August 25 — September 1, 2016
Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn
Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
Pages 9, 10, 11 & 13
Around the
Community
40
Gat Brothers Draw Record Crowds to Gourmet Glatt’s Concert Under the Stars
55
Strong Support for One Israel Fund’s 7th Annual Five Towns Siyum & BBQ
50
Fox News Media Star Major Pete Hegseth Tours Israel
TJH Speaks with Local Day Camps
This Week We’re Talking to… Camp Areivim pg 74 and... Camp Atara
pg
78
– See pages 3 & 29
SEASONS LAWRENCE
330 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559
Melania and Hillary Cookie Competition Page 103
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers,
T
his week, a powerful, well-known voice for
only to promote Torah and mitzvos, to show those
Orthodox Jewry passed away. Rebbetzin
who were not yet Torah observant just how thirsty
Esther Jungreis a”h was a wonder. With
they are for a pure connection to Hashem. That was
her tiny frame and commanding voice, she inspired
her goal. She wanted to open up the Torah and give
publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com
thousands around the globe with her passion and
them a little taste into the heritage that was theirs.
love for Yiddishkeit. She urged the masses to never
Torah is for all of us regardless of what we wear on
Yosef Feinerman
accept a diluted form of Judaism. Orthodoxy was
our heads; listen, hear, absorb its messages and
ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com
the conduit to connect to G-d, she said, as she im-
come back for more.
Shoshana Soroka
plored the unaffiliated not to fall prey to the clutch-
As a survivor of the Holocaust, Rebbetzin Jun-
es of assimilation. She was a woman way ahead
greis was well suited to lead a generation of survi-
of her time, headlining massive events for her ki-
vors and children of survivors. Many who emerged
ruv work. Her name opened doors and her words
from the Nazi infernos were broken, lost and disil-
opened hearts.
lusioned. But the Rebbetzin emerged with her head
To many, she was “Rebbetzin,” but she was also
held high and with her spirit unbroken, endeavor-
their friend, their mother, their teacher. So many
ing to encourage a generation to still be strong. She
people felt a true connection to Rebbetzin Jungreis,
connected with them and she inspired them. If she
drinking in her words of Torah, absorbing her pow-
could pick up the broken pieces and still be uplifted,
erful messages, and pouring out their souls to her.
they thought, then so could they. She showed them
I know many single women who considered her
how they could be living outside the shtetl and still
Hineni center their home away from home, so close
remain frum; she taught them how to be proud of
did they feel with Rebbetzin Jungreis.
their heritage and their commandments.
Rebbetzin Jungreis was respected by all – the
This week, thousands mourned the loss of their
unaffiliated and the frum; Americans, Israelis and
leader and Torah teacher. But the Rebbetzin is not
those around the globe; Jews and non-Jews. Every-
gone. Her words have left an impact on so many
one who heard her message knew it was pure, it was
and they carry her message, imparting them to oth-
coming from a deep passion to spread the truth of
ers, her voice reverberating and inspiring future
Judaism to the masses.
generations. May she be a meilitz yosher for our community
From the outside, it would seem that perhaps the Rebbetzin was a feminist, interested in furthering women’s equality. But that is far from the truth. I would say that she was a Torah-ist. Her goal was
and all of klal Yisroel.
Shoshana
Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER
MANAGING EDITOR
EDITOR
editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classifieds: Deadline Mondays 5PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll
8
Community Happenings
40
This Week We’re Talking to... Camp Areivim
74
This Week We’re Talking to… Camp Atara
78
NEWS Global
13
National
27
Odd-but-True Stories
34
ISRAEL
88
Israel News
20
Off My Couch and Out the Door by Rafi Sackville
80
PEOPLE Remembering Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h 70 DMZs around the World by Avi Heiligman
114
PARSHA Rabbi Wein
66
Dear Editor, Both Mrs. Tova Rosenberg and Mr. Irving Roth are looking forward while looking back. These two impressive individuals are using the stories of Holocaust survivors and connecting them with the younger generation to help perpetuate the memories for many more years to come. Isn’t this what our mesorah is about? Think about Pesach, at the seder. We are commanded to tell and retell the miracles of yetziyas Mitzrayim. It is our duty to connect our history with the future generations and help make that history their own. Our nation is a chain and we can trace that chain hundreds of generations. What a wonderful feeling for our children to know that they are connected to something so great and that they have forefathers who helped pave the way for them. They are part
67
Sweat the Small Stuff by Eytan Kobre
68
Put the Past Where it Belongs by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff
90
Dear Editor, Is anyone else tired, oh so tired, of hearing about the elections? I wish I can press a button and never have to hear the names Hillary and Donald for the next few weeks. Give us all a break. If we haven’t yet decided on who we’re going to vote for, we’ll snap our radios back on the week of November 8 and decide then. For now, just let us live in peace and quiet. Sam Holland Dear Editor, I love living in this neighborhood. I know that people really look out for each other. Case in point: on Tisha Continued on page 12
JEWISH THOUGHT Thanks for Nothing by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
of something bigger than themselves and they should be proud of their heritage. Sincerely, Chana L.
HEALTH & FITNESS Men Don’t Need Help by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD
86
You are What you Eat by Aliza Beer, MS RD
88
FOOD & LEISURE
89
The Aussie Gourmet: Chips ‘n’ Dips
89
Cookie Contest by Maura Judkis
94
LIFESTYLES Traveling? Make Sure to Hit the Top Ten National Parks by Rebecca Powers 108
Walking in the Footsteps of our Forefathers: My Trip through Europe and Israel by Reuven Guttman
112
Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW
83
Your Money
125
Yay or Nay by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
126
HUMOR Centerfold
62
Rocky’s Rant: All Thumbs
116
Uncle Moishy Fun Page
103
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes
98
Why Young Voters Find Trump a Turn-Off by Michael Gerson
105
The Price of Powerlessness by Charles Krauthammer
106
CLASSIFIEDS
121
A second grade teacher in Texas has said she will not be giving homework this year because she doesn’t find it beneficial for students. Do you think that homework helps with the learning process?
57
%
YES
43
%
NO
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Sale Dates: August 28th - September 2nd 2016
Weekly Hunt’s BBQ Sauce
Vintage Seltzer
Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil
General Mills 8.9 oz Cheerios; 10.7 oz Trix; 11.25 oz Cookie Crisp 2/$
Heinz Ketchup $
5/$
2/
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14.75 iz - 15.25 oz
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4 ...................................................... 2/$
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Dagim Solid White Tuna in Water
Maxwell House or Sanka Instant Coffee
6 oz
9 oz/8 oz $ 99 ...................................................... Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Mug Schweppes, Brisk 12 Pack - 12 oz Cans
5
3/$
4
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Hadar Tirosh Cookies 6.1 oz
3
2/$
999
$
Imperial Baby or Kosher Dill Pickles
Gulden’s Mustard
3
1
Green Giant Corn, Gourmet Glatt Dried Sweet Peas, Cut Beans Natural Guava Discs
399
5
5/$
$
.................................................
.................................................
Lieber’s Royal Chocolate Chip or Iced Oatmeal Cookies 16 oz
4
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899
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Crystal Geyser Sports Cap Water
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by the case only
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family pack!
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Except Pizza 8 oz
Assorted 16 oz
10/$
Sabra 10 oz Hummus, 16 oz Salsa or 8 oz Guacamole
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All Varieties
4
mix n match!
Miller Shredded Cheese
5
2/$
2
$
International Delight Coffee Creamer Assorted 32 oz
.......................................
349
$
Friendship Cottage Cheese
. . . . . . . . 10 ..............................................
Assorted 32 oz
64 oz
YoPlait Greek Yogurt All Flavors - 5.3 oz
Ba-tampte Pickles
2/$
5
......................................................
10
1
$ 99
51 oz
.................................................
1
Ha’olam String Cheese
6/$
Whole - 14 oz
89¢
.................................................
$ 99
12
Gefen Hearts of Palm
1 Liter
.................................................
Shibolim Chocolate Covered Pretzels
3/$
Chex Mix
1
Bartenura Balsamic Vinegar
Hunt’s Tomatoes
$
5
349
5
All Varieties - 18 oz
99
299
$
Penn Maid Sour Cream
.......................................
Lactaid Milk Assorted 64 oz
399
$
3
2/$
Let’s BBQ! Italian Sausage Sliders
7
Kosherific Fish Sticks Popsicle Ice Pops
Seasoned or Pastrami Beef Patties
25 oz
99 $ 99 . . . . . . . . . . .lb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lb. .............. Empire Chicken Aaron’s Classic Franks or Turkey Franks 1.68 1b 16 oz $ 99 2/$
.......................................
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family pack! .......................................
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4 Count - 6 Count
24 oz
24 oz
899
$
Joburg Sausages
Andouille Cajun, Chicken Cilantro, Polish Kielbasa - 16 oz $ 99
Sabra Spreads
Assorted Flavors
NOW 2 locations!
Cedarhurst STORE HOURS
99
Macabee Pizza Bagels Whole Fruit Tubes & 18 Count Fruit Bars
9 . . . . . .5 ................................................... 11
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2
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99
Assorted 25 oz - 29 oz
Pardes Cauliflower Florets
$
599
5
$
Eggo Waffles
All Flavors 18 - 20 Count
24 oz
4
$
499
99
$
Kineret Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
499
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B’gan Chopped Broccoli
499
$
New Items This Week! made with hummus! non-gmo! 137 Spruce Street
Baked by Bibis Assorted Flavors
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SUN -TUE: 7 AM-9 PM WED: 7 AM-11 PM THURS: 7 AM-12 AM FRIDAY 6:30 AM-2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING
Woodmere STORE HOURS
healthier, delicious & wholesome sweet treats 1030 Railroad Avenue
(516) 295-6901
SUN - THURS: 7 AM-9 PM FRIDAY 7 AM UNTIL 2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
Sale Dates: August 28th - September 2nd 2016
Specials
HOMEMADE new item! KOLICHEL PASTRAMI
899 lb.
$
CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
249 lb.
$
Family Pack
White Meat Shoulder London Boneless $ 49 Broil $ 49 5 lb. 9 lb. Neck of $1049 lb. Ground Chicken Veal Roast Family Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Silver $ 49 Utrimmed Tip Roast 9 lb. Frozen Beef ................... $ 99 $ 99 Patties 3 lb. 4 lb. Chicken Neck & Skirt 12 Pack Cutlets Ground $489 lb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Super Family Pack ................... Semi-Boneless Beef Super Family Pack Fillet Steak$ 99 Turkey $299 lb. ................... .Family . . . . . . . Pack . . . . . . . . . . . 8 lb. Wings Beef Kolichel ................... $ 49 lb. Whole or Seasoned/ ready to bake .Roast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 .. Cut-Up $ 39 Marinated or grill! Corned Beef 2 lb. Broilers Cutlets $ 49 Square Cut 2 Pack lb. $ 99 Dark or White 7 Roast 8 lb.
...................
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise All Varieties - 30 oz
3
$ 99 ......................................................
Coke, Fresca, Sprite, Dr. Pepper 2 Liter
5
4/$
......................................................
Poland Spring Water 24 Pack - 16.9 oz
499
$
......................................................
Fanta or Seagrams Soda 2 Liter
California Nectarines
Red & Green Grapes
199 lb.
129 lb.
$
$
Snow White Cauliflower
99¢
2/$4
YoCrunch Yogurt
Back Yard $ 49 Stem 1 lb. Tomatoes
Jumbo Peacock 2/$4 Cantaloupe
Green Squash
..........................
..........................
..........................
Del Monte 2/$4 Pineapple
Jumbo Sweet $ 49 Red 1 lb. Onions Peppers
..........................
..........................
Bosc Pears
2/$3 Plum 79¢ lb. Cello Mushrooms Tomatoes
99¢ lb.
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...................................................... All Flavors - 6 oz
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Grilled BBQ Chicken
Haagen Dazs Ice Cream
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$ 99
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$
599lb.
Aliza Beer Nutritional Meals
6
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$
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$
499
Quart
24 VARIETIES! SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:
Regular or Diet Assorted Apple Turnovers $ ¢ ea.
7
99
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49 ea.
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Crunchy Dragon Roll 95 $
495
10
$
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550
12
Pumpernickel Bread 2 lb
299ea.
249ea.
$
$
now available! full line of gluten-free products! Pre-Packaged
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99
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595
$
............................
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Spinach Dip
Corn Bread
450
$
............................
99
11
Assorted Pies
Alaska Roll
9
$
Salmon with Seafood $ 99 lb.
6
Bunch
Regular or Marinara
99 lb.
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monday only!
699
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order your shabbos platters early! Mango Roll
$
Hot Pastrami Sandwich with Pickles & Cole Slaw
2
English 4/$3 Cucumbers
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1299lb.
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..........................
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/
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Marinara Pasta
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At the Counter
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299ea. $ 99 2 ea. $ 49 4 ea. $ 99 4 ea. $ 99 3 ea. $ 99 4 lb. $ 99 4 lb. $
We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Continued from 8
B’Av I was fasting, but I am seven months pregnant with my second child and not the best faster. My neighbor, who knows how badly I fast, sent over her 9-year-old daughter to help me for a few hours on the fast day. This is on a day when she could have used her daughter’s help but she wanted to help me as well. What a wonderful, thoughtful person – and what a beautiful community in which to live. Sincerely, T.N. Dear Editor, Now that there are a few days between camp and school, I’d like to bring up something to your readers. Many parents – working in and out of the home – will get to spend more time with their children during this time. That is wonderful – both for the children and the parents. The children will get to connect with their parents and learn from them. The parents get to gain more insight into their sons and daughters. It’s quality time. Make sure, though, that it’s real quality. Focus on them, talk with them, do things that they en-
joy. Even a walk down Central Ave, a bike ride on the boardwalk, a walk to the library…all those activities help cement their bond with you. Leave your phone at home or at least turn it to silent. Make sure that your kids know that they are the focus of your time together. Wishing everyone a lovely vacation. Sincerely, Shirley Kaufman Dear Editor, I have worked in a day camp for the past four years. Some years, I get more tips than others and sometimes I don’t get any tips from any parents at all. I understand that shelling out lots of cash for so many kids isn’t easy, but if you send in a thank you note along with a little something (not even what it’s suggested) it will make a big difference to the counselors and staff. We all work hard and we love your kids for the two months that they’re in our care. Show your appreciation, is all we’re asking. A Reader
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
The Week In News
When is a Ransom not a Ransom?
More Muslim Extremists Kicked Out of Italy
Italy is purging itself of Muslim extremist preachers, a move that presidential hopeful Donald Trump would surely approve. This past week, the Interior Ministry expelled Kheirredine Romdhane Ben Chedli. The 35-year-old imam was recently cleared of terrorism charges but was still sent packing back to Tunisia on charges of suspected incitement to racial hatred. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano announced the expulsion and explained that the imam’s support for jihad made him unfit to stay in the country. The expulsion is the latest in the country’s ongoing effort to prevent the radicalization of its citizens by extremist preachers. Hosni Hachemi Ben Hassem was also deported to Tunisia. The 49-year-old was based in a mosque in Puglia. He was never convicted of recruiting jihadists but was under suspicion of doing so since 2013. Since the beginning of 2016, 44 suspected extremists have been sent out of the country. 110 others were expelled in 2015. The country is on especially high alert after Libyan agents discovered documents that pointed to a Milan-based ISIS cell. It’s easy to kick the bad guys out if you’re shaped like a boot...
There is a lot of speculation surrounding a $400 million cash transfer from the White House that was made to the Iranian government in January. The Obama administration kept the operation shrouded in secrecy but now more details have come to light generating many suspicions. Many are speculating that the transfer may have been a ransom paid by the Obama administration for prisoners released by the Persian regime. The Wall Street Journal quoted U.S. officials who reported that Iranians were not allowed to “take control of the money until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three freed Americans departed from Tehran on Jan. 17.” The money was technically owed to Iran as part of a $1.7 billion settlement that was arranged to repay money from a failed 1979 arms deal. However, the timing is extremely suspicious. Officials told the Wall Street Journal that a very strict timetable was followed to ensure the release of the four American hostages. Obama has claimed that the money was paid in cash because Iran does not have “normal banking ties.” The cash was flown in by an Iranian cargo plane from Switzerland. The Justice Department had objected to the cash exchange as it would seem like ransom for hostages and would set an extremely dangerous precedent. Needless to say, Republicans pounced on the Obama administration for the way in which the hostages were returned. “It’s time for the Obama White House to drop the charade and admit it paid a $400 million ransom to the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. President Obama has foolishly put a price on the head of every American abroad and it should be no surprise that Iran has since detained more U.S. citizens,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus declared.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Joseph Goebbels was the Nazi propaganda minister and one of Hitler’s chief advisors. Recently revealed documents have shown, though, that Magda, Joseph’s wife, was actually the daughter of a Jewish businessman, Richard Friedlander. Friedlander’s residency card, the document recently discovered in the archives, states that Magda is his biological daughter, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
WHAT DOES PEYD
DO?
Friedlander died in the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939; his daughter did not attempt to help him. Joseph and Magda Goebbels and their six children committed suicide on April 30, 1945, a day after Adolf Hitler ym”sh took his life.
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Child Suicide Bomber Blows Up Wedding While most preteens spend their time riding bikes and drinking Slurpees, there are young children being programmed for violence in the Middle East. 54 people were murdered by a preteen suicide bomber in Turkey over the weekend at a wedding; the boy is suspected to have been between 12- and 14-years-old. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Islamic State as the “likely perpetrator” of the attack. The terrorist group is known to use children in their program of hate and fear.
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Priebus used this as a springboard to knock the Democratic presidential nominee. “Hillary Clinton’s support for this dangerous blunder shows once again she does not have the judgement to be president,” Mr. Priebus said. Rep. Sean P. Duffy, a Republican from Wisconsin and chairman
of the Financial Services Committee’s oversight and investigations subcommittee, will hold hearings on the exchange when Congress returns from its August recess. Letters have already been sent to the Justice and Treasury departments, as well as the Federal Reserve, which request all of the records relating to the exchange.
Mrs. Goebbels Had Jewish Blood The Goebbels were the perfect Aryan family. Or maybe not?
The identity of the bomber is not yet known but his age is shocking. The wedding party, near the Syrian border, was just beginning to wind down when the blast occurred. It is the latest in a very deadly string of
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
F R O M
O U R
VOICEMAILS
#11
…We are on the way home from the doctor’s office now. He said that my husband’s eyes will be OK. He will B’esras Hashem be able to see again. The holy segulah of Torah leaning brought us a yeshuah… H.S. Monsey
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attacks in the country. 94 people including many women and children are reported injured with 17 in critical condition. 22 of those who were killed were under the age of 14. The blast disproportionately killed women and children, as it had been timed to detonate during a part of the festivities when those groups painted themselves with henna. Mia Bloom, a Georgia State University professor who is an expert on child soldiers and terrorism, said ISIS has made wide use of children in conflict, typically employing them as bombers or snipers, either attached to adult fighting units or operating on their own. It has boasted of at least 250 child attackers killed in their ranks. ISIS has lured children “through a variety of tricks and treats, the way pedophiles lure in young kids,” Bloom said. Other children, though, who may be displaced from their homes and family, often feel they have no choice but to join the terrorist group in exchange for food and protection. The poor newlyweds were released from the hospital after suffering light injuries. Nurettin Akdogan, the bride, lamented, “They turned our wedding into a bloodbath.” She was brought back to the hospital later that evening after fainting multiple times. Many blame the government for not preventing the attack. At the funeral of some of the victims, shouts of “shame on you, Erdogan” could be heard. The police were told to keep their distance from the services to lower the likelihood of violent protests. Leaders from across the globe have poured out their sympathies and pledged support for Turkey. French President Francois Hollande denounced the “vile” incident and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called it “cowardly and underhand.” “We stand by our ally and partner Turkey and reaffirm our commitment to defeating the common threat of terrorism,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
The Longest Glass Bridge China earned itself another world record this week. The Communist country is already home to The Great Wall of China, the longest wall in the world, and now it is also home to the
world’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge.
The attraction opened last week in China’s breathtaking Zhangjiajie Mountain. The bridge is about 1,400 feet long, about 20 feet wide, and suspends close to 1,000 feet above ground. It crosses a canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie Park in China’s central Hunan province and can host as many as 800 tourists at a time. The daredevils of the world can bungee jump or ride a zip line across the space. The bridge is composed of 99 clear glass panels, so this attraction is not recommended for those afraid of heights. The impressive structure was designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan. Last year a panel of a glass bridge in Yuntai Mountain in northern Henan cracked, causing concern amongst potential visitors. Authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the newest structure and they invited the media to film visitors trying to smash the bridge’s glass panels with a sledgehammer. In another media display, a car was driven across the record-breaking bridge. It’ll cost you about $20 for this thrilling experience but make sure you book your tickets a day in advance since the site is limited to 8,000 visitors each day. And if you’re signing up for the adventure just to show it off to your friends back at home, they’ll just have to take your word for it – cameras and selfie sticks are not allowed. Also, leave your stilettos at home, apparently they can do more damage than sledgehammers.
Russian Opposition Leader Poisoned Political assassinations may be making a comeback in Russia. Vlad-
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imir Kara-Murza is under the impression that he was poisoned in an attempted murder just weeks after urging American lawmakers to expand economic sanctions against Russia. He says he believes he is lucky to still be alive.
Kara-Murza is a leader in the Russian opposition. He describes that when he returned home from America he broke out in an inexplicable sweat, developed a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and went into a week-long coma. Doctors were unable to find any traces of poison in his system and cannot explain his sudden extreme sickness. However, he is sure that he can explain the circumstances. He is convinced that he was poisoned in a throwback to the Cold War era when the Kremlin frequently poisoned its enemies.
President Vladimir Putin has not been shy about the fact that he will come after anyone who criticizes his country. His mission is to restore Russia to what he sees as its rightful place among the world’s leading nations. Many rights advocates, journalists, government whistleblowers, and opposition politicians have been imprisoned on fabricated charges, and even turned up dead. Poisoning is a centuries-old method in Russia of ridding the political landscape of pesky rivals. It is deadly and leaves little doubt of the state’s intentions. In 2006, Alexander V. Litvinenko, a Putin opponent, famously died of polonium-210 poisoning in London. “The government is using the special services to liquidate its enemies,” said Gennadi V. Gudkov in an interview. Gudkov is a former member of Parliament and onetime lieutenant colonel in the K.G.B. “It was not just Litvinenko, but many others we don’t know about, classified as accidents or maybe semi-accidents.” While Putin has no official comment on the poisoning, for now it is best to stay on his good side…
Philippines’ AntiDrug War Leaves Hundreds Dead It’s been just seven weeks since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in the Philippines, but the honeymoon stage is way over. Duterte promised to launch a crusade on narcotics but it has not been an easy task. Since Duterte’s inauguration there has been a record high in drug-related killings, some during police operations. Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa told a Senate committee on Monday that 712 drug traffickers and users had been killed in police operations since July 1. Another 1,067 other drug-related killings are being investigated. According to Philippine officials, as of Sunday, there were 900 suspected drug traffickers killed in Duterte’s war on drugs. It is important to note that this number reflects anyone who died since Duterte won the May 9 presidential election and not since he actually took office.
The U.N. publicly criticized the high number of deaths, angering the president. In a harsh reaction, Duterte said that the Philippines was considering leaving the United Nations and joining China and other countries in forming a new global forum, accusing the U.N. of failing to achieve its obligation. Despite Duterte’s impulsive comment, his foreign minister, Perfecto Yasay, reassured on Monday that the Philippines will remain a U.N. member. He justified the president’s comments as expressions of “profound disappointment and frustration.” “We are committed to the U.N. despite our numerous frustrations
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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and disappointments with the international agency,” Yasay told a news conference. In the same vein, Yasay criticized the U.N. rapporteurs for “jumping to an arbitrary conclusion that we have violated human rights of people. It is highly irresponsible on their part to solely rely on such allegations based on information from unnamed sources without proper substantiation.” Although Yasay said Duterte vowed to uphold human rights during the war on drugs, many are appalled with the president’s handling of the anti-drug movement. Senator Leila De Lima, chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, has been an advocate for the relatives of slain people and strongly opposes the president’s tactics. Early this week she launched a congressional inquiry into the killings, questioning top police and anti-narcotics officials to explain the “unprecedented” rise in killings. “I am disturbed that we have killings left and right as breakfast every morning,” she said. “My concern does not only revolve around the growing tally of killings reported by the police. What is particularly worrisome is that the campaign against drugs seems to be an excuse for some law enforcers and other elements like vigilantes to commit murder with impunity,” De Lima said.
Seoul and Pyongyang Tensions Thicken Just one year after North and South Korea decided to have a better and more constructive relationship, a very distant and antagonistic divide has widened between the two nations. Reminiscent of the Cold War period of the 1970s, the two countries are in an all-out propaganda-shouting, “defectionist” state.
All lines of communication between the neighbors are officially
cut. High-profile defections are back in fashion, as North Korea’s deputy ambassador to Britain has secretly moved his family to South Korea. Thae Yong-Ho cited “disgust with [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-Un’s regime and admiration for South Korea’s free, democratic system,” as one of his reasons for leaving. South Korea has been publicizing the move as Thae choosing good over evil. North Korea has called him “human scum” over the move. Kim Jong Un’s dictatorship has isolated itself more than ever before. After its fourth nuclear test in January, North Korea shut down both military and government communications with its southern neighbor. Later, the country’s only communication with the United States was severed by Un. All communications are now done the old fashioned way in Korea; shouting hate messages across the militarized border. Loudspeakers blast propaganda and music on full volume from one side to antagonize the other. Next week, South Korea and the United States are scheduled to hold a joint military exercise involving tens of thousands of troops. Both sides of the fence will be on high alert as tensions are expected to rise during the exercise. South Korea recently deployed a sophisticated American anti-missile. Although both Seoul and Washington have made clear that the deployment of the system was strictly defensive, Moscow and Beijing both criticized the move.
Hamas Co-Founder Trashes Hamas on Facebook A shocking apology has been issued by the co-founder of Hamas’s military wing. Before you get too excited about the possibility of peace, know that it was not directed toward Israel or the Jewish people. Muhammad Nazami Nasser, one of the founding members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is re-
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gretting ever having been associated with Hamas. The terrorist posted an apology on Facebook in which he referred to Hamas as the “devil” that has brought destruction on the Palestinian people.
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Nasser himself is responsible for years of terrorism against Israel. His terrorist career began in 1989 when he was a member of the Hamas team that kidnapped and murdered Avi Sasportas and Ilan Saadon – two Israeli soldiers. He was also a close friend of Mahmoud Abdel Rauf al-Mabhouh, the senior Hamas commander who was assassinated in Dubai in 2010. In his Facebook rant, Nasser apologized to many factions of the Palestinian people including “Palestinians within and outside [of Palestine], the immortal Palestinian president Yasser Arafat,” Fatah, the PFLP, the DFLP and many others. He continued and said that he was sorry for the “horror of hatred that lived within me toward you [i.e., the political factions],” and for his “relentless work so that you would not have a geographical or political place on the national map.” Nasser then mentioned religion, asking “G-d to forgive me for this [deception] from the Devil [i.e., Hamas], that this hatred would bring me to the highest height of Paradise. O G-d, O G-d, O G-d I have been deprived of the blessing of diversity… My homeland has been destroyed because I couldn’t comprehend the acceptance of others. And what is worse, I thought I was working with religion.” Recently, Nasser has rejoined the Palestinian reconciliation group called “Wataniyyin.” The group is made up of former Fatah and PFLP members whose goal is to reconcile the many Palestinian factions into one united force. It appears that even within evil there are differing approaches.
Though these competitions were not held in Rio, the competitors in the international science Olympiad have brought home impressive medals while representing Israel. Russia hosted the Olympiad this year and two of the four participating Israelis – Tomer Arad and Liran Markin – won silver and bronze medals, respectively. Their wins bring the total Israeli Olympiad medal count to 14. The competition attracts representatives from 81 countries. To date, Israel has won six medals for math, four for physics, two in the field of chemistry, and two for computer science. The silver and bronze picked up this year were for computer science. Competitors had to fix three computer algorithms in five hours. The solutions were fed into a computer which evaluated the high level mathematical solutions and gave instant results. Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Education Minister, lavished high praises on the winners. “Time and again Israeli students make international achievements which bring respect and pride for the State of Israel for science competitions,” Bennett said. “To succeed and win in a field which is also a hobby for the students is the formula for success. In the next year we will continue in the national program to strengthen the teaching of mathematics so that more schoolchildren throughout Israel will be exposed to the wonders of science.” Overall, Israel came in 22nd place. China took first place, Russia took second, and the United States came in third. Seems like we have a long way to go.
Retaliation for Gaza Rocket Attack In response to a rocket that was
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
fired at the southern city of Sderot, Israel led airstrikes against several Hamas positions in Gaza this week. An IDF statement made its intention very clear. “The attack on the terror infrastructures is a response to the high trajectory fire out at the city of Sderot earlier today that is a threat to the security of Israeli citizens and harms Israeli sovereignty,” the statement said.
Although responsibility for the rocket was taken by two smaller terror groups, retaliation was taken against Hamas, as they are seen as the driving force of terror in the Gaza Strip. “When terrorists in Hamas’ Gaza Strip, driven by a radical agenda based on hatred, attack people in the middle of the summer vacation, their intentions are clear – to inflict pain,
cause fear and to terrorize,” said IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. The launched rocket, the 14th one since the beginning of 2016, thankfully did not hit any people or cause any significant property damage. It landed between two homes near Sapir College. Locals are calling it “a miracle” that no one was hurt by the attack. Responsibility for the rocket attack was taken by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigade, which is the military arm of the PFLP, released a statement in which they asserted that “our people have the right to practice all forms of resistance in response to the crimes and hubris of the occupation.” But it seems that multiple people want credit for the rocket as a Salafist group with ties to ISIS also wanted recognition for blindly firing a deadly rocket at innocent people, as if this is something to brag about. Although Hamas claims that they have no intention of initiating a new wave of violence against Israel, this past week, a large Hamas rally was held in the Gaza town of Rafah at which rockets were paraded through the streets. Hamas is actively threat-
ening violence unless the blockade is lifted from the Strip. The joint Israel-Egypt blockade is seen as a very necessary way of preventing Hamas from rearming itself.
