December 6, 2012 by Yitzy Halpern

516-569-2662

— See page 5, 66 & 67 —

Around the Community Yeshiva of South Shore Fifth Graders Celebrate Their Haschalas Gemara Page 71

HANC Elects Their G.O. For the Year Page 57

Madraigos Supports Our Youth and Strengthens Our Community in the Aftermath of the Storm

Page 76

Mir Yerushalayim Far Rockaway Shabbos Of Chizuk Provides Much Needed Inspiration to the Community

Page 72

Ernie Abbott, Esq, Top FEMA Lawyer in the Country, Visits the Five Towns

Page 74

See Pesach/Travel Section Starting on Page 102

THEJEWISHHOME A PUBLICATION OF THE FIVE TOWNS & QUEENS COMMUNITY december 6 - december 12, 2012 | Distributed

ly In The Five Towns, Queens & Brooklyn WeekWEK

Happy Chanukah

137 SPRUCE STREET

Special Chanukah Section

Chanukah Party Ideas * Elegant Décor * Jewish Thought Delectable Recipes * Sophisticated Menorahs * Humor

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c m b e r 6 , 2012

3 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c m b e r 6 , 2012

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>> Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 >> Community Readers’ Poll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Community Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

>> News Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Odd-but-True Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

>> Israel Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

>> People Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn, First Jewish Chaplain in the Marines. . . . . . . . . . . 100 Celebrating Their Bar Mitzvah Almost 70 Years Later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

>>Chanukah Recipes: Elegant Dishes to Serve This Chanukah, by Estee Kafra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Dear Readers, Chanukah is one of the most wonderful times of the year. It’s interesting that this holiday doesn’t have any special obligations aside for the menorah and hallel. And so every family celebrates in their own special way. Throughout my years at home, while lighting the menorah, my family would sing maoz tzur and we would dance in a circle together. Every year my grandmother would host a huge Chanukah party for all my cousins in her home. Some years she even knitted each grandchild a matching sweater (although that ritual ended once the number of grandchildren grew ka”h) and we would take pictures on her huge couch and tear open presents. The party was not complete without ice cream cake, doughnuts and oily latkes. Now I think back to those sweet times, and we try to recreate them in our own home by singing, dancing and having fun with the kids while performing the mitzvah of Chanukah. It is said that one should gaze at the lights of the menorah on Chanukah when they are lit. The lights are the symbol of the miraculous victory we experienced years ago. The flickering candles are showing us that despite adversity, the small flame of purity will always endure. Just weeks ago, so many families were left in the dark, without lights, warmth and stability. But now, on the holiday of Chanukah, we are able to gather around with our families and our community and connect to each other, to our Creator and to ourselves. This week’s issue is packed with so much to enjoy. Make sure to read Susan Schwamm’s article on fun Chanukah parties and Barbara Fogel’s feature on creating an elegant Chanukah gathering for your guests. Esther Ottensoser will delight you with her sophisticated, edible menorahs that are beautiful and easy to create. Estee Kafra shares delicious dairy recipes for you to enjoy over the next eight days. And of course, we have humor, insights and thoughts on the holiday. One of the things I love most about Chanukah is the little party that I have with my kids each night after we light the menorah. One night it centers around presenting the kids with their gift (yes, they each only get one big one…see the TJH poll question); on other nights they enjoy a coloring book or stickers; sometimes the joy centers around baking Chanukah cookies and playing dreidel. I hope that some of this issue’s recipes, humor, games and insights are not only used by your Chanukah bashes, but also when you are just sitting around with your kids and enjoying each other’s company.

Special Chanukah Party Ideas to Wow Your Guests This Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Last week, the UN voted to grant the Palestinians non-member observer state status. It is an outcry that this world institution would give this entity run by terrorists legitimacy. It is clear that the U.N. has become a shill for the Middle Eastern nations which surround Israel and seek her destruction. But like the Jews in the days of the Chashmonaim, we will prevail. Not by the strength of our sword, but through our reliance on Hashem. Although we don’t like to be reminded how Israel is alone in the world without many real friends, we know in our heart of heart that this is the way it will always be until Moshiach comes. May the beautiful tefillos, zmiros and joy that we all engage in this Chanukah bring out the small flask of purity which lies in each of our souls and may it bring salvation to our nation.

>>Parsha

Wishing you and your family a most wonderful Chanukah,

A Tasteful Addition for Your Chanukah Table . . . 115 A Chanukah Celebration in Sparkling Silver and White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

The Shmuz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

>> Jewish Thought

Shoshana

I Hate Surprises, by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz. . . . . 85

Yitzy Halpern

Expanding Our Worldview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Ask the Rabbi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Publisher

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

>> Parenting

Classifieds

Sensory Gyms and Their Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

>> Food & Leisure Travel: Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Your Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Nechama Wein Copy Editor

Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production

Editor

P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857

Friday, December 7 Parshas Vayeshev — Candle Lighting: 4:11 Shabbos Ends: 5:13 Rabbeinu Tam: 5:40

Shake Your Salt Habit, by Aliza Beer. . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Candles Rock, by Rivki Rosenwald. . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shabbos Z’manim

Bucking the Tide, by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn. . . . . . . . 98

Ask the Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

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Social Smarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Yosef Feinerman

managing editor

fri. Dec. 7

sat. Dec. 8

mostly cloudy

cloudy

Weekly Weather sun. Dec. 9

mon. Dec. 10

tues. Dec. 11

wed. Dec. 12

thurs. Dec. 13

few SHowers

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sunny

Room for Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

>> Humor Centerfold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Be Patient. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

>> Art From My Private Art Collection: The Wonderful World of Artistic Menorahs. . . . . 121

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46° 44°

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Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

>> Classifieds

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Contents

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Letters to Dear Editor, Today, we in New York State face the terrible decree against metzitza bipeh, an attack against circumcision as we perform it! One might think that signing a document that states that there is a medical danger in this act and that despite this information given by the mohel we are still going ahead with it, is harmless. After all, we can go ahead with the Bris, but this is a great mistake! Enemies of Bris Milah will say: “Look, even the Orthodox are signing statements that Bris Milah is dangerous. Let us protect their children by not allowing them to be negligent!” That means the next step is to abolish metzitza bipeh as well as Bris milah like they tried to do two years ago in San Francisco. They also wanted to create a law

that would send parents who defy this “safety rule” to jail! B”H a California judge ruled that this was unconstitutional. The question is, will the New York judges rule likewise? Some people might say this is only a problem facing New Yorkers. That is a naive thought! If the decree against metzitza bipeh becomes law (chas v’sholom) in “the Big Apple” it will definitely have a ripple effect in other states as well. Certainly the anti-Semites of Europe will justify themselves in banning milah in their respective countries. This has started in Germany and is already spreading to other members of the European Union! Centuries ago, the Greeks tried to abolish sanctifying the New Moon, the keeping of Shabbos and Bris Milah.

Readers Poll Compiled by Jannah Eichenbaum

On Chanukah do you feel that children should get one big present or 8 small presents?  One big present 56%  Eight small presents 44% Next week’s question is: On Chanukah, does your household light only one menorah or many menorahs?  One menorah  Many menorahs

Send your answers to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.

the Editor Through the valiancy of the Chashmonaim, we merited that their evil designs were stopped. We symbolize our victory in these areas through celebrating Rosh Chodesh Tayvais on Chanukah; it is the only Rosh Chodesh of our calendar year where the entire Hallel is recited. There is at least one Shabbos Chanukah and the Yom Tov is eight days long because Milah is performed on the eighth day! Unfortunately, the cruel edicts of the ancient Greeks have been reinstituted by our enemies throughout Galus. The ruling against metzitza bipeh has a day in New York Court. The action initiated by Agudath Israel, Satmar, Lubavitch and three circumcisers will be decided on the fourth day of Chanukah. We must use every remaining day of this month and especially the holy days of Chanukah to daven and give tzedaka that Hashem save us from this calamity. These special days are an “eis ratzon,” a special time for our prayers to be accepted. We must ask that just as Hashem saved us, bayamim ha’haim, from the harsh rulings of the Greeks that darkened our lives, so too Hashem should thwart the desires of our enemies against us, bizman hazeh! Mrs. Breindy Reiss Dear Editor, What a wonderful piece written on Efryim Shore! I found it to be truly inspiring and it made me smile! Duvi Nesanel

Dear Editor, I am writing this in response to the letter in your paper regarding the change in shidduchim in the frum world. I’d like to point out that these changes do not just reflect the Orthodox community. Dating in the non-Jewish world has evolved as well. Matchmakers are not just something that the frum world has taken advantage of. For years, people in the community were given the role of “matchmaker.” They may not have held the official title but ministers, teachers and leaders in the community have always been involved in arranging and suggesting suitable matches for the singles in the community. It is disheartening that the world of dating has evolved into something just that: a world of just fun with no purpose or goal in sight. Dating should be with the purpose of finding the right match. Dating should be done with the endgoal of marriage in mind. It is only with the right mindset that dating can result in proper, strong marriages. Sharon K. Hillcrest, NY

Open Letter to British Foreign Secretary William Hague During the Gaza crisis last week, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, warned Israel that if it sent troops into Gaza to confront Hamas, it risked losing the sympathy of the international community. On November

About the Artist: The still life oil painting Chanukah Spirit featured on this cover was painted by renowned artist Lola Lieber. Her work has been exhibited in many art galleries throughout the United States and her paintings are part of the Yad Vashem archives in Jerusalem. Her art encompasses a wide range of styles including traditional, impressionistic, as well as modern. Lola’s riveting autobiography, A World After This, tells her story and that of her husband’s, Mechel, survival during WWII and the strength of their faith and courage against all odds. Today, in her late eighties, Lola still maintains a gallery in the heart of Boro Park in Brooklyn, New York and is available by appointment. Though Lola maintains a busy social and charitable schedule, her family always comes first. Lola proudly states that she is the mother of three, grandmother of twelve, and the greatgrandmother of thirty-eight and still counting. This truly is her triumph and her final victory over Hitler and the Reich. Lola Lieber can be contacted at 347-546-2629 or 718-851-7060. Visit her online at lolalieber.com

19th, a Jewish woman in Britain, Mindy Wiesenberg, sent the following letter to Mr. Hague, in response. The letter has been published in many newspapers, including the Times of Israel. Dear Mr. Hague: You have stated that if Israel tries to defend its population through a ground offensive in Gaza “it risks losing the sympathy of the international community.” Let me tell you something about the sympathy of the international community, Mr. Hague. My father was liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945, having lost his entire family but gaining the sympathy of the international community at the time. After 6 million Jews had been annihilated at the hands of the Nazi regime, the international community had plenty of sympathy for the Jewish people. There is always plenty of sympathy for victims. Israel doesn’t need the sympathy of the international community. What it needs is to defend its citizens. When as a tiny country it gained its

independence in 1948 it had to absorb 800,000 Jews who were thrown out of Arab lands in the Middle East, and it did so without fuss and with dignity, giving them shelter and a place of security in which their children could grow up to become productive citizens. When Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria tried to destroy Israel in 1948 and again in 1967, they took in hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, but did they give them dignity or shelter? No, they left them to rot in refugee camps in order to maintain a symbol of grievance against Israel and use them as a political tool against the Jewish state. What has arisen in those camps is a complicated situation, but it is what has led to Gaza today. So don’t lecture Israel on international sympathy, Mr. Hague. Not when Israel has just sent in 120 truckloads of food into Gaza to feed the Palestinian people there, because their own leadership is more interested in using its population as human shields, launching rockets against Israel from within major civilian centers. Don’t lecture Israel on international

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the Editor sympathy, Mr. Hague. Not when Israel targets with as much military precision as it can, only terrorists and their bases, trying its utmost to prevent civilian casualties. Don’t lecture Israel on international sympathy, Mr. Hague. Not when the Palestinian media deliberately uses images of victims of the Syrian civil war and presents them as casualties in Gaza to gain international sympathy. Go read your history books Mr. Hague; go see that since the beginning of the twentieth century all the Arabs wanted to do was destroy Israel. Go look at the country of Israel now since the Jews have established a state there. Go read what advances in science, medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and high tech Israel has developed, and dedicated that knowledge to making the world a better place for humanity. Can you imagine any other country that after 60 years of continuously being under attack could have achieved so much? So Mr. Hague, don’t lecture Israel on international sympathy. Israel will do whatever it takes to

defend itself from outright attack on its citizens, whether it be from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran or any other country or terrorist group that attacks it. And if it loses the sympathy of the international community so be it. We don’t need the international community’s sympathy. We don’t need another 6 million victims. Yours sincerely, Mindy Wiesenberg

Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to editor@ fivetownsjewishhome.com.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Letters to

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week Global New President of Mexico Promises to Stop Violence

On Saturday, Mexico’s new president, Enrique Pena Nieto, took office. His primary goal is to end the years of violence and economic underperformance and spark economic growth. Pena Nieto promises to restore serenity after more than 60,000 people were killed in violence between drug

gangs and security forces during the six-year term of his conservative predecessor. “Unfortunately, this has been something which has made or formed the image of Mexico in the world,” Pena Nieto said during a trip to Europe in October. “That’s why there’s no doubt dealing with lawlessness more effectively is a priority.” He says he is committed to the fight against organized crime, which dominated Calderon’s presidency, but has also stressed his main goal is to reduce the violence. Shortly after midnight at the national palace, outgoing president, Felipe Calderon, formally transferred power to his successor, handing over a red, white and green national flag to Pena Nieto and saluting him. “Today I begin to exercise the honorable office of president,” said Pena Nieto, who then swore in his top security ministers. Thousands of protesters, mainly from leftist groups that supported Pena Nieto’s main rival and oppose his reform plans, gathered outside Congress. Police fired tear gas to try to disperse the protesters. A former governor, Pena Nieto won

In News the July 1 election with about 38 percent of the vote, more than 6 points ahead of second-placed leftist rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. His victory ends a 12-year hiatus from the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.

Japanese Fatal Tunnel Collapse

On Sunday morning, nine people were tragically killed when the Sasago tunnel in Tokyo collapsed. The deceased were travelling in three separate vehicles when the concrete ceiling panels thundered onto their cars. Two other vehicles caught fire and the heavy smoke impeded rescue efforts. The lo-

cation of the accident was about halfway through the tunnel, which also made rescue efforts more difficult. According to the Wall Street Journal, about 270 one-ton concrete slabs fell over a 360-foot part of the tunnel. In desperation to survive, drivers were driving on the wrong side of the road to try to escape. One man abandoned his vehicle and walked for over an hour to safety. Japanese officials are now inspecting many tunnels across the country to ensure that this tragedy does not occur again. There are 49 other tunnels in the country that are on highways or roads managed by the central government. Ryoichi Yoshizawa , a spokesman for Central Japan Expressway Company or NEXCO-Central, said that “anchor bolts” used to hold the concrete slabs to the tunnel ceiling may be to blame. He added that the weathered bolts or concrete slabs could have contributed to the accident. Some say that the 4.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Tokyo on November 24 may have loosened the tunnel’s foundation as well. Continued on page 16

13 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

HURRICANE SANDY

RECOVERY UPDATE In the face of our community’s biggest crisis in 100 years, ACHIEZER and THE DAVIS MEMORIAL FUND have joined forces with the COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND to distribute relief funds directly to families affected by the storm. This fund operates with ZERO overhead. 100% of funds go directly to help families rebuild and restore their lives.

The Davis Memorial Fund MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

Achiezer was established in 2009 at the behest of local rabbinic and community leaders who saw a need for change. These visionaries dreamed of creating one master organization, which would completely remove the burden of crisis management from the shoulders of shocked and distressed victims. They dreamed of an organization that would be there for the entire community—at any time, for any difficulty, large or small.

The Davis Memorial Fund is an IRS-registered

They dreamed of Achiezer.

501c(3) with the mission of helping Jewish families in need. Areas of focus include financial support, rent and food subsidies, camp tuition for children of needy families, funding of simple weddings and interest-free loans. There is a

Achiezer is a unique organization, which combines the strengths of all existing communal resources along with its own formidable capabilities. Achiezer spearheads and coordinates the many different aspects involved in assisting individuals and families confronted by challenges, from start to finish. Whether the situation calls for medical, financial, emotional, or practical support, Achiezer’s team of medical, mental health, and other professionals enables clients to access the assistance that they need in a caring, professional, and confidential fashion.

particular concern for families in crisis and for single-parent families. For more information, call the Davis Memorial Fund at (516) 295-0296.

NOTE: All monies raised by Achiezer have been transferred to the COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND AD SPONSORED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL

DESIGN: DAVID BENOLIEL 718-207-2125

Working with the community, for the community, Achiezer provides unparalleled support throughout the duration of any difficult time.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

14 HURRICANE SANDY

RECOVERY UPDATE MEMBERS

CHAIRMEN

Ira Ganger Melly Lifshitz

Shlomo Zuller; Yaakov Spinner; Chaim Brecher; Elisha Brecher; Ben Lowinger; Yoni Leifer

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND

Actual Hurricane Funds Disbursement PHASE

661

PHASE

180

EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE

Phase 1 Applicants

Phase 2 Applicants

COMING HOME PROJECT (Ongoing)

2,118 Average Allocation Per Household

9,444

Total Funds Disbursed To Date PHASE 1

Average Allocation Per Household

TOTAL FUNDS DISBURSED TO DATE:

PHASE

1,400,000

1,700,000

Total Funds Disbursed To Date PHASE 2

3,100,000

Uninsured amounts for affected community members....

TO EXCEED

10,000,000

Thank You! Our deepest appreciation to these participating organizations for their assistance.

Rabbi Yehiel M. Kalish for leading the fundraising effort on behalf of our community.

AD SPONSORED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL

RECOVERY UPDATE Achiezer would like to give a special Yasher Koach to ASHER SCHOOR & SHMULI SCHECHTER for leading the construction effort on behalf of our community.

Achiezer extends our heartfelt gratitude to COOLING HEATING AND BEYOND for being so accommodating in helping us get our Nivneh office up and running. Thank you to DANNY, AVROMI, MITCH, and the entire staff for all your help.

We thank CHAYA GIBBER & MIRIAM VEGH for helping to manage this effort.

Achiezer extends its gratitude to

TIZKU LIMITZVOS to

INNA KOPEL, AZRIEL GANZ and DANIEL ADAR for

spearheading a massive housing initiative. Their effort has been nothing short of inspiring.

RABBI ARON ROSENBERG & ALON GOLDBERGER

for leading the Shaimos and cleanup efforts.

Achiezer and the Far Rockaway/5 Towns communities would like to recognize the staff and volunteers of our NIVNEH division, under the dedicated leadership of Mrs. Ettie Schoor in helping our community rebuild with dignity. A Project of Achiezer

Thank You! With great appreciation to Senior Partner Heads ALISA BERGER and TOVA FUCHS APPLIANCES Chani Finestone Aviva Ganz Batsheva Golding BABY GEAR AND FURNITURE Bracha Schulhof Liba Weiss BABYSITTING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WELCOME HOME SIGNS Evy Guttman Deenie Schuss CALLING AND DATA ENTRY COORDINATORS Ruchie Blaivis Mimi Samuels CAR LEASES Ruchie Blaivis CLOTHING COORDINATORS Babshi Manela Shayna Steg Lauren Zuckerman CLOTHING CONSULTANTS FOR COORDINATORS Chaya Sara Genack Bilhah Moradi

to all of the following NIVNEH committee leaders and volunteers

A special Hakoras Hatov to RABBI OSHER & YAFFA JUNGREIS and SLOVI WOLFF

A special thank you to DEVORA KURLAND for going above and beyond to help the BBY families.

LINENS/TOWELS/PILLOWS Aliza Solomon

DONATIONS Chani Greenfield Sima Schwab

MOVERS Bukie Cohen

DRIVERS Faigy Belsky FINANCIAL LIAISON Dovid Greenblatt FORM FILING ASSISTANCE Evy Guttman FURNITURE Miri Friedman Shani Garbaz Peshi Haas Arielle Wolfson HAIR ACCESSORIES Shanie Stefansky HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION & SPACE PLANNING Mimi Fragin Shevi Jacobowitz HOME ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Esther Wein HOUSEWARES/ POTS AND PANS Chanie Goldberger

COMMITTEE COORDINATORS Ettie Schoor Sima Schwab

IN-HOME MOVING ASSISTANCE Dovid Karmely-Sundays only Evan Honigsfeld Gary Miller

CORPORATE SOLICITATIONS Adele Dubin Batsheva Katz-HOUSEWARES Elizabeth Kurtz

INSURANCE COVERAGE QUESTIONS Carmi Gruenbaum Dovid Schwab

DEMO/ELECTRIC/BOILERSPROJECT NIVNEH Chaya Gibber Miriam Vegh

LINEN COORDINATOR Elia Weinstock

PARTNERS IN SANDY TEAM LEADERS Alisa Berger Estee Birnbaum Tova Fuchs Gila Henesch Shevi Jacobowitz Yaffa Jungreis Astrid Leifer Faigy Lowinger Devora Reich Judy Silverman Miriam Taub Racheli Tender SCHOOL LIAISONS Chanie Bakst Evy Guttman Kiki Haas Tovi Hershkowitz Jill Kay Deenie Schuss Penina Weiner SEFORIM/MEZUZAHS Jenny Gerber Elissa Warman SHAITELS Tobi Eisenberger SIMCHA COMMITTEE Shaindy Edelstein Devorah Salzman SPECIAL FOOD ARRANGEMENTS Mindy Dershowitz Shani Devor Naomi Krasnow

SPECIALIZED ITEMS Rabbi Ushie Jungreis Yaffa Jungreis Slovie Wolff SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION Dina Biderman TIPS/INFO FOR ACHIEZER WEBSITE Anat Hartman TOYS Illana David Aviva Paneth VOLUNTEERS Shani Moerman Chani Scharf WAREHOUSE Jill Kay Sima Rosenfeld Gitty Schonkopf WRITING/EDITING Raizy Goldberg

ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS Estee Adler Bruchi Barnett Moishe Berkowitz Ruti Berkowitz Daphna Biderman Bluma Brazil Shiffy Edelman Nechie Eisenstadt Shira Eisenberg Dovid Ganger Terry Goldberg Simi Greenbaum Tuvi Hershkowitz

We are especially grateful to SHEVY JACOBOWITZ and MOTTI SEIDENFELD of Toronto. Avigdor Katz Perri Keilson Tova Knobel Chani Kurland Devorah Kurland Tami Landy Miriam Lazar Suri Lazar Ora Lerner Rivka Mandel Effie Mayerfeld Ilana Ostreicher Chani Parnes Laya Pfeiffer Jack Rothenberg Aliza Safier Shmuelie Schechter Asher Schoor Deenie Schuss Shani Stefansky Pennina Weiner Zahava Wiener Aviva Williger Daniella Zar

Yasher Koach to ZVI BLOOM, YANKY BRACH and YOELI STEINBERG for their unstinting acts of Chessed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE ACHIEZER HOTLINE AT 516-791-4444 AD SPONSORED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

HURRICANE SANDY

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week French Revolt Against Homework

The French revolution is once again in progress and this time is about… homework. The new French socialist leader, President Francois Hollande, took office in May and says that homework bestows an unfair advantage on the French elite. He wants to eliminate all homework for elementary and junior high school students because he says that only the rich have the time and ability to supervise their children’s after-school assignments. But his plan is drawing criticism from different groups, includ-

ing the poor. Emmanuel Davidenkoff is the editor-in-chief of L’Etudiant, a magazine devoted to French education. “Poor people want homework because they know that school is very important, and the only chance — the only possibility — they have to give their children a better life is if their children succeed at school,” Davidenkoff explained. “Education is priority,” Hollande said in an October speech at Paris’s Sorbonne University. “An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home.” The French school day is long and the lesson plans are tedious. Children go to school four days a week. Hollande wishes to make school more enjoyable for children, even as his country falls behind other industrialized nations in reading and science. But experts say eliminating homework is not the answer. Guy Winch, a psychologist, says, “One easy guideline to keep in mind is that children should be assigned no more than 10 minutes a day of homework per grade level. A sixth grader should be doing no more than an hour of homework a day, and

In News a senior in high school should have no more than two hours a day of homework.” Duke University Professor Harris Cooper, an expert on child development, said that Hollande’s plan is more likely to hurt poor kids than help them. “Disadvantaged kids have fewer resources for learning outside school, so removing homework might actually widen the achievement gap, not narrow it. There are much better ways to close the achievement gap.”

Georgia’s Two Parties Point Fingers

Early in the morning on November 7th, the highest-ranking officer in Georgia’s military, Giorgi Kalandadze, was arrested and charged with three counts of physically abusing soldiers and spent two long days in jail. Many claim that the accusations against Kalandadze were completely false and he was just the latest victim from his party and associates of Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president. Here’s how spectators arrived at that conclusion… Saakashvili rose to power in 2003 in the so-called Rose Revolution. Georgia’s government has openly opposed expanding Russian influence in the region while seeking defense and economic partnerships with the U.S. and Europe. Of all the former Soviet republics, Georgia sent the most troops to the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, the country named the road connecting the national airport to the capital, Tblisi, after George W. Bush, and Saakashvili counts Sen. John McCain as a personal friend. Saakashvili’s opposition has accused of him of employing the same Continued on page 21

17 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

‫לאורם נלך‬ In their light we follow

‫ליט"א‬ ‫מרן הגר"נ קרליץ ש‬

‫ט"א‬

‫כ"ק‬ ‫שלי‬ ‫מרן האדמו"ר מביאלא‬

Hador davening on b i e l edo s to Kupat Ha‫׳‬ir at t ehalf G he t e or im of Th ribut eo nt f o Hadlakas Neiros c

‫יט"א‬ ‫מרן‬ ‫ינמן של‬ ‫הגראי"ל שטי‬

Zeman Hadlakas HaNeiros is an auspicious time for goodness to be bestowed upon Klal Yisrael

‫יט"א‬ ‫מרן הגר"ח קנייבסקי של‬

every day All names submitted by 9:15 a.m. on any day of Chanukah will be sent on that same day to the Gedolei Hador To be prayed for after Hadlakas Neiros Chanukah

‫ליט"א‬ ‫מרן הגר"ד יפה ש‬

‫יט"א‬ ‫מרן‬ ‫טיין של‬ ‫הגרי"ג אדלש‬

‫יט"א‬ ‫מרן הגר"י אדלשטיין של‬

‫ליט"א‬ ‫מרן הגרמ"צ ברגמן ש‬

‫שליט"א‬

‫ליט"א‬ ‫מרן הגר"י עדס ש‬

‫מרן הגר"י הלל‬

1-888-KUPATHAIR 5

‫קו‬ ‫העפת‬ ‫יר‬

Donations can be sent to: Kupat Hair - 4415 14th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219

New!

Contribute and submit names daily between 10:30am - 10pm at our location 4714 13th Avenue Brooklyn, NY

www.kupat.org

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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‫ועד הרבנים לעניני צדקה בארה"ק‬

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

On Each Day Of Chanukah

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

kinds of Soviet-style tactics that he fought against as a young activist, including wire-tapping the phones of the opposition and arresting political activists. On October 1, Saakashvili’s party, the United National Movement, lost parliamentary elections to the DREAM party, a new coalition led and funded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili…which only complicated things further. Currently Saakashvili still controls the military and the national security agencies because he will remain president until the end of 2013. But his chief rival and Georgia’s new prime minister, Ivanishvili, controls the Justice Ministry. Allegedly this month, the Justice Ministry began targeting senior members of the government and supporters of Saakashvili, including Kalandadze, a Saakashvili appointee, in a wave of arrests. Obviously, these actions have drawn criticism from the European Union and the State Department. Senator McCain says the Georgian president has expressed his concerns about the situation in private phone calls. “He’s very concerned about the actions that the new prime minister has taken and the threats to people who served previously,” McCain said. Saakashvili says he’s worried about the “arrests, threats, and other indications of a lack of respect for the democratic processes.” In an interview, Irakli Alasania, the new Georgian Defense minister and a member of the DREAM coalition, said, “We are committed to transparency in this case and all cases,” referring to Kalandadze’s arrest. “With all due respect to Senator McCain, I think his assessment is not correct. Justice was selective under Saakashvili.”

In News tems like Japan, Canada, and the UK, all have an average life expectancy of over 80 years. The United States ranks 51st with an average of 78.49, lower than Canada (81.48), Australia (81.8), Japan (83.91), and Israel (81.07).

There’s a wide gap between North and South America, about 10 years. There is no country in the vast region of sub-Saharan Africa with a life expectancy above 60. Amongst the lowest life-expectancy rates are Somalia (50.8), Afghanistan (49.72), and South Africa (49.41), and Chad (48.69), with the lowest rate. The average life expectancy was determined by considering both men and women but the breakdown confirms that women on average live longer than men. Life expectancy for a woman in Monaco is 93.77 years compared with that of a man at 85.74 years. American men live 76.05 years on average while women in the United States live to 81.05 years. L’chaim!

Flying the Skies In Style

Want to Live Long? Move to Monaco Want to increase your chances of living till 89? Move to Monaco! A recent study reveals that the tiny wealthy country has a life expectancy of 89.68, five years higher than anywhere else in the world. According to the CIA World Factbook, across the world’s 222 countries, the life expectancy ranges from 48.69 years to 89.68 years. As many might have assumed, countries that are more developed have a higher life expectancy. It is interesting to note that within those countries, the ones with state-funded healthcare sys-

The days of free checked bags and headphones on domestic flights are long gone but some international airlines still wine and dine flyers. Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards survey compiled a list of the world’s best airlines. Readers across 76 global airlines voted considering cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, value, and food. Singapore Airlines topped the list, for the past 17th year in a row. The

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

‫בס"ד‬

KOLLEL CHATZOS the Segulah with the Power of Torah

Vayeshev

ONE POSITIVE OUTCOME LEADS TO ANOTHER

CHATZOS PARTNERSHIP Become a partner And experience miracles!

