137 SPRUCE STREET
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— See page 7, 5, 68 , 69, 96 & 97 —
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— See page 7, 5, 68 , 69, 96 & 97 —
Around the Community
THEJEWISHHOME A PUBLICATION OF THE FIVE TOWNS & QUEENS COMMUNITY MARCH 14 - march 20, 2013 | Distributed
Weekly In The Five Towns, Queens & Brooklyn
Like a Butterfly Flapping Her Wings
OHEL’S New Five Towns Office Meets Increasing Needs of Everyday Individuals and Families in the Community Page 63
Bnos Bais Yaakov’s Dinner is a Huge Success
Page 72
Yeshivat Ohr David Yerushalayim Hachnosas Sefer Torah – A Celebration of 35 Years of Educational Excellence
The Inspiring Story of Rising to One’s Challenges Page 84
Page 76
Record-Setting Crowds Attend CHAZAQ’s Big Event Page 56
Clothing the Gedolim Mr. Yehuda Hans z”l Page 88
Hundreds are Inspired by Governor Huckabee’s Words at Gush Katif Museum Dinner Page 58
kosherworld See pages 130 & 131
— See pages 18, 19 & 20 —
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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n march 14, 2013
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>>Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 >>Community Readers’ Poll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Community Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
>> News Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Odd-but-True Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
>> Israel Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
>> People An Inside Look at the JCCRP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Cover Story: Like a Butterfly Flapping Her Wings: The Inspiring Story of Rising to One’s Challenges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..84
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Dear Readers, Whoever came up with the idea of Daylight Savings Time never had kids. You see, no matter what time it says on the clock, children will be up at the crack of dawn, ready to play and eager for breakfast. Luckily, breakfast is generally easy—cereal and milk—but it’s still hard to pour the milk into the bowl when you’re bleary eyed, stumbling around in your sleep. And then, when it’s time for bedtime and it’s still light outside, it’s hard to explain to a five-year-old that it’s time to go to sleep even though the sun is still out. Just a few days ago, I heard my husband trying to explain to my son that even though it’s light outside, it’s time for bed because we changed the clocks on Sunday. “What?” my son responded. “What does that mean?” Good question. All I know is that the seder is going to start really late this year, so everyone under the age of ten better get in some good naps beforehand. This week, Shira Diamond had the pleasure of highlighting David Beiss and his wonderful organization, Team Butterfly. David is an inspiring individual. His disposition is sunny and he is a fun, cool person. I had the privilege of spending a Shabbos with David a few years ago. My friend Aliza invited me to spend Shabbos at her home in Monsey. David was there visiting her brothers. I was taken with his great attitude and wondered why he was confined to a wheelchair. This year, David contacted me about his initiative and told me about his illness. Unfortunately, David has EB, epidermolysis bullosa. Those who suffer from this condition have skin that is so brittle, even the slightest friction causes it to peel and scar. People with EB are sometimes called “Butterfly Children” because their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly. Determined not to let his condition get in the way of his dreams, David organized Team Butterfly, raising money for research for a cure for EB. Amazingly, David himself even participated in this year’s marathon, running part of the way on his own—through extreme pain. But the dream of accomplishing his goal was far greater than the pain he endured, and David came out smiling at the finish line. Read his story and be inspired.
>>Parsha
Mr. Hans was a big part of my life growing up. The father of my aunt, he was invited to all our family simchos and would invariably be in my aunt’s home when we would visit on yom tov. Mr. Hans was humble, unassuming and easy-going. He always was smiling, ready with a cute quip, and when I was younger I remember him always telling me, “I’ve got your nosie!” But Mr. Hans was much more than someone who was a pleasure to have around. He spent the majority of his life clothing the gedolim of yesteryear—Reb Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, Reb Yaakov Kaminetsky zt”l, and Reb Shlomo Freifeld zt”l. He developed a close personal relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and made all his kapotahs. The people who hung around his tailor shop were giants in Torah and in Yiddishkeit and he had a unique perspective on these individuals. These were the people who influenced him, who he connected to. Sadly, Mr. Hans passed away just a few weeks ago; a link to our past is now lost.
The Shmuz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
As always, we love to hear from our readers. Feel free to email me at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.
Clothing the Gedolim: Mr. Yehuda Hans. . . . . . . . . 88 The Rough Riders Help Defeat the Spanish. . . . . . 93 A World After This: The Story of Lola Lieber . . . . 114
>> Jewish Thought It’s Time to Press Your Luck, by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Happy cleaning! Shoshana
Ask the Rabbi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Yitzy Halpern
>>Parenting
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Universal Design in the Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Not a Therapy Candidate, by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
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Friday, March 15 — Parshas Vayikra Candle Lighting: 6:45 Shabbos Ends: 7:44 Rabbeinu Tam: 8:15
Exodus from Calories, by Aliza Beer, RD . . . . . . . . 104
>> Food & Leisure Recipes: The Aussie Gourmet: I Can’t Believe It’s Pesachdik Desserts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Recipes: Pesach Without Potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Travel: Minnesota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Weekly Weather
>> Lifestyles Ask the Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Have I Got an Appliance for You!, by Rivki Rosenwald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
fri. sat. sun. mon. tues. wed. thurs. March 15 March 16 March 17 March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21
Your Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
>> Humor Centerfold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Questions & Answers Pesach-Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
>> Art From My Private Art Collection: Some “Words of Wisdom” Referring to Artistic Qualities and Lingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
>> Political Crossfire Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
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The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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Letters to Dear Editor, I often don’t have a chance to read through your magazine cover-to-cover; I am usually only able to glance through it while watching the children play on Shabbos afternoon. But this week I sat down to read your featured story on Jewish women. I am impressed that you chose this as a topic to feature on your cover; I feel that much of what we women do mostly goes unappreciated. And I am most impressed that you chose to write this article prior to
Pesach when Jewish women work their hardest preparing the home for the upcoming holiday. Yes, we do it with joy, but it is still a stress that requires late nights and lots of elbow grease. I also want to commend you on the way you wrote this piece. It covered a lot of ground and really touched on many topics that pertain to working women. I only wish that you will expand on some of these topics more in depth in another issue. G. H.
Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.
the Editor Dear Editor, I noticed that you started featuring a column by Michael Fragin where he talks about politics and local events. I was pleased to read about the issues surrounding the upcoming vote on March 20th. I have been bombarded by mailings for and against the sale of the Number 6 School but it’s hard to believe what each side is saying. His column helped clarify some of the issues for me. I am a resident of Lawrence, and I have not decided which way I will be voting. But for or against, you can make sure that I will be at the voting booths on March 20th. It’s our town— make sure your voice is heard! Gary Klein, Esq. Dear Editor, I can’t imagine that there is a woman out there who is home for Pesach and has not yet started cleaning. Pesach is only two weeks away and many people are losing sleep over those Cheerios and
cookie crumbs nestled in sofa cushions and car seats. But fellow mothers, I beg of you, please be safe. Every year, we hear stories of children and family members who suffer from burns due to cleansing agents such as Saint Moritz oven cleaner and bleach. Our health and well-being should not be compromised when cleaning for Pesach. Make sure to keep the windows open when using many cleaning agents and make sure to wear the proper gloves and protection as well. Keep them far out of children’s reach. On a related note, please make sure to exercise caution when burning chometz and doing bedikas chometz. Our very devoted fire department helps the community burn their chometz every year. Please be safe and take advantage of their help and keep your family safe. Wishing your readers a kosheren and safe Pesach, Hadassa Gross
Readers Poll Compiled by Jannah Eichenbaum
Do you listen to “talk radio”? Yes, always 14% Yes, sometimes 34% Never 52%
347-372-6088
Global Prince Alwaleed Bickers with Forbes
Kingdom Holding Company, the investing firm of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, is accusing Forbes magazine of being biased against Mideast investors. This criticism follows the release of the coveted billionaire issue. The prince feels that the publication gave the prince’s disclosures unwarranted scrutiny. But what Prince Alwaleed doesn’t realize is that Forbes won’t let itself be bullied. The publication responded with a brutal 3,000-plus word rebuttal. Kerry Dolan, the writer behind the Forbes’ 2013 Billionaire list, wrote an article entitled, “Prince Alwaleed And The Curious Case Of Kingdom Holding Stock.” She paints a picture of a man obsessed with presenting the image of a consummate, global business mogul. She explains how he personally sends in Photo-shopped magazine covers and constantly watches CNBC. She points out that the Kingdom Holding website describes the prince as “the world’s foremost value investor.” In fact, originally in 1988, the prince himself contacted Forbes to inform them just how successful his Kingdom Establishment for Trading & Contracting Company was and to notify them that he belonged on the new list, which was only a year old at the time. Dolan says that that initial contact was the beginning of what is now a long history of sporadic lobbying, cajoling and threatening when it comes to his net worth listing. Dolan writes, “Of the 1,426 billionaires on our list, not one–not even the vainglorious Donald Trump–goes to greater measure to try to affect his or her ranking. In 2006 when Forbes estimated that the prince was actually worth $7 billion less than he said he was, he called me at home the
day after the list was released, sounding nearly in tears. ‘What do you want?’ he pleaded, offering up his private banker in Switzerland. ‘Tell me what you need.’” Alwaleed got his first big break by making a massive bet on Citi. Dolan feels that he is desperately trying to live up to the legacy of his family, who are the founders of Saudi Arabia and leaders of Lebanon. As regulators pressured Citicorp to increase its capital base in the face of bad loans across developing countries, Alwaleed, then-unknown outside Saudi Arabia, amassed an $800 million position. That enormous bet ballooned across two Wall Street boom cycles–by 2005 it was worth $10 billion, making Alwaleed, at the time, one of the ten richest people in the world, and earning him a nickname, which he encouraged, of “the Buffett of Arabia.” The prince lives the life of a hardworking executive, sleeping little and expecting his staff to be on call at his 420-room palace, or his jet, or his 120acre “farm and resort” at all times. The main issue is that Kingdom Holdings’ underlying assets do not add up to its own reported value. In this year’s calculations, Forbes said it could not justify Kingdom’s estimation of Alwaleed’s wealth and that the gap between their estimates and his is about $9.6 billion. Dolan believe that the Prince is using his own personal fortune to boost the company in order to maintain his image. Here’s an interesting fact about Prince Alwaleed. Right after the September 11 attacks, Alwaleed gave a check of $10 million to then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He publicized a written statement upon his donation, stating, “At times like this, we must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack. I believe the government of the United States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause.” Giuliani returned the check.
No Honor for Egyptian Anti-Semite On Thursday, the State Department decided to defer awarding the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award to Egyptian activist Samira Ibrahim after she tweeted anti-Semitic messages.
In News On one of her tweets, Ibrahim stated: “I have discovered with the passage of days that no act contrary to morality, no crime against society, takes place except with the Jews having a hand in it. Hitler.” After the suicide bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria, which killed five Israelis, she exulted, “Today is a very sweet day with a lot of very sweet news.” She also posted a message about the Saudi royals, calling them “dirtier than the Jews.”
at the State Department. Ibrahim denied authoring the venomous tweets. She tweeted, “My account has been previously stolen and any tweet on racism and hatred is not me,” although the objectionable tweets remain on her feed. Abraham H. Foxman of the ADL stated, “We commend Secretary John Kerry and the Department of State for taking this matter seriously, and holding in abeyance the award to Ms. Ibrahim. There is no courage, and there should be no honor, in propagating anti-Semitism. If it is ascertained that Ms. Ibrahim is responsible for these anti-Semitic messages, she is unworthy of U.S. recognition and the honor and award should be withdrawn.”
Vienna Philharmonic’s Bloody Past The Egyptian was one of ten women scheduled to receive an award from First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at a ceremony
When one visits Vienna’s prestigious Philharmonic Orchestra, the melodious strains of symphony are calming. But when one hears about the past
בעזהשי"ת
שמחים אנו להודיע בזה לקהל בני הישיבות שוחרי תורה שתתקיים אי"ה שיעור מיוחד ונפלא
במצוות חג הפסח השיעור יקיף בעזהשי"ת בטוב טעם ודעת להבין ולהשכיל ביסודות ומהות מצות אכילת מצה מרור וד' כוסות
ע"י הרב ארי' משה לייזער שליט"א ביום שני פר' צו הבעל"ט
בערב9:00 בשעה בבית מו"ה אברהם וואלקין הי"ו טעימה וכיבוד אחרי השיעור
T h e J e w i s h H o m e n M A R C H 1 4 , 2013
The Week
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The Week of some of the members of the orchestra, the calming sense is replaced with chills.
Helmut Wobisch served as the managing director of Vienna’s Philharmonic from 1954-1968. But Wobisch’s past is blackened by his connection to the Nazi party. He was a member of the party since 1933, when it was still illegal in Austria. He became a member of the infamous SS in 1938. In 1966, he presented a replica of the orchestra’s Honorary Ring to former Nazi youth leader Baldur von Schirach who was convicted of crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials in 1946. Von
Schirach, Vienna’s local Nazi leader, had received the orchestra’s highest distinction in 1942 but U.S. troops seized it when he was arrested in 1945. Researchers have found that six Jewish members of the orchestra were murdered and ten were deported to Nazi camps during Nazi rule. None of those who emigrated, mainly to Britain and the United States, returned after World War II. At the time, 60 musicians out of a total of 123 were members of the Nazi party; that percentage was well above that of the general population, which was about 10 percent. Last month, the Austrian Academy of Sciences acknowledged that many of its scientists were members of the Nazi party and that some of its students served in the SS. 21 Jewish scientists were excluded from the Academy during World War II, including three Nobel laureates. Out of the 21 banished Jewish academics, nine were murdered by Nazis during the war. A recent poll published chilling results last Friday. In the survey, 42 percent of Austrians were found to believe that things were not all that bad under
Congregation Shaaray Tefila Presents a PESACH SPECTACULAR EVENT SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURES
th
March 28 Thursday, st (1 day CholHamoed) Cost: $75 (Includes Coach bus, Theme park ticket & snacks)
There will be separate bussing which will be leaving from Shaaray Tefila, 25 Central Avenue at 7:30 AM Sharp For more information or to sign up, please e-mail or call Rabbi Walkin at Rabbiwalkin@gmail.com or (347) 524-3864
In News Hitler’s ym”sh rule. 61 percent of those surveyed favored the idea of a “strong leaders who does not have to worry about a parliament or elections.” 57 percent said they saw “no good aspects” to the Nazi era. It has been 75 years since Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. At the time, cheering crowds greeted Hitler and his thugs as Austria was conquered in a bloodless coup by the Nazis.
Kenya’s Presidential Election to be Challenged
Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding father, was named the winner of the country’s presidential election on Saturday with 50.07 percent of the vote. His opponent, Raila Odinga, the current prime minister, refused to concede, alleging multiple failures in the election process’ integrity. Odinga plans to petition the Supreme Court. Kenyatta was accused by an international court of helping to orchestrate the vicious violence that marred the nation’s last vote. More than 1,000 people were killed and the country was at the brink of a civil war. Kenyatta’s slim margin of victory increases the focus on a multitude of electoral failures that occurred during the six-day voting and counting process. Kenyatta surpassed the 50-percent level needed to avoid a runoff by just over 8,000 votes out of 12.3 million cast. The United States, Britain and the European Union received Kenyatta’s victory with subtle disapproval. All released statements congratulating the Kenyan people but none mentioned Kenyatta by name. Prior to the election, the US warned of “consequences” if Kenyatta wins, the nature of which depends on what happens in coming months. Britain has said it would have only essential contact with Kenyatta as president.
In his acceptance speech, Kenyatta pledged to continue to cooperate with “international institutions,” but he also said he expects the international community to “respect our sovereignty and the democratic will of the people of Kenya.” He also thanked Odinga, calling him “my brother,” for a spirited campaign. Kenyatta was instantaneously given the state security for a president-elect, traveling in a shiny black car escorted by a fleet from the tallying center to his election headquarters. He addressed supporters saying, “Today we celebrate the triumph of democracy, the triumph of peace, the triumph of nationhood,” adding later: “My pledge to you is that as your president I will work on behalf of all citizens regardless of political affiliation. I will honor the will of Kenyans and ensure that my government protects their rights and acts without fear or favor, in the interests of our nation.” If Kenyatta’s victory holds, then he will be the fourth president of Kenya since its independence from British colonial rule in 1963.
N. Korea Rejects UN Resolution The U.N. Security Council formally demanded that North Korea end its nuclear arms program and N. Korea has formally rejected the resolution. The country’s refusal signals they will defy international sanctions and pursue its goal of becoming a fullfledged nuclear weapons state. The Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea last Friday, narrowing financial restrictions and enforcing its attempts to transport banned cargo. The North’s sole major ally, China, wants the sanctions fully implemented. The sanctions are designed to make punitive measures more similar to those used against Iran, which Western officials say have been surprisingly successful. The resolution, the fifth since 2006 and aimed at stopping the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile program, coincides with a sharp escalation of security tensions on the Korean peninsula after Pyongyang’s third nuclear test on February 12. “The DPRK, as it did in the past, vehemently denounces and totally rejects the ‘resolution on sanctions’ against the Continued on page 16
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KUPA
The Tzedaka
Twice on the auspicious day On erev Pesach the day mesugal for the annulment of unfavorable decrees, Maran Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, will pray twice: 1. At the Siyum Hashas, an auspicious time for yeshuos, 2. While reading the letter of Hagaon Hakadosh of Ostropoli. Names may be submitted until 11:00 pm on Sunday,
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The Week DPRK, a product of the U.S. hostile policy toward it,” the North’s foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement. DPRK is short for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “The world will clearly see what permanent position the DPRK will reinforce as a nuclear weapons state and satellite launcher as a result of the U.S. attitude of prodding the UNSC into cooking up the ‘resolution.’” The United States warned North Korea it will achieve nothing by repeating threats of provocative actions and will only drive itself deeper into international isolation. “The United States of America and our allies are prepared to deal with any threat and any reality that occurs in the world,” U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said ahead of his visit to Afghanistan on Friday. “We are aware of what’s going on. We have partnerships in that part of the world that are important.”
River of Swine This week, thousands of dead pigs were fished out the Huangpu River in
China. Many of them were diseased and infected with porcine circovirus (PCV). The river is part of Shanghai’s major drinking water supply for the city’s 23 million people.
In News the pigs came from the Zhejiang and Jiangshu provinces. Many pigs have died there recently, most from cramped conditions, and were disposed by being dumped in the river. The carcasses then ended up downstream in the Huangpu River.
Japan’s Tremendous Decontamination Records on Display According to Xinmin newspaper, 2,813 pigs were fished out of the river and water management officials said that they are adding more chlorine to the water as a precaution, although the water is safe to drink. Some in the city were unfortunately not perturbed by the news. Apparently, news like this is commonplace in a country where air and water pollution are rampant. Others expressed outrage, although there is not much they can do to make sure they are drinking non-contaminated water. Interestingly, it seems that many of
March 11th marked two years since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The natural disaster killed nearly 19,000 people and forced about 160,000 people out of their homes. Journalists have been given a rare glimpse inside Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled in the 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit the country two years ago. The tour of the plant ahead of the anniversary sheds light on the colossal effort to decommission the nuclear reactors. The process is expected to take up to 40 years.
According to a briefing by plant operator TEPCO, each container holds up to 1,100 tons of water and fills up in two-and-a-half days. There are 930 of these tanks, and already 75 percent have been filled, according to officials. Although TEPCO plans to increase capacity by an additional 771,600 tons, they are running out of space. The process is also yielding roughly 440 tons of water every day, raising the issue of what to do with the contaminated liquid. Officials hope that this water purification system will remove nuclear particles when completed. TEPCO expects the water’s contamination levels to be reduced to low enough levels to release it into the ocean. However, it is not clear how they will be able to overcome the public discontent over this plan. But the most important task in decommissioning the reactors is the removal of the fuel rods, a process that will begin in November. Work is already under way to build a protective cover for the rods. There is still no plan to remove fuel rods for the other reactor units, which are much more damaged. Continued on page 21
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Although the government’s aim is to finish decommissioning the plant in 30 to 40 years, the plan also relies on technological advances, an assumption that presents a profound challenge as Japan struggles to contain this daunting nuclear crisis.
Pakistani Protestors Burn Homes More than 100 houses of Pakistani Christians in the eastern city of Lahore were burned by angry protestors over the weekend. Over 3,000 Muslim protesters turned violent over derogatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammed allegedly made by a young Christian, Sawan Masih, 28, three days earlier. Joseph Colony is a primarily Christian neighborhood in Badami Bagh area; its inhabitants are mostly low to middle-class families from the minority community. “Police arrested Masih, a sanitary worker, on Friday night while the incident actually happened on Wednesday evening,” police official Multan Khan said. He said that the arrest was made when Masih’s barber friend, Shahid Imran, complained that he had made blasphemous remarks about Prophet Mohammed, adding that Christians had fled the area on Friday evening, fearing a backlash. Protesters began to assemble in the area on Saturday morning and later set fire to houses and other items including furniture, crockery, auto rickshaws, bicycles and motorbikes belonging to local Christians. “Thick clouds of smoke engulfed the small houses, mostly consisting of one or two rooms, and many of them looked like charred shells,” said a bystander. Police said protesters burnt 25 houses but Dr. Ahmad Raza, who is in charge of local rescue operations and the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), put the number at more than 100. “At least 160 houses, 18 shops and two small churches were burnt by protesters,” Raza claims. Provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah said in Lahore that the government will be sure to prosecute those involved. “These people committed a serious crime... there was no moral, legal or religious ground to indulge in such an act,” he said. Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 percent of the population is Muslim, and allega-
In News
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tions of insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammed can prompt violent outbursts of public anger, even when unproven.
Chavez’s Body to be Preserved Last week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez passed away at the age of 58. He had been battling cancer for two years. Chavez ruled as the socialist leader for 14 years. Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced on Thursday on state television that Hugo Chavez’s body will be permanently displayed in a special tomb. The official state funeral began on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Some thirty heads of state, along with delegations from 50 countries, attended. Following the ceremony, Chavez’s body remained in state for seven additional days, so that more people can see it. People waited in a line that was longer than a mile for more than 12 hours to pay their respects. Maduro also announced that Chavez’s body will be preserved in the same manner as that of Russia’s Vladimir Lenin or China’s Mao Zedong, so “he will always be with the people.” Visitors will be able to view Chavez’s body in a special tomb now under construction in a Caracas museum devoted to his populist revolution. The site is called el Museo Histórico Militar de Caracas or Cuartel 4 de Febrero. I don’t plan on visiting.
Ahmadinejad’s Controversial Hug
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One of the attendees at Chavez’s funeral was Iranian despot Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The leader of Iran may have endeared himself to many in Latin America when he came to pay his re-
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The Week spects, but those in the Middle East region lost respect for the leader when he consoled Chavez’s mourning mother. A photograph was taken of the Iranian leader clasping Chavez’s mother, Elena Frias’s, hands and consoling her cheek to cheek. In strict Islamic societies, contact between men and women who are not related or married is forbidden and the photograph sparked outrage in Iran. Hojat al-Islam Hossein Ibrahimi, a member of the Society of Militant Clergy of Tehran, announced the severity of the action. “In relation to what is allowed (halal) and what is forbidden (haram) we know that no unrelated woman can be touched unless she is drowning at sea or needs (medical) treatment.” Islamic leaders also found fault with Ahmadinejad’s eulogy of the late Venezuelan leader. In his eulogy, he put Chavez in the same realm as other holy leaders, such as Al-Imam al-Mahdi. Some said that this remark was a symbol of a “deviant current” that was driving him away from the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A member of parliament called for religious leaders
to confront Ahmadinejad’s “un-Islamic” acts. Some religious leaders urged the leader to become better educated in the laws of Islam. The only question I am left with is as follows: when is a hug not really a hug? When it is given by a snake like Ahmadinejad himself.
Israel Conflict between Abbas and Fayyad A sharp dispute has erupted between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad over the resignation of Finance Minister Nabil Qassis, Palestinian sources reported over the weekend. Rumor has it that the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are in a disagreement that some predict can cause the government to collapse.
In News Qassis decided to quit the PA government much to Abbas’s disappointment. Qassis was Abbas’s choice for finance minister – a job that Fayyad held for the past four years. Abbas did not accept his resignation. A few days later, however, Fayyad, in a surprise move, announced that he had accepted Qassis’s resignation. Fayyad’s announcement was seen by Palestinians as a direct challenge to Abbas. The sources said that the dispute could lead to the resignation of the PA government. Qassis did not offer any explanation as to why he decided to step down. Some officials suspect he was protesting against a series of agreements reached between Fayyad and union workers. Abbas and Fayyad met last week in a bid to end the dispute, but to no avail, the sources said. They added that Fayyad was determined to have Qassis removed from his post. Fayyad’s move has also angered Fatah leaders in the West Bank who accused him of “insulting” the PA president and seeking to seize regain control over the Finance Ministry.
Najat Abu Baker, a Fatah member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, accused Fayyad, who is from the small Third Way party of “openly challenging the decisions of the Palestinian president.” She warned Fayyad against taking the finance portfolio for himself and called on all the ministers to submit their resignations to Abbas immediately. “Fayyad does not want anyone else to control the Finance Ministry; he wants it for himself,” Abu Baker claimed. “Fayyad has been treating his ministers as if he was a headmaster and they were the teachers.”
Palestinians Warn Obama Against Visiting Temple Mount Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups have threatened that if President Barack Obama chooses to visit the Temple Mount during his upcom-
ing visit to Israel, it will be looked at as a declaration of war on the Arab and the Islamic world. A Hamas representative in the Al-Aqsa mosque, Mushir al-Masri, even called for a third intifada and for Egyptian assistance in the “resistance” if Obama chooses to visit the Temple Mount. Khalid al-Batash, a senior Islamic Jihad member, also attempted to prevent Obama from visiting the compound.
The threats were made during a protest march on Friday over the riots that broke out earlier in the day on the Temple Mount. According to police, nine officers and five protesters were injured during the incident. Sheikh Akrameh Sabri, head of the higher Islamic council and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, said if Obama would like to arrive in peace, he must enter through a gate that was not under Israeli auspices. “Any visitor is welcome to Al-Aqsa, but they should follow the regulations of the Waqf and enter through the Lions’ Gate and not through Mughrabi Gate, to ensure Muslim sovereignty,” he said. Israel liberated the Temple Mount during the 1967 Six Day War, leaving the Waqf in charge of the compound. In return, the Waqf erased every sign of ancient Jewish presence from the holy site and deliberately destroyed Jewish antiquities in a direct violation of a ruling by the Supreme Court. Obama is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East later this month, and PA media has been widely speculating that he plans to visit the site of the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Hamas Locks out Humanitarian Aid in Protest Tens of heavy trucks transporting humanitarian aid have been sitting idly
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The Week on the border of the Gaza Strip since Monday, unable to enter the coastal enclave after Hamas shut the gates from its side. The goods include perishable items that will eventually spoil if the situation isn’t resolved rather soon.
fers, stressed that Israel continues to facilitate the entry of goods to Gaza, and will gladly resume that practice if someone on the other side will let that happen. Gen. Dangot noted that Hamas is inflicting great harm on its own people in a misguided attempt to score PR points with the international community.
In News force knowing that the United States will not or whether Israel is prepared to allow Iran to get to the point where it has nuclear weapons.” He expressed the need for swift action. “I don’t know what Netanyahu’s decision will be but I do think he is very limited in how much time he has because every day that goes by allows Iran to put its nuclear capabilities beyond Israel’s power to destroy.”
of his beloved Barney, the former First Dog who passed away earlier this year, have become public.
Bolton: Israel Has to Act Fast
The conflict began when Hamas decided to seize control of Gaza’s border crossings from the Palestinian Authority. Israel has been working with the PA to ensure that supplies enter Gaza regularly. But Hamas has refused to cooperate and the terror group has been unresponsive in getting the 65 trucks into their territory. Israeli Gen. Eitan Dangot, the officer in charge of coordinating aid trans-
Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton had some advice for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week. In a radio interview with “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio,” Bolton spoke about Israel’s need to strike quickly against Iran. “Obviously, in the short term, Israel is focused on forming its own government,” Bolton stated. “But I think assuming it’s Prime Minister Netanyahu forming that government, he has a very short period of time in which to determine whether Israel will use military
The former diplomat stated that he does not believe that the Obama administration will be taking any military action against Iran. He said the main question is whether Israel will be acting in its own self-defense or not as it was forced to do “twice before when it struck Saddam Hussein’s reactor in 1981 and the Syrian reactor in September of 2007.” The interview was given just a week before President Obama’s planned visit to the Jewish State.
National Dubbya the Painter Although George W. Bush has been out of the spotlight for some time, he has not been sitting at home knitting sweaters. Instead, the former president has been spending his time painting. And he’s become quite a pro. Bonnie Flood is Dubbya’s painting teacher and she has a lot to say about her pupil. “He has such a passion for painting, it’s amazing,” she said. “He’s going to go down in the history books as a great artist.” “He started off painting dogs. I think he said he painted 50 dogs,” Flood added. “He pulled out this canvas and started painting dogs and I thought, ‘Oh my G-d, I don’t paint dogs!” Eventually, she managed to convince Bush 43 to try his hand at landscape painting. Some of his paintings, including one
Flood spent time teaching the former leader of the free world about how to mix colors and the right way to make brushstrokes. She recalled that at first she did not know how to address him, but decided to call him “43” since that was how he signed his artwork. “When I really wanted him to do something, I would say, ‘Mr. President, you know that you don’t do it that way,’” Flood added.