Maccabee Task Force Challenges Campus BDS
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is funding a program that is aimed at combating the lies spread by the BDS movement on college campuses. The Maccabee Task Force’s goal is to use many platforms including social media, cultural affairs, and trips to the Holy Land to highlight Israel’s positive and peaceful qualities. The goal is to instill this message in the minds of the next generation. The Pew Research Center recently
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conducted a poll that found that 27% of millennials sympathize more with Palestinians than Israel. That number is an astonishing 18% higher than in 2006. Supporters of Israel say that a main push behind those numbers is the growth of the BDS movement on college campuses. Adelson opened up shop on six California campuses so far, including San Jose State University, UC Irvine, and UCLA. These universities are liberal schools where anti-Israel sentiment tends to be more prevalent. The group plans on expanding to 20 additional colleges this coming fall semester. David Brog is the executive director of Maccabee Task Force. “It’s the No. 1 nonmilitary threat to Israel and the Jewish people,” Brog said regarding BDS. “Our goal is to change the younger generation from neutral – if not opposed to – Israel to support of Israel.” The task force is countering the hateful rhetoric in various ways. During anti-Israel campus events, they have set up “peace tents” for dialogue that offer free falafel and iced coffee. They also have a “Stop the Jew Hatred on Campus” campaign that publicizes those who have spoken out with hate against Israel and Jews.
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during routine monitoring. In classic social media damage control fashion, the post was deleted a few hours later but not before the Israeli Embassy grabbed a screenshot of the offensive post. There was another post on Vilni’s site that trashed Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renz, which the embassy documented as well. The pictures were sent to the Italian Senate’s vice chairperson of the Israeli-Italian inter-parliamentary cooperation foundation. Upon receiving the concerning material, the senator initiated an inquiry on the matter, in which the Italian interior and education ministers were asked to state their intentions regarding the anti-Semitic post.
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Many grants have been given out to send students, mostly non-Jews, to Israel to learn about the country firsthand. Rabbi Aaron Lerner, head of the UCLA Hillel, said the Maccabee grant has helped fund programs that change the campus conversations about Israel from “black and white … to one about complexity, nuance and dialogue.”
Professor: We Need a Final Solution for Zionists In today’s world, many take to social media to express their feelings
and political views. Rafelo Vilni, a high-ranking official at the Islamic University in Lucca, Italy, recently did just that – very foolishly. Vilni posted on his Facebook page: “There needs to be a final solution for Zionists.” The post continued on to say that “the real Jews are the victims are Zionism.” The anti-Semitic comment was discovered by the Israeli Embassy
A Cure for Melanoma?
Sadly, each year 3.5 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. The most aggressive and devastating type of skin cancer is melanoma. But hope may be coming soon. A team of medical researchers at Tel Aviv University and German Cancer Research
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
have made a key discovery in the mechanism of the disease that may potentially help doctors develop an effective drug. The breakthrough, just published as the lead article in the journal Nature Cell Biology, is giving doctors and patients hope that this disease can become “non-threatening and easily curable.” The research, led by TAU’s Dr. Carmit Levy of the human molecular genetics and biochemistry department at TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine, unraveled the metastatic mechanism of melanoma. They found that before the cancer spreads to other organs in the body, the tumor releases tiny vesicles containing molecules of microRNA that induce structural changes in the dermis in preparation for receiving and transporting the cancer cells. Basically it sends bubbles filled with proteins to lay roadwork for the cancer to travel into the bloodstream and make a new home in the liver, prostate, or spine. Levy and his team have even discovered two chemicals that were able to stop the advancement of these protein bubbles. The substances they found – SB202190 and U0126 – work in different steps of the metastasis
pathway, but each disrupt the end product. The breakthrough is a huge step forward in the fight against the cancer that kills one person every 52 minutes. Levy’s research should help in finding a cure and in early diagnosis of melanoma. “Our study is an important step on the road to a full remedy for the deadliest skin cancer,” concluded Levy. “We hope that our findings will help turn melanoma into a nonthreatening, easily curable disease.”
guage skills. So Rosetta Stone, here we come. Start breaking out the textbooks in Spanish, Bengali, Urdu, Russian, and Hindi because English is the last language you’re going to be hearing in taxicabs on New York City streets in the U.S. of A.
Vítejte v New Yorku New Yorkers, get ready to learn Urdu. No, that’s not the latest Pokemon craze. It’s the language spoken in Pakistan and if you want to hail a cab in the Big Apple, you may need to brush up on your foreign lan-
It was the brainchild of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who signed a bill in April that eliminated the English proficiency exam for taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers. The law went into effect on Friday. Apparently asking people in the taxicab service industry to speak English is discrimination. What? Speak in English in America? How very un-American of you! Drivers in London have been facing the opposite push. A new English test requirement for drivers from foreign countries has been instituted, re-
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sulting in irritation from Uber in the English city. It’s not clear if they need the proper accent, though. New York is home to nearly 144,000 active drivers of medallion cabs, livery cars and other for-hire vehicles, according to a 2016 report from the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Just four percent of drivers are born in the United States. The City Council, when revising the law, said that the English language requirement was “a significant barrier to entry to driving a taxi.” Uber drivers never had an English requirement put upon them. So now we’re just going to have to resort to sign language when asking the drivers to drive us to Traditions restaurant. Anyone know how to pantomime a pastrami on rye?
Obamacare 2017 Promises to Disappoint It’s like the gift that keeps on giving, except it’s the nightmare that keeps on getting worse. Obamacare
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is about to throw another dagger into the hearts of many helpless Americans. As of next year, many of those eligible for Obamacare will no longer have a choice of health insurance carriers. In other words, the government will be choosing their health care provider for them.
uninsured,” Avalere President Dan Mendelson said. This new law will affect residents of Alaska, Alabama, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming the most. Those states are likely to have zero choice. Meanwhile, 55% of the nation may be left with just two insurers to choose from, still not a great situation.
Where are All the Female Police Officers? Avalere, a website dedicated to solving the challenges of the healthcare system, conducted some research and discovered the worrisome new reality for many. About one-third of U.S. citizens are forced to rely on Obamacare and soon they may just have a single insurer to choose from. Until now, each person was able to select the plan from the marketplace that best suited their needs. “And there may be some sub-region counties where no plans are available,” the report by Avalere disclosed. This change comes after three major health care providers, Aetna (AET), UnitedHealth (UNH), and Humana (HUM), announced that they plan to reduce the number of areas they service drastically due to financial loss. The loss is due to lower than expected enrollment and consumers who are costing their insurers a lot in health care. The new analysis, which assumes no new plans will join the marketplace, is worrisome news for many consumers. Last year about 11.1 million Americans were covered by Obamacare. Despite these numbers, the White House has maintained that next year consumers will still be able to shop around between plans for better prices. But they have not addressed the issue of regions where there is little or no competition. “Depending on where consumers live, their choice of insurance plans may decrease for 2017,” said Elizabeth Carpenter, Avalere senior vice president. “Some exchange enrollees may need to choose another insurance plan in order to maintain coverage.” “Congress and the administration can choose to stabilize these markets and re-establish competition — but only through a consensus process that brings in a broader swath of the
After the Baltimore Police Department was accused of racism and aggressive police tactics, the Justice Department began an investigation that produced appalling conclusions. Aside from being guilty of racism and aggression, the report detailed shocking mistreatment of women and mishandling of cases involving crimes against women. Officers routinely ignored complaints of assault and harassment against females. Previous research has concluded that rates of violence against women, assault, and homicide all decline when women officers are on the force. Yet, there are still so few women police officers. Across Women’s Lives, a web and social media source for gender equity around the world, revealed that the U.S. government spends tens of millions each year on increasing women in the ranks of security services. Kudos to them, right? Not exactly. The funds are being spent outside of the country. For the year 2017, the Pentagon plans to spend $133 million in training and encouraging women to join security forces in foreign countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The idea is that by recruiting female personnel to tumultuous regions they can help build trust between civil society and law enforcement, reduce corruption, and minimize radicalization. According to international security experts, a stronger female
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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presence amongst law enforcement in foreign cities helps reduce violence against women. But for some reason, officials haven’t used this research to help improve crime in U.S. cities. There’s been improvement from the ‘70s when only about 1.4% of the police department was female. Currently women make up about 13% of forces across the nation, but that number has remained stagnant since the early 1990s. Globally, female police officers make up 9% of forces, according to the UN. In some countries, the rate is as low as 2%, like in Afghanistan and Pakistan – both unstable and violent countries. Female officers are also less burdensome on taxpayers’ wallets. Women officers are less likely to use excessive force, they get fewer complaints, and are much less likely to induct multimillion dollar lawsuits. It seems like a simple solution, yet the movement has somewhat died down and there isn’t much of a push to continue growing the numbers of female personnel. The National Center for Women and Policing, which would be the committee to demand recruiting, training, and hiring of female officers, closed three years ago
due to lack of funding.
Go, Team USA, Go!
Although the U.S. team didn’t escape Rio drama-free (heard of LochteGate?), they did bring home a crazy loot, garnering many patriotic feelings even amongst the most disinterested sports fans across the nation. The U.S. team dominated the medal race of the Rio Olympics this year, with women beating out the men. In total, American athletes earned a whopping 46 gold medals and 121 total medals – that is more than any other country. China earned the second most medals with 70 total
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medals, a respectable amount but a low record for them. This is a record breaker for the U.S. Until this year’s games, the U.S.’s highest record was 110 total medals from the Beijing Olympics eight years ago. United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun admitted that there were many first-time Olympians participating and “we weren’t sure we were going to have that kind of success coming in.” U.S. gymnast and closing ceremony flagbearer Simone Biles said, “This experience has been the dream of a lifetime for me.” The 19-year-old gymnast from Ohio brought home five medals, four of them gold, in her first ever Olympic games. It seems American swimmer Michael Phelps is in a league of his own. The new dad brought home more medals than any other athlete, a total of six – five gold and one silver. If that doesn’t make you want to belt out, “I’m proud to be an American,” then I’m not sure what will. The females specifically killed it this summer; the women earned themselves 27 golds and 61 total medals, the most amongst any female Olympian team.
The True Value of Gold
For some athletes, winning gold at the summer Olympic games means lucrative endorsement deals and other profitable opportunities, but for some winners the medal itself is the extent of their reward, along with a deep sense of accomplishment. Every country wishes that their team will bring home the gold and therefore Olympic committees offer monetary incentives to competitors. In the U.S., incentives have been funded by private donors since 1994. For all sports, a gold medalist receives a reward of $25,000, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze from the
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
United States Olympic Committee. Some sub-committees for individual sports offer additional incentives. Although winning athletes generate popularity for our country, Uncle Sam still bangs down their door – the rewards are all taxable. Medalists need to fork over about $600 for gold, $300 for silver, and very little for bronze to the IRS. These numbers are based on the actual value of the medal and of course vary according to each athlete’s specific tax bracket. The current price of gold in the U.S. is about $1,333 per ounce. However, if an athlete chooses to sell his or her medal, it would be taxed according to its selling price. Let’s discuss Michael Phelps, a top winner for American gold who is worth an alleged $55 million. Phelps, who is regarded as one of the best swimmers that ever competed in the Games, makes millions in endorsement deals causing him to land in a high tax bracket which demands 39.6% taxes. For his five gold medals and one silver he will owe about $55K in taxes, that’s $9,900 for each gold and $5,490 for the silver. The U.S. is actually one of the lowest paying countries when it comes to Olympic medalists. There are countries, such as Azerbaijan, that shell out over a half million dollars to their athletes. In Thailand, athletes receive as much as $314,000 in rewards. Italian athletes are awarded $189,000 for gold, while Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Belarus grant $150,000 to winners. Indeed if an athlete breaks a world record they should earn a greater reward. According to Good Housekeeping, this year’s Game’s highest reward was collected by Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, who attends the University of Texas. He was gifted close to $750,000 for beating the invincible Michael Phelps and winning his country’s first-ever gold medal.
LochteGate This should be a time of joy and triumph for Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, but instead, the gold medalist is finding himself entangled in a big mess that is threating to ruin his career. It all began when Lochte and three of his teammates stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom last Tuesday night. There is some confusion as to what transpired at the site. Initially Lochte claimed he and his
fellow athletes had been robbed at gunpoint by thieves posing as authorities.
The morning after the incident, Lochte told NBC, “We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge – a police badge, no lights, no nothing, just a police badge – and they pulled us over. They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground – they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn’t do anything wrong, so – I’m not getting down on the ground. And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down,’ and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet – he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.” However, Brazilian authorities were quick to shoot down Lochte’s claims and defended their country’s rocky reputation. Upon investigation, Brazilian authorities supposedly found inconsistencies in the American athletes’ story and demanded that all four athletes remain in the country for questioning. However, Lochte had already landed in the U.S. His fellow swimmers, Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, had their passports withheld and were ordered to remain in Brazil while the incident was being investigated. As the days passed, Lochte changed parts of his story, saying the taxi wasn’t pulled over by men with a badge but rather the athletes were robbed after stopping at a gas station. Brazilian police pointed out that the swimmers did not call police after the occurrence. Furthermore, later that night, they were seen wearing their watches, which were suspiciously not taken by the robbers. Lochte told USA Today that he and his teammates didn’t initially tell U.S. Olympic officials about the robbery because “we were afraid we’d get in trouble.” On Thursday, Brazilian police
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Obama Finally Comes to Louisiana
announced that the swimmers were certainly not robbed and definitely not victims of any crime. According to Brazil, the intoxicated group had vandalized a gas station bathroom and were then commanded to pay for the damages at the scene by security guards. “No robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the crimes they claimed,” Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso said in a news conference.
“Rio residents saw the name of their city sullied by this fantasy version [of events],” Veloso said. “It would be noble and worthy of them to apologize.” Lochte, 32, who has been swimming competitively since age five, is currently worth an estimated $6 million. The native New Yorker is ranked as the second best American swimmer, after Michael Phelps. The media was quick to mock the incident
by dubbing it LochteGate. However Lochte, a 12 time gold medalist, isn’t laughing. This incident has certainly tarnished his reputation, as four companies have pulled out of their contracts with him, including Ralph Lauren, Speedo USA, Gentle Laser Hair Removal and Japanese mattress company Airweave. The endorsements were worth an estimated $1 million.
On Tuesday, the president of the United States finally toured flood-ravaged Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in which 60,000 homes were damaged and 13 people lost their lives. More than 106,000 residents have been forced to register for aid from FEMA amid the disaster. Many were critical of the president for not taking the time to tour the city previously. Last week, he spent time with his family vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard. Presidential nominee Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence visited the area and handed out supplies before him. “We are heartbroken by the loss of life,” Obama said on Tuesday after seeing the damage firsthand. The White House tried to spin Obama’s time spent on vacation when thousands of his citizens were displaced. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Air Force One said, “The president is used to people trying to score political points even in situations where they shouldn’t,” jabbing at others who came immediately to the state’s aid. But many felt that Obama’s vacationing in the face of so many in such dire straits was a symbol of his apathy towards Americans. Many compared his lack of presence to George W. Bush’s flyover of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, although a flyover in this case, would have been much appreciated. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, said that she will eventually come to the state to tour the damage. While Obama was there on Tuesday, he also met with family members of three police officers who were murdered in Baton Rouge, along with the family of Alton Sterling, who was fatally shot by police last month. The meeting lasted 20 minutes.
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The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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ing faces. It could be the Southern hospitality that’s brightened their faces, as many of these cities are located down South. The top ten friendliest cities in the nation are: 1. Charleston, South Carolina 2. Park City, Utah 3. Savannah, Georgia 4. Nashville, Tennessee 5. Austin, Texas 6. Santé Fe, New Mexico 7. Asheville, North Carolina 8. Jackson, Wyoming 9. New Orleans, Louisiana 10. Burlington, Vermont Looking to head out on vacation? Perhaps you’d enjoy a slice of peach pie with sweet iced tea. You know you have friends in the South.
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directions to the best burger place in town? Do you smile and give insight to the best thing on the menu or do you roll your eyes? According to Fox News, some cities are friendlier than others. So which cities made the list? You may be surprised but the Five Towns did not come in at the top ten. New York, though, thankfully did not come in as an unfriendly city (phew!). The cities without the smiles on their faces also had high crime rates, poor signage, and just plain, old grumpy citizens. Newark, New Jersey, has claimed the
top spot again this year. The top ten grumpiest cities in the nation are: 1. Newark, New Jersey 2. Oakland, California 3. Atlantic City, New Jersey 4. Detroit, Michigan 5. Hartford, Connecticut 6. New Haven, Connecticut 7. Dover, Delaware 8. Wilmington, Delaware 9. Los Angeles, California 10. Baltimore, Maryland On the other side of the rainbow, these cities are known for their smil-
When you’re young, most people’s parents urge them not to play with knives. “They’re dangerous – you can cut yourself.” But this man’s mother never said that, or maybe she did and he just wasn’t listening. Last week, a 42-year-old man in India went to the hospital, complaining of piercing stomach pain. It was piercing, all right. After a delicate, five-hour surgery, doctors removed nearly 40 folding knives from the man’s belly. “In my 20 years of practice, I have never seen anything like it,” Dr. Jatinder Malhotra, who led the surgery, told CNN. “He had a wild urge to consume metal. Even for us, the experienced surgeons, it was frightening.” The man, identified as a police head constable, admitted he doesn’t know why he couldn’t stop. “I don’t know why I used to swallow knives,”
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The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
A Fine for Food Leave it to the Germans to take something pleasurable and make it into a chore. Several restaurants in Germany have started to fine customers who fail to finish their meals. Officially the eateries aren’t interested in more money; they just want to reduce food waste.
A Vacation Crime “We’re going to the Franklin Institute again?” Yes, we feel your pain. Another chol hamoed spent going to the same place, sitting in a car listening to Shwekey for two hours. Hey, it’s not so bad. There’s enough Rosemarie chocolate and coconut macaroons for everyone. But not everyone is able to see things in such a matzah brei-tinted light.
Million Mile Baby
Recently, a Canadian teenager called 911. The crime taking place? Her “parents forced her to go on vacation with them,” according to the police. Officers investigated and visited the rental cottage on the river in which they were staying and determined that there was “no real emergency.” “This appeared to be a case of a teenager being a teenager,” Const. Stephen Bates related. “Although she perceived this as a real issue, it was not an appropriate use of 911.” Yeah, spending time with the fam-
When she came into this world, she came in way above everyone else. No one can match the heights that she has achieved. Haven was born in heaven. The little girl was born on a Cebu Pacific flight earlier this month four hours into a flight from Dubai to Manila. Thankfully, there were two nurses onboard to help with the delivery. (Can you imagine a stewardess helping with labor? Would you
“I didn’t like it, because women should have education, too,” Picciuto said. Instead of studying history and biology, Picciuto was employed in a factory sewing curtains for $6 a week. She would read the dictionary and encyclopedia to help her become more educated. “We’d pick up another big word and we’d find the meaning of it. And I tried to speak well if I could,” she said.
RS
A Diploma at 100
It took 80 years, but she has final-
! Now
ly graduated from high school. 100-year-old Clare Picciuto was about to enter high school during the Great Depression, but times were tough. Her parents asked her to leave school to get a job while some of her brothers were allowed to continue their education.
M.A., LMSW
At Yuoki in Stuttgart, customers who don’t finish the food they take from the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat sushi buffet will now be charged more than $1 as part of the restaurant’s new “eat up or pay up” policy. “It’s called ‘all-you-can-eat,’ not ‘all-youcan-chuck-away,’” the restaurant’s owner said. At another restaurant in Germany, diners are charged more than $2 for wastefulness but only if they leave more than 3.5 ounces of food on their plates. Better lick your plate clean.
like a pack of peanuts instead of an epidural? We have lovely beverages onboard in case you get thirsty. And don’t forget our in-flight entertainment, which is featuring the newest Disney film.) This was the first time a baby was born on one of the carrier’s flights. The airline is so excited with its tiniest passenger that Haven received the perfect present: one million points on the airline’s rewards program. The points have no expiration date and can be shared with family. She’s the best little sister anyone can have. Haven is not the only person to be born midflight. In 1990, Debbie Owen gave birth to her daughter, Shona Kirsty Yves – initials: SKY – on a plane. On Shona’s passport, it’s written that she was “born on an aeroplane 10 miles south of Mayfield, Sussex.” Haven’s mother returned to her seat after giving birth to her newest addition. And I’m sure she fastened her seatbelt and put her tray table up.
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he related. “I just enjoyed its taste and I was addicted.” Umm, perhaps a few pennies would have been a bit healthier? Doctors spent about two days carefully planning the operation, so as not to harm the patient. Once they were finished, they displayed a tabletop full of blades. Some were open, and others were closed. Some were even rusted and broken, Malhotra said. After the surgery, the man vowed not to continue his interesting habit. Doctors have also said he should seek psychiatric care. His choice of extracurricular activities doesn’t seem to cut it for me.
M.A., LMSW
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Bring on the Mosquitoes!
While we fear the Zika virus and try to stay away from Florida for the next few weeks, the residents of one Russian town can’t wait to count their mosquito bites at night. At last weekend’s Russian Mosquito Festival in the town of Berezniki, 9-year-old Irina Ilyukhina won the “tastiest girl” category with 43 bites to show for going berry-picking in the forest with her mother. She was awarded a ceramic cup in recognition of the welts all over her legs. Unfortunately for the revelers, the hot and dry weather in the town has greatly depleted the mosquito population there. The traditional mosquito hunt, where participants try to collect as many of the insects as possible in jars, had to be cancelled. Participants also dance along with people dressed as mosquitoes at the fair. Russia has detected only a few Zika cases, all in people who are believed to have been infected in areas overseas where the virus has spread. The festival has been going strong for four years. And in case they run out of mosquitoes for next year, they’re welcome to forage for the pests in my backyard.
As Picciuto’s 100th birthday approached, her daughter Deborah Picciuto, 59, said she wanted to give her mother the graduation she always wanted. “She’s been to so many graduations – my high school, college and grad school ones – and a bunch more for all of my daughters, but she’s never had her own,” Deborah said. “So I
wanted to give her that.” Picciuto’s daughter surprised her with a cap and gown, a gold honors tassel and an honorary high school diploma presented by North Reading Public Schools Superintendent Jon Bernard during bingo. “I told her that in my opinion, her life experiences alone had earned her the honor tassel and diploma,” Ber-
nard said. “Clare was so articulate, sharp and positive. She is truly representative of all the things we should aspire to be.” You know, Clare, good things come to those who wait.
Kids at home? Bake cookies for the neighbors
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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Around the
Community Gat Brothers Draw Record Crowds to Gourmet Glatt’s Concert Under the Stars
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ven the threat of thunderstorms was not enough to deter the hundreds of men, women and children who filed into Cedarhurst’s Andrew J. Parise Park last Tuesday evening to hear the internationally acclaimed Gat Brothers perform at Gourmet Glatt’s Summer Concert Under the Stars. Indeed, according to Gourmet Glatt’s Yoeli Steinberg – who was largely behind the move to incorpo-
rate a night of Jewish music into Cedarhurst’s annual summer concert schedule – the turnout was nothing short of record breaking. “A little rain would not have scared me off,” said one excited participant. “After all, it’s not often you get to hear a world-class act like the Gat Brothers perform for free right in your own neighborhood.” That sentiment was echoed by many others in the crowd, especially those of a
“certain generation” who had a grand time singing along with the Chassidic duo’s renditions of classic songs like The Sounds of Silence and Hotel California. A pre-show performance by Ilan Swartz-Brownstein of Beatbox Duo fame and a surprise appearance by Jewish entertainer Ari Goldwag and his young son delighted the crowd as well. Says Yoeli, “We’d like to thank Jewish music impresario Sheya Mendlowitz and his daughter and co-producer Sarah for putting togeth-
er this unforgettable show. And, as always, we thank Mayor Ben Weinstock and the entire Cedarhurst Village staff for making wonderful community events like this possible.” Yoeli observes that the summer concert and the many other special events Gourmet Glatt sponsors throughout the year share a common purpose. “It’s all about giving back. We want our friends and neighbors to know we appreciate the privilege of serving such an amazing community.”
Hillel Day Camp Donates to JCC Kosher Food Pantry Yoeli Steinberg with the Gat Brothers and Cedarhurst Village Mayor Ben Weinstock
Beatboxer Ilan delights the crowd
At the photo booth
A
fter a fun-filled summer, Hillel campers focused on the community and those in need. As Hillel Day Camp came to a close, children collected almost 300 canned food and non-perishable food items. The canned food drive was part of Color War, and campers excitingly turned competition into a way to help those in need. Many community members will benefit from this project where all items were donated to the JCC of
the Greater Five Towns Kosher Food Pantry. Tizku l’mitzvot!
Ari Solomon, Director of HILLEL Day Camp, and Director of Development Stacey Feldman
Youth Groups at Ohr Torah
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ongregation Ohr Torah is pleased to announce commencement of Youth Groups, this Shabbos, August 27. “We have, baruch Hashem, a growing number of young families with children. Instead of just running to the “candy man,” the kids will now have organized activities,” said Mendy Davidson, one of the organizers. Shabbos services start at 9am. The Youth Groups will
meet from 9am to 11am in the Gold Room level classrooms. Mark Drachman, who has recently moved to North Woodmere, said, “As a relatively new arrival, it’s great having a facility as large as Ohr Torah that can accommodate groups like this.” Congregation Ohr Torah is located at 410 Hungry Harbor Road, North Woodmere. Shabbos services are followed by a fleishig kiddush for the entire family.
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
WE ARE ST. JOHN’S HERE FOR YOUR HEALTH
WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES AT ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL Our Team St. John’s offers comprehensive gynecologic and obstetrical services to residents of Southern Queens and Southwestern Nassau Counties. The Hospital’s board-certified women’s health specialists provide care for all of life’s stages, and the OB/GYN team is as diverse as the many communities we serve. Team members include male and female physicians, a certified nurse midwife and a certified lactation consultant. Our registered nurses have specialized training in women’s health.
Having your Baby at St. John’s St. John’s offers a full complement of services for women who are considering pregnancy, and for those who seek preconceptual and genetic counseling and infertility assessments. We are committed to providing expectant parents with high-quality prenatal care and a joyous birthing experience. The Hospital is well-equipped for both routine and high-risk deliveries. The unit’s post-partum rooms are private, single occupancy, and designed to promote bonding with your newborn. New mothers can choose to have their baby “room in,” and each room has a sleeping chair for partners who wish to spend the night. For your comfort, every room includes a private bathroom and shower. The Hospital’s Level II nursery, located within the Maternity Unit, is staffed by registered nurses who are specially trained in newborn care. The Hospital offers childbirth preparation classes led by a certified nurse educator and tours of our maternity unit. For class schedules and registration, or questions about tours, please call 718-869-7276.
Gynecology Services Gynecological care at St. John’s encompasses all aspects of wellness and preventive care as well as a surgical program. Imaging services include mammograms, breast, abdomen and pelvic MRIs and ultrasounds, and bone density testing. Specialty services include reproductive endocrinology, menopause management, urogynecology, colposcopy and management of abnormal Pap smears and care of gynecologic cancers. The hospital’s board-certified gynecological surgeons perform a full range of inpatient and ambulatory surgeries, with a focus on minimally invasive laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures including: • • • • • • •
Hysteroscopy, dilatation curettage Laparoscopic, vaginal and abdominal hysterectomies Major and minor laparoscopic procedures Minimally invasive treatments for uterine fibroids. Ovarian and fallopian tube pathology Medical and surgical endometriosis treatments Endometrial ablation for abnormal uterine bleeding
The hospital’s highly qualified ambulatory surgical team ensures patient comfort and a return home as soon as possible. To choose an OB/GYN doctor affiliated with St. John’s, call us at 718-869-7382.
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL E P I S C O PA L H E A LT H S E R V I C E S I N C . (718) 869- 7000 | WWW. EHS.ORG
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Achiezer Hosts Reception in Honor of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City
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chiezer was the site of a successful and productive reception hosted in honor of Dr. Barbara Sampson, Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, which was attended by community rabbanim, medical professionals, members of chevra kadishas and community activists. Said Dr. Sampson in her address to those present, “Coming here today and feeling the care and compassion that you all have toward your community’s loved ones is important and inspiring for me to see firsthand.” Achiezer’s core mission has always been to help those with medical and mental-health needs, promoting quality of life, ensuring that those in need can get the best care possible and, sometimes, literally saving lives. However, there are unfortunately times when it is necessary to address the needs of those who have already passed on. While we cannot bring back the niftar or even begin to
understand the pain of the grieving family, it is crucial to do whatever is possible to ensure that the necessary procedures are carried out in a calm, dignified fashion, providing kavod for the niftar and a measure of comfort for the family. To this end, Achiezer has endeavored to foster a working relationship with the Medical Examiner’s Offices of both Nassau County and New York City. Over a year ago, thanks to the efforts of Community-Police Liaison
Mr. Alex Werczberger, Achiezer representatives met with Chief Medical Examiner of Nassau County Dr. Tamara Bloom to facilitate open communication with community advocates. Over the past few years, Achiezer has also dealt extensively with Chief Medical Examiner of New York City Dr. Barbara Sampson, and she expressed an interest in meeting with members of our community, which was the impetus for Tuesday’s event. Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, President of Achiezer, opened the meeting with warm words of introduction for Dr. Sampson. Since taking over as Chief Medical Examiner following the passing of Dr. Charles Hirsch, a friend to the Jewish community for many years, Dr. Sampson has been extremely helpful in so many different instances long before she was appointed to her current position. Following Rabbi Bender’s introduction, all those present introduced themselves to Dr. Sampson. Attendees included Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, Chevra Kadisha of Queens; Mr. Mark Gross, Rockaway/Nassau Hatzalah; Rabbi Uri Orlian, Cong. Shaaray Tefillah; Rabbi Dov Silver, Madraigos; Mr. Yanky Meyer, Misaskim; Rabbi Aron Rosenberg, Achiezer Board Member; Mr. Meir Krengel, Achiezer Board Member; Mr. Michael Krengel, YIW Chevra Kadisha and Achiezer Board Member; Mr. Akiva Tepper, Chesed Shel Emes; Rabbi Boruch B. Bender, President, Achiezer; Mr. Shalom Jaroslawicz, Crisis Response, Achiezer; Mr. Michael Fragin, Achiezer Board Member; Rabbi Tzvi Flamm, Vaad HaRabonim; Rabbi Dov Bressler, HILI Congregation; Dr. Moshe Wercberger, on behalf of Agudath Israel of Long Island; and Mr. Fred Schulman,
The White Shul Chevra Kadisha. A highlight of the program was an emotional tribute to Dr. Sampson by Far Rockaway residents Mr. Yoel and Mrs. Shani Hecht, in which they recounted the events surrounding the passing of Mr. Hecht’s father several years ago during a three-day yom tov. At that time, Achiezer reached out to the Medical Examiner’s office (with the help of the Achiezer Shabbos goy) which extended significant courtesies to the family. Said Mrs. Hecht, “The gratitude that we feel toward you and the entire Medical Examiner’s Office for the way that you handled my father-in-law’s passing is something for which we will be eternally grateful.” Following this presentation, Dr. Sampson formally introduced herself and spoke about various protocols that are important for the participants to be aware of. She also affirmed her goal of exhibiting sensitivity to the needs of all religious communities, and promised several follow up measures which will be put in place to help our Orthodox community. Rabbi Elchonon Zohn of the Chevra Kadisha of Queens took the time to explain existing protocols and procedures, and Rabbi Yanky Meyer of Misaskim thanked the entire staff in the Medical Examiner’s office for their commitment to meeting the needs of the Jewish community. Shared Rabbi Bender, “While it is our fervent prayer and hope that such collaborations and protocols will never be needed, reality dictates otherwise, and it is our collective responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that each and every situation that we encounter is dealt with in a manner that ensures the utmost kavod hameis [sanctity of the deceased] possible.”
