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Destination & Travel Section Starting on Page 111
China And The Jews
Around the Community
Hundreds Turn out at Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns Dinner to Celebrate a True Makom Torah
PAGE 45
Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Celebrates their 45th Annual Dinner
Page 96
PAGE 57
Bnos Malka First Graders Celebrate their First Siddurim
Page 84
PAGE 55
Rambam Talmidim Dedicate Vacation to Serving the Jewish State
PAGE 57
Caring for our Community
See page 12
At Urgent-MD, the Doctor is Always In
Page 72
– See page 28 –
– See page 82–
i-Shine Brightening Their Day
Page 74
T H E J E W I S H H O M E n FEBRUARY 13, 2014
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5 8 5 w i l l ow ave n u e • ce d a r h u r s t ( m a p l e p l a z a )
Announcing three Shiurim by Rabbi Moshe Walter
Weekend of February 22/23—the entire 5 Towns and Far Rockaway community is invited The Propriety of Asking & Providing a Second Halachic Opinion YI Lawrence Cedarhurst 8 Spruce St., Cedarhurst Shabbos Feb. 22nd, 9:15-9:45am (after 7:30 Shachris Minyan)
An Analysis of ( לא תתגודדוcreating factions) in Halacha & Shmiras Ha’Mitzvos Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (The Red Shul) 391 Oakland Ave., Cedarhurst Shabbos Feb. 22nd, 4:30-5:15pm
The Role of the Rov & Importance of The Shoel in Psak Halacha Cong. Knesset Israel (The White Shul) 728 Empire Ave., Far Rockaway Sunday Feb. 23rd, 8:15-9:00pm
Rabbi Walter is the Rav of Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah in Silver Spring, MD and the director of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Greater Washington. He is the author of the recently published book, The Making of a Halachic Decision and has published articles in Hakira and the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society. Rabbi Walter is the founder and editor of the Halachah Bulletin of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Greater Washington.
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>>Letters to the Editor
Dear Readers,
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>>Community Readers’ Poll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Community Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Caring for our Community: At Urgent-MD,
i-Shine Brightening Their Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
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>> People Remembering Esther Lerer A”H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 The Rescue of the USS Squalus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 China And The Jews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
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the Doctor is Always In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
When a tragedy strikes our community, we are all pained by the loss. Last week, we lost a shining light, a woman with a dynamic spirit who brightened the lives of all around her. I personally felt the void as Mrs. Esther Lerer a”h and her family moved next door to my in-laws four years ago. Almost immediately, she became our friends. In fact, within just a few weeks, the whole family—including sons, daughters, and daughters-in-laws of my in-laws—considered Mrs. Lerer a friend. She was so easy to talk to and brought enthusiasm to every conversation. Whether we were discussing schools, parenting, cooking or the weather, the conversation was never dull when Esther was involved. I know that everyone who knew her feels the same way. She naturally connected to those who she met and when I went to the Lerer home this week, it was filled with so many people who wanted to talk about the special relationship they had with Esther. Every one of those visitors’ lives was brightened by their special connection with Esther. We will all miss Esther, one who brought so much light into our lives. May she be a meilitz yosher for her husband and her wonderful children and for our community. This week, Susan Schwamm writes about the unique relationship between China and the Jews after meeting with Professor Pan Guang, the foremost expert on China and the Jews. China is not necessarily a country we associate with Jews. In fact, many times it’s referred to as “Red China” and Jews didn’t fare very well under the Soviet Communist regime. But interestingly, throughout the years, China has always shown a benevolence towards the Chosen Nation. In fact, Susan Schwamm points out that Jews have never experienced anti-Semitism in China from the Chinese. The Chinese respect our values—the importance of family, education and righteousness is echoed in the Chinese philosophy. Some scholars in China and other Asian countries have even translated the Talmud into their languages for they believe that the Jews are a smart people and they wish to learn from them. My family and I share a special gratitude to China. My grandfather, a”h, was learning in the Mir Yeshiva when World War II broke out. It was only due to many miracles and the open arms of the Chinese that he and the rest of the yeshiva were able to enter Shanghai during the War. In essence, I owe my life to the Chinese.
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Dear Editor, I enjoyed reading about my fellow frum women who are entrepreneurs. I just want to add a point—in a sense, all frum women these days are entrepreneurs even if we don’t own our own businesses because on the financial end of our lives we are being forced to work in jobs and for hours that frum women never had to work until recently. When I was young if my mother or a friend’s mother worked, it was as a babysitter at home for a few kids or as a teacher part time. Now we are working as therapists, accountants, attorneys, nurses, marketers, etc. We are also working full-time jobs, which often require us to be on the train to the city at 7:30 AM, only to return home by 6 PM. Yet our primary job remains motherhood—nurturing our children, doing
homework with them, and taking care of them. Despite the fact that it is hard to be in a corporate setting and our Bais Yaakov upbringing didn’t necessarily train us for it, most of us are known as pretty good workers. That is entrepreneurship because it’s not like we are just following what our mothers did, because we are not. We are blazing new trails. Sincerely, Shalhevet Krantzler Dear Editor, “The Jewish Mom in the Corner Office: Exploring Female Entrepreneurship in the Orthodox World” (Sara Glaz – February 6) was more informative! The article should be must reading on bipartisan basis for Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal pub-
Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to editor@ fivetownsjewishhome.com.
the Editor lic officials on the federal, state, city, county and town level to understand how jobs are really created. Entrepreneurs such as Talia Mashinach, founder and CEO of Eved; Hinda Mizrahi, owner of two Koko FitClubs; and Suzannah Raff, Raff Business, Consulting, LLC, have continued to create new employment opportunities without the assistance of federally-funded taxpayers’ stimulus dollars. These people are our neighbors who work long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. All are true American and Orthodox Jewish heroes. Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck, NY Dear Editor, I was surprised to read that most entrepreneurs featured in your cover article were told when they were younger that they were “the best at everything.” As a parent I have seen that it is important to give children confidence and praise them when it’s warranted. But I
also feel that inflating their egos is unhealthy. They will encounter failure at times and we should prepare them for those inevitable failures. Rather than telling our children that they will succeed at everything they attempt to do, we should be praising them for trying their best and praising them for the hard work that they do. Rachel Werner Dear Editor, Please do not impeach the Centerfold Commissioner. The world is becoming way too PC. Everything anybody says is examined to figure out who is insulted by it. I read the centerfold every week and find it quit humorous and always appropriate. Yes, at times the wisdom keys are edgy, but that’s what makes it fun. So, although I think the Centerfold Commissioner has a huge ego and I would love to see him deposed “just because,” I must stand by him and stand with him. So, please do not impeach him now...yet. Sincerely, A Happy Centerfold Reader
Readers Poll Compiled by Toby Bobker
How many languages do you speak fluently? One 17% Two or three 73% Four or more 10%
9 THE JEWISH HOME n
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A Community Wide Women’s Event
בס״ד
Join us for an evening of inspiration in memory of
ע״ה EstherLerer אסתר נעכא בת מנחם
״ומאמר אסתרHeeding קים״Esther’s Royal Message
featuring:
Rebbetzin Bryna Bender (Introductory Remarks)
Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner Mrs. Yael Kaisman At the White Shul 728 Empire Ave Far Rockaway, NY
Monday, February 24, 8:30PM Sponsored by Close Friends of Esther Lerer A”H
11 THE JEWISH HOME n F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
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The Week Global Sochi Gets Underway But With Some Glitches The 2014 Winter Olympics being hosted by Russia got underway last
Friday in Sochi, a coastal town on the Black Sea. From the outset, President Putin has been heavily involved in Sochi 2014 – from lobbying the International Olympic Committee to bring the games to Russia, to inspecting construction sites and, more recently, testing out completed sports facilities. In the seven years since Russia won its bid to host the 2014 Olympics, authorities have built a highway, a high-
In News speed train line, electric power stations and an entire series of resort villages in the Caucasus Mountains, where the alpine sport events are taking place. Nearly every venue where games are being held were built from scratch. The massive project, which was originally budgeted at $14 billion, is estimated to have cost more than $50 billion. Yet, on the eve of the games many projects were still under construction.
Arriving spectators and media members discovered that what they thought was going to be a first class modern experience was more reminiscent of old-times USSR. Many hotel rooms lacked running water and electricity. Photographs of broken toilets and moldy ceilings quickly flooded the social media. One reporter tweeted a photograph of brown water and noted that hotel staff sent out the following warning: “Do not use [hotel water] on your face because it contains something very dangerous.”
The opening ceremony was indeed magical, but not without a glitch. It started with a small girl sailing through the air suspended by wires over a collection of floating islands which were meant to depict a journey across the country. The ceremony featured a visual and audio feast of Russian cultural delights, such as a balletic portrayal of Tolstoy’s War and Peace and classical music by Alexander Borodin and Tchaikovsky. But when the Olympic symbol was supposed to be dramatically introduced there was a glitch. Five giant snowflakes descended into the stadium and were then meant to inflate and form the Olympic rings, but one of the snowflakes failed to inflate, leaving a massive illuminated symbol with only four rings. Although the games are meant to perpetuate unity, a small rift arose between the U.S. and Russia. No, it’s not about a nuclear arms race this time— it’s about yogurt. Chobani, which is an official sponsor of the U.S. team, has been blocked by Russian officials from shipping 5,000 cups of Chobani blueberry-, strawberry- and peach-flavored Greek yogurt to Olympians in Sochi. Russian officials claim that the yogurt simply lacks the correct paperwork to clear Russian customs. American officials claim that it is a way for Russians to take revenge of the fact that America and Russia have never been able to reach a good working trade relationship. “We are a lawful country,”
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The Week Yevgeniy Khorishko, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Washington, told The New York Times. “You should follow the rules.” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement, “Chobani yogurt is safe, nutritious and delicious and the Russian authorities should get past ‘nyet’ and let this prime sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team deliver their protein-packed food to our athletes.” Despite not having their Chobani, America was the first country to win gold when Team U.S.A’s Sage Kotsenburg, 20, won gold in men’s snowboarding. Take that Putin!
Car Bomb Training Camp Gone Bad: 21 Students Killed
Sometimes classroom exhibits don’t go as planned; this one killed 21 prized students—future suicide bombers. The incident happened at a terrorist training camp outside of Baghdad belonging to an off-shoot of al-Qaida. A police officer said the militants were attending a lesson on making car bombs and explosive belts when a glitch set off one of the devices on Monday. The massive blast alerted police to the camp, which was hidden in an orchard. Police arrested many of the surviving terrorists, some of whom were injured and trying to hobble away from the scene. Security forces found seven car bombs, several explosive belts and, of course, 21 dead terrorists. I guess that class bombed.
Clashes Between Muslims and Christians Intensify On Sunday morning, at 9:30am, Polin Pumandele was killed in Bangui, Central African Republic. His death was unprovoked; Polin was a Christian man walking in a Muslim enclave,
In News carrying wood to sell. But his religious beliefs were enough to have him killed, and a Muslim mob grabbed the 23-year-old and threw him into a ditch before slitting his throat.
Amazingly, while the slaughter was taking place, some of the murderers ordered a Washington Post journalist to leave the killing site. “Allez, allez — go, go,” one yelled, wagging his arms menacingly. A group of Burundian peacekeepers tasked by the United Nations to protect civilians were standing by. They knew about the killing once Polin’s mutilated body was brought past them in a wheelbarrow. His limbs were summarily dumped outside the Red Cross office in the area. Once word hit the street about the callous killing, riots broke out. At least nine other people were killed on Sunday in and around the area where Polin was murdered. Christians killed Muslims. Muslims killed Christians. Shops were burned down. Houses were looted. Bodies were burned in streets, in front of African peacekeepers. Some tried to stop the looters; others looked the other way. In all, Sunday’s events were the latest sign of the mayhem in this besieged capital, reeling from one of the worst episodes of sectarian violence on the continent in recent memory. Polin’s death came about almost by accident. Half an hour before he was killed, heavy gunfire erupted near the Grand Mosque, near the Red Cross office, one of the last remaining Muslim enclaves in the capital. Muslims accused three Christians — Polin and two friends — of carrying grenades and seeking to hurl them into the mosque. The Burundian soldiers took two of the men into custody, but Polin ran in the other direction. There were no grenades, the Burundians later said. Fearing for his life, Polin simply ran the wrong way. But within minutes, the mob caught up with him and his death was certain. “The Muslims did this,” one of his relatives screamed as they were walk-
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continue to adjust security measures to fit an ever evolving threat environment,” it said. Security at the games has been a major concern following two deadly December suicide attacks in Volgograd at a train station and a trolleybus. Since then, terrorists involved in those attacks threated the Olympic games. In a video posted on a well-known jihadi forum last month, the terrorists promised Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will receive “a present from us for the Muslim blood that’s been spilled.” On Wednesday before the games began, two U.S. warships arrived in the Black Sea, ready to offer assistance in the case of a security emergency at the massive sports event.
Iran’s Warships Head Toward U.S.
U.S. Issues Toothpaste Bomb Warning
If you’re traveling to the Olympics this week, make sure to be on the lookout—for toothpaste, that is. The United States has warned American and foreign airlines on Wednesday that terrorists could try to place explosives disguised as toothpaste on Russia-bound flights. An official related that the information the government procured is specific to flights bound for Russia, where the Winter Olympics started on Friday in Sochi. “While we are not aware of a specific threat to the homeland at this time, this routine communication is an important part of our commitment to making sure we meet that priority,” the Department of Homeland Security announced. “As always, our security apparatus includes a number of measures, both seen and unseen, and DHS will
Iranian warships in the Atlantic Ocean are sailing close to U.S. maritime borders in order to send a message to the U.S. that Iran does not approve of its presence in its waters in the Persian Gulf. “The Iranian Army’s naval fleets have already started their voyage towards the Atlantic Ocean via the waters near South Africa,” Commander of Iran’s Northern Navy Fleet Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad announced on Saturday. “Iran’s military fleet is approaching the United States’ maritime borders, and this move has a message,” he added. The plan is part of Iran’s response to Washington’s beefed up naval presence in the Persian Gulf. The US Navy’s 5th fleet is based in Bahrain – across the Persian Gulf from Iran – and the U.S. has conducted two major maritime war games in the last two years. Sayyari had first announced in July 2011 that Iran was going to send “a flotilla into the Atlantic.” “Like the arrogant powers that are present near our maritime borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to the Ameri-
F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
ing Polin’s body home. “They cut his neck like a cow. They are going to kill all of us.” “All the Muslims will die in the country,” vowed one woman during the procession, shrieking loudly. And as Polin’s body arrived in his neighborhood, a poor, mostly Christian community, one man yelled, “We have to burn a Muslim and eat him.” During his funeral, Polin was remembered as a boy who loved soccer. His father seemed surprised at his death. “He was a civilian,” he lamented. But the faces of the crowd were angry. Raymond Laguerret, the chief of the community, shook his head, “I don’t know if our youth will calm down,” he said in a low voice. “There will be revenge attacks, and it will get worse. Any Muslim who comes into our area will be killed. Any kind of cooperation between Muslims and Christians is not possible anymore.” “Everything is going wrong.”
In News
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The Week can marine borders,” Sayyari said. The Iranian ships are reported to be carrying about 30 navy academy cadets for training along with their regular crews. They are on a three-month mission. So, if you smell a foul odor, don’t worry, it’s just the Iranians off the coast.
U.K.’s Rise of the Elite
Despite the hope that the upper class is diminishing in Great Britain, there are signs that the age-old class system for Brits is on the rise. One can look at the country’s leaders to see the trend. Britain was led for ten years by Margaret Thatcher, a grocer’s daughter, who took power in 1979. John Major, who succeeded the
Iron Lady, was the son of a music hall entertainer. But the country’s now being led by David Cameron, a descendent of King William IV whose cabinet is stacked with men, like him, from the country’s toniest private schools and Oxford and Cambridge universities. But it’s not just political arenas where the upper class holds the power. “In every single sphere of British influence, the upper echelons of power in 2013 are held overwhelmingly by the privately educated or the affluent middle class,” Major points out. “To me, from my background, I find that truly shocking.” So is Britain going back to the age of lords and ladies? Not so fast, experts say. The upper class now in Britain seems to be dominated by an elite, but now the elite is a club where money is the coveted currency over lineage. Because money can buy one into the “exclusive club,” more women, ethnic minorities, and foreigners have made it to the top. Still, it remains an arduous task for those who are poor and unconnected to reach the top rungs of the social ladder. When the Sunday Times newspaper
In News published its first annual “Rich List” in 1989, Britain’s wealthiest individual was Queen Elizabeth II. The top 10 was dominated by established British property and business owners, including the Duke of Westminster, who owns vast swaths of central London, supermarket magnate Lord Sainsbury and food mogul Lord Vestey. It was a snapshot of an elite heavy on titled backgrounds, clubby connections and inherited wealth. The 2013 list is a roll-call of international capitalists who have made London their base, with the Duke of Westminster the only carryover from the original roster. Even the queen has dropped out. The top 10 now includes Uzbek mining magnate Alisher Usmanov; Indian industrialists Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja; Chelsea Football Club’s Russian owner, Roman Abramovich; Norwegian shipping tycoon John Frederiksen and Heineken beer heir Charlene de Carvalho. The changes in the super-wealthy class were triggered, in part, by Thatcher, who deregulated business and banking and opened up London’s financial sector to the world. Philip Beresford, who assembles
the list, told the BBC that “when I first started 25 years ago about two-thirds of the rich list were people who had inherited their wealth. Today, approaching 80 percent are self-made and that’s really a legacy of the Thatcher years.” If business has grown more open, many Britons express concern that an old upper class is reasserting itself at the top of politics. “No one would have imagined 20 years ago we’d be going back to Old Etonian prime ministers,” said historian David Kynaston, who is chronicling the way British society has changed since World War II in a series of books. “It was kind of thought once that class was going away.” The same holds true in the entertainment and sports industries. Although some popular names come from more common stock, there are many who come from “posher” backgrounds— wealthy and more cultured families— and attended private, elite schools. Certainly, class divisions in England are not going away. But what defines who will succeed may be changing in the U.K. Best of British to you!
Killer Tiger on the Prowl
an estimated 5,000-7,000 in the 1990s, when the big cats’ habitat was twice as large.
In just six weeks, a tiger killed ten people in a village in northern India, despite efforts to set a trap for the beast. It is believed that the marauding cat strayed from Jim Corbett National Park, the country’s oldest national park which was established in 1936 to provide endangered Bengal tigers with safe territory. Sunday night was when the tiger killed its tenth victim—a 50-year-old man collecting firewood in a forest. It devoured parts of the man’s body before being scared away by villagers with shovels and meal rods. A day earlier, hunters had almost nabbed the tiger with a bovine calf as bait. “On Saturday night the tigress almost fell in trap and was close to the calf,” officials said. “But she did not attack the bait and left silently.” “The animal has started attacking humans because it is not getting its natural prey,” said Rupek De, chief wildlife warden of Uttar Pradesh. “The tigress must be tired because it is not getting adequate rest.” It has been on the prowl in an area around 80 miles. But despite its weariness, officials still have not been able to combat the beast. On Sunday, angry villagers seized a national forestry office, demanding protection and compensation for the families of the dead. “We can understand the predicament of the villagers,” an official said. “The villagers do not have toilets in their homes. They go out in the open or forest areas to answer nature’s call. In this scenario it is difficult to give protection to each and every villager. We have advised them to move in groups.” India’s wild tigers are considered endangered because of rampant poaching and a shrinking habitat as India undergoes breakneck development to accommodate the staggering growth of its 1.2 billion people. The country has more than half of the 3,200 tigers estimated to be left in the wild. Despite dozens of tiger reserves across India, however, the numbers have sunk from
Perhaps as part of his effort to change the country’s image, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently allotted $400,000 to the Dr. Sapir Hospital and Charity Center, which is Iran’s only Jewish hospital. The surprise donation was delivered by Rouhani’s brother, Hossein Fereydoon, who walked into the Tehran hospital and explained, “Our government intends to unite all ethnic groups and religions, so we decided to assist you.” Fereydoon also promised that more attention would be given to hospitals that traditionally serve Christian and Jewish Iranians. There are approximately 25,000 Jews living in Iran today, most of whom live in Tehran. There is one Jewish member of the Iranian parliament. Iranian officials—including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad— have long maintained that they are not anti-Semites, just anti-Zionists. The latest donation to the Jewish hospital may be meant to further that narrative.
Israel Iranian TV Airs Simulated Bombing of Tel Aviv On Friday, Iranian state TV ran a documentary featuring a computerized video of Iran’s drones and missiles bombing Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ben Gurion Airport and the Dimona nuclear reactor
in a hypothetical retaliation for an Israeli or American strike on the Islamic Republic. Iranian drones and missiles were also shown carrying out simulated strikes on the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, downing American aircraft, and striking American military targets in the Persian Gulf. The film, entitled, “The Nightmare of Vultures,” opens with Supreme Leader Khamenei addressing military academy graduates in 2011, warning: “Anybody who thinks of attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran should be prepared to receive strong slaps and iron fists from the Armed Forces.”
The clips of drone strikes on Israel are interspersed with shots of Is-
raeli emergency personnel evacuating injured Israeli civilians and soldiers while air raid sirens wail. A barrage of missiles brings down Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers in a final blow. Iranian leaders have made repeated threats to wipe Israel off the map and have threatened to annihilate Tel Aviv should Iran’s nuclear facilities be attacked by the West.
Riots on Temple Mount On Friday, hundreds of Palestinians attacked officers with rocks on Temple Mount after concluding their weekly prayers. The violence came one day after police closed the holy site to Jews to avert another riot, following numerous anonymous threats from Arabs of probable violence should any Jews ascend. “Police responded immediately by entering the Temple Mount area and dispersing the rioters, using only stun grenades in order to prevent injuries,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld
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“Luckily there were no injuries to officers,” he said, noting that police had preemptively heightened security in the area upon receiving intelligence that the Arabs intended to riot after praying. “Security assessments were also quickly made to ensure immediately after the riot to prevent any further disturbances in and around the Old City,” Rosenfeld said. The frequently violent Arab response to Jewish visitation rights to the Temple Mount has a long and conten-
tious history, dating back to when the Wakf Muslim religious trust was given oversight of the holy site following the Six Day War in 1967. Although the Supreme Court upheld Jewish prayer rights on the site, the court allows police to prevent any form of worship there if they believe such activities will incite a “disturbance to the public order.”
Jordanian Parliament: PA Does Not Have to Recognize Israel On Saturday, the Jordanian parliament declared that it did not agree with Israel’s demand that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognize it as Jewish state. In a statement carried by the Jordanian Petra news agency, the Lower House of the Parliament outlined its “fundamental position on the Palestinian issue” and said it was rejecting Israel’s demand for being recognized as a Jewish state. It added that there is a need to establish an independent and
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In News fully sovereign Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders, with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
Obviously, the country’s wellbeing was foremost on its mind. The statement stressed that “a final status solution concerning refugees, Jerusalem, security, water and settlements should take into account Jordan’s higher interests, adding that it would totally reject any arrangements or frameworks that did not safeguard and meet all Jordanian national interests or undermined its security and territorial safety.” The legislature said it stood behind King Abdullah’s efforts “to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause,” reported Petra. The statement comes several days after Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Judeh, said he was against recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has refused to recognize Israel. This week he reiterated that refusal and said that recognizing a Jewish state would be “out of the question.” He also said that Egypt and Jordan were not required to recognize Israel when they signed a peace treaty with it.
Peres to Set World Record On Thursday, President Shimon Peres will try set a new Guinness World Record when he delivers the largest online civics class in the world. It will be held at Cisco’s headquarters in Netanya and over 6,500 high school students in 215 classrooms across Israel will view it. Peres will deliver the online class using Cisco’s advanced technology. Students from Jerusalem, Be’er Sheva, Tel Aviv, Kuseife, Ofakim, Dimona, Hadera, Tiberias, Tayibe, Nahariya, and other communities across Israel will participate. Both Arab and Jewish students will participate.
Israel is a world leader in the technology area and there are currently efforts to introduce technology into classrooms across the country. The class will be a live example of the technology which will help digitalize education worldwide, reduce the distance between the center of countries and the periphery, reduce inequality in education and allow for lessons to be delivered by leading experts to thousands of pupils at the same time.
After the data is processed and analyzed and the numbers of students verified, Guinness’s official is expected to announce that the record has been broken. Peres has shown a keen interest in technology and in 2012 was the guest of honor at the World Facebook headquarters, where he and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched the Israeli president’s official Facebook page.
