Five Towns Jewish Home 12.26.24

December 26, 2024

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Dear Readers,

F

or eight nights, as we light the Chanukah candles, Jews all around the world sing the bracha of “She’asah nissim la’avoseinu, bayamim ha’heim baz’man hazeh.”

Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this time. For more than 2,000 years, we have been singing these words, reminding ourselves of the miracles that Hashem performed for us millennia ago – and the wonders that He does for us in this time.

During the times of the Chanukah miracle, the Jews were in a precarious position. The Greeks were choking them and were trying to snuff out their Jewish spark. But Matisyahu and his five sons bravely declared, “Mi l’Hashem eilai,” and with that, the Maccabim fought the Yevanim and won. The battles should have been over before they even began – a small, motley crew against the powerful, formidable Greeks.

And yet, with divine protection and intervention, the Jews were victorious.

It’s important to note that the war against the Greeks was won only after Matisyahu and his sons stepped up to fight, galvanizing the nation and asking Hashem to come to their aid. Surely, Matisyahu knew that there was hardly any hope that his band of guerilla fighters could win the war. But Matisyahu wasn’t thinking about ammunition and battle strategies deployed by the other nations; he was holding onto the most invincible strategy in the world: “Mi l’Hashem eilai.” And with that weapon, that supreme ammunition, the ragtag band of Maccabim was able to triumph over the mighty Greeks.

There is so much symbolism in Judaism, so

much meaning to everything we do. A friend of mine recently shared a thought about the dreidel, which we play on Chanukah. She noted that the game of dreidel can only begin once a person uses their hand to spin the top. After we twist the little piece, we sit back and watch the dreidel spin. Hashem wanted the Jews to step up during the times of the Yevanim. He wanted them to do their part in fighting the Greeks.

He wanted them to declare their allegiance to the Al-mighty in their fight against their foes.

And once they did that, once they did their part, Hashem orchestrated and brought them to a stunning victory.

During these days, it’s hard not to see Yad Hashem in the headlines every day. Every victory that Israel has seen is so clearly from Hashem. In just a few months, the Jewish state has managed to almost eliminate all the terror forces that have been threatening annihilation.

Our soldiers, so many of them clad in tallis and tefillin with words of Shema on their lips, are so vital in the victories that have rearranged the chessboard of the Middle East. They know their strength comes from G-d, Who performs miracles for us daily – bayamim ha’heim baz’man hazeh.

Wishing you a freilechen Chanukah, Shoshana P.S. Remember to send in your family Chanukah photos to be included in our TJH Chanukah album and receive a Berrylicious gift card!

Deadline is Monday, December 30 at 8 p.m.

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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

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Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | December 27 – January 2

Friday, December 27 Parshas Miketz

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Candle Lighting: 4:17 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:22 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 5:48 pm

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Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

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Community Happenings

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Voice Notes: An Attitude of Gratitude

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NEWS Global

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National

48 That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

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Israel News

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Parlez-vous Francaise?

by Barbara Deutsch

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Letters Flying in the Air

by Yedidya Meir

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My Israel Home

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Jerusalem Liberated, Chanukah 1917 by Larry Domnitch

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JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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What Do You Live For? by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Chanukah and the Eternal Battle for Light by Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

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Just a Bit of Patience Please by Rav Yaakov Feitman

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The Powerful Synergy of the Mezuzah and the Menorah

by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

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The Central Role of Bayis in Hilchos Chanukah by Rabbi Benny Berlin

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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PEOPLE Rebbetzin Tzipora Weinberg Helps Jewish Women Illuminate Their Souls

by Malkie Schulman 134 Inspiration Nation

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Top Military Headlines from 2024 by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Behind the Smiles by Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC 144 FOOD & LEISURE

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A Good Fry by Naomi Ross

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The Aussie Gourmet: Buttery Lemon Cake Bites

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Dear Editor, Chanukah, a time for celebration and at the same token a time for reflection. Every Chanukah we, the Korman family from Far Rockaway, reflect on our Chanukah miracle, our survival from carbon monoxide poisoning, and make it our point to remind the community to please make sure you have working, non-expired carbon monoxide detectors in your home, or are connected via your alarm company.

May Hashem continue to show us miracles, bring our hostages home, protect our chayalim give strength to their families, and protect us from all the “poisons” of this world.

The Korman Family Dear Editor, I am focusing this letter primarily to the rabbis of our community who, hopefully can better influence their congregants. It seems that we have become careless or negligent regarding pedestrian and driver/rider safety in the Five Towns.

Traffic has increased immensely on the main streets in the Five Towns, especially in the morning and mid to late afternoons. Our streets are not well-designed to handle even a “normal” traffic volume.

Pedestrians should walk on the sidewalk at all times, especially on the four main streets – Peninsula Blvd., West Broadway, Central Ave. and Broadway.

I frequently see people walking in the Continued on page 18

Cover Art by Golda Koosh Oil on canvas 39x39 311 Central Ave, Lawrence, NY (516) 218-3330 | Sold at Art by Simcha

LIFESTYLES

Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

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Parenting Pearls

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School of Thought

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Mind Your Business

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Is There an Expert in the House? by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

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HUMOR Centerfold

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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Freedom of the Press Isn’t About Publishing Partisan Lies

by Jonathan S. Tobin

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The Trump Effect Has Already Made the Mideast Safer by Martin Oliner

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Does Trump Want Putin to Get Ukraine’s $26 Trillion in Gas and Minerals?

by Marc A. Thiessen 166 CLASSIFIEDS

Dear Editor, Thank you for highlighting the article on Shay Kallach’s journey to educate the nation of Israel in last week’s Jewish Home. As a former F-16 fighter pilot, Mr. Kallach asks questions that were on everyone’s mind: Why wasn’t Israel prepared on October 7, 2023, and why did it take so long for Israel to respond?

Checking with those who were first on scene, both a helicopter pilot and a tank commander, they both hesitated to do something because of the “toxic ideology that (had) infected the Israeli military: the ridiculous conception that terrorists are our friends.” Mr. Kallach lays blame for this re-education at the doorstep of the New Israel Fund, which spent close to a billion dollars in sponsoring small institutions from the time Menachem Begin was elected to the present. The New Israel Fund “re-educated” both the Israeli military and civilians with progressive ideas which looked upon “enemies” as “rioters” who could be dealt with through an understanding of their concerns. Mr. Kallach states that the horror of October 7, 2023 could have been mitigated if those in the military were of the mindset that they were fighting an enemy right from the day Israel was attacked. I am hoping that the Netanyahu government will remain firm in its resolve to succeed in winning against Israel’s enemies and bringing the hostages home.

Jan Henock Woodmere, NY

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Old-Fashioned Fancy

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Continued from page 14

end us your photo(s) of what Chanukah means to you – it could be your family lighting candles, you and your siblings at your Chanukah party, baking Chanukah cookies, Bubby playing dreidel, or Zeidy eating a jelly doughnut (or two… or three!).

We want to see what makes Chanukah special to you. But you have to act fast! The photos must be sent in by Monday, December 30 at 8 p.m. Make sure the photo includes the people you love most. Send us your photo(s), and we’ll send you a $10 Berrylicious gift card!

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TJH so

middle of the street, especially on Shabbat and especially on West Broadway and Broadway where the sidewalk is not wide enough to accommodate baby strollers with four kids next to them. People walking at night should wear reflective tape on their clothes or a reflective vest. This is especially important for Yeshiva kids and people walking to/from shul Friday night. The dark suit and black hat make it difficult for drivers to see such people.

There is no halacha that I know of that prohibits wearing reflective clothes or reflective tape attached to the clothes on Shabbat. Make yourselves as visible as possible at all times!

Do not wear earbuds when walking and don’t cross the street while texting or talking on the phone. These devices divert your concentration from the fast-moving cross traffic. You need to focus completely on the light and the traffic while crossing the street.

If you are using a bike, especially an e-bike or a scooter, know the laws regarding their usage. Always wear a helmet and make sure that you are clearly visible at night! Your bike should have reflectors on the back and the wheels. Additionally, put a headlight on your bike and, if possible a blinking light on your helmet. Slow down when crossing intersections, and as with pedestrians, don’t wear those earbuds or text while you’re biking or scooting.

The parking lots are not a playground!

I frequently see toddlers roaming away from their parents in the store parking lots. These kids are smaller than the height of the car and cannot be easily seen when entering or backing out of a spot.

Hold onto all your kids’ hands and know where each one is always. If it’s too overwhelming to shop with your kids, send someone else to shop for you, or better, consider delivery to your home.

Finally, to all the car drivers, I beg you to allow yourselves far more time to reach your destination. And it is always far better to arrive five minutes late to minyan alive and safely than, chas v’shalom, be involved in an accident. Believe me, G-d and your fellow congregants will understand and forgive your lateness, and if not, too bad for them. West Broadway is a particularly difficult road to drive on especially at night. It has curves. It is narrow, overcrowded with traffic and many of the cross streets are not perpendicular.

Slow down and be patient. The incessant honking and tailgating that I see in our neighborhood is aggravating and puzzling as well as unnecessary. It doesn’t make you move any faster.

I’d like to see our local rabbanim address the issues of traffic and pedestri-

an safety more frequently. This letter is merely a start. But, while we would think that all these things should be obvious to educated people, apparently it isn’t. People need a friendly but firm reminder to care for their own lives and safety as well as others, especially with steadily increasing neighborhood traffic. Please, rabbosai, do your part to help.

Daniel Feldman Dear Editor, Today’s pathetic shidduch world requirements put me in a position where I have no other choice but to find a shidduch myself, as literally nobody is setting me up.

Sometimes, I’m not even accepted to shidduch programs, because they don’t like something on my shidduch resume, or I’m judged for my small disability.

That’s the reality.

Just when I thought we live in a “big, sad world after all” with nobody caring about others, several friends told me about a singles Shabbaton for physically disabled people in Baltimore, run by Denise and Wayne Chesner in a hotel.

I called them up and started asking my standard program inquiry questions: who is running it and the kashrut.

Just when I was about to ask for the age range, I asked for the cost, prepared to pay an arm and a leg.

Wayne had me sold when he said that this Shabbaton at the Doubletree was free of charge.

I asked him what the catch was, and he emphasized that he really wants people to come and have a nice time.

Yes, you read that right – a free hotel stay over Shabbos.

We had a nice, relieving Shabbos catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

Motzei Shabbos had captivating activities: a magic show, trivia games, caricature (I’ve always wanted one and finally had my chance), and a chance to explore the world of virtual reality.

Our least favorite part of the event was leaving to go home.

A number of participants thanking Wayne and Denise for their generosity mentioned that they were understanding of people’s financial situation. Aside from today’s challenges of inflation, add to that the extra cost of living expenses the disabled face for a life they didn’t choose and the general strain on singles’ wallets of attending such events.

Three cheers to Denise and Wayne Chesner for heartwarming memories; I can’t wait to join you again! I was reminded that the world still has some good, caring people.

A Shabbaton participant

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The Week In News

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Cargo Ship Collapses

A cargo ship weighing 5,215 tons collapsed onto its side on Monday at a port in Istanbul, Turkey. The boat narrowing missed hitting its crew by just a few meters. The vessel, Amnah, rolled over in the early hours of the morning because of uneven load.

Five crew members jumped into the sea to save themselves and swam to safety. Ten others jumped on the port and ran away from the ship. One worker suffered minor injuries.

As the ship started to tilt perilously to one side, the steel containers were seen sliding towards the edge of the port. Dozens of containers were lost in the water Footage showed dozens of them tumbling like dominoes and falling in the churning water.

After just a few minutes, the Amnah began to sink.

Amnah was built in 1996 and was operating until recently for the Russian Fesco shipping company. Until 2024, it was used to transport cargo between Russian ports, like St Petersburg, Petropavlovsk and Vladivostock, and China.

Nigerian Crowd Crushed

At least 35 children were killed and six others were critically injured when people were crushed in a massive crowd at a fun-fair in southwest Nigeria last week

The incident took place at an Islamic school in Ibadan on Wednesday. Eight people were arrested for their alleged involvement; among them was the event’s main sponsor.

According to local radio station Agidigbo FM, the organizers of the event – identified as the Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WING) – expected to host 5,000 children under the age of 13 at the free event, where they could win prizes like scholarships.

“In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Al-mighty G-d will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said in a statement.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said it was “a very sad day.”

“We sympathize with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” Makinde posted on Facebook. “I want to reassure our people that anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster will be held accountable. Please remain calm as the security agencies investigate this unfortunate incident.”

There are more than 236 million people living in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the nation has seen several deadly crowd crushes in recent years.

In February, the Nigeria Customs Service confirmed that an unspecified number of people were trampled to death during a crowd surge as they waited for discounted rice at its office in Lagos, the country’s largest city. Many children were among 30 people killed in a crowd crush at a church event in the southeastern city of Port Harcourt in 2022.

In 2019, at least four people were killed in a crush at a political rally held by the country’s president.

Honda and Nissan to Merge

Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Corp. are exploring a merger to create one of the world’s largest auto groups as they seek to better position themselves for the expensive technological transition

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reshaping the automotive industry.

On Monday, Honda and Nissan signed a memorandum of understanding to formally begin talks aimed at deepening a partnership that began this year.

Over the next six months, the companies will discuss combining their operations under a holding company, with the goal of completing the merger in August 2026.

Honda and Nissan, Japan’s secondand third-largest automakers, would join a growing number of legacy auto giants, including General Motors and Volkswagen, that are deepening ties to share the financial burden of developing next-generation vehicles. The deal is seen as a lifeline in particular for Nissan, which has been slashing jobs and production amid faltering sales.

Honda and Nissan have decided they can better handle research and development and new investments as a combined force, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said at a briefing in Tokyo on Monday.

“Current business models are being upended. It is not going to take 10 to 20 years for that to happen — it will come much faster,” Mibe said. “We need to have the right artillery in order to be competitive on that battlefield so we’re starting today.”

Nissan sells more than 3 million vehi-

cles a year, while Honda sells nearly 4 million. A merger would position them as the world’s third-largest automaker group, behind Toyota, whose brands sold 11 million vehicles last year, and Volkswagen, which sold 9 million. Honda and Nissan together employ about 325,000 people.

The key question is whether even large, combined entities like Honda and Nissan can keep up with newer competitors. American company Tesla and China’s BYD have already established a commanding lead in electric vehicles and car technologies.

The new parent company of a merged Honda and Nissan would be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Mitsubishi Motors, a smaller Japanese automaker and longtime partner of Nissan’s, said it would also consider joining the new group.

Under the automakers’ current market valuations, the combination would be worth more than $50 billion. (© The New York Times)

five people and injured hundreds more late Friday at a holiday marketplace in the eastern German city of Magdeburg.

The attacker killed a 9-year-old child and four adults and wounded over 200 more, including 41 people with life-threatening injuries. Officials fear the death toll could soar if victims succumb to their wounds. Officials, by air, transported many of the victims to medical facilities in other states.

According to authorities, the attack, which occurred at around 7 p.m., was perpetrated by a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who immigrated to Germany in 2006.

Authorities named the suspect as Taleb Abdulmohsen. The assailant was a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist, according to the hospital where he worked.

He lived in Bernburg, around 25 miles south of the marketplace he attacked.

Shopping Attack in Germany In a car-ramming attack that lasted a mere three minutes, a terrorist murdered

over 200 counts of attempted murder, and they believe he didn’t have any accomplices.

Footage shows the attacker wearing round, wire-rimmed glasses, with a trim beard, lying facedown on the floor, as police aimed their guns at him, warning him against trying to flee.

“There is no place more peaceful and joyful than a [holiday] market,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who recently lost a vote of confidence in his country’s parliament. “What a horrific act it is to hurt and kill so many people there with such brutality!”

On Saturday morning, Scholz visited the market. That same day, many people paid their respects at a memorial at St. John’s Church to the victims of the tragic attack.

The attack has prompted questions about the market’s security. Hundreds of people came out in protest against the attack.

More Jail for U.S. Citizen in Russia Though police have yet to determine the man’s motive, authorities have confirmed that he frequently posted on social media, oftentimes condemning Germany for allegedly being tolerant of Islamic extremism. He also often praised the emerging right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Al-Abdulmohsen’s bio on his X account says, “Germany wants to Islamize Europe.”

In December, he retweeted an X event titled “Islam — a worldwide problem,” and in November, he retweeted a post claiming “Islam is not a religion.” The same month, he also retweeted Alice Weidel, co-chairwoman of the far-right Alternative for Germany, who accused former Chancellor Angela Merkel of causing “serious damage” to Germany, blaming her for “uncontrolled mass immigration.”

In November, al-Abdulmohsen called Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-immigrant Party for Freedom, a “true hero” on X. Wilders has been criticized as Islamophobic for comparing the Koran to Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.”

The attack was carried out in a BMW S.U.V., which the assailant drove into a crowd of people. Following the attack, the terrorist tried to drive away but couldn’t due to traffic. At that point, police officials arrested him. Authorities are investigating him for five counts of murder and

Eugene Spector, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Russia on bribery charges, received an additional 15-year sentence for espionage this week.

Once a prominent executive in Russia’s medical equipment industry, Spector received a 3.5-year prison sentence in September 2022 for facilitating bribes to Anastasia Alekseyeva, an aide to former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. Alekseyeva was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in April after accepting lavish bribes in the form of two high-end international vacations.

Dvorkovich, who served as deputy prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev from 2012 to 2018, now leads the global chess organization FIDE. Spector was formerly a Soviet Union citizen, per Russian business daily newspaper Kommersant, and was taken into custody by a Moscow court in 2023. He was born in Russia but emigrated to the United States and has U.S. citizenship.

He is married to a Russian woman and lived in St. Petersburg for five years before his arrest.

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Spector was accused of mediating a bribe in the form of two holiday packages—to Thailand and the Dominican Republic—worth 4 million rubles ($43,000) in 2015 and 2016. The alleged recipient was Alekseeva.

Bridge in Brazil Collapses

A bridge connecting two states in Brazil’s northern and northeastern regions collapsed on Sunday as vehicles were crossing, killing at least two people and spilling sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River.

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 0.3-mile bridge gave way in the afternoon. A tanker truck that had been carrying the acid plunged into the water.

Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias

Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge, which he said could no longer handle the heavy trucks passing over it. As he pointed to a large crack on the shoulder of the bridge, the structure collapsed in front of him, causing him to run back.

At least eleven people were involved in the accident, with two trucks, a car, and a motorcycle falling into the river, which is more than 164 feet deep. The two women who were killed were riding on the motorcycle.

The trucks dumped around 120,000 liters of sulfuric acid and about 22,500 liters of insecticides and herbicides into the river.

“We will inspect the bridge over the Tocantins River that collapsed yesterday ... determine who is responsible for what happened, take the appropriate measures for the moment and start work to restore this important connection between the two states,” Minister of Transportation Renan Filho wrote on X. The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, inaugurated in 1960, was built with reinforced concrete and is part of the BR-226 highway, connecting the federal capital Brasilia to Belem, a northern city set to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference next year.

Sentences for Jew-Hunters in Amsterdam

This week, a Dutch court convicted five men for their involvement in last month’s assault against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam. The violence shocked the world and sparked accusations of antisemitism.

The Amsterdam district court found the five men guilty of a range of crimes, from kicking fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the street to inciting violence in chat groups. The heaviest sentence imposed was six months in prison to a man identified as Sefa O. for public violence against several people.

According to Israeli officials, ten people were injured in the violence, while hundreds more Israelis huddled in their

hotels for hours, fearing they could be attacked. Many said that Dutch security forces were nowhere to be found, as the Israeli tourists were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants who shouted pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel slogans while they hunted, beat and harassed them.

Police said they were investigating at least 45 people over the violence. Some social media posts had included calls to “hunt Jews,” according to police.

Images of the violence went around the world and sparked a furious reaction in Israel, including accusations of a “pogrom.”

The most serious case under consideration on Tuesday was that of O., who prosecutors said played a “leading role” in the violence. The court saw images of a man identified as O. kicking a person on the ground, chasing targets, and punching people in the head and the body.

The prosecutor said the beatings had “little to do with soccer” but added that “in this case, there was no evidence of…a terrorist intent and the violence was not motivated by antisemitic sentiment.”

“The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by antisemitism,” declared the prosecutor.

Another man identified as Umutcan

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A., 24, received a sentence of one month for assaulting fans and violently ripping a Maccabi scarf from one of them.

A 22-year-old identified as Abushabab M., 22, faces a charge of attempted murder but his case has been postponed while he undergoes a psychiatric assessment. He was born in the Gaza Strip and grew up in a war zone, his lawyer told the court, while M. cried in court.

Six other suspects are set to appear at a later stage. Three of these suspects are minors and their cases will be heard behind closed doors.

On the morning after the attacks, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the city had been “deeply damaged” by “hateful antisemitic rioters.”

She later said that she regretted the parallel she had drawn between the violence and “memories of pogroms,” arguing that this word had been used as propaganda.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence at the time as a “premeditated antisemitic attack,” a description repeated by the Lawfare Project Jewish civil rights organization during the court proceedings.

Assad’s Wife is Done

Asma al-Assad was married to former Syrian President Basher al-Assad for 24 years. But the last few weeks haven’t been too rosy for the British-Syrian national, as she and her family were forced to flee to Russia after rebel forces finally reached Damascus and took over the country.

Moscow granted the family asylum.

Bashar al-Assad is still reportedly subject to severe restrictions. He is not permitted to leave Moscow or engage in any political activities. Russian authorities have also frozen his assets and money. His assets include 270 kilograms of gold, $2 billion, and 18 apartments in Moscow.

Now, Turkish and Arab media have reported that Asma filed for divorce from Bashar and is seeking to move to London.

Asma applied to the Russian court

and requested special permission to leave Moscow. Her application is reportedly currently being evaluated by Russian authorities.

Asma is a dual British-Syrian national who was born and raised in London

by Syrian parents. She moved to Syria in 2000 and married Assad in the same year at the age of 25.

Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, has not been granted asylum in Russia, and his request is still under review, according to the Saudi and Turkish reports. Maher and his family are under house arrest in Russia.

The Assad family had been ruling Syria since 1971 until earlier this month when rebels from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terror group advanced on key cities in Syria and finally reached the palace in Damascus ousting their dictator.

IDF Promotions Paused

Israel Katz, the Jewish state’s new defense minister, on Thursday ordered IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi to, by January 31, submit results for investigations into the military’s failure to prevent the October 7 massacre.

Until then, Katz said he would refuse to sign off on promotions for the Israeli army’s senior officers, effectively pausing promotions in the Israel Defense Force.

He would also reject any appointments of major generals to new positions.

“It is the duty of the IDF to finish the investigations as soon as possible to present them to the families and the public in Israel, and to draw lessons and the necessary conclusions,” declared Katz.

Though the Israeli government has refrained from establishing a state commission of inquiry into the failure leading up to October 7, the military has carried out internal investigations into the matter. In the past, Halevi has suggested he would step down after the military finishes its investigation.

On Friday, the IDF is expected to sub-

mit its preliminary findings to Halevi and the General Staff. According to a Channel 12 news report, the probe places some of the blame on Halevi for not holding a wider situational assessment on the night before the massacre, though it adds that there were no explicit warnings that Hamas was about to attack.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Katz’s move. Some opposition leaders, including Yair Golan, the head of the Democrats party, criticized Katz as “a political wheeler-dealer [who] can’t be the defense minister.”

How Did Israel Pull Off the Exploding Pagers?

Three months ago, Israel pulled off an unprecedented stunt, remotely exploding thousands of Hezbollah pagers, leading to the deaths and injuries of scores of terrorists. During a “60 Minutes” interview which debuted Sunday, two recently retired senior Israeli intelligence agents explained how the operation worked.

The operation began some time ago, according to one of the interviewees, who identified himself as “Michael.” Ten years ago, Hezbollah began unknowingly purchasing walkie-talkies, with explosives hidden inside, from Israel, the Lebanese-based terror group’s sworn enemy.

According to “Gabriel,” the second interviewee, the operation’s next stage started in 2022 when the Mossad discovered that Hezbollah was purchasing pagers from a company based in Taiwan.

As part of the plan, Israeli intelligence created pagers big enough to fit hidden explosives and repeatedly tested the pagers on dummies, fine-tuning the amount of explosives to ensure that only Hezbollah terrorists were hurt. Additionally, the Jewish state experimented with different ringtones to find the most urgent one, so that the terrorists would immediately check the device when it rings.

Gabriel said that Hezbollah was convinced, after two weeks, to buy Israel’s bigger pager, after the Jewish state created fake YouTube ads, advertising the pagers as waterproof, dustproof, and

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equipped with a long battery life. As part of the scheme, the Mossad created several shell companies, one of which was based in Hungary. The Hungary-based shell company convinced Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company that sold pagers to Hezbollah, to unknowingly partner with the Mossad.

All the while, Hezbollah had no clue that it was purchasing pagers from Israel.

Five thousand pagers were in the pockets of Hezbollah fighters by September 17. Once Israel set off the explosions, the pagers started to ring, prompting terrorists to push two buttons at the same time to hear a message. Even if the terrorists didn’t push the buttons, the pagers exploded. But if the terrorists did push the buttons, the pagers inflicted the most damage, since both of their hands were on the device.

The day after the pagers exploded, the Mossad triggered the walkie-talkies to do the same, with some devices exploding during funerals for terrorists neutralized during the pager explosions.

According to the two interviewed agents, the attack was primarily meant to trigger fear among terror groups.

“If he [a terrorist is] just dead, so he’s dead. But if he’s wounded, you have to take him to the hospital, take care of him.

You need to invest money and efforts,” said Gabriel. “And those people without hands and eyes are living proof, walking in Lebanon, of ‘don’t mess with us.’ They are walking proof of our superiority all around the Middle East.

“When they are buying from us, they have zero clue that they are buying from the Mossad. We make like the ‘Truman Show,’ everything is controlled by us behind the scene,” added Gabriel, referencing a movie about a man who unknowingly lives his entire life as the star of a meticulously scripted reality TV show.

“In their experience, everything is normal. Everything was 100% kosher including businessmen, marketing, engineers, showroom, everything.”

Gabriel added that the attack had a profound psychological impact on the now-deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was soon thereafter killed

by Israel.

“We want them [Hezbollah] to feel vulnerable, which they are. We can’t use the pagers again because we already did that. We’ve already moved on to the next thing. And they’ll have to keep on trying to guess what the next thing is,” declared Michael, noting that after the explosions, some Lebanese people feared their air conditioners would also start to explode.

Man Behind “Operation Wedding” Passes

One of the men behind a failed plan to escape to Israel from the Soviet Union passed away on Saturday night. Eduard Kuznetsov’s passing at age 85 was confirmed on Sunday morning by his daughter Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov. Until his death, he had resided in the Israeli city of Hadera.

In 1970, Kuznetsov and a few others orchestrated “Operation Wedding,” a plan that entailed hijacking a civilian plane to transport a group of Soviet Jews to Israel. They told authorities they needed to travel as a large group to attend a big family wedding (hence the operation’s title). They had purchased tickets on an airline and then wanted to overcome the pilot during the flight to divert the plane

to Israel. Originally, many Jews planned on joining the plane ride, but most decided not to when two Zionist groups and the state of Israel spoke out against the plan.

In the end, Kuznetsov and his wife Sylva Zalmanson, along with one of the plan’s leaders, Mark Dymshits, and fourteen others decided to go along with the operation to try to hijack the plane to go to Israel. They believed that even if the plan backfired, it would still show the world the struggle of Soviet Jews. Yosef Mendelevich was also one of the people involved in the plan.

Unfortunately, the KGB discovered the plan and arrested all those involved while they were on the runway just steps away from the airplane. Russian authorities sentenced Kuznetsov and Dymshits to death, and Zalmanson to ten years in prison. After international outrage, the Soviet Union commuted their death sentences to fifteen years in prison. Following his release in 1979, Kuznetsov and his wife moved to Israel, where they had their daughter. In 1982, they divorced. A year later, Kuznetsov married Larissa Gerstein, whom he remained married to until her death in 2023.

In 1961, Kuznetsov was sentenced to seven years in prison after he publicly read anti-USSR poems in Moscow.

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From 1982 to 2007, Kuznetsov was a journalist and editor for Russian-language newspapers and radio stations. In 2018, he received a lifetime award for his contributions to Israeli Russian-language journalism. In 1974, France gave him the Gulliver Award for his book, “Prison Diary,” which he wrote in secret while in prison and later brought to Israel. His second book, authored in 1975, was called “I am an Israeli Citizen!”

Former Hostage Dies

Hanna Katzir was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. The senior citizen was held in Hamas hands for seven weeks, during which her health deteriorated considerably. She was released on November 24 as part of a temporary

ceasefire deal – just days after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group falsely claimed she had been killed in an IDF airstrike.

This week, Hanna passed away at the age of 78. Her family said that when she returned home from captivity she had been in extremely poor health and had to be hospitalized for heart issues that she hadn’t had before she was kidnapped, adding that “difficult conditions and starvation” had caused the deterioration.

“Mom was a loving woman, wife and mother who gave nothing but love,” her daughter Carmit Palty Katzir said in a message sent out by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “Her heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since October 7.”

Hanna’s husband, Rami, 79, was killed during the massacre, and her son Elad was taken hostage and later killed.

According to the IDF, Elad was likely killed by his captors in January. His body was recovered in April.

Hanna only learned about her husband’s murder and her son’s abduction after returning from captivity.

Hanna was born to a family of Holocaust survivors and worked in the kibbutz laundromat. She is survived by three children and six grandchildren.

More Heartbreak

On Monday, three Israeli soldiers were killed during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip.

The three heroes were named as: Cpt. Ilay Gavriel Atedgi, 22, from Kiryat Motzkin; Staff Sgt. Netanel Pessach, 21, from Elazar; and Sgt. First Class (res.) Hillel Diener, 21, from Talmon.

They all served in the Kfir Brigade’s Shimshon Battalion.

According to an initial Israel Defense Forces probe, the soldiers were killed by an explosive device in the Beit Hanoun area.

Sadly, Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip stands at 391. The toll includes a police officer killed in a hostage rescue mission and a Defense Ministry civilian contractor.

The Kfir Brigade had just wrapped up an operation against Hamas in nearby Beit Lahiya earlier this week. Troops advanced to the Beit Hanoun area “following intelligence information about the presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area,” the IDF said on Sunday.

According to the IDF, a Hamas leader, Tharwat Muhammad Ahmad al-Bayk, was killed in a targeted strike this week while he was at a Hamas command center embedded within the Musa Ibn Nusayr school, in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood. He had served as the head of the security directorate in Hamas’s General Security Service.

The school was serving as a shelter for displaced Gazans, and Palestinian media reported at least eight dead in the strike.

“Al-Bayk was considered one of the main links in the mechanism, and a significant factor in [Hamas’s] decision-making,” an IDF statement said.

According to a New York Times report on Monday, organized looting is increasingly threatening aid delivery in war-torn Gaza, with armed groups taking advantage of the chaos and lack of governance to steal basic items. This is no longer just a ragtag bunch of individuals stealing the aid; armed, organized groups are now responsible for much of the looting.

The growing threat has led the UN and other aid groups to halt operations, contributing to rising hunger and leaving tens of thousands of people without critical supplies, the report said.

So far, Israel has completely demolished all 4,000 buildings in Gaza that had been within one kilometer of the border with Israel. Channel 12 aired satellite footage this week from Hebrew University GIS specialist Adi Ben Nun that it said showed 100 percent of the 19,000 buildings in the northern Gaza city of Jabalia had been destroyed.

The Netzarim Corridor bisecting northern and southern Gaza has also been flattened of almost every building that once existed there and has been expanded to nearly 32 square kilometers as the IDF has reportedly built dozens of military complexes there.

Hamas kidnapped 251 people on October 7 and brought them into Gaza. It is believed that the terror organization is still holding onto 96 of those who had been taken into captivity. Thirty-four of those have been confirmed dead by the IDF.

Israel Killed Haniyeh

It was an open secret, and it has now been confirmed. This week, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated – for the first time – that Israel was behind the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran over the summer.

Haniyeh was killed on July 31, in a blast in the Iranian capital, hours after he attended the inauguration of new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.

According to The New York Times, the terrorist had been killed by a sophisticated, remote-controlled bomb that was smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse he was staying in months before the assassination and finally detonated when the Hamas leader was present.

The assassination was a huge embarrassment for Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, along with other terror proxy groups.

Haniyeh was replaced as Hamas political leader by Yahya Sinwar, until then

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the group’s military chief. But in October, Sinwar also came to an abrupt end, when Israeli troops killed him in a dilapidated building in Gaza.

Katz’s confirmation that Israel was behind Haniyeh’s killing came offhand, amid threats he issued against the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, which he delivered at a commemoration event for local security officers.

The Yemeni terror group has launched several missiles at Israel in recent days leading to retaliatory airstrikes by both Israel and the U.S. “In these days, when the Houthi terror organization is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them: We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded the defense systems in Iran, and damaged the [missile] production systems,” Katz said at a commemoration event for local security officers.

“We have overthrown the Assad regime in Syria, we have dealt heavy blows to the ‘axis of evil,’ and we will also severely strike the Houthi terror organization in Yemen, which remains the last one standing,” he continued.

Though Israel was not directly involved in overthrowing the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, it assesses that its strikes on Iran’s proxies in the region contributed to the fall of the regime.

“We will strike [the Houthis’] strategic infrastructure and decapitate its leaders.

Just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon — we will do in Hodeidah and Sanaa,” Katz declared, referring to the slain leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.

“Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off, and the long arm of the IDF will strike them and settle the score,” he pledged.

Attack on Syrian Navy “Historic”

Lt.-Col. Tomer, commander of the INS Herev, the missile boat that carried out naval attacks in Syria earlier this month, recently spoke about the strike, calling it “historic.”

The soldiers on the mission were unaware that their boat was going to strike at Syrian vessels when they left port in Haifa.

“I realized that we managed to keep the mission such a tight secret that even the soldiers didn’t know what mission they were embarking on,” Tomer said.

“I told them that the ship was now sailing deep into Syrian waters, and the mission was to destroy the missile boat fleet of the Syrian Navy. We trained and prepared for combat against the Syrian Navy during our service, though not necessarily in the context of this war,” he said.

The soldiers, upon hearing of the mission, were stunned.

While driving to base, Tomer received a call from his commander requesting him to take a call from a private direct line. Upon receiving the plan for the attack, the Lt.-Col. expressed surprise, noting, “We couldn’t believe for a moment that this [operation] would happen during our watch.”

“We were instructed to head out to sea that same day. By that night, we were ready to strike,” he added.

Minutes after the commander’s announcement to the soldiers, everyone was already at their stations. The ship sailed northward, passing the Lebanese coast and advancing toward the port of Latakia, the home base of the Syrian Navy.

“INS Herev is fully capable of conducting all types of operations – offensive, defensive, and maneuver support missions,” the Lt.-Col. noted, further stating the ship operated “in defense missions, offensive operations in Gaza and Lebanon, and strikes in Syria.”

After the strike on the Syrian anti-aircraft batteries, the missile ship retreated from the Syrian coast and moved into open waters.

The mission was to execute precise missile strikes on 15 missile boats, which represented the bulk of the Syrian Navy’s maritime force. All 15 missile boats were hit within minutes. “They sank and were rendered out of service,” the Lt.-Col. said.

“The mission wasn’t truly over until we docked at the Haifa port. There, we were greeted by the Navy commander, V.Adm. David Saar Salama, who personally thanked every soldier,” he recalled.

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An adult male went missing in Pebble Beach on Monday. Emergency responders were dispatched to Ocean Road following reports of a victim being washed off the rocks into the ocean.

firearms offense. He pleaded not guilty to those charges last week.

Party City Leaving the Party

Party City may have been a great place to buy balloons and costumes for the past four decades, but it wasn’t great enough to keep the doors open. This week, the goto shop for parties and favors announced that it would be closing almost 700 stores.

The party store said that it would start a “wind down” of its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter hundreds of stores nationwide. The company has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than two years “to maximize value for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders.”

“The decision was made following exhaustive efforts by the company to find a path forward that would allow continued operations in an immensely challenging environment driven by inflationary pressures on costs and consumer spending, among other factors,” Party City said in a statement.

Party City also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2023.

That move allowed for a restructuring that eliminated nearly $1 billion in debt.

But “macroeconomic headwinds more recently proved too severe” to overcome, the company said.

For now, the company said it will keep more than 95% of its 12,000 employees to help with the process of closing.

Fatal Wave Hits California On Monday, large waves hammered the California coastline, killing one person at Sunset State Beach, a state park in Watsonville. Two others are missing after falling prey to the huge waves.

One person was “overcome by high surf and pulled into the water.” Bystanders tried to help him, but to no avail. Police were able to find his body.

“Despite an extensive search effort, challenging ocean conditions forced rescuers to terminate their search,” Cal Fire said in the statement. The Coast Guard will attempt to find the body in a recovery search when ocean conditions improve in the coming days.

A portion of a pier in Santa Cruz collapsed into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, sending three city workers into the sea after high surf slammed the coast.

The Wharf, a public pier, is home to several restaurants in Santa Cruz, about 70 miles south of San Francisco. The pier was evacuated and closed to all emergency responders just after 1 p.m.

Two city workers were rescued by lifeguards and the third person swam safely to shore.

Construction crews for the city were tearing down a restaurant located on the Wharf, which had been damaged in a storm surge last December, when the collapse occurred. The damaged section of the pier was closed to the public due to previous storm damage, and no members of the public were present when the collapse occurred.

Mangione Pleads Not Guilty Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, pleaded not guilty on Monday as he was arraigned in New York state Supreme Court.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has charged Mangione with first-degree murder, as well as two variations of second-degree murder and weapons charges. He faces the possibility of life in prison without parole on those charges.

Mangione also faces federal charges that could result in the death penalty: The Southern District of New York charged him with murder through use of a firearm, as well as two stalking counts and a

State prosecutors said in court filings that Mangione’s actions were meant to further terrorism and were “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population” and to “affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder.” Appearing in court Monday, his lawyer argued that his case had been politicized and expressed concern that he would not receive a fair trial.

The state case is expected to go to trial before the federal one, said Edward Y. Kim, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District, and state prosecutors said they would coordinate with federal agencies.

Mangione entered the courtroom for his arraignment Monday with his wrists and ankles shackled. During the hearing, his lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, told the judge she was concerned about her client’s right to a fair trial.

“He’s a young man, and he is being treated like a human ping-pong ball between two warring jurisdictions,” she said, pointing to the federal and state cases and their differing arguments.

She also took issue with Mayor Eric Adams’ perp walk with Mangione following the murder suspect’s extradition to New York, calling the mayor’s interactions with Mangione “absolutely unnecessary” and “utterly political.”

Friedman Agnifilo referenced a public statement made by Adams in which he said he wanted to look at Mangione and tell the suspect, “You carried out this terroristic act in my city.” Mangione’s lawyer criticized Adams’ statement since he didn’t include the word “alleged” and because it could potentially sway jurors.

Judge Gregory Carro said he would guarantee that Mangione would receive a fair trial. “We will carefully select the jury,” Carro said.

