Five Towns Jewish Home - 5-28-15 by The Jewish Home

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A PUBLICATION OF THE FIVE TOWNS & QUEENS COMMUNITY MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2015 | DISTRIBUTED WEEKLY IN THE FIVE TOWNS, QUEENS & BROOKLYN

– See pages 9, 10, 11, 13 & 19

Around the COMMUNITY

One Israel Fund Dinner Inspires Fearlessness 50

TIES THAT BOND One Soldier’s Inspiring Story of Perseverance, Strength and Connection

Assemblyman Goldfeder Welcomes SKA Mock Trial Finalists to Albany

HANC High School Yeshiva High School Crowned Torah Bowl League Champions

PAGE 70

22 YEARS OF SONG The History of the Israel Day Concert in Central Park

– See page 47 – See page 26

– See page3 & 35

PAGE 82

Rocky’s Rant: The Optical Delusion PAGE 66

See page 91

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From the Editor

Contents Letters to the Editor

Rabbi Wein

The Shmuz

Dear Readers, As we head into June, weekends become really busy. It seems that there’s always a graduation or a bike-a-thon or a barbecue that we have to attend and we end up running from event to event until the mosquitoes come out as the day fades away. This Sunday will be especially busy for many as hundreds will gather at the Celebrate Israel Parade to march down Fifth Avenue. Many of our schools will be marching in salute to the Jewish State, proudly flaunting their support for Israel. In light of the reports that certain pro-BDS groups will be marching in the parade as well, it is all the more important that we show up in strong numbers on Sunday. Speaking of a strong showing of support, every gesture or act that Americans do for our sisters and brothers in Israel does not go unnoticed. This week we spoke with Amazia Fensterheim, a soldier who was injured in the summer’s operations in Gaza. Four members of

Weekly Weather

Community Readers’ Poll Community Happenings

7 39

OpEd: The JCRC, NIF and the Israel Day Parade by Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman 63 22 Years of Song: The History of the Israel Day Concert in Central Park 82 News Global

National

Odd-but-True Stories

Israel Israel News

Ties that Bond: One Soldier’s Inspiring Story of Perseverance, Strength and Connection by Tammy Mark 70 Kohlrabi by Rafi Sackville

People Taking to the Air by Avi Heiligman

Parsha

crisis, every time we donate to an Israeli cause or we send letters to our soldiers, we are bolstering them in their position to protect our land. Amazia points out that sending a video or photos or even hand scrawled pictures to our soldiers promotes an even deeper bond between brothers living across the ocean. When the soldiers are in combat, in training, or even healing from their wounds, to see that someone—actual people—took the time to connect and care for them helps them in their vital task. Everything we can do for our brothers and sisters overseas is powerful. And Amazia has made it his job to make sure we know how vital our actions are. As always, we love to hear from our readers. Feel free to reach out to me with your ideas, your comments, your insights, and your thoughts at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Amazia’s unit were killed when an IED exploded as they combed through the area for terrorist activity and underground tunnels. For months Amazia has been working to regain his strength as shrapnel was buried deep in his leg. His display of courage and show of perseverance against the odds is inspiring. But Amazia is not just working on strengthening himself. He has made it his initiative to help strengthen the bond between Americans and our brothers and sisters in Israel. When Amazia was recuperating in the hospital, many Americans came to visit him to show him support. These Americans, he pointed out, were coming to Israel at a time of war. He was inspired by their showing of encouragement. They came with letters, with videos, with words of cheer. They believed in him and they believed in the State of Israel and in all their sisters and brothers there. Even today, when we are thankfully not in a time of

Jewish Thought Turning Heads by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz Parenting Bedtime Blues, Part II by Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW 87

FRIDAY

SHABBOS

May 29

May 30

SUNDAY

MONDAY

May 31

TUESDAY

June 1

June 2

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY June 3

June 4

Health & Fitness Why Did G-d Create Feelings? by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD

Denial Ain’t Just a River in Egypt, Redux by Simcha Lebowicz LMSW, CSAT-C

Healthy Cooking Oils by Aliza Beer, MS RD

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Food & Leisure Great Kosher Food: Asian Spring Rolls

104

Light Dishes for Spring

106

Shabbos Zemanim Sponsored by

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Yitzy Halpern

What Should you Really be Worried About? By Rabbi Mordechai Kruger 99

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You are What you Eat by Rivki Rosenwald, Esq., CLC 101 Your Money

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

102

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Humor Centerfold

Shoshana Soroka

An Optical Delusion by Rocky Zweig

EDITOR

Uncle Moishy Fun Page

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Political Crossfire You Want Hypotheticals? Here’s One by Charles Krauthammer 89 Notable Quotes

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FRIDAY, MAY 29 Parshas Naso Candle Lighting: 7:59 Shabbos Ends: 9:07 Rabbeinu Tam: 9:30

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CLASSIFIEDS@FIVETOWNS JEWISHHOME.COM TEXT 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Letters to the Editor

Do you prefer to swim in the pool or head to the beach?

Dear Editor, I found your interview with Brent Delman, the Cheese Guy, to be very interesting. Another publication also wrote about the process of making cheese and all the details that go into making cheeses kosher over yom tov. It seems that there’s so much that needs to be taken care of when making kosher cheese—especially when using a plant that produces non-kosher cheese as well. I know that Mr. Delman is a connoisseur of cheeses but I am interested in knowing if he studied the halachos of cheese-making as well. Thank you for a wonderful publication. Respectfully, Chaim W.

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Dear Editor, As a frum Yid, I have an unfeigned love for Eretz Yisrael and yearn to live there one day—permanently. It’s not because of its physical majestic and grandiose nature—but because of the kedusha which permeates it. Yet I am dismayed that this element of Eretz Yisrael has been neglected by many in the “pro-Israel” camp, who incessantly tout the Israeli government as the perpetual source of Jewish observance and existence there. Anyone with a little knowledge of Israeli history is aware that it was this same government that attempted to eradicate the Jewishness of the Jewish People, and essentially, of Israel itself. The continued existence and mere functioning of Yeshivos in Israel is a result of frum Yidden and especially the Gedolei Yisrael who fought the Israeli government. If we are going to discuss Eretz Yisrael and Yidden, we must address its fundamental Jewishness and kedusha. Has anyone heard of this in the Is-

raeli Day Parade? What are we celebrating, really—the government? How can we celebrate an entity, which has a majority—with an exception of a few people, such as Benjamin Netanyahu— of representatives who are avowed self-hating Jews and anti-Semites? With this element of kedusha disregarded, Eretz Yisrael is no more unique to many than Hawaii or the Bahamas. Rafi Metz

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Readers Poll

someone in the Oval Office who has an unshakeable love for family, faith and country. Sincerely Yours, Tamara Glass

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Dear Editor, Today I saw a photograph that struck me deeply. I can hardly say why it did; I am generally not an emotional person and I scan through the news throughout the day barely focusing on one story or the other. This photo, though, made me pause and I kept on thinking of it as the day went on. It was a photo of a bride and groom. The groom was a soldier wearing his uniform. It was right before the wedding ceremony and he wanted to pray with his soon-to-be wife. As tradition goes, brides and grooms do not see each other before the ceremony and so the photographer led him to a door where the bride was waiting inside the room. The groom stuck his hand into the room with his back to his future wife and they prayed out loud together with emotion before their marriage.

The photo struck a deep chord because when I saw the bride and the groom, when I saw him dressed in his uniform and when I saw him praying, I realized that the photo encompassed so many of the values of why America was established. A true American believes in the sanctity of marriage; he believes in supremacy of G-d; and he believes in the strength of our country—family, faith and country. As we live in New York and as so many have been making so much noise about desecrating these classic and basic values, we sometimes forget that that’s what a real American is. A real American is someone who should be able to proudly say that marriage is an important bedrock of society and that G-d and faith is central in our lives. An American should be proud to serve his country and proud of what America has done and continues to do around the world. There are plenty of real Americans out there who respect and uphold real values. In the next few months, as politicians circle around Americans vying for their votes, let’s show them that we want someone in the White House who mirrors the same values as that new couple in the photo—we want

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Dear Editor, You Shavuos issue was a wonderful edition chockfull of interesting tidbits. Kudos to you for an informative publication that touched on so many topics that interest many different types of readers. Sincerely, Shimon Kleinberg

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MAY 28, 2015

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Global Documents Reveal Much about Bin Laden

When the Navy Seals returned in 2011 from assassinating Osama bin Laden they brought many valuable files back to the United States. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently released these previously classified, newly-translated documents. The collection of over 100 documents were all recovered from bin Laden’s Pakistani compound in Abbotabad. It included correspondence between bin Laden and his family and other al-Qaeda leaders, a list of an extensive digital English-language book collection, an al-Qaeda application, and spreadsheets monitoring the ebbs and flows of money within the terror organization. The documents reveal bin Laden’s deep obsession with attacking Americans. His English literature collection included everything from tank reports to Noam Chomsky and many conspiracy theories. One of the newly declassified documents called on al-Qaeda members to “avoid talking about the Jews when talking to the Germans.” Another document reveals the questionnaire presented to any would-be al-Qaeda recruit. Wannabe jihadis were posed with standard questions such as: “Do you wish to execute a suicide operation?” and “Who should we contact in case you became a martyr?” Many documents illustrate that the leader constantly urged his subordinates to launch attacks against Americans. In an undated letter, bin Laden tells an al-Qaeda deputy, “We have to continue with exhausting and depleting them [the Americans] till they become so weak that they can’t overthrow any state that we establish.” It is clear that bin Laden was a leader who was highly observant of the

Western world and of emerging technologies, acknowledging the integral role of information technology in the uprising of the Arab Spring and the threat of digital intelligence. “Computer science is not our science and we are not the ones who invented it,” bin Laden said in a letter dated 2010. He urged his counterparts to engage in carrier-based communication as opposed to e-mail-based correspondences. “Assume that the enemy can see emails,” he said, urging others to refrain from sending encrypted messages via e-mail since “the enemy can easily monitor all e-mail traffic.” Perhaps the only unexpected finding was bin Laden’s collection of letters to his four wives and 20 children. The series of letters portray him as a loved and respected family man, longing to be reunited with his family and concerned with their well-being. Bin Laden refers to one of his wives as “the apple of my eye, and the most precious thing I have in this world” in a 2008 dated letter. He grants her permission to remarry should he perish, despite his concern that the two would not be rejoined in the afterlife, since a woman who marries two men is then “given a choice on Judgment Day to be with [only] one of them.” Another surprising topic bin Laden was concerned with was global warming. In 2010, he wrote to al-Qaeda leaders urging them to refrain from cutting down trees on a large scale. He referred to climate change as a cause for drought and flooding in some areas in the region and urged subordinates to prepare for potential future natural disasters. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement that the release of the documents followed a “rigorous” review by the U.S. government and “aligns with the president’s call for increased transparency consistent with national security prerogatives.”

Home of Refuge for Jews in WWII to become Museum The Podgorski family home located on Tatarska Street in Przemysl, Poland, looks like an ordinary house, but it holds a tremendous amount of history. The home hid 13 members of the Diamant family during the Holocaust. Beginning Continued on page 13

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MAY 28, 2015

Sale Dates: May 31st - June 6th 2015

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Weekly Wesson Oil

Poland Spring Water 24 Pack/28 Bonus Pack 16.9 oz

Canola, Corn, Vegetable - 48 oz

299

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Ronzoni Pasta

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Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops 17 oz $ 99 ......................................................

Chicken of the Sea Solid White Tuna In Water or Oil - 5oz

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Califa Iced Coffee 48 oz

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................................................. 16.9 oz

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Tabatchnick Broths

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

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69¢

249

Skim Plus Milk Except Lactose Free- 64 oz

349

Fresh & Healthy Cottage Cheese 16 oz

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

Schtark Shredded Cheese 2 lb

349

Shibolim Whole Wheat Crisp Snax

2/$

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$ 39 .................................................

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399

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MAY 28, 2015

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PRIORITY 1

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DINNER

JUN.15.2015 7PM // WHITE SHUL // 728 EMPIRE AVE, FAR ROCKAWAY SPECIAL GUEST MUSICAL PERFORMANCE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE BUILDERS OF YESHIVA ZICHRON ARYEH Including: MR. MARK FRIEDMAN (LOS ANGELES) MR. AND MRS. JAY KESTENBAUM MR. AND MRS. IRVING LANGER MR. AND MRS. LOUIS SCHONFELD (CLEVELAND) MR. AND MRS. BEN FRIEDMAN (TORONTO) MR. AND MRS. DAVID BERKOWITZ (CHICAGO)

BORGEN/SIPZNER FAMILY MR. AND MRS. URI DREIFUS KREINDLER FAMILY MR. AND MRS. AKIVA MEDJUCK (TORONTO) MR. AND MRS. JOSHUA SHAPIRO DR. AND MRS. DAVID SIMAI

HAKARAS HATOV AWARDEES MR. YUSSIE RUBIN • MR. DAVID SHTEIERMAN • MR. CHEZKY NEEMAN • MR. SRULI MULLER ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL GOLDFEDER • MR. MOSHE MEIR LOWENSTEIN

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Al Jazeera Arabic’s television audience is largely made up of Sunni Muslims living in the Arab world. Its biggest viewership numbers come from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, along with a large amount of satellite television viewers in the United States, according to research estimates. AlJazeera.net is most popular in Saudi Arabia, the United States, Egypt, Morocco, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Al Jazeera claims that it has over 40 million viewers in the Arab world. In a recent Al Jazeera Arabic poll, an overwhelming majority of respondents confirmed that they strongly support ISIS. The news outlet, which is run by Qatar’s ruling family and headquartered in Doha, has a track record studded with allegations that the organization supports the narratives of Sunni terrorist

Hundreds Dead in Indian Heatwave

While we enjoyed a temperate increase on the East Coast, temperatures soared a little too high in parts of southern and northern India this week leading to an extreme heat wave that left more than 800 people dead. The heat is showing no signs of breaking in the next

MAY 28, 2015

Al-Jazeera Viewers Strongly Support ISIS

groups. 81% of those who responded to the survey answered “yes” to the question of “Do you support the organizing victories of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)?” Following the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States, the Al Jazeera headquarters in Doha proudly displayed silhouettes revering Osama bin Laden as a prophet-like figure, according to a New York Times investigation. In an Al Jazeera survey taken on September 11, 2006, 50% of respondents said they supported 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. The network also faces multiple accusations that it reports with a strong bias in favor of Sunni Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, which is designated as a terrorist group in many countries. In 2013, dozens of its Egypt bureau staff members resigned in protest of the network’s “biased coverage” in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood. More recently, in mid-May, a former Al Jazeera English journalist accused his former employer of being an arm of the foreign policy of Qatar. He also described the network as being dedicated to the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to legal testimony. Another recent investigation found that the NSA had labeled Al Jazeera’s Islamabad bureau chief as an al-Qaeda terrorist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The recent poll’s disturbing conclusions come following recent news that Al Jazeera’s United States outfit, Al Jazeera America, is facing multiple lawsuits dealing with anti-Semitism and gender discrimination, along with a rapidly declining viewership.

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in 1942, the orphaned Catholic sisters Stefania and Helena Podgorski, ages 16 and 9, hid the Diamant family in the attic of their home. The families knew each other because the older Podgorski sister, Stefania, had worked in the Diamant family’s grocery store before the Nazi invasion of Poland. The Diamants lived in the attic for two-and-a-half years and survived the Holocaust because of the selflessness of the Podgorskis. In 1979, the Podgorski sisters were honored as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. The 1996 film, “Hidden in Silence,” directed by Richard A. Colli, was based on their story. The Podgorski home is currently in poor condition and requires some maintenance. It was recently purchased by Polish businessman Maciej Piorkowski. “You can call it a whim, but I wanted this historic building saved from death so I could show its history,” Piorkowski told the Virtual Shtetl portal, according to Polish Radio Rzeszow. “At this stage, I do not have of more specific plans. I would like the facility to be available for visitors.”

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The Week In News

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The Week In News

Taliban gunmen surrounded a police compound in the unstable southern province of Helmand after killing 19 policemen and seven soldiers in an ongoing siege, a senior police officer reported on Monday from inside the compound. Helmand has long been a heartland for the Taliban, who profit heavily from opium produced in its fertile river valley. Napas Khan, the police chief in the Naw Zad district, said that the insurgents had advanced to within 20 meters of the compound after seizing police vehicles and weapons and blocking all roads out

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a busy woman these days. She has to worry about Russian sanctions, Mediterranean migrants, spying scandals,

Rebels Continue to Pound Afghanistan

of Naw Zad. “We need an immediate response from the government,” Khan begged, as gunfire and chanting was heard in the background. The attacks began just before sunrise on Monday when the rebels invaded multiple police checkpoints across the district. “They destroyed or captured most of our checkpoints and now they have reached our police headquarters,” Khan said. “They are mostly firing at us from the hills overlooking our compound.” Also on Monday, a suicide truck bomb attack and a separate roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan killed 11 people and wounded dozens more, as the Taliban clashed with supporters of the Islamic State group in the west, officials said. Later on Monday, a roadside bomb exploded in neighboring Kandahar province, killing six people, according to the governor’s spokesman, Samim Khopalwaq. Government forces launched an operation against the insurgents in March, in an attempt to decrease the impact of the Taliban’s annual warm weather offensive. However, since April, attacks across the country have intensified, spreading government forces thin.

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The Women who Rule the World

Eurozone stability and a myriad other things that fill her plate. Forbes recognized this week just how busy the German leader is: she was named the most powerful woman in the world—a title she’s claimed eight times. Hillary Clinton, a woman who could be sitting in the Oval Office in the next few years, came in as the second most powerful woman in the world. And she’s pretty busy, running from state to state and ducking into Chipotle once in a while campaigning for the presidential spot. Melinda Gates, Janet Yellen, Mary Barra, Christine Lagarde, Dilma Rousseff, Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Wojcicki and Michelle Obama claimed the next few slots on Forbes’ most powerful women list. The most powerful female billionaire this year is Oprah Winfrey at No. 12 with a personal net worth of $3 billion. Ana Patricia Botin, the newly installed chair of Banco Santander, is the top woman in finance at No. 18. The concept of power can be nebulous – especially when it comes to gender. As of January 2015, 10 women served as heads of state and 14 as heads of government. Women currently hold 23 (4.6%) of CEO positions at S&P 500 companies. Of a total 1,826 global billionaires, 197 are women — 11% of the total. Only 9% of executive officers in Silicon Valley are women. Despite the lack of top spots for women worldwide, it’s important to note that women are consistently making a difference without needing the hold the reigns. Look at Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala or Gwynne Shotwell, COO of SpaceX – their number two (or three) position doesn’t dim their enormous influence and impact. They appear on this list because they illustrate the new math–it turns out you don’t need to be No. 1 to matter and shape the world. The 2015 Most Powerful Women list features eight heads of state (plus one monarch) who run nations with a combined GDP of $9 trillion and a total population of over 600 million — including the newly elected Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz. The 24 corporate CEOs control nearly $1 trillion in annual revenues, and 18 of the women here founded their own companies or foundations, including our youngest selfmade billionaire, Elizabeth Holmes, 31. Speaking of, this year’s class has 15 billionaires valued in excess of $73 billion. The total social media footprint (Twitter, YouTube) of all 100 Power Women is nearly 475 million followers.

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week or so. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red warning to affected regions saying that the heat wave conditions are likely to continue over coming days. The hottest place in India was recorded as Allahabad, a city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which saw mercury rise to 47.7 degrees Celsius (117.8 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, while the capital Delhi recorded a high of 43.5C (110.3F). Of the unprecedented amount of heat-related deaths, many have been construction workers, the elderly, and the homeless in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Dhananjaya Reddy said 325 people had died of sunstroke or dehydration in the state in the last three days. Families of the people who died will receive a compensation of 100,000 rupees ($1,575), a paltry sum for their loss and suffering. As people poured into hospitals, the government requested that all doctors report to their positions. Officials have advised people to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours, drink plenty of fluids and wear loose clothing. “We are advising people not to go to work between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Reddy explained. “We have also opened centers in different places specifically in urban areas for the distribution of water and butter milk.” Taxi drivers in Kolkata – capital of West Bengal state where four deaths have been reported – refused to work between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. after two drivers died in their cars last week. Residents are hoping that a monsoon, predicted to hit southern India’s coastline on May 31, will bring some relief from the high temperatures.

The Week In News Cuba’s Real Estate Boom

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Many American tourists who visit Cuba are quickly charmed by its breathtaking oceanic views and its grand architecture but no matter how much they fall in love with the country they will only remain visitors and not homeowners—at least for now. Due to a long history of an icy relationship, Cuba does not allow Americans to purchase property in the country. However, as Obama continues to play nice with Castro and restore diplomatic relations, your dream vacation home may just become a reality. Homes in Cuba are extremely affordable. Cuba has suffered a huge financial crisis, and now, three years after Raúl Castro cast aside decades of Communist housing dogma and allowed homeowners to buy and sell their properties for the first time since the 1960s, the island’s real estate market is proving to be a powerful engine of economic and social change. The city is filled with contractors remodeling old homes and buildings while maintaining their old world charm. The city had invested in stone, marble and mahogany in the years between Cuba’s founding as a republic in 1902 and Fidel Castro’s takeover in 1959. Castro’s 1960 housing reform led to a ban on property sales and a decree that no Cuban could possess more than one urban dwelling, while converting hundreds of thousands of renters into owners — albeit owners who couldn’t sell. Cubans were allowed to “swap” houses in deals that often involved under-the-table cash. The lack of a formal market, along with government restrictions on private home construction, worsened a shortage. There are still restrictions, though, on real estate in the country. Cubans are limited to one property in the city and one vacation home. Titleholders must be Cuban citizens or permanent residents, not foreigners. The deals are almost always done in cash, and the transactions must pass through Cuban banks, though buyers and sellers often agree

to exchange additional sums outside the country to minimize tax payments. Communist authorities are in the game, too, building high-end condominiums for sale to non-Cuban buyers, with plans to erect more alongside golf courses and yacht marinas in partnership with Chinese investors. “It isn’t only the ability to buy property,” said Magda Mora, 39, who returned to Havana in 2012 after 14 years in Italy and Miami. “It’s buying property that can be used for a business.” Mora bought a 3,300-square-foot duplex in the heart of the city’s Vedado neighborhood, renovated it and now lives upstairs with her family, converting the lower unit into a mini-hostel. It has five rooms that rent for $35 a night each, earning good reviews on TripAdvisor. When the wealthy and middle-class Cuban families fled to the United States, their homes were expropriated by the government. Many of those homes were given to poorer Cubans or the caretakers that the wealthier families had left behind. The city’s exclusive neighborhoods became racially mixed, and Havana became a much more “heterogeneous city,” according to architect and city historian Miguel Coyula. Now as the city goes through a change, many of those families are selling their homes and properties that have proven to be a valuable asset attractive to many. So what can your money potentially be worth in Cuba? Well, a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in the most desirable neighborhood sells for about $60,000, while detached houses listed at around $100,000 or more. Pretty cheap, for us foreigners, but that’s a fortune in a country where the average government salary is stagnant at $20 a month.

Inequality Gap Continues to Widen in Most Developed Countries The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has confirmed that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. In its 34 member states, the richest 10% of the population earn 9.6 times the income of the poorest 10%. OECD member states include most of the European Union as well as developed economies such as the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan.

to wearing their religious garb on the streets, but not “in specific situations where it is essential for people to be seen” or for security reasons, Prime Minister Mark Rutte told journalists after the cabinet meeting. “The bill does not have any religious background,” he added.

There is no standard measure of inequality, but most indicators suggest it slowed or fell during the financial crisis and is now growing again. The OECD cautions that inequality is a danger to economic growth. In the most lopsided countries, there is also a wider gap in education, which leads to a workforce that does not maximize its effectiveness. A major contributor to the widening gap is non-standard work, which includes temporary contracts and self-employment. The OECD says that since the mid-1990s more than half of all job creation in its member states has been in non-standard work. According to the report, households reliant on this type of work structure have higher poverty rates than other households with steady employment. Another factor to blame is tax and benefit systems which have become less effective at redistributing income. Conversely, an increase in women in the workforce has prevented the gap from expanding even wider. Latin America is one of the few areas where inequality has not been growing in the last 30 years, although it’s important to note that levels of inequality were much higher in the region to begin with.

Dutch Burqa Ban Many may argue that wearing a burqa is a religious right but in the Netherlands it is now partially banned. On Friday, the Dutch cabinet approved a partial ban on wearing the face-covering Islamic veil in schools, hospitals, and on public transportation. “Face-covering clothing will in the future not be accepted in education and healthcare institutions, government buildings and on public transport,” the government said in a statement after the cabinet backed Interior Minister Ronald Plasterk’s bill. Muslim women will be permitted

The government said it had “tried to find a balance between people’s freedom to wear the clothes they want and the importance of mutual and recognizable communication” and “sees no reason for a general ban that would apply to all public places.” Individuals who violate the new law can face a fine of up to 405 euros (around $450). According to State broadcaster NOS, between 100 and 500 women in the Netherlands wear the burqa, most of them only occasionally. The Netherlands isn’t the first country to introduce such a ban. France introduced a ban on women wearing the burqa in public back in 2010; women who broke the ban were either arrested or fined up to 150 euros. The European Court of Human Rights last year backed the French ban, rejecting arguments that outlawing full-face veils breaches religious freedom. A parliamentary committee in Belgium later voted to ban the burqa as well. Italy has drafted a similar law. The Dutch government will send its draft law to the highest court in the Netherlands, the Council of State, for its opinion. That opinion and the bill’s text will be made public when parliament begins debating the law at a date yet to be decided.

Hotel Gift Shops Selling Neo-Nazi Items in Moscow The gift shops at the Holiday Inn and Hilton in Moscow offer more than just keychains and “I went to Moscow and all I brought you was this lousy t-shirt” tees, they also sell anti-Semitic imagery. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is challenging Russian authorities to take legal

The Week In News the prosecutor-general to “confiscate all such products in view of their offense to history and their encouragement to today’s neo-Nazi activists and Skinhead youth” and concluded that “legal measures must also be taken against the producers and distributors.”