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Color War at Avnet’s Woodmere campus
YLX Brings Tisha B’Av to Life
Y
LX: The YID Learning Experience provided the community with both a pre-Tisha B’Av program featuring Rabbi Mordechai Becher, as well as a complete Tisha B’Av Kinnos Program. On Thursday erev Tisha B’av, participants of the YLX program took a break from their usual basketball and barbecue to take part in a dynamic presentation where they had the opportunity to properly
prepare for the upcoming day of Tisha B’Av. The Ludmir family dedicated the program which featured noted speaker and author Rabbi Mordechai Becher. Rabbi Becher delivered a prepared multimedia slide presentation that brought history to life. The presentation started with a brief recap of close to 6,000 years of Jewish history, followed by a meaningful slide display of various ancient
R’ Eliezer Weiss presenting a kinnah
artifacts and literature. Rabbi Becher used his usual wit and genius to keep each slide engaging and relevant. The program featured delicious pasta sponsored by The Coffee Bar. The YLX participants left full – and fully prepared for Tish B’Av. On Tisha B’Av itself, YLX held their 2nd annual Tisha B’Av Shachris minyan and explanatory kinnos at the Agudath Israel of the Five Towns.
YLX yungeleit prepared short introductions to select kinnos. Each introduction was expertly crafted to keep the themes of Tisha B’Av relatable and engaging. The variety of speakers allowed for an assortment of fresh and interesting perspectives. The minyan was full with both adults and teens. To sum up the experience, a quote from one high-school participant, “This was just what I needed … thank you.”
Rabbi Becher presenting
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Obstetrics at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
S
t. John’s Episcopal Hospital is a recipient of the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) Obstetrical Improvement Project’s 2015 Quality Improvement Award. “This is the highest level of achievement possible for this project, and we commend your entire team for their exemplary work and commitment to this important cause. We hope staff at your facility will continue to focus on this area to ensure ongoing success.” This award supports the NYSPQC Maternal Hemorrhage and Hypertension Initiative’s mission of advancing improvements in identifying maternal hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders. This award is being given to facilities whose project teams reported that greater than 80% of women were both evaluated for their risk of hemorrhage at the time of admission to the birth hospitalization, and after delivery, received information on the signs and symptoms of postpartum pre-eclampsia prior to discharge. “This is the highest level of achievement possible for this project, and we commend your entire team for their exemplary work and commitment to this important cause. We hope staff
at your facility will continue to focus on this area to ensure ongoing success,” said Marilyn Kacica, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Division of Family Health at the NYSDOH. The NYSPQC, an initiative of the New York State Department of Health, aims to provide the best and safest care for women and infants in New York State. Since September 2010, the Department has been collaborating with NYS’ birthing facilities to improve and ensure the quality of obstetrical care, and infant health and safety. Through the NYSPQC Maternal Hemorrhage and Hypertension Initiative, which took place between April 2014 and October 2015, St. John’s had the opportunity to learn from faculty and colleagues; receive individual coaching; gather new knowledge on the subject matter and process improvement; share experiences and collaborate on improvement plans and create strategies to overcome improvement barriers. Due to the success of participating facilities, the percent of postpartum maternity patients at participating facilities receiving education on the signs and symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia improved 558% during
the project period, from 12% in April 2014, to 81% in September 2015. Additionally, participating facilities saw a 171% improvement in the percent of maternity patients with documented risk assessment for maternal hemorrhage, increasing from 26% of maternity patients in April 2014, to 72% of maternity patients in September 2015. “We congratulate you and recognize the work your facility’s team has done to reach the goal of evaluating women for hemorrhage risk, and providing women with education on the signs and symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia. Your efforts to improve maternal and newborn outcomes are appreciated,” said Marilyn Kecica, the NYSDOH representative. Labor, Delivery & Post-Partum Care at St. John’s All of the obstetricians at St. John’s are board-certified, and the care they provide is complemented by a certified nurse-midwife. Numerous birthing options are available in the hospital’s six modern labor and delivery suites, including epidural anesthesia and natural childbirth. Birthing rooms include state-ofthe-art electronic fetal monitoring
(EFM), and the hospital requires that all labor and delivery staff maintain advanced certification in fetal heart rate monitoring and obstetrical management. The hospital’s post-partum rooms are private and designed to promote bonding with the newborn. New mothers can choose to have their baby “room in” and each room has a sleeping chair for partners who wish to spend the night. Every room also comes with a private bathroom and shower. The Level II (special care) nursery, located on the same floor, accommodates up to 25 newborns and is staffed by registered nurses who are specially trained in newborn care. St. John’s encourages breastfeeding, and a certified lactation consultant is available to educate, support and reassure new mothers. Breast pumps are available. Tours & Classes Tours of the maternity unit for expectant parents are offered regularly. There are also childbirth preparation classes led by a certified nurse educator. For registration and class schedules, or questions about tours, please call 718-869-7276.
Ruach and achdus in Color War at Simcha Day Camp
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Around the Community
From Baby to Bubby – Your One Stop Shop
T
hroughout the summer, voices of all ages could be heard at the Levi Yitzchak Library. With a variety of kids programs running and a constant flow of visitors from all over, the library staff were hard at work, while constantly enjoying the company of so many visitors and members. The summer may be settling down, but the excitement here is not. As our upcoming yearly programs are ready to launch, we are counting
down to another fantastic year filled with an increase of happy members, and educational, fun programs for all members of the community. To register or to find out more information about our upcoming programs, including School Trips, Mommy & Me, Homework Helpers, Book Club, Sunday Centers, Rosh Chodesh Birthday Bash, Story Time, Writer’s Block and more, please contact us at info@Lylibrary.org or 516-374-2665.
Adults at a recent presentation and virtual tour of the Second Beis HaMikdash by Mrs. Malka Touger
Girls of Bais Rivkah Day Camp in Brooklyn with their new book they wrote and illustrated at their camp trip to the library
Policemen, Firemen and Lots of Fish
W
hat an exciting two weeks in Camp Funshine! Thank you so much to police officers Greggory and Alex from the Fourth Precinct for their awesome demonstration of the inside of their cars! Special thank you to Mr. Scott
and Gourmet Glatt for a most informative hands-on demonstration of all the types of fish. It was amazing to be able to touch all the different fish and learn about so many details. And finally we all owe tremendous appreciation to the Woodmere Fire
Department for coming down with a full crew and fire engine. We couldn’t believe that we were able to go inside! Thank you Chevy Kail, Israel Max, deputy chief Adiv Koenig, Joey Greenstein, and David Coleman.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
The One Israel Fund 7th Annual Five Towns Siyum & Barbecue was held at the home of Zusa and Rivka Agin on August 9. The community came out in support of a worthy organization and enjoyed a sampling of fine Israeli wines, delicious cuisine, and a fun evening with friends.
Summer ended off with a bang for campers at Machane Hakayitz this week
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
American Conservative Media Star Major Pete Hegseth in Israel for Fact Finding Mission
PHOTO CREDIT: YITZCHAK NISIM
A
midst growing interest in the United States surrounding the upcoming presidential election, Major Pete Hegseth, increasingly well-known as one of the rising stars in American conservative media, participated in a week-long fact finding mission to Israel. Organized by Dr. Joe and Karen Frager, Dr. Paul and Drora Brody, and Odeleya Jacobs, with the assistance of Ken Abramowitz and Mark Rubin, with the cooperation of the American Friends of Ateret Cohanim, the visit gave the media personality the chance to better understand many of the issues facing Israel. Also in Israel with the delegation was fellow Fox News political affairs analyst and commentator Lisa Daftari. Hegseth is a Fox News contributor who also guest-hosts many of the network’s news programs. Most recently he was part of the team assigned to cover both the Democratic and Repub-
lic Conventions. He earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, after graduating from Princeton. A veteran of the United States military, holding the rank of Major, Hegseth served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and has gone on to be one of the most prominent voices for the veterans community. He earned two Bronze stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge. He is the former CEO of Concerned Veterans of America and Vets for Freedom. Speaking at a media briefing in Jerusalem, Hegseth said that even after just a short time in Israel he quickly understood that the mainstream media was lacking in portraying a realistic picture of Israel’s challenges – and its wonders. A native of a small town in Minnesota, he stated that he had never met a Jew until going to college. He says that the only way to really understand Israel is to come and experience
In front of the Sderot Menorah made out of rockets
MK Yehudah Glick met with Pete Hegseth along with Dr. Paul Brody, Odeleya Jacobs and Dr. Joe Frager
it. “Seeing is believing and it is therefore critical that as many people of all backgrounds are encouraged to come to Israel,” Hegseth said. The four day visit would take Hegseth, his wife Samantha, and the other members of the delegation to many Israeli sites from North to South. On the first day, the trip organized by Ateret Cohanim explored the Jewish presence throughout all of Jerusalem’s Old City, including Jewish re-settlement in the Muslim Quarter (formerly called the Kotel Quarter), an experience that Hegseth described as deeply enlightening and important. He said that the newfound experiences would enable him to have better perspectives on the region which would benefit his reporting and the understanding of his viewers. While in Israel, he worked on a series of pieces for the Fox News network, including interviews with IDF personnel. Israel’s security concerns, as well as its accom-
plishments, were on full display during the trip. Hegseth repeatedly stressed his intention to learn and discover on the guided tour, which included a visit to Mearat HaMachpela and a tour of Chevron’s Jewish community in Beit Hadassah with spokesmen Noam Arnon and David Wilder. An exploration of the ancient city of Shiloh in the Shomron, with its recent archeological excavations, underscored the Jewish people’s Biblical ties to their homeland. “Facts on the ground confirm that Jewish ties to the land are undeniable,” Hegseth commented. “It’s a matter of affirming it, which is why this is so important. Because if you can rewrite history, you rewrite anything.” As a military man, Hegseth gained an in-depth appreciation of Israel’s security concerns on tour of Israel’s northern borders. From atop an Israeli bunker dating to the 1967 War on the
At the banquet held in the Jerusalem Leonardo Plaza
Chevron Police Commander Eliyahu Tzafari and Chevron Spokesperson David Wilder explain to Fox News’ Pete Hegseth the significance of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and limits of visitation
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
triangle border of Chamat Gader, he saw the real and dangerous proximity of Syria and Jordan. Hearing gunshots in the distance while at an observation tower overlooking nearby Syria on Mount Bental made ISIS, Al Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations jump off newspaper headlines and become actual threats. Listening to Women in Green co-founder and spokeswoman Nadia Matar describe the 2014 kidnapping and murder of the three teenage boys in Gush Etzion, Hegseth recognized the daily threat Israelis endure, particularly those in Judea and Samaria. He witnessed firsthand the Jewish response of building at Shmurat Oz VeGaon, which was established in memory of Gilad Shaer, Hy”d, Eyal Yifrah, Hy”d, and Naftali Fraenkel, Hy”d. While exploring Sderot, Major Hegseth saw the dangerous proximity of neighboring Gaza, where Hamas rockets and tunnels have terrorized its residents. He listened to Sderot mayor Alon Davidi vow to remain strong. Only a few days after the Hegseth delegation visit, another rocket landed in Sderot. Hegseth took these sights and inspirations with him to a dinner event hosted in his honor at the Jerusalem Leonardo Plaza that was attended by
many MKs and officials, including Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Avi Dichter and Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan. “I came here to listen and understand,” he said at the dinner. “I came to see and experience, to in-
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ternalize what if is to be Jewish in the state of Israel and to bring these truths back to America.” “The alliance between America and Israel is indispensable in ensuring the future of freedom in the free world,” Hegseth said. He stressed that this was an understanding shared by the Republican candidate for president. “The people around Trump are stressing to him that if there is one way to recapture America’s leadership in the world it will be by strengthening our support for Israel.” In comments particularly critical of many in the Democratic Party and what he described as the “liberal left,” Hegseth said he saw a major failing in their willingness to confront the real challenges and threats facing modern society. “They are unwilling to fight enemies that have real faces, so instead of confronting terrorists and hostile nations and actors, they address faceless ones like climate change.” The comments came amidst a particularly difficult few weeks for the Trump campaign. In his remarks, Hegseth conceded that if the election were to be held under the present conditions, Hillary Clinton would likely become the next president. “But there is a long road ahead where much can change.”
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Having trained forces in counter-terrorism tactics, Hegseth said that America could learn a great deal from Israel in how to confront and overcome an enemy. But, referring directly to the Democratic candidate and President Obama, who have repeatedly been cited for failing to address connections between recent terror attacks and Islamic fundamentalism, Hegseth said bluntly, “You can’t defeat an enemy that you’re not willing to name.” Dr. Joe Frager, Dr. Paul Brody and Odeleya Jacobs have been responsible for bringing many influential American figures to Israel in recent years, including Gov. Mike Huckabee, Glenn Beck and Washington Congressman Dave Reichert. Dr. Frager said that the value of such a visit cannot be overestimated. “Pete Hegseth is a star who reaches millions of people each day who directly influences how many Americans think and how they understand the world,” Frager said. “We therefore knew that he needed to come and see Israel firsthand and not simply absorb a media narrative that we all know is typically biased and misleading.” From combined sources, with portions written by Sara Lehmann of The Jewish Press
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Thank You For Making
Summer
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
2016
A Huge Success!
See You Next Summer!!!
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
The Bas Kol Experience – A Real Time Tool for Daters ence a renewed and meaningful sense of connection to each other. He recently decided the time was right to offer these experiences “to the masses” through an online audio website that would help countless couples date more effectively toward their goal of finding their bashert. Welcome to the Bas Kol Experience. “In my career working with dating couples, “ Mr. Ostrov begins, “I have found that experiencing gentle guided imageries dealing with relationships can be wonderfully helpful, enabling a couple to feel a sense of connectedness that has greater depth and meaning than any other dating relationships they’ve had in the past. Because I have seen wonderful results when using these guided imageries, I decided the time was right to create the Bas Kol Experience, on online program to enable dating and engaged couples to experience their wonderful benefits of this program in their dating relationship. The program is effective even if
By Liba Lieberman
T
he “shidduch crisis” occupies a lion’s share of Shaya Ostrov’s waking hours. A renowned author, couples counselor and dating coach, (LCSW), for more than thirty years, Mr. Ostrov has counseled many couples—married, engaged, or simply dating—and has come to clearly understand what lands far too many singles and couples in an emotional no man’s land, which we call the “shidduch crisis.” One answer he has developed is a subtle yet groundbreaking program called the Bas Kol Experience. The experience is actually a website which enables couples to listen to a series of relationship building audios online and then share the meaningful experience with each other. Over his years of counseling couples, he has successfully used this same approach to help many couples become engaged, and even stay married, through guiding them experi-
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singles listen alone or in groups, as it teaches the basic stepping stones to relationship development through a very meaningful audio experience.” So what exactly does Mr. Ostrov offer couples through his program? In his work, he has identified five progressive gates or stages in relationship building. The first gate, entitled The Gate of My Inner Circle, focuses on significant people in our lives who have given of themselves out of care and love for us. Using this concept of this elite group of individuals, the guided imagery then creates a gentle inner sense of calm where these relationships can be re-experienced. When the audio portion is completed, the couple can then reflect and share what they have just experienced. Questions to be answered and shared are included in the workshop, so that each journey is accessible to the other member of the couple. The goal, in Mr. Ostrov’s own words, is to create an environment of understanding so that two souls who once heard the bas kol in shamayim can learn to recognize and connect to each other. He cites the Talmud, which says that forty days before a child is conceived, a heavenly voice, a bas kol, announces which two souls will be designated as each other’s life partner on Earth. The program is designed to enable a person to discover his or her soulmate through learning to experience someone on a neshama to neshama level. Hence, the title, The Bas Kol Experience. “As couples travel through each gate or step, their ability to become closer is heightened,” Mr. Ostrov explains. “The process leads to healthy relationships and very sound marriages. With each shared guided meditation, the true self emerges in an emotionally safe environment.” The next four gates are Affirmations, focusing on those people who have affirmed our being; Vulnerability, bringing in those with whom vulnerability has been successfully shared and understood; Caring, which focuses on our own ability to recognize the vulnerability and humanity of others; and finally, “From I to We,” which focuses on memories of other couples in our lives who have demonstrated a deep sense of love and commitment. “The meditations are put to a gentle musical background that enhances the listening and reflective experience. Eitan Katz, the composer, graciously permitted me to use one of his wonderful nigunim that stirs the heart. “One of the great challenges I have
found that leads to the crisis in dating is that couples often have no real way to measure if they are progressing in their relationship. Everyone seems to want the other to ‘open up,’ but no one knows what opening up means. The Bas Kol Experience creates a pleasant and inspiring progression through an ongoing and meaningful shared experience. It also teaches skills like affirming another person, and of course most notably, transitioning from I to we through experiential imageries for relationship building.” The Bas Kol Experience integrates Mr. Ostrov’s previous work on menuchas hanefesh, the center of inner stability essential in every dimension of our lives, with his theory of the inner circle comprised of seven gates or steps to marriage. It can be experienced not only by couples, but also by any two people who want to grow together, even friends who want to learn the skills being taught. The Bas Kol Experience is part of Project Bas Kol, a national shidduch initiative developed by Mr. Ostrov to educate men and women who are dating on how to build relationships that lead to healthy and strong marriages. It offers free recorded workshops and lectures for dating individuals, couples, and married couples, as well as mentor/shadchan training workshops and recorded meditative exercises. Mr. Ostrov is the author of The Menucha Principle in Marriage, The Menucha Principle in Shidduchim, and The Inner Circle, Seven Gates to Marriage. He has also led mentoring training program for experienced individuals in chinuch, education, and counseling, as well as presenting seminars for seminary-aged young men and women. He has been navigating the treacherous waters of frum dating for decades, continuing to come up with new skills to share with singles and struggling couples who seek his expertise. “I have been using guided imageries in my work with couples for over thirty years, and it has been highly effective in helping singles move on to engagement and rebuild marriages. Singles need to date in a more effective way to end the shidduch crisis,” Mr. Ostrov concludes. “The Bas Kol Experience can turn dating into such an experience.” Log on to baskol.org for the Bas Kol experience. Mr. Ostrov’s other workshop and seminars are available @ baskol.yolasite.com. He can be reached @ slostrov@gmail.com. Republished from Yated Ne’eman
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Around the Community
Senator Todd Kaminsky stopped by at the Lone Soldier Bake Sale held at Breezy’s in Cedarhurst last week. He met with event organizer Danielle Aronowitz and Sharon Friedman and learned more about the Lone Soldier Center.
OHEL Bais Ezra’s East 26th St. Residence Celebrates 20 Years
O
HEL marked yet another milestone of one of its many residences for individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with psychiatric disabilities. The East 26th Street residence has been a loving home to 10 adult men for 20 years, and this notable anniversary was celebrated by residents, family members, staff and local community members. The residents served as delightful and engaging hosts, and warmly greeted their guests into their immaculate home and welcomed all to a delicious buffet dinner. Many of the residents served the food to guests as well, which included Chinese food, sushi platters, and delicious fruits and chocolate cake. While everyone enjoyed the dinner, the night was really about thanking and honoring those who make life at East 26th possible. Staff from OHEL highlighted the many achievements of individual residents, while paying tribute to the dedicated, loving and expansive support team that ensure the East 26th staff is a place called home. Many residents themselves took turns to speak about their experience living at East 26th and how much
living there means to them. They highlighted their gratitude to the staff for all their hard work and their friends for everything they do to help each other. Most importantly, many thanked their families for their continued love and support.
One of the residents’ father’s remarked “how well taken care of” his son is because of “the patience, perseverance and love your staff have continually given to the residents,” emphasizing how much his son enjoys the numerous activities and trips of
East 26th, including marching in the Israel Day Parade, going to New York Mets games, and the zoo. It seems like after twenty incredible years, this is just the start of more amazing times yet to come.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
The Ruach Can’t be Beat
T
he last days at Ruach Day Camp in Uniondale were a culmination to a magnificent summer! The week began with the excitement of the Color War activities. This year’s theme was Mayim / Water (blue team) & Aish / Fire (red team), both elements of great significance. Rain is essential to humanity’s existence and it is Hashem who controls this key to survival. Fire, on the other hand, requires human ingenuity and creativity in order to be employed. For three days, the spirit of good sportsmanship, friendly competition and team spirit were visible throughout the camp. The campers participated in a variety of competitions in-
Fleishfest-Senator Todd Kaminsky is pictured here at Fleishfest with Ephraim Tennenbaum (organizer), David Klein (host and organizer), and Asher Schepansky (organizer)
cluding sports, pool games, Pokemon Go contests, Trivia Games, Apache Relays, cupcake wars and cheers. The lunch time competitions between the generals were a highlight for the campers. The girls’ dance routines and the “Stomps” were amazing! The conclusion of Color War was the presentation of the beautiful artistic banners with an explanatory d’var Torah, along with original songs, stomps and cheers. Our lunchtime Gala Barbecue Banquet was delicious! We also had a very special treat for the lower campus—our renowned lollipop hunt. The campers searched the grounds for lollipops and everyone was reward-
ed with a sweet treat! In addition to these special activities, each camper was a winner at the Awards ceremony as they were presented with their personalized awards for summer 2016. It was truly amazing to witness the allaround growth of all of our campers. The conclusion to a great day and an extraordinary summer was a fabulous performance by The Twins from France—their shenanigans, juggling routines, bicycle stunts and tricks were amazing to watch! The wide variety of activities that we offer is unmatched. We hope our campers had as much fun as we did. It was truly a fantastic summer!
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Miriam Turk of NEFESH to Lead Major Programs at Touro’s Graduate School of Social Work
M
iriam Turk, LCSW, a Jewish communal leader with over 20 years of experience in program development and clinical social work in the Orthodox community, has joined the Touro College
Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) as outreach liaison and recruitment director. Among her many responsibilities in the new position, Ms. Turk will be recruiting students to the GSSW’s Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses; networking and nurturing relationships with regional synagogues, agencies, Touro-affiliated campuses and leadership; and serving as a liaison with NEFESH International, the network of Orthodox mental health professionals, where she serves as the organization’s executive director in a volunteer capacity. “Miriam is a distinguished professional who brings out the best in us,” said Dr. Steven Huberman, dean of the GSSW. “She will help identify outstanding potential students to be
trained as clinical social workers to serve the Jewish community, in keeping with Touro’s general mission, which is to provide professional education for the benefit of the individual and society as an expression of the Jewish tenet of tikkun olam.” Ms. Turk will be engaged in providing scholarships to MSW applicants under a new $2.5 million grant from the federal government for economically disadvantaged students beginning fall semester 2016. The scholarships will cover tuition of fulltime students and no repayment will be required. A social worker by training with many years of experience conducting both individual and group psychotherapy as well as supervising clinical staff, Ms. Turk said she is excited to be joining the GSSW and bringing her knowledge and expertise in the field as well as in program development to help Touro achieve its goals. “I am passionate and committed to Touro’s mission of providing high
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excellent elementary schools and high schools opportunities for scholarships in a top tier law school and mBA program call Avraham Klein: 314-603-0920 email: aklein@ppstlouis.org www.stljewishlife.com
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caliber training and education,” said Ms. Turk. “One of my main goals is to attract Orthodox students to a program such as Touro’s that is educationally sound and more affordable than other programs.” Another project she has already begun with great enthusiasm is the school’s partnership with UJA-Federation of New York. Over the coming year Touro and UJA will be collaborating on a new initiative involving female leaders from different organizations in the Chareidi community. They will be invited to come together to learn about professional development, management and leadership training. Ms. Turk noted that when considering coming to Touro, she had been especially impressed by the reaffirmation for eight years (through 2023) of the school’s national accreditation and perfect score from the Council on Social Work Education, the profession’s exclusive accreditation authority.
In addition to her work with NEFESH, she has worked for numerous Jewish social service agencies in a variety of positions including social worker, supervisor, director and program director. Among the organizations she has served are Agudath Israel; the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services in Brooklyn; The SAFE Foundation, where she was director of professional development and programming; and FEGS Health and Human Services Family Services, where she was program director for Jewish clinical and community outreach for youth-at-risk. Since 2013 she has served as director of the Children of Holocaust Survivors Program for Project Witness, a religiously-sensitive Holocaust resource center for diverse communities and schools worldwide. Ms. Turk received her Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University’s Wurtzweiler School of Social Work.
Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s “GJ Date Make a Match” Paint Night
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urwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, in collaboration with the UJA Live with Purpose Volunteer Initiative, is proud to announce its “GJ Date, Make A Match” event -– an intergenerational wine, cheese and Paint Night social to be held Thursday, September 15, 2016 at the Gurwin Center’s Commack facility. The first event of its type, GJ Date is a volunteer opportunity for millennials, designed to encourage social engagement between their peers and the elderly residents of Gurwin’s skilled nursing facility. The inaugural event kicks off with an hour-long wine and cheese “Getting to Know You” Welcome Reception for young adults age 21-30, followed by a two-hour Paint Night activity. Participants will be given step-by-step guidance to create their own masterpieces in a fun, casual atmosphere. According to Kathleen Donnelly,
Director of Volunteer Services at Gurwin, “GJ Date is a creative alternative to typical social meet ups. Its mission is to build bridges between generations while simultaneously forging connections between young singles. GJ Date will enable participants to tap into their inner artist while sharing laughs and friendly banter with our residents and other volunteers.” Donnelly noted the program provides a unique, dual opportunity to enhance the life of a senior through volunteering, as well as to promote a safe, lighthearted environment that enables the younger participants to meet new people. The event is free, but participation is limited and registration is required. Visit the UJA Federation Live with Purpose website to register at http:// bit.ly/GJDate. For more information, call (631) 715-2555 or email volunteers@gurwin.org.
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Around the Community
Who Said Red Wines are Not Fit for the Summer?
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he sun is shining, the birds are tweeting and the nights are warm. Isn’t it beautiful out there? While we are still in the summer, enjoying some refreshing rosé and white wines, many of us are craving some nice red wines to go along with their grilled steaks, BBQ ribs and burgers. However, I also often hear complaints that red wine is too heavy to be enjoyable in the heat. I do somewhat agree that full-bodied, tannic red wines tend indeed to be difficult to drink when it’s hot and humid outside, especially when they warm up so quickly in the glass. I have some good news, though! There are some delicious red wines that can and should be served slightly chilled and that are also light enough and flavorful. The summer is a great time of the year to enjoy them, whether on Shabbos and yom tov or with a barbecue. Red wines are made from dozens of different varieties and it is up to the winemaker to decide which style he wants to achieve, starting from the time of the harvest and until the wine is being bottled. There are several ways to make a lighter or heavier wine. The type of grape plays an important role as well, some varieties developing more tannins than others, and that has a significant impact on the resulting wine. For instance, Pinot Noir is a grape that has very thin skins and therefore less tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. The wines made from this variety are usually light in body, elegant and delicate. Served a bit cool, at about 65°F, Pinot Noir wines are a perfect pairing with roasted chicken wings, veal chops or grilled salmon. The Baron Herzog Pi-
not Noir features flavors of currants, tart raspberries and dark chocolate. It is not only a very enjoyable wine, but also a fantastic value! Another highly commendable wine is the Pacifica Pinot Noir. While made in Washington State, the grapes for this wine are sourced mainly from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which is thought of as one of the world’s most sought-after terroirs for growing Pinot Noir. Light to medium-bodied, this wine has gorgeous aromas of violets, strawberries, as well as a hint of vanilla. Much like the aforementioned Baron Herzog, it represents tremendous value for money. Tempranillo is another variety that can show great versatility. It can be produced in a bold and heavy style but also in a more restrained and refined manner, while featuring interesting and sometimes unusual yet delicious flavors. Elvi Wines, the world-class and only fully kosher winery in Spain, produces several and excellent Tempranillo wines from the Rioja appellation. The Elvi Herenza Rioja sports a medium body with flavors of cherries, roasted meats, minerals and espresso. Netofa in Israel makes a very nice blend from Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional, inspired by the wines of the Douro Valley in Portugal. It is light towards medium in body, with notes of cranberries, licorice and smoke. It has also a moderate alcohol content and high yet well-balanced acidity, which is ideal for the warm weather and makes it quite food-friendly. Both these wines complement Mediterranean dishes such as grilled chicken breast with pesto or a juicy burger. These tasty wines will turn your summer meals into real parties! L’chaim!
Pictured here is Dr. Shmuel Reisbaum of Torah Academy for Girls presenting a check to Irwin Gershon, Senior Development Executive, Fundraiser at UJA. Torah Academy for Girls donated over $2,000 to UJA this year. Torah Academy is proud to partner with UJA-Federation of NY, an organization that promotes the needs of the Jewish people, both locally and around the world. UJA cares for our community’s most vulnerable while also celebrating the richness of our culture and helping to build a bright Jewish future.
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Around the Community
Deputy Minister of Construction Visits Ramat Givat Zeev
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ackie Levy, Deputy Minister of Construction in the Israeli cabinet, was accompanied by senior members of the ministry on a tour of Ramat Givat Zeev, the new luxury neighborhood under construction for the observant community in Givat Zeev. During the tour, the deputy minister heard that the neighborhood will provide a substantial solution for the religious sector’s acute housing shortage. At the conclusion of the tour, Levy said that the Ministry of Construction headed by Yoav Galant, Construction Minister, is doing everything possible to increase the ratio of supply to demand in order to make it possible for every couple getting married in Israel to buy their own apartment. Likud party member, Deputy Minister Levy, was amazed at the rapid rate of progress and the high standard of development of the neighborhood. “Mayors of other cities should come here to learn how to build an
upscale neighborhood,” remarked the Minister. The Deputy Minister made it clear that he would encourage both the Construction Minister and various mayors to visit the Givat Zeev project for the purpose of learning how to build a new, upscale neighborhood while putting an emphasis on details such as educational institutions and parks.