Several days ago we received the following phone call: “Hello and a good year to all of you! I felt that for the sake of Kollel Chatzos continuing its crucial role, I must relate my own story.

SEGULAH OF KETORAS The only Segulah written in the Torah!

“I am an owner of a large apartment complex with many tenants. Over the last few months, getting ready for the winter, we realized the heat was not working but we simply could not locate the problem. We consulted with one ineffective “expert” after another costing us close to the astronomical amount of $200,000.00!! Meanwhile, the nights were getting colder and the heating “issue” remained unsolved. And without a problem there can be no solution!” “As winter had officially arrived, and after having

MISHNAYAS & SHAS According to your specicationsfor the soul of a loved one VACHTNACHT The Torah learning will protect the newborn

received many frantic and angry phone calls from my tenants demanding heat for their families, I urgently called “Kollel Chatzos” and

implored

that

they

pray

“Acknowledge at Katores”

fervently for me. At the time I was also desperately looking for a new building, without luck, and asked that the honorable kollel learners also have that in mind for me.” “My good news today is amazing on both fronts! Several hours after phoning

“Kollel

Chatzos”

the

heating problem was found and repaired! And two days later we were contacted by the proprietor of a highly suitable property who was looking to sell!” “Next time I will contact “Kollel Chatzos” first and save myself a lot of money and aggravation… Thank you so much!!!

TOPIC SOURCE

Through the Merit of Learning at Chatzos, you Merit Great Success in all !that you do

The ofce of “Kollel Chatzos” added the following notation; the building owner who called in the story above also asked that we mention his name during the special prayer of “Nusach Haktores” which is said by all the kollel members shlit”a with great concentration and emotion. The “Segulas Haktores” has already helped thousands of Jews throughout the world and brought joy and good fortune to countless families.\

(‫ פלא יועץ‬:‫)זוהר הק' ח"א רז‬

CALL 24 HOURS TOLL FREE

1855-CHATZOS 2 4 2 - 8 9 6 7

The Week standard economy class seat measures 32-inches. The flight attendants are famous for their above-and-beyond service. And first-class suites feature sliding doors, 23-inch TVs, and stand-alone beds hand-stitched by master Italian craftsmen Poltrona Frau. (Sounds like a dream!) At number two is Air New Zealand; they offer a special cuddle class, which is an economy row of three seats that can convert to a bed. Emirates falls to number three, down from number two last year. This airline features a signature Shower Spa for first class flyers. Korean Air holds down the number four spot for its expansive menu. They offer tasty Western, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes in-flight. Cathay Pacific Airways, a Hong Kong based airline, is the first to have rice cookers on board. Each seat is outfitted with power outlets and an iPod and USB port which brings the airline up from its place at number seven last year to number five this year. The highest ranking US airline was Virgin America at number seven. Their signature Red touch-screen system allows passengers to order snacks and drinks, shop, and give back to fight cancer and their fares are affordable. “Fly top five airlines” was just added to my bucket list.

In News in government and the stability of the economy. Incomes were estimated for babies in 2013 based on projections for the year 2030, when those children will be old enough to enter the workforce. Switzerland is followed by Australia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, and Hong Kong at number ten. Nigeria comes in as the worst place for a baby to be born in 2013. The EIU explained that the United States doesn’t make the cut because that’s “where babies will inherit the large debts of the boomer generation, [so it] languishes back in 16th place.” Just a few years ago, in 1988, the United States was in first place. My, how times have changed.

U.S. Will Have to Pay a Price for Release of Alan Gross from Cuban Prison

Best Place to Be Born in 2013

With its small but stable economy, Switzerland is the best place to be born in 2013 (if you have the choice). According to a quality-of-life index from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Switzerland comes in first for wealth, health, and trusting of its public institutions. Researchers determined the quality of life based on surveys of the population covering 11 factors including wealth, crime, family life, trust

Cuba is playing hard ball…. The U.S. is demanding the release of Alan Gross, an American contractor arrested three years ago for distributing sophisticated satellite equipment to Cuba’s small Jewish community. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for “acts against the independence and/or territorial integrity of the state.” Reportedly, Gross has lost 110 pounds while in Cuban prison and visitors describe him as angry and frail. Cuban officials responded that they are willing to grant Gross his freedom if, and only if, President Barack Obama will release five Cuban agents that were arrested by the FBI 14 years ago. In 1998, this group of Cuban undercover agents, dubbed the Wasp Network, snuck into the U.S. and set up a secret pro-Castro network in south Florida. They were receiving instructions in

23 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week code through late night radio transmissions from handlers in Havana. Eventually, the FBI caught on and sent the group of five to federal prison for life. The members, now known as the Cuban Five, are national heroes in Cuba. Their pictures grace billboards throughout the country, they are subjects of mass demonstrations, and their petitions for freedom are championed around the world. “I understand what Mr. Gross is going through,” Gerardo Hernandez, 47, the Cuban Five ringleader, said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. “I understand his sufferings and that of his family … If an agreement can be reached, to stop the sufferings of six families, then I welcome it.” An Obama administration official told NBC News that the “imprisonment of Alan Gross, an international development worker, is not comparable in any way to that of the five Cuban agents,” noting that the Cubans were afforded their “due process rights” and convicted of serious crimes. Members of Congress have publicly denounced Cuba for holding Gross “hostage” to the release of the Cuban Five. “The Castro regime has no regard

for human rights or international law,” said Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and frequent critic of the Castro regime. “The Cuba Five should serve their sentences for spying.” When Hernandez was asked if he regretted any of his actions, he smiled and said, “I regret that I got caught.” In a follow up phone interview, Hernandez readily acknowledged that “we violated some U.S. laws” — mainly failing to register as foreign agents with the U.S. Justice Department. “We came here with fake passports. Fake identities.” But, he added, “We act out of necessity.”

Two-day Communication Blackout in Syria For two full days, Syria was without internet or telephones during a communication blackout that was believed to be a result of President Bashar Assad’s regime’s attempt to instill fear in the

In News people with this government’s bold measures to squash the current rebellion. Experts suspect that Assad wanted to cut off the country from the outside world. The communications blackout began Thursday. Internet service was mostly restored on Saturday at 4:32 p.m. local time in Syria. Mobile telephone networks also appeared to be back up and running. Assad’s cabinet has not taken responsibility for the blackout. They are blaming the rebels for cutting lines while the rebels are blaming them. Over the past few weeks, the fighting in Damascus has gotten intense, signaling a full-fledged civil war. Activists claim that 40,000 people have been killed since Syrian rebels began their revolt 20 months ago.

Happiness Has a Price Tag of $161K Skandia International’s Wealth Sentiment Monitor has attempted to put a price tag on happiness. Of course, money doesn’t buy happiness and happiness

is difficult to define, but according to their study, the global average “happiness income” is around $161,000. That means that those who earn this amount of money are well on their way to sheer bliss.

Thirteen countries were surveyed (the United States wasn’t specifically measured).The answers ranged: Dubai residents said they needed $276,150 to be happy, Singaporeans came in second place, with $227,553, followed by residents of Hong Kong, with $197,702. The region with the most modest needs for happiness is Europe. Germans Continued on page 28

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Tuesday, December 11, 6:00 PM • Mr. Aaron Fischman Wednesday, December 12, 6:00 PM • Mr. Moishe Ratner of Gourmet Glatt Thursday, December 13, 6:00 PM • Rabbi Moshe Weinberger Congregation Aish Kodesh Friday, December 14, 3:00 PM • Dr. Binyomin Muller Motzei Shabbat, December 15, 6:00 PM • Mr. Kenneth Austin

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27 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week only need $85,781 to be happy, placing them lowest on the list. The French need $114,000, while the British need $133,000. The survey also posed the question about the amount of wealth one needs in order to feel “wealthy.” Globally, the average amount needed to feel wealthy was $1.8 million. Singaporeans took the lead on the “wealth” needs, with $2.91 million needed to feel wealthy. Dubai ranked second with $2.5 million, followed by Hong Kong with $2.46 million. Surveys show that among Americans, most say they need $1 million or more to feel wealthy. Clearly wealth and financial happiness is all relative. Different regions have different needs and wants, different cultures come along with different expenses, and there’s always the Jones living right next door.

Israel After UN Vote, U.S. Attempts to Initiate Peace Talks

In an attempt to negotiate peace talks, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met senior Israeli and Palestinian officials on Friday. On Thursday, the Palestinians earned U.N. recognition of their claim to a state. In retaliation, Israel approved 3,000 new homes on Israeli-occupied territory. “We have to convince Palestinians that direct negotiations with Israel represent not just the best but the only path to the independent state they deserve,” Clinton said Friday night in a speech at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy in Washington. “America supports the goal of a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel. But this week’s vote at the U.N. won’t bring Palestinians any closer, and it may

In News bring new challenges for the United Nations system and for Israel.” Most of the world’s governments brushed aside Israeli and American concerns, with U.N. member states voting 138-9 on Thursday to recognize Palestine as a nonmember observer state and grant it the most significant upgrade in diplomatic status in its more than sixdecades of conflict with Israel. The United States insists that the result has changed nothing on the ground, but it is struggling to shift the focus to where it believes progress on an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is possible. Clinton also demanded that Israel reach out to moderate Palestinians and “help those committed to peace to deliver for their people in the here and now” at a time when the U.S. is hoping that a fragile cease-fire Egypt sealed last week between the Jewish state and Hamas will prove durable. On Israel’s settlement announcement on Friday, she said, “These activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace.” Clinton reiterated strong U.S. support for Israel, while also reassuring the Palestinians that Washington remains engaged in peace efforts. Clinton called on Egypt, specifically, to prevent new weapons from being smuggled into Gaza. And she demanded that U.S. allies that have grown closer to Hamas, such as Turkey and Qatar, make clear to Gaza’s rulers that confrontation will only cause harm. “A lasting ceasefire is essential for the people of Israel, whose communities lie in the path of these rockets,” Clinton said. But she added that residents of Gaza deserve better, too. “Just as Israel cannot accept the threat of rockets, none of us can be satisfied with a situation that condemns people on both sides to conflict every few years. Those who fire the rockets are responsible for the violence that follows, but all parties in the region have a role to play in keeping the peace.”

Dershowitz Feels UN Bid Poses Major Threat to Israel The following is an excerpt from Alan M. Dershowitz’s perspective on the UN Palestinian vote. Alan M. Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Yale Law School: Continued on page 33

29 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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31 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The General Assembly vote declaring that Palestine, within the pre-1967 borders, is a “state,” at least for some purposes, would have nasty legal implications, if it were ever to be taken seriously by the international community.

It would mean that Israel, which captured some Jordanian territory after Jordan attacked West Jerusalem in 1967, is illegally occupying the Western Wall (Judaism’s holiest site), the Jewish Quarter of old Jerusalem (where Jews have lived for thousands of years), the access road to the Hebrew University (which was established well before Israel even became a state) and other areas necessary to the security of its citizens. It would also mean that Security Council Resolution 242, whose purpose it was to allow Israel to hold onto some of the territories captured during its defensive 1967 war, would be overruled by a General Assembly vote — something the United Nations Charter explicitly forbids. It would be the first time in history that a nation was required to return all land lawfully captured in a defensive war. If all the territory captured by Israel in its defensive war is being illegally occupied then it might be open to the newly recognized “Palestinian State” to try to bring a case before the International Criminal Court against Israeli political and military leaders who are involved in the occupation. This would mean that virtually every Israeli leader could be placed on trial. What this would entail realistically is that they could not travel to countries which might extradite them for trial in the Hague. These absurd conclusions follow from the theater of the absurd that occurred when the General Assembly, for the thousandth time, issued an irrelevantly one sided declaration on Palestine. As Abba Eban once put it: “If Algeria introduced a General Assembly Resolution that the world was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass 100 to 10 with 50 abstentions.” That’s pretty much what happened the other day. I wonder whether the European

countries that voted for the Resolution knew what a tangled web they were weaving. …Neither will the General Assembly’s actions move the Palestinians closer to accepting the ongoing Israeli offer to begin negotiations toward a two state solution with no prior conditions. The Palestinians now have little incentive to negotiate a state, which would require considerable compromise and sacrifice on all sides. They now think they can get their state recognized without the need to give up the right of return or to make the kinds of territorial compromises necessary for Israel’s security. The United Nations action will only discourage the Palestinians from entering into serious negotiations with Israel. The United Nations’ action will also incentivize Hamas to continue firing rockets into Israel on a periodic basis in order to provoke Israeli retaliation. Many in Hamas believe that the recent fighting in Gaza actually helped the Palestinians get more votes in the General Assembly. They are certainly taking some of the credit for these votes. All in all, the United Nations vote will make it harder to achieve a peaceful two-state solution, acceptable to both sides. But that has been the history of General Assembly actions with regard to Israel, beginning with the lopsided vote in 1975 that challenged Israel’s very existence by declaring Zionism — the national liberation movement of the Jewish people — to be a form of racism. Although the General Assembly was ultimately pressured into rescinding that blood libel, its bigoted spirit still hovers over numerous United Nations agencies which continue to regard Israel as a pariah. It could be felt in the General Assembly hall when so many countries that refused to recognize Israel voted to recognize Palestine. This is all a prescription for continued warfare, lawfare, and enmity. It is not a prescription for resolving a complex and difficult issue in a realistic manner. But what else is new at the United Nations!

Typo in U.N.’s Tweet As the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to grant the Palestinian Authority the status of a nonmember observer state on Thursday, the global body accidentally published a tweet calling for a “1-state solution” to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

In News

“On Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, Ban Ki-moon stresses urgency of reaching 1-state solution,” the post read. The message was tweeted out to the UN’s 1,132,872 Twitter followers before being promptly taken down and replaced with a corrected version: “On Day of Solidarity w/ Palestinians, Ban Ki-moon stresses urgency of reaching 2-state solution (corrected tweet).” According to the report, the original post featured a link to a UN press release calling for a two-state solution in the troubled region. The error couldn’t have made worse timing. It was dubbed by one Instagram user a “typo of epic proportions.” Another web surfer was quoted as saying that the “1 state tweet was possibly the biggest typo in Twitter history. But I feel so bad for the @UN social person.”

Canada Responds to U.N. Bid in Full Support of Israel On Thursday, Canada joined Israel and the United States as one of only nine countries opposing the PA’s bid for non-member observer status. The UN General Assembly backed non-member observer status for the PA by an overwhelming vote of 138 against nine, with 41 abstentions. “Canada is deeply disappointed but not surprised by yesterday’s result at the United Nations General Assembly,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement. “Our government’s position is clear: the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace is through negotiations, not unilateral actions,” he said. “To that end, Canada is bringing its heads of missions in Israel and Ramallah and its permanent representatives to the UN in New York and Geneva back to Ottawa temporarily to assess the implications of yesterday’s UN General Assembly vote and inform Canada’s response to it. Canada will now review

the full range of its bilateral relationship with the Palestinian Authority,” emphasized Baird. Yet Baird stated that his country would not completely sever ties with the PA. “We’re not, obviously, looking at breaking off relations with the Palestinian Authority,” he said, according to a report in The Globe and Mail. Other countries that voted against, besides Israel and Canada, were the United States, the Czech Republic, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru and Palau. Baird’s warning of retaliation provoked a harsh response from the Palestinian Authority. PA’s Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Canadian threats of reprisals and Baird’s decision to personally campaign against the resolution at the UN have ruled Ottawa out of a future role. “I believe this government is more Israeli than the Israelis, more settler than the settlers,” he said in an interview. “I think they have disqualified themselves from playing any role in the Middle East peace process.”

Netanyahu to Visit Prague to Express Thanks Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will visit Prague on his way to an annual government-to-government meeting in Germany to personally thank the Czech Republic for voting with Israel at the UN on Thursday. Over the weekend, Netanyahu spoke with Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas and thanked him for his country’s “courageous UN vote against the Palestinian Authority’s request.” “The history of Israel and the Czech Republic has taught us that one must cling to the truth even if the majority is not with you,” Netanyahu said. “Your vote must serve as an example for all those who support peace, which can be achieved only via direct negotiations without preconditions.” Seven other countries joined Israel and the Czech republic to vote against the PA resolution: Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama and the United States. Officials expressed disappointment that Germany – which often votes for Israel in international forums – abstained; there was satisfaction that certain other countries did abstain, first and foremost

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week Albania, which is a Muslim country with whom Israel has developed close ties over the last couple of years.

While Israel was disappointed at how the EU voted, especially Italy which voted for the Palestinians, 12 EU countries did abstain. With the exception of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, all the other abstentions came from the former Iron Curtain countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Another nine non-EU European states also abstained: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Monaco, Montenegro, Moldova, San Marino and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In Africa, Israel took some comfort from that fact that five countries abstained: Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Rwanda and Togo, whose president was in Israel last week.

European Nations Respond to U.N. Bid Many consider Germany to be Israel’s closest European ally yet they abstained from the U.N. bid which upset both Israel and the Palestinians. Although Germany did not openly support Israel in the U.N. bid, its chancellor, Angela Merkel reassures Israel that her nation is firmly committed to Jewish state’s security. Merkel said in her weekly podcast that peace talks with the Palestinians toward a two-state solution should be resumed as soon as possible. She added, “Germany will always stand by Israel” when it comes to guaranteeing its safety. Germany’s message comes two days after Israel suffered a symbolic defeat when an overwhelming majority of United Nations member states endorsed an independent state of Palestine, indirectly supporting demands for dominion over lands Israel occupied in 1967. Merkel will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in Berlin. In response to the bid, Israel approved the construction of 3,000 homes over the green line. The UK urged Israel to reverse its settlement construction plan, saying the response undermines peace efforts. Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was “extremely concerned” by the move. “The window for a two-state

In News solution is closing, and we need urgent efforts by the parties and by the international community to achieve a return to negotiations, not actions which will make that harder.” He added: “If implemented, these plans (for new settlements) would alter the situation on the ground on a scale that makes the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, increasingly difficult to achieve.” Britain abstained from Thursday’s UN General Assembly vote as well, saying that it wanted the Palestinians to unconditionally agree to negotiations on a lasting two-state deal with Israel. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius urged Israel to “refrain” from carrying out the plan to build 3,000 housing units in settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. “I call on the Israeli authorities to refrain from any such decision and assert their willingness to resume negotiations,” Fabius said in a statement.

Pollard Collapses in Prison The Committee to Free Jonathan Pollard reported that Jonathan Pollard collapsed in prison over the weekend and had to be hospitalized. Reportedly, Pollard, 58 has been experiencing pain for several weeks, but it is still unknown whether it was the cause for his hospitalization. His wife, Esther, has been updated

on his condition but there has not been a public statement regarding his condition. She expressed her deep concern for her husband and asked the public to pray for his recovery.

Activists say Pollard’s health has been steadily deteriorating over the past few years. He has been hospitalized several times in the past and underwent surgery in prison in August 2011. Many top US officials, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former CIA Chief James Woolsey, have voiced their support for Pollard’s release, saying that his health – as well as “the passage of time” in events related to his case – now enables the administration to pardon him. Israel too has been campaigning for Pollard’s release.

El Al is Number Chai

In a recent study conducted by Travel + Leisure magazine, El Al took 18th place in the World’s Best Airlines category. The first place went to Singapore Airlines, which has held the top spot for 17 years in a row. Many of the airlines listed were dominated by airlines from East Asia and the Gulf emirates. They were judged based on customer service, food, in-flight service and value. The magazine writes that “El Al hasn’t made the top 20 since 2007, and last year it was down the list at No. 31. Better cabin comfort and greatly

improved service in the air and on the ground were key factors. “Readers gave El Al’s food winning marks this time out and think the airline now offers better value. In an innovative twist, the El Al Upgrade program enables you to submit a bid to upgrade your flight from economy class to business class.”

Hamas Memorializes “Atrocities” In tribute to the killing of terrorist Ahmed Jabari, Hamas has decided to display the remains of his car near the Rafah crossing in Gaza. They wish to present the “horrible actions of the occupation and its crimes.” They have also put other items on display as part of an exhibition to highlight the “atrocities” inflicted on Gazans during Operation Pillar of Defense. The Gaza Strip Interior Ministry said the exhibition “documents the crimes brought about by the occupation, during the offensive on Gaza last month.” It featured photos of children and citizens that the Palestinians claim were injured during IDF strikes on Gaza. According to Hamas, the people sustained their injuries when they were at their homes. Hamas said that great effort was put into drawing representatives from Arab countries “so that they could be witnesses, through the images presented in the exhibition, to the crimes committed by Israel.”

New York Times Accuses Israel of Targeting Reporters The New York Times is accusing the IDF of targeting journalists in the Gaza Strip. In response to the insulting accusations, the IDF issued a reply, entitled, “How Hamas and Islamic Jihad Use Journalism as a Cover for Terrorism.” The title is intended to echo the article featured in the Times, which was entitled, “Using War as Cover to Target Journalists.” The Times claimed that several Palestinians who were killed in precision missile strikes last week during Operation Pillar of Defense were in fact journalists and that the IDF was behaving similarly to the Syrian regime by using wartime to target members of the media.

The IDF reported that these reporters were also Hamas operatives, paid by Hamas, and identified by Hamas websites as jihadists who are “part of the resistance.” The IDF also scolded the New York Times for incentivizing the practice by terrorists of masquerading as journalists in order to avoid being targeted. “[I]f the clear line between terrorists and journalists is blurred and there is no standard for the definition of ‘journalist’ … it is likely that Palestinian terrorists will continue using journalism as a cover for terrorism,” the IDF wrote. The Times has not retracted the story as of Tuesday.

National People in San Jose Earn Big Bucks So, I decided that for my New Years’ resolution this year, I’d like to earn more money. It turns out that it’s easier than I thought it would be. All I have to do is move. You see, it seems that people in different cities around the country earn more or less than others. The largest paychecks in the nation are found in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area in California. (Guess where I’m headed?) The average pay there is $93,100. And for those just starting out there, the average is $86,600. (Nice!) Katie Bardaro is the lead economist of Payscale, the site that conducted this study. She says, “The range in pay is pretty astounding in that the metro area at the top of the list has workers with median pay more than double the metro area at the bottom of the list. The cities at the top of the list are not too surprising, as they are dominated by high wage industries like tech (both IT and Biotech), finance or oil.” Bardaro points out that the San JoseSunnyvale-Santa Clara area “is a mecca for IT firms and thus high-wage workers.” All those surveyed had at least a bachelor’s degree and were surveyed either in the starting, mid-career or overall work experience category. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California area took the number two spot. Overall median pay is $73,500. “Similar to San Jose, the high wage rate in this city is driven by the prevalence of IT workers and they share many of the same high-paying jobs,”

In News Bardaro says. Unlike the San Jose and San Francisco metro areas, the No. 3 city is dominated by the finance industry. “There are a number of Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in this metropolitan area,” she says. “In fact, it is one of the largest financial districts in the Northeast.” And that spot is taken by the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut area. Average pay there is $68,700. The Washington-ArlingtonAlexandra area and the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolis rounded out the top five. Conversely, the worst-paying city in the United States is located in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio area. There, college-educated employees make only $45,400 on average. “This is an industrial metro area that was hit hard in the last few recessions and has been unable to recover,” Bardaro says.

Romney Back in Business

Marriott, who founded the company in 1927, was close friends with Romney’s father.

Romney Visits 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Three weeks post- election, Republican Candidate Mitt Romney made it to the White House, although not as he envisioned. His visit was supposed to signal that he is on good terms with the man who defeated him, President Barack Obama. The two talked over a private lunch on Thursday; they feasted on white turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad. They shook hands in the Oval Office and spoke of American leadership in the world. Before Romney departed, they pledged to keep in touch and possibly even work together. “Each man wanted to have a private conversation,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney. “They didn’t want to turn it into a press event.” Wonder what was for dessert…

Former President George H.W. Bush Hospitalized After a failed presidential campaign, former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is rejoining Marriott International’s board of directors. The businessman has held the position with the hotel chain twice before. The first time was from 1993 to 2002, when he left to campaign for governor of Massachusetts, and from 2009 to 2011, when he left to start his campaign for the presidency. It’s the first job announcement Romney has made since he lost the November election to President Barack Obama. He has kept a low profile since the election, although he has been seen pumping gas and in family Thanksgiving photos. He’s spent the past month largely in seclusion at his family’s California home. Romney has been connected to the Marriott dynasty all of his life. He was named after J.W. Marriott. Romney’s full name is Willard Mitt Romney and Marriott’s was John Willard Marriott.

Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted to a Houston hospital with a lingering cough said to be bronchitis. Fortunately, his doctor said on Thursday that his condition was improving and they expect him to be discharged over the weekend. Dr. Amy Mynderse, an internal medicine physician in charge of his care at The Methodist Hospital, said the 88-year-old’s condition was never considered life-threatening. “Anytime someone the president’s age has bronchitis, there’s concern about possible pneumonia,” said Mynderse. “But Mr. Bush’s condition never progressed to that level.” Bush has been in and out of Methodist for a few weeks, said his chief of staff, Jean Becker. He was admitted November 7, discharged November 19 and readmitted the day after Thanksgiving. He was visited on Sunday by his son, former President George W. Bush, and his wife, Laura. Bush, president from 1989-1993, has had various health problems in recent years.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week In February, it was reported that he had been diagnosed with lower body Parkinsonism, a condition that causes instability from the waist down. As a result, he mostly uses a wheelchair now. In 2007, he was hospitalized overnight in California after he became dizzy during a round of golf on a hot day. On Thursday, Mynderse said she was surprised at how quickly Bush is recovering. “He is definitely in great spirits,” Mynderse said in a statement. “He is happy, joking and definitely getting better.”

South Dakota City to Ban Eating While Driving Huron is the latest city in South Dakota to ban texting while driving. But the town has gone even farther and has included other activities in the ban as well. The ordinance encompasses actions that can result in distracted driving. Mayor Dave McGirr says that includes activities such as eating piz-

za, reading a newspaper or putting on makeup while at the wheel. It also bans those with learners’ permits from talking while driving.

In News age, the lowest since at least 1920, Pew reported, citing numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics. The birth rate reached 122.7 in 1957, the peak of the Baby Boom. After the mid1970s, the birth rate stabilized at about 65 to 70 births per 1,000 women annually, until the beginning of the Great Recession.

The ban is expected to go into effect at the start of the new year. Mayor Bloomberg, please don’t get any ideas.

U.S. Birth Rate Declines The U.S. birth rate has dropped to its lowest level in more than 90 years, according to a report data released on Thursday by the Pew Research Center. In 2011, the overall birth rate was 63.2 per 1,000 women of childbearing

Overall, the birth rate declined 8 percent from 2007 to 2010. Among U.S.born women, the birth rate dropped 6 percent. The decline among foreignborn women was 14 percent. Among Mexican women, the birth rate fell even more, to 23 percent. The Pew researchers attributed that drop to a change in behavior rather than a change in the number of women of childbearing age. An earlier Pew report attributed the recent fertility decline to “economic distress.” The study showed that states with the largest economic declines between 2007 and 2008 were most likely to experience relatively large fertility declines the following year. An interesting fact: the majority of births (66 percent) to U.S.-born women were to white mothers while the majority of births to foreign-born mothers were to Hispanic moms.

Democratic Rep. Wants to Limit Corporations’ Free Speech Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democratic representative, is calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution. “We need a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations,” Johnson was quoted as saying. These comments were reportedly made while he was speaking at the Annesbrooks HOA candidate Forum held last month.

Johnson asserted that “corporations control … patterns of thinking. They control the media. They control the messages that you get,” he added. “And these folks … are setting up a scenario where they’re privatizing every aspect of our lives as we know it. So, wake up! Wake up! Let’s look at what’s happening.” Corporations and unions are protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution because of the ruling in “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission,” which found that a state law prohibiting corporations from making political campaign contributions using their treasury funds was unconstitutional. The ruling additionally stated that spending was a form of political speech that is protected by the First Amendment, according to the official blog of the Supreme Court of the United States.

“These corporations, along with the people they support, other millionaires who they’re putting into office, are stealing your government,” Johnson was quoted as saying by CNS News. “They’re stealing the government and the U.S. Supreme Court was a big enabler with the Citizens United case.”

Americans’ Net Worth Drops The American lower and middle classes are poorer and less stable than they’ve been since 1969. The median net worth of American households has dropped to a 43-year low. According to a recent study by New York University economics professor Edward N. Wolff, median net worth is at the decades-low figure of $57,000 (in 2010 dollars). According to Wolff, between 1983 and 2010, the percentage of households with less than $10,000 Continued on page 42

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The Week in assets rose from 29.7 percent to 37.1 percent. The “less than $10,000” figure includes the numerous households that have no assets at all, or “negative assets,” which is otherwise known as “debt.” Over that same period of time, the wealthiest 1 percent of American households increased their average wealth by 71 percent. Wolff’ focused on total wealth which not only measures how much money a household brings in, but also the amount it accumulates, which is also very significant. Economically secure households are generally more comfortable spending their disposable income and are less likely to rely on governmental and social programs.

In News posting a graduation rate of 87 percent. Delaware, the home state of Vice President Joe Biden, had a 78 percent graduation rate, while California – home of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) – stood at 76 percent.