National Goodbye Shirley Temple
On Monday, America said goodbye to the dimpled, curly-haired girl who grabbed our hearts and brought smiles to our faces. The child star sang, Continued on page 24
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The Week danced, cried and smiled in movies of long ago and Americans were mesmerized by her energy. Shirley Temple was 85. A talented and ultra-adorable entertainer, Shirley Temple was America’s top box-office draw from 1935 to 1938, a record no other child star has come near. She beat out such grown-ups as Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Robert Taylor, Gary Cooper and Joan Crawford. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranking of the top 50 screen legends ranked Temple at No. 18 among the 25 actresses. She appeared in scores of movies and kept children singing “On the Good Ship Lollipop” for generations. Temple was credited with helping save 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy with films such as “Curly Top” and “The Littlest Rebel.” She even had a drink named after her, an appropriately sweet and innocent cocktail of ginger ale and grenadine, topped with a maraschino cherry. Despite her popularity, Temple retired from films at the age of 21. She raised a family and became active in politics, holding several diplomatic posts in Republican administrations, including ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the historic collapse of Communism in 1989. “Politicians are actors too, don’t you think?” she once said. “Usually if you like people and you’re outgoing, not a shy little thing, you can do pretty well in politics.” “I have one piece of advice for those of you who want to receive the lifetime achievement award. Start early,” she quipped in 2006 as she was honored by the Screen Actors Guild. But she also said that evening that her greatest roles were as wife, mother and grandmother. “There’s nothing like real love. Nothing.” Her husband of more than 50 years, Charles Black, had died just a few months earlier. Temple’s mother, Gertrude, worked to keep her daughter from being spoiled by fame and was a constant presence during filming. Her daughter said years later that her mother had been furious when a director once sent her off on an errand and then got the child to cry for a scene by frightening her. “She never again left me alone on a set,” Temple recalled. Because of her mother’s constant care, Temple was not plagued by the usual maladies that affect young performers in the industry. She grew up in a pretty regular childhood, although she may have missed out on the carefree youth that so many children enjoy. During her career, Temple became a
In News nationwide sensation. Mothers dressed their little girls like her, and a line of dolls was launched that are now highly sought-after collectibles. Her fans seemed interested in every last golden curl on her head: It was once guessed that she had more than 50. Her mother was said to have done her hair in pin curls for each movie, with every hairstyle having exactly 56 curls. Her immense popularity prompted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to say that “as long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right.” “When the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time during this Depression, it is a splendid thing that for just 15 cents, an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles,” Roosevelt said.
Outrageous: IRS Reinstates Bonuses
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, who took over the Internal Revenue Service last month, announced last week that he plans on reinstating bonuses that were rescinded by acting commissioner Danny Werfel in light of last year’s scandals, which included the singling out of Tea Party and Conservative groups for special screening in their applications for tax-exempt status and reports of lavish spending on IRS conferences over three years. In all, $62.5 million in bonuses will be doled out to IRS employees. “This is money best spent on our existing employees,” said Koskinsen in an email to agency employees. “The performance award payouts are in recognition of that great work done in very trying circumstances. I firmly believe that this investment in our employees will directly benefit taxpayers and the tax system.” Sen. Orin Hatch, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, issued a scathing statement saying, “Let me get this straight: the IRS is accused of targeting conservative groups, with
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The Week many of its employees having conducted themselves in a manner inappropriate for government officials, and the agency decides to reinstate employee bonuses? It’s hard to think of a group of people less deserving of bonuses than IRS employees.” He continued, “Frankly, this is outrageous. I understand that not every IRS worker was responsible, but this just is the wrong signal to send the American people who were rightly outraged by how this agency treated people for their political views. I will be discussing this matter with IRS Commissioner Koskinen, especially since his predecessor rightly took the step of canceling these bonuses.” Koskinen responded to critics of the bonus agreement by saying that the decision became clear to him after visiting with employees during his first weeks on the job. Sure, these employees really need bonuses because their jobs must be so taxing.
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De Blasio: State of the City is Dismal
Mayor Bill de Blasio gave his first State of the City address last week and it was chock full of liberal goodies. The address, held at La Guardia Community College in Queens, focused on income inequality and on things the mayor plans on giving New Yorkers, such as universal free Pre-K programs. New York City is a “tale of two cities – with an inequality gap that fundamentally threatens our future,” said the mayor, and he promised that during his time in City Hall that will change. He said that he will ask the state government in Albany next week to grant him the power to raise the minimum wage in the city. “In the process, we will send a powerful signal to the people of New York – that we honor work … and that we are committed to
In News making work pay.” On the education front, De Blasio reiterated his plan to extend pre-kindergarten education, a major campaign issue, and to extend after school programs for middle school children. The plan would cost an average of $970 for those earning between $500,000 and a million dollars, De Blasio said. “But to the young minds that we help shape… the pre-teen lives that we keep safe… the generation of working New Yorkers that we put on a path to success…it will be priceless.” There was a message too, for “the almost half-million undocumented New Yorkers, whose voices too often go unheard.” The mayor said he would issue municipal ID cards to undocumented citizens, “so that no daughter or son of our city goes without bank accounts, leases, library cards simply because they lack identification.” He also made sure to note some of his early accomplishments, including dealing with a barrage of snowstorms. He pointed out, “We’ve faced more snow last month than any new administration since January of 1978, when Mayor Ed Koch led this city.” The mayor thanked public workers and noted, “I know that these speeches have at times been used to attack the motives of our public employees. Today, I want to recognize the hard work and commitment of those men and women – and to say how proud I am of them.” I don’t know which mayor attacked public workers in their State of the City addresses. But then again, I’d be lying if I said I ever listened to any of them before.
Key Provision of Obamacare Delayed Yet Again
Once again, a key provision of Obamacare, which is highly unpopular across the nation, is being delayed. The Treasury Department announced
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2014 salary, which was supposed to be $25 million. Rodriguez had angered many of his fellow players by suing his own union in an attempt to avoid a suspension. “Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit,” the union said in a statement. “His decision to move forward is in everyone’s best interest.” When the 2015 season comes around, A-Rod will be 39. Despite his age, he will have a “$60 million dollar” incentive to play during the final three seasons of his contract—the amount he will be owed for those years. In addition, if he reaches certain homerun and hitting milestones he will be paid even more. So there’s no doubt that he will continue to eat his Wheaties throughout 2014.
Leno’s Final Curtain Call in Burbank
ruary 17, after the Sochi Olympics are finished. Leno’s tenure is second only to Johnny Carson’s 30 years. It can be said that he was a good steward of the show—it was the most popular nightly show among viewers when he took it over and when he handed it off last week it was still the most popular show among those who watch late night TV. Leno, whose autobiography is titled, Leading with my Chin, briefly and begrudgingly handed over “The Tonight Show” to Conan O’Brien in 2009. But when the ratings tanked, Leno was quickly returned to the slot. Leno insists that this time there is no looking back and the reins are being permanently handed over to his successor. In a signal that this time Leno is at peace with his replacement, Fallon appeared on one of Leno’s last shows. Yet, if the phrase “every joke has some truth to it” rings true, Leno is less than pleased with his forced retirement. Over the past year since the move was announced, Leno has taken repeated shots at NBC. Perhaps feeling rejected by NBC, Leno recently quipped, “They
say the threat of terrorism at the Sochi Winter Games is very high right now and it’s pretty scary. In fact, it’s so dangerous over there right now that today NBC asked me to go as a correspondent.” In his last monologue he joked, “I don’t like goodbyes; NBC does.” One person who doesn’t believe that Leno is really gone for good is his main competitor, David Letterman, who noted that Leno hosting his last show and the Winter Olympics are “two events that happen every four years.” Over Leno’s 22 years, he told 43, 892 jokes, according to a study by The Center for Media and Public Affairs George Mason University. They at found that Bill Clinton was Leno’s top target and was the butt of 4,607 jokes. Perhaps that explains why Clinton never appeared as a guest on “The Tonight Show”, yet appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” 10 times. Leno’s second most popular target, George W. Bush, appeared on Leno’s show four times over the years. Democrats were the targets of 10,885 jokes, 15 % more than the 9,465 jokes directed at Republicans. This re-
A-Rod Drops Lawsuit: Will Sit Out 2014 Season
Last Friday, Alex Rodriguez dropped his lawsuit against Major League Baseball’s players union, thus ending his effort to overturn his 162game suspension (plus any 2014 postseason games) for taking banned substances. The decision came nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz issued his decision largely upholding the penalty issued to the New York Yankees third baseman last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Rodriguez will lose most of his
In a mega change in the world of late night TV, Jay Leno, who has hosted “The Tonight Show” for 22 years, passed the torch to Jimmy Fallon, former host of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” last week. Leno’s forced retirement was seen as a “look ahead” move by NBC to appeal to a younger audience. Although Leno, 64, is at his peak in popularity, Fallon, who is only 39, is seen as a host who can secure younger viewers and even grow that audience with time. Seth Meyers is replacing Fallon on the “Late Night” show, which airs at 1:00 AM. Leno’s last show on February 6th featured guest Bill Crystal, who was also a guest on Leno’s first show ever. It was also the last show to take place in Burbank, California. The show, which took place in New York until Johnny Carson moved it to Burbank in 1972, is returning east to a brand new studio at NBC’s Rockefeller Center studios. “The Tonight Show” will resume with Fallon as its sixth all-time host on Feb-
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last Monday that employers with 50 to 99 workers will be given until 2016 — two years longer than originally envisioned under the Affordable Care Act — before they risk a federal penalty for not complying with Obamacare requirements. The “employer mandate” is highly unpopular because it will radically change the insurance plans available to the millions of Americans employed by mid-sized businesses. The latest delay is seen by many as an effort to limit the negative consequences Obamcare may have on the Democrats during the 2014 midterm elections. Congressional Republicans seized on the announcement as the latest justification for scrapping the healthcare law. “If unilateral delays were an Olympic sport, the White House would sweep the gold, silver, and bronze,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said in a statement. “The White House is in full panic mode, and rather than putting politics ahead of the public, it is time for fairness for all,” he said. Conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer said on Fox News, “Generally speaking, you get past the next election by changing your policies, by announcing new initiatives, but not by wantonly changing the law lawlessly. This is stuff you do in a banana republic.”
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The Week flects the fact that presidents were usually Leno’s leading targets, and Democrats occupied the White House in 13 of his 22 years as Tonight Show host. I would try to think of a good line to end with, but then again, if I am really funny I may be dethroned…like Leno was.
Osama Photos Destroyed After his Death A newly released email shows that just eleven days after the death of Osa-
In News ma bin Laden in 2011, the U.S. military’s top special operations officer ordered underlings to destroy any photographs of the terrorist’s corpse or turn them over to the CIA. This email was released under a freedom of information request by Judicial Watch. It was released on Monday by the group and shows that Adm.
William McRaven, who heads the U.S. Special Operations Command, told military officers on May 13, 2011 that photos of bin Laden’s remains should have been sent to the CIA or already destroyed. The al Qaeda leader was killed by a special operations team in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
McRaven’s order to purge the bin Laden material came 10 days after The Associated Press asked for the photos and other documents under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. Typically, when a freedom of information request is filed to a government agency under the Federal Records Act, the agency is obliged to preserve the material sought — even if the agency later denies the request. On May 3, 2011, the AP asked Special Operations Command’s Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Division office for “copies of all e-mails sent from and to the U.S. government account or accounts” of McRaven referencing bin Laden. McRaven was then vice admiral. A day later, on May 4, 2011, a response from the command’s FOIA office to the AP acknowledged the bin Laden document request and said it had been assigned for processing. AP did not receive a copy of the McRaven email obtained by Judicial Watch. Subsequently, the Department of Defense FOIA office told the AP in a Feb. 29, 2012 letter that it could find no McRaven emails “responsive to your request” for communications about the bin Laden material. The email that was released on Monday shows a heavily blacked-out email addressed to “gentlemen” in which McRaven told his unnamed subordinates: “One particular item that I want to emphasize is photos; particularly UBLs remains. At this point – all photos should have been turned over to the CIA; if you still have them destroy them immediately or get them” a blacked-out location. UBL refers to bin Laden. A CIA spokesman said at the time that “documents related to the raid were handled in a manner consistent
many interesting people are following me. I think I’ll follow some of you guys as well.” Finally, his most recent tweet took place after a three year hiatus. On January 18, 2012, the Facebook founder wrote: “Tell your congressmen you want them to be pro-internet. My Facebook post is here: https://t.co/XEmFNxGt.” Seems like a loquacious guy.
Ralph Kiner: War Hero, Baseball Slugger, Broadcaster and Storyteller for the Ages
Think Zuckerberg is a Major Tweeter?
I am not a user of Twitter and sometimes I wonder if I am missing out. But when I heard that one of the world’s most famous faces of the tech age is just barely using the 140-character program, I felt a little better. On February 2009, Mark Zuckerberg joined Twitter. Since then, he has tweeted only 19 times and has over 300,000 followers (although I don’t exactly know what they’re following…). Some of his brilliant tweets are listed here. Let’s not go overboard by the depth of some of these tweets. On February 13, 2009, Zuckerberg tweeted, “Never thought I’d be on a boat.” His fourth tweet, sent on February 14 of that year, bragged about Facebook reaching 175 million users: “175 million :-)” On March 4, Zuckerberg was happy. “A good day,” he tweeted to his followers. (Profound.) By March 7 he felt compelled to confirm his identity. “Yes, this is the real Mark Zuckerberg. Thanks for following me!” A day later he wrote, “So
Legendary baseball personality Ralph Kiner passed away this week at the age of 91. Kiner, who was a fighter pilot in WWII, played the bulk of his Hall of Fame career as an outfielder for the Pittsburg Pirates. He began his 10 year career in 1956 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975. He finished with 369 home runs, 1,015 RBIs, 1,451 hits and a .279 career batting average. Kiner walked 100 or more times in six seasons. He was considered the game’s greatest home run hitter during the years directly following World War II and ended his career with 369 homers. The baseball great is known to have said, “Home run hitters drive Cadillacs and singles hitters drive Fords.” The six-time All Star joined the Mets as a broadcaster at the inception of the team in 1962. He quickly became a permanent fixture at Shea Stadium and broadcasted Met games for the next 52 years. Generations of Met fans took delight in “Kiner’s Korner,” which was a post-game interview show following New York Mets broadcasts hosted by the baseball great. Kiner was such a fixture in the broadcast booth that the home TV booth at Shea Stadium was named in his honor.
“Our style of broadcasting is different from that of the new commentators,” Kiner told The New York Times in 2004. “I prefer the old style of broadcasting in which you talk to the guy sitting next to you as if you were sitting together in the stands.” Kiner’s clever or “simple” one liners—depending on how you look at them—became known as “Kinerisms.” He once noted, “All of the Mets road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium.” One time when the Mets were playing particularly badly, he commented, “If Casey Stengel were alive today, he’d be spinning in his grave.” Kiner, whose “back of the card” was obviously legendary, was also known as a link to the last generation of baseball players and a bygone era. One of Kiner’s favorite stories was about the time his Pittsburgh team finished in last place in 1952. Kiner played great that season and went into famed general manager Branch Rickey for a pay raise. Rickey looked at Kiner and replied, “We finished last with you. We can finish last without you.”
Pork Filled Farm Bill Passes Last Friday, President Obama signed the $956 billion Farm Bill into law. Most of the money, $756 billion of it, is allotted to food-stamp and nutrition programs, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One in five American households receive food stamps today. More than 1 million people were added to the rolls in 2013, including residents who live in the country illegally. In the year 2000, the entire food stamp program cost $17 billion. Last year that figure was a whopping $78 billion. The bill was filled with pork items such as a $170 million program to protect catfish growers from overseas competition. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that one provision in the bill guarantees Japonica rice growers that if prices of Japonica rice drops below 115% of the average price of all types of rice, growers of Japonica rice will get a government payment to make up the difference. “Who grows Japon-
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with the fact that the operation was conducted under the direction of the CIA director,” then Leon Panetta. The CIA statement also said “records of a CIA operation such as the raid, which were created during the conduct of the operation by persons acting under the authority of the CIA director, are CIA records.” In a Jan. 31, 2014 letter to Judicial Watch in response to its request for all records relating to McRaven’s “directive to purge,” the Pentagon’s office of general counsel said it had been able to locate only document — Raven’s redacted email. On Monday, Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said that the email “is a smoking gun, revealing both contempt for the rule of law and the American people’s right to know.”
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The Week ica rice anyways?” you wonder. Well, Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa is a fourth-generation Japonica rice farmer and he sits on the House agriculture committee. Another provision in the bill gives $100 million to research how to get Americans to buy more maple syrup. How about giving them more pancakes?
Google Becomes Second Largest U.S. Corporation
Google, whose stock has risen 52% in the past year, reached another milestone last Friday to become the second
largest American corporation. The company, which became the world’s largest online advertiser through its dominant search engine, has a market capitalization of $393.5 billion while oil company Exxon is valued at $392.6 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Apple remains the largest American corporation, with a market value of $465.5 billion. Software company Microsoft Corp. is No. 4 with a value of $302.1 billion. Don’t think Google is worth that much? Google it and find out.
In News Tampa, Florida, collided head-on with a Hyundai Sonata just after 2 a.m., killing the SUV driver and all four people in the other car, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release. The SUV became engulfed in flames, and the other vehicle was also damaged by fire.
Driving the Wrong Way Kills 11 Early Sunday morning, eleven people died in two highway collisions— one in Florida and one in California— when two drivers drove the wrong way down the highway. Five people were killed in Florida and six were killed in California. A Ford Expedition SUV traveling south on northbound Interstate 275 in
In California, six people were killed in a pre-dawn crash when a motorist was traveling the wrong way on a highway east of Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. Three vehicles were involved in the crash. Alcohol use is suspected in both fatal crashes.
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The once thriving city of Detroit has crumbled into ruins, with homes left to decay and murder and drug deals on the rise. The local government, dysfunctional and bankrupt, has offered little to no help to the city. But now there may be hope for the residents of the Motor City. Over the past two years, private foundations have come in to help the Brightmoor section of Detroit, setting up a community action group to help revitalize and rebuild. The Detroit Blight Authority, a nonprofit that demolishes abandoned homes and cleans up empty lots, cleared out 14 blocks of decay in the neighborhood last summer and plans to tackle another 35 blocks this year. And the initial work has already
transformed the neighborhood — making the streets a little safer and energizing residents who had never given up on the idea that Brightmoor could bounce back, even if it’s getting little help from the city government. Ora Williams refuses to leave her home of 35 years despite the breakdown of the community. “This is my home,” she said. “This is where I raised my kids. … Besides, if everybody decides to run, you don’t have a community anymore. They beat you at your own game. It’s about stick and stay, and believing in what can be.” There are 700,000 like Williams who vow to stay in the neighborhood. The headlines about Detroit are constantly doom and gloom — and for good reason. The city has major problems. Its long-term debts are at least $18 billion and growing. The infant mortality rate rivals that in developing countries. Unemployment is at 11 percent. City Hall, long mired in corruption scandals, is now under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager. Municipal services, which had already been lacking for years, have been cut to the bone. Retired city workers are worried about losing their pensions. Half of the city’s 88,000 streetlights don’t work. Roads go largely unplowed during snowstorms. The police reportedly take in upwards of an hour to respond to even the most serious of crimes. And the list goes on and on. Today, Detroit’s iconic image is almost always a picture of one of its estimated 78,000 empty buildings, which have become an odd tourist attraction. The “ruins,” as they are described, are a striking monument to what the Motor City used to be. But just as there is blight in virtually every corner of the city, there is also hope and glimmers of new life. It’s an odd dichotomy for a city that many have written off as dead. In Midtown, just blocks from the boarded up mansions of historic Brush Park, there is a new Whole Foods store — the first new grocery store to open in the inner city in decades. A few miles away in downtown, all the tables at Roast, a restaurant owned by Food Network chef Michael Symon inside the renovated Westin Book Cadillac hotel, are perpetually booked and not just by visitors to the city. And that’s what locals say the world doesn’t get about Detroit: that life here goes on, fueled in part by the strength of residents who believe very strongly Continued on page 36
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The Week that the city will come back. And many are working to make it happen in both big and little ways. In downtown Detroit, Dan Gilbert, the founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, has purchased several buildings and relocated his 10,000 employees into what was vacant office space in
hopes of reviving the city’s urban core. He’s hoping to create a Silicon Valley of the Midwest by helping lure startups to Detroit with grants and other assistance. And all over town, small businesses are starting to pop up, founded by a younger generation of entrepreneurs
In News who have descended on the city to take advantage of what locals say is an atmosphere friendly to people who want to test out business ideas with nothing to lose. Over the last year, companies that make bicycles, handmade jeans and luxury watches have launched in Detroit. At the same time, the city’s bar
and restaurant scene is booming — aided largely by Detroit natives who came back to the city because they wanted to build something in their hometown. “If you are someone who wants to build something, to do something of your own, Detroit is really cool because you can do that right now,” said Amanda Brewington, who opened Always Brewing Detroit, a coffee shop and community space last year. “This place has always been magical to me,” the 28-year-old said. “People are different here. There is a lot of pride in the city and a ‘do it yourself’ mentality that you don’t find in other places.”
CVS to Stop Selling Tobacco at all Locations
CVS announced last week that it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores across the U.S. by October 1, 2014, making CVS/pharmacy the first national pharmacy chain to take this step. “Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health,” said Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO, CVS Caremark. “Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose.” Smoking is the leading cause of premature disease and death in the United States with more than 480,000 deaths annually. While the prevalence of cigarette smoking has decreased from approximately 42 percent of adults in 1965 to 18 percent today, the rate of reduction in smoking prevalence has stalled in the past decade. CVS estimates that it will lose approximately $2 billion in revenues on an annual basis from tobacco shoppers.
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The Week Mark Zuckerberg: Most Charitable in the U.S.
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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the most money to charity in the U.S. in 2013. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a database which records charitable giving, Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife gave 18 million shares of Facebook, valued at about $992.2-million, to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in Mountain View, California. They donated the same number of shares of Facebook to the fund in 2012.
The Zuckerbergs did not say what programs the latest gift would support but said that their philanthropy would focus on children. America’s biggest donors gave $7.7 billion to nonprofits in 2013, with higher education and family foundations receiving the most money. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the following donors complete the rest of the top ten donor list: 2 George Mitchell (amount given: $750 million) 3 Philip & Penelope Knight ($500 million) 4 Michael Bloomberg ($452 million) 5 John & Laura Arnold ($296.2 million) 6 Charles Johnson ($250 million) 7 Pierre and Pam Omidyar ($225 million) 8 Irwin & Joan Jacobs (221.1 million) 9 Sergey Brin & Anne Wojcicki ($219 million) 10 Jeffery Carlton ($212 million)
In News Children’s “Weight Fate” Determined at Age 5
Healthy habits start when children are young. There is no better time to ensure proper hygiene and routines in a household. But how young should our children be when we talk to them about proper nutrition? A recent study points out that at the age of just five-years-old, a child’s “weight fate” is already determined. Nearly half of children who became obese by the eighth grade were already overweight when they started kindergarten. It’s widely known that children in
America are prone to being overweight or obese. Around a third of American children tip the scale. But what can we do to prevent this malady? Now researchers are saying that we can’t start too early to prevent obesity in our children. Solveig Cunningham, a scientist at Emory University, points out, “A lot of the risk of obesity seems to be set, to some extent, really early in life.” In the study she published, a nationwide sample of more than 7,700 children through grade school was tracked. When they started kindergarten, 12 percent were obese and 15 percent were overweight. By eighth grade, 21 percent were obese and 17 percent were overweight. Between ages 5 and 14, nearly 12 percent of children developed obesity – 10 percent of girls and nearly 14 percent of boys. Nearly half of kids who started kindergarten overweight became obese teens. Overweight 5-yearolds were four times as likely as normal-weight children to become obese (32 percent versus 8 percent). Most of the change occurred at
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The Week younger ages. In fact, the biggest shift into obesity took place between first and third grades. It would be wise for parents to be cognizant of these results because they are the ones who are feeding their children and modeling healthy habits. Encouraging exercise and healthy eating is key to helping children maintain a healthy lifestyle. Schools, too, should encourage and promote physical activity and offer nutritious foods to children. “You can change your fate by things that you do early in life,” with more exercise and eating a healthy diet, Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and a spokesman for the American Heart Association, said. “Once it occurs, obesity is really hard to treat. So the idea is we should really work hard to prevent it.”
Fugitive Found after 37 Years In 1977, Judy Lynn Hayman escaped from the Ypsilanti prison while
In News
serving time for attempted larceny. She was halfway through her 1 ½ years sentence. Now, almost 37 years later, the long arm of the law caught up with the fugitive. Police found her living under an alias in San Diego on Monday.
matched the eyes of this woman.” At the police station, Hayman finally admitted her guilt. She will be returned to the prison to complete her sentence. Authorities there will determine if she will have to serve extra time because of her escape. Neighbors said Hayman had lived in the complex for several years and mostly kept to herself. Her son seemed completely surprised to hear of her arrest. After years of being on the loose, it could be that Hayman never thought she’d see the inside of a cell. “I commend them [the police] for their tenacity,” Mayer said. “This is a very old case.”
Acting on a tip, officials went to her apartment. There, she identified herself as Jamie Lewis, producing government documents with the name. But officers remained suspicious because of inconsistencies in her story and her resemblance to an old Michigan mug shot they were holding. “Her eyes gave her away,” San Diego police Lt. Kevin Mayer said. “The eyes in the picture
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On Wednesday, athletes from around the globe raced to the top of the Empire State Building in an intense vertical marathon. Some were running to beat the clock, and others were running to beat disease. Australian athlete Suzy Walsham, who calls Singapore her home, conquered 86 flights in just 11 minutes, 57 seconds, becoming the first to win the women’s competition for a fifth time. Days before the competition, Walsham said, “It’s an incredibly tough race, but training has been going well so I am hoping for a strong performance.” Runner up Erika Aklufi of Los Angeles finished the race in 12 minutes, 48 seconds. After her completion, Walsham and Aklufi embraced in a spirit of sportsmanship. Norwegian runner Thorbjorn Ludvigsen won the men’s competitive heat by clocking in at 10 minutes 6 seconds. Firefighter Touché Howard of Durham, N.C., said he started running the Empire State Building’s 1,576 steps to raise money for multiple myeloma research, an illness his battalion chief has and to set a goal for himself after
suffering a severe on-the-job back injury six years ago. “My colleagues really worked hard to get me back into shape so this was kind of a big goal to help set for me to push me forward and get me back on duty,” he said. But racing up the skyscraper was just a small part of the challenge—the firefighter completed the race in all 60 pounds of firefighter gear. “It includes the SCBA, the breathing apparatus,” he said. “So that’s in my favor because that ball will weigh six pounds less at the top because I will use every bit of it to get up there.” Another runner, Tricia Williams, was also running to raise money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), which organizes the annual event. Her father has been living with the disease for nearly a decade. “It’s the second year I’ve done it. It’s so much fun,” she said. “By the time you hit the 60th floor your heart’s beating out of control but it’s just amazing to get to the top. Your adrenaline carries you up there.” “I’ve been having a continuous panic attack for the last three weeks,” Sara Angle recalled. “After about the 20th floor my heart rate calmed down from nerves and then it was just the heavy breathing setting in – the elevation is the hardest thing.” “The guys that were stationed at certain points who said, ‘You got 10 more flights,’ were really helpful,” Brittany Forgione added. “They work here at the Empire State Building and were in their nice attire. They were really encouraging along the way.”
