Five Towns Jewish Home - 12-26-19 by The Jewish Home

December 25, 2019

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Passover Vacation Section Starts on page 107

Around the

Community

71 Passing Down the Mesorah

71 Preparing for Chanukah Around Town

Your Chanukah Photo Book

S34 PAGE 9

TJH Chanukah Supplement Inside

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

ZEIDY STRUCK G O L D AT G R A N D E L L .

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Per

New from

fect g Mordechai W i f t a Fresh L the S to marTakes iyum Hak Shas!

Enrich and enhance your Talmud study with this unique and fascinating new volume! COMPLETE YOUR SCHOTTENSTEIN TALMUD SET

‫ ג‬

Rav Gidal — ‫ידּל‬ ֵ ִ‫�רב ג‬

On their way back, the monkey escaped and climbed down a hole in the ground. When they dug around 1 the hole to retrieve the monkey, they found that it was crouching atop a pile of pearls. Taking this as an act of Divine Providence, the sailors brought Rav Gamda all the pearls.

av Gidal’s primary teacher was Rav. He also studied under Shmuel. When Rav Huna* was appointed as Rosh Yeshivah after the passing of joined many of their students these two giants, Rav Gidal to study under him. It appears that at some point he also Rabban Gamliel The Elder travelled to Eretz Yisrael to study under R’ Yochanan.* Tanna / Eretz Yisrael One of Rav Gidal’s colleague s A Tanna who served as entry for an incident involving was R’ Abba.* [See R’ Abba’s Nasi in the waning days both of them.] of He is mentioned many the Second Temple. times in the Talmud, most often when citing a teaching in the name of Rav, often citing Rav Chiya bar Yosef in the abban Gamliel was the name of Rav. His faithfulne grandson of the famous transmitting Rav’s teachings Tanna ss in Hillel (the Elder),* who founded a line of illustriou is described in the following exchange: s Torah scholars and Nesiim. He lived during the last century of the Second Temple (Shabbos They asked Rav Gidal: 15a). He assumed the Did Rav really say what position you of Nasi [head of the Sanhedrin (High claim he said? He replied: Court)] following the [I swear] by the Torah, the passing of his father, Rabban Shimon Prophets, and the Writings I* (son of Hillel), and that Rav did say this! he served in that d the institu(Eruvin 17a). capacity for nearly forty years (Sifrei, Vezos reestablishe ylonia. In HaBerachah). In the ia quickly Talmud he is usually The Talmud relates that in Bab to Babylon called Rabban he used to sit at the entrance Gamliel “the Elder” to flourished ish exiles who went the women’s mikveh in distinguish him from to time Torah order to instruct them ple, the Jew his grandson, y of those in a short in the proper Rabban Gamliel II of Yavneh* (see Tosafos First Tem hem, man method of immersion. with , ah Sages. the Has eed of by t s to Ind ion Because of his great Niddah 6b). nes ruct e grea Tor His contemporaries included Torah. piety, he was ud not concerned that he R’ Yishmael the Kohen of great kind King Yechoniah, wer fter the dest studying would have any improper by the Talm Gadol,* as an act hing and thoughts Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai,* and Shmuel (Berachos 20a). explained along with retrospect tions for teac HaKatan.* Mordechai. gs 24:14, as be seen in and the Temple, Kin of iel, (II only Among Rav Gidal’s lessons: d ion ruct keepers His son was Rabban Shimon kiel), Dan estabWhen one states a teaching what coul re the dest s and gate ben Gamliel II,* who succeeded hezkel (Eze ylonia, where they the name of he who said befo san in rs Yec arti yea het the his , en father as Nasi until he it, he should envision the prop ‫ֶה ָח �ר‬ d and of Bab was murdered by the Romans, author of that teaching as if he were into exile elev rred to as ‫שׁ וְ �ה �מּ ְסגֵּ ר‬ warts as the ea district was destroye iah stal and ard standing before him [and that his such son-in-law Neh e refe gue was R’ Shimon ben Nesanel wer thus the Family lesson will be taught with synago g Yechon led in the They were ong them (Tosefta greater clarity and faithfulne Avodah Zarah 3:3), one wn as “the built by Kin of exiles sett rin 38a). Am when the source], as the verse ss to dents of the five primary stufirst wave [1] One of these was kno this synagogue was in Sanhed states (Psalms 39:7): Only ael. Thus, of Rabban Yochanan ben bers of this with an that image [of his teacher] Eretz Yisr Zakkai. His grandson Rabban ning. revitalize should a person proceed Gamliel II merited to see ) explains Many mem them from Torah lear them and (Yerushalmi and study under his grandfath Shekalim 2:5). 29a ‫ ד“ה דשף‬h they brought with t houses of y to receive er. (Megillah lished grea itutions read es and eart ea.” Rashi Several practices of Rabban using ston y of the in Nehard d Torah inst Gamliel and his family, ea, ilt orit foun ard maj rebu they Neh as related r, to the Temple and its urage in Temple, the service, are recorded by years late groups of the Mishnah. and his ento exiles came eleven d the Second es to large Rav Gamda — ael to buil the Unique Customs To ensure that their annual halfgreat Sag of Reish the bulk of to Eretz Yisr be taught there by statement shekel contribution was Amora / Babylonia community. s returned d to cated in a actually used to buy Temple offerings, came up from many Jew the forlorn ah continue period is clearly indi the members of Rabban A student of Rava,* who ael, Ezra r Ezra and ia, and Tor was one of the leading sages Gamliel’s household would hold oil in the Even afte in Eretz Yisr during this in Babylon back their contributions tical turm in the time of Rav Ashi.* poli forgotten ian Sages remained until just berfore the withdrawal was and ple ylon was peo ah Bab military [in the afte made, and then would of the Jewish the Tor enter the chamber where the shekalim [due to the greatness es, when n yet again in tim otte The . aga it.” It is forg n ient ents were kept, each with his halfstud ittle is known about Rav “In anc forgotte tablished n it was shekel between his fingers. Gamda, other than that en it was ccah 20a): it, and whe his sons rees They would throw tablished he was a of shekalim colleague of Ameimar,* Lakish (Su tablished ished it. Wh Chiya and Mar Zutra,* and Rav Ashi.* hedrin rees in front of the Kohen performin it onto the pile and reestabl ian came up and rees hba revolution] R’ generally mentioned when He is and he g the withdrawal, t and the San buil Babylonia Koc would then push it from citing a teaching of Rava. ylon was the Bar the pile into the basket We are told that Rav el the Bab ond Temple level. leaders he was filling (Shekalim that Gamda became wealthy, that followed Land], Hill after the Sec ylonia at a very high great Torah 3:3). The members of his and the would Talmud (Nedarim 50b) devastation the that even household of Ezra, the describes how this came also bow in fourteen different math of the h Lakish’s account not assume [2] about: rished in Bab Yisrael in the days places in the Temple Sages did Rav Gamda once gave complex, instead of the Reis larship flou tz Yisrael. some money to some sailors thirteen that the rest of d in Eretz Babylonian clear from Torah scho the populace emy in Ere who bowed. The extra bow were setting out on a reestablishe es of Eretz Yisrael. tz Yisrael, journey, main acad was facing the chamber tioned in hedrin was itself in Ere used to store that func something on their expedition asking them to buy him wood for the Altar’s heads of the and the Sag ivta the once the San rin , to Mes fires, because Rabban n hed . However, the sailors ever give ia, the How Gamliel’s family the San did had a tradition from not find anything appropria ivta, the title and Babylon deferred to their ancestors that the Mes te on their voyage. Finally, ia “The ael the ylon ws: of Yisr Holy [3] they used the money to Ark was hidden there in undergro in Bab Eretz , Heads ) as follo buy Rav Gamda a monkey. und chambers beneath 5, p. 166 hei Mesivta ivos in both others. its floor[1] (6:1 there). title of Res nim (Volume e other yesh shed above the

‫יאל �הזָּ ֵקן‬ ֵ ִ‫�ר ָבּן �גּ ְמל‬

Yeshivos a ry of the Babyloni � A Histo srael and in Eretz Yi

srael in Eretz Yi and Babylonia l Mesivta el The centra ing in Eretz Yisra Learn of es us and the Ho

‫�רב גַ ְּמ ָדּא‬

1. The Holy Ark (Aron HaKodesh) was not present Temple. It had been in the Second hidden toward the end of the First Temple era by King Yoshiyahu (Josiah), who was informed ecy that the Temple would by prophsoon be destroyed by the Babylonians. To

prevent the Ark (which contained the Tablets of the Ten Commandments) from falling into foreign hands, the that it be hidden in king commanded underground chambers beneath the Temple (Rav).

Interview with Morde author of Momentum

Question: What motiva

MW: As a therapist and on my rad repeatedly. One very prevalent one working toward goals in life feel ad next. But most people don’t start o these are in the areas of spirituality care of their health. When people with a sense of purpose.

At some point, however, they hit a therapy is spent helping people to This is the concept I wanted to put when something is in motion. It’s t overcome the obstacles. The enem

Amora / Eretz Yisrael, Babylonia A second-generation Amora, who was a student of Rav* and Shmuel.*

publi d out there wer os HaRisho tz and was hedrin stoo Although thick volribed in Dor vy Rabinowi with the San shed in four t that it Isaac HaLe ion is desc nally publi R’ Yitzchak collaboration ess of this institut ge, excep . It was origi written by es. All without chan and 1918 l in 1967 The uniquen in eight volum h was between 1897 nted in Israe reprinted repri acuwas later e set, whic 1). rn-day vern umes. It was volumes. It are to the six-volum Gaon (VII, in the mode school-age stuthe Talmud. ed into six Rav Sherira 1). While section was divid Edition of 1. Iggeres Gaon (VII, ivah for high ttenstein ences in this of Torah Rav Sherira is applied to any yesh the central house volume refer the notes to the Scho 2. Iggeres in sively for “Mesivta” le. the one used used exclu for the entire peop lar the term gs of books was nally it was set rulin origi , h This Tora dents im: h issued s HaRishon learning whic ences to Doro refer t abou 3. A note

Does the book provide losing motivation?

MW: This book’s overall message Hashem’s plan, like a force of natu tests that the Avos had to overcom that it’s not supposed to be easy, s to be?” Why do we think Hashem experiencing the normal process o

Most of our obstacles come from insid said, “For every action, there’s an equ inner voice of opposition will shout its

My best analogy for this is driving a ca

the window, you’ll barely feel the w AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZESout hand very hard. So if you don’t have m

through at 25 miles per hour. But whe by a whole host of inner voices asking so forth. If you learn to expect this, yo

e study the Talmud, poring over its pages, cherishing its every word. But do we know very much about its background? In this beautiful volume, we will enrich and enhance the experience of learning Talmud with so much vital information! Available at your local Hebrew bookseller or at www.artscroll.com • 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724) Includes writings on Over 250 biographies of Tannaim and Amoraim and Talmudic personalities. A narrative history of the era of the Mishnah and Talmud, including a history of the Yeshivos. Major Rabbinic works describing the transmission of the Oral Law and the compilation of the Mishnah and Talmud: Rambam’s Introduction to Yad Chazakah and to his Commentary on the Mishnah, with both Hebrew text and English translation, and explanatory notes. The Iggeres Rav Sherira Gaon in the original Aramaic, with English translation, and explanatory notes. The 13 Middos and other rules by which the Written Torah is expounded, with clear examples of each one. What is the Oral Law and what is its relationship to the Written Torah? A description of the layout of the classic Gemara page. A history of the printing of the Talmud.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

eople who don’t know about Chanukah can’t imagine that there can be eight nights of celebrations. And even with eight nights of Chanukah, we manage to “overbook” our parties and events. It seems like there’s so much excitement and connection over the many days that we want to cram them all in – just like those doughnuts we manage to consume over the holiday. At least on one night of Chanukah I like to just “be.” I like to spend time with the family around the menorah, singing and dancing. I like to enjoy a relaxed meal with a special Chanukah treat, play dreidel, and partake in a Chanukah-themed activity. We talk about what the kids learned in school, appreciating the give-and-take between them when it comes to the Chanukah story. There’s a certain coziness that comes with bringing the celebrations into our home, connecting with each other on a familiar, intimate level. In Rabbi Daniel Glatstein’s article this week, he writes about how the miracle of the oil on Chanukah was a kiss from Hashem – a gift showing us an outpouring of His love. It wasn’t nec-

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essary for us to use pure, kosher oil for the Menorah after the battle of the Chashmonaim was won. But we wanted to inaugurate the Bais Hamikdash in a pure, wholesome way – more than what was required. And Hashem, showing His love for us, lit up our lives. Each day – each extra moment that the oil was burning – was a hug, an embrace from our Creator. The way we celebrate Chanukah, in some way, manifests itself in commemoration of that love. True, there aren’t many mitzvos we have to keep on Chanukah, but we add on celebrations and events to show our excitement for the mitzvos and an outpouring of appreciation for the love that was exhibited millennia ago. We pile on singing and dancing; exuberant songs of Hallel and seudos overflowing with friends and family fill our days and nights. For more than a week, we revel in the love that we saw at the time of the Chashmonaim and that has continued to embrace us b’yamim ha’haim b’zman ha’zeh. Wishing you a continued freilechen Chanukah, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

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December 27– January 2

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

TJH Readers Chanukah Around Town

S34

NEWS

112

Global

National

Odd-but-True Stories

ISRAEL Liquid Gold by Rafi Sackville Israel News

My Israel Home

S12 28 92

Remembering the Mount Carmel Chanukah Forest Fire by Tzvi Leff 94 JEWISH THOUGHT The World That Is or the World That Could Be by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Chanukah: A Kiss from Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

How the Gulag Judge Lit the Menorah by Asharon Baltazar Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

S16 86

PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

Divebombing During the Battle of Midway by Avi Heiligman

126

HEALTH & FITNESS Confident Parenting by Dr. Hylton I. Lightman

104

Another Way to Tackle Anger by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

106

Lighten Up the Holidays by Aliza Beer, MS RD CDN

108

FOOD & LEISURE Layers of Love and Real Life Cooking: TJH Speaks with Miriam Pascal S22 A Taste of More Real Life Kosher Cooking S28

134

Chanukah Delights

112

Dear Editor, Chanukah – a time for celebration and at the same token a time for reflection. Every Chanukah, we, the Korman family from Far Rockaway, reflect on our Chanukah miracle, our survival from carbon monoxide poisoning, and make it our point to remind the community to please make sure you have working, non-expired carbon monoxide detectors in your home or those that are connected via your alarm company. May Hashem continue to show us miracles and protect us from all the “poisons” of this world. The Korman Family Dear Editor, Thank you so much for your recent article “A Hospital With a Heart,” featuring Mount Sinai/ South Nassau Hospital (MSSN), which was then followed by a Letter to the Editor from a patient’s perspective. I would like to complete the picture by describing the experience from a clinician’s perspective. I have delivered patients in numerous hospitals during my twenty-year career as a midwife. Last January, I began bringing patients to MSSN, and I can only speak in the highest of terms about the level of patient care, sensitivity, and respect that my patients have experienced at this facility. Not only have I felt welcomed and supported as a new attending midwife, but the midwifery model of care has been embraced as well, and every one of my patients who gave birth

there simply raved about their care from the moment they arrived in Labor and Delivery until they were discharged after recovering on the beautiful postpartum unit. I, too, am looking forward to hearing more about expansion and improvements that are coming to Mt. Sinai South Nassau, especially in the area of OB/GYN, for which they serve as such a valuable resource. Sincerely, Rochel Lieberman Licensed Midwife South Shore Midwives, PLLC Dear Editor, In response to a recent Navidaters column, a lot of negatives fly by. First, Samuel, you have not proposed yet, yet you suspect that Sara “does not seem serious about getting citizenship and settling down in the U.S.” Is this a deal-breaker? It would be important to have this discussion. It would also be important to fact-check. When I recently went online to see if anything has changed in the last 300 years concerning naturalization, a person must still establish residency for several years, then take a test, or be married to a U.S. citizen, to get their citizenship papers. You have not proposed yet. Do we even know what Sara wants? We know what her father wants, but Sara is the prime person to address this issue. Some people date just to date. Does she want to get married, and does she Continued on page 10

The Aussie Gourmet: Berry Cheese Latkes 116

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

100

How To Receive Feedback Like a Boss by Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff

124

Your Money

132

Slip Into a Chanukah Insight by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 134 HUMOR Centerfold 84 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

118

What Britain’s Seismic Election Tells Us for 2020 by Fareed Zakaria 122 CLASSIFIEDS

127

Do you play dreidel on Chanukah?

YES

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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return to the U.S.? Maybe your love is not as powerful as you need it to be. Maybe she is so enmeshed with her father, that she cannot think of moving away from him for long periods of time. Did she talk about him a lot when she was in the U.S.? We need emotional strength, a sense of independence, and flexibility to manage our everyday affairs, whether we are single or married. So, for the time that you have previously invested in phone calling, could you not get a book out about assertiveness training or go to a therapist? Also, it’s perfectly O.K. to ask questions of others if we don’t understand what they mean. What does your gut tell you? And/or – can’t you get a job as a dentist in Italy? Lynne Selznick P.S. I’m a former social worker and drug abuse counselor. I am a senior citizen and divorced.

Continued from page 8

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

want to get married to you? Then it is necessary to look at emotional independence and flexibility. Both of you, it seems, are hoping that the other will change their mind about where to live. Notice the behavior. Sara’s statement that “there are no job opportunities” in the U.S. FACT-CHECK. How does she know where to look? Does she have marketable skills? Does she ever want to

Dear Editor, Regarding recent letters to the Navidaters: 1) I’m really surprised that the panel did not question the fallacy that males and females in a close (platonic) relationship never considered being in a romantic relationship. Surely Jonny and friend must have entertained the idea. Playing in a sand box when you’re three is far different than being best friends as adults. Simply put: are they interested in each other? 2) A young man recently wrote in about the horribly abusive father of a girl he was dating and the panel unanimously agreed that this was a train wreck waiting to happen. In another Jewish newspaper, Malkie Hirsch wrote about a wonderful young lady, Alana, who lives with her family now and will one day make someone a very good partner. Can someone take it upon him/herself to investigate the possibility of this shidduch? Hashem works in miraculous ways... Hatzlacha! A Reader

Cover art, “Proud Menorah,” reprinted with permission by Yitzchok Moully, moullyart.com

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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For the first time since 1976, Cuba has a prime minister. On Saturday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel named Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz the country’s prime minister – a nomination quickly confirmed by the country’s parliament. Marrero, 56, has been tourism minister for 16 years, presiding over a rise in visitors and a hotel construction boom that has made tourism one of the most important sectors of the Cuban economy. Diaz-Canel cited Marrero’s experience in negotiating with foreign investors as one of his prime qualifications, according to state media. The position of prime minister was held by Fidel Castro from 1959 to 1976, when a new constitution changed his title to president and eliminated the post of prime minister. Castro and his brother, Raúl, held the presidential post along with Cuba’s other highest positions, like Communist Party leader, until this year, when Raúl Castro stepped down as president and a new constitution divided the president’s responsibilities between Castro’s successor, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and the new post of prime minister. The new constitution gives the prime minister responsibility for the daily operations of government as head of the Council of Ministers. The prime minister has a five-year term and is nominated by Diaz-Canel and approved by the National Assembly, which unanimously approves every proposal put before it, with one known exception in recent history. Marrero Cruz’s post of tourism

Months after the vote was held, results show that Afghanistan’s incumbent President Ashraf Ghani won a slim majority of votes in a September 28 election. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said the total turnout in the presidential election, which was marred by allegations of massive fraud, was 1.9 million with Ghani securing 50.64%, enough to win the first round of voting. There are 9.7 million registered voters in the country. Despite the announced results, IEC head Hawa Alam Nuristani said in a press conference in Kabul that the outcome could change after final results and was subject to a review by the election complaints commission. If a review showed Ghani’s vote falling below 50% and no other candidate with a majority, a second round of voting would be held. Ghani’s top challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, who currently shares power with him in an awkward unity government, finished second with 39.52% of the vote. Last month, IEC began recounting thousands of votes due to what it described as discrepancies in its system. Abdullah’s side objected to the recount and called it an attempt to add more votes in favor of Ghani. IEC dismissed those allegations. After Sunday’s announcement, Abdullah dismissed the results, asserting that they were “based on fraud.” Despite the election being less violent than initially feared, Afghanistan was plunged into a prolonged period of political chaos with both Ghani’s and Abdullah’s camps claiming victory before ballots had been tallied.

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Astronaut Jessica Meir showed off her Chanukah-themed socks from the International Space Station on the first day of Chanukah

While Australia Burned…

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologized this week after he spent last week on a family trip to Hawaii as fires raged across South Australia. Three people died in those fires. “I have obviously returned from leave and I know that has caused some great anxiety in Australia and (my wife) Jenny and I acknowledge that,” Morrison said in a news conference on Sunday. “If you had your time over again and you had the benefit of hindsight then (you’d) have made different decisions.” He added, “I’m sure Australians…understand that when you make a promise to your kids you try and keep it. But as prime minister you have other responsibilities. I accept the criticism.” More than 105 bush and grass fires continued to burn across New South Wales – a southeastern state of Australia – early Sunday, according to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. About 59 of them were still not contained. A state of emergency was declared in the state for the second time in two months. The bushfires have been burning for two months now, exacerbated by

strong winds that stoke the flames and spread dangerous embers and by rising temperatures – including a record-breaking heat wave that began last week. Since September, the death toll from the wildfires has jumped to nine, with nearly 800 homes destroyed in the country. More than 2,500 firefighters have been working across the region to contain the fires. Volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, died last Thursday near the town of Buxton, southwest of Sydney. Their vehicle hit a tree before rolling off the road. Three other firefighters were also injured.

Putin’s Press Conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual marathon press conference is a major media event in Russia, designed to show the country’s “first person” in full command of the facts and steadily steering a course for the new year. This year’s event, which took place last week, was no different: Putin took questions from domestic

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and international press for around four hours and 20 minutes, without taking an intermission. The top line for U.S. and international media? Putin’s reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment, which took place just one day before the conference. The impeachment of Trump, Pu-

tin said, was based on “made-up reasons,” and was not likely to lead to the U.S. president’s removal. “I actually really doubt that it [the Trump presidency] is ending. It still has to go through Senate where as far as I know the Republicans hold the majority so it’s unlikely they will want to remove the representative of their party for some made-up rea-

sons,” the Russian leader said. Aside from impeachment, much of the press conference was devoted to relatively narrow domestic issues: problems of urban waste disposal, long lines at government clinics, or the cost of domestic air travel to and from the far eastern peninsula of Kamchatka. Putin also caused a stir on social

media when he suggested the Russian constitution might be amended to change a provision on term limits, sparking speculation about whether he plans to remain in office beyond 2024. “What could be done with regard to this is to remove the ‘consecutive’ provision,” the president said, answering a question about the possibility of constitutional amendments. Putin is currently serving a fourth term in office. The Russian constitution bars an individual from serving more than two consecutive terms as president. In theory, Putin must step aside after 2024, but there is intense speculation in Russian political circles that the constitution might be amended to allow him to serve unlimited terms – or that Putin might once again assume the office of prime minister, as he did after his second term as president. Putin didn’t completely dodge hard issues. The Kremlin leader, for instance, did field questions about Russia’s strained relations with other countries. But when asked to comment on past remarks by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who once compared the Kremlin leader to Dobby the House Elf from the “Harry Potter” films – Putin said that he was unconcerned. He was also uncompromising when asked about allegations of Russian state involvement in the killing of a former Chechen fighter in Berlin this summer, an incident that strained relations between Germany and Russia and led to the expulsion of two Russia diplomats. Putin conceded that there had been “no official request” to extradite the Chechen before his murder but called the man “an absolutely bloody killer.” As in the past, there was no admission by Putin of any official Russian involvement in the case. The Putin show did close, however, with a relatively sensitive question for Putin about his two daughters. Putin has in the past acknowledged – but not substantially discussed – his children, saying only in a previous press conference that they were not involved in politics or business and “keep a low profile.” In Thursday’s presser, Putin managed to give an answer without acknowledging their names. And in classic fashion, he also managed to neither confirm nor deny any new details about that part of his private life.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The United States is becoming weary of the conflicts plaguing South Sudan. This week, the U.S. announced sanctions on two top South Sudanese officials, accusing them of prolonging the country’s deadly conflict and obstructing the path to peace. South Sudan responded with its own diplomatic jab, recalling its ambassador to Washington “for consultations.” South Sudan’s envoy, Philip Jada, returned to Juba over the weekend. “The timing of the sanctions took me by surprise,” Jada said, adding that he does not expect to stay away from Washington for long. “We have a very good engagement, and then they implement sanctions again, so we just start wondering why, if you’re in dialogue, do you continue to give punitive measures?” For years, South Sudan’s warring leaders have delayed putting an end to their country’s brutal conflict, scuttling peace talks and blowing past deadlines as the death toll mounted and a refugee crisis caused upheaval across the region. This week’s sanctions follow other measures the United States has taken to express its discontent with the cycle of violence and political disputes. In recent weeks, it briefly recalled its ambassador to Juba, threatened visa restrictions on individuals who jeopardize the peace process, and slapped sanctions on a number of high-ranking officials. U.S. officials helped guide South Sudan to independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war, but infighting between the country’s two leaders, President Salva Kiir and then-Vice President Riek Machar, sparked a new civil war in 2013. The conflict divided the nation along ethnic lines and unleashed a wave of suffering that has dragged on for six years. The two men have failed at many attempts to reach and im-

plement peace agreements. They finally signed an agreement at the end of 2018 but have missed multiple deadlines to form a unity government, announcing in November that they need until midFebruary. It was after missing that deadline that the State Department temporarily recalled its ambassador, Thomas Hushek, from Juba and announced that the United States plans to reevaluate its relationship. The sanctions this week came shortly after the U.S. Treasury announced another round of sanctions on five other South Sudanese officials earlier this month, calling them “responsible for the abduction and likely murder” of two South Sudanese human rights activists who disappeared in Kenya in January 2017. On December 12, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also warned that visa restrictions could be implemented against individuals who obstruct the peace process. Jada said that his government is concerned by the sanctions against South Sudanese officials but that his recall to Juba is in direct response to this week’s sanctions against Kuol Manyang Juuk, the minister of defense and veterans affairs, and Martin Elia Lomuro, the minister of cabinet affairs. The war in South Sudan has displaced millions of people, many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. A State Department-funded study released last year estimated that the war had left at least 382,000 people dead.

Khamenei: Do What It Takes

It was an order from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that led to the crackdown on unrest that had plagued the Persian regime.

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Reuters by Iranian officials – is significantly higher than figures from international human rights groups and the United States. A December 16 report by Amnesty International said the death toll was at least 304. What began as scattered protests over a surprise increase in gasoline prices quickly spread into one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s clerical rulers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

By November 17, the second day, the unrest had reached the capital Tehran, with people calling for an end to the Islamic Republic and the downfall of its leaders. Protesters burned pictures of Khamenei and called for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the toppled Shah of Iran, according to videos posted on social media and eyewitnesses. That evening, at his official residence in a fortified compound in

central Tehran, Khamenei met with senior officials, including security aides, President Hassan Rouhani, and members of his cabinet. At the meeting, Khamenei, who has final say over all state matters in the country, raised his voice and expressed criticism of the handling of the unrest. He was also angered by the burning of his image and the destruction of a statue of the republic’s late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. “The Islamic Republic is in danger. Do whatever it takes to end it. You have my order,” the supreme leader told the group. Tehran’s clerical rulers have blamed “thugs” linked to the regime’s opponents in exile and the country’s main foreign foes, namely the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, for stirring up unrest. Khamenei has described the unrest as the work of a “very dangerous conspiracy.” For decades, Islamic Iran has tried to expand its influence across the Middle East, from Syria to Iraq and Lebanon, by investing in Tehran’s political and economic capital and backing militias. But now it faces pressure at home and abroad. In recent months, from the streets of Baghdad to Beirut, protesters have been voicing anger at Tehran, burning its flag and chanting anti-Iranian regime slogans. At home, the daily struggle to make ends meet has worsened since the United States re-imposed sanctions after withdrawing last year from the nuclear deal that Iran negotiated with world powers in 2015.

Diplomat’s Wife Charged

According to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service CPS, Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. intelligence officer in Britain, will be charged with death by dangerous driving for the road crash she was involved in that killed Harry

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Dunn, 19, who was riding on his motorcycle at the time. Initially it was said that Sacoolas wouldn’t be charged because of diplomatic immunity. She has since returned to the U.S. The deceased’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, went to the U.S. to ask President Donald Trump to intervene in the case. During their meeting in the White House, the couple rejected Trump’s offer to meet Sacoolas, whom the president said was in the next room. Following the decision from CPS, extradition proceedings have begun and will involve Britain’s Home Office, which will consider whether to formally issue the request through U.S. diplomatic channels. The Dunn family’s spokesman Radd Seiger told Newsweek in a statement: “Today’s development is obviously a significant one but above all else will enable them, at long last, to begin the process of grieving for the loss of their beloved son. “I have witnessed their pain firsthand day-in, day-out for all these weeks yet marvel at their courage, compassion, decency, magnanimity but above all else tenacity in their fight for justice,” he added. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said, according to Sky News, that the CPS decision to charge Sacoolas is “disappointing, unhelpful and will not bring a resolution closer.”

