has been the director of Pesach Tikvah’s Borough Park mental health clinics for ten years and has been with the organization for sixteen years.

The Board of Directors is confident in their choice of Executive Director. Chairman of the Board Rabbi Niederman said, “We heard the requests of the people, and Yerachmiel’s name kept coming up as someone everyone really liked and respected.”

The Board of Pesach Tikvah is confident that under Mr. Stern’s leadership, Pesach Tikvah will excel in its mission of providing excellent, accessible, and culturally sensitive mental health care to the community while remaining financially sound.

Mr. Stern has demonstrated his capability to provide excellence in mental health care since he joined Pesach Tikvah 16 years ago. Pesach Tikvah’s Director of Fundraising, Rabbi Joseph Hershkowitz, said, “Mr. Stern feels the pain of klal Yisroel and is the most qualified Executive Director. Under his leadership at the Borough Park branch he was available 24/7 to answer the calls of those in pain. I personally brought numerous cases to his attention,

and he always did his utmost to assist.”

Zalman Kotzen, LCSW, Director of Senior Services (formerly Geriatric Services), said, “My earliest recollections of Mr. Stern are from when he was a young intern in the clinic in the old building at 18 Middleton. He displayed even then a remarkable ability to take a quick, deep, and accurate measure of his clients, and to respond accordingly. He was chosen by Dr. Yitzchok Shindler to head up the Borough Park clinic when it was brand new. As is well known, he was extremely successful in building up the multi-faceted community mental health services that we see today, whether in Borough Park, Kensington, or in Williamsburg.

Mr. Stern is respected and appreciated by his staff and by all who know him. His personality is warm, his energy quick and lively, his mind sharp and perceptive, and he has a good heart.

I join my colleagues in congratulating Yerachmiel Stern on his promotion to this critical position. We look forward to watching his vision for the agency unfold. We wish him much hatzlacha and assure him of our support and cooperation in his endeavors.”

Aharon Fink, LCSW, Director of the 640 Family Center, said, “His appoint-

ment is an upgrade for thousands of people he will influence. He personifies the mission of bringing dignity and respect to all individuals he encounters, from employees to the patients. He is very bright clinically, administratively, and as an executive he’ll take the organization to new heights. He will continue to build on what Pesach Tikvah is and make it into a world class organization on all levels.”

“Yerachmiel Stern is one of the nicest people I know – he goes above and beyond for everybody,” said Aaron Zev Herbstman, Director of the 926 Family Center. “His expertise in the mental health field is outstanding, only matched by his profound humility. With a keen understanding of Pesach Tikvah’s history and its current needs, he is uniquely situated to be able to lead our organization to even greater heights, allowing us to best serve the community.”

“As Pesach Tikvah enters its 40th year,” said Mr. Stern, “I’ve been given the opportunity to oversee the entire organization and move it into the future.” He is already credited with bringing an impressive array of resources to the organization, including psychiatry. Known to be receptive to his staff’s ideas, Mr. Stern is leading with an open mind and a commit-

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your friends, your neighbors – really anyone who is in need of financial assistance so that their children can go to camp. We provide funding for day camp, sleepaway camp, and also special needs camp, which can be very costly.

We need the participation of everyone in our community. There are so many applicants, who as of this moment, will be unable to send their children to camp this

summer. It just isn’t an option. This fund, this opportunity and this community can reverse this difficult predicament for hundreds of children and their families. Make a child’s dream come true by donating at www.achiezer.org/camp today. The lives you will touch will have an everlasting impact well beyond the summer of 2024.

Yom Ha’Atzmaut at Mercaz Academy

Mercaz Academy in Plainview marked Israel’s 76th year of independence with a parade and dancing for students, staff, and parents on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The event opened with Principal Rabbi Kalman Fogel reciting a heartfelt Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel on the front lawn of the school. The school’s annual parade around the bus loop began with students from toddlers to kindergarten and their parents, and then joined by the entire student body, flags waving high. With live music provided by Mercaz Academy’s music teacher, Craig Resmovits, the parade was immediately followed by dancing on the lawn, with bobbing blue-and-white-clad students, teachers, and parents moving in interwoven circles and lines. Of course, even at this time of celebration, the situation in Israel was not forgotten. The celebration ended with students seated with arms around each other, singing “Vehi She’amda” and “Acheinu,” songs of Hashem’s enduring protection through the generations. After lunch and a delicious treat of

PTA-sponsored blue-and-white cookies, the sixth grade welcomed the younger students to their interactive exhibition on great figures in modern Israeli history. These students, guided and advised by Morah Carmit Akhavan and Rabbi Moshe Rubel, offered their visitors booths of information, games, and activities. Options including poetry writing (Chaim Nachman Bialik), decision-making simulations in negotiating for a state (Theodor Herzl), navigating a maze to release hostages (Yonatan Netanyahu), shooting hoops (Israeli basketball great Mickey Berkovich), and more proved popular with the entire school.

As in Israel, Yom Ha’Atzmaut at Mercaz was a celebratory sequel to the somber Yom HaZikaron, Israel Memorial Day. On Yom HaZikaron, every student was assigned a fallen soldier and made a commitment to do an extra mitzvah in his or her memory. By accompanying Israel on its annual journey from sorrow to joy, Mercaz students found a deeper meaning in celebrating the Jewish homeland.

HAFTR Students Have Fun Doing the Impossible

By Ms. Ariana Wolfson

As Walt Disney once said, “It is always fun to do the impossible.”

Three years ago, my friend had called me one day and asked if I wanted to do a 5K in Walt Disney World. For anyone who happens to know me, the answer was of course “absolutely!” It was the most fun I had experienced in a long time, especially after being cooped up during Covid. When we both crossed the finish line, we turned to each other and decided that we were going to train to do our first ever half-marathon. The training for this event was intense, and I learned a lot about the “dos” and “don’ts” in the running world, but when I crossed the finish line. I knew I officially caught the “running bug.”

Fast forward to this year when I made the crazy decision to try a full marathon, in Disney World, of course. It was a daunting task, and the training was truly grueling. Towards the end, there were a

lot of doubts of whether or not I would actually be able to finish this race, but with literal tears in my eyes as I crossed the finish line I knew the impossible can always be done when we work hard. But how do I teach others this lesson? As a teacher, how can I give my students the feeling that I felt after completing the 26.2 miles?

Every February, HAFTR Middle School conducts its Heath Week initiative, and I had the crazy idea to put together a team of students to run a half-marathon. Incredibly, there were nine students who all decided that they were going to take on this challenge, which included meeting three times a week for about three months. While this seemed like a daunting task at the beginning, the students showed up multiple times a week to work on building their mileage and endurance. Although the students were all on different levels physically, it was wonderful to see them all come together and help each other every single week to accomplish

that week’s goal.

On May 5, nine HAFTR Middle School students, one HAFTR High School student, three parents and one teacher all gathered at Eisenhower Park to run as Team HAFTR at the Jovia Long Island Half Marathon. It was such a blast running with the students while hearing spectators and volunteers calling out, “Go Team HAFTR!”

In the end, I was so impressed with how well all of the students did and how they cheered each other on. Our team even had one student, Aviel Itzhak, who received an award for coming in third place in his age bracket! Even more so, I was so overwhelmed with emotion when I heard from both parents and kids alike about how this experience was so much fun for them that they want to continue with a running team in high school.

As I sit here now and think back on this entire experience, I remember how some students looked at me in the beginning of the training and with a skeptical

look in their eyes asked, “Are you sure we’re going to be able to do this?” Then I remember their look of pride on their faces as I cheered them on when they crossed the finish line. I believe that these nine students and myself have truly learned a valuable lesson in that life definitely has its challenges, but if you have the courage and determination to face each challenge, you will absolutely succeed in whatever you set out to accomplish.

And so, Walt Disney was right: it is fun to do the impossible.

Around the Community

Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut at YCQ

YCQ marked Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut with meaningful and age-appropriate ceremonies. Due to the events of the past few months, this year’s activities were especially poignant and inspiring.

On Monday, students and staff honored the memory of the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism and were inspired by the heroic sacrifices made to ensure the establishment and continuation of Medinat Yisrael. Special guest speaker, Rabbi Shlomo Kimche, Vice Chairman of Bnei Akiva’s Educational Network, shared beautiful insights and reflections that truly encapsulated the spirit of the Yom.

In preparation for the day, students also participated in a meaningful project entitled “Adi’s Lights,” commemorating Sergeant Adi Leon, z”l, who fell in battle in October. Before he was killed in action, Adi left his family an incredibly powerful letter, detailing his appreciation for his family, friends, and country. His family, alongside the WZO, turned the letter into an educational kit and curriculum which

students used to reflect on the ideas described in his message. The Leon family was so touched by our students’ commitment to honoring Adi’s legacy, and Adi’s mother sent a personal video describing her son and expressing her gratitude for partaking in the project.

Yom Ha’Atzmaut was a day like no other. After davening, the entire school gathered outside in the yard to participate in YCQ’s annual school-wide musical Hallel. Over 1,000 students and staff members sang and praised Hashem for the gift of Medinat Yisrael. Led by JHS rebbe and Jewish music star Rabbi Ophie Nat, the sea of blue and white was a remarkable display of achdut and hodaah. Fourth gade students Israel Babaev, Ben-

jamin Gurovich, and Elad Khaimov and eighth grader Mikey Fried wowed the school with moving renditions of Eyal Golan’s “Am Yisrael Chai” and the Mi Sheberach for the IDF. Throughout the day, students participated in special lessons, games, and activities connected to Eretz Yisrael. Students engaged in meaningful kumzitz singing.

The Early Childhood Program enjoyed an amazing hands-on tailored program of their own. Students grabbed their passports, boarded an El Al plane, and arrived in Israel for a short visit. In Yerushalayim, they davened at the Kotel and bought snacks at the shuk with shekalim. Students ventured south to Eilat where they snorkeled, went fish-

ing, and were given ices to cool down from the heat. In Yaar ben Shemen, they learned about the value of cultivating the land and planted little trees of their own. Their busy trip concluded with a stop in Tzfat, where, in this holy northern city, they visited an art gallery and made beautiful colorful candles.

Thank you to everyone who made these two programs so meaningful. YCQ looks forward to a continued future of peace and celebration for Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. May Hashem continue to watch over His people and may we merit the ultimate Geulah speedily. L’shanah ha’baah B’Yerushalayim!

Lido Beach Synagogue Annual Dinner

On Sunday night, May 5, the Lido Beach Synagogue celebrated its 57th Annual Dinner at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club. Over 140 people attended to pay tribute to Susan and Michael (Meir) Solomon and recognize the 10 shul members, including Mr. Solomon, who served in the IDF. The other nine heroes are: Amir Anah, Yigdal Brucker, Isaac Cohen, Izzy Fried, Paul Grosman, Dr. Rachel Lowinger, Haim Marcovici, Leibi Marcovici and Jarrod Mittan, whose service to the Jewish Homeland collectively spans seven decades. Three of the above returned to serve after October 7.

The dinner was a resounding success! In addition to Lido Beach Synagogue’s acclaimed diverse membership, many non-members attended as well to support the synagogue and the honorees.

After a scrumptious smorgasbord at which members socialized, Rabbi Elly Krimsky, Lido Beach Synagogue’s spiritual leader, led everyone in the recitation of Tehillim and the singing of “Acheinu,” noting the pall of sadness felt due to the war in Israel. Honorable Chairman James V. Moriarty of the Long Beach Republican Committee, a dear family-friend of the Solomons, introduced the honorable Anthony D’Esposito (NY-4), who represents the Shul and its members in the U.S. House of Representatives. The congressman congratulated the honorees and the shul and offered passionate

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remarks about the war in Israel, the protests on college campuses and pledged his support to always do the right thing and to battle those standing in his way. A moving and pride-inducing video presentation followed with a stirring introduction by Rabbi Krimsky on the meaning of the IDF uniform and the Israeli flag, which preceded a video montage of our Shul’s IDF heroes set to a popular musical version of the prayer for the IDF.

Meir, with Susan at his side, then addressed the gathered, speaking lovingly about the synagogue and his family and his connection to the community. He mused movingly about the resilient Jewish ability to always hope for better days. Historically, we have had to endure hardship prior to our victories and redemptions. The Solomons were presented with a beautiful gift, and upon their request, a donation was made to the Israel ParaSport Center in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Come and check out Lido Beach and our shul! We would love for you to discover this gem in the beautiful barrier island, a short drive from Far Rockaway, the Five Towns and West Hempstead. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram (Lido Beach Shul), and we welcome you to explore our website -www.lidoshul. org. Please contact the office to join us for Shabbos, or any other time, or to meet with Rabbi Krimsky. You can email at lbs@lidoshul.org or call (516) 889-9650.

The name of dandelion flowers comes from the French words “dent de lion,” which means lion teeth.

TAL Academy Visits R’ Reuven Feinstein

This week, TAL Academy went on a trip to Staten Island to visit R’ Reuven Feinstein, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of Staten Island. The Rosh Yeshiva spoke to the students about the story of Avraham and the three malachim; he explained how giving tzedakah is fundamentally different than doing chesed. Afterwards, each student received a bracha and had their own picture taken with the Rosh Yeshiva.

The students were very excited to relay their different family connections to him.

The Rosh Yeshiva was an early supporter of TAL Academy. He expressed that he was impressed by the TAL students and the work done at TAL. He ended by giving effusive brachos to the staff and the

Nova Exhibit: Never Forget

By Tammy Mark

As the date of October 7, 2023, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, moves further into the past, the sharpness of the memory perhaps begins to dull. As protests and politics overtake the news cycle and overshadow the actual horrors of the day, the tragically unspeakable events that occurred in Israel are unfathomably being doubted and dismissed.

The Nova Music Festival was an international event that attracted thousands of people, young and old, joining together in a musical gathering. Occurring on the Jewish holiday of joy, Simchat Torah, it was early Shabbat morning when the terror first began. The joyfulness of the festival, held in Re’im, was interrupted by the sounds of a rocket attack – unfortunately, not an unfamiliar sound for the region. At 6:29 AM, as DJ Yarin Ilovich was on stage, the atmosphere abruptly changed as the reality sunk in; this was not a drill or a “normal” occurrence.

Hamas terrorists had charged in to begin a brutal attack on festival attendees, and a formerly serene existence in Israel was instantly shattered. Deadly attacks occurred simultaneously in communities along the Gaza border throughout the morning, as thousands of armed terrorists invaded, killing more than 1,200 people, and kidnapping more than 250 – 44 of which were from Nova, akin to Israel’s “ground zero.”

school in general. On the way home, the TAL students and teachers stopped at Jacob Riis Park

The Nova Exhibition, currently in New York City at 35 Wall Street, is making sure the story is being told – shown and shared in the most impactful ways. The exhibit is a multimedia event, with video footage, photographs and physical evidence, doing a startling and successful job of capturing the essence of the day the world as we knew it changed.

The exhibition, created and directed by Reut Feingold, initially premiered in Tel Aviv and was brought to New York by Nova founders Omri Sassi, Yoni Feingold, Ofir Amir and Yagil Rimoni, joined by U.S. partners including famed music mogul Scooter Braun, Joe Teplow and Josh Kadden. Braun, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, had visited the exhibit in Israel and was disappointed and angry to realize that the music industry was largely ignoring this music festival massacre.

Working with the items left behind by those who fled for their lives, the dimly lit space is set up to resemble and recreate the concert environment, along with personal items from the camping gear to cell phones to clothing. Videos play throughout the venue depicting the day of terror, including unnerving footage from the terrorists’ murderous preparations, videos of the innocent people fleeing for their lives, and audio transcriptions of desperate calls to their families. Fully scorched cars are on display, their occupants killed while attempting to drive to safety.

where they played games and enjoyed lunch. It was a memorable day!

Testimony from the ZAKA Israel emergency response team, the volunteers who respond to scenes of violent attacks and homicides, plays in a smaller room with a warning placard -- their work of tending to the victims’ remains was so extremely intense and shocking.

Videos also play with survivors sharing their miraculous stories of escape, witnessing the death of friends and loved ones along the way, and many left with permanent injuries. Several of these survivors have flown to NYC for the exhibit, to interact with the exhibition visitors, sometimes sharing details of personal stories, sometimes simply sharing hugs.

Eden Atias is a freelance producer currently running the exhibition.

“I end up hugging at least ten people a day, if not more. When I see someone in shock, crying, or utterly lost, I gently ask, ‘Would you like a hug?’ At first, they don’t understand, most turn to leave and then turn back and start crying on my shoulder.

“It’s important to be strong for them so they can see the light. There are those who went through this experience, but the visitors to the exhibition feel a sense of helplessness, because they weren’t there and couldn’t lend a hand, and sometimes it’s harder to feel powerless,” she says. “I personally ask everyone who comes to simply come again, and bring one non-Jewish person with them.”

There is an all too familiar display of the hostages that are still being held in

Gaza. The next room displays the lesser known faces, a memorial to the 370 beautiful souls who perished at the Nova festival. Each plaque depicts a vibrant image with a description of each person, including their accomplishments and aspirations. This could possibly be the most powerful part of the exhibit, with the loss of hope and innocence hitting so very hard.

The exhibition concludes with a healing room and the eternally optimistic mantra of “we will dance again.” One can hear the stories over and over, yet even the most sensitive among us can become disconnected from the horrible reality of what took place on October 7. This exhibition is the reminder that everyone needs to always remember and never forget, even when the world seems to have moved on.

Rabbi Eytan Feiner speaking to the talmidim of Mesivta Netzach HaTorah on Rosh Chodesh Iyar

Around the Community

Ohel Distributes 4,000 Care Kits For Displaced Israelis

Drawing upon its experience supporting people through trauma, Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services is providing vital guidance to 4,000 displaced families with preschool children returning to their homes in the Gaza-area communities invaded last October 7.

The guidance consists of written materials to help parents identify some of their young children’s responses to the trauma of the Hamas terrorist attack and to ease their adjustment back home. It also contains resources developed by Ohel Kestenbaum International Children’s Services to help children express their emotions and feelings and to help parents in supporting them.

In this initiative, Ohel, a New Yorkbased Jewish organization, is partnering with the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) and Mahut Israel. Since 1969, Ohel has provided the Jewish and wider communities with mental-health support.

Largely unknown in the wider world during the ongoing war is the plight of displaced Israelis who were relocated and scattered across the country. Thousands of them have been returning home after

staying up to six months in hotels, sometimes far from their homes. Some of the kibbutzim were decimated in the attacks.

A recent study conducted by the Israeli Pediatric Association found that 84 percent of Israeli children who were evacuated suffer from emotional distress since October 7; 93 percent of the children who survived the attacks are having emotional difficulties, 69 percent of them suffer from anxiety. Ninety percent of children living in areas where many incoming-missile sirens sounded are having emotional difficulties.

According to top Ohel officials, addressing children’s emotional needs tied to October 7 is especially important for these families now. Knowing what to expect, and where to turn for help, is critical in helping them to adjust to distressing feelings that may emerge.

“When people are under attack, are evacuated, and then are placed in temporary and unfamiliar surroundings, it is normal to have delayed reactions to trauma. Their immediate and basic needs for shelter and safety are so acute, they don’t have the luxury of thinking about

their feelings. But that is not good for children, especially,” said David Mandel, Ohel’s chief executive officer. “Responses to trauma can be deferred until weeks and months later. Upon returning home, some people may experience intense feelings they may not be prepared for, and they may be especially vulnerable to mental-health challenges.”

“Returning home is bittersweet for so many of these families, especially children, said Jay Kestenbaum, co-president of Ohel’s Board of Directors The longing for home is finally realized, yet many of these families will be returning to a home and community that looks and feels very different than the one they left behind in October. This can trigger many feelings that may have been suppressed until now. We at Ohel acknowledge the difficulty, and are providing them with tips and tools, drawn from our expertise, to help them cope with the adjustment to returning home.”

The kit comes in a canvas bag that includes:

1. a tip sheet on helping adults after a return from relocation

2. a tip sheet on helping children after a return from relocation

3. Ohel’s preschool book, I Feel That Way and That’s Okay, to help children express their emotions after a traumatic experience

4. two companion coloring books

5. markers

The authors of Ohel’s preschool book are Tzivy Reiter, L.C.S.W., the organization’s director of children’s and national trauma services, and Dr. Naomi Baum, Ph.D. from Israel.

The kits are being distributed to families in ITC trauma centers in Sha’ar Hanegev, Sderot, the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, the Eshkol Regional Council and the Sdot Negev Regional Council. Ohel will distribute more kits in the coming weeks and months as needed.

Around the Community Dinner of Darchei Torah’s Beis Medrash & Kollel This Monday

The 19th anniversary dinner of Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid and Kollel Tirtza Devorah will pay tribute to four distinguished sets of awardees:

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron and Adina Rosenfeld

Guests of Honor

Aaron and Adina Rosenfeld are more than guests of honor at our dinner; they are the proud parents of two outstanding Darchei talmidim. Their married son, Shamshi, is an alumnus who now lives in Far Rockaway and remains in touch with his rabbeim. Their second son, Pinchas, is currently thriving in the Yeshiva’s postEretz Yisrael kibutz program. (The first cohort of the kibutz in 2005 was the precursor of Kollel Tirtza Devorah.)

The Rosenfelds live in Flatbush and are members of Rabbi Benzion Schiffenbauer’s shul, K’hal B’nei Torah. Aaron has a deservedly sterling reputation in the insurance industry, but less known is the staggering amount of chessed that emanates from the Rosenfeld home.

Aaron was a close talmid of the renowned marbitz Torah Rav Dovid Trenk, zt”l. Theirs was a bond that began in the summers at Camp Munk and was cemented permanently over the year, and it was through Rabbi Trenk that Aaron connected with Rabbi Naftali Miller. These two men are the powerhouses behind Chasdei Lev, an amazing organization that generously provides yom tov basics to rebbeim and moros. Rabbi Miller is a leader of the organization, handling much of the executive and strategic responsibilities. Aaron is in many ways a “silent partner,” working long, hard hours behind the scenes. And although Rabbi Trenk is no longer alive, the Rosenfelds still keep a close kesher with his rebbetzin, Mrs. Leah Trenk, shetichyeh.

“Aaron does so much chesed, all of it without any fanfare,” says Mrs. Rosenfeld. “And that’s the way he prefers it.

He’s not in it for accolades or public admiration. As a matter of fact, accepting this honor is so against his nature. But he knows that it will benefit the Yeshiva— and that is why we accepted it.”

Beyond his tremendous dedication to Chasdei Lev, a cause the whole family lives and breathes, Aaron is a devoted husband and father. “He’ll learn with the boys often and hire a rebbi to learn with them if he feels it’ll help them shteig,” explains Mrs. Rosenfeld.

Aaron deflects any praise and instead reflects upon his hakaras hatov to the Yeshiva. “There are no words that can adequately represent what the Yeshiva means to us–its impact on the community at large as well as on every talmid who passes through its doors. The personal touch and warmth extended to every single student and parent is apparent at every stage. Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid have surpassed all of our expectations.”

Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid and Leah Presser

Kesser Torah Award

This year’s Kesser Torah Award is presented to two of the most distinguished figures on the American chinuch scene— Rabbi Dovid and Mrs. Leah Presser.

Rabbi Presser first joined Yeshiva Darchei Torah in the early 1980s as a seventh grade rebbe at the invitation of Rabbi Yaakov Bender. He was then appointed as principal, and eventually, with the growth and changing needs of the Yeshiva, became the assistant menahel of the sixth and seventh grades—the middle school.

Rabbi Presser is an extraordinary mechanech, who effortlessly combines old-world values with the approaches that work for the talmidim of the 21st century. A talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, zichronam livracha, he follows in the path of his il-

lustrious rabbeim while connecting effortlessly with the children of today. The rabbeim in the middle school marvel at his ability to understand exactly what is going on in each classroom and the intuitive grasp that enables him to bridge any gaps and help chart a path forward for every talmid’s success.

As a hanhala member, there are many aspects of Rabbi Presser’s job that take place behind the scenes. But what he does best is getting to know each boy on a personal level and determining what is needed to help each boy succeed.

“So much of Rabbi Presser’s success comes from who he is as a person,” shares Rabbi Dovid Frischman, the menahel of the middle school, who has worked alongside him for more than a decade. “The boys see his davening, they can feel his sincerity, and they know that he is for real.”

“He is both respected and beloved by all the boys,” shares another rebbi in the Yeshiva, “and that is something to aspire to.” Rabbi Presser’s advice is sought after by the rabbeim, who appreciate his clear, level-headed way of thinking.

Chinuch is something that Rabbi Presser is occupied with for more than 10 months a year, because as the veteran director of Camp Bonim (previously Camp Naarim), he has dedicated the last 51 summers to help thousands of boys from across the United States and beyond to rejuvenate, to grow, and to thrive as ehrlicheh Yidden.

Standing behind and alongside Rav Dovid in all of his avodas hakodesh is his illustrious rebbetzin, Mrs. Leah Presser, who has been a devoted first grade morah at Far Rockaway’s Bnos Bais Yaakov for over 30 years. She is a master mechaneches in her own right, devotedly transmitting the mesorah while keeping her finger on the pulse of today’s girls’ diverse needs. With her sterling personal example as a teacher and colleague, Mrs. Presser serves as a role model for the next generation of teachers.

The Pressers are an integral part of Emunas Yisroel, the storied Borough Park beis medrash that is under the leadership of Rav Moshe Wolfson.

Rabbi and Mrs. Ezra and Faigy Rosner Alumnus of the Year

The story of Ezra Rosner and Yeshiva Darchei Torah is a story of Torah pioneers.