Many of the 400 housing units planned for this neighborhood have already been sold. All the apartments are being built according to the highest specification standards. The neighborhood is being built over a 140 square dunam area. A country club is under construction on the premises which will include a gym, swimming pool, outdoor sports fields and well-equipped parks.
Ramat Givat Zeev, a project of Nofei Givat Zeev, has received countrywide interest from affluent, religious Israeli families who want to upgrade their living standards while residing in a Jerusalem neighborhood. It has been equally popular with families making Aliyah who wish to maintain the same standard of living as they are accustomed to enjoying.
Kohelet Foundation Launches Kohelet Prize to Educators for Excellence in Progressive Jewish Education
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he Kohelet Foundation announced recently the inaugural year of its Kohelet Prize. The unrestricted $36,000 prize will be awarded to educators or teams of educators, who currently work in Jewish day schools and whose work skillfully demonstrates a progressive approach to education in the following six categories: • Interdisciplinary Integration
• • • • •
Real-World Learning Learning Environment Differentiated Instruction Development of Critical and/ or Creative Thinking Risk Taking and Failure
“We know there are incredible, creative and highly effective teachers doing this work in the field right now. We want to inspire them to share
what they know about developing the minds and hearts of their students,” said Holly Cohen, Kohelet Foundation’s executive director. “The first five categories are critical to excellent education. By honing in on these, we hope to surface work that demonstrates the elements that matter most in the classroom,” said Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl, the Kohelet Foundation chief academic officer. In explaining the sixth category, Perl noted, “In schools, failures are too often seen as an endpoint, not as a crucial step toward success. To foster a growth mindset in students, we have to begin by fostering it in our teachers.” Cohen added, “We’re shifting the paradigm from ‘failure is bad’ to responsible risk-taking and failure breed success. That’s a game changer for the field of Jewish education.” To submit an entry, educators will share their work by uploading it directly to the Kohelet Prize website at www.koheletprize.org, any time starting September 29, 2016 until 11:59PM on November 29, 2016. A
panel of judges in the fields of education, psychology and neuroscience will select the winning entries. To promote an open source culture within the field, the Kohelet Foundation plans to create a searchable database of all entries. The database will be accessible, after the close of submissions, via the Kohelet Prize website. The Kohelet Prizes will be awarded in early 2017. For more information, visit: www.koheletprize.org. About the Kohelet Foundation: Established in Philadelphia in 2008, the Kohelet Foundation’s work focuses primarily on Jewish day schools and the institutions that support and promote them. By creating and implementing programs that are replicable and accessible and awarding a variety of unique and targeted grants, the Kohelet Foundation is transforming what is possible for Jewish day schools and their communities nationwide.
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Around the Community Children from six families gathered in Huntington on Tisha B’Av afternoon to watch the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation’s video presentation with Long Island Torah Network. Afterwards, they pooled their efforts to color, decorate and assemble this model of the Beis Hamikdash (with a little help from their parents). Special thanks to Mr. T Schmermund and Torah Umesorah for making this wonderful project available to the public.
Avnet’s Woodmere Campus Capped off its Summer with Father-Son Siyum By Yeshaya Samet, Head Counselor, Woodmere Division
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here are moments during camp every summer that make all the hard work worthwhile. Whether it’s the unsuspected camper who comes up with the winning run or point in a playoff game. Or it’s the kiddush Hashem that a bunk makes on a trip. There are always moments that make you appreciate all the work that goes into running a camp. Last Thursday I experienced one such moment. I can take no credit for it because it wasn’t my idea. Nor was I involved in any of its preparations and planning. That was left up to Avnet’s Woodmere
Campus Director Rabbi Jeremy Fine and Head of Chinuch Rabbi Joey Werner. Long before the summer began, they were working on the Chinuch program and what can be to make the learning even better. What can be done to make the learning come alive so that the campers come away with
something? What can be done so that the campers feel accomplished and proud of their Chinuch? And as a result, two changes were made to the program. Firstly, hands-on learning was instituted. They learned all about tevilas keilim, and the campers went and were tovel keilim in the mikva with their rebbeim. They learned about what types of keilim require tevilah and how to properly tovel them. They got to keep the Avnet mugs which they toiveled. They learned all about the Beis Hamikdash and they built one on campus! They also learned about the ketores used for the mizbeach and ground the spices themselves which they got bring home and are now us-
able to make a Siyum on the Mesechta together. This was, of course, in addition to the general Chinuch of the summer. Namely, parsha and hilchos bein hamitzarim. This leads me to last Thursday night. The night of the siyum. To be honest I didn’t really know what to expect. We have never done anything like this before in camp so I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. But as soon as the program started I began to realize how special this night was going to be. The program started with refreshments served during a brief meet and greet between staff, fathers, and campers, and then what followed was truly amazing. Rabbi Werner started off the night
divrei Torah with everyone. The boys were eloquent and witty, inspiring the crowd with a vort from their perek. I stood there and admired as fathers and grandfathers were shepping nachas from their children and grandchildren and were so proud of what they accomplished this summer. It’s not every day you get to experience such a moment, a moment that makes all the toil and effort worthwhile. Rabbi Werner concluded the siyum with joining every camper together saying Hadran together. The dancing and singing that followed was an expression of joy and love of Hashem and the Torah with a special guest performance from Oneg Shemesh. Rabbi Fine MC’d the evening’s program which concluded with a raffle. I was privileged to call out the winning ticket which was held by camper Alex Brand.
ing for besamim during havdala in their homes. Secondly, goal oriented learning was instituted. Each Chinuch group took it upon themselves to finish a perek of Masechet Avos. But not to just “finish” the perek. The goal was to truly master it and make it part of their daily lives. And at the end of the summer the entire camp will be
with words of Torah, inspiration, and described to all the guests just how amazing their boys are, how much they have accomplished in such a short amount of time. And then Rabbi Werner introduced campers from each Chinuch group (Eli Frogel, Ariel Gross, Moshe Bekritsky, Max Lancer, and Binyamin Werner) to share a
As fathers and sons filtered out, I was already busy planning the next day of camp, my mind already elsewhere. But I can always look back on that one brief moment and appreciate how special our campers really are. Have a great year everyone and hope to see in you in Avnet next summer in Yerushalayim!
TJH
Centerfold
By now, everyone heard about U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte’s lie, that he and three other U.S. Olympic swimmers were robbed at gunpoint in Rio. That is a very uncommon lie. The following is a list of, well, more common lies: WHAT YOU SAY
WHAT YOU MEAN:
I’m fine ...........................................You’re in the dog house. Let’s keep in touch ......................You will never hear from me again. I love it ............................................You really should quit trying to be an artist and get a real job. Sure, I remember you ................I have no clue who you are. It’s really good to see you .........I tried hiding in the bathroom until you left, but I guess I came out too early. Don’t worry, it’s OK .....................Thanks for stepping on my toe and breaking it. That is so funny ..........................I totally don’t get that joke…and assume you probably told it wrong. It’s not you, it’s me ......................It’s you! I thought I responded to your email.................. I thought you would forget about it. I’m listening..................................Can you tell me real fast so that I can move on with my life. I’m not hungry.............................I’d rather not try your daughter’s rice crispy treats. You’re breaking up, I’ll call you back ................. I really don’t want to talk about this now. LOL .................................................I guess I have to respond to your text, but I really want to end this conversation. I’m 5 minutes away ....................I totally forgot that we were supposed to meet. I’m busy that day.........................No, I don’t want to go to your great-niece’s play.
Claim...Debt... Scratch I mean, Game...Set...Match! Find a rhyme for each word below so you end up with a familiar three word phrase: 1.
Shop, Swap, Dole
2.
Cook, Wine, Drinker
3.
Mop, Slip, Thump
4.
Mud, Wet, Smears
5.
Sock, Rock, Peril
6.
Steady, Filling, Label
7.
Warning, Soon, Flight
Answers: 1. Stop, Drop, and Roll
1.
AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
2. Hook, Line, and Sinker 3. Hop, Skip, and Jump 4. Blood, Sweat, and Tears 5. Lock, Stock, and Barrel 6. Ready, Willing, and Able 7. Morning, Noon, and Night
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Everything August
Down 1.Neil Armstrong 2. London Bridge 3. Berlin Wall 5. Princess Diana 6. Houdini 13. Hawaii
Across Down 4. World’s largest museum 1. First man on the moon 7. Born on August 4, 1961 in the U.S. 2. Spans the River Thames (some say in Kenya!) 3. Created in 1961 by East German 8. Novel written by Herman Melville government 9. The first woman to fly across the 5. Dies in high speed chase while being Across Down United States pursued by paparazzi 4. 10. World’s largest museum manunderwater on the moon Written by Francis Scott Key 6. Spends 1. 91 First minutes in a 7. 11. Born onAmendment August 4, 1961 thegroup U.S. the (some say in tank 2. Spans the River Thames sealed 19th gavein this right to vote in 1920 13. Admitted as the 50th state in Kenya!) 3. Created in 1961 by1959 East German government 12. First baseball player to hit 500 home 8. Novel written by Herman Melville 5. Dies in high speed chase while being pursued runs 9. The first woman to fly across the United States by paparazzi 14. Plane which dropped the first atomic 10. Written 6. Spends 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank bomb by Francis Scott Key
ANSWERS Across 4. Louvre 5. Penicillin 7. Barack Obama 9. Moby Dick 10. Star Spangled Banner 11. Women 12. Babe Ruth 14. Enola Gay
11. 19th Amendment gave this group the right to vote in 1920 12. First baseball player to hit 500 home runs 14. Plane which dropped the first atomic bomb
You gotta be
Puzzle key: Across: 4. Louvre 5. Penicillin 7. Barack Obama
13. Admitted as the 50th state in 1959
kidding
Yankel and Moshe are strolling along one day when Yankel sees a thick looking envelope on the ground. He quickly picks it up and to his amazement, it contains a receipt and $350 in cash. “Would you believe my luck?!” he exclaims. “I’ve just found $350 in a wage packet. It’s my lucky day.” “Let me see the receipt inside the envelope,” says Moshe. Yankel gives the receipt to Moshe. Moshe glances at the figures on the receipt then says to Yankel, “I wouldn’t call it lucky. Just look at the amount of tax you paid!”
Down: 1.Neil Armstrong 2. London Bridge 3. Berlin Wall
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HONORING OUR DONORS:
MAJOR DEDICATIONS building dedication // בנין באר רחל e
Mark & Barbara Silber mikvah dedication // mikvah sara e Shalom & Reena Vegh
cornerstones e $360,000 (2 available) mikvah pool—immersion room 1
reception area lobby e Robert & Roselin Vegh mikvah pool—immersion room 3
mikvah pool—immersion room 2
e
e
e
Melly & Rochele Lifshitz
David & Stephanie Sokol
e
Adam & Arielle Parkoff
corridors
main entryway
e
Chaim & Livia Jacobs and Family
e
north wing
south wing
Ezra & Caroline Birnbaum
Moshe & Nechama Ratner
pure water wells for main mikvah
Ari & Ruthy Jungreis
mikvah pool—immersion room 4
Vera Solomon Aron & Rachel Solomon
Dani & Michali Rosenthal
e
David & Beracha Gast
$100,000 (1 AVAILABLE)
east wing
west wing
Shmuel & Batsheva Neuman
Uri & Devorah Dreifus
pathways to purity exit mezuzah north wing
pathways to purity south, east, west
2 Ari &Available Chaya Cohen
$100,000 (3 AVAILABLE)
e e
e
preparation rooms handicap preparation room
Nachman & Esther Goodman kallah preparation room
Dr. Freddie & Lori Marton
Anonymous Chaim & Ayala Abramson Danny & Chayala Eberstark Yossi & Deena Eisenberger Yaakov & Sori Gade Nosson & Miri Ginsbury
Moshe & Rivky Majeski
Avi & Pessi Goldstein Motty & Malka Klein Ralph & Magda Manella Yossi & Malk Melohn Yanky & Shaindy Neuhoff Avrumi & Aliza Rosenberg
entrance mezuzah
washing stations
e
e
Shmuel & Tzipi Schechter
Ushi & Cirri Shafran
L'zecher Nishmas
Shlomo Fishel Ben Aron $54,000 — (1 AVAILABLE)
library
exit mezuzah
e
Dovid & Tikvah Azman
Shimshi & Yocheved Rosenberg Ari & Daniella Schwartz Nassan & Devorah Treitel
$36,000 (1 AVAILABLE)
e
2 Available
e
Menachem & Mariam Lieber
Shalom & Pessy Jacobs
honored contributors ($5,000 and above) Jonathan Bennett Uri Cohen David & Chanee Deutsch Sammy & Chayie Eberstark Binyomin & Leah Einhorn Dr. Eli & Esther Eisenberger Seth & Zahava Farbman Shmuel & Aviva Francis Daniel & Ariella Freundlich Rabbi & Rebitzin Ginzburg Eli & Riva Goldschmiedt
2
Pinny & Huvi Goldstein Chanan & Suri Greenwald Dudi & Esti Gross Zev & Evy Guttman Mendy & Kiki Haas Andrew & Teri Herenstein Shaye & Shani Hirsch Michael & Faiga Joseph Asher & Esty Jungreis Shlomo & Addi Kapetas Shaul & Batsheva Katz
e
Steven Kellner Motty & Chanie Lazar Allan & Meira Leibowitz Alan & Carolyn Lieberman Shalom & Iris Maidenbaum Eli & Ava Moskowitz Michael & Carol Pinewski A.J. & Zahava Sabo Shalom & Michelle Segelman Heshy & Sharon Shterm Eddie & Allison Silver
Moshe & Jenine Sommerstein Yaakov & Yona Spinner David & Ruchi Turner Jeff & Sharona Weinberg Avi & Elia Weinstock Shiya & Sarala Weiss Moshe & Amy Weiss Shlomie & Blimy Weiss Joshua Zeitman Myrna Zisman
To arrange a named sponsorship, please call 516-962-3001 or contact: Moishe Ratner, Shmulie Schechter or Meir Krengel
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
THE FINAL STRETCH:
TOGETHER WE CAN!
With the partnership of each family, we can complete this monumental Mikvah for all of our families. Please join us today at the level of your ability.
דורות ישרים מבורכים
SUPPORTERS OF GENERATIONS E
$3,600
בנין עדי עד
DONORS & BUILDERS E
$1,800
'בנים אתם לה
FRIENDS & FAMILY E
$1,000
Donate online at GROVESTREETMIKVAH.ORG Mailing Address: GROVE STREET MIKVAH INC. | PO BOX 485 | CEDARHURST, NY 11516
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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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Torah Thought
Parshas Ekev By Rabbi Berel Wein
T
he Torah reading of this week continues the long, final oration of Moshe to the Jewish people, as he prepares for his own mortal demise. It is important to note that throughout the words of Moshe here in the final book of the Chumash, there is, mixed together, the requirement of the memory of the past – the distant and immediate past – with the vision of the fu-
ture, again the far future and the immediate future. There are those amongst us who live pretty much in the memory of our long, eventful and holy past. Being suffused with nostalgia, they paint for themselves a picture that is many times more fantasy than reality. And since the reality of the past never is portrayed, any attempt to learn from that past is futile. We see so of-
ten in the words of Moshe how frank and honest is his recollection and recitation of the events of the past. He spares no one and no event. His love for the Jewish people, that shines forth from every verse and word of this book, in no way forces him to color the past and sanitize the events that occur. It is the honesty of his oration and presentation that gives it such power and eternity. The person who has to climb a hill will oftentimes in the middle of the climb look back to see how much has already been accomplished. In order to continue the climb, psychologically that is an enormous aid. So too, on the eve of the entry of the Jewish people into the Land of Israel, Moshe reminds them of the past and of the climb that they already achieved
and experienced – the travails of our ancestors, the slavery in Egypt, the revelation at Sinai, the disasters of the desert – in order to prepare them for the rest of the climb before them. But he also portrays the vision of their future in the Land of Israel and in the diaspora. There again Moshe is honest and candid with his words of prophecy. He promises no rose garden, nor an easy path towards the ultimate redemption and return of the Jewish people to their homeland, to their faith and ultimately to their Creator. Just as Jews were and are prone to fantasize about our past, so too, perhaps even to a greater extent, are we susceptible to creating a picture of an unrealistic and unsustainable future. We see in
the Talmud the opinion that promises us a rather bland messianic era. Maimonides adopts this viewpoint as well. However, because of the length of the exile and of the enormous tragedies that have been our lot in that exile, many Jews have upped the ante for the messianic era. By so doing, we are disappointed with what has already been achieved and make it more difficult than ever to have a realistic view of what our policies and expectations for the future should be. For a balanced picture of the holy vision regarding the Jewish people, past and present, one need only study and remember the final words of Moshe as they appear before us in the Torah readings of these weeks. Shabbat shalom.
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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The Observant Jew
Thanks for Nothing By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
A
woman was driving through a rather rough part of town when her car broke down. She called a tow truck and remained in her vehicle with the doors locked. Nervous about being alone, she began to recite some Tehillim. After sitting there for some time, it was clear to any onlookers that her car wasn’t in working order. A group of young toughs slowly began moving towards her. As they circled closer, she began to pray in earnest. “Hashem,” she cried,
Quite often, we’re like the woman in the car. We find ourselves in a situation which is uncomfortable at least, or dangerous at most, and we pray. Then, things work out but we look at them as if they were normal and we don’t realize or acknowledge that it was the kindness of Hashem at work. Even more frequently, we don’t even realize we were in a tight spot, or that we were protected, and we aren’t even aware that there’s anything for which to be grateful.
waited and prayed. Ambulances from across Israel streamed to the airport ready to carry off the injured or worse. And then ... everything worked out OK. The plane landed safely and no one was harmed. We breathed a sigh of relief. But did we think about the tremendous chessed of Hashem? If a plane had crashed, or skidded off the runway, G-d forbid, people might have died. Families torn apart. Children raised as orphans, missing their loved ones at Shabbos ta-
But suddenly, a miracle! The dead came back to life ... the sick and injured recovered in an instant…
“if you save me I will have lonely guests every Shabbos, volunteer for [insert organization], and give $1,000 to tzedaka!” Just then, the tow truck came around the corner and the thugs scattered. “Hashem,” she whispered with relief, “thanks anyway.”
Yesterday, a flight taking off from Israel lost some of its landing gear. They circled for a while, dumping most of their fuel into the sea (side note: they actually build them capable of doing that for just such situations!). People around the world
bles, Chanukah, or their weddings. Those in the hospital, maimed, crippled, their families at their bedside as they lay there, unable to work, unable to care for themselves. So many tears, so much heartache. So many medical
bills and so much effort just to get back to where they had been before. But suddenly, a miracle! The dead came back to life ... the sick and injured recovered in an instant... Klal Yisrael’s mourning was turned to rejoicing simply because the plane didn’t crash. Let us focus on what could have happened and feel that sense of gratitude and relief as if the dead had come back to life and the injured were miraculously healed. Then, let’s take this inspiration to truly thank G-d for all the similar miracles in our lives, the countless things that don’t go wrong, and be grateful and happy. And those medical and funeral expenses we didn’t have? There are people in the world who do. Find a good tzedaka that you care
about. Hatzalah, Chesed Shel Emes, Bikur Cholim, plus yeshivos and Kollelim where Torah is learned which serves as a protection for our nation, and give them a token of your appreciation.
Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications avround the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter. com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.
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Between the Lines
Sweat the Small Stuff By Eytan Kobre
Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things. - Bruce Barton
A
n old man went to the beach early one morning for a bit of soul-searching. There had been a storm the previous night, and the vast beach was littered with starfish as far as the eye could see. He spotted a boy approaching in the distance, pausing periodically to pick up objects and toss them into the ocean. As the boy drew closer, the old man could no longer contain his curiosity. “Good morning there! May I ask what you’re doing?” The boy looked up. “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide washed them onto the beach and they can’t get back by themselves. When the sun rises, they’ll die unless they get back to water.” “But there must be tens
of thousands of starfish on this beach,” the old man chided. “I’m afraid you won’t make much of a difference.” The boy bent down matter-of-factly, clutched another starfish, and chucked it as far as he could into the ocean. “Made a difference to that one!” We tend to overemphasize major feats and significant achievements, without giving due weight to the countless little acts that comprise the overwhelming majority of life. But changing the world doesn’t require superhuman feats or sweeping social movements; all it takes sometimes is one small act (Alei Shur, Vol. II, pgs. 18990). Indeed, “G-d is not in the wind…G-d is not in the noise…G-d is not in the fire… [but in] a still, small voice” (I Melachim 19:11-12). You won’t find G-d only in the seismic events; sometimes you will find Him in that still, small voice. And that still, small voice can change the world – one starfish at a time. That is the reason we are promised exceptional reward for obeying seemingly-small commandments (Rashi, Devarim 7:12; Tanchuma, Eikev 1) and warned of the punishment to be met-
ed out over “little” transgressions (Avoda Zara 18a). Because greatness is found not only in extraordinary acts but also in the “ordinary” ones. It is in mastering a challenging piece of Gemara. It is in the internal struggle to resist an impulse when no one is looking. It is in keeping quiet when we have oh so much to say. It is in a quiet prayer and an unpublicized charity and an unheralded visit and a warm, encouraging smile. Before being executed by the Romans for teaching Torah publicly, R’ Chanina ben Teradyon asked R’ Yosi ben Kisma whether to expect a place in the World to Come. What was his merit? He once commingled charity funds with his personal monies, and, in an overabundance of caution, he simply gave all the money to charity. “If so,” answered R’ Yosi, “from your portion should be my portion, and from your lot should be my lot” (Avoda Zara 18a). R’ Chanina had devoted his life to teaching and spreading G-d’s word – and, in the end, he sacrificed his life for that cause – yet his major stake to greatness was the one time he was a bit cautious with a few charitable coins. That small act was the true measure of his
greatness. Our small acts define us (Mishnas R’ Aharon, Vol. I, pgs. 116-17; Michtav M’Eliyahu, Vol. III, pgs. 107-110). Indeed, “G-d does not grant greatness to someone until tested with small things” (Shemos Rabba 2:3). Moshe and Dovid, for example, were chosen to lead the Jewish people not because of great revelations or extraordinary feats but because they cared for little runaway sheep. Great people find greatness in the small things. It is said that Michelangelo was working on a statue when some of his friends chanced by and admired his evolving work. When they returned a month later, Michelangelo was still working on the same statue. “Still?” they teased. “What have you done in the past month? It looks just the same.” “Well,” Michelangelo explained, “I’ve smoothed a line here, polished the arm there, and taken a few flakes of marble from the forehead.” His friends were incredulous. “But those are mere trifles!” “They are indeed trifles. But trifles make perfection. And perfection is no trifle.” Indeed, it is through
G-d’s seemingly picayune directives that we express our love for Him most acutely (Tiferes Shimshon, Devarim 7:12). Just as any married couple will tell you, a happy marriage is found not in exotic vacations or pricey gifts (though I’ve yet to hear any complaints about those), but in the “please” and “thank you” and other kind words. Because it’s the little things that count most. R’ Yitzchak, a disciple of R’ Shimon bar Yochai, once encountered a starving beggar. R’ Yitzchak was sympathetic but he too lacked money even for himself, let alone to help others. Still, he rummaged through his pockets and found a half-coin – the smallest denomination of currency – which he handed to the beggar. “Bless you, bless you,” said the poor man. And, thinking nothing of it, R’ Yitzchak moved on. That night, R’ Yitzchak dreamed that he was cast into the sea by a band of thugs. Just as he was about to drown, he saw his teacher, the great R’ Shimon bar Yochai, and he was filled with hope. R’ Shimon stretched out his arms, but, no matter how hard he tried, he could not reach R’ Yitzchak. Just as R’ Yitzchak was about to
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give up hope, the beggar appeared suddenly and pulled R’ Yitzchak from the water. R’ Yitzchak awoke in a panic, only now appreciating how monumental his “insignificant” charity had
known to contribute to every yeshiva and every rabbi who asked. Ironically, however, the wealthy man was totally not observant and lacked any connection to Judaism other than his donations.
to take the entrance examination just to placate them, and, unsurprisingly, I failed miserably. By the time the examination concluded, it was late at night and I asked to sleep in the dormitory for
“They are indeed trifles. But trifles make perfection. And perfection is no trifle.”
been. Even where the great R’ Shimon bar Yochai could not help him, his pittance of a donation could (Zohar Chadash 2:61). Collecting money for his yeshiva, R’ Elya Lopian once visited one of England’s wealthiest Jews, a man
Even more than a donation, R’ Elya was interested in an explanation. The wealthy man obliged. “My parents were deeply religious, but I was rebellious. They very much wanted me to attend the Chofetz Chaim’s yeshiva, so I agreed
just that night. “The Chofetz Chaim explained to me that a boy who would not stay in the dormitory for the entire year cannot be there even for one night. ‘But,’ the Chofetz Chaim continued, ‘that doesn’t mean he cannot stay
in my home.’ “And that’s what happened. The Chofetz Chaim took me to his home and fed me as if I were a distinguished guest. In the middle of the night, the door to my room creaked open and I heard the rabbi muttering, ‘Oy, it’s too cold in here.’ And then he took off his jacket and placed it gently upon me. “It may not have been the most momentous thing he ever did,” the wealthy man finished, “but this much I tell you: whenever I see a rabbi, I still feel the warmth of that jacket.” * * * Certain commandments are regarded as “light” or “easy” (Chullin 142a [dispatching a mother bird before taking her child]; Menachos 44a [Tzitzis]; Avoda
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Zara 3a [Sukka]), but we don’t truly know what deeds are small and what deeds are not (Avos 2:1). We all have different notions about that. What seems insignificant to some may be of monumental importance to others. So I can’t tell you what the “little” things are. That’s for you to figure out. But whatever you do, buck the conventional wisdom. Sweat the small stuff. Because when you do, you realize that there is no small stuff.
Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, mediator, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.
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A Woman Who Said Hineni Remembering Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h By Nachum Soroka
It
is rare when one of our leaders is just as well-known within our community as he or she is known to the outside world. Orthodox “celebrities” (for lack of a better term) generally gain icon status for reasons that are uniquely Jewish: motivating speeches, an insightful grasp of Torah matters, a power to inspire the masses. But there are certain uniquely talented individuals, such as Rabbi Noach Weinberg, zt”l, the founder of yeshiva Aish Hatorah, who are able to connect with people both inside and outside their spheres. Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, a”h, who passed away this Tuesday, was another one of those singular religious figures whose influence stretched across the devout to the completely unaffiliated. The Rebbetzin is perhaps best known for her work in founding the international kiruv organization Hineni and her numerous books which were written towards less affiliated audiences, but she was first and foremost a “rebbetzin,” whose father was a rav before the war in Europe and then afterwards in East Flatbush, and whose husband led the nascent kehilla in the Five Towns. Indeed, at the time the Rebbetzin received the offer from the White House to make the benediction at the 2004 Republican National Convention, she was davening at the kever of her saintly great grandfather, the Menuchas Asher.
The Jungreis family boasted no less than 87 rabbis bearing its name in Hungary before the Holocaust. Esther Jungreis was born in 1936 in the town of Szeged, perhaps the most assimilated town in all the country. It contained a magnificent Reform temple which occupied a full city block, and Hungarian nationalism was the ideology du jour amongst the Jewish cognoscenti there. Traditional Judaism was
non-Jewish neighbors, particularly after the First World War and the rise of Hitler. Rabbi Yaakov Jungreis, the Rebbetzin’s brother, recalled the insults hurled at him on his daily walk home from cheder, a trek which took a grand total of three blocks. Young Hungarians would revel as they caught and undressed Jewish boys, then hung the boys upside down from trees and doused them with water so that
“A Jew should never be embarrassed to declare his Jewishness, to proclaim his Torah status among non-Jews.”
scorned and left for the dustbin of history. It was no accident, though, that Esther’s father, Rav Avraham, zt”l, chose to raise his family there. His desire to stem the building wave of assimilation affecting Eastern European Jewry formed his calling. He was one man seeking to push back against the force of millions, but he succeeded in creating a shul and mikvah when all connection to tradition seemed to be unraveling. Assimilation might have been the most pressing issue in pre-war Szeged, but the city’s Jewish population always suffered from its
they would freeze to death over the subzero European winter night. The Jungreis family was able to escape Europe before the Nazis overtook their town by securing passage on the famed transport arranged by Rudolf Kastner, a Zionist Jew whose relationship with the Gestapo has always been a topic of controversy. Rebbetzin Jungreis’s aunt, who headed an orphanage, had her offices next to Kastner’s and was able to arrange for the Jungreis family to be on the transport. In all, Kastner’s efforts saved 1,700 Jews from Hungary, including the Sat-
mar Rav, zt”l. The rest of the Jungreis family was not as fortunate; 80 of the Jungreis family rabbis were murdered in the Holocaust. After the war, the Jungreis family settled in East Flatbush, and the senior Rabbi Jungreis, who quickly learned that America was just as difficult a place to remain committed to Torah Judaism as was Hungary, continued his life’s mission of being mekarev his less dedicated brethren. Indeed the Rebbetzin considered her father way ahead of the times; his focus on kiruv happened years before the beginning of the baal teshuva movement. The Rebbetzin moved to North Woodmere after marrying her third cousin, Rav Meshulem HaLevi Jungreis, zt”l. Together they founded Congregation Oh Torah.
It
was her 1973 gathering of 18,000 Jews in Madison Square Garden that launched her kiruv organization Hineni and put her on the map of influential Orthodox Jews. Holding an event at the Garden was a brazen move. No one – especially the Rebbetzin – felt that she would be able to pull it off and fill all the arena’s seats, let alone inspire such a large audience. But she was motivated by the desire to demonstrate to the world that observant Judaism has its place in everyone’s lives. “Young Jews complain that we are too pragmatic and don’t speak about G-d the
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Meeting with President George W. Bush
way their Christian friends do,” she complained. “Any movement that comes along – Sun Myung Moon, Hare Krishna, you name it –Jews are always the first to join.” And there was no better way to spread her message than by going all-in at the World’s Most Famous Arena. As she recalled later on, “I had often despaired about the way Madison Square Garden was being used by Israel Bonds for lavish galas featuring Hollywood entertainment… What did these galas achieve? Nothing spiritual. Nothing meaningful.” So she begrudgingly put up with the comparison people (including People, the magazine) made of her to Billy Graham, and created an organization devoted to putting Orthodoxy on the map. By all accounts, the event, which took place on November 18, was a success. The Rebbetzin spoke to a standing room-only crowd and her speech was broadcast on every major television and radio station in New York City. “People must turn away from neon gods,” she exclaimed. “The pursuit of happiness is not around the corner in Miami or Las Vegas.” From there, Hineni launched into an international organization that airs programs on national television regularly and operates a museum out of its headquarters in Manhattan. The Rebbetzin was also an accomplished writer, having published The Jewish Soul on Fire in
At the Golan Heights border with soldiers
1982, and most recently Life is a Test in 2006. She wrote to a wide audience, delivering Torah based principles in an unintimidating manner. In 1998 she published The Committed Life, which focuses on such universal values like morality and responsibility, all through
Joining in a cousin’s simcha
with the authority of a psychologist and marriage counselor, the wisdom of a biblical scholar, and the compassion of a wife and mother.”