N. Korea Tough Talk

no longer pursue sanctions relief as a means of achieving economic development either in the short-term or long-term, but will instead increase its commitment to the state’s ideology of self-reliance, known as Juche. It’s unclear how the United States will respond to North Korea’s new stance. When U.S. President Donald Trump came to office in 2017, he and Kim sparred verbally as the Hermit Kingdom test-fired a bevy of increasingly advanced ballistic missiles, the type designed to deliver nuclear warheads. Since then, there has been a flurry of diplomacy between the two leaders but negotiations have not made any substantial progress. It’s possible that North Korea will wait until after the 2020 elections to sit down with the U.S. In the past, other administrations have made agreements with Pyongyang, only to have the next administration ignore those accords. Some have speculated that the holiday “gift” that North Korea has been promoting would come in the form of an advanced missile launch. But others have noted that firing a missile would set off China and Russia, Pyongyang’s two most important international trading partners. Both nations have historical ties to North Korea. China, in particular, is believed to account for almost 90% of North Korea’s imports – a vital lifeline for Pyongyang. Backdoor supply lines from China and Russia are beginning to reopen, and North Koreans are aware that something its most important economic partners view as too extreme could alienate them. Analysts say that while China and Russia want North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, their number one priority is stability on the Korean Peninsula.

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Justice for Khashoggi? Kim Jong Un has been talking about a special “gift” he’d like to give the United States. Now, officials are saying that the holiday present will come in a form of a hardline policy towards the U.S. that will involve taking denuclearization off the table and consolidating Pyongyang’s status as a nuclear weapons state. Additionally, Pyongyang will also

Five people have been sentenced to death by Saudi Arabia for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a public prosecutor. A top former adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was cleared in the investigation. There was no evidence against Saud al-Qahtani, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor Shaalan al-Shaalan announced in a televised press

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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conference on Monday. A court also dismissed charges against Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy intelligence chief, and Mohammed al-Otaibi, Saudi Arabia’s consul general in Istanbul when the murder took place, he said.

Al-Qahtani was sanctioned a year ago by the U.S. Treasury for his alleged involvement in the murder. Both al-Qahtani and al-Assiri were part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s inner circle and were relieved of their duties in the immediate aftermath of Khashoggi’s killing in October 2018. Reading preliminary rulings for 11 people who have been investigated by Saudi Arabia, al-Shaalan said five others who took part in the murder had been sentenced to death. Another three people face a total of 24 years in prison for covering up the murder and violating regulations. No names

were revealed. Khashoggi – a Washington Post columnist and royal insider-turned-critic – was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. He had expected to collect documents for his upcoming wedding but was instead killed and allegedly dismembered in the building. His remains are yet to be found. The murder drew international condemnation. The CIA concluded that bin Salman personally ordered the killing. Separately, UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard also found “sufficient credible evidence” that called for the Saudi Crown Prince to be investigated. Riyadh has maintained that neither bin Salman nor his father King Salman knew of the operation to target Khashoggi. U.S. officials, however, have said such a mission – including 15 men sent from the Kingdom – could not have been carried out without the authorization of bin Salman. Amnesty International blasted Monday’s verdict as “a whitewash” and accused Saudi officials of failing the slain journalist and his family.

Galapagos Oil Spill

Emergency teams in the Galapagos Islands are working to contain a 600-gallon oil spill after a cargo vessel overturned while being loaded with containers on Sunday. The Galapagos, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are home to some of the most unique and scientifically significant ecosystems on Earth. It is part of Ecuador and located hundreds of miles off the country’s coast. The incident is likely to rile scientists and environmentalists who have gone to great lengths to protect the volcanic Pacific Ocean archipelago, which is home to many species that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The islands are most famous for Charles Darwin and the research he conducted there. The oil spill happened after a large container was being loaded onto the ship’s deck, according to the Ecuadorian Coast Guard. Video from the scene appears to show the crane losing control of the container and then falling on the ship. The crew was then forced to jump from the capsizing vessel, although none of the sailors were injured. The incident took place on San Cristobal Island, the easternmost of the islands that make up the Galapagos. San Cristobal is home to playful sea lions, giant tortoises and finches, and idyllic beaches. Like most of the islands in the archipelago, travelers there must abide by strict rules in order to protect the area's flora and fauna.

Iran's Nuclear Race A secondary circuit for Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor has become operational as part of its redesign under the 2015 nuclear deal, the country’s atomic energy chief said

on Monday. “Today a significant part of the reactor becomes operational,” Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters at Arak. The secondary circuit “transfers the heat generated in the reactor’s heart to cooling towers” and is now complete, he added, in remarks aired on state television.

Salehi noted the reactor’s primary circuit, which contains the core, was still being built. “Fifty-two systems have to be built so that the reactor can become operational.... We have completed 20 so far,” he said. Monday’s announcement is part of Iran’s pledge under the nuclear deal to “redesign and rebuild” a modernized reactor so that it cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium and only support “peaceful nuclear research and radioisotope production for medical and industrial purposes.” The deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was meant to give Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. But the JCPOA has been hanging by a thread since May last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of it and began re-imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The remaining parties still clinging to the deal include Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The Europeans have repeatedly said they are committed to saving the accord, but their efforts have so far borne little fruit. Tehran has already hit back four times with countermeasures in response to the U.S. withdrawal, brazenly violating the accord. It stopped respecting the 300-kilogram limit the deal imposed on its stocks of enriched uranium and abandoned the cap on enriching uranium above 3.67 percent. Tehran started producing enriched uranium at its plant in Natanz using advanced centrifuges banned by the accord and testing new models. Uranium enrichment was also restarted at its underground Fordow facility in central Iran, which the deal banned.

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Prime Minister Netanyahu lit the menorah at the Kotel on the first night of Chanukah with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman

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Over the past decade, the Holy Land has seen more than a quarter million people immigrating into its border from around 150 countries, according to statistics released by the Jewish Agency over the weekend. The closing calendar year saw some 34,000 immigrants alone, marking the largest annual figure in the past decade. More than 66,800 people emigrated from Russia over the last 10 years – more than from any other country. It was followed by Ukraine (45,670), France (38,000), the U.S. (32,000), and Ethiopia (10,500). Immigration from France peak-

ed since 2009, with a third of the French citizens who have moved to Israel since the establishment of the Jewish state doing so in the past decade. A bump was also seen recently in immigration from Brazil, with some 200 people from the largest South American country arriving to Israel per year over the first half of the past decade, while in the last five years, the average was 600 per year. According to a report from the Central Bureau of Statistics released earlier this week, Israel is on pace for a 20 percent surge in immigration in 2019 since last year. The report said that more than three million people have immigrated to Israel since 1948, with around 44% of them arriving after 1990. The recent rise in immigration could be attributable to a law passed in 2017 granting an Israeli passport to anyone eligible for Israeli citizenship, without requirement to reside in the country. A November report by the Makor Rishon newspaper suggested that many Russian speakers claimed Israeli citizenship but quickly returned to their home countries soon after receiving state benefits. Immigrants coming from France have been fleeing to Israel because of the rapid rise of anti-Semitism in their country. Under Israel’s Law of Return, anyone with a single Jewish grandparent is eligible for citizenship. Such immigrants, hailing largely from the former Soviet Union and Baltic states, count Jewish ancestry but are ineligible to marry as Jews if their Jewish grandparent was male.

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A Centenarian Goes to Kindergarten

Yosef Eshed, a 102-year-old Israeli who fought alongside the revered British soldier Orde Wingate to put down the 1936-39 Arab Revolt, can now register for kindergarten. Eshed, of the village of Motza, near Jerusalem, was one of 20 Israelis over a century old to receive a kindergarten enrollment letter recently, according to Ynet. “Are they crazy?” Eshed was quoted as asking, joking that he didn’t mind because “it’s been a few years since I’ve attended kindergarten, and

that was in Poland.” He emigrated from Poland 80 years ago. An official blamed the delayed acceptance on a database program that erased the first digit of the centenarians’ ages. Eshed was one of the founders of Kibbutz Hanita and fought in the Special Night Squads founded by Wingate, a Christian Zionist figure revered in Israel for his role in training pre-state Jews in combat, when the Arabs of Mandatory Palestine rose up against British rule. After the mistake was discovered, a local official told Ynet that “we would be honored to host him in our schools so he can tell children his amazing life story.”

ICC: We Can Proceed The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor said on Friday that there was a “basis” for proceeding with an investigation into crimes allegedly committed in the Palestinian territories. The decision

came five years after the ICC first opened a preliminary examination at the request of the Palestinians. “I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine,” prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said.

She added, “There is a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed in the context of the 2014 hostilities in Gaza” by the Israel Defense Forces for allegedly launching disproportionate attacks and “willful killing and willfully causing serious injury to body or health…and intentionally directing an attack against objects or persons using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions.” Attempting to appear unbiased, she said there was also “reasonable

basis to believe that members of Hamas and Palestinian armed groups committed…war crimes” by targeting civilians and torturing individuals. Bensouda said Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank could also constitute a war crime, as could its response to weekly protests along Gaza’s border with Israel held since March 2018. The prosecutor’s statement indicates that a full investigation could be launched, which could include charges against Israelis and Palestinians. In a last-ditch effort prior to the prosecutor’s announcement to sway her decision, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit published a 34-page-long legal opinion detailing his reasoning. “The principled legal position of the State of Israel, which is not a party to the ICC, is that the Court lacks jurisdiction in relation to Israel and that any Palestinian actions with respect to the Court are legally invalid,” Mandelblit wrote in the report. He laid out several points in a statement issued by the Government Press Office. First, he said, only sovereign states can delegate criminal jurisdiction to the court and the Palestinian Authority did not meet the

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criteria for statehood under international law and the Court’s founding statute. The move by the Palestinians in 2015 to join the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty that established the ICC, “does not meet, nor can it replace, the substantive test requiring criminal jurisdiction to have been delegated to the court by a sovereign state with a defined territory.” Second, Israel has “valid legal claims over the same territory,” and “Israel and the Palestinians agreed, with the support of the international community, to resolve their dispute over the future status of this territory in the framework of negotiations.” Third, said Mandelblit, by turning to the ICC, the Palestinians “are seeking to breach the framework agreed to by the parties and to push the Court to determine political issues that should be resolved by negotiations, and not by criminal proceedings.” The ICC was not established for such purposes, nor does it have the authority or capacity to determine such matters, especially in the absence of the consent of the parties, Mandeblit noted. The preliminary examination by the ICC was launched in 2015 after the PA signed the Rome Statute and formally accepted the court’s jurisdiction over its territory. It probes Israeli construction beyond the Green Line, the 2014 Gaza War, and the so-called March of Return Gaza border protests that began in March 2018. In response to the attorney general’s statement, the assistant minister for multilateral affairs at the Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry, Ammar Hijazi, called the AG’s decision “irrelevant” and said the Palestinians have jurisdiction over the territory. “The State of Palestine is the only sovereign of the occupied territory of #Palestine & the colonizers have no say over this land. Palestine granted jurisdiction to the ICC to investigate crimes committed over its land. The opinion of the Israeli occupation’s AG is irrelevant,” Hijazi tweeted. The attorney general’s report only deals with the ICC’s supposed lack of jurisdiction. Mandelblit did not address other matters the prosecutor has to take into account as she weighs whether to open an investigation, such as whether the alleged crimes committed in “Palestine” are grave enough to merit the court’s involvement, or whether local courts can be relied on to investigate these alleged crimes.

4 Killed in Bus Crash

The driver of a bus that crashed into a concrete bus stop near Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday evening, killing four, has been arrested following an investigation. The unnamed driver for the Egged bus company, who was identified as a 44-year old resident of Haifa, was taken into custody on Monday after being treated for his injuries at Beilinson Hospital. Police are investigating whether or not he was using a cellphone at the time of the accident. According to Channel 13, the driver told investigators that he did not have an explanation for the accident, saying, “I’m still in shock, I don’t know how it happened.” Three women and one man died in the crash. One of the women was in her 30s, one in her 50s, and one in her 60s. The man was identified as 79-year-old R’ Yosef Kahalani of Petah Tikva, who is survived by his wife, three daughters and 14 grandchildren. R’ Yosef spent his later years as a Torah tutor going from Jerusalem to Mishmar Hasharon every week. He was buried on Monday in Petach Tikvah. At least 14 people were injured in the incident. The bus – heading to Haifa from Jerusalem – hit a bus stop at the side of the road at Bedek Junction. The impact caused massive damage to the vehicle, which was partially crushed by the bus stop’s concrete roof. An initial investigation found that the bus swerved for an unknown reason. An MDA medic said that the driver was trapped in his seat but was conscious when emergency services arrived at the scene. A senior police officer told Channel 12 after the accident that investigators suspected that the driver had been distracted. His phone was confiscated. Earlier Sunday, two Palestinian workers were killed when the minibus they were traveling in hit a bus near Ramat Gan, outside Tel Aviv.

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The driver of the minibus was seriously injured in the accident, which police suspect was caused by speeding and reckless driving. The deaths brought the number of people killed in traffic accidents during 2019, to 345 according to figures from the National Road Safety Authority. Last year, 316 people were killed on the country’s roads.

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Bragging About Terror Earlier this month, a Jordanian parliamentarian bragged about carrying out a terrorist attack on an El Al office in Athens, Greece, in the 1960s and claimed that he was inspired to perpetrate it by former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Mansour Saif al-Din Mourad, a member of the Jordanian House of Representatives, the lower house of the Hashemite Kingdom’s parliament, made the remark in an interview with Jordan’s A One TV on December 9. “I am a terrorist in the eyes of the Zionist entity and all the imperialist forces, headed by America. All of the enemies of the peoples and of the world’s liberation movements call

“This got stuck in my head, so at the first opportunity I got, I decided to avenge the blood of the Muslims and the Arabs that was shed by those occupying and invading murderers, who serve as tools for the imperialist forces in the world.” Later in the interview, Mourad claimed: “We struck them with a painful strike, and their soldiers dropped like leaves in the middle of fall.” When asking Mourad about the attack, the interviewer stated that it took place on December 27, 1969. It was unclear whether the attack indeed took place on that date. A hand grenade attack on an El Al office took place on November 27, 1969, killing a Greek child and injuring more than a dozen others. According to The New York Times, two Jordanian terrorists were sentenced to prison terms for that attack but were released after the hijacking of a plane in mid-1970. Mourad also alleged that the attack was in line with international law and claimed that he and the others who perpetrated it informed Greek authorities ahead of time of their intention to carry it out in the form of a threat. “There is an international law that governs situations in which a certain group wishes to carry out security and military strikes in another country. International law sets terms for such attacks. When one party wishes to attack another party on neutral territory, it must warn the [neutral] country, and it must carry out the attack in broad daylight,” he stated. “It must not attack security personnel and it must avoid harming that country’s security. We wanted to attack a Zionist target in Greece, so we had to let the Greek government

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know, in general terms, of course…” Jordan is one of two Arab countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel, with Egypt being the other. While security ties between Israel and Jordan have flourished, political relations have soured recently over a number of matters including Netanyahu’s pledge in September to annex the Jordan Valley in the West Bank if he is given another term in office. Jordan has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would include the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.

3 Police Chiefs in 1 Week Burlington, Vermont, needs a little bit of law and order. After a social media scandal blanketed the police department of

the largest city in the state, the state was forced to name its third new police chief in one week.

The chain reaction started with Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo’s resignation after four years as head of the department on December 16. Three days earlier, the mayor of Burlington, Miro Weinberger, confirmed that del Pozo had admitted to him earlier this year that he had heckled a city activist and frequent critic of the police department from an anonymous Twitter account. He also admitted to denying the account belonged to him when asked by a reporter. Del Pozo was then placed on administrative leave and then chose to resign. Del Pozo said he plans to publish a book on policing and, as he is about to receive his doctorate, start

a research center on policing and public health, according to his resignation letter submitted to the mayor. Deputy Chief Jan Wright stepped in to replace del Pozo – only to admit the same day she also had an anonymous Twitter account. “While Deputy Chief Wright’s situation may be very different than Chief del Pozo’s, given the circumstances the department is facing, I found the failure to raise this issue with me in the lead-up to today to constitute a lapse in judgement,” the mayor said in a statement. Chief Wright was chief of police for only hours before the city decided not to retain her in that position. By Friday, Weinberger had named a new interim police chief. Jennifer Morrison, who had previously worked for the department and then as police chief in a neighboring city, returned from retirement as interim leader of Burlington’s scandal-plagued department. “It is an honor and a privilege to rejoin the organization that taught me so much, and shaped me as a law enforcement leader,” Morrison said at a press conference. “There is definitely some work to be done.” Morrison called it a “world-class

police agency” and asked outsiders “not to lose sight of that.” She won’t actually take over as police chief until January, when approved by the city council. She also won’t apply for the full-time position. Deputy Chief Jon Murad is currently leading the department in an acting role until Morrison is confirmed. Let’s hope that third time’s a charm in this city.

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portions of the highway and call in federal agencies to investigate. By Saturday, it was discovered that the mysterious liquid was the chemical hexavalent chromium and was leaking from a local business. Hexavalent chromium is usually produced during industrial processes like plating and is known to cause cancer, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The chemical is harmful to the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin, and eyes. The chemical was leaking from the basement of the local business, down into the ground, and went into a drain that emptied out onto eastbound I-696. Had the liquid not been discovered, it could have ended up in Lake St. Clair. It could days to clean up the mess. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, is the chemical that was featured in the popular 2000 movie “Erin Brockovich,” in which an activist helped to sue a California utility over the chemical leaching into water.

Flu Sickens Millions Getting a flu shot is not just something nice to do when the weather gets colder – it could save your life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu virus continues to spread across the U.S. with an estimated 3.7 million people who have contracted the flu already this year. Of those, 32,000 people have required hospitalization

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Tuesday Dec. 24 At least 30 states have reported that the flu is widespread in their area. High levels of flu activity nearly doubled last week to include 19 states, including Puerto Rico and New York City. When experiencing symptoms, it is important that patients head to their doctors. Tamiflu, Xofluza, and other antiviral medications have shown to be 99% effective against the flu viruses the CDC has tested. Additionally, during this season, people should be extra-vigilant in washing their hands regularly with soap and water and covering their mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing.

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No More California Dreaming It seems like the Golden State is no longer golden when it comes to population growth. The number of Californians increased to 39.96 million this year,

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with new data from the Department of Finance showing mostly downward trends. Fewer births have been reported, along with increased deaths of an aging population. Additionally, more and more residents are fleeing the state.

would counteract domestic outmigration,” he said. “The outmigration is in places where housing prices are high and therefore immigration is not being able to counter that.” A loss in numbers in the state could also affect the 2020 Census, something that California is concerned about. Less people in the state could mean less representation in Congress.

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The estimates, which indicate that California’s population grew by 141,300 people between July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2019, highlight a 0.35% growth rate, “down from 0.57% for the prior 12 months – the two lowest recorded growth rates since 1900,” department officials noted. According to the agency, natural increase (with 452,200 births and 271,400 deaths) accounted for an additional 180,800 people to the state. Still, these gains were offset by losses in net migration – that is, the total amount of people moving into the state minus the total amount of people moving out. Notably, said Eddie Hunsinger, a demographer with the Department of Finance, even though the net international migration added to the state’s population, there was substantial negative domestic net migration, which resulted in a loss of 39,500 residents. This, said the department, marks “the first time since the 2010 Census that California has had more people leaving the state than moving in from abroad or other states.” William Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Friday’s findings follow a trend that demographers have seen over several years. While California has always seen domestic outmigration – people moving to other states – the rate has grown over the last decade. Residents fleeing the state are heading to Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Aside from a lower cost-of-living, some Californians are drawn to areas with no state income tax. Additionally, the Golden State is seeing a dip in immigration levels. “In the past, California would be growing because immigration

According to Business Insider, New Yorkers are rude – and we mean, really rude. In October and November, Insider conducted a survey of more than 2,000 American adults, asking them to choose the five rudest cities in the U.S. from a list of the 50 biggest cities. New York City topped the list and was rated rude by 34.3% of respondents, which was almost twice as rude as the next highest city on the list. Lest one think that rudeness is new to the Big Apple, consider that Manhattan borough historian Michael Miscione told The New York Times in 2011 that New Yorkers have been considered rude since the 1700s. He provided the newspaper with one quote about the city from former President John Adams, who said in 1774, “I have not seen one real gentleman, one well-bred man, since I came to town. At their entertainments there is no conversation that is agreeable; there is no modesty, no attention to one another. “They talk very loud, very fast and altogether. If they ask you a question, before you can utter three words of your answer, they will break out upon you again and talk away.” Los Angeles came in at the second slot on the list, with 19.7% of respondents calling Los Angelenos rude. Washington, D.C., nabbed the third slot with 18.9% of respondents giving the District of Columbia the rude title. Next on the list was Chicago, Illinois. Like New York, this is nothing new. A 1985 Chicago Tribune article

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said rudeness in the Windy City was “chronic, thoughtless, and utterly pervasive.” Boston, Massachusetts, rounded out the top five. In a Boston Herald column by Grace Curley, published earlier this year, she wrote that many locals are perpetrators of the “chat and cut.” This is when someone pretends to be familiar with someone else who is already in line for the singular purpose of cutting into that line. Curley added that etiquette had deteriorated and people were now doing it in groups. The columnist asked, “Is there no honor among yuppies?” Detroit, Michigan; Buffalo, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and San Francisco, California; rounded out the top ten rudest cities in the United States.

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On Friday, President Donald Trump raised the national legal age for smoking to 21 in the $738 billion Defense Spending Bill he signed.. The new rules include cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The smoking age hike had bipartisan support in the Senate and was co-authored by Democrats Brian Schatz and Dick Durbi and Republicans Mitt Romney and Todd Young. Now that Trump’s signature is on the bill, the Food and Drug Administration has 180 days to update its regulations. The new age requirement will go into effect 90 days later. Nineteen states, including New York, have already raised the smoking age to 21. The move comes as lawmakers attempt to address the nationwide vaping epidemic among young people – and the escalating number of vaping-related deaths, which recently reached 47. Last Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a law making flavored e-cigarettes illegal in New York City. Tobacco use has already been dropping worldwide, particularly among men using traditional tobacco products.

Boeing CEO Steps Down

Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing, announced that he will be stepping down from his position at the Chicago manufacturer on Monday. The board’s current chairman David Calhoun will take over officially on January 13. The board said a change in leadership is necessary to restore confidence in the company as it works to repair relationships with regulators and stakeholders. The Max 737 aircraft was grounded worldwide in March after the second of two crashes of its jet, killing a combined total of 346 people. Calhoun says he strongly believes in the future of Boeing and the 737 Max. The leadership change follows Boeing’s announcement last week that it would halt Max production in January. United Airlines said it would pull the Boeing 737 Max from its flight schedule until June. That same day, Spirit AeroSystems, which makes fuselages, said it would end deliveries intended for the Max in January. Boeing’s new Starliner capsule also went off course on a planned trip to the International Space Station on that day.

69 Cars Crash

Nearly 70 vehicles were involved in chain-reaction crashes on an icy, foggy Virginia bridge on Sunday, injuring 51 people and shutting down I-64 in both directions on a busy travel day. The chain-reaction crashes between the 69 cars began at about 7:51 a.m., police said. It took at least

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this holiday season, from December 21 through January 1. More than 104 million of those travelers will drive to their destinations, AAA said.

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three hours to clear the mess on the eastbound lanes, although westbound lanes remained closed until mid-afternoon. The interstate is a major access road for Virginia Beach, a sprawling beach and military city of more than 440,000 people. Ivan Levy said he and his wife were driving separately to Williams-

burg when thick fog forced him to slow his truck and turn on his hazard lights. “Next thing I know I see cars just start piling up on top of each other,” he said. Levy was able to stop in time but got a call from his wife saying she had been in the wreck. Photos from the scene reveal a

sea of cars with crumpled hoods and trunks. Some vehicles were squeezed between other cars, partially lifted into the air as first responders walked across them looking to extricate drivers and passengers. The incident came on one of the busiest travel days of the year. AAA estimated more Americans than ever – 115.6 million – will travel

The U.S. Food and Drug administration has approved for the first time in the United States a vaccine for the prevention of the deadly Ebola virus, the agency announced last Thursday. The vaccine, Ervebo, was developed by Merck and protects against Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Zaire ebolavirus in people 18 and older. Cases of EVD in the United Statees are very rare and have generally occurred when people already infected with the virus have traveled into the country or when health care workers have become infected treating those sickened by EVD. “While the risk of Ebola virus disease in the U.S. remains low, the U.S. government remains deeply committed to fighting devastating Ebola outbreaks in Africa, including the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Anna Abram, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs, said. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar called the new vaccine “a triumph of American global health leadership.” The Zaire strain of the Ebola virus has caused more than 2,000 deaths in the current outbreak in the eastern DRC, and more than 11,000 deaths during an outbreak in 2014 in West Africa. Ebola virus is highly contagious and transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids, and the tissue of infected wild animals or people. It’s also transmitted through surfaces and materials that have come into contact with an infected person or animal.

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When Jack Littlejohn approached 88-year-old Violet Allision on a recent flight from New York to London, she thought he was joking. Leaning over her, he asked, “Excuse me, would you like to fly first class?” Allison had just been settling into her economy class seat on the overnight flight. Allison responded in disbelief, “You’re joking.” Leah Amy, a flight attendant on the Virgin Atlantic flight, chronicled the kindness on a Facebook post that has since gone viral. “Of the hundreds of flights I’ve operated,” she wrote, “I’ve had the pleasure of looking after footballers, supermodels, and some Hollywood movie stars but let me tell you about my two favorite passengers EVER!” Littlejohn told Allison, “Yeah, I’ll give you my seat, and you can fly first class” and have all the amenities that go with it, including dinner, drinks and a reclining bed. “Do you believe that?” Allison said to the passenger who was sitting next to her. “Do you think I should do that?” she asked. The woman told her to go for it. Littlejohn helped collect her bags and luggage, and then she followed him to the first-class cabin on the double-decker aircraft, where he showed her to her seat for the seven-hour flight. Littlejohn had been in New York with his mother and sister for a charity event his brother put on in Times Square called the World’s Biggest Sleep Out, dedicated to raising awareness of global homelessness. It was when Littlejohn and his family were leaving back home to Scotland

that his mom surprised the siblings with business-class seats. Athough Littlejohn enjoyed the surprise, he said that he was uncomfortable with the inequality between business and economy class. On the plane, economy passengers had to walk through business to get to their seats in the lower portion of the plane, a comparison Littlejohn called “unhealthy.” When he found Allison, he knew this was the perfect person to give his privileged seat to. “You couldn’t have found a sweeter lady,” he said of the 88-year-old. That’s when he sat on her armrest and asked, “Excuse me, are you traveling by yourself? I’ve got a seat in business, and I’d like to give it to you.” Seems like kindness can fly skyhigh.

Live Lotto

A reporter in Spain was reporting the news when she suddenly became the news. Natalia Escudero, a reporter for RTVE, was delivering a report on the National Lottery’s annual drawing on Sunday when she discovered she had won a cash prize. “I’m not coming into work tomorrow,” Escudero exclaimed on live TV. Escudero may have to go to work, though, if she wants to keep up her lifestyle. Escudero’s prize was not one of the $436,000 grand prizes; she won $5,545 in this week’s drawing. Hey, it’s better than nothing. '

Ticket to Paradise A German multimillionaire has invited 10 “nice people” to live with him on his 550-acre property, which features horse stables, a winery, and views of the Tasman Sea, on a remote part of New Zealand. Karl Reipen, the 70-year-old who made his fortune selling canned

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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iced-coffee drinks, has twice posted an ad with his offer in the New Zealand Herald.

The ad, in which Reipen never reveals his name, recounts how he found a “beautiful farm” during his visit to New Zealand in 2000. After purchasing the property, he said, “it took me 10 years to bring it to the standard of today.” “Now, where everything is finished, I would like to share the ‘paradise’ with nice people, up to 10 (women and men). They could live in houses by 2 persons and share a beautiful winery for social meetings and dining,” he writes. The adults are invited to bring their own horses and should be less than 70 years old. The property, which Reipen has dubbed “Awakino Estate,” is located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island and was last valued at $5.6 million. “You can enjoy walking, fishing, shopping, kayaking, bird watching, swimming or looking at the nice animals,” the mogul says. “If you are interested to live a life with a group of interesting people, it can be a new life for you.” Ummm, where can I sign up?

Handyman

Ben Workman never loses his car keys. That’s because he always has them in hand – and we mean, in hand. Workman has four chips implanted in his hands, including one that contains an electronic key that allows him to unlock his Tesla with

just the wave of a hand. “I play tricks on people who don’t know I have it in my hand. I try and convince them a banana is the key and then I hold a banana up and [the chip] unlocks the door,” he said. The other chips in Workman’s hands allow him to unlock doors at work, log on and off of his computer, and share contact information using the same technology as Apple Pay and Google Pay. According to Workman, most of the chips had been implanted in his hands by a family member, although he went to a piercing studio to have his Tesla key card installed. Workman said he also has a magnet implanted in his left hand that he uses for “magic tricks.” Gives another meaning to the term “sleight of hand.”

Coffee Queen

Love coffee? Want to be pampered for a week? This is the dream “job” for you. Gevalia Kaffe is offering $5,000 and a free trip for someone willing to spend one week living in Scotland’s Carlowrie Castle. The week stay will include a chef and a butler hovering over you as you sip your brew. The company said the winning applicant – the “Coffee Queen” – will receive free travel to and from Scotland and will be paid $5,000, plus $2,000 in spending money for the week. “Gevalia believes a queen is anyone who transforms into the most confident version of themselves after that first cup of coffee – they speak their minds, are self-aware, and aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves,” the company said. Interested prospective monarchs are being asked to submit 250-character mini essays on why they would be ideal for the position. I can think of many ways to express how I am most qualified, but I’ll give it my best shot.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the

Community Olive Oil Makers

he first and second grade classes in Yeshiva of South Shore had the incredible opportunity to watch how olive oil is made. The boys helped the presenter to choose the best, juiciest olives, press them, and even separate the oil into the pure olive oil we use to light our menorahs. It was a sight to see!