No Jews on My Jury Jury selection is important to lawyers. They want to make sure that those sitting on the jury are not predisposed to certain ideas. But a Jewish attorney for a Muslim in New York took jury selection to an extreme. Frederick Cohn, who is Jewish, asked a judge to keep Jews off his panel while defending Abdel Hameed Shehadeh. The accused is charged with making false statements in connection with a terrorism offense. “I’m not wild about having Jews on the jury in this case,” the attorney told the judge. “Given that there’s going to be inflammatory testimony about Jews and Zionism, I think it would be hard for Jews to cast aside any innate antipathy,” Cohn said. Etzion Neuer of the Anti-Defamation League pointed out, “The notion that Jews cannot serve in a jury and be objective is simply offensive to us.” Others said that the attorney’s request is “discriminatory.” Outside the courthouse, one person commented, “This is America. This is New York. We’re a melting pot.” Another added, “Regardless of your race you should be able to participate in the judicial system.” Continued on page 28
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Chaim Harav Chaim Kanievsky shlita Kanievsky
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Praying fervently on Erev Pesach, after chatzos hayom, for the donors of Vaad Harabanim and their families at the time of the awesome segulah of reciting thePesach, after chatzos Praying fervently on Erev hayom, for the donors of Vaad Harabanim and their families at the time of the awesome segulah of reciting the
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imcha imcha DePischa DePischa
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Moreinu Hagaon Hagadol
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The Week The judge, in his wisdom, ruled against Cohn’s request and jury selection is set to begin later in the week. A 1986 Supreme Court ruling held that jurors cannot be excluded solely on the basis of their race.
In News Obama the Sports Star
80 Percent of NYC High School Students are Unprepared for College An upsetting statistic was recently revealed regarding NYC public education. Nearly 80 percent of New York City high school graduates need to re-learn basic skills before they can enter the City University’s community college system. Upon graduation, the majority of students do not have basic reading, writing, and math skills, the fundamentals for college. Officials say 80 percent of those who graduate from city high schools arrived at City University’s community college system without having mastered the skills to do college-level work. That’s nearly 11,000 kids who received diplomas from city high schools who need remedial courses. To meet the needs of the students and promote further education, City University has launched a special program called CUNY Start. It provides low-cost immersion classes. Sherry Mason teaches a writing class. “They get lost sometimes in the classroom and in CUNY Start we give them a lot more one-on-one attention, small group work. It helps them achieve more in a short amount of time and so they’re able to get on with their credit classes,” she explained. Nicholas Gonzalez, a graduate of New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, participated in the CUNY Start program. He is grateful that he had the opportunity and claims he would never had been able of attending college without these services. “I was nervous about how hard it was going to be, how much of a change it was going to be from high school,” Gonzalez said. “I knew I needed to take remedial. If I started right away with credit classes it wasn’t going to be so well, so it’s better off starting somewhere.” This statistic is alarming. Yet it is important to look at the positive side of the NYC Department of Education and note that high school rates increased by 40 percent over the last seven years.
This week, Sports Illustrated released an issue that ranks the fifty most powerful people in sports. There were many obvious names on the list but one of the famous names caught people by surprise. President Barack Obama was named one of the most powerful people in sports. Oddly enough, the 44th president ranked the 44th most powerful person in sports. At the top of the list was David Stern, the NBA commissioner, who was just after the most powerful person in sports, Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner. In third place was Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz who’s looking to sell his sports and entertainment division AEG, and the fourth spot was held by John Skipper, the president of ESPN. Many are left wondering: if Obama truly is so powerful in sports, why did he fail in his bid to bring the 2016 Olympics to America. Certainly something to think about…
Super-Mosquitos to Visit Florida this Summer Have you been dreaming of getting away for the weekend to the Sunshine State? Well, before you book that flight consider this… It’s the size of a quarter and it bites. Victims describe the pain to that of a cut from a knife and they’re planning to invade Florida this summer. Floridians can expect to see an explosion of shaggy-haired gallinippers (Psorophora ciliata), a type of giant mosquito, according to entomologist Phil Kaufman of the University of Florida. Gallinipper eggs hatch after a rainstorm or flood, and the state saw a big jump in the numbers of gallinippers last summer after Tropical Storm Debby.
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A COMMUNITY WIDE LECTURE
Pesach and the Path to Freedom Today Coping with Stress in our Lives: Hurricane Sandy and the Holiday
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Eggs laid last year could produce a bumper crop of the blood-sucking bugs this summer if Florida sees a soggy rainy season. “I wouldn’t be surprised, given the numbers we saw last year,” Kaufman said in a statement. “When we hit the rainy cycle, we may see that again.” Gallinippers are particularly formidable. Their eggs lay dormant for years, awaiting the floodwaters that will enable them to hatch. Even in their larval stage, gallinippers are so tough, they’ll eat tadpoles and other small aquatic prey. As adults, the voracious pests feed day and night, unlike everyday mosquitoes, which generally feed only at dawn and dusk. Their bodies are strong enough to bite through clothing, and they’re known to go after pets, wild animals and even fish. The only positive side of being invaded by gallinippers is that they are so ravenous that they eat the larvae of other insects, including mosquitoes, so there may be less mosquitoes at your weekly barbeque. They are also not known to carry any diseases. Time to bring out the OFF!
Granny Nannies is a Growing Industry The job market is still pretty weak but there is one particular profession that is seeking employees.
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The U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 40 million Americans ages 65 or older, and nearly 10 million that are at least 85 years old. Life expectancy is on the rise and therefore there are a lot more old people around who need help. The “Granny Nanny” market has many job opportunities and luckily for those interested, elderly Americans have long-term care insurance or some other means of paying for care in their own homes. Continued on page 33
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“The senior care industry, just for senior home care, has grown more than 40 percent in the last five years,” said Julie Northcutt, CEO of Caregiverlist. com, which tracks the market. “Everything predicts care is going to continue to move to the home.” Supposedly, there are almost 11,000 senior care agencies in the U.S., with 1,000 of them created in 2012 alone. Jack Fackrell saw a business opportunity in this industry and co-founded Alta Home care, a full-service caregiver company. “A lot of the nation’s wealth is tied up in the seniors,” he said. Ten years later, Alta now has about 600 clients in California and Louisiana, where it just acquired a smaller company. “This year we’ll do about $15 million” in revenues,” Fackrell said. He is hiring 15 to 20 people a week, but most applicants are rejected. “The hardest part is finding good people.” Nationally, 4,000 caregivers and certified nursing assistants are being hired monthly, according to Caregiverlist.com. So there’s definitely a need out there and it seems like fulfilling work but don’t think that this line of work is always easy. It can be challenging and emotional. Workers are often required to do chores that are rather unpleasant, at times clients can be demanding, and there’s always the risk of facing a client who you’ve grown to love and passes away. Oh, and the pay is only $10 per hour on average, but they’re hiring!
drove 11,352 miles a year, while his female counterpart drove less than half that—just 5,411 miles.
Four decades later, the figures have evened out a bit but there is still a gap. In 2009, the average American male drove 15,139 miles, while women drove roughly 2/3 of that total or 10,244 miles. Although women drive less often than men, they’re also more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. However, guys are more likely to be found at fault for road accidents and sadly they’re significantly more likely to be involved in fatal collisions—80% more likely. Drive safe!
Walmart Shoppers Not Too Happy
More Women Have Driver’s Licenses, More Men Actually Drive, More Men Die in Accidents Men may say that women are bad drivers but a recent statistic indicates that women may be safer drivers. According to Michael Sivak at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the number of American women with driver’s licenses steadily grew throughout the 1900s. By 2005, men had officially become a minority. In 2010, the latest year for which data was available, men made up 49.7% of America’s drivers. While the numbers indicate that more women hold driver’s licenses, men continue to do significantly more driving. In 1969, the average U.S. male
In the current market, there is so much competition that retailers are being forced to improve their customer service or else consumers will just find another retailer. Due to that, customer satisfaction with retailers overall is at an all-time high. However, while the industry improved overall, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), not all retailers received high
In News marks. 24/7 Wall St. recently reviewed ACSI data to find the nine companies with the worst satisfaction scores in retail. Of all retailers, the largest, Walmart, received the worst customer satisfaction score of 71. Following Walmart was Netflix with a score of 75. Supermarket operator Safeway Inc. came in next with a score of 75 as well. Although CVS Caremark Corp. is one of the nation’s largest businesses in any industry (it ranked 18th in the Fortune 500 for 2012), it gets a customer satisfaction rate of 75 in the number four worst spot. If you’ve had any interactions with the customer service at Sears or Kmart, then you are probably not surprised to see Sears Holdings Corp., owner of Sears and Kmart, sitting in the number 5 spot with a satisfaction rate of 75. Supervalu Inc. is a grocery retailer operating discount store Save-A-Lot as well as a list of grocery chains that includes Albertsons, Jewel-Osco and Shop ‘N Save. Their customers were only 76 percent satisfied. The Gap’s customers are also not
particularly satisfied. With a number of well-known retail chains, including the Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy, you can’t go too far without running into a retail store but they only received a satisfaction score of 76. (Although I have to say that I’m pretty happy with the cute shirt I just bought for my son at the Gap.) The number seven spot is occupied by TJX Companies Inc., which owns discount retail stores T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods. They received 76 in the customer satisfaction category. As of December 2012, Walgreens had more than 8,500 locations but that’s not enough to satisfy customers; they received a 76 customer satisfaction as well.
Police Chief Screens for Racism Using Lie Detector Test Coopertown Police Chief Shane Sullivan was hired to the tiny Tennessee department after it was dismantled
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The Week by scandal. His new initiative uses a liedetector test to help keep racists off his force. Sullivan took over the department in November, becoming the 11th chief in as many years. He was hired on the heels of a series of police scandals that for a few months left Coopertown with no police at all. Years before that, a mayor was voted out of office after the local prosecutor accused him of racism and running a notorious speed trap.
Though it is not uncommon to use lie detector tests for other purposes during the application process, law enforcement experts say Sullivan’s approach to test for racism is unusual. Sullivan hopes that the lie detector test will dissuade racists from applying all together. “I think the polygraph will definitely
keep these people from applying,” the 39-year-old chief said. And he believes the policy is working, because he says it’s already discouraged some applicants. “I’ve told a couple of ones about the polygraph who have not called me back.” The rural community of about 4,000 people that is 95 percent white earned a reputation as a notorious speed trap, with about a third of its revenue coming from speeding tickets handed out by city police during the former mayor’s tenure. In 2006, the National Motorists Association said Coopertown had one of the most “blatant examples of speed traps in the country.” It stopped after a prosecutor filed a petition against the mayor in 2006. Its 25 squares miles encompass significant stretches of Interstate 24 and another highway that drivers use to cut through to Interstate 65. In 2006, the county prosecutor asked a court to oust then-Mayor Danny Crosby on allegations he was running a speed trap and ordering police to target Hispanics, out-of-towners and soldiers from nearby Fort Campbell, Ky., for traffic tickets. Although an appellate court agreed
In News with a lower court’s finding that Crosby’s conduct and statements were strongly suggestive of “bigotry…or utter foolishness,” it refused to remove him. Crosby was later voted out of office and the speed trap is gone. Sullivan, who has taken the lie detector test himself, said he’s hoping to establish a professional police department that can eventually provide 24hour service, seven days a week. Right now, he doesn’t have the staff to police the town around the clock and leaves those duties up to the sheriff’s office. He’s already hired two police officers, both of whom have passed the polygraph, and he wants to add more. The department’s budget is about $250,000 this fiscal year, Sullivan said, and the chief makes $41,000. It’s good he knows that no one is above the law.
Racing Through the Snow
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March from Anchorage to Nome in Alaska. Participants in this year’s race are struggling with their own exhaustion in their journey toward the finish line in Nome on Alaska’s western coast. Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser of Big Lake reclaimed the lead on Friday afternoon that was taken earlier by Aliy Zirkle, last year’s runner-up. Zirkle, of Two Rivers, had been the first to reach the village of Grayling, a checkpoint on the Yukon River, which is the trail for 238 miles of the race, but Buser caught up and left before Zirkle. Buser was first into the previous checkpoint at Anvik early Friday. But he decided to take a mandatory eighthour break there, while Zirkle blew out of the village one minute after arriving. Zirkle arrived at Grayling 18 miles away almost three hours before Buser, but he caught up and left the village af-
ter only 10 minutes. Buser was headed to the next checkpoint at Eagle Island, where no one lives. It’s 62 miles from Grayling. Because of a low cloud ceiling, planes apparently weren’t able to get to the checkpoint earlier Friday, and it was likely people were headed to the checkpoint on snow machines from Kaltag ahead of Buser’s anticipated arrival, race spokeswoman Erin McLarnon said. Communications also have been affected because of the weather, forcing people to use satellite phones. Zirkle led more than a half-dozen mushers or trainers out of Grayling on Friday night. That group included 2004 winner Mitch Seavey and four-time winner Jeff King. Because of the situation in Eagle Island, race officials asked mushers to carry extra food with them when they left Grayling. Teams must take the eight-hour layover at one checkpoint on the frozen Yukon River. Mushers also may take the layover at Shageluk — 25 miles east of the river — during odd-numbered years when the village is included in a part of the race that takes a southern route. Mushers also are required to take another eight-hour rest at the White Mountain checkpoint, 77 miles from the finish line in Nome. Break or no break, mushers get only a fraction of the rest that their hard-running dogs do, many said before the race began last weekend. The human participants take care of their dogs first when they stop, serving up hearty stews for their teams. Dogs nap while the mushers melt snow to fix food for their teams, massage dog paws and shoulders, fill up on their own grub, fix damaged sleds and study the strategy of rivals. “They know what they’re supposed to do, and they absolutely know what I’m supposed to give them,” Zirkle said of her team. “And if I don’t, that relationship is broken and we can’t do the race. So it’s really on me, honestly.” Mushers catch what little sleep they can, when they can. That is all part of running an endurance match in some of the world’s toughest conditions, where blizzards can create blinding stretches of trail, temperatures can plunge to 50 below or above-freezing temperatures which can slow teams down in punchy snow or river overflows as in this race. The race is a grueling run that mushers and their teams train hard for. There comes a time during the race when fatigue can turn Alaska’s frozen landscape into an unlikely habitat for an elephant that really isn’t there or all sorts of other strange images. Lynda Plettner,
a former participant in the 1,000-mile race, tells about her experience. The Big Lake, Alaska, musher was so sleepdeprived once that she saw a large gray African elephant in the distance trudging in the snow toward a metal building that had no doors or windows. Both the elephant and the building got bigger as Plettner got closer and her weary brain focused on getting the dogs safely past them before it dawned on her that she was hallucinating. “I concluded that that couldn’t possibly be there,” she said. May the best team win.
Bloomberg’s Bubbles Pop For months, New Yorkers readied themselves for Mayor Bloomberg’s soda ban, prohibiting the sale of sugary drinks of over 16 ounces. But on the eve that the ban was supposed to take effect, it “fell flat” and was struck down by a New York State Supreme Court Justice, Milton Tingling, who ruled that the Board of Health lacked the jurisdiction to enforce it. A shocked Mayor Bloomberg immediately promised to appeal the decision. In an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, the mayor struck a serious chord as he pointed out, “Over the past ten years, as you know, we have adopted many groundbreaking and controversial public health policies -- from banning smoking in workplaces, to requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts, to banning trans fats, to posting letter grades in restaurants, to prohibiting smoking in parks and on beaches.” Mayor Bloomberg neglected to mention that those laws were passed by the City Council rather than by the Board of Health, which is made up of members picked by Mayor Bloomberg. In any event, even though Mr. Bloomberg’s plans fizzled, his efforts deserve a toast...with our 20 ounce bottles of Cherry Coca Cola!
Wealthy’s Tax Bill Will Hit 30-Year High Wealthy families are paying some of their biggest federal tax bills in decades as the rest of the population continues to pay at historically low rates. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress say the wealthy must pay their fair share if the federal
In News government is ever going to fix its finances and reduce the budget deficit to a manageable level. A new analysis shows that average tax bills for highincome families have rarely been higher since the Congressional Budget Office began tracking the data in 1979. For 2013, families with incomes in the top 20 percent of the nation will pay an average of 27.2 percent of their income in federal taxes, according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a research organization based in Washington. The top one percent of households, those with incomes averaging $1.4 million, will pay an average of 35.5 percent. Those tax rates, which include income, payroll, corporate and estate taxes, are among the highest since 1979. The average family in the bottom 20 percent of households won’t pay any federal taxes at all. Instead, many families in this group will get payments from the federal government by claiming more in credits than they owe in taxes, including payroll taxes. That will give them a negative tax rate. “My sense is that high-income people feel abused by being targeted always for more taxes,” said Roberton Williams, a fellow at the Tax Policy Center. “You can understand why they feel that way.” Can you? Last week, Senate Democrats were unable to advance their proposal to raise taxes on some wealthy families for the second time this year as part of a package to avoid automatic spending cuts. The bill failed on Thursday when Republicans blocked it. A competing Republican bill that included no tax increases also failed, and the automatic spending cuts began taking effect Friday. The issue remains unresolved. Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress insist that any future deal to reduce government borrowing must include a mix of spending cuts and more tax revenue. “I am prepared to do hard things and to push my Democratic friends to do hard things,” Obama said Friday. “But what I can’t do is ask middle-class families, ask seniors, ask students to bear the entire burden of deficit reduction when we know we’ve got a bunch of tax loopholes that are benefiting the well-off and the well-connected, aren’t contributing to growth, aren’t contributing to our economy. It’s not fair. It’s not right.” The Democrats’ bill included the “Buffett Rule,” named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett. It gradually would phase in a requirement that people making more than $1 million a year
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Police Office Goes to School In the aftermath of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, schools have been thinking about precautionary measures to prevent such tragedies. Schools around the country have considered posting armed police officers inside their buildings. Great idea but that costs a lot of money. One school district in South Carolina has a creative solution to that problem at zero cost to taxpayers. In Simpsonville, police officer Justin Chandler has set up his community service office at Plain Elementary School. There, he can handle administrative duties and make phone calls while also having time to patrol the halls and keep the school safe as an armed guard. “I’d rather be here and not be needed, than be needed and not be here,’’ Chandler
said. “All I needed from the school is a desk and Wi-Fi. We said it’s a no-brainer. When we got down to brass tacks with it, it didn’t cost a dime.’’ “I feel safer,’’ school principal Debbie Mihalic said. “I never thought that actually having an officer at [Plain] Elementary would be that valuable, but now that he’s here, I don’t want him to leave.’’ “He’s made us feel safe, especially what happened over in Connecticut,’’ one parent said. Perhaps this idea will spread and more districts will adopt similar practices.
In News ed, which is especially embarrassing as they issued the maps specifically to reflect a rate change but forgot to change the rates.
That’s Odd This Carr is Not a Star
Glitch for the Subway Last week 80,000 New York City subway maps were distributed with a typo in them. The mistake was regarding rates, not with rail stops. The New York Transit system sent out the maps with the wrong fares list-
That’s an expensive mistake. It will take $250,000 to correct the maps. I guess our increased fare money will help pay for it.
Here’s a hint for criminals: if you’re looking to counterfeit some money, don’t buy your printer at Walmart. Jarad S. Carr ain’t so smart. He needed some extra cash but instead of working for the dough, he decided to make some of his own. Smart, right? Wrong! It turns out that Carr needed a Continued on page 40
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eizepye eini el oikix`n xeaivd mr eizeiyxt milynd lk
(:g zekxa)
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The Week printer to print some Benjamins, so he went to his local Walmart and bought himself a printer. Well, if you haven’t noticed this on your own, Walmart does not stock the best printers around and Carr’s broke while he was printing his loot. Instead of buying another printer, Carr went back to Walmart, without the receipt for the printer because he couldn’t find it, and tried to return the broken printer. When employees told him they couldn’t refund his money, he insisted on getting his money back— even when they found two sheets of paper inside the printer with two $100 bills printed on it! Employees called the cops after Carr started to get belligerent. Cops found another three counterfeit bills on Carr, who is wanted on two felony warrants for armed robbery and burglary. The counterfeit bills weren’t even that great. They were printed on heavyweight printer paper and the colors were a little too blue. In any case, Carr is now on his way to the slammer…without a refund!
Human Chain Saves Boy from Drowning After being swept out to sea by rough waters, a 12-year-old New Zealand boy was saved by a human chain. Josh McQuoid was playing along the water’s edge on Marine Parade in Napier, New Zealand, when he was whisked out to sea. The boy was dragged nearly 500 feet along the beach and fought for his life for at least eight minutes. “The waves smashed me so much, there were five really big ones, they flipped me around quite a few times,” McQuoid recalled. “I think the longest for about 20 seconds.” Constable Paul Bailey of the Napier Police was the first one into the water to attempt to rescue McQuoid, but he had a difficult time holding on to him. “A few times under the waves I was thinking, ‘Have I done the right thing charging in here? Is it going to be two bodies they’re looking for,” Bailey said. Another police officer instructed others to form a human chain from
In News the shoreline into the water to bring McQuoid and Bailey to safety. The boy was unresponsive when his lifeless body was brought back to shore. Once again, his rescuers stepped up and helped revive him before he was taken to a local hospital. The dramatic video of the rescue shows more than a dozen people holding hands from the beach into the whitecap waves to bring the two to safety. “I’d love to thank them so much for what they did. They saved my life. If it wasn’t for them I’d be dead,” McQuoid said gratefully. That’s the power of numbers.
high school. Butler dropped out of school before the ninth grade to accept a full-time job at a print shop to support his mother and five younger siblings. He has always regretted not having a high school diploma and now can cross it off his bucket list.
Graduating High School at 106 Fred Butler has accomplished many things in his long lifetime. He was married for 65 years, raised five children, served in the army during World War II, and worked for years for the local water department. However, he did all this without having ever graduated from
School officials, state lawmakers, and Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon awarded the 106-year-old his honorary diploma on Monday during an emoContinued on page 44
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The Week tional ceremony. “I thank everybody who is responsible for this,” Butler said, wearing a mortarboard hat and tassel and holding the prized document in his hands. “I certainly appreciate it.” Daughter-in-law Cathy Butler says he regretted dropping out and always emphasized the importance of education to his children and grandchildren. A grandson, Mike Calabro, said Butler gave him $5 for every A on his report card. Cathy Butler launched the effort to get her father-in-law his diploma as a way to raise his spirits following the death of his wife, Ruth, last year. Fred Butler’s only concern was that he hadn’t earned it. Scanlon put that concern to rest. “It’s a long time to wait for your diploma,” Scanlon said, “but you’ve obviously earned it very well.”
Stomach Cancer Breathalyzer A new study has found that a quick and simple breath test can diagnose stomach cancer. Scientists from Israel and China found the test was 90% accurate at detecting and distinguishing cancers from other stomach complaints in 130 patients. Doctors are very excited because early detection is the most likely factor in survival rates of stomach cancer. Two-fifths of patients with stomach cancer survive for at least a year, but only a fifth are still alive after five years, despite treatment. Currently, doctors diagnose stomach cancer by taking a biopsy of the stomach lining using a probe and a flexible camera passed via mouth and down the gullet. The new test looks for chemical profiles in exhaled breath that are unique to patients with stomach cancer. Cancer appears to give off a signature smell of volatile organic compounds that can be detected using the right technical medical kit – and perhaps even dogs. The science behind the test itself is not new; many researchers have been working on the possibility of breath tests for a number of cancers, including lung. But the work by Professor Hossam Haick of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology suggests it is a good way to spot stomach cancer. In the study, 37 of the patients had stomach cancer, 32 had stomach ulcers and 61 had other stomach complaints. As well as accurately distinguishing between these conditions 90% of the time, the breath test could tell the difference
between early and late-stage stomach cancers. The team is now running a bigger study in more patients to validate their test. Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: “The results of this latest study are promising – although large scale trials will now be needed to confirm these findings. Only one in five people are able to have surgery as part of their treatment as most stomach cancers are diagnosed at stages that are too advanced for surgery. Any test that could help diagnose stomach cancers earlier would make a difference to patients’ long-term survival.” Hopefully this test will save a lot of lives.
Instagram Reunites Toddler and His Bunny A story of lost loves reunited took place this week when a tourist took a photo of an abandoned plush bunny on a side street in Los Angeles. Jason Ho didn’t realize he was providing the key clue to help reunite a young boy with a precious gift from his dearly departed grandmother. The bunny, which doesn’t have a name, belongs to twoand-a-half-year-old Max. “It’s never taken outside of the house,” said Frances Page, Max’s mom. “He must’ve snuck it into the stroller and dropped it.”
As soon as the bunny’s absence was noted, a frantic search began. After all, it was a gift from Max’s grandmother, who had passed away. “I decided to go the traditional route and put up posters,” Page said. “My husband put a photo of the poster on Twitter and Instagram.” At the same time that Matt Ross, Max’s dad, was uploading a photo of the poster to Instagram, Jason Ho, a Minneapolis resident visiting Los Angeles for the first time, posted a photo of a sad, stuffed bunny lying in the road, that he’d spotted during a stroll. “The fur matted down from hugs and squeezes, I could tell this little guy lying in the sun had been much loved,” Ho wrote in a post on his personal blog.
In News “But by its whimsical position on the ground he must have been abandoned on accident.” “I collect a lot of toys and I love childhood memory type things,” Ho said, elaborating on how he felt when he saw the bunny. “Oh, let’s take a shot of this.” So why didn’t he pick it up? “I kinda debated … I didn’t want to touch it. People usually come back for these things,” he added. “And I didn’t even know where I would take it.” He heard some kids playing nearby, so he figured chances were good that the bunny belonged to one of them. By the time Ho arrived at his temporary L.A. lodging, he noticed that he’d been tagged on a stranger’s Instagram photo. An eagle-eyed user commented on Ross’ photo to say that Ho “just posted something that looks like what [he’s] looking for.” Ho quickly shared the geotag information from his photo of the bunny with Max’s parents and then spoke to them on the phone, describing the spot where he’d encountered it in more detail. Page and her son set out to retrieve the precious plush. “We ended up asking around,” Page said. A kind man working on a nearby home had seen the bunny as well, hours earlier. He helped Page check trashcans, in case someone had callously chucked the bunny into one. And what do you know? That’s where the bunny was found. “We put him into the wash, cleaned him up and he’s back with us,” Page concludes a retelling of the adventure. “It’s so sweet that people we don’t know at all … helped us.” And so technology and strangers join together to solve the case of missing bunny.
Man Fined for Laughing Too Loud Did you know it’s a crime to laugh to loud? Robert Schiavelli of Rockville Centre, Long Island, received two summonses for “disturbing the peace” by laughing too loudly. Police appeared at his home on February 12 and 13 after receiving complaints from his next-door neighbor that his loud laughs could be heard across the driveway. He was charged with acting “in such a manner as to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct, or be offensive to others.”
At his arraignment on Tuesday, a judge declined to dismiss the charges. Schiavelli, 45, tells the New York Post that his neighbor often taunts him. He deals with it by laughing him off. Schiavelli suffers from seizures and neurological impairments. Bullying doesn’t end after high school and it’s no laughing matter.
Golfing with Chopsticks
Celebrated golf course designer Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design has revealed plans for what he calls a “full-scale mini golf” experience at Mission Hills Haikou resort on the Chinese island of Hainan. Visitors will encounter a replica of the Great Wall of China on one hole and a humongous bowl of noodles and chopsticks on another. The 18-hole course, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014, will feature several unique obstacles, including an 80-meter wide bowl of noodles, a set of Mayan ruins and a par-3 that drills golfers with winds from large fans. “It’s still going to be real golf, with real clubs,” Curley told ESPN. “You’ll need to putt and you’ll need to drive. Everything will be the same except instead of being surrounded by pine trees, you’re in China.” “The shot is no different, it’s just that visually it’s different,” Curley said of the Sawgrass-Mission Hills Haikou comparison. “When you’re hitting into a bowl and there are chopsticks and noodles floating in the water, it takes on a whole new level – the purists are going to have a fit.”
Going Nowhere Fast This woman was so drunk, she couldn’t even drive a toy car. Jeanette Craft, 29, crashed into a mobile home in her 2001 Pontiac Grand Am and then tried to make her escape by trying to drive a Power Wheels children’s truck. When the owner of the mobile home went to investigate the crash, he found Craft in his grandson’s truck trying to
drive away in it. She chose the wrong vehicle. These children’s trucks don’t go very fast; some can achieve speeds of up to 5 mph—trump change when the police are chasing you. When police arrived at the scene, they found Craft to be “irate and very intoxicated.” Apparently, she forgot her training wheels at home.
French Mom Fined for Her 3 Year Old’s T-shirt A French woman sent her 3-year-old son to kindergarten wearing a T-shirt that read “Jihad, born September 11” on the back and “I am a bomb” on the front. She told a judge on Wednesday that she simply wasn’t thinking. The woman, Boucha Bagour, 34, and her brother, Zeyad Bagour, 29, could be fined between 1,000 to 3,000 euros ($1,300 and $3,900), respectively, when their trial on charges of “apologizing for terrorism” resumes next month. Both have pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, Bagour, a single mother, said last September she dressed her son whose name is Jihad and was born on September 11 “without thinking about it.” She was charged after teachers and the principal notified authorities. “I thought it might make people laugh,” she said. Zeyad Bagour, the boy’s uncle, is also charged because he bought the T-shirt. He didn’t either think it was a problem. The French phrase “je suis une bombe” — literally, “I am a bomb” — is a slang expression of self-regard, and “to me, it means ‘I am beautiful,’” Zeyad said, adding that T-shirts with the slogan are widely available. The Bagours’ lawyer candidly told the court that if they truly meant to support terrorism, they picked a poor venue, noting that the class was filled with kindergartners “who cannot read.” In an interview in November, Boucha Bagour said that while she is Muslim, “there is no message to be conveyed by the T-shirt — no intent. ‘Bomb’ is used in the sense of ‘handsome,’ nothing more,” she said. “And my son was actually born on September 11. It’s just a simple phrase on a T-shirt,” she said. “It’s nothing dangerous.” Maybe she should be charged for naming her son, Jihad. What an awful name to give a child.
Solving Her Own Case of Stolen Identity It was a good day for Brianna Priddy when a customer handed her their ID. You see, Priddy is a waitress at Applebee’s and had her wallet stolen a few days ago. Since then, someone has been writing hundreds of dollars in bad checks under Priddy’s name. But Priddy got to meet the thief while on duty on February 25th. When a customer handed her their ID, Priddy was shocked to see her own face on the card. “But I didn’t say anything,” she recalled. “I handed it back to her and said, ‘Sure, I’ll be right back with your margarita.’” Priddy then called the police who arrested the 26-yearold thief. Ironically, the thief could have used her own ID to buy drinks, but apparently was too crooked to even think straight. That’s what I call “priddy” dumb.
