Five Towns Jewish Home - 12-15-16 by The Jewish Home

December 15, 2016

Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR PARENTS’

Democratic Party?

Pages 9, 10, 11, 13 & 17

Around the

Community

Why Jewish voters have become disenchanted with the Democrats

71 A Celebration of 65 Years for Rabbi Pelcovitz at the White Shul

Mayor Ben Weinstock Talks History at Shulamith

107

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman: New Leadership for a New Era of Y.U. pg

This is Complete Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung

Heightened Tefillah and Hockey at YOSS

– See page 3

SEASONS LAWRENCE

330 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559

Page 89

104

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Happy Chanukah from our family to yours.

What’s your favorite family Chanukah picture, we’d love to see it.

Draw it for us above or on your own paper

The best submission will be printed in this publication!*

the

family

CLIFTON • LAWRENCE • QUEENS • SCARSDALE • MANHATTAN • LAKEWOOD •

COMING SOON!!

B A LT I M O R E , C L E V E L A N D , A N D

LAWRENCE

CEDARHURST

CLIFTON • LAWRENCE • QUEENS • SCARSDALE • MANHATTAN • LAKEWOOD •

LAWRENCE

, CM L E V•E LIA AN C ESDHAERRH.UCRO S TM SHOC P O2 M 4 /I N 6 GS ESAOS O N !S!K BOASL THI EMRO.RCE O NNFDO, @ S DE A S O N S K O

SHOP 24/6 SEASONSKOSHER.COM • INFO@SEASONSKOSHER.COM * Submit your drawing, along with your name, age and city at any Seasons store by December 23rd or scan and email to us at chanukah@seasonskosher.com. The winning submission will be published on December 27th. Decisions of the judges are final. Submissions will not be returned.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Chanukah Gelt

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

271 prayers

Every Day

‫קו‬ ‫העפת‬ ‫יר‬

on Chanukah

All names submitted on any day of Chanukah will be sent on that day

The Segula of Rabbi A.Y.L. Steinman Shlit"a:

271 prayers on Chanukah at the Kosel Hamaaravi wich are auspicious time for Shidduchim and Parnassa

to the Gedolei Hador To be prayed for after Hadlakas Neiros.

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a:

The tzedakah of Kupat Ha’ir is entirely pure and clean and we are all obligated in this.

1-888-KUPATHAIR 5

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

www.kupat.org

‫קו‬ ‫העפת‬ ‫יר‬

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

Sure, he is one of the most powerful people in the Democratic Party, but is he working for you? Last year, many in our community were surprised and pleased that Schumer voted against the Iran deal. Why should that have come as such a surprise? Doesn’t he represent the state with the biggest concentration of Jews in the nation? And weren’t most Jews adamantly against the agreement between Western powers and the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – I mean, Iran? Well, we were shocked because we know that Schumer is one of the pillars of the Democratic Party. And yes, even though we may vote Democrat in certain elections, we know that the Democratic Party does not truly represent our values or interests. As a side note, even though Schumer voted against the Iran deal, he spent time calling over 30 fellow politicians to assure them that he would not be whipping opposition to the deal; he was merely voting “no.” He knew that to vote for the Iran deal would have generated a frenzy in the Orthodox Jewish community; a vote against meant some people could convince themselves that he is still on their side. So it seems that the Orthodox Jewish community is slowing rolling toward the Republican Party. The apple has moved a little farther away from the tree.

pples do not fall far from the tree. But once they’re falling, they sometimes end up rolling farther away. This year, while voting in the primaries, I was surprised to find out that I’m a registered Democrat. I was not able to join in the Republican nomination circus. Oh, well. But I wondered: why am I a registered Democrat? Don’t I mainly share Republican views? Well, it all comes down to my parents. When I turned 18 – many, many years ago – and I had to register to vote, my pen hovered over the empty boxes next to the words “Democrat” and “Republican.” But I knew that my parents were Democrats, so I checked the box marked “D” and mailed in the form. I certainly didn’t follow politics then and could barely tell you what each of the parties stood for. Fast forward a few years and I am a bit more well-versed in the parties, their platforms, and what they represent. So, does the Democratic Party still represent our community’s needs? This week’s featured article outlines how the Jewish community has slowly been pulling away from the Democratic Party, despite years of allegiance. I remember one of my uncles telling me years ago how he loves Chuck Schumer. “He always has a press conference on Sunday, and I can watch it at home. He keeps me informed,” my uncle explained. Well, for him, as long as Schumer was talking to the cameras, my uncle was happy. But how many Orthodox Jews are happy with the job he is doing?

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classifieds: Deadline Mondays 5PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | December 16 – 22

Friday, December 16 Parshas Vayishlach 16

Candle Lighting: 4:11 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:15 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 5:42 pm Sponsored by

Mostly Sunny

27° 25°

Rain

Light Rain / Wind

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

PM Showers

Showers

45° 44°

53° 24°

31° 24°

34° 23°

42° 34°

47° 39°

eretzhachaim.org

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

41 NEWS

107

Global

National

Odd-but-True Stories

What Happened to your Parents’ Democratic Party? by Nachum Soroka

107

This is Complete Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung 104 ISRAEL Israel News

My Israel Home: Rechov Hakablan

PEOPLE Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman: New Leadership for a New Era of Y.U. Jewish Heroes of the Skies by Avi Heiligman

84 120

PARSHA Rabbi Wein

JEWISH THOUGHT Blown Away by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Selecting Sadness by Eytan Kobre

HEALTH & FITNESS The Risks of Being Real by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

The Weight Loss Battle for Nursing Mothers by Aliza Beer, MS RD

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: A Taste of Chanukah

Mehadrin Ice Cream Donut Recipes

101

Restaurant Review: Urbana

102

Dear Editor, I am writing this upon arising from the shivah for my beloved mother, Rebbetzin Gita Cohen, a”h. The yearning is overpowering, the feeling so strong: I would give anything in the world just to speak with her again. Why is this so? There is no greater joy than just talking with someone who you know loves you, as much as life itself. Who took care of your every need and was consumed with love for you from the moment you were born until this very day. Who had no greater pleasure in the world than just being with you. So why didn’t I yearn so greatly for the ultimate pleasure of speaking with her, until now? Because I never focused on all this. What a shame! Now it is too late. But there is Someone else with Whom I speak every day. Who I know loves me just as my mother did. Who took care of my every need from before I was born until today. Who created the entire universe and took care of it all of these years for my sake, as Chazal say, “Each and every person is obligated to say: ‘All of the Universe was created for me.’” (Sanhedrin 37a). Who has said, “Tell My children what I do when they recite the kedushah prayer, and teach them to raise

their eyes to the Heavens… For I have no greater pleasure in My universe than at that time, when their eyes are lifted to the Heavens and My eyes are looking at them. At that time I grab hold of My holy throne, at the image of Yaakov, and hug it and kiss it and speak of and hasten their redemption” (Tur, Orach Chaim 125). Though a parent’s love to his child knows no bounds, he actually thinks about and feels this love only a few times each day, as the human mind is unable to focus on many things at once. However, He has no such limitations. His thoughts never wander from the feeling of His love for us 24/7 365. So why don’t I feel the pleasure of speaking with Him three times each day? Because I don’t focus on it. Is there a greater shame than feeling the loss of a parent, who in reality is alive and well and yearning for you to connect with Him? We spend at least an hour each day conversing with our Parent. We can change our lives by merely focusing on what we are doing and with Whom we are speaking. Thank G-d in this case it is still not too late! R’ Dovid Cohen Continued on page 12

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

From My Private Art Collection

130

Your Money

140

Social Drama by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

142

HUMOR Centerfold

Rocky’s Rant: Rocky Goes to a Wedding 124 Uncle Moishy Fun Page

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

Tweets and Theater Entertain, but Congress is the Main Event by Charles Krauthammer CLASSIFIEDS

128 110 118 133

It’s cold outside! Do you think it will snow on Chanukah?

YES

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Sale Dates: December 18th - 24th 2016

Weekly Schmerling Chocolate Rosemarie Milk or Parve ONLY - 3.5 oz

2/$

Bloom’s Chocolate Chips 9 oz

3/$

...................................................... Red Pack Tomato Mishpacha Graham Sauce Pie Shells Regular or No Salt 6 oz Added - 8 oz

3/$

Schwartz Pretzel Crumbs 12 oz

White Rock Seltzer All Flavors 1 Liter

2/$

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

349

Dee Best Dessert Sauces All Flavors - 14 oz

399

Gefen Olive Oil 33.8 oz

Pure Bites Pop Cakes Multigrain or Whole Wheat - 2.64 oz

2/$

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

7.5 oz

12 oz

BBQ Flavor - .5 oz

699

Terra Stix

349

Mishpacha Lasagna

KiTov Lite Corn Pops

2/$

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

10 oz

3/$

new item!

...................................................... Domino Brown or Domino Sugar Confectioners 10X 4 lb Bag Light or Dark Brown - 16 oz $ 99

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

All Flavors - 20 oz

Assorted - 5 Pack

10/$

Lipton Onion Soup Mix Gourmet Glatt Klein’s 1.9 oz Dried Natural Mango Cheeks ¢

...................................................... Sanka Decaf Coffee Maxwell House 8 oz Coffee Original Only $ 99 8 oz

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

Classico, Extra Virgin, Extra Light - 25.5 oz

Dairy or Parve 10 Pack

46 oz - 48 oz

Vitamin Water

5/$

5 99 . . .4 ...................................................

Ohr 2.5 Hour EZ Light Chanukah Lights Oil or Gel - 44 Count $ 99

Tropicana Orange Juice All Varieties 59 oz

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

YoCrunch Yogurt Friendship All Flavors - 6 oz Cottage Cheese 2/$ Assorted

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

Ner Mitzvah 44 Count Color Chanukah Candles Assorted Colors

2/$

Bertolli Olive Oil

13 while supplies last!

8 oz Cup

499

599

Fresh & Healthy or Hatov Cream Cheese

Grab 1 Protein Bars

Turkey Hill Iced Teas All Flavors 64 oz

2/$

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

YoPlait Greek Yogurt All Varities - 4 oz/5.3 oz

10/$

16 oz

KoSure Hot Cocoa

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

Ner Mitzvah 45 Count Tall Color Chanukah Candles Assorted Colors

2/$

Applesnax Applesauce Lieber’s Candy Filled Original or Unsweetened Dreidels

2/$

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

Miller’s String Cheese 12 oz

799

Assorted

99¢

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

Gold or Silver

Dairy or Parve Except White Chocolate

Ner Mitzvah Glass Cup Oil Menorah

399

Lieber’s Chanukah Chocolate Coins

3/$

Salad Mate Dressing Sonny & Joe’s All Flavors Hummus 12 oz

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

All Varieties 16 oz

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

Ha’olam Ricotta Cheese 16 oz

399

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

Ta’amti Feta Cheese Friendship Sour 8 oz Cream

399

Assorted - 16 oz

$ 79

2/$

family pack!

A&B Gefilte Fish

Klein’s Ice Cream

Original Only - 20 oz

All Flavors - 56 oz $ 99

dairy only!

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

Mom’s Chicken All Varieties - 32 oz $ 99

2/$

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

17.3 oz

24 oz

B’gan Cauliflower Florets

Bird’s Eye Butternut Squash 12 oz

2/$

Potato, Vegetable, Zucchini - 13 oz

B’gan Breaded Eggplant Sticks

24 oz

Golden Pancakes

Crinkle, Shoestring Straight - 16 oz

699

B’gan French Fries

299

Pepperidge Farm’s Puff Pastry Sheets

439

16 oz

399

Kineret Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

399

Chanukah Headquarters! NOW 2 locations!

Cedarhurst STORE HOURS

137 Spruce Street

(516) 569-2662

SUN -TUE: 7 AM-9 PM WED: 7 AM-11 PM THURS: 7 AM-12 AM FRIDAY 6:30 AM-2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING

Woodmere STORE HOURS

1030 Railroad Avenue

(516) 295-6901

SUN - THURS: 7 AM-9 PM FRIDAY 7 AM UNTIL 2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Sale Dates: December 18th - 24th 2016

Specials Pitcha Bones

829 lb.

WHOLE OR CUT-UP PULLETS

lb.

Minute $ 49 Steak 12 lb. Family Pack

Chops Ground extra lean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wow! Shoulder $ 49 Family Pack 6 lb. 2nd Cut ................... Veal $ 99 Corned Chops 14 lb. .................. $ 29 Beef 8 lb. .Chuck Deckel $ 49 ................... London 9 lb. Broil Boneless $ 29 ................... Pot Roast 9 lb. Ground ................... $ 99 White 5 lb. Silver Tip $ 49 9 lb. Chicken Roast Family Pack

wow!

Cut 299 lb. 1st Veal $1599 lb. ...................

PASTRAMI DECKEL

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

Whole or $ 99 Sliced 3 lb. Kishka ................... Wing On

Chicken $269 lb. Breast ...................

1st Cut $ 99 Brisket 10 lb.

Hecker’s Flour

Wesson Oil

5 lb

Canola, Corn, Vegetable - Gallon

$ 99 1 6 ...................................................... $ 99

Snapple Iced Tea

Coke, Sprite, Fresca, Dr.Pepper

All Flavors - 64 oz

$ 49

2 Liter

Kellogg’s Crispix

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

12 oz

$ 99 Italian Kiwi

Spanish Onions

Idaho Potatoes

6/$2

59¢ lb.

Golden Delicious Apples

99¢ lb.

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

Granny Smith Apples

99¢ lb.

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

4/$2

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

Green & 99¢ lb. Red Leaf Lettuce

Bosc Ripe 2/$5 Pears Honeydew

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

Ha’olam Shredded Banner Sliced Lox Cheese Bagel Cuts Except Reduced Fat - 8 oz

Crispy Broccoli

2/$4

99¢ ea. Cello Carrots

Head ..........................

5/$2

Sesame Chicken with Fried Rice

1299lb. Syrian Specialties - Kibe, Cigars $ 99 Lachmagine & Empanadas 7 ea. Package of 6 Israeli Salad with a Mexican Twist $599lb. Mushroom Barley Soup $ 99 5 ea. Quart Crispy Asian Chicken Nuggets

Fresh Kirbies

monday only! Dairy Chocolate Danish ¢ ea.

$ 99

Mendelsohn’s Pizza Edy’s Ice Cream All Flavors 48 oz

Original Only - 36 oz

$ 99

89¢ lb.

1299 $ 99 4

Family Size

Split Pea Soup Quart

Aliza Beer Nutritional Meals 24 VARIETIES! SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:

Grilled Chicken Cutlet with Side Dishes

$ 99

order your shabbos platters early!

999

Assorted

749ea.

Package of 4

Blue Rose 699& Up Vandela Bouquets Winter White & Shades $ 99 Silver & Gold Accented of Blue Festive Bouquets 19 & Up Table Arrangements

Chanukah Blue Carnation $ Bouquets

gourmetglattonline.com

$ 49 ea.

make this year’s festival of lights even brighter!

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

Mango Roll

Volcano Roll

495

1095

celebrate chanukah with our menorah platter! now available! full line of gluten-free products! $ 99 3 ea.

Sesame Dip

Sweet Onion Rolls Mezonos Bagels Package of 4

550

Pre-Packaged

Melataway Cakes

Spicy Tuna Roll $

Whole Bronzini $ 99 lb.

9 . . . . . . . .5 ..............................................

Vegetable Roll

Eggplant Parmesan

Organic Salmon Fillet $ 99 lb.

12 oz

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

Deli & Takeout

lunch special! monday - thursday just $7.99

2/$

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

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

Large Red 2/$5 Plum 2/$3 89¢ lb. Cello Mushrooms Pomegranate Tomatoes

18 oz

2/$

Large Sweet Oranges

4/$

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

$ 99 ea.

Crunchy Pickle Dip

Pre-Packaged

Diet Zucchini Kugel Pre-Packaged Cabbage Soup

Pre-Packaged

2499& Up

Jerusalem Kugel

3999& Up

Quinoa with Hummus

$ $

/gourmetglatt

Pre-Packaged At the Counter

299ea. $ 99 3 ea. $ 99 3 ea. $ 49 3 ea. $ 49 7 lb. $

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

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Continued from 8

Dear Editor, Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz is so much more than a rabbi. He is a visionary. His boundless energy and eternal optimism has shaped the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community. I compare Rabbi Pelcovitz’s achievements to that of a farmer, purchasing a new plot of land. Does he know if anything will grow? Does he know if his seeds will yield fruit? But despite any detractors and despite his uncertainties, the farmer forges on. He plants, and he waters, and he nurtures. He tends each seed with care; he prunes each bush with compassion. And slowly, slowly, his efforts bear fruit. Years later, other come and see his accomplishments as matter-of-fact; they don’t remember the barren field he first encountered; they don’t remember the naysayers and the detractors. Rabbi Pelcovitz is like that farmer. He came to a community that was young and barely growing. And he helped nurture it into the vibrant, growing, dynamic community that it is today. Yasher koach! May he continue

to have strength and health for many more years to come. Sincerely, A Far Rockaway resident Dear Editor, To our wonderful community: please participate in any way you can in the mission of Nishmas Kedoshim to be menachem the Ariel family in Kiryat Arba on Wednesday January 4, 6 Teves). You may participate in this mitzvah of chessed shel emes and nichum aveilim in any of a number of ways. One may pen a brief email expressing your feelings and wishes for nichum to Reena and Amichai, the parents of Hallel Yaffa Hy”d. Snail mail or handwritten letters or artwork can be directed to the parents and/or the sisters of Hallel Yaffa Hy”d which will be personally delivered to the family at the time of the Yom Iyun organized by Nishmas Kedoshim in her memory. Rabbonim, melamdim, teachers and talmidim are encouraged to elevate the neshama of Hallel Yaffa Hy”d and bring nichum to the family by emailing or mailing a brief thought or wish for nechama to the family as

Special Chanukah Giveaway! WIN A $10 BERRYLICIOUS GIFT CARD!

well as a commitment to learn any amount of Mishnayos l’zecher nishmas Hallel Yaffa bas Amichai v’Rus. These mitzvah commitments will also be hand-delivered and presented to the family, on behalf of yourself, your shul, yeshiva, school, and community. The ultimate nichum for the family is to know that Klal Yisroel is feeling their pain and wants to express our love for them through the performance of the mitzvah of chesed shel emes. Each of us in our own unique way. Neshmas Kedoshim learns Torah daily l’zecher the neshamos of our kedoshim who fell in battle or as victims of Islamic terror. Please make every effort to participate and encourage others to join this kiddush Hashem. Email kollelhakorashatov@gmail. com or mail to: Nishmas Kedoshim, C/O Werzberger, 794 Empire Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 (or drop off in the evenings after 8pm). All letters and email must be received by noon on Monday, January 2nd. Thank you in advance for your enthusiastic participation. Tizku L’mitzvos, Moshe Yosef Werzberger, MD Dear Editor, Sometimes we forget how special Am Yisroel is. We often get caught up in the negative and forget how much good there is in our community. We are seven boys from HALB Middle School who went out to din-

ner at Carlos & Gabby for a special night out with our Rebbe. We just finished a special learning program, in which we learned hundreds of Mishnayos in our spare time. While we were at the counter deciding what we wanted, a nice man asked us what yeshiva we were from and why we were there with our Rebbe after school. We told him that we were receiving our reward for learning a massive number of Mishnayos. After placing our orders and sitting at our table, our Rebbe came to us with that same man smiling from ear to ear. As our Rebbe was about to pay for our order, this man quickly gave the cashier his own credit card so that he could pay for our food. Even though Rebbe tried to stop him, he insisted on paying. He said that it was his honor to have a small part in our unbelievable learning! The man didn’t want to make a big deal about it, but Rebbe told him that it was important for us, his students, to realize how people value Torah and those that learn it. We would like to thank this person not only for dinner that night, but also for teaching us an important lesson on the value of Torah and community. Hungry for more Torah and Carlos & Gabby’s! Nadav Chelst, Elie Goldfarb, Ariel Gross, Eitan Katz, Zachary Rabe, Jeremy Sicklick, and Joe Sicklick, Rabbi Moish Steinberg’s 5th graders at HALB Middle School

Send us your photo(s) of what Chanukah means to you—it could be your family lighting candles, you and your siblings at your Chanukah party, Grandma playing dreidel or Grandpa eating a jelly doughnut (or two…or three), etc. We want to see what makes Chanukah special to you. Make sure the photo includes the people you love most. Be one of the first 44 people to send in your photo(s) and we’ll send you a $10 Berrylicious gift card!

V.I.I. (Very Important Information): • The contest starts Motzei Shabbos, the first night of Chanukah and ends Tuesday night, the fourth night of Chanukah, at 11pm • Email the photos to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com with the word “contest” in the Subject line • Include your name, age, and mailing address in the email • The photo(s) must have people in them • Photos may be printed in a future issue of TJH so make sure to smile big! • Only the first 44 people who send in their photo(s) will receive the gift card • One gift card per family

Happy Chanukah!

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

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

The Week In News

S. Korean President Impeached

The president of South Korea has finally been impeached after months of scandal and protest. Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Seoul to celebrate the end of President Park Geun-hye’s term in office. For now, Park’s position is suspended while the country’s high court decides what to do with the parliamentary vote of impeachment. Among other accusations, Ms. Park is accused of letting her close friend profit from her connections with the presidency. In the meantime, Prime Minister Hwang has become the acting president. The day after the impeachment, Hwang addressed the nation of South Korea. He sought to calm nerves and reassure the people of his country as to their economic and security status. “So far, financial and foreign exchange markets have been relatively stable and there are no signs of unusual movements by the North [Koreans], but all public servants should bear vigilance in mind,” Hwang cautioned. The vote to impeach Park was passed with a count of 234 to 56. The overwhelming numbers mean that members of her own Saenuri party voted against Park. Park’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, to whom Park is accused of giving special favors, faces charges of coercion and abuse of power. Allegedly, when Park became president in 2013, Choi used her influence over Park to pressure big corporations to donate funds to foundations under her control and then

siphoned off money for her own personal use. Prosecutors have accused Park of playing a “considerable” role in the alleged corruption. The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide on the impeachment. If they do uphold the vote, it will be the first time a sitting Korean president has been impeached. New presidential elections will take place 60 days after their ruling.

Sharia Law Reigns in German City

In the western German city of Wuppertal, Muslim men often walk the streets, wearing orange vests with the words “Sharia Police.” This year, seven men were charged with wearing uniforms of a political nature at public rallies. But recently, a German court ruled that the vigilante patrol of Islamists enforcing Sharia law on the streets of the German city did not break German law, and that its members were simply exercising their right to free speech by wearing these vests.. The law was originally instituted to prevent neo-Nazi groups from parading in public. The November 21 ruling declared that the vests were technically not uniforms and did not pose a threat or intimidation. The court ruled that prosecuting the seven Salafi Islamists would infringe on their freedom of expression. Though it may be appealed, the decision authorizes the “Sharia Police” to continue enforcing Islamic law in German cities, encouraging them in their bid to replace German law with Islamic Sharia. Salafism is a virulently anti-Western ideology that openly seeks to replace Western democracy with an Islamic government based on Sharia law. It has long been feared that the Salafists have made major encroachments into the German legal system. But German courts increasingly defer to Islamic law because either the plaintiffs or the defendants are Muslim, writes Soeren Kern for the New York-based Gatestone Institute.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Specifically, though German law states that “a legal standard of another State shall not be applied where its application results in an outcome that is manifestly incompatible with the essential principles of German law,” German courts often do precisely that. For instance, in July 2012, a court in the city of Hamm ordered an Iranian man who immigrated to Germany to pay his estranged wife €213,000 ($225,000) as part of a divorce settlement, based on their Sharia marriage agreement. Kern cites some ten other similar rulings. It is also noted that while polygamy is illegal under German law, the phenomenon is commonplace among Muslims in all major German cities. “In Berlin, for example, it is estimated that fully one-third of the Muslim men living in the Neukölln district of the city have two or more wives,” Kern writes. The country’s largest newspaper, Bild, expressed its outrage after the Wupperal ruling that the country was “capitulating to Islamic law.” It stated, “Even if we still refuse to believe it, parts of Germany are ruled by Islamic law! Polygamy, child marriages, Sharia judges — for far too long the German rule of law has

not been enforced. Many politicians dreamed of multiculturalism... This is a question of law and order. If the rule of law fails to establish its authority and demand respect for itself, then it can immediately declare its bankruptcy.”

Moviegoers in India: Stand for the National Anthem

On Sunday, a moviegoer in the Indian city of Chennai was arrested for failing to stand up during the national anthem that was played at the beginning of a movie he was watching. It is now mandatory for

moviegoers to stand in honor of the national anthem, according to a November ruling by India’s Supreme Court. Police officers arrested the man, S. Viji, on suspicion of assault and violating the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act of 1971. If Viji, who was released on bail, is found to have violated the act, he could face a fine and imprisonment of up to three years. This was the first known effort by the police to enforce compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, which requires movie theaters to play the national anthem before each screening. Patrons, according to the ruling, are required to stand respectfully for the duration of the song unless they are physically unable. The court said it was necessary that “the citizens of the country realize that they live in a nation and are duty bound to show respect to the national anthem.” The Constitution, it continued, “does not allow any different notion, or the perception of individual rights.” The ruling on standing for the national anthem, coming in a season of swelling nationalist pride in

India, was greeted with enthusiasm by some Indians and derision by others. The arrest followed the decision by a group of people at the Chennai theater to resist the order, said M. Sreela, a law student who was part of the group. “That was our first movie after the Supreme Court order,” said Sreela, who, like many in India’s south, does not use a surname. “So some of us made a choice not to stand for the national anthem when it was played. So we did not stand up. At the time, nobody objected, not even a glance from anybody.” But during intermission, some in the theater confronted them as to why they didn’t show the proper respect. “They were not paying respect to the national anthem, disturbing others and taking selfies,” said Vijay Kumar, who filed a police complaint against the group that refused to stand. Kumar said that in the ensuing scuffle, he sustained an injury to his nose. “If you don’t respect the national anthem, that’s your business, but at least don’t obstruct others in doing so,” he said.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

ple remained hospitalized after the attack, including 14 critically.

PRE-CHANUKAH

SALE EVENT -Coming to Far Rockaway-

Sunday Dec 18 | 10am-3pm 258 Beach 13th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 Our Signature Line of Wigs is made from the finest Human Hair, which is 100% completely natural & is dually designed for both comfort & long lasting beauty.

SIGNATURE WIGS | 786-315-6090 Sreela said the group had set out to defy the Supreme Court’s demand, which she described as “a force-fed and micromanaged exhibition of nationalism.” Attention Colin Kaepernick: I am offering you free tickets for a movie in India. I hope you enjoy.

Terror at Soccer Stadium in Istanbul Saturday was a tragic day in Turkey after a double bombing killed 38

people and wounded dozens of others. The twin blasts went off near a soccer stadium on Saturday evening. Authorities believe that the blast that killed 30 police officers was intentionally aimed at police. Seven civilians and an unidentified person were killed as well. As of Monday, 136 peo-

Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters that 13 individuals were arrested in connection with the “terrorist attack.” No terrorist group claimed responsibility for the killings but two officials said that fingers are being directed at Kurdish militants. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim declared Sunday a day of mourning and ordered flags to be raised at halfstaff across the country and at Turkey’s foreign missions. “We have once again witnessed tonight in Istanbul the ugly face of terror which tramples on every value and decency,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. The first and larger explosion went off at about 7:30 p.m. after the home team Besiktas beat visitor Bursaspor 2-1 in the Turkish Super League. Erdogan said that it is obvious that the timing of the attack was intended to maximize the loss of life. Witnesses claim to have heard gunfire following the explosions. The bomb originated from a passing vehicle and was detonated at the stadium exit in an area where police special forces were located. It appears to be that a riot police bus parked there was the intended target. The second explosive went off just moments later when a driver was stopped by authorities in nearby Macka Park and then triggered the explosives in another suicide attack. Forensic experts in white uniforms searched tirelessly through the night for clues. They scoured the surrounding area of the stadium and the park. Authorities have determined that about 300-400 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack. Istanbul has been subjected to terror by the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants recently. A state of emergency was issued following a failed July 15 coup attempt. Turkey is a partner in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State and its armed forces are active in neighbor-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

ing Syria and Iraq. The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul urged its citizens to avoid the area of the attack in Istanbul, which is also home to a Ritz Carlton hotel. Turkey’s radio and television board issued a temporary coverage ban citing national security concerns. It said it was needed “to avoid broadcasts that can result in public fear, panic or chaos, or that will serve the aims of terrorist organizations.”

item that must be sold at government approved prices. The consumer protection agency has asked the government to restrict Kreisel executives from leaving the country during the investigation.

Suicide Bomb Kills 24 in Cairo

Millions of Toys Confiscated in Venezuela

Spruce

516.374.1100

STreeT

c e d a r h u r S T,

S 11-5 | M-Th 10-6 | F 10-2

@tiptoeboutique

dena.graphix 718.701.1125 [A Division of Franklin Group]

#giftuniquely

I guess it’s because of Chanukah, but for some reason during the month of December, toys sales increase exponentially worldwide. But not this year in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans are calling President Nicolás Maduro “El Grinch” after officials confiscated nearly 4 million toys from a toy distributor, accusing the company of price-gouging during the end-of-the-year season. The toys were confiscated from Kreisel-Venezuela, the largest toy distribution company in the country. Consumer Protection Agency head William Contreras defended the move saying that the company doesn’t “care about our children… they say we’re stealing the toys from this company, but,” he accused, “the company committed fraud against our country.” The government has announced that the 3.821 million toys will be made available to families in the country’s poorest neighborhoods at below-market prices. At least two people have been detained in the investigation. The government said that some of the toys were purchased by Kriesel over 8 years ago and were being kept in storage so they could be sold at a much higher profit margin at the end of the year. In some instances, the profit margins were 25,000% higher than usual. Under the socialist government in Venezuela, toys are a regulated

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt has confirmed that the explosion that killed 24 Christians in a Cairo chapel was set off by a suicide bomber. The bomb was one of the deadliest attacks to ever target Egypt’s Coptic minority. 22 of the victims were women. The Copts make up about 10 percent of the country’s population. The group strongly supported the military overthrow of elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. Since the coup, Islamic militants have committed dozens of attacks, mainly focusing on security targets. The suicide bomber in the most recent attack, which also injured 49 people, was 22-year-old Mahmoud Shafiq Mohammed Mustafa. Three other men and two women have since been arrested in connection to the attack. While no terror organization has taken credit for the carnage, it is speculated to have been carried out by the Muslim Brotherhood, as Mustafa was arrested for being a member of the group in 2014. “This strike really hurt us and caused us much pain, but it will not break us,” el-Sissi vowed at a state funeral for the victims. “G-d willing, we will win this war.” He added, “As long as we are together as one, we will definitely win, because we are people of goodness, not evil, and people of building, not destruction.” For many decades, Christians in Egypt have complained of not receiving enough protection from the Egyptian government. They have continued to be outspoken about anti-Christian discrimination even under the rule of el-Sissi.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

NEW!

ICE CREAM DONUT THE OFFICIAL DESSERT OF CHANUKAH 5777

ble in Availa a and vanill a Nutopi

AVAILABLE IN PARVE & DAIRY!

Available at your local supermarket

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Anti-ISIS Coalition Update

A senior U.S. military official has revealed that 50,000 ISIS jihadists have been killed since the United States put together a coalition to combat the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria. The operation has used planes and drones from over ten of the members of the anti-ISIS coalition to conduct over 16,000 airstrikes. The anonymous official also underlined how much care has been placed on avoiding civilian casualties. The official called the air campaign the “most pristine” ever in terms of civilian safety. Almost all of the bombs that were dropped so far have been smart weapons that can be steered to a precise target. The coalition is reporting that the tally of civilians that have been killed in the operations since 2014 is 173. Critics of the operation, though, show much higher numbers. Coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian has promoted the effort as being so successful that they have been able to attack ISIS on two fronts – Mosul in Iraq and Raqa in Syria. In Mosul, ISIS has turned to its adolescent members to arm the frontlines, as so many of its more seasoned members have been killed already. “As this effort goes on with each passing day, Daesh [ISIS] has fewer fighters and fewer resources at their disposal,” Dorrian said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. He added that the terrorists appear to have run out of important supplies such as armored suicide car bombs. “It doesn’t mean that it’s not still an extraordinarily dangerous situation. They are not going to go quietly, but they are going to go.” Despite his assurances, on Sunday, it was reported that ISIS recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Syrian troops, scoring a major

victory and taking advantage of Syrian and Russian preoccupation with the Syrian city of Aleppo. The terrorist group timed its attack to coincide with a major government offensive to capture the last remaining opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city. This is the first time Islamic State militants have entered Palmyra since being chased out by forces nine months ago. Palmyra, with its towering 2,000-year-old ruins, holds mostly symbolic meaning in the wider civil war, although its location in central Syria also gives it some strategic significance.