Her
reputation allowed her to become a de facto representative of klal Yisroel,
“People must turn away from neon gods,” she exclaimed. “The pursuit of happiness is not around the corner in Miami or Las Vegas.” a Jewish lens and seasoned with Jewish anecdotes. In it she discusses her upbringing in a pre-war religious home and her husband’s struggle with illness. She inspires with recent stories from Yeshiva Darchei Torah and stresses the importance of allowing the Torah to shape children’s priorities and moral compasses. The book received high praise from secular authorities like Drs. John Gray and Laura Schlesinger and Mark Victor-Hansen, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The Committed Life was followed up by The Committed Marriage, about which Publisher’s Weekly wrote, “Jungreis speaks
and sometimes, even all religions. When the White House invited her to speak at the Republican National Convention in 2004, she was firm in not diluting her message, regardless of the audience’s beliefs. Recently, she discussed her experience from then with this magazine noting, “Whenever I speak among non-Jews I make a point of not compromising the teachings of the Torah. ‘Ki hi chochmasem le’aynai ha’amim,’ for Torah wisdom will generate respect in the eyes of the nations. I knew I had a responsibility to be mekadesh shem Shamayim. Rather than delivering a generic message, I spoke about Torah. I spoke about the land of Israel. I
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Speaking at the Republican National Convention
spoke about the Jewish people and the great contributions we’ve made to mankind and to all of civilization. A Jew should never be embarrassed to declare his Jewishness, to proclaim his Torah status among non-Jews. If he does so, he earns their respect and admiration.” Her dealings with the White House earned her the respect of the president, and when it was her turn to greet Mr. Bush, he respectfully did not extend his hand for a handshake out of deference to the Rebbetzin’s beliefs. She was later invited to join him on his trip to Israel to celebrate the country’s 60th birthday. Until the very end, the Rebbetzin worried about her community. She recently lamented, “We live in a very difficult generation. ‘Ain bayis she’ain sham meis,’ every home has distress. We have to learn to insulate ourselves and to preserve the sanctity of our homes; to transcend and survive. These are tragic times that test the very fiber of our nation.” Her posts on the Hineni website often discuss solutions for people who are having a hard time getting married. The Rebbetzin was eighty-yearsold, but her concern for all of her fellow Jews and fierce desire for the dissemination of Torah did not allow her to slow down. Her passion and vision for what the world should be has left a legacy which will influence generations to come.
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THIS WEEK, WE’RE TALKING TO…
Camp Areivim
How are the Five Towns’ youngest residents spending their summer? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking to different day camps to learn how their campers are spending their 12 weeks of summer vacation.
CAMP AREIVIM, ONE OF THE PREMIER ALL-BOYS CAMPS IN THE FIVE TOWNS, STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE GROWN TO OVER 700 CAMPERS. THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH RABBI YANKY HERSH, CAMP DIRECTOR; RABBI YOSSI BENNETT, SENIOR DIVISION HEAD COUNSELOR; AND RABBI YOSEF FRIEDLER, JUNIOR DIVISION HEAD COUNSELOR.
Rabbi Hersh, you opened Camp Areivim seven years ago. Tell us your story. YH: I grew up in Flatbush and learned in Yeshiva Torah Temimah. When I was 17-years-old, together with a group of friends, I started a camp in the Ukraine. That’s for another time, but it was an incredible experience that gave me tremendous insight into how to develop a successful camp program. When I got married, I became a rebbe in the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. After my first year teaching, I was asked to head their day camp and did so for six years. Nine years ago, I moved to Far Rockaway and became a 5th grade rebbe at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. After my first summer, a number of parents of the yeshiva approached me and asked me to start a camp for their older boys who weren’t going to sleepaway camp. One thing turned into another and Camp Areivim was born at the beau-
tiful new campus of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. In the first year of Camp Areivim, we had under 50 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. It was a tremendous success. Most camps start with younger ages and eventually build up; we started with older boys and built down. Five years ago, we branched out to younger age groups and added more divisions over the years. Two years ago was the first year that we introduced our preschool division, called Areivim Freshies, making Camp Areivim a premiere boys’ summer camp accommodating boys ages nursery through 8th grade. It’s seven years later, and our enrollment has grown to over 700 boys, b’li ayin horah. Give us some details of how the camp is structured. YH: Interestingly enough, although the camp has grown tremendously, I wanted to keep my original intent in providing each
age group with their own personalized program. I’m extremely proud of how the camp has become four incredibly age-appropriate divisions that run like well-oiled machines. Each division has its own individualized program highlighted in each one of their own weekly newsletters: The Freshies Flash, The Areivim Junior Herald and The Areivim Times for the Seniors and MITs. It could have only happened by having an extremely dedicated head staff. All of the division heads are able to perform an unbelievable balancing act! They are incredible at being responsible and organized while at the same time giving non-stop fun to the campers. Our Freshies division is for boys in nursery, kindergarten and Pre1A. Mrs. Bayla Barkany directs this division with her signature warmth, love, experience, and organizational skills. Together with Mrs. Adina Hoch, whose fun and
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Excitin Camp Fe g ature! BACK F O THIRD R A YEAR! bubbly personality adds so much to their division, it’s no wonder that their top-notch program is so successful. Our Junior program is for boys going into 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. It is headed by the very experienced and talented Rabbi Yosef Friedler, an incredible machenech who teaches alongside me during the year as a 5th grade rebbe at YKLI. He puts lev v’nefesh into designing a program that is perfectly suited to this age group. He is assisted by Rabbi Tzvi Medetsky and Rabbi Yoni Sokel who both add enormous energy and geshmak to the division. The Senior division is for boys going into 5th, 6th, and 7 th grades and is headed by another exemplary mechanech, the S’gan Menahel at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, Rabbi Yossi Bennett. He is my righthand man in running all of the day-to-day and behind-the-scenes aspects of camp. Besides being so friendly and personable with both staff and campers alike, he is phenomenal at taking care of every last detail of every program, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The MIT division, which stands for Madrich-In-Training, is for boys going into 8th and 9th grades. This group is headed by Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield, a very
popular rebbe at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. The M.I.T.s participate in camp responsibilities, help out in the canteen, in younger bunks, and in shul. They serve as our gabbaim, ba’alei tefilah, and ba’alei kriah. They have their own extremely intense leagues and are even color war captains. They enjoy specialized activities and overnights all over the East Coast every other week of camp. Overnights! That sounds fun. Tell us more. YB: The Seniors and M.I.T.s go on specialized overnights every other week. They go all over the East Coast. We’ve gone to Connecticut, Philadelphia, the Catskills, the Poconos, Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, Lake Placid, Lake George and Lakewood, to name a few. The overnights include really amazing activities and adventures. Some of our activities included white water rafting, banana boating, trampolining, zip-lining, horseback riding, kayaking and rock climbing. We visited Six Flag’s Great Escape, Dorney Park, Six
F l a g ’s New England, Dave & Buster’s, Sahara Sam’s, Mountain Creek Water Park, Clementon Water Park, and Connecticut Sports Center, amongst so many other amazing locations. Wow! That sounds incredible. Wish I could have joined! What trips do the Juniors enjoy during the summer? YF: The Juniors go on really exciting trips as well! They have day trips at least once a week and numerous late nights throughout the summer. This year, for the first time ever, we had an amazing late night trip to Coco Keys Water Resort in Mount Laurel and invited fathers to join us! It was a fantastic trip and many fathers joined us and appreciated the invitation. Other trips this summer included SkyZone, Bounce!, Adventurers, Adventureland, Hot Skates, the Hatzalah Baseball Game, Legoland, Mini Golf, Paintball, Laser Tag, and much more!
Sounds like a party! What do you feel makes your camp particularly special and unique? YH: It’s really a home away from home. We try to develop the achdus that makes the kids feel “we’re all in it together.” The atmosphere at camp is infectious. When parents or anyone else come to visit the camp the response is always, “Where was this when I was a kid?!” It’s really incredible! YB: From the head staff all the way through the campers in the Freshies division, there is this unique feeling of “all being in it together.” This is a focus of ours, as you can tell from our logo. Our staff is hand-picked throughout the school year. Our morahs in the Freshies division are married, highly experienced and understand the sensitivities of the children. The same goes for our other divisions in which, aside from having caring and responsible counselors, many of our rebbeim remain on throughout the day as counselors and are joined by other married kollel yungerleit as well. YH: We gear our program to what the boys want and need. We understand the need for longer camp
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By the Numbers... 5,000,000+ points accumulated at Dave & Buster’s
65,000+ gallons of
water in our 2 brand new 50-foot swimming pools
60,000+ tickets
distributed throughout the summer
13,000+ dollars’ worth of FREE canteen given out this summer
3,000+ hot dogs and
hamburgers consumed just on overnights!
700+ of the finest and sweetest Torahdikeh campers
100+ of the most
geshmak and incredible staff members
7+ of years of Camp Areivim
1 amazing summer camp experience – only at Areivim!
hours the older the boys get. Whereas our Freshies division is dismissed at 3:30 daily, and our Juniors at 4:30, our Senior and MIT divisions have a full day beginning with minyan at 9:00 through dismissal at 5:30! The older the camper, the more he needs to be engaged in a kosher, Torah-dik, fun environment. The kids enjoy themselves, come home, and are wiped! YF: Our campers are engaged and occupied with activities at all times. There’s no downtime. Even during lunch, every day, we have some sort of competition. We have Sushi Day, Ice Cream Lab, a Chopped competition, the Great Egg Challenge, wacky races, zany contests and ich veis vos! The staff are constantly involved with the kids! Even our lunches are also age appropriate and so they differ for each age group. The Seniors, for instance, enjoy cholent and kugel every Friday. We try to accommodate every camper so that he is engaged in activities that are important to him. We make sure that we have a balance of activities. It’s really amazing!
I know you also have a great learning program. Tell us about it. YF: Our learning director, Rabbi Tzvi Finkel, is unbelievable! He runs all of our learning programs. He is very hands-on and is involved in all the learning in every age group. He is also extremely creative! He has introduced a number of extracurricular learning programs with fantastic incentives for learning over Shabbos (Masmidei Areivim), reviewing shnayim mikrah v’echad targum, age-appropriate kriyah programs, and all sorts of other ideas. He is so encouraging and ensures that the learning in Camp is both serious and geshmak! Our rebbeim are quite experienced and know how to motivate our campers. We have rebbeim who give safrus workshops, sukkah building projects, Erev Shabbos “Kiddush clubs” and so much more. Even the Pre-1A bunks in the Freshies Division have a rebbe in the morning, focusing on kriyah, ensuring that the summer is a bridge to the coming school year. The goal is that our boys should feel the simcha and warmth of learning and to come into
the next school year on a high. YB: Again, this is an area where each division’s program is age-appropriate. While the Freshies learn with their rebbe until 10:30, the Juniors have shiur until 11:00, and the Seniors, after davening with a minyan, continue learning until 12:30, with a recess break in the middle. YH: I actually had a rebbe call me at the beginning of this past school year. He was very surprised that a certain boy who had entered his class who was just an average boy the past year, was now at the top of his class. The rebbe said that he asked the boy what had changed and he said that he had a great summer of learning at camp. This boy happened to have won our Masmidei Areivim learning contest having learned over 20 blatt of Gemara over the course of the summer! That’s beautiful. Can you tell us a little more about the Freshies program? YH: This year’s Freshies theme was Across the Rainbow. Each week was built around a different color and had different activities based on each week’s theme. One of my favorite was the blue week in which one of the activities included hakaras hatov to the police department. We mentioned the rebbeim in the Freshies division, but the Freshies
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also have their own sports clinics and focus on a different sport each week. They learn from a very young age the rules, fundamentals and how to play each sport. We have a Wheel of Fun Park with 30 different wheeled vehicles. They have their own swimming pools, inflatable water slides, jungle gyms, and arts and crafts room as well. They also enjoy age-appropriate trips throughout the summer such as bowling, sprinkler parks, the fire station, Fun Fusion, Bounce U, and Chuck E. Cheese. Tell us about your campus and facilities. YH: We are located on the Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island campus. We’re in their state-of-the-art building and enjoy their sports facilities on the adjacent properties. We have an outdoor hockey rink, volleyball court, soccer field, and irrigated football turf (the same turf used in the Meadowlands!). We also have outdoor basketball courts, an indoor gym, a baseball field that accommodates two games at once, two brandnew gaga pits, and two massive 50foot pools.
The summer is actually coming to a close. Can you narrow down the summer to a single highlight? YH: It’s hard to say “highlight.” So many things are going on at our camp. Every day, at the end of the day, we look at each other and say, “This was the best day in camp.” YB: Different kids enjoy different things. It’s important to pinpoint and try to tap into what the children enjoy most. Every camper has his own highlight. YF: It’s hard to say. We do so much and we present everything in such a fun way. Sometimes even the most ordinary of things becomes so much fun because of the way the staff gets into it! YH: If I had to pick, I’d say that for the Freshies they love their huge commercial water inflatables! It’s like a carnival for them every day! For many Juniors, their hour long swim in our two 50-foot pools is the highlight of their day. For many of the Seniors and MITs i t was definitely the inter-camp games we played on our overnights. They can’t stop talking about their wins! That was a real winner!
Speaking of sports, tell us about leagues. YH: Each division has their own designated leagues. Our leagues are a very competitive and exciting part of camp! We play a lot of sports – baseball, hockey, flag football, soccer, volleyball, and basketball – both indoor and outdoor. Baruch Hashem, YKLI has ample grounds and facilities for it all, and the boys play different sports each day. We have designated league commissioners who oversee all the league activities. The counselors get really into the games hyping up the campers. We emphasize achdus, sportsmanship and menschlechkeit and always include honorable mentions in our weekly league highlights. This is our final “camp chat” of the summer. Any last words to share before everyone goes back to school?
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YH: I truly believe that camp is a stepping stone for the coming year. We put an enormous amount of energy creating a Torahdikeh environment for our campers. I also feel that a camp setting is the best place for a child to work on bein adam l’chavero. At camp, the entire day is spent interacting with other children. Our staff is consistently involved as positive role models to their campers. There is very little downtime, and the campers need to be occupied with kosher fun. I often say that the two months of the summer can sometimes have a bigger impact on a child than the ten months of the school year. It gives me tremendous chizuk when I see over 700 campers safely and happily engaged in all the camp fun. It’s a great feeling. I hope to continue, be”H, being involved in making positive impressions on our boys’ lives – next year, in Areivim Yerushalayim!
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
THIS WEEK, WE’RE TALKING TO…
Camp Atara
How are the Five Towns’ youngest residents spending their summer? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking to different day camps to learn how their campers are spending their 12 weeks of summer vacation.
IT’S BEEN QUITE A FEW WEEKS OF SUMMER VACATION AND HUNDREDS OF GIRLS ENJOYED THEIR SUMMER DAYS FILLED WITH FUN AT CAMP ATARA. THIS WEEK, WE CAUGHT UP WITH HEAD COUNSELORS SHONIE AND LEAH TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT AT CAMP ATARA.
Shonie, Leah, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. I know how hectic camp days can be. Camp Atara has been around for a while. How many years ago did the camp open? This is Camp Atara’s 19th summer. Wow! 19 years of amazing fun! The camp season is now over (sigh!). How many girls enjoyed their summer days at Camp Atara? We baruch Hashem had almost 700 campers this summer! Our campers came from the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, West
Hempstead, Belle Harbor, Long Beach, Oceanside, and we also had girls who came to New York from all over the country to join us for the summer. That’s a lot of girls. Tell us about your different divisions. Our campers were from nursery age through eighth grade. Our preschool division is made up of the girls going into Nursery- 1st grade. They enjoyed the same activities as our upper division, just specified to their capabilities. They also had specialized activities just for them like storytelling, music, and creative movement. They enjoyed trips like Cup o’ Fun, Fitwize, Bounce U, and White Post Farms. Every preschool bunk has a morah along with 2 counselors so
their needs are always met. Our upper division is made up of our 2nd-5th graders. They were very busy all day enjoying activities such as art, baking, swim, dance, and so much more. Advanced art, leagues and our game room were some new exciting activities that were on their schedules too. We can’t forget to mention our awesome, fabulous, super waterpark that is a camper favorite! And, of course, we always have swim since we have both an indoor and an outdoor pool. That sounds like loads of fun! Tell us about your exciting Atara Adventurers program. Our Adventurers program is incredible! It’s designed for our 6th-8th graders. It’s basically a traveling (day) camp. The girls have an extraordinary time heading out on different trips each day. On Fridays they stay in camp to use the pool, bake, and have fun doing some activities on our grounds.
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Excitin Camp Fe g ature! BACK F O THIRD R A YEAR! It sounds like there’s a lot going on at Camp Atara. What do you feel sets you apart from all the other camps? We’re looking to have fun at all times! What sets us apart, we would say, is that we absolutely love what we do. We are excited and eager to come to camp every day, and we have a blast planning, prepping and executing every special day and regular day. From greeting the campers off the bus every morning, to watching them pass in the hallway during the day and then line up at dismissal time, the
smiles and laughter keep us going. We’re like a big happy family here! I heard you have wonderful staff at camp. Our staff is top notch! We support and appreciate our staff and give them little treats throughout the summer. They are good at what they do, and we want them to enjoy their summer too! Everyone received cute cell phone pockets, muffins and coffee were distributed one morning, we had a staff night with Simon Sez – which was a blast – and lots more. Besides for fun, do you do anything different for the Three Weeks or the Nine Days? We do! We
run a car wash to raise money for Chai Lifeline. We also have a big bowlathon. We had a special hands-on beis hamikdash program. We also closed off the street and had tons of inflatables, plus lots of other activities, to keep everyone busy and having fun. Summer is now over and I’m sure all your campers are sad to see it go. Yes, Camp Atara is definitely the place to be in the summer. The staff loves it. Our campers love it. We love it. Summer is almost over but the memories will carry us through the year until ATARA 2017… We can’t wait!!
By the Numbers...
1,200 slices a pizza each week
215+ staff members 110 pounds of challah dough each week
64 trips we sent out this month
7 late nights/ overnights
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Israel Today
Off My Couch and Out the Door By Rafi Sackville
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ever one to enjoy physical excess, I consider myself a hesitant exerciser: the thought of changing into sports clothes, getting sweaty, showering, then changing back again gives me pause whenever I get ready to work out. Call me lazy or getting older, I dislike dragging myself away from my comfort zone. The irony is that the moment I leave the house and start moving I’m all engines blazing. I find that the older I get the more exercise helps to unknot the knots, makes me feel younger, and reminds me of forgotten strength. Skipping a rope or toying with machines no longer holds the allure it once did. Not to mention I’m a hesitant runner. What’s re-
mains is walking. Yes, the most basic of exercises that I have been doing since I was a toddler. I have daily begun walking around the seven mile radius of the upper circumference of Ma’alot. From above, the satellite photo of the outline of Ma’alot and its neighbor Tarshicha looks like a pensive Fred Flintstone staring off in the distance. Within these borders lies the nine-to-five repetition of everyday Israeli life. There are malls, cultural centers, different neighborhoods that cover the gamut of socio-economic possibility, playgrounds and playing fields, a small stadium, almost a dozen schools and kindergartens, factories, industrial zones and restaurants.
All this is on one’s left if walking counter-clockwise around Maalot’s edges. On the outside lies a palette of different colors: the rich, thick dark green of verdant Galil is at odds with the look and feel of the center and south of the country. The valleys below on my right at the start of my walk are dense and populated by wild jackals and boar, both of which only venture into populated areas under the cloak of night. Driving along the narrow streets adjacent to the undergrowth one can run into massive creatures after dusk, animals strong enough to tip a car. The boy in me imagines animal highways unseen to the eye leading deep into the valleys’ dark recesses only a few hundred yards away from the road I am
walking along. It is a world of snakes and scorpions and birds. On a recent walk, a rock hyrax scampered past me so quickly I barely recognized it. At first I thought I had seen an oversized cat whose tail had been cut off. So rugged is the terrain that it is impassable even for casual hikers. I wonder how long it will remain so. I’ve seen future plans for the town which include this valley. The drawings show pristine white duplexes and villas. Those plans are still only on paper, but I wonder how long I’ll be able to look across at that pristine valley. The winding streets that hug those virgin hills eventually lead north to Maalot’s large, cultural center. For a town that sits in the periphery of the country the
cultural center would not look out of place next to the Jerusalem theater. Partly funded by Project Renewal, the center looks like the Star Trek starship come home to roost. Its 500 seats are regularly occupied for plays, concerts, productions and end of school pageants. Only 50 yards past the center is a paved road that leads down to Nachal Kziv, one of the many and most beautiful of nature reserves in the Galil. Half a mile farther along I reach highway 89 that runs east towards Nahariya and west towards Meron, Safed and the Northern Galil. I pick up the pace and soon cross the highway towards Tarshicah. It lies tucked away just over hill. Under the same munici-
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pality as Ma’alot since the 1960s, it remains a sleepy Arab town populated by Christians and Muslims and a smattering of Bedouin, who live at its highest peak. I pass the entrance to Me’ona and the police station before making my way around the town square and then by our sister school, Ort Tarshicha, whose building is built to the same specifications as the many Ort schools in Israel; you could be in an Ort auditorium in Be’er Sheva and think you were in Ma’alot. The sidewalk that links back to highway 89 and up towards the entrance of Ma’alot is paved with the familiar maroon and mahogany rectangular Eckerstein bricks. There are no trees planted into the sidewalk
so the bricks have not been uprooted like those on the street I live. Cars whisk by me always in a rush. They seem to slide and disappear over the hill like slithering creatures burrowing into the earth. Turning right I enter the sleepy mountain top suburb of Yefe Nof. There are no apartment buildings here, only villas. In stark contrast to the monotone of Jerusalem stone houses, the homes here are of every color, shape and size. From its southern edge I can see the new building projects adjacent to Kfar Vradim – the Five Towns of the north – springing up through a thick haze of dust. I catch myself in contradictory positions: the construction below excites the spirit of perpetual Israeli
growth that I am so excited by. In contrast I cannot stomach the imminent destruction of the untouched valley I walked by only an hour earlier. The bridge over highway 89 that separates Yefe Nof from Ma’alot has two visible steel girders that clank as cars drive over them. As I cross it I’m left with the unsettling feeling that it’s on the brink of collapse. I should be used to the sound after three years, but I cannot stop the hairs from standing up on the back of my neck. There is a quaint steep path just off the main road that leads down to Montfort Lake, whose perimeter I walk once before swinging back towards home. An hour and a half after I began, I finally arrive at
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Ma’alot’s Cultural Center
the 70 steps that lead me back to our front door. Still feeling strong I climb them quickly. Soon I am upstairs sitting on our porch that overlooks the Lake and Peki’in beyond. The view is stunning. It is one of the reasons we hope to stay in this house for the foreseeable future. It is as beautiful as the many
spots I have walked by. In that hour and a half I became one and with the magnificence that is the Galil, far more magnificent and vibrant than the view from my porch.
Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.
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Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I’m 23-years-old and have been dating for a while. I’ve actually gone out with over thirty guys already, which sounds insane, even to me. The dates are still coming, but I’m finding they are fewer and further between. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be in big trouble! I look back and realize that I’ve rejected some men after a date or two that I probably shouldn’t have rejected. I guess I’m expecting everything to be exactly like my wish list and if something is a bit off, I make a big deal over it and decide that there is no way this person could ever be for me. So where does this come from? I’m starting to realize exactly where this is coming from. My parents have always been very critical of me and critical of every man who walks through the door. They don’t do it in a very obvious way and it took me a long time to realize that their messages were entering my mind, without me even realizing it. I’ll give you some examples of what they have done. Let’s say someone shows up to pick me up for a date and he doesn’t have the greatest posture. My mother has said something like, “He seems like a nice young man. It’s too bad about his posture … he must be very insecure.” Or once my mother actually said about someone else, “It’s such a shame that some young men these days don’t think it’s important to polish their shoes before going out on a date and think it’s fine to show up with scuffed up shoes… It makes you wonder about his hygiene in general.” Once I hear these comments – and there’s always something – I can’t help myself from thinking about how he isn’t someone I should go out with again because he doesn’t meet our standards. The crazy thing is that I know my mother desperately wants me to get married and yet, the more I think about it, I feel like she’s trying to sabotage every potential date. How do I move forward without allowing my mother’s comments to take over my mind and make me question everyone’s worth?
The feedback from our readers has been remarkable. In order to facilitate further discussion, you can now continue the conversation anonymously on our website. Every Sunday, we will upload the weekend’s most recent edition of What Would You Do If to the dating forum at thenavidaters.com. Join The Navidaters and your fellow TJH readers in a comprehensive dialogue with regard to dating, relationships and marriage. The forum will be moderated daily for everyone’s comfort and safety. See you there! Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise offer resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, but to offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
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applaud you thinking into your quick rejection of many young men whom you date. While your mother’s role is an obvious answer, there may be more reasons for this. Look within yourself and don’t just blame your parents’ criticism. Keep in mind that much of the comments you ascribe to your mother are connected with external qualities. You are now 23 and should not feel desperate. You have obviously grown during your dating career but you still have not separated from your parents. You still talk about “our standards” and are letting your mother’s comments influence you heavily. You need to grow some more and together with the help of a mentor, perhaps, define who you are, what you have learned about yourself during these years and what is essential and what is unimportant in your goals for yourself and your future spouse. As you grow in self-understanding and maturity, you will achieve a strong identity of your own. This will take some time; it’s a process that is well worth it. At some point, you will have more clarity about what’s important to you in a date and how many chances to give a guy before saying no. Meanwhile, develop the script to tell your parents regarding what you need from them after each date. Be warm and respectful and use the sandwich approach; give the negative in between positive comments. The language will be something like this: I know you love me and care about my future. But it would be healthier for our relationship if you would withhold immediate comments about my dates until I bring up the discussion about the young man. It’s smart to keep an open mind and mull things over independently. I will solicit your loving responses when I am ready to do so. Please respect my request and understand that I appreciate your concern and love. You may need to do this several times before your mother gets it. Just
be a broken record and repeat yourself again and again with different words. Make sure to stay respectful and keep your cool. Do not get defensive and don’t accuse anyone of sabotage. This is part of your growth.
The Mother
Everyone should have their Top 5 Priorities when it comes to dating and relationships and should not settle for anything less.
Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, PA
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unched posture? Scuffed shoes? Fuhgeddaboutit! Seems your mother, while wringing her hands about her beautiful, accomplished 23-year old daughter, has an array of creative criticisms with which she greets you at the door. Whatever neurosis she is stoking with her mixed messages is no longer your concern; leave that to the therapists. Congratulations on your self-awareness (“Her comments have taken over my mind”). Now that you realize why you’ve nixed the first thirty boys, it’s time to focus on what attributes are important in your life’s mate. You may want to revisit some of your former shidduchim; approach these dates with an open, trusting attitude. And, going forward – as you meet other prospective young men, try and tune out the negative static that may prevent you from concentrating on a person’s essence, values and the dynamic between the two of you. Only then, can you make healthy, judicious choices.
The Shadchan Michele Mond
T
hank you for writing regarding this glaringly destructive and sadly not uncommon phenomenon, with which you are becoming increasingly and intuitively aware. As a shadchan, I have experienced this firsthand. Just recently, a mother poured her heart out to me that her daughter of stellar qualities has not gone out in 7 months and that all she needs is a great frum boy. After some research, I found someone who met
her qualifications and agreed to travel to her hometown. Upon walking through the door after a creative and fun date, the mother’s first comment was, “So, I noticed he didn’t walk you to the doorstep. He’s obviously not a mensch; no reason to continue.” The mother called to tell me that, in her mind, the shidduch was “off,” since “how dare he” not walk her to the door. She and her husband were very upset that her daughter wanted to give it another try, saying explicitly that she didn’t see this going anywhere. However, speaking with the girl gave me a completely different picture. She sang of the boy’s many positive traits and expressed that their time was productive and enjoyable. Nevertheless, her mother’s toxic comments affected her to the point of saying, “Well, if my mother doesn’t like him, this could never work, so I better break it off now.” It’s mind-boggling how often (and in how many ways!) parents ruin prospective shidduchim. In some examples, potential, wonderful, long-lasting relationships were nixed by comments on the most trivial of things, making mountains out of molehills and giving no benefit of the doubt after only 1 or 2 dates. Then, after all is said and done, you’re the one who’s left with the aftermath! Here are two approaches you might take: (1) Have an open and honest conversation with your mother, requesting that she hold any negative comments to herself until she determines that they’re worth mentioning; or (2) If you can’t change her behavior, you need to take an introspective and structured approach to deal with her comments. After meet-
ing with a young man, write down all the positives you experienced. Then, when your mother makes negative comments, compare those against your own list of positives. Are there really legitimate reasons to not continue going out again? To quote: “Negativity pierces determination like rust. Stay coated with faith and confidence.” As you are determined to marry and settle down, you must stay “coated with your confidence” in yourself and in your own impressions, irrespective of your mother’s harsh and critical comments. We all have our flaws. It’s a matter of weeding out the seeds of negativity planted in your mind by your mother’s comments, and looking at the big picture using a structured, written out analysis. I give you a bracha that you meet the right one soon and may you have clarity despite the obstacles that might come in your way.
The Single Irit Moshe
F
irst of all, no longer have the men you date meet your parents for the first three dates! If you have him pick you up at home, then either you go out to the car or don’t have your parents at home when he picks you up. You can also meet the young man at a public location. It is not necessary for a gentleman to meet your parents so early on in the dating process until he is a true contender in your books. Secondly, now that you have figured out where the seed of criticism comes from, it is time to do some internal personal work (seek professional help to aid in this matter) in strengthening yourself in the area of not listening and ingesting all the negative talk from your parents. This work will be helpful also for the future when you are married, when your parents start criticizing your parenting style and/or your husband and/or children with their sly remarks. Much luck in the dating process.
