Five Towns Jewish Home - 05-27-21

May 27, 2021

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

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44

Grand Opening of the Mark Ramer Chessed Center

59 Rallying in Support of Israel

WIG SALE MAY 30

OU Launches Campaign to Help India

52 PAGE 9

347-262-1895 | MIMISWIGSTUDIO

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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India Needs Our Help

DONATE TODAY: OUFORINDIA.ORG

The magnitude of suffering in India is difficult to comprehend. More than 4,000 people are dying every day because their overstretched healthcare system does not have enough oxygen to save them.

We cannot look the other way as the critically ill plead for just another breath!

Without outside help, an estimated 800,000 more people could die by August.

Every minute we delay is another life we could have saved.

Your donation of even $18 will directly procure oxygen concentrators for those who need it most.

“It is our duty to extend kindness to all nations of the world.”

‫ פרק י הלכה יב‬:‫רמב״ם הלכות מלכים‬

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Village of Lawrence · Village of Cedarhurst · The Storch Agency Int'l · Mayor. & Mrs. Alex H. & Susan Edelman · 5TJT · Amazing Savings · Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC · Manna Health Market Cindy’s Corners · TheFiveTowns.com · Syd Mandelbaum of Rock and Wrap It Up

Co-Chairmen: Mayor Benjamin Weinstock • LCFD 2nd Deputy Chief Meyer Adler

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

I

t’s easy to find a hero nowadays – or at least that’s what it seems.

Heroes, like many other things, have become redefined in our times.

Heroes used to be those who sacrificed, who put themselves before others. They used to be those who put their lives on the line, who jumped in to save others despite grave danger. Now, there are “heroes” who kneel, and “heroes” who pillage, and even “heroes” who just happen to know how to shoot a basketball better than others.

But despite the casual way we throw around the term “hero,” rioters and protesters and sports stars are not those we should respect or honor. They are not the true heroes of today.

We are privileged to live in the United States of America. Many of our great-grandparents did not have that privilege and unfortunately were not able to walk the streets of their cities proudly holding their tallis and tefillin or sitting joyfully in their sukkahs. The United States is a medina shel chessed; it’s a place where we can live comfortably and celebrate our Judaism openly and freely.

But freedom, sometimes, comes with a price. And many people paid for our freedom with their lives. They fought

for our security and our safety and our rights – and died doing so.

Last year, my neighbors wanted to impart the lessons of Memorial Day to the children on our block. They wanted to teach them that Memorial Day is not just another day off from school, that there are families all across the United States that light a candle and say a special prayer for their loved ones who died sacrificing for our nation. And so, last year, on Memorial Day, my neighbor reached out to a Gold Star mom who spoke to us remotely about her son’s sacrifice. It was very moving for the children and a very poignant way to instill feelings of gratitude to our servicemen in our children.

This year, the Memorial Day Parade in Cedarhurst will be taking place on Sunday. I take my family every year to the parade, and we wave flags and salute the veterans who represent all those who fight for our freedom. I urge you to take your families to the parade, too, so that Memorial Day is not just a day of barbecue and beaches for you – it’s a day that has meaning, too.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classified Deadline: Monday 5:00PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH CLASSIFIED ADS The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor.

The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | May 28 –June 3

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

36

Op-Ed: The Time Has Come to Complete the Nassau Expressway

72

NEWS Global

12

National

30

That’s Odd

32 ISRAEL Israel News

22

My Israel Home

88

Lessons Learned from the Recent Gaza Conflict by Shammai Siskind 90 JEWISH THOUGHT

134

Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

76

Making a Good Prophet by Rav Moshe Weinberger 80

A Window into Reality by Shmuel Reichman

82

Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

86

PEOPLE To “My Favorite Son-in-Law,” Yehoshua Aryeh Ben Shalom Skurnik, z”l

70

Remembering the GI Joe

94

Honoring and Remembering: TJH Speaks with Chaplain Ephraim Travis

98

Jews During the Civil War by Avi Heiligman

126

HEALTH & FITNESS Why Can’t You Do Regular Therapy by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

106

Shed Those Quarantine Pounds by Cindy Weinberger, MS RD

108

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: White Chocolate Mousse

114

Dear Editor, In response to the writer who shared regarding the Meron tragedy, “If you believe in darkness, then believe in great light. If you believe in machlokes, then believe in real shalom,” quoted from a Shiur mentioned as (641) 715-3800, 259569# -- we personally have been going through a very difficult family situation regarding an inheritance disagreement – emotionally draining and unsettling – and your letter opened for me a deeper feeling of menucha allowing access to the goodness and unconditional love which belongs rightfully to everyone. I then penned these lines: If you believe in discord, then believe as well in the chorus of harmony.

Everyone is humming their tune – seeking to feel understood. Listen, and sing along for a moment.

The music of that “aha! Moment” might suddenly emerge.

Plant a flower of genuine caring, and solutions may blossom.

Thank you for your words.

Sincerely, A mother and a professional

Dear Editor, Kudos to Miriam Liebermann for being honest with herself and for speaking her mind when it comes to what she wants to do. I, too, am at that age when I love to

spend time with the children and grandchildren but also appreciate my own space. I don’t love shlepping on all their trips and hosting the whole family at once – it becomes too overwhelming. At times, though, I shy away from speaking my mind because I figure that it’s important to spend time with family, regardless of the inconveniences. After reading Miriam’s piece, though, I am giving myself permission to kindly, gently, and sporadically decline a trip offer and refrain from inviting the whole family over for a huge meal. In this way, I hope that I will be able to be a more calm, centered bubby.

Sincerely, A grandmother who loves her children and grandchildren very much

Dear Editor, Sending photos of young women and men along with shidduch resumes is just a symbol of our times.

We live in an age where we’re more “visual.” Most people don’t have the attention span to really read through anything anymore. Thank G-d for Shabbos. If not for that Day of Rest, we wouldn’t read anything – we’d be scrolling through life.

By eliminating photos in shidduchim, we will be forcing people to actually read through the resumes Continued on page 10

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by 102 Jennifer Mann, LCSW

76

Parenting Pearls

110

Your Money

132

Smile and Say Cheese – Cake

by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., 134 CLC, SDS HUMOR

Centerfold 74

Do you own an American flag?

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

116

Biden’s Failing Miserably at Addressing Concerns

by Marc A. Thiessen

120

MBS’s Lawsuit Threatens to Spill Secrets by David Ignatius

122

Wuhan Woes: An excerpt from Tucker Carlson’s monologue

124

CLASSIFIEDS

128

44

%

Yes

56

%

No

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Continued from page 8

that come to them. They will be forced to ask around about different schools, seminaries, yeshivas.

They will have to make phone calls to find out information before eliminating someone off the bat.

Getting rid of photos will make shidduchim more personal and robust.

Yonina H. Dear Editor, I could see Saul Blinkoff jump-

ing off the page as I read the article about him. He seems to be a dynamic, growing, animated individual.

More than that, Saul seems to have been someone who was motivated to grow his whole life. His drive to become part of Disney was all-encompassing, and he worked toward that goal incessantly. It didn’t hurt that his parents were his biggest supporters.

What inspired me the most was when Saul took all the success he had and pivoted to become frum.

Most people would look at all that

Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home.

Please send all correspondence to: editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.

they have and not have the awareness of what they’re lacking. With so much, how can someone lack anything? Even more than that, Saul could have been concerned that he’d be leaving his Disney dream behind if he changed his lifestyle. And yet, he was determined to move forward.

There are so many lessons to be learned from his journey. Thank you for featuring Saul along with his reflections in TJH! M. Herzog Brooklyn, NY

Dear Editor, As the summer comes, and we all head outdoors, I think it would be nice if The Jewish Home ran a series of articles on summer safety – swimming, sunscreen, helmets, ticks, barbecues, etc.

Just a thought… You always have great articles and these can really help people as summer comes along.

Sincerely, Rafi Edelstein

Make your voice heard!

Be part of TJH’s weekly poll.

Email the editor to be included in the weekly poll at Editor@FiveTownsJewishHome.com

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The Board and Staff of American Friends of Meir Panim mourn the loss of our beloved friend and generous supporter

Lee Steinberg Lee’s commitment to the State of Israel was exemplary and will be remembered forever.

In 2016, Lee was recognized

by American Friends of Meir Panim with the Spirit of Humanity Award for her unwavering generosity, inspiring leadership, and everlasting dedication to enriching the lives of the Jewish people.

Additionally, Lee was a published poet and successful entrepreneur who built a thriving ladies’ apparel business in her native Ohio before moving to New York.

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Lee Steinberg was born on May 9, 1915, in Columbus, OH, and passed away on May 17, 2021, at home in Glen Oaks, New York. May her memory be a blessing.

David Roth, President Board of Directors American Friends of Meir Panim

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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The Week In News

El Salvador’s President’s “Self-Coup”

coup, the international community seems unwilling to act to counter Bukele.

“The Only Good Mouse is a Dead Mouse”

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El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, 39, fired both the country’s attorney general and top court earlier this month, by using his congressional supermajority, The Washington Post reported.

The move gave Bukele almost complete control of the country’s three branches of government.

The “autogolpe,” or presidential self-coup, may become similar to one successfully carried out by Peru’s President Alberto Fujimori in 1990.

In that coup, Fujimori dissolved the constitution, shut down the Congress – then controlled by his opposition and reorganized the judiciary.

He then rewrote the constitution to allow himself to run again for presidency and was re-elected in 1995, when his supporters also won control of Congress. This allowed Fujimori to pack both the Supreme Court and electoral authorities, the Post noted.

After the coup, which the U.S. and Organization of American States (OAS) condemned, Fujimori’s approval rating among Peruvians jumped to 80%.

However, eventually Fujimori and intelligence adviser Vladimiro Montesinos created a mafia state, in which the state intelligence agency spied on, bribed, and blackmailed anyone who might oppose Fujimori, embezzling around $600 million.

According to The Washington Post, the parallels between the coups are “striking,” from the popularity of the presidents to the hyperinflation and violence in the countries. In addition, the new congress in El Salvador has approved the acceptance of hundreds of millions in international loans, as well as limiting oversight of emergency COVID-19 funds.

Similar to during the Peruvian

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael Francis McCormack declared recently that “the only good mouse is a dead mouse,” as New South Wales (NSW) took its battle against mice to another level, CNN reported.

The Australian state has suffered from mice for several months, along its border with Victoria to Queensland.

According to Sue Hodge, a professional cleaner in the town of Canowindra, west of Sydney, the mice have not only cost millions in damaged crops, machinery, and fields but are also seeking shelter in people’s homes – including in their beds.

Canowindra farmer Michael Payten told CNN: “(We had) really bad years of drought, then a beautiful year in 2020, and this year is shaping up really well, too. But there’s always something. This year it’s mice.”

He added: “We had a really good year last year, a lot of grain. We put a lot of hay in sheds and created these massive mouse hotels.

“We’re burning a lot of straw to try to get rid of them,” he explained.

“We’re hoping that if we take their burrows away then that’ll expose them to a cold winter. I know it all sounds a bit cruel, but it’s a nightmare.”

According to Australia’s National Science Agency (CSIRO), over 8001,000 mice per hectare is defined as a “plague,” and the number is currently much higher. Worse, a pair of mice can produce 500 offspring per season, with a litter every three weeks or so.

A survey from the NSW Farmers industry group showed that approximately a third of businesses estimated losses between 50,000 and 150,000 AUD.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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To end the troubles, NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall announced a plan to poison the mice, saying that he is waiting for the Commonwealth’s Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) to approve the use of bromadiolone for crop perimeters.

On Thursday, NSW’s government announced the procurement of 5,000 liters of “one of the world’s strongest mice-killing chemicals,” able to kill mice with just a single dose. The poison will be provided to farmers free of charge.

Despite the damage caused by the plague, many have expressed concerns that the strong poison could contaminate local crops and harm wildlife. Ecologist Maggie Watson of Charles Sturt University told CNN that the poison is “just too dangerous” for use anywhere, since it can leach into the soil and bioaccumulate in insects, risking passage through the food chain.

She added that those animals ingesting the mice are also at risk of dying from the poison.

“You could completely reduce the population of birds of prey,” Watson said. “It could take 15 to 20 years for them to start coming back, and meanwhile we don’t have any natural controls for the next mouse plague that comes along.”

Supporters of the plan note that there are not enough natural predators to control the plague, and farmers have warned that time to harvest their crops is running short.

China’s High-Speed Rail Network

At Mimi's Wig Salon

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China has at least 23,500 miles of high-speed rail lines crisscrossing the country – all built since 2008.

Half of those were completed in the past five years, and another 2,299 miles are expected in the coming month.

By 2035, the train network is expected to double in length again, to 43,496 miles; China aims to make high-speed rail the mode of choice for long-distance domestic travel.

Maximum speed is 217mph on many of the lines, making travel not just convenient but efficient; 75% of China’s largest cities had a highspeed rail station by 2020.

Rail travel expert Mark Smith told CNN: “The Chinese have created an entire high-speed rail network on an unprecedented scale – often faster and certainly more reliable than Chinese domestic flights.”

He added: “It’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer size of some of the new stations, and by the efficiency with which the system moves vast numbers of people, all with a reserved seat and increasingly without the need for paper tickets, just a scan of an ID card or passport at the ticket gates.”

He noted, “While the UK argues about building High Speed 2, China has created a nationwide high-speed network.”

Initially, China used high-speed technology from Europe and Japan, but over the past decade, the country’s companies have developed into world leaders in high-speed train technology and engineering; the country’s various climate regions have offered opportunities for developing expertise in driving railways across every type of terrain.

China has also been among the first in the world to introduce driverless trains, such as those connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou, which can run at up to 217 miles per hour and are the world’s fastest driverless locomotives.

Looking towards the future, China is already constructing a railroad to Laos, to the tune of $5.3 billion, scheduled to open by the end of this year. Another railroad to Bangkok, Thailand, and eventually to Singapore are also underway.

Other proposed rail lines include lines to India, Pakistan, and Russia.

Those lines are expected to improve China’s trade routes and cement its status as a world superpower.

“What remains to be seen – and it will be very interesting indeed to know – is how Beijing will systematically link up the domestic railway networks with the Belt and Road Initiative,” Dr. Olivia Cheung, research fellow at the China Institute of the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), said.

“BRI (the Belt and Road Initiative) is an ambitious, comprehensive and sophisticated grand strategy, but suspicions about China’s intentions are on the rise.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Italian Mob Boss Nabbed in Brazil

Brazilian police have arrested fugitive Italian mafia boss Rocco Morabito in the north-eastern city of João Pessoa.

Known as the “cocaine king of Milan,” the suspected head of the ‘Ndrangheta crime gang has been one of Italy’s most wanted fugitives since 1994.

Morabito was arrested in Uruguay in 2017, but escaped from jail two years later while awaiting extradition to Italy by managing to escape through a hole in the prison roof.

He has been sentenced to 30 years in absentia by an Italian court.

Morabito was arrested at a hotel on Monday. Two other foreigners, including another Italian, were also arrested.

The ministry said Morabito “was considered the second most wanted criminal in Italy and accused of involvement with the ‘Ndrangheta, considered one of the largest and most powerful criminal organizations in the world.”

According to Italian news agency Ansa, the arrest was part of a joint operation involving Italian authorities, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FBI. Morabito was previously arrested while staying in a hotel in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, in 2017. He had been living in a luxury villa near the resort town of Punta del Este, east of the capital.

The ‘Ndrangheta are the most powerful mafia in Italy and are believed to control the supply of huge amounts of cocaine entering Europe from South America and elsewhere.

Earlier this year, hundreds of suspected members of the ‘Ndrangheta group went on trial as part of Italy’s largest mafia trial in decades.

Where Did Covid Come From?

According to CNN, a U.S. intelligence report has revealed that sever-

al researchers at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in November 2019 and had to be hospitalized. An earlier report, released in January by the State Department, noted that the researchers had gotten sick in the fall of 2019. This new report adds that the researchers were so sick that they had to be hospitalized.

China reported to the World Health Organization that the first patient with Covid-like symptoms was recorded in Wuhan on December 8, 2019.

Still, there is no evidence of what the researchers had been suffering from.

“At the end of the day, there is still nothing definitive,” said one of the people who has seen the intelligence.

The director of the Wuhan National Biosafety Lab, which is part of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, issued a strong denial of the report on Monday.

“I’ve read it; it’s a complete lie,” director Yuan Zhiming told state-run tabloid Global Times. “Those claims are groundless. The lab has not been aware of this situation, and I don’t even know where such information came from.”

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, on Monday refuted the report and accused the U.S. of “hyping up the lab leak theory.”

“Through field visits and in-depth visits in China, the experts unanimously agreed that the allegation of lab leaking is extremely unlikely,” Zhao said.

The World Health Organization had conducted an investigation into the origins of the pandemic and concluded in a report that the risk of an accident from a lab was “extremely low.” The report said there was “no reporting of Covid-19 compatible respiratory illness during the weeks/ months prior to December 2019, and no serological evidence of infection in workers through SARS-CoV-2specific serology-screening.”

Many have criticized the WHO investigation – including the U.S. and the UK – as the WHO was given very limited access and had been overly deferential to China during

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

the course of the study, which was co-authored by 17 Chinese scientists – several of them from state-run institutions.

To find incontrovertible evidence of where the virus originated from will not be easy. The Chinese will not allow genetic sequencing on the original samples that staff at the Wuhan lab were working on.

A Cure for Blindness?

A blind man in Europe is now able to partially see thanks to optogenetic therapy and specially engineered goggles – the first successful case of such a breakthrough in humans.

The 58-year-old man had been suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a neurodegenerative eye disease where loss of photoreceptors can lead to complete blindness.

Retinitis pigmentosa changes

how the retina responds to light, making it hard to see. People with the condition lose their vision slowly over time, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Scientists used a form of gene therapy to reprogram cells in the eye’s retina, injecting it with a viral vector and making it light sensitive.

“In optogenetic therapy ... we create an artificial photosensitive layer in this blind retina,” researcher Botond Roska, professor in the faculty of science at the University of Basel, explained.

Months after the injection, researchers equipped the patient with engineered goggles which detected changes in light intensity, and would project corresponding light pulses onto the eye’s retina to activate the treated cells.

Although the patient couldn’t recognize faces or read following the treatment, he was able to perceive, locate, count and touch objects using his treated eye alone while wearing the goggles, researchers said in a study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.

Using the goggles, he could see the white stripes on a pedestrian crossing, detect objects including a plate, mug or phone, and identify furniture

in a room or a door in a corridor.

James Bainbridge, professor of retinal studies at University College London, said that the technology “might help people whose eyesight is very severely impaired.”

“It is a high quality study. It is carefully conducted and controlled,” he said. Still, he cautioned that more work needs to be done to produce this en masse. “The findings are based on laboratory tests in just one individual. Further work will be needed to find out if the technology can be expected to provide useful vision,” Bainbridge said.

14 Dead in Italian Cable Car A cable car which snapped Sunday morning left at least 14 dead, a spokesperson for the National Alpine Speleological Rescue Corps, which is leading the rescue operation, said.

The Stresa-Mottarone car was completing a 20-minute trip approximately 4,891 feet above sea level when the cable broke approximately 984 feet from the top of Mottarone

Mountain, Italy’s ANSA reported.

The cable car then proceeded to crash in a wooded area without direct road access.

Five of the victims were Israelis, including grandparents Barbara (71) and Yitzhak (81) Cohen, their daughter Tal Peleg-Biran (26) and her husband Amit Biran (30), and 2-yearold Tom Biran. Tom’s 5-year-old brother Eitan is in critical condition.

The Birans live in Italy, and Barbara and Yitzhak were visiting in order to escape the rocket fire in Israel.

In a Sunday statement, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said: “I learned with deep sorrow the news of the tragic accident of the Stresa-Mottarone cable car.

“I express the condolences on behalf of the whole government to the families of the victims, with a special thought for the children who were seriously injured and their families.”

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World’s Richest – for a Moment

Bernard Arnault, a French fashion tycoon, became the world’s richest person on Monday, with an estimated net worth of $186.3 billion, Forbes reported.

At the time of the reporting, Arnault was worth $300 million more than Jeff Bezos, who at the time was worth $186 billion, and Elon Musk, worth $147.3 billion.

Bezos has since reclaimed the top spot, Forbes wrote in an update.

Arnault’s company, luxury group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, or LVMH, performed well despite the pandemic. In March 2020, he was worth just $76 billion. But in the first quarter of 2021, LVMH recorded $17 billion in revenue, up 32% compared with the same period last year, Jefferies analyst Flavio Cereda said.

LVMH was formed in 1987 when fashion house Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy merged. (Moët Hennessy was established in 1971 when Moët & Chandon, a champagne producer, merged with cognac producer Hennessy.) LVMH is the most valuable company in Europe, with a value of $329 billion. It controls 60 subsidiaries, which include brands such as Christian Dior, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Princess Yachts, and Bulgari.

Arnault first became one of the world’s 10 richest people in 2005 and has been in the top 10 since 2018. He became the third-richest in 2019, with a net worth of $76 billion.

What are Elephants Saying?

If you’re heading to the savannah and want to know what one of the world’s largest mammals is saying, check out the African Elephant Ethogram – the most comprehen-

sive audiovisual library ever made of African savanna elephant behavior.

The library was compiled by Joyce Poole and her husband Petter Granli, who had founded ElephantVoices, a non-profit aimed at educating the public on both how elephants communicate and the importance of conserving them, in 2002.

The library will be open to the public on May 25 and draws on data and videos accumulated during decades of study in Amboseli, Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, and Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park.

With a mere 415,000 elephants remaining – down from five million in 1950 – Poole hopes the ethogram inspires people “to explore and contemplate the hearts and minds of elephants.”

In an interview with National Geographic, Poole said her research into the large animals “confirmed how intelligent, empathetic, and creative elephants are. I was also struck by how much time elephants spend contemplating. To most people, a contemplating elephant looks like it’s doing nothing.”

She added that, despite her years of research, there’s still more to learn.

“I want to know what elephants are saying to each other. I know they say really complicated things, and I think they ‘talk’ a lot about us –about humans – and how they should respond to us. I think they’re afraid of people in some places because of what has been done to them. For instance, in Gorongosa, because of the long civil war [from 1972 to 1992] the elephants are very frightened of and aggressive toward people.

“In Gorongosa, at times elephants gave a call I’d never heard before. It was very low in frequency, flat and throbbing. I don’t have enough examples of it to say more, but I felt that it was a comment to family members about us being dangerous. And everywhere, elephants are under a lot of stress from having to listen for and monitor us all the time.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Is the Next Silicon Valley in Australia?

A $68 billion Australian city is poised to become the next Silicon Valley.

Greater Springfield, 15.5 miles outside Brisbane on Australia’s Gold Coast, is less than 30 years old, but in a few years, it may become the world’s next Silicon Valley.

Springfield City Group (SCG) founder Maha Sinnathamby said, “The world has learned a lot from Silicon Valley. We said: that’s 85 years old. Let’s design the latest version.

“We’re trying to attract the Microsofts and Googles of the world,” he said, adding that SCG is currently in discussions with one multinational tech company. “We want to turbocharge it with highly respectable companies, who are highly talented and who want to make a lot of profit. We

can’t do this massive job on our own.”

The city is privately built, and the first one to have been master-planned since Canberra was founded. Sitting on 7,000 acres purchased for $6.1 million, Greater Springfield is the world’s tenth-largest master-planned city, with 46,000 residents, 16,500 homes, 11 schools, a national university campus, a hospital and a rail line to Brisbane, according to CNBC. According to Sinnathamby, the city is just 25% complete, and by 2038, plans include for the city to generate more energy than it uses.

“We’re very closely committed to try and make sure this knowledge precinct is a gift to not only Australia but perhaps to the world,” Sinnathamby said, adding that he is also “committed to this as a nation building project” and is looking for “partners to come who are committed to this vision.”

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increasingly subject to regulatory scrutiny by the Chinese government, TIME reported.

Among these is Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, who in April absorbed a $2.8 billion fine for violating anti-monopoly rules.

In a statement following the decision to fine the company, Alibaba said: “It is not lost on us that today’s society has new expectations for platform companies, as we must assume more responsibilities as part of the nation’s economic and social development.”

Also in April, China’s main antitrust watchdog published statements from twelve top tech countries, promising that they would avoid engaging in anti-competitive behavior.

Rui Ma, an angel investor and cohost of the TechBuzz China podcast, told TIME that until about 2015, the idea was “growth at all costs” but “now the government wants more stable and sustainable growth.”

Rebecca Fannin, author of Tech Titans of China, notes: “These companies had been allowed to flourish without a lot of scrutiny. This crackdown could just be the beginning.”

Other companies which have taken hits are Meituan, which lost $26 billion in value over two days; and Pony Ma, founder of Tencent Holdings – which runs Wechat – who was summoned by watchdogs on issues of antitrust compliance.

Meanwhile, Colin Huang, founder of Pinduoduo, divested company stock last year to avoid becoming China’s wealthiest individual.

Chinese tech titans are now overlords, Rui Ma explained, adding, “When you’re in that position, with the most power and money, you’re now also the biggest target.”

Fatal Volcanic Eruption in Congo At least 15 people were killed when a volcano erupted Saturday night in Virunga National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, local officials said.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

The volcano, Mount Nyiragongo, has not erupted in nearly 20 years, when it killed hundreds and left over 100,000 homeless, ABC News noted.

Hundreds of residents of nearby city Goma were ordered to evacuate as a river of lava flowed towards them, but many had begun to flee even before the official notice was given. The lava ceased flowing before reaching the city limits.

Nine people died in car accidents while attempting to escape, and four inmates in Goma’s prison died while trying to escape, a Congolese government spokesperson said. He added that two people were burned to death and that the death toll may yet rise.

Though the lava did not reach Goma, damage was reported in at least 17 of the villages around the volcano, including in Goma suburbs, and displaced at least 25,000 people, separating over 150 children from their families. Over 170 more children are feared missing, UNICEF noted.

Around 8,000 Congolese crossed into Rwanda to seek refuge there, Rwanda’s Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management said. They are gradually beginning to return home.

$1.4M of Artifacts Pilfered

British police are searching for those who broke into southern England’s Arundel Castle, stealing “irreplaceable” artifacts worth over $1.4 million.

On Friday night at 10:30p.m. local time, burglar alarms went off in the castle, alerting staff to the break-in.

According to a Sussex Police statement on Sunday, items of “great historical significance” were stolen from a display cabinet at the site.

These included coronation cups and the gold rosary beads carried by

Mary, Queen of Scots, when she was executed in 1587.

Police are also investigating a vehicle found abandoned and burning in a nearby village a short time after the burglary.

In a statement, a spokesman for Arundel Castle Trustees said, “The stolen items have significant monetary value, but as unique artefacts of the Duke of Norfolk’s collection have immeasurably greater and priceless historical importance.

“We therefore urge anyone with information to come forward to the police to assist them in returning these treasures back where they belong.”

Iran: Inspections Can Continue

An agreement between Iran and a United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog on Monday was extended until June 24.

The move comes as global powers negotiate a renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or “Iran deal.” Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2015, reimposing sanctions on the would-be nuclear power.

In February, Iran limited the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) access to Iranian nuclear sites. However, a three-month agreement was agreed to on February 21, allowing IAEA to continue some of its inspections of the sites.

In a statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, “The verification and the monitoring activities that we agreed will continue as they are now for one month expiring on June 24, 2021.” He added that Iran has also agreed that information already collected by the IAEA would not be erased.

“We should all be reminded that the temporary understanding is a sort of stop-gap measure. It is something that we came up with as a way to avoid flying completely blind,” he emphasized.

The extension is to “provide the needed opportunity for negotiations to progress and produce results,”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

Iran, which has breached the deal multiple times, insists that the U.S. lift sanctions before it will abide by the agreement again.

Belarus Plane “Hijacking” Sparks Outrage

Western countries have expressed outrage at the “forced diversion” to Minsk of a plane carrying a Belarusian activist over the weekend.

The Sunday flight was an internal European Union (EU) flight from Athens to Lithuania; the diversion followed claims of a bomb threat. EU leaders are set to meet to discuss the “hijacking,” which the U.S. State Department called a “shocking act.”

After Belarus forced the Ryanair

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plane to land in Minsk, Belarusian authorities arrested Roman Protasevich, a 26-year-old Belarusian journalist and activist who was onboard.

Belarusian state media said that the country’s President Alexander Lukashenko had personally given the order for the diversion.

The plane eventually reached its original destination in Vilnius, Lithuania, over seven hours after it was scheduled to have arrived.

Countries across the EU condemned the diversion, urging the release of Protasevich, a full investigation of the incident, and the imposition of economic sanctions on Belarus, in addition to the sanctions already in place affecting dozens of Belarusian officials.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the diversion an “unprecedented act of state terrorism,” while Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, promised that “the outrageous and illegal behavior ... will have consequences.”

The U.S. is “coordinating with our partners on next steps,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

For its part, Ryanair said that the crew had been “notified by Belarus (Air Traffic Control) of a potential

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

security threat on board and were instructed to divert to the nearest airport, Minsk.”

The airline added that “nothing untoward” had been found in checks in Minsk.

Erdan Defends Israel’s Defense

Representatives from Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Thursday attended an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the rockets fired at Israeli civilians and Israel’s response to the continuous missiles fired upon its cities.

At the meeting, Israeli Ambassa-

dor to the United Nations (UN) Gilad Erdan said, “You all know – and even the Palestinian representative here today knows – that Hamas’s premeditated assault had nothing to do with any Israeli action.

“This was all the result of Hamas’s frustration with [Palestinian Authority] President [Mahmoud] Abbas’s decision to cancel the [joint Palestinian Authority-Hamas] elections [on April 29] and its desire to increase its political influence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank,” he said.

Erdan noted, “Hamas seeks to replace the Palestinian Authority, and take control of the Palestinian territories. So after the elections were canceled, it decided to launch a war of aggression against Israel.”

Prior to the assembly, Erdan had said, “Hamas’s charter, which, like the Nazis, is committed to the genocide of the Jewish people.” He noted that the world seemed indifferent to the attacks. “We see an attempt to create a false moral equivalence. Israel makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas makes every effort to increase civilian casualties.”

Israel, Erdan emphasized, “did everything to de-escalate the situation,” but “we are looking for a cure, and not a band-aid.”

“I have heard voices in this hall, accusing Israel of a disproportionate response based on the different number of Israeli and Palestinian casualties,” Erdan said. “If the UN General Assembly had existed during the Nazi regime, would it have held a special session to condemn the Allies for their disproportionate response and the large number of German casualties? Would it have urged them to show restraint in the face of Hitler, the Nazi army and their supporters?”

Siding with Israel, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “I don’t believe that there is any country working more urgently and more fervently towards peace.”

She also supported Israel’s right to defend itself.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “deeply shocked” by the IDF’s response to the rocket fire and criticized both sides for violating “the laws of war.”

“Counter-terrorism or self-defense” are not justifications for war crimes, he claimed, urging Israel to use “proportionate” force and “exercise maximum restraint in the conduct of military operations.”

He also called on the Gaza terror groups to stop the “indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars from highly populated civilian neighborhoods into civilian population centers in Israel.”

Though Gaza claimed over 230 casualties in the war, over half of those – at least 145 – were terrorists. Others were killed when Hamas rockets fell short, exploding in civilian areas of Gaza. Despite this, PA official Riad al-Maliki claimed that Israel was committing “genocide of whole Palestinian families” during the Gaza operation, urging that the small Jewish state be held accountable for acting in self-defense and not be provided with arms.

“Let’s stop this massacre,” the Palestinian official said.

Two Stabbed in Jerusalem Two Israelis suffered moderate injuries in a stabbing attack near a police station on Monday, Israeli authorities reported.

The attack, which occurred on Jerusalem’s Haim Bar-Lev Street near the light rail station, wounded an IDF soldier and an Israeli civilian, both in their early 20s. The terrorist was shot

by officers at the scene, and the victims were taken to Hadassah Mount Scopus for medical treatment.

In a statement, Israel Police said, “Around 1:30 p.m., an assailant arrived at the light rail station, pulled out a knife and used it to injure two people there. Officers who were on the scene responded quickly, shooting the assailant and neutralizing him.”

According to the IDF, the stabbing seemed to be a terror attack.