That’s Odd Livin’ in a Bin
Many people daydream while sipping coffee in Starbucks. But Dr. Jeff Wilson, who is an environmental scientist and associate professor at Hus-
Beer Fridge in Sochi Olympic competitors work hard and they deserve to enjoy their downtime. Some Olympic houses can be pret-
ty luxurious. In the London Olympics, the U.S. Olympic House had a tropical palm tree and garden space transformed into a Bud Patio and Coca Cola Re-Charge area.
But this year, the Canadians are the coolest sportsmen around. According to reports, Canada has a beer fridge in its Olympic House in Sochi. But this is no ordinary fridge. Athletes have to scan their Canadian passports in order to open the fridge to get the cold brew. The fridge is sponsored by Molson, one of Canada’s oldest beer companies. The company popularized the fridge with an innovative commercial that went viral last summer. In the clip, one can see the iconic red refrigerators being dropped off around Europe. But no one can seem to open them. “Is there a Canadian around?” people keep asking, as the words on the fridge prompt users to scan their Canadian passport. Finally, a crowd gathers as one Canadian scans his passport and the door opens to reveal the ice cold beverages for the crowd. Friendships are made as the drinks are shared as Canadians say that it “reminds them of home.”
who tips 50,000%? That’s exactly what one middle-aged woman did after eating an omelet alone at the counter of the Boone County Family Restaurant in Caledonia, Ill., last Saturday. She didn’t do it once— she did it three times. She asked the three waitresses in the restaurant their names and summarily wrote each of them a check for $5,000. The woman explained that she had overheard their conversation about “life stuff” like bills, college and student loans and she handed them the money with instructions to “put it in your pockets and use it for school or whatever we needed.” She quickly left the family-run restaurant, but only after insisting that she pay for her $9 omelet, which they insisted she not pay for. The restaurant’s owner, Matt Nebiu, called the bank after the woman, whom Nebiu says has dined there before but is not a regular, left to confirm that the checks are real. “They said there was no hold on the checks,” Nebiu said. “We are in a small population of a town and we’ve been here for 30-some years and for people
to do that you know that there’s nice people out there.” I guess she really liked the omelet… or am I missing the point?
More Chicks for Wisdom
Researchers found out that it’s never too late to have more chicks when the world’s oldest known wild bird gave birth to her newest baby last week. Wisdom is a Laysan albatross who is at least 63-years-old—probably older—and was spotted taking care of her new hatchling last week by a manager
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If you were in a generous mood, how much extra would you tip your waitress at a restaurant: 25 percent? How about 50 percent? What about 100 percent? If you did any of that you would definitely qualify as generous. But is there even a word for someone
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ton-Tillotson University in East Austin, Texas, had a daydream which landed him in a dumpster. No, this is not another mob-hit story— he is alive and well, but decided that for the next year he will live in a 33-square-foot dumpster. “I was revising a journal article thinking about how could I make my research more applicable to student learning, and then I looked out the window and saw the dumpster and thought, ‘That’s it,’” Wilson explained. “Professor Dumpster,” as he’s referred to on campus, sold off all of his earthly possessions in order to properly conduct the experiment. Because the dumpster is 1 percent the size of the average American home, it will be a tight squeeze for sleeping. “The dumpster is 6-feet by 6-feet, and I’m 6’1”, so that’s a little math problem. I’ll be sleeping diagonal,” said Wilson. Throughout the next year, the dumpster will transform into three different types of living space. It will start as a camping site. A negative 15-degree-rated sleeping bag will keep him warm. “So, hopefully the temperature won’t drop below that,” said Wilson. It will then become an average American home with appliances. “For example, we’ll have a washing machine out here that will use 40 gallons on the average wash, so I will be getting my water from Town Lake. So that’s eight five-gallon buckets I’ll have to haul up the hill,” said Dr. Wilson. And finally, a space capsule. “It will be the ultimate small space ever designed,” said Wilson. Each phase will be designed and tested by students in elementary school through college. “They will propose different solutions, go do some research, and run it by experts. And we’ll test out solutions,” said Wilson. And in the end, Professor Dumpster hopes to answer this question. “Can you have a pretty good life living in 1 percent of the average new American home with 1 percent the energy, 1 percent the water, and 1 percent the waste?” I don’t know what this experiment will lead to, but I know what it should lead to: Starbucks placing warnings in their stores that excessive daydreaming may cause stupid activity to ensue.
In News
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The Week at the refuge. The bird was seen doting on the furry brown baby, keeping it warm and safe. During the non-nesting season, Wisdom spends her time foraging over the vast parcel of the Pacific. “As the world’s oldest known bird in the wild, Wisdom is an iconic symbol of inspiration and hope for all seabird species,” Dan Clark, refuge manager,
stated in a news release. “She provides to the world valuable information about the longevity of these beautiful creatures. In the case of Wisdom, she has logged literally millions of miles over the Pacific Ocean in her lifetime to find enough fish eggs and squid to feed herself and multiple chicks, allowing us to measure the health of our oceans which
In News sustain albatross as well as ourselves.” To be sure, scientists are enthralled by Wisdom because of her ability to survive ocean pollution, a problem that has led to the death of thousands of sea birds when they ingest plastic products that they mistake for food. A chick’s survival is dependent on its mother and Wisdom has worked hard to ensure her
other chicks’ survival. Albatrosses lay only one egg a year; it is believed that Wisdom raised at least 30 to 35 chicks of her own. She’s certainly no birdbrain.
Wrong Turn Can Land Man in Jail
For long drives, a GPS is a must. But we all know the frustration of following the GPS’s melodious voice only to get directed to the wrong road or turn. Well, a man from Kentucky made the ultimate wrong turn when his GPS directed him towards the Canadian border. His mistake could now land him in jail. Louis DiNatale was on a Vermont getaway with his wife when they wound up on the way to Canada when they were “misdirected by an unreliable GPS.” The gadget directed them the Thousand Islands Bridge border crossing between New York State and Ontario. At the border, the DiNatales asked if they could turn around. They were denied. And then the border patrol agent asked if Louis owned a gun. “I told him I was retired military, I had respect for weapons, and I had a concealed carry license to do so,” DiNatale explained. “He asked me when was the last time I had a weapon on me. I told him, ‘Earlier that week.’ He asked me again, ‘Why?’ I told him it was my right as an American citizen to do so.” But Louis forgot about the handgun he stowed in the center console of his car. When agents searched his vehicle, they found the gun and arrested Louis for attempting to smuggle a gun into the country and lying to patrol agents. The American was arrested; his court date is set for June. If convicted, the retired Army sergeant major faces three years in a Canadian prison. “They’re trying to make a general blanket statement to American citizens: Don’t mess with our borders,” DiNatale’s lawyer, Bruce Engel, told the Times. According to the paper, nearly 1,400 firearms have been confiscated
at Canadian entry points over the last three years, most of them personal guns belonging to U.S. citizens. Tip for those entering Canada: leave those weapons at home.
Houston’s Gallery Furniture storeowner Jim McIngvale is putting his money where his mouth is. Mattress Mack offered customers who bought at least $5,000 worth of furniture a full refund if they correctly picked the winners of the NFC and AFC Championship games. He lost $650,000 in that
he points out. “The best outcome that could have happened is for Seattle to have won the big game. Our drivers were delivering furniture up until the fourth quarter.” What’s next for the intrepid businessman? Free furniture if the Mets make the playoffs?
77-Year-Old Man “Walks” Around the Globe Ike Herrick, 77, walked around the world, and he never even stepped outside. How did he do that? On his treadmill. Herrick began the project of walking 21,477 miles, the equivalent of walking around the world, when he had a heart attack in 1987 at the age of 50. “Being 50 years old, I thought I was bulletproof,” said Herrick. He drastically changed his diet and began an exercise regime that included walking every day. Herrick kept a
calculation of his miles. He says that when he reached the 18,000 mile point, he thought, “I wonder what the distance is around the world.” He calculated the distance using Austin’s 30 degree latitude and realized he was 3,477 miles away from the equivalent of walking around the globe. “I said, ‘That’s an achievable goal if I can live to the age of 77,’” he said. “My achievable goal was three miles a day, 15 miles a week or 700 miles a year.”
After going through two treadmills and about 20 pairs of sneakers, Herrick completed his goal.
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Storeowner Loses $7 Million from Super Bowl Win
venture. But McIngvale seems to be a betting man, and in his next promotion, he offered refunds to those who purchased $6,000 worth of furniture if the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Last week the unbelievable happened and the Super Bowl trophy went to the Seahawks after a 43-8 jaw-dropping win. Their victory was his loss. Now McIngvale will be refunding more than $7 million to customers of his store. McIngvale isn’t a sore loser. In fact, he asked that contest winners post photos of their free furniture on his Facebook page. He is also a pretty unconventional businessman. His stores boast live parrots and a group of monkeys he calls “our board of directors.” Customers are treated to freshsqueezed lemonade, coffee, warm cookies and chocolate cake. “It was a stress test for the business,” the businessman said. “This is about as wacky [of a promotion] as it gets. It was certainly the most expensive.” But he admits he made a fortune off of the promotion in free publicity and got millennial customers in the door. “It was a tremendous response,”
In News
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The Week I know what the accomplishment feels like. I flew around the globe solo...while sitting on my couch.
Dumb Starbucks Opens in Los Angeles
People in the Los Angeles neighborhood Los Feliz must have thought that they were on a caffeine high when they observed what looked like a regular Starbucks shop, except for the fact that the store was actually called “Dumb Starbucks.” The weird phenomenon continued inside the store, which was the mirror image of a real Starbucks, except that everything on the menu was preceded by the word “dumb”— “Dumb Iced Coffee,” “Dumb Frappuc-
cinos,” etc. Starbucks was quick to announce that this store was in no way affiliated with their company. The storeowners claimed that they were not infringing on any of Starbucks’ rights because of the Parody Law. A sign in the store explained, “Although we are a fully functioning coffee shop, for legal reasons ‘Dumb Starbucks’ needs to be categorized as a work of parody art. So, in the eyes of the law, our ‘coffee shop’ is actually an art gallery and the ‘coffee’ you’re buying is considered the art. But that’s for our lawyers to worry about. All you need to do is enjoy our delicious coffee!” Over the several days that the store was open, long lines formed as patrons waited to purchase their favorite, dumb drinks. But was this real? Would a fresh cup of coffee make me realize that my mind is playing tricks on me? It turns out that the whole thing was a stunt by Canadian comic Nathan Fielder who was preparing to use the bid on his Comedy Central show, “Nathan For You.” I guess that is pretty funny. But not as funny as a bid I did on my comedy show, “Dumb Nathan For You.”
In News Woman Shoots for Getting Her Order Wrong
Shaneka Monique Torres, 29, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, really likes her bacon and she may shoot you if you don’t give it to her. It all started when Torres and another woman placed an order at the drive-thru window at a McDonalds. The workers got the order wrong, police said, and the customers were told their next meal would be free. The women returned to the restaurant’s drive-thru window several hours later and ordered again. When she got her food, her sandwich was missing the bacon that she ordered. In a fit of
rage, Torres pulled out a gun and fired one shot through the closed car window and drive-thru window. The bullet went through the other side of the building, but thankfully did not hit anybody. Torres was arrested shortly after the shooting. She was arraigned in Grand Rapids District Court last week on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, discharge of a firearm in or at a building and felony firearms. There is no word yet on whether she is being charged with “excessive McDonalds eating” as well.
10-Year-Old Crashes into DMV
This 10-year-old girl is definitely good at parking…smack in the middle of the DMV. According to Parker, Colorado, police, the girl and her 12-year-old sister were waiting in the car for their mother who ran into the DMV and left the keys in the car. The 10-year-old slipped behind the wheel and shifted the car into drive. The car only went about 20 to 30 feet at a slow speed before crashing through the office windows. There were 12 people in the facility at the time, but thankfully no one was injured. The young girl was charged with reckless driving. Apparently they thought she needed a few more years to get her license.
Stressed out and anxious? Take a deep breath and read Dr. Deb’s article on page 89. You’ll be glad you did.
NEWS
Community
Yeshiva Gedolah Of The Five Towns Held Its 11Th Anniversary Dinner
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Avodas Hakodesh Awardee, Baruch Moskowitz, accepting his award
There was a sense of excitement throughout the crowded halls of the Sands where the Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns held its 11th anniversary dinner on Tuesday evening, February 4th. There was also a sense of pride in the accomplishments of the Guest of Honor, Mr. Shlomo Mayer, appreciation for the contributions of Mr. and Mrs. Baruch Moskowitz, who received the Avodas Hakodesh Award, and recognition of the work spreading Torah in the community done by Rabbi and Mrs. Baruch Aryeh Tzvi (Adam) Schachar, who were the recipients of the Harbotzas Torah Award. Additional excitement was in the crowd’s realization that how the community had played an integral role in the continued growth of the Yeshiva Gedolah as a preeminent makom Torah as well as in its soon to be completed new building. With the new building in mind, additional tribute was paid to Mr. Yaakov Mermelstein of Ray Builders who has immeasurably helped the Yeshiva in creating the appropriate edifice for its efforts and aspirations. The Yeshiva Gedolah is a place of higher Torah learning for bochurim returning from Eretz Yisroel, as well as for young married men who wish to learn in Kollel. At the same time, it serves as a community institution where baalei batim enjoy many shiurim and minyanim. But what makes this Yeshiva truly unique is that it is a makom Torah where individual needs, strengths and personalities are respected and nurtured. This is true, whether it relates to the talmidim of the Yeshiva or the baalei batim who associate with the Yeshiva. Each individual brings to the Yeshiva his own strengths and perspectives, and, at the same time, all are united in their dedication to Talmud Torah, yiras shamayim and chesed. This year’s honorees clearly exemplify this diversity and unity. Mr. Shlomo Mayer, with the support of his
Rabbi Baruch Aryeh (Adam), the Harbotzas Torah Awardee, accepting his award
wife, has served as a paradigmatic exhibition of the latent potential in every baal habayis in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Baruch Moskowitz represent the growth of the Yeshiva and the dedication required to build a makom Torah in our neighborhood. Rabbi and Mrs. Schachar, with their talents, warmth, hospitality and great dedication to learning, make the Yeshiva home in every conceivable way, and set an example of what a Torah home should be. Mr. Yaakov Mermelstein’s sensitivity and care for the soon to be completed building truly were catalysts in getting to this point. Each of the honorees is an integral and important part of the Yeshiva, its past successes and its future growth. The crowd was privileged to hear the words of Rabbi Knobel, shlita, the Yeshiva’s Rosh Kollel. Rabbi Knobel first expressed his gratitude to Hashem for all of His kindness, in giving him and his Rebbetzin the zechus to be connected to Torah, specifically in this community. He spoke of how privileged they have been to learn from and be guided by their parents and grandparents, as well as many gedolim, bearers and guardians of the mesorah. Rabbi Knobel spoke of the total immersion in learning and Torah that the Yeshiva represents. Its influence is renowned community wide and beyond. Rav Knobel then introduced the video presentation about the Guest of Honor, Mr. Mayer, whom Rabbi Knobel has been learning with b’chavrusa for the past 8 years. In the video, Rav Knobel spoke of Shlomo’s growth in learning, his desire and dedication for learning, and the impact that his learning had on his entire family. One of his sons attested to this influence, noting how the sincerity of it was so clear to all those around him, especially within the family. Shlomo himself spoke of how it changed his life, and the affect that the learning and the Rosh
Guest of Honor Mr. Shlomo Meyer accepting his award
Kollel have had on him and his family. Rabbi Moshe Zev Katzenstein, shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva spoke about the clarity that Torah brings us in a confusing world. He explained that the Aron and the Mishkan are commanded in plural, which indicates the need for everyone to have a part in the building of Torah. The Yeshiva was the beneficiary of the generosity of so many in the community and beyond, and the Rosh Yeshiva implored everyone to help complete the project. This year’s honorees were very appropriate considering the imminent completion of the new building and what we hope to accomplish in it. In the video presentation about the Schachar family, who he has such a close connection to since Baruch Aryeh came to the Yeshiva, the Rosh Yeshiva gushed about both the seriousness with which Baruch Aryeh takes his learning, as well as how the entire family makes the Yeshiva their home in in every possible way. The Schachars have a home renowned in the Yeshiva and the greater community for chessed and warmth. In the video Rav Baruch Aryeh spoke about his passion for the Yeshiva, and how quickly he knew it was a place he was going to stay for the long term, before ultimately settling in Woodmere. A talmid attested in the video based on personal experience, to all that was said about him and his family, both in terms of learning as well as the warmth of the Schachar home. Mr. Yehuda Biber, the dinner’s MC and co-chair, introduced the video segment about Baruch Moskowitz and his wife, Tamar. Mr. Biber spoke firsthand as an active board member as to the hard work and dedication that they have shown. Baruch, in his video segment, spoke about the growth of the Yeshiva since he first took over as executive director some 7+ years ago. He spoke about how the building project became such a part of him and that watching each stage being completed he likened
to raising a child. Even more special to him was that the project coincided with his marriage to Tamar and subsequent birth of their first child, Shira Leah. To him, this was and will be the culmination of years of work, but it is more special to share it with his own family. An important part of the evening was the tribute paid to Mr. Yaakov Mermelstein and Ray Builders. This was the perfect transition to acknowledge the upcoming completion of the new building and to acknowledge those that contributed so greatly to that cause. Rabbi Katzenstein spoke about how, despite what is a relatively small project to his company, Yanky took every detail to heart, to ensure that Torah in our community would be housed in just the right atmosphere and environment. The Yeshiva felt it was only right to publicly thank him and those who assisted him as it moves into what will be its magnificent, yet simple new home. The Eleventh Anniversary Dinner was a great success, with more than 440 people in attendance. The evening provided an opportunity to take pride in all that has been accomplished. At the same time, those who attended were given a vision of the Yeshiva’s future plans and goals, including the completion of the Yeshiva’s beautiful new home, with the announcement that the Yeshiva will tentatively celebrate its completion on March 30th iy”H. We look forward to realizing these goals and to furthering the growth of the Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns as a makom Torah in the midst of our community. For dedication or donation opportunities and for more information regarding the Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns, please visit the Yeshiva’s website, www.ygft.org, or telephone the Yeshiva office at (516)295-8900 x5.
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Yeshivas Ohr Yechezkel Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study
Save the Date
34th Annual Banquet
A Grand Evening at the Grand Geneva
Guests of Honor Ephraim & Rena Kutner Alumnus of the Year Ari Krupp
Sunday, June 15 The Grand Geneva Lake Geneva, WI New & Elegant Location
For more information, please call 414-963-9317 or email banquet@witsyeshiva.com
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Around the Community HANC High School Reunion in Israel
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HANC High School’s menahel, Rabbi Shlomo Adelman, accompanied by the director of Israel guidance, Rabbi Avraham Ismach, visited alumni spending their year in Israel over winter break. HANC hosted a reunion for all the students on Tuesday evening, January 14th at the OU Center, providing a delicious pizza dinner, inspirational divrei Torah, siyumim, and a nostalgic video montage. As everyone arrived, students greeted each other with warm welcomes and embraced one another with open arms as if no time had actually passed between the reunion and their last visit. The video, put together by current HANC senior Alex Sachs, was a heart-warming highlight of the night, comprised of messages from HANC teachers and students. Throughout the event, students and teachers exchanged stories and recent experiences, catching up with old friends. Additionally, Rabbi Adelman and Rabbi Ismach spent four days visiting the various yeshivot and seminaries
including Harova, Hakotel, Shaalvim, Baer Miriam, MMY, Raishit, Mikdash Melech, Midreshet Moriah, Tiferet, KBY, Darchei Binah, and Netiv Aryeh, meeting each of the Roshei Yeshivot/ Menaehelot and catching up with the HANC students in each of the schools. “While I hope that our visit provided chizuk to our students,” said Rabbi Adelman, “I can’t overstate how inspired and uplifted we were by what we witnessed and heard over the course of our visit. The high level of limud HaTorah and spiritual growth on display by these outstanding young men and women affirms the value of the important foundation they received in their homes and here at HANC, which served as a crucial spring board for the immense success that they are now experiencing. It is very inspiring.” HANC is very proud to hear of all our students’ accomplishments and gains nachat from them knowing that they continue to distinguish themselves in their respective yeshivot and seminaries.
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Lawrence School Board Sets March 31 Referendum for Voter-Approval to Sell the Number Six School to the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach The Lawrence School District 15 Board of Education has awarded an $8.5 million contract to sell the vacant Number Six School to the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB), and it set a March 31 referendum for voters to approve the transaction. Under the contract, HALB will pay $8.5 million in cash and issue a $2.7 million note with the School District to ensure that Lawrence realizes annual savings on transportation, public health and welfare, and special education costs for HALB students. “This purchase agreement is a winwin for the Woodmere-Five Towns community and for our students,” said HALB board President Lance Hirt, who explained the school acquisition would: Safeguard the character of the near-
by, family-oriented, residential neighborhood. Help the Lawrence School Board to stabilize local property taxes. Generate millions of dollars in cost-savings for the District for years to come on transportation, special education, public health and welfare, and for out-of-district reimbursements. Represent a multimillion dollar investment in the Woodmere-Five Towns community that will boost the local economy. HALB plans to relocate 800 elementary school students from Long Beach to Woodmere after it receives approval from the Town of Hempstead to renovate the Number Six School and the work is complete. Hirt said the renovations are necessary for HALB to make better use
of classroom space and public areas; improve energy efficiency with a new roof, new windows, and state-of-the-art heating and air conditioning systems; and enhance safety with new electrical and plumbing systems that comply with the current building codes. HALB decided to buy the Number Six School because over 90-percent of its incoming classes are from the Woodmere-Five Towns area and because the Woodmere building is one-third larger than its Long Beach school and the 6.6acre Church Avenue property is three times bigger. “The larger school and its amenities are a significant improvement over our current building in Long Beach. This will enable HALB to offer our students a more robust curriculum and better extracurricular programs,” Hirt said.
“HALB is sensitive to the interests and concerns of the Woodmere community,” said Steven Zuller, a Woodmere resident and HALB’s board vice president. “Our board and executive staff are dedicated to ensuring that HALB is a good neighbor and a reliable community partner.” “We will work hard to balance the community’s wishes with our students’ needs and with the Town of Hempstead’s zoning requirements to preserve outdoor recreation areas at the Number Six School,” Zuller said. “Our goal is to create a mutually-acceptable plan for community use of school fields and playgrounds when not in school use.”
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LOCAL
Rabbi Benzion Shafier of the Shmuz Speaks in Queens This past Sunday night, February 9th, CHAZAQ hosted world renowned
NEWS
Community New Lunch & Learn Enrichment Program at HAFTR
lecturer, author and founder of “The Shmuz” Rabbi Benzion Shafier live at the Beth Gavriel Center in Forest Hills. The rabbi spoke to the many men and women in the crowd about “How to get up after falling” which is part of his new series called the “Marriage Seminar.” For a full listing of upcoming CHAZAQ events and programs, contact us at 917-617-3636, email Info@ Chazaq.org, or visit us online at www. CHAZAQ.org.
The Flatbush Basketball League Week #10 Recap In the Jewish Home Division: Art World-29, China Glatt-21: In this low scoring game, the score was back and forth all the way down to the wire. At the end it was the now 3-7 Art World who pulled off their third win going into playoff week. Binyomin Parnes took over offensively as he led his team with 12 and Shaya Lichtfield had 6. China Glatt, now 5-5, will face Batampte Pickles in the playoffs next week. Quality Carpet-44, Batampte Pickles-41: Moshe Frank and Co. dominated with just three others players on his side. He finished the game with 17, while Chuli Herbst knocked in 12. This win gives Quality a 7-3 record going into the playoffs where they will face Art World. Batampte’s Yosef Kapeta again led his team with 27 of 41 points. However, the quickness and agility of Quality kept them just short of another win. They now stand tied with China Glatt at the #2 seed with a 5-5 record. Shirt Stop-35, ITP-29: This game was close throughout, as the absence of Yehudah Oppenheim almost cost Shirt Stop the victory. Nissim Furer led Shirt Stop with 18 while Yitzi Weinberger had 8. Mordechai Cohen for ITP led with 20 of 29; however, Shirt Stop was too strong and quick for the Sefardi boys. ITP finishes the regular season with a 4-6 record and with face off with Perfect Collision next week in the playoffs, while Shirt Stop finishes their season with an 8-2 record.