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Central Shabbaton

Bringing the Beis Hamikdash to Life

fter weeks of anticipation, over 250 members of the Central family traveled to DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown to spend this past Shabbat together at the annual schoolwide Shabbaton. The theme of the weekend was “Once Upon a Time” and was focused on the importance of learning and telling stories. On Friday morning, in a senior-led session called “Tell Your Story,” students were encouraged to think about their own stories and what they would like their stories to become. Teachers picked up on the theme on Friday night, when they led students through stories of characters in Tanach and the Talmud who “Owned Their Stories” by diverging from their upbringings to seek paths of truth. Finally, on Shabbat afternoon, students heard from teachers who shared the stories that have been central to them in their own lives. Shabbaton was filled with wonderful ruach. Each meal featured beautiful zemirot and singing, as well as divrei Torah from students and teachers. The annual faculty skit kept everyone laughing, and the Melave

Malka, with DJ Eli, was a great opportunity for students to let loose, dance, and have fun. The seniors had the special privilege of staying over at the hotel on Saturday night, where they took part in “Senior Circle,” an opportunity to reminisce about their time at Central together. Thank you to the Student Activities Team, Ms. Leah Moskovich and Ms. Rebecca Koenigsberg, as well as Mrs. Miriam White, Director of Religious Programming, for coordinating the myriad details of this amazing weekend! Ms. Moskovich said, “Shabbaton was magical.... We were able to learn how to live our stories, own our stories, and tell our stories. I cannot wait to continue listening to students’ stories as the year goes on!”

his week, HAFTR Middle School hosted Mikdash VR. As a culmination of the eighth grade girls’ Beis Hamikdash projects, the girls got to experience a virtual reality walkthrough of the Beis Hamikdash. Shouts of “Whoa!” “That’s

my project,” “The aron!” and so much more could be heard throughout the halls. Thank you so much to the Aronov and Svoyskiy families for sponsoring this incredible experience and to Ms. Alyson Jacobs for organizing this wonderful opportunity.

visits from IVDU and Otzar clients and sending jewelry to girls in Israel through the student initiative GEMS (Going the Extra Mile). SKA’s annual Ninth Grade Father-Daughter Breakfast was held on Wednesday, December 25, and the enthusiastic fathers and daughters spent a meaningful morning together, learning b’chavruta, hearing a shiur and playing an entertaining game. Later that day, SKA’s faculty and staff were treated to an outstanding Cha-

nukah Celebration of Chinuch Luncheon where they heard from noted speaker Mrs. Chani Juravel. The annual SKA Chanukah Auction with winners receiving class parties, teacher-student lunches and dinners, Shabbos invitations, and many other items is always a huge success! With the funds collected going to tzedakah, student participation is energetic and wholehearted. Celebration and inspiration defined the week of Chanukah at SKA.

Chanukah Happenings at SKA

hanukah celebrations have always been special at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, and this year was no exception! After davening on Monday morning, December 23, the SKA students were thrilled to hear that they would be enjoying a surprise chagiga roller skating trip with lunch and guest DJ. It was a wonderful way to commence the week of festivities and a delightful way for the administration, faculty members, and students to spend a relaxed time together. Chanukah spirit filled with achdus and ruach continued throughout

the week. Each day featured special events, ranging from evening Chanukah parties for every grade hosted by their grade level advisors to “Chanukat HA LaB,” where students inaugurated our brand-new science lab with exciting Chanukah-themed experiments. The girls understood the scientific and religious significance of oil by making lava lamps and snow globes and the science of donut making through yeast experiments. Chessed, which is such an integral part of the school, was an important highlight of the week, focusing on Kulanu shadowing in the preschool,

According to the Guinness World Records, the most valuable dreidel is worth $70,000. It is made of 18K yellow and white gold and features a 4.2-carat diamond at the tip.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rabbi Escovitz and his seventh graders at Yeshiva of South Shore celebrated a recent farher with an ice skating trip

5 Towns Hockey League

hat a season it was for the 5 Towns Hockey League. Under the leadership of Rabbi Eli Brazil, Ira Schechter and Daniel Orenstien the 5 Towns Sports Hockey League is finishing up what has been a tremendous season. The season and playoffs were beyond amazing as many of the games were decided in overtime and in the final seconds. The league, which is now in its 23rd year, is open to Pre1A-eighth grade boys in the Five Towns and surrounding areas. It has had five divisions with over 25 teams. The ability to play competitive hockey in a

structured, middos-driven environment makes this league such a great success. In the Pre1A and first grade leagues, the participants really learn how to play the game of hockey. Some children that start the season not knowing how to hold a hockey stick are scoring multiple goals a game by the end of the season. Plans are underway for next season, which will begin in the second week of February. The new gym floor in South Shore Yeshiva is really amazing and is an ideal for floor hockey. For more information and to sign up for next season, please go to www.5townssports.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

A Day at DRS

ast Thursday, DRS hosted over 140 prospective eighth grade applicants from 15 different elementary schools for a visit to DRS and a chance to experience what it’s like to be a DRS student for a day. Students from YCQ, HANC, Har Torah, Yeshiva of South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana, HAFTR, HALB, Derech HaTorah, and several other elementary schools were warmly greeted at the doors of DRS by administrators and student leaders. Each visiting student received a personal schedule for him to follow throughout their day. Throughout the day, the students had the opportunity to study Gemara on a high school level in rabbi kaminetsky’s Gemara Shiur, practice Creative Writing techniques in Mrs. Prestifillipo’s English class,

solve and prove mind-bending mathematics tricks in Mrs. Flynn’s math class, dissect the inner workings of contemporary p’sak halacha in Rabbi Farber’s Halacha Shiur, travel the world in Mr. Levin’s social studies lesson, explore the DRS science curriculum at Dr. Waldbaum’s science

presentation, and meet and ask questions to Rabbi Storch and Dr. Broder in small groups. Following a lunch catered by Carlos & Gabby’s, the students moved to the gym where they were treated to a taste of DRS’s extracurricular student activities, during which they partic-

ipated in a multimedia trivia game challenging them in areas of Gemara, Tanach, science, math, sports, English, Ivrit, and general knowledge. We are proud of the quality of students that will comprise our ninth grade next year.

talmidim had the opportunity to play sports and learn in the Beis Medrash. “Mishmar Madness events truly bring the entire yeshiva togeth-

er,” said event coordinator and MTA Rebbe Rabbi Evan Genachowski. “It’s amazing to watch the beis medrash come alive with the sounds of our

talmidim learning together and to see how excited the boys are for the chance to continue learning throughout the evening.”

Mishmar Madness at MTA

t was another incredible Mishmar Madness at MTA on Thursday, December 19, with more than 200 talmidim participating! The evening began after regular Thursday night Mishmar with chaburahs led by YU talmidim and seniors in MTA’s Julius Wrubel Beis Medrash Katan program and an interactive and engaging shiur with Religious Guidance Coordinator and YU Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Ciment. After a delicious Dougie’s dinner,

Shevach Debate Team Wins in Philadelphia

n Wednesday morning, December 4, Shevach High School’s debate team headed down to Bala Cynwyd, Philadelphia, for Kosloff Torah Academy’s second annual debate invitational. Before the debate meet, the Shevach team took a well-guided tour of Eastern State Penitentiary to learn about social and prison reform issues past and present. The debate meet was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and by the end of the evening, the Shevach team had won three of the top awards. At Kosloff Torah Academy, teams representing Jewish girls’ high schools in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Baltimore

met in the formal debate and extemporaneous speaking competitions. A warm and intellectually-rich atmosphere filled the building, and all of the students, coaches, and chaperones met over a graciously hosted delicious dinner. Shevach High School is incredibly proud of all of its debate team members, for whom this was a first formal debate experience. Sarah Press and Racheli Robinson were awarded 1st place as the highest scoring debate team. Elana Adler was awarded 3rd place in the category of highest scoring individual debater, and Daniella Haim was awarded 2nd place in the extemporaneous speaking compe-

tition. Congratulations to Shoshana Mandelbaum and Elana Adler for also winning each of their debate matches and to Hadassah Gottesman, Daniella Haim, Leah Scheiner, and Rina Steinberg for their strong performances in the extemporaneous speaking competition. Kudos to Miriam Romm, who served as team support and videographer. The Shevach students expressed how much they enjoyed meeting girls from many different schools. Elana Adler commented, “It was a great environment and everyone was very friendly, even though we were debating each other.” While the students had spent many hours researching the

topic of the debate and preparing their arguments, they also had to think on the spot to craft strong counterarguments. Shevach is thankful to the faculty, staff, and students of Kosloff Torah Academy for organizing and hosting this outstanding event and grateful to Mr. Barry Grossman, teacher of American Government, AP U.S. History, and Contemporary Global Issues at Shevach, for preparing the students for the debate. Yasher koach to Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz, Shevach’s principal, who made the trip possible, and to Mrs. Nechama Mirsky, associate principal, General Studies, for chaperoning the students to Philadelphia.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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Children and Families Celebrate at Chai Lifeline’s I-Shine Five Towns Chanukah Party

Stacy Zrihen, Sheri Hammer, and Annette Kaufman

n Monday night, December 16, 350 people gathered at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence for a Chanukah party hosted by i-Shine, Chai Lifeline’s afterschool program providing social, emotional and practical support for kids experiencing illness or loss in their homes. The attendees included Chai Lifeline families, volunteers, and local rabbanim. The evening’s entertainment included a glow in the

dark arts and crafts activity led by Make It Too’s Sharona Hoffman, an acrobatic performance by stunt-comedian Wacky Chad, and music by #DJDOVI. Dinner was catered by Carlos and Gabby’s; lighting was arranged by Meir Kolko. “Chanukah is the festival of lights and this evening we enabled kids and families struggling through the darkness to feel appreciated and loved,” said Andy Lauber, director of

i-Shine Five Towns. “Special thanks to i-Shine Five Towns co-directors Stacey Zrihen, Sheri Hammer and Annette Kaufman; Gila Koplowitz for arranging and packaging the toy gifts for the families; our corporate sponsor at SMC Returns; and to all our generous donors who contributed to creating a lively and inspirational Chanukah party for all.”

PHOTOS BY JASON MEYER FOR JERRY MEYER STUDIO

Fun & Friendships at MSH

ecember has been a busy month at Midreshet Shalhevet High School with a plethora of academic competitions, athletic activities, and community building programs. The Torah Bowl and Mathlete teams competed in the Yeshiva League meets with the Torah Bowl team dominating and winning every round of competition. MSH athletes continue to shine with the Sabers varsity basketball team’s win last week. Broadway lovers headed to NYC to watch a performance of the classic Wicked where ninth grade student Yehudit Tolchin explained that she “loved the production the first time she saw it, but it was even more fun to watch the musical this time around surrounded by friends.” The theme of unexpected friendships and seeing

the good in everyone resonated with our ninth grade students who are currently cultivating lifelong friendships during their first semester at MSH. Ninth grader Shany Steinberg expounded upon this concept while describing our annual “Freshman Fun Day” which began with swimming in an indoor pool followed by a delicious brunch at the Knoll home, one of MSH’s founding families. “As much as Shabbaton in the beginning of the year was fun because we were developing friendships, it was really special for us freshmen to have a day together away from the daily stress of school, where we could just have fun together.” After their delicious meal, the ninth graders headed to a local store where they participated in a scavenger hunt with the exciting event culminating in the students

performing skits for one another incorporating the items purchased during the scavenger hunt. A school-wide Twister Tournament capped off these busy days. Tenth grader Sara Gross loved competing in the tournament where she qualified for the final round of competition. “It was really fun and

I enjoyed competing in a chilled way with my friends,” she said. While the past couple of weeks have been filled with fun, competitions and excitement, MSH’s students are now setting their eyes on the beauty of celebrating Chanukah together.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Support our respectable individuals who recite the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day!

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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MTA Seniors Visit Beth Din of America By Shua Pariser

n Wednesday, December 18, MTA’s Senior Yeshiva Fellowship Cohort and their mashgiach, Rabbi Mendelson, visited the Beth Din of America, where they heard from active member Rabbi Shlomo Weissman. Rabbi Weissman explained everything the beth din does, including the three types of cases they hear: matrimonial,

monetary, and proof of ancestry. Learning was brought to life for the talmidim on this incredible ed-

Tefillin Awareness at YFR

ucational experience, as they saw all of the tools the beth din uses, including a real chalitza shoe. The talmi-

Chai Lifeline Family Chanukah Party

O Y

eshiva of Far Rockaway, with the presence of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yechiel Perr, shlita, and its Menahel Rabbi Mordechai Miller, had the special opportunity to host the Tefillin Awareness Project, also known as Hanacha K’Halacha, with six sofrim present. It gave everyone involved a new perspective and understanding of mitzvas tefillin. The bochurim and

hanhala showed much appreciation and are looking forward to a future visit. Over 660 locations to-date and future programs are scheduled for shuls and yeshivas in the metropolitan area as well as in Toronto and across Florida. To learn more, email Tefillinawareness@gmail.com or call 646-7762220.

dim and Rabbi Mendelson ended the trip with an enjoyable lunch at Mr. Broadway.

n Tuesday night, December 17, Chai Lifeline hosted its annual Family Chanukah Party at The Palace in Brooklyn. More than 1,500 people were in attendance, including Chai Lifeline children, families, volunteers and staff. One hundred and fifty families received special Chanukah presents from generous donors. In total, more than 50,000 toys will be distributed to Chai Lifeline children and families around the world this Chanukah season. The evening’s entertainment included performances by Benny Friedman and Uri Davidi, accompanied by Freilich orchestra. The party’s elaborate décor was generously provided by Luxe. Special thank you to Ruchie Waldman, Gershey Moskowitz and Shulem Schwartz for all their assistance in arranging the event.

“Throughout the year, Chai Lifeline is there for children and families during their darkest hours,” said Chai Lifeline CEO Rabbi Simcha Scholar. “Our dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to brighten lives which have been dimmed by illness or loss, and there is no better time to spread that joy and hope than Chanukah.” “The annual Chanukah party is a wonderful opportunity for our New York area families to get together, enjoy themselves and be inspired,” said Rabbi Mordechai Gobioff, Chai Lifeline national director of client services. “It’s also an important reminder for them they are not alone in battling their child’s illness and that there’s a community of support there for them.” Learn more about Chai Lifeline at www.chailifeline.org.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Mr. and Mrs. Shia Ostreicher Guests of Honor at Yeshiva Darchei Torah Dinner

eshiva Darchei Torah’s 47 th anniversary dinner will take place on Sunday, January 12 at the Yeshiva. The evening will include the presentation of five awards, including one to Mr. and Mrs. Shia and Elana Ostreicher, guests of honor. Shia and Elana Ostreicher truly exemplify the ideals of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Their dedication to creating a home where limud haTorah is paramount, as well as their sincerity and uncompromising ehrlichkeit, is a proud legacy they carry from their illustrious parents. Shia is a native of Borough Park, where his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim and Chava Ostreicher, survivors of pre-war Europe, raised him with old-world values. He attended Yeshivas Novominsk, then Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Touro College. Today, he is the chief financial officer at Read Property Group, a real-estate development company, but his passion and first priority is limud haTorah. He is also a dedicated community activ-

ist, giving back to his community in so many ways; he lends his time and talents to assist many organizations, including the Emergency Parnassah Initiative and the Loan Gemach and is an active board member of Be’er Hagolah and Kesher Sarah. His devoted wife, Elana, grew up in Kew Gardens, where her parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe, a”h, and tbl”c, Miriam Dembitzer, similarly raised her with rock-solid ideals. Her father, a distinguished talmid chacham, inspired her with his love of learning, and she and her husband have built their home upon the same Torah foundation that she experienced in her parents’ home. Elana attended Yeshiva of Brooklyn and then continued on to BYA Seminary and Touro College. Today, she is a dedicated wife and mother and a ba’alas chesed in her own right, who seeks to quietly and efficiently assist others in a myriad of ways. The Ostreichers are the proud parents of Malka, a graduate of TAG, who is currently completing her BA during

her second year in Me’ohr Seminary; Moshe Tzvi, a tenth grader in Mesivta Chaim Shlomo; and Efraim Dov, a seventh grader in Yeshiva Darchei Torah. They gratefully acknowledge the impact Rav Yaakov Bender has had on their sons – and indeed – on the entire community and stand in awe of the way he has revolutionized chinuch in our time. As veteran parents of Yeshiva Darchei Torah talmidim, they recognize that the Yeshiva is so much more than a school – it is a family. In their own words: “When you enter its environs, you truly feel as if you are coming home. And somehow, although it is a large mosad, it is still a warm, homey, comfortable place for all who are privileged to be part of its network.” They have also seen how the staff truly fulfills the dictum of “chanoch l’na’ar al pi darko,” an especially impressive feat for a school that is growing so rapidly. Yeshiva Darchei Torah is proud to partner with Mr. and Mrs. Shia Ostre-

icher in passing on their beautiful mesorah and Torah ideals to their children and will be honored to recognize this exceptional couple as this year’s Guests of Honor. The other awardees at this year’s dinner will be: Rabbi Joel Beritz, Architect of Jewish Education Award; Mr. and Mrs. Carmi and Katie Gruenbaum, Kesser Shem Tov Award; Mr. and Mrs. Yitzchok and Shayna Steg, Parents of the Year; and Rabbi and Mrs. Shimon and Tova Finkelman, Harbotzas Torah Award. For reservations and journal ads, please call 718-868-2300 ext. 301; email dinner@darchei.org; or visit Darchei.org/dinner.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

YOSS Visits HASC

n the first day of Chanukah, the eighth grade students at Yeshiva of South Shore went on a chessed trip to HASC in Brooklyn. The students went with the mindset of spreading Simcha on the yom tov of Chanukah. The students were overwhelmed with excitement and emotion for this special opportunity. There was singing and dancing and a wonderful ruach of happiness that permeated throughout every student who participated in this special mitzvah. Although the students went with the mindset of giving, and doing chessed, the students learned so much from this experience. The experience helped them gain a deep appreciation for life in general, as well as building their sensitivity towards other people.

Chanukah at HALB Lev Chana

wo weeks of Chanukah fun fills the halls at HALB Lev Chana. The children are immersed across the curriculum in Chanukah activities: graphing dreidel spins landing on nun, gimmel, hay, or shin; discovering how long a candle will stay lit with limited oxygen; painting with oil and wondering if there is any liquid oil mixes with; re-

inforcing sight words while reading Chanukah-leveled readers authored by Lev Chana teachers; limitless arts and crafts projects enjoyed with parents at Chanukah workshops; frying scrumptious latkes; baking delicious cookies; and singing and dancing at Chanukah chagigot. It’s no wonder that children, parents and teachers alike love Chanukah!

Atara Schmeltz (TAG kindergarten) raised money making many bake sales to buy teddy bears for children being transported by Hatzalah to comfort them. Pictured above is Atara, her brother Yitzchak (YOSS first grade), and their uncle, Dovid Gerber (RL 87), along with 30 teddy bears.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Around the Community

New Program to Help Retain the Daf

ormer Five Towns resident Barry Lebovits knows firsthand the struggle to retain what is learned when one is doing Daf Yomi. The pace is very quick and material is so vast that even holding onto small pieces can be quite a challenge. For the past few years, Barry has been giving an early morning daf shiur for commuters at a shul in Manhattan, one block from Penn Station. He says, “It’s always about the time of the siyum Hashas, when lomdei daf hayomi look back and see how little they were able to retain, that frustration sets in.” For some, it’s a feeling that is just accepted and the daf continues, but for others it can lead to eventually dropping the limud HaDaf entirely. Barry, together with fellow Passaic, NJ resident, Rabbi Avrohom Goldhar, have decided to launch a free program to enable better Daf Yomi retention. The program, which has been named Zichru, will be an app that will be housed on the about to be launched OU’s AllDaf app.

Zichru is based on Avrohom’s life work as a memory expert and teaching coach. Avrohom has spoken in schools all over the world, helping thousands of students learn how to better study and retain the materials that they learn. Zichru applies these organizational methods to Daf Hayomi. Barry and Avrohom passionately believe that thru Zichru, lomdei hadaf can get a much greater return on investment from their daily commitment. Zichru is based on a combination of three different strategies. Map out the Masechta and individual perakim with big picture overviews so the Daf is learned in context. Use a powerful memory technique to create Daf Simanim, linking key topics to their specific Daf. Provide ongoing coaching to help Zichru participants improve their memory and achieve long term mastery.

Importantly, Zichru requires just 5-10 minutes a day. That’s all. In short order, participants will begin to remember the three main points of every daf and know which daf those points appear on. Barry and Avrohom strongly believe that those that use Zichru will get that “million dollar feeling,” that sense of astonishment that comes when participants see for themselves that they can easily review and remember the material and know the exact Daf when quoting a point. Chazal urges us to focus on learning retention. In fact, the Gemara is filled with simanim that were used regularly as tools to help ensure that it was not forgotten, particularly in the days when Torah SheBal Peh was transmitted orally. A monumental

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event, such as the upcoming Siyum Hashas on January 1 at MetLife stadium, is an opportune time to raise the level of learning of the Daf and for all participants to commit to some form of chazara to enable better retention. In order to encourage lomdei daf hayomi to prove to themselves that these goals are totally within their grasp, Zichru is asking anyone that does the daf sign up for the 12-Day Challenge and learn more about Zichru by going to www.zichru.com.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island Annual Dinner

ith much anticipation, we are preparing for the YKLI Annual Dinner on Monday, January 6. This evening has proven to be a delightful event, where our parent body has the opportunity to express hakaras hatov to the rebbeim, teachers, and staff members who invest their kochos in the shared mission of raising b’nei aliyah. At Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, every student is recognized for his individuality and thrives in the personalized attention provided by our team of educators. The Dinner evening provides a glimpse into the daily experiences of the talmidim and an opportunity for the beneficiaries of our exceptional faculty to share their appreciation. As we celebrate our 24th year of chinuch habanim, we reflect on the growth and development the yeshiva has undergone in becoming a premier Torah institution. A trademark of Yeshiva Ketana is that we are never static, as we continually seek to advance and improve. For over two decades, while we have set an example of excellence, we have never rested on our laurels or been satisfied with the status quo. The Journal Dinner, at the beautiful Sands Atlantic Beach, is the ultimate experience of achdus. By joining us for the cocktail hour at 7 p.m., enjoying the Dinner and honoree presentations at 8 p.m., and remaining for Maariv and dessert, you will be conveying your appreciation for the individuals who are directly responsible for your child’s chinuch. The program promises to be an exciting one, and your participation as well as your presence will contribute to the evening’s success.

Rabbi & Mrs. Yaakov Hersh Rabbi Hersh is nothing short of a legend at YKLI. His classroom bursts with the melodies of tefillah and chants of Gemara, while the boys dance in circles or shukkel on chairs. Ivdu es Hashem b’simcha comes to life for every talmid who passes through 5H. The potentially daunting experience of learning Gemara for the first time becomes attainable and thrilling through Rabbi Hersh’s nuanced and sensitive teaching style. Though primarily associated with the excitement he creates, Rabbi Hersh’s boys know that the absolute non-negotiable standard in his class is good middos. The boys are held accountable for their honesty through their independent recording of “points” towards prizes they earn from the “store.” Rabbi Hersh stays involved in recess leagues with a firm hand as quarterback, ensuring achdus and sportsmanship. Founder and director of Camp Areivim and Camp Areivos as well as the Motzei Shabbos Learning Program, Rabbi Hersh brings ruach and Torah to community children 12 months a year. His sons, Eli and Shimi, are proud YKLI students, while YKLI alum Avrumi, currently learning at Rav Aryeh Rubenstein’s Yeshiva in Lakewood, made the bold choice to switch classes in fifth grade for the privilege of having his father as a rebbe. Talmidim can fully acquire Torah when their spiritual, physical, social, and emotional needs are met. A rebbe invested in the success of his students across all these domains, Rabbi Hersh is a master marbitz To-

rah and truly worthy of the legendary reputation he carries. Mr. & Mrs. Pinky Friedman Our Hakaras Hatov awardees, Mr. and Mrs. Pinky and Miri Friedman, were infused from an early age with the habits of chessed they currently display. Their childhood homes were open to anyone in need, and their parents were constantly involved with giving to their respective communities in all types of tzarchei tzibbur. Mr. Friedman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moishe Friedman, was raised in Brooklyn and learned in Torah V’daath, Waterbury Bais Midrash, and Yagdil Torah in Eretz Yisroel. Mrs. Friedman, daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Adrian Garbacz, is a native of Far Rockaway and attended TAG and Michlala before earning a doctorate of Physical Therapy from SUNY Downstate. Since their teenage years, they have both been prominently involved in Chai Lifeline, and they remain active today by participating in events and hosting Shabbatonim. They feel that the chinuch their children receive by being included in these events and experiencing the act of giving is of utmost importance and has had a profound impact on each one. Since they settled in the Five Towns, the Friedmans have used their kochos in many areas of community support. Mrs. Friedman, a women’s health clinical specialist, is active in ATIME’s Chava Initiative. Together with Ohel, the Friedmans launched the program Sign of Strength to bring awareness and remove the stigma from anxiety and other mental health issues faced by children and adults. As parents to Yehuda, they have been available for any of the Yeshiva’s needs, and their parents have been instrumental in increasing grandparent participation as well. As Yehuda prepares to graduate

after eleven years in YKLI, the Friedmans feel tremendous gratitude towards Rabbi Krigsman and all the rebbeim and teachers who have partnered with them in his chinuch. They recognize every individual who enthusiastically guided Yehuda and his classmates. They are makir tov to Yeshiva Ketana for instilling the fundamentals of Yiddishkeit and lifelong skills into each student. YKLI proudly recognizes the Friedmans with Hakaras Hatov in return, for their partnership as Yehuda’s parents, and their wonderful acts of chessed in the community. Mr. & Mrs. Dovid Solomon Mr. & Mrs. Solomon are well-deserving of the Kesser Shem Tov Award. They are always looking to help with hachzakas haTorah and general community causes and, more specifically, with Yeshiva Ketana. Despite their proactive approach to community partnership, they run from the limelight and public fanfare. Mr. Solomon referred to the work of chinuch habonim as “kodesh kodashim.” This appreciation of our Yeshiva’s mission is evident in their approach to how they raise their children and with the close relationships they maintain with their children’s rabbeim and moros. While Mrs. Solomon is involved in numerous organizations and chassadim, she manages to make the recipients feel as if they’re the ones doing the favor. Always with a smile and warm word, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon’s vivacious, friendly personalities are coated with a layer of gratitude in all interactions. The Solomon home is open and inviting, and regularly offered to host school events. Their Kesser Shem Tov shines through their children and the entire community.