Responding to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wished the wounded a full recovery, praised the officer who neutralized the terrorist, and promised that Israel “will continue to fight terrorism with all our might.”

Israel to Lift Coronavirus Restrictions

Israel’s Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) on Sunday announced that, beginning June 1, all coronavirus-related restrictions on gatherings, as well as the Purple Badge and Green Passport requirements, will be lifted.

The requirement to wear masks will remain in place for at least another two weeks. The changes will not influence international travel, and Israelis are urged not to travel to countries which have high infection rates and to strictly adhere to quarantine rules upon returning to Israel.

In a Sunday statement, Edelstein said, “Israel is returning to routine.

Less than six months ago, we started the vaccination campaign. Thanks to the excellent work of the workers in the health system … we carried out the best vaccination drive in the world. We have long been reaping our reward with low morbidity.

“Now, to my joy, the situation allows us to cancel the use of the Green Pass and the restrictions of the Purple Badge.”

Edelstein noted that the Health Ministry is continuing to monitor the situation, emphasizing that “if there is an outbreak, we will have to backtrack.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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rebuild our relationship with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority.”

“Losses on both sides were profound,” Blinken said, and “as the Talmud teaches, to lose a life is to lose the whole world, whether that life is Palestinian or Israeli.”

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Blinken Visits Israel On his first visit to Israel as secretary of state, top United States diplomat Antony Blinken affirmed President Joe Biden’s “personal” commitment to Israel’s security and said the U.S. would take a lead role in the “urgent humanitarian reconstruction in Gaza” to ensure a better

future for all sides.

“Leaders on both sides” need to take steps “to set a better course for their shared future,” he said on Tuesday alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

Blinken’s meeting with Netanyahu launched a regional tour that saw him head to Ramallah Tuesday afternoon for meetings with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and then to Jordan and Egypt

in a bid to shore up last week’s Israel-Gaza ceasefire and launch the reconstruction effort.

“President Biden asked me to come here today really for four reasons,” Blinken said. “First, to demonstrate the commitment of the United States to Israel’s security; to start to work toward greater stability and reduced tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem”; to support “urgent humanitarian reconstruction assistance in Gaza”; and to “continue to

The latest military confrontation with Hamas ended in a ceasefire early Friday, leaving over 240 dead in Gaza and 13 dead in Israel. It began on May 10 when Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage on Israeli cities, sparking IDF retaliatory strikes and 11 days of fighting.

Over 4,000 rockets were lobbed at Israeli cities, according to the IDF, sending civilians throughout the center and south of the country rushing to bomb shelters at all hours of day and night.

Hamas’s public works ministry said 258 buildings – around 1,042 residential and commercial units – were destroyed during the fighting.

Another 769 units were severely damaged, rendering them uninhabitable, and 14,536 suffered minor damage. Seventeen hospitals were damaged, as well as 53 schools.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks – “such as the thousands of rockets fired by Hamas indiscriminately against Israeli civilians…. For the president… this commitment is personal; it runs deep.”

Blinken spoke about reconstruction efforts in Gaza. He said the U.S. would announce a “significant contribution” to rehabilitating Gaza and would work with its partners “to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from the reconstruction assistance.”

In a separate meeting, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Blinken that reaching a long-term calm would have to involve the return of Israeli captives in Gaza – including the remains of two soldiers – and the bolstering of the PA by “damaging the military power of Gazan terror groups.”

Blinken also met with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss the establishment of a mechanism

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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meant to oversee Gazan reconstruction.

Quoting Biden, Blinken told Netanyahu, “We believe that Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely, to enjoy equal measures of freedom, opportunity and democracy, to be treated with dignity.”

Blinken also addressed the anti-Semitic tide of violence seen across the United States. He said that Biden called the acts “despicable.”

Netanyahu, in his remarks, warned that if Hamas breaks the ceasefire, Israel’s response will be “very powerful.” He also reiterated Israel’s position on the Iran deal.

“We believe that that [2015] deal paves the way for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy,” he said.

“Whatever happens,” Netanyahu added, “Israel will always reserve the right to defend itself against a regime committed to our destruction, committed to getting the weapons of mass destruction for that end.”

Netanyahu added, “Thank you and the president for your strong statements against anti-Semitism,” he said. It was “masquerading as anti-Zionism but it’s anti-Semitism

and you took a bold position, a clear position, and we appreciate it. I think all decent people everywhere appreciate that stance.”

European Ministers Visit Israel in Solidarity

Foreign ministers from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia visited Israel last Thursday to show support for the Jewish State during the war with Gaza’s Hamas terror group.

During their visit, the ministers were briefed on the security situation, met Israeli ministers, and visited sites hit by Gaza rockets.

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Heiko Maas, the first of the ministers to arrive, was met by Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White), who thanked him for coming.

“I would like to thank the German government, which supported Israel from the start of this round of fighting, condemned Hamas terror, and emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself and its civilians,” Ashkenazi said, adding that “most of the international community” had expressed support for Israel.

Maas emphasized that “Israel has the right to defend itself,” adding that Germany is “following with concern the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and are aware of Israel’s efforts to send in humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza.”

Speaking after a visit to a Petah Tikva building hit by a rocket, Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said, “I am speechless after I witnessed the destruction and terror that Israel has experienced.”

He noted, “During this time, Israel needs its friends in the world, and we are here to show our strong and enduring friendship,” Kulhanek said. “Israel has the full right to defend its citizens.”

Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok said, “We are true friends, and we came here to show the strength of the friendship between the countries.”

He added that “Hamas fire must stop,” emphasizing that, “Israel has the full right to defend itself.”

Who Will be Israel’s Next President?

Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog and Israel Prize laureate and educator Miriam Peretz are competing head-to-head in the race for Israel’s next president.

Herzog, who is a former Labor party chairman, announced that he is on leave from his position at the Jewish Agency until after the election.

Peretz lost her eldest son Uriel as he fought in Lebanon in 1998 and an-

other son, Eliraz, when he was killed in an operation near Gaza in 2010.

She won the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, and in 2019 turned down several offers to run for Knesset.

The vote is scheduled to be held by secret ballot on June 2. Only Knesset members can vote, and presidential candidates must show the signatures of at least ten MKs before they can run for the seat.

Peretz has received the support of 11 Knesset members, while Herzog presented the signatures of 27. If elected, Peretz would become Israel’s first-ever elected female president.

Israel’s current president, Reuven Rivlin, ends his term on July 9.

Israelis Killed in Italian Cable Car Crash

The bodies of the five members of the Biran family killed in a cable car crash in northern Italy over the weekend will be flown to Israel on Wednesday for burial.

The lone survivor of the disaster that killed 14 people, 5-year-old Eitan Biran, remains hospitalized in Turin, Italy, with multiple broken bones. His parents, younger brother, and two great-grandparents were killed.

“Eitan’s flight back to Israel is still a long way off, but we plan to send the coffins tomorrow,” Ambassador to Italy Dror Eydar said.

Eitan, who resided in Italy with his family, was apparently saved by his father’s embrace. His father died when the car crashed to the ground.

“In order to be able to survive the terrible impact, it is likely that the father, who was of robust build, wrapped his son in a hug,” the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin said, according to the Italian la Repubblica newspaper.

Prosecutors have said they are investigating why the lead cable of

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

the Stresa funicular snapped on Sunday while it was bringing sightseers up to the Mottarone peak overlooking Lake Maggiore in Italy’s northern Piedmont region.

They have said the emergency brake on the supporting cable didn’t engage, which sent the cabin reeling back down the line until it pulled off, crashed to the ground and rolled over down the mountainside until it came to rest against some trees.

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The number of pedestrians killed in road crashes rose in 2020 even though there were fewer vehicles on the roads during the pandemic, ABC News reported.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there were approximately 6,721 pedestrian deaths last year, up 21% – the largest-ever annual increase – from 2019. Earlier this year, the National Safety Council (NSC) noted that the estimated rate of death on the roads last year spiked 24% – despite a 13% drop in the total number of miles driven during that time.

GHSA’s senior director of external engagement, Pam Shadel Fischer, told ABC News, “Reckless driving was really impacting pedestrian safety during the pandemic, and that is mind-boggling to us because we know that vehicle miles traveled dropped.

“Speeding is a huge factor in pedestrian serious injuries and fatalities,” she said. “We’ve got to get motorists to slow down.”

She added, “We’re more likely to see pedestrian fatalities happen in urban areas where you’re going to have that more dense mix of motor vehicles and people on foot. Oftentimes, there are issues related to socioeconomics, access to transportation.

“It takes everybody working together” to solve the problem, she emphasized. “The onus shouldn’t

just be on the pedestrian, the onus shouldn’t just be on the car driver, we have to work together.”

The highest increases in percentage of pedestrian deaths were seen in Kansas, Vermont, and Rhode Island. The deaths were also more likely to occur in urban areas and affect people of color, Shadel Fischer added.

Despite the general increase in pedestrian deaths, decreases were seen in 19 states, with 11 states, including Maine, Hawaii, and Delaware, reporting double-digit drops.

Gov. Whitmer Flouts Her Rules

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was captured in a photo breaking her state’s COVID-19 regulations.

The photo showed Whitmer at an East Lansing bar and grill, together with a large group of friends. Neither Whitmer nor some of the others were sitting six feet apart from everyone else. The photo was shared on social media by an attendee but was later taken down.

Michigan’s COVID-19 guidelines require both masks and social distancing at indoor gatherings and demand that no more than six people sit together at a table and that a distance of at least six feet be maintained between tables.

In response to the backlash, Whitmer said, “Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been committed to following public health protocols.

Yesterday, I went with friends to a local restaurant. As more people arrived, the tables were pushed together.

“Because we were all vaccinated, we didn’t stop to think about it. In retrospect, I should have thought about it. I am human. I made a mistake, and I apologize.”

Michigan Freedom Fund’s Executive Director Tori Sachs tweeted that Whitmer “should end all restrictions immediately. It’s ridiculous the rest of us have to abide by these ridiculous rules while Whitmer doesn’t.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

To Your Health

Kentucky, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Mississippi nabbed the ignoble distinction of being the unhealthiest states in the U.S.

Police Protection at Jewish Institutions

On Sunday, the couple booked 160 seats on a flight on SpiceJet, which took off in Bengaluru and landed in Madurai two hours later. Then, in the air, the couple got married surrounded by family and friends.

NYC’s New “Little Island” The pandemic has been good to Massachusetts. This week, The Bay State topped Sharecare’s Community Well-Being Index, nabbing the top slot from Hawaii.

The rankings, which have been revealed every year since 2008, look at social determinants of health like access to health care, food, housing, transportation and personal health risk factors including physical health, community and social bonds, financial management skills and strength of purpose in daily life.

To make the list, researchers from Sharecare and the Boston University School of Public Health assessed more than 450,000 respondents across all 50 states.

Hawaii came in second on the list. New Jersey, Maryland, and New York rounded out the top five.

According to the report, residents in the top-ranked states have lower-than-average individual health risk factors, and say that they enjoy supportive relationships with other people, have the tools to manage and increase their financial security regardless of income, and have access to high-quality health care and jobs.

The report showed that, despite the pandemic, community well-being nationwide remained “essentially unchanged” thanks to steady individual health risk factors. Physical well-being significantly increased over the course of the year, and Americans saw positive trends in the strength of their personal relationships even as financial well-being decreased.

On the other side of the scale,

New York City’s brand-new public playground opened last Friday at 6 in the morning and is a “marvel,” the New York Post reported.

The park is located off West 14th Street, in the Hudson River, and most of the $265M was paid for mostly by the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation. Another $17M was invested by the city, and $4M by the Hudson River Park Trust.

Barry Diller, IAC chairman and former Hollywood mogul, who heads the Foundation, said, “We had our first meeting on it 10 years ago, and I’m kind of surprised it’s actually opening. Watching humans right now wandering around in the park – it’s kind of a miracle.”

The park features peaks, valleys, walkways, staircases, a playground, an amphitheater which can seat nearly 700 people, a quiet glade area, and more. It also offers 35 species of trees, 65 species of shrubs, 290 types of grass, and 66,000 types of bulbs.

The island was first announced in 2014. It boasts pedestrian bridges at West 13th and 14th streets, which connect Eleventh Avenue with the park. The park itself fluctuates between 15 feet and 62 feet above water. Though admission is free, timed reservations are required from 12:00 noon.

Did you know?

The Global War of Terror has been ongoing for more than 19 years

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday ordered the New York State Police to increase patrols at downstate synagogues, schools, and other Jewish institutions, Arutz Sheva reported.

In a statement, Cuomo said: “Anti-Semitic violence and intimidation is antithetical to the promise and purpose of New York State, and we will not tolerate it in any form.

“In the wake of the unacceptable recent increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes nationwide, I am proactively deploying State Troopers to provide security at Jewish religious, educational, and community facilities.

“Hate has no place in our state, and we will continue to do everything in our power to help ensure Jewish New Yorkers — and New Yorkers of all faiths — have the peace, safety, and security they deserve.”

According to a statement from Cuomo’s office, the areas included in the order include New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, and an increased police presence can also be expected during Shabbos.

Police will also reach out to Jewish communities to establish communication and address security concerns, the statement said.

A Joy Ride With corona wreaking havoc on India, many social-distancing restrictions are in place. In the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, weddings are limited to 50 guests. One couple decided that the party must go on, and so they headed to the skies.

Although there was much happiness in the air, authorities are investigating the situation.

The airline dubbed the sky-high nuptials a “joy ride.”

Fingering a Suspect

Police officers in England were able to nab a suspect because of a photo he uploaded onto a site.

Carl Stewart posted a photo of himself holding a block of cheese.

The dairy delicacy is not what did him in; it was his fingers in the photo.

Police managed to get ahold of the photo and, using technology, analyzed his fingerprints from the photo.

Stewart was subsequently arrested and sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison.

Authorities said Stewart’s “love of Stilton cheese” led to his arrest.

We got to hand it to these officers for fingering this criminal.

Moo, Moo, Moo Don’t have a cow but this bovine in Illinois just gave birth to triplets.

Todd and Cynthia Carlson of Am-

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

boy said they knew their cow, Minnie, was giving birth on the night of May 15, but they decided to allow nature to take its course and went to bed.

They were shocked when they went to visit Minnie in the morning and discovered she was the proud mother of three new calves.

There is only a 1 in 105,000 chance that a pregnant cow will have triplets. Minnie’s situation is even more unusual because all three calves survived.

The couple named the calves after characters from a favorite TV of theirs, but with some cow puns thrown in: Phoe-Beef Buffay, Ross Gelded, and Joey Tri-beef-ani.

Very moo-ving.

E = A Lot of $ A letter written by Albert Einstein in which he writes out his famous E

= mc2 equation was recently sold at auction for more than $1.2 million, about three times more than it was expected to get, according to Boston-based RR Auction.

Archivists at the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem say there are only three other known examples of Einstein writing the world-changing equation in his own hand.

This fourth example, the only one in a private collection, only became public recently. The auction house expected to sell it for about $400,000.

“It’s an important letter from both a holographic and a physics point of view,” Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, said, calling the equation the most famous in the world.

The equation – energy equals mass times the speed of light squared

– changed physics by demonstrating that time was not absolute and that mass and energy were equivalent.

The one-page handwritten letter in German to Polish American physicist Ludwik Silberstein is dated October 26, 1946.

Silberstein was a well-known critic and challenger to some of Einstein’s theories.

“Your question can be answered from the E = mc2 formula, without any erudition,” Einstein wrote in the letter written on Princeton University letterhead, according to a translation provided by RR Auction.

The letter was part of Silberstein’s personal archives, which were sold by his descendants.

Doesn’t sound like rocket science to me.

Sandwich Sensation If you thought Lawrence prices were a bit over-the-top, stay far away from Disneyland.

The Anaheim, California, resort will feature a new panini sandwich that will debut when Avengers Campus opens at Disney California Ad-

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venture Park on June 4.

This is no ordinary sandwich. It will retail for almost $100. To be fair, the sandwich is meant to be eaten by more than one person. The Marvel land’s Pym Test Kitchen is themed to the movie Ant-Man and the Wasp and will serve meals that have been shrunk or expanded in size.

What do you get in the Pym-ini Sandwich that will make you unload your wallet? It comes with salami, rosemary ham, provolone and sun-dried tomato spread on toasted focaccia and can feed up to eight people.

Lest you don’t have a party who wants to chow down with you, there will be a single-serve sandwich available for $14.99.

Hope you won’t bite off more than you can chew.

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

5:30 RECEPTION

8:00

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‫שבת אחים‬ ‫שירות ותשבחות ונגוני התעוררות‬ with the ROSHEI HAYESHIVA & MASHGIACH

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In memory of their father R' YEHUDA KLEIN Z”L ‫ר׳ יהודה ב"ר יחיאל ז"ל‬

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

Join the Simcha with Mishpachas Mir. Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim Annual Celebration Dinner

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the

Community Mesivta Shaarei Chaim Opens Beis Medrash

T

en years ago, Rabbi Yerachmiel Scheiner and Rabbi Nossen Zupnik established a mossad in our community with the goal of producing bochurim who embody the maalos of true talmidei chachomim: knowledge and understanding of learning at an elevated level coupled with the middos and sensitivities of bnei Torah. After just a few years, Mesivta Shaarei Chaim quickly became a magnet for boys of the highest caliber who have demonstrated tremendous growth in both learning and yiras Shamayim. The bochurim are encouraged to have self-awareness of their true abilities and even surpass their own self expectations.

As the Mesivta continues to build on its vision, we are happy to inform the community that the Yeshiva will be opening a Bais Medrash for the upcoming Elul zman. We are honored that Harav Yaakov Furman, shlita, has accepted the position of Rosh Yeshiva.

Rav Furman, a close talmid of both Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, zt”l, and yb”lch Rav Avroham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, shlita, is well-known as one of the most outstanding and dedicated Roshei Yeshiva in the United States who puts all his kochos into his talmidim. Previously, he had been Rosh Yeshiva of Vyelipol and Nipast.

His shiurim are renowned for their clarity and depth. We are ecstatic that our talmidim will be exposed to a true gadol b’Torah and have the opportunity to create a lasting kesher with the Rosh Yeshiva.

Recently, the Mesivta had the supreme honor of hearing a shiur from Rav Furman, af-

ter which he spoke in learning with the bochurim. Rav Furman was duly impressed, as he felt that the bochurim are well prepared for the highest levels of learning. As the bochurim transition from mesivta, they will now have the valuable opportunity to join our Bais Medrash program and continue their growth in Shaarei Chaim’s special environment.

In addition, the Bais Medrash will expand to welcome boys from outside the community, as well. We are confident that all of them will flourish under the direct guidance of the Rosh Yeshiva. Simultaneously, our Mesivta bochurim will benefit from his hashpa’eh. As Rav Furman will be relocating from Brooklyn to Far Rockaway this summer, it will be a zechus for the community at large to welcome a Talmid Chochom of such stature.

The Mesivta is currently housed in the Young Israel of Far Rockaway. As a result of its stellar reputation and incredible growth, it has long outgrown its facilities. To meet the need for a larger facility, the yeshiva has purchased a warehouse on the border of Far Rockaway and Inwood and is looking forward to start building within the next few months. The property has great potential to propel the yeshiva to even greater heights.

To be a part of this community Harbatzas HaTorah, please join us for the Mesivta Shaarei Chaim annual breakfast on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 9:00 AM in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Yitzchok Steg, 236 Juniper Circle, Lawrence, NY. We look forward to greeting you personally.

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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B W T LL 21 WI

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

HANC ECC recently finished their artist enrichment program. Each class studied several artists and then recreated their styles of art

Middos Bingo at YKLI

D

uring the time of Sefiras Haomer, Klal Yisroel looks to improve their middos and bein adam l’chaveiro. At YKLI as well, the boys worked on a variety of mitzvos and middos throughout the days of Sefiras Haomer. Each day they got to choose from a numbered list of mitzvos/middos to perform at home. When they completed that mitzvah, they recorded it on a Bingo-type card. Boys who filled all 25 squares brought the card into school and were able to join in the Sefira Bingo game. They also received a large danish and a chocolate milk just for participating. The excitement during these bingo games was palpable, as Rabbi Pfeiffer called out the numbers. Many great prizes were given out to the winners of the Bingo games.

We are proud of all our mitzvah/middos boys!

New Women’s Chabura Launches with JEP/Nageela

O

n Rosh Chodesh Sivan, Wednesday, May 12, the goto WhatsApp emunah and group, “Let’s Do This” joined forces with JEP/Nageela to bring women together for an inspirational morning about Jewish femininity and inner beauty.

It was a full house and graciously hosted by Riva Goldschmiedt.

Speakers included Jaclyn Franco and Devoiry Horowitz. Jaclyn spoke candidly about her personal voyage and gave chizuk to the crowd, followed by Devoiry, highly regarded speaker and writer of “The Path to Kedushah.” The new booklet will be

a focus of the chaburah which will meet regularly.

Attendees shared their gratitude after the event and said this type of learning is especially needed during these challenging times as it brings us together and fills our neshamas.

We would like to thank all the Let’s Do This beautiful women inside and out including Riva, Liz Schwartz, Chaya Fiedler, Suzie Schwartztein and more who made this event come to life off WhatsApp. Proceeds raised from the chabu-

ras go to JEP/Nageela to help inspire today’s unaffiliated Jewish children through the organizatio’’s awesome programming. To find out more about upcoming chaburas and to get involved, contact Jen Reiz at 917715-2415 or email jenr@jepli.org.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

Celebrating S Y E A RS OF DREAM

M R. & M RS. E LISHA B RECHER

YE

AR CHE I

TO H

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cordially invite you to attend the

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Annual Breakfast Reception t’’pa, iuhx u’’f | jre ,arpk ’t ouh

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

i-Shine 5 Towns Volunteer Gives Back

Chaverim of Queens recently celebrated their ‘bar mitzvah’ year at the Annual Queens Chaverim Event

Senior Seminar

Batya, left, at a recent i-Shine event

By Batya Wolff

M

y decision to become an i-Shine volunteer was an easy one. i-Shine is Chai Lifeline’s afterschool program for kids impacted by illness or loss in their family. When I was a kid, my brother got sick with cancer. This impacted my family enormously. My frightened and devastated parents had to devote their time and energy to taking care of my brother, which involved daily trips to the hospital.

This left little time for them to pay attention to me and my siblings. In every way, family life and all our normal routines were disrupted.

Fortunately, we discovered i-Shine, which was relatively new at the time. Joining the program was a turning point for me. I vividly remember the excitement I felt when the volunteers walked in the door because I knew it meant that I would have somebody’s full attention. Now, as a volunteer, I see the same excitement on the faces of the children that I care for when I enter the room. Being both a child in the program as well as a volunteer has taught me the importance of giving to those in need, particularly to children.

Being a former participant as well as a volunteer gives me an added level of understanding and appreciation for what i-Shine does. Even the holiday projects we do bring me back to when I was a kid. Until this very day, I use the menorah that I painted as a child in i-Shine. Even with all the incredible activities, the times I cherish most are those moments when I can just sit quietly and listen to a child.

All because I know from experience that the simple act of listening does so much to make children feel important at that moment. I have the advantage of knowing firsthand what listening means.

The inspiration I get from i-Shine comes not from a single person but from every volunteer in the program.

It’s heartwarming to see so many people care and commit to children in need. I feel enormous gratitude to those who were so kind and so attentive to me when I needed it. This gratitude is important to me, but the best part is knowing that I can give back to the place that gave so much to me.

Batya Wolff, 17, is from Woodmere, NY, and currently attends Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls.

By Chaya Warren

T

his past week, the Shulamith seniors attended a week filled with informative and interactive seminars, all geared toward prepping the students for life posthigh school. The different seminars were dedicated to learning about healthy relationships and communication, strengthening our Jewish identity, women’s health, and different careers. Highlights include hearing from Rabbi Mordechai Willig on the halachic prenup, Shalom Task Force, Rabbi Joe Wolfson from JLIC, Aliza Starshefsky from Bruriah High School on her experience battling an eating disorder, Wayfind, and Jscreen. The girls also visited the Jewish Heritage Museum in Manhattan and took a crash course on healthy cooking in Israel from our very own Mrs. Gross. The series ended with a career fair with careers ranging from mechanical engineers, phlebotomists, orthodontists, attorneys, journalists, architects, and more.

According to the students, Senior Seminar “really broadened [their] horizons and shed light on the realities of the world,” according to Aliza Fruchter. The first week of seminars, which focused on healthy relationships, proper dieting and cooking skills, and embracing our Jewish identities, really helped the girls prepare for their year in Israel.

The last day of seminars was a favorite among the students. Career day was a series of informative panels, speeches and an outdoor career fair to provide students with the opportunity to speak to professionals in their fields of interest, and also discover some new careers they haven’t thought of. Senior Rivky Widroff “loved career day because [she] got the opportunity to speak to professionals in a huge variety of different jobs and see which career really spoke to” her. Senior Lily Eisenburg adds that “meeting so many impressive Jewish women who are professionals in their field taught me that it’s possible to balance a fulfilling career and being a mom.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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NO CHARGE TESTING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH VALID ID (DRIVER'S LICENSE/SSN/ETC)

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The Leon Mayer Fund - Mark Ramer Chessed Center PHOTOS BY GABE SOLOMON

K

osher Response founder by Gabriel Boxer and The Leon Mayer Fund, founded by Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz, recently partnered to open the Mark Ramer Chessed Center located in the Five Towns.

This all-new chessed center is a first of its kind in the area servicing the South Shore of Long Island and beyond helping families in need of much needed necessities, only stocking brand new items from clothes, shoes, home goods, bicycles, toys, baby goods and so much to help families receive the items at no cost to them. There is a certified social worker on staff that meets with all clients and helps them find services they may need along with helping them at the Chessed Center.

Mark Ramer, of blessed memory, of Atlantic Beach, was a person who thrived to do chessed for so many.

This center in his memory pays tribute to a truly remarkable person from our community.

For more information and to become a client visit: www.kosherresponse.com.

At the Leon Mayer Fund - Mark Ramer Chessed Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Dr. David Schechter: The Name You Can Trust in the War Against Covid

By Malky Lowinger

M

eet Dr. David Schechter, a renowned and trusted local cardiologist. This good doctor with a thriving practice could easily have continued spending his days seeing his regular patients at his Richmond Hill office. But when the dreaded pandemic settled upon the world, he knew he had to join the battle. So he and his associates developed a large-scale Covid-care facility, working tirelessly to help the community fight the dreaded pandemic with a wide range of services and expert medical care.

Dr. Schechter’s capable staff began providing their vital services just as the pandemic raged last spring.

Back then, it was difficult to acquire Covid testing, as the supply of the necessary reagent chemical was severely limited. Those who were able to get tested often waited seven to fourteen days for results. During those difficult and scary times, the wait seemed endless.

Dr. Schechter and his office staff emerged on the frontlines of Covid

testing and raised the bar.

“It was quite a challenge,” says his daughter, Elisheva. “We only do PCR tests because we believe rapids are not completely accurate, while PCR testing has proven to be 99.7% accurate. Because of our strong connections with local labs, we were able to acquire test results within 12 to 36 hours.”

All testing services are free of charge.

The doctor’s office handles a huge volume of tests at its Queens location, and has even dedicated a second location in Woodmere just for this purpose. They also offer an at-home testing option at no additional fee.

They are literally the go-to place for anyone who needs a test. And they provide a range of special services as well.

“We handle emergencies,” says Elisheva.

“If someone has to fly somewhere in a hurry, we can rush their test to the lab and have the results in just eight hours. Alternately, if someone is hosting a major event, we can accommodate large crowds and test everyone on-site.”

Recently, Dr. Schechter’s staff tested a large wedding party for Covid. “Two days before the event, all the guests showed up at the host’s backyard, and we tested everyone.

That way, they would know who could participate in the simcha.”

Boruch Hashem, positive cases are rare these days, but they do happen. And when they do, the Schechter team steps in with a customized treatment plan. Instead of sending the patient home to sit and wait, they aggressively treat the symptoms and any possible complications.

“Most people who test positive sit at home and don’t know what to do,” says Elisheva. “But in our practice, we offer a custom plan for each patient, advising them on how to treat their symptoms. Our phone lines are open until ten P.M. and our WhatsApp chat line is available 24/7 except for Shabbos so patients can reach out to their provider virtually anytime. We try hard to be accessible.”

While some patients are excellent candidates for monoclonal antibody treatment, that therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Some do well

with vitamins or medication, while others require special interventions.

The team of Schechter has seen it all.

“Our staff lives Covid,” says Elisheva. “We’ve treated tens of thousands of patients by now. We are familiar with all the new treatments as well as the tried and true and we will administer them accordingly.”

While testing is slowing down considerably, Dr. Schechter’s team still sees two- or three-hundred patients a day for virus or antibody testing. Testing is easy, painless, and free, and results can be had within 12 to 48 hours. Each patient is treated with care and compassion and dignity and professionalism.

“For the doctor,” says Elisheva, “it’s all about giving to the community. The ability to treat a patient struggling with Covid is his greatest joy, and he has made it his personal mission.”

For more information on Covid and antibody testing, call 718-252-6843 or 718-25-COVID.

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Mishnayos for Meron

Y

eshiva Darchei Torah’s fourth and fifth grade talmidim learned Mishnayos l’ilui the neshamos of those tragically lost in

PHOTOS BY YK IMAGES

Meron this past Lag B’Omer.

On Erev Shavuos morning, the boys assembled in the Yeshiva’s main Beis Medrash, Heichal

Dovid, reviewed the Mishnayos, and made a collective siyum on Seder Moed.

Dr. Yehudit Abrams Inspires SKA Students

T

he sophomores and juniors of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls were privileged to listen to Dr. Yehudit Abrams on Wednesday, May 19, as she shared her incredible life story and achievements.

Founder and CEO of MonitHer, Ltd., the first at-home personal use monitor for early detection of breast cancer, Dr. Abrams spoke of her amazing career highlights. After finishing medical school, Dr. Abrams attended the exclusive Singularity University, giving her exposure to a number of fields including engineering, biotechnology, neuroscience, robotics and cognitive computing.

Her professional credentials include researching ultrasound to support the Mars mission at NASA, working with tech elite in Silicon Valley and conducting medical relief missions around the world.

It was also, however, her thoughts about her conversion to Judaism and the absolute emunah that she lives by that seized the students’ attention. Everything in Dr. Abrams’ life is connected to Hashem, she says, noting that Hashem has a plan. She explained to the girls that she felt she had to work for Hashem to make a positive change in the world.

“If you follow your heart, your heart will take you to where you need to be,” Dr. Abrams quoted to the students.

It’s difficult to capture Dr. Abrams’ life and work in a few short sentences but her messages resonated with the SKA students who listened with awe. Throughout the following day, SKA students spoke about what they had heard. Dr. Abrams’ inspiring personal and professional words and accomplishments made quite an impact on her student audience.

The talmidos of The Ganger Early Childhood at TAG collaborated to create a bulletin board on achdus. Each talmida colored a popsicle stick, which was used to form a large heart with the message “k’ish echad b’lev echad.” The girls really feel the connection at TAG!

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Around the Community

YOSS Shorashim and Milim Bee

P

erhaps the most central skill to a Jew and budding talmid chochom is the ability to read and know our Hebrew language.

To this end, all three third grade classes at Yeshiva of South Shore competed in a Milim Bee they had

spent many months learning and reviewing for. The bee consisted of over 250 words and shorashim. The boys who made it into the bee had to answer Hebrew to English translations within a five second span, and, as the bee progressed, the timer was

reduced to three seconds and translating from English to Hebrew. All the other talmidim were so supportive of the competitors and displayed wonderful sportsmanship apropos to a bee involving words of Torah.

It was a fantastic opportunity for

the boys to display their learning and milim skills and demonstrate what their rabbeim had taught them. May they continue to grow in their knowledge and understanding of Torah.

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The talmidim of Siach Yitzchok had their Chumash mesiba this week

The talmidos in the Silver Nursery of the Ganger Early Childhood division of TAG had a surprise guest to help them celebrate learning os zayin. The talmidos invited Rabbi Meyer Weitman, who is the proud zaidy of our TAG talmidah Rochel Leah Spiegel, to come hear them sing the aleph-bet song.