North Dakota Best Run State in the Nation

Only 59% of High Schoolers Graduate in DC

According to state-by-state statistics released on Monday by the U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. had the worst high school graduation rate in the country in 2011. Only 59 percent of high school students who started as freshmen in the 2006-2007 school year graduated four years later from District of Columbia schools, according to the data, which details state four-year high school graduation rates in the 2010-11 school year. There were 71,284 students in 191 schools in the District of Columbia, which is not a state but comprises the nation’s capital city. The district received $98.3 million dollars in federal funding during 2011. Second from the bottom is Nevada, with a 62 percent graduation rate. At the other end of the list is Iowa with an 88 percent graduation rate. It has the best graduation rate in the nation. Wisconsin, the home state of GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, tied for second-best with Vermont,

Every year, 24/7 Wall St. conducts an extensive survey of all fifty states in America to determine how well (or terribly) they are run. Then based on a review of data on financial health, standard of living and government services by state, it is determined how well each state is managed. At the top of this year’s list is North Dakota, taking the number one spot for the first time. The bottom of barrel is held down by California for the second year in a row. The best-run states have certain characteristics in common, as do the worst run. The high-ranking states all have well-managed budgets. Each of the top ten has a perfect, or near-perfect, credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, or both. Of the ten worstranked, only three received top scores from one agency, and none from both. California is currently the only state rated A- by S&P, the lowest score given to any state. These poor-ranked states have high debt relative to both income and expenditure. There is a strong correlation between well-educated populations and generally well-managed states. Of the ten best-scoring states on our list, nine have among the highest percentages of adults with high school diplomas. Employment is also closely correlated to how well a state is managed. The unemployment rates of most of the poorly ranked states are among the highest in the country. Nine of the ten best-ranked states had an unemployment rate of less than 7% in 2011. This

43 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week includes North Dakota, which had the lowest rate in the country in 2011, at just 3.6%. The average unemployment rate nationwide was 8.9% in 2011. North Dakota is followed by Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, and then Iowa for best run states. After California, the worst-run states are: Rhode Island, Illinois, Arizona, and New Jersey.

That’s Odd Now Serving Food in the Restroom They say that a lot about a restaurant’s success depends on its location. But this new eatery’s venue may make you change your mind. Boston’s new Earl of Sandwich restaurant is located in the center of Boston Common, which is a great location, right? Well, not if it’s located in what used to be a public bathroom. Known locally as The Pink Palace (the stone blocks used to build it are rose-colored), the 660-square-foot octagonal structure was built in the 1920s and used as a “men’s comfort station” for about 50 years. It was closed in the 1970s and has spent four decades locked up tight, filled with rusting pipes. When word went out about the restaurant’s new location, people’s reactions were mixed.

“This is a great opportunity to transform a unique unused space into an active business, while contributing to the vitality of the Boston Common,” Toni Pollak, Commissioner of Boston Parks Department, said. “This project will allow us to preserve a historic building while also bringing new life to the park for all visitors to enjoy.” Colin Zick is the chairman of the Parks and Public Spaces Committee of the Beacon Hill Civic Association. He said he was “cautiously optimistic and a little bit skeptical.” ”The place is a disaster right now. An enormous amount of money is going to have to be spent to bring it up to modern standards.” A 2007 engineering report on the building called its condition “very poor.” The company that owns the restaurant, Planet Hollywood International Inc., has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into updating and renovating the building. That’s on top of signing a $50,000-a-year lease with the city of Boston. “I spent a seven-figure sum—in excess of a million bucks!—on [barely] 500 feet, which I don’t think has been done before,” Robert Earl, who runs Planet Hollywood International. “But

In News we have a 15-year-lease with the city and feel very good about it. We’re in love with the location.” The restaurant chain says that it serves “the world’s greatest hot sandwich,” and backs up its claim with some royal credibility: One of the company’s partners is a distant relative of the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who is said to have created the lunchtime staple in 1762. You never know what they’ll think of next.

Hap-p 20th B-Day Texts! Well, it’s time to wish a very happy 20th birthday to our dear friend. Yes, everyone knows him (or it?) and is connected to the birthday person (thing? object?) every day. Well, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just take out your phone. This week text messaging turned 20!

So, the question is: are we better off with or without text messaging in our lives? On one hand, text messaging has made our lives easier (“dont 4get 2 pick up milk” and “LUV U”) but on the other hand, text messaging has made us

more abrupt, less social and has caused car accidents and injuries. I guess it all depends on the user and how it’s being used. Here’s a little history for you: on December 3, 1992, an engineer sent the first text message from a computer using a standard called SMS (Short Message Service) to a mobile device using Vodafone’s network in the U.K. The message: “Merry Christmas.” Commercial text messaging became popular in 1994 and then its growth was exponential. By 1999, 100 billion text messages were sent worldwide. By 2005, 1 trillion text messages were sent. In 2012, worldwide SMS traffic “passed 8.5 trillion messages in one year.” Young adults text more than any other age group. According to a recent study, in a “typical month ... smartphone-owners ages 18-to-24 send 2,022 mobile text messages and receive another 1,831 for a combined total of 3,852 texts sent and received. With every age bracket we move up, the number of mobile texts drops by roughly 40 percent.” There were more than 8.5 trillion messages sent so far this year.

Mayor of Serbian Village Issues Vampire Warning Residents of the western Serbian village of Zarozje reportedly received an urgent public health warning. The town’s mayor cautioned that a vampire was on the loose. The people of Zarozje are taking it seriously by stocking up on garlic bulbs. The supposed vampire is Sava Savanovic. It is believed that long ago, he lived in an old water mill on the village’s Rogacica River. He reportedly preyed on unsuspecting visitors who stopped by the mill in search of grain. The water mill was privately owned by a local family who, because of the vampire lore, was afraid to use it for fear of disturbing Savanovic. The structure eventually rotted and recently collapsed, leaving the vampire homeless and, according to locals, angry and in search of a new home and new blood. Mayor Miodrag Vujetic is so convinced of the legend’s merit that he released an official warning after the mill collapsed, suggesting that everyone stock up on garlic to be placed on their doors and windows and to ensure crosses are visible throughout the house. “People are worried, everybody

knows the legend of this vampire,” Vujetic says. “We are all frightened.” OK now – THAT’S ODD!

Thieves Snatch $19K Loot in 13 Seconds Authorities report that a few weeks ago, three men walked into the Macy’s at Firewheel Town Center in Garland, Texas and snatched displays of watches on the counter, breaking their chains and then fled. Police say it took just 13 seconds for the bold thieves to get away with 80 watches worth $19,000. “It happened so fast that it takes a second or two for the employees to process what happened,” says Joe Harn with Garland Police, as he issues a warning to shoppers. “Some people may be … shopping they walk out the door somebody grabs their purse or merchandise and takes off running.” Garland police are still searching for the individuals responsible for this robbery.

Many similar encounters occurred throughout the day.

Mickey Mouse Poster Sells for $100K One of the oldest Mickey Mouse posters was sold for more than $100,000 on Thursday. The 1928 movie poster of the iconic cartoon mouse belonged to the family of a deceased collector in Northern California. Mickey Mouse was produced in 1928 by Walt Disney, and the color poster shows a smiling Mickey waving his gloved hand, advertising the “Mickey Mouse sound cartoon,” with a slogan calling the animated mouse “The World’s Funniest Cartoon Character.”

Mystery Man Hands Out $100 Bills A wealthy Missouri man who wishes to remain anonymous stunned New Yorkers by handing out $100 bills to many Staten Island residents who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy. The Kansas City businessman is giving away $100,000 this holiday season. He spent the day in New Jersey and New York personally distributing the funds. “The money is not the point at all,” said the anonymous benefactor on Thursday. “It’s about the random acts of kindness. I’m just setting an example, and if 10 percent of the people who see me emulate what I’m doing [that’s good].” He was escorted by a police motorcade with sirens through the borough. At one point, he passed a woman quietly collecting free food and basic goods at a disaster center run by volunteers. “Has anyone given you any money?” he asked her. “No,” replied Carol Hefty, a 72-yearold retiree living in a damaged home. “Here,” he said, slipping the money into her hand. “But this isn’t real money!” said Hefty, glancing at the red “Secret Santa” stamped onto the $100. “It is, and it’s for you,” he told her.

The poster was auctioned in Dallas, Texas and sold for $101,575. The name of the winning bidder was not disclosed. Grey Smith, director of movie poster auctions at Heritage Auctions, called the poster “an important piece of pop culture treasure,” and said it was likely to be the only Mickey Mouse poster created until 1930, when Columbia Pictures started distributing Disney cartoons. Mickey Mouse has become one of the most recognized animated characters in popular culture, symbolizing the Walt Disney Company and spawning a global merchandising franchise. Dreams do come true…and don’t forget it all began with a mouse!

Kind Cop Contributes ‘Kicks’ A New York police officer’s spontaneous act of kindness has captured the praise of hundreds of thousands of people across the Internet. A tourist from Arizona captured a heartwarming photo of Officer Lawrence Deprimo kneeling down to give a barefoot homeless man a pair of winter boots on a cold night.

In News The NYPD posted the photo on its Facebook page in an effort to show the softer side of the nation’s largest police force. Officer Deprimo said he was patrolling Times Square in the heart of Manhattan when he came across the man, who was huddled next to a storefront with nothing on his feet. “It was freezing out and you could see the blisters on the man’s feet,” the officer said. “I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold.” Officer Deprimo said he talked to the homeless man and found out his shoe size: size 12. He watched the man stand up and walk slowly, painfully, down the cold pavement of the sidewalk on the balls of his feet. The 25-year-old officer went into a nearby Skechers store and found a $100 pair of winter boots that he believed would keep the man warm through the winter. Jose Cano, the assistant manager at the Skechers store in Times Square, said he discounted the Alamar Terence shoes from $100 to $49.50, as he was “inspired.” I believe many others were inspired as well when they heard this story.

Spinal Fluid Leak Aundrea Aragon was horrified when doctors told her that brain fluid was running out of her nose. Initially, they thought that the clear liquid was due to allergies, but Aragon knew that that could not be true. Every time the Arizona woman bent down, clear liquid rushed out. “I was scared to death and desperate,’’ Aragon recalled. “I knew it could not be allergies. The fluid would come out like a puddle.” Finally doctors were able to solve her problem. Surgeons discovered two small cracks in the back of her sinuses which were caused by cerebral pressure. The small fissures allowed cerebral spinal fluid to leak out of her nose. The human body is able to replaced spinal fluid, but the leakage could have caused Aragon to contract meningitis, which can be fatal. Thankfully, doctors were able to repair the cracks using an endoscopic procedure. She is now able to recover at home and hopefully will be back to normal soon.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

The Week

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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Bnot Yaakov of Great Neck Donates to Victims of Hurricane Sandy Bnot Yaakov students helped gather and organize goods donated through Great Neck Helping Hands, a Bnot Yaakov chessed organization created by students and parents who wanted to reach out to those who had suffered loss in Hurricane Sandy. First graders helped bring in some lighter cases of soap that had been dropped off at the yeshiva while older students carried in heavier bags. Instead of just having PTA mothers and administrators in charge, Bnot Yaa-

kov facilitated personal involvement for all students in this important chessed! Third graders, the yeshiva’s senior class at present, had special time set aside for organizing and taking inventory of all received items. The school proudly delivered an array of products to the Five Towns and Rockaway area. Looking ahead, Bnot Yaakov is currently in the process of forming a school-wide toy-drive, also in response to needs in the Far Rockaway and Bayswater area.

NEWS

Community Bill de Blasio Visits YU

Bill de Blasio, public advocate for the City of New York, visited Yeshiva University on Thursday, November 29, 2012. De Blasio, a 2013 New York City mayoral candidate, was greeted by Yeshiva University President Richard M.

Joel and Vice President for Administrative Services Jeffrey Rosengarten. Together they toured the campus and spoke with students and faculty, including Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Hershel Schachter in YU’s Glueck Beit Midrash.

President Richard Joel and Bill de Blasio

Bill de Blasio tours Yeshiva University’s Glueck Beit Midrash with President Richard Joel

President Richard Joel introduces Bill de Blasio to Rabbi Hershel Schachter in the Glueck Beit Midrash

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Around the Community Israel’s Past and Future Converge At Bet El

Photo credit: Rosenblum Productions

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) was the Guest Speaker at Bet El’s 30th Annual Dinner, held at NYC’s Marriott Marquis on December 2, 2012. Eugene and Jean Gluck presided as Honorary Chairpersons of the elegant event. The heroic Bet El community, “where Jewish history began and Jewish life continues to thrive,” in Israel’s Shomron region, was founded by Yaakov Katz (“Ketzaleh”), currently a distinguished Knesset member. Rep Bachmann’s eloquent address, which received a thunderous applause and standing ovation by an audience of more than 1100, declared that the U.S. should halt funds to the PA after their unilateral bid at the U.N., and that the American Embassy should finally be moved to Jerusalem, Israel’s united capital.

Rep. Bachmann, who volunteered on a Kibbutz after high-school, proclaimed that the Jewish Nation, as the Chosen People, have a G-d-given right to the Land of Israel. Long-time activists and strong Bet El supporters, Dr. Joe Frager (2nd from left), a past Bet El honoree, and Dr. Paul Brody (next to Rep Bachmann), and their respective wives, Karen and Drora (not shown), were accorded the privilege of sitting with the Bachmann family and staff, including Rep. Bachmann’s husband Marcus (at left). The evening’s honorees included Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Rabbinic Leadership Award; Ronnie and Shelley Summers, Guests of Honor; Bryan Decker, Shomer Bet El Award; and Mark Langfan, creator of ingenious strategic maps of Israel, Shomer Yisrael Award.

Chanukah Telethon to be Held on December 16 Hurricane Sandy Survivors & First Responders to be Honored On Sunday December 16th, millions of people across the Tri-State area will be tuning in to the Chanukah Telethon on WLNY TV 10/55. This annual broadcast is a beacon of “Yiddishkeit” - spreading the warmth of Torah and tradition while demonstrating the most essential quality of Judaism … helping those in need. The Chanukah Telethon will be seen on 40 cable stations throughout New York— Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, Rockland and Connecticut on December 16 from 7pm-11pm. Hurricane Sandy survivors and their First Responders will be honored. A special memorial presentation will be made to the families of Nassau County Police Officers Arthur Lopz and Joseph Olivieri, tragically killed in the line of duty. This year, major singing stars and the Neshoma Orchestra, will take center stage on behalf of the Chabad’s outstanding array of social service programs. They will be joined by the leaders in the entertainment industry, civic and corporate communities. The Telethon is directed is Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Spiritual Leader of Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad of Mineola. Rabbi Perl is well known to people of all faiths in this region—as a religious leader and philosopher, and as a philanthropic go-getter for the organization he directs, the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE). Rabbi Perl has put his deep personal faith into practice. His stated objective

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is to “maintain a proactive approach to community building, uplift society, educate young and old to the beauty of heritage and roots – to communicate the good so inherent in all human beings”. Toward that end, Rabbi Perl developed the annual “Good Deed Awards for Long Island’s Teenagers” in recognition of young people of all races and religions for the positive role and example of goodness to society they have demonstrated. After serving as a Commissioner of Human Rights in Nassau County, he is now an active force on the Nassau County’s Task Force on Domestic Violence & Abuse. The esteemed Rabbi established “Project P.R.I.D.E.” (Prevention Resources Information & Drug Education) aimed at helping those with substance abuse problems, and he continues to coordinate the network of Hebrew Schools for unaffiliated families and single parents. Rabbi Perl’s inborn charm and social skills, which are formidable and readily apparent by those who are blessed to have made his acquaintance, are put to good use by him in order to further his inseparably entwined religious and fund raising objectives. He has been known to pen an uplifting ditty and deliver his message – street style – as the “Rapping Rabbi,” and known for the Chanukah Telethon, Rabbi Perl expects to attract call-in donations on the evening of December 16 by challenging his 10 million viewers to tune in to watch him “Doug E” dance with his “Rocking Rabbis!”

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Around the Community

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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HANC Prepares for Chanukah Students at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School and Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead are excited to get ready for Chanukah! In preparation for Chanukah, students learned about the many miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people. Students at the Early Childhood Center played with and decorated

dreidels and menorahs and did experiments with olives to make their very own olive oil! Students at the Elementary School are spinning their way to Chanukah with spectacular Dreidel Spin Art that they’re going to bring home and use as a Chanukah decoration. The students can’t wait for Chanukah to arrive!

In preparation for Thanksgiving, the boys of Yeshiva of South Shore practiced their math and science skills, together with a study of the pilgrims, by baking their own pumpkin muffins.

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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Chai Chanukah Experience with Chabad of the Five Towns Light up the night (and day) with Chabad of the Five Towns’ 18th Annual Chanukah Experience, December 9-14 located at 136 Washington Avenue in Cedarhurst (formerly Pump it Up, soon

to be Warren Levi Martial Arts and Fitness). Enjoy your favorite Chabad Chanukah activities such as face painting, meeting Yehudah HaMacabee, creating

menorahs with Legos and Clics, Latke making, Chanukah game show, clay bar where children can get creative, and a Toddler Center. The experience has now been supersized and includes a huge dreidel with interactive projects. Check out “The Giving Menorah,” a 6-foot “Friendship” Menorah. Children will create Friendship Bracelets and every child will have the opportunity to request where the Friendship bracelets will be donated. Musical, magical, artistic, tasty, and fun events will be held each day. Tickets will be sold at the door for 1 ½ hour time slots. Admission is $10 per person for an all-inclusive experience, or choose to pay $5.00 per person, and purchase the craft projects separately for $2 each. Ei-

ther way, it will be great fun! Thank you to the co- sponsors of this event: Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Brafman, Central Perk, Five Towns Jewish Times, Gourmet Glatt, Jacobs Real Estate Advisors LLC, Novak Juhase and Stern LLP, Party Source, Qcumbers, and Seasons. Follow the Chanukah fun to the Andrew J. Parise Park (formerly the Cedarhurst Park), corner of Cedarhurst and Summit Avenues, for music and hot latkes as community leaders and dignitaries lead the menorah lighting ceremony every evening. The tallest menorah in the Five Towns will be lit each night and on Friday afternoon. The schedule is as follows: Motzei Shabbat, December 8, 6:00 PM, Mr. David Friedman Sunday, December 9, 6:00 PM, Mr. Benjamin Brafman Monday, December 10, 6:00 PM, Mr. Uri Ottensoser Tuesday, December 11, 6:00 PM, Mr. Aaron Fischman Wednesday, December 12, 6:00 PM, Mr. Moishe Ratner of Gourmet Glatt Thursday, December 13, 6:00 PM, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Congregation Aish Kodesh Friday, December 14, 3:00 PM, Dr. Binyomin Muller Motzei Shabbat December 15, 6:00 PM, Mr. Kenneth Austin Following the Menorah lighting in Cedarhurst Park on Wednesday evening, there will be a fun-filled Jewish music family concert! Bring your family, and sit back and enjoy the exciting music, compliments of Gourmet Glatt. New for this year! There will be other public menorah lightings—on Motzei Shabbat, December 8 at 7:00 PM on 248 Rockaway Tpke (across from Lowes). There is free parking behind the building. On Monday, December 10 at 5:15 PM, Chabad of Hewlett will have a Menorah Lighting outside the Merrill Lynch building, 1403 Broadway (corner of Broadway and East Rockaway). On Tuesday, December 11 from 6:00 PM to 8:00

PM, Chabad of Hewlett will be hosting a “Chanukah on Ice” extravaganza. Stop by Grant Park ice skating rink and watch how a block of ice becomes a giant 5 foot Menorah! For more information please contact Chabad of Hewlett at (516) 295-3413 or www. jewishhewlett.com. We at Chabad have made great inroads in our endeavor to bring light into the lives of many. We are lighting candles, and more importantly, we are lighting Neshamas, igniting the often dormant sparks of Judaism for many. Please invest in our community efforts to enable us to continue our efforts towards permeating the Five Towns and surrounding communities with the feeling and joy of Chanukah.

HANC G.O. After tallying the results of last week’s 6th grade primary elections at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead, the students held a general election this week for the 3rd through 6th graders. The candidates spent the week between elections campaigning with posters and stickers and hallway and playground “stump speeches” all while trying to raise awareness for their platforms and garner votes. On Election Day, each candidate delivered a

campaign speech and then the students voted. We congratulate our G.O. winners Bernie Maslin (President), Tamar Levine (Vice President), Tammy Aryeh (Treasurer) and Gavi Zahler (Secretary). We also congratulate our cabinet members Julia Skorski, Isaac Beiss, Adam Lindenblatt and Tehila Rothbort. And we extend a special “thank you” to G.O. Faculty Advisor, Mrs. Karen Spitalnik, for coordinating all the election details.

NEWS

Community Rav Yosef Elefant shlita Visits Mesivta Ateres Yaakov This past erev Shabbos, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov was zocheh to hear divrei Torah from acclaimed magid shiur of the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, Rav Yosef Elefant, shlita. Rav Elefant, in whose shiur over 100 bochurim sit daily, focused his schmooze on the yetzer hora’s struggle to blind us of our innate potential. He inspired the talmidim to continue fighting against the inclination to just give up and to constantly aspire for greatness.

The Flatbush Basketball League Week 2 Recap

Mercy Schedules Winter Diabetes Self-Management Training Programs Outpatient Classes Provide Simple Strategies For Daily Living Continuing to address one of the most pressing public health concerns facing Long Island and the nation, Mercy Medical Center is offering winter sessions of its outpatient Diabetes SelfManagement Training Program. The four-session programs will be conducted in both January and February. Each begins with an hour-long individual assessment for each participant, followed by three weekly group workshops. Group sessions will be conducted in January on Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and in February Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Each participant also receives a group follow-up session approximately three months after the program ends. Conducted by instructors credentialed by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, the pro-

gram provides participants with the skills required for day-to-day management of diabetes and strategies for people living with diabetes to maintain and maximize life activities. Those who can benefit from the program include both individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes and those who have been living with it for some time, along with those who are confused about what to eat, those having difficulty controlling blood sugar, those who have experienced serious consequences of the disease such as vision or foot problems, and those who want to maximize energy, improve emotional well-being and prevent complications. The program is most often covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. For information call 516-62MERCY.

China Glatt’s 2012-13 Flatbush Basketball League Team

In the Elementary Division Pizza Nosh took this one hands down against The Jewish Press as Shmuel Mandelbaum scored a high of 50 points. To the winner goes the pizza. Art World-35, The Jewish Connection-34: It was Dovid Sasson’s 18 points that put Art World on top in this close game. Dovid Reiser’s 22 just weren’t enough, as his proud father looked on. PerfectCollision-39, ITP-25: In an all around team effort, Perfect came out victorious as Yosef Kapetas and Yitzy Waldman lead all scorers putting them at 2-0. Donny`s Internet squad is still looking for its first win. Quality Carpet-34, Lazer Marble-30: In this matchup, Ezi Fischman’s 24 points just swept by the Lazer squad. Mr. Franks Quality squad goes to 2-0.

In the High School Division Visual Image-45, Batampte Pickles29: Dovie Safirstein was unstoppable as he scored 25 points for Visual. China Glatt-45, Repairs on Wheels-44: In the game of the night, it came down to foul shots and newly acquired Usher Bittman and Avrumi Frsichman came through in the clutch hitting crucial three`s in the fourth. Arele Birnbaum’s 23 for Repairs fell short in the loss . Eleventh and Twelfth grades get back to the action this week after a Thanksgiving holiday. In this week’s matchups it will be Aura Electric against The Jewish Home. Also look for Plaza Auto Leasing to take on Nosh Express. In the late game, it will be Meir`s Pizza World team vs. a newly revamped Avenue M Bagel squad.

57 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Around the Community Wave Home Solutions: Helping Homeowners Take a Breath of Fresh Air

WE EE T N A R A U G RE O M % 0 3 THAN ANYONE ELSE!

Like many other successful businesses, Wave Home Solutions began in a garage. In 2001, Phil Konigsberg started what was then called Humidex Atlantic, out of his garage in Lawrence, NY. During its infancy, Humidex Atlantic focused solely on selling the Humidex system: a whole house moisture control and indoor air quality improvement system. As the company began to grow out of his garage, Phil moved into a warehouse in Oceanside and began to expand his customer base. What started out as a distribution company to contractors, slowly grew into a multipronged corporation, selling ventilation products to both consumers, trades people, and even the military. It was at this time that Wave Home Solutions was born. In addition to expanding the customer base, Wave Home Solutions expanded its product offering and positioned itself as a headquarters for unique, cutting edge technologies that improve the health and efficiency of the home. The Wave Ventilation unit not only expels moisture, dust, mites, gases, and other harmful pollutants, but it creates a whole house air exchange which improves the indoor air quality of the entire home and helps prevent mold growth. The Wave Air Purifier, whether the whole house model or the portable one, eradicates biological and chemical contaminants using a natural ultraviolet (UV) purification process. While its roots have been in improving the indoor air quality of homes, Wave has recently branched out and now offers highly innovative, patented, proprietary solutions for whole house water purification. These products have been certified by independent labs to demonstrate an extremely effective rate

of purification at high flow rates with virtually no water pressure loss. Among other contaminants, these purification systems do a great job removing many of the contaminants found in the local water supply including iron, sediment, and fluoride. Wave has been providing solutions to the local Jewish community since its inception and has many satisfied customers within the community. Being a local company, Wave Home Solutions has also been impacted by Superstorm Sandy, both on a personal level and as a business, but they are dedicated to rebuilding and to help their neighbors get their homes back in order. Wave Home Solutions is currently offering a complete indoor air quality improvement package which includes a sensor controlled Wave Ventilation unit with an additional booster fan for improved air circulation and a portable UV Wave Air Purifier. While these products are important all year round, they are extremely beneficial in instances where a home has absorbed a lot of moisture. Once all water has been pumped out of an effected home, this complete package will continue the drying out process of the structure of the house, increase air circulation throughout the entire house, and help prevent the growth of mold. They are currently offering the entire package at a significant discount (see their ad in our paper) and offer attractive financing with low monthly payments. Although they are a long way from the garage in Lawrence, this family owned and operated business has not forgotten its roots and continues to seek out technologically advanced, unique products to solve the ever-growing health and efficiency concerns of to-

Fun and Exciting Events at AIM Queens These past three weeks at AIM Queens have set a great foundation for our upcoming events! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the privilege to host Rav Dovid Goldwasser, as well as Mrs. Amit Yaghoubi. This past week, we began workshops, led by several neighborhood post-seminary alumni. This coming week will welcome more recreation, bonding, and an

exciting, inspirational shiur. We hope to see you then! 8 pm at Bnos Malka--7102 113th St in Forest Hills. AIM is open to all high school girls, completely FREE of charge! Please contact aimqueens@ gmail if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a high schooler, postseminary alumni, or parent who would like to get involved.

59 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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While Others Evacuated, Rockaway Shomrim Rose to the Occasion By Elliot Moses Last month, the Far Rockaway community experienced a natural disaster that won’t soon be forgotten. Amongst the turmoil, residents packed whatever belongings they could and evacuated to a safe location. Upon departure, most people didn’t even think about the belongings they were leaving behind. The silver kiddush cup received as a wedding gift, forgotten. The new computer that is used for work, forgotten. The beautiful menorah that was passed down from a distant relative, forgotten. Most people chose safety, and left their possessions to the looters that were just waiting to claim their prize. In this chaos rose the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol, also known as Rockaway Shomrim. In addition to the long hours pumping houses, and preparing food for hundreds of people a day, the RCSP set up an emergency command center that was operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal was to make sure that there were at least four patrol cars on the streets at all times until the lights came back. The tireless efforts continued even through Shabbos. With the help of the JCCRP and the Met Council, the RCSP coordinated and hired off-duty police officers from upstate New York to patrol the streets. Using RCSP radios and command center, these officers were able to keep the peace when the community was most vulnerable. Recently released statics show that home invasions rose 7 fold compared to last year in the 101st Precinct. However, because of the hard work of the RCSP, Far Rockaway did not experience this crime wave. Those that stayed home saw the constant patrol cars protected the neighborhood. The RCSP did not only deter crime; they were directly responsible for four arrests over the two week period the lights where out. Director of the RCSP, Jason Shtundel, commented, “What really surprised me was how many nonmembers stepped up to the plate and helped patrol. Our organization is only a year old and has 80 patrol members, 20 of which are active Shomrim members. But during this crisis we must have had at least 250 people coming to our command center and using our equipment to protect theirs and their neighbors’ homes.” Whether there was a person going

through backyards or flashing a flashlight through car windows, the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol was able to respond with speed due to the fact that they had a police detailed to their command center 24 hours a day so that there was always a direct line to the police. With help from the CO of the 101st precinct of the NYPD, Captain Kevin Molony, the RCSP was able to respond to all, confident that extra help was never far away. Now that the storm is over and the lights are back on the Rockaways, Shomrim’s work has just begun. Elkana Adelman, Head of the Nightly Patrols, said, “As always, the RCSP will continue to have marked patrols from 9pm12am every night. We encourage every resident of Far Rockaway and Bayswater to sign up for a shift at least once month. In addition, we have already started training active members of the Shomrim patrol that will be out there every night keeping the peace in the middle of the night.” In fact, before the storm, the RCSP spent two weeks tracking down a man that was responsible for at least 35 car break-ins. Once the thief was caught, the RCSP turned over all the evidence that led to his incarceration. Coordinator of the Rockaway Shomrim, Sholem Klein, said, “People need to realize that we are not only nightly patrols, we also respond to missing person reports. In fact, during the blackout we found a missing person that was

passed out by the beach as hypothermia was setting in. Thankfully we were able to help and he is doing fine now.” The importance of having a patrol in the neighborhood extends past person and property safety. A couple of days after the storm, Rockaway Shomrim was contacted about various Shuls in Belle Harbor that were flooded for a

couple of days. Members were immediately dispatched to the scene and found utter destruction in these holy places and called for back-up from Chesed Shel Emes and Shomrim of Boro Park. In what later became world famous pictures, members were able to carry out 22 Sefer Torahs from the shuls. Unfortunately, they were unable to save 4 of the Torahs. When all is said and done, with all of the destruction that our Community experienced over the past month and a half, it was comforting for people to return home and see that their houses were not looted, and that there was a 24 hour number that was there to help. And for that our community owes a great deal of appreciation to the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol (RCSP). If you need Rockaway Shomrim, call : 917-727-7306. Like us on Facebook: Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol (RCSP). To donate: fidelipay.com/RCSP To support the Rockaway and Bayswater Shomrim by check: Make the check out to the “RCSP” only and none else. 774 Caffrey Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691.