The tallest stack of doughnuts contained a whopping 3,100 doughnuts in December 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Spec ial C Supp HANUKA leme nt H

‫שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה‬

S4 S8 S12

The World That Is or the World that Could Be by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Chanukah: A Kiss from Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein Liquid Gold by Rafi Sackville

S16

How the Gulag Judge Lit the Menorah by Asharon Baltazar

S22

Layers of Love and Real Life Cooking TJH Speaks with Cookbook Author and Blogger Miriam Pascal

Artwork by Bailey Burg, TAG H.S.; Instructor Rebbetzin Naomi N. Hertzberg-Flaum

S28

A Taste of More Real Life Kosher Cooking by Miriam Pascal

S34

Chanukah Around Town TJH Readers’ Chanukah Photo Essay

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

From the Fire

Parshas Mikeitz Shabbos Chanukah The World That Is or the World that Could be By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

Artwork by Yael Jasse, TAG H.S.; Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg-Flaum, instructor

e find a unique halacha with regard to the Chanukah candles that does not exist anywhere else. According to the Gemara (Sukkah 41a), if one is walking down the street and sees a lit menorah, he should say the blessing, “Who has done miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.” Tosafos offer three reasons to explain why this is only the case with regard to the mitzvah of Chanukah candles, the first of which is that it is because of “the preciousness of the miracle.” Let us understand an additional reason why we make a blessing even when we merely see Chanukah candles without actually lighting them. What is the unique connection be-

tween Chanukah and the concept of seeing such that one can make a blessing just by seeing the Chanukah candles? The Divrei Chaim of Tzanz teaches that the primary element of the mitzvah of Chanukah candles is seeing the candles. He was even known to sit and watch the Chanukah candles for six or seven hours without ever averting his attention from them. He explains that this is the deeper meaning of the phrase in “Haneros Halalu,” in which we say after lighting the candles: “And we do not have permission to use [the candles]. Rather, we may only see them.” The Avodas Yisroel of Kuzhnitz says that gazing at the Chanukah candles can repair the spiri-

tual damage done to our eyes when we look at forbidden sights. The Chanukah candles are the manifestation of (Tehilim 97:11) the “light sown for the righteous.” And the “righteous” is a reference to Yosef Hatzaddik, who was known for being extremely careful to ensure that his eyes saw only appropriate sights. Why is seeing such an important concept on Chanukah? The Divrei Chaim explains: In truth, if one follows that which his eyes see, he will, G-d forbid, fall into [the evil inclination’s] trap. As the pasuk (Bamidbar 15:39) says, “And you shall not stray… after your eyes.” The main thing is to distinguish mat-

ters using the intellect. This is also called “seeing,” as Chazal (Kesubos 109a) say, “I see the words of Admon.” This means the sight of the intellect because the intellect, chachma, means the ability, koach, to see what, mah, something truly is. It is the ability to truly see. And the Greeks wanted to seduce our hearts to forget the words of the Torah and to follow that which nature can see, as we know about their foolish ways. In this way, they attempted to darken the eyes of the Jewish people (Bereishis Raba 2:4). We see from the Divrei Chaim that there are two types of “seeing.” One way is to see things which

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are physically before his physical eyes and the other is to see something with the power of the intellect, with one’s wisdom. Rav Avremela Eiger, z”ya, the son of Reb Leibele Eiger, zy”a, who was the grandson of Reb Akiva Eiger, zt”l, explains a phrase we say in the Korbanos every Shabbos morning in his sefer Shevet MiYehuda, “And every eye hopes to You.” He explains that this means that every eye hopes, waits, and longs for G-d. He also explains how the Torah uses the word “ayin, eye” to refer to the wellspring, ain ha’mayim, throughout the story leading up to the marriage between Yitzchak and Rivka, the first “shidduch” process mentioned in the Torah. On a simple level, the ain ha’mayim, wellspring, refers to the well. But on a deeper level, Eliezer was “testing” Rivka to see what kind of eyes she had. Did she look at the world with physical eyes or with the eyes of “and every eye hopes to You”? The light of Chanukah does not illuminate the physical world. Rather, it lights up the potential that exists inside things, beneath the surface. When a person opens his physical eyes, he only sees what is in front of him. But if he wants to see something far away, he squints his eyes, almost closing them. Why? Because by closing his eyes to that which is right before him, he is able to see much further and much deeper. He can see potential which has not yet been actualized. While the sun can only shed light on that which is, the Chanukah candles show us that which we desire and long for, what we can become. Although Greece fancied itself the most “enlightened” nation, Chazal revealed (Bereishis Raba 2:4) that Greece represents the deepest darkness because they attempted to “darken the eyes of the Jewish people.” They attempted to convince us that we can only rely on that which our physical eyes can see. From that perspective, the Jewish people have no hope. If one looks only at what his eyes can see, he sees that we have no future. If one sees the world according to what he reads in the Pew Survey, he would lose hope. If Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohein Gadol and his sons only considered the physical nature before their eyes, they would

never have taken up arms against the Greeks! Only tzaddikim who look at the world with the eyes of “and every eye hopes to You” have the deeper vision to see the world as it could be. Not the world as it is. When one sees the Chanukah candles, he makes the blessing, “Who did miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.” On one hand, this means that Hashem did miracles in the past for our great-grandparents at this time of the year. But on a deeper level, “in those days” refers to the light of the times of Moshiach, as the pasuk (Tehillim 132:17) says, “I have set up a candle for My Moshiach.” When we gaze at the Chanukah candles, we look into the future and draw the reality from that great future “in those

neath the filth of Egypt. Although the daughters of the land were clamoring to gaze at Yosef’s face (ibid.), he never looked at them. He was able to see his father’s image in the depths of the impurity of Egypt (Rashi on Bereishis 39:11). The Midrash teaches us (Bamidbar Raba 14:6) that Hashem repaid Yosef for his eyes’ greatness in a remarkable way. According to the Midrash, “Our sages taught that people ate minor sanctified foods within the walls of Yerushalayim, but [with regard to eating minor sanctified foods from the Mishkan] in Shilo, which was on Yosef’s portion [of Eretz Yisroel], they would eat them ‘as far as one can see [the Mishkan]’” (emphasis added). The Gemara (Zevachim 118b) expands on this idea, teach-

It lights up the potential that exists inside things, beneath the surface.

days” into “at this time.” We actualize that future right now. Rebbe Nachman even teaches (Likutei Moharan Tinyana 7) that the mitzvah of the Chanukah candles rectifies the sin of the spies who looked at Eretz Yisroel with their physical eyes instead of squinting to see the land with the eyes of the intellect. They saw only what was, but not what could be and what would be.

Yosef Hatzaddik Yosef Hatzaddik exemplified this Chanukah-dik outlook. The Torah (Bereishis 49:22) describes him by saying, “A charming son is Yosef, charming to, alei, the eyes.” The word used to describe how Yosef was charming to the eyes also means that he rose above, alei, the eyes. He looked above and beyond that which was in front of him. He saw the world as it could be and not as it was. He did not look at the wife of Potifar. He did not look at his suffering. Despite everything in front of his eyes, he saw greatness and holiness under-

ing that “‘a charming son is Yosef, charming to the eyes”; the eye which did not want to benefit from something which does not belong to it will merit to eat “as far as one can see.’” Reb Shlomo Katz quotes a story recounted by Reb Shlomo Carlebach about Reb Boruch Mezhbitzer, zy”a. In it, Reb Boruch traveled to Zhitomer, a town known as having a large population of thieves. As he was walking, he saw a man on the other side of the street who appeared to have a shining face. He immediately walked over to him and asked if he had a son. He answered that he did. Reb Boruch responded that he had a daughter. “Do you want to make a shidduch?” Stunned, the man paused for a minute. Reb Boruch’s gabbai was shocked as well and people began to gather around. But the man responded that he agreed. Reb Boruch began drafting the tenaim, the engagement contract, on the spot. After the agreement was signed, he went on his way but the people of Zhitomer felt an obligation to tell Reb

Boruch that the man with whom he made a shidduch had a checkered past. The townspeople told Reb Boruch that, several years earlier, this man was accused of stealing something from another family. He was then tied to the back of a wagon and dragged around the town while the Jews and non-Jews of the town pelted him with garbage. But Reb Boruch paid them no mind, telling them, “I know good merchandise when I see it.” Before leaving, he went to pay a visit to the widow of a great tzaddik who used to live in the town, Reb Volf of Zhitomer, known by the name of this sefer, the Ohr Meir. When he was speaking with her, she wished him a hearty mazal tov on the shidduch. So Reb Boruch said, “Not everyone here believes that this is such a good shidduch. Why do you think it’s a good match?” Reb Volf ’s widow answered, “When that Jew was being dragged around the streets, my husband and I were watching from this window. He said to me, ‘That man is innocent. The thief was actually a poor man who was desperate. This man knew that the poor man could not withstand the town’s abuse so he decided to take the blame. And if you do not believe me, you will see that some years from now, a big tzaddik will come to town and make a shidduch with this man.’” Tzaddikim like Reb Volf of Zhitomer and Reb Boruch Mezhbitzer have eyes that look beneath the surface at the inner essence of things. They look at the world with the light of the Chanukah candles, not the light of the sun. On Chanukah, we must daven to gain the ability to see the good and the potential within everything and not only at what things appear to be externally. We must daven for the ability to look at ourselves, our wives and husbands, our children, and all Jewish people with the eyes of Yosef Hatzaddik, the eyes of “in those days at this time,” the inner perspective of “and every eye hopes to You.” Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.

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Chanukah A Kiss from Hashem By Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

erhaps the most wellknown statement in all of Shas, the most celebrated two words in the entire Talmud Bavli, is found in Maseches Shabbos: Mai Chanukah? What is Chanukah? What was the miracle that we commemorate during the eight days of Chanukah? The Gemara relates that the Yevanim entered the Heichal and defiled all the flasks of oil. The Chashmonaim prevailed in battle, and after military victory, the Chashmonaim searched for and eventually found a single flask of oil that was sealed with the sign of the Kohen Gadol. The flask contained enough oil to kindle the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. The Gemara continues: “The following year they established these days as a yom tov to be celebrated with Hallel and expressions of gratitude to Hashem.”

The Gemara is saying that on Chanukah we are celebrating the miracle of the oil. And yet, to say that the outstanding feature of Chanukah is the miracle of the oil is surprising, because historically we know that the Jewish people were fighting for survival. The Yevanim sought to destroy Judaism as we know it, and, in fact, the tefillah of Al HaNissim that we recite on Chanukah reads: “When the wicked kingdom of Greece rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to stray from the laws of Your will, You, with great mercy stood by them in the time of their distress.” Hashem performed great military miracles: “You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few.” Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt”l, alerts us to the apparent contradiction that from Al HaNissim it is quite clear that the main miracle of

Chanukah was the military victory, as there is not a single word mentioned about the miracle of the oil – and yet the miracle of the oil is the sole cause of celebration mentioned in the Gemara. Let us add the well-known question of the Pnei Yehoshua and the Chacham Tzvi: why was the miracle of the oil even necessary, as we have a principle that tumah hutra b’tzibbur; i.e., if the majority of Klal Yisrael is tamei, it is permitted to perform the Avodah, the Temple service, in that state of impurity. For what purpose, then, did Hashem make a small amount of oil last much longer than it should have? Why did Hashem perform what seems to have been an unnecessary miracle? This would lead us to believe that the primary cause for celebration should be the miracle of the military campaign. That was the miracle that saved our lives, a miracle that was

very much needed. But the Gemara makes no mention of the success of the Chashmonaim army over that of the Yevanim! Rather, all the Gemara mentions is the miracle of the shemen that lasted for eight days.

Yosef’s Spices

When Yosef HaTzaddik was sold down to Mitzrayim, the pasuk states, “Behold! A caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gielad, their camels bearing spices, balsam, and lotus on their way to bring them down to Mitzrayim” (Bereishis 37:25). Chazal comment that Arab caravans were not known to have the most pleasant aroma. Yishmaelim were usually engaged in the transport of hides and tar, the most putrid-smelling substances. The Midrash therefore wonders what happened that in this case, when Yosef was being sold, the Yishmaelim were carrying pleasantly scented spices? The Midrash therefore com-

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ments, “Look how far Hashem went to prepare comforts for Yosef HaTzaddik. He arranged an unusual form of transport for him: a caravan transporting cargo with the most fragrant aromas.” What exactly are Chazal trying to convey? Yosef had just been on top of the world, the favorite son of Yaakov Avinu. He was given the royal garment, the kesones pasim. The Torah that Yaakov had learned in the yeshivah of Shem and Ever was transmitted to Yosef. Yosef was subsequently stripped of all privilege, sold as a slave, and sent to the land of Egypt, the most immoral and degenerate society in the world. It was a land of tumah, a land completely sealed off, from whence no slave had ever escaped. He had been sold to Arabs; his world as he had known it had come crashing down. Yosef could not have cared what it smelled like! That would have been the last thing on his mind. What did Hashem accomplish by making it pleasantly smelling for Yosef? It would seem to have been a pointless exercise!

Springtime Exodus

When the Bnei Yisrael were leaving Mitzrayim, the Ribbono Shel Olam emphasized, “Today you are leaving, in the month of springtime” (Shemos 13:4). Rashi is troubled by this passage. The Bnei Yisrael knew they were leaving, and they knew what season it was. What message was Hashem conveying to them by He telling them that it was spring? Hashem was calling attention to the fact that it was not in the freezing cold of the winter when they left Mitzrayim, and it was not in the heat and humidity of the summer. “Look what a great favor I am doing for you – I am taking you out on a beautiful spring day. Enjoy the weather – it is not raining, snowing, or even cold.” This is what is meant by motzei asirim b’kosharos, He releases those bound in fetters (Tehillim 68;7); but it can be interpreted, Hashem frees prisoners at the right time. Now, let’s think about this for a moment. The Jews had just suffered for two hundred ten years in slave labor. There were tortured and

harassed, and their children were murdered. Two-million-four-hundred-thousand Jews died in Mitzrayim. Babies were tossed into the Nile River, and infants were used in place of bricks, filling the gaps in the cement walls of the structures being built. It was a holocaust. And Hashem is talking about the weather? At that point, Klal Yisrael did not care about it being springtime. They were slaves and they just wanted to get out. My grandfather was liberated from the death camp in 1945. After everything he suffered through – witnessing his friends and family murdered and gassed right before his eyes – do you think he cared about the weather when he was liberated? Imagine, if someone had told him, “Oh, look, what a beautiful day it is,” his response may likely have been,

which they left Mitzrayim, then, the weather outside this “bubble,” would not have mattered to them! Once they had been given the Ananei HaKavod, the weather would have been irrelevant. The only time during which the Bnei Yisrael would have been able to experience the comfortable weather was from the time they left Ramses until they arrived in Succos. How long did it take for them to get from Ramses to Succos? Rashi (Shemos 12:37) writes that it was a distance of 120 mil, which is a substantial distance that would normally take a while to cross. However, Rashi explains that another miracle occurred and that they arrived in Succos immediately. As the pasuk says, “I have borne you on the wings of eagles” (ibid., 13:4). The trip could not have lasted more than eighteen

Our survival as a People, as a nation, is a gift from Hashem. “What’s this nonsense about the weather? Just get me out of this Gehinnom!” Furthermore, it is important to note the duration of time that the Bnei Yisrael would actually be enjoying this beautiful spring weather. The Bnei Yisrael were stationed in Ramses at that time. Rashi (Shemos 19:4) states that at the moment that Hashem told them to leave, the entire nation was miraculously transported to Ramses. From there they traveled to Succos. The Targum Yonasan ben Uziel says that the moment the Bnei Yisrael arrive in Succos, Hashem surrounded them with the Ananei HaKavod. These Clouds of Glory enveloped the Jews in something like a climate-controlled bubble, where they enjoyed continual comfortable temperatures. The season during

minutes. They had kneaded their dough in Ramses, and the dough had not become chametz by the time they arrived at Succos. So, the comment that stresses leaving in the spring concerns only a maximum of seventeen minutes of pleasant weather. Do we really think that after the holocaust of the shibbud Mitzrayim a Jew would care about the temperature? They were just relieved that they would no longer be tortured and brutalized! Of what significance are the seventeen minutes of balmy spring weather?

Gift Wrap and a Bow

When considering Yosef HaTzaddik, says Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, it was not just about a good-smelling transport. It was more than just spic-

es and perfumes. As Yosef’s world was crashing down, he was likely to completely fall apart and give up hope. Yosef might have thought that Hashem had cast him aside, that the Ribbono Shel Olam was ignoring and abandoning him. He may have felt that Hashem no longer cared about him. At this tragic juncture in time, Hashem was sending Yosef a powerful message. “No, Yosef, I am here, I am with you, I have not forgotten or forsaken you. I am holding your hand. I am going down to Mitzrayim together with you. As I told your father Yaakov, ‘I shall descend with you to Egypt’ (Bereishis 46:3).” The sweet smell of perfume was a ray of light in Yosef’s dark world. It was a beacon of hope that would give Yosef the confidence and bitachon that he was not forsaken. What we learn, says Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, is that this was not just an isolated miracle so Yosef could experience a sweet smell. Rather, the miracle of the fragrant aromas would illuminate the entire experience of Yosef’s descent to Mitzrayim. It would give Yosef the perspective that he was not being forgotten but rather that he was being sent on a mission and that Hashem is holding his hand and leading him down. Hashem gave the Bnei Yisrael the greatest gift by taking them out of Mitzrayim. But when you give someone a gift, as a sign of love and endearment, you don’t just give the gift. You wrap the gift in beautiful wrapping paper. You tie a pretty ribbon around it; you make a nice bow. Not that these make the gift more valuable; the retail value of the gift remains exactly the same. The wrapping paper, the ribbon, the bow — these make the gift that much more special. They show love, they demonstrate ahava, they add an intangible touch. The Ribbono Shel Olam gave Klal Yisrael the most wonderful gift that any nation had ever received. He took an entire nation that was enslaved in a country from which no one had ever escaped and had them march out in broad daylight. But Hashem said, “This gift is not enough. Let Me wrap the gift, let Me put a ribbon around it. I won’t just take you out – I will

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

take you out in the spring, when the weather is nice.” That’s the wrapping paper, that’s the loving presentation of the gift (Rav Simcha Zisel Broide). Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz compares this to a family who owned a valuable heirloom worth millions that had been in the family for hundreds of years. One day, this priceless artifact was noted to be missing. The frantic family was beside themselves, looking everywhere they could think of to locate the lost item. After an extensive search, one of the children located the jewel and held it high for all to see. The father ran over to the child, enveloped him in an embrace, kissed him, and thanked him profusely. The entire family was overjoyed because their precious heirloom had been recovered safely. The child who had actually found it, however, was not only happy for the find but was also basking in the glow of the warm and loving embrace he’d received from his father. In the grand scheme of things,

leaving Mitzrayim in good weather is not that important. But it is more than just the weather – it is the message it conveys. The weather is the wrapping paper and ribbon, it is the

danger, the future of the Torah was at stake. This was certainly the miracle the Bnei Yisrael required for survival. But that alone, explains Reb Chaim Shmuelevitz, does not show the ex-

The miracle of the oil was an embrace, a kiss, from Hashem. warm embrace, the ha’aras panim. It represents a hug and a kiss from the Ribbono Shel Olam. The military victory of the Chashmonaim was certainly the miracle that we needed. Our lives were in

tent of Hashem’s love for us. Of course, He had to save us — He is our Father, our Creator, and He gifted the Torah to us. Had the Ribbono Shel Olam not saved us, we would have ceased to exist as a People.

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Hashem did much more than merely save us. He wanted us to know, “I did not save you because I had to – I saved you because I love and cherish you!” Our survival as a People, as a nation, is a gift from Hashem. The miracles that were not needed, yet were lovingly performed by Hashem for us, are the special wrapping paper, the ribbon, and the bow. True, we could have used impure oil, since tumah hutra b’tzibbur. But to demonstrate His love for us, Hashem provided the pure oil that miraculously burned for eight days. Our physical and spiritual salvation was the gift. The miracle of the oil was the stunning presentation, the beautiful wrapping paper. It was the ha’aras panim. The miracle of the oil was an embrace, a kiss, from Hashem. And that is the greatest cause for celebration. Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the rav of Kehillas Ahavas Yisrael in Cedarhurst, NY.

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Liquid Gold By Rafi Sackville

aakov Avinu blessed his son Asher with bounty that would come from the Land of Israel. Rashi explains the bounty to mean olive oil in such abundance it would flow like a river. The Radak is more general in his interpretation; it’s not oil, he explains, rather that Asher would live off the fat of the land. Regardless of the approach, it is undeniable that Shevet Asher experienced great material success in their endeavors: they became instrumental in providing food for kings with produce of the highest quality. Not only has the blessing lasted for thousands of years, but the land in Israel to the east of Asher, the fertile area of the Golan, continues to reap reward from the yellow oil. Here in the north, one can find the very best quality of Israeli olive oil. Good requirements for olives are a rich growing area, a conducive climate and altitude, and an ample quality and quantity of water. Some of the best oil comes from the Golan, where the land is rich in basalt. After the chagim in Tishrei are over, the 50,000-plus acres of Israel’s olive groves become beehives of activity. Left unattended for most of the year, the trees are ready to bring

forth the fruits, the liquid gold of Yaakov Avinu’s blessing. It’s hard not to notice the olive trees in Israel. The road from Nahariya that runs up to Ma’a lot – where we live –and beyond is peppered with olive groves. During fall, the fields come alive with activity. Cars parked along the highways and backroads is the telltale sign that families are busy at harvest. You can see them shaking the olive trees and collecting the olives onto nets spread out around them. Extracting the oil can be a long and tedious business; olive oil is more expensive than other oils, and the process is far more exacting. The simplest and most effective means of extracting oil from olives is by compressing them much in the way one would squeeze an orange. The choicest time to harvest is when they are turning from green to a violet red. The best olive oil is compressed as soon after the harvest as possible. Left longer and the olive might suffer changes in oxidation or in its enzymatic structure. Each year, at the start of November, my neighbor, Shlomo, asks me if I’m interested in buying an 18-li-

ter jerry can of oil. He’s not the only person selling. You can drive to any Druze village, ask around, and be directed to a number of sellers who, before Chanukah, begin processing the olives. There is a friend I know who produces a few hundred liters of oil each year. He is eager to sell to me, but I demur and defer to Shlomo instead. He buys from David and Boaz Ankava from Moshav Eliad in the Southern Golan. Their brand, Meshek Ankava, has all the correct and acceptable kashrut certificates. An 18-liter jerry can weigh a little more than 36 pounds (16 kilos). It’s quite a shlep from Shlomo’s house to the car and again into the house, where we siphon the oil into glass bottles. Those 18 liters last us a year. The oil is cheaper than the supermarket brands. For lovers of olive oil, however, the taste is so rich, fruity and singular, that I often question whether the oil off the supermarket shelves is actually olive oil. In an August 2007 article, The New Yorker magazine reported that olive oil fraud is rampant throughout Europe and America. As late as 2012 the F.D.A. admitted they lacked the resources to police the olive trade. Despite the well-documented

accounts of olive oil adulteration with a mixture of different oils, it is not something we ever had to think about while living in New York. We always assumed we were buying a pure product. In retrospect, we might have cause to believe that what we were purchasing was at best a lower quality of product – at worst, adulterated. The oil we purchase from the Golan has a rich throaty taste. Its thick viscosity carries such a distinct pungency that is so vibrant it was as if we were tasting real olive oil for the first time.

informed Shlomo this year that I would be driving to the Golan to purchase the oil myself. I wanted to see the operation firsthand, and I wanted to meet the Ankavas and explore their world. So, on a brisk early December morning, we drove up to Moshav Eliad in the Golan some 50 kilometers away. David Ankava is 65 years old, yet he has the stamina and vigor of a younger man. He has a ruddy and rugged look about him. A man who has spent his working life in the sun, his eyes reveal a strong will and de-

TheJewish Jewish Home| DECEMBER | OCTOBER 29, The 25, 2015 2019 The JewishHome Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

David Ankava at the gravesite of his ancestor, Rabbi Rephael Ankava in Morocco

Eretz Gshur’s packaging factory where they bottle Meshek Ankava olive oil

The rows of olive trees are strategically planted for automated harvesting

termination to succeed. He comes from a line of famous Moroccan rabbis, particularly Rabbi Yisrael Ankava, whose mausoleum he was recently privileged to visit in Morocco. Born and raised in Haifa, David studied in the Kfar Galim agricultural school. When he was conscripted to the army, he joined the Nachal Brigade. The Moshav Movement sent him to where Moshav Eliad stands today. When asked what the area looked like when he first arrived, he smiled and said, “Rocks, snakes, wind, and a lot of mud.” After his first stint up north, David did basic training, after which he was sent to the Sinai for the duration of the Yom Kippur War. He returned to the then-kibbutz after the war and went to work with cattle. When I asked about his army service, he was keen to tell me about his father’s military service and noted one story in particular. His parents married just as the War of Independence was breaking out. At the time, David’s father was on duty. He requested permission for leave to marry. His commander agreed on the condition he return straight after the wedding. Upon his return, though, he discovered his base empty and the disturbing news that his fellow platoon members had all been killed. “Hashgacha pratit (under the guiding supervision of the Almighty)!” David is quick to exclaim before we return our attention to the

herd of cattle before us. David makes reference to the existence of cattle in this area (parot ha’Bashan) dating back to the time of the Tanach. When he moved to the Golan in the 1970s there were mainly Syrian cows roaming and grazing in the area. Eventually, the kibbutz – which in 1979 became a moshav – bought cows from Turkey and Europe. They concentrated on one particular breed: the Simmental, the most popular cow in Israel. It was around this time that David began a small business based on a simple ideology: Yishuv Eretz Yisrael and the highest quality product imaginable. His cattle are fed no additives or hormones like they are in America. In Israel, only 35% of meat is local. The rest comes from Portugal, Poland, Romania, and Australia. David’s claim that one can never know exactly what is on sale at the supermarket has been true for years. When you shop for meat in New York, do you know where the cows were fed or the length of time the meat is cooled or frozen? Once a week, three of David’s cows are sent to the slaughterhouse in Haifa. They are returned, butchered on the premises by an expert, packaged, and sold privately throughout the country. David is a practical man, keenly aware of the pitfalls of working in the agricultural sector which oftentimes finds itself in crisis. It is not uncom-

mon for either crops or the quality of meat to be subject to vagaries in the weather or the economy. Regardless of the circumstances they are faced with, and in order to remain relevant, the Ankavas concentrate on quality.

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Not wanting to place all his eggs in one basket, David began growing olives on 20 acres just down the road. Applying the same principles as his meat business, he considered growing olives as a return to the roots of this country, where olives

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have been grown for thousands of years. Furthermore, he wanted to ensure the oil he produced is pure. When we asked whether Israel is affected by olive oil adulteration, David raised his eyes and nodded. It is something that clearly upsets him. He described an eerily similar scenario as to the one raised by The New Yorker article. Without going into too much detail, he explained how there is a conflict of interests by those employed to maintain the highest standard of olive oil. There is little to no oversight, and no one checks importers or bottlers from point A to Z. David gave me one example that illustrates the problem the industry faces. In order for bottles of oil to be stamped “Made in Israel,” they only require the smallest amount of local oil be mixed into each bottle. He sighs when he describes how there are bottles readily available across the country stamped “Made in Israel,” but containing only a small percentage of local oil. As late as January 2018, there were widespread reports of adulterated oil finding its way onto many supermarket shelves. The Health Ministry said oils from overseas were detected in bottles found in supermarkets like Supersol. The bottled oils had been cold pressed. This makes it easier for fraud because cold pressed oil produces a higher quality, but less oil, thus requiring a smaller amount of the local product. Hot pressed oil will increase the percentage of oil, but on the other hand will cause the evaporation of the live flavor and odor and can impair the olive oil’s taste.

avid has three children. Boaz works on running the cattle and oil business and Yochai runs distribution, while Hila works finetuning their social media platforms. It was Boaz who greeted us as we drove into the visitor’s area. He must have been born with a ready smile and a temperament to match. He was patient with all the finicky questions I asked. Moreover, his calming presence only added to our positive experience. There are over two thousand varieties of olive oil. The Ankavas im-

The harvester

ported trees from Italy and Spain. They were chosen for the known high quality of their oil. Like grapes, the olive trees are not grown like they are in the rest of the country. Instead, they have been planted in rows very close together

runs around both sides of the trees. Hard plastic threshers shake the tree, causing the olives to fall onto the floor of the harvester. On the floor is a moving belt that directs the olives into two bins on either side of the machine.

As we siphon the oil into the bottles, our kitchen fills with a wonderful aroma that has more meaning to us than it did before our trip to the Golan. to prevent them from growing too tall. Were the trees allowed to grow too tall, the harvester would snap the upper branches. Unlike the primitive harvesting methods we watch as we drive around the hills of Ma’alot, the Ankavas and other growers in the area hire the services of a company that runs automated harvesting machines. A tractor drives between the rows while pulling a harvester that

As we were getting into David’s truck to drive to the fields to watch the harvesting process, a huge C-130 transport plane flew over us and banked. A few kilometers down the road we saw the plane on what is one of the shortest landing strips we had ever seen. It raced by us and took to the sky again just as we turned into the muddy fields. When we arrived in the middle of the grove, the operators were mak-

ing repairs to the plastic threshers. From behind the automated harvester looked like a shark’s mouth turned on its side. Once the harvester is full, a tractor pulls up alongside it. The harvester empties the olives onto the tractor bins, which makes its way down to the factory. After watching the machine at work, we drove back to the factory where the olives are pressed. All the olive growers in the area use the same factory and harvesters. As the olive harvesting season lasts only three months a year, the production schedule is tightly controlled. The process must be quick. The rule of thumb is that from the time the olives are harvested to the time they are turned into oil there is a window of only two to four hours before the oil develops an unwanted aftertaste and acidity. The oil being processed will be labeled “extra virgin.” Extra virgin is produced by mechanical means only and not by any chemical intervention. Each huge vat of olives is tipped onto a conveyor belt that runs it through a bath of pure water. They move through a vibrating bin that separates dirt, leaves, and twigs while the water is draining away. The clean olives are then transported into the factory proper and into a crusher. Before the birth of modern technology, the olives were crushed by an apparatus pulled by a donkey. Not so today. The mechanical crushers turn the olives and pits into paste. Once upon a time, the paste was stuffed into woven baskets, stacked one on top of another, and compressed onto a rock-based bottom under which sat a container. Today, the paste is mixed by augurs. The mixing process can be tricky and must be carefully monitored to prevent overheating. The goal is to separate the oil from the pulp. Although crushing breaks the olives, the oil remains within the pulp. The pulp is slowly mixed for no longer than 45 minutes. This causes the small drops of oil to coalesce and separate from the other components of the fruit. The mixture is then sent through a centrifuge that spins at a speed

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Left to right: Boaz and David Ankava and Rafi and Keren Sackville at the olive press

of 3,800 rpm. The oil is filtered out and proceeds on to the next stage of the production, while the pomace (the solid ingredients in the olive paste) and waste water, whose specific weight is higher, are transported through a separate exit. Before the oil is funneled into one-ton plastic containers, it goes through one last filter. We took plastic cups and filled them with shots of the warm oil. The oil looked a little cloudy, with an almost golden-green color. We took sips. It was quite unlike anything we had tasted before. Rich and fruity, it reinforced David’s belief in perfection and quality. Boaz explained that we couldn’t buy the oil on the same day it is pressed. Instead, it is brought back to the Eretz Gshur packaging plant, where it is kept in steel vats between 22°C and 24°C (71°F to 75°F) for a week. This gives the oil time to settle. Much of the thickness sinks to the bottom of the vats. It is then bottled in dark bottles to protect the oil from the sun’s ultraviolet light, which could lead to the oil losing its concentration and quality. Meshek Ankava oil comes in three flavors: Arbequina, has a full and fruity taste from olives originating in Spain; Korneiki is delicate in flavor with a herbaceous aroma; and Koratina carries a spicy, bitter taste with a herbaceous aroma. Korneiki and Koratina are derived from Italian species of olive.

e wait impatiently for the week to end when we take possession of our 18 liters of oil. As we siphon the oil into the bottles, our kitchen fills with a wonderful aroma that has more meaning to us than it did before our trip to the Golan. It is no surprise that Meshek Ankava olive oil has been awarded many prestigious prizes. In 2010 the Feinschmecker magazine in Germany named Meshek Ankava one of the top olive oils in the world. It recently won the award as the best olive oil in Israel. Its oil is Kosher LeMehadrin under the hashgacha of the religious council of Ramat HaGolan. The visitors center is open throughout the year. One can arrange a visit by calling 972-46764036. You can purchase their quality meat and olive oil around the country. You’ll find places to purchase it at their website at http:// www.eretz-gshur.co.il. It might be off the beaten track, but the olive oil and meat produced in the same area that has brought such blessing to the remarkable Ankava family only goes to prove the power of Yaakov Avinu’s blessing. It’s a blessing that hasn’t waned in strength after thousands of years.