Fourth Grade Ciphers

T Scores of volunteers from three neighborhood yeshivos helped to ensure that the mega JCCRP Shavuos food distribution went smoothly and efficiently

he fourth grade at Yeshiva of South Shore is well underway in their unit on the Revolutionary War. The boys were introduced to the concept of ciphers and how messages were sent to other patriots within the colonies. These ciphers and secret codes were used to ensure that the contents of a letter could not be understood if the corre-

spondence was captured.

The boys got a chance to create their own cipher wheel and crack some codes! After they mastered reading the codes, their task was to create some messages of their own.

This hands-on activity really made an impact on them and helped solidify the concept while having a great time.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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50

MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

JCCRP Virtual Legislative Breakfast – This Sunday

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato

W

hile we can’t celebrate with you in person, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) Annual Legislative Breakfast is slated to take place virtually on Sunday, May 30, at 10AM. The JCCRP’s accomplishments are many. The dedicated staff and volunteers booked over 2,000 COVID-19 vaccines, has distributed over 1,000 tons of nutritious food, given out over 350,000 masks, and supported hundreds of struggling single mothers, Holocaust survivors and many others facing crises.

But how does this all happen?

Who funds these crucial services?

Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers

And how do we make sure our community continues to receive these crucial services?

The JCCRP relies heavily on the strong partnership of elected officials, generous foundations, and its strong non-profit partners. These relationships benefit the entire community, allowing for thousands of services with very little expense to community members.

This breakfast is one of the few occasions during the year in which the Rockaway Jewish community has the opportunity to come together and demonstrate our strength and gratitude as a community to the elected officials, city and state agen-

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

cies and other groups with whom we relate. It is also an opportunity to collectively thank individuals who have rendered services to the Jewish community and made it the remarkable place we all know. The legislative breakfast is an opportunity to demonstrate the amazing things we can accomplish when government and the social services work hand in hand.

This year we will be honored to hear from a number of elected officials and community leaders in a concise and exciting 35 minute presentation. Speakers include UJA Federation of NY’s CEO Eric Goldstein, Met Council’s CEO Da-

Behind the scenes with Captain Eric Robinson

vid Greenfield, our new NYC Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, and many of our longtime friends and supporters.

Your attendance and participation in this breakfast is the best advertisement for the community and is a source of encouragement and gratitude for the many individuals and institutions that work together with the JCCRP to make our community an even better place to live.

We hope to see you there!

To join the breakfast visit https:// www.rayze.it/jccrpbreakfast/live or email info@jccrp.org for more information.

A Historic Legacy Forty-Five Sifrei Torah for the Forty-Five Neshamos

A

n astounding new undertaking will ensure that every family receives an everlasting tribute to their loved ones.

Our dear brethren have been taken from us too soon. Tragedy has befallen our nation, and Klal Yisrael is reeling from shock. As the news of the catastrophe in Meron rippled through our communities, it left behind waves of sorrow. Amidst the jubilant celebrations came the terrifying shouts of grief. We accepted the will of Hashem, but with heavy hearts, still mourned the losses.

Where can we go from here? What can we do to commemorate these divine and pure neshamos?

All we have left is the holy Torah.

What better than a Sefer Torah? The Torah is what unites all Yidden. If even part of a letter is missing,

the whole Sefer is pasul. Every Jew has a part in the Torah, and what happens to one Yid has an effect on us all. This is the most appropriate way to eternalize the names and Neshamos of those taken before their prime.

A Sefer Torah for every family Gedolei HaRabbanim will oversee the objective to ensure that all the funds go toward writing the Sifrei Torah and will be written according to all stringencies. All the families have been notified and will receive an appropriate Sefer customized according to their mesorah. The families are looking forward to celebrating the completion of the Sefarim, which will bring them some much-needed solace. The Sifrei Torah are currently already being written, and it is now up to Klal Yisrael to ensure its completion.

Klal Yisrael Together!

The calamity has struck the entire spectrum of Judaism. Every country, every community, every kehilla, no one was left unscathed. Now Klal Yisrael will collectively take part in this historic Sefer Torah campaign. We will unite as a nation and show that nothing separates us! Yidden from all over will help create an everlasting homage to Ahavas Yisrael.

Together we mourned.

Together we will heal.

Together we will raise the money to dedicate a Sefer for every neshama. We cannot bring back those souls, but we can do our best to console the families with a legacy that will live on for eternity.

Every Yid a minimum of $45.

With a dollar for each neshama, we can make this happen!

Help bring some peace to the suf-

fering families.

Please check the campaign site for more details.

Visit https://www.charidy. com/45 today and take part in this historic initiative.

There are more extensive sponsorship opportunities available as well.

You can also call 929-5369222 to take part by phone.

In the zechus of writing the Sifrei Torah, uniting to create a unique commemoration for the neshamos and bring comfort to the families, we should be zocheh to bracha and hatzlacha. Hashem should bring the final redemption, and may we never again hear of such tragedies.

Join Klal Yisrael and take your part in the Torah today!

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Some of the boys in Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island who participated in this year’s Masmid Govoha Program. Masmid Govoha is a hasmada program where the boys learn extra, every night of the week over a ten week period.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, students in HALB Middle School have been discussing mental health and wellness, mindfulness and how to integrate more intentional practices in their use of technology. Students were treated to a wonderful interactive presentation on self-improvement and goal setting through the lens of Torah and psychology by Rabbi Dr. Saul Haimoff

A Message from Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President, as the Orthodox Union Launches an Emergency Campaign to Provide Oxygen Concentrators for India As It Fights the Pandemic Surge

T

he people of this country are blessed.

The unprecedented speed of development and deployment of the vaccine for COVID-19 has brought us to a place where, with G-d’s continued help and blessing, we can hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

But the worst seems to lie squarely ahead of India, and we must do something about it.

We have all seen the images and figures depicting the havoc the pandemic is currently wreaking in India. As Jews, we cannot just watch this disaster unfold.

Abraham, the biological father of the Jewish people and the spiritual father of much of the world, established the absolute connection between religious devotion and social responsibility.

He demonstrated care for his family, for the individual weary travelers that he welcomed into his tent, and for the city of Sodom whose wholesale destruction he could not just passively observe.

This legacy of charity and responsibility is fundamental to the character of Jewish life.

Families, communities, and societies thrive on the prioritization of care and responsibility between members of the group. There is a valued intimacy and a critical bond of trust that results from our support systems, how we take care of those closest to us and put family first, loving our neighbor as ourselves.

But we must not stop there.

History has given us many examples of situations where a complete family, community, or society experienced devastating events that shook the entire traditional support system. It is specifically at those times that the broader world must step forward to act with care and concern to save those who have been

rendered helpless, but the world does not always come thru. Others have stood silent in the face of evil and passive in the presence of tragedy far too many times. The Jewish people are keenly and painfully aware of this. And we have been reminded of it again during the past weeks of missile strikes in Israel and anti-Semitic attacks in America and around the world.

Silence is simply not an option.

We do not accept that this must be the reality of the world we live in. We continue to dream and to strive for a world where the rich amongst nations care for the poor and the healthy tend to the sick, where boundaries create a framework for mutual kindness rather than a barrier to extending our care to others beyond that framework, where charity begins at home but does not end there. That is what we seek within our world and the goal towards which each of us must work.

The Rambam – following on the words of the Mishna – wrote of the obligation of a Jew to support the needy of other nations so as to pursue

the path of peace, darkei shalom. He clearly viewed this as more than a diplomatic stroke but rather as an extension of the generosity that G-d Himself extends to all His creatures. Moshe, the ultimate faithful shepherd and lawgiver of the Jewish people, began his journey of leadership by standing up to evil wherever he encountered it, no less when the victims were the children of the idolatrous priest of Midyan than when was it was a fellow Jew being victimized by an oppressive Egyptian.

This is a critical part of our legacy. Yes, our plates are filled with our efforts to sustain a Jewish community grappling with epic stresses. We are still assessing the harm inflicted in the latest round of missiles that rained down on millions of our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Our local Jewish communities need major investment in their material well-being as well as in their Torah-education systems and infrastructure. These are issues that require time, energy, and commitment, and they must never be neglected if

we are to be serious about the well-being of the State of Israel, our own community, Jewish continuity, and the central value of Torah education.

But we must retain the perspective that all those systems of caring and teaching are there for one purpose, and that is to develop students and community members blessed not only with knowledge of text but with strength and refinement of character, the kind of people who – like our father Avraham – exemplify and serve as a conduit for God’s goodness to all.

India is in a terrible crisis, facing a vicious double mutation of the virus. Our community – breathing somewhat easier – is positioned to help. We must not stand by.

A modest gift from each of us will not change our lives but it will save the lives of others. And it will be a gift that will make our world more of a community that cares for each other in a way that benefits and uplifts us all.

Please contribute at https:// www.ou.org/crisis-in-india/

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Around the Community

The Children’s Garden at Shulamith ECC

Lt. Governor Visits YDT

Y

eshiva Darchei Torah seventh graders Eliezer Hirtz and Shloime Stoll conducted an impromptu interview for their class newspaper with the Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York, Kathy Hochul, during her visit to the

Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s brand-new, state-of-the-art CIJE STEM Center on Monday. Rabbi Baruch Rothman, director of institutional advancement, is pictured with the Lieutenant Governor.

Medals in Math for HAFTR Students

A

t Shulamith Early Childhood Center, the children are blooming and growing along with the beautiful children’s garden they have planted.

As spring arrived, the children took nature walks and noticed all of the tender shoots and leaves that were just beginning to grow. They were fascinated and had many questions. Thus began their study of botany and horticulture.

First, the children studied flowers and plants by examining real seeds, dissecting flowers, and learning about the function of each part of a plant. They planted beans, grass, marigolds and zinnias in their classrooms. They even placed vegetable tops in water and eagerly watched them take root and begin to sprout.

Finally, when the weather warmed up, the children’s scientific studies moved outdoors. Under the stewardship of Morah Tzivia Lipsky, Shulamith’s treasured nursery morah, the children prepared a special children’s garden. Our

young gardeners enjoyed digging in the soil and planting flowers, vegetables, and herbs in beautiful raised planters. Every single child was given the opportunity to contribute to the garden, and they quickly took ownership and professional pride in the results.

Each day, the children run to the garden to examine the progress of the young plants. They marvel at the ripening tomatoes, rub the fragrant herbs to produce wonderful scents, and examine each flower to choose their favorites. They love watering the garden and, of course, picking the tomatoes as they ripen. The Pre 1-A classes even released the ladybugs they raised into the garden.

The children enjoy looking at each leaf very carefully to find the ladybugs and encourage them to eat all of the aphids in the garden.

The children in Shulamith ECC have certainly come to appreciate the beautiful world that Hashem has given us. Mah rabu ma’asechah Hashem!

E

ight HAFTR High School students were awarded medals in Math Research at this year’s Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair.

Engaging in math research affords students an opportunity to expand on a particular topic in mathematics that they find interesting. The format of the math fair was virtual because of the pandemic; students recorded their presentations and submitted their sophisticated research projects electronically.

Senior Gabriel Kurlander and junior Ethan Rabinowitz received gold medals; juniors Devorah Gottesman, Lulu Morse, and Emily Vaysman earned silver medals; senior Matthew Mizrahi and juniors Shirly Gottlieb and Luca Lemberger received bronze medals. The students were mentored by Mr. Matthew Alt, chair of the HAFTR High School mathematics department. Congratulations to the students on their outstanding research!

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang visited the Agudah Headquarters in downtown Manhattan earlier this month

Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Memorial Day Parade is Back Showcasing Community Unity By Honoring Our Fallen Heroes

T

his year, members of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst community, along with neighboring patriots, will gather on Sunday morning, May 30 to participate in the 102-year-old Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Memorial Day Parade. At 10 a.m., the live parade begins at Frost Lane and Central Avenue in Lawrence concluding with a brief and meaningful tribute ceremony in Cedarhurst’s Andrew J. Parise Park.

The expanded parade, the production of creative community members and Village staff, led by Penina (Paris) Popack, Village of Lawrence trustee, and JoMarie Capone of The Village of Cedarhurst, has grown to be one of the community’s favorite events.

Popack stated, “We hope this Memorial Day Parade will be inspiring, entertaining, and the best attended

ever after last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. We are taking necessary safety precautions hopeful that people will come out to support and cheer our volunteer fire department, military and marchers.

It is going to be spectacular!”

Approximately 70 fabulous entrants will march down the Villages main shopping avenue. Highlights of the parade will include a host of Military veterans, firemen and fire trucks, Freeport Navy JROTC Color Guard, bag pipes and drums, a musical brass ensemble, antique and exotic cars, motorcycles, Hatzalah, Achiezer, local schools, scouts and organizations.

Historic reenactors from Rock Hall Museum will be driven on a classic horse and carriage. Special guests will be local politicians, former navy and army veterans, Dr. Yashar and Perie Hirshaut and journalist/radio host, Cindy Grosz. Patriotic Ameri-

can songs will be performed by Meshugga Daddies Barbershop Singers, led by Dr. Stuart Rappaport, Mariachi Hidalgo NYC and renowned superstar Mendy J. Additional surprises are in store.

JoMarie Capone, of Cedarhurst Village Hall, expressed, “A great way to say ‘thank you’ to the men and women who have given their lives to defend our nation, our families and freedoms is by attending and applauding the parade. Businesses have been encouraged to decorate their stores in red, white and blue and salute the parade as it passes by.”

Veteran Syd Mandelbaum, commander of the American Legion Post #339, stated, “Lining the streets in support of our veterans for an hour of your Sunday morning shows incredible thanks.”

Village of Cedarhurst Mayor and Parade co-chairman Benjamin Wein-

stock added, “A core value of our heritage is to show respect. Teaching your children and grandchildren about the true meaning of Memorial Day is vital to appreciate our American freedoms. Participating in our parade is an ideal educational opportunity to do so and acknowledge our fallen veterans.”

Alex Edelman, Mayor of the Village of Lawrence, said, “Come out and proudly enjoy the parade and show your support for our Nation and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst community.”

Parade co-chairman, Deputy Fire Chief, Meyer Adler, responded, “We can’t take our American freedoms for granted and must never forget the ultimate sacrifices that our armed services have made so we can live in peace. Please come out, show up and show your gratitude.”

For more information, please visit: https://cedarhurst.gov/

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Touro College Salutes 2021 Valedictorians

T

ouro College recently announced the valedictorians of three schools: Lander College for Men, Lander College for Women and Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. Yaakov Saxon, Elisheva (Marcus) Kaminetsky, Rena Schreier, and Jacob (Coby) Fliegelman will be honored at Touro’s commencement ceremony, which will be held virtually at 3:30pm on Sunday, May 30, 2021.

“These young men and women all have cultivated a love of learning, a desire to help others and a commitment to Torah values,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro College and University System.

In total, 583 students will graduate from Touro’s Lander College for Women, Lander College for Men, and Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, while 167 students will graduate from Machon L’Parnasa and The School of Lifelong Education. The 2021 graduating class includes seniors from 19 states across the United States, and five foreign countries (Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, and Israel).

Jacob (Coby) Fliegelman, Valedictorian, Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences Men’s Division The grandson of a pediatrician, Jacob (Coby) Fliegelman of Cedarhurst has a deep appreciation for medicine and an unwavering desire to be a physician in order to make a difference in people’s lives.

As the valedictorian of Lander College of Arts and Sciences Men’s Division, he is on his way to achieving that goal.

Jacob is self-driven and determined about his mission. In addition to graduating as a Biology Honors Major, summa cum laude, he published an article in the Lander Science Journal and sought out internship opportunities to gain firsthand experience in medicine. Jacob was a volunteer research assistant at the Berger Research Lab, at the NYU School of Medicine, where he studied the inflammatory properties of platelets and macrophage polarization in atherosclerosis. He also interned at Amtrust Financial, working directly with the global Chief Compliance Officer.

Building on his own experiences, Jacob tutored students in Biology and Chemistry. He also mentors hearing impaired children and their families, providing emotional support and guidance.

During 12th grade, Jacob took college courses through Touro. He then spent a year participating in the Touro College Israel Option at Yeshiva Bais Yisroel in Jerusalem. When he returned to the United States, Lander College of Arts and Sciences afforded him the opportunity to continue an intensive learning program in Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv while completing his college degree. He praised the faculty at Lander College of Arts and Sciences for empowering students by encouraging healthy dialogue and creating a supportive, congenial atmosphere.

Rena Schreier, Valedictorian, Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences Women’s Division When Rena Schreier started at Lander College

Yaakov Saxon

Jacob (Coby) Fliegelman

of Arts and Sciences Flatbush Women’s Division, after spending a year at Machon Raaya seminary in Israel, she expected to find large lecture halls and intimidating professors. Instead, she found a warm, supportive environment that empowered her to do her best. She seized every opportunity. As a result, she will graduate as valedictorian and plans to start medical school at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in August.

While maintaining a stellar GPA, Rena was a member of the Flatbush Society of Fellows Honors Program, the Touro Science Journal Editorial Board, the Touro Science Society, and secretary of Touro’s branch of NPreMa (National Pre-Med Association). She also participated in Touro’s Biomedical Ethics Cross-Cultural Education Program in Bangkok, Thailand. While in college, she worked as a medical assistant and a phlebotomist, gaining real world experience in medicine.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Rena had always been interested in medicine. “When I started college, I considered different options in the healthcare field, but I always knew that I wanted to care for people in their happiest moments and calm them in their hardest moments,” she said. Now, as she heads to medical school, her goal is to specialize in emergency medicine so she can capitalize on her ability to stay calm in crises.

Yaakov Saxon, Valedictorian, Touro’s Lander College for Men Yaakov Saxon has loved tinkering with computers since his father gave him an old DOS computer when he was six years old. His interest in computers followed him through grade school, where he began honing his skills in information security. On one occasion, while taking a test in ninth grade, he figured out how to gain access into the server of an eLearning product his school used. He wrote the CEO to let him know how he was able to access the answers.

His honesty paid off, and he received a college letter of recommendation and the start of an exciting career path.

At Lander College for Men, Yaakov found the opportunity to explore his interest in technology.

Throughout his college career, Yaakov worked to refine his skills and test the security of various applications. He happened to find another vulnerability in another e-learning software program while at Lander, and after disclosing his findings, was offered a job with that company as an application security tester.

Rena Schreier

Elisheva Kaminetsky

Today, Yaakov is putting his white hat hacking skills to good use as an Information Security Engineer for North American Bancard, a credit card processing company, while working remotely from his new home in Orlando, FL. “Cybersecurity is about figuring out how to put together all of the pieces of a puzzle,” he said. He credits his professors at Touro with giving him personal attention and additional challenges to develop his skills.

Yaakov grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, and attended Hillel Academy. He studied at Chofetz Chaim Jerusalem before moving to Queens, NY, to attend Lander College for Men. Elisheva (Marcus) Kaminetsky, Valedictorian, Touro’s Lander College for Women, The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School Elisheva (Marcus) Kaminetsky is a perennial student who plans to become a professor someday.

“If I could be paid to be a student for the rest of my life, I would be happy to do that,” she says. Her love of learning led her to become the valedictorian of Lander College for Women. She won’t stop there.

In September, Elisheva will begin her JD studies at NYU Law School. Growing up in Kew Gardens Hills, the oldest of six children, she recalls being told from a young age that she would make a great lawyer. She pushed it to the back of her mind but at Touro, political science and prelaw classes inspired her to pursue law. She interned at The Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) that provides limited legal advice to low-income New Yorkers being sued by debt collectors. She loved seeing how law can improve the lives of people in need. Elisheva also found time to volunteer with Partners in Torah, NORPAC, Young Israel of Queens Valley and JEP. She worked as a research assistant at Lander College for Women, sourcing data and coauthoring an academic paper.

Taking advantage of online classes during the pandemic, Elisheva spent this semester in Jerusalem. While completing her coursework at Lander College for Women, she gave a series of guest lectures at Michlalah, the seminary she had attended in her gap year. Explaining her decision to try out teaching, Elisheva points to the influence and impact of her Touro professors. “Beyond helping me appreciate their particular disciplines, they helped me appreciate the art of education,” she said. “It is largely because of them that I hope to someday re-enter the world of education as a professor of law.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Children at YCQ received their siddurim this week

SKA Awardees 2021 The second grade girls at Cheder Chabad of Long Island tended to their classroom plants while learning about plants in science

Engineering at Central Ariella Borah

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Breindy Berger

Priva Halpert

Frieda Vegh

he Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls is proud to announce Ariella Borah as Valedictorian, Breindy Berger and Priva Halpert as Salutatorians, and Frieda Vegh as Keter Shem Tov awardee for 2021.

RISE; Debate Team; Magic Mentoring; Medical Marvels; Model Congress; Israel Awareness Committee; Production; Holocaust Journal; College Bowl *Will be attending MMY and Macaulay Honors College

Valedictorian: Ariella Borah Editor of Looking Glass; Editor in Chief of Matrix and Holocaust Journal: National Merit Commended Scholar; AP Scholar; SHIELD awardee; SKA Middot awardee; Head of Israel Action Committee; Finalist at the NY Youth Summit; First Place Winner in Science Olympiad; Bronka Weintraub Bekiut Competion; Co-Captain of Mock Trial Team; SKA Chessed Committee Head; Honor Society; Medical Marvels; MAGIC Mentoring *Will be attending MMY and Stern College for Women Honors Program

Salutatorian: Breindy Berger Editor in Chief Skappenings; Yearbook Associate Editor; Winner, YU Talmud Bekiut Amud; Chidon Tanakh; Jerusalem Science Contest; Honor Society; Debate Team; Math Team; Science Olympiad; Member of

Salutatorian: Priva Halpert Published in the American Chemistry Society Omega Journal for her research; Scholar in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search; 1st Place NY Youth Summit; 3rd Place at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium; Captain of Mock Trial; Yearbook Layout Editor; Keter Torah Awardee; Head of Israel Awareness Committee; Honor Society; Volunteers at Chai Lifeline Camp Simcha/Camp Simcha Special, I-Shine and Ohel Beis Ezra *Will be attending Michlalah and Queens College Scholars Program

Keter Shem Tov: Frieda Vegh Voted by her peers for her kindness and middot. SKA Ambassador; Production-Dance; Track Team; Volunteers at I-Shine, Kulanu, the Leon Mayer Fund and Lev Connections *Will be attending Tiferet and Lander College for Women

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t the annual Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Innovation Day, engineering students from Jewish schools all over the tri-state area will present projects that they have designed and executed over the course of a semester as a culmination of their year’s learning. Though the event will be held virtually this year, Mr. Michael Spindel’s freshman and sophomore engineering students at Central have approached their presentations with creativity and professionalism.

Freshmen Aviva Kessock and Tiferet Tuchman designed a “Kavanah Klock” that lights up and sounds an alarm to remind people to daven at appropriate times. This project required them to use a breadboard

to build the physical clock and to write the code in Arduino to allow it to function. Freshmen Tani Fish and Lois Rifkin built a “20/20 Vision Project” to address the currently pervasive problem of eyestrain caused by long periods of computer usage.

The “20/20/20 Rule,” which states that, for every 20 minutes spent looking at a computer, one should look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, is a useful principle to prevent extreme eyestrain. However, it is difficult for most of us to implement this rule in practice. Tani and Lois built a device that automatically cuts power to a computer monitor for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of use.

We are grateful to have such innovative problem solvers in our midst!

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Around the Community

Project ReBloom at Margaret Tietz

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e are very fortunate at Margaret Tietz to have wonderful community volunteers including families, seniors, and good friends of Margaret Tietz to share a Sunday morning to beautify the magnificent garden that has been created through their

hands. Project ReBloom was created in memory of Faye Dor, a resident who had passed away a few years ago.

Her love of flowers and gardening inspired her friends to gather each fall and spring at Margaret Tietz to bring this beautiful garden to our residents, visitors and staff.

PHOTO BY SHAHAR AZRAN

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can be made to RSA for the Margaret Tietz Initiative, 76-01 147th St, Flushing, NY 11367.

For further information, please contact Linda Spiegel at 718-2987838.

HANC “Twins” with Sderot

United for Israel

housands mobilized on Sunday at 7 World Trade Center – Ground Zero – and across the nation in response to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks nationwide and to stand with Israel in its ongoing battle against terrorism and demonization.

The rally, “United Against Antisemitism. United Against Terror.

United for Us,” was led by the Is-

The RSA (Rabbinical Seminary of America) Chovetz Chaim Yeshiva holds the not-for-profit status for Margaret Tietz for their flower and bulb donations as well as donations for special programs for Holocaust survivors which is named the Margaret Tietz Initiative. Donations

raeli-American Council (IAC) New York Region with 100 tri-state Jewish community organizations. IAC communities and many Jewish organizations joined in 14 rallies from coast to coast bringing thousands of people to the streets, as anti-Semitic hate crimes rise nationwide amid the current wave of Mideast violence.

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ver the course of the past few months, the girls in Morah Vered Sharoni’s fifth grade class in HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead have been meeting via Zoom with a class of girls in Sderot. Sponsored by the Amit organization, HANC was twinned with the Toranit Mada’i Elementary School, giving the children in both schools an opportunity to gain a window into their lives and school experiences. The girls initially introduced themselves during their first Zoom session, and they continued to “meet” once a month and chat via video in order to get to know each other. During these sessions, they spoke about their schools, their communities, shared videos and played games together. The girls at HANC spoke in Hebrew and the Sderot girls did their best to respond in English.

Since the monthly meetings take place at 10:30A.M. here, the girls in Sderot have already finished their school day and connect from their individual homes. This afforded them the opportunity to show the HANC students their homes and families

– one girl even took the American students on a video tour of her neighborhood. When describing life here in New York, the children explained to the Israeli children how they find kosher food and what they need to check for when purchasing food in a store. The girls described experiences in school pertaining to the subjects they study, what they like to do during recess, and shared hobbies that they like to pursue after school.

In the course of their meetings, the girls saw the differences in their daily lives and cultures, but also discovered what they have in common.

During the events that took place in Israel over the past few weeks, the students in HANC became very concerned about their new friends in Sderot. Morah Vered led a discussion about empathy and how they could reach out and let the girls in Israel know that they are thinking of them. The class decided that the best way to do that was to create a video of support to let the students in Sderot know that they were praying for them and wishing that peace would return to Israel very soon.

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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Outdoors with Nature

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AFTR Lower School students enjoyed several outdoor experiences with nature over the past two weeks. Before Shavuot, kindergarten classes helped principal Ms. Joy Hammer fill our new garden with plants. They enjoyed digging a space to set the plants so that they will grow and fill in the

Softball and Sundaes

M garden over time. They talked about how plants need soil, air, light, and water to grow.

Morah Elaine Gross brought the kindergarten classes outside this week to watch as the butterflies, in the final stage of development, spread their delicate wings and flew up and away.

TA freshmen had an amazing time bonding with their friends and rebbeim on their grade-wide overnight trip, which took place on Thursday, May 20 through Friday, May 21. The trip began with a stop at Laser One for fun games and laser tag and continued on to Camp Dora Golding for an overnight.

Talmidim took advantage of the perfect weather and enjoyed lots of outdoor sports, including

a rebbe-talmid softball game and grade-wide basketball tournament.

From chilling in the game room to night activities, a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar, bonfire, and a midnight BBQ, there was something for everyone. The trip was the perfect way for talmidim to spend time with friends who they may not share classes with, bond with their rebbeim outside the classroom, and come together as a grade with tremendous achdus!

Shevach Visits Bais Yaakov of Baltimore

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n Wednesday, May 19, the eleventh grade of Shevach High School was privileged to visit a unique exhibit created by the students of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore.

Titled “Journeys Through the Generations,” the exhibit allowed visitors to learn about Jewish history throughout the ages through a creative tour that consisted of sophisticated museum-like displays featuring Jewish life in over 30 countries worldwide. The Shevach girls were excited to review their lessons in Jewish history in a fun way and to interact with the Baltimore students.

Upon arriving at Bais Yaakov, the Shevach students were warmly welcomed by the Baltimore girls and introduced to their “tour guides.” The guides led the girls through room after room, each devoted to a different

country or region, and explained the research they had done to create displays highlighting the major historical events and leaders of that area.

The displays consisted of enormous hand-painted murals of famous Jewish scenes, intricate mosaics of great rabbanim, artifacts from students’ ancestors that originated from each country, and even an enormous student-made revolving door.

In the Eastern Asia room, students were impressed by a large mural of the Chinese Kaifeng shul constructed out of colored chopsticks. A mosaic of the great Sephardic rabbanim in the Spain room made entirely out of black and white dice drew a lot of attention.

In the United States room, the girls saw a wall covered in the pink slips that Jewish immigrants had received for refusing to work on Shabbos,

upon which the students had written names of their ancestors that had kept Shabbos as well. In the Poland and Germany room, there was a short but thorough history of the struggles of the Jews during the Holocaust that included a brick and cement model of a concentration camp.

The tour ended with a visit to “Eretz Yisrael,” where the girls saw a model of the Bais Hamikdash made on the school’s 3D printer, as well as an inspiring memorial dedicated to the recent Meron tragedy. After viewing these exhibits the girls were asked, “How have you changed?” and urged to take on a kabbalah as a zechus for the niftarim.

The Shevach students were extremely impressed by the creativity and professionalism of the Baltimore girls, and were excited to realize how

much of the information they recognized from their own parallel classes.

All left inspired by the history of the Jewish nation – by their sacrifices, their struggles and their triumphs.

The entire group came away determined to continue this privileged legacy. In the words of one student; “I really felt such a connection to the Jews who came before us who had such mesiras nefesh for Torah and mitzvos.”

After touring the exhibit, before beginning the long journey home, the girls were treated to a delicious lunch at the Baltimore pizza shop. Kudos to Shevach staff members Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz, Mrs. Chaya Swerdloff and Mrs. Gitty Lipsius for making this incredible experience possible, and thank you to Shevach sophomore Chani Miller, for reporting on this special trip.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

PRE SE N TS:

COVID-19 VACCINE TOWN HALL for the Five Towns and Far Rockaway Community

Wednesday 06.02.21

8:30 PM

LIVESTREAM EVENT TO ANSWER YOUR COVID-19 AND VACCINE RELATED QUESTIONS

Rabbi Tzvi Flaum

INTRODUCTION

ROSH YESHIVA, TORAH STUDIES NETWORK

VALERIE ALTMAN MD

DEBORAH DIENSTAG MD

OBGYN, NORTHWELL HEALTH

PEDIATRICIAN, LAWRENCE, NY

MICHAEL OPPENHEIM MD INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST NORTHWELL HEALTH

VISIT WWW.VAXFACTS.LIVE TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT AND TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED LIVE

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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Rabbi Eisikovic’s seventh grade class of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island was treated to a walk to Kol Save and a shopping spree there for accumulating many hasmoda hours learned for Masmid Govoha

Israel is Open to U.S. Travelers. Here’s How to Get In

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ur hearts and prayers are with our Israeli brothers and sisters as they endure the constant barrage of missiles and deal with the general unrest of the last couple of weeks. We hope and pray that things return to normal very soon and we can visit our friends and family and enjoy the beauty of the land of our heritage in peace and tranquility.

For those planning on a trip to the Holy Land, we sat down with the Yaacov @ PEYD Travel Team and asked them to share pertinent information to help those navigate their trip to Israel in this post COVID world.

Joseph: How’s business?

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: Things are getting better thankfully. Travel is opening up, and, in fact, I am pleased to share that you can actually travel to Israel now!

Joseph: Really? Tell me more!

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: Sure! For starters, Israeli citizens can travel to Israel without any restrictions.

Similarly, American citizens with a First Degree Relative or those with Special Occasions (Wedding/Bar Mitzvha/Birth) can travel to Israel as well by obtaining a special permit (Ishur) to fly.

Additionally, Israel just announced that, starting on June 1, a select list of tour groups will be part

of a trial of travelers visiting Israel of “regular” travelers not traveling for any special occasion or those with the close relative requirement.

And even more exciting is the announcement that on June 15 government-approved organized tour groups of at least 5 people will be able to travel to Israel.

Finally, readers should be aware that it has been rumored that beginning July 1, Israel plans on opening to individual tourists who don’t have first degree relatives in Israel!

Joseph: Wow, this is very exciting news! How can our readers go about obtaining this permit??