Viznitzer Rebbe Shlita to Light Chanukah Menorah in the Five Towns Virtues of the Viznitz chassidus are widely known around the world. The Viznitz dynasty’s rich historical lineage dates back to the holy Ba’al Shem Tov and his closest disciples. Each Rebbe of Viznitz in his own time was a shining example of spiritual and material growth, with faithful Jews everywhere finding their place and their peace within the Rebbe’s chassidic court. The previous Viznitz Rebbe zt”l was known the world over as a pillar of strength for his fellow Jews and a model of avodah, tziddkus and chessed. Many have said that the Rebbe’s presence and fiery spirit is with them forever. With the recent passing of the Rebbe zt”l, the Viznitz chassidim crowned his son HaRav Menachem Mendel Hager as his successor, and he currently serves as the Rebbe of Viznitz, Israel, continuing to provide guidance and is a shining light

to all Jews. The Rebbe shlita has visited the Jewish communities of the Five Towns on multiple occasions over the past few years – including a Shabbos a few years ago – and is well known to the Five Towns and Far Rockaway communities. This time, the Rebbe is coming in an effort to give chizuk in the wake of the recent storm which affected many Jewish communities of New York. The Rebbe has set aside the sixth night of Chanukah (Thursday evening, December 13th) as a night of prayer, song and blessing with the Five Towns and Far Rockaway communities. For the very first time, the Rebbe shlita will lead the menorah-lighting in America. The holy Rebbe of Viznitz is here with one goal only, to heal aching hearts, to repair broken spirits, and to reignite the Jewish inner fire.

NEWS

Community

MAY Open House 2012 It was standing room only at the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Open House this past Sunday, as the Yeshiva hosted over 100 prospective students and their parents, eager to learn all about the “MAY Experience.” In the yeshiva’s beautiful facilities, located in the heart of the Five Towns, the day’s program was an opportunity to educate parents and students about the mission of the Yeshiva, with the entire staff present and available to answer all the many visitors’ questions. It was a busy exciting and educational experience that included informative panels, video displays, passionate presentations, engaging dialogue, brain teasers, team building exercises, raffles, a sumptuous Chinese buffet, prizes, a Jeopardy competition, an elaborate Student Fair, sushi making, slushy drinking, ping-pong competitions and so much more. Upon arrival, attendees were warmly greeted by the MAY Hanhalah, its talented and dedicated faculty, and scores of smiling student volunteers. Guests were ushered into the elaborate Student Fair, where a multitude of booths, manned by current Ateres Yaakov talmidim, described many of the school’s extracurricular programs. The Culinary Club, and its president, senior Gavriel Guttman, prepared chips and guacamole for the enjoyment of the guests and taught many of the eighth graders how to make their own sushi. Visitors to the Ping Pong Club’s display could challenge the club’s faculty advisor, Mr. Sam Abetan, a champion player in his own right. The Mesivta’s numerous chesed opportunities were represented by the MAY Lev Leytzan clowns, Yitzy Biderman, Tzvi Korman and Avi Schwartzblatt, who entertained the crowd with a variety of clowning and juggling acts. Attendees picked up the Mesivta’s chesed books, listing the

ample opportunity for different chasadim available to its talmidim. Publications were represented by the school newspaper editor-in-chief, senior Ephraim Bencher and by Eli Bienstock, an editor of the popular weekly student Torah publication Ateres HaShavua. Athletics were represented by various members of the Mesivta’s football, softball and volleyball teams, as well as participants in the Mesivta’s intramural hockey and basketball programs, who were happy to show off the school’s many championship pennants! Academic competitions, including Torah Bowl, Mock Trial, Chess and Debate, were also represented. Following the Student Fair, the Menahel, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, addressed the standing room only crowd in the Mesivta’s expansive Bais Medrash.

shiva is aimed at facilitating that goal.” Rabbi Yaffe concluded his remarks by clearly explaining each phrase of the Mesivta’s slogan “Rabbeim for Life. Education for Life. Torah for Life.” The students enjoyed a mad science presentation with MAY’s award winning master science teacher Sanford Pesner, team building activities with Director of Student Activities Rabbi Shlomo Drebin, brain-teasing shiurim and a jeopardy trivia game show conducted by Mesivta Rabbeim. The afternoon concluded with a delicious Chinese buffet and Chaim Schreier winning the grand raffle. Following a video presentation, parents attended panel discussions focusing on Limudei Kodesh, general Studies, MAY Parents, and MAY Alumni. Prospective parents asked current par-

He explained “that the goal in a yeshiva high school extends far beyond the high school years and that the ultimate purpose is to build better husbands, fathers and ovdei Hashem. Therefore, literally everything that occurs within the ye-

ents and panelists a variety of questions and received enthusiastic and convincing responses. These included: Are the Rabbeim really involved in the lives of the talmidim even ‘after’ graduation? Alumni talked about their

many experiences receiving weekly calls in Israel from multiple members of the faculty, about Rabbeim helping them with challenges after marriage, about Rabbeim making their shidduchim, and more. Mark Gold, Co-President of MAY, noted, “When I wanted to know how any of my many MAY graduate sons were doing in Israel, all I had to do is ask one of the Senior Rabbeim, who invariably had just spoken with him and was always up on his progress.” How will MAY help a student who does not yet have good writing skills? A parent panelist noted, “MAY has adapted the curriculum to assign frequent essays and other writing assignments to build basic as well as advanced skills and to provide constructive criticism to facilitate revision. My son started out unable to write a quality essay and he ultimately he met with tremendous success as a result of the MAY curriculum.” How does MAY compare to the other Yeshivos in our community? A member of the hanhalah responded, “There are many excellent local options. Each school has its own emphasis and areas in which it excels. MAY is uniquely outstanding in that it excels in Limudei Kodesh, Limudei Chol, and in ExtraCurricular activities, and its relatively small size facilitates the extra attention that helps students of all capabilities succeed.” One parent noted, “It’s clear that the Rabbeim I spoke with have a very strong emotional connection with their talmidim and truly care about their success.” Another attendee’s comment really summed up the MAY Experience: “MAY seems to have a lot to offer in Limudei Kodesh, General Studies and also in extra-curricular activities. It’s a challenging high quality program that is very student-centric.”

61 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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Bais Yaakov of Queens—Exciting Lessons With Hands on Learning!

At Bais Yaakov of Queens, different learning styles are addressed through different methods of instruction in both Limudei Kodesh and General studies. All educators know while some students learn better in a formal setting, other students need visual aids but the best practices in meaningful learning, greater depth and understanding come from being involved in the learning. To incorporate all forms of learning in the classroom, beyond the auditory and visual modes, Mrs. Zehava Somerstein, the Limudei Kodesh principal who oversees the curriculum, encouraged the fourth grade girls in Navi class, to create diorama in conjunction with their learning of sefer Yehoshua. After completing the story of Rachav and the spies, students explored the idea of

the meaning of “a house built into the walls surrounding the city of Yericho” and with the creativity of their moros, created authentic replicas. They constructed scenes complete with the wall of the city and even a red string coming out of window! In the seventh grade Chumash classes, students were studying Bnei Yisroel’s fortieth year in the midbar. To help visualize who lived in Eretz Yisroel before Am Yisroel moved in, the seventh graders made Velcro maps depicting the area and nations residing there. The project helped all types of learners deepen their understanding of what it meant to make this move. Making Tanach even more meaningful is one of the many goals of Bais Yaakov of Queens.

NEWS

Community Students at Midreshet Shalhevet Expand their Creativity in an Advanced Placement Art Course

\This year, Midreshet Shalhevet has expanded its art curriculum to include a wider range of exciting mediums and venues of study. In addition to the classes in Studio Art and Computer Graphics, both of which are available to students in all grades, many seniors have opted to challenge themselves with Shalhevet’s new Advance Placement Art Course. This course, which is taught by Mrs. Naomi Singer, is opened to students who wish to explore and hone their talent while receiving college credit for their expertise. Shalhevet artists are able to delve into their own unique creative perspective they improve their skills through experimentation and practice. Thus far, current Shalhe-

vet AP Art students have learned to use pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, and chalk pastels. They have created beautiful pieces splashed with color and dimension. From shiny faucets and reflective vases to colorful pumpkins and blue portraits, students are proud to reveal their artistic abilities to their Shalhevet family. By the end of the school year, each student will have each created 24 pieces to submit to the College Board for credit evaluation. The Shalhevet AP Art students look forward to continuing to navigate different artistic areas and feel fortunate for the opportunity to participate in this enriching course on a consistent basis.

OU Hurricane Relief Efforts Help a Sefer Torah From Kansas To Find A New Home in Woodmere When Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, the Senior Rabbi of Kehilath Israel (KI) Congregation in Overland Park, KS, wanted to donate a Torah scroll to a congregation devastated by Hurricane Sandy, he turned to the Orthodox Union to help him to find a new home for his treasured offer. As a result, the Torah will be delivered on Tuesday, December 4 to Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in Woodmere, Long Island. OU President Dr. Simcha Katz stated, “The gift of the Torah is a welcome supplement to the OU Hurricane Relief Fund, which since the storm has provided significant funds, emotional support and manpower in order to assist synagogues and communities in need. I was very touched that a rav of a shul in Kansas reached out to offer a sefer Torah, as well as the shul’s entire Artscroll siddur

collection to wherever needed, but having dealt with Rabbi Yanklowitz in the past, I am not at all surprised.” Through the efforts of Jeff Leb, the OU’s Director of Political Affairs for New York State, KI’s sefer Torah found its new home. “Ahavas Yisroel lost four Torah scrolls in the storm – one of them rescued from the Holocaust by a survivor – and the shul was in desperate need of a Torah. The offer by Kehilath Israel to donate a new Torah was literally a match made in heaven,” said Mr. Leb. He noted, “As a resident of the Five Towns, I know first-hand how devastated the area is. While we are still in the process of restoration and recovery, it is extremely comforting to know that there are synagogues and people halfway across the country that want to do whatever they can to aid in our recovery.”

Rabbi Yanklowitz will fly to New York to bring the Torah for a private ceremony in honor of its donation. Noted speakers Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU Executive Vice President, Emeritus, and Rabbi Paysach Krohn will be featured presenters at the event. Rabbi Yanklowitz declared, “At times of crisis, I believe it is crucial for the Jewish people to transcend their institutional walls to support other communities in need. Thankfully, my synagogue is blessed with many Torah scrolls – which we’ve accumulated over the last 100 years – and we are replacing our collection of siddurim, so I approached Dr. Katz at the OU to see if there was a community in need after the terrible hurricane. Thankfully, the OU made the connection with Ahavas Yisroel, which has a real need. My wife, Shoshana, and

I are honored to fly out to deliver this Torah next Tuesday.” Rabbi Yissachar Blinder, Rabbi of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, expressed, “We are thrilled by this loving gesture by the KI shul in Kansas City to reach out to us and to give us a sefer Torah that we can use. Having a synagogue reach out all the way from Kansas City is a silver lining after so much devastation our synagogue went through and that people have experienced. We are very excited.” Rabbi Blinder shared that anyone interested in assisting the relief efforts of Ahavas Yisroel may contact the shul president, Yitz Mendlowitz, at yitz. mendlowitz@gmail.com. Contributions to the OU Hurricane Relief Fund may be made at www.ou.org.

NEWS

Community Photo credit: Ira Thomas Creations

The next class of students at HALB’s SKA School for Girls was inducted into the Re’ut Chapter of the National Honors Society in an Induction Ceremony held at the school on November 27, 2012

TOVA Mentoring Program to Work With Young Victims of Hurricane Sandy Eliezer Fuld to Be New Director of Development These days many of us believe we are PS. Post Sandy. We congratulate ourselves that we made it through these trying times. We want to put these experiences behind us and get on with our lives. But, it’s not so easy – certainly not for everyone. For many of us, Sandy is still with us and its aftereffects are still felt and will likely remain with us for a long time. Some of us are not yet back in our homes. The process of returning to normal for many dislocated families will be neither short nor easy. One segment of our society that has suffered from Sandy and its aftermath is our Jewish youth. The trauma inherent in the expectation of the storm, the storm itself, and the resultant dislocation cannot be overestimated. Those who have noted the phenomenon of post-traumatic syndrome particularly as it has affected Israeli children and youth in the south of Israel who have experienced many rocket attacks, see similarities between the Israeli experiences and the experiences

of our children in the past few weeks. Many of our youth are still struggling with the fears that overcame them along with the storm. Young people in our communities continue to feel the instability that followed the hurricane due to disruptions in school, within families, and the loss of homes and valued possessions. TOVA Mentoring , founded 15 years ago by Richard Altabe, Dr. Blumenthal, Allan and Fran Ganz, and Neil Rosen, A”H, has been working tirelessly for years to help young people whose lives have been impacted by family crises, school problems, and other difficulties. Yehuda Klinkowitz, TOVA’s hard-working and devoted director, is committed to increasing the organization’s activities on behalf of our youth who need help in coping with the post-traumatic effects of the hurricane. In many cases, these are young people who were already in a state of crisis which has been exacerbated by the storm. In other cases, the

after-effects of the storm have increased the numbers of youth who need the services of TOVA Mentoring. In order to better serve our community and particularly the youth impacted by Hurricane Sandy, TOVA Mentoring has retained the services of Eliezer (“Zezy”) Fuld as their new Director of Development. Eliezer Fuld has earned an enviable reputation through his many years of service to the youth of the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities. He has spent many summers at Simcha Day Camp in several capacities including rebbe and as a very popular and creative division head. During those summers, he became one of the top fundraisers for Chai Lifeline for their summer campaigns. Fuld has experience working with

teenagers both as a teacher in Mesivta Ateres Yaakov and as a mentor in Madraigos. For several years, he also served as a mentor for developmentally disabled young adults in Brooklyn, as well as fundraiser for that program. He is presently the youth director at the White Shul in Far Rockaway, a program that has grown and flourished under his direction. He resides in Far Rockaway with his wife, Chana, and children, Michoel Yehuda and Liba Tova. For more information concerning TOVA Mentoring’s programs, activities, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Eliezer “Zezy “ Fuld at zezyfuld@tovamentoring.org or call us at 516-295-0550.

Help Break the Guinness Book of World Records for Most Menorahs Lit! This Shabbos, December 7-9, NY NCSY and Atlantic Seaboard NCSY have partnered to bring over 500 teens from both public and Yeshiva day schools to the Stamford Hilton Hotel for their annual Winter Regional Shabbaton. With the first night of Chanukah just around the corner, NCSY has announced its participation in an incredible opportunity for the Jewish community at large. All are invited to make history with NCSY by attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the most Menorahs lit at the same time in honor of the festival of lights. Teens and adults from Long Island, Westchester, the Five Boroughs, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Rochester will be in attendance. In order to set a new

world record, close to 1,000 Menorahs will need to be lit simultaneously. With a generous sponsorship, NCSY has purchased all of the Menorahs and candles for the event, and all of the participants are invited to keep their Menorahs for use throughout the rest of the holiday. For many teens in attendance, this momentous occasion will mark the first time they will have ever lit a Menorah and said the candle lighting brachot, which will be both projected and transliterated for those who do not know Hebrew. The idea for this history-making event originated in the mind of Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, the Regional Director of NY NCSY, who felt that teens celebrating their first Chanukah would

be even more inspired by their first Menorah lighting if they felt like they were making a global Kiddush Hashem by participating in beating the Guinness World Record. NCSY’s greater missions is to connect, inspire and empower Jewish teens and encourage passionate Judaism through Torah and Tradition. NCSY Connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to develop a positive Jewish identity. NCSY Inspires Jewish teens through informal Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. NCSY Empowers teens through leadership development and guidance to become passionately committed leaders of the Jewish community and instruments

for positive change and renewal. NCSY is committed to provide a safe space where teens can celebrate their Jewish heritage; embrace Torah and Tradition; develop a positive Jewish identity; acquire invaluable leadership skills; connect with dedicated Jewish role models; and learn to live passionately Jewish lives. This tremendously moving Chanukah event is open to the community. If you would like to join NCSY in setting a new world record, please stop by the Stamford Hilton Hotel at 7:00 PM on Saturday Night, December 8th in order to make history with hundreds of other members of the Jewish community.

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

We look forward to seeing you!

Sunday Morning, December 9 • elqk d”k PLEASE JOIN US as we celebrate the completion of the first Sefer Torah of the Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Fine ield aec miig ‘x oa d“r ikcxn wepizd p“rl.

BLOCK DESIGN 832-418-7466

The completion of the Sefer Torah will begin at 10:30 a.m., rain or shine, next to the construction of the new Yeshiva Building on the corner of Mosher and North Central Avenues. There will be an opportunity to participate in the writing of the final osiyos, followed by some brief words of chizuk and inspiration. At 12:30 p.m., we will begin a joyous procession, accompanied by music and dancing, to bring the Sefer Torah to our current home on West Broadway. All are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served, as well as special treats for the children.

Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns

For further information, contact: 516-295-8901 ext. 4 • office@ygft.org

65 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

SALE DATES DECEMBER 9 - 15, 2012

CURLY OR OVEN READY 9 OZ/16 OZ WOW!

99¢

ACTIVE DRY OR RAPID RISE - 3 PACKETS

4 PILLSBURY FLOUR ALL PURPOSE, BREAD, UNBLEACHED- 5 LB

COKE, DIET COKE, ZERO, FRESCA, SPRITE, DR. PEPPER R 2 LITER 4$

QUAKER CEREALS

EMERIL’S MARINARA, PASTA & VODKA SAUCES 25 OZ $

JOYVA JELLY RINGS OR MARSHMALLOW TWISTS

2.99

CAPTAIN CRUNCH, LIFE, HONEY GRAHAM OHS, OAT SQUARES, ASSORTED - 10.3 OZ - 14.5 OZ

2.99

9 OZ

2.99

3.99

GOODMAN’S ONION SOUP MIX 2.75 OZ

KEDEM TEA BISCUITS ALLFLAVORS 4.2 OZ

FRUIT BY THE FOOT, GUSHERS, FRUIT ROLL-UPS

4.5 OZ - 5.4 OZ

J&J WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE 2 REGULAR OR LITE $ 00 $ 8 OZ

7 3.49

FROZEN SUPER SALES

ASSORTED 34 OZ

WOW!

3.99

32 OZ

4.99

WOW!

GOLDEN BLINTZES

ALL VARIETIES - 13 OZFRIES MCCAIN

TNUVA NON-DAIRY WHIP TOPPING 17 OZ

137 SPRUCE STREET

79¢

CEDARHURST, NY 516-569-2662

TROPICANA ORANGE JUICE ALL VARIETIES 59 OZ

2.99

LAND O LAKES HALF & HALF

TURKEY HILL ICED TEA

ASSORTED 32 OZ

ASSORTED 64 OZ

2.99

BREAKSTONE COTTAGE CHEESE ASSORTED 16 OZ

1.79

1.99

TNUVA CRUMBLED FETA CHEESE 9 OZ

2.99

KLEENEX WHITE FACIAL TISSUES 260 COUNT

PENN DUTCH NOODLES ASSORTED - 12 OZ

REAL CORN THINS ASSORTED 5.3 OZ

BUMBLE BEE SOLID WHITE TUNA IN WATER OR OIL 5 OZ

SCOTT TOILET TISSUE NO TUBE, WHITE OR EXTRA SOFT 12 PACK

7.99

HA’OLAM OR MIGDAL MARGARINE 16 OZ

1.79

AXELROD YOGURT

ALL FLAVORS 6 OZ

TOFUTTI CREAM CHEESE 8 OZ

1.99

FRIENDSHIP SOUR CREAM ASSORTED 16 OZ

ASSORTED 16 OZ

UNGER’S FRENCH FRIES 32 OZ

3.79

SABRA GUACAMOLE

1.99

PLAIN OR SPICY 8 OZ

PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE ASSORTED 8 OZ CUPS

COOL SAVINGS ON FROZEN

TOFUTTI ICE CREAM

BODEK CHOPPED $ SPINACH

12 OZ - 15 OZ

DOWNY FABRIC C SOFTENER

BENZ’S GEFILTE FISH

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

NABISCO OREOS

22 OZ

4.99

SABABA BOUREKAS ASSORTED 20 OZ

BODEK CALIFORNIA BLEND 24 OZ

3.99

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

ALL VARIETIES (EXCEPT REDUCED FAT_ 8 OZ

DARREL LEA LICORICE

64 OZ

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

HA’OLAM SHREDDED CHEESE

4.99

ALL FLAVORS 7 OZ

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

4 OZ

CANOLA, CORN, VEGETABLE, BLENDED - 48 OZ

NATURE’S OWN APPLE JUICE

DAIRY DEALS ROYAL FJORD SLICED LOX

ASSORTED 64 OZ

WESSON OIL

DAIRY SUPER SALES GOLDEN FLOW MILK

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

BARILLA LASAGNA

FLEISCHMANN’S YEAST

REGULAR OR THIN SPAGHETTI, ZITI, ZITI RIGATE, ROTINI, RIGATONI, ELBOWS - 16 OZ

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

15.99

1.99

25 OZ

RONZONI PASTA

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

OHR E-Z OIL CHANUKAH LIGHTS 44 COUNT $

POLANER CRUSHED GARLIC

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

79¢

38 OZ

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

WHITE OR MULTI-COLORED 44 COUNT

SUPER SALES ON GROCERIES

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

NER MITZVAH CHANUKAH CANDLES

HEINZ KETCHUP

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

GROCERY SUPER SALES

MORE SAVINGS!

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

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

PEPPERIDGE FARM PUFF PASTRY SHEETS - 17.3 OZ

FAX 516-569-8376

4.99

DR. PRAEGER’S LITTLES, BITES OR PANCAKES

KINERET MINI LATKES

ASSORTED - 12 OZ

2.99

30 OZ

3.49

Under the Strict Supervision of the VAAD of the 5 Towns

MORE SELECTION! PREMIUM MEAT & POULTRY

CORNED BEEF 1ST CUT BRISKET T

1ST CUT 1S BRISKET..... B

8.99 LB

S SHOULDER LO LONDON BROIL......... B

SILVER TIP ROAST ST

BROILERS CUT IN 1/4S OR 1/8S......

7.99 LB

FROZEN DUCK.........

5.49 LB

SCHMERLING CHOCOLATE BARS

BONELESS FILLET STEAK.......

BROADWAY’S J2 OR AMNON’S FROZEN PIZZA

8.99 LB 7.99 LB

7.99 LB

FAMILY PACK

NECK & SKIRT

GROUND BEEF.........

2.39 LB

2 PACK

3.69 LB

FAMILY PACK

NEW APPLE AVAILABLE!

AURORA

RED ROME APPLES.......

99¢

SLICING TOMATO...

BAG CLEMENTINES

ITALIAN KIWI...........

3 LB BAG

4.49EA

89¢ LB

4 $

SWEET POTATO.... EGGPLANT

89¢

REGULAR ONLY - 8 SLICES

1.99

BUTTERNUT SQUASH.....

69¢

CAULIFLOWER

2 $

POST CEREAL BONANZA!

11.5 OZ WAFFLE OR 14.75 OZ GOLDEN CRISP, 12.5 OZ HONEY COMB, 11.5 OZ ALPHA BITS, 11 OZ COCOA OR FRUITY PEBBLES

THE FRESHEST & TASTIEST SUSHI IN TOWN!

DAIRY

TAKE OUT

$ 18” FRESH PIZZA........................... 12.49 1.49 $ $ CHICKEN MARSALA................. FRESH CHEESE BLINTZES.......... 11.99 10.99 LB ALIZA BEER WHOLE WHEAT WRAPS $ 5.99 NEW!ALIZA BEER WRAPS FROM $

FRESH HOT POTATO LATKES...

PACKAGE OF 8

GRILLED CHICKEN, GRILLED VEGETABLES, GRILLED SALMON, TURKEY

ORDER YOUR CHANUKAH PLATTERS EARLY!

AVOCADO ROLL

4.50

CHAP-A-NOSH!

ZOMICK’S BAKERY PARVE CINNAMON OR CHOCOLATE BOBKA................... RUSSIAN HEALTH BREAD.......... FLAT ONION ROLLS.................... PACKAGE OF 4

OSSIE’S FISH

FAMILY PACK

9.99 LB 12.99 LB $ 5.99 LB

HOMEMADE SALMON BURGERS BABY FLOUNDER........................ $ TILAPIA FILLET...........................

WOW!

WINNER BEST SUSHI AWARD!

DELI & TAKE OUT

FAMILY PACK

WOW!

4 LB

1.49 LB 69¢

1.99

DOMINO SUGAR

STRING BEANS

ALL VARIETIES (EXCEPT SUGARLESS) 3 OZ

6.99

FRESH PRODUCE JUMBO CANTALOUPE

BUYS OF THE WEEK!

6.49 EA

1.49 EA $ 1.49 EA

SANDWICH

SPICY TUNA ROLL

10.95

5.50

SWEET POTATO ROLL

SPIDER ROLL TEMPURA

4.95

9.95

NEW! SUSHI

YELLOWTAIL SCALLION ROLL

6.95

CALL 516-569-2662 AND ASK FOR THE SUSHI DEPARTMENT DON’T SEE IT? ASK - WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE IT FOR YOU!

PARVE APPETIZING THIS WEEK AT SCHWARTZ’S DIP ISLAND!

BREADED FLOUNDER FILLET.....

FAMILY PACK

5.99 LB

$ OSSIE’S TRI-COLOR GEFILTE FISH LOAVES.............................. 12.99 LB

FLORAL SPECIALS! $ $ CHANUKAH ARRANGEMENTS..... 34.99 BLUE & WHITE HYDRANGEA 4.99 UNUSUAL DESIGNS! SINGLE FULL STEM $ $ HYDRANGEA BOUQUETS...... AMARYLLIS PLANTS................... 29.99 14.99 BLUE & WHITE - BUNCH

GRILLED EGGPLANT OR GARLIC DIP 7 OZ

NEW!

DIET GOLDEN BEET SALAD.............. AT THE COUNTER

PIZZA LA ZUCCHINI......................... DIET ZUCCHINI KUGEL.....................

& UP & UP

DIET VEGETABLE SOUFFLE..............

2.49 EA

5.49 LB 3.49 EA $ 3.49 EA $ 3.49 EA $

DON’T FORGET OUR DELICIOUS FRESH LATKES FOR CHANUKAH!

STORE HOURS: SUNDAY 7-7PM MONDAY 7-7PM TUESDAY 7-8 PM WEDNESDAY 7-10 PM THURSDAY 7-12 AM FRIDAY 6:30 AM UNTIL 2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING

We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

SALE DATES DECEMBER 9 - 15, 2012

SALES FOR CEDARHURST STORE ONLY

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Call for a consultation, or to schedule an interview.

Call for an appointment

Mrs. Chava Bodner, M.S. ed., SAS/SDA, Founder and Director with 20 Years Combined Experience in Yeshiva Day School Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education

Would your child benefit from

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Five Towns Disaster Recover and Relief Information Center Open in Young Israel of Woodmere Nassau County Legislator Howard Kopel, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, and Town of Hempstead Councilmen Anthony Santino and James Darcy Announce Opening of Five Towns Disaster Recovery and Relief Information Center Post-Sandy FEMA, SBA and Insurance Assistance, Open Monday thru Friday at the Young Israel of Woodmere Over a month has passed since the night Hurricane Sandy changed our community forever. From the moment daylight broke over miles of sodden, wrecked homes, schools, houses of worship, personal property and irreplaceable memorabilia, thousands in our community have stood firmly against rising tides of homelessness, financial ruin, and weakening personal independence and family stability most have long taken for granted. Now a new storm is threatening to drown our community: a tsunami of paperwork, red tape, and bureaucratic double-talk. As many are now painfully aware, restoring and rebuilding a wrecked community is highly depen-

dent on aid from FEMA, the cooperation of insurance companies, access to grants and low-interest loans, and various other assistance and intervention. Yet, with each passing day, progress is further hampered and hamstrung by epidemic-levels of inaccurate, often contradictory information from faceless voices on federal and state relief agency 1-800-hotline operators, and insurance company “customer service specialists,” who serve to locate any technicality possible to avoid honoring policies they sold. In response to the urgent need for coordinated federal and state aid and intervention resources, Nassau County Legislator Howard Kopel, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, and Town of Hempstead Councilmen Anthony Santino and James Darcy, in conjunction with Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management, and the Young Israel of Woodmere, have joined efforts to establish a formal Disaster Recovery and Relief Information Center in the heart of the Five Towns.