Presumably, everyone you know has a working lightbulb and a microwave; many of your neighbors even have generators in case of a blackout. But don’t take electricity for granted. Surprisingly, one out of seven people in the world is still living without working electricity, despite some progress in expanding access, and nearly three billion cook using polluting fuels, the World Bank said last week. The global electrification rate rose to 85 percent in 2012 from 83 percent in 2010, pushing the number of people without access to electric power down to 1.1 billion from 1.2 billion. A report tracking the Sustainable

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“We are heading in the right direction to end energy poverty, but we are still far from the finish line,” Anita Marangoly George, a senior director for energy with the World Bank, pointed out. The SE4ALL initiative has three objectives for 2030: providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewables in the global energy mix. The report said the share of renewable energy – including hydro, solar and wind –

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Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, launched by the U.N. Secretary-General in 2011, showed significant advances in India but unfortunately very little growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Another stagnant area was that very few people switched over from biomass cooking fuels such as kerosene, wood and dung, the report added.

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Dr. Shimon Samuels, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s director for international relations, wrote in a letter to Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Yakovlev Chaika: “Born in London, I have always acknowledged the role of the Red Army on the Eastern Front in preventing a Nazi invasion of Great Britain. Thereby, your people’s sacrifice contributed to the survival of British Jews from destruction in the Holocaust – only 50 kilometers away on the European continent. I am presently in Moscow for an international conference on ‘The Lessons of Victory in the Second World War/The Great Patriotic War – Seventy

Years Later.’ Together with colleagues from the Russian Holocaust Center and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial of Israel, we were horrified to discover an exhibition in a hotel gift shop – a chess-set featuring the Red Army led by Joseph Stalin lined up with the Nazi Wehrmacht led by Adolf Hitler – placing them on an equal level.” Samuels continues, “Alongside this swastika-bedecked abomination lay the victory ribbon of Russian veterans and, behind it, a shelf of ‘Matryoshka’ dolls of Orthodox Jewish figures displaying anti-Semitic stereotypes.” Samuels said he had learned that “the Moscow region producer and distributor of these ‘souvenirs’ – indeed now prohibited by the Russian Federal law against Nazi imagery signed by President Putin this month – serves principally gift shops in Moscow tourist hotels, reportedly Holiday Inn and Hilton chains. It is mainly tourists who may pay 27,000 rubles (about $590) for such products.” The letter argued that “these sales are an insult to every Allied veteran and victim of World War II and also to the Russian tradition of chess excellence.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged

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measures against the producers and distributors of the neo-Nazi paraphernalia.

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The Week In News grew rapidly at 4 percent per year from 2010 to 2012. But the annual growth rate needs to speed up to around 7.5 percent to achieve the 2030 goal. “We will need to work a lot harder especially to mobilize much larger investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency,” the World Bank’s Marangoly George said. According to the World Bank and the International Energy Agency, which co-produced the report, annual global investments in energy would have to triple from around $400 billion now to as much as $1.2 trillion to meet the SE4ALL targets.

In Bogota in the mid-‘90s, the mayor installed more than 400 mime artists to show displeasure to reckless pedestrians and drivers who violated traffic rules and put lives at risk. It was an interesting tactic to make the city a safer one for residents.

What’s the World’s Safest City? With so much happening in busy metropolises, it’s hard to keep things safe for residents and tourists. For example, in the Big Apple there were 328 homicides in the city last year. Terrorism is a big concern and cyber-crime is a growing threat.

So which city in the world is considered safest? According to the Safe Cities Index, put together by the Economist’s Intelligence Unit (EIU), the title of world’s safest goes to the city that is also the most populous: Tokyo. The EIU looked at a wide range of

factors when putting together the index. It examined digital security, and considered the number of cyber-attacks and how they were tackled. It looked at the obvious area of personal safety, but also infrastructure security – sanitation, roads, and management of natural disasters. In the health security category, it looked at quality of healthcare (for instance, how many hospital beds and doctors there were per 1,000 people), but also at issues such as pollution. As the report puts it, “Living in a safe and healthy urban environment can make a real and measurable difference to city inhabitants.” In the index’s top 25 cities, average life expectancy is 81; in the bottom half, it is 75. Tokyo scored highly across all categories. The report highlights its low crime rate and how city planners improved quality of life by banning diesel cars to reduce pollution and pedestrianizing large parts of the center. Before you start packing your bags, however, the conclusions aren’t simple: Tokyo also happens to be considered the world’s riskiest city, in part because of the huge number of people who would be harmed in an inevitable future earthquake. Nor does the report actually say which city is safest for you. For example, if you’re interested in a city that’s concerned about personal safety as opposed to threats from cyber-crime consider Singapore. And what about health security? For that you should head to Zurich, which is first for health and 13th for personal safety. Other studies have revealed other issues that might be of personal importance. Amsterdam, for instance, is – perhaps unsurprisingly – a good place to be on a bike. In 2011 and 2013, the Dutch city was ranked safest for cyclists by urban planning consultancy the Copenhagenize Design Company, using criteria such as bicycle facilities, drivers’ attitudes, and political will to promote cycling. The sheer proliferation of cyclists helps – cycling in the city, notes the report, is “about as mainstream as you can get” – as does cycling infrastructure and a 30kph speed limit. New York was ranked as the city that is safest for women worldwide.

Israel Record French to Tour Israel Israel will see a historic number of young French Jewish adults this sum-

mer on the Taglit-Birthright program. The educational organization will bring 1,500 of the estimated 500,000 French Jews to Israel to learn about the Jewish state and immerse them in their Jewish heritage. “This is the largest number of French Jews to ever come on the program,” recruitment director Emmanuel Sion told reporters. “In 2013, we only had 82 participants and last year, we had 940 summer participants. The Jewish community in France is in a crisis. Many young Jews are asking themselves about their future and what their place is in French society due to the anti-Semitism,” Sion related.

Organizers hope that the young French Jews participating, ages 1826, will return to France with a deeper sense of pride and clearer understanding of the Jewish people and Jewish values. “Many of the participants have studied in non-Jewish schools and don’t necessarily know that much about ancient or modern Israeli history,” Sion said. Other participants, according to Sion, are considering making aliyah to the Jewish state or may move to another country. “Israel is the country that many Jews in France are strongly considering in their future.” This past winter, 550 French Taglit-Birthright Israel participants toured Israel. One of the participants, Yoav Hattab, 21, had just returned to France after his Taglit-Birthright visit in Israel when he was murdered two days later in the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket in Paris on Friday, January 9. The son of the Chief Rabbi of Tunis, Yoav was buried in Jerusalem along with the three other French Jews killed in the Paris terrorist attack carried out by an Islamic terrorist. According to Sion, during their 10day trip to Israel when the groups will explore Israel from the north to the south, there will also be a special stop at Yoav Hattab’s grave in Jerusalem’s Har HaMenuchot cemetery.

The Week In News Jerusalem Tops Tourist Terror Targets

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PM Suspends Palestinian Bus Law

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MAY 28, 2015

Bibi Netanyahu overruled his Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon when he called off a proposed plan to segregate Palestinians from Israelis on West Bank buses hours after it was introduced. An official in the prime minister’s office said Netanyahu called Ya’alon to tell him he found the proposal “unacceptable” and the two decided to freeze the plan. According to a Defense Ministry official, the ban had applied to Palestinians who commute to Israel to work. “Under a three-month pilot project, Palestinians who work in Israel will need to return home by the same crossings without taking buses used by [Israeli] residents of Judea and Samaria,” the official said. The law and its effects were to have been reviewed after three months. Until the law was proposed, Palestinians had been able to enter and exit Israel through a variety of checkpoints but under the new proposal some workers would have been forced to use the same point for both. This could have extended their travel times by hours. The plan meant that thousands of Palestinians employed in Israel would have been restricted to four checkpoints to reach their place of work and would have had to return home by the same crossing points. On their return to the West Bank, Palestinians would then have taken Palestinian buses to take them home. Israeli news outlets said Ya’alon believes the measures would have granted “more control over Palestinians coming in and out of Israel and reduce security risks.” The original passing of the law came about due to the lobbying efforts by West Bank settlers for several years.

Jerusalem was ranked seventh among capital cities worldwide facing an “extreme risk” of being hit by terror attacks, according to a new report released by risk-analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft. Of the 1,300 cities and urban centers worldwide that were looked at, Baghdad — which saw 380 attacks in the last several years that resulted in 1,141 deaths — was ranked the world’s highest at-risk urban center. Cross-referencing the list with tourism trends, it was concluded that Jerusalem was the top tourist destination worldwide targeted by terrorists. After Baghdad, the capitals of Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Israel followed as the most dangerous capital cities in the world. The risk-analysis firm listed 64 cities that faced an “extreme risk” for terror attacks, among them 27 in the Middle East and 19 in Asia. In its overall ranking, Verisk Maplecroft listed Jerusalem in 42nd place, while East Jerusalem — which researchers analyzed as a separate city — was ranked 36th. According to the report, the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Netanya made the list of the world’s most dangerous cities at 51st and 61st place respectively. In the overall ranking, the top six of the 10 most dangerous cities for terrorism in the world were in Iraq, followed by 3 Pakistani cities and one in Libya. The risk analysis firm calculated the scores based on the intensity and frequency of attacks in the last 12 months. Also factored in were the frequency and severity of prior attacks using an online mapping and data portal that logs and analyzes every reported terror attack worldwide. Researchers, who called Israel, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan “strategic economies,” said that risks posed by terrorism in those countries could potentially threaten business and supply chain continuity worldwide. Continued on page 22

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The Week In News “An estimated 80% of global GDP is generated from cities,” principal analyst Charlotte Ingham explained. The report noted that the global trend of increasing Islamic extremism contributed to political instability and the increased risk of violence contributed to the ranking of cities listed.

UN: Israel Violates Health Rights of Syrians In what is not the first and sure to not be the last time, the UN is singling out Israel for criticism. This week, the

UN Watch NGO reported that the global body adopted a draft resolution portraying Israel as violating the health rights of Syrians in the Golan. The resolution comes even as Israeli hospitals continue their life-saving treatment for escalating numbers of wounded Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country. By a vote of 104 to 4—with 6 abstentions and 65 absent—the Jewish

state was the only country in the world to be singled out by the annual assembly of the UN’s World Health Organization. The decision was later ratified in Geneva in a final reading by the plenary, noted UN Watch.

The resolution adopts two reports heaping blame upon Israel for allegedly violating the health rights of both the Palestinians and Druze residents of the Golan, and constituted the 2015 assembly’s only treatment of a specific country situation, the NGO said. “There was no debate on the health of the Yemeni people now under indiscriminate Saudi bombardment, no mention at all of the 1,850 Yemenis killed, the 7,394 wounded, and the 545,000 displaced, many of whom are desperate to find food,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer. On the contrary, he added, the representative of Saudi Arabia took the floor to denounce “Israeli intransigence” and to beseech “all peace loving states” to adopt the distorted and politicized resolution. The resolution, Neuer continued, falsely claimed a dire need for “health-related technical assistance” for “the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan” and said nothing about the Syrians being murdered in their own country. “Instead, the scapegoating of Israel—in the form of a special debate, two lopsided reports, the resolution, and the publication of country submissions—provided a UN platform for Assad’s murderous regime,” Neuer pointed out. The latest anti-Israel resolution follows a similar theme in March when the Commission on the Status of Women introduced a motion criticizing Israel for “violating the rights of Palestinian women.” Israel was the only country to be criticized by the commission, which ignored countries that truly violate women’s rights such as Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon admitted in 2013 that the UN is biased against Israel, but he later backtracked on those comments.

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The Week In News Hamas Claims Construction Next to IDF Base

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the “military wing” of the Hamas terrorist organization, claims to be constructing a new road in northern Gaza adjacent to an IDF army base. Hamas operatives took pictures of the work, showing a truck unloading paving material in front of a bulldozer. Next to the construction equipment stands an armed Hamas terrorist supervising the construction.

In the background, the Hamas activists claim an IDF army base close to the security border with Gaza can be seen, which would potentially mean the work was done in a no-go zone maintained by the IDF for security reasons to prevent infiltrations. However, an inspection of the picture reveals what appears to be two people working in a fenced-off area that is supposedly an IDF base, with no signs of any watch posts. The extreme proximity to the paving and lack of reaction throws into higher doubt the veracity of the claim. If the road is truly being paved adjacent to an IDF base, it would raise great security concerns over the possibility of Hamas expanding its presence on the border to launch a raid. Hamas has in the past tried to abduct IDF soldiers from over the border, most famously in the case of Gilad Shalit who was returned in 2011 for the release of 1,027 terrorists. Gaza-based political analyst Ibrahim al-Madhoun told reporters that by building the road in an area that is off-limits given the high security threat, Hamas is showing its growing confidence in defying IDF forces.

Hamas Increases Taxes in Gaza

Merchants are fuming as Hamas has added another burden to the lives of residents of Gaza with the introduction of new import taxes on items considered non-essential. Some businessmen are threatening to cease imports into Gaza altogether. Over 400 items will be affected, including a variety of crops, meat, fruits, vegetables, clothing and electronics. Most of the items are imports from Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

and Turkey. “The purpose of the law is to ease the suffering of the poor in the Gaza Strip,” said Ahmad Abu Halbiya, a member of Hamas’s parliamentary bloc who passed the new tax. “We’ll collapse as a society in Gaza if we do not impose these taxes. It’s not much but it will benefit the citizens of Gaza – especially the security police who need money for cars.” Abu Halbiya said that flour and medicines, as essential goods, would be exempt from the tax. He acknowledged that Hamas’s 40,000 employees will be the main recipients of the new tax revenue. Dozens of merchants recently gathered in front of the Gazan legislative building to demand abolition of the import taxes. It seems that Hamas rule is stifling their way of life. “Life here gets impossible; we can’t take it anymore,” Saleem Nazal, a merchant at the gathering, said. “Further decisions like this will lead to more families dying in the Mediterranean Sea, looking for a better life away from Gaza.” Nazal said that if the government’s decision were to go through then he would no longer be able to afford to import fruit and vegetables.

s’’xc

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The Week In News

D.C. Bomb Scare Cleared Alarms were raised when a pressure cooker was found in a “suspicious” un-

She said the squad known as the Hazardous Devices Section destroyed “items of concern in the vehicle including the pressure cooker” at about 7:45 p.m. after temporarily closing off the area on the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. She did not immediately identify the other items but said only that “this safe disruption produced a loud bang.” Follow-up searches of the vehicle detected “nothing hazardous.” Schneider said the bomb squad intervention came after authorities had set up a security perimeter around the site on 3rd Street. The street was temporarily closed while authorities investigated. It was unclear how many people were in or near that area at the time. The vehicle’s owner was identified as Israel Shimeles of the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Va. He was arrested by Capitol Police and charged with “operating after revocation.”

Phone Use While Driving on the Rise

Stop reading TJH on your phone and have your passenger read these new survey results to you. Mobile phone giant AT&T recently conducted a poll and

Nursing Home Tragedy in Texas Natalie Sealy, 85, was a resident at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation

Center in Texas but she did not receive the care she deserved or even livable conditions. On September 2, while the retired bank teller suffering from dementia slept, fire ants swarmed her hospital-style bed and injected their stinging venom onto her face, arms, hands, and chest.

“She was just lying there being eaten alive,” said daughter Billie Pender, who said she and her sister had repeatedly complained about a broken windowsill in their mother’s room at the Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. After suffering the initial bites, her health deteriorated and she passed in late March. Her children now want to sue the home. The lawsuit, filed in Caldwell County District Court, alleges Parkview failed to provide a safe envi-

MAY 28, 2015

President Obama has signed the legislation that would give Congress the power to review and potentially reject a nuclear deal with Iran. The legislation would bar Obama from waiving congressional sanctions for at least 30 days while lawmakers examine any final deal. Congress would have to pass a resolution of disapproval to reject an agreement, an action Obama likely would veto. Obama originally threatened to veto the bill, but later agreed to sign it after a compromise on its wording was reached between Republicans and Democrats. Just last week, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the measure by an overwhelming majority of 400-25. The House approval came a week after the Senate voted 98-1 to approve the legislation. Iran and the six world powers made a major breakthrough at talks with Iran on April 2 by agreeing on the parameters for a final deal to scale back its nuclear capabilities. The negotiators, however, still have a series of technical issues to resolve by a June 30 deadline for a final deal, including the steps for lifting sanctions imposed on Iran. While speaking to a Jewish congregation in Washington, Obama sought to offer assurances that he wanted an ironclad compact. “I will not accept a bad deal,” he said recently. “This deal will have my name on it, so nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise.” Israel has consistently voiced its disapproval on any agreement with Iran as a deal will give tacit permission to Tehran to continue to build its nuclear weapons program.

found that it isn’t just texting that drivers are doing behind the wheel – they’re also checking social media, video chatting and even shooting video. The survey found that a majority of drivers keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving. Scarily, thirty percent of people who post something on Twitter while driving say they do it “all the time” and 22 percent of those who access social media say they do it because they’re addicted. Texting while driving makes a crash 23 times more likely to occur. Just reaching for your cellphone while you’re supposed to have your eyes on the road poses 1.4 times the risk for an accident. Cellphone use leads to 1.6 million crashes a year. Be smart. Remember that driving and smartphones—or any phones—just don’t mix.



Congress to Oversee Iran Nuclear Bill

attended vehicle on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol this weekend. After a bomb squad destroyed the device, the vehicle’s owner was found and arrested. Police Lt. Kimberly A. Schneider told reporters that Capitol Police officers on routine patrol spotted the parked, unoccupied vehicle on a street on the mall west of the Capitol about 5 p.m. “Further investigation revealed a pressure cooker and an odor of gasoline was detected,” Schneider said. A Capitol Police bomb squad was called in because the vehicle was “suspicious in nature.”

THE JEWISH HOME

National

THE JEWISH HOME



MAY 28, 2015

The Week In News ronment, pest control or adequate staffing. In court papers, the home’s owners deny the allegations. Sealy had been living in the for-profit facility for two years. Her family had not been aware that the home scored poorly on staffing and other quality measures; they had selected it because

it was close to where they lived and they’d be able to visit often and check in on her care. This year, Medicare rates it one star out of a possible five—the lowest rating possible—on Nursing Home Compare, which was designed by the federal government to help consumers choose a long-term-care facility that is

right for them. Stars are awarded based on government inspection reports, staffing levels and self-reported quality measures, including the percentage of residents who develop bedsores or who are injured in falls. Earlier this year, the government added quality criteria, and as a result, many nursing homes

dropped a star or more. Texas has the highest percentage of one- and two-star homes in the country: 51 percent of its nursing homes are rated “below average” or “much below average,” on Nursing Home Compare, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Louisiana is close behind at 49 percent, with Oklahoma, Georgia and West Virginia tying for third at 46 percent. States with at least 40 percent of homes ranked on the bottom two rungs include North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

Get Fit America!

Every year, a mostly depressing list comes out telling us which cities are home to the nation’s fittest people. It’s usually depressing because it’s generally far from where we live. The annual American Fitness Index has just been released for eighth time by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation. The cities were judged according to such indicators as the variety of outdoor activity options and rates of smoking, obesity and diabetes. “The AFI is two things: a measure of how healthy a metro area is today, and a call-to-action for urban and suburban leaders to design infrastructures that promote active lifestyles and lead to positive health outcomes,” said Walter Thompson, chair of the AFI Advisory Board. The study uses a composite score to measure the health of each metropolitan area. Access to public parks was added as a measure in 2015. For the second year in a row, Washington, D.C., tops the list of the fittest U.S. cities, followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Francisco, although Americans are exercising less overall. Indianapolis sank to the bottom of the list as the least active city in the country, followed by Memphis and Oklahoma City. The Washington metropolitan area topped the list for the second year in a row with a score of 79.6 out of 100 possible points, a two-point improvement Clearly Michelle Obama over 2014. is making a difference in the neigh-

29 THE JEWISH HOME 

MAY 28, 2015

THE JEWISH HOME



MAY 28, 2015

The Week In News borhood’s exercise ethic. The report, though, showed an 11 percent drop in the last year in the number of Americans who exercised in the last 30 days and a 7.8 percent increase in diabetes death rates. There was a 5.5 percent drop in those who eat enough fruit each day. The rankings highlight natural imbalances that make some cities more likely to be fit than others. “One of the issues with the index is it compares some places like Indianapolis with some places like Denver,” advisory board member NiCole Keith pointed out. “We just don’t have that level of green space. We’re not going to get mountains and we’re not going to get oceans.” Other issues standing in the way of better health include a lack of education and access to better foods and healthcare. On the plus side, respondents who reported they had been diagnosed with angina or coronary heart disease decreased by 9.5 percent overall. The survey also found a 5.5 percent increase in the number of park units from 2014 to 2015. America’s Healthiest Cities: 1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

2. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 4. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 5. Sacramento–Roseville– Arden-Arcade, CA 6. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 7. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 10. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA The Least Healthiest Cities in the Nation: 41. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 42. New Orleans-Metairie, LA 43. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 44. Birmingham-Hoover, AL 45. Nashville-Davidson– Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN 46. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 47. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 48. Oklahoma City, OK 49. Memphis, TN-MS-AR 50. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

Nobel Winner Nash and Wife Die in Car Crash

Oil Spill Contaminating Californian Beaches

In a shocking and tragic accident, John Forbes Nash Jr., the Princeton University mathematician, and his wife died in a car crash in New Jersey this week. Nash, 86, and Alicia Nash, 82, were riding in a taxi near Monroe Township when the incident occurred. The taxi went out of control as it tried to pass another vehicle. Nash, widely regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, was known for his work in game theory and for his personal struggle with paranoid schizophrenia. Alicia Nash, an MIT physics major from an aristocratic Salvadoran family, has been credited with saving his life after schizophrenia derailed his career in the 1960s, letting him into her home and looking after him. As the couple’s biographer, Sylvia Nasar, wrote in the 1998 book, A Beautiful Mind, “It was Nash’s genius ... to choose a woman who would prove so essential to his survival.” Nash spoke of mental illness as often having “an unfavorable course with history in the sense that people never really recovered to what you can call mentally well. They become what are called consumers of mental health organizations. They are always taking some sort of a pill.” In addition to the Nobel Prize, Nash received the John von Neumann Theory Prize in 1978 and the American Mathematical Society’s Steele Prize for a Seminal Contribution to Research (1999). Just last week, the mathematician was in Norway to accept the 2015 Abel Prize for mathematical contributions with longtime colleague Louis Nirenberg.

What has become known as the Santa Barbara oil spill has leaked more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil onto coastal lands and into the ocean. The cause of the spill is still under investigation. The underground oil pipeline was carrying 1,300 barrels an hour, which is below its maximum capacity of 2,000 barrels an hour, said Rick McMichael of Plains All American Pipeline. Plains All American Pipeline has been counted among the worst violators listed by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration. Their negative record has surpassed all but four of more than 1,700 operators in reporting safety and maintenance infractions, the federal agency said. The company has 175 federal safety and maintenance violations since 2006, responsible for more than 16,000 barrels in spills that have caused more than $23 million worth of property damage. When asked about the firm’s regulatory record, McMichael said the company reports every incident – even those it’s not required to document — and two-thirds of them involved five or fewer gallons. Pat Hutchins, the company’s senior director of safety, said Plains has been committing money to safety improvements for the past seven years. Crews continued to clean beaches and coastal waters as the oil slick covered the water, and officials reported that the leak killed an undisclosed number of lobsters, kelp bass and marine invertebrates. Six oil-soaked pelicans and one young sea lion were being rehabilitated, officials said. Seventeen vessels have skimmed 9,500 gallons of oily water from the ocean, McMichael said. The cleanup could last for months. For now, currents, tides and winds make the oil plume “a moving target” as it drifts offshore, said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jennifer Williams. Continued on page 34

31 THE JEWISH HOME 

MAY 28, 2015

THE JEWISH HOME



MAY 28, 2015

32 Nearly four decades of Torah Literacy

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We pray for the welfare of the government because the government protects us.

[2] Rabbi Chanina, the Assistant Kohen Gadol, would say: You should pray for the welfare of the government . If people did not fear the government everything would be wild and people would fight with one another.

‫ ֱהוֵ י‬:‫אֹומר‬ ֵ ‫[ב] ַר ִּבי ֲחנִ ינָ א ְסגַ ן ַהּכ ֲֹהנִ ים‬ ,‫לֹומּה ֶׁשל ַמ ְלכּות‬ ָ ‫ִמ ְת ַּפ ֵּלל ִּב ְׁש‬ ‫ ִאיׁש ֶאת ֵרֵֽעהּו‬,‫מֹור ָאּה‬ ָ ‫ֶׁש ִא ְל ָמ ֵלא‬ .‫ַחּיִ ים ְּב ָלעֹו‬

Did You Know?? The purpose of any government is to make sure everyone rules. If people could follows the do whatever they wanted there would be no peace, and bad people could rob and kill their neighbors. for the government and That is why we must pray follow the law. Our Sages the land is the law,’’ as teach us that “the law long as it does not go of against the law of the Torah.

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CHAPTER ONE

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33 THE JEWISH HOME 

MAY 28, 2015

The Week In News “It’s a continual effort,” added U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer David Mosley. “It’s not something that we can say, ‘Yeah, we are hitting it out of the park,’ but it’s something our guys are dedicated to.” The size of the spill is equivalent to the volume of water the average American residence uses in a year.

Tragedy as Flooding and Tornadoes Pummel Texas 12 people were still missing on Tuesday morning after a rain-swollen river in Central Texas carried a vacation home

off its foundation, slamming it into a bridge downstream. Many are hoping to find them alive, but it is said that most likely they will be found drowned. Terrible storms dumped record rainfall over the holiday weekend on the Plains and the Midwest and major flooding and tornadoes killed at least 11 in Oklahoma and Texas. More than 1,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed and thou-

sands are displaced. Meteorologists say storms that have been virtually parked over Texas for weeks are not yet done, raising the prospect of even more flooding.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared disasters in 37 counties, allowing for further mobilization of state resources to assist. “You cannot candy coat it. It’s absolutely massive,” he declared after touring the destruction. Witnesses reported seeing the swollen Blanco River push the vacation house off its foundation and smash it into a bridge. Only pieces of the home have been found, Hays County Judge Bert Cobb. One person who was rescued from the home told workers that the other 12 inside were all from two families. Eight of the missing had traveled to the area from Corpus Christi for vacation.

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According to a study by Columbia University, children in New York City who are exposed to high levels of airborne filth and economic hardship have lower IQs that will haunt them into adulthood. “The findings are a concern because, as has been shown with lead [poisoning], even a modest decrease in IQ can impact lifetime earnings,” warns the report published in the medical journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology. Researchers reached the alarming conclusion by tracking the development of 276 minority children from Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx for seven years — starting while their mothers were expecting. The children who were exposed to the most pollutants and came from the poorest families scored 6.6 points lower on the overall IQ test than others in the group.