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: It’s a simple (albeit a little nerve wracking) process actually. In order to receive your permit, you need to email your local Israeli consulate – the Consulate General of Israel – New York can be reached at Consular.Services@ newyork.mfa.gov.il. You must send the details of who is traveling and how you are related to the people you are visiting. You can read full description of what is required at https://embassies.gov.il/new-york/ ConsularSer vices/Pages/COVID19PERMITS.aspx Joseph: How much time does it take to receive a permit?

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: It depends on how prepared you are. The

consulate processes applications more quickly if all paperwork is in order. When preparing for travel, note that passengers must a) apply for a permit with applicable documentation 3 weeks prior to flight.

Additionally, passengers must b) purchase COVID Insurance, which is an insurance policy where the carrier will cover passengers in the event passengers come down with the virus. Insurance can be purchased at https://www.travelexinsurance. com/. Assuming you have all this information at the time you submit your application, you should receive your permit within two weeks!

Joseph: Not too bad. What about COVID testing and general health requirements?

What do passengers need to do in advance in order to be able to travel?

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: Glad you asked, as this is an important element required by many countries in order to travel these days. The Israeli government requires negative PCR tests 3-days prior to travel (this is required on return flights as well).

Joseph: How about when you land in Israel; do passengers have to quarantine upon arrival?

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: Yes and no. Upon arrival passengers (including those vaccinated) must quar-

antine until they receive antibody testing in Israel (results are very quick and generally obtained within 4-8 hours which is good news for those who are vaccinated or have a high antibody count). You can advance schedule your antibody test at https://check2fly.co.il/auth.

Joseph: That’s great! Any requirements for staying at hotels?

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: For those staying at hotels, checking into your hotel requires you to show an antibody test result document that gets you a green passport (some travelers have reported getting into their hotel with only the antibody test results).

Joseph: So, in summary for those wanting to travel to Israel, all you need is a good reason, to spend a little extra on PCR tests on the outbound (and return flights), a brief quarantine period while your antibody results are obtained, and you are good to go!

Yaacov @ PEYD Travel: Correct!

Obviously, this is a very fluid situation and one that keeps changing so travelers should check with the PEYD Travel team for the latest updates. We can be reached at (646) 801-7393 or by visiting www.travelwithpeyd.com.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Around the Community

Honors at Rambam

life is not perfect, but it is beautiful. alphaonestudio@gmail.com

Jake Fuchs

Yoni Bench

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he Rambam Mesivta Class of 2021/5781 is represented by three standouts who exemplify the highest values of Torah, middos, and excellence.

Jake Fuchs: Rambam Valedictorian Jake is an AP Scholar with Honors, on the Dean’s List, a 2019 Lawrence Association Good Citizen Award recipient, member of the Rambam Scholar Enrichment Program, member of Student Government, Chess Team, Torah Bowl, Model Beis Din, Odyssey of the Mind, and Entrepreneur Club. Jake volunteered at the Gural JCC packaging and distributing food to the elderly and others most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

He is a skilled and avid writer and has written for Rambam’s Writers’ Guild, Hamasmid Rambam Torah publication, and Kol HaNearim publication. He has a passion for Torah study, archeology, and all things history related. Jake is the youngest 2021 Rambam graduate. One of his most memorable Rambam moments was getting to share his bar mitzvah in his freshman year with his classmates and the administration.

Jake will attend the Queens College Scholars Program, having received a 4-year merit award, and plans on pursuing a dual degree in History and Secondary Education (SEYS), while attending a NY-based semicha program. His goal is to pursue a career in Jewish education and administration so he can inspire the next generation.

Yoni Bench, Rambam Salutatorian Yoni is an active member of the Rambam Mesivta community. He

Binyamin Werner

regularly participates in clubs such as the Writers’ Guild and Classic Film Club, where he enjoys socializing with his peers. Through his political career with the SGO, he has helped introduce several programs to improve student life. These include the outdoor student lounge, a school supplies and charging station, and yearly visits from therapy dog teams before finals. Last September, Yoni founded the Mesivta News Network, a weekly student-run news broadcast in which he acts as host and editor. Next year, he plans to continue his spiritual growth and enhance his Talmud Torah at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush). Subsequently, he intends to double-major in biology and film production at Brandeis University.

Binyamin Werner, Rambam Keter Shem Tov awardee Binyamin is a constant presence at the school’s extra-learning Masmidim Program and president of the Early Morning Learning Program. He is the chief coordinator for HaMasmid and has written many divrei Torah as well. Binyamin is a true ben Torah. He is also the recipient of the Lawrence Association 2020 Good Citizen Award and is always there to help, give words of encouragement, or serve as the humble moral compass to friends and those around him. His kindness and commitment to others makes him the ideal recipient of Rambam’s Keter Shem Tov Award.

Despite the challenges faced over the past year and half, these students continued to exhibit the best in Torah learning, academic excellence, and the desire to give back.

They are fitting representatives of the Class of 2021/5781.

yaelivogel.com

info@yaelivogel.com

yaelivogel

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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The first graders at Yeshiva of South Shore are learning firsthand how food grows from a little seed.

They looked at seeds under the microscope and planted bulbs in their garden

Celebrating Four Years of Mesivta Netzach HaTorah in Woodmere

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ver the past four years, Mesivta Netzach HaTorah has quickly grown into a premier boys high school in the Five Towns community and beyond. This vibrant and exciting Mesivta continues to hold true to its founding mission in which every student is inspired to “learn Torah and live Torah.” Under the leadership of the Menahel, Rabbi Yitzchok Yurman, the Mesivta is proud to graduate its very first class this June, with 100% of the boys continuing their learning in Eretz Yisrael next year.

“We could not be happier with what our boys have achieved this year in particular, but really over the last four years, in their learning, middos and personal development. As a new Mesivta, we are honored to have our talmidim be accepted into the finest yeshivas in Eretz Yisrael to continue their growth next year,” said Rabbi Yurman.

With the tremendous growth of the Five Towns Jewish community in recent years, Netzach HaTorah was founded by visionaries to meet the needs of both the growing community as well as provide families with the opportunity to join a warm and closeknit Mesivta experience. What began as only a dream, quickly turned into a reality with families in the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, Queens and Brooklyn joining the Netzach family. As the Mesivta added grades over

the years, the Mesivta brought in additional dynamic and experienced rebbeim along with a top-tier general studies department run by the principal, Rabbi Yirmiyahu Lebowitz.

Providing an immersive and intensive limudei kodesh focus, coupled with a thorough academic program, the talmidim graduate ready for kollel and college. Netzach looks to meet the entire needs of every student without compromise.

“I am truly in awe of the tireless dedication of the Rosh HaYeshiva, Hanhala and staff of the Mesivta.

They have built a yeshiva that is the

pride of the community in just four short years. I am so proud to be a part of the growth and impact that this Mesivta has, and will have, on the entire Klal Yisrael,” said Shalom Vegh, president of the board. With experiential learning, trips, kumzitzes, chessed partnerships and many other opportunities inside and outside of the classroom and beis medrash, Netzach focuses on building the students with the mindset and responsibility of personal growth and helping others.

On Sunday, June 6 at 12:30 PM at The Woodmere Club, Netzach HaTo-

rah will celebrate a historic milestone as they graduate their first class. This gala will pay tribute to the founding families of the Mesivta graduates, the pioneers, who opened the doors of the Mesivta four years ago and paved the way for future talmidim for years to come. Featuring an elegant outdoor BBQ and world renowned music stars Beri Weber, Simcha Leiner and Joey Newcomb, the gala will be a tribute to the dedication and vision of these founding families. Reservations and ads can be made at Netzachhatorah.com/gala. Deadline for ads is June 1st.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Around the Community

Sen. Kaminsky Honors Student Stars

S

enator Todd Kaminsky honored local high school standout students for excelling inside and out of the classroom with the New York State Senate Student Stars Award in a ceremony held on Sunday at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center. Each school in the 9th Senate District selects one student who has demonstrated outstanding academic and extracurricular excellence.

“The recipients of the New York State Senate Student Stars Award have distinguished themselves as leaders in their schools and our local community as a whole,” said Senator Kaminsky. “I was pleased to recognize their achievements and join their families in celebrating their accomplishments. I look forward to seeing what is in store next for these talented students, as they continue to make their mark.”

Local students honored by Senator Kaminsky include:

Judah Orlanski Rambam Mesivta Judah is a natural leader and excellent student in Rambam who is always willing to help his classmates and get involved in extracurricular activities. He will be heading to Yeshivat Lev Hatorah in the fall followed by Binghamton University.

Amichai Miller DRS Yeshiva High School Amichai Miller is an exceptional

Amichai with Senator Kaminsky

DRS student in and out of the classroom. He spearheads the Kulanu club, which matches mainstream students with special needs students every week to participate in various activities. The program requires a tremendous amount of effort and coordination on Amichai’s part, through which he exemplifies leadership in the school.

Ezra Wallach - HAFTR Ezra Wallach is one of HAFTR’s top students, taking a rigorous course load and many AP courses. He is a member of the mock trial team, the math team, assistant captain on the chess team, as well as a leader on the college bowl and Torah bowl teams.

Judah with Senator Kaminsky

Ezra is also a member of various athletic teams. His community service involvement includes distributing food packages to needy families.

He is a role model to other students in HAFTR for his leadership. Ezra is headed to Israel at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh next year and subsequently will attend Yeshiva University.

ing program and serves as a leader in her synagogue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she organized a backyard camp for children to interact, an effort that helped many families during these difficult times.

She has made many efforts, both inside and outside of school, to bring people together.

Orli Flug- Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls Orli Flug is a bright young leader at SKA, dedicating much time and effort to her academic pursuits. She participates in many extracurricular activities including the College Bowl, the Israel action committee, Stella K. Abraham (SKA) mentor-

Caitlin Davis - Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Caitlin is an excellent student at HANC who has a talent for mobilizing and organizing students whenever student involvement is needed.

She is vice president of the Student Senate, a member of the National Honor Society, an athlete and dancer.

Senior Seminar and Shabbaton at Central

S

eniors at Central enjoyed a Zoom week of programming at home! Wednesday kicked off with two inspirational speakers: Mr. and Mrs. Ari Blau, who spoke about their journey from Hollywood to Torah, and Rabbi Wegbreit, from Israel, who spoke about having kavanah while doing mitzvot.

Thursday began with a Taharat HaMishpacha class with Mrs. Rivka Alter, followed by a virtual tour of the Teaneck mikvah! Our seniors enjoyed a very personalized tour of the space and were able to ask questions along the way. On Thursday afternoon, the seniors had an optional “Sem-Prep Adulting” class with Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, Ms. Ela-

na Kook, and Ms. Leah Moskovich. There was an open floor to ask questions about the transition from Central to seminary, peer pressure, spiritual growth, and things to look

out for and be prepared for living in another country.

The week concluded with G.O. elections, and an introduction to the Senior Shabbaton, happening

this Shabbat at Camp Kaylie! The theme of Shabbat is “Aspire,” and the schedule is jam-packed with sessions, games, panels, and zemirot galore. It is sure to be a weekend to remember!

Thank you to our seniors for another great week and to the following faculty members for joining with the seniors this Shabbat: Mrs. Rivka Alter, Ms. Kymmie Baker, Mrs. Shulamith Biderman, Mrs. Chani Cooper, Mrs. Hadassah Frankel, Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, Rabbi Josh Goller, Ms. Elana Kook, Ms. Leah Moskovich, Ms. Bracha Rutner, Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz, Mrs. Rebecca Teper, Rabbi Elie Weissman, and Mrs. Jaqueline Walkowitz.

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Around the Community

Our Legacy, Our Future, Shulamith Dinner: A Huge Success!

Melissa Spector, Hakarat Hatov Awardee

Mrs. Rookie Billet, Master Mechanechet

Benjy and Adina Goldstein, Guests of Honor

S

hulamith hosted their virtual dinner on Wednesday, May 12. Shulamith School for Girls has been a vital educational institution in the Five Towns for several decades. This pandemic year posed many new challenges, but Shulamith was open every single day and did not allow anything to stop the annual dinner from taking place in a meaningful, safe way. This year’s virtual dinner allowed Shulamith family and friends to come together to celebrate accomplishments and show hakarat hatov to some incredibly special people.

Hakarat HaTov: Ms. Melissa Spector Melissa Spector, fondly known as “Morah Melissa,” joined our Shulamith family eight years ago to work in the Lower Division office. From the beginning to this very day, Melissa always comes into the building with a warm and upbeat greeting for every person she meets. When the divisions joined together on the beautiful campus on Cedarhurst Avenue several years ago, Melissa’s genuine simcha and lev shalem generated a daily ray of sunshine, kindness, and cooperation throughout the school.

Master Mechanechet: Mrs. Rookie Billet Mrs. Billet is completing a long and illustrious career in chinuch that spans five decades. She is

Dr. Michael Grushko, member of the 20-21 Medical Committee

Dr. Pamela Singer, member of the 20-21 Medical Committtee

known to always make time to listen carefully to voices great and small, to build and encourage confidence, to support and defend ideas and people, to give comfort and chizuk in tough times, to celebrate others’ triumphs with a full heart. A core value for Mrs. Billet is respect; which means that when we respect Hashem, our parents, our teachers, the Torah, the rules, our elders, the environment, others’ property, our friends and ourselves, we contribute to the building of a more peaceful, kind, generous and better world to pass on to future generations. Though members of the Shulamith family are proud and happy for Mrs. Billet to achieve her dream of Aliyah, it makes saying goodbye that much more difficult.

Guests of Honor: Mr. Benjy and Mrs. Adina Goldstein: The strong kesher that the Goldsteins have with Shulamith began even before Shulamith of Long Island was created! Adina’s mother was a member of the first class of Shulamith in Brooklyn, and Adina herself is a Shulamith graduate. As a result of their steadfast commitment, patience, time and generosity, Shulamith opened its doors in the Five Towns close to a quarter of a century ago. Their daughter Michal was a student in one of the first classes when the school opened in our area. The Goldsteins were also a driving force in the opening and founding of Shulamith High School, which only strengthened their commit-

Did you know?

The phrase “Gold Star Family,” dates back to World War I, when military families displayed service flags featuring a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the Armed Forces. The star’s color would be changed to gold if the family lost a loved one in the war, hence the term, “Gold Star Family.”

Dr. Yossi Weinstein, member of the 20-21 Medical Committee

ment to the school. Theirs is a home permeated with mesirat nefesh for Torah, for Israel, and dedication to the Klal.

The virtual dinner, hosted by Rabbi David Orlofsky, a Shulamith grandfather, began with a meaningful introduction from Board President Mr. Ari Cohen and featured a discussion with Rabbi Paysach Krohn. The program continued with a panel discussion with current principal Mrs. Joyce Yamak, who spoke eloquently about Shulamith’s legacy. The viewers were then treated to a discussion about our “future” with Dr. Evelyn Gross and Mrs. Sara Munk. Mrs. Elka Ginsparg, incoming principal, inspired everyone with a special message. The highlight of the program was definitely a surprise presentation to the Shulamith Medical Committee 20/21. Mr. Ari Cukier, a Shulamith parent and singer, created a rendition of his featured song “Refaeinu” (Lev Tahor). He went back to his studio to record this new version of the song, thanking and expressing hakarat hatov for our phenomenal medical committee who dedicated their expertise, as well as countless hours and patience, to ensure that Shulamith would remain open during an unprecedented pandemic and enjoy a wonderfully successful year of learning and growing.

In between video segments, Shulamith students of all ages took part in an entertaining game show that tested their knowledge of Shulamith “trivia.” Thanks to Sharmel Caterers, donors and faculty were treated to a beautifully presented meat charcuterie board. The virtual journal was available to view and included over 400 pages of greetings and good wishes to the honorees, faculty and the school. The feedback was unanimous – the virtual dinner was exceptional all around.

Shulamith is grateful to all those who made the dinner a huge success. We look forward to honoring Mrs. Joyce Yarmak, founding principal, for her outstanding commitment, leadership and tireless effort on behalf of Shulamith on Wednesday June 1, 2022 (Sands Atlantic Beach).

Thank you to all of our families, friends and supporters!

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M E M O R Y

The Secret Ingredient To “My Favorite Son-in-Law,” Yehoshua Aryeh Ben Shalom Skurnik, z”l

By Akiva J. Palmer

Dear Josh, It’s not easy to write a letter in the past tense when we all still feel your presence every moment of the day.

I know what you’re thinking. How could any parent, especially a fatherin-law, have favorites?

You are right! But Josh, you were in a league all by yourself. Just ask any of my other favorite sons-in-law (that’s right, Simmy, Naftali, Nachum and Aaron), and they can attest that you were their favorite brother-in-law as well. And for good reasons.

Josh, you cared about everyone and made everyone, from the simplest pashute Yid to the greatest rabbanim of our generation, feel special. Everyone knew you and loved you because who couldn’t be affected by your contagious smile and hardy laugh?

So what secret ingredient am I talking about? So I’m going to tell the “oilam” about our private conversations.

Besides being your father-in-law, you and I shared a few common interests. We were both in the food business, and although my pizza – which I have been making for over 30 years – is pretty good, it will never even slightly compare to yours. From time to time, we would schmooze and talk shop like all people in our trade do.

One of the things I used to “chepper” you about was the necessity of spending extra money on certain ingredients when the generic subs were just fine. Josh, remember me saying, “Why bother with the expensive high gluten flour? Regular generic high

gluten flour is fine for pizza” or “why use expensive cheese? There are other more economically priced cheeses on the market.”

To which you would always respond: “My customers deserve the best. I will not put inferior ingredients into my foods.” And you meant it.

Even when you finally told me your pizza recipe (which I had to beg you for), I was even more awed, cause the recipe was very similar to mine – yet the results were not.

but by saying a kind and nice word to anyone who needed it. You were always there when someone needed a lift or was going through a difficult time. You cheered them up and did it always with that big smile and laugh of yours.

People say that you were always willing to give the shirt off your back. I disagree. You were willing to do everything it would take to uplift the person, and then you would give them a job in the pizza shop as well.

Josh, you would notice a single

Everyone knew you and loved you because who couldn’t be affected by your contagious smile and hardy laugh?

Please understand, that coming from Hungarian stock and growing up with recipes that usually were missing something, just so the recipient would be unable to duplicate, was not in the least unusual.

“Come on, Josh,” I would say.

“There must be a secret ingredient that you are not sharing with me! Don’t pull the Hungarian shtick and share it with me.”

But now I know what that secret ingredient was, and I’m going to let the secret out so everyone else will know as well.

Josh, you were all about making people happy and not just by filling their stomachs up with delicious food,

parent who had their “once a week” visitation with their children and took them out for pizza. You made sure to come by with some extra fries or garlic knots just to make them feel that much better.

You confided with me many times that people would come from all over with their problems. You told me that you often felt like a part-time therapist.

You humbly told me that you did not know why. “I’m just lending a listening ear and, with a good word or two, to make people feel good.”

Wow! If you only knew how the power, potency, and effectiveness you possessed.

And your patience? I know it’s

hard to believe (he said sarcastically) but sometimes people would come into your store grumpy, tired, hungry and not always with the patience they should have. Nevertheless, you looked beyond it and still served them with a smile – sometimes even redoing the order at your own expense, when most of us would have just said, “Sorry, this is the best I could do!” and move on.

So by now you all figured out the secret ingredient as I did.

Your secret ingredient was love, which cannot be qualified or quantified nor can it be just given over on a recipe card.

Josh, you taught us that no matter what we do in our lives, when we do it with unconditional love, the results, or the end product, will always taste better.

I remember when the little kids, and some adults as well, would see you, they would call out to you “Hey, it’s the pizza man” but we knew you better because you were not just the pizza man, but the man, the ish, with the tremendous lev, who also made pizza.

Josh, you were everyone’s favorite.

Please be a meilitz yosher for our family so that Hashem should watch over your unbelievable wife, Sari, and my adorable granddaughter Michal who does not stop asking for you.

And, of course, for Klal Yisrael who are all hurting now.

Josh, you were right when you told us that we really need Moshiach now.

Your Father-in-Law, Akiva J. Palmer

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Op- d

The Time Has Come to Complete the Nassau Expressway

By Leg. Howard Kopel and Leg. Denise Ford

W

e applaud when new businesses open in our community, providing jobs, much needed tax revenue and convenience to our residents. However, while working to attract these companies, we cannot neglect to ask whether we can support the additional burdens placed on our infrastructure.

The new Amazon warehouse now rising on Rockaway Boulevard on the Nassau-Queens border will, when operational, add a significant amount of new traffic to an already immensely overburdened roadway, which serves as the only real evacuation route from the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, and the Long Beach-Atlantic Beach area, housing many tens of thousands of people. Already now, Rockaway carries many multiples of the amount of traffic for which it was designed many years ago. Several times a day, on most days, traffic is backed up in both directions, usually causing severe delays to motorists. We have seen southbound traffic backed up all the way to the Southern State Parkway, a distance of about 7 miles. Northbound, we have seen a good part of the Five Towns area snarled in traffic for hours. Ambulances, police and other first responders face a hopeless task when they need to traverse the area. Emergency evacuation, should it be needed, is virtually impossible.

To be perfectly clear, this is NOT a call for Amazon’s warehouse plan to be blocked. Rather, we should welcome and support it properly. And the solution is readily available, requiring only the attention and action by our state and federal officials who have ignored this critical situation for years, endangering the lives and welfare of

the affected areas.

The answer to this critical problem is to get traffic traveling between the affected areas and Queens and Manhattan off the commercial strip running from Burnside Avenue on the

running through the Atlantic Beach Bridge was planned as early as 1945.

It will not be necessary to recite the complete unhappy series of delays and government (mostly New York State) failures affecting the proposed

They rebuilt a half-mile section of the existing roadway between Burnside Avenue in Lawrence and Rockaway at the astonishing cost of $100 million.

south end, to Brookville Boulevard on the north. It would also be good to bypass the area in Queens where the Motor Vehicle Bureau is situated. The issue was known, and a solution envisioned before most of us were born.

A highway (the “Nassau Expressway,” now New York Route 878) connecting the Belt Parkway and

highway. This is well documented and available online. Suffice it to say that, although the complete right of way was acquired by New York State in the 1950s and 1960s, only the Western section in Queens, ending at JFK Airport and a scaled down southern section, in Nassau were ever built, leaving the entire portion alongside

the airport and along the busy commercial area between Brookville Boulevard in Queens and Peninsula Boulevard in Nassau County unbuilt.

This unbuilt section accounts for the traffic issues.

We have been calling for years for New York State to complete the Nassau Expressway. Instead, Governor Cuomo and Senator Kaminsky provided a band-aid that never helped.

They rebuilt a half-mile section of the existing roadway between Burnside Avenue in Lawrence and Rockaway at the astonishing cost of $100 million.

While this did alleviate flooding that happened a few times a year, it did nothing to fix the real problem.

We wrote to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Congressional Representatives Rice and Meeks on April 6, 2021, recognizing the likely imminence of a large infrastructure program, and asking that this community be remembered and the Nassau Expressway finally built.

To date, we have not had the courtesy of a reply.

It is time for our community to stand up and declare that we are not second-class citizens and deserve to finally have our needs recognized and addressed by our elected representatives. If you agree, please join us, and sign our online petition at: www.nassaucountyny.gov/ld7 v

Leg. Howard J. Kopel is the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature representing the 7th Legislative District. Leg. Denise Ford is the Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, representing the 4th Legislative District.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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1.

TJH

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Centerfold

Pentagon Facts 

Although a building of the Pentagon’s size normally would take approximately four years to build, the Pentagon took just 16 months to build.



The 9/11 attacks, one of which took place when a plane crashed into the Pentagon and killed 184 people, took place on the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Pentagon.

 

There are 17.5 miles of corridors in the Pentagon.

Despite its vastness, the Pentagon was designed so that you can move between any two points in the Pentagon in about 10 minutes.



The Pentagon has 284 bathrooms, which is twice as many as is needed, because it was built during segregation.



Major Leslie Groves who oversaw the day-today construction of the Pentagon, also oversaw the Manhattan Project, which successfully developed the world’s first atomic bomb.

 

During construction, the builders were able to conserve enough steel to build a battleship.

Approximately 25,000 people work in the Pentagon, and approximately 100,000 emails are sent daily from the Pentagon.



During the Cold War, the Russians used satellite imagery to observe many military officers entering and exiting a structure in the center of the Pentagon’s courtyard, and they concluded that it was the entrance to an underground bunker. It was actually a hot dog stand. Since it was presumed that the Russians had their missiles zeroed in on this structure, the hot dog stand earned the nickname “Cafe Ground Zero, the deadliest hot dog stand in the world.”



There is no marble in the Pentagon, as it was built during World War II, and Italy, the source of marble, was an enemy country.

You Gotta be Kidding Me! A trio of old veterans was bragging about the heroic exploits of their ancestors one afternoon down at the VFW hall.

“My great grandfather, at age 13,” one declared proudly, “was a drummer boy at Shiloh.”

“Mine,” boasted another, “went down with Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.”

“I’m the only soldier in my family,” confessed

vet number three, “but if my great-grandfather was living today, he’d be the most famous man in the world.”

“Really? What’d he do?” his friends wanted to know.

“Nothing much,” he replied. “But he would be 165 years old.”

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Military Slang 1. Fitty

A. I’ve got your back

2. Hit the silk

B. Well done

3. Klicks

C. Flashlight

4. Moonbeam

D. An easy assignment

5. Rack time

E. To sleep

6. Bravo Zulu

F. The display of medals and ribbons on one’s uniform

7. Soup sandwich 8. Got your six 9. Fruit salad 10. Blue falcon 11. Crumb catcher 12. Fang 13. Grape 14. Oxygen thief 15. Puddle pirate

G. A soldier whose performance is unsatisfactory H. M2 .50 caliber machine gun I. Mouth J. Backstabber K. Member of the Coast Guard L. Rebuke M. Ejecting from an aircraft N. Someone who’s useless or talks too much O. Kilometers

Answers: 1-H 2-M 3-O 4-C 5-E

6-B 7- G 8- A 9-F 10- J

11-I 12- L 13- D 14- N 15- K

Wisdom Key: 13-15 correct: Bravo Zulu!

9-12 correct: Your fruit salad ain’t bad!

5-8 correct: You spent too much time rack-timing it while you were in the service.

0-4 correct: You’re a total grape.

Riddle me This?

Captain Frank and some of the boys were exchanging old war stories. Art Bragg offered one about how his grandfather led a battalion against a German division during World War I. Through brilliant maneuvers, he defeated them and captured valuable territory.

After the battle, he was presented with a sword bearing the inscription “To Captain Bragg for Bravery, Daring and Leadership.

World War I. From the Men of Battalion.”

Captain Frank looked at Art and said, “You really don’t expect anyone to believe that yarn, do you?”

What’s wrong with Art’s story?

Answer below

Answer to Riddle: World War I wasn’t called “World War I” until World War II took place.

Match each word with the correct definition

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Torah Thought

Parshas Beha’aloscha

By Rabbi Berel Wein

W

e are familiar with the Rashi’s comment in the second verse of this week’s Torah reading that the priest who lit the candelabra was to keep the fire close to the wick, until the wick itself caught fire and rose by itself. This is a lesson not only regarding the lighting

of the great candelabra in the Temple but is also a metaphor for many life situations. Unless the wick itself truly catches fire and holds the flame on its own, the effort expended in attempting to light this wick will ultimately be fruitless and unsuccessful.

This metaphor is true in family life

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as well, for if our children and grandchildren are unable to be successful on their own, then the parents have somehow failed their responsibility regarding their children. This is also true in the realm of education. Students who can never be productive on their own, no matter how much knowledge they have, will not be a source of pride to their teachers.

We have witnessed many times in life that people who were somehow voted to be the most likely from their class to be successful in the future do

the Land of Israel. They are seemingly well mobilized for the journey and embark upon it with apparent enthusiasm. Nevertheless, this journey turns into a trek of 38 years of bitterness, hostility, rebellion, and eventual demise of that entire generation.

Simply put, the flame that was with the Jewish people at the Exodus from Egypt and the revelation at Mount Sinai did not hold fast enough to be able to survive the tests and vicissitudes of life and the events that lay ahead.

It would be the task of the later

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not fulfill that hope and expectation.

Their flame did not kindle itself and is of limited illumination and value.

There are many factors that go into this eternal problem of generations of students. However, the result is what usually counts, and everyone agrees that success is measured by the ability to eventually achieve by one’s own efforts.

This week’s Torah reading itself provides an example of this idea, of making certain that the flame will take hold on its own and not flicker and later disappear. We are taught that the Jewish people undertook what should have been a short march from the Mountain of Sinai to enter

generations to summon the will and tenacity necessary to see to it that the tools necessary for the national growth and development of the Jewish people in the land of Israel would be strong enough to maintain itself on its own. That remains the challenge in Jewish life throughout the long centuries of our existence, and especially over the tumultuous centuries that we have recently experienced. Tenacity of purpose and strength of will have been and remain the key weapons in our arsenal of survival and triumph, and we will see the flame of Israel strengthen and rise once again in our days.

Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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SOME SEE BUILDINGS. O T H E R S S E E E T E R N I T Y.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s new capital project will encompass a Mesivta Beis Medrash and its first-ever Residence Hall. This project will empower generations of talmidim to learn, thrive and grow in an environment conducive to their lofty calling. Long after the final brick is laid, your gift will continue to accrue dividends.

Some look at these plans and see bricks and mortar. Our visionary builders see eternity.

MR. & MRS. BERISH & HANNAH FUCHS

THE BIVETSKY FAMILY SHAAR HATORAH

MR. & MRS. YUSSIE & SUSAN OSTREICHER

RESIDENCE HALL AND TORAH CENTER

‫ה ליב ע”ה‬-‫לע”נ שלום ראובן בן ארי‬

MESIVTA BEIS MEDRASH BUILDING

MESIVTA BEIS MEDRASH

ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS Residence Hall Cornerstone

‫לע”נ ישראל הלוי לעווין ע”ה‬ ‫ואלישבע בתיה קפלן ע”ה‬ Beis Medrash Vestibule Entrance

‫לע”נ‬ ‫דוד בן משה ע”ה‬ ‫הר‘ משה נתן בן יחזקאל ע”ה‬ ‫וישראל בן אברהם ע”ה‬

THE SCHRON FAMILY

MR. & MRS. YITZCHOK & SHOSHANA GANGER

MR. & MRS. BENZION & MIRIAM HEITNER Entranceway to Mesivta Beis Medrash Building

THE BLOOM FAMILY

MR. & MRS. SHAYA & ALIZA ACKERMAN

‫לע”נ ר‘ ישראל‬ ‫בן ר‘ בנימין הכהן ע”ה‬

Mr & Mrs Simcha & Shani Applegrad

Mr. & Mrs. Berel & Sherry Daskal

MR. & MRS. ALON & CHANIE GOLDBERGER Sha’ar of New Beis Medrash

Mr. & Mrs. Naftoli & Chani Einhorn

DEDICATION OF CAMP ORAYSA CAMPUS In Memory of Mrs. Marta Schron ‫ע”ה‬

GYMNASIUM WING

DR. & MRS. YOSSI & ZIVIA SCHWARTZ

MR. & MRS. NASSAN & DEVORAH TREITEL

Dedicated by Mr. & Mrs. Yaakov & Rivky Jacobovitch

Mesivta Beis Medrash Building Cornerstone

Preschool Cornerstone

‫לע”נ חוה בת דב ע”ה‬

MR. & MRS. NACHMAN & ESTHER GOODMAN Entrance of Beis Medrash Building

Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Sholom & Rivky Leibowitz

MR. & MRS. SHMULI & MIRIAM MENDEL Sha’ar of New Beis Medrash

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew & Stephani Serotta

MR. & MRS. MOTTY & HADASA MENDELSOHN

Mr. & Mrs. Yehuda & Mindy Zachter

MR. & MRS. MENASH & MIMI ORATZ Basketball Court in Elementary School Gym

‫לע”נ‬

The children, bochurim and all 45 neshamos of the Miron tragedy, Lag Baomer 5781

‫לע”נ‬ ‫זעליג בן מרדכי ע”ה‬

Get in on the ground floor of this monumental project.

To choose from a wide selection of sponsorships at all levels, please contact: Rabbi Zev Bald 718.868.2300 ext. 232 zbald@darchei.org Rabbi Baruch Rothman 718.868.2300 ext. 706 brothman@darchei.org

darchei.org

‫לע”נ מוהר”ר יחיאל מיכל‬ ‫בן ישראל יהודה ע”ה‬

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From the Fire Parshas Beha’aloscha

Making a Good Prophet

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

here are two mysterious men in the parsha, Eldad and Medad.