Snakes All Around The town of Sweetwater, Texas, has a strange annual tradition. Each March, the town holds a rattlesnake roundup. It’s a weekend event whereby rattlesnake hunters round up as many rattlesnakes as they can as a means of population control. At the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, the largest such event in the world, an average of 5,000 pounds of
In News rattlesnakes are collected and used for meat and various products. The event, ongoing since 1958, attracts about 30,000 people each year and has a reported economic impact of $5 million. At each event, the snakes are measured and weighed for the state’s wildlife department for management purposes. Once skinned, the meat is cooked and the skins are made into belts, wallets, boots, and other products. “It’s a really amazing event,”
spokesman Riley Sawyers said. “People are interested in rattlesnakes. I think that’s what surprises me most.” Some animal rights activists might frown on this practice, but Sawyers views the roundup as a management tool to help farmers keep rattlesnakes in check. “It’s like any hunting,” he said. “It’s needed to control the population. It’s more about conservation than it is extermination.”
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Bnos Bais Yaakov’s 19th Annual Dinner: A Huge Success PHOTO CREDIT IVAN NORMAN
Bnos Bais Yaakov’s annual dinner is always a celebration – a celebration of students’ achievements, teachers’ dedication, and the honorees’ worthiness. This year’s dinner held on Sunday night, March 10th, followed suit in
betzin Basya Bender, ents, has created an A”H, who touched the uplifting and inspirlives of thousands of ing atmosphere in talmidos, Morah ShainBBY by always emdy has touched the lives phasizing the joys inof so many of her preherent in Yiddishkeit. cious talmidos. She She has forged longhas encouraged a spirit lasting and meaningof independence in her ful relationships with young students by procolleagues, teachviding them with openers, parents, and of ended art experiences course, her beloved and opportunities to talmidos. Rabbi Hillmake decisions on their er spoke movingly own. Morah Shaindy about the debt of grathas been invited to her A special presentation was made to Mrs. Yitty Halpert (Menaheles for over 21 years of itude owed to Mrs. students’ weddings, Bnos Bais Yaakov). She is relocating to Lakewood and was presented with a magnificent Halpert after which, some 20 years after they silver leichter in honor of all the lives she has touched. Shown in this photograph: Mrs. in a fitting tribute, were in her class, which Halpert’s son, Shmuely Halpert; Rabbi Moishe Waxman, son-in- law; Rabbi Shmuel the assembled crowd Hiller, dean; Mrs. Halpert’s husband, Mr. Heshy Halpert; Rabbi Yisroel Tepper, direcspeaks volumes about rose to their feet to tor of development the kind of morah she give Mrs. Halpert a is. manage the building and on the hospital standing ovation. A magnificent silver Mr. and Dr. Levy, who were pre- wards where Carolyn treats each patient leichter was presented to her as her famsented with the Avodas Hakodesh with dignity and compassion. Sincer- ily looked on with pride and love. Mr. Yaakov Zoldan, Parents of the Year Award, are a self-effacing couple who ity and erlichkeit are the Award; Rabbi Shmuel Hiller, dean; Mr. Yoily would have definitely preferred to be in hallmarks of this special Edelstein, dinner chairman the audience rather than the limelight. couple. Nevertheless, they accepted their award Yaakov and Lani grand BBY style. most graciously and expressed heart- Zoldan received the ParAs always, the transformation of felt hakaras hatov to BBY for the nur- ents of the Year Award. the building itself Most impressive about takes the guests this young couple is the by surprise. The way they value the meBBY edifice, while sorah of their parents and certainly beautigrandparents and conful, was built with sciously incorporate it functionality and into their own and their practicality in children’s lives. Their mind. But Mrs. individual chasadim are Malka Fishman, magnificent and they BBY’s extraorrange from financial assisRabbi Yisroel Tepper, director of development; Mr. David Levy, dinarily talented tance to innumerable din- Avodas Hakodesh Award; Rabbi Shmuel Hiller, dean; Mr. Yoily dinner coordinator, ners cooked for families Edelstein, dinner chairman changes the buildwho’ve just welcomed a ing into one large, new baby – and everything in between. It was certainly an evening of cellovely dinner hall Their joint chasadim have created an ebration! – replete with open and inviting home where all are hanging chande- Rabbi Yisroel Tepper, director of development; Morah Shaindy Markovits welcome. The Zoldans are raising their liers, white leather was the recipient of the Rebbetzin Basya Bender Teacher Excellence Award. children in the traditions of the previous coaches, ambient Accepting the award is her husband, Marty Markovits; Rabbi Shmuel Hiller, generations, to be caring and involved dean; Yoily Edelstein, dinner chairman lighting, magnifiba’alos chessed. cent centerpieces, Before the BBY video was shown, and many other elegant modifications. turing atmosphere it provides to their a surprise presentation was made. Mrs. The guests of honor certainly pro- daughters, Eliana and Margalit. David Yitty Halpert, BBY’s Hebrew Menahevided all the dinner attendees with cause and Carolyn Levy, a businessman and les for 21 years, is relocating to Laketo celebrate. Morah Shaindy Markov- pediatric oncologist respectively, have wood and will be leaving BBY at the Check out the Centerfold its, the recipient of the Rebbetzin Basya made their home and their children’s end of this year. Her departure is the Bender Teacher Excellence Award, has chinuch their first priority. They each end of a remarkable era. Mrs. Halpert, on Page 78 been a beloved BBY pre-school Morah perform chessed discreetly – for Aish who has earned the respect, admiration, for 11 Years. In the tradition of Reb- Kodesh where David volunteers to and love of legions of children and par-
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Tefillin Awareness Project at Young Israel of Far Rockaway Under the leadership of Rabbi Shaul Chill, the Young Israel of Far Rockaway hosted the Tefillin Awareness Project, otherwise known as Hanacha K’Halacha. Two sofrim were available on Sunday morning, March 10th, to check and correct many different tefillin-related issues. One person’s retzuos (straps) had a slit that rendered them pasul (invalid). They were changed immediately as he was to be the baal tefillah for the following minyan. Many had the kesharim adjusted, and some needed to blacken their retzuos – enabling them to properly fulfill these almost daily mitzvos d’oraisah of tefillin. The Rambam mentions the possibility of fulfilling eight mitzvos when wearing tefillin correctly. Rabbi Chill was thrilled to have this service available for his mispallelim and the participants showed much appreciation for the unusual opportunity afforded them.
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Rabbi Shaul Chill looks on as Rabbi Mordeche Hersh Green inspects the batim.
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Rambam Mesivta 20th Annual Scholarship Dinner
Rambam Mesivta Class of 2003 gather together for their tenth anniversary reunion
Dr. Sergio Sokol, Man of the Year, receiving his award from Rabbi Yotav Eliach and Rabbi Zev Friedman
Mr. Avi Posnick, Alumnus of the Year, receiving his award from Rabbi Yotav Eliach and Rabbi Zev Friedman
Rambam Mesivta students, alumni, and rebbeim dance together at the 20th Annual Scholarship Dinner
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Around the Community Team Just One Life – Running for a Purpose Unity. Love. Passion. Heady concepts all. How do you generate them? Before last week, I’m not sure I would have had an answer. Then I took part in the half-marathon in Jerusalem with Team Just One Life. Team Just One Life is the charity fitness program of Just One Life, an organization that helps women in Israel who are dealing with crisis pregnancies (www.justonelife. org). I was one of 25 people who joined the team for the run. The team consisted of teenagers and grandfathers, men and women, runners and walkers, and people from around the US and Israel. The one thing we had in common was a desire to help Just One Life. The truth is, before we got to Israel, we only knew about the organization from a distance. Sure, we knew about the 13,000+ babies born in Israel and the support to mothers going through tremendous challenges, but it was hard to fully grasp the specifics. There were two events that changed our understanding and gave us a commitment that we will feel for life; a visit to the Just One Life Center in Jerusalem and the pasta party on the night before the race. We got to the Center expecting to be there for, at most, 45 minutes. Instead, mesmerized by what we heard, we stayed for nearly two hours. We spent time with Madelaine Gittelman, the Executive VP of Just One Life in Israel, and her team of social workers. As we chatted, we heard incredible stories about the challenges faced by some of JOL’s women and the help they receive from the staff. We asked questions and commented, and before our visit was over, the number 13,000 went from being a number to having real faces behind it.
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We arrived as visitors, we left as family and ambassadors. The pasta party was very moving as well. After newly elected Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman spoke about what an incredible mitzvah we were doing and about how impressed he was by Just One Life, we heard from two of the mothers. We listened as these women bravely shared their stories and spoke about how they couldn’t have gone through their pregnancies without JOL. By the time they were finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Not only that, but looking around the room, you would not have known that only days before, we had all been strangers. We were ready to run. The race that we ran the next day through the streets of Yerushalayim was the perfect conclusion to an amazing experience. As we ran through the streets proudly wearing our team shirts, the hilly course felt a little easier, as we knew that our run was accomplishing so much. Having raised over $40,000 for Just One Life, we felt like we were practically floating along the course (except maybe for a few of the hills). We had signed to run as individuals, but by now we had become a team. We ran with a tremendous sense of unity of purpose, love for Just One Life, its staff and clients and passion to spread the word about this amazing organization and our team. For those who would like to join the team for its next race, in San Diego in June, or sponsor a runner, please check out the website at www.teamjustonelife. org, email Team Director Pesach Sommer at pesach@teamjustonelife.org, or call him at 973-668-7672.
Yom HaShoah Vigil to Take Place in Front of the Iranian Mission to the UN A Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial vigil will take place Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 12:00 noon in front of the Iranian Mission to the United Nations on Third Avenue and E. 40th Street (622 Third Ave., Manhattan). Prominent elected officials and civic leaders will attend. The event is being organized and led by the Yom Hashoah Mobilization Committee to commemorate the millions of innocents who perished in the Holocaust. The public and our elected representatives will be reminded of the imminent danger posed by Iran’s nuclear
program and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Our generation is witnessing efforts to dehumanize the Jewish people. Israel is being demonized and has been the victim of libel and defamation. This is painfully reminiscent of what happened before the extermination of 6,000,000 Jewish people. We must ensure that history does not repeat itself. We must not remain silent. The appeasement and funding of entities which promote the hatred of others must be stopped. For more information, contact the Yom Hashoah Mobilization Committee at hashoah.mail@gmail.com, 516-521-9333.
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CHAZAQ Stronger Than Ever; Record Setting Crowd Attends the Big Event Photo credits: Yaakov Katz Studios
Queens was ablaze on Sunday night, March 3rd, thanks to CHAZAQ and their incredible Big Event that took place. From the height of prestigious speakers in the Jewish community to the most jaw-dropping entertainment, it was all there in Forest Hills High School, and from the moment you entered the build-
ing, you could sense the excitement. Tables were set up with various venders from local businesses to political figures, where one can view what they have to offer. After you give your ticket and get your hand stamped, you were able make your way into the massive auditorium that was full of people anticipating the show to begin. There were several politicians in attendance including Michael Simanowitz, Rory Lancman, Grace
Meng, Karen Koslowitz, and Toby Stavitsky. Grace Meng even presented CHAZAQ with a proclamation declaring March 3rd as CHAZAQ Day! The night started off with the son of Rabbi Noach Issac Oelbaum, Morah D’asra of Khal Nachlas Yitzchok, introducing the speakers. He spoke eloquently and captured the audience’s attention with inspiring stories and funny anecdotes. He first introduced world-renowned speaker Rabbi Paysach Krohn, who kept the audience glued to their seats with his inspiring speech about caring about each and every person. He spoke about how he once left his cellphone at an airport checkpoint, and the security guard remembered it was his because Rabbi Krohn had said hello and thanked him for keeping everyone safe. He stressed the importance of seeing the good in everyone. And CHAZAQ does just that, seeing the beauty in each neshama no matter how far removed from Judaism they may be. Rabbi Krohn also spoke with reference to the seder when it mentions how in every generation, nations will rise up against the Jews. He said America will kill the Jews with a smile, because they accept
us and allow us to intermarry, becoming one of them. CHAZAQ fights this trend every say, whether it’s through its work in public school and through its other many inspiring programs, every kid leaves with a heightened sense of being Jewish. Rabbi Krohn was in tears when he spoke about Leiby Kletzky’s father, Nachman, who told him that a little boy who was going off the derech started to wear tzitzis because of Leiby and hasn’t gone a day without them since. After that wonderful shiur, the audience was in for another treat. Rabbi Oelbaum introduced Mr. Charley Harary, a much sought after speaker who motivates Jews all around the world. Mr. Harary had the audience laughing with his references to Jews in Home Depot, and his first attempt at building a succah. He spoke about Noach, and how he didn’t succeed in bringing anyone but his family on the teivah because he didn’t have faith in them. CHAZAQ, he pointed out, has faith in every single person, no matter what their background or where they are up to in life, CHAZAQ will reach out and help them see the beauty in Yiddishkeit. He also spoke about slavery, and how we are all slaves when we expect things from G-d. We can only be free when we have no expectations and instead relinquish control of what we get in life. Hashem gives every person exactly what they need, and we can ask what can we do to help fulfill others needs. That is exactly what CHAZAQ does. Following this incredible shiur, a mentalist stole the show with his amazing mind-altering feats. David Levitan wowed the crowd when he called random people from the audience, and to everyone’s amazement, read their minds! The audience sat on the edge of their seat while Mr. Levitan performed his astounding mental feats. Next, the popular and always dynamic speaker, Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein, stole the show with his words of
praise for all that CHAZAQ does. He talked about how important it is to have hakaras hatov to everyone that does things for us. He also tied it into Megillas Esther and used it to prove many interesting points. In Rabbi Wallerstein style, he spoke captivatingly and didn’t lose the audience’s attention for even a moment. Last, but certainly not least, those in attendance were in for a surprise treat when renowned singer from Israel, Gad Elbaz, walked onto the stage and sang some beautiful and inspirational songs.
The audience could not get enough of his extraordinary music, and it was a great way to end a fun, inspiring, and entertaining evening. CHAZAQ continues every day, to step up to the plate where no one else has. They reach out to each and every Jew they can, because they realize the inherent value of every single Yid. They have multiple programs to help bring Jews closer to their roots, including programs with fascinating speakers, a men’s and women’s division, a family magazine, weekly publications, public school programs, shidduch services and so much more. By helping CHAZAQ do its vital and impressive work, you are helping save a generation from the effects of assimilation. Here’s wishing CHAZAQ continued success in all their important endeavors.
Some Tasty Teaching at Bnos Malka Academy Morah Chavi’s Pre1A class has been continuing to learn about health and nutrition. To reinforce the lesson, the class hosted a surprise guest and class mother, Mrs. Slava Deitch, who presented the class with a fantastic hands-on sushi making presentation! What a wonderful, concrete way to internalize the different food groups and bring reinforcement to our healthy food policy at Bnos Malka Academy. It was also nice to learn that meals can contain a variety of different elements from the food groups. Sushi can contain three: grains (rice), proteins (fish), and vegetables (not to mention the all that good fiber in nori!). The girls had a blast putting the rice on the nori and then laying out our favorite vegetables onto the rolls. When the noris were full of rice, avocado, cucumbers and carrots, each student got a chance to roll it all together. After a teacher cut the rolls into pieces, the best part came next: eating our wonderful, healthy sushi creations. Yum!
All the students had a great time, learned a lot and got a healthy snack out of it to boot! Bnos Malka Academy makes lessons memorable in a variety of ways and has always enjoyed a stellar relationship with our amazing parent body. Thank you so much Mrs. Deitch for so generously coming into school and making such a memorable day for our students. Thank you Morah Chavi and Morah Ayelet for being such super teachers!
Community Rabbi Shmuel Butman Delivers Opening Prayer at State Capitol
Rabbi Shmuel Butman of Lubavitcher Community Hosting delivered the opening prayer for Monday’s State Assembly and State Senate sessions. Here, he is joined with Queens Assemblyman David I. Weprin (center) and Rabbi Yisroel Rubin of the Chabad of the Capital District (right) in the Assembly Parlor room.
Students in CAHAL’s First Grade Celebrate Their Siddur Play
With much excitement and enthusiasm, the students of the first grade CAHAL class at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County presented their siddur play to their parents and families on Sunday, March 3rd. Morah Joy Losev, assisted by Morah Shaindy Gladstone, worked tirelessly with the children to prepare them for this very important milestone in their lives. The children’s voices carried across the auditorium as they sang many songs about learning and davening and spoke of their appreciation for the chagim and all that Hashem has given them. Special Center of Excellence® thanks is due to Rabbi Paltiel Brodsky designated by the Ameri- for taking the time to rehearse with the can Society for Metabolic class and provide the musical accompaand Bariatric Surgery. And Dr. Garber, who has performed more than 3,000 minimally invasive weight-loss procedures, will speak on the various surgical options. Advance registration for the presentation is NOT required. It will be conducted in the employee dining room on the lower level of the hospital’s North Pavilion. Ample convenient free parking will be available.
Free Presentation on Weight-Loss Surgery At Mercy Medical Center on March 19th Mercy Medical Center will be sharing the knowledge of one of the region’s foremost experts on weight-loss surgery in a free lecture at the hospital on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:30 p.m. The hour-long presentation will be given by Mercy’s Director of Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Shawn Garber of the New York Bariatric Group in New Hyde Park. More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, many of them morbidly obese. Bariatric surgery is an option for obese patients who have been unsuccessful at weight loss using diet and exercise. Mercy is a Bariatric Surgery
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For travel directions or information, call 516-62MERCY.
niment Rabbi Yaakov Sadigh, HANC’s elementary school principal, praised the students’ performance, and presented each child with his or her siddur. Mrs. Naomi Nadata, CAHAL’s program director, thanked the HANC administration and staff for their outstanding dedication and commitment to the CAHAL program and its students. This year, CAHAL is educating over 100 children with learning disabilities in twelve special education classes in our community yeshivas. To learn more about the vital work CAHAL is doing, visit www.cahal.org or call 516-295-3666.
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Gush Katif Museum Dinner Keynote Speaker, Governor Mike Huckabee’s Message To Obama: “Mr. President, Visit The Museum!”
Photo credit: Photography by Levi
Photo Credit: Josh Justin
Gov. Mike Huckabee, keynote speaker at the Gush Katif Museum Dinner, who emphasized Jewish rights to settle in “all of G-d’s-given Land to the Jewish People,” being presented with a Baruch Nachshon painting of Jerusalem, is flanked on his right by Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo, President and Founder of the Museum, and on his left by Dr. Paul Brody, Chairman of the Dinner Committee. From left is Dr. Joe Frager, Event Chairman, Rivka Goldshchmidt, Gush Katif evacuee, and Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Guest of Honor. From right is Rabbi David Algaze, Guest of Honor, Odeleya Jacobs, Dinner Committee, and Helen Freedman, Guest of Honor. Gov. Huckabee stressed the importance of remembering the lesson of the Gush Katif tragedy and the folly of placing trust in one’s enemies.
Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo, President and Founder of the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem, addresses the press before its 2nd Annual Dinner, March 9, 2013, held at the Razag Ballroom. Listening attentively (to his right) are Gov. Mike Huckabee, the evening’s keynote speaker, who personally visited the Museum in 2009 at the behest of both Dinner Committee Chairman, Dr. Paul Brody (to the Gov.’s right) and Event Chairman, Dr. Joe Frager. Rabbi David Algaze, one of the event’s Guests of Honor and Mark Langfan, creator of 3-D Strategic Maps of Israel stand to Rav Wolpo’s left. NY State Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz is partially obscured.
Close to five hundred participants crowded into the Crown Heights Razag ballroom this past Motzaei Shabbos for the second year in a row to benefit the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem. The brainchild of Rav Shalom Dov Wolpo, the museum was established five years ago to remember the tragedy of the expulsion of almost 10,000 Jews from Gush Katif and prevent further uprooting of Jewish settlements in Israel. The Gush Katif Museum also provides material assistance for families expelled from Gush Katif, many of whom still suffer financial and psychological deprivation from their traumatic experience. Rabbi Wolpo teamed up with the International Committee for the Land of Israel, founded by Dr. Joe Frager, Dr. Paul Brody, Rabbi David Algaze and Odeleya Jacobs, and with Helen Freedman, Executive Director of Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI), to spearhead the dinner. They hosted guest speakers Governor Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas; Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson, representing the Rabbis of Crown Heights Synagogues; and Mrs. Rivka Goldschmidt, a refugee from Gush Katif. Guests of honor included
Governor Huckabee faulted the U.S. Secretary of State for visiting Egypt and “handing over a check of $250,000,000 when we are closing the White House to tours.” Regarding President Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel, Governor Huckabee recommended a visit to the Gush Katif Museum and strongly suggested that “when the president goes to Israel, it is important that the American people give him the message, rather than him give Israelis a message…that it is time for the Israelis to quit apologizing to the world and to say that we have the right to a secure and safe homeland, not just for us, but for our grandchildren and great grandchildren.” To resounding applause and a standing ovation, Governor Huckabee concluded with an ardent plea to the Israeli people to “pour the concrete, build the houses and let Israel be strong!” At a press conference prior to the dinner, Rabbi Wolpo speaking to reporters, highlighting the importance of the museum’s mission and stated, “The Land of Israel cannot be run by America or by Europe, only by Israel itself. Likewise, the land of Israel cannot be run by the government of Israel alone but by the Jewish people.”
Rabbi Sholom Ber Drizin, noted philanthropist, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Rabbi David Algaze, Rav of Congregation Havurat Yisrael in Forest Hills, and Helen Freedman. Governor Huckabee electrified the audience with his emotional and fervent plea in defense of the Jewish people settling in all of G-d’s given land to the Jews. He expressed his “passion for the protection of the security of Israel” and commented, “Sometimes I feel that my passion for the goodness of Israel maybe exceeds that of my Jewish friends.” Governor Huckabee visited the Gush Katif Museum in 2009, at the urging of Mrs. Jacobs and Drs. Brody and Frager, who accompanied him on the visit, remembering it to be “a brutal reminder of what happens when politicians make decisions that don’t involve their brains.” He bemoaned the folly of the Israeli government with the castigating remark that “when you demand that people abandon their homes…because you somehow believe you can trust radical Islamic fascists to keep their word and make nice if you make nice, then it shows a level of naiveté that makes Chamberlain look like Churchill.”
Several of the speakers had visited Gush Katif before the expulsion, including Helen Freedman, Rabbi Algaze, and Assemblyman Hikind. They lamented the destruction of a once vibrant community inhabited by the most idealistic Jews in the Land of Israel. Assemblyman Hikind remembered his foreboding of what would transpire after the Disengagement and noted that all his fears were realized. He castigated at “the greater Jewish community for failing to prevent the destruction of Gush Katif.” Putting the expulsion of the Gush Katif community into perspective, Rabbi Algaze observed, “The fundamental lesson of Gush Katif is that when the Land of Israel is given over to the enemy, it becomes a source of weakness for the Jewish people, for the State of Israel, and ultimately for the world.” The lessons of the Gush Katif tragedy reverberate today. All of Klal Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael have suffered as a result. The Gush Katif Museum is a reminder of that lesson, tugging at the conscience of those that facilitated it and heartening others to once more state, “Never again.”
A Celebration of the Arts at HAFTR HAFTR’s Grade 4 Evening Celebration of the Arts on Tuesday March 5th was hailed as an event like no other. The show, a combination of visual art and music, was inspired by prominent artists in both fields. The evening was hailed as brilliant and inspiring. The art included a variety of genre, techniques and materials. Students were inspired by the works of Giacometti, Kandinsky, Delauney, O’Keefe, Picasso, Ringgold, and Warhol. Most impressive was the sculpture gallery in our new covered walkway. Mrs. Rena Mosak, Art Director, and Mrs. Royce Maron, Art Assistant, are to be commended for their remarkable efforts in developing every student as an artist and for expanding each child’s cultural and artistic horizons. Mrs. Janet Goldman, Music Director, led students in a variety of songs including, “Jacob and Sons” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat by Andrew Lloyd Weber, “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana by
Carl Orff sung in Latin, “Lu Yehi” by Naomi Shemer, and “Yehi Shalom” from Shalsheles Vol. II. Our orchestra included students on recorder, Ari Gurvitch and Justin Hershkowitz on drums, and Gaya Ohana on the piano. Among the hundreds of guests was Mr. Akio Yoshida from the Holocaust Education Center in Hiroshima, Japan, who visited HAFTR Lower School for the day. Guests toured the galleries as they listened to classical music played by Gaya Ohana and sipped soft beverages from champagne goblets. Children welcomed their guests, provided coat check services, gave tours and hor d’oeurves. Faculty contributed numerous hours ensuring the success of the show and supported our budding artists and musicians through the entire process. Children and staff are to be commended for a magnificent evening. The evening was made possible by the generous contribution of the HaimsKaufman, Katz, Mastour, and Stieglitz families.
NEWS
Community Development Has Begun in Ramat Givat Ze’ev
The Ramat Givat Ze’ev neighborhood, located north of Jerusalem, is probably the most prestigious project for foreign religious residents wishing to make aliyah. Recently, dozens of heavy equipment, machinery and tools rolled onto the project, working zealously. In an addition to the basic infrastructure, Nofei Israel will develop luxury squares, beautiful greenery, parks and many community institutions that have yet to be seen anywhere in Israel. Nofei Israel clearly intends to break the record in infrastructure and environmental development. Incredibly a minimum of 40 million dollars will be invested solely on the infrastructure and the environment. Ramat Givat Ze’ev is Nofei Israel’s flagship project, a company that has already acquired their sterling reputation in a variety of residential, commercial and tourism projects. This is the first real estate venture of its kind in Israel. This adventure will establish a neighborhood dedicated for the Orthodox-Hareidi community who wish to settle in the country. Nofei Israel will care for all of their details in order to ensure a smooth and convenient transition for a perfect
reception in their new home. Nofei Israel has spent a lot of time on building a warm and homogeneous community, which includes rabbanim, professionals, plus an abundance of communal institutions that will match the residents’ lifestyle. All this is in a luxurious residential environment, with a spectacular view of the mountains and the clear Yerushalmi air. People will also enjoy the proximity to all Torah and religious institutions in the capital. Dozens of buyers such as rabbis and educators, lawyers, and doctors, etc. have already secured their place in the project. For them, it’s a dream come true, making ‘Aliyah to Eretz Yisroel.’ This is with the peace of mind that the company standing behind the project is none other than Nofei Israel that is known for its international standards – Welcome to Israel! It’s highly important to state that these days Nofei Israel is currently populating hundreds of residents in nearby Givat Ze’ev Hachadasha - a very successful project of the Orthodox - Hareidi community.
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A SEFER Torah for a SAFER world and a SAFER Long Beach A show of unity and the strong resolve of the Long Beach community since Hurricane Sandy to rise up once again To foster the unity amongst the
many Jewish organizations since Hurricane Sandy flooded the streets of Long Beach, the entire community was invited by Rabbi Eli and Beila Goodman of the BACH Jewish Center/Chabad
of the Beaches, shluchim to Long Beach, Lido and Atlantic Beach communities to join a unique celebration where a new Torah was dedicated by the Kaylie Family in honor of the Bar mitzvah of their son and grandson, Hudson – Hillel Yehuda. The focus of the Torah dedication was the emergence of the Long Beach community since the storm. Various representatives of many Jewish organizations who were part of the relief effort where in attendance, including Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chabad head-
quarters; Rabbi Benny Zippel, Chabad of Utah; Rabbi Berel Pewsner, Chabad Hurricane Relief; Mr. Moishe Hellman, Ohel Family Services; assemblymen, city council representatives, together with national media, followed by a parade through the streets of Long Beach for hundreds of men, women and children singing and dancing.
HANC Welcomes Tamir Goodman The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hemp-
fessional basketball and how hard he had to work to try and achieve his goal. Tamir shared his journey with the stu-
stead was very excited to welcome Tamir Goodman. Dubbed the “Jewish Jordan,” Tamir Goodman is the only shomer Shabbat and kippah-wearing Jew to ever play Division I college basketball. Tamir talked to the HANC 4th-6th graders about his dream of being a pro-
dents, starting in Baltimore, MD, where he played basketball as a child, continuing with his playing Division I basketball at Towson University and ending with his fulfilling his dream of playing professional basketball as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Israel. Tamir spoke about the challenges of
pursing his dream as a shomer Shabbat Jew. He spoke about his constant tests to his Jewish faith and that no matter what he always chose to keep Shabbat and to be proud of his Jewish faith. Tamir spoke about the responsibility he felt in proving himself to everyone around his as both a basketball player and as a Jew, on and off the court. He also spoke about the sense of responsibility he felt in being a role model for people who had never met a religious Jew before. Tamir left the students with the message that they should always go after their dreams, be proud to be Jewish, remember that their behavior represents the Jewish people, remember that their talents are gifts from
Hashem, and that they should use their talents, whatever they are, to make a kiddush Hashem. Tamir ended his visit by signing autographs and running a basketball clinic for the 6th graders. It was a truly inspiring visit!