Jews: Most Educated Religious Group

We’re known as the People of the Book, so it’s no surprise, that we’re pretty educated. In a study produced by the Pew Research Center that was published on Tuesday, Jews were found to have four more years of schooling on average than the nextmost educated group, Christians. In all, Jews worldwide receive, on average, 13 years of schooling; Christians receive only nine. Muslims and Hindus are the least-educated religious groups, each with about 5 1/2 years of formal schooling. The global average is less than eight years. Jews led the groups in several other categories. Jewish men and women have the smallest average gap in years of formal schooling at zero. (Hindu women, on the other extreme, trail men by 2.7 years.) Jews were the most educated in the 55-to-74 category. Sixty-one percent of Jews have at least some post-high school education; the

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

global average is 14%. Ninety-nine percent of Jews have had some formal schooling. Among Jews worldwide aged 25 to 34, women are more educated than men. Jewish women in that age group have more than 14 years of formal schooling on average, and nearly 70% have attended some form of higher education. Jewish men in that cohort, by contrast, have an average of 13.4 years of formal schooling, and 57% have had higher education. While 81% of American Jewish men aged 55 to 74 have had higher education, the number drops to 65 percent among those aged 25 to 34. Pew attributes the decline to the growth of America’s Orthodox Jewish population, which attains formal secular education at lower rates than non-Orthodox Jews. American Jews have the highest rate of higher education, at 75% (compared to 40% of Americans generally), and have an average of 14.7 years of schooling. Jewish Israelis have an average of 12 years of schooling, and 46% have had higher education. The least educated Jewish population is found in South Africa, where Jews have an average of 12 years of schooling, and only 29% have higher education. But that’s pretty impressive considering that in the country as a whole, only three percent of the population has a higher education. Jews in Israel have far more education, on average, than Muslim Israelis, though the gap is narrowing. Among the oldest Jews and Muslims, there is a nearly six-year gap in formal schooling. Among Jews and Muslims aged 25 to 34, however, the gap shrinks to 3.7 years.

Bibi on the Donald

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared his hopeful feelings about his relationship with Donald Trump on “60 Minutes” this week. Netanyahu said that he hopes to be able to accomplish many things to-

gether with the president-elect, most important of which is dismantling the Iran nuclear deal. “I know Donald Trump,” Netanyahu told “60 Minutes,” “And I think his attitude, his support for Israel, is clear. He feels very warmly about the Jewish state, about the Jewish people. There’s no question about that.” The relationship between the Obama administration and Bibi Netanyahu has often been strained over the past eight years. Netanyahu said in the interview he “had differences of opinion” with Obama and that the “most well-known, of course, is Iran.” There is a strong sentiment among Israel’s right wing that the Trump administration will bring about a new and very much improved era of U.S.-Israel relations. Bibi has consistently been one of the most outspoken critics of the Iran deal. He has said that he thinks there are “various ways of undoing” the agreement. During the campaign, Trump called the Iran deal “one of the worst deals ever made” on multiple occasions. The Iran nuclear deal calls for Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions on its finances and oil industry. Many are skeptical that the Persian regime will be curtailing their nuclear program, even though they agreed to do so.

Overweight Kids = Slower Adults?

A worrisome report has been published by researchers at Hebrew University. The findings, which are slated to be published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s, show a link between adolescent obesity and reduced brainpower in midlife. The link is especially strong among those from a lower socioeconomic background. The findings are especially significant as there is already established evidence that less cognitive function at mid-life age leads to dementia in old age. The study was conducted over 33 years. Starting at the age of 17,

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

T EN K EV E L WE NA S FI THI In memory of Mrs. Miriam Yormark v”g, Memphis, Tennessee

w e l c o m e s p r o s p e c t i v e pa r e n t s t o

RABBI NOSSON NEUMAN Menahel and

MRS. LEAH ZYTMAN Principal

DATE/TIME

CO-HOSTS

HOST ADDRESS

MOTZEI SHABBOS, DEC 17, 2016 8:30 PM

Mr. and Mrs. Elie Mishaan

753 Bryant Street Woodmere, NY

LEARN ABOUT OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO EXCELLENCE IN CHINUCH AND WHAT MAKES BAIS YAAKOV ATERES MIRIAM SO BELOVED BY ALL participants’ height and weight were tracked. When they reached the ages of 48-52, their socio-economic status was evaluated and they were asked to take a cognitive assessment test. Researchers found that a higher Body Mass Index in adolescence correlates to lower cognitive ability

three decades later. The findings remained the same even if the individual lost weight later in life. “Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that childhood living conditions, as reﬂected also by height, inﬂuence cognitive function later in life; however, our study is

unique in showing that an adverse association of higher BMI with cognitive function appears to begin in adolescence and that it appears to be restricted to adults with lower childhood socioeconomic position,” said senior researcher Jeremy Kark. I better hit the treadmill…

Feting Hamas

Wednesday was a day of celebration in Gaza, as tens of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of gunmen and children waving mock weapons, rallied in support of the terrorist Islamic group Hamas that rules the territory. It was the 29th anniversary of its founding. In a show of force for Hamas, loudspeakers blasted the group’s slogans through the streets as rockets mounted on pickup trucks rolled by. Hundreds of masked militants marched and dozens of children wielding imitation assault rifles attended with their families. Hamas official Khalil Haya delivered a fiery speech at the rally full of rhetoric against Israel. He also called for reconciliation with the Fatah party, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — but only under Hamas’ terms. Haya stressed that Gazans deserve freedom of movement, jobs, and access to clean water and electricity – but no plans to provide these basic necessities was offered. Hamas overtook Gaza in 2007 after battling troops loyal to Abbas in bloody street skirmishes. Palestinians have since been divided between Gaza under Hamas and Abbas governing parts of the West Bank. Now, the terrorist group is struggling to pay salaries to its members because of the blockade. To offset the fiscal shortage, the Hamas government imposed more taxes on its citizens in Gaza and is paying reduced salaries for the employees. For some Palestinians, the message behind the great show of arms is directed to the local population that the Islamic movement will not tolerate any revolt. “People are tired, they need a life like humans,” said a resident who watched the rally. “Who is going to rise up against those?” he said of the militants. “They must make concessions for our lives to revive again.” Hamas can’t change its political views because they are restricted by the group’s own religious ideology, said Gaza analyst Akram Attallah.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

“Therefore, we will not see essential changes in Hamas’ political view of reconciliation [with Abbas] and the siege [Gaza blockade],” he said.

IDF: Good for Your Health

A study done in Israel is proving to be a nice plug for the Israeli Defense Force. A connection has been made between men living longer and military service. The link is due to the higher level of physical fitness during army service and time in the reserves. In 2013, the average life expectancy amongst Israeli men was 81, according to the World Health Or-

ganization. That is a lot higher than the average of 77.7 years for a man in other similarly advanced countries and way higher than the global average of 68.8. Israel is tied with Iceland, Singapore and Switzerland in second place among 170 countries in terms of life expectancy. In first place is the tiny state of San Marino. According to the criteria used to assess life expectancy, Israel should have a lower score. The criteria used include the overall development of the country, national expenditure on health, population growth and density, fertility rate, and other factors. Despite these factors, Israel scored surprisingly well and researchers at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies wanted to find out why the life expectancy rates were so high. Researchers have estimated that military service tacks on three additional years to a man’s life. Switzerland and Singapore both have mandatory military service for men as well. Israel also has a low mortality rate for diseases such as heart and vascular diseases and certain types of cancer that are related to levels of physical fitness. Reinforcing the data is the fact that Arabs and Jews have much different levels of heart and vascular disease. Arab men,

who very rarely serve in the IDF, have much higher rates of these diseases. There are also studies that have found higher life expectancy rates in coastal countries and a positive relationship between religion and health. The research conducted at the Taub Center indicates that military service is the most heavily influencing factor on male life expectancy.

Hamas Offers to Share Arsenal

Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization, is in a sharing mood this month. Gaza-based Hamas of-

ficial Fathi Hammad has generously offered to lend rockets to any Arab army that is willing to use them against Israel. The announcement was made on Al-Aqsa TV this week. Although 80% of Hamas’s rocket arsenal was destroyed in 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, according to Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, the organization has been re-growing its supplies over the past two years. They now produce rockets on an industrial scale inside the Gaza Strip. Any Arabs that are willing to team up with Hamas can expect to be supplied with upgraded Qassam rockets and the new longer-range M-75, which is capable of reaching Tel Aviv. The group has also been trained to produce Iranian Fajrs, which have a reported payload of up to 175kg worth of explosives, and has acquired Syrian-made M-302s. Although a huge percentage of Hamas fired rockets miss their intended targets, tens of people have been killed by them since 2007. Since Hamas-controlled territories are under blockade, the materials used to make the bombs have to be smuggled in by tunnel, sea, and via the Kerem Shalom truck crossing. Trucks are often caught carrying in-

NEED TO UPDATE YOUR SKILLS?

THINKING OF (RE)JOINING THE WORKFORCE? ➜ Computer Literacy Course ➜ Microsoft Word - Beginners Microsoft Word - Advanced ➜ Excel - Beginners Excel - Advanced

OFFICE@DCDESIGNN J .COM

➜ Presentation software: Power Point, Prezi, etc. CLASS SIZE INTENTIONALLY LIMITED NEW CLASSES CONTINUALLY FORMING

CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION

AN AFFILIATE PROGRAM OF

THE New CE RT I F I C AT E AVA I L A B L E U P O N S U CC ES S F U L CO M P L E T I O N O F T H E A DVA N C E D CO U R S ES Students bring their own laptops (call for details) 1 4 9 2 E A S T 1 2 T H S T R E E T, B R O O K LY N , N Y 1 1 2 3 0 718.769.8160 f: 718.769.8640

Seminary asjv rbhnx

Rebbetzin Sora F. Bulka MENAHELES

THE INSTITUTE FOR Design and Applied Technology

Rabbi Yeshaya Levy MENAHEL

email: INFO@THENEWSEMINARY.ORG online: W W W.T H E N E WS E M I N A RY.O R G

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Because babies don't come with instructions… NEW FR ARTSCR OM OLL!

Chanukah Titles THE FESTIVALS IN HALACHAH

THE STORY OF CHANUKAH

by Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin

by Sarah Leon

DAYS OF JOY

CHANUKAH

INSIGHTS OF THE SFAS EMES by Rabbi Yosef Stern

WITH BINA, BENNY, AND CHAGAI HAYONAH by Yaffa Ganz

CHANUKAH

in the ArtScroll Holiday Series

CHANUKAH SALE

2,000 TITLES L L % OFF A 20 list prices

SALE ENDS 1/2/17

Available at your local Hebrew bookseller or at www.artscroll.com • 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724)

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

geniously disguised cargo through the crossing. Still, under these conditions, Hamas has “developed a touch in military manufacturing which can compete with international manufacturers,” claims Hammad. Fortunately, the rockets have to pass through Israel’s extremely successful Iron Dome which intercepts the vast majority of Hamasfired rockets. Gazans do not have the same protection, and many have been killed by the faulty and often misguided rockets.

Rex Tillerson for Sec of State

On Tuesday, it came down to one name: Rex Tillerson. It’s understandable if you’re unfamiliar with the man, who is the chief executive of ExxonMobil. President-elect Donald Trump took his sweet time choosing Tillerson for his pick for secretary of state. Many were surprised; at first, Trump seemed to be considering Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani. The Tillerson choice is sure to garner confrontation within the Republican Party. Many are questioning Tillerson’s years of work in Russia and the Middle East on behalf of the oil company. GOP advisors have warned that a growing number of Republican senators may be unwilling to vote to confirm Tillerson because of his ties to Russia. While Senate Democrats cannot filibuster Trump’s Cabinet picks, Republicans have only 52 votes in the Senate, leaving them in potential jeopardy if Democrats unite in opposition to Tillerson. It will take at least 50 votes to confirm a nominee, with Vice President-elect Mile Pence

casting a tiebreaking vote. Like others in the new Trump Cabinet, the ExxonMobil chief executive lacks any experience in government but will try to apply his experience in the business world to the realm of diplomacy. He has worked extensively around the globe and built relationships with such leaders as Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Trump team is planning an aggressive public relations campaign to win confirmation for Tillerson and dispel what it sees as a false narrative about his ties to Russia. In a statement, Trump called Tillerson an “embodiment of the American dream” and cited the oil executive’s “tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics.” One argument that the defenders of Tillerson — who during his career also cultivated relationships with leaders of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Qatar — will probably make for Tillerson’s confirmation is that he stands firm in business negotiations in Russia and elsewhere. “One of the things I know about the Russian government: I’m very predictable. And they know if I say no it means no. And talking about it more isn’t going to change that. No is still going to be no,” Tillerson said in a talk last year at the Texas Tech business school. “Over the years we’ve earned each other’s respect. Then when you say yes, you know we’ll follow through. It means something.” That respect will be important since weighing whether or not to lift economic sanctions on Russia will be one of the first things on Tillerson’s plate. International economic sanctions, imposed after Russia annexed Crimea and gave support to insurgents in Ukraine’s eastern provinces, have fallen heavily on financial institutions and ExxonMobil. Trump has expressed his desire to smooth things over with Putin. In addition, Tillerson will have to deal with climate issues because the State Department is the lead agency in international climate negotiations. Unlike Trump, Tillerson has said that he believes that climate change is real and has favored a revenue-neutral carbon tax of more than $20 a ton. A few Republicans have already expressed their criticism over Trump’s pick. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) questioned Tillerson’s judgment on CNN on Monday noting, “I don’t see how

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

anybody could be a friend of this old time KGB agent,” referring to Putin. Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) also tweeted over the weekend that “being a ‘friend of Vladimir’ is not an attribute I am hoping for from a Secretary of State.” Rubio sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which first must approve Tillerson’s nomination before it can head to the floor. Republicans outnumber Democrats by only one on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving Democrats an opportunity to block one of Trump’s most important Cabinet picks if they stay united in voting against Tillerson’s nomination. Earlier Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Tillerson’s relationship with Putin and his friendly attitude toward Russia, but played down the idea that it would influence policy. “As to the allegations of whether his attitude to the Russian Federation is good or bad: being secretary of state is very different from leading a company, even a very big one. Therefore, any, so to speak, sympathies become secondary,” Peskov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as telling reporters. “The only thing that remains here is readiness to demon-

strate a constructive attitude and be professional,” he said. “We are hoping that this is what will happen.”

Trump: TIME’s Person of the Year

For the 90th time, TIME has named its Person of the Year, the person who had the greatest influence over the events of the past year. So it’s not a surprise for those who have not been sleeping through 2016 that one

of the most talked about politicians earned the title. Yes, Donald Trump is TIME’s Person of the Year, much to the Democrats’ dismay. Adding insult to injury, TIME revealed that Hillary Clinton was at the top of the short list. The real estate mogul-turned-politician will take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a few short weeks. His photo for the cover of the annual issue was taken at his current residence in Manhattan in his apartment overlooking Central Park, located in Trump Tower. While his supporters are optimistic, his critics are still tantruming in the streets and this release surely adds fuel to the fire. TIME magazine clearly states the person selected is “for better or worse” and does not reflect approval or popularity. Just look at past awardees: In 1938, Adolf Hitler won the title and in 1939 and 1942 it was Joseph Stalin, so the accolade is not necessarily positive. Since the list’s inception, every recent president of the United States has been named Person of the Year at least once with the exception of three presidents – Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Gerald Ford.

Kids Make Less than their Parents

Want to be a millionaire? Unless your parents are rolling in dough, it’s unlikely you will too. A recent study that has come out of a joint research project by Harvard, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley shows that it is much less likely that anyone born in the past 50 years will make more money than their parents. Children born in 1940 had a 92 percent chance of taking home more money that their parents. In contrast, someone born in 1984, who is 32-years-old, has only a 50 percent likelihood of making more money than their folks. Basically, only half of the children born in the ‘80s will make more money than the previous generation. “Both rich and poor kids

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

‫בס“ד‬

Dear customer,

Decade of Providing Quality & Service,

Month of Celebration,

An Annual

B”H, over the years we have been able to work closely with industry manufacturers to produce the custom mattress sizes and quality that our clients expect and deserve. A special thanks goes out to Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster, two of the most recognized and respected mattress brands in the country. They offer us unwavering support when it comes to the mattress needs of our customer i.e. offering 48” mattresses exclusively for our community.

Week-long Sale Extended,

Make Today the

Day for a Change,

Hours of Restful Sleep,

Every

Minute Counts,

so don't Waste a

It is hard to believe it has already been 10 years since we started providing top quality mattresses for the entire community. Our specialty has always been and continues to be selling “Brand Name” quality mattresses to our dedicated customers.

Second!

income decline has been consistent through the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. “This isn’t just a Depression effect; this is something that transcends that,” said David Grusky, a sociologist at Stanford who co-wrote the paper.

Make America (and Russia) Great Again

In appreciation and celebration of our 10th anniversary we will IY”H be running our annual Chanukah sale for the ENTIRE month of December. We are extending the deep discounts from our vendors directly to you, our wonderful consumers. Take advantage of this unique opportunity now; prices have never been lower! Every single mattress is on sale during this Grand Celebration Month! We can’t wait to see you!

rat ion > 10

ye s in

December

It's

the Maki n

a Month-lo

b ele

Sleep Tight Tea

Thank you,

‫כסליו‬ Stay Tuned

Brooklyn

5211 New Utrecht Ave., Brooklyn NY

718.438.3933

Cedarhurst

126 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst NY

516.792.1191

are sharing this loss of absolute mobility,” related Nathaniel Hendren, an assistant professor at Harvard who co-wrote the study. Over the past decade, and particularly during the most recent election cycle, the elusiveness of the American Dream has become center stage. In-

Monsey

401 Rt. 59 (Atrium Plaza), Monsey NY

845.414.9014

come in all tax-brackets has become stagnant, and the upper-middle-class has seen their chances of earning more than their parents decline more than any other group born from 1940 to 1980. The authors of the report used tax records and census data to link the

household incomes of children with the household incomes of their parents. The numbers were then adjusted for inflation. Obviously, people born in the 1950s had a higher chance of earning more than their parents due to the Great Depression. However, the

It has been suspected that Russia intentionally made moves to sway the presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. Last week The Washington Post reported that the CIA confirmed the suspicion. According to the Post, unidentified officials claim to have identified individuals connected to the Russian government who gave WikiLeaks emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee and top Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta. Those emails revealed unflattering backstories to the DNC and the Democrat Party. According to the liberal media, this revelation raises the question for some over whether Clinton would have won without the intervention, angering both Trump and Clinton supporters. Of course, even if this conspiracy is proven true, it would not affect the legitimacy of Trump’s victory. It is not voter fraud to sway voters’ opinions, especially with the use of true dirty little secrets. Following the article, the White House was sure to reiterate that it is impossible to directly attribute Trump’s win to any single factor. While Democrats and even some Republicans are pushing for further investigation on the matter, President-elect Donald Trump dismissed the accusations. In his interview with TIME magazine for his “Person of the Year” award, Trump suggested that the interference could just as likely have been a lone wolf in New Jersey as someone from the Russian government. “I don’t believe they interfered,” Trump said. “That became a laugh-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

C21 STATUS CREDIT CARD

REWARD YOURSELF AND EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST THIS HOLIDAY

SAVE 15% TODAY

APPLY FOR THE C21STATUS CREDIT CARD IN-STORE OR ONLINE

DESIGNER BRANDS, AMAZING PRICES

C21STORES .COM The C21STATUS Credit Card is issued by Comenity Capital Bank. *Subject to credit approval. Offer valid with the use of the C21STATUS Credit Card on the day you are approved. The discount does not apply to prior purchases, gift cards, services, M·A·C cosmetics or select licensed or leased departments. Exclusions may vary, see store associate for details.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

ing point — not a talking point, a laughing point. Any time I do something, they say, ‘Oh, Russia interfered.’” Trump added: “It could be Russia. And it could be China. And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey.” Trump did mention several times on his campaign trail that he desires a better relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the weekend Trump’s transition team released a statement that read: “These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It’s now time to move on and ‘Make America Great Again.’” On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) strongly condemned any foreign interference with U.S. elections and announced that the Senate intelligence panel will investigate Russia’s suspected election interference. “The Russian are not our friends,” McConnell told reporters at a scheduled year-end news conference. Echoing McConnell’s push for

an investigation, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowed that any inquiry would focus on “just the facts.” “We don’t want to point a finger and I don’t want this to turn into a Benghazi investigation, which seemed, at least to many people, to be highly political,” he told “CBS This Morning.” “This is serious stuff, when a foreign power tries to influence our election or damage our economy, for that matter. This is serious and it’s gotten worse. And a bipartisan investigation that’s not aimed at one specific instance but looks at the broad scope of this is just what’s needed.” “You have the CIA saying one thing ... The FBI is saying something else. We need to get to the bottom of this in a fair, nonpartisan, non-finger-pointing way,” Schumer insisted. Schumer will be privy to top-level intelligence briefings until he is formally installed as a Senate leader early next year. But he said that based on information that he is aware of, “there’s no doubt about the hacking – let’s establish that.” “I was hacked into, my [presidential] campaign in 2008 was hacked into, so there’s no doubt about the

hacking,” John McCain added. “Then the question is about the intention. But it’s all about the larger issue about the cyber threat we face from Russia, China and other countries. It’s another form of warfare and the entire issue is going to be investigated by the Armed Services Committee because it’s a threat to our national security.”

Iconic Astronaut Dies at 95

Many tots dream of growing up to be an astronaut and travel to out-

B”H

er space, although few actually get to realize their dream. John Glenn did. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. His accomplishment spurred the nation to send out the Apollo missions and enabled a man to walk on the moon. Last Thursday, the American astronaut passed away at the ripe old age of 95. Glenn had been a distinguished fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea. In 1962 Glenn orbited Earth three times. This was at the height of the Cold War, and Russia was winning the space race. The nation waited with bated breath to see if Glenn would make it back down to Earth. A few minutes after liftoff, Glenn’s Friendship 7 capsule reached orbit. People listened in with excitement and awe. “Roger, zero G and I feel fine,” Glenn relayed from space. “Capsule is turning around. Oh, that view is tremendous!” Glenn’s successful mission gave Americans hope that they can combat the Russian giant. After he resigned from NASA, Glenn went on to win a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio. He served from 1974 to 1999, and even attempted to garner the nomination for president of

Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen dinner

Celebrate Rosh Hashana L’Chassidus, The New Year for Chassidus & the redemption of the Baal HaTanya with a farbrengen featuring inspirational talks, stories & songs.

With Rabbi Aharon Dovid Gancz Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbinical College of America

SunDAy, DecembeR 18 • 8:15 Pm At Chabad of the Five Towns 74 Maple Ave. Cedarhurst For Men & Women Light Dinner will be served

The evening is generously co-sponsored by Faivish and Tamar Pewzner

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR YESHIVA DOESN’T MEAN LEAVING HOME...

IT MEANS DISCOVERING A SECOND HOME.

WHY CHOOSE TTI? WARMTH

EDUCATION

RESULTS

Our warm, caring rabbeim and faculty are not only experts in their ﬁelds, but they also care deeply about the success of each and every talmid. These bonds form lifelong relationships. Your child will feel right at home in TTI’s warm, safe and nurturing out of town environment.

From challenging in-depth shiurim, a rigorous bekius program, SACS accredited general studies, SAT prep and so much more, your son will receive the best possible education while maintaining a strong focus on middos, character development and personal growth.

Our results speak for themselves! Our talmidim have gone on to promising careers in Rabbanus, Chinuch, medicine, law, ﬁnance, business and more. They have studied in the world’s top Yeshivos excelling in all they do. But, the most important trait they have in common is that they are outstanding Bne’i Torah and a source of nachas to their families and to TTI.

call

972.250.4888

sbroderick@texastorah.org

visit

texastorah.org

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE FIVE TOWNS

Sunday, December 18 · 7:30 P.M. Open house at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Donny & Tamar Miller 445 Oceanpoint Ave Cedarhurst NY 11516

NY METRO AREA

Monday, December 19 Available for meetings Please call 972.841.8037 or 972.897.8046

MONSEY

Tuesday, December 20 Available for meetings Please call 972.841.8037 or 972.897.8046

BALTIMORE

Wednesday, December 21 · 8:00 P.M. Open House at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Phil & Rivka Bogart 3000 Temple Gate Road Baltimore, MD 21209

THIS WEEK! MIAMI

Thursday, December 22 Available for meetings Please call 972.841.8037 or 972.897.8046

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

the United States. Glenn was a true American hero. Just before his death, Glenn penned a letter to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Bezos is also a space enthusiast and founded space company Blue Origin, a privately-funded aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight service with headquarters in Kent, Washington. In the letter dated November 28, which was presented to Bezos at an awards ceremony Thursday evening at the Smithsonian Magazine American Ingenuity Awards, Glenn wrote that in 1962, when he took his historic flight, “you were still two years from being born.” When Glenn returned to space in 1998 on a space shuttle mission at age 77, becoming the oldest person to go into space, “you were already driven by a vision of space travel accessible not only to highly trained pilots and engineers and scientists, but to all of us,” he wrote. Bezos’ goal is to have “millions of people living and working in space.” Bezos hopes to fly paying passengers on trips starting in 2018. A future goal is to conduct an orbital flight. The company is in the process of building a new rocket that is expected to be launched by the end of the decade. It will be named New Glenn. In his letter, Glenn said he was “deeply touched” that the rocket was named after him. “As the original Glenn, I can tell you I see the day coming when people will board spacecraft the same way millions of us now board jetliners,” he wrote. “When that happens, it will be largely because of your epic achievements this year.” In 1998, Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space when he spent nine days aboard the Discovery at the age of 77. His mission generated excitement from the public for NASA, but the shuttle program was eventually closed. In a 2011 forum at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Glenn lamented its closing. “The average person [was] better educated ... back years ago than most people in the world. And then we put more into basic research and learned the new things first,” he said. “That little combination is just as true today. If we lose that edge in research and education, we won’t be a leading nation in the world. It’s that simple.”

Is DDT the Answer?

They’re multiplying and some have Zika…eek! The U.S. mosquito population is on the rise and many are claiming it’s because of the ban on the insecticide DDT. A recent study conducted by researchers from Rutgers, the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, was published in an article in Nature Communications ascribing the disappearance of DDT concentrations as well as urbanization to an increase in mosquitoes over the past half century. Back in 1972 the Environmental Protection Agency banned DDT due to claims that it affects mosquito-eating wildlife, particularly birds and raptors. The use of DDT has been debated for years. In 2006 the World Health Organization (WHO) reversed its 30year phase-out of the insecticide by recommending indoor spraying in African nations beset by epidemics of malaria, a potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease. In 2015 WHO reported an estimated 214 million cases of malaria and 438,000 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 43,937 cases of West Nile virus from 1999 to 2015, with 1,911 deaths. “Mosquito populations have increased as much as tenfold, and mosquito communities have become two- to fourfold richer over the last five decades,” the paper said. “These increases are correlated with the decay in residual environmental DDT concentrations and growing human populations, but not with temperature.” However, environmental groups are blaming warmer temperatures for mosquito-borne ailments like the West Nile and Zika viruses. “Climate

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

South Nassau Communities Hospital Respite Room

A HAVEN FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

SOUTH NASSAU AND ACHIEZER RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL ORTHODOX JEWISH POPULATION AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE YOUR STAY MORE COMFORTABLE AND ENJOYABLE. We’re working with doctors, nurses and our entire hospital staff to raise awareness of the sensitivities and sensibilities of Orthodox Jews; and we are working closely with our Rabbinical consultants to anticipate our patients’ needs before they arise. To highlight these efforts, we are pleased to provide the Kosher Pantry/Respite Room co-sponsored by South Nassau and Achiezer. This room offers a quiet haven for patients to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy a variety of kosher amenities provided exclusively for their use. Thanks to Gourmet Glatt, the pantry is fully stocked throughout the week and has hot meals for Shabbos and Yom Tov. And with a Monday-Thursday 1:35 p.m. Mincha Minyan year-round on premises, and Young Israel of Oceanside nearby (walkable within

For more information about the Respite Room or our other services, call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU, visit southnassau.org or call Achiezer at 516-791-4444.

the Eruv), we can always help meet your spiritual and medical needs. South Nassau also offers a convenient Shabbos elevator, and comfortable overnight accommodations are available year-round at our kosher Shabbat Hospitality House, which is complete with beds, linen, durable kosher food items and a refrigerator. Electric Sabbath candles are available. Access to the Shabbat Hospitality House is arranged through South Nassau’s Spiritual Care Program. When you find yourself in our hospital, visit the new Respite Room located on the Ground Floor G Wing adjacent to the Volunteer Office, and see for yourself why more and more Jewish families throughout the area are choosing South Nassau.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Full Service Travel + Planning

Use Your Points to Pay for your Next Dream Vacation!

NOT SURE WHERE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY FOR WINTER BREAK, OR HOW TO MAKE THAT DREAM GETAWAY A REALITY? PEYD has partnered with TravelbyEtc, a boutique vacation concierge to handle all aspects of your trip. From researching the hottest destinations, to finding you that perfect hotel, to planning your trip itinerary...

• Winter Break • Destination Planning • Cruises • Far East • Holiday Travel • Anniversary & Special Occasions

YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE STARTS HERE.

CALL TODAY! 888.404.PEYD(7393) | TRAVELWITHPEYD.COM | VACATIONS@PEYDTRAVEL.COM

Change Bites: As temperatures rise, mosquitoes and ticks thrive. And so do the diseases they carry,” said a post late last year by the National Resources Defense Council. “The links between mosquitoes and temperature are scientifically clear, and it’s possible that climate

change may now be playing a role in the spread of the Zika virus, a disease suspected of causing serious birth defects,” said Environmental Defense Fund climate scientist Ilissa Ocko in a February 18 post. “Surprisingly, despite increases during the last five decades, annual

average temperature was non-significant in most analyses for all three regions, and very weak in the single analysis in which it was significant, and temperature was never significant without DDT in the model,” the study reveals, refuting environmentalists’ claims.

Oh Baby! That Sounds Familiar

It’s ironic. Trendy baby names are intended to be different and unique, yet the trendiest names have been hogging the top ten baby name lists for years. Since 2013, Jackson has been the top baby boy name on BabyCenter.com’s annual ranking and Sophia has been the most chosen since 2010. BabyCenter claims that its annual list of most popular baby names of the year measures the “true popularity” of a baby name, as it bases its findings on phonetic pronunciation rather than spelling. For example, Jaxson and Jackson are counted as one entry as opposed to two separate names which is how the Social Security Administration ranks baby names. Sofia or Sophia is the most popular female name worldwide. It is also number one in Mexico, Russia, and Italy. The meaning of the name is “wisdom.” For males, the most popular name globally is Muhammad, alternately spelled as Mohammed or Mohammad. While the list didn’t specify if the most popular names were given as first or middle names, research suggests giving your child a middle name. According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, people who have a middle initial are held in higher esteem and have been found to be more successful professionally. While some believe that a mother has a special intuition when it comes to baby naming, it could also be the power of familiarity from hearing the following names everywhere. These names were the most popular names given to babies this year: For girls, the top names were: 1. Sophia 2. Emma 3. Olivia 4. Ava 5. Mia 6. Isabella

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

7. Riley 8. Aria 9. Zoe 10. Charlotte For boys, the top names were: 1. Jackson 2. Aiden 3. Lucas 4. Liam 5. Noah 6. Ethan 7. Mason 8. Caden 9. Oliver 10. Elijah

Boeing & Iran

Iran closed a deal this week with Boeing Co. to purchase 80 aircrafts. This is the first major agreement between a U.S. company and the Islamic Republic since Iran and Western powers concluded the nuclear accord that removed sanctions on Tehran in July 2015. The agreement was implemented in January of 2016. The Boeing deal sealed on Sunday is valued at $16.6 billion, based on the company’s list price, which doesn’t include typical discounts. European rival Airbus Group SE has a similar deal for jet sales to Iran pending. Since the deal involves a stateowned airline it must receive approval from the U.S. Treasury, State Department and Congress. But many are suspecting that President-elect Donald Trump may intercede to stall, or stop, the tentative approaches many companies have already made. Trump has been open about his disapproval of the Iran deal and has said that he opposed commercial openings with Iran. Iran requested 15 of Boeing’s 777-300ER long-haul jets and 15 of the newer 777X wide-body aircraft under development, as well as 50 737 Max single-aisle jets. Previous-

ly, Boeing said it could be forced to trim production of the existing 777 jet unless they received fresh orders on top of the 5,700 jet orders valued at almost $500 billion. Iran’s transport minister, Abbas Akhoundi, said the deal was “the first step for the renovation of the country’s aviation fleet.” Replacing aircrafts for Iran Air has been a priority. The carrier operates some of the world’s oldest airliners after years of sanctions, some imposed after the Iranian revolution in 1979. Boeing and President-elect Trump have had tense exchanges lately. Last week, Trump loudly criticized the future plan for Air Force One jets that come with an outrageous price tag. It is unclear whether or not Boeing informed the incoming administration about the Iran sale, but the company said in a written statement that the deal has the potential to sustain thousands of U.S. jobs. They also promised to work with Mr. Trump on the cost of the Air Force One deal. Many other companies are pursuing business with Iran. German conglomerate Siemens AG, French oil giant Total SA, French telecommunications firm Orange SA, and British telecom giant Vodafone Group PLC have been in talks or have hinted to potential collaborations. There are also many companies that have resisted any talks because they are anticipating resistance from a heavily Republican government. “Iran is a big market and there’s potential there, but we’re not sure how the sanctions are going to go,” said Anubhav Singh, the head of global sales and marketing at Afripipes, a South African telecommunications-equipment company exploring an entry into Iran. “We are being cautious and seeing how things pan out in the next five or six months.” Abercrombie & Kent Co., a luxury travel agency that recently started offering $5,695 guided tours of Iran for Americans, doesn’t have plans to pull back their programs. It will react in response to changes in government policy if necessary, spokeswoman Pamela Lassers said. “We are hopeful that President-elect Trump’s extensive business and hospitality background will make him receptive to the value of the travel industry,” she said.