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The Week In News The average score on an IQ test is 100. In addition, the children scored 8 points lower for “working memory,” which is what people use to plan and carry out behavior, and 5.7 points lower for “perceptual reasoning,” which

allows people to visualize solutions to non-verbal problems. The researchers examined the baby’s blood and the mothers carried around air monitors during their third trimesters. They were interviewed about their ability to provide food and clothing for

their children. The study concluded that prenatal exposure to pollutants can be tied to a host of childhood ills—including developmental delays, anxiety and depression—and poverty only proves to exacerbate those disadvantages. “This report adds to the growing lit-

erature on the vulnerability of the developing fetus and young child to the toxic effects of environmental pollutants,” the study points out. A related study of 40 of the children involved in the research showed that air pollution had damaged the left sides of their brains, impairing their ability to think quickly and possibly causing conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

That’s Odd The Owl Advocate

Attorneys come in all shapes and sizes. And yes, although some of them may be as crazy as a loon, this lawyer was really bird-brained. Last week, Charles Abbott brought his trusty attorney to an Aspen, Colorado, courtroom to aid in his defense and help him talk turkey to the judge. He certainly needed a good excuse; Abbott is accused of violating a protection order involving his former roommate Michael Stranahan. The order was filed after Abbott allegedly assaulted Stranahan at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Abbott’s attorney sat on the table in front of him. The wise counsel—who was actually a stuffed owl named “Soloman”—was presented as his legal aide until a public defender was assigned to the case. “He’s a very sensitive guy, has law degrees from Yale, Harvard and Stanford,” Abbott told the judge. “I think he’ll be able to represent me before a public defender comes online.” A little bird tells me that he won’t be walking around free as a bird anytime soon.

$850K of Gratitude Peter and Joan Petrasek were truly grateful. They were grateful to America for giving them life and happiness after the Nazis wiped out their families. And so the Seattle couple left their total ac-

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Men and women are encouraged to attend!

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Sunday June 7th | 9:30 AM Featured Speaker: Rav Yakov Horowitz Shlit’a

Committee Mr. & Mrs. David Aidelson

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Mr. & Mrs. Chanina Berman

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The Week In News cumulated wealth—of cash in the bank and sale of their West Seattle home, 1977 Ford Granada and gun collection—to the U.S. government, a total of $847,215.57.

Mr. Petrasek had grown up during the Nazi occupation of his native Czech Republic and lost his mother and father in the Holocaust. His sister died in the Allied bombing of Dresden, Germany, where she worked in a factory during the war. Mr. Petrasek himself recalled being put in a youth camp associated with the Nazi air force, the Luftwaffe. His plane was shot down and he hiked into Switzerland before making it to the U.S. as a refugee. After he married Joan, they lived a simple lifestyle, only taking one out-of-state vacation to Hawaii throughout their years together. Peter Winn, the assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle who worked on the couple’s estate, said about Peter, “As a refugee from World War II, he was very grateful to his adopted country. “He grew up with a lot of people in Eastern Europe who would have been happy to change places with him… He wanted to make a statement about how much it meant to him to be an American citizen.”

3,355 Miles and Going

“Run, Forrest, run!” On May 9, Patrick Sweeney, a real-life Forrest Gump, crossed the finish line. The 36-year-old ran 3,355 miles from California to Boston in just 114 days, crossing 14 states as he ran in only sandals or barefooted. The Los Angeles man’s cross-country trek was fueled by a life-changing event and he started to run as a sort-of catharsis. Interestingly, Sweeney hated running as a teen and began competing in 100-mile

runs before deciding to embark on his epic journey. Sweeney isn’t really like Forrest Gump, who wore his white sneakers as he encountered history on his run. The vegan didn’t fuel his trip on a box of chocolates or shrimp—he downed black coffee, potato chips, peanut butter sandwiches, and avocados. A classic combination for a champion. Along the way he raised money for a charity 100-mile club that encourages kids to run or walk 100 miles at school during one school year. “I went into this adventure with genuine faith in humanity and this love for my fellow-man human beings has been strengthened by kindness and generosity I saw on daily basis by the strangers I met along the way,” he said. “I was worried about injury and the journey was tough at times, but giving up was never something I considered.” Just keep on running…

The Gift of Glasses

Employees of an Italian eyewear company are seeing stars. The founder of Luxottica is celebrating his 80th birthday by giving the firm’s 8,000 employees in Italy shares worth around nine million euros ($10 million). Leonardo del Vecchio, Italy’s second richest man thanks to an eyewear brand sported by star designers, is gifting his staff 140,000 Luxottica Group treasury shares. “A sincere thank you to the Group’s employees in Italy, those at the heart of Luxottica’s success,” he said in a statement. “With this small gesture, I would like to show how important the employees are to me. I truly feel as if we are a family.” Luxottica, owner of the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, reported a record profit for 2014 and began 2015 in style, boasting an increase in its first-quarter profit of nearly 34 percent thanks to strong growth sales in North America. That’s a clear cause for celebration.

The Frank ‘n’ Fraud

You know what they say: If you see something, say something. And right now I’m seeing a rat.

Boy Genius

This hot dog is now out of a job. Ahmed Mohammed seemed like the classic hot dog vendor in downtown Manhattan. His cart boasted hot dogs and cold drinks and tourists lined up for his fare. But when they took out their wallets to pay, they were hit with sticker shock. The vendor was charging an upwards of $30 for tourists for a New York-style weiner. Abdelalim Abdelbaky owns the cart and says he was shocked when he heard that Mohammed was charging the exorbitant prices—and then pocketing the change. “I told him the prices and everything before he started,” Abdelbaky said about his $3.99 price for two hot dogs and a soda. “Then as soon as I saw what had happened I fired him.” WNBC exposed the fraudster who was caught on video charging a man with a French accent $15 for a hot dog and pretzel. A New Jersey resident also accused Mohammed of charging him $30 for a hot dog and a Dr. Pepper, WNBC reported. “The guy is not normal,” Abdelbaky said. “He has to take medicine. He can’t get work anywhere, so I gave him a job.” He says Mohammed had only worked the cart for two weeks. After the prices were exposed, cops slapped the vendor with three city code violations for failing to display his prices, displaying items that were not on his cart and for putting the cart too close to the crosswalk. Mohammed seemed unrepentant about his high prices. He claims that the guy down the block is fleecing customers. “It’s the guy on the corner. He overcharges people. It bothers me,” he said. “I’m trying to lead the vendors to do the right thing and obey the law.”

Watch out, America. Your future president is just barely a teenager but he has his sights on the Oval Office An 11-year-old boy who graduated from college in California last week wants to be president someday. He has some time to get his papers in order, though—or so we hope. Tanishq Abraham collected three degrees from American River College on Wednesday — only one year after graduating from high school at the age of 10. “The assumption is that he’s the all-time youngest,” American River College spokesman Scott Crow related. “But we don’t have all the archives to completely confirm. He was definitely the youngest this year.” Tanishq was always ahead of his peers. “Even in kindergarten he was pretty ahead, a few years ahead — and then it just went from there,” his mother related. Tanishq enjoyed his one-year college experience, saying that while some classmates were “intimidated,” others “were really happy there was a kid in their class.” What’s in the cards for the boy genius? Tanishq has quite a few dreams, and he may just be able to fulfill them all—to become a doctor, a medical researcher, and the leader of the free world. Just remember, Tanishq, you need to be 35 years old to settle down in the Oval Office. 

The Dangers of the Hypothetical Charles Krauthammer on politics on page 89

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Aaron’s Way, The A+OK Homework Program for sixth and seventh grade boys. Join us next school year!

Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation Evening of Inspiration

Zev Kops speaking

Rabbi Paysach Krohn addressing the audience

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation held a successful evening of inspiration at the home of Zev & Leah Kops on Sunday evening, May 17 in

to honor us as the guest speaker for the evening. Rabbi Krohn spoke on how the Chofetz Chaim viewed the world. At the close of the evening, Michael Rothschild, the founder and director of CCHF, warmed the hearts of all those in attendance with inspiring words of chizuk. We would like to give thanks to our generous hosts, Zev and Leah Kops for opening up their home and their hearts to spread the message of the Chofetz Chaim throughout the Queens area. We wish them and their family much mazal and bracha, and may they always be able to give of themselves to support Torah causes.

Kew Garden Hills. Zev Kops introduced the evening with welcoming words of bracha to a full house of supporters. We were privileged that Rabbi Pesach Krohn, an avid patron and frequent speaker for Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, was able

Assemblyman Kaminsky Hosts Local 5th Grader in Albany Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky hosted junior environmentalist Aaron Hirschel and his father, Daniel Hirschel, last Monday in New York’s state capitol building. Aaron, who is a ten-year-old resident of Cedarhurst, New York, and a student at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, wanted to visit Albany after learning that the City of New York would be banning Single-Use Styrofoam products as of July 1, 2015. Under the City’s ban, stores cannot sell or provide single-use foam products. His concern is that the environmental impact of Styrofoam products has long-lasting, negative consequences on our planet. Aaron and his father first reached out to Assemblyman Kaminsky for guidance on who to contact about environmental issues in New York State, and the assemblyman quickly responded with an invitation to visit Albany. Assemblyman Kaminsky arranged for Aaron to meet and lobby two of the Assembly’s leading environmental advocates: Assemblyman Steve Engelbright, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, who sponsored a bill in the Assembly similar to the City’s. Assemblyman Ka-

minsky also introduced Aaron on the floor of the New York State Assembly,

where Aaron was able to speak briefly with other members of the body. After meeting Aaron, Assemblyman Kaminsky co-sponsored a bill which would prohibit the use of Styrofoam by businesses that contract with the state and study the feasibility of a Styrofoam ban (A. 5743). “I was so impressed with Aaron’s keen desire to make New York a more environmentally friendly state. It’s not every day that citizens come up to Albany to lobby their legislators, not to mention a ten-year-old concerned activist. Aaron is wise beyond his years and I look forward to watching him as he grows into a powerful advocate,” said Assemblyman Kaminsky.

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Around The Community Jeffrey M. Rosengarten Named Senior Vice President of Operations at Touro College Jeffrey M. Rosengarten of Woodmere, New York, was named Senior Vice President of Operations at Touro College and University System last week. Rosengarten, who will launch his new role at Touro on July 6, has had a distinguished career spanning four decades managing facilities and infrastructure as well as directing campus planning, real estate acquisitions and capital improvements. As Touro’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Rosengarten will build on his proven track record as he serves as the University System’s chief operations and administrative services officer. He is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for real estate, construction

and facilities planning as well as human resources, campus security and other auxiliary services. “I am looking forward to working with Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish and his accomplished senior management team to contribute my experience and abilities in advancing Touro and its mission, at our main campus as well as branch campuses and programs around the metropolitan New York area, in our western division and abroad,” said Rosengarten. “I am inspired by Touro’s dual mission to strengthen Jewish continuity and also to serve and support diverse communities, by offering world-class educational opportunities to all members of

society. I believe our role as Jews is to assist the entire world, sharing our skills and expertise-- in education, science and culture—to benefit humankind. As one who knew Touro founder Dr. Bernard Lander personally, I feel this is a homecoming. I was always enthralled by his creativity and success and am eager to help move his vision forward. I am joining Dr. Kadish’s team and the Touro family at an exciting time in its history as well as a pivotal time in my own professional career and I look forward to beginning the journey,” continued Rosengarten. Rosengarten, who currently serves as Vice President of Administrative Services at Yeshiva University, began his professional career at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he directed the outpatient primary care clinics of

the affiliated Jacobi Hospital Center. In 1982, Rosengarten arrived at Yeshiva University’s main campus as Director of Personnel before assuming his current responsibilities for the various administrative supporting services departments across YU’s three Manhattan campuses. He earned a BA from Queens College of the City University of New York and pursued graduate studies in management and administration at the New School and Baruch College “We are delighted to have Jeffrey Rosengarten come on board to serve Touro in this critical role. His vast and varied experience in organizing and overseeing large and complex university operations and managing important real estate transactions will undoubtedly serve Touro well,” said Dr. Alan Kadish.

Peer pressure actually caused the girls to doubt themselves. A telling and compelling scenario, indeed! Miss Chedva Malka Kleinman spoke about connections. To dramatically demonstrate how social connections help us in all our interactions, each pair of girls sat opposite each other with a bowl of tempting potato chips between them. They were encouraged to partake of the crunchy snack with two rules in effect:

1. No elbows may be bent to reach the food. 2. Faces may not be brought down to the bowl. The only way, then, to get a potato chip was to receive it from their friend on the other side of the table, thus reinforcing the necessity for connections, cooperation, and consideration. In an extension of the lesson, the girls learned that connections – with a little bit of effort – can always be forged between two people. Miss Gitty Kraus engaged the girls in a workshop about time management. The girls received calendars on which were marked some very important social engagements, as well as a list of school assignments to be completed within the same time frame. The girls’ challenge was to fit everything in to their crowded schedule without compromising any of their academic and social responsibilities. After the workshops were over, the whole fourth grade, which will be reshuffled when they enter fifth grade, was given clipboards with questionnaires. Their assignment was to pick a girl not currently in their class and ask her questions about herself. This led into a 10 minute casual conversation. This “forced introduction” was a great way for the girls to see that there is no reason to look forward with trepidation to being in a newly reshuffled class. In fact, there is every reason to look forward to the experience with eager anticipation.

Bnos Bais Yaakov: Flying Into 5th Transitions are challenging. How will I acclimate to my new circumstances? How should I behave? Who will my friends be? To help mitigate the tensions inherent in the transition from fourth grade to fifth grade, Morah Devorah Kurland (English Principal Grades 1-4) held an event called “Flying into 5th”. The 4th graders all received a personal invitation in the mail to “Flying into 5th,” which was held

on May 20th. The girls were all split up into groups and made a circuit of the three workshops offered. Mrs. Tova Polakoff’s workshop was about peer pressure. By having the girls guesstimate the number of jelly beans in a jar, she proved to them how strong of an influence peer pressure exerts on an individual. Interestingly, girls guesstimated a number but did not stand by that response when they heard other girls offer different answers.

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Around The Community Kumzitz for Unity

Hebrew Academy of Long Beach is proud to announce that our high school alumni, Elana Schreier-Glatt (SKA 2011), Yechiel Auman (DRS 2011) and Mark Weingarten (DRS 2009), have been named Co-Valedictorians for YU’s Sy Syms School of Business, recipient of the Dean Harold Nierenberg Memorial Valedictorian Award, and Valedictorian for Yeshiva College, respectively. Mazel Tov to the graduates and their families.

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam Completes “Hashem Loves Me” Program with Rosh Chodesh Sivan Assembly In September, at the orientation for the elementary school parent body, Mrs. Leah Zytman, Pre-School Director and General Studies Principal at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, explained that one

of the extracurricular themes the school would be working on this year would be “Hashem Loves Me.” We all know that everything that happens to us is for our good even if we don’t see it. It is one of the foundations of emunah. In order for this concept to truly become part of a

person it must constantly be worked on until one constantly feels Hashem’s love for us in everything. When a person has this concept internalized she is a happier person and can see Hashem’s goodness in everything. She is then propelled to do the will of Hashem. The earlier a person begins noticing how Hashem loves her, the easier it will be for it to be internalized. The first and second graders have been opening their eyes to the wonders of our world and the kindness and love Hashem displays to us as a people and to each of us as individuals. Throughout the year many lessons and activities have been geared to this theme to reinforce the concept and internalize its significance. In utilizing a common precept of teaching methodology at BYAM, which is learning through activity and play, the school has embraced the “Hashem Loves Me” program as not a singular project but a year-long and enduring engagement. Brainstorming We began the conclusion of our theme by having the first and second graders brainstorm with their teachers.

The goal they were given was to explain this concept to the younger children in the school in a way they could understand. They came up with the idea of making two bulletin boards in the lunchroom that would illustrate this concept. They chose to make one bulletin board showing the beauty of spring and the other the beauty of Shabbos – both special gifts from Hashem. The Planning Stage A first and second grader were paired together and each pair decided which bulletin board they wanted to work on. They then chose the part of the bulletin board they would decorate. Rough drafts and sketches were worked on. The Art Work Once the drafts were finalized the girls gave in their requests for materials that they would need. Materials were purchased and the fun began. Cutting, gluing, drawing and decorating—the girls’ creativity was astounding and equally beautiful was how respectful and thoughtful the girls were to each other. They listened to each other’s ideas, shared materials and complimented each other on their work. The results were extraordinary and the bulletin boards beautified our lunch room. The first and second graders were now ready to teach the Pre-1A children all about their theme. Rosh Chodesh Sivan Assembly The Pre-1A children were invited to the first and second graders Rosh Chodesh assembly. They gathered in front of the bulletin boards and first heard Mrs. Zytman speak about Chodesh Siv-

an and the gift Hashem gave us – the Torah. Then, a representative from the first grade and a representative from the second grade explained each bulletin board and how we can see that Hashem loves us. Next each Pre-1A child was given a paper heart and was paired with an elementary school child. The Pre-1A child told her partner a way she sees that Hashem loves her and her partner wrote it down for her in the heart. The hearts were hung up in the lunchroom. Hashem’s Love Is Sweet Every girl received a sweet lollipop to celebrate Rosh Chodesh and when asked how they can show Hashem thanks for all He does for us, one girl answered, “By saying a bracha.” The assembly was concluded with beautiful brachos and ameins and then enjoying the lollipops. Seeing Hashem’s love for us in everything is a lifelong job and we hope to continue building this foundation in our students throughout the years. This is but one project being inculcated into the students of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam.

MAY 28, 2015

memory of the three Israeli teens who were kidnapped and murdered in Israel last year. The event will feature a short clip of the powerful documentary “Beneath the Helmet” followed by a short talk given by Eden Adler, one of the stars of the film. Additionally, a clip featuring the mothers of our three boys will be featured in honor of the day of Jewish Unity. We look forward to greeting the entire Five Towns Jewish community for a night of Unity and Appreciation on June 2nd at 8pm. The event is free and will be held at 61 Muriel Ave in Lawrence, NY. Come join us as we sing together as one.

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Israeli soldier appreciation and Jewish unity is the goal of a trip organized by Aish Israel and Brownstone that will bring 40 IDF chayalim to New York for a week of fun and inspiration. Exciting events planned include trips to landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and a scavenger hunt in Times Square. The marquee event scheduled is a Kumzitz for Unity to be held in the Five Towns on the evening of June 2. Nochi Krohn and friends will provide music and inspiration to mark the Global day of Jewish Unity to be held on June 3 in

Around The Community

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The Yossef Cohen family donated a Sefer Torah l’ilui nishmas his mother, Esther bat Solika z”l, to the Beit Midrash Hachaim Vehashalom at 530 Central Ave in Cedarhurst last week

Kollel Tiferes Avos Breakfast Once again, the Five Towns-Far Rockaway community turned out in impressive numbers to give chizuk to the many adults who participate in the shiurim and chaburos of Kollel Tiferes Avos under the leadership of Rabbi Dov Bressler and Rabbi Dovid Scheiner. On May 17, only days before the yom tov of Shavuos, the Kollel successfully hosted its fifth annual breakfast at Congregation Shaaray Tefila in Lawrence. Rabbi Bezalel Korn, in his own inimitable style, introduced the speakers with apt descriptions of the distinctive strengths and contributions of each one. Humor interspersed with meaningful Torah thoughts punctuated his program presentations. Mr. Tzvi Gastwirth spoke on behalf of the Chaburah Daf B’Iyun which is led by Rabbi Eliezer Einhorn and includes Rabbi Yosef Katz and Mr. Shlomo Salomon. He stressed the feeling of discovery and accomplishment when delving into each Daf for “as long as it takes” to

decipher all the intricacies of each Daf. For its continuous and intensive learning, the chaburah was presented the Torah V’Avodah Award. The guest of honor, Mr. Sender Schwartz, then described the joy of learning in an interactive manner with Rabbi Bressler who presents his daily shiur in Mesechta Avodah Zorah, halacha and machshava. He spoke glowingly of his beloved mother, the esteemed Rivka Bas Yitzchak Eizik a”h, who was miraculously saved from Nazi gas chambers. Her efforts and sacrifices live on through the family she raised. Mr. Schwartz further illustrated the confluence of Chassidish and Litvish approaches to Torah and avodah that resonate from the Kollel shiurim. Events of the morning culminated with the stimulating address by the venerable talmud chachom, posek and author of a series of seforim, HaRav Noach Oelbaum, who highlighted the supremacy of Torah learning and observance. He quot-

ed the great sage, HaRav Elchonon Wasserman, who emphasized the combination that makes us not only learned and knowledgeable, but ethical and enables us to live on a high moral plane. This is to be contrasted with the world around us. As we prepare for the yom tov of Shavuos, we need to elevate our commitment to Torah, avodah and chesed. In that way, we will smoothen the transition from the days of sefira to the elegance and majesty of Shavuos. During the last five years, Kollel Tifered Avos has expanded its harbotzos ha’Torah. Weekday learning sessions are held at Shaaray Tefila on Central Ave in Lawrence. A typical day begins with a shiur in Sefer Hachinuch and parsha insights given by Rabbi Dovid Scheiner. This is followed by a daily shiur in Mesechta Avodah Zorah including related halacha l’maaseh presented by Rabbi Dov Bressler, noted expositor of Torah

PHOTO CREDIT IVAN H. NORMAN

and machshava and Rav of the HILI Bais Medrash. Simultaneously, chaburos study the subject matter, albeit at a more advanced and intricate level. Side by side, the shiur in Daf Yomi B’Iyun attracts its special constituency. Probing vaadim on Torah and machshava and mussar are also presented at the Kollel. In addition, for those who cannot attend in the morning, evening shiurim in Mesechta Moed Katan are given every Tuesday at 8:00 PM and on Shabbos in Mesechta Megilah. The Kollel looks forward to the participation of every individual in the community.

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Trip Day at DRS Helps Strengthen Friendships course exercises. The sophomores spent the day white-water rafting the rapids of the Lehigh River. The juniors traveled to the Catamount Ropes Course where they overcame various obstacles in a grueling, exciting, and physical ropes course, hundreds of feet in the air. At the end of the day, each grade met up at Citi Field where they were first treated to a lavish “tailgate” BBQ, and a Mets Game. The trip day was a great experience that strengthened student and rebbe relationships, and helped bolster the theme on which DRS stands for: building a strong sense of achdut throughout the school.

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At DRS, the student activities department is always looking for ways to help foster friendships and build camaraderie amongst students. Shabbatonim, tisches, melave malkas, and meals at rabbeim’s houses all contribute to this goal. Another annual highlight at DRS is the Annual Trip Day, in which students have a chance to spend time with each other outside of the school. Last Wednesday, DRS freshmen, sophomores, and juniors all participated in the annual Trip Day. The freshmen enjoyed a day at Rings Homestead, where they competed in games of paintball, and also took part in team-building obstacle

Shulamith Eighth Graders Tour Washington, D.C. By: Arielle Lipsky On Wednesday, May 13th, sixty-three excited Shulamith eighth graders enthusiastically embarked on a memorable two day trip to Washington, D.C., coordinated by Mrs. Sheila Schwebel, President of Tourrific Travel. We were chaperoned by our Associate Principal, Dr. E. Gross, Director of Student Activities, Mrs. R. Steiner, teacher, Morah Tali Sasson, and parent chaperones, Mrs. Gelbtuch and Mrs. Siegel. Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. There, we visited the burial site of President John F. Kennedy, and watched the impressive Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After crossing the Potomac River, we had the chance to walk up the steps of the majestic Lincoln Memorial. We snapped photos of the Memorial and took in the panoramic view of the Re-

flecting Pool, Washington Monument, and Capitol building. Next, we visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where we saw artifacts of the Shoah, including a cattle car, bunks from Auschwitz, shoes and other personal items taken from the kedoshim, and a tower of photos of the Jews who had inhabited the town of Eishishok, Poland. We also listened to an audio-tape of survivors called “Voices of Auschwitz” and joined together to say a perek of Tehillim in the Hall of Remembrance. After the two and a half difficult but important hours we spent in the Holocaust museum, we enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Potomac River, a chance to take photos in front of the White House, and a stop in Souvenir City to buy some mementoes. Our final destination for the day was the beautifully illuminated World War II Memorial,

after which we boarded the buses and headed for the Clarion Hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Before turning in for the night, we enjoyed some fun in the indoor pool. It was a wonderful way to connect and cool off before curfew. At 7:30 the next morning, we gathered downstairs to daven and eat breakfast. Then we headed off to the National Museum of American History. After enjoying exhibits that included the flag that inspired our national anthem, gowns belonging to the first ladies, and many more examples of Americana, we went to Capitol Hill. Thanks to Mr. Israel Wasser, father of Rachelli Wasser, we were privileged to meet Representative Kathleen Rice. Then we went on a tour of the Rotunda and The Old House Chamber. Much to our delight, Rep. Rice provided our group with passes to the House Chamber where we were able to listen for a brief time to

the crucial hearings on the Iran Nuclear Agreement. It was awe-inspiring and educational to hear and see our government in action, and we uttered a silent prayer that the legislators would act for the benefit of the United States and Israel. We enjoyed lunch in a park, reveling in the beautiful weather, and taking the opportunity to play ball and stretch our legs. The final stop on our itinerary was the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the news. At 5 pm, as the announcement that the museum was closing was broadcast over the PA system, we reluctantly headed back out to our waiting coach buses. We eighth graders enjoyed the time on the bus and the last few hours of our trip together. We arrived home, exhausted but very happy. We all agreed that it was a trip of a lifetime and one we would never forget.

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MAY 28, 2015

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MAY 28, 2015

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Around The Community Assemblyman Goldfeder Welcomes SKA Mock Trial Finalists in Albany

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MAY 28, 2015

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder joined the students and faculty of SKA who travelled to an Albany courthouse to compete in the New York State Mock Trial Association Finals. The talented girls were among the top eight teams

across the state that made the finals in Albany. Assemblyman Goldfeder was proud to watch them perform and then host them at the state capital to discuss the history and operation of New York State Government. Assemblyman Goldfeder joins Mrs. Helen Spirn, the Head of School at SKA, Mrs. Breindy Berkowitz and Mrs. Saritte Wolkenstein, volunteer coaches of the SKA Mock Trial Team.

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D- Far Rockaway), Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D- 5 Towns) and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D- Fresh Meadows) spoke to the SKA Mock Trial Team in the Assembly Chamber.