Mangione’s next appearance in state court is scheduled for Feb. 21.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to the entrance of a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 for an investor meeting when a hooded gunman opened fire behind him. He was shot once in the back and once in the leg.

Authorities have said it was Mangione who waited outside the hotel that

morning and raised a 3D-printed 9 mm handgun fitted with a suppressor, known in generic terms as a silencer, and fired at Thompson.

Mangione was arrested after a fiveday search. (© The New York Times)

Bird Flu Hits CA Cows

In only four months, an avian flu epidemic has hit 645 dairy farms in California, with most cows in the state infected with the virus, and dairy workers at risk of catching the illness. Some dairy farmers have branded the virus “Covid for cows.” Meanwhile, scientists struggle to find ways to slow the spread.

The outbreak prompted California Gov. Gavin Newson last Wednesday to declare a state of emergency, after the virus spread to cows beyond the Central Valley, rendering the issue a statewide crisis.

While bird flu typically impacts birds, it could also hit mammals, including humans. In 2024, there were 61 cases of humans contracting avian flu in the United States, 34 of whom were infected in California. The majority of those who caught the virus had mild symptoms, such as pink eye, fever, and muscle aches. The U.S. had its first serious case of human infection last Wednesday, when a person in Louisiana was hospitalized after contracting the virus.

Though scientists fear the virus could become more contagious with time, there is currently no evidence that bird flu spreads easily between humans. The vast majority of people who have had bird flu were exposed to infected cattle or poultry.

The first time bird flu was found in cows was in early 2024 in Texas. Since then, the virus has spread to dairy farms in California and 14 other states.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there’s no risk in consuming eggs and pasteurized milk from animals infected with the virus. However, raw milk from infected cows could be dangerous to consume.

Despite the implementation of several measures, dairy farms have had little success slowing the spread of the virus.

“Some of them [the dairy farms] have

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just done everything right, and they still got infected,” said Dr. Michael Payne, a University of California, Davis, veterinary medicine expert. “It’s enormously frustrating. You’ve got producers that upend their entire life and system of management — it’s enough to make you want to throw up your hands.”

While cases of birds contracting avian flu are typically more severe, the virus seems to spread faster with cows, since cattle move between farms. Additionally, after cows are infected with bird flu, they can only produce two-thirds as much milk after they recover, leading to a 4% drop in California’s milk production.

Government Shutdown Averted

Minutes after midnight on Saturday, the Senate approved a bill to avert a government shutdown, securing funding until mid-March. The measure was then signed by President Joe Biden.

The bill, which also included $100 billion in disaster relief for states hit by storms, was approved in an 85-11 Senate vote. While its approval came minutes after the midnight funding deadline elapsed, federal funding was not interrupted.

An earlier version of the bill was proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday, but it was quickly shot down by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the billionaire who will be heading the incoming administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, who both took issue with the bloated measure.

Notably, the successful measure followed a proposal by President-elect Donald Trump, which would have, along with funding the government, suspended the federal debt limit. However, that proposed bill was rejected by House Democrats and 38 House Republicans, demonstrating the incoming president’s limited power in swaying a Congress narrowly controlled by the GOP. In the end, Johnson passed a bill that didn’t include a provision to suspend the debt limit but did exclude some of the Democrats’ initiatives. According to Johnson, Trump “knew exactly what we were doing and why” and added that “this

is a good outcome for the country.”

“Though this bill does not include everything Democrats fought for, there are major victories in this bill for American families,” said outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, referring to “emergency aid for communities battered by natural disasters.” He added the bill would “keep the government open with no draconian cuts.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also portrayed the bill’s passing as a victory for the Democrat Party.

“House Democrats have successfully stopped extreme MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy and hurting working-class Americans all across the land,” said Jeffries. “House Democrats have successfully stopped the billionaire boys’ club, which wanted a $4 trillion blank check by suspending the debt ceiling.”

House Republican leaders are mulling over a bill that would raise the debt limit, while cutting spending, in an effort to help Trump advance his agenda.

“House Republicans agree to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in the first reconciliation package, with an agreement that we will cut $2.5 trillion in net mandatory spending in the reconciliation process,” the proposal read.

In the past two years, Congress has, on several occasions, come close to failing to prevent a shutdown.

Starbucks Union Strike

On Sunday, Starbucks workers went on a strike that has so far spread to nine states.

On Friday, the strike began with walkouts in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

Stores in Colorado, Ohio, and Pennsylvania joined the strike on Saturday. And on Sunday, Starbucks Workers United also began striking at locations in Missouri, New Jersey, and New York.

As of Sunday, 30 stores were completely closed. But according to the union, the five-day strike may, by Tuesday, impact “hundreds of stores”—a tiny percentage of Starbucks’ 10,000+ locations.

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impact to our store operations. Only a small handful of our U.S. stores have been impacted,” Starbucks stated on Sunday.

The union’s goal is to secure barista wage increases before their end-of-year deadline. In contrast, Starbucks in December proposed no immediate pay raises with just a guarantee of a 1.5% increase in the coming years, which, for most employees, would mean less than 50 cents.

Since February, the union has had a framework with Starbucks management to reach agreements, which the company agreed to use. However, Starbucks claimed on Thursday that the union suddenly ended bargaining talks this week following nine sessions and twenty days of bargaining since April.

“After all Starbucks has said about how they value partners throughout the system, we refuse to accept zero immediate investment in baristas’ wages and no resolution of the hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practices. Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners,” Workers United president Lynne Fox stated.

New Jersey’s Starbucks locations don’t have picket locations. In New York’s Brooklyn and Long Island locations, there has been picketing.

On Sunday, Starbucks said that its employee benefits package is very generous compared to other companies’ packages.

The average hourly pay at the company is $18, but along with the benefits package, it’s worth $30 an hour for baristas who work for twenty or more hours a week.

On Friday, the union filed a new unfair labor practice charge against Starbucks, accusing the company of refusing to bargain and engaging “in bad faith bargaining.” The company has said the union’s “proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year year contract. This is not sustainable.” Workers United has denied demanding that much of a pay raise, though it is not clear how much of an increase they’re hoping for.

DA Kicked Off Trump Case On Thursday, Georgia’s Court of Appeals kicked Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis off a case accusing President-elect Donald Trump of interfering in the 2020 election, citing Willis’ relationship with a special prosecutor as a “significant” conflict of interest.

However, the court, led by a group

of judges appointed by Republicans, stopped short of dismissing the case entirely as the former and now-incoming president had requested. Thus, another prosecutor may take Willis’ place.

Steve Sadow, a defense attorney for Trump, declared that “this decision puts an end to a politically motivated persecution of the next President of the United States.”

Willis’ lawyers filed a notice indicating that she intended to appeal the court’s decision. Her office brought the case in 2023, alleging that Trump and his allies attempted to illegally reverse his re-election loss in 2020. The case claims that Trump urged Georgia officials to “find” votes and perpetrated a “fake elector” plot wherein he would declare victory, confiscate voting machines, and intimidate election workers.

As part of the case, Willis charged Trump, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, and others under Georgia’s RICO Act, which is used to root out organized crime in the state. Last year, some of Trump’s co-defendants — particularly, lawyers Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, and Sidney Powell — pleaded guilty to some charges.

After Willis was accused of benefitting financially from hiring her former partner, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that either Wade or Willis should resign from the case. After the ruling, Wade stepped down, but Trump and others charged in the same case maintained, “nothing in the law — anywhere — says that the remedy for an appearance of impropriety is the disqualification of one apparently conflicted lawyer but not another.”

Willis’ lawyers dismissed the notion that her past relationship with Wade was a conflict of interest, claiming that the allegations amounted to a smear campaign.

They added that there was “no evidence that the district attorney has financially benefited at all.”

“While this is the rare case in which DA Willis and her office must be disqualified due to a significant appearance of impropriety, we cannot conclude that the record also supports the imposition of the extreme sanction of dismissal of the indictment under the appropriate standard,” the appeals court determined.

Biden Commutes Death Row Sentences

Of the forty criminals sentenced to death by the federal government, President Joe Biden granted clemency to 37 on Monday, commuting their sentences to life in prison without parole.

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” said Biden. “But guided by my conscience and my experience...I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level…. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”

The move comes less than a month before Biden hands over the White House to President-elect Donald Trump, who resumed executions during his first term in office following a twenty-year capital punishment pause. Biden’s decision makes it impossible for Trump’s government to execute the 37 people Biden gave clemency to.

Democrats and some religious leaders, including Pope Francis, urged Biden to commute the sentences in order to prevent Trump from having those currently on death row killed.

Biden’s move only applies to those on federal death row. He doesn’t have the power to commute the sentences of the nearly 2,200 others who have been sentenced to death by the states.

Since Trump won the election, Biden has pardoned forty people, including his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted on tax violation and illegal gun possession charges and whom the president repeatedly insisted he would not pardon. He has also commuted the sentences of over 1,500 people.

Biden refrained from commuting the sentences of three people on death row, who were each convicted of terrorism or hate-motivated mass murder: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who murdered three people in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who

killed nine African Americans in 2015 at Charleston, South Carolina’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church; and Robert Bowers, who, in 2018, killed eleven Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue.

The three men who remain on death row have each filed appeals and legal challenges, which must be dealt with before their execution dates are decided upon.

Biden’s move was praised by human-rights groups, including Amnesty International USA. Meanwhile, the president’s decision was condemned by Republicans, including Representative Chip Roy and Senator Tom Cotton.

Stranded Skiers

Skiers at a Colorado ski lift on Saturday were stranded when a crack caused the gondola lift to automatically stop mid-ride.

More than 170 skiers and snowboarders were stuck on the lift at Winter Park Resort when the crack was found in a structural piece of the lift just after noon on Saturday.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, although many of the skiers had to wait five hours to be lowered down by ropes to safety.

Ski patrolers entered the cabin of each gondola from above and lowered people’s equipment to the ground before using a rope equipped with a seat to lower each of the 174 passengers to the ground.

On Sunday, workers replaced the section of the lift that cracked as state regulators and the lift’s manufacturer worked with resort officials to investigate what caused the crack. The resort still had 21 other lifts open.

All guests trapped on the gondola were given a $10 voucher and two lift passes for this year or the next.

Where Was Rep. Granger?

For five months, Rep. Kay Granger has been missing in action. The Republican representative from Texas had represented the 12th Congressional District since 1997. Her last vote in Washington, D.C., was on July 24.

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In an effort to determine how Granger would be voting for a contentious stop-gap spending bill, the Dallas Express tried to track down the 81-year-old. After unsuccessful attempts to contact both Granger’s D.C. and district offices by phone, reporters paid a visit to the Granger’s Texas headquarters where they “found the door locked, front door glass window covered, no one inside, and no sign of the office continuing to be occupied.”

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Eventually, the tracked her down to discover that she had been residing in a senior living facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

Following the investigation, Granger’s family told the media outlet that Granger has been “having some dementia issues late in the year.”

Her son Brandon said that she was residing in the independent living section of Tradition Senior Living.

“It’s been a hard year,” her son said.

In a statement from Granger’s office, representatives said that Granger’s health issues had made travel to the capital “both difficult and unpredictable.”

“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” the statement said.

Granger had announced in November 2023 she would not seek reelection.

“It’s time for the next generation to step up and take the mantle and be a strong and fierce representative for the people,” she said in a statement at the time.

After her announcement, state Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, filed for the seat. He defeated businessman John O’Shea in a primary runoff and Democrat Trey Hunt in the general election. He will be sworn into office January 3.

Feinberg as Deputy Defense Secretary WWW.MYTEAMMAGIC.COM/JOIN-TEAM/

Stephen Feinberg is set to be Trump’s deputy defense secretary, the president-elect announced on Sunday on social media.

Feinberg is the co-CEO of Cerberus Capital Management, which has invested in hypersonic missiles, and

previously owned the private military contractor DynCorp, a company that was acquired by another defense firm, Amentum, in 2020.

Feinberg was also involved in the first Trump administration, leading the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which provides the U.S. leader advice on intelligence assessments and estimates and counterintelligence matters.

In his announcement Sunday night on Truth Social, Trump said Feinberg is “an extremely successful businessman” who will “help Make the Pentagon Great Again.”

Trump has already nominated Pete Hegseth as his pick for the top Defense Department post, a position that requires confirmation from the Senate.

The deputy defense secretary typically manages day-to-day operations of the massive bureaucracy with a combined workforce of more than 3 million service members and civilian employees. The search for a capable No. 2 took on heightened significance as lawmakers weigh the pick of Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, to be defense secretary. Hegseth has been among Trump’s most controversial picks.

Feinberg was born in the Bronx and moved with his family to Spring Valley, NY, when he eight years old.

Nordstrom Buyout

Nordstrom, one of the country’s oldest department stores, said Monday that it would be taken private by its founding family and a Mexican retail business, reaching an agreement after months of speculation over a potential buyout of the business.

The company will be acquired by members of the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real es-

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tate and department store company that has owned a stake in Nordstrom since 2022. Including debt, the deal values Nordstrom at $6.25 billion, the company said in a statement.

Shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, the company said. That’s about 42% higher than its closing price on March 18, when news of a potential sale was first reported, the company said.

A month later, Nordstrom formed a special committee of its board of directors to weigh an offer from Erik and Pete Nordstrom.

The company said Monday that it would also authorize a special dividend of up to 25 cents per share if the transaction closes.

The deal will leave the Nordstrom family with a majority ownership stake in the company, which was founded in 1901 in Seattle, the company said.

In a statement, Erik Nordstrom, CEO of the company and the fourth generation of his family to run it, noted the chain’s longevity in the retail industry.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for the business,” Erik Nordstrom said.

“On behalf of my family, we look forward to working with our teams to ensure Nordstrom thrives long into the future.”

Department stores have struggled to find their footing as e-commerce continues to eat away at their market share.

Nordstrom has fared better than its competitors, in part because of its favorable real estate and higher income clientele, but even it has faced challenges. The sale price is well below the $78 a share that Nordstrom fetched in public markets about a decade ago.

In November, the company said its net sales had expanded in the third quarter, as did its gross profit, as it was able to sell more merchandise at full price rather than having to discount it.

Its off-price Nordstrom Rack business has also been strong, nabbing a 3.9% increase in comparable sales last quarter. (© The New York Times)

A Good Egg This is no yolk.

An egg bought from a supermarket was donated to a British charity and fetched $250 at auction due to an unusual feature: its “almost perfectly spherical” shape.

The egg was originally found in a dozen bought from a grocery store in Ayr,

Scotland, and was purchased by Lambourn, Berkshire, resident Ed Pownell for $187 via auction house Thomson Roddick Callan.

Powell didn’t egg-xactly buy the egg with good intentions. He had a few drinks, which made the egg purchase tempting to his fried brain. Realizing that the egg wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, he donated it to the Iuventas Foundation, a charity that supports young people in Oxfordshire.

The charity group sold the egg as part of a fundraiser auction. It sold for around $250. Other items were also auctioned off for the charity, which netted around $6,250.

Sounds egg-citing.

Toys4U

Each year, a few more lucky toys are granted admission into the National Toy Hall of Fame. This year, My Little Pony, Phase 10, and Transformers were inducted into the vaunted halls of play.

“These are three very deserving toys that showcase the wide range of how people play,” Christopher Bensch, The Strong National Museum of Play’s vice president for collections and chief curator, said in a news release. “But for My Little Pony, in particular, this year is extra validating.

The beloved toy was a finalist seven times before finally crossing the finish line.”

The three inductees were among 12 finalists, including Apples to Apples, balloons, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Hess Toy Trucks, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, remote-controlled (R/C) vehicles, Sequence, the stick horse and trampolines.

My Little Pony was first introduced by Hasbro in 1983 and reintroduced again in 2003. The mini-horse figurines come in

more than a thousand varieties, all with elongated tails and manes, made to be brushed. Its popularity peaked in 1982 and 1993, outselling Barbie. There is also a television series of the toys.

Phase 10 is one of the bestselling card games, second to Uno. It was introduced in 1982.

“Today, Mattel reportedly sells two million Phase 10 decks annually in 30 countries and in more than 20 languages,” Mirek Stolee, The Strong’s curator of board games and puzzles, noted.

Hasbro released its first set of Transformers in 1984. The toys were marketed with a backstory, supported by a Marvel comic book series, a cartoon television series, animated movies, video games, consumer goods and even its own cereal.

There are live-action movies that feature the robotic figurines.

The National Toy Hall of Fame is located inside The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Eighty-four toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, established in 1998.

That first year, teddy bears, the erector set, Crayola Crayons, frisbees, Barbie, etch-a-sketch, Monopoly, tinkertoys, Play-Doh, marbles and LEGO were inducted.

Last year, four toys were inducted into the hall of fame: baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Nerf toys.

Other notable inductees include sand (2021), the Atari 2600 Game System (2007), balls (2009), Hot Wheels (2011), The Game of Life (2010), G.I. Joe (2004), cardboard boxes (2005), Raggedy Ann and Andy (2002), kites (2007), Mr. Potato Head (2000) and sticks (2008).

They talk a good game.

Fireball Flo

Stay away from this centenarian. She’s a feisty one.

Florence Hackman, who just recently celebrated her 106th birthday, credits her longevity to her love of liquor. In fact, last year, in honor of Florene’s 105th birthday, Fireball sent over 105 shots of its Fireball Cinnamon Whisky in celebration.

She also credits being nice as a secret to her long life.

“I just try to be nice to people and try to go one day at a time – that’s all,” Florence said in a post on the Traditions of Deerfield senior living facility’s Facebook page. “If you get that one day in, then you can go on to the next one. So that’s what you’ve got to do – one day at a time – think what I’ve got to do today. You’ve got to keep moving as long as you can.”

Good advice, but keep in mind that Florence’s parents also lived into their 100s.

In addition to her love of liquor, Florence is a huge fan of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Could be football is the secret to her many years – or maybe not.

Too Late

Sometimes, even the library has no patience for long-lost books.

Recently, Chuck Hildebrandt was looking through the books on the shelves in his home when he noticed a library book. Baseball’s Zaniest Stars by Howard Liss had been checked out of the Warren Public Library on December 4, 1974.

“I was so embarrassed,” he said.

Hildebrandt now lives in the Chicago area, but when he returned to Detroit for Thanksgiving, he attempted to return the book to the library from where he had checked it out 50 years before.

Librarians couldn’t find the book in the system, which was good because Hildebrandt wouldn’t be responsible for the 25-cents per day overdue fee, which would have amounted to $4,563.75.

And the librarians told him he could keep the book.

Hildebrandt is now attempting to raise the amount of that waived fee to donate to nonprofit literacy group Reading is Fundamental. He put in the first $457, about 10% of the amount, himself, and is trying to crowdfund the rest.

Word.

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Community Shining Together at Chai Lifeline National Gala

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hai Lifeline’s National Gala drew more than 800 guests to celebrate and support the organization’s critical work on Tuesday, December 17 at Pier Sixty, New York City. The evening, themed “Shining Together,” highlighted the vital impact of Chai Lifeline, the Jewish community’s leading health and crisis support network.

Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline, expressed the significance of the event, stating: “The National Gala is more than a fundraiser—it’s a celebration of the

compassion and dedication that fuel Chai Lifeline’s mission. Tonight, we honor our incredible volunteers, staff, and supporters whose unwavering commitment ensures we can continue to be there for families when they need us most.”

This year’s Gala honored Rabbi Chaim and Chavie Bruk, recipients of the Champions of Hope Award, and Dr. David J. Hackam, who received the Maimonides Medical Achievement Award.

The program featured inspiring and electric entertainment, including a powerful musical performance by Shmuel and

Shining Vocals, as well as a mesmerizing display by speed painter and mentalist Robert Channing.

One attendee shared: “The Gala was a beautiful reminder of the impact Chai Lifeline has on so many lives. Being part of this event made me feel connected to a larger mission of kindness and hope.”

The night concluded with a Camp Simcha Alumni Afterparty, where former Camp Simcha campers and staff reunited to celebrate and support the work of Chai Lifeline.

Chai Lifeline serves over 6,000 fami-

lies worldwide, offering a comprehensive network of services, including case management, counseling, crisis and trauma intervention, home and hospital respite care, meals for families in need, transportation to medical appointments, i-Shine afterschool programs, and its world-renowned Camp Simcha summer programs for children with serious illnesses. To learn more about Chai Lifeline and its life-changing work, visit www.chailifeline.org.

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MTA Hosts Parent-Son Learning with Rabbi Rothwachs

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s Chanukah is approaching, MTA is ramping up the programming and infusing each day with meaningful Torah learning, with a special focus on Inyanei Chanukah. To that end, MTA hosted its annual Parent-Son Learning program this past Sunday and welcomed Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, rav of Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck and Director of Professional Rabbinics at RIETS, to address the crowd.

Talmidim and parents davened together in Lamport Auditorium and enjoyed a light breakfast, followed by Rabbi Rothwachs’ shiur. After opening with his own memories of being a talmid at MTA, Rabbi Rothwachs pointed out the irony that although the mitzvah of Ner Chanukah is given special prominence as it accomplishes persumei nisa, one is not obligated to rekindle the lights if they were to blow it by accident. This demon-

strates an important message in our avodas Hashem – that we do all that we can and work hard to achieve, but ultimately the success that we have is from Hashem. This message was both timely and well-received.

Following the shiur, parents and talmidim went to learn with their respective Gemara Rebbe. This time was also spent learning about Chanukah, and most shiurim learned in a combination of

parent-son chavrusa, and a short shiur.

MTA’s Parent-Son learning event is always a well-attended and enjoyable day. Bringing parents into the building to learn alongside their sons is a great way for them to see the high level of learning that MTA offers, and the ownership the talmidim have over their achievements in Gemara learning.

A Deeper Message to Doughnuts at Yeshiva Eitz Chaim

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almidim of Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim enjoyed a special outing to Stern’s Bakery in Brooklyn last week, where learning and tradition came to life in a sweet and meaningful way. As part of their hachana l’Chanukah, talmidim explored the hidden reasons behind the minhag of eating sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) during this festive time.

The trip began with a warm welcome from the bakery staff, who gave the talmidim an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how sufganiyot are made. From watching the dough rise to seeing it fried in oil and filled with delicious jelly, the stu-

dents marveled at the intricate process that goes into crafting these iconic treats.

Following the tour, Rabbi Boruch Oppen shared the deeper lessons behind the custom. He explained that the use of oil in frying sufganiyot reminds us of the neis of the finding and lighting the oil menorah in the Beis Hamikdash, when a small amount of pure oil lasted for eight days.

Additionally, the circular shape of the sufganiyah can symbolize the continuous nissim and brachos Hashem provides us, much like the eternal flame of the menorah.

The letters of sameach (shin, mem,

ches) are the first letters of three vital mitzvos the Yevanim tried to remove the kedusha from: Shabbos, Mila, and Chodesh. The dough of the doughnut represents challah – Shabbos, the jelly represents the milah, and the round doughnut with powder on top signifies the moon – chodesh. Through eating sufganiot on Chanukah we are reminded that the way to happiness is through kedusha.

The highlight of the trip was, of course, the learning; however, the handson tasting was the jelly on the top.

As the trip concluded, the talmidim

left with not only the fresh taste of fresh sufganiyot but also a deeper appreciation for the significance of Chanukah minhagim. The visit to Stern’s Bakery brought the spirit of Chanukah to life, blending Torah learning with a tangible and delicious reminder of Hashem’s miracles.

This trip was truly a memorable experience for everyone involved, infusing sweetness and inspiration into the Yeshiva’s Chanukah celebration.

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RNSP Appreciation Dinner

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t was a windy December night, but the atmosphere couldn’t have been warmer in the OAK Event Space, where the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol gathered with friends and supporters for its Appreciation Event. RNSP, also known as Shomrim, brought together its volunteer members, their spouses, and various partners from law enforcement and the community for a gala dinner to celebrate their hard work and connect with each other.

RNSP Shomrim volunteers are regular people, civilians with families and jobs, who sacrifice their personal time and, often, safety to make the Nassau County and Rockaway communities safer places to live and do business. In collaboration with law enforcement, they work to stop and prevent burglaries, car break-ins, and package thefts; run search and rescue operations; locate and return stolen property, including vehicles; proactively patrol throughout the communities day and night, Shabbos and Yom Tov; and assist the community in countless other ways that often go unnoticed.

This evening was an opportunity to show them appreciation while enjoying a night out.

Upon approaching the entrance, attendees were greeted by an impressive display of lights from the RNSP patrol vehicles lining the driveway, along with those from related organizations who came to show their support and appreciation for the vital work and dedication of the RNSP volunteers. Once inside, one could clearly witness the unique relationship that RNSP Shomrim members share with law enforcement and other community partners. Dinner invitees included various members of the NYPD’s Major Case Squad, Special Operations Division, Community Affairs Division, Patrol Borough of Queens South, the 100th and 101st Precincts, as well as Nassau County Police Department’s 4th Precinct and their Detective Squad. The RNSP has cultivated a true and rare partnership

between their own highly trained civilian volunteers, all levels of law enforcement, elected officials, and other stakeholders in the community.

The food, catered by The Saffron Culinary, was excellent, the decor was exquisite, and the music was top notch.

But the real treats of the evening were the heartfelt speeches, followed by the presentation of awards to selected RNSP volunteers, supporters, and law enforcement partners for their exceptional work in keeping our communities safe.

First, guests were honored by a visit from the esteemed Rabbi Eytan Feiner, head rabbi of Knesseth Israel, also known as The White Shul, who shared words of prayer and inspiration to strengthen the spirits of those who give so much of themselves to help the community.

Then, RNSP Chiefs Elkanah Adelman and Shmueli Kassover expressed their appreciation for the important work of RNSP Shomrim members and their families, sharing details about the important work that makes them so deserving of this honor.

Mr. Kassover told the stories of two of the highest profile wins for RNSP Shomrim this year. First, he spoke about the famous stolen Sefer Torah that RNSP Shomrim and the NYPD Major Case Squad collaborated to recover, and which is now in the process of being restored.

As he spoke, our hearts filled with pride and gratitude that our community has such individuals to liaise with law enforcement. Although the stolen Sefer Torah did not have the monetary value to warrant the engagement of the NYPD’s Major Case Squad, Shmueli was able to powerfully convey the Sefer Torah’s priceless value to the Jewish People, persuading NYPD to utilize their top resources for this important cause.

Kassover also emphasized how his faith played a role in the recovery of the Sefer Torah. While he communicated regularly with the police regarding the developments of the case, he also spoke

with his rav, Rabbi Yossi Weberman, just as often. With his rav’s reassurance and prayers in one hand, and the efforts of RNSP Shomrim and the police in the other, he felt certain that this “highly unlikely case” could and would be solved. In fact, when the Sefer Torah was finally retrieved, the Seargent pulled Shmueli over to tell him that the likelihood of finding the stolen item and catching the professional crew of perpetrators was so slim that it was surely the power of prayer that brought this case to a successful close.

Another highlight of the evening was the incredible video about the infamous “Friday Night Burglar” who targeted the Far Rockaway, Bayswater, and Nassau communities last spring and summer.

We were able to hear firsthand from the victims of the terrible crimes committed, to feel the effects this had on them and their families. Our jaws dropped in horror to learn how a nine-year-old girl woke up in middle of the night to face a burglar in her bedroom. RNSP Chief Kassover made it his mission to call this girl with updates, letting her know that Shomrim was working on it and was going to catch this very bad guy. On the day that this criminal was finally arrested, he was thrilled to call this little girl and let her know this perp would never invade her home again.

The awards ceremony honored both civilians and police officers for their contributions to our community’s safety and security.

As the various members of the police force came up to accept their honors, they expressed their gratitude and admiration for the dedicated efforts of RNSP. The NYPD Major Case Squad, represented by Sgt. Det Harry De LaCruz, Det. Michael Pitkewicz, Det. James Essig, and Det. Chari Minaya, were recognized for their terrific work in recovering the Sefer Torah; Lt. Ryan O’shea, NYPD 101st Precinct Special Operations Lieutenant, was honored for his pivotal role in capturing the serial nighttime burglar; and Det.

Lynn Blanchette, Community Affairs officer for the NYPD 101st Precinct, received well-deserved appreciation for her constant devotion to community engagement and safety. Deputy Chief Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer of Community Affairs and the highest ranking Orthodox Jewish police officer ever, came to personally present the Community Engagement Award and to share his support for the incredible collaboration between RNSP Shomrim and the Police Department.

Within the ranks of RNSP, members Shmuli and Roizy Kraus were presented with an award for their exceptional contributions to RNSP. Together, they participate in almost every division of the organization, with a combination of skill and devotion that leaves its impact on the entire community.

The evening was rounded off by an incredible surprise. Guests of Honor Berry and Raizy Weiss, whose exceptional generosity included the sponsorship of RNSP Patrol Car 3 in memory of Raizy’s father, shocked the crowd with the announcement that they will donate another vehicle to the RNSP. This incredibly gracious gift will enable RNSP to further improve local safety with additional marked patrols and participation in community events.

After another opportunity for guests to enjoy each other’s company over dessert, the event concluded outdoors with the inauguration of RNSP Vehicle 4, generously donated by RNSP member Dylan and his wife Daniella Osyatinsky. It is this kind of partnership between kind, appreciative community members and the dedicated volunteers that enables RNSP Shomrim to be so successful in making our communities safer places to live and do business.

It was truly a memorable evening for all.

Should you ever need the services of RNSP Shomrim, don’t hesitate to call the 24-hour RNSP hotline at 516-858-7300.

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Rav Shraga Samuels, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Yeshiva Sharei Shamayaim in Yerushalayim, visited Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah

Village of Lawrence Celebrates Holiday Season While Enhancing Security

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he Village of Lawrence proudly inaugurates nightly menorah lightings at Lawrence Village Hall. The nightly lightings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the exception of Friday, December 27, at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 28, at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Sam Nahmias notes, “This

is a special opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the Festival of Lights in unity and joy. We warmly welcome all community members to join us for these meaningful events throughout the holiday season. Come be a part of this beautiful tradition as we light the menorah, share in festive spirit, and create

lasting memories.”

While the holiday season marks a time of joyful gatherings, the Village also plans for residents’ safety with added Nassau County patrols—to address any potential safety concerns, provide a visible law enforcement presence, and ensure a swift response to any emer-

gencies—and continued installation of surveillance cameras at strategic entry and exist points throughout the village to increase safety monitoring and minimize the risk of undetected and unaddressed criminal acts within our community.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

HAFTR Teams Shine Bright at CIJE Robotics Tournament

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AFTR once again demonstrated its STEM excellence as it hosted the highly anticipated Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Robotics Tournament. Schools from across the nation gathered for a thrilling day of innovation, creativity, and competition, and HAFTR’s teams rose to the

HAPPY CHANUKAH

occasion, earning top honors in multiple categories.

In the Middle School division, teams coached by Ilana Drubach, Gittel Grant, and Michael Cacciuttolo showcased their skills and teamwork, earning 2nd and 3rd place out of more than 60 schools.

Their success exemplifies not just indi-

vidual brilliance but the collaborative spirit that defines HAFTR students.

The High School team, led by new STEM teacher Mr. Brandon Antonette, achieved the ultimate victory, securing a 1st place finish in their category, not to mention a 10-0 run for the day. Reflecting on the team’s success, Mr. Antonette shared, “Our students’ imagination and dedication truly set them apart. Watching their ideas come to life was inspiring, and I’m proud to see their hard work pay off.”

These triumphs underscore HAFTR’s commitment to fostering a dynamic STEM curriculum spanning Early Childhood through 12th grade. Gittel Grant, K-8 STEM Chair, emphasized, “Our students’ achievements are a testament

to the strength of our program, which equips them with critical problem-solving skills, creativity, and the ability to collaborate effectively.”

Special thanks go to CIJE leaders Phillip Brazil and Adam Jerozolim, along with the event’s judges, for creating a platform where students could shine.

Mr. Brazil praised HAFTR’s warm and collaborative environment, which set the stage for such an inspiring event.

Congratulations to all our brilliant participants and coaches for their perseverance, innovation, and excellence.

HAFTR is proud to continue its legacy of pushing boundaries and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.

Did you know?

Greece is home to up to 6,000 islands and islets.

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Around the Community

Lighting Up the Night at the Pre-Chanukah Chessed Expo

By Aviva Agbashoff

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miles and laughter, waffles and hot cocoa – it was the perfect Motzei Shabbos outing. But this was no ordinary event – it was an opportunity for women and girls to unite with our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael, all while having a great time.

Since the horrific events of October 7, many of us have been involved in supporting Eretz Yisrael in various ways.

Some join missions and visit Israel and volunteer in the South, others run local

campaigns and raise much needed funds.

So many come forward to donate vital equipment to the I.D.F. Whatever the need, Klal Yisrael has stood up and come together at this critical juncture with incredible results.

At the same time, many have expressed the fear that life in the States has kind of gone back to normal. As human nature goes, we tend to move on with our lives. How do we keep up the momentum as adults? And how do we impress upon our children the importance of giving to those in need at home and abroad?

At the Manchester, in Woodmere, this past Motzei Shabbos, the answer to that question was loud and clear. Mothers and daughters attended the first-ever “Pre-Chanukah Chessed Expo” for an exciting night of chessed to support organizations in our community and in Eretz Yisrael.

The Manchester is truly a jewel in the heart of Woodmere. Its warm, inviting, upscale atmosphere provides a space for women to connect, inspire and be inspired; offering various learning and social opportunities for all women in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway. This was the perfect space to welcome mothers, and girls of all ages, from BBY, TAG, Shulamis, HALB, HAFTR, TMM and more, to give while having fun.

“The overarching objective of our initiative was to instill in our daughters and mothers a profound understanding of the significant impact that engaging in acts of Chesed can have on everyone involved.”, stated Rocky Stern, a Woodmere resident, who organized this event to provide an enriching experience and personal growth opportunities for the volunteers and attendees.

Lani Zoldan, a fellow volunteer, shared, “Throughout our program, the girls had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand how individuals from diverse backgrounds and age groups dedicate their personal time to perform acts of kindness for Jews both near and far. This exposure allowed them to observe the selflessness and commitment that people exhibit when engaging in meaningful acts of chesed.”

The packed room was pulsing with a special kind of energy! With so many things to do and see, it was hard to know where to turn first!

At one station, bags were decorated to be sent to chayalim in Gaza and the North by the amazing organization “Beef Up Our Boys.” Gorgeous layette pack-

ages were packed and wrapped for baby boys and girls, born in Shaarei Tzedek Hospital to benefit “Shutfim,” a vital organization that supports parents of children with special needs. These beautiful layette packages, with personal notes for the mothers, are distributed daily to babies born with special needs, as well as babies whose fathers are fighting in Gaza or Northern Israel.

Girls made beautiful charm bracelets at the Badek’d booth, and learned about this incredible local organization that allows chassanim who lack the finances to purchase jewelry for their kallahs the opportunity to do so in a respectable and dignified manner. Thank you to Chasdei Chashi L’Kallah for supporting our Chinese Auction. This worthy local organization supplies beds, a dinette set and sofa to chassanim and kallahs to enable them to build their new home with pride and joy.

The girls wrapped toys for the JCCRP’s local distribution and purchased Chanukah gifts for displaced families, writing personal cards bearing messages to brighten their holiday, knowing that a Jewish child thousands of miles away is thinking of them. This was made possible

by Chamal, an incredible organization in Har Nof that provides toys and other assistance to displaced Israeli families, particularly children and seniors. The toys are mostly purchased from Israeli toy stores, whose owners are often currently serving in the IDF reserves.

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those who need it most.

Girls loved decorating lucite Chanukah candle lighting cards for soldiers.

This effort was in collaboration with “We In It Together,” an organization started

by Motti Mitteldorf, in RBS, who saw an urgent need after October 7 to supply chayalim with essential equipment as they risk their lives each day. Along with his partners, Riki Karoly, in Monsey and Rocky Stern, in Woodmere, over 600 duffles stuffed with extra uniforms, sweatshirts, portable chargers, watches and more have been sent to the soldiers.

Waffles and ice cream with all the toppings were enjoyed by all, while at the same time purchasing a Katzefet gift card to share the same treat with children of Miluim families this Chanukah.

Lastly, our impressive Chinese Auc-

tion was definitely a huge attraction. We are so grateful to the many generous donations from local Five Towns businesses and individuals who made this evening a tremendous success. The event committee was composed of women in the greater 5T communities who share a passion for helping Klal Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. Aviva Agbashoff, Elise Danzger, Meira Fried, Rachelli Fruchter, Shayna Klein, Ahuva Lilker, Sara Pollack, Danielle Robinson, Rebecca Richman, Shoshy Schmuckler, Michelle Spira, Rocky Stern, Stacy Weiler, Allie Wexelbaum, Devorah Wolf, Lani Zoldan, Michelle Zoldan none of this would have been possible without each and every one of you!

By participating in these activities, the girls were able to grasp the essential message that chesed should be an inte-

gral part of their lives, regardless of their circumstances. They learned that acts of kindness can foster a sense of community, build connections, and create a ripple effect of positivity that benefits both the giver and the receiver. Ultimately, we hope this experience will inspire them to incorporate acts of chesed into their daily routines, thus enriching their lives and the lives of those around them.

The thousands of dollars that were raised to benefit each of these vital organizations pales in comparison to the chizuk that was generated for their beneficiaries and the zechusim that came about as a result. What an incredible way to enter into the holiday of Chanukah!

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Mothers and daughters learned about the incredible “Chayal of the Day” initiative, which pairs up schools with communities in Eretz Yisrael. Every day, the community sends the school the name of a soldier, his picture, and a short bio.

The recitation of Tehillim, davening, and learning that day are all dedicated as a zechus for that soldier. Students also write messages of chizuk which are then emailed to the family. Mothers and daughters wrote dozens of cards and countless perakim of Tehillim were recited in the zechus of our brave chayalim.

At the popular Osim Sameach booth, mothers and daughters enjoyed hot cocoa and popcorn while watching a moving video. It showcased how this unbelievable organization sets up shop in 13 hospitals around Israel, bringing smiles to

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Lev Chana Chanukah Workshops

Cheder Menachem Students Bring Joy to Holocaust Survivors

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hanukah Workshops continue at Lev Chana! Every morning another class has the chance to sing and do art projects for Chanukah with

their parents and morahs. For children in preschool, there’s nothing like seeing your family in school!

Rambam Masmidim Lunch Featuring Rabbi Warren Cinamon

he JCCRP, Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, and their local Holocaust survivors held a pre-Chanukah celebration on December 18. The event included live music, gifts, activities and food.

The fourth grade students of Cheder Menachem of Long Island joined the celebration by performing Yiddish and Chanukah songs so beautifully.

As Mrs. Sylvia Uziel, event organizer, said, “I wanted to say a big thank you for sending the most wonderful group of

boys to our event today. The entire staff and every Holocaust survivor absolutely fell in love with them. What a big mitzvah, thank you!”

We are so proud of our talmidim who practiced for their performance and made such a kiddush Hashem.

May we continue spreading the light of Chanukah!

To find out more about Cheder Menachem of Long Island, please visit: chedermenachemli.com.

The 5 Towns Flag Football League

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he Rambam fall semester Masmidim have been learning extra this past semester, meeting with rebbeim Monday and Tuesday nights, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday during lunch to increase their learning opportunities.

