February 11 — Febuary 17, 2016
Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn
Pages 9, 10, 11, 13 & 15
Around the
Community
Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
The Ides of February Seminary Surprises When the Letter Comes in the Mail
55
Community Joins in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Annual Dinner
pg
67 60
Darchei Torah Students Work to Preserve the Memories of the Holocaust
96
The End of an Era but Not the End of a Vision
68 MAY Eagles Win Mesivta Football League Season 4 Championship
Pesach Vacation Section
pg
Starts on Page 119 Page 83
PAGE 26
– See pages 3 & 35
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers,
W
e teach our children that winning isn’t everything – that they should enjoy and have fun and whether they win or lose it’s just a game. But truthfully, deep inside, it does matter if you win. You tried your best, you put your heart and soul into something, and then you didn’t get to the finish line in record time. Looking at the situation logically, you know that the effort expended made you a better, stronger person. You know that the next time you play you’ll be better prepared. But it hurts not to have been acknowledged for doing the best job. I’ll admit that Sunday night I was not watching the Super Bowl. I’ll further admit that I still don’t understand the game and never made the effort to learn the rules. So watching football would be a complete waste of time for me. But I do read the news and the next day the world was buzzing that Cam Newton refused to answer questions after his devastating loss; he was dejected and later admitted to feeling like a “loser.” Hmmm. This was someone who made it to the Super Bowl. He is considered – or so my son tells me – to be one of the best football
players around. Yet, he felt like a “loser” because he lost this major game. It’s hard to squash an emotion that hurts so deep. These feelings aren’t just manifest on the field. Any time we put ourselves out there, we are putting ourselves at risk for disappointment. Think about the time you applied for the job you really wanted and didn’t get it. What about the time you went out on the date with the perfect person, only to find out that he or she didn’t feel the same way? How about the friendship you tried to cultivate that ended with a cold shoulder? Or when you applied to the seminary or yeshiva that was just for you – but there was no more room for just one more? Disappointments in life are the norm. But they should not be defining. Our purpose in life is to put ourselves out there, to expend the effort and energy, and hope for the best. If defeat is the answer, though, don’t sit back down. Take a deep breath, muster your inner strength, and start again. Because if you keep on fighting, failure will not be your ultimate vision. Victory will be yours. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana
Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER
publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR
ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com
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classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll
8
Community Happenings
54
The Ides of February: Seminary Surprises When the Letter Comes in the Mail by Malky Lowinger 96 The End of an Era but Not the End of a Vision
100
NEWS
142
Global
13
National
34
Odd-but-True Stories
46
ISRAEL Israel News
22
My Israel Home: Netanya’s Charm
94
PEOPLE Larry Freedman, the SuperJew by Avi Heiligman
102
PARSHA Rabbi Wein
82
The Shmuz
84
JEWISH THOUGHT The World According to Me by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
88
Two Sides to Two-Faced by Eytan Kobre
90
JEWISH HISTORY Amulets, Accusations & Controversy: The Devastating Polemic Between Rabbi Yaakov Emden and Rabbi Yonason Eybeschutz, Part III by Rabbi Pini Dunner 114 HEALTH & FITNESS A High Fiber Diet Can Save Lives by Cindy Weinberger, MS, RD, CDN 104 What’s Love? by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD
106
FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Four Fabulous Sides
Dear Editor, Kudos to you for publishing an interesting and easy-to-read article on kids’ nutrition. As a school teacher, I have noticed many mothers packing snacks for their children that are in no way nutritious. Kids are sent to school with candy and salty, fatty foods and then they are expected to spend their day at their desks with barely any time for exercise. It’s a danger waiting to happen! So many schools have implemented a healthy snack policy for younger children – and they enforce it. That’s wonderful! If every child in the class is munching on apples and cucumbers, they’ll develop a taste for the yummy, delicious foods that help our bodies restore and reenergize our systems. Once at home, parents should keep up this trend: serve crisp, fresh fruits and vegetables for after-school snacks and you’ll see your children flourish and brighten when you put out a giant bowl of blueberries or cut up mangoes. And yes, you can snack on them too! Sincerely, A Teacher in the Five Towns Dear Editor, I’d like to address the dating column that was published in this week’s issue. To the girl who wrote into the “Dating Dialogue,” please don’t see your sister’s situation and hold yourself back from meeting “the one.” I can
tell you that I know someone very well who suffered in a terrible marriage. I witnessed her pain and when she had to end her marriage, I was there for her and continue to be there for her. She is a strong, wonderful person who unfortunately was put into a terrible place. But she is now dating and confident that she will meet someone who will treat her the right way. She has come very far and with the help of many people knows that her situation is not a typical one. She is confident that with Hashem’s help, she will remarry. When my friend was going through her turmoil, I too was dating. Her situation made me skittish – if it could happen to my beautiful, wonderful friend, it could happen to me. But I have wonderful parents and mentors who counseled me. And they helped me see that we can only do the best that we can, we can only date and analyze and conjecture and search for the right one – and then beg Hashem to do the rest. I am now married to a wonderful man who treats me with respect and love. And I am happy that I did not let my friend’s situation define my future. I went into marriage doing my due-diligence and with Hashem’s help, He helped me find the right one. May Hashem guide you in the right way and may you and your sister find the right ones in right time. Chana H. Continued on page 12
112
LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW
108
Who is a Salesman? by Rabbi Mordechai Kruger
130
From America to Zanzibar by Chaim Homnick
132
Your Money
141
Mom’s Dependable Apple Pie by Rivki 142 Rosenwald, Esq., CLC HUMOR
94
Centerfold
80
Do you think we will have a female president within the next ten years?
Rocky’s Rant: The Undercover Jew 128 Uncle Moishy Fun Page
134
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE
Notable Quotes
116
Rubio and Cruz: A Contrast in Leadership by Michael Gerson
124
The “Establishment” Nonsense by Charles Krauthammer
126
CLASSIFIEDS
It’s Presidents Day and the elections are starting to heat up.
136
25
%
YES
75
%
NO
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Sale Dates: February 14th - 20th 2016
Weekly Skippy Peanut Butter
General Mill’s Honey Nut Cheerios
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Continued from 8
Evening INVITES YOU
Awareness TO AN
DIVREI HISSORERUS V’CHIZUK ON THE TOPIC OF HATZALAS NEFASHOS FOR MEN & WOMEN
The White Shul 728 EMPIRE AVENUE FAR ROCKAWAY, NY
February 21st SUNDAY
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RABBI NOACH ISAAC OELBAUM SHLIT"A Posek of Renewal
A TRANSPLANT SURGEON
Presents a Medical Perspective on Kidney Donation
NESANEL FELLER
A Local Kidney Donor Shares His Story
RABBI JOSH STURM
How Renewal is Helping to Change the Dynamics of Living Kidney Donation • Maariv to follow • SPONSORING SHULS: AISH KODESH • BAIS TEFILAH OF WOODMERE • BEIS HAKNESSES OF NORTH WOODMERE CONGREGATION BAIS AVROHOM ZEV OF LAWRENCE CONGREGATION BAIS EPHRAIM YITZCHOK • CONGREGATION KNESETH MEIR • CONGREGATION SHAARAY TEFILA CONGREGATION TIFERETH ZVI KEHILLAS BNAI HAYESHIVOS • THE WHITE SHUL YESHIVA OF FAR ROCKAWAY • YOUNG ISRAEL OF FAR ROCKAWAY THERE WILL BE NO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS AT THIS EVENT.
718.431.9831 INFO@RENEWAL.ORG WWW.RENEWAL.ORG Founded in 2006, Renewal is an organization dedicated to assisting people suffering from chronic kidney disease and to educating the public on the life-saving benefits of living kidney donations. Renewal facilitates and coordinates live donor kidney transplants while providing guidance and support to patients and their families. Renewal accompanies the donor throughout the entire transplant process, from the very first phone call through the transplant and post-transplant recovery, “holding their hand” and assisting with details such as appointments, transportation, lodging and obstacles that could impede the process.
Dear Editor, Bravo USA! Kuwait Air is ending its New York to London service over their refusal to carry Israeli passengers. The U.S. Department of Transportation will not tolerate unlawful discrimination and has mandated that the airline cease that practice and allow Israeli passengers to travel. Sadly...Kuwait has decided to keep its discriminatory practices and cease service to the USA. So, where are the other decent countries demanding Kuwait to accept Israeli passengers? A united worldwide front would bring Kuwait Air to their knees. Joseph M. Varon Past President Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council Dear Editor, I have forwarded a petition with about 200 signatures and comments to numerous Jewish organizations to demand the Obama administration threaten to cut funds from the hundreds of millions of dollars the U.S. sends annually to the Palestinian Authority which has been inciting for years and encouraging violence against Jews all over Israel. Indeed we are now seeing the results as Jewish mothers are stabbed before their children and boys knifed on their bikes and young women and old men are hurt on a steady basis. The Palestinian Authority even sends funds to terrorists and their families in jail and regularly sponsors UN resolutions against Israel. They even call Israel’s Independence Day the Great Catastrophe, a peculiar way for supposed peace partners to behave. I have not received any responses so I ask people to please call our Jewish organizations. How can we be silent as Palestinians of all ages are stabbing Jews of all ages across Israel as the Palestinian Authority continues its incitement and the U.S. continues sending hundreds of millions of dollars?! Al taamod al dam rei’acha! It’s a strong chillul Hashem that the Jewish community is silent as our brothers and sisters are being preyed upon by Palestinian terrorists and the rest of the world complains against Israel for successfully putting down many of the terrorists! Please call these numbers and ask why there is no concrete rally or demand for repercussions as opposed
to empty worthless condemnations! Agudath Israel 212-797-9000 OU 212-471-2065 ADL 212-885-7700 EMUNAH 212-564-9045 HADASSA 1-800-664-5646 UJA NY 212-980-0643 JNF 888-563-0099 JCRC NY 212-983-4800 ZOA 212-481-1500 AJC 212-751-4000 BNAI ZION 212-725-1211 AIPAC 212-750-4110 Weisenthal Center 1-800-900-9036 Hillel 202-449-6500 Young Israel 212-929-1525 Ben Small Brooklyn, NY Dear Editor, Rabbi Naphtali Hoff’s article this week gave me food for thought. He writes that American children are not as polite as French children because French children are taught to think of others. In France, he says, parents demand that children behave respectfully towards others. In America, we teach our children to advocate only for themselves. From where does this attitude come from? It is possible that Americans have always had that feeling of “manifest destiny,” where we think that if we don’t force ourselves into a position, that seat will be given to another? Is it the same attitude that makes us run for a cab ahead of a pregnant woman or not give up our seats on the bus for an elderly man? In our community, though, I would like to think that we are constantly working on our children and helping them think of others. Look at all the organizations in our area that help those in need, providing Shabbos meals, clothing, wheelchairs, bris outfits, even megillah laining or snow shoveling when necessary. What a wonderful world to be in – when we always think of the other. And when our children see that we are helpful, we are concerned for those who are lonely or in need, surely they will be inspired to follow in our footsteps. I would like to see a study conducted between our community’s children and children in French society. Which society will be considered more polite and more giving? I know that our children will come in first place – hands down. Sincerely, Nesanel Berger
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
The Week In News
El Chapo to Be Extradited?
According to one of his lawyers, El Chapo may be coming to the United States – but under one condition: he doesn’t want to go to a “high-security prison.” In an interview with Univision last week, attorney Jose Refugio Rodriguez said that the recently recaptured drug kingpin is willing to plead guilty to drug-trafficking charges filed against him in the U.S. and “suggested to me the possible option of reaching an agreement with the United States government to consent to the extradition,” Rodríguez said in an exclusive interview — his first time on camera in 36 years as a litigator. Rodríguez added that the jailed Sinaloa cartel chief “is willing to accept his culpability for the charges [that] the United States seeks.” “[We would ask for] favorable conditions in order to face legal proceedings in the United States ... Like? That he doesn’t arrive at a maximum-security prison ... and [that he gets there] after the penalty is negotiated,” Rodríguez said. He added that he wouldn’t want to be incarcerated in a “maximum-security prison where he would not have contact with other inmates or where he would not see the light of the sun for more than an hour a day.” It could be that the attorney is referring to the infamous federal ADX prison, known as the supermax or the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” in Florence, Colorado, where, according to The New York Times: “Inmates spend their days in 12-by-7foot cells with thick concrete walls and double sets of sliding metal doors (with solid exteriors, so prisoners can’t see one another). ... Prisoners in the general population are
allotted a maximum of 10 hours of exercise a week outside their cells, alternating between solo trips to an indoor ‘gym’ (a windowless cell with a single chin-up bar) and group visits to the outdoor rec yard (where each prisoner nonetheless remains confined to an individual cage).” The prison holds many of the U.S.’s most violent and well-known criminals in relative isolation. Interestingly, it was predicted that El Chapo would make such a request by Jhon “Popeye” Vasquez, one of the surviving members of Pablo Escobar’s Medellin drug cartel. He said in August that conditions in this prison would be intolerable “for a recalcitrant Mexican like El Chapo.” During the interview with Univision, Rodriguez added that the possibility of negotiations with the U.S. had not been formally addressed with any official or agency. He added, “We are going to work the extradition [process] so that the United States doesn’t find a man prostrate on his knees, begging for help,” Rodríguez said. “So the American government sees that we have elements to win the extradition [case] in Mexico.” Many have believed that El Chapo was only able to escape and operate with the support of elements within the Mexican government. The Mexican government may offer Guzmán a deal that precludes extradition in exchange for information on corrupt officials.
Medals for Nuclear Deal Negotiators
On Monday, Iran’s nuclear negotiators who helped clinch the summer’s nuclear deal with world powers were honored. President Hassan Rouhani awarded the “Medal of Merit” to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the “Medal of Courage” to Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan and Vice President Ali
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
Akbar Salehi, who is also the country’s nuclear chief. The historic July 14 agreement brought about the lifting of international economic sanctions last month after the United Nations certified that Iran has met all its commitments to curbing its nuclear activities. “We passed behind us difficult days, difficult hours and nights,” Rouhani said at the ceremony. “But we did not lose the right path and G-d did not leave us alone.” Rouhani was a strong supporter of the nuclear negotiations and backed the agreement in the face of fierce internal resistance from hard-liners. The agreement and the lifting of sanctions were seen as a major accomplishment for the Iranian president, who was elected in 2013 on a platform promising constructive engagement with the outside world and an end to Iran’s international isolation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters in Iran, was lauded at the ceremony as well by Rouhani. “Without the Supreme Leader, there was no national unity. Without the Supreme Leader, our [nuclear] accomplishment would have not been as great as it is today and maybe we would not have had such an achievement,” he said. The implementation of the deal and the lifting of sanctions have increased Rouhani’s popularity; his allies are looking forward to a strong showing in February 26 parliamentary elections.
Nine Killed in Train Crash in Germany
The rail line is commonly used by commuters heading to work in Munich, and would normally also carry children traveling to school, but thankfully schools are currently closed for holiday. The trains crashed in a remote area about 60 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Munich in an area with a forest on one side and a river on the other. Rescue crews using helicopters and small boats shuttled injured passengers to the other side of the Mangfall River to waiting ambulances. Authorities said they were being taken to hospitals across southern Bavaria. “This is the biggest accident we have had in years in this region and we have many emergency doctors, ambulances and helicopters on the scene,” police spokesman Stefan Sonntag said. It was not yet clear what caused the crash. “This is a huge shock. We are doing everything to help the passengers, relatives and employees,” Bernd Rosenbusch, the head of the Bayerische Oberlandbahn, related. Germany is known for the quality of its train service but the country has seen several other accidents, typically at road crossings. Most recently, a train driver and one passenger were killed when a train hit the trailer of a tractor in western Germany in May, injuring another 20. In 2011, 10 people were killed and 23 injured in a head-on collision of a passenger train and a cargo train on a single-line track close to Saxony-Anhalt’s state capital Magdeburg in eastern Germany. Germany’s worst train accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed ICE train crashed in the northern German town of Eschede, killing 101 people and injuring more than 80.
Bomb Explodes on Somali Flight
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12,000 feet. Thankfully the passenger plane was mostly spared from the terrifying explosion. The blast punched a gaping hole in the fuselage of the plane. It was caused by a bomb intended to kill everyone on board, Somalia’s minister for transport and aviation said. Abdullahi Abdisalem Borleh was the only fatality of the botched attack –and he was the carrier of the bomb. The explosive device was supposedly concealed in a laptop bag. Two others were injured in the explosion on the Airbus A321, operated by Somali company Daallo Airlines. It was forced to make an emergency landing at Mogadishu airport. On Tuesday it was revealed that the bomber was originally meant to board a Turkish Airlines plane, as were a majority of the passengers on the Daallo flight. The Turkish Airlines flight was cancelled due to bad weather and the passengers were redirected to the Daallo flight instead. United States investigators believe the attack was carried out by Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab, but there has been no comment from the organization. “We have confirmed that it was a bomb that exploded in the Daallo Airlines flight. It was meant to kill all aboard,” the minister, Ali Ahmed Jamac, confirmed. More than 20 people have been arrested in connection to the attack. Somalia is currently engaged in an ongoing civil war. According to Necrometrics, around 500,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Somalia since the start of the civil war in 1991. Al-Shabaab has been blamed for several major terrorist attacks throughout the region, such as the April 2015 assault on Garissa University in Kenya, which killed 148 students. The terror group claims it wants to overthrow the Western-backed Somali government.
N. Korea Brags about Launch, Others Suspect Missile Test Despite many international warnings, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday. The rocket was fired from North Korea’s west coast and its path was tracked
by the United States, Japan and South Korea. No damage from debris was reported. At an emergency national Security Council meeting in Seoul, the country’s president called the firing an “intolerable provocation.”
North Korea, though, insists that the launch is simply part of a peaceful space program. The launch’s “fascinating vapor” cut through the clear blue sky and North Korea said it had successfully put a new Earth observation satellite, the Kwangmyongsong 4, or Shining Star 4, into orbit less than 10 minutes after liftoff. It promised more such launches. A U.S. official said it may take several days to assess whether the launch was a success. Sunday morning marked the start of an eight day launch window; the firing came about two hours into the day. It also follows North Korea’s widely disputed claim last month to have tested a hydrogen bomb. Following the launch, the United States and Japan immediately requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday morning, saying Pyongyang violated a council ban on ballistic missile launches. North Korean rocket and nuclear tests are seen as a threat. North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration, in typical propaganda-laden language, said on Sunday that ruling Workers’ Party policies were responsible for the rocket’s success. The statement praised “the fascinating vapor of Juche satellite trailing in the clear and blue sky in spring of February on the threshold of the Day of the Shining Star.” Juche is a North Korean philosophy focusing on self-reliance; the Day of the Shining Star refers to the February 16 birthday of former dictator Kim Jong Il. This isn’t the first time that North Korea has staged rocket launches to mark important anniversaries. Continued on page 20
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
A lookback at Achiezer’s activities over the past 12 months:
$2.8M+
150
1,700
community costs saved through our health insurance enrollment program.
pieces of state-of-theart medical equipment loaned and delivered at no cost to the community.
confidential mental health referrals and consultations rendered by our veteran psychologist.
5,200 individuals
$62,000 raised to sponsor
720 calls received on our
enrolled in insurance plans at our offices.
summer camp for dozens of local children.
after-hours urgent hotline.
313
3
CPR courses trained
120
community residents.
100
hospitalization crises handled by Achiezer.
9,500 expert and
volunteers delivered
detailed medical recommendations given.
Number of times we invite the community to unite with us?
BottomLineMG.com
ONE. Join us as ONE community. With ONE heart.
240
Meals N’ More Packages to
8
hospitals.
260
trips taken to SNCH, Mercy, Winthrop and LIJ to supply our respite programs there.
47
deaths within our community required our intervention at medical examiners’ offices in order to ensure kavod hameis.
144
families were paired with our financial advisers.
$115,000+ worth of supermarket gift cards were provided to struggling families.
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
ACHIEZER DINNER SUNDAY, 02/28/16 The Sands
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JOURNAL CHAIRMEN Eli Bobker • Heshy Friedman Moshe Feldhamer Nochum Wolf
DINNER COMMITTEE: Rabbi Dovid Bender • Adam Dachs • Joe Eisenberger • Elly Friedman • Pinky Friedman Dr. Duvy Goldberg • Tzali Gutman • Mendy Haas • Charlie Harary • Yosef Hillel Kanner • Ben Lowinger Dr. Asher Mansdorf • Dr. Avishai Neuman • Moshe Ratner • Mark Salamon • Aron Solomon
Visit Achiezer.org/Dinner to make your dinner reservations and place your journal ads! For more information please contact Achiezer at: Phone: 516.791.4444 x113 • email: Dinner2016@Achiezer.org
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Iran’s Nuke Chief Named Potential Nobel Peace Prize Winner
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually (with some exceptions) to those who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” According to Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Oslo’s Peace Research Institute, the leader of Iran’s atomic energy agency may win the nomination for recognition of his efforts with the nuclear deal with world powers. He speculated that Ali Akbar Salehi would be the winner of the award, and added that another possible candidate, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, would win as well. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, he surmised, may be a winner as well. Harpviken called Moniz and Salehi “worthy and likely candidates… [who] used their shared background from MIT to reach an agreement in spite of the differences and long-lasting grievances that exist between their respective countries.” He recognized that the two individuals “have received much of the credit for the [so far] considerable success of the Iran nuclear deal” and branded their work “a fine example of science diplomacy.” Just last week, Salehi informed members of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations that the nuclear deal had in fact left the chief components of the country’s nuclear program intact, while securing international legitimacy for the program’s existence. According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, Salehi said the accord “did not completely stymie the program, and we have only been slower in terms of progress.” He noted that in some areas Iran had even “accelerated the pace, including in the volume of nuclear material which was 550
tons before, now we have 770 tons of nuclear material. This is a fact known to [the International Atomic Energy Agency].” The nuclear agency chief also highlighted the UN Security Council’s “acknowledgement and recognition of Iran’s nuclear program” as a major achievement for the nation. Harpviken’s institute stressed in a press release that “his speculations do not confirm, nor endorse, any candidate, and are not in any manner based on privileged access to the decision-making of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Neither the Director, nor the Institute he leads, have any form of association with the Nobel Institute or the Norwegian Nobel Committee.” On Monday, Iran announced that it had gained access to more than $100 billion worth of frozen overseas assets following the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal with world powers. Government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said a lot of the money had been accruing in overseas banks in China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey since international sanctions were tightened in 2012 over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Justice Served Cold in Bangladesh
Obaidul Haque Taher, 66, and Ataur Rahman Noni, 62, were involved in the deaths of seven people and deserve to be punished. However, their punishment is coming a few years too late – they have lived for over four decades since their war crimes. This week, a special war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced the two men to death after they were found guilty of killing, kidnapping, and looting during the country’s independence war against Pakistan in 1971. Prosecutors said that the two suspects helped Pakistani soldiers
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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attack a village in Netrokona district on October 19, 1971. The men pleaded not guilty, but the three-judge panel in Dhaka ruled otherwise. Twenty three prosecution witnesses testified against the duo since charges were laid against them last year. Lawyers for the two men immediately announced that they would seek to overturn Tuesday’s ruling by the International Crimes Tribunal, a domestic court which lacks international oversight. According to the country’s history books, Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and assaulted more than 200,000 women during the nine-month war in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh, previously the eastern wing of Pakistan. The tribunal was established by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010. Since then it has convicted 25 people, sentencing 21 of them to death. To date, four people, including three leaders of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, have been hanged. The party had campaigned against independence and formed militia groups to help Pakistani soldiers.
Earthquake Topples Building in Taiwan
Just before dawn on Saturday a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan causing a 17-story residential building to collapse leaving 24 people dead and hundreds injured. About 2,000 firefighters and soldiers equipped with ladders, cranes and other equipment rescued more than 340 from the rubble, but unfortunately by late Saturday there were still more than 100 people missing. Rescuers searched apartment by apartment for survivors, drawing red circles near windows of apartments they already searched.
According to records, the building had 256 registered residents, however it is possible that there were many more individuals inside due to the upcoming holiday. Monday marked the start of Lunar New Year, an important holiday in the Chinese calendar, and it is common to host family and friends during this celebratory time.
At the time the earthquake struck at 4 a.m., most residents were sleeping but one resident, Lin Bao-gui, was awake and described, “The building first started shaking horizontally, then up and down, then a big shake right to left. I stayed in my bed but jumped up when I heard the big bang that was the sound of the building
falling,” he said. The city of Tainan that housed the high-rise apartment complex was hit the worst by the devastating earthquake. Eyewitnesses say the building folded “like an accordion” onto its side shortly after the quake struck. Due to the stunning nature of the collapse, questions are surfacing about
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
whether the 1989 structure had substandard construction. Tainan’s government said the Wei Guan building was not listed as a dangerous structure before the quake, and Taiwan’s interior minister, Chen Wei-zen, said an investigation would examine whether the developer had cut corners during construction. After the collapse, emergency workers came across tin cans built into the walls of the toppled complex. They appear to have been used as construction fillers in beams. After rescue operations end, officials will be opening an investigation into the building’s collapse. According to an interview with CNN with an engineer familiar with construction in the area, using tin cans “for such purposes in construction was not illegal prior to September 1999, but since then Styrofoam and formwork boards have been used instead.” It is not uncommon for earthquakes to rattle Taiwan, but generally they are slight and cause little or no damage. Ten other buildings collapsed in this week’s tragedy; this building was the only one to completely crumble. Throughout Tainan, 337 people
were rescued, the city government said. Another two people were tragically killed by falling objects in other parts of the city. The quake was felt in the capital, Taipei, on the other side of the island, but no damage was reported there. Residents in mainland China also reported that the tremor was felt there.
19-Year-Old Officer Murdered
Three Palestinians from the northern West Bank attacked and killed a 19-year-old Border Police of-
ficer last Wednesday. Hadar Cohen had been rushed to Hadassah Hospital in critical condition after she was wounded in the attack near the Old City. Paramedics who treated her at the scene said she was fighting for her life. Sadly, she didn’t survive. Another policewomen was in serious but stable condition at the hospital after the attack, with multiple wounds. A third victim, identified only as a 20-year-old Israeli, was lightly wounded and treated at the scene. The three attackers – identified as Ahmed Abou Al-Roub, Mohammed Kameel and Ahmad Rajeh Ismail Zakarneh – were armed with locally fabricated “Carl Gustav” rifles, knives and two pipe bombs, police said. They were all either 20 or 21 years old. Hadar Cohen was drafted into the Border Police only two months ago and was still in training as she patrolled the area outside Damascus Gate. She was part of a three-member squad that spotted the three Palestinians behaving in a suspicious manner and asked to see their identification papers. As one attacker withdrew his ID card, the others opened fire and pulled out knives to
attack the officers. According to police, Cohen managed to return fire before she was mortally wounded, despite being surprised by the attackers. After the attackers were killed by police forces who responded to the scene, police found pipe bombs on them. “As far as we can tell from the armaments, [the terrorists] planned a larger, more sophisticated attack,” Jerusalem Deputy Police Chief Avshalom Peled said. “This is an escalation from what we’ve seen thus far. The police officers prevented a combined and much larger attack.” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat visited the scene shortly after the attack. “I had a chance to speak to our brave warriors, who were not afraid to engage” the terrorists, he said at the scene. “This was a real battle. In this battle, the police and Border Police officers of Jerusalem prevented a much larger disaster. Their readiness allowed them to [quickly] engage [the attackers] and save lives. The public in Jerusalem must keep their eyes open, and not hesitate to engage [attackers]. That readiness will prevent attacks.” In a statement, Hamas congratu-
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
lated the “unique and heroic operation,” describing it as a “blow to the security system of the occupation.”
Netanyahu: We Need a Fence All Around
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the government is preparing a plan to entirely surround Israel with a security fence to “protect ourselves from the predators.” The Israeli leader said this during a tour of the eastern fence under construction along the length of the Jordanian border. The eastern fence is designed to safeguard the airport being built in the Timna Valley, and it includes observation posts. The cost of building the fence’s 30 kilometers and fortifying the airport stands at NIS 288 million. “The advantage of building here and along the Egyptian border is that there are no structures adjacent to the fence, not one kilometer away and not two kilometers away, that could serve as an opening,” said the prime minister. “That’s not the case in Gaza. This is potentially not the case in Judea and Samaria, where there are structures built adjacent to the separation line you are considering forming, either.” He added, “When you build a fence there, you have to take into account that tunnels are being built underneath. Those who said that territory doesn’t carry importance in the modern era should go to Gaza. “Ultimately, the State of Israel as I see it will have a fence that surrounds it entirely,” added Netanyahu regarding criticism of continuing the various fortifications and barriers. “They’ll say to me, ‘This is what you want to do, protect the villa?’ The answer is yes. Will we surround the entirety of the State of Israel with a fence and obstacles? The answer is yes. In the environment in which we live, we must protect ourselves from the predators.” The prime minister said the gov-
ernment is preparing “a multi-year program to surround Israel with security fences in order to protect ourselves in the Middle East as it is today. In addition, we are preparing a program to close the breaches in the security fence in Judea and Samaria. This costs many billions and we are working on a multi-year program of prioritization, so that it’s spread out over years, in order to build it gradually but complete it in order to protect the State of Israel.” Netanyahu was accompanied on the tour by Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud), Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, and the GOC Southern Command.
Be alert.
