Five Towns Jewish - 6-3-21

June 3, 2021

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

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59 Hundreds Rally Against Anti-Semitism

67 Remembering Our Heroes at LawrenceCedarhurst Memorial Day Parade

62 JCCRP Breakfast Draws Thousands

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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Dear Readers,

T

ime and time again, I am awed by the chessed that’s performed by so many members in the community.

There are gemachs for every sort of need – from bris pillows to kallah sneakers to wheelchairs and nanny cams. But more than just the formal chessed institutions that a community relies on are the people within the community who selflessly give with joy.

I was recently involved with helping to arrange a simcha for someone. Within hours of posting what was needed, I had strangers reaching out and offering their assistance.

One person offered to go out in the rain to buy balloons if we needed. Another offered to drive in from Queens with flowers and food.

Others sent over food and good wishes and stopped by to wish mazal tov. And this was for someone they didn’t even know!

I’m sure that almost everyone reading this got a WhatsApp post (if they have WhatsApp) last week about a wedding for two baalei teshuva in which the community was asked to come dance and be misameach the young couple. I know that there are people who jumped at the opportunity to join in a simcha for their fellow Jew. The Five Towns has certainly gotten bigger in the past few years. Traffic on Central Avenue is a good indication that many people have decided to bring up their families in the community. But despite the soaring increase in people moving into town, we have still managed to keep that “small town feel.”

Remember the Sesame Street song, “Who

Are the People in Your Neighborhood?” Well, as the song goes, “they’re the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street each day.” That small town vibe that you feel in the Five Towns means that chances are, when you’re walking down the street or heading to the supermarket or picking up your kids from school, you will probably know at least half of the people you’re passing by. You may not be friends with them and you may not have ever spoken to them before but they’re a familiar face that you make sure to greet with a nod or a small smile or a “good morning.”

They’re not strangers; they’re your neighbors.

If you ever get to chatting with your neighbors, you’ll find out that so many of them have led inspired lives or have gone through amazing experiences. I feel that the more you speak with someone, the more you can learn from them. And there’s a lot to learn!

Recently, we sat down with World War II veteran Captain Harold Musikoff. Captain Musikoff kept his experience about flying World War II bombers over Germany a secret for many decades, keeping even his family in the dark about his heroics. A chance question

by Rabbi Trump at a Shabbos meal helped to bring more of his story to light.

There are many others in the community who have amazing experiences to share.

Sometimes, if you ask the right questions, you will be privileged to hear some of their stories.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

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PUBLISHER

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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.

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll Community Happenings

8 36

NEWS

118

Global

14

National

31

Odd-but-True Stories

32

ISRAEL Israel News

24

World Builders

82

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

72

The Joy of Torah and Eretz Yisroel by Rav Moshe Weinberger

74

Delving into the Daf

76

PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

78

Captain Harold Musikoff Speaks About His Experience Bombing Nazi

84

GermanySpecial Forces by Avi Heiligman

110

HEALTH & FITNESS Is It Over? by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

94

Healthy Cooking Methods by Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

96

Parenting Pearls

98

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Spinach-Feta Stuffed Mushrooms

102

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

90

JWOW! 100 Your Money

116

Sun’s Up by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

118

Dear Editor, In the TJH Centerfold’s Riddle Me This Column, the answer given as to why Art’s story is wrong is the not the only problem with it.

A lieutenant-colonel is usually the officer leading a battalion sized Army group, not a Captain. Therefore, the story could not be possibly be true!

Ya’akov Pinsky Dear Editor, I’ve been fortunate over a short period of time to get a bird’s eye view into the wealthy personalities who keep klal Yisroel going. There are common denominators amongst all of them, which is beautiful to see.

One key factor they all share in common is that family comes first.

The head of household, like a hawk, has his eyes on his parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, if there are. He showers each with unparalleled love and treats each like a prince and princess. The wives of these baal habatim are involved in chessed on a 24-hour basis. It defines who they are.

Correction: In last week’s issue, the Army rank of Daniel Agami was written as Army Private First Class (PFC). His rank was that of Army Specialist (SPC). We regret the error.

Second, they beautify all mitzovs in concordance with ze keli v’anveihu. Expenses are overlooked when it comes to beautifying all mitzvos as money, to them, is a mere vehicle to serve G-d on the highest level.

Third, they are all well-versed in Torah. It’s their life on a personal level. It defines them and offers them the mandate which to follow.

Fourth, when they know someone is in distress, they act swiftly to alleviate the problem. Also, they are incredibly reliable in that they return phone calls and emails immediately.

Fifth, they all have close friends.

They all have dynamic personalities, and their friends cherish them.

Sixth, their humility is unprecedented. They hold no airs about themselves and carry themselves like any other person. They treat everyone equally and with dignity.

Seventh, the business that generates the wealth is viewed simply as a business that is a tool to generate the income that keeps institutions and organizations running. It’s just something they do, but it doesn’t define them.

Lastly, they are all beloved by the community. Their warm and friendly to everyone and do things in quiet ways.

Such are the majestic lives of those who keep Klal Yisroel going.

It’s no coincidence that G-d entrust them with His money.

Steven Genack Continued on page 8

HUMOR Centerfold 70 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

109 CLASSIFIEDS

104

The Media’s Dereliction of Duty

by Marc A. Thiessen 108 In Warfare, the Future is Now by 109 David Ignatius 112

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Continued from page 8

Dear Editor, We were stunned to read your news article regarding a new Anaheim Disneyland resort highlighting a new “Sandwich Sensation,” with salami, rosemary ham provolone...that could “feed up to eight people.” What were you thinking?

Yours is a Jewish, Torah-oriented newspaper. While we realize you get a wide-ranging news feed and republish it for our edification, surely your editorial staff must at least read before printing.

We are dismayed and disappointed by your promotion of a non-kosher restaurant and an actually “chazer treif” sandwich. This undermines everything you supposedly stand for.

Sincerely, Barbara Lehman Siegel Dear Editor, Erev Shabbos, in anticipation of Memorial Day, I purchased the “Memorial Day” bouquet in order to honor our fallen soldiers, who gave their lives defending our country.

In addition, I have two special military connections, which I am proud to share with you: After completing his military ser-

vice in the army where he was a field reporter, my late father, Mr. Manuel A. Tunis, OBM, served as the Lay Chaplain of The Jewish War Veterans, Post #18 in Bayonne, NJ, until his passing.

In addition, my husband, Yeshaya, sheyichye, served as an Air Force Chaplain during the Vietnam era. We were stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the UK. For this reason, when I noted that you would be featuring an interview with Chaplain Travis, sheyichye, I was anxious to learn of his military experiences.

His outstanding service IS a Kiddush Hashem.

May Hashem Yisborach protect us all and bring the Geulah Shleimah now.

Sincerely, Penina Metal Dear Editor, As the daughter and sister of veterans, I give kudos to your staff for writing such personal and informative articles about Memorial Day! Memorial Day is not only for recreation, beach, BBQ, and commercial purposes, but also to thank those who made it possible for us to enjoy living in freedom. Thanks for bringing home his important and often-

overlooked tribute and message.

Regarding the Navidaters column about the woman who felt concerned about grandmother spoiling potential matches, the following is a useful tip. I worked with dementia patients for many years as a social worker and music therapist. One invaluable resource was reading a book (nowadays also on YouTube) called Validation by Naomi Feil. She was a social worker and actress. The book stresses that when a person’s dementia advances to the point that reasoning creates more agitation and confrontation, stop the dialogue and, instead, reach for the underlying feelings. For example, when the grandmother badmouths Tamar, expresses that she is not trying hard enough to find a shidduch or she’ll never get married, ask the grandmother questions like: I’m

wondering who told you that earlier in your life. Are you concerned about Tamar staying single? Would you say a chapter of Tehillim with me now for her? You sound annoyed! Validating the feelings builds connection and reduces agitation and confrontation.

It is also possible that the grandmother is confusing Tamar with someone else from her past and projecting the feelings onto Tamar. Of course that is hurtful! Do your best to not take it personally and switch in your mind and heart from hurt to compassion for her and yourself. One statement helps you do that and that quiets arguments is: Mom/ Grandma, I love you! Who can argue with reminders of love?

Sincerely, Shoshana Averbach Brooklyn, NY

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.

IN HONOR OF THE BEST GRADUATES EVER! This has certainly been an interesting year, one worthy of ending off with a grand celebration.

Honor your graduate with a congratulatory message (and a photo if you’d like) to be presented in an upcoming issue of TJH. Whether they’ve just finished eighth grade, twelfth grade, college, or even medical school, they all deserve the biggest shoutout ever!

Send in your graduate’s photo and message (2-3 sentences long, please) to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com Deadline: Friday, June 11, at 2p.m. Subject line: Congrats Grad!

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was re-elected to his position in a landslide victory, scoring 95.1% of the total votes.

The final results were announced

by Syrian parliament speaker Hammoud Sabbagh and grant al-Assad a fourth seven-year term.

Though two other candidates ran against Assad, it was clear that he would win the election. The two candidates were Mahmoud Ahmed Merei, head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, and former deputy cabinet minister Abdallah Saloum Abdallah.

At Damascus University’s Faculty of Arts and Economics, hundreds of students lined up to vote, with several buses parked outside.

“With our blood and soul we sacrifice our lives for you Bashar,” groups of them chanted before the polls opened, in scenes repeated across the 70% of Syria now under government control.

Supposedly, there was a 78.6% voter turnout in this election.

Assad cast his own ballot in the election in the former rebel stronghold of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in 2018, which saw heavy military strikes by the U.S., UK and France.

After voting, Assad said, “Syria is not what they were trying to market, one city against the other and sect against the other or civil war. Today we are proving from Douma that the Syrian people are one.”

Western governments, including the U.S., UK, Germany, France, and Italy, denounced the Syrian election as neither “free nor fair.” They added that the election violates United Nations resolutions to end the Syrian civil war, is unrepresentative of all Syrians, and lacks any international

monitoring.

On Friday, Assad addressed the nation in a nine-minute televised speech.

“People choosing me to serve for the next constitutional period is a great honor for me,” the Syria leader said. “I am certain that with this fighting spirit we will be able to defeat all our enemies no matter how many the battles are or how hard the road is.”

Since March 2011, hundreds of thousands have died, been forcibly disappeared, and have been tortured in Syria. More than 11 million people – about half the country’s population – have fled from their homes.

Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled Syria for 30 years until his death in 2000.

China: 3 Kids are OK

The Chinese government on Monday said it would allow all married couples to have three children instead of the current two allowed, The New York Times reported.

The decision follows a 2016 end to the Asian superpower’s famous onechild policy, which recently allowed couples to have two children but failed to sufficiently encourage childbearing, partially due to the high cost of education and the need for only children to support aging parents.

China has seen its birthrate fall for four years consecutively, and in 2020, the number of babies born dropped 15% from the previous year.

Its fertility rate stands at 1.3, far below the 2.1 replacement rate in the country.

Huang Wenzheng, a demography expert with the Center for China and Globalization, told the Times, “Opening it up to three children is far from enough. It should be fully liberalized and giving birth should be strongly encouraged.”

Huang added, “This should be regarded as a crisis for the survival of the Chinese nation, even beyond the pandemic and other environmental issues. There should never have been

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

a birth restriction policy in the first place. So, it’s not a question of whether this is too late.”

He Yafu, an independent demographer in Zhanjiang in southern China, told the Times, “The decision-makers have probably realized that the population situation is relatively severe. But merely opening up the policy to three children and not encouraging births as a whole, I don’t think there will be a significant increase in the fertility rate. Many people don’t want to have a second child, let alone a third child.”

Alongside its announcement that couples would be allowed to have three children, the ruling Communist Party promised to increase support for families. The party also said it would work to introduce changes such as improved maternity leave and the protection of “the legitimate rights and interests of women in employment.”

Crime Boss’s Claims Unnerve Turkish Govt

crushed criminal organizations one by one for 19 years. We follow criminal gang members wherever they may flee to in the world.”

He added that he stands “side by side” with Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, who features prominently in Peker’s tales. The opposition has called on Soylu to resign, but MHP party leader Devlet Bahceli has promised that “Turkey’s agenda cannot be held hostage by video recordings.”

Former top police official Hanefi Avci, told Sozcu TV on Monday that Peker’s testimony “may be lacking, it may be wrong, and there may be minor mistakes, but I believe this information should be heeded.”

Meanwhile, Peker has already posted seven YouTube videos laden with accusations, with the latest reaching over 14 million views. Although Turkey on Sunday blocked access to his site, the videos – which are now available with English subtitles – are still accessible online.

Rising Food Costs in Myanmar

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Peker’s claims have unsettled the government led by Turkish President Recep Tayyup Erdogan, according to AFP. Among those Peker, 49, accuses of crimes ranging from assaults against women and multiple murders to corruption and drug trafficking are close allies of Pres. Erdogan, including top officials, their relatives, and a former prime minister.