NEWS
Community
OHEL’S New Five Towns Office Meets Increasing Needs of Everyday Individuals and Families in the Community Proactive to both the immediate and developing needs in the community, OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services has opened a local OHEL Community Services office at 152B Spruce Street, Cedarhurst – in the Gourmet Glatt Shopping Center. The storefront location provides a number of key services and provides a gateway to the world of OHEL care and programs. As David Mandel, CEO of OHEL and Five Towns resident, conveys, “While OHEL is a pioneer in the provision of critical services to those with disability, or those facing trauma or an acute crisis, OHEL is also a leader in the provision of services that help everyday individuals and families surmount everyday challenges.” Jay Kestenbaum, OHEL Vice-President and Five Towns resident, adds, “We believe that OHEL’s new Spruce Street office will additionally help to reduce the stigma often associated with emotional and mental well-being.” With an aging baby boom generation and many children now facing the challenges of caring for their elder parents, OHEL is providing a breadth of eldercare services to The Five Towns community. These services include Geriatric Assessment, Care Coordination, Caregiver Support, as well as Information and Referral. As Harriet Blank, OHEL’s Director of Geriatric Services and resident of The Five Towns, remarks, “Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs we will ever have. We need to learn skills and what questions we need to ask.” Camp Kaylie at OHEL, the groundbreaking integrated summer camp for kids of all abilities in Wutrsboro, NY, has already attracted many campers and senior staff from The Five Towns. These include Rabbi Yitzy Haber, Program Director, Ayelet Katz, Girls Head of Sports, and Penina Ginsberg, Girls Head of Teen program, as well as Rabbi Netanel Gralla, Boys Head Counselor, who comments that, “Bottom line, kinds want to have fun, and that’s where Camp Kaylie excels. We encourage interested parents or kids to meet staff or visit Spruce Street for information or to register today!” Spruce Street will also play host to a number of upcoming events. These include “Caregiving Tips and Coffee” which will provide general advice to
both children of senior parents and seniors themselves. “Tantrums and Tea” will offer an informal and relaxed environment for mothers to exchange challenges and concerns, while benefiting from shared parenting tips. Under the direction of Sarah Kahan, a seasoned OHEL Social Worker, Spruce Street will offer dynamic Adult Social Groups for individuals with disabilities. The groups will help nurture communication and social skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. As Sarah comments, “OHEL has for many years conducted such social skills groups which have also facilitated dating – and which in some cases has led to marriage.” OHEL’s Community Services at Spruce Street office will additionally offer information and referral to both services and programs at The Elly and Brochie Kleinman OHEL Regional Family Center in Far Rockaway, as well as all other services provided by OHEL’s other Regional Family Centers. (left to right) David Mandel, Ben Englander, Jay Kestenbaum, Rivka Wilamowsky, Harriet Blank, Rachel Marks, Irving Langer, Fred Schulman, and Simcha Feuerman
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AIM Queens Ends on a High Note Thank you to the Queens community for supporting us in our wonderful 2nd season of AIM of Queens! Last week, March 2nd, we ended this season of AIM on a high! Our 12-week program included speakers such as Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, Rabbi Bentzion Klatzko, Rabbi Jeffrey Greenberg, Rabbi Benzion Shafier, Mrs. Amit Yaghoubi, Ms. Chevi Garfinkel, and Mrs. Kaila Lasky. The speaker weeks were alternated with workshop weeks. Workshops
were given by local high school alumni, focused on relevant topics, and were much enjoyed by the girls. Each week also featured activities such as basketball, machanayim, sushi making, and Jumba with Mati Kaminetzky! We’d like to express our appreciation to neighborhood stores that helped us out with refreshments. Thank you to Shimon’s, Benjy’s, Naomi’s, Seasons, Main Glatt, and Sweet Glaze. We also express our heartfelt appreciation to generous neighborhood sponsors, without
whom AIM wouldn’t be a reality! A special thank you to Bnos Malka and Mr. David Berger, for the benevolent usage of their school building each week! AIM is a free Queensbased Motzei Shabbos Program for high school girls that combines inspiration and fun in a healthy and positive, growing atmosphere. AIM runs during the winter months and is open to girls from a variety of schools. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at aimqueens@gmail or call 646-713-8561.
NEWS
Community
Rabbi Chaim Wakslak of the Young Israel of Long Beach Delivers Invocation at the NYS Assembly
Rabbi Wakslak, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver
Rabbi Dr. Chaim Wakslak, whose leadership during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is credited with facilitating the recovery and uniting the Long Beach, NY, Jewish community, was invited to deliver the invocation for the New York State Assembly on March 6th 2013. The invitation was extended by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (DNassau) in recognition of Rabbi & Rebbetzin Wakslak’s efforts which included
Rabbi Wakslak with Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg
establishing a close relationship with both the Assemblyman’s Long Beach and Albany offices. Following the “calling of the house to order,” Rabbi Wakslak delivered a message and prayer to the assembly. Following the invocation, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wakslak had the opportunity to meet with Sheldon Silver, Speaker of Assembly, and with Dean Skelos, State Senate Republican Leader.
HANC Celebrates 100 Days of School On Thursday, March 7th, First Grade students at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead were very excited to celebrate the 100th day of school! In honor of the 100th day of school, students completed a number of different projects relating to the number 100. Students made 100 piece Cheerio
necklaces, played a math game called “First to 100!”, graphed 100 foam pieces, wrote 100 words found in Dr. Seuss books and illustrated a poem about the number 100. We are very proud to announce that all our first graders are now 100 days smarter!
Bais Yaakov of Queens Second Graders Integrate Research, Science, Writing and Art The fun began with Bais Yaakov’s second grade classes studying animals. The girls researched their habitats, diet, and life cycles. Following their research, their creativity was unleashed as they incorporated what they discovered into writing.
They also based their work on their literature study of Eric Carle. Students created magnificent animal fiction books. They cleverly constructed their books in the shapes of the animal they studied. They illustrated them with collage and watercolors. They finished their project by painting habitats for their animals. The mural is a magnificent piece of art work capturing everyone’s eye whenever they walk through the halls of Bais Yaakov. Who knew second graders could be imaginative writers, watercolor artists, and book illustrators?
NEWS
Community
Pre-Pesach Meals and Seder at Chabad We are all busy with Pesach preparations. Cooking, shopping, cleaning, and preparing are taking up a lot of our time. So wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the Shabbos before Pesach, Shabbos Hagadol, in the company of good friends, with delicious food that you didn’t have to prepare?! Keep your kitchen chametz-free before Pesach. Join Chabad of the Five Towns on Friday night, March 22 for a beautiful Shabbos dinner for the entire family. And on Shabbos March 23, they will be having a buffet lunch. Consider it your mini-vacation before Pesach thanks to Chabad. To reserve your spot for both meals, please call Chabad at (516) 295-2478 or online at www.chabad5towns.com. Chabad of the Five Towns will be hosting its 18th Annual Communal Seder which takes place on Monday night, March 25 at 8:00 PM. Reserve your spot for you and your family by calling 516-295-2478 ext. 10 or online at www. chabad5towns.com/seder. Cost is $54 for adults and $36 for children under
10. Space is limited, so please RSVP by March 18. If you or someone you know is in need and cannot afford the Seder, you can attend our Seder for $5.00 per person. This is generously being sponsored by Jeremy and Elizabeth Kahn, in memory of her mother Myrna Greisman, Malka Sarah Bat Reb Moshe. Please call the office directly at (516) 295-2478 to reserve your spot. Chabad’s Passover Seder is inspirational and offers the deeper meaning of Passover in a warm and motivational environment, complete with a delicious catered traditional Seder dinner, insights, singing, four cups of wine, and matzah galore! It’s easy to follow, interactive, and integrated with Kabbalistic insights. Enjoy the great food, Jewish humor, and the warm and friendly atmosphere. Celebrate the way our ancestors have over the last 3,300 years. It will be an evening you will remember for a lifetime!
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Yeshiva B.A. Graduates To Earn Credentials with M.B.A. Degrees. Guaranteed Scholarships for April 2013. By Malka Basrky TE.A.M. Education Services, an organization that is mandated to assist the Orthodox Jewish community, allows students with a Yeshiva or Rabbinical B.A. (and those with traditional B.A.’s) to enroll in an accredited and recognized Masters in Business Degree program that is less than half the tuition of most programs. The program starts in April, 2013, two weeks after Pesach ends. A huge step forward for Yeshiva Students looking to move forward: This frum M.B.A. Program is nationally accredited, government recognized, FAFSA loan approved and accepted by all employers and schools. Through the great efforts by T.E.A.M. Education, all AARTS Yeshiva B.A’s are accepted and the tuition is heavily discounted to UNDER $8,500 complete. Students have a choice of doing the program 100% correspondence from
anywhere in the US or Canada, or, if they live in the area, take advantage of the in-class courses in a comfortable frum setting in either Brooklyn or Queens. T.E.A.M. Education is pleased to discuss how they have partnered with high caliber universities to offer these accredited M.B.A. Degrees. Total tuition has been reduced to under $8,500 in total....paying class by class as students progress through the program. Six different M.B.A. areas of business concentration to choose from for the April 2013 start date: M.B.A. - General, M.B.A. - Finance, M.B.A. - Information Management, M.B.A. - Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, M.B.A. - Project Management, M.B.A. - Entrepreneurship Strong Post-Graduate Success Rates: T.E.A.M. helps students compete in
the job market and prepares them for continued academic and business pursuits. A vast majority of T.E.A.M. students report being employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of their start date. This is because students gain relevant skills and credentials that make them stand out in job searches. T.E.A.M. can also help connect students with employers and recruiters from graduate and professional schools. T.E.A.M. faculty and alumni mentors, career specialists and visiting professionals offer valuable insights, advice and contacts. Students develop the confidence and skills to take control of their career before long before they graduate. Admission Requirements: Students can enter with a Yeshiva/ Rabbinical B.A., no other prerequisites are required. Yeshiva or traditional B.A. graduates or individuals with vast work experience can be confident that their M.B.A. Degree will yield career
advancement and life long dividends, not to mention incredible tuition savings for EACH person! T.E.A.M. understands that earning a degree may be exciting and also stressful at the same time. This is why they customize courses to address specific student’s needs. They can put a program together based on personal requests and identifiable skills. T.E.A.M. staff works with students to explore their needs before they start. “An accredited degree from a toptier university will propel students into higher salary brackets, enabling them to achieve financial goals previously beyond reach.” To contact the T.E.A.M. Education office about the April 2013 start date, students can call (347) 560 - TEAM or go online for information or to register at www.GoTeamEd.com. “Your degree is closer than you think!”
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Yeshiva Har Torah Visits the Lower East Side
NEWS
Community Yeshiva of South Shore’s Fifth Grade Mishkan Fair
In addition to being amazing talmedei chachomim, Rabbi Zucker’s fifth grade class at Yeshiva of South Shore are amazing craftsmen. This past Sunday, they presented their beautiful Mishkan projects. The entire school and the boys’ parents came to see the wonderful projects. Some unique aspects of the keilim that the boys made included real copper sheets for the mezbeach hanichoshes. Betzalel Cohen, together with Shlomo Gewirtz and Nachum Aharon Shonek, made a beautiful replica of
The 7th grade boys at Yeshiva Har Torah had their annual Pre-Pesach trip to the Lower East Side of NY last week. Even with the forecast predicting a significant storm and most places closed for the day, the trip went on as scheduled. Nothing would stop the annual trip to the Lower East Side from taking place this year. As always, the trip would also afford an opportunity to see chesed activities in action. After crossing the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan, the first stop was at the Hatzalah garage right under the bridge. Dovy Jacobs, a local Hatzalah member, graciously gave of his time to show the boys inside the Hatzalah trucks. Especially interesting was the Hatzalah truck that was donated by residents of Louisiana to replace the truck lost in 9-11.
Continuing down Grand Street, the boys turned down Eldridge Street to visit the magnificent Eldridge Street Synagogue now located in the heart of Chinatown. The shul has recently been restored to its former glory, and the boys received a VIP guided tour of the shul. Reading the old Yiddish signs and standing where the Chazan has stood for over 120 years was truly a great experience. Heading back to Grand Street for a quick lunch at the pizza shop, the trip would not have been complete without a stop at the world-famous Pickle Guys. The pickles have definitely gone up in price over the years, but the experience and old-world flavor of the Lower East Side still exists today. It was a fun and enlightening day for all!
the Aron Kodesh just like his namesake, “Betzalel.” It was made up of 3 removal boxes and contained the luchos, Torah, and maan. Menachem Kunin, Shmuel Siegel and Dani Sturm crafted the Menorah with its spheres, cups and flowers. It was really remarkable how true to life these replicas are, and how many hours of hard work and effort the boys put into these projects. May we all be zoche to see these keilim in their original form in the Beis Hamikdosh, B’mhara V’yamanu, amen.
Rabbi Binaymin Kamenetzky, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Binyamin Zev Ross, Aaron Boehm, Rabbi Yehoshua Zucker, 5th grade Rebbe, Daniel Cywiak and Rabbi Chanina Herzberg in front of the real copper Mezbeach Hanichoshes
Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, menahel, Shlomo Gewirtz, Betzalel Cohen, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky, Founding Rosh Yeshiva, and Michael Shoshan with the Aron Kodesh
Menachem Kunin, Dani Sturm and Shmuel Siegel in front of their magnificent menorah
Elisha Bauman, Jason Digiacomo, Menachem Neiman and Elozor Menachem Jacobs with the 3 beautiful curtains for the Mishkan
NEWS
Community
Bais Tefilla of Inwood Dinner Highlights an Inspired Community Bais Tefilla of that embody what the comInwood (“BTI”) and munity stands for. the entire Inwood The dinner was a recommunity marked sounding success and all another milestone attendees left with a prothis past week with found sense of pride – and their 4th Annual Dinindeed amazement – at the ner held at the Incontinued, robust growth wood Country Club of the Inwood Kehilla. The on Sunday evening. Shul utilized the evening as The community, its a time to realize the strides friends and supportthey took in their short hisers from near and far tory but were inspired to all gathered to honor Rav Pinchus Weinberger - Rav of BTI continue strengthening their the two distinguished honorees – Mr. drive to grow. Avraham Mayer encourand Mrs. Avraham (Adam) Mayer and aged the kehilla to strengthen in their Mr. and Mrs. Shmuel Freedman, both avodas Hashem and limud HaTorah and Shmuel Freedman spoke of the incredible hakaros hatov the shul – as a young shul – owe to their respective parents. He paid tribute to their chinuch and declared that we owe them so much. Many would agree though that what makes BTI such a special makom ToHonorees Adam and Micky Mayer with President Pinny Ackerman rah u’tefilla is not and Rav Pinchas Weinberger just the sheer numof whom were chosen as representing ber of members but rather the incredthe genuine values and avodas haklal ible achdus, chesed, and limud haTorah
that has become so commonplace. The Inwood community displayed incredible courage and strength in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and as the president Pinny Ackerman put it during his opening remarks, the community was “a model for community support in the wake of a natural disaster.” The incredible R’ Yaakov Bender, Adam Mayer, Baruch Ber Bender outpouring of support and assistance from the growing, but motivated community can Inwood kehilla was felt by the entire accomplish in such a relatively short Five Towns community. time period. Under the tutelage of the shul’s Rav, Rav Pinchus Weinberger shlita, the shul has opened a community discretionary fund, a loan gemach, a flourishing n’shei, holds regular weekly and Shabbos shiurim, a night kollel, and the capstone being the community initiative, distinct from the shul, to a mikvah tahara for the benefit Honorees Shmuel and Rivki Freedman with President Pinny of this young, burgeoning Ackerman and Rav Pinchus Weinberger community. And it is because of all these accomplishments and community-wide drive For more information about Bais Teto do even more and do even better that filla of Inwood, please feel free to check all attendees were inspired at what a their website at www.inwoodshul.com.
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Marking 35 Years of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway This Sunday marked the 35th Anniversary of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway. This year, the institution paid tribute to two HAFTR families who have devoted countless hours to our yeshiva. Our Guests of Honor were Laura & Yaron Kornblum, and this year’s Yachad Awardees were Janine & Cal Nathan. Laura and Yaron Kornblum, “Guests of Honor,” reside in Woodmere, New York and are proud parents of two beautiful children, Amanda and Benjamin. Both Laura and Yaron have been devoted to HAFTR and various other charitable organizations. They are committed to their family, education, and their community. These traits were instilled in them by their parents Richard and Virginia Gordimer and Rabbi Shalom and Sara Kornblum.
writing teacher in HAFTR Middle School for two years before her current position as 12th grade English instructor at the Torah Academy for Girls. Laura has been involved in numerous PTA committees over the years and various charitable projects in the community. Yaron was raised in Brooklyn and is a graduate of Yeshiva of Flat(right to left) Laaura & Yaron Kornblum –Guests of Honor, bush, The Brooklyn ColExecutive Director Reuben Maron, Cal & Janine Nathan— lege Scholars Program, Yachad Awardees and Hofstra Law School. He is a partner in the real estate depart- tal in the construction of our brand new ment of the law firm Rivkin Radler LLP sports complex. After the devastation and practices in all areas of commercial of Hurricane Sandy, Yaron co-founded real estate throughout the United States HaftrCares and continues to be active within the HAFTR lay leadership as well as other charitable organizations in the metropolitan area. Janine and Cal Nathan are being recognized as this year’s Yachad Awardees. They are the proud parents of Brian, Matthew, Ellie, and Erin, all HAFTR students. Janine and Cal have a true love of community and take deep pride of their involvement in local causes. Janine grew up in Lawrence and attended HAFTR from K-12. She went on to attend Barnard College and then re(right to left) A representative from the office of Ed Mangano, Martha, giving citations to Jason Cury (on ceived her medical degree at NYCOM. behalf of Gruss Life Monument Funds), followed by Yaron & Laura Kornblum and Janine & Cal Nathan After finishing a residency in pediatrics, Janine returned to the Five Towns to Laura grew up in Tampa, Florida and internationally. Yaron has served as practice and care for many of our comand attended Stern College. She subse- Co-President of HAFTR, continues to munity’s children. She is currently an quently received her Master’s degree in serve on the Finance Committee, and associate at Bellmore-Merrick PediatEnglish Education from Columbia Uni- volunteers his time as legal counsel ric and Adolescent Medicine. Janine is an active member of HAFTR’s Board of Education and takes a daily interest in the educational needs of all HAFTR children. She is also a member of the Community Chest where she serves on the Neighbors in Need Committee, which allocates funds to local families that are challenged meeting their daily needs. Janine is proud of her involvement in Sharsheret as well as the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Cal attended NYU where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Stern School of Business. He is currently a partner at NYFF Events, a leading national events company that most recently opened offices HAFTR guests davening outside of the Delta Club in Israel. Cal has served on the Dinner versity’s Teachers College. Laura has to the school on countless occasions. Committee for the past three years and taught in various prominent yeshivot Yaron currently serves as Chairman of is active on the school’s Political Acin the tri-state area. She was a creative the Gym Committee and was instrumen- tion Committee. Currently, he is a Board
Member at the Five Towns Community Chest where he chairs the annual 5K as well as the Neighbors in Need Benefit. He is also very active in the Hewlett Woodmere Little League. This year HAFTR was extremely proud to pay tribute to Gruss Life Monument Funds, Inc. and Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE). HAFTR has been fortunate to receive funding from both of these organizations. Their financial outreach to us has helped in many ways. Most recently, their Building Renovation Fund has assisted us in completing our new playground for our Lower Campus and our new Sports Complex. CIJE has been instrumental in educational outreach to each of our divisions in many academic and technological areas. Their simple mission statement says it all, “We support Jewish education.” Both organiza-
HAFTR Alum and Illusionist Eric Wilzig attempting to escape from the Jaws of Life
tions have been instrumental in helping students excel in math and science, reading and writing, thinking and reasoning, so they can handle tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities. CIJE provides innovative programming, cutting-edge technology and vital support. More than 450 guests attended this wonderful event held at Citi Field. The night’s entertainment included a moving performance by the HAFTR High School Girls’ Choir as well as a unique show by illusionist and HAFTR alumnus Eric Wilzig. The HAFTR dinner was a wonderful opportunity to bring ruach, spirit, into the baseball stadium. Congratulations to this year’s honorees on a well-deserved honor.
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Yeshivat Ohr David Yerushalayim Hachnosas Sefer Torah A celebration of 35 years of educational excellence It was with tremendous joy that Yeshivat Ohr David Yerushalayim celebrated the completion of the writing of their new Sefer Torah. Dedicated by alumni and friends, many of them gathered together with present and former rabbeim at Yeshivat Sh’or Yoshuv’s dining hall. There, a tasty and elegant reception was prepared by Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv’s professional catering staff. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. This story started 35 years ago, at a time when a yeshiva for the Jewish American high graduate looking to spend his post -high school year in Israel was not available. A Yeshiva that would generate a love for Eretz Yisrael, a love for Torah and mitzvot and at the very same time, give them the space to develop at their own pace into proud members of their communities was hard to be found. Rabbi Yosef Granofsky shlit”a and Rabbi Chaim Flom z”l set their minds to create a new concept. Built on indepth studies including Talmud, tefilah, history, etc. and the study of the land of Israel, together with Shabbatonim across the country, melave malkot, guest speakers and the tiyulim that the yeshiva is famous for, made for an experience that could not be matched. Carefully, they handpicked a staff of rabbeim dedicated to just be there for the talmidim. This, together with room, board, and student services as computer access, a music room, and aweight room, created a total package. Best of all, when it was set into motion, the result was a year in Israel that was the best year of their life, full of growth and yes, fun!
Perhaps the best way to describe the yeshiva is the words of the talmidim themselves: As I sit here in the airport waiting to board, all that is running through my head is, “I can’t believe it’s over.” This last year and a half was such a crucial development point in my life, that without it, who knows where I would be. When I walked into yeshiva for the first time, I was not expecting to make the changes that I have. I was actually not expecting to change at all. I was happy (so I thought) with the way I was, and I didn’t want to change it. Baruch Hashem, I was shown something in a way that I had never seen it before. I opened up my eyes and realized the truth. I realized that what I called happiness, was really far from it.
I owe my life to the Ohr Dovid family. Without them I wouldn’t be living much of a life. Now, with guidance
from my rebbeim, and a clear perspective on Judaism and Hashem, I couldn’t be happier. I owe an indescribable amount of hakaras hatov to all the rebbeim. Without you, I wouldn’t be me. Thank you. I hope that the relationships never end. (D.W., Far Rockaway) Or the words of one of this year’s talmidim: After Israel cleared away the confusion that was blocking my eyes from seeing the joy in Judaism, Ohr David is now helping me excavate within myself. Every day I become more aware of the strengths I possess. I truly feel
that the progress I am making and the things I am learning are leading me towards the beginning of a life of happiness, beauty and of course, Torah. (A.S., Seattle) With the regular addition of young staff, the yeshiva keeps its vibrancy, being able to stay up to date with the needs of the talmidim. Of special note are Rabbi Yaakov Lieber, a resident of Beit El community and a talmid of Yeshiva Merekaz Harav, and Rabbi Shlomo BenZev, our own talmid who went on to learn In Yeshivat Shalavim and serving as an officer in the Nachal HaChareidi. This was our celebration. A tribute to the Rosh Hayishiva, a tribute to our friends and alumni, and to Torah excellence. A tribute to the success stories of our 900 alumni from across North America who are leading members of their communities as rabbis, educators, and professionals. As Harav Hagoan R’ Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Rav of Agudas Israel of Bais Binyomin, expressed: just look at the face of the alumni. Just look at the kesher that spans so many years of talmidim, here to celebrate together. A tribute to the yeshiva which continues to grow and grow! The yeshiva can be contacted at info@ohrdavid.org for more information.
77 Sandy Eller
Inside the JCCRP
Assistant Director Kathy Rosenberg and NOEP/Housing Coordinator Jackie Bascom tremely fluid. “We react to what is going on around us,” explained Kathy. “Hurricane Sandy, for example, became a major part of our work and we had people contacting us from all over the world. I got one text from the United Arab Emirates from someone who wanted to make a donation and another from a young Russian woman who had gone to pick up her grandfather at a housing complex who wrote me, ‘You don’t know what is going on here. There is no heat, no electricity, no food and no water. There are elderly people who don’t even speak English sitting in stairwells in their wheelchairs and with their walkers thinking, this must be the end, everyone has forgotten us.’ We arranged for volunteers to bring them food and water and in a sense, Sandy really pushed us into another kind of sphere, introducing us to people and showing them the kind of services we provide. People needed food, water, shelter and medicines and we made that happen.” A college art major who has worked extensively in the real estate business, both here and in Israel, Kathy has also worked in a number of different fields including catering and the cookie business, but the Far Rockaway resident who is the mother of four and grandmother of ten, has found her work at the JCCRP to be her true calling. “I love working where I live and I love the people I work with here at the JCCRP,” said Kathy. “I really feel like I have a home here and it is incredible when clients come back and tell you that you really made a difference in their lives. Sometimes they come in and we end up hugging and I feel so rewarded. It really gives me the impetus to keep on doing what I do.” Life has gone from busy to hectic for Nutrition Outreach Education Program and Housing Coordinator Jackie Bascom in the days since Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc all across the Rockaway Peninsula. “I don’t even go out to lunch anymore,” says Jackie. “There are just so many residents who need help.” Both housing and food are still a major problem for many locals, reports Jackie who says that even now, four
months post-Sandy, there are still residents who are without power. “The housing situation is very bad,” explained Jackie. “There were people who thought that the damage to their homes could be repaired and are finding out now that that isn’t the case. Mold is the biggest problem, an even more serious complication for people with asthma. So many people are still displaced and have been shuffled from place to place. There are children who have had to enroll in new schools because they can’t go home and others who are bused to school and have to travel for several hours each day, because their temporary accommodations are so far from home. For people who are on food stamps, the problems become much worse, because without having cooking facilities of their own, they have to buy pre-cooked food, which is significantly more expensive and many people have been running out of food stamps because of the increased cost.” Jackie’s expertise in landlord-tenant mediation has proven to be a useful skill in recent months as she has helped people negotiate with landlords in order to find a place to live. “What we try to do is project hope and we have counselors on staff to help people get through this,” said Jackie. “We help people appeal their cases to FEMA, give them heaters, food, diapers, whatever we can to help them get through this. This has been so difficult, particularly for seniors, children and the disabled and we have people here who are really suffering, have really been traumatized. They just want to go back home.” Originally from Manhattan, Jackie admits that when she first moved to the Rockaway Peninsula forty years ago, she vowed she would never stay in the area. Now a Far Rockaway resident, a mother of three, a grandmother of ten, and the great-grandmother of a seven-year-old, Jackie confesses to being smitten with the her surroundings. “I have like twenty-three people who have adopted me as their grandmother,” Jackie said proudly. Her warm and personable nature have been an asset as the JCCRP’s NOEP coordinator.
Jackie Bascom
“They don’t call it food stamps anymore,” explained Jackie. “I help people apply for the program, saving them a trip down to the center which can be much more time-consuming. So many people think they aren’t eligible but I tell them they may just be surprised and particularly now when people are having a difficult time and possible cash flow problems, they no longer have to choose between paying their rent or buying food. They can pay for heat and still be able to eat.” Jackie emphasizes good nutrition when she speaks with her clients, telling people about smart food choices and speaking directly to any children who may come in with their parents so that they too can learn about healthy eating. “Many people are reluctant to sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” reported Jackie. “People want to be givers, not takers, but they don’t realize that for every dollar spent in food stamps, $1.85 is generated into the community, which increases revenue in local business and puts that money back into the local economy. So in a sense, they are helping not only themselves, but their community as well.” As an employee at the JCCRP for close to ten years, Jackie takes great pride not only in the work that she does for the agency but in the many services offered as well as the dedication and devotion of its employees. “No one can ever come in this door and hear us say, ‘No, I’m sorry we don’t do that.’ We are here to help and we don’t work off the clock or drop everything when the clock strikes five. We are here for anyone who needs us, here to serve the residents of the community in any way we can,” explained Jackie. With over twenty years’ combined work experience at the JCCRP between them, both Kathy and Jackie are excited that under the new leadership of Executive Director Nathan Krasnovsky, the JCCRP will be able to both broaden its reach and provide even more services to more local residents. To contact the JCCRP, call 718-3277755 or visit them at 1525 Central Avenue in Far Rockaway or online at www. jccrp.org.
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familiar face to anyone who walks through the doors of the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, Kathy Rosenberg has been with the JCCRP, a beneficiary agency of the UJA and an affiliate of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, for eleven years. During that time, she has served in various capacities within the organization, including a three year stint as acting director, doing her part to provide services and offer guidance to community residents. Kathy describes the JCCRP as “the best kept secret around,” saying she frequently encounters locals who are unaware of the many programs available to area residents, practically in their own backyard. As the assistant director at the JCCRP, Kathy handles many administrative tasks including billing and works hand-in-hand with JCCRP’s Executive Director Nathan Krasnovsky, but she spends much of her time dealing with Medicare outreach and advocacy, helping people from all across the socioeconomic spectrum navigate the very confusing maze that is Medicare. Kathy describes Medicare Part D, which offers prescription coverage, as something that was “instituted in 2006 just to confuse our seniors.” “Sometimes we can have seniors who come in with a list of seventeen different medications they take,” explained Kathy. “Between co-pays and the donut hole, a grey area in which once people reached a certain dollar amount of prescription benefits, Medicare stopped paying until they reached what is termed ‘a catastrophic level,’ many seniors were faced with a situation where they could either eat or pay their medical bills. I spend a lot of time helping people deal with that.” Kathy also spends a significant amount of time working with the many Russian immigrants who live in the area, helping them deal with their health insurance issues and the JCCRP has a Russian translator on board in order to assist this particular demographic. As an agency whose goal is to meet the particular needs of its community, programs at the JCCRP can be ex-
Kathy Rosenberg
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78
You Gotta be
Kidding!
Riddle
Submitted by Sammy Klein Jimbo calls his buddy, Hank, at his mechanic shop one day and says, “Hank, I need you to come by my place after work to help me out; I’m working on a really hard project.” “Sure,” replies Hank, “What’s it your doin’?” “Well, I started a really hard puzzle and I am determined to see it through. But to tell you the truth bro, I can’t even figure out where dem’ edge pieces are,” says Jimbo. “Look on the box,” Hank says, “There’s always a picture of what the puzzle is.” “It’s a big rooster,” replies Jimbo. Soon enough Hank stops by Jimbo’s place, eager to help his buddy. He walks into the house, takes one look and says: “Uh, Jimbo, you may want to put dem’ corn flakes back in the box.”