The girls of the finalist SKA Mock Trial Team joins Assemblyman Goldfeder in the NYS Assembly Chamber.

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MAY 28, 2015

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Around The Community

MAY 28, 2015

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By: Ari Levine, team captain Congratulations and mazal tov to the HANC High School Boys’ Torah Bowl Team on becoming this year’s High School Yeshiva League Champions. Over the course of the season, the HANC Boys Torah Bowl team went 11-1 to clinch a first place seed in the playoffs. HAFTR and Flatbush were defeated in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, forcing a faceoff between HANC and NSHA. HANC defeated NSHA two games to none, for an outstanding victory, making the team the Eastern Division Champions. On May 21, the HANC boys traveled to Brooklyn to play the other Division Champions, MAY, Frisch, and TABC for the League Championship Title at Sharei Moshe. It was not an easy battle for the HANC team. Going into halftime, the HANC team was down by 11. Yet, a terrific swing of events occurred when they scored 26 points in

the third quarter, giving them the lead by a comfortable 7 points. However, after TABC answered the first couple of questions in the fourth quarter, the HANC team found themselves in a hole, down 50-47 with two questions left. Yet, they achieved the unthinkable, as they answered the last two questions correctly, bumping their score up to 51, and crowning them the champions. The HANC team celebrated their win, however, the achdut and hard work from all four teams made the championship match an even more memorable one. Mazal Tov to coach Rabbi Shimon Chrein and to team members: David Aziz, Dovid Chai Deil, Eric Lenefsky, Ari Levine, Jacob Kohanim, Matthew Rosenberg, Michael Nassimi, Mordechai Balakhaneh, Noah Livi, Sholom Amsellem, Gideon Pollack, Yoni Eshaghzadeh, David Schwartzman, Adam Livi and Eran Vaknin.

Assemblyman Rozic Meets Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D- Fresh Meadows) met with Ophir Kariv, Director of Department for Israel Consulates in the U.S. at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kariv is responsible for coordinating the operations and developing relations between the Consulates in the United States. Rozic and Kariv discussed measures to strengthen New York’s relationship with Israel, fight

BDS and anti-Semitism, and promote economic and workforce development

49 THE JEWISH HOME

STAYING IN THE CITY THIS SUMMERYOU CAN STILL...

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FULL SUMMER: $175 HALF SUMMER: $95

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Pool closed: July 7, July 16-26 (9 days)

POOL HOURS WOMEN SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS*: 9:45 AM-1:15 PM MONDAY-THURSDAY: 6:45 PM-8:15 PM FRIDAY**: ——

MEN 1:30 PM-5:00 PM 4:20 PM-6:30 PM 3:00 PM-5:30 PM

*6/21 Women 8:45am-11:30am Men 11:45am-2:30pm; Sundays include 6/21, 6/28, 7/12, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16 **Friday, 7/3 Women 9:45am-1:15pm, Men 1:30pm-5:00pm

MEMBERSHIP: Families only will be allowed to sign up for membership. This includes all immediate unmarried family members only (no son-in-laws or grandchildren, cousins or other assorted relatives.) If you have a guest that you would like to use the pool, please use a pool pass. FREE PASSES: • 5 passes for any full summer family membership. • 2 passes for any half summer family membership. • 2 passes for full summer individual membership • 1 pass for any half summer individual membership. Passes will be issued at the time of registration.

BATHING CAPS- All women and girls are required to wear bathing caps. Bathing caps will be available for purchase at the pool. WEATHER: In the event of a rainstorm, lightening or other weather related matter; the management reserves the right to close the pool for safety reasons. Any person or persons, who do not cooperate, will be asked to leave the pool premises. We will not refund for any weather related matter. LOUNGE CHAIRS: There are a limited amount of lounge chairs available for deck use. Membership does not entitle you to a lounge chair. Please be advised that the chairs are given

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COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA 257 Beach 17th Street • Far Rockaway, New York 11691 • (718) 868-2300 ext 386

Around The Community One Israel Fund Dinner Inspires Fearlessness

PHOTO CREDIT: JERRY MEYER STUDIOS

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MAY 28, 2015

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

Scott M. Feltman with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

By Tammy Mark Last week on a beautiful evening in New York City, One Israel Fund hosted its 21st Anniversary Gala Dinner. Featuring a lavish buffet catered by Mauzone and art exhibition by Avi Polinsky of Your Arts Desire, the event was held in Tribeca against the breathtaking backdrop of the city skyline with the Freedom Tower standing tall. The atmosphere was abuzz with energy and enthusiasm of the guests and supporters of the organization and its mission to protect the most vulnerable communities of Israel. Since 1994, One Israel Fund has been dedicated to supporting the welfare and safety of the men, women and children of Judea and Samaria – Yehuda and Shomron – as well as those who have been adversely impacted by the Gaza evacuation in 2005. These nearly 400,000 citizens of Israel are the vanguard of Israel’s security and sovereignty as a Jewish State. This past summer, One Israel Fund expanded its scope during Operation Protective Edge to provide support and security to those living in the Gaza border communities and other vulnerable regions. Eve Harow opened the program. Harow, host of “Rejuvenation” on Voice of Israel Radio, is also a long-time community activist and tour guide from the Judean Hills. She praised the essential partnership between the people of the Yehuda and Shomron region and the people gathered that evening in support. Director of Tourism for One Israel Fund, Harow urged the audience to continue to visit and tour the land of Israel. Participate and take the trips and see the people of the communities and how they are doing there – they are doing it for all of us. Sharing with the guests that her youngest child had recently entered the army, the communal recitation of prayers for the soldiers that followed was even more heartfelt. President Steven Orlow remarked of the privilege to host for the 21st time

One Israel Fund’s Signature Bank Team receiving the Community Service Award

and reinforced the mission, stressing that support for the work of One Israel Fund can truly make the difference between life and death. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach was the evening’s Keynote Speaker. An outspoken and prominent defender of Israel in the media, he opened with a joke before sharing his serious message. Often going up against critics of Israel, he expressed gratitude to be amongst the true supporters of Israel and eagerly shared his personal experience of his recent visit to Joseph’s Tomb. He described the scene of sneaking into the town of Nablus, Shechem, as if they were thieves. 1,000 soldiers were needed to protect the group of Jewish worshipers and keep them safe while they prayed. Rabbi Boteach expressed his disbelief in that reality, “This is unbelievable in our time. I am a Jew. I have occupied no man’s land.” Rabbi Boteach expressed wariness of the current world situation and says he is tired of begging people to protect the Jewish nation. “We proclaim that our Creator protects us. We are a nation of destiny. We have to tell the world of our danger – waiting for permission to speak weakens us.” He urged the audience to not be fearful, recalling examples of Jewish bravery. Upon his visit to Hebron, he met people who are unafraid, people who send their kids to fight. He referenced the Baal Shem Tov, who would go out into dangerous woods and trained himself to fear no one. He recalled Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous praising of the Jewish people in his speech. “We inspire fearlessness in others. No others have inspired us more than those in Judea and Samaria, those who live under complete attack day and night,” said Rabbi Boteach. “It would be an incalculable loss if we didn’t have Jews of Judea and Samaria and the New York Jewish community that supports them.” The video tribute to Zeevik Etzi-

on drove home the message of fearlessness. Etzion was a RavShatz (Security Chief) of Kibbutz Nirim who devoted his life to the safety and security of his community and his people. Just hours before the final ceasefire of Operation Protective Edge Rabbi Shmuley Boteach receiving a gift in appreciation of his staunch defense on August 26, 2014, of Israel with (L to R) One Israel Fund Trustee Eddie Wunsch, Executive Vice a mortar shell killed President Scott M. Feltman, Trustee Jay Kestenbaum, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach both Etzion and and President Steven S. Orlow his deputy officer, Shachar Melamed. Executive Vice President Scott M. Feltman and Marc Provisor, Director of Security Projects, explained the critical job of the RavShatz in these communities. They are the first responders and Layne & Mike Lowenstein of Baltimore, MD, Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon and Rabbi Zev are often not fully Reichman of the East Hills Synagogue in Englewood, NJ equipped to protect themselves as such. Providing these brave men with proper protective gear and lifesaving equipment and supplies is crucial in preventing future casualties. They proudly announced a new proj- Steven S. Orlow, President of One Israel Fund, and Board Member, Dr. Rubin Brecher ect, “Vests 4 Israel,” in memory of Zeevik Etzion, an initiative will save the lives of Etzion’s fellow to supply new vests to the RavShatzim RavShatzim in his merit. down south, in Judea and Samaria and The video of the evening’s honorees up along the northern border. Funds be- began by highlighting the collaborative gan pouring in as guests were able to text efforts of Alex Cerrano, David Berman, their donations and begin raising money Charles Dantone, Michael Page, and for the vests immediately. A project in Carol Szumski of Signature Bank. This partnership with the IDF, this campaign outstanding team was honored with the

51 THE JEWISH HOME 

Community Service Award, having gone above and beyond to help One Israel Fund and consistently demonstrated excellent service to the organization. Elisha Aryeh of Far Rockaway, NY, and Josh Hoffman of Staten Island, NY, each received the Manhigut Tze’erim Award for Young Professional Leadership. Hoffman was one of the founding members of the Young Professional Committee and has been involved in each event since its inception, while Elisha Aryeh is one of the newest to get involved but has already demonstrated his willingness and commitment to ensure the success of this division. The next honoree was Suzie Schwartzstein of Woodmere, NY, who received the Aishet Chayil (Woman of Valor) Award for her tireless efforts on behalf of her brothers and sisters in Israel. A prominent board member of One Israel Fund, Suzie never shies away

from helping One Israel Fund. She leapt into action this past summer in the midst of Operation Protective Edge, leading the campaign at Beaver Lake to raise funds for the communities under attack. Her passion is infectious and moves those around her to action as well. Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon Elisha Aryeh and Josh Hoffman receiving the Manhigut Tze’erim Awards was the Hakarat Hatov (Sincere Gratitude) Awardee for his out- new fields after extensive retraining. Rav Rimon told the audience that standing initiative. Rav Rimon is a leading authority on halacha, an educator, Jewish people have a mission in the author and a favored lecturer with a deep world. He referenced Israel’s rescue efcompassion for others. Shortly after the forts in Nepal and Israel’s most compasDisengagement from Gush Katif in the sionate army. Scott Feltman closed the program by summer of 2005, Rav Rimon founded JobKatif, an organization which has encouraging supporters to partake the helped more than 2,400 individuals find upcoming tours this summer in Israel gainful employment, often in completely with Harow. “Join us; see the land and

the people that need the support.” He also took the opportunity to urge everyone to show support by marching down Fifth Avenue together at the Celebrate Israel Parade, where One Israel Fund will have a float. Stressing the additional importance of counteracting groups like the BDS supporter New Israel Fund, Scott reiterated, “We need your support always – we can’t do it alone.”

A New Israeli Investment Tax Propels Market to New Heights By Shlomo Ben-Yissachar Buyers and investors now have a golden opportunity to buy in Israel before proposed tax hikes take effect. New Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon reportedly has introduced a measure to raise the property tax on investment, yielding a significant increase on the purchase rate taxes on real estate. While Kahlon says nothing has yet been decided or implemented regarding this measure, now is the time to purchase in hot property markets prior to any changes in the regulations. In addition, interest rates are currently at record lows and mortgage bankers are offering a myriad of attractive deals to property buyers. Experts in the Israel real estate scene say that the proposals to make changes are meeting resistance and that many are challenging the proposed law. “The recent election took away the possibility of setting policy for at least 6 months, so the current situation (i.e. laws) will remain as they are with no changes,” said Nissim Bublil, President of the Israel Contractors Association.

Bublil warned that any attempt to impose a ridiculously high tax rate [media has claimed as much as 20%] on local and foreign investors, would put many developers out of business and create a ripple effect on the economy, according to Israeli real estate industry experts. Moreover, the existing robust market for quality mid-priced and upscale market properties, which are being sold to buyers from North America, France, the UK, Russia and other countries, won’t disappear overnight. “The headlines in the newspapers about increased investment taxes have actually accelerated interest in leading projects with a significant number of buyers looking to close deals as quickly as possible,” said Yehuda Goldschmidt, sales manager at the prestigious Jerusalem Heights complex in the revived Romema neighborhood. This project showcases five beautifully designed buildings, spread out over three acres on the highest ridge in the area, accentuating panoramic views of the region from every apartment. The 3, 4 and 5 room apartments in Jerusalem Heights display

meticulous design and a superior level of technical specifications. Dudi Dvir, marketing manager for the upcoming Arnona Exclusive project in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood, said that there is a clear trend of people purchasing apartments around Jerusalem for investments. “Many buyers from around the world are rushing to close deals on the apartments in anticipation of the proposed tax increase. We see that

our apartments are being snapped up at an unprecedented pace,” he explained. Dvir’s B. Yair company builds and manages luxury apartment complexes across the Jerusalem area. “This is truly a prime moment in the Israeli real estate industry, as so many top quality units are becoming available and interest from Israel and around the world has been sparked,” said Goldschmidt.

MAY 28, 2015

Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon receiving the Hakarat Hatov Award

Suzie Schwartzstein receiving the Aishet Chayil Award

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MAY 28, 2015

Around The Community HANC High School Announces Top Honorees The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County is proud to announce the Class of 2015 valedictorian and salutatorians. Mazal tov to valedictorian Adam Livi and to salutatorians Eliana Kaufman, Leah Scher, and Yigal Kamel. HANC High School’s Menahel, Rabbi ShloValedictorian Adam Livi mo Adelman, proudly remarked, “Adam, Eliana, Leah, and Yigal embody the core values of our yeshiva. Each of them, in his or her own unique way, personifies excellence as scholars, leaders, and ba’alei middot. The HANC community is incredibly proud of these well-deserving honorees that excel in their academic and religious studies.” Valedictorian Adam Livi is the true embodiment of a scholar-athlete, while exemplifying the meaning of the word “mensch.” Academically, he was named to the General and Judaic Studies Honor Roll, he was designated as an AP Scholar with Honor, and as a National Merit Commended Student, he was selected by the administration to receive the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders award. He was awarded the NY State Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and currently he is serving as Co-President of the National Honor Society. Both in the classroom and out, Adam has earned the respect and admiration of the entire faculty, as he holds himself to a high standard, both academically and morally. When faced with a challenge, he works that much harder to achieve success while never sacrificing his principles. Adam is a spiritual, compassionate and charismatic young man whose personality attracts others to him. As captain of the Varsity Basketball team and as a member of both the Volleyball and Softball Teams

was selected to participate in The Jewish Week’s “Write on for Israel” program. Leah also currently serves as Publishing Editor of our weekly Judaic newsletter Midrashei HANC. Further honing her skill, last summer, she attended the prestigious writing program at Kenyon College. Leah has many additional interests as Salutatorian Eliana Kaufman Salutatorian Yigal Kamel Salutatorian Leah Scher well. She has served on our he serves as a role model for his peers and the National Honor Society. Additionally, Student Senate, has been a member of the underclassmen. Adam is also the coordi- Eliana was named a National Merit Com- Debate team, the College Bowl team, and nator of the school’s semi-annual blood mended Student, was chosen as the RPI our Jewish Poor committee. Additionally, drive and a member of our Jewish Elderly Medalist, and most recently was selected she has received several awards at local committee. In addition to his many ex- as a recipient of the New York State Schol- Slam Poetry Competitions. It is no surtra-curricular commitments, Adam also arship for Academic Excellence. prise that Leah will be studying English tutors several youngsters from his commuEliana shows just as much passion for and Creative Writing at Brandeis Univernity, preparing them for reading the Torah her interests and extracurricular activities sity after spending next year at Midreshet at their Bar Mitzvahs. as she does for her academics. She is Harova. Taking on many responsibilities is an incredibly talented artist and singer, a Although unassuming when you first nothing new for Adam, but what sets him skilled editor for the school’s weekly Juda- meet him, one quickly learns that Salutaapart is his devotion to everything he takes ic newsletter – Midrashei HANC – and she torian Yigal Kamel is a young man of great on. Whether it’s studying for class, tutor- serves as captain of the volleyball team. passion, intellect, and focus. From his ing a student, or playing basketball, if he She also shows her caring nature through first day at HANC, Yigal quickly became has committed to it, then nothing short of her volunteer work with the disabled and a valuable addition to every classroom and his full devotion is acceptable to him. We as the coordinator of HANC’s Peer Tu- an integral part of many clubs and commitare very proud that Adam will be attend- toring Society. Eliana is also an eloquent tees. ing Yeshiva University as a recipient of speaker, often acting as an ambassador for Yigal has been named to the Honor the Dean’s Scholarship after spending next our school. Next year, Eliana will be at- Roll in both General and Judaic studies evyear at Netiv Aryeh. tending Sha’alvim for Women in Israel fol- ery quarter since he entered our school and Salutatorian Eliana Kaufman is a lowed by the Stern College Dean’s Schol- last year was inducted into HANC’s chapbright and insightful young woman who ars program in the fall of 2016. ter of the National Honor Society. Further is admired and respected by all. She is Salutatorian Leah Scher is truly the recognizing Yigal’s excellence, the faculty soft-spoken, yet carries herself with a grace definition of a dream student. She is selected Yigal as the recipient of HANC’s and an elegance that is almost unheard of smart, she is creative, she is motivated, prestigious “Passion for Education” in a teenage girl. Academically, Eliana is she is devoted, she is respectful, she is in- award, which was given to him in recogniincredibly hardworking, determined, and volved, she is talented, and she is humble. tion of his academic achievement, his true a deep thinker in search of the truth. An Simply speaking, Leah Scher is a young intellectual curiosity, and his demonstrated avid reader, she often brings in outside lady with a passion for life and a winning commitment to increasing knowledge. material to initiate lively discussion in the personality to boot. Yigal is a man of many varied interclassroom. Because of her exceptional Leah currently serves as co-President ests. He is a student, he is a musician, he work ethic, she has made the Honor Roll of the National Honor Society and has is a skateboarder, he is a photographer, he every quarter of her high school career and been a continuous presence on the General is a snowboarder and he is a runner. His was inducted into the Maalot Chapter of and Judaic Studies Honor Rolls. Last year passion for music knows no limits. He she was selected to receive the Universi- plays a multitude of instruments, including ty of Rochester Frederick Douglass and the guitar, drums, piano, and the ukulele, to Susan B. Anthony award and the 2013- name a few. Yigal has performed at school A 14 “Passion for Education” award. She is programs as part of the school band and ROCK WAY also a 2015 winner of the West Hempstead was the featured musician at last year’s NASSAU Community Scholarship and the NY State closing ceremony. Yigal is also a memScholarship for Academic Excellence. ber of the Varsity Hockey team, Captain While Leah has been recognized for her of our Mathletes team, a go-to member of many accomplishments in the classroom, our Peer Tutoring Society, and a member Call the 24-hour hotline at any time: she is equally respected for her successes of the Chess and Volleyball teams, as well. outside the classroom. Leah is our resiYigal is admired by his peers and dent writer. She is the Editor-in-Chief of faculty alike. He truly is “a man for all our school newspaper, The HANC Herald, seasons” whose creativity will be used to Subscribe to the RNSP Security Alerts where her words make sentences magical. discover new ways to improve mankind. She can transport the reader into a world of Yigal plans to study Engineering at The Anyone interested in receiving security alerts, please send an email to wonder or fact or interest. Her skill when Cooper Union in the fall of 2016 following securityalerts@rockawaypatrol.org and enter "Sign me up" in the Subject field. taking pen to paper is so special that she a year learning in Israel.

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Around The Community

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li bar mitzvah tradition. The boys first responded with surprise and then with glee as they began gathering the candy or throwing some of it back to their friends and family members. Next the girls were invited up to the bimah where Rabbi Chanoch led them through a special bat mitzvah prayer and Shema Yisrael. More candy was thrown, more smiling faces and playful volley of sweets, snapping of pictures, and dancing. One mother shared: “This is so special. I am sending pictures back to our family at home [on my smartphone]; they are so happy to see my daughter here.” For some of these children, yesterday’s experience was their first visit to a Beit Knesset, and their first opportunity to see and kiss a sefer Torah. One of the boys was so clearly moved, he asked to hold the Torah and escort it to the Aron Kodesh. He was quite a sight to see wearing his tefillin and new tallis, hearing aids in both ears, proudly carrying the Torah to the front of the shul. “I have participated in the preparations for these special ceremonies many times before, but… today was the

first time I was actually present,” commented Rabbi Lerner. “To witness these young boys and girls being exposed to and involved in these special mitzvos – many for the first time – was quite moving. The simcha that was so obvious on the [parents’] faces, the pride that was so clear in their conversations, the tears of joy streaming down their cheeks, the hugs and kisses they were bestowing on their children, that made the event even much more special. I am sure, neither the Bar or Bat Mitzvah youth nor their parents, will ever forget this special day. Thank you IYIM!” For others, as told to Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, this was their one opportunity to have a bar or bat mitzvah celebration at all. “The event today was tremendous. Mothers relayed to us that due to financial straits, today was the bar or bat mitzvah celebration for their child. I have been doing this for 18 years and each year the emotions run deeper and deeper.” Following the Torah reading and reception, the celebrants moved to the dining hall for a festive meal. A video montage of past years’ participants was shared, to moving music and song lyrics, interpreted by Zemira Raymond, who has worked with the program for 12 years, providing sign language interpretation for any participants in need. While most of the children are lip readers, the celebrations always have an interpreter on staff. “The ceremony is incredibly moving each and every year. There is no doubt that the staff goes above and beyond preparing for the many festivities and teaching the children so that they will be ready for their bat and bar mitzvah celebration,” Liat Wizman of the Jewish Agency shared. “Seeing the children with their shining eyes in front of the Torah scroll is a picture that I will

remember for a long time. The Jewish Agency wishes mazal tov to the bar and bat mitzvah boys and girls on the day of their celebration and wishes each of them much success in the future.” After blessings and goodbyes, the celebrants were on their way to the Old City for a guided tour of the Kotel and the winding alleys of one of Judaism’s most cherished sites. For some this was also their first glimpse at the richness of their heritage’s most sacred history, and the impact was clear. While the day proved to be one of record-breaking heat and sunshine, the smiles on the faces of the children and their families burned even brighter. “One father told me in tears that when his son was born he was told he would never be able to communicate and here we are at his Bar Mitzvah. This is what we are about: reaching out to population groups in Israeli society that are falling through the cracks and not being reached. Among the 18 kids today

only one came from a traditional family; the rest might have let this important milestone pass by if not for IYIM. This day is truly the highlight of our year-round programming for the Deaf population of Israel,” Ceec Harrishburg, President, IYIM, related.

Time for Bed! How to make bedtime fun See page 87

MAY 28, 2015

a new tallis complete with beautiful tallis and tefillin bags, as well a siddur. All the children were also given brand new watches. Smiles could be seen all around the shul, as the children began to unwrap their gifts, talleisim began to adorn the shoulders of the boys, and parents began taking pictures with tears in their eyes. The boys were fitted with tefillin, followed by many more pictures and glowing faces, and invited up to the bimah. Rabbi Chanoch Yeres led them in the Torah blessings and read the day’s Torah portion. At the conclusion of the reading and its blessings, candy, secretly distributed by IYIM to the celebrants, were thrown at the boys in true Israe-

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By: Aviva Sherman Gathering at the entranceway to Beit Knesset Hanassi in the Rechavia neighborhood of Jerusalem, 18 deaf and profoundly hearing-impaired children and their families anxiously awaited the day’s event – their bar and bat mitzvah celebration. The program, co-sponsored by the International Young Israel Movement (IYIM), the Jewish Agency and the National Deaf Association, is in its 19th year, and, true to the legacy of past years, was once again a tremendous success. The children and their families travelled from the greater Tel Aviv region and as far north at Katzrin, Afula, and Tiberias to celebrate their bar and bat mitzvahs in the holy city of Jerusalem. The day that awaited them was filled with excitement – a reception and Torah reading in the main hall of the Beit Knesset followed by a celebratory meal and organized tour through the Old City ending with davening at the Kotel Ha’Maravi. Beit Knesset Hanassi graciously opened its doors to host the Bnei Mitzvah festivities. Shul President Henry Israel played an active role in the affair, both up front and behind the scenes, and was in attendance with his wife Francis for the celebration. He was honored with being among the chosen few to distribute gifts and Mazal Tov blessings to the children. Upon arrival, the boys and girls were greeted by IYIM staff with refreshments following their long journey. Once entering the shul the children were guided in song by Rabbi Alex Yeres, co-director of the IYIM Judaic Heritage program for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired. Heartfelt introductory speeches and wishes of mazal tov were given by Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, IYIM co-director of the Judaic Heritage Program for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired; Daniel Meyer, Executive Director of IYIM; Liat Wizman of the Jewish Agency Israel; and Yitzchak Chen, head of the National Deaf Association of Israel. In addition to the aforementioned honored speakers, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Co-Chairman of American Friends of IYIM; Ceec Harrishburg, President of IYIM; and Henry Israel, distributed gifts and well-wishes to the children. Ladies first: the girls received lovely siddurim and Shabbat candle holders as their special gifts to mark their coming of age; the boys each received

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Saying Mazal Tov in Sign Language

Around The Community SKA Goes to NORPAC

Five Towns Marriage Initiative The Right Focus

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By: Shoshana Rockoff and Rosie Zilberberg, 9th Grade On Wednesday, May 13, we had the opportunity, together with 20 other students from the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, to attend a NORPAC Mission in Washington. NORPAC is an organization which advocates for pro-Israel bills to be passed. We woke up at 4:30 in the morning and boarded the buses at 5:30 am. Throughout the seven hour trip, we divided into different groups to practice reciting various points which would be brought up before Congress. When we arrived in Washington, D. C., we entered a huge auditorium and were greeted by 1,500 people who were there for the same cause. There were doctors, lawyers, students and teachers who were all devoting their days to advocating for Israel. We had the privilege of hearing from Congressional leaders; it was amazing to see how NORPAC has grown from 200 to

1,500 attendees in a few short years. We then went with our groups to meet with senators and their aides. It was a true hands-on experience and it felt so good to see that we were actually being heard and that we could potentially make a difference in the relationship between the United States and Israel. We discussed issues such as the Iranian sanction and thanked the senators for donating over $3.1 billion for Israeli military assistance. 10th Grader Gabriella Spirgel received this note from her Mission group leader: “It was great working with you in Washington. Gabriella, you were terrific and articulate. I’m sure you are going to have an amazing future as a Jewish and Israel advocate. It gives us all hope for Israel and our people’s future when we see young people, like you, taking the helm!” Going to NORPAC was a truly amazing experience. Not only was the State of Israel able to benefit from the Mission, but we, as well, benefited!