First PA Embassy in the Americas
Brazil now hosts an embassy representing the Palestinian Authority. PA ambassador Ibrahim Alzeben led the opening event and flag-raising ceremony this past week. The events were attended by left-wing Brazilian government officials, the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, representatives of Arab countries and members of the local Arab community. Many have serious safety concerns regarding the embassy. An unnamed military source told a Brazilian magazine that “diplomats and their vehicles cannot be checked. The embassy is a sovereign Hamas area now, the site is strategic. Terrorists could access the whole governmental structure in a half an hour.” The building is considered large in comparison to other diplomatic missions. Topped with a golden dome, the building was erected to mimic the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. PA President Mahmoud Abbas laid the cornerstone for the building in 2011. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) received authorization Continued on page 27
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
to appoint representatives in Brazil in 1975. In 1993, Brazil authorized the opening of the Palestinian Special Delegation in Brazil, whose status was raised to embassy in 1998. In 2004, a representative office of Brazil in Ramallah was opened. After Brazil recognized the state of “Palestine” in December 2010, the Special Delegation became the “Embassy of Palestine.” Israel has not had an ambassador in Brazil since December after Brazil rejected Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s nominee to fill the vacant Israeli envoy position. The reason given was that Netanyahu’s nomination, Dani Dayan, was a former Yesha Council leader and a resident of Judea and Samaria.
Palestinian Arsonists Suspected in Torah Burning Several Torah scrolls were lit on fire in an outpost next to the Karmei Tzur settlement in the West Bank on Friday night. The scrolls were inside a tent at the Givat Shorek outpost, which was being used as a shul. According to the residents, the tent had also been used as a gathering place for the children of the area. Judea and Samaria police said that the footprints of the suspects were found leading to a Palestinian village near the town of Halhul. The tent, which was unmanned at the time, overlooks the site where the bodies of three Israeli teens were found after they had been abducted and murdered by terrorists in June 2014. Gil-Ad Shaar’s mother, Bat Galim Shaar, wrote on Facebook in response to the attack, “Attacking Torah scrolls is an attack on the soul of the Jewish people. Those
Dating Dialogue Page 108
who wish to harm our bodies do not flinch from attacking our spirit. We will continue to choose life — and to strengthen the spirit of the Jewish people, which is stronger than ever,” she wrote. “It is hard to accept the fact that in the heart of the country, we are experiencing events reminiscent of the darkest history of all, and we cannot forget that it is less than one hundred meters from [Givat Sorek] to residents’ homes,” one of the residents of the settlement said. Education Minister Naftali Bennett said the pictures of the burned scrolls “recall the darkest days of our history.” He urged security forces to quickly catch “the terrorists who did this.” He added, “A red line has been crossed…and we will not allow this to go unpunished.”
Hamas Calls for Bus Bombings
Hamas, the violent Palestinian terrorist group, put out a video online calling for suicide bombing attacks against Israelis, specifically on buses. The music video that was produced by the ruling party of the Gaza Strip praised terrorists who target civilians in front of a burning green-and-white Egged bus. “To die as a martyr for Al-Aqsa [Mosque] gives the explosive device more and more force,” the song posted by the official Hamas channel Al-Aqsa TV said. “The intifada is not an intifada if the bus roof doesn’t fly off.” The song praised terrorists who perpetrate attacks, claiming they served to “humble” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The six-minute clip also follows a Hamas activist preparing for a suicide attack inside Israel. The terrorist boards a bus along with several other civilians. In recent months, Hamas officials have openly called for a resurgence of suicide bombings against Israelis. In December, Israel uncovered a Hamas cell operating in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Abu Dis,
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VILLA FLORA IS A PREFERRED PAY WITH POINTS PARTNER. which had been planning to carry out suicide attacks. The Shin Bet security service said the cell was controlled by the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip. Later that month, in a joint operation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police, the Shin Bet arrested over two dozen Hamas operatives, the majority of them students
from al-Quds University in Abu Dis, whom they suspect were preparing to attack Israeli targets. Suicide bombings killed hundreds of Israelis in the mid-1990s and during the Second Intifada at the start of the millennium and led to a massive Israeli military operation in the West Bank.
Israeli Minors Sentenced For Killing Palestinian Sentences were handed out to two out of three killers of 16-year-old
Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khdeir last week. While Israeli law forbids the identification of minors convicted of crimes, their sentences have been made public. A 17-year-old was sentenced to life for helping to kill the Palestinian youth and received a separate three-year sentence and NIS 35,000 in reparations to two Palestinian families. The second killer, 16, helped the 17-year-old and received a 21-year sentence and NIS 30,000 in reparations to the Abu Khdeir family. The third suspect, 31-year-old Jerusalem resident Yosef Haim Ben-David, was also convicted in the attack, but has not yet been sentenced while the court considers his claim that he suffers from a mental illness and was not responsible for his actions at the time. While the heavy sentences are extremely rare for Israeli minors, Abu Khdeir’s family reacted with dismay, saying both should have been given life sentences. According to a statement released by the court, the three-judge panel was not unanimous about the sentence. In a minority opinion, Judge Rafi Carmel urged a similar life sentence for the 16-year-old killer. “The punishment must match the horror of the deed, even in circumstances like those of Defendant No. 3,” Carmel charged. The court has ruled that Ben-David led the attack on Abu Khdeir, which shocked the country and led to several days of Palestinian street violence. The hearing to allow a full psychiatric review to assess his insanity claims will take place on February 11. Abu Khdeir was abducted and killed on July 1, 2014, two days after it emerged that three Israeli teens who had been abducted three weeks earlier in the West Bank had been killed by their Palestinian kidnappers shortly after their disappearance. The violence was a major contributing factor in the breakout of a war with Gaza’s Hamas rulers that followed just a week later.
Iran Funds Hamas Because “Fighting Israel is Our Policy” According to an Iranian official, Tehran fully supports and continues to fund Palestinian terror group
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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tor to improve ties between the Islamic Republic and Sunni states such as Sudan, was ultimately rejected.
Relations between Iran and Hamas have been shaky since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011 when the Palestinian organization came out against Syrian President Bashar Assad, a leader Iran supports.
Illegal EUSponsored Homes Dismantled
Hamas. The official stressed on Twitter that supporting the fight against Israel remains a “principled policy” of the Iranian government. At a press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari rejected media reports that funding for the Gaza-based group ceased in 2009. Ansari said that supporting “Palestin-
ian resistance movements” is part of Iran’s foreign policy. He called the Palestinian issue “pivotal and basic” for Muslims, according to Iranian news agencies. The recent comments come after a London-based paper quoted Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk as saying they “haven’t gotten anything from them since 2009, and ev-
erything [the Iranians] are saying is a lie.” Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal has said he has been reluctant to accept a recent offer for renewed financial aid from Shiite Iran, fearing that the group would lose its support among Sunni Arab states. Tehran’s offer, made on the condition that Hamas officially declare its allegiance to Iran and act as media-
In late January, Israel declared 380 acres of land near Jericho in the West Bank as state land and reportedly plans to build around 150 new residences for settlers. Now, Israel is being called upon by the EU to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing, some of which was EU-funded. “In the past weeks there have been a number of developments in Area C of the West Bank, which risk undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and driving the parties yet further apart,” the EU diplomatic service said in a statement. Several Palestinian residences in the south Hebron hills have been demolished. Foreign ministers from the 28 EU nations had confirmed “the EU’s firm opposition to Israel’s settlement policy” and criticized the actions including demolitions, confiscation and forced transfers.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Israel has criticized the EU-funded construction as “illegal.” Israeli radio has reported inspectors were having difficulty keeping up with the pace of prefabricated homes which, it said, are delivered flat-packed in the dead of night to be assembled early in the morning. According to the report, the EU has built more than 200 structures in Area C of the West Bank in recent years, territory which, according to the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 between the Israelis and Palestinians, falls under full Israeli civil and security control. Israeli forces demolished 24 out of 40 homes just south of Hebron after the buildings were declared to be located in a military firing zone by the army body that oversees civilian activities in the territories. The demolitions came after a long arbitration battle failed to produce results, the Defense Ministry stated.
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Mahmud Eshtawi has been executed by Hamas after being accused of spying for Israel. Hamas’s armed branch announced that the senior official was given the death penalty for leading Israel to the hiding place of Hamas commander Mohammed Deif during the 2014 Gaza war, resulting in a failed assassination attempt against him. He is one four Gazans that have been handed death sentences after being accused of spying for Israel since the beginning of 2016. Executions have previously been carried out in the Gaza Strip, including in public squares in the Palestinian territory, but it appeared to be the first time Al-Qassam itself had sentenced one of its own through a court martial and executed him. The statement did not give further details on the accusations against him other than to say that “the Brigades’ military and Islamic judicial committee issued the sentence because
he violated rules and ethics.” Eshtawi’s duties included overseeing tunnels that have previously been used to store weapons and carry out attacks against Israel, the sources said. Last week saw at least three separate tunnel collapses in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian reports, killing several Hamas diggers. According to the sources, he was in charge of a large unit and was previously a close associate of Deif, the Al-Qassam chief who has been a frequent target of Israeli assassination attempts.
Arab MKs Visit Terrorist Families
Arab Members of Knesset Haneen Zoabi and Basel Ghattas have been suspended by the Ethics Committee from meetings of the Knesset for the next four months. MK Jamal Zahalka will be suspended for two months as well after the three Joint List members were found to have met with families of terrorists who murdered Israelis. Following the announcement, the Joint List issued a statement rejecting the decision and condemned “the campaign of incitement led by Netanyahu, which led to the miserable, anti-democratic and unethical decision of the committee. The vengeful punishment will not deter us and we will continue fighting against policies of racism and fascism, and in favor of true equality and true democracy, which Netanyahu is trying with all of his power to destroy.” MK Zahalka defended himself, saying he is certain that he and his fellow Balad party members did nothing illegal in attending the meeting with the killers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed, “We will not accept a situation in which members of Knesset support the families of the murderers of Israeli civilians and stand in memory of those who murdered
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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As the the instability of the economy continues to adversely effect the country, the company that Chaim worked for found it necessary to downsize in order to stay afloat. Sadly, they had no choice but to terminate his employment. Soon therea er, Chaim began to develop a sense of desperation as his savings account was almost depleted. He had exhausted all his options in terms of finding suitable employment, but it was to no avail. One day Chaim's cousin had suggested that he contact Kollel Chatzos as a zechus for him to find a job that could sustain his family.
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His cousin told Chaim that establishing a learning partnership with Kollel Chatzos was unlike any other yeshiva, because the learning sedorim took place every night a er Chatzos. He added that these hours of the night are an especially propitious time to learn and even quoted the Kaf Hachaim who said, "Anyone that becomes a partner in this, equally benefits from all the profits Chatzos brings." The next day Chaim called Kollel Chatzos and signed up for a year-long partnership. About two and a half weeks later, numerous employment offers started to come Yoel's way. Overjoyed, Chaim exclaimed, "Since I started this learning partnership, I've been offered more career advancement opportunities than ever before." Every midnight our talmidei chachamim illuminate the world with Torah.
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“I’m devastated that I have to live my life without you,” Rebecca Guttman-Wichs sobbed at the funeral for her husband, David Wichs. “This pain I’m feeling right now is unbearable. I want you to know that I will do my best to live for us both. I hope that the experiences that I will have you will be able to see through my eyes.” David’s life tragically and suddenly ended on Friday morning when he was walking in Lower Manhattan. A crane that was blowing in the strong gusts of wind that morning fell on top of the 38-year-old. He lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his wife, Rebecca, and was a member at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on East 85th Street. They married in January 2013 after a six month engagement. “This is obviously a horrible, horrible tragedy,” said Rabbi Elie Weinstock, a rabbi at the synagogue. “An outstanding young man killed in a terrible accident.” David immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in his teenage years with his family, not even knowing English at the time. In
1995 while attending Yeshiva of Flatbush High School, he was a semifinalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. He continued on to Harvard University and earned a degree in mathematics and eventually established a career at an NYC trading firm. “David was the nicest, most trustworthy person that I have known,” said Mark Gorton, the founder and managing director of Tower Research Capital, the trading firm where he worked. “I have worked with him for over 15 years, and in that whole time, he treated every person he dealt with in a nice and decent way.” David was brilliant mathematically but he was down-to-earth and humble. His wife said that was a family man first. David’s brother, Daniel, related that his brother was his savior growing up. Rebecca recounted how he loved his parents and Daniel, who lives in Manhattan. He was the “rock of my family,” she added, when her father died a few years before. “David was the happiest person I’ve ever met. He wanted me to enjoy every day of my life, just as he did his.” May his family know no more pain.
Bratton Announces “Shake and Wake” Policy If you generally spend your morning commute catching up on some zzzz’s, be prepared for a rude awakening…by the police. In a policy that has been dubbed “shake and wake,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has ordered all NYPD cops to wake sleeping subway riders. It’s not the snoring or drooling that has Bratton concerned – it’s for the sake of their own safety. “Subways are not for sleeping,” New York’s top cop announced during a news conference at 1 Police Plaza that also featured Mayor de Blasio last Wednesday. “I know people have gotten out of work and are tired, but we are going to start waking people up.” This new initiative comes after over half of reported crimes on the
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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phone falling out of his hand, they’ll wake that guy up and tell him to put his phone away.”
Curtis Sliwa, founder of Guardian Angels, a volunteer-based organization that helps protect communities around the world, disagreed with the new policy. “The police commissioner blamed you ... those who work two or three shifts and fall asleep on the subway for creating these problems. You’re gonna roust them instead of rousting the criminals, the pickpocketers.” He demanded a more constructive and effective plan from the NYPD.
Thousands of “Over-Income” Residents Living in HUD Housing
subway “involve sleeping passengers.” Sleeping individuals have an increased risk of assault and pickpocketing, Bratton explained. “If you are sleeping on the subway, you make yourself a very easy victim and much more susceptible to
a crime,” Bratton said. “Why would you put yourself at that risk?” A police source explained that cops will be trained to use their discretion and better judgement when waking riders to remind them to secure their property and surroundings.
“They’re going to have to play it by ear,” the source added. “If it’s 5 p.m. and they see someone nodding off in a crowded train car, they’ll probably leave them alone. But if it’s late at night and someone is asleep on an empty train car with a cell-
Imagine living rent free while making the big bucks. For some Americans this isn’t just a dream but a reality – and guess who is paying their rent? You, Mr. Taxpayer! The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides subsidized housing to low-income families. But recently it has been exposed that many “over-income” households are legally still living in subsidized housing intended for the poor, despite exceeding the income limits. According to the inspector general, there are about 25,226 such households, based on numbers released in July. Nearly half of them exceed the income limits by at least
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
$10,000. Investigators discovered one family with an earned annual income of over $500,000 living in a government subsidized home. Another public housing resident had $1.6 million in assets. “Public housing should be for the needy, not the greedy,” Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) told The Hill. Just this week, the House unanimously passed legislation to address this particular issue. The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act would require public housing residents above certain income levels to either pay the market rate or move out. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill, but it has bipartisan support. This is not intended as an eviction program – the individuals will have the option to remain in their residence if they choose to pay market rate. “The taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing them any longer, if they can afford to pay,” Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), who authored the housing bill, explained. The budget for HUD assigned $104 million for the coming year for housing subsidies for these families specifically, according to an estimate from the inspector general. While Congress pushed legislation through, HUD is considering evicting tens of thousands of the “over-income” public housing residents. But there is no current law or system that prohibits over-income families from continuing to live in government-assisted homes. Essentially once a household meets the requirements they are eligible for life although many opt out when they earn more money to larger homes or better neighborhoods. On Tuesday HUD released a notice saying, “Some of those families significantly exceeded the income limits. Scarce public resources must be provided to those most in need of affordable housing.” There was some objection that perhaps families that are not yet ready to move on to private housing will be evicted. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said residents who just barely cross the threshold for public housing assistance should be given ”special consideration” and HUD should focus on the wealthier group of people who are living in public housing that can pay their own rent or mortgage easily.
Exonerations Hit All Time High
The University of Michigan Law School and the Northwestern University School of Law have convened to look at falsely convicted prisoners in the United States. After having been wrongly convicted of all sorts of crimes, 149 people were exonerated in the U.S. in 2015 – a record number. A report released by the National Registry of Exonerations showed that more than a third of the people exonerated were convicted of murder. The National Registry has logged 1,733 exonerations in the country since 1989. The average jail time served was 14 years and five of the people who were exonerated this year already had been sentenced to death. The number of people exonerated in 2015 broke a record the organization announced earlier, when it reported that 125 people were exonerated of crimes. While exonerations involving DNA may grab more attention, they accounted for less than twenty percent of last year’s exonerations. “Not long ago, any exoneration we heard about was major news,” the report stated. “Now it’s a familiar story. We average nearly three exonerations a week, and most get little attention.” The report attributes this surge, in part, to more prosecutors working to revisit convictions. In addition, the report says there are also more exonerations in cases involving false confessions or guilty pleas than there used to be. In forty percent of last year’s exonerations, the people had pleaded guilty, largely in cases involving charges of drug possession. About a third of all exonerations last year involved these drug possession cases. Of the people wrongly convicted for homicides, the report notes, “more than two-thirds were minorities, including half who were African American.” Twenty-seven of the innocent convicts falsely confessed to
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their crimes, a group comprised mainly of children or the mentally handicapped, according to the report. In some cases last year, former inmates who had been exonerated before last year received compensation in 2015. Ricky Jackson, who spent nearly four decades behind bars in Ohio, was awarded more than $1 million by a judge. Two half-brothers in North Carolina had been released in 2014, but they could only be compensated last year after Republican Gov. Pat McCroy completed a lengthy review process and formally pardoned them. “I feel that if I die this afternoon, I’ll be able to go to my tomb and rest in peace because my name has finally been cleared,” said William Vasquez, who was cleared in December of an arson that killed a mother and her five children in 1981. Vasquez already served 31 years in prison, where he went blind for untreated glaucoma, and was released in 2012. He even had an alibi witness at trial, who testified he was with her when the fire was set, but the building owner, Hannah Quick, accused him of the arson. She recanted shortly before her death in 2014.
Texas City Council Inundated with Corruption
It was a lonely day at work for Joel Barajas on Friday. None of his co-workers at the Crystal City council in Texas showed up, because they were busy dealing with felony charges. Five of his colleagues were arrested on Thursday under a federal indictment accusing them of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and aiding a “Mr. T.” in an illegal gambling operation. Included in the crackdown was
the city’s mayor, mayor pro tempore (who both have city council votes) and a council member, as well as the city manager, a former city council member and the alleged gambling operator who has been revealed as Ngoc Tri Nguyen. According to the indictment, the offenders being charged “used their official positions to enrich themselves by soliciting and accepting payments and other things of value.” Official court documents accuse the officials of voting to award contracts in exchange for bribes, extorting payments from contractors, conveniently not being aware of Nguyen’s illegal gaming business while taking action to shut down would-be competitors, and agreeing to reduce Nguyen’s taxes in exchange for him waiving debts. Mayor Ricardo Lopez supposedly instructed city inspectors to “make it easy” when inspecting Nguyen’s property. Authorities say he also went out of his way to shut down other operators of “8-liner” gaming rooms, which are nominally illegal in Texas but flourish informally in the southern part of the state. In exchange, he allegedly accepted $6,000 from Nguyen to buy a car. If convicted, each official faces up to 10 years in federal prison and as much as $250,000 in fines. It seems that officials in town aren’t too clean. Last month, another city council employee, Marco Rodriguez, was arrested on human smuggling charges. Allegedly, Rodriguez confessed to shuttling undocumented immigrants across the border from Mexico. The small town has a population of 7,500 people and is 130 miles southwest of San Antonio. Barajas began employment at the city council approximately nine months ago and he explains that it was an obviously suspicious environment from the very beginning. “I knew some things were not being correctly taken care of,” he acknowledged. According to Barajas, Crystal City is $2 million in debt and facing bankruptcy.
How Healthy is BMI? According to a new study from the University of California, the health risks associated with the 54 million Americans who are labeled,
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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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according to their body mass index, obese or overweight may be exaggerated. By dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of the person’s height in meters you can calculate your BMI. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a “healthy” BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, an overweight BMI is 25 to 29.9, and an obese BMI is 30 or higher. In recent years, BMI has been regarded as a more accurate way to measure health than simply a person’s weight. However, now researchers are suspecting that it’s not that simple. Even individuals with a “healthy” BMI can be unhealthy and vice versa – a person with a high BMI can in fact be in good physical shape. The recent findings, published in the International Journal of Obesity, reveal that employers could potentially burden people with unfairly high health insurance costs based on an extremely flawed measure of actual health. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently proposed rules that would allow employers to penalize employees for up to 30 percent of their health insurance costs if they don’t meet
24 health criteria — which include meeting a specific BMI. However, if BMI doesn’t accurately reflect health, then those diagnosed with high BMIs could potentially be overcharged for no reason at all.
“This should be a final nail in the coffin for BMI,” said lead author A. Janet Tomiyama, a psychologist at UCLA. “The public is used to hearing ‘obesity,’ and they mistakenly see it as a death sentence,” Tomiyama added. “But obesity is just a number based on BMI, and we think BMI is just a really crude and terrible indicator of someone’s health.” In order to determine how accurate or inaccurate BMI is with regards to actual health, a team of researchers at UCLA analyzed data from 40,420 individuals who participated in the 2005-2012 National
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Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They examined each person’s blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, insulin resistance and C-reactive protein data. All these can be soft markers for heart disease and inflammation, among other medical issues. Researchers discovered that almost half (47.4%) of people dubbed “overweight” and about a third (29%) of people categorized as “obese” according to BMI were in fact quite healthy. Conversely, over 30% of individuals with “normal” weights were metabolically unhealthy. “The reason I think people rely on BMI is because it’s easy; if you know someone’s weight and you know someone’s height, then out pops this magical number,” Tomiyama opined. “But getting blood pressure is pretty easy too. It takes maybe 20 seconds if you have the machine. And so I really think focusing on better health markers like blood pressure is a better way to go about it — particularly when we’re talking about financial penalties.” According to the conclusion of this study, using BMI as the primary indicator of health means that potentially 74.9 million adults in the
U.S. are being mis-categorized as healthy or unhealthy. (That includes the 34.4 million people who are considered overweight and the 19.8 million people considered obese, according to BMI.) “Policymakers should consider the unintended consequences of relying solely on BMI,” the authors recommended in the study, “and researchers should seek to improve diagnostic tools related to weight and cardio-metabolic health.”
Reporter Caught Creating Facts
Juan Thompson has quite the imagination. The former reporter
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
for The Intercept, an online news publication, is being accused of fabricating quotes, storylines and even sources for news pieces. Editor-in-Chief of The Intercept Betsy Reed wrote last week in a note to readers, “We apologize to the subjects of the stories; to the people who were falsely quoted; and to you, our readers. We are contacting news outlets that picked up the corrected stories to alert them to the problems.” Thompson, who first became employed by the online media site in November 2014, engaged in “a pattern of deception,” including creating fake email accounts to impersonate people. In an email to The Huffington Post, Reed said The Intercept “conducted a thorough review of his published work, attempting to contact sources to verify the original quotes in his stories.” She declined to comment further beyond the editor’s note, which summarizes the site’s internal investigation. Four articles on The Intercept’s website have been corrected and one has been removed. Perhaps the most outrageous fabrication is Thompson’s feature that quoted Scott Roof, who Thompson identified as the cousin of Dylann Roof, the alleged gunman in a deadly shooting in a Charleston, South Carolina, church last year. However, Scott Roof does not seem to exist. In a December 2 article on police violence, Thompson quoted Jasson Perez, a Chicago-based activist, however, Perez claims he was never interviewed by Thompson. The very next day, Thompson authored an article on Black Lives Matters activists being blocked from entering a Donald Trump rally and quoted a woman who now claims she never spoke to the reporter. When Thompson was questioned about his integrity and the authenticity of his reporting, he responded with a lengthy email, which he said he had sent to Reed at The Intercept as well. However, an Intercept spokesman said a paragraph in the letter provided to HuffPost was not included in the original email to Reed. Thompson apparently tweaked the email again when sending it to a CNN reporter. Clearly this guy has own yardstick for honesty. In the email entitled “The Great Problem,” Thompson said he is undergoing radiation treatment for testicular cancer in St. Louis, and doesn’t have “access to my note-
books (which I took for most stories) to address these matters. “Moreover, after finally looking over the notes sent to me, I must say this: I had a habit of writing drafts of stories, placing the names of people I wanted to get quotes from in there, and then going to fetch the quotes,” he admitted. Thompson only admitted to being “sloppy,” while suggesting The Intercept should have been more responsible to supervise. “I’m a cub reporter and expected a sustained and competent editor to guide me, something which I never had at your company and something with which The Intercept continues to struggle as everyone in this business knows,” he wrote. Thompson previously worked at Chicago NPR station WBEZ and at DNAinfo Chicago. A former colleague of Thompson’s at DNAInfo suggested on Twitter that there were problems with his past work, too. “Can’t say we didn’t see this coming,” he tweeted.
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Lynch May Step Aside in Email Probe
Loretta Lynch, the nation’s top lawyer, may soon be asked to step aside in the Hillary Clinton email probe. As of now, it is unclear how far the investigation will go. If the FBI finds sufficient evidence to launch a criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton or one of her top aides for mishandling classified information, it will be up to Lynch’s Justice Department to decide whether to press ahead. The issue with Lynch’s impartiality is that even if no evidence of wrongdoing is found, Clinton’s many critics are unlikely to take the word of an appointee of President Obama’s. Top Republicans are already calling for a special prosecutor to be brought in and evaluate the situation. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas took to the floor of the Sen-
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classified information may have been mishandled. Critics of Clinton have called for indictments to be handed down following revelations that more than 1,500 classified emails, including 22 classified at the highest level, were found on her personal server. None of the messages were marked as classified, and it is debatable whether they should have been classified in the first place. Clinton has insisted that she was “100 percent confident” that the FBI’s review will not evolve into a criminal matter. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump found another reason that Lynch is not to be trusted with the task. “I think they probably won’t indict her, because the attorney general is from New York, who I believe is a friend of Hillary Clinton,” Trump said in October. Lynch was appointed to be the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York in 1999 by President Bill Clinton, Hillary’s husband. However, she was personally recommended for the position by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and one government official said Clinton himself had a relatively minor role in the selection process.
Super Bowl Highs and Lows
ate last week to call for a special counsel to be appointed “because of the conflict of interest by asking Attorney General Lynch to investigate and perhaps even prosecute somebody in the Obama administration.” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) agrees
that Lynch ought to consider a special counsel, a representative said, to reassure the country that decisions are made “without regard to any political considerations.” The Justice Department, however, has so far declined the request. “This matter is being reviewed by ca-
reer attorneys and investigators and does not meet the criteria for the appointment of a special prosecutor,” department spokeswoman Melanie Newman assured in a statement. Federal officials are currently investigating the security of Clinton’s email arrangement and whether
There were many that came away with a well-played game in Super Bowl 50 in which the Denver Broncos pulled off a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. Others didn’t do as well as expected. Here are a few highs and lows from the big game on Sunday. While Peyton Manning had a below average performance with 141 yards on 13-of-23 passing with no touchdowns and one interception, he did come away with a second Super Bowl ring. In the end, what will rightfully be remembered is that one of the game’s all-time great quarterbacks won his second NFL championship ring. Winning puts him in
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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rare company as one of just 12 NFL quarterbacks to ever win multiple Super Bowls. Unfortunately, Cam Newton cannot come away with the same sense of accomplishment. Newton finished Super Bowl 50 having completed just 18-of-41 passes. He did manage to gain 265 yards on those completions, but he failed to throw a touchdown pass, tossed an interception and lost two fumbles. Newton is taking a lot of heat especially for not fighting hard to grab ahold of the ball after Von Miller stripped him of it in the fourth quarter. Newton allowed two Broncos defenders to fight over it rather than make the effort to recover. Not surprisingly, Denver came up with the loose ball and turned it into eight points three plays later. Also coming under fire are the referees. In the first quarter, Panthers receiver Jerricho Cotchery made an outstanding juggling catch, which was initially ruled an incomplete pass. Carolina head coach Ron Rivera made a smart decision to challenge the play, and upon the review it was clear Cotchery did control the ball all the way through until the end. Somehow, head ref Clete
Blakeman saw reason to say Cotchery didn’t catch it. The NFL’s V.P. of Officiating, Dean Blandino, said a few months ago that the catch rule always has some “subjectivity” to it, which seems to be his way of saying nobody knows what a catch is. This was clearly demonstrated on Sunday. A definite winner on Sunday was Wade Phillips. Phillips won the Assistant Coach of the Year award for his No. 1-ranked defense, and he proved that he deserved it in the Big Game. Forty years since starting out as a defensive line coach for his father Bum Phillips with the Houston Oilers, Wade Phillips finally won a Super Bowl. The Panthers entered Super Bowl 50 on a roll. The offense, led by Newton, had just plowed their way through the formidable defenses of the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. But Wade Phillips’s defense shut down the red-hot Panthers. Newton completed only 43.9 percent of his passes and turned the ball over three times (one interception and two lost fumbles). There’s always next year.