“Breakfast of Champions” Facts • Wheaties were invented when a dietician working for the Washburn Crosby Company was preparing bran gruel in 1924 and spilled some onto the hot stove top. The droplets sizzled and then hardened into tiny “flakes.” The clumsy cook found them to be far tastier than standard gruel. • In 1937, General Mills sponsored a contest in which the public voted for their favorite Wheaties announcer (the voice that intoned Wheaties commercials during ballgames). The winner was a sportscaster from Des Moines, Iowa, named Ronald Reagan (who called the play-by-play using his nickname “Dutch”), and his prize was an allexpense trip to the Cubs’ spring training camp in California. While there, he managed to get a screen test at Warner Brothers...became an actor...became governor of California...and became POTUS. • The first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box – the back of the package – was baseball great Lou Gehrig in 1934. • The 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins were the first team to appear on the package. • The first non-orange Wheaties box was released in 1992. The red and black package honored the NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. • In 1934, Aviator Elinor Smith became the first female to appear on the back of the Wheaties box. • In 1926, Wheaties pioneered the singing radio commercial with “Have You Tried Wheaties?” • Wheaties sponsored the first televised commercial sports broadcast when, on August 29, 1939, NBC presented a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers
Submitted by Pessie Singer As your very health conscious Centerfold Commissioner, I have a wonderful breakfast every morning. I eat five bowls of cereal in a specific order. (It is what fuels my humor for the rest of the day.) But I bumped my head and forgot the order. So, I summoned my four assistant humorists, who on occasion are given the privilege of eating breakfast with me, and perhaps they can remind me of the order in which I eat the cereal. It turns out that one of my prodigies got all five right. One got three right. One got one right. And one got them all wrong. Here is what they said. Can you figure out the order that I eat the cereal in and which one of my underlings got it right? Dovi Noah 1. Cocoa Puffs 1. Trix 2. Fruity Pebbles 2. Cocoa Puffs 3. Trix 3. Fruity Pebbles 4. Honey Combs 4. Cinnamon Toast Crunch 5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch 5. Honey Combs Eli 1. Trix 2. Honey Combs 3. Cocoa Puffs 4. Fruity Pebbles 5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Donny 1. Cocoa Puffs 2. Fruity Pebbles 3. Trix 4. Cinnamon Toast Crunch 5. Honey Combs
What were the correct answers? Who got them all right? Who got three right? Who got one right? And who got them all wrong? Answer on next page
for some 500 owners of television sets in New York City. • The first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box was decathlon gold medalist Bob Richards in 1958. • The first woman to appear on the front of a Wheaties box was gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton in 1984. • The first race car driver to appear on the front of a Wheaties box was Dale Earnhardt in 1997. • The first football player to appear on the front of a Wheaties box was Walter Payton in 1986. • The 1991 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins were the first hockey team to appear on the Wheaties package. • Lee Trevino became the first golfer to appear on the front of a Wheaties box in 1969. • Michael Jordan has appeared on the Wheaties box more than any other athlete – 18 times, including appearances with the NBA champion Chicago Bulls in 1991, 1993 and 1995. • One should-be Wheaties fact: The first humorist to appear on a box of Wheaties was the TJH Centerfold Commissioner.
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2. Which company is America’s largest cereal maker? a. Quaker Oats b. Kellogg c. Post d. General Mills
4. The US cereal industry uses enough sugar every year to cover every single American with how much sugar? a. 1/2 cup b. 1/2 pound c. 1 pound d. 3 pounds 5. What’s the only industry to spend more money on TV commercials each year than the cereal industry? a. Automobile manufacturers b. Cell phone companies c. Personal injury lawyers d. Beer companies
3. Kellogg and Post each have a cereal called what? a. Corn Flakes b. Shredded Wheat c. Raisin Bran d. Fruit Loops
6. Which cereal is “Kid-Tested...Mother-Approved?” a. Quaker Oats b. Kix c. Wheaties d. Corn Chex
Answers: 1. A-One out of every eight boxes of cereal to leave the shelf in America is Cheerios. That includes Honey Nut Cheerios, including Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Yogurt Burst Cheerios, Oat Cluster Crunch Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, Cinnamon Burst Cheerios and MultiGrain Peanut Butter Cheerios (sorry for getting you hungry). In 2009, sales of Honey Nut Cheerios surpassed the original flavor for the first time and remain in the top spot today. 2. C-Kellogg’s is the largest with 32% of global sales in 2011, General Mills comes in second with 11% of global sales. 3. C- Both Kellogg’s and Post have a cereal called Raisin Bran. The main difference is that Post’s raisins
are just plain raisins, and Kellogg’s raisins are sugarcoated. The question is: which brand has more raisins in the box? Start counting. 4. D- The cereal industry uses 816,000,000 of sugar every year for cereal sold in the U.S. Now you understand why you are so hyper? 5. A 6. B 7. C-Snap, Crackle and Pop are Kellogg’s oldest cartoon icons. Snap, the oldest brother, first appeared in 1933. His brothers, Crackle and Pop, didn’t join Snap until 1941. In the mid-1950s, a fourth brother, Pow, was briefly mentioned. But he disappeared faster than you can say “onomatopoeia.” 8. D- Fruity Pebbles debuted in 1969, with Cocoa Pebbles following a year later. Dino Pebbles was in-
Got funny? Let the Commissioner decide. Send your stuff to centerfold@fivetownsjewishhome.com
7. Which brother is the oldest: Snap, Crackle or Pop? a. Pop b. Crackle c. Snap d. Snap and Pop are actually twins 8. Which of the following was never part of the Pebble line of cereals? a. Fruity Pebbles b. Cocoa Pebbles c. Dino Pebbles d. Rainbow Pebbles 9. Who snacks on cereal more during the day (meaning after breakfast) - men or women? a. Women b. Men
troduced in the 1990s. 9. A- According to a Kellogg’s survey, 26% of Americans snack on cereal during the day; 61% of that group is women. Scorecard 7-9 correct: You are so smart. You probably play scrabble with your Alpha-bits. 4-6 correct: Talking about Alpha-bits, which are “A-B-C Delicious,” you gotta start paying more attention to the answer sequences. (Believe it or not, you can ace a multiple choice test if you guess right.) 0-3 correct: You may want to slow down on the Fruity Pebbles—it’s a real brain-cell burner.
Answer to riddle: The correct answers were: 1. Cocoa Puffs 2. Fruity Pebbles 3. Trix 4. Honey Combs 5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Dovi got them all right. Donny got three right. Eli got one right. And Noah got them all wrong.
1. Which is the best-selling cereal of all time? (Hint: If you’re a parent, you’ve probably just vacuumed it from your minivan and under the high-chair cushion by the cupful.) a. Cheerios b. Raisin Bran c. Frosted Flakes d. Rice Krispies
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With the mad rush to finish all of the cereal before Pesach and not much other food around to eat, you will probably spend a lot of time reacquainting yourselves with all of the stale cereal remaining in your cereal cabinet. You will probably also spend a lot of time staring at the back of cereal boxes, or fighting with your younger sister about who gets to look at the back of the cereal box, as you both crunch away. So, take this quiz to test your cereal wisdom.
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The Shmuz
R’ Ben Tzion Shafier
Parshas Vayikrah
Things I Do and Things I Don’t Do “You shall salt every meal offering with salt;you may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from your meal offering; on your every offering you shall offer salt.” — Vayikrah 2:13
The Dos Zakainim explains that the reason every korbon must be brought with salt is to remind us that just as salt is a preservative that allows food to last longer, so too the sacrifices are permanently ours to cleanse us from our sins. He then explains why this concept is crucial. If a man sins and gains atonement from that sin, he is clean and will then be guarded against committing the sin again. However, if he couldn’t become purified, once he sinned, he would repeat the act over and over again. It can be compared to man with a beautiful white garment. When he first puts it on, he is careful to maintain its pristine condition. Once his garment becomes soiled, however, he is no longer careful about avoiding additional stains. So, too, if a man sinned and that sin remained with him, he will continue committing that sin over and over again. This is the concept of “Once a man sins, the sin becomes ‘permitted’ to him.” That is why the Torah gave us the process of teshuvah. The Sin Is Permitted This Dos Zakainim seems to be mixing up two divergent concepts. The first is “naseh ko kiheter” – once a man sins, the act becomes “permitted.” We com-
monly refer to this as rationalization: the ability to distort reality and actually believe it, the uncanny capacity to something that is forbidden and with a flow of imagination create a credible,
man with free will. Free will means the equal ability to choose good or evil. That should be impossible. How do you take man, whose wisdom is greater than the molochim (angels), and give him
Man at his whim can create entire theories and systems of logic to justify what he wants – and actually believe them.
“rational lie” that is good enough for me to convince myself that the act is really not taboo. But this has no connection to the parable of a man with a clean garment. That is a natural tendency. If my garment is clean, then I will be guarded about maintaining its beauty. If it is soiled, I will not be as careful. What connection does that have to rationalization? Rationalization is a completely different concept. It takes a sin and washes it in a coat of white paint so that in my mind’s eye, the forbidden becomes permitted. If the sin becomes permitted, then even if my cloak were cleaned from the sin, I would still revisit it since it is, after all, permitted. The answer to this question is based on a deeper understanding of rationalization. One of the most difficult parts in all of Creation is how Hashem fashioned
free will? Since every mitzvah allows him to grow and every sin damages him, not only should man never sin, he should never even be tempted to sin. Would an intelligent being willfully do something that is self-destructive? To allow for free will, Hashem implanted into the human a power called imagination. This power allows man to create fanciful scenes and imaginative events and experience them as if they were real. This feature allows man to convince himself of whatever he wishes. As a result, there is no objective truth. There is no standard of measure because man at his whim can create entire theories and systems of logic to justify what he wants—and actually believe them. Now, man can just as easily do what is right as what is wrong. . .because he can convince himself that it is right. If he desires something, it is no longer a sin. It is no longer damaging to his soul. In fact, it is a mitzvah. Now, man has practical free will. This mechanism is the common form of rationalization – taking a forbidden action and making it permitted. It seems that the Das Zakainim is teaching us that there is another method, one that is far subtler. The Second type of Rationalizing This second form only begins after the sin, after I find myself having done something that I never thought I would. I wake up and say, “What came over me?” And then starts the guilt—that voice inside, my holy neshama gnawing deep within me. And it speaks. “How could you? What’s wrong with you? I’m ashamed of you.” Living with
that guilt is very difficult. The easy way out is to make the act permitted—but I’m too smart for that. I know it’s forbidden. If you were to ask me about it, I could quote you chapter and verse what’s wrong with it and how wrong it is. So now what? That’s when the second form of rationalization kicks in: “Look, I’m not saying it’s permitted. I certainly not saying it’s a mitzvah — but it’s just one of those things that I do. Some Jews wait three hours after meat, some put on their tefillin sitting down, and I eat nonkosher gum. I’m not saying it’s right, but I do it. But I’m not living in a fantasy world. I know that it’s a sin, but for me, for where I’m coming from, after what I’ve been through — it’s well… you have to understand… it’s OK.” And this is the second form of rationalization, where what I create is this fanciful state: that for people like me, in my situation, it’s understandable; it’s OK. The Process of Teshuvah The Torah gave us the process of teshuvah to allow us to change. By getting rid of the sin, I become cleansed. My cloak becomes clean and white again, and the act returns to the realm of something that I don’t do. I never would—it would dirty me, it would sully me, and it’s not the kind of thing that I do. Now I can properly separate myself from the sin and put it back into the category of things that a person like me just doesn’t do. This concept is very significant because the most difficult challenge we humans face is change. Growth requires a huge amount of effort, will power, and motivation. However, it also requires much wisdom. Only when a person understands the inner workings of his own psyche and the subtlety of how his mind functions can he take on the gargantuan task of self-mastery.
The new Shmuz book, Stop Surviving and Start Living, is now in print! “Powerful,” “Thought Provoking,” “Life changing” is what people are saying about it. Copies are now available in stores, at www.TheShmuz. com, or by calling 866-613-TORAH (8672).
81 Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
It’s Time to Press Your Luck rived though, the month of the zodiacal sign is t’leh, or sheep (Aries for those who understand it), Pharaoh was sure he would be victorious. He had to be; it was time for his mazel! Hashem turned the tables on Pha-
that’s when it hit me. Yes, you may need mazel to find success, but you can “press your luck,” meaning to shove it aside or otherwise move or nudge it, and find ways to help your mazel. This chumash was easily
You may not know what the right time is, but if you put yourself in the right place, when the time comes you’ll already be there!
raoh by saying, “HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem,” this is your month, and telling Moshe and Aharon that the mazel of Nisan would work for the Jews just like mazel Adar. In fact, this wasn’t the first time Hashem had done something like that. Av r a h a m Avinu told Hashem that he had seen in the stars that he was not destined to bear children. Hashem told him, “Don’t believe everything you read,” then manipulated Jupiter, moved things around, and presto! Avram becomes Avraham and fathers the Jewish People. Though the basic structure and rules are there, nothing is set in stone when it comes to Klal Yisrael. The Midrash says, “Everyone and everything needs mazel, even the Sefer Torah in the Ark.” The simple understanding of this is that there are often numerous Sifrei Torah in a shul, but not all of them are “lucky” enough to be read from regularly. It was that phrase that struck me as I reached for a chumash one day in shul. As I stretched my hand out to the neatly arranged row of seforim, deciding which one I would take, I thought about the mazel they each needed to be the chosen one. I ended up picking the one that was slightly forward of the rest of the row, noting it would be the easiest one to take off the shelf. And
accessible so I chose it. When we want to be picked for a promotion at work, invited for a meal on Shabbos, or chosen as a partner for a project, we have to make sure we’re visible and that we’re the easiest choice to make, one that the decider will find gratifying. It’s been said that MaZeL is an acronym for makom – place, zman – time, and lashon – speech. If you can be in the right place at the right time and say the right thing, that’s mazel. Well, you may not know what the right time is, but if you put
yourself in the right place, when the time comes you’ll already be there! If you want to become wise, the place to be is surrounded by wise people, talmidei chachomim, who usually know what to say, and what not to say. That will help your mazel because you’ll learn the power of the tongue, the “L” of mazel, the final piece of the puzzle. And, my friends, the time has come. We’re in the month of Nisan now, when Hashem told us that we’d overcome the standard-issue mazel by following His rules. When we make ourselves more accessible, put ourselves in the right environment, and open ourselves to the possibilities of the universe like the chumash or the sefer Torah in the aron, we may find ourselves being picked for greatness we had no idea about. We may find goodness and “mazel” chasing after us. Yes, by manipulating our place in space, we can cheat destiny in a way that no one else can. So go ahead and press your luck, but please, take my advice on the blintzes. Jonathan Gewirtz is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications around the world. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. For more information, or to sign up for his weekly Dvar Torah in English, e-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com. © 2013 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.
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es, folks, despite conventional wisdom, I think you absolutely SHOULD press your luck. Now, I don’t mean you should go running through traffic on a busy street during a blackout wearing a scuba suit, or that you should pick a fight with some angry bikers at a highway rest stop because you didn’t like how one of them was looking at you, or that you should ask for seconds of Cousin Rosie’s world-famous gefilte fish blintzes. I said press your luck – not do something crazy. Judaism doesn’t believe in luck. We have mazel. Mazel, for the uninitiated, is not Hebrew for luck. Mazel means planet, and refers to the effect the placement of various planets and stars in the Heavens at the time of one’s birth have on each of us. I know, you figured that astrology was all hocus pocus and was just made up by the tabloids to give us something to read next to the comics, but it’s not. True astrology has its roots in the fact that everything in the Universe was created by Hashem, so it all works together. The Creator instilled in His great machine the fact that certain things cause other things to happen. I can’t tell you why someone’s sign or natal chart affects them, but the really good astrologers can tell you how. To me, it makes no difference if someone is a leprechaun with a son on Jupiter, or if they’re a cancer with a bad moon rising. The bottom line is, the universe was created with interconnecting aspects, and mazel is one way G-d affects people’s lives. Everyone knows “Mazel Adar Dagim,” the Zodiacal sign for the Hebrew month Adar is Pisces, the fish. The Jewish people are compared to fish, and Adar is known to be “our month,” when we believe we will be more successful in court battles, business dealings, and other undertakings. You know who else knew that? Pharaoh. Yes, when Moshe went to Pharaoh all those thousands of years ago, Pharaoh thought that his time was about to come because Chodesh Nisan was just around the corner. According to the Aruch HaShulchan (OC 429), he figured Moshe had been able to subdue him with makkos because the Egyptian’s god, the sheep, wasn’t at full power. When Nisan ar-
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s’’xc
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Cover Story
Shira Diamond
Like a Butterfly Flapping Her Wings
David Beiss
“Even if I have a bad day, I don’t sulk because I know it won’t get me anywhere. I just try to be happy and persevere forward.”
“W
hen life gives you lemons, make lemonade” may sound cliché, but for David Beiss, it’s a way of life that offers a light in the darkness. David, who suffers every day from an incurable disease that affects almost everything he does and causes him untold pain, can still find reason to laugh and love life to a greater degree that many who are healthy and strong. He is an incredible inspiration to all of us to reach for our dreams no matter what stands in our way. David grew up in West Hempstead, New York, and went to HANC high school in his teenage years, in many ways behaving like any regular kid. He then went on to attend Yeshiva Torah Shraga in Israel for a spiritual year of Torah study, after which he enrolled in Yeshiva University. He is currently a freshman and is enjoying his studies immensely. Although his story seems “ordinary,” David is far from a typical boy. When David was born about two decades ago, it was apparent from pretty much the very beginning that something was very wrong with his skin, but at first no one knew what it was. When he was two days old, David received a diagnosis of EB, short for Epidermolysis Bullosa. EB is a connective tissue disease that causes painful blisters to develop on the skin when the skin comes in contact with something and there is friction. Even extremely minor friction can cause these blisters to develop; sometimes the skin is so sensitive that blisters appear even without any known friction. Furthermore, these blisters are not confined to the skin, but may develop inside the body in the mouth, esophagus, stomach and other areas, causing many other problems as well. This disease is usually passed on genetically by either one or both parents (depending on which type of the disease it is—autoso-
mal dominant or autosomal recessive), but for David it was a genetic mutation that caused the disease to develop, as his parents did not carry the gene for EB. David recounts how it was hard for him when he was growing up; in school when all the kids would be playing and running at recess, David would be confined to his wheelchair. His friends would play sports but he had to watch from the sidelines. As he grew older, he began to be able to figure out for himself what his limits were and what activities he could participate in, and he became more involved with physical activities. He even played goalie for his high school hockey team, which is an incredible feat for someone with EB. But this characterized David’s drive not to allow his disease to control his life and decisions. David always strived to conduct himself as normal as possible, and not to be defined by EB. His determination has permitted him to live a full and active life. He credits his parents with instilling in him this wonderful attitude, one that forced him to be positive and look on the bright side of things. They gave him the strength to try and attempt whatever he put his mind to. He also started going to Camp Simcha Special, which had an immense impact on his life and his attitude, and gave him the ability to make sure the disease would not be the first thing people saw when they looked at him. The camp was an incredible experience and loads of fun, and David still has such amazing memories from his time spent there. David felt such a deep gratitude to Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha Special that he wanted to give something back to them. He decided to run in the Chai Lifeline marathon, in order to raise money for them. He then organized “Team Yachad,” a team of runners who ran to help raise money for Yachad, an organization run by the Orthodox Union for disabled
To donate, visit www.teambutterfly.org
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unassisted; somewhere in the middle, his friend put him on his back and carried him the rest of the way. It was one of the most memorable moments of David’s life, as well as one of the most painful. After the marathon, he could barely walk for a week’s time, but he maintains it was worth it. David does not refuse to try things because of his illness, and follows through with his determination to try. Currently, there is no cure for children born with EB. There is also no treatment to minimize symptoms, only pain management to attempt to minimize the pain, as well as cleaning and bandaging the blisters in order to try and prevent infection. A person suffering from this rare disease has his entire day’s schedule based around it, from his special baths to the long periods of time spent covering the blisters. David wanted nothing more than to raise money to help find a cure and to try and end the suffering. The strength infused in him by his parents and Camp Simcha Special enabled him to go for his dream. And he is continuing every year by setting his sights and goals higher and higher. David has now teamed up with a very special group,
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individuals. And through it all, in the back of his mind a dream formed, one that would translate into raising money for EB and assisting in the quest to find a cure once and for all. Last year, during David’s year in Israel, he had an idea that he should try and recruit students studying in Israel to run in the Jerusalem marathon, half marathon and 10k, in order to try and fulfill this dream. He and his friends recruited forty-five runners and raised over $50,000! They could not believe how many people rallied for the cause. This year, David and his team upped participation to eighty runners, and raised well over last year’s amount. David called his team of dedicated runners “Team Butterfly” because EB children are called butterfly children. Just as the skin of a child with EB is very delicate and brittle and can break easily, so is the skin of a butterfly. And this will be David’s seventh marathon he has participated in in order to raise money for a worthy cause. In previous races, he was pushed in a wheelchair for 12 miles and then the last mile he would run and cross the finish line. But he felt that it was mostly symbolic. Last year, David made the unbelievable decision to run the whole 10k by himself. Many of those close to him tried to convince him that he shouldn’t do it, but he was determined to try. He ran the first four miles completely
the Jackson Gabriel Silver foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for EB started by a couple whose son was born with the disease. Since EB is so rare, only 1 in 50,000 live births are affected by the disease, research and funding to help cure this disease is not given that much attention, so every penny counts toward a cure. Last year, Team Butterfly ran in memory of Tripp Roth, a little boy with EB who enraptured the world through his mother’s blog about his life. Tragically, Tripp died at the age of two from the effects of the disease. This year, the team is running in honor of an 11-year-old boy named John Hudson Dilgen, who has EB but continues to fight and persevere against all odds. David’s number one goal is to raise money and teach people about the suffering some people have to endure, and hopefully one day, a cure will be developed to end the pain. David’s message of hope is one that can find a place in all of us, regardless of the degree of suffering we may experience in life. He maintains that one just has to look at the happy side of things. “Even if I have a bad day, I don’t sulk because I know it won’t get me anywhere,” he says. “I just try to be happy and persevere forward.” This amazing mindset that belongs to someone who suffers so much is not only incredible to witness but is an immense inspiration to all of us. How many of us who experience minor discomfort or disruptions in our daily lives feel depressed and downtrodden? We can glean so much from his positive attitude on life. David also says that even when one thinks he is all alone in his suffering, he never really is. David never thought he would be able to sign up forty-five runners and raise $50,000 that first year, but so many people who care about him rallied for him and came when he needed them. He was so pleasantly surprised by the outcome and felt really good in the knowledge that so many people care about him. All in all, David’s attitude is an inspiration, “Life is about struggle, we wouldn’t have them if we couldn’t conquer them.” And so little by little, he works slow and steady to climb his mountain and conquer his struggle. And he also continues to dream. He dreams of a day when suffering will be no more, and those with EB will be filled with relief and a painfree life. And every day he works hard to get a little bit closer to that dream. And he can clearly see, right there in his mind’s eye, the butterfly soaring free.
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Cover Story
Clot hing t he Gedolim
Shimshy Soroka
Mr. R’ Yehuda Hans z’l
F
or many years, Yehuda Hans, who passed away on the eighteenth day of Adar 5773 at the age of 82, was a fixture on the Lower East Side. Although he was unassuming and humble, his perch provided him with a unique glimpse into Jewish history: he was the clothier for the gedolim of yesteryear. Did Reb Moshe Feinstein zt”l , the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l, Reb Shlomo Freifeld zt”l and many others turn to “Mr. Hans,” as he was affectionately known, simply because he was a good tailor or was there something much deeper that drew them to him? Until the day of his passing Mr. Hans had a smile on his face and a joke on his lips. Everyone who met him walked away a little happier and more upbeat. His pleasant and calming nature made it easily understandable why gedolim would have found reprieve from their intense daily pressures inside this man’s little shop on Stanton Street. But the affability that people—especially gedolim—had for Mr. Hans cannot simply be attributed to his personality; it is much deeper than that. It goes back seventy years to his childhood. After all, like many great people, it was the challenges in his early life that gave him a great appreciation for life. And he spent the rest of his life spreading that appreciation to everyone who came into contact with him.
Yehuda and one brother did so but after a while, his brother went back to see what had happened. Yehuda, waiting for some news, eventually walked back and found that all the Jews including his whole family were all gone. He was alone and now had to survive. He had to find food and shelter; he was only ten years old. Initially, young Yehuda hid in a farmer’s barn, but eventually he was found out. He had no choice but to change his clothing, bury his siddur, and try to look like a Polish peasant boy. His light grey eyes helped fool people into thinking he wasn’t Jewish. He found an old Polish farmer who was willing to take him in for room and board, working as a farmhand. The old man and his wife were happy to have help and treated him like a grandchild, though they probably suspected that he was Jewish.
Like many great people, it was the challenges in his early life that gave him a great appreciation for life.
Hiding as a Gentile During the War Yehuda Hans was born on July 17, 1930 in a small town, Komarnik, in Galicia, the Southeast of Poland. He had four brothers and two sisters, all of whom perished in the war. He always regretted that he was unable to attend yeshiva before the war, but he was too young at the time. His father was a farmer and the family lived on a farm outside of the village. The shul in town was a one hour walk. In the summer of 1940, the Germans entered the region of Komarnik. They started to assemble all the Jews in a house near the town square. His father, seeing what was happening, told his sons to run and hide in the forest.
Journey to Palestine As the war drew to a close, the Germans evacuated, leaving the area and letting the Russians occupy the surrounded towns. Yehuda ventured from the safe haven of the farm. He heard a forgotten language that he hadn’t heard in almost four years, Yiddish. A group of people were walking on the road and he joined them. They happened to be lanslight, people from the same town that he was from. Yehuda joined them and spent time in a German DP camp from 1945-1947. He attended a Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society school and lived a kibbutz-type life. Eventually, this group went to Palestine. Once in Palestine, Yehuda trained to fight in the Hagana. But, he had an uncle, Moshe Hans, who settled in the United States before the war and convinced him to join him in the America. His uncle sent him papers to come to New York City and told him that if he wouldn’t like living in America, he could always go back to Israel. But that was never to be. Clothing the Gedolim It took Yehuda ten days to sail to New York. His uncle took him in to live in the Lower East Side with his family. Moshe Hans had a tailor shop on
alive, but they wished to maintain a connection to his world. And so, every day, Mr. Hans would take the train from Brooklyn to the city to fashion garments for his customers. Beloved By All Mr. Hans made his customers feel comfortable and always dealt with them in a light-hearted way. In fact, Mr. Hans, who was very slight, would always recall with delight how Reb Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, who was 6’4”, would good-naturedly physically lift up Mr. Hans when he visited his small shop for his kapotahs. Mr. Hans was very close to all his customers; they invited him to their weddings and even their children’s weddings. He was beloved by all and had a special connection with children. Children of all ages loved him, from his own twenty-six great-grandchildren to even strangers. He gave them candy and his jokes always put a smile on their faces. His wife, Chani, passed away in 1985 and he was very distraught. Even so, he always kept his emunah in Hashem even during the most trying of circumstances. His character and temimus was outstanding. For the last fourteen years of his life, he lived in Flatbush in his daughter Raizy’s house. His son, Chaim, lived nearby and his other son, Yanky, lives in Ginot Shomron in Eretz Yisroel. He was constantly surrounded by his children and grandchildren, showing them by example what a true Yid is. He went from being an orphaned little boy that the Germans hoped to kill, to being a proud Jew with three children, seventeen grandchildren and twenty-six greatgrandchildren, kein yirbu. Along the way, he touched thousands of lives and was meshamesh countless gedolim in his unique way. Whether it is the twenty-year-old yeshiva boy who used to catch a shmooze with Mr. Hans after davening or a young great-grandchild who used to look forward to a Shabbos walk with Mr. Hans, all who knew him know that the world has lost a great man with his passing.
He touched thousands of lives and was meshamesh countless gedolim in his unique way.
Relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe Although not Lubavitch, Mr. Hans developed a very close relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his rebbetzin. The Rebbe advised him to dedicate himself to making kapotahs and he took the Rebbe’s advice, making all the kapotahs for the Rebbe. For decades, almost every Lubavitcher chosson had a silk kapotah for his chasunah made by Mr. Hans. At fahrbrengins, Mr. Hans was brought to the front head table to sit near the Rebbe. He was always ushered into audience with the Rebbe right away even though the lines stretched around the block. Even after Mr. Hans officially retired, Lubavitcher chassidim begged him to come out of retirement to make their beautiful frocks. Their Rebbe was no longer
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Stanton Street and made suits and kapotahs. His customers were great gedolim. R’ Moishe Feinstein zt”l, R’ Aaron Kotler zt”l, R’ Hutner zt”l, R’ Shlomo Freifeld zt”l and R’ Yaakov Kaminetsky zt”l were just a few of many rebbes and rosh hayeshivos who were clothed in the store. Moshe Hans had two sons but they were educated and had no interest in the profession so Moshe trained his young nephew, Yehuda, in his craft. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Yehuda went to the Catskill Mountains during the summer months and worked in a hotel in Parksville, NY. He was beloved by the owners, the Weinrebs, and was friendly with them for the next half a century, going to each other simchos. In 1959, his uncle died and Yehuda took over the store. A few years earlier, in 1953, Yehuda married the daughter of a shochet and butcher, Chana Stanick. Together, they lived on the Lower East Side their whole married life and bore three wonderful children, Chaim, Yanky and Raizy. Mr. Hans was a fixture on the Lower East Side. In fact, when the famed photographer, Harvey Wang, visited the Lower East Side and took photographs of the people who epitomized the city, he took a photograph of Mr. Hans with his sewing machine. That photograph was put into Wang’s book about the Lower East Side and is part of the Smithsonian Institute.