Earlier in the week, these diligent ones were treated to a lunch at Traditions in honor of their accomplishments. Principal Mr. Hillel Goldman congratulated everyone on their desire to take the time out of their busy nights and days to learn extra before he handed it off to Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Avi Herschman. They both thanked all the rebbeim who learn with the young men, and they gave a major thank you to Rabbi Avi Haar, Assistant Principal, the head of the Masmidim program.

Rabbi Herschman then introduced the featured guest speaker, Rabbi Warren Cinamon, Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshiva Bnei Torah. Rabbi Cinamon gave the boys words of chizuk and then gave a shiur on the Neiros Chanukah. He brought in many sources while discussing the differences between Chanukah in Israel and Chutz l’Eretz. He also included a discussion of the numerous minhagim that were a result of Jewish history and the Jewish Diaspora before he tied it all together. The students were enthralled!

The Masmidim will, G-d willing, continue to learn in the spring semester, and they will also be presented with Fall Masmidim plaques at the school’s January 1, Intergenerational Learn-A-Thon.

s winter blankets the Five Towns area, excitement is already brewing for the return of the 5 Towns Flag Football League. This organized league, which attracts players from various neighborhoods, stands out not only for its competitive spirit but also for the sense of camaraderie and community it fosters. The Five Towns Flag Football League is known for its organized approach, ensuring a well-structured and safe environment for all participants.

With clear rules, trained coaches, and designated game officials, parents can relax knowing their children are in good hands. This professionalism helps cultivate not only the players’ skills but also their love for the sport. Flag football is more than just a game; it’s a fantastic way for young athletes to learn essential life skills. Players develop physical abilities like agility and coordination while also honing their teamwork and communication skills. The league emphasizes sportsmanship, teaching kids the values of respect and cooperation, which extend far beyond the field. Every season, the league offers exciting competitive opportunities that keep players and fans on the edge of their seats. Kids get to expe-

rience the thrill of competition, working hard with their teams to achieve victories while also enjoying the game itself. This balance between competition and fun is part of what makes the league so special and encouraging for young athletes.

This season every participant will be receiving a FM Home Loans full zip authentic 5TFFL sweatshirt. To register and more info ,please go to www.5townsflagfootball.com.

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Fire of Torah Ignited in London at Massive Dirshu Siyum Held at Cooper Box Arena Outpouring of Emotion and Simcha As Gedolei Yisrael Inspire a Crowd of Close to 10,000

By Chaim Gold

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n fire! The London frum community was on fire!

There is no other way to describe it. This Dirshu siyum was a milestone, a watershed moment! I don’t think we have ever seen such an outpouring of emotion, chizuk, kabbolas ol and dedication to keviyus ittim l’Torah as we saw at last week’s Dirshu Siyum in London’s Copper Box Arena.” These passionate words of a prominent London talmid chacham, himself a Dirshu maggid shiur, could barely encapsulate the fiery enthusiasm that has overtaken all of England.

There were many sparks throughout the siyum that ignited that fire. One such surreal moment was when the venerated Gaon and tzaddik Rav Shimon Galei began singing. Yes, singing. Holding the microphone tightly, his eyes raised to the Heavens, the joyous, heartfelt words “Shaarei shomayim pesach” burst from his lips. The massive arena had been quiet, the attendees hanging onto his every word when…suddenly, the dam broke.

In an eruption of emotion everyone got to their feet and began singing, “Shaarei shomayim pesach” together with Rav Shimon. Surreal indeed!

What was the background to that moment, that spark of fire that set the tone for the rest of the night?

“What an Eis Ratzon This Is!” Rav Shimon Galei was speaking about how the yetzer hara hates kevius, hates when Yidden are koveiah ittim, and certainly when they begin a program of kevius such as the Amud HaYomi when Yidden are empowered to complete a large masechta like Masechta Shabbos

and then immediately segue into the difficult masechta of Eruvin. When Yidden learn Torah this way with a kevius and accountability it creates a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time in Heaven to daven and ask Hashem for anything!

There is no greater eis ratzon than when Yidden come to celebrate these Torah accomplishments.

“A siyum masechta is a time when there is a great eis ratzon in shomayim. If this is said about any siyum, how much more so, a siyum being made by thousands! Now is the time for all of us to daven for Klal Yisrael who are undergoing great difficulty and for all our personal tefillos as well.”

“What an eis ratzon this is!” Rav Galei exclaimed. “The Heavens are wide open, the shaarei shomayim are open! We can ask Hashem for whatever we want!

Right then and there, Rav Shimon spontaneously began to sing, “Shaarei shomayim pesach,” a song where we beg Hashem to open the gates of heaven and shower us with bracha from His infinite otzar, treasure house of bracha.

The tangible emotion and feeling of Rav Shimon rippled through the hall, touching the souls of everyone present… and the usually reserved English crowd joined him, raising their voices in song.

Soon, everyone was on their feet singing, davening. The emotion reached a crescendo and it was clear to everyone there that they were indeed tapping into a unique eis ratzon. The emotion, the tefillos, the tears that were shed, defy description.

A Transformative Day The event held at this massive venue in London was deeply emotional because

first and foremost it featured addresses from Gedolei Yisrael and was attended by rabbanim from throughout England and even from Belgium and Switzerland. The simchas haTorah was enhanced by some of Klal Yisrael’s most talented mezamrim including Boruch Levin, Motti Steinmetz, Zanvil Weinberger, Hershy Weinberger, and the Malchus Choir accompanied by the elite symphony orchestra led by R’ Mona Rosenblum.

The drashos and siyum were interspersed with beautiful niggunim as well as a beautiful medley featuring the magnificent songs of the late composer and choir master of the London School of Jewish Song, R’ Yigal Calek, that electrified the crowd.

Foremost, however, were the powerful words of the Gedolei Yisrael, the Gaonim HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, HaRav Nissan Kaplan, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Daas Aharon, HaRav Aharon Schiff, shlita, Rav of the Machzikei Hadas Kehillah of Antwerp, HaRav Dovid Hofstedter shlita, Nasi Dirshu, HaRav Shalom Freidman, shlita, Segan Av Beis Din of the Kedassia Beis Din of London, HaRav Tzvi Elimelech Padwa, shlita, Rav of Agudas Achim, Zurich, HaRav Shimon Spitzer, shlita, well known mashpia and HaRav Yehuda Leib Wittler, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Shaarei Chaim, Manchester. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London also attended and recited Kaddish following the siyum.

Although Dirshu is not an unknown organization in England and has been active in promoting Torah learning there for decades, the event on Sunday evening, 15 Kislev/December 15, was a transformative day. It was the day that all of England, London – Golders Green, Hendon, Stamford Hill – Manchester and

Gateshead all came together with other European communities to collectively raise their commitment and kabbolas ol to undertake kevius and goals in accountable limud haTorah. Whether it was the Amud HaYomi, the Daf HaYomi or the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha learning and testing programs, it has become clear that England changed on December 15.

The event was opened by HaGaon Dayan HaRav Binyomin Eckstein, shlita, Yoshev Rosh of Dirshu England and Europe. Rav Eckstein welcomed the massive crowd and underscored the phenomenal achdus that characterizes Dirshu. “No organization has unified Klal Yisrael like Dirshu has.” Just one cursory glance at the crowd proved how true those words were. There were Ashkenazim and Sefardim, Chassidim of all types, Litvishe bnei Torah, baalei battim and chashuvim representing the entire cross-section of English Jewry all gathered to celebrate their deep connection with accountable limud haTorah that has so richly enhanced their lives.

A Constant Fight, a Battle…So Dear to Hashem One of the most powerful drashos of the evening was the riveting speech given by Rav Nissan Kaplan, Rosh Yeshivas Daas Aharon and a son-in-law of the venerated senior Rosh Yeshiva of England, HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Gurwicz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Gateshead.

“Tonight,” Rav Kaplan declared with great emotion, “we are celebrating the foundational event of Dirshu across the entire United Kingdom. Yes, Dirshu has been here for years but tonight all of England, whether it is London, comprised of Stamford Hill, Golders Green/Hendon,

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Rav Dovid Hofstedter: “When Your Brother Is In Pain, You Cry!” Rav Emmanuel then introduced Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter.

Rav Hofstedter asked a powerful question. The Torah tells us that Yosef’s brothers hated him to such an extent that they eventually plotted to kill him and threw him into a pit.

Rav Dovid asked. “How could they throw their brother into a pit and then just sit down to eat?! The Sforno answers that they paskened that Yosef was chayav misah and should be considered a rodeph, and they were therefore at peace

with what they had done.

“We see, however, from the later pesukim that they were not at peace with what they had done. Many years later, after Yosef reunites with his brothers, the passuk tells us that they sat together and ‘ate and drank.’ We learn from Chazal that this was the first time they had drank wine since they had thrown him in the pit all those years earlier! From the time they had thrown him in the pit, they were in such pain and mourning that they didn’t drink wine. Why? If they had done the right thing, why were they in pain?”

Rav Dovid then asked another question. “Yosef finally meets his youngest brother after 22 years of separation.

Should that not be a remarkably joyous occasion?! Why then do Chazal tell us that the two brothers fell on each other’s shoulders and cried? Yosef cried when thinking of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh that was situated in Binyomin’s territory and Binyomin cried over the destruction of Mishkan Shilo in Yosef’s territory. Now, at a time of simcha, they are crying?”

With great feeling, Rav Dovid answered, “Yes, at times there can be fights among brothers, differences of opinion, even strong differences, At the same time, when there is a churban by one brother, the nature of true brotherhood is that his other brother feels his pain. Thus, even though the brothers held that Yosef was a rodeph who deserved the punishment, they simultaneously felt the deep pain he was undergoing in the galus of Mitzrayim and refused to drink wine which symbolizes joy.

“When your brother is in pain, you cry!” Rav Dovid exclaimed, “Morai v’rabosai! Our brothers, Acheinu Bnei Yisrael are suffering! They are in pain. We must feel their pain. We must feel connected.

Hashem is showing us that these are not regular times. Hashem is demanding our tefillos, our sharing in the pain, our Torah and our kevod shomayim.”

With great passion, Rav Dovid continued, “Today, Hashem is demanding tefillos from the depths of our hearts!

We are living in an extraordinary time, and Hashem wants our tefillos and our limud haTorah in an extraordinary way.

He wants us to go above and beyond our abilities. He wants us to learn Torah with exceptional diligence and exceptional clarity, with chazaros, with great depth, in a way that will bring all of Klal Yisrael together! Hashem is calling. He is demanding, He wants more!”

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Manchester or Gateshead is one. Everyone who is connected to Torah in England feels connected to Dirshu. Look around, people have been battling to get places on the busses from Gateshead and Manchester, from all neighborhoods in London!

Yidden have been clamoring for tickets to show how they identify with this movement of limud and yedias haTorah!”

Rav Nissan then illustrated the point by sharing a personal story. “I have a talmid who lives here in London. He learned by me in Mir Yerushalayim. After his marriage, he was learning difficult areas of Choshen Mishpat in kollel. Eventually he returned to London and baruch Hashem is successful in parnassah. You know what happened to him? He has been ‘bitten’ by the ‘Dirshu bug.’ Despite running a large business, he is engaged in Torah learning for eight hours per day!

Yes, he is constantly learning and reviewing so that he can take a test – not only a test on thirty blatt every month but a cumulative test on 120 blatt and more!”

Rav Kaplan concluded, “To be a part of Dirshu is declaring, ‘Ribbono Shel Olam, I want to place my lot among lomdei Torah!’ To be a Dirshu Yid, you cannot suffice with a perfunctory, one hour shiur each day. You must learn, review and review some more. Dirshu is a constant fight, a battle, and that is why it is so dear in the eyes of Hashem!”

The chairman of the evening, Rav Yechiel Emmanuel, underscored the transformative impact that learning in Dirshu has even on baalei battim by sharing the story of a friend of his, a baal habayis who runs a large business. After the encouragement of a friend, he joined one of Dirshu’s most ambitious programs and, as a result, is currently immersed in Torah throughout the day.

“Sometimes,” Rav Emmanuel proclaimed, “all you need is a friend to encourage you!”

Unmitigated Simcha One of the climactic moments of the evening was the siyumim made on Seder Zeraim in Talmud Yerhushalmi and on Masechta Bava Basra in the Daf Hayomi made by longtime Dirshu learners, Harav Chaim Meir Sternbuch, and HaRav Shimshon Raphael Rosenbaum.

This was followed by a riveting hadran, drasha and siyum on Masechta Shabbos in the Amud HaYomi given by HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Elimelech Padwa, shlita, Rav of Khal Agudas Achim of Zurich, Switzerland.

The Kaddish following the siyum was recited by the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London.

As soon as the Rebbe completed the Kaddish it seemed as if a spark had been ignited! Such a contagious outpouring of unmitigated simcha was felt throughout the massive stadium as the assemblage jumped up in dance and song. It seemed as if the normally reserved, controlled British nature was transformed as young and old danced with unrestrained simcha shel mitzva in way that London had never before seen!

The simcha was so profound, the singing and dancing with all the singers joining together was so joyous that it took time to calm down the assemblage and continue with the program.

“Dirshu is about Kol Amcha Beis Yisrael!”

The final drasha of the evening was a powerful charge by HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Leib Wittler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva, Shaarei Chaim, Manchester.

Rav Wittler said that when we say Birchas HaTorah each morning we are begging Hashem that we and all our children and grandchildren and the children of the entire Beis Yisrael should learn Torah l’shama.

“Is not Birchas HaTorah a personal bracha about the Torah learning of the individual?” Rav Wittler asked, “Why then do we insert the tefillah for all of

‘Beis Yisrael’?”

Rav Wittler then quoted the great Mashgiach, HaGaon HaRav Mattisyahu Salomon, zt”l, who said, “When one learns Torah, it is not only about his own personal Torah. He must have a tov ayin, a benevolent eye, and share that Torah with Amcha Beis Yisrael! Dirshu feels a sense of responsibility for all of Beis Yisrael! They do everything they can so that all of Amcha Beis Yisrael should learn Torah. As a result, they merit that through them so much Torah is spread among Klal Yisrael.”

“Tatteleh Kumt Shoin Aheim” – It is Up to US! When Rav Hofstedter spoke, he referred to the awful antisemitism that has reared its ugly head. “One wonders if there are any streets left in the world where a Yid feels safe. Hashem is showing us that neither our bodies nor our souls are safe. The threats to our purity are everywhere as well.”

“Let us answer Hashem’s call,” Rav Dovid called out, “by making a commitment. We will fight for Torah, by learning Torah with even more commitment. We will fight for our yeshivos, for our yeshiva bachurim, for our shuls, schools, kollelim and yungeleit! We will never surrender until the time when Hashem, in His mercy and kindness, will bring us the joy of the geulah!”

How appropriate it was that right after Rav Dovid’s concluding words, the famed song of Rav Don Segal, “Tatteleh kumt shoin aheim,” which begs Hashem to “Please, please come back home,” reverberated throughout the arena. Palpable emotion permeated the hearts of the crowd as the message penetrated that, “It is up to us, with our additional commitment to limud haTorah with accountability! We can be instrumental in bringing our Tatteh, our Father in Heaven back home with the coming of Moshiach and the building of the Beis Hamikdash!”

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One Israel Fund: Celebrating 30 Years of Building and Protecting the Biblical Heartland of Israel

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or 30 years, One Israel Fund has been unwavering in its mission to improve the lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria. As the leading organization supporting these communities, One Israel Fund fills critical gaps in services, addressing the unique needs of the region in areas such as healthcare, security, education, and community infrastructure. From medical facilities and preventive security to recreational and communal resources, One Israel Fund ensures that Judea and Samaria not only survives but thrives.

Since October 7, the perspective of many around the world has shifted— viewing all Israelis as settlers and underscoring the vulnerability of Jewish communities across the land. The needs in Judea and Samaria, the Biblical heartland of Israel, have only grown more pressing in the face of these challenges. One Israel Fund is dedicated to meeting these needs, ensuring safety, security, and a high quality of life for all who live there.

30th Anniversary Gala: A Historic Milestone On Thursday, December 19, One Israel Fund celebrated a transformative milestone at its 30th Anniversary Gala.

The event highlighted the organization’s multi-million-dollar pledge for the Nanasi Medical Center In Shaar Binyamin, gifted by honorees Nina & John Nanasi.

This medical center is a critical development for residents who currently lack nearby access to advanced healthcare.

A keynote moment of the evening was the participation of Gov. Mike Huckabee, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Gov. Mike Huckabee is a long-standing and vocal supporter of Israel and its Biblical heartland. Huckabee delivered an inspiring address, reaffirming his commitment to the people of Judea and Samaria and their vital role in the nation’s future. His words emphasized the importance of supporting these communities as they face growing security and humanitarian challenges.

Additionally, the evening included a powerful fireside chat between Nathaniel Buzolic, actor and Israel advocate, and actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, who also acted as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. The audience also included many influencers, online personalities, and a multitude of Israel advocates who all share One Israel Fund’s mission.

Addressing Essential Needs Across Judea and Samaria The residents of Judea and Samaria rely on One Israel Fund to address critical gaps in services that other parts of Israel take for granted. From lifesaving medical facilities and state-of-the-art security systems to educational resources and community development, One Israel Fund ensures that these communities are not overlooked. The organization’s efforts are a testament to the resilience and spirit of those living in this region, who play a crucial role in the history and future of Israel.

Scott M. Feltman, Executive Vice President of One Israel Fund, shared his thoughts after the dinner, “Firstly, it was a fortuitous honor to be able to host Governor Mike Huckabee in his first major address to a Jewish, Israeli organization since his nomination to become the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Moreover, being able to look out at the landscape of the over 700 people in attendance and knowing that for the first time in 30 years, Judea and Samaria has become a mainstream cause for religious, non-religious, Jewish, and Non-Jewish people alike who came together to support this cause.

In a post October 7th world, people of all backgrounds now realize the importance of protecting these communities.”

Honoring Leadership and Dedication At the gala, One Israel Fund proudly recognized the outstanding contributions of its honorees: • Lionesses of Zion Honorees: Hadassa Goldberg and Hadas Gozlan, Security Director of the Jordan Valley • Woman of Valor: Carol Greenwald • Inaugural Founder’s Award in honor of One Israel Fund’s founder, Dr. Yechiel Leiter (Israel’s next Ambassador to the U.S.), presented in memory of his son, IDF Maj. Moshe Yedidyah Leiter, MD • Dor L’Dor Bonei Yisrael: Nina & John Nanasi and Ashley & Ben Nanasi • Shomrei Yisrael: Melodie & Marty Scharf • Maginei Yisrael: Danielle & Sid Rosenberg To learn more about One Israel Fund’s mission or register for upcoming events, visit oneisraelfund.org or contact info@OneIsraelFund.org. Together, we can continue to ensure a strong, thriving future for the Biblical Heartland of Israel.

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Mothers and Daughters Gather at Shulamith

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he night was filled with warmth and joy as Shulamith mothers and daughters from 1st to 4th grade gathered together for a memorable paint night at YILC. The event began with the girls decorating their own aprons, unleashing their creativity before enjoying a delicious buffet of Carlos & Gabby’s, followed by indulgent ice cream sandwiches.

A heartwarming highlight was when

the girls came together to package art kits for Yedid, a division of Misaskim, which helps children who suffer from parental loss. The atmosphere was further enriched by our esteemed principal, Mrs. Ginsparg, who engaged the girls in singing beautiful Chanukah melodies, including “Al Hanisim” and “Sivivon Sof Sof Sof.” The highlight of the evening was a live Zoom art class led by the talented

Tanya Zbili from Toronto, Canada. Under her guidance, the girls painted powerful images of resilience and faith, capturing the connection between Hashem’s promise to Avraham and the eternal strength of the Jewish people. Hashem’s promise was not that the Jewish people would be numerous, but that they would be eternal like the stars in the sky. The painting, featuring a young girl draped in the Israeli flag, symbolized a small but un-

shakable nation that, despite being surrounded by enemies, miraculously continues to thrive.

The night was a true celebration of connection, spirit, and Jewish pride, and we are so grateful to the SWO and all the mothers who volunteered their time to make this event a huge success!

HANC ECC is getting ready for Chanukah! We decorated doughnuts with HANC Middle School girls and had a magic show with The Great Adeeni

YHT’s Chagigat HaChumash

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eshiva Har Torah’s second graders celebrated the receiving of their first Chumashim, and it was quite an exciting celebration! Preparations culminated in an incredible Chagigat HaChumash attended by parents and grandparents. The performance included songs about Torah and Eretz Yisrael.

It also included a Hebrew skit reenacting the Midrash about Hashem offering the Torah to other nations of the world!

In preparation for receiving their

Chumashim, students participated in other meaningful experiences to help them learn about and connect to the book they were about to receive.

Each student chose a story in Sefer Bereishit and created a painting to represent it. The collaboration between the classroom teachers and art teacher made this milestone come alive for the students. The paintings were on display at the Chagigot and enjoyed by all.

Additionally, students took a trip to the

Young Israel of Jamaica Estates to hear a presentation from a Sofer and dance with the Torahs. The Sofer taught the students about how Torahs are written and helped them understand the connection between the Torah scroll and the Chumashim they were about to receive.

Parents joined as well in this additional celebration leading up to the Chagigot.

Mazal tov to all of the second graders at YHT! May your Torah learning journey be sweet!

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 26, 2024

Yeshiva Week Concert in Miami: All Proceeds to Benefit Leket Israel

By Dr. Jeffrey Galler

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The following insurances are accepted as payment in full or partial payment to the purchase of hearing aids.

OXFORD, UNITED HEALTHCARE, AETNA, THE EMPIRE PLAN, UFT Teachers, HEALTHFIRST

ast year’s Yeshiva Week concert was nearly sold out, and this year’s event promises to be even more captivating. On Wednesday, January 23, Yitzchok Fried, accompanied by a talented violinist, percussionist, and renowned pianist Alan Mason, will present “Forever Yiddish 2” at the Aventura Cultural Center. All proceeds from the concert will benefit Leket Israel, the leading food rescue organization in Israel.

This unique event aims to take the audience on an emotional journey through Yiddish classics that continue to resonate deeply with listeners. Yitzchok Fried will perform timeless songs that are as much a part of our cultural legacy as they are an emotional voyage, blending joy, sorrow, and, of course, a touch of humor.

Reflecting on the significance of these classics, Yitzchok says, “Popular music culture often looks back at the ‘Golden Oldies’ from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. But our Yiddish classics sometimes date back over 100 years. Can you think of a popular English song from 100 years ago that is still sung today?”

When asked which song in his program resonates most deeply with him and his audience, Yitzchok shared, “It’s the song Papirrosin.” This haunting ballad tells the story of a boy pleading for people to buy his goods, all while describing the tragic loss of his parents and his little sister. It’s a poignant reminder of the emotional weight Yiddish music carries. “It’s impossible not to be moved to tears when

you hear it,” Yitzchok adds.

The desire to perform this program stems from Yitzchok’s deep connection to Israel, especially in these challenging times. With Israel facing a multi-front war, the hardships faced by families— particularly those with loved ones serving in the IDF—have only intensified.

“We must recognize the struggles of our brothers and sisters who are fighting for a shtikele broit,” Yitzchok says, urging the community to support those in need.

All proceeds from the concert will be donated to Leket Israel, which works tirelessly to reduce food waste by collecting excess food and distributing it to those in need. Founded in Ra’anana by Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel has grown into a pivotal organization in the fight against hunger. Joseph Gitler recognized a critical gap and dedicated himself to addressing it, ensuring that food does not go to waste when it can help those struggling to make ends meet.

Born in Austria, Yitzchok Fried’s love for Yiddish music and language is evident in his performances. He regularly leads synagogue services and presents similar programs throughout Florida. “Singing in Yiddish allows me to express so much more with the nuances of the language and music than I can in any other language,” he explains. “And through this, I can contribute to helping Israel. What more could a person hope for?

For ticket information, visit AventuraCenter.org or call 877-311-7469.

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Friendship Circle Recap

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he Friendship Circle, this past November and December, hosted an incredible array of programs, bringing joy and meaningful experiences to kids, teens, and adults with special needs. Some of the beloved programs that we ran were Sunday Circle and Fun and Fitness.

During the November Sunday Circle, a monthly program for kids with disabilities, the older kids made challah, while our younger participants enjoyed musical activities and arts and crafts. At the end of the event, everyone watched a live Parshas Noach-themed animal show. During the show, the participants learned about and had the opportunity to pet several creatures, including turtles, bunnies, and chickens.

During this past month’s Chanukah-themed Sunday Circle, the older division made doughnuts, while the younger participants crafted menorahs and played dreidel. And in honor of Chanukah, we also had an exciting fire show for the participants. It was a blast for everyone.

Fun and Fitness’s first session kicked off with martial arts. With five-week sessions throughout the year, the program covers karate, soccer, sports, and yoga. Fun and Fitness doesn’t only keep the kids active, though. It also teaches the participants the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, and patience.

On December 21, we hosted a Chanukah-themed T-YAD event. The teens crafted their own Chanukah candles and spent the evening playing board games with Chanukah gelt. Through all the fun,

Hands-On Chanukah Learning at Gan Chamesh

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he children at Gan Chamesh internalized the beauty of Chanukah with so many multi-sensory hands-on activities. They delved into math and science concepts, explored

the sounds of laughter and joyful conversation filled the room.

This past month, we were also lucky to have our Hamagaal outing, during which our adults went to Top Golf and had a fabulous day working on their golf skills and hanging out with peers.

On December 30, the Friendship Circle will be partnering with Shulamith HS to host a bowling event, during which we’ll be lighting a bowling pin Menorah and enjoying donuts.

On January 1, from 10 am to 2:45 pm, we’ll be hosting an exciting Chanukah trip to Ferox Athletics, an experience that includes trampolines, ninja courses, and more. For more information about Friendship Circle’s upcoming winter trip, please email Batsheva@chabad5towns. com. We’re looking forward to another month of Friendship Circle fun!

light through play, and constructed and explored different menorahs. All the activities were part of the integrated learning approach at Gan Chamesh!

Ezra Academy Shines in Debate and Chess Competitions

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zra Academy is celebrating a week of triumph as its students excelled in both debate and chess, showcasing the school’s commitment to nurturing intellectual growth beyond the classroom. The Ezra Debate Team emerged victorious in a prestigious competition, securing multiple trophies against renowned schools such as Flatbush, Ramaz, MTA, and SKA. Meanwhile, the Ezra Knights, the school’s chess team, clinched their first win of the season with an impressive 10-4 victory.

The success of Ezra’s debate team is a testament to the dedication and skill of its members, including Nathaniel Chanimov, Rivkah Gavrilov, Eliana Borukhov, Hannah Shimunov, Milena Abraham, Liel Pinhasov, and Avi Shimunov. These seniors exemplify the values of integrity, collaboration, and excellence that Ezra Academy instills in its students. Competing at such a high level requires not only sharp minds but also the ability to think

critically and present arguments with clarity and conviction—qualities that these students have mastered.

On the chessboard, the Ezra Knights displayed strategic brilliance and teamwork under the leadership of Yehuda Nissani, Joseph Pinchasov, Alex Markucci, and Ethan Yohananov.

Ezra Academy’s emphasis on extracurricular activities reflects its holistic approach to education. By encouraging students to excel both inside and outside the classroom, the school fosters a culture of intellectual curiosity, resilience, and personal growth.

As Ezra celebrates these achievements, it continues to inspire a generation of students who are not only scholars but also leaders and innovators. With a senior class that has consistently represented the school with pride, Ezra Academy is setting a benchmark for excellence in academics and beyond.

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YOUR UPGRADED SUMMER EXPERIENCE

JULY 2 - JULY 28

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Join us for an unforgettable summer in the heart of Eretz Yisrael! For the Bais Yaakov girl entering 9th-12th grade who is looking for the experience of her lifetime in Eretz Hakodesh, our uplifting staff and upbeat trips and activities will keep you inspired and help you build friendships that last a lifetime.

Unwind in comfort at the upscale D-Hotel in Ma’ale Adumim after each exciting and fun-filled day.

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A N D TO A P P LY V I S I T C A M P N A A L E H . CO M I N F O @ C A M P N A A L E H . CO M • I L : 0 5 3 . 6 62 . 0 0 1 0 • U S : 51 6 - 3 7 3 - 0 6 6 0

* FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED

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Around the Community

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HALB’s seventh grade girls participated in a dance fundraiser for The Purple Vest in Israel

Shulamith ECC learns about Chanukah through hands-on activities

JCCRP’s Success Space for Women Trip to 5 Boros, Five Towns

HALB Robotics

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he HALB Robotics Team participated in the CIJE Yeshiva Robotics Competition. They built robots that could throw a ball into different

hoops and competed against several other schools. It was an incredible experience for everyone in attendance.

n Sunday, December 22, 2024, Success Space for Women participants were driven to the Upper West Side to the 5 Boros, 5 Towns Gemach. It was an incredible experience.

The women who went were given the “luxury” of self-care; a rare time to shop for new clothing for themselves. The 5 Boros, 5 Towns Gemach was lined with racks and racks of beautiful clothing, and each of our women walked away from

the gemach with multiple bags of new clothes. The atmosphere of the gemach was also very inviting, with volunteers available as personal shoppers to assist the women in finding the perfect styles and cuts of clothing for their figures, soft music playing, and champagne for the women to sip while shopping. Every one of our hard-working women felt very comfortable there and enjoyed a rare night of self-care.

teamwork, leadership, and the development of various life skills.

In addition to the ninth grade trip, another exciting event took place for Rabbi Praeger’s group of students, who were treated to an outing at Dave and Buster’s following their successful completion of the social media challenge. Nearly 40 boys celebrated their achievement with an afternoon of games, laughter, and a delicious pizza party afterward.

Both outings exemplified Ezra Academy’s dedication to finding the right balance between a rigorous academic curriculum and social engagement, providing students with opportunities to build meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers alike.

Ezra Academy continues to prioritize

a dynamic, supportive environment, ensuring that each student has the tools to succeed academically, socially, and personally, all while fostering a sense of belonging and community.

Ezra Academy Heads to Laser Tag

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zra Academy’s ninth grade students enjoyed an unforgettable bonding experience with a funfilled trip to laser tag. The outing was designed not only to provide an opportunity for students to unwind but also to foster teamwork, friendship, and camaraderie in a vibrant and engaging setting.

The day began with excitement as students gathered for the trip, momentarily stepping away from their academic routines to connect with peers and faculty members outside the classroom. The laser tag competition was both thrilling and entertaining, as students worked together in teams, developing valuable collaboration skills and strengthening their relationships with one another. Alongside the laser tag action, the group also

enjoyed a variety of arcade games, adding to the day’s entertainment.

Though the event meant missing morning classes, the students returned to their studies in the afternoon, eager to continue their academic pursuits. The trip successfully balanced the rigorous academic model Ezra Academy is known for with a healthy dose of social interaction and fun, demonstrating the school’s commitment to providing a well-rounded education that nurtures both intellectual and personal growth.

This outing was part of Ezra Academy’s ongoing efforts to create a warm, family-like environment where students can thrive in both academic and social realms. The school strives to develop well-rounded individuals by encouraging

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Around the Community

Successful Day For YCQ at CIJE Robotics Competition

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The third grade girls at HALB put on a beautiful play about the story of Chanukah for the students in grades 1-5 and their parents

BACH Jewish Center, Long Beach Police Bring Holiday Cheer to Pediatric Patients

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CQ’s Robotics Team put on a spectacular performance at this year’s CIJE competition at HAFTR. Congratulations to Joseph Rozic and

Aiden Tavor for coming in 4th Place out of 107 teams! Special thank you to Mrs. Jen Jaffe for her tremendous devotion and dedication to the team.

A Jew is a Jew is a Jew

By Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman

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n the spirit of the holiday season, the BACH Jewish Center partnered with the Long Beach Police Department to deliver holiday toys and care packages to hospital-bound children at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside. The BACH’s Rabbi Benny Berlin, Police Department Commissioner Richard DePalma, and members of his department hand-delivered the toys and care packages to the hospital on Dec. 18.

“The holidays are a time for families to unite and celebrate, but unfortunately, some in our community find themselves in the hospital, missing the holiday cheer they usually enjoy,” said Rabbi Berlin.

“Our sages teach us that Hanukkah is about spreading light, and what better way to do that than by helping those who are ill experience some joy during the holiday season.”

“We are deeply grateful to Commissioner DePalma, the Long Beach Police Department, and its officers for joining

us in this meaningful effort to bring smiles to the children at Mount Sinai South Nassau,” he added. “We hope and pray for a swift recovery for each of these young patients and for their return to health, along with the joy of everyday celebrations.”

Also given over to hospital staff for distribution to patients were personalized cards from the children at the BACH, which included get-well-soon cards, along with holiday well-wishes and colorful drawings and artwork to help bring holiday joy.

“It’s truly wonderful to partner with the BACH Jewish Center to help make the holidays a little more special for children who can’t be home,” said Commissioner DePalma. “Children need to know that both the police department and faith-based communities care about them, and we’re doing our part to brighten their world this holiday season.”

hen I was growing up, my parents reminded me again and again that religious practice does not deprecate one’s status as a Jew. This statement was based not only on halacha but on their horrid experience in concentration camps where ALL Jews were interned. Litvishe, Polish, Chassidish, frum, non-frum, Yeshivish and non-religious were designated to be gassed together.

As a young child, it was difficult to internalize this message; after all, I saw people that I knew without yarmulkas driving on Shabbos. Perhaps it was self-righteousness or religious arrogance, a common malady of young yeshiva kids. I just didn’t get it. Respectful of the view of my father, a”h, I did not disparage non-religious Jews. Over the years, as I grew up, I began to feel sorry for those who didn’t know better and did what I

could to be mekarev them, bringing them closer to the Torah way of life. I began to internalize my father’s lessons.

This past week, I was accompanied by a group of Rambam students and Mr. Hillel Goldman to visit the Neutra family. As many know, their son Omer paid the ultimate sacrifice being killed in battle 6,000 miles away, fighting for Israel.

There were throngs of people, and we had to wait outside because of the crowd. The shiva house was not in a private home but was held in a local synagogue. Once we entered, I saw Jews externally manifesting their different levels of commitment.

Beards, hats, and yarmulkas were clearly noticeable as well as bare heads and colored hair. I immediately felt what my father had said. We were there because any loss of Jewish life is tragic. A Jew, is a Jew, is a Jew. Here was a young man whose life was snuffed out freely defending his people…something my father never witnessed.

Did you know?

The average Greek person consumes 12 kg. of feta cheese a year.

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Around the Community

These Boots are Made for Walking.

And Fighting!

By Justin Stark

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oots for Israel is a cornerstone organization within the Chamal Association, a coalition of post-October 7 charities that have raised and distributed millions of dollars in gear, equipment, and essential supplies to soldiers, security teams, and civilians in Israel.

Every day is a busy day for our volunteers, but December 10, 2024, was particularly hectic for Boots for Israel! While the media focused on peace talks, our volunteers knew that the war was far from over. On that day, they managed to transport nearly 1,000 pairs of boots to Israel!

That morning, 350 pairs of boots were shipped from JFK, followed by hundreds more on a flight from Newark (a big thank you to our partners at BC Lev Echad!). Not to be outdone, our partners at Chabad of Coconut Grove, FL helped us send 26 duffel bags of boots out of Miami International Airport the same day.

How does this happen? It’s simple: when Jews come together to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our chayalim, incredible things happen! Anyone can get involved — whether by hosting a boot-packing event or helping deliver boots from our Brooklyn warehouse to various packing centers. For more information about volunteering, please contact ayeletpgoldberg@gmail.com. .

And we definitely need your help! In December alone, Boots for Israel received over 11,000 requests from chayalim, all of which are verified by our team in Israel.

We work tirelessly to procure boots in the right color and size to meet the demand.

Once shipped to Israel, the boots are received at our Modiin warehouse and distributed to hundreds of IDF bases across the country.

Since its founding by Yakir Wachstock

on October 11th, 2024, Boots for Israel has worked relentlessly to ensure every soldier has the boots they need to walk, run, fight, and protect the land of Israel.

To date, we have sent over 73,000 pairs of boots and are currently fulfilling over 9,000 open requests as the fighting continues.

Frequently, Boots for Israel is resupplying boots to reservists who are on their 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th tour of duty. Our partners also supply these brave chayalim with helmets, vests, and other critical gear.

As Chanukah approaches and we reflect on the miracles of the holiday, consider connecting with Boots for Israel and joining in the modern-day miracles that our chayalim experience daily.

Having trouble finding the perfect gift for someone special? Here’s a great idea: buy a pair of boots for a chayal — or for two or three! By donating boots, you’re not only giving a meaningful gift to a soldier who is still fighting for all of us, but also performing a tremendous mitzvah for the tzedakah you are contributing.

The Chamal Association is a coalition of organizations, including the Israel Chesed Center, BC Lev Echad, Boots for Israel, Lev LaChayal, Unit 11741, and Israel Magen Fund. Together, we’ve been at the forefront of engaging local communities to support the war effort. Since October 2023, these organizations have raised and distributed millions of dollars in gear, equipment, and other essential supplies to soldiers, security teams, and civilians in Israel.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to provide critical equipment, please visit https://linktr.ee/israelnow.

Did you know?

Greece is the fifth largest producer of olive oil in the world.

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Around the Community

Bar Mitzvah Breakfast

Cupcake Wars at HAFTR

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azal tov to the seventh grade boys of HALB on their Bar Mitzvah breakfast! The students were joined by their rebbeim and parents on Sunday for a special morn-

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ing all about becoming a bar mitzvah.

Students gave their presentations, and the program concluded with music and dancing together. It was a very beautiful morning!

un, adrenaline, teamwork, creativity, excitement – those are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about the Cupcake Wars event that took place at HAFTR Middle School this past week. Seventh grade girls were divided into teams and competed to decorate cupcakes that were beautifully and creatively designed, working under significant time constraints. Challenges included designing cupcakes representing Israel, Chanukah, and Friendship. Students then presented their cupcakes to a panel of judges consisting of Dr. Joshua Gold, Mrs. Einat Rabinovich, and Ms. Ariana Wolfson.

Dr. Yali Werzberger, HAFTR’s Assistant Principal, explained, “The way students worked together as a team to design, innovate and create was truly gratifying. Students learned how to manage conflict and differences of opinion and channeled their energy towards the greater good of their team.”

Students prepared for the Cupcake Wars through a series of workshops run

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by Yakira Goldberg, former HAFTR student and owner of Kira’s Confections.

She taught the girls cupcake decorating skills as well as teamwork.

We thank Mrs. Talia Goldwyn, Mrs. Molly Gellman, and Ms. Shana Friedman for organizing the event.

CAMP SHIRA *Camp Shira is a Youth Corp site!*

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Miracle Baby

By Rabbi Yehoshua Frankenhuis

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n 2017, Rochel Brandeis was fifty years old, with seven children. She never would have guessed that one year later she would become the rebbetzin of the venerated rosh yeshiva, Rav Zvi Keshelevsky, certainly not with the hopes of having another child. Here is her story, in her own words: I was a single mother with seven children, only two of whom were married.

It wasn’t the easiest time in my life; in fact, it was exceptionally challenging.