The Chofetz Chaim brings a mashal which teaches us where we need to place our focus in life. A man had three friends: one whom he loved dearly, one who he was close to, and one that he did not care for much. One time the king called for this very man and he realized he was in trouble. The man went to the friend he loved and asked the friend to accompany him. To his dismay, the friend refused to join him. He then went to the second friend who he was close to and asked if he would come with him. The friend said he could escort him to the king’s palace but he would not be able to enter the palace with him. Feeling desperate, the man turned to the final friend that he did not care for much, to see if anybody would accompany him into the king’s chamber. The third friend gladly agreed to join him and to help save him from the king’s wrath. The Chofetz Chaim explains that man has three friends his money, his relatives, and his repentance and good deeds. The money does not come with a person when he passes on. Relatives can only escort the person to the grave. But repentance and good deeds can come before the throne of glory to ad-

vocate on a person’s behalf. Therefore, it’s important to remember what will be there to help us in the long run, and how we should then conduct ourselves. By working on improving ourselves and performing good deeds, we will not only benefit when we are summoned to the Next World, but we will also reap the benefits on this Earth. Through self-improvement we will be a better spouse and person and we will find favor in the eyes of those who surround us. Let us take a lesson from the Chofetz Chaim’s mashal and use the time we have to become a great spouse and a wonderful person who will have nothing to fear when coming before Hashem’s throne. Five Towns Marriage Initiative provides educational programs, workshops and referrals to top marriage therapists. FTMI will help offset counseling costs when necessary and also runs an anonymous shalom bayis hotline for the entire community Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 9:30-11p.m. For the hotline or more information, call 516-430-5280 or email dsgarry@ msn.com.

Lander College for Men Hosts First-Ever Back-To-Yeshiva Week More than 80 alumni returned to Lander College for Men-Beis Medrash L’Talmud (LCM) for its first-ever Back-to-Yeshiva Week, a four-day homecoming that included shiurim and opportunities to reconnect with rebbeim and former classmates. “We wanted our former talmidim to have an opportunity to come back and learn Torah with their Menahel and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yehuda Shmulewitz (far side of table, center) delivered a shiur on the importance of loving Israel rebbeim, especially since Shavuot is coming up,” said shiva Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik spoke Akiva’s students. Rabbi Aryeh Young, director of the LCM about “Y’Mei HaSefira”; for his sicha, “It was very satisfying to see some of Alumni Association, who organized the “Chavivus Eretz Yisrael,” Menahel and the talmidim at a more advanced stage in event. Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yehuda Shmulewitz their lives, and hearing them talk about Each night consisted of a dinner ca- discussed how and why Israel should their careers and families gave me a sense tered by Carlos & Gabby’s Mexican hold a special place in our hearts; and of having contributed toward something Grill, opportunities for alumni to social- Magid Shiur Rabbi Ephraim Tanenbaum special,” said Rabbi Tanenbaum. “And ize with their classmates, and a shiur by delivered a sicha titled, “Respect, to the of course, seeing their interest in coming an LCM rabbi, some of which were in a 24,000th Power,” which examined the re- back to yeshiva showed me that the conquestion-and-answer format. Magid Shi- lationship between the two focuses during nection to Torah they made during their ur Rabbi Dovid Mirsky’s gave a sicha on Sefirat HaOmer: counting the days to re- time here was meaningful and lasting.” “The Torah-Tefillah Combo”; Rosh Ye- ceiving the Torah, and the deaths of Rabbi LCM holds several alumni events

across the U.S. and in Israel throughout the year, and many former students maintain close connections to their alma mater well after commencement. A year ago nearly 300 people came back to the Kew Gardens Hills campus for the annual LCM Alumni Shabbaton. In addition to those already living in the tri-state area, alumni traveled from Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Memphis, Miami, Toronto and even Israel for the weekend. “I was gratified to see so many of our talmidim participate in this wonderful initiative,” said HaRav Yonason Sacks shlita, esteemed Rosh HaYeshiva of the Beis Medrash L’Talmud. “When I meet our students for the first time, I tell them that as talmidim in our yeshiva, they will establish relationships with rabbeim and friends that will last a lifetime. Back-to-Yeshiva Week is one of many examples of this ongoing connection.”

Around The Community

PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN

A 5 Generation Bris Five generations were enjoying their time together at the bris of Yitzchok Tzvi Pollack last week. Seated are Mrs. Mona Norman, the great-grandmother of the baby from Far Rockaway, and Mrs. Shirley Rutta, the great-great-grandmother of the baby from Oceanside, holding Yitzchok Tzvi. Mrs. Leah Bachon, the grandmother of the baby from Bayswater is standing next to Mrs. Faigie Pollack, the mother of the baby, from Far Rockaway. PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN

DRS Honors Students Involved in Chessed Recently, DRS held its fifth annual Nidivei Lev Service Society Induction Ceremony. This special ceremony recognizes those DRS students that have shown exemplary service to their community and school through extraordinary acts of chessed and kindness. The ceremony honored members of the senior class who have served their school and larger community with great distinction. The ceremony was attended by the entire student body, as well as faculty and parents. Rabbi Herschel Billet, Mora D’Asra of the Young Israel of Woodmere, served as the keynote speaker, and he praised the students on their commitment to serving others. Sunday was also Yom Yerushalayim, and Rabbi Billet, a renowned advocate for many organizations in Israel, spoke about the focus of chessed in Israel. What made the program truly unique was that the students were given awards by the directors and founders of many of the organizations that were the beneficiaries of the great chessed. Rabbi Zeidel,

Director of Student Services/Administrator at KULANU, presented an award to Daniel Aharon for volunteer work with the organization. Rabbi Storch acknowledged the hard work and tremendous efforts that Matthew Haller exerts in publishing DRS’s weekly Torah publication, the D’Varim HaYozim Min HaLev. Mr. Andy Lauber of Chai Lifeline’s iShine program for siblings and children of those fighting cancer commended Moshe Keller and Jason Selesny on their exemplary leadership and selflessness in working with the children on the program. Woodmere resident Mr. Feivy Fuchs extended his deep appreciation to Andrew Zucker, Yaakov Kaminetsky , Eli Goldberg, Jacob Neiman, Maury Rosenfeld, Yaakov Schneider, and Daniel Kimmel for helping him put on his Tefillin every day and wheeling him to shul on the weekends. Mr. Orlofsky honored Yaakov Kaminetsky, who tutored his son for four years. Gideon Kadry was commended for his “medical clown” work

with the Lev Leytzan Organization. Finally, Pinny Kwestel, Ari Brandspeigel, Yosef Naiman and Yoni Goldberg were noticed for their work in Yachad’s Youth Leadership Division. DRS Menahel Rabbi Kaminetsky noted that all of the participants and guests were profoundly moved by the event: “Having been the beneficiaries of our students’ chessed programs here today has shown all of our students that when they give of themselves, they can absolutely change another person’s life.”

Rabbi Kaminetsky began the program by thanking DRS Director of Student Activities, Rabbi Eli Brazil, who coordinates all of the chessed activities that take place in DRS. Rabbi Brazil noted, “This program is important not only because it gives recognition to those have who have devoted their energy to helping others, but it also serves as an inspiration for our younger students to hopefully follow in the footsteps of these student leaders in giving back to the community.”

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The group also spans the spectrum of the Orthodox community. “It’s an incredible thing,” notes Henya Storch of the Storch Agency International. “Women of all affiliations … it really doesn’t matter. There is an amazing collaborative energy and it is truly a gratifying experience to be involved with the JWE.” The founder of The JWE, Chaya Appel-Fishman, says, “The FTFR City Chapter joins the organization’s family of 12 additional city chapters.” “There are many resources out there for women entrepreneurs, but for those who are Jewish - particularly observant women entrepreneurs there is little that can offer comprehensive, holistic and appropriate support,” continues Appel-Fishman. “We are thrilled to introduce our new local FTFR chapter, and foster networking, learning and collaboration that helps propel the success of talented, motivated women.” After the workshop, there will be a networking session, enabling members to meet, and exchange ideas. To register for the event, women are encouraged to sign up in advance at: http://tinyurl.com/ FTFR-June2. The cost of the event will be $15 prepaid or $20 at the door. For more information, visit www.thejwe.com, email FTFR@thejwe.com, or call 510205-6599.

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The Jewish Women Entrepreneur (The JWE), a national nonprofit organization that empowers Jewish women to launch and grow successful businesses, is officially launching the Five Towns Far Rockaway City Chapter (FTFR Chapter) with an event to be held Tuesday evening, June 2nd, at 8pm at The Machon Basya Rochel Seminary, (137 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559). The facilitator for this event is Deborah Gallant, Founder and CEO of Bold Business Works. Rivka Lock, one of the FTFR City leaders (an entrepreneur with her own business), comments: “This event will provide attendees an opportunity to learn, and build strategic partnerships within the community. At events like these women whom you don’t even know own a business, come out of the woodwork.” Fellow co-city leader Judy Naamat, a patent attorney with Locke Lord, LLP, says she expects women from a wide range of fields such as sales, technology, children’s therapy and other home-based businesses, to attend. “Not only do JWE members span a wide range of industries, they span all stages of business growth. That’s the beauty of JWE meet-ups,” continues Judy Naamat. “The JWE brings together women whose cumulative knowledge and shared experiences benefit all members.”

The Hasmoda Program, under the leadership of Rabbi Aaron Brafman, Menahel of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, successfully completed its 22nd year. Approximately 100 boys from all the different yeshivos in the Far Rockaway and Five Towns participated in the program. The boys heard a speech from Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Mara D’asra of Congregation Kneseth Israel (The White Shul), on the importance of learning Torah. Some of the prizes awarded to the boys were a Shas, other valuable seforim and four bicycles.

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An Evening for Jewish Women Entrepreneurs: “Access Your Creativity to Build your Business”

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Around The Community HANC Celebrates Yom Yerushalayim In honor of Yom Yerushalayim, students in third-sixth grade at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead participated in the Building Block Workshop led by architect Stephen Schwartz. The students built the Walls of Yerushalayim, a number of other buildings in Yerushalayim, and the Kotel, all out of LEGO! When the construction was completed, Mr. Schwartz gave the students a tour of the city. The project was a meaningful and hands-on way to bring Yerushalayim to life. Students in all grades all participated in a Yom Yerushalayim Chinese Auction to benefit Keren Hatzadik. The students were very excited to be a part of the mitzvah of tzedakah and to win great prizes. We thank all the parents and vendors who generously donated prizes,

including a mini iPad, breakfast from Bageltown, Yankee and Mets tickets, a digital camera, and much more. We are very proud of our students for raising over $3,000! Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring the yummy blue and white cookies from Bageltown. And thank you to Rabbi Merrill, Mrs. Spitalnik and the members of the G.O. for coordinating such a wonderful day.

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Around The Community CIJE Tech Young Engineers’ Conference

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Students packed the gym at Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) in Lawrence Shelley Goldman, an AT&T executive and the latest female at AT&T to cross the 100-patent benchmark, addressed the group.

Last week, Five Towns schools participated in the annual CIJE Tech High School Engineering Program Young Engineers’ Conference along with 700 students from 23 schools. Nearly 700 9th and 10th grade high school students presented their projects to their fellow students as part of the program designed to solve real world problems based on

electronic and biomedical concepts. The unique program strengthens and enriches education in Jewish schools in the United States, educating a generation for innovation, instilling critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills. Among the local schools participating in addition to HAFTR were BBY, DRS, MAY, SKA and TAG. The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) strengthens and enriches education in U.S., Jewish schools

across the denominational spectrum, educating a generation for innovation, instilling critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills. CIJE currently provides funding for programs at 150 schools nationwide including advanced technology, engaging curricula, teacher training and vital support in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects. The organization offers a number of innovative programs including CIJE-Tech High School Engineering Program, CIJE-Tech Middle

School science, engineering, teamwork, technology & training enrichment programs and Excellence 2000 (E2K) developed with Israel Center for Excellence in Education (ICEE). Since 2001, CIJE has built 100 computer laboratories, 25 state-of-the-art science laboratories and donated more than 500 smart boards. CIJE was established as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2008. For more information, please visit www.thecije.org.

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Around The Community Highlights at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Ateres Yaakov Spring Shabbaton May 15th-17th – Shabbos Parshas Behar-Bechukosai was particularly noteworthy for the talmidim of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. The Mesivta held its annual Spring Shabbaton on the beautiful

Comraderie and achdus at this year’s Shabbaton

campus of Camp Romimu in Monticello, NY. The Shabbaton was a resounding success, replete with tremendous growth in ruchniyus, achdus, ahavas Hashem and ahavas haTorah. From start to finish, the Shabbaton was an inspiring, exciting and stimulating weekend. The Mesivta invited Rav Yaakov Milstein, shlit”a, noted Project

Rebbeim and talmidim connecting at the Shabbaton

Inspire lecturer, as their guest for Shabbos. Rav Milstein helped set the tone for the Shabbos, describing the incredible inspiration that could be gleaned from even a single Shabbos. The lively Kabbalas Shabbos, with enthusiastic singing and dancing, was a fitting entree to such a special Shabbos. which continThe leibudikeit, ued throughout the Shabbos, was unparalleled, with incredible singing and dancing at all meals. Rav Milstein spoke throughout Shabbos captivating the talmidim more and more with each of his drashos. He creatively and carefully illuminated many aspects of Yiddishkeit, focusing on the six constant mitzvos in his keynote address.

As has become a tradition in MAY, the Shabbas kibbudim had been auctioned to the bidders willing to commit to the most learning completed over the course of the long weekend. Students committed to 150 hours of learning outside of the formal shiurim, and the talmidim eagerly honored their Rabbeim with the honors. Motzei Shabbos included a barbeque Melava Malka, multiple stirring kumzitsim and incredible achdus and comradery among the talmidim and their Rabbeim. As is traditional, nine seniors delivered self-prepared chaburos to the younger shiurim on a wide range of intriguing topics and sugyos. To cap off the Shabbaton, the Rabbeim edged out the Varsity softball team in a rousing game of softball, an incredible ending to an incredible weekend. Arista and Awards Night at MAY May 19th – On Tuesday evening, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov held its annual Arista Installation and Awards Night where tribute was paid to the myriad accomplishments of the talmidim at MAY. Consistent with MAY’s emphasis on developing all facets of each talmid, excellence and effort in many areas was recognized including: limudei kodesh, middos, tefilah, general studies academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and community service. Awards were presented to over 100 students for their individual and communal accomplishments throughout the school year. Menahel Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe introduced the program focusing on the small acts of greatness performed by the talmidim at MAY that can often go unnoticed and how the Mesivta encourages

The ARISTA leadership members flanked by Rabbi Rudansky, Rabbi Bennett, and Rabbi Yaffe

and recognizes these chassadim. The first order of the night was the installation of the incoming Student Government under the helm of Co-Presidents Naftali Goldschein and Moishe Krengel. Naftali spoke about the responsibility of leadership and reminded his peers that Student Government’s goal is to give students a voice in yeshiva policy and activities and to provide opportunities for the talmidim to unite under one banner. Rabbi Sam Rudansky, General Studies Principal, commented, “The evening serves as an opportunity to recognize those students who excel in different areas of the high school experience. That may range from academics for some, to community service, extracurricular activities and athletics for others. It’s an evening of tremendous nachas for parents and grandparents.” The evening ended with the induction of more than 50 Arista honors students who recited the Arista Honors Society pledge led by Arista President Yaakov Eckhaus. Mazel tov! MAY Participates in CIJE Engineering Fair May 20th – As part of their progressive STEM Program, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov fielded multiple teams from the 9th and 10th grades to present projects at the Fair held at HAFTR Middle School. Projects in the 9th grade ranged from a laser harp and a treadmill based on heart rate to a motion-controlled remote

control. Projects contributed by the 10th grade included “Genius Bath,” which measures water level and temperature for children, “Smart Garbage,” which is a refuse monito,r and a very creative “Blind Spot Spotter.” The Mesivta is incredibly proud of the students who worked tirelessly on their projects and the faculty who mentored them. “It’s been three years since we began our Pre-engineering course, complementing our STEM Program,” commented Assistant Menahel/Assistant Principal Rabbi Yossi Bennett. “This year in particular the projects were simply astounding and so inventive. We really have to thank CIJE and our CIJE liaison Mrs. Judy Leibowitz, for their continued support for this program.” Pre-Shavuos Kumzits May 21st – Erev Shavuos at MAY is always an inspiring experience. This year, talmidim remained in Yeshiva after mishmar on Thursday night to participate in an evening of inspiration. A beautiful kumzits, led by Menahel Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, set the tone for an uplifting evening. Divrei Torah were provided by Rabbi Avi Schulman, Rabbi Rafael Stefansky and Rabbi Yonasan Sprung. The evening closed with delicious refreshment, including cholent and kugel, and a feeling of preparedness and confidence to embrace kabbalas HaTorah on Shavuos. Guest Speakers Help MAY Prepare for Shavuous May 18th-21st – Last week, the talmidim of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov and Yeshiva Gedolah Ateres Yaakov had the distinct z’chus of hearing Pre-Shavuos divrei chizuk from Rav Shmuel Bloom, former Executive Vice President of Agudas Yisrael of America, and Rav Shmuel Marcus, Ra”m at Bais Medrash l’Talmud and Rav of Ishei Yisrael in Kew Gradens Hills.

Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe addressing the overflow crowd

OpEd

The JCRC, NIF and the Israel Day Parade

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extremely important to speak out against enemies of our people. It is no secret that Israel and the Jewish people are experiencing a rising tide of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment around the world. According to an article that appeared recently in the Algemeiner Journal, these efforts are “connected to an organization called the New Israel Fund, a cleverly devised name to fool the naïve and well-intended into donating money towards Israel’s detriment. The NIF is a fund aggregator that draws money under the guise of being pro-Israel, and metes it out to sub organizations that have very real anti-Israel agendas. They make no attempt to hide it either.” Rav Eliyahu Henkin, zt”l, wrote that he was initially against the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. However, after the State was established and millions of Jews lived there, he writes, “It is our obligation in our day to help the State of Israel physically and monetarily and with all our efforts and influences that we have” (Siman 106; Our Obligation Towards the Land of Israel). He further writes that if Jews themselves do not stand behind and support the State of Israel, “The countries that we live in will say that they too have no obligation to help us and we ourselves will be guilty of death, chas v’shalom” (Siman 108; Chillul Hashem). It was precisely for these reasons and for the realization that we must speak out against the dangerous efforts of those who portray Israel as an apartheid state, which occupies Palestinian land, that we and others spoke out against the NIF being able to march in the Israel Day Parade. Perhaps as a result of an epiphany, or perhaps as a response to the outcry against the NIF, the JCRC this year has decided to specifically bar groups from marching if they support the BDS movement. They required all participants to sign an agreement which states, “All groups must oppose, not fund, not advocate for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.” We know we speak on behalf of countless others who applaud these courageous efforts by the JCRC to speak out against those who call for BDS because of Israel’s purported

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t is no secret that for more than a year many pro-Israeli groups vociferously objected to the policy of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) which allowed New Israel Fund (NIF) to march in the parade. When Rambam Mesivta marched last year they carried a banner (pictured here) which was understood to be a criticism of the participation of the NIF. Presumably, the NIF was allowed to march because on their website they officially espouse the position that they are “pro-Israel.” However, Edwin Black, an investigative journalist and best-selling author of IBM and the Holocaust and Financing the Flames, has recently shown that the NIF has provided active financial support to organizations such as Btselem, Adallah, Coalition of Women for Peace, Breaking the Silence, and the Committee of Physicians for Human Rights. These organizations, despite their peaceful sounding names, have repeatedly called for a host of steps that would serve to isolate and delegitimize Israel. Some of the NIF funded groups have called for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. It was reported that many organizations that received substantial funds from the NIF signed a petition urging the Council on Ethics of Norway to “remove from the fund’s investment portfolio all corporations that support and maintain the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory.” Other groups have actually supported efforts to bring Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Another group which received funding from the NIF is the Public Committee against Torture in Israel. Its Director, Dr. Menuhin, is reported to have spoken publicly saying, “In Lebanon and Gaza IDF soldiers are participating in war crimes.” This clearly set the stage for other groups like Breaking the Silence, funded by the NIF which gave them $560,000 between 2008-2013, which recently began an active investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza which in turn would aid the ICC in their attempt to file criminal charges against Israeli soldiers. It is their desire to bring this evidence to the International Criminal Court, a court known for its anti-Israel and anti-American sentiments, which calls into question their true agenda. From our perspective, we feel it is

THE JEWISH HOME

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman

“occupation of Palestine,” and expose those groups who support Israel in name only but, in fact, undermine its safety and security of its soldiers, its people and its land. If the NIF chooses to show up on Fifth Avenue on the day of the Parade, it is only appropriate that they take their rightful

place on the sidelines, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other groups that libel Israel as an apartheid state, the Neturei Karta and their Palestinian cohorts. Anything else would be disingenuous.  Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman is the Rosh Rambam Mesivta.

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TJH CENTERFOLD

• TJH CENTERFOLD

Riddle!

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You Gotta be

Two men are in a desert. They both have backpacks on. One of the men is no longer alive. The guy who is alive has his pack open; the guy who is dead has his pack closed. You are called in to investigate what happened. You start by looking at what is in the backpacks. Once you do that, you know what happened. What’s in the backpacks that helps you solve the case? See answer on next page

Kidding!

A young man hired by a supermarket reports for his first day of work. The manager greets him with a warm handshake, gives him a broom and says, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.” “But I’m a college graduate,” the young man replies. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” the manager answers. “Here, give me the broom – I’ll show you how to do it.”

Things You Realize When You Graduate College  Someone actually pays for the electricity…and now it will be you.  You would have been able to pay for this month’s electricity bill if you would have sold your college textbooks instead of burning them. Dude.

 You know those “lifelong friends” that you just spent four years with? Well, you will probably never see most of them ever again in your life.  A fridge is not solely meant to be a mold incubator.  Everything that the graduation speaker said happens to people who “live life with mediocrity” has happened to you in the three days since you graduated.

 Not everyone eats instant chicken noodle soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Doing laundry is not something that is only done when we change the clocks.

 When they told you that you would have to pay back your student loans, they weren’t just pranking

 Nobody really cares about your Division III college basketball team.  Playing loud metal guitar at 2AM doesn’t make your parents proud of their investment.  Wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt every day is actually not cool.

you.  Those funky black and green chairs that you had in your dorm room all these years are actually milk crates.  Most jobs start in the middle of the night—at 9AM.

• TJH CENTERFOLD

Only One of the Following People Graduated College

Can You Guess Who it Is?

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TJH CENTERFOLD

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Bill Gates Steve Jobs Paul Allen Larry Ellison Abraham Lincoln

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Andrew Jackson Benjamin Franklin Frank Lloyd Wright Henry Ford Steve Wozniak

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    

Thomas Edison Walt Disney Michael Dell Mark Zuckerberg Ted Kaczynski (AKA “The Unabomber”)

"A" for Originality YearBook Entries

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Comm Let the ission er dec Send

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ANSWER TO WHO GRADUATED: Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, graduated from Harvard and earned a PhD in mathematics from University of Michigan. ANSWER TO RIDDLE: A parachute

The Rocky Rant

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MAY 28, 2015

Rocky Zweig

An Optical Delusion

don’t know. I mean, I just don’t know anymore. Maybe it’s just me. Is it just me? Is there something wrong with me? I try to be a good Jew. I do all your standard issue mitzvos. I’m particularly good at the whole Aseres Hadibros thing. Haven’t killed anyone or stolen anything since I can’t remember when. But despite my best efforts, I sometimes think I’m totally out of touch with today’s mainstream frumkeit. I don’t know, maybe since the lobotomy… All this soul searching was precipitated by an innocent little letter that I happened upon in a newspaper a few weeks ago. And I do mean little: it was all of fifty seven words, but I had to read it twice to truly absorb it. I’m going to quote it here in its entirety. I would honestly like to understand how two people (the letter writer and I), ostensibly of good faith, can have such incredibly disparate

views on what Yiddishkeit and frumkeit are all about. The letter was titled “Shades of Shame.” No kidding. Anyway, here it is: When I see b’nei Torah wearing

the goyim. It is such a chillul Hashem. And then we blame our kids when they don’t strictly stick to the proper path. Oookay. Just so you know, I’m quite aware that there are people out there who are what one might call more

stylish glasses, it mamish hurts me. It shows that we Yidden are following the goyim. And when fathers do so, they are basically telling their kids to follow

right wing than I when it comes to Judaism. There are folks who are makpid on things that I’m not, and, believe it or not, I respect them for that. In fact my brother is one of “them,” although I don’t particularly respect him because, when we were kids, he talked me into trading my favorite toy, a Coca Cola truck, for his dumb Roy Rogers rifle that didn’t even work! But it has nothing to do with him wearing his tzitzis out or wearing a gartel. But for the life of me I can’t understand what demonizing “hip, thickframed glasses” accomplishes, which is exactly what both Bobov and Vizhnitz have done: they banned anything but simple, wire frames in their yeshivos way back in 2013. At the time there were articles about it on Yeshiva World, in The Forward, and even in the New York Post. So I guess Joe (let’s call our letter writer Joe) has some company for his meshugas after all. Don’t get me wrong: I’m on board for all your typical tzinius stuff. Tight pants on boys, short sleeves, behaviors that aren’t conducive to a Torah lifestyle (hanging out at pizza shops, ice cream parlors, or whatever happens to be the Hangout Du Jour, smoking, vaping, or whatever else the kids are sticking in their mouths these days to try and look grown up, et al), I’m down with all that. But glasses? Is there something inherently evil about modern glasses? Indeed, the bigger question should be, “What’s wrong with being ‘stylish’?” Ever hear the expression “Der doros veren shvacher” (the generations

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are getting weaker)? Really? I grew up in the ‘60s and I can say without fear of contradiction by any other Baby Boomer out there that nobody—and I mean nobody—gave two hoots about what kind of glasses we wore. Not our fathers, not our rabbeim, not even our Roshei Yeshiva. Never, ever came up as an issue. They sometimes cared if our pants were too tight, but our glasses? I guess we were all a bunch of hooligans and no one noticed (some of us also had “chupps” that put Fabian and Frankie Avalon to shame, but that’s another story). The focus of our frumkeit was elsewhere: learning, davening, chessed, tzedakah, you know, the classic things that we try to instill in our young people. In elementary school they even turned us all into little collectors. A few times a year we would get pushkes from Chinuch Atzmoi, Peylim or Tashbar and be sent out to annoy grownups. If you raised $10 you got a Chinese Checkers set, for $20 it was a lady’s purse, and if you raised $50, you’d score a Mishnah B’rurah. I’d set up shop at the elevated 50th Street West End subway station, now the D train but then the B train (will someone please explain to me why they changed the letter designation?) and bother folks as they got off their trains and were rushing home after a hard day of buying or selling or pencil-pushing or brain surgery or whatever it is that grownups do at work, and the reactions I got ran the gamut from the (very) occasional few pennies or nickel to sneers, snarls, grunts, or just being ignored entirely. After about twenty minutes I’d usually give up and go home to watch “Leave It To Beaver.” And by the way…what’s a gamut? The way I understand fashion, there are a few guys in a room in Paris somewhere who get together once a year and tell the rest of us what’s trendy and beautiful. And because human beings have been around for a while now, “Ain chadash tachas hashemesh.” Meaning all Pierre and Françoise and Bernie (somebody has to handle the finances!) really do every year is recycle old styles. And that’s why the round metal frames my dad z”l wore back in the ‘40s showed up again on John Lennon in the ‘60s, and so on.

mommy are in the store from right after Shacharis until the sales guy takes his Mincha-and-Valium break, searching for the perfect snap/crown/ band/pinches or some other mysterious variable that only Shloimie knows is or isn’t present when he gazes upon his highly yeshivishe countenance in the store’s recently Windexed mirror. Why is that okay? Isn’t that the same narishkeit as spending hours at the optician? Doesn’t it stem from the same vanity? In fact, I’d venture to guess that Shloimie’s so vain, he probably thinks this column’s about him. And speaking of black hats, I won-

please understand that it’s kinda my job to point out some of the more bizarre minutiae of our wonderfully diverse community, and although I tend to skewer people a bit occasionally, I mean no disrespect. But I really do feel that you’d be better off chilling when it comes to the younger generation’s eyewear and worry about other things that might perhaps be a tad more important, like, just as an example, our Muslim-in-Chief selling Eretz Yisroel down the river. Think about that for a while and I guarantee that the whole glasses issue will magically disappear.