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Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
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am going to take a crack at some homegrown therapy humor. Here goes nothin’… A lady walks into a therapist’s office. The therapist asks, “What brings you here?” The lady responds, “I’ve been told I am very critical. My family has given me an ultimatum. Either work on your critical nature or we are done with you.” “OK. I see,” says the therapist. “Time is of the essence. Can you give me an example of a time you have been critical?” “On second thought,” says the critical lady, “your office is decorated so poorly and your makeup is not blended well. This isn’t going to work out for me. But it was lovely meeting you.” “But, what about the ultimatum?” asks the therapist. “My family is so critical of me. This whole idea is ridiculous.” Not bad for a therapist, eh? Think of a critical person as the pearl inside an oyster. The pearl is very delicate and sensitive and the oyster serves as the hardened protection. The criticisms serve to keep others at a safe distance, where the critical person feels she cannot be hurt. In essence, criticism is a defense mechanism. Perhaps this “pearl” grew up around criticism and is carrying on the mesorah, or perhaps it is her nature. Who knows? Now, what about the people living with a critical person? Not fun! With time, loved ones may also develop a hardened shell to protect themselves from the constant barrage of criticism; sometimes outwardly abusive disparagement such as name calling or character assassination, and other times a bit more subtle, such as your parents’, though it seems like
your examples focus mainly on your mother. The good news is the mesorah (tradition) can stop here, with you. The messages we learn early on in our formative years can stay with us into our adulthood. (For a random example, “Don’t slouch and suck in your stomach. You’ll look ten pounds thinner.” This becomes, “I am fat. I am fat. I am fat.” Which possibly leads to “No one will love me if I am fat.” Whew, we all have erroneous beliefs about ourselves and if we allow them to, they can play on and on like a broken record.) So, though this issue is surfacing now while you are dating, I am almost certain that this is not your first time at the criticism rodeo. The voice of our parents can become our own inner voice in our adulthood. You have tremendous insight into the root of the problem, which is why I have every reason to believe you are going to get through this and be just fine. The critical nature of your mother has possibly become your own OR her criticisms have you left you uncertain, unsure of yourself and unable to make your own decisions, putting dear old mom in the driver’s seat of your life; disabling you from making your own decisions. Part of growing up is learning how to separate from Mom and Dad in a healthy and functional way. As we come of age we learn that perhaps the way Mom and Dad perceive the world hasn’t always been accurate. Maybe that neighbor across the street isn’t weird after all? Maybe my mom had something to do with their falling out? Maybe scuffed shoes aren’t a
sign of insecurity as Mom has told me, but a sign of a man consumed with his job, family and chessed. As we emerge into adulthood, this process can leave us feeling unsettled; quite like a baby learning how to walk, except now, no one is there to hold your hands as you take your first step. Your process now is going to be about developing your own internal dialogue and value system, and then learning to trust it, without the approval of your parents. My recommendation is that you see a good therapist to help you through this. This needn’t be a lifelong commitment to therapy. But certainly as you date and one day get married, you will need the objective feedback of someone other than your parents who will provide you with support, validation and challenge you to think differently. The therapy should not be about vilifying your mother and father, but about protecting yourself from their nitpicking and learning how to cope free of your own internal criticism. In terms of a practical tool that you can utilize right now before the hard work is done, Esther (my Navidaters partner and mother-in-law) and I talk about “The Top 5.” Everyone should have their Top 5 Priorities when it comes to dating and relationships and should not settle for anything less. Anything that doesn’t make the list … well, it’s just not that important. Here is a common Top 5 of many clients. “Kindness, sense of humor, earn a good living, same religious values, core parenting beliefs are the same.” Others that I see on that list are “attraction, chemistry, good family, etc.” I have not once seen scuffed
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Upon walking through the door after a creative and fun date, the mother’s first comment was, “So, I noticed he didn’t walk you to the doorstep. He’s obviously not a mensch; no reason to continue.”
shoes as a deal breaker. So, here’s what you do: When your mother and father start with “I think he didn’t brush his teeth before the date, darling… he must not be a healthy person” or “He greeted us with ‘Hi’ instead of a more formal and appropriate ‘Hello,’… he must have been raised by wolves, darling,” you pull out your Top 5. If brushed teeth and use of “hi” are not deal breakers, then you continue going out with him. If your parents are overly stringent and have veto power, then this is an entirely different issue, taking us out of the world of criticism and into the world of control and power. In that case, you and your parents need to sit down with a therapist who will teach your parents how to release their tight grip and empower you to take the reins. You can do this! Sincerely, Jennifer
Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed, clinical psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up an appointment, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail. com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram.
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Dr. Deb
Men Don’t Need Help By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
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get asked all the time whether more men or more women call me up for therapy. I always come to the defense of men and say, “Actually, with me it’s about 50/50.” That is until the other day when I looked at my statistics more closely. I realized that when I subtract all the men who call me in a panic after their wives have served them divorce papers, then the number of women to
men who initiate therapy in my practice is about the national average – it’s mostly the women. Terry Real, a therapist who admits coming from a male-chauvinist, be-tough, don’t-show-your-emotions family himself, says that the problem of the genders today in America is that men are enculturated to not show their emotions, especially the vulnerable ones. During childhood,
as boys are made fun of, ignored, or punished for expressing fear or sadness, they come to believe that these feelings are shameful. The best way to avoid shameful feelings is to ignore emotions all together but another option is to “express” them by getting angry. Anger burns up a lot of calories, leaving the formerly-angry person tired and spent, not particularly angry any more, and completely distracted from whatever sadness or fear he felt in the first place. Anger has another benefit. Think about it: The anger serves to distract a person from some emotion that he was taught is shameful. Shame brings him down, makes him feel small. But anger gives him a boost; he feels more important than the person he’s angry at. He becomes the Big Cheese, telling his wife what to do and where to go. Terry Real calls this grandiosity. It’s a very pleasant place: The guy is relaxed, disconnected from unpleasant feelings, and he is the Big Cheese to boot. Since feeling feelings is the last thing on Earth that he would want to do, he’s not about to start being empathetic to the poor, innocent bystander – his wife – that he let loose on. In fact, when she complains, he is likely to tune her out lest he inadvertently actually hear something that makes him feel badly for her – and guilty for causing it. Oy, vey! Guilt is the last thing he’d want because that puts him right back in that dark place with the unpleasant, vulnerable, shameful feelings. So of course he doesn’t listen. He doesn’t listen on purpose.
That means, when the wife complains about being unhappy with him and wants to go to a therapist, he’s … well, he’s still not listening. Not listening protects the fun place of grandiosity that he escapes to and, most importantly, it protects him from feeling shame. This entire scenario is unfortunate because the grandiosity is identical to chemical substances, gambling, OCD, or any other distraction: It’s just that, a distraction from reality and it keeps people from learning, growing, and truly enjoying life. Just as alcohol, addictive shopping, or compulsive handwashing may keep a person distracted enough to be unaware of their vulnerable feelings, these behaviors also keep a person from sharing moments of connection and understanding with others. That is what we normally live for – connection. Ever since Adam selected Eve, we human beings are most fulfilled when we are together in a way that makes us feel not alone and not lonely. So if Evelyn is unhappy, you would think it would make sense for Aiden to listen so that he might eventually become happily connected to her. The problem is that the vulnerable feelings he is terrified of experiencing also include hopelessness and helplessness, just as he felt as a child when he couldn’t get his parents to understand his “side” or to guide him successfully toward his goals. He is totally convinced that there are no solutions out of the dilemma he is in and he therefore thinks “therapy won’t work.” He also will tell anyone that he doesn’t “believe” in therapy as if it were a religion.
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Anything to avoid confronting his feelings. Now, tell me, is that a way to live? Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. Shouldn’t life be engaged? Isn’t
need working on, and just get to work on them? Kind of like if your friend gave you a copy of his work for you to correct and you don’t have any ego invested in it so you are happy to find
Not listening protects the fun place of grandiosity that he escapes to and, most importantly, it protects him from feeling shame.
life meant to be lived rather than avoided? Living may have painful spots. People will mostly have to face things about themselves that are uncomfortable. After all, we all have faults. Wouldn’t it be great if we could simply take on our faults? You know, just recognize that, yeah, they
the mistakes and fix them for him. Please don’t blame ego, though. Ego is only the protector, the part of us that uses distractions to avoid the shame. The problem is the fact that so many of us carry the burden of shame just for being human and having flaws. And the shame is just plain wrong!
This whole thing confronted me recently in making arrangements for my upcoming talk. I will be speaking on September 14 at the JCC Kadima group in Cedarhurst (at the The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC, 207 Grove Avenue, 7 PM). The Kadima program was made possible by a generous grant from UJA-Federation of New York and The Jewish Communal Fund and is a boon to single parents. Think of it: Not only did a marriage fall apart, with all the feelings of loss and betrayal to accompany it, but then there are kids caught in the middle. It seems to me that any single parent would benefit from this wonderful group. Instead, the Coordinator, Rachayle Deutch, a very creative woman, informed me that at talks, no matter how well-known the speaker is, the majority of attendees are women. Apparently, even admitting that they need help with their parenting is a shame men don’t want to face. Well, men, I have news for you:
There’s nothing to be ashamed of! You’re human. Every one of us – including me – makes mistakes in life. Sometimes really big ones. Sometimes whoppers. That’s okay. We’re here to learn, not to start out perfect. What’s more, what better role model could your children have than a parent who recognizes their mistakes and graciously corrects them? So, yes, I am inviting the women in the community to hear me speak, but I am inviting you as well, men. The topic is, “Three Steps To Take Immediately if You Have Divorced or are Thinking About Divorce.” It is open to the community, not just to the members of the Kadima group. I promise you, instead of feeling badly, you will come out feeling uplifted, hopeful, and excited about the future. You, too, men. Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com.
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Health & F tness
You Are What You Eat Foods That Affect Skin, Hair, and Nails By Aliza Beer MS, RD
A
ll too often people attribute shiny hair, strong nails, and radiant skin to great beauty products. What they fail to realize is that there is a much more natural and simple way to achieve these soughtafter results. While many of us have heard the oft-reiterated phrase “you are what you eat,” few of us actually think of the true meaning behind this. While we often think of food as something that affects our internal health, it actually plays just as big of a role in what makes up our external appearance as well. The following are different nutrients and specific foods to help achieve healthy hair, nails, and skin: Enjoy Protein: Our hair, nails, and skin are actually each made up of mostly protein. These proteins – keratin, collagen, and elastin – promote health, strength, and elasticity in our hair, nails, and skin. Therefore, by committing to eat protein at each meal you can be sure your hair, nails, and skin will appear strong and healthy. Foods that are full of protein include chicken, yogurt, milk, fish, eggs, and meat. Include Iron: One of the most telling signs of iron deficiency is brittle nails, hair loss, and dry, pale skin. Iron promotes healthy hair by facilitating oxygen flow to the scalp and hair follicles, and is associated with healthy, strong nails and skin. The best sources of iron are red meat, dark leafy greens, seafood, and beans.
Consume Vitamin C: One of vitamin C’s main functions is to make collagen, the important protein that is involved in giving our hair, nails, and skin their proper structure. Vitamin C also helps our body absorb iron, which, as mentioned earlier, is essential in keeping our hair strong and shiny, and giving our skin and nails strength. To make sure you are getting enough vitamin C, opt for citrus fruits
beans, nuts, and tea all are good sources of antioxidants. Plenty of Water: Staying properly hydrated is vital to young and glowing looking skin. Our cells thrive on water and function best when hydrated, allowing our skin cells to flourish and glow. Limit Simple Carbohydrates: Simple carbohydrates, such as baked goods, candy, sodas, and
What you put on your plate can make all the difference in the health of your hair, nails, skin, and overall appearance.
like oranges, strawberries and pineapple, tomatoes, broccoli, papaya, and red and yellow pepper. Add Antioxidants: Antioxidants are what protects our cells from free radical damage. This can include exposure to air pollutants, smoking, highly processed foods, and too much sun exposure. This damage creates inflammation in the body and affects all our cells, including those that make up our hair, nails, and skin. These antioxidants also can guard against the effects of aging of our hair, skin, and nails. Blueberries, strawberries, plums, apples, artichoke hearts,
milk chocolate, do not just increase our waistline, but also wreak havoc to our hair, nails, and skin! The spike in insulin that results from ingesting these foods causes inflammations that can lead to acne and shrink our hair follicles, disrupting the growth of hair. These simple sugars also disrupt the collagen protein in skin and can leave our skin more vulnerable to lines and wrinkles. Avoid Fatty foods: While healthy fats from avocado, salmon, and olive oil are good choices, fried fats found in French fries and fried chicken can be detrimental. When
these foods are cooked in oil they become oxidized, which can damage our skin and hair. Just as antioxidants have a positive effect on fighting this damage and keeping our skin and hair glowing and healthy, oxidants from these fried fats actually cause this damage! Cut the Caffeine: Too much caffeine can accelerate aging of our skin thus thinning the skin, hair and nails. Caffeine can also act as a diuretic, which promotes water loss and can leave our bodies dehydrated. As stated earlier, proper hydration is key to maintaining healthy and glowing hair, nails, and skin. Steering clear of too much chocolate, caffeinated coffee and sodas are the best way to prevent this. What you put on your plate can make all the difference in the health of your hair, nails, skin, and overall appearance. Our diet plays a huge role in our appearance and by knowing which foods are beneficial and which are best to avoid, we can be sure to make the optimal choices leaving our hair, nails, and skin feeling and looking their best.
Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@ gmail.com.
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A Fulfilled L fe
Put the Past Where it Belongs By Rabbi Naphtali Hoff
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. -Bil Keane
I
n one of the most widely watched Ted talks, Tony Robbins asks the question of why we do what we do. This is a powerful question that shapes (or at least should shape) our words, actions, and dreams. In that talk he references our “therapy culture,” a pervasive mindset that suggests that “biography is destiny,” or that everything in our future has been scripted by our past. We are, in effect, trapped by these earlier experiences and need to continue to reconnect with and perhaps break away from our history if we are to live a meaningful tomorrow. This thinking relates to past failures. Why didn’t we succeed previously in a relationship, at work, with a business venture, etc.? It was because – we tell ourselves – we lacked something, the key ingredients that would have otherwise propelled us to a different and better outcome. If only we would have had more time, more money, a better manager, a more understanding and loving spouse … things would have worked out differently. We
convince ourselves that the obstacles to our success were beyond our locus of control, perhaps because it makes failure easier to take. I learned this lesson when I stepped into a head of school position on the coattails of the school’s most decorated and longest-serving principal. He was a robust man despite his advanced age and he had a larger than life personality and warm smile that could brighten up the gloomiest of moods. This man had hired practically the entire staff and oversaw the school’s growth from a fledgling pipedream in a strip mall to a robust institution in a large, new facility. Added to that, his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness during his final, retirement year at the school (she would pass before the year was out). Talk about walking into a tough spot filled with raw emotion. To be honest, I didn’t think much of all this at the beginning of my tenure. While I anticipated some challenges I figured that I would chart my own course to success, which in many ways I did. But I also couldn’t fully step out from the looming shadow of the man who preceded me and encountered much more resistance to change and growth than I could have imagined. There were plenty of other issues, too, particularly in the area of school
governance, and I easily could have made excuses for my bumpy experience. And for some time that’s largely what I did. But when the time came for me to depart and start a new chapter in life, which included moving to a new community and changing career paths, I decided that I needed to focus on moving forward rather than in reverse. I have spent most my time since then trying to learn from my experiences and to use that knowledge to help others succeed. As Robbins points out, success is not about the resources that we have access to but rather the resourcefulness that we bring to each situation. The most successful people in life were not necessarily the ones who had it all laid out for them on a silver platter. Plenty of folks with the standard “success ingredients” such as intellect, strength, charisma, wealth, good working environments, strong business plans, etc. have done surprisingly little in life. And yet many people who entered life with one hand tied behind their backs – including a history of deprivation, limited education, maltreatment and even abuse – rose to achieve some of the greatest things in human history. At the end, it’s not about what opportunities and gifts do for you (although they certainly can help), but
rather what you make of them, that make the difference in who succeeds. What can we do to become more resourceful, so that we can take proper advantage of possibilities, manufacture opportunities and manage setbacks in a way that allows
than impossibility – We all have that inner critic, the one that tells us that our ideas are foolish or that there’s no way to fix a particular problem. For some of us, the glass is always half empty, which only empowers the critic further. Seek to develop personal
The most successful people in life were not necessarily the ones who had it all laid out for them on a silver platter.
us to move forward? Consider using these techniques: Prepare well in advance – We never know exactly how things will work out. The best laid plans often go sideways, many times for reasons that we could never have predicted. The readier we are for situations, the easier it will be to live in the moment and chart a different course to success. Be an avid learner – Again, the more we know the better we typically do. As part of being prepared, take the regular time needed to be well-versed on whatever we are trying to achieve. Many pundits suggest at least 30 minutes daily of growth-oriented reading. Think possibility rather
resilience and positivity by exploring new avenues and brainstorming with others. Work on becoming passionate – Nothing sells like passion. Passionate people get everyone around them excited and believing in what they’re selling. Even when the chips are down, they find ways to keep themselves and those around them focused on the prize and motivated to work even harder to get there. Rabbi Naphtali Hoff is an executive coach and consultant and President of Impactful Coaching & Consulting (www.ImpactfulCoaching.com). He can be reached at nhoff@impactful coaching.com.
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COOKIE CONTEST
The 2016 first lady cookie contest is just as weird as the rest of the election by Maura Judkis
H
illary Clinton has said that if she is elected president, she won’t have Bill pick out the china. Another thing the former president won’t be doing? Facing off against Melania Trump in the Family Circle First Lady Cookie Contest. That’s not to say the Clintons aren’t participating in the 24-year-old contest, which opened its public ballot Thursday on the magazine’s Facebook page. But the recipe they submitted isn’t Bill’s – it’s Hillary’s original recipe from 1992, now called the Clinton Family’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. The contest no longer focuses on first ladies, either – it’s been renamed the Presidential Cookie Poll. “I don’t think we were thinking that much about gender,” said Family Circle’s food director, Regina Ragone. “It just evolved.” It’s no surprise that the Clinton camp chose to rename and resubmit the recipe, which is permitted in the contest rules. It’s already a winner, beating out Barbara Bush’s chocolate chip cook-
ies in 1992 and Elizabeth Dole’s pecan cookies in 1996. It will go up against Melania Trump’s sugar cookies with a touch of sour cream, cut out in the shape of stars. Is the cookie contest a grim exercise in retrograde domesticity, or just some harmless fun? It’s hard to argue for the latter when previous contestants have included Harvard-educated lawyer Michelle Obama and former secretary of transportation (and later, senator) Elizabeth Dole – and when society still guilts high-powered women about spending time outside the home. In a year in which the role of first spouse will go to either a former president or a woman who is open about employing a personal chef, asking candidates’ spouses to prove their homemaking bona fides makes even less sense. But even now that she’s the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton can’t escape it. “I think it makes her more human and softens her a little bit,” Ragone said. “I don’t think that it distracts” from her accomplishments. “A woman today can be in the
kitchen and in the office, if that’s what they want to do.” Clinton is the entire reason Family Circle has a cookie contest. During Bill’s first presidential race, when the Clintons were billed as “buy one, get one free,” Hillary was criticized for her ambition. On the campaign trail in March 1992, she made the mistake of being straightforward about it: “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life,” she said. The quote was “a turning point in the evolution of the role of first lady,” said Carl Sferrazza Anthony, the historian for the National First Ladies’ Library. The stay-at-home moms of America were outraged by Clinton’s remarks. But Family Circle sensed an opportunity, inviting Clinton and Barbara Bush to a bake-off that was one part publicity stunt, one part Clinton damage control. A 1992 Washington Post story about Clinton’s image during her husband’s first
presidential race began with a scene of her charming then-Republican consultant Roger Ailes (oh, how the tides have turned!), handing him a bag of her chocolate chip cookies. He later snapped: “I suspect that those are still liberal cookies.” Other stories at the time quoted her as courting cookie voters: “I want people to vote for my cookies. It’s a matter of honor,” she said in the New York Times. But the contest was never intended to be a serious evaluation of the first lady’s baking skills. Anthony said the public considered it “funny and ironic to hold this cookie contest in 1992.” That cheekiness didn’t continue with the tradition. Now, “it’s seen as very humorless,” Anthony said. “The media writes about it as if it goes back to Martha Washington. If you know the full story of it, it’s very funny to see how it’s now perceived.” It’s hard to say what would have been a more powerful statement for feminism: making Bill Clinton adhere to the same domestic rituals that
his first-spouse predecessors have for decades, or abolishing the whole thing altogether. To be fair, Bill did submit a different cookie recipe in 2008, when the contest took place before Obama clinched the nomination, but it was defeated by Cindy McCain’s. The 1992 recipe, which includes eggs, does not adhere to Bill Clinton’s current dietary practice, either: He has been a vegan since 2010. And Family Circle did consider calling the whole thing off. “We had a hard time getting the recipes,” said Ragone, who blamed the chaos of this election cycle for the delay. “We started thinking, maybe it’s not as interesting anymore, maybe it’s not as current.” After hounding both campaigns, the magazine finally received the cookie submissions in late July. (Note to future candidates’ spouses: If you think cookie-baking is beneath you, just refuse to play the game.) Family Circle then tested and honed Trump’s recipe. Sour cream cookies have Eastern Europe-
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an origins, and Ragone wondered whether the recipe was from Trump’s home country of Slovenia. “It definitely looked like a grandmother’s or a handed-down recipe, because there were hardly any directions,” said Ragone. In Ragone’s opinion, it’s an original recipe – though, that hasn’t stopped Democratic jokers from alluding to Trump’s plagiarism incident at the Republican Convention. On Democratic Underground, a post claims to reveal Trump’s “Family recipe, passed down through generations.” The picture below it is of the Toll House cookie recipe on the back of a bag of Nestle chocolate chips. Neither the Clinton nor Trump campaigns responded to a request for comment. But Melania Trump provided
a statement to Family Circle about the recipe: “Star cookies are my favorite because they’re simple yet delicious. I decorate them with colorful frosting or eat them with chocolate ice cream or
are a blank slate for frosting or ice cream in the way that a model is for clothes. They’re as opaque as her public persona and as simple as the “quiet, homebound life” that Melania was reported to have
engineered to people-please without taking many risks. And, given that it’s their third time in the competition, they seem to be on message with Clinton’s aspirations: You liked these? they seem to be
In a year in which the role of first spouse will go to either a former president or a woman who is open about employing a personal chef, asking candidates’ spouses to prove their homemaking bona fides makes even less sense. whipped cream. They pair perfectly with fruits and complement your coffee and tea.” In a way, the cookies reflect their origins. Melania’s plain cookies with a hint of w Eastern European influence
lived in New York as a young model, before she moved into Trump Tower. Hilllary’s cookies – they are hers, no matter what the campaign or Family Circle says – parallel her race to the White House, too. They’re
saying. Here’s more of the same thing I’ve been doing since nineteen-ninety-freaking-two. If Clinton’s cookies continue their winning streak, it may be a bellwether for what happens in November. Five
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out of six of the past contest winners have gone on to win the White House. And even if she becomes our first female president, Clinton will be forever linked with cookie-baking, whether she likes it or not. But, if she’s being honest, Ragone isn’t sure either contestant really bakes too many cookies these days. “I’m sure they all have people cooking and doing so much stuff for them,” Ragone said. Especially Melania: “I just don’t get that impression” that she likes to bake. “She doesn’t say she makes them. She just said they’re her favorite.”
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Clinton Family’s Chocolate Chip Cookies The Clinton camp first submitted this chewy cookie recipe to the Family Circle First Lady Cookie Contest in 1992; it beat out Barbara Bush’s recipe in that round, and also Elizabeth Dole’s recipe in 1996. The original recipe called for greasing the baking sheets; we used parchment paper, which makes for easier cleanup and also helps prevent the cookies from spreading. We also got a greater yield than the 4 dozen indicated.
The Clinton Family’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo for The Washington Post by Deb Lindsey
Servings: 72 cookies MAKE AHEAD: The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Adapted from the recipe supplied by Family Circle magazine.
Ingredients » » » » » » » » »
1 ½ cups flour 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 cup solid vegetable shortening, preferably at room temperature 1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs, preferably at room temperature 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant or quickcooking)
» 12 ounces (about 2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips
Steps Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl or on a sheet of waxed paper. Combine the shortening, brown and granulated sugars and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer; beat on medium speed until creamy, stopping to scrape down the bowl, as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating them after each addition, beating until well incorporated. Stop to scrape down the bowl.
On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, and then the rolled oats, beating just until incorporated to form a dough that may still cling to the sides of the bowl. Stop and stir in the chocolate chips by hand. Drop well-rounded teaspoons of the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them about an inch apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through. Repeat to use all the dough. Transfer the baking sheets to wire cooling racks; let sit for 2 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the racks to cool completely. Nutrition | Per cookie: 80 calories, 0 g protein, 11 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 7 g sugar
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Melania Trump’s Star Cookies This is a crisp and simple-tasting sugar cookie that begs for adornment. Their touch of sour cream suggests a recipe of Eastern European origin. Because this cookie dough is rolled so thin and is so soft, we found it easier to work with when rolled out between sheets of parchment paper, then frozen until firm before cutting out the shapes. You’ll need a 2 1/2-inch star cookie cutter. Melania Trump’s Star Cookies. Photo for The Washington Post by Deb Lindsey
Servings: 40 to 44 cookies MAKE AHEAD: It’s best to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before cutting out the star shapes; the cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 1 week to 10 days. Adapted from the recipe supplied by Family Circle magazine.
Ingredients » 2 cups flour » ½ teaspoon baking soda » 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature » 1 cup confectioners’ sugar » 2 large egg yolks plus 1 large egg white, preferably at room temperature » 2 tablespoons sour cream
Steps Combine flour and baking soda in a bowl or on a sheet of a waxed paper. Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer; beat on medium
speed until creamy and well incorporated. Stop to scrape down the bowl. Add the egg yolks and white one at a time, beating on medium speed after each addition, until smooth and well incorporated. Stop to scrape down the bowl. On low speed, gradually beat in sour cream and the flour mixture, just until a soft dough forms with no trace of flour left. Divide in half. Place one half between two sheets of parchment or waxed paper, rolling to an even thickness of 1/8 inch. Place on a baking sheet (with top and bottom papers) and refrigerate or freeze for at least 30 minutes, or until firm. Repeat with the remaining dough. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Working quickly, remove the top sheet from one half of the chilled, rolled-out dough. Cut out as many stars as you can, transferring them to a baking sheet as you work (spac-
ing the cookies 1 inch apart). Once the dough begins to soften and becomes hard to work with, pop it back in cold storage and use the second batch of firmed-up dough. Re-roll scraps, as needed. It’s also helpful to chill the cutouts on baking sheets that await oven time; baking them straight from cold storage. Bake (middle rack) one sheet at a time; turn the sheet front to back after 5 minutes. Bake for 2 to 3 minutes more, or until the stars are just beginning to brown on the edges. Watch closely; once the browning starts, it goes fast. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack; cool the cookies completely (on the sheet) before serving or storing. Nutrition | Per cookie (based on 44): 50 calories, 0 g protein, 8 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 3 g sugar (c) 2016, The Washington Post
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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
Now that the flood waters ravaging Louisiana are receding, it’s time for President Barack Obama to visit the most anguished state in the union. Last week, as torrential rains brought death, destruction and misery to Louisiana, the president continued his vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, a playground for the posh and well-connected. We’ve seen this story before in Louisiana, and we don’t deserve a sequel. In 2005, a fly-over by a vacationing President George W. Bush became a symbol of official neglect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The current president was among those making political hay out of Bush’s aloofness. – Editorial in the Baton Rouge Advocate last Wednesday, six days before President Obama finally arrived for a visit
Congratulations to Team USA for winning over 100 medals! The most of any country, and my condolences to everyone who is behind them at airport security. – Jimmy Fallon
Her people are trying to pin it on me. - Former Sec. of State Colin Powell denying Hillary Clinton’s claim that he was the one who told her to use a private email server
William Ziegler escaped this mortal realm on Friday, July 29, 2016 at the age of 69. We think he did it on purpose to avoid having to make a decision in the pending presidential election… Following his wishes, there will not be a service, but well-wishers are encouraged to write a note of farewell on a Schaefer Light beer can and drink it in his honor. He was never one for sentiment…but he wanted you to know that if he owes you a beer, and if you can find him in Heaven, he will gladly allow you to buy him another. He can likely be found forwarding tasteless internet jokes (check your spam folder, but don’t open these at work)… Unlike previous times, this is not a ploy to avoid creditors... He assures us that he is gone. He will be greatly missed.
That’s why Obama won’t break off his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard — or stop playing golf on said vacation — to travel to Louisiana. Because he believes he can monitor the situation as well — or better — from where he is. And that the sole reason to go to Louisiana is for the theatrical piece of politics, a piece that he not only rejects but detests. - From an article in the Washington Post defending President Obama’s failure to take a break from his vacation last week to visit the Louisiana flooding
Police in Australia are searching for a group of men seen releasing live crocodiles into a school building. Though, if you ask me, they should probably be searching for the crocodiles. – Seth Myers
– From an obituary published in The Times-Picayune on Aug. 12, 2016, by William Ziegler’s wife and three children who said that William had a great sense of humor and would have loved this obit
MORE QUOTES
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Donald Trump’s campaign chairman Paul Manafort was forced to resign on Friday following news that he had proRussian ties. Which really upset Trump, because he insists having all his ties made in China. – Jimmy Fallon
Go home to mom. And, your mother is voting for Trump. - Donald Trump, when interrupted at a rally by Black Lives Matter protesters
I guess G-d wanted me to de-clutter. I was too pig-headed to do it. - Chuck Craft, 57, of Baton Rouge, after his home was flooded
Definitely worth it! - Brandon Thomas of the Frontier League’s Gateway Grizzlies of Sauget, Illinois, after his grand slam homerun ball landed on his own car and smashed his windshield
KFC has come out with a sunscreen that makes you smell like fried chicken. Of course if you want to smell like KFC, you could just ride around in any single guy’s car.