Perfect Collsion-56, Pizza World-42: Perfect was up for most of the first half, as Pizza World struggled to control Dovid Reiser and Meir Rubinfeld’s fast breaks points. However, as the second half began and Pizza World was down by double digits, they went on a 22-7 run against Perfect Collision and brought the game within reach. However, it was a little too late for Pizza World to secure the victory. It was a valiant effort by Pizza World’s Eli Kremer (15 points) and Yitzi Waldman (13 points). Dovid Reiser and Meir Rubinfeld combined for 46 points to lead Perfect to a 6-4 record as they face ITP next week. In the Jewish Connection Division: Ready to Roll does just that over Repairs on Wheels 60-51 Yaakov Ibragimov scores 28 and Eli Schlosser knocks down 13 to lead Ready. Dovid Sterns barrage of three pointers and Zevy Tepper got Repairs close at the end but fell short. These two teams will face each other in the first round of the playoffs as the second and third seeds. Nosh Express brings their amazing regular season to a 9-1 mark with a victory over Plaza Auto Leasing. Sendy Hammond, Shmuel Krywanowski and Aaron Lowenthal did most of the damage as these two teams meet next week in the playoffs.
A new Lunch & Learn Program started for a group of fourth and fifth grade boys. Once a week this group will meet during lunch and they will learn a Daf Hashavua curriculum. This curriculum is taken from the newly designed Daf Yomi for Children in partnership with Bar-Ilan University. It focuses on basic mishna and gemara concepts, and meaningful stories about tanaim and
amoraim. It also focuses on higher level thinking and strong Hebrew language skills. It is designed to provide a healthy introduction to learning mishna and gemara. This class is being taught by Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, middle school menahel and senior rabbi of the lower school. A similar class is starting for sixth graders which will be taught by Rabbi Yisrael Moshe Siff.
Young Israel of Long Beach Annual Scholarship Concert Features Lipa This past Motzaei Shabbos, the Young Israel of Long Beach held their Annual Robert Chiger Scholarship Concert featuring Lipa Schmeltzer and the Shira Choir. The concert took place in front of a standing room only capacity crowd. As in years past, the concert, dedicated to the memory of Robert Chiger, raised funds for yeshiva and summer camp scholarships. Rabbi Dr. Chaim Wakslak, morah d’asrah of the YILB, expressed heartfelt expressions of hakoras hatov to all who attended. There was a special tribute to Avigail Rechnitz a”h at which time the Shira choir sang a specially composed song, “El HaNaar hazeh hispallalti” that was originally introduced in Los Angeles. Rabbi Chaim Wakslak also introduced an original niggun he com-
posed, “Menucha shelema sheata rozeh bah” during the course of the concert. The concert was punctuated with the singing by the participants. An elaborate Melavah Malkah was served with fruit platters donated by Yanky Brach of Brach’s supermarket and donuts donated by Dunkin Donuts.
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Community
Explosive Growth in Worldwide Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Enrollment By Chaim Gold
An Auspicious Time to Begin In addition, Chelek Vav, which is primarily devoted to the halachos of the Yomim Tovim, is an ideal starting point as many people desire to attain a more meaningful Yom Tov permeated by halachic knowledge. In fact, it is said in the name of the Chazon Ish that the best way to truly connect with any aspect of avodas Hashem is through properly and comprehensively learning the specific, relevant particular halachos. Not only does learning the halachos of the Yomim Tovim open new vistas in shemiras halacha that one never previously understood, it also opens the wellsprings of the pnimiyus, the inner essence of Yom Tov, enhancing it with a unique taam, a delightful spiritual insight. Triple Increase: Increase in Test Takers; Increase in Participants; and Increase in Shiurim In addition to the 3,500 new test takers who are bringing true accountability to their learning, thousands more have joined the daily Daf HaYomi B’Halacha without taking tests. To augment the increase in participants, Rabbi Shlomo Rozenstein, Dirshu’s Director of Public Affairs, has reported a significant number of new shiurim in Daf HaYomi B’Halacha throughout the world. In Eretz Yisrael alone more than 15 new shiurim have commenced in the main Torah centers as well as some smaller communities. In Europe, a new shiur has begun at the Bais Medrash Eitz Chaim in Amsterdam, Holland. Eitz Chaim is the home of the Kollel of Amsterdam led by Rav
Padwa. The shiur given by Rav Yisrael Sigal has already attracted a devoted following. In Strasbourg, France, too, a new shiur delivered by Rav Michael Szmerla at the Adas Israel Congregation every weeknight after Mincha and Maariv, has been established. Numerous shiurim have been added to the roster in England and by now, virtually every neighborhood in England with an Orthodox Jewish presence, boasts a Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur. Perhaps one of the most interesting new shiurim to begin with Chelek Vav is one established by a Brooklyn marketing firm. Every day before the onset of work the employees gather together for a Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur whose members enthusiastically declare how it has immeasurably enriched their day. In Eretz Yisrael, several yeshiva ketanos have established shiurim and special testing sites have been designated in order to accommodate those yeshivos whose schedules do not allow their bochurim to take the monthly tests at the regular scheduled sites. Aside from the live Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiurim the world over, Dirshu has made available numerous opportunities to hear shiurim for those unable to personally attend along with many other aids to learning Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Listeners to the many Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiurim on Kol Halashon have increased significantly, and in the New York Metro Area, a radio segment of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is broadcast 3 times each day. Other highly useful tools are the daily newsletter available via e-mail as well as the monthly Daf HaYomi glossy bulletin with all kinds of interesting shailos and insights to enrich one’s learning and knowledge. In this way, Dirshu has empowered Jews who are interested in learning Daf HaYomi B’Halacha to participate wherever they may be! The Impetus: The Call of the Gedolim Rabbi Aharon Gobioff, Director of Dirshu’s American operations, explains, “Without a doubt the tremendous siyata d’Shmaya that Dirshu has experienced
and the massive increased enrollment is due to the call of numerous Gedolei Yisrael in the aftermath of the recent Dirshu Convention in Somerset, New Jersey. Prominent Gedolim, including HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Kiryas Melech, and others, called on all of Klal Yisrael to incorporate the learning of halacha l’maaseh, practical halacha, into their daily limudim.” HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita; HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita; HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, shlita and HaGaon HaRav Nissim Karelitz, shlita issued a Kol Korei addressed to “Acheinu Bnei Yisrael wherever they may be,” proclaiming: It is therefore proper that every single person set aside time every day to learn halacha, and especially halachos that are of practical relevance, every day and every Shabbos. This daily learning of practical halacha should not be less than a half hour….” The Gerrer Rebbe and the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, also issued a call, with the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe writing: “Especially at this time when it is an eis tzarah l’Yaakov, and specifically in Eretz Hakodesh, where there are attempts to trample on the kavod haTorah and those who learn Torah…” A New Look at Age-Old Laws One of the new participants who began learning Daf HaYomi B’Halacha with Chelek Vav and the laws of Chol Hamoed, said, “I can’t even describe how much I have gained from learning Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Certainly, I always knew that Chol Hamoed was special, but I had no idea how intricate and detailed the halachos were! My observance of Chol Hamoed together with my whole attitude towards Chol Hamoed will change through my learning the
halachos properly in the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Would I have ever imagined that there might be a halachic issue with hiring and paying a babysitter on Chol Hamoed? What about making a bank transaction? These and so many other things have enlightened me about what is permitted and prohibited on Chol Hamoed and has given me additional appreciation for the Yom Tov of Chol Hamoed.” He is so effusive he simply cannot stop. “What about laundry? What laundry can and can’t you do on Chol Hamoed? What about polishing your shoes?...” All of these issues are discussed in the Mishna Berurah and in the Dirshu Biurim and Musafim that bring the piskei halacha of the gedolei haposkim on a panoply of modern day shailos that have arisen since the publication of the Mishna Berurah more than 100 years ago. Making Every minute of Every Day Count Spiritually – Every Jew’s Obligation! Perhaps the words of HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, in a letter issued before the commencement of Chelek Vav encapsulate it best: “Learning halacha, learning Mishna Berurah always needs strengthening. It is an absolute obligation for every Jew and particularly for a ben Torah. It is impossible to even describe the greatness and the zechus inherent when thousands strengthen themselves by learning Mishna Berurah every day and then take tests on what they have learned to ensure that they remember… In this zechus may we soon merit the geulah sheleimah.” So if you really want to make every minute of your day, your Shabbos, your Yom Tov, one in which you meet Hashem and think about Him and His commandments, now is the time to join Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. If you have not done so yet, NOW is the time to change your life and transform your day – every single day – from the mundane into the holy by incorporating the daily learning of halacha into your life. To join Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, please call 1-888-5-Dirshu or e-mail info@kolleldirshu.org.
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“Eretz Yisrael, America and Europe are on fire with Daf HaYomi B’Halacha!” was the passionate description of Rabbi Avigdor Berenstein, senior member of Dirshu’s hanhala. “At the recent Dirshu test – the first test on Chelek Vav – there were more than 3,500 new test takers,” Rabbi Berenstein exclaimed. The milestone of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha beginning Mishna Berurah Chelek Vav has made waves in the wider Jewish world. Certainly, the fact that Daf HaYomi B’Halacha has embarked on its final march to what will be a historic first siyum on the entire Mishna Berurah has had a significant impact. Many new learners want to get in on the ground floor of this historic undertaking of bringing daily halacha learning into their lives.
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Around the The Greatest Nachas By Mordechai Kastlebaum “Is there any greater nachas a rebbi can enjoy than watching his talmidim grow?” asks Rabbi Yehoshua Robinson, 11th grade rebbe at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. “What’s amazing about this yeshiva is that it never ends. Just when we thought we had seen it all, we’re once again astounded… another blatt is learned during free time, another kasha is asked, another middah is improved.” Indeed, another accomplishment is celebrated! This year, the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov dinner theme is appropriately “Celebrating Accomplishments,” since it defines the atmosphere of growth that so permeates the halls of the yeshiva. This all-encompassing environment is equally felt in the general studies department as well. “It’s simple. Our boys are really motivated to learn,” explains Rabbi Sam Rudansky, the general studies principal. “I think it is unique to find a school where you see impressive and sustained academic commitment in both limudei kodesh and limudei chol.” In a school that takes great pride in its culture of motivation, the achievements are simply astounding: 185 talmidim from 9th to 12th grade, 40 budding talmidei chachomim in its Yeshiva Gedolah, and a shul kehillah that is bursting at the seams. There is growth to be found everywhere you turn. “Ateres Yaakov is more than just a yeshiva,” exclaims a passionate Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, the Yeshiva’s beloved menahel, “and I am proud to say that our staff goes above and beyond in everything they do. We are a makom Torah in
LOCAL NEWS
Community
Nachas for the Second Grade Talmidim of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe The second grade talmidim in Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe celebrated their first siyum on Parshas Chayei Sarah this past Sunday. Parents, grandparents, member of the hanhalah and many other proud community members shared in the boys’ simcha. Everyone felt the boys’ pride in
their own achievements coupled with the nachas evident on the faces of their rabbeim and families in an atmosphere of ahavas Torah. The boys worked hard for this event, and their effort really paid off! The event was beautifully implemented and rightfully enjoyed.
every sense of the word. We are committed to producing full-fledged, well-rounded bnei Torah. That is why we view our staff as mentors, not just teachers, and the yeshiva as not just a place to learn, but a place to grow.” At this year’s annual dinner which will take place on February 23rd, the yeshiva will honor several important individuals who have demonstrated a firm commitment to the Yeshiva and its values. Mr. Jonathan Farrell, Esq. will be the Guest of Honor, Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Rogoff will be recognized as Parents of the Year, Dr. & Mrs. Saul Bahn and Rabbi & Mrs. Benjamin Samson are Grandparents of the Year, and Mr. David English will be honored as Alumnus of the Year. “At the end of the day, we’re all here for the same goal,” says Rabbi Robinson, “to help our talmidim develop as bnei Torah. Just look around here; whether it is in the Bais Medrash or in our brand new science lab, it’s plain to see. There is no doubt that Ateres Yaakov is doing an exCanned fish has long been considceptional job.” ered a household staple, a convenient “To us, and to our phenomenal parent and easy way to create filling spreads body, that is the greatest nachas.” and sandwiches. But fish fans will tell you that not every can is an equal catch. To participate in this year’s dinner When it comes to quality fish with percampaign, call 516-374-6465 or email fect flavor and freshness, knowledgeDinner@AteresYaakov.com. able customers will reach for a can of Glick’s tuna or sardines, easily the best one on the shelf. To create the famous canned fish, TJH would like to wish mazal tov to Glicks starts out with only the freshest and finest the river has to offer. ProRabbi and Mrs. Dov Silver cessed quickly and carefully, Glick’s and fish are guaranteed to maintain a maximum level of freshness from fishing Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Lowinger net to can. After being cleaned, flavored and canned, Glick’s tuna and sardines on the engagement of their children, are ready to enhance any meal or snack. Glick’s tuna is available in chunk light Ruti to Shmuel Asher. or solid white albacore, packaged in water or oil. Glick’s sardines are also May we always share in simchos. available in a skinless and boneless variety, and are packaged in pure olive oil
or water. Aside from the flavor and convenience of Glick’s canned fish, tuna and sardines are excellent sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, an important component of any healthy diet. Fish is also a major source of lean protein, making it an ideal meal for those careful with carb intake. In short, with awesome flavor and freshness and full of nutrition, a can of Glick’s fish is nothing short of perfect. Gllick’s Finest carries an extensive line of high-quality food products, all under the hashgacha of OU and Hisachdus. Their premium product line includes canned good, barbeque sauces, natural fruit preserves, baking products such as pie crusts, oils and puddings, and staple groceries like peanut butter and salt, to name a few. Attractively packaged and always fresh and tasty, Glick’s products certainly have “quality you can taste.”
Glick’s Canned Fish: When a Fresh Catch is Not Possible
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Bnos Malka First Graders Celebrate their First Siddurim the students were called up one by one to receive their siddurim, complete with a decorative and original siddur cover which each girl designed her own. The collation afterward was filled with yummy treats and a beautiful ‘Mazal Tov’ cake. The Parents’ Association sponsored adorable peklach to sweeten the occasion for the students. We wish the girls students much hatzlocha as they continue to grow into bnos Yisroel who cherish their ability to connect to Hashem through tefilla, and we wish their families much joy and nachas from them!
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On February 4th and 5th, the first grade students at Bnos Malka Academy took part in a huge milestone event and a once in a lifetime occasion. They performed a beautiful siddur presentation for family and friends as they received their siddurim amidst great pomp and excitement and despite the inclement weather! The students’ enthusiasm was palpable as they walked on stage. Their smiles were contagious! The performance, which included live music by Morah Reena Greenberg, was the perfect venue for the students to display their poise, self-confidence, and enthusiasm. Mrs. Herzberg, the first grade morah, along with Mrs. Panish and Mrs. Gemal, the first grade assistants, did a wonderful job preparing the girls for this momentous occasion. The students had so much fun practicing for their play that they did not even realize how much Hebrew they were learning in the process! It was especially cute to see other students, and even parents and grandparents, whispering the words to the play along with the speakers. It seems everyone enjoyed getting ready for this siddur presentation. After the presentation concluded,
HANC Builds the Beit HaMikdash In honor of Parshiot Terumah and Tetzaveh, the second-sixth graders at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School welcomed Steve Frankel and the traveling school exhibit from Machon HaMikdash. Mr. Frankel gave the students an overview of what the Mishkan and the Beit HaMikdash looked like; he explained to them that the Beit HaMikdash was one of the most beautiful buildings ever built and that people
from all over the world came to visit Yerushalayim just to see the Beit HaMikdash. After the presentation, the students built an actual replica of the Beit HaMikdash! The students started by laying the bricks of the courtyard and then built the Beit HaMikdash, including the keilim. The students were blown away by beauty and intricate design details of the Beit HaMikdash! “It is hard to communicate to students today what we lost when the Beit
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HaMikdash was destroyed and it’s hard for them to visualize what it looked like. By actually building the Beit HaMikdash with their own hands and seeing the beauty of the Beit HaMikdash, it gave the students an opportunity to see
what we’re missing today and to fully appreciate what they’re learning about in Parshat HaShavuah,” explained Rabbi Michael Merrill, rebbe and director of student programs.
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Super Seder at Yeshiva Gedola Ateres Yaakov A minhag that has cropped up around a number of yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel has now taken root in America. Yeshiva Gedola Ateres Yaakov initiated its first Super Seder this past Sunday. Super Seder is reminiscent of leil Shavuos… with a twist. Instead of watching the Super Bowl
together with the majority of Americans around the world, talmidim of Ateres Yaakov joined their rebbeim, ba’alei batim and a sizable number of the 12th grade at MAY for a 4 hour seder beginning at kickoff and ending well after the final minutes of the game. The evening “kickedoff” with a schmooze
from 12th grade rebbe, Rabbi Elysha Sandler, who inspired those in attendance with tremendous words of chizuk and hisorirus. Talmidim then learned b’chavrusa and in small chaburos led by their rebbeim. “This is a minhag that many of our talmidim adopted and participated in during their years in yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel,” commented Rav Meir Braunstein, Rosh HaYeshiva, “They did not want to break their ‘chazakah’ and asked if we would organize a Super Seder here in America as well. How
could we say no?!” Refreshments were served throughout the evening, generously sponsored by Gourmet Glatt, and culminated in a closing schmooze from Rav Eytan Feiner, rav of the White Shul, followed by enthusiastic singing and dancing.
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Community PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN
Rabbi Yehoshua Kalish, Harbotzas Torah and Rabbinic Leadership Awardee
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Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Celebrates 45th Annual Dinner
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Mr. & Mrs. Yochanan Gordon, Esteemed Alumni Honorees
Avi & Naomi Krasnow, Guests of Honor
Rambam Talmidim Dedicate Vacation to IDF Base Stepping up and helping out is one of the greatest things one can do. Since 2002, in the midst of the Second Intifada, Rambam Mesivta has sent juniors and seniors on its annual Mitnadvim (Volunteers) program to help on vari-
nadvim program would also not have been possible without the commitment of Rambam Mesivta’s principal, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, who himself served in the IDF, and the hours and hours of time he spent putting this program together.
ous IDF bases. This act of chesed and this statement of commitment to Israel is made possible through Sar-El which is a combination charity organization and army unit. It allows non-Israelis to spend from a week up to a few months volunteering on IDF bases. The Mit-
This year was the eleventh time a Mitnadvim group went to Israel during the “Yeshiva Week” break. This year, four devoted students, senior Yitzchak Milworn, and juniors Dovid Rosenzweig, Zachary Beer and Shmuel Halbfinger, decided to forgo “vacation” and
spend their time on an IDF Base doing whatever was necessary for the safety of Israel. The volunteers left on Motzei Shabbat of January 11th, and arrived in Israel on Sunday night and met up with their Madrich, Netanel, as well as some Sar-El representatives. The boys were then whisked off to the Tzippori base in the Galilee. Along with other volunteers, the students assisted soldiers with different jobs on the base for two
weeks. They packed duffel bags, organized a warehouse and unloaded trucks among other things. Many on the base expressed gratitude towards the students, including many soldiers and commanders. It is a tremendous source of chizuk to Israelis to know that American Jewry is there to help. Rambam Mesivta would like to congratulate these students on a great job on the program and helping out the IDF to protect the State of Israel.
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Yeshiva Of Central Queens73Rd Anniversary Scholarship Dinner serve as wonderful role models to their lovely children through their active involvement in their education. They enthusiastically participate in the activities of the YCQ Parents Association and their shul, Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Ilana is also a P.A. representative on the YCQ Board of Trustees. Their unassuming dispositions coupled with their sincere devotion have earned the Gutenmachers a large cadre of friends and admirers. Special tribute will be paid to the YCQ Alumni Class of 1964 upon its fiftieth anniversary and the Alumni Class of 2004 upon its tenth anniversary in conjunction with their class reunions which will take place at the Dinner. The Alumni Committee includes Dr. Paul Brody for the Class of 1964 as well as Ben Blumenthal and Tova Cohen from the Class of 2004, and Rabbi Marc Merrill as YCQ’s Alumni Director. YCQ Board Chairman Israel Glaser noted that all funds from the Dinner campaign will be allocated to the YCQ Scholarship Fund. A Scroll of Honor
listing the contributors will be published for the occasion. Mrs. Reize Sipzner and Mrs. Pearl Cohen, Dinner Co-Chairs, asked all members of the “YCQ Family” to make their Dinner reservations as soon as possible and participate generously in the Scroll of Honor so that “we can all en-
joy a special evening of friendship in the spirit of hachzakat HaTorah.” For more information, please call 718-793-8500 ext. 300 or 302. Alumni inquiries should be directed to Rabbi Merrill at ext. 304 or at mmerrill@ycq. us. All are invited to peruse the YCQ website at www.ycqweb.com.
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The Yeshiva of Central Queens will hold its annual Scholarship Dinner on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at The Sands Atlantic Beach, it was announced by YCQ’s President Dr. Joel Cohen this week. The Dinner will mark the Yeshiva’s seventy-third anniversary and pay tribute to outstanding people who have served the Yeshiva and the community with much devotion. It will also highlight the achievements of the Alumni Classes of 1964 and 2004. Receiving the Yeshiva’s prestigious Leadership in Education Award will be Mr. Lawrence Cohen, upon his retirement after eleven years as a highly dedicated assistant principal. Mr. Cohen joined YCQ after a distinguished career with the New York City Board of Education. He quickly became an important and beloved member of the administration, and has been essential in the growth and success of the Yeshiva during this period. Ilana and Eli Gutenmacher will be honored as Parents of the Year. They
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Vort of Michael Weingarten, son of Dr. Alex and Meryl Weingarten of Jamaica Estates, and Julie Stahler, daughter of Mark and Eta Stahler of Lawrence Bay Park, at the Young Israel of Holliswood. Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Cong Beth Shalom dropped in to give mazel tov and dance with the families. PHOTO CREDITS: IRA THOMAS CREATIONS
A Sincere Apology By David Steiner, MD
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It’s been said that the two hardest words to say are “I’m sorry” and the three hardest words are “I forgive you.” There are many reasons why it is difficult to apologize. However apologizing is a tremendously powerful and effective tool in relationships. A sincere apology has the power to bring people closer. Only Hashem is perfect. People make mistakes. That is a fundamental part of being a human being. In marriage it’s important to know how to apologize for our mistakes, and how to forgive, both our spouse for mistakes made and ourselves. Holding back forgiveness for a mistake results in the relationship being stuck or declining. When we do forgive, we create a precedent in our marriage for apology and forgiveness and that results in a relationship that is closer and richer. What is a proper apology? The main components necessary in an apology are sincerity and a commitment to change. Otherwise one will not be believed and it will not lead to forgiveness. A sincere apology is simple, clean and contains no excuses. “I’m sorry I snapped at you when I came home last night, I’ll try to be careful not to let it happen again.” It is OK to explain the circumstance or situation but care must be taken to use it as an explanation and not the excuse, for example: “I apologize that I snapped at you when I came home yesterday. I had a very hard day and came home in a bad mood, but that
is no excuse for taking it out on you and I am sorry. I’ll try not to let it happen again.” However, when the excuse is part of the apology it makes it feel less sincere. “I apologize but I didn’t do it on purpose. I had a hard day and didn’t realize what I was saying.” It is also important to make sure to be someone who is easy to apologize to. When your spouse apologizes, respond with a simple “thank you for the apology,” or if it is genuine, “I forgive you.” By accepting the apology and not responding with criticism and bringing up past mistakes it will do a lot towards creating a safe environment for apology and will enable your spouse to repeat it in the future. This week let us try apologizing sincerely when necessary and try to forgive or at the very least be accepting when apologized to. Let this endeavor result in increased shalom bayis between us and our spouse, and may it bring us one step closer in our creation of a bayis neeman b’Yisroel. 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, 10:00-11:00 p.m. For the hotline or more information, call 516-430-5280 or email dsgarry@ msn.com.
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Learning Business by the Books Sy Syms Students Gain Consulting Experience at Annual Seforim Sale A select group of students at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business are enjoying a real-life entrepreneurial experience this semester, thanks to a new course called “Growing a Managing Business.” The class is open to students on both the Beren and Wilf campuses and aims to give them the unique opportunity to work as a consulting team together with a faculty member to advise and develop solutions for a business client on a chosen project. This year, that client is YU’s annual Seforim Sale, North America’s largest Jewish book sale, which is operated by YU students—from ordering merchandise to setting up the premises, marketing, accounting and all the technology the project entails. “The students have now spent a number of months studying the Seforim Sale and trying to determine what are the critical issues that need to be addressed,” said Leonard Fuld, clinical assistant
professor of accounting, who is teaching the class. “Similar to PricewaterhouseCoopers or any outside firm, the idea was for them to look at the sale and determine what needed the most attention…to give them the hands-on experience you don’t get in the classroom.” The 4-credit, 17-week course also requires students to attend the sale, held from February 2-23, to enable them to make recommendations on how to improve the current business model. The students attend as consultants to study the operations, interview employees and perform on-site analysis and real-time audits. The participating students also heard
Bnos Bais Yaakov Hosts Pre-School Directors Meeting Every month, the pre-school directors from the Five Towns/Far Rockaway area gather together to brainstorm. This month’s meeting was hosted by Bnos Bais Yaakov and its pre-school director, Morah Yehudis Oppen. Sue Remick Topek, Associate Director of the Early Childhood Department of the Jewish Education Project, organizes these meetings and arranges for speakers to address the directors. This month’s speaker was a BBY parent, Mrs. Devorah Pacht, M.S. CCC-SLP,
who spoke on “Auditory Strategies for Young Children.” These monthly meetings afford the neighborhood pre-school directors the opportunity to confer with others in their field. The children in our community can only benefit from such think-tank discussions. As Morah Yehudis said at the meeting, “Each one of our preschools is unique and different. When we, as directors, bond together, we create a strong and solid sense of community with achdus, respect and dignity.”
lectures from experts in law, banking, management, inventory management, accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. “Students are getting a well-rounded look at the business world: a very rich set of classroom lectures, the ability to share ideas with professors and the experts, and the occasion to get hands-on experience by actually attending the Seforim Sale and understanding the issues it faces,” said Fuld. “It’s truly a unique opportunity. What makes it different is the ability to take the theoretical and put it into practice.” Students analyze the business and provide practical recommendations to the client throughout the semester, culminating in a final report and presentation. The class also challenges students to utilize key entrepreneurial skills, while touching upon elements of social science, business, law, and features of private and public entities. “At Syms, we are continuously striving to initiate innovative, constructive and practical business education methodologies and the new course exactly fits those academic goals,” said Sy Syms Associate Dean Michael Strauss, entrepreneur in residence and clinical professor of management. “The students address business problems in a hands-on manner and thereby develop their team-working and people skills, critical thinking, creative planning, management abilities, technical knowledge and communication proficiency. The course is more akin to a business clinic one might find offered at one of the elite graduate business schools.”