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“Hey Tony, getta load o’ da hipster glasses on dat Jewish kid?”

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

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der if Joe realizes that lots of hip hop and rap artists (is “rap artist” an oxymoron?) have adopted black fedoras as their headwear of choice over the past few years. Probably not, but I wonder what he’d have to say about it. I bet he’d be pretty confused! Anyway, Joe, if you happen to be a lucky reader of The Jewish Home and you stumble across this article,

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ut what bothers me the most about the letter is the arbitrariness of it all. This week’s complaint is eyeglasses. A few months ago folks were writing in kvetching about boys wearing hat brims that were too narrow (I kid you not), feathers in the band, and brightly colored socks. What does any of this have to do with tzinius? So why does Joe get positively apoplectic about the state of our yeshiva bochurim today because of what’s balanced on their noses? I wonder if he realizes how silly he sounds when he declares, “It is such a chillul Hashem.” Huh? Does he really believe that the goyim are looking at our kids saying, “Hey Tony, getta load o’ da hipster glasses on dat Jewish kid?” And is he genuinely trying to draw a correlation between avant-garde specs and “our kids [not] strictly [sticking] to the proper path”? Come on, seriously? Does Joe realize how stylish he is? Is he wearing suits with wide lapels? Is he wearing wide ties? Hey, is he wearing a beckeshe or a kapotah? Perhaps, but maybe not. Whether he likes it or not, we are all slaves to the fashion industry to one extent or another. And another thing. Have you ever been in the suit store when a chosson is

there, trying on hats? How many hats does he need? Two: one Shabbosdike and one vochendike. How many does he try on? Four hundred twelve. And you know what all those hats have in common? They’re all the same, that’s what! They’re all Borsalinos, they’re all black, and they all have the proper Y.A.B.W. (Yeshiva Approved Brim Width). But Shloimie and Shloimie’s

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Ties that Bond

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170 04

One Soldier’s Inspiring Story of Perseverance, Strength and Connection BY TAMMY MARK

thrive on personal connections. Humans Whether connecting face to face or virtually from across the globe, the unity of the Jewish people is one of the key elements in its strength and success. Amazia Fensterheim has been on the receiving end of these interactions and is determined to keep the Jewish people connected to each other and to their Jewish identity. It was this past summer when 21-year-old Amazia was injured in Operation Protective Edge. The overwhelming support from his brothers and sisters around the world helped to revive him. Having just finished his army training in May, he was called to duty in June as the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Brother’s Keeper. As part of an elite paratrooper unit, Amazia’s first mission was the search for Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah, Hy”d, the three boys who were kidnapped as they were traveling back to their homes from yeshiva. Rumors had started on Thursday about the possible search, and the soldiers were instructed to keep their phones on for Shabbat. Amazia was called on Friday after already arriving home for the weekend. The call came in at 2:30 AM; they were to be there at 9AM. At 1PM they were sent out to search for any intelligence around the Hebron area. A team of close to 20 soldiers went from house to house in the hopes of finding any signs or information that would lead them to the boys or their kidnappers. Tensions ran high that summer, and the soldiers had to remain vigilant throughout the grueling search. Amazia remembers a disturbing but not too uncommon episode that occurred after an uneventful search of one home. Upon completion of the search, a Palestinian Authority ambulance had pulled up, followed immediately by a press car. As reporters emerged with cameras in hand, the Arab homeowner appeared, claiming that the soldiers had kicked his son down the steps. The man’s fabricated

“If both sides understand how we are all connected, we will all be strengthened even more.”

From left to right - Amazia Fensterheim, Shahar Dover, and Lee Mat

story changed abruptly as the grandmother was carried out on the stretcher, claiming she was the one pushed and injured by the soldiers. IDF soldiers are trained to exercise complete restraint, unable to react in any way to these false accusations or to any non-violent action. Amazia and his unit stood by as the media and passersby spew hatred unto the soldiers. The search for the missing boys continued for two weeks. Soldiers stayed in local families’ homes, fed and cared for by people of the surrounding communities. They knew that the operation was not only an army operation but a mission that touched the whole Jewish community. Unfortunately, the operation didn’t end well and after two weeks the boys’ bodies were found. Amazia and his unit were sent home. During those two weeks, the connection between Jews around the world was strengthened. We were all one unit; we were all praying for our brothers to be found, healthy and whole. Prayers, words of encouragement, acts of chessed, and a deep yearning for our boys was evident. Regardless of country or language spoken, we were one. the next weeks, rocket atThroughout tacks from Gaza escalated; Israelis were under threat of death. While the Iron Dome system blocked the rockets, the IDF prepared for the next mission.

His last visit was over Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, when he spoke to area schools and organizations, connecting the significance of both holidays and thanking them for their support.

MAY 28, 2015

has completed his second speaking tour Amazia since his injury. Soft-spoken yet passionate, his goal is to bring the Jewish people closer together.

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Ground entry phase of Operation Protective Edge began in early July. Starting out from a community near the Gaza border, the soldiers began the journey by foot to locate and destroy suspected terror tunnels, tunnels whose openings were hidden in various kinds of seemingly innocent places, like the one that began underneath the floorboards inside the cabinet of a kitchen sink that Amazia’s unit found. The soldiers went from house to house searching for intelligence, weapons or anything that would indicate association with Hamas. There were no true civilians in the region by that time, as most of them had cleared out when warned, and the only men who remained there were largely affiliated with Hamas. Six days into the formidable mission, Amazia’s unit was hit by a roadside bomb in Gaza. Four of the young men in his unit, Lee Mat, Paz Eliyahu, Shahar Douber and Shahar Shalev, were killed. Twenty were injured by the IED, an improvised explosive device. Amazia sustained a severe injury, hit by shrapnel to his legs. He spent 3 ½ months in the hospital and is still rehabilin tating. The injured soldiers in the hospital could not attend the funerals of their fallen brothers, men who they trained with and protected for many months. Four soldiers from his unit are still carrying their injuries from the attack. One friend, a lone soldier, incredibly went back to duty after recovering from a head injury caused by shrapnel. Amazia was sent to recover at Beit Levenstein Rehabilitation Center. While he found it to be more low-key than the bigger hospitals where other soldiers were generally sent for rehab, he still felt the care and concern from so many. It was during this difficult time that Amazia really witnessed the support of Jewish people from across the globe. From the tourists to Israel who traveled during wartime to offer their care and encouragement to the teenagers who brought gifts and kind words to the soldiers, the experience moved him. Amazia can attest to the profound impact it made on his spirit and his recovery. As he recovered, Amazia became connected through distant relatives to participate in Run for IDF in Brooklyn, a race organized Magen David Yeshivah in partnership with the Panim el Panim organization. Despite his injuries, Amazia participated and was able to push through, making a herculean effort to complete 2 ½ miles of the race. It was through this experience that Amazia embarked on his mission of sharing his story throughout the New York area.

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Amazia on the right with Lee Mat

Amazia plans to be back in New York this week for the Celebrate Israel Parade. He appreciates these opportunities to connect with supporters around the globe. When Amazia hears and sees the level of support from Americans, he shares these messages with his team at home and with the families of the slain soldiers. Amazia wants the supporters to realize their impact as well. “If they see that what they are doing makes a difference, they will do more,” he believes. He knows that the difficult summer in Israel connected everyone. He also speaks in Israel to visitors to express gratitude for their visits. Reaching out to the soldiers, sending gifts, raising money, writing a heartfelt note—all these gestures are grand. When we connect or commiserate with those in the Holy Land our bond is strengthened. American Jews need to show that we are truly one with our brothers and sisters in Israel. And everything we do is appreciated and cherished. Amazia is now spending time working with Panim el Panim in Israel. Hebrew for “face to face,” it is a national movement for strengthening unity and Jewish identity throughout Israel by educating students in high school and universities and secular Israelis throughout the country. One of their main objectives is to increase Jewish identity in the IDF. Elad Asulin, Director of Development for the organization, believes that soldiers who understand the history and beliefs of their nation will have a deeper connection to the cause and ultimately be stronger soldiers. Their programs in the IDF have reached upwards of 100,000 soldiers. This initiative strengthens bonds within the army as Amazia at the funeral of his friends well, bridging the gap between the secular and religious soldiers. Amazia looks forward to speaking with recruits and making more meaningful connections. A Krav Maga instructor, he is hoping to teach after he’s fully healed. He proudly shares the story of the origins of Krav Maga, a form of martial arts derived from street-fighting skills developed by Hungarian Imi Lichtenfeld. Lichtenfeld made use of his training as a boxer and wrestler to develop a method of self-defense in the Jewish quarter in Czechoslovakia during World War II. Lichtenfeld brought it to Israel and it eventually developed into the form of self-defense now used by the IDF. Amazia’s strength and determination—both physical and emotional—runs in his family, as he comes from a line of doers. His grandfather helped to found the White Shul in Far Rockaway. His parents made aliyah 30 years ago; his mother is from Brooklyn and his dad is from the Five Towns area, and the family now resides in Ranana. His father worked in intelligence during his time in the IDF. Amazia is one of six brothers, all who have served or will be serving in the IDF. He smiles when he speaks of his mother, “In Israel they say when the boy does service the mother does too.” Amazia emphasizes the importance of creating a personal connection with the soldiers. He suggests to supporters that they send videos of themselves along with their gifts to the soldiers. While the gifts are meaningful, seeing the encouraging faces of the people who are supporting the soldiers makes the connection most powerful. The face to face connections are overwhelming. “If both sides understand how we are all connected, we will all be strengthened even more.” 

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Torah Thought

Rabbi Berel Wein

Parshas Naso

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ď ł

MAY 28, 2015

he tribe of Levi always seemed to have special responsibilities and privileges within the Jewish people. Our father Jacob spoke harshly of their fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tendency to be impetuous and even violent, albeit for what was believed to be a holy and necessary cause. As a result of this admonition of Jacob, the tribe of Levi first assigned for itself a roll of service to the community of Israel and of scholarship and education. Early on in the history of the Jewish people, even before we were redeemed from Egyptian bondage, the tribe of Levi was seen as being the clergy, so to speak, of Israel. According to Jewish tradition, the tribe of Levi was not subject to physical enslavement and harsh labor as were the other tribes of Israel during the period of Egyptian bondage. The leadership of the Jewish people in Egypt, in the personages of Aaron and Moshe, were members of the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was relatively

small in number in comparison to the other tribes of Israel. The rabbis ascribe this to the blessing that the L-rd bestowed upon the Jewish people, that in spite of their affliction they would nevertheless increase in their numbers. This did not apply to the tribe of

fits, the Torah always imposes duties and responsibilities. The tribe of Levi was excluded from ownership of land in the Land of Israel and from most general commercial activities as well. Its role was to serve in the Temple, to be the educators and teachers of Torah

They were the spiritual soldiers, so to speak, who were on the ground engaging and influencing Jewish society. Levi since they were not involved in any forced labor. It was from the tribe of Levi that the priestly line of Aaron was created and until today the special, unique character and respect bestowed upon the tribe of Levi is part of the social and religious fabric of society. Naturally, with rewards and bene-

to the Jewish people and to be moral personal examples of the values involved in living a truly Jewish life. The tribe of Levi lived in forty eight cities scattered throughout the boundaries of the land of Israel. They were the spiritual soldiers, so to speak, who were on the ground engaging and influencing

Jewish society. They were entitled to be supported by the Jewish people as a whole through the system of tithing but they were seen to be an elite group given over to G-d, so to speak, in order to serve their fellow Jews spiritually and in many cases even physically. Even after the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people throughout the nations of the world, the Levites have retained certain special privileges and honors and have a unique role in the Jewish religious world. They are the symbol of national and religious service in the realm of the obligations upon all Jews to work for the common benefit of all of their brethren. Because of their special role in Jewish life they are entitled to be counted separately and uniquely, as it appears in these sections of the Torah. There is a lesson in that for all of us, whether we are of the tribe of Levi or not. Shabbat shalom.

75 R’ Ben Tzion Shafier

Parshas Naso

I Never Do Anything Wrong

I Never Do Anything Wrong The answer to this question is based on understanding one of the most con-

es, he can turn to wickedness. Even his brilliant intellect won’t prevent him. He is capable of creating entire worldviews that explain how the behavior he desires is righteous, correct, and appropriate. Now man has free will. The answer to the Rashi is on two levels. First off, we see the power of rationalizing. Even a fully mature, pious woman who grew up in the best of homes can be convinced, on some level, that certain things are permitted. The yetzer hara will use her imagination and create clever and creative ways to explain that black is white, in is out, and sinning is permitted. As ridiculous as it sounds, that is the power given to the yetzer hara. The second idea is that even the woman who seems to be off the derech and wouldn’t need an excuse really does. No human can ever do something that is wrong. Because of the greatness

of her soul and the truth that she knows deep down inside, she understands that it’s forbidden. The only way that she can perpetrate this act is if she has a rational way of explaining how in fact it is permitted. The human is incapable of doing something wrong. The only way he can do something wrong is by making it right. For more on this topic please listen to Shmuz #19 I Never Do Anything Wrong The Shmuz - Marriage Seminar, a 12 part, comprehensive guide to a successful Marriage is available FREE of charge at www. TheShmuz.com. It is also on the Shmuz App available at the App store, or on Google play, or you may listen on Kol Halashon by calling 718- 906 6400, then options 1, 4, 3

MAY 28, 2015

The Parsha of Sotah The Torah describes the details of a sotah. If a woman acts in a manner that causes her husband to suspect her of infidelity, he should warn her not to go into seclusion with that other man. If she violates this warning, then the husband is to take her to the Kohein. The Kohein will give her the “bitter waters” to drink. If she was unfaithful, she will instantly die. If she was not unfaithful, she will be redeemed and blessed. When the Torah lays out the details, it uses an unusual expression: “Ki tishteh, If a man will ‘tishteh’ his wife.” The word “tishteh” comes from the root “shoteh,” which means insanity. It’s as if to say, “If a man will accuse his wife of insanity.” Rashi is troubled by the use of this expression. He explains, based on the Gemara, adulterers do not sin until a wave of insanity enters them. The Sifsei Chachmim explains this to mean, “Until their yetzer harah teaches them it is permitted.” It seems clear from the Sifsei Chachaim that the modus operandi of the yetzer hara is to convince the potential sinners that the act tempting them is permitted. Only when it succeeds and they are convinced, will they then transgress. This statement — people only sin when they are convinced that it is permitted — seems difficult to understand. If we are dealing with a pious, proper Jewish woman who got into a bad situation, she knows that the act that she wants to commit is forbidden. How can the yetzer hara teach her that it is permitted? On the other hand, the Torah may be speaking about the opposite extreme — a woman who has gone off the path and just doesn’t care. Why does she need the yetzer hara to tell her it is permitted? She doesn’t care. So on both sides of the spectrum, the yetzer hara either should not be able to convince the person that it is permitted, or it shouldn’t need to convince them.

sistent quirks of human nature: “I never do anything wrong.” Whether dealing with sophisticated adults or schoolchildren, whether Supreme Court justices or convicted felons, the human seems never to do anything wrong. Wardens will tell you that their jails are filled with self-proclaimed innocent men. Criminals aren’t wrong. Thieves aren’t wrong. Murderers aren’t wrong. You won’t find a gangster proclaiming, “Yes, it is evil to murder and pillage, but what can I do? I am weak and give into my desires.” Instead, you will hear an entire belief system explaining that his approach to life is actually better for society and the world. The question is: why? Why can’t man just admit: it is wrong to steal, but I want to do it anyway? The reason for this has to do with the inner working of the human. Hashem created man out of two distinct parts. One is comprised all of the drives and passions found in the animal kingdom; it is simply base instincts and desires. The other part of man is pure intellect: holy, good and giving. That part of me wishes to be generous and noble and only aspires for that which is good. Because this part of me is made up of pure intellect and wisdom, it would never allow me to sin. It sees the results too clearly. It understands that all of Hashem’s commandments are for my good and that every sin damages me. Because of this crystal clear insight, the human would not have the free will to sin. In theory, he could be tempted to sin, but he would never actually come to the act. It would be akin to sticking his hand in a fire. In theory he could do it, but it would never happen. It’s a dumb thing to do. So if Hashem created man with just these two parts, man would not have free will in a practical sense. To allow man to be tempted so that he can choose his course and be rewarded for his proper choices, Hashem put another component in man: imagination. Imagination is the creative ability to form a mental picture and feel it as vividly as if it were real. Armed with an imagination, man can create fanciful worlds at his will and actually believe them. If man wishes to turn to evil, he can create rationales to make these ways sound noble and proper — and fool himself at least. If he wishes, he can do what is right, or if he wish-

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“Speak to the Bnai Yisrael and say to them: any man whose wife shall go astray and commit treachery against him. . . ” — Bamidbar 5:12

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The Shmuz

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MAY 28, 2015

The Observant Jew

Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Turning Heads

ometimes we see something and even though we shouldn’t turn to look, we do. It could be someone walking in late to shul, a waiter dropping a dish, or someone getting yelled at. It’s not sensitive to turn and look when someone else might be embarrassed, but we often let our curiosity get the better of us and we look. Sometimes it’s something attractive that catches our eye and we turn to look at it. That’s what happened to me one morning as I saw the sleek, luxurious curves of a fancy car as it crossed an intersection. I turned my head to follow it with a longing gaze, my brain wanting to know who made this piece of beauty on wheels. Now, in my youth, I nurtured an appreciation for cars as a means of occupying my thoughts with them instead of other things, but at this point, I really think of my car as a means of getting

from one place to another. I’m not generally wowed by the latest satellite-assisted steering or impressed by genuine burled walnut on the dash. If I can get to work and give people rides now and then, so as to do some chessed, then I’m

them stand out or feel good about themselves. I felt bad for them, and was not envious of people who had cars like this for reasons like those. I thought about the alternative. I could be a person who is absorbed with

I made a choice about which way I would choose to turn. happy. And yet, I followed this car with my gaze. I looked at it desirously, wishing I could have a car like that. I thought about people with nice cars and how the car doesn’t always mean they have the money to afford it. Sometimes, it means they need something to help

the fancy cars and toys. I would not like that and wouldn’t want to trade places with someone like that, even to get the shiny new car. I remember having a similar thought once when I watched an extremely wealthy man acting like a child and doing things that weren’t immoral, just downright immature. I said to myself, “It’s not worth having all that money if I would have to be such a boor.” I made a choice about which way I would choose to turn. You see, Chazal say that one who wishes to become wise should turn to the right. This assumes that you are in shul facing East, towards Yerushalayim. Turning to the right a bit would approximate facing the Menorah in the Bais HaMikdash, the symbol of knowledge and Torah. By angling that way, one shows that wisdom is important to him. Chazal also say that one who wishes to become wealthy should turn a bit to the left. That reflects the place of the Shulchan in the Bais HaMikdash, the symbol of financial blessing and prosperity. I heard from one rabbi that if someone wants both, he should turn one way during Shacharis and the other during Mincha. He added with a smile that you can then tell a lot about a person by which way he turns during Maariv. I’d heard that advice and actually saw a bochur following it. I approached him and said, “You know, you don’t have to really turn to the left.” He replied that he was interested in the financial success too. I explained that to my mind, if one asks for wisdom, he will be granted everything, just as Shlomo HaMelech was when Hashem offered whatever he wanted.

Because Shlomo asked for the wisdom to rule justly, Hashem granted him wealth and power as well. Now, you can’t just turn right and say, “I want wisdom,” as a means of Hashem giving you wealth. You have to be honest about it. But if you weigh the two, like I did when I saw the wealthy man acting like a fool, your choice will be made much simpler. Do you need the car to show people you have value? Or are you a person of depth, intelligence, and caring no matter what you have in the bank? That’s not to say you can’t have nice things, just that you shouldn’t make them a priority over other things. Chazal also say, Kol pina she’ata poneh, lo yehai elah derech yemin, every turn you make, should always be to the right. I highly doubt that Chazal were prophesying about the formation of the State of New Jersey with that comment. (For some reason, they appear to find left turns and fueling your own car beyond the ken of their citizens.) It doesn’t make sense because, of course, there are times in life you need to make left turns too. I think what they were saying is that when you’re faced with a choice of turning right, towards the light of the Menorah, or left, to the glinting gold of the Shulchan, choose the light of Torah and chochma above all else. When faced with the choice to look at the embarrassed waiter or to look away at the floor so he’s not hurt, do the right thing and look away. If you weigh these options when you choose your response to “head-turners,” then, no matter which way you turn, it will always be the right way. Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/RabbiGewirtz and follow him on Twitter @RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@ JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject. © 2015 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.

Israel Today

Kohlrabi And while we were on our hands and knees ripping the sweet vegetable from their roots, we weren’t really thinking about our roles in the lives of the needy. We were thinking about the fun we were having. Far from being cynical it’s complicated connecting the synaptic diffusion between an act of chesed and its corollary because we are present for only part of the process. By the time we had finished the row of kohlrabi we’d been working on, dirt had caked itself thick under our fingernails. We looked behind us where hundreds of volunteers dressed in a motley collection of clothes continued to fill buckets. There was no souvenir to commemorate our three hours of work, nor a welcoming committee lining the path back to our car to thank us. What we took away instead was a feeling

MAY 28, 2015

Now it was Sunday morning and we were off southward to Moshav Nahalal an hour away. Our good friend Paul had sent us directions. Paul helps run Leket Yisrael, National Food Bank, an organization whose goal is to feed those in need. Uzi, a resident of Nahalal, had been impressed enough by Leket Israel to set aside a few dunam to the cause. He hadn’t made a formal offer. Once the beets and radishes he had planted were ready for harvesting he contacted the organization and informed them that those vegetables were for them. Uzi plants different crops in the rich, chocolate brown soil. There is machinery available to harvest the kohlrabi, but Leket invites volunteers to do the job by hand. Five hundred plus turned up for the chance to get down on their haunches and get dirty: a chance to work the soil as it has been worked for thousands of years. There couldn’t be a more mundane activity than picking kohlrabi. We threw them into large bins while we worked our way down the field. The leaves we ripped off lay scattered like tornado debris, forlorn and homeless. As the line of cars arriving along the dirt road that led to the fields filled the parking spaces I took a walk to the tent where Leket Yisrael welcomed volunteers. I met with Anat, a petite

woman who has worked with the organization for a few years. She told me how, during one picking, a group of wheelchair-bound volunteers turned up, forced themselves over the uneven grounds and spent the better part of an afternoon picking vegetables. There was no publicity and no photographs to promote the agenda of the organization. On one occasion a group of Arabs had volunteered which, according to Anat, is rare. What stirred her the most was the mix of people picking vegetables with the Arabs. There were secular and religious Jews. There was also a group of Filipino women who have formed a club where they get together to do things a slightly off the beaten track. Nowadays, Leket Yisrael tells Uzi which crops of fruit and vegetables to grow. From someone who has hardly had a kohlrabi pass my lips I was curious to know why Leket had chosen it over more recognizable vegetables. Anat explained that kohlrabi is suitable for the land. Moreover, it’s relatively easy for volunteers to extract the vegetable from the ground. It also happens to be quite popular. I was pleasantly surprised when an elderly woman sitting on an overturned bucket in the row next to me began eating one raw. “Go ahead. It’s very sweet,” she said to me. She wasn’t wrong. It’s has the crispiness of celery and the sweetness of a carrot. Anat was clear to point out that Leket didn’t involve itself in providing emergency aid. The logistical operations are finely tuned to maintain a constant and steady flow of food. After harvest the food is sent to either Nesher or Ra’anana from where it is distributed. Leket also receives yogurt and other such food items days before their expiration dates. All told one hundred and eighty organizations benefit from Leket Yisrael’s largesse. They employ a dietician out of consideration for a healthy, balanced diet. For example, some beneficiaries need guidance eating foods that are not culturally recognized or eaten. This got me thinking about acts of chesed and why we do them. Had Paul not been involved in Leket Israel we probably wouldn’t have participated.

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dreamt of kohlrabi last night. Thousands of light green and white kohlrabi. I could feel my fingers ripping away at leaves, giving them a twist and a tug and a toss into a bucket. The dream replayed itself over and over until I finally awoke with a start and an aching back. It was 5:30 a.m. the Monday after chol hamoed. The sky was cloudy, much like Shabbos two days earlier when the heavens had opened during Shacharit.