Shkreli Smirks at Lawmakers
Martin Shkreli, 32, earned himself the title of pharmaceutical “bad boy” when he hiked up the price of a prescription drug by over 5,556% while serving as the chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals. During his brief appearance on Thursday before a U.S. Congressional panel, Shkreli invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Shkreli was called to testify in a House oversight hearing on prescription drug prices. He repeatedly declined to explain the unreasonable drug price increases he imposed in September 2015. The judge pressed Shkreli, asking him what he would tell sick patients who can no longer afford the
drug and whether he feels any sort of regret or remorse. “On the advice of counsel, I invoke the Fifth Amendment and respectfully decline to answer your question,” Shkreli told the lawmakers in each case. “It’s not funny,” barked Maryland Democrat Elijah Cummings, the senior Democrat on the committee. as Shkreli smirked and looked away distractedly. “People are dying and they are getting sicker.” Representative John Duncan, a Tennessee Republican and a veteran lawmaker first elected in 1988, said in all his years in Congress, “I’ve never seen an individual behave with such arrogance.” In December, Shkreli was arrested and indicted for securities fraud for an alleged Ponzi scheme that involved two hedge funds and another firm, prior to joining Turing. He is accused of lying to investors, transferring money between investments to cover losses, and siphoning off cash for personal expenses. Shkreli resigned as CEO of Turing the day after the indictment. Shkreli’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, told reporters after the apContinued on page 46
NH Hands Landslide Victories to Trump, Sanders
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ith all eyes on New Hampshire on Tuesday night for the first presidential primaries, no coin tosses were necessary to determine the outcomes. On the Republican side, Donald Trump galloped to a resounding victory of nearly twenty percentage points over second place finisher Gov. John Kasich. On the Democrat side, Sen. Bernie Sanders made Hillary Clinton “feel the Bern” and beat her by twenty points. Although Hillary was not expected to prevail in New Hampshire, which neighbors Sanders’ state of Vermont and has a history of voting for candidates who don’t fit squarely within party lines, in the 2008 primaries she made an unexpected comeback in the Granite State and was hoping to make a better than expected showing on Tuesday night as well. Despite the crushing defeat, the Clinton machine quickly spun it as a one-ride train ticket for Sanders. With Bill standing by her side and a large crowd of faux enthusiasts, an upbeat Hillary declared, “Now we take this campaign
to the entire country,” insinuating that the Sander’s revolution won’t make its way out of the frozen Northeast. If anyone doubted Bernie Sanders’ socialist credentials, his victory speech after the New Hampshire primary was chockfull of gifts for anyone and everyone: “We’re going to raise the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour… We are going to make public colleges and universities tuition-free… And for the millions of Americans struggling with horrendous levels of student debt, we are going to substantially ease that burden… We will not only guarantee
healthcare for all, but will save the average middle class family thousands of dollars a year in healthcare costs,” he declared. Trump immediately took on Bernie in his own victory speech and declared, “I heard part of Bernie’s speech. He wants to give away our country, folks. We’re not going to let it happen,” the Donald vowed. Then, in true form, he exclaimed about his landslide victory, “Wow, wow, wow. We are going to make America great again!” After finishing with less than ten percent of the vote, in 6th place, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie stated
that he would return to New Jersey and take a few days to decide how to proceed. Marco Rubio, who finished in the middle of the pack, took full responsibility for his precipitous fall (he was seen as the “establishment” front-runner after finishing strongly in the Iowa caucus) after coming across as robotic in the debate several days before the New Hampshire primary. “Our disappointment tonight is not on you. It’s on me,” the Florida senator told the crowd at his campaign gathering. “I did not do well on Saturday night. That will never happen again.” Now that the New Hampshire primary is on the books, it’s onto South Carolina where the Republicans are voting on Saturday, February 20, and Democrats will be choosing their candidate the following Saturday, February 27. After South Carolina, the presidential race really heats up, with more than a dozen primaries scheduled for March 1.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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pearance that it was a “frustrating morning for us.” “Mr. Shkreli would like nothing more than to answer the committee’s questions,” Brafman said. However, invoking the Fifth Amendment was “appropriate” given his indictment on the fraud charge.
“I would also tell you Mr. Shkreli did not intend to show any disrespect for any members of the committee, listened intently,” he added. “Some of what you saw was nervous energy by an individual who very much would like to explain what happened, but has agreed to listen to his lawyer,”
Brafman soothed. Shkreli stayed silent as the media bombarded him as he left the Capitol Hill hearing. However, he voiced his feelings shortly after on social media. “Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government,” he tweeted.
You may think that the election is all about immigration or healthcare or even education, but it’s not. It’s all about hair. Think about it: Trump has too much of it, Rubio’s is too perfect, Clinton’s is a helmet and Bernie’s look like cotton blowing in the breeze. So take your pick: which hairstyle do you think should grace the Oval Office? It seems like Vermont voters are making their mane choice: recently, a tattoo parlor in Bernie Sanders’ home state offered free tattoos of Sanders’ distinctive hairline and glasses – and many “feeling the Bern” are lining up for them. Aartistic, Inc., a tattoo shop with locations in Montpelier and Winooski, Vermont, started offering the tattoos on January 28. So far, they’ve tattooed more than 50 people, tattoo artist and Aartistic owner Tyre DuVernay related. It’s not the first time people have been burning politics into their skin. In 2008, an Oklahoma tattoo parlor gave away free tattoos of Barack Obama. And last week, Clay Dragon Tattoo in Seabrook, New Hampshire, offered free ink – as long as you support the Donald and it has his name, campaign slogan or face on it. So far more than 30 people have signed on. Bob Holmes, the owner of Clay Dragon, is a staunch Trump supporter and feels that even though he’s losing money, providing free ink to support Trump is “his duty.” “No matter what way of life you have, no matter what you do for a living, how can you not like Donald Trump?” Holmes told Fox 25 News. “For the future of this country, how can you not?” Yes, with a tattoo of the Donald, we’ll just keep on winning.
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Isn’t is a drag to have to walk around the library searching for books that interest you? Well, visitors to the Floating Library, which sets sail in California from February 11 to 14, don’t need to walk around – they’ll get to sail around in search of books. The venture was created by Machine Project and offers tomes from waterproofed shelves. “You can peruse the finest selection of raft-bound artist books the high seas have to offer,” Machine Project describes on its site. “Bring your reading glasses, grog, sea chanties, and a bookmark – the Library’s come to town!” Presumably, no eBooks will be lent out on board. Instead, laminated copies of art books will be available on the raft in Echo Park, Los Angeles, where visitors can arrive via pedal boat. It’s not the first unusual location for a library to set up. To stay relevant, and to have a little fun, both city-funded and guerrilla-made libraries have cropped up on beaches, in phone booths, on public buses, and, maybe strangest of all, on a mule. If you’ll be in Los Angeles, you can dive right in; if not, let this be a reminder that books can transport you anywhere – even to your own private island.
The Bee Band This sweet album has the music world buzzing. Recently, Kev Bales recorded a symphony with some unusual band
members –40,000 bees. “We had a joke in the studio that they were the best band members we’ve ever had,” laughs Kev when describing the recording of Be’s One album. Kev may have spent the last 30 years drumming with different bands, but the musicians he’s referring to here are a different kind of buzz band altogether: to be precise, they’re thousands of bees, and their activity forms the basis of One, a transcendental drone symphony between man and bee that is surely one of the year’s most bee-guiling offerings. The story begins in 2015, when Nottingham-based artist Wolfgang Buttress was chosen to represent the UK and build a pavilion under the theme “feeding the planet.” He decided to base his structure around the honeybee – responsible for 30% of the food we eat, yet threatened by pesticides and a lack of biodiversity – and set to work constructing The Hive, a 50-ton, 17-meter-high lattice structure for people to wander around.
“Have you ever been to a hive?” Buttress asked. “The first time you lift them out there’s this incredible, visceral hum. I thought it might just be an irritating bzzzzzz sound, but it’s so low it just kind of gets you.” Using Dr. Martin Bencsik’s hive, Buttress transmitted a live stream of a beehive’s activity to his pavilion, including using a series of LED lights in his giant structure. A soundtrack, though, that would be even sweeter. So he connected with Kev and his longtime bandmate Tony Foster. Bencsik’s wife, Deirdre, was a classically trained cellist who realized the bees buzzed in the key of C. They played the music, Deirdre’s daughter improvised on the vocals – and the bees, well, they just did their thing. They buzzed. “We kept saying: ‘Let’s try putting this in,’ but we realized that the more space we left for the bees, the better it sounded,” Kev related. “We kept cranking them up higher and higher in the mix.”
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where and how forceful they were. You would also be able to tell us how many sneezes you’ve had since last week, last month or even last year. Yes, Peter Fletcher is a sneezecounter and the force behind Sneezecount, which chronicles – you guessed it – his sneezes. On July 12, 2007, Fletcher began to wonder how often people sneeze within a day. He then wondered how often people sneeze within a year. How about within a lifetime? Deep thoughts for a summer day.
“Too many human instruments sounded wrong,” agreed Buttress. “You had to get the balance right between bee and musician. If you play too much the hypnotic trance is gone.” The resulting masterpiece is just that – a masterpiece. Judges in Milan awarded The Hive with the gold
medal. And the album One can be considered an equal triumph. “It’s not just buzzing, but also these specific toots and quacks and purrs,” marvels Kev. “I couldn’t believe that some of these sounds came from a bee; they’re far more musical than I expected.” Such busy bees.
The Sneezecount Did you sneeze today? Don’t know? Well, if you were Peter Fletcher, you’d not just know if you sneezed today, you’d know how many times,
“The idea of keeping a detailed count then occurred to me, and struck me as innately ridiculous, and the ridiculousness appealed to me,” Fletcher recently told Mental Floss. Sneezes worked as a perfect ridiculous thing to count because “they are discrete events,” he says. “They are countable in a way that so many body functions or everyday events are not, and broadly speaking, they cannot be manipulated or faked.” In fact, if Fletcher sneezes a pepper-induced sneeze, he does not record that sneeze. As he began to record his sneezes, he noticed certain things. First of all, Fletcher only sneezes while awake (or he’s only aware that he sneezes while awake). He also sneezes more in the morning. Fletcher’s early attempts to record his sneezes were far less detailed than his current records. “I started off keeping a note on post-its if I was at my desk (I usually was) or writing it on my hand or any scrap of paper,” he says. “It didn’t take me long to realize I needed to be more disciplined and systematic, and so I kept a notebook with me at all times, writing down the details, starting from the back of the book.” He then moved on to blogging, reporting the sneeze number, the location, “strength” of the sneeze, and “comments” describing his state of mind, environment, and observa-
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
tions about the sneeze. But this past October, Fletcher stopped his online blog; it had become too cumbersome, and Fletcher resorted back to a private journal. As of now, Fletcher is determined to keep the sneeze recording going. “There have been times when I’ve thought I might stop at a certain milestone, so x thousand sneezes, or five years or 1,000 days, but each milestone comes and goes and I’m still doing it,” he says. Fletcher said that if he ever did stop tracking his sneezes, it would probably be when he died. “I might stop voluntarily one day though,” he muses. Not everyone is enamored with his sneeze reckoning. In fact, “when I finally sent out some messages to say that I was doing it, a self-assured acquaintance advised me to ‘Get yourself some kids’ – I assume for the purpose of more fruitfully occupying my spare time,” he says. “Of course, since then, that is exactly what I have done, and it was sound advice.” Now, after eight and a half years, counting sneezes is just routine. As he says, “I’m interested in sneezes, but not overly interested in them.” And that’s nothing to sneeze at.
The Pizza Diet
Want to lose weight and still eat pizza every day? It’s possible. In fact, Chef Pasquale Cozzolino lost 101 pounds since last summer – and still enjoyed his favorite Italian food every day. The 6-foot-6 chef related to Good Morning America that he weighed more than 370 pounds when he moved to America from Italy four years ago. He’d binge on junk food, soda and fried foods. But doctors were concerned for his health and he knew he had to take action. Action for him meant going on the pizza diet. No, he didn’t consume stuffed cheesy crusts every day. He made his own pizza dough using only flour, water, sea salt and yeast and topped the pie with toma-
to sauce, basil and fresh mozzarella. Each pizza had fewer than 600 calories. His other meals included multigrain cereal with fruit for breakfast and dinners consisted of seafood, salad and wine. Kickboxing classes rounded out his healthy routine. “Do not take the diet pills, the magic powders, etc. Fresh food is your medicine,” he advised readers in the Metro. What about other foods? “When you eat a pizza, you don’t need anything else,” he assured The Post. Sounds like wise words indeed.
The Cat Promotion
This feline is moving up in the world. Recently, Felix, a mouse-catching cat at a British train
station, was awarded a “promotion” to management. She even upgraded her uniform, with a reflective vest and name badge. Truthfully, Felix is deserving of her new status. The cat was brought to the Hudderfield train station about five years ago to catch mice. And she’s been doing a great job keeping the station rodent-free. A representative for Felix, whose Facebook page has brought her fans from around the world, wrote on the page that the promotion was in “recognition of what I’ve been doing for nearly five years.” “A mouse a day keeps the boss away... My butler dresses me. A bit like Lord Grantham and his valet in Downton Abbey,” a person writing as Felix said on the website. Felix’s privileges at the station include having her own cat door installed in the station’s ticket barriers. One worker at the station related that Felix is taking it all in stride. “Well, the fame hasn’t quite gone to her head. As with most cats they already think the world revolves around them. She’s getting more treats and more attention so all in all she’s very happy.” Seems like a cool cat.
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Around the
Community
Rav Dovid Bender, Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Kollel Tirtza Devorah, speaking to the Darchei Middle School talmidim about the halachos of awaking in the morning. The Middle School is working on the middah of zerizus (doing mitzvos with enthusiasm) this month.
DRS Students Travel to Washington with YU AIPAC Mission
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ast Wednesday, 15 students from DRS joined beloved rebbi and Jewish history teacher, Rabbi David Friedman, on the yeshiva’s lobbying trip. Organized by DRS’s Israel Advocacy Committee, the delegates joined students from Yeshiva University and Stern College on a trip down to our nation’s capital to lobby for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. First, students visited AIPAC headquarters and were briefed on lobbying techniques and how to make the most out of the mission. The delegates met with a staffer from Senator Charles Schumer’s office as well as Maine Senator Angus King and discussed the importance of a strong relationship between America and the Jewish State. After the lobbying meetings, the students visited the Israel Embassy and heard from officials about the state of foreign affairs with Israel.
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Around the Community
Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Held its Annual Dinner This Past Motzei Shabbos on the Yeshiva Campus
PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN
Guest of Honor - Mr. & Mrs. Shlomie Hershkop
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder
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Marbitzei Torah Awardees - Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Yaroslawitz
Esteemed Alumni Awardees - Mr. & Mrs. Uriel Feldman
Charlie Harary with Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
A Touchdown for CAHAL
W
hether you were rooting for the Denver Broncos or the Carolina Panthers, if you attended CAHAL’s fabulous Super Bowl 50 party on February 7th, you know what we mean: everyone was a winner. From pre-game to post-game, there was delicious food from Chap a Nosh and Simply Sushi, great snacks, drinks and desserts all night long. Mr. and Mrs. Kal and Ruki Renov graciously opened up their home to host the crowd for the Super Bowl 50 experience. A dropdown screen and surround sound system enhanced the total experience. Special thanks are extended to Meir Simcha and Shira Cohen for all their hard work and attention to every detail in coordinating this successful event from start to finish. Many thanks to the following for their involvement and dedication to CAHAL: Yehoshua Baldinger, Yossi Baumann, Mordechai Beren, Dr. Meir Simcha Cohen, Jamie Frand, Yisrael Geizhalz, Shuie Greenspan, Jack Harary, Yosef Hertz, Menachem Lapidus, Dr. Yehuda Marciano, Meshulam Ross, Yitzy Schecter, Dave Schoenblum, Yisroel Stone, Avi Weberman, and Dr. Ari Weinreb. Generous donors provided great raffle
prizes. The prizes included a variety of sports game tickets, a Prime Grill gift certificate, a drone, a wine cooler and a watch. Congratulations to all the winners! CAHAL presented its own halftime show just before the third quarter. The participants were shown a short video presentation about CAHAL, its founders, administration, staff and children in action. They heard how CAHAL provides smaller, more individualized classes in the local yeshivas catering to children’s learning styles, where all the students attend mainstream activ-
ities daily, including lunch, recess, specials, assemblies, class trips and more. When ready, children attend mainstream academic classes as well, with support from CAHAL to ensure success. The experienced and caring CAHAL teachers make it all happen. CAHAL, now in its 24th year, is the only local yeshiva-based and sponsored community program for children with learning challenges. As is always the case, every penny donated from this event went directly to benefit the community children who attend CAHAL. Because CAHAL is a local non-profit organization that has
never turned away a family in need, successful fundraising events and community appeals are vital to CAHAL’s ability to educate the children of our community.
Gedola, the drive still drew in throngs of people from the community excited to donate and assist in this worthy cause. When the pints were finally tallied, the closing count was just under 100 pints. The Mesivta thanks
its student organizers, Bikur Cholim, and all those who participated. This blood drive brings the total blood contributed in the past three years to almost 750 pints! Yasher ko’ach!
For more information about the CAHAL program or donating to this great community organization, call (516) 295-3666 or visit our website, WWW.CAHAL.ORG. Registration is now open for September 2016, and CAHAL is currently interviewing applicants. Follow CAHAL Program on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming events and other information.
MAY Blood Drive a Huge Success
L
ast Wednesday, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov once again hosted an incredibly successful blood drive on their premises. The drive, benefiting Bikur Cholim of Maimonides Hospital, was organized by se-
niors Shmuel Aidelson and Shimmy Weiss whose outstanding efforts to encourage donations really made the event a success. In addition to the staff and talmidim from the Meisvta and Yeshiva
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Around the Community
Sulitza Bais Hamedrash Congregation Kehilas Jakob Announces 65th Annual Melava Malka
W
e are at the threshold of a milestone in celebrating sixty-five years of Bais Medrash Sulitza - Kehilas Yakov in this community. The resounding success of all our endeavors and achievements of this makom kodesh is due to the outstanding rabbinic and lay leadership of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin zt”l who stood at the helm all these years, and is under the leadership of the present Rebbe shlita and the Rebbetzin tlita who continue to follow in that hadracha. Our annual Melave Malka is the major fundraising event that enables our Kehila to continue with their myriad of avodas hakodesh activities. We are pleased to present to you the roster of this year’s honorees. We are privileged to announce Mr. Yehoshua & Mrs. Sarah Levine amush as our Guests of Honor. Mr. Yehoshua and his aishes chayil, Mrs.
Sarah Levine, are choshuve and devoted mispallelim, who are extremely devoted to the bais medrash, the Kehila, the Rebbe shlita, and to the entire family of the Rebbe shlita. Reb Yehoshua was the one who answered the call of The Rebbe zt”l to print his chiddushei Torah when he sponsored the zemiros and Pirkei Avos that included the chiddushei Torah of The Rebbe zt”l. With their tireless effort and unbelievable willingness and dedication, Mr. & Mrs. Levine are a part of the Sulitza Bais Medrash heart and soul. We wish them many healthy and active years in their work l’tovas ha’klal. The Eitz Chaim Award is being presented to Rabbi Yisroel and Mrs. Henny Gold. Rabbi Gold, an honorable, esteemed and respected marbitz Torah, has shown us the meaning of real devotion to Torah. Rabbi & Mrs. Gold are a respected and loving
couple who earn the respect of everyone who comes in contact with them. Their close relations and devotion to the Rebbe shlita deserves our acknowledgement. This year’s Chessed Awardee is unique for it is in tribute l’ilui nishmas of our longtime friend and member, R’ Reuven Yaakov ben R’ Binyamin a”h Maslow. Mr. Yakov Maslow a”h lived a life of constant chessed raising money for needy aniyim and yesomim, with his whole heart and soul. Mr. Maslow, a sonin-law of our beloved Mrs. Sarah Herbst tichye, volunteered his time for the benefit of our shul, working in the office sending out receipts, letters and bills for over 30 years, ever since becoming a part of the Herbst family. Mrs. Yehudis Maslow tichye thanks everybody who makes the effort of dedicating in his memory and appreciates everyone for doing
chessed shel emes in memory of her beloved husband a”h. We once again call upon our friends and members to assist in the support of our holy mosdos by “sponsoring” or “soliciting” a Diamond, Bronze, Emerald, or Gold Page ad. Your generous support will help our institutions and honor your friends as well. To place an ad please contact us by phone: 718337-2520 or fax: 718-868-9162 or send it in by mail to 612 Beach 9th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 or by email sulitz@gmaul.com. The final date for placing your ads is February 29, 2016. The Melave Malka will take place iy”H on Motzoei Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Vayakhel, March 5, 2016 at the Bnos Bais Yakov School, 613 Beach 9th Street, West Lawrence, NY.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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Rav Yaakov Feitman giving a Shovavim shiur in Waterbury, Connecticut, this week
HANC Tu B’Shvat Shuk
I
n honor of Tu B’Shvat, the sixth grade girls at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead hosted an interactive shuk experience for the entire school. In order to create a real Machaneh Yehuda feel to the shuk, the students crafted beautiful Hebrew banners and posters which were hung up around the room. the sixth grade girls then served as the “vendors” in tent-like stalls which “sold” ” fresh fruit, dried fruit, rugelach, ice cream, pickles, olives, candy, cold drinks and sno-cones to all the other students who came to “shop” at the shuk. Surrounded by Hebrew music, Israeli street signs, “vendors” who spoke in Hebrew and the delicious fruits and treats of Israel, the students who came to “shop” at the shuk enjoyed a true shuk experience! Thank you to the Shuk Team of Rabbi Merrill, Morah Dafna, Shira Berman and Barbara Deutsch for coordinating such a fantastic event.
A huge “thank you” to Shuk Team Leader Morah Jacobs and to the sixth grade girls! Thank you to the PTA, especially Aviva Smus and Avigael Wodinsky, and thank you to Howard Nenner for loaning us his sno-cone machine.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Around the Community
Darchei Torah Students Work to Preserve Holocaust Stories
Rav Yaakov Bender with Irving Roth, founder of Adopt-A-Survivor
Survivors Ron Ungar (left) and Boruch Gross
A
s part of the Adopt-A-Survivor project, the eighth grade students at Yeshiva Darchei Torah have met, interviewed and absorbed the life stories of a group of Holocaust survivors, including some great-grandparents of the students. They have pledged to retell those remarkable stories for generations to come. On a recent night, the boys presented PowerPoints, original videos, and meticulously crafted projects that represented those stories to an audience of survivors, parents and grandparents at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Bentzi Waldman narrating a presentation
Gesher to Host Parenting Workshop this Wednesday Evening: The Balance Between Love and Limits
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s part of its commitment to bring quality educational resources to our community, Gesher will be hosting another parenting workshop. It will be held on Wednesday evening, February 17, at 8 pm at Gesher, 650 Broadway in Cedarhurst. The title of this workshop is “Raising Healthy Children - The Balance Between Love and Limits.” It will be presented by Dr. Naftali Reichmann, Ph.D., a highly sought after Behavior Psychologist in our community. Dr. Reichmann began his career as a behavior specialist with his involvement in the Diamond Summer Program in 2001. He was one of the original crafters of the program which
has helped hundreds of children in the past fifteen years. His role took on more significance during the thirteen years that he was with the program, as he became a practicing school psychologist during the school year. In 2005 Dr. Reichmann took on the role of Behavior Therapy School Psychologist at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, a position that he continues to fill. His keen insight and ability to relate to the students in his care make him a very valuable resource to the parents. His desire to further help the community led him to continue his education and his training. In 2013 he received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Walden University.
Currently, he has private practices in Manhattan and in Cedarhurst in addition to his role at YDT. Dr. Reichmann became aware of the work that the Gesher Early Childhood Center was doing several years ago and was very impressed. Gesher is always seeking to collaborate with professionals in all related disciplines in order to implement strategies that will help a child succeed long term. This goal was the impetus to initiate a series of Parenting Workshops to benefit the community. The first workshop was presented in December and was attended by a strong cross section of the community, including several local preschool directors. Many of the attendees suggested
that the next workshop focus on behaviors. Gesher is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Dr. Reichmann’s expertise to the community. There will be three sections presented: Parental emotional self awareness, providing children with their emotional needs, and behavior management tips. Dr. Reichmann will provide practical suggestions for everyday situations. The workshop series is dedicated in memory of Michelle Rubinstein, Michal Ariella a”h bas Avraham Yitzchak. For more information or to be advised of future events please contact workshops@gesher-ecc.org or call 516-730-7377.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Hanachas Even Hapinah for Yeshivas Acheinu Graced by Gedolim By Chaim Gold
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he feelings of emotion were overwhelming. The gedolim were transported to the building site in three large jeeps as the huge crowd watched. HaGaon HaRav Shimon Baadani, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Rosh Yeshiva Torah V’Chaim of Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, was one of the gedolim who poured the cement into the foundation of the new Yeshivas Acheinu L’Tze’eirim in Modiin Illit. The powerful, generator-fueled lights illuminated the entire area, infusing the maamad with an additional aura of kedusha. Rav Baadani was flanked by other gedolim as well as Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, the umbrella Torah organization of which Acheniu is the kiruv arm. After pouring the cement, Rav Baadani spoke from the heart, exclaiming, “I have a special, abiding love for Acheinu! Why? Because Yeshivas Acheinu is unique. Many other yeshivos seek only metzuyanim, outstanding bachurim who will reflect well on the yeshiva. Acheinu just wants to work with bachurim and bring out the best in them!”
Senior Gedolei Yisrael Sign on Yeshivas Acheinu Megilas Hayesod Last week’s hanachas even hapinah for a new building to serve as home for Yeshivas Acheinu L’Tzeirim in Kiryat Sefer was a deeply inspiring maamad of Torah and tefillah that will not be easily forgotten. The yeshiva, which was established ten years ago at the behest of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, has inculcated the foundations of Torah learning and Torah living into an entire generation of talmidim. Due to the yeshiva’s success and growth, the need for a new state-of-the art building became an imperative. The hanachas even hapinah was held in the presence of numerous gedolei Yisrael and talmidim of the yeshiva both past and present. In advance of the event, senior members of Acheinu’s hanhalah visited the homes of the senior Gedolei Yisrael, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Edelstein, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Baadani, shlita, and
HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Finkel, shlita, as well as numerous others who signed on the special Megillas Hayesod scroll in honor of the hanachas even hapina. A Binyan Mikdosh Me’at and the Ultimate Kavod Shamayim Rav Yaakov Edelstein noticed that in the Megillas Hayesod it first states the day of the week, “Wednesday” and then it states the day of the month, “24 Shevat.” Rav Edelstein pointed out that generally throughout Tanach it puts the date before the day of the week. Only in two places is the day of the week stated first. “The first,” Rav Edelstein said, “is with regard to the building of the Beis Hamikdash and the second is in a pasuk regarding kavod shamayim. How appropriate it is
Yeshiva in Yerushalayim were founded as a result of Rav Shteinman’s request. At the meeting with Rav Shteinman, Acheinu’s hanhalah gave him an update on the yeshivos and the future plans. He was deeply gratified to hear of the successes. Similarly, Rav Chaim Kanievsky signed the Megillas Hayesod and expressed his pleasure regarding the hanachas even hapinah. In addition, he offered important advice regarding Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program. Rav Aryeh Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, also signed the Megillas Hayesod and as a person who has often hosted the Acheinu bachurim in his house for vaadim he was especially pleased
Rav Shimon Baadani pouring cement at the Acheinu event
that it was written this way in the Megillas Hayesod of a new yeshiva building, especially one for baalei teshuva which is truly a binyan mikdosh me’at and the ultimate kavod shamayim!” At the meeting with Rav Baadani, he mentioned the unique factor that so engenders his deep love – the fact that Acheinu doesn’t only seek metzuyanim. Rav Dovid Hofstedter, the nasi of the yeshiva, remarked that the yeshiva’s uniqueness is that they don’t take in metzuyanim but by the time they leave the yeshiva they are metzuyanim due to Acheinu’s tireless effort to give individualized chinuch to each of their charges. The meeting with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman where he signed the Megillas Hayesod was particularly poignant, because it was Rav Shteinman who, after Acheinu’s first Kiruv Conference ten years ago, approached Rav Hofstedter and asked him to open a Yeshiva L’Tzeriim for bochurim from Torani schools who could not be mainstreamed into regular yeshivos. Both the Acheinu Yeshiva in Modiin Illit and the Acheinu
about the yeshiva. Rav Finkel was in fact slated to participate in the hanachas even hapinah but had to cancel at the last minute due to health reasons. Tailor-Made Tefillos for a Tailor-Made Yeshiva A massive crowd gathered near the new location where the yeshiva will be built. The beautiful dais was graced by virtually all of the prominent Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva of Modiin Illit as well as HaGaonim, Rav Shimon Baadani, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chizkyahu Yosef Mishkovsky, Rav Yisrael Zicherman and Rav Moshe Meir Kessler, shlita. The evening began with special tefillos that Rav Yaakov Edelstein wrote in his own handwriting to be said at the event. In a booming voice laced with emotion, Rav Galei recited the Tehillim that Rav Edelstein recommended, passuk by passuk. This was followed by a heartfelt public recitation of tefillas haShelah. Afterwards, a handwritten letter by Rav Yaakov Edelstein was read by his son-in-law, HaRav Rom,
Rav Shimon Galei addressing the Acheinu Hanachas Even Hapinah
wherein Rav Edelstein gave his heartfelt bracha for the yeshiva’s hatzlacha. Rav Shimon Galei, prominent Rav and Mekubel from Bnei Brak, gave a powerful address. He said that the laying of a cornerstone for a new yeshiva is a special, opportune time to daven that the yeshiva continue to have success and that Klal Yisrael should witness great yeshuos. Rav Dovid Hofstedter also gave a masterful speech invoking the zechusim of his parents and in-laws, Holocaust survivors who were moser nefesh for Yiddishkeit. He attributed so much of the siyatta diShmaya that he has witnessed to their awesome zechusim. Rav Zev Hofstedter, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Acheinu, delivered a powerful address. The bachurim in Yeshivas Acheinu, the evening’s guests of honor, also sang beautiful niggunim in a special choir presentation that they had prepared. After the ceremony, the singing and dancing as the bachurim and their parents danced spiritedly together with the Rabbonim of the city displayed the palpable simcha of the establishment of another makom Torah that will bring nachas to Hashem. Rav Michoel Berlin, R”M at the yeshiva, pointed out that one of the most beautiful moments of the event was watching talmidim from five and ten years ago return to the yeshiva for the event and rekindle old relationships with friends and members of the hanhala. “When I look at how far these bachurim have come, when I see what Yeshivas Acheinu has accomplished thus far without the ideal facilities, without its own building, I am filled with simcha over the opportunities that the new building will provide us in reaching our goal of turning every one of ‘Acheinu,’ every one of our brothers into true bnei Torah!”