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Notable
Quotes
Compiled by Nate Davis
“Say What?” “President Obama took a group of Republicans to dinner last night. And at the end of the meal, the president personally picked up the tab. Afterwards, Republicans said, ‘Typical Democrat. Spend, spend, spend.’” - Conan O’Brien “Killing Jews is worship that draws us closer to Allah.” - Ads placed on San Francisco buses by the American Freedom Defense Institute, in response to an ad campaign by the Council on American-Islamic Relations which seeks to make people think that “jihad” is a peaceful concept
“This is a joke. We’re wasting the president’s time and ours. I hope you all [in the media] are happy because we’re doing it for you.” - An email sent by a senior White House official to a reporter about President Obama’s new outreach to Republicans “Ohhh, is this for our d... Thank you so much.” - Kate Middleton, when someone handed her a teddy bear
“POTUS might be the ultimate global power player, but he also wields significant influence in the Republic of Sports. One relevant riff – on his NCAA tourney picks, on his desire for a college football playoff, on his concern over permitting the sons that he doesn’t have to play football – and the sports world takes notice. Plus, the 51-year-old can shoot the J.” - Sports Illustrated Magazine on why President Obama is one of the 50 most powerful people in sports
“Any notion that there is a set price for a meeting with the president of the United States is just wrong.” - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney responding to allegations that donors are able to purchase meetings with the President
“It’s disgraceful for any game to glorify it. PETA encourages video game companies to create games that celebrate animals – not games that promote hurting and killing them.” - PETA’s statement condemning a new video games which allows players to hunt for whales
“[George W. Bush] is going to go down in the history books as a great artist.” - The 43rd president’s art teacher
“Go run on Dunkin’.” - What a Connecticut Dunkin Donuts employee said to a would-be thief as she poured hot coffee on him and chased him out of the store
During a forum at a technology convention in Austin, Texas:
Walt Mossberg: You just sold your TV network to Al Jazeera, which is owned by a government. And that government is basically an oil producer. And they’re producing exactly the kind of fuel that you say is a terrible danger for the planet. How could you do that? Al Gore: Okay. I knew when I made that decision with my partners… I had obligations to my investors, but that didn’t drive the decision… I knew that my principle obligation was to do business in a way that makes the world a better place. I thought it was the most disruptive move on the chess board. You have heard me be very critical of American television journalism. I think that the addition of a very high quality, 24/7, honestto-goodness news channel that covers international news as well as national, that covers climate, that covers poverty, that covers issues that are ignored today, has the potential to be disruptive in a creative and positive way, and raise the game for television journalism here in the United States of America.
“Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice.” - White House letter cancelling all public tours of the White House “The White House is our house. Please let us visit.” - A now famous video by the sixth-grade class at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Waverly, Iowa, whose class trip to the White House was cancelled “Due to budget cuts, all tours of the White House have been canceled indefinitely. When he heard, Joe Biden said, ‘Now I’ll never see it.’” - Conan O’Brien “All tours of the White House have been canceled due to budget concerns. Don’t worry, there’s another way get into the White House if you don’t belong. Fake your birth certificate.” - Craig Ferguson “Even though our budget’s been cut like everyone else’s, thanks to proper planning, we’re able to avoid furloughs amongst Capitol workers, and tours are going to remain available for all Americans.” - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner to reporters
“He was extremely warm, he was very open, huggable, he came in singing. We talked baseball for ten minutes before the interviewed started. He followed all the Major League Baseball teams, followed the Venezuelan players who went on to the major leagues... He was extremely effusive, extremely relaxed, very, very, very friendly.” - Larry King recalling meeting and interviewing Hugo Chavez
“I think it will be 50 years before they declassify a document [that] I think [will show] the hand of the enemy is involved.” - Venezuelan Gen. Jose Ornella, referring to Chavez’s death
“All of us navigate certain tensions, between community and mobility, autonomy and moral order. Mainstream Americans have gravitated toward one set of solutions. The families stuffing their groceries into their Honda Odyssey minivans in the Pomegranate parking lot represent a challenging counterculture. Mostly, I notice how incredibly self-confident they are. Once dismissed as relics, they now feel that they are the future.” -3/7 Op-Ed by David Brooks in the New York Times about a surge in Orthodoxy as he observed during his visit to Pomegranate Supermarket in Brooklyn
“It’s always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone.” - John McCain to the Huffington Post in reference to Republican Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz “I take that as a badge of honor.” - Sen. Ted Cruz in response to Sen. McCain’s comments
“Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a new Facebook news feed today. It promises to revolutionize the way we see pictures of our friends’ feet on vacation.” - Jimmy Kimmel
“The former mayor of Detroit has been convicted of racketeering and extortion charges. The sentence is pretty hard. He has to serve another term as mayor of Detroit.” - Conan O’Brien “Exercise is great for you, but how do you convince people to do it? And should you force them to do it? Probably not.” - Mayor Bloomberg on 710 WOR in response to a question whether government can force people to exercise because it promotes better health
“I have a soft spot for Joe Biden. I like him. But he’s dumb as an ashtray.” - Fox News head Roger Ailes in an excerpt from a soon-to-bereleased biography about Ailes
President Obama at the 2013 Gridiron Dinner:
“My joke writers have been placed on furlough. I know a lot of you reported that no one will feel any immediate impact because of the sequester. Well, you’re about to find out how wrong you are.” “Now I know that some folks think we responded to Woodward too aggressively. But hey … can anybody tell me when an administration has ever regretted picking a fight with Bob Woodward? What’s the worst that could happen?” “Of course, maintaining credibility in this cynical atmosphere is harder than ever — incredibly challenging. My administration recently put out a photo of me skeet shooting and even that wasn’t enough for some people. Next week, we’re releasing a photo of me clinging to religion.” “It took a while, but I’m glad that the Senate finally confirmed my Secretary of Defense. And I have to say, I don’t know what happened to Chuck in those hearings. I know he worked hard, he studied his brief. And I even lent him my presidential debate team to work with him. It’s confusing what happened.” “Another big change has been at the State Department. Everybody has noticed that obviously. And let’s face it — Hillary is a tough act to follow. But John Kerry is doing great so far. He is doing everything he can to ensure continuity. Frankly, though, I think it’s time for him to stop showing up at work in pantsuits. It’s a disturbing image. It really is. I don’t know where he buys them. He is a tall guy.” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindel at the 2013 Gridiron Dinner
“The Gridiron Dinner used to be known as the night the media and the administration set aside their differences — back in the days when they had some.” “I am too skinny to run [in 2016]. At least that’s what my friend Chris Christie keeps telling me.” “I did a lot of campaigning in the last election. I was one of Rick Perry’s strongest supporters. I supported Rick because he’s a loyal friend, a great governor, and…oops…I forget the third reason.” “I ran into Joe Biden earlier today. I don’t think he recognized me, though. He asked me to go get him a Slurpee.” “You know, sometimes I wonder where we would be without Vice President Biden. And then I realize: Pretty much exactly where we are right now.”
”We regret to inform you that your suite is scheduled for demolition in the next three days.” - False notices distributed by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee to Jewish students at the school
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“We measure a great leader by how he treats the least of these. Hugo fed the hungry. He lifted the poor. He raised their hopes. He helped them realize their dreams.” - Jesse Jackson eulogizing Hugo Chavez
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Forgotten Heroes
Avi Heiligman
The Rough Riders Help Defeat the Spanish
T
he Spanish-American War was there were many Jews under his comthe shortest war the U.S. has mand. When a rabbi from Philadelphia who was serving in even partaken Cuba approached in as it lasted just him and asked him the three months for permission to between April and conduct services, August 1898. There Teddy came along were two theaters with his soldiers. of war. One of them When he ran for was in the Pacific president in 1904 where the U.S. (William McKinley fought the Spanish had died in 1901 to gain land mainly and as vice presifor imperialistic dent, Teddy took reasons. The other over so technically took place in the this was his reelecCaribbean where tion bid), posters the U.S. wanted to Teddy Roosevelt during sprang up all over help Cuba declare the Spanish-American War the Lower East independence from Side encouraging citizens to vote for Spain and in doing so, the U.S. took control of Puerto Rico. him – a person who championed for The founder of the most famous Jewish rights and freedoms. The U.S. was not happy with Spanunit in the war was a future presiish dominance in the Caribbean because their economic status was being hurt by the ongoing conflict between Spain and Cuban nationals. The U.S. demanded that Spain leave Cuba and was further infuriated when the battleship USS Maine mysteriously blew up in Havana Harbor, killing over 250 Americans including five Jewish sailors. Naturally, the Rough Riders charging up Kettle Hill U.S. blamed Spain and dent who was a big supporter of Jew- declared war on them in April 1898. ish causes. During Teddy Roosevelt’s President McKinley asked for tenure as leader of the Rough Riders, troops and hundreds of volunteers to
sign up to join the army. Theodore Hill but at the beginning, they were “Teddy” Roosevelt, who was assis- only to be a diversion for the main astant secretary of the navy at the time, sault. Roosevelt noticed that his men asked the Department of War for per- were exposed and taking advantage of mission to raise a Calvary unit. Teddy loose orders and that he was the highest had no battle experience and there- ranking officer in the vicinity, charged fore asked Colonel Leonard Wood, an up the hill with his men following. The army doctor who had won the Medal unit had three Gatling guns (an early of Honor during the American-Indian version of the machine gun) in support War in the 1880s, to lead the regiment. that took care of 600 advancing SpanIt was called the 1st Volunteer Calvary ish soldiers. The heights had been taken and soon was given the nickname the but the Americans suffered many losses Rough Riders. Since they were needed for war shortly after the creation of the unit, Roosevelt wanted men who were “in shape” and could easily prepare for battle. The regiment had about 1,250 men coming from two very different backgrounds. Many were from the west and were cowboys, Indians, cattle ranchers and other rough-‘n-tumble Rough Riders gathered around Teddy Roosevelt types. The rest were athletes from Eastern schools, mainly including fifteen Jewish Rough Riders Ivy League colleges. Both types of men who had been wounded or killed. blended together nicely as a fighting Once the heights had been taken, unit as they were physically capable of the Spanish were forced to fall back handling the stress of the training. on the city of Santiago, and after a few On June 14, the men shipped out minor battles, they surrendered to the from Tampa and arrived on Cuban soil Americans on August 12. Teddy Rooeight days later—minus a third of the sevelt wanted to get his Rough Riders regiment and practically all of their out of the disease-ridden country and horses. This put the men at a major dis- back to the states and within a week advantage because they weren’t used to they were sent to Long Island. Twenmarching and fighting as foot soldiers. ty men had died of from illness, most Two days later, on June 24, the Rough were from malaria, and many more Riders saw their first action during the were sick in the hospital recovering battle of Las Guasimas—a Spanish from it and other tropical diseases. The outpost. Weary from the trek to the out- unit wasn’t needed anymore and the post, many men fell out of position and First Volunteer Calvary was disbanded more couldn’t make it up the steep hill. after less than five months of service. They went into the hour and half battle They played a huge part of the United with less than 500 men but were able to States gaining international prestige as root out the enemy from entrenched po- they defeated a world power. sitions. The Americans lost only eight dead and thirty-one wounded. The first Rough Rider to die in battle was Trooper Jacob Wilbusky—a Jewish cowboy Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comfrom Texas. Before the Battle of San Juan ments and suggestions.for future columns Heights, Roosevelt was promoted to and can be reached at aviheiligman@ full colonel and made commander of gmail.com. the Rough Riders. The battle took place on July 1 on San Juan Hill and Kettle
Mordechai Schmutter
Questions & Answers Pesach-Style Q: What is a good time to start cleaning for Pesach? A: You’re asking this NOW? Q: Yeah, I thought… A: Go clean! Q: Fine. Don’t answer my question. A: As far as the rest of you, there are varying opinions as to when one should start cleaning, based the size of your house, how many people are helping, whether or not you have a day job, and how many little kids are following you around eating pretzels. But most of us end up starting the day after Purim. Q: Is there any news this year in the world of cleaning? A: Yes. A museum was recently opened in Britain, called “The Museum of Vacuum Cleaners.” So we figure that going there will provide inspiration for your family, as far as cleaning for Pesach. “If you don’t help with the cleaning,” you can say to your kids, by way of inspiration, “we’re going to take you to the Museum of Vacuum Cleaners.” Q: According to my custom, I don’t sell real chometz. But when I clean my kitchen a week before Pesach, I suddenly find hundreds of boxes of cookies and crackers and noodles that I’d bought and then buried in the back of the closet, and then forgot that I’d bought, so I bought some more, and now I have no idea what to do with them. So my question is this: Do you want some of my noodles? A: We find that the best thing to do is to go through all of your cabinets several weeks before Pesach, and to take out everything that is real chometz, and then put it all into one cabinet. Q: And this will help? A: Not really. You’re not going to finish the foods at the back of that cabinet either. Q: How about all these cookies? If I gain weight before Pesach, what hope do I have on Pesach itself? A: Cookies are easy to get rid of. Just leave an open package on your kitchen table every night before you go to sleep. When you wake up, the package will be empty, and your kids will feel like they got away with something. Q: Are there any specific things I should look out for while I’m cleaning? A: Cheerios. Even if you don’t eat Cheerios, you will still find them all over your house. Cheerios were invented by anti-Semites who totally don’t care about Pesach. They said, “Hey! Let’s make a product that cannot possibly be any more chometzdik, and we’ll make it really tiny, and the perfect shape to hit the ground rolling, and we’ll market it to toddlers!” Q: What should I do about my children? A: The best thing to do is to get them to help you clean, and to make sure they understand what you’re doing. Take a lesson from my life: One year, the night before Pesach, we were down to our very last box of Cheerios, and I decided to leave it on the table when I went out to mincha so my kids could make it “mysteriously disappear,” like they did with all the cookies. And when I got home, I noticed that half the box was gone. Great job, right? But then the next morning, right before I went out to burn the chometz, my wife happened to open up my 2-year-old son’s riding toy, and she found the other half of the box. Apparently, our son was worried about all of his foods disappearing, so he decided to stash some away, just in case.
Q: My friend told me that she was cleaning her house the other day, and she found a hundred dollars. Am I cleaning the wrong house? A: Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of things also. Most likely you will find little plastic pieces that you have no idea which toys they go with, or an embarrassing amount of chocolate wrappers, or the floor of your kids’ room. Q: Is there any specific place that I should not forget to clean? A: Under the couch cushions. You’d be surprised at what you can find down there. There was a woman in Spokane who bought a used couch for $27 last year, and she noticed, as soon as she brought it home, that there was a weird noise coming from somewhere in the house. After days of searching for the source of the noise, she got her husband to flip over the couch, and they found that there was a cat living under the cushions. So you definitely want to check underneath your couch cushions, or your kids will be in for a real surprise when they try to hide the afikoman. Q: I’m making Pesach for the very first time. Which kitchen utensils should I buy? A: Before you buy anything, you should bear in mind that you can live without certain things for the first few years, such as loaf pans. What are you making loaves of on Pesach? That said, you should probably make a menu first, and then buy the tools that you need to prepare those foods. And whatever you do, don’t forget to buy several peelers, and some containers to put things in after you make them. If you can’t find any that are big enough, I would suggest those sealed-plastic containers that people use to store clothing in the attic. And if you’re hosting the Seder, for goodness sakes, don’t forget a corkscrew. Q: How do I keep my kids from stealing my afikoman? A: I would say you could offer them a prize not to steal it, but I’m assuming the reason you’re asking in the first place is that you don’t want to buy them a prize. But even if they steal it, you can always take spare matzah from one of the boxes and eat that instead. Q: I am a third grade boy, and my friends and I take great pride in coming into school and announcing what time our Seders were over. Do you have any advice for making the sedarim take even longer? A: There are a few tactics you can use: 1) Ask your father some really good questions that you’ve looked up beforehand, but don’t tell him which seforim you found them in. 2) Hide all the boxes of spare matzah. 3) Hide the corkscrew. Q: Every year, we get into an argument about whether it is our minhag to stand for lefikoch, or to sit for it, or to lean for it, and we never remember what we did the previous year. Do you think it’s something in the wine? Also, I have no clue how much of anything I bought last year, because I threw out all the receipts during Pesach cleaning. A: What a lot of people do is they sit down after Pesach every year, and they write themselves a letter: Dear Future Me, This year we had a really exciting Pesach. Our Seder went until four in the morning, because first we couldn’t find the corkscrew, then we had a halfhour argument about whether we stand for Lefikoch, and then one of the kids hid all the spare matzah before we even washed. We bought enough matzah to have one matzah per person per meal, but we have tons of extras because we couldn’t actually find the boxes for the first couple of days. We also bought a can of potato starch, because my parents always have it in the house, so I think it’s our minhag. But we didn’t use it for anything, because I’m pretty sure that it’s not even a food. Where is it the rest of the year? And what is that crunching sound coming from under the couch cushions? Eh; I don’t care. I’ll get to it next Pesach. Future Me can deal with it.
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This week, in honor of Yom Tov, I am presenting my very first Pesach-advice column. I feel compelled to do this in question-and-answer format, but I’m not sure why.
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Ask the Rabbi Yehoshua Levy
Matzah Money Dear Rabbi: What exactly is “Moas Chitim?” Is this a Jewish commandment? Is every Jew supposed to give money at Passover time?
ligation of simchas Yom Tov. With this we can understand why the obligation of maos chitim was placed with laws of Pesach as opposed to the laws of charity. There is also a practical halachic difference if the obligation of maos chiThe Rabbi Responds: tim is also a mitzvah of simchas Yom Rama (O.C. 429) tells us, “It is cus- Tov. Charity is only an obligation when tomary to purchase grain and distribute one has enough for his own livelihood. it to the indigent for their Pesach needs.” However, the mitzva of Simchas Yom The commentaries grapple with the Tov demands that one borrow money to Rama’s description of maos chitim as a fulfill the obligation to rejoice. Therecustom, while the Jerusalemite Talmud fore, one who doesn’t have enough in(Baba Basra) tells us that it is an actual come for Pesach must borrow money to obligation. The give towards Mishna Berurah maos chitim, as suggests (S.H. the parameter One who doesn’t have 7) that the obliof this mitzvah gation of maos transcends the enough income for chitim can be standard obliPesach must borrow fulfilled by disgation of chartributing money ity as it is part money to give towards to the indigent. and parcel of maos chitim. The custom, mitzvah of simhowever, is to chas Yom Tov. give the poor the The Gaon actual grain or flour with which to bake of Vilna zt”l found an allusion to the the matzos, and is therefore referred to obligation of Maos Chitim in the folas a custom. There are a number of rea- lowing verses (Exodus, 13:6-7): “For a sons for the custom of giving the actual seven day period shall you eat matzos... grain. Firstly, it saves the poor from the matzos shall be eaten for seven days.” additional trouble of shopping. Second- The first verse refers to our personal obly, since market prices of commodities ligation to eat matzos, as it says “shall can fluctuate (with prices usually going you eat.” The second refers to our obliup) as is evident more than ever in to- gation to ensure that others have the opday’s volatile markets, only by giving portunity to eat matzos, too, as it states, grain does one guarantee that the needy “shall be eaten.” The Gaon points out will have a sufficient amount of mat- that the word matzah is written chasser zah. Thirdly, we are judged on Pesach (or “missing”) without the letter “vav” concerning grain, and that is contingent in the first verse and with a “vav” in the upon how much grain was shared with second. This indicates that the obligathe poor the previous year. We therefore tion to aid in the eating of matzos by distribute actual grain in order that the others is even greater than one’s perblessing should fall on the new crop of sonal obligation to eat matzah. wheat. The obligation of maos chitim stems not only from the mitzvah of tzedaka but is also part and parcel of the fulfillment of the mitzvah of simchas Please note, the information written above is not meant as a rabbinic ruling. If you Yom Tov (the obligation to rejoice on have any questions, please consult your the Festivals). Maimonides writes (Hil. rabbinic authority for clarification. Yom Tov 6:18), “When one eats and Yehoshua Levy, a teacher of Torah, is a drinks, one is obligated to feed those writer and lecturer who dares to think outside less fortunate — i.e. the stranger, or- the box to bring his thought-provoking inphan, widow, and poor. One who locks sights and facts to his readers. He welcomes his door and eats and drinks only with your comments and can be reached at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. his family, neglecting the poor and those of bitter fortune, do not experience the joy of a mitzvah but rather a hedonistic orgy!” Through sharing maos chitim with others, we fulfill our personal ob-
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with tour guide Eve Harow
Thursday March 28/Nisan 17 Chol Hamoed
ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS DETERMINED BY SECURITY AND WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS.
in the
Footsteps of the Past
Kfar Adumim and the snail secret of the Tchelet dye, resurfacing after 1500 years. Kasr al Yahud, where we crossed the Jordan River with Yehoshua into Israel on Pesach over 3 millennia ago, then a pilgrimage to a ‘Regel’ from our earliest days in the Promised Land. Up to Shilo to workshops of ancient weaving and dyeing and the new Seer’s Tower sound and light show. We’ll tour the Tel where the Mishkan stood during the Judges period and then top off the day at the award winning Shilo Winery. Cost for the day (8:30am-6:30pm): $55/adult $45/student in Israel or child under 12. Bring your own Pesach lunch and snacks. Water is provided. Leave from/return to Liberty Bell Parking lot. For reservations & further information visit
www.oneisraelfund.org/daytrips Israel: Zahava Englard 052.484.6034 or Zahav500@gmail.com In US: Ruthie Kohn 516.239.9202 x10 daytrips@oneisraelfund.org
Wednesday April 3/Nisan 23 Isru Chag
Blooming in the WesternNegev Nitzan: Is Rachel Saperstein to be uprooted again? Netiv Ha’asara: a view into northern Gaza. Cafe Cafe in Sderot for a dairy lunch, then to the Black Arrow Memorial, symbol of the region’s vast ‘battle heritage’. Past spring flowers to the 5th century synagogue mosaic at Hurvat Maon. All the way south to the Steel Tower in Kerem Shalom, then to Holot Halutza’s Gush Katif replants and those who have joined them in Nave and Bnai Netzarim. Am, Eretz and Torat Yisrael reflected in their homes, greenhouses and yeshivot. Chemdat olive oil; pomegranates and tomatoes in the sand; inspiration and personal sacrifice in the air. Cost for the day (8:15am-7:00pm) including lunch: $65/adult $55/student in Israel or child under 12.
101 Rifka Schonfeld
Roadblocks on the Path of Learning
Visual Processing Disorder A visual processing (or perceptual) disorder refers to an inability to make sense of information absorbed through the eyes. This does not mean that the child has trouble with sight and needs glasses, rather it involves difficulties processing the visual information in the brain. Some indications of visual processing disorders are: • Spatial Relation: Spatial relation is distinguishing the positions of objects in space. For reading and math, it is very important to understand spatial relationships. The ability to identify words and numbers as separate entities is essential for reading skills. In addition, confusion of similarly shaped letters such as “b” and “d“ or “p” and “q” can be attributed to a problem with spatial relation.
• Visual Discrimination: Visual discrimination involves differentiating objects based on their individual characteristics such as color, form, shape, pattern, and size. When dealing with reading and math, difficulties with visual discrimination can lead to trouble with charts, graphs, or recognizing letters on the chalkboard. • Visual-Motor Integration: Visual-motor integration requires the combination of visual cues to guide movements. Children who have deficits with visual-motor integration are often seen as clumsy or awkward because they have a hard time figuring out where their body is in relation to other objects. This lack of integration can lead to problems with writing and organization. In addition to these academic impacts, a lack of visual-motor integration can cause problems in children’s lives both socially and athletically. Auditory Processing Disorder Like visual processing disorder, auditory processing disorder can interfere with children’s ability to learn, regardless of their intellect. An auditory processing disorder interferes with a person’s ability to make sense of information taken in through the ears. This does not mean that the person cannot hear or is deaf. Rather, the sounds enter the ear and the brain, but the person cannot decode them to understand what they mean. Some indications of auditory processing disorder are: • Auditory Discrimination: Auditory discrimination is the ability to recognize differences in phonemes (sounds that relate to certain letters). Recognizing phonemes is the foundation for phonics – the way most children learn how to read. • Auditory Memory: Auditory memory involves storing and recalling information which was given verbally. People who lack auditory memory will have a lot of trouble following directions or remembering details of stories that are read aloud in the classroom. • Auditory Sequencing: Auditory
sequencing is the ability to remember the order of items in a list or the order of sounds in a word. One example of a problem with auditory sequencing is saying, “comtuper” instead of “computer.” Focus Another roadblock to achievement in school that has nothing to do with a child’s intelligence is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a common behavioral disorder that affects between 8-10% of school age children. Dr. Richard Kingsley of KidsHealth explains, “Kids with ADHD act without thinking, are hyperactive, and have trouble focusing. They may understand what’s expected of them but have trouble following through because they can’t sit still, pay attention, or attend to details.” Because children with ADHD have troubling focusing on one thing at a time, if unnoticed, ADHD can learn to devastating learning deficits. Up until 1994, ADHD was known as Attentive Deficit Disorder or ADD. In 1994, it was renamed ADHD and broken down into three separate subtypes with specific characteristics. Inattentive Type, with signs that include: • Difficulty with sustained tasks • Noticeable listening problems • Difficulty following directions • Tendency to lose things such as toys, notebooks, or homework • Distracted easily Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, with signs that include: • Fidgeting or squirming • Difficulty remaining seated • Always “on the go” • Difficulty waiting for a turn in line • Excessive talking • Problems with interrupting and intruding The third type of ADHD is a combination of inattentive type and hyperactive-impulsive type and is the most common form of ADHD.
Self Esteem Self-esteem, or believing in oneself, is another extremely important element required for successful learning. Children who are not confident in their abilities will simply give up without trying. Often, children with low selfesteem will encounter problems with bullying as other children will notice their lack of confidence and single them out. In turn, the children with low selfesteem will choose to remain silent in class in order to avoid their classmates’ criticism, leading to further academic problems. Dr. Richard Besser, author of Your Family’s Health: Kids and Height, indicates that signs of low self esteem include: • Reluctance to try new things because of a fear of failure • Negative comments about oneself such as “I’m stupid” or “I’ll never get this right.” • Giving up quickly and stating that is it because of “boredom” or “tiredness.” • Lack of friends in and out of school. Surmounting the Roadblocks The first step towards helping your child succeed in school is recognizing if there is an underlying reason for their failure. Depending on the “roadblock” tripping up your child, there are different methods to overcoming it. You can work towards success with the school, the teacher, and an educational specialist. As I always say, “If he can’t learn the way we teach, we had better teach the way he can learn.”
An acclaimed educator and education consultant, Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld has served the Jewish community for close to thirty years. She founded and directs the widely acclaimed educational program, SOS, servicing all grade levels in secular as well as Hebrew studies. A kriah and reading specialist, she has given dynamic workshops and has set up reading labs in many schools. In addition, she offers evaluations G.E.D. preparation,, social skills training and shidduch coaching, focusing on building self-esteem and self-awareness. She can be reached at 718-382-5437 or at rifkaschonfeld@ verizon.net. You can view the web at rifka schonfeldsos.com.
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f you peek into most third grade classrooms, you’ll see most children staring attentively at the teacher, a few gazing into space, still some more searching around inside their desks, and a handful furtively eliciting attention from their surrounding classmates. Just last week, when I observed a classroom, I saw Sara continually knocking her pencil off of her desk, Raizy squinting at the blackboard trying to make sense of what seemed like gibberish to her, Devora mumbling the words under her breath in an attempt to memorize them, Malkie and Naomi passing notes, and Basya hunched over in her seat trying to attract as little attention as possible. Of course, their teacher was aware of much of what was going on and continually tried to get the girls back to the lesson at hand. She told me later that she was baffled by some of her students’ failing grades. After all, Raizy and Basya have the highest IQs in the class. “What am I doing wrong?” she asked me. “Sometimes, there is nothing more that a teacher can do other than recognize the issues at hand,” I told her. Often, it is more complicated than simply getting smart children to pay attention in order to excel. This started me thinking about all of the different issues that arise within education today. Why is it that some children, regardless of their intelligence are excellent students, while others fail? Aside from IQ scores, what are some obstacles to productive education?
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NOT JUST A SHIDDUCH STORY Is it such a big sensation that someone became engaged B"H? That’s what you’re probably asking yourself and you’re right! Finding your match through the merit of “Kollel Chatzos” is not news at all, since we would be able to publish such stories weekly! But we made an exception in this case given that the groom in question is 43 years old! After years of anguish and loneliness, he’s finally been freed from his solitude and is now looking forward to setting up his own family and a virtuous home. This all came about through his sister, a distinguished and smart woman who has been partnered with “Kollel Chatzos” for several years, who after seeing wonderful results in her own business through the power of the kollel, decided to attempt something no one else had: she submitted her brother’s name to “Kollel Chatzos”. Standing at the threshold of the month of redemption (Nissan), we received the ecstatic phone call. “My brother is B”H engaged! Our entire family is in a state of joy and elation! It’s unbelievable! Topic source: There is No Greater Joy for Hashem than when we get Up at Chatzos. And Through that you Merit Personal Celebrations in Your Own Home.
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Universal Design in the Home
T
he smell of lemon-scented • Wide doorways. Allows strollcleaners colliding with the fresh ers, wheelchairs and furniture to be breeze wafting through open moved easily between rooms. windows herald the beginning of spring • Lever-style handles on doors and the coming of Pesach’s arrival and faucets. Levers are much easier to (which usually creeps upon us in tiptoe manipulate than knobs (picture B). fashion). Drilling, sawing, hammering • Raised/taller toilets (16-18”). and the pungent odor of primer and Make transferring from sitting to standpaint are smelled and ing much easier and are heard on many blocks, much more comfortable as many households compared to standard choose to embark upon 14” toilets. construction projects • Grab bars. during this season. Place around bathtubs Whether you are and toilets. These prorenovating with plans vide an added level of you had in the making safety for everyone, for many months or if young children, adults by no choice of your and seniors. No need for own you find yourself grab bars to look instirebuilding your home tutional; there are many from a disaster (myself trendy designs on the included), considering market today with a vaPicture A universal design into riety of colors to choose your home project is from. (picture C) something you will not • No lip regret. thresholds helps make Simply, universal entering/exiting rooms design is the concept in easier, especially for Picture B which the design of the young children, and product or environment individuals who use a is usable by all people, wheelchair or walker. regardless of ability Lip thresholds also run or age and without the the risk of being tripped need for expensive or on; a no-lip threshold sophisticated adaptatakes away that risk. tion. Universal design is Incorporating unimeant to be aesthetically versal design into your pleasing and to naturally project truly helps to blend into your own create your home more personal design. Here welcoming to your famare some ideas to make ily and guests. I welyour environment more come your comments, universally designed. questions, and before/ rocker • Install after pictures. light switches instead of toggle switches, think Picture C how much easier it Devorah (Gerber) Schmeltz, MS OTR/L is a would be to open a light while your hands are loaded with pack- 2003 alumnus of Downstate Medical Center’s OT Program. She is a senior occupaages and a baby. (picture A) • No step entry. Having at least tional therapist at United Cerebral Palsy’s one entry into your home without the Brooklyn Children’s Program. Devorah need for a step provides easier acces- maintains a private practice, Bumble & sibility into the home. Beneficiaries in- Tumble Occupational Therapy P.C., in Far clude individuals in wheelchairs, stroll- Rockaway, NY providing pediatric occupaers, young children or anyone who has tional and physical therapy. Department of Education vouchers/RSAs are gladly acceptdifficulty negotiating stairs. • One floor living. Having a kitch- ed. Your questions and comments are welen, full bathroom, living space and bed- come. She can be reached at BumbleTumble room all on one floor avoids the need to Therapy@gmail.com or 917-971-5327. use stairs frequently.