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

How the Gulag Judge Lit the Menorah By Asharon Baltazar

epeatedly arrested for his “c ou nter -r e volutionary” ac t iv it ie s to preser ve the flickering flame of Judaism in the Soviet Union, Reb Mordechai Chanezin frequently found himself behind bars. His first sentence amounted to 10 years in a forced-labor camp. After his release, Reb Mordechai was again found guilty and punished with five more years. His third and final sentence resulted in six years. Overall, between the years 1935 and 1956, he spent 21 years in Soviet prisons and camps. In his short stints of freedom, he selflessly devoted himself to preserving Judaism behind the Iron Curtain. Among his many experiences, there was one story that he would tell again and again. As the Siberian winter deep-

ened, Chanukah came, and a group of young Jewish men, all prisoners of the Gulag, convened for a short meeting. The topic: how to obtain and light a secret menorah. One promised to supply margarine to be used as fuel. Some frayed threads from standard-issue camp garb would suffice as wicks. Even small cups to hold the margarine were procured from somewhere. Of course, all this was against camp regulations, and they all understood the implication of their actions should they be caught. Reb Mordechai was the eldest of the group of 18 men and was therefore honored to usher in the holiday by lighting the first candle. In the dead of night, in a small garden shed, the hardy crew crowded around their makeshift menorah and listened to Reb Mordechai’s emotional voice as he recited the first blessings, tears trickling down his cheeks. Reb Mordechai and his comrades gazed si-

lently at the small yellow light, each one recalling Chanukah in his parents’ home. The loud crash of the door opening shattered the men’s reverie. Camp guards rushed through the doorway and flooded the cramped space. The Jewish inmates were grabbed by brutish hands and shoved through the camp. When they reached a small dank cell, they were ordered to pile inside. The first to be brought to trial was the ringleader, Reb Mordechai. Inside the small courtroom, which consisted of the judge’s desk and a bench for the defendant, the proceedings were all but pro forma. Reb Mordechai had already predicted his indictment and solemnly awaited the verdict. “This is an act of treason,” said the prosecutor. “By lighting the candles, you intended to signal to enemy forces. The penalty for this is death.” The judge regarded the young

man standing in front of him. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Reb Mordechai’s heart pounded in his chest as he approached the judge. “Is it just me, or is it the rest of the group too?” “All of you,” enunciated the judge dryly. Reb Mordechai was devastated. The courtroom began to spin around him. Whatever indifference he was able to afford until then vanished in the terror-stricken realization that his fellow brothers would be led to their deaths. He blamed himself. Reb Mordechai burst into bitter tears, and for a few minutes he stood in front of the judge, sobbing uncontrollably. Years of crushing pain and pent-up emotions overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t be stopped. “Come close,” said the judge. Reb Mordechai took a step towards the judge’s desk. Softly, the

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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the Siberian wind. Sitting down, the judge reached for the buzzer on his table and summoned the guards. “Take this group of 18 men,” the judge barked, “and separate them, making sure that it would be impossible for them to see one another. There’s no point in killing them; they are not worth even one bullet.” The guards marched out, and Reb Mordechai was again left alone with the judge. The latter faced Reb Mordechai and said in a trembling voice, “I, too, am a Jew, and I beg you to make sure that the future genera-

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judge asked about his relatives, their means of livelihood, and other personal details. Reb Mordechai answered the judge’s inquires. “What do you have to say for yourself?” the judge pressed on. Mustering temerity he did not feel, Reb Mordechai addressed the judge, “We are Jews, and we lit the candles that night to observe the holiday of Chanukah.” “You lit Chanukah candles? You lit Chanukah candles?” the judge repeated to himself, clearly unsettled. “You don’t say…Chanukah candles.”

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Recomposing himself, the judge called to the two guards present in the courtroom and asked them to stand outside. When the door clicked closed, the judge turned his attention back to Reb Mordechai. “If you lit Chanukah candles, let me demonstrate the right way to light them.” Reb Mordechai watched the judge light a small lamp. Picking up the incriminating documents gingerly, with trembling hands, the judge slid the first one off and held it to the flame. The paper caught fire and disappeared quickly in an orange blaze and a few wisps of smoke. As if he were afraid to delay lest he change his mind, the judge worked quickly through the pile, saying, “You see? This is how you light Chanukah candles.” Soon there was nothing remaining of the pile. Finished, the judge scooped up the scattered ashes, strode over to the window, and tossed them into

tions of our people will know to light the Chanukah candles.” In 1956, a few years following Stalin’s death, hundreds of thousands of prisoners were pardoned and their names cleared. Among them was Reb Mordechai Chanzin, who was finally given permission to leave the camps that had robbed him of decades of life. Chanzin moved to Moscow, where he became secretary to Chief Rabbi Yehudah Leib Levin. A decade later, through the efforts of the Rebbe, he was allowed to immid grate to Israel, where he was reunited with his brother Dovid, the rabbi of Petach Tikva. Copyright and reprinted with permission of Chabad.org. Asharon has liked to write since childhood and found a good outlet for his creativity at Chabad.org. He currently resides with his wife in Jerusalem, where he studies in kollel.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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layers of

Love

and

TJH Speaks with Cookbook Author and Blogger

Real life

MIRIAM PASCAL

Miriam, you launched your newest cookbook, More Real Life Kosher Cooking, just recently. Yes. I did my launch party differently from a lot of other people. I decided that I wanted it to be free for people to attend. Other authors have made a big party and charged for tickets, but my thing is all about being approachable and accessible. In my recipes, I look for them to be approachable and accessible, but I think it’s more than that. For example, I look at the cost of ingredients when I’m working on a recipe. So if I’m using an expensive ingredient, it’s only going to be in a recipe that is a yom tov or special kind of dish. I’m not going to have a weeknight din-

ner using an expensive cut of meat because that’s very much kind of the way I think when it comes to recipes and things. When I started to think about the launch party, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could make a free party and, instead of just selling tickets, I would do it first-come, firstserve for people to come?” I worked with Focus Camera, and they ended up hosting and sponsoring the party in their store. We turned their store in Borough Park into the coolest event space. It was amazing – that I had this dream and we were able to do it. A caterer made samples of six different dishes from my book; we had someone doing cocktails; we had a beautiful

cooking By Susan Schwamm

dessert table with all kinds of desserts. The party was an overwhelming success, and people loved it. What compelled you to write this cookbook, More Real Life Kosher Cooking? When my last cookbook came out, Real Life Kosher Cooking, it was just so overwhelming. The feedback was incredible. I had people from all over the world making every recipe in the book with tons of pictures of their dishes flooding my various inboxes – email, Instagram, Facebook, text, everywhere. People everywhere were making and loving the recipes. That really spurred me on and made me say,

“Hey, I want to do this again.” There’s this creative side of me that loves to create new recipes, and I love to share. My favorite thing is feeding people. Nothing makes me happier than inviting a ton of people to my house and feeding them a great meal. The amazing thing about being a recipe developer and writing cookbooks and writing recipes on my website and being a columnist is that I get to share my food, which is an extension of feeding people. And I’m still sort of feeding people with my cookbooks, but this is on a much larger scale. People from all over the world are reaching out to me with the food that they’ve created from my recipes.

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NEW NAME. NEW TECHNOLOGY. NEW SPECIALISTS. SAME LOCATION. South Nassau Communities Hospital is now Mount Sinai South Nassau. And although the name has changed, we will continue to have the same great doctors, nurses, and staff. In addition, over $400 million is being invested to help us better serve the South Shore communities. For more information or to make an appointment call: 877-South Nassau mountsinai.org/southnassau

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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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It’s amazing, and it’s so gratifying. When I’m writing a cookbook, there’s so much involved. I do nothing else except for that. Sometimes I tell myself, “Why am I doing this to myself? I’m crazy. I’m never writing another cookbook.” But then it comes out, and the feedback is so fantastic and people love it and it’s just so rewarding that it makes me say, “Oh, I need to do this again” – although, I promised myself that I’m taking a break this time. How long did it take from start to finish to create this book? Two years. I basically started working on it as soon as the last one came out. That’s intense. And you don’t just develop recipes. You actually do the photography and the food styling as well. You know, some people may think that it’s tough, but at the beginning, when I first started writing recipes, someone else styled and shot my food once or twice. But I found that very difficult because I looked at the picture that they took and I thought to myself, “That’s not how I want it to look.” It’s so personal to me. “Real life” – it’s not just something I say. It’s not just the title of the book. It’s everything to me that these recipes should fit into your real life. My pictures, I think, also reflect that. My favorite feedback I get on my books is that people say, “I love that my food looks just like the picture in the book or on your blog.” There are definitely stylists out there who use all kinds of tricks – they’re painting on inedible things onto food and throwing the food out after the shoot. None of that goes on with my books. My sister-inlaw jokes with people that she ate the chicken that’s on the cover of the book. What you see in my photos is real life cooking. Real food, real life, no tricks. There’s nothing I did in this book that you can’t do. That’s part of why I love that I can style and shoot my recipes myself because it’s not only about the recipe but it’s about the whole feeling. Every picture, I think about. The first thing I do when I’m styling my food is that I think of the mood. Is this a happy, summery dish? Is this a dark, shadowy, moody kind of rainy Sunday in the winter kind of feel? That’s the

base of every picture I do because I want you to look at it and feel the feelings that I have about it. It’s all self-taught when it comes to these things. You know, sometimes I’m tempted to take down some of my early pictures because they’re not so great, but I actually leave them up on my site because, as bad as they are, I’m proud of my work. I didn’t start out in photography. I didn’t know anything; I learned as I went along. I worked really hard; I read everything out there. It was a process, and I’m proud of that process. I’ve shot five cookbooks so far – three of my own and two of Naomi Nachman’s. When I work with Naomi, I try to get into her mind and pick her brain. I’ll ask her, “How do you serve this?” I ask, “If I was at your house for Shabbos and you brought this out, what would it look like?” There were certain dishes in her books where we literally used the dish that she would use to serve it on at her Shabbos table. When you photograph the dishes for your cookbook, do you make the dishes and style them and shoot as you work through the process or do you photograph all the dishes at once? With my first cookbook, Something Sweet, at that point I was still working full-time, and so as I went along, I shot the recipes. It was pretty tough. For my second and then my third book, I found it easier for two reasons to shoot everything at the end. Firstly, you’re in the mode and you can make sure the pictures look cohesive but different. I can go through all the pictures I had just taken and be like, “Oh, I used that background already,” or “I used that prop already.” Secondly, when I’m working on a cookbook, I test the recipes multiple times. So when I’m making the recipes for the photos, I think of it as an extra recipe test. At times, I had people working for me make the recipes and that was even better because even though they’re working in my kitchen, if there was anything they didn’t understand, I asked them to write it down – even if they thought it was a stupid question. Afterwards, I went over every single page. I read any questions there were, and I decided, “Is this something I

want to incorporate into the way the recipe is written so that it’s more clear for the reader?” I always want to make sure things are clear for the reader. What tips would you give to readers who want to make their food look a little prettier when they’re serving it? Firstly, think about the dish that you’re serving it on. If you have something that’s brown and not so photogenic, like a roast, dress it up with a beautiful platter. If you have something that’s really colorful and vibrant, you can tone it down with a more simple platter so that the colors stand out more. The other thing is to put a little bit of care into the dish when you’re serving it. If you ever watch a cooking show and you see the chefs, they put real care into plating. For example, when I serve salads, I like when the salads are tossed. But I also like the way they look when they’re arranged. My compromise is that when you come to my house for Shabbos, let’s say, I’ll have three or four salads, all beautifully arranged. But then, when I bring them to the table, I’ll mix them up. So you can see the beauty of the salad but you can enjoy it tossed, too. That way, it’s the best of both worlds. Remember, when you’re serving, put a little extra t hought into

cleaning the rim of the dishes. Add little garnishes for color. If you have something that’s very brown, like a roast, add chopped scallions or some herbs. Use sea salt when you’re serving steak to make it pop flavor-wise and looks-wise. Do you prefer to bake or to cook? Do you consider yourself a baker before a cook or a cook before a baker? I know this is going to sound crazy because everybody has a preference, but I love them both and in totally different ways. Cooking is something that everybody does, even if it’s just out of necessity. I know someone, an old neighbor of mine, she hated cooking. If there was one luxury she would have in life, it would be hire a cook. She hated cooking, but she did it purely out of necessity. But someone like her will cook because at the end of the day, you’re not going to get takeout for every meal every day of your life. But baking is really something that most people do only if they enjoy it. Cooking is to feed your family. It’s nourishment. It’s necessary, and you can elevate it and you can put love into it. But baking is an extra dose of love because it’s like, “I don’t have to do this. We don’t need cake for Shabbos.” It’s that extra dose of love because it’s like, “ I

Nothing

makes me

happier than inviting a

ton of people to my house and feeding them a great meal.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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made this extra. I made this special,” you know? Let’s talk about your newest book, More Real Life Kosher Cooking. Can you give me some of your “favorite” recipes from the book? Hands down, the all-time family favorite are the Wontons in Garlic Sauce. Everyone goes crazy over that. If you come to my house for yom tov, and we’re not having Wontons in Garlic Sauce, there’s a revolt. They’re not fried, so they’re less fattening. The folding of the wontons is a bit of work, which is why I think of them as a yom tov dish. My trick with wontons, or with anything that’s repetitive, is to set myself up at the table and have a podcast playing or something in the background when I’m doing it. I find these types of tasks to be super-relaxing. Look, wontons are not something you need to serve, but again we come back to the topic of doing something extra for your family and your guests – that’s the extra love that you’re giving over. In terms of a quick, weeknight dinner, my personal favorite recipe in the book is Spinach Chicken Burgers. It’s super-healthy. I don’t know if you noticed, but the bun is actually a portobello mushroom. It’s so good and flavorful. The spinach adds to the juiciness of the chicken, which is awesome. My absolute go-to chicken dinner if I’m just cooking quickly for myself is the Spice-Rubbed Chicken Thighs. They’re so simple but so perfect and they’re crispy and just so, so good and simple. My tip for that recipe would be to make a big batch of the

Baking is an extra dose of love.

spice rub and just portion out a little bit at a time because you’re going to find yourself making it at least once a week. I serve it with vegetables or a salad. But if you serve it for your family, you can serve it with anything – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice, some quinoa, if you want to be healthier. In terms of desserts, the Two-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse is so great because it’s ridiculously easy. The story behind that recipe is that my good friend had a baby boy on Friday morning – I feel like baby boys are always born on Friday morning. Anyway, I had to send something to the shalom zachor, and I didn’t have time to go to the grocery store so I just went through my cabinets and my fridge and freezer. I found those two ingredients – whip and hazelnut spread – and I made it. It was perfect. Everybody went wild because it tastes like a complicated recipe. Truthfully, I couldn’t decide if I should include this recipe in my cookbook because it’s so easy. But my compromise was that I included this crazy easy recipe in the book but then I also included four options on how to serve it – to give you more information because I love to just give tons of information with my recipes and also to show you the versatility of it because you could do so much with it. I also love the Peanut Butter Tiramisu. People are a little skeptical because peanut butter and coffee sounds interesting, but trust me, it’s amazing. The combination is perfect, and the flavors go so well together. It’s super-rich but really good. I’ve also gotten into making cocktails over the last few years while I was writing this book. I made sure to include my two most popular cocktails in my book. I’m really proud of those. And if I may say so, I think the photo for those cocktails is really beautiful. What was the most surprising or most intricate recipe that you worked on for this book? The most time-consum-

ing recipe to create was definitely the cheese-filled veggie ribbons. The idea was very simple: sort of like lasagna but a twist on it. I really, really wanted to use raw veggies, roll them up with the cheese, and bake it that way. And I wasted a lot of time trying to make that work, but no matter what I did, the whole thing came out watery and really wasn’t great. So I gave up on that idea, and I roasted the veggies first and then it was perfect. It was spot-on. I said to myself, “Why did I spend so much time trying to make it work without roasting the vegetables?” But initially I didn’t want people to have to do that extra step when making the recipe, but sometimes that extra step is worth it. What are some yummy recipes you recommend for Chanukah? People sometimes are a little surprised by the dessert wontons – Fudge-Filled Chocolate Wontons – in this book, but the truth is that wonton wrappers have no taste. They’re just dough. They’re not sweet or savory but when you make these dessert wontons, obviously, it turns into a sweet thing. On Chanukah, people go crazy over doughnuts the first night, the second night, and the third night. By the time Chanukah is half over, they’re like, “Please, I don’t want another doughnut. I’m done,” so I love to come up with other fried treats to enjoy. In terms of dishes to serve at Chanukah parties, definitely try the Pasta Chip Nachos. Everybody goes crazy over them. And the funnest part about them is that the chips do not get soggy like regular chips, which is why those nachos are very special to me because I love nachos but I will never order them in a restaurant because by the time they come, they’re already 50% soggy. When I made these nachos, I sent them to my friend, and she had them for dinner and they were still crispy. First you boil the noodles and then you fry them, and they stay really fresh. For a fleishig menu, I would suggest the Sweet and Tangy Lemon Chicken Poppers. They’re bursting with lemon flavor. If some of your guests don’t love lemon flavor, you can serve them plain. But my family loves them – I could make a triple batch and not have any leftovers. The Salmon Avocado Spring Rolls are also amazing, especially if you’re

making a fancier party and you want something that’s plated really pretty; they have such a pretty presentation. I also love to serve the Salsa Chicken Tostadas. They’re a great hors d’oeuvre, and they look beautiful. The Sticky Grilled Sausages are one of my go-tos for a party. And I also like to serve them for Shabbos lunch. The grownups love them; the kids love them, too. Everybody goes crazy for them. When you go to a restaurant, what do you usually order? I’ll tell you firstly, I never order steak – not because the steak’s not good. In a good steakhouse, I’m sure it is. But I always want to order a dish where I’m going to see the chef’s creativity. My ideal when I go to a restaurant is to have something that will make me be like, “Oh, hey, I would never have thought of that” and that will inspire recipes that I create. I always want to taste something that’s news different. And a steak, no matter how well it’s cooked, it’s still just a steak. It sounds like this cookbook kept you very busy for the past few years. What do you do to relax? Some people cook to relax, but that’s your job. It’s funny you ask because cooking used to be what I did to relax, but then I was like, “Wait a minute. What happens when your hobby becomes your job?” On the one hand, it’s the greatest job in the world. I’m so lucky. Every day I thank Hashem that I could be working in something that I love. But on the other hand, it’s like, “Alright, so now what’s my hobby?” There are two things I enjoy as a “hobby.” Firstly, sometimes I cook things that are way out of my style of recipes that I share, that I’m never, ever going to post like homemade pasta – things that are very involved – or making candy. Because I know I’m never going to post it, that makes it fun because it’s not work, that’s not what I do. I’m also trying to rediscover photography as a hobby. Not food photography, which is a job, but I actually got myself a special camera for travel and for scenery and things when I travel. Truthfully, I really love what I do, and I’m extremely lucky that I’m able to do this every day.

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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A Taste of

More Real Life Kosher Cooking By Miriam Pascal

Meat-Stuf fed Garlic Bread

Everyone loves garlic bread, but when you hide a meat surprise in the center, it becomes an instant sensation. One of my favorite things about this appetizer is how well it freezes — so make a big batch and keep it on hand for those times when you want to serve something really special.

Meat • Yields 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

Garlic Pesto 1 cup garlic cloves ¼ cup fresh parsley ½ cup olive oil 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

to brown. Add about ½ cup of garlic pesto; stir well to combine.

prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Reserve remaining pesto.

Prepare the garlic pesto: Place all pesto ingredients into a blender jar. Blend until mixture is completely smooth. You can also do this using an immersion blender and placing ingredients into a tall container. Set aside.

Assemble the garlic bread: In a small bowl, whisk together about ¼ cup garlic pesto and egg. Set aside for topping.

Brush reserved pesto and egg mixture generously over the top of each filled round. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Meat Filling 1 tablespoon oil 1 pound ground beef or veal Assembly 24 mini (2-3 inch) pizza dough rounds 1 egg

Prepare the meat filling: Heat oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add meat; cook, stirring to break up the lumps, for a few minutes, until meat starts

rush a layer of garlic pesto over 1 pizza dough round. Top with about 1 tablespoon meat mixture, then fold dough around filling. Stretch the dough as you work to make sure it will enclose the filling. Place filled round, seam-side down, on

PLAN AHEAD Meat-stuffed garlic bread can be prepared ahead and frozen until ready to serve. Rewarm, uncovered, until heated through.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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W ontons in Garlic Sauce This recipe began with my obsession with wontons and garlic sauce from a particular Chinese restaurant that’s nowhere near my home. Naturally, I had to recreate it myself. Since then, these wontons have become the stuff of Pascal family legend. It’s my family’s all-time favorite yom tov appetizer. The only downside? It’s pretty much guaranteed to upstage basically any other dish you serve at the same meal!

Meat • Yields 10-12 servings

INGREDIENTS Wontons 1 ½ pounds ground beef 2 tablespoons soy sauce ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, preferably a mix of black and white 4 scallions, sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 50 wonton wrappers, approximately

Garlic Sauce 1 (18-ounce) jar hoisin sauce ⅓ cup soy sauce ⅓ cup rice vinegar ⅓ cup honey 2 teaspoons sriracha 1 teaspoon ground mustard ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ cup water 12 cloves garlic, minced Sliced scallions, optional, for garnish Additional sesame seeds, optional, for garnish

PREPARATION Prepare the wontons: Combine beef, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, scallions, and garlic in a large bowl; stir gently until just combined. Place about 2 teaspoons meat mixture onto the center of a wonton wrapper. Brush a small amount of water along the edges before pressing them together to help keep them sealed; bring the edges together to form a wonton. Set aside; repeat with remaining meat and wonton wrappers. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Drop a few wontons into the boiling water; cook for about 6 minutes, until the meat is cooked through. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot. Remove wontons with a slotted spoon; place on parchment paper, not touching each other. Set wontons aside. Meanwhile, prepare the garlic sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat; simmer mixture for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens. Just before serving, toss cooked wontons in sauce; warm through. If desired, garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

PLAN AHEAD Wontons can be frozen, without sauce, either before cooking (boil just before serving; if boiling frozen, add 1 minute to cooking time) or after cooking. Sauce can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Combine wontons and reheated sauce just before serving.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Rainbow Salad With almost nothing to prep, I make this recipe when I don’t have time but still want to wow my guests. The combination of sweet and savory flavors, plus all kinds of great crunchy textures, really make this a winner. Pareve • Yields 6 servings

INGREDIENTS Maple Lime Dressing ⅓ cup olive oil ¼ cup pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons lime juice 1 clove garlic, minced or 1 cube frozen garlic 1½ teaspoons kosher salt Pinch cayenne pepper

Salad 8 ounces romaine lettuce 4 ounces shredded red cabbage 1 mango, diced 1 avocado, diced ½ cup pomegranate seeds 1 cup lightly crushed sweet potato chips ¾ cup crispy fried onions (such as French’s)

PREPARATION Prepare the dressing: Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Set aside. Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing just before serving; toss to combine. Variation: When pomegranate seeds are not in season, use dried cranberries or dried cherries instead.

PLAN AHEAD Dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Salad should be assembled fresh.

Recipes reprinted with permission from More Real Life Kosher Cooking by Miriam Pascal, published by ArtScroll.

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CHANUKAH SALE Discover a Classic of Jewish Thought

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What Chanukah Means to Me A glimpse into Chanukah celebrations around town submitted by TJH readers

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Around the Community

Big and Little Sisters

ll roads lead to achdut at Shulamith Middle Division! The Shulamith G.O., Miriam Landau, Tamar Rabinovitz, Rosie Flaum, and Elianna Mishaan, organized a fun-filled activity for the students of Shulamith. At the “end of the road,” the girls found their big or little sisters. The new “siblings” then had the chance to spend some time getting to know each other. The activity ended with everyone excited by the upcoming opportunities to spend time with their big/little sisters during the week of Chanukah.

Relish the rings The Pre-1A at Gesher practiced counting with colorful candles on their menorahs. Their pictures were taken for their Chanukah counting booklets.

YOSS Grandfather-Father-Son Chanukah Workshop

ith hammers, nails , of course, safety goggles, three generations built menorahs and memories at Yeshiva of South Shore’s annual Grandfather-Father-Son Chanukah Workshop. The family teamwork was won-

derful to witness and the beautiful menorahs will enhance the chag for many years to come. The festive crowd enjoyed pizza and played dreidel. A fun Chanukah kumzitz led by Rebbi Eli Herzberg and Rabbi Shlomo Drebin capped off the evening.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Around the Community

A Menorah of Their Own

Please your palette

eshiva of South Shore prides itself in providing the boys with an extremely well-rounded education be it in Judaic, secular studies, and extra-curricular classes. One of the favorites amongst the talmidim is woodshop. We have a fully operation woodshop right here in the building including drill presses, chop saws, sanding machines, wood lathes, and more. Here, the boys build items from scratch with their own two hands and learn incredible lifelong skills that will undoubtedly serve them in the future. From design concept through execution, the boys learn sanding, hammering, clamping, and wood gluing, staining, and drilling. These are just some of the skills the boys are using in order to build incredible projects that they are very proud of. Many classes have already

brought home their first project and have begun working on their second. Napkin holders, cars, toolboxes, and storage boxes were the first projects of the year, and that is just the beginning! In addition to the fourth grades’ regular woodworking classes, they were given the opportunity to help build a beautiful menorah for Chanukah. These boys took time from their recess in order to design and build a six-foot-tall menorah for the Yeshiva that has already been placed by the main entrance. Built from wood and painted a shiny silver, it stands a testament to the boys’ skills and dedication. Whether it is your son’s project or the menorah in the hallway, the woodshop is a place where the boys learn invaluable skills and have a great time doing it.

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Around the Community

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam preschool prepared for Chanukah

Get it “red”dy

Life Science Comes to Life at BYQ

t Bais Yaakov of Queens, the fifth graders are bringing life science to life! In an in-depth study of the body systems, they began with the respiratory and circulatory systems. Making the lessons relevant to themselves, the girls learned how to take their own heartrates. After engaging in intense physical exercise, such as playing tag and doing jumping jacks, they measured their heartrates again. Wow! Their heartrates were so much higher, and their breathing rates increased. The girls were so excited! Shouts of “I feel it!” rang through the air. Next, the girls learned about their

skeletal and muscular systems. They identified various parts of their own skeletal systems. Examining how the different parts work together to enable their bodies to move, their hands-on lab activity showed the girls how a muscle’s contraction pulls the bones, causing the bones to move when walking and raising hands. Over the next few weeks they will design a model of a person and add 3D parts of each system to the model to visualize where all the systems are in the body. The girls are learning and enjoying every step of the way. They can’t wait for the next exciting lesson and hands-on activity.

Minimum Patchke. Maximum Pizzazz.

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Dirshu Announces New World Siyumim in Eastern Europe and Cape Town as World Siyum Venue in Binyanei Haumah is Sold Out Auxiliary Sites Open in Eretz Yisrael and Manchester is spreading through the world as Yidden flock to celebrate the Torah accomplishments of the mesaymei haShas.

By Chaim Gold

he frenzy to obtain tickets for the sold-out World Siyum to be led by the Gedolei Hador this Motzoei Shabbos Chanukah in the Binyanei Haumah Convention Center has compelled Dirshu to open five new, remote venues in strategic locations throughout Eretz Yisrael. Participants will be able to watch a livestream of the event and celebrate the simchas haTorah, the accomplishments of the lomdei Torah, who have finished Shas as well as with those who have completed Dirshu’s “Kinyan Chochma,” Mussar learning program. As Dirshu embarks on its remarkable series of World Siyumim in Jewish centers the world-over, Dirshu has answered the call of the myriad lomdei Dirshu in Eastern Europe who have echoed the words of the Bnei Yisrael saying, “Lamah nigorah, Why

L-R: HaRav Simcha Kook, Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner and Rav Dovid Hofstedter at the the Dirshu World Siyum, Binyanei Haumah Convention Center, 2012

should we be deprived?” To answer that call, Dirshu will celebrate three World Siyumim in Eastern Europe.