In 1996, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo was a high school just a few months old when Jeffrey and Serel Rosner of Queens took a chance and enrolled their son into its second-ever ninth grade. Four years of shteigen later, Ezra advanced to Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, Darchei’s brandnew yeshiva gedolah. After learning and thriving at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, Ezra and a handful of fellow alumni asked the hanhala of Darchei to start a new, post-Eretz Yisrael program within the Yeshiva’s beis hamedrash: they wanted to return to their alma mater, to keep developing under their rabbeim and within the walls that had witnessed so much of their formative growth. Thus, in the spring of 2005, a “kibbutz” of senior bachurim was formed—and when these bachurim got married, Kollel Tirtza Devorah was born. Fast forward 19 years later, and Ezra, already an accomplished “graduate” of the Kollel, has succeeded in remaining a part of the Yeshiva family. He and his wife Faigy (nee Engel, of Toronto) settled just a few blocks from the Yeshiva, determined to raise their children within a close radius of their lives’ spiritual locus. Ezra also parlayed his early success as a talented matcher of chavrusos within the Yeshiva – pairing younger bachurim with older counterparts and kollel yungeleit –into his role as the Yeshiva’s first alumni shadchan.

Ezra’s shadchanus ambit has since

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There is a flower called chocolate cosmos that smells like real chocolate.

been expanded beyond the alumni family to the wider frum world. His sterling middos, wisdom, indefatigability and uncanny siyata dishmaya accompany him throughout the tens of thousands of phone calls and travel miles that he has logged on behalf of bachurei and b’nos Yisrael.

Most importantly, it is the Rosners’ unshakable bond with their Darchei rabbeim and fellow kollel families that keeps them warmed by the same fire that illuminates the days and nights of the current yungeleit. Ezra and his wife daven in Yeshiva regularly, and their sons are proud talmidim in the elementary school.

Rabbi Ezra Rosner has blazed many pioneering paths in the Yeshiva and Kollel, and we are proud to honor him and his devoted aishes chayil, who have agreed to this award only due to their overflowing sense of hakoras hatov to this makom kadosh.

Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda and Rivky Jaffe

Young Leadership Award

This year’s Young Leadership Award is presented to Yehuda and Rivky Jaffe, a couple that has been part of the Yeshiva for close to a decade and has become an integral component of the Darchei family. Yehuda grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey. After graduating high school, Yehuda learned in Rav Dovid Fishman’s yeshiva in Monsey and then in Rav Tzvi Kaplan’s yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Upon

his return to the states, he joined Beth Medrash Govoha.

In 2015, he married Rivky Loeb of Flatbush, and the couple settled in Far Rockaway. Rivky was attending Touro’s P.A. school nearby and Yehuda wanted to begin his married life invested in intensive, full-time learning before eventually joining the workforce.

Yehuda joined Kollel Tirtza Devorah, and although he had never attended Darchei, nor had he ever been affiliated with the Yeshiva before in any way, he immediately felt at home. “Rabbi Dovid and Mrs. Bender really opened their hearts and immediately took us under their wings,” he recalls.

While Yehuda did not have plans to remain in kollel for long, the uplifting Torah environment at Kollel Tirtza Devorah made him connect so deeply that he ended up staying there for four years.

“A lot of the credit goes to my wife,” says Yehuda. “Even though she was engaged in a rigorous and time-consuming P.A. program while expecting our first child, she encouraged me to continue learning, even though it was not easy for her.”

After his years in kollel, Yehuda entered the business world. His global concierge company, Fly Mas Travel, is baruch Hashem successful, Yehuda remains a true ben Torah–a Kollel Tirtza Devorah “product » through and through. He has remained close with many of the hanhala members and rabbeim to this day. Yehuda continues to be a source of both material and moral support to the Yeshiva. As an active member of the global alumni association, he continues to contribute in a myriad of ways. Yehuda is quick to say that “Rabbi Geller, Rabbi Indich, Rabbi Yaakov Bender… they all gave and continue to give so much to us, both physically and spiritually.”

He continues: “Even though I am no longer physically within the walls of the kollel, I am forever impacted by the four years I spent in Darchei.” He notes that learning with younger bochurim while at

Darchei helped him to develop mentoring skills that he did not know he had. He proudly shares that one of the ninth graders he learned with is now a sought-after bachur of marriageable age, studying at Lakewood’s Beth Medrash Govoha. Yehuda and Rivky live in Far Rockaway, and they are the proud parents of two adorable children. Their son Mordechai attends Yeshiva Darchei Torah where he is growing tremendously. They are so proud to have the next generation of their family continue to blossom in the same makom Torah where they gained so much.

About the Beis Medrash and Kollel

Since its inception in 1999, Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid has enabled an entire generation of bachurim to grow in Torah, yirah, and middos from morning to night under the tutelage of their roshei yeshiva, maggidei shiur and mashgiach. In 2005, at the request of several alumni returning to the States from yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael, a “kibbutz” of senior bachurim was formed as well. These talmidim soon married and formed the pioneer

cadre of Kollel Tirtza Devorah, which today has 34 full-time avreichim and 50 mechanchim in its afternoon Kollel—in addition to a kibbutz—all under the aegis of the rosh kollel.

Together, the Beis Medrash and Kollel form the pride and joy of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, training over 200 budding talmidei chachomim–who are living examples of Torah lishmah for their younger counterparts on campus—as the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Indeed, hundreds of alumni are now teaching and disseminating Torah throughout North America and beyond as rabbeim, poskim, and learned baalei batim, building their own homes and communities on the firm foundations they formed here in their youth.

For dinner reservations, to contribute, or for more information, please call 718.868.2300 ext. 301; email kollel@ darchei.org; or visit kollel.darchei.org

Around the Community

Inaugural Five Towns-Far Rockaway Rebbetzins Conference

By Miriam Liebermann

This may have been the most intriguing invitation that I’ve ever received. I was invited to be a “butterfly on the wall” at the inaugural Five Towns-Far Rockaway Rebbetzins Conference. I’m not quite a rebbetzin but was invited to participate in order to observe and write up this essay. What a privilege it was to join this incredible gathering. Thank you, dear rebbetzins, for the most gracious invitation!

The term “butterfly” is most appropriate here. The butterfly has undergone a metamorphosis, caterpillar to cocoon, cocoon to chrysalis, and finally, the emergence of the splendid, beautiful butterfly! I found this motivational program to be so inspiring, validating and encouraging, that I would venture to state that all emerged with unbounded energy, ready to flutter their wings, enhancing their communities with their unique beauty.

This was an incredibly choshuv, most esteemed, group of women. Approximately 90 women attended, including several of our most venerated senior rebbetzins. And what an incredible opportunity this was for our more novice rebbetzins, several in their high 20s, to interact and connect with those decades older. Gleaning from the wisdom of those who’ve been there and done that is an absolutely priceless experience!

It was held on Sunday, May 12. The grand ballroom of the White Shul was the perfect setting for this gathering. The decor was delightful. Delicately patterned pastel floral placemats at each setting, pink peonies, and especially prepared pink notepads all greeted us as we found our seats.

Initiated by Rebbetzin Sori Groner and Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner, the seed has now been planted for similar gatherings in future years. A chance to network, to glean strength and courage, encouragement and validation, advice and sage wisdom, the women were treated to a full, robust program, with a stellar lineup of presenters.

Our very own Rebbetzin Debbie Greenblatt served as the MC and offered opening remarks, taking us for a walk down Memory Lane! How the greater community has evolved and grown is quite remarkable! Rebbetzin Greenblatt pointed out that we are created in the

image of Hashem, “Hayah, hoveh v’yihyeh.” As Hashem involves Himself with the past, present and future, we too, as trusted emissaries, must do the same. “The sands are shifting under our feet. Now is a crucial moment. We, the rebbetzins of the community, hold the key for the future. We are the engine that will drive Klal Yisrael forward.”

Reb Greenblatt quoted Rav Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, “We must paint the canvas of our lives with broad brush strokes.”

Reb Greenblatt further elaborated, “We can’t live with a myopic narrow vision as we help provide direction for the Klal. We have a mission, a glorious mission to fulfill.”

Mrs. Chani Juravel, LCSW, our illustrious guest speaker, discussed “The Potential and Privilege of Leadership.”

Mrs. Juravel focused on the crucial role of the mother, discussing Chava, the aim kol chai. The mother is the life force that keeps us going. The rebbetzins are the mothers of their communities. Mrs. Juravel quoted Rav Uri Deutch who points out that the most crucial quality needed in a rav and rebbetzin is noseh b’ol, the ability to feel and empathize with others. Ultimately, we dance between two roles. We are the rechem, the epitome of rachamim, of mercy, the womb, which is able to hold and nourish the growing fetus. Women can comfortably confide in us, knowing that we can “hold” them. It’s not too much for us. All is confidential. We are there for them through their own life’s journey.

We are also the aim who demonstrates emunah, faith in G-d, faith in our congregants. We believe in their resilience. As Mrs. Juravel states so beautifully, “We each need someone to believe in us.”

The program then continued with networking round table discussions, ten tables, ten topics, all super relevant to the role of our rebbetzins. This segment of the program had been prepared by Miriam Amsel and Ruchama Haber, project directors of Core. The title of this segment, “Tuning In and Aligning with the Needs of Our Community – A Deep Dive.” Each group assigned one person to present their topic to the entire audience, so ultimately, all ten topics were covered by all present.

A delicious buffet lunch was enjoyed by all, affording our participants a wonderful opportunity to chat and connect with their colleagues.

Closing remarks and divrei bracha were then offered by our very favorite Maggid, Rabbi Paysach Krohn. He began with a beautiful thought presented by the Chasam Sofer on the Eishes Chayil that we lovingly recite on Leil Shabbos. He points out that chayil is written in the masculine form, referring to the husband. The wife of the “chayil,” her husband, has full trust in her, and there will be no lack.... This initial phrase is immediately followed by “batach bah lev baalah...” He has total faith in her, his exceptional wife.

Rabbi Krohn emphasized that our rebbetzins are not one-dimensional, but lead full, busy lives. Family needs may very well, understandably, take priority at times.

Of course, our rebbetzins tend to the needs of their congregants, offering encouragement, direction, solace and comfort when necessary. Rabbi Krohn quotes Reb Kanievsky, a”h, who would say that each of us is designated a certain amount of agmas nefesh in our lives, of travail and aggravation. If we share in the agmas nefesh of our fellow Jews, then we will be sparing ourselves personal anguish.

As the program drew to an end, we all acknowledged how vital is the role of our beloved rebbetzins. Rebbetzin Feiner, in her inimitable style, pointed out, “We are doing the ratzon Hashem, the will of G-d. We are living our lives with a higher purpose. That must be the greatest motivator.”

Awesome. There was an electricity in the air. There was joy. The validation and encouragement struck a responsive chord within each participant and was so appreciated. As the program concluded, the great majority of the women did not immediately depart but seized the precious moments to connect further with their fellow rebbetzins.

And I, the emerging butterfly, flitted home with my heart overflowing with gratitude. And may I mention, I did have a fellow “butterfly”/non-rebbetzin joining me at this program. Aliza Bulow, the founder and director of Core, had flown in from Denver to join this extraordinary program. Core had been created to strengthen the women in our greater Jewish communities through several innovative programs. Their mission: “Core connects, develops, and supports Orthodox women who participate in klal work.” There has been much discussion recently on the need for mentors. Core is filling this void by training capable women in this capacity.

In conclusion, this inaugural Rebbetzin’s Conference was a great success. Wishing all our rebbetzins, along with all Acheinu Kol Bais Yisrael, the best of mazal and bracha! May we fulfill our life’s tasks to the utmost, bringing joy and nachas to our Ribbono shel Olam.

Offering copious thanks to all who orchestrated and sponsored this event. May all be blessed!

Around the Community

Margaret Tietz Holds Yom HaShoah Remembrance Program

By Shabsie Saphirstein

Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Hills was created to ease the tribulations of the Holocaust survivor population. Today, although no longer a nonprofit, the facility faithfully continues the tradition of hosting a moving Yom HaShoah Remembrance Day for Jewish Martyrdom and Heroism Service. The annual program was held this past Monday morning, May 6, in the center’s shul. Those gatherings mourned the six million brutally murdered by the Nazis.

Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky of Chabad NE Queens began the solemn event with a heartfelt Kayl Maleh Rachamim, beseeching Hashem to bring the souls of the departed to their place in the next World. For Rabbi Zavel Pearlman, Spiritual Guide of the center, Yom HaShoah never had as much meaning as this year. Privileged to be born into a family that was already in America in the late 1930s, the rabbi was often uneasy speaking of the unfathomable time his family long escaped. The rabbi ascertained a dual purpose for the annual remembrances: first is to reflect on the history and second for the hope that lay in the future. When thinking of the past, we stand as the survivors able to mourn those who were lost and ensure that we have a period of reflection for our ancestors. “The tragedy that befell our people was truly unprecedented where one third of our people were destroyed, noncombatants who were just innocent people haunted down and killed. For the future, we pray that no such massacre should ever occur to any other race.”

“Never before has there been an important day like today as this year since the Shoah. In the past, we reminisced, thought, remembered the atrocities of the hooligans; this year we lived them.” Rabbi Blesofsky took the residents through Israel’s many accolades and then compared Israel’s Jews to the number of Americans and revealed

that should October 7 have happened here, 66,000 Americans would have perished.

Rabbi Blesofsky urged all not to be silent like Iyov had been in Egypt when Pharaoh asked how to deal with the Jewish people. Rabbi Blesofsky spoke of a peer who does business in the South and related that Middle Americans are squarely behind Israel. But unfortunately, they are the silent majority, silenced by tri-state area protestors who have been gaslighting, forgetting that terrorism, not Israel, and the complicity and support for this ridiculous and evil attack, are at fault.

Rabbi Daniel Pollack, Jewish Liaison to Congress Member Grace Meng, was honored with reciting the kaddish prayer in part due to the recent loss of his beloved mother, who spent her final weeks at the facility, adding that “we say kaddish on a national level, for the Nation of Israel.” With emotion, as he sought a level of a closure, Rabbi Pollack had in mind all who were lost during the Holocaust and prayed for an end to all sorrow.

“The pain is too great. It is a prayer to G-d that He should redeem us and give us the facility to be able to live in peace.”

Gabor Gross, a Hungarian-born survivor, was raised in the country’s second largest city, Debrecen. In 1944, as the war raged, Gabor was a mere 9 years old.

Today, as Gabor stands beside his beloved wife Judith, he is 89 years proud. For many years after the war, Gabor shied away from sharing the difficult details. As the years progressed, Gabor slowly opened up, and now, with great emotion, speaks of the time like it was yesterday. He mentioned a period when new laws were enacted against Jews and businesses could only get very minimal merchandise, if any at all. The Jewish children were banned from colleges, and no Jew was allowed to receive government assistance.

Looking back on March 1944, the German army occupied Hungary, and soon ordered every Jew to wear the yellow star of David on their chests, forcing the Jews into

a fenced-in ghetto where there was a very short supply of food supply. A month later, the Jews were moved outside of the city to a brick factory and some two weeks later jammed upwards of 90 Jews into a cattle wagon where they were trapped without food or water. It was only when the army entered from all corners of Austria that the Jews were let out, where Gabor and the other Jews sat on the grass beside the railroad tracks. Australian farmers soon came with two trucks and picked up about 50 people that they took to their farm in Merkendorf as workers. The majority of those on the train, roughly 1,000 to 1,500 Jews, were sent to Auschwitz, where most perished. By the end of the fall, when the farm work concluded, the group was shipped off to Auschwitz. Gabor, along with his brother and mother, survived the concentration camps of Ravensburg and Bergen-Bergen until they were liberated by the English army on April 15, 1945.

In 1956, at the age of 21, Gabor, dressed in a Hungarian army uniform, experienced a revolution. His father also served in the army at the time, but instead wore civilian attire. With little to do, Gabor approached the office in the City Hall, “just to hang around.” Within a few minutes, he was summoned over, handed a machine gun, a truck with 30 civilian men, and instructions to travel 35 miles to a small town where there was a bullet factory. Meanwhile, when it was time to change guards, Gabor inquired of the leader how the town fared. Gabor was told that things were quiet and only a single Jewish family – the Moskowitzes – with two sons, remained. Not knowing of his Jewish blood, Gabor felt terrible inside, but saw the fear in the men who dreaded a repeat of 1944.

Days later, Gabor returned home, sat with his mother and brother, and they made a unified decision to leave their homeland. “My brother and I escaped from Hungary and came to the best country in the world, the United States of America.”

Gabor made it clear that the America

of today is not the same country where his grandfather arrived in 1913, not the America that he came to in 1956 with his brother. “Until recently, most American Jews believed that the world’s antisemitism only occurred in Europe.”

As is customary at the center, six candles are lit in memory of different populations and aspects of the Jewish people. Gabor and Judith lit in memory of the helpless infants, children, and teenagers who were cut down like trees before their time, before they had a chance to experience life. Resident Rachel Kahan, a survivor, lit the second candle is memory of all the mothers who died with their children in their arms.

Survivors Evelyn Friedman and Elizabeth Menkes lit the third candle in memory of all the mothers and fathers who were cruelly separated from their families. Rabbis Pollack and Blesofsky, who each lost a parent this past year, lit the fourth candle in memory of all the scholars, teachers, and rabbis, who were the first to be seized. Rabbi Mayer Waxman, Executive Director of QJCC, lit the fifth candle in memory of the heroes of the resistance who fought the Nazis. Linda Spiegel, Public Affairs Director for the center, lit the final candle in memory of the martyrs and righteous gentiles who gave their lives to help their brothers and neighbors.

Rabbi Blesofsky then led the crowd in a rendition of “Ani Ma’amin” and “Hatikvah,” as others lit memorial candles as an everlasting memory.

We shall never forget.

YUHSG Observes the “Yoms” With Special Events Grandparents/Legacy Day at MTA

Adefining aspect of the spring semester at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) is the observance of Yom HaShoah,Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the Israeli holidays of remembrance.

On Monday, May 6, Central held a special observance ceremony for Yom HaShoah in order to give students a chance to learn and reflect on the day’s significance.

“As the war rages on in Israel, the ‘yoms’ have a whole new feeling and meaning this year,” said Central’s Associate Principal, Ms. Leah Moskovich. “The season can feel dark and heavy, as well as extremely uplifting and educational. The programming team has worked tirelessly to find the right balance between honoring and remembering those fallen, and celebrating all that we have because of Medinat Yisrael.”

Monday’s program was coordinated by Central’s History of the Holocaust course, taught by Judaic Studies faculty member Ms. Sydney Daitch. Six seniors – Eva Koffsky, Abby Korori, Meira Leban, Shira Oppenheim, Emuna Posner, and Leora Strauss – shared six stories of lives impacted by the Holocaust, with a candle lit for each individual. The school was also fortunate to welcome Mr. Norbert Strauss as a guest speaker. Mr. Strauss, who was born in Germany in 1927, shared the story of his childhood and his family’s eventual escape to the United States.

“It was extremely powerful,” said junior Tali Amar. “Hearing from survivors themselves is such a big opportunity that I make sure to never take it for granted. Listening to them shows us how far we have come, and how strong we are.”

On Monday, May 13, the school observed Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, with meaningful programming that reinforced YUHSG’s integral ties to Israel, including a special tekes with Nina

Did you know?

and Yoni Tokayer, a Bnei Akiva “Tekes in a Box” program, packing Boots for Israel with the Young Israel of Holliswood, and hearing from two members of the IDF. Monday evening marked YUHSG’s second annual Yom Ha’atzmaut Dinner, Maariv, and Community Concert, which featured singer Danny Palgon. Thank you to the Young Israel of Holliswood and Young Israel of Jamaica Estates for partnering with us to make this event even more meaningful and unified this year! On Tuesday, May 14, the school celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, with a schedule of fun and activities, including a breakfast, dancing, special sessions on Israel, a fun game of Israeli soccer, and a round of “Are You Smarter Than a Sabra?”

Taking AP exams, senior internships, and final projects in stride, YUHSG students are successfully completing the work of the 2023-24 school year and looking to the future with a sense of positivity and accomplishment. Upcoming events include the junior class trip to Split Rock Resort, the senior class Shabbaton in New Rochelle, the Central Senior Dinner on May 28, and the graduation of the class of 2024 at Lamport Auditorium on the campus of Yeshiva University, scheduled for June 5.

The largest flower in the world is Titan Arum, also called the corpse flower. It is 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It also has a terrible smell.

This past Sunday, MTA held its annual Legacy Day, when grandparents of current talmidim were invited to join their grandsons for davening, a special breakfast, and shiur. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the event was well attended and very much appreciated by grandparents who rarely get a glimpse into their grandsons’ yeshiva education.

Grandparents are a vital part of our mesorah, and it is important for them to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This is the goal of MTA’s Legacy Day: allowing grandparents to see firsthand how their grandsons are both growing in their Torah learning and strengthening their middos. At MTA, it is the goal that everyone has the opportunity to experience the learning and growth that MTA provides.

Next week MTA will be running its annual Rabbi Hyman Arbesfeld (’49), Z”L, Scholarship Campaign culminating in a 36 hour Day of Giving on May 20-21. It is more critical than ever to support MTA’s

deeply rooted yeshiva education infused with Torah and Madda, the values that Yeshiva University holds so dear. Please join the MTA family and donate to this 1:1 matching campaign through yu.edu/ mtascholarshipcampaign2024 or by contacting Mrs. Sari Kahn, Director of Institutional Advancement at the Yeshiva University High Schools, at skahn@ yuhsb.org to join the yeshiva’s growing list of donors. Every dollar counts!

Simchas Torah on Pesach

After nearly nine months of learning and reviewing, thousands of Lomdei Oraysa from across the globe celebrated the completion of Maseches Yoma on the second day of Pesach. Although Pesach may not be the most convenient time for a siyum, the lomdei Oraysa were intent on celebrating this milestone.

What set this siyum apart from all previous siyumim was the singular focus on the simcha of having been mesayem a masechta, without the classic trappings of a gourmet seudas mitzvah, which would have obviously been complicated to provide on Pesach.

Oraysa’s central siyum was held in Lakewood on Thursday, the first day of Chol Hamoed, at Cedar Palace. No less

than twelve hundred men, women, and children converged on the hall to partake in this tremendous simchas haTorah. The siyum was graced by numerous prominent roshei yeshiva and rabbanim, among them Rosh Yeshivas Bais Medrash Govoha Rav Dovid Schustal, shlita.

Keynote speaker Rav Uri Deutsch, rav of Forest Park Shul, wove a magnificent tapestry connecting the yom tov of Pesach together with Yom Kippur, the focal topic of Maseches Yoma, mesmerizing the audience with the seamless unification of these seemingly unconnected auspicious times of the year.

Rav Chaim Meir Roth, rav of Sterling Forest Sfard, delivered a passionate address, appealing to the tzibbur to upgrade their learning and ensure to learn

every masechta from start to finish.

Rav Betzalel Tenenbaum, Rosh Chabura of the BMG Second Seder Oraysa chabura, which numbers over 100 lomdim, was mesayem the masechta after delivering heartfelt words of chizuk to the mesaymim. He eloquently paraphrased the nusach that is said during the Hadran, with its various expressions of love and yearning to return to the masechta after having learned it and reviewed it. Each expression in the Hadran, said Reb Betzalel, represents another round of chazara by Lomdei Oraysa or another level of understanding by those who invest so much effort into clarifying every sugya. Ashreichem Lomdei Oraysa, he proclaimed, who have found a system that works for them and that infuses their homes with so much simchas haTorah.

Immediately after kaddish, the entire hall erupted in an outpouring of simcha and dancing. Musician Avrumi Berko together with renowned singer Yisroel Werdyger set the tone for a genuine atmosphere of simcha, and the hundreds of men, young and old, dancing as if it were Simchas Torah, was a sight to behold.

Outside of Lakewood, siyumim were also held on Chol Hamoed, with yet more to come over the days following Pesach.

In Manchester UK, many lomdim attended a siyum at the Stenecourt Shul Hall, which was graced by the presence of the Nasi Oraysa of Europe, venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Gateshead Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, shlita. The Rosh Ye -

shiva delivered divrei bracha and was effusive in his praise for Oraysa, highlighting the fact that the program allows time to review one’s learning and to spend some time being me’ayein into the sugya.

Gateshead UK also held a siyum in the community’s central hall, the Bewick Center. Scores of lomdim and their children, with a dais graced by many of the town’s Rabbanim, were there to celebrate together.

Rav Yaakov Zvi Saberski, rav of Beis Hamedrash Eitz Chaim, delivered an impassioned speech, in which he emotionally charged the participants to appreciate the value of having a kvius, day in and day out, and through that to be privileged members of yoshvei beis hamedrash.

Here, too, a rekidah reminiscent of simchas Torah filled the hall with an energy that is hard to describe, with many lomdim expressing their joy at being able to mark this tremendous milestone with pure, unadulterated simcha.

Siyumim will also be taking place in Boston, Cleveland, and many other locations throughout the world.

Lomdei Oraysa are now relishing learning the sugyos of the first perek of Sukkah, with hundreds of new members having joined Oraysa’s swelling ranks over the past few weeks.

To join Oraysa, for more information, to set up or join a shiur or chaburah in your neighborhood, please contact Oraysa at 914.8.ORAYSA or email info@oraysa. org.

Congressman Mike Lawler to Headline Touro University Commencement

Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY) will serve as keynote speaker for the 50th commencement ceremony of Touro’s Lander Colleges, to be held on June 2 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Lawler will also receive an honorary doctorate at the event.

Congressman Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, is a longtime supporter of Israel, the Jewish community and Jewish education. A champion of school choice, he has publicly defended and protected yeshiva education on both the state and national levels. He has also fought against antisemitism and the BDS movement and is an outspoken supporter of Israel.