103 Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
TJH Staff
Not a Therapy Candidate The problem is not an inability to feel compassion but rather an inability to feel compassion for someone who has crossed them.
thought he would like and tickets to a game she knew he would enjoy. But Ephraim was hurt. This time, his hurt flared up into accusatory words. “Knowing what I wanted, you just ignored it!” he railed. “But Ephraim, I told you that I objected to the golf game to begin with. Every week I tried to let you know in a nice way that I didn’t agree with it. I know you love the game, but we have little kids who want their father!” Alice responded reasonably. “Why would I buy you the very thing I objected to?” “So,” Ephraim retorted, “it’s all about you, isn’t it? It’s all about you, not me. That’s the story.” At this, Alice burst into tears. Not only were her wishes disregarded, but Ephraim didn’t even want to entertain them. All he knew is that he did not get what he wanted and Alice was not being nice to him. Look at this turnabout: Ephraim attacks Alice and she’s crying, but to Ephraim, it is Alice who is not being nice to him! That is the essence of being unable to put oneself in another’s shoes – in particular if the other person’s position is diametrically opposed to one’s own. People like Ephraim give money to tzedekah, help the needy, and walk old ladies across the street. The problem is not an inability to feel compassion but rather an inability toveel compassion for someone who has crossed them. And that is the case even when the other person didn’t exactly cross them anyway. Alice, after all, did give Ephraim some other gifts that he should have been happy with. She also was asking him to change his schedule for the sake of their children, not herself. None of that mattered. Ephraim simplified the whole thing in his mind to: “My wife doesn’t love me at all.” With this one “brilliant” stroke, Ephraim can remain a victim, can be impervious to his wife’s tears, can overlook the needs of the children – and can continue to play golf on Sundays. If Al-
ice wants to improve her marriage, it is doubtful that Ephraim would come. He would probably complain that she was wasting money and all that was needed to improve their marriage would be for her to apologize for her insensitivity! Were he to venture into the therapy room, he would not want to examine himself. After all, it is clear that there is nothing wrong with him. If, in exasperation, Alice threatens divorce, Ephraim would tell himself, “See! I knew she didn’t love me.” Ephraim has a lot to learn about love. The most important thing that he does not know is that loving is giving, and he must start with himself. When you wonder if the other person loves you, it is not wise to ask yourself how much they have done for you, but to paraphrase John F. Kennedy, the question is how much you have done for your spouse. Sometimes that process of giving is simply all about giving time – the only thing that Alice was requesting. It could also be giving the benefit of the doubt – dan l’chaf zchus. The solution for Ephraim must be a shift in position from “me” to “we.” When he realizes that he will be happier including those he loves as being as important to himself as himself, Ephraim will be able to give to them. After all, giving to them is, indeed, giving to him-
self. He might or he might not hear that message when his wife – or his therapist – delivers it. What can Alice do? She should • not apologize. To do so would be to reinforce Ephraim’s distorted view that she did something wrong. • keep it simple and repeat her position only if he requests it. To repeat it more is a waste of energy as he is not listening. • reinforce whatever Ephraim does that is good in her eyes. For Ephraim to move towards empathy, he first must feel good about himself. Underneath his selfabsorption there may be a fear that he may not really be good deep down. • have moral clarity on the issues in their lives. Ephraim apparently lacks that such as when he doesn’t see what’s wrong with ignoring his children on Sundays. Eventually, a morally correct position may take root in Ephraim’s heart. • search for what she always loved about Ephraim and keep that in mind constantly. Her love will reinforce his efforts in the right direction. • remind herself not to take Ephraim’s outbursts personally. • enjoy the other activities in her life; this will serve as a source of strength as Ephraim makes changes.
Dr. Deb Hirschhorn has had over 35 years clinical experience. She has been in numerous publications, both professional and for the public, and has appeared on TV and has been featured on radio. She practices Marriage-Friendly Therapy. She has a local practice in Woodmere, N.Y. See her website, http://drdeb.com, or call her at 646-54-DRDEB.
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have found that when people hurt one another and they become exposed to healing ideas, their eyes are often opened to the pain they have caused others and themselves. They suddenly realize that they’ve been on the wrong course most of their lives. They feel crushed by this realization and are determined to work hard on themselves. These are the people who can change from hurtful to helpful, from cruel to kind. The key thing is that they recognize that their previous approach has been wrong and they want to make it right. They have within them the reserves of compassion to recognize the pain they have caused loved ones and they are also willing to take responsibility for causing that pain. There are others, however, who don’t allow the feeling of compassion to overtake them. That may seem amazing to you: If someone else said they are hurt, how can you not feel badly about it? The answer is that they come from worlds away where tears don’t stir emotions; they are hardened – except, perhaps, to themselves. Interestingly, they feel their own pain but have never been able to leave themselves behind in their dealings with others. Such people think one of the following things when a loved one cries and says he or she is hurt: --they are manipulative. --they are just too sensitive and they will react badly to anything. --they are really hurt because of something else and it is convenient to blame me. A year ago, Ephraim thanked Alice for the lovely tie that she gave him for his birthday, but was not as enthusiastic as Alice would have expected. He explained that he really would have preferred a new golf club. Alice was taken aback by this as he knew that she objected to his devotion to golf at the expense of time spent on Sundays with the family. She didn’t say anything and hoped he would forget that he had mentioned it to her. Now, a year later, his birthday was coming and Alice didn’t know what to do. During the year, she had gently mentioned her objections on Sundays although it fell on deaf ears. She would take their boys to the park to play and they did seem happy. So, she bought him a book she
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Health & Fitness Aliza Beer
Exodus from Calories
P
esach symbolizes miracles, matza, macaroons, freedom from slavery, family trips, and quite often, substantial weight gain. I’ve had numerous patients that have tipped the scale upwards of 10 pounds in the eight days! This is a challenging week with an enormous amount of time spent in the kitchen, and countless hours around the table. It is inevitable that some cheating will come into play, but the question is how much, and how to curtail a massive weight gain. Prepare yourself with the following game plan, and rest assured your waistline will remain intact: 1. Eat Breakfast. Don’t skip the most important meal of the day, because you anticipate a large lunch and dinner. Eat some yogurt, cottage cheese, or egg whites, and you will eat less at lunch and burn more calories too. 2. Limit the Carbs. You must choose between the matza or the potatoes. You cannot have significant portions of both of them. At the seder, make sure to have the minimum halachic shiur, and not one superfluous bite! At mealtime, fill your plate with protein and veggies. 3. Minimize the Matza. I am b”H fortunate enough to go to a hotel on Pesach, and hotels are notorious for many hours sitting in the dining room waiting for the food. Quite a few family members spend that time eating the matza and themselves into oblivion. Eat the minimum amount necessary. They are packed with calories and can cause constipation. One machine board of matza equals one regular (not diet) slice of bread. One round shmura matza can be comparable to 2 ½ -3 slices of bread! 4. Pass Over the Cake. Pesach cakes and cookies are LOADED with sugar and eggs. You cannot eat them every day for eight days and expect to maintain your weight. Healthy choices
for desserts include fruit, compote, baked apples, or ½ cup of sorbet. 5. Drink Water. Studies show that if you drink 1-2 cups of water before each meal, you will eat less at that meal. 6. Walk. Weather permitting, take long walks on Yom Tov to burn off some calories. 7. Allow Yourself a Treat. Over the course of the eight days, you may treat yourself a few times to avoid feelings of deprivation. When you do cheat, try to do it earlier in the day, and not late at night when every morsel of food is converted to fat. 8. Be Prepared. Pack yourself enough appropriate and healthy foods for your chol hamoed trips. Many marshmallows have been eaten out of hungry desperation! Pesach is a time of joy and freedom. It should also be a time when we take our liberation from gluttony and break our bonds chaining us to high-calorie foods. Pesach is a very vulnerable time for your weight since it is so easy and tempting to put on the pounds. You must be vigilant with all you consume since there are many meals with a prodigious amount of food. Pesach is our liberation to freedom, but remember that you still need to follow your healthy diets. Make sure to exercise and eat healthy foods. Even though we are limited in our choice of food, unfortunately, detrimental calories are still permitted. Remember to make every bite count! Chag Kasher V’Sameach!
Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a Master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz Show. Aliza’s new line of prepared, healthy meals-to-go are available at Gourmet Glatt. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com.
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Thank you to the dinner committee! david aidelson shmuely bakst shaya berger rabbi yerochum brazil issac david seth farbman shea farkas eytan feldman shabse fuchs alon goldberger dovid goldfarb paul gross shmuely hochman lloyd keilson yoni kohn yoni kutner yosef lowinger rabbi yehoshua marchuk rabbi avromy markovits shaya markovits shlomo mayer moshe mendlowitz yaakov milstein rabbi elliot plotnick shlomo reich yitzy schuss rabbi binyomin sussman eli zoldan
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In the Kitchen Naomi Nachman
I Can’t Believe It’s Pesachdik Desserts
Y
ikes! I can’t believe it’s Pesach in just under 2 weeks from the night I am writing this article. So, with that in mind, I thought I would start off the Pesach season by sharing some wonderful Pesach recipes. Well, why not start with some desserts? These are my family’s favorite Pesach recipes. I actually make eight cheesecakes -- one for each morning of Pesach. My children don’t like the Pesach cereal. (Yes, they can tell the difference!) So for breakfast each morning, I serve a small 8x8 pan of cheesecake and it invariably is completely finished by the end of the day. The recipe easily quadruples (yes, you read right) and it freezes really well. Just put in the fridge the night before, and it will be defrosted.
Cinnamon Wine Cake (Gebrochts) This is my daughter Eliana’s favorite cake. It freezes well. Ingredients 12 eggs, separated 1 ½ cups sugar ½ teaspoon lemon juice 1 cup cake meal ½ cup potato starch 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ cup Cream Malaga wine or similar brand Preparation Beat egg yolks until light and fluffy. Add sugar, lemon juice, and wine. Blend well. Stir in cake meal and potato starch. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff and fold into batter. Take off 1/3 of batter and blend cinnamon into this. Spoon cinnamon batter and white batter alternately into greased 10-inch tube pan, making marble effect. Bake at 350° for one hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Invert and cool.
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.
Mandel Bread or Biscotti (Gebrochts) This recipe easily doubles and freezes well. Great for dunking into coffee! Ingredients 4 eggs, beaten 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup oil ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoon potato starch 1 1/2- cups cake meal 1 ½ cups ground almonds or walnuts Chocolate chips, optional Preparation Beat eggs well. Add sugar gradually. Add other ingredients in order given, beating constantly to blend well. Divide into five portions and form into logs. Place logs on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes until golden. While hot, cut into slices and return to oven for another 10 minutes.
Cheesecake (Non Gebrochts) Ingredients Crust 1 ½ cups ground nuts 3 tablespoon melted butter 2 tablespoon sugar Filling 16oz cream cheese in blocks, not whipped. Each brand has their own size so you can give or take on ounce or two. 2 eggs ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon lemon Preparation In a medium bowl, mix nuts, melted butter and sugar. Press evenly into a 8x8 pan, forming crust. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. Pour into prepared crust and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Remove and cool. Chill until firm.
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In the Kitchen Aviva Kanoff
Pesach Without the Potatoes Poached Peach & Chicken Salad Ingredients ¾ cup balsamic vinegar 2 sprigs fresh thyme Kosher salt & ground black pepper 2 peaches (12 oz. total), halved & pitted 4½ tsp. olive oil 4 cups baby greens Chicken 1 lb. chicken breasts 1 tsp. salt 1½ tsp. paprika 1⁄8 tsp. garlic powder 1⁄8 tsp. onion powder 2 tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. cumin 2 tsp. rosemary salt & pepper
Directions Prepare a medium gas or charcoal grill fire. (Note: If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken in a sauté pan in its marinade.) Combine vinegar and thyme in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the mixture is thick, syrupy, and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6-9 minutes. Cook peaches in the syrup for 2 minutes until soft. Remove from the heat, discard the thyme sprigs, and season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Season chicken and grill or sauté in a pan until cooked. In a medium bowl, toss the baby greens with the remaining 2½ tsp. oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange on a platter. Top with the chicken and peaches. Drizzle with about 2 tbsp. of the reduced balsamic, adding more to taste. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and remaining juice from chicken and peaches. Tip: Substitute chicken with 1/4 cup feta cheese for a dairy meal.
Cabbage Soup with Matzoh Meatballs Ingredients 1 large onion, diced 4 garlic cloves, chopped 5 tbsp. canola oil 1 tbsp. sugar 4 tomatoes, diced 1 large green cabbage, chopped 8 cups chicken stock 1 tbsp. honey 2 cups tomato sauce Matzo Meatballs (Gebrochts) ½ cup matzo meal ½ lb. ground beef 3 eggs
salt and pepper 1 tbsp. oregano 1 tsp. cumin Directions Sauté onion and garlic in canola oil until brown. Add sugar and caramelize. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Let boil for 30 minutes and then simmer. While the soup is boiling, mix all ingredients for the matzo meatballs. Form into balls, then add the matzo meatballs to the boiling soup. Cook for 20 minutes.
These recipes have been reprinted from the The No-Potato Passover cookbook by Aviva Kanoff. (February 2013, Hardcover, $29.99)
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113 Zehava Schechter, Esq.
Property Tax Grievances
The Attorney Responds: As Benjamin Franklin said, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” As property owners, you are blessed with the rights to title (ownership) to your home as well as possession (control) of it. Along with property rights comes responsibility—in this case payment of real property taxes. If you take a look at your last tax bill, you will see that your real property taxes cover a myriad of charges which pay for your local public schools, library, town, and county expenses. Your taxes pay for salaries for police officers, teachers, as well as government officials and employees who provide the necessary services for your community to function and prosper. Yet, so many of us see our property taxes rise at the same time that governments services decline in both frequency and quality. Why is this? It is no secret that the federal and state governments have reduced the amount of aid provided to local communities. This slippery slope starts with a decrease in federal aid to the states which leads to a reduction in state aid to towns and counties, thereby shifting most of the communal burden to local communities. While none of us can foretell the future, it appears that this trend will continue and local communities will need to both tighten their belts and increase taxes to pay for the growing needs of their residents and responsibilities to employees. As property owners, it behooves us to pay our fair share of local taxes to keep our communities financially stable. I say “our fair share” because it is the responsibilities of citizens and property owners to pay according to the assessed value of their properties. However, we should not be paying more than what is fair in comparison with other property owners in our community. As a result, property owners have the right to contest their real property assessment by the county or city and to show that the assessment is too high. Please note that the prior sentence contains two important pieces of information: 1) that the assessment is by the
county (not the town) or city and 2) the burden is upon the property owner to prove the assessment should be lower. (Although the town (e.g. Town of Hempstead in Nassau County) receives funds from your paid taxes, it has no say in the determination of the amount.)
need to answer truthfully as you are signing under the pains of perjury (halachic considerations also apply). If you have improved your property, you will likely see an increase in assessed value and property tax. However, if you have nothing to hide and believe the assessed
The board does not explain to the property owner how it arrives at the assessed value; rather, the property owner has to prove to the satisfaction of the board that the assessment is incorrect.
The assessment is derived from a complicated formula used by the Assessment Review boards. The board does not explain to the property owner how it arrives at the assessed value; rather, the property owner has to prove to the satisfaction of the board that the assessment is incorrect (i.e. too high). Note that your property taxes cannot be increased by the county or city just because you have contested your property’s assessed value. If you grieve the assessed value, the value will either remain the same or be reduced. Therefore, as a property owner, you have nothing to lose by grieving your property taxes. So, there is no reason not to file the grievance, except... You must certify as to the truthfulness of the information in your application. If you converted your garage into a playroom or bedroom and did not seek or obtain a permit or certificate from the building department – and you do not want the building department to know or for your taxes to increase due to increased habitable space – you have a problem. The application form asks a number of questions about your property (how many bedrooms and bathrooms, is there a finished/unfinished basement, have you improved your property in the last year, etc.) and you
value is higher than other homes in your area, it makes sense to grieve the assessment/tax. Please note that a grievance filed timely this year applies to the 2014-2015 tax year; any reduction in tax begins only in October, 2014. Assessments and taxes are set more than one year prior to their imposition. In addition, the assessed value for a Nassau County property will remain the same for at least two more years, so if you are successful in reducing the value/tax now, you will be in a good position as values and taxes rise over the next few years. Now that you have decided to grieve your property’s assessed value, you need to decide if you are going to contest the assessment or if you are going to retain the services of an attorney or other representative to do so. You do not need to be represented by an attorney or anyone else in the grievance process. If you represent yourself, however, you are limited to the information you can find concerning comparable homes in your community and knowledge of navigating the system. An attorney or other representative will likely have access to additional information, as well as experience and knowledge concerning comparable properties, which when presented may be more persuasive to your application. In addition, an attor-
ney will be familiar with procedural issues and the mechanics of the process. You only get one bite each year at the apple, so you want to make sure that you are presenting the strongest argument for value reduction that you can. Attorneys or other representatives are generally not paid for preparation and submission of your application; their fee is contingent upon a successful decision (i.e. the property’s assessed value is reduced). If the county or city agrees with the application and reduces the assessed value, the fee owned to the attorney or representative is generally one-third to one-half of the tax savings. If the application is not successful, the property owner generally does not pay for the attorney’s or representative’s services. If the application is denied, the decision may be appealed to a court which will review the findings. Due to Storm Sandy, the usual deadline for submission of grievance to your county or city by March 1st has been extended to May 1st. If you live in an incorporated village, that deadline of February 15th has certainly passed by the time you read this article. You can grieve the county or city assessment by May 1st (for the 2014-2015 tax year) and then grieve the village assessment (which may be different) between January 2-February 15, 2014. W. Zehava Schechter, Esq. specializes in real estate law, estate planning and administration, and business law. Her private practice is located on Long Island. Please send your comments to SchechterLaw@gmail.com. CNG Networking Group is an Orthodox Jewish networking group which meets in Queens and Long Island. The attorney sub-group of CNG specializes in the following areas of law: Trusts & Estates, Real Estate, Matrimonial, Criminal, Personal Injury, Trademarks/Copyright, Tax, Nonprofits, Bankruptcy, and Litigation. We welcome questions from readers on a wide range of legal matters. Please submit your legal questions to SchechterLaw@gmail. com. While we do not provide specific legal advice, we hope to present readers with a greater understanding of the issues presented and potential means of resolving difficulties. No column is a substitute for competent legal advice. Please consult with the attorney of your choice concerning specific legal questions you may have.
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My wife and I own the house in which we live. Our property taxes rose again this year. We read about property tax grievance procedures and are not sure where to start. What may we do to contest our property taxes?
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Lola's Story
Lola Lieber Schwartz
A World After This
A Memoir of Loss and Redemption Lola Lieber Schwartz is a world-renowned artist whose paintings have been exhibited in art galleries throughout the United States and are part of the Yad Vashem archives in Jerusalem. Most importantly, Lola is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to many. She has myriad friends and sees life in all its vibrancy and vitality. But life was not always easy. Lola was only sixteen-yearsold when Hitler ym”sh invaded Poland, and Lola was forced into hiding and spent years on the run with her husband, Mechel. Through six years of trying times, near
Chapter 9 Autumn Leaves of Loss
1
941. The summer of my wedding moved swiftly into an unusually early autumn. The air was cooler; the trees started shedding their leaves sooner. First, the leaves turned a bright, fiery red that would become a significant metaphor for us as they then dropped to the ground, dead and useless. My parents had gone to Plaszow, a town near Krakow, to be with Frieda and Moishe. They were taking an enormous chance to make a family visit to Frieda’s family, the Singers, at such a time, just as Frieda and Moishe had taken a chance to come to my wedding, but we could not persuade them to forgo the trip. They dressed in peasant clothing, which had become the costume of choice for Jews on the run. During their absence, the reports of Nazi advances continued to cause alarm among the community in Niepolomice. We were in the process of determining the accuracy of the information. Were the Germans really coming into the provinces, to places as marginally Jewish as Niepolomice? We did not have to wait long to receive confirmation of the reports. Early one morning, without any warning, as was their system, Nazi soldiers appeared at the home of my in-laws. My father-in-law, Hershel Lieber, was ordered to board a large flatbed truck. They were taking fifteen or twenty able-bodied men away from the village to work, but only for the day, they said. Hershel Lieber would return that night. My father-in-law was a man with merry eyes. He smiled a great deal of the time, and his eyes smiled right along with him. I thought in the time
that I was permitted to know him that much of Mechel’s personality and character came from his father. He loved Torah study. It wasn’t that he did it because it was an obligation; he studied for the love of it. He had a wellgroomed, square beard and his eyes were an unusual color, a sort of bluegray. In Krakow he had owned a fine linen and textile store. Their home and their store had been in one of the finest areas of Kra-
starvation and brutality, Lola and her husband held onto their faith and values. It was Mechel’s words of encouragement, “There will be a world after this,” that helped them cling to the hope that there will be a life of light and joy waiting for them at the end. This is the story of Lola’s life—from her grandparents’ “enchanted garden” to meeting Eichmann ym”sh to making the Pesach seder for the Bobover Rebbe during the war—her words will take you back to a different world.
knew that he was already too old to work and so it was unlikely he was going to a labor camp. Maybe she thought that by not having his sefer, he might somehow convince someone that he should be spared. I cannot know what she thought in those seconds, except that I am sure she had the same fears that consumed the rest of us. Hershel Lieber would not return that night or any other night. He had gone off into that seemingly endless
It was as if we were in a suspended state of permanent autumn, where all we would ever see would be the leaves falling as our families were taken from us, one by one, forever, unto eternity.
kow before the darkness of Hitler’s reign. By the time we got settled into Niepolomice, he had aged in accelerated time like my own father. He spent most of the time during that exile studying and taking naps. He no longer had any work and no professional identity. However, his Jewish identity and his faith in Hashem were untouched, despite it all. I do not remember my father-in-law ever uttering a cruel word or complaining about our situation. Of course, his face was etched with the same lines of loss and anticipation of loss as the others’. As the Nazis hustled Hershel off to the truck, my mother-in-law ran after him, frantically screaming, “Give me your sefer. You need to work. You won’t be able to work if you are studying.” In that instant, I forgave my mother-in-law completely for her ungenerous behavior about the tablecloth. She
night that had fallen upon us. It was as if we were in a suspended state of permanent autumn, where all we would ever see would be the leaves falling as our families were taken from us, one by one, forever, unto eternity. The last image I have of my fatherin-law is him refusing to give back the book. “The sefer will protect me,” he said. It did not protect him from death, but I understood even then that he meant a more important and spiritual form of protection than the black-andwhite temporal reality of life and death. The truck drove away. My motherin-law was hysterical and could not be comforted. Each man on the truck had been given a shovel. It was not long before the rumors came to us that the men were commanded to dig their own graves with those shovels. And then we heard that the Germans had executed them all in the woods
near Niepolomice. These were the very woods where Mechel and I had somewhat playfully courted just a brief time before. It was now a forest with blood-soaked earth – they had become the woods of death. It was a season of the leaves of loss, of powerlessness, of senseless mass murder. We continued to tell Mechel’s mother that as no bodies were found, perhaps Hershel Lieber really was in a work camp somewhere and someday we would all be reunited. She would not be consoled. She was not a stupid woman. She had deep faith but there was really no hope, and we knew he would remain forever absent. We could not state that aloud, even though we all felt the scorching burn of the truth in our hearts. It is now known that an execution of Jews in the Niepolomice forest occurred on or around August 27, 1941. A small gravestone records the names of only thirty-eight victims. Hershel Lieber’s name is not among them, but Eliyahu Richter testified to Yad Vashem that in fact 612 Jews from the area were murdered, including his own father. My dear father-in-law, a pious and good-natured man, who might have become a treasured member of my extended family, was undoubtedly a victim of that massacre. Autumn advanced inexorably in somber tones and a sense of unremitting despair settled on all of us. Our landlord, the mayor, came to Mechel one night and said that he had been informed of the Nazis’ next planned move on the Jews of Niepolomice. They intended to dispose of us like garbage, since that is how they thought of us. We would disappear, truckload by truckload. They would come back for the men, just as they had for my father-
without being arrested. We asked that he allow my now obviously widowed mother-in-law to leave with us. And, of course, we asked that he somehow find a way to get my parents to Bochnia. He said he would help our entire family, but that he had to do it gradually, one by one and two by two, in order to
pared to leave the village forever. We gave away whatever we had – clothing, dishes, a few miscellaneous articles, a bit of household bedding. We did not want to appear to be what we were: Jews running away to the next hopedfor refuge. I kept two towels. One was decorat-
avoid suspicion. The mayor told us which night we would leave and reminded us to be sure we looked like peasants. He said he would personally drive us to the station because as the mayor, nobody inspected his car to see if he were engaged in illegal activities. He might not have saved all the Jews of Niepolomice, but what he did for us was indeed a righteous act and one that he did at mortal risk to himself and his family. We pre-
ed with a pretty fringe; it was a lovely piece of linen. It was the only possession I would retain from my Krakow life. I dressed in many layers of clothing and looked convincingly like a chubby little peasant girl, padded as I was and carrying a basket of eggs to sell at the market. I did not look back at the station or take even a fleeting last glimpse at the village. Neither did I say good-bye to Niepolomice in my heart. Instead, I uttered my own fervent and
Today Niepolomice is a suburb of Krakow. About 21,000 people live there now. It enjoyed a temporary spurt of tourist activity following the release of the movie Schindler’s List, because it was the location chosen for the film. It continues to attract a fairly steady stream of upscale tourists with a welladvertised, half-hour bus ride from Krakow, combined with a fine dining experience at the old and famous royal castle. Throughout the 1990s it made a successful transition from communism to capitalism and a number of large international industrial conglomerates set up their operations there. The Jewish population today is, at last count, exactly zero. Continued next week
Lola wrote this book with the help of Alida Brill. A World After This was published in 2010 by Devora Publishing.
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I uttered my own fervent and silent prayer to Hashem to bring all of us together again inside the Bochnia Ghetto, whatever its conditions might turn out to be.
silent prayer to Hashem to bring all of us together again inside the Bochnia Ghetto, whatever its conditions might turn out to be.
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in-law. Again, they would say that they were only taking the men away for a day’s work. Then, once all the men were removed, they would come and eliminate all the women and children. The mayor was well informed. Jews were fleeing the countryside now in fear and moving back into the urban areas – to the Jewish Quarters, the ghetto areas. However, there was no more room in the designated Jewish Quarters. The Nazis wanted to simplify things. They wanted to kill us before we could reach those fragile and temporary havens inside the cities. The mayor took enormous risks when he told us that he would help us escape. Landlords, mayors, and other municipal officials were turning Jews over to the SS throughout Europe. His actions, had he been caught, would mean his own death, or deportation followed by certain death. He said we could either go back to Krakow or into the Bochnia Ghetto. We would, he said, have to leave in the darkest of night, by train, again dressed in the fake peasant attire everyone was in the process of acquiring. The Bochnia Ghetto had been established in the spring. Mechel and I reasoned that it might not yet be overcrowded, and we might be saved if we could get there
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r a e W g n i r Sp ! has arrived
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Why Go AWAy For PesAch?
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Current production is YOSHON. For more information, please see The Guide to Chodosh, section 8.1
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Susan Schwamm
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Leisure & Travel
From Sea to Shining Sea : Minnesota
I
can’t say that Minnesota would be my choice for a vacation spot, but if you are going there, there are many things for you and your family to do. First and foremost, you won’t go hungry in this state. Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, Green Giant vegetables and the Bundt pan are all Minnesota inventions. It is also home to the tallest Paul Bunyan Statue. The kneeling Paul Bunyan is 20 feet-tall and may even be 33 feet-tall if he were standing. Perhaps he made sure to eat his Wheaties while growing up there. Although Minnesota boasts 90,000 miles of shoreline—more than California, Hawaii and Florida combined—it is not a state known for its beautiful beaches. Instead, residents enjoy the famed skyway system that connects 52 blocks (nearly five miles) of downtown, making it possible to avoid the frigid temperatures and live, eat and shop without ever seeing the sun. Things You Won’t Want to Miss Split Rock Lighthouse If you’re looking for an amazing view of Lake Su-
perior and a trip back in time, make sure to put this landmark on your list. The lighthouse is restored to its 1920s glory and costumed guides lead visitors through its lighthouse, fog signal building and keeper’s restored home. There’s a beautiful state park here as well, where families an picnic, hike and camp near one of the Great Lakes. Make sure to bring a sweatshirt as cooler temperatures are the norm even in the summer months. Mall of America When there’s not much else to do and it’s freezing outside, why not do a little shopping? But here you won’t get just a little shopping in…the Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment destination in the nation. It’s the size of 78 football fields! Besides for the myriad stores here, the mall hosts over 400 events a year and there are attractions at the mall for the young and young-at-heart. Like to build? Visit the LEGO Imagination Center. Visit Nickelodeon Universe for cool rides, and the SEA LIFE Aquarium
takes you up and close with the fishes. Mystery Cave Not all about Minnesota can be found above ground. Some of its natural wonders are waiting to be explored just a few feet down under. Mystery Cave is home to a trove of treasures—stalactites, stalagmites and underground pools glisten underneath. Above ground, spend time in historic Forestville and tour a restored 1800s village. Fish, hike, go horseback riding, and enjoy the bold colors of the foliage in the spring and autumn. Character Challenge Course Want to prove to your buddies that you’re afraid of nothing? Spend a day here and prove your mettle. At the Character Challenge Course, guests zoom by on a 370-foot zip line, plunge off a 30-foot Giant Swing platform, and perform high ropes and low ropes challenges. Think it’s easy to maintain your balance on a 25-foot pole and then jump to a trapeze bar five feet away? Try this and then send me some pictures.