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Around the Community
An Impressive Farher
T
he boys in Rabbi Friedler’s and Rabbi Hersh’s fifth grade classes in Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island recently finished their first sugya of Gemara, the sugya of “Yiush.”
The boys spent some time reviewing and were up to the challenge of a “Grand” Bechina. On Sunday, February 7, Rabbi Nosson Greenberg, Rav of K’hal Machzikei Torah of Far Rockaway, came to farher
the boys. After giving some personal eyewitness cases of found objects, Rabbi Greenberg asked the boys to “pasken” what the halacha should be. With arms swinging in the air, the boys participated with answers
and “svoros” as the young dayanim resolved the question. Rabbi Friedler and Rabbi Hersh shepped so much nachas as the boys really impressed Rabbi Greenberg.
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Levli Launches “Chatchkes for Charity”
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By Tammy Mark
ast week, after most Central Avenue stores were closed for the night, Cedarhurst boutique Junee was still bustling, as close to 40 neighborhood girls came together to kick off a new community initiative. The event was run by Levli and featured an evening of food, fun and friends, all in efforts to raise funds to send needy community children to camp. Enthusiastic representatives from the local yeshiva high schools – SKA, HAFTR, Shulamit, Shalhevet, TAG and TMM – packaged the 500 beads and bracelets, the “chatchkes” which will be sold at local stores. Many of the eager volunteers asked if they could take some back to their schools to sell. One girl from HAFTR even helped create an Instagram account for Levli kids. The charity project is intended to help children from families with two working parents who are struggling financially and is endorsed by rabbis across the community. While there are various organizations that will help with small portions of camp tuition, the amount barely covers enough for one child to attend day camp. Levli founder Jessica Tsur explains that camp is not a luxury for these families, but a true necessity. “When June 23rd comes and school is over, these parents don’t have funds to send
to camp. They need to get up and go to work, and may have a 10, 8, 5 and 2 year old who can’t be left alone.” Inspirational speaker Devorah Sisso Stieglitz addressed the volunteers as they listened attentively to her moving stories and words of inspiration. She described the many benefits that summer camp offers young children. Stieglitz praised the girls for their participation, encouraging them to keep helping others whenever and however they can and to run after opportunities to do chesed. Tsur, who lives in Bayswater and runs a playgroup, originally launched Levli as a children’s clothing Gemach after Hurricane Sandy. With so many local families were hit hard, collecting
and distributing new or gently used clothing was part of the enormous chesed that took place in the community. It was this past summer when she realized there was another unmet community need. A mother of four, Tsur relates her personal story, “Last summer I ran a camp due to our difficult financial situation. A parent of one of my campers asked why my own children were home. I explained camp was completely out of the budget. She went above and beyond, and for the rest of the summer my three girls enjoyed an incredible camp experience at Camp Orah. I was blown away by this act of chesed and it is now my turn to pay it forward!”
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Devorah Sisso Stieglitz with Jessica Tsur and Devorah Benderly
Tsur organized the Junee event with the help of Devorah Benderly. Gourmet Glatt provided the fruit platters with Sushi Tokyo and Russo Pharmacy sponsoring the sushi. The centerpieces and candy were sponsored by Sima Klein and all paper goods were donated by The Paper Place. “This event was so beautiful due to the fact that the entire community participated. Junee was an amazing host, and of course, most importantly we had girls from every local high school; their enthusiasm and excitement about chesed made the event the success that it was,” says Tsur. “It’s so important that the community is becoming excited and involved in this!” Tsur is now setting up meetings to raise funds and further awareness for this community cause. “We are confident that we will reach our goals and help many families.” Beads can be purchased at Oh Nuts, Seasons Express and Junee Jr. Contact Levli at 603-540-6826 or info@levli.com for more information. Visit Levli.com and follow Levlikids on Instagram.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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It was really “super” at the Learn & Live Program this week as we got to really experience tochein hands-on by making our very own hummus and of course putting them in “bowls” to take home and enjoy with crackers. Thank you R’ Feivish Rotbard. A special thank you to Seasons for helping with the ingredients. This Sunday, we’ll be presenting “Sifty sifty sifty wooo.” For more information, email learnandlivefr@gmail.com.
Assemblywoman Rozic Speaks to Students at YU High School
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ssemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) spoke at Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls last week to students in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Club. Rozic shared her experiences that led her to pursue a career
Books at Bnos Malka
in public service and explained the importance of young people participating in civic discourse. Rozic also encouraged them to remain passionate about their studies, reminding them that their involvement in typically male-dominated fields is critical to breaking barriers for women.
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n Friday, February 5, grades 1-8 at Bnos Malka held their Book of the Month Assembly led by second grade teacher Ms. Landesman and the G.O. Students came together to receive an introduction to the new book, The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires. The Book of The Month program at Bnos Malka has many facets. Beyond encouraging reading, the program is designed to proactively teach life skills to all students. Books are carefully selected that stimulate a wide range of discussion and thought. Through a short skit the students previewed some of the “magnificent” themes embedded in the text, such as invention, effort, perseverance and working
through struggles. Rabbi Weichselbaum, Menahel, commented, “Having all classes participate, creates a tremendous sense of unity and opens dialogue between students of all ages.”
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SKA Students Join CIJE on a Tech Mission to Israel
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our engineering students from the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls participated in CIJE’s 2nd annual tech trip to Israel for high school students. The CIJE Tech: Journey to the Start-Up Nation program from January 19-29 was part of the continuing effort by CIJE (The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education) to get students interested in STEM – science, tech-
nology, engineering and mathematics – careers of the 21st Century. The CIJE trip, under the direction of Mrs. Judy Lebovits, Director of CIJE and organizer of the event, included twenty-two other students and mentors from yeshiva high schools throughout the United States. The program emphasized life sciences and biotechnology and took the students to places like the Technion,
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the Weitzman Institute, and biotech firm Given Imaging, as well as startups and venture capital and entrepreneurial firms. It was an extraordinary way to visit and collaborate with the remarkable Israeli start-ups in technological innovations. The SKA engineering students, Chaya Biderman, Kayla Evans, Zohar Reyhanian and Aliyah Tanami, came back from their mid-winter intersession trip both excited and inspired. “It was such an experience being with a like-minded group of students who share our interest in technology. The trip expanded on what we learned in engineering class with Mrs. Berger and it was so exciting to work on actual projects,” they enthused. Additionally, the girls noted that they learned extensive business skills when visiting the start-ups and venture capital firms which would help them excel in their future careers. There was also time for fun, touring and connecting to the land of Is-
rael. Jeep riding, the Blind Museum and the Carmel were some of the places the students had the opportunity to explore. Our sincere thanks go to the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education and Mrs. Lebovits for this wonderful experience. Journey to the Start-Up Nation was certainly an introduction for our students to a different side of Israel!
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Mesivta Football League Season 4 Championship – MAY Eagles Win!
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nder the auspices of Rabbi Yossi Bennett, Assistant Menahel at MAY, and Mr. Richie Altabe, General Studies Principal at Shaare Torah, the Mesivta Football League brought its fourth season to a close this past Sunday, February 7th. From beginning to end, it was an exhilarating experience for all participating yeshivos. This year, the League welcomed back seven returning schools (Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, Yeshivat Sha’are Torah, DRS High School, HAFTR High School, Rambam Mesivta, Yeshiva Darchei Eretz, Mesivta Yam HaTorah) and this year welcomed a team of students from Yeshiva Darchei Torah (Mesivta Chaim Shlomo) under the guidance of Rabbi Natanel Gralla and Rabbi Shimon Dachs. Every Sunday afternoon throughout the long, cold winter, teams arrived for their games at Lawrence High School or Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn pumped and excited to represent their schools in competitive flag football. Games were intense, but menschlech, with tremendous sportsmanship displayed week in, week out by all teams. Although all teams played a great season, the League would like to congratulate Coach Josh Rahmanan and his MAY Eagles on winning this season’s MFL championship. The playoffs were intense with the top 6 teams making it to the playoffs. In the quarterfinal round of playoffs, the top 2 seeds (MAY and YDT) had byes, while Yeshiva Darchei Eretz (3)
outplayed DRS (6) and Yeshiva Shaare Torah (3) took the game over HAFTR (6). The semifinals continued with the same intensity as the quarters, if not more. With MAY beating out YDE and YDT edging YST in a close game, the stage was set for this season’s championship game – Student of YDT versus the returning champions, the MAY Eagles. Before the championship game (“The Cholent Bowl”) All Star players from the 6 other teams joined together to play the MFL Pro Bowl in a beautiful display of achdus and camaraderie. Congrats to all of the All Stars! As the Cholent Bowl ensued, the
snow covered field created some challenges for both teams, but the top seeded MAY Eagles came out strong. With superstar quarterback Yossi Malek connecting with sophomore Yehuda Levine for a touchdown and a
successful extra point, the Eagles took a quick lead, 7-0. However, the students from YDT were not deflated, and responded with a long toss from QB Shuie Dachs, bringing the score to 7-6. Relentless defense from the Eagles, including defensive linemen Yossi Malek, Yaakov Goldstein and rookie Dovid Koss, did not give YDT many opportunities to connect. On offense, Malek once again connected with Levine for a second TD, giving MAY the 13-6 lead. YDT responded aggressively with another score, but could not capitalize on the extra point, putting them behind, 13-12. Drives by both teams were unsuccessful, with tremendous defense from both sides and, in the end, MAY retained their one point lead and took the victory for their second championship in a row.
The League would like to congratulate Mesivta Ateres Yaakov on the win and Yossi Malek on winning the Championship Game MVP trophy. The League would also like to congratulate YDT quarterback Shuie Dachs on winning the League MVP trophy. The League would like to thank Eliezer “Zezy” Fuld, Commissioner of the League, and all participating yeshivos – their players, coaches, administrators and fans – for helping make this season so incredible. For more information about the Mesivta Football League and footage of the championship game, please visit their website at mesivtafootball. com or email mesivtafootball@gmail. com.
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The Kosher Halftime Show
PHOTO CREDIT: KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY
I
n front of a packed crowd at The Teaneck Doghouse, in Teaneck, NJ, on Saturday night, February 7th, the Nachum Segal Network recorded its third annual Kosher Halftime Show (KHS). The 16 minute show aimed at providing alternate entertainment to the performance provided by the NFL during the big game. The KHS went live on www. nachumsegal.com to coordinate with halftime. This year’s performance starred international sensation LIPA, ac-
companied by a new band starring Nochi and Yosaif Krohn in conjunction with Neshoma Orchestra. LIPA recorded three songs for the KHS and one bonus track, released after the show. “The Kosher Halftime Show, like so much of our programming,” said Nachum Segal, “continues to prove that we can lives with family values and guidelines while still interacting with the secular world.” The KHS is available for viewing on www.nachumsegal.com.
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky Visits Yeshiva University
Pictured left to right: Michael Strauss, associate dean and entrepreneur-inresidence at YU’s Sy Syms School of Business; Avi Lauer; NYS Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky; YU President Richard M. Joel; and Dr. Paul Oestreicher, executive director for communications and public affairs at YU
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ew York State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky visited Yeshiva University this week to bolster partnerships between the University and emerging businesses as part of a new YU initiative to support Israeli entrepreneurship. “We greatly appreciated Assemblyman Kaminsky’s visit to Yeshiva University,” said Avi Lauer, of Woodmere, NY, vice president for
legal affairs and secretary and general counsel at YU. “His support of the students, mission and vital work of YU is deeply appreciated and we look forward to continuing to partner with him in connection with exciting new initiatives that will help our students and the State of New York, such as the Yeshiva University New York/Israel Business Incubator initiative that we are working on together.”
Kehillas Ahavas Yisroel Announces Two New Shiurim
Dirshu Mishna Berurah Yomi Monday-‐‑Friday 6:45 AM Shacharis 7:00 AM
Hilchos Tefila Starts February 8
Gemara Topics B’iyun Sunday 9:15 AM (w/breakfast)
Wednesday Night Parsha Shiur Refreshments 8:15 -‐‑ Shiur 8:30 All Shiurim Delivered by Rav Daniel G latstein, Mora D’asrah Kehillas Ahavas Yisroel 568 Peninsula Boulevard Cedarhurst
(Entrance to Kehillas Ahavas Yisroel is from the parking lot in rear)
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Yeshiva Gedolah and Mesivta Ateres Yaakov held a Super Seder on Sunday evening, February 7. Baruch Hashem it was a beautiful evening and a tremendous kiddush Hashem.
TaxRevo Tackles New Income Tax Changes in 2016
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s small business owners and individuals collect all their forms, receipts and other information to prepare taxes for 2016, TaxRevo accountants say there are many new federal rules that can make things a bit complicated. “We have already experienced an increase in clients, as many small business owners and individual taxpayers are trying to navigate through a maze of new laws and regulations,” said Joseph (Yossi) Reich, CPA, manager of TaxRevo. “We have been aware of these changes for some time and have developed the strategies necessary to fully, and strategically, comply. We are prepared, so our customers don’t have to be. We have it all under control.” The most evident change this tax season is that the filing deadline has been extended from April 15 to April 18. This year, Emancipation Day falls on Friday, April 15. Therefore, the tax deadline has been pushed back to the following Monday. “We’ve marked our calendars. This isn’t a huge change, but customers are always anxious about Tax Day so we feel it’s important to share this information,” Reich said. “Typically, we try to file our clients’ taxes long before the deadline so that the federal government promptly provides refund checks.” In 2016, the Affordable Care Act will be enforcing new penalties for individuals not having qualifying health
care coverage. This year, penalties will rise, starting at $695 per adult, or 2.5 percent of income. “We have become experts in the Affordable Care Act from a tax perspective,” Reich said. “The law continually changes, as it is fully enacted over the years. We work closely with our clients in helping them decide from a financial perspective how best to comply with the law.” TaxRevo is prepared to serve clients with other changes in 2016, such as: Standard deductions are going up for head-of-household filers. Tax brackets are rising slightly. Personal exemptions are rising. Contribution limits on health savings accounts are going up. The Earned Income Credit is rising. The exemption from AMT is higher. The estate tax exemption is heading upward. Other tax provisions could change if not renewed. Although TaxRevo is current on all changes in the tax code, Reich urges clients and new clients to schedule meetings with their accountants as soon as possible. “There is never any benefit to waiting until the last minute,” Reich said. “Let’s work together to address any and all issues and make this tax season the most painless yet.” Learn more at TaxRevo.com.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Rabbi Asher Weiss from Eretz Yisrael spoke last week in the Young Israel of West Hempstead to a packed crowd
Dr. Jonathan Altmark, Rabbi Asher Weiss and Rabbi Goller
Rabbi Goller, Rabbi Weiss and Rabbi Kelemer
Rambam Masmidim Celebration and Trip
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he Rambam Mesivta Masmidim were treated to a special day in honor of their dedication to learning. It began with a lunch at Traditions featuring guest speaker Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, Mora D’Asra of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. The young talmidim were also given Masmidim swag in the form of t-shirts to go with the swag from previous years that included Masmidim sweatshirts and seforim bags. They then accompanied Rabbi Avrum Haar, the Head of the Masmidim Program, to “Can You Escape the Room?” where they used their analytical skills to “escape.” Fittingly, the night ended with even more learning as the Masmidim continued to shteig away with
Rabbi Yaacov Weisenberg. The Masmidim Program features “Open Learning” every Monday and Tuesday night after school as well as lunch learning four days a week. Rab-
bi Haar, Rabbi Weisenberg, Rabbi Yitzie Werblowsky, Rabbi Yosef Ziskind, Rabbi Ari Boiangiu, Rabbi Aryeh Young, and Rabbi Jonathan Rosenfeld, all Rambam Rebbeim, run the
Night and Lunch Learning programs. The learning focuses on halacha, Mishna, inyanei d’yoma, and parsha. The Masmidim Program is now in its third year and continues to thrive.
I have had the privilege of being part of the Selfhelp project which has been most rewarding. That too has allowed me to make many new friends while bringing sunshine into these peoples’ lives. I was so elated that we could bring these two most exciting parts of my life together through our performance.” Choir members are Frima Laub, Maddie Cohen, Ellie Klein, Janet Sachs, Muriel Barber, Shirley Garber,
Shelly Shaw, Cookie Levy, Bruce Gordon, Ellen Margolin and Joe Margolin. The event was made possible thanks to the efforts of Judy Goldberg and Rachayle Deutsch, Program Liaisons for the JCC, and Carmella Chessen, Outstretch/Volunteer Coordinator for Selfhelp. Both the JCC and Selfhelp are beneficiary agencies of UJA-Federation of New York.
JCC Holds Virtual Concert
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n February 2, the Golden Notes Senior Choir of the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC performed for the members of the Selfhelp Virtual Senior Center. Broadcast live from the JCC building in Cedarhurst, VSC viewers from all of over the United States were entertained in this first concert performed on-line. The choir, under the direction of choir master extraordinaire Zvi Klein,
sang a variety of popular, show and classical songs including “Oh what a beautiful morning” and “Amor.” Choir member Joe Margolin, who organized the performance, has been a discussion group facilitator for VSC for the past two years. Joe explained, “Being part of the JCC choir gives me great pleasure. I have met many new friends while enjoying the vast world of popular and classical music which is a passion of mine. Recently
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On February 4, Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky visited the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach in Long Beach and spoke to middle school students about government and civics. The Assemblyman spoke about his career as a federal prosecutor, the importance of hard work, honesty and maintaining a good work ethic and a positive attitude. Kaminsky also discussed the role of state government and the importance of standing up for Israel. The students also spoke with the Assemblyman about how they can play a role in government and have a meaningful impact on their communities.
DRS Hosts over 150 Prospective Students for Visit Day
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n Tuesday, DRS hosted over 150 prospective eighth grade applicants from 15 different elementary schools for a visit to DRS and a chance to experience what it’s like to be a DRS student for a day. Students from YCQ, HANC, Har Torah, South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana, HAFTR, HALB, Derech HaTorah, and several other elementary schools were warmly greeted at the doors of DRS by administrators and student leaders. Each visiting student received a personal schedule for him to follow throughout their day. Throughout the day, the students had the opportunity to study Gemara on a high school level in Rabbi Kaminetsky’s Gemara Shiur, practice creative writing techniques in Ms. Wellner’s English class, solve and prove mind-bending mathematics tricks in Ms. Flynn’s math class, explore the mechanics of chemistry in Ms. Martinos’ science lab, dissect the inner workings of contemporary p’sak halacha in Rabbi Farber’s halacha shiur, and meet and ask questions to Rabbi Storch and Dr. Kirshenbaum in small groups.
Following a lunch catered by Carlos & Gabby’s, the students moved to the gym where they were treated to a taste of DRS’s extracurricular student activ-
ities, during which they participated in a multimedia trivia game challenging them in areas of Gemara, Tanach, science, math, sports, English, Ivrit, and
general knowledge. We are proud of the quality of students that will comprise our ninth grade next year!
Do a Mitzvah and Remember Levi Yitzchok Wolowik a”h MITZVAH AUCTION. SHABBOS PARTY. SELFIE CAMPAIGN his Shabbos, Daled Adar I (February 13), marks Levi Wolowik’s a”h 7th yahrtzeit. It’s in Levi’s merit that the beautiful Levi Yitzchak Library was established. So many of us enjoy and
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benefit from it. When we each do a mitzvah in memory of Levi Yitzchak, we are not only elevating Levi’s neshama, but we are bringing the redemption closer with the coming of Moshiach! To honor Levi, we invite you to participate in this grand Mitzvah Auction & Mitzvah Selfie Campaign
online at www.MitzvosforLevi.com, or at the library any time during our library hours. Children have the opportunity to pledge a mitzvah and/ or send in a selfie of them performing a mitzvah and enter to win exciting prizes! In addition to the auction and campaign, for the very first time, the
library will be open on Shabbos for a Hakhel Shabbos Party in Levi’s memory from 3:30PM-4:30PM. We are excited to host guest storyteller Rabbi Yitzie Ross for children ages 6-11 and a special Shabbos story time for children ages 3-5.
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Around the Community
Rambam Leadership and Chesed Awards
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number of students at Rambam Mesivta were recognized for their leadership, chesed, and school service at a recent assembly. Daniel Kurman and Jonny Weisel earned Chesed Awards for being responsible for raising thousands of dollars for various charities and successfully running blood, can, and toy drives. Jonathan Welgrin and Pinny Verstandig also received Chesed Awards for organizing a Rambam Community Bake Sale that raised hundreds of dollars to help repair a Sefer Torah for IDF Soldiers.
Sophomore Effie Klein was rec-
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ognized for his role in davening and assisting in running the Rambam Minyan, while senior Yoni Nirenberg, who is now working closely with Stand With Us, was rewarded for his Israel Advocacy. Sruli Sandler earned two awards, one for winning the Contest of the Month History Challenge and one for School Service, “being the first to show up and the last to leave,” as his plaque declared. Boaz Aeder, Gabe Kessler, and
Yitzy Lisker accepted their Leadership Awards as the force behind the school’s Entrepreneur Club. The Club is planning a trip to LaunchPadLI, a Long Island-based Venture Capitalist group, as well as a trip to the 92nd St. Y to dialogue with Robert Herjavec of Shark Tank fame. Avi Skurnik was given a “Masmid of the Semester” Award for his diligence in learning and Moses Bibi, the mastermind behind a sock drive that netted more socks than other school was handed a Chesed Award. The ceremony concluded with Rabbi Shlomo Kovitz receiving the “Rebbe of the Semester” Award. The talmidim surrounded him with affection and cheers as he graciously accepted the award. In many cases the eye is on building the leaders of tomorrow. It is truly exceptional to recognize that in many cases, the leaders of tomorrow have arrived today and are already making a tremendous impact on the school, community, and the world at large.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion Lifted by Tefillah & Song
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eshiva Sha’arei Zion would like to congratulate Rabbi Menachem Kolodny, Rabbi Baruch Suyunov, and both Pre 1-A classes on their Siddur Party! On Sunday morning, February 7th, parents, family, and friends gathered in the YSZ ballroom to celebrate this important milestone. The boys looked so cute in their costumes, performing beautifully at the Siddur Play, singing
and dancing with innocent joy. The talmidim sang a collection of songs, and thanked their parents for their constant support, love, and involvement in their learning. Rabbi Label Lam, Principal of Boys Division, gave an inspirational speech to both parents and students. He explained to the talmidim how they can daven and thank Hashem for all the good that He gives them, and ask
for things in their prayers using their siddurim. After the performance there were tasty refreshments, including two beautiful Mazel Tov cakes, for all the guests and students who shared in the simcha. As the students were handed their siddurim, their faces lit up with such joy. The sound of their voices singing reached a point of purity and innocence inside every one of
us and penetrated into the heart of the Heavens, no doubt. The performance concluded with the poignant scene of the children kissing their brand new siddurim lovingly and their proud parents embracing and kissing them. May the boys continue to have excitement each and every time they open their siddurim and may our tefillot be accepted on high, in merit of the boys’ pure prayers.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
Janessa Nydelsie Luina, born February 2, 2015, at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
1 looks good on you!
THANK YOU ST. JOHN’S
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Thank you St. John’s from the bottom of my heart.
– Janessa’s mother Jessica Luina Rockaway resident & community leader
Pediatrics at St. John’s St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s Pediatric Health Services Department provides the highest standard of personalized care for your child, from birth into adulthood, with dedication to serving families in our community. The Hospital’s team of Board Certified pediatricians and specialists work collaboratively to offer a comprehensive array of services to address every child’s needs, including wellness care and disease prevention and management. St. John’s offers a full compliment of Pediatric Services, including Neonatology, Endocrinology, Neurology and Pulmonology. Pediatric Offices are located at 495 Beach 20th Street. Please call (347) 619-5950 for an appointment.
Women’s Health Services at St. John’s St. John’s Episcopal Hospital offers comprehensive gynecologic and obstetrical services to residents of southern Queens and southwestern Nassau Counties. The Hospital’s board-certified women’s health specialists provide care for all of life’s stages, and the OB/GYN team is as diverse as the many communities we serve. Team members include male and female physicians, a certified nurse midwife and a certified lactation consultant. Our registered nurses have specialized training in women’s health. To choose an OB/GYN doctor affiliated with St. John’s, please call (718) 869-7382. St. John’s also offer childbirth preparation classes led by a certified nurse educator and tours of our maternity unit. For class schedules and registration, or questions about tours, please call (718) 869-7276.
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPA L HOSPITA L EPISCOPAL HEALTH SERVICES INC. | W W W.EHS.ORG
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TJH !
Centerfold ?
You gotta be
kidding
What do you call someone in the White House who is honest, ethical, intellectual, law abiding, and sincere? A tourist.
Riddle me this?
What was the president of the United States’ name in 1984? See answer on opposite page
Memorable Campaign Slogans Grover Cleveland “Reannexation of Texas and reoccupation of Oregon”
“Who is James K. Polk?”
Henry Clay
James K. Polk
Abraham Lincoln
John C. Fremont
“Vote Yourself a Farm”
“Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, and Fremont”
“Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine” William McKinley “A Full Dinner Pail”
Herbert Hoover “Keep Cool with Coolidge” “The Stakes are too High for You to Stay at Home” Lyndon B. Johnson
Calvin Coolidge
“A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage”
Dwight Eisenhower
“I Like Ike”
Barry Goldwater “In your Heart you Know he’s Right”
Ralph Nader
“Government of, by, and for the People...Not the Monied Interests”
“He’s Making Us Proud Again” Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter “Not Just Peanuts”
“Reformer with Results”
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton “Putting People First”
“Kinder, Gentler Nation” Ross Perot
George Bush “Ross for Boss”
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
The “Weirder Side” of Presidents Trivia
1. After President Bush Sr. did something in the presence of the Japanese prime minister, a new word, Bushusuru, entered the Japanese language. The word reflects what Bush did. What does the word mean? a. To bow to someone for 90 seconds or more b. To trip while walking alongside someone c. To vomit publicly d. To fall asleep while someone else is giving a speech 2. What is one of the jobs that Grover Cleveland held before becoming president? a. Banker b. Doctor c. Train conductor d. Hangman 3. JFK is lauded for his famous inaugural line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Was that an original line or did he borrow it from another president? a. Original b. Not original 4. Which president claimed to have seen a UFO? a. Jimmy Carter b. James Monroe c. Franklin Pierce d. Chester Arthur 5. When Martin Van Buren wrote his autobiography after serving as president from 1837-1841, who did he fail to mention in his book even once? a. His vice president b. His secretary of state c. The senate d. His wife
6. George Washington made the shortest inauguration speech on record – 133 words and less than two minutes long. He went on to become the most iconic president. William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) holds the record for the longest inauguration speech in history at 8,578 words long and one hour and 40 minutes. What happened to him afterwards? a. He was impeached b. He was voted as the worse president ever c. He died one month later d. An earplug company changed their slogan to “Make sure you have these when Harrison comes to town.” 7. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to ever be photographed at his inauguration. Who else is seen in the photograph? a. Jefferson Davis, future Confederate president b. John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s eventual assassin c. Robert E. Lee, Confederate general d. Larry King 8. William Howard Taft (1857-1930) once needed emergency personnel to come to his rescue in the White House for what reason? a. His Secretary of Labor beat him up b. He choked on a pretzel c. He got stuck in the bathtub d. He fainted when his budget office showed him the deficit for that year Answers: 1. C-On January 8, 1992, Bush Sr. fainted after vomiting at a banquet hosted by then-Prime Minister of Japan, Kiichi Miyazawa. I guess he didn’t like the sushi. 2. D-Grover Cleveland was the only
president in history to hold the job of a hangman. He was once the sheriff of Erie County, New York, and twice had to spring the trap at a hanging. 3. B-It was a borrowed line. President Warren G. Harding told the 1916 Republican convention: “We must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it, and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.” 4. A-Jimmy Carter reported seeing an unidentified flying object while he was governor of Georgia. He filed a report of the sighting with the International UFO Bureau in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 5. D 6. C-Harrison gave the speech during bad weather and a month later, he was dead from pneumonia, making his the shortest presidency on record. 7. B-John Wilkes Booth is seen in the inauguration photo. It was not the only time before the assassination that he was in close proximity to Lincoln. 8. C-At 325 pounds, William Howard Taft (1857-1930), who was dubbed “Big Bill,” was the largest president in American history. He once got stuck in the White House bathtub and people came to his rescue to pull him out. Wisdom Key: 6-8 correct: You are really smart; you could probably be president. But, then again, Carter was president, too. See any UFOs lately? 3-5 correct: You are right in the middle – a hanging chad. 0-2 correct: You just Bushusurud all over the TJH Centerfold
Answer to riddle: Barack Obama (Want to know who was the president of the U.S. in 1984? Ronald Reagan)
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Torah Thought
The Messenger and the Message By Rabbi Berel Wein
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ecently, the Secretary General of the United Nations commented, at last, on all of the terrorism against Israeli citizens perpetrated by many Palestinians. In essence, he said that the Israelis had it coming to them since they have been unable to satisfy all of the outrageous demands of the Palestinians that would automatically bring peace and light to our troubled land. Both the prime minister of Israel and its ambassador to the UN criticized him bitterly for his words and lack of a balanced assessment of the realities of the situation. Stung by the temerity to criticize him, the Secretary General responded with an op-ed piece in the New York Times (where else would it be treated with the proper respect and publicity that it deserved), saying that Israel should not blame the messenger (him) but should rather hearken to the message he delivered in his remarks. Somehow he misses the point entirely. In this case, the messenger is the message. Does the Secretary General of the UN really expect that any official statements of any UN appointee will find construc-
tive acceptance in the eyes of most Israelis and their elected government? After over more than six decades of anti-Israel rhetoric, resolutions, condemnations and hate speech emanating from the UN against Israel we are fairly immune to whatever it has to say about us. Ben Gurion already labeled it all as being “oom –shmoom.” And so it was and so it remains. There is no doubt that the United Nations can be a force for good and conciliation in the Middle East. It can be that necessary outside arbiter that can bring about positive pressure to change hardened positions and bring warring parties to moderation and compromise. Such a role was truly envisioned for it when it was founded and formed from the international wreckage in the aftermath of World War II. It began hopefully for the Jewish people when the UN sanctioned the founding of the State of Israel. But almost immediately, the UN turned itself into a constant critic and enemy of the State of Israel. It helped facilitate the Arab refugee crisis and its unstinting support of the Arab cause prolonged and deepened the Arab-Israel struggle.