“Touro is honored to recognize the efforts and action of Congressman Lawler to advocate for the Jewish community and stand up for what’s right in these

most challenging times. In the wake of the anti-Israel demonstrations at colleges and universities across the nation, Lawler has shown that the safety of Jewish students is of paramount concern,” said Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish.

This spring, Congressman Lawler introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act which the House passed by a margin of 320-91. This legislation will require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and its contemporary examples when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. Usage of the IHRA definition in this context is a key step in calling out antisemitism where it is and ensuring antisemitic hate crimes on college campuses are properly investigated and prosecuted.

Lawler has a positive message for Tou-

ro University’s 600 graduates. “There are many challenges we face right now, from rising antisemitism to multiple conflicts across the globe to an economy that isn’t quite working for everyone. Go out there and make a difference and now, the future of our society is in your hands – help make a better world for those that will follow you,” said Congressman Lawler.

“Graduating is a momentous occasion – congratulations to you and your families on this incredible achievement,” he continued.

Lawler previously served as a New York State Assemblyman. In Congress, he currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee and nearly 50

congressional caucuses, including as CoChair of the Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus, the Moldova Caucus, the bipartisan SALT Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus.

Shulamith ECC celebrates Yom Ha’Atzmaut

Why I Am Running For Mayor of Lawrence

By Paris Popack

My name is Paris Popack, and I am seeking to be the Mayor of the Village of Lawrence because it is a continuation of a decades-long pattern of service and devotion to our Village.

My involvement with the Village of Lawrence on many diverse levels has been an on-going process which has included the privilege of serving as president of a rejuvenated Lawrence Civic Association which, under my tenure, kept residents informed of Village affairs with its monthly meetings and monthly “Watch Dog Bulletin.” I have also served on the Village’s Park Commission which I was invited to join after successful terms as Lawrence Women’s Tennis Club President and Chair of the Play for P.I.N.K. breast cancer fundraiser tournaments.

During this time, I supported the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Volunteer Fire Department by donating equipment and a training wall, which is used weekly. I serve as the Lawrence Chair and sponsor of the LCFD Memorial Day Parade, with the Village of Cedarhurst, which has been lauded for instilling a record number of participants and spectators, a warm spirit of community and gratitude to fallen heroes for our freedoms.

As Lawrence Village Trustee, and now as Deputy Mayor, I am continuing the effort to enhance our Village by spearheading the renovation and expan-

sion of the Zion Park Playground, proceeding with a plan for improved Village lighting, co-chairing the Lawrence Country Club Centennial Celebration, advocating legal action, and protecting neighbors from illegally placed businesses, placement of monitored security cameras, increased police protection and working daily with Village staff, other governmental agencies and utilities, to ensure that all Village services (including candidly responding to ques-

low “Lawrencians.” Unfortunately, one candidate was unable to continue and the other, upon discovering that Aaron Felder and Shlomo Gottesman were also running, unselfishly stepped aside, confident, as am I, that they have no conflict of interest and have a vision to best serve the Village without the need for a contested trustee election.

Happy to lead with Aaron and Shlomo, I am running for Mayor because I am, as I have always been, 100 percent

I am running for Mayor because I am, as I have always been, 100 percent devoted to Lawrence and Lawrence alone.

tions and concerns and suggestions) are rendered promptly and efficiently, and without any increase in taxes.

My fellow Lawrence residents, my name is Paris Popack, and I am running for Mayor without a slate of accompanying trustee candidates.

Originally, I was fortunate enough to have two outstanding Lawrence residents volunteer to run with me and offer their time and talent to their fel-

devoted to Lawrence and Lawrence alone, unencumbered by any obligation or fiduciary responsibility to any other County Authority or Village. I am completely independent, owing no appointed position to any elected official, nor having any political aspirations beyond serving the residents of Lawrence as their Mayor.

I am running because I am not a developer, but rather, a resident (and driv-

er) who is against over-development and for responsible development. I own no commercial properties in Lawrence or Cedarhurst and have no business or financial arrangement with either Village. I have never taken any action, nor threatened legal action, against the Village of Lawrence, nor could I contemplate doing so and then aspire to be its Mayor.

I am running to be your Mayor. I am not soliciting the assistance of any political party, nor injecting state, town or county politics into our local affairs.

I am running on a record of demonstrated service to Lawrence, no tax increases, no hysterical accusations, no over-development, continued responsive service to maintain our high quality of life, public safety and cooperative, effective government.

I have lived in Lawrence for 29 years with my husband and family, sent my children to school here, have voted in every Village election, and tried my best to help a wide range of government, educational, philanthropic, religious and civic organizations. I genuinely love and understand the Village of Lawrence, and to serve it, is not for me just another government job, but rather the fulfillment of a calling.

Driven by neither ego nor ambition, I want to work with everyone to keep Lawrence the beautiful home we all appreciate, and I ask you to help me, with your vote, to do so.

Why I Am Running For Village Trustee

By Shlomo Gottesman

Iam Steven (Shlomo) Gottesman, and I am seeking the position of Lawrence Village Trustee. My wife, Judith Lerer, was born in

Lawrence in the 1960s, and when we married in 1987, we immediately bought a coop in Cedarhurst to be near her beloved Lawrence. Our family expanded, and it was time to buy a home, but we couldn’t find one in Lawrence. When I told her that perhaps we should look in Woodmere – she cried!

In 1995, we found our home on Briarwood Lane and have lived here ever since. We raised our four daughters in Lawrence, and the Village became as beloved to me and my daughters as it was to Judith.

FATHER & SONS CAR AND LIMO SERVICE

Over the 37 years we are in the neighborhood and 29 years in the Village, we have seen changes to our demographics, our school district, the complexion of Central Avenue, and much more. I remember when there was only one kosher restaurant in town. My mother lives in the #1 School – now known as the Regency. So much has changed, but one thing remains the same – our Village residents are PROUD to live in Lawrence, love our Village and are eager to make what’s great in our Village, even greater. No Lawrence resident ever says, “I live in the 5 Towns” – they say, “I live in Lawrence!”

After living in Lawrence for all these years, I feel it is my time to give back. I have been playing golf at the LYCC for 30 years. I have served on the boards of Congregation Beth Sholom of Lawrence, Young Israel Lawrence Cedarhurst, HALB, Yeshivot B’nei Akiva, the Hesder Yeshiva of Sderot and others. I

have worked in mortgage banking for 33 years. I know that my love of the Village and my business and organizational background will be an asset to the Board of Trustees. I look forward to learning from Trustees Aroni Parnes and Dr. Tammy Roz and working closely with a newly elected mayor and trustee.

Since my intention to run became public less than four weeks ago, I have been approached by many Village residents. Some residents want more spending on the LYCC – others want less. Some think our Village taxes are too high, and some say that they would be happy to pay more in taxes if it would beautify the Village. Some only care that the hedges are trimmed back so they can walk on the sidewalk instead of the street. Everyone has something to say, but all just want to be heard. This is a small Village; everyone must be heard and every concern is valid.

I am running for Trustee so that every resident feels that their concerns are heard and that every resident feels that they are being treated fairly. I am running so that every decision the Board makes is for the benefit of our residents and to bring harmony and beauty to our beloved Village of Lawrence.

The easiest way to make your voice heard is to vote! It does matter! Your vote will make a difference!

Shared Love, Communal Responsibility, and HaKoras HaTov

By Aaron Felder

When you love and cherish something, someone, or some place, you have a natural desire to take extremely good care of it.

Over the last several years, I have been asked many times to run for Trustee of our village by many of our residents who are my friends, family, elected and appointed village officials, and neighbors alike. However, I never felt any pressing need to do so since there were other wonderful, selfless, and capable candidates who volunteered for this role and ultimately served our village and community with responsibility, commitment, and distinction. As of a month ago, however, there was still a noticeable paucity of potential candidates to fill the roles of Trustees which were going to be needed due to the decision of two of the present Trustees to either not continue in that role after this term ended or to run for other positions in public office. As such, I was recently approached again by current and former Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees members and concerned citizens to step up and try to fill that void for the benefit of the community and to foster continuity of government and its success. The void will be leaving two Trustee seats vacant, and I was asked to fill at least one of those seats with the sincere hope that another suitable candidate would also present themselves for the other open Trustee seat and join me in this endeavor. For those who do not know me, I was born in Far Rockaway, NY, nearly fifty years ago, and my parents moved from there to Lawrence in 1977 with me and my siblings. Therefore, Lawrence has been my home for practically my entire life. Civic duty and responsibility to community has been engrained into my chinuch from an early age, and I literally grew up surrounded by the walls of Lawrence Village Hall. I watched my father, who should live and be well in good health, C. Simon Felder, serve our citizen-

ry here in Lawrence in virtually every capacity that was available for him to do so.

My father was a member of the Lawrence Civic Association, served for many years as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees, as a Trustee, Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner, and ultimately as our Mayor. He afforded us the benefit of his balanced judgement, creative, wide ranging communal service, and thoughtful, caring, and visionary leadership in his more than 30 years of service to the community. He gained the respect and admiration of both the residents and employees of the Village of Lawrence as

Parks Commission and resides with his family in Back Lawrence. Finally, I served as a volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician responding to 911 calls for many years in my role at the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. More recently, I was asked and subsequently appointed by our current Mayor to serve a five-year term as a member of the Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals to address the ever-changing housing needs of this vibrant and growing community. All of us, in our pursuit for meaningful and impactful public service, stand on the shoulders of giants who have sacrificed their time, energy, and resources, to this

Your needs have to always be the primary focus in determining how we shape policy and direct the spending of taxpayer dollars in all matters.

well as all of those he made contact with throughout his journey of volunteerism on behalf of the community that we all love. He began that journey at a time when he felt there was not adequate local governmental representation for, what was then, the fledgling Orthodox Jewish community in our village. He hoped to spread awareness of that segment of the population’s needs and effectuate needed change with regard to zoning matters, the eiruv, the need for and proliferation of new shuls to accommodate our growth and our religious freedoms, and a myriad of other quality-of-life initiatives. With Hashem’s help and guidance, he did so most successfully and altruistically.

My older brother, Joseph B. Felder, served our village as a member of the

diamond of a community and I appreciate and have learned so much from each and every one of them. Of course, we each approach our mission with our own unique set of talents, skills, experiences – both personally and professionally – and ideas for the future, and I welcome the opportunity to work together with fellow board members and to listen to each other and to all of you, the people, to implement the very best policies and decisions to further benefit the wonderful residents of Lawrence. I hope, with your support and siyata d’shmaya, I am able to do the same as my predecessors have done in my potential role as Trustee and continue my father’s and other’s legacy of ensuring that the government of Lawrence always remains resident-centric, first and

foremost. Your needs have to always be the primary focus in determining how we shape policy and direct the spending of taxpayer dollars in all matters. Of course, that will mean keeping a very close eye on the board’s fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities to ensure the business side of village affairs runs smoothly as well, and is doing what is right for us all.

On Tuesday, June 18, you will all have the opportunity to vote for the candidates that you feel will best represent your needs, desires, interests, and be your voice in our local government. To that end, I respectfully request that you all help me help you by voting accordingly.

There is a famously quoted phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and I could not agree more. I am who I am today, in large part, because of the relationships I and my family have forged with the residents of this village throughout my life over the past five decades. I want to continue to work to make Lawrence as best as it can be for all of us and for the next generation of Lawrencians. I feel I owe this to all of the extremely dedicated men and women who have nobly served before me. I, like all of you, love the community we all have built together and one which has given me and my family so much in return. I humbly want to continue to have the opportunity to give back in this new role as Trustee and to be able to show my hakoras hatov to some of the greatest people in one of the most special communities in the world. Thank you in advance for giving my candidacy your favorable consideration, we have so much to be proud of, and I very much look forward to what lies ahead IY”H for all of us together.

I can be reached via email at afelder5@gmail.com with any thoughts, concerns, or questions.

With great respect and admiration, Aaron Felder

TJH Centerfold

Nascar Trivia

1. What was the average speed of the cars during the 2023 Daytona 500?

a. 87.4 MPH

b. 104.2 MH

c. 194.22 MPH

d. 289.9 MPH

2. How many laps are there in the Daytona 500?

a. 50

b. 100

c. 200

d. 500

3. At which track is the NASCAR season-opening race, the Daytona 500, held?

a. Texas Motor Speedway

b. Bristol Motor Speedway

c. Talladega Superspeedway

d. Daytona International Speedway

4. How old is the oldest NASCAR racer, Norm Benning?

a. 42

b. 56

c. 61

d. 72

5. What happened to Dale Earnhardt during the last round of the 2001 Daytona 500?

a. He spun out and lost the race in the last second.

b. He crashed and was killed.

c. His wife gave birth to a baby boy, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

d. He made his first cell phone call ever to his wife, when it was clear that he was going to win the race.

6. What term is used in NASCAR to describe the aerodynamic technique of two or more cars aligning closely together to reduce drag and increase speed?

a. Drafting

b. Synchronized Racing

c. Aero Tandem

d. Side-by-Side Synching

7. What is the person who sits in a high box and functions as the eyes and ears of the racer called?

a. Coach

b. Spotter

c. Scouter

d. Outlooker

8. Who was the only driver to win 5 NASCAR championships in a row?

a. Dale Earnhardt

b. Jimmie Johnson

c. Jeff Gordon

d. Richard Petty

9. What is the term for the area in the infield of a NASCAR

track where teams set up their equipment and work on their cars during races?

a. Pit Road

b. Garage

c. Paddock

d. Pit Area

10. How many spectators fit into Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, which has an oval 2.66-mile track?

a. 80,000

b. 175,000

c. 240,000

d. 330,000

Answers: 1-C 2-C 3-D 4-D 5-B 6-A 7-B 8-B 9-A 10-B

Wisdom key:

7-10 correct: You are 7 teeth and 2 beers short of being a genius!

4-6 correct: You have a healthy knowledge of NASCAR…must have spent some time down South.

0-3 correct: Jimbo, have you been drinking again?

You Know You Watch Too Much NASCAR If…

You know that May 17th is National NASCAR Day.

Your car automatically veers left whenever you get on the highway.

You refer to your morning commute as “practice laps.”

Riddle Me This

5 drivers are in the Daytona 500. Each has made a late pit stop, and all finished the race.

The drivers are:

Jeff Gordon / Dale Earnhardt Jr. / Tony Stewart

Jimmie Johnson / Ryan Newman

Each driver made Pit Stops for one of the following:

You think drafting behind a semitruck on the freeway will save you gas.

Your playlist consists solely of engine revving sounds and race commentary.

You call your friends your “pit crew.”

You measure distances in terms of “laps” instead of miles.

You’ve considered installing a roof spoiler on your sedan for “better aerodynamics.”

If you’ve ever tried to pit stop during a family road trip for a “quick tire change.”

You wear sunglasses indoors because “it’s always sunny in the winner’s circle.”

You have checkered flags as a tablecloth.

You drink beer for breakfast.

Your name is Jimbo.

- 4 Tires

- 2 Tires

- Gas Only

- Chassis Adjustment

- Engine Fix

You know this about what happened:

1. Jeff Gordon did not take a 2 tire change.

2. Jimmie Johnson did not finish lower than 3rd.

3. Tony Stewart had an engine problem before pit stops.

4. Dale Jr. did not win the race.

5. Jimmie Johnson already took tires earlier, so he did not need them.

6. Ryan Newman needed a chassis adjustment.

7. Ryan Newman’s stop was short, so he did not finish lower than 3rd.

8. Jimmie Johnson nearly spun on the last lap, costing him a position.

9. Tony Stewart’s engine problems continued, and he ended up in 5th.

10. Dale Jr. edged out Jeff Gordon at the finish line.

What did each driver stop for? And what place did that driver finish in the race?

Tony Stewart: Engine Fix, 5th Place

Ryan Newman: Chassis Adjustment, 1st Place

Dale Jr.: 2 Tires, 3rd Place

Jimmie Johnson: Gas Only, 2nd Place

Answers: Jeff Gordon: 4 Tires, 4th Place

Torah Thought

Parshas Emor

By Rabbi Berel Wein

The beginning part of this week’s parsha refers to the special laws and status regarding kohanim, the descendants of Aharon. It is common knowledge that a study based on the DNA samples of many current day kohanim reveals a common genetic strain amongst a considerable number of those who participated in the study. This strain is found to be common even amongst people who live in different areas of the world, separated by thousands of miles and centuries of differing ethnicities.

The jury is still out whether these DNA findings have any halachic validi-

ty and as to what exactly these findings prove. Over the centuries of Jewish life, the kohanim have fiercely protected their lineal descent from Aharon and zealously guarded their status of legitimacy as being kohanim. Kohanim are held in high regard in the Jewish world and are entitled to certain special privileges and honors in the Jewish religious society.

Though it seems that it is permissible for a kohein to waive some of those privileges if he so wishes, preferred behavior dictates that he not do so. The status of the kohein is to be preserved as a remembrance of their special role in the Temple

services in Jerusalem. But in a deeper sense, it is to be preserved to remind us of their special mission “to guard with their lips knowledge and to teach Torah to those who request it.”

They are to be a blessing to the people of Israel, and they are commanded to, in turn, bless the people of Israel. Blessed are those that are commanded to bless others. Thus the status of a kohein is representative of all that is noble and positive in Jewish life and tradition

the United States at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries, there were people who disguised themselves as kohanim in order to earn the monies of pidyon haben – the redemption of the first-born son from the kohein. These people were charlatans, but many other simple Jews assumed that they were kohanim as well, without any real proof of the matter. Even tombstones that declared that one’s father was a kohein were not to be

The status of a kohein is representative of all that is noble and positive in Jewish life and tradition – knowledge, Torah, grace, security and peace.

– knowledge, Torah, grace, security and peace. The question of ersatz kohanim is discussed widely in connection with halachic decisions. Not every person who claims to be a kohein is really a kohein. Since true pedigrees are very difficult to truly ascertain today, the halacha adopts a position that who is really a kohein is a matter of doubt. Great rabbinic decisors, especially in the United States, have often, in cases of dire circumstances, “annulled” the kehuna of an individual.

In the confusion of immigration into

accepted as definitive proof of the matter. Therefore, the DNA results are most interesting and provocative.

The halacha has not yet determined with certainty the trustworthiness of DNA results in matters that require halachic decision. Therefore, it is premature to speculate whether DNA testing will ever be used as a method of determining one’s true status as a kohein. Meanwhile, the kohanim should retain their tradition of pedigree to the best of their abilities.

Shabbat shalom.

From the Fire

Parshas Emor

The Chofetz Chaim’s Blanket

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

One of the most mysterious stories in the Torah is the anonymous child of a mixed marriage who entered into some sort of dispute with a Jewish man before he ultimately cursed G-d (Vayikra 24:10-11). The pesukim say: “The child of a Jewish woman, who is the son of an Egyptian man, went out among the children of Israel and this child of the Jewish woman quarreled in the camp with the Jewish man. And the son of the Jewish woman pronounced the name of Hashem and cursed…” Why does the pasuk say this person “went out”? Where did he come from? Rashi explains, “Rabbi Levi says, ‘he went out from his world.’” Meaning, he forfeited his share in this world and in the World to Come.

But the Midrash quoted by Rashi continues, “Rabbi Berachia says, ‘He went out from the parsha which preceded [this story – the lechem hapanim, the showbread]. He mocked and said, [the pasuk says that the lechem hapanim] was set up on Shabbos. Is it the way of a king to eat hot bread every day or perhaps cold, nine-day-old bread!?’” In other words, the lechem hapanim was baked on erev Shabbos but the kohanim only ate it the following Shabbos. This quarrelsome individual cynically commented, “What kind of king would command a sacrifice consisting of nineday-old, cold, stale bread!”

Yet this criticism seems completely out of place. Chazal tell us (Chagiga 26b), “A great miracle occurred with regard to the lechem hapanim: [It was in the same condition] when it was set up as when it was removed.” In other words, one of the miracles in the Beis Hamikdash was that the lechem hapanim was just as fresh and hot nine days

after it was baked as it was when it first came out of the oven. If so, what was this individual’s “beef” with the lechem hapanim in particular? It was not even cold when the kohanim ate it!

The Imrei Emes of Ger, zy”a, the son of the Sfas Emes, zy”a, explains that the central trait of scoffers and cynics is coldness. They look at everything with detached indifference, attempting to quickly extinguish the fire of enthusiasm, warmth, and freshness wherever they find it. This was personified by the mistake of the spies who spoke lashon hara about Moshe and the Eretz Yisroel even though they had already witnessed what happened to Miriam when she spoke lashon hara about Moshe. They viewed the events coldly, not allowing what they saw to affect them at all. They did not take the lesson to heart and therefore made the same mistake, but on an even greater scale, with disastrous consequences.

But this still begs the question: what about the lechem hapanim got under this man’s skin so deeply that it ultimately

caused him to do the unthinkable, to curse G-d? Indeed, Chazal tell us (Avos 5:4) that ten other miracles occurred on a constant basis in the Beis Hamikdash. Why was this individual so obsessed with denying the veracity of the miracle of the fresh lechem hapanim?

The Gemara (Chagiga 26b) discusses the Shulchan upon which the loaves of the lechem hapanim were arranged, which the pasuk (Vayikra 24:6) refers to as, “the pure Table.” The Gemara points out that the phrase “pure Table” implies that the kohanim must ensure that the Shulchan remains pure, but that if they are not careful, it could become impure. The problem with this implication is that a fixture which becomes part of a structure is not susceptible to impurity. Fixtures are by nature not portable and therefore do not have the status of instruments, tools, or vessels, which are susceptible to impurity. The Table on which the lechem hapanim is laid should therefore not be susceptible to impurity such that the pasuk should not need to require that the kohanim main-

tain its state of purity!

The Gemara therefore answers that the Table was not permanent and that it was designed to be moved around. That is why it is susceptible to impurity. When was it moved? The Gemara relates, “They would lift it [the Table] up and show the lechem hapanim on it to those who ascended [to Yerushalayim] for yom tov, and they said, ‘Look how precious you are before Hashem! [It is in the same condition] when it was set up as when it was removed!’” According to the Radbaz, zt”l, this event was the highlight of the pilgrimage to Yerushalayim on yom tov. Those who came would wait in the Beis Hamikdash for the moment when the kohanim would pull aside the curtain separating the table with the lechem hapanim from the courtyard in order to see the miracle of the piping hot lechem hapanim which had been baked nine days earlier.

Reb Tzadok Hakohein from Lublin, zy”a, asks what was so special about this particular miracle in the Beis Hamikdash. There were many other miracles in the Beis Hamikdash (Avos 5:4)! He answers that the steaming hot lechem hapanim was different from all of the other miracles. He explains that each one of the other miracles, like the fact that a fly never appeared in the area of slaughter or that the meat did not rot, were ultimately for the honor of the Divine Presence, as the pasuk (Tehillim 29:9) says, “And in all of His chamber, he says ‘glory!’”

In contrast, Reb Tzadok explains, the purpose of the miracle of the lechem hapanim was so that the kohanim would have warm, fresh bread to eat, rather than stale, cold bread. That miracle was purely an expression of Hash-

em’s love for His people. That was why everyone wanted to see that miracle more than any other one. The conclusion of the pilgrims’ visit to the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalayim was when the kohanim told the people, “Look how precious you are before Hashem!” They took that last sacred moment with them back home. They returned to daily life with the warm feeling that Hashem loves them. They remembered the sight of the hot challah and remembered the love and affection that defines our relationship with Hashem.

The love and warmth the Jewish people share with Hashem are the opposite of the cynic’s coldness. Such people cannot accept that there is anything special about the relationship between Hashem and His people. They mock the lechem hapanim because the piping hot bread Hashem gave to the kohanim undermines their entire cynical worldview. They have no problem with the miracles Hashem performs for His own honor. But they deny the special affection Hashem has for the Jewish people. Many meforshim ask why the pasuk calls the person with whom the one who cursed G-d quarreled “the Jewish man.” Why not simply “a” Jewish man? The Chasam Sofer answers that this usage teaches that every Jew is called “the Jew” in Hashem’s eyes. Every Jew is a child of our father Yaakov. Every Jew is precious to Hashem. The way the Torah identifies this man personifies the fact that Hashem’s love for every Jew is the polar opposite of the cold cynicism of the scoffer.

This concept is personified by a story about Reb Elya Lopian from his time as rosh yeshiva of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in London. The board of his yeshiva wished to solicit a much-needed donation from an individual who was not observant. This man was known to financially support many local institutions in London, giving to other yeshivos, mikvahs, and the like. Reb Elya was generally opposed to taking funds from non-observant individuals so he did not want to make the solicitation. The board pressured him greatly, insisting that the yeshiva absolutely needed this person’s donation.

The board asked Reb Elya to at least come with them to meet with this potential donor and that he did not have to say anything. Reluctantly, he acquiesced. On the day of the meeting, Reb Elya entered the man’s house with the board members. But even before the meeting started, Reb Elya became agitated and whispered to one of board

members that the man did not even have mezuzos in his home! They began to get concerned, worrying that Reb Elya would sabotage their efforts to obtain a generous donation. Nevertheless, they forged ahead and made their presentation to the man.

Reb Elya was disturbed, however, and after the board’s presentation, he spoke up, “I see that you are a person who has good feelings for Torah and Yid-

me that this was impossible but insisted that it would be his honor if I would be his guest for the night. I was amazed. I had failed the test to be admitted into the yeshiva but managed to secure an invitation to the Chofetz Chaim’s house! The Rav supplied me with a warm dinner and a bed to sleep in.