COME AND HEAR SOME OF THE TORAH WORLD’S GREATEST MINDS

IN THE CITY HALACHA, HASHKAFA, TANACH AND ISRAEL FIND WHAT SPEAKS TO YOU PRESENTED BY THE ORTHODOX UNION

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017

from 8:45 AM to 6:15 PM

Children's programming: 2-5 & 6-10 Pre-registration required.

Free parking

Indoors at Citi Field

Lunch available for purchase

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Rabbi David Fohrman Mrs. Rookie Billet Rabbi Menachem Penner Rabbi Shalom Rosner Mrs. Michal Horowitz Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer Rabbi Moshe Weinberger More speakers on OU.org/city

FEATURED TOPICS Family Planning in Halacha Women and Torah Transmission Moshe and Tzippora’s Relationship and Marriage Are Edited Embryos Kosher? Living in the Diaspora Vs. Living in Israel Midrash: Fact Or Fable Daf Yomi Shiur Klali More topics on OU.org/city EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: $18 pp Before Dec 16th $25 pp Between Dec 16th & Jan 12th $36 pp Walk-ins

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

RIF: Reading is Forever

Grandpa Fred is really well-read. The 100-year-old, who pedals his three-wheeled bicycle around his town of Madison, Wisconsin, likes to be busy. “When you get as old as I am, you have to find things to occupy your time,” Leidel told the Wisconsin State Journal. Among those things: exercise that includes weightlifting and swimming laps, volunteering for the Experimental Aircraft Association — Leidel spent 37 years teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s college of Engineering, where he was also an associate dean — and at least one time, skydiving. But the most impactful and productive days of his week are the two days that he pedals over to Schenk Elementary School and reads to kindergartners there. The kids love their “Grandpa Fred” and look forward to his stories. “I like when he reads books to me, and I like it that whatever books you want to read and how many books you want, he does it,” Alaura Villarreal, who once had Leidel read seven books to her, told the State Journal. Teacher Lindsay Snyder explains, “So many of our kids don’t have other opportunities to read a lot of books at home. … His purpose for reading is really for fun. It gives them a role model of someone who gives back to our neighborhood.” This week, Leidel celebrated his birthday and still intends to keep on going. “As long as I am able to get over here,” Leidel promises.

Emoji What? This week, Today Translations, a London-based company, announced

an opening for a new job. The job is really new – it’s first of its kind ever. Want to apply? Better brush up on your emojis. The company is looking for an emoji translator and is seeking an expert in deciphering and translating the expressive, electronic messaging symbols we all play with on our phones.

“Emoji translation is itself an emerging field – but one dominated to date by software, which is often insensitive to the many cultural differences in usage and interpretation,” the company said. “We are therefore seeking an exceptional individual to provide the human touch needed where translation software is inadequate – and to help us become the go-to translation experts in this area.” Responsibilities of the job include client, stakeholder and internal emoji translation, a monthly report on the emoji uses and trends across different cultures, and cross-cultural emoji research. Already 30 people have applied for the freelance position and will have to take a test on emoji proficiency. Perhaps this expert can help me out a bit. Which smiling face emoji should I choose? And why do some have teeth and some do not? And what’s up with the moon emoji and the clapping hands emoji? Can’t we all just use our words?

Monkey Momto-Be

It’s a baby shower! For a monkey. A Texas zoo has set up a gift registry for a pair of orangutans who are expecting. So what does the Cameron Park Zoo suggest we purchase for the two apes? Several items for Mei and KJ on the Target registry include SpongeBob bubble bath, a Dolly Parton CD, the movie “Zootopia,” stuffed animals, a musical crib mobile, and books. Think people are too sane to buy bubbles for a baby monkey? Think

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

PLEASE JOIN YACHAD/JEWISH UNION FOUNDATION FOR AN

OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING ADULT DAY SERVICES TO THE QUEENS/NASSAU AREA

DECEMBER 20, 2016 7:30 PM

YOUNG ISRAEL OF NEW HYDE PARK 264-15 77TH AVENUE , QUEENS, NY 11040

We welcome you to share your ideas to help us design a program that will address your specific needs. Please RSVP to Ilana Rosenbaum at rosenbaumi@ou.org or 212.613.8320

YACHAD/JUF IS A PROGRAM OF THE ORTHODOX UNION

again. All the gifts are under $25, and several have already been purchased. “When Mei first got here, she was young, 10 years, she loved the movie ‘Jungle Book,’” Zoo curator of exhibits and programs Terri Cox said. “That was the one thing that would bring her up to the front until she got used to her surroundings.” Cox said each of the items on the gift registry was selected to help provide enrichment for the new arrival and other zoo animals. Enrichment items are for determining successfulness in stimulating the animal mentally and physically, and are tracked per animal. Mei is due in late January. The zoo is also planning to host a gargantuan baby orangutan shower on December 18 near the orangutan exhibit. Human guests will be able to enjoy cake. Sounds like more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung

Take a deep breath, flex your muscles, crack your knuckles and prepare to say Austria’s word of the year. Even if you speak German, you may have some trouble pronouncing the ginormous word. Drumroll, please. Austria’s word of the year is Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung, which means “postponement of the repeat of the runoff of the presidential election.” Phew. We thought it had something to do with that nasty cold we just can’t beat. The tongue-twister was born of the record time it took to elect Austria’s president and was announced following a poll of 10,000 people carried out by the Research Unit for Austrian German at the University of Graz, in cooperation with the Austria Press Agency. A first round of elections in April was followed by a May runoff between the two most popular candidates. This was annulled because of irregularities. A new date set for October was then postponed because of

faulty absentee ballots to December 4, when the vote was won by Alexander Van der Bellen. Trust the German language to make things so complicated and tortuous to say.

Rich Coffee

Depending on your taste, a cup of coffee can cost you a dollar or maybe four dollars. Do I hear anyone spending $7 on their morning caffeine fix? Well, as long as it brightens their day. But when does a cup of coffee cost you at least $20,000? When the person sipping across from you is the president-elect’s daughter and confidante. The website CharityBuzz.com is auctioning off “Coffee with Ivanka Trump in NYC or DC,” with an estimated value of $50,000. And many are vying for the chance to sip java with her. So far, the bidding for the cup of joe is at $23K – and there’s still a week to go. Money from the auction goes to the Eric Trump Foundation. What will the lucky winner get when he or she finally snags the prize? Just 45 minutes of coffee talk (no, Linda Richman will not be attending, although she will urge you to discuss) at the Trump Tower in NYC or Trump International Hotel in D.C., “dependent on Ivanka’s schedule.” The room will be crowded, though, as the Secret Service will be looming in the background. Remember to use a napkin while drinking your brew. “We expect all winning bidders and their guests to conduct themselves appropriately when attending an experience won at Charitybuzz. Polite manners and respect for the generous donor and adherence to any rules or parameters are a must,” the website warns. Oh, and travel and accommodations are not included, although you will be allowed to take a photo with Ivanka. If you’re spending $23K on coffee, it’s assumed that you have your own private jet to take you to the coffee shop. You know what they say. Some things, among other things, are better rich: chocolate and coffee.

39 24 Hour Urgent Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Family Crisis Di Hour Urgent Hotline • Health Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team • Hospital-Based Support • Respite Rooms • Legal Network • Hospital Respite Rooms • Special Care Conference • Crisis Interven Westwood Financial Management Division • Zichron Dovid Chesed Shel Emes Division • Meals ‘N More • Bereavement Counseling • Specialty Equipment Depot • Medical Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Medical Recommendations • 24 Hour Urgent Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support Crisis Division • Furniture Donations • Health Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team • Hospital Support • Hospital Respite Rooms • Legal Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • M Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financial Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed S Emes Division • 24 Hour Urgent Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Fam Crisis Division • ElderCare • Health Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team• Hospital Respite Rooms • Hospital Respite Rooms • Legal Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • Spe Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financial Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed S Emes Division • 24 Hour Urgent Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Fa Crisis Division • Bereavement Counseling • Furniture Donations • Health Insurance Enrollment • Hom Repair Team • Hospital-Based Support • Hospital Respite Rooms • Legal Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • Medical Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • ElderCare • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financial Manageme Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed Shel Emes Division • 24 Hour Urgent Hotline Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Family Crisis Division • Furniture Donations • Healt Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team • Hospital-Based Support • Hospital Respite Rooms • Leg Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • Medical Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financia Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed Shel Emes Division • 24 Hour U Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Family Crisis Division • 24 Hour Ur Hotline • Health Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team • Hospital-Based Support • Hospital Res Rooms • Bereavement Counseling • Legal Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • M Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financial Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid • Hospita Rooms • Legal Network • Meals ‘N More • Specialty Equipment Depot • Medical Recommendations • Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financia Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed Shel Emes Division • 24 Hour U Hotline • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support • Family • 24 Hour Urgent Hotline • H Insurance Enrollment • Home Repair Team • Hospital-Based Support • Hospital Respite Rooms • Ber Counseling • Zichron Dovid Chesed Shel Emes Division • Specialty Equipment Depot • Medical Recommendations • Megilla Laining • Mental Health Support • Special Care Conference • Volunteer Drivers • Westwood Financial Management Division • Yom Tov Campaigns • Zichron Dovid Chesed S Division • Hospital Respite Rooms • Camp Fund • Crisis Intervention • ElderCare Support

just one call.

save the date

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

sunday

02 26 ‘ 17

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Children: Bring in a toy and receive a

Chanukah gift!

The Rochel Baron A”H

o Please join our e id W y it n u m m Co Effort!

EE COMMITT E V I R D TOY Friedman

aron tein • Sh Sara Aus ara Klein chter • L u r F ly e h sina Ra • Fraidy O n a a h is charf Daphna M • Tamar S n a m h ic R olz Rebecca ily Weichh L • n r e t Rocky S

We are accepting new toys in their original packaging (no gift wrap).

Drop off Locations 137 Spruce Street Cedarhurst, NY 389 Central Ave Lawrence, NY

87 Elderd Ln Cedarhurst, NY

1214 Heyson Rd For Rockaway, NY

700 Ibsen Street Woodmere, NY

1030 Railroad Ave. Woodmere, NY

To Donate online: JCCRP.org/donations by mail / in person: JCCRP Att: Toy Drive 1525 Central Avenue Far Rockaway, NY 11691 To volunteer or for more information, email: jcctoydrive@jccrp.org or call 718-327-7755

Thank you for participating in the JCCRP Toy Drive!

330 Central Avenue Lawrence, NY

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Around the

Community

On Thursday morning, December 1, Senator Todd Kaminsky spoke with the students at SKA-HALB High School for Girls about government and civics and the importance of being involved in the community

The “Stars” Shone Bright This Past Shabbos

his past Shabbos, Stars of Israel Academy hosted its first Shabbaton of the year in the friendly neighborhood of Kew Gardens Hills. An unprecedented number of boys joined their rebbeim and their families in celebrating the sanctity of Shabbos, a number of them for the very first time. Rabbi Naphtali Sudwerts, principal of the yeshiva, commented, “For many of our talmidim, coming from non-shomer Shabbos homes, the challenge of keeping an entire Shabbos seemed quite daunting. I am so proud of the boys and what they accomplished this Shabbos and am confident that

the impact will be everlasting.” The school was fortunate enough to arrange to daven in their own minyan on Friday night, full of singing and dancing. The seudos were hosted by a number of generous hosts around the neighborhood where they were embraced almost as new family members. Following the seuda was an oneg with Rabbi Yehuda Zakutinsky, director of Hashevaynu, who honored the boys with his presence as well as his incredible words. The rest of the Shabbos seudos were eaten together with the yeshiva’s rebbeim and faculty members. The school transformed from an academic

institution to a family who care about each other beyond the confines of classic student teacher relationships. Rabbi Gottesman, Menahel, proclaimed, “In my thirty years of chinuch, this was one of the most inspiring Shabbatons I have had the privilege to host.” Havdalah was an inspirational moment as the lights were dimmed and the room was illuminated by the strength of the havdalah candle with live musical accompaniment. The boys closed their eyes, swayed back and forth, and felt energized after keeping an entire Shabbos. The Shabbaton was capped off with a melava malka as well as a fun trip to an indoor

amusement park to allow the boys to let out their extra energy. Stars of Israel is a full day yeshiva that incorporates award winning technology to achieve academic excellence in both secular and Judaic studies for boys with limited Jewish background. But this past Shabbos went well beyond the classroom walls. At one point on Shabbos, one boy turned to another and told him that as hard as this Shabbos was for him without his technology and TV he is now committed to keeping Shabbos every week. This past Shabbos, the “Stars” were shining brightly in Kew Gardens Hills.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community Rabbi Yisrael Munk, eight grade rebbe at Yeshiva of South Shore, invited boys from his class to his house for an exclusive mishmar on Thursday night with their rebbe. The boys shared divrei Torah with their rebbe, partook of delicious food prepared by the rebbitzen, baked their own chocolate chip cookies, and had an overall geshmak time!

Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island to Celebrate 21 years of Chinuch Habonim

credible lineup of honorees this year. The Yeshiva is proud to present the Harbotzas Torah Award to Rabbi & Mrs. Aaron Spiegel. YKLI has been fortunate to have Rabbi Spiegel as the beloved third grade rebbe since 2004. His signature warmth and enthusiasm is known throughout the Yeshiva. Rabbi Zvi Bajnon, Rosh Yeshiva, explains, “Rabbi Spiegel is a dynamic rebbe with a special geshmak, who not only deftly teaches subject matter but influences his students to

years of a remarkable journey will be celebrated at the upcoming Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island’s Annual Journal Dinner on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the Sands Atlantic Beach. As YKLI embarks on the next decade of chinuch, the excitement is palpable as reservations and journal ads pour into the office. Parents, supporters and friends welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to YKLI’s dedicated rabbeim and teachers as well as the in-

Winter Semester - Eight Weeks of Creative Fun!

ay Funda d n y Su by

B Y B LA A U LS R A EN M

b •

•

RE TU N LP ILO U H SC S H A IT AV W CH

DJ LER A H IT AL B W A C EWM IL J BA OM FR

NOW OFFERING

KICKBOXING & GYMNASTICS BY MORAH AVIGAYIL

AT OHR TORAH 410 HUNGRY HARBOR ROAD For girls in kindergarten through 4th grade For boys in Kindergarten and pre1a From 9:30 am -12:00 pm

WINTER SEMESTER: January 8th - March 26th

BAILA HALPERN: 516.225.4521 or email sundayfundaycf@gmail.com Space is limited

love Torah and Yiddishkeit. Combining a rich background in chassidus with a keen understanding of the American bochur, he is able to connect with his students, recognize their greatness and where they need to improve, and inspire them to grow and reach their potential.” Students and rebbeim will testify that the zemiros l’kavod Shabbos and niggunim that he teaches and sings with his students reverberate in the hallways. Mr. & Mrs. Ephraim & Rena Kutner are the proud parents of twins Moshe Yaakov and Nesanel currently in eighth grade. In their own words, “We have had the privilege of having almost every rebbe and teacher for each grade and can truly attest to the incredible quality of each one of them!” Ephraim is originally from Memphis, attended Ner Yisrael of Toronto, and graduated from Yeshiva University with a degree in Finance. He currently runs his own finance company specializing in HUD and real estate financing. In addition, he established the Madraigos organization with Rabbi Dov Silver, which offers innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults. He was instrumental in bringing the Kollel to Rav Horowtiz’s shul which consists of twelve yungerleits. Mrs. Kutner grew up in Chicago, attending Bais Yaakov, and then B’nos Chava Seminary. Mrs. Kutner is currently completing a degree as a Family Therapist at Hofstra University while interning at Madraigos. She has done a lot of work for Chai Lifeline, Camp Simcha, and Keshet, an organization for children with special needs in Chicago. The Kutners are exemplary parents and involved members of the community, devoted to the chinuch of their children while exhibiting unwavering support for the Yeshiva. It is

truly an honor for the Yeshiva to present the Hakoras Hatov Award to such a worthy couple. YKLI is pleased to present the Young Leadership Award to Mr. & Mrs. Elie & Daphna Mishaan, proud parents of Binyomin Natan in second grade. Elie grew up in Lawrence, attended HAFTR, and then learned in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in Yerushalayim before continuing his education at Johns Hopkins University. Elie serves as president of Kehilas Yagdil Torah in Woodmere and is on the Board of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam in Far Rockaway. He also serves on the Board of the JCCRP. Mrs. Mishaan grew up in Manhattan, attended Ramaz High School, then studied at Midreshet Moriah and Stern College. Mrs. Mishaan shares her husband’s affinity and dedication to community organizations. She is very involved in the JCCRP, BYAM and Kehilas Yagdil Torah. When approached by Rabbi Krigsman regarding the Annual Dinner, the Mishaans enthusiastically offered to do whatever they could to support the Yeshiva. Their dedication and willingness to help in any capacity with such joy and excitement is a middah which truly exemplifies this couple. As Menahel, Rabbi Tzvi Krigsman states: “We our privileged to have families such as the Mishaans in our Yeshiva. Their support of the Yeshiva and our vital community organization serves as an inspiration.” Join the YKLI family on Monday, January 9 at the Sands Atlantic Beach as we express our gratitude to the worthy honorees, while showing our support and recognition for the rabbeim, teachers and hanhala, who work tirelessly to provide an unparalleled level of chinuch for our children in a premier mosad of Torah in the community.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

HAFTR Middle School Eighth Grade Girls Shabbaton

he eighth grade girls HAFTR Shabbaton was a huge success! Friday night, the girls gathered together for a meaningful kabalat Shabbat in the HAFTR Beit Medrash. Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, menahel, introduced the theme of the Shabbat, “all for one and one for all,” with a meaningful story. Afterwards, an amazing dinner was had with divrei Torah from staff members as well as students. Mr. Joshua Gold, principal, spoke to the girls about the importance of achdut, unity. Full from the delicious catered meal, the girls engaged in a game of “fe fi fo fum” where the students got to know each other a bit better. Then it was off to a learning session led by some of the teachers and Rebbetzins, dessert for an oneg, and then to the hosts home for Shabbat menucha! Shabbat morning the girls woke up in time for an inspirational davening back at HAFTR, an incredible kiddush, and a wonderful drasha from Rabbi Simcha Loiterman. Mrs. Yali

Wertzberger led a discussion after davening teaching the girls about what we should prioritize in our daily lives. Lunch was served and then a fun “riff off” Jewish song/zemirot game led by our very own Menahel, Rabbi Kupchik. More divrei Torah were said and then another interactive “get to know you” type game!

After dessert, they went to Mrs. Nechama Landau’s house for Mincha and shalosh seudot and enjoyed an inspiring speech given by Rabbi Shalom Yona Weiss! After havdala the girls felt sad that the Shabbaton was over but were comforted by the many amazing memories they now have! In addition a special thanks

to Rabbi Judah Hulkower for coordinating the many details, Mrs. Hucul, Ms. Alyson Jacobs, Ms. Arianna Wolfson, Mrs. Sori Teitelbaum, and Shachak and Nitzan, two of our bnot ami, for all their assistance throughout Shabbat.

Providing the perfect balance of professionalism and class, along with the highest level of sincere, leibedig, and PURE Jewish music

www.eitankatz.com

718.770.7973

info@eitankatz.com

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

YOSS 7th and 8th Graders Score with HIKON Initiative

Seventh grade HIKON participants

“D

id the Yeshiva of South Shore actually take 7th and 8th graders to Barclay’s Center for Thursday night’s Islanders game?!” “Is it true that more than 100 boys, fathers and rabbeim were brought out onto the ice after the game?” The answer is a resounding YES! It all started this past summer, when Rabbi Mordechai Kaminetzky, Rosh Yeshiva, and Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, Menahel HaYeshiva, met with Rabbi Zev Davidowitz, Menahel HaMechina. The goal: to create a sophisticated tefillah initiative for 7th and 8th graders, with a focus on further developing their appreciation and respect for tefillah k’halacha and to give them a foundation as they prepare to transition into mesivta. The result: a revolutionary tefillah program, known as “HIKON.” HIKON, based on the words said by Amos HaNavi (Amos 4:12), “Hikon

Eighth grade HIKON participants

l’kras Elokecha Yisrael – prepare yourself Israel to greet Hashem,” is a groundbreaking approach to growing in tefillah. The idea is that with preparation and focus before davening begins and a set of guidelines during davening, talmidim are able to focus on the incredible opportunity that they have each time they daven. The parameters of the program are simple, practical, yet extremely conducive to attaining a higher level of davening. Every boy who joins HIKON commits to coming on time to davening, having proper attire, refraining from talking, and davening from a siddur b’kol rom (out loud). The fact that HIKON is completely voluntary allows each and every participant to feel that they are doing something special, not because they have to, but because they want to! With an inspiring drasha about the importance of tefillah, Rabbi Paysach Krohn

initiated the program in Elul, inspiring more than seventy-five 7th and 8th grade boys to join the program. Within two weeks the atmosphere during davening was incredible. Tefillos were said slowly and clearly with a sense of tremendous awe and respect for tefillah. In addition, the Rosh Yeshiva’s weekly talks focus on the explanation of daily tefillos, clarifying the meaning of the words with inspiring parables and stories. While there is no greater reward than the fact that the talmidim’s tefillos continue to improve, the hanhala shows its appreciation by sponsoring a unique and special trip every 3 months for all of the talmidim who successfully join HIKON. And that’s how over 100 people got an amazing “onice” experience at Barclay’s Center! The night started with a catered dinner from Carlos &d Gabby’s, and then the talmidim were bused to downtown

Brooklyn to watch the Islanders take on (and beat!) the Blues! The achdus and ruach were incredible (especially after the game when “Let’s GO South Shore” was echoing off the stadium walls)! After the game the entire group proceeded to a special section of the arena where they were met by Islanders officials who allowed them entrance onto the actual ice surface. Getting onto the ice for group photos with the HIKON banner was an incredible experience, and the talmidim truly appreciated such a unique and special night. As Rabbi Da-

vidowitz said after the game, “The boys walked away from this incredible night feeling accomplished, feeling appreciated, and most of all, feeling inspired to continue and even advance their commitment to tefillah k’halacha.” The HIKON program is just one of the ways in which Yeshiva of South Shore is at the forefront of education, with bold initiatives that focus on developing the future leaders and fathers of tomorrow. With HIKON II beginning this week, you can be sure that the davening at YOSS will continue to raise the bar!

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Mayor Ben Weinstock Talks History at Shulamith

ast Thursday was History Day at Shulamith High School for Girls. We launched our memorable day watching a motivational video about famous historical figures who have struggled in life and had the courage to persevere through their difficulties. The Mayor of Ce-

darhurst, Mayor Benjamin Weinstock, stopped in to have a roundtable discussion with the girls about courage in politics and the difficulties he faced in becoming the mayor. The mayor presented Shulamith with a proclamation that December 1st is History Day. Students then partici-

pated in a gallery walk featuring historic men and women. Through the walk, they discovered how these figures used their courage to overcome challenges and make changes. Our wonderful staff members led sessions on specific historical figures in both secular and Jewish histo-

ry that showed courage. The event culminated with a look at courage in crisis. We screened a movie and later had a discussion about the film Beneath the Helmet, a film about IDF soldiers and their struggles. Thank you to all who helped make this program great!

Yeshivat Kol Yaakov Hones in on Science

By Shoshanna Friedman

tudents in Yeshivat Kol Yaakov know that science is about questions that elicit a multitude of hypotheses that need to be tried and tested. So when Mrs. Hekmati’s second grade began studying magnetism, the boys wanted to know what magnetic “attraction” looked like, how “magnetic” different materials were, and how water might affect it all. The boys went on their own “magnet hunts” where they gathered different materials and then proceeded to make their own

guesses or hypotheses about what they thought might happen when they “tested” them. Students all had lab sheets to chart their experiences as they tested for magnetism in a variety of materials and then for the effect water might have on those same materials. In Mrs. Jedda’s third grade, boys are presented with problems to ponder after which they present an array of possible solutions. Every week Mrs. Jedda presents a science question and provides the boys with common household items that just might solve those problems. Just this

past week, third graders were asked how someone might make an object “look” or “appear” larger. Is it possible to do that without the benefit of cameras or photo lenses? Boys had previously learned that water refracts light and some of the boys were able to come up with hypotheses that included that prior knowledge. In response to the problem posed, boys “created” their own mini-magnifying lenses with drops of water, plastic wrap and cardboard that did indeed make objects appear larger when you looked through them.

Kol Yaakov immerse students in experiential learning that facilitates long term understanding and a culture of academic values. Students

see science as an opportunity to explore possibilities, test prior learning and grow as curious thinkers.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

EXPERIENCE IN ACTION.

info@fwdnyc.com

We pack 44 years of experience into each childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education.

At Yeshiva Darchei Torah, each Rebbi, Morah, and teacher applies his or her talent, training, creativity, and love to provide the best education for each talmid. We have provided our children with the very best for 44 years, and we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t settle for less. The results speak for themselves. save the date th

JAN152017

TORAH IN ACTION.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

HAFTR Second Grade Scribes

e l a S Bake

AFTR second grade talmidim and talmidot participated in a Tzivos Hashem Sefer Torah Workshop. Students learned about the intricate process of writing a sefer Torah. They helped sand the parchment and mix the special ink. Each student used a special writing utensil, the kalmus, to write his or her name using the special ktav assurit, the Aramaic alphabet. Students were impressed by their ability to write so beautifully.

e s e n i ch n o i t c au

AND

all proceeds

to benefit

Fund y b a B ’s r e z Yad Elie At the home of

Danny and Jenny Gerber 325 Howard Avenue Woodmere, NY

Wednesday Night, December 21 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 22 9:00 a.m.-8:00p.m.

Wednesday night at 8:00:

Mrs. Rochel Chafetz

“Words of Insipiration”

Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky

By Sara Stein

”

“Chanukah Chinuch Messages

committee Elisheva Baum Esti Berman Layala Bobker Chayala Feigenbaum Julie Feinberg Debbie Fogel

Experiencing the Arts at Shulamith

Thursday morning at 9:30:

Jenny Gerber Dawn Goldstein Leora Hammer Sheri Hammer Etty Herschberg Shari Kammer

Suri Lazar Alison Richman Barbara Simon Daphne Stern Penina Weiner

For more information call 516-270-5783

n Monday, December 4, the eighth grade students of Shulamith traveled to the Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University to see a performance by Chamber Theatre Productions. The show featured adaptations of five short stories and one poem. In the weeks before attending the performance, and in preparation for this educational adventure, the girls read some of the stories in their English Language Arts class. Knowing that they would be writing reviews of the play, the girls were fully absorbed in the performance and paid close attention to the actors, the effects, the costumes, and other

elements of drama. As they watched the production, they were caught up in the trepidation of Edgar Allan Poe`s “The Tell-Tell Heart” and “The Raven,” and were nervous to see what would happen in the “Monkey`s Paw,” by W.W. Jacobs and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by Washington Irving. They cried for Mathilde in “The Necklace” and clapped along to the humor-filled tall tale, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” by Mark Twain. As the performance came to an end and the actors took their final bows, the girls joined the rest of the audience in filling the theater with applause. A wonderful time was had by all.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

MR. & MRS. MORDECHAI & GYLA SCHWARTZ Guests of Honor

MR. & MRS. ELI & BREINDI AMSTERDAM Parents of the Year

Anniversary Dinner

MR. & MRS. SHLOMO & BLIMY WEISS Kesser Shem Tov Award

TORAH IN ACTION.

HON. & MRS. PHIL & ESTHER GOLDFEDER Hakoras Hatov Award

RABBI & MRS. SHMUEL & CHANA ROCHEL WITKIN

RABBI & MRS. ELIEZER & LEAH AMENT

MR. RONALD LOWINGER

Rebbi of the Year

Dinner Chairman

MR. & MRS. SHMUEL & RIVKY BRUDNY Alumni Leadership Award

MR. & MRS. YOSEF & ALIZA WARTELSKY Alumni Leadership Award

MR. MENACHEM MARX Journal Chairman

SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15, 2017 ‫ י״ז טבת תשע״ז‬,‫יום א׳ לפרשת שמות‬ Buffet Dinner 5:30 PM Program 7:00 PM Followed by Dessert Reception

AT THE YESHIVA 257 Beach 17th St.

Far Rockaway, NY 11691

info@fwdnyc.com

Harbotzas Torah Award

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

A Simcha of Inspiration

achum Silver, seen with his father, grandfathers, great-grandfather and brothers, put on tefillin for the first time on Monday, 12 Kislev at Yeshiva of South Shore. The Yeshiva was honored to have Nachum’s great-grandfather, Reb Yisrael Zalmen Mitgang, one of the oldest survivors of Auschwitz, join in the simcha. After davening, the Rosh Yeshiva,

Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, spoke about R’ Zalmen’s mesiras nefesh and how he was able to make a minyan in Auschwitz on Yom Kippur. He told the talmidim of the Satmar Rebbe’s iconic statement, “Don’t ask for a bracha from me; go to someone who has a number on his arm.” Each boy in Nachum’s class had the chance to greet R’ Zalman and receive a bracha from him.

Harav Listman speaking in Mesivta Shaarei Chaim in Far Rockaway

PHOTO BY NAFTALI BAK

HANC Middle School Hosts Yachad Program

“Urbana’s take on the clichéd chocolate soufflé is a chocolate brownie drunkenly swimming in a mugful of chocolate bourbon pudding and crowned with an artful dome of whipped cream.” Page 100

n Sunday, December 11, members of HANC Middle School welcomed members from YACHAD into the school for a pre-Chanukah program. Everyone came into the room with great excitement and anticipation. The event certainly lived up to the expectations. First, there was an ice breaker where the volunteer had to say their name and a characteristic of theirs, such as “My name is … and I live in West Hempstead.” If that applied to you, you had to get up and move your seat. It was tons of fun and it really helped everyone get to know each other. Next, the group moved around between four different stations which had activities related to Chanukah. These included: sand art, painting a menorah, building a menorah and making a sand art necklace which was in the shape of a menorah. All of the students enjoyed the projects. In addition, there was great music and many dreidel games. To top it all off, there was a delicious pizza lunch and chocolate Chanukah gelt for every-

one. The YACHAD members were given two prizes on their way out as a thank you for coming. Speaking of thank yous, a big thank you to Rachel Mendelson of YACHAD and Morah Hakimian for organizing the event. Thank you to everyone from YACHAD and HANC who attended this amazing, memorable and inclusive Chanukah party.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, principal of Judaic studies at HAFTR High School, visiting with some of his talmidim and talmidot who are studying in Eretz Yisroel for the year. Over eighty percent of the senior grade choose to continue their studies in yeshivot, seminary or programs in Israel.