It has also allowed anti-Semitism to be legitimatized internationally. Willingly or otherwise the UN’s secretariat and officialdom has transformed itself from being the messenger to being the message – a message of anti-Israel bias and blatant hypocrisy. As such, it has lost all influence on Israeli society…and only Israeli society can influence Israeli governmental policies and decisions. If the Secretary General of the UN has constructive advice for the Israeli government there is no reason or justification for it to do so in a nasty tone in an op-ed article in the New York Times. That is how the messenger becomes the message itself. And the message is unfortunately one of bias, one-sidedness and a lack of realistic assessment of the facts on the ground. Such a message understandably will not resonate well within Israeli society and its governmental leadership. The question that stares Israel in the face is a basic and difficult one. It is: “Is the current status quo, tension-laden situation between Israel and the Palestinians sustainable in the short term and even in the long term or
not?” Not being gifted with prophecy I cannot really venture an intelligent answer to this quandary. But my heart tells me that these types of situations eventually break down in war (G-d forbid), diplomatic sanctions or in-
The Palestinians probably also realize that the current situation cannot remain static for long. But as long as they think that the UN or the American State Department or the New York Times will deliver Israel to
After over more than six decades of anti-Israel rhetoric, resolutions, condemnations and hate speech emanating from the UN against Israel we are fairly immune to whatever it has to say about us.
creased constant violence. Now, it takes two to tango and we are dealing with a pretty intractable adversary. There is not much room for negotiation with a foe that has as its goal, stated and publicized, to completely eradicate your nation state. The UN could be of help in talking to the Palestinians about realty and what is truly attainable for them with a live-and-let-live arrangement with Israel.
them on a silver platter they are unlikely to reassess their options and make progress towards some sort of modus vivendi that will benefit all concerned. That should be the message that is transmitted and the Secretary General can then be a welcome and proper messenger to deliver that message. But until then, discounting the messenger is certainly understandable and even justified.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Torah Shmuz
Parshas Terumah Derech HaTeva of the Upper Worlds By R’ Ben Tzion Shafier
“On the Shulchan shall you place the Bread of Surfaces before Me, always.” — Shemos 25:30
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ne of the miracles of the Mishkan was the lechem ha-panim or showbread. Each week the
Kohanim were commanded to bake twelve loaves of bread in a specific manner and then leave them exposed to the air. At the end of the week, whichever Kohanim were serving in the Mishkan would eat the still-fresh loaves. The Sefer HaChinuch explains the “reason” behind the mitzvah. It states:
“Bread sustains man. Therefore, a brachah is constantly needed in it. We are commanded to do a mitzvah with bread because whatever a man uses to fulfill the will of Hashem is blessed.” The Chinuch is telling us that the lechem ha-panim was significant in assuring the Jewish people that they would have sustenance and success in earning a living. When we focus on the concept of parnassah or sustenance, this becomes difficult to understand. In Birkas HaMazon, we say, “Hazan es ha-olam kulo b’tuvo — Who nourishes the entire world, in His goodness.” The Chovos HaLevavos explains that much like a host who invites a guest to his home is obligated to take care of that guest, if it could be, Hashem feels an obligation to take care of each of His creations. It’s as if to say, “I brought you into this world. I have to take care of you.”
SUSTAINER OF ALL
That being said, the Sefer HaChinuch is difficult to understand. If the Sefer HaChinuch had written that when the lechem ha-panim was baked, the Jewish people davened to Hashem, that might have explained how this would affect earning a living. Or if it had written that when the lechem ha-panim was eaten the Kohanim asked Hashem for help, that would also make sense. Prayer awakens the mercy of Hashem. However, that isn’t what the Chinuch is telling us. It is the mere fact that a mitzvah was done with bread that brought brachah to everyone’s bread. The question is: how does this function? If the Jewish peo-
ple were worthy of sustenance, they wouldn’t need the lechem ha-panim, and if they weren’t worthy, how would it help?
LAWS OF NATURE
The answer to this question is based on understanding the systems that Hashem created to run this world. In the physical world, there are laws that govern the operation of nature. Heat tends to rise. Gases tend to expand. Heavy objects tend to fall. These are inviolable laws that Hashem created and put into force. We refer to them as derech ha-teva, the rules of nature. The laws of nature are exact and unforgiving. No matter how nice a guy you are, if you forget to fill up the gas tank, you car will stop. Even if you are a well-intentioned man, if you fall asleep with a cigarette in your mouth, likely it will end badly. And even if you are a loving parent, if, Heaven forefend, your child falls down the stairs, there will be scrapes and bruises. To the untrained eye, it looks like these laws operate outside of Hashem. It would seem that He set the laws in motion, and once they were in force, the results just happen without Him. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Ramban explains that teva is the guideline that Hashem uses to run the world. It is the standard operating procedure. But it is Him, totally and completely, running nature. Nevertheless, Hashem commands us to go about things in a particular way. To grow wheat, we plant and harvest. To prepare a meal, we light a fire to cook our food. It would be improper to say, “I’ll do nothing and wait for
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
Hashem to provide my nourishment for me.” That’s not the way that Hashem fashioned the world, and Hashem won’t support us if we act that way. We have to use the system in the way that Hashem wants it to be used. To stay healthy, we are obligated to eat prop-
it isn’t our effort that earns us our daily bread. Hashem wants us to act in a particular manner, but it’s not our actions that determine the outcome. We have to do our part, and then Hashem provides the results.
Hashem wants us to act in a particular manner, but it’s not our actions that determine the outcome.
erly and exercise. To earn a living, we have to get a job. While it’s true that each Rosh Hashanah the coming year is decreed — good or bad, successful or not, healthy or with sickness — Hashem still expects certain things from us. We have to do our part. A segment of that means using this world in the derech ha-teva, the rules of nature. At the same time, we have to understand that
A HIGHER SYSTEM OF NATURE
This seems to be the answer to the question on how the lechem ha-panim aids in the sustenance of the Jewish people. One of the rules of the upper world is that if someone engages in a mitzvah with pure intentions that causes brachah to come to the thing he used in the mitzvah. This is one of the decrees that Hashem put into ex-
istence with the creation of the world. It is as much a part of nature as is gravity, density, and the speed of light. The Torah is revealing one the rules of that system here: use it properly and these results happen. Just as working to earn a living is using the world in the way that Hashem wants, so, too, is using the upper world systems. This helps us understand the Gemara that states, “Aser kedei lehis’asher — Give tithes in order to become wealthy” (Ta’anis 9a). The Torah guarantees that if you give a tenth of your income to tzedakah, not only won’t you be poorer because of it, you are guaranteed to end up with more money. And this is the one area in which a person is allowed to test Hashem. Try it and you are guaranteed that the formula will work. We might be tempted to ask the same question here. What difference does giving ma’aser make? If Hashem determined on the previous Rosh Hashanah that you will earn a certain amount of money, the decree is set, and that is the amount you’ll make. Why should the amount you give to
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tzedakah matter? The answer is that just as there is a protocol to the mundane aspects of earning a living, so, too, is there a protocol for what we do with the money. One of the provisos that Hashem built into the world is that giving ma’aser will not cost you. It’s as if a flex account is set up on Rosh Hashanah. This is the amount you will earn. If you give a tenth of your income, you will earn more. If you don’t, you will earn less. A financial advisor might not be able to explain it, but it is Hashem’s world. He created the system, and He alone makes the rules. The more we focus on these concepts, the more we understand that Hashem wants us to use the world in particular ways, and it is He alone who controls all outcomes.
Rabbi Shafier is the founder of the Shmuz. com. The Shmuz is an engaging, motivating shiur that deals with real life issues. All of the Shmuzin are available free of chaarge at the www.theShmuz.com or on the Shmuz app for iPhone or Android.
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The Observant Jew
The World According to Me By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
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he world revolves around me. There, I’ve said it. Everything that goes on in the world is because of me. Want an example? No problem. We were going away for Shabbos on a winter Friday when sunset was on the early side. We were faced with the challenge of getting my daughter to our destination since she goes to school in another city. We toyed with the idea of driving in sepa-
school. We now had plenty of time. But one second, would we be able to make our trip? Yes, we would! Within a couple of hours the sun came out, the snow melted, and people wondered why school had been canceled at all. But I knew. I knew that Hashem arranged all of it since it made my life so much easier. Now, you may say that making a whole storm and shutting down numerous schools is a
beginning, a fellow in the audience asked a question. At least I think he asked a question. You couldn’t hear him on the recording, just the lecturer answering back. From the responses it seemed that the question was premature and not well-founded. I found myself wondering why on earth this man was allowed to keep going. Just as he finished, the door in that room opened and the rabbi welcomed someone
Hashem, like a man spinning plates on sticks in the circus, is able to do a delicate and intricate balancing act so that everything in the world is connected and running according to plan.
rate cars but good news! She was able to find a friend going there too. Well, while we arranged a ride for her from school, she got home late and didn’t have time to pack the night before. She would have to pack early in the morning. And that’s when I realized the world revolved around me. Confused? Did I mention it was winter? That night, a storm blew in and school was canceled! No problem about getting her packed early and back from
bit much to do for one person, but I disagree. When you love someone the way Hashem loves me, you’ll do anything for them and that’s what He did that day. (Sure, we could have just let her miss school but she didn’t want to. She is just that devoted.) But wait! Am I saying that the whole world revolves around me and no one else matters? Not in the slightest! Here’s another example. I downloaded a shiur to listen to in the car. As they were
to the shiur. “You’re just in time!” he remarked. “We’re just about to start.” I realized right then that Hashem had not just allowed the other fellow to ask his questions, but made it happen so the latecomer wouldn’t miss anything. How cool is that? You see, the world does revolve around me, but it revolves around everyone else too. Hashem, like a man spinning plates on sticks in the circus, is able to do a delicate and intricate balancing act so
that everything in the world is connected and running according to plan. Maybe when my daughter missed school, that snow day helped a dozen or two other people as well. Perhaps they were happy to have their kids home so they could help prepare for Shabbos or some other reason. Maybe there was a teacher who needed extra time and the snow day was made for them. The fact that we all benefited in our own ways doesn’t minimize the fact that Hashem, by sending that storm, gave me what I needed, and gave her what she needed. The world revolves around each of us in perfect consonance, something achievable only by the Al-mighty. Imagine the world as a finely-crafted timepiece. (It’s essentially the same as a watch but when you start talking about the really expensive ones they become “timepieces.”) So this fine timepiece has a collection of gears, wheels, weights, and springs that keep it running perfectly. The hands move at the rate they should, coming to rest at precisely the right spot, and the individual gears manage to move at different speeds as they interlock and create movement. Each part is doing its job and together the watch runs smoothly. The world is just like that.
We are all inter-connected, spinning and moving in our own directions, yet sharing a united function as well. Should one gear stop, or one spring pop, the whole watch would be broken. That should make you feel tremendously special that the world really does revolve around you, and that Hashem will create and maintain all manner of circumstances just so you get what you need. It should also give you a new appreciation for your fellow man, because Hashem does the same for him. Now, if I’m so important that the world revolves around me, that also means that if I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, I’m throwing everything off kilter. It’s a huge incentive to be the best me possible. After all, Hashem is “watching.” Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/ RabbiGewirtz and follow him on Twitter @RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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At Kollel Tirtza Devorah,
a select group of Yeshiva Darchei Torah alumni engages in intensive Torah study from morning until late at night. They complement their focus on advanced Gemara and Halacha by teaching, mentoring and training for careers in communal leadership. The Kollel's graduates have become rabbeim, teachers and mashgichim in our local community and beyond. They are the future leaders of Klal Yisrael. Join the Kollel's dinner campaign - and invest in their futures. For more information about the Kollel, including Yissochor-Zevulun partnerships, please contact us.
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Between the Lines
Two Sides to Two-Faced By Eytan Kobre
Hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue. -Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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hile an ethics professor at Harvard University, Nobel Laureate Bertrand Russell carried on an inappropriate relationship with a student. Still, Russell maintained that his private affairs had nothing to do with his professorial duties. “But you are a professor of ethics!” cried one indignant member of the school’s Board of Governors. “I was also a geometry professor at Cambridge,” Russell rejoined, “but no one asked why I was not a triangle.” Russell was a hypocrite. I’m a hypocrite. You’re likely a hypocrite. And while you and I may not be hypocrites on the same order as Russell, to some extent, we all are hypocrites. We preach one thing but do another; we say one thing but mean another; we denounce improper speech but speak it; we condemn frivolities but covet them; we decry foreign values but adopt them. We are all at least a little two-faced. Politicians are notoriously hypocritical. In their famous presidential debates, Stephen Douglas once accused Abraham Lincoln of being two-faced, to which Lincoln replied, referencing his homeliness, “If I were two-faced, would I have chosen this one?” Voters usually despise hypocrisy. (As in a candidate who condemns Wall Street yet gladly lines her pock-
ets with hundreds of thousands of dollars of Wall Street’s money. But I digress.) As Adlai Stevenson once observed, “A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.” The Aron cautions against hypocrisy: just as it was “tocho kebaro”— “its [gold] inside was as its [gold] outside”—so too our inner qualities must match the image we project outward (Shemos 25:11 and Rabbeinu Bachaye ad loc.; Yoma 72b). Both should bespeak virtue. Nothing is quite as repugnant as one who cloaks irreverence with a pious veneer (Mesilas Yesharim, Chapter 22). The hypocrite is “loathsome” (Yoma 72b; Tanchuma, Vayakhel 7). Indeed, for as long as Rabban Gamliel was Nasi, a guard was stationed at the entrance to the study hall to refuse admission to those whose inner qualities did not match their outward expressions of righteousness (Berachos 28a; see Kesef Mishna, Talmud Torah 4:1). Particular criticism is heaped upon one who “preaches well but does not perform well” (Yevamos 63b). And G-d despises one who espouses one thing but believes another (Pesachim 113b; Rambam, Dei’os 2:6). Quite the denunciations. So when asked to encapsulate the Torah “on one foot,” Hillel didn’t simply suggest being nice to others; he cautioned against treating others hypocritically: “What is distasteful to you, do not do to your neighbor”
(Shabbos 31a). For it would be awfully hypocritical to treat others in a manner that you find offensive. But not all hypocrisy is off-limits. Among the devotees of the Gerrer Rebbe was a businessman whose dealings often took him abroad. Uncomfortable sporting his long black coat and traditional headdress in such environments, he donned more
you do here? But I thought that here you showed your true self, and there you were the hypocrite…” Ironically, if misapplied, our distaste for hypocrisy can itself be used to justify shortcomings. One might rationalize: how can I do X if I don’t also do Y? And since no one is perfect (Koheles 7:20), avoiding hypocrisy at all costs actually begets non-observance.
Stephen Douglas once accused Abraham Lincoln of being two-faced, to which Lincoln replied, referencing his homeliness, “If I were two-faced, would I have chosen this one?”
secular clothing on business trips. Still, he wore his traditional garb when in the Rebbe’s presence. One day he arrived at the Rebbe’s home in his modern business attire. “Rebbe,” he announced proudly, “I’ve decided to end my hypocritical behavior. This is how I dress on my travels, so why delude myself and others here with my Chassidic clothes?” The Rebbe shook his head in disappointment. “Do you think I was oblivious to the fact that you dress differently in Leipzig and Paris than
That’s the last thing G-d wants. We encourage good deeds even when performed for selfish motives because “man is affected by his actions, and his heart and thoughts consistently follow his deeds” (Sefer HaChinuch 16, 40, 95, 99), and the hope is that “from doing it not for the sake [of G-d] we will come to do it for the sake of G-d” (Pesachim 50b). Sometimes it’s okay to go through the motions—to fake it, so to speak—even if we are not on “that” level yet. In so doing, we aim not to deceive G-d but to deceive ourselves—into achieving
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
greater growth. A certain individual was once condemned before R’ Shneur Zalman of Liadi as a hypocrite. “He acts like a real holy fellow,” the Rebbe was told, “and he has assumed all sorts of saintly customs and practices. But it’s all superficial. Inside, he’s as unrefined as ever.” “If so,” responded the Rebbe, “may he meet the fate our sages predicted for such people.” The followers were rather taken aback. After all, they wished the hypocrite no harm; they simply wanted the Rebbe to know his true colors. To what calamity had the Rebbe now sentenced him? R’ Shneur Zalman explained how, when it comes to charity, “One who is not in need, but takes...[or] one who is not lame or blind but pretends to be, will not leave this world without becoming so [i.e., needy or lame or blind]” (Pei’ah 8:9). “Similarly,” said the Rebbe, “those who pretend to be more than they are in matters of
righteousness will eventually find that these characteristics become part of their very essence.” And perhaps the Aron symbolized this too. If the message was one of blind consistency, the Aron should have been gold through-andthrough. Then there would be no question of its purity, inside and out. But the inner and outer gold boxes were separated by a wooden one— like a matryoshka doll, with a gold box inside a wood box inside another gold box (Rashi, Shemos 25:11)—because some measure of hypocrisy can be beneficial. Some years ago, an advisor to an irreligious member of Israel’s Knesset had a son and invited the rabbi of his army base to the bris. Much to the new father’s surprise, the rabbi declined, refusing to attend the celebration of a hypocrite. “What makes me a hypocrite?” asked the new father. The rabbi responded, “Why are
you giving your son a bris?” “Well,” answered the father, “it’s tradition.” “There are many other traditions. Why not keep those?” “Well,” the father said, “I’m doing it for hygienic reasons.” The rabbi chuckled. “Then shouldn’t it be performed in a sterile environment? And, after other medical procedures, do you gather your family and friends for a festive celebration?” The rabbi attended the bris, but he made his point. The new father got to thinking about his irreconcilable behavior, and, soon thereafter, he began a journey towards full observance. A little hypocrisy had brought him a long way. To be sure, the wooden intermediate box served the pragmatic purpose of making the Aron easier to carry (Chizkuni and Kli Yakar, Shemos 25:11). But it also warns against the dogmatic pursuit of consistency. Rather than encouraging one to rise
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to a level of consistency (like the Israeli MK’s advisor or the disciple of R’ Shneur Zalman of Liadi), the mindless avoidance of hypocrisy might actually encourage one to stoop to a level of consistency (like the Gerrer Rebbe’s follower). The intermediate wooden box teaches that sometimes a little hypocrisy is okay. Sometimes it helps you flourish—even if it’s not the real you…yet. None of us is solid gold throughand-through. We all possess some ordinary wood. Life is about chipping away at that wood. If we consistently better ourselves, inside and out, we whittle down the wooden barrier separating the internal and external. And when we do that, from both sides, we become a solid gold box—or triangle.
Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, mediator, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
My Israel Home
Netanya’s Charm By Gedaliah Borvick
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etanya is an enchanting city that boasts spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and offers the slower pace and charm of a coastal town. Established almost ninety years ago, Netanya is currently undergoing a major expansion and renaissance. Netanya has an even mix of religious and secular residents and is located in Israel’s central district, twenty miles north of Tel Aviv and Herzliya. Under the leadership of its visionary mayor Miriam Feirberg, the city created the infrastructure to accommodate a large influx of residents and is on track to almost double its current population of 200,000 within the next five years. Netanya’s famous waterfront is one of the longest coastlines in Israel, with nine
miles of stunning beaches and promenades. For many years, Netanya was a desirable seaside resort city but over the past few decades, tourism slowed down. However, the city has become fashionable again, particularly South Netanya, which is the lynchpin of the city’s growth and resurgence. South Netanya is comprised of several beautiful new neighborhoods – such as South Beach and Ir Yamim – that have drawn a diverse and upscale population. A number of fabulous residential towers, such as Ir Yamim’s Reserve Towers Dreams, offer panoramic, breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and have generated tremendous interest from our English speaking (also known as “Anglo”) clientele. Finally, two newly construct-
ed luxury hotels, the Ramada and Island, are a testament that the city has once again become a relevant vacation destination. South Netanya Ashkenazi Congregation (SNAC) and the Young Israel are two South Netanya synagogues that have attracted a large nucleus of Anglo residents, and the attractive new Ir Yamim mall, which has an outstanding roster of retailers and restaurants, has addressed their shopping and entertainment needs. Although North Netanya has traditionally attracted a large Anglo population, we are now witnessing a movement by younger Anglo buyers toward the hip southern end of the city. Interestingly, the more established Northern Netanya is also starting to draw younger buyers. This district
has received a makeover, including the creation of a delightful promenade along the seashore and the renovation of the Square, a vibrant hub of activity that features gorgeous water fountains, daily video art festivals, concerts, sports activities and cultural events. In addition, the Square features a pond, arts and crafts stalls, and restaurants, which produce a constant buzz of excitement, or as our Netanya maven Ruthie Yudin pithily explains to clients, “It’s a party – and it must be done.” In addition to the communities hugging the coast, Kiryat Hasharon, located on the city’s eastern end, is rapidly expanding due to its exceptional infrastructure and easy access to major national highways and the Netanya train station.
Netanya real estate is in strong demand as it offers a relatively affordable housing alternative for people who either work in greater Tel Aviv but cannot afford its expensive housing prices or families who prefer to live in a more suburban neighborhood. Many Anglo families have moved into Netanya over the years, and they continue to purchase in this market as it offers a high quality of life and excellent value for your money.
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 | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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The Ides of February Seminary Surprises When the Letter Comes in the Mail By Malky Lowinger
F
ebruary fifteenth may seem like just another winter day to the rest of us, but for thousands of seventeen year olds in our community it’s a “day of reckoning.” That’s when, traditionally, the seminaries of Eretz Yisroel send out their letters of acceptance to their many applicants. For those young ladies who are eagerly awaiting next year’s news, it’s a day they look
forward to with trepidation and anxiety. This year it’s February eighteenth when their mailboxes will be filled with envelopes thick and thin. In a perfect world, everybody would be accepted to the seminary of their choice. And we would all live happily ever after. But the world being such as it is, there will inevitably be rejections, disappointments, frustrations, and tears. We
spoke to some of the people who are involved in the seminary application process both here and abroad to gain some insight on seminary applications, the admissions process, and how to cushion the blow.
STARTING THE PROCESS At TAG, where the vast majority of students are planning to attend seminary in Eretz Yisroel, they
take the process very seriously. Not one but two staff members work on assisting the girls and their families in making wise choices and presenting themselves in the best possible way. According to Mrs. Devorah Farkas, seminary advisor, “We are very busy. We pretty much start working on sem applications right after yom tovim. We have a designated calendar just for this purpose.” And Mrs.
Yocheved Nissan adds, “We do work hard on this. We give as much input as we can and we advocate as much as we can for our girls.” The first step is setting up meetings with the girls and their parents to discuss which seminaries they should consider applying for. “Sometimes the girls come with both parents,” says Mrs. Farkas, “and sometimes the father is listening into the conversa-
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tion by phone.” She encourages parents to be involved in the process and to help determine what’s best for their daughter. “We discuss what they want to accomplish during the year, how they are interested in growing, and so forth.” Through that conversation, the girls learn to narrow down their choices. After that initial meeting there are others, including a meeting for parents only and a designated “seminary night” that lasts for hours. Over twenty seminaries are represented during that event, giving the girls and their parents a clear picture of what their options are. Both Mrs. Farkas and Mrs. Nissan encourage the girls to apply to three seminaries, if possible. These should be schools that the girls themselves would be comfortable in. The truth is that many girls will not be accepted into their number one choice, simply because the “numbers” are against them. There are just so many available slots, and usually hundreds of applications coming in. But if they realistically can consider a second or a third choice, their disappointment will be significantly diminished.
WHAT QUALITIES ARE IMPORTANT? Ever wonder what qual-
ities the seminaries are looking for when choosing their class for the coming year? Says Mrs. Farkas, “It’s always best when your transcript is very good. But it doesn’t have to be perfect. They also want to know that a girl is serious and willing to work. That’s a big consideration. If a girl’s grades are not very high, but she’s very serious about her learning, then often they’ll take her.” Sometimes it’s a personality issue. Generally a school will want to vary the personality types. “They may not want to accept too many quiet girls or too many leibedik girls in one year. They will usually prefer a more balanced avirah.” Rabbi Zecharya Greenwald, Menahel of Me’ohr Bais Yaakov, agrees that seminary is a serious learning experience that requires focus, skills, and commitment. “Anything a girl does to show those characteristics,” he says, “will help her to get admitted.” While some schools are more focused on grades than others, all of them consider grades seriously because “usually they are a good indicator of those qualities and therefore cannot be ignored.” Rabbi Greenwald shares, “I personally will choose a student with good ‘bein odom l’chaveiro’ and a
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
strong work ethic over a girl with a 100% average who is lacking in her middos.” Mrs. Naomi Ullman is the 12th grade mechaneches at TMM. “Interestingly,” she adds, “I have heard from a few seminaries that for New York students, they look at Regents grades since it is a standardized test for all New Yorkers.” Mrs. Hindy Feder is the Israel Guidance Advisor at Shalhevet High School. She says that grades are important, but “that’s the easy part.” Schools are looking for girls who are “positive and happy and have a good attitude. They want to hear how they answer questions about what they like in high school. That plays a significant role.”
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS Interviews are stressful for all of us, but especially so for a young girl who is facing the person who will determine her future for the next year. “The main thing,” stresses Mrs. Feder, “is to go with the flow. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have a good answer to a question. Just be normal. Keep a positive attitude and a happy disposition. If you feel scared when they ask you to read something, try not to choke up. If you can’t do something, just smile
and fake it.” At TAG, Mr. Aufrechter helps the girls learn how to present themselves at the interview. He echoes many
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about the seminary that indicate they are giving serious thought to attending this school. And if a cousin, neighbor, or sister-in-law
“The more mature girls will really just walk in like it’s any other day, even if they are feeling devastated. I give them a lot of credit for that.”
of these thoughts. “It’s important to come across as pleasant,” he says. “Smiling is always good – in life and in interviews.” He agrees that girls should not panic when asked to read a posuk or a Ramban. “They don’t expect you to know kol haTorah kulah,” he says. “Do your best. And if you ask them to help you with a word or two, they generally respond very well.” Other pointers include walking with confidence, sitting straight and not slouching. “Portray confidence, but not arrogance,” he points out. Showing a genuine interest in the school of your choice usually signifies that you really care. That’s why advisors often recommend that the girls ask questions
was a prized student there five years ago, it’s always a good idea to bring that into the conversation as well.
CUSHIONING THE BLOW Even with the best intentions and training, there will inevitably be disappointments. What happens on that fateful morning after? How do the girls cope with their responses from the seminaries when it wasn’t what they had hoped for? And how do they face their friends in school the next day? At Shalhevet, says Mrs. Feder, the disappointment is somewhat easier to swallow because the seminaries her students apply for all give their responses on the first day of Winter Break week
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in January. “That helps significantly,” she says. “They specifically choose not to do it when the kids are in school or when they are taking finals.” Says Mrs. Nissan, “We have a rule that nobody is allowed to talk about it for a week. We urge them not to discuss it with each other, to the extent that we can control it. Most of the girls are good about that, and they really cooperate. I think they understand how important it is not to hurt the others’ feelings.” Mrs. Farkas adds that “a week later everybody is calmer, and it’s easier to talk about.” Still,
girls to face rejection. “I tell them,” says Mrs. Feder, “that this doesn’t define you. Sometimes there’s just a crazy number of applicants.” She adds that one of the rabbis in charge of the seminary application site revealed that there was a significant increase of applicants this year. “There was a ten percent increase,” she says. “And the same number of slots available. Unfortunately, that means more rejections than ever before.” “It’s a huge numbers game,” explains Mrs. Farkas. “For every hundred slots there are probably about two hundred and fifty
“Please tell every girl who is not accepted that we are simple people trying to do our best in making a good school.”