Since the storm, numerous disaster recovery resource centers have been established in Nassau County and the Rockaways. But until now, none were comfortably accessible to Five Towns residents. Now, rather than traveling a half-hour or more to get a straight answer, or otherwise having to rely on faceless, unaccountable hotlines, Five Towns residents affected by Hurricane Sandy can turn to a team of experienced relief specialists with answers and information, and who will be there for them, for as long as they are needed. The Five Towns Disaster Recovery and Relief Information Center is staffed with specialists assigned by the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management from essential programs such as FEMA Individual Assistance and Public Assistance, FEMA Hazard Mitigation, SBA, IRS, STEP, NYS Dept. of Financial Services to assist with insurance issues, NYS Dept. of Health & Aging, social and rehabilitation services, crisis counseling agencies, and from the Town of Hempstead Building Department and Office of the Receiver

of Taxes to guide those in need with construction permits, engineering, and zoning, and taxation issues. They are on-site to assist with FEMA and SBA applications, intervene with sticky insurance claims, verify information, and facilitate solutions for various other issues. Each specialist is an expert in their department procedures and protocols, and because they are dispatched to the Five Towns center on long term assignment, allow local residents the confidence that any information they receive will be accurate, and that those who deliver it are accountable for the intervention they provide. The Five Towns Disaster Recovery and Relief Information Center will remain in the community as long as needed. It is located at the Young Israel of Woodmere – accessible from 842 Glen Drive, through the Young Israel of Woodmere parking lot – from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

A Difficult Shiva Visit Boris Yarmolnik was a 28 year old Oleh from the Ukraine who was called up from the reserves to protect his beloved new homeland, Eretz Yisrael. While stationed near the border of Gaza, a siren went off, signaling yet another Grad missile attack from Hamas terrorists. Seconds later, the missile struck, mortally wounding Boris. He was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, but died of traumatic head injuries a few days later. His levaya took place on Friday, the 16th day of Kislev, and Shiva ensued. Graduates from Rambam Mesivta, accompanied by their Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, felt an obligation to attempt to provide some solace to the family by expressing their support during this very difficult time. Hiring two vans to transport them from Yerushalayim to Netanya, the group arrived at the working class neighborhood, home to the Yarmolnik family. The clotheslines of the adjacent buildings were filled with hanging garments. The group slowly ascended

the four flights of steps and entered the small, two room apartment. Sitting on the coach were a number of Boris’ friends from Tel Aviv University. Boris was pursuing an advanced degree in Astrophysics when his life was snuffed out. Sensing that the Rambam group were strangers, Boris’ friends made room for the American group. The boys sat silently, watching the faces of the heartbroken father and distraught brother. Boris’ grief stricken mother remained in the bedroom, unable to confront those who came to offer condolences. A group of officials from the Israeli Army entered the room and attempted to explain to the father exactly how the injuries resulted. Neither they nor the father were clear if Boris was already in the shelter with a window open or if he was attempting to close the window when he was hit by the rocket. The father dejectedly commented in Hebrew, “Lo mishaneh...it doesn’t really matter.” The soldiers questioned the Rambam boys as to why they were there.

The talmidim replied that they were learning in Israel and felt the need to express a sense of achdus with those who had sacrificed so much. The soldiers were clearly moved by the sentiments expressed. A group of professors arrived from Tel Aviv University. They spoke highly of Boris’s diligence and aptitude. They too turned to the Rambam boys and asked, “Are you family?” The boys answered, “We are one big family... religious, secular, American, Russian, Israeli...we are all AmYisrsel.” Boris’ father told those present that he felt that the constant flow of visitors especially from the army was taxing and that he was exhausted from everyone coming and going. It seemed clear that he preferred to be alone with his thoughts. He said that in the Ukraine they would only observe one day of mourning and was not used to this prolonged period of aveilut. Rabbi Friedman and the boys sensed it was time to leave. Upon their departure, they hugged the mourning brother and

reiterated that they are “Am Echad” and that Boris paid the ultimate price in order to help protect our nation. The teachers from Tel Aviv University met the Rambam boys outside of the house and remarked how amazing it was that “strangers” would take the time and travel hours to express their solidarity with someone they did not know...simply because the Torah says “V’ahavta le’reiacha kamocha.”

We’d Like to Hear From You Please send all correspondence to: editor@ fivetownsjewishhome.com.

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Yeshiva of South Shore Fifth Graders Celebrate Their Haschalas Gemara

Last Thursday, the fifth grade of Yeshiva of South Shore celebrated a milestone, a special simcha they will remember fondly for years to come. The occasion was a Seudas Haschalas Gemara, celebration their first steps in their journey of Gemara. The fifth grade Rabbeim, Rabbi Moshe B. Scharhon and Rabbi Yehoshua Zucker, have the enviable role of ushering the talmidim into the world of Gemara by imparting not only the necessary skills, but also the ahava, the love of torah sh’baal peh required for success. To mark the event, the Yeshiva held a gala breakfast for the boys and their fathers and grandfathers. After divrei pesicha from the menahel, Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, four boys delivered divrei Torah: Zev Wolf, Elchanan Weinstien Daniel Cywiak, and Netanel Akhavan. After bentching, they all moved into the Bais Medrash for a half hour of father/son Chavrusa learning. Some boys had the privilege of having their grandfather learning with them as well. V’hachut mameshulash lo bimhayra

y’natek! The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, then addressed the boys. In his remarks, he said over a thought from his zaide Rav Yaakov, zt”l , who explained that Yaakov Avinu’s years spend in Yeshivas Shem V’Ever was the beginning of the transmission of Torah Shbaal Peh. He then introduced Rabbi Leibel Rand, Shlita, the Rosh Kollel of Kollel Avreichim in Far Rockaway. Rav Rand imparted to the talmidim the beauty of the mesoras HaTorah and how they are now part of the chain. To cap the event, the boys performed a stirring musical rendition of Abie Rot-

tenberg’s famous song, Lulei Sorascha. The boys sang beautifully, accompanied by Rabbi Shlomo Drebin, the Program Coordinator. Soloists included Michael Shoshan, Aharon Cohen, Avi Halbfinger, Mordechai Miller, Yedidia Esses, Moshe Goldfeder and Chaim Avezov. There was also a special solo on saxophone by Binyamin Zev Ross. In conclusion, each talmid was called up and the Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Binyomin Kamenetzky, shlita, who along with his son, Rav Mordechai Kamenetzky, the menahel, and the Rabbeim, presented each talmid with a personalized shtender. It is a meaningful gift each boy will undoubtedly cherish. In addition, a set of shas was raffled off. The winner was Binyamin Kunstler. The talmidim of the fifth grade will

Im yirtza Hashem be matzliach in their learning as they begin to swim in the vast yam shel Torah. Mazel Tov to all of them.

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Mir Yerushalayim Far Rockaway Shabbos Of Chizuk Provides Much Needed Inspiration To The Community

Ralph Herzka and R’ Nissan Kaplan at the Melava Malka

L-R Ezra David, Ali Scharf, R Yossi Elefant, Host Dovid Scharf

Host Dovid Scharf greeting R Nissian Kaplan

This past Shabbos, Parshas Vayishlach, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim held a Shabbos of Chizuk in the Five Towns/ Far Rockaway area. No fundraising events or activities took place during the entire weekend; it was strictly a Shabbos dedicated to providing much-needed comfort and encouragement to these hard-hit neighborhoods, on a communal as well as an individual level. Yeshivas Mir’s regular annual Shabbos of Chizuk for the Five Towns/Far Rockaway communities, together with the annual fundraising event, were originally scheduled for Shabbos Parshas Vayeira (Nov. 3-4). Then came the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy just days before that Shabbos; most residents were forced to evacuate. While it was quite clear, in the aftermath of the storm, that the fundraising for the Yeshiva at this time was not appropriate, the community’s need for a “Shabbos of Chizuk” could not be greater. The powerful familial bond and unique brotherly connection between the Yeshiva and its Talmidim and friends truly came to the fore in a time like this. Instead of the regular Rebbeim who visit on the Yeshiva’s behalf, Hagaon Rav Yosef Elefant shlita, and Hagaon Rav Nissan Kaplan shlita, were selected from amongst the Rebbeim to spend Shabbos in the area. Both Rebbeim participated and offered Divrei Torah and words of encouragement at the two main events: an

Dancing at the melava Malka L-R Ali Scharf, Boruch Ber Bender, R’ Nissan Kaplan

Host Dovid Scharf speaking at the Melava Malka

Oneg Shabbos held on Friday night at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Ariel Aber, and a Melave Malka on Motzei Shabbos, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dovid Scharf, highly dedicated Mir alumni who have also taken a leading role in the post-Sandy recovery efforts. In addition, Rav Elefant spoke on Friday night at the Agudas Yisroel of West Lawrence, on Shabbos morning at Bais Medrash Heichal Dovid, and during Shalosh Seudos at Congregation Shaarei Tefila. Rav Kaplan spoke on Friday night at the Bais Medrash of Harborview (Bais Pinchas) and before Krias HaTorah on Shabbos morning at Khal Zichron Moshe Dov. After Mussaf at Khal Machzikei Torah, he spoke at a special Chosson Torah Kiddush in honor of their Rav, Rabbi Greenberg; also at Knesses Israel (“The White Shul”) during Shalosh Seudos. Rav Kaplan also offered a highly stimulating shiur on the specifics of the laws of lighting Chanukah Menorah at the Agudas Yisroel of Long Island on Shabbos afternoon; the large crowd and passionate “rischa de’oraysa” at this event was truly a Kiddush Hashem that will be remembered by all who attended. The Rebbeim also delivered Divrei Chizuk and Shiurim at the local Yeshivos on Friday and Sunday morning. At the Oneg Shabbos, where a crowd of 150 attended, Rav Kaplan mentioned that Chanukah, as the Gemara says, was designated as a permanent, recurring

R’ Nissan Kaplan speaking at the melava malka

Talmdim with R’ Nissan Kaplan

Yom Tov on account of the miracle of the single flask of oil lasting eight days. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l points out that the Chashmonaim’s military victory would seem to be of far greater significance; it would have seemed more understandable to establish the festival of Chanukah because of the miracle of the battle rather than that of the oil. Rav Chaim explained that while the military victory was essential and the miracle of the oil was of far lesser necessity, since we may use impure oil when none other is available. However, because of this, it represented a far greater show of love from Hashem. It was an extra touch of affection that demonstrated Hashem’s deep love for us, Hashem’s “kiss on the head” to His Beloved Nation. It is this tradition of the “extra kiss,” the parental love that Yeshivas Mir is famous for; the Roshei Yeshiva and Rebbeim, throughout the generations, always gave and continue to give not just the essentials; they are attuned to “go the extra mile” with keen sensitivity to their Talmidim’s well-being, in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus. The Melave Malka offered a unique opportunity for Talmidim and friends outside the immediate area to join in the spirit of Chizuk and encouragement their brothers needed. A crowd of three hundred participated, with friends traveling from Lakewood, Brooklyn and Passaic to reconnect and re-energize with the

Rebbeim and the community. Rav Elefant spoke to the gathering about the message of Chanuka, how it speaks to us about how we should thank Hashem for all the hidden miracles we experience daily. The Greeks worshipped science, but Klal Yisroel worships the Creator behind it all. True we had seven revealed miraculous days, but the fact that oil burns at all, is a hidden miracle too that calls for celebration. We often “forget” about the constant, daily miracles because we fall prey to the “repetition” in nature; it takes an event like the storm to shake us awake and open our eyes to the constant “chiddush” in the world around us and in our personal requirements in Torah and Avodah. The moral and lesson is that one must apply effort to maintain a constant state of freshness and alertness, to appreciate the good in life. While the annual Shabbos of Chizuk usually leaves the participants with a heightened awareness of how much their support means to the Yeshiva, this year, perhaps the “tables were turned.” It was clear to all how much the Yeshiva and its Rebbeim always have the welfare of their Talmidim and friends on their minds, leaving them with renewed strength and encouragement as they continue to deal with the aftermath of the storm, and look forward to celebrate the Yom Tov of Chanuka in the proper frame of mind.

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Rallying Cry for the “MAKE A DIFFERENCE” Initiatives Don’t Turn Our Back on Hurricane Sandy Victims, Don’t Leave Our Fellow Jews Out in the Cold It is frighteningly easy for Hurricane Sandy victims to be pushed from the front pages and the forefront of our minds. But our fellow Jew needs our help and our call to action. About one month ago, we witnessed the storm of the century in the New York region. Many responded – we brought emergency equipment, we held clothing drives, towel drives, concerts, and other uplifting initiatives. We even sent busloads of volunteers to clear out debris from flooded homes. Yet we have only begun to scratch the surface of what these devastated communities actually need. The latest reports from the area point to almost 100 billion dollars in damages. Let this natural disaster be utilized as a teaching moment for ourselves,

our children, and our grandchildren. Let this moment demonstrate that we stand together, hand in hand, to assist in rebuilding communities that have been ravaged. There are many practical “Make a Difference” initiatives that you can motivate your congregation, community groups, or friends to participate in: Recruit seasoned professionals (such as retirees) as Shul coordinators who will be in contact with the hard hit communities of New York area to find out exactly what their needs are. Look into the possibility of helping a few families who might be interested in relocating with jobs, tuition and housing assistance. All local Jewish shops can also join in the efforts by having a tzedakah box

in their store to help raise funds. Formulate innovative fundraising ideas such as a celebrity endorsed auction, or a Jewish music concert. Begin a major community wide Seforim Drive to provide new and used Seforim ( Jewish books.) Synagogues can partner with Shuls in the devastated areas to help individual families through an “Adopt a Family or Shul” initiative Sefer Torahs should be lent or donated as there are many in our Synagogues that are currently being unused. Hold community “Make a Difference” gatherings to brainstorm new initiatives. If you’re in the region, arrange for weekly Sunday trips for community members who would like to volunteer to

make a difference in the New York area. Let our youth get involved; urge Bar and Bat-mitzvah boys and girls to donate a portion of their financial gifts for this cause. Put a tzedakah box in your home dedicated to Sandy relief efforts. Send a check to your local Jewish Community or Synagogue fund for Sandy relief efforts. If you don’t have one yet, then start one. Jewish communities in the New York area need our strength, encouragement, and generosity. The chesed, the kindness, cannot stop now. Start your own “Make a Difference” campaign today. The Chesed Fund is a community charitable organization in Baltimore founded by Frank and Danielle Storch.

Ernie Abbott, Esq, Top FEMA Lawyer in the Country, Visits the Five Towns Photo credits: Naftoli Goldgrab

Achiezer hosted a post-Sandy recovery conference on Thursday, November 29th, featuring Ernie Abbott, Esq. As former General Council to the United States for FEMA, Mr. Abbott is the top FEMA lawyer in the country, specializing in institutions, synagogues, and non-profits. Attending the conference were representatives from virtually every storm-struck religious community, including Bayswater, Belle Harbor, Cedarhurst, Far Rockaway, Inwood, Long Beach, Oceanside, and Woodmere. The audience listened with rapt attention for over an hour, as Mr. Abbott shared detailed, practical guidance in navigating complex FEMA regulations to derive the maximum benefit for the community. The presentation was fol-

lowed by a lively question-answer session, as well as a personal meeting between Mr. Abbott and Rabbi Mordechai Kruger, representing the particularly hardhit community of Bayswater. In the words of one attendee, Mr. Abbott “was the first one who legitimately knew it all.” Achiezer extends its thanks to Asher Schoor for his extensive efforts in arranging the conference. Many thanks as well to Rabbi Ben Zion Chait, formerly of Florida,

who connected Achiezer with Mr. Abbott, and who has used his repository of experience with hurricane recovery

in Florida to assist our communities throughout the recovery process.

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The hurricane wreaked havoc on our homes, our schools, and our shuls. Our community is still trying to recover from the damage caused by Sandy. However, through all the chaos and destruction, one cannot help but notice the Jewish organizations that have been at the forefront of the relief efforts. Their kindness and generosity has literally saved lives. All of them deserve recognition for their extraordinary efforts. But there is one that we at Mesivta Yam Hatorah personally witnessed and would like to publicly thank. Our Mesivta is presently housed in the Young Israel of Bayswater and we were glad to hear that they were not impacted by the hurricane. We had hoped to start school soon after the hurricane and get back to normal but little did we know that the shul had become the center for the relief effort. Meals, clothing, beds etc. were all being provided out of the shul. It reminded us of the story we heard about Rabbi Yisroel Salanter when, during the cholera epidemic, he turned the yeshiva into a hospital for the sick. The shul, under the leadership of Rabbi Eliezer Feuer, became a safe haven for those impacted by the storm and our school office became the base for the Rockaway citizen’s patrol. We were told that we can come back to school as long as the boys would be available to help out. On the one hand, we were eager to go back to school;

on the other hand, how could we run a school with all the relief efforts going on in the shul? We decided to return and the moment the boys arrived they were put to work serving meals, helping people clean out their houses, and unloading trucks. As one student put it, “Every time I try to go to class someone grabs me to help out.” We, as a school, became part of the relief efforts. What was once a classroom became a bedroom for a family without heat; the boys Hachana for shiur, normally a Mussar seder, was replaced by putting away beds. We were so proud of our students’ positive attitude toward helping others and their ability to focus in class amidst all the turmoil. Now all is calm and school is finally back to normal, but it will never be the same. Over these past few weeks our students witnessed ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary heroics. They observed a magnitude of kindness they have never seen. They experienced a care and concern for those in need that will be talked about for years to come. They experienced the Jewish people at their best. We all walked away from this with a renewed commitment to doing chesed and proud to be associated with the Young Israel of Bayswater. Thank you, the Young Israel of Bayswater, for giving us the opportunity to partake in this tremendous Mitzvah.

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The Next Step – Madraigos Supports Our Youth and Strengthens Our Community In The Aftermath of the Storm On Thursday evening, November 30, 2012, Madraigos presented THE NEXT STEP, an initiative of its Community Resource Division, to address the most effective ways to cope with trauma resulting from Hurricane Sandy. The event, which took place at Congregation Kneseth Israel-The White Shul, in Far Rockaway, was endorsed by the Gruss Foundation and CIJE (Center for Initiatives In Jewish Education). Over 150 parents, school administrators, and teachers attended from the entire New York area and as far as New Jersey. Madraigos was privileged to have illustrious presenters, each highly regarded in his field, address the audience. Dr. David Pelcovitz, Ph.D., noted author, lecturer, and researcher with 25 years of clinical experience, shared his valuable insights from a parenting perspective while Rabbi Jonathan

critical matters. Mr. Kutner of experience, I have never then introduced Rabbi Eybeen faced with trauma in tan Feiner, Morah D’asrah such a real way. It’s been of Congregation Kneseth very difficult. Now, I feel Israel-The White Shul, who more confident in helping delivered beautiful divrei my students overcome some bracha. of their fears and anxietRabbi Feiner explained ies.” “I appreciate all of the that the world stands on 3 information shared tonight. pillars: Torah, Avodah, and I have been struggling with Gemillas Chasadim. He how to respond to my kids’ said that we can suffer and feelings and now, thanks to be knocked down, individuthe speakers, I have gained ally and collectively as a more clarity. Thank you,” community, but we need to remarked a parent. get back up to accomplish Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Morah D’asrah of Congregation Kneseth Israel- The White Shul Madraigos would like and grow so we can climb to express special thanks to the ladders of Torah, Avoconnection to a whole system of meanThe White Shul for opening dah, and Gemilas Chasidim. In this ing. He also discussed the importance their doors to graciously host and sponway, we can face what comes our way, of gratitude in that to the extent we can sor the event. Throughout the storm one neshoma at time and one step at a pull back and focus on what we have, time, as reflected in Madraigos’ work the better off we will be in the future. Dr. Pelcovitz contributed other beneficial insights as well from his many years of experience in coping with the complex challenges of trauma facing families in the Jewish community. Rabbi Rietti, in his dynamic style, spoke about the concept of resilience. He felt that there has been consistent trauma and global terror in our history and as a result, building resilience is not a new issue in Jewish history. In fact, he says it’s genetic to resist and rebuild even stronger than before. His words were both inspiring and heartfelt, and helped give clarity to a complex topic Ephraim Kutner, Chairman of the Board of Madraigos in Yiddishkeit. These lectures were followed by a lively Q and A session moderated by and recovery process, the White Shul Q & A panel: Dr. David Pelcovitz, Ph.D. and Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, moderated by Eli Shapiro, Eli Shapiro, LCSW, Clinical Director has been a bastion of light and center of LCSW, Clinical Director of Madragios. of Madraigos, which gave participants unparalleled chesed and support for the Rietti, educational consultant for over and mission. the opportunity to pose questions and entire community. In addition, Mad28 years, author of curricula for educaThe first presenter, Dr. David Pel- gain specific knowledge in situations raigos expresses hakaros hatov to Mr. tors, and senior lecturer for Gateways, covitz, Ph.D., discussed the three core that they face within their families and Moshe Klein of MK Ink Creative Group offered valuable guidance to teachers, ingredients to recovery and resiliency. classrooms. for his expertise in graphic design and school administrators, and parents in First, he explained the important role Closing remarks were made by marketing and more importantly, for his addressing the effects of the storm from of parents in providing a protective Rabbi Josh Zern, Executive Director of unwavering commitment to Madraigos’ an educational viewpoint. With a Torah shield for their children so that in spite Madraigos, who described Madraigos’ mission. foundation and professional experience of what is lost, their children feel that dedication to going above and beyond For more information about THE to guide them, both lecturers presented their parents are at their side to provide in order to best meet the critical needs NEXT STEP program at Madraigos, hands-on advice and practical steps that predictability, a place to talk about their of our youth and their families at this please contact Clinical Director, Eli can be implemented right away in class- anxiety, and a strong sense of support. crucial time. He expressed his gratitude Shapiro, LCSW at 516-371-3250 ext. 2. rooms and homes. Second, is the concept of community. for being able to extend the specialized For sponsorship opportunities, please The program was opened by When people surround themselves with services that only Madraigos can pro- contact Rabbi Josh Zern at 516-371Ephraim Kutner, Chairman of the a community who cares about them, vide. 3250 ext. 5. To learn more about all Board of Madraigos, who noted the making them feel not alone, it makes all A well-respected teacher in one of of Madraigos programs and services, seriousness of trauma and the impor- the difference. Third, when a child has the local elementary schools comment- please visit www.madraigos.org. tance of cohesiveness between families religion, it gives them the ability to have ed, “I found the program to informative and the community as they tackle such a sense of meaning that comes with the and enlightening. With all my years

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Rambam Mesivta: After Graduation The hallmark of Rambam Mesivta is the meaningful kesher that exists between rebbeim and talmidim. Being that Rambam is a small school by design, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, the Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, the Principal, Rabbi Avi Haar, the Assistant Principal of Limudei Kodesh, and Mr. Hillel Goldman, the Assistant Principal, know each and every talmid. The relationship is an ongoing one which continues long after graduation. Be it engagements, weddings, or simply phone calls, the Rambam rebbeim are always there with the boys. One of the unique highlights for Rambam graduates is the Annual Israel Shabbaton with the Shana Aleph and Bet talmidim continuing their learning in Eretz Yisrael. All the boys look forward to this special Shabbos and virtually all attend to join Rabbi Friedman, who flies in for this event. Additionally, during his trip to Eretz Yisrael, he takes the time to visit each talmid in the Yeshiva they are learning at, to monitor their progress and make himself available to discuss their learning experience, one on one. In visiting the Yeshivot, he also has the opportunity to assess any new developments and changes that may have taken place in staffing, shiur offerings, facility, etc. Last week, Rabbi Friedman visited twelve different Yeshivot and gave shiurim to the broad spectrum of American talmidim learning at Shaalavim, Torat Sharaga, Mevasseret Tzion, and Har Etzion (Gush). “Having the opportunity to learn with a group of boys

in the various Yeshivot helps one get a clear picture of the level of that program and the boys they attract. Sharing this information with the seniors and their parents at Rambam, will enable them to choose the yeshiva where they will gain the most on an individual level,” said Rabbi Friedman. Based on this information, coupled with the expertise of Rabbi Haar who is also the Director of Israel Guidance, the graduates of Rambam are invariably happy with their choice of Yeshivot in Israel. This year’s Shabbaton was held in the Old City, at Yeshivat HaKotel, where a number of Rambam boys are learning. Shabbos was ushered in

with Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. Before Maariv, Rabbi Friedman spoke about Kedushat Yerushalyim and the great opportunities afforded the Jewish people since 1948. The Friday night meal provided by Yeshivat HaKotel and enhanced with some catered delicacies was permeated by divrei Torah, zemirot and a warm sense of “chevra.” After the conclusion of the Seudah, the boys were treated to a multi-hour tisch with Rabbi Friedman which featured divrei Torah and a lively question and answer session. After davening Vasikin at the Kotel or at the Yeshivat HaKotel minyan, the talmidim regrouped for a Par-

sha Shiur with Rabbi Friedman followed by Kiddush and lunch. Once again, the talmidim eagerly shared their divrei Torah and created a beautiful ruach with the zemirot they sang. Afterwards, the chevra davened Mincha at the Kotel and had the opportunity to analyze the Sugya of “Huktza l’mitzvota” and Ner Channukah with Rabbi Friedman. Seudat Shlisheit featured more divrei Torah, singing and camaraderie, which made the parting of Shabbos more difficult to bear. The boys could take comfort, however, in the fact that the kesher, although briefly interrupted, will continue for many years to come.

Bais Yaakov of Queens Hones Budding Authors Writing has been an integral focus at BYQ since Mrs. Sarah Bergman, general studies principal, introduced the “special writing program” more than 20 years ago. Bais Yaakov was the model school for the Reading and Writing Project introduced by Columbia University. Students as young as first grade are taught to write with passion and pageantry, with skill and craft writing poetry and authoring books. The children are encouraged to live their lives between the lines and share. As students move along, creative writing is strengthened with their writing mentor, Mrs. Susie Garber, a noted author and literacy coach. As girls move into Junior High, the fo-

cus moves toward non-fiction, expository writing. This year, our devoted, creative writers made an extraordinary request,

“Was there a way to continue with creative writing?” Responding to their devotion, a Lunch and Learn was established. The club, for sixth, seventh and

eighth graders, meets during one lunch period a week. There, creative writing is a combined, collaborative multi-grade group and a shared learning experience. When you visit Bais Yaakov, you notice the exquisite writing that decorates the halls. The children love the opportunity to express their feelings, wonder and interpretations about the world around them. They feel respected that they are valued and their ideas and thoughts are applauded. We celebrate their endeavors. The writing lunch club, a club open to grades 6-8 which meets every other week for a lunch writing time, is writing up a storm.

77 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Around the

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

79 T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

S P EC IA L

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PROPRIETOR NATHAN SINGER

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Around the

LOCAL

What better way to study the works of Eric Carle than create your own pieces of art? The boys in Mrs. Kopolovitzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first grade at Yeshiva of South Shore created their own works of art in the style of the famous artist.

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The Shmuz

R’ Ben Tzion Shafier

Parshas Vayeishev Living Like a Rock

And Yaakov lived in the lands in which his father sojourned, the land of Canaan. Bereishis 37: 1

ashi tells us that after the Torah described the life of Aisev in an abbreviated manner, it then told over the events in the life of Yaakov in full detail. The reason for this is that Yaakov and what occurred to him are important in the eyes of Hashem, whereas Aisev and his life aren’t. So too, Rashi explains, we find with the ten generations from Adam to Noach. Each individual gets a mere mention until we get to the life of Noach. Then the Torah elaborates in full detail. The same pattern is repeated with the ten generations from Noach till Avrohom. We are told in condensed form – “so and so gave birth to so and so” – until we get to the life of Avrohom. Then the Torah again goes into great detail because the life and activities of Tzadikim are important in the eyes of Hashem, whereas those of Rashiim aren’t significant. Rashi continues with a mashal to help explain this concept. Imagine a man has lost a precious stone in the sand. He takes a sieve and begins combing through the sand to find it. The sieve picks up many small rocks along with the gem that he is searching for. Once he finds the gem, he takes it out and throws the rocks away. The Purpose of a Mashal This Rashi becomes difficult to understand when we focus on the purpose

of a mashal. Chazal use parables to help bridge a gap. When we are dealing with concepts that are outside our frame of reference, our sages often use examples and metaphors to bring difficult ideas into terms that we can understand. For instance, if you were given the task to describe the color purple to a color blind person, how would you portray it? Well, it isn’t blue and it’s not red… The problem is that since this person sees all colors in the grey spectrum, neither point of reference has any meaning. So you might revert to a mashal. Imagine that sounds have

of the mashal is to capture the essence of a distant concept and bring it closer. Why does Rashi feel we need a mashal to understand this concept? It seems rather straightforward. Aisev wasn’t important, so the Torah told over his life quickly, whereas Yaakov and what he accomplished are significant, so the Torah went into the details. That seems like an elementary concept, not one that needs repeating or a mashal to help clarify it. The Value Of A Person The answer to this question is that Rashi is explaining a concept that isn’t

The human is the most precious entity on the face of the planet – something so precious that it was worthwhile to create an entire cosmos for just one person.

color. Then a cello would be a woody brown, and a flute would be a light yellow. In the mid-range would be a saxophone, and that’s purple. The purpose

obvious at all, namely the true value of a person. If you were to ask a chemist the value of a human being, he might say, “Well, let’s see … so much potassium … so much magnesium … I would estimate his value at about 60 cents.” That would be accurate in one dimension. If we were measuring the value of a human from the perspective of the chemicals that make up his body, we would find him rather inexpensive. However, from a different perspective, the human is the most precious entity on the face of the planet – something so precious that it was worthwhile to create an entire cosmos for just one person. The difference in the value systems manifests itself in the way a person lives his life. If a person leads his life like any other occupant of this planet, as just another member of the animal kingdom, then he has the value of whatever his physical being represents – a

couple of pounds of rotting meat. However, if a person recognizes the reason that Hashem put us on the planet and leads the life of a great person, then his value is incalculable. Living Like a Rock That is what Rashi seems to be telling us. If the Torah only mentioned Aisev quickly and then elaborated about the life of Yaakov, you would never quite understand the difference in their values. Let me give you a mashal: When a man is looking for a pearl in the sand and he picks up some rocks along with it, they are utterly, totally and completely valueless to him. He throws them back down. The Torah is using this mashal to give us the perspective of the stark difference in value. It wasn’t that Aisev wasn’t as important as Yaakov – he was valueless, something to be discarded. He was a rock. When he left this planet, that is all that was left – the body to decay into the ground. This concept is very relevant to us because we tend to get very busy at this thing called life. Working, doing, going, taking care of this, taking care of that… But a person has to ask himself, “What is it that I am so busy with? Granted I have to make a living, agreed that I must take care of many basic physical needs, but has that taken over the focus of my life? Do I spend so much time focused on the mundane issues of survival that it has become the epicenter of my existence? If it does, then I am no different than a beast of burden – I am a rock.” Two men can look identical, yet the difference between them can be the distance from the heavens to the earth. If a person follows his natural tendencies, he may well have wasted the greatest opportunity of his life, and at the end of it all, he will have nothing to show for all of his efforts. Whereas, if a person invests his energies in those values that the Torah teaches us, then he at his very essence becomes more precious than anything that we can imagine, and for eternity he will enjoy those phenomenal accomplishments. The entire world was worth creating for him alone.