However, I had already learned so clearly that the foundation of our avodah in this world is “va’ani, kirvas Elokim li tov — and as for me, being close to G-d is my good” (Tehillim 73:28), and I was constantly working on my emunah and bitachon. I would listen to shiurim that inspired me to not only keep going but to constantly strive for a higher level of avodah. I also focused on supporting Torah and talmidei chachamim.

Although I was able to give monetary support to talmidei chachamim, I

yearned deeply to support and serve a talmid chacham as a wife. At my stage in life, and with seven children of my own, to most people this seemed an impossibility, an unreachable dream. Yet I was determined.

Towards the end of 5777, I was still doing everything I could to support the study of Torah, yet my dream of marrying a talmid chacham was simply that, an unreachable dream. Then one night, I was listening to a shiur delivered by Rabbi Mordechai Sitorsky, a talmid of HaRav Moshe Wolfson, who spoke about the tremendous power of the upcoming year, 5778.

I was tremendously inspired by this shiur. It gave me hope that I would merit a great miracle in the upcoming year.

I increased my efforts to develop my bitachon but despite my hishtadlus and tefillos, I was not getting the suggestion I longed for. People were telling me to drop the dream.

Intellectually perhaps I heard, but my heart in rebuttal assured me, “Hayad Hashem tikzar — is the hand of Hashem

limited?” (Bamidbar 11:23).

The year went by, and it was getting very close to the end of 5778, yet no yeshuah was in sight. In fact, I wasn’t redt even one shidduch. It took immense effort to keep going, to not give up, and to maintain emunah in Hashem.

The day before Rosh Chodesh Av was a Thursday, and it was quite an overwhelming time. Among other things, I was overloaded with laundry that needed to be washed before Rosh Chodesh.

I also had to take my then ten-year-old son to have a cast removed. In my haste to get there, I tripped and fell down the stairs leading to the doctor’s office.

I sat up in a lot of pain. The orthopedist said I had torn a number of ligaments in my foot and probably had a few hairline fractures as well.

Somehow, I made it home. It was now Rosh Chodesh Av. It was also Erev Shabbos Kodesh, but with a serious injury I wasn’t able to prepare for Shabbos myself. I sat at my kitchen table with my foot elevated as my bar mitzvah bachur cleaned the house. I sighed at my fate and turned to look at my calendar, which was open to the week of Tu B’Av. Some time before, I had written in the square for Tu B’Av day, “B’ezras Hashem Yisbarach, Chasunah.” When I wrote it, I was pumped up with bitachon, but now I laughed. It was Rosh Chodesh Av. There was no way that I would be married to a great talmid chacham in two weeks’ time!

Then I caught myself. “If you think that Hashem can’t marry you off to the biggest talmid chacham in the course of fourteen days,” I berated myself, “then you are an apikores! You may have worked hard on mussar, emunah, and bitachon, but do you still think that Hashem can’t make anything happen?”

I took my self-delivered mussar shmuess to heart and began working even harder on my emunah, spending the entire Shabbos strengthening my belief in “Ein od milvado,” that there is no other besides Him and emerged from that Shabbos a different person.

That Motza’ei Shabbos, I received a phone call from Rabbi Paysach Krohn’s first cousin, Rabbi Yosef Krohn, and his wife, Ruthy. They shared with me that there was a rosh yeshiva who had expressed an interest in a shidduch, but he wasn’t willing to hear more about it until after Tishah B’Av. However, things began to move more

quickly than I or the Krohns imagined.

I had recently added Rabbi Daniel Travis, a close talmid of Rav Zvi’s, to my shidduch resumé (though at the time I had no idea there was any connection), and Rav Zvi called him to inquire about me. Among other things, Rabbi Travis responded by showing Rav Zvi the preface I had written to his book “Praying With Joy.” Upon reading it, Rav Zvi declared, “This is my zivug!” (Of course, I only found out this part of the story afterwards.)

Though the prospect was incredible, it was a huge step to take, and there were many factors to consider. I was extremely passionate about marrying a great talmid chacham, yet it had never crossed my mind to consider a shidduch with a gadol b’Yisrael.

The following day, Sunday, I received a call from Rabbi Travis.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity that I know you have been waiting for,” he told me. “The Rosh Yeshivah is on a very lofty level. Among other things, he was the chavrusa of the Brisker Rav.” I responded that I needed some time to think about it. And I wanted to speak with the author of “Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh,” Rav Itamar Schwartz. “Anyway, the Rosh Yeshiva doesn’t even want to look into it until after Tishah B’Av.” Rabbi Travis replied, “No, he wants to meet sooner.”

“When?” I inquired.

“Tonight!” was the reply.

Read the book to learn more about their marriage less than two weeks later, the birth of Eliyahu a few years afterwards, and of the incredibly inspiring lives of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kushelevsky.

Reprinted from Miracle Baby by Rabbi Yehoshua Frankenhuis with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

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An Attitude of Gratitude Appreciating Our Moros

By Rabbi Yehuda Deutsch

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he origins of the custom of giving Chanukah gelt date back centuries, with the Magen Avraham and Pri Megadim discussing various aspects of this cherished tradition. While the details of who should receive, why it’s given, and other considerations are beyond the scope of this article, it is worth noting how the custom has evolved over time.

What began as an act of giving charity to Torah scholars during a yom tov has transformed into a widespread practice of expressing gratitude to children’s (Torah) teachers, especially on Chanukah. This time-honored tradition, deeply rooted in Jewish communities for millennia, reflects the enduring value placed on appreciating those who teach Torah.

However, this practice has gradually shifted, reaching a point where it has become disproportionate and unbalanced—a perspective this article aims to explore.

I am not saying that a parent should or should not express appreciation. I believe that is a personal decision. While, as we have already pointed out, it may be in the realm of a custom, a minhag, the point is not to take a side on whether to express appreciation or not. A parent remarked to me several years ago, “My boss does not say thank you to me, so I don’t feel it necessary for me to say thank you to my children’s teachers.” To that, I say: You do you! One who feels that they don’t need to express gratitude, that is their prerogative.

However, for those who choose to give something to the Torah teachers of their children, it is surprising that the gifts given to rebbeim often contrast sharply with those given to moros. It has become the norm to give rebbeim generous gifts, yet many feel that a mug, picture frame or small tchatchka is sufficient for a morah. This disparity likely reflects broader societal norms, but that doesn’t mean it should remain un-

changed. The value of a teacher of Torah, regardless if they are teaching our sons or our daughters, should be recognized in a way that aligns with the appreciation they truly deserve.

Yes, people have attempted to make logical arguments and say that a rebbi is the primary breadwinner and subsequently needs additional assistance. To that argument, we pose several responses: 1. Many moros in girls’ schools are from chinuch families. As such, they are not living opulent lifestyles, and every penny matters.

2. In today’s economic climate, many families—certainly those that are working in education—are multi-income families, requiring both parents to earn a living.

3. Gratitude is about the giver’s values, not the recipient’s financial needs.

4. Most crucially, expressing gratitude is a teachable moment for our children to see the value of saying thank you meaningfully to people who are truly deserving of our thanks.

It’s an authentic chinuch moment.

We can demonstrate to our children: You are so important to me, and your learning is so important to me. Look at how much it matters—I am going out of my way to say thank you to your morah

in a real way.

There is not a rebbe or morah that I know of who doesn’t have a shoebox or an album filled with cards they have received throughout the years. These come from caring parents who spend less than three minutes writing down their thoughts on how impactful the teacher has been. Better yet, when children themselves write the cards, those melt a teacher’s heart faster than anything else.

Why not give a gift that truly matches our words?

Remember, whether this can or can’t be done from ma’aser money, the purpose of giving a gift on Chanukah is not to be charitable. It’s an attitude of gratitude.

Then there are some who may argue that an unmarried morah doesn’t need the money. To that, I refer to the prior arguments. But even beyond this, why can’t a single girl save up towards her future?

What if she commutes and needs money for gas and tolls? What if she wants another outfit to wear for work, but clothing is prohibitively expensive, and now she can treat herself? Why is it anyone’s business what she does or doesn’t do with her money? This should not be viewed as supplemental income. It’s an opportunity to say thank you.

Should a suggested tip for a waiter for one month in a boy’s summer camp be equated with a year’s worth of learning from a morah? Why is it that a parent is comfortable giving a substantial gift to a rebbe who teaches his son, yet the same parent may opt for a trinket or a platter of cookies for the morah who teaches his daughter? The thought behind the gift matters, and it’s important to reflect on what that thought communicates. Is it acceptable to give more to a bus driver or a trash collector than to someone who dedicates their life to shaping the future of our children? This is not a barber or a waitress who relies on this money as a form of their salary. Isn’t it pitiful to demonstrate to our children that we have more appreciation for a mailman who brings us bills than for a woman who dedicates her life to bringing our children to Olam Haba? This is a critical opportunity to demonstrate to our children that the chinuch of our girls matters just as much as that of our boys.

It’s time to recalibrate our priorities and give a strong message to our moros: Thank you for caring for our girls.

We value you. We can demonstrate this beyond a mug that says “#1 Morah” or a picture frame. Let’s change things for our girls to show them that their chinuch matters to us. Let’s change it so moros get the positive feedback they deserve.

Perhaps in doing so, more girls will consider entering this barren field that is losing out prospective talent to more lucrative positions, exposing the frightening thought of who will be the teachers of the next generation if we don’t take the steps to improve a bleak picture—one that ought not be framed.

Having previously been a rebbi and principal, Rabbi Yehuda Deutsch, M.Ed., is currently the Assistant Dean at Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway, NY.

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Centerfold

Toys of the Decade According to Couponbox.com, the following toys were the most popular presents in the decade they arrived.

Match the toy with their respective decades from the 1900s through 1990:

Raggedy Ann Dolls

Game Boy

Crayola Crayons

Monopoly

Rubik’s Cube

The Magic Eight Ball

Mr. Potato Head

Star Wars Action Figures

Etch-A-Sketch

Madame Alexander Dolls

Answers: 1900s- Crayola Crayons; 1910s- Raggedy Ann Dolls; 1920s- Madame Alexander Dolls; 1930s- Monopoly;

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1940s- The Magic Eight Ball; 1950- Mr. Potato Head; 1960s- Etch-A-Sketch; 1970s- Star Wars Action Figures; 1980s- Rubik’s Cube; 1990s- Game Boy

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"I made a terrible mistake…. My wife made me swear that I wouldn’t give her a fancy gift. And I didn’t." – Milton Berle

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1. What is the longest Masechta in Shas? a. Shabbos b. Yevamos c. Bava Basra d. Kesubos

4. What does the “Raish” in “Raish Lakish” stand for? a. Reb Shimon b. Reb Shlomo c. Reb Shimshon d. Reb Shmaya

2. In which Masechta is the famous Gemara about Chanukah which starts off with the question “Mai Chanukah?

What is Chanukah?”? a. Masechtas Chanukah b. Masechtas Rosh Hashana c. Masechtas Shabbos d. Masechtas Chagiga

5. How many words of Gemara are there in Nazir Daf 33B? a. 0 b. 9 c. 123 d. 1,043

3. How many Masechtos are there in Talmud Bavli? a. 12 b. 24 c. 37 d. 49

6. What is the first Masechta in Shas? a. Berachos b. Kedushin c. Megila d. Chagiga 7. How many daf (full pages) are there in the entire Talmud Bavli?

a. 795 b. 1,311 c. 2,711 d. 4,056 Answers: 1-C 2-C 3-C 4-A 5-A 6-A 7-C Wisdom Key: 5-7 correct: Eli Stefansky would be proud!

2-4 correct: You have a Gemara kup, but you have been going to shiur every other day.

0-1 correct: Rabbi Akiva didn’t know the Alef-Bais until he was 40.

You still have time!

Hey Underlings,

Say “cheese!” No, let’s try that again. Yanky, stop playing with the yoyo… Esther, put

down your phone… Gavriel, you don’t need to wear your hat for the picture… Dovid, you don’t need to be in the picture— I mean wipe the tomato sauce off of your face, and let’s take a great family picture to send into TJH! Yes, yes, all families are the same. If you are thinking that this is not you, well, you know what Mr. and Mrs. Perfect?

Why don’t you send your picture to the Museum of Perfect Family Pictures. Everyone else, have a good time, take some pictures, and send them into TJH, so that you are part of our Chanukah photo album.

Oh, and we will give you a $10 gift certificate to Berrylicious! See details on the Letters to the Editor page (the place serious people air their grievances). You must send your pictures by email. We don’t accept photos by snail-mail. And, no you can’t drop it off in my office either, I’m not into interacting with humanoids.

Happy Channuuukkkcckckhhaaa!

Your Favorite Centerfold Commissioner

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Talmud Bavli Trivia

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Torah Thought

Parshas Miketz

By Rabbi Berel Wein

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t is obvious from the biblical narrative of this week’s Torah reading that the brothers of Yosef were determined not to see his dreams of dominance and greatness fulfilled. Even when they stood before him and faced him directly, they did not recognize him. They were committed not to recognize him as the prince of Egypt.

It is extremely difficult to change the perspective and previous held opinions of people, no matter how great those people may be. Having committed themselves to destroying Yosefh’s dreams, his brothers were blinded to the reality that it was their brother before whom they were bowing. So often in life our preconceived ideas and beliefs are challenged by the reality of what we see before our eyes.

It is very difficult to admit that one was wrong regarding important issues and ideas, be they of family or nation.

Yet, the future of the Jewish people was entirely dependent on the brothers of Yosef repenting of their previous at-

titude and actions and acknowledging that the dreams of Yosef had validity and actually translated themselves into reality.

I think that as difficult as it is for us ordinary people to give up on ideas and beliefs that we cherished in the past,

being an existential threat to their survival and mission in life. So, after such a momentous decision was made and acted upon, it became unlikely that they would recognize that they were standing before their condemned brother Yosef.

One of the great problems that I feel

So often in life our preconceived ideas and beliefs are challenged by the reality of what we see before our eyes.

it is even more difficult when superior people – such as the brothers of Yosef – are called upon to do so. Much thought and soul-searching must have gone into their original decision to attempt to eliminate Yosef, perceiving him as

is present in our society is the inability to review and rethink past positions in light of present reality and current situations, when these positions were once endorsed by great and holy scholars and leaders. Many opinions of the great peo-

ple of the past two centuries in Jewish life are quoted in support of positions and attitudes which fly in the face of the reality of the Jewish world in which we currently live.

I know what the great men said regarding certain issues in the Jewish world in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in which they lived. But I am not quite certain as to what their opinions would be today in dealing with the realities of the Jewish world as they now exist. It is difficult to have to change one’s mind regarding basic issues in Jewish society when it means reversing a certain traditional way of thinking about those issues.

Nevertheless, without such a rebooting, so to speak, of attitudes towards large sections of the Jewish people, the state of Israel as it now exists and towards the societal challenges that beset Jewish life from all sides, it will prove to be well nigh impossible to guarantee our future success and survival.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parshas Mikeitz Miketz

What Do You Live For?

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

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he man in charge of Yosef’s house said something that serves as a critical reminder for every Jew. The brothers did not know how to react to the money they found returned to their bags when they left Egypt the first time.

So, at Yaakov’s suggestion, they brought the money back to Egypt and gave it to the man in charge of Yosef’s house. But the man told them (Bereishis 43:23), “Peace unto you. Do not be afraid. Your G-d and the G-d of your father placed a treasure in your bags….” The Pnei Menachem of Ger, zy”a, teaches that this treasure is a hint to a Jew’s G-dly soul.

On this Shabbos Chanukah, let us understand more about this treasure.

Remarkably, the Bahag (Mitzvah 139) counts the mitzvah to light Chanukah candles as one of the 613 mitzvos of the Torah. The Rambam, in Sefer Hamitzvos (Shoresh 1), asks the obvious question on the Bahag: How can Chanukah be a Torah mitzvah when it was instituted by the sages in the time of the second Beis Hamikdash?

In defense of the Bahag, the Chasam Sofer suggests a Torah source for Chanukah (and Purim). We know that if one derives a halacha from a Torah law using the logical principle kal vachomer, or a fortiori, the resulting inference also has the status of a Torah law.

Specifically, if the Torah commands the recitation of Hallel and the establishment of a holiday for our transition from slavery to freedom (Pesach), then kal vachomer, when the Jewish people

face a decree of death and are then redeemed, they should certainly say Hallel and institute a holiday! He clarifies that once the events of Chanukah and Purim took place, a Torah obligation to establish a holiday with the recitation of Hallel took effect. The sages simply decreed the specific form of the holiday; i.e., by instituting Megillah, gifts to the poor, gifts to friends, and a feast, in the case of Purim, and Chanukah candles and Hallel in the case of Chanukah.

We can understand the Chasam Sofer’s kal vachomer with respect to Purim. There, there was a decree of death from which we were redeemed.

But with respect to Chanukah, the Greeks never planned to wipe us out. In Al Hanisim, we say that they attempted “to cause them to forget Your Torah and to transgress the decrees of Your will.”

But they did not attempt, as Haman did, to “destroy, kill, and exterminate all of the Jews, from young to old…” So how can we understand the Bahag with respect to the mitzvos of Chanukah as having a basis in Torah?

We can answer this question based on a teaching by the Satmar Rav which explains a dispute quoted in Yorah Deah 157. This dispute centers on whether a Jew is permitted to allow himself to be killed rather than transgress a mitzvah (other than one of the three cardinal sins outside of the context of forced conversions). The Rambam maintains that one is not permitted to do so. After all, the Gemara (Yuma 85b) explains

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that the pasuk (Vayikra 18:5), “And you shall live by them,” implies, “And you shall not die by them.” Rabbeinu Yerucham, on the other hand, says that one is permitted to give up his life rather than transgress even the “smallest” mitzvah in the Torah. The Shach, in his commentary on Shulchan Aruch there (S’K 5) says that both the Rambam and Rabbeinu Yerucham agree that one who is great, pious, and fears Heaven may give up his life rather than transgress any mitzvah of the Torah.

How can the Shach say that the halacha should change for someone simply because they are great, pious, and G-d-fearing? To answer this question, the Satmar Rav quotes a teaching from his grandfather, the Yismach Moshe, zy”a, who explains that there are two types of people. For most people, “life”

means eating, drinking, working, and sleeping. For them, “And you shall live by them,” means that, except with respect to the three cardinal sins, they must transgress a mitzvah in order to continue living life as they define it: worldly life. But for other people, those who are great, pious, and G-d-fearing, studying Torah and doing mitzvos is life; that is what they live for. For such a person, a life of transgressing the Torah is not a life. For them, giving up life rather than sin is a fulfillment of “And you shall live by them.”

Indeed, the Satmar Rav fulfilled this ideal. For example, he would not shave off his beard during the Holocaust even to save his own life. It was only through countless miracles that he was able to survive the war. For him, it was not worth living if he would have compro-

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mised on even the smallest part of Yiddishkeit.

Using this principle, we can understand how the Chasam Sofer’s kal vachomer applies to Chanukah. The Chashmonayim, “Your holy kohanim” (Al Hanisim), were certainly great, pious, and G-d-fearing individuals. For them, a life without Torah, bris mila, and Rosh Chodesh was not a life. For them, the Greeks’ decrees were synonymous with death. Therefore, the redemption of Chanukah, just like Purim, was a reversal from death to life. That is why, according to the Bahag, the Torah obligated the sages to establish a festival, including the recitation of Hallel, on Chanukah.

Rav Yerucham Levovitz, in a recently published teaching, explains that the citizens of a country and its soldiers have different perspectives on their respective roles. The citizens believe that their daily lives of work, travel, eating, recreation, and the like are the primary life of the country. But because the citizens cannot live securely without an army, the country recruit soldiers to protect them to allow them to live their lives. For them, the citizens’ lives are primary, and the soldiers live simply to

support and protect citizen life.

Soldiers see it differently, though.

They look down on average citizens and their pedestrian existence. They cannot imagine how a life of simple work and idle entertainment can be considered a life. A soldier’s life is filled with challenges. They pass through fire and water, get up early and challenge

challenge is to attain greater perfection and purification, to fight the evil inclination and understand the Torah more deeply. That is our battle. We are soldiers in Hashem’s cavalry. The battle inherent in a Torah life is truly called life. That is why, in Al Hanisim, we thank Hashem “for the wars.” Why do we thank Hashem for wars? Lest one

Our daily challenge is to attain greater perfection and purification, to fight the evil inclination and understand the Torah more deeply.

themselves on a daily basis to become better and fight for something greater than themselves: the national identity.

For them, a soldier’s life, because of all of its difficulties and challenges, is truly called “life.” And citizens’ lives are a pale shadow of that, hardly worth being called life.

That is what we live for. Our daily

explain that this expression actually refers to victory in war, not war itself, this cannot be. First, we already thank Hashem for victory in war in Al Hanisim when we thank Him “for the salvations.”

In addition, if it meant victory in war, it should have said, “for the victories,” not “for the wars.” It must mean that we do indeed thank Hashem “for the wars.” It is an honor and a privilege to fight Hashem’s battles by doing the hard work to make Hashem’s existence and presence felt in every detail of life, down to the most mundane. We are honored and privileged for the treasure of our G-dly soul which enables us to live Jewish lives in which we fight Hashem’s battles.

The Ponevezher Rav, zt”l, after he reestablished the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak after the war, was known as having a keen insight into people. Someone told the Rav about a group of orphans who had survived the war. They were completely alone and had given into despair, unable to get up the morning or do anything to move their lives forward. They were completely broken. The Rav instructed that the group should be brought to his home, and he would be happy to speak with them.

When the young men and women arrived, the Rav told them the following story: There was a rav, a great scholar, in a certain town in Europe before the war. Someone proposed a match, a wonderful young man, for his daughter. He agreed that the young man was great and would make a wonderful husband, but there was only one problem. The young man’s father was only marginally religious, did not daven with a minyan,

and even worked on Shabbos. The rav was torn and did not know what to do.

But ultimately, he decided that because the young man was certainly worthy, he would agree to the match. The young couple got married, and the whole town rejoiced at the wedding.

The morning after the wedding, the boy’s father got up in the morning, picked up his tallis and tefillin, and began to leave for shul. His wife asked him, “What’s happening? You haven’t davened in shul in years. Why are you going now?” He replied, “My son’s father-in-law is the great rav of the city.

Considering my relationship to the rav, it is simply not proper for someone like me not to go to shul.”

And when Shabbos came, the man made kiddush on Friday night and stayed home from work Shabbos day. not only that, he made kiddush for his family. Bewildered, his wife asked him, “Why are you suddenly not working on Shabbos? Why are you making Kiddush?” He answered her, “It is just as I told you the other day. I am now related to the rav through my son’s marriage to his daughter. How can a close relative of the rav work on Shabbos? How can he not make kiddush on Shabbos?”

The Ponevezher Rav continued: “Precious sons and daughters, you are close relatives not just of the rav of a town. You are related to the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed is He. You are connected to greatness. Each one of you over these past years made such sacrifices because of your relationship with the King. Because you are Jews.

And it is not fitting for great people to lie in bed, unable to get up, not to live their lives. You are connected to the King!”

One of the young men in that group recounted this story years later and said that the Rav’s words made such an impression on him that not only was he able to break out of his state of depression, sadness, and despair, but he began to long for greatness.

Hashem has placed a Jewish soul in each of us. That is our treasure. We are privileged to be Hashem’s nation for whom Torah and mitzvos are our life.

Just like the Chashmonayim, may we merit to live for Torah and recognize that living without Torah and mitzvos is not a life at all.

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

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Think. Feel.Grow.

Chanukah and the Eternal Battle for Light

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

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here was once a public debate between a rabbi and an astrophysicist regarding the nature of our universe. The astrophysicist, representing the atheist perspective, confidently approached the podium and began addressing the audience: “I don’t know much about Judaism, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

With that, he went on to detail how physicists could now adequately explain the nature of our universe, without the need for religion.

When he finished his speech, it was the rabbi’s turn to address the audience and represent the religious approach.

With a sparkle in his eye, the rabbi turned to the crowd, and said, “I don’t know much about astrophysics, but I believe I can sum it up in a few words: twinkle, twinkle little star; how I wonder what you are.”

With that, he went on to deliver the rest of his speech.

The Age-Old Debate Spiritual debate has been a recurring phenomenon since the beginning of time. Chanukah is when we tap into the spiritual debate between the Jews and the Greeks, as the Greeks specifically attempted to destroy our spiritual way of life. They aimed to cut off our connection with Hashem and replace it with the worship of the natural, physical world. Yavan, the Hebrew name for the Greeks, means quicksand (Tehillim 69:3) – the Greeks sought to “drown” us in their secular culture, replacing spirituality with atheism and hedonism. The Midrash says that the Greeks attempted to darken our eyes, “hichshichah eineihem” (Bereishis Rabbah 2:4). Darkness represents a lack of clarity, the inability to perceive true form.

Physical darkness prevents physical clarity, spiritual darkness prevents spiritual clarity. This was the Greek attack on the Jewish people: a distortion of truth, a darkening of knowledge and perception.

For this reason, the Jewish people went to war against the mighty Greek army, and to this day, we carry on that fight against Greek culture, a culture that we view as damaging and antithetical to Judaism.

However, if we take a deeper look into Jewish literature, we find a strikingly different picture of the Greek nation and their culture. In Parshas Noach, Noach blesses his two sons, Shem and Yefes, with a seemingly peculiar bracha: “Yaft Elokim l’Yefes, v’yishkon b’ohalei Shem,” Hashem will grant beauty to Yefes, and he (Yefes) will dwell within the tents of Shem. Yefes is the precursor to the Greeks, and Shem to the Jews. This seemingly paints the Greeks in a positive light, as a beautiful nation fitting to dwell within the framework and boundaries of Judaism.

In a similar vein, the Gemara (Megillah 9b) states that despite the general prohibition of translating the Torah into different languages, it is permissible to

translate the Torah into Greek due to the beauty of the language.

According to both of these sources, it seems as though Greek culture does not contradict Judaism but is meant in some way to complement it, harmonizing with Jewish ideology. How can we understand this contradiction?

In order to explain it, we must first develop a deep spiritual principle.

The Spiritual-Physical Relationship How do we understand and perceive Hashem? Is Hashem within time and space, limited to this world alone, as Pantheists believe? Or is Hashem completely transcendent, beyond time, space, and this physical world, as many of the ancient philosophers believed?

The Jewish approach, as explained by the Rambam, Maharal, Ramchal, and others, is a beautifully nuanced blend of these two approaches. Hashem is tran-

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scendent, completely beyond our physical world of time and space, and yet, He is also immanent, within our physical world. This principle applies to all spirituality; we believe that the spiritual and transcendent is deeply connected to the limited and physical world. In other words, our physical world is a projection and emanation of a deeper, spiritual reality. This is the meaning behind the famous Midrash, “Istakel bi’oraisa, u’bara alma,” Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1).

This means that the physical world is an emanation and expression of the Torah, the spiritual root of existence. To give an analogy, imagine a projector: the image you see on the screen is emanating from the projector. The projector and film are the source; the image on the screen is the expression. Similarly, each and every one of us was once a zygote, half a male and half a female genetic code. From that single cell a fully developed and expressed human being ultimately manifested. The same is true regarding the physical world; it stems from a spiritual root, a transcendent dimension.

Thus, we are able to understand and experience the spiritual through the physical, as the two are intrinsically

connected. If you’re wondering how to understand this concept, consider the way other human beings experience, relate to, and understand you. All they have ever seen is your physical body.

They have never seen your thoughts, your consciousness, or your emotions. The only way they can understand you is by relating to how you express yourself and your internal world through your physical body. Through your words, actions, facial expressions, and body language, other people experience what’s going on inside of your body, inside of your head, inside of you.

The same is true regarding our experience of Hashem and the spiritual. We can’t see spirituality, only physicality. We must therefore use the physical to connect back to the spiritual root.

The Greeks sought to uproot this Jewish perspective, to detach the physical world from its higher root. They claimed that human beings have no connection to anything higher than the physical world itself, and that it’s therefore impossible to connect to Hashem. As the Ramban explains (Ramban Al Ha’Torah, Vayikra 16:8), the Greeks believed only that which the human intellect could grasp. Anything that requires spiritual sensitivity,

that transcends rational proof alone, was dismissed as false. Even the Greeks gods were glorified humans – as anything that transcended the physical, human world was dismissed. In essence, the Greeks served themselves.

The Jewish approach is much more nuanced. We embrace human intellect and reason but are aware of a realm that transcends it. We recognize the wisdom of science, medicine, psychology, mathematics, and other forms of worldly wisdom but also recognize a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. As the Vilna Gaon explains, where logic and human intellect ends, Jewish wisdom begins. The reasoning behind this principle is based on the aforementioned idea: the physical world is an expression of the spiritual world.

Just as the physical world stems from a higher, spiritual realm, physical wisdom is an expression of a higher form of wisdom, the Torah. While the wisdom of the physical world is true, it stems from a higher truth, the Torah. Torah is the absolute foundation and root; all physical wisdom is its expression.

The Ideal Relationship The ideal is for the physical wisdom of the Greeks and Yefes to reside within the tent of Shem, for science and the wisdom of the world to be in harmony with Torah. The problem occurred only once the Greeks denied the existence of anything beyond their independent intellectual wisdom. This was the battle of Chanukah. The Greeks tried to destroy the Torah, which contradicted their ideology, and the Jews were forced to fight for their beliefs, to defend their spiritual connection with Hashem and the transcendent wisdom of Torah.

Rav Hutner, zt”l, explains that Chanukah is the chag of Torah Sheba’al Peh, the Oral Torah. Chanukah is the one holiday with no source in Torah Shebiksav.

Unlike Purim, it does not even have a Megillah; it is completely of Rabbinic origin. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have a Mishna; the only canonized source for Chanukah is a few Gemaras which mention Chanukah in an almost coincidental manner. Why is this so?

Chanukah represents the battle against the Greeks. The Greeks claimed that the only source of truth is the human intellect; nothing transcends human logic. The Jews not only showed that there is a transcendent source of truth but took it one step further. When done appropriately, with humility and proper recognition of the Torah’s transcendent root, the limited human being can actu-

ally use his human intellect to participate in the creation of Torah. This is the unbelievable nature of Torah Sheba’al Peh: human beings are given the ability to participate and even create novel Torah ideas and insights. The greatest victory over the Greeks wasn’t to simply prove that transcendent Torah exists; it was to reveal that even the human intellect can connect to Torah, even limited human beings can connect to the infinite.

Our Place of Connection The Greeks tried to spiritually destroy our Beis HaMikdash, the point of connection to the transcendent, where Hashem most intimately connects to this physical world. After our victory on Chanukah, we reignited the flame of that spiritual building, and every year since, we must reignite that same flame within our own homes; we must inaugurate our own personal Beis HaMikdash.

Every day, we get to choose whether we’ll become further entrenched in secular and Greek culture, or if we’ll build our connection to the infinite, the transcendent, and carry the message of Chanukah deep within our hearts. Our life is like building a personal Beis HaMikdash, building an ever-deeper and ever-closer relationship with Hashem. It’s the result of every brick we lay down. Every day is another brick, another opportunity to add to our eternal home, our eternal self, our eternal existence.

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

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

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

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Torah Thought

Chanukah Just a Bit of Patience Please

By Harav Yaakov Feitman

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e all know about the Hellenized Jews. Unlike the Hamans and Hitlers amongst our enemies, the Greeks actually did not want to commit genocide. As Rav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita, (Teshuvos Vehanhagos, Chanukah, page 123) writes, “The Greeks were not antagonistic to everything which is stated in the Torah. On the contrary – they respected it, as is proven by the fact that they sent seventy elders to translate the Torah into Greek. Of course, they only accepted those things with which they agreed. That is why we recite in Al Hanisim that they wanted lehashkicham Torahsecha – specifically to make them forget Your Torah, meaning that the Torah comes directly from Hashem… Additionally, they certainly didn’t believe in any of the miracles which Hashem performed for us.”

So we must ask ourselves: what indeed drove all those Jews to become the dreaded Misyavnim, who broke with their traditions and fell for the Greek culture?

Chazal give us the painful answer. The Gemara at the end of Sukkah (56b) tells us about the sad saga of Miriam bas Bilga. She witnessed the apparent glory of the Greeks who were conquering the world, broke with her friends and relatives, married a Greek officer and wholeheartedly embraced the Greek culture. One day, she took her new husband for a “tour” of the Bais Hamikdash and walked disrespectfully up to the mizbeiach wearing her sandals. She then kicked the altar with her shoe, declaring, “Lukus, Lukus, how much longer will you destroy the money of the Jews, yet you don’t stand by them at their time of need?” She referred to the holy altar as a wolf because it “eats” the sacrifices brought upon it, but the gesture seems wasted, as she put it, because we get nothing out of the sacrifices or the altar.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky (as quoted by Rav Shlomo Levenstein, Umasok Haohr, Cha-

nukah 1:95) explains the importance of this anecdote by referring to the difference between the text of Al Hanisim for Chanukah and that of Purim. On Chanukah, we say, “You in Your great mercy stood up for them in their time of distress.” However, on Purim, we only say, “You nullified his counsel, etc.” but don’t mention that Hashem stood up for us. Rav Chaim explains that on Chanukah we refute the complaint of Miriam bas Bilga by proudly asserting that Hashem did indeed stand by us, most specifically at the time of Chanukah. It is as if Chazal were saying to her, “Why didn’t you wait just a bit and you would have seen that the mizbeiach did come through? Where was your patience? You would have seen and been amazed. Just a few Kohanim, who had never wielded a weapon in their lives, who had only served at that altar that you vilified so despicably, literally decimated an army of thousands.”

Sometimes, what we need is a bit of perspective. All Miriam bas Bilga saw was the depth of Jewish suffering when compared to the so-called glory of Greece. But had she waited, she would have merited seeing the Hand of Hashem openly. Thus, we turn to the Maharal (commentary in Siddur on Al Hanisim) who raises a fascinating question.

“Why,” he asks, “did Hashem perform two different miracles for us on Chanukah, one winning the war and one for the Menorah?”

Secondly, why is this the only time we celebrate the ability to do a mitzvah because of a miracle? All the other yomim tovim and occasions for Hallel commemorate when Hashem saved us from death and destruction.” The Maharal answers that, in fact, the yom tov was instituted because of the victory against the Greek army. However, in order to make sure that we know and remember that it was the Hand of Hashem which made us win, not our military prowess, He performed the “unnecessary miracle of the Menorah.”

Please allow me to explain that strange phrase “unnecessary miracle.” The first Gerrer Rebbe, the Chiddushei HaRim, asks a powerful question: “Why couldn’t the Chashmonaim light the Menorah with oil which was tameh, defiled? There is a rule throughout the Torah that tumah hutra b’tzibbur – when all of Klal Yisrael is tameh, korbanos can be offered and the Menorah may be lit, even when there is tumah. Therefore, the entire miracle of the Menorah was, in fact, unnecessary.

However, Hashem did it for us because He wanted to demonstrate His love for us, so that we could light the Menorah in perfection and purity. In any case, we see that the neis of the Menorah was not really needed.

According to the Maharal, Hashem did it only to make clear that He is in charge and no amount of military expertise or strategy would have saved us. It was just as miraculous as the miracle of the Menorah.

Of course, now we know why two miracles were necessary. The Greeks were always anxious to prove that the universe is run according to certain rules of nature, which can never be overruled. However, the miracle of the Menorah changed all that. All of a sudden, it became obvious – and would have been even to Miriam bas Bilga – that Hashem makes things happen.

The laws of nature belong to Him, for as the Creator He can do anything He wants, including overruling nature itself.

Miriam bas Bilga’s mistake in not waiting a bit is a lesson to all of us. Things happen in life. As Hashem said to Iyov, “Where were you when I created the earth and the heavens?” By this, Hashem meant that we

cannot understand anything about Hashem’s world unless we see the beginning, middle and end of the story. For a moment in time, Greece, Rome, England and, yes, Germany were on top. But if we wait a bit before rendering judgment, we will see the fuller picture. Paroh thinks that he will triumph, as do all of our enemies. In the end, it is the Creator and His people who rise to the top. The problem is just keeping our faith strong while we wait that little bit.

This is the message of Chanukah. It seems as if there isn’t enough oil for more than a day. But, as the Gemara tells us, “He Who told the oil to burn can tell the vinegar to burn as well. In other words, not only is there is nothing difficult for Hashem, the natural and so-called supernatural are all the same to Him. In a moment, He can cause the Syrian king to run away like a child who has been thrown out of his home.

In a moment, the once powerful Hezbollah has almost been eliminated from the world stage. America will soon have a new president who is much more favorable to Jews and Israel, yet few would have predicted this result just a few months ago. Hashem is telling us, as He did at the splitting of the Red Sea, be quiet and wait a bit and you will see the salvation of Hashem.

May we see soon that moment, but in the meantime, unlike Miriam bas Bilga, let’s be patient and wait just a bit longer.

The geulah is coming closer and closer, bimeheira b’yameinu.

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

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The Powerful Synergy of the Mezuzah and the Menorah

By R aBBi Daniel Gl ats tein

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he Gemara discusses the optimal location for the placement of the Chanukah menorah. Rav Acha Brei D’Rava is of the opinion that the menorah should be lit on the right side of the doorway. Rav Shmuel M’Difti disagrees, stating that the menorah is to be placed on the left side of the doorway. The Gemara concludes with the ruling that the menorah should be lit on the left side, causing one to be surrounded by mitzvos as he traverses the doorway, with the mezuzah at his right and the menorah at his left.

Aside from the beautiful idea of being surrounded by mitzvos on all sides, is there a deeper connection between these two mitzvos? Do mezuzah and menorah share a fundamental interrelation, leading the Gemara to partner them in creating a corridor of mitzvos?

In general, we employ the rule ein osim mitzvos chavilos, chavilos; i.e., we do not bundle mitzvos together. This seems to be an exception, as the Gemara tells us to combine mezuzah and ner Chanukah. Why is this so?

The Beauty of Klal Yisrael The pasuk in Shir HaShirim states, “Mah yafis, u’mah na’amt Ahava b’ta’anugim, How beautiful you are, and how pleasant, love in delights” (Shir HaShirim 7:7). To what does the pasuk refer? What is beautiful and pleasant, love of delights?

Maseches Sofrim teaches us that this pasuk refers to the ritual of placing the mezuzah on the right side of the door and the menorah on the left. Mah yafis, how beautiful, refers to the mezuzah, and u’mah na’amt, how pleasant, is a reference to the menorah.

Mezuzah and the Chanukah menorah are so close-

ly related that when the pasuk in Shir HaShirim extolls the beauty of Klal Yisrael, it chooses the combination of the mitzvos of mezuzah and ner Chanukah as the manifestation of the beauty and pleasantness of Bnei Yisrael.

How are mezuzah and menorah connected? What bond exists between the flames of Chanukah and the mezuzah that is placed on the doorpost?

Exceptional Care Required Although the Rambam discusses all the mitzvos of the Torah, there are only two areas in which he states that a person must be exceptionally careful in the performance of those mitzvos. A person must be extremely cautious, the Rambam writes, to perform the mitzvah of mezuzah properly. Mezuzah is an ongoing, constant obligation, and therefore one must be particularly vigilant in performing it. It is one of the few mitzvos that one can fulfill even while sleeping.