Peker himself has been convicted for multiple crimes, including running a criminal organization and fraud. He currently claims to live in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he fled last year to avoid being prosecuted, and denies the claims that he is a “crime boss,” insisting he is a businessman instead.

For his part, President Erdogan on Wednesday claimed, “We have

THURSDAY A military power grab in Myanmar has left the national economy and banking system paralyzed.

The coup, which occurred in February, kicked civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi out of office.

Since then, factories have closed and fuel prices have jumped, as those who have savings wait in long lines to withdraw funds, according to AFP. Worse, according to a local monitoring group, strict anti-rebellion measures have made it dangerous to leave home for work and already cost 800 civilians their lives.

Aye Mar, a 33-year-old mother of seven who lives in Yangon, Myanmar, said, “We have to feed our children so they don’t starve.” Both she and her husband are out of work, and her husband has been taking any odd job he can find to help feed his family – including digging septic tanks.

Meanwhile, the World Food Pro-

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

gram (WFP) has warned that millions may go hungry in Myanmar in the coming months.

Wah Wah, a 37-year-old food vendor, told AFP that he cannot sell even a bowl of dried fish “because customers cannot afford to buy it...even if I sell it at 500 kyats (US$0.33) per bowl.”

He added, “Everyone has to spend money carefully to be safe because no one has jobs. We live with fear because we don’t know what will happen.”

Win Naing Tun, a 26-year-old father of three, said that those who were able to afford meat regularly are now relying only on fish paste and vegetables, while those who were limited before “now can only afford to eat white rice with salt.”

Ni Aye, 51, said that she and her husband “are in trouble” due to the fact that both have lost their jobs. “If these conditions continue, we will starve,” she said.

According to WFP, price hikes in remote areas are particularly high, and the cost of transporting produce from farms to cities has also jumped significantly, due to the approximately 30% rise in fuel prices.

The WFP estimates that within six months, it will need to triple its emergency food assistance, as 3.4 million people go hungry.

U.S. Won’t Rejoin Open Skies

The Biden administration will not seek to rejoin the 1992 Open Skies Treaty with Russia.

A State Department spokesperson clarified that the decision is due to Russia’s “failure to take any actions to return to compliance.”

The Open Skies treaty allows member countries to conduct short-notice, unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the other members’ air space for the purpose of collecting data on their militaries’ forces and activities.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the treaty with Russia in 2020, due to what he claimed were Russian violations of the terms.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying, “The

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United States regrets that the Treaty on Open Skies has been undermined

by Russia’s violations.

“In concluding its review of the treaty, the United States therefore does not intend to seek to rejoin it, given Russia’s failure to take any actions to return to compliance.

Further, Russia’s behavior, including its recent actions with respect to Ukraine, is not that of a partner committed to confidence-building.”

In mid-June, U.S. President Joe Biden is slated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Switzerland.

According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the meeting will focus, among other things, on strategic stability.

At a Tuesday briefing, she clarified, “We expect they will spend a fair amount of time on strategic stability, where the arms control agenda goes following the extension of New START.”

North Korea Bans Skinny Jeans North Korea has instituted a ban on skinny jeans and certain body piercings, according to Newsweek.

The ban, part of the country’s self-proclaimed “war on capitalism,” includes a ban on other Western trends as well such as mullet haircuts.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, a North Korean news outlet published an appeal asking citizens to eliminate capitalist culture.

The May 13 appeal by Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North’s ruling Worker’s Party, reportedly read: “History teaches us a crucial lesson that a country can become vulnerable and eventually collapse like a damp wall regardless of its economic and defense power if we do not hold on to our own lifestyle.

“We must be wary of even the slightest sign of the capitalistic lifestyle and fight to get rid of them.”

The appeal also claimed that other socialist countries had failed due to the fact that they did not stop the “invasion” of capitalistic lifestyles.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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Following the appeal, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un issued a ban on “decadent” fashion styles such as nose and lip piercings, shirts with slogans, skinny jeans, and the mullet haircut. New laws ban spiked or dyed hair, outlining just 15 acceptable hairstyles for North Koreans. Any haircuts other than the 15 permitted are considered “anti-socialist behavior” and part of the “yellow wind of capitalism,” the Daily Express added.

On Thursday, state media quoted Kim as promising an “uncompromising struggle” to uphold socialism.

“The struggle against the anti-socialist and non-socialist practices is a do-or-die battle to defend the working-class purity and lifeline of our style of socialism,” Kim was reported as saying. “[Participants must] firmly maintain the principle of producing everything needed for economic construction and people’s living with our own raw and other materials.”

cording to Reuters.

Alfredo Hengari, a Namibian presidential spokesperson, said a joint declaration outlining the agreement was issued on May 15 by special envoys of both countries, following the ninth round of negotiations on the issue.

Hengari added that Germany is expected to issue an official apology.

Earlier on Thursday, Namibian media said Germany had agreed to foot the bill for infrastructure, training, and healthcare programs costing 1.1 billion euros for the affected communities.

Meanwhile, Herero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro said that, in his opinion, the agreement is a “sellout,” since the settlement is not enough for the two communities, which suffered “irreversible harm.”

“We have a problem with that kind of an agreement, which we feel constitutes a complete sellout on the part of the Namibian government,” he told Reuters.

Germany Gives Guilt Money to Namibia

Singapore PM Goes to Court

Germany has agreed to fund projects in Namibia worth over a billion euros out of guilt for actions done in the past.

The funding, which will be spread over a period of 30 years, comes as an attempt to atone for the country’s role in property seizures and genocide, a spokesman for the Namibian government said last Thursday. The events in question occurred when Namibia was still a German colony, over a century ago.

Between 1904-1908, thousands of Nama and Herero people were killed by German colonial forces following their rebellion against German rule in what was then called German South West Africa. Those who survived the killings were then driven into the desert, where many found themselves in slave labor camps and many died from cold, malnutrition, and exhaustion, ac-

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday appeared in court in his defamation suit against a Malaysian writer.

The suit was filed by Lee over an article which he claims contains false statements regarding the home of his late father, Singapore’s modern-day founder and its first premier.

It was filed against Rubaashini Shunmuganathan for her August 2019 story on a Singapore news site, which included references to a disagreement within the Lee family about what to do with the home of his father Lee Kuan Yew. At the core of the disagreement was the question of whether to demolish the home or allow the government to make it a heritage landmark.

Lee has recused himself from government discussions on the issue.

“The article contained sensational allegations against me, the Prime Minister of Singapore, which were likely to attract a great deal of

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Lee, who appeared in court via video conference, is seeking damages from Shunmuganathan, including aggravated damages.

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Hackers are going after the meat industry. This week, a cyberattack on JBS SA, the world’s largest meat producer, forced the shutdown of some of the largest slaughterhouses globally.

JBS’s beef plant in Canada, one of the nation’s largest, was shut down on Monday following the May 30 attack. The company’s slaughter operations in Australia had been halted, a trade group said. A number of plants in the U.S. have been shut and shifts canceled, according to labor union representatives.

The prospect of more extensive shutdowns around the world is already upending agricultural markets and raising concerns about food security as hackers increasingly target critical infrastructure. Livestock futures slumped. In the U.S. alone, JBS accounts for almost a quarter of all beef capacity.

The world’s largest meat producer shut its North American and Australian computer networks after an organized assault on Sunday on some of its servers. Without commenting on operations at its plants, JBS said the incident may delay certain transactions with customers and suppliers.

JBS is the No. 1 beef producer in the U.S., accounting for 23% of the nation’s maximum capacity compared to rival Tyson Foods Inc.’s 22% share.

JBS USA’s beef and pork units and Pilgrim’s Pride had net revenue of about $40 billion in 2020, according to company filings. The division includes operations in U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe.

Hackers have the commodities industry in their crosshairs with the JBS attack coming just three weeks after the operator of the biggest U.S. gasoline pipeline was targeted.

Naomi Osaka, 23, announced this week that she will be withdrawing from the French Open, saying that she will “take some time away from the court” one day after she was fined and threatened with harsher sanctions for skipping her mandatory media obligations.

Osaka, in a lengthy statement, said she “never wanted to be a distraction” and that her withdrawal is “the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being.”

She added, “I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Osaka wrote on social media. “I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and message could have been clearer.”

Osaka revealed that she has experienced depression and anxiety since winning her first major at the 2018 U.S. Open and explained that speaking to the media often makes her nervous. She apologized to any media members she had impacted with her decision.

“I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media,” she said. “I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try and engage and give [the media] the best answers I can.”

Osaka, a four-time major champion and the No. 2 seed in this claycourt Grand Slam, had announced last Wednesday that she would not be participating in any news conferences during the tournament, citing her mental health as the motivation for the decision.

Osaka’s announcement sparked much debate in the tennis and sports

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world, and other players, notably 13time French Open champion Rafael Nadal and No. 1-ranked Ash Barty, have said they respect Osaka’s right to take a stance but explained that they consider speaking to reporters part of the job. Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping her post-match news conference on Sunday after her victory against Patricia Maria Tig. In addition to Sunday’s fine, Osaka drew a surprising warning from all four Grand Slam tournaments that she could face stiffer penalties, including disqualification or even suspension, if she continues to avoid the media.

Osaka has never been past the third round on the French Open’s red clay. It takes seven victories to win a Grand Slam title, which she has done four times at hard-court tournaments: the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020, and the Australian Open in 2019 and this February.

Nasrallah Sick – From What?

Hezbollah is claiming that its chief, Hassan Nasrallah, is suffering from pneumonia and seasonal aller-

gies – and not Covid-19. The terror group insists that this is not the first time their leader has been hit with springtime hay fever.

Sources close to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday pushed back against claims he had contracted the coronavirus, saying the terror leader was suffering from pneumonia and seasonal allergies.

“Previously he had been treated without any commotion or anyone noticing, as it was not during occasions where he had to publicly appear, unlike this time,” sources told the Lebanese Al Joumhouria newspaper.

Rumors had been circulating about Nasrallah’s poor health after he appeared on a video coughing and wheezing. In the video, Nasrallah had threatened “regional war” if Israel attacked holy sites in Jerusalem.

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ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting between Hamas and Israel, with Nasrallah warning his terror group could get involved in the next round.

On Friday, the terror group’s deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem said, “The secretary-general is fine, praise be to G-d,” adding that “he was struck by illness in recent days, and needed two or three days to recover; but because those who love him were waiting for his speech on May 25, his failure to appear would have raised questions.”

Russia Grows Military Units

In an effort to counter “threats” from NATO, Russia will be adding 20 new units to its military in the west of the country.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

made the announcement at a meeting with top military officials this week.

He pointed to a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia’s borders, deployments of NATO warships, and increasingly frequent and major drills by alliance forces.

He charged that such actions “destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures.”

“We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the year’s end,” Shoigu said He added the military units in Western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year.

Asked Monday about Russia’s plans, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that “Russia over the last years has invested heavily in new, modern military capabilities, from conventional to nuclear weapon systems” and “has been willing to use military force against neighbors, in Georgia, in Ukraine.”

“This is one of the main reasons why NATO over the last years has increased the readiness of (its) armed forces,” he said before Tuesday’s meeting of the alliance’s foreign and

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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defense ministers.

Currently, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region.

Turkey Bans Alcohol

A three-week ban on alcohol sales in Turkey which began on April 29 had been extended through the end of May, Nikkei Asia reported.

The ban was initially implemented along with a nearly threeweek lockdown, and though grocery stores continued operating during that time, their liquor sections were sealed off with tape.

Though the lockdown ended May 17, the Turkish government decided to extend both the weekend curfews and the ban on alcohol sales through the end of the month.

Alcohol is prohibited by the Muslim religion, and the Turkish government has increased taxes on it throughout the years. In 2013, the Turkish government banned sales at liquor stores past 10:00p.m., banned alcohol ads, and banned those who produce and sell alcohol from sponsoring sports events.

The government has also made it increasingly difficult to obtain permits to open new liquor stores, Nikkei reported, quoting Ozgur Aybas, the head of a liquor store association that opposes government restrictions.

According to Aybas, “The president may be trying to turn Turkey into a place like Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which allows alcohol consumption only among non-Muslim foreigners.”

Nikkei added that several private-sector surveys have shown that roughly 20% of Turks drink alcohol regularly. The state-run Turkish Statistical Institute has reported that over 70% of those aged 15 and above have never had alcohol. At the

same time, a recent survey by Istanbul Economics Research showed that 56% of respondents feel the ban on alcohol is inappropriate, and just 44% support it.

Snake Wine Bites First Israeli Woman Climbs Mt. Everest

Snake “wine” may be dangerous to your health.