85 Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

I Hate Surprises the surprise had gone completely awry. They had no luck in finding the ring, and because of the arguments that followed, the wedding was postponed indefinitely. The chocolate egg idea led to a big surprise, but it was far from the one he intended.

Of course, more than likely you’ll get a weak smile and a subdued murmur of appreciation because by that time they’d already purchased the book and read it twice. A better way to handle it would be to tell yourself, “I hate surprises.”

So, the next time you want to surprise someone, stop and think how much more pleasure you could give them by letting them start to enjoy the gift well before they get it.

When we want to surprise someone, we have to think about what we’re hoping to achieve. Usually, it’s not about the recipient enjoying it at all. Rather, it’s about the giver, experiencing a rush of appreciation from the other person, who, because of the drama of the moment, will believe the giver is the most unbelievable person and they will never get mad at them or criticize them for anything as long as they live. Yeah, right. That WOULD be shocking. On the recipient’s end, if there is no “surprise” build-up, once they know the other person has gotten them a gift, or done something nice for them, the event takes place without the drama, but with all the pleasure. If we really are interested in the other person’s enjoyment, we would skip the delay and give them that pleasure right away. Say you know someone loves reading books by a certain author. You could wait until the latest book comes out, then buy a copy, wrap it, and wait for a special occasion when a gift is warranted. You could imagine the look on their face when they open it and exclaim, “I am so excited to get this; that was so thoughtful, thank you so much!”

So, when you hear the book is coming out, pre-order a copy from the bookstore. Then tell the person, “I know how much you enjoy this author, so I ordered the book for you.” You will give her the surprise pleasure of the moment, and she will talk about how thoughtful you are, but there’s a bonus: every time she thinks about the book that is coming out, she’ll remember anew just how thoughtful you are! When it finally arrives, her face will light up that it’s finally here, and you will get that amazing feeling all over again. Sure, I could surprise my wife by bringing her home a cup of coffee from her favorite coffee shop, but if I do, I run the risk of finding out she’s already bought one, or is meeting a friend for coffee, or just ate a turkey sandwich and by the time she can drink the coffee it will be ice cold and half-spoiled. On the other hand, if I call and say, “I’m going to swing by and pick up a latte for you on my way home,” even if she doesn’t want it, I’m the considerate husband. Plus, if she does want it, she gets to enjoy the anticipation that in a few minutes she’ll be savor-

ing its creamy warmth and for the next ten minutes, she’s think about what a great husband I am and how lucky she is. Isn’t that better than the momentary, “Oh, wow,” I could get by surprising her? One week we were going away for Shabbos. My wife, who besides for being intelligent, beautiful, witty, kind, and caring, is also quite the Baalabusta and is renowned for her dips. On Thursday, she spoke to our hostess (a huge fan) on the phone and said, “When I come, I’m bringing you Babaganush.” I could hear the excited response on the other end of the line. Now, for the thirty hours before we arrived, the hostess would be thinking about what thoughtful guests we were for bringing her something she enjoys, and she didn’t have to spend money to buy store-made dips we wouldn’t use. So, the next time you want to surprise someone, stop and think how much more pleasure you could give them by letting them start to enjoy the gift well before they get it. Then, give them a heads-up about what you’re planning. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. [Author’s note: Of course, if that’s not possible, like on Chanuka, do your best to find out what they’d really like instead of guessing. I remember once we raised money in Yeshiva to buy a gift for one of the Rebbeim and instead of the tired old “toaster oven” idea, we bought him a special item another Rebbi suggested. Afterwards, I heard the Rebbe had confided in someone, “I was really hoping for a toaster oven for my wife.” And of course, if you’re the recipient of a poorly planned gift, put on a big smile, think of the affection with which the gift was given, and say, “Wow, what a wonderful surprise!”] Jonathan Gewirtz is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications around the world. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. For more information, or to sign up for his weekly Dvar Torah in English, e-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com. © 2012 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.

d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

here’s nothing like the excitement and adrenaline rush of buying the perfect gift for someone, and the expression on his or her face when you surprise them by having found exactly the right thing, which they’ve wanted for so long and can really use. Of course, when I say there’s “nothing like” it, I mean that literally. I don’t believe that in the entire history of human interaction and gift-giving this has ever successfully worked out to the full expectation of either the giver or the receiver. Invariably, something happens that spoils the moment. Either the gift isn’t right or the mood isn’t right. The expression of the recipient may not reach the expected full crescendo of joy the giver anticipated, or they may even suffer performance anxiety and become nervous and irritable about being watched as they open the box. Don’t believe the car companies who make it seem like if you surprise your spouse with a $70,000 vehicle that they’ll be paying for for years to come, without asking them about color preferences, options they’d like, or even if they want to get rid of the old car and take on new debt, they will be so overcome with sheer exultation that you’ll float merrily through the rest of your lives. I don’t care how big a bow you put on it, a surprise like that is a bad idea. Another case in point is the Italian fellow who came up with a brilliant notion on how to propose. In Italy, there is a custom that people exchange chocolate Easter eggs. Wanting to experience the ultimate in surprises, he had a chocolate maker place a $2,000 diamond and ruby engagement ring inside an egg, which he delivered to the girl he wanted to marry. He then left without a word, waiting to be called back to hear her shout with joy what a wonderful surprise she had had and that yes, she would marry him. At least, that’s how it was supposed to work. What really happened was that the woman didn’t like the dark chocolate of which the egg was made, so she went to a store to exchange it for a milk chocolate one. When he called her a few days later to find out how she had enjoyed his gift, she said it was delicious. A few heated questions later, it was clear that

The Jewish Home n

The Observant Jew

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

You Gotta be

Kidding!

Riddle

Submitted by Avigayil Newmark Yankel-Bo (from Bo-Rough Park) got an a.m. radio for his Chanukah present. It took him a month to figure out that he could listen to it at night. *** Herman tells Moshe that he bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Chanukah. Moshe says, “I thought she wanted one of those sporty 4-Wheel drive vehicles.” “She did,” Herman replied. “But where in the world was I going to find a fake Jeep?” *** Baruch decided to get his wife a nice gift for Chanukah. So he strolled into the neighborhood department store. “How about some perfume?” he asked the cosmetics clerk. She showed him a bottle costing $50. “That’s a bit much,” said Baruch, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30. “That’s still quite a bit,” Baruch groused. Growing disgusted, the clerk brought out a tiny $15 bottle. Baruch grew agitated, “What I mean,” he said, “is I’d like to see something real cheap.” So the clerk handed him a mirror.

Submitted by Chaim Mordechai Rosen Grandpa Morris took his six grandchildren to Oh Nuts to buy candy for Chanukah. He gave them a total of $7 to spend. The children all like three types of candy: red candy at one for a penny, green candy at two for a penny, and blue candy at three for a penny. Each child received exactly the same value in candy. How many pieces of candy and what color candy did each child receive? Answer on next page

(Submitted by David Kagen)

Nteesprs — — — — — — — — So, how are you going to burn off those jelly donuts? The key is exercise. If you want, you can join my exercise regimen of:

Ltge — — — — Knaauhhc — — — — — — — — Tnghouud — — — — — — — —

Jumping to conclusions Climbing the walls Beating around the bush Swallowing my pride Passing the buck Throwing my weight around Dragging my heels Pushing my luck Making mountains out of molehills Hitting the nail on the head Wading through paperwork Bending over backwards Jumping on the bandwagon Balancing the books Running around in circles Eating crow Tooting my own horn Climbing the ladder of success Pulling out the stops Adding fuel to the fire Opening a can of worms Putting my foot in my mouth Starting the ball rolling Going over the edge Picking up the pieces

Aabcceem — — — — — — — — Xndraaler eht treag — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Hytmsiaau — — — — — — — — — Hheuady — — — — — — — Rliedde — — — — — — — Sltkea — — — — — — Lio — — — Nrhomae — — — — — — — yptra — — — — — sbeimkhaiashd — — — — — — — — — — — — — heuaairslmyy — — — — — — — — — — — — hcpa — — — — ehgti — — — — — eehmns — — — — — — aaiochhsmmn — — — — — — — — — — — Scramble Answers: Presents Gelt Chanukah Doughnut Maccabee Alexander the Great

Matisyahu Yehudah Dreidel Latkes Oil Menorah Party

Beis Hamikdash Yerushalayim Pach Eight Shemen Chashmonaim

3. Which toy came on the market in 1979 and sold over 100,000,000 units within 3 years? a. Nintendo b. Mr. Potato Head c. Rubik’s cube d. Etch A Sketch 4. How often are Barbie dolls sold throughout the world? a. One a minute b. Three every secondv c. Every five minutes d. Every second

So, what’s the perfect Chanuka gift? Whether it is eight small ones or one large one, you gotta know the history of toys... it’s just really important. So get going and see what you know!

5. Parker Brothers originally rejected the following game because they thought it had fundamental errors which would prevent it from becoming successful. a. Monopoly b. Scrabble c. Battle Ship d. Risk

7. What was the first toy to be advertised on TV? a. Mr. Potato Head b. Matchbox cars c. Wooden train sets d. Lego 8. The Teddy Bear is named after: a. Its inventor b. A president c. A World War II hero d. A 7-year-old boy who was the first to come up with the idea 9. How did frisbies get their name? a. It is based on the sound they make when flying through the air b. Obviously the inventors name was John Frisbie (that’s a no brainer) c. It is named after a pie maker d. It is named after frisbie bird, found in Africa, which flies in the same pattern as the sports projectile. 10. Three presidents have played with this toy in public while they were president. What is it? a. Republicans (Get the joke?) b. Etch-A-Sketch c. Pogo Stick d. Yo-yo

6. John Lloyd Wright, inventor of this toy, conceived the idea while traveling with his father in Tokyo. He was inspired by the construction techniques used in 1982, over 100 million cubes had been sold. To date, 350 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold worldwide – so many, in fact, that if all the cubes were placed on top of each other it would be enough to reach the North Pole from the South Pole! By the way, you know how many Rubik’s cube combinations there are? 43,252,003,274,489,856,000. 4. B-Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, claims that three Barbie dolls are sold every second. Wouldn’t it be nice if we did a little more Rubik’s and a little less Barbie? Maybe we would get more people answering the Centerfold trivia correctly. 5. A-George Parker felt that Monopoly had three fundamental errors – it was too complex, took too long to play, and was based on concepts unfamiliar to most game players. The rest is history. (Don’t ask how many people doubted me, The Centerfold Commissioner... and the rest is history too. We legends always face adversity.) 6. D 7. A-Mr. Potato Head was the first children’s toy advertised on television. From 1952 to 1963 parents had to supply real potatoes for the body of Mr. Pota-

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Send your stuff to centerfold@fivetownsjewishhome.com

to Head, until 1964 when Hasboro introduced a hard plastic body. 8. B-The Teddy Bear was named after President Teddy Roosevelt after he came back from a Mississippi bear hunt with a wounded bear cub. The bear cub was popularized by cartoonist Clifford Berryman, and thus the Teddy Bear was born. 9. C-The Frisbie Baking Company (1871-1958) of Bridgeport, Connecticut made pies that were sold to many New England colleges. Hungry college students soon discovered that the empty pie tins could be tossed and caught, providing endless hours of game and sport. 10. D-JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon have all publicly played with the yo-yo. Answer key: 8-10 correct: Mr. Rubik, we would expect no less from a man like you than to be an avid supporter of the TJH Centerfold. 4-7 correct: Try to stay away from the toxic playdoh fumes. 0-3 correct: So, three of you are really sold every second. Answer to riddle: Each received two pieces of blue candy priced at three for a dollar, and one piece of green candy priced at two for a dollar.

Answers: 1. B- Play-Doh was invented in 1965 for use as a wallpaper cleaner. Although Play-Doh’s exact makeup is a closely guarded secret, it is known to contain, among other things, wheat flour, water, salt, and some sort of petroleum distillate. 2. D ( A general tip for you mediocre players: when you see a bunch of numbers in the same range and then one that is way out of the range of the other numbers, that is usually the correct answer. Just a tip, to try and help you guys out a bit...I know this trivia stuff can be stressful at times.) 3. C-Erno Rubik, a Hungarian scientist obsessed with 3D geometry, first envisioned the Rubik’s Cube in 1974. It took him several years, however, to work out the complex interaction of the toy’s elements. And even after creating a working model, Rubik found it difficult to market his new toy due to the political and economic atmosphere – Hungary was deeply Communist at the time. Finally, in 1979, Rubik got the break he was looking for when the Rubik’s Cube was featured at the Nuremberg Toy Show. It captured the imagination of toy enthusiasts everywhere, and by

d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

2. How many ways can you put together six Lego bricks of the same color if each brick has eight studs? a. 48 b. 146 c. 260 d. 102,981,500

the Imperial Hotel, which his father designed. a. Lego b. Tinker Toys c. Lincoln Logs d. Cliks

The Jewish Home n

1. Play-Doh was originally invented for what purpose? a. Cat repellant b. Wallpaper cleaner c. For troops in WWII to create instant boards in order to discuss tactics to penetrate enemy lines d. To stuff in car bumpers

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

Humor Be Patient

here is a mitzvah in the Torah to work on your middos. So, I decided to take action and perfect my middos. I knew it could take a long time, but it is well worth it. The first middah I was going to work on was patience. I was going to be the most patient person in the world. So, I went to Gift World (a Judaica store in Queens) and asked if they have a book entitled Patience. One of the employees there said that they do have the book and he even got it for me. He must have thought that if he told me where in the store I could find the book, but did not get it for me, I may not have had the patience to look for it. That’s why he got it for me. I thanked him and went to pay for it. However, the line was too long so I told the employee who gave me the book that the line was too long and I will have to buy it when I’m the first one on line. He understood why I didn’t want to wait. I was done, so I left the store. I had to find another way to work on patience because the first way clearly

didn’t work. I told a friend what had happened and he told me that he owns the very book that I had intended to buy. He would even drop it off at my house – right now! “Smart move on his part,” I thought. He knocked on my door and hand-

I didn’t have the patience to listen to the whole shiur. After all, I was trying to learn patience by listening to a shiur on patience without having a lot of patience. ed me the book. I thanked him and he left. Immediately, I began to read the book because I was determined to become very patient, more than you could imagine. However, after reading a few pages, it seemed that the book was as long as the line was in Gift World. Why would somebody write a book about how to be patient that is more than a few

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pages? Doesn’t that conflict with what the author set out to accomplish when writing the book? If someone doesn’t have patience, the book about how to have patience must be brief! This book was simply too long. I had to figure out some other way that I could work on be-

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ing patient. An idea came to me. I was going to listen to a shiur (i.e. a lecture). I Googled “patience shiur,” and one of the results was a shiur on the topic of patience, on a website called www.learntorah.com1. As soon as I clicked on the website, the shiur began. However, I had the same problem with the length of this shiur as I did with the length of the book. I didn’t have the patience to listen to the whole shiur. After all, I was trying to learn patience by listening to a shiur on patience without having a lot of patience. What was I to do? There was only one thing left to do: Listen to the Marvelous Middos Machine, Episode four, track three (I looked this up, I don’t know this by heart). Have you ever noticed that somehow, after each song is played for a “middos alert,” the people who listened to the song, became experts in that middah. Normally, it takes months, even years, to perfect a single middah. But the middos machine somehow does it in a few minutes. I’m kidding. I’m not going to listen to the Marvelous Middos Machine CD because obviously it doesn’t work that fast and it’s just for children, although we all know for some reason when it’s playing, we feel drawn into it, and listen along with our children. C’mon, you know you do that. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I was running out of ideas. Then, my phone rang. It was the same person who lent me the book entitled Patience. He asked me two rather strange questions. The first was, “Could you please tell me where the book is?” and the sec-

Chaim Zipper

ond was, “Is the book still in the same condition as I gave it to you?” Before I could say anything, he explained that when he read the book for the first few times he didn’t get past the first page before he lost patience reading it and then threw the book at the window, but not realizing the window was open, the book went out the window. It hit a car that was advertising, “Have patience. We’ll fix your car.” I told him that the book was still in the same condition as when he gave it to me. I decided that the only thing left to do was call my Rebbe. He would know what I should do. He told me words of wisdom. This is what he said: “If you

want to have patience, then you should drive to Boro Park a day before Chanukah and try to find a parking space near a toy store. Once you’ve driven into the spot, pull out and repeat this three more times. If after the third time you haven’t gone insane, then you will have learned patience.” So if you’re ever in Boro Park and see someone pulling in and out of a spot on 13th Avenue, don’t honk at them. Just know that it’s me and I am still trying to work on my patience. Perhaps you’ll learn some patience too when you circle around trying to find another spot within walking distance of your kids’ favorite store. Happy Chanukah! 1 In case you’re interested in the shiur, here’s the link: http://www.learntorah.com/ lt-shiur-details.aspx?id=4971

89 Yael Renov

Expanding Our Worldview safety and success of the road and its inhabitants would be jeopardized. Everyone knows the value of “laying the foundation.” Be it in a building, a house, or within ourselves, if there is a crack in the foundation, there forever remains a danger to the entire structure erroneously built upon it. What we as frum Yidden do in our daily lives to continuously fulfill Hashem’s will, parallels this process of creating a solid foundation and progressing towards our souls’ completion. Though it may feel like we are “just doing the same thing over and over again,” in truth, we must realize that where we were when we passed this same challenge previously, is not where we are now. We are beyond that point and we are closer to the end goal we crave. Just as the construction worker would be remiss to stop in the middle and question the entire purpose of his work because he does not yet see its final stage, we too, must trust in Hash-

main as he once was: simple and undeveloped. He must grow into his own, unique being. The concept of harchavas ha’daas—of having a wider perspective than one previously had— is symbolic of the baby’s developmental growth. Within a nisayon, a person may feel constricted and temporarily lack the capability to understand the purpose of such a challenge, especially if he has had a similar one before. He may even get frustrated at the superfluousness of such a nisayon. Yet, as his emunah grows and his sense of calm is restored, his perception can expand once again to include His awareness of Hashem. Through

His mission requires that he believe in the ultimate purpose of his very repetitive and grueling work and see that his contribution is precisely what enables everyone else to do their job.

em’s plans and know that wherever He has placed us and with whatever mission He has charged us, our actions and our choices are creating the expansion Hashem desires both within ourselves and throughout His world. The more precise our behaviors and thoughts align with Hashem’s plan, the more structured and sturdy our lives will become. How beneficial it is therefore, to take the time and invest ourselves in the numerous opportunities to accomplish this grave task. The position a baby maintains for the first few months of his life is both cradled and clutched tightly. Yet as the baby develops and grows in his journey towards adulthood, his body expands and opens up so that he can achieve his mission in this world. In other words, it is no longer conducive for him to re-

this, what once seemed to him as constricted and difficult to comprehend is now open and possible to perceive in a clearer light. The key in this process is to believe that Hashem created us in a position of constriction and throughout life will return us to such a mode so that we can achieve the great task of repetitively finding and once again developing our expansive view of His world and our role in it. This process is a G-d given gift known as hischadshus, renewal. When Hashem created man, He created him with the need for newness in his life; we are better able to appreciate what we have after having lost it. I would like to suggest that this is why Hashem creates moments of darkness and decreased clarity in our lives. When we

lose our clarity and feel distant from Hashem, we begin to long for His presence once again, renewing our appreciation for His intervention in our lives.

With this, the view of our lives and our challenges is expanded to include Hashem’s role in them, which results in great bracha pouring forth. Therefore, when we are faced with the ongoing repetition of serving Hashem in what may seen endless and frivolous, be it facing the same challenge or trying to daven again as we did the day before, we should know that through our repetitive deeds and passing of life tests, we are expanding the pathway to Hashem and tapping into the clarity that resides within the journey to Him. We need not question our role along the path called “Life.” No matter how long it takes to achieve our mission, we are always progressing. We have Hashem as our contractor, the Torah as our plans, and the road remains ours to build and to travel. As we prepare for a life of nitzchius, eternity, in Olam Haba it is obvious that each step along the way is meaningful. The toiling we do in this world is laying the foundation and completing the pathway to our final destination. Forever may we live with the clarity and menuchas hanefesh, inner peace, to not question our mission for it is purposeful, deep and vital in Hashem’s world. It may take a while to see the final product but we must trust that it is there, laid out perfectly in the blueprints of Hashem’s world.

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s I was driving down the Belt Parkway today I was blessed with an insight of profound clarity. As anyone who travels the Belt regularly knows, there has been construction taking place on it for years. The purpose of this seemingly endless and tedious construction is to widen the roads and add new inlets and lanes to the highly populated highway. As I put myself in the mindset of the construction worker who day in and day out repeats his highly concentrated motions of laying foundations and building on top of them for the purpose of expanding the road, I thought how symbolic this is of our lives as Torah Jews. I believe we can all relate to the reality that in life it sometimes feels as if we are doing the same thing over and over again, with no inherent value or purpose attributed to the individual steps of the journey. In other words, we want to look back on our lives and see that we have achieved great accomplishments in Torah and so on, but how sincerely do we appreciate these repetitive steps that must be taken in order to achieve that end goal? Do we really appreciate the opportunity that the repetition of a life challenge or of fulfilling a Torah commandment affords us? How often do we feel discouraged to have to replicate these actions? Is it possible that we can sometimes lack the clarity that it is only through this repetitive toiling that we can each build our road to our final destination in Olam Haba? Imagine if in the middle of the Belt Parkway expansion, a construction worker who lays the groundwork for the new lanes got frustrated with the monotony and never-ending feeling of his job and refused to continue. Would it suffice for him to claim that he feels as if his job is valueless because he cannot see how his work directly brings about the final product? It would be so obvious that this person was missing the point of his role in the road’s expansion. His mission requires that he believe in the ultimate purpose of his very repetitive and grueling work and see that his contribution is precisely what enables everyone else to do their job. For if he would not continuously lay the foundation in the identical manner throughout the construction, the

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Jewish Thought

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

In the Kitchen Estee Kafra

Elegant Dishes to Serve This Chanukah

Goat Cheese Crostini with Caramelized Fruit A few simple steps culminate in a sophisticated and beautiful presentation. The earthy taste of goat cheese is complemented by the sweet caramelized fruits. Ingredients 1 long multigrain French baguette 1 Tbsp butter 2 tsp sugar 2 Bosc pears, thinly sliced (don’t peel) 3 small peaches, thinly sliced Goat cheese

Candied nuts—see recipe below Fresh sprigs parsley for garnishing Candied Nuts 1 cup walnut pieces 1 cup sugar

Directions Slice the French baguette diagonally to create oval slices. Toast for a few minutes just until browning – set aside. Meanwhile, in a heavy duty pan or skillet, melt the butter and sugar together. Add the slices of fruit and cook on both sides until slightly browned or caramelized. Spread the goat cheese onto the toasted bread and top with caramelized fruit and garnish with candied nuts and parsley.

Candied Nuts Place walnut pieces and sugar into a heavy saucepan or skillet. Let it cook on medium-low flame until sugar turns into an amber liquid. Stir as little as possible. When all the nuts are coated by the melted sugar, pour onto a prepared sheet of parchment paper quickly.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting This is one of my favorite combinations: carrot cake + cream cheese! Perfect for any occasion. Ingredients Carrot Cake 3 eggs 1 cup oil 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 3/4 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp salt

2 cup grated carrots * See Note 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes Cream Cheese Frosting 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature 3/4 cup cream cheese at room temperature 1-1/2 cups icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions Carrot Cake Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs, oil and vanilla extract. In another bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Slowly add into the wet ingredients and mix. Add carrots, nuts and coconut. Mix for only 20 seconds more, just to combine. Pour the batter into a well-greased 8 inch pan (round or square) and bake 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely. *Note: The trick to this carrot cake is the carrots themselves. They must be

grated to a very fine consistency, using the small, fine holes on the grater or the blade attachment on the food processor. Cream Cheese Frosting Mix all ingredients together until creamy. To Assemble Cut the cake in half horizontally and place one cake layer on a platter. Spread a cupful of the frosting over the cake and top with the second cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Garnish with walnut halves, if desired.

Use as an elegant hors d’oeuvre, or a savory side dish. Sure to be a favorite with all.

Creamy Pasta Roll Ups You won’t believe that this creamy pasta dish is in fact not too high in fat. The pine nuts and scallions add a different twist to this much-loved dish. Directions Ingredients 12 lasagna noodles 1 jar (about 3 cups) of your favorite marinara sauce

Directions Preheat oven to 400°. In a food processor, pulse bread and garlic until fine crumbs form—set ½ cup aside. Add parsley, salt and pepper and pulse until crumbly. Add goat cheese and mix until fully combined. Remove stems, peels and gills from the mushrooms, and spoon filling into the mushrooms, then place in oiled pan. Put the saved breadcrumbs, along with the walnuts in the food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Sprinkle on top of filled mushrooms and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Filling 1 lb ricotta cheese ½ lb cottage cheese (1% is fine) 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Cheddar cheese 2 eggs ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper

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5 oz. goat cheese 20 baby Portobello or large button mushrooms Olive oil for greasing 1/4 cup walnuts

Ingredients 3 slices challah, crust removed 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup fresh parsley leaves ½ tsp black pepper Kosher salt

¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped 1 or 2 scallions, finely chopped ½ cup toasted pine nuts

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions, until al dente — soft but still chewy — and drain. Lay noodles flat. Combine filling ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly until smooth. Grease a 9-inch square deep baking dish. Place approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of filling on the center of a lasagna noodle and spread it evenly to cover the whole noodle. Roll the noodle up gently and place seam down into the baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the noodles, packing them in close together in the baking dish. Pour marinara sauce over the top of the noodles, covering them completely. Cover the pan and bake for 40 minutes. Serve warm.

Fruit Fritters These fried delicacies have a delicious treat hiding inside. I tried all types of fruit and of course, everyone who tasted them had a different favorite. For me, the winner was the pineapple. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong. Ingredients Batter 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 3 Tbsp sugar 1½ Tbsp canola oil 2 cups milk 2 eggs ½ cup sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon ½ to 1 tsp ground nutmeg Canola oil for frying

2 Granny Smith or Cortland apples 2 Bosc pears Pineapple, cut into bite-size chunks Banana, cut into bite-size pieces Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling, optional Ground cinnamon for sprinkling, optional Chocolate Sauce 1 cup non-dairy dessert topping, defrosted 7 oz pure milk chocolate

Directions In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients for the batter. Add oil, milk, and eggs and mix well until there are no lumps. In another bowl, mix sugar with cinnamon and nutmeg. Prepare oil for deep-frying by filling a pot with 4 to 5 inches of oil. (You may want to use a small or medium-sized pot, working in smaller batches, so as not to use as much oil.) Preheat oil to 375°F. Core, peel, and slice apples into rings about ¼-inch thick. Repeat with pears, cutting away the core with a sharp knife. Dip each slice of fruit into the sugar and spice mixture, coating fully (I don’t recommend dipping the pineapple, but you can try it and see how you like it!), then dip into the batter, submerging the fruit all the way and making sure all sides are

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Mushrooms with Cheese Filling

covered. (I found that holding the fruit by the hole in the center was a good way to do it.) Drop battered fruit into preheated oil; it should rise to the top as it begins frying. Turn fruit over when the bottom is brown, and let brown on other side as well — less than 3 minutes total. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and cinnamon if desired, and serve with chocolate sauce. For the chocolate sauce: in the top of a double boiler (or a metal bowl placed on top of a pot of boiling water), heat the dessert whip and chocolate together, stirring occasionally until melted and combined. Remove from heat and serve either warm or at room temperature. NOTE: As with most fried foods, fritters are best served fresh. These recipes were reprinted with permission from Kosherscoop.com. Kosherscoop.com is an interactive free recipe website with all the latest and greatest in kosher cooking. Estee Kafra worked as food editor of Binah Magazine before taking the job as editor of “Kosher Inspired,” a magazine produced by Mishpacha, and released quarterly. She is also the author of 2 cookbooks, “Spice it Right” and “Cooking with Color”. Estee lives in Toronto.