Whenever one enters or exits a room, the mezuzah affords him an encounter with the Unity of Hashem, because the pasuk “Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad, Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our G-d, Hashem, the One and Only,” is written on it. Seeing the mezuzah further motivates one to recall Hashem’s love for the Jewish people and will inspire him to make the best use of his time, avoiding pursuits that are worthless and empty.

The Rambam employs a similar terminology when presenting the mitzvah to light the Chanukah menorah. The mitzvah of ner Chanukah is extremely precious, and one must be fastidious in its performance.

The Rambam utilizes the same unique terminology, “l’hizaher,” for only these two mitzvos.

Mezuzah is a mitzvah mi’d’Oraisa, while lighting the ner Chanukah is a mitzvah mi’d’Rabbanan.

Yet, for some reason, the Rambam equates them and

holds their practice in higher regard than he does the other mitzvos. Why? The Gemara links the mitzvah of ner Chanukah to the mitzvah of mezuzah as well. One who is careful about the performance of the mitzvah of ner Chanukah will be blessed with sons who are Torah scholars. Being particular in the correct performance of the mitzvah of mezuzah gives one the merit to have a pleasant home.

Rav Alexander Ziskind of Horodna authored Yesod V’Shoresh HaAvodah, a fiery mussar sefer that inflames its reader with love of Hashem and inspires him to elevate the performance of His mitzvos. He quotes a Zohar that presents a phenomenal idea.

When we recite Shema, we recite the first pasuk aloud, and then follow in an undertone with “baruch Shem kavod malchuso l’olam va’ed, Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity.” This second pasuk contains twenty-four letters. When the first twenty-four days of Kislev have passed, as alluded to by the completion of the pasuk Baruch Shem with its twenty-four letters, we arrive at the yom tov of Chanukah. Hashem’s Presence rests on Klal Yisrael at that time. Chanukah begins on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, a day that is represented by the twenty-five letters in the first pasuk of Shema: “Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad,” which describes Hashem’s uniqueness.

The Zohar continues, suggesting an etiology of the name Chanukah as “Chanu chaf-hey.” The name reveals that the reason Hashem rested upon the Jewish people is because of the twenty-five letters of Krias Shema.

Why the Name “Chanukah”?

Rabbi Avraham Saba was one of the geirushei Sfard and grandfather-in-law of the Beis Yosef. After Rabbi Saba’s manuscripts were lost in the persecution

cited over and over.

This is the derivation of the name Chanukah.

“Lo b’chayil v’lo b’koach, not through army and not through strength” — we are not triumphant because of brute strength or military prowess, “ki im b’ruchi, but through My spirit” (Zechariah 4:6): It is Hashem Who wins our wars for us.

The Name of Hashem that conveys Hashem’s Oneness, adds Rabbi Avraham Saba, is His Seventy-Two-Letter Name. The Chashmonaim were victorious because they had Hashem, the ultimate Warrior, fighting on their side: “Mi kamocha b’eilim Hashem, Who is like You among the heavenly powers, Hashem?” (Shemos 15:11). The initial letters of this phrase is the title that was given to the Jews who fought the Yevanim: Maccabee, the gematria (numerical value)

In addition to bearing witness, there is a second fundamental objective that each Jew must perform.

• Gratitude The Ramban teaches us the overarching purpose of Creation. The world was created so that we would acknowledge Hashem and express our gratitude to Him for having created us.

Chazal teach us that one must perform mitzvos that may seem lighter or less important to us with just as much care and concern as he performs apparently more serious and seemingly important mitzvos. Every single mitzvah, says the Ramban, is cherished by Hashem. Every time a person does a mitzvah, he is acknowledging Hashem, and it is a testament that the performer believes in Hashem and is grateful to Him for having created us.

The synergy of these t wo mitzvos creates a force that is un-paralleled . of which is seventy-two. Additionally, the letters of the name Maccabee are the same as the initial letters of the phrase, “Baruch kavod Hashem mimkomo.”

The Chashmonaim were able to rest — chanu — because of the fundamental Oneness of Hashem represented by the pasuk Shema Yisrael, which contains twenty-five letters, chaf-hey. Their strength came from the recitation of the Shema.

The name Chanukah is a lesson to us, who are presently in galus. We, too, can be victorious against the trials and tribulations of galus through the recitation of Shema and through the belief in the Oneness of Hashem.

The Two Fundamental Obligations of a Jew • Witness to the Singularity of G-d Believing in yichud Hashem, the Oneness of Hashem, is, after all, one of the most fundamental obligations of every Jew. As the Derech Hashem writes, “A Jew is obligated to serve as a witness that Hashem Yisbarach is One.” The navi Yeshayah has already advised us of our obligation to bear witness to the yichud Hashem.

“You are My witnesses — the word of Hashem — and My servants whom I have chosen, so that you will know and believe in Me, and understand that I am He; before Me nothing was created by a god nor will there be after Me!” (Yeshayah 43:10). As witnesses, we are called to testify that Hashem is indeed One. The recitation of the Shema is our testimony to that effect. That is why in the pasuk of the Shema the letters ayin and daled are written in a larger font. It is a statement of eidus, testimony.

Our testimony includes the fact that Hashem is the sole Creator and Ruler and that nothing can ever occur anywhere unless it is decreed by Hashem and put into motion by Him.

So, in addition to proclaiming and testifying that there is only one G-d, a Jew is also obligated to thank Hashem. These are the two essential and fundamental functions of a Jew. Our daily morning davening affirms this. Before we say the Shema, we recite the tefillah Ahavah Rabbah (Ahavas Olam in nusach Sefard). We say: “And You have brought us close to Your great Name forever in truth, to offer praiseful thanks to You and to proclaim Your Oneness with love.” Thus, the two obligations of the Jew are declaring His Oneness and expressing our gratitude.

The Vehicles for These Two Fundamental Functions If one were to do a mitzvah without kavannah (intention) or contemplation, he has missed the opportunity to perform the mitzvah in its entirety. It is not a mitzvah b’shleimus, a complete mitzvah. Having the right kavanos, however, elevates the mitzvah and enhances it; it is transformed into a mitzvah being performed b’shleimus.

The Ramban illustrates his point. Someone purchased a mezuzah and affixed it to his doorpost. If, while attaching the mezuzah to his doorpost, he focuses on why he is doing it, then his actions are a public proclamation that there is only one G-d. The text inside the mezuzah case includes the Shema, which testifies that Hashem Echad, Hashem is the One and Only. Placing the mezuzah in its required location with the proper kavanos is a reaffirmation of the yichud Hashem. The Ramban is teaching us that it is through the mitzvah of mezuzah that one can fulfill the great objective of testifying that Hashem is One. We can now understand the importance the Rambam ascribes to the mitzvah of mezuzah. He tells us that we must be extremely careful to perform the mitzvah of mezuzah correctly, because it is the vehicle

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of the Inquisition, he rewrote his magnum opus, Tzror HaMor, from memory. In this wondrous sefer he reveals a secret that was disclosed to him with Ruach HaKodesh.

Every yom tov has a name that alludes to what transpired on that day. The name Pesach indicates that Hashem “jumped over” the homes of the Bnei Yisrael. Sukkos is a commemoration of Klal Yisrael’s residing in sukkos while in the Midbar. Purim was named for the lottery that Haman cast in his quest to wipe out the Jewish nation. Chanukah seems to be the exception. The yom tov is named for the fact that the Jews were finally able to rest on the twenty-fifth of Kislev: Chanu chaf-hey. The name has no connection to the miracles that actually transpired — not in terms of the battle and not in terms of the miracle of the oil. The name Chanukah does not capture the essence of the day or hint at the reason for the celebration. Why then is the yom tov called Chanukah?

The Gemara teaches us that brevity is the optimal educational format: L’olam yishaneh adam l’talmido derech ketzarah, one should always instruct his student in the most concise manner possible. Declaring the Oneness of Hashem with the recitation of Shema is equivalent to learning the entirety of the Torah.

The Torah tells us that there is only one Hashem, one G-d. However, remembering and reciting the entire Torah is challenging. It is not a task most can do.

Hashem thus sought to provide us with an easily recited single sentence that would capture this fundamental idea, this yesod ha’emunah, that there is only a single Deity. “Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad” is that pasuk. The idea that Hashem is One is encapsulated in the words of this one sentence. The number of letters in this all-important pasuk is twenty-five, numerically equivalent to the word “koh” in the pasuk, “Koh yiheyeh zaracha, So shall your offspring be” (Bereishis 15:5).

The message is that through the pasuk of twenty-five words, one can be assured that his progeny will be successful. This is the secret of Shema.

Moshe Rabbeinu employed this principle as well, when he sought to ascertain if the Egyptian who struck the Jewish slaves would have any worthy descendants. The Torah states, “Va’yifen koh v’koh, He turned this way and that” (Shemos 2:12). He looked to the future to see if any of the Egyptian’s children would affirm the great principles of the Shema.

Moshe saw there would be none, and then he slew the Egyptian.

The Chashmonaim lived in a very challenging environment. A byproduct of all the decrees issued by the Yevanim was that they were unable to learn the Torah HaKedoshah. The Jews employed this incredibly powerful tool: they recited Shema. Doing so, declaring Hashem’s Oneness with the pasuk of twenty-five letters, gave them the strength they needed to triumph over the Yevanim.

Chanukah does not mean that they rested on the twenty-fifth. That would require the addition of a beis, namely, “chanu b’chaf-hey.” The name Chanukah refers to the reason that the Chashmonaim were victorious: It was because of the pasuk that contains twenty-five letters — Shema Yisrael — which they re-

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The name reveals that the reason Hashem rested upon the Jewish people is because of the twenty-five letters of Krias Shema.

via which we perform one of our most fundamental functions. Through the mezuzah we testify that Hashem is One. Additionally, the Rambam tells us the following regarding lighting the menorah on Chanukah. One must take great care to light the menorah, as this will publicize the miracle, will serve to praise Hashem’s Name, and will also express our gratitude to Hashem for miracles He performs for us. Lighting the Chanukah candles is an act of thanks to Hashem! It is a display of gratitude. As we say in davening, the purpose of Chanukah is “l’hodos u’l’hallel, to praise and thank Hashem.” The menorah is a form of hoda’ah, an expression of gratitude.

Lighting the menorah, therefore, allows one to fulfill the second function of the Jew. As the Ramban writes, Hashem created Man so that he can give Him thanks. The menorah serves as the medium through which we can fulfill our purpose of existence. This is therefore the second time that the Rambam dictates that one must be extremely careful in the performance of the mitzvah.

The mezuzah embodies “l’yachedcha,” to proclaim His Oneness, and the menorah is the manifestation of “lehodos lecha,” to express our gratitude to Hashem.

Together, they fulfill the two fundamental functions that we are required to perform. The synergy of these two mitzvos creates a force that is unparalleled. All at once, the purpose of Creation is realized.

The one time and location that we find these two fundamental functions and both purposes of Creation are being fulfilled simultaneously is the doorway on Chanukah, where the menorah is lit. Mezuzah and ner Chanukah, “l’yachedcha,” and “lehodos lecha” in one place, at one time.

Mizmor Shir Many have the custom to recite Mizmor Shir Chanukas HaBayis L’David (Tehillim Ch. 30) after Shacharis on Chanukah. Rabbi Avraham ben HaGra teaches that the reason for this is not merely because this mizmor contains an allusion to Chanukah in the word “Chanukas.” David HaMelech wrote this song to be sung at the time of the rededication of the Beis HaMikdash at the time of Chanukah (which would transpire only about seven hundred years later).

Interestingly, this chapter

of Tehillim, which was authored specifically to be recited at the time of Chanukah, does not discuss dedication of the Beis HaMikdash at all!

The Vilna Gaon did not customarily recite chapters of Tehillim as part of the conclusion of davening. During Elul, he did not say L’David Hashem Ori V’yishi. Yet, on Chanukah, he replaced the usual Shir Shel Yom, Song of the Day, with the Mizmor Shir mentioned above! Instead of the usual Shir Shel Yom, he said Mizmor Shir Chanukas HaBayis L’David. It is the Shir Shel Yom of each day of Chanukah. What is it about this perek that makes it the Song of the Day for Chanukah? It contains no mention of Chanukah or of the inauguration of the Beis HaMikdash!

The mantra of the Chashmonaim, their clarion call, was “Shema Yisrael.” They were fulfilling the mission of the world — “l’yachedcha,” declaring Hashem to be One. As a reward for publicizing this fundamental and critical belief and thereby performing one of the two purposes of Creation, Hashem gifted them the opportunity to perform the second purpose of Creation as well. Hashem gave them “lehodos lecha.” Chanukah is the fulfillment of a combination of the two main functions of the Jew. In Mizmor Shir (v. 10), David HaMelech queries: “What gain is there in my death, in my descent to the pit? Will the dust acknowledge You? Hayagid amitecha, Will it declare Your truth?” To what is David referring when he says, “Hayagid amitecha”? What is the truth to which he alludes?

The Gemara tells us that when someone writes Megillas Esther, he must perform sirtut on the klaf; that is, he is required to etch impressions of lines on the parchment prior to writing. The Gemara gleans this from the pasuk in the Megillah that says, “Divrei shalom v’emes, words of peace and truth” (Esther 9:30).

The word emes, truth, teaches us that the Megillah requires sirtut like the amitah shel Torah, the truth of the Torah, i.e., the Torah itself. The Torah is Toras Emes, and the word emes in the Megillah tells us to make the lines in the same way that we do for a Sefer Torah.

Tosafos has difficulty with this Gemara. After all, he asks, the Sefer Torah does not require sirtut. A Sefer Torah without the lines is perfectly kosher, so what does the Gemara mean when it says that a Megillah must have sirtut as a Torah does?

Tosafos answers that the Gemara is not referring to the Sefer Torah in its entirety when is states that “the amitah shel Torah” requires sirtut. Rather, the amitah shel Torah that the Gemara is referring to is a

mezuzah, which is invalid without sirtut. The reason the Gemara refers to a mezuzah as amitah shel Torah, adds Tosafos, is because a mezuzah contains yichud Malchus Shamayim, the Unification of the Kingdom of Hashem. A mezuzah contains the Shema, which is a proclamation that there is only one G-d. When we refer to Torah as truth, we are referring to yichud Hashem, the Oneness of Hashem.

From Tosafos, we learn that truth is a synonym for the Oneness of Hashem.

In Mizmor Shir Chanukas HaBayis L’David, when the pasuk states, “Will the dust acknowledge You? Will it declare Your truth?” it is saying, “It cannot declare Your Oneness.” David HaMelech is stating that were he to pass away, he would not be able to fulfill the two fundamental purposes of Creation. He would not be able to thank Hashem, nor would he be able to declare Hashem’s Oneness from the grave.

The Rambam writes that when the navi Yirmiyah states, “V’Hashem Elokim Emes,” (Yirmiyah 10:10), he means that only Hashem is emes, only G-d is true.

No one else is true. The Rambam explains this as a reference to the principle of ein od milvado, there is nothing but G-d. He is alone — He is One — yichud Hashem.

When we conclude the Shema, ending with the words “Hashem Elokeichem Emes,” we are testifying to Hashem’s Oneness. Ein od milvado.

Chanukah is the fulfillment of the two main functions of the Jew. “Lehodos lecha” with the menorah, and “l’ychedcha” with the mezuzah on the other side of the doorway. This is what we express when we recite the pasuk, “Hayodcha afar ha’yagid amitecha” in the Shir Shel Yom of Chanukah. We specifically recite this perek on Chanukah because it mentions David HaMelech’s desire to perform the two fundamental functions of the Jew, which are embodied by the yom tov of Chanukah.

This article has been printed from The Light and the Splendor by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, published by Artscroll.

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

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Sparks of Light

The Central Role of Bayis in Hilchos Chanukah

By Rabbi Benny Berlin

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he centrality of “home” is a theme embedded throughout the mitzvah of Hadlakas Neiros Chanukah. First, when Chazal instituted the halachos of the Menorah, they linked it closely to a person’s home. In Maseches Shabbos, Chazal teaches us that the menorah should be positioned in a way that, on the one hand, maximizes pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) but, on the other hand, maintains its connection to the person’s house. There is a machlokes between Rashi and Tosafos about the ideal location – whether it is on the front stoop/opening of the house or in the courtyard – but everyone agrees that the mitzvah cannot be unlinked from the home. It must remain connected in some shape or form to the place where we live.

Not only does the physical home play a significant role in Neiros Chanukah, but the family is equally critical. The Gemara in Maseches Shabbos explains that unlike other mitzvos, where each individual must fulfill their obligation personally, in the case of Neiros Chanukah, technically speaking, one member of the family can light on behalf of everyone and all are considered to have fulfilled their obligation.

The dual role of the home – both as a physical structure and a family unit – highlights how we fulfill the mitzvos of the Chanukah candles. At first glance, it seems strange that the home should play such a central role because the actual miracle of Chanukah occurred in the

Beis HaMikdash. The Beis HaMikdash is not our personal home. Why, then, when instituting the practice of Chanukah did Chazal institute that the mitzvah of Neiros Chanukah to revolve so significantly around the family unit and its dwelling place, given that the original miracle did not occur in such a setting?

Chazal sought to emphasize the relationship between our personal homes and the ultimate “bayis” – the Beis HaMikdash of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We cannot adopt the attitude that the bayis of HaKadosh Baruch Hu and His Hashra’as HaShechi-

not misunderstand and think that Avodas Hashem is only relevant to distant, lofty places or people, such as the Kohanim Gedolim in the Beis HaMikdash. Instead, Avodas Hashem is relevant to our homes, our families, spouses, and children. Every one of us is called upon for holy service.

The Yevanim, in their efforts to persecute the Jewish people, targeted the

We must view our homes as places where we live with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

nah (the resting of the divine presence) are remote and disconnected from us. What occurs in the Beis HaMikdash must translate into and trickle down to what takes place within our own four walls.

Through this, Chazal wanted to highlight that every Jewish home and family unit is a miniature Beis HaMikdash. We must view our homes as places where we live with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The fact that the miracle occurred in a setting far removed from homes underscores this point. Chazal wanted to ensure we would

sanctity of the Jewish home. When describing the events of the Chanukah story, the Rambam emphasized this by stating, “Shelo yisgor adam es pesach beiso” – that one could not even close the door to their home. The Greeks understood that if Jews could maintain the privacy of their homes, they would be able to fulfill mitzvos. To disrupt this, they forbade Jews from closing their doors.

Others explain that the Greeks recognized that the foundation of Jewish strength was the family and the home

and, therefore, sought to strip away the dignity and tzinius of the Jewish people.

Our celebration of Chanukah, tied to our four walls, our place of tzinius, represents everything the Greeks fought against.

Consider the dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and Pharoh before Yetzias Mitzrayim. Pharoh asks Moshe, “Mi va’mi haholchim?” Moshe replies, “Bi’neureinu u’vizkeineinu neileich – with our young and our old, our wives and children, we will serve Hashem.” Pharoh, however, retorts that to serve Hashem and offer sacrifices, only a few priests are needed. Why involve everyone? Yet Moshe Rabbeinu stands firm, responding that the service of Hashem must involve the entire family and home.

This response holds true for all generations. The Beis HaMikdash and what happens within its hallowed walls translate into every small Mikdash within Klal Yisroel. Our homes, infused with the light of Neiros Chanukah, become extensions of that great bayis of HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Rabbi Benny Berlin is the rabbi of BACH Jewish Center located in Long Baeach, New York.

For more information, visit: https://www. bachlongbeach.com

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Delving into the Daf

Lessons Learned from Chur

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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hur occupies a significant role in the Chumash. During the war with Amalek, he, along with his uncle Aharon HaKohen, helped hold up Moshe Rabbeinu’s hands, which inspired the B’nei Yisrael to pray. When Moshe Rabbeinu ascended to Heaven, he left Aharon and Chur in charge of the people.

Chur was the son of Miriam and Kalev, yet he mysteriously does not play any further roles in the Torah. It seems surprising that someone so important would not continue to be present in the narrative.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin (7a) provides insight into his tragic fate. Chur stood firm against those who wanted to replace Moshe Rabbeinu during the sin of the Golden Calf, and as a result, the people killed him. While his death is not mentioned anywhere in the Torah, Rashi on the Chumash does refer to it.

Upon witnessing this terrible crime, Aharon HaKohen was left with an awful choice. He could oppose the populace, just as Chur did. However, he likely would suffer the same fate. Aharon HaKohen was not concerned with his own

life. On the contrary, he was ready to die Al Kiddush Hashem. However, his murder, in addition to Chur’s, would be a grievous sin. Indeed, it would be one that K’lal Yisrael could not recover from.

As bad as the sin of the Golden Calf was, Klal Yisrael could do teshuva from it.

However, there is no teshuva from the multiple murders.

Therefore, Aharon HaKohen decided to become involved in the sin of the Golden Calf, rather than letting Kal Yisrael suffer destruction.

HaRav Gavriel Zev Margoliyos (18471935) noted that Aharon’s logic seems to contradict a Gemara in Shabbos. The Gemara in Shabbos (4a) presents a scenario where someone on Shabbos unintentionally placed dough in an oven to bake.

Another person, upon smelling the aroma, realizes the situation. While removing the raw dough from the oven could prevent the prohibited act of baking on Shabbos, doing so on Shabbos itself constitutes a rabbinical prohibition. Should someone remove the bread from the oven and violate a rabbinic prohibition to save

another individual from a Torah prohibition? The Gemara concludes that one may not. As the Gemara notes, “Do we tell a person to sin to help someone else?”

How was Aharon allowed to fashion a graven image to help Klal Yisrael? Rav Margoliyos said the answer may be found in Tosfos. Tosfos suggests that for a great mitzvah, one can perform a minor sin.

Saving Klal Yisrael would justify Aharon HaKohen violating a Torah prohibition.

The Beis Yosef (O.C. 306) extrapolates from this Tosfos that if someone was informed on Shabbos that his daughter had been kidnapped by a priest to raise her as a gentile, one may even violate Biblical prohibitions of Shabbos to rescue her.

This is true even if one is assured beyond the shadow of a doubt that his daughter is not in any physical danger. Moreover, we physically compel the father to rescue his daughter. The Mishnah Berurah points out that even a non-relative may violate the Shabbos to save the daughter, although only a relative is coerced.

The logic of this halacha is that one may violate one Shabbos to ensure that his

daughter does not violate many Shabbosos by living her life as a gentile.

The difficulty, though, is regarding a Jewish individual who willingly approached a priest to forsake his religion.

Can one violate Shabbos to rescue him?

(Once again, this question is based on a theoretical assumption that there is absolutely no chance of him being physically harmed.)

The answer depends on the Tosfos above. Why do we not remove the bread from the oven before it bakes to save the forgetful baker from violating a Biblical Shabbos prohibition? If we don’t help him because he was negligent, this individual, too, was negligent by approaching the priest in the first place. If, however, we don’t help the absentminded baker because we are not helping him perform a mitzvah rabbah, here we could potentially help a person live his entire life as a Jew, which is undoubtedly a mitzvah rabbah!

Since it is a matter of doubt, we are stringent and only violate Shabbos when both conditions are met: (a) the individual was not negligent, and (b) we are helping him

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L-R: Rabbi Morris Goodman, rabbi of Wichita Falls, Rabbi Samson, and Col. Chaplain E. Wehking, chief chaplain

perform a mitzvah rabbah. However, the Elya Rabbah says that one may violate a rabbinic prohibition for the spiritual rescue of even a negligent individual.

My uncle, HaRav Binyamin Samson, z”l, passed away last week. I am reprinting the following story, which has already graced these pages as it is connected to the above topic.

Sheppard Air Force Base, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, was home to a Strategic Air Command Operational Wing of B-52 bombers in the 1960s and the 494th Bomb Wing until 1965. At its peak, the base had over 21,000 people, including many Jewish servicemen.

Rabbi Benjamin Samson, z”l, a Cedarhurst resident, received his semicha from Yeshiva University and was issued orders on July 28, 1960, to become a chaplain and First Lieutenant at Sheppard Air Force Base. He served the Jewish personnel by holding services and teaching classes, eventually attaining the rank of captain before leaving the base.

He was given secret clearance to attend to the airmen of the Strategic Air Command properly. On Sukkos, he built a sukkah on the base; one of the Jewish servicemen was an engineer who helped design it. The children of the Jewish servicemen who were stationed at the base were able to receive a more formal Jewish education at the Hebrew School of the local community.

One Shabbos afternoon, Chaplain First Lieutenant Benjamin Samson was trying to relax at his home on the base, but his phone was ringing incessantly. He

A sukkah being built on Sheppard Air Force base

didn’t answer it, because it was Shabbos.

However, the persistent ringing was soon accompanied by a knock at the door.

A visitor, a high-ranking officer, stood on the doorstep. He explained that there was an urgent phone call for the chaplain and asked if he would be willing to answer it, given the circumstances. Rabbi Samson, understanding that there was an emergency, agreed to take the call.

With a sense of trepidation and curiosity about the nature of this call, he picked up the phone. On the other end of the line was a woman from Baltimore,

Chaplain Samson lighting Chanukah candles with children living on the base

Richard, who was young, impressionable, and lonely, was in need of a friend. His friend, a devout gentile, had made it his mission to convert as many personnel on the base as possible.

Rabbi Samson requested that the gentile friend remain outside while he spoke with Richard. He attempted to dissuade Richard from proceeding with the baptism ceremony by suggesting that such a significant life decision should be made at home, after leaving the service.

He further questioned Richard’s knowledge of Judaism. When Richard admit-

“My son is stationed at the base,” she cried. “He told me that he will be baptized after Shabbos.”

her voice choked with sobs. It was the heart-wrenching sound of a Jewish mother, distraught and desperate.

“My son is stationed at the base,” she cried. “He told me that he will be baptized after Shabbos.”

The news hit Rabbi Samson like a thunderbolt. This decision had profound implications, representing a significant shift in the young man’s religious identity.

The chaplain promptly contacted the woman’s son, Airman Third Class Richard, and requested his presence. As requests from higher-ranking officers are typically obeyed, Richard arrived accompanied by his non-Jewish friend.

ted he didn’t know much about Judaism, Rabbi Samson advised him to learn more about the religion he was leaving before giving it up. Richard agreed and postponed the ceremony for two weeks, during which time he began studying Judaism with the chaplain.

During one of their learning sessions, Rabbi Samson broached a sensitive topic with Richard. He expressed his belief that it was time for Richard to discontinue his attendance at church services.

Richard’s response was surprisingly candid, “I was wondering when you were going to ask me to stop.”

And stop, he did. The planned con-

version ceremony was put on hold indefinitely. Freed from the constraints of his alternative religious practice, Richard’s spiritual growth accelerated exponentially. He immersed himself in the study and practice of Judaism, developing a deep and abiding commitment to Yiddishkeit.

His bond with Chaplain Samson deepened as well, their relationship evolving into a close personal friendship.

As a postscript, was the mother allowed to call Rabbi Samson on Shabbos to save her son from being baptized? HaRav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l, concurred that the mother’s decision was correct. He further questioned whether someone with a minimal Jewish background who was put in the same place as a quasi-missionary can be deemed negligent. Perhaps he can be considered someone who was ignorant since birth, a tinok shenishba. If that were true, then maybe even a d’Oraysa could be violated. However, Rav Dovid continued that this discussion is primarily academic. He said that if anyone asked him a similar question, he would instruct the individual not to violate Shabbos because it is not clear that violating the Shabbos will help the situation (as opposed to rescuing a child from a monastery, which will help). Hindsight being what it is, it is clear that this mother’s phone call was effective and, therefore, permitted.

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

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Headlines

Halacha

The Neshama Yeseirah and How to Access It

ART BY TIFERES EMES PERluSS

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

I

t is well known that on Shabbos Friday night, an additional neshama – an extra spirit and soul – enters into a person. What is not so well known, however, is that this happens in three different stages, with three different parts.

What follows is an elaboration of this.

In Shaar HaKavanos (Drushei Tosefes Shabbos #2), Rav Chaim Vital writes that the extra soul that is received comes in three parts and three stages. The three parts are Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama.

• The extra Nefesh comes to us at the moment of Kabbalas Shabbos • The extra Ruach comes to us at the recitation of Barchu.

• The extra Neshama comes to us at the recitation of “Ufros aleinu, spread over us Your shelter of peace.”

The exact parameters of these three parts is a debate among various Rishonim, however, the most common understanding is as follows: The Nefesh generally refers to the aspects of the guf. It is linked to instincts

and the physical. Thus, on Shabbos, we have an extra portion of this section of the general Neshama.

The Ruach is the middle soul, the “spirit” or the interconnector. It contains the moral virtues and the ability to subtly distinguish between good and evil. On Shabbos, the Ruach is enhanced.

The Neshama is the higher soul, or “super-soul.” This separates man from all other lifeforms. It is strongly related to the intellect and allows us to perceive the existence, presence, and benevolence of Hashem. It helps us achieve greater dveikus to Hashem.

The Gemara in Beitzah 16a tells us that Hashem said to Moshe Rabbeinu: “I have a precious gift in My treasury house and Shabbos is its name, and I wish to give it to Israel and make it known to them.” The Gemara elaborates that the gift referred to here concerns the Neshama Yeseirah, additional soul. Therefore, one should be exceedingly joyful when reciting the section of “Ufros Aleinu.”

The Zohar (Parshas Bereishis page 48a) elaborates further: “At the time when Israel blesses and invites this ‘shelter of peace,’ and they say, ‘Spread over us the shelter of peace,’ since it is a holy covering, an exalted divine shelter spreads over Israel and covers them like a mother over children, and all evil things are concealed from before them, and Israel sits beneath the holiness of Hashem, and then this ‘shelter of peace’ gives new souls to all.”

Dveikus Each person possesses vast storehouses and wellsprings of various forms of wisdom, qualities, and pursuits. The Holy One does not skimp upon these at all. He provides them to us – bountifully and particularly so on Shabbos. Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, zt”l ,explains that there are, however, blockages that must first be removed in order to access these vast storehouses and wellsprings.

The ability to achieve dveikus is contained deep within the soul of man, like

all other qualities such as wisdom and other pursuits.

Dveikus is a sense, similar to that of seeing and hearing. It is part of the nature of man – it is just that the blockages to achieving it must first be removed.

The essence of our service in this world is to remove the blockages. We must develop and actualize this internal ability within us. We must take these storehouses and wellsprings of goodness from potential to reality.

The key to actualizing this inherent ability of dveikus is through honoring our ability and obligation of tefillah, prayer.

We can start with having kavanah in “Ufros Aleinu.”

Most people erroneously believe that prayer is merely the recitation of words.

In the best of situations, some people perceive prayer as the presentation of our requests to Hashem. The truth is that both are incorrect, and prayer represents something that is vastly different in its entire essence.

Tefillah is Like Nevuah

Communication removes walls. If a matter remains unresolved, one continues in communication until it is resolved. This is what Chazal meant in Brachos (32b), “If a person prayed and was not answered, he should go back and pray again.” A person should always be consistent when communicating with the Creator of the World.

Consistent and meaningful tefillah throughout Shabbos can help us maintain and deepen our connection to this additional Neshama Yeseirah.

between study partners. Tefillah is thus the back and forth that exists in the debates of learning – but with the difference that we are carrying on discussions with Hashem, the Creator of the world.

The more we deal with the King, the closer we become to Him. This is true with all forms of communication. The back and forth brings hearts together.

Through understanding the true nature of tefillah as more than just recitation of words but rather as a profound form of communication with Hashem akin to prophecy, we can better access and activate the Neshama Yeseirah granted to us on Shabbos. Tefillah is a back-and-forth debate with Hashem, similar to the discussions between study partners in Torah

learning. This deep form of connection helps remove the blockages that prevent us from accessing our spiritual potential.

When we approach the prayer of “Ufros Aleinu” with proper kavanah and understanding that we are engaging in real communication with the Divine, we create the optimal conditions for receiving that extra portion of the Neshama. The five-step process outlined in the Shulchan Aruch for proper tefillah serves as a practical framework for accessing the enhanced spiritual capacities of the Neshama Yeseirah.

Just as consistent communication breaks down walls between people, consistent and meaningful tefillah throughout Shabbos can help us maintain and deepen our connection to this additional Neshama Yeseirah. By approaching tefillah, particularly “Ufros Aleinu,” with the understanding that we are engaging in a divine dialogue rather than mere recitation, we can more fully actualize the precious gift of the Neshama Yeseirah and achieve greater dveikus with Hashem on Shabbos.

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

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Prayer is something that is almost akin to prophecy itself. This, in fact, is the wording of the Shulchan Aruch in OC 98:1. There, the Shulchan Aruch provides us with an entire five step process: The steps that are practiced during tefilah are: • To focus in his heart upon the meaning of the words that he expresses; • To picture the Shechina present before him; • To remove all other thoughts until his thoughts and intent are pure in his prayer; • To think as if he were standing before a king of flesh and blood how much more so, before the King of kings who knows our innermost thoughts; • This is what the righteous and men of action would do – they would divest themselves of the physical and embrace the spiritual/intellectual power to the point where they would reach the level of prophecy.

It would appear that we are lacking the aleph-beis of what tefillah is about, a world that we certainly must enter.

The Navi Yeshayahu (1:18) states, “Come now, let us debate,” says Hashem.

“If your sins prove to be like crimson, they will become white as snow; if they prove

to be as red as crimson dye, they shall become as wool.” The Targum translates the word “debate” as tefillah, prayer.

Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, zt”l, explains that from this pasuk, we can catch a glimpse of the true parameters of tefillah.

It is an argument, no different than the back and forth that exists in Torah study

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Jewish Thought

Letters Flying in the Air

By Yedidya Meir

T

his week, many festive celebrations marked the siyum of Masechet Bava Basra across the Jewish world. Yet, one man commemorated it alone.

“I’d appreciate it if you could spare me a couple of minutes,” Dr. Yonatan Schussheim wrote to me this week. “I’d like to share something that I think will interest you.”

Dr. Yonatan Schussheim, an OB-GYN, is the son of the late Dr. Eli Schussheim, zt”l, the legendary founder of EFRAT. Initially, I assumed he wanted to discuss something related to the organization’s activities, but I was mistaken.

“I’m speaking to you as the father of Emunah, who was engaged to Yehonatan Deutsch, Hy”d,” he began.

He didn’t need to refresh my memory.

Even in a year of immense loss, Yehonatan’s story is hard to forget: A young man full of promise, tragically murdered in a shooting attack in the Jordan Valley just weeks before his wedding and only days after returning from combat in Khan Yunis.

I recalled, too, that on Simchat Torah, Yehonatan had been deployed to Nachal Oz, where he and his unit saved lives during house-to-house operations.

“You write often about the Daf Yomi,” Schussheim said. “This morning, I was zocheh to complete Bava Basra, and I penned a few thoughts about my experience.”

As I began to read, it became clear to me that despite the many other noteworthy milestones celebrated this week, Schussheim’s story held a unique significance.

“The Most Difficult Siyum of My Life” “This was undoubtedly the most difficult siyum of my life,” Dr. Schussheim began, “and no, it wasn’t due to the complexity of the masechet—I’ve completed more challenging ones. Nor was it its length. It was the first siyum I performed after my previous one.

“One might naturally ask: doesn’t every siyum follow the previous one? Indeed, when I prepared for this siyum, I

couldn’t disconnect from my prior one— the siyum of Bava Metzia, which accompanies me daily.

“I celebrated that siyum on Friday, the 15th of Sivan, Erev Shabbat Parshat Beha’alotcha of 5784 (2024), during the engagement party of my daughter, Emunah, and her fiancé, Yehonatan Deutsch.

“To give the young couple a meaningful, spiritual gift, I completed Bava Metzia during the celebration. I connected the tractate’s opening Mishnah to themes of a harmonious marital life, but what lingers most vividly in my heart and mind are the words I said to them afterward: “‘In life, as in the Talmud, we transition from one “masechet” to another: childhood, followed by adolescence, and so on. Each has its own unique challenges, moments, and lessons. You are now entering the “masechet” of engagement—a profound, formative experience that prepares you for the next stage. Invest in this tractate, so it remains a cherished foundation.

I have no doubt that there will be times when you’ll wish to revisit this period.’

“I could never have imagined the weight those words would carry in the future.”

Learning Amidst Unimaginable Pain “I began studying Bava Basra immediately after completing Bava Metzia. I looked forward to the long, fascinating journey through one of the Gemara’s lengthiest masechtos. I couldn’t have known it would become the hardest learning experience of my life.

“On Sunday, the 7th of Av 5784, Yehonatan was murdered in a terror shooting at the Mechola Junction while on his way to visit our home in Ofra. He had planned to see Emunah and continue preparing for the ‘masechet of marriage.’

“There are no words to describe the magnitude of our grief, shock, and pain during those horrific days. After several days, I attempted to return to my Daf Yomi routine, only to find the effort nearly impossible. Waking early after sleepless

nights, holding the Gemara with trembling hands, and struggling to focus on the text—all I could see were ‘letters flying in the air.’”

“Standing Shiva” This year, tragically, we’ve heard from many bereaved parents and widows – too many. But Dr. Schussheim didn’t even sit shiva for the man who was almost his son-in-law. In fact, he is in the secondary circle—the one that is meant to strengthen the mourners.

I recently heard Dr. Yossi Ben-Gal, grandfather of fallen hero Captain Ro’i Beit Yaakov, Hy”d, say that he, as the grandfather, does not sit shiva but “stands shiva.”

What an apt description. The grandparents of the fallen stand around the grieving parents, supporting them, caring for them, giving encouragement. But they, too, need strength and solace.

Perseverance in Honor of Yehonatan “How did I continue studying daily and reach the finish line of Bava Basra this week?” Dr. Schussheim asked rhetorically. “The simple answer is: because of Yehonatan.

“At first, the desire to honor his memory gave me the strength to start again. But I needed more.

“Then one morning, Yehonatan’s father, Uri, shared a message he received. A friend had recalled Yehonatan’s words at his engagement party: “‘The battles we fight, the extraordinary moments—they’re the easy part.

What truly builds a country, a nation, a people, are the small acts: another home, another family, everyday routines. That’s the real battle, and I feel privileged to contribute to it.’

“Reading those words gave me the strength I desperately needed. I couldn’t let Yehonatan down. I had to carry his legacy forward.”

A Quiet Victory “Each morning since, as I sit with the

Yehonatan Deutsch Hy”d at his engagement party

Daf Yomi despite exhaustion and heartache, I think of Yehonatan’s message. It sustains me. Though my focus isn’t what it once was, this daily learning is a victory—a testament to the small acts that build lives and nations.”

“Symbolically, just before completing the masecheta, we learned of the capture of Yehonatan’s murderers. While it doesn’t bring solace, it delivers justice and reaffirms the values foundational to masechet Sanhedrin, which I will begin next.”

Dr. Schussheim concluded his letter with a poignant reflection: “If a siyum is meant to be a celebration, for me, it was a deeply personal and complex moment. I completed the final lines, recited the traditional declaration quietly to myself, and immediately opened Tractate Sanhedrin to begin anew.”

