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Community Members Celebrate Chanukah at the White House 46 Yeshiva Har Torah Students Visit NYPD Precinct in Appreciation 71

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Cuba and the U.S. Shake Hands after a Five Decade-Long Embargo

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ROLE REVERSAL When Children Need to Parent their Parents PAGE 90

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From the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Community Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

News 9 22

Odd-but-True Stories

Friends Again: Cuba and the U.S. Shake Hands after a Five Decade Long Embargo 78 Israel Israel News

My Israel Home: Tzur Hadassah: An Alternative for Young Jerusalemites 86 People Role Reversal: When Children Need to Parent their Parents by Malky Lowinger 90 Aircraft Carriers Since World War II by Avi Heiligman 107 Parsha Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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Jewish Thought Middle of the Road by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Halacha Doing Business with Non-Jews on Their Holiday

Parenting Chinuch Workshops by Rabbi Chaim Morgenstern 95

This week, Malky Lowinger explores a topic that many of our readers face daily: what happens when mom or dad can no longer take care of themselves? It’s an emotional and sensitive topic on both sides. Our parents have been nurturing us even while we’re in the womb. They’ve been the ones to bandage our cuts, soothe our tears, and mend our broken hearts. Now, though, even the most simple of tasks have become complex for them and they need constant care. It’s a role reversal that neither side wants to happen, but it is a task that can be undertaken in the most kind and caring way. Have something on your mind? Want others to know what you think? Feel free to reach out to me at editor@fivetownsjewishhome. com. I look forward to hearing from you. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

National

When she came to America and went to the grocery store for the first time, Anna was amazed at the shelves groaning with foods of all kinds. She asked the grocer what time she should come every day to purchase the items; he didn’t understand the question—the food is here all day, any day. This is America. President Obama’s proverbial handshake last week with our neighbor to the south shocked many Americans. We are so used to the icy relationship we have had for years that we’ve become complacent with the status quo. But perhaps Mr. Obama is leading with the dictum of “keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” With Russia becoming more and more aggressive and as the economy plummets under Putin’s reign, it may be time to reach out to our enemies to ensure that the Russian leader’s slithering reach doesn’t extend vise-like to the Western Hemisphere.

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Dear Readers, A few years ago, on a warm Sukkos night, my parents hosted a young couple for the seudah. My mother knew the husband, Mark, a doctor from the hospital where she works. They were both very sweet and the meal was extremely enjoyable. But they were not the typical couple. Mark was from Russia; Anna was from Cuba. Eventually, the conversation turned to her life before she immigrated to the United States. Cuba is just 90 miles from the United States border but life there is something we cannot imagine. Anna spoke about not having aspirin to relieve headaches, about Band-Aids being smuggled in with relatives. She told us about people who she knew who died from strep throat because there was no antibiotics there to cure them. If you don’t wait on line in the morning for your loaf of bread, there won’t be any bread for you to eat in the afternoon.

7 THE JEWISH HOME

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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, Did you notice the protests and riots on Saturday night this week? There were thousands marching across the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge was closed down because too many were crossing in protest. Thousands were chanting and rioting… Oh wait, that totally didn’t happen. You see, it was only two NYPD officers who were assassinated in broad daylight while protecting New Yorkers’ lives. Despite the mayor intoning that “all lives matter,” it seems that his recent inflammatory statements dumping the NYPD under the bus reflected his sentiments a little more clearly to some New Yorkers. It’s funny—protesters in Ferguson have been chanting “Black lives matter.” The mayor has said that “all lives matter,” lumping everyone—including the shooter and including thugs and criminals—all in the same boat. I say that our police officers lives really matter. They put their lives on the line day-in and day-out protecting New Yorkers. They never know who they’ll encounter in a dark alley; they never

know who will pull out a knife or a gun or brandish a machete at them when they get dressed in the morning. These people deserve more than just a token catchphrase from the mayor. They deserve appreciation, they deserve gratitude, they deserve a thank you from every New Yorker who passes them by on the street. The next time you pass a NYPD officer on the street, thank them for their dedication in making New York great. Thank them for keeping New York safe. And thank them for saving our lives every day. Sheila Goodman Dear Editor, The national debt has increased over $7 trillion from $11 trillion just recently to a record $18 trillion over the past six years under President Obama with nothing to show for it. The debate will soon begin in Washington between the president and Congress about permitting our national debt to grow even more. What’s another trillion or two between friends? President Obama and Congress

should freeze overall spending. Any extension of the debt ceiling should be matched by corresponding real cuts in spending. Implement “pay as you go” budgeting, means testing for all government assistance and sunset provisions for agencies and programs that have completed their missions. End pork-barrel member item spending, stop paying farmers to not grow crops, and abolish corporate welfare subsides via tax deductions. Close down obsolete military bases abroad. Reduce United Nations and foreign aid to those who offer no support when needed. Have the IRS accelerate the collection of several hundred billion in uncollected back taxes owed by deadbeat individuals and corporations along with suspending billions in future tax refunds to those who continue failing to pay long overdue taxes or student loans. Stop wasting billions on the war on drugs. Everyone needs to do their fair share in bringing the budget deficit under control. It is time for government to destroy its own credit cards. Democrats and Republicans have

morphed into one Washington inside-the-Beltway party dedicated to staying in power regardless of the cost to taxpayers. Their philosophy is to increase spending above the rate of inflation. Liberals won’t say no to social welfare programs. Conservatives love any defense spending. Both support farmers and corporate welfare subsidies. How ironic that after winning the Cold War against the evil empire of Communism, it may be mismanagement of our economy that results in a decline of our standard of living. It may also end our reign as the world’s superpower as we become the world’s super-debtor nation. It is time for President Obama, incoming Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Senate minority leader Harry Reid, Republican House leader Boehner and Democratic House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi to come together on bipartisan basis and end this madness. Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck

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.

Readers Poll Winter is here! Do you usually ski during the winter months?

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The Week In News

On Monday night, 17,500 people joined in the latest demonstration against Islam in Dresden, Germany, celebrating the rise of the Pegida movement, a far-right populist movement in the country. The protest was organized by Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the West – a group that has grown rapidly since its first protest in October. Many have been stunned by its meteoric rise. About 4,500 counter-demonstrators marched through the city under the slogan “Dresden Nazi-free,” warning that there was no space for racism and xenophobia in the country that perpetrated the Holocaust. But most Pegida followers insist they are not Nazis but patriots who worry about the “watering down” of their Christian-rooted culture and traditions. They often accuse mainstream political parties of betraying them and the media of lying. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of the center-left Social Democrats called for concerned citizens to launch a “rebellion of the decent” against the anti-foreigner movement, saying “that’s the kind of public reaction we need now.” Pegida, born in a city that was part of Communist East Germany until the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago, has spawned copycat groups in western areas which have failed so far to attract similar crowds. Smaller clone groups rallied on Monday in the western cities of Bonn, Kassel and Wuerzburg, but they only drew up to 200 followers each and were all vastly outnumbered by counter-demonstrations that drew 20,000 nationwide. In Munich, the biggest anti-Pegida

Russia’s Financial Forecast Looks Gloomy

DECEMBER 25, 2014

On Sunday, a driver shouting, “Allahu Akbar,” plowed his car into a crowd in the eastern French city of Dijon. Thirteen people were injured when the Islamic man rammed his car into the mass of people; two people were listed in critical condition. Some news outlets reported that witnesses also heard the driver shouting that he was acting on behalf of “the children of Palestine” during the rampage, which lasted approximately 30 minutes and took place in four separate locations within the city. “The man, born in 1974, is apparently imbalanced and had been in a psychiatric hospital,” a source told AFP. His name has not been released yet but the 40-year-old was taken to a psychiatric hospital. Authorities were still searching for two other people believed to be in the car during the incident. The attack came the day after a French convert to Islam was shot dead after attacking three police officers with a knife while also reportedly crying “Allahu Akbar” in the central town of Joue-les-Tours. Just one day after Sunday’s attack, a second attack involving a car hit pedestrians late Monday, injuring 10 people. The act of terrorism took place in the western town of Nantes, crashing into a market crowded with people prior to the holidays. After the intentional crash, the 37-year-old driver stabbed himself several times and was then sent to the hospital. The Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations have repeatedly called for attacks against France, possibly because of the French military’s participation in U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq. Some extremists have specifically suggested that anyone angry at the French government could use weapons easily at hand — such as cars or knives — to stage “lone wolf” attacks.

march was held with at least 12,000 rallying under the banner “Make space – refugees are welcome.” “We have space for people of different skin color, ethnic origin and mother tongue,” city mayor Dieter Reiter told the crowd. “We have space for all religions and believers: for those who go to the mosque on Fridays, who go to the synagogue on Saturdays, or to church on Sundays, but also for those who prefer to just stay home.” The movement has emerged at a time when Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has become the continent’s top destination for asylum seekers, and the world’s number two destination for migrants after the United States. The influx of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and several African and Balkan countries has strained local governments, which have scrambled to house the newcomers in old schools, office blocks and army barracks. Chancellor Angela Merkel has cautioned Germans against falling prey to any form of xenophobic “rabble-rousing,” while other lawmakers have spoken out against the new “pin-striped Nazis.”



France Rocked by Terrorist Acts

17,500 Protest Islamization in Germany

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Global

Russia’s government has pushed the country into an economic crisis by not tackling its financial problems fast enough, former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said this week, warning the full effects would be felt next year. Kudrin, who is a favorite of investors, is credited with building Russia’s $170 billion worth of sovereign wealth funds. He added that sanctions over Ukraine were primarily behind the collapse of the ruble and warned that Russia risked seeing its debt downgraded to junk status in 2015. “Today, I can say that we have en-

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News tered or are entering a real, full-fledged economic crisis. Next year we will feel it clearly,” Kudrin said at a news conference. “The government has not been quick enough to address the situation ... I am yet to hear ... its clear assessment of the current situation.” Kudrin, one of few to criticize President Vladimir Putin, quit in 2011 in protest of proposals to increase defense spending. He has since criticized Putin’s response to Western sanctions imposed following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and its subsequent support for loyalist fighters. But the two men are still believed to be close. Russia has been hit by what Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev calls a “perfect storm” of plummeting oil prices, sanctions and a flight of investors’ capital. Government officials have tried to minimize the impact of sanctions on the ruble, which plunged last week despite a hike in interest rates to 17 percent. Putin claims “external factors” like oil were the key culprit behind the country’s “tough times.”

Iran Unveils Monument to Jewish Martyrs

At a public ceremony last week, Iran unveiled a monument dedicated to Jewish soldiers killed in the 19801988 Iran-Iraq War. This tribute came as a shock in a country with a notorious antagonistic stance towards the Jewish people and state. Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, posted photos of last Monday’s ceremony with the headline, “Monument to Jewish Martyrs Unveiled in Tehran.” The photo was captioned, “Iran

on Monday unveiled a monument to the Jewish citizens who lost their lives in the 8-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran.” The monument, a large gold slab, contains inscriptions in Farsi as well as a plaque featuring an artistic representation of the Hebrew phrase, “Shalom olam.” It was placed in a Jewish cemetery in Tehran. Another slab has a tiled illustration of a gold menorah set against a royal blue background. Officials spoke at a dais flanked by the Iranian flag and a large seven-stemmed menorah. Banners showed images of fallen Jewish soldiers, who were hailed as “martyrs” in both Farsi and Hebrew. Photos of the event also depict a large group of Jews praying and visiting tombstones in the ceremony. At the time of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, there were approximately 140,000-150,000 Jews living in Iran; according to the most recent Iranian census, the current Jewish population of Iran is 8,756.

Spanish Princess May Face Jail Time

King Felipe VI’s sister during a fouryear probe seriously tarnished the Spanish monarchy’s image and were seen as extreme examples of royal excess as the country’s unemployment rate rose sharply and the economy nose-dived and nearly imploded in 2012. The case centers around allegations that Urdangarin used his Duke of Palma title to embezzle about 6 million euros ($7.4 million) in public contracts through a nonprofit foundation he set up with a business partner that channeled money to other businesses, including Aizoon. Cristina’s lawyers have long proclaimed that she is innocent. Prosecutor Pedro Horrach recommended charges for Urdangarin carrying a possible sentence of 19½ years in prison, insisting Cristina should not be indicted but ordered to pay to pay 580,000 euros ($711,000) to cover the amount she could have profited because of her husband’s alleged illegal dealings. Castro had the option of accepting Horrach’s recommendations or sending Cristina to be tried by a different judge. The case will probably go to trial at the end of 2015 in Palma de Mallorca in Spain’s Balearic Islands, where most of the alleged offenses occurred.

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The Spanish royal family has been having a rough time. A judge this week ordered the king’s sister, Princess Cristina, to be tried along with her husband on charges of tax fraud — making her the first member of the country’s royal family to face charges in court since the royalty was restored in 1975. In issuing the indictment, Judge Jose Castro went against a prosecutor’s December 9th recommendation that Cristina should be fined and that only her husband, Olympic handball medalist turned businessman Inaki Urdangarin, should be tried. He set bail for her at 2.7 million euros ($3.3 million) and 15 million euros for Urdangarin. If convicted, the 49-year-old Cristina could face up to four years in prison. Suspected abuse of company funds to cover the couple’s expenses at their Barcelona home, salsa dancing classes and stays at luxury hotels is among evidence Castro has compiled about Aizoon, a real estate and consulting firm the couple co-owned. The legal troubles of

North Korea said that President Barack Obama is “recklessly” spreading rumors of a recent Pyongyang-orchestrated cyber-attack against Sony Pictures. The response came along with a threat of strikes against the White House, the Pentagon and “the whole U.S. mainland—that cesspool of terrorism.” Such rhetoric is routine from North Korea’s massive propaganda machine during times of high tension with Washington. But a long statement released by the powerful National Defense Commission also underscores Pyongyang’s sensitivity to a film produced by Sony whose plot focuses on the assassination of its leader Kim Jong Un. The U.S. blames North Korea for the cyber-attack that escalated to threats of terror attacks against U.S. movie theaters and caused Sony to cancel The Interview’s release. Obama, who promised to respond “proportionately” to the attack, told reporters that Washington is reviewing whether to put North Korea back on its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Continued on page 14

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The Week In News National Defense Commission, led by Kim, warned that its 1.2 million-member army is ready to use all types of warfare against the U.S. “Our toughest counteraction will be boldly taken against the White House, the Pentagon and the whole U.S. mainland, the cesspool of terrorism, by far surpassing the ‘symmetric counteraction’ declared by Obama,” said the commission’s Policy Department in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea has said it knows how to prove it had nothing to do with the hacking and proposed a joint investigation with the U.S. North Korea and the U.S., which fought each other in the 1950-53 Korean War, remain technically in a state of war because the conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to deter aggression from North Korea. The rivals are locked in an interna-

tional standoff over the North’s nuclear and missile programs and its human rights abuses. In the spring of last year, tension dramatically rose after North Korea issued a string of fiery threats to launch nuclear strikes against Washington and Seoul.

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If you were running the country of Jordan and you were ending an eightyear suspension of the death penalty, how would you celebrate? Well, Jordan celebrated by hanging eleven men in one day. The men were executed at dawn in a prison about 45 miles from the capital Amman. Authorities said the men were all Jordanians convicted on murder charges, with no links to politics or extremism, in 2005 and 2006. Those who were hanged were mostly in their forties. Jordan’s last executions were in June 2006 and 122 people have since been sentenced to death. Experts say the government is responding to a rise in Jordan’s crime rate. “The authorities have been confronted in recent years with a wave of violence, criminality and murders and want to meet the challenge by opting for deterrence and the renewed application of the death penalty,” said Oraib Rantawi, head of Amman’s Al-Quds Centre for Political Studies. Human rights groups denounced the ending of the moratorium, saying it would make little difference to rising crime. “We are surprised by this decision, which is a step back for Jordan,” said Taghreed Jaber, the regional director for Penal Reform International. The head of Jordan’s Adallah (Justice) rights group, Assem Rababa, said the country’s authorities would be better off tackling the root causes of crime. “Political and economic problems are fostering crime,” he said. “The authorities should not make a headlong rush [into executions] while ignoring these problems.” A number of countries in the Middle East continue to impose the death penalty for serious crimes, including Jordan’s neighbor, Saudi Arabia, which has executed 83 people so far this year. China by far carried out the most executions in 2013, numbering in the thousands, followed by Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States, human rights group Amnesty International said in a report in March.

15 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News

Shaking Hands with Cuba

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Last Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced that the United States and Cuba will begin talks regarding reestablishing diplomatic relations. Neither country has had an embassy or ambassadors on each other’s soil since 1961. “Today America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past, so as to reach for a better future for the Cuban people, for the American people, for our entire hemisphere and for the world,” Obama declared at the White House. This shift in attitude is most likely a response to Cuba’s release of Alan Gross and to the U.S.’s release of three con-

victed Cuban spies in an exchange that officials are insisting is not a “swap.” Of course, as with any political policy, there are supporters and those who strongly oppose. “To those who oppose the steps I’m announcing today,” Obama announced, “let me say that I respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy. The question is how we uphold that commitment. I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result.” Apparently, for the last year and half, America had been engaging in secret negotiations with Cuba, since the spring of 2013. The first meeting of top officials was hosted by Canada, then there was a series of cautious exchanges there and at the Vatican, a rare letter from Pope Francis urging Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro to find common ground, a final meeting at the Holy See this fall, and finally a 45 minute phone call between Castro and Obama on Tuesday. Fidel Castro was not a part of the negotiations, top U.S. officials told reporters. Practically speaking, better ties will make it simpler to travel to the island

that’s just 90 miles from the shores of Florida and return with consumer goods including legendary Cuban cigars.

ISIS Kills Dissenters

This should come as no surprise, but once you join ISIS, it’s really hard to quit. The Islamic State extremist group has executed 100 of its own foreign fighters who tried to flee their headquarters in the Syrian city of Raqqa. ISIS fighters there said the group has created a military police to clamp down on foreign fighters who do not report for duty.

Dozens of homes have been raided and many jihadists have been arrested. Some jihadists have become disillusioned with the realities of fighting in Syria, reports have said. According to the British press in October, five British citizens, three French, two Germans and two Belgians wanted to return home after complaining that they ended up fighting against other rebel groups rather than against Assad’s regime. The Islamic State is holding them captive. There have been a string of apparent setbacks for ISIS in recent weeks. Since a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes against ISIS in August, the extremist group has lost ground to local forces and has seen the number of its fighters killed rise significantly. Iraqi Kurds claim to have broken a siege on a mountain where Yazidi civilians and fighters have long been trapped. The Kurdish advances came during a two-day blitz in the Sinjar region involving 8,000 peshmerga fighters and some of the heaviest airstrikes since a U.S.-led coalition started an air campaign four months ago. Just last week the Pentagon said several ISIS leaders had been killed in recent U.S. airstrikes.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News

Dreidel Record Topped

A recent Lebanese news report said that Hezbollah recently exposed a senior spy working for the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency within its foreign operations branch. According to the report, the Mossad agent had been responsible for the personal security of the head of

Syria: Israeli Drone Shot Down

Syrian authorities have claimed that they shot down an Israeli drone in the province of Kuneitra near the Golan Heights. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), quoting a military source, reported that the Skylark 1 drone was flying above the village of Hadar when

More High-Tech Defenses on the Way In a new and far-reaching development, the David’s Sling defense system will now be able to intercept projectiles

beyond Israel’s borders, according to a senior official from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

“David’s Sling has an interception range which ensures intercept before a threat enters Israeli territory. David’s Sling can intercept any rocket or missiles inside the atmosphere, and over enemy areas,” Ari Sacher of Rafael’s Air Superiority Systems Division said. The system can shoot down incoming warheads regardless of whether they are conventional or carrying an unconventional warhead, Sacher added. “Two David’s Sling batteries will cover the whole of Israel,” he said. “It protects Israel against strategic threats, and has the range, the speed and the maneuverability to do so.” It can intercept medium-range rockets and missiles, includ-

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Mossad Spy Infiltrated Top Hezbollah Ranks

it was shot down. SANA posted photos of a UAV featuring labels in Hebrew. An IDF spokesperson denied the report, saying that it had no information about a UAV being present in the area at the time of the reported incident. Israel has struck Syria several times since the start of the latter’s nearly four-year civil war, mostly destroying weaponry such as missiles that Israeli officials said were destined for their long-time foe Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Kuneitra has seen heavy fighting between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels including al Qaeda-linked fighters. Syria said last week that Israeli jets had bombed areas near Damascus international airport and in the town of Dimas, near the border with Lebanon.

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Almost 800 people took a world record for a spin this week with a huge simultaneous dreidel spin. Participants in the Tel Aviv event included Member of Knesset Tzipi Livni and other local and national leaders. With Guinness World Record officials monitoring the 200-meter-long table, 754 adults and children successfully spun dreidels for 10 seconds in a row at the city’s Sarona shopping compound. The previous record held was for 377 dreidels. “We came here today to break a positive record,” Livni said. “It’s upon all of us to continue to create a better, more optimistic reality for our children and for all of Israel.” Draydel House, a store known for creating luxury ceramic dreidels, provided all of the spinning tops. Interestingly, the store also holds the record of having made one of the largest dreidels in the world.

the terror group. In the past few days, several high-ranking members of the terror organization have been dismissed since the traitor had been exposed. According to a Kuwaiti newspaper, the double agent, a southern Lebanon businessman known only by the acronym M. Sh., guarded Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the past. Nasrallah is thought to be a top target for Israel and rarely makes public appearances for fear of assassination. The Kuwaiti report said the spy played a role in the 2008 assassination of senior Hezbollah member Imad Mughniyeh. The spy worked as a traveling businessman and was recruited by the Mossad in a “western Asian country.” The collaborator had been working for Israel for years and succeeded in thwarting a number of Hezbollah operations planned to avenge the assassination of Mughniyeh in February 2008, ostensibly by Israel. Mughniyeh’s assassination was considered a major blow to the terror group. Israel has never claimed responsibility, but Hezbollah has blamed Jerusalem for the attack and has vowed to take revenge. M. Sh. also reportedly exposed other Hezbollah agents, including Mohammed Amadar, arrested in Peru in late October with TNT and detonators following a Mossad tip-off; Hossam Yaacoub, convicted in Cyprus for planning attacks against Israeli tourists in March 2013; and Daoud Farhat and Youssef Ayad, arrested in April 2014 in Bangkok for planning terror attacks against Israeli tourists in Thailand.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News ing many of Hezbollah’s projectiles, as well as hostile aircraft, missiles with longer ranges and cruise missiles. Unlike the Iron Dome, which was developed exclusively by Rafael, the Israeli defense giant is developing David’s Sling jointly with the U.S. defense firm Raytheon. The system is entering the production stage and will have initial operational capability in 2016. The company has been extremely busy. Rafael is also waiting for the Defense Ministry to respond to its offer to equip the army’s light tactical vehicles, such as jeeps and the Wolf Armored Vehicle, with its active defense system, known as Trophy LV. Merkava MK 4 tanks are already fitted with Trophy HV, which intercepted antitank missile and rocket-propelled grenade attacks in the Gaza Strip on many occasions during last summer’s war with Hamas. The IDF has begun fitting the Namer armored personnel carrier with Trophy HV as well. Trophy HV provides 360-degree defense against RPG threats. Its radar detects and tracks incoming RPGs and activates an electro-optic system that fires an interceptor from the vehicle’s roof downward to neutralize the threat.

Yiftah Kleinman, marking and business development manager at Rafael’s Advanced Armored Systems Directorate, said the system allows lighter vehicles to move through built-up areas teeming with terrorists armed with RPGs and enables significantly safer border patrols.

Israeli App Gives New Life to the Disabled

A new smartphone app has been developed to help those with disabilities easily perform everyday activities. Wheelchair-bound for nine years, quadriplegic electrical power engineer Giora Livne is hoping his new application will

change the world for those with disabilities. Determined to use a smartphone, Livne joined forces with app developer Oded Ben Dov to create a device that responds to head movements. And the result is an astonishingly smart phone called the Sesame Phone. The Sesame Phone is customized to the user’s face and allows them to select applications and move the cursor. “I can do everything with the phone. I can call, I can receive calls, I can use SMS, WhatsApp, I can play games and in the very, very near future, I will be able to operate a lot of things at home,” Livne said. Livne has even more ambitious plans for his next project. “The next step will be driving the car with the iPhone, or with the telephone, and of course, my aim is to get to the moon with the phone.” Sesame has tested the phone on 10 different users with different forms of paralysis. Chani Shalevet, a quadriplegic, was one of the testers. “From my personal account, I still don’t have communication with the outside world, in terms of technology, and the progressive world, and with this application, an

opportunity has opened up and gives me and many people an equal chance to be like everyone,” Shalevet raved. While the phone has been designed for the mobility-impaired, Ben Dov believes it may have wider appeal. “You can imagine using it in the kitchen while you’re cooking and your hands are messy, while driving perhaps, any task that revolves [involves] your hands and you need to do something on top of that.”

Bank Leumi to Pay US $400M

After admitting to helping U.S. taxpayer hide assets, Israel’s Bank Leumi

The Week In News

Average Israeli Living in Debt

A new report by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies has found that the average Israeli household spends hundreds of shekels more than its monthly income. The difference seems to be primarily due to high housing costs, which have climbed by 53 percent between April 2007 and July 2013. The report was met with fierce condemnation against the government by prime minister hopeful Isaac Herzog, who said it demonstrated that it was time to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, “who placed the entire country in overdraft.” “The average Israeli family cannot make ends meet; across all population groups in Israel, expenditures exceed income,” a statement from the Taub Center said. “High housing prices are the primary reason for this phenomenon, and for [non-ultra-Orthodox] Jews, the purchase of an apartment is the factor that shifts them from a positive to a negative monthly balance.” “The average household cannot purchase an apartment without assistance, which usually comes from their parents’ gradually decreasing savings,” it added. Among all populations except for the ultra-Orthodox and Arabs, the average household spends NIS 864 ($220) more than its monthly income. Among Arab households, the gap stands at NIS 1,919 ($488), and the ultra-Ortho-

EU Removes Hamas from ‘Blacklist’

DECEMBER 25, 2014

dox exceed their income by NIS 3,209 ($817). With regard to the housing crisis, the Taub Center researchers found that overall more people owned homes in 2012 (73.5%) than in 2006 (72.3%). The higher prices took its toll on younger buyers, however, as among younger households, between the ages 25-34, the number of non-homeowners rose from 43% in 2003 to 54% in 2012. The cost of food products also saw a significant increase since 2005, the report said. “In 2005, most food products in Israel were cheaper, but within six years alone, all food categories (aside from vegetables and fruit) have surpassed international averages,” it said. “Dairy products in Israel were only 6% more expensive than the average in 2005, but were 51% more expensive in 2011; fish products were 30% cheaper in 2005, but were 25% more expensive than the OECD average in 2011.” A separate report released by the National Insurance Institute showed that 1.6 million Israelis — among them 756,900 children — continue to live under the poverty line.