A man in China, identified by his last name Yu, had to undergo several hours of emergency treatment after suffering from a near-fatal snakebite last week when he tried to catch a pit viper to make “snake wine.”

The 63-year-old’s arm was spared following his encounter with the serpent, which happened in a neighbor’s courtyard.

Yu had been taking a walk after lunch one day when a nearby resident noticed a pit viper outside their home. The species, known as a Chinese copperhead, is also called a “five-pace snake” and sometimes a “hundred-pace snake” – denoting the number of steps a snakebite victim can take before succumbing to its venom.

Yu, who had grabbed a shovel, said he wanted to kill the animal, which he described as a fully mature adult. However, he had a change of heart and decided to capture it alive to make snake wine.

The potent tonic is produced by infusing whole snakes – often alive – in rice wine or grain alcohol. It is consumed in some parts of Asia for its rumored medicinal properties.

The Hangzhou hospital said Yu tried to pick up the viper and put it in a sack, but the predator turned and struck him on the right wrist.

Yu attempted to suck the venom out of his arm, but his gums began to bleed and his lips went numb a few minutes later. He then had trouble breathing and collapsed, prompting family members to call for an ambulance.

Yu underwent two hours of blood and plasma transfusions, swapping out 2,500 milliliters of fluids until his urine turned from black to yellow and his coagulation functions returned.

Danielle Wolfson, a Tel Aviv lawyer, reached the peak of Mount Everest on Tuesday after trekking for 45 days.

Wolfson, a Russian-born 43-year-old who came to Israel at age 10, is the first Israeli woman to conquer the peak.

“I am happy and proud to be the first Israeli woman to reach the summit,” Wolfson posted on her Facebook page. “My journey to the summit began in the ‘lowest’ state possible.”

Wolfson was seriously injured in a ski accident in 2011, suffering multiple broken bones. At the time, doctors warned that she may not be able to walk again.

Speaking during the Mount Everest climb to Channel 13, Wolfson said, “I have fears, but there I feel like I’m myself,” she said, adding that she dreamed, “to stand there, to be a woman, to reach the summit and to raise the Israeli flag, and to say, ‘I was here, too, on the famous Mount Everest.’

“I told myself, ‘I will show everyone. I will climb Everest.’”

During her training period, Wolfson climbed several other peaks, including Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, and Ojos del Salada, the highest volcano in the world, located in Chile.

“I have a rule. On every summit I hoist an Israeli flag,” she said.

She added, “If we only learn to accept those different to us and love each other, we can together achieve miraculous achievements, almost like climbing to the summit of Everest.”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

A New Govt?

by Wednesday, the Knesset will have 21 days to form a coalition before new elections must be held.

Hamas Holds Victory Parade Negotiating teams from the Yesh Atid and Yamina parties met Sunday night with other parties in the “bloc for change” in an attempt to complete coalition negotiations ahead of a Wednesday deadline.

On Monday morning, it was reported that the teams had made “significant progress” in their talks, which ended at 3:00a.m. and were slated to continue later on Monday morning.

Though agreements are nearly final, disagreements erupted over several of the ministerial portfolios.

Under the proposed government, Yamina chief MK Naftali Bennett would serve as prime minister until September 2023, when he would be replaced by Yesh Atid chief MK Yair Lapid – the MK who was tasked with forming a government after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu failed to do so.

According to reports, Lapid aims to announce a coalition by Tuesday.

On Sunday, Bennett announced that he would join Lapid’s government, saying, “The elections have proven there is no [possible] rightwing government under Netanyahu.

There’s unity or fifth elections.”

An unnamed Likud source was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying that Netanyahu “does not intend to give up, and we have seen that the situation is fragile on the right, but it is going to be almost impossible to prevent the government.”

Yamina MK Amichai Chikli, who will not join the coalition, criticized Bennett on Monday for his decision to join with Yesh Atid.

“I believed in him, in his honesty, in his love for Israel and in his Zionism, and I supported him with full force…but this is not the way,” Chikli wrote on Facebook.

The proposed government would be comprised of 57 MKs from Yesh Atid, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu, New Hope, Labor, Meretz, and Blue and White. It has not yet been confirmed that the United Arab List will support the government, lending it the four MKs necessary for a majority.

If the government is not formed

The IDF is preparing for the next Israel-Gaza war, with senior IDF officials warning that Gaza terror groups could resume firing at any time despite a tenuous ceasefire.

Senior defense officials warned that the current ceasefire is “very unstable.”

Following the end of the fighting last week, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi claimed that Operation Guardian of the Walls ended in Israel’s favor, noting, “The balance of accomplishments ended in a clear advantage for the IDF, and Hamas, which started a war as the alleged defender of Jerusalem, finished it as the destroyer of Gaza.”

He added that the IDF is “already preparing for the next campaign.”

Meanwhile, Hamas on Thursday held a victory parade in Khan Younis, in which it displayed some of the various weapons systems deployed against Israeli civilians.

At the same time, Egypt is working with both Israel and Hamas to broker a long-term ceasefire and coordinate reconstruction in Gaza.

Israel is demanding that the reconstruction be conditional upon the return of four Israelis – two dead soldiers and two mentally ill Israeli civilians – who have been held by Hamas for several years. Hamas, for its part, is insisting that it cannot be “blackmailed,” and that the issues must remain separate from the ceasefire.

Security Officer Stabbed by Gazan Terrorist A Gazan armed with a knife on Sunday night infiltrated Israel from Gaza, stabbing a security guard in the Eshkol region.

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ther threatening Israel.

At a Sunday ceremony at Bar Ilan University, where he received an honorary doctorate, Cohen said, “Activity against the Iranian regime must be stepped up so that it understands that crossing the lines will cost it immense damage.

“To succeed we need leadership and courage, willingness to act,” he asserted. “Today’s security operation is no less important than tomorrow’s war,” he said, adding that security is “the foundation that enables us to live a meaningful life.”

Cohen, who is seen as a close confidante of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has served as Mossad chief since 2016.

He will be replaced by David Barnea.

Dreams Come True

The security guard suffered light injuries.

On Monday morning, the IDF said that the terrorist had been noticed by community security officers as he walked near Sdeh Avraham, and that it is investigating how the terrorist crossed into Israel unhindered.

When the security officers approached the suspect, he pulled out a knife, stabbing one of them, who was unarmed after being barred from

carrying weapons. The other security officer fired in defense, injuring the terrorist.

The injured officer and the terrorist were taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

According to Kan News, the terrorist, whose documents indicated that he is from Rafah, is believed to have entered Israel from near the Kerem Shalom Crossing between Israel and Gaza.

Outgoing Mossad Chief Warns Against Iran Outgoing Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has called for Israel to increase its actions against Iran, in order to deter the Islamic Republic from fur-

A grandfather from southern Israel won the largest-ever lottery in Israel’s history on Tuesday, bringing home 76 million shekel ($23.4 million), Mifal Hapais, the organization which runs the lottery, reported.

The man had just begun a new job after being on unpaid leave for an extended period of time due to the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the story published on Mifal Hapais’ website, the morning after the lottery was held, the man decided to check his tickets prior to driving to work and noticed that one lucky winner had won the entire 76 million shekels. One of the tickets he had purchased had won nothing, but the other had all six of the winning numbers, as well as the “power” number.

The original prize was 38 million shekel, but the man had played the “double lotto,” and so he won 76 million shekel.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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After realizing he had won the lottery, the man called his son to say, “Now you don’t need to earn a living,” and then went to wake his wife up, telling her that “sometimes dreams come true.”

He then informed his new boss that he would not be able to come into work that day.

“I will have to call him again and tell him that it seems I won’t be coming in at all,” the man quipped.

The winner noted that he sometimes plays the lottery, allowing the ticket machine to fill in the numbers.

Last week, he found two old tickets in a drawer and took it as a sign that it was time to play again, using the same numbers. One of those tickets won him 90 NIS, so he submitted the same numbers again prior to the Tuesday lottery.

“It seems that was a significant one-off decision,” he said, adding that he plans to split the win between his children so that they will be able to purchase homes without taking mortgages or loans.

He also said that the family is planning a long vacation abroad.

“The children want Thailand, but I am leaning more toward the U.S.,” he told Walla!. “It looks like we won’t do one trip, but two.”

President Herzog

Israel now has a new president: Isaac Herzog.

Herzog was elected to be Israel’s eleventh president on Wednesday.

He earned 87 votes out of potential 120 votes from MKs, the most a presidential candidate has ever won in Israel. Miriam Peretz, the other person in the running for the position, nabbed 26 votes.

Herzog is the chairman of the Jewish Agency and former head of the Labor party.

Herzog is the son of Israel’s sixth president, Chaim Herzog, and the grandson of Israel’s first chief rabbi.

He will succeed current President Reuven Rivlin when Rivlin’s term ends on July 9.

In his first speech after being elected, Herzog said he intended “to build bridges” within Israeli society and with the Jewish Diaspora, to

encourage entrepreneurship, “fight anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel,” and “safeguard the foundations of our democracy.”

He added, “I accept upon myself the heavy responsibility you have placed upon me. I accept the privilege of serving the entire Israeli public.”

Congratulated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzog said to him: “I hope I will be able to work with every government and every prime minister.”

Netanyahu replied in a joking manner, “Let’s not get into that now.”

Peretz called Herzog a beloved and worthy president, and stressed that her prayers and those of the nation were all devoted to his success in the role. “His success is our success.”

As for herself, Peretz said, “I will continue to meet with young Israelis, and do everything to bring people together, to heal and sometimes to be a mother, because we all need a hug, we all need someone to give us hope, to show us compassion, love, a different discourse.”

Peretz’s son, Uriel, was killed fighting in Lebanon in 1998. Her other son, Eliraz, was killed in an operation near Gaza in 2010. Peretz has channeled her grief into comforting others and has become an inspiration for Israelis. In 2018, she won the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, the country’s highest cultural honor.

In a congratulatory message to Herzog, Rivlin noted: “The title of ‘first citizen’ and the task of guarding the character of the State of Israel, particularly at this point in time, are heavy responsibilities. I have no doubt that you will bear them superbly. I am proud to pass on the baton to you in a month’s time. Long live the State of Israel! Long live the President of the State of Israel!”

Israel’s president is largely ceremonial but plays a key role in deciding who gets the mandate to form a government following elections.

The president also has the power to pardon people and grant clemency, something that could become a key issue should Netanyahu be convicted in his ongoing corruption trial.

A well-heeled attorney by profession at one of the country’s top firms (which was founded by his father), Herzog’s family story is as close as one comes to Israeli royalty. He is the grandson of Israel’s first Ashkenazi chief rabbi, Isaac Herzog, for whom he is named, and the son of

former IDF major general and then president Chaim Herzog. His brother Michael is a retired IDF brigadier general. His aunt Suzy was the wife of former foreign minister Abba Eban.

In his 15 years in the Knesset, he became known as a soft-spoken and mild-mannered manager. He ran respectful campaigns and declined to take part in the kind of angry political feuding that have come to define the country’s fractious politics.

Mossad’s Barnea Sworn In

New Mossad chief David Barnea warned on Tuesday that Iran was working to fulfill its “dream” of acquiring an atomic bomb, even as it holds talks with world powers on restoring the 2015 deal limiting its nuclear program.

“Our security challenges are very big and at the top of the list is Iran,” Barnea said at a ceremony marking his entry into office as head of the spy agency. “This needs to be said loudly and clearly: Iran is working, even at this very moment, to fulfill its nuclear dream under an international guise of protection.”

He added, “Under the protection of the agreement and without it, with lies and concealments, Iran is making constant progress toward a weapons of mass destruction program.”

Barnea, who is also known by his nickname Dedi, replaces outgoing director Yossi Cohen. He served as a combat soldier in the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit and has been in the Mossad for the past 25 years, including in prominent operational roles that saw him rise to lead the branch that handles the organization’s agents worldwide.

Announcing Barnea’s appointment last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his top task was “to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

Speaking at the ceremony this week, Netanyahu said that if pushed to choose between a lack of friction

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

with the U.S. or defending the country against the nuclear threat from Iran, Israel will choose to confront the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu said Israel must “do everything, but everything, in order to ensure that under no circumstance Iran arms itself with nuclear weapons.

“The greatest threat against us is the existential threat which is presented by Iran’s attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.

Faced with a choice between relations with the U.S. or neutralizing Iran, “the elimination of the existential threat prevails,” he said.

Netanyahu’s remarks came the day after the UN nuclear watchdog voiced concern that Iran had not clarified queries over possible undeclared nuclear activity, adding that its enriched uranium stockpile was 16 times the limit set out in the 2015 accord.

The two reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday are the first substantive reports since Iran suspended some inspections in February.

Iran and world powers are engaged in talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal after former U.S. President Donald Trump walked away from it in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran.