We know that they prophesied in the camp and that Yehoshua was very upset by this and complained to Moshe that they were dishonoring Moshe by prophesying in the camp.

Nonplused, Moshe responded (Bamidbar 11:29), “Are you zealous on my behalf? Would that all the nation of Hashem were prophets and that Hashem placed His spirit upon them!”

In order to understand this episode, we must understand a little bit more about prophecy. The following exchange between Hashem and the Prophet Yirmiyahu is very difficult to understand (Yirmiyahu 1:5-6): “[Hashem said], ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you and before you came out of the womb. I sanctified you and made you a prophet to the nations.’ And I said, ‘Behold my Master, Hashem, I do not know how to speak because I am a just a young man.’”

What does Yirmiyahu mean?

How could he say Hashem should not choose him as a navi because he does

not know how to speak? What difference does that make? In any event, a prophet only says the words Hashem gives him. Indeed, that is exactly what Hashem answered him (Yirmiyahu 1:7): “Do not say, ‘I am just a young man’ because wherever I send you, you will go, and whatever I command you, you will say.”

In addition, the words of the bracha over the haftara are also difficult to understand. It says, “Who choose good nevi’im and finds favor in their words.” The fact that we thank Hashem for choosing “good nevi’im” implies that there is such a thing as bad nevi’im. How could that be? And if there can be bad nevi’im, how could Moshe have wished that all Jews should be nevi’im if not all prophets are necessarily “good”? The blessing also says that the words of the nevi’im find favor in Hashem’s eyes. Would that go without saying because of the simple fact that the nevi’im’s words come from Hashem? Of course, their words find favor in His eyes since they are His own words!

In a frightening turn of events recounted in Melachim 2:22, King Yoshiyahu was told that a Sefer Torah was found in the Beis Hamikdash which was opened up to the parsha of the curses that will befall the Jewish people if they do not keep Hashem’s mitzvos. Upon hearing this, the king wanted to know exactly what Hashem wants of him and the nation, so he sent the Kohen Gadol to the prophetess Chulda to discern the will of Hashem. It is difficult to understand why he told him to go to Chulda when Yirmiyahu, one of the greatest nevi’im of all time, was alive and well at the time. The Gemara asks and answers this question in Megila 14b: “And how did Yoshiyahu himself neglect Yirmiyahu and send a messenger to her [Chulda]? It is said in the name of the school of Rabi Shila that it is because women are more merciful.”

But how is the fact that Chulda would be more merciful than Yirmiyahu relevant? Neither of them speak their own words. Both simply relay what Hashem tells them. So what differ-

ence does it make that Chulda was more merciful than Yirmiyahu?

The Maharsha on that Gemara in Megila explains that because she was more merciful, along with the prophecy, she would be more likely to daven to Hashem that He change any evil decree. There is, however, an even deeper understanding.

In Parshas Balak, Rav Chaim Chernovitzer, the Be’er Mayim Chaim, explains how Hashem’s words are transmitted to the Jewish people through the filter of the navi’s personal nature. A navi may certainly not change the words of Hashem, but he gives an analogy to explain his point.

He explains that if one takes water, which is without taste, or even something that is slightly bitter, and places it into a vessel that has a sweet taste absorbed into its walls, the drink will take on the sweet taste of the vessel.

If, on the other hand, one pours water, or even something that is slightly sweet, and puts it into a vessel with walls that have absorbed a bitter taste, then the water in the vessel will also

taste bitter. Similarly, when the word of Hashem enters into a navi, the nature of that navi “flavors” the nature of the nevuah.

Based on this explanation of the Be’er Mayim Chaim, we can understand why Yoshiyahu wanted to receive the prophecy from Chulda Haneviah.

Yirmiyahu’s name contains the letters for the word bitter, mar. Yirmiyahu was a kana’i, a zealous individual. He possessed the attribute of din, strict justice. Therefore, Yoshiyahu knew that he should go to Chulda so that the trait of compassion, rather than justice, would flavor the prophecy.

That is the same argument Yirmiyahu himself made as to why he should not be chosen as a navi. He argued that he should not be chosen because he was a na’ar, a young man.

One distinguishing factor between youth and old age is that a young person burns with the fire of idealism. He is not tolerant of any compromise in his values. An old person, however, realizes that the world is a complicat-

ed place so he is more compassionate, tolerant, and patient. He is not such a zealot. Yirmiyahu argued that because he was a na’ar, a young zealous idealist, he should not be a navi because his zealotry and trait of strict justice would affect the nature and flavor

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place His spirit upon them.” Moshe expressed the desire that all prophets would be the nation of Hashem,” using G-d’s four-letter name which implies mercy and compassion. If only all Jewish people were compassionate so that they could receive prophecy

When the word of Hashem enters into a navi, the nature of that navi “flavors” the nature of the nevuah.

of the prophecies that would pass through him.

Yehoshua therefore argued to Moshe that not everyone should be a navi because not everyone can be called “good prophets.” Moshe responded that he wished “would that the whole nation of Hashem were prophets and that Hashem would

and sweeten the word of G-d with the sweetness of that compassion.

Eldad and Medad were amazing tzaddikim. We know this because the Torah tells us that Moshe placed his tent outside the camp. Therefore, he and the rest of the Jewish people who wanted to become prophets had to leave their families and the rest of the

Jewish people and go to the seclusion of Moshe’s tent outside the Jewish encampment to make the kind of spiritual strides necessary to attain the level of prophecy. With regard to Eldad and Medad, however, the Torah says that they remained in the camp, connected to the Jewish people, and that is where the spirit of Hashem rested on them (Bamidbar 11:26), “And they remained ... in the camp... and they prophesied in the camp.”

May we all, therefore, merit sweetness, goodness, and compassion, so that the Torah that we learn should come sweetly from our mouths when we speak to our spouses, children, and friends, and may we merit the prophet of all prophets, Moshiach Tzidkeinu, soon in our days.

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Think, Feel, Grow

Mirrors and Windows: Peering Into Reality Parshas Beha’aloscha

By Shmuel Reichman

A

father set out one day to teach his young daughter a powerful lesson. When she woke up in the morning, he took her in front of a mirror and asked her, “What do you see?”

She smiled and answered, “I see myself!”

He then took her to the window, and asked her, “What do you see now?”

“I see houses, and trees, and grass, and a whole world outside,” she said, this time with a sense of wonder and joy in her voice.

That night, before tucking his daughter into bed, the father again brought her to the mirror.

“What do you see?”

“I still see myself” she answered, a bit confused as to why they were doing this again.

He then took her back to the window. “What do you see now?” he asked.

“I see…me?” she answered, suddenly very confused. “Did the window turn into a mirror?”

“Be patient, stay focused, and keep on staring at the window. What do you see?”

After a long, silent moment, her eyes lit up. “I finally see it! I see houses and trees and the world outside!”

Her father smiled and explained to his daughter: “Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own lives that we think everything in life revolves around us; instead of seeing the true nature of things, we see everything as a mirror of ourselves. As a result, we project our views onto everything we

In order to understand Moshe’s prophecy, we must first develop an understanding of nevuah in general.

The Nature of Prophecy

see and everything we hear. Instead, we each need to learn how to peer past the surface, past ourselves, and see the endless beauty, wisdom, and depth that lies beneath that surface.

When we do so, we turn the mirror into a window, revealing a world of depth behind it.

The Rambam The Rambam (Perek Chelek) famously formulates thirteen principles of faith which he believes to be the absolute foundational pillars of Jewish belief, emphasizing that every Jew must believe in these principles.

The sixth principle states that all the words of the nevi’im (prophets) are true. The seventh principle specifies that the prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu is true, and that he was greatest navi of all time, greater than both those that came before him and those that came after. The sixth principle is obviously crucial; the seventh seems redundant. If all of the nevi’im’s words

were true, of course Moshe’s were true as well. What is so fundamentally important about the superiority of Moshe’s prophecy that the Rambam deemed it necessary to state it as a separate principle of faith?

More broadly, what does it mean that Moshe was the greatest prophet to ever live? In Parshas Beha’aloscha, Hashem Himself attests to the greatness of Moshe and his unique level of prophecy (Bamidbar 12:6-8).

What was so unique about Moshe’s prophecy? We know that Moshe received the Torah from Hashem and brought it down to the Jewish People, a role he seemed uniquely suited for.

The Torah itself is even called “Toras Moshe” (Malachi 3:22), indicating an intrinsic tie between Moshe and the Torah. But what was the greatness of Moshe’s prophecy that earned him this unique status? Why was Moshe’s nevuah fundamentally different from all other nevi’im who came before and after him?

We live in a world devoid of prophecy; therefore, attempting to understand it is like trying to understand a human sense by hearing someone describe it to you. However powerfully you can describe sight, it won’t mean much to a person who has been blind from birth. Likewise, a deaf person could read about hearing, but he has no past experience or mental framework in which to place it. Similarly, in a world devoid of prophecy, it becomes exceedingly difficult to understand or even relate to the experience. However, we will try to paint as clear a picture as possible.

The basic consensus is that a prophet must be a great tzaddik, spending his or her entire life building to the stage where he is worthy of receiving prophecy. This includes both a mastery of Torah knowledge and commitment to its observance, as well as complete command over one’s middos (character traits) and intellect. Once he achieves this exalted status, he is capable of receiving prophecy, and Hashem will choose whether or not to grant him prophecy.

The prophetic experience itself was an other-worldly, transcendent experience. Hashem opened and expanded the navi’s consciousness, allowing him to connect to a higher dimension of existence, one that lies far beyond the limitations of time and

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space, far beyond the capacity of the regular human mind. In doing so, the navi became capable of experiencing lofty ideas and intellectual truths which he would otherwise have no access to. These ideas and truths would then filter down through the navi’s intellect and get translated by his imaginative faculties, resulting in his unique, subjective experience of these lofty objective truths. In a very deep sense, nevuah was a transcendent, angelic experience of the spiritual world that a navi experienced while still in this world.

Building off this general understanding of prophecy, we must now ask: what made Moshe’s prophecy unique?

Clarity of Vision The first unique characteristic of Moshe’s prophecy was his level of clarity. The Gemara (Yevamos 49b) explains that while all other prophets saw through a clouded lens, Moshe saw through a clear lens.

We all perceive reality through our own unique lens. A tremendously developed and wise person will see the world through a much more sophisticated lens than an immature child. One of them sees many layers of depth behind every aspect of reality, while the other sees nothing more than the surface. One of them looks at the Torah and sees layers of wisdom, while the other looks at the same words and sees meaningless scribbles. As the child matures, he will have the ability to expand his understanding and develop a more sophisticated approach to life.

The same is true regarding prophecy: there were many different levels.

As humans, our consciousness is limited in that we only see the physical, not the spiritual. Since prophecy is a window into the spiritual world, the metaphor Chazal use to describe the quality of the navi’s vision is an “aspaklaria,” loosely translated as a window, lens, or mirror. The greater the prophet, the clearer his vision

and the better his understanding; the lesser the prophet, the more opaque and cloudy his vision and the more hazy his understanding. While all other nevi’im’s vision had some measure of cloudiness, Moshe saw Hashem and the spiritual world with absolute clarity, or with as much clarity as possible for a human being. In other words, while other nevi’im saw a reflection of the spiritual world and its truths, Moshe saw the spiritual world itself, with no filters. As the Ramchal puts it in Derech Hashem, Moshe saw through a “glass window”; he saw the spiritual world as it is, with absolute clarity.

Moshe, however, completely negated his ego. He was a transparent reflection of Hashem, and his nevuah was one hundred percent pure. He experienced his prophecy without any translation, filtration, or distortion; he received it exactly as it was given by Hashem. In other words, all other nevi’im saw an image of truth, but the words they transmitted were only a reflection of that truth, shaped by their own minds and personalities. Moshe, however, saw the objective truth and was able to transmit that objective truth in its absolute purity and entirety. The words he wrote were the actual objective truth, not a filtered or watered-down reflection.

Moshe added nothing of himself to Hashem’s words, he was purely the medium and vessel through which Hashem gave the Torah. This is what Chazal mean when they say that “Shechinah midaberes mitoch grono shel Moshe,” Hashem spoke from the throat of Moshe (Ramban, Devarim 5:12). Moshe wasn’t speaking; Hashem was. Moshe simply gave over what Hashem said, as opposed to other nevi’im – who received prophecy from Hashem and then expressed it in their own unique way.

A Pillar of Faith We can now explain why the Rambam separates between the sixth and seventh ikarim of emunah. The sixth ikar is our belief in nevuah itself, that nevuah is a message of spiritual truth from Hashem. Moshe’s nevuah, however, was not only true, but of a fundamentally different category: a revelation of absolute truth. One

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could have easily mistaken Moshe’s nevuah as being no different from any other navi’s. As a result, if a navi claimed to receive a new Torah, perhaps he would be right, and we should replace Moshe’s Torah. The Rambam is therefore clarifying that Moshe didn’t just receive prophecy, he received the highest level of prophecy possible. This level of prophecy is Torah. Every other navi is on a lower level. Therefore, if a navi contradicts Moshe’s Torah, we know he is a navi sheker, a false prophet.

To many, Moshe may not serve as a classic role model. He wasn’t great, he was perfect; he didn’t accomplish a lot, he accomplished everything. To some, this may be more overwhelming than inspiring, more daunting than encouraging. But I believe that we can all connect to Moshe in a very deep way. Moshe shows us what humanity is capable of. Sometimes you need to see an example of human perfection before you can personalize that ideal to your unique mission in life. True, you can’t be as great as Moshe, but that’s not your job; your job is to be the greatest version of you possible. But perhaps Moshe can inspire us to challenge ourselves a bit more, to add one more layer to our self-expectations, to question our own limits, to genuinely ask ourselves if we’re giving it everything we have.

Moshe serves as an eternal model of transcendent perfection, a star in the night sky guiding each of us on our own unique journey through life. In moments of self-doubt, in moments of opportunity, in moments of fear, just think of Moshe and remember that in a very deep way, the sky is the limit…or is it?

Shmuel Reichman is an inspirational speaker, writer, and coach who has lectured internationally at shuls, conferences, and Jewish communities on topics of Jewish thought and Jewish medical ethics. He is the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy (ShmuelReichman.com), the transformative online course that is revolutionizing how we engage in self-development.

You can find more inspirational lectures, videos, and articles from Shmuel on his website, ShmuelReichman.com.

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Delving into the Daf

Tzaraas Rulings

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

T

he Medrash Tanchuma (Parshas Tazria 6) cites a story about an impoverished kohen living in Eretz Yisrael. Trying whatever he could to support his family, he just couldn’t make ends meet. He decided to embark on a business trip abroad. Painful as the separation from his wife and children may be, he concluded that this was his only option. However, being a kohen, he was given a mandate by the Torah to rule on questions regarding tzaraas.

People frequently would seek him out, and he would advise them of the halachic status of their afflictions.

Leaving the populace without someone to rule on their tzaraas questions bothered him. The kohen realized that he needed to find a substitute.

The thought crossed his mind that his wife would be the perfect replacement. He then proceeded to teach her the intricacies of the laws of tzaraas.

One important element of the laws of tzaraas relates to the hair that grows in the middle of an affected patch of skin. The kohen explained to his wife that Hashem provides every strand of hair with a follicle that supports the growth of that strand. When the hair stops growing, it is clear that the hair’s source of growth, the follicle, has dried up. The wife responded to this fact by saying, “Listen to what you’re saying! Hashem provides every single strand of hair with a source of nourishment. You are a human being and have children who depend on you. Hashem will certainly provide support for you! There is no need to travel abroad!” Just like that, the international trip was canceled.

HaGaon Rav Henoch Leibowitz points out that a person may be aware of and believe certain concepts. However, intellectual knowledge is not the same as internalizing the idea and acting upon it. Presumably, this couple truly always believed that Hashem

provides sustenance to each and every human being. However, it wasn’t until they saw a complete disconnect between their beliefs and actions that they internalized this message. Rav Yisrael Salanter used to say that the longest distance in the world is the distance between the mind and the heart.

Truthfully, this would be a nice dvar Torah on Parshas Tazria. But what does it have to do with the Daf? One connection may be that the Gemara says in Yoma 38b that one cannot take away even a hair’s breadth of what is destined for his friend.

Ben Azzai uttered this statement in reference to the attempted firing of the Garmu and Avitinus families from their respective positions in the Beis Hamikdash. However, the Sages

is a scriptural decree that questions of tzaraas must be decided by a kohen and not a Torah scholar who is a Yisrael, so, too, it is a scriptural decree that the shechita of the Para Adumah must be performed by a kohen. Although shechita of the Para Adumah may look like an Avoda, in truth it is not. Based on this, the Chazon Ish comments that just as a kohen when he is deciding matters of tzaraas does not need to wear his special priestly garments, so, too, the kohen when he

Rav Yisrael Salanter used to say that the longest distance in the world is the distance between the mind and the heart.

were forced to hire them back at double their original salaries. Rashi (38a) comments that one should not worry that a competitor will take away his business because whatever Hashem decrees one should earn is guaranteed his. However, there is another connection.

Rav says (Yoma 42a) that the shechita of the Para Adumah must be performed by a kohen. The Gemara points out that typically the shechita of sacrifices do not need to be performed by a kohen. Rav explains that the shechita of the Para Adumah is not really akin to an Avoda, the technical name used to describe service in the Beis Hamikdash. Rather, just as it

shechts the Para Adumah does not need to wear his priestly garments.

The Chazon Ish assumed as a given that the kohen performing a tzaraas inspection does not need to wear bigdei kehuna. However, the Tiferes Yaakov (on Chomer B’kodesh 4:8) disagrees. When the Torah says that “the kohen” must inspect the ailment, it means while wearing his bigdei kehuna. (Indeed, the Gemara makes a similar exposition. Yoma 43a.)

However, a proof against the Tiferes Yaakov may be brought from the Medrash Tanchuma cited above.

How was the kohen’s wife able to rule on tzaraas – she certainly didn’t

have any bigdei kehuna! It must be that bigdei kehuna is not required to pasken on tzaraas. Indeed, this is how the Kol Torah understands the Medrash. The wife of the kohen was actually ruling on tzaraas questions.

Although typically priestly duties must be performed by male kohanim, this must be an exception. We do find a precedent for this. A wife of a kohen may accept some of the matnos kehuna.

However, the Pardes Yosef (Vayikra 14:9) disagrees. All agree that even a kohen who is not proficient in the laws of tzaraas, may rule on negaim provided that he brings an expert with him, even if that expert is a Yisrael. So, too, suggests the Pardes Yosef, perhaps the poor kohen was only training his wife to be the expert. She would be able to advise any male kohen, such as her son, for example, what the halacha should be.

However, the actual pronouncement must be made based on a scriptural decree by a male kohen.

In any event, as a matter of what will hopefully soon be practical halacha, the above discussion is irrelevant. The Rambam rules that the shechita of the Para Adumah may be performed by a non-kohen, whether male or female.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.

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My Israel Home

Buying on Paper: 8 Important Things to Know

By Gedaliah Borvick

R

eal estate attorney Nicole Levin recently shared with me a list of eight important things to be aware of when buying “on paper” in a new project under construction.

1. Once you have chosen an apartment and agreed on the price, you will sign a registration form and pay a registration fee. Before signing, have your attorney review the document to ensure that there are no egregious terms. Once you sign the form, the developer is required to reserve the apartment for you and may not sell it to anyone else.

2. After you sign the registration form, the developer will send the contract to your attorney. Your lawyer will review and revise the contract. There is often room for negotiation at this stage, despite the fact that these are standard contracts for all units in the project.

3. The final plans may differ from the plans that you initially viewed.

The developer is only bound by the plans that are attached as an addendum to the purchase agreement. Before signing the contract, make sure that the plans match the original plans that you were shown.

4. The law mandates that the buyer’s money is protected. There are three ways this can be done; a bank guarantee is by far the most common method of financial protection and works as follows: the project funding is given by a bank, which issues the bank guarantee to the buyer. Funds paid by the buyer are deposited in an account controlled by the bank and the bank pays the construction company at predetermined completion stages of

the project.

5. The plans and technical specifications describe the apartment you are buying. These two documents are addended to the contract. The

6. The developer is responsible for delivering a product without defects. If there are any flaws in the construction, the developer is responsible to fix them. Before taking

If there are any flaws in the construction, the developer is responsible to fix them.

floor plans include the size of each room, the location of windows and doors, outdoor space, etc. The technical specifications describe apartment material quality and quantity.

The developer is required to deliver the apartment as specified in the plans and the technical specifications – and must compensate the purchaser if it fails to do so.

possession, you will view the apartment with a representative from the construction company and together prepare a protocol which lists all defects that are visible to a layperson. As the company is not required to repair any defect that could have been seen by a layperson and was not written in the protocol, we recommend hiring a building engineer

to accompany you and point out any flaws that you may overlook. Hidden problems that cannot initially be detected, such as dampness, may only appear later on. The construction company is required to repair these defects as well. Israeli law provides warranty periods for all items in the apartment.

7. Construction of the project is usually completed before registration of the property title. The developer’s attorney is responsible to register the project, your building, and your apartment in the land registry, which is done after the authorities have surveyed the land, a court order has been issued, and architectural plans have been filed. This process typically takes many years to complete; until then, the rights of the purchaser are often temporarily registered with the developer’s attorney.

8. The unpaid portion of the purchase price is linked to the building index, so plan your payments accordingly. Over the past half-decade, the index has risen approximately 1.5% per year.

If this article inspires any follow-up questions, please contact attorney Nicole Levin at nicole@levinlawoffices.co.il or visit her website www. levinlawoffices.co.il.

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 | MAY 27, 2021

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LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RECENT GAZA CONFLICT

BY SHAMMAI SISKIND The

mashov.

It’s one of the hallmarks of Israeli society. Technically translated as “feedback,” the mashov in practice is something like a cross between group therapy and a formalized debriefing.

Like many features of Israel’s culture, the mashov originated in the military. Regardless of where they serve, soldiers in the IDF typically experience quite a few mashovim during their service. If the Logistics Corps has to execute a massive delivery of field supplies, everyone from the truck drivers to the gunsmiths will have a mashov. If an armored company conducts some routine maneuvers, there’ll be a mashov. If a lone infantry soldier is ordered to simulate taking a hill, he can expect a mashov at the end of it all dissecting how well he ran to the top.

This may sound a bit excessive, but in actuality, it is a very useful practice to inculcate. You see, far from being a dry top-down examination by superiors, all participants in a mashov are encouraged (read: required) to speak up and offer their views and comments. In this way, soldiers are taught to maintain better self-awareness and – most importantly – be comfortable with a program of learning and progressing. This democratized form of collective self-reflection has gradually infiltrated the private sector, especially into Israel’s perpetually booming start-up scene.

Today, it is very common for managers and team leads to gather their people together at the end of the work week or at the conclusion of a big project and have a candid, face-to-face chat about what they’ve succeeded or failed at over the past several days. Such scenes are not just young pro-

fessionals trying to reenact their army days. It’s applying a practice that seems to work quite well.

While far from a foolproof method, soberly recalling a group attempt to do something (whatever that thing might be) improves everyone’s ability to do it.

As the smoke clears from the most recent round of conflict in Gaza, you can bet your house there are more than a few Israeli high-ups, from military brass to policymakers, that are finding

Israeli soldiers firing into Gaza

themselves in lengthy mashov sessions right now.

There’s no reason, however, that this should be the sole domain of the leaders. A well-executed mashov might just give us all a bit of clarity into what went down over the last few weeks – and maybe even some invaluable insight for the future.

While any Israeli-Arab flareup can be broken down to an infinite array of factors, I think it’s incumbent on us all to hone in on the bigger picture.

And that picture is, unfortunately, not very good.

EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL The entire ten-day crisis in Israel, which culminated in a full-fledged IDF operation in Gaza, was instigated by a series of land disputes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

The first point worth noting is that disputes in this area of the capital are nothing new. Disputes over ownership rights in Sheikh Jarrah have been going on for the better part of twenty years. These court cases have always consisted of complex legal claims going back decades and across eras of legal sovereignty over the neighborhood. To put this into perspective, in a census conducted by the Ottoman authorities in the early 1900s, the Sheikh Jarrah “district” consisted of “quarters” which were distinctly Jewish, Christian, and Muslim respectively.

The residents of the Jewish quarters named Shimon Hatsadik and Nahalat Shimon, both established at the end of the 19th century by various communal groups, were forced to abandon their homes when Jordan took control of the eastern part of the city in 1948. Beginning in the early 2000s, several Israeli groups began efforts to retake control of properties they claimed were, in fact, owned by the Jewish community. The very

The Jewish Jewish HomeHome OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish | MAY 29, 27, 2021 The Home || OCTOBER 2015

first incident in the neighborhood to attract attention began in 2001, when a group of Israeli Jews moved Israelis into a sealed section of a house owned by an Arab family, the al-Kurds. The group claimed the property was owned by Jews. After years of litigation, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the property was part of the original Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood and as such belonged to the Sephardi Community Committee, one of the groups that had established the settlement in 1890. Despite this ruling, the Arab residents were not required to leave. Instead, they received “protected tenant” status and could remain as long as they paid rent to the legal owners.

Some (but not all) of the Arab families refused to pay, however, which led to their forced eviction.

Over the years, there have been several similar cases, nearly all of which could have been the basis for a legal drama film. In one case from 2009, lawyers from both sides argued for years on the authenticity of mutually contradicting bills of sale dating from the Ottoman era. Attorneys literally flew to foreign official archives to dig up support for their clients. The case eventually ended with the Israeli Supreme Court validating the documents presented by the Jewish plaintiffs.

But it is the most recent case, the one that sparked the powder keg, that without a doubt takes the prize for most sensational. That case, one involving the possible eviction of some seventeen families, was not a new dispute at all but rather one that has been ongoing for decades.

The legal claims of the Jewish plaintiffs were resolved decades ago in their favor. The owners in these disputes acquired their rights through an uninterrupted chain of transactions beginning in the Ottoman period. The Arab residents, on the other hand, acquired their leasehold rights through a chain of transactions which began in the 1950s and originated from the Jordanian Custodian of Enemy Property, Amman’s agency for administering areas it conquered in 1948.

Similar to other cases in Sheikh Jarrah, the Arab residents were not forced to leave their homes but were required to pay rent to the rightful Jewish owners. All received protected tenant leases on the homes they occupied. The planned evictions (which incidentally have yet to be carried out due to the personal intervention of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit) were the result of either years of contract breach by the tenants or the natural expiration of the leases.

While this is all very interesting, the main point to focus on is that this and other similar cases that preceded it are civil disputes between Israeli citizens, not a systematic attempt to rid the city of Arab residents. Not all land disputes between Arabs and Jews, whether in Jerusalem or other parts of Israel, are decided in favor of the Jewish litigant in the Holy Land. However, this case was quickly framed by Israel’s antagonists as just another symptom of the country’s racist and discriminatory policies.

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A Palestinian outside the home of the Ghawi family in Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem

What is ironic about all this is that the specific topic of property law involved in this case is an area pointed to by all sectors of Israeli society as one that is in serious need of reform. One does not have to hold Israel as a colonialist repressive entity to believe this. Determining property status in Israel is a tricky business, even without adding politics to the mix. Communities and ancestral lines of ownership in Israel are old – often much older than the state itself. Coming to a conclusive ruling on disputes often involves scouring through ancient records and relying on unclear evidence. And that is precisely the point.

interested in the nuances of what goes on here.

Everything and anything will be weaponized to the greatest extent possible, which means that Israel has little hope of being able to run its own affairs in a way that will ever be acceptable to its detractors.

THE SHIFTING CONVERSATION In the May 20, 2021 edition of the right-leaning Commentary Magazine, conservative pundit and former staffer of the Reagan White House John Podhoretz wrote an article entitled, “As Pogromists Activate, Chuck Schumer Cowers.”

,

THIS CASE WAS QUICKLY FRAMED BY ISRAEL S ANTAGONISTS , AS JUST ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THE COUNTRY S RACIST AND DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES. When courts in Israel hear land disputes, they are very often doing the best they can in an almost impossible situation. Can individual cases be criticized? Absolutely. Many often are and are then subsequently overturned. But to suggest that any and all rulings to the detriment of an Arab is part of a state-sanctioned program of discrimination against non-Jews is simply a vicious distortion of reality and frankly quite ridiculous.

This highlights the first of the important lessons from the last several weeks. The enemies of Israel are not, and probably never will be,

In the article, Podhoretz brings up the disturbing trend of attacks against Jewish targets in the United States and other Western nations during the Gaza campaign. He also brings up the relatively weak response by many elected officials in the U.S. Podhoretz specifically goes after New York Senator Chuck Schumer, a man who has spent years promoting himself as the “shomer” (a cute pun on his surname) of both the American Jewish community and Israel. According to Podhoretz, Schumer’s response to this string of incidents has

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been, at best, low-key. At the same time, Schumer has all but refrained from speaking out against other elected officials openly vilifying Israel during the recent Gaza war.

While the senator may well deserve this critique, I think Podhoretz focuses too much on summing up Schumer and not enough on a much more important phenomena. That more essential question is this: why does Schumer, who can tout pro-Israel credentials going back decades, feel compelled to sensor himself in this way?

The answer to this question seems pretty clear: the conversation in American politics on Israel has changed. That is not to say that policy toward Israel has shifted (at least not yet), but clearly the Overton window has expanded. Not long ago it would have been inconceivable that any elected official, from either party, would spew the vitriol against Israel that has been heard over the past twenty days. These attacks have not been against specific Israeli action but against Israel’s very existence. Terms like “colonialist” and “apartheid” are now loosely thrown around. It’s important to understand that in order for someone to believe these epithets apply to Israel, they have to believe that Israel in its very existence is a grave moral injustice. Of course, this view has been held by millions of people around the world since Israel’s very inception. Typically, however, those voices haven’t been heard in the halls of Capitol Hill.

Granted, for the time being, at least, the high-handed remarks are coming from the more “radical” fringes of Congress, the likes of the so-called Squad and Vermont’s Bernie Sanders.

There is, however, a more broad effect taking hold, namely the political acceptability for those types of statements to be made. Obviously, any official, or citizen for that matter, is entitled to whatever unhinged opinion they wish to espouse.

Usually, however, when that happens, fellow party members will try to rein in on those more extreme voices either publicly or privately, if for no other reason than the fact that such outbursts are a liability to the party’s image. But alas, no reining in has occurred. Indeed, many have pointed out that what we are witnessing now with anti-Israel rhetoric is merely the continuation of a trend.

In 2019, House Democrats put forth a resolution condemning “anti-Semitism” following a series of statements against Israel by Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar. The resolution did not mention Omar by name and made no mention of support for Israel to counter the congresswoman’s remarks. The watered-down resolution was tacit consent by the Democratic establishment for adopting putting forth anti-Israel positions.

So now, old-school politicians like Schumer find themselves in an awkward situation. The policy lines they have become accustomed to toeing are no longer what they were just a few short years ago. It’s not that people like Senator Schumer have suddenly sold out on any principles

A burnt out bus in Holon that was hit by rockets fired from Gaza

A car set on fire by Arab residents in Lod

A car on fire in Ashkelon after being hit by a rocket launched from Gaza

A home in Ashkelon damaged by rocket fire

they’ve held in the past. It’s simply that they find themselves in a political milieu significantly different than what they were ever used to. Which brings us to lesson number two: the conversation on Israel among many of Israel’s allies has shifted. This does not mean substantial changes to policies are in the pipe. But it is certainly a red flag.

This reality has already been recognized for

facing new levels of challenges, challenges that will probably get worse before they get better.

Indeed, any immediate change that will come from the last round in Gaza will probably be at Israel’s diplomatic level. To be sure, Jerusalem will certainly not be diminishing ties with its traditional allies. What it will do, however, is seek ways to diversify its international relationships and alliances. The very important trend of Israel

THESE ATTACKS HAVE NOT BEEN AGAINST SPECIFIC ISRAELI , ACTION BUT AGAINST ISRAEL S VERY EXISTENCE. some time by Israel’s diplomatic establishment.