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accounts secret and undetected from the U.S. government; and after the department’s investigation into UBS and other Swiss banks’ criminal conduct in aiding U.S. taxpayers to evade their taxes became public, the Bank Leumi Group opened and maintained accounts for U.S. taxpayers who left UBS and other Swiss banks due to the investigation in an effort to continue to avoid detection by the U.S. government.”

According to the European Union’s top Israel emissary, the EU court’s decision to remove Hamas from its blacklist will have absolutely no practical implications. To be clear, he reiterated, the European Union still considers Hamas a terrorist organization. Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen said he understood why Israeli officials are worried about the court ruling, since Hamas is “deliberately mischaracterizing” it, but added that he believes that he was able to alleviate their worries. “It’s a technical, procedural decision

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Group will pay a total of some $400 million to U.S. and New York authorities to settle a criminal probe, the Department of Justice announced on Monday. Some senior staff at the bank will be terminated as well. Bank Leumi agreed to pay $270 million to the U.S. Department of Justice, $156 million of which is a fine for U.S. taxpayer accounts held at the bank’s Swiss subsidiary, and $130 million to New York’s Department of Financial Services. From at least 2000 until early 2011, Bank Leumi sent private bankers from Israel and elsewhere to meet with U.S. taxpayers and help them conceal assets at Leumi locations in Israel, Switzerland and Luxembourg, documents revealed. According to prosecutors, Leumi, a unit of Bank Leumi le-Israel, also helped U.S. taxpayers prepare and present false tax returns. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, Leumi agreed to supply information on more than 1,500 US account holders. The Justice Department said the case marks the first time an Israeli bank has admitted to such criminal conduct. According to a report in Forbes magazine, the statement of facts in the case included the following main accusations: “surreptitiously sending private bankers from Israel and elsewhere around the world to the United States to meet secretly with U.S. clients at hotels, parks and coffee shops to discuss their offshore account activity; assisting U.S. clients in using nominee corporate entities created in Belize and other foreign jurisdictions to hide their undeclared accounts by concealing the U.S. client as the true beneficial owner of the account; using the Bank Leumi le-Israel Trust Company as a nominee account holder for U.S. clients with accounts in Israel to conceal the U.S. client as the true beneficial owner of the account; maintaining U.S. clients’ undeclared offshore accounts under assumed names or numbered accounts to conceal the U.S. client as the true beneficial owner of the account.” The report also said the bank was guilty of “providing hold mail services so that correspondence and other account information would not go directly to the U.S. client to make it more difficult to connect the client to the secret offshore account; extending loans to U.S. clients from Bank Leumi USA that were collateralized by the assets in those clients’ offshore accounts, so that the clients could leverage their offshore assets to obtain and use capital in the United States while keeping their foreign

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News that the court has reached. It doesn’t change the political position of the EU vis-à-vis Hamas, which is still that it’s a terror organization,” Faaborg-Andersen said. “It’s important to point out that this has no immediate effect in terms of unfreezing the sanctions that we have against Hamas. We have an asset freeze against Hamas and Hamas members and that will stay in place.” The EU will continue to adhere to the so-called “Quartet principles,” Faaborg-Andersen said, implying the Union would refrain from interacting with Hamas as long as the group doesn’t renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist. All EU sanctions against Hamas — mostly the freezing of funds — will stay in place for three months. The EU plans to appeal the court’s decision, Faaborg-Andersen said, noting that sanctions against Hamas would remain in place for the duration of the entire appeal process. The verdict’s impact “on the ground is null; it doesn’t have any practical effect,” he restated. Despite the assurances, “we are not satisfied with the European Union’s explanation that the removal of Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations is a ‘technical matter,’” said Prime Min-

ister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The burden of proof is on the European Union and we expect it to put Hamas back on the list forthwith, given that it is understood by all that Hamas — a murderous terrorist organization, the covenant of which specifies the destruction of Israel as its goal — is an inseparable part of this list.” Commenting on the court decision as well as on the current wave of European parliaments calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu said it seems “that too many in Europe, on whose soil six million Jews were slaughtered, have learned nothing.”

Clinton: Reflections on Rabin This week, in celebration of Yedioth Ahronoth’s special 75th anniversary issue, former President Bill Clinton sat down with the paper to answer questions regarding his involvement in the peace process and his relationship with late Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. Clinton revealed what moment

moved him the most in his involvement in the peace process. “The last time Rabin came to Washington, we had a signing ceremony in the White House for the first big handover of land in the West Bank from Israel to the Palestinian Authority,” Clinton related. “…Rabin and Arafat met in the Cabinet Room to initial the annex to the agreement, which included several different maps, each reflecting the results of difficult negotiations on control of a multitude of roads, crossings, settlements, and holy sites. About midway through the process, I needed to step out to take a call. A few minutes later, Rabin came out and said, ‘We have a problem.’ On one of the maps, Arafat had noticed a crossroads that he was convinced the parties had agreed to turn over to the Palestinians, but was marked as remaining under Israeli control. Rabin and Arafat wanted me to help resolve the dispute. I took them into my small private dining room off of the Oval Office, but then I left them there, alone together for the first time, to come to a decision without any intermediaries.” But then, the problem was resolved. “Within a few minutes, they came out of the room and Rabin said, ‘He’s right. It’s his.’ In other words, the map was wrong. … Rabin said he would hand over control of the crossroad immediately. When I reminded Arafat that by signing the maps the way they were, he was technically signing away his legal rights, he looked at Rabin and replied, ‘His word is worth more than any written contract.’ The level of trust Rabin inspired even in his long-time adversary was an amazing testament to his values, his character, and his understanding that trust is always more precious than words.” Clinton related that one of the special moments he shared with Rabin involved a tie. “About ten days before his death, Rabin and I attended a black-tie dinner together at the State Department, where he presented me with the United Jewish Appeal’s Isaiah Award. As everyone knows, Rabin had been a soldier most of his life, and so he was never comfortable wearing fancy clothes. In fact, I had read that when David Ben-Gurion sent him on his first-ever diplomatic mission in 1949, he didn’t even own a tie. Somebody had to give him one, tie it, and then loosen it, so he would never have to learn how to tie one himself. “In 1995, just before our black-tie dinner, he discovered that he’d only brought a straight tie, not a bow tie as the occasion warranted. We borrowed a bow tie from one of my staff, and my

last memory of our time together was me straightening his bow tie, with him good-naturedly kvetching the whole time about having to wear it. The moment will always remind me that while Yitzhak Rabin was a great man, he was also an ordinary yet interesting man. He was also a joy to be with and to work with, and he made you feel better just being around him.”

Clinton also spoke about the day that Rabin was assassinated. “I’d been enjoying a rare, relaxed day in the White House residence when my National Security Advisor, Anthony Lake, called to tell me that Rabin had been shot while leaving a huge peace rally in Tel Aviv. … I called Hillary, who was upstairs working on her book, and told her what had happened. She came down to comfort me. About twenty-five minutes after his first call, Tony called again to say that Rabin’s condition was grave, but he knew nothing else. I left the residence and went to the Oval Office, but I couldn’t concentrate and I wanted to be alone. I grabbed a putter and a couple of golf balls and headed for the putting green on the White House South Lawn, where I prayed to G-d to spare Yitzhak’s life, hit the ball aimlessly, and waited. About fifteen minutes later I looked up to see Anthony Lake walking down the stone path that led from the Oval Office, and from the look on his face, I knew that my friend was gone.”

National NYPD Loses Two Heroes It was a tearful week for New York City as two policemen were callously murdered while serving our city. A gunman fatally shot two officers in their squad car on Saturday at 2:47pm in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Ismaaiyl Brinsley fled into a nearby subway station where he then turned the gun on himself. It was revealed that the shooter had Continued on page 26

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The Week In News a long criminal history and an open hatred for police and the government. Authorities said that Brinsley also had a history of mental instability including a suicide attempt last year. Reportedly, in the moments leading him to his brutal ambush, Brinsley approached people on the street and asked them to follow him on Instagram. He then told them, “Watch what I’m going to do,” Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. On his social media account, Brinsley posted a photo of his handgun and boasted of his plans to retaliate for the death of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Brinsley was black; the slain officers were of Asian and Hispanic descent. Brinsley, 28, had at least 19 arrests in Georgia and Ohio, spent two years in prison for gun possession and had a troubled childhood so violent that his mother was afraid of him, police claim. He ranted online about police and the government and expressed “self-despair and anger at himself and where his life was,” Boyce said. While police continue to determine if Brinsley actually had a mental illness,

Brinsley’s mother said she believed he had undiagnosed mental problems and may have been on medication at some point.

Hours prior to the assassinations, Brinsley shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. He then traveled to New York and carried out the homicides. He had often traveled between the South and New York; he has a child in Brooklyn, and had been in the city earlier in the week. Baltimore-area police warned the New York Police Department that Brinsley was in the city and was determined to be violent. But the NYPD was still in the process of spreading the word to all cops city-wide when Brinsely ambushed the squad car. The two policemen killed in cold blood, Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, were laid to rest this week. Ramos, 40, left behind two sons and a

wife. Liu, 37, got married two months ago. Liu was in the department for seven years. Ramos, who was a two-year veteran of the force, was executed just one hour away from graduating from a volunteer chaplain program. He had spent ten weeks studying to become a certified chaplain with the New York State Chaplain Task Force. Following the incident, a union-generated message warned police officers that they should respond to every radio call with two cars — “no matter what the opinion of the patrol supervisor” — and not make arrests “unless absolutely necessary.” The president of the detectives union told members in a letter to work in threes when out on the street, wear bulletproof vests and keep aware of their surroundings. “Cowards such as yesterday’s killer strike when you are distracted and vulnerable,” the letter read. Another directive warned officers in Newark, New Jersey, not to patrol alone and to avoid people looking for confrontations. At the same time, a memo from an NYPD chief asked officers to avoid fanning rage by limiting comments “via all venues, including

social media, to expressions of sorrow and condolence.” New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio attended Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan called for calm. Bratton later visited the families of both officers and laid flowers at a makeshift memorial at the site of the slayings. “It’s a reflection that the community cares about the cops,” said Bratton, adding that the memorial was “very appropriate.” Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also visited the memorial, calling on protest organizers to “hold off on any type of protest until these officers are laid to rest in a peaceful manner.” The family of slain Officer Rafael Ramos also appealed for peace in the days ahead. In a stark contrast to the relatives of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, Ronnie Gonzalez, a cousin of Officer Ramos, said the family has already forgiven the gunman. “He’s in the hands of G-d now,” he said. “We don’t believe in vengeance; we just forgive.”

Chinuch with



Heart

DECEMBER 25, 2014

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The Week In News Dallas Cowboys Number 1 Move over Yankees fans—you’re no longer number one. The Dallas Cowboys now occupy the spot of most valuable sports franchise in the U.S., according to the latest Forbes valuations and a comparison done by Business Insider. In 2013, both teams had an estimated worth of around $2.3 billion but the

Cowboy’s value has increased significantly in value since that ranking. The Yankees’ value jumped as well, to $2.5 billion, but that doesn’t come close to the Cowboy’s estimated worth of $3.2 billion. Jerry Jones purchases the Cowboys in 1989 for $140 million. Excellent investment, Mr. Jones! The Cowboys are the second most valuable sports team in the world, tied with FC Barcelona. The most valuable team globally is Real Madrid with a net worth of $3.4 billion.

ly and surpassed the Yankees; the New England Patriots are up to $2.6 billion, according to the report. Despite the coveted standing, although the Cowboys are tied with the 49ers for the second-most Super Bowl victories, the last time they actually won the Super Bowl was in 1995. However, they do hold the record, along with Pittsburgh, for the most Super Bowl games played—eight. The Cowboys are not the only NFL team whose value increased significant-

N. Korea Linked to Sony Hacking

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Whoever thought that Kim Jong-Un is North Korea’s problem, think again… It seems that controlling his own people is not enough for the dictator; he also feels compelled to control what the greater world thinks. Jong Un is so preoccupied with his image that he has resorted to what some are calling terrorism to protect it. Sony Pictures Entertainment was hacked last week, several days before the release of the movie, The Interview, in which two men set out to assassinate the North Korean leader. 32,000 emails were exposed, revealing many pieces of confidential information and throwing some of the top employees at Sony into the spotlight for controversial comments made in their personal emails. On Tuesday, the hacking group threatened violence at theaters that planned to show The Interview. The Department of Homeland Security said there was “no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters,” but added it was still analyzing messages from the group. The warning prompted beefed up security at theaters in New York and Los Angeles. Eventually, Sony cancelled the showing of the film. The hackers, who have referred to themselves as the Guardians of Peace, have been threatening and intimidating companies and individuals involved in the movie for weeks. A U.S. official confirmed on Wednesday that federal investigators have established a connection between the Sony hacking to North Korea.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIDDOS UNIQUE WARM POSITIVE LOVING KRIAH CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INDEPENDENT LEARNING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES L’HAVIN U’LAHASKIL CHAIGIGOS SHINING STAR YIDDISHKEIT ENGAGING MEANINGFUL SUCCESSFUL QUALIFIED REGENTS CORE STANDARDS ART N’ MOTION ALIVE CHINUCH PROGRAMS INNOVATIVE COOPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PARSHA MASTERY READING PROGRAM QUALITY EM B’YISROEL NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC SPEAKING CHESSED PROGRESSIVE LITERACY PARSHA CHUMUSH NAVI TECHNIQUES ALEPH BAIS E2K COMPUTERS LAB TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING U’VACHARTA BA’CHAIM HEALTHY HABITS CARING MASTER TEACHERS LEIL LYUN RICH CURRICULUM INVALUABLE PRODUCTIVE POWERFUL ENTHUSIASM DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION EDUCATING MINDS INSPIRING HEARTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIDDOS UNIQUE WARM POSITIVE LOVING KRIAH CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INDEPENDENT LEARNING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES L’HAVIN U’LAHASKIL CHAIGIGOS SHINING STAR YIDDISHKEIT ENGAGING MEANINGFUL SUCCESSFUL QUALIFIED REGENTS CORE STANDARDS ART N’ MOTION ALIVE CHINUCH PROGRAMS INNOVATIVE COOPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PARSHA MASTERY READING PROGRAM QUALITY EM B’YISROEL NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC SPEAKING CHESSED PROGRESSIVE LITERACY PARSHA CHUMUSH NAVI TECHNIQUES ALEPH BAIS E2K COMPUTERS LAB TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING U’VACHARTA BA’CHAIM HEALTHY HABITS CARING MASTER TEACHERS LEIL LYUN RICH CURRICULUM INVALUABLE PRODUCTIVE POWERFUL ENTHUSIASM DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION EDUCATING MINDS INSPIRING HEARTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIDDOS UNIQUE WARM POSITIVE LOVING KRIAH CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INDEPENDENT LEARNING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES L’HAVIN U’LAHASKIL CHAIGIGOS SHINING STAR YIDDISHKEIT ENGAGING MEANINGFUL SUCCESSFUL QUALIFIED REGENTS CORE STANDARDS ART N’ MOTION ALIVE CHINUCH PROGRAMS INNOVATIVE COOPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PARSHA MASTERY READING PROGRAM QUALITY EM B’YISROEL NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC SPEAKING CHESSED PROGRESSIVE LITERACY PARSHA CHUMUSH NAVI TECHNIQUES ALEPH BAIS E2K COMPUTERS LAB TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING U’VACHARTA BA’CHAIM HEALTHY HABITS CARING MASTER TEACHERS LEIL LYUN RICH CURRICULUM INVALUABLE PRODUCTIVE POWERFUL ENTHUSIASM DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION EDUCATING MINDS INSPIRING HEARTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIDDOS UNIQUE WARM POSITIVE LOVING KRIAH CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INDEPENDENT LEARNING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES L’HAVIN U’LAHASKIL CHAIGIGOS SHINING STAR YIDDISHKEIT ENGAGING MEANINGFUL SUCCESSFUL QUALIFIED REGENTS

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News

Wall Street’s Bronze Bull Celebrates 25th Birthday

Wealth Gap Widens in the U.S. The rich keep getting richer in the United States, widening the gap between the middle and upper-income households to the highest level on record. The Pew Research Center used the latest Federal Reserve data to analyze the data. On Wednesday, they announced that the average capital for

Over two decades ago on a cold winter night in December, a pickup truck lurched around the corner onto Wall Street and stopped short in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The coast was clear, so Arturo Di Modica and his group of co-conspirators hopped out of

Of course, the executives at the New York Stock Exchange were not nearly as amused. Authorities were alerted but they were unable to remove the 18-foot-long bull from its spot, so a private contractor was hired and the beast was hauled off to Queens. “Bah, humbug!” proclaimed the front page of the next morning’s New York Post, above a photo of the bull being carted away. “N.Y. Stock Exchange grinches can’t bear … gift bull.” Di Modica was known for his habit of plopping art onto the city streets when the rest of the world slept. The artist explained that the sculpture is a symbol of New York’s drive, optimism and willingness to barrel ahead against the odds and in spite of what had come before. Supposedly, NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso offered to allow the bull to be returned on the condition that Di Modica create a bear in addition to the bronze bull, but the artist refused. And then Di Modica along with community activists paid to bail out the bull and relocate him to the exchange in Bowling Green, just a few blocks away from its original location, where it has remained

DECEMBER 25, 2014

“The latest data reinforces the larger story of America’s middle-class household wealth stagnation over the past three decades,” Pew pointed out. “The Great Recession destroyed a significant amount of middle-income and lower-income families’ wealth, and the economic ‘recovery’ has yet to be felt for them.” Last year, 46 percent of American households were classified as middle income, one-third were considered lower income, and 21% upper income. Incomes represent wages and other earnings such as interest and profits, whereas wealth is the value of stocks and other assets such as homes and cars, minus debts.

the flatbed and got right to work. The night watchman had just completed his patrol of 11 Wall St., and, having cased the block for several nights, Di Modica and his team were well aware that they had just four and a half minutes until he returned. They mustered up all their strength and lowered all 3.5 tons of a bronze bull beneath the holiday tree on Broad Street. Then the truck quickly disappeared into the night, but Di Modica lingered at the corner, watching and waiting for morning. December 15 marked the 25th anniversary of that night when Wall Street’s favorite mascot arrived downtown. Di Modica, an Italian artist, spent $350,000 of his own personal money to cast “Charging Bull” as a gift for the city. He has said that he savored the reactions of New Yorkers — traders, tourists, cab drivers and hot dog vendors. New Yorkers were running toward the bull when they saw it, he said. “It was love right away,” Di Modica, now 73, told MarketWatch. “They wanted to touch it, embrace it — it was beautiful. I stood there watching until about noon, when I took a break and went to lunch.”

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high-income families was $639,400 last year, a 7 percent increase from three years earlier on an inflation-adjusted basis. For middle-income families, the median wealth was $96,500 last year, the same as in 2010. As such, upper-income households were nearly seven times that of middle-class ones in 2013, which is the biggest gap in 30 years according to Pew’s calculations.

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“This attack went to the heart and core of Sony’s business — and succeeded,” said Avivah Litan, a cybersecurity analyst at research firm Gartner. “We haven’t seen any attack like this in the annals of U.S. breach history.” With a modest budget of roughly $40 million, The Interview was predicted to earn around $30 million in its opening weekend. If the film does not get released in theaters at all, Sony would also lose tens of millions in marketing costs already incurred. Doug Stone, president of film industry newsletter Box Office Analyst, had predicted that The Interview could have made $75 million to $100 million. With Sony taking about 55 percent of domestic revenues, that could mean a $41 million to $55 million revenue loss, according to Stone. Although Sony has not released any details regarding their plans for the movie, Bock believes a video-on-demand release might be the best option. “This is the right time to do that,” he said. “People want to see this film.” As expected, there was a mixed reaction across the nation to the cancelling of the film. While some understood the company’s decision was for security purposes, others felt that by cancelling the opening Sony allowed itself to be bullied by a dictator nation which sets a precedent for future situations. President Obama criticized Sony’s actions. In an interview with CNN, the leader of the free world said, “We believe in free speech. We believe in the right of artistic expression and satire and things that powers that be might not like. And if we set a precedent in which a dictator in another country can disrupt through cyber a company’s distribution chain or its products and, as a consequence, we start censoring ourselves, that’s a problem.” Sony has since said that they are looking for a way to release the film, possibly through Crackle, Netflix or Youtube.

The Week In News for the past 25 years. Art experts believe that Di Modica most likely regained the expense of building the original bull several times since, having cast sibling bulls for cities around the world, and having sold

many smaller versions to collectors. He has said that when the market is down, people stop to ask him why the bull isn’t doing its job; he quips, “He’s resting, he’s tired, but he’ll get back to it soon.”

Every couple of weeks the artist himself pays a visit to his most famous creation, watching the tourists pose with it the way they first did 25 years before, his ultimate satisfaction.

THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Yankees’ Heart of Gold They’ve definitely got game but apparently they’ve got heart, too… The New York Yankees have pledged to singlehandedly pay for the education of slain NYPD Office Rafael Ramos’ two sons, one college-aged and the other just 13-years-old. Ramos is the officer who was assassinated in New York City last Saturday afternoon while on duty in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The gunman ambushed Officer Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu before fleeing and turning the gun on himself.

The donation will be funneled through the Yankee’s charity, Silver Shield Foundation. The foundation has been doing this kind of work since 1982, when it was founded by former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The foundation pays for the education costs of children whose parents died while on duty as a police officer or firefighter in the NYPD, New York Fire Department, the New York Port Authority, the state police in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and others.

Protesters Swarm Mall of America

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33 THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News Thousands of demonstrators gathered, chanting, “Black lives matter,” and caused part of the mall to shut down during the busiest time of the year. The protest was organized by a group called Black Lives Matter Minneapolis and more than 3,000 people confirmed on Facebook that they would attend. Official crowd estimates weren’t immediately available but photos showed the rotunda of the mall very full. During the rally, protesters shouted, “While you’re on your shopping spree, black people cannot breathe” — a reference to the chokehold police placed on New Yorker Eric Garner. As the crowd dispersed, they walked down the hall with their arms raised, shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!” That saying has been used in Ferguson, Missouri, in protests against the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, and in demonstrations elsewhere. Mall representatives had warned protesters in advance that they could be removed, arrested and banned. The mall’s management issued a statement on Saturday saying it was “extremely disappointed” that protest organizers ignored the policy banning political protests. Bloomington police said 25 people were arrested, mainly for trespassing. Commander Mark Stehlik said he was not aware of any injuries or property damage. “It’s clear from their actions that these political activists were more concerned about making a political statement and creating a media event than they were about the safety of others, who came to Mall of America for an afternoon of shopping and family entertainment,” the statement said. Within 30 minutes of the beginning of the planned protest, the protestors were given a final warning to disband, and police in riot gear began clearing the rotunda. The majority of protesters began exiting the mall, but others migrated to a shopping area and occupied two levels. A small “die-in” was staged in front of several stores. About an hour later, organizers sent out a group text message advising those who were still inside to exit. The mall increased security, and parts of America’s largest mall were closed for a while. Some entrances to the mall had signs advising shoppers that the east side of the mall was on lockdown. All stores had reopened by Saturday evening. “While we respect the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, those rights do not trump our right as private property owners to prohibit that behav-

ior on our property,” the mall said on Saturday. Organizer Mica Grimm told the AP that the planners feel the protest was a success. “Our goal is to bring more attention to these issues — and what just happened, nobody can ignore,” she said.

2014: The Year of Protests

According to AP’s annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors, killings by police and the subsequent protests were the top stories for 2014. The loud chanting and crazed behavior in protest of the killings overshadowed tragic world events. The devastating outbreak of Ebola in West Africa came in at just the number two story in 2014. It was followed by the conflict in Iraq and Syria fueled by the brutal actions of Islamic State fighters. From the 85 people who voted on this year’s top stories, Ferguson received 22 first-place votes, Ebola received 11, and Islamic State tensions and brutality received 12. In 2013, the first story was the botched rollout of Obamacare, followed by the Boston Marathon bombing. Obamacare still has not gone away; it came in as the fifth top story of 2014. The other top stories of 2014 included the U.S. elections (number four), Malaysia Airlines tragedy (number six), immigration (number seven), turmoil in Ukraine (number eight), and the VA scandal (number ten).

CIA Travel Secrets Revealed Wondering how not to get caught when using false documents to cross international borders? That information is just one click away on WikiLeaks.com.

On Sunday, the whistleblowing website released two classified CIA documents that offered effective and valuable tips on maintaining cover when using false documents to travel as a spy. The documents outline a number of strategies for agents to avoid secondary screening at airports and borders. The two documents, dating from 2011 and 2012, are marked classified and “NOFORN,” which means they were not meant to be shared with allied intelligence agencies, WikiLeaks said. Some of the suggestions given to CIA agents are rather obvious: don’t purchase a one-way ticket with cash the day before flying. Others, though, seem more ambiguous: don’t look scruffy while traveling on a diplomatic passport. “In one incident during transit of a European airport in the early morning, security officials selected a CIA officer for secondary screening,” one of the documents reads. “Although the officials gave no reason, overly casual dress inconsistent with being a diplomatic-passport holder may have prompted the referral.”