In subsequent years, the goal is for the class to focus on local small businesses outside the realm of YU. “We’d go and offer the consulting to other neighborhood businesses that are having trouble running their operations in certain areas,” said Fuld. Students were drawn to the class for the opportunity to gain practical experience beyond the classroom. “The fact that you’re able to learn and then actually apply it to the Seforim Sale really fascinated me and attracted me to the course,” said Asher Perez, an accounting student and a member of the Sy Syms Business Honors and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. “Every class was a different topic and I like the variety—one day we covered the legal aspects, one day the operational aspects, one day the accounting. It was really a snapshot into how business works, which is what I wanted to see.” One part of the course that Perez particularly enjoyed was the marketing aspect, where students sent out surveys to past customers to garner feedback about the sale. “I got 250 responses on the first day,” he said. “There’s a clear desire for the Seforim Sale and people enjoy it. Now the question is, how do we harness that to make it successful?” For others, the open communication with business executives and fellow students was tremendously valuable. “We have many distinguished professors and business associates giving frequent informative lectures and helping us every step of the way…and we have learned a great deal of information and tactics about how a business should be run,” said Jonathan Katz. “To have the ability to bounce ideas off my fellow classmates and to collaboratively address problems and try and solve them will be the greatest asset that I take away from this class. This facet closely mimics the real business world where a team is working towards the same goal.”
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Annual DRS Melave Malka PHOTO CREDITS: IRA THOMAS CREATIONS
ing standing ovation from the crowd, Rabbi Klapholtz delivered a heartfelt message to the students of DRS. In the gym, students and parents enjoyed a dairy buffet, and a video highlighting the school spirit and unity among students at DRS, including highlights from the annual DRS Shabbaton in November and Color War in December. “The Melava Malka
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The sounds of lively music and dancing filled the air at DRS Yeshiva High School’s 17th annual Parent-Son Melave Malka. In an email to the DRS family, Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky remarked that the goal of the Melava Malka is to celebrate “the joy, fulfillment, and meaning that there is in being a Jew,” as well as to highlight the “positive Jewish energy that [the Yeshiva] strives to inculcate in its talmidim with song, divrei Torah, food and dancing.” This annual event is the one night that the entire Yeshiva family, rabbeim, parents, and talmidim get together to honor these aspects of the positive spirit of being Jewish. The Melava Malka commenced as students, parents, and faculty members enjoyed a kumzitz together in DRS’s beautiful Beit Medrash, accompanied by a band comprised of DRS faculty members and rebbeim. During the kumzitz, the yeshiva paid tribute to longtime DRS rebbi, Rabbi Shlomo Klapholtz, who has been teaching in DRS since its inception in 1997. A video tribute to Rabbi Klapholtz was shown, and he was also presented with a plaque and award in recognition of his service and dedication to DRS. After a resound-
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really brought out the achdus in the school,” said sophomore Jared Willner. Torah Growth Awards were awarded to students who have shown tremendous commitment to their Torah learning over the past year. In addition, the Annual Middot Awards were handed out to one student in each grade. This award is especially unique as the students in DRS vote upon who they feel best personifies the title of “Baal Midot Tovot.” Following the distribution of awards, students, parents, rebbeim, and faculty danced together in unison and celebrated the joy of being a Jew together.
Parent Appreciation Melava Malka at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe held its annual Parent Appreciation Melava Malka this past Motzaei Shabbos at the Shaare Tova Hall in Kew Gardens. The Melava Malka is designed to be an evening of food and entertainment for parents and friends of the yeshiva. Quite a large crowd ventured out in the cold to enjoy the fare, which included a full sushi bar, soup, pasta, and create-your-own salads and sandwiches stations. A wine tasting booth was provided by Hekerem Wine and Liquor of Main Street. Rabbi May, the Menahel,
thanked the parents for entrusting their children to the yeshiva and spoke about the effects learning Torah has on a person. Mentalist David Levitan had the audience laughing and wondering at the same time. The evening was capped by the drawing the names of the winners of the Mini-Chinese Auction prizes and the Grand Raffle. “As a parent at YTM, I always enjoy going to the Melave Malka and getting to see the other members of our greater school family. Of course, a free night out is always a treat!” remarked a participant.
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Bnot Yaakov of Great Neck’s Pre-1-A Alef-Bet Siyum By Shoshanna Friedman Morah Faigie and Morah Wolfson’s Pre-1A talmidot finished the Alef-Bet last week and celebrated in grand siyum style! Each girl received her own special “ot” (letter) hat along with a yummy assortment of sweet siyum (party) treats! Morah Faigie had each girl say the name and sound of the otiot (letters) and then transitioned smoothly into nekudot (vowels) as each yalda then connected the ot (letter) with the “sound” underneath. Morah held a large green metallic kametz (vowel sound) and placed it underneath the letters as the girls “read” for the first time. They were so proud
NEWS
SKA Honor Students Win Scholarships to Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women
Chaya Wertman
of themselves! The celebration continued as they created their own “Alef Bet” cookies in class by rolling out cookie dough and then using Alef Bet cookie cutter shapes. From the Alef-Bet learning to the siyum celebration and then the cookie creations that followed, it was a sweet time for all the Pre-1-A yeladot!
Community
Rikki Weitz
Raizy Joseph
Yeshiva University (YU) has chosen five outstanding students at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls for early admission to the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program. All five of SKA’s applicants have been awarded scholarships to Stern College for Women. The girls are talented leaders in the school, have strong academic records
Tali Weintraub
Yael Arshadnia
and an impressive list of awards and activities. All plan to spend a year in seminary in Israel before taking their places in Stern. In addition to the scholarships, the program helps students grow intellectually as well as personally. Mazel tov to our scholars Yael Arshadnia, Raizy Joseph, Tali Weintraub, Rikki Weitz and Chaya Wertman!
Rambam Keeping the Kesher: Part II Following Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman’s trip to visit the Rambam alumni learning in yeshivot in Israel, Rambam Gemara Iyun Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Ziskind found himself surrounded by Rambam talmidim, sharing in Torah and learning. This past summer before the yearly Seuda Peradih of Rambam’s advanced gemara shiur held in the Ziskinds’ bungalow, a decision was made to keep the kesher throughout the year. It was decided that when Rabbi Ziskind came to visit Israel, the talmidim from his Double Bais shiur would commit to, once again, strengthen the kesher. Eitan Blumstein, Class of 2013, now learning in Yeshivat Shalavim, and Eric Grossman, also class of 2013 and learning in
Netiv Aryeh, worked out the details. The reunion started with a shiur at the Kotel, on the sixth perek in Berachos followed by an inspirational Maariv. After Maariv, the group walked together with the Rabbi and Rebbitzen back to Geuala for supper where they were joined by honorary shiur member, Yitzchok Meir Ziskind, as well as Rambam grads, Dovi Bitterman, Yair Lichtman, Michael Rosenfeld, Dovid Simpser and Joseph Yitzhaky. It is an amazing thing that despite a time difference and thousands of miles, from Rabbi Friedman to Rabbi Ziskind, to the rebbeim and teachers who send emails, make phone calls, and visit, the Rambam talmidim may leave Rambam, but they never really leave.
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Chag HaSiddur Celebrated with Song Mazal Tov to all the Kitah Aleph students in Morah Katz and Morah Shoshana’s classes at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School on receiving their first very own siddur! The students sang and danced and shared their love of tefilah with all the parents, grandparents, friends and HANC faculty that came to celebrate with them. The students inspired everyone in attendance to be more connected to tefilah and to be sincere in building their relationship with Hashem. “We are so proud of all our first graders!
They did a beautiful job at the Chag HaSiddur and it is inspiring to see how excited they are to daven and to start using their siddurim,” said Rabbi Yaakov Sadigh, principal.
NEWS
Community Bais Yaakov Leagues Champions
The Bais Yaakov of Queens eighth grade leagues played its final this week, the championship game. The program, sponsored by the Parents Association, is a huge “hit” with the girls. Mrs. Sarah Bergman, principal, initiated the leagues program to foster whole grade connectedness and sportsmanship, encouraging all three 8th grades to inter-relate. The first place Fearless Footballs defeated second place Super Champions in a competitive basketball game. The gym was reverberating with cheering, roars, shouts of encouragement, advice, and congratulations as girls from all four teams watched excitedly. Although the
Super Champions managed to tie up the score twice during the game, the skill and teamwork of the Fearless Footballs, led by captains Devora Amsel and Chaya Esti Deitsch, proved unstoppable. We congratulate all the teams, and especially the captains, on their sportsmanship and derech eretz during the
Leagues season. We hope the lessons of teamwork and vatranus carry over into the girls’ daily endeavors.
My Run with Yachad By: JJ Goldstein
JJ and his family and running buddies
My name is JJ Goldstein and I am a student in Kulanu. I ran the Miami Marathon with team Yachad last weekend. Our team went to the expo for free stuff on Friday. We got a massager, a bag, and a kippah. We stayed at the Deauville hotel in Miami Beach Florida. Over Shabbos we stayed at the hotel, we ate, davened, and had some free time. On Motzei Shabbos, we went to the pre-pasta party. On Sunday, we woke up at 3:15 in the morning for the run. I ran for 4 hours and 15 minutes. I ran with Aharon, my Yachad buddy. My team consisted of
my dad, my sisters, Kara and Nicole, and my brothers-in-law, Judah and Yehudah. Even though my feet were killing, I felt proud of myself. My family was proud of me that I ran. After the race we went back to the hotel for the team BBQ. I sat with my team, my mom, and Kaylie, my niece. We all felt good and enjoyed the BBQ. We spent the afternoon lounging by the beach and the pool. At night everyone from Yachad watched the Super Bowl. It was a good experience!
Shulamith Middle Division Ablaze with Chessed Activities
this year. They celebrated a Tu B’Shvat seder, complete with all the seven kinds of foods that the land of Israel is blessed with, danced and played many games to celebrate the trees’ birthday! The eighth grade went to visit the Long Island Living Center where they sang, talked and lifted the spirits of the elderly who await their lively visits. After a week to recharge their batteries, the Shulamith Middle Division students came back to continue to fill their neshamot with more chessed. A few seventh grade girls went to visit Donna, a new friend in the new OHEL residence. They filled their bodies and their souls with cookies, candy and learning shmirat halashon. We will iy”H continue visiting Donna and
Think losing the Super Bowl cost Peyton Manning a lot? You better believe it! See page 113 to see how much
building the friendship every week. Our Rosh Chodesh visit to the elderly at Long Island Living Center was a success! The fifth graders sang and wished the elderly a happy and healthy month! In keeping with the notion that “Chessed starts at home,” Shulamith Middle Division students have volunteered to mentor and/or help their younger school mates. Many applications have been completed and our girls are eager to help, coach and motivate their “little sisters”. Mr. Richard Altabe, a longtime mechanech, principal and supervisor of mentors, was invited to the Middle Division to speak to the newly minted mentors about the importance of motivating the younger girls and providing the friendly support they need to keep them on the right track. Several eighth graders also gave of their time to enrich the activities of the elderly at the JCC program. They did arts and crafts, kept them company, and listened attentively to the interesting tales of the past told to them by their senior friends. As always with chessed and good deeds, it’s hard to decide who benefits most, the recipients or the givers!
Community DRS Seniors Qualify as Merit Scholarship Finalists
F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
As Winter Break approached, Shulamith girls were busy building the world with acts of kindness! Some Shulamith girls went to Kulanu to celebrate Tu B’Shvat together with the Kulanu friends whom they have gotten to know
NEWS
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Around the
LOCAL
Pictured left to right: DRS Principal Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum, Yitzie Scheinman, Aryeh Kaminetsky, and DRS Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky
This year, two DRS Seniors, Yitzei Scheinman and Aryeh Kaminetsky, have both qualified as finalists for the National Merit Scholarship. This is an extremely prestigious honor, and it reflects the high level of education that DRS strives to deliver to their students, as well as the level of commitment and work they expect from them. The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Schol-
arship Corporation, a privately funded, non-for-profit organization. Each year a total of approximately 8,000 scholarships are awarded scholarships, which represent less than 1% of the initial pool of entrants. Students who qualify as finalists have an outstanding academic record, are endorsed and recommended by a school officials, and earn extremely high PSAT scores. 50% of those who qualify as finalists are awarded the special scholarship.
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CAHAL THE COMMUNITY-WIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
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Pick-up your cards today at:
CAHAL 540-A Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 (entrance in municipal parking lot) Or to place an order, call (516) 295-3666, fax 516-295-2899 or e-mail: sheldon@cahal.org CAHAL is celebrating its 22nd year of servicing the children with special education needs in our community. Please support us! Visit our website: WWW.CAHAL.ORG
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! R E M M U S R E H OT N A R O F K C A B WE’RE
F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
This year camp will be at a new larger facility Ohr Torah in North Woodmere!
Join us for an exciting summer of activities and fun , where every child gets to shine! LOCATION:
Ohr Torah 410 Hungry Harbor Road N. Woodmere. N.Y. 11581
HOURS:
Mon to Thu: 9:30 - 3:00 / Friday 9:30-12:30
DATES:
FIRST HALF June 26 to July 23 SECOND HALF July 24 to Aug 19
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Half summer $550 Full summer $1000
AGES:
Boys and Girls going into Nursery, Kindergarten and Pre1 –A
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION: please email Campfunshine2014@gmail.com or contact Sari Schwartz at 347.713.2957 or Baila Halpern at 516.225.4521 www.sandbox-marketing.com
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Cover Story Tamar Sullivan
CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY At Urgent-MD, the Doctor is Always In
A
t 11pm one Thursday night, my son woke up screaming from pain in his left ear. Despite a call to the pediatrician and a healthy dose of Tylenol, no one in my house slept that night. I planned to take him to the doctor first thing in the morning, but the soonest available appointment was not until late that afternoon. Needless to say, it was a long day for both of us. Fortunately, there is now a better solution for these unexpected illnesses – Urgent-MD, a stateof-the-art medical clinic that provides patients with
will logically choose the most effective, efficient, and pleasant mode of healthcare. This is the urgent care model – essentially a hybrid of the hospital emergency room and the family physician. For patients, this means care that is faster, cheaper, and logistically simpler. As Dr. Van points out, the vast majority of all emergency room cases are not life threatening. Many patients use it because they are in need of urgent medical attention and have nowhere else to go; ironically, they end up having to brave an hour’s long wait in order to be seen “immediately.” With the launch of Urgent-MD, crowded Although illness can be unpredictable, emergency rooms are no longer the only route. At Urgent-MD, patients are admitted quickly, it is thanks to Urgent-MD that without appointment, and at a fraction of the cost of the emergency room. Urgent-MD acmedical care doesn’t have to be. cepts most major insurances, and, as Dr. Van explains, “prides itself on its fast, patient-foexpert medical care in about the same amount of time cused, and comprehensive medical care, it takes to order a meal at a restaurant. immaculate facility, and sleek modern Dr. Robert van Amerongen, better known as Dr. feel.” The goal is to provide quick yet Van, has been the Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medi- thorough medical care. cine at NY Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn for the past Urgent-MD’s open hours in both lo18 years, and is the mastermind and Medical Direc- cations are Monday through Friday from tor behind Urgent-MD, which first opened its doors at 8:00 am to midnight, and Saturdays, 1220 Peninsula Boulevard in Hewlett in June of 2013. Sundays, and major legal holidays from A brand-new second location at 380 Rockaway Turn- 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. The center is open pike in Cedarhurst opened this week, and a third loca- 365 days a year, accommodating the fulltion is slated to open this spring in Kew Gardens Hills. time student, the working parent, and ev“We find ourselves in the midst of rapid unprec- eryone in between. Urgent-MD doctors edented changes in the world of medicine, not the least treat nearly everything that falls under of which is an increase in healthcare options,” says Dr. non-life-threatening medical conditions, Van. It is no surprise that when given choices, people from broken bones to viruses to dehydra-
tion. If a patient’s problem is discernible, routine lab tests and x-rays can be completed even before seeing the doctor. Dr. Van rightly believes, “As healthcare options continue to increase, customer satisfaction is what will keep customers coming back.” To be clear, Urgent-MD is not intended to replace the emergency room or the family practice, both of which serve a crucial purpose in the healthcare infrastructure. Nevertheless, Dr. Van considers urgent care indispensable now more than ever. Still, it’s more than just an impersonal business. Dr. Van, a local Woodmere resident, devoted husband, and father of three girls, reflects positively on the expansion of Urgent-MD, “I spent most of my medical career in the emergency department. It is special for me to be helping and taking care of my community and friends and family.” Although illness can be unpredictable, it is thanks to Urgent-MD that medical care doesn’t have to be.
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Focus on the Community
Tammy Mark
i-Shine Brightening Their Day
C
“I LIKE TO HELP THE KIDS AND GIVE THEM TIME AWAY FROM THEIR SITUATION, TO BE DISTRACTED AND JUST HAVE FUN.”
arpooling, serving dinner and helping with homework are all typical activities in the daily lives of parents. These ordinary responsibilities can become overwhelming or even impossible for families going through an illness or loss of a loved one. I-Shine, a division of Chai Lifeline, is a unique experience that exemplifies compassion for the families where loved ones are suffering. Since its founding in 1987, the mission of Chai Lifeline has been to improve the lives of critically ill children. The organization embraces ideals of compassion, kindness, and caring for others inherent in Jewish culture and life. Its slogan, “fighting illness with love,” is combined with the belief that illness affects each member of the family The concept for i-Shine came from three Five Towns mothers, Deena Intrator, Annette Kaufman and Stacy Zrihen, eight years ago. The after-school program welcomes children in kindergarten through eighth grade who are living with the illness of a sibling or parent or have recently suffered the loss of a family member. Under direction of Andy Lauber, LMSW, the program currently serves close to 40 children every week. Like all Chai Lifeline programs, it is free of charge to families. Housed at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, the program runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00-6:30. Children come from 13 schools in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway. Over 100 weekly volunteers provide door-to-door transportation, supervision, and fun from the moment children enter the premises. Students from the local yeshiva high schools are eager to help and readily commit to the program for the school year. The program is also supervised and staffed by teachers, social workers and psychologists. Homework and snacks start the evening. Some children are unable to complete homework assignments with the limited assistance at home. The i-Shine volunteers will often review the past week’s assignments to try to bring the child up-to-date in his or her school work. Some need extra attention due to prolonged issues in the family. Aside from the basics of supervision, dinner and homework, the children at i-Shine programs have the opportunity to socialize, play games, receive tutoring and mentoring. There is always something new and fun on the itinerary. Incentives are given to encourage and reward the children. “i-Shine Bucks” are distributed whenever goals are met and children can shop weekly in the program’s “store.” The cabinets are stocked with healthy and fun snacks. Special activities throughout the year include Chanukah and Purim parties, karate and sushi making. The young participants of i-Shine are well cared for and enjoy the time focusing on being kids. The program is an opportunity for them to forget whatever may be happening at home and just relax. It offers peace of mind during those crucial after school hours. It is also a chance for the families to focus on the issues at home, knowing that their child is being well cared for and having fun as well. Upon a recent visit to the program, one could hear the halls of HAFTR filled with the hustle and bustle of any typical youth program,
Volunteers Jake Kaufman and Jason Sulzberger with some of i-Shine’s children
with kids smiling and playing games. After homework, boys and girls gathered in the brand new gym for a special basketball program. The volunteers looked as happy as the children. HAFTR High School senior Jordan Schwartzstein originally came to i-Shine as a way to fulfill community service hours needed for school. Now he spends as much time there as his schedule allows. “I like to help the kids and give them time away from their situation, to be distracted and just have fun. Soon you begin to build real relationships with the kids,” he says. Jordan has been involved since the 10th grade and encourages his friends to get involved and volunteer as well. What started as a community program is now going global. I-Shine has sprouted in other Jewish communities around the country and now internationally with a program in Antwerp. The communities tailor the programs to meet the needs of their own communities. I-Shine in Borough Park, for example, runs their programs on Sundays and often organizes shabbatons for the children. Everlasting relationships are formed through the i-Shine network. Children have a chance to connect over their shared experiences. There are friendships between public school kids and yeshiva kids who come together to form a unique bond. At times, volunteers go above and beyond what is expected of them. Many have gone beyond the walls of the program and have stepped in to help the families when they see an extra need arise. According to Mr. Lauber, “The program is a true testament to the community.” When families are going through illness and loss, any support from friends and family is generally welcome and appreciated. In the Five Towns, the entire community becomes the largest network of friends and extended family. i-Shine will be holding their upcoming “Bake n’ Buy” bake sale on February 19th and 20th at the home of Bonnie and Heshie Schertz to benefit i-Shine’s children. Contact alauber@ishinechai.org to volunteer, or visit Chailifeline.org/ishine to learn more about the i-Shine program.
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You Gotta be
Riddle!
Kidding!
One day a president (insert one you don’t like) fell off a bridge and was saved by three young boys. The president thanked them and said he’d give them all one thing in the whole world. The first boy asked for a trip to Disneyland and that summer he went to Disneyland. The second boy asked for the newest pair of Air Jordans, and sure enough, the next day he was wearing a pair of Nike’s finest. The third boy asked for a wheelchair with a nice TV, cup holders and hydraulics. The president looked at the boy puzzlingly and asked why he wanted a decked out wheelchair even though he was totally not disabled. The young boy replied, “I may not be disabled now, but I will be after my father finds out that I saved you.”
G OT FU N N Y?
Comm Let the ission er dec
The 22nd and 24th presidents of the United States of America had the same parents but were not brothers. How is that possible?
Send your s tuff
ide
t
o fivetow centerfold@ nsjewis hhome. com
Answer on next page
Memorable Campaign Slogans “Reannexation of Texas and reoccupation of Oregon”
RALPH NADER
“Vote Yourself a Farm”
JAMES K. POLK
“Government of, by, and for the people...not the monied interests”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN HENRY CLAY “Who is James K. Polk?”
“Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, and Fremont”
JOHN C. FREMONT
“Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine”
“Keep cool with Coolidge” CALVIN COOLIDGE
GROVER CLEVELAND
“A Full Dinner Pail” WILLIAM MCKINLEY
“I Like Ike”
“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage”
HERBERT HOOVER
“The stakes are too high for you to stay at home”
DWIGHT EISENHOWER “Kinder, Gentler Nation”
LYNDON B. JOHNSON GEORGE BUSH
“Not Just Peanuts” “In your heart you know he’s right” BARRY GOLDWATER
GERALD FORD “He’s making us proud again”
“Reformer with results” JIMMY CARTER
ROSS PEROT
“Putting People First” BILL CLINTON
GEORGE W. BUSH “Ross for Boss”
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2. What is one of the jobs that Grover Cleveland held before becoming president? a. Banker b. Doctor c. Train conductor d. Hangman 3. JFK is lauded for his famous inaugural line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Was that an original line or did he borrow it from another president? a. Original b. Not original 4. Which president claimed to have seen a UFO? a. Jimmy Carter b. James Monroe c. Franklin Pierce d. Chester Arthur 5. When Martin Van Buren wrote his autobiography after serving as president from 1837-1841, who did he fail to mention in his book even once? a. His vice president b. His secretary of state c. The senate d. His wife 6. George Washington made the shortest inauguration speech on record—133 words and less than two minutes long. He went on to become the most iconic president. William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) holds the record for the longest inauguration speech in history at 8,578 words long and one hour and 40 minutes. What
happened to him afterwards? a. He was impeached b. He was voted as the worse president ever c. He died one month later d. An earplug company changed their slogan to “Make sure you have these when Harrison comes to town.” 7. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to ever be photographed at his inauguration. Who else is seen in the photograph? a. Jefferson Davis, future Confederate president b. John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s eventual assassin c. Robert E. Lee, Confederate general d. Larry King 8. William Howard Taft (1857-1930) once needed emergency personnel to come to his rescue in the White House for what reason? a. His Secretary of Labor beat him up b. He choked on a pretzel c. He got stuck in the bathtub d. He fainted when his budget office showed him the deficit for that year 9. Thomas Jefferson’s gravestone epitaph (which he wrote) mentions a number of positions he held in his lifetime. What position is not mentioned? a. President of the United States b. Author of the Declaration of Independence c. Author of Statuette of Virginia for Religious Freedom d. Father of the University of Virginia 10. Why did Lincoln grow a beard? a. He never could afford razors to shave b. Because he thought it would keep him warm in the Illinois winters c. Because a little girl told him to d. Because he thought it looked distinguished ANSWERS: 1. C-On January 8, 1992, Bush Sr. fainted after vomiting at a banquet hosted by then-Prime Minister of Japan, Kiichi Miyazawa. I guess he didn’t like the sushi. 2. D-Grover Cleveland was the only
president in history to hold the job of a hangman. He was once the sheriff of Erie County, New York, and twice had to spring the trap at a hanging. 3. B-It was a borrowed line. President Warren G. Harding told the 1916 Republican convention: “We must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it, and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.” 4. A-Jimmy Carter reported seeing an unidentified flying object while he was governor of Georgia. He filed a report of the sighting with the International UFO Bureau in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 5. D 6. C-Harrison gave the speech during bad weather and a month later, he was dead from pneumonia, making his the shortest presidency on record. 7. B-John Wilkes Booth is seen in the inauguration photo. It was not the only time before the assassination that he was in close proximity to Lincoln. 8. C-At 325 pounds, William Howard Taft (1857-1930), who was dubbed “Big Bill,” was the largest president in American history. He once got stuck in the White House bathtub and people came to his rescue to pull him out. 9. A 10. C- It was the fall of 1860. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican nominee for president of the United States. Election Day was less than a month away. Mr. Lincoln, a lifelong beardless man, received a letter written by Grace Bedell, an 11-year-old girl from Westfield, New York. Written on October 15th, 1860, the letter urged him to grow a beard. She wrote, “I have got four brothers and part of them will vote for you anyway and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you. You would look a great deal better for your face is so thin.” WISDOM KEY: 7-10 correct: You are really smart; you could probably be president. But, then again, Carter was president, too. See any UFOs lately? 4-6 correct: You are right in the middle—a hanging chad. 0-3 correct: You just Bushusurud all over the TJH centerfold
Answer to riddle: It was the same man—Grover Cleveland served two terms as president of the United States but the terms were not consecutive.