BMG-Shivti Yarchei Kallah, A Chance to Reconnect

he Yarchei Kallah model first began during the times of the Gemara and was considered an important contribution to maintaining the level of Torah knowledge throughout the Diaspora. Its sole purpose was to give former students the opportunity to return to the batei medrash in order to deepen and strengthen their knowledge of Torah. Beth Medrash Govoha has for the past

several years created the same opportunity for the myriads of baalei batim who relish the thought of two complete days spent absorbed in intense, uninterrupted Torah learning. With this goal in mind, the Shivti program – a project of Beth Medrash Govoha – has redefined the common notion of a Yarchei Kallah, with a no-gimmick winter Yarchei Kallah, giving klal Yisrael a genuine chance to reconnect to

“After the vote, many of Bernie Sanders’ supporters chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ hardly a heartwarming sentiment for Israel supporters.” Page 105

the “real thing” – the intensity of fulltime learning for a precious two days. This year’s sugya will zero in on the highly important and relevant sugya of Work Responsibilities and Dispute Resolution. The sugya is vast and thought-provoking, and the shiurim will be delivered by world-renowned experts in this field. Kuntresim have been compiled and published in honor of this occasion and will guide participants and their chavrusas as they delve into this most-intriguing sugya. Those who have experienced the charged atmosphere of Shivti Yarchei Kallahs in the past are eagerly awaiting their annual recharge. There is also much interest from those who have not yet participated but are eager to join this inspiring retreat for the first time. Registration is open to all. Past years attendees included some father and son/son-in-law pairs who chose to use this time to bond with each other as they learn. In addition, we had the zechus of hosting numer-

ous rabbonim who joined their congregants for an invigorating two days of intense Torah study and camaraderie thus strengthening their unique bond at many levels. This year’s Yarchei Kallah will take place from Motzei Shabbos, January 14th to Monday, January 16th in the beautiful Hyatt Regency of Princeton, NJ. The serene environment which is conveniently located, yet set apart from the bustle of everyday living, creates a calm oasis to allow participants to disengage from their everyday worries and focus completely on utilizing every minute for learning. Shivti will be providing the participants with all their material needs via comfortable lodgings and catered meals ensuring that the participants can completely immerse themselves in their learning without worrying about any of their mundane needs. Interested parties can contact 732-367-1060 Ext. 4215 or email yarcheikallah@bmg.edu.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Kosherica Announces its Most Luxurious Cruise Vacations and Passover Resorts to Date

osherica, the glatt kosher travel and leisure giant, is famous for its extraordinary attention to detail, exceptional fresh glatt kosher cuisine, and world-class entertainment. This upcoming year, Kosherica will provide guests with the most sought-after luxury resorts and cruise lines in the world. This family-owned business offers everything from meaningful Shabbat services, inspiring lectures with scholars in residence, Daf Yomi classes and minyanim, to topnotch live concerts with Jewish headliners. Kosherica’s 2017 Luxurious Passover program gets underway this spring with our star, the PGA Resort and Spa in Palm Beach, which has sold out early for four years in a row. More than a resort, PGA National offers a world-class destination spa, a private Sports & Racquet Club and five championship golf courses. Rabbi Steven Weil (head of the Orthodox Unioun), Rabbi Eric Grossman (Head of Ra-

maz) and Mordechai Gary Neuman (Oprah, Today Show, Good Morning America) will be the Scholars in Residence. Kosherica is also thrilled to announce that the JW Marriott Palm

Wherever you go....AMIGO!

INTERNATIONAL Cellphones SIM cards Wifi devices Unlimited Data Unlimited Texting U.S. Number available New Location

359C Central Ave. Lawrence, New York 11559

www.amigous.com

1(888)amigous.com

Springs Resort & Spa, a star resort in the JW collection, will be part of our 2018 Passover line-up. This jaw dropping resort located in Palm Springs, California, showcases five sparkling outdoor pools, two championship golf courses, a state-of-the-art spa facility and exquisite grounds and waterways. Discounts are given if booked before March 2017. Since we are encountering the better part of winter, it’s time to warm up on a luxury Kosher vacation. Our winter line-up includes the January 22nd, 2017 All Star Jewish Music Festival Cruise aboard one of the largest ships in the world, the stunning Royal Caribbean Oasis. The sailing will feature Avraham Fried, 8th Day, Lipa Schmeltzer, Yaakov Motzen and Cantor Chaim Berson among others. In addition we have a thrilling 10 night cruise to South America aboard the Norwegian Sun. All the December cruises are currently on waitlist. If you are looking for summer excitement below is just a sampling of what Kosherica has in store for this summer: July 2nd and August 20th, 2017, the Norwegian Epic will travel seven nights through the Mediterranean, leaving from Barcelona and stopping in Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes and Palma Majorca, and heading back to Barcelona. Or, you could catch the seven-night Greek Isles Cruise aboard the Star August 13th, 2017. This cruise departs from Venice, making ports of call in Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini, Raven-

na and back to Venice. For those in search of historic locations filled with incredible Jewish excursions look no further than the August 11th, 2017 Baltic Capitals cruise. You will spend two days in St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Berlin (Berlin will visit only Jewish locations). All the tours on the cruise are deeply thought out and incredibly profound. Despite the endless number of destinations, it seems that the cruise of all cruises is the June 25th and August 13th, 2017 Alaskan cruises. For those of you who can’t face a day without the morning coffee, well, the Alaskan Cruise departs from Seattle, otherwise known as the Emerald City, the coffee capital of the world. With ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Victoria, you will have the opportunity to see whales and bald eagles, visit mines and igloos, and partake of many other exciting excursions along the way. Kosherica schedules at least six different cruises per season. From hello to goodbye, it’s all about the customer. Your first Kosherica cruise will be the first of many. It’s amazing how one second you never entertained the thought of going on a cruise and the next second you’ll never entertain the thought of traveling any other way— that is the magic of Kosherica. Visit www.kosherica.com or call 877-724-5567 or 305-6952700 to check out the full roster of cruises and book your cruise today.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Science Times at Yeshiva University High School for Girls

ased on their stellar work this past summer at the Garcia Summer Science Research Program at Stony Brook University, seniors Aviva Landau and Sara Teitelman earned the distinction of attending and presenting at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The MRS Fall Meeting provided an opportunity for researchers from a wide range of scientific fields to discuss and share current and emerging findings in materials research. Scientists, ranging from Nobel laureates to high school students, engaged in networking opportunities to help further advance the field. Our two Central representatives were among the youngest students to exhibit research at the meeting’s poster session. Aviva presented her project, “Utilizing Gold-Platinum Nano-Par-

ticles to Enhance the Performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell.” “The poster session is like a huge science fair for professionals,” says Aviva. “We each stood at our posters and explained our projects to other researchers. It felt really good to be able to answer the high-level questions of people with advanced degrees. They were surprised to find out we were just in high school! I enjoyed viewing the other research projects at the poster session.” Sara presented a poster on the determination of the molecular weight of polystyrene using the techniques of spin casting and ellipsometry. Says Sara, “I had the opportunity to hear about cutting-edge research in the field of materials science and engineering and to discuss my own lab work with scientists from all over the world. Very few of the thousands

of researchers who attended the MRS Fall Meeting were high school students, and I recognize that I am privileged to have had this incredible opportunity. I extend a special thank you to Professor Miriam Rafailovich and Mrs. Rebecca Isseroff of the Garcia Research Program for arranging for me to have had this invaluable experience.” Science Department Chair Ruth Fried extols Sara and Aviva’s successes: “I am so proud of both Sara and Aviva. Their willingness to extend their interests out of their comfort zone, work hard to research new areas of knowledge, and then present their findings to a conference of post-doctoral professionals is something that would be daunting for a graduate student. These high school students had the self-confidence to place themselves in a situ-

ation where they had to defend their work to a room of professionals.” Kol hakavod!

DRS Seniors Recognized for Contributions to World of Chessed

his past Sunday, DRS held its seventh annual Nidivei Lev Service Society Induction Ceremony. This special ceremony recognizes those DRS students that have shown exemplary service to their community and school through extraordinary acts of chessed and kindness. The ceremony honored members of the senior class who have served their school and larger community with great distinction. The ceremony was attended by the entire student body as well as faculty and parents. What made the program truly unique was that the students were given awards by the directors and founders of many of the organizations that were the beneficiaries of the great chessed. The following students were recognized for their incredible contribution: Dovi Schlossberg was honored for his work setting up and stocking the Far Rockaway Food Bank which allows those less fortunate to have food and snacks to eat on a daily basis. Justin Weiss and Hudi Aronovitz were applauded for their steadfast commitment to Chabad’s Friendship Circle program. Chaverim of the Five Towns acknowledged the hard work and tremendous efforts that Avi Bulka offers to their program. Mayer Edelman and Chaim Alper were mentioned for

their work in publishing DRS’s weekly Torah publication, the D’Varim HaYozim Min HaLev. Yaakov Schreier was commended for serving as a big brother, offering much needed guidance to a child in the community. Yachad awarded Sammy Bernstein for his many years of commitment on behalf of their organization. Lev Leytzan, a medical clowning program, lauded the dedication of Akiva Fink to their incredible program. KULANU presented an award to Jonathan Crane for his volunteer work. Bnei Akiva celebrated the accomplishments of

Daniel Rosenthal and Jeremy Weiss for their participation. Ohel Beis Ezra was honored to give an award to Akiva Thalheim for his commitment. Yehuda Shetrit’s work at the South Nassau Hospital was recognized. Finally, Andy Ebbin’s devotion to the Kingsway Jewish Center was commended. DRS Menahel Rabbi Kaminetsky noted that all of the participants and guests were profoundly moved by the event: “Having been the beneficiaries of our students’ chessed programs here today has shown all of our students that when they give of them-

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

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

N th TIO R 15 A R IST BE REG DECEM NS OPE

‫בס "ד‬

F EN F O E ON

0 NTREUNI 0 1 CA AMP $ O EE 2nd - C T P R y2

U s FJanuar lu ne:

PDeadli

CURRENT GRADES:

1ST3RD GRADES

9:00-4:30

9:00-3:30

CURRENT GRADES:

7TH8TH GRADES

4TH6TH GRADES

9:00-5:30

MRS. BAYLA BARKANY FRESHIES DIRECTOR

RABBI YANKY HERSH CAMP DIRECTOR

RABBI YOSSI BENNETT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HEAD COUNSELOR, SENIORS

RABBI YOSEF FRIEDLER HEAD COUNSELOR, JUNIORS

RABBI TZVI MODETSKY

ASST. HEAD COUNSELOR, JUNIORS

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 855 C U AT  AREIVIM | CAMPAREIVIMGMAIL.COM VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO APPLY: WWW.CAMPAREIVIM.COM

www.studio613graphicdesign.com

CURRENT GRADES:

NURSERYPRE1A

RABBI TSVI GREENFIELD M.I.T. DIVISION HEAD

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz Addresses Shevach High School

osh Chodesh Kislev was celebrated at Shevach High School with the address of Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, rav of Beis Hakneseses of North Woodmere and maggid shiur at Lander College for Men. He connected with the girls immediately with his can-do yet humorous approach to growth. Rabbi Liebowitz opened with thought provoking questions on the upcoming yom tov of Chanukah. Do we celebrate the victory of war, or the finding of the untainted oil, or the eight days that the oil lasted before new pure oil could be procured? If we look to Al Hanisim for the answer, we would have to say that it is the victory that we remember. Rabbi Lebowitz did not answer immediately but rather described the influences young people today are facing which come from three different angles and shed light on the message of Chanukah throughout history. The first influence is from the outside, where the world would like us to believe that we are not different and should not strive to be. Boruch Hashem we are not persecuted like days of old, but there are still challenges to our being able to define ourselves on

a higher level than the average person in society. The second is from within, where friends are so important in how we act overall. Every person needs friends, but we should be trying to connect to people in a way that will bring us up and allow us to reach greater heights in observance and in kedusha overall. The third is not even ideological, but addresses our sense of purpose in this world. We should not be counting raindrops, so to speak, but using our time and energy for goals that are meaningful to us individually and the Jewish people generally. That is the message from the Al Hanisim we say during Chanukah. The miracle came through the pure oil but was not totally about the oil. It was about what the Jewish People are and can be, despite the challenges and influences of the world around us, both from within and from without. We must define ourselves vis-avis our mesorah and make choices that make us proud of ourselves and a pride to the Jewish nation. The students left inspired and ready to take on the month in a positive way.

I Could Figure Things Out Without Kollel Chatzos… An interesting episode, shared with the Kollel Chatzos Office

y wife was not feeling up to herself, so we went to the doctor to make sure that everything is okay. To our shock, the doctor informed us that nothing is okay and rushed us to the hospital before we could even process the 360-degree life turnover that had happened within the short span of that fateful appointment. In the ER, they whisked us into the ICU, hooked my wife up to a labyrinth of machines and told us to pray hard. I tried to follow instructions. I wanted to daven hard. For a moment, a thought fluttered through my mind that I should partner with Kollel Chatzos, so that the talmidei chachamim should daven for my wife. But immediately afterwards, a louder

voice in my brain countered that I shouldn’t be swept up by the kollel’s ads. I would be better off calling a chashuve mekubal in Yerushalayim, whom would certainly evoke rachamei Shamayim on my behalf. With shaking fingers, I dialed the mekubal and submitted my wife’s name. I could not believe his advice; have a minyan talmidei chachamim learn and daven at chatzos halayla as a zechus for the choleh. I had thought I could figure things out without Kollel Chatzos. But now, I feel like, indeed, Kollel Chatos is the right “ruchniyus hishtadlus.” I look forward to calling Kollel Chatzos, once more, in the near future and share the good news of my wife’s yeshua.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Internet Safety at Shalhevet

rs. Chanie Delman, LCSW, Clinical Director of Madraigos, presented a workshop on Social Media/Internet Safety for the girls of Midreshet Shalhevet on December 2. The students learned the value of taking time to be disconnected, putting their phones in designated “off areas,” and using the downtime for participating in, and developing in, person social interactions skills. In addition to understanding the risks of being overly connected, students were given tools and safety measures to use while engaging on social media and internet. The significance of taking time to consider the impact of sharing information before hitting the send

button was stressed. Mrs. Delman also advised the students on the potential risks posed by cyber-criminals and predators perusing popular social networking sites. The hope is that students will be more cautious and safe while online. Madraigos and Midreshet Shalhevet look forward to working together in the future to provide students with more vital tools for their safety and well-being. For more information about our programs and services, please contact Chanie Delman, LCSW, at (516) 371-3250 x 107 or email cdelman@ madraigos.org.

The Sweetness of Torah

ourth graders in Shulamith School for Girls tasted the sweetness of Torah last week with a “Navi Nosh” celebration. After each celebrant received her first Navi, Lower Division principal Mrs. Joyce Yarmak spoke to the class about what it means to be like Yehoshua, a true leader in klal Yisrael. She encouraged the girls to be strong

and to stand up for what’s right. After Mrs. Yarmak’s inspiring words, students sang Navi songs, ate delicious fruit and cake, and played a game with the places in Eretz Yisrael. We wish the fourth grade success in their learning this year as they get their first sweet taste of Sefer Yehoshua.

Zachor

HAFTR + MoMATH=Math Made Fun

irst grade HAFTR mathematicians explored interactive activities at MoMath, the National Museum of Mathematics. Students were enthralled by the idea that math can be found everywhere in the museum. They noticed that the bathroom sinks were in the shape of hexagons and that the floor tiles were comprised of triangles and rectangles. They were shown that the door handles at the entrance were in the shape of the Greek letter π, a mathematical concept they can look forward to learning about when they are older. Among the popular exhibits were the Hyper Hyperboloid, Human Tree, and Robot Swarm. The favorite exhibit was the Square-Wheeled Trike, where students rode a tricycle with square wheels. Students also attended a workshop led by a museum educator and discovered that tessellations, or infinite tiling patterns, can be found everywhere. They worked together in small groups to construct

O tessellations, using tiles of various shapes. First grader Hudi Kanarfogel commented that she liked the museum because “you can touch things, not like in other museums.”

n Monday, the seventh grade of Shulamith visited the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Battery Park. As they entered the museum, a guide explained the reason for the museum’s full name. As a Living Memorial, the museum is meant to be a reminder of what happened in our history and how we are still here. The girls learned about thriving Jewish communities that existed before the war and that were very much like our own, with yeshivot, shuls, and charitable organizations. They learned about the rise of Nazism in Europe, Nazi propaganda, the timeline of the Holocaust, and religion and resistance

in the concentration camps. They also had the opportunity to view many artifacts of Jewish life from before and after the war. The highlight of the trip was listening to a survivor, Sally Frishberg, as she told of her experiences during the war. Mrs. Frishberg lived with German soldiers and was hidden by Polish Catholics. During her riveting address, Mrs. Frishberg passionately told the girls that she feels it is her duty to share with the world what happened during the war, since she survived and so many others did not. She implored them to remember what they heard and to share it with future generations.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Around the Community

Judge Martin E. Ritholtz to Retire

F R O M

O U R

VOICEMAILS

#24

For nine months, I hunted for a job – desperately, but unsuccessfully. Two days ago, I partnered with Chatzos Kollel. And today, baruch Hashem, I was hired at my ideal job. Y. M. S. Flatbush PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN

Judge Martin E. Ritholtz, after serving 38 years – 21 as a judge in the Queens County Civil Court – is retiring at the end of the year. The judge attended Keren B’Yavneh and learned at Ponevezh Yeshiva and was ordained by Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. He attended Columbia College as an undergraduate. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Law School and is a member of the Israeli Bar and the New York Bar. Judge Ritholtz is the Dean of the Academy of Law of the Queens County Bar As-

sociation and an adjunct professor of Jewish Law at Touro Law School. He is married to Anne (Morah Chana) and the proud father of five children and thirteen grandchildren. He is retiring to make aliyah to Jerusalem. Upon retirement, Judge Ritholtz will be affiliated as Counsel to the distinguished firm specializing in commercial law, Shiboleth, LLP, with offices in Tel Aviv and New York. He also intends to serve as a mediator with Resolute Systems, LLC, located in New York. We all wish him the very best.

SKA’s Thursday Night Tish

SKA Associate Principal Elana Flaumenhaft with ninth graders

he freshmen of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls had a wonderful opportunity to mingle and bond at the TNT (Thursday Night Tish) held on December 1 at the home of ninth grader Tali Kimmel. Delicious hot potato kugel and an abundance of snacks were on the menu, along with Chanukah themed games and an epic candy menorah making contest. This inspiring evening was high-

lighted by the participation of Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft, Associate Principal, who is directly responsible for the academic, emotional, social and religious development of the ninth graders. Grade Level Advisors Mrs. Sheila Leibtag, Mrs. Dani Sudwerts, Mrs. Esti Engel and the grade madrichot also helped make this tish exciting and so much fun. Our thanks go too to Dr. Neera Kimmel and family for their gracious hospitality.

‫לרפואת יצחק‬ ‫בן פערל העניא‬ ‫בתושח״י‬

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Fifth through eighth graders enjoyed a recent Mogen Av ice skating trip

Greetings from the Chatzos Kollel Bais Hora’ah Questions Overheard on the Bais Hora’ah’s Halacha Hotline during the Midnight Hours

Yid called, relating that he just awoke from a terrible nightmare and undertook a taanis chalom for the following day. He wanted to know whether he is permitted to eat until alos or has his fast already begun now. A Yid called immediately after alos, saying that he just realized he forgot to daven Maariv; can he still daven? A Yid was on the road and had to eat something urgently. His only utensil was not yet toiveled. He called to ask whether he may use it anyways. Motzei Purim, two o’clock at

night, a Yid called, saying that he is still drunk, but wants to know if he is allowed to daven Maariv in his shikur state. A Yid called late at night. His wife just gave birth, and he wanted to know whether he should make a bracha of hatov v’hameitiv. The previous Tisha b’Av night, a Yid called in middle of the night, asking whether he could take Tylenol to relieve an excruciating headache. And these exceptional shaylos are interspersed with the many urgent Yoreh De’ah shaylos that must be answered before the following morning…

Midreshet Shalhevet STEM Enrichment Girls Dissect Sheep Eye

aayan Sandowski of Woodmere and Sarah Austin of Long Beach and the rest of the Midreshet Shalhevet Scholars Program students who participate in the STEM Enrichment Class have been learning about the parts of an eye for the last few weeks and culminated this unit with the dissection of a sheep’s eye. They learned about the different parts of the eye and each one’s purpose. After much anticipation, they had the opportunity to apply knowledge and have some fun in the process.

DRS Comes to West Hempstead

ne of the highlights of the DRS year is the Annual West Hempstead Tisch. Nearly 40 boys living in West Hempstead invite over 100 boys from other communities over to their houses for Shabbos – just another example of the incredible achdut that DRS is so famous for. On Friday night, the Schwalbs hosted all 150 boys for an incredible tisch that

featured lively singing, cholent, dancing, and divrei Torah from students and rabbeim. On Shabbos day, the Strauss family hosted all the students over for an inspiring seudat shlishit program with more singing, Torah, and enjoyable food. DRS is proud of its long-standing relationship with the West Hempstead community.

Senator Kaminsky to Host Mobile Office in Lawrence/ Inwood

he office of Senator Todd Kaminsky will host a mobile district office at the Five Towns Community Center on Tuesday, December 20, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. All residents are encouraged to stop by to discuss issues that are important to them. The community center is located at 270 Lawrence Avenue in Lawrence, NY.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Ambassador Bolton and Other Leaders Headline OJC-Jewish Chamber Press Conference to Support Israel at the UN

t was blistering cold in midtown Manhattan on Sunday afternoon as former UN Ambassador John Bolton and other leaders stood outside the UN – in the presence of major national media outlets – urging President Barack Obama and his administration to have Israel’s back during the final weeks of his presidency. Referring to the weather, Mr. Bolton, rumored to be the pick for Undersecretary of State in the Trump administration, quipped, “This is what it feels like for Israel in the UN on a good day.” Ambassador Bolton was joined by Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America; and Dr. Joseph Frager, Odeleya Jacobs, Dr. Paul Brody and Duvi Honig, members of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee, which arranged the news conference. (The conference was sponsored by the Zionist Organization of America and National Council of Young Israel.) Aaron Klein, noted author, radio host and Breitbart News Jerusalem Bureau Chief, traveled in from Israel to address the conference as well. Mr. Honig opened the conference

by thanking Ambassador Bolton for his longstanding support for Israel. He mentioned how Yaakov Avinu prepared to defeat the enemies of his People through tefillah, Mr. Honig recited a kapitel Tehillim followed by the tefillah of “Acheinu” at the podium. Dr. Frager explained that the goal of the press conference was to protect the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel from the castigating of Israel that the UN is infamous for. The conference also served as the official launch of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce’s mission to Israel on January 3rd and 4th, to strengthen U.S.-Israel economic ties. Former governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, among other high ranking officials, business leaders and activists, will participate in the mission. Focusing on the weeks ahead, Mr. Klein of the ZOA cited the “real basis for fear” that the enemies of Israel will utilize these final weeks of the Obama administration to harm Israel at the UN. Specifically, there is the fear that the Obama administration will now support, or at least refuse to veto, UN resolutions that are damaging to Israel

“Trump so thoroughly owns the political stage today that the word Clinton seems positively quaint.” Page 118

– unlike the administration’s policy up until now. Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Ambassador Samantha Power refused to say whether they would go along with a UN declaration of settlements in East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria as “illegal.” According to Wikileaks, senior Obama aides were discussing supporting a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. The administration has also as of late been using harsher than usual language condemning Israeli construction within existing boundaries. Perhaps most concerning have been the recent declaration of support for unilateral Palestinian statehood by former President Jimmy Carter and The New York Times editorial page. “We believe that this is orchestrated,” said Mr. Klein, noting that an official Palestinian delegation is currently in Washington to lobby the administration to support its goals at the UN. Dr. Frager pointed out that approximately 20% of the UN budget is covered by the United States, and our nation therefore has leverage to keep UN anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment in check. “The PA can’t use the UN instead of negotiating,” he explained. He was followed by Aaron Klein of Breitbart who detailed the various potential UN resolutions that may be pushed in the upcoming weeks. They include, among others, unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, a timetable for statehood declaration, or a declaration that Israeli settlements are illegal. “This is almost a sick joke…a diplomatic assault,” said Mr. Klein, detailing the Palestinians’ re-

peated refusal to accept a state at the negotiating table. Ambassador Bolton was the final speaker of the conference, utilizing his impeccable diplomatic pedigree to sound the alarm about the “very far reaching repercussions” that would result from a US abandonment of Israel at the UN. He pointed to the bipartisan U.S. consensus for nearly half a century that a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be imposed by other countries. “It is a fiction that a resolution across First Avenue will lead to lasting peace,” he said. The ambassador and other speakers then took questions from the audience, and expounded in greater detail how virulently anti-Semitic and anti-Israel Mahmoud Abbas and other “moderate” Palestinian leaders, not to mention Hamas, are – making it all the more dangerous if statehood gains momentum at this moment. Mr. Honig concluded by expressing appreciation to President Obama and his administration for their repeated vetoes of anti-Israel UN resolutions in previous years, and other instances of support for Israel. He expressed hope that the administration will continue down that path through its final days. “The enemies of Israel are trying to hijack the UN to harm the Jews,” Mr. Honig summed up. “Don’t get blinded by the hate!” Additional details about the OJC-Jewish Chamber Israel mission schedule and participants will be released in the weeks ahead. For more information, or to participate in or sponsor the mission, please call 212659-5270 Ext. 114 or email events@ ojchamber.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

‫ב”ה‬

Spouses. Parents. Coworkers. Friends. Teachers. Students. e all want and can have relationships that are fulfilling and productive. Join us as we explore the principles of how relationships really work behind the scenes. Regardless of your circumstances, this knowledge can result in lasting resilience.

Sunday, Dec. 18

9:30 AM Coffee and Registration 10 AM-5 PM Seminar

PRESENTERS:

“Whether there is a pressing problem or not, I would implore you to investigate the 3 Principles for yourself. It is an extremely accessible, relevant, and common sense approach to life.” - RABBI MICHEL TWERSKI

Rivkah Kromholz, MA, LMFT

Marriage and Family Therapist, Five Towns TWERSKI WELLNESS INSTITUTE

Rabbi Shaya Sussman, LMSW, CASAC-T & Effie Sussman Social Worker, Five Towns

$95/PERSON | $175/COUPLE Includes refreshments & catered lunch (Kosher Mehadrin)

at Congregation Aish Kodesh 894 Woodmere Pl, Woodmere, NY To RSVP or for more information, please call 516-597-0450 or email kromholz@hotmail.com

Leah Kaess, JD, BCC

Board Certified Life Coach, Five Towns

Yanky & Esty Raskin Founders of Living With Understanding, Brooklyn

Twerski Wellness I NST I T UT E

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

It was a busy week for the students in the fourth grade at the Shulamith Middle Division. In addition to receiving their first Neviim, the girls had some handson experience learning about Native Americans in Mrs. Stephanie Shilo’s class. Working with partners, the girls made posters depicting the lifestyle of the Iroquois and Algonquian people. They quizzed each other about the houses, food, and role of women in the tribes, and some students even made 3D models depicting what they learned!

Shiurim at Sh’eefa

hankfully, Torah is such a central focus in all of our lives. It’s wonderful to listen to a recorded shiur on our way to work, school or home. It’s another thing entirely, though, to take time out of our busy schedule to attend a live shiur, to connect with a teacher, and reconnect with friends. Every Sunday morning and week night, the post-seminary women at Sh’eefa do just that. Take the time to fuel their souls and feed their hearts and minds words of Torah by attending Sheefa’s live shiurim that take place in Aish Kodesh, in Woodmere. Baruch Hashem in our 12th year of inspiring the women of the community, this past month included shiurim by Rabbi Menachem Nissel, Mrs. Jackie Bitton, Mrs. Sara Yocheved Rigler and Mrs. Lara Klein, in addition to a DVD presentation in honor of Rochel Imeinu’s yahrtzeit, featuring Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller and Rebbetzin Tehila Jaeger. November ended with a fantastic shiur and book signing by Mrs. Sara Yocheved Rigler, for her new book, Emunah with Love and Chicken Soup, the story of Rebbetzin Henny Machlis a”h. To begin the new month, the Sh’eefa post-seminary women were honored to hear an inspiring shiur given by Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky. Rabbi Zakutinsky, a noted lecturer,

has the unique ability to synthesize the world of Litvish and Chassidic thought, explaining lofty concepts in a clear and concrete manner, while at the same time always making sure that the audience leaves with the practical application of these ideas to their own personal avodas Hashem. The topic of the shiur was tefillah and what tefillah truly is, beyond the elementary mechanics of how to daven and what words to say. The audience sat spellbound as Rabbi Zakutinsky explained based on a vast array of sources, our dual roles as both servants to Hashem as well as children to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. He then illustrated when and how to express these two relationships during our formal as well as informal tefillos. The women came out of the shiur inspired, as well as empowered with new tools to be able to transform their tefillah into a more meaningful and impactful expression of their connection to the Borei Olam. With Chanukah around the corner, the women at Sh’eefa have a lot to look forward to. A Melave Malka is planned for December 17th, as well as upcoming shiurim with Mrs. Rochel Chafetz, Rabbi Shalom Yona Weiss, and Ms. Chevi Garfinkel. For Sh’eefa’s full December schedule, please visit Sheefa.org, or follow @sheefaseminary1 on Instagram for updates.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

MTA/YUHSB Presents “Inspiring the Next Generation”

n Sunday, December 18, 2016, The Marsha Stern Talmudical Society/Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB) will present a special Yom Iyun (day of learning) titled “Inspiring the Next Generation.” The event is part of a year-long celebration of YUHSB’s centennial. Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks will present the keynote address, along with remarks by YU President Richard M. Joel (’HS68) and YU President-Elect Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman (’HS87). The event will also feature 13 break-out sessions on the effects of technology and social media on spirituality and prayer. The presenters include Rabbi Steven Burg (Director General, Aish HaTorah, ’HS89), Rabbi Yaakov Glasser (David Mitzner Dean, YU Center for the Jewish Future), Rabbi Mark Gottlieb (Senior Director, The Tikvah Fund, ’HS87), Rabbi Yakov Horowitz (Founder and Director, Project Y.E.S.), Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph (YU Senior Vice President), Rabbi Joshua

Kahn (Head of School, YUHSB), Dr. Rona Novick (Dean, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration), Mrs. CB Neugroschl (Head of School, Samuel H. Wang/ Yeshiva University High School for Girls), Rabbi Marc Penner (Max and Marion Grill Dean, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary[RIETS]), Rabbi Daniel Price (Head of School, Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey), Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz (Associate Principal, SAR High School), Rabbi Michael Taubes (Rosh Yeshiva, YUHSB and RIETS, ’HS76), and Rabbi Mordechai Willig (Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS). The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zysman Hall on the Wilf Campus of Yeshiva University, 2540 Amsterdam Avenue. To register, go to www.yushb.org/yomiyun. For sponsorship information, contact Elissa Schertz at 212.960.5223 or elissa.schertz@yu.edu. For more information about YUHSB’s historic 100th year, visit the centennial website at www. yuhsb.org/centennial.

At this week’s Learn & Live Program, R’ Avrohom Sebrow showed lots of color as he presented the melacha of tzoveya. This coming Sunday iy”H will be “Dye Dye Yaynu.” For more information regarding the L&L program, email learnandlivefr@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Around the Community PHOTO CREDIT: HERSCHEL BARON

Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz: 65 Years of Leading the Community

his past Shabbos the White Shul and the Five Towns community celebrated a very special occasion. The shul celebrated the 65 year anniversary of Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz serving as its rav and rabbi emeritus. On Shabbos morning, Rabbi Pelcovitz was called to the Torah accompanied by joyous and extended singing and dancing. All those who were present could feel the outpouring of love for the rabbi on this special occasion. Rabbi Eytan Feiner and Professor Shnayer

Leiman, who served as Scholar-in-Residence for this Shabbos, addressed the congregation with divrei bracha. A gala kiddush followed in the ballroom. Two more lectures were given by Professor Leiman before Mincha and at Seuda Shlishis. To cap off the day, a festive melava malka took place to honor Rabbi Pelcovitz and the Pelcovitz family. An overflow crowd of close to 400 people packed the ballroom including congregants, family members and many rabbis from

the community who came to wish Rabbi Pelcovitz well. Rabbi Pelcovitz addressed the crowd with emotional words of gratitude and divrei Torah. When he was finished, spontaneous dancing and singing broke out surrounding the rabbi and the rebbitzen and continued until late in the evening. All those who attended witnessed a unique outpouring of hakaras hatov from a congregation to its rav and, just as much, in return from a beloved rav to his congregation.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

CHANUKAH SALE An

“Unsung Hero”

of Postwar American Torah Jewry! NEW!

abbi Yechiel Spero brings all his acclaimed storytelling talent to the inspiring life of Rav Yitzchok Sternhell, one of the unsung heroes of the resurgence of Torah in postwar America. In these pages, we meet the luminaries of “Itche Sanzer’s” past — his ancestors, Rav Shmelke of Nikolsburg and Rav Mendel of Rimanov; the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, whose teachings molded him; and the Minchas Elazar of Munkatch, his beloved rebbi. And, of course, we meet — and learn to love and respect — Rav Yitzchok himself. A Holocaust survivor himself, for decades Rav Sternhell was the rav of a Baltimore kehillah initially composed mainly of survivors. He was a man of contrasts: fearless and outspoken and uncompromising when it came to issues of Torah, sensitive and loving and warm to every Jew. Be prepared to be amazed and inspired by the story of this unassuming, modest man, a worldclass talmid chacham, a revered leader, and, always, a builder of Torah.