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j o i n u s Fo r o n e o F t h e s e
at
the
luxurious
beit shvidler r e t r e at c e n t e r
i n s p i r i nG Fa m i ly r e t r e at s o F
Chizuk & Inspiration
monsey, ny
Pre-Passover Inspirational Retreat FRIDA Y, MARCH 1 - SUNDA Y, MARCH 3, 2013
Shavuos Family Learnathon Seminar TUESDA Y, MA Y 14 - THURSDA Y, MA Y 16, 2013 (Slightly Higher Cost)
Newly Marrieds Refresher Retreat FRIDA Y, MA Y 31 - SUNDA Y, JUNE 2, 2013
In conjunction with mapseminars.com
Rabbi Avraham Braun
additional
Rabbi Doniel Frank
Rabbi J Rietti
mrs. chani juravel presenters rabbi label lam include : mrs. chaya reich
• W orld cl ass presenters • F ive star caterers & G ourmet • s uperb • W arm
cuisine
Rabbi Naftali Reich
Rabbi YY Rubinstein
mrs. rivky reich rabbi benzion shaFier mrs. miriam shira sWiatycki
Cost
$475 per couple
$120 per child (1+ yrs)
all taxes and gratuities included
kiddies and childcare proGram
Family environment
• m otzei s habbas e ntertainment and c hildren ' s c arnival
Enrollment limited to 25 families
Should your community wish to host an inspirational weekend at the luxurious Beit Shvidler conference center in conjunction with Ora V'Simcha or for a brochure and/or to apply, please contact
m rs . s hoshanna k irshner , Program Coordinator
845-216-3970 or email: sk@os.edu
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a division of ohr somayach monsey
T h eT HJ eE w s hI SHHo mH Oe MnE nm M a rAY c h2144, ,2012 2013 J Ei W
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From My Private Art Collection Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg
Some “Words of Wisdom” Referring to Artistic Qualities and Lingo
*A
ptitude—refers to a natural ability to learn with a quickness to succeed, a talent
*Bent—refers to a certain disposition, inclination or tendency *Creativity—refers to imagination and originality *Dexterity—refers to a skill in the use of your hands that portrays abilities and cleverness. *Ease—refers to a freedom from difficulties and a certain amount of easiness. *Exotic—refers to exceptional beauty that is unusual, different and intriguing. *Expertise—refers to knowledge and skill with experience that you are well versed in.
*Finesse—refers to an artistic style of behavior which has refinement and class.
*Flair—refers to a distinct amount of elegance, style and aptitude. *Gifted—refers to a natural ability that is revealing of a special talent. *Handiness—refers to the ability to use your hands in a creative way to create something. *Ingenuity—refers to cleverness in imagination. *Interest— refers to a specific concern. *Inventiveness—refers to using your talents to invent new ideas. *Juggler— refers to being able to balance many ideas at once. * K e e n eye—refers to a sharp eye while figuring it all out. *Knack—refers to a specific natural ability which a person owns. *Knowledge—refers to an understanding of the subject which comes from further study and research.. *Learning potential—refers to a person’s ability to learn new things and gain more knowledge on any subject. *Perfection—refers to the act of working on doing something better. *Proficiency—refers to the amount of expertise which a person has reached
in the performance of a task. *Talent—refers to the amount of ability one has from natural aptitude or from gained knowledge and practice. *Tangible—refers to an idea that is concrete and real. *Vibrant—refers to the amount of energy which exudes from a person or color, etc. * Vi v a cious—refers to the feeling of spirit and a large amount of liveliness. *Whimsical—refers to something that is playful and erratic in nature or in a person’s behavior. *Wholesome—refers to a healthy behavior which is free spirited and pleasant *Yearning—refers to a deep and intense longing for something. *Zest—refers to a gusto, a desire for a certain flavor in the creation of the moment. *Zealous—refers to a devotion to a cause which is enthusiastic.
Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg is a professional art educator, artist and designer. Among her known artwork is a floral sculpture presented to Tipper Gore, Blair House, Washington, D.C. Presently she is the Director of Operations at Shulamith School for Girls. Please feel free to email nherzberg@optonline.net with questions and suggestions for future columns.
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MESIVTA ATERES YAAKOV
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The Ruth and Hyman Simon High School
invites all alumni, fathers and members of the community to our
ANNUAL PRE-PESACH YARCHEI KALLAH March 17 17-20, 2013 Shacharis at 7:55 | Breakfast at 8:45
THURSDAY NIGHT MISHMAR MARCH 14, 2013
(FOLLOWED BY KUMZITS & CHOLENT!)
THE מלאכיםTHAT ACCOMPANY US
RABBI ELYSHA SANDLER
10:00 PM-12:00 AM
Day
9:30-10:00 (Haggadah Shiur)
Sunday
Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe
Monday
Rabbi Chezky Rodkin
Tuesday
Rabbi Yehuda Orlansky
Wednesday
Rabbi Yossi Bennett
March 17 March 18
March 19
March 20
Menahel
Ra”m, Bais Medrash 12th Grade Rebbe Assistant Menahel
10:00-11:45
11:45-12:30 (Iyun Shiur)
Seder
Rabbi Meir Braunstein, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Gedolah “ ”על“ או ”ל- ברכת המצוות:בענין
Seder
Rabbi Moshe Sokoloff, 12th Grade Rebbe איסור מלאכה בערב פסח:בענין
Seder
Rabbi Boruch Rabinowitz, 11th Grade Rebbe סוגיא בעניני פסח:בענין
Seder
Rabbi Elysha Sandler, 12th Grade Rebbe הלל בשעת שחיטת קרבן פסח:בענין
131 Washington Avenue | Lawrence, NY | 11559 | 516.374.6465 x 4031
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COMMON DIAGNOSES TREATED AT OUR FACILITY INCLUDE:
Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
eople make the mistake of hiding their valuables in the most rational and practical places. For example, in the back of a closet or locked up in a vault. However, I’m going to share with you the best place to hide something that you prefer never gets found: it’s called a refrigerator! Though it’s right there in plain sight, standing boldly in your kitchen, and often it’s only counter depth, yet there seems to be some magical compartment installed by the manufacturer where items hide out for months at a time without ever rearing their innocent heads. How I know this is that every year right around Passover I discover untold hidden treasures. For example, just this week I unearthed five bottles of that delicious horseradish, the one I am forced to purchase new weekly, even though we never use it up completely over the weekend. Suddenly, these lost jars have emerged from the caverns of never-never fridge. These bottles are just some of the items that were not there when we looked for them, and now have come forward boldly and confidently. So what life messages can we learn from this? 1. First, feel free to bury anything— your diamonds and jewels—among the cottage cheese and pickles. I have no reservations about sharing this hideout with you because it’s foolproof. You may not find them again, but more importantly, no one else will, not until they are ready to be found! 2. Second, don’t be so sure that there isn’t more than meets the eye in every situation. 3. Third, Hashem works in many unique and interesting ways And finally: 4. Don’t give up hope. Just because you can’t see results yet—whatever it is you want—don’t believe it’s not there. Who would have thought you could learn all this from an overstuffed, aromatic, innocent refrigerator?! Now do you want to talk dishwashers?! We are all looking for ways to know that Hashem is in our lives, that there is a plan for each one of us individually.
The word lama, “why,” is really made up of two parts, li and ma. “For what.” For what purpose has G-d given me this situation? “Why” creates a stopping point, a time to be puzzled and await an answer. “For what,” is a starting point. What message is here, what should I do now, this is a moving forward and searching point. Which brings me right back to the refrigerator. The message in life can be as simple as the one I’m getting from my fridge: Stop buying so much horseradish ,we’re good for the next couple of years, or the deeper message: look harder, search longer, don’t give up hope. Things may not be as bad as they seem. The sink may be telling you to work hard and put in all your energies, while the dishwasher is there to remind you sometimes it can happen more easily. The stove teaches us that some things need more time than others to get done. And the garbage disposal lets us know that at times we have to let go and move ahead. The freezer, of course, lets us know sometimes things are in a holding pattern, not yet ready to actualize. Just like the boy in the “freezer” in Lakewood who cannot date yet. Ultimately, we see there are lessons to be learned all around us; messages come from every source. And to think you probably thought your kitchen was just to eat in! So as I said, people think valuables are found in places that seem to make sense, but there are treasures to be found everywhere and in everyone, especially yourself. Just as a refrigerator is also there to prolong and preserve things at their best and keep items new and fresh, you can be the same way. Yes, sometimes what we are looking for may be elusive. But remember it may still be in there, somewhere, ready to be found—and will be— when you least expect it. So be like a fridge—keep cool…and have a faith-filled week! Rivki Rosenwald is a certified life coach and couples counselor. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.
• •
• • • •
•
• • •
Cindy Becker
Physical Therapist Certified Hand Therapist
516.508.2010 cindybeckerpt@gmail.com
•
Fractures/Dislocations Of The Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, And Hand Wounds/Lacerations Including Tendon And Nerve Injuries, Amputations And Burns Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Carpal Tunnel Release Repetitive Strain Injuries Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Ligamentous Injuries Including Sprains, Tears And Reconstructions Tendinitis/Tenosynovitis Including Trigger Fingers, De Quervains, Golf And Tennis Elbow Ganglion Cysts Arthritis/Joint Replacements Athletic Injuries/Performing Arts Injuries Shoulder Impingement, Replacements And Rotator Cuff Repairs
• 833 Central Ave Far Rockaway, New York 11691
We accept Medicare and most major insurance plans.
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Life Coach
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Classifieds Far Rockaway. brand New Construction, 2fam house, Lrg 3BR, 2baths over 6BR, 3baths, Lrg LV/DR, C/A, drvway, huge bsmt. Walk to the beach. Only $765K. Call 718-643-7700
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House For Sale in Far Rockaway Fully detached, move in condition, four bedrooms, one and half bathrooms, enclosed yard, eat in kitchen. Asking $575,000. 516-234-8665
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Queens-Upper Ridgewood. Fresh Pond Rd./Forest Ave area. Professional space for rent. Ideal for medical office. 1st floor handicapped access, around 1000 sqf. Call R.E. Agent for more info @347-8065414/Edyta - Grimaldi Realty Office space available for rent in Lawrence by owner. Shared waiting room with other health related professionals. Utilities covered and internet access available. mymanagement360@yahoo.com
Business Opportunity HOME BASED BUSINESS Looking for a reputable online business? Flexible hours, free training, great income and incentives, real support. Please visit www.selectfreedom.net to apply Can you spare it? Donate it. Clear out a closet and help a needy Heimishe family today. Tax deductible receipts available upon request. Call (866) GIVE2LIVE(448-3254)
Job Available Seeking a full time administrative assistant for a busy roofing company. Hours are M-Th 9am - 4pm & Fri 9am - 1pm. Skills must include: - The ability to multitask - Good phone skills -Basic bookkeeping - Proficient in MS Office - Proficient in Quickbooks Please email resume and salary requirements to info@islandexteriors.com or fax to 516 303 7664.
Office Manager Challenge EI Center F/T for Queens Office, mature, energetic, organized person with good computer skills and ability to multitask. Good Compensation pkg. Fax Resume 718-261-3702 Or email at cara.challenge2@thejnet.com
Local restaurant looking for responsible experienced shomer shabbos night time manager email relerner1@hotmail.com Office Manager Challenge EI Center F/T for Queens Office, mature, energetic, organized person with good computer skills and ability to multitask. Good Compensation pkg. Fax Resume Att: Cara: 718-261-3702 Or email at cara.challenge2@thejnet.com A wig salon in cedarhurst is looking to hire a full time shaitel macher with followers. (future potential partner ship) Please send resume by email tresjolieboutique@hotmail.com
A local girls camp is accepting staff applications for girls entering 9th12th grade and post high school for Summer 2013. You can fill out an application at campatara.com.
Experienced P-3 Provider, with M.S. in Education and Permanent N.Y. State Teacher Certification- Available to work with students in all grades Mondays through Thursdays- mornings until 11 A.M. and anytime after 5:30 P.M.; and Sundays anytime Please call Tsivia: 516-526-2385 COOKING FOR PESACH AT YOUR HOME Disciplined, hard worker is willing to cook Haimishe delicious meals at your home, following your Kashruth specifications. Ref. available. Call 917-741-4316.
Misc. Two rings found in Sh’or Yoshuv women’s restroom on Simchas Torah. Please contact Mrs. Dechter at 516-239-9002 x 0 Shaital gmach in Eretz Yisroel desperately needs shaitels. To be a part of this great mitzvah please call Peninia @ 347-6756526 Tizku L’mitzvos
Office Manager Challenge EI Center F/T for Queens Office, mature, energetic, organized person with good computer skills and ability to multitask. Good Compensation pkg. Fax Resume: 718-261-3702
FOUND Found ring a few months ago in the Stop & shop parking lot. Please call (718)327-3807.
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Lost white gold diamond bracelet/covered watch either at Kennedy Airport or in Boro Park. If found please call 347.578.4165
Executive Assistant: PT, Exec Assis for Lawrence office, Must have superb organizational & phone skills. Micr.Office experience, ability to sched & acquire appointments with top CEO's. Ability to multi-task a must. Email resume to chayaweinberg@yahoo.com.
Seeking Job Sh’or Yoshuv bochur looking for a job between 3/15 and 4/1 I own a car, speak fluent Spanish and have restaurant experience Please call 954-683-0597 or email stevenlechter@gmail.com if interested
The Yeshiva of Far Rockaway admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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Counseling 4 Success! Relationships, school, work, parenting. Solution-Focused. Teens, adults, children. 20 yrs experience. Warm, understanding, supportive. Confidential. Affordable. Rabbi Perry Schafler LCSW-R (516) 428-8525 Mailplace4-counseling@yahoo.com
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Mobile Websites Today 1 in 7 searches are from a mobile phone device Want your website especially designed for Smart Phones? Contact Alex, mobilemelon2@gmail.com Jewish Lower East Side Walking Tours given by licensed NYC tour guide specializing in the area. Once a bustling Jewish neighborhood with struggling immigrants. Come connect to your heritage and experience the gateway to “Di Goldneh Medinah”. Private, Group, School tours booking now. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. Call 516-652-4527 Skin Brilliance Laser Spa Professional sanitary and experienced laser hair removal services Right in the heart of KGH Affordable packages to meet your needs. By appointment only Call 718-801-3583 Cooking for Pesach at your home Disciplined hard worker willing to cook heimish, delicious meals at your home Following your kashrus specifications Refrences available Call 917-741-4316 Bubby babysitter available
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Electrician - Chandeliers, Shabbos timers, ceiling fans, AC lines, cameras, intercom For work. Call Michael Guberman more- 24-hour info please 917-681-1213 service call
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n February 22, 2012, a telescope in Spain discovered an asteroid, 150 feet across, in an orbit that would bring it uncomfortably close to earth. Astronomers reassured us that we would be safe – this time – but that it was “a wakeup call for the importance of defending the Earth from future asteroid impacts.” Last month, that asteroid, named 2012 DA14, passed within 17,200 miles of earth at a speed of nearly 17,500 miles per hour. That’s a hairsbreadth in cosmological terms – it actually flew under the ring of communications satellites orbiting earth before it headed safely back out into space. Earth isn’t always so lucky. Ironically, on the same day that 2012 DA14 flew by, a meteorite struck outside the remote Russian town of Chelyabinsk with the power of 30 atomic bombs. Amazingly, no one was killed. A century ago, a meteor broke up with similar force over Russia’s Tunguska forest, flattening an estimated 80 million trees. Again, amazingly, no one was killed. And just last week, astronomers discovered a comet that could strike Mars next year with an apocalyptic force equal to 25 million times the largest nuclear weapon ever tested on earth. But what if 2012 DA14 hadn’t passed harmlessly by? What if it had struck the earth, with its estimated 3.5 megatons of energy and 200 times the power of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima? What would our friends at the IRS have done?!? It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the doomsday preppers at the IRS have a well-established disaster plan. Internal Revenue Manual Section 10.2.10 outlines comprehensive continuity planning requirements for all sorts of emergencies, including “natural disasters, accidents, technological failures, workplace violence, and terrorism.” The goal, in all cases, is “to ensure the continuation of IRS mission essential functions under all circumstances.” And Section 25.16.1, updated
just last June, lays out pages of disaster assistance and emergency relief program guidelines So, what actually happens if a chunk of space rock takes out Washington or another major city? The plan assumes that the IRS will resume assessing and collecting taxes within 30 days of the strike. They might be authorized to make cash grants to survivors, or buy assets destroyed in the disaster (and even pay off any outstanding bank loans or mortgages). IRS employees could be reassigned to any job “regardless of and without any effect on the current positions or grades of the employee.” At one point, the Manual even appeared to give delinquent taxpayers a “Get Out of Jail free” card. “On the premise that the collection of delinquent accounts would be most adversely affected, and in many cases would be impossible in a disaster area, the service will concentrate on the collection of current taxes,” it said. Of course, that rule would apply only in the disaster area: “However, in areas where the taxpaying potential is substantially unimpaired, enforced collection of delinquent taxes will be continued.” Ouch! The tax code gives you plenty of breaks if your own stuff gets taken out from space. You can deduct unreimbursed damage caused by a meteor strike or other sudden, unexpected, or unusual event. You’ll have to reduce the amount of your loss by $100, then by 10% of your adjusted gross income. Then you’ll report the remaining amount on Form 4864. None of us like paying taxes – but you don’t have to wait for an asteroid strike to pay less. The real answer, of course, is planning. And if “continuity planning” is the answer for the IRS, tax planning is the answer for all of us. Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@ aol.com.
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NEW VOL. 3
שלא נאכל חלב: מצוה קמז/ צו 121 œ TZAV / MITZVAH
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ֵוְ עוֹד י ִ ,שׁ ִבּ ְב ֵה ָמה ִמלְּ �בד ֵאלּוּ �ה ְשּׁל ָֹשׁה ִ חוּטין ְוּקרוּמוֹת ֶשׁ ֲא סוּרין ִמשּׁוּם ָ זִ ְכרוֹנָ ם לִ ְב וְ ָא ְמרוּ. משּׁוּם ֵחלֶ ב ִ ר ָכה )שם פ”ט ע”ב( ֶשׁ �ה �טּ ָבּ ִחין �ה ְבּ ִק יאין ְבּנִ קּוּר �ה ֵחלֶ ב נֶ ֱא ָמנִ ין �על על �ה ָדּ ָבר ָכּל זְ �מן ָ ֶשׁלּ ֹא יָ ְצאוּ ֵמ ֶחזְ �קת ְבּ ִק ָ יאוּתן וְ �כ ְשׁ . רוּתן וְ ֵחלֶ ב �הלֵּ ב וְ ֵהן �ה �דּ ִקּין �ה ְמלֻ ָפּ ִפ,ְ וְ ֵחלֶ ב �ה ֵמּ �עיִ ם חוּץ ֵמר, ֻמ ָתּ ִר ְין ו� ֲה ֵרי הוּא ְכּ ֻשׁ ָמּן,ין מראשׁ ֹאשׁ ��ה ֵמּ �עיִ ם �ה ָסּמוּך ל ָ ֶשׁ,ֵקּ ָבה ֶשׁהוּא ְתּ ִחלּ� ת ְבּנֵ י ֵמ �עיִ ם , צּ ִריך ָה ָא ָדם לִ גְגרֹר �ה ֵחלֶ ב ֶשׁ ָעלָ יו TRANS
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TRANS
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the fat has the areas in the animal where of our mitzvah, and identifies Chinuch returns to the subject : (see introduction to this mitzvah) cheilev within the anithe status of cheilev and is forbidden [19] ְ — There are three areas of וּשׁל ָֹשׁה ֲחלָ ִב of kares if eaten intentionally: ים ֵהם ִבּ ְב ֵה ָמה ֶשׁ ֵהן ְבּ ִחיּוּב ָכּ ֵרת penalty the carry and therefore which is upon [20] mal that are forbidden Biblically (2) — וְ ֶשׁ �על �ה ְכּלָ יוֹתthat [22] ֵ that is upon the innards; וּפרוּשׁ ְשׁלָ ְשׁ ָתּן the flanks. (1) — ֶשׁ �על �ה ֶקּ ֶרבthe cheilev upon is which that [21] (3) — וְ ֶשׁ �על �ה ְכּ ָסלִ יםand explanation, the kidneys; three areas, with a detailed elucidation of these[23] — ְבּ ֵבאוּר ָר ָחב ִבּ ְמקוֹמוֹ �בּגְּ ָמ ָראThe the Gemara (Chullin 93a). can be found in its place in forbidden: is areas three these in fat found , have Chinuch notes that not all the Sages], of blessed memory ִ — As a general rule, [our ְ וּב כלָ ל ָא ְמרוּ זִ ְכרוֹנָ ם לִ ְב ָר ָכה ְבּ ֻחלִּ ין ֶ — ֵחלֶ ב ֶשׁ �ה ָבּ ָשׂרCheilev that חוֹפה אוֹתוֹ ֻמ ָתּר Chullin (ibid.): ְ — ֶשׁ �על �ה ְכּ ָסלִ ים ָא �מר �ר ֲח ָמנָ א וְ ל ֹא ֶשׁ ְבּfor stated the following in Tractate תוֹך �ה ְכּ ָסלִ ים is permitted, 3:4, 10, 15), “upon the flanks,” is covered over by meat (Leviticus Torah His in stated One l [24] regarding this cheilev, the Mercifu flanks, i.e., covered by its meat. not that which is within the
28
adds other parts of the animal
that are treated as cheilev by
Rabbinic law: cheilev is Biblically
Chinuch areas whose — וְ עוֹדAside from these three ִ — threads and יֵ שׁ ִבּ ְב ֵה ָמה ִמלְּ �בד ֵאלּוּ �ה ְשּׁל ָֹשׁה ִ חוּטין ְוּקרוּמוֹת ֶשׁ ֲא סוּרין ִמשּׁוּם ֵחלֶ ב also has within it
VOLUME 3
MITZVOS 131-183 PARSHIYOS TZAVMETZORA
Also available — Volume 1: Mitzvos 1-65 Volume 2: Mitzvos 66-130
[25] prohibited, the animal lly forbidden as cheilev. membranes that are Rabbinica trusting a butcher: ֶשׁ �ה �טּ ָבּ ִחין Chinuch cites a law regarding , have stated (ibid. 89b) Sages], of blessed memory cheilev [ — וְו ָא ְמרוּ זִ ְכרוֹנָ ם לִל ְב ָר ָכהOur s who are expert in excising butcher the that ִ — �ה ְבּ ִק יא ָכּל זְ �מן ין ְבּנִ קּוּר �ה ֵחלֶ ב נֶ ֱא ָמנִ ין �על �ה ָדּ ָבר all the forbidden cheilev, i.e., that they have removed of lost their presumed status may be trusted in this matter, not have they as long as — ֶשׁ ָ [לּ ֹא יָ ְצאוּ ֵמ ֶחזְ �קת ְבּ ִק26] ָ יאוּתן וְ �כ ְשׁ רוּתן expertise and trustworthiness. animal: the within fats permitted upon the [27] Chinuch now discusses other � — וְ ֵחלֶ ב �ה ֵמּand the cheilev ע ִי ם heart the of (i.e., the small in — וְ ֵחלֶ ב �הלֵּ בAs for the cheilev are the convoluted intestine — וְ ֵהן �ה �דּ ִקּין �ה ְמלֻ ָפּ ִפיןwhich have the same status as entrails, are permitted, and they are per — ֻ ְמ ָתּ ִרין ו� ֲה ֵרי הוּא ְכּ ֻשׁ ָמּןthese testine), — The fats upon the intestine חוּץ ֵמרֹאשׁ �ה ֵמּ �עיִ ם �ה ָסּמוּך ל� ֵקּ ָבה the intestine that is shuman, permitted fat. is upon the extremity of which that of n is the beginmitted, with the exceptio — ֶשׁהוּא ְתּ ִחלּ� ת ְבּנֵ י ֵמ �עיִ םwhich יך ָה ָא ָד ְ ֶשׁ ָצּ ִר fourth stomach), ם לִ גְ רֹר �ה ֵחלֶ ב near the abomasum (the the abomasum, from emerges it .[28] where ning of the intestine, that is upon [that section] to scrape off the cheilev — ֶשׁ ָעלָ יוas a person is required
NOTES
NOTES
in the meat is permitportion of cheilev that is enveloped but within them (Chulted, for it is not upon the flanks, ;ד’’הRambam, ibid. 7:7). lin 93a with Rashi חלב שהבשר nerves that branch out from 25. “Threads” refers to thin through the cheilev of the the spinal column and pass the cheilev that surflanks, and those that pass through ibid. )ד’’ה חוטים. It includes, rounds the innards (Rashi vessels that pass through as well, the nerves or blood the kidneys, as well as surrounds that membrane the the length of the spleen tothe major artery that runs 93a; Rambam ibid. gether with its branches (Chullin 64:11). “Membranes” refers 7:11; Beis Yosef, Yoreh Deah encase the spleen and kidto the thin fatty sheets that as the thin sheet that lines well as 93a), neys (Chullin l cavity, separating the inside of the entire abdomina the meat of the flanks from the digestive organs and their fats (ibid. with Rashi ד’’ה )חלב שהבשר. [These “threads” and membranes are forbidden only by Rabbinic law; see ibid. 92b, with Rashi ד’’ה אסורין וד’’ה ואין חייבין.]
NOW AVAILABLE! The Schottenstein Edition
sold by a butcher who 26. If cheilev is found in meats that butcher is no longer claims to have removed it, Maachalos Asuros 7:21). trusted (see Rambam, Hil. around the heart. One “fat” of areas two are 27. There s that encases the heart is the fibrous sac of membrane is a hard, thick layer of (pericardium), and the other the heart (the subepicardial white fat that sits on top of are permitted (see fats adipose body). Both of these 40:1 with Beur HaGra). Chullin 49b, Shulchan Aruch descriptions found in the [Many of the anatomical Chullin Illuminated by notes to this section are from a Publications, 5764). R’ Yaakov Dovid Lach (Hamesivt ns and photographs of See there for in-depth descriptio these structures.] of a ruminant, stomach fourth the is 28. The abomasum prohibited.
CZUKER FAMILY ELUCIDATION OF THE TORAH’S COMMANDMENTS
œ 120
ְ וּשׁל ָֹשׁה ֲחלָ ִבים ֶ , ֵהם ִבּ ְב ֵה ָמה ֶשׁ ֵהן ְבּ ִחיּוּב ָכּ ֵרת שׁ �על �ה ֶקּ ֶרב וְ ֶשׁ �על �ה ְכּלָ יוֹת וְ ֶשׁ �על ֵ , �ה ְכּ ָסלִ ים וּפרוּשׁ ְְשׁלָ ְשׁ ָתּן ְבּ ֵבאוּר ָר ָחב ִבּ ְמקוֹמוֹ �בּגּ ָ זִ ְכרוֹנָ ם ִלִ ְב ִוּב ְכלָ ל ָא ְמרוּ, (ָמ ָרא )שם צ”ג ע”א ֶ ֵחלֶ ב ֶשׁ �ה ָבּ ָשׂר,(ר ָכה ְבּ ֻחלִּ ין ְ)שם חוֹפה )ויקרא ,’ג (’ד ֶשׁ �על �ה ְכּ ָסלִ ים ָא �מר �ר ֲח ָמנָ א,אוֹתוֹ ֻמ ָתּר ְו ְ ו ל ֹֹא . א ֶשׁ ְבּתוֹך �ה ְכּ ָסלִ ים
) 147: NOT TO CONSUME (CHEILEV
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its mother was a tereipermit it for consumption when shechitah for a fetus that fah. (2) The requirement of its mother’s shechitah is stepped on the ground after of the regular disqualifiRabbinic, and therefore many shechitah. cations do not apply to this 3:3-4) that describes 19. In the Torah passage (Leviticus burned on the Altar, the the cheilev of animal offerings mentioned by Chinuch verses clearly list the three areas concludes passage below. That 17): with the words (ibid. v. ֵ �כּל ֵחלֶ ב ל ֹא ת, you may not . . . ֹאכלוּ consume … any cheilev. This the indicates that these are are same cheilev portions that in forbidden to be eaten even animals that were not brought as offerings (Maggid Mishneh, see Hil. Maachalos Asuros 7:5; above, note 4). [Cf. Minchas Chinuch §8, who suggests that there are more than three.] 20. This refers to the sheets the of fat that encase most of inanimal’s digestive system, cluding its stomachs and intestines. These sheets are known greater anatomically as the omenlesser the and omentum as tum (Rambam ibid. 7:5-6, explained by Aruch HaShulchan, Yoreh Deah 64:17; 138 see also above, Mitzvah possible note 31; for another
Chullin 50a )ד”ה בפלוגתא. explanation, see Keren Orah, See diagram on following page. that sits upon the kidneys 21. This refers to the fat surrounds that fat (see that and the outer membrane Rambam ibid. 7:12). of layers of muscle and 22. An animal’s flanks consist sides of the body and surfat that extend down the The fat referred to here round the abdominal cavity. is that which is visible toward the top of the abdomen, near the kidneys; see below, where this Chinuch further defines area. See diagram. and 23. The areas of forbidden permitted fats are further Ramin explained and defined bam ibid. Ch. 7 and Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah §64. Rama (ibid. 64:6) notes, however, that as a rule, one cannot practically by discern the forbidden fats way of a written text, but must be shown by an expert. the 24. The cited verse is from the passage that discusses the cheilev that is offered upon Altar; see above, note 19. The fat upon the flanks is abvisible toward the top of the but domen, near the kidneys, by then becomes concealed as layers of meat (i.e., muscle) The diagram). it descends (see © 2013, MPL. Reproduction
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