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Rafi Sackville

of warmth, contentment, and a pain in my lower back that took three days to pass. Our sons were pleased and promptly fell asleep as we drove up the hills homeward. We did take one kohlrabi with us. Eating it is going to take on quite a special meaning. Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, lives in Ma’alot in Western Galil. He teaches in the local high school.

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MAY 28, 2015

Dr. Deb

Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

Why Did G-d Create Feelings?

eelings are so annoying. They really get in the way. You would like to just live your life and not have to deal with pain, but no! Chas v’ chalilah you could just be obliviously happy. But no, you have to suffer. Sheesh. You pick up the paper or tune into the car radio or scan the internet, and you find someone is killed in a terrible way, people are drowning escaping from a bad life, the Earth moves and thousands are killed or homeless. And all that is bad enough. Why am I supposed to feel miserable because of it? And if I don’t feel miserable, that’s even worse: I’m heartless, numb, dissociated. That’s no good either. And the worst is when we manufacture our feelings incorrectly. We feel sad so we look at the last interaction we had and decide that that person “made” us sad. It could be true, but not necessarily. We could have misunderstood another person’s intention, or worse, we could have doubted the truth of what another person said, and that could have made us sad. There’s the story, for example, of Cynthia. Her husband, Dave, told her that he could not help with any of the Shavuos preparations because he was nervous about getting his work done. She plum did not believe him. “Nope,” she told me, “he’s lying. He’s not nervous. He just didn’t want to help.” I could not say to her, “What happened to dan l’chaf zchus” because she would answer me as so many people have who prefer to skirt around that requirement: “I know him better than you do and he’s not nervous about work, period.” Yes, she does know him better. That is correct. But another truth is that she has constantly seen him through the same

lens. That means that if, for 20 years, let’s say, she didn’t believe him and decided that he was lying to her in each case, then for those 20 years it is entirely possible that she has been misreading him and unfairly misjudging him. “But,” she would argue, “I know my own gut and my gut is telling me that I am right.” Who am I to argue with her gut? My gut, based on knowing people for just a few more years than she has and having a belief in their basic honesty, tells me otherwise. The fact that there is no outside reference point to use as a basis of Truth

supposed to use our emotions, anyway? How can we feel in a way that does not get us into trouble?

think Esther Wein answered my question. (Thank you, Esther, for your amazing shiur on 5-21-15. Men – you are allowed to access the audio if not the video. Please go to TorahAnytime.com) In the middle of Parshas Ki Sisa, while Moshe is up on the mountain, the people sin with the Golden Calf. Hashem angrily wants to wipe everyone out, but Moshe points out that the nations of the

How can we feel in a way that does not get us into trouble? means that we are all subject to the circular reasoning that Cynthia engaged in. So Cynthia was hurt, badly. But she didn’t have to be. Had she given her husband the benefit of the doubt then she wouldn’t assume that he didn’t help because he didn’t care or because he had no compassion on her for the work she had to do. Life is a whole lot less complicated when you are dan l’chaf zchus. I think Cynthia’s story makes the case – along with the others of being deeply hurt by life events or totally numb – that emotions are difficult. So why do we have them? How are we supposed to use them anyway? Da’as is the jelling of knowledge, emotion, and creativity, and putting limits on that creativity. Hashem obviously had something in store for us because emotions play a crucial role in da’as. So maybe a helpful question is: How are we

world will say our G-d doesn’t stick to His promises. From this three-sentence argument, G-d relents. Something funny is going on here… The Master of the Universe is backing down really fast. Moshe comes down, breaks the luchos, and starts an internal war against the sinners. G-d then tells Moshe to continue on towards the Promised Land, but “I shall send an angel…I shall not ascend among you.” Moshe argues again, and wouldn’t you know? Again G-d relents and He will go with us after all. That was a quick turnaround. Now Moshe goes up for the second luchos, and what does G-d say to him? At this very moment when He should be even stricter and more severe than He was when He gave Moshe the first luchos, He calls out the well-known middos harachamim that we say on Yom Kippur: “Hashem Hashem, Keil Rachum V’Chanun…” Not only will He do chessed, but notzer means He will “generate” chessed where, perhaps, it is not deserved. That is, even willful sinners will receive Hashem’s chessed. What’s going on here? Just at the moment when we erred monumentally, Hashem quickly switches from anger and severe punishment to sharing with us His great compassion for us. Hashem is not about to divorce us. We married at Har Sinai and married to Him we will be, all because of one middah: compassion. So I think that is what feelings are

for. We can have ugly ones and sad ones, but the one that is supposed to prevail is compassion. And although it is a middah, a characteristic, it cannot be exhibited without feeling. It is, next to love, perhaps the most crucial feeling. And it is a good feeling. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like being on the receiving end of another person’s compassion. At times, this experience can validate one’s reason to live. It is so powerful that in the heart of an angry person, it can dissolve that anger and leave the person at peace. So compassion heals both the person receiving it and the angry person who allows it in. There is a price tag, however. The person who feels compassion for another person’s pain has to feel some of that pain himself. There’s no way around it. Yet, even that is a good feeling because it is a feeling of being connected for both the giver and the recipient. Maybe that is why G-d had to relent ridiculously quickly more than once: He was already deep-

ly connected to us, His chosen people. He could therefore only feel compassion. Shavuos is over. But the experience of Sivan is still with us. We are still on that high of the eternal connection we have to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Doesn’t it feel good to feel that compassion? Dr. Deb Hirschhorn, a Marriage & Family Therapist and best-selling author of The Healing Is Mutual: Marriage Empowerment Tools to Rebuild Trust and Respect—Together, is proud to announce that readers of The Jewish Home will receive a $50 discount on every visit to her Woodmere office. Attend the Food For Thought lectures at Traditions Restaurant in Lawrence on Tuesdays at 12:30 PM. (There is a lovely optional lunch menu for $12 cash.) Any questions, call 646-54-DRDEB or check out her website at http://drdeb.com. All stories in Dr. Deb’s articles are fabricated.

Health & Fitness

Denial Ain’t Just a River in Egypt, Redux both on their phones is all too common. We are so used to seeing groups of teenagers spending time with one another, albeit in total isolation, because they are each in their own virtual universe. I had one client who was getting too distracted by his phone during sessions. When I suggested that I hold his phone during sessions (he did not trust himself to hold

The scene of two people sitting across from each other at a restaurant while both on their phones is all too common. neurology has shown that our brains are physiologically changing throughout our life time. The study of neuroplasticity (neuro referring to neurons, plasticity meaning changeability) describes how our brain rewires itself based on various systems of reward and punishment. Without getting too bogged down by the technicalities, this means that the more one escapes to a certain behavior to provide pleasure or relief from pain (through the release of dopamine), the more the brain becomes hardwired to “need” that stimulus to maintain mood equilibrium. Over time tolerance builds and more stimuli are required to reach previous states of pleasure, thus forming the foundation for an addiction. It is this science that has created a larger consensus within the addiction treatment community, that process addictions can be just as potent and destructive as chemical addictions.

t is important for us in the Jewish community to acknowledge the existence of these addictions and begin to address them. As the internet and the plethora of devices that provide access to it becomes more and more of an unavoidable reality in our everyday lives, we must develop a realistic means of how to approach it in healthy fashion. The scene of two people sitting across from each other at a restaurant while

it and leave it alone), he got visibly anxious and irritable when away from his phone. We are becoming so desensitized to how attached we are to all the internet has to offer. It is important that we raise awareness and create a dialogue on how

to approach some of these issues. While it is not my intention, nor my place, to address the halachic and hashkafic issues surrounding internet use, we must be honest with ourselves and realize that its use is rampant, and we must develop an appropriate response. We must learn to develop healthy boundaries and limitations in our own and our children’s use. We must be aware of the warning signs and consequences of compulsive use and know how to respond to it should the need arise. For now, my hope is to raise an awareness and create a dialogue to begin to emerge from this state of denial. Simcha Lebowicz LMSW, CSAT-C is the Clinical Director of Project Extreme and is in private practice with Tepfer and associates in Brooklyn and the Five Towns. He could be reached at slebowicz@gmail.com or at the practice (516) 426-5415.

MAY 28, 2015

seeks out a certain chemical substance, e.g. alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, etc.— many are less familiar with the term process or behavioral addiction. A process addiction is when a person becomes addicted to a specific behavior or process, e.g. eating, work, gambling, etc. This class of addictions has recently been getting more attention due to the overwhelming numbers of people struggling with internet addictions. There are various aspects of the internet that lure people in and become compulsive, such as gaming, social media, and worse. The negative consequences of compulsive use go from simply wasting time to complete social isolation and breaking up of families. There have been numerous cases in recent years in which lives have literally been lost to compulsive gaming and the ensuing malnutrition and degradation of physical health.

Throughout the world we are starting to see in-patient rehabilitation centers, once thought of as a treatment uniquely for chemical dependencies, with specific focus on process addictions. From a psychological and even physiological standpoint, process addictions share numerous similarities to chemical addictions. In recent years, the study of

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n 1989 a controversial article was a released in a reputable Jewish publication exposing the then-unspoken skeleton in our collective Jewish closet. Ellen Lebowicz, LCSW, wrote of the problems of addiction and substance abuse in the Orthodox community. Her article was written before the term “teen-at-risk” was coined and before any organization existed that exclusively serviced this population. Since that time, we have seen this issue addressed in the public arena. Many worthy organizations and individuals have dedicated their lives and resources to working with the population itself and to help repair and restructure the systems that produced them. While there is still much work that needs to be done in this arena, I think it important to call attention to another plague that is emerging in the world at large and that has made inroads into our community as well. While we are all aware of the term chemical addictions— an addiction in which one compulsively

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Simcha Lebowicz LMSW, CSAT-C

MAY 28, 2015

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22 Years of Song

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The History of the Israel Day Concert in Central Park PHOTO CREDITS: YAAKOV KATZ STUDIOS, MANNY VIDER, BARRY BROWN STUDIOS

BY M. HERMAN

Patron Rose Mattus of Haagen Daaz fame flanked by Sam Domb, Dr. Frager and Israeli Minister Yuval Steinitz at the 2002 concert

Dr. Manfred Lehmann, first chairman of concert, in 1995. At far left are Congressman Ben Gilman and Dr. Joe Frager

Artists who remained on stage, just moments after all of the concert’s star performers sang “United Jerusalem,” led by Zvika Bornstein (far left), musical director of the Concert, included (L-R) Elron Zabatani, Shloime Dachs, who also conducted his orchestra; Concert Chairman Dr. Paul Brody; Chazzan Yaakov Rosten; Gad Elbaz; Lipa Schmeltzer; Edon; Chaim Kiss; Nachas; Concert Organizer, Dr. Joseph Frager.

usic, it is said, is the key to the Soul. It is also the language of the Soul. The Israel Day Concerts in Central Park for the past 22 years have had a profound impact on the discourse, the conversation and the history of the State of Israel. There has been a major struggle for the Soul of the Jewish People both in Israel and the Diaspora for the past 22 years. The Concert was designed to help win the Soul of our People. Israel and America are stronger today because of it. Much still needs to be accomplished. On September 13, 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed and brought misery to the State of Israel. The State of Israel so much wanted peace that it bent over backwards to make a deal that subsequently has cost over a thousand lives and haunts all of us

to this very day. On December 13, 1993, the day that the Oslo Accords were to be implemented, Dr. Joseph Frager, along with a few others, organized a rally of over 5,000 people in Times Square to oppose its implementation. That was the largest rally of its kind in North America at the time. In order to maintain the momentum against the disaster that awaited, a Concert in Central Park was proposed. The actual idea came from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat. The financing came from Carl Freyer, of blessed memory, and his wife Sylvia. That was how it all began. Dr. Frager helped Gaby Goslan to organize the first Concert and has organized every one subsequently. People never like rallies but they always come out for concerts. General Ariel Sharon, who was the leading force in Israel against the Oslo

In 2003: PM Bibi Netanyahu with Dr. Joe Frager holding son Malkiel, age 8

Accords, was the Speaker at the first concert held in the spring of 1994. It was a huge success and eventually led to the Likud election victory of 1996. Dr. Manfred R. Lehmann z”l and Rose Mattus z”l were instrumental in making the concerts happen. Dr. Lehmann was the concert’s first chairman. Shlomo Carlebach z”l performed at the concert in 1994, not long before his passing. It was his last major performance. The Central Park Concerts have continued unabated since that time. The reason that a man like Carl Freyer z”l spent the last 20 years of his life spending literally millions of dollars fighting the forces that were trying to destroy the Soul of the Jewish People and America, and a man like Dr. Manfred Lehmann z”l, on his deathbed, spoke of the Concert in Central Park scheduled

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tunately, the traumatic and foolhardy move was made anyway but it sent a powerful message that can only help in the future to prevent recurrences. This year marks 10 years since the expulsion from Gush Katif and the he concert in Central Park Concert will focus to some degree on has featured and highthis terrible chapter of Israel’s history. lighted many important When eight innocent students of causes, many of which have been the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva were bruhistoric. When a young man saved tally murdered in 2008, the concert the records of Jews who were murwas there for them. It highlighted dered in the Holocaust from the their families’ plight and mourned incinerator by the Swiss Banks, their loss. Similarly and tragically, he spoke at the concert because it the concert this year will be dedicatwas the largest forum in the world In 2010: Standing L-R: Odeleya Jacobs, VP, World Committee for the Land of Israel; ed to the kidnapping and murder of for his public expression of why he Drora and Dr. Paul Brody, Chairpersons; Zev Brenner; Guest Speaker, MK Danny Danon, the three boys—Gilad Shaar, Naftali committed such a heroic action. He Deputy Speaker Knesset, Chairman, World Likud; Dr. Joseph Frager, Concert Organizer; Fraenkel, and, Eyal Yifrach Hy”d— was going to be jailed by the Swiss and Guest Speaker Michael Steele, Chairman,Republican National Committee (RNC). and to all others who died al kiddush but he was able to obtain asylum Seated are Sylvia and Carl Freyer, Concert Founders. The concert name is officially the Freyer Family Annual Israel Day Concert in Central Park, Dr. Manfred R. Lehmann Memorial Concert. Hashem. in the United States. He said the Dr. Lehmann was a noted activist and philanthropist for many Jewish causes. In 2009, Noam Shalit, the father movie on Oskar Schindler had a of Gilad Shalit, spoke to a crowd of profound influence upon him. It influenced him to save the records which turned out devoted Zionists in America. The Intifada of 2000, over 20,000 at the Concert in Central Park. He to be worth $1.25 billion for the surviving families. the assassination of Israeli Minister and General spoke from the heart and won over the crowd. He His name is Christoph Meili and he was brought to Rechavam Zeevi (“Gandi”) in Israel, and the 9/11 was not an observant man but he was a proud Jew, World Trade Center attacks were fresh on every- first and foremost, fighting for his son’s life. In Octhe concert by then-Senator Al D’Amato in 1997. Each year, the need for a large gathering to one’s minds at the Israel Day Concert in Central tober 2011, Gilad Shalit was finally freed. The concert may have helped immensely. It certainly helped send a message to the leaders in America and Is- Park that year. In 2005, the Concert in Central Park was dedi- unite the Jewish People so that a precious Jewish rael seem to be growing. In 2003, Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu was the Guest Speaker. The concert af- cated to preventing the expulsion of 10,000 Jews life could be saved. Our Sages have always said, “If forded Prime Minister Netanyahu with an oppor- from Gush Katif. It was one of the last major pro- you save one life you have saved the world.” Any tunity to reconnect with his base of supporters and tests against the so-called “Disengagement.” Unfor- time thousands of Jews unite, G-d takes action. The

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for a week later, is because these Giants of Men understood the importance of what could be achieved via a Concert with a Message.

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At the concert in 2013. (L-R): Popular radio host and concert MC Nachum Segal, Israel Day Concert Chairman Dr. Paul Brody, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister MK Danny Danon, Israel Day Concert organizer Dr. Joseph Frager

Performers and organizers of last year’s concert. Front row (L-R): Chazzan Yaakov Rosten, Chaim Kiss, rapper Ari Lesser, Lipa Schmeltzer, Gad Elbaz, Concert Chairman Dr. Paul Brody, and Benny Friedman. Back row (L-R) Shloime Dachs, Nachas, and Concert Organizer Dr. Joseph Frager

At the Israel Day Concert and Rally at Central Park’s Summer Stage last year (L-R): Odeleya Jacobs, media coordinator; ZOA President Mort Klein; Prof. Alan Dershowitz; Concert Organizer Dr. Joseph Frager; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Concert Chairman Dr. Paul Brody; Rabbi David Algaze, Havurat Yisrael; activist Dr. Alan Berger.

message is loud and clear. Every political figure in America is influenced by a massive show of support for Israel. The concert is exactly that. Although the world has turned a deaf ear to the plight of Jonathan Pollard, the Concert remains one of the major forums for his pardon and release. When the BDS (the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement began to infiltrate college campuses—and even the Celebrate Israel Parade—the Concert in Central Park was and is a bastion of strength against the movement. The concert will once again make it clear that the BDS movement against Israel has no place in America or anywhere in the world. The concert this year will also highlight the looming Iranian Crisis. With a “very bad deal” proposed for June 30, 2015, the concert will call for increasing sanctions and more aggressive action to prevent another “North Korea” (which now has at least six nuclear bombs already) in the middle of the hotbed of the Middle East.

he concert, organized by Dr. Joe and Karen Frager, will once again be chaired by Dr. Paul and Drora Brody, marking a decade of their creative and devoted chairmanship. The concert annually celebrates the Jewish People’s eternal bond with the undivided capital of Israel, Yerushalayim, and the heroic communities of Yehuda, Shomron, the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights. Presidential hopeful Governor Mike

At the concert in 2009. Dr. Joseph Frager, Organizer; Noam Shalit; Dr. Paul & Drora Brody, Chairpersons, with son Joey, age 9; Emcee Nachum Segal. The concert was dedicated to Gilad’s release.

Huckabee will keynote the event. This is the first time in 22 years that a presidential contender will be speaking at the Concert in Central Park. Governor Huckabee is one of Israel’s staunchest supporters and champions the right of Israelis to live and build anywhere in our Promised Land. Drs. Frager and Brody have personally witnessed Governor Huckabee’s unparalleled sincerity and commitment to the People and Land of Israel, having had the privilege of accompanying him to Israel on four occasions. Ambassador John Bolton, who is America’s leading expert on Iran, will also address the crowd which is expected to be between10-20,000 strong. Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, representing the recently formed Jewish Rapid Response Coalition who has served in many pro-Israel administrations, will highlight a rally planned for the summer to monitor and influence the vote regarding nuclear Iran in Congress. Minister of Science, Technology and Space MK Danny Danon will be sending a strong message at this year’s concert. ZOA President Morton Klein; RZA President Martin Oliner, who is also the Mayor of Lawrence, NY; Rabbi Shmuley Boteach; Chairman of the American Friends of Likud Ken Abramowitz; National Council of Young Israel President Farley Weiss; Rabbi David Algaze of Havurat Yisrael; Helen Freedman of AFSI, along with other prominent speakers will be featured. Wellknown politicians Assemblyman David Weprin and City Councilman Rory Lancman will also be

attending this year’s event. World famous musicians, led by musical producer Zvika Bornstein, include Alex Clare, Gad Elbaz, and Lipa Schmeltzer. A star-studded group of performers include Israeli stars Tal Vaknin, accompanied by pianist-extraordinaire Shlomi Aharoni, Mati Shriki, French singing stars Steve Lucas and Israel Alliel, complemented by American sensations Shloime Dachs, Avraham Rosenblum – accompanied by Ruby Harris, Izzy Kieffer, Heshy R and Sam Ramras – Chaim Kiss and young cantorial phenom Aryeh Pollack. Chazzan Jerry Markovitz will perform the Hatikva and the National Anthem. Shloime Dachs will lead the orchestra, as he has ably done for most of the past 10 years. Broadway Youth Ensemble and Born kids will also perform. Nachum Segal, once again, will be the Concert’s Emcee. Odeleya Jacobs is the Media Consultant.

he Concert is open to all who’d like to join and is free of charge. Join us this Sunday, May 31 from 2:30 to 7:30pm rain or shine at Central Park’s SummerStage (enter at 5th Avenue and 72nd Street). Come early, as there will be tight security. No large bags or backpacks will be allowed. One’s presence sends a message to all Americans who love Israel. Be seen and be heard. This year, more than ever, let your voices be heard! Your attendance and support help to ensure the survival of Israel and the Jewish People. “For the sake of Israel, dare not be silent!” 

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Health & Fitness

Aliza Beer, MS, RD

Healthy Cooking Oils

high smoke point makes this oil ith the large array of cookan excellent choice for baking and ing oil choices in the supersautéing. Most canola oil is very market, it is easy to be overrefined, which means it does not whelmed. Polyunsaturated fats—like have many antioxidants like olive canola, sunflower, and walnut oil—and oil, but it does have a relatively long monounsaturated fats—like olive oil and shelf life. Canola oil is extremely peanut oil—can help to improve blood versatile and can be used for cholesterol levels and reduce the risk sautéing, roasting, of heart disease. Satubaking, and making rated fats—like butter, salad dressings. margarine, and shorten• Walnut Oil: You will have a ing—have been linked This specialty oil to elevated cholesterol delicious meal is at a higher price levels and increase the point, but has a rich risk of heart disease. with the added nutty flavor and Let’s take a closer look contains omega-3 bonus of increased at some of these oils and fatty acids. Walnut the differences between oil, as with all nut health benefits. them. oils, has a short shelf • E x t r a - V i r g i n life, and can stay in Olive Oil: This a your refrigerator for monounsaturated up to 3 months. Best used in salad fat that is high in antioxidants called dressings or baked goods that would polyphenols that have been linked benefit from a light walnut flavor. to heart health. It is best used as a • Peanut Oil: The high smoke point drizzle on steamed vegetables, salad of peanut oil makes it a good choice dressing, or to sauté vegetables. for cooking over high heat. It • Canola Oil: Its neutral flavor and

contains heart-healthy phytosterols, essential plant fats known to lower cholesterol and inhibit cancer. It is best used for roasting or sautéing. • Sesame Oil: Essential to Asian cooking, sesame oil has a rich, nutty flavor. It is high in polyunsaturated fat and also contains magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, and vitamin B6. Sesame oil should never be heated for too long. Best used as part of a stir -fry or a salad dressing. • Avocado Oil: This oil has a mild nutty flavor, is very rich in monounsaturated fats, and is a good way to get vitamin E in our diets. It is great for frying due to it’s high smoking point and works well in dressings too. It can spoil easily so must be stored properly. • Coconut Oil: This oil is semi-

solid at room temperature and can last for months and years without going rancid. It is rich in a fatty acid called Lauric Acid, which can improve cholesterol and kill bacteria and other pathogens. The fats in coconut oil can also boost metabolism slightly and increase feelings of fullness compared to other fats. Make sure to choose virgin coconut oil; it’s organic and has powerful health benefits. All of these oils have benefits and work best for different uses. The most important thing to remember is to use oil sparingly, for too much of any “good” fat is still too much. Drizzle or spray on your veggies, fish, poultry, or salads, and you will have a delicious meal with the added bonus of increased health benefits. Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@ gmail.com.

Parenting Pearls

Bedtime Blues - Part II

THE JEWISH HOME

Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW

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ing the child to come out of bed is a mistake. The child quickly learns that bedtime is not really bedtime and will

As is usually the case when first implementing any new policy, be ready for it to become worse before it gets

Getting a good night’s sleep makes a tremendous difference in how we perform the following day.

not be ready to go to sleep even when going to bed. This is in contrast to a child who is trained that once Shema is said and the light is turned off their night is over.

That child will have a far easier time falling asleep because he knows it’s not negotiable. If the child does come out then we can begin decreasing certain privileges which the child enjoys. This can include keeping a nightlight on, keeping the door wide open, allowing the child to listen to a CD in bed, etc. When the child comes out of bed, the parent can shake their head sadly and reply, “How sad! Now we have to shut the CD.” If we are firm and consistent there will be no need for shouting, threatening, or lecturing. In fact, that’s the last thing we should do. When we shout or threaten, our child may become conditioned to completely tune us out. The other possibility is that it will cause the child to become nervous and his heart will beat faster, which is the opposite of what needs to occur for him to fall asleep.

better. In fact it’s helpful to remember that resistance usually means that what we are doing is working. Be prepared for strong resistance at the beginning, and only start the implementation when

you have the time and patience to deal with any resistance or testing. I would just add that as a rebbe and a principal, I can easily tell which of 

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my students don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. Of course there are times when events or situations occur that cause a child to go to sleep later than his/her usual bedtime. But there are some children who have the capability to learn and even the desire to learn, but cannot because they are so sluggish and tired from lack of sleep. One of the first halachos in Shulchan Aruch states that in the morning one should strengthen himself like a lion to perform the service of his Creator. A rebbe of mine used to quip that if one goes to sleep like a horse he won’t be able to wake up like a lion. Getting a good night’s sleep makes a tremendous difference in how we perform the following day. Being able to go to sleep is the first step towards getting a good night’s sleep. As previously mentioned, once you have set up a routine, your nights will be much smoother. Your child will also benefit tremendously from it, especially in getting the sleep he needs. Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is the Rabbi of Kehillat New Hempstead. He is also fifth grade Rebbe and Guidance Counselor in ASHAR in Monsey, and Principal of Mesivta Ohr Naftoli of New Windsor, NY, and a division head at Camp Dora Golding. Rabbi Staum offers parenting classes based on the acclaimed Love & Logic Program. He can be reached at stamtorah@gmail.com. His website is www.stamtorah.info.