A Resonant Message Festive siyumim bring joy to the learners, their families, and honor to the Torah. Yet, this solitary siyum—uttered in a choked voice, alone in a quiet room—surely resounded loudly in the heavens.

Dr. Schussheim’s story illustrates the resilience of the Jewish spirit and the eternal power of Torah study, especially in times of hardship.

His closing words echo powerfully: “May this learning, along with all my studies, elevate the soul of Yehonatan Yaakov ben Uri Yosef, Hy”d. And if it inspires even one struggling individual to persevere in their learning, it will be to Yehonatan’s merit.”

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School of

Thought

Parlez-vous Francaise?

By Barbara Deutsch

U

sing hand gestures and a combination of Hebrew, English and whatever works, I told my French-speaking Ulpan friend Yael that I will henceforth speak to her in English and that she should respond back in French; I have just about given up on Hebrew. While the motivation is strong for me to learn the language, I am convinced that my mastery of the correct tenses, pronouns and trick words is never going to happen.

The French language is also a complicated one to learn as you have to put your lips through all kinds of contortions to push the correct pronunciation of the words out of your mouth. For the French speakers, when their lip formations are coupled with Hebrew words, it’s almost impossible to understand what the person is saying.

My class celebrated an early Chanukah with a party; to help organize it, the teacher created a WhatsApp spreadsheet tasking the polyglot of students to bring the stuff. Our Hebrew

language-only WhatsApp chat is a “free for all” of Google Translate that takes people forever to research or a hodgepodge of the student’s native tongue with a Hebrew overlay.

When the request list came out, I offered up “paami” paper goods because I could spell that. I became familiar with that word when I went looking for disposables in the supermarket. I thought the link between function and word is especially unique because it’s a word whose purpose is built into it. The very definition – one time – is a perfect match.

I brought the paper goods plus an assortment of treats that were enticing on the shelf but on reconsideration, not so much. Bob claims that I shop in a supermarket the way most people navigate an exclusive dress shop. It takes me two minutes to review, pick out (I never try on), and pay for a dress. In the supermarket, I stand wide-eyed before the myriad of choices examining the products and their ingredients.

When I was working at Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in New Jersey and living in Cedarhurst, to get to school, I had to leave at the crack of dawn and never got home before 7:00 p.m. I had limited free time and was almost always exhausted. Bob worked locally and enjoyed a more moderate work schedule.

A principal’s job is intense and never ending.

Out of compassion for my long day, he graciously took over the kitchen and the shopping. Bob also loves to cook.

In Israel, I still stay out of his kitchen, but for some reason, we explore the supermarket aisles and the shuk stalls together. Nothing has changed; I still get stuck admiring the fruits, vegetables, nuts, candies and cookies.

I was tasked with buying the class gift for the teacher. Even in my former life, that was always my job. We love our teacher and admire her grit and patience; she only rolls her eyes sometimes. Meital tries so hard to get us to be comfortable with our own language vul-

nerability, and she supports our clumsy attempts at Hebrew speaking.

Meital does not flinch or comment when students come late, go home early, are absent for weeks at a time, don’t do homework or play on their phone.

“Boker tov,” she pleasantly greets us even when it’s noon, and we are four hours late.

In addition, when a new student shows up and announces mid-session, “I am now part of your class!” having gotten frustrated in their previous higher level class or are new to the country and Ulpan, Meital still smiles in welcome.

I don’t know of any teachers (not this one for sure) who would be okay with that. Were it me, I would close my books, walk out the door and march straight to the school leader to complain.

When I was that school leader, I found someone to blame.

Despite the shopping list, the party had multiples of duplicates with not a single protein offered. One fellow

right descriptive sentence. A drawback to the game was people poking each other in the back and whispering as they pointed to an assigned name, “who is this?” – a byproduct of the ever-changing class roster and dynamics.

We are verboten to use Google Translate (whatever) so the lazy “goodygoody” that I am doesn’t. I just limited my words and wrote brief two-word

“A good idea but first check if anyone wants to take what they brought back,” she said. Indeed, a few did.

It did feel good when most of the others lauded the idea and thanked me for the opportunity to do a mitzvah.

Ulpan students know the lady, her traveling home and her habits.

As I left Ulpan until next week (I cherish that moment and next week

“Boker tov,” she pleasantly greets us even when it’s noon, and we are four hours late.

descriptions. No one said it had to be a long sentence.

As the party wound down, I asked Meital if we could donate the leftovers, of which there were plenty, to the homeless woman who makes our Ulpan building her home. She responded with surprise; doing that may not be a “thing” here.

we are off for Chanukah), I dropped a giant red Amazing Savings bag at the woman’s sneakered feet. She was quietly sitting on the steps engrossed in a copy of the Jerusalem Post.

Do you stop to notice or help the homeless people you encounter? Do you ever wonder what brought them to this point? In America, I mostly kept

walking or at most dropped some loose change on the ground near them.

In Israel, I find myself haunted by their visage.

As part of a future series that I am planning to write, I want to find out how the people who lead complicated lives find themselves in a hard place.

This is our first time celebrating Chanukah in Israel. We bought a large colorful menorah to put outside on our porch. We are getting the protective covering in Geula.

We are proud to be Jews, and it’s very exciting!

Shabbat shalom, bon jour and happy Chanukah; hoping that this week brings peace, refuah, and the return of the hostages.

Barbara Deutsch is the former associate principal at HANC, middle school principal at Kushner, and Dean of Students at Yeshiva of Flatbush. A not-retired educator, she is trying to figure out life in Israel through reflections on navigating the dream of aliyah as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

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brought in a bushel of bananas and a giant bag of gherkins with no knife or peeler to be had. For the most part, it was “ugot” and “creckers” and a single bottle of orange juice plus one quart of seltzer for 30 people. “Pami” cups and plates – of which there were plenty.

Maybe it was because the list was in what we hoped passed for Hebrew?

We played a game wherein you passed around a bottle filled with folded instructions written in Hebrew. When the music stopped and the bottle landed on you, you were “it!”

You then had to pick a note out of the bottle, read the note out loud and answer the question. No one wanted to read or answer; this is NOT a confident group.

Meital encouraged us to do our best.

Another activity involved writing a message about each classmate. Everyone’s name was written in Hebrew on a piece of paper, and each student had to figure out how to say something nice on that designated piece of paper.

Many of the people, especially the perfectionist French, got right down to work; they laboriously scrolled through Google Translate looking for just the

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My Israel Home

Miraculous

PHOTO AvIGAIL PIPERnO BEER

By Gedaliah Borvick

Brothers Eliezer and Rav Avi Goldberg z”l

D

riving on Yehuda Hamaccabi Street in Modiin, I couldn’t help but reflect on the profound significance of my location. The street honors Judah Maccabee, the fearless leader of the Jewish army that triumphed over the mighty Greek forces and purified the Temple. Modiin itself is named after Matityahu Hamodai, Judah’s father and the priest who ignited the spark of resistance.

The historical and spiritual connections felt like an unmistakable call to pen some thoughts in honor of Chanukah.

The holiday of Chanukah offers us a lens through which to view not only the miracles of the distant past but also the extraordinary victories unfolding before our eyes today. While the tragedy of Simchat Torah 2023 is a searing wound in our collective memory – and will remain an open wound until the hostages are returned – Chanukah compels us to recognize the hand of the Al-mighty in safeguarding Am Yisrael amidst unimaginable adversity.

Before October 7, Iran – through its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria – believed it had strategically encircled Israel and was poised to deliver a crushing blow. The horrific atrocities committed

by Hamas on that day plunged our nation

into grief and rage. Yet, in its aftermath, Israel mounted an unprecedented response. Hamas’s military infrastructure has been dismantled, Hezbollah’s forces neutralized, Assad has fallen, and Syria’s military apparatus is crippled. Even Iran, long perceived as untouchable, has found itself exposed and vulnerable following

and faith as their ancient predecessors.

My friend and partner, Eliezer Goldberg, spoke extensively during our recent U.S. trip about his brother Rav Avi Goldberg, who gave his life defending our homeland. Eliezer recalled how Rav Avi carried a sefer in one hand and a rifle in the other, seamlessly integrating his

The holiday of Chanukah offers us a lens through which to view not only the miracles of the distant past but also the extraordinary victories unfolding before our eyes today.

Israel’s retaliatory strikes on October 26.

This is nothing short of miraculous – a decisive victory unparalleled since the Six Day War of 1967.

The Chanukah story tells of a vastly outnumbered and underprepared Jewish army that overcame the Greek empire and restored the Temple. Today, we are blessed with modern-day Maccabees—brave soldiers who embody the same courage

spiritual and physical duties. To Rav Avi, there was no contradiction—only harmony between protecting Am Yisrael and upholding Torah values.

Rav Avi’s example echoes the teachings of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, z”l, distinguished rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion who was cherished for his Torah greatness, humility, and love of humanity. In his essay The Ideology of Hesder,

Rav Lichtenstein articulated that military service is a cardinal mitzvah: “The halachic rationale for hesder [post high school yeshivot that combine intensive Torah study and IDF service] does not, as some mistakenly assume, rest solely upon the mitzvah of waging defensive war…. The rationale rather rests upon…the fact that military service is often the fullest manifestation of a far broader value: gemilut chasadim, the empathetic concern for others and action on their behalf.”

Particularly this Chanukah, after having witnessed firsthand both devastating challenges and incredible miracles, it especially behooves us to express our boundless gratitude to the Al-mighty, Who showers His nation with kindness, and to His holy messengers— our valiant and heroic warriors —whose sacrifices and bravery ensure our survival and freedom.

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

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Jewish History

Jerusalem Liberated Chanukah 1917

By Larry Domnitch

Kever Shmuel HaNavi before the war

I

n 1917, as the world was engulfed in brutal armed conflict of an unprecedented scope, fighting raged in the Holy Land between Allied troops and the Ottoman-Turks (allied with the Central Powers) who had ruled the land for most of the past 400 years. On October 30, the strategic city of Beer Sheva fell to the Allies who then drove towards Jerusalem.

A London dispatch on November 24, reported that the mosque containing the tomb of the Shmuel HaNavi was bombarded. The ancient site of Mitzpeh, 5,000 yards west of Jerusalem-Nablus road, had been stormed by the British (American Jewish Chronicle, November 30, 1917, p. 91).

The major battle for Jerusalem was in full swing. British cavalry fought their way into the holy city. In the words of a commander, “When ‘charge’ sounded, I think every man went stark mad. Guns were belching their shells at us in one sheet of flame and bullets by thousands swept past, but no man seemed to get hit as on we went, with drawn swords flashing in the sun, in a long straight line, horses going like mad and everyone shouting like fury. Now, we could see some of our pals falling, yet straight at the guns we charged” (American Jewish Chronicle, February 15, 1918, p. 408).

General Edmund Allenby entering Jerusalem on December 11, 1917

On December 9, Turkish leaders of Jerusalem surrendered. On December 11, the second day of Chanukah, British troops marched into Jerusalem. British commander and chief General Edmund Allenby respectfully entered its walls by foot through the Jaffa Gate as the city’s thirty-fourth conqueror.

Mayor of Jerusalem El Husseini surrendering to British troops on December 9, 1917

the roofs of their houses. Swarms of children, Arab, Jew, and Christian, ran with us as we marched along, and the populace clamored to any point of vantage, waving and clapping their hands, cheering and singing. Jews clad in European dress came running up, singled out any one of us, wrung him by the hand, and – talking

“On this day 2,080 years ago, the Maccabees freed the Holy City from the heathen oppressor and thereby changed the spiritual future of humanity.”

Excited crowds lined the streets to welcome the city’s liberators. Their very presence signified an end to the terrible suffering the people of Jerusalem had endured during the war.

One British officer described his entry into Jerusalem and the reception by its residents, “People of all ages and apparently of all nationalities, thronged the roadway, crowded at their doors and windows, and squeezed themselves on

excitedly in broken English – said that they, the people of Jerusalem, had been waiting for that two and a half years” (Bernard Blaser, Kilts Across the Jordan, H.F.& B. Witherby, London, 1926, p. 120).

A Jewish periodical, The London Jewish Chronicle, headlined the event as “The Rising of Jerusalem,” describing the Allied conquest as an “epochal event.” Rabbi Hertz, chief rabbi of the British Empire, issued a statement linking the British

entry into Jerusalem to the holiday of Chanukah; “Jerusalem which, for ages, has been the majestic pole of love and reverence of the world, is now in British hands. And this soul thrilling news reaches us on the day that the Jews are celebrating the Maccabean festival. On this day 2,080 years ago, the Maccabees freed the Holy City from the heathen oppressor and thereby changed the spiritual future of humanity. Who knows but that today’s victory may form as glorious a landmark in the history of mankind” (London Jewish Chronicle, December 14, 1917, p.24).

Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, who played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the issuing of the Balfour Declaration just six weeks earlier, which called for a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel, phoned The London Jewish Chronicle and stated, “The news of the British victory will raise the hopes of Jews all over the world. It opens the prospects of the realization of hopes which have existed in their kinds for centuries” (ibid.).

On the day of the taking of Jerusalem, the citizens of the city awoke early and went out to the streets; first with hesitation just to see if indeed the Turkish front had indeed fallen. Then as if in a dream, to see the crowds, emerging from

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their “holes” and all marching west (to the Jaffa Gate) to witness the ceremony in which the city is passed to the British conqueror. And then the city was joyful and rejoiced (David Benveniste, HaGedud HaIvri: Bimei Milchemet HaOlam HaRishona: Yoman, B’iton HaTzibur HaSephardi Va’Edot HaMizrach, Jerusalem, 1977, p. 5).

It would take time for the city to recover.

In the first month after the surrender, not much had changed. The residents had not yet recovered from the famine which had devastated the city during the war and were not healed from their sick-

nesses. There were students who were still serving in the military in countries abroad. Everyone was waiting for additional aid that would hopefully come from afar. In the meantime, communication with Tel-Aviv Jaffa residents was renewed. They were liberated a few weeks before Jerusalem.

However, soon the city began to be revitalized. New infrastructures and facilities were constructed. Significant quantities of wheat were imported from Egypt every month. Pipes were installed to allow water to be brought into the Old City of Jerusalem.

A noticeable sign of revitalization and

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Turkish troops passing through Jaffa Gate in 1914

Overlooking the Kotel, 1917

growth was when the cornerstone to the future Hebrew University was laid upon its future site on Mount Scopus on April 10, 1918.

Jerusalem had yet again endured.

Seventy-five years later, on December 10, 1992, Jerusalem resident Anna-Grace Lind again watched Allenby stride into Jerusalem. This time, she was viewing Viscount Allenby, the general’s great-nephew, entering the city with Jerusalem’s Mayor Teddy Kollek during events commemorating the 75th anniversary of Ottoman surrender to the British. Kollek stated, “The British were welcomed equally by Jews, Christians,

and Muslims, all of whom suffered under 400 years of Turkish rule.” (JTA, December 10, 1992) Today, the Jaffa Gate is a reminder of the scene of the triumphant march into Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the magnificent and bustling capital of Israel. The British conquest of Jerusalem was a step in that long journey.

Larry Domnitch is the author of The Impact of World War One on the Jewish People, released

by Urim Publications. He lives in Efrat.

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Carrying the

Light Forward

With a group of women at the Met

Rebbetzin Tzipora Weinberg Helps Jewish Women Illuminate Their Souls

“T

BY MALKIE SCHULMAN

here was a chassid known as Shabse Kreshov’er who was a yoshev in my great grandfather, the Bobover Rebbe’s, beis midrash,” relates Reb. Tzipora Weinberg, rebbetzin of Khal Lev Avos in North Woodmere. (A “yoshev,” literally meaning “sitter,” is someone who remains near his Rebbe all week learning Torah, typically leaving his wife to tend to the family only coming home for Shabbos and holidays.) “One time, after Shabse returned home for Shabbos, his wife turned to him and said, ‘I will only allow you to go back to the Rebbe’s beis midrash if you sign this shtar (contract) that I will receive half of your Olam Haba.’ Her husband agreed to discuss her conditions with the Rebbe. After recounting his wife’s words, the Rebbe responded, ‘Definitely you can sign. But you would do much better if you would get your wife to sign a shtar that you will get half of her Olam Haba!’”

 “Being a woman doesn’t mean you don’t have a legacy,” maintains Reb. Weinberg. “A woman’s mission in life is not any less because it’s different than a man’s. That was the message that I grew up with in my home.”

With that internalized principle, Reb. Weinberg strives to impact as many women as possible, bringing home to them the innate powers and gifts they possess.

In her role as educator, Rebbetzin Tzipora Weinberg wears a few different hats. She is rebbetzin alongside her illustrious husband Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg, as well as lecturer and teacher of Torah and Jewish history to their con-

gregation, in school classrooms and to audiences worldwide. Recent engagements include lectures for a kollel in Beit Shemesh, summer programs in Latvia and Lithuania, and a recent trip to Italy with the women in her shul. She is involved in doctoral studies in Jewish history with a focus on Lithuanian Jewish women’s spiritual productivity during the Holocaust era.

Additionally, Reb. Weinberg hosts Veiled Reference, a podcast in which she features female Jewish historians, professors and authors to discuss well-known and not as well-known prominent Jewish women of the past. For example, in February of 2024, she hosted Dr. Elisheva Carlebach, Salo Wittmayer Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture, and Society at Columbia University, in conversation about Gluckel of Hameln, a Jewish woman who lived in the late 1600s to the early 1700s – known as the pre-modern era. Gluckel, a “typical” Jewish woman of that period kept a diary after the death of her young husband detailing her rich and full life running a day-to-day business while raising and marrying off her many children.

A Childhood Steeped in History Reb. Weinberg shares that her strong historical consciousness stems not from what she learned in a school setting but for having lived history in a very personal way every day in her parents’ home.

“My father never formally taught us history. Nevertheless, he spoke about his forbears constantly. I knew my grandparents, all powerhouses, and though I’d never met them, my great-grandparents as well. We lived and breathed their stories in our home. I knew the Eastern

European cities that my antecedents had lived in so well that when I took a group of women on a tour to Bobov, I knew exactly where to find the cemetery. I recognized it. I knew these towns with deep familiarity without ever having seen them.”

It was this experiential engagement throughout her growing up years where every mitzvah, every minhag was performed with the acknowledgement that she was part of an illustrious lineage, stretching back to the Divrei Chaim, the Sanzer Rav, on her father’s side and the Magen Avraham and Taz even further back on her mother’s side that’s given Reb. Weinberg the sense of historical mission to remind and teach women who they are, where they came from, and what they can be.

Reb. Weinberg’s father, Rav Chaim Halberstam, shlita, rav of Sha’arei Zion of Flatbush, trained psychologist, mechanech and human being par excellence, had a broad-minded perspective on the role of going to school—it was to teach you about people. “I could keep you home if I just wanted you to learn Torah,” he’d say. “School is there to teach you how to get along with others.” Tzipora wasn’t sent to school for ideological affinity.

Nevertheless, Tzipora’s schooling was far from easy.

They lived in Flatbush, and she attended a “regular” Bais Yaakov.

“It was hard,” she admits. “I’m hassidish to my core, and my classmates and teachers were not.”

She vividly recalls one particularly painful experience when a teacher spoke disparagingly of Chassidus, claiming it had been created just to keep the ignorant masses from straying.

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A sampling of museum artifacts viewed and interpreted by Rebbetzin Weinberg from a variety of exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and elsewhere

“At her words, I got up and walked out of the room. I came home shaken. I remember my father saying, ‘Call up Zayde and ask him to tell you the truth.’ Of course, I knew her words weren’t true—my home was filled with a constant stream of divrei Torah from my father and grandfathers—yet, my teacher’s words alienated me. I felt marginalized.”

Nevertheless, this painful experience served as a catalyst in forging Tzipora’s identity and the role she would later embrace.

Even today there are many people out there, not just secular, who have no understanding of how and why Chassidus began.

“As Chassidim,” she explains, “we see the Ba’al Shem Tov as unveiling the holiness of Chassidism in a way that’s comparable to Ma’amad Har Sinai. The light that he revealed is a light that was hidden until then, and just as Matan Torah was intended for all levels of Klal Yisrael wherever and whenever, the Torah of Chassidism was intended for everyone who could benefit from it. Did that include more simple people? Yes. But even a cursory knowledge of the generation of disciples of the Ba’al ShemTov (which clearly my teacher was missing) proves the intellectual brilliance of the tzaddikim who codified and disseminated the Toras haBa’al Shem.

“People without access either to those written tomes or the Kabbalistic background necessary to understand them would have to take Chassidus at a level they could grasp: people using simcha shel mitzvah in a demonstrable way in their performance of avodas Hashem. To them, that looked like simple people singing and dancing. It’s all in the perspective which may be limited without the proper education about Chassidus.”

Tzipora’s father taught her many Judaic subjects himself and a lot of what was discussed at school was explored at home.

“I still remember learning with him in the summertime, the sunlight streaming onto the page as we studied Chumash and Rashi,” she recalls warmly.

He also never shied away from pointing out when the teachers were off the mark.

Seeking to find her footing through intellectual conversations with her brothers even as a young child, Tzipora once overheard them discussing a sugya in Gemara with their father.

“I asked what they were talking about, and they described an incident about a bull that gored a cow. I was horrified, demanding to know what happened to the poor cow. My brothers laughed, but my father held up a hand to stop them, insisting that my perspective was valid and just as important as their lomdish calculations. He gave me the space to find myself in the Torah’s holy words.

It was the most beautiful gift I could have been given.”

Family legacy “One of my first memories,” Reb. Weinberg shares, “is of my mother sitting with me on Friday night, relating the story of Bas Pharaoh reaching her hand across the Ye’or to save Moshe Rabbeinu crying in his basket.

The image of her as she extended her hand with such drama and modulated the tone of her voice with such grace has stayed with me all these years. She always encouraged deep immersion in the parsha – as an eldest daughter of her father, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Liebes, a revered posek, as rebbetzin of her own shul for many years, she also grew up surrounded by Torah and constant learning. She took the Chumash and Rashi seriously, delving into the words of the peirush with each parsha, always finding an interesting comment or an important question, modeling a deep engagement with learning as a woman and a leader.”

This is the house Reb. Weinberg grew up in.

“My grandmothers were queens. Each one exemplified the grandeur of the lost world of Eastern Europe. They were part of illustrious families, and both lost their families of origin in their entirety, all of them killed in the Holocaust. But to me, their granddaughter, they radiated only joy. Only goodness and giving. They

were larger-than-life personalities whose frumkeit and finesse simply has no parallel today. Despite all that they went through, they remained thoroughly involved in the production of a beautiful life for their children and grandchildren. One grandmother presided over a salon of the Bobover aristocracy in Boro Park each Shabbos. The other led her kehila with warmth, hosting my grandfather’s numerous talmidim and visitors in and out of his study on 54th Street (in Boro Park). Their homes were happening places that I loved to visit as a child. There was always something delicious brewing, literally and figuratively.”

Rebbetzin Weinberg’s great-grandfather, the Bobover Rebbe, Rav Ben Zion Halberstam (the Kedushas Tzion), was a holy and dynamic presence who led his community and the network of over 40 Polish yeshivos he founded, from the town of Bobov in southern Poland. After the Germans murdered and chased out the remaining Jews from the town, the family, which included Tzipora’s grandparents, their son and mother, the Bobover Rebbetzin (the Bobover Rebbe had already been murdered in 1941), were forced to flee to the ghetto in Bochnia, another town in southern Poland. There, her courageous and righteous grandfather Rav Chaskel David Halberstam facilitated the escape of many Jews. In 1944, however, with his wife expecting their second child, it was time for them to make their escape. The gentile woman who had agreed to smuggle them over the border, claimed she could take only two people at a time.

“My great-grandmother couldn’t bear to travel alone.

So, my grandfather accompanied her. This meant that my grandparents were separated. For the duration of the war my grandmother had no idea if her husband was alive,” shares Reb. Weinberg.

Ultimately, her grandmother ended up in Yerushalayim where Reb. Weinberg’s father was born. Since she didn’t know if her husband was alive, her grandmother wasn’t sure if she should name her newborn son after her husband. She was advised her to call him

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Some of the journals published in 1933 titled “Bais Yaakov of Lithuania”

Chaim after the Sanzer Rav who, until that point, had no descendants named for him because the name had been deemed too holy. In that merit, she was told, she’d discover her husband alive. And so, it was. The family was reunited after the war.

Not long afterwards, while still in Jerusalem, Reb. Weinberg’s grandfather was crowned Bobover Rebbe.

However, when he heard that his older brother in New York had been crowned the Rebbe, he immediately removed his Rebbishe clothing, fully acknowledging and supporting his brother’s position. When he later relocated to America, he did all he could to help his brother recreate the Bobover dynasty.

Bringing history to life Reb. Weinberg uses all the means at her disposal to disseminate her message and bring history alive, believing strongly that elements of the larger world can be raised and elevated l’shem Shamayim. It’s about looking at the world through the lens of our historical mission as Jews and as Jewish women.

As a child, young Tzipora was exposed to the beautiful cultural meccas of New York. Her parents took her on many visits to New York City museums.

“My father grew up on the West Side of Manhattan.

His backyard was the Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium. He would take us to witness the astrological wonders of Hashem’s world.”

Reb. Weinberg will often take her students on trips to the Met and other museums to enhance their understanding of their roles as Jewish women in today’s society.

“Material artifacts bring history to life,” she claims.

“They help to underscore the message of our continuity and resilience.”

Before Pesach, for example, Reb. Weinberg described how she worked with the women in her shul to deepen their understanding of yetzias Mitzrayim.

“We prepared for praying from the machzor by vis-

iting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and analyzing an illuminated manuscript of an Italian machzor. We also viewed displays of archival haggadot and a vast array of Egyptian artifacts from the era of our Exodus, fulfilling the charge for each of us to view ourselves as if we ourselves had left Egypt.”

Filling Their cup from The Well For many years, Reb. Weinberg taught at the high school and seminary levels and, in 2018, she opened The Well, the first women’s space in the Charedi world

“Learning about the remarkable women who came before us allows us to see ourselves as part of a glorious chain, reinforcing the values and resilience that have defined our people since the beginning of time.”

dedicated to Torah study, fulfilling a long cherished dream to establish a place for women to come together and learn. More recently, her focus has shifted to historical research.

“I’ve realized there isn’t enough scholarly information about the Orthodox experience during the Holocaust,” she explains.

In many scholarly works, the Orthodox perspec-

tive—especially that of Orthodox women—has been overlooked. Women are often portrayed as an oppressed minority, subjugated to male dominance. But in her life, Reb. Weinberg has seen an entirely different narrative— one that hasn’t been accurately represented. Her goal, she shares, is to recenter the stories of survival and resistance that need to be revisited and told truthfully.

“I’m dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of Orthodox women. My goal is to show women their place in the continuum of greatness and strength. Learning about the remarkable women who came before us allows us to see ourselves as part of a glorious chain, reinforcing the values and resilience that have defined our people since the beginning of time.”

Interestingly, even as Reb. Weinberg was familiar with the Chassidic experience through her own family’s legacy, her archival work brought her to unearth an entirely unknown chapter of record – the existence of intellectually accomplished Litvish women during the period between the two world wars. Through her historical research, she has discovered many such women and feels fortunate to uncover their stories and share them with Jewish women today. She named her project “Still, Small Voices” to describe the powerful yet, to the uninitiated, undetectable holiness of their actions.

While traveling to Lithuania, Reb. Weinberg discovered a journal published in 1933 titled “Bais Yaakov of Lithuania.” In one article, a founding rebbetzin wrote: “It is our hope that the kol d’mama daka—the still, small voices of our sisters—will be heard until the arrival of Moshiach.” Reb. Weinberg was amazed to discover that the name she’d given to her project was already expressed in the identical words and sentiments of the movement’s founders, almost a hundred years earlier.

These holy women—Ella, Hadassah, Lieba and others— were all tragically murdered in the Holocaust. Yet Reb. Weinberg believes they left a message for us: to continue their work, to never stop supporting one another, to give tzedakah, and to be neshei chayil.

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Pitigliano, Italy

“These women were far from country bumpkins,” she emphasizes. “They were deeply intellectual, engaging with the cultural challenges of their time and redoubling their efforts to remain strong in Torah and mitzvos. They wanted their sisters to embody the same strength and commitment.”

Through her research, Reb. Weinberg is bringing these remarkable women back to life.

“I strongly believe they want their message to be heard once again, and I feel a sacred obligation to bring their voices back to life,” she maintains.

Little Jerusalem, Pitigliano, Italy

and Maariv. If learning Torah ignites your soul, go to that shiur or get to shul for kriyas haTorah on Shabbos.

“I find,” Reb. Weinberg says, “that women who make more time to, let’s say, go to a shiur are often more sensitive to the nuances of their children’s behaviors because they’re working on themselves. A woman who is mindful of her spirituality is often more sensitive and caring to those around her. She’s filled her spiritual cup, so she has more to give. Nevertheless,” she insists, “it’s not just about learning or praying so you can be better to others—do it for your own soul.”

carrying the light Forward Jewish women have always carried the light forward, often in challenging and obscure ways.

“One historical Jewish woman whose story is veiled in mystery is Tzipora, the wife of our great leader Moshe,” says Reb. Weinberg. “Her individuality, the fact that she was marginalized, different, from a foreign land, and her ability to step in when needed in a variety of ways make her stand out to me. She lived the ultimate life of separateness and loneliness, yet some might say she was one of the most important figures—she was married to our forever teacher. Moshe Rabbeinu was half an angel and living that kind of life is something I often think about.

She also points to the holy mothers, the Imahos, who struggled with the realities of Yiddishkeit in their times.

It was not easy for any of them, but the beauty they created and fostered became a legacy that continues to empower Jewish women for all generations to come.

kindling the Flame of the Soul It’s important to encourage women to find the place within themselves that spiritually lights them up and do whatever they can to nurture it. Self-care isn’t just about physical nurture, like going out to eat or treating yourself to something special; it’s also about spiritually taking care of yourself. If your value is prayer, then find the time to daven Shacharis and perhaps even Mincha

The Chanukah lights give us the opportunity to lean into our predestined journeys in life and to rededicate ourselves to the values of home, hearth, and heart— the values of kedusha.

Rebbetzin Weinberg recounts a Chassidic message that is especially meaningful to her. The Sfas Emes teaches that we were given the days of Chanukah because the miracles of then are meant to light up our spiritual darkness today. The power of those miracles, which happened so long ago, is not just a memory. They actually renew themselves each year, lighting up our darkness with potential to tap into the spiritual energies of those times and reenergize ourselves. The three regalim, the Sfas

Emes states, were insufficient to illuminate the darkness and the coldness that threaten to overwhelm us in this long galus. These additional days of Chanukah given to us by Chazal were a necessary antidote to illuminate the long winters of the soul .

When we celebrate Chanukah, it’s not just about retelling the story but about understanding these events as a source of spiritual life in the present moment.

These miracles, that we live and breathe today, give us a new perspective.

As women, we are active participants in the Chanukah obligation—af hen hayu b’oso ha’neis—we too were a part of that story. We must find within those lights our own personal victories: victories over the tendencies within us that threaten to bring us down, over the challenges that weaken our resolve to grow in service of Hashem, and over the negative or critical voices that surround us. The Chanukah lights give us the opportunity to lean into our predestined journeys in life and to rededicate ourselves to the values of home, hearth, and heart—the values of kedusha.

“In the olden days, in certain ways, it wasn’t as challenging for women to find their rightful place as it is today,” contends Reb. Weinberg. “Back then, there was more of a sisterhood between women. Women gave each other respect and support. That doesn’t happen as much today. Both working women and stay-at-home mothers, for example, often feel isolated. It’s incumbent upon us in the frum world to respect women’s contributions to the world. Women should be respected and not judged for their choices as long as they are l’shem Shomayim.

“And, by the way,” she adds, “it’s not a new concept that women do the heavy lifting. Jewish history is replete with women taking on a lot. Some women received recognition for their contributions and some did not, but they had a support system among themselves that’s lacking in many communities today. Our women today need to celebrate the reason Hashem created them women.”

nspiration Nation

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Meilech Kohn Returning Home

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

H

e thought repentance was beyond his reach. In Meilech Kohn’s mind, he strayed so far off the path that he could barely remember what life was like before he lost his way.

“I remember looking at pictures of my younger self,” Meilech recalls. “It was like, ‘Am I dreaming? Was I ever really Satmar? How did I get here?’ It

didn’t make sense.”

But there he was—a young adult lost in a sea of emotion. Meilech’s long peyos were a distant memory, replaced long ago by his flowing hair. Sometimes, he would look at himself and wonder how the tattoos on his body got there—how he so quickly went from a Satmar bachur to a sometimes homeless, lost soul.

Meilech’s downward spiral, from

In His Words… hashem runs the show. all my experiences are what got me to where i am now... hashem planned everything; every speckle of dust is planned by hashem. accept and embrace yourself. love yourself. hashem is the greatest artist of all.

Music is very personal to us, especially when we go through emotional times, happy or sad. and i realize that people feel like i walked with them during that process... i might not feel so great sometimes, but i know that with hashem’s help, i’ve helped someone else going through a tough time. and that gives me a little chizuk.

Satmar to secular, practically happened overnight. As he puts it, “One minute, I was learning. And the next, I was going the complete opposite direction.” One minute, he was in his hometown of Williamsburg, and in the next, he was drifting through the streets of California.

It was anger. Sorrow. Curiosity. Rebelliousness. Desire. A whole suite of emotions led Meilech off the path. His childhood peers constantly bullied him, taking advantage of his timid nature.

And some of his rebbeim judged him harshly. On one occasion, one of his elementary school classmates pushed him down the stairs, leaving Meilech with a broken leg. Tragically, it wasn’t long before the young boy began associating his mistreatment with Yiddishkeit.

But it was also Meilech’s dreams that led him astray. He thought a world of potential lay beyond the confines of Chassidic Judaism. But it was only after he breached the fences of Yiddishkeit that he realized the real dream was the world he left behind.

Meilech Kohn’s teshuva story has its twists and turns. But today, Meleich, a talented musician and proud religious Jew, has few regrets.

“Hashem runs the show. All my experiences are what got me to where I am now. If I take away any of these experiences, I’d have to take away all my songs,” Meilech declares. “This is the picture. Hashem is the greatest Artist of all. So, we should try not to have any regrets, thinking, ‘I wish I was X, Y, Z.’ This is what Hashem planned. He

planned my ups, and He planned my downs.”

This is the story of how Meilech Kohn returned home. *

*

*

Born in 1969, Meilech grew up with seven siblings in a Satmar home in Williamsburg. Though his family wasn’t particularly well-to-do, Meilech’s father was always on the chessed frontlines, tirelessly collecting tzedakah for those in need.

“My father was very busy. His whole life, he was feeding others,” explains Meilech Kohn. “He used to say, ‘Money—you can’t take it with you, but you could send it ahead.’ He lived for that.”

After surviving the Holocaust, Meilech’s father wound up in Israel and later in the United States, where he connected to the Satmar Rebbe and embraced the Chassidish lifestyle.

“Before I became religious again, my father started needing a wheelchair. It must have been a great pain for him that his son had tattoos and wasn’t religious,” Meilech recounts. “But he would ask me to take him to the mikvah. And he would have the busha of being in a mikvah in Satmar with his son, a longhaired, tattooed guy. It’s those things that brought me back: that sacrifice, humbleness, and love. I don’t know if he meant for me to help him, but he could have gotten somebody else to take him.

Whether it was to build a closeness with me, whether it was to get me to go to

139 only had to work once a week, and he got eight weeks of vacation per year.

“Although I wasn’t religious, having grown up religious, I always felt that if you daven, you daven in a real shul, or you don’t daven at all,” explains Meilech. “But I said, ‘I’m just gonna go.

I’m not giving it any heart, and I’m not going to practice before.’ After work, I got dressed, and I went to this place.

It didn’t look like a shul. There were around ten people there, it was mixed, and it looked like a church. I sang a few pieces, and I went home. And when I got home, I had gotten the job. And I called them right away; I don’t know where it came from, but I picked up the phone, and I told them, ‘I’m sorry to have wasted your time. My heart’s not going to be in it, and I can’t do it without heart. I am refusing the job.’”

A day later, he told the story to his boss, a Chassidish man. Meilech’s employer, after hearing the story, told him, “This year, Hashem wants to hear you daven.”

A few days later, a few of Meilech’s secular friends invited him on a trip to Uman. The morning before the trip, Meilech’s wife told him, “I had a dream they’re going to ask you to be chazzan in Uman.” And sure enough, she was right.

He interpreted his boss’s remark and his wife’s dream as a sign that he should accept the minyan’s request that he daven for the amud.

Shortly before the trip, Meilech attended an emotional sheva brachos.

“There were some songs being sung.

And I just thought to myself, ‘Where am I? What did I do? What did I gain from all this anger and rebelling? What did I accomplish?’ And it just happened from one minute to the next, where a hunger

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.

for Yiddishkeit came over me,” recalls Meilech.

His experience in Uman was the straw that broke the camel’s back. After being the chazzan, a yearning to return to his roots overwhelmed him. Meilech made his kitchen kosher and began becoming frum again, but his wife wasn’t interested in doing the same. Because they were going in different directions, the two divorced, and Meilech Kohn returned home. *

*

*

It was music—the songs at the sheva brachos and his singing in Uman—that brought Meilech back to Yiddishkeit.

Music never failed to touch his soul.

In his mid-forties, Meilech, a talented musician, wrote a handful of songs and released them in 2017 on his debut album, Yeder Einer, fulfilling his

lifelong dream of making his mark on the music industry. Meilech Kohn, who believes all his melodies are gifts from Hashem, is best known for his beloved and ubiquitous song, “VeUhavtu,” which is about ahavas Yisrael. His music has changed the lives of many people, and he often gets approached by strangers who tell him about how much of an impact his songs have made on their lives.

“Music is very personal to us, especially when we go through emotional times, happy or sad. And I realize that people feel like I walked with them during that process,” Meilech Kohn explains. “There’s somebody in Australia who I might never meet, but he’s getting chizuk. And that’s what gives me chizuk on a sad day, so to speak. I might not feel so great sometimes, but I know that with Hashem’s help, I’ve helped someone else going through a tough time.

And that gives me a little chizuk.”

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

the mikvah, it was a great sacrifice for himself.”

It wasn’t the threat of divine punishment that brought Meilech back to Yiddishkeit; it was the love of his parents and mentors, among other things, that served as a counterweight to the judgment he felt during his youth. Most of all, through the darkest of times, Meilech always felt that Hashem cared— and that, more than anything, is what brought him home.

Meilech’s teenage-hood was an adventure in and of itself. He went from Williamsburg to a yeshiva in London.

After high school, he learned in Eretz Yisrael, and that’s when he began drifting away from Judaism.

From there, he made his way to California in pursuit of his version of success. Meilech, who always loved music, dreamed of working in the music industry. But he struggled to even get a half-decent job. Meilech endured a wave of job rejections since he could, at the time, barely speak English, and he didn’t have a high school diploma, a resume, or necessary social skills.

Without the tools needed for success, Meilech had no clue how to make his dream a reality.

Sometimes, he had no place to go.