Bestselling author Sara Yoheved Rigler brings us a brilliant and inspiring biography of one of our generation’s most beloved and unique personalities:

Come and hear

Yemima Mizrachi

Rebbetzin Henny Machlis

speak.

NEW!

enny Machlis was unique: the Brooklynborn girl who became a legend for her

incredible hospitality, boundless love and patience, total dedication to Hashem and His People, and absolute, unwavering emunah. Her apartment in Yerushalayim was a place where miracles were everyday occurrences, where the small living room somehow sat up to 180 guests every Shabbos. Her fascinating life is vividly evoked through Mrs. Rigler’s beautifully written narrative, through the memories and stories of dozens of her friends, children, visitors, the many whose lives she touched and enhanced, and through Henny’s own writings and teachings. Prepare to be amazed. Inspired. And even transformed, as you meet the woman who was called the “Sarah Imeinu of our time.”

abbanit Yemima Mizrachi’s range of Torah sources is absolutely extraordinary — and so is her understanding of the world around us, the challenges we face, the strengths we have (even those we don’t know about!), and the weaknesses that we can also put to good use. As you read through these pages, you will revel in the Rabbanit’s piercing vision into our hearts and minds, and her profound understanding of the Torah’s messages to us. You will learn to better appreciate and love your family, your neighbors, your fellow Jews — and the woman who smiles back at you when you look in a mirror. If you’re one of the tens of thousands of women who have been inspired by Yemima Mizrachi, you will be thrilled to have her words at your fingertips. And if you’ve never heard her… prepare to take an unforgettable journey into life, with the Torah as your guidebook and Yemima as your laughing, loving guide.

The following ArtScroll sefarim are available for your daily learning programs:

The Schottenstein Edition Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi; Yad Avraham Mishnah Series; Schottenstein Edition Mishnah Elucidated; Ryzman Edition Hebrew Mishnah; Kleinman Edition Kitzur Shulchan Aruch; Kleinman Edition Daily Dose of Torah.

Available at your local Hebrew bookseller or at

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

% OFF

list prices

ALL

2,000 TITLES

SALE ENDS JANUARY 2, 2017

Welcome

Rabbi Paysach Krohn

Daniella Silver and Norene Gilletz

into your home!

are back with a new magnificent cookbook!

is back and better than ever!

NEW!

LARGE FORMAT 7”x10”

He is welcomed at every bris. He is remembered at every Seder. He will be the herald of Mashiach.

e all know Abie Rotenberg as a brilliant composer, musician, and lyricist. Now, he takes us on a journey that will bring us a much clearer understanding of one of the most fascinating and puzzling personalities in all of Tanach: Eliyahu HaNavi. Who was Eliyahu? How was he unique? What is his legacy to us? The Sages in the Talmud and Midrash, the commentators on Tanach, and many Torah works discuss the many facets of this enigmatic prophet. In this magnificent volume, Avraham Yom Tov (Abie) Rotenberg explores the riveting episodes of Eliyahu’s life on earth and goes on to paint for us an illuminating, detailed portrait of this unique prophet’s eternal mission.

ollowing the huge success of The Silver Platter, this new release offers Daniella and Norene’s many devoted fans food that is as beautiful to look at as it is healthy to eat and easy to make. So what is the secret of “simple elegance”? It’s not about dozens of hard-to-find ingredients, pricey equipment, and complicated instructions. It’s simply about paying attention to the small details — an unusual garnish, an unexpected ingredient, a touch of flair in presentation. A little thought, a little imagination, and a lot of caring — and you’ve created a stunning dish, in less time than you would have believed possible. 4Over 160 recipes, each with a stunning photo 4Each dish indicates if it’s freezer-friendly for make-ahead cooking 4Full nutritional analysis for every recipe 4Many gluten-free options

abbi Paysach Krohn, the famed “American maggid,” once again lights up our lives. In this, the ninth book in his beloved Maggid series, he celebrates goodness — good people, good deeds, good lessons to be learned. And he does so in stories that are very, very good! Stories of: 4The Kaddish that was worth $500,000... 4The fighter pilot and the man who packed his parachute… 4The flat tire in a Brazilian slum that brought a lost and dying Jew back to her people… In his round-the-world travels, Rabbi Krohn collects stories like other people collect souvenirs. In this brand-new volume, he shares the best of these true tales, captivating us with his warm, witty, and engaging style, and — as always — illuminating our lives.

This Shabbos, Kislev 17: Daf Yomi Bavli – Bava Metzia 82 / Daf Yomi Yerushalmi – Kesubos 11 Mishnah Yomi – Maaser Sheini 4:11-12 / Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yomi – 29:4-10

www.artscroll.com • 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724)

24 74 1. 2.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

TJH

Centerfold

You gotta be

kidding

Johnny and Jimbo are sitting on a park bench in Nebraska talking one night. Johnny says, “Which do you think is farther away: Florida or the moon?” Jimbo answers, “Hellooooooo, can you see Florida?”

Riddle me this? 1. What do planets like to read? 2. How does the man on the moon cut his hair? 3.

How do you organize a space party?

4. How do you get a baby astronaut to sleep? See answers on next page

Out of this World D Because of lower gravity, a person who weighs 200 pounds on earth would only weigh 76 pounds on the surface of Mars. Hey, not a bad weight loss plan…go to Mars!

D Footprints and tire tracks left by astronauts on the moon will stay there forever as there is no wind to blow them away. If my yarmulke would never fly off, when would I ever get to exercise?

D The highest mountain known to man is the Olympus Mons, which is located on Mars. Its peak is 15 miles high, making it nearly 3 times higher than Mt Everest. Now that I’ve climbed Mt. Everest, maybe I’ll tackle that one next.

D Uranus has 27 moons that have been discovered so far. We’d be singing “Tovim meoros…” all day!

D The sun is over 300,000 times larger than Earth. And the size of the sunglasses people wear in the Five Towns is over 300,000 times larger than their faces! D The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable human-made satellite that orbits Earth. It has 2 bathrooms, a gym and more room than a 6 bedroom house. A gym? Gosh, you just can’t get away from those miserable things! D The ISS space station completes 15.5 orbits a day, which means the crewmembers onboard the station experience a sunrise or sunset every 92 minutes. That’s a lot of Instagram photos. D Because of its unique tilt, a single night on Uranus lasts for 21 years. Sign me up!

D The Earth’s revolution time increases .0001 seconds annually. Earth’s therapist: “Remember you have to take baby steps.” D There are approximately 200,000,000,000 stars in the Milky Way. I’m a star and I’ve eaten about 200,000,000 Milky Ways. D When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969, a third astronaut, Michael Collins, stayed in the Apollo 11 and circled the moon alone for a full day. Kind of like the amount of time it takes to circle Central Avenue on a Friday. D The odds of being killed by space debris is 1 in 5 billion. Would certainly be something interesting for the tombstone though: “Johnny was truly unique. He was killed by space debris while playing Russian roulette.”

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Astronaut Attack 1. Aside for being the first American to orbit the Earth, in 1988 John Glenn made history again when he became the oldest person to travel in space. How old was he at the time? a. 52 b. 65 c. 77 d. 82 2. In 1965, on NASA’s first two-man space mission, pilot John Young reached into his spacesuit pocket and pulled out something that he was not authorized to bring on the journey. What was it? a. A corned beef sandwich b. A polaroid camera c. A newspaper d. A tape recorder 3. From which college have the most astronauts graduated? a. UCLA b. MIT c. NASA Community College d. Florida State University 4. Applicants accepted as astronaut candidates report to Houston, Texas, the site of NASA’s primary astronaut training facility, the Johnson Space Center. In their first month of training astronauts have to do the following: a. Sky dive b. Become scuba qualified c. Rock climb d. Maneuver a hot air balloon

5. Which country sent the first satellite to space? a. China b. U.S. c. Russia d. Japan 6. What was the first phrase spoken on the moon? a. “The eagle has landed” b. “Houston, we have a problem” c. “Contact light” d. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” Answers: 1. C 2. A – Young later recalled that he realized it was a bad idea and should have just stuck to the food NASA prepared when “I took a bite, but crumbs of ryebread started floating all around the cabin.” 3. B 4. B 5. C – On October 4, 1957, the Russians launched Sputninik (“traveler” in Russian), scoring the first victory in the race for space. 6. C – Although when Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon he famously said, “That’s one small step…” and that has become the symbolic moment of triumph, the actual first words uttered, when the Apollo 11 landed, was “contact light” during a technical exchange between the astronauts. Wisdom key: 5-6 correct: You should be on the next mission to space! Too bad NASA stopped the program. 3-4 correct: You would certainly be accepted to NASA Community College 0-2 correct: “Uh, Yossi, we have a problem.”

25 75

Answer to Riddle: 1. Comet books; 2. Eclipse it; 3. You planet; 4. You rocket

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Torah Thought

Parshas Vayishlach By Rabbi Berel Wein

he prophet of Israel, describing what can unfortunately be characterized as the usual situation in Jewish life, states that it is comparable to one who flees from the lion and finds oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self in the embrace of a bear. Our father Jacob, who barely escapes from the treachery of Lavan, soon finds himself confronted by the deadly mob of his brother Eisav. Jacob, in his confrontation with

Lavan, chooses the option of flight as he removes himself from the territory controlled by Lavan and his sons. But this option of flight is no longer possible in his contest with Eisav. Jacob is in his own land, the land of his ancestors, the land promised to him personally by G-d Himself, to be his rightful residence. As such, Jacob has nowhere to run. As taught to us by Midrash and quoted by Rashi, his only options

were to stand and fight, to buy Eisav off with monetary tribute, and/or to pray. The option of fleeing does not enter the equation in any fashion. This is perhaps the basis for the wellknown Talmudic dictum severely limiting the right of a Jew to leave the Land of Israel cavalierly. Polish Jewish history, from biblical times to the present, shows us that exile from the Land of Israel on a collective basis never occurred voluntarily. The most mobile, wandering people in the history of civilization never left their homeland of their own volition. In this they were following the example of their father

This is part of the reason for the establishment of the State of Israel and its phenomenal growth and inexplicable stability. Even though it has been provoked by errors of policy and with concessions to its neighbors, it is as though the Jewish people, like their ancestor Jacob, declared that this is where they will make their stand. Prayer is a constant in current Israeli life, even for those who do not deem themselves to be observant of Jewish law and tradition. But in spite of all of the troubles, problems, and the myriad challenges that living in our country poses, flight in a

There are no new undiscovered continents on the face of the globe, no seemingly safe havens left for escape.

Jacob, who never considered fleeing from the Land of Israel in order to avoid the long, expected and dreaded confrontation with his aggressive and volatile brother. In our long and winding road of exile, over the past two millennia, when one country closed down for us because of economic, social or religious reasons, the Jewish people moved on elsewhere. But as we have discovered, we have run out of places to go in the world. There are no new undiscovered continents on the face of the globe, no seemingly safe havens left for escape.

collective sense is a nonexistent possibility. Unable to defeat us militarily or economically, even though diplomatically they have wounded us severely, our enemies openly declare their intent to make us leave our homeland. But that is a very unrealistic policy. The children of Jacob, in the state that bears his name, certainly will follow his example until it finally it brings quieter times and better relations. Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

classicimage.com

ACCOMPLISH MORE EVERY DAY.

Annual State of the Firm Party 2016

JOIN OUR TEAM You’re more than a hard worker. You’re a professional trailblazer, and you deserve to celebrate in style. At the Roth&Co annual event, we raise our glasses to every employee in appreciation of a job well done.

With over 85 employees in our central Brooklyn and Lakewood/Farmingdale locations, Roth&Co is the leading accounting firm for clients across New York and the Tri-State area. To discover where you can go with Roth&Co, email: hr@rothcocpa.com

1428 36th Street Suite 200 Brooklyn, NY 11218 P: 718.236.1600 www.rothcocpa.com

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Observant Jew

Blown Away By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

s autumn turns to winter and we become reflective on the realities of life, one thing is sure: You will never get rid of all the leaves that fell. Though we raked and swept, hired gardeners for a fall clean-up and tried to get rid of them, some crusty brown leaves remain and blow into my garage whenever I open the door. I honestly believe they must be the bearers of some secret energy source designed by the Ribbono Shel Olam to heat us through the cold weather. Hopefully one day soon scientists will figure out how to use them. In the meantime, though, they remain and work their way into crevices and corners, and to fully get rid of them is a futile endeavor. Well, this is the story of one such leaf, which risked life and limb (rather appropriately) to stay in my perception. Usually, leaves on the hood or windshield of my car make a hasty exit when I start driving. Presumably they are jumping off to rejoin their friends on my driveway while planning the garage incursion. Sometimes, I have to wait until I pick up more speed before they blow off. But one leaf wouldn’t go. The faster I drove, the more the little brown leaf waved impishly at me. It would shiver and jump, but it never came off. I realized that the stem of the leaf was wedged into a crevice in the sheet metal where the windshield met the hood, and though most of the leaf was through, the bottom, where the leaf had been connected to the tree, was wider than the crack. That’s why it simply wouldn’t be blown away! As I drove many, many miles at

highway speeds, I would occasionally glance at the little sprig flapping merrily at the corner of my window. It seemed to be speaking to me. Finally, one day I heard what it was trying to tell me. Though the leaf had lost its connection to the tree, and seemed to be at the mercy of the winds, that wasn’t entirely the case. It may have become dry and brittle, but it maintained something of its previous glory. Though the leafy part had decayed, the base of the stem, where it had connected with the tree, was broadened and didn’t break down. That little piece, which may have seemed relatively immaterial at

ples, and beliefs establish a presence within us, like the wide part of the leaf stem, then there are certain lines we simply won’t cross. The stem’s width is a solid part of its growth and all the winds in the world can come and blow with all their strength, but they will be

What enables us, as humans and as Jews, to repel the harsh winds of challenge that hit us head-on in life?

some point, came to the fore at this moment in the leaf’s existence. It’s what held it on my car and enabled it to keep hanging on rather than get blown into autumn oblivion. So what helps us hang on? What enables us, as humans and as Jews, to repel the harsh winds of challenge that hit us head-on in life? I think it’s our roots and our connection to Hashem and the Torah. There is a saying: one who stands for nothing will fall for anything. What enables us to withstand outside forces is a strength that lives inside us. When our morals, princi-

unable to budge it or make it change shape. This is what our faith and trust in Hashem do for us as well. When we learn Torah and work on our relationship with Hashem, it’s like the stem connecting to the tree, constantly taking nourishment. The obvious message, then, is that the more we are connected to Hashem, the more we will be able to stick to our beliefs. But there’s more growth ahead. In my research for this article, I learned something very interesting. Trees contain meristematic cells which contain the DNA information

for creating the tree. These cells are called “undetermined,” because any cell can become any part of the tree. It may point down and become a root, or point up and become a branch, stem, or flower. Essentially, the cells have the possibility of becoming great in any number of ways, and there is no single predetermined path for them. They are not limited to being an acorn instead of an oak tree, and they can be a sturdy branch as easily as a delicate flower. Man is a tree of the field, say Chazal, and within that analogy comes the comparison to these cells. We can become anything, and withstand anything, as long as we ensure our connection to the Tree of Life is strong and we don’t just blow it off. Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/ RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @ RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter. com and put Subscribe in the subject.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Between the Lines

Selecting Sadness By Eytan Kobre

You constructed your depression. It wasn’t given to you. Therefore, you can deconstruct it. - Albert Ellis

any years ago, there was a young Midwestern lawyer who suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He even went so far as to question his life’s calling, writing, I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were

equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on Earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better it appears to me. That Midwestern lawyer was none other than Abraham Lincoln. And, living by the very words he penned, he chose not to die of depression but to live and “be better” – and a lifetime of achievement would vindicate his early bout with depression. Shortly after Yaakov’s sons wreaked havoc on Shechem, G-d appeared to Yaakov twice (Bereishis 35:7 and Bereishis 35:9). Nestled between those two Divine visits, we are told of the passing of Rivka’s wet-nurse, Devora, in one seemingly-incongruous verse (Bereishis 35:8). Since we are told nothing of Devora or her life, it is curious that the Torah would choose to do so here, interrupting G-d’s two visits to Yaakov. As Rivka’s wet-nurse, Devora had raised Yaakov from infancy. Yaakov understandably was overcome with sadness upon her passing, so much so that he named her burial site, “the Oak tree of crying” (Bereishis 35:8). But justifiable as it may have been, Yaakov’s sadness meant that he could not receive G-d’s Divine Presence. The Torah interrupted G-d’s two visits to Yaakov with the news of Devora’s passing to emphasize that there can be no godliness in depression (Seforno, Bereishis 35:8; see also Seforno,

Shemos 19:12). (Similarly, when Yaakov believed his son Yosef had been killed, the Divine Presence left him because he was depressed; it returned only when he learned that Yosef was still alive (Bereishis 45:27; see Zohar 1:180)). Sustained sadness is antithetical to godliness (Chagiga 5b; Zohar, Vayechi 216a). Indeed, “the Divine Presence does not rest amidst melancholy” (Shabbos 30b; Pesachim 117a), nor can prophesy be received while in a state of depression (Rambam, Yesodei HaTorah 7:4; see Moreh Nevuchim 2:36). More practically, this means that one may not pray while despondent (Berachos 31a; Rosh, Berachos 5:2). Learning alone by candlelight late one night, R’ Shlomo of Dvort sensed that someone was seated beside him. R’ Shlomo immediately extinguished the candle and went to bed. When he told his followers what had happened, they were aghast. “How could you have done such a thing? Perhaps that visitor was none other than Eliyahu HaNavi?” “I assure you,” R’ Shlomo guaranteed, “it was not Eliyahu HaNavi. Eliyahu is always happy, and this fellow was melancholy. He must have been some personage from the Other Side (the “evil spirit”), sent to harm me.” Melancholy is more than just a “negative trait” (Pele Yo’etz, Atzvus); it is, in fact, a debilitating “physical disease” (Rabbeinu Yona, Berachos 31a; Vilna Gaon, Mishlei 15:13; Rambam, Shabbos 2:5; Sefer Chassidim 51). “A sad soul,” John Stein-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

beck noted, “can kill quicker than a germ.” Or, as R’ Aharon of Karlin put it, “Sadness is not a sin; but what sadness can bring about, even the great sin cannot bring about.” Inasmuch as we can be held accountable for not serving G-d “with happiness and with a gladness of heart” (Devarim 28:47), happiness and sadness must be matters within our control. Sustained sadness – as opposed to clinical depression – is a matter of choice. R’ Mordechai of Lechivitz had a disciple who was a lumberer. When

again, their fates seemed intertwined – but their responses could not have been more different. Yosef’s family sat around their barren table, bitter over their sorry lot. Dovid’s family also sat around their table, which bore no food but was set ornately with a Shabbos tablecloth and dishes. Dovid’s family was determined not to wallow in their misery; instead, they chose to sing and talk and latch onto whatever joy they could muster. The years rolled on and, thankfully, the material status of both

Sadness, like idolatry, is the product of man’s own handiwork

this disciple lost an entire shipment of expensive wood, he was depressed to no end. The Rebbe summoned him for a stern reprimand. “Our rabbis teach that G-d shares in the sadness of every person. What gives you the right to choose to bring sadness to G-d over the loss of mere lumber?” “Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of man” (Tehillim 115:4). The word for “idols” (“atzabeihem”) can also derive from the word “atzvus” – sadness. Sadness, like idolatry, is the product of man’s own handiwork (Aderes Eliyahu, Vayakhel). Man brings it upon himself, and man can relieve himself of it. Two Holocaust survivors, Dovid and Yosef, met in a displaced persons camp after the war. Both their families had been murdered by the Nazis, ym”sh, and both were shells of their former selves. Together, they made their way to the United States, where they remarried and rebuilt families. Still, they struggled mightily to eke out a living because, as was common at the time, not working on Shabbos also meant not coming back to work at all. One Shabbos, both families simply had no money for food. Once

families improved greatly. Both families looked back at that fateful Shabbos as a turning point. Yosef’s children remembered the sadness; Dovid’s children remembered the unadulterated joy. Yosef’s children questioned the prudence of sacrificing so much for an observant way of life; Dovid’s children hardly felt any sacrifice in leading Torah-true lives. And, before long, Yosef’s children left the fold; Dovid’s children remained true to their faith. All because they had chosen to banish sadness from their hearts that one fateful Shabbos. * * * Sadness doesn’t just happen. We construct it. And, as psychologist Albert Ellis reasoned, if we can construct it, we can deconstruct it. No one and no thing and no circumstance can “make” us despondent. We can choose to confront ourselves with Lincoln’s ultimatum: wallow in our depression or be well and live. As for G-d? He’ll join us only if we do the latter. Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, mediator, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook. com.

Make your next simcha or event

UNFORGETTABLE! with our AMAZING professional

! h t o o b o t o Ph • Green Screen or Custom Printed Background Available • Photo Strips can be Customized for Your Event

ALSO AVAILABLE:

• Video/Slideshow Projection • Sound System • Full Video and Photo Coverage • Professional Design Service • Large Format Printing up to 60” Wide

ALLEVENTMEDIA.COM 347-PHOTO-25

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

‎My Israel Home

Jerusalem’s Streets Rechov Hakablan By Gedaliah Borvick

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt’l with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

very time my brother-in-law visits Israel, we grab a few hours – and a few books about Jerusalem’s neighborhoods and streets – and off we trek to different sections of Jerusalem to learn about the people whom the streets were named after. This is the second installment in a series of articles discussing the streets of Jerusalem and the stories behind their names. One of the major streets in Har Nof is Hakablan, which means The Contractor or The Builder. Who is this builder? Yitzchak Abud Levi was born in 1906 and lived until 1981 and was one of Jerusalem’s largest builders. Beyond these very basic facts, there exists precious little information about Abud Levi, as he successfully maintained his anonymity throughout his life. It is therefore somewhat perplexing why they named a street after him. Another unsolved mystery is why they named it Hakablan

and not Yitzchak Abud Levi Street, although one can argue that that this secretive name fits well with his very private nature. As an aside, the Abud Levi family must have been awfully influential, as Al”ar Street in Jerusalem’s Talpiot Mizrach neighborhood is named in memory of Rachamim Abud Levi, another builder, who was probably Yitzchak’s brother or cousin. Ironically, Hakablan has become one of Jerusalem’s most famous streets, because half of the Knesset’s Shas party members live along this block. The magnet that attracted them was Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l who lived in a modest apartment on the street. Rav Yosef was one of the giants of the last generation, a towering halachic authority, former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, and founder and longtime spiritual leader of the Shas party. To understand the impact that Rav Yosef had on the nation, consider that half a million

View from Rechov Hakablan

people – with some estimates closer to one million people – attended his funeral three years ago, representing the largest gathering of people in the country’s history. There are countless fascinating stories about Rav Yosef that provide insights into his personality and his priorities. Let me share with you one story that underscores Rav Yosef’s love and compassion for every member of the Jewish nation. When Rav Ovadia Yosef was in his early eighties, he suffered a heart attack and the doctors decided that they needed to perform surgery immediately. Rav Yosef pleaded to postpone the surgery for three hours and be taken home. After the surgery, Rav Yosef revealed that he suffered his heart attack while writing a responsa for an aguna (a woman who is in a position where it is unclear if she is still considered married according to Jewish law). Rav Yosef feared that if he died on

the operating table, the woman may not find a rav who would permit her to remarry. He therefore felt obligated to finish the responsa before undergoing surgery. Understandably, many Jerusalemites have been lobbying to change the name Hakablan Street to Harav Ovadia Yosef Street, and there is a strong possibility that this will occur sooner than later. However, in truth there may not be a better name to memorialize Harav Yosef than Hakablan, as he truly was one of the great builders of the Jewish nation.

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 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Recently,

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman New Leadership for a New Era of Y.U. BY TAMMY MARK

“Yeshiva University is the product of over a hundred years of devoted work and three millennia of Jewish experience, and I am deeply humbled to follow in the path of the illustrious Jewish leaders who have served as its president.”

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman was named the fifth president of Yeshiva University. A 46-year-old former pulpit rabbi, Rabbi Berman will succeed President Richard M. Joel, who has held the post since 2003. The appointment of Rabbi Berman was announced in November by the university’s Board of Trustees after a two month vetting process. He will officially begin his term beginning in July 2017. Rabbi Berman served as the rabbi of The Jewish Center, a Modern Orthodox congregation in the heart of New York City before making aliyah with his wife Anita and family in 2008. The Bermans will be relocating back to the New York area for the new position. Raised in Forest Hills, Queens, Rabbi Berman was infused with both a strong sense of community service and a love for Israel. His parents Rosalie and Tobias were long-standing members of Young Israel of Forest Hills, where Tobias served as president, and were active members of the Jewish community in general. They currently reside in Israel as do Rabbi Berman’s two siblings. Uncle Rabbi Julius Berman is a member of the Board of Trustees of Y.U. and a respected lay leader in the American Jewish community, having served in a leadership capacity at many organizations. Rabbi Berman is a Y.U. alumnus through and through. He attended Y.U. High School for Boys, received a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva College, earned a master’s degree in Jewish philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He graduated from all with distinction, earning honors for his work in both secular and Judaic studies. Always proud of the distinctiveness of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Berman is committed to furthering its longstanding mission. “Our interconnected system of Judaic studies programs, undergraduate schools, high schools and graduate

schools offers a vast array of religious and intellectual resources, and we will continue our work of formulating an educational program that uniquely speaks to the opportunities and needs of the contemporary Jewish student and the broader Jewish community.” Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Rabbi Berman, a top student who was on a trajectory towards law school, decided instead to pursue the rabbinical path. As a newly married couple, he and his wife Anita spent two years in Israel where he continued his semicha studies at Y.U.’s Gruss Kollel campus in Jerusalem. In 1994, the young family returned to New York where Rabbi Berman became rabbinic intern at The Jewish Center, a vibrant Upper West Side congregation. As the family established themselves in the community, Rabbi Berman went on to hold the positions of assistant rabbi and associate rabbi under Rabbi Jacob J. Schachter. Rabbi Berman was the founder of The Jewish Center Young Leadership minyan. He eventually assumed the role of senior rabbi in 2000, serving as the sixth rabbi of The Jewish Center. During his time at the helm of the prominent congregation, Rabbi Berman left his mark on the growing community. He worked hard to balance the vast and varied needs and nuances of an Orthodox community that was steeped in tradition and committed to welcoming modern singles, young couples and new families of the Upper West Side community. He was successful at enriching and expanding the synagogue in many areas including membership, programming and community outreach. The Jewish Center has always had strong Y.U. connections. While at the pulpit, Rabbi Berman simultaneously taught rabbinical studies at the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program at Yeshiva College. Former rabbi, Rabbi Norman Lamm, served as Y.U.’s president from 1976 to 2003. Rabbi Schachter currently serves as resident scholar at The Center for the Jewish Future

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

at Yeshiva University and the current rabbi, Rabbi Yosie Levine, is an alumnus of Columbia University and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Though passionate about the Jewish Center congregation and happily rooted in the Upper West Side community, the Bermans made the decision to move their family to Israel. Embarking on a lifelong dream, they left the hustle and bustle of New York City and Central Park for the mountains of Neve Daniel in the Gush Etzion region. While the Bermans and their five children established themselves in their new community, Rabbi Berman immersed himself in learning and teaching. He spent much of his time studying, writing and completing his PhD in Jewish Thought, focusing on the Philosophy of Halacha, at The Hebrew University.

Following the completion of his degree, Rabbi Berman was appointed Rosh Ha-Mercaz of Hechal Shlomo, a Jewish heritage center in the heart of Jerusalem and an affiliate of Herzog College, the largest Religious Zionist teacher’s college in Israel. In addition to his responsibilities at Hechal Shlomo, Rabbi Berman is also a lecturer in rabbinic literature in the college and was selected to sit on its Executive Council. For all of his tremendous academic prowess, Rabbi Berman also possesses a geniality and relatability that helps him connect with laymen and leaders alike. Throughout his time in Israel, Rabbi Berman stayed in close contact with the greater Jewish community, lecturing around Israel and the Diaspora. He delivers a well-received annual Shabbat Shuvah and Shabbat Hagadol lecture to the

broader Jerusalem community at The Yeshurun Central Synagogue, co-sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, and has kept a public footprint and a connection to his Y.U. roots through his lectures on Y.U. Torah. Though his family is flourishing and is as passionate as ever about living in Israel, Rabbi Berman realized the unique opportunity that was presented to him. Upon his return to Yeshiva University, he embraces both the possibilities and the challenges that may lie ahead, personally and professionally. “Re-imaging the Yeshiva University of tomorrow is one of the great Jewish endeavors of our generation. Our success will not just shape the future of the Orthodox community but also impact on the global Jewish community as well as society at large,” he says. With Y.U.’s ardent commitment

to excellence in both religious and secular studies, Rabbi Berman recognizes the central role that the University has played, and continues to play, in Jewish life and the broader society. As he prepares for his new role, Rabbi Berman is unmistakably optimistic about the possibilities ahead. “Our goal as one of the premier Jewish educational institutions in our time and in Jewish history is to lead our community forward into the next era, building a vibrant, dynamic Yeshiva University that is responsive and responsible to the Jewish experience in our times,” believes Rabbi Berman. “Anyone who cares about the future of Jewish life, who is rooted in our past and dreams and aspires for a greater Jewish future should not only be rooting for our success but also join the effort to help us move forward.”

dpyeil dxhr xifgdl

Charidy event EvEry $1 is QuadruplEd!!

raising

0 0 0 , 0 0 5 $ in

! 24 hours

Join us at ElitE café 72-28 Main street Kew Gardens hills

enjoy great food on us! Stop by, bring a friend, & help us reach our goal as we continue growing stronger!

#Mttstrongertogether

tuesday deCeMber 20 th 6 - 11 PM

umbrelladesigns1@gmail.com

Metivta tiferet torah

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Deb

The Risks of Being Real By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

he specifically wanted hypnosis to dig up past, painful memories. She knew I practiced hypnosis (I’m on the Milton Erickson website, nyseph.org) and thought that was a shortcut to access what she could not remember. But I don’t work that way. I don’t look at people the way you look at cars – fiddle around with some parts, replace others, and then you’re fine. People are not the sum total of their symptoms! So I told her I would have to get to know her first. And I learned that she had a painful childhood and it wasn’t much ameliorated by her adulthood. And the truth was that there was a part of her that really didn’t want to access all that painful stuff. Who would want to, anyway? And people don’t have to – unless painful but vague memories are getting in the way of daily functioning. Well, in this case, that seemed to be happening. Still, we needed to get to know each other before I would plunge into doing hypnosis. But one day, this person burst into my room,

pretty annoyed with herself. The part of her that had wanted to plunge into the darkness – the rational, successful professional that she was – did not like the self-defeating and self-deprecating behaviors of the part of her that was still reacting to her painful past and decidedly did not want to go there. In other words, she was torn. And with good reason. When you unpeel the layers of defenses that we use to protect ourselves from feeling pain, we, well, we feel pain. And not only that. What I’ve been learning – what my clients are teaching me – is that defenses themselves feel good. So not only do they protect us from pain but they give us a kind of artificial high. Take anger for instance. Or sarcasm, a close cousin. Or the decision to stare at the computer screen instead of engaging. Three different people in one week told me that it makes them feel good to be in a position to do any of these things. Ugly as these behaviors are, they have an aura of power to them:

“I’m choosing this!” they seem to say. “I’m in control!” “I’m in charge!” They give the illusion of strength, control, and calm. Okay, anger does not feel calm. But there is plenty of calm after it’s over. And that calm feels very good. Of course the person you got angry at does not feel calm later on; on the contrary, the anger transferred all the nervous energy from the angry person to the recipient. Three people in one week very honestly told me that they do not want to feel the vulnerable feelings of despair, sadness, confusion, helplessness, guilt, or even compassion. Those are dangerous feelings! Those people believed that feeling such feelings will send them into a place from which they cannot emerge whole. And I totally understand that. That is exactly what it seems like it will be when you are willing to drop your defenses. That’s scary. When you look at it that way, there is no choice: Drop my defenses and be at the mercy of horrible emotions or keep my defenses and lie to myself

that I am powerful, in control, and very happy. What’s the choice, here?

EXCEPT IT’S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL It only seems that way. And it makes sense that it does. Defenses didn’t just pop out of nowhere. They developed in the hearts and souls of small children who desperately needed them to survive whole and intact in a painful world of grownups who were so much more powerful than they were. They were brilliant coping strategies on the part of defenseless children who needed something. In a hurry. To survive. Literally, to survive. According to the Center for Disease Control, “suicide is the third leading cause of death among persons aged 10-14, the second among persons aged 15-34 years.” From that perspective, it makes total sense that it would be utterly terrifying for any adult to contemplate dropping her or his defenses. Continued on page 88

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

But that is because each of these terrified people does not realize that he or she is now an adult, an adult with other options that work even better than defense mechanisms do. The other option is being real.