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  

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n the last segment we discussed the need to set routines, especially in regards to bedtime. The more consistent the routine is the more a child will get used to following it. Of course most children will periodically test the system, but at that point generally a good dose of firmness will be sufficient. When a child is going to sleep it’s also important to ensure that there is as little noise as possible outside the child’s room. If there is a lot of action or conversations going on outside, the child will be tuned in to that noise and will have a hard time going to sleep. If it’s not possible to minimize outside noise for whatever reason, a storybook CD can be very helpful. If the CD contains stories of tzaddikim it has the added benefit of the child hearing a beautiful lesson just before drifting off for the night. Another possible alternative is to have a noise machine. These are relatively inexpensive and have different choices of pleasant sounds that can be used. In our home we used a noise machine for some of our children when they were toddlers. The challenge was on those rare occasions when the machine broke or we were away for Shabbos/Yom Tov and didn’t have the machine. It’s usually during such a situation when that child learned how to sleep without the machine, although it did cost us a few frustrating nights. Once a child goes to bed and has said Shema he/she should not be allowed to come out for any reason, with the obvious exception of an emergency. “But Mommy I have a major test tomorrow, and I’m going to fail!” “I’m sorry to hear that sheifalah; but now you need to go to sleep.” “I’m soooo thirsty. Please Mommy can’t I just run and get one more drink?” “No zeeskeit; we don’t come out of bed after bedtime.” It’s often very challenging to remain firm because it may feel wrong. It flies in the face of our motherly or fatherly instinct to coddle our young children and to give them what they want – especially when they are ready to go to sleep for the night. But allow-

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Forgotten Heroes Avi Heiligman

Taking to the Air

The Hindenburg Disaster

A blimp crew loading up for a flight during WWII

A WWII K class blimp flies anti-submarine escort duty over a convoy delivering supplies to European allies

A German observation balloon in WWI

he past few articles we have discussed heavy ties of reaching England with bombs. However, three topics such as large aircraft carriers, tanks and were lost in the opening months of the war as these bomber planes. On the opposite side of the spec- were easy targets. One Zeppelin, the L13, caused contrum, dirigibles, or anything lighter-than-air aircraft, siderable damage when it bombed London on Sephave been around for much longer. Hot air balloons tember 8, 1915. A year later British Lieutenant Wilhave been around since the 18th liam Leefe-Robinson was century and have been in battles awarded the Victoria Cross since the American Civil War. for being the first to down At one point they were thought a dirigible. During the war, to be the game changer on the the Germans were the first battlefield. That was until a mato discover the art of parajor disaster occurred and scienchuting using crude materitists switched their efforts into als to jump in the case of an furthering the advancement of emergency. airplanes. The basic difference benmanned barrage Ferdinand von Zeppelin. tween hot air balloons and balloons, commondirigibles is that balloons are ly known as blimps, unpowered and float through the air uncontrolled. Air- were deployed during WWII to thwart German misships, dirigibles, and Zeppelins move under their own siles and bombs. The only attack on the U.S. mainland power and use gas that’s lighter than air to gain lift. using these balloons was carried out by Japanese fire The idea of flying has been the dream for many inven- balloons that carried small bombs capable of starting tors for many centuries. The science behind balloons fires. These caused six deaths but overall were a minor and dirigibles is a bit complex although the hot air bal- nuisance to the North American war effort. Most of loon is considered the simplest of all flying machines. the balloons were blown out of harm’s way but some started forest fires in both the U.S. and Canada. ticking to the history of ballooning we begin A major problem to convoys crossing the Atlanwith two French brothers in 1783 who launched tic was German U-boats. Different ideas were used the first successful hot air balloon. Within a few to combat this and one method was to use manned years it became a worldwide phenomenon and in 1794 U.S. naval airships. They performed many patrols and the French even tried to use it to spy on enemy troop only one was lost in action. American airships during movements. The balloon, however, was too unstable WWII sit in relative obscurity in the annals of history and difficult to build, and it wasn’t until the Ameri- but were vital to the war effort. Goodyear produced can Civil War that it was used on a large scale. The over 150 of them and were equipped with anti-subballoons were able to reach an altitude of 1,000 feet marine and anti-mine capabilities. Only one ship unand used for reconnaissance. On very clear days the der the protection of airships was sunk by a U-boat. observers in the balloons were able to see a distance WWII was the end of airships and balloons being used of seven miles. Both sides used them and were used in in combat but new projects are on the horizon that may many campaigns and battles. A barge, the USS George see their return. Today airships and balloons are mainly used in Washington Parke Curtis, was used as a base for one commercial advertising and for recreational purposballoon making it the first aircraft carrier in history. es. In 2012, Felix Baumgartner took a balloon into the Using a flag system or telegraphs the soldiers in the stratosphere—128,000 feet above earth—and made a balloons relayed information to the commanders on the ground. freefall jump to terra firma setting a record for the highGerman officer Ferdinand von Zeppelin was in the est parachute jump. Military contractors are coming up U.S. to serve with the Union Army when he encoun- with new ideas to use balloons to resupply troops and tered a balloonist who gave him his first ride in the sky. possible as troop carriers. Some are sent up with the This gave him big ideas for a rigid airship that could purpose of collecting data such as weather informabe controlled in the air. The Zeppelin was first patented tion and intelligence. Balloons and dirigibles would in the 1890s and started to be used commercially in be cheaper to produce thereby making it feasible to 1910. These were in use for both civilian and military supplement helicopters which are the workhorses for flights until the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. The air- resupply missions. The pioneer of aviation proved to ship was the biggest in history and was supposed to be a game changer in many battles and changed the use non-flammable gases but instead used hydrogen. course of history. On May 6, 1937, it caught fire over Lakehurst, New Jersey, resulting in the death of 36 people. Germany soon retired her other Zeppelins and it was the end of Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions.for future colan era. The Hindenburg was the last in a long line of air- umns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com. ship explosions, many of which occurred during WWI. Germany had seven dirigibles which had the capabili-

Political Crossfire

You Want Hypotheticals? Here’s One

he current collapse was not predetermined in 2003 but in 2011. Isn’t that what should be asked of Hillary Clinton? We know you think the invasion of 2003 was a

As if the fall of Ramadi was predetermined then, as if the author of the current regional collapse is George W. Bush.

This is nonsense. The fact is that by the end of Bush’s tenure, the war had been won. You can argue that the price of that victory was too high. Fine. We can debate that until the end of time. But what is not debatable is that it was a victory. Bush bequeathed to Obama a success. By whose measure? By Obama’s. As he told the troops at Fort Bragg on December 14, 2011, “We are leaving behind a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people.” This was, said the president, a “moment of success.” Which Obama proceeded to fully squander. With the 2012 election approaching, he chose to liquidate our military presence in Iraq. We didn’t just withdraw our forces. We abandoned, destroyed or turned over our equipment, stores, installations and bases. We surrendered our most valuable strategic assets, such as control of Iraqi airspace, soon to become the indispensable conduit for Iran to supply and sustain the Assad regime in Syria and cement its influence all the way to the Mediterranean. And, most relevant to the fall of Ramadi, we abandoned the vast intelligence network we had so painstakingly constructed in Anbar province, without which our current patchwork operations there are largely blind and correspondingly feeble.

mistake. But what about the abandonment of 2011? Was that not a mistake? Mme. Secretary: When you arrived at State, al-Qaeda in Iraq had been crushed and expelled from Anbar. The Iraqi government had from Basra to Sadr City fought and defeated the radical, Iranian-proxy Shiite militias. Yet today these militias are back, once again dominating Baghdad. On your watch, we gave up our position as the dominant influence over a “sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq” – forfeiting that position gratuitously to Iran. Was that not a mistake? And where were

you when it was made? Iraq is now a battlefield between the Sunni jihadists of the Islamic State and the Shiite jihadists of Iran’s Islamic Republic. There is no viable center. We abandoned it. The Obama administration’s unilateral pullout created a vacuum for the entry of the worst of the worst. And the damage was self-inflicted. The current situation in Iraq, says David Petraeus, “is tragic foremost because it didn’t have to turn out this way. The hard-earned progress of the surge was sustained for over three years.” Do the math. That’s 2009 through 2011, the first three Obama years. And then came the unraveling. When?

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First, the question Is not just a hypothetical, but an inherently impossible hypothetical. It contradicts itself. Had we known there were no weapons of mass destruction, the very question would not have arisen. The premise of the war – the basis for going to the U.N., to the Congress and, indeed, to the nation – was Iraq’s possession of WMD in violation of the central condition for the cease-fire that ended the first Gulf War. No WMD, no hypothetical to answer in the first place. Second, the “if you knew then” question implicitly locates the origin

and cause of the current disasters in 2003. As if the fall of Ramadi was predetermined then, as if the author of the current regional collapse is George W. Bush.

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amadi falls. The Iraqi army flees. The great 60-nation anti-Islamic State coalition so grandly proclaimed by the Obama administration is nowhere to be seen. Instead, it’s the defense minister of Iran who flies into Baghdad, an unsubtle demonstration of who’s in charge – while the U.S. air campaign proves futile and America’s alleged strategy for combating the Islamic State is in freefall. It gets worse. The Gulf States’ top leaders, betrayed and bitter, ostentatiously boycott President Obama’s failed Camp David summit. “We were America’s best friend in the Arab world for 50 years,” laments Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief. Note: “were,” not “are.” We are scraping bottom. Following six years of President Obama’s steady and determined withdrawal from the Middle East, America’s standing in the region has collapsed. And yet the question incessantly asked of the various presidential candidates is not about that. It’s a retrospective hypothetical: Would you have invaded Iraq in 2003 if you had known then what we know now?

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Charles Krauthammer

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Notable Quotes

91 Compiled by Nate Davis

“Say What?” If I had come out the day after the Bridge-gate thing was announced and said, “By the way, all my emails are on a private server and I deleted a whole bunch of them and I destroyed the server. But you need to take my word for it, the emails had nothing to do with the bridge stuff,” can you only imagine what the reaction would’ve been? Yet today we don’t talk about the email situation with Secretary Clinton anymore. It’s like it went away. So I do believe that there is an absolute bias and a rush to judgment. – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie discussing the media’s favoritism towards Hillary Clinton when it comes to Benghazi Hillary Clinton is trying to get the young vote. She’s doing her best to win over millennials. Hillary’s telling millennials if all goes well, she too plans to move back into the home where she lived in the 1990s. – Conan O’Brien Hillary Clinton’s war in Libya has made us less safe. It made it a hotbed for jihadists, and, in fact, I think Libya now is a jihadist wonderland. - 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul (R-Ky.), during a radio interview President Obama broke a world record after he reached a million followers on Twitter in just five hours. The only guys not following Obama? His Secret Service agents. They lost track months ago. – Jimmy Fallon

Chelsea Clinton has written a children’s book titled “It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going.” It’s a great book to read to your workaholic toddler. – Seth Myers

President Obama finally has his own personal Twitter account. Even John McCain said, “Welcome to the Internet, grandpa.” - Jimmy Fallon Let me express our sincere gratitude to the government of Israel and to the people of Israel for helping us in times of very critical hours for Nepal. - Nepal’s Urban Development Minister Narayan Khadka expressing his government’s gratitude to Israel for its help

A Starbucks employee has been fired after being caught on video berating a customer. Luckily someone quickly calmed him down with a nearby Josh Groban CD. – Conan O’Brien

I love my brother, and people are just going to have to get over that. - Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush at a round-table event in New Hampshire

According to a new report, e-cigarette flavors have different effects on lungs, with hot cinnamon, banana pudding, and menthol causing the most irritation. But how will I feel like a man without my banana puddingflavored e-cigarette? – Seth Myers

Evidence shows that the difference between those who get bedtime stories and those who don’t – the difference in their life chances – is bigger than the difference between those who get elite private schooling and those that don’t. This devilish twist of evidence surely leads to a further conclusion that perhaps – in the interests of leveling the playing field – bedtime stories should also be restricted. - Harvard trained Professor Adam Swift of University Warwick in the U.K. and the co-author of “Family Values: The Ethics of Parent-Child Relationships,” positing in an article that reading to your children unfairly disadvantages unprivileged children and may therefore be unethical

A new poll found that almost 70 percent of voters say that whoever our next president is, they must have political experience. You know, because it would be rude to say, “Anyone but Donald Trump.” - Jimmy Fallon Three Southwest Airlines baggage handlers are accused of smuggling drugs in luggage. The officials became suspicious when every single one of the Southwest bags made it to its destination. – Conan O’Brien KFC is planning to bring back Colonel Sanders. Because if there’s one thing that will bring Americans together today, it’s an old guy dressed like a plantation owner. – Conan O’Brien

He’s a very sensitive guy, has law degrees from Yale, Harvard and Stanford. I think he’ll be able to represent me. - Charles Abbott, who was arrested for fighting with his roommate in Aspen, CO, after placing a stuffed owl on the defense table and informing the judge that the stuffed owl would serve as his defense attorney

MORE QUOTES

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92 92

According to a recent study, 61 percent of American drivers text while driving, 33 percent email while driving, and 17 percent take selfies. And 20 percent of drivers use Facebook while driving. There is nothing on Facebook you need to see even when you aren’t driving. – Jimmy Kimmel Don’t pretend you’re not one of these people. When I pull up to an intersection, every person is doing these things. We need those driverless cars now before we all die. – Ibid. Police arrested a man on Long Island yesterday after he stripped naked and threatened Costco customers with a machete. Luckily, Costco customers were able to subdue him with a 50-pack of paper towels. - Seth Myers

As a newspaper, you [The New York Times] should know your place … Who are you? Could you say something like this to the U.S. administration? - Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressing a critical New York Times editorial during a speech in Turkey

Please accept this cake as formal (and delicious) notice of my resignation from the position of Newscast Director at KOLD News 13. My last day of employment will be Friday, May 22nd. - Text on a cake that Mark Herman, a newscast director at KOLD-TV, brought into work to inform his colleagues of his resignation

This character like Rubio made a total fool of himself on Chris Wallace’s program, talking about we were better off without Saddam Hussein. Give me a break. Right now we have ISIS, which is worse than Hussein. Hussein did one thing: he killed terrorists. We are in worse shape than we ever were. It’s a mess. - Donald Trump on Fox news

I was surprised to hear this. Hillary Clinton’s Super PAC has reportedly been struggling to raise money. It’s gotten so bad, they may have to start reaching out to Americans. – Seth Myers Who should we contact in case you become a martyr? - A recently declassified questionnaire for al-Qaeda recruits found among papers at Osama bin Laden’s hideout

MORE QUOTES

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MAY 28, 2015

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MAY 28, 2015

Earlier this week, I was actually interviewed by one of your members, Jeff Goldberg. Jeff reminded me he once called me the first Jewish president. Now, since some people still seem to be wondering about my faith, I should make clear this is an honorary title, but I was flattered. And as an honorary member of the tribe not to mention somebody who has hosted 7 White House seders and has been advised by two Jewish chiefs of staff, I can also say that I am probably getting a little bit of the hang of the lingo. But I will not use any of the Yiddishisms that Rahm Emanuel taught me because I want to be invited back. Let’s just say he had some creative synonyms for shalom. - President Obama speaking at the Adas Israel synagogue in Washington, D.C., in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month

The government released hundreds of documents seized from Osama bin Laden’s compound. Among the items is a job application for al-Qaeda. It’s like a regular job application except it asks questions like, “Where do you see yourself exploding in the next five years?” – Jimmy Kimmel

I need 150,000 bands right NOW!! Please. Police take 3 to 4 minutes to get here. I would appreciate if you ring the alarm a minute after I am gone. – The note which Dominyk Antonio Alfonseca, 23, of Virginia, handed over during a bank robbery. He claims that it proves that he didn’t “rob a bank” last week; he just “asked nicely” for them to give him money. (The judge denied his bail request)

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You are an angel of peace. – The Pope upon greeting PA President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican

She would also like us to set the record straight for her: Brady is innocent!! – Part of the obituary of 72-year-old Patricia Shong of Massachusetts, who died last week and was evidently a big Tom Brady fan

I’d like to see a job interview for al-Qaeda: “I see you spent eight years hating the great devil of the West. Can you tell me more?” – Ibid To join al-Qaeda, you must be willing to die in the name of Allah and be proficient at Microsoft XL. – Ibid. How bad must it feel to not get the job with al-Qaeda. “We don’t feel you are right for the job at this time.” - Ibid.

95 THE JEWISH HOME 

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Sunday, June 21st (4th of Tammuz, 5775) Young Israel of Wavecrest & Bayswater - 2716 Healy Avenue, Far Rockaway

Men and Women Invited to Attend

• Weekly Parsha-based newsletters to promote Shalom Bayis • Sun/T/Th Shalom Bayis Hotline for therapy referrals and basic Q&A 9:30-11pm • Dial in Shalom Bayis Inpspiration Line new daily • Community-wide programming • Financial assistance for those in need requiring therapy

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97 THE JEWISH HOME 

MAY 28, 2015

THE JEWISH HOME

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ery list of the skills that employers value the most. They are used every single day. They affect almost every task that an employee takes on. Yet in the hiring

high school students about improving their chances of finding good jobs in a competitive economy. They were concerned about their lack of actual

No matter the field, the most successful people are not necessarily the ones with the strongest resume. process, and especially on the resume, they are very hard to nail down. Almost every client brings me a resume that starts with a personal statement that focuses on these skills. “A team player, able to work with all kinds of people, yada, yada….” And I always scratch it out. Because as I learned growing up Down South, “Sayin’ so doesn’t make it so…” Saying that you are skilled in some way is completely meaningless. If you want to convince an employer that you have these vital

work experience, and they didn’t see any way to connect the volunteer and organizational work they had done to their future careers. For example, one young man has been a cook in a Jewish summer camp, and he hopes to be a lawyer one day. Why would a potential employer care if a lawyer knows how to scramble eggs for 100? I asked this fellow to describe the work he performed in detail. “I woke up every morning at 3 AM to start working on breakfast, except Fridays at

skills you need to cite specific accomplishments, whether in your work history or some other area of your life, which illustrate how you performed, reflecting the way that you used these skills. Be specific about your contribution and what were the results. How much more was accomplished compared to last year? As compared to your stated goal? Be prepared to tell a short story about your contribution, highlighting the skills you used. I recently spoke to a group of

2AM so I could also work on Shabbos meals. I planned the menus, assigned jobs to the younger cooks, taught them how to prepare new dishes, and served the meals on schedule.” With a little prodding, he admitted that the kitchen didn’t always have the best equipment, and the supplies weren’t always exactly right, so there was a lot of improvisation needed to get the job done, and often under pretty high pressure, like a large bunch of hungry teenagers who want breakfast on time.

I told this near miracle worker that I wanted to review his story to see the skills that he had demonstrated. He had accepted responsibility to manage a project that had to be delivered on schedule every day, he had trained and supervised younger workers, he had planned for the longer term and coordinated those plans with other concerned parties, he had improvised when necessary, and consistently met deadlines under pressure. It became clear to him that there was a lot more than breakfast going on there, and if he would explain his accomplishments properly, he could make a very strong case that he had a lot of experience that would be very valuable indeed. Clients often ask me if their resume should include their community service or other outside interests. Should they mention “Hatzalah volunteer”? “Yeshiva board member”? It depends. If the potential employer shares those interests, then yes. If the volunteer work is similar to the job being sought, definitely, yes. But the most important step is to think about the transferrable skills that are being used, and what accomplishments have resulted from that work. Telling stories in which these “people skills” played a role enables an employer to understand the full impact that his new hire will have on his business. Since these skills are not taught in classrooms, many people believe they are innate, a gift that some people have and most don’t. The truth is that while they can’t be taught, they can be learned. Taking on responsibilities, assuming leadership in something that others depend on, stretching yourself in ways that are unfamiliar, even a little scary—all of these build real skills that lead to really great jobs.

Rabbi Mordechai Kruger is the Director of Pathways to Parnassa, an organization dedicated to educating our community in all aspects of career choice and job search. Individual coaching is available. He can be reached at myparnassa@gmail.com.

MAY 28, 2015

ave you ever wasted a good worry? That’s when you have spent a lot of time worrying about something, churning out stomach acid like crazy, and in the end, it didn’t matter. A wasted worry. Happens all the time. Many job hunters waste a lot more than a worry. They want to succeed in their chosen field, so they put enormous time, money and effort into traveling the road that they are sure will lead to success. Get into Harvard and graduate #1 in the class. Find an internship with a white-shoe firm. Pay a small ransom to get a snazzy resume. A bigger ransom to get prepped for the interview. Land the job, work like a dog, and end up second fiddle to a guy who went to Brooklyn College. How can that be? Could all that effort be wasted? Well, not completely wasted, but not nearly as important as you might think. It is true that mastering the skill set for your chosen field and getting some experience will help you get the job you want. Clearly delineating those skills and what you have accomplished in your past work will definitely catch an employer’s eye. But as the years go by, no matter the field, the most successful people are not necessarily the ones with the strongest resume. Simply put, the #1 graduate does not necessarily become the best doctor, lawyer, or businessman. Because, as studies have found repeatedly—and in every field—there are other factors that matter far more than expertise. There are skills that aren’t taught in any college, yet they are needed in every field, and successful people always have them. Because they can be important in any field, together they are known as transferrable skills. Transferrable skills relate to all the things that happen every day between co-workers. Working with a team, showing leadership, delegating responsibilities, critical thinking, insightful analysis, making decisions at the end of a clear and thoughtful process, and being able to write and speak words that are informative, respectful, and honest—all of these appear on ev-

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What Should You Really Be Worrying About?

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Rabbi Mordechai Kruger

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Life Coach

101

You are What You Eat

from the way we speak to our spouses, our children, our friends. We can gauge their reactions to what we say and how we say it and if there’s a disconnect, try to do better next time. We can even venture to ask, “Hey, I don’t think you took that too well. Is there a better way I can express myself or a better time to discuss this?”

Maybe night isn’t even the best time! After all, we are worn out, tired, overworked, falling asleep, one eye hanging down half closed. Maybe daytime or weekends would work better! But the important message is don’t wait a whole year to spend those moments pushing yourself to stay up all night. In fact, forget the

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com

MAY 28, 2015

You don’t need to wait till a whole other year goes by to keep that growth going.

all night. Pushing yourself is the real message. We’ve got like a whole year now till the next time we are encouraged to make a night of it. But there are plenty of days in between. You’re no vampire anyway! (I’m assuming!) So use your days wisely. Work on eating right so that your body thrives and learning and doing right so that you and the people in your world around you thrive! Basically, you are a victim of the things that come into you. And everyone else around is a victim of the things that come out of you. So...FIFO your LIFO. Make it: Fine In, Fine Out! It’s much better than: Litter In, Filth Out!

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K, true. You are a little bit more than just what you eat. You’ve got a face, a body, internal organs, kishkas—whatever those are! But you do keep yourself growing and healthy by what you eat and put into you! And it’s also true that you are what you learn. OK, true. You are a little more than just what you learn –- or are you? Nope, I think maybe we are just the sum total of what we learn each day! Every Shavuos you have the opportunity to start off anew. You hit the 50th day of self-work and you have re-celebrated receiving the best “how to for life” book out there. Now it’s a few days after Shavuos and guess what? You don’t need to wait till a whole other year goes by to keep that growth going, to learn all night. We can learn every night—just

THE JEWISH HOME

Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

THE JEWISH HOME

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MAY 28, 2015

102

Your Money

Allan J. Rolnick, CPA

The Original Tax “Shelter”

ew York City is the indisputable hub of American capitalism. Its glittering streets are home to the worlds of finance, advertising, fashion, publishing, and even organized crime. The island of Manhattan is home to some of the richest people on the planet, and they own some of its priciest real estate in the world. You would think all those rich people living in all those expensive apartments would keep the tax collectors satisfied. But in fact, the oceans of money sloshing ashore are managing to bypass some of the most obvious tax tollbooths. A generation ago, New York’s boldfaced names dreamed of living in what Tom Wolfe called the “Good Buildings” — a triangle of 42 limestone coops centered on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Today, plenty of plutocrats have more than enough cash to afford those buildings. But what if their blood isn’t blue enough for the famously snooty boards of directors? Well, if you’re an internationally ambitious Russian car dealer, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback with a penchant for underinflated balls, or the son of a deposed African dictator, you turn your gaze south and west to “Billionaire’s Row,” a stretch of super-tall, super-expensive condominiums mostly lying along 57th Street. In January, a mystery buyer made

real estate history when he bought a shiny new apartment in a shiny new building for $100,471,452. And 77 cents. (Not a typo.) Sure, he gets 11,000 square feet overlooking Central Park from the

Section 421-a, and it slashes property taxes for new construction by up to 95% for up to 25 years, if developers agree to also build homes for low-income tenants. (Of course, that doesn’t mean

A mystery buyer made real estate history when he bought a shiny new apartment in a shiny new building for $100,471,452. And 77 cents. 89th and 90th floors. There’s even room service from the Michelin-starred chef at the Park Hyatt hotel occupying the building’s first 25 floors. But it’s not like the place is special or anything. Just down the street, the developers of 111 57th Street are asking the same $100 million for their top units. And right around the corner, the developers of 520 Park Avenue are asking $130 million for their three-story penthouse. (Can you imagine how unbearably proletarian it must feel to live 1,000 feet above the street on the 84th floor, but know there’s someone even richer living right upstairs?) Why are the tax collectors so unhappy? It mainly comes down to a dense provision of New York State law. It’s called

the “poorsies” get to overlook Central Park with the billionaires — the developers of the record-breaking condo underwrote 66 units way out in the Bronx.) So, just how much can that break be worth? In the case of that $100 million sale, it’s $360,000 per year, with Section 421-a costing over $1 billion in annual tax overall. Why would New York pass such a boondoggle in the first place? The goal is to lure rich residents to “make it rain” in local stores and restaurants. But it turns

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out the average billionaire owns 10 residences — and if you’ve got 10 places to live, how much time do you spend at any one of them? Foreign buyers, especially, are using their New York City pads as glass-and-concrete Swiss bank accounts rather than homes. One study found that 30% of all apartments bounded by 49th Street, Park Avenue, 70th Street, and Fifth Avenue are vacant at least 10 months out of the year. Oh, well. At least if it all hits the fan back home, owners will have part of their fortune safely beyond the new regime’s reach. Lawmakers have naturally reacted with plans to make up the taxes they’re leaving on the table. Some have pro-

posed eliminating Section 421-a entirely; others call for nonresident taxes on empty apartments. Unfortunately, the heads of New York’s State Assembly and Senate are both under indictment right now, which has pretty much ground the legislature to a halt. In fact, part of the case against Senate leader Dean Skelos involves accusations that he voted to give 421-a breaks to a developer who employed his son. It looks like we shouldn’t expect the law to change anytime soon. The new breed of high-end Manhattan condo buyers may not be seeking the same “shelter” that you or I get from our homes. But who can blame them for looking at the tax laws and planning to pay less? That part is the same. So start to plan now; it should be year-round endeavor to help you save come April 15.

Thank you to our Corporate Underwriters and Food Sponsors as of May 22, 2015

Kulanu is a non profit organization serving children with disabilities in our community.

To Volunteer Email MichelleSulzberger@gmail.com Or Call 516-569-3083 ext.106

www.kulanukids.org

To Become A Sponsor Email Rachael@kulanukids.org or Call 516-569-3083 ext. 106

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@ aol.com.

Proceeds to Benefit:

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PRESENTS

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