The CIA agent involved went on to have his bag swabbed for explosives and it tested positive. Despite extensive questioning, he stuck to his cover story that he had been involved in counterterrorism training in the United States and eventually was allowed to continue his journey. “Consistent, well-rehearsed, and plausible cover is important for avoiding secondary selection and critical for surviving it,” the CIA noted. In a statement, WikiLeaks said this example “begs the question: if the training that supposedly explained the explosives was only a cover story, what was a CIA officer really doing passing through [a European Union] airport with traces of explosives on him, and why was he allowed to continue?” In one document, named “Schengen Overview,” it is revealed that the CIA is alarmed about EU nations introducing biometric security measures for people traveling on U.S. passports. The new

systems could pose an increased “identity threat,” which would make it more difficult for agents to travel on false documents. Ben Gurion Airport in Israel was singled out for being more thorough than other airports around the globe. “With the exception of Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport and a few others, immigration inspectors conducting primary screenings generally lack the time and tools to conduct in-depth examination of travelers,” the 15-page document says. Specifically, the manual guides agents how to circumvent “secondary screening”—which it called “a potentially lengthy and detailed look by airport officials at passengers not passing initial scrutiny”—at Ben-Gurion. “At Ben-Gurion airport in Israel, the secondary screening room contains trace-detection equipment for explosive residue; tools for dismantling passengers’ personal items for inspection, particularly items unfamiliar to security officers; and a disrobing area, divided by privacy curtains, to conduct strip searches of individuals, if necessary.” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said the documents show the CIA is intent on carrying out spying in Europe. “The CIA has carried out kidnappings from European Union states, including Italy and Sweden, during the Bush administration,” Assange said in a statement. “These manuals show that under the Obama administration the CIA is still intent on infiltrating European Union borders and conducting clandestine operations in EU member states.”

Arizona Dreamers Can Apply for Driver’s Licenses

They are protected from deportation despite immigrating illegally and now they are demanding their driver’s licenses as well. Thousands of young immigrants lined up for Arizona drivContinued on page 38

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News er’s licenses on Monday after a federal judge removed the last hurdle stopping them from applying for their licenses. The group, dubbed “Dreamers,” who have been protected from deportation since 2012 under the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, are authorized to stay and work in the country legally. But in Arizona and Nebraska, they have not been able to obtain driver’s licenses. But a preliminary ruling issued on Thursday by U.S. District Judge David Campbell prohibits the state from enforcing Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s

directive to deny driver’s licenses to more than 20,000 immigrants. This ruling came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to reject an emergency appeal from Brewer, who wanted to block an order from an appellate court that also found the state had no grounds to deny license applications to the Dreamers. Brewer, though, still isn’t ready to give up. On Friday, she greeted Campbell’s injunction with a statement of her own in which she vowed to carry the fight back to the Supreme Court. “It is important to remember that

courts have yet to consider the full merits of the case, and I believe that Arizona will ultimately prevail,” Brewer said. “Consequently, I have instructed my legal team to move forward in pursuing a full review of this matter before the United States Supreme Court as soon as possible.” Brewer has said that rules governing who is eligible for driver’s licenses is a state issue and not one that should be decided by the federal government. “It is outrageous that Arizona is being forced to ignore long-standing state law and comply with a flawed federal court

mandate that requires the state, at least temporarily, to issue driver’s licenses to individuals whose presence is in violation of federal law, as established by the United States Congress,” she said. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t accept that argument nor Brewer’s lawyers’ other claim that the governor is simply trying to reduce the risk that licenses could potentially be used to improperly gain access to public benefits. Instead, the court said there was no legitimate state interest in treating the Dreamers differently from other noncitizens, such as green-card holders, who can drive legally in Arizona. The court said Brewer’s actions were intended to show subtle unfriendliness to the immigrants and toward U.S. government policy protecting them.

That’s Odd Makeup in Russia Can’t be “Beet”

How do you say lipstick in Russian? Beets. Yes, you got that right; Russian women are turning to the red vegetable to put some color on their lips as the economy continues to plummet. The first thing that will undoubtedly be slashed from Russian household budgets will be makeup for the average homemaker. According to the Daily Mail, Siberian senator Igor Chernishev took to a Russian website to explain how women should alter their beauty routine. “Women can live without imported lipstick…,” he wrote. “And if they really must use makeup on the lips – there’s no problem, they can use beetroot. It’s natural and chemicals don’t enter the body.” Beetroots, or beets as they’re known here in the U.S., are the reddish-purple hued bulb of the vegetable that stains people’s hands as they prepare them for salads, pickled vegetables or in borscht. Sometimes, its strong pigment is used for food coloring. Interestingly, economists have

39 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Week In News found that sales of lipstick have typically soared during a recession, a phenomenon known as the “lipstick index.” It’s a quick, inexpensive way for women to feel beautiful—without breaking the bank. Watch out grocers, there may be a stampede of women clamoring for the reddest beets in aisle 11 in the next few weeks.

$184K Bird Stolen As you walk along Central Avenue, keep your eyes on the sky. Police in Germany are looking for a missing pigeon—but this is no ordinary bird. The finder of the feathered friend could net a 10,000 euro reward. On Tuesday, Duesseldorf police said that the 6-year-old male homing pigeon,

named AS 969, was stolen at some point on Saturday night from a locked aviary in the city’s suburbs. The light gray bird is valued by its owner at 150,000 euros ($184,000) and police suspect the thief or thieves were “connoisseurs” as it was the most valuable in an aviary full of other homing pigeons. Follow that bird!

90 Balloons, 8,000 Feet in the Air Remember the Curious George book with George flying over the city with a bunch of balloons in hand? Eric Roner decided to rule the sky with just 90 balloons lifting him above the world. “Who hasn’t thought about

being lifted up by balloons into the sky?” he asked. The avid skier and BASE jumper from Northern California attached 90 large, colorful balloons to a rickety lawn chair. The balloons were pumped full of helium and Roner took to the skies with a parachute to soften his inevitable fall. When Roner reached the optimum height, he shot the balloons and then softly bailed back to Earth.

As he gained altitude, Roner expressed his disbelief of actually getting off the ground. At 292 feet, he exclaimed, “I’m doing it. This is crazy!” “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is ridiculous,” he said at 1,630 feet. At 1,975 feet, he said, “It’s nice up here.” At 2,600 feet, Roner almost makes us jealous: “Wow, it really doesn’t get much

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The Week In News

43 Years of Comfort

Since 1971, Scott Stewart cherished a small statue of an owl protecting its babies. He said that the sculpture gave him peace during tough times over the years as it symbolized his mother’s love for him and his brother. But now, 43 years later, the 52-yearold man has finally returned the statue to its proper owner—the Rochester Central Library. As a 9-year-old, Stewart was able to bring art pieces home from the library. This one in particular provided him with succor and comfort. When he returned the piece on Sunday, Stewart wasn’t fined. A library official said the institution understood that Stewart needed a symbol of comfort—and he found it at the local library.

to hang up on voice mail.” How about hanging up on courtesy as well?

Ms. Right Has Been Found

Want to leave a message at Coca Cola’s Atlanta headquarters? Too bad—better send a text instead. In a world flooded with technology, the globe’s largest soft-drink maker has decided to “simplify the way we work and increase productivity” by closing down its office voice mail system. The change went into effect this month; callers are told to try again later or use “an alternative method” for contacting the person they called. The November 6 memo announcing the change at Coca-Cola created a stir among some employees, who assumed it was part of a program to cut $3 billion in annual expenses by 2019. That plan, which was announced in October in response to a global sales slump, has caused growing unease inside the company over the possibility of firings. But the savings from eliminating voice mail will be less than $100,000 a year, said Amanda Rosseter, a Coke spokeswoman. The decision had more to do with simplifying work than trimming costs, she said. Techies have predicted the death of voice mail for years as smartphones coopt much of the office work once performed by telephones and desktop computers. Younger employees who came of age texting while largely ignoring voice mail are bringing that habit into the workforce. “People north of 40 are schizophrenic about voice mail,” said Michael Schrage, a research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management’s Center for Digital Business. “People under 35 scarcely ever use it.” Workers at Coca Cola were able to keep the voice mail if they claimed a “business critical need.” About 6 percent of workers opted to keep it. “Many people in many corporations simply don’t have the time or desire to spend 25 minutes plowing through a stack of 15 to 25 voice mails at the end or beginning of the day,” said Schrage, who wrote in a September 2013 Harvard Business Review article that it was “time

Last month, a Toronto man made headlines when he offered a free roundthe-world ticket to someone—as long as they had the same name as his former girlfriend. Finally, Jordan Axani has found Ms. Right—and it won’t be hard to remember her name, Elizabeth Gallagher. The 28-year-old revealed that he received thousands of emails—including 18 from actual Elizabeth Gallaghers from Canada. So how did he make the decision? Elizabeth Quinn Gallagher, 23, a part-time student and part-time office administrator, spoke with Axani over the phone. “It definitely did seem a little bit creepy at the beginning but now that I talked to him it’s less creepy and more awesome,” she said. “This is totally sort of like as friends,” she added. “It’s going to be great,” Axani effused. Axani, who works for an international real estate development and advisory firm, said the tickets were purchased for a couple of thousand dollars, but their cash value today is around Canadian $5,000-$7,000 (that’s $4,400-$6,200 in American dollars). The trip was scheduled to start December 21 in New York City and continue on to Milan, Prague, Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi before ending in Toronto on January 12. Since the story became public, Marriott International offered to put him and the new Elizabeth Gallagher up during their trip. Axani said the trip will be documented and shared online. He said that he was so moved by some of the emails — including one from an 8-year-old boy who said he was going blind and wanted to see the world before that happens — that he and his brother created an organization called A Ticket Forward to help people who desire to see the world but lack the finances to do so. Do they all have to have the name Elizabeth Gallagher?

DECEMBER 25, 2014

If you’re heading to a zoo in Argentina, you may find all the cages empty. On Sunday, an Argentine court recognized that an orangutan held in a zoo should be freed and transferred to a sanctuary after recognizing that the ape was a “non-human person” and unlawfully deprived of its freedom. Despite being a “non-human person,” the ape could not file a petition for its freedom on its own. Animal rights campaigners filed a habeas corpus petition – a document more typically used to challenge the legality of a person’s detention or imprisonment – in November on behalf of Sandra, a 29-year-old Sumatran orangutan at the Buenos Aires zoo. The Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights (AFADA) argued the ape had sufficient cognitive functions and should not be treated as an object. The court ultimately agreed that Sandra, who was born into captivity in Germany before being transferred to Argentina two decades ago, deserved the basic rights of a “non-human person.” “This opens the way not only for other Great Apes, but also for other sentient beings which are unfairly and arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in zoos, circuses, water parks and scientific laboratories,” the daily La Nacion newspaper quoted AFADA lawyer Paul Buompadre as saying. Interestingly, orangutan is a word from the Malay and Indonesian languages that means “forest man.” This is not the first time animal activists tried to free animals from captivity, although the court’s decision will undoubtedly lead to many more cases being brought.

Coca Cola: Don’t Leave a Message

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It’s a Monkey’s World

A U.S. court recently tossed out a similar bid for the freedom of Tommy the chimpanzee, privately owned in New York State, ruling the chimp was not a “person” entitled to the rights and protections afforded by habeas corpus. In 2011, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a lawsuit against marine park operator SeaWorld, alleging five wild-captured orca whales were treated like slaves. A San Diego court dismissed the case. A spokesman for the Argentine zoo declined to comment to Reuters. The zoo’s head of biology, Adrian Sestelo, told La Nacion that orangutans were by nature calm, solitary animals which come together only to mate and care for their young. “When you don’t know the biology of a species, to unjustifiably claim it suffers abuse, is stressed or depressed, is to make one of man’s most common mistakes, which is to humanize animal behavior,” Sestelo told the daily. The Buenos Aires zoo has 10 working days to seek an appeal. If these animal rights activists had their way, animals would rule the world and what a world it would be!

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more peaceful than this.” When he reached 3,300 feet, some balloons started to pop “That’s a popped balloon. They told me that it would be scary, and yes it is,” he says at 4,300 feet. Finally, at 8,000 feet, a safe height to start parachuting, Roner shoots the remaining balloons and then releases himself from the chair to skydive back to Earth. “That was epic,” he laughed as he came back down.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Five Towns Chabad and Gourmet Glatt Light Up the Night On the second night of Chanukah, children and adults from throughout the Five Towns area converged on Cedarhurst’s Andrew J. Parise Park for what has become a much-anticipated community event: the lighting of the giant menorah. Co-sponsored by Chabad of the Five Towns and Gourmet Glatt, the evening featured free gifts and refreshments, including delectable donuts from Zomick’s, lively singing and dancing, and a fabulous performance by popular Jewish singer, Yossi Goldstein.

Gourmet Glatt’s Yoeli Steinberg (R) and Berel Wolowik (L) dance with Rabbi Zalman Wolowik of Chabad of the Five Towns

Yossi Goldstein

Bnos Bais Yaakov / Tichon Meir Moshe Annual Production: A Smashing Success Showtime was Sunday night, December 14, at 7:30 pm. The lights dimmed, the hush was palpable, and the magnificent drama unfolded. Based on a serialized story by popular author, Etka Gittel Schwartz, the TMM play, “Rekindled,” was adapted for the stage by alumna Shoshana Raizy Feigenbaum. The storyline was particularly appropriate as it described the pernicious influence of Hellenism on the Jews living in Eretz Yisroel. It related the specifics of one family living at that time while pro-

viding the larger historical perspective of the era. Songs, dances, and dramatic dialogue wove the strands of the story into a completely entrancing tale. One delighted grandmother told Mrs. Adina Mandel that she has granddaughters living in many different neighborhoods and has seen many of their plays. But never, she asserted, had she seen a production as magnificent and professional as “Rekindled.” Certainly, the point of the play was to entertain. But beyond that simplis-

tic goal, and in line with TMM’s holistic approach to education, “Rekindled” was not just a theatrical performance – it was a social and academic learning experience. The preparations for the play were a study in social dynamics as they heightened the students’ sense of leadership. Every girl in the 11th and 12th grades was the head of one aspect of the play, and they discharged their duties judiciously and responsibly. Play practices also created an environment in which ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth

graders were all on equal footing. The camaraderie amongst them blurred all class distinctions and helped create one unified whole. Academically, “Rekindled” provided a jumping point for many classroom discussions about the timelessness of the play’s theme. The girls noted that the impact of societal influences is just as potent in our days as it was in the times of the Maccabim. Most heartwarming for the staff was the return of so many alumni to help their alma mater in this theatrical venture. From lighting and costumes to play practices, former TMM students came to lend a hand and show their loyalty to the school they love. It was a beautiful demonstration of the lasting impact that a nurturing, happy, and stimulating environment, staffed with devoted educators, can have upon its students. As per usual, the TMM principals were heavily involved in ensuring the success of this venture for their students’ sakes. Everything from the mundane (applying makeup and helping with costumes) to the significant (making sure the credits were accurate in the playbill), was within the staff’s purview. It was their particular delight to join in their students’ excitement. *Special thanks are due to Play Heads: alumnae Shaina Feifer and Ahuva Gold; Student Play Heads: Leah Bloom, Elisheva Stadler, and Gitty Gordon; Staff Consultants: Mrs. D. Heller and Mrs. E. Myers; and TMM Parents: Mrs. M. Keilson, Mrs. D. Schuss and Mrs. A. Turner. They all helped to establish the spirit of collaboration and achdus which we hold dear.

Around The Community

By Benzion Kaplan

Want to spice up your cholent?

See page 102

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns, age with her involvement in kiruv and where he davens and learns daily. other community causes. Eytan Feldman is effusive in deEytan has always felt a sense of achrayus to the klal, which he attri- scribing their experience at Yeshiva butes to two primary role models. The Darchei Torah. “Akiva loves Darchei. first is his father, Norman Feldman, He loves everything about it. He loves who together with his mother, Nedra, his rabbeim, he loves his teachers, he instilled this sense of responsibility in loves his friends, he loves being there. their son. His father was in charge of There’s nothing about school that he the eruv of the Oceanside community, doesn’t like. And I can attest that his where they lived. Many a Friday after- friends from the neighborhood feel the noon saw the elder Mr. Feldman fixing same way. I can’t imagine a more ideal downed portions of the eruv – usually situation.” Serving on the Executive Board, with Eytan in tow. Around thirty years Eytan reflects on what ago, his father ran the he has gleaned from his annual bazaar of the inside vantage point. Hebrew Academy of “Rabbi Bender is wellLong Beach (HALB), known for his leaderand it became a Feldship. But one thing that man family affair, from you see when watching preparing the cotton him is the love that he candy to other aspects exudes. For a person of the fundraising who’s been in this poevent. These examples sition for over 30 years instilled in Eytan that you would think that it is not only important at some point it would to be involved in klal become routine. On the functions, but to take Mr. Eytan Feldman contrary, you can see an active leadership that the concern and care that he puts in role as well. In addition, during the three years has truly not abated. I am amazed at the that Eytan spent learning at Ner Israel scope of the Yeshiva and how he is able in Baltimore, he developed a close re- to accomplish so much.” lationship with its legendary president, The other honorees at this year’s Rabbi Herman (Naftoli) Neuberger, zt”l. “That’s what he was all about: dinner are: Mr. and Mrs. Yumi Kleinachrayus for the Jewish people,” Eytan bart, Hakoras Hatov Award; Rabbi and recalls. “He was a real leader. Watch- Mrs. Moshe Lubart, Harbotzas Torah ing him, I developed a greater sense Award; Mr. and Mrs. Yossi Preiseroof the importance of being involved wicz, Alumnus of the Year; and the Meand showing your support for Torah sivta Chaim Shlomo Class of 2000, in institutions.” While at Ner Israel, Ey- celebration of 15 years of accomplishtan learned under Rav Zvi Berkowitz, ment. shlita, with whom he remains close For more information about the until today. He also studied in kollel at Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah-Grodno in Kew dinner, please call 718-868-2300 ext. Gardens and earned a MBA in Finance 237, email dinner@darchei.org or visit www.darchei.org/dinner. from Fordham University. Aliza is involved in chesed every day, having chosen a career of working with special-needs children. She is a well-respected clinician, both by the families she works with and her peers. She has instilled this value into her own children as well. One of Eytan and Aliza’s daughters, Michal, is a consistent volunteer at Ohel Bais Ezra. Aliza attributes her love and passion for helping others improve their lives to her mother, Shaindy Schumsky, who as a respected psychotherapist has devoted her life to helping others, and who infused this value into her from an early

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Five Towns, with its energetic support of Torah causes and communal mosdos. A Look at the Honorees: Yoav and Shari daven and are highly Mr. and Mrs. Yoav Taub, active at Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid Guests of Honor in Lawrence, which they describe as Yoav and Shari Taub, devoted par- “a very central part of our lives,” with ents and supporters of Yeshiva Darchei Yoav serving as gabbai and maintaining Torah, have a long and rich history of his daily morning and evening learning askanus in the Far Rockaway/Law- sedarim there. “Whatever good we rence community. have accomplished has In 2000, Yoav was been through the shul,” a founding member of he says. what is now the YeThe Taubs are very shiva’s Board of Diproud of their sons, rectors. The formation Volvi, an alumnus, of the board came at a and Avigdor, a current critical time in the Yetalmid; both were talmishiva’s history. Student dim of Yeshiva Darchei enrollment was growTorah since early eleing at an unprecedented mentary school. “The pace and the need for way my sons have proa new, larger building gressed in their learnwas first coming into ing has amazed me,” Mr. Yoav Taub focus. Yoav and his colYoav relates. “They’ve leagues, a cohesive group of young fa- far surpassed me already.” After hearthers, rose to the challenge and helped ing one of his sons give a chaburah set the Yeshiva on the course that it is last year at the Yeshiva, “I was literally on today. floored.” He is gratified that each one Shari was born into a family of pi- of his siblings also has children learnoneers in communal leadership. Her ing at Yeshiva Darchei Torah and gainparents, Dovid and Krunchie Fried- ing from its unique brand of chinuch. man, were among the earliest supportYoav lauds the extraordinary bein ers and lay leaders of Yeshiva Darchei adam lachaveiro exhibited by the YeTorah in the early 1970s, back when it shiva’s talmidim. “To see how the boys was a fledgling institution, and remain relate to each other, without bickering, involved today. Her brothers, Shaya with a certain maturity – it’s very imand Tzvi, are proud alumni, and her pressive.” He attributes the Yeshiva’s sister, Chava Lowy, heads Plum, the success to its hanhala and to the warm Yeshiva’s upscale thrift store, so Ye- and personal environment that they shiva Darchei Torah is very much a have created. “To have such a large yefamily affair. In addition, her maternal shiva that has 2,000 students yet is so grandfather, Louis Newman, a”h, was warm is a dichotomy – yet it exists so one of the first frum Jews to move with perfectly. That fosters great talmidim.” his family to Far Rockaway, where he left his imprint on numerous communiMr. and Mrs. Eytan Feldman, ty institutions, from the White Shul to Parents of the Year Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) – both Eytan and Aliza Feldman of Woodof which he served with distinction as mere are the proud parents of Akiva, a president. third grader at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Yoav, son of Shlomo a”h and ybl”c and four daughters. Eytan is a manChani Taub, was raised in Kew Gar- aging director and partner at Old City dens Hills, and is an alumnus of Yeshi- Investment Partners. Aliza is an occuva Tiferes Moshe, Ner Israel and Mir pational therapist and focuses on early Yerushalayim. He holds an MBA from intervention for children under the age New York University and has been in of three as well as a supervisor of other the diamond business for the last 18 therapists. years. In October 2013, Eytan agreed to Shortly after their marriage, the serve on the Executive Board of the YeTaubs settled in Lawrence, and they shiva and has quickly assumed an acwere eventually followed by his broth- tive role in addressing its fiscal health ers, J.J. and Moshe, as well as his sister, and assessing its current and future capAvigayil Stoll. Together, the extended ital and operational needs. He is also a Taub family soon made its mark on the committed member of the board of the

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Yeshiva Darchei Torah Dinner to Be Held January 11th

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Community Members Celebrate Chanukah at the White House By Ben-Tzvi In what has become a White House tradition since the administration of President George H.W. Bush back in the 90’s, a ceremony is held on Chanukah to honor the Jewish community by inviting leading Jewish communal leaders and individuals who interact with the administration on various levels helping and impacting the community. Over the years the magnitude of the reception at the White House has evolved into a glatt kosher affair with dedicated times for Mincha and Maariv that has greatly enhanced the experience for the Observant participant. The arrival of Chanukah this year was no exception as President Obama hosted two separate receptions to ac-

Chaskel Bennett, Maryland Governor O’Malley, and Howard Friedman

instituted by the Obama administration and featured personalities ranging from Ambassador Stu Eizenstat, Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew, Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and numerous Jewish congressional members. “Needless to say, the announcement by President Obama at the onset of his remarks regarding the release of Alan Gross caused great joy for everyone at the White House Chanukah reception and the personal acknowledgment by the president regarding the great importance of pidyon shivuim underscores the sensitivity to a central tenet of our faith by a dignitary no less than the president of the United States…It was a testament to the level of acceptance the community has risen to-only in America,” said

Joseph B. Stamm with President Obama

leader and law enforcement chaplain who works closely with various federal agencies within the US Department of Homeland Security, thanked the president in person at the Chanukah recep-

Joseph B. Stamm, Ezra Friedlander, Bonnie Rubinstein (sister of Alan Gross), Matt Nosanchuk, White House Jewish liaison, and Simcha Eichenstein

Davening Maariv in the Red Room

commodate the multitudes of invites extended to a diverse Jewish community. Having two individual receptions was

Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group. Rabbi Abe Friedman, a community

cluded Malcolm Hoenlein of the Presidents conference, Rabbi Michael Miller of the JCRC, Nathan Diamont and Allen Fagin of the OU, Bob Levy & Farley Weiss of the National Council of Young

Moshe Visel, Chaplain Jacob Goldstein, Joseph B. Stamm, Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski, and Ezra Friedlander

tion for the close cooperation between the Orthodox and Chasidic communities, who responded, “That’s why we invited you, rabbi,” alluding to his appreciation. “Having been invited to the White House on the day of Alan Gross’ release was a unique opportunity to express our appreciation to the president,” said Joseph B. Stamm, CEO of MedReview which is now celebrating their 40th anniversary of service to the healthcare industry. Representatives of numerous Jewish organization attended and in particular representatives from a myriad of Orthodox Jewish groups who work closely with the administration, including Agudath Israel of America, the Orthodox Union, Chabad and many others attended. Some notable orthodox attendees in-

Israel, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Duvi Gross, Abba Cohen, Chaskel Bennett & Leon Goldenberg of Agudath Israel, Rockland County legislator Aron Wieder, renowned attorney Nathan Lewin, law enforcement Chaplain Abe Freedman, Ezra Friedlander of the Washington-based Friedlander Group, activists Howard Freidman, Stanley Treitel, Benny Polatseck, Rabbi Daniel Ginsberg, Joe Stamm, Yoel Lefkowitz, Chanina Sperlin, Yaakov Behrman and many others. Of course, the events was conducted under the auspices of Rabbi Levi Shemtov of the Washington Chabad whose organization certified the kosher preparation and serving of the food and who also arranged the private Mincha and Maariv minyanim.