U.S. President Joe Biden wishes to restart the agreement.

intelligence officials, who alerted the White House to a trove of still-untouched evidence. Officials told the Times that they are likely to use an “extraordinary amount” of computer power to analyze the data but did not provide further details.

The Times added that Biden’s 90-day deadline for a conclusive answer is intended to pressure U.S. allies and intelligence agencies into re-examining relevant evidence while simultaneously pursuing new intelligence. The site also noted that, so far, efforts to bolster intelligence contributions from U.S. allies has proven mostly futile.

A month-long investigation in Wuhan, China, conducted by a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) has already determined that COVID-19 “most likely” jumped from bats to people via an intermediary animal host. However, the group was unable to definitively prove their theory or disprove the theory that COVID-19 was leaked from a laboratory. Additionally, there is much criticism of the WHO’s investigation. Many point out that the WHO was not given full access to China’s laboratory, in additional to other problems in the investigation.

Earlier this week, China announced that it will not cooperate with any further WHO investigations on the virus’ origins.

On Wednesday, Biden said that two intelligence agencies believe COVID-19 was likely naturally occurring, but added that at least one other agency believed that the virus was likely to have been accidentally leaked from a lab. Neither theory is proven, the U.S. president noted.

Uncovering Covid’s Origins in 90 Days

Ukraine Again?

U.S. President Joe Biden urged the intelligence community last week to “redouble their efforts” to determine the origins of COVID-19, Business Insider reported.

According to The New York Times, this push was prompted by

Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether Ukrainian officials attempted to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, The New York Times reported, quoting unnamed sources “with knowledge of the matter.”

The criminal investigation includes examining whether Ukraine officials used Rudy Giuliani, who at the time was former U.S. President

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, to spread misinformation about Biden, according to the Times.

According to the Times, the inquiry is separate from a criminal investigation into Giuliani’s dealings in Ukraine, and it is being handled by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. In the elections investigation, Giuliani has not been accused of wrongdoing.

One of those under investigation in the elections case is Ukraine MP Andriy Derkach. Derkach has been previously described by the U.S. Treasury Department as being an “active Russian agent for over a decade.”

California: DAs Sue State

Over three-quarters of California’s district attorneys are suing the state over good conduct rules which could result in the early release of

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over 76,000 inmates.

Some of those who would be eligible are serving time for violent offenses.

The lawsuit, brought last Wednesday by 44 of the state’s 58 top prosecutors, accuses Corrections Secretary Kathleen Allison of using an emergency declaration to bypass the normal process. It also asks a judge to bar California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) from awarding the credits until it goes through the regular process and a “transparent and rigorous public comment period.”

Of the 76,000 inmates affected by the new system, 63,000 were convicted of violent crimes, Fox News noted.

In a statement, Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert warned, “Allowing the early release of the most dangerous criminals, shortening sentences as much as 50%, impacts crime victims and creates a serious public safety risk.

“This lawsuit asks the court to enjoin CDCR from awarding these credits unless and until these regulations are exposed to a fair, honest and transparent debate, where the public has input on dramatic chang-

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es made through the regulatory process.”

For its part, CDCR said it acted under the authority of Proposition 57, which passed in 2016, allowing parole for most inmates and incentivizing rehabilitative and educational programs, as well as good behavior activities.

Eric Carle, Author and Artist, Dies

Eric Carle, author and artist of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and dozens of other children’s books, died last week at the age of 91.

Since its publication in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold over 50 million copies and been translated into 66 languages.

“I didn’t think it was going to be an extraordinary book,” Carle told Entertainment Weekly in 1994, as the book turned 25. “But children

love it. Caterpillar reassures young kids that ‘you scrawny, ugly little thing will grow up and fly and display your talent and beauty.’”

Carle received honorary degrees from over five universities, including Amherst College and Smith College.

Carle was born in Syracuse, NY, to German immigrant parents.

When he was just 6 years old, his family moved back to Germany as the Nazis were seizing power.

Though expressionist art was not permitted in Germany at the time, Carle recounted to NPR in 2011 that, when he was 12 or 13, his high school art teacher secretly showed him expressionist works at his home.

“I was used to pretty paintings with a mountain in the background.

Although I was shocked, I always carried that day in my heart,” Carle told the outlet.

Many of Carle’s famous books featured nature and animals. He credited his love of nature to his father.

“When I was a small child, as far back as I can remember, he would take me by the hand and we would go out in nature,” Carle said in a 1994 interview. “And he would show me worms and bugs and bees and ants and explain their lives to me. It

was a very loving relationship.”

In 1952, Carle graduated from art school and returned to the United States where he initially made a living by working as a graphic designer with The New York Times.

He got his first big break when Bill Martin Jr. needed an illustrator for his recently completed book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Martin had seen Carle’s artwork in a magazine while in a dentist’s waiting room. “The art was so striking that I knew instantly that I had found my artist!” Martin said about Carle.

In 2002, Carle and his late wife, Bobbie, opened the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.

On Carle’s website, his family acknowledged his death by writing: “In the light of the moon, holding on to a good star, a painter of rainbows is now traveling across the night sky.”

A Speedy Summit

A teacher is now the woman to have reached the top of Mount Everest in the shortest amount of time.

Tsang Yin-hung, 45, climbed from the base camp – at 17,390 feet – to the summit – at 29,032 feet – in 25 hours and 50 minutes.

The previous record for fastest female climber was held by Phunjo Jhangmu Lama, from Nepal, who scaled the mountain in 39 hours and 6 minutes.

“I just feel kind of relief and happy because I am not looking for breaking a record,” Tsang, who is from Hong Kong, said . “I feel relieved because I can prove my work to my friends, to my students.”

Tsang stopped only twice along the way so she could change clothes.

Her climb was also not hindered by other climbers on some of the highest trails. The only other climbers

she met along the way were headed back down.

“For the summit, it is not just not your ability, teamwork, I think luck is very important,” Tsang revealed.

This was Tsang’s second attempt to climb Mount Everest. On May 11, she reached very close to the summit but was forced to turn back because of bad weather.

The fastest man to climb Mount Everest is Sherpa guide Lakpa Gelu, who reached the summit after only 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.

You know what they say: He who travels fastest travels alone.

Old But Bold

Speaking of Mount Everest, Arthur Muir, 75, recently became the oldest American to climb the world’s tallest peak, beating the previous record set by Bill Burke, who was 67 when he reached the summit in May. Muir, a retired attorney from Chicago, started mountaineering when he was 68 and first took trips to South America and Alaska before attempting to climb Everest for the first time in 2019. He broke his ankle while climbing a ladder at the time and had to postpone his dream of conquering the peak.

“You realize how big a mountain it is, how dangerous it is, how many things that could go wrong,” Muir said after his climb. “Yeah, it makes you nervous, it makes, you know, some anxiety there and maybe little bit of scared.”

He added: “I was just surprised when I actually got to there [the summit] but I was too tired to stand up, and in my summit pictures I am sitting down.”

Even sitting down, he’s standing thousands of feet above us all.

Crazy Crustaceans Two really rare lobsters almost became someone’s dinner when an observant caterer noticed the bright orange crustaceans for sale in a tank in a store.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

The lobsters were identified as orange Canadian lobsters. They were on sale for about $36.

Caterer Joseph Lee reportedly spotted the lobsters while shopping.

“I went in to do my usual shopping for my catering business,” Lee told SWNS. “I saw these two orange lobsters from a distance and thought they were toys because that’s the only time I’ve seen them orange apart from when they’re cooked. I knew they wouldn’t have put cooked lobsters in there because you need to keep lobsters in a special tank with flowing water below seven degrees.”

Turns out, these lobsters are extremely rare. More rare is the fact that two of them showed up in the same tank.

“To get one in the tank was a one in 30 million chance so the chances of having two are one in a billion,” Lee explained. “It is like getting struck by lightning three times and surviving each time.

“To have not just one but two in the tank is unimaginable.”

The lobsters were donated to the Birmingham Sea Life center.

And now these lobsters are just as happy as a clam.

Mini Mensa

Meet Kashe. She’s two years old and lives in Los Angeles with her parents. She’s also the youngest member of Mensa in the United States.

Parents Sukhjit Athwal and Devon Quest said their daughter, Kashe, 2, was accepted into the world’s oldest high IQ society after scoring 146 on an IQ test – nearly 50 points higher than the 98-point average in the United States.

Kashe is pretty precocious. She can read full sentences, count to 100, and identify all 50 states. She is now working on identifying periodic table

elements by their symbols and learning Spanish.

“She’ll wake up on a Saturday and say, ‘I wanna do elements,’ or ‘I wanna do states,’ so whenever she’s leaning into it, we’re just there to support her,” Quest said.

Still, Kashe is, in many ways, like a regular toddler.

“At the end of the day, she’s in that toddler stage,” Athwal said. “So she very much is still a normal 2-year-old where we have negotiations, we have tantrums, we have everything.”

Sounds like she’s one smart cookie.

Never Too Late

Bill Gossett is now a college graduate. The 97-year-old had dropped out of college in World War II to join the U.S. Army Air Corps. After returning from war, he took over the family business instead of returning to school. This year, thought, Gossett donned a cap and gown to accept his college diploma.

“There was always a void there but I was busy learning to run a business. Time went by and I finally decided to finish my degree. It was a goal of self-fulfillment,” Gossett said.

Gossett approached Lincoln College officials about returning to the school to finish his associate’s degree.

“In 2019, Mr. Gossett came to me and said he wanted to finish his associate’s degree at Lincoln College,” Lincoln College President David Gerlach said.

“After meeting with the Registrar’s Office, we determined that Gossett could re-enroll as a reverse transfer student with Prior Learning Assessment credits. We were inspired by his desire to obtain a degree 80 years after his education began,” he said.

Gossett completed his Associate of Arts degree in 2020, but had to wait for the 2021 graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gerlach surprised Gossett at the ceremony with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Chocolate Cicadas

They’re chocolatey.

They’re crunchy. They’re cicadas.

ChouQuette Chocolates & Confections is churning out chocolate-covered cicadas for customers eager to munch down on insect-y confections.

Earlier this month, the store, located in Maryland, shared an Instagram post on how it’s cooking up and sweetening these insects, which is only a seven-step process.

According to ChouQuette’s instructions, the cicadas need to first be collected, frozen, boiled and oiled before they can be placed in an air fryer. Once the bugs are cooked and cooled, they can be covered in melted chocolate. When the chocolate has hardened, they can then be

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served like any other chocolate-covered snack – unless of course you prefer your cicadas in a fondue style.

“Crunchy, nutty, earthy, sweet.

Like a walnut with wings, covered in chocolate and cinnamon,” ChouQuette’s CEO and chocolatier Sarah Dwyer described to Fox News.

Some people have been swarming to the store to sample the crunchy treats. According to an update on the company’s website, it has been “inundated with orders.”

Even so, there are many who are staying far away from the chewy creatures.

“People are polarized about eating cicadas as they are about politics in DC! I get hate messages and ‘I love bugs’ messages,” Dwyer said.

“We love to make sweet treats based on current events – Dr. Fauci was last year’s viral product – this year it is cicadas – they are plentiful, tasty and easy to catch,” Dwyer said.

“We can’t believe the response.”

Other stores have also been experimenting with cicada-inspired dishes. There are trillions of cicadas expected to emerge from the ground over the summer. Most people, though, will view the winged insects as mere pests and not as an option for dinner.

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Around the

Community MAY’s Annual Spring Shabbaton

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his past Shabbos was particularly noteworthy for the talmidim of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. The Mesivta held its annual Spring Shabbaton at the beautiful campus of Camp Romimu in Monticello, NY. The Shabbaton was a resounding success, full of tremendous growth in ruchniyus, achdus, ahavas Hashem and ahavas haTorah.

From start to finish, the Shabbaton was an inspiring and exciting weekend. Following Shacharis on Friday morning, it was off to the

buses for a fun-filled, inspirational, action-packed Shabbos!

The Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, set the tone for Shabbos, imploring the talmidim to open their minds and their hearts to what this special Shabbos has to offer. The lively Kabbalas Shabbos, with enthusiastic singing and dancing, was a fitting hakdamah to this unique Shabbos.

The Mesivta invited Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, Ra”m at Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv and noted author, as the guest speaker for Shabbos.

Rabbi Kurland, who addressed the talmidim multiple times throughout the Shabbos, captivated them with his signature style: weaving humor, warmth and ideas for growth and development, into his drashos.

As per MAY tradition, Shabbos kibbudim were awarded to the bidders willing to complete the most learning over the course of the long weekend. All-in-all, students committed to almost 300 hours of independent learning, and honored their rabbeim with the kibbudim.

The sheer amount learning through-

out the Shabbos, both formally and informally, was a testament to the talmidim’s growth this z’man.