“It happened to be a cold night, and I was having some trouble sleeping. In the middle of the night, as I lay in

They returned to daily life with the warm feeling that Hashem loves them.

dishkeit and that you give money to all of the yeshivos and local Torah institutions. But I do not understand. You are not personally observant, and you do not even have any mezuzos in your home. Why do you support all of these Torah institutions?” The members of the board were beside themselves, certain that Reb Elya had torpedoed all of their efforts.

But the man answered Reb Elya, “You know, I very much appreciate your question. The representatives from all of the other organizations have taken my donations, but no one has ever asked me why I am so interested in supporting Torah organizations, so I will tell you.

“I grew up in a certain town in Lithuania. When I was a young man, my father wanted me to study Torah in Radin. I had no interest but because my father commanded me to go, I went. When I arrived, I took the yeshiva’s entrance exam as I was required to do. Baruch Hashem, I failed the exam and was told that I was not accepted in the yeshiva. I was happy for the excuse to return home, but by that time, it was too late at night to find another train. I did not know anyone in Radin. The only person I had heard of was the Chofetz Chaim. I therefore inquired about the location of his house and walked there.

“I knocked on the Chofetz Chaim’s door, and he answered. I introduced myself and told him that I had just applied to the yeshiva. He asked me how it went, and I told him that I had failed the test. He asked how he could help me, so I explained that it was too late to return home and asked whether I could stay in an apartment with some of the yeshiva bochurim for just one night. He informed

bed half asleep, I heard the door creak open. I pretended to remain asleep and saw the Chofetz Chaim softly walk over to my bed to check on me. He quietly exclaimed, ‘Oy! It’s cold!’ when he saw that my blanket had slipped off of me a little bit. He rearranged the blanket and tucked it in so that I would be warm and slipped out of the room. Ever since that

time, the warmth of the Chofetz Chaim’s blanket has given me a warm feeling for Torah and yeshivos. That is why I support all of the local institutions.”

It is also known that Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, would go into his children’s rooms during the winter to place their socks on the radiator so that when they woke up in the morning, they would have warm socks to put on. The warmth of those socks on the cold winters of the Lower East Side radiated the warmth of Reb Moshe’s love for his children.

May Hashem grant us the eyes to see how much Hashem loves us. May we merit to feel the warmth of Reb Moshe’s socks and the Chofetz Chaim’s blanket in all of the mitzvos we do. May we be blessed with the warm Yiddishkeit of the lechem hapanim and not the cold cynicism of the scoffers. With that, may Hashem send the redeemer and return us to Yerushalayim to see the piping hot lechem hapanim with our own eyes 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.

If someone borrows a loaf of bread before Pesach, does he have to pay it back after Pesach? After all, if the Jewish lender would have kept the loaf of bread in his possession, it would have become worthless. The reader may suggest that the owner could have eaten it. The Mishna Berura (450:1) would counter that the scenario being discussed is where the loan took place right at the end of the zman achila. The person had extra bagels that he bought that morning. Instead of being magnanimous and offering the soon-tobe-worthless bagels for free, he loaned them to his friend. The lender does not sell chometz gamur and would have disposed of them. Nevertheless, the Shulchan Aruch rules (based on a Gemara in Avoda Zara 62) that the borrower must pay back the loaf of bread. At the time he borrowed it, the loaf did have value, therefore he must return another loaf after Pesach or its value at the time he borrowed it. The borrower may even pay back the value of the loaf on chol hamoed Pesach.

Still, the Mishna Berura raises the following question: doesn’t borrowing a loaf of bread violate the rabbinic prohibition of borrowing non-money consumable items? (As opposed to lending an item where literally the exact same item is returned, i.e. lending a chair or ball.) There is a Torah mitzvah to lend money. However, there is also a Torah prohibition against charging interest. This prohibition is easy to avoid when lending money. After all, someone who borrows $1,000 in cash will make sure to pay back only $1,000. However, borrowing consumable items is fraught with danger. Tosfos (Bava Metzia 75a) says that we are concerned for the following scenario. A lender loaned a borrower a bushel of wheat. At the time, the market price was $6 a bushel. Perhaps the price of wheat will rise. By the time the borrower pays back a different bushel, wheat may cost $8 a bush-

Delving into the Daf

Neither a Lender Nor a Borrower Be?

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

el. The lender will profit $2 on the loan of the bushel which is akin to collecting forbidden interest. Granted, it will not be considered Torah interest, because in the final analysis, he loaned a bushel of wheat and was paid back a bushel of wheat. However, since the price rose in the interim, it is similar to interest. Therefore, the rabbis forbade it. (This is in contradistinction to the main currency of any country as we view it as having a steady price [Chazon Ish].)

Technically, it should always be forbidden to borrow non-money consumable items because of this concern. Indeed, Hillel declared in the Mishna (ibid. 75a) that a woman should not loan a loaf of bread to her friend for this very reason.

However, the Gemara states that the halacha does not follow Hillel. Specifically, the rabbis permit a neighbor to lend a loaf of bread to their neighbor. Tosfos explains that neighbors are typically not concerned about small fluctuations in price. They just see a loaf of bread for its food value. Therefore, even if the price of a loaf of bread fluctuates a little, it is of no concern. It is interesting to note that only the Rema cites this leniency as practical halacha. Indeed, the

Gr”a writes that the Shulchan Aruch does not accept it. This leads to the question as to how the Shulchan Aruch can discuss a situation of lending a loaf of bread before Pesach if lending loaves is always forbidden even among neighbors.

The Nesivos Shalom explains that the rabbis carved out a huge exception to the prohibition against lending consumable items. If the item has a stable market price and is widely available, it may be lent. The Rema will agree to this, too. This practically permits the lending of eggs, ketchup, flour, sugar, diapers, and band-aids. All these items are readily available in the store at the time of the loan. We don’t view the loan as a real loan. We view it as if the lender is just exchanging his bottle of ketchup for the one in the store which the borrower will soon buy. Even in the unlikely scenario that the price of the item did suddenly increase, it would still be permitted to return the more expensive but identical item to the lender. (Chut Shani Ribbis 11:3)

However, the Rema’s logic regarding neighbors cited above actually represents another leniency. The aforementioned discussion revolves around returning vir-

tually the same item that one borrowed. For example, one who borrows a bottle of ketchup will pay back a bottle of ketchup. (We disregard the price fluctuation.) What if the returned item is not exactly the same? Suppose someone borrows a loaf of bread, may he return a loaf of bread that is a little bigger? According to the Shulchan Aruch, he may not. He must return the same size loaf or smaller. However, according to the Rema who holds that neighbors are not too meticulous with each other, the borrower may return a loaf of bread that is slightly larger and this is not considered interest. (Indeed, uptight neighbors cannot rely on this leniency.) Someone who borrowed an onion may return an onion that is a little bigger. Rav Yishai, a Sefardi posek, opined that Sefardim rely on the Rema as well.

The Mishnas Ribbis cautions, however, that clearly noticeable differences are still an issue. Someone runs out of eggs and asks a neighbor to borrow a dozen eggs. The neighbor says she is sorry but she only has 11. She loans 11 eggs. When it comes time to return the eggs, the borrower may feel it’s petty to take one egg from the dozen and return 11. However, the Mishnas Ribbis said it is required! An extra egg is a clearly noticeable difference and paying back an extra egg would be considered ribbis (even if called a gift).

There are situations, however, where neighbors ask to “borrow” items but they really mean “can I have an item?” Some neighbors have a relationship where they don’t pay back items. They simply take turns “borrowing” from each other. That is not borrowing but gifting and is not subject to the laws of ribbis.

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

Headlines Halacha

Feeling the Pain of the Hostages and Their Families

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The year was 1984, and the place was BMG, Beis Midrash Gavoah in Lakewood, New Jersey. A special day of tefillah was established for Iosef Berenshtein, a prisoner of Soviet Russia and on trial. His crime? He taught Torah to children in Kiev, Russia.

The Mashgiach of BMG, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, zt”l, spoke. What he said then can shed enormous insight into our current situation in Eretz Yisroel regarding the October 7th hostages and their families. These were his words:

“We must know that we are davening here on behalf of a Jew who was moser nefesh for Torah – for chinuch. His entire trial that he faces is on account of the fact that he taught Torah to children.

“Yisro left all the honors of the world and came to learn Torah. His grandchildren sat in the Lishkas HaGazis itself. Yisro was moser nefesh for Torah and he merited an entire Parsha in the Torah. Notwithstanding all this, Chazal state that he was sent away prior to Matan Torah. Why so? Because he was not present during the enslavement in Mitzrayim, in the tzaar of Klal Yisroel. Therefore, he was unable to share in the joy of the Torah. (See Yalkut Shimoni Parshas Yisro 271).

“We wait for the geulah shleimah –the complete redemption. Quickly, once again there should be simchos in Klal Yisroel. Who will merit this? Those who participate in both the joys and the pains and struggles of Klal Yisroel. It is as the Gemara says (Taanis 30b): ‘One who mourns over Yerushalayim will merit to see and partake in its consolation.’

Ziv, the Alter of Kelm, broke his leg. The Alter said, ‘A father feels the pain when his son breaks a leg, but he doesn’t yet feel it to the extent that his son does. The Alter entered into a room and sat and contemplated the matter. ‘How much pain my son is experiencing! Breaking a leg is no insignificant matter – it is considered as an illness of the entire body. It

We must daven for Klal Yisroel as if it is we ourselves who are experiencing it.

“We are asking of you, not just to recite a regular Tehillim. Say it like you are reciting it for your brother, or for yourself. Chazal tell us that the prayer of a choleh is heard more readily. The explanation is that he is davening for himself with his entire heart.

“This is the type of tefilllah we need here today – for this man who is moser nefesh for Torah and for chinuch.

“Once, the son of Rav Simcha Zissel

hurts him here, and he cannot sit down. It hurts him there and he cannot stand up! There is so much pain!’ There he sat and thought about what his son was experiencing. Afterward, he emerged and said, ‘Now I truly feel the pain of my son – who broke his leg.’

“If we wish to properly partake of the tzaar of Klal Yisroel – we must think about and ponder their pain – at the least, we must do so each day for some

amount of time. We must do so at least now during the time we are praying for a Jew who was moser nefesh in Soviet Russia. We are asking for the tefillah of someone who is partaking in his pain, a prayer from the depths of the heart.”

These were the words of the Mashgiach back then in 1984. The same concept applies now to our brothers and sisters suffering from the horrific kidnappings.

We must daven for Klal Yisroel as if it is we ourselves who are experiencing it. We must imagine their pain and suffering – those who have lost a son trying to free our fellow brethren and those who have family members in captivity. Those who are making yom tov – we must be hoping and davening that no further deaths occur and that the situation for Acheinu Bnei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel not progress further.

So let’s add kavanah in our daily davening and Tehillim for our fellow brethren as Rav Wachtfogel, zt”l, called for some 40 years ago.

Pesach Sheini and R’ Meir: Second Chance Not by Chance

By Ra BBi Daniel Glatstein

itis a widely accepted custom to visit the tomb of R’ Meir on 14 Iyar, Pesach Sheini, and to celebrate in his honor. Many assume that Pesach Sheini is the yahrtzeit of R’ Meir. However, it is difficult to find a reliable source for this; in fact, R’ Chaim Chizkiyah Medini (1834–1904), author of the Sdei Chemed, sent a letter to the rabbis of Teveriah inquiring into the meaning of the newly established annual pilgrimage. In their response, they related that a new beis haknesses and beis midrash had been constructed directly near R’ Meir’s tomb, and to celebrate its establishment, there had been a chanukas habayis, an inauguration ceremony, which happened to coincide with Pesach Sheini. Since many from the Diaspora had flocked to Eretz Yisrael for Pesach, the event was particularly well attended. Thus, a tradition began for people to travel to celebrate at the tomb of R’ Meir on Pesach Sheini.

Although it might seem that this explanation credits a “coincidental occurrence” as the basis for the Pesach Sheini/R’ Meir connection, we know that nothing is by chance. If Klal Yisrael celebrates R’ Meir on Pesach Sheini, there must be a deeper significance in it.

Finding YouRSelF

Aside from the minhag of contributing tzedakah as an aliyas neshamah for R’ Meir in times of distress, there is a custom that specifically when looking for a lost object, one recites the prayer “Eloka d’Meir aneini” while pledging charity in the merit of R’ Meir. Whence does such a practice stem? How is finding a lost object relevant to R’ Meir more than to any other of the host of great Tannaim?

The answer, perhaps, lies in the significant worldview that R’ Meir promulgated: Either way, no matter who, no matter where, the Jewish people are called Hashem’s chil-

dren. What this means, then, is that no matter to what extent we sin, no matter how far we’ve drifted, a Jew is never truly lost. Even when he seems to be very distant, he is still Hashem’s child. He may not recognize it, but in Heave,n he continues to be a beloved child, and in reality, he is not lost at all.

A principle taught by the Zohar is that “the lower world reflects the reality of the Upper World.” In R’ Meir’s view, the Upper World will never regard a Jew as “lost.” As per the Zohar, the lower world will then reflect this reality: no item will be lost forever. Therefore, when

Pesach sheini

is the Day of seconD chances.

one loses an item, he elicits the merit of R’ Meir, hoping that the item will reunite with its owner, just as every Jew will reunite with his Father.

Hidden undeR Hide

R’ Meir’s opinion that sin will never obfuscate our identity as Hashem’s children can help explain a curious Midrash. The pesukim in Bereishis describe the aftermath of the sin of eating from the Eitz HaDaas. Before Adam and Chava were expelled from Gan Eden, Hashem garbed them in kasnos ohr, garments of skin (Bereishis 3:21). The word ohr in this verse is spelled with an ayin; thus, it is translated as “skin.” Prior to the sin, Adam and Chava were enveloped in a coating that was entirely translucent, kasnos ohr – ohr with an aleph – garments of light. Following the sin, this translucence was replaced with a coarse, solid material: skin.

However, the Midrash tells us that in the Torah of R’ Meir, the word ohr is spelled with an aleph, meaning “light.” In R’ Meir’s view, following the sin of the Eitz HaDaas, Hashem continued to clothe Adam and Chava in garments of light.

This is incredible! Even following the sin, Adam and Chava are still being graced in the ethereal clothing of light! But in the world of R’ Meir, this is merely the reality of our being Hashem’s children. Even after we sin, says R’ Meir, we still glow in some semblance of the original incandescence that comes with being the children of Hashem.

WHY SHould We loSe out?

Appreciating the reality that in the world of R’ Meir nothing is lost will illuminate the connection between R’ Meir and Pesach Sheini. Those who were “impure or distant” on the fourteenth of Nissan and therefore unable to bring a Korban Pesach have a second chance on Pesach Sheini.

In the Midbar, Moshe Rabbeinu was approached by men who had come into contact with a corpse, rendering themselves impure with tumas meis. These individuals appealed that they, too, should be able to bring the korban pesach, saying, “Why should we be diminished?” (Bamidbar 9:7). This was an expression of the Jewish soul’s eternal pining for connection with Hashem. Even when impure, even when distant, we still crave a relationship with our Father — and He, in turn, craves a relationship with us.

Pesach Sheini is the day of second chances. It’s the day when we realize that no one is too distant and nothing is hopeless. It’s the day when we realize that a loving Father will always endow us with the opportunity to return to Him.

It is the day of R’ Meir.

This article has been excerpted with permission from Rabbi Meir Baal Haness and the Eternal Children of Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, published by ArtScroll.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY,

Jerusalem has numerous streets whose names are connected to nearby historical sites. Ir David, the City of David, was the capital of Jerusalem when King David reigned almost three thousand years ago. The charming Givat Chananya community offers panoramic views of the Old City and Ir David, and therefore many of its streets are named for King David’s relatives, including ancestors Obed and Yishai, wife Batsheva and sister Tzruya.

Other streets are named for cities that the roads lead to. One of Jerusalem’s longest streets is Rechov Yaffo, which runs from the city’s entrance all the way to the Old City walls. Jaffa Street is named after Jaffa, a city adjacent to Tel Aviv, because from Biblical days (see Yona 1:3) until the late 1800s, Jaffa served as the main port city of Jerusalem. Visitors would disembark in Jaffa’s port and then continue their pilgrimage on land to Jerusalem. Interestingly, the present highway from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv follows a very similar route to the path taken by pilgrims for thousands of years.

Derech Beit Lechem is named because of its historical connection as a route leading to another city. Also known as

My Israel Home Automobile Street?

By Gedaliah Borvick

Bethlehem Street, it is a vibrant northsouth road which runs through Jerusalem’s Baka and German Colony neighborhoods. Archaeological digs underneath this street uncovered the ancient road that served as an important route for Jews from the south who visited the Beit Hamikdash on religious holidays.

out of Jerusalem, providing merchants access to the southern coastal ports of Gaza and Ashkelon. One of its most famous residents, Israel ben Moses Najara, served as Gaza’s chief rabbi over 400 years ago and composed many famous liturgical poems, including the Shabbat zemer, “Kah Ribbon Olam.”

Eliezer – and most everyone else in the city – always thought it was named for the industry that dominates the block.

Similarly, Derech Chevron is a main thoroughfare in southern Jerusalem that extends from Jerusalem all the way to Hebron. Jerusalem and Chevron are two of the four holiest cities in Israel, the other two being Tiberias and Tzfat, both of whom also have streets in Jerusalem named after them.

Finally, Rechov Azza, or Gaza Street, was one of the major roads leading in and

Now that we are all mavens of Jerusalem street themes, let me share with you a message that my normally even-keeled business partner Eliezer Goldberg excitedly sent me. Eliezer was walking with clients in Talpiot and passed by a street that for decades has been lined with car mechanic shops. The street is named Harechavim, which means vehicles in modern Hebrew, and Eliezer – and most everyone else in

the city – always thought it was named for the industry that dominates the block. Glancing at the street sign for the first time, Eliezer realized that he was mistaken. The sign explains that the name Rechavim is in honor of the illustrious Benei Rechev family, also known as the Rechavim, from the First Temple period. Its patriarch was Yehonadav Ben Rehev, who is mentioned in Yirmiyahu and Melachim.

Every time I read Jerusalem’s street signs, I learn something new. A fun activity that my brother-in-law and I enjoy – and I highly recommend that you give it a try – is to grab a few hours, and a few books about Jerusalem’s neighborhoods and streets, and wander around the city. It’s such a joy learning about our capital’s rich history, and you never know what new nuggets of information are awaiting you just around the corner.

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.

Israel Today

One Step Ahead of the Curve

By Rafi Sackville

“Were it not for the war, I wouldn’t have the time to talk to you. I’d be running between customers. Maybe I’d ask you to move your chair to make room for another diner or two. But there’s a war on, and business is very weak.”

I’m speaking with 58-year-old Meir Abuhazeira, the proud proprietor of a small restaurant in the Mahane Yehuda market. I was wandering aimlessly by his storefront when he attempted to entice me to a meal. He was hustling business with grace and dignity. Not being hungry, yet struck by his impeccable manners, I promised I’d return – and did.

Many of his early memories are of accompanying his father to the shuk to help out with what was originally a fruit and vegetable store. Inquisitive by nature, Meir has a degree in architecture, is a qualified tourist guide, and makes the most of his free time to learn new things. His intellectual pursuits are a far cry from the bustle and buzz of the market.

“My parents came from Morocco in the early 1960s. They wanted to send him to Dimona, but he was having none of it, and moved to Jerusalem. He worked for the city for a while, but then found this store and bought it in 1970. He saw an opportunity to open a stall here in the shuk. It was nothing like it is today.”

Meir assumes the two women sitting at a table are with me. When he realizes his mistake, he apologizes. I watch him serve their drinks with a pride that is surprising for someone who, like many people in Israel, is suffering financially. He knows they’re tourists, yet makes the effort nevertheless. I ask him about his effusiveness.

“I pride myself on being as polite and helpful as possible. One thing I can vouch for is that my clientele always come back again.”

I ask whether he came to work in the shuk straight out of the army.

“I spent eight years in uniform, reaching the rank of major in the tank corps. It’s not that I came out of the army and took responsibility. I had been helping out since I was a boy. My siblings weren’t as interested as I was in helping out.

“By the time I came out, my father was transitioning from produce to selling meat and fish. What a period that was: you’d buy the live chicken from him, go next door to the shochet, and then across the way to have the chicken cleaned.

“Supermarkets were beginning to open. When that occurred, the shuk seemed to contract. People were able to do one-stop shopping elsewhere.

“The change my father made was timely. I’ll tell you this; the writing was on the wall. It wasn’t the last time there’d be major changes. Sometime in my thirties, a man by the name of Eli Mizrahi came up with the idea of opening a coffee shop in the market. People thought he was crazy. Who was going to drink coffee while shlepping around shopping carts? But then people started drinking coffee. Once the shuk became a magnet for tourists, the idea spread, and today the market has changed completely. For us, the initial change was disastrous; why would people have to come to us?

“By that time, my father was working less. I realized that I had to do something that was in line with the times. So, for the last 20 years, I’ve been running this small restaurant. It’s not that I saw there was a change coming, rather that I had no choice other than to ride the wind of change.

“My days are long; from about 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s a long day. Sometimes, if I have a tour group, I’ll leave for a couple of hours. I do most of this by myself. I don’t really need any help. Now that we’re in a war, there’s no need at all. When I need the help, some of family come down.”

He adds, “How long will I work for? There’s no point me going into being a tour guide. 200 to 300 dollars just doesn’t

allow you to make a living. Who knows when the war is going to end? I think I’ll continue to enjoy what I love.”

A regular walks in. Meir asks after her father. He was expecting her.

“Here,” he says. “I’ve prepared something really tasty for him.”

As I’m finishing my meal, Meir insists on telling me a story that encapsulates the change from his parents’ generation.

“During the Yom Kippur War, my father was called up for six months. I might have been in fourth grade, but I knew what war was. It ended quickly, but my father remained serving for six months.

“After about a month, my mother said to me that we had to go out to work. She was very young and pretty. She told me I had to accompany her to Tnuva at 4 o’clock in the morning to pick up fruit and vegetables. I didn’t quite understand why. This happened day after day. We’d get to the shuk at six in the morning, we’d set up the shop, and then she’d say I had to stay with her throughout the day.

“After almost a week, I saw that accompanying my mother was going to be for more than a few days. My mother explained it to me thusly: it’s not modest for a young, married woman to go out in the middle of the night. Or for her to run a storefront in the market. Today, I understand and appreciate the modesty of yesteryear. It’s not like it is today.

“People understood what we were going through. She would stand here and sell oranges. And people would buy them from her even if they had no need for them. They’d say, ‘Mrs. Fania, we don’t need oranges, but we’ll buy some anyway.’ We lived like this for six months.

“Can you imagine such a thing today? To this day, my mother’s modesty remains one of my greatest life lessons.”

Rafi Sackville, formerly from Cedarhurst, teaches in Yeshivat Horev in Yerushalayim.

In the northeastern corner of Israel, there is a kibbutz named Gadot. Years ago, a family from Brazil made aliyah and joined Kibbbutz Gadot with a 4-yearold daughter in tow. That daughter eventually joined the army and met her perfect match, a fellow soldier whose family was from Iraq. They married and returned to Kibbutz Gadot. Their son, Itai Sagy, grew up on the kibbutz in one of the most beautiful areas of Israel.

Itai was an excellent student. He said that he always wanted to do something meaningful with his life. He joined the Maglan commando unit in the army and was selected to enter a special educational track after his required army service. Itai studied leadership in his gap year. He believed that he would focus on computer programming after his army service. This was what he was like at just 25 years old.

As with many members of Israeli society, October 7, 2023, changed everything. Itai Sagy’s unit was mobilized. While other units were to spend many weeks preparing for action in Gaza, Itai’s unit was immediately put into action.

In the heart of conflict, amidst the chaos of war, IDF First Sergeant Itai Sagy found himself facing a defining moment that would forever alter the course of his life. At just 25 years old, Itai, serving in the Maglan commando unit, demonstrated dedication to his fellow soldiers and his country.

It was on the fifth day of the war, October 11, that fate intervened, thrusting Sagy and his squad into a harrowing ordeal. As

Israel Today

Sergeant Itai Sagy Wounded Hero

By Isaac Seinuk

they journeyed towards their mission, their path was interrupted by a flat tire, forcing them to halt in Zikim, a place just north of the Gaza Strip. In the midst of this unforeseen setback, terror struck as 8 Nukhba terrorists unleashed a hail of gunfire upon them, injuring half of their twelve-man team.

In the face of danger, Itai displayed unparalleled bravery and selflessness. While his comrades sought refuge in the bomb shelter, he made the gut-wrenching deci-

After 50 grueling minutes of battle, Itai was evacuated under fire to the hospital, where his journey to recovery began. It was during his stay at the hospital that he found solace and support from the Beit Halochem team, who embraced him with open arms and guided him through every step of his rehabilitation journey.

Upon his release, Itai embarked on his rehabilitation at Beit Halochem Tel Aviv, a place of healing and hope. There, surrounded by fellow soldiers and caregivers,

In the heart of conflict, amidst the chaos of war, IDF First Sergeant Itai Sagy found himself facing a defining moment that would forever alter the course of his life.

sion to remain outside, knowing that their situation could end in disaster. With courage in his heart and determination in his eyes, he stood guard, a lone sentinel against the tide of terror.

As the firefight raged on, Itai fought valiantly, repelling the attackers and neutralizing two assailants at the shelter’s entrance. But his bravery came at a steep cost, as he was struck by a grenade, his neck bearing the brunt of the explosion. His comrades rallied to his side, administering life-saving emergency care that would ultimately save his life.

he found meaning in his journey, knowing that he had the power to help others who had experienced similar trials and tribulations.