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Around The Community The Flatbush Basketball League Week #5 Recap In the China Glatt Division With Shimon Greenwald missing for this game, Supreme RX Pharmacy looked to take advantage, and they did,

as they upset 4-0 Pizza Heaven 45-40. As the game progressed, it seemed that Pizza Heaven might even win this one without their MVP star, as Yitzy Waxman filled the gaps scoring a season high 31. However, Ezra Beyda and Yiddy Einhorn were not going to let that happen, as they scored 26 and 12 respectively. Newly acquired Sender Gelbtuch tried to help out Pizza Heaven with 5, but the Pharmacy guys reigned Supreme in this one! Batampte Pickles was looking for that first win oh-so-badly as they faced Oh Baby in this week’s match up. Shayala Litchfield had 16 for Batampte and it was within reach going into the fourth quarter. However, Dovid Kapetas’ 23 for Oh Baby was too much to handle. Batampte lost their momentum as Oh Baby outscored them in the fourth and took this badly needed win with a score of 38-29. Oh Baby now shares the #2 seed with Supreme RX Pharmacy with a 3-2 record,with five games left in the regular season. In the Jewish Home Division With trades made for all the teams, we had one of the most intense weeks of basketball yet… Holy Schnitzel topped Quality Carpet by a mere 4 points, 57-53. This game was an epic one, as both Quality and Holy Schnitzel went basket for basket almost every play of the game. Due to a series

of bad passes and steals by Holy Schnitzel, Quality could not hold on for their first win of the season. Shilo Azarfar was on fire, shooting for all sides, scoring 26 points for Schnitzel. Moshe Frank led Quality with 14, while new addition Moshe Yehuda (Leiby) Lebowitz had 10. You owe me $20, Mr. L. In the other amazing game, Pizza Nosh topped ITP, 35-32. The crowd went wild as Moshe Dovid Rosenberg and Shimon Weiss each had 10 for Nosh. On the other end, new additions Jack Moseri and David Schildkraut combined for 11. ITP was just seconds away from stealing their 2nd win; however, Pizza Nosh would not let that happen as they hold on for the win. They now sit atop the division with a perfect 5-0 record. In the Jewish Connection Division Neil, where were you we got a win? The Visual Image, 63; Rami’s Pizza, 50—you read it right! With all seven players in the scoring column and four with double digits, the Visual Image gets its first win of the season. Dovid Miller with 15 led the way for TVI. The Machine (Yossie F) was dominant for Rami’s with 23 and as usual dominated on the boards. But this wasn’t Rami’s to have. No Pizza for you! In an amazing game to end the first half of the season, Dovid Bressler leads his Pizza World squad over Plaza Auto Leasing in OT 57-53. You read it right again. The rabbi’s son was held to 19 ONLY! Daniel Bressler led all scorers with 25. It was the clutch shooting by Aryeh Kamalhar at the buzzer that sent this game into the OT period. With 23 seconds left, Yehoshua Fonfeder knocked down both free throws of a one and one to clinch the victory for Pizza World. How will PAL react to its first loss? Will the win by TVI wake them up? These questions will be answered after the Chanukah vacation. See you back on December 27th. The Flatbush Basketball League would like to wish all our members and sponsors a freilichen, lichtige Chanukah.

51 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community

THE JEWISH HOME

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Children at HANC Early Childhood Center enjoyed a wonderful, interactive Chanukah experience

The Challah Lady Visits Shevach High School On the cold, rainy Wednesday morning of December 3, the halls of Shevach were warmed with the smell of challah wafting through the building. In preparation for their upcoming Shabbaton, whose theme was “Am Mikadeshei Shvii,” Shevach invited Mrs. Devorah Heller, known as “The Challah Lady,” to bake challah with its girls. The program opened with an introduction from Mrs. Yali Rosenberg, who spoke about the mitzvah of hafrashas challah, a mitzvah that was precious to her sister, Mrs. Avigail Rechnitz, a”h. Mrs. Rosenberg described how her sister applied the mitzvah of challah to all that she did in her life. Avigail recognized that despite all our efforts, everything is from Hashem, that we must infuse the mundane aspects of life with spiritual meaning, and how women have a special power to bring bracha into the home. These are important messages we can try

and incorporate into our own daily living. After Mrs. Rosenberg’s moving presentation, Mrs. Heller began her demonstration explaining to the girls that challah consists of seven ingredients which reflects the idea that seven represents the spiritual component in a physical world as well as connecting to the Shabbaton theme of the number seven. With her warmth, humor, and personal vignettes, Mrs. Heller related how she became the “Challah Lady” and impressed upon the girls the significance of this mitzvah being one of the three mitzvos uniquely designated for women. Students learned how to braid a sixstrand challah and impressed Mrs. Heller with their knowledge of the significance of the two six stranded challos of lechem mishna as being symbolic of the twelve lechem ha’panim. A won-“dough”-ful time was had by both faculty and students.

• T H E S C H O O L F O R WO M E N •

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LANDER COLLEGE @ TOURO IN FLATBUSH



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WHEN: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 @ 12:45-3:30PM Where: 1602 Avenue J in Brooklyn, Main Floor LEARN ABOUT:

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achievements of thousands of our graduates who are supporting Torah families with dignity programs in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies

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Refreshments served. Receive complimentary Touro tote bag.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mrs. Judy Greenfeld Phone: 718-252-7800, ext. 234 or 265 Email: judy.greenfeld@touro.edu

LANDER COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT TOURO IN FLATBUSH Touro is an Equal Opportunity Institution

DECEMBER 25, 2014

OPEN HOUSE

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community

amongst the College Guidance Office, the students, their parents, teach-

Scheinder, Daniel Aharon, and Yehuda Inslicht! At DRS, the coordinated efforts

ers and the administration provided a comprehensive forum to help each student achieve his goal. The College

Guidance Office and DRS advocate strongly and personally on behalf of our students. Mrs. Madeline Rosenberg, Director of College Guidance, visits colleges in the spring and fall, establishing personal relationships with admissions officers and sending the message of scholarship and achievement in our dual curriculum high school. The relationship that DRS has forged with secular colleges and Yeshiva University is grounded in respect, affording its students strong consideration when they apply for admission.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Dovid Goldschein, Michael Itzakov, Matthew Haller, Eli Goldberg, Yaakov

ď ł

The Department of College Guidance at DRS is pleased to announce that every Early Decision and Early Action candidate to a private college was admitted to the college of their choice. A big mazel tov to Yoni Goldberg on his acceptance to Princeton University and to Yehuda Schein on his acceptance to Brandeis. Eleven other seniors were accepted early decision to Yeshiva University and were collectively awarded $1,000,000 in scholarships. Mazel tov to Yaakov Kaminetsky, Meir Avracen, Jacob Naiman, Ari Brandspiegel,

THE JEWISH HOME

Congratulations to DRS Early Decision and Early Action Candidates

Around The Community

THE JEWISH HOME



DECEMBER 25, 2014

Students on Yeshiva University’s Beren Campus created a menorah with lights in their dorm building in honor of Chanukah

DRS Honors Society Induction Ceremony Honors Mr. Gary Schall, Superintendent of Lawrence School District Last Monday night, DRS inducted 28 students into the Achdut chapter of the National Honor Society. ACHDUT, the DRS Chapter of the National Honor Society, is affiliated with the National Association of Secondary Schools. These students were selected for admission for having a minimum of a 90 academic average, as well as middot befitting this esteemed organization. The induction ceremony began with words of welcome from both Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, Menahel of DRS, and Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum, Principal of General Studies. The keynote speaker for the program was Mr. Gary Schall, Superintendent of the Lawrence School District. Mr. Schall represents all students in District 15, in both public and private schools. Mr. Schall spoke on the topic of the importance of leadership and its effect on our community at large. Mr. Schall was presented with

an honorary induction award to the Honors Society, and this award recognizes the great relationship between the local yeshivot and local school board. Following Mr. Schall’s speech, pairs of inductees delivered short vignettes about famous Jewish personalities from Tanach, as well as the secular world, who have also made tremendous contributions to society, and who exemplify the middot and characteristics of ACHDUT: character, leadership, scholarship, service, persistence, integrity, compassion, courage, dignity and vision. The pairs presented their famous personality to an audience of

Lawrence Resident and DRS Junior, Isaac Fries, being inducted into the Honors Society by Rabbi Kaminetsky and Dr. Kirshenbaum

over two hundred staff, parents and relatives. An honorary award was delivered to Dr. Rosalie Peck, a long-time head of Chemistry department at DRS. Dr. Peck teaches both Chemistry and

AP Chemistry as well as coordinates our Science Olympiad initiative.

Mr. Gary Schall (center) given honorary induction to DRS Honors Society, with Rabbi Aryeh Yudin, Dean of Students; Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum, Principal; Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, Menahel; and Rabbi Elly Storch, Associate Principal

57 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

THE JEWISH HOME



DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Yeshiva Nishmas HaTorah Growing and Moving By Liba Lieberman/Yated Staff Ensconced in the bais medrash of Congregation Heichel Dovid is a gem of limud haTorah where post- high school bochurim engage in the timeless pursuit of learning while developing life skills that can set them on a path as ovdei Hashem in a complicated world. Yeshiva Nishmas HaTorah has been thriving in the Five Towns community for threeand-a- half years. How did the yeshiva come about? “Basically, we saw a need in the community that needed to be filled,” explains Rabbi Pinchas Weinberger, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Nishmas HaTorah along with Rabbi Yissochar Blinder. “The yeshivos are producing wonderful bnei Torah, but there is a large segment of bochurim who are being pushed along in a model that doesn’t necessarily work for them. These bochurim don’t feel good about themselves. We wanted to develop bnei Torah with a full range of life skills, prepared to face life’s challenges. There is a shleimus to Yiddishkeit that we wanted to address.” The results to date have been nothing short of fantastic, with both Rabbi Weinberger and Rabbi Blinder witnessing the multi-dimensional growth of their talmidim. “In addition to the traditional bais medrash learning program,” says Rabbi Weinberger, “we offer opportunities for bochurim to know how to act in many situations – essentially how to live in the world as Torah Jews. For example, besides regular sedorim of Gemara, we

have shiurim on emunah and hashkafah. We offer interactive workshops for the bochurim to express their personal thoughts and to receive personalized answers. On Sunday mornings, there are shiurim in Choshen Mishpat, practical business halachah, given by Rabbi Baruch Greenspan of Lakewood. We also regularly schedule ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions, where a baal habayis comes to speak about the challenges of being a ben Torah in the business world.” Additionally, the yeshiva has hosted shadchanim and other professionals to help transition the bochurim to the next stage. Bochurim range in ages from nineteen to twenty-four. Beginning with a student body of six talmidim, the yeshiva has grown to the point where it has thirty—plus alumni—and is growing zman by zman. The bochurim range from part-time college students to full-time learners. The yeshiva’s classes are accredited with Empire State University, which offers college degrees. For those students

who pursue college credits, a degree can be earned in one to two-and-a-half years. One unique aspect of the yeshiva is its relationship with Mr. Meir Rizel, LMHC, Director of the Men’s Education Program at Shalom Workshop, who speaks to the bochurim about creating and maintaining healthy relationships. “The interpersonal work we encourage among the bochurim is not just about marriage, but with friends too,” notes Rabbi Blinder. “Boys today are so exposed to many things. It can make them emotionally closed as well.”

“We feel that the yeshiva’s job is to provide tools to help the bochurim succeed in life,” adds Rabbi Weinberger. “We teach them that there is true simcha to the responsibility they take on in life. We keep it small so that there can be follow-up on everyone and so that we develop strong relationships with each of the bochurim. They become so affected by what they learn that they, in turn, become mentors. They have created their own chessed initiatives and are constantly looking for more opportunities to share the lessons they have learned. They have become true role models for their peers. They might be young in age, but they are giants in maturity and responsibility. It is beautiful to watch.” There is certainly a mutual admiration society at the yeshiva. One bochur, Nachi Gordon, shares, “The rabbeim at Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah don’t just educate us in multiple facets of Torah. They give us the tools to keep learning, to keep davening, and to keep growing when we will, iy”H, be working and raising a family. I can honestly say that I have the best rabbeim in the world.” Another bochur, Tuli Urbach, explains, “The yeshiva focuses on the desirability of warmth, growth and involvement in each and every bochur. Talmidim are afforded the opportunity to craft a sense of self that feels authentic, a sense of self that truly comes from within. This allows them to tap into and nurture their identities, to become healthy, wholesome future spouses, parents, and productive members of Klal Yisroel.” Both Rabbi Weinberger and Rabbi Blinder explain that the lessons their bochurim learn aren’t confined to one particular zman. It is a limud they are expected to use for their entire lives. “We want them to thrive in their mar-

riages and business endeavors, with the understanding that Torah guides everything in their lives,” Rabbi Weinberger notes. “Our hashkafos have stayed the same from the time we opened the yeshiva. We see more and more the need for what we are doing. Our convictions have grown stronger.” Both Rabbi Weinberger and Rabbi Blinder bring experience and dedication to their positions. Rabbi Weinberger learned in the Brisker Kollel for eight years and is currently rov of Bais Tefilla of Inwood. Rabbi Blinder is a talmid of Yeshivas Mir and served as rov of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in Cedarhurst. He is also a presenter for Shalom Workshop. The yeshiva also features the talents of Rabbi Abi Goldenberg, who serves as the yeshiva’s menahel and beloved rebbi. The yeshiva will be moving into its own facility at the end of this zman, a building on Franklin Place in Woodmere currently under renovation. Bochurim hail from throughout the United States, as well as from Eretz Yisroel. These are solid bnei Torah who are looking for the kind of broad-based approach to Torah learning that the yeshiva provides with dedication and personal care. Dormitories provide housing for the bochurim in the Lawrence area, where the yeshiva is currently located. The focus of the yeshiva will remain the same as it continues to grow, giving bochurim different perspectives on life skills to prepare them for life, whatever that will entail. “We want them to be as productive as possible,” Rabbi Weinberger says. “We want each one of them to flourish in all aspects of life.” The yeshiva extended special hakoras hatov to Congregation Heichel Dovid for sharing its bais medrash with Nishmas HaTorah these first few years. For more information about the yeshiva, email yeshivanishmashatorah@ gmail.com.

Around The Community

59 THE JEWISH HOME

Meir Melohn, Mark Drachman and Lavie Popack were the Guests of Honor at the 36th Neveh Zion Annual Gala Dinner on December 10 at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club. Jonathan Makovsky and Mendy Stern were the Alumni of the Year.

ď ł

DECEMBER 25, 2014 PHOTO CREDITS: IRA THOMAS CREATIONS

Rabbi Wein on the Parsha Page 81

THE JEWISH HOME



DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Machon Basya Rochel Seminary Open House 2015-2016 “A seminary near home that every girl can call home” is the motto of Machon Basya Rochel Seminary. True to the saying, Machon Basya Rochel Seminary, located in Lawrence, creates a warm, growing, and stimulating seminary experience for girls right out of high school or a year in seminary. Under the direction of Rebbitzen Aviva Feiner, the full/half day program is successfully entering its sixth year. On Monday, December 29, Machon Basya Rochel Seminary will be hosting an Open House in the beautiful Machon Basya Rochel Seminary building and welcomes all senior girls and their parents to attend. The program will be from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and will include an informational session with Rebbitzen Aviva Feiner, menaheles, and Mrs. Debra Green, mechaneches, a tour of the facility and a question and answer session. Faculty, alumni and students will be available for questions as well. Machon

At the Chanukah Mesiba of Yeshiva Gedolah Ateres Yaakov, under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe and Rabbi Meir Braunstein. Rabbi Yaakov Reisman was the guest speaker.

Basya Rochel’s program offers courses in Tanach, hashkafa, and halacha in a warm environment with outstanding faculty. Credits from the seminary are accepted in major universities such as Touro and CUNY schools. Students attend from the Five Towns/Far Rockaway, Brooklyn, Queens, Monsey, Lakewood, and out of the tri-state area as well. Applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 school year. There is an early registration tuition discount for applicants who apply by January 15. Please contact the seminary at 516-3625000 or at mbrseminary@gmaill.com for more information or for an application. Please visit the website at mbrseminary.org to download an application or peruse different aspects of the program. Machon Basya Rochel Seminary is located at 137 Lawrence Ave. across from the Long Island Railroad Station.

Rabbi Menacham Nissel at MBR this Sunday Night Machon Basya Rochel Seminary will be hosting Rabbi Menachem Nissel on Sunday night, December 28 at 8:30 p.m. All women and girls of the community are invited to attend his meaningful shiur, which is titled, “A Woman’s Tears: From Trial to Triumph.” Rabbi Menachem Nissel is a beloved seminary teacher in Yerushalayim, as well as the author of the Rigshei Lev, a sefer on women and tefilla. The seminary is honored to be able to bring Rav Nissel to the community for all to enjoy.

Adult education and community lectures are the focus of Machon Basya Rochel Seminary. The seminary is proud to be able to provide this service to the community for over five years. Please contact the seminary at 516362-5000 or mbrseminary@gmail.com for more information or for sponsorships. Machon Basya Rochel Seminary is located at 137 Lawrence Ave. across from the Lawrence Long Island Railroad Station. Please check out the website at mbrseminary.org.

61 THE JEWISH HOME

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Around The Community

THE JEWISH HOME



DECEMBER 25, 2014

YACHAD

Celebrating Chanukah with sushi!

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GREAT NECK! Yachad is bringing its more than 30 years of experience servicing the special needs community to Great Neck beginning Monday, January 5, 2015! Our adult day program provides job training, job placement, daily living skills and community inclusion, among many other services. These skills help guide our individuals to lead a more successful and independent lifestyle.

Join us Mondays beginning January 5th, 2015

HANC Team Sizzles at Latke Cook-Off On Tuesday, December 16, four HANC High School student chefs, along with their Director of Student Life, competed in the first-ever Chanukah Latke Cook-off at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City, NY, against students from the Solomon Schechter High School. Each team prepared three

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

At the Beth Hadassah Synagogue 160 Steamboat Road, Great Neck CONTACT MICHAEL APPELBAUM AT 212.613.8284 OR APPELBAUMM@OU.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, is dedicated to enhancing the life opportunities of Individuals with disabilities, ensuring their participation in the full spectrum of Jewish life. Yachad is an agency of the Orthodox Union.

latke recipes that represent their school. Rabbi Anshel Perl kashered the hotel’s kitchen and toiveled the new utensils provided by the Garden City Hotel. Students Rachel Levian, Leah Glatzerman, Ari Levine, and Mathew Katz cooked their hearts out before six judges ranging from politicians, rabbis and culinary experts. They included Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, Rabbi Perl of Chabad of Mineola, and Executive Chef of the hotel, Michael Mandato. The HANC chefs prepared a tra-

ditional potato latke, an Israel themed falafelatke, and the Persian favorite Kookoo-Sabzi latke. Students arrived at 10am and began to prepare in the hotel’s master kitchen. After 90 minutes, the team presented the panel of judges with the final product. The judges were particularly impressed by the HANC team not only for their culinary expertise but for their creativity in presentation. The HANC team described the significance behind their choice of recipes, which depicted the Jewish experiences throughout the ages. This event was taped and was televised on Channel 12, Fox 5, Fios, and on CBS Radio. In the end, both schools displayed poise under pressure and wowed the judges with their culinary expertise. The judges declared both teams winners as they had a difficult time choosing and presented the participants with certificates. HANC chefs were particularly acknowledged for their plating, presentations, and professionalism. The team is grateful to Director of Student Life, Rabbi Daniel Mezei, for his culinary expertise and for his support throughout the event.

63 THE JEWISH HOME

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Natural Earth Balsamic Vinegar

Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Classic or Signature - 16.5 oz 3/$

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599 ................................................. $

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B&G Pickles

Vintage Seltzer 1 Liter 2/$

Chips, Dills, Spears, Deli’s - 32 oz

249

Mauzone Salad Dressing

Turkey Hill Iced Tea

All Flavors - 12 oz

Assorted 64 oz

299 ......................................................

Ha’olam Shredded Cheese

Hunt’s BBQ Sauce

5/$

3/$

.................................................

Lieber’s Animal Cookies 13 oz

249

Le Chocolate Chocolate Covered Marshmallows with Jelly

Duncan Hines Brownie & Decadent Cake Mixes

2/$

.................................................

Sparkling Ice All Flavors - 17 oz

10/$

7oz

.................................................

Smart Fries All Flavors 1 oz

449

.................................................

1 Liter

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Clear Choice Flavored Seltzer

Glick’s Flour

249

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Regular or Multigrain - 10 oz

Brownie Batter, Chocolate Chip, Cookie Batter - 1.5 oz

79¢

Gefen Marinara & Pasta Sauces

Tostitos Scoops

2/$

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Sabra Hummus To Go with Pretzels 4.5 oz

Philadelphia Cream Cheese 8 oz Cups

.......................................

99¢

Except Reduced Fat - 8 oz

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.......................................

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499

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extra lean!

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Around The Community

THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

At the Mesivta Shaarei Chaim Chanukah Mesibah

PHOTO CREDIT: AKP PHOTOS

How to Turn a Tax Nightmare Into a Dream Come True

Because You Deserve A Perfect Smile

By Elozor Halpert The scenario is all too familiar. It’s time to prepare your records for tax filing, and you want to maximize your charitable deductions, so you make a supreme effort to gather all your receipts. But you face several daunting problems. You have an avalanche of disorganized little pieces of paper to deal with, and some receipts inevitably get lost. Then there are those innumerable small donations that you never even bothered getting receipts for. (It’s amazing how quickly they add up!) And what about those foreign charities that might not be tax deductible? You know that you’re wasting time, money and energy, and you may even wonder whether the entire process is worthwhile. But it’s not just about taxes – it’s about taking control of the charity giving process. It’s like any other investment – you want to be able to set up a budget so that you’re not spending more than you can afford. You want to be able to see at a glance how much money you’ve spent in total on charity, and how much went to each organization (and you want to be certain that every dollar you spend goes where it’s supposed to go!). You want the process to be organized and easily manageable, and you want to prevent it from spiraling out of control. Is there a way of accomplishing that? Welcome to the wonderful world of OJC! The OJC (Orthodox Jewish Community) Fund program was created for people just like you. People who like to invest their time and energy as carefully and as shrewdly as they invest their money. They want information about

their charitable contribution at their fingertips, and they want to maximize their charitable deductions without spending endless hours tracking down and organizing receipts. With OJC, you are in control! All your records are neat, organized and in one place! This makes reconciliation easier, tells you at a glance where every charitable dollar went, simplifies tax preparation, liberates you from many hours of paperwork drudgery, safeguards your financial information, and helps guard against overspending and misdirected funds. If you should face an audit, what a relief it is to know that all your charity records are easily accessible and in one place! OJC saves you time, energy and money, and spares you from endless aggravation! OJC offers you numerous other advantages, such as enabling you to make anonymous donations (while still qualifying for a tax deduction), giving you extra time at the end of the year to decide where you want your charity funds to go (because you qualify for a deduction as soon as you deposit the funds with OJC), simplifying donations via a foundation, etc., and of course, OJC makes the charity-giving process even more convenient by enabling you to donate via its website. To get more information, you can contact the OJC Fund by phone at 718599-1400 or visit their website at www. ojcfund.org. Their many satisfied clients will attest to the fact that this will be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make!

67 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Bnos Malka: Everyone is a Star

THE JEWISH HOME

SKA Celebrates Chanukah

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ents come, armed with cameras and camcorders, ready to capture the gleam in their child’s eyes. The plays were followed by joint activities and refreshments that make the whole experience one they will treasure for many years to come.

Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe to Include Writer’s Workshop Program

SKA’s special personal touch highlighted the festivities on the first days of Chanukah! Every one of the 350 students in the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls was welcomed to one of twenty faculty members for a warm and inviting Chanukah breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday, December 17 and 18. The girls baked cookies, spun dreidels, played games, sang Chanukah harmonies, and at one house, even fed the backyard ducks after partaking in a scrumptious morning meal. It was a very unique and warm way to start the weeklong celebration! Since chesed is such an integral part of SKA, what better time is there to do chesed than the Festival of Lights, when SKAers shared their points of light with others? Making parties for Ivdu and Otzar, visiting the elderly in a nursing home, and packing clothing parcels for those less fortunate were Thursday’s highlights of Chanukah events. The celebrations continued after Chanukah vacation with the annual

school-wide Chanukah Chagiga filled with leibidig dancing and ruach. The eagerly-awaited yearly Chanukah Auction gives the students the opportunity to bid on such items as Shabbosim at the home of faculty members and lunch and yogurt outings with teachers; girls could even bid on having a custom-made scarf, with color and style of choice, knit by one of our faculty members! All the money raised goes to tzedakah, which makes this event even more meaningful. We thank all our hosts and hostesses for opening up their homes and making this SKA Chanukah one of the best ever. Thanks also go to Rabbi Yosef Zakutinsky, Director of Student Programming, and his assistant, Mrs. Yafa Storch, for their dedication and originality. When Chanukah is over, our extraordinary activities continue with the Ninth Grade Father-Daughter Breakfast on December 25 and then on motzei Shabbat and Sunday…Production 2014!

Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe is embarking on a writer’s workshop program which will begin in grade 6 and then, i”yH, include the whole school, under the direction of Mrs. Susie Garber, well-known author, journalist and writing mentor. Over the years, Mrs. Garber has helped many schools in different boroughs to create outstanding school-wide writing programs. In this program, the students will segue through various genres as they follow the steps of the writing process of drafting, revising, editing and publishing. This cutting-edge writing workshop program is based on the philosophy of Columbia University Teachers’ College Reading and Writing program. It covers the Common Core Standards in writing comprehensively, while going beyond this to encourage creativity and voice and to instill a life-

long love of reading and writing. We all know how important writing is in our students’ future academic and professional endeavors. This program will provide a strong foundation in writing as students hone their craft skills and learn strategies in narrative, informational and argument writing. The writer’s workshop emphasizes that we teach the writer not the writing, so that our students feel empowered as they gain confidence and skills in writing. The goal is for each student to compile a portfolio of “published” work from each of the genres. There is nothing quite like that feeling of completing a well- written essay or poem or, better yet, “publishing” your own book. We look forward to reading the stellar writing of the Tiferes Moshe students through this program.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Chanukah is a very special time for children in general; at Bnos Malka it is a much anticipated time for parents too. The kindergarten and Pre-1A classes each put on their own Chanukah plays to the delight of all. It typically marks the first performance for these young children and so parents and grandpar-

THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Around The Community Five Towns Hosts Maryland’s Shoresh Teen Trip to New York For over 20 years, the teens from Shoresh have taken amazing trips. The trips work on a three year cycle. On the first year of the cycle, they go to New York. The second year, they go to California or Florida, and the third year, Israel. This way, the teenagers can go to Israel at least once during their high school years. In order to attend this highly subsidized trip, the teens must come to our classes called “Brew Crews,” come to our events, and big brother and big sister the younger children in their communities. In November, the Shoresh Fidler Teens went to New York on a fun and meaningful three day trip. They spent Shabbos in the Five Towns and Sunday in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Friends of Rabbi David Finkelstein, the director of Shoresh, and Arielle Wolfson, a wonderful friend of Shoresh, procured housing the entire group. The White Shul and Rabbi Eytan Feiner were so welcoming to the group. The kids could not have felt more at home and Rabbi Feiner tailored his remarks to make sure that our teens were able to appreciate and internalize his wonderful message. (Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner was a former Shoresh star counselor.) On Friday night, Ephraim and Rena Kutner hosted an Oneg at their beautiful home, and Rabbi David Greenblatt and Rabbi Eli Kutner were the guest speakers. They had wonderful messages for the teens, and in turn, they were dually impressed by the insightful divrei Torah given by Shoresh teens Brielle Kaplan and Ethan Smith. Moshe and Arielle Wolfson sponsored a beautiful lunch at Rabbi Brown’s shul, and the group was joined by longtime friends and supporters Dovid and Joy Devor and family and Dovid and Seema Schwob. The Devors have been the chairmen of the Shoresh

BBQ that is held annually in the Five Towns. They have worked with tremendous love and dedication to help the Shoresh Scholarship Fund. It was

wonderful to see the pride that they felt to have the Shoresh teens come to their neighborhood and meet their friends who have supported Shoresh for over two decades.

the bakeries. They couldn’t believe how much candy was actually kosher! “It felt like we were in Israel as we shopped along Avenue J and saw so many Jewish people,” said Gaithersburg teen Josh Reyer. 12th grader Ben Kron from Frederick loved the shul on Coney Island Avenue. He couldn’t believe that there was a massive shul inside what looked like a small building. The teens were so impressed by the hachnassas orchim and chessed of the Five Towns Jewish community. Michael Morberto from Leesburg, Virginia, commented, “This was the nicest Shabbos that I have ever experienced.