Motzei Shabbos included the annual varsity vs. junior varsity softball game, a Melava Malka BBQ, and a stirring kumzitz. The achdus and comradery among the talmidim and their rabbeim was incredible!

The Mesivta thanks Rabbi Shlomo Drebin for organizing the Shabbaton and Rabbi Shlomo Pfeiffer and Camp Romimu for hosting them, year after year.

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SKA Mental Health Week: From Awareness to Practicality

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he students of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls were recently presented with an extraordinary program devoted to mental health awareness. Organized by SKA’s Guidance Department and the SKA Student Mental Health Awareness Committee, each day of the week beginning on Monday, May 24, was dedicated to mental health issues faced by students, based on suggestions made by the SKA girls.

“Don’t Tell Me to Relax” was the theme of Monday’s candid Zoom presentation given by author Sophie Riegel, a young adult who discussed her own journey with mental health, advising strategies for both teenagers and adults on how to help struggling friends and students. In the afternoon, girls were able to visit displays and listen to fellow students discuss how to deal with anxiety and other issues at a student-run Fair set up in the auditorium.

SKA’s End of Year Celebration held at Adventureland the following day served as a break from the rigors of school and as a chance for students to self-care and connect with friends.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the

students had interactive sessions with Registered Dietitian Mrs. Dalia Abott about “Food, Mood and Attitude,” touching on eating disorders, body images and self-esteem, while Wellness Workshops on Thursday focused on resilience, mindfulness and gratitude. Friday’s interactive art activity, “Bringing It All Together,” rounded off the SKA Mental Health Week in a very positive way.

Many girls commented on how they felt validated for their concerns and their issues acknowledged. The hashtag #SKAAGAINSTTHE STIGMA resonated all over the school; an 11th grader held an impromptu session with her classmates on what it is like to live with anxiety and social issues, and many other students shared their stories throughout the week.

Our sincere thanks go to the SKA Guidance Department – Mrs. Yael Fischman and Ms. Lisa Fogel – and heads of the new student mental health committee Miri Fein and Batya Rogoff, the 9th, 10th and 11th grades committee members, and Mrs. Shira Englander, SKA Administrative Coordinator, for implementing this very important program.

Pen Pals in Israel

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ALB eighth grade boys have begun writing to their new pen pals – 7th grade boys at Pelech in Israel. They are writing in each other’s languages and will be sending 2-3 correspondences each by the end of the year. What a beautiful

way to feel connected to peers in Israel! Thank you Morah Suzi Scharf (HALB Middle School Ivrit teacher) and Mrs. Meital Ben Dav (Pelech English teacher) for working together to coordinate this program!

The Power of Amen

Baruch College Names Five Towns Native Valedictorian

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lyssa Fuchs, a Macaulay Honors scholar, was selected as the valedictorian of Baruch College for the class of 2021. Alyssa graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Zicklin School of Business. She also completed a minor in New York City Studies at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. Alyssa attended HAFTR High School and then spent a year learning at Michlelet Mevaser-

et Yerushalayim (MMY). Amidst the current rise in anti-Semitism, Alyssa delivered her valedictory speech on Thursday, May 27 and discussed the strong resilience and courage Jews have displayed since the beginning of time. She focused on the rebuilding that was done after the Holocaust in the United States, which has allowed our current communities to continue to flourish and thrive.

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AFTR Kitah Aleph students participated in a brachot party last week to practice the brachot they have been learning and practicing all year. They each got a plate full of snacks representing every bracha and sang “Eretz Chita U’seora” to remind them of the order of the brachot. After learning about the power of “Amen,” each stu-

dent made a bracha on each food on their plate, and all their classmates answered with a resounding Amen.

Students were encouraged to be on the lookout for others reciting a bracha and to answer Amen. We hope that their own brachot and responding with Amen to the brachot of others will help bring a refuah shleima to Shimon ben Penina Esther.

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Around the Community

Rabbi M. Stein’s class at Siach Yitzchok celebrated a siyum on finishing over four blatt Gemara. The siyum took place at Rabbi Stein’s home with lots of exciting activities. On the way back to Cheder, the boys were surprised with a stop at Spring Gymnastics. Rabbi Stein’s wife even brought the boys some pizza to eat at the gym. The entire class had a wonderful time.

Breakfast for Rabenstein Learning Center and Weiss Vocational Center to Take Place this Sunday

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he Rabenstein Learning Center and Weiss Vocational Center of Yeshiva Darchei Torah are internationally recognized as pioneering intervention programs turning around youth who would not succeed in a mainstream classroom.

With the help of dedicated rabbeim and teachers, the students of these programs gain the necessary confidence to achieve academic success.

A breakfast reception will be held in support of the Rabenstein Learning Center and Weiss Vocational Center at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Brecher at 36 Herrick Drive in Lawrence, New York, on Sunday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Darchei Torah and the founder of the Center, will offer words of inspiration.

The Rabenstein Learning Center’s trailblazing role in Jewish education for 40 years has not only offered countless opportunities to the children of our community – it has also become an invaluable resource for Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs throughout the country and throughout the world. On any given day, a call can come in from as far afield as California or Eretz Yisrael, a distraught parent seeking a solution for his or her child. They call because they are seeking answers, and they find them in the warmth and support of the Center’s staff members. The Center is led by Mrs. Jill Kay, whose caring and professionalism is a source of inspiration to everyone at the Yeshiva.

Bearing the great imprint of its founders, Rabbi Yaakov Bender, shlita; and

ybl”c Mr. Nechemia Rabenstein, a”h, who passed away in 2018, the Center is committed to helping each child reach his full potential. The children are helped through resource room assistance as well as self-contained classroom instruction. Teachers confer regularly with the Center’s staff to help students succeed in modified learning programs created and monitored by outstanding professionals.

Academic challenge is courageously met and often overcome.

The Weiss Vocational Center was founded by Rabbi Bender and Mr. Ronald Lowinger, the president of the Yeshiva. It complements an outstanding Limudei Kodesh education with a well-rounded secular program that also includes career-oriented technical classes. The program is named after Mor and Deborah Weisz, who were known as great baalei chessed before and during World War II. Besides Mor Weisz’s tremendous efforts on behalf of the individual needy, he established several charitable enterprises.

One was a free kitchen for poor people, which began as a special Shabbos kitchen for those who had nowhere to go for their Shabbos meals. He also established two separate vocational programs in Hungary addressing the need for Shomer Shabbos employment. He personally housed young men to whom he taught his trade of baking in addition to other vocations.

He also placed all these young men, once trained, in jobs by urging businesses to hire them. It is truly fitting that the Yeshiva’s vocational center bears their names.

Housed on the Yeshiva campus, the Weiss Vocational Center is a singular role model for other yeshivos throughout the country. Students are offered a variety of technical courses as part of their general studies program. Technical courses include Woodworking, Construction, Plumbing, Electrical Training and Home Wiring. Courses offered in conjunction with Mesivta Chaim Shlomo’s general studies program are Comput-

ers, Science, Global Studies, English, Math, and Business Math. Classes are kept small to maximize student involvement and accomplishment.

A related program is the Weiss Institute for Continuing Education, designed to equip unemployed and underemployed men and women with new skills that will enable them to rejoin the workforce. Courses offered include: Bookkeeping, Computer Skills, Electrical Work and Plumbing.

The Yeshiva cordially invites the entire Far Rockaway/Five Towns community to join in this special opportunity to support the education of our children–all of our children–so that no child is left behind. Toward that goal, Yeshiva Darchei Torah is eternally committed.

For more information, please contact the Yeshiva at 718-868-2300 ext. 219 or visit RabensteinLearningCenter.org.

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W E I S S V O C A T I O N A L C E N T E R

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

SUNDAY MORNING | JUNE 6, 2021 | 9:30 A.M. AT OUR HOME 36 HERRICK DRIVE | LAWRENCE, NY 11559 RSVP: 718-868-2300 ext. 219 RABENSTEIN LEARNING CENTER 257 Beach 17th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 • 718-868-2300 ext. 219 • Fax: 718-868-4450 • www.rabensteinlearningcenter.org

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Around the Community

Honors at Central

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liana Wachstock has been named the Valedictorian of Central’s Class of 2021.

During her time in Central, she has exemplified both a commitment to, and success in, her Judaic and general studies classes. A team player in every sense of the word, Eliana has been an integral part of our Science Institute, Mock Trial team, Model Congress, Soccer Team, ACE, Torah Bowl, Rambam Bekiyut, Peer Study Hall, Study Buddy, and Yachad Club.

Eliana demonstrated a well-honed ability to balance all of her various school and co- and extracurricular commitments with grace and marked success. Eliana will join the Stern College for Women Honors Program after studying at MMY next year in Israel. Kol hakavod to Eliana!

Leah Hersh is the Salutatorian of Central’s Class of 2021. Her self-assurance, maturity, and respectful nature have made a strong impression on both faculty and students alike. She is self-directed and motivated to succeed as is clear from her commendation as a National Merit Scholar. However, Leah’s commitment and success extend beyond her academic success to her award-winning participation in the Vex Robotics competition. After studying at TVA in Israel for a year, Leah will continue her education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Hila Rahimzada is the Central Class of 2021’s recipient of the Keter Shem Tov award, chosen by her classmates to celebrate her strength of character and middot tovot. Hila

Eliana Wachstock

Abigail Kogan

has been an integral member of our school community, and has dazzled us on the court as a member of the Central volleyball team. Always looking to grow and learn, Hila is a role model for her classmates. Hila will be studying next year at Midreshet Moriah and then at Stern College for Women.

Sarah Grunseid has been awarded the “Triple C Award” (Courage, Commitment, Character) from NYS Attorney General Letitia James.

Sarah is an all-around friend and exemplary member of the senior class.

Sarah has become an integral part of the Choir, Tennis Team, Rambam B’Kiyut Program, and the Jerusalem Science Contest. Sarah is balanced and persistent, accepting of others, and always has a smile on her face.

Sarah will be studying at Harova next year in Israel, and will then be studying at the Stern College for Women Honors Program the following year.

Abigail Kogan has been awarded the “Triple C Award” (Courage, Commitment, Character) from NYS Attorney General Letitia James. Abby’s outstanding academic record only begins to tell the story of her

Rivka Boniuk

Nava Sturm

determination to succeed. Her athletic, leadership, and volunteer work are evident in her participation on the Tennis Team, her role as editor in chief for the school newspaper, and her training as a poll worker for the November 3, 2020 national election.

Abby’s humor took center stage both throughout the senior yearbook and in the yearly Central Play. Abby will be studying at Midreshet Lindenbaum next year followed by Macaulay Queens College.

Rachel Schulman has been awarded the “Triple C Award” (Courage, Commitment, Character) from NYS Attorney General Letitia James.

As clear from her commendation as a National Merit Scholar and her strong academic record, Rachel is an outstanding and gifted student. Her skills on the Debate Team clearly evidence her ability to advocate both for herself and her friends. She will be studying at Rutgers Honors College beginning this fall.

Rivka Boniuk has been awarded the YU Book Award by Yeshiva University. Her selection of challenging courses at Central including enrollment in Stern College course during her senior year and with the

Rachel Schulman

resultant strong academic showing, demonstrates her consistent superior ability. Rivka stands out further in the way she conducts herself with others. Her gentle nature, respectful interactions, and caring attitude has made her well-liked among the faculty and students of all grades. Rivka’s talents also extend to her love of singing which, in turn, make her an invaluable member of the Central Choir. Rivka will be studying next year at Migdal Oz and then New York University (NYU).

Nava Sturm has been awarded the YU Book Award by Yeshiva University. Nava takes her academics very seriously, and her record shows it. She is a superior student. In her quiet way, Nava is a strong defender of what is right and cares about being on the ethical side of all issues.

Nava shines outside of the classroom as well, as editor of the Central newspaper and Captain of the Rambam B’Kiyut Program. Nava is kindhearted, genuine, and loved by all of her teachers and peers. Nava will be studying in Migdal Oz next year followed by the Stern College for Women Honors Program.

Orthodox Union’s Semichas Chaver Program Adds 23 Groups

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he Orthodox Union’s Semichas Chaver Program, the popular practical halacha learning initiative, has kicked off its latest season with 23 additional learning groups, bringing the program’s total to 96 across the globe. This series of learning focuses on practical halacha surrounding Shabbos, including those related to cleaning garments, opening packages, sorting and other household issues.

Founded in 2017 by Rav Elyada Goldwicht, the Semichas Chaver Program is an innovative, fast-paced, and interactive halacha learning program crafted for the needs of the 21st cen-

tury with a specialized focus on the practical meaning of Jewish law.

Each shiur includes thought-provoking questions and a dedicated segment on the philosophical meaning behind the relevant topic. Through periodic exams, students are able to hone their knowledge while working toward certificates of completion from Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rav Hershel Schachter.