Reflecting on his experience, Itai spoke of the profound impact Beit Halochem had on his life.

“From the beginning, I felt part of a warm family that loves me and gives me space,” he said. “It gave me tremendous strength to continue, knowing that there are people like me who have similar and different experiences, but we are all in this together.”

Indeed, Itai’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community in times of adversity. Through courage, compassion, and support, he emerged from the depths of injury, a beacon of hope for all who have faced the trials of war.

IDF First Sergeant Itai Sagi will visit the United States on May 20 to share his story of resilience with various communities. He will also express gratitude to the communities supporting Beit Halochem, which provided rehabilitation to his thousands of injured soldiers and himself. Itai’s visit also aims to promote unity and understanding, emphasizing shared values of courage and compassion.

Itai has now changed his goals in life. He is now interested in the study of law and management. He feels that he wants to contribute to Eretz Yisrael in a much broader way. He jokes about getting involved in politics and making a difference.

“I always wanted to do something, but I never felt that I was doing enough,” Itai said.

Like Itai, thousands of soldiers receive life-changing rehabilitation services at Beit Halochem. Join us on Sunday, June 9, at North Woodmere Park to run or walk alongside our wounded soldiers, echoing Itai’s journey. Beit Halochem is where our wounded soldiers are made whole again in body and spirit. Visit www.5towns5k.org for all the details. Each soldier has a unique story of sacrifice and resilience, yet they share Itai’s desire to give back to Israel.

Itay, left, with Yuval Patiev, who were both severely injured

We are now living in the middle of controlled chaos, and it is no fun. We are trying to focus on the prize, but it is not easy.

In retrospect, the paperwork involved in getting us to the aliyah finish line seems like a piece of cake compared to clearing out our mountains of stuff. Everywhere we go in our once beautiful home there are boxes empty, full, and about to be filled.

Our dream apartment is lovely and small by American standards. Apartments in Israel have rooms, doors and roofs. If you are lucky, they include small courtyards and porches. Every single thing from the toilet paper holders, cabinets, to the appliances and closets need to be purchased or acquired.

The creative in us is having fun, but the financial and heavy lifting involved in the acquisition of the basic comforts is daunting. There is also a relentless ongoing reel of things that I have to do for school, Israel, and here.

In order to get a visa, you must submit your American passport; in plain English that means you can’t leave the country until you get your passport back. With our granddaughter’s wedding fast approaching – so exciting – we can’t make any additional travel plans because it takes time to get the passport back. More significantly, even though we have a confirmed aliyah ticket for July, there is no guarantee that we will have our documents returned in time.

Just another thing to worry about.

When there are two Adars and Pesach is late, the school year is over in the blink of an eye. All of the planning for the new year and the cleaning up of the year slipping quickly past is a lot of work – a lot.

Report cards to write, classes to create, last minute applicants to interview, teachers to hire, books to order, meetings, meetings and more meetings!

And all the Yoms – HaShoah, HaZikaron, Ha’Atzmaut, Yerushalayim, trips, Wax Museum, State Fair, trips and programs. All of this is squeezed into the weeks after Pesach. There are not too many when there are two Adars.

This does not include the day-to-day

School of Thought

Blessings

By Barbara Deutsch

of kids being kids.

I get asked daily, how I’m doing? Is this really my last year? What will I miss the most? What I won’t?

I only cried three times today. I am weepy, and it hits me at random times. I usually don’t work Fridays, a perk I earned during my last negotiation. I am proudly the oldest person working in my building. There is something about aging that is universal – your head does not age, it’s your body. My knees creek,

In my family, from Poland to Siberia, it was never discussed. In my husband’s, Hungary to concentration camp, it was. What is clear is that in order for truth to be strong and lies to be shut down, the stories must be told, over and over again. The names of the lost need to be spoken and remembered.

I met the Kaliver Rebbe; he came to HANC to greet the school community, tell a story and bless the children and faculty. Parents were invited to send in names of

he was elected. He had no children so that dynasty for our family ended with him.

As Hathazer, he taught Bob his bar mitzvah portion.

Fast forward to a grown-up married Bob wearing a kippa seruga, with me at a family wedding. To much fanfare, in walks the now Viener Rav surrounded by a deep phalanx of bodyguards. Bob spies him from across the room and instinctively walks to greet him. No sooner does he reach the Rav, when, like a metal gate, the bodyguards surround him.

Bob stops short in his tracks, deterred by the Rav’s gatekeepers. From deep within the group, Bob’s beloved cousin calls, “Bobika, is that you?”

The guards part, and the Rav hugs and kisses his former student/cousin.

Meeting today with Kaliver Rav, I was reminded of that long ago day. We are blessed with people of all stripes on the Orthodox, observant spectrum. I am proud to work in a school where all kinds are embraced, and our students are exposed to experiences that may be different from their own.

At this time, now more than ever, we must remember that we are one people with a united perspective.

What will I miss the most when everyone goes home for the summer this last time for me?

my stomach is very choosy, and I can no longer go nonstop from before sunrise to late into the night.

It’s 10 o’clock, and I’m one and done.

This past week, my husband Bob and I spoke about remembering the Kedoshim and survivors of the Holocaust to HANC fourth to sixth graders. When we were growing up as survivor children, we had very unique childhoods, mine different from his.

people who need a bracha. The kids were prepared with what to expect and how to conduct themselves.

The Rebbe is a tall, imposing man with a warm smile, peyot and a very long beard. Our students knew they were in the presence of someone special. They were especially impressed with his bodyguards. They looked just like the Rebbe.

Bob’s cousin was the Hothazer Rebbe. He married into that family, before he became the Viener Rav, a position to which

Hopefully, there will be less and less boxes to pack as the time draws closer for our departure. What will I miss the most when everyone goes home for the summer this last time for me?

The kids! The opportunity to learn and grow with another class of children. Hearing my name called as the boys and girls come into the building, walk the halls and say good night.

I will miss their squeaky voices, smiling and crying faces, and sparkling, curious eyes. I will miss all of it.

I will miss it a lot.

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

The Wandering Jew Florida Part II

By Hershel Lieber

My previous article about our trips to Florida centered around Miami and nearby locations. Aside from sharing personal observations of time spent in the Sunshine State, I included a listing of different sights and attractions that we

visited and experienced. True, Miami Beach and its environs were where we made our headquarters but exploring other Florida destinations was definitely part of our aspirations. This article covers many of the places in Southern Florida that we were privileged to see and enjoy. In a sense, these articles have the flavor of a travel brochure but may serve my readers with suggestions of what Florida has to offer.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruises is one the many options that are available for a boat tour along the New River. The specific cruise that we took a number of times with family and friends is called “The Millionaires Row Cruise.” This ninety-minute narrated voyage in a 19th century paddle-wheeler steamship passes the beautiful homes and mansions of the famous and wealthy. It offers views of their mani-

cured gardens and boat docks that sport exclusive yachts.

Flamingo Gardens is in Davie near Fort Lauderdale. We were wary that it might be a very touristy attraction, but we were in for a pleasant surprise! Aside from the large flamingo population, there were many other species of birds, including strolling peacocks, within the beautifully maintained botanical gardens. We took an open tram with a tour guide highlighting the flora and fauna of this oasis.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is the beachfront estate of the artists Frederick & Evelyn Bartlett. The plantation style house is a cross between a cozy home and an art museum. The collection of art and antiques is massive, and it includes the Bartletts’ own creative artwork. The gardens contain a number of lagoons and a mangrove jungle. It’s definitely a worthwhile place to visit.

DELRAY BEACH

Morikami Japanese Gardens is a sixteen-acre sanctuary of peace and tranquility that we only discovered in 2023. The main path circles around a gorgeous lake with trees and plants many with Oriental origins. There is a bonsai garden which displays the horticultural art of planting miniature trees in flowerpots. We were so satisfied with this discovery that we visited again this past winter.

PALM BEACH

Flagler Museum was once the estate of the tycoon and real estate developer Henry Flagler. Henry, whose career started at Standard Oil, was the single most important person who developed South Florida into a vacation paradise. His OverSea Railroad made it possible to sustain agricultural industries as well as the tourist trade. Today, this stunning grandiose architectural gem can be most ap -

preciated by taking a docent-led tour or an audio tour. We were there three times and still are awed by the building’s design, the treasures within, and the surrounding gardens and waterways.

A stunning sunset in Key West, 2022

WEST PALM BEACH Norton Museum of Art has a great permanent collection

Flamingo Gardens, Davie, 2023

Jungle Queen RiverboatFt. Lauderdale

of European, American and Oriental art. We took a guided tour with our friends Duvid and Leah Reich in 2023.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the United States and dates back to 1695. It retained its Spanish origins until 1821, when Flor -

ida became a U.S. territory. A guided tour within its walls and around the perimeter of the fort’s exterior gave us the historical background of this important monument. St. Augustine bears the distinction as the nation’s oldest city and offers much more than charming cobblestone streets and historical landmarks.

CAPE CANAVERAL

The Kennedy Space Center is less than an hour’s drive from Orlando, so in 2009, we visited NASA’S Florida spaceport. Neither of us are science or space aficionados, but we enjoyed our visit and took an informative tour of the facility. There were films that brought back memories of the first space orbit as well as the 1969 moon landing. We saw famed rocket ships and other space paraphernalia. We also experienced a simulated spaceship journey.

HOMESTEAD

Everglades National Park was always on our list of places to visit. We did not get there until the winter of 2022. We went with Pesi’s sister Debby and our brother-in-law Heshy Daum. The Everglades National Park is basically a network of wetlands and forests which encompasses 1.5 million acres. There are only four entrances and two roads,

which means that most of the National Park is inaccessible except by airboat. The Everglades has a distinct beauty but does not convey the spectacular status of most other National Parks. Seeing alligators and manatees is very iffy. Not seeing them is quite disappointing.

KEY WEST

Key West was our destination in the winter of 2022, and driving there was half the fun. The slightly over four-hour drive on the Overseas Highway offered some of Florida’s most

breathtaking scenery. The forty-two bridges leaping from key to key was an experience in and of itself. There were moments when we felt there was nothing between us from the sky above and the ocean below. We took a trolley tour of Key West which highlighted the town’s history – Ernest Hemingway’s home, the marker showing the most southern point of the U.S.A. (90 miles from Cuba), Truman’s Little White House, etc. There was even a kosher concession with a limited but delicious Israeli menu.

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.

Hotel Ponce De Leon, St. Augustine, 2005

Flagler Hotel, Palm Beach, 2022

Causeway to Key West, 2022

NASA - Cape Canaveral, 2009

Morikami Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, 2023

Everglades National Park, 2022

Castillo de San MarcusSt. Augustine 2015

A Message of Comfort and Resilience

By D. Hart

Just three weeks prior to the Mark family receiving the proverbial dreaded knock at the door, the entire country had been brought to its knees. On what has since become known in Israel as the “Black Shabbat,” upwards of 3,500 Hamas terrorists had poured over the Gaza border into the western Negev desert. Overpowering the woefully outnumbered IDF soldiers, the terrorists murdered 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 others back into the Gaza tunnels as hostages.

Dozens of Israeli communities lay smoldering and destroyed, as the nation grappled with the tremendous nature of the tragedy as well as the colossal military and intelligence failure that had allowed it to occur. The economy came to a standstill, as 300,000 Israelis were summoned to reserve duty in what was the largest military call-up in the country’s history.

Later that same month, Orit Mark had just wrapped up a lecture before dozens of IDF soldiers at the sprawling Tze’elim training base when she received the shattering news – again. Orit had been speaking about the tremendous personal loss she and her family had suffered in recent years, and her message was of emerging with renewed strength from unspeakable tragedy, unaware all the while that further tragedy had just struck.

Emerging from the military briefing room, Orit was met by IDF officers who conveyed to her the horrific news: her younger brother Pedayah had been killed in Gaza, along with all of the 14 troops he commanded, after a Kornet anti-tanks missile struck their Namer Armored Personnel Carrier while they battled Hamas terrorists in Beit Hanoun.

Second Lieutenant Pedayah Mark, 22, was the fourth member of the extended Mark family to pay the ultimate price in defense of the State of Israel. Preceding him was Orit’s father Michael, who was killed in a terror attack several years prior, and her brother Shlomi, who died in a tragic motorcycle accident while serving in the Mossad intelligence agency.

Her cousin, Elhanan Kalmanzon, was killed a few weeks earlier after saving hundreds of trapped Israeli families under siege by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Elhanan’s actions had already become part of Israeli mythology, earning him the Israel Prize posthumously and catapulting him into being a national hero.

Now, Orit’s kid brother Pedayah had joined the dreadful list – the latest for a family that had already become too familiar with incomprehensible tragedy. Only a few minutes earlier, Orit had repeatedly invoked Pedayah’s determination to fight for his country despite everything he had experienced, to illustrate the importance of contributing to the loftiest goal of all: defending the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

“It was during the first week of Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza. I’m standing there in Tze’elim and I’m telling the soldiers, ‘You see there, my little brother Pedayah is there with his soldiers and fighting – G-d willing, he’ll return healthy both physically and emotionally,’” Orit recalled in an interview with TJH.

“I had told them, ‘Listen, I have nothing to fear. We have lost so much from my family for this country. My father was murdered, my brother was killed in the Mossad, it cannot be that there will be more death for us.’ I’m just leaving this base, and soldiers are already coming to inform me about Pedayah,” she shared.

“I was enveloped in a storm of emotions. Just a second before, I’m standing and telling the assembled troops that my brother is there in Gaza, and a second later, a few minutes later, I’m already with soldiers informing me that he is no longer with us. So, it’s crazy how life presents itself, and specifically when I’m in the middle of the Tze’elim to receive the news of his death.”

Pedayah had survived the terror attack that claimed his father’s life.

On June 31, 2016, Pedayah and his family had set off for Kiryat Arba from their home in Otniel, in the South Hebron Hills. En route, their vehicle was overtaken by armed terrorists.

The gunmen murdered Rabbi Michael Mark, the dean of the wellknown Otniel Yeshiva. His wife was seriously injured in the attack and lost one of her eyes.

Witnessing everything in the backseat of the car was their 15-year-old son, Pedayah. Emerging from the attack, Pedayah vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that no one else would have to go through what his family did.

Israeli law exempts terror victims from mandatory military service. Yet Pedayah wouldn’t hear of it; he spent the next few years getting

Orit Mark

himself into top physical shape in order to qualify for the IDF’s most elite combat units.

“Many times, you say OK, a person who has gone through such trauma would surely want to be very far from war, from being in the army. Because we have already lost people in our family, he also officially did not have to enlist. But from Pedayah’s perspective, it wasn’t even an option,” Orit recalled.

“He could have done regular service. It would have been fine to draft and wait out his time and that’s it. Yet, from Pedayah’s perspective, he wanted to be a commander, he wanted to be an officer. He didn’t know how far he would go, but he wanted to advance in the army as much as possible.”

She added, “I remember him sitting in a room doing endless pushups. There was a pull-up bar in his doorway, and there were motivational posters all over his door. It was his dream to serve, something that became the height of his personal aspirations,” said Orit. “After the attack, what he really wanted was an end to the feeling of helplessness that he experienced in the car when the terrorists shot at him and murdered my father.

“He felt that ‘I don’t want any more children to experience this.’”

And indeed, Pedayah enlisted into the Givati Brigade and succeeded in making it into the unit’s elite special forces battalion. Finishing the grueling 14-month training regimen, Pedayah then went on to become a Staff Sergeant and continued to Officer’s Course a few months later.

After hearing the news of his cousin Elhanan’s death, it never even crossed Pedayah’s mind to return home. For him, his first and only goal was the protection and wellbeing of the troops under his command.

Also joining the Mossad was Elhanan Kalmanzon. Like his cousins, Kalmanzon was also a resident of Otniel, a picturesque Yishuv whose appearance belies the number of terror attacks that have rocked its inhabitants over the years. Kalmanzon had also served as the town’s security coordinator and realized during the early hours of the October 7th attack just how bad things could get.

“It doesn’t look good, and I need to go and help,” Elhanan told his wife as he headed out. Gathering his brother Menachem, his nephew Itiel, and a handful of old M-16s from Otniel’s Quick Response Force, the team that would later be known as the “Kalmanzon Squad” sped off towards the Gaza border.

Dodging relentless rocket fire and the thousands of Hamas terrorists wreaking murderous havoc across Israeli towns, the Kalmanzon Squad made its way to Kibbutz Be’eri. The village of 1,100 was in especially bad shape, as hundreds of gunmen prowled freely – murdering inhabitants, taking hostages, and setting homes on fire with their inhabitants trapped inside.

The once tranquil town had become a battlefield, and the IDF was at a loss as to how to retake control. Elhanan found hundreds of soldiers milling around aimlessly outside Kibbutz Be’eri’s main entrance, waiting for the military orders that never came.

We as a people have to get up and continue onwards.

“When we heard about Elhanan – I really remember the moment – we all said, ‘Let’s try to contact Pedayah so we can update him on this so he can come home,’” said Orit. “Yet from his perspective, as soon as he heard that, he needed to stay and fight. He said, ‘Right now, I’m not Pedayah anymore with his personal backstory and his period of mourning. This all doesn’t matter. I’m currently a commander in the army and my soldiers currently need me. I will stay there to fight with them.’”

Following Pedayah’s death, a viral photo showed devastated former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen at the funeral of Pedayah side-by-side with a photo of a devastated Cohen attending the funeral of Rabbi Michael, seven years earlier.

A cousin of the Marks, it was Cohen who had encouraged Orit’s brother Shlomi to join Israel’s fabled spy service. After his father’s death, Shlomi became the bedrock of the broken Mark family.

Completing his IDF service, where he served as a captain and the commander of the elite Sayeret Givati recon company, Shlomi shouldered the responsibility for his sibling’s financial and emotional welfare, becoming the man of the house and walking Orit down the aisle on her wedding day.

Shlomi eventually acceded to Yossi Cohen’s request and in 2017 enlisted into the ranks of the Mossad. But then tragedy struck again; Shlomi was on his way to Mossad headquarters in 2019 when he was killed in a motorcycle accident, shattering the Mark family which was still reeling from the terror attack a few years prior.

Elhanan and his team sprang into action. Commandeering an armored jeep from its dead driver, Elhanan went house to house and began evacuating the Be’eri residents hiding in their homes.

Their modus operandi was simple: arriving at a house, Elhanan would bang on the door while Menachem and Itiel provided cover. Upon hearing signs of life, Elhanan would breech an entry and quickly pile all survivors into his vehicle before speeding off to get them safely evacuated.

Soon, the assembled troops noticed the efficacy of the Kalmanzon family’s actions and began to follow suit. Elhanan saved over 100 Israelis before he was shot down, having just evacuated one of the final homes in Be’eri. It was 12 hours since the first terrorist had breached the kibbutz.

Kalmanzon has since catapulted into the symbol of a hero who dropped everything and raced to the front on that dark day, without even being summoned. Kalmanzon’s family will be awarded the Israel Prize on his behalf this upcoming Israeli Independence Day.

As Elhanan jumped into battle on his own accords, rather than through an official order of either his employer or his reserves unit, he is the only Israeli in history whose tombstone in the Mount Herzl military cemetery sports the emblems of both the Mossad and the IDF.

Elhanan Kalmanzon is a national hero. But for Orit and her family, his death is just the latest in a series of tragedies that has rocked them and their community.

If Elhanan Kalmanzon is synonymous nationwide with heroism, Orit has since emerged as one of Israel’s strongest voices in how to cope with loss.

Since Rabbi Michael Mark’s death in 2016, and especially following the untimely passings of Shlomi, Elhanan and Pedayah, Orit has embarked on a series of initiatives to honor the memory of her fallen relatives. She began

as a volunteer in One Family, an Israeli nonprofit assisting fellow terror victims. Later, she founded Or Michael, an NGO dedicated “to spreading the light” of her father.

From its humble beginnings with Orit as its sole staff member, Or Michael has since grown to now encompass 900 volunteers and 25 medical centers. Activities include visiting hospitals with musical instruments in order to cheer up patients battling serious health challenges.

As part of these efforts, Orit recently published a book titled “A Shattered Ray of Light” detailing the different ways to handle a crisis. It has since become a best seller, finding receptive ears amongst a nation currently reeling from unprecedented loss and tragedy – wives who lost their husbands in war, parents grieving over children, and a nation mourning a brutal massacre.

Today, Orit crisscrosses Israel bearing what she calls her “message of extracting light from the darkness.” In the IDF, high schools, leading corporations, the Mossad, and even Jewish communities around the world, Orit Mark reiterates her belief that her unique experiences can be used to help others.

“I give about thirty lectures a month in Israel and around the world. I tell them, ‘Out of my pain, how can I help someone else?’ As much as it hurts me personally, I tell myself that I can help other people who have suffered loss,” says Orit. “I go to dozens of families who are in mourning and try to strengthen them.

“I’ve spoken to and met more than fifty thousand people in recent months. I published a book called ‘A Shattered Ray of Light’ about coping with how you can rise. Today, my book is a bestseller in the country. Who even reads books?” she asked.

“Yet this book gives people strength. I wouldn’t choose to lose loved ones, but if I lost so much, I still believe that there is a reason for it, that there is meaning to it. There is something that I don’t see.”

Orit currently lives with her husband and son in Otniel and is a wellknown public relations strategist. The theme of finding hope amidst darkness has pervaded her life, having met her husband at her father’s funeral and having her son’s bris take place on her father’s yahrtzeit. Orit admits that it was surreal to go directly from her father’s grave to the bris of her child.

Orit says that, above all, her experience has taught her that while no one chooses their life’s circumstances, people can rise above tragedy by deciding how they want to respond.

“It’s understanding that this is my reality right now. These are the facts of my life, and now I must live with them. And it hurts, and I can scream all day at the world, blame the whole world, give myself permission to be angry, to be mean to everyone, because I’m dealing with hard things, and no one will judge me, and I know that. No one will judge me,” she acknowledges.

“Yet this is my life. I want to be happy, I want to be joyful, I want to be a good person in this world. Our lives are divided in two: there are things in our control and there are things that are not. What’s not in our control, no matter how much I get angry and upset at those who are no longer here, will it bring them back? No. Will it change reality

that I’m upset? No, it’s not in my hands so I don’t deal with it.

“What is in my control is what kind of person I choose to be in the world. If I wake up in the morning and curse the world or if I wake up and spread light and go and strengthen people and help and do good in the world, that’s my decision,” Orit continues. “When I was a 17-year-old girl, I lost my father and instead of falling into depression, I founded an NGO.

“So, out of pain, I chose to rise up, and out of sadness, we choose to spread light. There is darkness, and the darkness will always be there, but we are the ones who need to take responsibility and spread good. It’s part of the messages of the book and part also in the lecture that I give.”

She adds, “It’s knowing that you need to cry sometimes, you need to give place for the pain because it’s a part of life. But within the pain, also knowing to say, I’m crying, I’m sad because it hurts and I’m sad, but I also want to rise and continue, and I want to be happy. So, I will do it my way, I will rise slowly, it will take time, but I will do it my way.”

The extended Mark family has sacrificed tremendously for the State of Israel’s welfare. Michael had chosen to raise his family in Otniel, an isolated Judean village surrounded by hostile Palestinian villages.

Shlomi rose to become a captain in the IDF and later joined the Mossad. Elhanan enlisted in the Mossad as well and raced to the Gaza border unasked on October 7 to rescue over 100 men, women and children.

Pedayah, meanwhile, overcame great tragedy and chose to not only draft into the IDF but to join an elite combat unit and to continue on as an officer. Yet despite everything the Mark family has suffered, Orit says that it is part of the price of having a strong, thriving, and prosperous State of Israel as the home of the Jewish people.

“Yes, I feel we gave too much,” Orit says when asked. “Let’s say it’s something that in no scenario could I imagine that there would be such loss in my life. Yet I want to say that while I wouldn’t choose this, but if it already happened, I can accept it as long as it wasn’t all for nothing.

“We need to apply all the pressures in Israel and in the world to do Israeli advocacy, everyone in their own way, so that they understand what we are experiencing here. So that they understand that I am losing these people for this country because this country is actually the home of the Jewish people,” Orit continued.

“If there is no State of Israel, there will be no place for the Jewish people around the world. And in the end, everyone will try to hurt [the Jewish people]. We as a people have to get up and continue onwards. No matter what.”

She adds, “I myself experienced this ‘history’ – people I love were killed, I experienced the most difficult pain in that my father, two brothers and a cousin were killed.

“There is so much loss, I lost so much for the country. We need to do everything so that we’ll be worthy – that we spread unconditional love in the world, that we accept others, that we stand with each other and not attack each other.

“As we say in Israel, ‘In their death, they urged us to live life.”

Then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen holding Pedayah Mark at Pedayah’s father’s funeral

IRabbi Shea Hecht: The Jewish Cultbuster

magine if you were offered the chance to live in a utopian paradise in which you could enjoy eternal peace of mind and a life devoid of hatred and disunity. Would you accept that offer? You probably wouldn’t. Why? Because, as the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Likewise, if you found an email in your inbox informing you that you’ve won a large sum of money (and all you need to do to receive the money is submit your credit card information), you would likely delete or ignore the message just the same.

Most of us know a blatant scam when we see one, and we’d all like to think that we aren’t gullible enough to be conned. And of course, when we think about the tens of millions of Americans who fall victim to online scams each year and the millions of people who have found themselves trapped in cults, we tend to picture individuals who are, for lack of

In His Words…

a better term, unintelligent; people who are susceptible to deceptions that we would never, in a million years, buy into.