Sometimes, Meilech had no choice but to sleep on the train. But through it all, Meilech always spoke to Hashem.

Eventually, things started turning around for him. He got married to a secular Jewish girl. And, Meilech, still nonreligious at the time, got hired to work in construction. Soon, through hashgacha pratis, he got a job offer to be a chazzan at a Conservative synagogue. The offer was almost too good to reject: the salary was $50,000 a year, he

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

My older brother started dating a girl two months ago, and things are proceeding well. I am very close with him, and he shares details with me, but I have advised him for many reasons NOT to tell our parents. Our parents are very picky and in the past have found every opportunity to

nix his shidduchim. They believe what they believe and don’t have the ability to think outside the box. For example, since we all have light eyes and are tall, they only want a girl with light eyes who is tall so that she looks like the family. We are also very academic and they won’t accept a girl for him like the girl he is dating who is “just a teacher.”

My brother is 34 and is very happy with this girl and wants to move things along and tell our parents. I think it’s a horrible idea to tell them, because they will beat him down about it by putting her down until he second-guesses and breaks up with her.

What do you suggest that he does in this situation?

Thank you!

Tzipora*

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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to the Far Rockaway/Bayswater community for your tremendous support which allows me to continue to represent the community I love!

To all those who actively supported my re-election campaign, I have so much appreciation for your dedication and friendship.

Wishing everyone a Happy Chanukah!

Stacey Pheffer Amato

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Thank you

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The Panel

Dear Readers, We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion!

Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition.

If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well.

Looking forward!

Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

I

suggest that he decides what to do.

You may carefully suggest that he

meet the girl’s parents first and be fully committed to marrying the young lady before letting your parents know.

However, this is his life, and he is an adult. He has to take the steps he feels he needs or wants to take, together with the young woman of his choice.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

While it’s important to maintain peace

I

n the 15 years that I have been making shidduchim, there have been a handful of cases where the single guy and/or girl had not told his/her parents until things were already set in stone regarding going through with engagement. In all of these cases, it had been made abundantly clear by the parents’ words and actions in previous shidduchim that they were not acting in the single’s best interest. Many times, the parents have so much anxiety surrounding encouraging a shidduch that the single is actually doing them a favor by going through with it without getting their two cents. In some cases, it is merely a mental health issue that prevents the parents from living in a reality where their child wants something different

within your family, your brother needs a partner who aligns with his own values.

from them. In other cases, the parents are just so set in their ways about specific things that they refuse to accept it.

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The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

D

id you know that my Hebrew name is Yosef? And, did you realize that dreams are a prominent feature of last week’s and this week’s Torah reading?

As I was thinking about this week’s Navidater question, I fell asleep and had a dream. This is what I dreamt: Your brother called his parents and said, “Mom, Dad, I know that you’ve been concerned about me being 34, independent, and still not married. But I have good news! I have a wonderful girlfriend, and I’d like to bring her over for dinner so you can meet her.”

Mom (beaming with joy): “That’s wonderful, son! Can you come tomorrow at 6:00?”

Promptly at 6:00 your brother rang the doorbell, accompanied by a 6-foot,

5-inch, blonde, blue-eyed woman, who had a look that can only be described as…unique.. She had five earrings in each ear and her hair was dyed blue with a streak of orange. Her bare right arm was tattooed with the words, “From the river to the sea.”

Your brother exclaimed, “Mom and Dad, this is Christina. She is a Columbia University professor and teaches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Isn’t she wonderful?”

Two weeks later, after a lot of disapproval and pressure from your parents, your brother brought home a much more traditional, short, dark-eyed teacher.

Your parents exclaimed, “We know you’re an adult and can make your own choices, but we just love her! Please, marry her! We’ll pay for everything—the wedding, the ring, the honeymoon.”

So, Tzipora, while it’s important to maintain peace within your family, your brother needs a partner who aligns with his own values—whether or not that meets his parents’ exact standards.

Encourage him to have an honest conversation with your parents and

He will need to learn to set boundaries and advocate for his happiness, even if it’s uncomfortable.

explain that while he respects their expectations, he wants to make a decision that feels right for him. If he can calmly communicate his stance, he’ll be more likely to gain their respect and support, without sacrificing his own happiness.

And, tell your brother that actresses like Christina are available for rental at rent-a-model.com. And, for a slight additional fee, he may wish to hire a professional dream interpreter.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

H

i Tzipora, First, I want to acknowledge how deeply you care for your brother and how hard it must be to see him navigating this. It’s clear you want to protect him and your concern for how your parents might react comes from a place of love and wanting what’s best for him.

That said, your brother is 34 and seems genuinely happy with this woman. It’s important to honor his agency in making decisions for his life, even if they might bring challenges. While your con-

cerns about how your parents will respond are valid, shielding him f rom their potential negativity might not serve him—or his relationship—in the long run. At some point, he will need to learn to set boundaries and advocate for his happiness, even if it’s uncomfortable.

I would suggest encouraging your brother to take some time to think about how he wants to approach telling

your parents, rather than whether he should or not. He could focus on presenting the relationship from a place of confidence and emphasizing the happiness this woman brings him. If he’s prepared to handle their reactions calmly and firmly, it might help minimize their ability to sway him.

For example, he could frame it as, “I’ve met someone who makes me really happy, and I see a future with her.

I hope you can support me in building this relationship, but either way, this is my decision.”

It might also help to prepare him for the possibility of pushback and remind

him that his parents’ approval, while meaningful, doesn’t define the success or value of his relationship. Reassure him that he has your support and that he doesn’t need to face this alone.

Ultimately, Tzipora, as hard as it is to let go, your brother has to navigate this dynamic on his own terms. Your role can be one of support and encouragement, helping him find strength in his choices and confidence in his happiness.

Sincerely, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

Your 34-year-old brother has to jump into this with you, his loving sister’s, help, without the encouragement of his parents, unfortunately. You can tell them together, once it has been finalized and they know there is no room for their opinions, that he’s getting engaged.

I cannot emphasize enough that he must work on building up his own sense of self and learn to smile and nod and completely disassociate with the words that will come out of their mouth. When they begin rambling, “But she’s only a teacher! But she’s short and has brown eyes!” he must learn to truly feel bad for them, looking at them with sympathy rather than taking them seriously.

He will be very glad he moved forward in this way. When your parents see and feel the nachas, they will thank you and your brother a million times over for bypassing their opinions and allowing this simcha to happen.

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Health & F tness

Behind the Smiles Understanding Perinatal Mood Disorders and the Silent Struggles of Moms

By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

M

otherhood is often portrayed as one of the most beautiful and joyful experiences of a woman’s life. The first smile, the soft coos, the warmth of a baby in your arms – these are the images society cherishes and celebrates. But behind the smiles, many mothers are silently struggling with perinatal mood disorders (PMDs), which include conditions like depression, anxiety, Bipolar, Panic, OCD and postpartum psychosis.

Perinatal refers to the period during pregnancy and up to one year following delivery. These emotional challenges, though often hidden, are very real and can have a profound impact on a woman’s ability to bond with her baby, maintain her mental health, and navigate the demands of new motherhood.

New mothers often feel overwhelmed by the constant demands of caring for a newborn, coupled with the desire to “do it all” and “look like it’s all together.” Unfortunately, these pressures can worsen mental health issues, and when compounded with a lack of sleep, anxiety, and isolation, they can trigger or exacerbate more serious mental health conditions.

In this article, we will explore the crucial connection between sleep deprivation and mental health, how social media can fuel feelings of inadequacy, and the importance of breaking the silence on medication for mothers who are struggling.

Through the story of Leah, a new mother who battled perinatal depression, we’ll discuss the importance of self-compassion and seeking professional support.

Leah’s Journey: Behind the Smiles Leah had always dreamed of being a mother, and when she finally found out she was expecting, she was ecstatic. But soon after the birth of her son, the joy she anticipated started to feel like a distant memory.

Leah was overwhelmed by the demands of

of hormones like serotonin and cortisol, both of which are involved in mood control. When sleep is compromised, these hormones become unbalanced, making women more susceptible to mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

Social Media: The Pressure to Be Perfect

her newborn and, to her surprise, the overwhelming emotional and physical exhaustion that came with it.

“I thought I would feel instantly bonded to my baby, and everything would be perfect,” Leah recalls. “But instead, I felt drained – physically, emotionally, mentally. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t stop worrying, and I felt so alone.”

Leah’s sleep deprivation began early in her pregnancy, as her anxiety about the upcoming birth kept her awake at night. After her baby arrived, the sleepless nights only escalated. Breastfeeding, endless diaper changes, and nighttime feedings took a toll on her body and mind. She found herself lying awake, exhausted but unable to sleep.

“I felt like I was failing as a mom,” Leah explains. “Everyone else seemed to have it all together. I would scroll through social media and see all these perfect photos of new mothers looking radiant with their babies. Meanwhile, I hadn’t showered in days, I was covered in spit-up, and I couldn’t even remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep.”

Sleep Deprivation and Mental Health: The Vicious Cycle Sleep is not just a luxury; it is a vital component of emotional and physical well-being. For new mothers, sleep deprivation is almost inevitable, but it’s also a major contributor to perinatal mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Lack of sleep disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, making it harder to cope with stress. Chronic exhaustion can lead to irritability, sadness, and feelings of isolation.

Leah’s experience is a perfect example of how sleep deprivation can trigger or exacerbate mental health conditions. The more she struggled to sleep, the more her anxiety increased. The more anxious she became, the harder it was to sleep. Leah found herself feeling helpless, as if she was trapped in a cycle of exhaustion and despair. The emotional strain of lack of sleep, combined with the intense pressure to be a perfect mother, began to take a toll on her mental health.

Research shows that sleep deprivation can negatively impact the regulation

In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of many mothers’ lives. From Facebook groups to Instagram posts, the endless stream of images, status updates, and blog posts can make it feel as though everyone else has their life together. Mothers often feel the pressure to keep up with this curated portrayal of perfect motherhood — a picture-perfect baby, a spotless house, a well-maintained appearance, and a cheerful attitude.

Leah felt this pressure every time she logged into Instagram. She scrolled through photos of moms who seemed to be glowing, smiling with their babies, and enjoying their postpartum bodies. Meanwhile, Leah struggled to even get dressed in the morning. The contrast between her reality and the glossy images on social media made her feel like she was falling short — that somehow, she was failing at motherhood.

“Social media made it worse,” Leah says. “I’d see other moms who looked so put together, and I’d feel so guilty for not being like them. I felt like I wasn’t enjoying motherhood the way I should, and I started to think something was wrong with me.”

The issue with social media is that it presents an unrealistic and often curated version of life. Most mothers post their highlight reel — the happy moments, the milestones, the cute baby photos. What is rarely shown are the sleepless nights, the tears, the frustrations, and the moments of self-doubt. The constant comparison to these idealized images can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation

Breaking the Silence on Medication One of the biggest barriers for mothers experiencing perinatal mood disorders is the stigma around seeking help, especially when it comes to medication. Leah, like many other mothers, felt a great deal of anxiety about the idea of taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication while breastfeeding. She was concerned about potential side effects and whether it would affect her baby’s health.

“I was terrified to take medication,” Leah explains. “I thought if I took something, I would be a bad mom. I didn’t want to risk anything happening to my baby.

But at the same time, I felt like I couldn’t cope anymore.”

This fear is incredibly common. The stigma around medication during the perinatal period can be paralyzing. Many

women feel like they should be able to handle the challenges of motherhood without assistance, or they fear being judged by others if they seek treatment. However, medication can be an important part of a treatment plan for managing perinatal mood disorders.

In Leah’s case, her doctor reassured her that there were safe medications for

for me to take care of myself so that I could take care of my baby. I learned that asking for help isn’t a failure. It’s actually a strength.”

I recently spoke with Mrs. Esther Kenigsberg, founder of SPARKS. Her organization aims to provide comprehensive, integrated services to meet the educational, psycho-social and psychiatric needs of

“I was terrified to take medication,” Leah explains. “I thought if I took something, I would be a bad mom.”

breastfeeding mothers and that she was not alone in seeking help. Leah eventually began taking a low-dose antidepressant, and over time, she began to feel more stable. With medication, therapy, and support from her partner, Leah was able to manage her symptoms and begin enjoying motherhood again.

“Taking medication wasn’t a sign of weakness,” Leah reflects. “It was a way

women struggling with Perinatal Mood Disorders. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, zt”l, had been involved since its inception.

Mrs. Kenigsberg shared, “I think the biggest struggle in maternal mental health is the stigma and the shame. Also, the thought that if I am just overwhelmed, I don’t have to reach out – yes, you do!

From being overwhelmed and having no support, it can go further. I think it’s the

ONLY disorder that has two primary victims – mom and infant. It can affect the whole family. Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, zt”l, used to say that his work with SPARKS is the only reason he is going to have Gan Eden. He used to say these are his Brownie points.”

The journey to motherhood is not always smooth, and it’s important to recognize that struggling with mental health is not a reflection of a mother’s love for her child. Seeking help – whether through medication, therapy, or support groups – is a powerful step toward healing.

It’s time to break the silence on perinatal mood disorders and acknowledge that they are common, treatable, and deserve attention. No mother should have to suffer in silence. Let’s normalize the conversation about mental health. Behind the smiles, there may be more than meets the eye.

Rivka Kramer is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has an Integrative psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a member of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 516-945-9443.

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for mothers, particularly those struggling with mental health challenges like Leah.

It’s important to recognize that social media doesn’t reflect the full reality of motherhood. Perfection is an illusion, and the pressure to live up to unrealistic standards can make it even harder for mothers to seek help or express their true feelings.

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Parenting Pearls

The Light of Family

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

C

hanuka is an amazing yom tov. We have eight full days of rejoicing, with candle lighting each night to tie families together. Family time, along with the accompanying bonding and connection, is easily yet beautifully woven together.

There is a simple beauty to the lights.

We don’t need anything flashy to remind us of the nissim – the humble purity of the flames is enough to reflect on the many miracles Hashem did for us so long ago.

Despite the highly contagious “gimmees” that children come down with this time of year, the minhag of Chanukah gelt is to give coins – a physical acknowledgement of a spiritual accomplishment. Yes, many of our community’s children may be receiving gifts, but that should never be the focus. Each year, we once again have the opportunity to make Chanukah into an experience worthy of positive lifelong memories for our children.

Haneiros Halalu We have a nightly mitzvah of hadlakas ner Chanukah. The candle lighting is the daily highlight of the yom tov, and the main mitzvah is to express our gratitude for the day. As parents, we want to enhance the natural joy that comes along with the candles.

Candle lighting is meant to be done surrounded by family, publicizing Hashem’s miracles. This makes the menorah the perfect opportunity to bring the family together and to spend time with the children. Some of our family’s favorite memories took place singing and dancing as the candles burned brightly in the background.

A little planning can make this time even more meaningful.

Each family member has their own daily schedule, and it can be a challenge to coordinate a time when everyone is present for lighting. Due to the uniqueness of each person’s plans, it’s impossible to make specific recommendations in this area. I

will simply state that it is certainly worth planning and juggling – whenever possible – to carve out the time for a family lighting.

Even if it can’t be arranged for each night, it’s still worthwhile for those evenings it can be accomplished. Ideally, a parent should be present whenever a child or teen needs to light at a separate time, allowing that child to feel included and prioritized.

The first 30 minutes after lighting the candles are the most meaningful, and it’s a substantial amount of time without being overwhelming. Let’s try to optimize this time period and dedicate this half hour to the kids. We may want to sing and dance with them, enjoy a Chanukah activity or project, or simply munch on doughnuts. It doesn’t need to be complicated, and the simpler the better because it’s easier to maintain. While it’s nice to have grand plans, those are more likely to fall through in the end.

There are so many ways to spend time together and honor these minutes. Younger (and not so young) children enjoy arts and crafts and other creative activities. It’s an excellent time to bake or eat Chanukah treats. Many families might enjoy eating dinner together afterwards. Reading or telling stories, playing board games and spinning the dreidel are all options, and a little creativity will yield even more ideas.

You only need one thing for each night and can switch activities with each lighting.

I’ve recently seen an initiative advertised encouraging families to put down their phones for the first 30 minutes. I can’t say I have anything to do with this project, but I think it’s a wonderful idea and plan to implement it in our home. I encourage parents to consider adding this to their own family’s routine. I further suggest putting the phone far out of reach since the frequent alerts can be very distracting.

As a general note, alerts and notifications are very distracting and even addictive. They are designed to inform but also to make us continuously pick up a device.

Many phones allow the user to control when and how they receive alerts. Parents may find it beneficial to remove the alerts they don’t need and minimize the alerts they do require. For example, a parent may want alerts regarding text messages from their teen but not for every time a pair of shoes drops in price (yes, my phone was giving me those alerts).

Phones are often used for their camera function, and it’s natural to want to photograph or video these beautiful family moments. In this situation, parents need to be very mindful to not “briefly” check their emails or texts at the same time.

When possible, the camera function can be used without unlocking the actual phone.

Parents may also choose to take few or no pictures until the first half hour is over.

I don’t want parents to think they need to spend hours planning each night’s lights.

One of the many aspects women tell me they appreciate about Chanukah is that it requires much less preparation than other yomim tovim, freeing them to focus on the festivities. I certainly don’t want to take this simcha away from them.

Vigilance is crucial until all flames are out, and an adult (or mature teen) should continuously be present – extra alertness is required when young ones are present.

Previous years have shown the risks. May Hashem protect us while doing this mitzvah. Extra vigilance is required with each additional menorah a family is blessed to add. I will mention a few safety points that relate to children, but I urge all parents to read the safety messages that local organizations are putting out.

Please keep little kids away after the candle lighting is completed – fully blocking their access, when possible. The menorah (and surrounding area) needs to be covered with a specifically non-flammable

material. Decorations, tablecloths and anything flammable should be kept away from the lighting area. Don’t hang banners or anything over the candles.

The kids make beautiful menorahs in school. Unless specified otherwise (and made with metal, tile or similar non-flammable materials), they are meant just for show and parental nachas. They should not be lit, nor should they be on the table near the flames.

Our family enjoys dancing and some liveliness after we light. It’s a lot of fun for the kids and adds joy to the festivities.

Please don’t do so within the immediate vicinity of the candles, and be careful to not make the floor under the candles shake.

Ba’yamim Haheim Ba’zman Hazeh Over the past few months – and especially weeks – we have been zoche to see a Guiding Hand that has been accomplishing unfathomable successes for Klal Yisroel.

May we continue to see – and recognize – these Divine gifts.

We are continuously surrounded by miracles – most of which we will never recognize. Taking the time to notice and praise Hashem for these daily gifts is a beautiful middah to model for our children.

It’s Chanukah and the time when we reflect on just some of the many nissim that Hashem did for us years ago. May Hashem continue to bring us miracles, unite us as a nation, and may the pure vanquish the impure forever.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, I am dreading Chanukah.

My parents give my kids individual gifts. First of all, my kids don’t always like the gift, secondly, they sometimes like what a sibling got better, and thirdly, they complain about what they see their friends got and how unfair it is that they did not.

The whole situation is yucky. Is it only me?

- Disappointed

A:

Dear Disappointed, As we approach Chanukah, the temptation to give in to our children’s requests becomes stronger than ever. With gifts and celebrations around us, it’s easy to feel like we should say “yes” to everything to ensure our children feel happy and part of the festivities. However, this time of year offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on why it’s just as important to say “no” as it is to say “yes.”

During Chanukah, children are often excited to receive gifts and see their friends or peers exchanging presents. It can be difficult when our children see other kids receiving more or different gifts, and they may feel disappointed or ask for things they haven’t received. In these moments, it’s tempting to give in to avoid their disappointment, but this is exactly when the lessons of “no” become so valuable.

1. Teaching Gratitude and Perspective Saying “no” during gift-giving occasions can help children develop a sense of gratitude and perspective. When a child sees their friends receiving gifts, it’s a perfect moment to explain the value of what they have and why it’s important to appreciate what they already have, rather than expecting more. Psychiatrist and author Dr. David Walsh emphasizes that learning to handle disappointment and not always getting what you want is a crucial life lesson. The holiday season is a great time to reinforce that self-discipline and gratitude lead to happiness rather than the constant pursuit of more.

There are families who make a point of having a one in/one out activity before allowing anyone to take any gifts to their rooms. A child must first pick something they are ready to give to someone else less fortunate before they are allowed to accept ownership of a new item. This reinforces the idea that we have so much and others have less. Try to take your children with you to drop off the items at a toy drive (located in many stores and schools) or at organizations that are always distributing gifts to others.

2. Delayed Gratification and Self-Control

recipe books of Chanukah relatChanukah is also a time of exciteed foods, fun mazes for siblings, ment and anticipation, especially Learning cards with riddles and/or rebuswhen gifts are involved. While it’s es… there were so many choices, natural for children to want presto handle and the children would come back ents right away, learning how to after Chanukah break telling me wait is an essential skill. Manning disappointment how much fun it was to give evpoints out that delaying gratifiand not always eryone their handmade gifts. cation is important for long-term 4 . Bu i ld i ng He a lt hy success, and it’s an invaluable lesgetting what Relationships with Gifts son to teach children early. WhethFinally, gift-giving itself is a valuer it’s waiting for a particular gift you want is able lesson. Rather than seeing or enjoying a special moment after a crucial life gifts as an entitlement, teaching finishing a task (like homework children to appreciate the thought before fun time), saying “no” or lesson. and care behind a gift helps them setting limits teaches children how form healthy attitudes about mato manage their impulses and be terial things. By saying “no” to patient. unnecessary or excessive gift reHaving the children plan a party, or even having them make a regular supper after quests, you help children understand that gifts are a candle lighting more Chanukah-festive, helps children thoughtful gesture, not something to be expected or demanded. It can also be a moment to teach the importance learn to plan, prepare…and wait.

3. Boundaries in the Face of Holiday Pressures of giving, whether it’s sharing with siblings or thinking This time of year can create additional pressures to “keep about others who may not be receiving as much.

So, while Chanukah is a time for joy and celebration, up” with what other families are doing—whether that’s the number of gifts given or how many parties a family it’s also a great opportunity to teach kids that hearing goes to. When children see other kids receiving gifts, “no” is not a negative thing. It helps them grow into rethey might ask for more or feel disappointed if their ex- sponsible, compassionate, and resilient individuals who perience doesn’t look the same. Here, setting boundaries understand the true spirit of the season and the value and saying “no” is crucial. Consistent boundaries help of what they have. Saying “no” not only supports their children feel secure, as they know what to expect. They emotional growth but also strengthens your relationship also learn that celebrations are about more than just re- with them as you guide them through the lessons that ceiving gifts; they’re about spending time together, cre- will shape their future.

Maybe have your children focus on giving your parating memories, and appreciating the meaning behind ents gifts this year? Teach them, proactively, how to react the holiday.

For all 25 years that I taught in BYQ, one of the most when they get their presents (I advise actual practicing exciting events of the year was the present-making day before you go), but let the gifts they get be less important we had around Chanukah time. I explained that while in the scheme of things.

May this chag be a wonderful one for you and your adults giving gelt is really the minhag, hakaras hatov is always appreciated. They got to make their family family, members gifts! I provided them with the basics, and - Etti they created beautiful tefillas haderech car hangings,

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

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PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR GREGORY MEEKS

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A Good Fry

BY NAomI Ross

N

othing compares to a fresh latke right out of the pan: crisp and lacey, craggy fried threads of potato so good that you overlook the film of grease on your fingertips. “It’s so worth it,” we say to ourselves as we lick our fingers clean.

The same cannot be said of badly fried food. There is no joy found in oil oozing, a sadly soggy texture, or unwelcome indigestion.

If you’re going to mess up your stove, it might as well be worth it! Avoid the pitfalls and free yourself of your frying fears! Follow these tips for perfectly crisp-on-theoutside, tender-on-the-inside results that every cook is looking for!

FRYING GUIDE

• Choose your oil carefully. Oil for frying requires a high “smoke point”: in other words, an oil which won’t break down at high frying temperatures. Neutral-flavored vegetable oil, peanut oil, corn oil, refined avocado oil and canola oil are good choices (olive oil is not because it has a low smoke point).

• Choose a deep, heavy pan for frying.

Leaving a headspace (space at the top of the pan) of at least 1-2 inches allows for a safety margin in case oil bubbles up and splatters as the food is added.

A heavy pan with a thick bottom will also conduct heat better, preventing unevenly cooked, burnt food.

• Make sure that the food you are going to fry is dry. Oil and water do not mix, especially at such high temperatures...and burns from splattered oil are not fun.

• Maintain a steady temp! The best temperature for frying is between

350-375°F. When deep-frying, a fry thermometer is the best way to monitor the temperature. With shallow pan-frying, the low depth of oil in the pan may preclude this so go by visual signs: oil is hot enough when a small cube of bread sizzles upon contact and browns in 60 seconds. Regulate the heat as needed to keep the oil temperature steady throughout the frying session.

• Foods less than an inch thick are more suitable for frying (for example, thin cutlets work best). If too thick or dense, the surface of the food can burn before the center is cooked.

• When shallow pan frying, the level of the oil should come up about a third to half-way up on the food so that the same area is not fried twice when you flip it.

• Don’t overcrowd the pan! Leave ample space around each piece so the food will fry evenly and achieve ideal crispiness. Too much food added at once will cause the oil temperature to drop, resulting in excess fat being absorbed and greasy results. Overcrowding can also cause the food to steam (instead of fry) leading to a case of the “soggies.”

• Food is done when golden and evenly browned on both sides. Remove it with a slotted spoon/spatula to drain excess oil. Transfer to a rack or paper towels (single layer) to drain.

• Cooking oil may be reused if clear and clean. If so, you can strain and reuse it once cool. If oil is not clear and there is a lot of debris, the oil has already begun to break down from the heat, and undesirable compounds have formed. Let the oil cool completely, and then discard safely (I pour it in a jar and discard in the garbage).

Never pour oil/fat down the drain unless you want a visit from your plumber!

Frying is not limited to latkes, and certainly not only to potato latkes. Doughnuts and other oil-laden dishes abound as well…we do have eight nights, after all! Come Chanukah, my kitchen smells like a fast-food restaurant; a tattered, beloved oil-stained apron always kept at arm’s reach. Old school or new world, fried treats are the making of wonderful edible holiday memories...a momentary pleasure to be enjoyed with family and friends. The diet starts next week.

spinach-Feta Latkes All the flavors of Greek Spanakopita in latke form! Serve hot with sour cream or Chive Yogurt Sauce (recipe below).

Ingredients ● 1 pound (16 ounces) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and water squeezed out ● 1 cup grated onion (about 1 small or ½ large) ● 2 scallions, thinly sliced ● 3 eggs, beaten ● 1/3 cup all-purpose flour ● 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill) ● 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley) ● ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ● ½ teaspoon ground pepper ● ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ● 1 cup (about 8 ounces) packed crumbled feta cheese ● Canola oil, for frying

Preparation Combine spinach, onion, scallions, eggs, flour, dill, parsley, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Mix well. Fold in crumbled feta cheese. (Mixture can be prepared 3-4 hours ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Restir before continuing.)

Pour a layer of canola oil on the bottom of large nonstick skillet to a depth of about ¼-inch. Heat skillet over medium-high heat until oil shimmers. Working in batches, drop mounds of spinach mixture into the skillet (about 2 tablespoons each), leaving space in between each latke. Flatten each mound with the back of a spoon. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once, about 3-4 minutes per side. Serve hot with sour cream or Chive Yogurt Sauce (recipe below).

Chive Yogurt sauce Ingredients

● ½ cup plain Greek yogurt ● 2½ tablespoons chopped fresh chives ● 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice ● ½ tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Preparation Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Naomi Ross is a cooking instructor and food writer based in Woodmere, NY. She teaches classes throughout the country and writes articles connecting good cooking and Jewish inspiration. Her first cookbook, The Giving Table, was released in December 2022. Follow her at @naomirosscooks on Instagram/FB/ TikTok or visit her website: www.naomirosscooks.com.

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Yield: Makes about 14 large or 22 mini-latkes

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White Cheddar & Cremini Wontons Yield: 12 wontons

Preparation 1. Heat olive oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and season with salt, pepper and thyme; sauté until softened and wilted, about 4-5 minutes. Drizzle truffle oil over mushrooms; stir to coat and blend. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.

Robust flavors pack a cheesy punch in this crispy wonton party app. A good, sharp

2. Meanwhile, prepare wontons: lay out wonton wrappers on a flat surface. Using

white cheddar is enhanced by a touch of mustard and “truffled” cremini mushrooms

a pastry brush (or the back of a spoon), brush the center of the wonton wrapper with a

inside.

smear of mustard, leaving the perimeter plain. Place a cube of cheddar cheese in the

Ingredients

center of each wonton. Top each cube of cheese with a piece of mushroom.

3. Seal wontons: using a wet fingertip, moisten the perimeter of each wonton with

● 1 teaspoon olive oil

a dab of water. Fold opposing corners upwards to meet over the filling, pressing and

● 2 ounces cremini mushrooms (about 5-6), thinly sliced

sealing between your thumb and forefinger. Press together edges, sealing the remain-

● ¼ teaspoon each: kosher salt, black pepper, dried thyme

ing corners. Repeat with remaining wontons and filling.

● ½ teaspoon white truffle oil (optional…but worth it!)

4. Heat oil filled to a depth of 1-2 inches in a deep saucepan or pot over medium

● 12 frozen square wonton wrappers, thawed

heat. If using a fry thermometer (recommended), heat oil to temperature of 350-

● 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard, or more as needed

360°F. Fry a few wontons at time until golden and crispy, turning once during cooking,

● 2-3 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes (about ½”)

about 1 minute per side. Use a slotted spoon to remove wontons, transferring to a rack

● Canola oil for frying

or paper towels to drain. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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Churros Yield: 25-30

Preparation 1. Mix 1/3 cup sugar and cinnamon together in a large plate; set aside 2. Place water, butter, salt and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a saucepan over moderate heat.

Classic fried choux paste dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. Serve with melted chocolate or ganache or caramel sauce.

3. Bring to a boil, stirring, until butter is completely melted and mixture is simmering.

4. Add flour all at once, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir vigorously

Ingredients

until dough forms a ball and comes away from the sides of the pan. Transfer to a mixing

● 1/3 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon sugar

bowl and let cool for 2-4 minutes.

● 1 teaspoon cinnamon

5. Add vanilla and egg, beating vigorously with electric beaters or whisk after each

● 1 cup water

addition. Beat until egg is well incorporated. Spoon choux paste into a pastry bag fitted

● ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter

with a large piping tip (½-inch open-star tip).

● ¼ teaspoon salt ● 1 cup all-purpose flour ● ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract ● 2 eggs ● Canola or vegetable oil, for frying

6. Heat approximately 2 inches depth of oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat until temperature reaches 360-370°F. 7. Carefully pipe batter into 5-6” length strips, using scissors or a knife to cut and carefully release into the oil. Do not fry more than 5-6 churros at a time.

8. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove and drain; transfer to rack to drain and then roll in cinnamon sugar while warm.

9. Repeat with remaining churros. Serve with melted chocolate, ganache or caramel sauce.

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In The K tchen

Buttery Lemon Cake Bites

By Naomi Nachman

I a m thrilled and honored to be working again with Breakstone’s Butter. I hope you like this recipe as much as my fa mily does.

I love Chanukah, especially because we incorporate so much dairy into our meals and that comes with lots of delicious butter.

Ingredients ◦ 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces ◦ 2 large eggs room temperature, lightly whisked ◦ ½ cup granulated sugar ◦ 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed ◦ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ◦ ⅛ teaspoon salt ◦ 1¼ cup all-purpose flour ◦ 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ◦ 1 teaspoons lemon zest (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small heatproof bowl, melt 10 tablespoons of butter. (I used a microwave.)

Set aside to cool.

Spray mini muffin pan with Pam and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugars, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk vigorously until thoroughly combined Sift flour into the egg mixture, about ¹⁄₃ of the flour at a time, and gently fold into egg mixture after each addition.

Drizzle cooled melted butter around the edge of the batter. Add lemon juice and add zest, if using. Gently fold into batter using a spatula until ingredients are thoroughly combined (but do not over-mix).

Drop batter by heaping tablespoon into prepared pan.

Bake for 9 minutes.

When cooled, sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

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Mind Y

ur Business

Company Values This column features business insights from a recent “Mind

show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and

Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The week-

throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

ly “Mind Your Business” show – broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business

Since 2015, Yitzchok Saftlas has been speaking with leading

leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John

industry experts on the “Mind Your Business” show, sharing

Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder

insightful business and marketing strategies.

and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives

In this article, we’ve gathered advice from 5 business lead-

and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom

ers on essential company values and how to incorporate

Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business”

them into your culture.

Positive values

Joe Hart, CEO of Dale Carnegie I think there is a perception that in order to get great results, you have to be critical and really tough. But there are many examples of some of the greatest CEOs who have gotten people working together, helped them bring out their best, and who have achieved great results in a positive way. One example is Alan Mulally, who was the CEO of Boeing and Ford. He took over Ford in 2006, when it was near bankruptcy. He took over a company that had a very challenging culture – people were undermining each other, gossiping, and all these different kinds of things – and he said, “Look, we’re not going to have that kind of a culture. We’re going to work together as one team.” He basically set the values for the culture, and he told me personally, “the CEO has to make sure that they have zero tolerance for people who violate those values.” It might have been in an executive team meeting, someone would be sarcastic or would say something negative to somebody else, and he wouldn’t tolerate it. He set a culture where everything in the organization was transparent. Everyone knew the plan, everyone knew the metrics, and so forth.

You can achieve great results and bring the best out of people at the same time. If people aren’t getting results, that doesn’t mean you tolerate that either. It just means that there’s a way that you handle it that at least respects their dignity. If someone’s not hitting their targets, you say, “Hey, I noticed you’ve been missing your targets. Let’s talk about that.” And try to assess whether or not the person is capable and willing. If they’re not, you say, “That’s okay. This is probably just not the place for you.” Bringing out the best in someone doesn’t mean that you tolerate mediocrity.

Grateful values

Marc Bodner, Executive Chairperson at L&R Distributors I’ve always said that culture is not software that gets installed. It has to evolve. It has to take on a life. You need to gather the stories of certain behaviors and share those stories so that people can learn from them. I don’t want people to think, “Okay, great. Let’s go work on this for three months, put a bunch of principles on a paper, throw a party, and then we will just keep on doing what we’ve always done.” So, we start with the value of gratitude, because if there is one thing that I’ve learned over the years, it is that everything really begins with gratitude. To me, that means doing something for someone else with no expectation of anything in return. So, what does that mean to a business? It means that when I’m doing this thing, I’m not thinking about myself. I’m doing this thing with the mindset of who is going to have to pick up what I’ve done next, so that I can do whatever I can to make it easier for that person.

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You can achieve great results and bring the best out of people at the same time.

Alan Cohn, President of Cohler Fuel

Cohler Fuel was started by my grandfather, who came from Europe with nothing. Since then, the business has evolved, but it also hasn’t evolved. A lot of the same business ethics and mindset that we had way back then continue today. And that’s part of our strength: The customer service. The dedication to making sure the customer is warm, safe, and always responded to when they need it. Those are old school values that that we still maintain today. And I attribute a lot of that to our continued success.

Ben Cohn, Vice-President of Cohler Fuel That in and of itself is what keeps 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 recognize that, they really appreciate that, they’re seeing that I’m not trying to just get one over on them. I’m looking to do the right thing by them, and the results speak for itself. We have enough on our plate that keeps us busy day in and day out. There’s no shortage of people knocking on our door, wanting to deal with us and wanting to do business with us and give us a chance to prove who we are and what we’re all about. We have customers that I’ve even brought in myself personally, from 2001-2002. That’s 20-plus years ago, and they’re still dealing with me today. There are customers that even dealt with my father’s father who now deal with me and my father. So, we like to just keep the trend synchronized, the same exact formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s my philosophy.

interGenerational values

Dr. Richard Roberts, Former Pharmaceutical Industry CEO Before you turn the reins of a business over to the next generation, you had better make sure that they have the correct values for the protection of the business, of the employees, and even of themselves. You could have some new guy that comes in thinking that he can do a bunch of dishonest things and then gets himself into criminal trouble. You could have someone that is not at all respectful or sensitive to the needs of the employees, and then gets himself into labor trouble. So, you don’t turn the reins over to someone until they’ve demonstrated those values for a long time and proven that they can do it.

On the other hand, you can’t just assume that the next generation might be lacking the values that the first generation had. In my case, it was actually kind of the opposite. I was the first Orthodox Jew in the family in four generations, and there were many things that I simply would not do or ways that I behaved that were radically different from the way that the family business was being run before me. When I joined the company, there were multiple gender discrimination lawsuits against the company. People would come up to me and make off-color jokes or use curse words, but I wouldn’t respond. I would just move on to the topic that had to be addressed. When you’re President or CEO, people look up to you. From a psychiatric perspective, there’s even some transference going on and you end up as a somewhat parental figure. You have to set the right tone. So, remember that you can’t just assume the next generation has lesser or worse values; it can sometimes even be the opposite.

intentional values

Dirk Beveridge, Founder of UnleashWD Corporate culture is everything in today’s age. I did a presentation a couple of weeks ago, and the presenter before me was a demographer. He made the statement that HR is going to be bigger than finance going forward. Just think about that. We talked about these disruptive forces and the like, but I think there’s a new pillar that we need to be thinking about, what I call the “people forces.” As individual leaders, we need to think about our culture deeper than we ever have. Every business has a culture; the question is, has it been intentional or not? In many businesses, the culture hasn’t been intentional, it’s just evolved. And if we continue to just allow it to evolve because of this swirl that’s around us, we’re going to have a hard time attracting and retaining the people we need to sustain and grow our businesses profitably going forward.

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Customer-foCused values

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States… The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete “rip-off” of our Country will immediately stop.

- Trump in a Truth Social post

There have never been enough consequences, and that’s what we need to be talking about with these people: You take an American, you illegally detain them if you’re a nation-state or if you’re a terrorist you hold them hostage, there is going to be all [heck] to pay, there are going to be nothing but consequences for you, financially and maybe even a bullet in your [darn] forehead if you take an American, period.

- Incoming U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in an interview with Ben Shapiro while talking about the hostages being held by Hamas

It’s always good to do a good thing. Let me just start by saying this: All of you MAGA minions and you MAGA maniacs and MAGA monsters are the so-called evangelicals who believe in G-d, and G-d says forgive.

- Democratic political analyst Lisa Durden on NewsNation responding to outrage over President Joe Biden’s commutation of 37 death row murderers, including one who murdered two little girls riding bikes and many others who committed heinous crimes

I’m going to win with you or without you.

- Teamsters President Sean O’Brien on a recent podcast disclosing what Vice President Kamala Harris said to him when she met with him to try to get his endorsement for president

The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood.

We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!

- Ibid.

In response to the Pope’s statement today: Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children while trying to murder Israeli children; cruelty is holding 100 hostages for 442 days, including a baby and children, by terrorists and abusing them.

- Statement by Israel’s Foreign Ministry in response to the Pope calling Israel’s actions in Gaza cruel

Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this, as well as the fact that Israel’s actions have targeted terrorists who used children as human shields.