In the halls of the Foreign Ministry, an agency with a notorious progressive political slant, many senior officials are still reeling from the shock triggered by this new escalation of anti-Israel political discourse. It was probably for this reason that, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu himself briefed Israeli ambassadors on how to conduct interviews and deliver diplomatic addresses during the course of the recent conflict. Israel’s international representatives are

solidifying regional ties, kickstarted by last year’s Abraham Accords, will almost certainly be bolstered. Looking even farther afield, Israel will probably seek out more trading partners, suppliers, and even sources for its defense equipment and hardware.

Whatever concrete policy changes await, in either the short- or long-term, one thing is certain: Israel’s leadership is feeling the political ground shifting under its feet. Sooner or later, they will have to shift in response.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Remembering the GI Jew Gold Star Mom Beth Agami Speaks about Her Son, Army Pfc. Daniel Agami, z”l

BY SUSAN SCHWAMM

Pfc. Daniel Agami was a proud Jew who joined the U.S. Army after college.

Unfortunately, Daniel lost his life serving his country. This week, in honor of Memorial Day, we spoke with Beth Agami, Daniel’s mother, about Daniel’s life and the sacrifices he made protecting American interests around the world.

Beth, for many people in our community, Memorial Day is for barbeques and parades and maybe a half day of school. Perhaps if we speak about the sacrifice, and we really understand what it means to be living in this country like the United States with people who gave their lives for our freedom, it would help people understand what Memorial Day is really about.

You know, it’s not just in the Jewish community. It’s the entire country. It really depends on where you are, where you live, for you to have a better understanding of what Memorial Day is. For those who have family that served, those people are more than likely to better understand what Memorial Day means.

When it comes to Memorial Day, it is like a party day.

It’s a weekend at the beach. There’s not enough understanding behind the meaning of Memorial Day. I always try to compare it to Israel because you know what they do in Israel for their Memorial Day, Yom HaZikaron. There, you feel it. You feel the pain and suffering. There, everyone’s been affected, more or less, by someone who was killed in the military. Here, it’s not as likely that that’s going to happen, so that’s where the breakdown comes in. Children here aren’t being taught about Memorial Day. Out of respect – not just for the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives – but for those who served in all the past wars, when the country needed them to survive – it can be about putting a flag in your front yard or saying the Pledge of Allegiance on Memorial Day.… In this way, you can show kids and teach them about what Memorial Day is about.

Your son, Daniel, heroically served in the U.S.

Army. Tell us about Daniel when he was growing up.

Daniel went to the Hebrew Academy of Margate [in Florida] until the sixth grade. It only went up to sixth grade when he was young. After that, there were no other Jewish day schools so he went to public school. He was involved in the Jewish Cub Scouts, and he was involved in the Explorer Program from the City of Coconut Creek, where we used to live, which is a program for kids who are interested in going into law enforcement. He and his brother, Ilan, did that together. Itzhak, my husband, Daniel’s father, had served in the Israeli military, the IDF. My dad served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War. So Daniel was brought up with a sense of military.

He left high school early and got his GED and went to college early. After college, when he was 23, he decided to join the military. He didn’t even tell us he was going to do it. He went to the army recruitment office in Margate, and he signed himself up.

When he came home and told us, we thought it was great. We were like, “That is awesome. Whatever you decide is good for you and your life, we think that’s a great decision.” He told us that he wanted to serve on the frontlines – he could have served in any position.

When we asked him how he was going to maintain his Jewish values while in the army, he told us that he would “take it as it comes.”

When he enlisted, he went to basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. During that time, those eight weeks, we weren’t able to have any communication with him.

Is that standard procedure?

Yes. That’s a standard thing when people first enter the

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army and are in training.

Soon after Daniel arrived there, actually, he went into the mess hall, and he was standing in line, and his sergeant asked him, “Why aren’t you eating, Agami?” Daniel told him, “I can’t eat this food.” His sergeant was very curious about why Daniel couldn’t eat while all the other guys were chomping down. Daniel answered him, “Because it’s not kosher, sir.”

I remember Daniel telling me that. Those were his words, “It’s not kosher, sir, and I can’t eat most of this food in here.” The sergeant actually went back into the kitchen and asked Daniel what foods he could eat. He told him he could vegetables and those types of food. The sergeant was able to get him that food and that’s what Daniel ate.

He was really challenged with this while he was on the frontlines in Baghdad. And it was always a problem for him, but he managed because he was so used as being a bodybuilder, so he got accustomed to making protein shakes, and that was accessible to him from the base. He would eat dairy products and fruits, vegetables, and stuff like that. He tried his hardest to keep kosher in his way.

That’s really impressive.

It was amazing. And it’s not like there weren’t any other Jewish soldiers. Nobody really knows how many Jewish soldiers admit to being Jewish when they’re serving, but there’s one thing about Daniel: he did not hide it. He did not care what other people thought. He was who he was, and he was proud of being Jewish. He really made it an effort to teach people and explain to people that this is what it is. And he actually gained a lot of respect because of that.

One thing that they did have in Fort Benning – and I don’t know if they still do this, but I have a feeling that they do – was Rabbi Lipskier from Emory University, who would drive every Sunday two hours to the army base to give a shiur to the Jewish soldiers. His attendees weren’t all Jewish, though. He always brought lox, bagels and cream cheese – a whole Sunday brunch – with him. Daniel used to tell me, “It’s so awesome; I can’t wait for Sunday.”

Rabbi Lipskier sounds like an amazing person.

Yes, it’s amazing what they do for those soldiers. At the time, they were Daniel’s savior.

When Daniel was at Fort Benning, they let him leave the base for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur to go to a nearby shul. He was very excited about that.

Once you leave your basic training, then they send you off to your next place, and for Daniel, that was a place called Schweinfurt, Germany, which was his home base in Europe. The barracks there were an ex-Nazi military base. They removed all the Nazi emblems that were at all the buildings, but they did leave them, from what I’ve heard, on three of the barracks. And, of course, one of the barracks that Daniel was staying in was the one with the Nazi eagle emblem. Of all the buildings there, that was the one that Daniel ended up in.

I’m sure he wanted to just rip it down.

Yes. But you have to under-

stand Daniel. While he was there doing his training, soon after they arrived over there, a company was selling flags of all nations down there. One of the other soldiers said to Daniel, “Daniel, just to let you know that there’s Israeli flag down there. If you want it, you should get it.” He ran down there and got it and hung it up over his bunk the entire time he was in Schweinfurt. All the other guys picked their flags of their nations, Puerto Rican, Mexican – whatever background they had. But Daniel was the one who had the Israeli flag hanging over his bunk, which he also brought with him to Iraq and hung it over his bunk there.

When he was in Schweinfurt, I took Shaina, Daniel’s sister, with me to Germany to visit him before he got deployed to Iraq. I think we were the only parents who went there. There were some wives and family that lived in Germany with their husbands and children, but I think we were the only ones for his unit that flew in to see him off before he went off to Iraq. They gave him like seven days to be off to spend time with us before he got deployed, and we had a great time. But after the fourth day, he said, “It’s not right that I’m leaving the other soldiers to do a job.

I’m supposed to be there.” We were like, “We totally get it. Do what you think is right.” And he went back to base.

What were his feelings before he was deployed to Iraq?

I think he was nervous because you don’t know what to expect. But he did what he had to do. It was his job. A very poorly paid job, but it was a job.

From the age of 13, he was a bodybuilder. His health was always just really important to him, and he helped train the other guys that were there. He gained a lot of respect from all of them, especially because most of them never even met a Jewish person in their life before. He kind of knew that he was going to be in for a little anti-Semitism, and he did, but he put an end to that immediately. He wrote that to me in a letter. He told one guy, “Don’t mess with me. You’re messing with the wrong person.”

He really, really wanted to serve on the frontlines, but it was so challenging for him. These other guys, they came from their little life living in Iowa, and they weren’t worldly. But Daniel was very worldly. He traveled a lot and had been around the world and seen other countries and understood the Middle East mentality. They all loved him.

When did Daniel enter the Army?

He entered the Army in 2005, and he was killed on June 21, 2007. It wasn’t very long, but he achieved a tremendous amount. He was in Iraq for close to a year. The last time we saw him was when he came home for Pesach in 2007. His brother got married 10 days before he was killed. It was a whirlwind of emotions. But everything has a purpose.

He actually reenlisted right before he came home for Pesach.

Daniel with his sister Shaina and brother Ilan

Did he tell you about their missions in Iraq?

Yes. They were doing a lot.

They were on daily and nightly missions. They were helping to

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“I knew why he was calling me – because he didn’t know if he was going to live for the next minute.”

rebuild schools. They were friendly with the locals who lived there in the community, but, of course, no one could be trusted.

I don’t know how he did it. I was in the dentist chair one day, and he called me while they were drilling in my mouth. I heard bullets over his head. I knew why he was calling me – because he didn’t know if he was going to live for the next minute. He called me to talk. I said, “Oh my G-d.” But he was like, there are bullets, whatever, “I’m fine. I’m fine.” I was like, “Daniel, you’re killing me here.”

He came into a situation when he saved everyone in the tank on a certain mission. Daniel saw a sniper to the right who had a hand grenade in his hand. And he jumped out of the turret of the tank and cornered him and shot and killed the terrorist. Had he not done that, that hand grenade would have just killed them all immediately. So for that, he got the Army Commendation Medal.

was in line waiting to get the book, the producers pulled Daniel out of the line and asked if he wanted to be interviewed on the streets of Baghdad for the news. He agreed to do it. He ended up missing the book signing, but he had the book back at his base. I sent an email to Bill O’Reilly directly about the situation, and he mailed to my home an autographed book with an invitation for Daniel and our family to meet him at the Fox studios in NYC. Unfortunately, Daniel never made it there, but Bill invited my husband and I to meet him. We got a tour of the studios, and he made an incredible generous donation to The Hebrew Academy of Margate in Daniel’s memory.

It’s hard to find somebody who has such pride in being a Jew. Not in the Army and not on the streets of Brooklyn.

That’s why it’s so unique. He didn’t care. He was like, “This is who I am. Take it for what it is.” One day – I’ll never forget – he was so distraught. They were driving down Where do you think he got that bravery from?

This kid lived like this his whole life. No fear. Nothing’s the street in Baghdad, and there was a big Israeli flag made out of chalk painted on the street so cars should drive over ever going to happen to me. It was just his being. It’s just it. He sent me a picture of it, and he was so upset about it. who he was. It was unbelievable. And he made a great When he came home for Pesach, on the way to the airsoldier. He really, really, really did. I do believe it was his port, he told us, “If anything happens to me, I don’t want calling. to be buried in Arlington. I want to be buried in a Jewish He came home for Pesach that year when he was on leave. We were living in Boynton Beach at the time. He cemetery and close to home.” We were like, “Daniel, come on. Stop it.” But less than two months later, he was killed. gave a really beautiful speech on that Shabbat when he We’re just so grateful that he told us that, that we knew we was home to the congregation. And then we had Pesach were honoring his wishes. at the house.

When he was in Iraq, he was the This is a cute little story: So here driver of a Bradley tank. There were we are at the table. Everybody’s over four other soldiers and one Iraqi in– family, friends, everybody. And he terpreter in the tank with him. When sits down, and he goes, “Oh my G-d. you’re the driver of a tank, you’re like Wait a minute. I have to go get my encased inside of a cage. They were Kombatica.” So all of us were like, driving, and there was an IED, and it “What is a Kombatica?” We were all exploded and that was everyone’s end. looking at each other, and he came I guess I’ll never really, really back in with his military-issued kipknow the truth about this, but this pah. He called it his Kombatica. is the information that I got back Years later, my daughter Shaina from the Army: that he tried to rewas ready to be bat mitzvahed. And lease himself out of the cage, and he I was like, “Shaina, you need to do a couldn’t get himself out, so he went project to raise money for a cause for up with the tank. And the only mirDaniel.” So we did what was called acle behind all of that – if you want the Kombatica Project. She raised to call it a miracle because to us it $10,000 for the Aleph Institute. We With his sister Shaina is – is that he was the only one that sold the Kombaticas across the councame out with enough of a full body try. On the inside of each kippah, we intact and so they were able to ship wrote Daniel’s name, his date of birth, his body back to the United States. It his date of death, and we wrote the took them almost a year to identify words “The Hebrew Hammer.” Those the remains of the other men in the are the words that Daniel wrote on tank with him. We were able to have the rifle that he wore in public on the a timely funeral for Daniel, which is streets of Baghdad. That’s another a blessing.

AKA that he went by: The Hebrew Rabbi Jacob Goldstein flew back Hammer and GI Jew. with Daniel on a private jet from Daniel was one of the Jewish solDover, Delaware, Air Force Base and diers that they choppered into Baghflew into Fort Lauderdale with him. dad to Saddam Hussein’s palace for a That’s where we received him – at menorah lighting during Chanukah. a private airport there. And, from Daniel had no idea where they were there, we headed over to the funeral. taking him. Bill O’Reilly of Fox News In Saddam Hussein’s palace with a was there signing his new book, “The giant menorah How did you receive the news Culture Warrior,” and while Daniel

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that Daniel was no longer alive?

The day before, both Itzhak and I had a bad feeling. We saw stuff going on in the news in Iraq, and we were like, “This isn’t good.” And then, sure enough, I get the knock at the door. My daughter, Shaina, was home that day. She was only like 7 at the time. She’s 21 today. She opened the door not knowing anything. And there they were, standing at the door, two soldiers in their Class A uniforms. And they didn’t have to say anything because you just know.

They were very, very compassionate. The way they tell you and explain it to you…what’s going to be next, what do you do. It was unique for them because we were assigned a liaison, but he had never dealt with anyone Jewish before.

So this was a learning lesson for him.

There were around 2,000 people who showed up at the funeral. People came in from all over the country. Rabbi Lipskier came in. The ambassador from the consulate came. It was a military-Jewish funeral. It was really huge.

That must have been very overwhelming.

It was overwhelming.

We had this ceremony inside at the Star of David, and then after that, they typically do a 21-gun salute. But, for Daniel, they did an 18-gun salute. After they did the gun salute, somebody picked up the bullet casings and put them inside the folded flag that they handed me, that they took off of the coffin. When we got into the limousine driving down to the plot, I felt something weird inside of it. We were all in the car, and I pulled out two bullet casings. One, was round, which is normal after you shoot a gun. But the second casing, at the top, was in the shape of a Star of David. I was just blown away. I said to myself, “This is a sign from Hashem right now.” It’s a sign from Daniel, “I am here.”

And then we went to the plot for the burial. After that, we sat shiva. It’s interesting, I feel like my husband felt more comforted by the Jewish community than me during shiva. During shiva, the men came over and made minyanim and davened. But for me, I was just there with the women. So it wasn’t as good for me as it was good for my husband, but it is what it is.

Are there groups in which Gold Star moms can connect?

There’s a Gold Star mother’s organization. It’s across the country. I am friendly with a mother who happens to also be Jewish who lives here in South Florida. Her son was killed shortly after Daniel.

I’m asked to speak a lot, and I never turn down an invitation to speak. As a matter of fact, I’m speaking in Parkland on Sunday night for an event. It never ends.

Do you appreciate the opportunities to speak or is it hard for you?

I appreciate it, but there were times when it was overwhelming – it was so much of it. I couldn’t handle it. There was so much going

on in my life. The truth is, it’s very much appreciated that after all this time, people go out of their way to keep his memory alive by writing about him and his sacrifice and the life that he had, which was unique.

What message do you give to audiences when you speak?

Well, it depends on the audience. At this one that I’m going to do for Parkland, it’s going to be about explaining the differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I have to explain that because, like you said earlier, people just don’t get it. They don’t understand what that even means. And then I always tell Daniel’s story. Even if it’s a non-Jewish audience, I’m going tell them about his pride of being a Jew because you got a lot of strong, Christian-minded, Gold Star mothers living in this country. They are very proud to announce about their son’s or daughter’s relationship with G-d and the whole Christian message behind it. And I will do the same thing. I bring out a Jewish message or talk about Daniel’s belief and how strong he felt about Israel and why he hung the Israeli flag over his bunk and was very Zionistic. How can I not say that? Because that’s exactly who he was.

What does your family do on Memorial Day? Normally, I’m either speaking at an event or I’m invited to an event. This year, we’re driving to Cape Coral where they put up a beautiful memorial. It’s about two, three hours away. They asked me to put Daniel’s dog tag that they had specially made for the memorial there.

In Florida, in Coconut Creek, there was a post office that was renamed after Daniel. And then there was a Jewish war veteran post in Deerfield Beach that was also renamed after Daniel and two other soldiers that were killed. There’s a plaque in Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem for Daniel. His Class A uniform is hanging at permanent display at the National Jewish Military Museum in Washington, D.C. At the Hebrew Academy in Margate, we dedicated the office to Daniel, and there’s a big bronze plaque at the gate for him. And there are different monuments and pictures in his memory in Tampa, Cleveland, where he was born, and in Fort Lauderdale. The Parkland Library has his picture hanging in the entrance. There’s a lot out there in his memory.

What is your final message for our readers?

Well, just to let Jewish Americans know that we are very blessed to be living in this country and that our young men and women put themselves on the frontlines every day keeping us safe and dedicating themselves in defense of our country.

They risk their lives every day while they’re away from their spouses and their children and parents and their friends. I feel it’s our obligation to show our appreciation to our active duty servicemen and women and to veterans and to thank them for their service on MemoA photo from a private visit at the White House in which rial Day and every day.

Beth, Itzhak and Shaina met President George W. Bush

“Those are the words that Daniel wrote on the rifle that he wore in public on the streets of Baghdad.”

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Honoring and Remembering TJH Speaks with Chaplain Ephraim Travis

BY SUSAN SCHWAMM

Chaplain Travis, I know you served in the military for a few years as a chaplain. Before we start, can you give us a bit about your background?

The truth is, I’d rather not talk about myself or my service for Memorial Day, because Memorial Day really is about honoring our fallen heroes who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a somber, meaningful day to really pay homage to those who pay the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the life that we do.

A few years ago, in 2015, I was invited to speak to a school on the day after Memorial Day. My message really was that most people, especially, frankly, in the frum world, don’t really pay much attention to Memorial Day. It’s interesting to contrast how, I think, in many ways, the Jewish community here in the United States pays more attention to Yom HaZikaron for the IDF’s fallen soldiers than they do for American troops.

I agree but perhaps that’s because they don’t know so many fallen U.S. soldiers.

That is true. But I can tell you that unfortunately in the global War on Terror, we’ve had close to 60 Jewish fallen. These are people from all walks of life, from various spectrums of Yiddishkeit, who paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can live our lives the way we do. I can give you names. I can tell you a little bit of their stories.

I would love to hear more about them. Before you proceed though, can we talk about what it was like being a chaplain in the military?

Sure. On a personal level, what resonates with me when it comes to Memorial Day was, as a chaplain, one of my responsibilities was to be the escort officer for the next of kin notifications. Those assignments certainly remain the single most honorable thing that I’ve ever done in uniform, and something that I’ll never forget. But as honorable as they were, it was also the hardest thing to do. As an oncall duty chaplain, I had a duty phone. My responsibility was to act and engage and react whenever that phone rung. And whether it was for any kind of emergency on-base where a soldier needed to speak to me, or a family member, or in cases of next of kin notifications. When I got a call, I had to scramble as quickly as possible, change into my dress blues, go to the casualty assistant’s office, and contact the next on-call duty chaplain. And then sometimes it was a very slow drive to a soldier’s family.

And there’s nothing that can prepare a person.

There’s nothing that could have prepared me for the tidal wave of anger and grief from parents, a spouse, wife, husband, children, siblings – for just that maelstrom of emotions. For example, I mean, nothing could have possibly prepared me to have gotten spit in the face, slapped by a grieving mother who just lost her son. There’s nothing that could have possibly obviated me when she told me that I disgusted her because, as a representative of a G-d, I should be ashamed of myself that that G-d has taken her son away. There’s no PowerPoint slide that could have possibly taught me how I’m supposed to somehow set aside and stash my own emotions, recognizing the terrible torment, the anguish of this poor mother. And that I’m supposed

to stand firm and comfort her, or just pretend to be stoic as she just goes through the five steps of grief.

It’s these kind of things, admittedly, that I actually get really frustrated about within the collective of the frum community, who don’t pay much attention. I am disappointed about the apathy shown towards our brothers and sisters in uniform. Again, some who I would actually call kedoshim.

I would like to see more than just a small percentage of us who are veterans, who know veterans, love veterans, or lost veterans commemorate Memorial Day. I want people to understand what the day is really about and to really spend some time in reflection. I’m not suggesting that people shouldn’t go and have a barbecue and shouldn’t enjoy the day. But at least spend a few moments in quiet reflection. And I’ll go one step further. Even spend a few minutes maybe even saying a kapitel Tehillim or even being misbodeid, if you will, to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that we live in a Medina Shel Chesed, bought and paid for by our brothers and sisters in uniform who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

You know, several years ago, the organization Kosher Troops sought to work in conjunction with many of the shuls in the New York, New Jersey area because Shavuot and Memorial Day coincided. They sent flyers with the various names of Jewish fallen, just from the global War on Terror, and asked shuls to set aside just 30 seconds during Yizkor to remember those troops. Unfortunately, it was not well received at all.

I’m blessed that my parents are still very much alive and well. All my siblings are alive. And yet, as a chaplain, as a veteran, I received permission

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from my parents, as soon as I put on the uniform, to start saying Yizkor for our fallen. Baruch Hashem, I don’t have a chiyuv, but I’ve been saying Yizkor for the past 10 years.

Did you know any of the Jewish fallen personally?

Yes. Were you their chaplain?

Not officially. I was their Jewish chaplain, but in Iraq, for example, I was the Jewish chaplain for all of Iraq in 2011. I had a soldier who joined me for Pesach in Baghdad. He came from an extremely challenging background. He was adopted, and he did not know his birth mother. If I recall correctly, it was his father-in-law who convinced him to join the army. Shortly before he deployed, he was able to get his birth records unsealed, and he discovered that he was born to a Jewish mother. He was so taken by that, that he actually legally changed his name to a Jewish name.

That’s beautiful.

Really, the Passover that he spent with me was the only Passover that he ever had in his life. Tragically, he did take his own life. But I do consider him to be a casualty, because, unfortunately, he suffered from PTSD there, as a result of combat and the various other things. Anybody who really knows about combat-related PTSD knows that somebody who commits suicide, it really is a casualty of war. And when I say he was a brother, he was a friend, he was a congregant of mine. He was married and had a son. I’ve been wearing a memorial bracelet to honor his memory for the past three and a half years.

That is so very tragic. How many years were you a chaplain in the army?

I was on active duty for four and a half years.

And then I was in the reserves for three and a half.

What years were you in active duty?

Providentially, my very first day of active duty was the anniversary of D-Day. June 6, 2010, at 13:00 hours, is when I reported for duty at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to begin my army career.

What does being in the reserves entail?

It’s not like millu’im in Israel. I had monthly obligations. I’d go for training weekends every month.

And then there were two weeks of training during the summer that were obligatory. And of course, I could’ve been called up. Unfortunately, my career ended prematurely because I have a chronic illness that’s not letting me continue with my service. But I have no regrets. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I could.

How do you get trained to become a chaplain in the army?

The army has a chaplain school. There are prerequisites to becoming a chaplain. But in terms of basic soldiering skills and chaplaincy, the army has the Chaplain Center and School in Fort Jackson, which is in Columbia, South Carolina. The school-

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ing is around three and a half months.

Aside from the schooling that you went through were there any Jewish lessons that you would impart to your soldiers?

Sure.

What lessons did you try to convey to the members of the unit who unfortunately experienced a casualty in their unit?

L-R: SSG Miriam Elisheva Aumann; PFC Steven F Shapiro, So often I would just give them the a”h, who passed away on Shemini Ateres 10/21/2011; SGT opportunity to debrief and to decomArasha Reece; and Chaplain (CPT) Ephraim Travis, as press and just to share their experiencChaplain Travis sells his chometz to his chaplain assistant, es, allow them to cry as much as possiSGT Reece, on erev Pesach 2011, in Victory Base Camp, ble. Often, in the world as we know it, Baghdad, Iraq emotions and tears are somehow synonymous with weakness.

I would always tell my soldiers that “there’s one with counseling with people from all walks of life as well, which included, many times, grief counseling. place that you should be able to cry. It’s with me as your chaplain. You should be able to cry on my Can we talk about some of the Jewish sershoulders.” I had some of the toughest soldiers in the world cry on my shoulders. I had some special vicemembers who lost their lives in the global War on Terror? operations guys and special forces guys who had I’ll be happy to. I’d like to talk about Specialist come to me as well, just because I was the chaplain on-call. When I was in Iraq, for example, on my Daniel Agami. I’m actually in touch with his mother on a very regular basis, through social media. He base, I was one of two on-call duty chaplains for a was originally from Cleveland. His parents now live base of over 10,000 personnel. in Coconut Creek, Florida, not far from Miami.

Daniel was in an infantry unit out of SchweinHow many years were you in Iraq? furt, Germany. Unfortunately, he was KIA in BaghI was in Iraq for 10 months. dad in late June 2007. Daniel was known for his You asked earlier, but as far as the idea of imparting lessons, it’s really about being able to rec- integrity. He was a big guy. Even though he was part of an infantry unit – there’s a reputation that ognize the contribution of the soldier who passed infantry personnel are rough and tumble and gruff or who was killed or died – just being able to truly memorialize that soldier, ensure that we honor his because it’s a tough job and part of the job as an infantryman is to really hunt down the enemy – and yet he had a soft heart. He mentored Iraqi orphans.

He had gone to a Jewish day school.

“I had some of the toughest soldiers in the world cry on my shoulders.”

or her life by living a life of purpose and meaning, and truly finding whatever small bits to truly personalize the connection of that soldier and what it means to have lost that soldier.

I like to describe my job as a chaplain is that I was a chaplain that happened to be Jewish. The important distinction there being is that my job as a chaplain was to provide and to be available to people from all walks of life, regardless of background, religion, race, creed, etc. It didn’t matter. I wouldn’t quite say secondary to that, but perhaps equal to that, was that wherever I was based, my job was also to provide and lead services for Jewish personnel. I was a unit chaplain. I was part of command staff and guiding and advising commanders about various things. Ironically enough, even as a divorcee, I led many marriage retreats. I was very busy

How did you know him?

I did not know him personally. Actually, he was killed before I even joined the army. But I got to know his parents, particularly his mother, a little bit as I was joining the army. And then I met his mother and father on several occasions at military Shabbatons. And we connected, and we keep in touch on social media.

Because of Daniel’s adherence to Torah and mitzvot to the best of his ability, he was affectionately known by his fellow soldiers as “GI Jew.” Even in Iraq, he kept kosher while he was in the army, to the best of his ability. He slept with an American and an Israeli flag over his bunk. His rifle had a sign that was titled the Hebrew Hammer.

He was so proud of being Jewish. He really was.

What a kiddush Hashem.

Very much so.

Another person I would like to highlight is Navy Lieutenant Miroslav, or Steve, Zilberman. Every time I think of him, in my opinion, I believe that a building should be named after him because of his heroism. He was originally from the former Soviet

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Officer Michael Brodsky

Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal

Union, but he came to the United States and lived in Columbus, Ohio. He was a pilot and was assigned to an aircraft carrier. His plane was the E-2 Hawkeye, which is a propeller plane that has a disk on the top.

He was based out of Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, but he was on a mission in the Persian Gulf.

In late March 2010, he was heading back to the aircraft carrier. Now, an E-2 Hawkeye, if I recall correctly, has a crew of four or five. And unfortunately, the plane suffered catastrophic engine failures. Lieutenant Zilberman knew that, if he left the controls, then the plane would hurdle into the sea.

So, knowing full well that he was going to die, he remained with the aircraft after all the engines died, allowing the rest of the crew to eject safely. They survived, but unfortunately, the navy searched for Lieutenant Zilberman’s body for three days, but his body was never recovered.

That is more than a hero.

The way I put it, rather soberingly, is imagine staring down the Malach Ha’Maves knowing that you are absolutely going to die, just so you can save the lives of four of your comrades.

So now you can understand when I speak of these people, I refer to them as kedoshim. Whether he was observant or not, to me, is irrelevant. He was a Yid who gave up his life for his battle buddies, for his fellow brothers and sisters in uniform in service to our country.

Another Jewish hero I’d like to talk about resonates very deeply with me. I have a service dog, so his story really connects with me.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Brodsky was from Tamarac, Florida, and was assigned to a security detachment out of San Diego. He was KIA in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on July 21, 2012, from injuries related to an IED. He was an EOD tech, which is an explosive ordinance disposal technician. In other words, he was the bomb squad. In those kinds of situations, he had a working dog whose job was to go out ahead of the rest of the patrol to sniff for possible explosives.

In this case, the insurgents detonated one bomb, and his dog was injured. The relationship between the dog and its handler in the military – it’s something that I can’t describe. It’s even closer than that of other dog-human relationships. They’re quite literally relying on each other for each other’s lives.

Navy Lieutenant Steve Zilberman

To the point where, at least in the U.S. Military, to really underscore how paramount that construct is, the dogs always outrank their handlers.

Petty Officer Brodsky’s dog was injured. And then Petty Officer Brodsky went out to rescue his buddy, his four-legged buddy, who was not just a companion. And unfortunately, when Officer Brodsky went out to rescue his buddy, a second explosion was set off. And unfortunately, Officer Brodsky was mortally wounded and passed away.

“It’s a day of recognizing and acknowledging those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.”

As I said, there are 60 plus Jewish servicemen who lost their lives in the global War on Terror.

Petty Officer 2nd Class, Nathan Bruckenthal was originally born, I believe, in the Netherlands but he lived in the United States. He was part of a special operations team in the Coast Guard, providing port security in and around the Iraqi port in the Persian Gulf. There was a boat that was coming to launch an attack, filled with explosives. Petty Officer Bruckenthal intercepted the boat along with another, I think, three people. But unfortunately, he was killed. He was the first of the Coast Guard’s men to be KIA since Vietnam. Because of his heroism, there’s actually a Coast Guard ship that was named after him.

These people are true heroes. Serving our country and giving their lives for our freedom. Are we any closer now to ending the War on Terror?

That’s a great question. Because the struggle, of course, is that this is really a war of an ideology.

Not to get too political, but case in point what’s going on in Israel right now is a similar ideology.

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Specialist Daniel Agami

And that’s always a struggle.

Why did you decide to join the army?

I heard the food was good.

But really, there are several reasons. Number one – and this is not in any order of preference or import – it was a childhood dream. Growing up, we all have dreams as little kids. I never really shared this with too many people growing up, but to be a soldier was always my dream, to be particularly an American soldier. It was also an opportunity to show our hakaras hatov to this country. For the opportunity to walk around, to serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu the way we do, without fear.

I’d just gotten divorced shortly a few months beforehand. And it was also the best opportunity for me to be able to support my children financially, being able to provide for them.

Additionally, there’s a family legacy of service.

I grew up hearing stories about my forbearers. My father’s half-brother served at Vietnam. My father’s father served in World War II in the navy. My grandmother, my mother’s mother, worked for the Department of the Army for 29 years. My mother’s uncle served in the army as well, as a tank mechanic. My father had uncles who served during World War II as well. So I grew up hearing these bits and pieces.

And it was just an honor to be able to carry on a family legacy of service, within the framework of hakaras hatov.

What message do you have for readers for Memorial Day? Memorial Day is a day of reflection. And when you hear the term, or you might be inclined to say to a veteran, “Thank you for your service,” really spend a few minutes reflecting on what that really means. It shouldn’t just be a reflexive, knee-jerk type of thing.

Really reflect on it.

Especially on Memorial Day, if the readership happens to come across a veteran, understand that there’s a certain amount of reverence, in my opinion, that should be carried forth. Understand that that veteran might be in a place of reflection, thinking about his or her battle buddies, whether here or no longer with us. And that’s really what Memorial Day is all about. It’s a day of recognizing and acknowledging those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I am having a very hard time with shidduchim for my 28-year-old single daughter, Tamar*. She is smart, beautiful, responsible, and will make an amazing wife and mother. The problem, sadly, seems to be stemming

from my mother who is sick with dementia. She is in the earlier stages, so many outside of the family are not aware of this. She is losing her sense of social astuteness – putting it mildly, she is losing her marbles! I have been told by friends, neighbors, and women in the community how my mother badmouths my daughter, claiming she is not serious, has issues, and will never get married. There is no rhyme or reason to what she says. We can’t even reason with her because of her condition. How can we navigate this crazy situation?