Pinsk, Minsk, Radin – and Now Cape Town! The first will be a Shabbos Convention on Shabbos Parshas Terumah, February 28-March 1, in the city of Pinsk, where there is a thriving frum community with members regularly taking Dirshu tests. On Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel Pikudei, March 20-22, there will be a Shabbos Convention in the city of Minsk, where the community’s Torah accomplishments will be celebrated. Who would believe that in the city where such luminaries as HaGaon HaRav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, and HaGaon HaRav Reuven Grozovsky, zt”l, learned in their early youth, in the pre-World War I era before Communism took hold, will now hold a World Siyum celebrating the completion of Shas?! Another community that would perhaps be deemed by some as the “end of the world” that is joining the family of Dirshu World Siyumim is the city of Cape Town, South Africa, where a World Siyum celebration will be held on 19 Teves/January 16 at the Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel and Convention Center. That siyum will be a day after the large World Siyum in Johannesburg at The Deck Convention Center, a large venue that already today is completely sold-out. The contagious simchas haTorah

Manchester Event City Sold Out Another example of the tremendous anticipation in advance of the Dirshu World Siyum is what is transpiring in Manchester, England. Months ago, Dirshu took the bold step of renting Event City, the largest indoor venue in the entire Greater Manchester area to celebrate the siyum. The site, which holds many thousands of participants, is already completely sold out and Dirshu has opened a nearby, auxiliary location with an additional one thousand seats to accommodate the lomdei Torah and ohavei Torah who deeply want to participate in an event of kavod haTorah, simchas haTorah, and chizuk haTorah on a scale never previously seen in Manchester. The Manchester Siyum also shared another very important milestone. It is the only siyum being held on the actual day that the Daf HaYomi completes Shas. That momentous day, 8 Teves/January 5, 2020, will be a historic day in the history of Manchester Jewry and World Jewry as the myriad members of Klal Yisrael will collectively exclaim, “Hadran alech Masechta Niddah v’chol Shas Bavli!” Yerushalayim Siyum in Binyanei Haumah This Motzoei Shabbos As this year’s World Siyumim, beginning with a massive siyum this Motzoei Shabbos Chanukah at Binyanei Haumah, come ever nearer, those who merited attending the previous siyum HaShas at the same Binyanei Haumah Convention Center cannot help but be flooded with memories of the colossal kiddush Hashem! At that time, addresses were given by HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Kamenitz Yeshiva; HaGaon HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ateres Yisrael; HaGaon HaRav Simcha Kook, shlita, Chief Rabbi of Rechovot; HaGaon Dayan

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

Around the Community

Event City, site of the Manchester World Siyum

Aharon Dovid Dunner of London; and HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sitruk, zt”l, former Chief Rabbi of Paris. The words of Rav Scheiner, the elder rosh yeshiva of our time, still ring in the ears as he encapsulated the revolution wrought by Dirshu in the world of Torah learning and the defining role that Dirshu has in the eyes of the Gedolei Yisrael. He said, “When you learn with Dirshu, you’re not only mesayem Shas, you sweat through it! I know how Dirshu transforms the lives of those who participate in the program not from hearsay, but rather because I’ve had the opportunity to see it firsthand, as one of my own grandchildren has just finished the cumulative Dirshu test on the entire Shas! My grandson is now a baki biShas. It’s tough, it requires a true commitment – but look how far you can go!” Rav Scheiner concluded, “Dirshu has built an empire of Torah the likes of which I am not sure has ever existed in the history of Klal Yisrael.” Rav Dunner then encouraged his listeners, exclaiming, “Let’s talk tachlis! We’ve heard all the wonderful things that Dirshu does, how those who learn with its programs become Shas Yidden, become proficient in halachah. They know that already; they have experienced it. What about those of us who have not yet experienced it? Now, at the beginning of Shas once again, perhaps this is the time to start to learn in a way that will lead to talmudo b’yado? “I do not say,” Rav Dunner explained, “that one must davka join the Daf Yomi program. There are many other programs for accountable Torah learning. The main thing that we all must take home with us today from this special, momentous Siyum HaShas is to make a serious commitment to our learning; to set aside time that is consecrated for

learning without interruption. No picking up cellphones, no other distractions, just learning in a way that will lead a person to ultimately be counted among those about whom it is said, ‘Ashrei mi sheba l’kan v’talmudo b’yado!’” The Closing of a Circle One of the most poignant moments at that event was when Rav Dovid Hofstedter’s father-in-law, Reb Avrohom Bleeman, a survivor of the Holocaust who endured a host of concentration camps, stood up and said the Kaddish after the siyum. Then, Reb Avrohom stood on the stage and, accompanied by the pure voices of the Shira Chadasha Boys’ Choir, sang a song that he had personally heard from Rav Meir Shapiro, founder of the Daf Yomi, when he was a young child and Rav Meir came to the town where he lived in Poland and taught the song to the children of the community. It was a closing of circles. This Holocaust survivor, who had undergone the horrors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, was now singing at a Siyum HaShas, celebrating the accomplishments of thousands who had been tested on Shas. The Nazis are in the dust heap of history, but netzach Yisrael lo yishaker – nothing can detract from the eternal nature of Klal Yisroel. Reb Avrohom Bleeman, his son-in-law, his children and grandchildren are finishing Shas – and ensuring that thousands of others will, too. This ideal of Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker will once again be celebrated this Motzei Shabbos at Binyanei Haumah and at all of the other World Siyumim where lomdei Dirshu in six continents will celebrate the profound transformation that can be made in one’s life following a true commitment to limud haTorah.

Squash the prep

Minimum Patchke. Maximum Flavor.

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community Rabbi Mordechai Stein and his fifth grade class in Siach Yitzchok visited the Novominsker Rebbe, shlita, in Boro Park this week. The Rebbe farhered the boys on the Mishnayos they’ve been learning until now and was blown away by how well they were able to explain it. They then had the zechus to receive their very first Gemara Bava Kama directly from the Rebbe. The boys then went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brazil in Inwood for a beautiful seuda to celebrate this very special day.

OU Develops Innovative Solution for Daf Yomi Participants

he Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has developed an innovative platform for Daf Yomi participants – a free digital platform called “All Daf” – to coincide with the new Daf Yomi cycle. Beyond offering shiurim on the daily daf, All Daf offers participants of all backgrounds the opportunity to enhance their learning with a host of topics related to the day’s daf, including Jewish history, lamdus, Tanach, and other sources and resources. Daily shiurim on the daf will be offered by world-renowned maggidei shiur such as Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Rabbi Shalom Rosner, Rabbi Sruly Bornstein, and Rabbi Shlomie Schwartzberg. All Daf will also

introduce participants to fascinating subjects in the daf with written and video content from teachers such as Dr. Henry Abramson, dean of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, on historical subjects related to the day’s daf, and audio content focusing on the pesukim quoted in the daf from Rabbi Yaakov Trump, rabbi of the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, among others. With multiple options of shiurim and commentaries, All Daf will enable participants to customize their learning experience with what is believed to be the most comprehensive daf database anywhere. The platform – available as an app in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store and as a website – is a wonderful alternative for those who cannot attend a daily Daf Yomi shiur

or who want to do a more in-depth review of what they learned in their shiur or are simply on-the-go. All Daf also offers functionality to make it easy to share learning with one’s family and is customizable based on one’s preferences. “The OU is constantly looking for new ways to make Torah accessible to our community,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin. “We are excited to introduce a truly innovative way to study Torah as the new daf cycle begins, and we look forward to the All Daf app fulfilling the needs of new and veteran daf learners alike.” “The comprehensiveness of the All Daf app, such as its range of shiurim and resources, introduce an opportunity for each of us to identify the style and content that personal-

ly resonates,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane. “We are confident that this resource will expand the spectrum of people studying the daily daf, thereby increasing our collective and unifying commitment to increased Torah study.” “All Daf was designed from the ground up to be the go-to digital destination for participants at any level,” said Orthodox Union Daf Yomi Initiative Director Rabbi Moshe Schwed. “We leveraged the OU’s experience in serving learners of the daf for the past 14 years, including thousands of daily listeners from nearly 40 countries.” The app will launch on December 22, 2019 and is free for all users. For more information, visit: https://alldaf.org/.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

This is [leadership] at YOSS At Yeshiva of South Shore, we take pride in understanding that each student has his unique set of talents, strengths, and challenges. Years of experience have taught us that high quality education means meeting students where they are and developing positive relationships both inside and outside of the classroom. Our rabbeim, teachers, administrators, and Rosh Yeshiva take a personal interest in each boy’s growth that extends well beyond their elementary years.

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YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE - ‫ישיבה תורת חיים – בית בנימן‬ 1170 William St. Hewlett, NY 11557 | 516-374-7363 | YOSS.ORG

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

A Safe Chanukah at Shulamith

he children at Shulamith School for Girls Early Childhood Center worked hard getting ready to have a beautiful and safe Chanukah. First, the children constructed beautiful Chanukiyot. Each Chanukiya was unique and reflected the personality and aesthetic sense of our young artists. In addition to being pleasing to the eye, our Chanukiyot were designed to be as safe as possible. A local tile store graciously donated glass and ceramic tiles to use for the construction of our Chanukiyot. The children wondered why it was so important to use tiles on their Chanuykiyot. Thus, began our very important fire safety unit. First, the children visited our local fire station to find out how to keep safe from fire. The friendly volunteer firefighters told the children basic fire safety rules. Then the children learned all about firefightersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; uniforms as they watched kippah-clad firefighters put on each item of safety equipment

while a firefighter and Shulamith parent, Chevi Kail, explained its purpose. Of course, the children had a wonderful time exploring the big fire engine, and each girl proudly donned a plastic black fire hat, just like the firefighters. The children later brought doughnuts to the fire station to show hakarat ha-

tov for such a wonderful visit and all they do for us. Back in school, the children read books about fire safety, watched a fire safety video, and discussed how to stay safe in fire. We encourage everyone to be vigilant while Chanukiyot are lit and

remind children not to run or throw anything in the vicinity of the Chanukiyot. We hope, bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ezrat Hashem, to never need the services of our wonderful fire department. We at Shulamith ECC wish everyone a wonderful and safe Chanukah.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Thank you to all the Two Weeks for TAG hosts who opened their homes to our parlor meetings throughout the community and made our campaign a success

Chessed at Mesivta Yam Hatorah

his past week, Mesivta Yam Hatorah imparted a priceless lesson to its students. Oftentimes, people see chessed around them and are beneficiaries of chessed but at times we take it for granted. To instill the idea of recognizing the chessed and all the work that goes into it, we teamed up with Achiezer. The boys split up into two groups, one headed to Mercy Hospital and the other to Mount Sinai South Nassau Community Hospital. However, this wasn’t just a bikur cho-

lim visit. Both groups first made their way to Gourmet Glatt to do a shopping run for the bikur cholim rooms at their respective hospital. They then went to the hospitals where they restocked and cleaned up the rooms, leaving them in tiptop shape for all those who might need to partake of them. We are proud of our boys and know that this experience will leave a lasting effect on them. Thank you to Achiezer and Gourmet Glatt for making this opportunity a reality.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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OCTOBER DECEMBER29, 25,2015 2019| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home

TJH

Centerfold

Toys of the Decade

According to Couponbox.com, the following toys were the most popular presents in the decade they arrived. Match the toy with their respective decades from the 1900s through 1990:

Raggedy Ann Dolls

Gameboy

Crayola Crayons

Monopoly

Rubik’s Cube

Magic Eight Ball

Mr. Potato Head

Star Wars Action Figures

Etch-A-Sketch

Madame Alexander Dolls

Answers: 1900s- Crayola Crayons 1910s- Raggedy Ann Dolls 1920s- Madame Alexander Dolls 1930s- Monopoly 1940s- The Magic Eight Ball 1950s- Mr. Potato Head 1960s- Etch-ASketch 1970s- Star Wars Action Figures 1980s- Rubik’s Cube 1990s- Gameboy

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You gotta be kidding Mrs. Goldstein gave her son, Yankel, two sweaters for Chanukah. The next time Yankel visited, he made sure to wear one. As he entered her home, instead of the expected smile, Mrs. Goldstein looked at her dear son and said, “Yankel, what’s the matter? You didn’t like the other one?”

TheJewish JewishHome Home| DECEMBER | OCTOBER 29, The 25, 2015 2019

Talmud Bavli Trivia Chanukah? [What is Chanukah?]?

a. Reb Shimon b. Reb Shlomo

a. Mesechtas Chanukah b. Mesechtas Rosh Hashana

a. Shabbos b. Yevamos

d. Mesechtas Chagiga 3. How many mesechtos are there in Talmud Bavli? a. 12

c. Bava Basra

2. In which mesechta is the famous Gemara about Chanukah which starts off with the question “Mai

d. 4,056

c. 123 d. 1,043

a. Berachos b. Kedushin

4. What does the raish in Raish Lakish stand for?

4. A 7. C

3. C

6. A

2. C

5. A

1. C

5-7 correct: You are truly a Shas Yid!

c. 2,711

b. 9

d. 49

 Wisdom Key

b. 1,311

a. 0

c. 37

 Answers

a. 795

6. What is the first mesechta in Shas?

b. 24

d. Kesubos

d. Reb Shmaya 5. How many words of Gemara are there in Nazir Daf 33B?

c. Mesechtas Shabbos 1. What is the longest mesechta in Shas?

c. Reb Shimshon

7. How many daf (full pages) are there in the entire Talmud Bavli?

c. Megilla d. Chagiga

Riddle me this? I am a precious gift, yet I’lI have no end, no beginning, and no middle. What am I? See answer below

2-4 correct: You have a Gemara kup, but you have a little more to learn. 0-1 correct: Rabbi Akiva didn’t know the Alef Bais until he was 40. You still have time!

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Answer to Riddle Me This: A ring.

DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Torah Thought

Parshas Mikeitz By Rabbi Berel Wein

osef’s dramatic ascent to power in Egypt is recorded for us in this week’s parsha. What is noteworthy is that Yosef does not appear to be at all surprised or amazed by the sudden turn of events in his fortunes. A person who lives by dreams is never surprised when the dreams turns into reality. Yosef always expected his dreams to come true in this world. So did his father, Yaakov. And, in truth, so did the brothers, and that is why

Yosef discomfited them so deeply. Had they felt the dreams of Yosef to be utter nonsense they would not have reacted as strongly when Yosef related what he had dreamt. They were threatened not because the dreams were nothing, but, rather, because they were something. Their apparent blindness and the stubbornness they displayed by not recognizing Yosef standing before them stemmed from their necessity to deny the validity of his dreams. When

Yosef will eventually reveal himself to his brothers, they will instinctively believe that he is Yosef, because of the stock they subconsciously placed in his dreams all along. Practical people are afraid of dreamers, not because of the dreamer’s ridiculousness, but, rather, because the dreamer may turn out to be right after all. This has been proven time and again in Jewish history. The holiday of Chanukah that we are currently celebrating proves that the dreams of the Maccabees overcame the practicalities of the Hellenist Jews, who were willing to survive by becoming more Greek than Jewish. Jews over the ages could have reasonably quit and given up the struggle to survive as Jews countless

ignored his brothers and could have put his past behind him. He was now a great success. So why continue to pursue his dreams which, by so doing, ultimately could sorely endanger his position and achievements? Nevertheless, Yosef doggedly pursues the full realization of his dreams. Many times in life we are frightened of advancing because we think we might risk what we already have. Judaism preaches caution when formulating the tactics necessary to achieve certain goals, both spiritually and physically. But it never advocates compromising the great Jewish dreams as outlined in our Torah and tradition. We are bidden to be prudent about life’s decisions, but the goal of ascend-

A person who lives by dreams is never surprised when the dreams turn into reality.

times. It was always the dreamers that persevered, and they have always been proven to be right. The Torah attributes the success of Yosef to the fact that he remembered his dreams. It is one thing to remember dreams of grandeur when one is poor and imprisoned. Those dreams provide hope and provide the necessary resilience to somehow continue. Yosef’s greatness lies in his ability to remember and believe those dreams after he has risen to power. He could easily have

ing the ladder of Yaakov is never erased from our consciousness. When seeing his brothers before him, Yosef has the choice to leave them and let everything be as it is. But he chooses to pursue his dreams to their fateful end. That has become a lesson for all later generations of Jews as well. Only the full realization of Yosef’s dream becomes the catalyst for reuniting all of Israel as a nation. Shabbat shalom and Chanukah sameach.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 26, 25, 2019 2019 || The The Jewish Jewish Home Home DECEMBER 12,

The Wandering

Jew

Europe By Hershel Lieber

The Transito Synagogue in Toledo, Spain

know that I cannot provide a thorough explanation, but I have always been obsessed with Europe. Though I am not a historian, the history of Europe always fascinated me. I am far from being a political scientist and yet the politics of Europe continues to intrigue me. The geography, the architecture, the art, the music, and the different nationalities and cultures have always captivated my interest. When I read a newspaper or magazine, concurrent with reading about Israeli events, I seek out European news. I do this even before I delve into articles about the USA. Having traveled to almost all European countries, I have broadened my education about Europe and have deepened my curiosity.

Rail tracks leading to Auschwitz

Traveling to Europe almost always came in the form of an extension to the trips that we took when

The Altneu Shul of the Maharal in Prague

the yomim noraim we go to Warsaw, where I am the chazzan. In past years, we traveled very often to

When we finally navigated the awesome mountain-pass the next morning, we saw what we would have faced had we continued the previous night.

I was engaged in various missions. We still go to Poland to teach at the Lauder Summer Retreat, and for

Russia in general and to Kishinev in particular. In addition, the trips I led on behalf of Gateways and Aish Ha-

torah afforded us the opportunity to visit other European nations as well. I cannot say I have no interest in other countries or continents. I would love to see China, India, Morocco, and other exotic places but travel requires time and money, which places a realistic limit to my dreams. Am I a bit OCD about traveling and seeing all of Europe? I guess, I am. The only plausible explanation for this strong desire is the Jewish connection. Europe was once home to millions of Jews. In different periods Jews found refuge during our long diaspora in almost all European countries. More common was the persecution they suffered in these lands. Yet despite the oppression, they created a history replete with

The Jewish HomeHome | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish | DECEMBER 26 12

tremendous accomplishments. They produced the greatest personalities, authored the most profound Torah literature, and established customs and rituals that are part of our tradition to this very day. Country after country, city after city, shtetel after shtetel are still identified by these great luminaries, and their influence remains with us. When I was growing up as a child and as an adolescent, I was in the company of survivors of the Second World War, from whom I gleaned a picture of what European Jewry was about. They came from all over – Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Germany and other countries. They aroused in me an attraction to their homelands and a yearning to connect with their collective memories. My parents, who spoke often about their roots and war experiences, ingrained in me a nostalgia for their homelands. So from there, I think I really have discovered from where my appeal to Europe stems. Traveling throughout Europe has not always been easy. While flying between different countries is relatively convenient, it has its drawbacks. At times, it is very costly, but as of late there are smaller airlines offering cheap flights. Taking along food is a major concern but we have over the years developed a plan which makes it fairly feasible. Traveling by car has its own challenges. Driving distances are long and weary, but it affords us to experience a country in greater depth. Just this past summer we drove for nine days through four Balkan countries. While planning our drive from Macedonia to Albania through Kosovo we counted on a five to six-hour trip. Our GPS system and cellphone stopped working in the mountains, and we were at loss as to where exactly we were. All of the sudden, we approached the Albanian border where we had to show our passports. We asked the border guard for further directions, and he warned us not to continue on the mountain-pass road at night. It was extremely dangerous. After much effort, we found an apartment in a small resort town and stayed overnight. When we finally navigated the awesome mountain-pass next morning, we saw what we would have faced had we contin-

Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

ued the previous night. There were absolutely no guardrails, the rocky road was almost completely unpaved, and the breadth of the road was barely the size of one car width. We thanked Hashem for redirecting us from this perilous situation and guiding us towards a safe journey. Wherever we travel in Europe, we have multiple agendas. Of course, we visit the famous tourist attractions, especially the historical sites and museums. If we are going for natural scenic sites, we feel blessed by the Ribbono Shel Olam’s gift to mankind. The mountains and valleys, the lakes and rivers, the caves and waterfalls, and the flora and fauna vary from breathtaking to calming. We both love cities and diverse neighborhoods. We walk for hours on end and take in the colors and flavors of the local culture. Since the camera is our best friend, we never leave home without it. We enjoy the art of setting up the scenes for our photos and keep snapping away. Nevertheless, this is only one aspect of our agenda. Of greater importance to us is seeking out Jewish sites, whether in communities that still are active or in places where Jewish life once flourished and thrived. Visiting synagogues and connecting with local Jews is especially endearing to us. Chabad has been our lifeline to the many smaller communities where they alone are the bearers of religious life and activities. Bulgaria, Malta, Estonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal are only a few of the countries in which we

encountered Chabad shluchim. They have enabled us to spend many Shabbosim in places where there are few Jews and where almost no one is observant. I hope one day to write an article dedicated to these heroic and selfless shluchim. In larger communities, we try

89 79

to be hosted for Shabbosim by local rabbanim or religious families. From them we learn about Jewish life in their locales – the benefits and the disadvantages alike. We also place a great significance on being in places where our complex history developed. The awe we felt when we entered the El Transito Synagogue in Toledo, Spain, gave us a glimpse of the Golden Age of Sephardic Jewry. In contrast, walking through the Juderia in Barcelona, where the Inquisition conducted its Auto de Fe, made us realize the difficult choice our people faced between conversion and martyrdom. While touring around the architectural gem, the Coliseum in Rome, we could not remove our thoughts from the countless Jewish slaves who were thrown to the lions as a spectator sport to the cheering crowds. Sitting and davening with emotion in the shuls of the Remu in Krakow, the Maharal in Prague, and the Yeshiva of Rashi in Worms made it more challenging to contemplate our tragic legacy while standing on the train tracks leading into Auschwitz.

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DECEMBER 26, 2019 | The Jewish Home DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Arch of Titus in Rome

In front of the Coliseum in Rome

The mixture of moments of euphoria and periods of despair accompanied us so often as we explored our European heritage. Still, we both feel privileged to experience these meaningful places part of our lengthy galus history. I realize that there are various perspectives on visiting Europe. I have friends who are indifferent about touring Europe, and some

who are downright opposed to traveling to a continent that witnessed and perpetuated so much calamity on our people. I respect their viewpoints and the decisions they have made for themselves. As for Pesi and myself, our outlook is different, and we have found that we have gained so much during our journeys to the countries that our people called home for over two thousand years.

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

Ooh

B B

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIRIAM By Miriam

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

My Israel Home

Jerusalem’s Bedroom Communities By Gedaliah Borvick

Ramat Beit Shemesh

erusalem is the capital of Israel and the capital of the Jewish world – and, for many of our clients, living there is a dream come true. However, Jerusalem is not for everyone, for a variety of reasons ranging from financial to quality-of-life issues, such as the desire for larger homes, more green space, and smaller, more intimate communities. Where do people who want to be in close proximity to Jerusalem but prefer the beauty and space that the suburbs offer move to? And how have these cities’ real estate markets fared? Many families end up in Gush Etzion, nestled in the Judean Hills to the south of Jerusalem, which include communities such as Efrat, Alon Shvut, and Neve Daniel. Another solid option is the Binyamin region in the southern Shomron, situated northwest and east of Jerusalem, whose 46 communities include Beit El and Kochav Yaakov. To the immediate east of Jerusalem is Maale Adumim, a picturesque community that has attracted many people who love the beautiful desert views and weather

Tzur Hadassah

and are desirous of a short commute to Jerusalem. Two large cities west of Jerusalem that have become destinations of choice for many Anglo families are Modiin and Bet Shemesh. Modiin is a commuter’s dream, boasting a superior transportation infrastructure and is a half hour’s drive to both the capital and Tel Aviv. Modiin is currently home to 100,000 residents and is poised to continue expanding. Beit Shemesh is the country’s fastest growing city with almost 120,000 residents. With an influential and powerful new mayor, Dr. Aliza Bloch, who has pledged to unite and accommodate the city’s heterogeneous population, Beit Shemesh is enjoying a renaissance and its residents have discovered a renewed civic pride. In addition to its suburb status – being a half hour drive to Jerusalem and forty-five minutes to Tel Aviv – Beit Shemesh, which includes Ramat Beit Shemesh, serves as the medical, retail, and academic hub for nearby smaller communities. Some families that prefer to live

in smaller communities but are desirous of being close to larger cities have chosen Tzur Hadassah. Located equidistant between Ramat Beit Shemesh and the outskirts of Jerusalem, Tzur Hadassah is a mixed community of religious and secular residents, and its population has mushroomed to 10,000 residents. Other communities that lean on Beit Shemesh include villages such as Nechusha. Established in 1957, the moshav decided in 2007 to expand from under sixty families with 275 residents to three hundred families and over 1,500 people. Similarly, Nes Harim, a community in which each family builds its own home – a program called “bnei beitcha” versus having a developer build tracts of homes – has expanded and has seen land values increase from 55,000 NIS per plot in 2007 to 1,250,000 NIS per plot in 2019. Two decades ago, Israel’s population was under 6,000,000. Now, twenty years later, the country’s population is over 9,000,000, thanks to Israel having the highest birth rate

in the developed world, with an average of 3.1 children per woman (the distant runner-up is Mexico at 2.2). The rising population has generated a strong housing demand, and prices in most markets have risen since 2000 by over 100% in real value (adjusted for inflation). It therefore comes as no surprise that we are often asked: What is the next big “success story” in Israel real estate? In which new community can we get in early, before prices pop? We are constantly on the prowl for special opportunities and are currently monitoring the progress of several interesting new neighborhoods in the development pipeline. If an opportunity materializes, we will alert the media.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

remembering

the Mount Carmel Chanukah

forest fire By Tzvi Leff

n December 22, Jews all over the world will kindle their menorahs to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. After reciting the three blessings, they will then sing “Haneirot Hallalu,” an ancient poem celebrating the holiday and the role played by the candles’ flames in the miracle many years ago. In 2010, however, the fires of Chanukah were not a cause for celebration. Instead of rejoicing with candles and jelly doughnuts, Israel found itself battling the worst natural disaster that the country had ever experienced. Known simply as the “Mount Car-

mel Forest Fire,” the out-of-control blaze torched large parts of Israel, almost laid waste to Haifa, and left dozens of people dead. The inferno left large scars on the unprepared populace and even impacted the Israeli defense establishment’s plans regarding attacking Iran. It was almost like the story of Chanukah, but inverted. If Jews have historically celebrated the ethos of the few battling the many and the weak overpowering the strong, the Carmel Forest Fire was the complete opposite. Israel, which on several occasions has successfully taken on and defeated Arab militaries from multi-

ple countries simultaneously, found itself overwhelmed by the blaze. With more than 40 law enforcement personnel dead and the country’s third biggest city in danger of being utterly destroyed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned to the world for help. That year, Jews didn’t exult in defeating the Greeks, but rather celebrated the assistance they rushed to Tel Aviv. Athens, in the midst of its own devastating financial crisis, was one of the first foreign entities to stand by Israel when the time came. The modern-day Hellenist firefighters sent 34 trained staff, with seven planes and more than 2 tons of fire

retardant, to fight the flames side-byside with their Israeli counterparts. But Greece wasn’t alone. Overall, 34 different countries answered Israel’s call for help. From the Palestinian Authority to a hostile Turkey and even firefighting paratroopers personally sent by President Barack Obama, Chanukah in 2010 saw an unlikely international coalition invest its human as well as financial capital to save the Jewish State from devastation.

A Matter of Time December 2, 2010 was a sunny and unseasonably warm day. Five teens from the Druze village of Isafiya set up for a picnic, bringing with

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

them food, water, and a large Nargila water pipe. After enjoying the Nargila, one 14-year-old threw the burning coals into a clump of dry bushes. This seemingly innocuous act would have dire consequences. That year, Israel had been experiencing an abnormally warm winter marked by a severe lack of rain. The dry conditions, which were exacerbated by an overall multi-year drought, meant that the Carmel was a disaster waiting to happen. In fact, Haifa’s Mayor Yona Yahav would later tell an investigative committee that the city was aware that they were on borrowed time and that it was “just a matter of time until a calamity occurred.”

The fire spread rapidly. Devouring the dry bushes and grass, the inferno soon engulfed the entire Carmel ridge. The real danger came in the afternoon. A strong wind coming in from the Mediterranean Sea pushed the blaze towards the Damun Prison, an aging penitentiary housing highly dangerous Palestinian security prisoners. With a fiery inferno bearing down on them, officials couldn’t leave the inmates in Damun Prison. Yet the intensity and the rapid spreading of the fire took them by surprise, leaving the prison severely understaffed for the task of safely evacuating hundreds of prisoners. With only hours to go until the flames would hit, the Israel Prisons Service sent a bus filled with cadets in the jailer’s officer’s course to the penitentiary to lend a hand. The bus filled with reinforcements slowly climbed the winding road that led to Damun when disaster struck. A massive tree had fallen on the highway, blocking the bus from advancing any further. With a long line of cars behind them and a tree blocking them from advancing, they were left helpless when the flames suddenly changed direction and raced towards them. Sitting two cars behind the bus was Haifa Police Commander Ahuva Tomer, the first-ever woman to reach such a senior post. Along with another police officer and three firefighters, the 53-year-old raced out of her vehicle and plunged into the bus in a hopeless rescue attempt. All 36 cadets and the driver of the bus were killed; the rescue team succumbed to their own injuries over the next few days. The death of so many officials at once was the worst non-military tragedy in Israel’s history, and Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately decreed a national day of mourning. Yet Netanyahu had more pressing problems than planning a memorial for the heroic law enforcement officials. After 24 hours passed, it was clear that something was very wrong. Incredibly, Israel had no way of extinguishing the fire. Despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters, the blaze only continued spreading. Observers would later say that the billowing smoke resembled a nuclear mushroom cloud – the heavy

curtain of soot blackening the skies was so thick that it could be seen from space. Fire officials were soon throwing everything the country had at the flames. First, they were joined by volunteer firefighters, then by policemen, and even the IDF was called in. The military soon dispatched two battalions of soldiers to the front, along with heavy equipment such as bulldozers, water tankers, and cranes. The army also sent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to map the spread of the flames and lent the firefighters advanced command and control centers to manage its manpower more efficiently. But there was one thing the IDF couldn’t do: put its large air force into action. Due to a law passed a decade earlier, the military was prohibited from sending air force jets to fight fires. The legislation was passed to protect the expensive jets from the immense damage the smoke would cause it. Yet large planes were the thing that Israel needed most at this time. In 2010, Israel’s aerial firefighting unit consisted of only 14 small and slow crop-dusting planes. These single engine jets could only carry 1,500 liters of water and were sensitive to extreme temperatures. The airplanes soon proved to be almost totally useless. Forced to fly high above the flames to avoid being burned out of the sky, their puny loads evaporated before they even hit the ground. As a result, the entire firefighting effort was locked to the ground and was restricted to guessing where the flames would go next. The effort to predict which direction the fire was heading soon proved futile; the strong breeze coming in from the Mediter-

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ranean would often send the blaze in two directions at once. By the next day, it was clear that Israel was in serious trouble. Firemen had made zero headway and the fire threatened to spread to Haifa itself. Besides the severe economic damage the torching of Israel’s third largest city would cause, Haifa’s sprawling bay is also home to a number of oil refineries and an ammonium plant; the environmental damage, should they catch fire, would be catastrophic. “We are in a very harsh event,” Netanyahu said during an emergency cabinet meeting. “We have more than 40 dead. People are missing. People are injured. Many perished in admirable courage and sacrificed themselves in order to save others.”