But, as it just so happens to be, the people who fall for cults (i.e. the worst type of scam) are, more often than not, highly intelligent, strong-willed individuals, says Rabbi Shea Hecht, an expert cult deprogrammer and the author of “Confessions of a Jewish Cultbuster.” In fact, one of the biggest mistakes a person can make in this regard is thinking that they’re too smart, knowledgeable, or stubborn to ever get tricked by a cult.

“Everyone can be brainwashed. I say that about myself, and I say it about my children,” says Rabbi Shea Hecht. “Yes, if I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, they could have gotten me too!”

But how? How could any rational human being believe in the outlandish claims of cult leaders or tolerate the constant abuse and exploitation of cults?

If you can help one person, that’s the way we can change the entire world.

Speak up, do something... If you see something, say something.

I was taught to be an activist. Sometimes, you have to take action first and logic second, because that’s the way things get done. And that is the logic of an activist versus the logic of a rabbi…. I say, ‘Wait a second... If it was my son, what would I do?’

There is a dangerous and all too common misconception that cults aren’t inherently bad; that some cults can be harmless or even good. But that simply isn’t true. At their best, cults are manipulative, dysfunctional, and traumatizing; at their worst, they are deadly (as was the case in the Jonestown massacre, in which over 900 members of the People’s Temple cult died in the largest murder-suicide in modern history, and Heaven’s Gate, a UFO cult whose 39 members killed themselves at the command of their leader to “graduate” to the “Next Level” of existence).

“When I lecture about cults, I always start off by giving my definition of a cult: a cult basically strips you of your individuality, the cult makes the decisions for you, and the cult leader is above the letter of the law,” Rabbi Hecht explained.

There are two main ingredients in every cult: 1) A charismatic, larger-than-life, genius leader who seems “perfect” and yet is engaged in deeply immoral and/or illegal activities; and 2) A poisonous, illogical doctrine, built on deception, that members are banned from questioning.

The leader, his or her followers, and the doctrine they espouse each go hand in hand in making the cult seem appealing. Recruiters make incredible promises aimed at appealing to those who are in search of more in life. Some cults promise community and a sense of belonging to those who feel alone in the world. Some cults offer happiness and pleasure to those who feel emotionally low. And other cults promise spirituality, truth, and purpose to those sick of living a mundane life. If the recruiters and leaders are charismatic and persuasive enough, the “sales pitch” may not seem at

all related to cults; the targeted individual may be fooled into believing that he or she is getting invited to a welcoming organization or a warm congregation. Once the person accepts the offer, it’s likely too late; at that point, the cult can begin the subtle and insidious process of brainwashing their next victim.

As Rabbi Hecht explains, outgoing college students are some of the most common targets for cult recruiters, with the cult exploiting the young adult’s vulnerability and stress in transitioning to independence and adulthood. Surprisingly, notes Rabbi Hecht, many of the young adults who fall for very “spiritual” cults (whose leaders make outlandish claims about being a prophet, a savior, or even a god) had very little interest in religion or spirituality before getting trapped in the cult.

“There’s a part of every human being that wants to follow a leader, that wants to submit themselves to a higher purpose. That is a gene that is in every human being,” Rabbi Hecht says. And that is one of the “genes” that cults exploit in an attempt to trap prospective recruits.

The recruiting process used by the Moonies (also known as the Unification Church), a cult that exploits its members financially and in other disturbing ways, shows how an unsuspecting individual can be unknowingly trapped by a cult. Recruiters of the cult would often station themselves at bus terminals, where recent college graduates would frequent. With a “kind” and “warm” smile, the recruiter would offer the young adult a place to sleep for the night. The following day, the recruiter would convince the individual to join a group of other young adults on a relaxing trip, which is supposed to go on

for a few days but lasts for two weeks, as the bus mysteriously leaves, stranding the group at the retreat.

Once the recruit is stuck at the retreat, the cult has plenty of time to begin the indoctrination process. For example, members of the Moonies would play dodgeball with recruits. While playing the game, players would repeatedly chant, “Bomb him with love, bomb him with love.”

“Basically, what was happening to the young man or woman playing that game was that they were getting completely sucked into the game. They’re getting sucked into the competition and they’re getting sucked into the concept of ‘around here, it’s all about love,’” Rabbi Hecht explained. “Bomb him with love. Even when we’re strong, even when we abuse you, even when we scream at you, even when we deprive you of things that you need like food, shelter, clothing, and a good bed to sleep in, it’s all done out of love.”

The Unification Church claims to offer a religion that encompasses all faiths, one that can bring about world peace and unity (hence the name, “Unification Church”). Meanwhile, the cult has stolen millions of dollars from its followers to line the pockets of its leaders, particularly the Moonies’ late founder Sun Myung Moon, a messiah claimant who organized many mass wedding ceremonies, wherein he played matchmaker, arranging the marriages of strangers who never previously met one another, before hosting an event where anywhere from 36 to 360,000 people get married at the same time.

Religions are about serving G-d; cults are about serving man. A person who is unable to make free choices and is at the mercy of another human’s decisions – as is the case for cult members – lives a life of tremendous risk. And that is why cults are so dangerous: because if the victim unconditionally trusts and fulfills the

will of his or her oppressor, it is only a matter of time before the victim receives a command that crosses the line. For young Rabbi Hecht, the Jonestown massacre was a wake-up call that made him realize that cult members are in a desperate situation and that they can only be rescued through drastic measures.

Rabbi Hecht never asked to become a cult deprogrammer, but he knew it was a job he had to do, as he felt an incredible sense of urgency in helping young Jewish adults escape from cults. The deprogramming process would begin after the parents of an eighteen- to twenty-six-year-old would call Rabbi Hecht, asking him to rescue their child from a cult. After investigating the situation, Rabbi Hecht and his team of volunteers would arrange for the kid to be grabbed off the street and locked in a safe house, where the young adult would undergo deprogramming.

With twenty or so volunteers interacting with the young adult, the deprogramming process would consist of three things, according to Rabbi Hecht. First, the team would talk to the cult victim, informing the person about why the cult is bad, while exposing the leader’s immoral lifestyle and illegal dealings and attacking the cult’s values as toxic and false. After overwhelming the cult member with a barrage of anti-cult information, the team would expose the person to positive ideas about Torah and Judaism, teaching the individual about how Avraham Avinu, at age three, recognized on his own that there is only one G-d. The team would also play the movie “Let My People Go,” in an attempt to higher the young adult’s self-esteem and instill pride in their Jewish identity.

Lastly, the deprogrammers would play games with the cult member, such as chess, which requires logical thinking and decision-making – two human abilities that cults seek to eliminate.

And when the young adult would ask why they were “kidnapped,” Rabbi Hecht would answer, “Who’s behind this? Jews who love you, Jews who care about you. You see those twenty people that you saw in the last two hours? They all care about you. Every one of them is a volunteer. Every one of them is here because they care about you.”

The deprogramming process has proven, time and time again, to be extremely successful, as the vast majority of deprogrammed young adults realize the terrible mistake they made in joining the cult. Of the many who left their cults after Rabbi Hecht’s deprogramming process, 50% became frum within the following three months.

Is it legal to “kidnap” an adult off the street and lock them in a safe house against their will? Technically not. But it’s a matter of pikuach nefesh , and in such serious situations, you sometimes have to act first and think later, Rabbi

Hecht maintains. Although everyone is at risk of falling into a cult, that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. Of course, if we exercise caution and refuse to underestimate the power of cults, we can avoid, chas v’shalom, getting brainwashed. As Rabbi Hecht explains, it is important to always ask a trusted rabbi, friend, or family member for guidance with such matters, as an outside perspective can steer one away from trouble. And most of all, never forget that Judaism, unlike cults, will never ask you to lie to others, alienate yourself from your loved ones, place your unconditional trust in another human being, or excuse the crimes of “great people.” Most importantly, Judaism acknowledges that the only way to cultivate true belief and understanding is to ask questions. Nothing about our religion requires a leap of faith or trust in anyone other than G-d, the One Who loves us more than anyone. 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.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

My brother is an amazing guy, and my parents have kept his dating pretty quiet from me and my siblings. Most of us are married, and truth be told, we are really curious and think we could help out with the process of weeding out suggestions/giving our opinions on potential shidduchim for him. Our parents refuse to involve us in any way. They won’t even name drop the names of girls who are mentioned. My sisters and I know one girl that we recently only found out afterwards he had dated (we found out through a mutual friend) –they had apparently dated for over a month and it ended for reasons I could have told him from the way beginning – it would never have worked. Should we pressure our parents for us to get involved? How should we approach this? Thank you, The Klein Girls*

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Respect the choice of your parents and your brother. They have their reasons for not sharing shidduch suggestions with you. It’s not your role to pressure them. This is not a family project nor is it a right to weigh in. Pressure? Of course not. Learn to be dignified and respectful. It seems like the sisters chat between themselves. It is probably one of several reasons why they are not including you.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Give your brother space and trust your parents’ judgement. I know you and your siblings want to be involved. This comes from a loving place. However, it is not what he wants or needs right now. One of the trickiest

parts of being in a relationship, whether it be a sibling relationship, friendship, or marriage, is giving the other person what they need, even if it’s not what you would have wanted.

I know what you’re thinking: your involvement could help him immensely and potentially avoid hurt. I do have another perspective, though. I have encountered countless stories of couples who have ended up getting married whose close relatives rejected the shidduch originally. The negativity and seemingly harmless comments such as, “he’s so not for you,” “he’s not your type,” or “you’ll never go for him” had prevented these shidduchim from going forward earlier on. Eventually, though, through siyata dishmaya, the couples made it to each other eventually. You truly have no idea what you are doing when you try to play G-d. Let go and let your brother and your parents handle his dating. Trust me, you do not want the onus of responsibility for rejecting a match that ends up being the right one years later!

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Over Pesach, I had the pleasure of watching three delightful granddaughters fuss over, and lord over, their baby brother.

Each diaper change was coordinated with the precision of a pit stop at the Monaco Grand Prix, each sister playing a vital role in the operation.

Each meal featured sisters competitively demonstrating the tactical superiority of different techniques for successfully spooning offerings of mashed carrots into the mouth of the young prince.

In between meals, each sister came up with differing strategies for teaching him how to properly crawl. Each sister took turns with variations of peek-a-boo to triumphantly elicit a cute giggle.

What’s my point here?

Psychologists report that older sisters may feel a natural inclination to protect and care for their younger sibling, especially in a family environment where they enjoyed taking on a caregiving role.

However, please understand and accept that if your baby brother is old enough to go on dates, then he is old enough to decide whether his older sisters should be involved in his dating life.

It seems obvious that your parents have chosen to handle his shidduch pro -

Dear Klein Girls,

Thank you for writing! Many people in caring and close-knit families wonder if they should get involved and say something. Clearly, you want what is best for your brother. In my humble opinion, I don’t believe it is wise for anyone to get involved without express permission from the person who is directly impacted, in your case, your brother. If you find yourself really wanting to be involved, ask your brother about that.

The idea that we could have prevented something bad or even potentially catastrophic is very…human. I think we’ve all felt this way from time to time. “Had I only known!” or “Had I only said something.” It brings up so many questions about our role in our relationships and in fate at large. I certainly don’t have the answers to the great philosophical questions here on Earth. What I do feel fairly comfortable speaking about are…boundaries.

Healthy boundaries keep families healthy and close and emotionally safe. Boundaries are a way to help people feel safe in the space between them. Imagine a door between you and your brother. You and your brother are on either sides of the door. If you open the door, you may walk into a scenario that one of you or both of you is (are) not comfortable with. Knocking on the door on your part says, “I want to know if it is safe to proceed because I value your comfort.” And for him, it puts

Healthy boundaries keep families healthy and close and emotionally safe.

cess in a private, quiet, and dignified manner. What is not so obvious is how your brother feels about this issue.

It’s safe to assume that you have your brother’s phone number. Why not ask him directly if he chooses to keep his dating life private, or if he would welcome input and involvement from his experienced sisters?

It’s easy to understand that you and your sisters are more aware of potential dangers in the world of dating and feel a heightened sense of responsibility to keep your brother safe, but this can lead to overprotective behavior.

Perhaps your brother retains memories of his older sisters gleefully helping spoon offerings of mashed carrots down his throat and wishes to avoid a similar, circus-like atmosphere in his dating life.

Although you really could be very helpful to your brother, you might need to respect his desire to retain autonomy in this very personal aspect of his life.

him in charge of his space, and he knows you respect him. What does “knocking” look like practically? “How would you feel about X?” “If I know something about someone, do you want me to tell you?” If you’d like to knock on this door, by all means, knock. It is then his choice whether or not to let you in. And that choice needs to be respected.

All the best, Jennifer

Parenting Pearls A Chart for Your Star

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

When two of our children had challenging therapies – one educational and the other medical – we struggled to get them to cooperate. They were very resistant to the therapies until they saw that box of Playmobil walk through the door. They immediately wanted to know how they could earn it. We had tried many methods, but ultimately, the old-fashioned star chart was what motivated them. We were fortunate that two problems were solved with a single solution.

Many hesitate, concerned that rewarding children too much will spoil them or hinder their internal motivation. While it is important to develop internal motivation, that breakthrough may take years. While it would be wonderful for children to do everything l’shma, it’s an unrealistic expectation. Star charts are one of many tools parents and educators can use to encourage children to do difficult tasks. Not everything children do requires a prize, treat or party, but there is a place for occasional rewards in the parenting toolbox.

It can be very challenging to get children to do hard things, and parents can feel helpless in getting their child’s cooperation. Having a few options available can assist parents, especially when the necessary task is important for the child’s health and development.

No prize can replace parental praise and acknowledgement of their accomplishments. More than the treat, they want to hear what a great job they did and how much you love them. Affection and encouragement should accompany each star they receive, and that may be what is ultimately the most meaningful part to the child.

Prize charts also provide some benefits for children. When used in healthy moderation, it can contribute positively to their overall emotional development. In a society that is ever increasingly depen-

dent on immediate gratification, there is a strong need for children to learn to delay gratification and to work towards a longer term objective. Rather than be rewarded each time they do an event, children grow from pushing themselves daily, knowing the prize only comes at the end.

Children also learn to value that which they had to work towards. They may be careless with something they received easily, but they will treasure that which they toiled for. They can begin to appreciate the items they have and to learn responsibility for their property.

The Chart

The chart should be easy to read; being colorful or fun is an added bonus. You can use stars, stickers, smiley faces or any marking to show your child’s accomplishments. Children may find it rewarding to add the sticker to the chart themselves.

From the beginning, it should be clear to the child what they need to do to get a mark on their chart. It’s incredibly frustrating for everyone when the child assumes they’ve earned the next star but the parent disagrees. This can cause major arguments and potentially derail the entire project. For example, perhaps parents make a chart to encourage their struggling child to review their Chumash work nightly. Is it based on the time spent reviewing or the number of pesukim? Do they need to acquire a certain level of proficiency or is the time spent sufficient, even if they don’t fully understand? The requirements should be clear – writing it down is even better.

It’s also crucial for all parties to understand when that prize will be awarded. How many marks do they need to earn? Is the prize waiting for them or will it only be ordered once they finish their chart? Is it a toy of a certain monetary value or a specific item, such as a particular Lego or Playmobil model?

Think of it as a type of business deal. In business, all parties make sure they have a contract and clear guidelines for what is expected of each side. While you should definitely be friendlier towards your child than you would a business partner, the idea of mutually understood expectations is similar. You would be surprised how much frustration develops when parent and child misunderstand each other. It also helps to remember that the other party in this agreement is much younger and less emotionally developed.

It’s important to strictly stick to your part of the deal. A child takes a parent’s word seriously, and they have very long memories for these infractions. We risk losing some of their trust if we don’t keep every single thing we agreed to.

Pick Your Prize

Prizes should be something the child wants and the parent approves of. While this sounds obvious, sometimes parents choose something they themselves like but doesn’t interest the child. Alternatively, parents may permit a child to work towards a reward that is contrary to their family’s hashkafos or personal standards.

It can be challenging to gauge the level of reward a child should earn. The prize should be something big enough to motivate them, but not excessive for the amount of effort the child will have to do. Bigger isn’t necessarily better.

The prize also needs to appropriately match the effort necessary to complete the tasks. A harder, or more involved job, will naturally deserve a larger prize. We need to judge the effort based on the

child’s abilities and bring our expectations to match. For example, the same task may be far harder for a younger child than an older one. A job that is minimal effort for a teen may require a great deal of work for a younger child to complete, and the prize should recognize that. The time to earn the prize should match the child’s development and temperament. For example, younger children are often unable to delay gratification as long as an older child. An older child may be capable of waiting weeks before earning their treat, while a few days may be sufficient for someone much younger. Very young children may benefit more from smaller prizes or stickers along the way than from only a big one at the end.

As a general rule, I don’t advise taking away stars once they’ve been earned. Using the struggling Chumash learner above, failing to study tonight shouldn’t cause the child to lose a star from yesterday. The resulting negative feelings can be very upsetting for a child.

Like adults, children require motivation at times. There are so many ways to encourage a child to push themselves a bit further, and star charts are just one example. Ultimately, it’s our love for them and encouragement that will help them understand how far they can reach.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:Dear Etti,

I know I shouldn’t react, but it is so hard when the children in my class do things to annoy me. I shouldn’t be surprised, it is a known fact that kids hate school, so I get the brunt of it.

Any advice?

-Trying Not to React

A:Dear Trying Not to React, Thanks for writing in. Here is the advice, and it is for teachers, parents, counselors, and even babysitters!

Don’t Get Personal. Ever.

When things happen, as they will when teaching a bunch of unpredictable little people in front of you, getting personal is a mistake. It is almost never about you but about the student and possibly a build-up of past emotions and feelings stemming from other years, what happened at home or on the bus, or their personal beliefs and self-views.

But not getting defensive is easier said than done. Here are some tips:

Rewrite your inner dialogue.

Turn your thoughts from “How could he speak to me like this?” or “How dare she say that to me? I am the teacher!” to “I am the teacher, the adult in this scenario, and something is wrong. How can I help?” This will immediately allow you to stay calm and focused on the child in front of you, show empathy (“I see you are upset”), and provide a way for the child to regulate themselves (“Would you like to go get a drink and come back and tell me what happened?” or “Here is a paper, please write what happened so we can deal with what is upsetting you. I have to teach now but this way we can deal with it later”). The child is then calmer, and you did not mix in your own personal drama which would

have escalated the situation that needed de-escalation.

YOU are the teacher.

Yes, you. That makes you king of your classroom, queen of your corner of the school. Walk with confidence. Hold your head up high. Take deep breaths on the way to school. Thank Hashem for allowing Him to pick you as a partner to teach His children. Find at least three things to be thankful for in your job and say them to yourself as you make your way to your school building each day.

Find at least three things to be thankful for in your job and say them to yourself as you make your way to your school building each day.

You will soon notice that your actions will affect your inner beliefs, and this will help your inner dialogue! Of course, you will not take a student’s outburst personally when you recognize your place as the wise one in the room!

Beware of your environment.

It is fun to be part of the crowd. But if being one of the crowd in the teachers’ room means taking turns regaling each other with horror stories of the worst behavior in your classrooms or the most annoying parents, this is more likely going to drag you down and make you find fault with everything and everyone! Stay away!

Years ago, my husband asked me why I, who was usually a positive person, was so negative lately. I traced it back to a very unhappy co-worker and began spending less time with her. Happiness was restored!

Take personal inventory.

Sometimes, our personal lives seep into our professional lives, whether we want it to or not. Lack of sleep, home stress, and worry can cause us to be irritable. It is

unwise and unfair to be unaware and then blame students or others for “ruining our day.”

I was standing in a teacher’s room, enjoying a cold drink of water, and overheard a teacher kvetching that her class was really trying her patience that day. From my corner of the room, I silently sympathized. I was curious about why, since her class is usually so well behaved and really enjoy their teacher and all her lessons. I didn’t have to wonder long. A few minutes later, she was regaling her coworkers with details about the wedding she went to.

“And I stayed to the very end,” she gleefully concluded. Curious no longer, I resolved to remind her to plan for such “day afters.”

Do some deep breathing before entering class. (Breathe in through the nose, hold for 5 seconds, out through the mouth. Repeat 3-5 times. Watch the calming effect it has on your body!)

• Visualize packing up your feelings and leaving them in the teacher’s room to be picked up later.

• Ask for coverage if you really cannot calm yourself and leave the class to “get yourself together” so you can reenter stronger and more ready.

• Smile! Put on a show. Fake it until you make it, fake it until it feels real.

Our students are already carrying so much on their little shoulders, let’s not add to their burdens. Let us give them the safe and caring haven they deserve.

Stay calm. It’s probably not about you!

Thanks for writing in.

Have a wonderful end of the year.

- Etti

Health & F tness A Case for Pre-Marital Education

By Yeshaya Kraus, LCSW

You may have just read the title of this article and thought to yourself, “How many couples is this relevant to?” You’re thinking about couples you know, and honestly, they seem to be in pretty good shape. They look like they get along, their kids look happy, and they’re not obviously struggling. Most couples seem to just figure it out as they go. They seem fine for the most part; who would actually benefit from pre-marital education?

The answer to both questions may be, “Far more than you suspect.”

The spectrum of relationship health is a kind of bell curve. Everyone fits in somewhere. On one side, you have amazingly successful couples. They’re in sync with each other, navigate conflict respectfully, and share their hopes and dreams. They encourage each other. Such relationships do exist, and they take a lot of work and self-awareness. I’m sure all of us assume we know some couples like that.

The other end is the couples who are in absolutely horrible shape. They fight, they cry, they stonewall. There’s not just a passive lack of connection but active disconnection. Over time, these couples may have learned to avoid each other as much as possible and live their own lives. They may have moments of clarity in which they realize, separately or together, “This is not how it needs to be.” These moments sometimes motivate them to make changes. That could mean committing to getting help and working through things, or perhaps change in terms of ending the relationship. Regardless of how they change, they know it can’t stay the same. Thankfully, there are not that many of these either.

Then there’s everyone else. The folks who fall towards the center of the bell curve are the ones who are able to look

at their lives and relationships and tell themselves they’re in the range of “basically OK.” They get hurt, and don’t address it, “but it’s OK.” They’ll notice distance and feel that something is wrong, but feel the situation isn’t bad enough to make a concerted effort to change. Why rock the boat? It’s basically OK. They question their relationships more than they’re comfortable with, but the feeling isn’t urgent. It’s just uncomfortable. In the event that they notice themselves slipping towards the lower end of the curve, they’ll make an effort to fix things. They’ll veer back towards their status quo. Often, that’s where they’ll get comfortable and stay, until they start slipping again. Their relationship stays in a state of reactivity. It’s comfortable enough but could be better. There’s a lot of room for growth and not enough urgency to make it happen.

The first group is doing fine. Couples in the second group are decidedly not doing fine, know it, and may have some

options to help them move forward. They feel the urgency. My concern is the majority of couples who are in that third group. In my time speaking with couples at different stages of their relationships, I’ve noticed that much of what keeps them in the center of the bell curve is avoidable.

A big part of moving past the center of the curve is having the skills and knowledge necessary to grow. Knowing what to honestly expect from marriage, how to navigate the likely challenges, and how to share a life with someone else are both learnable and teachable skills. A couple that understands that arguments are expected and knows how to have them is in a better place than the couple that feels guilty for wanting something different. Spouses who acknowledge their own feelings are in a better position to acknowledge each other’s. This creates a stable foundation that gives a healthy emotional anchor to both of them.

Of course, there are some problems in a marriage that skills won’t solve. Not directly, anyway. Some situations can’t be prepared for. That said, if a couple gets into the habit of using skills when common challenges come up, their relationship will be stronger, which is what will get them through the challenges that you can’t plan for. The point is to strengthen the relationship, not how to navigate any one particular challenge. These are skills that need to be learned. Certainly, they’re partially intuitive, but making a conscious effort to teach them can put young couples in a better position to make the most of their early marriage together. The beginning of marriage often sets the tone for what the rest of the marriage will look like. Why would we leave that up to chance? There are many possibilities for what effective premarital education could look like. Just to be clear, “pre-marital” doesn’t just mean “two weeks before the wedding.” It starts much earlier than that. Though the first and most organic is the relationship between a child’s parents (perhaps a discussion for another time), there are other ways for a community to actively promote relationship health in our children and to initiate a trickle-down effect for future generations. Here are a few ideas, some of which may be surprising: 1- SEL - comprehensively integrating socio-emotional learning into classroom curricula: For better or for worse (perhaps grounds for a different article, but not for now), our children spend most of their day in the classroom. They’re interacting with their own impulses, their peers, and their teachers. It’s become more accepted to integrate SEL into pre-school, but that’s where it stops for the most part. Having a comprehensive and consistent protocol to proactively

support students’ social and emotional development throughout their school careers will give them tools not only to learn how to navigate conflict with their peers at school, but how to conceptualize conflict, how to support others, and how to have realistic expectations of interactions. This foundation will generalize to relationships and marriage in adulthood.

2- Mussar as a conscious part of personal growth and change: As children get older, they start learning hashkafa and mussar in more depth. This is an opportunity for them to look at themselves and their lives with a more critical lens. Development of self-awareness, tendencies, urges, and patterns are all cornerstones of any serious behavioral change and internal system change. We have mussar; we have hashkafa. We owe it to our children to help them use these tools fully, in a way which builds towards greater knowledge of themselves and a stronger handle on interpersonal interactions and dynamics. A speech is very nice, and even inspiring, as can text-based academic study. If it’s not implemented in a practical way, though, it may stay that way. Mussar can be so

much more powerful if we allow it to be. This can be done positively and in a way which encourages self-direction and fosters a healthy relationship with the internal world, sense of self, and spirituality.