Seudah Shlishis was held at the home of former Shoresh counselor Chaya Gibber. She and her husband Aryeh and their family have been part of Shoresh since its inception. The kids ended Shabbos with a beautiful kumzitz. On Motzei Shabbos, the group headed to Manhattan and went ice skating in Central Park. On Sunday, they had a wonderful time touring Times Square and then headed to Brooklyn. They loved going to sefarim stores and

Everyone was so warm and friendly.” Sarah Tsimmerman from Olney, MD, and Keren Binyamin from Columbia, MD, loved the singing and spirit at the White Shul. Natalie Buckwold from Mount Airy, MD, and Zach Weissman from Potomac, MD, were thrilled “to see so many Jews walking on Shabbos in Far Rockaway and Lawrence. We don’t get to experience that at home and it was very special to us.” Emily Scheiner from Gaithersburg, MD, recently joined the group and this

was her first Shabbaton. “I had such a wonderful time spending Shabbos with all of my new friends at Shoresh. I definitely want to come back and I will tell all of my friends about this awesome organization.” Brian Cohen, who graduated from the University of Maryland, is from Frederick and has recently move to New York. He is working as an engineer. At Shoresh, you never graduate. You are always involved with the organization “from baby to Bubby.” Brian joined us for the weekend and stayed at former Shoresh camper Yitzy Rosenbloom and his wife, Emmie. “Thank you for allowing me to join the group for Shabbos last week. I was craving some soulful Jewish experiences, and that was exactly what I needed. Thank you again!” expressed Brian. I know the Rosenblooms and Kutners have already extended invitations to Brian and he is heading back to their house in the next few weeks for Shabbos. Speaking of coming back, Rabbi David Greenblatt, our guest speaker on Friday night, invited the teens back to the area. “There are over 600 families who are ready to welcome all of you whenever you want to come back. I hope you will take us up on this offer.” Shoresh definitely will be back!

Around The Community

71 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

On Tuesday, the 7th day of Chanukah, the eighth grade students of Yeshiva Har Torah visited their local police department, Precinct #105. Their mission was to deliver doughnuts, thank the police officers for all their hard work, and of course, to wish them a Happy Chanukah as well! The officers were so happy the students came to visit and they expressed their sincere appreciation to YHT for taking the time to thank them and bring them some Chanukah joy.

Five Towns Marriage Initiative Uplifting our Home’s Physicality Rabbi Mendel Kaplan explains that man is greater than the animals because Adam gave the animals their names. Additionally, Rabbeinu Tam says that animals walk on all fours since their essence is connected to the ground while man stands because he has a heavenly soul. The Radak says that an animal can only think about something within its capabilities. A lion won’t think of how to fly and a fish won’t think of how to stroll through the forest. Yet man is above all this because he can dream up the most unrealistic ideas and reach for the stars. With all this, it seems odd that animals can look beautiful without clothing while humans generally benefit from the garments they wear. Not only that, but during davening, a person has to distance himself from human waste but an animal waste is not as much of an issue. In a physical sense as well, the body of a human is the most limited compared to all the animal species. So why is it that on the one hand man is so great compared to the animals and yet in a physical way man seems less than animals? Adam chose his name for himself, reflecting the idea that his physical body comes from the Earth. He makes no mention of his heavenly soul in his name, because the soul that he got, and that we all get, is perfect. The purpose we have in life is to improve our earth-

ly self, and by making us more limited and lowly in a physical sense, it is a constant reminder given to us by Hashem that the physical aspect, the materialistic side, is where we need to expend our efforts and energy. Obviously this is not done by physical exercise; the type of improvement we need is that of making our body holy by using it to do mitzvos. Marriage gives us ample opportunities to do mitzvos and uplift our physicality. Cooking, working, cleaning, and all the other physical exertions we invest in creating a loving home for our spouse all entail using our body parts to make our homes run. When we do this, we are fulfilling the purpose of our stay here on Earth, refining our earthly side and bringing it up to match the level of the perfection of our soul. Five Towns Marriage Initiative provides educational programs, workshops and referrals to top marriage therapists. FTMI will help offset counseling costs when necessary and also runs an anonymous shalom bayis hotline for the entire community Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 9:30-11p.m. For the hotline or more information, call 516-430-5280 or email dsgarry@ msn.com.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

72 78

You Gotta be

Riddle!

Kidding!

A truck driver is going opposite traffic on a oneway street. A police officer sees him but doesn’t stop him. Why doesn’t the police officer stop him?

Answer on next page

On a recent visit to Cuba, Vladimir Putin found that most Cubans’ shoes have holes in them, and so he asks Fidel Castro, “Oye chico, how is this possible after 40 years of ‘progress’?” Annoyed, Fidel Castro answers, “And what about Russia? Have you done any better?” Putin says, “Ombe, when you want, I’ll invite you to Russia and if you find a single person with ripped-up shoes, you have permission to kill him. No problem.” They got on Putin’s plane and went to Russia. As soon as Fidel got off the plane, the first thing he saw was someone whose shoes were all ripped up, and so he grabbed his pistol, killing the man. The following day, Russian newspapers carried this banner headline: “Old Bearded Man Kills Cuban Ambassador in Moscow Airport.”

CUBA TRIVIA 1. How long was Fidel Castro’s longest speech? a. 1 hour and 47 minutes b. 2 hours and 23 minutes c. 3 hours and 48 minutes d. 7 hours and 10 minutes 2. What is the official language of Cuba? a. Spanish b. Cuban c. English d. Russian 3. How many U.S. presidents did Fidel Castro outlast? a. 6 b. 8 c. 10 d. 11 4. According to Cuban security officials, how many assassination attempts did Fidel Castro survive? a. 73 b. 134 c. 212 d. 638 5. In 1961, the United States backed an invasion by Cuban exiles, which failed. What was the invasion called? a. Operation Cuban Freedom b. Operation Defeat Communism c. Bay of Pigs d. Operation Havana Lights

6. How many people live in Cuba? a. 6 million b. 11 million c. 64 million d. 82 million 7. In 1962 why did President Kennedy delay signing the embargo against Cuba for several hours? a. There were last minute negotiations with Fidel Castro. b. He wanted to give a televised broadcast to explain his actions but had to wait until after the Super Bowl to do so. c. He wanted to make sure that he had enough Cuban cigars for himself in the White House first. d. He was watching his wife play in an amateur tennis tournament. ANSWERS 1) D-Castro holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations: 4 hours and 29 minutes on September 29, 1960. His longest speech on record in Cuba was 7 hours and 10 minutes in 1986 at the III Communist Party Congress in Havana. 2) A 3) C 4) D-The assassination attempts include poison pills, a toxic cigar, a chemically tainted diving suit, and powder to make his beard fall out so as to undermine his popularity. Castro is quoted as saying, “If surviving assassination attempts

were an Olympic event, I would win the gold medal.” 5) C-In 1961, the CIA launched what its leaders believed would be the definitive strike: a full-scale invasion of Cuba by 1,400 Americantrained Cubans who had fled their homes when Castro took over. However, the invasion did not go well; the invaders were badly outnumbered by Castro’s troops, and they surrendered after less than 24 hours of fighting. 6) C 7) C-According to JFK’s then-spokesman Pierre Salinger, the president ordered him to buy him as many of his favorite Cuban cigars as he could lay his hands on – and held off signing the Cuban trade embargo until his precious stogies were safely inside the White House. Kennedy asked to find at least 1,000 H.Upmann petit coronas, and gave him just a half a day to accomplish the task before they would become contraband. When Salinger handed him 1,200 Cuban cigars, President Kennedy pronounced, “Fantastic!” and then promptly signed the embargo. Wisdom key 5-7 correct: You earned a Cuban cigar, just remember what el presidente Fidel said after he quit smoking cigars in 1985: “I give people cigars and tell them it is poison. I say: ‘Smoke them if you like, but the best thing you can do with that box of cigars is give it to your enemy.’” 2-4 correct: You know a little about Cuba but not enough. Come to think of it, Mr. Obama, is that why you just handed a victory to Castro? 0-1 correct: You are a winner! You won an all-expenses paid trip to a tropical Cuban island: Guantanamo Bay.

73 79 THE JEWISH HOME

Un-Covered

In retaliation for North Korea’s actions last week, the TJH Centerfold Commissioner successfully “gained access” to Kim Jong Un ’s private photo journal. We present portions of the never-before-seen journal to our dear readers.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

ks is not an easy task”

“Picking out matching soc

“Don’t you just get gid dy when you watch pe ople slave laboring?”

“Custard for me! Custard for

“Is it really bad luck to jum

me!”

p in and collect the pennies

“I hack Sony!”

“Going to a kumzitz”

?”

e again.”

“I will never do karaok

Awkward!

ANSWER TO RIDDLE: Because he was walking!

“We were eventually able to solve the math problem we were working on: two plus two is four!”

The Rocky Rant

Rocky Zweig

Solving the Shidduch Crisis

THE JEWISH HOME

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

I suppose I should start this column with a disclaimer, so here it is: DISCLAIMER: What follows is not meant to be taken too seriously. The main reason Shoshana aksed (dat’s how we talk in Brooklyn. Deal wid it!) me to write for this august publication was to try and tickle your funny bone (that would be your humerus, of course) every couple weeks. But, as I said in my inaugural piece two weeks ago, sometimes folks take offense at some of the things I write. So here it is: a one-size-fits-all, all-occasion apology. Please take everything you ever read in this column with a huge, and I mean huge, grain of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. I never mean to offend anyone. I’m just a guy with a keyboard and a thesaurus and way too much time on his hands. That said, I am aware that there are people out there who are having trouble finding their soulmates. Please, please, please don’t think the silliness that follows is an indication that I am in any way insensitive to your plight. I was fortunate enough to find my bashert on three separate occasions. The fact that I then went on to mess things up all three times is incidental. Anyway, I bless you all with all the mazal and brocha in the world and may you all be standing under the chuppa gazing at your beloved, glowing brightly, b’karov mamash!

kay, fasten your seatbelts — here we go! In my previous venue, people were always writing in, complaining about the “shidduch crisis,” and it’s a good thing they did, too. Otherwise, I never would have known it existed. I see couples everywhere. I virtually trip over couples. No, wait a minute; I literally trip over couples! I see

do it, you can do it. It’s really not as hard as you think. Getting married is easy. Staying married; that’s the tricky part! I was once contemplating writing a book on the secrets of marital bliss. I was gonna call it, “The Do’s and Don’ts of a Happy Marriage.” I had to abandon the project, however, when I realized I had an awful lot of don’ts and not too many do’s. IMHO (I know textspeak like the young ’uns ), when it comes to dating and finding o n e ’s kindred spirit, myths abound. Unfortunately, all too often those myths take way too long to become mythusses. If you truly want to move things along, at some point you’re gonna have to think out of the box, bite the bullet, drink the Kool-Aid and any other cliché you can think of, make like Nike and just do it! Here are some of the aforementioned myths that I shall now either bunk or debunk, whichever is necessary: 1. TRUE OR FALSE: Being attracted to one’s potential spouse is very important. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! I am sorry, that is incorrect! It is important to note the inspiring words of that most brilliant jurist of our time, Judge Judy, who famously said, “Beauty fades, but dumb is forever.” Wanna know what your prospective spouse is gonna look like twenty or thirty years down the road? Sneak a gander at his/her mom or dad. That’ll either scare you away or seal the deal. 2. TRUE OR FALSE: Look for money. DINGDINGDINGDINGDING! You better believe it, hotshot! Yes, I know: I’m a hopeless romantic, right? But seriously, dude (or dudette) — why not? You may not get it, but it sure doesn’t hurt to try. My mom a”h always told me it was just as easy to fall in love with a rich girl as it was with a poor girl. Problem was, she never explained how I was supposed to get the rich girl to look at me in the first place without her eventually taking out an order of protection. Anyway, all I’m saying is, if the opportunity presents itself, go for it. Let’s assume, G-d forbid, that ten years down the pike you guys experience a few bumps in the ol’ marital road. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to be unhappy in a Beemer than in a Civic? 3. TRUE OR FALSE: If there’s no chemistry on the first date, there should never be a second date. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! Absolutely, pos-

Getting married is easy. Staying married; that’s the tricky part! husbands and wives picking up prescriptions for the heartbreak of psoriasis. I see married folks debating the pros and cons of smooth versus chunky in Shop Rite. I see nearly napping newlyweds trying to calm their hysterical toddler twins in the double stroller who were just traumatized by a passing Yorkie. I see trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom…no, wait, hold on a sec…never mind. Anyway, you get the idea. As I mentioned earlier, I managed to tie the knot three times. I’m not rich. I’m not handsome (okay, maybe a little handsome), two out of three times I wasn’t young, and I was born with this huge birthmark on my forehead in the shape of an “L” (okay, just kidding about that one). The point being, if I can

itively false! Do you think anyone is himself on a first date? Are you? How about on a second date? Or a third? The longer you go out, the more you loosen up. The more you loosen up, the more you see the real person sitting across from your or next to you in the pizza shop. Truth be told, you never really get to know someone until your first fight. And you never get to really, really get to know someone until you’ve lived with them a couple years. And that, Mr. Gore, is an unfortunate truth we can all relate to. I’ve got so much more priceless advice, but ink is expensive, so I’ll end here for now. Who knows? Maybe there’ll be a sequel! P.S. Note to Suri S.: Thank you so much for your kind words in the letters to the editor of TJH. I shall try to live up to your lofty expectations. I don’t know if I can be consistently pithy, but I can thertainly try.

Rocky Zweig has been writing since he was sixteen and was the Editor-in-Chief of the late and decidedly unlamented Modieinu, the mimeographed (remember mimeographs?) newspaper of the Tenth Avenue Pirchei of Boro Park, where he wrote everything from stories to news articles to hashkafa articles to...yes (now it can be told!)...letters to the editor. Rocky was sixteen a very long time ago. He is the proud father of three marginally neurotic children. He has been married three — count ‘em — three times and has finally determined that he’s probably not very good at matrimonial bliss. He lives in his Fortress of Solitude in Flatbush with a small menagerie: Clarice, a European Starling; Rabbi Horatio LeZard, a Bearded Dragon; an aquarium filled with Lake Malawi African Cichlids; and a ten gallon tank that functions as a Home for Unwanted Goldfish, or H.U.G., collected over the years by his grandkids and great nieces and nephews at myriad street fairs and carnivals (rather than face the unpleasant task of flushing these unfortunate piscine creatures when they are eventually, inevitably ignored by their own obnoxious progeny, the parents simply call Uncle Rocky who then feeds them and cares for them until their ultimate natural demise three or four or even ten years down the pike). So apparently Rocky seems to get along better with animals than with his fellow homo sapiens. Or sapienses. Or whatever. Rocky’s column will be appearing every other week in The Jewish Home.

75 THE JEWISH HOME

simch wear

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

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Friends Again Cuba and the U.S. Shake Hands after a Five Decades-Long Embargo BY TAMAR SULLIVAN

Last

Wednesday, President Obama announced dramatic changes in U.S.-Cuba relations with the hope of warming the icy decades-long stalemate between the two neighboring countries. The surprising news came after 18 months of secret deliberations in Canada and Vatican City, encouraged by Pope Francis and concluding with a phone call between the U.S. president and Cuban President Raul Castro. The first layer of thawing hostilities was an immediate prisoner swap. Cuba sent home two jailed Americans: U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned since 2009, and an unnamed intelligence agent who had been held for more than 20 years. In return, the U.S. sent home three Cubans convicted of espionage in 2001. President Obama also announced a meaningful ease on travel and economic restrictions that have been in place for years. Finally, both countries are re-opening embassies in each other’s capitals, effectively re-establishing U.S.-Cuban relations for the first time in half a century.

Before

the twentieth century, Cuba was technically in Spanish hands, but by the late 1870s, the U.S. was responsible for the vast majority of Cuba’s exports and therefore had the strongest leverage on its economy. North Americans moved to the island in increasing numbers and acquired large amounts of land – both for commercial and personal use. As Cuba’s reliance on mother Spain eased, rebel resistance to Spanish rule and a movement for independence grew. U.S. officials quietly discussed plans to acquire Cuba; it only seemed natural given Cuba’s economic dependence on and physical proximity to the U.S. But resistance

leaders had other plans. As Cubans struggled for independence, American journalists exaggerated Spanish oppression of Cuban natives. Their yellow journalism tactics and an explosion on USS Maine that killed over 250 crewmembers and sank the ship incensed the American public and pushed a reluctant President William McKinley to intervene in the struggle against the Spanish in April 1898. What followed was known as the Spanish-American War but is referred to by Cubans as U.S. intervention in Cuba’s War of Independence. In December of that year, Spain and the U.S. signed the Treaty of Paris, which recognized Cuba’s official independence, though at the exclusion of input by Cuban independence fighters who were not invited to discuss the length of U.S. occupation or the terms of the treaty. In 1901, the Platt Amendment outlined U.S. policy in Cuba and established precedent that the U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs as well as buy or lease Cuban land for naval needs. The Amendment effectively placed the U.S. in a position of power over Cuba, despite military withdrawal in 1902. In the two decades that followed the Platt Amendment, U.S.-Cuban relations were unstable, with the U.S. intervening to quell protests and establish temporary military rule whenever it was thought necessary. In 1933, after a military coup of the Cuban government, the de facto leader, General Fulgencio Batista, heralded an era of acquiescence to the U.S. During this time, U.S. economic interest in Cuba exploded amidst widespread corruption. However, the fragile peace did not last and the rumblings of a revolution were growing louder each year. Eventually, during Batista’s second term, rebels led by Fidel Castro succeeded in overthrowing Batista in the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The

109 THE JEWISH HOME

Almost

immediately, relations between the The U.S. placed its defensive interceptors and offensive bombers on two countries began to fall apart as high alert and positioned its nuclear bombers in striking distance to the Castro ordered the nationalization Soviet Union. When Kennedy received word that the nuclear missile of U.S.-owned business and a staunch commitment to socialism. In re- development in Cuba was continuing unabated, he loaded nuclear weapsponse to his anti-American policies and his foreboding friendship with onry onto aircraft and readied for a full-scale invasion. the Soviet Union, the U.S. began imposing Tense deliberations between the Soviets trade restrictions on the island. As Castro and the Americans spanned the course of a annexed more and more private businesses few long days. Finally, a deal was brokered as a part of his government’s socialist agenbetween the two nations in which Krushda, the U.S. intensified trade restrictions chev agreed to remove nuclear missiles from even further. Tensions escalated when the Cuba and the U.S. agreed to remove its misCuban freighter La Coubre exploded off siles from Turkey and pledge not to interits coast; when no one took responsibility, vene in Cuba’s affairs. Castro was resentful Castro blamed the United States. A quick that he was not part of the negotiations, but, spiral of hostility finally led to the cessation with the exception of Guantanamo Bay, he of all diplomatic relations and U.S. exports was rewarded with complete sovereignty. to Cuba. The U.S. closed its embassy in Havana in 1961. However, the U.S. was not quite willnext few decades saw Cars from the 1960s still line the streets in Cuba due to the embargo ing to give up its relationship with the small strained but relatively island nation so easily. In a secret operapeaceful relations betion, which later became known as the Bay tween the two nations. In the 1960s, under of Pigs Invasion, U.S. forces trained 1,500 President Lyndon B. Johnson, those who Cuban refugees to invade and overthrow fled Cuba and arrived in the U.S. were welCastro’s government in 1961, but they come to apply for citizenship. As Cuba’s were defeated handily by Cuban forces. economy deteriorated in the 1970s, Castro The Cuban victory established Castro as a agreed to allow 125,000 Cubans to seek formidable socialist leader on the Western refuge in the U.S., but sent many convicts hemisphere and sealed his alliance with the among them. After two U.S. aircrafts were Soviet Union. President John F. Kennedy shot down by Cuba in 1996, President Bill secretly gave the CIA the go-ahead to draw Clinton signed the Helms-Burton Act, makup plans to destabilize Castro’s government, ing the economic embargo against Cuba permanent until certain conditions were take down key political figures, and even asmet, including Castro’s removal and a comsassinate Castro himself. Cuban leader Fidel Castro embracing Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev mitment to free elections and free press. In Tensions escalated rapidly, and with 1999, emotions ran high as six-year-old CuAmerican ballistic missiles in Europe withban Elian Gonzalez was found off the coast in range of Moscow, Soviet leader Nikita of Florida, the only survivor of his family’s Krushchev agreed to equip Cuba with nuattempt to reach the U.S. A contentious leclear missiles within range of the U.S. Dogal battle followed until the U.S. Supreme ing so would help Cuba’s interests against Court ruled in favor of returning Elian to his an imminent U.S. invasion and would also father in Cuba. give Krushchev new poise in the ever-escaIn 2008, due to failing health, Fidel Caslating Cold War and a new bargaining chip tro handed over the presidency to his brothin the struggle over West Berlin. The nucleer, Raul. When Barack Obama took office ar arming of Cuba began in utmost secrecy; in 2009, he lifted travel restrictions to Cuba very few knew the true nature of the clasand permitted Cuban-Americans to send unsified operations. Top U.S. officials were limited funds to Cuba. suspicious, but by September 1962, missiles A store with nearly empty shelves Reactions to Obama’s most recent efhad already arrived in Cuba. forts to re-establish U.S.-Cuban relations Due to national security concerns and are mixed, emotional, and fervent. Natuinclement weather, it was not until midrally, Cubans in Cuba are rejoicing, for an October that an American reconnaissance end to the economic embargo brings replane confirmed the presence of missile newed hope for their futures. But Cubans facilities in Cuba, which prompted the 13in the U.S. are split in their support for the day nerve-wracking Cuban Missile Cripresident’s attempts to restore U.S.-Cuban sis, which brought the U.S. and the Soviet relations. It seems that the younger generaUnion to the brink of nuclear war. tions of Cubans find the president’s efforts Top U.S. officials were divided about forward-thinking and optimistic; the older how to respond to the confirmed nuclear generations of Cubans who came to the threat. Many wanted a full-scale invasion, U.S. decades ago feel betrayed and angered but President Kennedy hesitated. With the by the thought of their president negotiatinvolvement of the Soviets, this was no loning with a deceitful socialist terrorist under ger just a U.S.-Cuba squabble; any action President Kennedy addressing the nation whom they and their loved ones suffered so would have international ramifications. Adduring the Cuba Missile Crisis in 1962 much. Politicians’ reactions are also mixed. dressing the nation on October 22, Kennedy Those in favor hope that the coming years announced a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment en route to Cuba. Cuba continued to insist that will bring new freedoms to the Cubans, despite Raul Castro’s affirmation all of its operations were defensive, while Krushchev threatened Ken- of Cuba’s Communist values; those who oppose it doubt that the Cuban nedy that a continued blockade would be viewed by the Soviets as an act people will see any new tangible freedoms as a result of this policy shift. Only time will tell.  of war.