The new groups were formed in Baltimore, MD; Cherry Hill, NJ; Lakewood, NJ; Miami, FL; Oceanside, NY; Passaic, NJ; Pheonix, AZ; Sacramento, CA: Scottsdale, AZ; and Toronto, Canada. Additional groups

are joining the worldwide program from Israel, South Africa, and Australia. For information on joining, or to organize your own local group, please feel free to reach out via: info@semichaschaver.com.

“SCP has changed the conversations in our communities. Instead of talking about business, sports and politics, participants are discussing what they have learned in their homes, at work and even in the park.” said Rav Goldwicht. “The incredible success of Semichas Chaver is hugely attributed to the most amazing SCP rabbeim in each location.”

“It is nothing short of inspiring

to watch the growth of this program from a few shiurim to a near hundred worldwide,” said OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer. “The Semichas Chaver Program is not a ‘lean-back-and-listen’ Torah class but a very active and participatory experience where everyone is individually engaged in learning and applying the practical halacha. The passion for learning that it has engendered is striking and goes far beyond the weekly shiur, with participants sharing their learning at home with their families and engaging more in their Judaism.”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

Around the Community

MTA’s Scholarship Campaign Raises Over $1M

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TA’s Rabbi Hyman Arbesfeld (‘49) z”l Scholarship Campaign was a huge success, raising more than $1 million and exceeding the yeshiva’s fundraising goal. The campaign offered special giving opportunities for alumni and grandparents, including the MTA Alumni Circle, which enabled alumni to directly help current talmidim in need of scholarships, while staying connected with the yeshiva through unique alumni programming, and the MTA Grandparents Giving Circle, which provided grandparents with the opportunity to support the campaign and engage with the yeshiva throughout the year by receiving messages from their grandson’s rebbeim and tickets to the YUHS Annual Dinner of Tribute. All donations made throughout the campaign were matched 1:1 by a generous donor. The campaign culminated with MTA’s annual Day of Giving on May 25-26.

This student-run event enables talmidim to learn firsthand about philanthropy, leadership, and the importance of giving back to others.

“It’s incredible to see the enthusiasm our talmidim have for supporting our yeshiva. They look forward to getting involved in this meaningful initiative every year and are vital in our efforts to ensure that the MTA experience is accessible to all talmidim in a respectful and dignified manner,” shared Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn. “It’s especially fitting that our talmidim play a role in our fundraising campaign as they are following in the footsteps of its namesake, Rabbi Hyman Arbesfeld (‘49) z”l. As a scholarship recipient at MTA who had tremendous hakaras hatov to our yeshiva, Rabbi Arbesfeld was not only passionate about talmud Torah, but also strongly believed in the importance of making a Jewish education accessible to everyone. Our talmidim are excited to give back because it’s a shared value that is also instilled at home and modeled by their parents and grandparents.

We have created a culture of giving at our yeshiva that extends to the entire MTA community and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of all of our families.”

Did you know?

The Dutch supposedly brought doughnuts to American shores prior to the Revolutionary War, calling them olykoeks, meaning “oily cakes.”

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Around the Community

Israeli Knesset Recognizes Eretz Hakodesh Leader for His Efforts During The Pandemic

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n Monday, May 24, the Israeli Knesset recognized Israel Director of Eretz HaKodesh Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz for his tireless work during the pandemic to enable students from the diaspora to learn in Israel.

In a special ceremony held in the Knesset auditorium that was attended by Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, and Opposition Speaker Yair Lapid, Finance Committee Chairman and Member of Knesset Rabbi Moshe Gafni presented a certificate of appreciation to Rabbi Malinowitz for his efforts throughout the past year.

During the ceremony, the speakers acknowledged the honorees for the assistance they offered to members of the public who encountered various challenges related to the pandemic.

Rabbi Gafni spoke about the assistance Rabbi Malinowitz provided to citizens who were stranded abroad and could not return to Israel, as well as to Israelis who faced exigent circumstances and required permission to fly abroad despite the travel restrictions that were in place. He also congratulated Rabbi Malinowitz for his work on behalf of foreign students and his diligent efforts to ensure that they could enter Israel in order to study.

“You were the incredible mes-

Member of Knesset Rabbi Moshe Gafni presents a certificate of appreciation to Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz

senger who helped bring the yeshiva world back to its regular routine of learning both in Elul and in the winter,” said Rabbi Gafni, an MK from United Torah Judaism, as he addressed Rabbi Malinowitz. “The merit of learning Torah undoubtedly enabled our nation to persevere despite the pandemic and return to a regular routine.”

“It is important that every community has representatives who know its needs and know how to address them,” said MK Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus, Chairman of United Torah Judaism, while speaking about Rabbi Malinowitz. “I personally saw how even in the late hours of the night he

Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, Israel Director of Eretz HaKodesh and head of the Igud of Yeshivas and Seminaries for Bnei Chul, is recognized by Member of Knesset Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus

worked to help people who were stuck in complex situations in Israel and abroad.”

“I feel an obligation to help and to continue working on behalf of those who wish to study Torah in Eretz HaKodesh,” said Rabbi Malinowitz. “I believe that I have a duty to serve as a representative for Jews throughout the world who long for the land of Israel and who feel as if they are a part of everything that is done here.”

“We are extremely proud that Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz represents us in Israel,” said Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Founder and Chairman of Eretz HaKodesh. “He has already accomplished so much on behalf of

Klal Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael through his incredible diligence and dedication to helping others.”

Eretz HaKodesh is a new party that entered the World Zionist Congress elections in 2020. As a first-time slate it garnered over 15% of the vote in the United States, making it the 3rd largest party in the American division.

Representing the Yeshiva, Chassidic, Sephardic, and Israeli Torah communities, under the guidance of Gedolei Yisrael, Eretz HaKodesh works to protect the kedusha and mesorah of Eretz Yisrael. For more information about Eretz HaKodesh, email info@ eretzhakodesh.org.

Unaffiliated Jews Return to their Roots in Flatbush

By Mordechai Kahn

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riday night, Parshas Behaloscha.

The winds were howling, the rain was pouring, the temperature descending – who can be found traversing the streets of Flatbush on this uninviting Shabbos evening? If you looked closely, you would have seen an entire entourage of young men and women, accompanied by their rabbi and chaperones, valiantly walking home from their Shabbos host. Aside from the weather conditions, why is this so remarkable and stupendous? Would you believe that these young men and women all live in Brooklyn, in our neighborhood,

and were experiencing their first Shabbos? Would you believe the incredible sacrifice these students made to walk instead of driving in cars? Can you fathom how monumental it is that local Jews that have never tasted the delight of Shabbos before are now part of the BJX family and learning about the beauty and holiness of Shabbos?

Rav Uri Zohar once said that he is convinced that Moshiach will come from BJX. Why? Because he felt that the ultimate kiddush Hashem is the ability to change the mindset of secular Jews in Brooklyn and unite them with their religious brothers. That is precisely what occurred this past Shabbos.

“This was honestly a life-chang-

ing experience for me! It really opened my eyes to the Jewish world,” said Ben. One student, although older, received his “bar mitzvah” Shabbos morning.

Several students who themselves attended public high school, but today, due to BJX are fully Shomeri Shabbos, served as madrichim for the Shabbaton. Miriam, who today is fully observant (and a kallah), shared with the BJX students that she had her first Shabbos meal with the Waldmans and the BJX family seven years ago at this same dinner table!

“This was amazing. I’ll definitely keep these memories for the rest of my life,” said Sam. “It was unforgettable and amazing beyond words. I

learned so much,” shared Veronica.

The students kept their first entire Shabbos and loved it. Rabbi Ezra Max, life coach, led a fascinating discussion on the topic of leadership.

The rabbis and staff had tremendous devotion, ensuring that the students were well taken care of.

“It was an incredibly enlightening experience and it amazed me how welcoming everyone was! It was fun and enriching. I can’t express my gratitude enough,” said Daniella.

The Hass, Jaffa, Landsberg, Valberg, Waldman and Zyskind families outdid themselves with extraordinary hospitality, providing the students with a Shabbos they will remember forever.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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READY TO LEARN MORE? CONTACT: Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman at jeff.lichtman@touro.edu or 973.650.7247

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Eric Adams Endorsed by Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance and Other Leaders of the Queens Jewish Community

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n Friday, Eric Adams was endorsed for mayor by the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance and other leaders of the Queens Jewish community.

Joining the announcement are State Senator Joseph Addabo Jr., Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato and Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, all of whom have previously endorsed Eric Adams.

The FRJA chairs include leaders of the Far Rockaway community: Richard Altabe, Yoni Dembitzer, Baruch Rothman, Eli Shapiro and Pesach Osina. The executive committee members are Elkanah Adelman, Shalom Becker, Boruch Ber Bender, Akiva Bergman, Zvi Bloom, Ephraim Blumenkrantz, Dr. Gerald David, Ari Dicker,

Mordechai Zvi Dicker, Alon Goldberger, Shlomo Zalman Gutfreund, Robert Hagler, Ari Klainberg, Joel Kaplan, Tzvi Keilson, Dr. Moshe Lazar, Chaim Leibtag, Moishe Mishkowitz, Baruch Rabinowitz, Richie Sinnreich, Menachem Walfish, and Yosef Wartelsky.

“Today, we as a community announce our full support for Eric Adams for mayor of New York City. We’re endorsing Eric because he has a proven track record in this city, a real record, and for his commitment to public safety and rooting out anti-Semitism wherever it rears its ugly head,” said FRJA founder Richard Altabe.

“At a time when those who are visibly Jewish are marked for attack, whether on the streets or ‘online,’ we

need a mayor who knows how to keep everyone safe, and help us protect our communities,” said FRJCC head Baruch Rothman, “and Eric Adams has been a public safety leader his entire career.”

Pesach Osina, FRJA leader and former candidate for City Council, added, “I endorse Eric Adams for mayor as he is the right person to lead the city out of these difficult times as we look for a leader who is familiar with all of our struggles. Eric Adams has shown a strong interest into the needs of the Rockaway and Queens residents, and I am confident that with his record of not standing quietly and fighting for all he is the right leader at

the right time.”

The leadership of FRJA observed that Eric’s record of close friendship with the Jewish communities he represented in Brooklyn, and standing with them against anti-Semitism throughout Brooklyn, as well as his recent responses to the attacks in midtown were crucial factors in earning their endorsement. Additionally, FRJA, representing a coastal neighborhood impacted by Superstorm Sandy, noted that Eric’s outer borough comeback and resiliency plans have given them assurance that Eric Adams will be the outer borough mayor the Rockaway Peninsula needs.

In addition to pledging to stop anti-Semitism anywhere

and everywhere, Eric Adams reaffirms his commitment to move boldly forward on resiliency projects across the city, with a particular focus on communities like the Rockaways that remain vulnerable to flooding.

“I want to thank FRJA for joining our campaign – and I am so thrilled to have this community on board. Their support reflects the diversity and strength of growing our coalition,” said Borough President Eric Adams. “I have worked to protect this city for more than three decades of my public life. We are witnessing a growing pandemic of hate in our city, and I will work harder than anyone to protect these communities as mayor.”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

‫מסיימים‬

You are cordially invited to

‫הננו מתכבדים בזה להזמין‬

Shmaya Aryeh

Zecharya Kaufman

Pinchas Balsam

Eli Klein

Noach Balsam

Zev Klein

Akiva Balter

Shlomo Lieberman

Ari Blum

Ari Manela

Tzvi Bodner

Elchonon Miller

join in the celebration of our

‫תלמידי השיבה והוריהם‬

TWENTY SEVENTH

‫וכל הציבור של שכונתנו‬

Yosef Braun

Rafael Mirocznik

‫לבא ולהשתתף בשמחתנו לרגל‬

Ezra Brody

Avi Neuman

Mordechai Cywiak

Menachem Orlian

Yeruchum Dear

Dovi Rogosnitzky

Yisrael Drandoff

Baruch Ross

‫ע"י תלמידי הישיבה‬

Moshe Dov Ehrenberg

Avi Ross

‫שיתקיים אי"ה ביום ראשון‬

Shmaya Eisenberg

Mordechai Ross

‫ג' תמוז תשפ"א‬

Yisroel Dovid Eisenstadt

Yosef Sasson

Shai Englander

Yehoshua Schickler

Simi Flegmann

Eliezer Schwartz

Shmuel Fuchs

Eliyahu Boruch Shonek

Eli Ganz

Eliyahu Simai

Yitzchak Ganz

Moshe Simai

Chaim Goodman

Yitzchak Simai

Naftali Grumet

Yaakov Simha

Tzvi Hahn

Yehuda Simha

Moshe Chaim Hammer

Eliezer Simha

Moshe Hershkovich

Yishai Steele

Shmuel Huberfeld

Gershon Stein

Yaakov Yosef Jacobi

Shlomo Susman

Yehuda Aryeh Jacobi

Zalman Twersky

Yisroel Meir Jacobsen

Bentzion Weinberg

Daniel Kahn

Tzvi Weiss

ANNUAL SIYUM ‫סיום‬ Marking the completion of Meseches Bava Basra

SUNDAY JUNE 13, 2021

‫מסכת בבא בתרא‬

7:30 PM Yeshiva of Far Rockaway 802 Hicksville Rd, Far Rockaway, NY • GUEST SPEAKER •

RABBI SHLOMO BRAUNSTEIN Menahel, Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin

Sponsored in honor of our grandson Moshe Chaim Hammer

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GADI AND ALIZA FUCHS MEMORIAL DEDICATIONS ‫ ע"ה‬MELOHN ‫לע”נ יוסף ב"ר אריה הכהן‬ ‫ ע"ה‬MELOHN ‫פערל בת ר' מאיר‬ ‫ ע"ה‬BLUM ‫אריה ב"ר יצחק‬

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Super Mom Mother of 10 Graduates Top of Her Class

G

raduating from medical school is no small feat, and neither is being a mother. Alexandra Friedman, who excelled at both, just graduated from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM). Her husband, Yosef, and her 10 young children celebrated her accomplishments by her side.