3- Unified and relationship-centered chosson and kallah classes: If the above two have been implemented,

life and give a hashkafic perspective on aspects of married life that the couple has not encountered before. This has obvious benefits; some parts of married life might be difficult to effectively learn about in each other’s presence. The downside is that there can be no guided discussion about relationships, no cooperative learning about expecta-

The beginning of marriage often sets the tone for what the rest of the marriage will look like.

young individuals going into marriage have several benefits. They know who they are on multiple levels. They know their strengths and weaknesses and have some degree of experience with consciously shifting towards a life in line with the values they’re looking to embody. Traditional one-on-one classes go through the halachos of married

side of the bell curve. Participating in these conversations will also give young couples the confidence to repair and regroup when things don’t go as well as they’d like them to in their marriage. We are fortunate to live in a community in which family is given a high priority. It exists on a pedestal in some ways; marriage and family is held up as the ideal that everyone should aim for. We owe it to our children and future generations to set up young couples for as successful relationships as possible and to give marriage the attention and care it deserves.

tions and how to address them. Though these conversations may end up taking place organically at some point, it’s more likely that they either won’t, or will take much longer to come to a satisfactory conclusion. Having directed conversations that provide this opportunity can help young couples establish a baseline further towards the healthier

Yeshaya Kraus, LCSW, is a therapist in private practice in Far Rockaway. He specializes in men’s mental health, parenting, relationships, and dating. He is also the creator of the Building Together workshop for engaged and newly married couples, and speaks publicly on a variety of topics, including dating and marriage. For inquiries or to register for the Building Together online workshop, email him at yykraus@ gmail.com or WhatsApp at 917-412-5824.

Many food products that we purchase contain ingredients that help extend shelf life, contribute to bright colors, and enhance flavors of food. These substances that are added to food products are known as food additives. While some food additives are essential for maintaining quality of food, there has been ongoing research that investigates the risks of food additives on our health. Many are concerned about these substances because of the associations of various health risks, but how worried should we be? Let’s discuss the common types of food additives, benefits versus risks, and how consumers can make informed choices on what food products they should limit or avoid.

What are Food Additives?

Food additives are substances that are added to food during food preparation or processing. This is done to improve the flavor, appearance, texture, or shelf life of the food. Common types of food additives include:

1. Preservatives: These aid in spoilage prevention and extend the shelf life of food products by stopping the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, nitrates, nitrites, and sulfites are examples of preservatives. You can find preservatives in processed

Health & F tness

Food Additives

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

meats and canned vegetables.

2. Colorants: Food colorants are used to enhance or maintain the color of food products to make them look appealing to consumers. They can be either natural or synthetic. Tartrazine (Yellow 5), and Allura Red (Red 40) are examples of colorants. You can find colorants in gummy candy and fruit-flavored sweets.

3. Flavor Enhancers: These help improve the taste and aroma of food products, strengthening their overall flavor profile. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a type of flavor enhancer and is found in many prepared soups/sauces/marinades and often used in Chinese food preparation. Flavor enhancers can be found in instant noodles, flavored popcorn, and chips.

4. Sweeteners: Sweeteners are added to food and beverages to provide sweetness. Some sweetening agents contain no calories, while some do. High-fructose corn syrup is an example of a high calorie sweetener often used in canned fruit, cereals, baked goods, desserts, candies, sweetened yogurts, and many fast food items. Aspartame, sucralose, monk fruit and stevia are examples of non-caloric sweetening agents. Low-sugar and sugar-free desserts and beverages may contain no calorie sweeteners.

5. Emulsifiers and Stabilizers:

Their role is to stabilize food products, prevent separation, and improve texture and consistency. Examples include lecithin, xanthan gum, and carrageenan. Emulsifiers and stabilizers can be added to ice cream, mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

6. Antioxidants: These help prevent oxidation, which can cause rancidity and deterioration of flavors. Examples include Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Vitamin E (tocopherols). Cookies, crackers, and pastries can contain antioxidants.

7. Acidulants: Their role is to adjust the acidity or pH of food products, enhance flavor, and act as preservatives. Citric acid, lactic acid, and phosphoric acid are examples of acidulants. Pickled vegetables and carbonated soft drinks contain acidulants.

While these are common types of food additives, there are many more kinds of food additives that are not mentioned on this list.

What are the Benefits?

As mentioned before, there are many functions of food additives that can be beneficial for various food products. Benefits include:

1. Extended Shelf Life: Preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate stop the growth of bacteria,

yeast, and mold. This can extend the shelf life of perishable foods, reduce food waste, and allow for longer storage.

2. Improved Safety: Antimicrobial additives like sodium nitrite in cured meats help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensuring food safety.

3. Enhanced Flavor and Aroma: Flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) can enhance the taste and aroma of foods, making them more appealing for us to consume.

4. Visual Appeal: Colorants are used to improve or maintain the color of food products. Brightly colored foods are visually appealing and can stimulate appetite and enjoyment of the food.

5. Texture Improvement: Emulsifiers and stabilizers like lecithin and xanthan gum help create smooth textures in processed foods such as salad dressings, ice cream, and sauces by preventing separation of ingredients.

6. Nutritional Enrichment: Certain additives are used to fortify foods with essential vitamins and minerals to prevent nutrient deficiencies. For example, vitamin D may be added to dairy products to increase their vitamin content, or iron is added to cereals.

7. Convenience: Food additives help

with the preparation of convenience food for us to buy when we need a ready-prepared meal.

8. Weight Loss: Zero-calorie sweeteners can aid in weight loss since they contain no calories.

What are the Risks?

While research on food additives is limited, there have been studies that study the risks associated with food additives. Here are a few examples of the potential adverse health effects of consuming food additives.

1. Increased Health Risks: Some food additives are linked to various health issues.

a) Tartrazine (Yellow 5) may lead to potential carcinogenicity and adverse effects on human health.

b) Nitrites and Nitrates are preservatives that have raised concerns in many people. When nitrites react with certain components of foods under certain conditions (like high heat), they can form cancer causing nitrosamines. Here is a list of common nitrates and nitrites found in foods.

i. Sodium Nitrite: This is the most commonly used nitrite compound in food preservation. It’s used in cured meats like hot dogs, sausages, and smoked fish.

ii. Potassium Nitrite: It is used as a preservative in cured meats.

iii. Sodium Nitrate: While less commonly used than sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate serves a similar purpose in preserving processed meats.

iv. Potassium Nitrate: This compound is also used in some cured meats, but it’s less common compared to sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate.

c) Trans fat, which helps to increase shelf life and consistency of food products, is linked to higher risk of heart disease and inflammation. This is because trans fats raise “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL) and lower “good” cholesterol levels (HDL). High LDL and low LDL levels can cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

d) High-fructose corn syrup is linked to many health problems including insulin resistance, obesity, liver disorders, and diabetes. When we consume fructose, our liver starts breaking it down. Unlike other sugars, the process of breaking down

fructose isn’t regulated by our body’s feedback system. This can lead to the accumulation of byproducts including triglycerides and free fatty acids. Over time, this can contribute to the health issues mentioned earlier.

e) Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that can be found in soups, canned vegetables, and deli meats. Using MSG in large amounts may contribute to obesity, metabolic syndrome, weight gain, hepatic damage, and reproductive malfunctions.

2. Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to specific food additives. This can lead to

• Read Ingredient Lists: Check ingredient labels just like you do for calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. Familiarize and look out for additives that may be linked with adverse health effects. Certain food products contain more additives over others. For example, Dannon Greek yogurts contain many food additives like carmines and carrageenans compared to Chobani Greek yogurt. In general, the fewer ingredients listed, the better and cleaner the food.

• Choose Whole Foods: Whenever possible, opt for whole, minimally processed foods. Whole foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and unprocessed meat and dairy

It’s important to recognize that not all additives pose the same level of risk.

allergic reactions like hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. Sulfites, colorants, and preservatives are common allergens.

3. Digestive Issues: Some food additives, such as emulsifiers like polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose, have been found to disrupt the balance of gut bacteria. This can potentially lead to digestive issues since it can impair digestion, absorption, promote inflammation, and increase gas production. Carrageenan may also negatively impact digestive health since it may be associated with the formation of intestinal ulcers and growths.

How Do We Navigate Food Additives?

After reading the information of the potential health risks of food additives, you may wonder if you should avoid specific food additives. While there are certain food additives that are linked to negative health consequences, there are many others that can be safely consumed. If the majority of our diet is clean, occasional consumption of food products with additives shouldn’t pose that much of a risk. It’s also important to note that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food additives to ensure that the food additives added into food products are safe to consume. While research on the impact of food additives is still ongoing, it’s still a good idea to be mindful of the foods we eat.

Here are a few ways to safely navigate food additives:

dients: Cooking meals from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and avoid unnecessary additives.

• Look for Natural Alternatives and Minimally Processed Stabilizers: Choose products that use natural alternatives instead of synthetic additives. Look for foods colored with natural colorants like beetroot juice or turmeric instead of artificial dyes. Products that have “organic” or “all-natural” adhere to stricter standards regarding additives and ingredients. Stabilizers and thickeners that come from minimally processed sources, such as agar-agar (derived from seaweed), guar gum (derived from guar beans), and pectin (derived from fruits), are generally considered to be safer and more natural options compared to highly processed stabilizers like carrageenan.

products. Whole foods generally contain less or no artificial additives, preservatives, colorants, and flavorings found in processed foods. Other reasons why whole foods are better for our health are because:

- Nutrient Density: Whole foods are rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients are often lost during food processing.

- Fiber Content: Whole foods are typically higher in dietary fiber, which is important for digestive health, weight management, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Fiber also helps with satiety management which can help regulate your appetite and reduce overeating to support weight management. Processed foods often lack fiber.

- Lower in Added Sugars and Salt: Whole foods are naturally low in added sugars and salt compared to processed foods. Overeating added sugars and salt has been linked to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

- Less Processed Fat: Processed foods contain trans fats and excessive amounts of saturated fats. These can increase the risk of heart disease. Plant-based whole foods, like nuts, seeds, and legumes, contain healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

- More Control Over Ingre -

• Be Mindful of Sweeteners: Be cautious when consuming foods and beverages sweetened with artificial sweeteners. While they may offer a low-calorie alternative to sugar, some artificial sweeteners have been associated with health concerns. Opt for naturally sweetened products or moderate your consumption of artificially sweetened items. Sweeteners that are safer to use include stevia, monk fruit, coconut sugar, and date paste. While food additives serve various purposes in the food industry, there’s a growing concern about their potential health effects. While some additives have been associated with adverse health effects such as allergic reactions, digestive issues, and metabolic disorders, it’s important to recognize that not all additives pose the same level of risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food additives to ensure safety, but being informed and making conscious choices can help you prevent these potential risks. Opting for whole foods, choosing products with natural and less processed alternatives, reading ingredient lists, and being mindful of sweeteners are strategies to make informed decisions about food additives. Occasional consumption of food additives is safe if you stick to a healthy diet. By staying informed and making thoughtful choices, you can enjoy a balanced diet while minimizing potential risks associated with food additives.

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

Fried Goat Cheese and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

Dairy / Yields 8 servings

By Naomi Nachman

Ingredients

Roasted Butternut Squash

◦ 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced

◦ 1 tablespoon olive oil

◦ 1 teaspoon salt

Fried Goat Cheese

◦ 8 ounces goat cheese, sliced

◦ ¼ cup flour

◦ 2 eggs, lightly beaten

◦ 1 cup panko crumbs

◦ Oil, for frying

Dressing

◦ ½ cup sour cream

◦ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

◦ ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

◦ 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

◦ 2 tablespoons orange juice

◦ ¼ cup olive oil

Salad

◦ 6 ounces baby spinach leaves

◦ 1 small red onion, sliced

Preparation

1. Prepare butternut squash: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place butternut squash, oil, and salt onto prepared baking sheet. Toss to coat evenly. Roast for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through. Set aside to cool.

3. Prepare fried goat cheese: Set up a breading station. Place flour into one bowl, eggs into a second, and panko into a third. Dip each slice of goat cheese into flour, then egg, then crumbs.

4. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry slices for 1 minute per side, until golden brown. Place on paper towel to drain; set aside.

5. Prepare the dressing: Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.

6. Assemble the salad: Place spinach and roasted butternut squash into a salad bowl. Pour in dressing; toss to coat. Top with fried goat cheese.

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. This is almost a meal-in-one because of the combination of the butternut squash and the cheese. It has a carb, protein, and veggies. This is always a hit in my household.

Fd for Thought Lutali

LBy Nati Burnside

utali is an Italian restaurant, and the name is quite Italian. Ralph Mohadeb owns Lutali and named it after his wife, Tali. He added the prefix to make it sound a bit more Italian.

But there’s something about Lutali being named for a family member that seems very appropriate. The restaurant isn’t large. It seats around 40 people. That makes it both a place that works well to rent out for a family event (like a sheva brachos) and a place that’s small enough for an intimate, comfortable setting.

The restaurant carries a full sushi menu that’s mostly for takeout, delivery, and events. But the main focus is their Italian food. As Italian food is widely seen as comfort food, the choice is a good one.

When I was invited to Lutali, I tried a variety of appetizers. The one that achieved its purpose in the most fulfilling way was the Truffle Parmesan Fries. Obviously, these aren’t exactly a unique menu item. You might be able to get them in plenty of other places, however, Lutali might have close to the perfect version. The fries are hand-cut in house, twice fried perfectly, and topped with a generous dusting of parmesan and a modest amount of strong truffle oil.

This is a great example of the kind of place Lutali is. It’s not super flashy, and it’s not breaking any new ground. But the food is really good and comfortable. You aren’t sitting in a five-star white tablecloth restaurant. Instead, the setting is cozy, pleasant, and the kind of place that you might go to meet friends once a week. Along the line, I’d recommend ordering a Volcano Salad if you are looking for a healthy option. It has a base of mixed greens topped with tomato, cucumber, red onion, avocado, feta cheese crumbles, and sweet potato crisps. The lemon dressing’s acidity combines well with the rich feta, and the sweet potato crisps offer great contrast to the creaminess of the avocado. The portion size is pretty big so it’s great to share with a couple of friends, but it’s also

enough for you to make a lunch meal out of (especially if you opt to add fish to it).

This salad has just enough to make it feel a little special without it going over the top like you’ll see in some eateries. Continuing on with things that could be your whole lunch or shared with a small group, the flatbreads at Lutali are excellent. They’ll remind you of pizza, but they are certainly flatbreads as they are very thin (but with a crispy undercarriage) and with no real raised crust on the outside. My favorite was the Bianca Mushroom, but I don’t think you could really go wrong on this section of the menu. With mushrooms mixed in truffle oil topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, this flatbread has a rich flavor that goes well with the amazing texture of the crisp bottom and cheesy top. I haven’t really seen this type of artisan pizza on many menus, and it was a nice surprise when it arrived at my table. While it might be something a little different, you can’t go wrong with bread, sauce, and cheese.

Let’s transition from pizza to pasta. There’s a nice selection of pastas on the menu, but it’s the Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi that really caught my eye. Firstly, the house-made gnocchi are great. They aren’t too big or too small (both are style choices that have become slightly more popular recently), and they are just the right mouthfeel (not too firm or too chewy). But the most interesting part about this dish is that the spinach is mixed directly into the potato batter that the gnocchi is made from. This gives the gnocchi added flavor and texture that you might not usually find, and it allows the ricotta-based sauce a chance to shine because the spinach isn’t soaking up any of the liquid. The result is a rich and creamy sauce whose flavor comes through with every bite. I know there are many gnocchi lovers out there who order the gnocchi on every menu they see. If that’s you, you’ll be happy to taste something a little different that still lives

up to your high expectations. If you walked in the door of Lutali with a more protein-based meal on your mind, look no further than the Tuna Balsamic Steak. Served on a bed of mashed potatoes, this tuna steak is cooked nicely and topped with a mix of mushrooms in a balsamic sauce. The component that really makes this plate come together is the balsamic. As you probably know, balsamic pairs very well with mushrooms. But when you add the mushroom flavor to the balsamic, you get a great marinade for the tuna steak and a nice gravy for the mashed potatoes. The potatoes are good on their own as this is a dairy restaurant where they can use real butter and cream. But the added kick of the balsamic gravy is still appreciated. I’m not always a fan of tuna steaks, but this one impressed me because the combination was perfect. Getting a piece of tuna and a mushroom on your fork and dipping it into some mashed potatoes? Sign me up.

We wouldn’t be fully taking advantage of the dairyness of a restaurant if we didn’t order dessert. And Lutali wouldn’t be fully taking advantage of the dairyness

of their Italian restaurant if they didn’t make tiramisu. We all know that tiramisu is so popular that it’s on the dessert menu of many fleishig restaurants despite that meaning that it can’t be made in the traditional way. At Lutali, you can get tiramisu the way they make it in Italy. The texture is perfectly soft as the ladyfingers have soaked up just enough coffee flavor to soften them and provide that signature taste, the cream has that hint of dairy flavor as the mascarpone shines through just a bit, and the cocoa powder is just right to provide the most crucial ingredient in any dessert…chocolate. It’s so light and fluffy that nobody will think twice about you devouring the whole piece. But when you think about ordering another, maybe listen to your doctor and ask for the check.

Lutali is the kind of place that makes you feel at home. In a way, that makes it the perfect place to eat when you go out if you aren’t looking for some big, fancy dinner. Go there, sit, relax, enjoy the company you’re with, and savor the food on your plate.

We need more places like Lutali.

Mind Y ur Business

Crafting Constructive Customer Service

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.

In this article, we’ve collected tips from five customer service masters on the most important tools for creating a positive customer experience.

Customer

Am A zement

Shep Hyken, Customer Service Expert and NSA Hall of Famer

When talking about customer service, I like to use an acronym called A.C.A.

(Achieving Customer Amazement). In customer experience, everyone should be able to amaze their customers, and that ties directly into marketing. Customer experience is the new form of marketing. Traditional marketing is what companies typically do to get people interested in or aware of a product. But, if you want to create awareness of your product, one of the best ways to do it is to let your customers do it for you. And when you deliver an amazing level of service, or create an experience that gets people to want to come back, guess what else they do? They introduce other people to the brand. They talk about you to their friends, their work colleagues, and their family members, and the next thing you know, your best marketing is coming from that word of mouth. Like Bonnie Raitt said, “Let’s give them something to talk about.” Now, she was talking about something else, but the same is true about the customer experience. You’ve got to provide the experience that makes your customers say, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back.”

Customer

e xpe C tAtions

Jay Baer, NSA Hall of Fame Speaker and NYT Best Selling Author

Knowing what your customers expect of you is essential in establishing talk triggers that generate positive word of mouth. It’s important not to just involve your marketing team

in developing these triggers, but your sales team as well, because they are the ones who are constantly communicating with the customers and therefore come to understand them best. You need to map out your customers’ journey. Ask yourself, “What are all of the touchpoints that we have with our customers?” Next, you should interview three groups of six customers: new customers, long-time customers, and lost customers. Show them your customer journey map and ask them, “At each of these touchpoints, what did you expect would happen?” Once you know what customers expect, you also learn what they do not expect. An effective talk trigger has to live in the space that your customers don’t expect, otherwise there’s no story for them to tell. It’s the unexpected positive occurrences that motivate us to share our experiences.

t he personA l t ouC h

Ilan Rosenrauch, VP of Operations & Head of Customer Experience at AJ Madison

The personal touch matters. This is especially important to realize today, when everything is becoming automated and remote. People generally don’t want to talk to machines. When communicating with your customers, it makes a big difference for them to know that they are dealing with a real person, that there is an actual human being making sure that their needs are being filled. They need to know that if they run into

a problem, they can call or send an email, and quickly get in touch with an actual person who will help work them through the issue. Now, sometimes, there are cases where people just want that automated assistance, and it’s important that you provide avenues for that as well. But, even then, they need to know that if they need it, there is a real person ready to help them at a moment’s notice.

Customer hA ppiness

Ben Cohn, VP of Cohler Fuel

ognize things like that, and they really appreciate it. Customers will see when you’re not trying to just get one over on them and when you’re looking to do the right thing by them, and the results will speak for themselves. We have enough on our plate that keeps us busy day in and day out. And there’s no shortage of people knocking on our door, wanting to deal with us. We still have customers that I brought in around 2001-2002. That was over 20 years ago, and they’re still dealing with me today. There are customers that even dealt with my fa-

open CommuniCAtion

David Krengel, CEO of YD Wood Floors

To develop a longterm relationship with your clients, you must always remain honest and open with them. It’s not going to work any other way. You’re going to get pushed into a corner if you say or do something that’s not right. You can’t just treat

sure to deliver 100%. And if there’s a problem that comes up, you must take care of it right away, and you must maintain open communication with the client about the issue. You cannot hide it. If you try to hide it, you’re going to be toast. You’re not going to get the next opportunity. You’re not going to get another chance. It’s easy for a business to fail, especially when they are facing a lot of competition. That’s why you have to treat your interactions with clients as much more than just a sale. Yes, you have to sell, but you also have to remain honest and open with the customer and deliver.

A business owner really needs to be obsessed with ensuring that their customers are always happy. That’s the key to customer retention and satisfaction. You need to be a perfectionist when it comes down to the nitty gritty details. That, in itself, is what will keep the customers coming back. It’s not about the short-term easy buck. I don’t like pushing bills on people. I don’t like to just pump out invoices. And people rec -

A business owner really needs to be obsessed with ensuring that their customers are always happy.

ther’s father, that still come to us today. That’s the power of customer happiness. We like to just keep the trend synchronized. In the end, you can always rely on that same exact formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

your interactions like a sale. One thing that I’ve learned working in the flooring industry is that the job doesn’t end once you’ve made the sale. That’s only where the work begins. Once the customer gives you the go ahead, you have to make

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

How do we have a large body of people that are in our city, our country, that are excellent swimmers and at the same time we need lifeguards — and the only obstacle is that we won’t give them the right to work to become a lifeguard. That just doesn’t make sense.

- Mayor Eric Adams, at a briefing about a lifeguard shortage talking about illegal immigrants, many of whom crossed the Rio Grande to illegally enter the U.S.

Before we all get self-righteous about what Israel is doing…we shouldn’t forget that we, the United States, killed a lot of innocent people in Mosul and Raqqa. We, the United States, killed 12,000 innocent French civilians… we destroyed 69 Japanese cities, not including Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We slaughtered people in massive numbers – innocent people who had nothing to do with their government – men, women, and children

- Former U.S. Army chief Mark Milley at a Washington conference

30 out of 7,000 students walked out. That’s 0.0043%. Why does the media habitually platform this fringe? Guaranteed coverage is the nicotine to the pup tent campus intifada, and Hamas salutes them all.

- Tweet by Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) taking aim at the media coverage of pro-Palestinian protesters during graduation ceremonies at Duke University

Freedom of religion is also imperiled When you venture out into the world, you may well find yourself in a job or a community or a social setting when you will be pressured to endorse ideas you don’t believe or to abandon core beliefs. It will be up to you to stand firm.

- Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito giving the commencement address at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, a Catholic institution

Latest Polls Show Biden Will Need Twice As Many Fake Ballots To Win Election This Year.

– Babylon Bee headline

If you think you can’t, you’re just underestimating yourself. Everyone is more capable than they think. They just need to make the decision to try.

- Al Blaschke, 106, of Texas, who just earned the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to complete a skydive

In the fog of war, it’s difficult to come up with numbers

- A U.N. spokesperson’s lame excuse after it admitted to inflating the number of children killed in Gaza by almost 50%

I’m traveling to Rome because the solutions to the problems facing our city, country and planet must be solved together — by sharing ideas and strategies.

– Tweet by Mayor Eric Adams “explaining” why he is going on a junket to Rome

Translation: I’m making up a bunch of political nonsense because I want to go to Italy.

- One of many tweets in response

Ever hear of a thing called Zoom? Just think how much good you could do for the climate if all you [phony] politicians practiced what you preached.

- Ibid.

They preferred to murder her. It was a doctor who did it, in a hospital.

- The parents of IDF hostage Noa Marciano, disclosing that their daughter was murdered by a medical doctor when she was taken to Al-Shifa Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

I think what you’re gonna find, and especially in Washington, [is] people pride themselves in being awful. It’s a hideous place, as far as I’m concerned.

- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at a judicial conference in Alabama

Biden Strikes Deal Where Hamas Gets To Keep American Hostages In Exchange For Fifteen Votes In Michigan.

- Babylon Bee headline

RFK Jr. said that a worm ate part of his brain leading to memory problems. When reached for comment, the worm said that he was just trying to level the playing field.

– Greg Gutfeld, Fox News

Swiss Army knife are offering a new version without a blade…you are left with tweezers a nail file and a toothpick. Why don’t they call it “Swiss, what’s left at the bottom of a handbag.”

- Ibid.

The launch of the Boeing Star Liner spacecraft bound for the international space station was scrubbed on Monday. Apparently, Boeing wants to focus on what it does best— killing whistleblowers.

– Ibid.

After weird interactions with Caitlin Clark, a veteran WNBA reporter was banned from attending WNBA games, surprising many, as they were expecting him to be punished.

- Ibid.

So, look, I can’t speak to – don’t want to comment, obviously, as this is related to 2024 elections.

- White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked about the Trump trial, saying the quiet part out loud

First of all, I have had many conversations, as you have had, with a lot of young people over the last many months now. You are right. They don’t know very much at all about the history of the Middle East, or frankly about history in many areas of the world, including in our own country. With respect to the Middle East, they don’t know in the bringing together by my husband of, the then-Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the then-head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and then the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat. An offer was made to the Palestinians for a state on 96% of the existing territory occupied by the Palestinians with 4% of Israel to be given to reach 100% of the amount of territory that was hoped for.