Mrs. Nissan says, it’s sometimes easy to detect the disappointment on some faces, although “the more mature girls will really just walk in like it’s any other day, even if they are feeling devastated. I give them a lot of credit for that.” The high school staff tries its best to prepare the
applicants. So the numbers are against them from the very start.” Says Mrs. Ullman, “I often quote Rebbetzin David [of BJJ] who told me ‘kulam ahuvim, kulam berurim.’ The seminaries interview hundreds of girls. Each one is special but they must narrow down their decisions. If
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
girls realize that they were not accepted along with hundreds of others, they can perhaps view it as a less personal rejection.” According to Rabbi Greenwald, the acceptance process is probably the most difficult part of running a seminary. “I personally abhor this process,” he says. “Please tell every girl who is not accepted that we are simple people trying to do our best in making a good school. We attempt to be fair and focused, and none of us are ever interested in hurting a bas Yisroel.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT EMUNAH “In a way,” says Mrs. Nissan, “this is their first experience in real life. There will be jobs and shidduchim and other situations where somebody will be chosen over you. So I certainly emphasize to the girls that this is really their first true test of whether or not they believe that Hakodosh Boruch Hu runs the world. You need to feel that bitachon, that there’s hashgacha pratis in everything. It’s hard for the girls but eventually they rally. They are pretty solid girls and hashkafically grounded.” The hashgacha has been proven time and time again. There are plenty of stories of girls in years past who were
devastated when they were rejected from a seminary only to realize months later that it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Says Mrs. Nissan, “They’ll call us later and say, ‘What was I thinking? This is the best place for me!’ It really is a lesson in hashkafa.” “Trust in Hashem!” echoes Rabbi Greenwald. “Everything we think we are doing and all the decisions we make are ultimately all His plan!” He remembers the case of a girl who was so determined to attend a seminary after she was rejected that she and her family asked various rabbonim, askonim, and friends to call on her behalf. In the end, the seminary wouldn’t budge. “She went to another seminary,” he remembers, “and eventually she married her roommate’s brother!”
I’M VERY PROUD OF OUR GIRLS After all these years of guiding students and working for their benefit, seminary advisors say they still cannot predict the results. “We are almost always surprised,” says Mrs. Nissan, “by the decision to accept or not. We advocate for our girls as much as we can, but ultimately the decision is up to the schools.” At TMM, echoes Mrs. Ullman, “We advocate for
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our girls. But we won’t fabricate stories either because we want to be emesdik and we don’t want to lose our credibility with the seminaries.” Mrs. Farkas shares, “Sometimes I say, ‘Huh? How is it possible that the sem didn’t accept a particular girl? I know her so well. I taught her for four years.’” But the seminaries, she adds, do their own research, often calling camp directors, former teachers, and others before making their decisions. So the final choice is usually due to a number of factors. The message that all high school advisors and seminary leaders want to convey is that the process – as necessary as it is – is painful for them, just as it is for the girls. “Every year,” says Mrs. Nissan, “I say that my heart can’t take it anymore. But then again we want to do what we can for our girls.” Mrs. Farkas adds, “We take it so much to heart, as if each one were my own daughter.” And while it’s certainly a highly charged emotional experience, the seminary acceptance process is also a learning experience and the girls rise to the occasion time and time again. “I am very proud of our girls,” says Mrs. Farkas. “I’m extremely proud of them.”
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
The End of an Era but Not the End of a Vision By Naftali Halpern
It was a massive bowling alley called Falcaros, hidden behind Bay Harbour Mall. No wonder nobody wanted to bowl there. Along came Yanky Brach with a vision. He would buy the bowling alley and open a mega kosher supermarket on the caliber of a Foodtown or Waldbaums. Yes, nowadays there are numerous large and successful supermarkets in every Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, but back then, fifteen years ago, when Yanky started his project, they were less common.
I
n 2002, Brach’s opened to great fanfare. Its grand opening featured world renowned Jewish entertainers and politicians from far and wide, including then-NY State Governor George Pataki. It’s not that they all came simply to congratulate Yanky, who they certainly knew from his activism on behalf of the Jewish community, but they also realized that this was a major milestone for the Orthodox community; there had never been a kosher supermarket on that scale. And the store met expectations. Wide-eyed patrons from all over would enter the store for the first time and marvel at its vastness. From the massive butcher section, to the produce and the dairy section, this was a store like no other.
Not only did Yanky want his store to have a large footprint, he also wanted it to have a large “heart print.” To accomplish that, Yanky would specialize in finding the best deals and would minimize markups so that prices would be affordable across the board. But that was just one part of what Yanky had in mind. The second part was to make sure that the needy were taken care of. “The amount of chessed that Brach’s has done over the past 13 years is unimaginable,” notes Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “I think that nowadays you see that supermarkets have turned into community organizations, in a sense. They are not merely profit-makers, but also feel an achrayus to fill the needs of needy families and even shuls and
schools,” says Assemblyman Goldfeder. “Yanky, I believe, started that in the Five Towns.” Although Yanky’s vision for Brach’s was bold and unique, he didn’t have to look far for inspiration. His father, Shmuel “Sam” Brach, was a vision-
were ripped from their comfortable home in Romania and transported like cattle to Auschwitz. His ten siblings and parents perished in the War and he walked out of the gates of the inferno alive but with no family, home or money. But Sam quickly began rebuilding. While in a refugee
“I’m not a rabbi, I’m not a doctor – this is how I do my share.”
ary whose tale of rebuilding is woven into the very fabric of modern day Orthodox life in America. He was a young child when he and his family
camp, he met his wife. They married and moved to America. Like many in those days, Sam would work at any job he could find.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
Eventually he learned the butcher trade and after some years in that field, he decided to open up a supermarket. He was delighted when he obtained a site for such a business
on that site. Sam replied that they should all go to the Satmar Rebbe, and he would do whatever the Rebbe told him to do. They went to the Satmar Rebbe and after presenting the
Not only did Yanky want his store to have a large footprint, he also wanted it to have a large “heart print.” in Brooklyn, and he was prepared to open up his supermarket there. However, the Satmar kehillah came to him with a request: they wanted to open a supermarket in a nearby area and asked that he not open his
Mr. Sam Brach
dilemma, the Rebbe said, “Shmuel, let this be for the kehillah, and I give you a bracha that you will be successful wherever you go.” Sam, being a man of his word, completely abandoned his plans. The Satmar Rebbe was a man of his word too, and the bracha was quickly fulfilled. It was the 1960s and Sam Brach moved to Queens and opened his supermarket. With Sam and his wife’s hard work, the supermarket was successful and trendsetting. Mr. Brach introduced the concept of self-service raw meat on refrigerated shelves to the Jewish community. His refrain was, “If they have it in the non-kosher world, why can’t we make the same thing, just in kosher?” He also introduced the concept of fair pricing into the kosher market. “We take it for granted,” Yanky once told The
Jewish Home, “but back then people agonized over the prices of kosher food like we agonize over tuition.” Sam Brach did not look to make the most profit on every item, but to offer affordable kosher food for everyone. This was good for business because it minimized competition and was a service to the community. And he continued to stick by that principle until his last day, often saying, “I’m not a rabbi, I’m not a doctor – this is how I do my share.” It was this legacy that Yanky continued when he opened his supermarket in the Five Towns. The goal was not only to provide wonderful service and selection, but also to care about each person who walked through the door. “Yanky puts the families of this neighborhood first,” notes community askan and director of the Davis Memorial Fund Rabbi Dovid Greenblatt. And his involvement extends beyond the walls of the supermarket. “As the executive director of the JCCRP, I know that whether it’s 2 o’clock in the morning or in the afternoon, I could always turn to him,” says Mr. Nathan Krasnovsky, of the JCCRP. “I have no doubt that his chessed will continue via other avenues,” he adds. Most of the chessed that has been done at Brach’s over the past thirteen years has been behind the
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scenes, with a sensitivity to the beneficiaries. But there were times that the whole community got to observe the extent of the chessed because the whole community was the recipient of it. During Hurricane Sandy when the credit card machines went down, Yanky understood the distress that people were facing and instead of taping handwritten “cash only” signs to the registers, Brach’s gave the food for free, knowing that the shoppers were in dire need of feeding their families. When two hundred college students were stuck on a JFK tarmac because their flight to Israel was delayed in a blizzard, Brach’s delivered food for all of the hungry travelers. How was the delivery made in the more-than-a-foot of snow? Luckily Yanky owned a Suburban. Which delivery man would risk such a trip in inclement weather? Well, actually, it was Yanky himself who pulled up at the terminal and unloaded the food. It is because of acts like these and the driving philosophy behind Brach’s that an inanimate object – a supermarket filled with food items – can, in a sense, be a role model to a community. Although the Brach’s location will soon be under new ownership, knowing Yanky, there’s no doubt that the values will remain in what has now become an iconic store.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Forgotten Her es
Larry Freedman, the SuperJew By Avi Heiligman
Freedman is on the far right
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istorically, the world of Special Forces is a secret one and most of their missions remain classified. There are two particular units in the U.S. military that are so secret that civilians aren’t supposed to know that they even exist. These are Seal Team Six, whose current name isn’t known to the public, and the Delta Force. While both of these units are considered the top anti-terrorist teams in the world, their missions vary greatly. Although we may never know what these guys do, we do know that they perform missions on a regular basis. One of the most decorated Delta Force operators was nicknamed the SuperJew but unfortunately was killed in action. Larry Freedman was born to a traditional, spiritual Jewish family in Philadelphia in 1941. He attended Kansas State University but did not graduate because he chose to enter the American military in 1965. That year the U.S. started sending soldiers to Vietnam in large deployments and many more servicemen were needed. Larry figured that the best way to serve in the military was for him to
join the Special Forces otherwise known as the Green Berets. He first started with the 5th Special Forces Group and then migrated over to a new secret detachment called Delta Force. He retired in 1990 with the rank of sergeant major but was hired out for special missions and sadly was killed in Somalia. Save for his last mission, the aspects of his military career are fuzzy. Freedman picked the nickname SuperJew, which was soon picked up by his fellow operators. He completed the character by wearing a superman cape with a samech (the Hebrew letter for Superman) printed on the front that was made by his sister. On the outside he had the appearance of a macho and careless man who always wanted to show off but his colleagues described him as a soldier who was dedicated to doing any job that was presented. Larry served for two years and six campaigns in Vietnam and in 1980 was on the unsuccessful mission to release hostages held in Iran. Every Green Beret has a unique position on the team, and for Freedman it was as his detachment’s medic. He was always in the middle of
the action and was involved in many actions including in Libya and collecting intelligence in the Falklands in coordination with the British Army’s efforts against Argentina. For several years he was stationed out of the Special Forces base in Okinawa. Most of his non-Delta Force teammates didn’t know that Freedman was also a trained sniper. (The only other Jewish sniper in American history that has an impressive war record is current Navy SEAL and 2016 Republican candidate in the Missouri gubernatorial race Eric Greitens.) What separated Freedman from the rest was that he used his experiences in Vietnam and other “hot spots” to train other Special Forces members to become snipers. Most Delta Force members are crossedtrained in several fields and for Freedman that meant he was an expert at demolitions, intelligence gathering, handto-hand combat, and communications. Freedman was the first American to be killed during the relief effort in Somalia that started in 1992. Since he was not officially a member of the military at the time it has
been surmised that he was employed by the CIA as a secret operator with their counterterrorism unit. His vehicle struck a Russian-built mine near the town of Bardera, and he was brought back to the U.S. to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife received a rare condolence call from President George H. W. Bush. After his death the military was still mum on all of the missions he participated in and according to one general, “The record will not reflect the many operations he participated in…in isolated places, far from familiar voices. He was a soldier through and through… He was a talented man.” Freedman had many medals to prove that his actions in his 25 years in the military hadn’t gone unnoticed. He earned three bronze stars with valor, the Legion of Merit medal, the Purple Heart and over two dozen other medals and ribbons. The most prestigious medal he earned was the Intelligence Star which is given out by the CIA for “voluntary acts of courage performed under hazardous conditions or for outstanding achievements or services rendered with dis-
tinction under conditions of grave risk.” Only a few dozen operators have ever received this award. There are very few stories about Freedman fighting the enemy as this article reflects the nature of the clandestine business. The only stories made available to the public are ones telling of his superior marksmanship and the training of other Special Forces soldiers. Over the years, several Jews have fought with Special Forces units with most of their missions being secret. I picked SuperJew Freedman to write about because of what his fellow operators who knew what he did said about him. Without men like Freedman fighting a secret war, America would constantly be in serious trouble with terrorist organizations and rogue countries imposing their will. Freedman and the others are truly forgotten heroes because we may never know what sacrifices they made to keep our world safe. 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 | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Health & F tness
A High Fiber Diet can Save Lives By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN
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hen attempting to eat healthier, fiber is always a great nutrient to add into your diet. You can never get enough fiber! Dietary fiber – found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes – is a plant substance that is non-digestible by the human gastrointestinal tract. Most foods such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed by the body. Fiber isn’t. Instead, it moves relatively intact through your stomach and intestines and then leaves the body. Dietary fiber can be classified as insoluble or soluble. Soluble fiber is viscous and forms gels in the gastrointestinal tract. Fiber has a wide range of benefits – slowing down digestion, keeping one satiated for longer, forming bulk, easing constipation, and lowering cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber decreases levels of cholesterol in the blood by interfering with the absorption of cholesterol. The exact mechanism in which fiber lowers cholesterol is not proven. Research suggests that soluble fiber attaches to cholesterol and
bile acids, inducing their excretion. Since the bile acids are excreted, and not recycled, the liver must use cholesterol in the blood to make new bile acids. This process lowers cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. In addition, since fiber slows
more than 246,000 women in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with the disease. A study published in the journal Pediatrics analyzed 90,534 women ages 27-44 who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Researchers studied
hood had a 19% lower chance of developing the disease. Furthermore, the researchers found that the more fiber the women consumed, the lower their risk of cancer was. The results showed that “each additional 10 grams of fiber intake per day – for ex-
Since fiber slows down absorption and delays gastric emptying, this keeps one satiated for longer periods of time.
down absorption and delays gastric emptying, this keeps one satiated for longer periods of time. This results in lower caloric intake and thus an overall lower cholesterol intake. In addition to all the many benefits mentioned above, recent research has shown that fiber intake is associated with a lower risk of developing breast cancer. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. This year,
what the women normally ate for a 20 year period. At one point during the study, they also asked the women about their diets during high school. During the course of the study, 2,833 of the women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The research showed that those who had high fiber consumption in adolescence had an overall 16% lower chance of breast cancer and 24% lower chance of premenopausal breast cancer. Those with high fiber consumption during adult-
ample, about one apple and two slices of whole wheat bread, or about half a cup of whole grain pasta with half a cup of cooked kidney beans – during adolescence reduces the risk of breast cancer by 14%,” stated one of the authors. The exact mechanism as to why fiber reduces the risk of breast cancer is unclear, however, researchers hypothesize that the fiber reduces estrogen levels which is a risk factor for breast cancer. Although this study does
not show cause and effect, it displays a strong association between a high fiber diet and lower breast cancer incidence. This alone should be enough evidence to convince anybody to load up on fiber. Too much fiber never hurt anybody. Fiber is beneficial in many ways and should be eaten generously. Head to the supermarket and stock up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes today. Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN, is a Master’s level Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. She graduated CUNY Brooklyn College receiving a Bachelor’s in Science and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences. Her Dietetic Internship was completed under Brooklyn College primarily in Ditmas Park Care Center and Boro Park Center where she developed clinical and education skills to treat patients with comprehensive nutrition care. She is currently a dietitian at Boro Park Center and a private nutrition consultant. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@ gmail.com.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Dr. Deb
What’s Love? By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
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ow is it possible to love someone you never met, never saw, and know nothing about? It happens every day to hundreds of thousands of people. Just ask a pregnant woman how she feels about her unborn baby. Even more strange is how is it possible for a couple who is adopting a child they did not know to love that child? But they do. Why do grandparents fall madly in love with babies that they did not carry for nine months and do not get up to feed in the middle of the night? All the answers are the same: Beyond being a feeling, love is a decision. And just what are you deciding about when you decide to love that baby? Obviously, you are not governing your feelings by the loudness
PITFALLS OF FOCUSING ON THE GOOD
You would think that we ought to always focus on the good. That’s what dan l’chaf zchus means. And that is absolutely correct. What’s more, we should overlook the injury our friend does and assume it wasn’t meant badly. Up to a point. How many times do your feelings get hurt by someone who apologizes and then does it again? How often do you “overlook” that behavior? Should you overlook it? If so, how do you reconcile it with dan l’chaf zchus? To answer this question, imagine a scale. There is your responsibility on one side and your relative’s responsibility on the other. Who is taking more of the responsibility for the
When we focus on what we enjoy, admire, and cherish about our significant other, we feel deep love.
of the crying, the nights’ sleep lost, the colic or the colds. Actually, some people are governed that way. They don’t react well to their babies’ cries; they are called abusers. Which proves my point even more: You can focus on the good or focus on the bad. The choice is yours and the feeling follows. Take that and apply it to any close family member. Do you focus on the things that annoy you or the things that charm you? There are pitfalls and positives with both.
happiness of the relationship? Note that happiness is an emotional component of the relationship and has nothing to do with who cleans more, does more carpool or earns more money. That’s physical. That component is important and should be appreciated and respected but doing well in that area doesn’t make up for losses in the other. If the emotional scale in your house is unbalanced, there is a way to fix that. It requires honesty – honesty with yourself. You see, overlook-
ing the bad works if you know exactly what you are doing, why you are doing it and are happy with it. But if you have put yourself into denial because you are afraid to face the consequences of not doing so, then you are cheating yourself of the life of simcha that Hashem wants for all of us.
SITUATION #1: SAVTA SIMCHA IS HAPPY TO OVERLOOK
Simcha Goldberg is blessed with a large, busy family spread over the city. She has children and their spouses who work hard, are responsible and loving. One of her children doesn’t invite her for Shabbos as much as the others. She is not in denial. She is completely aware of it but she doesn’t mind at all. She realizes this family has more on its plate with fewer resources to cope and therefore cannot jump in with the same enthusiasm as the others. Not only is she dan l’chaf zchus, but she is happy with the outcome and davens to Hashem that this particular family overcomes its challenges with good grace, strength and happiness.
SITUATION #2: REUVEN IS IN DENIAL MUCH TO HIS DETRIMENT
Reuven’s wife, Chavi, is not happy but she can’t come out and say so. She knows that Reuven is a wonderful person, works hard, means well, and tries to do the right thing. Nevertheless, their relationship feels
shallow, distant, and boring to her. She is at a loss as to how to broach anything to him. She doesn’t bother and instead goes shopping. She runs up a huge bill over and over again. Those few hours out of the house in fantasy-land give her relief from her unhappiness. But Reuven does not want to read the signals. He pretends that everything is fine, that Chavi is happy – which she is not – and doesn’t bring up the overspending that they can’t afford. Finally, he blows up; Chavi says she is sorry; Reuven lets it go; and it starts over. This is such a common scenario, it’s amazing. We can substitute all kinds of deviant behavior for the shopping but whatever choice of distraction and escape people choose, the denial and refusal to confront the underlying problem is rampant in families. In this marriage, neither Chavi nor Reuven is taking responsibility for the happiness of the relationship. Reuven thinks he is; Chavi knows she’s not.
SITUATION #3: CHAVI TAKES RESPONSIBILITY
Chavi decides to seek help when she learns that her children will be barred from yeshiva the following year due to the unpaid tuition that has accumulated. This is both responsible and very brave. It is always hard to face one’s own failings and mistakes. In therapy, she confronts her
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
fears of telling Reuven the pain she is always escaping with her shopping. When she was six, her father died suddenly of a heart attack. The loss was devastating to the family and Chavi is slowly able to realize that the fear of loss once again underlies her making any complaints to Reuven. In a slow process of gaining strength and bitachon, Chavi is eventually able to bring Reuven into therapy to explain to him the source of her pain in their relationship. Now it is Reuven’s turn to face his own unwillingness to look deeper than the spending problem to the relationship problem.
THE TAKEAWAY
The only condition under which overlooking unbalances in the emotional give-and-take of a relationship is okay is when you are not in denial about what is going on and you are perfectly happy with it. Forgiving abuse, addictions, and neglect is never right – unless the
transgressor does complete teshuvah. That is, the transgressor recognizes what she or he did wrong, makes mental plans to never do it again, and then apologizes from the heart. Without the transgressor taking responsibility, all the hurt party is doing is remaining in denial. And that is no good.
WHEN TO FOCUS ON THE GOOD
On the other hand, it is right and correct to force your attention away from “the bad” and focus on the good when the things that bother you are not offenses but just due to differences in style. Does your spouse forget to pick up your dry cleaning sometimes? Does your partner leave crumbs on the table? Are the dishes in the sink too long for you? Is your partner late for dinner invitations? Does she or he come to bed way after you are asleep? These are regular annoyances.
They are not offenses. They are not transgressions. They represent basic human imperfection. We can’t get rid of imperfections. What’s more, it is up to the individual himself to work on those – provided he thinks it is worth the effort. It is not up to us to be the judge of our family member and those imperfections. When an objective outsider could call the right and wrong stances either way, it is clearly just a case of different styles rather than inconsideration or callousness. For example, while it would seem preferable to wash the dishes right away because they could be disgusting, an argument could be made that to do them with some enthusiasm, a person might need to take time for himself first. Sometimes it’s hard to know when the bothersome thing is a normal human flaw and when it represents a true lack of love – or worse. But one thing we can for sure notice about ourselves: Our feelings
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follow our focus. When we focus on what bothers us, we don’t feel very loving. When we focus on what we enjoy, admire, and cherish about our significant other, we feel deep love. And when we choose what to focus on, we’re making a decision. That’s love.
Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage & Family Therapist and best-selling author of The Healing Is Mutual: Marriage Empowerment Tools to Rebuild Trust and Respect—Together. Attend the Food For Thought lectures at Waffelino Restaurant at 310 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst on Tuesdays at 9:45 AM. Any questions, call 646-54-DRDEB or check out her website at http:// drdeb.com. All stories in Dr. Deb’s articles are fabricated. See Dr. Deb on TorahAnytime.com.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Last year I met a wonderful woman at a singles event. She’s 29 years old and I’m 33. We got along very nicely and when I asked her for her phone number, she seemed to be happy to give it to me. It turns out that the same evening, she also met another guy who she subsequently started to date. But during the time they were dating, she and I would talk as “friends.” She would ask my advice and I was happy to give it to her.
After a month or two, she stopped dating the other guy but somehow we fell into the pattern of being friends. We talked like friends. She mentioned women she thought should would like to set me up with. She asked my opinion about certain guys she went out with. We even would sometimes meet for coffee and always had a nice time. But it was beyond clear to me that she was only interested in being my friend. I, on the other hand, liked her differently from the very beginning. I saw her as someone who could be much more than just a friend, but never had the right words or the opportunity to explain that to her. Every time she tells me that she is being set up, I get so nervous, worrying that maybe this will be “the one.” So far, that hasn’t happened. But eventually it probably will. I just don’t know how to approach her and explain that I would like the relationship to change from that of a friendship to a serious one. On one hand, I think she might even laugh at me or make me feel silly for bringing that up. I say to myself that if she wanted it to be more than a friendship, she might have acted differently. On the other hand, I wonder if it’s possible that she’s been waiting for me all along to bring it up. I wonder what your suggestions would be about my situation. Is the writing on the wall and am I just living in fantasyland or should I risk the embarrassment of telling her how I really feel?
The feedback from our readers has been remarkable. In order to facilitate further discussion, you can now continue the conversation anonymously on our website. Every Sunday, we will upload the weekend’s most recent edition of What Would You Do If to the dating forum at thenavidaters.com. Join The Navidaters and your fellow TJH readers in a comprehensive dialogue with regard to dating, relationships and marriage. The forum will be moderated daily for everyone’s comfort and safety. See you there! Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise offer resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, but to offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
The 11, 2015 2016 The Jewish Jewish Home Home || FEBRUARY OCTOBER 29,
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The Panel
The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
I
t’s time to bite the bullet. It’s not embarrassing to ask her out. You don’t have to discuss your feelings at this time. Find an opportunity that is appropriate. Arrange a time to call and simply say to her: “I want to tell you something. I’ve been thinking that we should date. We’ve gotten to know each other well. I think very highly of you. It feels like our relationship might really develop into something more.” Be honest. Continue the conversation and give her time to think about it, perhaps suggesting that she think it over. It’s O.K. to mention at some point that this was a difficult thing for you to do. She may tell you that she was hoping you’d ask.
Let’s leave “Analyze Alley” and move to “Reality Road.”
This situation is not as strange as it sounds. I can think of at least two happily married couples that I know who experienced this particular situation and took action. Since you are nervous, practice in front of a mirror. Write out some scripts on the computer so that when you do speak to her, it comes out fairly smooth. Take courage and develop confidence. You have been generous and kind. You talk openly and frequently. She will probably say yes.
Obviously, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The worse thing that could happen is she says no. If she is a friend right now, she will be a mensch and handle it with care for your feelings. You could always revisit it later.
The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, PA
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hen I first read your dilemma, my initial reaction was, “Face it, son, she’s just not into you…” The sooner you come to that realization (you’re 33 years old!), the faster you can move on and put your energy into real shidduch prospects. Or are you using this friendship (or fantasy dream date) as an excuse for not committing to others?
Still, after re-reading your letter, I’m struck by the fact that the two of you have built a steadfast friendship (“She would ask my advice,” “We talk like friends…and meet for coffee”). It’s quite possible that your friendship can serve as the foundation of a successful marriage. The happiest couples profess to be each other’s best friends. So how do you transition from the Friend Zone? Try this conversation: You: You know, Sally, I’ve known you for more than a year. I’ve heard about your family, your job, your hashkafos. I feel privileged that you consider me a friend. (Pause.) I’d like to ask you out on a date – I think we could make a great couple. There. You said it – direct and to the point. I can’t predict her response (She may giggle nervously – “Us? Seriously?” or say, “Why not?” or “What took you so long?”). Wher-
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
ever the conversation leads, whether your friendship flourishes or flounders from here, you no longer have to worry when she’s dating another or admonish yourself for not being assertive, or harbor regrets, “If only I had asked…”
be an awkward moment? So what? Hey, if you can’t be honest now with your feelings, what is going to happen if and when you are together? And if not with her, then with someone else. This is the time to flex your muscles, be open, be honest, be straight and then take a deep breath and see what Hashem has in store for you. Hatzlacha.
The Dating Mentor Rochel Chafetz Educator/Mentor
The Single
T
Irit Moshe (pen name)
his is a no brainer and you are a grown man. Just tell her how you feel. What’s the worst that can happen? She’ll say no and it will
A
very wise woman once told me, “If it isn’t with them (the person
Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
R
isk the embarrassment of telling her how you really feel! Here you have built a beautiful friendship with a woman. You confide in one another, give each other advice and meet up every so often to spend time together. There is a friendship here that you may fear losing if she finds out you have romantic feelings for her. So, when asked, “What have you got to lose?” the answer is quite possibly a lot. But nonetheless, some of the greatest gifts in life come with huge risk and a hefty price tag. The panel has spoken and unanimously agree that you have to tell your friend how you feel about her. Surprise, surprise … I completely support the panel’s feedback. Whatever happens, it is time to move on. There will come a time when your friend will meet someone and get married. Where will that leave you? Will be you be filled with regret and kick yourself for not having at least shared your feelings with her? Oftentimes when people get married,
their friendships with members of the opposite gender fall by the wayside. Not only will you have lost the oppor- t u n i ty to see if you have potential for a romantic relationship, but you will quite possibly lose your friendship as well. I have to wonder if you have found yourself in a similar situation before. Even if you haven’t been in identical circumstances, do any of these dynamics or ensuing feelings feel familiar? In this particular circumstance you find yourself holding back, ruminating, wondering, maybe even fixating. Sometimes a situation can be brand new and elicit feelings never felt before, and sometimes we plug in our own “peckalah” or unique constellation of feelings and emotions into situations. In other words, is there anything here that you have generated? I understand that you find yourself struggling with the right time
you are dating), then it is through them.” My suggestion is to just do it! It may be that it just hasn’t dawned on her that you want her as something more than a friend. And as much as you are waiting for her to indicate that she would like the relationship to be more – she may be waiting for you to indicate that you would like to step up the significance of the relationship. Also, if she is “a friend,” I certainly doubt she would laugh at you when you approach this subject. Start the conversation with “I want to talk to you about something serious and close to my heart…” Trust me, no woman would laugh with an open such as that one! Once
and opportunity to share your feelings. When you are ready I think the right time and opportunity will suddenly present themselves, and the time will feel like right now. I hope you will lean into the pressure of the situation and tap into a healthy anxiety that propels you to move sooner rather later. I am now going to address the last portion of your email in which you have specific concerns: If she laughs at you for having shared your feelings with her, then this is not the woman you want to be with anyway. You will then have to reassess your friendship altogether. I certainly wouldn’t want a friend who laughs at me. She wouldn’t be much of a friend at all, actually. You don’t have time for such people in your life. Try not to play the game of figuring out her thoughts and feelings based on her actions. Yes, she hasn’t said anything, but neither have you. Maybe you are two peas in a pod. Or maybe she is not interested in a romantic relationship (there, now I played it). Let’s leave “Analyze Alley” and move to “Reality Road.” There is nothing quite as attractive as a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. If you like her, tell her. How to tell her?... You will have to find the words
What’s the worst that can happen? She’ll say no and it will be an awkward moment? So what?
you get your answer from her, then you’ll know your next course of action or you’ll write to us again. Wishing you all the best!
that feel right for you, but here is a potential script: “I’m going to tell you something I should have told you a long time ago. I have feelings for you.” Play it by ear. She may need time to process this or she may say, “I have feelings for you too.” If she needs time, let her know that she can take her time to think about it. You owe it to yourself to move on with your life and not live in this state of limbo. You are worthy of marrying the right woman, of being with someone who wants to be with you. If she is the one, then you will date and explore your future together. If she isn’t the one, then you will make room for the right woman to enter your life. All the best to you. Just go for it! Sincerely, Jennifer
The Navidaters are dating and relationship coaches and therapists. Located in Lawrence, NY, their services include date debriefing, dating skills coaching, couples counseling, premarital and marital counseling. Sessions are held in the office or via phone or Skype. The Navidaters can be reached at 516.224.7779. If you have a dating or relationship scenario you would like to be featured in WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF, email thenavidaters@gmail.com. Check out their website, thenavidaters.com for more information. Follow TheNavidaters on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
In The K
tchen
Four Fabulous Sides By Naomi Nachman
Many mothers are being constantly challenged each night to come up with a dinner that is tasty and nutritious while offering a variety from the previous dinners. One of the keys to being successful at this task is to beef up (no pun intended!) your dinners with great side dishes. I have put together four amazing side dishes that will enhance any weeknight dinner (Shabbat or yom tov too!). The key to any great dish is fresh ingredients. Small things like fresh lemon or limes, fresh garlic and fresh vegetables will help make your recipes pop and get your family excited to eat your meal.