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T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

97 Sol Z. Sokel

Compensation for an Injury From a Car Accident

The Attorney Responds: The ordeal you went through was horrible and no one should ever have to deal with such a situation, let alone to find out that there is no compensation in the end. Many people have shared your complaints. It is unfortunate that you were not fully informed of the potential for an unfavorable result. That is, although the accident was not your fault, you should have been better informed about the specific laws regarding compensation. With regard to your specific facts, just as any lawyer, I would need many more details to give you accurate advice; any number of facts could alter that advice. Therefore, at this juncture, I can provide you some specific guiding principles about the law for compensating injured people for their pain and suffering following a car accident. In New York State, to be entitled to compensation for an injury following a motor vehicle accident, the injury must exceed the “serious injury” criteria dictated by the law, which is commonly known as exceeding the “threshold” and is a part of the “no-fault” law. Other states, including New Jersey, have such laws as well with some variation. According to the laws of New York State, pursuant to Insurance Law §5102 and §5104, a “serious injury” includes a list of specifically enumerated criteria, including death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, loss of a fetus,

and a fracture. If a person has sustained any of these injuries or conditions I just specified, it is often (but not always) clear that the person is, in fact, entitled to compensation from the responsible party for his or her pain and suffering. However, there are three criteria that are subject to a lot of interpretation and dispute; these three criteria have created much more litigation than anyone would ever want to believe. The three disputed criteria are the following: 1. A significant limitation of use of a body function or system; 2. A permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member; and 3. An injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than ninety (90) days during one hundred and eighty (180) days following the occurrence of the injury or impairment. The careers of many lawyers revolve around understanding and arguing the meaning and application of these criteria, and I expect that is what your lawyer confronted when he was trying to resolve your case. When applying these three criteria, in a nut shell, the ultimate questions the lawyer is addressing include: “Would an average jury (i.e., made of reasonably prudent people like yourself) believe the criteria is met?” then, “If so, would the jury verdict be upheld on appeal?” Basically, if the answer to either of these questions is “no,” then the injured person should not expect to be compensated. The obvious question therefore becomes, what do these criteria mean? One accurate way to answer you is to provide you with the law that a typical jury is provided at the time of trial. Therefore, with regard to the first of the three criteria, a jury would be provided the following law: A limitation of use of a body function or system means that the function or system does not operate at all or operate only in some limited way. It is not necessary that there has been a total loss of the body function or system or that the limitation of use is permanent. However, the limitation of use must be significant, meaning that the loss is im-

portant or meaningful. A minor, mild, or slight limitation of use is not significant. Very common examples of injured people who may fall under this criteria include people who have injured their neck or lower back and have significantly restricted range of motion for an extended period of time. Such people usually cannot perform activities which they could perform prior to sustaining the injury, if not as well. Regarding the second criteria of a permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, this is a common explanation to jurors: A limitation of use of a body organ or member means that the body organ or member does not operate at all or operates only in some limited way; there need not be a total loss of the use of the body organ or member. The limitation of use must be consequential, which means that it is significant, important, or of consequence. A minor, mild or slight limitation of use is not significant, important or of consequence. It is clear that this criteria has much in common with the first criteria and, in fact, the two are often used interchangeably with one another. For the sake of brevity in this response, with regard to your ankle injury, if that injury was permanent and significant enough to curtail your ability to function on a daily basis for an extended period of time, it may have been an injury that your lawyer could have pursued to qualify under this criteria. However, from the tone of your question and the lack of details, there may have been a legal determination made by the Court that your injury failed to meet this criteria. Regarding the “90/180" criteria, this is the usual law provided to jurors: An injury will be considered a serious injury when he or she sustained a medically determined injury or impairment of a nonpermanent nature that prevented the injured party from performing substantially all of the material acts that constituted his or her usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the accident.

As you can see, the time period involves a three month period (i.e., 90 days) during the six months (i.e., 180 days) after the accident. If your ankle injury prevented you from going to the gym for three months or more during the six month period after the accident, the time element of this criteria would

have been met. However, I would assume that going to the gym does not constitute substantially all of the material acts that constitute your daily activities; for this reason, without additional information, your condition does not meet this criteria either. Based on the information you provided, applying the facts to the law, it seems that your injuries did not breach the “threshold” criteria under the law. Sol Z. Sokel, Esq. (a/k/a “Shlomo”) is associated with the AV rated law firm, Kelly, Rode & Kelly LLP located in Mineola and lives in Cedarhurst with his wife and their four children. He can be reached at szsokel@krklaw.com and (516) 739-0400. CNG Networking Group is an Orthodox Jewish networking group which meets in Queens and Long Island. The attorney sub-group of CNG has 8 members with various specialties: Trusts & Estates, Real Estate, Matrimonial, Criminal, Personal Injury, Trademarks/Copyright, Tax, Nonprofits, Litigation. We welcome questions from readers on a wide range of legal matters. Please submit your legal questions to SchechterLaw@gmail.com. While we do not provide specific legal advice, we hope to present readers with a greater understanding of the issues presented and potential means of resolving difficulties. No column is a substitute for competent legal advice. Please consult with the attorney of your choice concerning specific legal questions you may have.

d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

I live in Hewlett and was in a car accident a few years ago. My left ankle was so badly sprained that it was very painful for several weeks and I went for physical therapy for over two months. The accident was completely the other driver’s fault and my car was fixed by his insurance company. My life was turned upside down and I could not go to the gym. Due to my injury, I hired a lawyer and he started a lawsuit. He said we should do great since the accident was not my fault. I gave a deposition, went to more doctors, and signed affidavits. Now, over three years later, to my shock, my lawyer informed me that I was not seriously injured, and I will not get anything for my pain and suffering. I am sure he totally messed this up. How can it be that I cannot recover anything for my injury?

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Ask the Attorney

T h e J e w i s h H o m e n d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

DrDeb

Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

TJH Staff

Bucking the Tide

n December 2, I presented two workshops at the OU Positive Parenting Conference and then participated in the Q & A that took place at the end of the morning. I thought the questions from the audience were to the point and I was pretty much in agreement with the other presenters’ answers. However, I noticed that in giving the answers, fellow presenters (which included social workers, rabbis, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and I, a marriage and family therapist) were talking about “patients” having “disorders,” “diseases,” and “dysfunctions.” One member of the audience was having a problem with those words and asked, “Couldn’t you call these things, ‘challenges’?” I tended to agree with her. Life is hard, as we in the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, parts of Brooklyn, and Long Beach have learned. And natural disasters don’t mean that sickness, financial problems, and marital or parenting “challenges” just stop. Rather, they are compounded. G-d apparently wanted it that way; there has never been a period in history without them. We were meant to struggle and come up with the best responses we can. Sometimes that could be good or good enough and sometimes it wouldn’t be. But who has the right to stand in judgment of our responses and call them “dysfunctions”? As Rabbi Goldwasser said during his presentation, “I’m sure that there isn’t anybody in this room who doesn’t have some personal issue they would rather not share.” I assume he was speaking for himself and I’m quite sure I fit the bill as well. Surely, then, the remaining Rabbonim and mental health professionals could say no less. But for the professional giving the “disorder” a name, something wonderful happens: For a slight moment, he can forget that he, too, has challenges that he has not handled as well as he wished he did. He can forget that we are all human here, struggling together to get it right. He can separate himself from the frightening and disturbing quality of other people’s pain and their responses to it.

It is because of this huge psychological benefit to the diagnostician that there now is about to come out a brand new issue of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-V, for short. But where does that leave those diagnosed? The benefit is that if you have a “disease,” then the problems you are causing those you love and who love you are not your fault; you are the unfortunate victim of some kind of chemical imbalance. If it’s not your fault, you really do feel better about yourself. And then you can take a prescription medication for relief. This would be helpful except that there is actually no disease at all; no chemical imbalances were ever found,

are any more. They did not go through periods of life without drugs long enough to know how their unmedicated Self would have responded to their challenges. Not only is that unfortunate, but it’s disempowering. The purpose of the prescription – to provide an opportunity to cope well and feel happy – is completely turned on its heel because the person taking it is uncertain that she or he could have handled the obstacle in life as well without it. A better approach would be to arm the individual with skills, new perspectives, a way to glom onto happiness rather than shun it, and more emunah so as to cope a little better with the tests life throws at us. A better ap-

The best approach would be to stop blaming people who aren’t coping well by pinning labels on them and instead start showing amazement for how they got as far as they did given the tribulations they have suffered. and although there may possibly be a genetic predisposition to certain behaviors, a predisposition only means it is something to watch out for and take precautions against. It certainly doesn’t imply that Hashem unexpectedly took away our free will to work on ourselves and guard against our trials. What’s more, the drugs that we take stop working after we develop a tolerance for them. Without the full cooperation of our own personalities in the healing process, the drugs are actually working chemically against the chemicals that our thoughts and our attitudes produce. Even worse, people on long-term prescriptions for depression and anxiety have said they don’t know who they

proach would also be to help partners learn to mutually lean on one another, share burdens, sorrows and joys, and come out as a strong team when the tests come. A better approach would further be to inject more respect into family dynamics – and more affection. The best approach would be to stop blaming people who aren’t coping well by pinning labels on them and instead start showing amazement for how they got as far as they did given the tribulations they have suffered. That’s a more respectful approach, too, but it has a price tag: The professional no longer sits at a distance from this troubled stranger in front of him. The professional sees his own humanity with all its weaknesses and follies reflected in

this person. That’s pretty scary. It’s scary but it is really empowering for the professional as well. You see, when we face ourselves – whether we are the professionals serving the community or the members of that community – we are unburdened. We no longer have to carry around those secrets that Rabbi Goldwasser was alluding to. In letting down our masks of authority and superiority, we can do a better job of meeting those who need our help exactly where those people are. It might seem the opposite. It might seem that if the professional turns out to be “only human,” then he or she wouldn’t have what it takes to lend a hand to another suffering person. But that is the farthest from the truth. Actually, it is precisely because a person has come out from behind the desk as just another human being that he is in the position to empathize with those in front of him. He will be believed because his humanity is evident. And his additional knowledge and experience coming from his professional work will be the asset it should be. It seems like Chanukah is a fortuitous time to bring this up. For me, Chanukah represents the Jew bucking the tide and being who he is supposed to be. It is the Jew unwilling to pretend to be who he is not. It would have been easier for the Maccabees to align themselves with the powers that be but they chose not to. They chose instead to be who they were with no pretense. And they fought for that privilege. In pursuing our own happiness, emotional well-being, and family connectedness, let’s be Maccabees. Let’s not succumb to the easy answer of “disease” and “disorder.” Let’s look inside courageously and work together to heal what needs healing. Dr. Deb Hirschhorn has had over 35 years clinical experience. She has been in numerous publications, both professional and for the public, and has appeared on TV and has been featured on radio. She practices Marriage-Friendly Therapy. She has a local practice in Woodmere, N.Y. See her website, http://drdeb.com, or call her at 646-54-DRDEB.

Rifka Schonfeld

Wetting the Bed at Night

A: Bed-wetting, or enuresis, is a more common occurrence than most people realize. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about twenty-five percent of 5-year-olds, and ten percent of 6-year-olds wet their beds. Bed-wetting is often attributed to a psychological or anxiety disorder, but new research is actually proving that this is not always the case. Below are some common causes of bed-wetting: • Genetics: If both parents wet their beds after the age of 6, there is a 75% chance that the child will wet his bed as well. If only one parent wet the bed, there is still a 44% chance of bedwetting. • Developmental Lag: Just as some children are late talkers or walkers, there are children who are late in controlling their bladder while sleeping. Eventually, even with a lag, all children learn to walk or talk, so too, will they learn how to stay dry at night. • D e e p Sleep: Some children sleep so deeply, they cannot recognize when their bladder is full and therefore do not have enough time to get to the bathroom. • Small Bladder: Physically, the child might have a small bladder and therefore the bladder might overfill at night, causing nighttime urination. While extremely frustrating to the parent, the American Academy of Family Physicians states that up until the age of six, bed-wetting is not abnormal. After the age of six, they suggest several methods in order to prevent it: • Limit fluids before bedtime. • Have your child go to the bathroom at the beginning of the nighttime routine and then again right before sleep. • Create a reward system for dry nights. • Ask your child to change the sheets after they get wet. • Have your child train his bladder

by holding his urine for longer times during the day. While encouraging your child to take responsibility for bed-wetting (like asking him to change the sheets), remember that it is important not to get angry or inflict guilt in your child. He is not bed-wetting because he is too lazy to get out of bed, so punishing him for actions that are beyond his control (and probably already cause him embarrassment) will only worsen the problem. Anxiety In some rare cases, bed-wetting can be triggered by anxiety. A divorce, move, or death in the family can significantly stress parents and children. The resulting change in lifestyle might prompt a child to begin bed-wetting. For instance, if the family moves from one city to another, parents might assume that the child is having trouble holding his bladder at night because of the emotional stress of leaving his old friends behind. However, the new floor plan of the house might be the true culprit. The child is not used to going to the bathroom down the hall, as he was used to the one right next door in his old home. Finding the root of bedwetting – whether genetic, physical, or emotional – is the first step towards curing it. Nonetheless, perhaps the most important thing to remember is that if your child had a choice, he wouldn’t wet his bed. Therefore, large servings of both compassion and patience are also necessary remedies for the problem. The opinions expressed in this article reflect the view of the author and those cited by her. In all matters of hashkafah and chinuch, readers should seek reliable rabbinical guidance. Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld, founder and director of Strategies for Optimum Success (S.O.S.) in 1980, services all grade levels in secular as well as Hebrew studies. A long-time kriah and reading specialist, she offers evaluations, as well as G.E.D. preparation, social skills training and shidduch coaching. She can be reached at 718-382-5437 or at rifkaschonfeld@verizon.net.

Devorah Gerber Schmeltz

Sensory Gyms and Their Benefits Dear Devorah, in this specialized field. The clinician I hear so much talk about sen- needs to evaluate and target the area sory gyms. How is that different from which needs to be addressed and then a regular OT carry out client practice? specific therapy. Ariella S., Depending on Cedarhurst the needs of the Depending on the child, equipneeds of the child, Dear Ariella, ment found in a Good quessensory gym can equipment found in a tion! One of the be a beneficial sensory gym can be a domains occupatool in the thertional therapists apy process. beneficial tool in the are trained in is -Devorah sensory integratherapy process. tion. A sensory gym has equipment that can Devorah (Gerber) be utilized in therapy to treat an array Schmeltz, MS OTR/L is a 2003 alumnus of sensory processing difficulties (and of Downstate Medical Center’s OT Procertainly other areas as well such as gram. She is a senior occupational therapist at United Cerebral Palsy’s Brooklyn balance and motor planning). Children’s Program. Devorah maintains a Equipment may include: Swings, crash pads, ball pits, zip private practice, Bumble & Tumble Occulines, balance beams, rocker boards, pational Therapy P.C., in Far Rockaway, tunnels, trampolines, and an assort- NY providing pediatric occupational and ment of tactile stimuli which may in- physical therapy. Department of Educaclude shaving cream, lotion, vibration, tion vouchers/RSAs are gladly accepted. Your questions and comments are welcome. sand/rice boxes, etc. Treating sensory processing dys- She can be reached at BumbleTumble functions require good clinical skills Therapy@gmail.com or 917-971-5327.

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Q: My child has wetting his bed frequently at night. What is the root of bed-wetting? Should I be concerned or is this something that will pass as he matures?

Health & Fitness

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Social Smarts

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Forgotten Heroes

Avi Heiligman

Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn

First Jewish Chaplain in the Marines

Comforting Our Nation with Words of Strength

orld War II had started for the United States in the Pacific with the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other strategic bases in December 1941. More than three years later, the Americans had fought back and were now on Japan’s doorstep. In early 1945, the military still needed to fight two more important battles before invading Japan itself. (In the end, the invasion of Japan wasn’t necessary as the atomic bombs forced them to surrender.) The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two of the bloodiest battles the GIs had fought. The Japanese had considered them part of their homeland and fought tooth and nail with more determination than any of the other battles in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Almost 7,000 Americans marines were killed and were buried on Iwo Jima. As a lasting tribute to their sacrifice, the chaplaincy wanted to honor their memory and wanted a nondenominational service, so the head chaplain turned to Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn who gave a speech that paid tribute to all those who had died in the name of freedom regardless of race, religion or background. One of the main reasons that the Americans needed to capture Iwo Jima was its close proximity to the Japanese home islands and that it had three strategic airbases. The B-29 Superfortress was a long-range heavy bomber that allowed the US to continually pound Tokyo and other major cities. One of the drawbacks of the B-29 was that it was prone to mechanical failures during a flight and therefore the Air Corps wanted Iwo Jima as an emergency landing base. Secretly, American intelligence wanted it for a staging area for the B-29s that would carry the atomic bombs in August 1945. The island also had strategic radar control towers that would relay information on incoming B-29s. The Americans wanted these destroyed; therefore the invasion date was set for February 19, 1945. Iwo Jima was part of the Volcano Islands chain in the central Pacific. Its most recognizable feature is the 545 ft. Mount Suribachi in the south. It took the marines five days to capture this stronghold as the Japanese had set up an extensive network of honeycombed tunnels and caves, and the marines had a hard time getting them out. The flamethrower be-

came the decisive weapon as most other weapons in the marine’s arsenal failed. On February 23, six men raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi. The moment was caught on camera by Jewish photographer Joe Rosenthal and the picture became instantly famous. The battle was far from over, as the northern part of Iwo Jima still remained in Japanese hands until March 16. The fighting didn’t completely end until March 25 when the last of the 22,000 defenders charged in a suicidal banzai attack or committed ritual suicide. Only 216 Japanese were taken prisoner as it was considered disgraceful and according to Japanese tradition, one that did so would have his family and his memory disgraced forever. The 5th Marine division had suffered terribly. They landed on D-Day (the term D-Day refers to any landing and not just the invasion off the coast of France on June 6, 1944), February 19, and were in the fight until March 18. It was to be their only battle of the war, and they lost 1,098 men killed and another 3,000 wounded. The division cemetery was dedicated on March 21, and the divisional chaplain, Warren Cuthriell, a Protestant, wanted a service that would memorialize men of all religions who were buried in the cemetery. He asked Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn to preside over the ceremony. Roland Gittelsohn was the first Jewish chaplain in marine history, and he served with the 5th Marines. There were about 1,500 Jewish marines who fought on Iwo Jima and he regularly held services for them as well as the entire 70,000 man invasion force regardless of their religion. Still, there were some who were opposed to Cuthriell’s decision to have Gittelsohn preside over the services. Many of the other Christian chaplains, especially the Catholics, were opposed to having a Jewish rabbi lead the ceremony when there were so many other people to choose from. Anti-Semitism was evident in the Marine Corps and even among the chaplains. Still, Chaplain Cuthriell didn’t listen to the dissenters and Rabbi Gittelsohn directed it as planned. However, there were three separate religious ceremonies over the cemetery and only 70 people attended Chaplain Gittelsohn’s. Here are his words: Here before us lie the bodies of com-

rades and friends, men who until yesterday or last week laughed with us, joked with us, trained with us, men who fought with us and feared with us. Somewhere in this plot of ground there may lie the man who could have discovered the cure for cancer … Now they lie here silently in this sacred soil, and we gather to consecrate the earth in their memory. It is not easy to do so. Some of us have buried our closest friends here. To speak in memory of such men as these is not easy. No, our poor power of speech can add nothing to what these men have already done. All that we can even hope to do is to follow their example, to show the same selfless courage in peace that they did in war; to swear that by the grace of G-d and the stubborn strength and power of the human will, their sons and ours will never suffer these pains again. These men have done their job well. They have paid the ghastly price of freedom. We dedicate ourselves, first, to live together in peace the way they fought and are buried in this war. Here lie officers and men, Negroes and whites, rich men and poor, together. Here, no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here, there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination, no prejudices, no hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy. When the last shot has been fired, there will be those whose eyes are turned backward, not forward, who will be satisfied with wide extremes of poverty and wealth in which the seeds of another war can breed. We promise you, our departed comrades, this too we will not permit. This war has been fought by the common man. Its fruits of peace must be enjoyed by the common man. We promise, by all that is sacred and holy, that your sons, the sons of miners and millers, the sons of farmers and workers, the right to a living that is decent and secure. Thus do we memorialize those who, having ceased living with us, now live within us again. Thus do we consecrate ourselves to the living to carry on the struggle they began. Too much blood has gone into this soil for us to let it lie barren. Too much pain and heartache have fertilized the earth on which we stand. We here solemnly swear, this shall not be

Rabbi Gittelsohn conducting service on Iwo Jima

in vain. Out of this, and from the suffering and sorrow of those who mourn this, will come, we promise, the birth of a new freedom for the sons of men everywhere. After the speech, Taps was played and the American flag was flown at half mast. The meaning was clear to the marines, as one of the attendees said, “Its message was unmistakable. Men must live together in peace. If only men had listened.” Some people even equate his words to Lincoln’s Gettysburg address as the words in both speeches were very powerful. But more than seventy people did hear Gittelsohn’s words of comfort. Three Protestant chaplains skipped their own service to listen to Gittelsohn and unknown to him, distributed thousands of copies of the speech to troops in their regiment. Some of the men sent it home and soon news corporations were publishing the speech in magazines and newspapers. The army broadcasted the sermon to troops around the globe. After the war, Roland Gittelsohn was asked to repeat his speech many times as people realized that it held a powerful message. He died in 1995 but his words are everlasting to the men who served and scarified their lives in name of freedom. 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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Leisure & Travel

Susan Schwamm

From Sea to Shining Sea : Georiga When I think of Georgia, I think of peaches and ladies wearing big hats and speaking in Southern drawls. But there is a lot more to Georgia than its luscious fruit and humidity. A trip here is exciting, inspiring and full of history. Things You Won’t Want to Miss Stone Mountain Stone Mountain attracts millions of visitors a year and is a site that it is truly awe-inspiring. The five-mile mountain is located in Stone Mountain Park. What is truly interesting about this attraction is the bas-relief carving on the side of the mountain. This carving is the largest of its kind in the world and depicts three figures of the Confederate States of America: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. To reach the summit of the mountain, visitors can walk up marked trails and enjoy the foliage and scenery along the way. There is also a tram and Skyride cable car that whisks visitors to the top. On summer evenings, the Stone Mountain Laser Show Spectacular draws large crowds with music, fireworks and a laser light display.

Savannah Historic District A trip to the Savannah Historic District brings one back to the time of the American Civil War. Enjoy the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century architecture and green spaces located here. The area includes landmarks such as Temple Mikve Israel, the third-oldest synagogue in America; Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, one the South’s first public museums; and Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex, the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in the nation. Golden Isles If you’re looking for beauty and relaxation, take a trip to the Golden Isles. This group of four barrier islands and the port city of Brunswick have become the destination for the nation’s wealthiest families in recent years. The balmy temperatures and beautiful beaches are major draws for those looking for a place to wind down and relax. Shopping here for luxury goods is a wonderful way to pass the time and there are numerous small shops to check out as well. Golfing, fishing, boating, and meandering through myriad

parks are other attractions that are a perfect complement to the restful atmosphere of the islands. Famous Faces Georgia boasts several places that honor the lives and careers of noted Americans. The Little White House in Warm Springs served as the summer residence of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt while being treated for polio. President Jimmy Carter was born in the town of Plains and the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta was built in his name. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is located in Atlanta. Rock City Rock City is a wonderful family destination. Located on Lookout Mountain and 1,700 feet above sea level, visitors are treated to panoramic views of seven states. The Rock City Gardens features the Enchanted Trail and Fairyland Caverns, places the children on your trip will love.

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Quotes

Compiled by Nate Davis

“Say What?” - Text on the shirt of a 3 year old boy in France that got his mother arrested. The boy’s name is “Jihad.” “The notion that you can solve all problems over a cocktail I think is a little overrated.” - WH press secretary Jay Carney on the importance of President Obama socialization with lawmakers “He said he wouldn’t play me but I could play on his team.” - Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III on challenging Obama to a basketball game “Joe Biden was in Costco and he wanted to buy some of this stuff, but I told him he had too much work to do. I wasn’t going to have him building roller coasters all day long.” - President Obama at a toy rollercoaster factory “We’re common. We just have more money.” - Cindy Hill talking about her and her husband having one of the winning Powerball tickets worth $293,750,000 “One day, a young Palestinian will raise the Palestinian flag over Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the state of Palestine!” - Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, after the U.N. gave the P.A. “Observer State” status “And always remember, Abraham Lincoln only served one term in Congress, too.” - Rep. Allen West (R-FL), who recently lost his bid for a second term, on NPR “One bright spot of Barack Obama’s re-election was knowing that unemployment rates were about to soar for the precise groups that voted for him -- young people, unskilled workers and single women with degrees in gender studies.” - Ann Coulter “We’re proud to announce that since 2006... Planned Parenthood of Indiana has paved the way for at least 12 successful adoptions.” - Self congratulatory message on the website of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, which in 2011 performed 5,250 abortions

“The Palestinians could have had a state as old as I am, in 1947.” - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the pro-Israel Saben Forum in Washington D.C. “It’s magic beans and fairy dust.” - White House Spokesman Jay Carney’s response to John Boehner’s proposal to avoid the fiscal cliff “Great Britain’s Princess Kate and Prince William are expecting a baby...One day that child could grow up to be one of the most powerful unemployed people in the world.” - Jay Leno “President Clinton and President Obama played a round of golf over the weekend. President Clinton asked Obama what his handicap was, and Obama said, ‘Joe Biden.’” - Jay Leno “The Obamas have decorated the White House with 54 X-mas trees. It’s all part of their ‘For the last time, we’re not Muslim’ campaign.” - Conan O’Brien “Friends of Mitt Romney are saying that he’s bored now that he’s no longer running for president — though not as bored as the rest of us were when he WAS running for president.” - Jimmy Fallon

sons to be moved by them after they’ve won.” - Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal “I just stole a car and robbed a bank. Now I’m rich, I can pay off my college financial aid, and tomorrow I’m going for a shopping spree.” - Hannah Sabata of Nebraska boasting on YouTube about conducting a bank robbery. She was arrested shortly after posting the video

“The man who got the Mitt Romney face tattoo is having it removed because he said ‘Romney has no dignity.’ Once you get a face tattoo, you’re no longer allowed to talk about dignity.” - Conan O’Brien “The European move is essentially an American move. The Brits asked the Americans how to act.” - An anonymous Israeli official discussing protests by Britain and other European countries over Israel’s new round of settlement construction “This isn’t accurate.” - National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor, in response “President Obama had lunch with Mitt Romney. There was an awkward moment when Romney looked around and said, ‘So how much do you want for the place.’” - Conan O’Brien

“The president’s inviting Mitt Romney for lunch is a small thing but a brilliant move. It makes Mr. Obama look big, gracious. It implies the weakened, battered former GOP nominee is the leader of the Republican Party—and if the other party has to have a leader, the weakened, battered one is the one you want. Mr. Romney is not the leader of the party; he left no footprints in the sand. There is no such thing as Romneyism, no movement of which he’s the standard-bearer...Republicans may be the stupid party, but they’re not the sentimental one. Democrats often like their losers. Republicans like winners, and they find rea-

“Mitt Romney had lunch today with President Obama. The White House is calling it a nearbeer summit.” - Jay Leno “Why do you think I encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for mayor? I mean, did you hear me say that?” - Michael Bloomberg responding to a reporter’s inquiry about the recent NYT report that Bloomberg tried convincing Hillary Clinton to run for mayor of NYC

d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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Israel Today

Tali Farkash

Celebrating A Bar Mitzvah Almost 70 Years Later Almost 70 years after they turned thirteen, ten elderly men mark an event they were forced to skip under Nazi occupation.

t the Western Wall plaza recently, 10 excited bar mitzvah boys were called up to read from the Torah one after the other. Their white hair, wrinkles and slow movement revealed that they are way past 13 years of age. The 70-year delay did not get in their way as they read the Torah blessings in a trembling voice and were showered with sweets by their excited relatives, including grandchildren and great grandchildren. Not a single eye remained dry. The ten Holocaust survivors gathered in front of the remnant of the Temple to mark the event which they were unable to celebrate properly under Nazi occupation, almost 70 years ago. The unique event, initiated by the Ramat Hasharon Municipality and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, aimed to celebrate the occasion missed by ten of the city’s residents, alongside their excited family members. “My Bar Mitzvah Was Marked By Germans” From the moment he learned of the event, Yona Feldman has been carrying the letter from the municipality in his pocket. “I was born on November 20, 1926, in a small town 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Auschwitz,” he recounts. “The war broke out exactly two months before I turned 13, and my bar mitzvah was ‘celebrated’ by the Germans. “My father and two older brothers managed to escape to Russia. They thought they were the only ones in danger and could not imagine that the Nazis would exterminate everyone. We were 12 Jewish children in my class, when one day the Nazis showed up at the school and took us all to a forced labor camp. We worked 14 hours a day,

digging, until the first selection. I lied and said that I was 18. Because I looked big and was a strong guy, they believed me. My friends who did not pass the selection were sent to their death in Auschwitz. Mother arrived there too. “Luckily, they did not have any documents revealing my young age, and so I became a forced laborer for the Germans. They enslaved us all over Germany, for just 200 grams (half a pound) of bread a day.” Did your parents manage to plan your bar mitzvah celebration before the Germans arrived?

victory, that after all the trouble we went through I am standing here, surrounded by a big splendid family, and celebrating the fact that I’m Jewish. Although 70 years late, it’s still a great victory.” “Nazis Killed All the Rabbis” Menashe Trifeld was born in Romania in the 1930s. As a child, he had a firsthand experience with the horrors of the Holocaust in his residential district of Bukovina. “I was ten-and-a-half when the Nazis first invaded the area we lived in. When I was twelve-and-a-half, the Russians pulled out and the Nazis came in.

“I was called up to read from the Torah, and I just didn’t know how. One of those present muttered sadly in Yiddish, ‘He can’t.’ The frustration, sadness and shame I felt during those moments are something I remember to this very day.” “No one thought about me at all. The situation was very difficult. My older brothers celebrated their bar mitzvah at the magnificent synagogue in our town. They were called up to read from the Torah and there was a Kiddush for the community members. “They were prepared for their bar mitzvah like all boys were prepared, like everyone knows. We were a traditional family, and I still define myself as traditional today.” Participating in the event was an obvious decision for Feldman. “I did not taste what it’s like being a bar mitzvah boy. Now I have reached completion. There is a strong sense of

“The first thing they did was put us in a ghetto and stick a yellow patch on each one of us. The new rules included a strict prohibition on holding a quorum. Ten Jews gathered together were in danger of death. It was clear that under such circumstances, a proper bar mitzvah would be impossible.” Although Trifeld’s parents were not religious Jews, they still tried to mark the special event. “There were no rabbis, because the Nazis had already killed everyone. There was no synagogue either, because the Nazis had destroyed it. What was left was a relative who tried to teach me how to read the Haftarah a bit.