The Olympics wrapped up over the weekend with the United States coming out on top in all medal counts. The U.S. brought home 46 gold medals, 37 silver, and four idiots. – Seth Myers
That’s right. Speedo has revoked their sponsorship of swimmer Ryan Lochte, and according to him, they did it at gunpoint. – Ibid
– Conan O’Brien
Playing #PokemonGo in #Cambodia #Laos #Vietnam? Beware of #landmines or anything that looks like an old bomb! - Tweet sent out by the U.S. State Department last week
I was immature and I made a stupid mistake. I’m human. - Embattled USA swimming star Ryan Lochte, on NBC, confessing to making up a lie about being held-up at gunpoint in Rio
MORE QUOTES
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Let folks in Israel understand that there still are people in the United States – and people of both parties in this state – who understand that unequivocal, unashamed, unapologetic support of Israel is a policy of the state of New Jersey. - NJ Governor Chris Christie, after implementing a law that opposes the BDS movement
Last week, Twitter introduced a “quality filter” that gets rid of tweets that contain spam, mean, or unwanted content. An hour later, Twitter filed for bankruptcy. – Conan O’Brien
It is the best choice for me. - Jeremy Shuler, 12, on being accepted to Cornell University’s engineering program
This time I mean it. We talked earlier in the year and I wanted to come back and finish my career how I wanted. This was the cherry on top of the cake I wanted. - The most decorated Olympian of all time, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, announcing his retirement on NBC
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Political Crossfire
Why Young Voters Find Trump a Turn-Off By Michael Gerson
P
eople always remember their first presidential vote – their first participation in the largest decision of American democracy. In high school, I was a rather awkward, nerdish history buff (my wife would dispute the verb tense). I was also something of a lefty, particularly compared to my conservative religious upbringing. I debated on behalf of Jimmy Carter in the mock election at my Christian high school during the 1980 election, making me a political minority of one. But my political identification had begun to shift by 1984 and I cast my first presidential vote for Ronald Reagan. For me, exposure to economics had an ideologically sobering effect (a young liberal can’t be too careful in his or her reading). In addition, Walter Mondale and his running mate, Geraldine Ferraro, had turned conservative religious people into a rhetorical skeet target. And Reagan himself – who had demonstrated personal courage and a capacity to govern – seemed to embody something hopeful and decent about the country. I was not alone. In 1984, voters aged 18 to 24
supported Reagan over Mondale by 61 to 39 percent. “The oldest president in U.S. history and the youngest members of the nation’s electorate,” said the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1986, “have forged one of the strongest bonds in American politics.” The first serious political memories of my generation were of an appealing, creative, electorally dominant (at the national level) GOP. Now jump forward to a recent USA Today/Rock the Vote poll that shows Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump by 56 to 20 percent among voters under 35. Let that sink in. Trump is supported by one in five younger voters – an astonishing and consequential collapse for the GOP. While the young don’t turn out at election time with the same frequency as older voters, they always get (and deserve) particular attention from the parties. In the long run, younger voters are older voters. In the long run, older voters are ... companions to John Maynard Keynes. So why is Trump crashing and burning among the young? The 2016 election excludes some explanations. It cannot be that Clinton is making an inspiring, Barack Obama-like appeal
to youthful idealism. During the primaries, Clinton was routinely trounced among the young. In Iowa caucus entrance polling, Bernie Sanders bested Clinton among -17 to -29year-old Democrats by 84 to 14 – the previous most laughable showing among the young. And it cannot be that younger voters are rejecting Trump because he is too socially conservative. He got applause during his convention speech for promising to defend [certain] citizens. Trump’s nomination represents the advance of [certain] rights within the Republican coalition and the marginalization of social issues. I would venture that Trump’s failure among the young has something to do with his assault on the idea of tolerance, particularly racial and religious tolerance. Younger voters are less likely than other age groups to regard racially inclusive language as “politically correct.” They are less likely to believe in “reverse discrimination” and to embrace anti-immigrant attitudes. And, according to the USA Today/ Rock the Vote survey, they were not impressed by the GOP nominee’s convention speech. By more than 2 to 1, younger voters said it made
Trump seem less human and accessible. While Clinton has an ethics problem, Trump has a humanity problem. His combativeness and lack of political polish could be advantages among younger voters. But these are tied to a discrediting lack of empathy. It is one thing to go after “low energy” Jeb Bush
Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders to consider. At high schools and colleges with Latino or Muslim students, spray painting “Trump 2016” on a wall or poster is properly taken as a racially charged incident. When white students chant “Trump! Trump!” at a basketball game against a team including mi-
At high schools and colleges with Latino or Muslim students, spray painting “Trump 2016” on a wall or poster is properly taken as a racially charged incident.
or “Lyin’” Ted Cruz; it is another to mock a disabled reporter, stereotype Mexicans as rapists, condemn a judge because of his ethnicity, attack the faith of a grieving Gold Star mother, or call for systematic discrimination against Muslims. These are not violations of political correctness. They are violations of human decency, revealing serious moral impairment. Here is something for Reince Priebus, Paul Ryan,
norities, it is properly taken as a racial taunt. Young people understand the logo of the Republican nominee – the very name of the Republican presidential candidate – as conveying a message of exclusion. These are the first serious political impressions of my younger son, voting in his first presidential election this year. It is the way to lose a generation. (c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
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Political Crossfire
The Price of Powerlessness By Charles Krauthammer
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his week Russian bombers flew out of Iranian air bases to attack rebel positions in Syria. The State Department pretended not to be surprised. It should be. It should be alarmed. Iran’s intensely nationalistic revolutionary regime had never permitted foreign forces to operate from its soil. Until now. The reordering of the Middle East is proceeding apace. Where for 40 years the U.S.-Egypt alliance anchored the region, a Russia-Iran condominium is now dictating events. That’s what you get after eight years of U.S. retrenchment and withdrawal. That’s what results from the nuclear deal with Iran, the evacuation of Iraq and utter U.S. immobility on Syria. Consider:
Iran The nuclear deal was supposed to begin a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran. Instead, it has solidified a strategic-military alliance between Moscow and Tehran. With the lifting of sanctions and the normalizing of Iran’s international relations, Russia rushed in with major deals, including the shipment of S-300 ground-toair missiles. Russian use of Iranian bases now marks a
new level of cooperation and joint power projection.
Iraq These bombing runs cross Iraqi airspace. Before President Obama’s withdrawal from Iraq, that could not have happened. The resulting vacuum has not only created a corridor for Russian bombing, it has gradually allowed a hardwon post-Saddam Iraq to slip into Iran’s orbit. According to a Baghdad-based U.S. military spokesman, there are 100,000 Shiite militia fighters operating inside Iraq, 80 percent of them Iranian-backed.
Syria When Russia dramatically intervened last year, establishing air bases and launching a savage bombing campaign, Obama did nothing. Indeed, he smugly predicted that Vladimir Putin had entered a quagmire. Some quagmire. Bashar Assad’s regime is not only saved. It encircled Aleppo and has seized the upper hand in the civil war. Meanwhile, our hapless secretary of state is running around trying to sue for peace, offering to share intelligence and legitimize Russian intervention if only Putin will promise to conquer gently. Consider what Putin has
achieved. Dealt a very weak hand – a rump Russian state, shorn of empire and saddled with a backward economy and a rusting military – he has restored Russia to great power status. Reduced to irrelevance in the 1990s, it is now a force to be reckoned with. In Europe, Putin has unilaterally redrawn the map. His annexation of Crimea will not be reversed. The Europeans are eager to throw off the few sanctions they grudgingly imposed on Russia. And the rape of eastern Ukraine continues. Ten thousand have already died and now Putin is threatening even more open warfare. Under the absurd pretext of Ukrainian terrorism in Crimea, Putin has threatened retaliation, massed troops in eight locations on the Ukrainian border, ordered Black Sea naval exercises, and moved advanced anti-aircraft batteries into Crimea, giving Moscow control over much of Ukrainian airspace. And why shouldn’t he? He’s pushing on an open door. Obama still refuses to send Ukraine even defensive weapons. The administration’s response to these provocations? Urging “both sides” to exercise restraint. Both sides, mind you. And in a gratuitous
flaunting of its newly expanded reach, Russia will be conducting joint naval exercises with China in the South China Sea, in obvious support of Beijing’s territorial claims and illegal military bases. Yet the president shows little concern. He is too smart not to understand geopolitics; he simply
perfectly clear in speeches at the U.N., in Cairo and here at home in his very first year in office. Two terms later, we see the result. Ukraine dismembered. Eastern Europe on edge. Syria a charnel house. Iran subsuming Iraq. Russia and Iran on the march across the entire northern Middle East.
He is too smart not to understand geopolitics; he simply doesn’t care.
doesn’t care. In part because his priorities are domestic. In part because he thinks we lack clean hands and thus the moral standing to continue to play international arbiter. And in part because he’s convinced that in the long run it doesn’t matter. Fluctuations in great power relations are inherently ephemeral. For a man who sees a moral arc in the universe bending inexorably toward justice, calculations of raw realpolitik are 20th-century thinking – primitive, obsolete, the obsession of small minds. Obama made all this
At the heart of this disorder is a simple asymmetry. It is in worldview. The major revisionist powers – China, Russia and Iran – know what they want: power, territory, tribute. And they’re going after it. Barack Obama takes Ecclesiastes’ view that these are vanities, nothing but vanities. In the kingdom of heaven, no doubt. Here on earth, however – Aleppo to Donetsk, Estonia to the Spratly Islands – it matters greatly. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group
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Traveling?
Make Sure to Hit the Top Ten National Parks By Rebecca Powers
National parks are the “spacious skies” and “mountain majesties” of elementary school choirs. They’re living postcards from adventurers who had the foresight to preserve natural wonders for those who followed. The 59 U.S. parks are stark and arid, elevated and lush, watery and forbidding. They’re wild. And perhaps most important, they’re common ground. The vast acreage managed by the National Park Service may be the only place where chasms unite us. Park Service lands are as diverse as the visitors they serve and the flora, fauna, ground and water they protect. National parks are an American superlative – beautiful to the extreme. Here are the top ten national parks for visitors in the United States. On your next vacation, pack up your car and head out onto the fruited plain for a peek into our nation’s beauty.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, N.C. and Tenn. “The dreamy blue haze... that ever hovers over the mountains...softens all outlines, and lends a mirage-like effect of great distance to objects that are but a few miles off.” - Horace Kephart, travel writer, in The Outing magazine (1912)
Fog settles near sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Washington Post photo by Bonnie Jo Mount
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very year here, for a few weeks in late spring, there’s a twinkling light show, courtesy of synchronous fireflies. Also in spring, an annual wildflower pilgrimage showcases blooms so prolific and diverse that this landscape is nicknamed “Wildflower National Park.” Although this is the most-visited U.S. national park, it retains an enchanted quality, a place where emerald moss carpets boulders and a dreamy, “smoky” mist recalls the region’s Cherokee name, Shaconagay, “land of the blue smoke.” This area was part of the Cherokee homeland before the tribe was
forced west. Some remained in what is now the park, either by hiding or by lobbying the government, and their descendants live in the nearby Qualla Boundary. Today, visitors hike, bike and drive the history-steeped land. The American Hiking Society says, “Almost every trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park is eligible for your hiking bucket list.” However, the organization’s blog cites the 12mile Baxter Creek Trail’s “4,000 feet of climbing, sweetly smelling spruce trees and a lush rainforest understory.” The Appalachian Trail also makes a 70-mile appearance here. Visitors who arrive via Cherokee, North Carolina; Gatlinburg, Tennessee or Townsend, Tennessee, enter an area that’s 95-percent forested with the largest block of virgin red spruce on Earth. And if they visit Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies, on a clear and (rare) pollution-free day, they can see for 100 miles and possibly take in seven states. Size: 522,426 acres Founded: 1934 Attendance: 10,712,674 (2015)
GRAND CANYON, Arizona “It became an obsession... I was determined to put it all to music.” - Ferde Grofé, composer of “The Grand Canyon Suite”
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he Colorado River gorge is notable for its depth (one mile, on average), as well as its variegated col-
The majesty of the Grand Canyon
ors. It’s regarded as one of the seven wonders of the natural world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The organization describes it on its website as “the most spectacular gorge in the world.” Its dramatic beauty draws visitors from around the world. In a 2005 tourism study, 17 percent of Grand Canyon visitors needed a passport to get to it. Vistas here have moods. Hues change by time of day and season, and canyon views vary by the perspective from all four directions (rims). The South Rim (open all year) is the most accessible and offers classic views most associated with the canyon. Wheelchair-accessible bus tours are available. (Reservations are a must.) The Bright Angel Trail is smooth and easy to navigate. The North Rim is smaller, less visited and typically is cooler. Those who hike to the bottom pass, geologically speaking, through a third of the Earth’s existence. At the base of this naturally carved spectacle is the Colorado River, which draws water from seven states and travels 1,450 miles from its Rocky Mountains source to the Gulf of California. Size: 1,201,647 acres Founded: National monument, 1908; national park, 1919 Attendance: 5,520,736 (2015
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ROCKY MOUNTAIn
YELLOWSTONE
“The raw beauty of the rugged mountains contrasts with the calm loveliness of wildflower gardens growing nearby.” - The Park Service’s “Natural History Handbook Number Three” (1954)
“[It] is no more representative of America than is Disneyland.” - John Steinbeck, author, in “Travels with Charley: In Search of America”
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t’s no surprise that the Who’s “I Can See for Miles” was on the “Easy Rider” movie soundtrack. It’s an apt road trip song about the vistas travelers seek. Here, park visitors can appreciate those lyrics by driving the highest paved road in the Park Service. Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,183 feet. It’s designated as an American Byway and All-American Road. The park’s panoramas also include two bodies of water named on the Wilderness Society’s list of prettiest lakes in wild lands: Mills Lake, which offers high-elevation views of Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds (spires that channel wind into unearthly sounds); and Loch Lake, with views of mountain peaks and Glacier Gorge. Here in north-central Colorado, vacationers may access 350 miles of trails designed for all levels of ability. Hikers can walk valleys and meadows that were trod by native Utes until the late 1700s. Its later visitors included gold miners, followed by homesteaders and sightseers drawn to the lush environment. Today, the Park Service says the landscape is home to a large variety of animal dwellers, including 60 species of mammals and 270 bird species. The park, which straddles the Western Continental Divide, also has 141 confirmed species of butterflies. Size: 265,795 acres Founded: 1915 Attendance: 4,155,916 (2015)
YOSEMITE “None can escape its charms... You will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree.” - John Muir, naturalist, in “John of the Mountains”
A breathless view of Yosemite
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osemite evokes an immediate mental image of Ansel Adams’s famed black-and-white photographs – his “Moon and Half Dome,” among many others. It’s also the focus of much modern-day fascination – think last year’s first free climb of El Capitan’s difficult Dawn Wall and popular culture (cartoon character Yosemite Sam and the setting of “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” for example). That said, man and this Sierra Nevada landscape have been linked for 3,000 years. There is a deep history of indigenous people here. Today, this glacier-carved parkland less than three hours from Sacramento is a tourism magnet for recreation, photography, sightseeing, geology and culture. Many visitors head to the picturesque Yosemite Valley, but that section makes up only 1 percent of the park. This protected land is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and a BirdLife International Important Bird Area. More than 60 Yosemite properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Wawona Covered Bridge, the Yosemite Valley Chapel, the Tioga Pass Entrance, the Ahwahnee Hotel (now Majestic Yosemite Hotel) and the Rangers’ Club. Buildings here reflect the Park Service’s rustic architecture style, which is said to have been born in Yosemite. The Rangers’ Club, which still houses seasonal crew, is one example. The club building, which opened in 1920, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The style, influenced by architecture of the era, was designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding natural setting. Size: 761,348 acres Founded: Grant protection, 1864; national park, 1890 Attendance: 4,150,217 (2015)
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton
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his, the first U.S. national park, in part owes its physical asset to the active volcano that lies beneath its surface, where the Park Service says there’s enough magma to fill the Grand Canyon about 11 times. Seismologist Robert B. Smith has described the park as “an active geologic laboratory – and the laboratory is alive.” That living landscape speaks through 10,000 hydrothermal features: hissing fumaroles (steam vents), spewing geysers and gurgling mud pots. Old Faithful geyser, the most well-known, erupts about 17 times a day. The subterranean side of Yellowstone is what the Park Service has called a pressure cooker. Aboveground, much of Yellowstone is a protected paradise. Its beauty became widely known when photographer William Henry Jackson documented the region for the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories. His images helped inspire Congress to establish the park. Yellowstone is large, with 17 rivers, 290 waterfalls, five entrances, 4,000 bison and acreage spanning portions of three states (96 percent in Wyoming, 3 percent in Montana and 1 percent in Idaho). It has the largest lake on the continent at a high elevation (7,733 feet). Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48. In addition to bison, those
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inhabitants include grizzly bears, wolves, lynxes, foxes, moose and elk. Humans also have left their mark on this western range. It has 26 associated Native American tribes, 466 miles of roads (310 miles paved) and more than 900 historic buildings. Included among those vintage structures are Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Hotel, built in 1891, the oldest operating hotel in the park. Also here is an unexpected category: “other life forms.” That “other” is heat-loving bacteria, which create the ribbons of color in hot water. As the Park Service explains, the green, brown and orange mats are cyanobacteria, which can thrive in waters as hot as 167 degrees. Here, the colors are visible in the Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin. Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the country and the third largest in the world. In 1871, well before color photography could document the vibrant phenomenon, Ferdinand Hayden, leader of the U.S. Geological Survey expedition, described the hot spring’s “peculiar vividness and delicacy of color [from] nature’s cunning skill.” Size: 2,219,791 acres Founded: 1872 Annual attendance: 4,097,710
ZION “Never before has such a naked mountain of rock entered into our minds! Without a shred of disguise, its transcendent form rises preeminent. There is almost nothing to compare to it.” - Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, early explorer-topographer of the American West
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mericans look anything but sedentary here among the formations of sedimentary rock. The terrain invites climbing, scrambling, hiking, wading and canyoneering. Although shuttle buses and cars can access views, sightseeing here can seem a bit like a competitive sport. Among the challenges is the Subway, a slot canyon that requires route
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cross-country skiing flock to Zion in winter. Size: 147,237 acres Founded: As Mukuntuweap National Monument, 1909; as Zion National Park, 1919 Attendance: 3,648,846 (2015)
The Narrows in Zion National Park
finding, rappelling and swimming. (Permits are required.) Lower-exertion paths are also available among the trails that meander throughout the varied landscape of desert, mountains, forests, valleys and river. The Narrows, a canyon-network trek along the Virgin River that involves wading and, sometimes, swimming, is less challenging. The visual reward for such efforts is evident in this: Zion is one of the most Instagrammed places in the country. (Scenes in the Oscar-winning 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” were filmed here.) Spectacular sites include a manmade addition. As the U.S. Interior Department puts it, “Zion is home to one of the greatest engineering feats of modern times.” To make the area accessible, construction began on a 25-mile stretch of road to connect Zion to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and Tunnel, completed in 1930, includes a 1.1-mile-long tunnel that slices through Zion’s sandstone cliffs. The tunnel has windows to provide views of Zion Canyon. Early inhabitants called this land Mukuntuweap, meaning straight canyon in the language of the Southern Paiute. Zion is the Mormon name. Other names here include the Great White Throne (of white Navajo sandstone), the Watchman, Three Patriarchs, Weeping Rock, Checkerboard Mesa, Emerald Pools. Monkey flowers and hanging gardens (created by water seeping from sandstone and feeding ferns and mosses) are part of a diversity that’s made possible by the park’s location at the intersection of the Colorado Plateau, Basin and Range Province and Mojave Desert. This park is open all year, and fans of snowshoeing and
OLYMPIC “Curtains of clubmosses hang from . . . archways, separating one green forest room from another.” - Gunnar O. Fagerlund, in the Park Service’s “Natural History Handbook Number One” (1954)
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ew people think “United States” when they hear the words “rain forest.” Here, just over an hour from Olympia, Washington’s state capital, the Olympic Peninsula offers just that. In addition to having national park status, this rare landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site and biosphere reserve. UNESCO cites this park’s longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States and its complex ecosystems, which range from Pacific shore through temperate rain forest, from Alpine meadows to glaciated mountain peaks. In addition, it claims one of the world’s largest stands of virgin temperate rain forest and many of the world’s largest species of coniferous trees. This water-rich place is prime for boating. Visitors may kayak or canoe on a various lakes, rivers or the ocean. In a single day, sightseers can take in Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach (save it for last for a Pacific sunset). Multi-day visitors may stay inside the park at the vintage Lake Quinault Lodge, built in 1926, or Lake Crescent Lodge (1915). The Park Service suggests bringing binoculars and looking for wildlife at dawn and dusk. Bald eagles, marmots, black oystercatchers and sooty grouse are among the deni-
zens. Coastal hikers in the months of April, May, October and November may see migrating whales along the Kalaloch, Rialto and Shi Shi beaches. One researcher suggests that visitors also explore with their ears. Gordon Hempton, an acoustic audiologist and proponent of limiting noise, identified a spot on the Hoh River Trail that he calls “One Square Inch of Silence.” At one time, the Hoh Rainforest edged the Pacific Coast from Southeastern Alaska to California’s Central Coast and abundant resources sustained a number of indigenous dwellers, including the Hoh people. Today, eight Olympic Peninsula tribes have a relationship with the park. Size: 922,650 acres Founded: As Mount Olympus National Monument, 1909; national park, 1938 Attendance: 2015) 3,263,761)
GRAND TETON Wyoming “This is how mountains are supposed to look.” - President Theodore Roosevelt
Feelings of grandeur in Grand Teton
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he superlatives “awesome” and “amazing” have been diminished by overuse. But we still have “majestic.” And there are still landscapes – including here – that merit that description. Majestic might also apply to the
creatures that populate the ground that surrounds the Teton peaks. Park inhabitants include bison, weighing in at as much as 2,000 pounds, and calliope hummingbirds, as light as two paper clips. The tiny calliope breeds in the chilly mountain environments and is remarkable for being the smallest bird in the United States and Canada and the smallest long-distance avian migrant in the world, according to Cornell University. The beauty that surrounds such creatures is, like them, both grand and subtle. They all play a role in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which encompasses this park, Yellowstone Park and portions of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. This vast network of flora, fauna and geology is a significant interconnected environment. Here, grass is essential for the soil and for the animals it feeds. Tickle grass and tufted hair grass, among others, tint the vistas with subtle hues. The land here beside the city of Jackson Hole also fed early tribal inhabitants. Native Americans roasted camas bulbs, for example, in underground pits. Today Grand Teton, named for the main peak, feeds visitors’ hunger for nature and recreation. Activities include mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, bicycling, fishing, boating, floating, skiing, snowshoeing and, of course, sightseeing. Among the hiking trails is the Paintbrush and Cascade canyons’ 18-mile loop. The Wilderness Society says this route offers “winning views” of the Cathedral Group, which are the tallest peaks in the Teton Range. The panoramas here have attracted moviemakers. Grand Teton has served as a backdrop for parts of “Django Unchained,” “Rocky IV” and “Shane.” Size: 310,044 acres Founded: 1929 Attendance: 3,149,921 (2015)
This article was excerpted from a Washington Post article by Rebecca Powers. © Washington Post 2016
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Walking in the Footsteps of our Forefathers MY TRIP THROUGH EUROPE AND ISRAEL By Reuven Guttman
As
someone who enjoys traveling and is inspired by European and Middle Eastern culture, I stopped off in Europe on my way to Israel, something which I highly recommend and which beats the monotony of flying non-stop. My first stop was in Worms where I visited the site of the Rashi Synagogue, which has been meticulously kept including the remnants of Rashi’s mikvah. An amazing sight is a dent in the wall, which formed when Rashi’s mother was pregnant and a wagon passed by, forcing her into the wall. The wall created an in-
dentation for her to safely ensconce herself. Another interesting note is that the Germans call this street Juden Gasse which is just a reminder of the atrocities committed. My second stop was Heidelberg, not too far away from Worms. It is a beautiful Old World city with a castle that is jaw dropping and was untouched by bombs from Allied planes during World War II. Walking through the area I noticed a flea market-type of setup selling old items. As I approached, I thought I was seeing things but there was a concentration camp striped cap
along with other World War II items from different fronts that the Germans fought. The cap was a typical cap that the kapos wore. I asked the seller where he received all these items from and he responded that his grandfather was in the War and he died recently and he uncovered all these items from his basement under lock and key. He stated that this is the first time he brought it out. Not wanting him to know that all I wanted was the concentration camp cap, I bought a few other items and at the end asked him to throw in
the cap. If only he actually knew how much the cap is worth. He had no clue. Upon my return to New York, I was offered a huge amount for this cap; however, I plan on giving it to a museum. My wife and I then flew to the south of France including Cannes, Monaco, St. Tropez and Nice, which are all lovely destinations. From there it was to Rome then Venice, a must-stay for Shabbos. Then we headed to Lugano and finally Milan for a shopping spree – half the price of Central Avenue, and that’s being nice.
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
A cap from the concentration camps
At the Arch of Titus in Rome
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Jacob’s well
In Bethlehem, right behind Kever Rachel
More World War II memorabilia
My
next stop was to Israel and after a few days of doing the typical visiting – family, the Kosel, jeeping in the Judean desert – I decided to go with a group of non-Jews on a tour of the Palestinian areas. The first group tour was in Ramallah. I can tell you that it looks like any typical Middle Eastern area with flourishing shops and packed shuks. There is an abundance of anything anyone can imagine, from the most expensive jewelry to the
finest dates. Another tour brought me to Nablus and Jenin. Nablus has an amazing site called Jacob’s Well, but it is located right near a Greek Orthodox Church, therefore many Jewish people are not aware of its significance. Joseph’s Tomb is nearby, but is closed off to tours. Jenin is the most hostile and dangerous area of it all. It is a hotbed of anti-Israel activities, especially in the refugee camps where you can see posters encouraging violence against Israel. Kids walk around
Nablus Jenin refugee camp
carrying toy guns as a symbol of violence which they are taught to perpetuate against the Jewish people. Another tour I took was to Jericho, which borders Jordan. It is a quiet area with not much going on. The next tour was to Bethlehem. I actually went behind the wall of Kever Rachel, an area where Jews don’t go, and said Tehilim without being recognized. To top off the Palestinian areas, I went to Chevron and visited areas of Ma’aros Hamachpela where Jews are not permitted. The Arabs
watch over the members of the tour to make sure that nobody is praying in that area because it contains the tombs of Yitzchok and Rivkah. I don’t understand why they cannot allow the Jewish people to use that area besides for twice a year. I was able to sneak in a prayer, though. I prayed that we should merit Moshiach and no longer have to disguise ourselves just so that we can visit areas that are rightfully ours. Hopefully soon, the whole Land will once again be our own.