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Torah Thought

Parshas Vayigash ed professor of law that said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up!” Even the greatest among us fall into that trap. There is a portion of the Jewish people who sincerely believe, whether for religious or ideological reasons, that

The ability to admit wrong and change direction is one of the true hallmarks of human greatness. tified their behavior towards him. They convinced themselves that they could not have been wrong regarding such an important matter. Blinded by their own convictions and worldview, of their exclusive role in creating the Jewish people without Yosef’s participation, the brothers were blind to the facts that unfolded before their eyes. I am reminded of the sign that I once saw on the desk of a not-

the State of Israel should never have been created. Great rabbinic leaders of the past assured their followers that the state could not last longer than fifteen years or fifty years at the most. The facts thankfully belie those dark predictions and certainties. There were ideologues on the left who said that by abandoning Marxism the State of Israel was doomed, as was the world of the Western democracies

generally. Once again, the facts of the matter have arisen to deny this skewed and dire viewpoint. All of the naysayers of the past still deny the present and continue to fight against the raging sea of facts that appear before their very eyes. Twenty years after the Oslo agreements, it is apparent to all that somehow this process failed to bring even a modicum of peace to Israel and its Arab antagonists. Yet, having committed themselves to and having invested so much effort in a failed process there are still many who refuse to face the facts and recognize that their worldview and assessment of the situation was wrong. So even when Yosef stands before you, one is blinded by one’s own prejudices and previous mindset. This is a very important lesson to be learned from the narrative of the Torah. The ability to admit wrong and change direction is one of the true hallmarks of human greatness. It certainly is necessary in our time and in our circumstances. Shabbat shalom.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

teous and pervert the utterances of the wise.” There is no greater graft or corruption than the self-righteousness of the ideologues amongst us. The brothers disbelieved Yosef’s dreams from the onset and hardened their hearts and jus-

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s the Torah’s narrative of the story of Yosef and his brothers reaches its dramatic climax in this week’s parsha, one may feel justifiably surprised that the brothers were so shocked at Yosef’s revelation to them. After all, there was no shortage of revelatory hints strewn by Yosef throughout the unfolding story. But the brothers, convinced of the rectitude of their actions and behavior, remained insensitive to Yosef and his words, dreams and vision to the end. This fact of willful blindness, no matter what facts are unfolding before one’s eyes, is not a rare occurrence in life. It is unfortunately a very common human characteristic. The combination of self-righteousness, so-called ideological purity, human stubbornness and the reluctance to admit past error is a lethal mix. It corrupts thought and behavior and blinds the eyes, even of the righteous. The Torah describes the effects of venal monetary corruption thusly: “For graft will blind the sight of the otherwise righ-

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The Shmuz

Parshas Vayigash

Yosef was the most beloved of Yaakov’s sons. All of the Torah that he learned he taught to Yosef. In Yosef, Yaakov saw brilliant intelligence and wisdom. In Yosef, he saw all of the attributes of his beloved Rochel — the kindness, the beauty, and the leadership qualities needed to head a nation. In Yosef, he recognized all of his own life events playing out in parallel. When Yaakov gave the kisones pasim (the coat of many colors) to Yosef, it was a symbol that established Yosef as the leader of the brothers. To Yaakov, Yosef represented the greatest of the Shevatim and the future of the Jewish nation. When the brothers came back with the report that Yosef was murdered, Yaakov was inconsolable. The tragedy was so profound that none of his children and none of the dignitaries who came to visit could comfort him. For years, the intensity of mourning didn’t leave Yaakov. His beloved son was gone. Finally, after twenty-two painful years, father and son were reunited. The joy and emotion of the moment is difficult to imagine — deep yearnings of the heart finally realized. Yosef was so moved that he kissed his father and then hugged him and cried, not just with tears, but with profuse crying that it seemed as if it were without stop. However, Rashi notes that Yaakov did not kiss Yosef, nor was he crying. He was reciting the Shema. This appears as a rather odd activity. Of all times, why did Yaakov see fit to read the Shema right then? Yaakov was Locking in the Emotion It would seem the answer to this question is that Yaakov felt such intense emotions at that moment — possibly more intense joy than he had ever experienced — that he wanted to capitalize on those feelings. He didn’t want them

to simply pass; he wanted lock them in, to put them into concrete form so that they would become eternal. He wanted to take that extreme sense of joy and completion that he felt and use it to reach a new level. With the high that he experienced, he proclaimed Hashem’s sovereignty of all. “You, the Master of the universe, have brought my son back to me.” He recognized Hashem with an unparalleled sense of appreciation and proclaimed the majesty of Hashem with a level of complete clarity that he may well never had reached before.

sudden turn in circumstances that we say, “It is hashgacha!” But obvious as it may be at the moment, ten minutes later that sense of clarity is gone. The only way to prevent that it from passing is to put that emotion into action, to take that understanding and make it permanent. I Thank You Sometimes even the most elementary action can have a profound effect, something as simple as saying thank you. If a person says the words, “Hashem, I recognize that these events were

The ability to capture the moment, to convert it into something permanent, is one of the keys to growth.

Obviously, this wasn’t the first time that Yaakov read Shema. He had accepted Hashem’s dominion on a daily basis for decades and decades. But this was a new level of understanding that he was only able to obtain through these powerful emotions. This concept has great relevance to us. In the course of our lives, we experience highs and lows, times of great joy and times of deep sorrow, times of excitement and enthusiasm, and times of boredom and listlessness. There are times when we are passionate and fervent, and there are times when we are apathetic. None of these states remains for long. Like waves of an ocean, they come, they go, and when they are gone, we remain the same as before – unchanged. The ability to capture the moment, to convert it into something permanent, is one of the keys to growth. If a person has a dramatic realization, if an event occurs that is the undeniable result of Hashem’s direct involvement in his life, there is a sense of appreciation of recognition. But that feeling will pass. That sense of clarity will leave. Sometimes we are so moved by a

not by chance. I see that it is You Who orchestrates this world and I thank you,” this statement can take a fleeting recognition and make it lasting. Even though the concept was already clear, going through the process can have a dramatic effect on whether this understanding actually remains and changes my perception. On the opposite side of the spectrum are painful experiences — loneliness, 

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suffering losses, failing in business. Nobody wishes for them and nobody wants them. However, when experiencing them, a person does have a very different perspective on themselves and on life. Gone is the feeling of independence, gone is the illusion of infallibility, and gone is the aura of superiority. In that sense, these are peak moments, moments of extraordinary clarity. Ironically, the pain will pass and be forgotten. The question is: will the gain pass with it as well? If a person doesn’t take concrete steps to make that vision permanent, it too will pass and become just part of a distant memory. When a person reaches a new level of understanding, that experience can be an event of life that happens and passes. But with one small step, it can become a permanent part of the person. By training ourselves to lock in these peak moments, we can take life experiences, moments of unique lucidity, and make them part of ourselves. Often, all it takes is a simple conscious action, a decision, or a small change to make lofty concepts and emotional highs permanent — changing who I am forever.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

“And Yosef hitched up his wagon and went up to greet his father, Yisroel, towards Goshen, and he appeared before him, and he fell on his neck and he wept, and he fell on his neck more.” — Bereishis 46:29

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Locking in the Moment

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R’ Ben Tzion Shafier

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

The Observant Jew

Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Middle of the Road

e all know how the Rambam speaks of the “shvil ha’zahav,” the golden path. It’s the life path of staying in the center, not too far to any extreme. There’s an old story of a man who wanted to hire a wagon to transport his family. He interviewed various drivers. “How close could you come to the edge of a cliff and still be comfortable?” he asked the first driver. “I could be twelve inches from the edge and I’m fine,” he said proudly. The next driver said, “I could be only six inches away from the edge and be in control.” The final driver, upon being asked the question, recoiled in horror. “I would never let myself get anywhere near the edge!” He got the job. By following the Rambam’s in-

struction to stay in the middle of the road, we protect ourselves from getting too close to the edge. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but sometimes being in the middle of the road is not a good thing at all. For example, when you’re crossing the street, you should keep moving and not stop where you could get hit. Even more, you should move quickly not just so you don’t get hit, but so that anyone who has stopped to let you cross sees that you appreciate their courtesy. It is one of the most infuriating things as a driver to allow someone to cross and have them mosey along slowly as if you didn’t exist, especially when they don’t even acknowledge the favor with “the wave.” When I cross, I always make a point of switching to a

jog as I wave so the driver knows I am taking him into account. But it’s not

always people stuck in the middle. One day, as I walked out of a store which neighbors a kosher supermarket, I glanced left to see if any cars were coming and was shocked by what I saw. In the middle of the road was a shopping cart. Yes, the person hadn’t left it in a parking space, but they hadn’t quite returned it to the store either. I stood and watched in amazement as cars drove around it, and no fewer than six people passed it either going to or coming from the store without a single person moving it out of traffic. At one point, I saw a woman and motioned to her to move the wagon. She looked at me, at the wagon, then back at me. Not having a clue what I wanted from her and the shopping cart, she walked away. I finally could stand it no longer and I walked down the hundred fifty feet or so to move it myself. So, let’s try to imagine what the people were thinking. True, it’s a stretch to assume they thought about the cart at all, but if they did, what would they say? “Wow! Someone left a wagon here. How inconsiderate.” Maybe they would say, “I’m glad I saw that so when I pull out I don’t hit it,” or “Boy, that car came awfully close to me when he went around that wagon!” What they didn’t think was, “Oh my! Someone will be inconvenienced by this, let me move it.” They don’t say, “Someone will have to swerve to

avoid that or they might even hit it, I’ll take a minute to make someone’s day less stressful.” So why do I think that is? Are they selfish? Are they apathetic? Not necessarily. I think they are too middle of the road. They probably think, “I could return the cart, but I’m not such a tzaddik.” They sell themselves short and don’t realize that the cart was waiting there specifically for them. Hashem was giving them a chance to think of others, to make someone else’s day easier, and to show some consideration. He was giving them the opportunity to see themselves as someone who helps others, someone on the cutting edge of chesed, not just middle of the road. There are opportunities all around us to make life better for others, and as we do, we’ll find it getting better for us too. To know that you’ve made someone’s day easier, that you’ve given them a reason to smile will make you feel like you’re on top of the world. And you know what? You are.

Did you like this article? There’s plenty more where that came from! Pick up The Observant Jew, a compilation of some of the best articles from the first ten years of this column, at your local bookstore or order it online and bring the inspiration home. Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker 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. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@ JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject. © 2014 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.

Halachically Speaking

The Issur Three days before the holidays of the non-Jews (i.e. December 25th and January 1st) one may not do business with non-Jews, lend them money, or pay a debt to them. We may not collect their debts either. There is a discussion in the Gemara whether the three days includes the holiday itself (two days before plus the holiday) or not (three days before and the holiday). The Gemara concludes that all four days are prohibited. These days are prohibited because the non-Jews busy themselves with their holiday (avodah zarah) preparations. One who transgressed and did business with them during the three days prior to the holiday may benefit from the money. However, if he did business on the holiday itself, he may still not benefit from it. (Today this is not applicable since we have many heterim; see below). The consensus of the poskim is that this issur is d’rabbanan in nature. Reasons The Gemara lists two reasons for the issur. First, the non-Jew will rejoice in his financial success, and thank the avodah zarah for his achievement. In addition, it is considered “placing a stumbling block before a blind person,” as the items we sell to them may be used for a sacrifice for avodah zarah, which is prohibited to the non-Jews.

Items Which Do Not Last One may sell items which will not last until the day of their holiday (even without relying on any of the heterim mentioned below). However, items which do last are subject to the halachos above. Eretz Yisroel vs. Chutz L’aretz The prohibition of three days before the holiday only applies to those living in Eretz Yisroel, but in chutz l’Aretz the issue only applies on the day of the holiday itself. The reason for this allowance is that our livelihood depends on the business which we do with the non-Jews, in addition to the fact that we are scared (not to do business with them). Rashi says the non-Jews in chutz l’Aretz are not as involved with their avodah zarah. Heterim Practically speaking, we do business with non-Jews every business day of the year, even on their holidays. Many heterim are offered for this practice. 1. The opinion of some is that there is no issur today since the non-Jews do not bow down to an avodah zarah. 2. Others say that it is guaranteed that they will not thank their avodah zarah. 3. Many poskim permit business with non-Jews since avoiding business with them will cause animosity between us and them. According to Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”lthe reason of animosity is a very strong reason to be lenient with these halachos today. 4. There are those who maintain that the issur does not apply to nonJews whom you recognize. 5. Another reason to be lenient is that the issur only applies to items that are offered to the avodah zarah. 6. There is another heter which is expressed by the Rashba as follows: it is permitted to buy from and sell items to non-Jews which you need and can only get on the day of their holiday.

This is considered a “davar ha’oved.” 7. Another reason offered by the poskim is that our livelihood depends on the business which we do with the non-Jews. Giving and Accepting Presents There is a question concerning giving and receiving presents from non-Jews on their holidays. The Gemara quotes occurrences where gifts were given to non-Jews who were known not to bow to any avodah zarah. The Gemara discusses cases of accepting presents from nonJews as well. The Rambam and Tur opine that one should not accept a gift from a non-Jew on their holiday. If there is a concern of resentment, then one should accept it but not derive any benefit from it until he can verify that the non-Jew does not bow to an avodah zarah. However, others say that one should accept it and “place” it in front of him. One who feels that he must give a gift to non-Jews for their holiday should give it before the holiday, not on the day itself. Attending Holiday Parties The Shulchan Aruchstates that a Jew is allowed to attend parties on

legal holidays because of resentment and hatred it might cause if one does not participate. Therefore, if attending a holiday party is beneficial to one’s job or he may lose his job if he does not show up, he may make an appearance. He should go and pay his respects, make sure everyone sees him and then leave as quickly as possible. Some maintain that parties on January 1st should not be attended. School Vacation during the Holiday Season Often, a yeshiva or girls school wishes to give vacation from December 25th until January 1st for a variety of reasons. Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l maintained that this is ossur. This is true even if one has no intention to celebrate the holiday and is only doing it because the parent body has a break from work and wishes to go on vacation with their children. Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits is a former chaver kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and a musmach of Harav Yisroel Belsky shlita. Rabbi Lebovits currently works as the Rabbinical Administrator for the KOF-K Kosher Supervision.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

e live in a world where we have no choice but to conduct business with non-Jews. Although many non-Jewish businesses are closed a few days before their holidays, many are open. In this article we will discuss the halachos of doing business with non-Jews before their holidays. What is the issur? Why is there an issur? Which days are prohibited? Is there a difference between Eretz Yisroel and chutz l’Aretz? What are the heterim?

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Doing Business with Non-Jews on Their Holiday

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Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

My Israel Home

Gedaliah Borvick

Tzur Hadassah

An Alternative for Young Jerusalemites

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Snowy day in Begin Park near Tzur Hadassah

zur Hadassah is one of Jerusalem’s suburbs and is undergoing a major expansion. Nestled in the Judean Hills within Israel’s “green line,” the community is just a short drive to Hadassah’s Ein Kerem medical center and eight miles from Jerusalem’s

city limits. Interestingly, it is gaining the attention of many young Jerusalemites looking to raise their families in more pastoral settings. Tzur Hadassah is 750 meters above sea level and is surrounded by half a dozen nature reserves, which helps the

town maintain a decidedly rural feel. It also offers panoramic views and a relatively cool and crisp climate, similar to Jerusalem. Established in 1960 and named in honor of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, the community has grown to 8,000 residents. Tzur Hadassah is currently comprised of three neighborhoods, and two new neighborhoods are in the midst of being built which will add 2,500 apartments and double the population. Tzur Hadassah has historically been a secular community and is home to one of the largest Reform temples in the country. Over the past decade, the town has become more heterogeneous, and today the Dati Leumi (national religious) community has grown to about 30% of the population. The town is very child-centric, which manifests itself in a number of ways: There’s a wide spectrum of schools and youth movements plus there’s a relatively large variety of communal facilities for extracurricular activities. In addition, the community is always looking for creative ideas to foster a love of education, and the following illustration is a great example: each bus stop has shelves of books appropriate for children and teenagers. Surprisingly, after almost a year, the books haven’t been stolen or vandalized. What an inspired idea to literally bring the lending library to the community! Many of the buyers of homes in the new neighborhoods under construction are families from Jerusalem. They are making the move for different reasons. Some families want to trade in their urban lifestyles for a rural setting that

offers a serene atmosphere and a more intimate sense of neighborhood. Other expanding families would have preferred to upgrade and stay in Jerusalem but have been priced out of the market. Tzur Hadassah is within a half hour or so of central Jerusalem but the housing prices are half – and in many cases, a third – the price of Jerusalem real estate. For example, 75 sqm two-bedroom units start at under $300,000, 100 sqm three-bedroom apartments start at around $350,000, and 120 sqm 4-bedroom units start at $400,000. There are also a number of newly built 190 sqm semi-detached homes built on small lots for sale at around $500,000. Tzur Hadassah is equidistant between Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem and has frequent buses running to both cities. However, the community lacks a strong public transportation system, and most commuters need cars to either drive to work or to public transportation. I expect that as the community expands, the public transportation options will increase accordingly. Currently, less than 10% of Tzur Hadassah’s citizens are English speakers. Nevertheless, with the expected influx of Jerusalemites, I expect this number to increase significantly. I am keeping my eye on this community, as I believe it has potential to become a destination for a portion of my English-speaking clientele. Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

89 THE JEWISH HOME

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Role Reversal

When Children Need to Parent their Parents

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BY MALKY LOWINGER

here are few things as emotionally scary and overwhelming as realizing that the people who have cared for us and raised us since childhood are now getting older and need us to take care of them. It starts innocently enough. Your mom, the woman whose cookie jar was always filled with home-baked goods, is suddenly having difficulty with basic life skills. The cookie jar has been empty for months now. She’s afraid to step into the shower, she can’t button her coat, and she hasn’t moved the car to the right side of the street in weeks. She can’t handle paying the bills or climbing the four steps up to her apartment. Her kitchen skills are greatly diminished and visiting the grocery – especially in the cold winter months – is simply overwhelming. These are all normal and expected symptoms of the aging process. Yet when it happens to our own parent, it’s devastating. Consider Sarah, a middle-aged woman who is marrying off her youngest child. Just when she thought she could relax and enjoy the nachas of her beautiful grandchildren, she finds herself worrying constantly about her mother, who lives alone in a hi-rise apartment building. On a recent Friday, Sarah got a call from her mother’s neighbor. “I smell gas,” the woman said, “coming from your mom’s apartment.” Sarah calls her mom in a state of panic. The neighbor knocks frantically on the door. As it turns out, Sarah’s mom had accidentally turned the knob on the stove to the “on” position. Windows were flung open and the gas eventually dissipated. Because of a quickthinking neighbor, a disaster was averted. But Sarah is wondering: What next?

The Aging of America Americans are aging more than ever before in our history, and that’s a good thing. Due to advances in the field of medicine, the average lifespan has increased dramatically. In 2012, there were 43.1 million Americans over the age of 65. That’s an increase of 7.6 million, or 21%, since 2002.

worrying about them. This has become the new reality for a generation of baby boomers who are reaching retirement age themselves. Many are drowning in a sea of choices and alternatives, confused and baffled by the field of eldercare. They’re wondering how best to accommodate their parents’ needs and who they can reach out to for help. Fortunately, there are plenty of choices, and lots of experts and professionals to turn to for help.

JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD RELAX AND ENJOY THE NACHAS OF HER BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN, SHE FINDS HERSELF WORRYING CONSTANTLY ABOUT HER MOTHER.

Warning Signs Not everybody is lucky enough to have the warning bell ring as obviously as it did for Sarah. But there are other signs to look out for when determining whether mom or dad is coping with daily life. Is there a marked change in your loved one’s eating habits? Are you noticing an unmistakable sudden weight loss or gain? Is she neglecting her cleanliness and hygiene? Wearing stained or dirty clothing? Are you noticing piles of unopened mail when you visit? Scorched or burnt pots and pans? An apparently unsanitary home? Inappropriate social behavior? A sudden decrease or increase in phone calls? Forgetfulness? A series of missed appointments? Confusion? Burns or bruises from injuries or falls? Any of these may be a symptom that it’s time to consider a new lifestyle arrangement. Alternatively, a change in health status or a newly discovered medical issue can also mean it’s time to think about making a change.

According to the Administration for Community Living, about one out of every seven Americans is considered an “older” American. The demographic that’s increasing fastest is the 85-plus population, which is expected to grow from 5.9 million in 2012 to 14.1 million in 2040. Clearly, the population of elderly Americans is growing rapidly. And the field of geriatric health and personal care will undoubtedly increase as well. Just like Sarah, there are millions of Americans today who are either caring for their elderly parents or

Outfitting the Home According to most experts, the best option is to keep mom or dad at home, changing only the dynamics of the household arrangement. According to

Nursing Homes When all else fails, skilled long term care facilities can provide care to residents who meet established medical criteria. According to one study,

How Do We Pay For All This? Children of aging parents are often shocked to discover that they find themselves acting as an accountant, an attorney, a secretary, and a medical advocate all rolled into one. Navigating the complex

“WHEN STAFF MEMBERS SEE THE FAMILY IS CONSTANTLY INTERESTED AND ENGAGED IN THE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONE, IT MAKES A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.”

web of healthcare coverage is daunting. That’s why it’s important to consult with a professional who is familiar with the Medicaid, Medicare, and Long Term Health Care systems. Elimelech Knoblech is a Medicaid consultant who assists the elderly and their families in making these decisions. He explains eligibility requirements and is familiar with the laws that govern individual states. While income limits are low, there are recommendations that can help. “There’s a very common program,” he says, “called Pooled Income Trust.” That system allows a Medicaid-approved trust to

Having “The Talk” While giving up the car keys or hiring an aide may seem like a reasonable solution to you, it can be emotionally difficult for the elderly. Nobody wants to be reminded that they are getting older and more feeble. And certainly, nobody wants to see their independence compromised. So how does one approach the subject? And when is the best time to discuss these changes with the elderly parent who is still cognitively aware and able? Froehlich points out that it’s best to discuss these options before one finds themselves in a crisis situation. “Do your homework and take a look at some facilities before they are needed,” she suggests. “This could help take away the negative reaction when reality hits.” The AARP offers suggestions on how to bring up this uncomfortable subject. For some people, it’s best to do this during a casual conversation. “As an entry point,” they write, “you could mention your own retirement planning and ask for their advice. As they advise you, you can also discuss their own future plans.” Others may prefer a formal family meeting which include all or most of the siblings. In this case, make sure to plan ahead about what issues need to be raised. Remember to remain respectful, calm, and caring at all times. Knoblech says it’s essential for couples to become familiar with the laws well before they will need to deal with them. “At the age of sixty,” he suggests, “they should start speaking to an Eldercare attorney and discuss their options. Too many people start reaching out for help when it’s too late. It’s always best to be well informed and forewarned.” Kibbud Av V’Eim It’s a mitzvah that never ends, a responsibility to our parents that lasts a lifetime. Yet, as the years go by, the mitzvah of kibbud av v’eim can seem more challenging than ever. In Artscroll’s My Father, My Mother, and Me, Yehudis Samet explores these challenges. She quotes the sefer Meah Shearim about the difficulties of the “sunset years.” They who were once the rulers and providers of their home are now dependent on others and must turn to their offspring to sustain them. Though they are needy, they are ashamed and cannot bring themselves to ask… It is up to sons and daughters to ease their parents discomfort by not only attending to their needs but even anticipating them. Nobody knows what the future will bring. Let’s hope our aging population can face tomorrow with dignity, serenity, and good health. 

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Assisted Living Sometimes living at home is just not an option but mom’s not really ready for a nursing home, either. What’s the solution? Many families are discovering that Assisted Living provides the perfect answer. An Assisted Living community offers independent living in a supervised setting, but the options and level of care varies. Residents live in independent rental properties, which range anywhere from a tiny studio to a lavish penthouse. The facility usually provides meals, laundry service, medication distribution, nurses on call, and entertainment. Assisted Living can be an excellent choice for the elderly person who has recently lost a spouse and can’t manage on their own at home. There are a selection of kosher Assisted Living facilities in the New York area that have shuls, offer shiurim, and full Shabbos and yom tov programs. It’s not quite home, but it can be a viable and practical alternative.

es. Discuss the nursing home options with your parents’ doctors. Consider the quality of care, the level of independent living, the sanitary conditions, the dietary options, the concern and support of the staff, and the safety and security of the residents. Once the choice is made and your loved one is admitted, make sure to visit often. Says one expert, “When staff members see the family is constantly interested and engaged in the care of their loved one, it makes a very big difference.”

pay one’s grocery, rent, tax, utility or other bills from one’s “excess” income. “It’s an excellent program,” he adds. Long Term Care Insurance plans are designed to cover long term services and supports in a variety of settings. They are gaining in popularity as middleaged couples look towards the future and decide that they prefer not to burden their children financially with their future care. The costs of insurance vary widely depending on one’s age, location, physical condition, and other factors. And there are many choices of plans. Speaking to an honest and reputable professional can help clear up some of the mystery behind these options.

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Bringing Bubby Home Ideally, there’s no more powerful expression of pure kibbud av v’eim than bringing the elderly parent into one’s own home. And yet it’s not as simple as it seems. For many families, the dynamics of the home – rowdy children, outspoken teenagers, weary spouses – won’t allow for the added stress of an elderly parent moving in. Others simply don’t have the physical space to accommodate Bubby. But for those who can do it, bringing Bubby into the home can be a wonderful learning experience for all. To ease the burden, Adult Day Care programs are available which can provide respite for several hours a day. There are social programs which “offer socialization and stimulation in a safe and secure environment,” says Froehlich. And there are also medical programs which also provide medications and medical services. A program for those suffering from Alzheimer’s is also available.

there are currently over 1.3 million Americans living in over 15,000 nursing homes across America. So it may be comforting to know that there are plenty of others who are in the same situation as you. Do extensive research when deciding on nursing homes. Network with others. Speak to family, friends, or neighbors who are in similar circumstanc-

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Dorian Froelich, director of Social Work and Admissions at Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehab Center, “The goal is always to keep our loved ones in as least a restrictive of an environment as possible. If the senior is able to continue to live in their own home (or perhaps your home), look at home care.” A thriving industry of household aids can make a tremendous difference. These include grab bars and chairs for the shower and bath, ramps and railings for staircases and steps, as well as electric stair lifts. There’s even an electronic gimmick that helps the elderly rise from a sitting position in their favorite chair. Health aides and home companions can provide a watchful eye and the necessary peace of mind, especially for children who live quite a distance away. They can be hired part-time or 24 hours a day, depending on the needs of the elderly. Froelich makes a distinction between skilled care and custodial care. “Skilled care needs include PT/OT, higher level wound care, I-Vs, etc. Custodial care includes care that keeps the individual safe and secure throughout the day. This includes bathing, dressing, transferring, and feeding.”

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DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JANUARY 1ST Applicants after this date are not guaranteed an interview For an application please call the Yeshiva ofﬁce at 718-327-7600 or email yfr1@verizon.net

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We thank all those who attended the Open House, and expressed interest in the Yeshiva.

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Thank you for your generous support in 2014. We would like to share some highlights with you:

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Our staff has conducted workshops for teens, young adults, and parents.

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youth have Over any come to The Lounge on given week.