“Mother and father marked the day itself by inviting a few relatives to our house for a modest, secret gathering. There wasn’t really any food, so no refreshments were served. It was mostly just an attempt to mark the day in that awful area.” Shortly afterwards, Menashe and his family members managed to escape the transports to the death camps, and eventually arrived in Israel. He started a family, had children and grandchildren, but the memory of the bar mitzvah he missed won’t let go. “I’m not a religious person, not at all. But I wanted to experience what my grandchildren experience. It’s doesn’t mean anything to me, being called up to read from the Torah or wearing phylacteries, apart from the fact that it’s an interesting and unique experience that was taken away from me, and I was glad to experience it even at my advanced age, especially in light of the fact that many people my age did not live to experience it like I did.” Frustration at Synagogue This is the first time Kalman Eyal, 82, a retired electronics engineer, talks about “those four years,” as he defines them. “I haven’t discussed it with my children and grandchildren, mostly because it’s very difficult. How can one talk about four years of humiliation and daily suffering? It’s not something I find easy to talk about, but perhaps it’s time.” Eyal was born in the Moldova district, which had a particularly large concentration of Jews on the eve of World War II. “The economic situation at home was very bad,” he says. “The discrimination against Jews and the inability to

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Where were you at the age of 13? “It was the middle of the war.

Mother was a religious, observant woman. Father wasn’t, but he had a lot of respect for her. It was very important to her that I mark my bar mitzvah, and she found a teacher to train me a bit. But the war made it ineffective. I remember the day of my bar mitzvah as if it were yesterday. I went to the synagogue alone, for half an hour. The worshippers there helped me lay tefillin, and it was all done in a rush. “I was called up to read from the Torah, and I just didn’t know how. One of those present muttered sadly in Yiddish, ‘He can’t.’ The frustration,

sadness and shame I felt during those moments are something I remember to this very day. I didn’t get to do it, and that’s where it ended.” Eyal didn’t maintain a religious lifestyle either. “When I immigrated to Israel, I continued on a strictly secular route, and didn’t have the opportunity ‘to come full circle’ as I do now. I feel more Israeli than Jewish. On the other hand, we’re the only people in which being Israeli and Jewish is almost the same thing. In my eyes it symbolizes a sort of formal act of joining the Jewish

people. “My grandson, who will celebrate his own bar mitzvah in a few months, is here with me, and this is a very exciting moment for me. I am glad that there were people who gave us this renewed opportunity toward the end of our lives.” Reprinted with permission from ynetnews. com. Photos: Western Wall Heritage Foundation, courtesy of Ramat Hasharon Municipality spokesman Gonen Eliasi

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make an honest living led father to work in a local candle factory. The money he earned was not enough to allow me to study, and I was forced to leave school and help support the family.” A year later, the area was “flooded” with German soldiers, and all Jewish children in the county were forbidden to go to school because of their religion. “Those years I was a street kid. I took odd jobs in order to earn some money for my family.”

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Ask the Rabbi Yehoshua Levy

Shalom For All Why is it that the traditional Jewish greeting is “Shalom Aleichem” or “Peace be upon all of you,” in the plural. When greeting an individual, shouldn’t one say “Shalom Alecha” (“Peace upon you”) in the singular? Adam The Rabbi Responds: I believe the answer lies in the origins of this greeting and its true meaning. “Shalom Aleichem” is commonly translated “Peace upon you.” This is difficult because it really makes more sense to say “May peace be with you” (“Shalom Lachem,” or “Shalom Lecha”). There is a mishna at the end of Tractate Brachos that states that a result of the difficult circumstances, the sages instituted that a person should greet and inquire regarding the welfare of his fellow in the name of G-d, as the verse states: “Boaz came from Bethlehem and

said to the workers, ‘May G-d be with all of you.’ And they responded to him, ‘May G-d bless you’” (Ruth 2:4). Rambam explains that our traditional greeting “Shalom” is one of the names of G-d. Rabbi David Cohen writes (Maasos Kappai Vol. 3, p. 78) that this implies that when we greet one another by saying “Shalom…”, we are actually referring to G-d, as in the case of Boaz, and the more accurate translation would be “Divine presence upon you (for Halachic ramifications see Shulchan Aruch O.C. 89:2). Although it seems as if we are men-

tioning G-d’s Name without Halachic justification, it is still permitted, and even recommended, as Rashi comments, “That it is the will of G-d (to do so) as it states, ‘Seek peace (shalom) and pursue it.’” Everyone is familiar with the verse “Love thy neighbor as (you love) yourself.” But the verse actually has a couple of more words: “I am G-d.” G-d wants there to be love and peace between man and his fellow, and when that is the case, He rests His Divine presence upon them and joins the friendship. The ultimate goal is that

Health & Fitness Shake Your Salt Habit

n average, Americans consume a whopping 3,436 mg of sodium daily. Whether at a restaurant or at our own kitchen table, we constantly reach for salt. Because most things we buy already have salt added to them, this habit can be dangerous to your health. Sodium chloride is more commonly known as table salt. Sodium is used as a preservative in all processed foods and is found naturally in some foods. It’s an essential nutrient that helps maintain blood pressure and volume, muscle contractions, and nerve transmission. However, our bodies only require a small amount to function. Too much sodium in a diet can cause serious health complications such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cardiac arrest, changes in nerve and muscle function, and shortness of breath, as well as fluid retention, which causes weight gain. The American Heart Association recommends that a healthy person consume no more than 2,400 mg of sodium daily. However, those with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease should

keep their sodium intake to fewer than 2,000 mg per day. It is important to read the food label in order to keep within your recommended daily amount. The only way to know the exact sodium content is by looking at the nutrition facts. However, at a quick glance, some of the terms can give you a good idea of what to expect. “Sodium free” means there’s less than 5 mg of sodium per serving. “Very low-sodium” means no more than 35 mg of sodium per serving. “Low-sodium” means 140 mg or less of sodium per serving. “Reduced sodium” means that the usual sodium level is reduced by 25%. Lastly “unsalted” and “no salt added” mean that the only sodium in the product is naturally there. When baking or cooking, keep in mind that with one small splash, you can be adding a whole lot of sodium. One teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium, more than the recommended daily allowance, and a tablespoon of baking soda has 1,000 mg of sodium. Learn to use spices and herbs and enjoy the natural flavor of food. Next time you are cooking, instead

of reaching for the salt, experiment with your spice cabinet. You can use allspice in meats, stews, and sauces. Basil tastes great on fish, meats, salads, and soups. Experiment with curry powder when cooking with meats and chicken. Garlic adds great flavor to meats, fish, soups, salads, and vegetables. Onion, pepper, cumin, ginger, and cinnamon are spices that contribute taste and possible health benefits too. Make sure to limit foods that are very high in sodium. There are some foods that, even before looking at the sodium content, you should know to use sparingly. Some examples are bouillon cubes, soy sauce, ketchup, canned foods, hot dogs, salted nuts and pretzels, luncheon meats, American cheese, salad dressings, fast food, pickles, olives, and dips. Sodium is an acquired taste. Reduce the sodium in your diet for eight weeks and your taste buds will adapt. Start by avoiding table salt. Learn to use the myriad of spices and herbs that are on the

there be peace and unity among all of Israel, and perhaps that is the reason we say “Shalom Aleichem” in the plural. The underlying principle is that we bless each other that the Divine presence rest upon all of Israel through unity and unconditional love and devotion to all. Shalom, Yehoshua Levy

Please note, the information written above is not meant as a rabbinic ruling. If you have any questions, please consult your rabbinic authority for clarification. Yehoshua Levy, a teacher of Torah, is a writer and lecturer who dares to think outside the box to bring his thought-provoking insights and facts to his readers. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.

Aliza Beer

shelves at your local supermarket. Eat fresh and frozen vegetables rather than canned. Limit salty snacks and avoid processed foods. It may seem daunting, but, one step at a time, you can make the changes to your diet and reap many health benefits as a result. Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a Master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz Show. Aliza’s new line of prepared, healthy meals-to-go are available at Gourmet Glatt. She can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com.

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Esther Ottensoser

A Tasteful Addition for Your Chanukah Table

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The pearl candies used in this menorah come in a large variety of colors. Color-coordinate your “menorah” to match your party’s color scheme. Supplies: Pearl candies (available in candy stores) 9 orange fruit slices (available in candy stores) 9 shot glasses Glass tea light holder Kitchen shears Toothpicks Narrow tray (optional) Directions: Layer candy pearls in shot glasses. Using kitchen shears, cut a flame shape out of the fruit slices. Place flames on toothpicks and insert into the candy pearls. Line up all the shot glasses in a neat row (place on tray if desired). For the “shamash,” raise the center glass by placing it on a glass tea light holder (turned upside down).

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I love working with Presidor cannolis. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re simple yet elegant, and their delicious taste appeals to all ages. You and your children will have fun while using them to create this edible menorah. You can create this menorah by putting the candles on a tray, directly on the table or for a more sophisticated look, you can have a glass cut to size to use as the base. Supplies 10 Presidor cannolis Small cupcake holders Baking chocolate 1 - 8 oz whip 2 TBS instant vanilla pudding Leaf chocolate mold to be used as flame (available at your local baking store) Orange royal icing ( you can purchase Wilton ready-made icing available at your local baking store) Sanding sugar 2X15â&#x20AC;? piece of glass (about five dollars) Small square glass vase (optional) Glue dots

Assembling the Base: Turn the square vase upside down. Place a glue dot in each corner. Lay cut glass on top. Place 9 cupcake holders on glass (see above) Assembling the Candles: Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. To create the shamash, dip the rim of one cannoli in melted chocolate and attach it to the bottom of another cannoli, thereby creating a larger candle. Dip one side of each cannoli (shamash included) in melted chocolate. Make the flames using chocolate mold. Pour the melted chocolate into the molds and freeze. >

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Nun-Gimmel-Hey-Shin. You’ll be amazed how this dreidel can spin! Though not the toy for a game of Dreidel to compete. You’ll have a blast making it, and it’s fun to eat! Supplies 10 Gum Drops, Dots, or Licorice Nibs 21 Toothpicks Directions: Begin with 8 toothpicks and 8 gum drops. Construct 2 squares. (See Picture A.) Attach the 2 squares with 4 additional toothpicks to form a cube. (See Picture B.) To construct the top of dreidel, break 4 toothpicks down to ¾ of its original size, then form an “X” with a gumdrop at its center. Stick a toothpick for spinning in center. (See Picture C.) Attach to cube. (See Picture D.) To create bottom of the dreidel , stick toothpicks into all four bottom gumdrops on a slight angle. Stick the opposite end of all four toothpicks in a single gumdrop, creating a triangle. (See Picture E.) (For an added bonus at your Chanukah party, distribute the 21 toothpicks and 10 gumdrops to each of the children—or adults—and see who can figure this Dreidel out without seeing the instructions. Super hard and super fun!)

Picture A

Picture B

Picture C

When chocolate is hard and ready to use, you may decorate the flames using orange royal icing and sanding sugar. Allow to dry overnight. Beat whip until firm; add vanilla pudding. Fill a pastry bag (or freezer Ziploc) with star tip and pipe whip into Presidor candles. Place chocolate flames on top of the candles. Place cannolis into cupcake holders on base.

Picture D

Picture E

Esther Ottensoser is a food stylist whose work is featured in various publications. Whether it be party planning, marketing a product, party favors, demos or crafts, Esther takes simple, basic, everyday products and transforms them into an extraordinary presentation. Esther lives in NJ and can be contacted via email at info@estherodesign. com. You can also check out her blog, estherodesign. com, for more great ideas.

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Barbara Fogel

tinue the idea of everything in white, I would make the Overnight French Toast in the Kosher Palette cookbook, cheese-filled manicotti with béchamel sauce, mini cheese quiches, and grilled cheese sandwiches. I would also make a pancake station and let everyone choose their topping. Set out bowls of whipped cream (the real thing, of course) made from heavy cream, shredded coconut, white chocolate chips, and white sprinkles. For a unique and elegant idea for serving pieces, if you don’t have white serving pieces, you could use white frames and place the food on these frames. You can also use white boxes in different shapes and sizes and use those as serving platters down the center of the table. For dessert, keep the theme fun and white. Choose white macaroons, meringues, white cupcakes with white frosting and small silver dragées, and cheesecake, and serve dessert with white hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Happy Chanukah!

Cheese Manicotti

Directions Sauté onion in butter. After a few minutes, add garlic, then add spinach, and sauté a few minutes. Take off heat and cool. Add eggs, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, salt and pepper and 3 TBS béchamel sauce. Mix well.

in pan, spoon béchamel sauce over shells, and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered 350° for 30 minutes. If your family loves tomato sauce, add a 14 oz. can of tomato sauce on top of béchamel sauce.

Béchamel Sauce

Overnight French Toast

Ingredients Manicotti shells, cooked and drained 10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed, drained, wring out water 1-1/2 lb. ricotta cheese 1/4 lb. grated mozzarella cheese 2 eggs 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 2 TBS butter Salt and pepper 3 TBS grated Parmesan cheese

Ingredients 1-1/2 cups milk, warmed 3 TBS butter 4 TBS flour Directions In saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and blend to combine; stir for a few minutes. Add warm milk gradually, stir till thick and then cool. Assembly Stuff cheese spinach filling into manicotti shells. Spray a 9-by-13 pan. Place a single layer of shells

Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 TBS light corn syrup 6 slices of dry challah, crusts removed 5 eggs 1-1/2 cup half and half 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup in saucepan and cook until melted. Pour into 9-by-13 pan. Lay the

challah on top of syrup. Mix eggs, half and half, and vanilla, and pour over challah. Cover and put in fridge. The next day, preheat oven to 350°. Bring the dish to room temperature. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes. Turn pan over to serve so caramel will be on top. Serve with fresh fruit.

Barbara Fogel is the owner of Food for Thought. She is a party planner and creator of hospitality and hostess gifts for kosher and non-kosher clientele. Barbara welcomes your comments and can be reached at af824@aol.com.

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Everyone uses the blue and white theme for Chanukah get-togethers, but I feel it’s so overdone and commercialized. I think an allwhite party with touches of silver is much more elegant and so easy to pull off with objects found in your home. Take the simplest white cloth you have, but make sure it’s crisp and well starched. Use all kinds of white flowers—bunches of white roses, white tulips ,white hyacinth, white carnations, white hydrangeas— these flowers are not expensive and look great together. You could also get white paper lanterns and hang them from your ceiling with invisible thread. These ideas are an inexpensive way to dress up the room. I have seen people string white little lights around the room and across the table for a beautiful effect. Gather all your silver bechers, making sure they are sparking clean and polished, and use those for vases. Have these vases line up across your table. Between your bechers, place votive candles. Michaels has a set of 12 votives with white candles for $8.99 that you can buy. Or find all your etrog holders and use those for your low-flower arrangements. A low flower arrangement is best as this way guests can talk to each other comfortably. They also sell white and silver dreidels. Pick either color and scatter them between the flowers and candles. As for your menu, I love a breakfast theme; it’s good any time of day. To con-

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Room for Design

Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg

Naftali Landau

The Wonderful World of Artistic Menorahs

H- happy It sits happily on the windowsill on display, with the fires lit for all to see, each and every night during the eight days of Chanukah. The light of the Jewish people will forever be kindled and lichtig. We should take a minute, reflect and forever gain tremendous satisfaction from our menorah collections and their origins. Have you ever wondered how many types of Chanukah menorahs exist in this world? Artisans have designed magnificent menorahs of all kinds that fit every budget. I began making a list, which I would love to share with you. There are so many menorahs made from all different types of materials. There are menorahs made from: traditional silver, silver plate, aluminum, antique bronze, silver tone finish, brass, pewter, enameled, nickel silver, nickel plated with multi colored enamel mosaics, tin menorahs in silver and gold, multi-metal combi-

nation menorahs, ceramic, glass, stainless steel, menorahs made from materials that are made especially for both indoors and outdoors. There are also childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menorahs with many different themes such as: a musical one, a school bus, a railroad, a bicycle, Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ark, hats, a scene of a wedding or the Kotel, people learning. Besides for differences in materials, menorahs also come in many different styles. There are: jeweled, engraved, Art Deco, Renaissance, modern styles, floral motifs, bird motifs, menorahs designed with pomegranate branches, a tree of life, Jewish ceremonial art, simcha motifs and menorahs that show achdut, a Magen David Menorah, Knesset style, abstract designs, realistic designs, etc. There are also so many art prints depicting all types of Chanukah menorahs that were made from original paintings by artists. The Chanukah Menorah motif adorns many ceremonial objects and singlehandedly lights up the world. This list is just a small collection of the types of menorahs that are available. Go to the nearest Judaic store and have a wonderful time. You could be pleasantly surprised to see the number of people and cars that are in the streets preparing for the up and coming Yom Tov of Chanukah. Artistic menorahs are everywhere. Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg is a professional art educator, artist and designer. Among her known artwork is a floral sculpture presented to Tipper Gore, Blair House, Washington, D.C. Presently she is the Director of Operations at Shulamith School for Girls. Please feel free to email nherzberg@optonline.net with questions and suggestions for future columns.

I want to add some glass cabinets you only have wood around the edges in my kitchen. What are the different of the door. types of glass doors that I can use in One other idea for a glass door is my kitchen to add some interest? the many custom types of glass doors out there. Many manufacturers already H.S. offer some unusual configuration of glass doors like a prairie glass door, lass door cabinets in the kitchen which is similar to a mullion door but can really add a dramatic look has a very interesting design to it. If to your kitchen. Usually in you are using custom cabinetry, there kitchens there are a lot of wall cabinets is an endless amount of styles you can and breaking up that monotonous do to create a glass door in your cabifeeling of the run of cabinets can make netry. If you can draw a design on paa big difference. There are many different styles that you can choose from and each have their own styles that they complement. The first style of glass doors that I will discuss is a mullion glass door. A mullion glass door is a door that has a wooden per, you can get a door made that way grid over the middle of the pane of to accommodate glass and sometimes glass. Depending on the height of your you can even design a door to match wall cabinet, you could have 4 boxes a certain accent that you are trying to or as many as 12. Some manufacturers emphasize in the rest of your kitchen. make a grid that goes over the whole In summary, glass doors are a beausingle piece of glass and some make tiful way to add an accent or focal point a grid that accommodates individual in your kitchen. There are different glass inserts. This style is very popular stock glass doors that you can choose in traditional kitchens because of the from your manufacturer or you may classic look it creates and can break even be able to get an unusual glass up the rest of the cabinets and create door or create your own custom glass a focal point but also adds the element door design. Whatever you do choose, of the wooden grids to keep the wood adding the element of glass will brightshowing throughout the door. en your space and create that interest Another style of glass door is a you are looking for. Good luck. frame-only style. With this style glass door, you have a solid frame of cabiJust a reminder: I am offering 20% net door and you insert a single pane off on all orders to anyone who was unpiece of glass in the middle. This is a fortunately affected by the storm. great option if you are looking to put a different type of glass in your door like a frosted glass or a piece of glass that has a certain design on it. You can Naftali Landau is owner and chief designer get glass in many different finishes and of Exclusive Cabinetry and Design and has designs on it such as beveled edges and been designing kitchens for the past 12 even sandblast shapes or initials on it. years. For questions or ideas for future arUsually a frame-only style glass door ticles, he can be reached at 917-468-7693 is used in a more contemporary or tran- or at naftalilandau@gmail.com sitional kitchen because it gives a more open feeling because of the fact that

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he Chanukah menorah has and always will be a beautiful demonstration and symbol for us to cherish. The letters that spell out menorah each have their own special message: M- menorah so special E- exquisite N- nostalgic O- outrageous R- reliable A- ancient

Glass Door Designs

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1st floor apt on beach 9th $1300 a month includes heat and water perfect for young couple washer & dryer hook up Walking distance to lirr for more info call or text 347-637-8346 Belle Harbor Area Beach 118 St. Extra large modern 2 room studio apt. Furnished or unfurnished Short or long term Near Boardwalk, Shuls, Yeshiva, shopping, all transportation. Owner 917 543 0497 INWOOD BAIS MEDRASH for rent INWOOD GYM for rent Complete Beis Medrash ideal for Kollel or small Yeshiva. Fully equiped gym. Both 1 1/2 blocks from LIRR.-free parking 917-399-5154 3 Bedroom Apt. For Rent Far Rockaway Near Kollel and Shuls In a 3 family house on 3rd floor, also basement ideal for office Sunny apt. with 2 porches Available August Call 516-225-4558

Lovely 2 bedroom apartment For rent in private home in Lawrence. One minute walk to Shaarei Tefilla and LIRR Lawrence station.

Real Estate for Rent/Sale Cedarhurst colonial in excellent condition Three Bedrooms 1 Bath - Den, cellar, fenced backyard close walk to synagogues Call 516-569-4628 or 516-547-8930 (cell) Office space available for rent in Lawrence by owner. Shared waiting room with other health related professionals. Utilities covered and internet access available. mymanagement360@yahoo.com

Business Opportunity HOME BASED BUSINESS Looking for a reputable online business? Flexible hours, free training, great income and incentives, real support. Please visit www.selectfreedom.net to apply Change your health and wealth Partner with young couple to build viable home based business Can earn $100,000 in first 18 months Excellent training Call 347-333-1789 Can you spare it? Donate it. Clear out a closet and help a needy Heimishe family today. Tax deductible receipts available upon request. Call (866) GIVE2LIVE(448-3254)

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d e c e m b e r 6 , 2012

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Your Money

Life Coach Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

Allan J. Rolnick CPA

Candles Rock!!!

ou’ve got to give G-d credit on the timing! This is one holiday of lights where we all appreciate the concept of light even more. I’m just making light of it…to really drive home how much we appreciate having our lights back on. And candles—are they the best or what?! They never run out of batteries!!! You can tell just by looking at them how long they will last, and how much time they have. I’ve decided LIPA stands for Let’s Illuminate—Partly and Aggravatingly. But I learned a lesson: I can do just fine with the blessing of daylight. I can

A Different Kind of Black Friday Savings

give up robotically turning on lights when entering a room. And I can stop forgetting constantly to turn them off when exiting. I’ve really taken on the save energy bug. I’ve changed all my bulbs to florescence and LED’s. So hopefully, something good will come of this. I’m hoping my next month’s electric bill will be a lot lower! Very importantly, I think we need to remember as we light our candles, our electric went out but we always have energy and power—cause that all comes from Above. Wishing you a meaningful, restorative, and happy Chanukah!

ast week marked the celebration of our most uniquely American holiday. No, silly, we’re not talking about Thanksgiving. We’re talking about Black Friday, our national homage to consumerism, conspicuous consumption, and all things capitalist. Walmart and other “big box” retailers pounded a final nail in Thanksgiving’s coffin, opening at 8PM that night so shoppers could skip out on the pumpkin pie to save a couple hundred bucks on a flat-screen TV. And this year, Walmart founder Sam Walton’s heirs, who still own 48% of the company, have taken a lesson from their own shoppers. Only, the Waltons aren’t just saving hundreds. They’ve found a way to save millions, just by accelerating a regularly-scheduled dividend payment from January 2 to December 27. (Apparently, they think “everyday low prices” applies to their tax bills, too!) Under current law, tax on dividends is capped at just 15%. The Walmart dividend will be 39.75 cents/share, and the Waltons own approximately 1.6 billion shares. That means the family’s payout will be $636 million, and their federal income tax bill on that payout will be a hefty $95.4 million. If Walmart waits until January 1 to make the payment, though, taxes could go up – possibly way up. That’s because the so-called “Bush tax cuts,” in effect since 2003, expire. At that point, dividends lose their special protection, and the top rate jumps to 39.6%. Congress and the White House have both said they want to extend the current rates for most taxpayers. But if they can’t come to some agreement to the contrary, the Waltons will pay an extra $156 million in tax on their dividend. (A recent CNN poll shows that two-thirds of Americans expect Washington officials to act like “spoiled children” rather than “responsible adults” during those upcoming negotiations, so the Waltons better cross

their fingers!) Waiting ‘til January 1 would also make the Walton heirs subject to the new “Unearned Income Medicare Contribution” of 3.8%. (This is a special tax on investment income for taxpayers making over $200,000, or $250,000 for joint filers.) That would bring the effective tax rate on the January 2nd payment all the way up to 43.4%, and bring the Waltons’ final tax bill up to a whopping $276 million. Ouch! Walmart is hardly the only company accelerating dividends to beat the tax hike. One financial data firm estimates that 109 public companies will issue special dividend payments before January 1, more than three times as many as in recent years. Those special payments will actually be enough to give the IRS a significant spike in 2012 tax revenue. The New York Times reported last week that two recent studies show that companies where board members own a large percentage of company shares are likeliest to make this move. The three Walton family members who serve on the company’s board of directors recused themselves from last week’s vote, but a company spokesman confirmed the company did make the decision because of uncertainty over taxes. It may be too late to take advantage of Black Friday shopping specials at Walmart. But it’s assuredly not too late to take advantage of Black Friday planning for taxes! Tax planning is the key to paying the legal minimum, especially with the “fiscal cliff” looming on the horizon. And a good tax plan can pay for a year full of gifts and fun. We’re sure you’ll give thanks for the savings! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@ aol.com.

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T h e J Tehwe iJsehwHiosm b e r2 46,, 2012 2012 heh n o m de enc emmay

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Chanukah

Susan Schwamm

Light up the nights Special Chanukah Party Ideas to Wow Your Guests This Year

Fun with Food .............................

waffles or brownies as well. And don’t forget the cherry on top!

Fun ‘n Games .............................

Doughnut Bar Make Your Own Pizza

Chanukah is all about milchigs, and pizza is the perfect entrée to serve when feeding a crowd. This year, let your guests help out with the planning. Buy store-made pizza dough or pizza crusts and arrange bowls of toppings for them to choose from. Make sure to include marinara sauce, shredded cheese, balls of mozzarella cheese, oregano, basil, peppers, onions, fried eggplant, sliced olives, spinach and broccoli. Label each pan before they start their creation so you know which pizza belongs to who once it’s done. Bon appétit!

Fondue Fountain

Chewy marshmallows and cubes of fruit dipped into a geyser of chocolate—need I say more? One year I purchased a fondue fountain at a local store for a family party and the kids couldn’t get enough. Make sure to put an adult in charge as it can get a little messy. Hand out skewers and set out bowls with marshmallows, cubed pineapple, pretzels, cubes of brownies, strawberries and banana. They’ll be talking about this for the rest of the year!

My kids look forward to Chanukah all year for the endless supply of doughnuts they are treated to at every party. Instead of just giving out doughnuts for the children to enjoy, why don’t you set up a doughnut bar where children and the youngat-heart can choose toppings of their choice? Set up doughnuts or doughnut holes with tongs and your guests’ favorite toppings. Include chocolate syrup, gooey caramel, hot fudge sauce, confectioners’ sugar, shredded coconut, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts and miniature chocolate chips. You can set aside small tins or containers for them to place their unique doughnuts in to take home. I actually saw this idea on estherodesign.com. For more info, visit Esther’s blog, estherodesign.com, where you will find details about how to set one up and many other great ideas for Chanukah and year-round.

Pin the Shamash on the Menorah

For a twist on the classic “pin the tail on the donkey” game, cut out a giant menorah and candles from oaktag and have your children decorate it with glitter and colored markers. Take the time to laminate it, as it will help it maintain its shape and you will be able to use it from year to year. While blindfolded, have each child try to pin the shamash on the menorah. The one whose candle comes closest, wins!

Pass the Present

Sometimes I feel that when Chanukah comes the children are overloaded with presents. So, why not make the presents into a game? In this game, wrap some small toys (think stickers, erasers, candies) between layers of different types of wrapping paper. The big “present” gets passed around as the music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the present gets to unwrap one layer of paper and keeps the small toy found underneath. When wrapping the “present,” keep track of which toy is hidden under each wrapping paper. This way, the adult in charge of the game can stop the music when he or she feels the next small toy is appropriate for the person who will get to keep it. In this game, everyone wins!

I Scream, You Scream

If you are serving dairy, dessert is as easy as 1-2-3! Ice cream sundaes are fun and only require minimal effort. Set out tubs of ice cream, bowls of toppings and lots of napkins. No ice cream sundae is complete without chocolate syrup, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, crushed cookies, nuts, strawberry syrup, bananas, and whipped cream. For a twist on the classic ice cream sundae, feel free to include

Family Photo Booth

This activity is so much fun and the memories will last for a lifetime! Set aside a space of around 8 feet by a wall with minimum distractions. Place a box with props such as large sunglasses, hats, fake mus-

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taches, bowties, fedoras, feather boas and clown wigs. Buy one or a few very large picture frames. Have each family dress up and “frame” themselves with the frames. Snap a few pictures and then send them home with a wrapped picture frame and photo of their good time.

Musical Chairs

Musical chairs is always fun to play and it gives the kids a little exercise after eating all that candy. Make sure to have fun music on-hand. For added excitement, take away two chairs at a time, or even three—if you dare!

Family Trivia

This requires a little bit of planning beforehand, but it is truly worth it! In this game, each person receives a list of questions that pertain to different family members and they have to guess which relative it’s referring to. Speak with different family members for information to ensure that you include everyone in the family. Include hints like: “This girl loves to wear purple.” Or, “Did you know he plays three instruments?” The person who an-

swers the most questions correctly wins the game! An added bonus? You get to learn a lot about your favorite people!

fry, jar, water, yellow. Main word: Maccabee. Words not to be spoken: Yehuda, fight, soldier, Mi Kamocha. Main word: Dreidel. Words not to be spoken: Spin, penny, nes, top.

Guess the Pennies

Fill a jar with pennies and have each guest mark down how many pennies they think are in the jar when they come into the party. At the end of the night, reward the best guess-er with their very own jar of pennies!

Chanukah Taboo

For older children, a game of Chanukah Taboo will give some structure to a fun, family party. Create Taboo cards before the party and then have them play when they have the time. You will need to create at least 25 cards to make the game fun, but not all the words have to be Chanukah-related. Here are some ideas for Chanukah Taboo cards to start you off. Main word: Oil. Words not to be spoken:

Annual Dinner

We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt

When the Maccabim won over the Greeks in the time of the Chanukah miracle, they searched high and low for the one container of pure oil in the Beis Hamikdash. At your party, have your little “Maccabim” find the hidden oil in your house. Create a treasure hunt with hidden clues around the house to lead them to the final and most important treasure—the pach shemen! This will keep them busy and excited as they go from clue to clue in anticipation of the final treasure.

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