F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
1. After President Bush Sr. did something in the presence of the Japanese Prime Minister, a new word Bushusuru entered the Japanese language. The word reflects what Bush did. What does the word mean? a. To bow to someone for 90 seconds or more b. To trip while walking alongside someone c. To vomit publicly d. To fall asleep while someone else is giving a speech
T H E J E W I S H H O M E n M AY 2 4 , 2012
THE “WEIRDER SIDE” OF PRESIDENTS TRIVIA
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The Shmuz
R’ Ben Tzion Shafier
Parshas Ki Sisah The Merit of Others
“And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, ‘Go down, for your nation that you have brought up from Egypt, has sinned.’” Shemos 32:7 Moshe Rabbeinu was the single greatest human being who ever lived. The Rambam tells us that of all the navi’im, he alone was able to speak to Hashem directly. Normally, a prophet must go into an altered state of consciousness to experience Hashem. Otherwise the experience would cause sensory overload, and he would die. Moshe was able to speak to Hashem in a totally clear, conscious state of mind. At any time, he could approach Hashem and speak, experiencing Hashem as I do a neighbor or friend. Moshe was also granted access to the entire Torah, in all its depths and its secrets. Right after the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem told Moshe, “Go down.” Rashi explains this didn’t simply mean, “Go down to see what the nation is up to. Rather, “Go down,” from your greatness. You have lost access to the upper worlds. The ability to enter the Bais Din of Heaven has been taken from you. I only gave you that access because of the Klal Yisroel. They are no longer worthy, so you must go down.” This Rashi becomes difficult to understand when we take into account that Moshe was on a fantastic level because of his actions and ways. He spent his life dedicated to serving Hashem. Clearly, this access to the upper worlds and his ability to perceive and understand Torah
were things that he had earned because of his hard work. So why should they be taken from him? The answer to this can be better understood by focusing on the relationship we have to one another. Two Systems in the World to Come
a plain person. He’s nowhere near as developed in his service to Hashem as the first man. Yet when they both come to the World to Come, the second individual will tower over the first. Why? Because the first person brings with him his own merit while the
MOSHE WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MULTITUDE AND WAS THEREFORE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TORAH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING — IN THE MERIT OF THE ENTIRE NATION. The Chovos Ha’Levovos explains that there are two systems of measurement in the World to Come, the internal and the external. The internal system is based on my personal growth: improving my character traits, increasing my awareness of Hashem, learning Torah. The external system is based on merits outside of myself: how much I affected others and the influence that I had on people. These are accomplishments that don’t directly change my state of spirituality, but because I was the cause of them, they are credited to me. As an example, the Chovos Ha’Levovos describes two individuals. The first has sterling character traits, is steeped in Torah knowledge, and is so great that he can be compared to the angels above. The second individual is but
second toiled to improve others. Therefore, he has his own merit plus the merits of all of those whom he helped. A mashal to this would be looking at how people become wealthy. In 2001, Microsoft Corporation reported 40 billion dollars in excess cash. That means money that was not needed for operating expenses, research and development, or marketing — extra money. Bill Gates, as the largest single shareholder of the company, had become one of the richest men in the world with billions of dollars in discretionary income. It would take a successful lawyer, doctor, or account 10,000 years of hard work to earn that kind of wealth. The question is, how does a person acquire so much money? The answer is he cannot. No single man can ever earn that type of prosperity. The secret to building wealth is to have other people on your payroll. A successful dentist can drill, fill and bill, but he is only one man doing a job. Bill Gates had 20,000 workers in his employ. In a good market, with a good product and a team of thousands churning it out, your profits will be multiplied exponentially, and you can realize that which no single individual can even dream of. This is how the Chovos Ha’Levavos explains these two individuals. The first person may have been great, but he was working for himself. He was a one-man operation. While he may have attained prominence, it was limited.
The second man had many people in his employ. Because of him, many people grew closer to Hashem. And since their growth came about because of him, he is credited with it, so he is fantastically rich in merit. Moshe was Working for the Klal The answer to this Rashi seems to be that when it comes to aiding others in their spiritual growth, not only does Hashem reward someone with the external merit of what others accomplished, He gives the person all the tools he needs to accomplish his mission. Moshe was the representative of the multitude and was therefore allowed access to the highest level of Torah knowledge and understanding — not in his own merit, but in the merit of the entire nation. As important as Moshe Rabbeinu was, he was a man, and man isn’t allowed access to the upper worlds. When the Jewish nation was deserving, Moshe represented them and therefore was allowed to enter the Heavens. He was the conduit for bringing Torah to the multitudes. Once the Jews fell from that level, they were no longer worthy, so he as their shaliach was no longer permitted in Shamayim. It wasn’t as a punishment to him, but a reality. He no longer had the merit of that great nation catapulting him to those heights. We see a powerful concept from this Rashi. When you help other people grow, not only do you receive reward for everything that they accomplish, you receive S’yata D’Shmaya to do things that you might not have been able to otherwise. Whether as a rebbe teaching a difficult gemara, a worker for the klal taking on a bold project, or a parent trying to create a wholesome environment for his or her family, the merit of the entire group works in your favor, and you will be able to do things that would otherwise be unthinkable.
The Shmuz-Marriage Seminar, a 12-part, comprehensive guide to a successful marriage is available FREE of charge at TheShmuz.com. It is also on the Shmuz App available at the App store, or on Google play, or you may listen on Kol Halashon by calling 718-906-6400, then options 1,4, 3.
79 Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
tage point so I thought it would be fun to text him. After I sent the first message, but before he saw it, he put his shopping cart into the empty parking space to the left of his car, even though there was a cart return aisle in the spot immediately to his right. Knowing he can take a little friendly mussar, I sent the follow-up text. He replied, “I’m caught!” He later told me that it was such a lesson to him because it reminded him that Hashem is everywhere and sees everything. Now, we don’t get text messages from Hashem (though if we did, I assume they’d be free of airtime charges) but I’m sure that when we do make mistakes, Hash-
em tries to communicate with us and let us know what He saw. I had felt the same way about the incident, and told Eli that in his merit I would write an article about it, the very one you are reading now. But let’s forget the shopping carts for now; there’s
that all?” Obviously the fear one must have for G-d far eclipses the fear one would have for Man who can truly do nothing to or for him! R’ Yochanan ben Zakai replied, “Halevai, if only it would be as much.” Yes, we feel that we understand what it
HASHEM DOESN’T LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND HE DOESN’T PRETEND. much more to this concept than that. The fact of the matter is that Hashem is watching us 24/7, while we sleep, while we eat, and even when we’re in the bathroom. He sees if we’re following the halachos of using the facilities, and of bathing, washing our head first, then the right side before the left, top before bottom, and front before back. Hashem’s checking our books at work and knows what we do in business. Would you do the same things if an auditor was there? When we’re “alone” in front of the computer, Hashem is watching and recording what we do, say, post, and look at. When we speak to our children and our spouse, we’re being watched. What if you got a text message from a friend saying, “Hey, I saw you yell at your wife last night. She was in tears; didn’t you realize that maybe you should soften up?” I don’t think we’d like it but I also don’t think we’d do it again. Of course, the odds are that if someone saw us do that, they wouldn’t want to get involved and they’d mind their own business. They would look the other way and pretend they hadn’t seen anything instead of telling us we’d been seen. But Hashem doesn’t look the other way and He doesn’t pretend. True, he may extend patience and give us an opportunity to repent and change our ways, but some day, we will get that multi-media text message with a picture, video, and audio of what we did. That should be a sobering thought. When R’ Yochanan ben Zakai was on his deathbed, his students asked him for a bracha. He said, “If only your fear of Heaven would be as great as your fear of Man.” They were shocked, “Is
means to fear Heaven, but it is a conceptual fear, not an actual one. Nobody writes on his tax return, “Please note: Items 43-48 are fake invoices I drew up to defraud the government.” He is more afraid of the IRS than he is of Hashem. You don’t see someone on a diet sitting down in front of her family with a whole chocolate cake and one fork. I might be willing to do it, but not where
people can see me! The bottom line is that sometimes, like my friend Eli can attest, we get reminders that we are not alone and must act accordingly. Each day, Hashem is sending us invisible text messages that remind us, “I’ll be seeing you.” When we can start to see and take in those messages, then we’ve got some yiras Shomayim. Jonathan Gewirtz is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications around the world. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. For more information, or to sign up for or sponsor the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English, e-mail info@ JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe or Sponsor in the subject. © 2014 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.
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magine you got a call from a friend one day who said, “I was just thinking about you and wanted to call and say hi. Oh yeah, and the pajamas you wore last night have a stain on the shoulder. You should really wash them.” “What?? My pajamas? How do you know what my pajamas look like?!” We might think about investing in better curtains, but we would undoubtedly be unsettled to think that someone would have been looking through our window in the first place! A similar experience happened to my friend, Eli. As he unloaded his groceries into trunk of his car at an out-ofthe-way grocery store, he got a text message that read, “How was [supermarket name]?” It was immediately followed by another text that read, “Hey, you left your wagon in a parking space on the left, instead of putting it into the cart return aisle on your right! Do I have to write another article about it?” Yes, the text messages were from me. You see, I had gone to the same store that morning and when I pulled into a spot several rows behind him, I recognized my friend from a distance. I knew he couldn’t see me from his van-
I’ll Be Seeing You
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Rabbi's Musings [& Amusings] Rabbi Dani Staum
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Let Each Child Shine
ne night a few weeks ago I noticed that one of the front headlights on my car was out. Not wanting to be stopped by an aggressive cop, the next day I went to the mechanic and had the light changed. That night as I was driving to shul for Ma’ariv, I noticed a police car at the intersection at the bottom of the hill near our home. I felt very cocky as I passed him, sporting my headlights and dutifully adhering to the speed limit. squad who believes in him, even when You can only imagine my shock then he doesn’t believe in himself. A great when, as I was about to turn into the educator once quipped that children shul’s driveway, I saw flashing lights in do not become what we think they can my rearview mirror. become, nor do they become what they It’s always fun for a rabbi to get think they can become. Rather, they pulled over just outside his shul. I rolled become what they think we think they down my window as the cop jauntily can become. As parents and teachers we asked for my license and registration. need to demonstrate to our children that I honestly could not figure out why he we believe in them. (As we know, it is had pulled me over. After handing him the children who need it the most that my information I asked him what I had get it the least!) done wrong. He replied that the light on A child acutely senses how his partop of my license plate was out. I was ents and teachers perceive him and how stunned. “Officer, I much potential they just had my headfeel he has. That optimism and belief in light changed today. A CHILD ACUTELY the child is the light I didn’t even know there was a light by which shines from SENSES HOW the license plate.” behind. It illuminates the child’s sense of “Oh sure,” he reHIS PARENTS identity and gives plied, “That light is AND TEACHERS him the fortitude what allows us to see to plunge ahead. A your plates at night.” PERCEIVE HIM child who lacks that After checking AND HOW MUCH light cannot propermy record he handly drive ahead. Even ed me back my liPOTENTIAL THEY though his headlights cense and let me go. may shine brightly in I quickly turned into FEEL HE HAS. front of him, without the driveway and the lights shining on hurried into shul late his sense of identity, and red-faced. In order to drive around our cars impediments can sneak up from behind must have license plate which identify and impede his progress. So this week I finally went back to us to the outside world. In a similar vein, we all have personalities and character the mechanic and had the light on top of traits which define us. For a child to my plates replaced. And that very night be successful he must have confidence – I kid you not – when my wife was in himself. He must have the courage pulling out of the driveway I noticed to forge ahead down the ominous and that her front headlight was out! unsure paths of life. That courageous attitude is like a headlight which illuminates the looming darkness. Just as Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is the Rabbi of without that light one would never be Kehillat New Hempstead, and Guidance able to drive in the darkness, without Counselor/Rebbe at Yeshiva Bais Hachithat confidence a child cannot be suc- nuch & Ashar in Monsey, NY. He is the author of Stam Torah and can be reached at cessful. For a child to develop that confi- stamtorah@gmail.com. His website is www. dence he needs to have a cheerleading stamtorah.info.
81 Gedaliah Borvick
Tel Aviv’s Religious Reawakening
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The Shell Synagogue, Cong. Heichal Yehuda
The bustling city’s lights at night
The Azrieli Center
As the sun sets on the city
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have always valued Tel Aviv’s importance as Israel’s largest economic hub and as a leading center for medicine and education. I also appreciate its wonderful museums, parks and performing arts venues. As Tel Aviv is known for its hip atmosphere and famous 24-hour culture, I never expected the city to become a destination for young religious people. I was wrong.
History Ever since its establishment in 1909, Tel Aviv has always been home to religious Jews. In the early years, the city even had prohibitions against some forms of commerce on the Sabbath. Interestingly, Tel Aviv is the only major city in Israel that has only Jewish places of worship, an important factor which attracted many Chassidic rebbes. By the 1960s, there were close to fifty Chassidic sects that were based in Tel Aviv. But by the early 1970s, the city began to become more chic and housing prices skyrocketed. Observant Jews be-
The Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv
gan to leave in droves and most of the city’s 500 synagogues experienced dramatic declines in membership. Renaissance Around the time of Israel’s 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip, many people felt a visceral need for Jews in all segments of society to reconnect. A number of religious organizations became active in Tel Aviv, aspiring to improve relations between the city’s religious and secular populations and strengthen the city’s synagogues. In addition, groups of young families – called “garinim” (literally “seeds”) – started moving into Tel Aviv to help revitalize the city’s religious environment. Olim Another element that has influenced the Tel Aviv religious landscape has been the arrival of numerous European – primarily French – observant Jews. With a flair and passion for fine cuisine, many of these immigrants have opened kosher restaurants, bakeries and gourmet food stores.
Singles Scene Notwithstanding the influx of young idealistic families and European immigrants, probably the main influence on the religious upsurge in Tel Aviv has been the large religious singles scene, which has expanded dramatically in recent years. This late-twenties and thirties crowd covers the full spectrum of religiosity and many of these residents have a strong liberal bent. Tel Aviv is a perfect city for this spiritual resurgence, as it is relatively open-minded and accepting of nonconformists. Educational and Social Programs New and innovative congregations have been established throughout the city, which address the needs of professionals and students from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. The city’s renewed religious vitality has also affected the older synagogues, as a number of these establishments now offer innovative programs and lectures. In addition, numerous outreach centers are thriving in their efforts to help secular Jews explore their heri-
A view from above
tage. There are many learning centers that offer a full spectrum of classes on practically every level from beginner to highly advanced. Most of these centers augment their learning programs with social and entertainment programs, serving as vibrant hubs for Jewish activities and addressing the need for healthy environments for singles to meet. Changing Culture Although Tel Aviv continues to be predominantly secular, there is no mistaking the increased interest in religious activities among the city’s secular population. In Tel Aviv’s tolerant environment, many people who have spent their lives shunning religion are finally discovering their Jewish roots.
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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In Memoriam Shoshana Soroka
Esther Lerer A”H Vayipach ba’apov ruach chaim. Hashem created man by breathing life into him, and as a tzelem Elokim we are all capable of doing the same. No, we cannot physically breathe life into a human being, but we can spiritually create life by adding light and happiness to those around us and those who we encounter. That was Esther Lehrer a”h. She was a joy to be around and brought joy to those who she encountered. She always had something to say—a compliment, an inquiry about a project you were working on, a joke, an invitation to come to her house or splash in her pool. She made everyone feel comfortable and special. My in-laws were lucky to be her neighbors. When Esther would walk in the side door on an erev Shabbos or on a yom tov to say hello, the house would brighten. She could talk to my mother-in-law about recipes, she could talk to my husband about his job, and she could talk to my four-year-old nieces about their beautiful Shabbos outfits. Esther showed the same excitement regardless of who she spoke to, and if you were in a nearby room, you knew she was there when good natured laughter and animation filled the room. It is uncommon for somebody to be described as so outgoing, yet so dedicated to tzinius. But Esther was able to combine those two seemingly contradictory attributes because it was never about her. Her down-to-earth nature made her the person to call when something needed fixing or to bring out the shy person in the room. But along with that friendly and sociable side, she was dedicated to the middah of tzinius because she lived by the virtue of kol bas melech penima. She saw right through materialism and was not intimidated nor impressed by it; it’s almost as if she thought it was silly. With the flip of the hand, she could get those around her to see the vanity of some of the things that somehow seem so central in our lives. She was not only concerned about her own tzinius, but cared about the tzinius of the whole community because she valued the community and felt like she was part of something special. Esther was not merely fighting against a lack of tzinius; she was fighting for the improvement of the spirituality of a community that was so dear to her. It was because of her sincere nature that she was able to say what needed to be said, even when it was hard to say. As Rabbi Bender recalled at the levaya,
Mrs. Lerer always spoke her mind when it came to school policies affecting the parents and children of the yeshiva. What was unique about her, Rabbi Bender recalled, was that she was able to cut through to the heart of the issue and make her point without beating around the bush, with strength of mind, and, of course, with her indomitable good nature. He referred to her as having an “open door policy”—when she came to the yeshiva to see Rabbi Bender, she would walk into his office, regardless of what was going on. It was her determination to make things right that made her feel compelled to meet with him. Her visits to Darchei were indicative that there was nothing more important to Esther than her children and their spiritual and physical wellbeing. Her children came up in every conversation she had because she loved them so dearly and was so involved in their lives. When she spoke about them she would light up as she recalled their anecdotes and accomplishments. This past Succos, the Lerers and my family ate together in my in-laws’ sukkah for a meal. During those few hours, it was apparent that the relationship between the Lerer children and their parents is one of respect, love and lots of fun. The good natured banter, the jokes, the stories, and the comfortable schmoozing between them filled the yom tov air. There is so much we can learn from this shining soul who was taken from us at such a young age. We will miss Esther’s keen advice. We will miss her laughter. We will miss her dynamic personality. We will miss the light she brought to our lives. But we can emulate Esther’s zest and love for life. When we see someone who needs a compliment, we can remember how Esther would do it in her endearing way. When we see a wrong that should be corrected, we can think, “What angle would Esther take to resolve this issue in the most positive way?” When one of our children needs a little extra TLC, we can think about what Esther would do in that situation. Esther will be missed terribly by her family and the whole community. Yet she will always bring joy to our hearts, as we think about the wonderful and exuberant way she lived her life. As we emulate her and her ways, she will continue to inspire the lives of all who knew and loved her. May she be a meilitz yosher for her family and our community. Yehi zichra baruch.
Monday, February 17 President’s Day
1 0:30 AM: 11:30 AM:
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9:30 AM : Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner: What is Jewish Happiness?
Mrs. Rikki (Kaisman) Schwartz:
The Power of Chessed - A very special story
Mrs. Shoshana Jaeger:
It’s So Hard To Wait - The Purim Challenge in our Lives
Located at:
Machon Basya Rochel 137 Lawrence Avenue Lawrence, NY 11559
(across from LIRR Lawrence station)
Cost
$10 per shiur $25 for the morning in memory of Mrs. Rose Edelman
For mo re inf orm ati on or for spo nso rsh ips , ple ase con tac t: inf o@ mb rse mi nar y.o rg ~ 516 -36 2-5 00 0
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Health & Fitness Falling Off the Weight Loss Wagon
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ne of the most discouraging aspects of weight loss is the inevitable slips. Everyone has them. For some people, an occasional slip engenders an all-out binge…followed by guilt, self-recrimination, a sense of powerlessness and a feeling of what’s the use? Sound familiar? We call it “falling off the weight loss wagon,” and if you can change how you think about it, you don’t need to be victimized by it anymore. Let’s start by looking at a simple kid’s board game called “Chutes and Ladders.” In case you forgot how to play, here’s how it works: You use a spinner to advance from space to space toward the winner’s spot. Along the way there are ladders which leapfrog you over a lot of spaces, as well as chutes which send you back in the opposite direction. Some kids play this game with a laissez faire “whatever” attitude, taking life as it comes with all its ups and downs, pitfalls and triumphs. They learn the wonderful moral of Chutes and Ladders—
half of the secret to life is just showing up. Keep playing the game, and eventually you’ll get where you’re going. Some kids, however, get very upset when they land on a chute. They’re ready to quit the game, pick up their proverbial marbles and go home. For some reason, they believe that life isn’t supposed to have any chutes. When they land on them, they are very disappointed and feel like giving up. Weight loss is like a huge game of chutes and ladders! In dealing with hundreds of clients over the years, we’ve discovered that the biggest difference between the winners and the losers in the weight loss war isn’t whether or not people have slips and go off their program. It’s not really a question of if they have them; it’s a question of when. What really makes the difference is how you deal with the slips when they happen. Here’s an example. You’ve been absolutely wonderful on your eating plan for three weeks. You’ve been sticking to your exercise routine and feeling pretty
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terrific. You go to a wedding and have a glass of wine. Before you know it, someone is insisting you try those delicious little canapés, and before the wedding singer can say “Let’s Cuts the Cake,” you’ve managed to down about 4,000 unwanted calories from stuff you wouldn’t have been caught dead looking at during the past couple of weeks or months…pates, desserts, breads, stuffing, you name it. Most people think that’s where the action stops. Actually, it’s where the real action begins. First, a reality check. Have you done a lot of damage? Not really. Maybe you put on a pound or two. Big deal. You can knock it off in no time, and go right back to work on yourself. So what’s the problem? The problem isn’t what we did, but what we make it mean. We tell ourselves that our transgression means that we have no will power, that we will never succeed, and that our efforts are in vain. In other words, we hit a chute and now we want to stop the game.
Lori Boxer
Let me suggest something more empowering. Suppose, instead, we learn to see life’s occasional chutes as just that— stumbling blocks that everyone hits on their personal path to personal power, nothing to be afraid of and certainly nothing to give a lot of meaning to. So you hit a chute. On your next spin, you might hit a ladder. Most important of all, you can’t win the game unless you keep on playing. And every minute gives you a new chance for another spin. Take it. And don’t look back. Lori Boxer is the Director of Weight No MoreSM Diet Center. In addition to serving the Brooklyn, Long Island and New Jersey communities for 25 years, they also provide Skinny SkypeSM service to clients nationwide and to Israel, and offer customized Workforce Weight LossSM Programs for businesses. For more information, please call Rosalie Shatzman, Rana Frankel and Linda Franklin in their Cedarhurst office: 516.569.6400.
Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
TJH Staff
The Ravages of Anxiety grocery store that embarrassed her. She handed the wrong denomination bill to the cashier and it seemed to her that the cashier was mocking when she said, “You only gave me a ten. You need a 20.” This incident started to absorb her thinking. She could not free her mind from it. Like Shevie and Natan, it pervaded her entire day. And the next day. Her husband couldn’t seem to say
Rochel’s plight, it doesn’t have to be that way. Before I offer suggestions for handling it, however, I don’t want you to think that I think anxiety is the “enemy.” If Hashem created it for us, then He meant it to be a tool. Indeed, scientists say a little stress is useful. Before a competition, whether athletic or academic, a dose of anxiety can secrete a
ANXIETY HAS A HABIT OF TAKING OVER A HOME. anything helpful. Whatever he said didn’t take away the sting of her humiliation. Frankly, he couldn’t understand it anyway. “What’s the big deal?” he thought. “Why is she making mountains out of molehills?” The answer is that anxious people appear to their families like they are doing exactly that. And it is inexplicable. But when you look into the mind of an anxious person, their overwhelming thoughts make perfect sense: A person who lacks the feedback about the behavior that is necessary in order to know if they are doing “it” right may very well be anxious about how they are perceived. If we can add to Rochel’s story about that time in elementary school when her teacher accused her of cheating – when she was not doing so – then we have a recipe for a perfect storm. Not only didn’t she get helpful, loving feedback from parents, but she got inaccurate feedback from an authority figure. What message did that give to her? The message is that there must be something wrong with how she presents herself to the world. And since she always tried to do the right thing, even doing the right thing doesn’t matter. Imagine how such a background must create uncertainty in a person. It is no wonder that a relatively small episode would trigger hand-wringing anxiety. In spite of Shevie’s, Natan’s, and
bit of cortisol into the system. The Mayo Clinic website explains the role of cortisol as follows: “Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. “Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes. This complex natural alarm system also communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear.” It’s a good thing. Hashem wanted to give us a means to keep us on our toes when we need it. However, like all gifts that He gives us, we must appreciate them and use them wisely. If a small portion of stress hormone can be really helpful when we need it, does that mean a huge dollop will help even more? Logically, one could think so, but as you very well know, too much anxiety becomes counterproductive. Cortisol not only suppresses the digestive system but also the thinking system – the cerebral cortex. So when the very thing a person is stressed about is intellectual in nature – such as a job review, a pre-
sentation at work, handling social conversation, or school – boom! The cortisol blocks the ability to think. Finding that happy medium in experiencing stress is possible nevertheless. Here are some tips for doing just that: Learn to take control of your autonomic nervous system with deep breathing. I realize that breathing sounds like it’s just too simple to be a solution to such a monumental problem. However, when we breathe slowly and deeply – guess what? – it reduces cortisol levels! It brings our blood pressure, heart rate, and all other stress responses back into line. If you practice the breathing with an attempt to relax your muscles and the tension you feel in specific areas like your throat and chest, you can achieve a calmer state. Practice this. Search for accurate and helpful feedback from others. You know who the people are who are willing to be honest. They will tell you what you could do better if there really is something to do better. They will also tell you what you did well. If you are in a business or job that has opportunities for feedback, take advantage of it. When I give talks I have anonymous evaluation forms. I always ask for “constructive criticism.” You can do the same at work. Keep a journal of casual interactions with people – or with the subject matter that makes you nervous – to record the good, the bad, and the beautiful. With a dated journal, you can’t tell yourself, “I always screw up,” when it is plainly not true. When you do make errors, that is the time to find out what you can do to correct them. Give yourself a positive – and accurate – affirmation regularly. Shevie, for example, could tell herself, “I got over 90 on the last three history tests; I will be fine.” 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. For more information, call 646-54-DRDEB or check out her website at drdeb.com.
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hevie was staring at her textbook and the words were not penetrating. Her eyes flashed up to the calendar on the wall. The test was day after tomorrow and after weeks of diligent preparation, she felt like her mind was still blank. She twirled the curl that dropped near her nose and focused on the book. It didn’t work! Ahron, her younger brother, passed by her room, poked his head in and, not knowing what else to do, grinned at her. “Go ‘way!” Shevie shouted. Ahron slunk away, his high mood dampened. He went into the kitchen for a snack, opened the fridge, but the fun was out of it. He closed the fridge, took some water, and went back up to his own room. Mrs. Natow, their mom, noticed. She wondered why Ahron had such a long face. She was considering going upstairs to ask if anything was wrong, when she heard a door slam, and heavy footsteps clumping down the stairs. It was Shevie, darkly glaring at no one in particular. Mrs. Natow caught her breath: Was Shevie going to be rude to her like she was yesterday? “When will these exams be over?” she wondered. Is the problem the exams? Is it bad parenting? Is it a lack of derech eretz on Shevie’s part? Is it sibling rivalry? From my standpoint, it’s none of the above. Rather, anxiety is ruling Shevie and spilling over to torment everyone in the family. Anxiety does have a habit of taking over a home. Natan was never the greatest earner and now with the slowdown, he was most anxious about being let go. He would come home and little things would make him yell at his wife, pick at his kids and even spoil the mood at family celebrations. Rochel, who had lost her parents rather young, missed getting the positive feedback that helps a child to know who she really is. She grew up unclear as to her good qualities. She wasn’t sure of her strengths. When she married a lovely, kind man who fell madly for her, she came to believe that she must, after all, be the good person she wanted to be. Nevertheless, life has a habit of tossing obstacles in the way. One day she had an interaction at the
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Notable
Quotes
Compiled by Nate Davis
“Say What?” The games haven’t even started yet and already there are people complaining about the horrible accommodations at the Sochi Olympic village. Toilets don’t flush. The faucets spew discolored water. They say it’s like being on a Royal Caribbean cruise. - Jay Leno Generally speaking, you get past the next election by changing your policies, by announcing new initiatives, but not by wontedly changing the law lawlessly. This is stuff that you do in a banana republic. - Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer responding to the Obama administration once again delaying an unpopular provision of Obamacare to 2016
He’s very into the military because, you know, how do you annoy your left-wing liberal pacifist mother? You become a big military man. – Rosie O’Donnell on The View, discussing her son who joined the military
I have to tell you, my friend, I’ve been, quote, attacked before by people using real bullets, not words, and I am not going to be intimidated. I am not going to stand down with respect to President Obama’s commitment to trying to find peace in the Middle East. - John Kerry on CNN, discussing comments that Israeli politicians made about him in response to a statement which he made which insinuated possible support for a boycott against Israel
People are worried that Sochi in Russia is not ready for the Olympics. They have a mall there where the only store that’s currently open is a Cinnabon — or as Americans refer to it, a mall that caters to all of our needs. - Conan O’Brien
Chobani yogurt is safe, nutritious and delicious and the Russian Authorities should get past ‘nyet’ and let this prime sponsor of the US Olympic Team deliver their protein-packed food to our athletes. - Senator Charles Schumer in a statement about Russia’s refusal to allow 5,000 Chobani yogurts into Russia for U.S. Olympians
Well, as we remind all Americans that come to this country, the Russian government has tremendous capabilities. And [it’s] legal, by their law, [to intercept] phone calls, emails, et cetera. There’s no doubt that I am a primary subject of interest for them, and from time to time they have also leaked conversations I had that I thought were private. - U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul on Meet the Press, when asked if he has ever been bugged in Russia
This has been the greatest 22-years of my life. I am the luckiest guy in the world. Just been incredible. - Jay Leno, at the end of his last show as host of “The Today Show” The worst thing about losing this job, I’m no longer covered by NBC. I have to sign up for Obamacare. - Jay Leno This is the last night Jay Leno is hosting “The Tonight Show.” Good luck, Jay. The lesson here is if you work hard and succeed, someday you will be fired. - Craig Ferguson The Olympics start airing tonight on NBC. It’s very cool. That’s right, NBC has the Olympics. It’s a big deal. NBC will finally get to show somebody who is OK with passing the torch. - Conan O’Brien, on the night of Jay Leno’s last show as host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show
We are going to have parents being able to come home, working reasonable hours. People are going to be able to retire. People might actually be able to cook dinner rather than have to order out and get some takeout. If you look at international comparisons country by country, Americans work way more that the average of industrialized countries around the world. - Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) on CBS responding to the CBO report that American workers’ hours will be cut due to Obamacare
I think there’s a high degree of probability that something will detonate, something will go off. - House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) discussing a possible terror attack during the Sochi Olympics We do not serve FBI and CIA agents. - Sign outside a restaurant in Sochi
The Olympic torch arrived in Sochi yesterday after going on a four-month relay around the world. That’s when you know things are bad — when even the torch is putting off going to Russia. - Jimmy Fallon
Crazy [lady] has a gun - Response of the bewildered burglars as they ran away
There are 12 new events in this year’s Winter Olympics—12. The new events include women’s ski jumping, luge-team relay, and finding a working toilet. - Conan O’Brien
Today is the 10th anniversary of Facebook…More than anyone, Mark Zuckerberg revolutionized the way we avoid doing work in this country. - Jimmy Kimmel Two things that happened in 2012: We had two AOL-ers that had distressed babies that were born and we paid a million dollars each to make sure those babies were OK in general. And those are the things that add up into our benefits cost. So when we had the final decision about what benefits to cut because of the increased healthcare costs, we made the decision, and I made the decision, to basically change the 401(k) plan. - AOL CEO Tim Armstrong during a conference call explaining to company employees why he was changing their benefit packages
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks. Today, they had their big Super Bowl victory parade. You see what the city did to make the parade move along faster? They put the Denver Broncos defense right in front of them. - Jay Leno
Let me try. I just wanna run. If you catch me, good. Then you caught me. If not, then sorry about your luck. Maybe another day. - Don Pooley, 34, of Colorado who was holding a 13-year-old hostage in a conversation with KDVR-TV, trying to convince the police to give him a one mile lead to escape
I’m glad you were able to tear yourselves away from the Winter Olympics. The sporting event that answers the question, “How many different ways can white people injure themselves on ice?” - Jimmy Kimmel
37 minutes! . . . 37 minutes! - Former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz overheard on a hot microphone, when Mayor de Blasio finally showed up 37 minutes late to give his State of the City address
There’s a new survey that found that 50 percent of doctors admit to going on Wikipedia to look up medical information. While the rest behave like professionals and use WebMD. - Jimmy Fallon
If I blindfolded someone and took them at 2 o’clock in the morning into the airport in Hong Kong and said, “Where do you think you are?” They would say, “This must be America. This is a modern airport.” If I took them blindfolded and took them to LaGuardia airport in New York, he would be like, “I must be in some third world country.” I’m not joking. – Vice President Joe Biden at a speech in Philadelphia about America’s infrastructure LaGuardia obviously needs an upgrade, but that being said the airport manages an extraordinary amount of traffic and the people who work there make it work under very difficult circumstances. So as a proud New Yorker, I didn’t like that comment, and I think it was not the right way to talk about it. - New York Mayor de Blasio, responding to Biden’s comments
I mean, it started, it seemed to start anyway with the filing of my nonprofit application in 2010. And from that point forward we had a parade of the alphabet soup come to visit me from the FBI to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, OSHA, the IRS again and again and again – 15 times, more than 15 times when you talked about all the investigations that went on in between. There’s really very little to explain away the fact that prior to filing that nonprofit application I’d never had any government agency be interested in me or my family or since that time. - Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of a Tea Party group, detailing her run-ins with the federal government after seeking nonprofit status for her group, on Fox News There’s a pillow shortage in Sochi too. They don’t have enough pillows for the beds. How do you not foresee a demand for pillows? Although in their defense, it is Russia. When you sleep wherever you happen to pass out, pillows aren’t so important. - Jimmy Kimmel
That’s the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want. - President Obama to Leslie Bowman, president of the Monticello Foundation, when he and the president of France were visiting Jefferson’s estate and President Obama broke protocol The Olympics start Friday and Russia’s implementing the most intensive security in Olympics history. The government will monitor every email. They will monitor every social media message and they will listen in on every phone call. In fact, people are now comparing Russia to the United States. That’s how bad it is. - Jay Leno
It’s our last episode of Late Night. You know, I’m really going to miss being on TV at 12:37. I’ll especially miss the battle for late-night ratings with my fierce rivals — Craig Ferguson and a Veggie Chopper infomercial. - Jimmy Fallon
EW , 2012 T HTEH EJ EJW I SIHS HH OHMO EM En n FMEAY B R U2A4RY 1 3 , 2014
You have to at some point in time take responsibility for your own safety. And that’s all I was doing. I’m not a sitting duck. - A 59 year-old Los Angeles woman explaining why she went outside with a shotgun when she saw to potential burglars in her backyard
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Forgotten Heroes
Avi Heiligman
The Rescue of the USS Squalus
T
o the average sink. The sub fiperson, the nally settled on the submarine is bottom of the ocean a mysterious weapat a depth of 240 on of war that lurks feet. Subsequently, beneath the ocean the after-torpedo and strikes stealthroom, flooded and ily at will. For the the 26 men in that enemy, it is a danarea of the Squalus gerous machine drowned. The othPhoto by The New York Times shows Sculpin that is capable of er 33 men began standing watch over the spot when the sinking a ship with to franticly close Squalus sunk a day before just one shot. Since all the inner doors, 1945 there have been very few ships thus preventing water from flooding sunk from a submarine’s torpedo but the other compartments. The crew had it remains an effectual psychological to preserve precious air by minimizing weapon that is feared worldwide. their breathing and movements until Before the invention of nucle- help could arrive. ar-powered subs in the 1950s, all subThe first responder was the Squamarines (technically they were called lus’s sister ship the USS Sculpin (SSsubmersibles because they relied on 191). After several hours of searching, surfacing to recharge batteries) ran on the Sculpin found where the Squalus diesel engines. The ships were hot and went down and was able to commuunpleasant for the occupants and some- nicate with her via telephone wire on times their worst enemy was the sub a buoy. However, the connecting line itself. Several times submarines disap- snapped and communication was soon peared without a trace and mechanical lost. A rescue tug had attached a grapproblems were blamed for the losses. ple hook on metal down below on what However, in 1939, an American subma- everyone hoped was the sub and they rine did sink but 33 crewmen survived waited for divers to come up from the because of the heroic efforts of the crew mid-Atlantic. They could have used a and the use of a new invention. new device called the Momsen Lung The USS Squalus (SS-192, squa- but it was very dangerous to ascend lus is the Latin name for shark) was with it and could cause oxygen poisonlaunched in 1938 and in May 1939 ing. went through a series of test dives to The creator of the Momsen Lung, prepare her for the inevitable war. Un- Lt. Commander Charles Momsen, was der the command of Lt. Oliver Nanquin, racing to the scene on the rescue ship the Squalus had a crew of 59 sailors on USS Falcon. The ship, equipped with board on May 23 for a test dive off the divers, also had a new rescue device decoast of New Hampshire. At first all in- veloped for such an emergency called dicators showed that the test was run- the McCann Rescue Chamber. It was a ning as planned. Then disaster struck. contraption that lowered from the resThe ship had several airtight doors cue ship to the sunken sub and would that when properly locked wouldn’t al- pull up several men at a time without low seawater to enter. A main induction endangering the sailors still in the sub. valve that allowed surface air into the The senior medical officer on scene was engines somehow opened up and water Lt. Commander Dr. Charles Schilling poured in as the ship started to rapidly and Captain Albert Behnke was onboard the Falcon as the expert of compression sickness. He would oversee the dives and monitor the divers and survivors of the Squalus for symptoms of sicknesses that come from being at the ocean bottom. On the morning of May 24, the Falcon reached the The USS Squalus point where the tug had at-
tached the grapple hook and determined that the metal that was attached was indeed from the Squalus. The rescue chamber was set up by divers, and by early afternoon they made the first trip down to the ocean bottom. Three trips were completed by evening and 25 men had been successfully rescued from the doomed sub. Only one more trip was needed to retrieve the last eight sailors. At about 8 in the evening the rescue chamber went down one last time John Mihwith divers alowski and James H. McDonald in charge of the pickup. The last eight sailors including Lt. Nanquin from the Squalus entered the chamber and the ascent began. At about 160 feet from the surface, they suddenly stopped. The cable jammed and the sailors had to return to the sunken sub but now ten lives were at stake. After four hours of tense work with additional divers and careful monitoring from Momsen, Schilling and Behnke, the chamber finally surfaced at midnight. For the first time in history sailors from a sunken sub had been successfully rescued. The British did not have the McCann Rescue Chamber and during a crisis of their own, all survivors of the submarine HMS Thetis died during res-
cue attempts just a week after the Squalus rescue. A year after the sinking of the Squalus, the sub had been pulled from the depths, refitted and given a new name. The USS Sailfish was recommissioned in May 1940 and sailors on the sub were forbidden from saying the word “squalus” due to superstitions that only exist in the navy. (It is considered bad luck to
be on a ship that had its name changed.) She went on twelve war patrols performing brilliantly against Japanese targets and three years after the war she was sold for scrap. On December 4, 1943, the Sailfish was in the Philippine Sea looking for targets and saw the ultimate prize—an aircraft carrier. Several attempts had been made before by American submarines
The USS Falcon during the rescue
to sink one but they had all managed to get away. The Sailfish was determined not to let it happen again and with four torpedoes sent the carrier to the bottom of the ocean with 1,250 Japanese sailors aboard. 21 American prisoners were also on the ship and twenty went down with George Rocek being the sole survivor. In an ironic twist of fate, it was discovered that these prisoners were from the Sculpin—the submarine that had first responded to the Squalus’s disaster. However, none of the sailors were from the original crew that had come to the rescue of the Squalus. Before going to the scrap yard, the conning tower was removed and was transferred to the Portsmouth Naval Yard where it stands as a memorial for the men who died on her. Four divers from the rescue team, including Mihalowski and McDonald, were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of the 33 sunken submariners. The saga of the Squalus changed the thinking of rescue operations for the upcoming war that would see submarines take the center stage of strangling the Japanese war machine. Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions.for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com.
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96 100 T H E J E WT HI SE HJ EHW O MI SE HnH O MF E BnR UMA AY RY 21 43 , 2012 2014
Cover Story Susan Schwamm
CHINA and the Jews Professor Pan Guang, the foremost expert on China and the Jews
I
find it fascinating that the foremost expert on Jews in China is not a Jew himself. He is a Chinese man who was born in Shanghai and is now the Director of the Institute of European and Asian Studies at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Pan Guang has spent decades researching Jews in the country and has written dozens of books on the subject. When I met the professor this week, we spoke about his interest in the Chosen People. There aren’t many Jews in the country now—only about 12,000—but Guang says that children growing up in China are always told the story of the Jews. It’s not necessarily taught in school; these are stories and messages that are passed down from parents to their children. What attracted him to spend his life dedicated to learning about the Jews in China? Guang points out that Jews and the Chinese share common values. The importance of family, education and business are central in both cultures. Additionally, he says, the philosophy of
Confucianism focuses on being good to both man and being righteous and humane. He says that the Chinese see the Torah as mirroring those same values. In China, Guang notes, Jews have never felt any anti-Semitism. They were and are always welcomed and valued for what they contribute to society. THE FIVE WAVES Jews came to China in five waves, much like other immigrants coming to other countries. The earliest group of Jews who came to China came by land via the Silk Route in the seventh century. They moved to Kaifeng and established a famous Jewish community there. Although the community was vibrant, after many years, they eventually assimilated into Chinese society. The second wave of Jews primarily consisted of those of Sephardic descent and came in 1814 when the British opened China up to foreign trade. Many British businessmen came to China then to do business and a group of Sephardic Jews came from Mumbai to engage in trade. The famous Sassoon and Kadoorie families came to China at the time and were more than just businessmen. They helped develop the Jewish and Chinese communities, building shuls and schools for the community. The first shul in Hong Kong, the Ohel Leah Synagogue, was donated by the Sas-
Chiune Sugihara handed out visas to Lithuanian Jews even as he was being taken away
soon family. It is now the center of the Jewish community in Hong Kong. The Ohel Rachel Synagogue was the first Sephardic shul to be built in Shanghai, and it is still preserved there. HSBC bank (which stands for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) has its origins in the Sassoon banking days. And the Peace Hotel, which is open even today, was built by the Sassoons. The third wave of Jews to immigrate to China came from Russia. It was a small group of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Siberia and ended up in Harbin, China. Interestingly, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s grandfather, Yosef Olmert, was one of those who came with this group. He is buried in Harbin. The main synagogue in Harbin was built in 1907. The Jews experienced no anti-Semitism in China, a relief after being persecuted for their beliefs for years in Russia. Unlike Jews in the previous wave, Russian Jews engaged in commerce on a smaller level. They owned small businesses, like fur shops, as opposed to the Sephardic Jews who came earlier who focused on banking and real estate. Interestingly, in 1932 there was a Jewish unit in the army called the Jewish Company of Shanghai Volunteer Corps that consisted of four officers and 100 soldiers. It was the only Jewish fighting unit in the world (aside from
in Israel) and several books have been written about the unit. The fourth wave of Jews is probably the most famous. These Jews were refugees escaping Hitler’s wrath. China was the only country to open its doors to them. In fact, Shanghai at the time did not require visas to enter the country. Many of those who came were considered “stateless,” but were welcomed nonetheless. It was only because the Nazis required visas in order to leave the country did these Jews scramble in order to obtain the golden visas. The fifth and final wave of immigration to China is the wave of Jews in the country today. There are only about 5,000 Jews in Shanghai—12,000 in the whole China. Most of them are businessmen and teachers who have come for opportunity to a country that welcomes them with open arms. A CITY FOR THE STATELESS November 1938 changed everything for the Jews in Europe. Rumblings of Hitler’s craziness were felt by Jews in Germany and the surrounding countries for many months, but most thought they were the ramblings of a madman. Kristallnacht rudely shook the Jews out of their reverie and gave them a terrifying glimpse of what Hitler and the Nazis were planning against the Jews. Those who were able to leave fled
A young Jewish refugee playing with her Chinese friends in Shanghai
Elly Kadoorie and his sons, Lawrence and Horace
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their countries while others were left behind scrambling to find refuge. Every country slammed their doors in their faces, echoing Hitler’s sentiment that the Jews were not wanted. All countries, except for China. Shanghai was open to all—and did not require a visa or a passport to enter. From 1933 to 1941, 30,000 immigrants poured into the only city that accepted them. Eventually, Shanghai took in more refugees than Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa and India combined. Consul General Feng Shan Ho in Vienna was known to many as “China’s Schindler.” As a graduate of University of Munich, he spoke German fluently. He risked his life to issue thousands of visas (the Germans required them in order to leave the country), saving thousands of lives. Within the first three months of him holding office as consul general, he issued 1,200 visas. Although it is unclear how many Ho issued, it is known that he issued nearly 2,000 visas during the first half year of his post; it’s understood that he may have issued thousands of visas while in office. One person came to Ho begging for his help in securing eleven visas for her family. Ten of her family members were in concentration camp and she was told they would be released if they had visas. He readily agreed to give her the visas after she brought him their
The grave of Yosef Olmert, grandfather of Ehud Olmert, in Harbin, China
A frum school for Jewish refugees in the Shanghai ghetto, 1944
passports. After his death, Ho became the first Chinese to be honored in Yad Vashem as one of the “righteous gentiles.” THE MIR YESHIVA Ho was not the only diplomat to save thousands of lives by issuing visas to refugees. Consul Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania. He issued almost 6,000 visas while risking the lives of himself and his family, spending 18-20 hours a day writing the visas. Even while being led away from his office, he was signing visas on the train and flinging them out the window to the desperate crowds below. He too is remembered in Yad Vashem as a “righteous gentile.” The most famous group to benefit from Sugihara’s benevolence was the Mir Yeshiva. It was the only yeshiva to have escaped intact from Hitler’s clutches. The yeshiva stayed in Japan for several months and after trying unsuccessfully to obtain U.S. visas, left to Shanghai. Once there, the bochurim spent their time learning. Beis Aharon Synagogue fit the yeshiva perfectly—with just enough seats—and so they were able to learn during the rest of the war years. Most of those in the yeshiva were orphans—their whole families were exterminated by Hitler’s minions—and the yeshiva became their family. The “Alter Mirrers” shared
David Sassoon and his three sons
a bond of closeness that was unparalleled. LIFE IN SHANGHAI The Ohel Moshe Synagogue became the religious center for the Jewish refugees at the time. The refugees received food and shelter and schools were established for their children. Shanghai at the time was under Japanese rule and the Germans tried to influence the Japanese to establish concentration camps to annihilate the Jews. The Germans suggested a mass arrest on Rosh Hashana in September 1942 of all Jews in the city. Colonel Josef Meisinger, chief representative of the Gestapo in Japan, proposed a “Final Solution in Shanghai” to the authorities. Fortunately, the Japanese did not heed the Nazi’s whisperings; they weren’t interested in killing the refugees. At the time, the Japanese military governor of Shanghai asked the Amshinover Rebbe, Rabbi Shimon Shalom Kalish, why the Germans hated the Jews so much. Some say that Rabbi Kalish wisely replied in Yiddish, “Tell him because we are Orientals.” The governor smiled at his answer and did not hand over the Jews to the Nazis’ hands. On February 18, 1943, a “Designated Area for Stateless Refugees” was established. All those who immigrated to the city after 1937 were moved to a
A Jewish girl and a Chinese girl playing together
In the ‘ghetto’ in China
one-square-mile “ghetto.” Contrary to what they experienced in Europe, the Shanghai Ghetto did not have walls, although curfew was enforced and food was rationed. Those entering and leaving the ghetto needed a pass. Interestingly, there were many Chinese people who lived with the Jews in the ghetto. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, American citizens were unable to send food and money to those living in enemy-occupied areas. As such, the Jewish community in the United States couldn’t send provisions to their brothers in Shanghai. Food was scarce and life was hard in the ghetto. Outbreaks of disease were common. By 1944, though, those in Switzerland were able to send aid and the situation dramatically improved. After the end of the war and upon the establishment of the State of Israel, most of the refugees left Shanghai to the United States and Israel. When the Cultural Revolution took place in 1966, all the Jews left the country. But today, Jews are coming back to China to engage in trade and education. Those who lived in China previously still harbor a deep sense of gratitude towards the country that opened its arms to them in their time of need. Indeed, many of us are descendants of those who survived through the benevolence of the China and will forever appreciate the goodness of our Oriental brothers.
E B 2R 4U ,A RY 1 3 , 2014 T H E J E W I S H H O M E n MFAY 2012
The famous photo of the Mirrer Yeshiva learning in Shanghai. It was the only yeshiva to escape the war intact.
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Kosherology Travel
The Shul on the Beach Old Orchard Beach, Maine
To the tune of “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof “A shul that’s on the beach. It seems the strangest sight. It sits there on the beach, it sits there day and night. What does this mean? This shul that’s on the beach. Where did it come from and how does it survive...Persistence! Persistence!...”