Not only did Alexandra graduate, she holds the highest GPA in her class of 135.

“Alexandra Friedman, DO, exemplifies all of the important qualities of an osteopathic physician, including medical knowledge, empathy and superb clinical skills. Her ability to succeed in medical school, while raising a large family and working at night, is nothing short of amazing,” said Dr. Kenneth Steier, DO, executive dean of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After graduating pre-med from the College of William & Mary, Alexandra married and started a family before embarking on a career. Many years and seven children later, she set her sights on becoming a doctor.

While she first considered careers less demanding, Alexandra discovered her passion would be in helping people through medicine.

“Medicine felt like a professional calling,” she said. “I wanted to work in a way that could make the world a better place and I always enjoyed and excelled at biological sciences, so I wanted to use my talents to help others through medicine. My husband and I felt that practicing medicine would be worth the inevitable sacrifices.”

Throughout her six years as a student at TouroCOM, Alexandra worked nights at Montefiore Nyack Hospital so she could spend time with her children during the day, three of whom were born while she was in medical school.

Her hard work and dedication paid off. In her

first year, she was awarded the $10,000 2017 Judith Wible, M.D., Scholarship for Visionary Women in Medicine. Additionally, throughout her academic career at Touro, she has received the TouroCOM Academic Excellence Top Student Awards for: histology, physiology, neuroanatomy, and medical ethics; the Emily Taylor Outstanding Woman Student in Leadership Award; First Place for her presentation in neuroscience at the Student Research Forum; the Dr. William H. Bailey Memorial Award for First Place Pathology Honor Society Presentation; and First Place for Presentation in Molecular and Cell Biology at the Student Research Forum.

At commencement, Alexandra received the Dean’s Award, presented to the graduating student with the highest academic standing, in recognition of personal achievement and success in didactic studies and on clinical rotations. Additionally, her husband Yosef, who has a degree in special education and works with special needs adults, was awarded The Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award. This award is presented to a spouse of a graduating student for his or her support.

“It has been amazing to watch Alexandra’s perseverance and hard work, which has led to her professional success. She was an incredibly dedicated student while still prioritizing the needs of her family,” said Yosef. “She is an amazing wife, mother, and physician. She’s very admirable and I’m lucky to have her in my life.”

Alexandra views her unique family situation as a strength rather than a weakness. Her family is her greatest support system, and she believes her dedication is teaching the children valuable life lessons.

“Touro College was created to enrich the Jewish tradition of tolerance and dignity. Students like Alexandra never have to choose between their reli-

gious lifestyle and pursuing education at the highest levels. We are so proud of the achievements of Alexandra and the TouroCOM class of 2021 and our commitment to serve and support members of all communities,” said Rabbi Moshe Krupka, Touro Executive Vice President.

While at Touro and Montefiore, Alexandra completed rotations in neonatal intensive care, nephrology, family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, OB/Gyn, and psychiatry. Her next step will be a residency in pediatrics.

In the future, Alexandra hopes to open an integrative pediatrics practice and help develop culturally sensitive programs for victims of sexual abuse.

To learn more about Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit tourocom.touro.edu.

In honor of Memorial Day, and to thank our local heroes, HAFTR students and parents brought lunch to the local police precinct. Special thanks to the Appel, Kalish, Kirschner, Rosenberg, Sharon, Siri, and Wiener families for generously sponsoring.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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Around the Community

MTA’s Unforgettable Sophomore-Junior Shabbaton

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n May 21-23, MTA hosted an unforgettable Shabbaton for the sophomore and junior grades at Camp Dora Golding. The event featured an exciting array of activities, including sports, games, hikes, shiurim and chaburahs, BBQs, bonfires, and an all-night basketball tournament. Talmidim truly enjoyed this special opportunity to bond with their friends and rebbeim.

“One of our main goals for this exciting Shabbaton was enabling our

talmidim to be present while they were with each other,” said Director of Student Activities Rabbi Danny Konigsberg. “In order to make sure that happened, we asked all talmidim to hand in their phones at the beginning of the trip, which allowed them to spend undistracted time with their grade and their rebbeim.

The atmosphere was truly so positive, warm, and energetic, as everyone came together with unparalleled achdus.”

Shevach Students Enjoy Shavous Inspiration

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his Shavuos, Shevach High School held two beautiful shiurim given by their very own beloved teachers. On Monday, the first day of Shavuos, Mrs. Gitty Lipsius spoke in the Chanales home in Kew Gardens. She taught the girls about the perfection and purity of Torah, and about the value of doing chessed, adding spice to the lesson with an inspiring, personal story.

There was a beautiful turnout, with girls walking all the way in from Kew Gardens Hills, and many alumnae showing up as well.

On the second day of yom tov, Mrs. Rena Hall gave a shiur in Kew Gardens Hills, hosted by Mrs. Tzivia Meth, tenth grade mechaneches.

Mrs. Hall shared insightful thoughts on finding the beauty and sweetness of Torah in our lives. She explained how Shavuos is a yom tov on which

we are told to take personal time to enjoy the day. Many people decorate their homes with flowers or eat cheesecake to enhance their chag.

This extra enjoyment that we experience on the yom tov celebrating the receiving of the Torah teaches us that we should make Torah and mitzvos sweet in our everyday lives. Mrs. Hall gave the girls practical applications in which this could be done, such as searching for the ways that mitzvos improve our lives, or by making incentives for ourselves.

Both shiurim were greatly enjoyed by the Shevach girls and were amazing opportunities for them to gain inspiration over the chag. Thank you Mrs. Meth for organizing these shiurim, and kudos to Shevach sophmores Leah Aronov and Esther Greenfielf for reporting this special event.

HALB’s 20 Day Middot Challenge

I

n response to the latest tragedies in Klal Yisrael, the Lower Division of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach launched a 20 middot challenge the day after Shavuot vacation. The school is making a concerted effort to focus on social emotional learning and middot tovot to improve the way children relate to one another.

We have created a unique program that incentivizes children to do Acts of Kindness with one another. Children are asked to “tell on” their friends who do something nice for them. Each Act of Kindness is rewarded with an Act of Kindness card. To date, hundreds of cards have been submitted, and this past Friday, ten children won the weekly raffle.

HALB is especially gratified that Blue Door Books of Cedarhurst has become a proud sponsor of this program. All winners will earn gift certificates to Blue Door Books.

In addition to the individual prizes, each class has the ability to earn points towards a pizza party. A daily point chart is posted and children are encouraged to earn class points through positive behavior.

HALB has always prided itself on being Yeshivat Lev. Rabbi Armin Friedman, z”l was a constant source of guidance for his talmidim who valued middot tovot above all else.

As the era of Covid social distancing is coming to an end I”YH, we are hopeful that this program will lead to improved middot and stronger social connections.

Did you know?

Over 10 billion doughnuts are made each year in the U.S.

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Over 200 Athletes Participate In OU Yachad’s Triathalon

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ver 200 athletes from across the tri-state area recently participated in the first Orthodox Union’s (OU) Yachad triathlon at the American Dream mall. The event was designed to raise awareness and funds for the group’s IVDU school network, the formal educa-

tional arm of the leading organization for Jewish individuals with disabilities.

The professionally designed triathlon course included a distance run through the mall mapped out

by Dan Brennan, the official course measurer for the New York City Marathon. The bik-

ing element took place on stationary bikes, and the swim component took place in the mall’s DreamWorks Water Park. Timing was tracked by the Barwick Group.

“Every year our students look forward and train to join our annual marathon team. It prepares them with valuable

life skills, keeps them physically active and rewards them both with a sense of internal satisfaction and the feeling of comradery that simply couldn’t be recreated without a similar experience,” said IVDU’s Head of School Rabbi Michoel Druin. “With the pandemic’s impact cancelling many marathons and similar events, our admin team came together and recreated so much of the experience the marathon team normally generates, and the end result was a phenomenal event for our students and friends.”

For the last decade, IV-

DU’s students have gained critical life lessons, like teamwork, dedication, commitment, and discipline from joining together and participating in marathons.

The Marilyn and Sheldon David IVDU Boys and Girls Upper Schools are schools for Orthodox Jewish individuals with disabilities. Encouraged by warm and caring staff, the students of IVDU learn they can thrive despite their challenges and develop new skills and friendships that will help them be successful in life during and after high school.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know

H #1 YT

I can get COVID from the vaccine.

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Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association

H #5 YT

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The Science: The coronavirus vaccines cannot give you COVID-19 because they do not contain live SARS-CoV-2 virus.

H #2 YT

The Science: SARS-CoV-2 infection presents a health risk to everyone. Young people can get seriously ill and even die. Even after recovering from COVID-19, they can experience symptoms months after infection and are susceptible to other long-term effects.

The vaccine changes your DNA.

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The Science: Neither the mRNA nor DNA-based COVID-19 vaccines interact with, integrate into, or alter your DNA. H #3 YT

H #6 YT

The COVID vaccine has not been tested enough to prove it is safe.

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H #4 YT

If I had COVID, I do not need to get the vaccine.

The Science: The strength and length of natural immunity varies from person to person and cannot be predicted. New variants also make people more vulnerable to reinfection.

The Science: All vaccines receiving FDA emergency use authorization in the United States have been tested in preclinical, phase I, II and III trials to determine safety and efficacy

Therefore, the CDC recommends people who had COVID-19 in the past to still get vaccinated.

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with tens of thousands of participants. Since then, over 100 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the US and over 448 million doses worldwide.

I’m young and healthy, I don’t need the vaccine.

H #7 YT

The COVID vaccine causes infertility.

My community has “herd immunity” so I don’t need to get the vaccine.

The Science: “Herd immunity” doesn’t protect every individual from getting COVID-19 and can drop when individuals

The Science: There is no factual or theoretical evidence that the COVID vaccine affects fertility.

start losing immunity or the community is exposed to a new variant.

For more information about COVID-19 and the COVID vaccine, check out JOWMA’s Preventative Health Podcast, available on all major podcast platforms. Or, call the JOWMA Preventative Health hotline at 929-4-GEZUNT. All New Yorkers age 16 and above are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

To find a vaccination site near you, visit: VaccineFinder.org

This content is for general educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment about your particular condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association

qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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HAFTR students Lauren Monderer and Isabella Steigletz dressed as Lady Liberty at the Memorial Day Parade on Sunday to thank and remember our national heroes

Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld z”l Virtual Memorial Tribute

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he Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld z”l Virtual Memorial Tribute will take place at 1pm on Sunday, June 6, 2021. Those who wish to view it can find it at: https:// youtu.be/zBWhoL6ADjg (for filtered devices, https://613tube.com/ watch/?v=zBWhoL6ADjg). We re-

quest that participants in the Memorial Tribute make a donation to the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to support the shul Rabbi Schonfeld founded. Donations can be made online at https://www.yikgh.org/payment.php (under type of donation please choose “Memorial Tribute”).

Rabbi Reischer teaching his talmidim at YKLI about the melachos of Shabbos

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his school year, Yeshiva of South Shore implemented an exciting, new psychoeducational program to their amazing lineup of educational programs and initiatives. Led by Rabbi Yehuda Kamenetzky, M.Ed, NCC, Director of Student Counseling, the elementary school classes meet once every two weeks and engage in a variety of activities whose underlying messages promote social skill development and class unity. During the winter months, Rabbi Kamenetzky taught mindfulness using sensory activities revolving around the five senses. Since Pesach, Rabbi Kamenetzky has taught about the concept of teamwork.