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. his is a nightmarish situation! You are caught between protecting your daughter and your mother’s dignity. You are probably very involved with caregiving for your parent, which intensifies the pain.

My sense is that it is probably OK to tell people that your mother is in the early stages of dementia and is not responsible for her negativity, in general, and about your daughter, in particular.

However, it is proper to run this past your rabbi in case there are any lashon hara ramifications (which I doubt). You probably have reason to be concerned about her safety as well. I think letting people know not to trust her words will be not only permitted but smart and good for her welfare.

Once you get that green light to inform people carefully and respectfully about your mother’s dementia and negativity about your daughter which comes from concern, it would be smart to mention that you have discussed this with your rav. The same is true when you circle back to shadchanim and teachers, as well. Do mention how hard this is for you and how you were told that you must do this.

Please get back to us and let us know how this went. We are concerned for all of you.

T

The Shadchan Michelle Mond am so grateful for your question as it not only helps me as a shadchan understand the difficulties that may arise in some families, but also helps raise society’s awareness of the issue.

In turn, people might read this question, hear an elderly relative rattle off nasty comments about a single, dismiss it as lashon hara and recognize the true problem – dementia.

I think this is an important lesson

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to our readers. x. The source must be confirmed and reliable. This is why I utterly despise the “information fishing” that goes on in the shidduch system. Anyone can say anything, and it will be believed; how could this be a good thing? Will this really help the situation or will it hurt the situation?

Now to the bread and butter of your question. The first thing I did after reading the email with your question was google the issue, as I am not aware of dementia and the difficulties it presents. Ironically, the first paragraph on the first link I clicked on started with the following warning: “People with dementia might say hurtful things. When you’re caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they might make mean comments, use hurtful words, or accuse you of terrible and untrue things.

It’s devastating to hear, but the most important thing to remember is that their disease is causing the behavior.” (“7 Ways To Reduce And Manage Mean Dementia Behavior,” dailycaring.com) I am not the one who is qualified to tell you how to deal with your mother, but based on my internet search, there are endless resources to tap into. I will, however, say this.

The same Hashem who created your mother and her dementia, also created your daughter and her bashert.

Hashem creates the refuah (treatment) before the makah (illness). They say when someone passes away, Hashem takes into account every human being who will be affected by the tragedy.

When He created your mother’s situation, He also created those around her who will hear her rattle off things about your daughter. This will not affect finding her bashert. The only thing that can negatively impact finding her bashert is improper (or not enough) hishtadlus on her part. On your end, you can make the community of your mother’s social group aware of her cognitive decline, but that is about it.

As you mentioned, Tamar is 28, and your mother only just recently developed this dementia. Tamar has been single for many years before this. May

I suggest you recommend she gets acquainted with a very good dating coach to help guide her on her journey? I think it could do wonders!

May you have much hatzlacha with your daughter and your mother.

We often try to ascribe simple causes to complex problems.

The Single Rivka Weinberg am so sorry to hear that your mother is in the earlier stages of dementia.

Unfortunately, situations can become more complicated when dealing with these types of illnesses. At times, it is frustrating when you are giving so much time, energy, and care to an individual, and you feel like they are making your own personal situations more

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complex than necessary. With that said, it is important to remember that there are multiple factors in shidduchim. Although you may feel this is one of the biggest portions, I advise your daughter to look within herself to see if there is anything she can be working on to help herself throughout the process. In addition, I believe you should do the same. Human nature often in-

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stigates us to need a tangible reason or cause of a problem to point fingers at, but sometimes it is simply not what we believe it to be. Just to clarify, I am not saying your mother is not a piece of this puzzle, rather I am suggesting you look at a greater and larger picture. If your daughter is davening to Hashem for her shidduch and putting in the appropriate hishtadlus, your mother’s condition will not impact her shidduchim.

We need to keep in mind that Hashem has a plan for each and every one of us, and the key thing to do is strengthen our emunah and daven to Hashem for clarity and guidance.

When I am redt to a boy and he says no, I think about it as Hashem filtering boys for me and saving my emotional and mental energy. I find that when I constantly remind myself of that, it makes the dating process that much easier. Hashem is the ultimate Shadchan, so I recommend you turn to Him for direction and assistance.

After davening and strengthening your emunah and bitachon, you should notify the references on your daughter’s resume about your mother’s condition, so they are aware of the situation in case they are asked specific questions.

This appears to me to be a test in emunah and bitachon from Hashem, and the best way to face it head-on is by strengthening those muscles. I encourage you to keep calling out to Hashem, and with His help your daughter will find her zivug soon. Much hatzlacha!

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

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t’s very sad to see a loved one suffer from dementia. It’s especially heartbreaking when this cog-

the family are not aware” of your mother’s dementia. Actually, anyone speaking to her for even a short conversation will ignore what she says when it’s clear that something is not quite right with her.

So, let me delicately suggest: We often try to ascribe simple causes to complex problems. It’s entirely possible that your daughter’s difficulty in finding the right shidduch has absolutely nothing to do with your Mom’s problem.

It might be worthwhile having your daughter spend some time with a competent dating coach, who can help her better navigate contemporary dating issues.

It’s sad that you are in the stressful position of worrying not only about your mother but also about your daughter. Best wishes and good luck.

mot her’s condition. Keep in mind that it is very likely most people have realized that your mother’s personality has changed.

If you haven’t already begun to get the phone calls, be prepared for well-meaning neighbors and friends to call you asking about your mother.

You need to tell them the truth.

I think that you need to call every shadchan you are working with and let them know about the situation as well.

It can feel uncomfortable and foreign to “air our dirty laundry” but it is very necessary here.

Perhaps your daughter can speak with a dating coach to help her navi-

gate the world of shidduchim and help bring about a sense of peace and mastery over this uncomfortable situation.

Perhaps there is something that your daughter can work on with regard to her dating, separate from any issue with her grandmother. If there is a possibility that your daughter needs guidance with dating, it’s always a good idea to speak with someone.

I am so sorry that you are experiencing your mom’s cognitive decline.

Please make sure to take good care of yourself as you are sandwiched between your mother’s dementia and your daughter’s dating. That can be a lot for one person to carry.

All the best, Jennifer

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters

Not every comment you hear about a single guy or girl is true.

nitive decline is causing harm to the family.

Please consider the following: First, although there is no cure for senile dementia, you can modify or slow down her decline, and, perhaps, minimize the damage to your daughter.

-Speak to a physician about medications like Aricept (Donepezil).

-Institute a daily exercise regimen for your mother.

-Have someone play word games or card games with her daily.

-Speak to her often, consistently, and repetitively with a simple message: Please don’t say bad things about your granddaughter.

Second, discuss your mother’s condition, openly and honestly, with shadchanim. Delicately explain that Mom tries to advocate for Tamar but sometimes confuses the meaning of her words and says the wrong things.

A sympathetic shadchan will possibly take greater interest in helping a girl whose grandmother is ill.

Third, you are probably incorrect when you write that “many outside of

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

T

hank you for writing into our panel! Dementia is always tragic. The cognitive decline and the disorientation it brings is devastating to the individual and to family members alike. No one understands what it is to have a parent with dementia unless one has a parent with a dementia. I am a big supporter of support groups; a group that meets regularly with a skilled facilitator where everyone in the group has a loved one with dementia. Though potentially daunting at first, anyone I know who goes to a support group for an ongoing issue or crisis is glad they went. Though

you may not find anyone who is dealing with this exact manifestation of a parent’s dementia, most people in the group will be able to relate and support you and provide you with validation, which may give you the strength to get through this and future situations. People with dementia often say untrue or downright cruel things to or about loved ones. Do not underestimate how painful this may be for you.

In my opinion, I think you have to tell community members about your

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

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Dr. Deb

Why Can’t You Do Regular Therapy

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

A

very intelligent person not too many months ago asked me a question that I first thought was obvious and then after examining it for a while – that’s how I am; things need to percolate inside sometimes – realized that it was a great question and deserved a wellthought-out answer.

Here’s the question they asked: if your course teaches us everything we need to move into being a happy couple, getting along well and things going smoothly, then why do you need extra trainings that are in a Facebook group?

And the corollary question that comes up a lot, too, is: why do you need a course at all? I just want to have regular therapy sessions.

So since I think both questions deserve complete answers, I want to explain to you why the system I’ve set up is far superior to what I used to offer as “traditional therapy.”

Question 1: If It’s So Good, Why Do I Need More?

The short answer is: You don’t.

The proof is that before I came up with all the new additions to the course, people were succeeding beautifully in learning how they work, understanding what triggers them, learning skills to no longer be triggered, learning skills to feel good about themselves (even the parts of them that they never liked), harnessing that learning to have fruitful, calm, and honest conversations, increasing understanding and compassion for their mates, and starting to work together in a harmonious way.

However, if I could impart that knowledge in a way that: a. made the information more un-

derstandable on a deep level b. made it possible to more quickly utilize the information in different contexts c. made the process much less painful than before – then wouldn’t it be worth it to learn new ideas and tools?

A good comparison that came to mind is this: Suppose you’re in New York and you want to fly to Chicago.

You can book a seat on a plane that will absolutely get you there. Now suppose a different carrier came up with a faster way to get there, or a way with much more legroom, or (my favorite) a way that enabled the seat to recline more without being in your neighbor’s lap in the seat behind you. Or perhaps the trip was guaranteed to sail smoothly through air pockets without those stomach-churning dips, or the food was actually good and catered to weird diets like kosher-gluten-free-nondairy. And so on.

Wouldn’t you rather take the trip

with the amenities of the second carrier?

So that’s the idea of adding new learning to the course as we go along.

Let me give you a real example that students in the course and all graduates for all time have access to now: I’ve been writing here lately about Internal Family Systems (IFS), created by Dr. Richard Schwartz.

The idea of parts was not his own discovery. Prior to his advent on the scene, parts were believed to be associated with a terrible malaise called “Dissociative Identity Disorder” (originally called “Multiple Personality Disorder”). What Schwartz brought to the attention of anyone interested to know was the idea that we all have parts.

That is, you don’t need to have a diagnosis of any kind to recognize that you may have different notions, ideas, and preferences within you that vie with each other at times.

When I created my course, I was not familiar with IFS. The doctoral program I went to did not even have a page on it. And, to make matters more interesting, there is no one else but Schwartz who talks about the fascinating experience of a couple working on recognizing their own and their partner’s parts. In fact, Schwartz wrote the only book on it in existence, “You are the One You’ve Been Waiting For: Bringing Courageous Love to Intimate Relationships.”

And what I did was spend two months going through Schwartz’s book on my live Facebook trainings even though I had added three modules to the course (that’s three weeks) and intensive twice-a-week one-to-one therapy during those modules.

In fact, I now do two trainings a week which are all on new ideas that I come across which will enhance the course learning and help couples cement their relationship. Today, for example, I spoke about the idea of how we often use the same catchphrases in our interactions and how powerful it would be if we found catchphrases that represented our true goals and mission for our families rather than un-thought-out and unhelpful remarks. I included as well several research pieces from the book I mentioned in my last column, Daniel Coyle’s The Culture Code.

The side that gets some people down is that I do these trainings on Facebook. Well, I have some opinions about Facebook, too. But you know what? To me, it’s just like the internet. I would not be able to reach out to help more people, discover new things to read, or put up my

course without it. Use it for good and it will be good. (We are supposed to elevate the mundane, after all.)

Question 2: Dr. Deb, why can’t we just have plain vanilla therapy sessions?

I actually scientifically tested that one.

I’ve been saying that there are a number of reasons why traditional therapy is not as effective as the program I created, so I’ll outline those here: 1. There is no accountability for the client; they can do their homework or not. This wastes prodigious amounts of time. Think of all the learning a person misses simply because they didn’t practice new skills.

Or because they forgot what they discussed the minute they leave the therapy room and now another week is lost. Again.

2. When the going gets rough – such as looking at those annoying parts of ourselves that cause anxi-

ety, disgust, fear, and anger – people may quit.

3. There is no between-session support. On the contrary, therapists believe that support between sessions will make a client dependent on them. This could be true with

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come out of a group are phenomenal and far more varied and rich in ideas than I could have dreamed up by myself. After all, they’re the ones who are struggling – and they can share what they did in those struggles.

Think of all the learning a person misses simply because they didn’t practice new skills.

traditional therapy. But in a course in which a person is required to look inside himself for answers and understandings, the support merely helps redirect someone who was briefly off-track.

4. There is no group support.

Yet, the ideas and applications that

5. And of course, the idea that the course material is laid out in videos which are clear and helpful is a fundamental difference between unadorned therapy and my program.

Add to that all the exercises that go with it, and it leaves therapy in the dust.

Mind you, there also is therapy, private sessions of it. But you get all the rest, too.

So, as I mentioned, I tested it out. I had a couple divide up. One took the course, and the other had parallel therapy sessions. At the end, the one who took the course said that their spouse didn’t understand the deeper things that they were explaining. So I suggested the one who’d had the plain vanilla sessions – which, by the way, I thought were actually pretty good – take the course, too.

And what do you know? That individual said the course made all the learning become part of them; it registered in a way it hadn’t previously.

Make sense?

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

Miriam Jacobovits Photography

JUNE SPECIAL

BOX PHOTOS CALL OR TEXT 347–572–8973 INSTAGRAM: MIRIAMJACOBOVITSPHOTOGRAPHY

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Health & F tness

Shed Those Quarantine Pounds

By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN

T

his spring is a very different spring from last year. Last year at this time, schools were closed, most of us were working remotely, socially distancing, spending time with only our immediate household, and living a quarantined life.

This spring, while, yes, Covid-19 still

exists, things have opened up, and life is beginning to feel normal again.

Other than the vivid quarantine memories, we have something else that lingers on from last spring: excess weight. A study published by JAMA Network Open found that during pandemic-related lockdowns

last spring, people in the United States gained an average of 1.5 pounds per month. Data showed that between February 1 and June 1 last year participants in the study added, on average, about 0.6 pound of body weight every 10 days after shelter-in-place orders were implemented in their areas.

“Many of us don’t fully realize how much physical activity we routinely perform when we are more freely out and about in the world, whether walking up the stairs to a meeting room, walking to the bus or even standing on the subway,” study co-author Dr. Gregory M. Marcus said. “Clicking from one Zoom to another doesn’t burn a lot of calories,” and with food “more accessible, such as while working from home ... it’s possible more calories are going to be consumed,” said Marcus, associate chief of cardiology for research at the University of California-San Francisco. In addition to consuming more food while stuck at home, with more people staying home from work or school and gyms closed, physical activity declined for many people in the United States, the researchers said. Furthermore, participants also stated that stress related to the pandemic was causing them to eat and drink more.

This spring, with the beautiful sun shining, it’s time to get outside, get active, and get back to your pre-pandemic weight. There is no greater weather than the springtime when it’s warm enough to exercise outdoors but not too hot where it becomes unbearable. Walking, jogging, running, biking, and playing sports are all excel-

lent ways to help keep you physically active in this ideal weather.

In addition to physical activity, eating the right foods can help you shed those unwanted pounds.

Eating avocado may help lose weight due to its high fiber and healthy fat content. One cup of sliced avocado contains 10 grams of fiber, almost one-third of your daily recommended intake. Fiber and weight loss go hand-in-hand because fiber suppresses your appetite, by making you feel fuller longer.

In fact, a study published last spring explained that after eating an avocado, you will feel full for up to six hours afterward. The study also concluded that people who eat avocados tend to snack less throughout the day.

A great breakfast of one slice of whole wheat toast covered in creamy avocado with two eggs on the side is about 300 calories. Yes, there is fat in this meal, but no, this breakfast will not lead to weight gain.

Something else to add into your diet this spring should be chili peppers and cayenne peppers. The ingredient that gives chili peppers a spicy kick is a compound called capsaicin, which is also the active ingredient in cayenne pepper. Capsaicin has been shown to help boost metabolism and reduce hunger by lowering the body’s production of a hunger signal called ghrelin. When ghrelin is produced, your body gets signals to feel hungry.

When ghrelin is reduced, your body will not make you feel hungry.

Coconut oil should also be on your shopping list this spring as well. Co-

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conut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) which are thought to help boost fat burning. These MCT oils can help your body achieve ketosis, which is a metabolic state where your body burns fat as fuel as long as you keep carbohydrates to a minimum. MCTs are thought to increase feelings of satiety by helping your body get the message that it is full by releasing the appetite suppressor hormones leptin. Leptin and ghrelin are opposites. Ghrelin tells your body that it is hungry, while leptin notifies the body that it is full. When ghrelin is suppressed and leptin is released, you are off to a good start. Still, like any other oil, use coconut oil sparingly since even so-called healthy oils can add to your overall caloric intake.

A must have for all year round is quinoa. Quinoa is a nutritional allstar that belongs in your weight loss plan. One cup of cooked quinoa contains roughly 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. It has more protein than any other whole grain so it will

keep you fuller for longer than pasta or rice. The type of protein is ideal, too. Another benefit of the high protein content is that protein increases one’s metabolism and reduces your appetite by filling you up, making you eat less calories overall, thus aiding

amounts in green tea, is thought to promote weight loss. Green tea has also been shown to improve fat burning and metabolism. Furthermore, researchers believe that polyphenols found in green tea increase fat oxidation, thus reducing triglyceride levels

In addition to physical activity, eating the right foods can help you shed those unwanted pounds.

in weight loss. Quinoa is as easy to cook as rice. For a quick dinner, mix in some vegetables, nuts, or lean protein, or even leave it plain.

Your drink of choice this spring should be green tea. Studies have shown that green tea promotes weight loss. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in high

and increasing the rate at which your body turns food into calories. However, other studies believe that the main reason why green tea promotes weight loss is due to the fact that it is a great substitute for sugary drinks.

The weight loss promoted by green tea also indirectly reduces chances of developing Type II diabetes, heart

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attack, and stroke. Try drinking your tea hot, because it takes longer to drink, providing a soothing, mindful experience.

As always, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is by eating a diet of whole plant-based foods and staying active every day. Incorporate these foods into your diet, as well as others that promote health benefits.

Find a balanced diet that works for you, get outdoors, get physically active, and get back to your pre-Covid weight!

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. She is currently a dietitian at Boro Park Center and a private nutrition consultant. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @EatBetterandFeelBetter.

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Parenting Pearls

It Takes a Village

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

M

emorial Day is when the country comes together and honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I, like many others, have relatives who have proudly served in the military. Thankfully, all my great-uncles returned safely, but sadly, many others can’t say the same. We and our families should take a moment to appreciate and honor those that have served and been lost.

This Memorial Day is a difficult one for my extended family. Our family will come together from different parts of the country for the unveiling of the matzeivah of my uncle, Manish Yitzchak ben Aryeh, after his passing this past summer.

I remember after his passing one thought that came to my mind was the gift of family that he helped give to us. Like many other families, ours was devastated by the Holocaust. We were a small but close-knit group. I have fond memories of my siblings and I making the hours-long drive, trekking across the country to visit our cousins for yom tov, particularly Pesach. As we would leap out of the car, we were greeted by my Bubby’s chicken soup. At that moment, any hope my uncle had for calm was

long gone. We were rambunctious and chaotic, but our family became closer from these visits. I’m sure the extra people in the house were challenging for my uncle, but he greeted us happily each time.

I know those trips weren’t easy for my parents, either but, as they told me, family is important. I thought this would be an appropriate time to discuss the important role of extended family in a child’s life. Additionally, not everyone has family close by. Those children, too, deserve to have many people who love them and care for them outside their own home. They say it takes a village to raise a child. As parents, we have the opportunity to create that village and expand it as our children need.

Benefits We usually know there are benefits to our children being close to others but the benefits go beyond that. Family is often there for you even when others aren’t. It can, and should, be a nearly unbreakable bond. Even if they don’t like you, they still need to put up with you.

I’ve often been amazed at just how special the grandparent-grandchild bond is. There is something

unique and inherently loving when it comes to grandparents. Most of us have the warmest feelings when we remember our grandparents. They are among the few who could love us no matter what we got ourselves into. Encouraging this relationship is beneficial to our children.

I know that each relative adds their own something special. There may be relatives you like more and some you like less but the bond is often there.

Compromising You’d think it would be easy to include extended relatives in a child’s life. For many families, it is; for others, not so much. It’s surprising how much parenting styles and personalities can differ between one generation and the next. In addition, medical advice has changed over the decades. What was once considered the safest way to care for an infant or child is now often considered an unsafe practice.

Unique parenting and personality styles are one of the many differences you can see between people. Using grandparents as an example, you would imagine that a child is similar in parenting style to their own parents, but that is often

not the case. This gets even more pronounced when it’s in-laws who didn’t raise you personally and may have very different parenting methods than the ones you were raised with. As an example, so often we see that one generation tends to be stricter parents, while the other generation is more relaxed. This often leads to friction. The world has changed so much since we were kids that it makes sense that parenting styles would change. Some like things to be neat, and other want “kids to be kids.” Some people are strict about limiting sweets, and others feel that food is food. The list is endless – as are the potential causes of friction and disagreement.

All you need to do is check the advice columns of many papers to see some of the many ways generations conflict about the best way to raise children. It’s possibly one of the most common topics addressed!

Another difference is that medical advice has changed. Most of us reading this article were put to sleep on our stomachs – for our own safety. We probably even had blankets to keep us warm. Many of us had cribs with bumpers. Our children’s pediatricians tell us now to put our babies to sleep on their backs – for

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

WE'RE ALMOST THERE....

"ONE WHO SAVES

A SINGLE LIFE

IS AKIN TO SAVING THE

WHOLE WORLD."

DO YOUR PART TO SAVE A LIFE! Make sure to take the vaccine!

All New Yorkers age 16 and older are eligible for vaccination.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine.

WEAR A MASK Until you are fully vaccinated, wearing a mask outside your home prevents the spread of the virus to your family, friends and neighbors.

STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK Only leave for medical care and testing or other essentials.

AVOID LARGE INDOOR GATHERINGS This is another way the virus spreads quickly.

GET TESTED If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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their own safety. Blankets are worn or not used, and crib bumpers are a big no-no. In fact, many of the cribs we have in storage are illegal now because of the danger they have been shown to pose. It’s only natural that grandparents will do what they were trained to do. Unfortunately, many older relatives have done what they were trained to do only to have the child’s parents panic.

In nearly all of these situations, compromising can work. We can stick to our principles but risk the grandparent-grandchild (or extended family) bond, or we can work out a way to come to a solution that respects all of our needs and allows the relationship to flourish. We all have how we envision the perfect way to raise a child but that vision may need to be gently put aside to allow a more important bond to develop. You may want your child to be sugar-free but allowing one treat from a grandparent is unlikely to ruin their health or appetite. A

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

grandparent may walk in, disturbed to see unwashed laundry, but maybe it’s worth seeing the laundry when they can see their grandchild’s smile instead.

is a healthy relationship with those who love our children. Speaking to a rav, rebbetzin, or mentor can often be a good way to get clarity and help families navigate sensitive sit-

The greater good of the child is often met when generations come together and cooperate over caring for and loving a child.

Speak respectfully and be willing to compromise knowing that the greater good of the child is often met when generations come together and cooperate over caring for and loving a child. We’re supposed to have our principles and values but sometimes the most important one

uations. Just having the opinion of an unbiased person can add a lot to the discussion.

Make the Time Children can’t bond with those they don’t see or communicate with.

It’s important to make the time for children to visit their relatives.

It may not always be convenient, but it’s usually worth it in the end.

Where that isn’t feasible, kids often enjoy virtual visits. Phone and video calls can be a great way to connect when in-person visits aren’t possible. Even my little ones love to see their family members over the video chat. You’d be surprised how much children can gain from speaking to relatives. Keep in mind that some children will have trouble or become anxious when using phone or video chat, and this should be respected.

Creating the Village Children need many people in their lives. Each person they connect with can provide something special for them. Often, a child can really benefit from developing a special bond with another adult who really understands them. Many families have close family friends who act as surrogate families to each other’s children. This can be one way, especially for those who don’t have family nearby, to build that village for their child. Children benefit from knowing they have someone else they can turn to in an emergency or if they need something. Even just knowing someone will be there if

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they can’t contact you is something reassuring for a child.

Mentors or “big brothers/sisters” type programs are another way to bring a trusted adult into your child’s life. A child who is embarrassed to discuss an unpleasant school or friend situation with a parent may open up more easily to someone else, such as a mentor.

Exceptions You knew there had to be exceptions. I know of situations that have been more complicated, such as relatives feeding the children non-kosher food or food the child was allergic to. Often, compromise is still possible but it can’t be done at the expense of a child’s neshama or safety. In some cases, the compromise reached was that the relative was able to spend time with the child but couldn’t be left unsupervised. Each situation is different and needs to be dealt with appropriately.

We all know of cases where someone is considered “toxic” and may be emotionally unhealthy for the child to be around. Even worse, I know of cases where a relative has been outright dangerous to children, including their own. These individuals have a history of unmentionable behavior towards children and are a serious risk.

Your child’s safety is of paramount concern and can’t be sacrificed to encourage a bond with someone at risk of hurting them.

Seek the advice of someone knowledgeable and do what you need to do. Any advice beyond that is beyond the scope of this article.

As much as parents are to a child, we can’t be everything. Children benefit from a loving bond with many others in their lives, and we can help them achieve that extra connection and security that comes from knowing they are special to many.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education.

She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@ gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

no need to read between the lines! you now know the orah theme 2021! watch your mail orah campers! major fun stuff arriving!

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In The K

tchen

EATS

White Chocolate Mousse

ICH AL LA NG

NA S @MIMI.S

_S W EET_TR

By Naomi Nachman

I recently did a Zoom cooking class with a

PHOT O BY M

group of women from Zurich, Switzerland.

While discussing and preparing for the class, one of the women from the committee,

Noemi Levi, who I had become very close

with through Instagram, told me about this super-easy, white chocolate mousse

recipe. When I say easy, it’s really easy!

She tested it, I tested it, and we both

Ingredients

b3 bars good quality white Swiss chocolate, 300 grams b2 eggs, lightly beaten

loved this recipe. As my family is avid white

b2 cups heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks

hint. You can serve it for seudat shlishit,

1.

chocolate fans, this made for an instant or for brunch � or just keep them in the

freezer in case you have guests who drop by unexpectedly.

Preparation Melt chocolate in glass bowl over a simmering pot of water. Continuously stir until it’s very smooth.

2. Once it has slightly cooled, mix in the eggs.

3. Then fold into the whipped cream with a rubber spatula.

4.

Divide mixture into dessert cups and place in fridge for 2 hours until it sets.

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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Notable Quotes

My father used to say to me when I was younger, “Well, it was like that for me, so it’s going to be like that for you.” Just because you suffered, that doesn’t mean that your kids have to suffer – in fact, quite the opposite. If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that whatever negative experiences that you had, you can make it right for your kids. Isn’t this all about breaking the cycle? Isn’t this all about making sure that history doesn’t repeat itself?

“Say What?!”

Falling back on convenient, sanitized terms like “real estate disputes” and “airstrikes on militants” sounds a little disingenuous when what you’re describing is forcing people from the homes they’ve lived in for decades and killing civilians and children.

- Prince Harry, in an new interview with Oprah for a docuseries, talking about how his father, Prince Charles, didn’t protect him as a child

Where is the “tough guy”? Governor Cuomo? You can’t find him, either. Where’s he hiding? Under what rock is he hiding?

Why isn’t he speaking out?

- John Oliver, on “Last Week Tonight” expressing what many on the left feel about Israel

Watching Joe Biden twoEvery dayssiren ago take credit ceasefire was makes me for cry aand feel sad.

Just like watching an arsonistso show up and try to take credit for putting you know, my army is strong. However, out a fire that he helped this start.

Let’snot beprotect really clear aboutbeing this: those does me from afraid.

4,000 rockets that went Israel into Israel were not Hamas rockets, they was founded to protect the Jewish were Iranian rockets. nation. We will not be sorry for [Israel] being

And of course, you have the great senator, - Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe the powerful senator from New York, the a strong country. “protector” of the Jewish people, what he - Renana, a 10-year-old girl from Kfar Azza, on the Gaza border, in a response to Oliver that went viral has told us for the past 25 years. He’s not Israel has the right to defend itself, as any nation does when its protecting anybody except himself. He’s so civilians are targeted by violence from a terrorist whose The Middle East dispute organization is not over land. terrified of AOC running against him that I’m just flabbergasted, to be honest with you. Israel isisour ally. short of mass aim nothing murder and the destruction of the Israel is the size of New Jersey. It is he is betraying the fundamental values, Hamas is a terrorist organization. I’ve spent my 25 years as a Green world’s only Jewish state. smaller than El Salvador. There are 22 Arab betraying his people.

Beret, spent my career fighting alongside, and in many cases losing states. There is a state with a majority of Democrats have, for decades, been defenders of Israel the soldiers with them dying, fighting alongside our allies against Palestinians called Jordan.

The because issue is not Jewish blood in the streets of New York!

Jewish state’s rebirth was an inspiring act of progressive justice.

We terrorism around theAnd world.

Never did You I think I would get elected land. The issue is religion. And, again, this And they are silent.

Jerry Nadler? must not allow extremists to hijack discussions about to Congress and have my colleagues supporting terrorism…inside is not what important the left wants you to believe. don’t hear from Jerry Nadler. Where is he? securing a better future for Israelis byover promoting a the halls of Congress. what did in our office building just last They want and you Palestinians to believe it’s land. No, Can anyone find — weSo, gotta getwe flashlights false that denies historical unbroken weekwe was put look up huge “I stand Mynarrative colleagues it’sthe not.

There isand a big chunk ofconnection the Muslimof and gotta for de Blasiowith and Israel” Cuomoposters. theRep. Jewish people to their ancestral homeland. and we I lined thelook hallways with it. And in one hallway, Ocasioworld that would like to exterminate the and gotta for Schumer, we gotta Cortez has to walk down that hallway every time she goes to vote.

Jewish state, beginning with, of course, look for Nadler because they are cowards.

No one should have to live under threat of attack, So, I’ve renamed the Squad the Hamas Caucus.

Iran.

That the is why, if you look atand the Hamas rhetoric, - Former NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind decrying the must be held accountable its war[get crimes, includeIt’s the silence by the politicians of on New York in the face of many - Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) Fox News it’sfor … never rid of]which the Israelis. always anti-Semitic attacks use of civilian infrastructure for launching its attacks against civilian [get rid of] the Jews. targets. Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties on both - Dennis Prager on Fox News I’ve failed many times in my life and career, and because of this I’ve sides of the border as a result. learned a lot. Instead of feeling defeated countless times, I’ve Leader used Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in a statement after “The Squad” and other - House Majority members of the Democrat it as fuel to drive me to work harder. So today, join me in accepting Party turned on Israel and had gone as far as accusing Israel of war crimes our failures. Let’s use them to motivate us to work even harder.

– Tweet by Phil Mickelson, age 50, on May 11, 2021, several day before he made history by becoming the oldest golfer to win a major when he won the PGA Championship

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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My father used to say to me when I was younger, “Well, it was like that for me, so it’s going to be like that for you.” Just because you suffered, that doesn’t mean that your kids have to suffer – in fact, quite the opposite. If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that whatever negative experiences that you had, you can make it right for your kids. Isn’t this all about breaking the cycle? Isn’t this all about making sure that history doesn’t repeat itself?

- Prince Harry, in an new interview with Oprah for a docuseries, talking about how his father, Prince Charles, didn’t protect him as a child

Where is the “tough guy”? Governor Cuomo? You can’t find him, either. Where’s he hiding? Under what rock is he hiding?

Why isn’t he speaking out?

And of course, you have the great senator, the powerful senator from New York, the “protector” of the Jewish people, what he has told us for the past 25 years. He’s not protecting anybody except himself. He’s so terrified of AOC running against him that he is betraying the fundamental values, betraying his people.

Jewish blood in the streets of New York!

And they are silent. And Jerry Nadler? You don’t hear from Jerry Nadler. Where is he?

Can anyone find — we gotta get flashlights and we gotta look for de Blasio and Cuomo and we gotta look for Schumer, we gotta look for Nadler because they are cowards.