Help from Abroad It soon became clear that Israel needed help from overseas. Politicians involved in the decision to appeal to its allies later said that the move was a difficult decision to make. Israel, the Start-Up Nation, was usually the one sending aid teams to other countries, whose leaders were now stunned at Israel’s present inability to quell the blaze. On Chanukah, Jews celebrate their victory over the Greeks who tried to stamp out the sovereign Jewish State. Yet here, the Greeks were the first to arrive, flying a squadron of no less than six tankers to Ramat David airbase along with pilots and technicians. After Greece came Holland, who dispatched its own specialized fire-fighting aircraft, along with three fire extinguishing helicopters. Diplomats at Israel’s Foreign Ministry worked the phones tirelessly to con-

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tact their counterparts around the world and beg them to send whatever they could to save the Jewish State. And help did arrive. Belgium, Russia, Norway, and Finland each sent a team of firefighters. Surprisingly, aid arrived even from nations known for their adversarial relations with Jerusalem. Egypt, despite having engaged in four wars with Israel, sent over a team, along with other normally-hostile entities such as Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. “This is a human catastrophe,” said Palestinian Authority official Ahmed Rizek Abu Rabia. “The Palestinian side is offering all the help it can through official channels.” Even Turkey, which had drastically downgraded relations with Israel since the Gaza Flotilla a year earlier, dispatched firefighters to battle the raging flames. Hoping that the gesture signaled a thaw in ties between Jerusalem and Ankara, Netanyahu singled out Turkey for special praise, saying at a cabinet meeting that he hoped “this will be the beginning of better relations between our two countries.” On the holiday that describes the victory of the “weak against the strong,” it seemed like the entire world shared its collective strength to rescue northern Israel. Faraway countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, and Denmark even offered to send help without being specifically asked by Israel. To Israelis accustomed to being the world’s pariah, it was surprising, even astonishing, to be on the receiving end of so much unconditional support. But perhaps no one surprised them as much as U.S. President Barack Obama. That year, relations between Obama and Netanyahu were clearly deteriorating. With a year under his belt as the commander-in-chief, Obama had already signaled that he wanted to “see daylight” between America and Israel. While they would only bottom out in 2015 amid joint rancor over the Iran nuclear deal, Obama had already signaled that the warm relationship between the two countries that had defined the Bush administration was a thing of the past. Within his first 100 days in office,

Lighting the menorah at the White House Chanukah party in which President Obama offered aid to defeat the devastating fires

Obama had already demanded that Israel completely and utterly halt Jewish building in Judea and Samaria. Not stopping there, he told Netanyahu that construction in certain neighborhoods in Jerusalem needed

“Just outside the [White House] gate, my cellphone rang,” described Oren in his best-selling book Ally. “Netanyahu, on the other end, sounded as I’ve never heard him before, truly frightened.

“I think Obama showed a personal care,” said U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren. to end as well, reportedly emphasizing “not one brick.” This did not inspire feelings of confidence in Jewish officials at the White House Chanukah Party that year, a festive event first established by President George Bush in 2001. The annual party, which has since grown to include a festive menorah lighting, is always attended by senior Jewish leaders from throughout the United States. When Israel’s U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren entered the White House party, he was not in a celebratory mood.

“‘We need firefighting planes, big ones,’ Netanyahu told him. ‘Go to the president and ask for help.’” Entering the fabled White House Chanukah party, Oren made a beeline for the president. Ignoring the normal diplomatic niceties, he briefly described the situation and begged Obama for help. “Dozens of people are dead, sir, and Haifa’s threatened,” Oren told the president. “Israel needs you.” In President Obama’s remarks that night, he prefaced his speech by singling out Oren. “I want to begin by offering our

deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all of those who’ve died as a result of the terrible forest fire in northern Israel,” the U.S. president told the crowd. “As rescuers and firefighters continue in their work, the United States is acting to help our Israeli friends respond to the disaster. A short while ago, our ambassador in Tel Aviv, Jim Cunningham, issued a disaster declaration, which has launched an effort across the U.S. government to identify the firefighting assistance we have available and provide it to Israel as quickly as possible. Of course, that’s what friends do for each other.” He continued, “And, Mr. Ambassador, our thoughts and prayers are with everybody in Israel who is affected by this tragedy and the family and loved ones of those in harm’s way.” Oren would go on to describe in his memoir how Obama ordered his close aide Reggie Love “to make sure Israel gets everything it needs.” Oren and Love would spend the night calling different U.S. air force bases in a desperate attempt to locate one of America’s three available “scoopers,” or massive 747 firefighting planes that could scoop water from the Mediterranean and rush towards the flames. By the next day, eight out of the 11 planes owned by the U.S. were making their way towards Israel. On them were a team of Hotshots, firefighting commandos from Utah who would parachute behind the wall of flames armed with water and fire retardant. Speaking with The Jewish Home, Oren said that the extraordinary lengths Obama went to in order to help Israel showed that, contrary to his image, the U.S. president truly cared about the welfare of the Jewish State. “I think Obama showed a personal care,” said Oren. “Everyone said that he hated Israel, that he was anti-Semitic – it wasn’t true. We had some serious policy disagreements, large ones, but he was there for us in our hour of need.”

Under Control The outpouring of international aid did its job, and firefighters managed to regain control over the fire by December 5, especially after the Evergreen Boeing 747 supertanker

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Israel rented dumped 40 million tons of water on the wildfire. While it would take another week for the fire to be extinguished completely, the immediate threat to Haifa was gone. However, the damage remained, and it was catastrophic. Over 9,900 acres of forest were destroyed, including 1.5 million trees which died immediately and another 4 million which later perished as a result of the smoke. The widespread devastation of Israel’s greenery was emotionally difficult for a country raised on the Zionist ethos of planting forests. More than half of the Carmel Forest Reserve, one of the country’s biggest, was destroyed, and it would take years for it to recover. The economic damage caused by the blaze was considerable as well, costing the state an estimated $500 million. Residents of Haifa and the surrounding area were hit particularly hard, with 250 homes burned down and 17,000 people needing to be evacuated. What also took a hit was Israel’s national pride. The country that prided itself on being the “Start-Up Nation,” with the strongest military in the Middle East that was always first to offer aid to others, found itself utterly helpless. Israel’s shocking level of unpreparedness for large wildfires also influenced the region’s geo-politics. During that period, Iran was racing towards obtaining nuclear weapons; hardly a week would go by without

a senior defense official warning Tehran that Israel wouldn’t hesitate to strike its nuclear facilities should the need arise. With the heavily armed Lebanese militia Hezbollah expected to respond to any Israeli attack on Iran by starting a war, the country’s

rael implementing far-reaching changes in order to beef up its readiness for wildfires. No more would its response be based on small crop-dusting planes but on a new Israeli Air Force squadron especially trained for such scenarios. Today, the Aerial Firefighting

The heavy curtain of soot blackening the skies was so thick that it could be seen from space. clear unpreparedness for emergency management caused many to ask if attacking Iran was really an option. “The great Carmel fire has embarrassed Israel’s firefighting capabilities and proved its almost complete incompetence,” warned Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television station later that week. “The enormous blaze that broke out on the Carmel proved that Israel is not prepared for war or a mass terrorist strike that would cause many casualties in the home front.” The unprecedented damage caused by the blaze resulted in Is-

Unit Aerial uses 14 Air Tractor airplanes that can carry up to 3,000 liters of water and fire retardant. With the ability to take off rapidly and be refilled in under 10 minutes, the jets are capable of creating a 100-meter-long protective line against fires. Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service was also integrated into one body as opposed to the various regional services that made coordination so difficult in 2010. In addition, the Public Security Ministry went on a spending spree, stocking up on more than 1,000 tons of fire retardant in

contrast to the 14 tons it possessed in 2010. The improvement in Israel’s firefighting capabilities was evident when another series of wildfires broke out in 2016. Despite being 30% larger than the towering blaze in 2010, few Israelis were evacuated from their homes, no one was killed, and Israel was not forced to avail itself of the world’s largesse. “If the fires [in 2016] had happened before the Carmel disaster, it could’ve ended in disaster as well,” Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Shimon Ben-Ner noted. “Since the Carmel disaster, the Fire & Rescue Authority has changed beyond recognition. “At the time, it was made up of dozens of different fire associations acting independently of each other,” added Ben-Ner. “Each fire association dealt with fires with the inadequate measures at its disposal, and if it needed help it would’ve called nearby fire associations.” According to the fire chief, “since the Carmel disaster, when we used firetrucks that were decades old – some of which broke down on the way to the fire – dozens of modern fire trucks were acquired, and the firefighters have far more advanced equipment. Finally, the Fire & Rescue Authority has added more manpower, going from the 1,200 firefighters in 2010 to 1,900 in 2016.” Israel hopes that with these advances, the country will be able to – with G-d’s help – battle any fires that may come its way.

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

When my daughter first met Rafi, she seemed super excited. After dating 20+ guys, hearing her so genuinely happy and excited was the best part – we for sure thought this was it. She breezed through the first six dates and she did not express any uncertainties – quite the contrary – she felt they had a great chemistry, he proved himself to be incredibly thoughtful and giving from day one, extraordinarily thoughtful and generous, when picking her up from her place with offers to take down her garbage, and many more things that made our family excited about this gem of a boy. Additionally, as she is not exactly in a “box” they religiously fit like a glove.

Well, it’s now been three months, and ever since the middle of their second month of dating, she seemed to go back to small things she defined as uncertainties, “How do I know?” type of things. “What if there is someone else out there?” He spent time with our family and everybody had the most fabulous time. Things seemed wonderful, and he takes such good care of her and treats her so well and fit perfectly into the family. However, she still keeps going back and forth. She cites evidence such as what she can only define as a lack of intuition. “I don’t get that strong feel like he’s my husband,” “I can’t imagine him as my husband, and I don’t know why that is not happening,” she keeps saying in between dates. At the same time, she says her feelings are strong when she is with him, but when she is not, she gets worried about whether she should continue. Is this a sign that it’s not right? I must add that she has seen a coach and therapist. Nobody is able to tell her exactly what to do, nor should they, but they have all recommended for her to keep going out because there is no reason to end it. But it seems like she is looking for a sign, if not anything else. What does the panel advise?

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions.

Our intention is not to offer any definitive

conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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The Panel

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. feel for you. It’s so hard when your child is so unsure, yet clearly looking for someone, including G-d, to tell her what to do. It’s her decision, and she is clearly not yet ready to commit to a decision either way. While signs are not always a Jewish thing, her searching for them tells you that she doesn’t want to take responsibility and is afraid. It’s going to take her more time to face her fears and get over them. Everyone has different journeys on the road to commitment to a life partner. It’s OK to take her time, so long as she is open with herself and the young man. The young man she is dating, if he truly understands her, will be supportive of her needs. He will not only articulate that she should take as much time as she needs but he will make extra efforts to be understanding and warm even as he may wish her to commit already. Spending more time dating is clearly the way to go because she will be able to articulate afterwards what about him is so meaningful for her. It’s not only about her feelings for him being strong when she is with her – further dating will bring her more insight and clarity. It’s actually a good thing for them as a couple to let them work out their relationship now, even if they ultimately decide on marriage. The fact that she has already spoken to both a coach and therapist is a healthy sign, as well. Be patient and daven for clarity. With time, unconditional support, and a lot of talking, she will reach a decision in a healthy way. Don’t pressure her. She needs time and clarity and not having it at this point is OK for her.

Questions such as yours, Mom, are best addressed by mental health professionals – the LSW’s, Ph.D.’s, and dating coaches who are trained to identify and confront the source of your daughter’s uncertainty. She refers to her ambivalence as “lack of intuition”; I’d call it basic anxiety. How else to explain her vacillation between excitement (Rafi is generous, thoughtful and creative) and anguish (“I can’t imagine him as my husband! I need a sign!”). Yup, she sounds confused, if not a bit distressed and under pressure. And who can blame her? She knows her parents believe Rafi is a gem and “fits perfectly in the family,” while she’s losing sleep, riddled with uncertainty. Perhaps she has serious concerns about the Rafi only she knows, yet she feels uncomfortable sharing these fears with you. Finally, she may be suffering from the romanticized Cinderella Syndrome – a condition afflicting young females who cling to the fantasy that…When The Right One Comes Along There Are Clear Signs (accompanied by rainbows, a 200-string orchestra, and a perfect white dove). In any case, Mom, your role is clear. Encourage your daughter to continue seeing her therapist and dating coach. Only in the safe, non-judgmental setting of a therapist’s office can she express her concerns and reservations regarding Rafi and the prospect of marriage. Only in therapy can she discover the root of her anxiety and acquire the tools to deal with insecurity and uncertainty. With her newfound confidence, your daughter will be better prepared to make reasonable, rational decisions regarding her future. Decisions she can live with comfortably – happily ever after. White horse and fireworks optional.

The Mother

The Shadchan

Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. ith sincere apologies to my fellow members of the Navidaters panel: I think I’ll sit this one out.

Michelle Mond hey say parents are only as happy as their unhappiest child. Having your daughter enmeshed in

The Rebbetzin

this dilemma is sure to keep you anxious and on edge as well. You and your husband have seen a wonderful man come into your daughter’s life only to then be met with your daughter’s uncertainty months later. According to your depiction of the story, her hesitant feelings only started surfacing once things started getting real. To me, this is key to the mystery. Your daughter was able to happily coast through the first month or so because there was no pressure – and it seems that under no pressure she couldn’t have been happier. However, somewhere along the line, there was a switch. A lightbulb turned on acknowledging that this could actually be serious. Perhaps people started seeing them together and gave her their two cents from an immature perspective (another major problem with the shidduch system). I’ve heard of friends ruining shidduchim for their friends by placing doubt in their minds, “Simi, are you sure you don’t want someone taller? Or with a more advanced degree?” Fear and doubt set in, perhaps her friends chimed in with their opinions, and now her rose-colored glasses are covered with soot. She’s still feeling like a rookie at this dating thing despite having dated plenty and quite possibly unsure how this marriage thing would look on her. Perhaps she is not sure about him, not because of anything wrong with him, but because she is unsure and she is truly confused and not sure if she is ready for marriage altogether? After all, as you mentioned, she has dated a lot. But those were all merely practice tests, not making a dent in her final grade so to speak. This could be the real test, she recognizes, which is why she is taking her time filling out the answers but unable to hand it in. It is petrifying for her. She is so unsure of the unknown, scared to break out of a comfortable routine. So much so that she is simply unable to see herself married but is mistaking it for not being able to see herself married to him. So, the million dollar question: what to do?

She may be suffering from the romanticized Cinderella Syndrome... accompanied by rainbows, a 200-string orchestra, and a perfect white dove.

As a mom, you shouldn’t do anything but be supportive of your daughter and trust her judgment, as hard as that sounds. At the end of the day, she must own her decision so that she doesn’t feel backed into it. Sometimes, when someone knows something is right, it feels wrong if too many people are telling the person to do it. Alas, even just for the sake of this young man who’s been patiently waiting, she must be encouraged to figure out what she truly wants. She must speak with happily married friends and mentors, seeking out guidance about what marriage practically feels like. Is it this scary other world that will make life as she knows it disappear into a new abyss? She must be reassured that when it’s time for marriage, she will go about her regular daily routines, still keep up with her friends, go to work, visit family, etc. She will merely have a life partner along for the ride. Like I said earlier, her rosy glasses were covered in soot as soon as marriage started coming up on the proverbial GPS. Suggest that she use visual imagery to actively imagine herself married and happy in that stage of life with a man

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who’s caring, responsible, and loyal. Much hatzlacha to you and your daughter!

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler here are so many issues that are difficult to address here, such as: family expectations vs. personal needs, indecision and analysis paralysis, fear of commitment, and what does romantic chemistry really mean. Nevertheless, the suggestion to

“keep going” is a good one, but let’s refine and expand upon this idea. My recommendation to your daughter is for her to attain a fuller, more complete picture of Rafi, in order to help clarify her thinking and her emotions. This can be accomplished by sharing different experiences in different contexts. For example, you might wish to: 1. Spend even more time together with your family; spend even more time together with his family. Seeing how a boyfriend gets along with your family and witnessing healthy interactions within his own family provide valuable information about a prospec-

Pulling It All Together

tive husband. 2. Engage in a competitive activity. Go bowling, play miniature golf, or challenge him to a game of Monopoly. Afterwards, see if you can both laugh about it hysterically or see if you both feel like killing each other. 3. Spend an afternoon together visiting your weird cousins and their bratty children. Afterwards, will your boyfriend launch into an analysis of how the two of you will treat each other and raise your children very differently from what you have just witnessed, or will he grumpily complain about an unpleasant, wasted afternoon? 4. Attend a lecture together or read the same book and discuss it together. When you feel inspired by some of the thoughts that you’ve

She is so unsure of the unknown.

heard or read, does he share your enthusiasm or does he react with apathy, or even worse, with disdain? No one is a one-dimensional being. After you see your boyfriend and appreciate him as a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional person, you will, or will not, allow yourself to feel strongly attracted to him physically and spiritually. You will, or will not, begin to happily daydream about spending a lifetime together. If yes, start planning your wedding invitations; if not, stop wasting your time and his time and move on to the next eligible bachelor.

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

et’s acknowledge for a moment how much you like Rafi. And how much you like him for your daughter. He seems like he would make an excellent husband and excellent addition to your family. You see how happy Rafi makes your daughter, and it must be sad, frustrating and a whole host of other feelings to see your daughter’s uncertainty. Let’s also acknowledge that short of coercing her down the aisle, the decision to marry Rafi is your daughter’s. Is there a perfect thing you can say to your daughter that would help her make the decision? Absolutely not. I suggest, as hard as it is, that you release yourself from this anxiety and truly start telling yourself that your daughter is responsible for this decision. And to that effect, she has seen a coach and a therapist. (Was that her idea or yours?) I think the whole family has fallen in love with Rafi, and we have to brace ourselves and prepare ourselves for the good possibility that he will not become a family member. You can be your daughter’s cheer-

leader, maybe ask her some thought-provoking questions about her and Rafi, maybe ask her if she’s having anxiety, but other than that the only thing you can really do is stay in your lane. Be supportive, a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on. As for your daughter, I am hearing hints of anxiety in the way you describe her concerns. “How do I know?” “What if there is someone else?” If you are crazy about someone when you’re together, and everything matches up for the most part – connection, attraction, similar goals and hashkafah, treats you well, etc. – and you have a history of anxiety, the anxiety has to be addressed so this person can have a beautiful, healthy relationship and know it when she sees it. It is quite possible that your daughter isn’t telling you what is going on in those coaching/therapy sessions. I can’t imagine the only thing she walked away with is “keep going

out.” If you are close with your daughter, you can ask her to join a session with her therapist so you have a better idea of what is going on. Shidduchim are hard on the singles invovled, and it’s hard on parents, too. I know you want to see your daughter happy, but this is her life and she has to reach this decision in her way and on her time and live with the consequences. If they are meant to be, believe me, they will be. All the best, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516-224-7779, ext. 2. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Hi Readers! Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback. Jennifer

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Health & F tness

You Can Do It Confident Parenting 101 By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

“Y

ikes, Dr. Lightman. Chanukah is coming. There’s a family get-together. Yes, it’s fun but…my kids are

not picture perfect. My extended family might see my children acting out. What’s a parent to do?” I remember those days. Some-

how, our kids don’t “perform” just because we ring a bell. Family get-togethers can be loaded in angst. Parents tell me that they may be surrounded by relatives and love but there’s always that relative who disagrees with how they parent or somehow says something judgmental that feels like a knife has been slammed into the gut and then twisted 180 degrees. I’m here to boost your confidence. • Teach your child manners We parents must teach our children what we expect from them in behavior. Look people in the eye. Shake an adult person’s hand firmly (“This is how we give shalom aleichem!”) keeping eye contact. Respond appropriately to questions; shrugging shoulders doesn’t cut it. Most children will file the information away and use it in the moment. • Don’t surrender your parenting authority to any person Parents have told me that Bubby and Zaidy don’t approve of their parenting style. My response: Bubby and Zaidy are entitled to their opinion. And Bubby and Zaidy should think once, twice, 20 times before voicing their opinion to their children. And never should Bubby and Zaidy undermine Mom and Dad, especially in front of the grandchildren. Doing so will

create, G-d forbid, confusion and shame in parents’ hearts. Despite this, please be prepared for someone to say something. Suggested responses: “Mmmmmm…I’ll think about it.” “I’ll handle it.” Say it firmly. Don’t forget who you are, Mom and Dad. You have developed and continue to develop your unique voices as parents. Stay present in the moment. • Mevater, Mevater Mevater – Let things slide Not everything needs to be answered. Silence can be golden (as long as lives are not threatened). Take a deep breath and stay the course. When your child sees you react or respond calmly, that’s a priceless lesson that he will one day reenact. • Don’t be silent – Let family know how they can help With an outspoken family member who feels they know best, be straight. Say matter-of-factly: “Come and get me if my child misbehaves, and I’ll handle it.” And there are family members who are more reserved and will never offer an opinion. Bless them in your heart. Tell them to come get you, if needed. • Give a heads up Perhaps Shmuel didn’t nap as long as he usually does. Or Penina

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is teething. Quietly announce when you walk in something to the effect like: “Naftali napped only 20 minutes so he’s not as well rested as always.” Or “Elianna is in that preschool independent phase and likes to do everything by herself.” You’d be surprised that there are family members who want to help soothe a cranky child or get a kick out of watching a little person assert their independence. • Never ever speak ill of your kids in front of others Jonathan might be overflowing with energy but please never describe him as a “hellion on wheels.” If he hears it, he will want to be it. And negative names have a nasty

habit of sticking for a long time. Suggested language: “Yes, he is a work in progress.”

about sharing their home and toys. Tell them “normal” will return. If you’ll be guests in another

Don't forget who you are, Mom and Dad.

• Prepare kids and tell them what you expect Tell your children a day or two in advance about what will be happening. If guests are coming, speak

person’s home, ask when arriving where the children can play and which areas are off-limits. Tell them they can’t go past the row of trees in the backyard. Children welcome

talk in concrete terms. • Always remember: Your children are human Even with the best chinuch, kids act out because they are kids. Have a sense of humor about it. Address it and move on. Stressing about it will only stress them and others. And the faster you move on, they, too, will move on. Enjoy your Chanukah. P.S. These guidelines are for all year. Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

CHANUKAH 2019: SAFETY GUIDELINES

hanukah is a happy time, and I wish to assure that you and your loved ones will have a most enjoyable holiday. Here are some safety guidelines which will enhance this festive holiday. 1. Our children and grandchildren make the most beautiful homemade menorahs. Alas, many of them are for show-and-tell and decorative purposes only as most of them are flammable. 2. Place the menorah on a sturdy surface made of nonflammable material such as marble, glass or metal. Second choice: Place aluminum foil on smooth surface and then the menorah on it. 3. Place the Chanukah candles ONLY inside a menorah made of nonflammable material. 4. Never place the menorah near or under any flammable material such as curtains or books. 5. Stay stationary while holding a lit candle. 6. Do not place the menorah in

a location where it can be knocked over – either by a passing person or wind – or where something can fall on it. 7. Keep matches and lit objects away from children. 8. Make sure your pet cannot reach the menorah. 9. Never leave a lit menorah unattended! 10. Keep all oil out of reach of children. 11. Use a long-tipped lighter to keep the flame away from your fingers. 12. Never leave the house while your menorah is still lit. Chanukah also means oily, fried foods such as latkes, fried chicken, and doughnuts. If you make these foods at home, you will be dealing with oil that can reach up to 400°F which can be a fire or burn safety hazard. Please follow these safety tips to avoid a Chanukah cooking accident: 1. Ensure that your fire alarms are in working order. 2. Never leave the kitchen

while frying foods, and always keep a close eye on the pans or fryer. 3. Keep water away from the cooking area as even a small splash combined with oil can create very hot steam. 4. Use vegetable, canola, corn, grapeseed, peanut, safflower, or sunflower oil as they have a high “smoke point.” 5. Do not pour huge amounts of oil in your frying pan – it is not necessary to make a delicious latke and is a fire safety hazard. 6. Do not “overcrowd” the food in the oil. 7. Flip latkes carefully with a slotted spatula or pancake flipper to avoid oil splashing. 8. Use metal cooking tongs to flip chicken or doughnuts to keep your hands from touching the oil. 9. Keep your stove vent turned on while you are frying foods to help keep smoke from the oil at bay. 10. Place cooked food onto a paper towel on a plate to soak up oil.

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11. If you are keeping cooked food warm in the oven, remove the food from the paper towel and place on an oven-safe dish. Keep the temperature low at below 200°F and be careful not to drip oil into the oven from the plate. G-d forbid, if one gets burned, the following is protocol: DROP AND ROLL. This means do NOT remove clothing while it’s in flames. The person should DROP to the floor and ROLL until flames are extinguished. Place person in cold water bath and remove all clothing. Assess severity of burns, realizing a child’s percentage area is greater than that of an adult. All burns to the groin and face and mucous membranes are more significant and will need urgent attention. For minor areas without blistering, cut up an onion (white or red) and smear over burnt area. DO NOT POP large blisters. Sylvadene can be applied to large areas EXCEPT for the face. Call your physician and Hatzalah to be evaluated.

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Dr. Deb

Another Way to Tackle Anger By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

ere is a quick review for anyone who missed the last few columns. Several weeks ago, I shared the science research on the use of medications for psychiatric issues, focusing particularly on anger. There is a vast amount of testing showing that medication may do more harm than good. I then said there are two ways of coping with anger (and other emotional challenges) that do not involve drugs. The following week, I wrote about being assertive. When a person learns exactly how to distinguish being assertive from being aggressive, he is (or she is) taking back a lot of control over the situation that was lost in going off on rants. Knowing what to say, in what tone of voice, and when to say it is not easy work – but enormously rewarding. Last week, I wrote about the second method of coping with stress to prevent anger outbursts: self-soothing. There are two ways of being self-soothing. One is meditation, which is tried and true and deeply used these days in psychotherapy. The amount of research available on it is huge. Is it easy to clear the mind completely so that there are no troublesome thoughts? No. The brain is used to ruminating or grumbling. In fact, I’m now reading my latest book in this area, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. (No, he is not Jewish but his name certainly would make you think so.) And he said something that blew me away: too much activity in the limbic system of the brain (the emotional system) is highly, highly correlated with people having sub-

jective feelings of sadness. In fact, because this finding startled him and his colleagues, he did a study of over 15,000 patients to test this out, and the finding stood. So being able to clear the mind, in and of itself, should be a good start because, apparently, less activity up there will lift the spirits. There is a second way of self-sothing which also works. That is to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. This is tricky, however, because if a person really believes the negative

self-conscious. She is not able to relax on dates as a result of it. Now, Aviva has the task to write down in her journal times that she is socially successful. Just last Shabbos as she was leaving shul, she noticed a friend who had been sick. She had given that friend a call to see how she was. This same friend now rushed across the kiddush room to tell Aviva how her call had brightened her up enormously when she was sick in bed. So, after Shabbos, she wrote down the date and a synopsis of what happened, proving that

Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

thoughts to be true, they will feel fake when thinking the positive thoughts that they do not believe to be true. Over the years I came up with a broad solution to the fake feeling, so that the positive no longer feels fake. One piece of the solution requires arguing with yourself in a way that works. Here’s how it goes: write down the negative thought. Then write down a positive, opposite to it. Then, find instances that support the positive, opposite fact. If there are times and dates, even better. So, for example, Aviva believes that she “always” makes social blunders and as a result is extremely

she does know how to handle herself socially. While journaling the opposite of ingrained beliefs is time-consuming, it takes a lot less time than ruminating over how bad things are! This solution to the fake feeling is one of 12 ways that I developed to fight that fake feeling when attempting to get rid of negative beliefs. They all work very well; they’re quite powerful, and they literally will rewire the brain. Every chag that comes up is another opportunity to take a second look at our own lives and see what we can do to make ourselves happier.