Shallot Potatoes
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Scallions
Ingredients 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup diced shallots 8 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into a medium to large dice (about 3 pounds) 2 cups chicken stock Salt and pepper ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Ingredients 3 sweet large potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch thick wedges 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons salt 4 scallions, sliced ¼-inch thick on the bias Juice of 1 lime, plus lime zest
Preparation Heat the oil in a heavy 5-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté, stirring for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent, but not colored. Stir in the potatoes and continue cooking several minutes longer, stirring to ensure that the potatoes are coated well with the olive oil and shallots. Add the stock, bring to a simmer, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes. The potatoes should be tender and have absorbed most of the stock. Fold in the parsley and serve immediately.
Preparation Preheat grill. Toss sweet potatoes with half the oil, cumin, cayenne and salt. Grill until the sweet potatoes have browned, about 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until both sides are colored, and the sweet potatoes are cooked through. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine remaining oil, scallions, lime juice and zest. When sweet potatoes have cooked, remove them from the grill and toss them with the vinaigrette. Season to taste. Serve warm or cold.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
Spicy Savoy Slaw
Ingredients 5 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup low-fat mayonnaise 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 jalapeno, diced very small 1 teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger (or one cube frozen) 1 ½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil 1 package checked cabbage that has carrots in it ¼ pound snow peas, trimmed and very thinly sliced lengthwise (1 cup) ¼ red bell pepper, cut into thin matchsticks Handful cilantro or parsley, finely chopped Preparation Whisk together vinegar, sugar, salt, mayonnaise and soy sauce in a large bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved, then whisk in the jalapeno, ginger and sesame oil. Add remaining ingredients and toss well. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature, tossing occasionally until wilted, about 30 minutes.
Broiled Asparagus with Lemon & Toasted Almonds Note: Checking for bugs in asparagus can be difficult. I buy mine prechecked from Gourmet Glatt Ingredients 2 bunches asparagus, medium 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 lemon, sliced in half ¼ cup sliced almonds Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
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Preparation Preheat broiler. Cut off the woody ends of the asparagus. Place asparagus on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat. Place asparagus into broiler. After three minutes, shake the pan to turn the asparagus. Asparagus are done when you can gently pinch them between your thumb and finger and they give a little bit without being to limp (approximately 6-8 minutes). Place the almonds in a sauté pan and toast over medium heat. Remove from pan when they become fragrant and start to brown, about 5 minutes. Shake pan occasionally to keep from burning. Place asparagus onto a platter. Squeeze lemon juice, and then sprinkle almonds over asparagus.
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.
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Jewish History
Amulets, Accusations and Controversy The Devastating Polemic Between Rabbi Yaakov Emden and Rabbi Yonason Eybeschutz By Rabbi Pini Dunner
Part III THE STORY SO FAR: In 1666 the Shabbetai Tzvi messianic debacle came to an abrupt end when the pretender messiah converted to Islam. For most Jews his apostasy relegated Shabbetai Tzvi to the margins and life went back to normal. For a small but significant minority, however, the Sabbatian mission never ended. Secret societies of crypto-Sabbatians were formed, and these aberrant groups continued to believe in Shabbetai Tzvi as the messiah and in warped pseudo-kabbalistic ideas that provided the backdrop for this belief. In the decades following his death, secret Sabbatian activists were regularly exposed by watchful rabbis cognizant of the grave danger they posed to normative Judaism if their twisted ideas infiltrated mainstream Jewish life. One such scoundrel was Nehemiah Hiya Hayyun, who was outed in Amsterdam in 1713 by Chacham Tzvi Ashkenazi –
a revered rabbinic scholar and kabbalist – together with his colleague R’ Moshe Hagiz. Chacham Tzvi’s bruising campaign was ultimately successful, and Hayyun was never taken seriously again. In the process, however, Chacham Tzvi and his family – including his eldest son Yaakov, later R’ Yaakov Emden – were forced to leave Amsterdam, as a result of the animosity generated towards them by Hayyun’s supporters. Hayyun reappeared in central Europe in 1725, by which time Chacham Tzvi had passed away. Nevertheless, Hayyun was barred from every community and eventually disappeared from sight – although not before it emerged that he had recently been in touch with a young rabbinic superstar from Prague by the name of R’ Yonason Eybeschutz. As if this was not enough, R’ Yonason was also identified as the author of an anonymous heretical Sabbatian manuscript titled “Va’avo hayom el ha’ayin.” The scene was set for a dramatic showdown between the opponents of Sabbatian influence and one of Europe’s most
electrifying young rabbis, whose future as a prominent leader in the Jewish world seemed assured.
T
he challenge in 1725 was far greater than it had been in the battle against Hayyun more than a decade earlier. During that conflict the Sabbatian adversary had been an itinerant preacher, who for all his talent was an easy prey. None of Hayyun’s allies were his friends – in the main they were recently acquired acquaintances. If there were those among them whose support was based on their own Sabbatian beliefs, even for them Hayyun was just a means to an end, and as soon as the fight was lost, they quickly abandoned him to his sorry fate without a second thought. R’ Yonason Eybeschutz could not have been more different. He was the ultimate insider, with pedigree, a devoted non-Sabbatian following, and status as a noted rabbinic scholar and preacher. Even the people who were totally dedicated to the task of rooting out insidious Sabbatian influences shied away from open warfare with someone like him. The
R’ Yonason Eybeschutz was one of the most celebrated rabbis of his era. Although implicated in the Sabbatian witch-hunt of 1725-6, all the charges against him were dismissed, and his fame and popularity continued to grow
stakes were simply too high. If R’ Yonason Eybeschutz was branded a flagrant deviant, what would that mean for every other rabbi of his stature? How would it be possible for Jewish community life to remain stable if every distinguished rabbi with an enemy could have his career and reputation wrecked in a frenzy of anti-Sabbatian zealotry? And yet, while the evidence against R’ Yonason was never more than anecdotal and circumstantial, it was still hard to ignore the fact that his name kept on cropping up in the Sabbatian witch-hunt. What was even harder to ignore was that both Sabbatian-hunters and the Sabbatians themselves concurred over R’ Yonason, all of them claiming he was a longstanding and committed Sabbatian. Apparently he had first been introduced to Sabbatian beliefs by a man called Leibel Prosnitz, a former peddler turned Sabbatian “prophet,” with whom he came into contact while studying in Prosnitz under R’ Meir Eisenstadt. Leibel Prosnitz may have or may not have believed in Shabbetai Tzvi’s messianic identity, but he was certainly a gifted
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The Chief Rabbi of Prague, R’ David Oppenheim, whose passing in 1736 might have led to R’ Yonason Eybeschutz’s appointment to that position. Years of friction between the two men resulted in his candidacy being vetoed, and R’ Yonason left for Metz in 1741
hoaxer who used “magic” and “miracles” to convince credulous people that he was a holy man with unique powers. Prosnitz was involved in several attempts to infiltrate Sabbatianism into mainstream Jewish life over the years, and in 1706 had even announced the imminent return of Shabbetai Tzvi. When this prediction failed to materialize he began to wander from community to community, hooking up with crypto-Sabbatians wherever he went. During the 1725 campaign against Sabbatians, Prosnitz became the subject of an intensive investigation by the rabbinate of Mannheim.
use his influence to ensure R’ Yonason would be offered the position as rabbi of Mannheim. What emerged was that Sabbatians thought of R’ Yonason as their supreme leader and an integral part of a widespread conspiracy to penetrate Sabbatianism into the highest levels of Jewish life. This view of R’ Yonason was not exclusive to Hasid and Prosnitz. R’ Moshe Hagiz, who relentlessly led the 1725 anti-Sabbatian crusade, was also utterly convinced that R’ Yonason was a Sabbatian and the author of “Va’avo hayom el ha’ayin.” In his correspondence with numerous rabbinic colleagues, R’ Hagiz re-
What emerged was that Sabbatians thought of R’ Yonason as their supreme leader and an integral part of a widespread conspiracy to penetrate Sabbatianism into the highest levels of Jewish life.
The inquiry was initially launched when his son-in-law was discovered staying at the home of a known Sabbatian, Yeshaya Hasid, who lived in Mannheim. In the course of the investigation Hasid shockingly divulged that Sabbatians now believed that Leibel Prosnitz was “Mashiach ben Yosef,” while R’ Yonason Eybeschutz was “Mashiach ben David” – in other words, some kind of reincarnation of Shabbetai Tzvi himself. This disturbing revelation was rendered even more alarming when it emerged that Prosnitz had lobbied Hasid to
peated this view countless times and sought support for a showdown with the young rabbi. But the showdown never came. On September 16, 1725, R’ Yonason publicly took an oath denying any connection to Sabbatianism and then affixed his signature to a toughly worded ban issued by all the rabbis in Prague against Sabbatians and Sabbatianism. His supporters cited these actions as incontrovertible proof that he was not a Sabbatian. Even many of those who believed he was a Sabbatian were ready to take R’
Yonason’s readiness to publicly condemn Sabbatians as a sign that he had either repented, or that he would never again be so reckless as to involve himself with Sabbatianism, even covertly. After all, why would a man of his quality and ability wish to descend into the sordid world of lowlife crypto-Sabbatians such as Prosnitz and Hasid and their ilk? Sabbatian manuscripts and incriminating letters ascribed to R’ Yonason continued to circulate, but were dismissed as forgeries or fantasy. The best R’ Hagiz could do was try and convince his colleagues to avoid sending students to Prague to study under R’ Yonason, but even in that he failed to succeed. R’ Yonason was unassailable. The murmurings continued, but his signature on the ban along with his consistent denials of any involvement with Sabbatianism prevented any of his adversaries from gaining traction against him. Meanwhile the anti-Sabbatian fight focused itself on those whose connection with Sabbatianism was certain and whose neutralization was uncontroversial. By the end of 1726 the crisis was over and R’ Yonason’s popularity and reputation grew even stronger. In 1736, the Chief Rabbi of Prague, R’ David Oppenheim, died, and R’ Yonason seemed the natural choice to be his successor. It was not to be. Longstanding acrimony between R’ Yonason and R’ Oppenheim dating back many years meant that the community leadership would not allow him to replace the late chief rabbi, although they did appoint him as chief dayan for the Prague beit din. But a man of R’ Yonason’s caliber would
not continue to occupy a “number two” position for very long. In 1741 he was offered the chief rabbinate of Metz, in France, when the incumbent chief rabbi, R’ Yaakov Yehoshua Falk, later famous for his authorship of Pnei Yehoshua, left to take up the chief rabbinate of Frankfurt. So R’ Yonason moved to Metz and led the community there until 1750, when he was offered the coveted chief rabbinate of the “triple community” of Altona-Hamburg-Wandsbeck, one of the most prestigious and influential Jewish communities in Europe. The triple-community had boasted some of the greatest European rabbinic luminaries of the previous century, including Chacham Tzvi Ashkenazi, who presided over the community in various roles from 1690 until 1710. It was also the birthplace of Chacham Tzvi’s son, R’ Yaakov Emden, and it was here that R’ Yaakov now lived, a prominent local rabbinic scholar, although he had no formal position in the community. R’ Yaakov’s attitude to R’ Yonason’s appointment, irrespective of the accusations of Sabbatian heresy, would prove to be a contentious issue in the years that followed.
In next week’s article, we will take a look into R’ Yaakov and what he had been up to in the years since his family was hounded out of Amsterdam in 1714.
Rabbi Pini Dunner is the Rav of Young Israel North Beverly Hills in California.
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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
Last night was caucus night in Iowa and Ted Cruz was the winner on the Republican side with 28 percent of the vote. Donald Trump came in second with 24 percent, and Marco Rubio is right behind him with 23 percent. Third is pretty good considering the fact that most Iowa voters think that Marco Rubio is a game you play in the swimming pool. – Jimmy Kimmel
I’m done, man.
Bernie Sanders yesterday interrupted his own speech to rush to the aid of a man who fainted in the audience. Luckily, Bernie was able to shout him back to consciousness: “Are you OK? Wake up, the middle class is disappearing!” – Seth Myers
- Visibly upset Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walking out of his post-Super Bowl press conference after less than 3 minutes
I’m on record as being a sore loser. Who likes to lose? You show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser. - Ibid., several days after his Super Bowl defeat, talking about his post-game antics
At the debate, Hillary Clinton addressed the controversy of her personal email server and said she has “no concerns about it whatsoever.” Democrats were like, “Yeah, that’s what concerns us.” - Jimmy Fallon
Donald Trump lost the Iowa caucus. Trump blamed the media, bad weather, and Iowa’s three Muslims.
Cam Newton is under fire for ducking out of his post-game press conference early. On the bright side, it was the first time all day Cam was able to move and not get tackled. - Conan O’Brien
– Conan O’Brien
Please clap. I saw that George W. Bush is now appearing in a campaign ad supporting his brother’s presidential campaign. Jeb says he hopes it will help him win over a very specific group of undecided voters: his parents. – Jimmy Fallon
– Jeb Bush to the audience at a New Hampshire rally, when his statement that “I won’t be out here blowharding, talking a big game without backing it up” was met with total silence
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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Do we have to hijack your planes and destroy your airports again to make you care about our cause? - Nabil Shaath, who served as foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority and was the chief negotiator of the Oslo Agreement, disclosing his true colors on Arabic TV when he argued that people are paying too much attention to Syria and not focusing on the “Palestinian plight”
A YouTube user named The Food Surgeon has released a new video showing how to replace the peanut butter in a Reese’s Cup with Oreo filling. The way it works is, you lose your job and then it just kind of happens organically. – Seth Myers
Well, no, the – the – the whole – tech thing, we’ve been tryin’ to get that straight for the next group of folks, because it is an old building. And – so there are a lot of dead spots where Wi-Fi doesn’t work. - President Obama when asked by Gale King on CBS what he’d tell the next president about the actual experience of living in the White House
In a recent interview, the Obamas complained that the Wi-Fi in the White House is weak. That’s why, as of this morning, President Obama and his family have moved into a Starbucks. – Conan O’Brien
No matter what way of life you have, no matter what you do for a living, how can you not like Donald Trump? For the future of this country, how can you not? -Bob Holmes, owner of Clay Dragon, explaining to Fox 25 News why he offered a free tattoo to anyone who commits to voting for Trump
We are not going to pay any single cent for such a stupid wall! And it’s going to be completely useless. - Former Mexican president Felipe Calderón, on CNBC, addressing Trump’s plan to build a border wall and “have Mexico pay for it”
Bernie Sanders says his campaign is trying to appeal now to senior citizens. The problem is, every time Bernie says, “Feel the Bern,” the seniors think he’s talking about acid reflux. – Conan O’Brien
Hillary, I love her, but she’s not good at this. She’s not good at [campaigning]. I mean, in 2008, she lost to a black man with a Muslim name. Now she’s losing to a 74-year-old Jewish Socialist. I mean, Hillary, we’re making this as easy as we can for you. But, you’re going to have to help a little.
Moments after winning the game, Peyton Manning rushed over to kiss the person who is most important in his life – Papa John’s Pizza CEO Papa John. Peyton is of course denying that the hug was part of any endorsement agreement with Papa John’s. This morning he issued a statement saying, “These allegations are as unfounded as Papa John’s crust is warm, buttery, and delicious.” – James Corden
– Bill Maher
Super rude customer. - Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s reason for canceling a Tesla order from venture capitalist Stewart Alsop after the latter posted some criticism online about a Tesla event
Peyton Manning said last night that he’s not made a decision about retiring and will wait until he’s less emotional to determine his future. Yeah, you shouldn’t make any long-term decisions on the same day you voluntarily kissed Papa John. – Seth Myers
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No, there’s not going to be an indictment… It wasn’t that long ago that Senator Joe Lieberman was on the Senate floor denouncing Bill Clinton for more astonishing and open felonies than we’re talking about with Hillary and – whoa! – in the end, you couldn’t even get one United States Senator to vote to remove Bill Clinton after an impeachment. – Ann Coulter discussing the possibility of Hillary being indicted
On Monday, Hillary Clinton narrowly won in Iowa, with the final results showing that she beat Bernie Sanders by less than 1 percent. And you thought Bernie was mad at the 1 percent before.
The Bernie Sanders campaign is demanding proof that Hillary Clinton beat him in yesterday’s Iowa caucus. Today Hillary said, “Sure, let me check my server.” – Conan O’Brien
OK. They can do it, but we can’t. Look, when they fly planes into the World Trade Center, kill thousands of people and many, many other things, you see what’s happening all over the world – whether it’s Paris or here or anywhere else – you can do waterboarding and you can go a step beyond waterboarding. It wouldn’t bother me even a little bit. – Donald Trump on NBC News when asked why he supports the “barbaric” tactic of waterboarding
Facebook turned 12 years old today, and it’s hard to believe it’s only been 12 years since I learned to hate every single person I know. – Jimmy Kimmel
– Jimmy Fallon
3 Palestinians Killed as Daily Violence Grinds On. - CBS News headline after three terrorists were shot dead by police after they opened fire with machineguns and stabbed and killed 19-year-old Hadar Cohen and seriously wounded another officer, outside of the Old City
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While campaigning in New Hampshire, Jeb Bush said that Marco Rubio has never been challenged in his life. Then Jeb told the shocking story about the time his father put him in charge of his own trust fund. – Conan O’Brien
Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government. – Tweet by Martin Shkreli, the embattled former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, after he was summoned to a Congressional hearing and “pled the Fifth” throughout the hearing
Chris Christie, in a new interview, continued to criticize Marco Rubio for his performance in this weekend’s debate and said Rubio is scripted and not spontaneous. To which Marco Rubio replied, “That’s not true, comma. I speak from the heart, exclamation point.” – Seth Myers
That’s what they offered. - Hillary Clinton, when asked on CNN about her decision to accept $675,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs
McDonald’s now has a special kind of Happy Meal that comes with a book instead of a toy. The book is called, “D is for Diabetes.” – Conan O’Brien
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Political Crossfire
Rubio and Cruz A Contrast in Leadership By Michael Gerson
T
he GOP front-runners who did not melt down into an oleaginous puddle of self-pity, delusion and poor sportsmanship – the winners of the compos mentis caucus – are more different than their similar policy views would indicate. Both Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are social and economic conservatives, and products of the tea party revolt. But they represent two entirely different approaches to the gathering and use of power. Each had a defining moment in their rapid rise. For Rubio, it was the Gang of Eight’s attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Rubio now presents this as the ancient past, but I’m old enough to remember those days of yore in 2013 and 2014. Rubio was determined to make a mark by improving a dangerously broken immigration system and, not coincidentally, by helping the GOP move past a debate it was losing in a spectacularly
damaging fashion. (Under the flag of “self- deportation,” Mitt Romney had been recently crushed by 44 points among Latinos.)
Chuck Schumer, was stingy with concessions that might have provided more political cover. Rubio was the last of the hated eight
But it is a measure of political character when such grandstanding is elevated to strategy, involves untruths and undermines conservative goals.
The role played by Rubio as the rightward-most member of the Gang of Eight should actually allay some conservative concerns. Rubio pushed for an enforcement-first approach and a move away from chain migration. His main Democratic partner,
to sign on but decided, in the end, that the bill was an improvement. Then came the deluge: the Central American unaccompanied minor crisis, a conservative talkradio rebellion and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary loss to a tea party unknown. Rubio
was savaged as an example to the others. But in his ill-fated immigration reform effort, Rubio demonstrated his approach to building influence: Master the policy details, work hard, push in a conservative direction, attempt to persuade even bitter critics and accept incremental progress. Cruz’s main moment on the national stage was the government shutdown of 2013. Cruz and his allies argued: Congress, if it really, really wanted to – if it only had the guts and principles – could stop implementation of the Affordable Care Act unilaterally. So funding the government was tantamount to supporting Obamacare. There were a few problems with this strategy. First, it could not work. It is not legally possible for Congress to defund an entitlement by blocking discretionary spending. Second, anyone with a smidgeon of knowledge about the legislative
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
process knew it could not work – not that it was very difficult, but that it was impossible – which made Cruz’s argument deceptive. Who did this manufactured standoff benefit? Elements of conservative talk radio and the Internet that gain listeners and drive traffic by baiting the base. Tea party groups that use confrontation as a fundraising ploy. Conservative direct-mail firms that depend on a steady supply of controversy. And Cruz’s email list, which swelled along with his presidential ambitions. Cruz became identified with a tea party establishment (which is also an industry) that acts as a parallel avenue of influence to the Republican Party. Together, Cruz and his tea party allies set out a false construct to make the GOP – when it could not accomplish an impossibility – look bad in the eyes of the conservative base. Then tea party groups ran attack ads against Republicans who opposed the shutdown, accusing them of effectively supporting Obamacare. This is the main reason, according to my conversations with top Capitol Hill Republicans, that Cruz is so intensely disliked. Those who had been in the trenches fighting Obamacare were accused of selling out by a transparently self-serving latecomer. But the problem for Republicans was more than hurt feelings. President Obama found it easy to exploit the chaos Cruz created, making the Republican majority look simultaneously weak and radical. A paralyzed caucus proved unable to offer a positive agenda. Cruz was deceptive in a way that benefited himself and was bound to hurt the conservative cause. This is not the first time a senator has grandstanded at the expense of his colleagues. But it is a measure of political character when such grandstanding is elevated to strategy, involves untruths and undermines conservative goals. Cruz has shown the ability to effectively motivate one-third of the Republican base with these niche marketing tactics. He has yet to show a talent for uniting the entire
GOP (and a slice of independents) against the Democrats. Rubio’s loss on immigration reform spoke well of his ability
to appeal broadly in the general election and govern effectively as president. Cruz’s success in forcing a partial shutdown demonstrated
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only a talent for self-serving controversy. (c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
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Political Crossfire
The “Establishment” Nonsense By Charles Krauthammer
T
he reigning idiocy of the current political season is the incessant tossing around of “establishment,” an epithet now descending into meaninglessness. Its most recent abuse is by Donald Trump supporters rationalizing his Iowa defeat with the following consolation: If you tally up Trump and Ted Cruz (and throw in Ben Carson), a whopping 60 percent of the vote is anti-establishment! So what? The threat to the GOP posed by the Trump insurgency is not that he’s anti-establishment. It’s that he’s not conservative. Trump winning the nomination would convulse the Republican Party, fracture the conservative movement and undermine the GOP’s identity and role as the country’s conservative party. There’s nothing wrong with challenging the socalled establishment. Parties, like other institutions, can grow fat and soft and corrupt. If by establishment you mean the careerists, the lobbyists and the sold-out cynics, a good poke, even a major purge, is well-deserved. That’s not the problem with Trump. The problem is his, shall we say, eclectic populism. Cruz may be anti-establishment but he’s a principled conservative,
while Trump has no coherent political philosophy, no core beliefs, at all. Trump offers barstool eruptions and whatever contradictory “idea” pops into his head at the time, such as “humane” mass deportation, followed by mass amnesty when the immigrants are returned to the United States. That’s the reason his harebrained ideas – barring all Muslims from entering the country, a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods, government-provided universal health care through “a deal with existing hospitals to take care of people” (why didn’t I think of that?) – have received such relatively little scrutiny. No one takes them seriously. His actual platform is all persona – the wonders that will emanate from his own self-proclaimed strength, toughness, brilliance, money, his very yugeness. Trump’s is faith-based politics of the Latin American caudillo variety. “At the [Sarah] Palin rally,” reports John McCormack of The Weekly Standard, “Trump promised he would localize education. “How?” shouted one man in the crowd. “Just you watch,” Trump replied.” Meaning: I have no idea. Just trust me. Cruz does not lack for
self-confidence. And he constantly wraps himself in anti-establishment rhetoric. He reasonably calculates that his hard-edged conservatism sells best when presented not as pristine ideology but as a revolt against entrenched interests. To imagine, however, that his railing against “the Washington cartel” makes him a Trumpian brother-inarms is to mistake tactics for strategy, style for substance. To be sure, it’s a misperception Cruz himself encouraged throughout 2015 as he drafted in Trump’s wake. But that’s yesterday’s story. It’s been over for weeks. The story since January is of a bromance blown up, clearing away the antiestablishment veneer and allowing their fundamental political differences to finally emerge: --Over Trump’s “New York [read: liberal] values.” --Over government power. Cruz’s most biting commercial showed Trump enlisting government to tear down the home of a little old lady standing in the way of a casino parking lot. --Over ethanol, which Cruz opposed on classic small-government grounds that the state should not be picking winners and losers, and which Trump supported
because “it happens to be a lot of jobs for Iowa.” The Iowa results clarified the dynamic of the Republican race. There are only three candidates in the race and, as I recently argued, each represents a different
effectively. But whatever the piques and preferences of various “establishment” party leaders, there’s no denying that either Rubio or Cruz would retain the GOP’s fundamental ideological identity. Trump would not.