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Forgotten Her es
DMZs Around the World By Avi Heiligman
German troops marching unopposed to occupy the Rhineland
U
sually this column is about military and similar type (like spies) of operations. Israeli demilitarized zones (DMZ) fall into that category because they
tend not to be demilitarized for long. However, the definition of a DMZ is to prevent a situation from escalating or to avert any type of military operations in a particular area. Cur-
Crossing the 17th Parallel Bridge in Vietnam
rently, many of these areas are monitored by the U.N. and some have a joint national force to enforce the DMZ. Others are the product of an agreement that will be described in this article. The DMZs that most Americans are familiar with are the ones in Korea and Vietnam. During the Cold War, these were the two “hot” zones where the U.S. sent in troops to fight invading Communist forces. After WWII, the U.S. and Russia divided up the Korean Peninsula along the 38th parallel and this became the border between the two Koreas when they were formed in 1948. The war, which saw the Americans fighting for the south, and the Chinese fighting and the Russians supplying the north, ended in 1953 with an armistice. This agreement stated that there would be a DMZ along the 38th parallel. The DMZ in Korea is 160 miles long and two and half miles wide. It has become the most militarized DMZ in the world with barbed wire tank traps, minefields and over a million soldiers watching the area. Many incidents have occurred in this zone, and hundreds of soldiers, including 50 Americans, have been killed. There is a joint security area where negotiations between the two sides occur. Two Americans were killed in 1973 within this joint security area when they went to chop down a
tree. This caused a retaliation operation to show the North Koreans that things like this wouldn’t be tolerated. In 2007, a limited freight train service was started in the DMZ. Currently there is an uneasy peace in the DMZ with an occasional North Korean trying (sometimes successfully) to defect to the South. The two countries are still technically at war and fighting could break out at any time. The DMZ will hopefully continue to ease the pressure. Before the U.S. got involved in Vietnam, a DMZ existed. It was created after the First Indo-China War ended in 1954 when the French left. During the Vietnam War, U.S. intelligence estimated that over 40,000 Communist troops were in the DMZ while the Americans stayed away. Even though troops were not allowed in the area, mines and other ordnances were placed there by the north. When the war ended badly for the Americans and South Vietnam, the DMZ became Communist. Another conflict with U.S. involvement that resulted in a DMZ was the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The border between Iraq and Kuwait has a 120 mile long border fence that was constructed by the United Nations. Under Saddam Hussein the Iraqis contended that Kuwait was part of Iraq and that the fence was illegal. There wasn’t much they could do about it and the fence is continually being extended. U.N. forces main-
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER The Jewish Home | AUGUST29, 25, 2015 2016
tain the barrier which is made up of electric fencing, concertina wire, deep trenches and ten foot berms. Two other DMZs that were created after conflicts that involved the U.S. were hot zones in Europe. Fighting between Yugoslavia and Kosovo in 1998 resulted in an agreement that stated there would be a “Ground Safety Zone.” Eighty years earlier one of the first DMZ to be created by an international body was the Rhineland after WWI. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, and the Germans agreed, among other things, to not place troops in the area. An international force was sent under the League of Nations to oversee and occupy the Rhineland and other areas nearby. The French then occupied other areas but were soon forced out in 1925. Hitler ym”sh gained power in the early 1930s, and in 1936 the Nazis reoccupied the entire Rhineland. Since the League of Nations was very weak, France and England
Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Korean DMZ in 2010
The Korean DMZ
watched helplessly and started to adopt the method of attempting to appease the Nazis. Antarctica is a very interesting DMZ in that it was never militarized by any country ever. The Antarctic Treaty was first signed in 1960 by 12 countries and currently has 53 participating nations – including North Korea. The treaty states in part: “The area is to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is
prohibited but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose… Freedom of scientific investigations and cooperation shall continue… Treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the introduction of military personnel must be given… All treaty states will discourage ac-
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tivities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty” Several other areas in the world are demilitarized including the Aland Islands off the coast of Finland and an ancient Hindu temple claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia. Some DMZs including the Korean and Vietnamese zones have had less exposure to humans, therefore making it a natural habitat for animals. These areas are considered neutral territory and for the most part have kept peach between nations. DMZs are there to protect innocent civilians and peaceful nations from unnecessary conflict. In a previous article, we discussed DMZs in Israel. Please email the author for a copy of that article. 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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Rocky’s
Rant
All Thumbs By Rocky Zweig
S
omething relatively rare occurred recently. It was nothing anyone would know about except Shoshana and me. And in the grand scheme of things, it would never measure up to, say, Halley’s Comet (comes around every 75 years or so), or a blue moon (two full moons in a single calendar month, once every two years). There are plenty of rare things right here on Earth, too: there are white peacocks, red bananas, and Jews in Wyoming. But none of these phenomena affect any of us directly. Well, this one did. You see, for only the second time, one of my articles was rejected! My article was about Obama’s speechwriters and their struggle to come up with things for POTUS to say after a police shooting or a terrorist attack; how they try to balance sincere pathos with Obama’s genuine feelings which, IMHO, go no further than, “Now can I get back on the links?” Truth be told, even as I was writing it, I thought it might be a bit of a hard sell. So, of course, Shoshana rejected
it, saying I was being “too flippant about terrorism” and, of course, she was right. But that meant I needed a new article, pronto. My first idea came from my teenage grandson, Avi, who suggested I write about Pokémon Go. I actually thought that was quite brilliant. It’d be topical, hip, and reach a younger demographic. But then he started trying to explain it to me. I learned about training and gyms. About Pokéballs, Pokécoins, and Pokéstops. About CPs, HPs, and XPs. When I left an hour later, I didn’t know a CP from a split pea. Are there really real, live grownups running around bumping into trees and cars and each other chasing these little guys who don’t even exist? And they said the Pet Rock was stupid! So obviously, Pokémon Go went. But I have a folder in the document section of my computer that’s labeled IDEAS, just for such an emergency situation. So I went rummaging around and found an article about my toilet that was already pre-approved. Wait — let me rephrase. Some time ago I ran an
idea by Shoshana and she said okay (I sure hope she remembers it now!) The premise wasn’t really about my toilet per se, it was about my abilities with a hammer or a screwdriver or pair of pliers. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof. My father z”l was a nice guy and very good at a lot of things, but like many Jewish men, he was blessed with a matching set of ten thumbs. His toolbox (and I use the term extremely loosely) consisted of a hammer, two screwdrivers, a box cutter, a bewildering assortment of nails, screws, various other unnamed and unidentifiable metal objects, and a roll of duct tape. Oh, and a flashlight. You know; in case a bulb ever blew and he’d have to look up the electrician’s number in the dark. So apparently my DIY genes came from his DNA. Seriously, when someone mentions the word wrench to me, the first thing that pops into my little pea-brain is a place where Jewish cowboys live. And as I’ve gotten older, it’s only gotten worser. My klutziness has crept beyond the usual minor
household repairs or putting up shelves. Even when it’s virtually impossible to mess up, I somehow manage to turn a simple task into a disaster. To wit: I recently decided to pull up the carpeting in my bedroom, because, as you know, my lungs are the most unhappy organs in my body and consequently don’t work as well as they did when they were brand, spanking new, factory-installed equipment. Carpets are notorious for holding onto dust, pollen, mold, and even bacteria and viruses, along with other miscellaneous nasty shmutz. So I bought linoleum that looks just like the ceramic tiles in my kitchen/dinette, the guy came and took away the icky carpet, put down the linoleum, and I was all set to live happily ever after. Only problem was, where my bed ends, my armoire begins. I keep my armoire-type things in there: pants, shirts, socks, you know, things that one might want access to pretty much on a daily basis. It has doors that swing out, and if the bed isn’t
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 29, 25, 2015 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER
moved up far enough, there isn’t enough clearance, Clarence. And sure enough, the carpet guy put the bed down a few inches too close to the armoire, so I couldn’t open the doors all the way. So I wedged myself between the armoire and the bed, and I pushed and I pushed, and the bed moved a teensy drop, but after that it wouldn’t budge. I was confused and frustrated (which is my usual state of mind anyway, but still). I know I’m not the strongest guy in the world, but I do work out pretty much every day, so I’m not the weakest either. So I pushed some more and finally gave up. Then I decided, well, if pushing isn’t working, why not pull? Great idea, right? So I went to the front of the bed and reached down to get a grip on the frame and that’s when I saw what the problem was: the feet of the bed had somehow gotten caught and had gouged straight down into my brand new linoleum, making twin zeicher l’churban holes on either side of the front of the bed, before the glue had even had a chance to dry! And I’m sure the more I had pushed, the bigger the hole had gotten. Luckily, the bed covers the holes completely and the guy’s coming to fix them anyway (I have no idea how they do that), but you get my point: everything I touch turns to guacamole. Ah yes, I promised you the infamous toilet story. Well, see, what happened was this: I went to my daughter for Shabbos. Turned out she had just installed a bidet. Now, I don’t know how prevalent bidets are in the Five Towns, but this was the first one I had encountered in Flatbush. Indeed, incredibly, it was the first one I had encountered ever. And I thought it was the greatest thing since overnight kugel (what’s so great about sliced bread, anyway?). Hers was fancy shmancy, with warm water that you could set to be either oscillating or pulsating if you so desired. The only drawback was, with all those bells and whistles, you couldn’t use it on Shabbos. But I decided I had to have one. Now. When I got home I went on Amazon (thank you, Jeff Bezos, for my
link to the outside world), and sure enough, you can buy a no-frills doit-yourself bidet for between thirty and fifty bucks. I picked mine out after reading the reviews where almost everyone mentioned how utterly simple it was to install. Knowing myself, however, there was part of me that figured I would eventually wind up calling a plumber anyway. When it came, it looked easy to install. Take off the toilet seat, connect this doohickey to that whatchamacallit and you’re done. Looked like something even I couldn’t mess up. I thought I’d
ning, and all over this land. When I had a hammer, I broke my toilet. To smithereens. My thinking was that if I sprayed everything in sight with WD-40, held the screw and whacked it with the hammer, I could loosen it. Well, that didn’t work. But besides not working, the last time I tried, I missed. PHONE: Mayer (landlord): Hello? Rocky: Hi. Mayer: Hi tzaddik, are you home for Shabbos? Rocky: No. Listen, I… Mayer: Because we’re gonna be
Luckily, the bed covers the holes completely and the guy’s coming to fix them anyway (I have no idea how they do that), but you get my point: everything I touch turns to guacamole.
look like a total moron if I called a plumber for this, so I decided to go for it. The first step was to take off the toilet seat. The plastic nut on the left came off without a hitch. The one on the right wouldn’t move. I got a pair of pliers and a wrench and they were useless on that side because the toilet was too close to the sink and as a result and I couldn’t get my hand in to reach underneath. So I started trying to unscrew the screw from the top, but of course you can’t do that without securing the nut first, otherwise it just keeps turning. All you guys know exactly what I’m talking about. If you want to take a minute to explain all this to your aishes chayil, go ahead…I’ll wait. Finally I managed to squeeze my hand in just enough to get a pair of pliers around the nut and started unscrewing again, but again I made no progress. Here’s where it gets ugly. I got my hammer. Now, if you had a hammer, you’d probably hammer in the morning, in the eve-
home, so if you want to eat with us… Rocky: No, but thanks, really. Listen, I… Mayer: Everything okay? Enough hot water? Rocky: Yes, yes. Will you listen? Mayer: How’s the bird? Rocky: Mayer! I’m trying to tell you something! Mayer: Did that stupid lizard get out? Miriam will strangle you, you know. Rocky: I BROKE THE TOILET! Mayer: Okay, fine, relax. That’s the big deal? So I’ll call a plumber, what’s the problem? Rocky: Oy. It’s not that kind of broken. Mayer: What do you mean? Is it that bulby thing that floats up and down? Or the chain? Or the stopper on the bottom? What did you break? Rocky: The toilet. Itself. Mayer: What do you mean you broke the toilet itself? You mean… the porcelain? Rocky: Good morning. Mayer: You broke the porcelain?
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Rocky: Yes, dear. Mayer: Why? How? Rocky: With a hammer. Mayer: Sorry I asked. Mayer bought a new toilet and called a plumber and I made a conscious decision not to stand and watch him because I figured I would definitely hear him giggling. I kept picturing him hanging out after he finished wherever it is that plumbers hang out and telling the story: “Hey guys; you are not gonna believe the job I worked on today!” I can still hang pictures and open cans all by myself.
Rocky Zweig has been writing since he was sixteen and was the Editor-in-Chief of the late and decidedly unlamented Modieinu, the mimeographed (remember mimeographs?) newspaper of the Tenth Avenue Pirchei of Boro Park, where he wrote everything from stories to news articles to hashkafa articles to... yes (now it can be told!)...letters to the editor. Rocky was sixteen a very long time ago. He is the proud father of three marginally neurotic children. He has been married three — count ‘em — three times and has finally determined that he’s probably not very good at matrimonial bliss. He lives in his Fortress of Solitude in Flatbush with a small menagerie: Clarice, a European Starling; Rabbi Horatio LeZard, a Bearded Dragon; an aquarium filled with Lake Malawi African Cichlids; and a ten gallon tank that functions as a Home for Unwanted Goldfish, or H.U.G., collected over the years by his grandkids and great nieces and nephews at myriad street fairs and carnivals (rather than face the unpleasant task of flushing these unfortunate piscine creatures when they are eventually, inevitably ignored by their own obnoxious progeny, the parents simply call Uncle Rocky who then feeds them and cares for them until their ultimate natural demise three or four or even ten years down the pike). So apparently Rocky seems to get along better with animals than with his fellow homo sapiens. Or sapienses. Or whatever. Rocky’s column will be appearing every other week in The Jewish Home. Rocky can be reached at anidaati@aol. com.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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AUGUST AUGUST25, 26,2016 2016| |The TheJewish JewishHome Home
Classifieds SERVICES
SERVICES
Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242
FRUM/BUBBY BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Newborns and up. Excellent references Long hours also available. Part time or full time. Also available in the evenings. TLC. Far Rockaway Phone # 718-327-1932
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CLEANING LADY with proper tax forms to assist family in Lawrence weekly. Call 718-408-5421 Available for all your TYPING needs: Specializing in sheets with Hebrew & nekudos Reasonable rates- Fast Service Call Shani (516) 987-0004 Or email: alltyped@gmail.com MORAH ADINA’S STROOCK’S 3 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUP. NEW LOCATION!! Spots available for 2016-’17. Now centrally locataced in the heart of Far Rockaway on Caffery Ave. Warm, loving, veteran morah. Hours until 3 (Friday until 12). Call 516-510-8332 or 718-471-5283
CEDARHURST: Well Maintained Home in Cedar Glen Park, 5 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Lg Den W/Fplc, Granite Countertops in Kitchen, Double Oven, IGS, Alarm, HW Floors…$649K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HAIR COURSE Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009
HEWLETT: PRICE REDUCED Lovely 3BR Cape In SD#14, Lr W/Fplc, 2 Car Garage, Full Basement, Close To All…$389K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
NEW AND EXCITING UNIVERSAL PRE-K under the loving heimish guidance of Morah Fran from Gan Ami. Now taking applications for September 2016. Reasonably priced, great central location, and extended hours available. For more information contact Fran Diamond directly at 5164266925
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WOODMERE: Move Right In!!! Bright & Sunny 4BR CH Colonial, Eik W/Granite Countertops, HW Floors, Alarm, Long Driveway, 1 Car Detached Garage, Close To All…$769K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HOUSES FOR SALE CEDARHURST: Stunning, Custom, 8 year old, 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom Brick home, with finished basement. Near all Shuls. Low Taxes. $1.1m 477 Cedarhurst Ave, Cedarhurst Call: 917-636-9993 ATLANTIC BEACH 200 Feet of Unobstructed Open Bay The Unique Joining of Two Homes by a magnificent Indoor Heated Pool & fully Equipped Gym. 10 Bedrooms, 12 Baths, 3 Gas Fireplaces, Open Concept and Formal Living Spaces, Radiant Heated Floors, Finished Basements, Steel Bulkheads, 3 Piers, Mahogany Decking & Terraces, boat slip, Elevator, Handicap Accessible, CAC, Generator, State-of-the-Art Systems. By Appointment only CHRISTINE LYNCH Lic, Assoc. R.E. Broker 516-398-5888 Cell christinemarielynch@yahoo.com Petrey AB Real Estate
WEST HEMPSTEAD .5 mi from synagogue 3/3 Kit LR DR Den FPLC F-BMT OFC Pool $609,000 516-650-8070
HOUSES FOR SALE
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The New revitalized Gan Katan is back and better than ever. Two year old program with extended hours available. Fully licensed, well trained staff, and a warm and loving environment. For more information text Timema Diamond at 5167322949.
HOUSES FOR SALE
HEWLETT: PRICE REDUCED Updated Bright & Spacious 3BR, 2BA Ranch W/Open Floor Plan, Eik, Formal DR, MBR Suite, Full Fin Bsmt, Entire Back Of House Expanded, SD#14…$449K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com Woodmere: PRICE REDUCEDBeautiful 3BR, 3 Full BA Split, Vaulted Ceilings, LR, EIK, Den, Library, Master Suite, Full Privacy Front & Back Yard, Attic,& Much More!!! Close To All…$715K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.
Weekly Classifed Ads Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................ $20 $10 2 weeks .............. $35 $17.50 4 weeks .............. $60 $30 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info
Deadline Monday 5:00pm
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
Spacious 2BR On 1st Floor, Near All. . $279K
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Susan Pugatch
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(516)
Call or Text
(516) 592-2206
cbraunstein@pugatch.com
121
295-3000
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HEWLETT: 7 Everit Ave #B10 (1-2:30)$115K WOODMERE: 372 Howard Ave (12-1:30) $715K
4,567 +/- SF Suite - Possible Divide With Optional Basement Excellent On-Site Parking
2,200 +/- SF W/ Full Basement Retail, Office, or Gym Use High Visibility, Steps to LIRR
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AUGUST25, 26,2016 2016||The TheJewish JewishHome Home AUGUST
Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE INWOOD THE BAYVIEW BUILDING Many options available including 5000 Square foot high ceiling 1st floor showroom/ office / mixed use space. 2nd Floor office spaces with Waterview and views of NYC skyline. 1200 sq ft, 2000 sq ft and 6000 sq ft spaces available. Parking, Mincha minyan and great neighbors. Owner will customize and design space to your needs. Call or text 516-567-0100 INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood! Lots of options. Tons of parking. WIll divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100 CEDARHURST: 4,567 +/- Sf Professional/Medical Office Suite, Plus Optional Basement, Possible Divide, Ample On-Site Parking, Convenient To All, For Lease... Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 Cedarhurst: 1,000 +/- SF Retail Space W/Basement, 1 Bathroom, Municipal & Street Parking, Great Location, Convenient to Major Public Transportation, For Lease… Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
COMMERCIAL RE SPECIAL “LIMITED” OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST ADDITION/LOCATION AT 487R CENTRAL AVENUE, CEDARHURST, NY 11516. Call/text now for complimentary market analysis of your residential or commercial property. 516-655-3636 Cheryl “Chedva” Slansky, MBA Licensed Associate RE Broker, RealtyConnect USA The #1 Real Estate Office 2015 FY by LIBN FREEPORT: 1,200 +/- SF Retail Space with Rear Door, Great Location on Busy Shopping Strip, Parking in Rear, For Lease… Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 WANTAGH: 2,000 +/- SF Retail Store W/Great Visibility, 2 Units 1000SF Contiguous, Rent Separate or Together, Ample On-Site Parking, Very High Traffic Area, For Lease…Call Randy for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
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CEDARHURST THE STUDIO BUILDING Newly Renovated Office Suites and spaces Available starting at $795 a month. Included in the rent: High Speed Internet, Wifi, Conference rooms, Kitchenette, Heat & AC, Utilities Included, Water cooler, Real Estate Taxes, Waiting Area, Cleaning. Furnished and unfurnished available call or text 516-567-0100
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The Jewish Home | AUGUST 26, 2016 The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here. Weekly Classifed Ads Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................ $20 $10 2 weeks .............. $35 $17.50 4 weeks .............. $60 $30
Email ads to: classifieds@fivetowns jewishhome.com Include valid credit card info Deadline: Monday 5:00pm
APT FOR RENT LARGE ONE BEDROOM APT. IN LAWRENCE Close to train, underground parking, spacious living room/dining area. Motivated seller $118,000. Call 917-299-8082 HEWLETT: Sunny & Spacious 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Co-Op W/1 Parking Spot Included & Storage, Close To All...$115K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE (22 Holiday Ct) HOUSE RENTAL Renovated 4BR, 3 Full Bath House On CulDe-Sac, Eik, Formal DR, Hot Tub, Great Yard, SD#14, Near All...$4,195/mo Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www. pugatch.com CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking. Call Sam @ 516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED QUEENS MESIVTA IN SEARCH OF SECULAR STUDIES TEACHER FOR AFTERNOON HOURS. Prior teaching experience of 3 years required. Please send your resume to jobhunt613@gmail.com
WELL-ESTABLISHED HEALTHCARE AGENCY IS SEEKING A MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST FOR ONE OF OUR CLINICS IN FAR ROCKAWAY. Please forward all resumes to careers@nhcc.us Lev Chana Early Childhood Center, Hewlett, NY is seeking a FULL TIME ASSISTANT TEACHER for 2016-2017. Candidate should be warm, loving, organized and pursuing a degree in education or related field. Resumes to morahfelecie@halb.org Hamaspik is looking for FEMALE/MALE COMMUNITY HABILITATION WORKERS, various locations and times. Driver’s license is a plus. Call 718-408-5419/ 718-408-5420
ut Check oW our NE ! website
MEZZO LOOKING FOR FRIENDLY, PERSONABLE AND FASHION CONSCIOUS SALESWOMAN. Cedarhurst/ Boro Park 3/4 days a week including Sunday’s. Email: service@shopmezzo.com Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway seeking ass’t teachers. Please call 718-868-3232 between 10am-1pm or send resume to teachingpositions1@gmail.com Yeshiva Ketana of Queens is looking for a third grade teacher. 4 days a week. Fine salary, excellent atmosphere. Send resume torlswia@aol.com or call 917742-8909 Special Education Tutor/P-3 Provider with over 15 years experience and reading speciality, available to tutor preschool-high school. Flexible hours Sunday through Friday; references available upon request. Please call or text Tsivia: 516-526-2385.
355 Central Avenue, Lawrence NY 11559 (Across the street from Seasons)
P: 516.791.6100 | F: 516.374.7059
www.WeissmanRealty.com Reduced!
Reduced!
WHITE HOUSE APTS
LAWRENCE CO-OP
2 Bdrms, 2 Bths, Oversized custom Granite eat-in-kitchen, Huge balcony, Separate dining room. Walk to all shopping and LIRR. $299K Call Mindy 516-272-6445
Totally renovated 2 Bdrms, 1 Bth, Large granite eat-in-kitchen, Laundry, Parking $205K Call Sherri 516-297-7995
LAWRENCE
Beautiful Modern 8 Bdrms, 3.5 Bths, Lrg Mstr Bdrm Ste., 2-Car garage. POR Call Sherri 516-297-7995 or Mindy 516-272-6445
THE CARLYLE
NEW TO MARKET Full 1BR w/ 1.5 bths. Hi-End Ren. Thru. Granite Kit. w/ Custom Molding & Double Sink, 2 Dishwashers. New Wd Flrs, Granite Bths. Custom Walk-In Closets. Built-In Furn. Terrace. Incl. 1 Parking Spot, No Mnthly Fee. Ours alone. Call Sherri 516-297-7995
FAR ROCKAWAY APARTMENT RENTALS
Cedarhurst office for lease 2 or 3 room avail. 2nd r walk up on Central Ave. Call Sherri for details 516-297-7995 Far Rockaway office for lease Cornaga location, 3 to 4 offices, plus bthrm. Good for doctor, dentist or business. $1900 Call Sherri 516-297-7995
#1 Far Rockaway and 5 Towns Rental Specialists
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home AUGUST 26, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Classifieds
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F/T office administrator, customer service, basic computer programs Organize and multitask. Fluent English. No Sponsorship Available. Great Neck L.I. email: vipjobsearch@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FIRM based out of Queens seeks motivated individuals to join our Acquisitions team. High Commissions paid, No splits. Info@zreny.com 718-285-0931
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS (PTA’S) & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ASSISTANTS (COTA’S) For 200+ bed Nursing Home in Queens. Must have Hospital or Nursing Home experience. Please email resume to promrehab@aol.com
GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co.
PATHWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has the following positions available for the coming school year: SLP for full time salaried position Special Ed Teacher - full time Dedicated afternoon teacher Call 718-887-6030 Torah Academy for Girls Far Rockaway is seeking qualified, experienced PreSchool Morah. Please fax resume to csender@tagschools.org QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED MORAHLIMUDEI KODESH- ELEMENTARY DIVISION AND TEACHER ASSISTANTS Please fax resume to mweitman@tagschools.org F/T DayHab Trainer positions in Far Rockaway for caring individuals to involve adults with developmental disabilities in skill development while encouraging them to become more independent. Valid driver’s license required. OHEL BAIS EZRA 718-6863102, www.ohelfamily.org/careers Yeshiva near Brooklyn/5 Towns Looking for Responsible Bachur or Yungerman to manage the kitchen and maintenance and assist the office with misc. jobs. Driver License required. Car a plus Email Resume: office@ymhbh.com FAX: 718-634-4510 EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE SALES AGENT needed for a HIGH Producing real estate office who is seeking an opportunity to Earn & Learn more!!! Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential We are looking to hire a MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST Job requirements: Your own car and internet savvy. Hob has unlimited income potential. Don’t delay, give us a call at 917-612-2300 SHOMER SHABBOS WOODMERE OFFICE looking for a mature FULL TIME SECRETARY Computer knowledge (Word Perfect, Excel, QuickBooks, etc...) and communication skills a must. Please email resume to info@UHCofNY.org
Growing company in the 5 Towns is seeking motivated, confident, out-going employee for full time bookkeeping/accounting. Must have professional bookkeeping experience, and strong teamwork skills Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com PART TIME AND FULL TIME BOOKKEEPING POSITION Fast growing accounting and consulting firm seeks a qualified individual to assist our accounting staff in providing bookkeeping services for our clients. Qualified individuals will have the opportunity to join our employee friendly culture At least 2 years working experience Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, QuickBooks a MUST Email – info@smallbizoutsource.com YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND SEEKS FULL TIME SECRETARY for busy school office. Organized, friendly and able to multi task. Experienced only. Please email resume to office@ykli.org YESHIVA SECRETARY Yeshiva near Brooklyn/5 Towns Seeking help during Dinner Campaign. Detail oriented and ability to multi task Yeshiva experience a plus Morning Hours, Immediately after Pesach Send Resume to officepositionhire@gmail.com CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com Fax: (212) 480-3691 5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. Exc working env’t, supportive admin, exc pay Lic’d & experienced preferred. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com
Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348 HALB LOWER SCHOOL SEEKS STAFF MEMBERS FOR 2016-17:
Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com DRS HS FOR BOYS, WOODMERE NY SEEKS CHEMISTRY TEACHER (FT) FOR 2016-17. Resumes: gkirshenbaum@drshalb.org.
Limudei Kodesh Morah with Ivrit skills, Assistant Teachers Limudei Kodesh and Secular Studies (FT/PT), Assistant Rebbe (FT). Resumes: djacobi@halb.org.
MISC Discounted tickets to SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE THEME PARK AND SAFARI Valid for any operating day
WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE A MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST. Job will require your own car and being computer/internet savy. If you consider yourself a marketing professional, this is the position for you. Opportunity to make unlimited income potential, Don’t delay. Give us a call at 917-612-2300 CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers for Title I in Boro Park andWilliamsburg Chassidic boys schools *College/Yeshiva Degree Required *Strong desire to help children learn *Excellent organizational skills *Small group instruction *Competitive salary Email resume: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com. Fax (718) 381-3493
for only $40 Call or text Yehoshua 917- 923-0011 SPACE AVAILABLE FOR 3 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUP IN FAR ROCKAWAY. EXCELLENT MORAHS. PLEASE CALL (516) 406-2980
SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com Tutors desperately needed for Zichron Etel, a gemach providing free tutoring to those who cannot afford it. Now in Brooklyn and the Five Towns! Kindly visit our website at www.zichronetel.com
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The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
Your
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Money
Up in Smoke By Allan Rolnick, CPA
T
he Mafia. The Mob. La Cosa Nostra. Call it what you will, this “certain Italian-American subculture” has a long and storied history. Mobsters like Al Capone, Henry Hill, and John Gotti have become folk heroes of a certain sociopathic sort. Fictional mobsters make special guest appearances alongside pop culture icons — witness The Simpsons’ “Fat Tony” D’Amico, crime boss of Springfield. Organized crime also has a long history of tangling with tax authorities. Try as they might, Elliot Ness and his fellow “Untouchables” couldn’t jail Al Capone for bootlegging, bribery, or the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. It took IRS agent Frank Wilson three years of dogged investigation to finally put Capone behind bars for the pedestrian offense of failing to pay his taxes. Even Tony Soprano knew enough to report a salary from his waste management business to keep the IRS off his back. Earlier this month, the Mob was back in the news as the FBI unsealed an indictment and arrested 46 members of various New York and Philadelphia-area crime families. The suspects sported the usual
collection of colorful nicknames like “Tony the Wig,” “Anthony the Kid,” “Tony the Cripple,” and “Mustache Pat.” But their actual crimes seemed a far cry from the wars that defined the Mob’s glory days. While the indictment included old-school staples like gunrunning, loansharking, and bookmaking, it also featured
smokes cost governments $5 billion per year. In New York, where the tax is $4.35 per pack, an estimated 57% of all sales involve smuggled cigarettes. And every time the tax goes up, so do the incentives to smuggle. How does the scheme actually work? Simple: arbitrage. Buy your cigarettes someplace cheap like Vir-
That means a single truckload, which contains 48,000 cartons, can light up nearly $3 million in profit.
“participation trophy” offenses like health care fraud, credit card fraud, and selling untaxed cigarettes. Cigarette smuggling might sound like a penny-ante crime, especially compared to the whacking, kneecapping, and “protection” rackets of mob legend. (“Nice business ya got here. Be a real shame if anything happened to it.”) But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives estimates that black-market
ginia, where the tax is just 30 cents per pack. Truck them up I-95 to New York City. Sell them at a discount to bodegas and other independent retailers. Then conveniently “forget” to tell the tax man about it. Smugglers generally make between $4 and $6 per pack. That means a single truckload, which contains 48,000 cartons, can light up nearly $3 million in profit. Numbers like that make “but-
tlegging” so attractive that terrorists have fired up their own efforts. The 1993 World Trade Center bombing, in fact, was financed by cigarette smuggling. In 2002, a federal jury convicted a Lebanon native of smuggling cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan to funnel profits for Hezbollah. And investigators believe that European cigarette smugglers help pay for ISIS’s reign of terror, too, both in the Middle East and throughout Europe. Here’s the lesson from today’s sad story of Mob decline. Every financial move you make involves at least some tax consideration. Now, snuffing out those taxes shouldn’t be your sole priority. But once you’ve made the right financial choice, your next step should be to find the most tax-efficient way to do it. Make sure to have the right plan and watch those unwanted taxes go up in smoke. Bada-bing, bada-bang!
Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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AUGUST 25, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Life C ach
Yay or Nay By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
R
ecipes are the hottest thing! I grew up flavoring by “feel.” In other words, if you felt like pouring something in, you did! Really – my mother has this gift for flavoring things, and I just copied that, which I think she got from her mom. My sister, in fact, once tried to watch my grandmother make her famous mandelbread. This was in order to record the ingredients and measurements for posterity. “Some flour – OK, another handful. Throw in a fistful of nuts and maybe a little more. A few fingerfuls of cinnamon. Sugar? Whatever feels right,” and on and on. Basically, my sister had no idea what to do. Her hands were smaller and her instincts less honed. That’s how my grandmother baked – by feel. A fist, a finger’s worth, that’s not a duplicable measuring cup! The concept of a cookbook was alien. Books were for learning, maybe for reading, but never for cooking! Today we have cookbooks, recipe blogs, Instagram posts, and Googling for ideas. Of course, it’s not the same as actually tasting something and wanting to make it. Rather, we look at the picture. The more professional it looks, the more we want to make it. If there are flowers or leaves enhancing the dish, drizzles across it, or it’s plastered across the dish like art, we are in! Even if
the portion is of microscopic size, presentation is everything. Who would ever want to make a chulent based on this description? They’d faster use it for mortar. With something like chulent, your best bet is to get one of those miniature soup bowls with a little beanie on it and make it all about the look of the bowl – because there’s no way to beautify this food! But taste it once, and you’re hooked. What about gefilte fish? My mother said her mother use to bring a fish home and have it swimming around in the tub before she made it. Honestly, anything I’m showering with an hour before I cook it is not going into my recipe. But not so back then. First it became an intimate part of the family and then they beheaded it. The foods of today are not the foods of yesterday. And vice versa, I would venture. I was once in Miami. I was going up and down the aisles looking for items when I saw the attendant. I said, “I can’t find any arugula. I guess you don’t carry it.” He laughed and said, “Are you kidding? A rugelach? We have it in cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate.” Here are things I can’t even think why anyone ate or continues to: matyas, herring, ptcha, pickled tongue. They are delicacies some prize from their youth. A lot of us
can’t even turn and face them. Today people eat differently. Years ago a salad was lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, maybe pepper and carrots. Today it’s anything in your pantry or fridge! Animal, vegetable, maybe even mineral – and certainly nuts, beef, or fruits are fair game. Years ago a salad was a side dish, now it’s a main dish. There are whole stores devoted to just making a salad! And here’s where your “feel” might get developed. It’s anything you feel like throwing in! It used to be what took time was the preparation. Prep time, not ingredients, were complicated. Today, we have every kind of instrument to help with preparation – a slicer, a dicer, a blender, a bread maker, and so on. A KitchenAid actually used to be your daughter helping in the kitchen. Now, it’s a massive machine. The difference is your daughter used to wash the dishes afterwards, and the KitchenAid needs to be washed. But it never complains about all the work it has to do! Some people just like to try new things. They are not necessarily looking for a successful dish to use in their repertoire. Once, I ate at a friend’s house and she had an amazing chicken dish. So I started making it at times. A few months later my friend ate over and raved about it. I said I got this recipe from you!
She said she never remembered making it. She just tries new things all the time. If it’s good, well, yay; if not, she serves it anyway. I realized I had been really lucky; I had shown up for one of her successes! There are people who copy a recipe to a tee. If it turns out well then great! If not, and they serve a bad recipe, you’re stuck. My attitude is that’s where the work begins, fix it up. Throw things in. Try and salvage it. You know the old saying: it’s not over till it’s over! Or it’s not over till the fat lady sings. I say, it’s not over till you try and use your “feel” to make it better! It’s true, I am impressed by a beautiful looking recipe. And I love the cookbooks with the amazing pictures. Still, I can’t claim my culinary artwork is always my forte or focus. I’d say I usually shoot for at least aesthetically pleasant. But I do believe that the way I work, my grandmother would be proud of me! And that makes me feel good, because when you tasted her dishes there was always a “Yay!” in your mouth!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com
The Jewish Home | AUGUST 25, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
OUR NEWLY RENOVATED 5,000 SQ. FT. COCKTAIL HOUR ROOM
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