CLINICAL SERVICES 24 Hour Support Line Assessments/Referrals Case Management Crisis Intervention Support Groups

COMMUNITY RESOURCES Community Education Educational Enhancement Job Placement School Based Services

YOUTH PROGRAMS Holiday Retreats The Lounge Year Round Events

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Services Progra

Our staff has sa ved community mem bers over

$275,000

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516-371-3250 ext 5 â&#x20AC;˘ www.madraigos.org 936 Broadway, Woodmere, NY 11598

Please have our organization in mind as you make your end of the year donations.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact Rabbi Josh Zern at jzern@madraigos.org

Parenting Today

Chinuch Workshops: Practical Torah Guidelines and Strategies for Achieving Successful Chinuch

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Rabbi Chaim Morgenstern

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Role Modeling – Practice What You Preach

lthough it is quite obvious that poor role-modeling is definitely harmful for a child’s chinuch, another type of negative behavior has an even more detrimental effect on children: hypocrisy, when parents don’t practice what they preach. Hypocritical behavior teaches children that they can choose to do whatever pleases and suits them, as the expression goes, “Ish kol hayashar b’einav ya’aseh” — each person can do whatever is right in his eyes.

was caught lying in class. Please speak to him about the severity of this aveira.” The father sat down with his son and began to patiently explain to him the whole subject of lying. Suddenly the phone rang, and as his son was going to answer it, the father told him, “If that’s Yankel calling, tell him that I’m not home.” Can you imagine the impact this remark must have had on his son? The father has done something worse than just

“When he subsequently made additional demands on me that he didn’t keep himself, it set off a burning rage within me to rebel.” This is because contradictory behavior sends a clear message to children that their parents are insincere about their own teachings and ideals. Once the children see their parents’ insincerity, they will cease to take seriously any of their parents’ teachings. When a young boy was asked by one of his rabbeim how he would be mechanech his own children, he replied, “I’m going to preach olam haba, but practice olam hazeh! This is how my parents conduct themselves – constantly preaching the importance of spiritual matters, but living a life of materialism.” Moreover, hypocritical parents may even rationalize transgressing issurim. For example, parents will teach a child the severity of getting angry or speaking lashon hara, but will be quick to anger when being disturbed at the wrong time or speak lashon hara when angered by a neighbor. The following anecdote explains this: A child returned from school with a note from his rebbi stating: “Your son

undoing his whole lecture and causing his child not to take the transgression of lying seriously. He has caused his child to lose all confidence in him and his chinuch. If the father can rationalize falsehood right after explaining the severity of it, what should prevent his son from copying his father’s attitude in other areas like stealing, cheating, hurting another’s feelings and speaking lashon hara? In this incident, the father is sending a clear message to his son: when a necessity arises, one can be lenient even with a Torah prohibition. What can be more detrimental to a child than feeding him this concept? Thus, hypocritical behavior results in parents subtly impressing on their children’s tender minds their insincerity towards Torah, yiras shamayim and fulfilling mitzvos. It is as if they are telling their children, “Don’t take my words seriously because I don’t follow them myself!” “I’m Different” Sometimes, parents have an atti-

tude that what they tell their children doesn’t apply to themselves. Therefore, when questioned by their children about an action or behavior that doesn’t correspond to their teachings, they will reply, “I’m different because I am a parent.” This again shows insincerity — it teaches the child that he is free to do as he pleases once he becomes a parent. However, sometimes a child will not wait until he becomes a parent to “be different.” Instead he will want to be different during his adolescent years when he is less dependent on his parents and feels that he has a good chance to succeed in rebelling. This is illustrated by the story of a young teenage boy who slowly started to go off the derech. Eventually, he left yeshiva, ceased to be Torah observant and started to become part of a group of other family dropouts and delinquents. He went further and further away from Torah observance (and normalcy) until he reached a point where he was about to enter the world of drugs. Then, he suddenly came to his senses and became aware that he was on the path to self-destruction and reaching a point of no return. He immediately abandoned

his ruinous lifestyle, returned to the yeshiva and in the course of time was back to normal. Although the cause of his decline was not known for many years, he eventually disclosed it to his rebbi before his wedding. “I know that you, among others, are probably wondering why I suddenly stopped being observant a few years ago. The truth of the matter is that it began much earlier — when I was a sixyear-old child. One day, my father told me that it is not proper to have a chup (nice hairdo with a front wave) and that I must keep my hair short. I turned to him and innocently asked, ‘But Tatty, you have a chup with a nice amount of hair, why can’t I do the same?’ My father replied, ‘It’s different because I am a father.’ His answer totally confused me, and made me very angry at him. When he subsequently made additional demands on me that he didn’t keep himself, it set off a burning rage within me to rebel. However, I was too young to do anything drastic. This anger remained with me until I reached my teens, and at that point, I rebelled because I felt that I could succeed.”

Main point to work and focus on for the next week: > Parents should be careful that their own actions don’t contradict their teachings. Therefore, if parents want to train their child in a particular trait, such as not to get angry, not to lie or speak lashon hara, or to daven with more kavana, they should ensure that they are careful not to transgress these things on their own.

Rabbi Morgenstern does family counseling and lectures extensively in Israel and abroad on shalom bayis, chinuch habanim, family communication, shidduchim, dating and personal growth, and has produced a popular CD series on these topics. His articles on these topics and Jewish hashkafa have appeared internationally in Jewish newspapers and magazines. For more information or to schedule a lecture, contact Rabbi Morgenstern in Israel at 952236-4197 or at rabbi@toras-chaim.org. You can also request to receive his weekly Parsha Pearls and chinuch articles by e-mail. Please include your name in the request. Articles are dedicated to the memory of his parents, Reb Yerachmiel Yisroel Nesanel z”l and Leah Gittel a”h. T.N.T.B.H

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Workshop 4

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Notable Quotes

Compiled by Nate Davis

“Say What?” KFC in Japan will continue its tradition of offering customers a [holiday dinner], which includes chicken, wine, cake, and champagne. For no extra charge, you can tell the cashier how you didn’t see your life ending up like this. – Jimmy Fallon

In an interview, President Obama said he recently deejayed a small dance party at the White House. Obama has a lot in common with deejays. He takes requests and then completely ignores them. - Jimmy Fallon

There’s blood on many hands tonight. That blood starts on the steps of City Hall, in the office of the mayor. – PBA President Pat Lynch after two NYC police officers were killed last weekend

Who hasn’t thought about being lifted up by balloons in the sky?

We’re all in this together. - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to a group of police officers after the slaying No we’re not! - One of the officer’s reply to the mayor

The White House announced plans to begin normalizing relations with Cuba — this as we’re awkwardizing relations with Russia. – Craig Ferguson

- Eric Roner of Northern California who used homemade devices and 90 large helium balloons to lift himself 8,000 feet into the air Jeb Bush announced today on the Internet that he may run for president. What is Jeb Bush’s full name? Jebediah? Jebaroni? – Craig Ferguson Jeb Bush announced on the Internet that he is exploring a 2016 bid for president. And to increase his chances, he’s going to run as just “Jeb.” He said, “My last name? It’s not important.” - Seth Myers

I went to Target. I thought I was undercover. I have to tell you something about this trip, though. No one knew that was me because a woman actually walked up to me, right, I was in the detergent aisle and she said — I kid you not — she said, “Excuse me, I just have to ask you something.” And I thought, cover’s blown. She said, “Can you reach on that shelf and hand me the detergent?” I kid you not! And the only thing she said — I reached up because she was short — and I reached up and pulled it down and she said, “Well, you didn’t have to make it look so easy.” That was the interaction. I felt so good. She had no idea who I was. – Michelle Obama in 2013 telling David Letterman about her incognito trip to Target I tell this story – I mean, even as the First Lady – during that wonderfully publicized trip I took to Target, not highly disguised, the only person who came up to me in the store was a woman who asked me to help her take something off a shelf. Because she didn’t see me as the First Lady, she saw me as someone who could help her. Those kinds of things happen in life. So it isn’t anything new. - Michelle Obama in a recent interview with People magazine discussing an instance of subtle racism which took place when she took her incognito trip to Target

Today President Obama announced that the U.S. is working to improve its relationship with Cuba in an effort to normalize full diplomatic relations. For instance, today they released one of our prisoners and in return we sent back one of their shortstops. - Jimmy Fallon

You probably heard about the big prisoner swap with Cuba. A man who has been incarcerated in Havana for five years is back home in the United States. And we sent them some prisoners. The deal still has to be approved by President Obama and Bud Selig. – David Letterman

A new report says ISIS is trying to recruit professionals like doctors, engineers, and accountants. Sorry, kids, even ISIS says they’re not hiring liberal arts majors. - Conan O’Brien

President Obama recently said that his day is all about politics, so in the mornings he likes to watch ESPN. So if you get the feeling he’s repeating himself every half hour, that’s where he learned it from. – Jimmy Fallon

– David Letterman

Russia has named Vladimir Putin its man of the year for the 15th year in a row. Putin got 143 million votes and the guy he was up against got killed in a mysterious boating accident. The boat was in a warehouse. – Conan O’Brien

- Cuban President Raul Castro after President Obama agreed to normalize relations with Cuba A Salvation Army bell ringer in Virginia was injured when an 87-year-old man accidentally ran him over. He was taken to the hospital once the applause died down. - Seth Myers

Allahu Akbar! -A Muslim terrorist screaming as he plowed his car into pedestrians on a crowded street in France This is absolutely not an act of terrorism. - A French official after the attack, making the claim that the attacker was mentally deranged and was not acting in the name of radical Islam

The DPRK has already launched the toughest counteraction. Nothing is more serious miscalculation than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target of this counteraction. Our target is all the citadels of the U.S. imperialists who earned the bitterest grudge of all Koreans. Our toughest counteraction will be boldly taken against the White House, the Pentagon and the whole U.S. mainland, the cesspool of terrorism. - A statement by the North Korean state-run newspaper after President Obama accused North Korea of hacking into Sony

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference today that it was too early to decide if he will run for re-election in 2018. But he says it’s not too early to decide how much he wins by.

President Obama announced yesterday that he’s pardoning 12 convicted felons. Political experts say the move could have huge implications for your fantasy football teams.

– Seth Myers

Oh, nice! - President Obama when someone handed him a Cuban cigar at the White House’s Chanukah party

The White House will ease diplomatic relations with Cuba. When asked how he’ll celebrate, Obama said, “Smoke a Cuban cigar, no I mean smoke a regular cigarette — oh, I’ll just have some water, I guess, I don’t know.” - Jimmy Fallon

- Seth Myers The Dalai Lama said there should be no more Dalai Lamas after his death. That’s particularly bad news for his son, Steve Lama. - Conan O’Brien

Graceland is going to auction off Elvis Presley’s first-ever recordings from 1953 — or as people now coming to America from Cuba put it, “Whoa! What’s that hot new sound?” - Jimmy Fallon

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Be very careful if you’re out shopping because of the sidewalk vendors. They’re selling inexpensive items — counterfeit watches, counterfeit handbags, actual Knicks tickets.

This shows we can resolve our differences without renouncing a single one of our principles.

The U.S. is re-establishing relations with Cuba. But before President Obama can lift the embargo, he will need approval from the Republicancontrolled Congress — or as Republicans who called Obama said, “Close, but no cigar.” - Jimmy Fallon

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A new poll about the 2016 election shows that just 27 percent of voters would be likely to support Chris Christie. And only 4 percent of chairs. - Seth Myers

Everyone’s weighing in on Sony’s cancellation of “The Interview.” Mitt Romney suggested the film should be released online for free. Donald Trump said the studio has no courage or guts. Chris Christie said, “Either way, I’m having a large bucket of popcorn.” – Jimmy Fallon

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About ten days before his death, Rabin and I attended a black-tie dinner together at the State Department, where he presented me with the United Jewish Appeal’s Isaiah Award. As everyone knows, Rabin had been a soldier most of his life, and so he was never comfortable wearing fancy clothes. In fact, I had read that when David Ben-Gurion sent him on his first-ever diplomatic mission in 1949, he didn’t even own a tie. Somebody had to give him one, tie it, and then loosen it, so he would never have to learn how to tie one himself. In 1995, just before our black-tie dinner, he discovered that he’d only brought a straight tie, not a bow tie as the occasion warranted. We borrowed a bow tie from one of my staff, and my last memory of our time together was me straightening his bow tie, with him good-naturedly kvetching the whole time about having to wear it. – Bill Clinton in a recent interview with Yediot Achronot about Yitzchak Rabin

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

Dr. Deb

Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

Emotional Healing Part II

hey look so normal, don’t they? You know who I mean. That family over there. You know them. Or you thought you knew them. The children do well in school; they’re not in trouble. They’re polite and respectful. The parents smile in shul and it seems like things are fine. You had that boy in your class. He was sensitive, had a good head on his shoulders. It would be so foolish to think that the hurt folks are the ones on the fringes of society, the runaways, the ones off the derech and on the street. Those kids are surely suffering too— but they’re not the only ones. It is altogether possible for one person in a family to be a tyrant behind closed

doors and a charmer to the world. Then the other spouse and the children are stuck trying to cope while also trying to be normal. I mean who

There’s yelling going on and doors slamming even while the candles burn.

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much intact are sturdy, resilient, sensitive and kind. And the good news is that Hashem told us that He would only punish sinners for three or four generations. Those who love Him would be blessed for a thousand generations – that’s nice, indeed – but in His mercy, families of the ones who mess up get a chance to get on their feet in just a few generations. So the beautiful thing is that, scars notwithstanding, many children from such homes go on to raise happy, emotionally healthy, loving children. I think about families like that on days like this. It’s Chanukah and it seems that the world is full of gaiety. People are out with their children celebrating; school’s out and the feeling is festive. But other children aren’t necessarily in that same happy frame of mind. There’s yelling going on and doors slamming even while the candles burn. If I could offer one suggestion to help those people heal, it would be not to assume anything about what goes on behind their closed doors. Don’t take for granted that they are happy or that their families behave civilly or normally. Because that isolates them even more. They’re never going to tell you, of course. But if you could get past making those automatic assumptions, you might pick up a slight wince near the corner of an eye or a quick

intake of breath as you make a casual statement. And you see, once you put your assumptions aside, you open yourself up to the possibility of experiencing another person’s reality. While that might be somewhat painful for you, in doing that, your friend is no longer alone carrying an unbearable burden. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised that the children who were able to escape and go on to build beautiful, healthy families of their own could do so because they had people in their lives who were open to who they really were. We were not meant to have shallow relationships. Making space for someone to be who she or he really

is—crazy family and all—may be a bigger gift than you realize. You may be giving the gift of emotional healing. Dr. Deb Hirschhorn, a Marriage & Family Therapist and best-selling author of The Healing Is Mutual: Marriage Empowerment Tools to Rebuild Trust and Respect— Together, is proud to announce that readers of The Jewish Home will receive a $50 discount on every visit to her Woodmere office. Attend the Food For Thought lectures at Traditions Restaurant in Lawrence on Tuesdays at 12:30 PM. (There is a lovely optional lunch menu for $12 cash.) Any questions, call 646-54-DRDEB or check out her website at http://drdeb.com. All stories in Dr. Deb’s articles are fabricated.

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In The Kitchen

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Victor Schoenfeld

Cholent Victor Style ccording to the great Claudia Rodin (author of The Book of Jewish Food, The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, among many others) the origins of the classic French Cassoulet and

the traditional Jewish cholent are intermingled, and my version is a combination of the two. I have yet to meet someone who did not like this, even those who “don’t like cholent.” I make this cholent in a huge (and very heavy) cast iron Dutch oven (8 quart), which fits nicely into our 90 cm (36 in) oven, but the recipe can easily be split into two smaller more manageable casseroles, as long as you can fit them into your oven, or halved. The marrow bones of the osso buco add richness, as does the fat from the goose breast, which is a nod to my father’s Hungarian origins. I don’t like the “gooey” effect of too much pearl barley, but a little adds nice texture. The beef stock adds to the overall very rich umami experience. I like large white beans, reminiscent of cassoulet, as they hold their shape and become luscious with long cooking. Another nod to cassoulet is the addition of sausage. Wine Recommendation: the bright Yarden Sauvignon Blanc or rich Yarden Chardonnay could offer a nice contrast, but I generally go for a lighter red such as Yarden Pinot Noir. Yarden Syrah also makes a good pair as the natural smoky element of the wine connects to the subtle smokiness of the cholent that comes from the goose breast and paprika. We like to have a mixed green salad along with the cholent. This recipes serves over eight guests.

Ingredients 2.4 lbs osso bucco cut into 0.7 inches thick slices 2 smoked one half goose breasts/duck (about 600 g), cut crosswise into ½ inch slices 2.2 lbs sausage (I use beef/lamb/pistachio sausage, locally produced), cut into 4 inches lengths 1.1 lbs large dry white beans, soaked for about 12 hours in water 1 whole head of garlic, separated into whole peeled cloves 3.3 lbs new red potatoes, washed Eggs (as many as you can fit in, try one per person) 4 onions, chopped 2 shallots, thinly sliced 1 cup pickled pearl onions, whole, drained 3 ½ ounces pearl barley ¼ cup decent red wine for deglazing Beef stock Salt, pepper and smoked paprika to taste Preparation Brown the slices of goose in a large, heavy bottomed skillet (you can do this directly in the Dutch oven, but I find it easier this way). You need no oil, as the goose fat quickly renders itself. Set aside. Brown the osso buco in the goose fat. Set aside. Brown the sausage in the same pan, set aside. Add the onions and shallots and sauté in the remaining fat, until lightly browned. Add a bit of olive oil if necessary. Set aside. Deglaze the pan with the red wine, then transfer liquid to Dutch oven. Make a thin layer at the bottom of the Dutch oven with a third of the beans and onion and barley, with a sprinkling of the spices. Add a layer of half of the osso buco, sausage, eggs and potatoes. Add another layer of the beans, etc. Add another layer of the meat, etc. Finish with the remaining beans, etc. Depending on the size of the osso buco slices, eggs and potatoes, it could be a challenge to fit everything in. Have an additional casserole on hand for the overflow, if any. Fill with liquid until there’s about 1 inch of liquid covering the ingredients. If you have enough beef stock, use that. If the beef stock is concentrated, use to taste and then use water to come to desired level. If you do not have stock, use water. Bring to a boil and remove scum. Cover with lid. If the lid does not fit tightly, there is a danger of the cholent drying out and burning overnight. You can add a doubled strip of aluminum foil between the Dutch oven and lid to help seal. Put overnight in a 230°F oven. Serve to the guests, and hear “oohs” and “ahhs.” Enjoy. Take a nap.

Victor Schoenfeld is the head winemaker at Yarden-Golan Heights Winery.

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In The Kitchen

Chef Shaul Silverstein

Butternut Squash Cabbage Soup When the cold winter months are here, everyone loves a cozy, hot bowl of soup. Butternut squash soup definitely fills that void. As much as I like the flavors of the soup, I would always like something a bit different for texture, so I decided to try a bit of sautéed cabbage and julienned warmed zucchini. This recipe is what I came up with.

Ingredients 1 medium butternut squash 1 large Spanish onion, cubed 2 medium carrots, sliced at a half inch 3 stalks of celery, sliced into 1 inch slices 1 medium Macintosh apple, cored, peeled and quartered 2 cups cole slaw mix or shredded cabbage 1 small zucchini, julienned (1/3 cup) Sour cream for garnish 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional) Kosher salt and white pepper to taste Preparation Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice butternut squash lengthwise. Place on baking sheet covered with parchment paper for one hour until soft. When cool enough, remove skin and seeds. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil; lower to a simmer. Cube butternut squash. Place squash, apple, onion, carrot and celery slices into water. Add pumpkin pie spice and 1 teaspoon vanilla, if using. Add more water, if necessary. There should be at least two inches of water on top of the vegetables. When carrots are tender, transfer vegetables to a food processor or blender and puree. Sprinkle cabbage lightly with salt and sauté until translucent. (Try not to brown the cabbage.) Return puréed mixture to pot. Add cabbage and zucchini while extremely hot and then add salt and pepper to taste Note: Optionally, you can use chicken stock instead of water. The stock will add additional flavor to the soup. Shaul, a veteran chef, runs the koshermet blog on Facebook (Facebook.com/koshermet) and at koshermet.com. For inquiries, Shaul can be reached at chefshaul@gmail.com.

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Forgotten Heroes

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Aircraft Carriers Since World War II

uring WWII, carriers performed a variety of tasks including some for which they weren’t to carry out. This included a successful American 1942 raid on Tokyo by landbased aircraft flying off the USS Wasp. After the war, these types of missions weren’t used but they still were needed. The carrier fleet was downsized but still played a vital role in the Korean War. The HMAS Sydney, originally a British ship named the Terrible, was the only Australian carrier to see action and during the Vietnam War was converted into a transport ship. American carriers saw widespread use during the Vietnam War as many ground support missions were launched from their decks. Twenty-one carriers were used to strike the Communist Vietnamese and Lt. Duke Cunningham became the Navy’s only post-WWII ace. He had five kills in his F-4 Phantom that flew off of the USS Constellation. India has had her three carriers span over a half a century. Her first carrier was the INS Vikrant that saw action in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Her aircraft struck important The INS Vikrant, one of India’s three carriers enemy harbors and didn’t aland the ability of the plane to take off low Pakistani ships out to sea. Soon a again if it missed the arrester cables. submarine was sent to sink the Vikrant (A carrier plane has a hook underneath but it was sunk herself by an Indian that caught onto one of a few cables that destroyer. Not a single plane from the stop it from going overboard.) Another carrier was lost during the war that saw British innovation was to use steam catapults to give planes momentum to take off from the deck. The “ski jump” ramp was also put on British carriers and several carriers worldwide use this way to launch aircraft. It was the Americans who came up with what was probably the most important upgrade in carrier design. Nuclear-powered carriers gave them unlimited range as refueling was no longer an issue. As of today, only the twelve Ameri- The USS Enterprise is the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

an Indian victory and the creation of getting the ship to be operational. It should be noted that in addition Bangladesh. For ten weeks in 1982, British carri- to aircraft carriers, there are also heliers were deployed to the South Atlantic copter landing ships. Most American ships as well to fight Argenas many ships tinean forces worldwide in the Falkland have helipads Islands. Argenthat are vital tina had a carfor ground suprier, the Veintiport, medevac cino de Mayo, (medical evacoriginally a uation), search British-built and rescue, and Dutch carrier, anti-sub miscovering the sions. Howinvasion. She The Nimitz carriers are the largest ones in the world ever, it is the backed down from a fight with British carriers, thus carriers that can support jets that are the preventing the first battle of carriers important piece of a mission. American since WWII. British carriers were used carriers have played major roles in the in strikes against enemy positions as two Iraqi wars, the Afghani war and the War on Terror in general. Drones, pilotwell as in support missions. Several other countries have one or less aircraft, now have the capabilities two carriers each including Russia, Chi- to fly off of carriers and have wreaked na, Italy and Thailand. Russian crafts- havoc on terrorists in Pakistan, Somalia manship has been underwhelming, to and abroad. The largest carriers by far are the say the least. This was the case when 100,000 metric ton Nimitz class carriers India tried buying the carrier Vikramain the American Navy. The two being ditya originally named the Baku. India would pay just under a billion dollars for built in the Gerald Ford class are to be upgrades while the ship itself would be just as big with even more capabilities. free. The one caveat was that it would be Unlike the previous “king of the seas,” Russian firms doing the renovations and the battleship which saw its demise in that proved to be disastrous. Besides the WWII, the carrier is here to stay. In a increase in costs—at least two and half future article, we will hopefully comtimes more than they agreed upon—it plete our series on aircraft carriers with took almost ten years to finally hand an article on its actual capabilities. it over to its rightful owners. The ship still has boiler troubles and lacks an air Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The defense system. The Chinese have also Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments purchased a Russian carrier of the same and suggestions.for future columns and can class and they too have seen problems be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

can carriers and the French Charles de Gaulle are powered by nuclear reactors; every other carrier uses conventional fuel sources.

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fter World War II ended in 1945, the U.S. was the only major military power to not have its infrastructure destroyed during the war. This meant that they were able to build machines and weapons without abatement. Included in this was the continual building of aircraft carrier which proved that it was master of the seas. Slowly, other countries, with the noticeable absence of Germany and Japan who had their militaries disbanded, began building carriers that proved to be vital in the next half century. A major development in aircraft after World War II was the invention of the jet. The first jet plane to land on a carrier was in December 1945 by the British. The plane was a de Havilland Vampire but there were some issues and a new type of carrier was needed. Soon the British launched the HMS Triumph which was the first angled decked carrier. This allowed more runway space

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Avi Heiligman

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Health & Fitness

David Elazar Simai, MD

How to Keep Your Baby’s Skin Smooth This Winter Dear Parents, As many of our readers have noticed, their baby’s soft, cute and chubby cheeks have roughened a bit. It is not a coincidence that the change has appeared in the past month as the temperature has gotten much colder. Amazingly, the largest organ in our body is not the heart, kidneys or brain. It is our skin. I have been reminding many parents over the fall months that this change is imminent and have given them some useful tips to prevent and deal with the harsher weather. If ignored or mishandled, the dry skin can turn into eczema. For readers unfamiliar with this condition, eczema

when you woke up this week. This is because the heat in your house has removed much of the humidity from the air. The warm, dry air will also cause your skin to feel dry and irritated. Food Allergies and Eczema – Here is a sensitive and controversial point. Many times skin or blood tests may show that a baby has a food allergy. However, the tests alone are not reliable, and may entirely miss the point when it comes to eczema. If you feel that your child’s skin has dramatically dried after eating a certain food, despite taking all the measures that I will mention below, then discuss this with your pediatrician. The best food allergy test for eczema is what reac-

Hand and body soaps will also remove the protective layer of oil that our bodies produce, leaving our skin more dry, cracked and itchy. is a form of inflammation of the outer layer of skin known as the epidermis. Patients with eczema have extra sensitive nerves that make them feel much more itchy than regular people. Causes of Dry Skin and Eczema Genetics – Eczema has a very Parents strong genetic component. who have a history of eczema should be extra-careful with their children. Soaps – We use soaps to remove grease from our dishes. Hand and body soaps will also remove the protective layer of oil that our bodies produce, leaving our skin more dry, cracked and itchy. Perfumes – Most perfumes are made of alcohol derivatives. Alcohol is one of the most drying and irritating agents available. Perfumes are found in many household products (i.e. detergents, creams, soaps). Dry air – As you may have noticed, your throat may have been extra dry

tion you see at home. (Do not test your kids’ allergies at home if they have severe allergies to milk, peanuts or other foods.) Over-Bathing – The warm water we bathe in dries our skin. This is especially true in the winter, because when we exit the shower, our warm and wet skin dries ever so quickly. In warmer, more humid climates, people shower up to three times daily (try the Caribbean islands for example). My “Ounce of Prevention” Here are some tips I like to share with parents. I will mention specific brands of household products, so I would like disclose to you that I have no association with any of these companies whatsoever. Moisturizers – Try and moisturize your baby twice daily. You don’t have to be too generous with the moisturizer, just make sure that you thoroughly rub it into the skin. Don’t leave a

layer on top of the skin – it serves no purpose other than greasing your clothes. Pay close attention to the cheeks, elbows, and the area behind the knees as these areas tend to be more prone to dryness. Moisturizer Brands I Recommend: • Vaseline – Original only. The best bang for your buck. • Aquaphor – A more expensive version of Vaseline. • Eucerin – Original is the thickest and best. *Please avoid all good smelling moisturizers; their perfume will dry and irritate the skin. Bathing – Lower the temperature of your baby’s bath. Give your children shorter baths. Pat dry (don’t rub dry) their skin right after leaving the bath. Studies show that children with eczema may benefit from bathing but only if the parents moisturize the skin right after the bath. Hair & Body Washes I Recommend • Eucerin Hair & Body Wash • Cetaphil Hair & Body Wash • Arbonne Hair & Body Wash Humidity Control – To avoid over-drying at home: • Set your home thermostat not higher than 70°F. • Leave the window in your room slightly open (this may prevent the croupy cough as well). Clothing – Make sure that your child’s sensitive skin does not come into contact with wool or polyester fabrics. Try and dress your child in 100% cotton clothing. To stop your child from scratching, you may try to cover their hands with cotton mittens or socks. (I am sure you have seen infants wearing their socks on their hands.) Early Treatment – I often mention the notorious vicious cycle that afflicts eczema patients: the dry and irritated skin makes the child feel itchy. The child scratches the skin, causing fur-

ther damage. The damaged, excoriated skin loses its natural barrier to infection and loses its ability to lock in moisture. This brings on further irritation and more itchy sensations. Therefore, if you take the above mentioned precautions and you find your baby is still dry and itchy, see your pediatrician and get a prescription-strength cream that will stop the vicious cycle and alleviate the situation before it’s too late. Your doctor could use much milder creams if you present the rash early on. Once your child has started to scratch, the skin may require more potent medicine. Hope you find these tips useful for you and your children! Wishing you the best of health, David Elazar Simai, M.D. Dr. David Simai is a Board Certified Pediatrician from the Five Towns. He is a full time attending in his own private practice since 2007 in Cedarhurst, New York. In addition, he is an Attending Physician at LIJ-Cohen Children’s Hospital, NorthShore Manhasset University Hospital and South Nassau Communities Hospital. He can be contacted for consultation at 516 374-2228 or via email at davidsimai@yahoo.com. NOTE: name, gender, geographical area and other identifying information were deliberately altered in this article in order to protect the patient’s privacy. This article is not intended to help diagnose or treat any specific disease. Always consult your personal physician before diagnosing or treating yourself or your child for any of the above mentioned illnesses.