There’s nothing wrong with challenging the so-called establishment. Parties, like other institutions, can grow fat and soft and corrupt.
politics. The result is a threeway fight between Trump’s personalized strongman populism and two flavors of conservatism – Marco Rubio’s more mainstream version and Cruz’s more uncompromising take-no-prisoners version. We can now read the Iowa results as they affect the Republican future. Trumpian populism got 24 percent, conservatism (Rubio plus Cruz) got 51 percent. There will be a spirited contest between the two conservatives over who has the better chance of winning the general election and of governing
Getting thumped in Iowa does not mean that Trump is done. He’s on favorable ground in New Hampshire and leads in practically every other state. But he’s in for a long fight. What Iowa confirms is that whatever beating the “establishment” takes during this campaign, Republicans are choosing conservatism over Trumpian populism by 2 to 1. Which means their chances of survival as the party of Reagan are very good. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group
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last 6 days of pesach
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Rocky’s
Rant
The Undercover Jew By Rocky Zweig
H
aving already owned up in my last column to still attending the cinema occasionally, I’d like to borrow some phraseology that I have gleaned from the silver screen over the years. When the film is a true story, they don’t say “the following is a true story.” They say “the following is based on a true story.” That way, they can take as much poetic license as they like and no one can call them on it. You know, kind of like Obama’s autobiography, which is replete with composite characters, but don’t get me started. I start with the above caveat (for those from Rio Linda: nothing to do with fish eggs) because what follows is indeed a true story. However, for the sake of expedience and also to make myself look better (hey, it’s my article, right?), some details may have been changed slightly. Or not so slightly. Or altered. With custom alterations. Or left out entirely. I guess the best way to describe it would be to say it’s based on being based on a true story. Yeah. That sounds about right. So here’s the gist of what happened, for real. Oh, wait a minute, before I get to that, remember my article back in March of 2015 titled “Do Not Try This At Home!” in which I described my road-rage episode
with Meatball the pizza delivery boy wherein I wound up emptying my canister of pepper spray in his Cro-Magnon face, like a good senior citizen who thinks Martial Arts, the name of a sheriff, ought to do? And remember how I told you about this miserable temper that has haunted me all my life and that it’s much more under control now that I’ve been working on it all these years and now that I’m old and feeble and incapacitated? Remember all that? Well…I lied. But not really. I didn’t really lie, because I am much better. It’s just what I refer to as “The Jew Factor” that presses my buttons every time. Back in March I explained that I can walk away from just about anything as long as there isn’t even a mah shehu of anti-Semitism involved. Once that rears its ugly head, however, all bets are off. Then this less melodramatic Jekyll and Hyde sort of thing comes into play: Y’rachmiel, the sensible one, wants to walk away. Rocky, the hothead, needs to stand up for his Jewish heritage, even if it means putting himself in harm’s way. Okay, back to what happened, for real (I’ll give you a heads-up when things get sketchy). Last Erev Shabbos, at I guess around 3:30, I suddenly realized that I did not
have that week’s edition of The Jewish Home! OMIGOSH! What to do? I was leaving the gym and had planned to go straight home but instead went to Avenue M where there is now a beautiful orange box containing this wondrous publication in front of Amazing Savings (incidentally: kudos, Shoshana and everyone else at TJH; these boxes have made it infinitely easier for me to find TJH every week). I parked across Avenue M and crossed to the box and was about to cross back. Then I noticed a man, presumably a gentile, crossing from the side where I parked to the Amazing Savings side. With me so far? Anyway, there is a crosswalk there, in front of Mountain Fruit. Obviously, you’re not allowed to park in a crosswalk. Indeed, standing in a crosswalk is not a good idea either, and pretty obnoxious to boot. There was a frum guy parked in the crosswalk, sitting in his car. Many have commented about what a terrible chillul Hashem that causes. I couldn’t agree more. I mean, how could you not? Okay, ao back to the story, and sorry for all the tangents. Stick with me and we’ll get there, I promise. B’li neder. So the man is crossing the street and comes up upon the frum guy’s car in the crosswalk. There were cars both in
front and in back of the offending vehicle, but there was plenty of room. The pedestrian could have reached the sidewalk easily without having to do any fancy footwork whatsoever. In fact, a small hippo could probably have made it through. But he chose not to. Instead, he chose to stand in the gutter and pick a fight. “Excuuuuse me,” he said, in a loud voice brimming with disdain and condescension, “don’t you know you’re not allowed to park here? This is an intersection, sir, and…” I didn’t hear the driver’s response, but I assume he apologized and said something about just being there for a minute, waiting for his wife to come out, because the next thing I heard was: “Don’t you I’m sorry me. I’m not interested in your apology. I don’t care about your wife. I have a right to walk here and you have no right to be parked here.” And I’m just standing there watching, thinking the guy is, unfortunately, 100% right. I should have left. But I was growing more and more uneasy about the vitriol that had crept into the guy’s tone. And sure enough, he did not disappoint. “You know, YOU PEOPLE think you own the road. YOU PEOPLE think you own the neighborhood. There are other people living here too, you know. YOU PEOPLE do not
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
know anything about common courtesy!” Ro c k y wal k away ro c k y wal kawayrockywalkawayrockywalkawayrockywalkaway. The voice in
much spitting out the words at this point. “Ohhhhh,” I said, with my best wide-eyed look, whereupon, with great fanfare and aplomb, I proceed-
Y’rachmiel, the sensible one, wants to walk away. Rocky, the hothead, needs to stand up for his Jewish heritage, even if it means putting himself in harm’s way.
my little pea brain truly gave it the old college try. And I tried. I really, really tried. After all, why start up with a guy who’s right?! I sized him up. He was maybe a few years younger than I, but when I realized what my play would be, it was too good to walk away from. Often when I’m out and about in Flatbush I’ll suddenly become painfully aware of how different I look from the other men around me. On Wednesday they’re all dressed the way I dress on Shabbos. And please, don’t misunderstand: I’m fine with that, I respect it and would never disparage anyone else’s mehaleich so long as he doesn’t bother me. But here on Avenue M on Friday afternoon, my epiphany was this: I’m dressed in my rather loud green-andblue Columbia zip-up jacket, jeans and a baseball cap with a leatherback sea turtle on it. I looked about as Jewish as a holiday tree. I was about to become Mr. Indignant Jew Hater’s best buddy. When he finally landed on my side of the street, I was ready. “Wow. What was that about?” “Come on, you know. They have such nerve.” Time to play dumb. “They?” “Those people. They really think they own the neighborhood. They’re just terrible, terrible people.” Play even dumber. “Sorry, but I’m not from around here, I…” “The Jews! The Orthodox Jews! They’ve invaded this neighborhood and it’s just ghastly!” He was pretty
ed to remove the aforementioned baseball cap… “You mean…” Revealing my non-bird-painted medium sized yarmulke underneath… “Like this one?” Okay, so here’s where my storytelling latitude begins. Not because I don’t want to reveal what really happened. Because it doesn’t really matter. But I will give you a brief synopsis: Words were exchanged. Many different types of words. Nouns, verbs, adjectives. A preponderance of adjectives, actually. Parentages were questioned. Physical impossibilities were suggested. Oh, and he spit at me (missed) and with a big ugly grin on his face told me very smugly, “Well, we got rid of the [hadlakas neiros] siren, didn’t we?” I suggested very kindly that if he didn’t like it here he might be happier in The Village. In short, it was a typical old-guy confrontation and a good time was had by all. The thing is, there’s a huge mussar haskeil here. It occurs to me that my role as Flatbush Undercover Jew could actually come in handy in certain circumstances. Indeed, when I yanked off that hat to reveal my true identity, I felt a little like Clark Kent in the Phone Booth, ripping open his shirt to reveal the big red “S” on his chest. Boy, he must have gone through a lot of shirts. Maybe I should get a cape. But I don’t want to have to defend my fellow Jew if he’s not being a mensch! I don’t know if this problem is endemic in
the Five Towns or Queens or beyond, but please, rabbosai! Even putting aside for a moment your own Jewish neighbors that you’re driving up the wall with your selfish driving habits, there are people out there watching us every day who are predisposed to disliking us. Why give them ammunition? Take it from your local superhero: if you can’t drive like a mensch, take a bus!
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
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times and has finally determined that he’s probably not very good at matrimonial bliss. He lives in his Fortress of Solitude in Flatbush with a small menagerie: Clarice, a European Starling; Rabbi Horatio LeZard, a Bearded Dragon; an aquarium filled with Lake Malawi African Cichlids; and a ten gallon tank that functions as a Home for Unwanted Goldfish, or H.U.G., collected over the years by his grandkids and great nieces and nephews at myriad street fairs and carnivals (rather than face the unpleasant task of flushing these unfortunate piscine creatures when they are eventually, inevitably ignored by their own obnoxious progeny, the parents simply call Uncle Rocky who then feeds them and cares for them until their ultimate natural demise three or four or even ten years down the pike). So apparently Rocky seems to get along better with animals than with his fellow homo sapiens. Or sapienses. Or whatever. Rocky’s column will be appearing every other week in The Jewish Home. Rocky can be reached at anidaati@aol.com.
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Hire
Education
Who is a Salesman? By Rabbi Mordechai Kruger
O
ur intrepid job hunter, Beryl Klein, is on a mission to learn more about the world of sales and the many types of jobs that are all grouped together under the title of “salesman.” His supportive and insightful job search coach (that would be me) has taught him how to use a tool called “informational interviews” to learn about the different roles that people play within the field of sales. An informational interview is a planned, focused conversation which helps a job hunter explore jobs by learning about the way that current workers in the field function, how they prepared for their roles, and how they feel about the work they do. As Beryl tabulates the information he gathers, he will begin to see points about some jobs that make them attractive options, and about others that tell him, “Stay away!” Understanding what makes those attractive jobs so interesting will lead Beryl to a description of the job he would like to have. When he is able to describe that job and explain how it best fits his skills, background, and goals, he will focus his search on finding that job. When he finds it,
he’ll have the best chance of being hired and the best chance to succeed. Beryl wants to find people who work in the field of sales and ask them a few specific questions. Which leads us to ask (especially after reading Daniel Pink’s To Sell is Human, as I recommended in my last column), “So who exactly is a salesman? “ The answer is: A lot more people than you think. Because every time you agree to give up something you value (often, but not always money) in order to access something of greater value or desirability (for example, a hot pizza), a sale has taken place. And the person who led you to conclude that you should make that exchange is a salesman. When your doctor tells you that those extra pounds need to come off, you will probably nod with appropriate respect and stop for pizza on the way home. Even if your doctor has done a really good job of explaining the health risks of being overweight, your resolve will probably wane in a few days. In order to get you to start a diet and stay on it, you need to be “sold”.” Does the doctor need to “sell” you the idea of being thin? Probably not. You know all about
it. What will really make the difference is feeling that with each food choice you make, you can do something that makes a real difference in your overall health and well-being – a difference that is worth more than the momentary enjoyment of the brownie. You probably didn’t think of your doctor as a salesman. But if he’s a good doctor, that’s exactly what he is. Let’s think of a more conventional salesman and the comparison will become clear. You go to a car showroom and come home owning a Mustang convertible. Clearly a sale has taken place – but what was sold? If just a car was sold, then you could have paid much less. You paid a lot of extra dollars for the feeling of freedom, of power, of youthful vigor that a Mustang represents. Exchanging dollars for feeling youthful is no different than exchanging brownies for feeling healthy. But if car guys and doctors are both salesmen and feelings are what they want us to buy, then we really need to ask, what is it that salesmen sell? When you are out during the day and you decide on pizza for lunch, you aren’t
really buying food. What you really want is convenience and variety. Your insurance agent? He’s selling the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’ve done the best you can to protect what’s important to you. Clothing stores, and certainly men’s hat stores? They sell membership cards.
without special equipment and training. Jobs sold the dream of changing the world (remember the 1984 commercial?). So when Beryl asks, “What do you sell?” he needs to ask, “Besides what it says on your sign or your business card, what do you really sell?” He needs to
Exchanging dollars for feeling youthful is no different than exchanging brownies for feeling healthy.
Much has been written about the contrast between the two greatest salesmen of modern times, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Neither of them really sold computers, or software, or anything else you could hold in your hands. They sold their visions, their dreams, their sense of how things could be different. Gates sold the concept that individuals could be empowered to accomplish things that had never before been done
know what it is that convinces people to make the exchange, to trade what they have for something even better. When he understands what people are really buying, he’ll know what it is that he should sell.
Rabbi Mordechai Kruger’s Job Search for Champions has helped clients of all kinds find the jobs they really want. He can be reached at jobsearchforchampions@gmail.com
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
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Studying Sm
rt
From America to Zanzibar… The Reprehensible Politicization of the Manhattan Children’s Museum By Chaim Homnick
B
eing that I work in education and am a parent to two toddlers, breaks from school and playgroup provide a great opportunity to find fun, educational outings for the family. During midwinter break this year, my wife and I trundled the little ones into the Manhattan Children’s Museum. An earlier trip had impressed us with the quality of the exhibits. The kiddies were entertained and full of curiosity about what they had learned and observed. On our first visit we had enjoyed the ground floor exhibit. It was an adorable, fully operational Manhattan-themed play center that taught children about the hustle and bustle of urban life. This time back we were shocked that the entire exhibit was closed. The sign on the door proclaimed: “Please pardon the inconvenience while we install America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. Opening Feb. 13.” The entire museum is comprised of four floors, with each floor devoted to a single exhibit. The other exhibits are a Dora the Explorer safari adventure, a “Frolic” gymnasium room, and a “PlayWorks” exhibit designed to emphasize literacy, math and other critical learning components. The Manhattan exhibit rounded out the experience and clear-
ly did not need replacing. There is no mention of culture on any of the floors and no other cultures are presented or taught. Yet now, from 2016-2018, visitors will learn about Islam around the world, to the exclusion of any other culture or religion. It is laudable for children, including mine, to learn
able and educational. Going online to the museum’s own website confirmed my fears. The exhibit description begins: “Travel the world in a single museum visit! Enjoy innovative hands-on experiences and discover fascinating objects, images and information from over 50 countries.”
kids about Muslim art and about mosque architecture from “Michigan to China” (as the website states), without showing them a single church or synagogue? How is this not either a) a larger, multi-cultural exhibit or b) a short-term exhibit as part of a larger series about various cultures past and present?
Are my kids to learn that the world consists of Dora the Explorer, firemen, and Muslim children? about cultures from around the world. However, how does an exhibit solely about Muslim cultures around the world, presented without context, become a full 25% of the curriculum? Where is the Jewish exhibit, the Christian exhibit, the world culture exhibit? Are my kids to learn that the world consists of Dora the Explorer, firemen, and Muslim children? Why would a prominent museum in our nation’s most prominent city make a clearly political, agenda-driven decision to create a hyper-specific Muslim exhibit with no plan to present other cultures? Had they modeled an exhibit after Disney’s “It’s a Small World” amusement park ride that presents cultures from around the globe, that would be understand-
Fifty countries, sure – but only through the prism of Islam and mosques across the world! Later in the blurb the museum claims that this is a continuation of their “Cultural Exhibition and Programming Series” in which earlier exhibits had included Ancient Greece and “Monkey King: A Story from China.” So an exhibit about Greek gods and another about a monkey (that lasted for 6 months) have apparently provided enough general culture that it was time to tour world Islam with nary a mention of any other cultures. And worse, this exhibit and the weekly Muslim Art Festivals are to be the only culture presented for the next three years. Why would we teach
The answer, sadly, is all too predictable: money. Despite collecting $12 per child and adult upon each visit, the museum is apparently after far larger sums. Astoundingly, pressing “Click Here for Sponsorship and Support Opportunities” reveals that the America to Zanzibar exhibit has raised $1.25 million in funds but that the museum needs another $250,000 to fully fund the exhibition. Really? So $1.5 million in Manhattan could buy you a luxury apartment or one single-floor exhibit in a museum. The list of contributors and donors to the display includes $250,000 from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and $25,000 from the Violet Jabara Trust, which makes
grants to “American organizations which promote deeper understanding of Middle East issues and culture in the United States.” Clearly, this exhibit is a cash cow for the museum and a PR piece for the private powerbrokers behind it. That is enough to make this daddy and teacher cynical about the integrity of our museums. I truly hope someone out there with $1.5 million in loose change buys them out soon and replaces the exhibit. After all, I’d rather visit the “Donald Trump is a Winner” exhibit any day. This article was published with slight variations in the American Spectator at spectator.org.
Chaim Homnick is the College Advisor at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Lawrence and also teaches 5 periods of Honors/ AP English Literature. Chaim is the owner of Five Towns Tutoring (fivetownstutoring.com) as well as Machane Miami Day Camp of Florida (machanemiami.com). He scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and the LSAT and tutors both extensively. He has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration as well as an MBA. For questions, comments, or tutoring, he can be reached directly at chomnick@gmail. com.
The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 11, 2016
Shovavim
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A Three Part Aish Kodesh Lecture Series for Women All Shiurim in Aish Kodesh Beis Medrash at 8:15pm Part I Taharas HamishpachaUpholding A Woman’s Dignity And The Sanctity Of Her Home Tuesday, January 12 by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger Morah D’asra Cong. Aish Kodesh, Mashpia Yeshiva University Part II Journey For A LifetimeStrengthening the Intimate Connection Tuesday, February 2 by Dr. Binyamin Tepfer, PhD Clinical Psychologist, Noted lecturer Part III Review of Hilchos Taharas Hamishpacha with an emphasis on most frequently asked questions Tuesday, February 16 by Rebbetzin Abby Lerner Rebbetzin YI of Great Neck, Faculty YUHS for Girls, Kallah Teacher
*Admission by Donation Aish Kodesh in Conjuction with the Grove Street Mikvah proudly sponsored by Gourmet Glatt, Part of the Community, Partners in the Community
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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LAWRENCE: Bright & Open 5BR, 3 Full Bath Hi-Ranch in Lawrence Bay Park, Eik, Formal DR, Amazing Outdoor Area W/IGP, Wet Bar, Custom Decks & Private Vegetable Garden…$999,995 Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: 2BR Ranch, 2 Dens, LR/DR, Finished Attic, Large Property, Close To All…$425K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY MUST SEE 2 Story with finished basement 4+ bedrooms, 2 full baths, Well & Septic Call 845-707-4521
WOODMERE: PRICE REDUCED Completely Renovated 3BR, 2BA Ranch, Updated Eik, Formal DR, MBR Suite, Den W/Fplc & Vaulted Ceiling, Lovely Property, SD#14…$599K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE NEW CONSTRUCTION 5 BR, 3.5 Bths, Center Hall Colonial. Master Suite w/2 Walk in Closets, Guest BR wFull Bath on First Floor. Radiant Heat on First Floor, Granite Kosher EIK………………….….. $1.3M By Owner NO Brokers 646-634-4642
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Charming 2 Family House, Great Loct! 3BR, 2.5BA Charming 3BR, 2BA Col, Great Loct! 2BR Ranch, 4BR,2BA,Near All..$349K Col, Eik, SD#14..$418K Eik, Low Taxes..$419K 2 Dens, Fin Attic…$425K
3BR, 2.5 Bath Colonial, Great Potential Investment, 4BR, 4BACol, LR, FDR, Eik, Renov 6BR, 4BA Colonial, FDR, Den, SD#15..$679K Legal 2 Family, 6BR..$699K Den, Full Fin Bsmt..$949K MBR Ste, SD#14..$1.595M
Susan Pugatch
Carol Braunstein
(516)
Call or Text
(516) 592-2206
295-3000
www.pugatch.com
spugatch@pugatch.com
CEDARHURST: 4 9 1 5 t h Av e ( 1 2 - 1 : 3 0 ) $419K H E W L E T T: 2 4 E v e r i t Av e ( 1 2 - 3 ) $649K LAWRENCE: 2 6 0 C e n t r a l Ave ( 1 2 - 3 ) R E G E N C Y VALLEY STREAM: 6 0 D a r t m o u t h S t ( 1 - 3 ) $339K
5 Commercial Tenants 3 Residential Tenants For Sale W/Upside Potential
5,000 +/- SF On 2nd Floor Ample Municipal Parking Handicap Access in Elevator Bldg
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 HOUSES FOR SALE OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY by apt at 78 MEADOW LANE LAWRENCE! Elegant, Completely Renovated 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bth Exp Ranch On Great Upscale Street. New Wood/Granite Eik, Large Formal Dining Room, Charming Living Room, Den, Luxurious Mstr Suite With Jacuzzi, Gym, New Bath, New Cac, New Boiler, New Roof, Large Ceilings, Amazing Oversized Property With Pool, 15 Min To Jfk, Steps To Golf And Yacht Club. Low Taxes. Must See To Appreciate!!! Please call Alexandra 516 784 0856 at Douglas Elliman!
COMMERCIAL RE CEDARHURST OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-5000 square feet very nice office space with cool conference room & Kitchen. Onsite parking Great Location. Lots of options! Will divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100 LYNBROOK: 10,000 +/-SF Combined Two Buildings, Many Upgrades, Great Location, Can Be Divided, For Sale … Call Ian for More Details (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 INWOOD Commercial mixed use building + Lot. Private parking, corner property, high traffic area 1st floor offices, 2nd floor: 2 Apts. Asking 849k. Call 212-470-3856 Yochi @ WinZone Re CEDARHURST: 500-3000 +/- SF Professional Office Space Available in the Heart of Cedarhurst, For Lease... Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 East Rockaway: 1,400 +/- SF Office Suite in Professional Elevator Building, Full Basement, Ample Parking, Great Location, For Lease… Call Arthur for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
COMMERCIAL RE HEWLETT: 900 +/- SF Nail Salon, Ready To Go!!! Great Location, Near LIRR Station, Turn Key Salon, No Key Money, Low Rent, For Lease… Call Ian for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LAWRENCE: 8,000 +/- SF Retail Space on Rockaway Tpke with Parking, Will Divide. Great Location, For Lease… Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 OCEANSIDE: 1,500 up to 3,000 +/- SF Store Front Office Space in Great Location with Parking on Long Beach Rd, For Lease… Call Randy For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com 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
COMMERCIAL RE CEDARHURST: 500-3000 +/- SF Professional Office Space Available in the Heart Of Cedarhurst, For Lease... Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
CO-OP FOR SALE HEWLETT: Bright & Spacious 2 Bedroom Apartment On 1st Floor, Handicap Access, Eik, Formal DR, Freshly Painted…$114K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com HEWLETT: Great 2BR Apartment In the Grey Building, Eik, High Ceilings, Large Rooms, Elevator, Maintenance Includes Washer/Dryer & Parking Lot Charges…$199K-215K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
Reach Your Target Market
Classifieds
355 Central Avenue, Lawrence NY 11559 (Across the street from Seasons)
P: 516.791.6100 | F: 516.374.7059
www.WeissmanRealty.com CEDARHURST COOP
Amazing 2 Bdrm, 2 Full Bth. Huge oversized granite kitchen great cabinet space & storage, 2 Dishwashers & a washer/dryer!!! Lrg LR opens to the balcony & FDR. Call Sherri 516-297-7995INWOOD
$319K
FAR ROCKAWAY APARTMENT RENTALS
HEWLETT
All new 4 Bdrm, 2.5 Bth ranch house. Completely renovated w/ full n. bsmnt w/ high ceilings. Brand new appl. & upgraded xtures throughout. Beautiful reenished lrg deck & fenced-in backyard, private driveway, All new electrical upgrades! Move-in ready . A must see for all $319K
5 TOWNS & CEDARHURST OFFICES 1-2 Rm executive offices available all utilities & internet included. Varied conference room. Locations & pricing. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 Large 4 room suite 2,250 Sq. Ft. 4 private offices, kitchen and reception, Cedarhurst location. Call Sherri 516-297-7995
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 APT FOR RENT
APT FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
FAR ROCKAWAY 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, fully windowed basement apt. Everything brand new! Granite/mosaic/stainless steel kitchen, washer/dryer hookup Near Darchei Torah $1750 includes separate heat Available immediately 718-866-8502
FAR ROCKAWAY 3 Bedrooms – New Construction Central air, oak floors, granite kitchen, elevator building. Asking $2350 Call Yossi 917-337-6262
Fast-paced office in the 5 Towns seeking talented, professional, highly-motivated individuals to join our Sales team. Must be detail oriented, and thrive in a collaborative environment. Experience in Travel industry a plus. Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com
LAWRENCE: Spacious & Updated 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bath Rental, Use of Driveway & Backyard, CAC, Washer/Dryer in Unit, MUST SEE…$2,395/Mo. Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking. Call Sam @ 516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080 ON SEAGIRT AVENUE 2 & 3 bedroom. Newly renovated. Washer and dryer hook up. Granite countertops. More info call or text 917-602-2914
Brand new luxury 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment in central Far Rockaway 2 Family home. Features: Private entrance, 1 car off street parking, Sukkah porch. Large eat in kitchen with new appliances, Living room, Dining room, Additional storage in attic, Separate heat, A/C, hot water, Washer/Dryer Hook Up, Walk to all Call 1-917-415-0055
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. Playgroup (children ages 2 ½ -4 years) looking for a warm loving assistant in a heimishe environment. Call 516-371-6848
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
Direct Support Professional to work with men with autism and other disabilities in a residential setting in Cedarhurst. F/T positions include: 3pm-11pm, and Overnight. High pay rate, plus benefit package. Contact OHEL Bais Ezra 718-686-3102 or www. ohelfamily.org/careers COMPUTER NETWORKING TECHNICIAN - ENTRY LEVEL Great opportunity - We are a well established IT company in Far Rockaway that currently has an entry level position open in our networking division. We are looking to fill this position with a person who has a strong work ethic, basic knowledge, is tech savvy and has an interest in learning new applications. Experience with Sonicwall, Access points, Microsoft server, Microsoft Exchange and VOIP a plus. Please send your resume to readyvoicedata@yahoo.com
HELP WANTED FAST-PACED OFFICE IN THE 5 Towns seeking talented, professional Executive Assistant. Includes administrative duties for Sales Management. Responsibilities may include screening calls and customer relations. Requires strong computer skills. Also calls for flexibility, excellent interpersonal skills, project coordination experience, and the ability to work well with all levels of internal management and staff, as well as outside clients and vendors. Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com Fast-paced office in the 5 Towns seeking talented, professional, highlymotivated individuals to join our Sales team. Must be detail oriented, and thrive in a collaborative environment. Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com Marketing Copywriter Wanted Marketing firm is looking for a Freelance Copywriter for creative ads and marketing literature. Email: adwriting01@gmail.com
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 HELP WANTED 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 GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co. Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348 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. 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 CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers for Title I in Boro Park andWilliamsburg Chassidic boys schools *College/Yeshiva Degree Required *Strong desire to help children learn *Excellent organizational skills *Small group instruction *Competitive salary Email resume: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com. Fax (718) 381-3493 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
SITUATION WANTED Professional with over 15 years of solid office work experience, including non-profit, looking to secure an administrative position. Please reply to penman24@yahoo.com LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE seeks position in homecare with the elderly or pediatric care. I am skilled, caring and dependable. Please call me at 631-759-0025
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To join the upcoming 4 part series beginning Sunday, February 7th through the 28th, please email: OritRiter@gmail.com for registration info
MISC PURIM TIES GREAT ASSORTMENT 100 pcs minimum $2.50 a piece 718 497 3300 faragecreations@aol.com SPACE AVAILABLE for 3 year old playgroup in Far Rockaway. Excellent Morahs. Please call (516) 406-2980.
SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com Tutors desperately needed for Zichron Etel, a gemach providing free tutoring to those who cannot afford it. Now in Brooklyn and the Five Towns! Kindly visit our website at www.zichronetel.com Yehalomim Shelanu Special Programming presents an after school program for the special children of our neighborhood! Every Monday afternoon from 4:45- 6:15 Fun & educational run by talented and experienced staff. Call 516-732-2949 for more info or to register
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Money
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes By Allan Rolnick, CPA
R
ock & roll fans lost an icon last month with the death of David Bowie just two days after his 69th birthday. Bowie made a career out of breaking molds and reinventing himself constantly along the way. Rock stars are famous for earning enormous sums of money, and blowing those fortunes on pricey mansions, pricey cars, and pricey entourages. But Bowie’s fame made him a man who’ll take things over — he became one of rock’s savviest money managers, and that naturally included proactive steps to beat the tax man. Bowie’s first wife Angie wrote in her autobiography that in 1979, Bowie was living large in California. But he found himself under pressure from a $300,000 tax bill, and it seemed the taste was not so sweet. “These were tax debts accumulated over the past few years,” she recalled, “during which time
vast quantities of taxable cash he had generated had vanished into various murky areas.” Strange fascination indeed! Bowie had several choices. He could stay in sunny California, where combined federal and state rates topped out at 81%. He could head home to England and pay 83%. Instead, he sent Angie to her birthplace in Switzerland and arranged residency in the village of Blonay above Lake Geneva. Sure, it meant spending “significant amounts of time in Switzerland.” But Angie likened it to “work release from a very nice, court-ordered health resort,” with “an almost ludicrously low tax rate of about ten percent.” In 1992, Bowie married someone else who preferred the glamour of London and New York to the quiet charms of a Swiss village. Would that mean a return to high taxes? Of course not! He bought a 640acre estate near Dublin in Ireland,
which exempts artistic royalties from tax. Then, in 1997, Bowie released his greatest financial hit: the socalled “Bowie bond.” Bowie needed cash to buy out his former manager. But he didn’t want to sell the rights to any of his songs. Instead, he transferred the copyrights into a special purpose trust which then issued $55 million in bonds secured by the royalties to the songs. By borrowing against those future royalties rather than selling them, he was able to take tax-free cash. Bowie’s deal made him a hero for artists looking to securitize future royalties. It even offers significant estate-tax advantages — an artist’s heirs can pay estate tax on their intellectual property without having to sell it. How well did Bowie’s moves succeed? Time may have changed Bowie, but in his golden years, he really did become a richer man.
This weekend, reports surfaced that he left a $100 million estate, with half going to his wife and half to his children. He also left $2 million to his longtime personal assistant and $1 million to his daughter’s nanny. (We realize that half plus half plus $3 million equals more than the entire estate, but when you’ve sold 140 million (!) records, you can get away with that sort of math.) Want to put the same smart tax moves to work for yourself? You sell the records and we’ll handle the rest! Seriously, though, you don’t need to hit #1 on the charts to pay less. You just need a plan. Make sure to have one so you can sing a sweet tune.
Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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Life C ach
Mom’s Dependable Apple Pie By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
T
he platters looked amazing! Wheat berry salad with kale and mango. Grilled chicken salad with Portobello mushrooms, avocado, and basil dressing. Literally art on a platter! But I suspiciously notice my family perusing the buffet table (that’s the way we serve a crowd) for the regulars. I’m looking to provide my family with some variety – you know, some new taste sensations. Yet, they’re looking for trusty old favorites! Does this happen to you? Do you say I am so tired of preparing the same dishes each week that they’re probably nauseous from it too?! There’s got to be another sauce or cut of meat in the world. I find myself wanting to accost my fellow consumers at the butcher section just to find out what they’re preparing for dinner! But instead, I resort to buying yet another cookbook and hoping I can find something that will please my eye and potentially appeal to
the palate. I’m reading the recipes and checking off the atypical ingredients I need to buy. I’m double checking my cabinets, pantry, and spice rack to see whether I possibly own any of these onetime
ily’s going to be so happy! They must want to shoot me for preparing the same old chicken, meat, or soup weekly. But they’re thinking: “Who stole my mom?!” All that hard work and preparation and they’re
ed real estate on their plates to experiment with the new stuff. Then again, if it’s all new, they are giving you these snide stares that seem to convey, “I hope there’s something here for me to eat or I’ll go to bed hungry.”
Serving new recipes becomes as pressured an event as a political caucus. You are waiting for the returns to come in. Will you be invited to continue on?
use necessary oils, vinegars, and dried herbs that the recipes call for. You know the ones. I probably bought then ignored them completely since the last time I decided to be creative. Anyway, who even knew there’s sweet paprika or spicy paprika? I always thought it was just there to add color; suddenly it has flavor?! I’m thinking my fam-
eyeing it as if someone has usurped their dinner and an alien has taken over! Your dinner guests are naive. To them it all looks somewhat appealing and interchangeable. But your gang knows which tried and true dishes they can depend on if you’ve kept any in the mix. Therefore, they are struggling with whether to relinquish any of the limit-
You gave 50% more time to shopping, 200% more time to cooking, and you’re suddenly seized with the feeling – what in the world was I thinking?! Serving new recipes becomes as pressured an event as a political caucus. You are waiting for the returns to come in. Will you be invited to continue on? Or will they opt for the incumbent?!
Listen, I’m not saying I haven’t come up with some big hits. Or that no one gets excited to try new dishes. Or even that there aren’t some family members who appreciate the variety! But really who even wants them to like it? You’ve got your old routines down to like 20 minutes for your regulars. Three shakes. Two pours. And you’re done! Maybe you’ve even got time for a game of tennis! The other way, you’re slaving in the kitchen. Sure, it may be less exotic, but your family likes it and your guests don’t know the difference. Just because you’re bored, why torture yourself? The best solution to being tired of your own recipes is ... be friendly – and get yourself invited out for a meal!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com
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