BEING REAL Being real may entail some pain. So what? We’re big now. We’re not little kids. We can handle feeling sorry because we made an honest mistake. We can handle grief at a loss. We can handle recognizing that we didn’t always make the best choices. We can handle facing the unknown because, when we’re honest with ourselves, we know that we don’t know anything. It’s all okay. It’s all called Life and we really can handle all of this. The pain is just a twinge for a grownup. It’s not devastating like it is for a child. And the reward is huge. The person you will be most connected to is yourself. I understand that is exactly what is scary. You may be afraid to connect to feelings about

yourself that are less than stellar. And if that is your fear, then turn to a trusted friend or a therapist for honest and realistic feedback. Because 99% of the “terrible” things that a person is afraid to face in himself or herself were normal and human. You got angry? Okay, you’re forgiven. It happens. I know you’re trying and that’s what counts. You spoke less than diplomatical-

Someone is constantly blaming you for something and you feel less than an inch high? Well, that is their problem, not yours. You made a mistake; you apologized; you did not know better at the time; now it is time for them to move on. You can see that the real problem with giving up your defenses – being real – is the fear of getting down on yourself, browbeating yourself.

The essence of being human is making mistakes.

ly to your boss? You are smart and you will figure out a way to make it up to him or her, if they even remember the incident. You hurt someone’s feelings? Okay, you can apologize from the heart. It, too, is human.

But you shouldn’t. The essence of being human is making mistakes. We were put here as imperfect, and to complicate matters, Adam and Chava went and clouded up the picture even more. So it’s not our fault! It doesn’t mean we get a free pass

for making mistakes. Obviously, we have to learn something from those experiences. We have to feel sorry ; we have to make plans to handle things differently; we have to apologize. But then we have to move on. On the reward side, the person you will next be most connected to is your spouse. And speaking of Adam and Chava, your spouse, as you already know, is the next most important person in the world. And sometimes, when you approach your spouse from the place of being your real self, without all the defenses, they will actually have compassion on you for the turbulence within you. And that may just make up for the fake power that you gave up when you dropped your defenses.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com. All scenarios and stories depicted in this column are fictional.

LOSING WEIGHT

CAN TASTE GREAT! • with 2500mcg of Biotin • Natural colors and flavors Curb appetite while increasing healthy sheen to hair, improving skin vitality and strengthening nails*

866-727-2483

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

The Weight Loss Battle for Nursing Mothers By Aliza Beer MS, RD

“T

he weight will just melt right off once you start nursing” is a common phrase frequently heard by many pregnant women. Losing weight is often a concern for new mothers once the baby is born, and believing that there is a magic, quick fix can be a comforting thought as the pounds start to accumulate during pregnancy. Unfortunately, this notion that pregnancy weight will disappear when a woman starts nursing is a misconception that can lead to disappointment. While research shows that breastfeeding may help some new moms lose weight, it definitely is not guaranteed, and should not be solely relied upon for shedding the extra pounds. As far as calories go, breastfeeding burns around 400-600 extra calories a day. This can make it easier for some women to lose weight, since additional calories are being used and burned up. For some new mothers, just sitting comfortably and nursing their infant can help them drop most of the weight they gained during pregnancy! When compared to new mothers who are not breastfeeding, this may be an advantage in weight loss since postpartum women who are not breastfeeding have to rely on diet and exercise alone, without the additional boost of calorie burning that nursing

provides. However, it is important to note that breastfeeding often requires a woman to consume more calories to match the energy required for producing her milk supply. Additionally, nursing can increase feelings of hunger, which can easily be satisfied with quick, but not-always-healthy, snacks in a new, exhausted mother. Therefore, it is possible for women to not lose as much weight as desired or even much weight at all from nursing alone. There are many nursing mothers that even gain weight while nursing! One reason is that they are typically very hungry and are eating too much. Another reason is that the body is hoarding the fat as a way of ensuring that there will be sufficient fat storage to feed this baby should there be a war or famine and the mother might not have access to enough food. That is not to say that a nursing mother should try to cut down on necessary calories or actively try to diet on her own. Dieting under the care of a physician and/or nutritionist will help ensure the baby’s milk is not compromised. It is essential to consume an adequate amount of calories for a healthy milk supply and cutting back may lead to a depletion of breast milk supply and directly impacts the baby’s proper growth. These extra calories, however, should

not be consumed in the form of sugary snacks and fast foods. Just as in pregnancy, consuming high quality calories is vital to providing healthy nutrition for your baby and also helps in maintaining a healthier weight and healing your body postpartum. Snacking on low-fat yogurt with fruit and nuts is a great source of protein, calcium, vitamin D, and healthy fats and is a better option than a bag of chips or a doughnut, which essentially provide nothing but empty calories. Sticking to high fiber-rich grains, cereal, and bread will be much more filling and nutritious than their white counterparts. Try eating steel cut oats, high fiber non-sugary cereal, Ezekiel bread, brown rice cakes, sweet potatoes, and quinoa. Avocado is a super healthy fat that will be very satiating for a hungry nursing mother. Eat lean beef; it’s iron-rich and a good source of B-12, which will help with energy levels. Snack on at least 2 servings of fruit a day; nursing mothers require more vitamin C than pregnant women. As always, a proper diet combined with exercise is the key to success in healthy weight loss. While intense, vigorous exercise is not recommended right after birth, some light exercise (of course after a doctor’s approval!) will assist with weight loss. Begin-

ning with a walk around the block or some light weightlifting can be a great springboard for slowly getting back into a healthy workout routine and will definitely help shed the extra pregnancy weight. Moreover, always keep in mind that exercising does more than just burn fat. The added bonus of boosting one’s mood, increasing energy levels, and relaxing a new, probably overwhelmed, mother are equally important and rewarding. Lastly, it is also important for new moms to go easy on themselves and be patient. An entire pregnancy and labor is very taxing on the body and it may take longer than expected to bounce back. Instead of focusing on how far you have to reach your goal weight, focus on how far you have come and write down daily accomplishments, such as “walked for 10 minutes,” “lost a pound,” or “stuck to a healthy diet.” Make sure to focus on adjusting to the exciting life changes, eat healthfully, and maintain a confident and positive attitude.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@ gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

i can i will

h c t a w me!

s ls Group l i k S l a i c ering So ocations L Now Off n i a M r in all ou

Helping Children With An Autism Spectrum Diagnosis, Learn New Skills & Reach Their Full Potential Turning ordinary moments

INTO PROUD MOMENTS

SERVICING NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, CONNECTICUT, BALTIMORE & SURROUNDING AREAS NEW YORK CITY: 1449 37TH STREET SUITE #300 BROOKLYN, NY 11218

718.215.5311

SYRACUSE: NEW JERSEY (PASSAIC): 615 S MAIN ST. 185 PASSAIC AVENUE UNIT 7 NORTH SYRACUSE, NY 13212 PASSAIC, NJ 07055

315.452.0427

973.210.9040

NEW JERSEY (LAKEWOOD): 608 EAST 8TH STREET LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701

QUEENS/LONG ISLAND: 333 PEARSALL AVE. CEDARHURST, NY 11516

STATEN ISLAND: 49 DEWHURST STREET STATEN ISLAND, NY 10314

WATERBURY: 65 CABLES UNIT 2 WATERBURY, CT 06710

BALTIMORE: 6502 WICKFIELD ROAD BALTIMORE, MD 21209

732.400.9004

516.213.3338

718.737.8145

718.215.5311

410.205.2315

CALL TODAY TO START ABA SERVICES FOR YOUR CHILD!

718.215.5311

INFO@PROUDMOMENTSABA.COM

NYC CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

weekly

speci

Store Hours:

12/18/16 - 12/23/16 Sunday - Friday Su: 7-7 Mon: 7-8 Tu: 7-8 We: 7-8 Th: 7-10 Fri: 7-2:30

1913 Cornaga Avenue • Far Rockaway • T. 718.471.7555 F. 718.471.9102 E. orders@frankelskosher.com

Fridge -Freezer Freund's

Check Out Our Awesome

Frankelskosher.com

Chanukah Display ls Here Are Some Pre Chanukah Specia Lieber's

Olive Oil Chanukah 30 Oz.

6 Oz.

1.99

4.99

Gefen

Lieber's

Apple Sauce

Pomace Olive Oil

Regular/Natural 46-48 Oz.

34 Oz.

2.99

Lieber's

Chanukah Jellies

Candy Filled

Small: $.99 LG: 2/$3.00

1.99

Friendship

Chumus

Fillet Steaks

Chicken Cutlets

Boneless

44 Ct.

WOW!

14.99

3.95Lb

Meat Department Chicken Cutlets

Beef Stew

Family Pack

Chicken Bones

Family Pack

3.95Lb

7.99Lb

Alan's Bakery

2.59Lb

La Yogurt

Cholov Yisroel

Mehadrin

Golden Flow

64 Oz.

All Varieties Wow! 7 Oz.

Mixed Vegetables

Special order? Call Alan's bakery at 718.468.1243 And have your order ready for pickup at Frankel's (please give two days notice on all special orders)

Email:Ordersfrankels@Gmail.Com

Fish

Gift Box

Clementines

Fruity And Cocoa Pebbles Cereal 11 Oz.

2.99

Kellogg's

Rice Krispies Cereal 9 Oz. Box

2.99

3.49

2/$5.00

5/$5.00

3/$4.00

Givat

Mehadrin

Tropicana

Haolam

Mendelsohns

12 Pk

All Varieties 59 Oz.

Sliced 6 Oz. Pkg

Chocolate Leben

11.99

Yogurt

Orange Juice

16 Oz.

Muenster Cheese

2/$7.00

Pizza Bagels 6 Pk

2.99

3.49

WOW!

6.66Lb

we now accept

Gallon

7.99

Flour 5 Lb. Bag

2/$5.00

Ronzoni

Nestle

Don Pepino

B&G

Ziti/Rotini/Spaghetti #8/Elbows 1 Lb. Box

Packets Rich Milk Chocolate

15 Oz. Can

7.99

32 Oz. Jar

Hot Cocoa

Pizza Sauce

0.99

Kool Aid

Honey Roasted Peanuts

Bursts All Varieties 6 Pk

12 Oz. Can

1.99

3/$3.00

Kosher Dill Pickles

4/ 5.00

Krasdale

Family Pack Boneless

House Blend 7 Oz. Jar

Hecker's

Canola Oil

4/ 5.00

Fillet Steaks

Crisco

Pasta

4.99

Taster's Choice

Instant Coffee

5.55

5 Lb. Crate

Cereal Post

2.99

2/$1.00

One Gallon Cs. Of 6

Free Coffee in store

Salmon Fillet

2.79

2/$1.00

Water

Free Parking

Now Available Fresh Daily At Frankel's

All Varieties 8 Pk

Milk

Crystal Geyser

FLOWERS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SHABBOS!!

At Frankel's… come in Thursday and Friday and choose from the enormous selection of fresh challahs and cakes

Cuties

Reg/Lowfat 16 Oz.

All Varieties

2/$5.00

Fresh Daily

Fruit Rollups

Dole

Rye Bread

Fruit Cups

All Varieties 10 Pk

All Varieties 4 Pk

2 -Lb. Loaf

2.49

2.75

2/$5.00

Produce Slicing Tomatoes

Spanish

Two Ways To Enjoy Alan's Bakery

Cottage Cheese

8 Oz. Whipped Plain

Grocery

Family Pack

0.99Lb

Cream Cheese

Tofutti

All Varieties

Top Quality Meat & Poultry And Amazing Super Specials!!!

Chicken Legs

Givat

2/$3.00

Glatt Kosher

5.99

Givat

Yocrunch

Yogolite

WOW!

6.66Lb

1.79

2/$5.00 All Varieties

And Much More!!

Pre-Made Chanukah Lites

Family Pack All Varieties 12 Oz.

Sliced Turkey

All Varieties 16 Oz.

Yogurt

Major Deals Family Pack

16 Oz.

Sour Cream

0.65

Family Pack

Tirat Zvi

All Varieties 10 Oz.

Tiferet

Haddar

Whipped Topping

2/$5.00

Sabra

Free Delivery!!

Dreidels

6 Pk

5.99

And On Frankelskosher.com We Still Offer

4.49

Mini Potato Latkes

Original Loaf

• Quick And Easy Online Shopping • Get Frankel’s Everyday Low Prices In Addition To Frankel’s Amazing Special Prices • Quick Delivery Service… You Choose Your Time • Download The Mobile App

Ohr

Potato Pancake Mix

Kineret

Gefilte Fish

Onions

5x6

0.49Lb

0.95Lb

Idaho

Potatoes 5 Lb. Bag

Sunripe

Grape Tomatoes

3/$5.00

Super X Lg

Dole

Gala

Domestic

Honeydews

Cole Slaw Bag

2.99Ea

3/$5.00

Apples

0.88Lb

For Only

Red Peppers

1.25Lb

Sushi!

Get Two Fresh Pizza Pies

Wow!

1.25Ea

Now Available Fresh Daily At Frankel's

21.99*

*Pizzas Must Be Ordered And Picked Up From Avi's Pizza *Price Available With $25.00 Purchase

Perfect For Lunch, Dinner, Or Just An Afternoon Snack!!

Household Post

Golden Crisp Cereal 14.75 Oz.

3.49

Kellogg's

Froot Loops

Bounty

Towels

Cereal 17 Oz.

3.99

Ner Mitzvah

Memorial Tins

Silk Touch

Tissues 130 Ct

Cold Cups 7 Oz. 100 Ct

Yahrtzeit

5/$5.00

5/$1.99

0.55

0.95

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Dating Dialogue

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

I’ve always been told that I’m very mature. From the time I was young, I’ve always felt mature. When I first started dating, I was 19-years-old and was being set up with men who were anywhere from 21- to 23-years-old. And even though some of them were four years older than me, I always came home from a date feeling as though the guy I was out with was very immature and that they couldn’t truly relate to me and I couldn’t relate to them. Though shidduchim didn’t work out over the years for other reasons as well, the most consistent reason for me not saying yes to a second date was because of this very reason, a feeling of disconnect, that I was light-years ahead of the person I was out on a date with. Without going into details, I did have certain challenges at home growing up and I have no doubt that this impacted me tremendously and forced me to grow up very quickly. Right now I’m 25-years-old and the calls have slowed down tremendously for potential shidduchim. A few months ago, a neighbor of mine mentioned a guy she knew who was recently divorced, no children but 39-years-old. I was shocked that she would even think to set me up with such a guy. The details of the divorce made it sound as though he was the innocent party and since he had no children, I felt I could overlook it. However, the age difference really threw me for a loop! Thirteen years is a big difference. I thanked my neighbor for thinking of me but told her that I was not interested. A few weeks after that a shadchan I had been in touch with called me up to talk about the same guy. She felt that despite our age difference, we would really hit it off. Again, I was put off and said, “No, thank you.” Last week I ran into an old friend form high school who I haven’t seen in ages. We got to talking and she mentioned that she has a cousin who she thinks might be a good idea for me. She started describing him to me and it was the same guy! At this point I’m thinking to myself that if three different people have the same instinct about setting us up, maybe I should overlook the very large age difference. I always said to myself that I would go out with men who are up to eight years older than me. I’m now struggling with whether I should be more open-minded. What does the panel think about a 14 year age difference and whether I should just go for it or if it’s over the top.

Dear Navidaters,

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.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Panel

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. oing out with someone is just that. Going out. It’s not a commitment to marry the person. It seems from your query and your beginning paragraphs that you think you are mature and have handled challenges in your life which have given you a developed perspective. You seem to want to meet this man since it was suggested by several people. So go out with him and get to know him. On the basis of a long dating process, self-examination and discussions with him and with your mentors, you can decide whether the chemistry, compatibility and depth of the relationship are strong enough to merit a lifetime commitment and the implications of aging at different times. You will ask yourself after several dates what it is about him that appeals to you and why. You will ponder it, discuss it, test it, and confer with others that have earned your trust. But that’s for later, not for now. Date him if you like but be sure to keep in mind that you will have to go slowly and especially deeply with this one since there are the differences of age and marital experience. And don’t forget to check out from other people (such as rabbis and neighbors), who really know what happened with his first marriage.

The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A.

irst and foremost: Do not confuse age and maturity. They are two constructs – one objective (your age), one subjective (your level of maturity). You refer to yourself as mature for you age – someone seeking a mature partner. Enter the potential suitor – can’t know if he’s mature but he certainly is older – way older – fourteen years to be exact. In today’s years, the age gap between a 25-year-

old woman and a 39-year-old guy is a generation, akin to you marrying your parent or your parent’s friend. According to a sociologist/psychologist, people in their “Trying Twenties” are just embarking in life – seeking a foothold in a career, choosing a life partner, making choices from a perspective of “I’ve got my whole life ahead of me.” In other words, your choices are powered by optimism and a million possibilities. In contrast, a man turning forty is feeling that sudden time-squeeze. He’s already been through a failed marriage and may be feeling his life is half over. Like many his age, he may be experiencing the first signs of physical decline. His perspective may be “Will I have the time to do it all?” So even if marrying Uncle Henry has a special allure, even if ten shadchanim had the same brilliant idea, Mr. 39-Year-Old Divorcee is not for you. Hold fast to you twenty-something optimism and believe there is a younger, more mature man out there who seeks a young, bright, put-together woman with enough spunk and spirit to help him realize him dreams.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

hile you may find yourself in a perplexing and unconventional situation, you are not the first to encounter this question. After the war, many newlywed couples had wide age gaps; nevertheless, we still have happily-married bubbies and zeides, with wonderful generations that blossomed from those marriages. In fact, my husband’s grandparents were exactly 14 years apart! While a 14 year age gap sounds unconventional, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be done nor that it hasn’t been done in the past. Based on your past experiences, it might be the right fit for you. There is no one-size-fits-all an-

swer to the question of age gaps in a relationship. It seems like you have been trying to date within the usual man/woman age gap for years with no success due to your feelings of disconnect of maturity levels. You know yourself better than anyone; perhaps you need someone with a more mature outlook on life and who has undergone life experiences and learned from them. The man you describe sounds like he fits the bill. As you seem to have realized, it isn’t coincidence that three people close to you independently thought of this match. I’d advise you to go out with him – you might be pleasantly surprised. Agreeing to a first date is not a lifelong commitment! You might just realize that he is the man for whom you’ve been waiting for all these years. I wish you much hatzlacha with this shidduch!

In the long run, numbers don’t mean a thing.

The Single Tova Wein ’ve certainly dated a lot and I can tell you for a fact that someone’s age is just a number and really, often, not a lot more. I’ve gone out with men who were significantly older than me and still very unsettled and lost, and I’ve even gone out with a few men who were younger than me and nevertheless quite mature. I think it’s more about a person’s life experiences and overall personality

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

that really counts the most. The fact that three different people thought of this unlikely match tells me that there is something about the two of you that seems to make sense to these people

and therefore they are going out on a limb and suggesting a shidduch that can easily turn a lot of women off. But there must be something brewing here!

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

My suggestion is that you definitely check it out. I’m sure you’ve gone out on plenty of dates that were duds. If it is no good, it won’t be the first time you had to get through a difficult date. But I encourage you to keep your mind open to the possibility that it could be great and keep your mind off the actual numbers. In

As people see 40 on the horizon, they simply don’t always share that brighteyed, bushy-tailed perspective on life.

the long run, numbers don’t mean a thing!

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

o…Rebbetzin Horowitz, Michelle Mond and Tova Wein give you the green light to go out with this guy and explore the possibility of a relationship with an older man, while Sarah Schwartz Schreiber thinks it would be wise to hold out for a man closer to your age. My advice is to proceed with caution. If you genuinely feel that past relationships haven’t worked out because you are light years ahead of the guys your age, then it wouldn’t be outrageous to meet this older man. The caution I referred to earlier is being hyper-aware of the differences and potential difficulties that a 13 or 14 year age gap may naturally bring. People will have different reactions to going out with someone 13/14 years their senior. Some will believe that age is just a number and it shouldn’t hold someone back from pursuing a potential love connection. I’m sure there are couples with significant age gaps reading this column who would tell you, “Go for it! Best decision of my life!” while there are other couples with significant age gaps who would tell you, “The difference in years has been an issue between us.” So, this is one of those situations where you can’t listen to anyone else and you are just going to have to trust your gut when it comes to deciding whether you

should get the ball rolling. What does your gut tell you? If you do decide to go out with him and find yourself developing feelings, here is a list of things you may want to keep in mind… Energy level – Can he keep up with me? Yes, he is 39 and not 79. However, he may have less energy than you do. He also may have more energy than you. He may be the youngest 39-year-old around. I can’t say. Can you tolerate having more energy than your husband? Life Perspective – In your twenties, you may feel that you have your entire life ahead of you. You hopefully feel optimistic and want to get the most out of each day. You may be building a career, in school, looking forward to having a large family. The twenties can be such an exciting time! (Yes, also filled with fraught and worry… you are human after all, but a general sense that my life is waiting for me!) As people see 40 on the horizon, they simply don’t always share that brighteyed, bushy-tailed perspective on life. There is nothing wrong with this. It’s par for the course. He may also love life and feel tremendous excitement toward what is to come… It really depends on the person. Stay aware

of both of your attitudes toward life perspective. Are they compatible? This is important. Family Planning – Make sure your and his ideas for a family of your own are simpatico. How many children do you want, ideally? What about him? He will be an “older” father. How do you feel about that? Father/Daughter – Unless you don’t mind a daddy/daughter dynamic developing, make sure it doesn’t. Keep your eyes wide open. Does he call all the shots? Does he decide where to eat and tell you what to wear? Sometimes the older partner may act that way because he has much more life experience and can easily slip into the role of “teacher.” His Thoughts about the Age Difference – Call me crazy, but I would like to see him having some concerns about the age difference. That would signify a healthy dose of awareness that this is not typical and comes along with natural concerns. Does he only date women much younger than him? Some guys are “ageists.” How old was the first wife? Is he only dating younger women since the divorce? Bye-bye! Some guys get divorced and decide that it will be much easier with a younger woman who will adore them and listen to them. They aren’t looking for a relationship of equals. If it turns out that you’re crazy about each other and the above-men-

tioned concerns are not concerns at all, and it feels right for you, then go for it. If any of the above-mentioned items become issues, think very hard before you walk down the aisle. The same would go for this relationship as any other; you can’t change him. So, if he doesn’t want a family and you do… you can’t change that. If he feels that he has a BDTD attitude (Been There Done That) and you feel more YOLO (You Only Live Once so let’s go for it!), you can’t change that. If he starts acting like a father more than a boyfriend, you can’t change that. It is pretty amazing that three separate people thought you two would make a great pair! Go out, have fun, and see if you are compatible. Sincerely, Jennifer Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed, clinical psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up an appointment, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. The Navidaters offer Date Debriefing, Dater’s Tool Kit, Engagement Coaching, and of course Dating Coaching. 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.

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

onUPSCALE onSale

Chanuka Party Goods

99¢$3. 99

THE LOSEOU CONNECTION CC UPSCALE CLOSEOUTS

Menorahs

Candle Oil

99¢

$7. 99

$4. 99 - $29. 99

732.364.8822 516.218.2211 718.854.2595

Chanukah! Dip Bowl Holders Half Pound and One Pound

$9. 99 - $14. 99

Small

Visit us at our other locations 4518 13th Ave. Brooklyn, Visit us atNY 718.854.2595 our other locations

Reg. $60.00

$19. 99

Available in Large or Small

$12. 99

STORE STORE HOURS: HOURS: M.-W. M.-Th.10:00-8:00 10:00-9:00 M.-Th. 10:00-9:00 Th. 10:00-9:00 10:00-4:00 FF.. 10:00-3:00 F . 10:00-3:00 S. 10:00-7:00 S. 10:00-7:00 S. 10:00-7:00

Menorah Tray

$17. 99

1091River Ave (Rt 9) Next door to CVS, in the TODD PLAZA Gourmet Glatt parking lot

Reg. $30.00

Great Gift Idea! Shtender Cover

Large

1344518 Washington 13th AveAve. CEDARHUST, BROOKLYN, NYNY 11516

1344518 Washington 13th Ave. Ave. 50 Court St. Cedarhurst, Brooklyn, NYNY 11516 Brooklyn, NY 516.218.2211 718.854.2595 718.625.6677

Faux Leather Tablecloth

50 Court St. 134Brooklyn, Washington NY Ave. Cedarhurst, NY 11516 718.625.6677 516.218.2211

72”-220”

Starting at

$29. 99

1091 River Ave. Lakewood, NJ 732.364.8822

3.5% SALES TAX

Quantities may vary according to store location • No rainchecks • Not responsible for typographical errors

98 52

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

In The K

tchen

A Taste of Chanukah By Naomi Nachman

I can’t believe that it’s Chanukah already! I have had so many calls and email requests for several of my Chanukah recipes that have been featured over the last few years so I decided to put together a Chanukah roundup for you to use and enjoy over this chag. Note: I use an oil thermometer to monitor the oil heat; the perfect frying temperature range is usually between 350°F and 375°F.

Ricotta Cheese Latkes Ingredients 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs, separated ¼ cup sugar 1 cup ﬂour 1 tsp baking powder Pinch kosher salt 2 tsp canola oil

Preparation Place ricotta, milk, vanilla extract and egg yolks in a bowl and mix well. Stir in sugar, ﬂour, baking powder and salt and mix gently until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks, then fold them into the cheese mixture. Heat oil in a 9-inch pan till oil is hot (approximately 360°F), drop 1/8 cup worth of batter into the pan and lower heat to medium. Fry on both sides until brown, about 2 minutes per side.

Chef Eitan Bernath’s Churro Recipe Ingredients 1 cup water 2 ½ TBS sugar ½ tsp salt 2 eggs, plus 1 yolk 1 ¼ cup ﬂour Canola oil, for frying Cinnamon and sugar

Preparation

BLENDING TOGETHER BEAUTY, LIFE, AND HOLINESS

In a small saucepot, combine the water, sugar and salt and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the ﬂour all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon. Put the pot back over a low ﬂame and cook until the dough forms a

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

ball, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and place in a mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Place the dough in a pastry bag with a large star tip. Heat the oil in a saucepot to 360°F. Pipe the churros into the hot oil and cook until golden brown. Remove from the oil, drain on a paper towel, and roll in cinnamon sugar.

Deep Fried Oreos Ingredients 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying 1 large egg 1 cup milk (parve) 2 tsp vegetable oil 1 cup pancake mix 1 (18 oz.) package cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos)

Preparation

EX G CL RE U AT SI VE W E Q DD UA IN LI G TY G FA IFT BR ! IC S!

Heat oil in a deep fryer to 360°F. Whisk together the egg, milk, and 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the pancake mix until no dry lumps remain. Dip the cookies into the batter one at a time, and carefully place into the hot frying oil. Fry only 4 or 5 at a time to avoid overcrowding the deep fryer. Cook until the cookies are golden-brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on a paper

CUSTOM FAUX LEATHER TABLECLOTHS AND CHALLAH COVERS LOCATED

CEDARHURST, NY

CALL/TEXT TO ORDER: (845)-323-6616 @TABLE_SCAPES WHOLESALE | HOSTESS GIFTS| BAR MITZVAHS|CORPORATE ORDERS

99 53

towel-lined plate before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

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.

100

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Helping yo

u help

Clothing & Shoes, in ANY condition!

201.477.8775

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

101

102 54

DECEMBER29, 15,2015 2016| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home OCTOBER

Restaurant

Review

Urbana By Nachum Soroka

ust off the Thirteenth Avenue bustle in Boro Park is Urbana, a swanky yet welcoming space that promises to help you forget the turbulence sitting just beyond its walls. The open kitchen restaurant, which opened this past summer, is the second project of Ben Grossman, the man who brought us the “Frap” at his Sub Express eatery around the corner. Ben’s newest venture takes him a step away from serving up gargantuan subs and fajitas to hungry passerby. Patrons at Urbana are treated as the personal guests of Ben and his lovely wife, Sara, as participants in their unique dining experience. Its stylishly intimate space is outfitted with reclaimed wood – antique mirror complemented with gold accents. No attention to detail is spared, and the room achieves an atmosphere which is both rustic and contemporary. Like its setting, Urbana’s forward menu focuses on recreating recog-

nizable dishes using basic ingredients. The Grossmans believe that creativity is a trait that is not bound by a particular subject,and that the physical design of a space should be on par with the inventiveness of its cooking. (“Never hire a home decorator who doesn’t also know how to cook,” says Sara.) Missing from Urbana’s menu are the monotonous staples of the standard kosher café, and in their stead are upgraded replacements. One won’t find mozzarella sticks offered as an appetizer; instead, spinach ricotta rosettes, which had a self-proclaimed “non-spinach person” ordering up a second portion on a recent evening, highlight as a starter. French fries are not featured as an option (trade secret: they are still available on request), but tempura string beans with truffle mayo do a superb (and hopefully relatively healthy) job in helping one forget about the need for fried spuds. A deliciously approachable creamy wild mushroom polenta rimmed with

basil oil rounds out the appetizer portion of the menu. As the meal progresses, Urbana’s menu continues its quest to enhance staid classics. A Caesar salad is upgraded with a base of mixed greens in the place of simple romaine and lightly battered avocado pellets instead of bread croutons. Homemade artichoke ravioli arrives floating in a perfectly balanced black pepper sauce, and delightfully textured gnocchi is served up with a creamy chestnut and mushroom crème. And, of course, classic linguini marinara retains its place on the menu, offering comfort to those who are less inclined for exploration. Chewy brick oven pizza is presented in the standard margarita with fresh mozzarella as well as a version with eggplant treated to a four way regimen and a Greek adaptation featuring za’atar, olives and poached egg (watch your tie!). Meal highlights can be assigned to dessert. The restaurant’s dedicated pastry chef makes full, liberal use

of cream and butter, all with toothsome results. Urbana’s take on the cliché chocolate soufflé is a chocolate brownie drunkenly swimming in a mugful of chocolate bourbon pudding and crowned with an artful dome of whipped cream. Sweet and crisp meringues are filled with rich mousse and topped with praline fondant. The kitchen’s state-of-the-art La Marzocco espresso machine serves up caffeinated digestifs brewed with locally roasted beans which have some of the most coffee loving purists raving. Urbana does not just serve as a respite for city-weary Brooklynites. Thursday and weekend nights are popular with patrons hailing from as far as Great Neck, the Five Towns, and New Jersey. The addition of a pending liquor license and plans for live entertainment will make it an even better destination for an evening out. Urbana is located at 1305 53 Street (off 13th Avenue) in Brooklyn, 718-438-4448.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

103

60 104 60

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

THIS IS COMPLETE Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung By Nate Davis

on’t feel bad if you don’t know what that word means. The truth is, I’m not really using the word correctly, anyway. It is a German word which means “the delay in the repetition of the presidential run-off.” But it is really the only political term that I can think of to define the political hysteria engulfing Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Since Hillary’s crushing defeat four weeks ago to Donald Trump, her team and her political allies – from the president to the media – have been engaged in a futile effort to spin her loss. I don’t think it is because they want to show that she is not inept (they know that is a futile task), rather they want to delegitimize Trump from the get-go. Their first attempt was to argue that Hillary won the popular vote by several million. They spent a few weeks waving that flag. But that fell flat and didn’t help their cause at all. It’s like saying the Cubs didn’t win the World Series because even though they won four games and the Indians only won three games, overall the Indians scored more runs over the seven games so the Indians really won. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Furthermore, the fact that Trump won the Electoral College with less popular votes than Hillary only shows what an efficient campaign Trump ran. Even with several million more votes than Trump, Hillary was unable to pinpoint where she needed to focus her campaign resources to get the requisite Electoral College votes. After all the talk of Trump being a novice, it was Clinton who didn’t know how to campaign. So the “popular vote” line of attack failed and they moved on to “fake news.” If you are reading this article you are probably somewhat in tune with

politics and I bet that you are still not sure what fake news is. When I first heard the term last week I thought it was the sponsored links on websites that say stuff like, “See Queen Elizabeth’s jailhouse mugshot.” Then I found out that fake news does not refer to the sponsored links on websites. Rather, there are certain blogs that make up lies and that is considered fake news. So now I know that when I stumble upon some

Williams, who lied about being shot out of the sky in Iraq, were screaming about a fake news epidemic.) So the whole fake news bit didn’t work either. It was time to move on. When all else fails, blame it on Russia. The argument then became that Trump only won because of Vladimir Putin. Their storyline is that Russia hacked into the Democrats’ emails.