- Former NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind decrying the silence by the politicians of New York in the face of many anti-Semitic attacks

Watching Joe Biden two days ago take credit for a ceasefire was like watching an arsonist show up and try to take credit for putting out a fire that he helped start. Let’s be really clear about this: those 4,000 rockets that went into Israel were not Hamas rockets, they were Iranian rockets.

- Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe

Israel has the right to defend itself, as any nation does when its civilians are targeted by violence from a terrorist organization whose aim is nothing short of mass murder and the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state.

Democrats have, for decades, been defenders of Israel because the Jewish state’s rebirth was an inspiring act of progressive justice. We must not allow extremists to hijack important discussions about securing a better future for Israelis and Palestinians by promoting a false narrative that denies the historical and unbroken connection of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland.

No one should have to live under the threat of attack, and Hamas must be held accountable for its war crimes, which include the use of civilian infrastructure for launching its attacks against civilian targets. Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties on both sides of the border as a result.

- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in a statement after “The Squad” and other members of the Democrat Party turned on Israel and had gone as far as accusing Israel of war crimes

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I have been struck...by the overwhelming whiteness and maleness of Chicago media outlets.

– Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), in a two-page letter to the media stating that she will only allow interviews from black journalists from now on (the letter did not address what she is doing about the rampant increase in robbery and murder in her city, under her watch)

The founder of Amazon is reportedly building a $500 million superyacht that is so big, it requires a “support yacht” to travel with it. This is like the billionaire version of having a second fridge in your garage.

— Jimmy Kimmel

Truth is, Bezos didn’t really need the support yacht, but Amazon did one of these upsells where they go, “People who buy this, also buy this.”

— James Corden

You can tell which one is the support yacht because it has that little vest. That way, you can take the yacht on the plane with you.

— Stephen Colbert

Attacks on Jews Over Israel Are a Gift to the Right - New York Times headline on May 24, 2021

You are a really dull class. Come on, man. Is the sun getting to you? I would think you’d have an opportunity when I say that about the Navy to clap.

- President Joe Biden, while speaking at the Coast Guard Academy graduation, when a joke he said did not garner clapping or laughter

Put aside all of the other evidence and use your common sense. Isn’t it a remarkable coincidence that the virus happened to originate next to the Chinese lab that tests coronaviruses?

– Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeting about the slowly emerging fact that Covid originated in a laboratory in Wuhan

More so than destroying your body – because I do know a lot of people that have overdosed – it really destroys your spirit, which is everything.

- Actress Kirstie Alley in an interview with Tucker Carlson, Fox News, talking about drugs

When people go, “Well, it’s not mind-altering.” Well, the weed I did was mind-altering.

– Ibid.

How many people do you know did heroin that didn’t do weed first?

Or did [cocaine] didn’t do weed first? Or did whatever they did, did weed first.

– Ibid.

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Political Crossfire

Biden’s Failing Miserably at Addressing Concerns from the Vaccine Hesitant

By Marc A. Thiessen

T

he Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccination effort is faltering. Just 37.8% of Americans have received both doses – well short of President Joe Biden’s 70% goal – and the vaccination rate in the United States has slowed from its April peak.

We’ve now reached the point where everyone eager to get their shot has gotten it. The challenge has shifted from ensuring supply meets demand to creating demand by convincing vaccine-hesitant Americans to get their shots.

The good news is that, according to Gallup, only about 16% of the unvaccinated don’t trust vaccines in general.

The rest are persuadable. So why are they hesitating? Gallup found that 24% are waiting to confirm the vaccines are safe, 21% are in no rush because they are not afraid of getting seriously ill from covid, and 17% are concerned about the speed with which the vaccine was developed. It’s the job of our elected leaders to address these concerns – and they are failing miserably in doing so.

The first step is for our fully vaccinated leaders to start acting like it.

President Biden continues to undermine public confidence in vaccines by wearing his mask outside when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says he does not even have to wear it inside. Vice President Kamala Harris was recently pictured kissing her husband through a mask, even though both are fully vaccinated.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., continues to impose a mask mandate on the House floor and is issuing $500 fines to members for refusing to wear

them – even though the CDC says fully vaccinated Americans can be indoors without masks, even around unvaccinated people.

All of this signals a lack of trust in the effectiveness of the vaccines. If you thought it was irresponsible of President Donald Trump to refuse to wear a mask, it is equally irresponsible for Biden to wear one now that he has been vaccinated. If he wants hesitant Americans to get their shots, Biden needs to make clear that when they do, they can ditch their masks, stop social distancing, and live their lives again.

Second, we need to change the way we talk about the vaccines. Politicians know that in any campaign, words matter. Republicans failed for years to get rid of the “estate tax” but found more success as soon as they rebranded it the “death tax.” The Biden administration recently ordered U.S. immigration enforcement agencies to stop referring to “illegal aliens” and call those who enter the country illegally “undocumented immigrants” instead. The words we choose can change public perceptions

– sometimes dramatically.

The same is true when it comes to vaccines. People who are vaccine-hesitant are not going to be convinced by appeals to get “vaccinated.” Why not urge them to get “immunized” against Covid-19 instead? The terms are interchangeable and familiar to most Americans. Every parent has had to fill out their children’s “immunization record” for school. But unlike vaccination, immunization focuses on the result of getting your shot – immunity.

And who doesn’t want to be immune to Covid-19? It won’t convince die-hard anti-vaxxers, but it certainly could make a difference with the hesitant but persuadable majority.

Third, where are the ads for the vaccines? We’re inundated with TV commercials from pharmaceutical companies. We’ve all seen the ads for Ozempic (Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic!) and Rybelsus (You are my sunshine!) to treat Type 2 diabetes and ads for Skyrizi and Cosentyx showing how they cleared up plaque psoriasis and gave people their lives back.

So why are Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson not flooding the airwaves with similar ads touting the life-changing impact of their covid-19 inoculations? Answer: The government won’t let them. The FDA bars companies from marketing drugs approved under an emergency use authorization without commissioner approval. They’ve been allowed to do some limited, generic ads touting the value of getting vaccinated and the power of science, but they can’t mention their products by name or create anything resembling the slick, multimillion-dollar campaigns for other drugs.

This is insane. Barring marketing of emergency use drugs may make sense when they are approved for limited distribution to a discrete population. But the federal government has set a goal of inoculating every eligible American against Covid-19. It’s in the national interest to allow pharmaceutical companies and their well-paid ad agencies to inundate the airwaves with creative campaigns selling their life-altering effect of the vaccines. If anything, the Biden administration should be spending some of the $1.9 trillion it recently secured from Congress to support those efforts, instead of restricting them.

The Biden administration did a good job of accelerating delivery of the vaccines, but it is doing an awful job selling them. Through bad example, poor language and needless regulation, it is hindering the vaccination effort – and with it the end of the pandemic. (c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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Political Crossfire

MBS’s Lawsuit Against a Saudi Spy Threatens to Spill Secrets

By David Ignatius

T

he Biden administration, worried about possible disclosure of sensitive counterterrorism operations, is considering whether to intervene in a lawsuit that pits a former Saudi spymaster against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The courtroom drama is the latest chapter in what has become a blood feud between MBS, as the crown prince is known, and former intelligence official Saad Aljabri, whose patron, former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, was MBS’s chief rival until Nayef was deposed in 2017.

This is a dark tale, with echoes of the 2018 murder of Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi by a Saudi hit team. Aljabri alleges in a lawsuit that MBS sent a similar “Tiger Squad” shortly afterwards to kidnap or kill him in his exile home in Canada. He also alleges that the Saudis imprisoned his children as hostages in Saudi Arabia to force him to return home. MBS’s lawyers have denied the allegations.

The Biden administration wants to encourage a settlement that would free the children and resolve the snarl of litigation. But so far, there has been no progress in resolving the legal mess.

An attorney who represents MBS and other Saudi government interests declined comment on the litigation.

The dilemma facing the administration presents a classic test of law and national security. Lawyers for Aljabri have filed a civil suit claiming that in 2008 he helped organize a network of front companies “with the primary purpose of carrying out covert and clandestine national security programs with the United States Government.”

But the Saudi companies, which are owned by the government, claim in several lawsuits that Aljabri and Nayef fraudulently skimmed at least $3.4 billion from the operation. “This was simply an outright theft,” one of the lawsuits, filed in Canada, alleges about some of the disputed money. A Canadian judge has temporarily frozen Aljabri’s assets.

Here’s the part that gives intelligence officers heartburn. To defend Aljabri against the fraud claims, his lawyers warn, will “require examination of the counterterrorism and na-

The CIA, which is most directly involved, is reviewing the matter, a knowledgeable official said. The CIA and the Justice Department declined to comment.

Though it’s not clear how the Justice Department might eventually intervene in the case, attorneys familiar with national security litigation say one possibility is that the government might invoke what’s known as the “state secrets privilege,” which allows the government “to resist court-ordered disclosure of information during civil litigation if there is

To protect himself, Aljabri may have to disclose some of the very secrets he was trying to protect. tional security activities of the United States Government.” In other words, to protect himself, Aljabri may have to disclose some of the very secrets he was trying to protect.

The Biden administration signaled its concern in a Justice Department filing on April 26 in a Massachusetts federal court, noting Aljabri’s intent “to describe information concerning alleged national security activities” and adding, “accordingly, the Government is considering whether and how to participate in this action, including if necessary and applicable, through an assertion of appropriate governmental privileges.”

a reasonable danger that such disclosure would harm the national security of the United States,” according to a 2011 monograph by the Congressional Research Service.

This case is wrenching partly because Aljabri worked so closely with U.S. intelligence officials to counter al-Qaeda’s terrorist operations. A string of U.S. officials have written testimonials extolling his service. A State Department official wrote senators last August that Aljabri “has been a valued partner to the United States Government, working closely with is to ensure the safety of Americans and Saudis.”

Cofer Black, a former CIA counterterrorism chief, said in an affidavit filed in February in the Canadian suit brought by the Saudi companies against Aljabri: “Within the CIA and State Department, it is widely known … that [Aljabri] is personally responsible for thwarting terrorist plots in the Middle East and the United States.” He also noted that Aljabri “is privy to tremendous amounts of classified information.”

What gives the litigation a human face is the plight of Aljabri’s two children, Omar and Sarah, now 22 and 21, respectively. They were prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia in June 2017. When Aljabri pleaded in a text message to MBS to let them go, the crown prince responded, “I want to resolve this problem of your son and daughter, but there is a very sensitive file here that is related to [MBN],” urging Aljabri to return to the kingdom. The children were arrested in March 2020 and convicted in a Saudi court of alleged criminal offenses, Aljabri’s lawyers said.

When personal feuds become courtroom legal battles, they’re very hard to untangle. But this one has gone on long enough. Aljabri’s family tell me that he is seeking an amicable resolution of all the disputes that would free the children and protect U.S. national security secrets.

Letting this squabble to keep festering until it breaches secrets that would damage the kingdom and the United States would be a serious mistake. (c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Political Crossfire

Wuhan Woes An excerpt from Tucker Carlson’s monologue on May 24, 2021

A

ctually, it looks like this virus did come from a lab in China.

Nearly a year and a half into the pandemic, that’s the new consensus in the American media. Boy, these things change fast. There are holdouts, of course. Just today, over at the Washington Post, a China shill called Michael Gerson wrote a hilariously overwrought column entitled: “The right is dwelling on slanderous myths about the origins of COVID-19.” The radical right! Slanderous myths! Russian QAnon sleeper cells slandering the Chinese government! It’s pretty funny. The good news is, it’s almost over. You’re probably not going to see a lot more columns like that going forward. The nonsense is finally dying down.

At other parts of Michael Gerson’s own newspaper, we’ve learned, they’re working on new stories about how the virus did, in fact, escape from the lab in Wuhan. So, the debate among serious people over the origins of COVID appears to be pretty much winding up. Pretty much every sane person acknowledges at this point that the government of China likely caused the single worst man-made disaster in human history. As if we need more evidence, over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that the first people infected with COVID-19 were probably researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In November of 2019, three of them were taken to the hospital with symptoms. The Journal did solid reporting, but it wasn’t entirely new. Back in January of this year, the State Department issued a fact sheet telling the entire country the same thing.

They said the first COVID patients were not hungry patrons of the local wet market, reckless diners who gorged themselves on pangolin and bats. No, they weren’t. The first pa-

tients were researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Clearly, they’d been infected at work, while working on the virus. If you were trying to understand where COVID came from, and you should be if you want to prevent future pandemics, that State Department in January told you a lot.

Yet it was ignored.

In fact on Monday, Tony Fauci himself — the man in charge of our whole response to COVID-19 — told CBS News that he never even heard about the State Department’s findings on the Wuhan lab. He had no idea.

In other words, Fauci’s own employers, the U.S. government, publicly released compelling evidence that the virus that he has devoted his life to fighting did not come food, but instead escaped from the very bio lab that Tony Fauci has sent American tax dollars to fund.

Yet somehow Tony Fauci didn’t know this. He didn’t know it till he read this weekend’s Wall Street Journal. It was news to him. Bolt from the sky. Totally new information.

Can we really believe that? No, of course, we can’t. In fact, we have

heard that on or about November 19, 2019, right around the time those Chinese researchers became the world’s first COVID patients, the government of Thailand contacted the CDC and Tony Fauci’s office to say its intelligence service had picked up “biological anomalies” around the lab in Wuhan. In other words, there had been a leak.

We can’t confirm this, though we believe it to be true. We do know that several other allied foreign governments, including the governments of France and Australia, have gathered evidence showing the virus escaped from a Chinese lab. Yet Tony Fauci, who runs the whole thing, didn’t know any of this? Come on. Of course, he did.

Fauci has known from the beginning the virus may very well have come from that lab. Many people have known that. Fauci just lied about it for more than a year. In May of 2020, in an interview with the willing dupes at National Geographic, he told you that, as one of the world’s most eminent scientists, there’s really no chance COVID-19 was engineered by

human hands.

FAUCI: If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats and what exists now, it’s very, very strongly leaning towards that could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated.

The way the mutations have naturally evolved. A number of very qualified evolutionary biologists have said that everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that it evolved in the wild, then jumped species.

“A number of very qualified evolutionary biologists.” Really? Where are those scientists today? Is there, for example, a single working virologist on planet Earth who’d come on this show right now and dismiss the Wuhan lab leak idea out of hand as ridiculous – or quote “outrageous,” as Francis Collins of the NIH once did?

We doubt there’s a single working virologist who would dare to do that. But not so long ago, the entire scientific and public health establishments did that very thing. So, what’s changed? Not the science. The science remains precisely the same. Only the politics have changed.

And that gets you thinking. Now that we know what we know about the Wuhan lab – and we know that, of course, Fauci has known it too for a very long time, how could he not – it’s pretty remarkable to go back and look at Fauci’s public statements about COVID and the government of China.

Keep in mind, he knew that it was at least possible that this virus came from that Wuhan Lab. Yet he did this interview with our David Asman with Fox Business in January of 2020. Keep in mind that Tony Fauci was perfectly aware that China may have created this virus, and he knew for a fact that the government of China was lying, covering its tracks, and pushing the world health organization

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Where’s their apology? Who’s paying into their reparations fund? No one, of course.

Here’s someone who deserves to be rehabilitated immediately. His name is Professor Stephen Mosher. He’s an expert on China and a very brave person. You’d need to hear what he said

in February of 2020, back when mass lockdowns seemed like something they only did in China, Mosher came on this show and told the truth: MOSHER: Well, I think it escaped from the lab because we have

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The WHO, which followed China’s instructions and told the world that COVID wasn’t really transmissible by air, now has the full support of the Biden administration. In fact, Joe Biden rejoined the WHO, with no conditions. This is despite the fact American intelligence can prove that the WHO lied, and people died as a result of those lies. Even as of now, the U.S. government has not launched any broad and serious investigation into where the coronavirus came from. If you can imagine.

At the same time, they’re telling us we need a 9/11-style commission to understand every facet of the January 6th events at the Capitol. But the pandemic that killed three million people and destroyed the West? Which it has.

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They said the first COVID patients were not hungry patrons of the local wet market, reckless diners who gorged themselves on pangolin and bats

BES T

to do the same. Imperiling the entire planet as they did that. Tony Fauci did that, yet he said this anyway: DAVID ASMAN: Dr. Fauci, China has been known to fiddle with their stats before. Do you trust what they are telling us about this illness?

FAUCI: From what I can see they really are being much more transparent.

You read that, you look back over the last year in light of what we now know, and you ask yourself, how does Tony Fauci still have a job? Seriously. What kind of country gives this much power to someone who’s proven himself to be serially dishonest and incompetent? It’s scary we’d allow that. Especially in public health.

Meanwhile, and this is the most galling part, those few journalists and scientists who told the truth about what happened in Wuhan were punished for telling the truth. They were attacked by CNN, censored by Facebook, denounced by their colleagues.

They were destroyed in some cases.

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Forgotten Her es

Jews in the Civil War

By Avi Heiligman

A portrait of Rav Yissochar Dov Illowy

I

n the past, we have talked about a few of the estimated 10,000 Jews to serve during the American Civil War. The Jewish population in America was growing but wouldn’t pick up steam until the 1880s. That being said, about 7,000 Jews served in the Union, while another 3,000 served with the Confederate States of America. The rest of the American Jewish population was involved as well, especially helping their fellows Jews who were in uniform. Here are some more stories of those who served or were influential during the biggest war on American soil.

One of the main spiritual leaders of American Jewry during the Civil War was Rav Yissocher Dov Illowy. Born in 1814 in Kolin, Bohemia (today it is part of the Czech Republic), he was a talmid of the Chasam Sofer in Pressburg and received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Budapest. He was suspected of supporting a local uprising of Bohemians, and the local government refused to allow him to take a rabbinate position. In 1853, Rav Illowy decided to emigrate to the U.S. where he became the rav in several different cities over the next 18 years.

Rav Illowy was the rabbi of Orthodox shuls in NYC, Syracuse, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Cincinnati and was a fierce opponent of Reform Judaism.

His speeches were very eloquent, and he is known for his Fast Day Sermon in January 1861 given at the Lloyd Street

Abraham Hart

Synagogue in Baltimore. The speech railed against the government and selfish politicians and eventually led to his appointment as the rav in New Orleans. He was there for the duration of the war and became friendly with Union General Nathanial P. Banks as well as other military officials. Banks held several key positions in Louisiana, and this friendship was very beneficial to the Jews of the port city. Once a Jewish watchmaker was falsely accused of stealing from a soldier and was sentenced to six years imprisonment. After many failed attempts, the rav finally met with General Banks and convinced him to get involved. Upon the general’s return from a successful military campaign, he released the watchmaker.

Rav Illowy passed away in 1871 from an accident on his farm. His story as one of the few credible frum leaders and poskim in America during the Civil War is a story for another column.

There were many Jewish soldiers with the last name of Hart that served on both sides of the war. There were three in the Union Army with the name of Abraham Hart. Captain Abraham Hart of the 73rd Pennsylvania Regiment was born in Germany in 1832.

He came to the U.S. in 1850 and settled in Philadelphia. From the start of his enlistment, he was close with the commanding officer as he was instrumental in enlisting other men to fill the ranks.

The regiment was sent to Washington, D.C., to help with the defenses, and Hart was often sent on recon missions.

Dr. Herman Bendall

Hart was soon promoted and was made adjutant-general of a brigade that was present at the Battle of Cross Keys and the Second Battle of Bull Run. He obtained valuable information on Confederate General Stonewall Jackson’s encampment during Battle of Cross Keys after handpicking soldiers for the reconnaissance mission. Hart was tasked with other important missions such as destroying a bridge over the Rappahannock and in doing so denying Confederate artillery a way of following Union troops. He also rescued several hundred Union troops that had been captured.

Hart was wounded during the Second Battle of Bull Run and after recovering, worked in Washington, D.C., to send supplies to troops on the front lines.

Dr. Herman Bendall was born in Albany, New York, and in 1861, he enlisted in the 39th Infantry Regiment.

The eighteen-year-old served as a hospital steward and later that year transferred to the 6th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment as an assistant surgeon.

After graduating from medical school in 1863, he returned to the field with the 86th New York Infantry Regiment and ended the war as a brevetted lieutenant colonel. He was cited for meritorious service and after the war served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Arizona Territories.

Colonel Max Einstein was born in Germany and came to the U.S. and settled in Philadelphia. He joined the mil-

itary and held several prestigious positions in the years preceding the war.

During the First Battle of Bull Run, he received accolades when, as the commander of the 27 th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, he led his troops in covering the retreat of the Union Army.

Captain Mayer Frank of Chicago was with the 82nd Illinois Regiment and served during many battles. He led Company C for two years and had many Jewish soldiers serve under his command. During the Battle of Gettysburg, two horses were shot from under him but he was not wounded. During one battle, an entrenched group of Confederate sharpshooters was giving the Union lines a tough time. Frank volunteered to attack the enemy, and his entire company followed him as they succeeded in their mission. Later, he was appointed to command the 80th Regiment and was attached to General William Sherman’s Army.

There were many other Jewish Americans of note during the Civil War who served in the military or supported the effort in a civilian capacity.

The stories of many of the soldiers are hardly known, and details can be hard to research. Still, the thousands of men who answered the call to arms in history deserve to be remembered.

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 | MAY 27, 2021

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

SERVICES

SERVICES

SERVICES

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HOUSES FOR SALE OPEN HOUSE Sunday 5/9 & 5/16 • 10 AM – 2PM Woodmere Park Tranquil 1/3 acre, 165’ lakefront Large corner home, large backyard, 5 BR, 3+ baths Photos on Zillow.com: 874 Lakeside Drive Serious buyers only.

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Bryna (516)322-4831 $1.399M

4BR, 3bth brick colonial on quiet tree-lined street. Large LR & DR. Close to LIRR. Leah (516) 884-6530. $4200/month

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

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

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APT FOR RENT

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INWOOD Brand new bright and airy basement apartment near LIRR .

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VACATION RENTALS

Publication seeking part-time writer 4-5 hours a week Work from home Send resume to: fivetownsmarketing101@gmail.com

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HELP WANTED TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS JHS Secular Studies Looking for teachers '21-'22 email resume to: tackerman@tagschools.org

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Please send resume and cover letter to shira@cahal.org EDUCATION ASST. ADMIN. Education Assistant Administrator for Yeshiva-based Special Ed Program. Must have educational experience, good organizational, supervisory, and interpersonal skills, classroom management skills, computer skills and flexible hours. 5-Towns/Far Rock SpecialEd Program. E-mail resume to nnadata@gmail.com.

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HELP WANTED DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 5-Towns non-profit seeking energetic person to plan and coordinate fundraising events, cultivate relationships with donors and Rabbinic and community leaders, disseminate positive PR. PT or FT. E-Mail Resume and cover letter to dirdevjob@gmail.com.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SECULAR STUDIES TEACHER CAHAL is seeking afternoon middle school secular studies teacher for boys class in a Five Towns yeshiva for September.

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Yeshivath Gesher/Gesher ECC a growing school is looking for: - First Grade English teacher (special education or speech/ language background) - Preschool Teacher (special education or speech/language background) - Teacher Assistant for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year.

Please send resumes to jobs@gesher-ecc.org Yeshivath Gesher is looking to fill an Administrative positive for the upcoming school year. Responsibilities include overseeing all non-academic components of the school, such as managing the budget, building maintenance, payroll, government programs and funding etc.

Applicants should display commitment, excellent organizational abilities, and strong communication skills.

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The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

SHULAMITH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN CEDARHURST, NY, a warm, supportive, collegial, growth promoting environment, has the following openings: Middle School Science Teacher: Professional, dynamic, highly skilled 6th or 7th grade science teacher with relevant degrees who is experienced in middle school earth science, biology, chemistry or physics and STEM. STEM teacher: Professional, dynamic, highly skilled individual to teach a once-a-week specialty class to grades 1-8 advancing the students' technological skills including Google Suite, Coding, Robotics.

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Salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience.

Please send resumes to egross@shulamith.org

Early Childhood Center Staff Needed in Lawrence for Fall, 2021 The Gural JCC Early Childhood Center is hiring Head Teachers and Assistant Teachers for the 2021-2022 school year.

Interested and qualified applicants should please e-mail resumes and references directly to JCC.Nursery@guraljcc.org or call (516) 239-1354

CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary.

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BAIS YAAKOV IN FAR ROCKAWAY seeking permanent substitute for Preschool and Elementary school.

Please call 718-868-3232 ext 211

Yeshivath Gesher/Gesher ECC a growing school is looking for: First Grade English teacher (special education or speech/ language background) Preschool Teacher (special education or speech/language background) Teacher Assistant For the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year Please submit resumes jobs@gesher-ecc.org Downtown Manhattan CPA firm seeking office manager/ bookkeeper.

Must be proficient in excel, have strong typing skills and be able to multitask.

Accounting background preferred. Send resume to officemgr613@gmail.com TEACHERS Yeshiva Kol Torah seeks dynamic educators to join our team for next year. General studies classes are held in the afternoon.

Professional and supportive environment. Excellent pay commensurate with experience.

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TAG/MSHS in Far Rockaway is seeking qualified Regents Biology, Intro to Computers, and Graphic Design Teachers for the 2021-2022 school year.

Email résumé to rschiffer@tagschools.org Due to expansion, YDE Boys Middle School is seeking ELA, Science, History and Math teachers for the 2021-2022 school year. Great environment, extremely competitive salaries, benefits and on time pay.

Please email resume to relbaum@ydeschool.org LOCAL 5T SCHOOL LOOKING TO HIRE A CLERICAL EMPLOYEE Job responsibilities include data entry, database management, assisting the administrator in his daily tasks. Suitable for someone seeking an entry-level position.

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Please email resume to admin@shoryoshuv.org DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com ASSISTANTS NEEDED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON SESSION. Email: fivetownseducators@gmail.com

SHULAMITH EARLY CHILDHOOD is looking to hire a full time teacher assistant for the current school year.

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Your

15

Money

The More Things Change…

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

T

he Biden administration has rolled out an ambitious set of tax hikes to support new spending on infrastructure, families, and other priorities. While the plan includes raising rates, much of the action focuses on closing loopholes, especially for corporations.

But if you’ve ever had front-row seats to that particular horror show, you know that closing loopholes is like killing a vampire — much easier said than done!

Back in 1937, FDR launched a campaign against loopholes for the rich. Henry Morgenthau, his Treasury Secretary, prepared an 11-page memo, exposing strategies that the Depression-era 1% employed to pay less. It’s a classic howl of righteous indignation, with sentiment straight out of the Occupy Wall Street movement. (We’re waiting for a Ken Burns documentary.) So, what outrages did he find?

“The investigation of the income tax returns for each successive year reveals the increasingly stubborn fight of wealthy individuals and corporations against the payment of their fair share of the expenses of their Government…. But we still have too many cases of what I may

call moral fraud — that is, the defeat of taxes through doubtful legal devices which have no real business purpose nor utility, and to which a downright honest man would not resort to reduce his taxes.”

Morgenthau didn’t just reveal how, he revealed who, in a way that would land today’s Wiki-leakers in jail:

tax liability very greatly.”

George Westinghouse, Jr. “has a $3 million Bahamas corporation and in an attempt to prevent the Bureau of Internal Revenue from catching up with him, moves his home address from one small hamlet to another each year.”

“Alfred P. Sloan’s yacht is owned

by Rene Corporation, one of his per-

“But we still have too many cases of what I may call moral fraud.”

Charles Merrill and Edwin Lynch had 40 trust funds and 23 personal holding companies. “They operate a great many numbered brokerage accounts and only at the end of the year identify for whose benefit the account has been operated. In this way innumerable transactions are carried on between the different corporations and trusts which have no effect upon the beneficial interests of Merrill and Lynch, but which are designed to reduce their

sonal holding companies, along with $3 million in securities. He rents the yacht from his company and the company uses its income from securities to pay depreciation on the yacht, the wages of the captain and crew, and the expenses of operating the yacht.”

More generically, Morgenthau attacked percentage depletion as “perhaps the best example of legalized theft from the United States Treasury which the revenue laws

still permit.” Washington still hasn’t seen fit to repeal it — just drive through Houston’s stately River Oaks neighborhood to see what it’s done for the oil business.

And he marveled that “lawyers of high standing at the bar are advising their clients to utilize devious tax avoidance devices, and they are actually using them themselves.”

(No! Lawyers being clever? Say it ain’t so!)

So, what’s the answer? Garlic?

Wolfsbane? Witchcraft? We’ll see what they end up choosing this time.

Regardless, our job remains the same: to navigate the new rules to help you pay less, legally, morally, and ethically. While you probably won’t be able to rent your yacht from your company, we can be sure the new rules will include new “green lights” you can use to go without paying.

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

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021

PLANNING IS YOUR STABILITY IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

133

‫בס״ד‬

You can do Halachic planning when doing secular Estate Planning You can protect your children’s inheritance You can appoint someone to make financial and medical decisions, if you are unable You can help your parents prepare for the expense of long-term care Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law Planning (Medicaid Planning), require counsel who is experienced, professional, and above all, caring. Monet Binder Law, P.C. has earned a reputation, through over 21 years in practice, for working with clients with patience, understanding and compassion, assisting them in realizing their goals to protect themselves and their loved ones, in the best way possible.

“Monet possesses the rare combination of being very knowledgeable, very thorough and very caring. She made what seemed like an overwhelming process, much simpler and less fearful. I highly recommend her.” – Alan Proctor

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All halachic documents are under the supervision of the Bais HaVaad in Lakewood.

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Life C ach

Smile and Say Cheese – Cake Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

D

id you realize the holiday of Shavuoth was only one day in Israel? That seems unfair to them! When do they get to make up the night’s sleep they lost from the whole night of learning and still get a whole day to consume endless cheesecake?

No wonder Israelis are so much thinner than us!

Somehow, I just thought this would be a two-day holiday in Israel,

just like outside of Israel. After all, it’s the big one – We are celebrating receiving our Guidebook for life.

And anyway, since it’s not on a specific, designated date, but rather 50 days after whenever Passover comes out. Why is it not that once we figure out Passover’s date, we can’t just get Shavuot’s date accurately?

The whole thing seems kind of confusing.

Not that I mind an extra day. Who

va c a t I o n

doesn’t like pizza, lasagna, blintzes, quiches, ice cream … you know what I mean!

I’m just wondering: shouldn’t they have the same two days in Israel? Just to absorb the greatness of the event of Shavuot the way we do!

Can it be because they are closer to the source of where the Torah was given and therefore the energy seeps into them faster?

Look, I know there are real reasons that all the holidays are a day longer outside of Israel, including Shavuot. I’m just feeling like without getting the Torah, none of the holidays would be understood or celebrated. It’s our source of life information! Wouldn’t you think G-d would want this guiding document and its messages to be driven home longer everywhere?!

But only one holiday has two days both out of and in Israel. And that one is Rosh Hashanah.

So why that one?

It’s a time we get to recognize our great luck – that of having the “right relative” in high places. G-d, we reiterate the whole holiday, is “our Father and our King.” Talk about having a great “in” with the Boss!

Talk about mazal!

Then, on Rosh Hashanah, our only job, the whole two days of the new year, is to decide if we want to own our personal mission in our Dad’s world.

The messages we get on Shavuot

is that we got the Torah. We can access it all year round. So, one day, two days, three, four, etc. – the length of that holiday does not really make the real difference. The Torah is here to stay!

We can recognize we were freed from slavery in one day or two days of Passover. No real difference there.

We can recognize G-d gives us security, not ultimately our vulnerable homes, in one day or two days of Sukkot.

We can even recognize that G-d gave us the Torah in one day or two days of Shavuot.

But when we are being judged as to whether we should be given another year of life to carry out our personal purpose here – we may feel quite fortunate to get an extra day. G-d’s message to us on Rosh Hashanah is: “I care about you. I want your connection, so I’m giving you extra time before I judge whether you get another year of life.”

That certainly seems a lot more important for everyone to have an extra day for than for eating their fill of cheesecake!

(Though, if you ask some true cheesecake lovers, they may actually disagree with you!)

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach.

She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.

The Jewish Home | MAY 27, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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MAY 27, 2021 | The Jewish Home

C H O F E T Z C H A I M H E R I T A G E F O U N D AT I O N P R E S E N T S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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