- Ibid.

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If he [a terrorist is] just dead, so he’s dead. But if he’s wounded, you have to take him to the hospital, take care of him. You need to invest money and efforts. And those people without hands and eyes are living proof, walking in Lebanon, of “don’t mess with us.” They are walking proof of our superiority all around the Middle East.

- A Mossad agent on “60 Minutes” explaining why the beeper bombs were calibrated to injure but not to kill

We have an incredible array of possibilities of creating foreign companies that have no way of being traced back to Israel. Shell companies over shell companies to affect the supply chain to our favor. We create a pretend world. We are a global production company. We write the screenplay, we’re the directors, we’re the producers, we’re the main actors, and the world is our stage.

- Ibid., when asked how Israel got Hezbollah to buy the pagers from them

I just try to be nice to people and try to go one day at a time – that’s all.

- Florence “Fireball Flo” Hackman of Ohio, at the celebration of her 106th birthday

If you get that one day in, then you can go on to the next one.

- ibid.

So that’s what you’ve got to do – one day at a time – think what I’ve got to do today. You’ve got to keep moving as long as you can.

These days, when the Houthi terrorist organization is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them at the beginning of my remarks: We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded Iran’s defense systems and damaged the production systems, we have toppled the Assad regime in Syria, we have dealt a severe blow to the axis of evil, and we will also deal a severe blow to the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen, which remains the last to stand.

- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz

We will behead their leaders – just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon – we will do it in [Yemen’s] Hodeidah and Sanaa.

- Ibid., publicly acknowledging for the first time that Israel was behind the assassination of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran

- ibid.

In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day. Since deploying the @ NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up.

- Tweet by NY Governor Kathy Hochul, hours after a subway rider was killed in brutal fashion by an illegal alien from Venezuela

President Biden yesterday publicly addressed the recent uptick in drone sightings and said, “We’re following this closely, but, so far, no sense of danger.” Well, no offense, but you haven’t been great at sensing danger.

When it comes to sensing danger, I’m not sure I trust an 81-year-old man who still rides a bike.

-Seth Meyers

How many of the things the government insisted were conspiracy theories in recent years have turned out to be totally true: the Covid lab leak theory, the Chinese spy balloon, Hunter’s laptop being Hunter’s laptop, Joe Biden being sharp as a tack.

-Kat Timpf

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Joe Biden has been diminished over the past four years and we have had unelected people running the government. If they’re worried about people who aren’t Donald Trump running the government or having influence, I wonder where they’ve been the last four year.

- Scott Jennings, on CNN, in response to the media’s claim that Elon Musk is calling the shots for the incoming Trump administration

“Elon is Controlling Trump!” Complain People Controlling Biden - Babylon Bee headline

The main beneficiary of this Syrian development, I believe, is Israel. It’s my personal belief.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recent interview

That I kept my word.

- Pres. Biden—who recently pardoned his son despite repeated promises that he wouldn’t do so—when asked in an interview what he wants to be remembered for

Candace Owens Horrified to Learn X-mas Was Started By Birth of a Jew. - Babylon Bee headline

They never make jokes about Jews.

- Jew-hater Candace Owens responding to the headline

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Israel Today

Freedom of the Press Isn’t About Publishing Partisan Lies

By Jonathan S. Tobin

I

n January 1985, the late Ariel Sharon was taught a hard lesson by the American justice system when he unsuccessfully sued TIME magazine for libel in U.S. federal court. That case, which made headlines for weeks at the time and had an impact on both Israeli politics and American law, is largely forgotten. But it was called to mind by the surprising decision of ABC News to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump.

ABC will pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and pay $1 million in legal fees to the past and future president’s lawyers. In addition to the money, the network and host George Stephanopoulos were forced to express “regret” for statements he made alleging that Trump had been “found liable” for [a certain crime] when that was not true.

The network’s decision to settle the

lawsuit and apologize was greeted with dismay by just about everyone in the liberal corporate media. They see it as a surrender on the part of the Disney Corporation, which owns ABC, to Trump.

Placed alongside the efforts of other corporate giants to mend fences with the president-elect in the aftermath of his victory in the 2024 election, liberals fear that it will “normalize” Trump—the man most of them were busy falsely labeling as an authoritarian bent on the destruction of American democracy just a couple of months ago in a vain effort to boost the doomed campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris. To journalists who see themselves as part of the anti-Trump “resistance,” the realization of their corporate masters that it’s time to pivot back to the center rather than doubling down on a failed partisan cause is a disaster.

The Press Loses Credibility They also believe that it will encourage Trump to take revenge on his political opponents with unfounded lawsuits.

The liberal media worries that all this might somehow lead to the overturning of the 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan Supreme Court ruling that made it difficult, if not impossible, for public figures to sue for libel. Many journalists think that if they are stripped of that legal shield, the freedom of the press will be doomed, especially with a president in the White House with a grudge against the media.

But it’s not as simple as that. The high bar set by the Supreme Court does give American journalists more freedom than almost all of their counterparts elsewhere. It was handed down in an era when the press was far more respected than it is today. If journalists

in the liberal corporate press are feeling the heat from a public that is abandoning legacy outlets for podcasts and other alternative media, it’s not just a function of Trump’s desire to get even with his opponents. It’s because in the last decade, many, if not most of them, have abandoned any semblance of journalistic ethics in favor of liberal political activism.

Leading outlets relentlessly promoted the Russia collusion hoax against Trump, despite the flimsy premise behind it and the lack of proof that ultimately exposed it as a fraudulent conspiracy theory. They colluded with the oligarchs of Silicon Valley to bury coverage of the corruption of President Joe Biden’s family in the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign. Equally egregious was their conspicuous failure to do any substantial reporting

Media Bias Against Israel A new generation of journalists, largely educated in elite universities, is steeped in the toxic ideas of the left like critical race theory and intersectionality and now believe their job is to advance “progressive” causes, not to tell both sides of stories and seek out the truth.

Not thoroughly reporting the whole story happens in some conservative media as well.

That has played out not only with respect to American politics but also when it comes to reporting about Israel and its conflict with the Palestinians and Iranian-backed terrorists. In the nearly 15 months since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, corporate media has skewed coverage against the Jewish state and its efforts to defend itself and defeat those who seek its destruction. Still, it’s worth remembering it was the Sharon case and

during the 1982 Lebanon War when it first became clear that Israel could no longer expect fair coverage.

Sharon sued TIME—then one of the best-read and most powerful media outlets in the world—for libel. The case involved a 1982 article that alleged that Sharon, then-Israel’s Defense Minister, had told Lebanese Phalangist leaders to take revenge on Palestinians by going into the Sabra and Shatila refugee

ment in a later and separate lawsuit in an Israeli court, where the laws are not skewed to favor the press.

Though the furor over his alleged responsibility for Sabra and Shatila forced his resignation as defense minister, Sharon eventually made a remarkable political comeback. He became prime minister of Israel in 2001 and served until he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2006 that led to his death eight years

It’s possible to argue that the misleading and often downright false reporting about Lebanon in 1982 laid the foundation for the libelous coverage of the Jewish state today

camps in Beirut. The upshot of the report, widely believed at the time, was that Sharon was responsible for the subsequent massacre in which the Phalangists had taken revenge for the Palestinian slaughter of Lebanese Christians.

As it happened, he had done no such thing, and as such, sued for libel in federal court for the media leviathan falsely labeling him a “mass murderer.” But his main obstacle to vindication in court was U.S. libel law, which makes it very difficult for plaintiffs who are public figures to seek redress against the press, no matter the strength of their cases.

During the course of the trial, Sharon’s lawyers proved to the jury that the report was false. But his problem was that the judge properly charged it under the Times v. Sullivan rules and said that they must answer three questions: Was the story true? Did the reporter know it was not true? And had the report been published out of malice in a willful desire to injure Sharon? The jury answered “yes” to the first two questions.

However, in the absence of a clear admission on the part of Time’s staff that they were out to get the Israeli war hero and politician, the answer to the third question was “no.” And so, TIME won.

Both sides claimed vindication with Sharon insisting that all he wanted was to prove that the allegation was a lie, not the $50 million he had asked for in damages. He subsequently forced the magazine to agree to a financial settle-

later. But the damage to his reputation— and that of the Jewish state—lingered outside of Israel. It’s possible to argue that the misleading and often downright false reporting about Lebanon in 1982 laid the foundation for the libelous coverage of the Jewish state today, as false claims of “genocide” against Palestinians are routinely aired in the international media and believed by those who have been indoctrinated to believe it is a “white” oppressor state.

The corporate press may deny that, as a whole, they have abandoned traditional journalistic ethics in favor of liberal activism. But the blatant bias against Trump and conservatives, as well as its predilection for defaming Israel, is the context with which we should view the current debate about a pending assault on the American press.

The same can be said of almost all of the Israeli media that treat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the same unfairness as their American counterparts do to Trump.

Change the Law? As the Sharon case proved 40 years ago, the current standards for libel in the United States are questionable. One wonders whether he might have proved malice in an era when virtually all communication is conducted via email and text and can be subpoenaed in the legal discovery process. Yet in writing the First Amendment, the intent of the

Founders of the American Republic was not to give blanket immunity to journalists to lie about public figures. Seen from that point of view, the Supreme Court might well have good reason to revisit the Times v. Sullivan precedent to make it easier to sue, as is the case in other democracies.

But you don’t have to be at the Times, ABC or any of the other legacy outlets that have thrown away their credibility in the eyes of the public to worry about the implications of such a development.

The owners of many supposedly mainstream outlets are, with good reason, rethinking allowing their woke staff to cut them off from at least the half of the public that doesn’t lean to the left. Attempting to steer them back to the center is not a surrender to authoritarianism but a sensible decision to discard partisanship and return to the more responsible journalistic culture that was part of the court’s reasoning in Times v. Sullivan.

Still, lowering the bar to lawsuits won’t hurt these massive corporations.

What it will do is to make alternative media—whether small outlets like JNS or the independent podcasters who have largely supplanted the corporate media—more vulnerable. They don’t have hot-shot lawyers on retainer or the resources to defend themselves against spiteful and frivolous litigation that the media giants have.

The real answer to the threat of Trump’s lawsuits is not to change the law but for journalists to do their jobs rather than playing politics as so many of them now think is their duty. If the corporate media continues on this current path, the problem won’t just be that Trump or other wronged conservatives will sue them and potentially undermine the First Amendment’s protection of the press. It’s that they will lose even more of their audiences and influence.

The same is true in Israel as the one alternative to the left’s groupthink— Channel 14—continues to gain viewers.

As with so many other things in free societies, the answer is to let the public, acting through the free market, decide the fate of legacy outlets. In the long run, journalists who think they should have impunity to defame their political opponents will fail and those who tell the truth may well succeed. (JNS)

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

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about Biden’s growing incapacity as president, covering up his diminishing ability to function right up until his disastrous June debate with Trump, when it became impossible to conceal it any further. Just as bad was the scorn they heaped on anyone who did point out the truth about Biden until it became in the interests of the Democrats to replace him with Harris.

There are many other examples of this sort of bias, but suffice it to say that while his colleagues took the side of Stephanopoulos in the dispute with Trump, much of the public, which sees the ABC host as a symbol of the arrogance, partisanship and hypocrisy of the media disagrees (he was, after all, the point man for discrediting women who came forward with credible allegations of harassment and assault against former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s).

There is also good reason to think that Trump’s latest lawsuit will fail.

He’s pursuing a claim against the Des Moines Register and its supposedly expert pollster J. Ann Selzer for publishing a last-minute poll showing Harris winning the state of Iowa, which was 17 percentage points off the actual result.

The poll finding was so skewed and its timing so suspicious that it might well be considered election interference, even if it probably isn’t illegal. Trump’s lawsuit should fail, but the facts of the case do lend credence to the claim that the media is not only not to be trusted but may well be deliberately lying to the public.

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Political Crossfire

The Trump Effect Has Already Made the Mideast Safer

By Martin Oliner

I

f an alien arrived in America and asked to be taken to its leader, there is no doubt he would be taken to President-elect Donald Trump and not outgoing President Joe Biden.

Even though Trump has not yet taken office, he is already doing much more than the man still on the job to make the world a safer place.

While Biden has taken care of his family by pardoning his son, President Trump has been taking care of the world, meeting with top international figures, planning policies, and holding press conferences in which he knows what to say and what not to say.

Trump’s vow that there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza Strip are not released by his January 20 inauguration finally gives hope to their loved ones.

Most importantly, he has repeatedly left open the possibility never seriously considered by Biden to attack Iran and prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons that would endanger the entire world.

“Anything can happen,” he told Time Magazine in his Man of the Year interview. “It’s a very volatile situation.”

That volatile situation requires American deterrence. The mere presence of Trump on the way to the White House has already compelled countries around the world, from Canada to Qatar, to reassess their policies and change their direction.

While Israel’s defeat of Hezbollah has correctly been given credit by both Biden and Trump for the downfall of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s brutal regime, there is no doubt that the rebels were also emboldened by the knowledge that America was back on a path toward rewarding its allies and punishing its enemies.

Even the feckless Palestinian Authority has finally taken steps to restore order and crack down on Hamas and other rebel groups in Jenin and other cities. The PA knows it will be held up to a higher standard by Trump, and it better get on his good side before he comes back to power.

But of course, no one knew better how important it is to hold out for Trump than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As Jerusalem Post military analyst Yonah Jeremy Bob pointed out, when Netanyahu’s national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said on May 29 that the war would need to continue another seven months, people did not know what he meant. But now it is clear that Israel planned for a Trump victory all along.

That hope has already borne fruit, with the appointments of pro-Israel, clear-thinking nominees to the key cabinet posts where decisions impacting Israel will be made for the next four years.

Israeli officials have told me privately that they cannot wait for Antony Blinken to be replaced by Secretary of State by Marco Rubio. With less than a month left in office, Blinken is still making a fool of himself by talking seriously about the need to negotiate with the Iranian regime that he should be taking action to remove from power. He will be remembered as a shorter version of

John Kerry, with no accomplishments but much damage.

By contrast, Rubio recently called Hamas “animals” and made clear that they are “100% to blame” for everyone killed in Israel and in Gaza during this war. The moment he takes over, there will be maximum pressure on Hamas to surrender.

The arms embargoes of the Biden administration will be replaced by a Trump administration that will supply Israel with bunker-busting bombs and whatever else is needed to deter the enemies of the Jewish state. Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said, “If you love America, you should love Israel.” He will back that up by providing Israel’s military requirements at this crucial time.

Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that he has briefed Trump’s advisors that Iran could decide to develop nuclear weapons if it is too weak. He warned the Trump team to be careful not to harm Iran too much.

Biden has not bothered to send his Middle East envoy Brett McGurk to the region lately, but his successor, businessman Steve Witkoff, has already come and pressured the leaders of Qatar to do more to bring about the release of the hostages.

The majority leader in the Senate will thankfully no longer be Chuck Schumer, who has singlehandedly prevented the passage of the much-needed Antisemitism Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation that passed the House by a 320-91 vote in May. His successor,

The mere presence of Trump on the way to the White House has already compelled countries around the world, from Canada to Qatar, to reassess their policies and change their direction.

Why didn’t Biden appoint a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs?

Trump has already done that in the well-respected Adam Boehler, whose appointment “gives us renewed hope,” Ruby Chen, father of hostage and American citizen Itay Chen, wrote in The Hill.

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Senator John Thune, has promised to sanction the International Criminal Court for pursuing warrants against Israeli officials.

Last but not least, I am excited about the appointment of my friend Mike Huckabee as the ambassador to Israel.

Once he takes over, gone are the days of American envoys pressuring Israel to stop building in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

“There is no such thing as a West Bank,” Mr. Huckabee said during a visit to Israel in January 2017, adding: “There’s no such thing as a settlement – they are communities, they’re neighborhoods, they’re cities. There’s no such thing as an occupation.”

The incoming Trump administration is not alien to the need to strengthen Israel in order to ensure a brighter future for America. If this is what it has already done before taking office, the sky is the limit for the next four years.

Mr. Oliner is the chairman of the Religious Zionists of America, president of the Culture for Peace Institute, and a committee member of the Jewish Agency. He currently serves as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, appointed by Donald Trump during the president-elect’s first term. He is the former mayor of the Village of Lawrence. The views expressed here are his own.

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“It’s no wonder that there are voices [in Iran] saying, ‘Hey, maybe we need to go for a nuclear weapon right now,’” Sullivan said after recounting recent setbacks to Iran and its proxies.

Thankfully, Sullivan’s successor, Congressman Mike Waltz, does not appear to be listening to that nonsense. He warned Iran in an interview with Ben Shapiro that he will be watching the Islamic Republic’s every move very closely. He said Iran must stop provoking Israel and developing nuclear weapons.

Regarding Iran’s proxies, Waltz did not mince words. He said he would reverse Biden’s 2021 decision to remove the Houthis’ designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and take immediate action against Hamas.

“There have never been enough consequences,” Waltz told Shapiro. “And that’s what we need to be talking about with these people. You take an American, you illegally detain them, if you’re a nation state or if you’re a terrorist… there is gonna be all [heck] to pay. There are gonna be nothing but consequences for you financially and maybe even a bullet in your … forehead if you take an American, period.”

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Political Crossfire

Does Trump Want Putin to Get Ukraine’s $26 Trillion in Gas and Minerals?

By Marc A. Thiessen

D

onald Trump often says that liberating Iraq without getting its oil resources was one of America’s biggest foreign policy blunders. He has a chance to avoid a similar mistake in Ukraine.

Ukraine is not only the breadbasket of Europe; it is also a mineral superpower with some of the largest reserves of 117 of the 120 of the most widely used minerals in the world. Of the 50 strategic minerals identified by the United States as critical to its economy and national security, many of which are quite rare yet key to certain high-value applications, Ukraine supplies 22.

Ukraine possesses the largest reserves of uranium in Europe; the second-largest reserves of iron ore, titanium and manganese; and the third largest reserves of shale gas – as well as large deposits of lithium, graphite and rare earth metals, according to a 2022 report by the Canadian geopolitical risk-analysis firm SecDev. These minerals are essential to the production of vital goods ranging from airplanes, cellphones and electric vehicles to steel and nuclear power.

The question for the president-elect is: Does he want Russia and China to get that treasure trove of natural resources?

Or does he want to develop them with Ukraine to the benefit of the American people?

One of the main reasons Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine (aside from his delusional historical fantasies about how Ukrainians and Russians are “one people”) was to seize these natural resources, which are valued at an estimated $26 trillion, according to SecDev. That effort nearly succeeded. In early 2022, Russian forces reached the out-

skirts of Kyiv and came close to taking the capital and installing a puppet regime.

But with U.S. assistance – including the Javelin missiles that Trump supplied (reversing Barack Obama’s lethal weapons ban) – Ukraine forced Russia back. In so doing, it not only liberated its citizens from brutal Russian occupation; it also successfully defended roughly 80 percent of Ukraine’s known mineral deposits, according to the SecDev report – including 73 percent of its iron ore, 75 percent of its lithium and graphite, 90 percent of its titanium, and 92 percent of its uranium and other radioactive elements.

Early on, Russia seized control of an estimated 80 percent of Ukraine’s massive offshore hydrocarbon deposits. But over the past three years, Ukraine has wiped out roughly half of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using explosive unmanned sea drones to drive the Russian navy from its territorial waters. With that success-

ful offensive, Ukraine has reopened its shipping lanes and recaptured many of its Black Sea oil and gas deposits.

Today, Ukraine maintains control of 96.5 percent of its proven oil reserves and 96 percent of its proven natural gas reserves – as well as all of its aluminum, cobalt, copper, nickel, tin and beryllium deposits.

Russia did succeed in seizing about 57 percent of the country’s known coal reserves (worth about $11.9 trillion) and about half of its deposits of certain rare earths (though many of those were captured in 2014 when Russia first invaded and seized Crimea). But those losses notwithstanding, Ukraine has prevented Russia from seizing $13.6 trillion in mineral and hydrocarbon wealth.

That has been a massive defeat for Putin – and a huge opportunity for the United States.

The American people have already in-

vested about $183 billion to help Ukraine defend its mineral-rich land from Russian aggression. Though the vast majority of the military portion of that aid has been spent here in the United States – strengthening our defense production capacity and creating good manufacturing jobs for American workers – that amount remains a staggeringly large investment in helping Ukraine defend itself from unjust aggression. Shouldn’t U.S. taxpayers get a return on that investment? Do we want Ukrainian titanium going into American planes or into Russian and Chinese fighter jets that will threaten the United States and its allies? Do we want Ukraine’s lithium and rare earths powering American-made electronics and electric vehicles or Chinese ones?

Trump has pledged to “bring Americans the lowest-cost energy and electricity on Earth” as well as expand artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining, which require data centers that consume vast amounts of electricity. The only proven way to lower electricity costs while simultaneously increasing electricity demand is to dramatically boost our supply of clean nuclear power. And Trump has pledged to approve the construction of nuclear plants powered by small innovative reactors.

That would dramatically increase U.S. demand for uranium. The United States is already the largest purchaser of Russian-enriched uranium, dependent on Moscow for nearly one-quarter of its supply. It is not in our strategic interest to allow Putin to seize control of the largest uranium reserves in Europe. The United States needs that Ukrainian uranium to lower energy costs for Americans and fuel AI and crypto innovation.

help to secure a just and lasting peace.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion, metallurgical production in Ukraine fell by an estimated 80 percent – from 20 million tons in 2021 to just 2.5 million by the middle of 2023. It is hard to mine for minerals while missiles are being fired at your critical infrastructure. It is impossible to develop offshore oil and natural gas in the waters Ukraine controls in the North Crimean Basin under the shadow of Russian forces who are within firing range.

American businesses can develop those resources for the benefit of the American and Ukrainian peoples – but only if the fighting ends on terms that give investors confidence the Russian assault won’t resume.

The reality is Putin won’t willingly give up on his quest to conquer Ukraine and its mineral wealth. He will violate any international agreement Russia signs to achieve his objective. The only way to stop him is to make his objective impossible to achieve. Putin no doubt hopes to use any cessation of hostilities to pause, reconstitute his forces and resume his invasion in a few years’ time – just like he did after his 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea.

So, Trump needs to do more than sim-

ply stop today’s war in Ukraine; he must create conditions that make a resumption of war impossible.

That will require creating defensible borders. During this year’s CNN presidential debate, Dana Bash asked Trump if Putin’s demands that Russia “keeps the Ukrainian territory it has already claimed and Ukraine abandons its bid to join NATO” were acceptable to him. Trump responded “No, they’re not acceptable.”

He’s right. A good deal that truly secures Ukraine and its resources requires that Kyiv get back critical areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. It will also need security guarantees backed up with Western military might – either through NATO membership for Ukraine, serious bilateral security commitments or a demilitarized zone enforced by an international peacekeeping force made up of European, not American, troops. (Poland will soon have the third-largest military in NATO and could lead a European peacekeeping operation.)

But another key to a lasting peace is a well-armed Ukraine, so that Kyiv possesses a military powerful enough to deter Russia. The United States will need to arm Ukraine regardless of what happens at the negotiating table – either to

stop Russia from resuming the war once Trump has left office or to force Putin to the negotiating table if he refuses to agree to peace. So we must find mechanisms to increase the flow of U.S. weapons to Kyiv that do not require U.S. taxpayers to bear the cost. One way to do so? Loans backed

by Ukraine’s mineral and fossil fuel resources as collateral.

By creating confidence that attracts private investment, a Trump-brokered peace accord will help the United States and Ukraine jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral and hydrocarbon resources, allowing it to provide for its own defense, just as Poland and the Baltic States do today.

A stable, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine will be an essential partner for America in extracting this natural resource wealth. An unstable Ukraine, under constant threat from Russia, will lead to a resumption of war when Trump leaves office and ultimately allow Putin to seize that wealth for Russia and China’s benefit.

Who will benefit from Ukraine’s oil, gas and mineral wealth? The choice belongs to Trump. © 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

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Trump has also set a priority of reducing America’s economic dependence on Communist China. Beijing is the largest source for more than half of the critical minerals the United States imports, including 72 percent of rare earth imports. China is trying to corner the global market on lithium, actively buying mines across the world, as well as mines for other critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel. And demonstrating its growing power over the U.S. economy, Beijing recently tightened export controls on critical minerals such as aluminum and titanium, banned the export of gallium and severely restricted the export of graphite to the United States. Ukraine has all of these minerals in abundance.

Were Ukraine’s mineral wealth to fall into Russian hands, it would be a strategic and economic boon to China, which has entered into a “no limits” partnership with Russia. Meanwhile, the United States needs friendly reliable sources of these critical minerals. If we help Ukraine secure and develop its natural resources, we can also deal a strategic blow to Beijing and Moscow, while bringing enormous financial benefit back to the American people.

But to do so, Ukraine needs Trump’s

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 26, 2024

Forgotten Her es

Top Military Headlines from 2024

By Avi Heiligman

Tim Walz, right, during his time in the National Guard

2

024 was a big year for global military news headlines. Topics ranged from top terrorists killed and Syria falling to rebels in the Middle East to the continuation of the Ukraine-Russia War. The public learned what stolen valor means and how pagers can become explosive to take out many terrorists in just one operation. Here are some of the fascinating stories from the military world in the past year.

Stolen valor is when an individual falsely claims to have served in the military, received medals or exaggerates their extent of their military service.

While some profit from these claims by selling merchandise or getting veteran benefits, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was called an impersonator this year by those who served under him in the Minnesota National Guard.

In 2005, he retired just months before his unit was to be deployed to Iraq, and other members of the unit did not take it lightly. They said he made claims that he carried weapons “in war” despite abandoning his unit just before deployment.

Walz also repeatedly called himself a retired command master sergeant when, in fact, he did fulfill all of the requirements to achieve that rank.

Two soldiers were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony on July 3, 2024. Privates Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson were Union soldiers during the Civil War

who were honored for their actions in taking over a Confederate railway in 1862.

They were part of a 24-man unit called Andrew’s Raiders and were tasked with infiltrating a Southern rail line and succeeded in capturing a locomotive. After cutting telegraph lines, ripping up rail tracks and causing mayhem, the group was captured. Along with six others, Shadrach and Wilson were executed as spies. Other members of the raid were awarded the Medal of Honor, but it took until this past year for Shadrach and Wilson to be awarded the medal.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022, but there were some new developments in the conflict in 2024. In August, Ukrainian troops launched an offensive into Russian territory in the Kursk region. The surprise offensive saw Ukraine capture parts of the Kursk Oblast, but both sides saw heavy casualties. Russian troops had to be diverted from other parts of the front lines, but it didn’t stop Russian advances on other fronts. While both Russian and Ukrainian troops have become battle hardened, newly arrived troops from North Korea don’t have the same battle experience. North Korea sent around 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia in October and have already taken a couple of hundred casualties, according to a senior U.S. military official.

Israel is now fighting on four fronts: against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in

A terrorist after his pager exploded in Lebanon

Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and in Syria following Assad’s downfall. Most of Hezbollah leadership was killed by Israeli strikes in a matter of weeks earlier this year. Terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike on September 27 while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was in New York attending the UN General Assembly. Nasrallah, like many other terrorist leaders and factions, was an Iranian proxy. His death marked a sharp turn of events in the region.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Rafah after being discovered by members of the 828th Bislamach Brigade. On a patrol, they discovered that three militants were leaving an area, and a shootout began. An IDF soldier was wounded in the action that forced an injured Sinwar into a building. A tank fired on the location, and Sinwar tossed two grenades on the IDF soldiers. They pulled back and sent in a drone. A stick was thrown at the drone

by Sinwar. At this point, the troops still had no idea that the man they had fatally wounded was the leader of the terrorist organization. The next day, they entered the building and found someone looking like Sinwar dead. Confirmation came soon afterwards – some called it the dramatic turning point of the war.

Besides taking down top terrorists, Israel took out thousands of Hezbollah rank and file soldiers spread out over Lebanon in just a matter of minutes.

On September 17, thousands of pagers

worn by Hezbollah terrorists exploded in Lebanon killing 12 and wound close to 3,000. The next day hundreds of walkie-talkies exploded, and 30 were killed along with 750 wounded. Lebanese hospitals quickly filled up beyond capacity.

In November, Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the attacks. The operation took years to plan and execute. Reporters quickly started doing research as to how Israel was able to place explosives in brand-new pagers and have them delivered to terrorists. It was determined that shell companies in Europe and Asia under the direction of the Mossad were used as intermediaries, and no one suspected anything was wrong with the pagers until they exploded.

This article only covered just a small amount of remarkable military stories from the past year. Many other headlines and topics this year included new types of weapons, humanitarian efforts by military forces, and changes to the military.

In 2025, Donald Trump will become the new commander-in-chief of the United States, and even more changes are expected that will affect both the U.S. military and events around the world.

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.

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N. WOODMERE

Charming 4 bed, 2.5 bath split level. Immaculate condition. SD 15 - low taxes. No flood zone.

REDUCED $1.195M

PRICE REDUCTION $1,560,000 OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, DEC. 22 12:00-1:30

Reach Your Target Market

WOODMERE

Magnificent one-of-a-kind new construction in Academy Area. Quiet tree-lined block, 8 beds, 5 baths, fully finished basement.

REDUCED! $2.35M $2.265M

Classifieds

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Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

HOUSES FOR SALE

COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE

HOUSES FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES? MORTGAGE? Must sell for any reason?

Call for FREE Consultation.

Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!

HEART OF CEDARHURST Entrance off Gourmet Glatt lot, second floor, shared bath, ideal for therapist/ office work, includes utilities, $600.

Call 516-371-3715

BIG FULLY RENOVATED, Woodmere, spacious 4bedroom 2 full bath split level.2 car garage +driveway.

Backyard on water SD#14. W&D. Tons of storage space.

347-517-3552

SHAARAY TEFILA Of Lawrence seeks a PT 25 hr/ week Office Coordinator/Bookkeeper, responsible for processing/managing/ reporting Billing/Receivables/ Collections, Accounts Payable, Timekeeping/Payroll, Banking, Facilities Rentals, and Member Data Maintenance. The Shul office also liaises with members, vendors, and maintenance staff. Hybrid schedule with some off-site work possible.

Candidates must be proficient users of Excel, MS Word, and other PC tools. Proficiency using Constant Contact a plus. Training will be provided in the use of the Rakefet Shul Management system and BDS payroll service. Email resume, salary history, and recommendations to SHULNEED@GMAIL.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

5 TOWNS - OFFICES FOR LEASE Attractive Pricing! Inwood: 1500SF loft office space.

Can be divided. No broker fee.

Cedarhurst: 3-Office Suite 500sf 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

APT. FOR RENT BASEMENT APT FOR RENTAL Great Lawrence location. Basement furnished apt ideal for student or young couple.

Large room with separate kitchen, incl utilities & A/C, overnight parking, alarm. $1,300/month Send your particulars to ESTHERBD1@gmail.com

DON’T GET STUCK WITH A TWO STORY HOUSE YA KNOW, IT’S ONE STORY BEFORE YOU BUY IT BUT A SECOND STORY AFTER YOU OWN IT! Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

SEEKING KRIAH TEACHER To start in January for a school in Belle Harbor, NY. Will train.

Send cover letter and resume to careers@talacademy.org

SYNAGOGUE ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Hours; 4+Hours Per Week (Additional Hrs.Pre Holidays) Seeking a P/T Assistant to support the Administrative and Logistical functions of our Synagogue .We are seeking a candidate proficient in Shul Cloud, organized, detail oriented, and able to manage various tasks related to Synagogue operations, Life Cycle Events ,and Member Communications.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite,(Word, Excel)and email marketing platforms. Training for Shul Cloud can be provided for the right candidate. Salary Commensurate with experience.

REPLY to

rabbi@yilb.org

Reach Your Target Market

Classifieds

Classifieds

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

SEEKING ART TEACHER For girls’ elementary school.

Monday-Thursday 8:55-12:00.

Send resume to rungar@bnosmalka.org

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver this Newspaper every Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Mini van or SUVand availability to work Consistently every week.

Good pay Please email gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

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

WORK FROM HOME! Earn extra income! Manage your own business from home. Full training and support. No Risk.

Call or text 929-236-6129 ONLINE MUSIC STORE Looking to hire a reliable friendly dude. Interest in guitars a huge plus.

Good pay. Flexible hours. Text Evan 516-447-1018 BOOKKEEPER Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com REGENTS EXPERT Tutoring regents in Algebra and Geometry A Darchei Torah instructor. Guaranteed results Text 347-491-8045 WhatsApp 347-767-1755

MDS REGIONAL NURSE 5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office.

Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required.

Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered.

Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well.

Email: officejob2019@gmail.com 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

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 YESHIVAT KOL YAAKOV In Great Neck, NY, is seeking general studies teachers for both the elementary and middle schools, for the upcoming academic year.

Mon-Thur afternoons. Competitive salary, warm and supportive environment. Send resume to m.kalati@kolyaakov.org

HELP WANTED SPECIAL ED TEACHER HASC seeks Special Ed Teachers for our Early Learning Program.

Warm, supportive and enjoyable working environment.

Great Pay and Benefits!

Sign on Bonus! Referral Bonus!

Please email resume to jobswd@hasc.net SEEKING ASSISTANT teachers for elementary General Studies classes for ‘24-’25 school year. Candidates should have skills to take over for teachers if needed.

M-Th, PM hours, strong support.

Far Rockaway area. Send resume to teachersearch11@gmail.com

MISC. SHMIRAS HALASHON Text 516-303-3868 with a time slot of your choice to be careful on lashon hara. Be a part of the 1,000 people for klal yisroel!

OUR LOCATION 350A Central Avenue Lawrence, NY 11559

60 MEADOW LN. LAWRENCE 5 Bedrooms,

2 REYEM DR A LAWRENCE Renovated 4 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

3 Bathrooms

Full kitchen Dr /LR +den

Dr/Lr - Eat in Kitchen

Lot Size - 100x119

Residential & Commercial

Low Taxes

Low Taxes

Excellent flip

Great Opportunity

Asking 1.8mil

Asking 699k

911 HICKSVILLE AVE FAR ROCKAWAY

HEALY AVENUE BAYSWATER, NY

New Construction

Hot location

SPECIAL OFFER!

RECEIVE UP TO $2,000 TOWARDS YOUR MOVING COSTS

5 bedrooms

5 Bedrooms

4 bathrooms

4 Bathrooms

Amazing Kitchen

Full finished basement

Prime Location

Kosher Kitchen

Taxes under 6k year

Driveway,

Asking 1.35mil

Garage & Backyard

CALL OR TEXT 516-206-2005

WOODMERE LAWRENCE RENTALS CEDARHURST

WOODMERE LAWRENCE WOODMERE

This house rental features 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

EIK and a formal dining room, a main floor den, and a formal living room that opens to an enclosed porch. The finished basement includes a laundry room, utilities, and ample storage space. Beautiful 9,490 property. 8,500

Charming colonial in Prestigious Sutton Park location set on beautiful wrap-a-round property with scenic pond

Quality views, New ThisConstruction!!! house boasts a fdnrm, , eik , mbr with sitting rm NEW. Charming Colonial, Open Concept, Flr and Spacious Wide Line Expanded Ranch on Most Prestigious and Stucco Col. with 2 Story Entry 9 ft Ceilings, 14 Zone Heat which large closets and bth+ 4 bdrms , main level den & sunrm Serene Fdnr,Cul-de-Sac EIK, main bdrm, sunroom, lgMaster bdrms,3 in flr Village of Lawrence , Main4Flr Bdrm includes Radiant Heat, Anderson Windows with Lots of Natural 6,500 OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223Eik Hickox Avenue HOUSE 12:30-1:30 1068 Suite Many Closets and Bthrm, Addional Main Flr highland Bdrm & Bath, Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs with High End OPEN newwith baths, priced to sell $899K Totally renovated New. High Ceilings, Chefs Center Hall Huge Colonial with Main Level+Den 3 BRs 23Bths Baths Lg Flr Fdnr Den, EIK, Mudrm, 4 Bdrms onFinished Second Flr, Appliances, DbleColonial.

Ovens , 6Like Burner Cooktop with Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms.

Prime Woodmere Property BeautifulBeautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M 2 Dishwashers, and more.location!

Master Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath Basment $1.659M $999K and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr

LAWRENCE - VACANT LOT

Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge Playrm 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful Manicured Garden.

WOODSBURGH CEDARHURST

CEDARHURST CO-OPS/CONDOS WOODMERE CO-OP

LAWRENCE

261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen.

Large LR/DR Overlooking the Courtyard $229K

LAWRENCE

240 Central Avenue Spacious 1 Bdrm 1 Bth Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg with Terrace Overlooking Garden, Near All $229K

Build Your Dream Home In An Exclusive

Park-like This spaciousLocation s/h col , in the prestigious village of woodsburgh, sits on 1/2 acre property in a. most serene setting, with beautiful 2.7M waterviews, and magnificent sunsets . Flr banquet fdnr , COMMERCIAL RENTAL! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located breakfast rm, main level NEW! den /fpl master with his inand theher Heart of Cedarhurst, room, Reception closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new bths, newly renovated Area and Exam Rooms, alllaundry on Mainrm, Floor.

Close to of Public finished basement with playrm, lots storage, Transportation many special details thruout $1.9M+ $6,000

FAR ROCKAWAY impeccably remodeled c/h col. 4+ bdrms , fnshed 156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH bsmnt, magnificent chefs eik fdnrm, elegant flr, grnd Beachfront Condo entry, A bend of classicMagnificent charm & contemporary style. with Wraparound Terrace, Sunrise & Sunset 2.2M

$589K 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows REDUCED $299K

DECEMBER 26, 2024 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 26, 2024

Life C ach

Is There an Expert in the House?

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

N

o one really knows what’s actually going on in your life. Guess what? Maybe not even you!

That could be interestingly optimis-

tic.

You may be thinking, how so?

The optimism is that hopefully there is a bigger picture we are not privy to.

Especially, with the tough stuff. You think, for instance, “I’m going through such a difficult time, and whether I share it or not, no one can really get it.”

And that may be true!

However, perhaps there is more than you see.

For instance, perhaps something positive is in it, such as growth, or a meaningful outcome, or unforeseen hope

that’s waiting somewhere around the corner or down the road.

We aren’t privy to the big picture in life.

Here’s a possible analogy that might

Think of your experiences as a flowing body of water.

On the pleasant side, water quenches and refreshes us. It can also bathe and heal us, soothe and surround us.

Think of your experiences as a flowing body of water.

illuminate it. But first, it comes with warning: if you’re the thirsty type, grab some water before continuing…

And then again, with too much water, it can be devastating.

The fact, though, is that water inevi-

tably gains droplets or picks up momentum. It goes on and on. It ebbs and flows.

So guess what? You think you’re the expert in your life. In reality, it seems as if we’re just swimming through it.

Sometimes, we land on a flower bed, and sometimes, we encounter a boulder.

We are programmed with limited sight.

So no one really, really knows what’s going on. Not even you.

So let’s hope that when it’s not the best news, we understand that it just seems that way right now, from our limited vantage point.

And when it’s good news, let’s hope that there will be way, way more to it than meets the eye.

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com. A book is the ultimate apparatus.

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