But most Ameri cans didn’t buy into this whole fake news thing any way because we all spend enough time on supermarke t lines to develo pa discerning eye for what is a rea l and what is a fake n ews headline.

weird site – after questioning why I am in that strange online neighborhood in the first place – I shouldn’t believe the headline that says, “Bill Clinton gives birth to a six-headed baby.” But most Americans didn’t buy into this whole fake news thing anyway because we all spend enough time on supermarket lines to develop a discerning eye for what is a real and what is a fake news headline. (It also didn’t help that people like Brian

This is a clever attempt. It attempts to connect the buzzwords of “Russia” and “emails.” Yes, emails played a major role in Hillary’s defeat but it was not the airing of Hillary’s emails – it was the absence of them. Hillary played by her own rules and kept a private email server in her basement bathroom and, to add insult to injury, unlawfully deleted 33,000 of those emails after Congress asked to see

them. That is what did her in – end of story. What does Russia have to do with that? Nothing. But they want people to connect Hillary’s email problems to Russia and to therefore reach the conclusion that she lost the election because of Putin. Pretty good marketing. It’s almost as smart as Coke putting a white bearded fella on their bottles during the holiday season. But most people know the white bearded man ain’t real, and most people know that this whole Russian email thing ain’t real either. So Hillary and her allies will likely soon revert to their A-game; it’s the game that they know best: they will “bushify” Trump. As they did to delegitimize George W. Bush, they will talk about how Trump is an idiot… he doesn’t read Hemingway… he doesn’t know what he is doing, yadda yadda, yadda… But based on his actions so far, Trump seems to have a pretty decent plan. Yes, Democrats will vilify his pick of Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, but that will backfire on them as well. Their main argument is that Rex Tillerson is “close” to Putin, who they now say is enemy number one (he’s the email guy). But this line of argument is hypocritical on two levels. Firstly, it was President Obama who mocked Mitt Romney during a 2012 debate for saying that Russia is an adversary. “The 1980s called,” Obama said, “and they want their foreign policy back.” Now, a mere four years later, Obama and the Democrats are saying that Russia is our enemy. When did that happen? Well, it must have been over the past four years because in 2012 Obama was making fun of Romney’s assertion. But wait a second. Isn’t President Obama brilliant at foreign policy?

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

How did Russia become an enemy under his watch? Hmmm... Secondly, even if you accept that Russia is an enemy, wouldn’t it then make all the more sense to have a Secretary of State who has a relationship with them and knows how to talk to them? Wasn’t it President Obama who glided into office and promptly went on an apology tour around the world? Wasn’t it President Obama who said we need to talk to our enemies? Isn’t this the president that established diplomatic relations with Iran? Yes, Tillerson is not a career politician, which means that, G-d forbid, if any ambassadors are killed in terrorist attacks over the next four years he won’t instinctively lie and blame it on a YouTube video. But how hard is foreign policy anyway? What was Hillary Clinton’s greatest achievement as Secretary of State? Giving a red button to the Russian foreign minister which was supposed

to say “reset” in Russian. It turned out that she spelled the Russian word incorrectly and the button ended up saying “overcharged.” All Tillerson

va! e n e Ca w r F 30 k no

x oo 0 2 B

Where ffleeting moments become lifetime treasures !m3

PhotograPhy & Video by

ira thomas C r e at i o n s !m3

516-791-7230 pvbyitc@gmail.com irathomascreations.com Weddings | Bar/Bat Mitzvahs | Bris Engagement Party | Any Occasion

30+ Years Experience

needs to succeed is a better Russian translator. Considering he is BFFs with Putin that shouldn’t be too hard to find.

61 105

The upside of Tillerson is that as the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies he is a master manager and can grasp complex issues. As an oil man, he understands the literal under-currency of the world – oil – which is the cause of many global conflicts. And, yes, he has a relationship with Russia, a country with which we just ended a Cold War 30 years ago and who we really should get along with. So, this was not a bad choice by Trump, which means that it will make it even harder for them to “bushify” him. So where do the Democrats and Hillary stand? Well, their efforts to come up with an excuse for losing made them look like bigger losers and their effort to make Trump look dumb is making them look dumb. In other words, they are completely bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung-ed.

106

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

L O S LF

! T U O EG

PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

CAMP HASC

A TIME FOR MUSIC 15 A 30 Year Celebration

JANUARY

LINCOLN CENTER || DAVID GEFEN HALL

2017

BE A PART OF HISTORY! For more details: www.HascConcert.com || 888.844.TOUR

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

107

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR PARENTS’

Democratic Party? Why Jewish voters have become disenchanted with the Democrats BY NACHUM SOROKA

the many lessons learned from the recent presidential election, there is one unanimous standout: everyone was wrong. The pollsters were wrong in their survey methodology and the media was wrong in assessing the national temperament. On both sides of the aisle, politicians came up incorrect: Republicans who refused to back Donald Trump were forced to backtrack on their tough talk and Democrats who were certain they bagged the White House

for another four years were left eating their words – and protesting in city streets. For years, the GOP had been chastised as the party that lost touch with its base. Since President George W. Bush left office, two embarrassing presidential defeats, the rise of the grassroots Tea Party movement – which did away with many of the establishment Republican politicians – and a more liberal and Hispanic voting demographic all foretold the demise of Lincoln’s

Party. Mitt Romney was infamously caught admitting that he believed that it is a foregone conclusion that 47 percent of the country will always vote Democrat. The party found that it could no longer ride the coattails of its 20th century hero, Ronald Reagan. “No one under the age of 51 today was old enough to vote for Reagan when he first ran for president,” the authors of the party’s 2012 election post-mortem wrote. “We sound increasingly out of touch.”

Donald Trump’s easy success in the summer’s primaries was deemed to be the death knell of Republicans as we knew them. Trump’s supporters were not the ideologues who felt threatened by an overzealous government bureaucracy and wasteful spending, like Republicans of yore. They were the Muslim haters and the Confederate flag wavers. A June poll conducted by right-wing NewsMax reported that 73% of Republicans felt that the party had grown out of touch

108

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

with voters. Republican establishment experts were hoping for a Trump loss, which they considered the only chance for the party’s survival. “It’s important that he lose badly,” Peter Wehner, who served in three Republican presidential administrations, including a senior policy position in the George W. Bush White House, told the LA Times. “This has to be a repudiation of Trump and Trumpism.” But then, overnight, on November 8, all that changed. Donald Trump won the electoral vote soundly with 306 electors, and suddenly it was the Democratic Party that was considered out of touch with voters, particularly the white, working class. Pundits accused the party of becoming too cozy with Wall Street and too removed from factory and farm workers. “The party that had been the voice of working people for decades gradually lost touch with that constituency, and eventually became much more the voice of professionals, the kind of people who read the New Yorker and Slate,” said George Packer, a fellow at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center of the New York Public Library and New America. It seems fairly certain that we don’t quite know where we stand as a nation. Is the country heading straight to liberalism, and only took a slight detour with this election, or was electing Donald Trump a SOS cry from the “silent majority” and a rallying call for the forgotten working class to retrench?

THE

U.S. has 3,100 voting districts, and Donald Trump managed to win over 2,600 of them. Indeed, the story of this year’s election is the same as many of the previous ones: Democrats enjoy popularity among the large, populous urban counties and Republicans carry the rural ones. Hillary Clinton took the country’s 100 largest counties by more than 12.6 million votes this year. In 2012, Barack Obama won 686 out of the country’s 3,100 districts. So it seems that our politics is divided by county lines. The white collar city worker votes Demo-

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

An overwhelming percent of Jews voted for Obama in 2008 but that number slipped in the 2012 elections

crat and the rural farmer votes Republican. But that distinction does not hold true amongst one demographic: the Jewish one. After the election, a voting map created by DNAinfo depicted that, as expected, 79 percent of New York City’s population voted for Clinton. Trump supporters were only noticeable in Staten Island and Boro Park and Midwood (aka Flatbush), two neighborhoods which are home to the highest concentration of religious Jews in the country. For many Orthodox Jews, the community’s support of Trump is not surprising. But the facts are that for generations, Jews have always been associated with liberalism and the Democratic Party. While the majority of the Jews who lived in the U.S. in the 19th century lived in the South and were thus pro-slavery, many of the Jews who emigrated to the U.S. in the beginning of the 20th century were involved with socialist and communist movements back in Europe and were active in forming the labor unions of the early century. After World War II, in the wake of the Holocaust, American Jews were drawn to FDR’s inclusive domestic policies and the founding of the United Nations, which was intended to prevent another massive war and genocide. To be sure, Zionism was not even a priority to

most American Jews at that time. When Israel was founded in 1948, Democratic support of the State only strengthened Jewish support for the party. At this year’s Democratic National Convention, Israel came to the forefront – but not in a good way. Many on the party’s Platform Committee insisted on an amendment to the platform that would have rebuked Israel for its “occupation” of the West Bank and for creating “illegal settlements” that have come at the expense of Palestin-

ians. When the vote came to floor, it was defeated 95-73, with members loyal to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton leading the opposition. After the vote, many of Bernie Sanders’ supporters chanted, “Free, free Palestine,” hardly a heartwarming sentiment for Israel supporters. A large part of the American Jewish community’s support of pluralism comes from secular Judaism’s support of “Tikkun Olam.” All Jews can empathize with the need for religious freedom and workers’ rights, particularly back in the time when the majority of Jews were factory workers. Secular Jewish organizations such as Hadassah and the UJA have always been heavily involved with humanitarian causes throughout the world, not only in the U.S. and Israel. But Jews as a group are becoming more and more associated with conservative politics in America. The changing demographics of American Jewry is the primary explanation for this shift in beliefs. A 2012 study by UJA-Federation of New York found that 60 percent of Jewish children in the New York City area live in Orthodox homes. In just one generation, a majority of the city’s one million Jews may be classified as Orthodox. The rapid growth of the city’s Orthodox population is attributable to the high

A 2015 Gallup poll shows 29% of American Jews “identified as Republicans or leaned Republican” (up from 22% in 2008), while 61% “identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic” (down from 71% in 2008).

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Cornel West, a Bernie Sanders supporter, was part of the effort to change the Democrat Platform against Israel

birth rates among chassidim, who have more than seven or eight children per family. Orthodox Jews, like devout Catholics, hold more socially conservative views than their secular counterparts. The rapid growth of the City’s Orthodox population has not gone unnoticed by politicians who need its vote. As such, notice the City’s noncommittal stances on hot button issues like metzizah b’peh and English classes – or lack of them – in chassidish yeshivos. There are also secular Jews who are more culturally conservative than the typical American Jew. This group, which includes immigrant, Russian-speaking Jews, “see a conservative political philosophy as most opposed to the government that oppressed them for decades,” notes Dr. Steven M. Cohen, a research professor of Jewish social policy at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.

THE

same changing demographic experienced by New York City’s Jews is representative of other parts of the country. While 70 percent of Jews still voted for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney in 2012, even back in 2004, George W. Bush credited a mix of conservative, religious voters for his victory over John Kerry. Orthodox Jews helped Bush carry swing states like Florida, Ohio and Missouri. Nathan Diament, director of public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations,

said at the time, “It is not just that we are evangelicals who read our Bible right to left. But what is in common is an appreciation for the role that religious faith plays in a person’s life and in the life of a community.” The 70 percent of the Jewish vote for Obama in 2012 was still remarkably less than the 78 percent he received in 2008. “Was that a

109

In 2016, Jews overwhelmingly crossed over party lines

liberal Jews in America have faced the dilemma of supporting the Jewish State versus a more inclusive, liberal agenda. To this day, some of Israel’s most vocal critics are Jewish, such as Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky, but the majority of American Jews is made up of staunch supporters of Israel who will vote accordingly. Back in 1980, Jimmy Carter credited a primary

Boro Park resident told the Times in November. “She had no message for the voters. She didn’t give any good reason to vote for her.” The voter highlighted the discrepancy between Orthodox Brooklyn and the rest of the city. “It’s like West Virginia, Wyoming, and you’re talking the heart of New York City,” he said. “My community represents what happened in America, except we’re not the suburbs,” Dov Hikind said. “The Democratic Party has abandoned us.”

“The party that had been the voice of working people for decades gradually lost touch with that constituency.”

reaction to some of [Obama’s] policies, his relationship with the government of Israel, or other issues? It’s difficult to say, but we think there has been some small trending over the last 15 to 20 years toward voting for more Republicans on the part of some Jews that are maybe historically voting Democratic,” said Dr. Steven Windmueller, a demographer from Hebrew Union College’s Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. Israel and Zionism have played a pivotal role in the changing stance of American Jewry. Beginning with the Six Day War in 1967, generally,

loss in New York to his stance on Israel, and Carter ended up receiving only 45 percent of the (otherwise liberal) Jewish vote in the general election. In 1992, George H. W. Bush received only 10 percent of the Jewish vote after Bush was openly disdainful of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir. This past election, there were a number of reasons cited by Orthodox voters why they supported Trump, some having to do with their support of Israel, some with their conservative values and some for benign causes. “(Hillary is) corrupt, but I don’t care about that,” a

DOES

it really matter whom the Jews vote for? Jews represent a mere 2 percent of the U.S. population, hardly a group that an aspiring politician should care about. But Jews as a group are more likely to vote than the rest of the country. Only 74 percent of eligible American voters make it to the polls; 90 percent of Jewish voters do. And 70 percent of all Jews in the U.S. live in key states such as California, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, which account for 167 electoral votes. It takes 270 votes to win an election. Already on a local level, politicians are being forced to notice the significance of the changing Jewish electorate. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have courted Orthodox Jews as their Jewish liaisons. As we keep on growing, the people in power keep on listening.

110 20

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

You can bet that the men and women we honor today — and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago — never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played. – U.S. Pacific Command commander Adm. Harry Harris, whose father and four uncles served in World War II, at a Pearl Harbor memorial

A real estate agency that sells apartments inside Trump Tower is advertising the new 24-hour presence of Secret Service agents as a, quote, “new amenity,” while they’re advertising the eggs that hit your windows as “free grocery delivery.” - Jimmy Fallon

Holiday shopping is upon us, and Amazon is trying to make it even easier by debuting a new store concept called Amazon Go. It’s a store where sensors detect which items you’ve grabbed, charge your Amazon account, and you can just walk out… Maybe other retailers can learn from this. Hey, CVS Pharmacy, are you watching? This is how you do self-checkout. Not me scanning my own stuff for 15 minutes while a woman with a ring of keys judges me. – James Corden

To look up out at this kind of creation and not believe in G-d is to me impossible. It just strengthens my faith. - Astronaut John Glenn, who passed away last week, in 1998, talking about what it’s like to see the Earth from thousands of miles above

Trump won in spite of losing in TIME’s online poll to Hillary Clinton. Can she win anything? Really, Hillary’s now just hoping to win a mug that says “World’s Best Grandma.” - Jimmy Kimmel

That play[ed] great before the election. Now we don’t care, right? - Trump, at a “Thank You” rally when the audience started chanting, “Lock her up”

There are reports that Trump will be getting a Goldendoodle puppy when he takes office. To teach it how to beg and roll over, they actually brought in Mitt Romney.

Donald Trump said he has asked President Obama to help recommend some of his appointments. Obama said fine, and recommended Hillary Clinton for president.

– Jimmy Fallon

– Conan O’Brien

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

456 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst | 516.791.1925 Store hours: Sun: 11-6, Mon-Thurs: 11-7, Fri: 10:30-1:30

111

112

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Supreme Court has ruled that Samsung did not violate Apple’s patent on smartphone technology. The justices said, “It’s clear that Samsung came up with the idea of a phone bursting into ﬂames all by themselves.” - Conan O’ Brien

[I] fell in love with him because he really talks about helping African-American black people, and that’s why I’m here. - NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown to CNN after meeting with Trump

The Dakota Access oil pipeline, which the Sioux tribe has been protesting for months, will no longer be routed through their land. It’s a big win for Native Americans — and if the next 9 billion things go their way, we can ﬁnally call it even. – James Corden

[W]e have, by no means, overcome the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow and colonialism and racism… - President Obama on the “Daily Show”

I am going to run for president in 2020. - Joe Biden to a group of reporters

Russia’s getting out of hand? So says the defeated. Not to worry... Remember I can keep an eye on them from here. – Sara Palin tweet, trolling Democrats

Presidential Tweets The final Wisconsin vote is in and guess what - we just picked up an additional 131 votes. The Dems and Green Party can now rest. Scam! Can you imagine if the election results were the opposite and WE tried to play the Russia/CIA card. It would be called conspiracy theory!

I am not committed to anything. I learned a long time ago, fate has a strange way of intervening. - Ibid., when asked if he was joking

This week, Donald Trump is going to North Carolina, Iowa, and Michigan — all states that voted for him — for his “Thank You” tour. Then, he comes here to California for the “You’re Dead to Me” tour. – Conan O’Brien

A lot of his message has been about where he sees things not as good as he’d like….but in the same way President Kennedy talked about the space mission and got the country behind that. I think whether it’s education or stopping epidemics ... [or] in this energy space, there can be a very upbeat message that [Trump’s] administration [is] going to organize things, get rid of regulatory barriers, and have American leadership through innovation. – Bill Gates, after meeting with President-elect Trump

Is this something of a national emergency? – A CNN pundit discussing Trump’s victory

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

PRESENTS

PESACH 2017 White Oaks Resort Niagara Falls, Canada “Extraordinary would be the only way to describe it. The resort that has it all.” NO ONE OFFERS AN EXPERIENCE LIKE “UPSCALE”. LET US SHOW YOU WHY.

The Upscale Experience Awaits. Rancho Bernardo Inn San Diego, California

-Condé Nast Traveler Worlds Top 100 Resorts

“A peaceful haven in the heart of the mountains.”

Rabbi Asher Brander

Hollywood Director Saul Blinkoff

Ben Shapiro

Dennis Prager

Rabbi Chanan Gordon

Featuring Live Performances By

Moshav & Soulfarm

info@upscale-getaways.com www.upscale-getaways.com

1.877.895.3210

113

114 22

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Native American people who have been protesting announced that their fight is far from over, but for now, hippies with guitars can stop coming to help them. – James Corden

The CEO of Lego will be replaced next year. The new CEO’s head is being snapped on as we speak. – Conan O’Brien

Does Trump think Twitter is like Siri for the presidency? “Twitter: Cancel plane order!” “Twitter: Appoint someone secretary of state!” “Twitter: [Tick] off the Chinese for me!” – James Corden

There is a trend of Trump appointing people to head things they’re against. I’m looking forward to Surgeon General Joe Camel.

Donald Trump began his post-election victory tour last week. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has wandered so far into the woods she found the Blair Witch. – James Corden

MORE QUOTES

– Stephen Colbert

P A S S O V E R 2 0 1 7 43 years of hospitality ‫בס"ד‬

RENT A PRIVATE VILLA 43 years of hospitality

PESACH ON THE MOUNTAIN

Whistler

Limited Time Only: Get Free Flight Credits www.pesachonthemountain.com Toll Free - (855) 737-2247

The

Orvis Inn Equinox the

MANCHESTER VILLLAGE, VT

Wouldn’t you love the perfect Passover getaway for your extended family in one private Inn? The Orvis Inn is decorated with 14 beautifully appointed rooms, with lobby space for common areas, guest keyed for your privacy with lovely patio with for all to enjoy one another.

• Entire Resort Kosher for Pesach • North America’s Best Skiing Call (855) 737-2247 • K Kosher Supervision www.pesachonthemountain.com • Gourmet Cuisine

Situated on the premises of the Equinox in Manchester, Vermont, you will have access to all amenities of the 4 star hotel, its exquisite views of the Green Mountains, the rolling golf courses, magnificent pool and spa on 2,300 acres of picturesque beauty.

Enjoy the elegant cusine, interesting shiurim, lively musical entertainment, exciting trips and share it with the whole family. It is experiencing our 43 years of hospitality at its best.

718.998.4477 or 410.484.5553 www.vimsholidays.com Contact us at: mendyvimholidays@aol.com or mendy@vimsholidays.com

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

OUR 15TH YEAR

A & ne FÐ°ko tz present

P o 2017 WESTIN BEACH RESORT & SPA FORT LAUDERDALE

PASSOVER DIRECTOR DAVID GROSS

PROFESSOR MARC SHAPIRO SCHOLAR AND LECTURER

office@AlizaNugielDesigns.com 917.273.0392

COMPLIMENTARY JET SKIING & MASSAGE TREATMENTS ALL-DAY BEACH BBQS DAY CAMP/TEEN PROGRAM

HOST JEFF BRAVERMAN

718-969-9100 // INFO@MAJESTICRETREATS.COM // WWW.MAJESTICRETREATS.COM

115

116

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Yesterday, Chinese state media called Donald Trump a “diplomatic rookie” who has an “inability to keep his mouth shut.” Or as Trump reported it, “They just called me young and outgoing! Thank you CHY-na!”

Only after he’s hit with some obstacles and truly understands that China and the rest of the world are not to be bullied will he gain some perception.

- Jimmy Fallon

– From an editorial in China’s Global Times (known as the Chinese government’s mouthpiece) criticizing Trump taking a phone call from Taiwan’s president

We need to get the Palestinians out of our lives. What we have to do is build a high wall and get them out of our sight. There will be no peace. We do not want two nations packed into a single state.

He doesn’t understand how dangerous it can be when he involves the U.S. in such an explosive game.

– Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, on Israel’s Channel 2

– Ibid.

Gov. Chris Christie currently has a 19 percent approval rating in New Jersey. The only thing less popular in New Jersey is the top button. – Seth Myers

I fully understand the One China policy, but I don’t know why we have to be bound by the One China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade. – Trump on Fox’s “This Week”

Fox News had their [holiday] party there. - MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, who often rails about “fake news,” relating how Fox News held their holiday party at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel in order to cozy up to Trump (Fox News did not have their holiday party yet and it was never scheduled to take place in Trump’s hotel)

Why should some other nation be able to say I can’t take a call? - Ibid.

Luxurious Vacation Rental Home in Orlando Florida This House Has It All !!

Let our home be your DISNEY home away from home today!

Why stay in a hotel when you can rent a private home for even less! Nightly rates as low as $155/night + Tax. Weekly rates as low as $975/week + Tax.

Come stay in your very own 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom

PRIVATE POOL HOME!

Email MickeyVacationHome@gmail.com or call 410-929-4738 for more information & availability

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

117

Join us at the incomparable

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Passover 2017 in Orlando, FL • • • • • • • • • • • •

Elegantly-appointed Waldorf Astoria Guest Rooms 3 Daily Gourmet Glatt Kosher Meals along with Daily Poolside Barbeques and Lavish Tea Room Professionally run Day Camp & Teen Program Discounted rates at the onsite Waldorf Astoria Golf Club featuring Rees Jones-Designed Championship Golf Course Three Exquisite Pool Areas, Lazy River, Waterslide and Private Cabanas Available Fabulous Chol Hamoed Entertainment and Teen Trips Featured Scholars in Residence Ashkenaz and Sephardic minyanim Luxurious Waldorf Astoria Spa and Fitness Center Onsite Emergency Room Doctor to assist with family needs Complimentary Motor Coach Transportation to all Disney Attractions Allergy and Special Dietary Consultant available at all Meals Alan Berger Director and Host For reservations or more information, please contact our team at: 1-877-PESACH4 (1-877-737-2244) or 516-734-0840 info@passovergg.com www.passovergrandgetaways.com

GG WAO 8.75Wx11H Ad 5777.indd 1

10/7/16 2:38 PM

118

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

Tweets and Theater Entertain, but Congress is the Main Event By Charles Krauthammer

he most amusing part of the Trump transition has been watching its effortless confounding of the media, often in fewer than 140 characters. One morning, after a Fox News report on lefty nuttiness at some obscure New England college – a flag burning that led a more-contemptible-than-usual campus administration to take down the school’s own American flag – Donald Trump tweets that flag burners should go to jail or lose their citizenship. An epidemic of constitutional

national security address on Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s son got more attention. Trump has mesmerized the national media not just with his elaborate Cabinet-selection production, by now Broadway-ready. But with a cluster of equally theatrical personal interventions that by traditional standards seem distinctly unpresidential. It’s a matter of size. They seem small for a president. Preventing the shutdown of a Carrier factory in Indiana. Announcing, in a contextless

What appears as random Trumpian impulsiveness has a logic to it.

chin tugging and civil libertarian hair pulling immediately breaks out. By the time the media have exhausted their outrage over the looming abolition of free speech, judicial supremacy and affordable kale, Trump has moved on. The tempest had a shorter half-life than the one provoked in August 2015 by a Trump foray into birthright citizenship. Trump so thoroughly owns the political stage today that the word Clinton seems positively quaint, and Barack Obama, who happens to be president of the United States, is totally irrelevant. Obama gave a major

45-second surprise statement, a major Japanese investment in the U.S. Calling for cancellation of the new Air Force One to be built by Boeing. Pretty small stuff. It has the feel of a Cabinet undersecretary haggling with a contractor or a state governor drumming up business on a Central Asian trade mission. Or of candidate Trump selling Trump steaks and Trump wine in that bizarre victory speech after the Michigan primary. Presidents don’t normally do such things. It shrinks them. But then again, Trump is not yet presi-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

119

43 years of hospitality dent. And the point here is less the substance than the symbolism. The Carrier coup was meant to demonstrate the kind of concern for the working man that gave Trump the Rust Belt victories that carried him to the presidency. The Japanese SoftBank announcement was a down payment on his promise to be the “the greatest jobs president that G-d ever created.” (A slightly dubious claim: After all, how instrumental was Trump to that investment? Surely a financial commitment of that magnitude would have been planned long before Election Day.) And Boeing was an ostentatious declaration that he would be the zealous guardian of government spending that you would expect from a crusading outsider. What appears as random Trumpian impulsiveness has a logic to it. It’s a continuation of the campaign. Trump is acutely sensitive to his legitimacy problem, as he showed in his tweet claiming to have actually won the popular vote, despite trailing significantly in the official count. His best counter is approval ratings. In August, the Bloomberg poll had him at 33 percent. He’s now up to 50 percent. Still nowhere near Obama’s stratospheric 79 percent at this point in 2008, but a substantial improvement nonetheless. The mini-interventions are working but there’s a risk for Trump in so personalizing his coming presidency. It’s a technique borrowed from Third World strongmen who specialize in demonstrating their personal connection to the ordinary citizen. In a genuine democracy, however, the endurance of any political support depends on the larger success of the country. And that doesn’t come from Carrier-size fixes. It comes from policy – policy that fundamentally changes the structures and alters the trajectory of the nation. ”I alone can fix it,” Trump ringingly declared in his convention speech. Indeed, alone he can do Carrier and SoftBank and Boeing. But ultimately he must deliver on tax reform, health care, economic growth and nationwide job creation. That requires Congress. The 115th is Republican and

PASSOVER 2017

the

Equinox

MANCHESTER VILLLAGE, VT

The Equinox, A Luxury Collection Golf Resort & Spa, is a 4 star AAA rated luxury historic resort in picturesque Manchester, Vermont. Located just three and a half hours from the George Washington Bridge, it is truly the quintessential destination for an unforgettable Passover holiday.

the

Heritage SOUTHBURY, CT

We welcome you to the magnificent, newly refurbished Heritage Resort & Spa. Just one hour and fifteen minutes from the Whitestone Bridge this full-facility splendid resort in the picturesque Litchfield Hills of Northwest CT offers New England at its best. It is a delightful Passover destination.

Early Bird Special

Free Sunday Check-in as our gift

718.998.4477 or 410.484.5553 www.vimsholidays.com Contact us at: mendyvimholidays@aol.com or mendy@vimsholidays.com

ready to push through the legislation that gives life to the promises. On his part, Trump needs to avoid needless conflict. The Republican leadership has already signaled strong opposition on some issues, such as tariffs for job exporters. Nonetheless, there is enough com-

mon ground between Trump and his congressional majority to have an enormously productive 2017. The challenge will be to stay within the bounds of the GOP consensus. Trump will continue to tweet and the media will continue take the bait. Highly entertaining but it

120

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Forgotten Her es

Jewish Heroes of the Skies By Avi Heiligman

B-17C Flying Fortress

he American war machine during WWII was so large that if one service was on the retreat in a particular area or couldn’t launch an offensive, another branch could fill the void. It would take a minimum of seven months after Pearl Harbor for ground forces to attack the Japanese and almost a year to start the offensive against the Germans in North Africa. These offensives were in contained areas, although the navy and air force were able to strike at other parts of the Axis bases. In particular, the Army Air Force, with their long-range bombers, was able to mount deep penetrating raids that would ultimately cripple the German and Japanese ability to fight. Many served on these dangerous bomber missions and a few Jewish airmen stood out for their bravery. One of the mistakes that the Germans made was not to invest in the development of a long-range heavy bomber. At the outset of hostilities the Japanese had the G3M “Nell” bomber, the 1,000, but this number pales in comparison to the first of three heavy bombers that the Americans had during WWII. Over 12,000 B-17 Flying Fortresses were built

and for the next 20 years saw action across the globe including three that made it to Israel in 1948. To man this large plane a flight crew was needed and Americans signed up in droves after Pearl Harbor to fight back at the Japanese. Already enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a ground crewmember, Meyer Levin signed up to become a bombardier while serving in the Philippians. Levin was from East Flatbush in New York and had joined the air corps because companies in the aeronautical business refused to hire Jews. The job of the bombardier is to direct the pilot when they get in the vicinity of the target and to drop the bombs. Three days after Pearl Harbor, Levin was on a B-17 and dropped a bomb on a Japanese heavy cruiser, severely damaging the enemy ship. Unfortunately, the plane was hit, and while Levin and most of the crew bailed to safety, the pilot died when the Flying Fortress crashed. Levin became a hero once the papers picked up the story. On his next 60 or so missions – most aircrew “retired” after 35 missions but some stayed on – Levin further cemented his sterling reputation as one of the top bombardiers

YB-17 heavy bomber, March 1937

in the Army Air Corps. During the Battle of the Coral Sea he sank a huge transport and constantly volunteered for dangerous missions. On January 7, 1943 he went down with his plane that ran into a fierce storm. Already very low on fuel, the plane crashed into the ocean. Most of the crew was able to get out but Levin was injured and couldn’t get onto his life raft. Chief of Staff George Marshall personally wrote to his parents, and Levin was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. For his previous missions Meyer Levin had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Clusters. Gunners were very important crewmembers on bombers. Often targets would be out of range to be escorted by fighters and the bombers would continue all alone. The only defense to ward off enemy fighters were the gunners strategically placed on the bombers. Often they would perform other tasks if the need arose. Staff Sergeant Norman S. Goldstein from Chicago was serving with the 10th Air Force over India. In addition to being a gunner he was also an aerial engineer. Not much background information was available for inclu-

sion in this article about Goldstein but the heroics of Sergeant Goldstein have been recorded. To avoid ground fire his bomber (the author is assuming it was a B-24 Liberator but it also could have been a B-17) dropped its bombs on the target at high altitude. Trouble with the release mechanism was sounded over the radio as three 1,000 pound bombs were stuck. There were no pressurized cabins on WWII bombers and at that altitude the only way to breathe was through oxygen masks. Goldstein hooked up his oxygen mask and attached it to a portable source while he ditched his parachute to make headway for the bomb bay. Armed with a screwdriver he managed to release the bombs manually. As he released the last of the bombs he realized that his oxygen source had a tear and that he was slowly losing consciousness. To further exacerbate matters, his heavy winter clothing wedged him between the racks as he was close to the open bomb bay doors. Luckily another crew member noticed that they were about to lose a man to the open skies and pulled Goldstein to safety. Staff Sergeant Goldstein was awarded the Silver Star for his actions. Continued on page 122

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

DIFFICULTIES EARNING A LIVING?

Put your career on the proper course. Today’s difficult financial climate has placed an enormous burden on many families. Realizing the need in our community, The Community Center of the Rockaway Peninsula is once again offering its much acclaimed adult vocational classes. The curriculum is designed to assist applicants in gaining and developing the necessary tools for employment in today’s volatile workplace.

COURSES INCLUDE:

REGISTER NOW! CLASSES START SOON! NOW OPEN TO ADULTS AGE 20 AND OLDER R IST TR RREEGGIS RA ATTIO IONN D DL D EEAAD LIIN N EE:: TTHHUURRSSD DA AY, Y, JA JAN NU UA ARY 19 28

Our graduates are actively being placed in the workforce!