- Hillary Clinton on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

Well, um, the, uh, so the, I mean, again, some of this stuff, some of the language and concepts are just confusing. The government definitely prints money, and it definitely lends that money by uh, by selling bonds. Is that what they do? They, they, um, yeah, they um, they sell bonds, yeah, they sell bonds. Right? Since they sell bonds, and people buy the bonds, and lend them the money. Yeah, so there’s no question that the government prints money and then it uses that money to um, uh, uh, so, um, I guess I just, I don’t get it. I don’t know what they are talking about because the government clearly prints money, it does it all of the time and it definitely borrows…I don’t think there is anything confusing there.

- Joe Biden’s chief economic adviser, Jared Bernstein, when asked in a recent interview about monetary policy and about why the government borrows money if it can just print money

I was born with a deformed left hand and was bullied so I felt excluded, but with running, when you’re on that start line with thousands of other runners, it doesn’t matter who you are in life. Everyone has a mutual respect for what you’re about to endure.

- Steve Edwards, 61, of England, who just ran his 1,000th marathon

The reality is, as I think any objective observer knows, Israel has broken international law. It has broken American law.

- Sen. Bernie Sanders (Dem/Socialist-VT)

In my view, Israel should not be receiving another nickel in U.S. military aid.

- Ibid.

Why is it OK for America to drop two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end their existential threat war? Why was it OK for us to do that? I thought it was OK. So, Israel, do whatever you have to do to survive as a Jewish state. Whatever you have to do.

- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Meet the Press

I think it’s impossible to mitigate civilian deaths in Gaza as long as Hamas uses their own population as human shields. I’ve never seen in the history of warfare such blatant efforts by an enemy – Hamas – to put civilians at risk. The last thing you want to do is reward this behavior.

- Ibid.

As long as so many of you are “Jew-hating,” you don’t really care that the Palestinians are not “peace-loving.” Shame on you!

- Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan, addressing the UN General Assembly after they voted to give the Palestinians full U.N. membership

Biden’s Biggest Blunder

By Bret Stephens

In announcing that the United States will pause delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel, President Joe Biden has the laudable motive of wanting to spare innocent Palestinians from the military consequences of Hamas using Rafah as its last stronghold in the Gaza Strip. Less laudably, but no less understandably, he also needs to shore up support among progressive voters who think that Israel’s use of U.S. weapons implicates us in war crimes.

But motives are not results. And the consequences of Biden’s decision, if not soon reversed, will be the opposite of what he intends. How so? Let me count the ways.

The munitions cutoff helps Hamas.

The tragedy in Gaza is fundamentally the result of Hamas’ decisions: to start the war in the most brutal way possible; to fight it behind and beneath civilians; to attack the border crossings through which humanitarian aid is delivered; and to hold on cruelly to Israel’s 132 remaining hostages, living or dead. Whatever else the arms cutoff might accomplish when it comes to Israel, it is both a propaganda coup and a tactical victory for Hamas that validates its decision to treat its own people as human shields. And it emboldens Hamas to continue playing for time — especially in the hostage negotiations — with the idea that the longer it holds out, the likelier it is to survive.

It doesn’t end the war. It prolongs it.

No Israeli government, even one led by someone more moderate than Benjamin Netanyahu, is going to leave Gaza with Hamas still in control of any part of the territory. If the Biden administration has ideas about how to do that without dislodging it from Rafah, we have yet to hear of them.

That means that one way or the other, Israel is going in, if not with bombs — and the administration is also considering banning precision-guidance kits — then with far-less accurate 120 mm tank shells and 5.56 mm bullets. Other than putting Israeli troops at greater risk, does the Biden administration really think the toll for Palestinians will be less after weeks or months of house-tohouse combat?

It diminishes Israel’s deterrent power and is a recipe for a wider war.

One of the reasons Israel isn’t yet fighting a full-blown war to its north is that Hezbollah has so far been deterred from a full-scale attack, not least from fears of having its arsenal of an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles decimated by the Israeli air force. But what if the Lebanese terrorist group looks at reports of Israeli munitions shortages and decides that now would be an opportune time to strike?

If that were to happen, the loss of civilian life in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other

Israeli cities could be immense. Biden would have no choice but to authorize a massive airlift of munitions to Israel — reversing this week’s decision. And the United States might have to even more directly support Israel militarily.

There will be unintended foreign policy consequences.

Israeli doubts about America’s reliability as an ally won’t lead to Israeli pliancy. Instead, it will strengthen its determination to become far more independent of Washington’s influence in ways we may not like. State-of-theart Israeli cybertech for Beijing? Closer Israeli ties with Moscow? Americans who accuse Israel of freeloading off U.S. power will like it even less when it becomes a foreign policy freelancer — something Biden ought to have learned when he tried to turn Saudi Arabia into a global pariah, only to learn, to his own humiliation, the kingdom had other strategic options.

Worse: Rather than weaken Netanyahu and his political partners on the Israeli far-right, it will strengthen them. They will make the case that only they have the fortitude to stand up to a liberal president who folds to pressure from Israel-hating campus protesters.

It’s a political gift to Donald Trump.

Although the anti-Israel chants on college campuses may be loud, they aren’t especially influential: Few voters, includ-

ing young ones, put the war in Gaza anywhere near the top of their list of political priorities. But a clear majority of Americans back the current level of support for Israel or even want to increase it, according to a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll. The cutoff will further alienate pro-Israel voters and will only partly mollify anti-Israel ones, who will now pressure the president to go much further.

In other words, it’s a classic case of falling between stools. It also plays into the perception that Biden is weak — unable to stand up to the left flank of his party and a feckless ally to our embattled friends. The last time the United States bailed on an ally, in Afghanistan, the result was a political debacle from which the president’s approval rating never recovered. Why would the White House want to put voters in mind of that episode?

There is still time for the president to reverse this ill-judged decision. Netanyahu and his ministers can help by demonstrating that they are taking immediate, visible, meaningful steps to move Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way. But an arms cutoff that weakens Israel as it faces enemies on multiple fronts is unworthy of a president whose clear and stalwart support for the Jewish state at its lowest moment was — and should remain — his finest hour.

U.S. President Joe Biden has told his story about his conversation with Golda Meir five weeks ahead of the 1973 Yom Kippur War countless times. Meir told the young senator from Delaware not to cast doubt on Israel’s future, even in times of great peril for the Jewish state.

“Don’t worry, Senator,” she said. “We Jews have a secret weapon in our fight: We have no place else to go.”

But a different conversation with an Israeli prime minister has become more relevant since Biden’s shockingly disturbing announcement to CNN on Wednesday that he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel for the first time if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major invasion of Rafah.

At a closed-door meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1982, Biden warned Menachem Begin that military aid for Israel’s war in Lebanon could be cut off. Begin responded furiously.

“Don’t threaten us with cutting off aid to give up our principles,” Begin said. “I’m not a Jew with trembling knees. I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when we were striving to create our country. We paid for it. We fought for it. We died for it. We will stand by our principles. We will defend them. And, when necessary, we will die for them again, with or without your aid.”

Biden has always painted himself as pro-Israel, but it should have surprised no one that he merely carried out his threat that he issued to the Jewish state 42 years ago.

The response in Israel has been to blame Netanyahu for harming relations with the U.S., the IDF for not defeating Hamas fast enough or decades of Israeli policies of outsourcing making munitions to America, in part because hey, it’s free. Don’t.

The buck stops with the President of the

Israel Today

Trust Biden on Israel Anymore? Don’t

By Martin Oliner

United States, who has made a strategic decision to abandon his country’s top ally at a time of its greatest need. He has decided to try to prevent Israel from achieving its important goals of defeating Hamas, preventing further attacks from Gaza, and bringing the hostages home.

Yes, those same hostages whose families have been to the White House. The American citizens Biden spoke about as if they were family.

Biden knew he was betraying them. He knew Israel has enough armaments to defeat the final four Hamas brigades in Rafah without a new shipment, but it has a severe shortage of leverage in hostage talks with Hamas.

Whatever leverage Israel had was taken away in a couple sentences the Arab world saw Biden utter on CNN. It’s no wonder the negotiations once again ended in failure, following the sabotage.

Imagine if Biden had used that interview to threaten Qatar with becoming an international outcast instead of threatening Israel. He could have announced that if Qatar did not bring the hostages home, America would remove its military base from the country and bar American uni-

versities from having campuses in a state that sponsors terror groups like Hamas.

Biden, of course, would never dare do that. But he apparently could lie to Rachel Goldberg-Polin and condemn her American citizen son Hersh to languish in Gaza until his untimely demise.

Why?

Because like many politicians, Biden’s ultimate loyalty is to himself and his chances of getting re-elected. It used to be the Jews who were the key to victory in purple states, so he pandered to them for decades.

Now it’s the Muslims in Minnesota and Michigan, the constituents of Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who Biden mistakenly believes hold the key to his second term, and he is acting accordingly. He will now be able to tell them that while he did provide arms that killed thousands of Gazans, he could have provided even more but did not.

Biden will also allow 100,000 Palestinians to enter the United States and make other controversial decisions to reach out to those Muslim voters. The slippery slope will continue.

The tragedy of Biden’s decision is that it contradicts so many statements and promises he has made for many years and

even only one day before he announced the embargo.

“My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad, even when we disagree,” he said at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial on Tuesday. “My administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already, and we will not rest until we bring them all home.” The entire audience greeted this message with thunderous applause.

In what may be an international record in speed for breaking promises, that ironclad commitment rusted in just one day.

In 2019, Judy Woodruff asked Biden on PBS NewsHour about left-wing politicians who favored cutting off aid from Israel to protest its construction over the pre-1967 border.

“That would be a tragic mistake,” he said. “The idea that we would cut off military aid to an ally, our only true ally in the entire region, is absolutely preposterous. It’s just beyond my comprehension why anyone would do that.”

Preposterous as it may be, Biden was criticizing himself five years later. His actions will be remembered, not his words.

This is a critical juncture in Israel’s existential war to defeat Hamas. Israel will win this war, with or without Biden.

Its people do not have trembling knees. They will remain proud Jews, standing by the principles that Israel and America will continue to share long after Biden has been forgotten.

Martin Oliner is chairman of the Religious Zionists of America, chairman of the Center for Righteousness and Integrity, president of the Culture for Peace Institute, and a committee member of the Jewish Agency. He was appointed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and serves as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. He is the former mayor of the Village of Lawrence.

President Biden with PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas

Political Crossfire Trump Can Win as the Anti-Chaos Candidate

In 2016, Donald Trump won the White House by running as a disrupter who would come to Washington and shake things up. That was the right message eight years ago. But today, the last thing Americans want is disruption. To win in 2024, Trump needs to run on the opposite message: as the candidate who can end the chaos and restore normalcy in the United States.

Trump as the candidate of normalcy? I know, I know – but hear me out.

Joe Biden won the White House by painting Trump as “an incumbent president who makes things worse, not better … who sows chaos rather than providing order.” But today, on Biden’s watch, college campuses across the country are in chaos. Our southern border is in chaos. The world is in chaos, with wars raging on two continents.

This creates an opportunity for Trump to seize the mantle as the anti-chaos candidate. His winning message is not to promise “retribution” against those he believes wronged him. It is to tell Americans: Maybe you didn’t like the way I talked, but the border was secure, the economy was strong (before the pandemic hit), inflation was low, and the world was largely at peace. What do you care more about: my mouth or your pocketbook? My behavior, or the behavior of Russia, Iran, and Hamas? My insults, or illegal immigrants pouring across our border and overwhelming our communities?

A lot of Americans will answer by saying (deep breath): Okay, fine, bring back Trump.

Many voters’ memories of his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and the numerous other reasons they disliked him have faded. An April New York Times-Siena College poll asked: Has Donald Trump ever said anything that you found offensive? Six in 10

By Marc A. Thiessen

said either no or not recently. Among voters ages 18 to 29, a remarkable 77 percent said no or not recently. And the Times reports that some voters “said that while

percent said they helped). And a recent CNN poll finds that a 55 percent majority consider Trump’s presidency a success (compared with 55 percent who called it a

Biden is such a disaster that he has made Americans nostalgic for Trump.

they disapproved of Mr. Trump’s inflammatory style, they wondered whether they had placed too much emphasis on his personality in past elections.”

What most people do remember, however, is that their lives were better under Trump. Almost two-thirds say they approve of Trump’s handling of the economy when he was president. By contrast, a February Times-Siena poll found a 43 percent plurality said Biden’s policies have hurt them personally (only 18

failure three years ago), while 61 percent see Biden’s presidency as a failure.

In other words, Biden is such a disaster that he has made Americans nostalgic for Trump.

Like most former presidents, Trump is benefiting from a bump in public approval after leaving office. But unlike most former presidents, he is running to reclaim that office.

His challenge, therefore, is to harness Trump nostalgia by a) not saying things

that remind voters why they disliked him, and b) reminding them what they liked about his presidency (his policies) and what they don’t like about Biden’s (the panoply of calamities he has unleashed at home and abroad).

This means Trump needs to avoid complaining about a stolen election and focus on the future. With many Americans apparently willing to forgive (or at least look past) his conduct on Jan. 6, he needs to stop referring to the Capitol rioters as “patriots” and “hostages.” He needs to choose a running mate who signals stability, not disruption. He needs to persuade voters that electing him will not empower his party’s lunatic fringe – such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and the other GOP legislative arsonists – and simply replace left-wing chaos with right-wing chaos. (Trump’s strong backing of House Speaker Mike Johnson against Greene’s efforts to oust him is a good sign.) He needs to focus less on energizing his base, which remains solidly behind him, and more on winning over swing voters.

If Trump had received just 43,000 more votes in a few key states, the 2020 election might have had a different outcome. Such a marginal shift could be the difference between defeat and victory in 2024. He needs to court Americans who liked his policies but are uncertain about bringing him back to the White House –and behave in a way that gives them permission to vote in their self-interest. Does Trump have the discipline to do this? The election hinges on that question. Because if voters have to choose between two chaos candidates, Trump will lose. But if Trump can paint Biden as the chaos candidate – and himself as a return to normalcy – he can win. © 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

Korea had been occupied by the Imperial Japanese from 19101945. With the end of World War II hostilities, Korea became divided along a line called the 38th Parallel. Both the north and the south hoped to unite Korea, and never saw the 38th Parallel as a permanent solution. However, with global tensions in the early years of the Cold War, frictions between both sides grew. By 1950, the United Nations, led by the United States, sent hundreds of thousands of troops to Korea and invaded North Korea. Communist China entered the war, and the UN forces were pushed back below the 38th Parallel. The fighting stopped in 1953 with the creation of the Demilitarized Zone between North Korea and South Korea.

During the hostilities, many soldiers were decorated for gallantry in action, and their stories are history to be remembered.

Born in West Virginia, Stanley “Ski” Wawryzyniak served in the navy for two years, starting his service towards the end of World War II. Three days after leaving the navy, he joined the marines and was sent to China. He was a staff sergeant in 1950 when his unit, 2nd Battalion, 5 th Marines, 1 st Marine Division, was sent to Korea. He participated in the landings at Inchon. On May 28, 1951, he joined a platoon that was assaulting an

Forgotten Her es Korean War Heroes

By Avi Heiligman

enemy position. Despite the heavy mortar and small arms fire, he pressed forward shouting encouragement for his fellow marines. Wawryzniak was wounded in the attack but stayed in position to supervise the evacuation of wounded marines. Only then did he allow himself to receive first aid. He was awarded the Silver Star for actions that day.

He earned his second Navy Cross for actions on April 16, 1952. Ski took command when his outpost was attacked by a larger enemy force. North Korean forces encircled the perimeter and attacked the outpost with extremely heavy fire. The marine commander was not present so Ski led a successful defense of the outpost. He braved enemy fire to reach

Screaming at his fellow soldiers to get out of harm’s way, Kravitz proceeded to blast away with his machine gun.

Wawryzyniak was awarded the Navy Cross twice for other actions in Korea. In September 1951, he volunteered to join an assault squad that was advancing on a fortified hill. Again they were met with heavy fire but Ski rose to the occasion and pointed out targets for his marines. Although wounded by a grenade, he continued fighting and killed three enemy soldiers. He then picked up an automatic rifle and rejoined his unit as they cleared out the enemy. In addition to the Navy Cross, he was promoted as well.

marines cut off by the attack and brought them back into the perimeter. Ski replenished the defenders’ guns when ammunition ran low and helped dress the wounds of wounded marines before being treated for his wounds.

Two Jewish American servicemen were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Korea. Tibor Rubin had been passed up for the honor until 2005 because he was Jewish; he was personally awarded it by President Bush. Rubin was a concentration camp survivor and

joined the U.S. Army soon after moving to America. Soon he was a private with the 8th Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division, and was sent to Korea. His sergeant was antisemitic and made Rubin go on dangerous missions alone. Rubin stayed by his machine gun position for hours during the Battle of Unsan. A grenade wounded him and disabled the gun. The Chinese captured him, and they sent him to a POW (prisoner of war) camp. The conditions were terrible so Rubin snuck out of the camp to get food rations for his fellow POWs. Rubin helped another American who was suffering from gangrene and overall lifted the spirits of dozens of fellow POWs. The other POW later said that it was Rubin that kept them alive until they were released.

Leonard Kravitz from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was the other Jewish soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the Korean War. He enlisted in 1950 and was assigned to Company M, 3 rd Battalion, 5 th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On March 6, 1951, the company was taking heavy fire on hillside south of Seoul. The initial Chinese attacks were pushed back, but soon the Americans were the target of a charge coming from the enemy. Kravitz, an assistant machine gunner, poured heavy fire into the attacking Chinese but it wasn’t enough as

they penetrated the American’s left flank. The unit had to withdraw, but Kravitz volunteered to stay to cover the retreat. Screaming at his fellow soldiers to get out of harm’s way, Kravitz proceeded to blast away with his machine gun. He killed an entire group of enemy soldiers, prompting other Chinese forces to focus their attack on Kravitz. Kravitz was killed but his distraction allowed time for the other American soldiers to reach safety. Like Rubin, Kravitz was initially passed up for the Medal of Honor because he was Jewish.

Mitchel Libman, a childhood friend from Crown Heights who also served in Korea, led the effort to lobby Congress to consider Kravitz for the Medal of Honor. The medal was finally awarded to his family in a 2014 White House ceremony. Corporal Abraham Geller was the son of a rav on the Lower East Side, and he fasted on Yom Kippur while in combat. The next day, his unit was fighting near the Han River in Korea when they were subject to a North Korean attack. Geller noticed that his platoon leader, George

O’Connor, was about to be attacked by a North Korean soldier that was playing dead. The Jewish corporal killed the enemy soldier with his bayonet but took three bullets that were meant for O’Connor. Geller’s wounds were not considered severe. Publications attributed this to the fact that where wasn’t so much food in his stomach since he fasted on Yom Kippur the day before.

The Korean War ended in July 1953 with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement to end the fighting, although

no peace agreement was ever signed between the two countries. There were many stories of bravery on the battlefields of Korea, and the heroes like the ones mentioned in this article will be remembered for the countless lives that they saved.

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.

Tibor Rubin (laying down) talking to reportors shortly after his release from a POW camp

Tibor Rubin accepting the Medal of Honor from President Bush Medal of Honor recipient Leonard Kravitz

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LAWRENCE

5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath Center Hall Colonial. Prime Location in Lawrence. Formal Dining Room, Formal Living Room, Den, Kitchen, Bedroom + Full Bath on the 1st Floor. Second Floor

- Master Bedroom - Full Bath, plus 3 Additional Bedrooms and Full Bath. Gas Heating, Basement with Lots of Storage and Utilities. Lot Size 76X122. Great Corner Property. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

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

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

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Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!

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

WOODMERE

Beautiful, brick, colonial boasting 5 bdr 3.5 Bth in pristine condition. Excellent location, near all! Move right in! RCUSA 516-512-9626

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

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. Two-car garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

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

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

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

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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-theline stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, expansive center island with a breakfast bar. Ample counter space and a well-designed 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. OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY MAY 19 11:30-1:00PM 222 WALKER PL

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

Introducing a stunning 14-side hall colonial home in the Hewlett Woodmere School District. Formal living room, formal dining room, den with a skylight. Eat in Kitchen, two sinks, a double oven, a warming draw and a microwave. First floor bedroom, a full bathroom and laundry room. Two-car garage. Upper level has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Finished basement with playroom, storage and utilities. Well-groomed exterior with porch adjoining the master bedroom. Hardwood floors and back patio. Central air conditioning, inground sprinkler system, alarm system. Close proximity to schools, shopping centers, restaurants, and transportation options.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

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

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classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003 APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

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

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

HEWLETT

Totally renovated 1 and 2 Bedroom, Apartments with washer/dryer, kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances. Recessed lighting, hardwood floors, storage in basement. Close to RR, shopping, and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

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 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

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

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE

SYNERGISTIC SUBLET

We produce brands and video with offices on Central Ave. Sublet includes internet & graphics / editing computers & software. Rates commensurate with space needed. Contact David Jasse 9175705514

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

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

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

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

HELP WANTED

DUE TO EXPANSION

TAL Academy seeks outstanding special educators and Rebbeim for the 24-25 school year. Please send resumes and cover letters to careers@talacademy.org

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

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JOIN OUR FIVE TOWNS OFFICE

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

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

TEACHING POSITIONS 2024-25

Due to expansion, Yeshiva Kol Torah in Inwood, seeks afternoon teachers for English, math, science and electives.  Extremely competitive pay. Warm and professional environment. Interested candidates should submit resumes to srada@yeshivakoltorah.org

BOOKKEEPER

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

BNOS MALKA ACADEMY

In Queens is seeking office staff. P/T or F/T. Send resume to office@bnosmalka.org.

REGENTS EXPERT

Tutoring regents in Algebra and Geometry A Darchei Torah instructor. Guaranteed results Text 347-491-8045 WhatsApp 347-767-1755

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.

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.

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

GROWING SCHOOL!

Great work environment! Yeshiva in Queens seeking Lower Elementary General Studies Teacher and Preschool Assistant. Email resume with references to staffing@ybtschools.org 718-971-9799

BNOS MALKA ACADEMY

In Queens is seeking teachers and assistants for the upcoming academic year. Kodesh, general studies, gym, art, computers. Send resume to rungar@bnosmalka.org

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

YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH

In Far Rockaway is looking for secular studies teachers for grades 5-8. We are a warm, professional, supportive and collaborative environment offering a competitive salary. Monday-Thursday - 5th grade-1:20-4:30          6th-8th grades 2:30-5:30 Send resumes or inquiries to mleff@ darchei.org

MISC.

SHMIRAS HALASHON

Text 516-303-3868 with a time slot of your choice to be careful on lashon hara. Be a part of the 1,000 people for klal yisroel!

In 1969, Merle Haggard scored a #1 hit with his ode to middle American pride, “Okie from Muskogee.” As the Vietnam War was raging, protests were dividing communities, and soldiers were coming home to catcalls, he opened his song with a blunt declaration: “We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee.” Today, the devil’s lettuce is very much legal in Muskogee. The town boasts roughly 20 legal dispensaries. Oklahoma is one of 40 states that have legalized marijuana to one degree or another. Yes, Nancy Reagan told us to “just say no to drugs” but drugs refused to take “no” for an answer, and here we are. (And where would Taco Bell be without late-night stoners?)

Of course, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. That creates all sorts of problems for state-licensed cannabis businesses. For example, most of them can’t use commercial banks, which are wary of violating federal money-laundering laws. But much of that may be about to change. Last week, the Department of Justice submitted a proposal to the White House to reclassify marijuana from the most-restrictive Schedule I, where it sits with heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, to the less-restrictive Schedule III where it can be prescribed alongside Tylenol with codeine. That move would

Your Money Two Kinds of Green

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

have all sorts of financial consequences for cannabis businesses. And, while marijuana fans would celebrate with bong hits, Uncle Sam would actually take a huge tax hit.

Here’s the problem. Code Section 61(a) defines “gross income” to include income from illegal businesses. Ordinarily, those businesses can still deduct their operating costs, just like anyone else. (If you’re

(within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act).”

Section 280E includes a helpful loophole letting sellers deduct their “cost of goods sold” using the applicable inventory-costing regulations under Section 471 as they existed when Section 280E was enacted. But they can’t deduct any of the usual overhead costs that your neighborhood liquor and cigarette sellers can, despite

While marijuana fans would celebrate with bong hits, Uncle Sam would actually take a huge tax hit.

a burglar, for example, you can deduct 67 cents for every mile you drive to burgle someone’s house.) But, in 1982, Washington added Section 280E. That law provides that “no deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances

widespread agreement that those products are actually more harmful than marijuana. That means no deductions for rent. No deductions for wages. No deductions for website development, advertising and marketing, or meals and entertainment.

A new breed of clever accountants have built specialty practices moving expenses from “overhead” to “cost of goods sold” to minimize the problem. Still, the bottom line is that cannabis businesses pay

millions of dollars in tax on “phantom income” they never see, simply because they can’t deduct the usual expenses other businesses can. Whitney Economics, a cannabis industry research firm, found that in 2022, the industry paid $2.3 billion more in federal tax than it would have if they were selling a legal product.

Rescheduling marijuana will mean an end to those sorts of unproductive accounting games. Ironically, it would give them a leg up on alcohol and tobacco, which are subject to hefty excise taxes.

(Senators Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, and Ron Wyden have introduced legislation that would impose a similar tax at 25%.)

Letting cannabis businesses take billions in new deductions might mean they’ll need fewer of the proactive tax strategies we use to help all our clients pay less. But that’s OK, we know there are millions of Americans looking to pay less now. If you’re one of them, you know who to call!

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.