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Hire Education

Rabbi Mordechai Kruger

Frustration #4: Job Fairs

ike the Cross Bronx Expressway, the job hunter’s road is crowded, strewn with debris and dotted with potholes. Small wonder that so many people get off at the nearest exit, go back home, and give up. And just like the New York driver, the job hunter has some devices that could be pretty helpful–if only he would know how to use them. One such device is the “Job Fair.” Job fairs were created in the years following World War II. At that time, big corporations were rapidly expanding. Each year, they needed to hire thousands of new employees. For example, the carmakers needed truckloads of fresh engineers. So they would hold events at likely locations, like the Engineering Building at the University of Michigan. Supply met demand, and lots of people went home happy. So helpful people today still use that model, bringing together lots of potential employers in a place where many job hunters can line up and try to make a first impression that is good enough to get invited for a real interview. Today, though, the fair will likely include employers in many fields, each looking to hire a small number of people. So for any particular job hunter, there will really be only a few possibilities, and the chances of success are small. Studies show that even at the best job fairs, the odds are about 1 in 10.

A recipe for more frustration—unless… If you’ve been reading this column, you may know where I’m going with this. The secret to job fair success depends on finding the companies there that are hiring people like you—and especially the ones that aren’t. As we’ve said before, “not hiring” never means

decide where he wants to work, Beryl calls a number of friends and old classmates who work in corporate settings. He learns about the skills that are most in demand in each setting, the software being used, and the experiences that are most valued. Three of his friends work for large insurance companies;

His goal is to get an appointment to come in and talk—to crawl onto the company’s radar screen.

more than “not hiring today.” Tomorrow? Who knows? To understand how this frustration can be turned into an opportunity, we need to go back to the first meeting between our job hunter, an accountant named Beryl, and his job search coach (I can recommend a good one…). Beryl has been working for a small firm and wants to move to a corporate setting. As a first step, Beryl needs to know the next rule of effective job hunting (I think we’re up to #3): the goal of an effective job hunt is to speak to the person who can hire you, at a company you want to work for, and tell him why you are the best person to do his job. In order to

their conversations reveal that Beryl’s skills, background, and values match up well with the accountants that insurance companies hire. Beryl’s search will begin by seeking connections to hiring managers at insurance companies. He rewrites his resume to emphasize the points that he knows will be important in any future interview. Then he hears about a job fair, and he decides to give it a shot. Beryl arrives at the job fair and sees a line of candidates that stretches out the door. That doesn’t bother him, though, because he knows that most of those folks are there looking for job openings (unless they also have good job search coaches), but he’s looking for companies. Sure enough, there is a large table where MetLife is looking to hire insurance salesmen. Now, Beryl is no salesman, but MetLife is one of his target companies. So he waits until the line thins out, and then he walks up to the recruiter and makes his pitch. He explains that he has done some research on accounting at insurance companies, and he has also learned a lot about MetLife (because he read the brochures that are on the table, and he

spent a few minutes in a quiet corner on his smartphone, where a quick Google search found three recent articles in the Wall Street Journal—it doesn’t take much to be well informed). Beryl adds that he feels that his skills are just what MetLife needs, and that he would love to work there. He asks for a chance to talk to a hiring manager sometime soon, even if there are no openings. He asks for a business card and follows up with an email the next day. His goal is to get an appointment to come in and talk—to crawl onto the company’s radar screen. He wants them to know he’s out there and that he’s ready and able to do a great job for them. Beryl’s next step at the fair is to do more research on potential employers. He spends a few minutes at each booth, listening to the conversations and reading the brochures. If the company sounds interesting, Beryl will ask some questions. Do they have in-house accountants? What software do they use? What experiences do they look for? If there seems to be a match, Beryl asks for the business card of a hiring manager, and another company is added to his target list. Beryl leaves the job fair with lots of homework to do. Most people, even most “experts,” would say that a job fair is like a beauty pageant, with hundreds of contestants trying to catch the judges’ eye and very few that will win prizes. The truth is that it is a smorgasbord of information and contacts where a job hunter can make real progress toward a great job. Rabbi Mordechai Kruger is the Director of Pathways to Parnassa, an organization dedicated to educating our community in all aspects of career choice and job search. He can be reached at myparnassa@gmail.com.

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From My Private Art Collection Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg

Paul Cézanne – The French Artist

aul Cézanne was the son of a successful banker whose desire was for Paul to con-

tinue in his path of banking as a career. When Paul left for Paris to study art, his father was unhappy with this

Photograph of Paul Cezanne

color

choice but eventually came around and sent him a small amount of money. Initially, Cézanne was rejected by

the art schools in Paris, as his paintings were considered not up to par and his color choices were considered in poor taste. After a while, with the help of friends who were also artists, he started changing his design and color choices to best suit the feelings of the times. He started using brighter colors which made his pictures more attractive. Paul Cézanne was part of the movement of artists who thought art should be structured, stressing the principles of composition. From the beginning of his career, he painted still life pictures. He also felt that art should be made up of bright colors from the artist palette, and so he incorporated these colors into his still life paintings. The colors were presented as slabs of color instead of small specks of color. These slabs of colors were presented as cones, cylinders and spheres. He used many unexpected colors and shapes to tell his story. There are many emotions projected in his work which are shown through the points and sharp angles which he is known for. They produced a misshapen form which presented the desired design. This period of thought in the art world was known as “Post Impressionism.” “The term Post Impressionism refers to a movement that placed new emphasis on the importance of the subject, and the formal ways in which a subject was represented.” In the year 1907, Cézanne’s work was presented at a show which influenced the artists who later introduced Cubism. At times, he was referred to as “the father of modern art.” Paul Cézanne desired to only produce artwork of museum quality, as he was quoted as saying, “Something solid and enduring as the art of museums.” This required an enormous amount of effort and concentration as he was extremely methodical in his techniques and spent many hours working out the composition of the work. This thought process came before the actual brush to paint techniques which he mastered. Some of his compositions required unusual and distorted versions of what he thought would complete a perfect design. This type of work had him labeled as an abstract artist. The composition might have been a realistic one but the distorted shapes and concepts of design made them abstract. He would spend

From My Private Art Collection

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years on a painting, if that is what was required to finish it to what he considered a level of perfection. An example of his artwork which took five years to

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complete was “Still Life with Apples and Oranges,” an oil painting on canvas.

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Cezanne’s Still Life with Cherries

Still Life with Apples and Oranges by Cezanne

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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Ask the Attorney Deborah Kaminetzky, Esq.

Restraining Orders I just got served with divorce papers and in the papers there was

something about a restraining order; I don’t understand why I’m being re-

strained. What am I supposed to do now? The second half of my kids’ tui-

Serving the International Jewish Community for 27 years

tion is due and what about camp? The mortgage? Food? How will I pay for anything? The Attorney Responds: New York State instituted automatic restraining orders a few years ago in reaction to a common practice of many litigants who got served with divorce papers. Their reaction was to immediately empty the bank accounts. Rather than force lawyers to file restraining orders after the fact or hopefully prior to the assets being drained, the plaintiff is now bound by the orders upon the filing of the divorce and the defendant is bound upon being served. I

You can and are required to maintain the status quo.

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will first explain what you should and should not be doing, and then discuss what happens if either of you violate the orders. You are allowed to spend money on “customary and usual household expenses” and “reasonable attorney’s fees.” The idea behind the orders is that you can and are required to maintain the status quo. Assuming your children have always gone to private school and camp, you can still pay for those things. The mortgage and food are also items that fall under everyday living expenses. The list of things you are not allowed to spend on or change is much longer. For instance, neither of you are allowed to drop the other or the children from medical or auto insurance policies. You also cannot re-title anything whether it be a car, a home or a bank account. You should also not change beneficiaries on insurance policies and bank accounts. Both spouses are also restrained from taking out additional credit or maxing out existing credit except for “customary and usual household expenses” and “reasonable attorney’s fees.” The caveat here is that you may not do these things unless you have written permission from your spouse, so if you both decide to sell a

Ask the Attorney

Read Rocky’s Rant on page 74

dispute arbitration panel for Nassau County. She expanded her alternative dispute resolution practice by completing a Mediation certificate program in December of 2013.

Serving the International Jewish Community for 27 years

LASKO’s Famed Lavish Tea Room LASKO’s Live, Accredited CME Program LASKO’s Scrumptious Poolside Daily Barbeque LASKO’s Inspiring Scholars In Residence Program LASKO’s Outstanding Day Camp/Infant Care Programs LASKO’s Exciting Evening Dive-in Chol Hamoed Family Movies LASKO’s Exclusive “Step It Up” Teen Program with Coach Yogev & his Team Family Suites feature bunk bed or living room parlor each with a separate Master Bedroom. Also, Deluxe King or two Queen bedded accommodations.

DECEMBER 25, 2014

Life is funny!

and family law. Deborah has also worked at the New York Department of Consumer Affairs where she was responsible for prosecuting unlicensed home improvement contractors and negotiating settlements for consumers. She is on the Matrimonial fee

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No column is a substitute for competent legal advice. Please consult with the attorney of your choice concerning specific legal questions you may have.

Deborah Kaminetzky is the founding member of Kaminetzky & Associates, P.C. located in Cedarhurst, New York. Prior to starting the firm, Ms. Kaminetzky was an associate at Weisman Law Group, P.C. where she primarily practiced matrimonial

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jointly titled asset during the litigation, there should not be a problem. What if despite being bound by the orders a litigant does drain an account or change a beneficiary? The courts have the power to force a litigant to reinstate beneficiaries, pay back the funds or face contempt of court. In order for the court to find the litigant who defies the automatic orders in contempt, there has to be a finding that: 1. The litigant has knowledge of the order; 2. The litigant has to have disobeyed the order; and 3. The rights of the other party were prejudiced by the violation of the order. In a New York County case, the judge found that despite the husband purchasing a four million dollar house in Connecticut with marital funds, he had not reached the level of contempt as the marital estate was worth twelve million dollars and he had simply converted a liquid asset into real estate. In other words, the wife was still going to get her equitable distribution as he had not dissipated the assets, he only changed their form. The judge in that case did admonish the husband for the violation and issued a restraining order from further incidents. Another exception I have seen is in a recent Westchester case where the plaintiff, despite being bound, changed her 401K designation as well as her life insurance beneficiaries during the pendency of the divorce and later committed suicide. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to enforce the automatic orders and the beneficiaries to their status at the commencement of the action because her death ended the divorce action. Overall, you should feel confident that you are allowed to continue living as you have been, however, it is always a good idea to ask your attorney prior to any transaction of which you are uncertain.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

118

Health & Fitness

Lori Boxer

Stuff the Turkey ... Not Yourself!

ith the year-end holidays upon us, you might be anxious about how you

approach the parties, the baked goods brought into the office, the incessant flow of goodies given as gifts, and even the grocery store aisles laden

with decadent desserts. Top this off with concern regarding the pressure you may feel from others to partake in more food than you may want. We

all know how tough it can be to “go against the grain,” when everyone else is stuffing their faces. Sometimes it just feels easier to go with the flow, to go along to get along, than to resist being poked and prodded and told, “Oh, c’mon, have some!” or “Have some more!” Yes, the gluttonous person next to you is right, “(insert name of the holiday) only comes once a year,” but how badly do you want to spend the next month or longer working off your holiday weight gain? Most people don’t engage in this

You are choosing not to have certain foods because you feel better without them, mentally and physically.

amount of consciousness-raising. They just eat when it’s time. They eat what’s familiar. And they eat when everyone else eats whether they like it or are hungry for it or not. Perhaps they want to be accepted, and if they expect that they’ll be looked upon unfavorably or teased for being more discerning about their food choices, they’ll avoid doing so. Essentially, they are on automatic pilot around food. If this is you, you can reprogram yourself to respond more intentionally, and it’s the only way, save for wiring your mouth shut, to avoid unnecessary holiday weight gain. Ready? Follow these “talk to yourself” guidelines for mitigating mindless munching. Holiday meals do not need to end up with you lying on the couch in a carb coma thinking yet again, “Why did I do this to myself?” 1. Really?! You’re that hungry that you would actually compare

Health & Fitness

119

2. You do realize that you just ate, right? You just consumed (how much?) protein; (how many?) carbs; and (how much?) fat. I think you’ll be okay. This is an objective, justthe-facts assessment of the situation; we can easily get carried away by our emotions and make poor decisions as a result. Think about the years past when you’ve just eaten a plate stacked high with food and then decided to dive in for a second round when you already felt full. How did you feel after that? 3. You can always eat again later. Another objective statement; no emotion attached. Most holiday meals end up in leftovers for a week or two. 4. You could have jelly doughnuts anytime. Why is it imperative that you have 1—or 3—right now? Change your perception of the situation. When you’re craving something or feel a sense of urgency to eat it, reminding yourself that it’s always available takes away the thought of, “If I don’t eat it now, I’ll never be able to eat it,” which just isn’t true. 5. They’ve got their goals and you’ve got yours. You’re seriously going to justify eating that because everyone else is? We are eas-

ily swayed by the actions of others. We want to fit in, we sometimes don’t want to explain it ourselves, and let’s face it, when everyone else is doing the same thing, it can be more difficult to stay true to our convictions. 6. It’s not that you can’t have it, (insert your name). You could have it any time you want. You choose not to. Think of the last diet you were on that mandated you eat a certain time, in a certain way, with a certain recipe. How long did it last? Structure is good—we thrive with it. But make it too rigid—”you can never eat that food again”—and you’ll likely want to bend the rules. Get back to reality and recognize that you can have any food you want; yes, you really can. But you are choosing not to have certain foods because you feel better without them, mentally and physically. Don’t eat every holiday food just because it’s there. Would you eat it anyway? If not, leave it well enough alone. 7. You’ve been down this road before. Is it worth it? Nope. You know the negative consequences far outweigh the short-term pleasure. Walk away. Why test yourself? It’s like a recovering alcoholic going into a bar, sitting down, ordering a drink and willing himself not to take a sip. Why risk it?

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yourself to a starving child in Africa?

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9. Are you even hungry, (insert your name here)? Genuinely, physically hungry? If you have to ask yourself this question, there is a high probability that you’re not. And in that case, tell yourself you are not going to wreck your winning streak of positive decisions! Finally, follow these practical tips for keeping a food fest at bay: The likelihood is higher that

you will eat more if all the food is spread out in front of you. If you’re preparing the holiday meal, how about asking everyone to get what they like and then sit down at the table. Put your fork down between each bite and take a drink of water. This will help you to slow down and for you to more easily register satiety. Start practicing the skills involved with operating in a more emotionally intelligent manner so that when the next holidays roll around, you more skillfully stuff the turkey rather than yourself.

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8. Is what you are thinking of doing in line with what you’ve said you want to accomplish? We’ve all been there. We say we want one thing but then we act in a way that is not compatible with those wishes/hopes/desires/goals. Pause for a second and ask yourself if you want to be the broken record. Aren’t you tired of asking, “How come I self-sabotage?” Stop, and respond to that question to yourself.

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

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The Classifieds Services Avi’s moving and Trucking Need it moved? Furniture, deliveries, apartments, small office etc. Call Avi 646-258-6137 Buying or Refinancing a Home?

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Job Available Due to simchos, Torah Academy for Girls, Far Rockaway seeking qualified, experienced elem & jr high moras. fax resume to 718-868-4612 attn: Rabbi Weitman Seeking a highly motivated, organized person with sales and computer experience to work for a real estate consulting firm in Cedarhurst. Please email a resume and salary requirements to sgoldberg@metrorefunds.com Yeshiva in Queens seeks full time secretary. Immediate opening. Experience preferred. Please email resume to ndsudwerts@gmail.com

Amazing Job Opportunities in Cedarhurst Shomer Shabos Office. Flexible hours for working moms! Part time and full time jobs available. Seminary girls welcome. Seeking capable, efficient individuals to join a fast-paced growing office. Excellent communication skills and strong organizational skills required. Basic Computer Skills necessary. Ability to multitask and detail-oriented. Email resume to FTSadresponse@gmail.com 5 Towns area school seeking teacher for Junior High, M - Th. afternoons for current school year. teachersearch11@gmail.com CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers for Title I in Boro Park and Williamsburg Chassidic boys schools *College/Yeshiva Degree Required *Strong desire to help children learn *Excellent organizational skills *Small group instruction *Competitive salary Email resume: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com Fax# (718) 381-3493

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M ILKY FORST PROPERTIES 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst NY 11516

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ď ł

DECEMBER 25, 2014

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M ILKY FORST PROPERTIES INC.

ILKY FORST PROPERTIES INC. 420 M Central Ave., Cedarhurst NY 11516

Avrohom "Avi" Sobel 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst NY 11516

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123 THE JEWISH HOME 

DECEMBER 25, 2014

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DECEMBER 25, 2014

124

Your Money

Allan J. Rolnick, CPA

Stealing from the Dead

his year, one San Diego resident will be somewhere near #1 on the not-so-nice list. Lloyd Irving Taylor graduated from San Diego State University and Loyola Law School. As a CPA, he’s authorized to prepare tax returns and represent clients before the IRS. And as an attorney, he’s authorized to prepare tax returns, represent clients before the IRS, and represent them in court. He’s well aware of what the law says he and his clients can do to pay less tax, and what will land him a big lump of coal in his stocking. But Taylor apparently hates paying taxes with a Grinch-like grouchiness. No Burgermeister Meisterburger could tell him he can’t have his toys! So, he started off by stealing the identities of at least nine deceased children, some of whom had died as far back as the 1950s. He used those identities to finagle fraudulent passports from U.S. embassies in Europe. Then he used those passports to open financial accounts to hide his income and assets, including $1.6 million in gold coins. Maybe stealing those identities made Taylor feel guilty. Why else would he have gone and made up over a dozen phony churches, too? He opened 31 more bank and investment accounts in the names of those churches. Then he argued that the churches’ tax-exempt status meant he didn’t owe tax on their income. Things might not have been quite so bad if he had at least reported the income from his schemes. But Taylor, who’s now 71, has filed tax returns just seven times since he finished school. That works out to once every six years. Those unfiled returns add up to $5 million in unreported income and $1.6 million in unpaid taxes. Let’s be honest here. It doesn’t say much for those at the IRS that Taylor flew under their radar for so long! But he eventually did wind up in the crosshairs of the San Diego Regional

Fraud Task Force, an alphabet soup of agents from the IRS, Secret Service, San Diego Police Department, and State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security. (Bet you didn’t know those last guys even existed!) Taylor has been in custody since April 2013 — the judge at his bond hearing noted his international travel on false passports, the millions in cash he controlled through his network of bank accounts, and his history of lying to banks as reason to rule him a flight risk. Last month, the jury at his trial took just 30 minutes to convict him on 19 felony counts. (They probably voted him guilty in the first two minutes,

then had a cup of coffee or two just to make it look like they actually “deliberated.”) The judge sentenced Taylor to 57 months with his fellow naughty-listers in an institution not noted for the cheerfulness of its holiday decorations. Taylor also owes $2.2 million in restitution. What makes Taylor’s case so outrageous, of course, is that he knows you don’t need to steal a dead child’s identity or establish a bogus church to pay less tax. You just need a plan to take advantage of all the IRS-approved deductions, credits, and strategies the law allows. You don’t even have to wait for the IRS to come knocking — just call us, and see what savings we can deliver! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

Life Coach

Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

It’s Cold Outside

o here’s the $64,000 ques- mild winter, right? Unless you’re one tion… of those ski families. Ski families have Are we having a mild win- a whole different attitude. See, they are ter? Well, in that case, we should prob- protected! Somewhere hidden in their ably all be really happy. Or maybe we closet or stored up in their attic they are just experiencing a late winter—in have the dependable layers and gear to which case, the worst is yet to come. survive any onslaught. The only worOr…here’s a possibility: this is all ry a ski family has is if their kid outpart of that unresolved global warming grew last year’s supplies. Otherwise, issue, and in that case, who knows what nose to toes, they’ve got something to in the world is going on out there?! keep them warm. I’m not saying it’s so As that really freezing weather stylish that they can sashay down the eludes us, we kind avenue in it, but of ignore buying it certainly can do all that parapherthe job in a pinch. nalia that makes So how do we winter bearable. prepare for the You know, those unpredictable? warmy shwarmy It’s so hard to boots or that get motivated to hat that actualstock up on that ly covers your heavy woolen ears. Thankfully, stuff if we don’t during the holifeel the need to day season, some bundle up. “desperate for a Here are some gift idea” person suggestions on The fashion industry usually buys you how you can start a scarf or a pair of internalizing the couldn’t care less what gloves that comes cold early on: in really handy • Turn the weather is outside when you thought off your heat when they decide it wouldn’t. everywhere and Here’s the start shivering spring’s around the Visit the thing: the fashion • Minus 5 Ice industry couldn’t corner—even a 20Bar in Midtown care less what the foot blizzard doesn’t Manhattan weather is outside • Take an ice when they decide deter them. cold shower spring’s around • Plan a ski the corner—even trip—it’ll get a 20-foot blizzard you to shop (but no one says you doesn’t deter them. They empty the shelves and roll out the cottons and actually have to go!) cruise wear. There’s not a warm sweatLife is about preparation and mindset. er around to be had. The sooner you start feeling really So then, when you’re finally feeling that first icy wind that wakes you up, cold, the quicker you’ll get out there and you get out there looking for some and shop for winter supplies. Unforcozy warm clothing, guess what?! It’s tunately, though, this advice might not too late! It was all emptied out weeks help for this year. Winter actually startago on a 60% off get rid of winter sale. ed officially yesterday but I think I alYou might as well book a trip to Miami ready saw bathing suits on the shelves. So stay warm however you can, or the Caribbean with what’s available to buy! and have a great winter! That’s fashion for you—form over function. They’re forming a gorgeous spring display and your extremities are Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationso frozen they can’t even function to ship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or slide the clothes they put on the rack. So I guess you are just hoping for a rivki@rosenwalds.com

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Gedilla

Gefen

Animal Shaped Cookies

N&K

Tomato Sauce

Shredded Pizza Cheese

15oz

1oz

Mehadrin

Ice Cream

Sabra

Mandelsohns

Assorted 10oz

8 Slices

Hummus

56oz

Pizza

8oz

.79

Liebers

Jack & Jill Cookies

Kariot

Mendelsohns

Gesher

Tofutti

13.20oz

4pk

1.25oz

All Variegates

Instant

Chicken Noodle Soup

2.99

Cereal

5.99

Pizza

8.99

Snack Pak

Cuties 8 Pack

No Msg, 2.25oz

2/$1

2/$3

Gedilla

Devash

Gefen

Kemach

Salted & Unsalted

1/2Gal.

16oz

Snackers

4.49

Milk

12oz

4.49

Corn Flake Cereal

Barley

1.99

2.69

Pringles

Gefen

Original And Reduced Fat 46oz

In Water

9oz

1.49

Gefen

Mayim Chaim

Chocolate Wafers

6oz

3.49

1.29

Spring Water

40pk

3.99

Bakery Beigels

Beigels

Buns

Rye Bread

3.99

2 Lb.

1.99

Corn 15oz

1.99

.89

Kedem

Tea Biscuits 4.2oz

2/$1

Snapple

Marshmallow Fluff

Sleek

3/$5

Fruits & Veg.

OUR PRODUCE SPECIALS

Sensation

Baby Wipes 80ct.

1.89

.99

Meat Dept. All of our meats are beis yosef only Swiss Steaks

Cholent Roast

Will Be In Store This Week

Deli Dept. Fresh Latkes

Semisweet Chocolate Chips

16oz

6.99 Case Price Only.

Liebers

64oz

13oz

Glicks

3 liters

Chocolate & Cinnamon

Chunk Light Tuna

2.99

5/$1

Gefen

Natural Applesauce

11oz

Bbq Flavor 0.75oz

2/$5

.89

4/$1 Potato Chips

18oz

2.50

Homemade Applesauce

7.99Lb

6.99Lb

Super Family Pack

Hot Soup

Chicken Legs

Made Everday

2.39Lb

Sale valid 12/25/14 -12/31/14. Cash & Carry only. We reserve the right to limit quanitities on sale items. Not responsible for typographical errors. While supplies last. No rain checks.

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127 THE JEWISH HOME

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