S
orry for my little song, but an Orthodox shul sitting on the beach in a small bygone beach town is truly one of the strangest sights I have ever encountered. This past summer, my father and I took a highly memorable road trip to New England (will hopefully have some more about that). We traveled to Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and saw many stunningly beautiful and interesting places. My father and I had to agree though; the most interesting place we visited was Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and the little old white shul that sits on the sand. While planning our trip and trying to figure out where we could spend Shabbos in or near Maine (as that is where we were hoping to be, per our itinerary), I ran across a website which brought to my attention Congregation Beth Israel of Old Orchard Beach. It looked promising; after mentioning to someone we met in Rhode Island that we were hoping to go to Old Orchard Beach for Shabbos and were trying to get in contact with someone there who could help us make our plans (Where could we stay? Is there a minyan? Is this a crazy idea? etc.), we were put in touch with Eber Weinstein, who helped us plan our Shabbos. Who is Eber Weinstein, you ask. Eber Weinstein and his brother Neil are the sole forces behind Congregation Beth Israel. Having grown up visiting Old Orchard Beach during their summer vacations and having a close connection to the shul (their great-grandfather helped purchase the land the shul sits on), the Weinstein brothers decided to permanently move to Old Orchard Beach and keep their shul operating for all Jews in need of a shul, whether locals or visitors. As it turns out, this bygone beach town of Old Orchard Beach was once a popular getaway for Jewish families, going all the way back to the 1800’s. In its heyday, Old Orchard Beach had three kosher hotels, a kosher baker, a kosher butcher, and even until fairly recently: a kosher French fry shop which attracted Jewish visitors who traveled from as far as Boston just to get these delicious boardwalk fries. Congregation Beth Israel was constructed around 1917 by a French carpenter and its design resembles that of a ship (only upside down) and served as the beach’s center for those seeking traditional Orthodox services ever since and at one point in time, was standing room only on Shabbos. In the 1960’s, when airfare and other means of travel started becoming more affordable, visitors stopped coming to Old Orchard Beach, much like that which happened to the Catskills. The glory days of Jewish Old Orchard Beach was no longer. The shul has since been sitting on the 7 mile stretch of Old Orchard Beach, surrounded by a dozen old seaside beach motels, non-kosher restaurants and bars, souvenir/t-shirt shops, and a good old fashioned amusement park and arcade by the boardwalk (filled with the good old games I remember from arcades when I was a kid). There is no pulpit rabbi of the shul, rather all services are led by Eber and visitors to the shul. When we were there, we were fortunate to have a minyan for every service on Shabbos. Also visiting Old Orchard Beach this same weekend were a couple from Boston, a couple from Baltimore, two teenaged kids from New York, and a family from Montreal who had no idea there was a shul in the beach town they decided to visit over Shabbos. All of these visitors had a hand in adding to the unique Shabbos atmosphere and many helped with leading davening. I even led Shabbos morning Shacharis for the first time since my bar mitzvah, as well as Maariv motzei Shabbos. After Shabbos, my father and I took a walk down to the boardwalk arcade and to the pier, which was bustling with night-life activity. As we left Old Orchard Beach (or OOB, as it’s abbreviated on the sweatshirt I bought from a souvenir shop), we left with visions of a wonderful, memorable Shabbos, the town in its vibrant past with tons of Jewish families enjoying themselves strolling along the boardwalk, and a hope to return to this gem in the near future. Alex Idov is a kosher food blogger who runs the blog “Kosherology” and is a regular contributing food columnist to TJH. He is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in Culinary Sustainability (food & agriculture). Please visit “Kosherology” at www.exploretheworldofkosher.com and find Kosherology” on Facebook.
Alex Idov
101 Deborah Kaminetzky, Esq.
Divorce: All Expenses Paid?
The Attorney Responds: Without examining your financial records as well as those of your wife, it is hard to answer with any specificity; however, I can give you an idea of the law on this subject. What your wife is talking about sounds like what we call “pendente lite relief.” The purpose of pendente lite relief is to ensure that the parties’ standard of living is preserved, pending the litigation. Domestic Relations Law (“DRL”) Section 236(B)(6) and (8) and Section 240 provide authority for the Court to award either spouse temporary maintenance based upon the parties’ prior standard of living. The pendente lite order should also be reasonable regarding the needs of the moving party and the financial ability of the moved upon spouse. This determination should take into account the pre-separation standard of living. Some of the factors to be considered in awarding temporary maintenance include the standard of living of the parties during the marriage, the income and property of the parties, the distribution of marital property, the duration of the marriage, the health of the parties, the present and future earning capacity of both parties, the ability of the party seeking maintenance to become self-supporting and the reduced or lost lifetime earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance. In awarding maintenance, it is necessary to consider both the reasonable needs of the recipient as well as the pre-divorce standard of living. The party seeking maintenance has the burden of proof to show necessity or the inability to maintain herself. So your wife would have to file a motion asking for temporary maintenance and attorney’s fees with reasons for why she should get it and you would have the opportunity to tell your side of the story. Regarding your wife’s request for attorney’s fees, if asked for in a pendent lite motion, they are normally awarded to the less moneyed spouse in order to
level the playing field. So, for instance, let’s say that you make significantly more than your wife or that she has no income. You paying her attorney’s fees would accomplish the state’s goal of preventing the more affluent spouse from wearing down or financially punishing the opposition by recalcitrance, or by prolonging the litigation. There are situations, however, where the parties’ incomes are such that an award of maintenance and attorney’s fees would actually result in a situation where the wife has more money than the husband after the transfer of funds whereby the playing field is not leveled but tilted in the other direction. This is not likely to happen. There was a 2011 case (Scott M. v. Ilona M.) where the wife after being paid maintenance was now the moneyed spouse and therefore did not qualify for legal fees from the husband. In that case, Judge Sunshine stated, “The Court cannot decide that just because one party ‘earns more’ than the other that they automatically become the ‘moneyed spouse.’” This would be an injustice. In a newer case in 2013, Justice Matthew Cooper ruled that the wife would no longer qualify for additional legal fees paid by her husband because it was giving her a disincentive to settle as she had “no skin in the game” and would continue to litigate as long as her legal fees were being paid. I myself have defeated motions for attorney’s fees, especially where my fee was lower than the spouse’s attorney, the court is not generally going to award a fee that is higher than what the moneyed spouse is paying. So despite your wife’s opinion, awards of attorney’s fees are not a certainty. Regarding your wife’s comment that you would be responsible for paying for all your children’s expenses, you should know that in New York, basic child support as well as add-ons (expenses such as medical co-pays, extracurricular activities, private school tuition) are generally paid proportionately to income, so if your wife is earning an income, she too would be responsible for part
of their support. There is a formula to figure out how much each parent should pay according to the statute, the CSSA (Child Support Standards Act). In addition, couples can “opt-out” of the formula by either agreeing to pay more or less than is required depending on other factors in the divorce such as who is getting which assets such as the marital residence. A d d i t i o n a l l y, child support will depend on which one of you the children live with; normally the non-custodial parent will pay support to the custodial parent. My advice to you would be to consult with an attorney who can give you a specific picture of what your financial future may look like if you decide to
proceed with a divorce. You may not be living on that couch after all! This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed unless a signed retainer exists. 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 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. Ms. Kaminetzky has spoken to various groups on topics including matrimonial law, technology and social media use, and disaster preparedness for business.
New in North Woodmere
The
North Woodmere Morning Kollel Invites men of all ages to join us for the daily Early Morning Learning Seder and Shachris Minyan
New! Sunday Morning Learning Program 7:30 am
Inyanei Teffila by Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Halpern 8:00 am
Lavish
Schachris
will be
Shiur by Rabbi Yisroel Hirsch Inyanei Bein Adam L’Chaveiro
Breakfast
8:45 am
Served
Mon. – Fri.
Learning
6:00 am –7:00 am
At Congregation Ohr Torah 410 Hungry Harbor Road
Chavrusa learning And shiurim available
Schachris 7:00 am
For more information please call Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Halpern at 347-415-6686
F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
I told my wife that I want a divorce. She told me I’d be sorry, that she would get at least temporary maintenance and attorney fees and that I would have to pay for all the kids’ expenses! She made it sound like I would spend the rest of my life living on my brother’s couch and giving her all my money! Is this true?
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Photos 4 your Simcha Professional Photography and Video We love what we do and it shows in our work! Competitively priced! Check out our website & specials. www.photos4yoursimcha.com or call Yaakov 718-868-1800 Guaranteed cheapest prices on strollers and baby gear! Babyjogger, Uppa, Stokke, Britax, Bugaboo and more! Free next day shipping and no tax Call or text 443-208-8532, sthav@zment.com Struggling with Shalom Bayis? The Shalom Bayis Hotline 732-523-1112 Caring rabbanim answering your questions for free So far very positive results BS’D! Yiddish Home Study Program: The new book Yiddish in 10 Lessons along with 2 CD's has just been released to easily learn to read, write and speak the Yiddish language. Call Chaim at 516 924 7694 or www.conversationalyiddish,com You can also sign up to receive a Free Weekly Taste of Yiddish
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Apt for Rent. New to market, available immediately, beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Great location, Meehan and Beach 6th St. $1950 including heat. Please call 718-471-8444 ext. 213
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Volunteer tutors desperately needed for Zichron Etel, a tutoring gemach that provides free tutoring to those who cannot afford it. Help needed in Brooklyn & the Five Towns. Please contact Nina@ 516-791-6676 or zichronetel@aol.com
Love your car?‌Give it life Donate it to Yeshiva Fast, Free pick-up and towing Easy donation steps Maximum charitable tax deduction Free Vacation Voucher, 2 days/3nights CALL NOW! (718) 778-4766 Looking for donation of car or minivan in good running condition. Tax exempt receipt available for full market value. Please call 347-342-8196 Shaital gmach in Eretz Yisroel desperately needs shaitels. To be a part of this great mitzvah please call Peninia @ 347-6756526 Tizku L’mitzvos For sale: Blue Dodge Caravan 04' $2500. Call 917 825 2730
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From My Private Art Collection
Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg
Chai Points
The Use of Art Materials with Caution in a Safe Environment
T
his article is being written to inform the readers of this column of precautionary measures which must be taken in order to secure the safe use of art materials. In all of my articles, I encourage creative stim-
ulation and experiment. These artistic voyages of expression should never be
taken at the risk of any health hazards. The personal rewards and accomplishments are only a plus if health concerns are the top priority. My intention is to make the public aware of any health risks. So please take the time to be cautious when planning an art activity. Improper use can cause unnecessary health problems. 1) Always work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside or by an open window when using any product which produces fumes or dust. 2) Respiratory problems can be caused when fumes are inhaled on a continuous basis. Therefore, it is always in your best interest to wear a doctor’s mask when working with adhesives, spray paints or fixatives. 3) Pastels, charcoal and chalks produce dust and should be used in an area with proper ventilation. Make
sure to take breaks when using these materials. Continuous use of them while being used improperly can cause irritations to the lungs. 4) Make sure that when cleaning brushes with turpentine or paint remover that they are cleaned in a well-ventilated area or by an open window. Inhalation of the fumes can be toxic. 5) Check to see if you are allergic to any art materials before 15) Read instructions on the propusing them. Some people are aller- er handling of the tools of the trade. gic to specific art materials and they Some are easy and some require readcan cause rashes which are extremely ing instructions before using, which uncomfortable. Wear doctors’ plastic will prevent any accidents from hapgloves fit to size if this is the case. pening. They come in all sizes. The tighter the 16) Be careful not to bump into fit the easier it will be anyone else workto use the art materiing next to you in an als. art studio shared by 6) Certain glazes many people. This used in working with will help avoid the TAKE THE TIME TO clay and sculpturing risk of accidentalBE CAUTIOUS WHEN ly causing another can cause an allergic reaction. Check out person to hurt themPLANNING AN ART all ingredients before selves while holding ACTIVITY. using them. a tool. 7) Too much ex17) Always put posure to turpentine your supplies away in is not healthy. The a safe way and high skin can absorb it enough so that young and it will enter the bloodstream. So children cannot reach them without be cautious when using. It is wise to supervision. wear rubber gloves and use a rag when 18) Always use non-toxic materiusing the material. als when working with young children 8). Inks and dyes require care when in schools and at camp. Professional using. Preferably, they should always supplies which may be toxic are only be used while wearing rubber gloves. to be used by adults who are proficient 9) Plaster is also a material which in their use. gives off a tremendous amount of dust, so when planning a sculpture project wear a doctor’s mask and rubber gloves. 10) Safety glasses are wise to purchase if you will be doing a large Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg is a proamount of artwork on a continuous fessional art educator, artist and designer. Among her known artwork is a floral basis. 11) Do not chew the tips of your sculpture presented to Tipper Gore, Blair lead pencils or colored pencils. They House, Washington, D.C. Presently she is the Director of Operations at Shulamith can be toxic. 12) Any open cuts should be cov- School for Girls. Please feel free to email ered when working with art materials. nherzberg@optonline.net with questions 13) Be cautious not to rub your and suggestions for future columns. eyes while your hands are covered with any art materials.
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— Presents — A BRAND NEW
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PHONES STAFFED BY LICENSED FRUM THERAPISTS
• Completely Anonymous • Desgined around your schedule • Use the service as a sounding board for even small issues you feel you may want to discuss further
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F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014
beginning thursday, august 2nd and then every sunday, tuesday and thursday night
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FIVE TOWNS M ARRIAGE INITIATIVE
THE JEW H OIMS EH nH O MFEE BnR M U AAYRY2143, ,2012 2014 T HIESJHE W
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In the Kitchen Naomi Nachman
M
A Taste of the Sea
y parents were visiting us from Australia, so I wanted our Shabbat food to be extra special. I made them some of my favorite fish dishes with the new recipes I created since I had last seen them. My mother is a gefilta fish maven – which she picked up from her mother, my Bubbie – so I decided to make my Gefilta Fish Spiced Crab Cakes. My mother abso-
Spiced Crab Cakes Ingredients 1 loaf gefilta fish, defrosted 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoon dried cilantro 1 tablespoon dried dill ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cups panko crumbs divided Preparation Place defrosted loaf into a mixing bowl and add rest of the ingredients except 1 cup of the panko crumbs and mix well. Take the extra one cup panko crumbs and place in a small shallow bow. Set aside. From the mixture form patties about the size of your palm and then coat both sides in the panko crumbs. Set aside and repeat with remaining mixture. On medium to high heat, fry the crab cakes for two minutes on each side until cooked through. Place on paper towels after cooking.
lutely loved them, as did my 6-year old! I made a double batch so we could have them all the way through seuda shlishit. My parents also love salmon so, of course, I had to make my Nut Crusted Salmon (which they really enjoyed). I’ve included recipes for both dishes below. Below are three easy fish recipes that your family will enjoy as much as mine.
Nut Crusted Salmon with Creamy Chrain Sauce
Fish with Butter and Lemon Wine Sauce with Fresh Herbs
Ingredients 1/8 cup red horseradish 1/8 cup mayonnaise 1 cup shelled salted pistachios ½ cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 lbs salmon fillet (one whole side of a salmon)
Note: Roux is a substance created by cooking wheat flour and fat. It is the thickening agent when making sauces.
Preparation Mix the horseradish and mayonnaise together in a small bowl. Place the salmon on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the mixture over the fish and set aside. In a food processor, crush the nuts until they are coarsely ground but not too fine. Add in the brown sugar and lemon juice and mix until it looks like wet sand. Pat nut mixture on top of salmon and bake for 25 minutes at 350°.
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website,www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.
Ingredients 2 lbs red snapper, cod, tilapia, Nile perch sliced into individual servings approx. 6 oz each ½ cup corn starch 1 tablespoon Ossie’s lemon pepper 4 tablespoons butter, divided 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup white wine 1 fresh lemon, juiced 1 teaspoon lemon pepper Salt Small handful fresh parsley, finely chopped Preparation In a small bowl, mix corn starch and lemon pepper together. Coat the fish in the corn starch mixture. In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter on a high heat (watch for burning) then add each piece of fish and cook for 3 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Place the fish in an ovenproof dish and set aside. To prepare the sauce: on a moderate heat, melt butter then add in the flour to make a roux, stirring constantly, until it thickens. The sauce will get nice and thick as it gets closer to its boiling point. Add one cup of white wine. Add fresh lemon juice and lemon pepper, and salt to taste. Stir constantly till the sauce is nice and thick, then add in the fresh parsley. Pour sauce over fish and bake at 350° for 20 minutes uncovered.
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In the Kitchen
A Sprinkle of Cinnamon
Baked Apples with a Twist Ingredients 2 lbs apples, Cortland or Gala, cored and chopped 2 tsp cinnamon Juice of 1 lemon 1/3 cup brown sugar Preparation Preheat oven to 375째. Toss chopped apples with cinnamon, lemon juice and brown sugar. Place in baking dish. Bake in oven, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes until soft and juicy. Serve with ice cream for a delicious dessert or with roast meat as a great side for dinner.
Continued on page 110
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Early Intervention Services For children birth - 3 years with special needs.
Services Provided l
Evaluations
l
Feeding Therapy
l
Special Education
l
Nutrition Counseling
l
Service Coordination
l
Family Support/Counseling
l
Speech/Language Therapy
l
Physical & Occupational Therapy
ABA Program – Center & Home Services Routines Based Interventions & Collaborative Coaching l
Far
Ser Roc
ving
kaw
ay
TO REFER YOUR CHILD TO THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM CALL 311. This Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a public program for children under the age of three who are either suspected of having or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. EIP is funded by NYS and NYC. All EIP services are provided at no cost to parents. Health insurance may be used for approved services. A child’s eligibility for the program can be determined only by state-approved evaluators under contract, and all services must be authorized by the NYC Early Intervention Program.
For more information about CHALLENGE call:
718.851.3300
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F E B R U A RY 1 3 , 2014 THE JEWISH HOME n
Ingredients ½ cup plus 1 ½ TBS sugar, divided 1 ½ tsp cinnamon 1 cup water ½ teaspoon salt 2 TBS plus 2 quarts oil, divided 1 cup flour
in a large, heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F. (There should be a minimum of 3 inches above the oil to prevent it from bubbling over.) Transfer the dough to a cloth pastry bag or heavy-duty plastic bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the dough over the pot of oil to a length of about 4 inches, then using scissors or a sharp knife, cut it so it releases into the oil. Pipe two to three churros into the oil at a time, frying them until they’re golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the churros to the paper towel-lined plate to drain for 2 minutes, then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat the frying and coating process with the remaining dough.
Preparation Combine ½ cup sugar with cinnamon in shallow bowl. Line a plate with paper towels. In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the water, 1 ½ tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring the mixture to a boil then remove it from the heat. Stir in the flour, mixing until it forms a ball. Heat 3 to 4 inches of vegetable oil
Snickerdoodles Ingredients 1 cup butter or margarine 1 ½ cups sugar 2 large eggs 2 ¾ cups flour 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt 3 TBS sugar 3 tsp cinnamon Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine but-
ter or margarine, sugar and eggs in large bowl. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients into margarine mixture. Chill dough for 10-15 minutes in the fridge. Mix 3 TBS sugar and 3 tsp cinnamon in small bowl. Using a chilled ice cream scooper, scoop up 1-inch balls of dough and roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Place on chilled ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread This recipe is dairy and is moist and delicious—perfect for Shabbos mornings! Ingredients cups flour ¾ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt tsp cinnamon ½ cup light brown sugar, not packed 4 TBS unsalted butter, softened 2 large eggs ½ cups mashed very ripe banana 1/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (you can use Greek yogurt) 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted 1 TBS heavy cream or half-and-half Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a separate large bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter with a stand or handheld mixer on medium speed until well blended – about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time. With a wooden spoon, stir in the mashed banana, yogurt, and vanilla. Slowly add in the dry ingredients. Batter will be thick. Spoon half of the batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with ¼ cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Top with remaining batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on the wire rack. While the bread is cooling, make the glaze in a small bowl by combining the powdered sugar and heavy cream. Add more powdered sugar until you reached desired thickness. Drizzle over banana bread.
T H E J E W I S H H O M E n M AY 2 4 , 2012
Soft ‘n Chewy Churros
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Allan J. Rolnick, CPA
Adding Insult to Super Bowl Injury
$46,000 bonus the NFL awards to losing players. Or does he? Well, here’s the deal. It turns on two things: 1. New Jersey, like most states, tackles visiting athletes with a “jock tax.” The state calculates Manning’s taxable income by dividing the number of days he practices and plays in the state by the number of “duty days” he works for the whole year. Then they apply the regular tax rates, which range up to 8.97% on income over $500,000. 2. Next month, Manning heads to the doctor to follow up on a series of surgeries to his neck and spine. If everything still looks good, he plans to return for the 2014 season. If not, he’ll ride off into the sunset, go to work as a broadcaster, and wait for his induction into the Hall of Fame. Now, here’s where the play gets complicated. If Manning’s neck forces him to retire, he’ll finish 2014 with $111,000 in playoff bonuses. He’ll owe New Jersey tax for the seven days he worked in the state, out of 33 days he played for the year. He’ll hand off $982 in tax, and probably hope he can forget the day ever happened. But — if Manning’s neck checks
out okay, and he goes on to play next season, he’ll earn another $15 million in 2014 salary. Then he’ll owe New Jersey tax for a smaller fraction of the season — seven days out of 200, rather than seven days out of 33. But he’ll apply that fraction to a whopping $15,111,000 of income. That means he’ll turn over $46,844 in tax — $844 more than he actually made for playing Sunday’s game! And this is all before we get to Uncle Sam, who picks off 39.6% for income tax and 3.8% for Medicare. Manning’s total tax bill on his $46,000 Super Bowl bonus could hit $66,808, meaning it actually cost him 20 G’s to play! Where’s the fun in that? At least Manning still leads the NFL in endorsements. He makes $12 million per year from sponsors including Reebok, Buick, Wheaties, DirecTV, and Papa John’s pizza. He should be thankful New Jersey doesn’t tax him on a share of that endorsement income. Some U.S. golfers, among other athletes, have had to weigh whether or not to play tournaments in European countries that tax visiting athletes on a share of their endorsement income as well as contest winnings. So, here’s the final score. When you try something new, like earning income from a new venture or in a new place, you can’t just add up the numbers at the end of the year and hope for the best. You need a plan to penetrate the tax man’s defense — one that anticipates blindside rushers like New Jersey’s jock tax. So call your accountant when you’re ready for your plan. And remember, we’re here for your teammates, too! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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n Sunday, quarterback Peyton Manning led his uncharacteristically hapless Denver Broncos to the second-most-lopsided Super Bowl loss ever. Manning & Company just couldn’t catch a break, from the safety they gave up on the game’s first play, to Manning’s two interceptions, to Percy Harvin’s second-half kickoff return, to . . . you get the picture. So, Manning didn’t walk away with that hoped-for second Super Bowl ring. But at least he walks away with the
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here’s this “breath caught in your throat” feeling. There’s an all-consuming euphoria bubbling over. It’s just an overwhelming high! And, strangely, I’m not talking about being in love or seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World for the first time. I’m talking about a snow same subway, same trading floor, same day! roster with patients, same classes, There’s nothing that gets a kid more etc… And then G-d decides to wake us excited than a snow day. And if it lasts all up. ‘Snow joke! You need to get out a week, oh my goodness, they’re fly- there and reconnect to the kid in you. ing. It’s that Monopoly game, get out Seriously, didn’t you notice the word of jail free, pass go, collect 200 dollars “freeze” starts with the word “free”? feeling, wrapped up with winning the You’ve got to get out there and freeze a NY Lottery! little ‘cause it frees you up to throw off It kind of makes me wonder what the daily shackles and be a free spirit. in the world they are doing to our Somehow it seems the hot places children at school that makes them so really miss out. You never really hear ecstatic not to people say, “Heat go! To think we, wave—no school lovingly, send today!” That’s DIDN’T YOU NOTICE off our innocent probably why, if bundles of joy you take notes, THE WORD “FREEZE” to a place they “warm” start with STARTS WITH THE dread more than “war.” It’s just a big fight to find a a blizzard. WORD “FREE”? Is it the snow place to cool off. It’s amazing they love? Is it we get these indithe school they hate? Or is it the unexpected freedom vidual little specks that fall in abunof an unplanned, unregimented day, dance like mannah from heaven, givwith no other agenda—just a day they ing us that little bit of sustenance to feed our ability to be a kid again. suddenly own for themselves. The next time the flakes start to fall, Everyone can identify with this feeling. We are all so scheduled up. and I’m talking from the sky, not your Even when we plan a day off; we scalp, don’t fight it! Be thankful you “plan” a day off! Get it: it’s work, it’s can escape the rat race for just a little arranging, it’s thinking. Snow days just while to be that enthusiastic, snowball throwing, igloo building, kid you once show up! If you have a sled and a slope near- started out to be. Next time you wake up and hear by, you are king of the hill! If not, even a carton and a driveway could work. If “no school today,” don’t wait for your you’ve got carrots in the house and cu- kid to come barreling into your room. cumber slices or loose buttons laying Get up, run into theirs, jump onto their around, you’re good for the whole day. bed and yell, “Free for all!” Let them Roll, pack, pile, slide—that’s about see the side of you that was once a kid, all you need to do. Then chill in front too. “Snow one” will be happier than of a warm fire with hot chocolate and you! So….just enjoy the rest of the winroasted marshmallows, and you’ve hit ter. Summer will be here before you snow day heaven. It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s why G-d know it! ties up the whole city—just so everyone can experience childhood at its Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationfinest. Sometimes we start to believe that ship counselor, and career and life coach. doing the same thing day in, day out She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or is the be all to end all—same car ride, rivki@rosenwalds.com
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Our 19th spectacular year! Directly on the beach Oversized NEWLY RENOVATED rooms many with terraces Superb Children’s program Gourmet glatt kosher cuisine with renowned Chef Andy Serano Communal or private seders Private seder rooms available Trips to major attractions Golf, tennis, watersports nearby Daily services, shiurim, lectures FEATURING:
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THE SCHECHTER FAMILY PRESENTS...
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