A Community Based Continuing Education Program CLASSES ARE NOW FORMING • COURSES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AT NO CHARGE

PLEASE CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION 718-868-2300 EXT. 367 OR E-MAIL: BBAIDA@DARCHEI.ORG Located on the Campus of Yeshiva Darchei Torah | 257 Beach 17th Street | Far Rockaway, New York 11691 Funded by a grant from the NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Development.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE • CAREER TRAINING • PERSONAL SUCCESS

121

122

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Bruce Sundlun, early 1942

When the war started a lot of pilots were needed for bombers that were literally flying off the production line. Most pilots wanted to fly in fighters which, when attacked, didn’t have to fly in formation and were the ones making headline news. Being

Bruce Sundlun, alongside President Bill Clinton, as governor

a bomber pilot was dangerous because most of the targets chosen to be bombed had flak (anti-aircraft) batteries waiting to shoot at the high altitude bombers. Nevertheless, Lt. Bruce Sundlun from Providence, Rhode Island, was excited to join the

8th Air Force in England as a B-17 pilot. He had signed up to become a pilot the day after the Pearl Harbor attacks, and eighteen months later he was flying missions over Nazi territory. (A major difference between American and Axis pilots was the amount of training prior to their first mission. Once Axis pilots were shot down, their replacements had very few flight hours while most American pilots had been flying for over a year.) On December 1, 1943, Sundlun was on his 13th mission when his Flying Fortress was damaged by flak over Solingen, Germany. German fighters came after the stricken bomber and Sundlun ordered his crew to bail out after receiving more hits. The plane crashed in a small town in Belgium which was under Nazi control. Four crew members died in the crash while Sundlun and five others managed to bail in time but were now in enemy territory. Sundlun was the only crew member to evade capture as the others were quickly rounded up by the Germans. As a Jewish officer he knew that it was vital to stay out of Nazi hands and for six months managed to evade being captured. He failed twice to get to neutral Spain and spent time with the French resistance sabotaging German Army units on their way to the French coast. Finally, Sundlun reached neutral Switzerland where met with the OSS station chief in Bern, Allen Dulles. He was actually sent back to France to coordinate efforts to communicate with planes

Meyer Levin

flying over southern France. Finally, he was sent to England and soon was headed towards the CBI Theater (Chine-Burma-India) as a C-54 Skymaster cargo pilot. After V-E Day (victory in Europe – May 7, 1945), he was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations to ferry B-24 Liberators and B-29 Superfortress bombers to forward operating bases. For his last WWII mission, Sundlun was assigned to fly POWs from Japan to the U.S. He was decorated for his wartime service and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Cluster and a Purple Heart, along with the French Legion of Honor. Sundlun stayed with the reserves for many years and attained the rank of captain and in 1948 flew B-17 bombers to Israel. Prime Minister Menachem Begin awarded him the Prime Minister’s Medal in 1979. In 1990 Bruce Sundlun was elected governor of Rhode Island and held that post for four years. Levin, Goldstein and Sundlun were among hundreds, if not thousands, of Jewish airmen to serve on bombers during WWII. While their stories are known, many others are not, making them forgotten heroes of the skies.

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.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

123

Let us help you create great momentsâ&#x20AC;Ś

DBD

Landscape Design & Installation From basic garden planning and Planting to full property design

No job too big or too small David Bendavid

Shomer Shabbos

Call for Your Free Consultation 818-203-9286

Or email dbdlandscape@gmail.com

124

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Rocky’s

Rant

Rocky Goes to a Wedding By Rocky Zweig

top the presses…I went to a wedding. I know; what’s the big deal, right? The thing is, I don’t go to weddings. Kind of b’shita. I hope you can understand why they creep me out a little — after all, I’ve been to way too many of my own! But this was one I couldn’t not go to (is that English?). So I had to suck it up, get dressed like a typical Flatbush guy and show my face (white shirt, tie, black suit, hat…on a Monday!). I’m kind of allergic to dressing like that during the week. If you ever see me Sunday through Friday and I’m not wearing jeans, get me to an ER quick because I have lost what few marbles I still have left. Isn’t valet parking fun? Yes, it’s convenient not to have to look for a spot, but I refuse to give them my car unless I’m planning on leaving early. Otherwise, by the time you get your vehicle back at the end of the chasunah, it has depreciated in value by about 10%. And the guys bringing you your car don’t understand what the big deal is. After all, back home in Moscow they used to have to wait on line two hours for toilet paper!

Do you know what constitutes a large affair in the gentile world? A hundred people is large; two hundred is pretty much considered insane. Nowadays if a Jewish wedding runs less than the gross national product of a small country people assume the baalei simcha are friendless. So you basically have to invite

diately park myself in front of the salad section. Somehow, though, I always drift away to the hot stuff. It’s been scientifically verified that it is virtually impossible to have one plate of sesame chicken and not go back for seconds. And there’s no way one can be at a shmorg and not wind up at the cutting station. The

Somehow, in this room filled with more or less the population of Butte, Montana, I know no one!

everybody you’ve ever met or you’re a piker! If you sent the food from a typical shmorg to Somalia you could feed the entire country for a month. I’m constantly dieting (mostly because when I gain weight, I can’t breathe; it’s a really wonderful incentive to live on oatmeal and rabbit food), so when I walk into a shmorg, I imme-

guy hands you your pastrami and it’s two miniscule slabs that you can see through. You’re too embarrassed to ask for more, so of course you come back one or two more times, which, of course, is way worse. So there I am, wading into a sea of black hats. Now please don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against black hats. It’s the people under them

that sometimes make me crazy! No broad-brush here: some of my best friends are Black Hats. It’s the ones that look at me like I just crawled out from under a rock that get me a tad upset. I’ve lived in Flatbush over forty years and have yet to find my niche. Where do I fit on the frumkeit spectrum? I’m not yeshivish. I’m not chassidish. I’m not Chabad. I don’t think I’m modern orthodox. I’m just a Guy Wearing A Yarmulke. Perhaps we should recognize that as a new category, the GWAYs. Maybe using the acronym would be ill advised, but you get the idea. Try and explain all these labels to a goy and his head will explode. Then comes chuppah Pet Peeve Number One: The Chosson’s Friend Who Thinks He Can Sing. “Miiiii adirrrr al hakollll” in C major. “Miiiii baruchhhh al hakollll” in E minor. My gaze drifts to the keyboard player sitting next to this self-styled Pavarotti. He’s frantically trying to figure out what the next key might be and having no success, so he’s having a minor panic attack. It’s defiContinued on page 126

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

125

126

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

nitely the most amusing thing I’ll see all night, but somehow it’s not worth sitting through all the caterwauling. Chuppah Pet Peeve Number Two: Standing for everyone who walks down the aisle. I once saw the caterer walk down the aisle and everyone got up. Back in the day if you even stood for the chosson or kallah, someone would yell at you to sit down, let alone the bubbies and zaydies. You know who everyone got up for? The flower girl! And that was because she was adorable and also tiny, so everyone wanted to see her and go awwwww as she started and stopped and started again, dropping petals as she went (when she remembered), to the strains of Lamenatzeiach or Yukon Purkon. And whatever happened to flower girls, anyway? So now it’s time for the reception. Somehow, in this room filled with more or less the population of Butte, Montana, I know no one! Okay, maybe there’ll be a handful of guys with whom I’m vaguely acquainted, but usually on a “hi, how are you” level. And invariably I’m on table 47, which

is located either in front of the band or in front of the kitchen, both prime Excedrin spots. I sit with fifteen strangers, trying to make small talk. The best I can come up with is, can you please pass the pickles, or is there salt on the table, or, my favorite, you look vaguely familiar, which, of course, he certainly does not. So naturally I turn to my best friend, Samsung, for solace. Thank G-d for cellphones! What did we do before these electronic security blankets were around to circumvent awkward situations? I step outside for a minute to call someone, anyone, I actually know and like: “…’Lo?” “Hi, it’s me. What’s goin’ on?” “Well, I was sleeping. Where are you?” “At a wedding.” “G’nite, Rocky; don’t call back.” I go back to the table and get involved in an intense round of QuizUp with someone in Romania. I’m pretty much unbeaten in “Famous Duos.” When I finally come up for air, I notice that nine out of the re-

maining fourteen guys at the table are also iPhoning or Androiding away. Something is missing. I can’t seem to put my finger on it. This is a wedding, right? Let’s see…fancy forshpeiz? Check. Band playing at the decibel level of a 747 taking off? Check. Enough flora to open your own botanical garden? Check. Hmmm…what could it be? Eureka, I’ve got it! There’s no chosson! There’s no kallah! They finished with the yichud room over an hour ago. They’ve been abducted by the photographer! So we waitandwaitandwait and then we wait some more. I’m older now than when this thing started. The guy across from me is finishing up “War and Peace” on his Kindle. I pray for a distraction, and boy, do I ever get one. Or two. Or six! Collector #1: Hachnosas Kallah. Collector #2: Almana with eight children. Collector #3: Hachnosas Kallah for an almana with eight children. And seeing as how I’m not a regular at these events, I don’t have tons of dollar bills or quarters in my pocket. “Reb Yid, hachnosas kallah? “Um…do you accept Visa?” (He does not). The happy couple finally enters to much fanfare, the first dance set starts, and I finally see someone across the room that I actually know. I go up to him, shake his hand, and begin a conversation: “Sholom Aleichem, long time no see.” “Mmmph blerrd oberin sahbdo!” “What?” “What?” “I said, ‘what?’” “What?” If the band would have set up across the street, the volume level would have been perfect. My head is pounding, my eyes are closing, and my belt is tighter than it was a few hours ago. I’m antsy and cranky and want my bed. Time for me to find an Official Check Acceptor: Chosson, kallah, or any parent thereof. I say my mazel tovs and hightail it outta there. I gleefully walk to my car. I press the brake and push the ignition button. Nothing. I do it again and my brake has locked up. My headache

has taken on a life of its own. The car’s a 2013. Not new-new, but not a clunker either. This has never happened before. Please, Hashem, I’ll be better. I’ll daven better. I’ll give more tzedaka. Just let this lousy car start! I call Chaveirim. The boost doesn’t work. The guy gets in the car, holds my key fob right up next to the button, and the car springs to life. The battery in your key thingy is almost dead, he says. What if I was on 125th and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and this happened, I say. You’d be on your own, he says. Aleve is a miracle product, and I have the most wonderful bed in the world.

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

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

127

128

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

129

designbychantz.com

130

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

From My Private Art Collection

Art Programs for Older Adults By Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg

t is never too late to begin an artistic and creative journey. So many artworks have been created by late-bloomers. Three such examples are: 1. Paul Cézanne. The famous artist was not considered an accomplished Impressionist painter for most of his career. He worked very hard to develop his skills all his life. In his fifties or sixties he finally reached the status of a famous and

well-received Post-Impressionist painter. His favorite quote was “Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” 2. Mary Delany. She did not start creating artwork until she was sixty-eight-years-old. Delany made paper cutouts of flowers and plants. She created almost two-thousand cutouts and worked until the ripe old age of eighty-eight. Her artwork is on display as part of the British Muse-

um’s collection. A favorite quote by Molly Peacock, her biographer, is “For this woman creative life was not a question of having a room of her own, but a cosmos of her own.” 3. Grandma Moses. This artist was a farmhand who started painting after she retired in her late seventies. Her paintings were discovered by an art collector while on display at a local store. She died at the ripe old age of 101 with a large collection of beloved heartwarming paintings created during a twenty year span. Her favorite quote was “Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.” As an experienced art educator, I believe that the instructor must keep on growing. So, with this in mind, I have recently completed a Master of Arts: M.A. in Adult Learning (MA. AL) degree and published a thesis titled, “Template for a Community-Based Adult Art Program.” I have learned that the older adult learner has specific needs. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” I am presently conducting studio art workshops for seniors. When working with my adult students the goal is to inspire and infuse a desire to develop a unique style in their individual artwork. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires,” William Arthur Ward once said. My experiences in art education,

writing, and organizational management serve as beneficial in conducting instruction in pencil drawing, charcoal drawing, pastel drawing, watercolor painting, acrylic painting, etc. This process offers creative brain stimulation that contributes to positive mental health during the aging process. I am constantly researching new avenues in adult learning theory to add to my workshops. The use of assistive technology is also available where needed. Art studio workshops offer many great benefits to its participants. These benefits include additional opportunities for socialization, a sense of control, fostering a sense of identity, improved cognition, improved quality of life, increased relaxation, increased self-esteem, nurturing of spirituality, reduced anxiety, reduced boredom, reduced depression, and sensory stimulation. To start a specialized group studio art workshop for your shul, organization, and school or for a private shut-in session for a senior adult relative, yourself, and friends, I can be reached at 917-886-7474 or email naominherzberg@gmail.com.

Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg is a professional art educator, artist and designer. Among her known artwork is a floral sculpture presented to Tipper Gore, Blair House, Washington, D.C. Please feel free to email naominherzberg@gmail.com with questions and suggestions for future columns.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

131

132

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

133

Classifieds SERVICES

SERVICES

Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

FINANCIAL SERVICES -Will ever be able to retire? -How do I begin saving for my family’s future? -What are long-term care expenses expenses and how do I protect myself? -If something were to happen to me or my spouse, will my family be taken care of? -How can I earn more income? Call your financial agent Chaim Friedman for personal, professional and friendly service (323) 868-8484. Located in Lawrence Specializing in all types of life insurance, including long term care, disability, and private pension plans. ~ Looking for qualified agents ~ ~ No experience necessary ~

The Children’s Clothing Gemach in Cedarhurst is fully stocked for boys/girls in sizes newborn-teen. To make an appointment please call/text 516-712-7735 Struggling with Shalom Bayis? The Shalom Bayis Hotline 732-523-1112. Caring rabbanim answering your questions for free. So far very positive results BS’D! Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/women Group/private sessions Gift Cards Available www. Peacefulpresence.com 516 -371 -3715 HAIR COURSE Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009 The New revitalized Gan Katan is back and better than ever. Two year old program with extended hours available. Fully licensed, well trained staff, and a warm and loving environment. For more information text Timema Diamond at 5167322949. NEW AND EXCITING UNIVERSAL PRE-K under the loving heimish guidance of Morah Fran from Gan Ami. Now taking applications for September 2016. Reasonably priced, great central location, and extended hours available. For more information contact Fran Diamond directly at 5164266925

Reach Your Target Market

Classifieds

SHALOM HANDYMAN Plumbing, heating, boiler, installation, sewer, locks, dryer vent cleaning and more… CALL 917-217-3676

HOUSES FOR SALE OCEANSIDE: NEW LISTING Meticulously Maintained 4BR, 3 Full Bath Hi-Ranch, Updated Eik, Formal DR, Eik, Fabulous Family Room W/ Glass Sliders Overlooking A Wonderful Backyard & Fishpond…$479K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: PRICE REDUCED Beautiful 3BR, 3 Full BA Split, Vaulted Ceilings, LR, EIK, Den, Library, Master Suite, Full Privacy Front & Back Yard, Attic,& Much More!!! Close To All…$700K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 - www.pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL RE INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood! Lots of options. Tons of parking. WIll divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100

COMMERCIAL RE INWOOD The Bayview Building Many options available including 5000 Square foot high ceiling 1st floor showroom/ office / mixed use space. 2nd Floor office spaces with Waterview and views of NYC skyline. 1200 sq ft, 2000 sq ft and 6000 sq ft spaces available. Parking, Mincha minyan and great neighbors. Owner will customize and design space to your needs. Call or text 516-567-0100 HEMPSTEAD: 1600 +/- SF Professional Office Space in Beautiful Elevator Bldg with Excellent Parking, For Lease…Call Lori For More Details (516) 295-3000 www. pugatch.com

HOUSES FOR SALE Don’t Get Stuck With a Two Story House Ya Know, It’s One Story Before You Buy It But a Second Story After You Own It! Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

LAWRENCE Spacious 4BR On One Level, 2.5 Bath Splanch, Private Setting, Waterviews, Fin Basement, Close To All…$925K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LAWRENCE: Gracious & Spacious 9BR, 5 Bath CH Colonial, Huge Eik, Formal Dr, Den, Fin Basement, Set On 1/2 Acre, Prime Location...$1.279M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE: NEW LISTING Prime Location, Beautiful Renovated 4BR, 2.5BA Split level, Wide FDR, Den, Backyard W/Hot Tub, New Roof , Windows, Too Much To List!!!…$849K Call Carol Braunstein - (516) 295-3000 - www.pugatch.com

TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.

Weekly Classifed Ads Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................ $20 $10 2 weeks .............. $35 $17.50 4 weeks .............. $60 $30 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info

Deadline Monday 5:00pm

134

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE CEDARHURST: 1,500+/-SF Retail Store with Parking, HVAC, High Traffic Location, Great Visibility, Convenient To All, For Lease... Call Lori for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com East Rockaway: 6,200 +/- SF Building with Retail Spaces, Basement, Some Parking, Near Municipal Lot & Major Highways, Great Location, High Visibility, For Sale/Lease… Call Ian For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LYNBROOK: 2,000 +/- SF Space in Medical Strip, 4 Assigned Parking Spots, 2 Exam Rooms, Consult Office, Waiting Rm, 3 Bathrooms & Much More, For Lease…Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 VALLEY STREAM: 4,800 +/- SF 2 Story Office Building, 2,400SF Avail for User/Buyer, 20 Car Parking, Great Corner Location, Close To All, For Sale…Call Ian For More Details - (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL RE

SPECIAL “LIMITED” OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST ADDITION/LOCATION AT 487R CENTRAL AVENUE, CEDARHURST, NY 11516.

WOODMERE: Follow The Leader To Woodmere, Now Is The Time To Act!!! No Metered Parking, Various Retail/Office Spaces Available, For Sale/Lease...Call For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

Call/text now for complimentary market analysis of your residential or commercial property. 516-655-3636 Cheryl “Chedva” Slansky, MBA Licensed Associate RE Broker, RealtyConnect USA The #1 Real Estate Office 2015 FY by LIBN

ROCKVILLE CENTRE: LANDLORD MOTIVATED!!! 850+/-SF Retail Store on Corner of Municipal Parking Lot, Excellent Signage Opportunity, Almost Any Use, Great Location, For Lease …Call Randy for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

Reach Your Target Market

Classifieds

VALLEY STREAM : Various Sized Retail Spaces in Emerson Plaza, Up to 1,800+/-SF, Plenty of Parking, For Lease… Call Lori for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

CO-OP FOR SALE FAR ROCKAWAY 833 Central ,1st floor, balcony, doorman Completely renovated, near LIRR 2BR/2 full bath, 2 DW/sinks, wood cabinets, granite counters $389 917-572-9644 WOODMERE: PRICE REDUCED Sunny & Spacious 2 Bedroom Apt On 1st Floor, Eik, Close To All...$274.5K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www. pugatch.com

CO-OP FOR SALE FAR ROCKAWAY 833 Central Avenue 1st floor, balcony, doorman. Completely renovated, near LIRR 2BR/2 full bath, 2 DW/sinks, wood cabinets, granite counters $369 Call 917-572-9644

CONDO FOR SALE WOODMERE: Renovated Spacious & Sunny 3+BR Townhouse, 3.5 Baths, Wood & Granite EIK, Fin Bsmt, Master Suite W/Steam Shower & Jacuzzi Tub, Community Pool & Tennis Court...$525K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

APT FOR SALE Large One Bedroom Apt. in Lawrence Close to train, underground parking, spacious living room/dining area. Motivated seller $118,000. Call 917-299-8082

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

135

Lovely 2BR Co-op, Elev, Spacious Studio, Separate Large LR/DR, 1BR, Eik, 4BR, 3BA Hi-Ranch, Pets Ok, Near All..$165K Kitch, Updtd Bath..$80K Close To All..$1,700/mo Updtd Eik, Den..$479K

3BR,2.5BA Hi-Ranch,Eik, Magnificent 3BR Ranch, Newly Renovated 3BR,2.5BA Colonial In Prime Loct, Den,Patio,SD#14..$550K Lot Size 80x100..$649K Gourmet Eik, Full Basement, Low Taxes...$799K

Susan Pugatch

Carol Braunstein

(516)

Call or Text

(516) 592-2206

cbraunstein@pugatch.com

295-3000

www.pugatch.com

spugatch@pugatch.com

N.WOODMERE: 905 Longacre Ave(12-2)$849K WOODMERE: 141 Woodmere Blvd #4A(1:30-3)$165K WOODMERE: 372 Howard Ave (11:30-1:30)$675K WOODMERE: 5 5 9 D e r b y Av e ( 1 2 - 2 ) $649K

 1,600 +/- SF Retail Store  On-Site & Street Parking  Great Location, Near All

 LANDLORD MOTIVATED!!!  850 +/- SF Retail Store W/Parking  High Visibility Location

136

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 APT FOR RENT TO RENT: SMALL OFFICE SUITE with private bathroom in Far Rockaway on Beach 9 St. Newly renovated. Private entrance. Call 516-551-4888 for information

STUDIO APARTMENT FOR RENT in Far Rockaway on Beach 9 St. Newly renovated. Private entrance. Call 516-551-4888 for information CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking. Call Sam @ 516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080 LAWRENCE Spacious basement studio apt. Full kitchen, full bath, washer/dryer. Near shopping and transportation. $1200 includes utilities. 323-836-2603

HELP WANTED Experienced Real Estate Sales agent needed for a HIGH Producing real estate office who is seeking an opportunity to Earn & Learn more!!! Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential. TELECOM TECHNICIAN Full time position available for a Telecom Technician /Installer for a growing phone service provider. Good Pay, Willing to train. Please email your information to readyvoicedata@yahoo.com or call 718-471-8604 PART TIME AND FULL TIME BOOKKEEPING POSITION Fast growing accounting and consulting firm seeks a qualified individual to assist our accounting staff in providing bookkeeping services for our clients. Qualified individuals will have the opportunity to join our employee friendly culture At least 2 years working experience Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, QuickBooks a MUST Email – info@smallbizoutsource.com

HELP WANTED

THERAPISTS IMMEDIATE OPENINGS SPEECH THERAPIST

SEIT THERAPIST

EARLY INTERVENTION

EARLY INTERVENTION SCHOOL BASED

FULL/PART TIME

ABA EI

‫בס״ד‬

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Excellent Supervision

ABA PROGRAM Licensed Position:

LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST LBA, BCBA

Support Position:

PARAPROFESSIONAL Day & Evening Hours

Please send resume: email:

placement-FR@yeled.org YVY is an EEO

Growing company in the 5 Towns is seeking motivated, confident, out-going employee for full time bookkeeping/accounting. Must have professional bookkeeping experience, and strong teamwork skills Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co. Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348

ACTIVITY SPECIALIST: For senior retirement hotel in 5 Towns area. Experience preferred. Must be mature, responsible and have upbeat personality and enjoy working with seniors. Fax resume to 516-239-0358 5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. Exc working env’t, supportive admin, exc pay Lic’d & experienced preferred. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

Life CAPTURE

I M A G E S LTD PHOTOGRAPHY I VIDEO

GABRIEL SOLOMON

GABE@LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM 516.499.9620 WWW.LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003

HELP WANTED

5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. LOCAL DAY CAMP seeking to hire a friendly REGISTRAR/OFFICE MANAGER! Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Programs. Candidate will also deal with collections and accounts payable/receivables. Knowledge of CampMinder preferred. Hours and salary to be discussed. Great work environment! Send resume to registrarcamp@gmail.com

DRS HS FOR BOYS, WOODMERE NY SEEKS CHEMISTRY TEACHER (FT) FOR 2016-17. Resumes: gkirshenbaum@drshalb.org.

OVERNIGHT \WEEKEND COUNSELOR Responsible and exp’d staff to live in a beautiful group home & work 3 nights\week 7pm - 9am. Staff are not req’d to remain awake after 11pm. Staff are req’d to work two weekends per month. Free rent & food. Stipend given as well. Great for college girl. For additional info contact Frayde Yudkowsky at 732.948.4636 or fyudkowsky@evolvetreatment.com. CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Fax: (212) 480-3691 ~ Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS (PTA’S) & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ASSISTANTS (COTA’S) For 200+ bed Nursing Home in Queens. Must have Hospital or Nursing Home experience. Please email resume to promrehab@aol.com WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE A MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST. Job will require your own car and being computer/internet savy. If you consider yourself a marketing professional, this is the position for you. Opportunity to make unlimited income potential, Don’t delay. Give us a call at 917-612-2300

SITUATION WANTED CERTIFIED MALE CAREGIVER Caregiver 30 yrs experience. Specializing in expert full Time care,familiar with Kosher kitchens, honest, Reliable, experienced in NY/FL Excellent upscale References upon request Will travel Call Ralph 212-658-0542 Cell ~ 561-351-7944

MISC SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com WIG GEMACH Everyone in our community deserves to look great! Donate used wigs and make a world of a difference. For appointments to see wigs or to donate Call Deena 845-304-6668 Tutors desperately needed for Zichron Etel, a gemach providing free tutoring to those who cannot afford it. Now in Brooklyn and the Five Towns! Kindly visit our website at www.zichronetel.com NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Torah Academy for Girls admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and other school administered programs.

Reach Your Target Market Classifieds

137

138

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Low Cost Quality Insurance

Our Specialty Free Consultation

Free Policy Evaluation

WE MOVED!!!!!!

NEW LOCATION: 1115 Brunswick Aveue, Far Rockaway (Across from Season's Express's parking lot)*

*Old location: 833 Central Ave Apt. 6d, Far Rockaway

Ask the Rabbi !!?? The Rabbi loves a bargain (a metzia) Let the Rabbi help you save money (up to 50%)

¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾

Large Commercial Insurance Policies Life Insurance Disability Insurance Self Employed Health Insurance Long Term Care insurance

Certiﬁed Shatnez Tester:

R’ ARYEH STONE

An NCSTAR Laboratory, trained in Lakewood and aﬃliated with VAAD L'MISHMERES SHATNEZ

Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC Call: 917‐543‐0497 – Leave a message

Premier clients receive a copy of my book (sefer) “Sweeter Than Honey” as a gift

ber 8th.

starting Thursday, Septem

Drop Oﬀ & For Additional Hours For 5350 568 Pick Up Call 516

Licensed Independent Broker for All Types of Insurance Mail: Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC P.O. Box # 7655 600 Franklin Ave Garden City, NY 11530

OFF/PICK UP NEW HOURS FOR DROP AILABLE: ON THE SPOT TESTING AV M-TH 8:15pm-10:00pm

Additional Services:

ALL TESTING DONE ON PREMISES

• Rush Jobs • Close Seams • Shatnez Removal/Repair • Delivery- Pick Up/Drop Oﬀ • Shatnez Test day at your shul • House Calls

Servicing The Five Towns And Far Rockaway For Over A Decade

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

139

140

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Your

Money

400 Cigar-Chomping Fat Cats Aren’t Enough Anymore By Allan Rolnick, CPA

uthor F. Scott Fitzgerald, who brought us the Great Gatsby among other wellheeled characters, once said the rich are very different from you and me. To which Fitzgerald’s jazz age compatriot Ernest Hemingway sarcastically retorted, “Yes, they have

more money.” But how much more money do they really have? Nosey parkers want to know! Every year, the financial snoops at the IRS release a study analyzing the income and the taxes of the top 400 earners in the country. We’re not talking ordinary 1%ers here —

Get the Shmuz App e z h T um mo Sh .c

GET ALL THE SHMUZ INSPIRATION RIGHT ON YOUR PHONE!

www.TheShmuz.com | 866-613-TORAH (8672)

we’re talking card-carrying plutocrats. If you show these people your Hamptons house, they’ll raise you their bigger Hamptons house, right on the beach — plus a penthouse in Manhattan plus a ski chalet in Gstaad plus a second beach house in St. Bart’s. Last week, the IRS released their report for 2014, and revealed that the country’s 400 fattest cats had gotten 20% fatter. It took $127 million of adjusted gross income to join the top group, up from $100 million in 2013. But that was just the ante — the average income was $318 million, 20% more than the previous year. The 400’s total income was $128 billion, which is just a few billion shy of Nevada’s Gross Domestic Product. Where does all that money come gushing in from? It’s not salaries

and wages (4.47% of the total), interest and dividends (15.13%), or even closely-held businesses (11.6%). You’ll have to turn to Schedule D, “Capital Gains and Losses.” The average Fortunate 400 filer reported $192 million in gains. This suggests our typical tippy-top earner makes it by selling a business they spent a lifetime growing. As it turns out, 3,262 of the 4,584 Fortunate 400 who have appeared on the list in the last 23 years have made it just once, which reinforces this point. The numbers going out are just as impressive, too. The group averaged $37 million in charitable contributions (6.9% of the country’s total), $22 million in state and local taxes, $5 million in interest, and $11 million in miscellaneous itemized deductions. Sadly, the re-

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

port doesn’t tell us how much they spent on million-dollar watches, diamond-studded dog collars, and other essentials of overfunded lives. As for taxes, the group’s average IRS contribution was $73.5 million, which represents a 23.13% rate. Of course, those are just averages — the study revealed that nine of our super-earners paid less than 10% and 26 more paid less than 15%. (It’s probably a good thing their neighbors don’t know who

The 400’s total income was $128 billion, which is just a few billion shy of Nevada’s Gross Domestic Product.

they are!) It’s all an early holiday for data nerds. Now here’s the bad news. This year we’ll be waving goodbye to our lucky 400 winners. Because of our growing population, the IRS will shift their focus to the country’s top 0.001% of taxpayers, or 1,396 returns. “This is a more analytically useful tabulation compared to the top 400 tabulation in that it provides a longitudinally consistent data point relative to the entire percentile distribution,” they say. (We told you this was data nerd stuff.) Here’s one last thing the Fortunate 400 have in common. They don’t just take a shoebox full of receipts to their accountant on April 14 and say, “What do I owe?” No, these very smart people plan and

plan and plan — to ensure they keep every last penny possible. It works for them, and it can work for you. Make sure you take advantage of opportunities still remaining in 2016, and let’s see what can be done for you!

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

141

142

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

Social Drama By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

that could spiral out of control? There is certainly a lot of pain that can come about from being put

he said, he said, I said, I didn’t say! Does this sound like the beginning of an interaction

OF THE BOSTONER BAIS MEDRASH

PROFESSIONAL CHILDCARE CHILDREN AGES 21/2 & 3 IN A LOVING ENVIRONMENT 0 PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION TORAH EDUCATION

0 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONALLY ENRICHED CURRICULUM 0 SPACIOUS INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLAY FACILITIES 0 MORAH CHANSIE IS A RECOGNIZED EXPERT WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE 0 HELP YOUR CHILD REACH THEIR EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL!!

Limited Space Available for Fall Registration Contact Rebbetzin Chansie Horowitz 516.371.6848

down, left out, or pushed out. Now let’s just try taking a different view of this.... I don’t think social drama is a laughing matter, but is it possible that we could look at it from a different vantage point? Like, who decided these people are running the world? Why do they get to call the shots and make other people feel miserable just for making a mistake? How would it feel if the tables were turned? No, I don’t mean turned against the person who escalates the drama. But rather, where the “drama-reactor” backs down and takes a different approach. Like maybe, here’s a choice of other responses: Empathy – you must have been going through a really bad time to have said something like that; empowerment – whatever caused it, you’re a good person. I trust your incentives; benevolence – we all have our bad days; contrition – I may have done the same thing too; heroics – it’s all my fault; humility – I totally deserved it; desperation – I’m sssoooo sorry I drove you to it! In certain cases, any one of these of reactions can certainly turn the tide. There’s often more than one side to a story. So what if this really could happen? If we could just let

someone off the hook ‘cause they are only human and stop the reaction before it becomes full blown drama? The problem with drama is that it takes on a life of its own. It often starts with a person or two, and within no time erupts to the point where it involves a town, a city, a country, a universe. And that’s before it pulls in the entire galaxy! What I’m suggesting is let’s remember that people make silly mistakes. Maybe we can be a little bigger than our hurt feelings – which I’m not minimizing. But honestly, if we can just stop the he-said-shesaid-I-heard-did-you-hear, etc. before we start getting the whole world involved, one dramatic story at a time, maybe we can keep the social drama to a minimum. And in the process, work out the problem between the essential parties without it becoming a worldwide problem of traumatic proportions. You know, just keep it social and leave the drama to a stage production!

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 15, 2016

143

144

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

SATURDAY

DECEMBER 17TH 8 PM TO MIDNIGHT

CEDARHURST MIDNIGHT MADNESS HOLIDAY EVENT

DOES NOT INCLUDE METERED PARKING ON STREETS DOES NOT INCLUDE PERMIT PARKING IN LOTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS GO TO WWW.SHOPCEDARHURST.COM

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

145

146

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

147

148

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

149

150

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

151

152

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

153

154

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

155

156

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

157

158

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

159

160

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

161

162

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

163

164

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

165

166

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

167

168

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

169

170

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

171

172

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

173

174

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

175

176

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

177

178

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

179

180

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

181

182

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

183

184

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

185

186

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

187

188

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

189

190

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

191

192

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

193

194

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

195

196

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

197

198

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

199

200

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

201

202

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

203

204

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

205

206

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

207

208

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

209

210

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

211

212

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

213

214

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

215

216

DECEMBER 15, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2016

217