Chanukah is no exception. If Moishie has an anger problem, it may seem to him like it would be an actual miracle to get rid of it. I get that. It’s hard. But miracles have happened and do happen – for the Jewish people and for us as individuals. If you take a bit of time and reflect on your own life, I’m sure that you would see there were miracles in it. There also were times when you did your very best and Hashem helped you over the finish line. You didn’t have to win – you could have lost – but He saw the effort you made and wanted you to get the sweet ending you were looking for. These, too, are miracles. They’re small so we don’t want to “count” them. But they’re real. It is entirely possible for you to create your own miracle – with the help of HaKadosh Boruch Hu. However, He will only help you if you get started. We did need that one-day bit of oil for Him to make it last. He wants us to do our part. So if you have an anger problem – or a general stress problem – isn’t it worth it to work hard to overcome it? If you need help with the tools I’ve offered here, that’s okay. Learning how to apply the principle (and getting the cheering section, too) are often needed. I’m here to help. Wishing you enormous light on Chanukah.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want help with your marriage, begin by signing up to watch her Masterclass at https://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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DECEMBER 25, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

Lighten Up the Holidays By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

hanukah is known as the Festival of Lights, but there is nothing light about the food we serve! Latkes and doughnuts are staples at every Chanukah party. Both are fried in an abundance of oil. Latkes are typically made from white potatoes, which are number one on the glycemic index and create a significant spike in blood sugar. Doughnuts are created with white flour, fat, and a tremendous amount of sugar and are then deep-fried. The plain, old jelly doughnuts of yesteryear have been replaced by astronomical creations such as lotus, cookies and cream, strawberry cheesecake, and marshmallow, just to name a few. In addition to these heart-stopping delicacies, most parties offer numerous high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods that are difficult to resist, night after night. I counsel my clients on how to prepare for these events and how best to navigate their way through the sugar and fat minefield, without blowing up! Here are some of my tips and tricks for celebrating the eight nights with much joy and minimal gain.

Preparation 1. Research. Try to find out what foods will be served at the party. This will enable you to pregame by either planning what to eat before/after the party, depending on the options that are being offered. For example, if the party is fleishig and is called for dinner, have a lighter lunch (i.e. eggs or fish and salad) that day. If the party is midday, then plan for a light dinner later on.

2. Participate. Offer to bring a healthy protein, side, or dessert. For example, if the host informs you that they are serving pizza, fries, latkes, and doughnuts, offer to bring a Greek salad and fresh fruit or baked apples. If it’s a Chinese party with only battered and fried options, then offer to bring a grilled chicken or turkey salad. A tray of roasted veggies or a vegetable crudité is always appreciated by both guests and hosts. If you know in advance that there are no good options for you, then you should offer to

is called starvation mode and is part of the body’s survival mechanisms. Then you will give your now-slow metabolism a huge meal, but your body doesn’t require so many calories in one sitting! It will utilize what it needs for that moment, and the rest of the calories will be stored as fat. Not only will your body store the fat, but it will hoard that fat, because you made your body nervous by not eating properly all day. So treat the day like a regular day and eat your meals, and snacks, and drink your water.

Chanukah is a beautiful chag for family and friends to gather together and celebrate the miracles of the holiday.

bring them or consider eating something prior to the party. 3. Don’t go hungry! This is key to successfully surviving any party or event that you attend with your waistline mostly intact. If you “starve” yourself and skip meals during the day in anticipation of the party because you want to “save” your calories for the event, that is a surefire way of signing the weight warrant. If you eat very little during the day, you will slow down your metabolism; this

4. Be a good host. Even if you know that the crowd you are hosting will mainly be attracted to the latkes, hot dogs, fries, and doughnuts, please provide some healthier options as well. A dairy party should include fish, tuna, and salad, in addition to blintzes, lasagna, pasta, and pizza. A meat party should include grilled chicken and roasted veggies, in addition to the schnitzel, ribs, meatballs, and meat pizza. Whether meat or dairy, a salad bar will always be a big

hit with both adults and children. Offer some interesting veggies such as jicama, baby corn, watermelon radishes, snow peas, water chestnuts, and grilled eggplant, in addition to the standard cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and pickles. Try frying your veggies and potatoes in an air fryer! Make some zucchini or cauliflower latkes, baked or fried in Pam, and see if anyone notices the difference. Every host, no matter the theme or venue, should always provide fruit as a dessert option. I am a mother to only boys, and when my boys were young and we spent Shabbos afternoons managing playdates, I would, of course, set up a “Shabbos party.” The table always consisted of some kind of chip, popcorn or pretzel, either cookies or cake, and a bowl of cutup fruit. The fruit ALWAYS went – more so than anything else on the table. Everyone, even children, will eat fresh, sweet, and delicious fruit if it is cut up and prepared for them. Try serving the fruit in individual cups with little spoons.

Party Time! When you are a guest, you must make the best choices from your available options. What if there are no good options? Take a small portion of the least offensive foods you can find. You are never supposed to sit and starve. It is rude to the host, and emotionally unhealthy for yourself, and might lead to feelings of deprivation and resentment. Let’s say there are some good options, but you’re craving the General Tso’s chicken?

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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Take some of both the healthy and unhealthy foods but exert portion control. Make each meal (party) a oneplate meal, meaning that you should be able to fit all of your food onto one plate. If you can’t fit everything onto one plate, then you are taking too much food! If there is an irresistible doughnut that you are dying to try, share it with a few other buddies; it’ll be more fun this way and you will be doing them a favor too! Keep up your water intake throughout the party. For every bite of food, take a sip of water; this will help fill you up.

Downtime On the days and nights that you don’t have any event or party, make them clean of sugar and high-fat foods. You cannot eat latkes and doughnuts every day for eight days and expect to maintain your weight and feel good. Treat the days in between parties like normal days. Try

loss mode, try to set your goal as maintenance for this week. If you avoid, or minimize gaining weight this week, that’s a great accomplishment! The typical Chanukah foods are very unhealthy and can result in higher than normal blood sugar, blood pressure, constipation, decreased motility, and overall poor health. Try to make some healthier versions of these foods, like zucchini or cauliflower latkes or air-fried French fries. When you do decide to treat yourself to the “real deal,” do so in moderation and mindfully indulge. Wishing all of my clients, readers, and followers a freilechen Chanukah! to incorporate lighter meals on those days, like fish and eggs. Increase your exercise on those off days to help burn off those extra calories. Chanukah is a beautiful chag for family and friends to gather together and celebrate the miracles of the holiday and the miracles, both big and small, that are found in our daily

lives. Don’t emphasize only the food! Try to catch up with relatives that you don’t see often, play with your children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews dreidel or some other game. This is not an eight-day vacation from trying to live a healthy life. View it as a bit of an off-week in terms of diet: if you are currently in a weight

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian 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, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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Chanukah Delights Looking for something different to serve at your Chanukah party? Consider crispy taco latkes or melt-in-your-mouth churros – both delectable and sure to delight a crowd.

Pulled Brisket Taco Latke

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Ingredients Latke Taco 2 eggs 2 ¼ cup cold water 1 package Manischewitz Pancake/latke mix 1/8-inch hot vegetable oil Pulled Brisket 3 lbs. marbled 2nd cut brisket 18 oz. bottle Gefen BBQ sauce 1 large onion, thinly sliced 5-6 garlic cloves, sliced 1 batch (about 1/4 cup) coffee garlic rub: 1 tbsp ground coffee beans 1 tbsp dark brown sugar ½ tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp regular paprika 1 tsp coarse salt 1 tsp onion flakes 1 tsp granulated garlic

Directions For the Latkes: In a medium bowl, beat two eggs until blended; add 2 ¼ cup cold water and mix well. Stir in contents of pancake/latke package. Allow batter to thicken 3-4 minutes. In large skillet, drop tablespoons of batter into 1/8-inch hot vegetable oil and brown both sides. Makes 45-60 latke pancakes.

For the Pulled Brisket: Place the brisket in a crockpot, top with onions and garlic. Pour barbecue sauce over the top. Add ¼ cup of water to the BBQ sauce bottle, swish and pour into crockpot. Sprinkle on the coffee garlic rub and cook on low 8 hours. (Alternatively, this may be prepared in the oven at 275°F for 4-6 hours, until it shreds easily when pulled.) Remove brisket from sauce and pull apart with two forks until shredded. Add a few tablespoons of cooking liquid to shredded brisket. Place a mound of pulled brisket onto the center of each latke, gently fold like you would a soft tortilla, and enjoy!

By Esty Wolbe and kosher.com

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Churros By Gideon Ben Ezra and kosher.com

Ingredients

Directions

Churros 2/3 cup lowfat milk or milk substitute 6 tbsp canola oil Pinch salt 2 tbsp sugar ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp nutmeg 1 tsp Gefen vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 eggs Canola oil, for frying

Heat the milk, canola oil, salt, sugar and spices in a small pot on high heat and bring to a boill. Add the flour and mix well using a wooden spoon. You are creating a roux. Keep stirring until the roux is uniform and a thick skin forms on the bottom of the pot. Turn off the flame and continue stirring the roux. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition, until all the ingredients are well blended. You can use a hand mixer or continue to stir well with the wooden spoon. Affix a wide (one-inch) star tip to a pastry bag and fill the bag with the hot dough. Set it aside in a mug with the tip folded over so that the dough doesn’t escape from the bag. (If you don’t have a pastry bag, this recipe will also work with a cookie press.) Heat the oil in a frying pan or a deep fryer to a depth of three to four inches, until it reaches 350°F. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, heat the oil until a drop of water sprinkled on top quickly bubbles up and disappears. Place a pair of scissors in a cup of warm water. When the oil is hot, pipe a three- to four-inch long tube of dough into the oil, using scissors to cut the wet ends. (Longer churros may look more authentic but smaller ones are easier to make.) The churros tend to stick together in the oil, so only fry a few at a time, depending on how large your pan is. When they float to the top, fry them for one to two minutes longer, or until they are golden brown. Remove the churros with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels. While the churros are still hot, roll each one in the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Serve immediately.

Topping ½ cup sugar mixed with 1/3 tsp cinnamon

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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In The K

tchen

Berry Cheese Latkes Dairy • Yields 12 latkes By Naomi Nachman

Ingredients

Photo credit: Miriam Pascal

I can’t make these fast enough; as I take one out of the pan, another family member is standing beside me to gobble it up. When my daughter became a new mother and came to stay with us, all she wanted to eat were these latkes! 1½ cups ricotta cheese ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs, separated ¼ cup sugar 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch kosher salt 2 tablespoons raspberry jam, plus additional for serving Oil, for frying

Preparation Place ricotta, milk, vanilla, egg yolks, and raspberry jam into a bowl; mix well. Stir in sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt; mix gently until smooth. In a second bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks, then fold them into the cheese mixture. Add jam, fold in very gently. Heat oil in a 9-inch frying pan till oil is hot. Drop ¼ cups of batter into pan; lower heat to medium and cook on both sides until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Cook’s Tip: When adding the beaten egg whites and raspberry jam, do it very gently to ensure the batter doesn’t deflate, which would lead to dense pancakes.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Trump will be a formidable candidate next year because he is prepared to look under the rocks of the American belief system and see the snakes and vermin that have camped there in the dark. - Tom Edsall, The New York Times, describing Trump supporters as “snakes and vermin”

Soros is hardly a Jew. I’m more of a Jew than Soros is. I probably know more about [Judaism]… He doesn’t belong to a synagogue, he doesn’t support Israel, he’s an enemy of Israel. He’s elected eight anarchist DAs in the United States. He’s a horrible human being.

Joy Reid has finally figured it out. While the Democrats have been distracted investigating Trump for stealing the 2016 election, he has already stolen the 2024 election. That is how smart he is. - Mark Steyn, responding to Joy Reid worrying on her radio show that President Trump may not only refuse to leave office next year if defeated, but may even decide to stay in office for a third term

- Rudy Giuliani in an interview with the New York Magazine

Ford, John J., Age 86, of Plymouth, passed away surrounded by family on December 2nd after the Vikings allowed 17 unanswered points. – From lifelong Vikings fan John Ford’s obituary in the Star Tribune, placed after the Vikings succumbed to a Monday Night Football defeat against the Seattle Seahawks

The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference. – Queen Elizabeth, in her holiday message to her subjects

It’s been a few years since I’ve attended kindergarten, and that was in Poland. – Yosef Eshed, 102, of Motza, Israel, who received a kindergarten acceptance letter recently from the education department in Israel

I’m not sure what leverage there is from refraining from sending us something we do not want. - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responding to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refusing to send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate because she is using it as “leverage” to dictate how the Republican Senate conducts the eventual trial

What we’re living in right now is not an advanced society. It is fascism, what we have. - Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Socialist/Dem-NY) at a campaign rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders in California

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I’ve been here a member of Congress five years. Trump has been president now three years. I have noticed a shift myself from 2016, 2017, in private conversations I had with Republican colleagues. There were members who, in 2017, the first year he was president, would say to me either in the member’s gym or right off the House floor, “Oh my G-d, what is he doing now? He’s crazy, I can’t stand this guy, my wife didn’t vote for him.” Now, three years later, you rarely hear that, and I’m talking about the same individuals. - Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) in an interview with Mediaite

House Republicans spent the whole day being drama queens about impeachment. In fact, at one point a Republican congressman from Ohio even held — and this is completely real — a moment of silence for the 63 million people who voted for Donald Trump, which is kind of ironic because Donald Trump would never be able to hold a moment of silence for himself.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

On December 18th, 2019, Donald Trump became the first cast member of “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. - Wikipedia page for the 1992 film “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” in which Donald Trump made a cameo appearance

Remarkably, I flunked art. - Chef Jon Lovitch of Queens, who has made a 1,300 miniature building gingerbread village consisting of 600 pounds of dough, 800 pounds of candy, 2,300 pounds of icing, 1,800 candy canes, and about 6,000 sticks of gum, talking about his record-breaking mini village

— Trevor Noah

I’ll be thinking about it, talking to Him throughout the day like, “Man, I appreciate You. I thank You.” Because, when you feel like you’re bigger than the L-rd, that’s when all that success dies. It goes away. - Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is having a record-breaking year, when asked by reporters how he stays humble

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

It would have been even nicer if you had…reported how friendly and competently our team served you at your seat in first class. - Statement by a German train company after Greta Thunberg – the teenage Swedish climate activist of “How Dare You!” fame – insinuated in a tweet that she sat on the floor of an overcrowded train, but in reality she was seated in first class on her whole trip

We did all we could, Elijah. - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after the House voted to impeach the president, invoking the late Elijah Cummings, a leading Trump critic in the House of Representatives, who passed away in October

We must understand that right now in Israel we have leadership who has been indicted for bribery, who, in my view, is a racist. - Sen. Bernie Sanders, talking about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the recent Democrat presidential debate

Merry Impeachmas from the WaPo team! - Tweet by Washington Post congressional reporter Rachel Bade, after the House voted to impeach President Trump

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Political Crossfire

What Britain’s Seismic Election Tells Us for 2020 By Fareed Zakaria

mpeachment is big news – justifiably so – but the battle cries around it have drowned out an-

other momentous event, with important lessons for the 2020 campaign: last week’s seismic British elections.

The simplest way to understand the UK results is to look at one fact: even though the Conservatives ended up with their largest majority in Parliament since 1987, the overall vote for the party went up just about 1 percentage point from two years ago, when Theresa May was its leader. In the 2017 elections, the Tories got 42.4% of the vote; this year, they got 43.6%.

There are several reasons Labour collapsed. The party was led by Jeremy Corbyn, who is dour, uncharismatic, radical and has been dogged by accusations of anti-Semitism. His opponent, Boris Johnson, is colorful and lively, having been a popular mayor of London, a city that typically backs Labour. But Johnson’s victory was paved by more than personality. It had to do

In politics, a simple, clear message will always trump a complex, murky one.

The Labour Party, however, went from 40% in 2017 to 32%, a collapse of historic proportions. Labour ended up with its fewest seats in 84 years. Its famous “red wall” that encompassed working-class areas in the north crumbled, with seats that had voted Labour for more than 50 years going to the Conservatives. Sedgefield, Tony Blair’s former constituency, had voted Labour since 1935. Last week, it went Tory.

with two strategic decisions that were risky but paid off. Both will be important to keep in mind in the United States. Johnson clarified and simplified the election, making it a referendum on Brexit. He purged his party of moderates on this issue and said to the public: vote Tory to “get Brexit done.” Compare that to the other side. Labour was anti-Brexit, sort of, with a leader (Corbyn) who had been

The 25, 2015 2019 TheJewish JewishHome Home| DECEMBER | OCTOBER 29,

pro-Brexit, sort of, for his entire political life. Labour’s position on Brexit was muddled. The Liberal Democrats were resolutely anti-Brexit but are a smaller party, so the public was confused as to whether a vote for them would be wasted. In politics, a simple, clear message will always trump a complex, murky one. Remember “build the wall”? Johnson’s second strategic decision was to shift the Conservative Party’s positions on economic policy. Under David Cameron and May, the Tories had been the party of limited government, cutting spending through a sweeping set of austerity measures. Johnson junked all that, promising to increase government spending on everything from the National Health Service to schools to potholes. He rewrote his party’s fiscal rules so that he could borrow and spend an additional 100 billion pounds. That second bet worked spectacularly. The Conservatives won over large swathes of the working class, voters who might have shared the Tories’ skepticism about Europe but who could never vote for a party whose economic message was resolutely free-market. Johnson speaks of creating a “One Nation Conservatism,” consciously evoking legendary Tory leader Benjamin Disraeli. Whether he can sustain this coalition remains to be seen, but it is striking that Johnson has been able to take in many working-class voters without losing the party’s traditional base with the upper middle class. In 2016, Trump similarly campaigned as an economic populist, embracing left-wing positions on trade, social security and Medicare. He was able to gain working-class votes in Democratic states while keeping traditional voters with him. The Trump-Republican Party is now a coalition of free-market types and working-class populists. There is a tension between the two groups (and their wish lists), but polarization and party loyalty are so great that there appears to be little danger that traditional Republicans will abandon Trump for a Democrat. The Democrats have a larger base than Britain’s Labour Party. But because of American geogra-

phy and the Electoral College, they face the same vulnerability – losing socially conservative, working-class voters in a number of crucial states. And they are doing little to address this vulnerability. Democrats keep arguing over economic issues, lurching ever leftward, but the public is largely supportive of the party’s existing positions on these issues (allow people

to buy into Medicare, fix America’s infrastructure, tax the rich more, increase the minimum wage). The party’s Achilles’ heel is immigration. Half of the Democratic candidates have said they want to decriminalize illegal border crossings and even more want to give undocumented immigrants free health care. Large majorities of the country disagree with these policies, and you can ex-

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pect Trump to turn this into a wedge issue during the campaign. The irony, thus, is that the Republican Party, like the Tories, has become ideologically a big-tent party, while the Democrats – historically defined as a large coalition – are ideologically narrow on the issues that might well define the 2020 election. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

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A Fulfilled L fe

How to Receive Feedback Like a Boss Part I By Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff

e have discussed how leaders can deliver effective feedback that focuses on actions and their consequences and builds coaching and support into the feedback process. As important as it is to share feedback effectively, it can be equally vital (if not more so) for leaders to be able to hear feedback and make the most of it. Let’s get straight to it. While it can be difficult to deliver critical feedback, it can be much harder to accept not-so-flattering input. Imagine, then, the likelihood of a team member coming over to deliver to you such news. After all, who wants to put their neck on the line to share things that the boss isn’t going to want to hear? But just because you don’t want to hear it and they don’t want to share it doesn’t mean that it should just get buried under a rug somewhere. We all need feedback if we are to grow and perform at our very best. And if our people don’t have a way to express their fears and concerns, what will that do to their morale, engagement, and desire to remain at your company? So, before discussing strategies for receiving feedback, we must first tackle the challenge (and it’s a big one!) of getting our people to open up to us in the first place. Part of the challenge here could be our mindset. In her bestselling book Mindset: The New Psychology

Of Success, Stanford Professor Carol Dweck talks about people’s mindsets with regards to their ability to perform new tasks. She talks about people who stay squarely in their comfort zones and others that venture well beyond them. Dweck labeled these mindsets as “fixed” and “growth,” respectively. A fixed mindset refers to the belief that skill and capacity are fundamentally attached to a person’s genetic com-

degree of proficiency. They maintain that success depends mainly on one’s willingness to learn, practice, and pursue their goals. These men and women are not content to rest on their laurels and ride their natural capacities as far as they would take them. They continuously strive to learn new things and to develop new capabilities. They do so, in part, because of their great drive to succeed. But they also possess a deep

Success depends mainly on one’s willingness to learn, practice, and pursue their goals.

position. Either you “have it” and are good at it, or you’re not. This applies to everything from academics (“I’m not much of a math guy,”) to business and social situations (“I don’t know marketing,”) as well as to music, athletics, and more. The farther the task from our comfort zone, the more that we throw up “disability blocks” that justify our lack of effort to learn. Those with growth mindsets, on the other hand, tend to believe that skills can be learned, at least to some

sense that they can stretch their inborn talents in that they are willing to make the effort. It’s not that they can’t do it; they just can’t do it yet. Leaders with a growth mindset welcome feedback. They recognize that we can and should continually strive to improve and that feedback is an integral part of that. They also communicate their feelings and attitudes far and wide and set a positive example by modeling this mindset to others. Another approach to encouraging

feedback is to become more approachable to your direct reports. A recent Gallup research report found that managers who are open and approachable have more engaged employees. “Among employees who strongly agree that they can approach their manager with any type of question, 54 percent are engaged. When employees strongly disagree, only 2 percent are engaged, while 65 percent are actively disengaged.” While the research focused on the ability to ask questions and get input, it logically follows that such employees would also find it easier to approach their bosses with ideas and constructive feedback. Approachability can be as simple as walking around the office and being present, such as with the MBWA (Management by Walking Around) approach made famous by the chief execs at HP. When we are “around,” our people see us as more open and concerned, which will encourage them to share what’s top of mind.

Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is an executive and business coach and president of Impactful Coaching & Consulting. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call 212-470-6139 or email info@impactfulcoaching.com. Check out his new leadership book, “Becoming the New Boss,” on Amazon. Download his free eBook for understaffed leaders at ImpactfulCoaching. com/EPIC.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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Forgotten Her es

Divebombing During the Battle of Midway By Avi Heiligman

ince the dawn of aviation in 1903, planes have been used by the military in many different capacities. World War I variants had them used as fighters, scout planes, and bombers. While dive bombers did get their start in 1914, it was during World War II in which they were deployed on a large-scale basis. One dive bomber in particular has a record that surpasses other similar planes and can be credited with changing the tide of the Battle of Midway. A dive bomber is a plane that flies near or right above its target and then dives directly at the target before releasing its payload. This type of bombing greatly increases the accuracy of the mission but it takes a lot of training to get the angles correct. After World War II, jet planes allowed for other types of bombing runs to be staged, and with the advent of better technology, the dive bomber was phased out of service. During World War II, the German Luftwaffe used the fixed-wheeled Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber that wrecked havoc across Europe. The U.S. military’s best dive bomber was carrier-based and was used by the U.S. Navy and the Marines. The Douglas SBD Dauntless had been in service since 1940 and several were at Pearl Harbor when the naval base was attacked on December 7, 1941. The pilots used to joke that SBD stood for “slow but deadly” instead of Scout Bomber-Douglas. It was a wellarmed bomber with two Browning

machineguns in the forward area and two more in flexible mounts in the rear. It could also carry over a ton of bombs, which was a lot for a carrier bomber. Dauntlesses had a crew of two consisting of a pilot and a rear gunner. Its range was well over a thousand miles and later versions had increased armor and self-sealing fuel tanks to prevent explosions after being hit by enemy gunfire. In total, about a dozen variants were produced for all branches of the military, which amounted to close to 6,000 SBDs that rolled off the production lines. The United States Army Air Corps’ SBDs were named the A-24 Banshee. The Pearl Harbor raid destroyed most of the U.S. Navy’s and Marine Corp’s SBDs stationed there, but the carriers were untouched. Three days later, a Dauntless from the carrier USS Enterprise sank the Japanese submarine I-70 near the Hawaiian Islands. SBDs off of three carriers struck at Japanese bases in the months leading up to the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. During the battle, they sank the Japanese light carrier Shoho and damaged another fleet carrier. One of the pilots was Lieutenant (j.g.) Stanley “Swede” W. Vejtesa who was flying off the USS Yorktown. He fought off several Japanese Zeros and managed to shoot down one after dropping his 1,000 pound bomb on the carrier. In total, Dauntless dive bombers sank five Japanese carriers, which was more than any other plane in any theater of the war. The other four

were sunk during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. After torpedo bombers were wiped out, SBD dive bombers came in for the attack on the Japanese carriers that changed the course of history. Enterprise’s VB-6 and VS-6 air group split up and attacked two targets. Beginning at 10:22, Lt. Commander C. Wade McClusky and his wingmen scored hits on the Kaga, while to the north, Akagi was attacked four minutes later by three bombers, led by Lieutenant Commander Richard Halsey Best. Yorktown’s dive bombers, commanded by Max Leslie, went for Soryu, scoring hits. The dive bombers left Soryu and Kaga ablaze within six minutes. Akagi was hit by just one bomb (dropped by Lieutenant Commander Best), which penetrated to the upper hangar deck and exploded among the armed and fueled aircraft there. Soryu took three bombs in her hangar deck, while the Kaga suffered at least four, possibly five, bomb hits from the SBDs. All three carriers were out of action and were eventually abandoned and scuttled. Then Dauntlesses from the three American carriers (planes from the stricken Yorktown had landed on the two other ships) mortally damaged Hiryu in a strike around 5 p.m. that afternoon. The destruction of the four carriers in the Carrier Strike Force compelled Japanese Admiral Yamamoto to abandon his Midway invasion plans, and the Japanese Fleet retired westward. Later, oth-

er SBDs attacked and damaged two heavy cruisers with Mikuma eventually sinking. In the fighting that followed, SBDs played an important role in attacking enemy bases and shipping in the Pacific. Two Dauntlesses are credited with severely damaging the carrier Zuiho at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. During the months-long Battle of Guadalcanal, SBDs were credited with keeping Japanese shipping at bay. They were credited with sinking more Japanese shipping boats than any other bomber and sank more ships than losses of the plane. The decline of the SBD began in 1944 when the Navy introduced the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, although the SBD remained in action for the remainder of the war. In addition to service in the Pacific, some Dauntlesses made their way to the European Theater and first saw action in the skies over Norway. The cost of each plane was a mere $29,000, which is incredible considering it was one of the best aircraft employed in the war. Even though they doesn’t get as much love from the media as other planes of the era like the Mustang, Hellcat or B-24 Liberator, SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers deserve recognition for their impressive record. Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com.

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Your

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Money

Gifts Tax-Free By Allan Rolnick, CPA

hese days it seems like every day brings new controversy to further divide Americans: red states squaring off against blue states and partisanship crossing the line into tribalism. And that’s just as true with the holidays as with anything else. Are we spending too much on toys for our kids? Do we give one big present or eight smaller gifts? Does anyone even like jelly doughnuts? Fortunately, there are still some

headlines that can bring us all back together. So this holiday season, we’re especially delighted to remind you that there won’t be any Form 1040GIFT to file after the wrapping paper is cleaned up. Taxable income generally includes all income, from whatever sources received. However, the tax code carves out several exceptions to that rule, much like Grandpa grates the potatoes for the latkes. A “gift”

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is something of value, given without expecting anything in return. IRS Publication 525 states that “in most cases, property you receive as a gift, bequest, or inheritance isn’t included in your income.” “Ok, then, what about the gift tax?” you might challenge us next. Well, for starters, that’s a levy on your right to give, not receive. So there’s never any tax due to the recipient. You can give up to $15,000 each to as many people in a year as you like. If you’re married, you and your spouse can join together to give up to $30,000 to every lucky winner. If you

tising staple since Lexus launched their “December to Remember” campaign back in 1998. What happens when Uncle Isidore leaves a shiny new car wrapped in blue and silver in the driveway? This is the part where we’re going to have to shatter some precious childhood illusions. Generally, Uncle Isidore doesn’t buy you cars – it’s usually Mom buying the car for Dad or Dad buying it for Mom. And transfers between spouses are tax-free up to any amount. Which means, once again, that the IRS won’t be taking a bite out of your latke cheer.

What happens when Uncle Isidore leaves a shiny new car wrapped in blue and silver in the driveway?

give more than $15,000 to a single recipient in a single year, you’ll have to report the excess on Form 709. But even then, you won’t owe actual tax until your lifetime taxable gifts exceed $11.18 million. With those rules in mind, you’ll have to be awfully generous before Chanukah turns into a taxable event. (Granted, a trip to Tiffany’s might do the trick.) But there’s one last scenario to address — and one last loophole to highlight — before we finish our discussion. That’s if you want to gift someone with a car, an adver-

Like everyone else, we wish you the best this holiday time, whether you celebrate Chanukah or even Festivus. But we want to offer something a little more tangible. Help us give you the gift of proactive planning. Call us when you’re ready to save, and together we’ll make the season even brighter! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019

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Life C ach

Slip Into a Chanukah Insight By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

ne thing I can guarantee.... “Two” much oil. Yes, in fact – Three-fold the amount you would like to ingest... Four tells a bad stomachache. That happens... Five minutes after you just look at it and Six minutes after you actually eat it. So, I’d guess… Seven-th heaven isn’t worth it, and yet we Eight it every year till now, and probably will eat it again and again! So, oily to bed, oily to rise, welcome to the eight days of Chanukah! Yes, it’s all about the oil. But, why commemorate the oil and not the war? Just a handful of men beat a world power army. Shouldn’t that be the amazing miracle we celebrate?! A few Jews, actually rabbis and learned men beat a well-trained fighting machine. And we keep celebrating a little jug of oil. And here’s a “Why” poem: Why not be about the big defeat? Why about what we light and

eat? Why keep the focus on the grease? Because we don’t live for war, but for peace. The light represents rededication to temple and G-d. Right after our priests fought so hard. They did not run home straight from there They ran to repossess the House of Prayer. So, we slip and slide and embrace oil. Because to connect to G-d we toil. And G-d gave us our menorah back. So, we celebrate the oil, not the attack. Slip into a great Chanukah; Focus on having a good oil time!

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 25, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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