Teamwork teaches essential communication and social skills, such as active listening and effective speaking. When working as a team, students

learn how to listen to their leaders and peers in order to perform their individual roles. Students learn how to listen to one another in order to function as a cohesive unit. Teamwork also promotes the idea that a team is made up of a group of individuals working together for a common goal and that every individual on the team brings their own unique skill set to the table in order to achieve that goal. Each session provides an activity wherein the students’ ability to work with their peers is challenged.

The feedback from the administration, teachers, and students alike has been tremendous. Rabbi Kamenetzky has met parents who have told him they’ve never seen their child as enthusiastic about school as when they come home from school on the day of their class with him.

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Thank you for being...

our HEART our SOUL our FUTURE Thank you

TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND FOR MAKING OUR 9TH ANNUAL DINNER A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS TO VIEW A RECORDING OF THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT BAISYAAKOVAM.ORG

RABBI NOSSON NEUMAN MENAHEL

AVRAHAM MAYER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MOTTI FOX PRESIDENT

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YOSS Mechina Hikon Trip

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he YOSS Mechina recently celebrated the final term of HIKON! Since the beginning of the year, the boys demonstrated excellence in their daily dav-

ening, including dressing appropriately, coming on time, and davening from a siddur.

In celebration, the boys were treated to a delicious dinner catered by Season’s

followed by a trip to Long Island Adventure Park, Long Island’s premier park for outdoor climbing adventures. The boys had a great time navigating through the

various courses using “tweezles” and cables. The park is a self-guided course so the boys were able to go at their own pace, choosing which courses they wanted to attempt.

The night culminated with a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and an impromptu kumzitz. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on HIKON next year.

An Inspired Siyum at the Beach Shul

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s the sheloshim of the tragedy of Meron approached, the members of the Beach Shul took the opportunity to reflect.

After hours of fierce debate and dialogue as how to properly mourn and grow from the terrible tragedy, it was agreed upon to finish Shisha Sidra Mishna in honor of the 45 neshamos. Michael Wittow and Avi Rodkin arranged for all of the members of The Beach Shul to commit to learn Mishnayos in order to accomplish this feat together.

Rabbi Shua Diskin and Mr. Michael Wittow coordinated renovations to the temporary shul in order to make the siyum in time. On Memorial

Day, all of the members of the Beach Shul gathered together to make the siyum. R’ Avi Rodkin recited the hadran and then addressed the packed crowd. He urged everyone to continue the personal growth, and he encouraged all participants to repeat this accomplishment, to complete Shisha Sidra Mishna together another time, before the Nine Days.

Everyone heartily agreed.

Rabbi Yaacov Lopiansky then introduced Rabbi Weberman who addressed the crowd and discussed how we cannot understand what Hashem wants.

After the speeches, the members of The Beach Shul enjoyed a kumzitz in candlelight led by R’ Avi Rodkin

accompanied by Yanky Weber on the guitar.

All men and women attending left the evening feeling inspired and refreshed, ready to repeat this accomplishment.

The Beach Shul is located in Far Rockaway on Seagirt Blvd. To learn more about the Beach Shul and to contribute to this great movement, visit www.TheBeachShul.com.

Did you know?

A doughnut shop in Portland, Oregon, used to sell doughnuts coated in Nyquil and Pepto-Bismol.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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Queens Unified with Music on Meron Sheloshim

By Shabsie Saphirstein

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his past Thursday evening, Queens marked the shloshim of the 45 kedoshim from Meron with an awe-inspiring community-wide kumzitz held at Kehilas Torah Temima. Singing sensation Eli Levin took the crowd on a moving journey with each tune.

Words of chizuk were delivered

by Rabbi Moshe Sokoloff, mara d’asra Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, and Rabbi Elan Segelman, rav of the hosting shul.

Rabbi Segelman did not shy away from stating how ironic it was that the incident in Meron where Jewish brethren were crushed amongst one another unfolded on the yom tov of Lag Ba’Omer, a day that Jews celebrate the conclusion of a plague that challenged friendship and loyalty.

“We are now thirty days later but we do not have any more answers and perhaps only more questions,” imparted Rabbi Sokoloff. “The answers lie in the week’s parsha, ‘Al pi yachanu v’al pi Hashem yisau.’ Just like the people traveled in the desert when it wasn’t always convenient,

did not always make sense, and was not always easy, but we follow Hashem.”

Eli Levin reminded the audience, “You as a whole are complete,” and we gather as a unit to get through pain. Every loss in klal Yisrael is a wound to Hashem, but when we act as one, then we are able to weather through tough times. Eli made it clear that Hashem always has a plan for His children, and in the end, we will persevere.

Rabbi Sokoloff also discussed the healing powers of a melody and how it acts as a unifier bringing us closer to Hashem, “Music has a power to bring people to do teshuvah and to bring people together. It is very apropos that at a time when we are struggling to find answers, music brought us together.”

In response to the questions left by the Meron tragedy, Rabbi Segelman acknowledged that there was no objective response, “The Ribbono Shel Olam loves and cherishes us.”

The rav cited the Medrash Tanchum in reminding the group that it was a gathering such as this program that was vital for klal Yisrael to stick to-

gether, persevere, and get through a test. Rabbi Segelman beseeched, “Make life more special,” and followed by speaking of moments when the Jewish people, especially the Leveim, gathered in unity. Hashem said of them, “They are mine,” displaying a unique unbreakable bond.

“We have no answers and are lost without direction but we turn to song, learning, and being misav’ed because we have nothing else to do and this is what Hashem wants,” said Rabbi Segelman.

Rabbi Segelman left everyone with a plea, “Every beis avel is full of praise for the niftar. It bothers me that we have to wait for a tragedy to discover and promote the special attributes of a niftar. We should be able to take advantage of the positive attributes of a person while they are alive.” The rav was reminded of revealing stories that surfaced during the week when hespedim from the Meron victims were circulated. “Every single yid has so much potential and is special to Hashem, we don’t have to wait.” Rabbi Segelman called on listeners to uncover the greatness of each individual we en-

counter instead of delving into their deficiencies. The rav pushed onward explaining that even if we do not know the other fellow, we must exhibit ahavas chinam (nonjudgmental love) especially at a time with so much hatred and anti-Semitism, we must increase ahava.”

A kumzitz with Eli Levin nearly always feels like it is at its climax as the audience truly stays enthralled.

The heartfelt feeling around a song like Rachel Mevaka knows no bounds, while the passion behind a call out of, “Shema Yisrael,” makes one understand that “there is but one G-d above.”

But what sets Eli apart is his deep personal connection to each song, especially a recent release, “Afikomin,” dedicated in memory of his brother Yisroel Levin and his kallah, Elisheva Kaplan, who were killed in a horrible car accident on Chol Hamoed Pesach three years ago that shook klal Yisrael. At the levaya, Eli’s father committed to a project 10K Batay Yisroel that has since inspired 158 shidduchim on its road to ten thousand, nearly one match a week.

The event was organized by the shul board along with special efforts from Matan Fridman and Albert Reichmann and was sponsored by Cross River Bank.

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Beresheet: A New Senior Living Community in the Jerusalem Hills

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e invite you to get to know Beresheet – a new concept in senior housing that is unlike anything you’ve ever heard of before. Beresheet is intended for the seniors, aged 60+, who seek something different from the traditional retirement homes – a place that they can establish together, one that combines independence and privacy with a wide range of possibilities.

“Longer life expectancy and the desire to do something meaningful after retirement have created a new generation of seniors who wish to make the most of the present, yet still want security for the future,” said Beresheet founder Avi Lichak.

“We believe in creating a safe environment for residents to enjoy an unmatched quality of life as they pursue the interests and hobbies that they love – all on their own terms. We offer a variety of social and cultural options, alongside complete independence.”

Lichak summarizes this rather

revolutionary idea: “We welcome residents’ input. Rather than having to accommodate themselves to an existing schedule, as is the case in most retirement facilities, Beresheet residents will have the freedom to decide what they want to do and how and when they want to do it.”

The atmosphere at Beresheet encourages residents to dare to explore their ambitions and dreams, to discover hidden talents, and form new friendships. With an array of trips

and social and cultural events to choose from, everyone will be able to find their niche, in the manner that suits them best.

Beresheet’s sprawling, 4.5-acre forested campus, surrounded by greenery and adjacent to a nature reserve, affords a quality of life that is unmatched. The grounds are adjacent to a local park as well as a National Park that will be open to the public. Yet, the location, a 5-minute drive to Jerusalem, gives them ready access to the bustling capital city with all that it has to offer.

It’s clear that the project’s designers have given careful thought to making the most of the gorgeous surroundings. Each luxurious apartment features high ceilings, arches and picture windows that bring the outdoors in, with wide balconies and gardens that face the breathtaking view.

As far as the facilities are concerned, Beresheet is unlike any other retirement community. There is something for everyone, including a half-Olympic size pool, a fitness room, a variety of activity rooms, a cultural center and a synagogue. In addition to the main chef’s restaurant, residents can choose from a variety of eateries and coffee shops on or near the premises.

Of course, nothing can take the place of family, and Beresheet recognizes the importance of an infrastructure that facilitates visits from

relatives and friends. To this end, there are several on-site, fully accessorized guest suites where family or friends can stay for an extended visit. By the same token, party rooms of different sizes can be reserved for celebrations, special occasions and get-togethers.

Beresheet welcomes and encourages residents’ independence, yet has a plan in place for any changes that may occur further along the line. Besides for a designated department for those in need of nursing care, each apartment was built with double bath and toilet facilities to accommodate a live-in caregiver.

Additionally, Beresheet has a medical center for its residents, to enable them to remain in their own apartment without having to move to the nursing department. The idea is that no matter what happens, Beresheet is equipped with efficient solutions on the premises to meet the needs of residents.

With the project in advanced stages of construction, this is your chance to join. Residents who join from the beginning will enjoy special prices, and will be able to choice the ideal apartment for them. They’ll also be able to enjoy a variety of payment plans.

Register now and pay only upon occupancy!

Occupancy will be in August 2023. Come and be part of the establishment of this unique project and partner in the building of a world that you want to live in. Your senior years are your time for fulfilling dreams; Beresheet is the ideal housing experience where you can live those dreams.

Avi Lichak welcomes Anglo seniors to join Beresheet and enjoy the best years of their lives with others like-minded people. “This is your time, and we will endeavor to provide residents with everything they need to find meaning and fulfillment, satisfaction and joy.”

Did you know?

June 4 is National Doughnut Day

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Exploring the Five Senses

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ast week, HAFTR Early Childhood started a unit on the five senses. Our eyes, ears, nose, hands and tongue help us to learn about the world around us. We have had so much fun experimenting with our sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.

TASTE was a fun one for us. Each child was given a plate with a bit of salt and a bit of sugar. After examining both, we realized that they look exactly alike and do not smell so the only way to tell the difference is to use our tongues and taste them. We then voted and it was determined that most children like the taste of sugar way better than salt. We also baked delicious chocolate chip cookies, and we thought the SMELL was just amazing.

We use our hands to TOUCH and feel all different kinds of things throughout any given day. We put a whole bunch of items with different textures like soft (cotton balls), hard (wooden block), scratchy (rough side of a sponge), squishy (Playdoh) and bumpy (cupcake wrapper) inside our

“Magic Touch Box.” Each one of us had a turn to put our hand in, grab an item, and guess what it was based on feel alone. It was so much fun!

We went on a walk to our field and used our sense of SIGHT to see all of the colors in Hashem’s world.

Then we closed our eyes and used

just our ears to HEAR what was around us. We heard birds chirping, children playing, cars driving by, and airplanes flying overhead.

We then brought the lesson back to our classroom where we played with all different kinds of instruments like maracas, bells, tambourines,

triangles and shakers. We created our very own band where we sang and played first loudly, then softly.

We spoke about the different sounds that the instruments make and if they sounded good to us or not.

This Summer More Than Ever!

Achiezer’s Camp Campaign Ensures that Every Child Can Go to Camp

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ummer camp.

It’s more than just camp, and it’s more than just sum-

mer.

It’s an all-encompassing experience and a very necessary one for a child’s development and nurturing.

At one point in time, people might have argued that summer camp is a luxury. No more. It is now widely recognized, by parents, educators, and really anyone paying attention, that camp is an absolute necessity for children, especially in 2021.

Enter Achiezer’s Camp Campaign.

Achiezer is an incredible organization, and its Camp Campaign is just as extraordinary. It’s extraordinary in its scope and reach. This campaign ensures that every child can attend summer camp no matter what their parents’ financial state is.

The number of people impacted by the Achiezer Camp Campaign is hard to quantify.

Especially this year.

We’ve been through an unprecedented 15 months, with the Covid pandemic and all that it entailed.

Children were out of school for months, cooped up at home. Many youth didn’t get to attend camp last summer due to the Covid closures.

The need for camp this summer is greater than ever, and Achiezer’s Camp Campaign will make certain that every child can experience the growth and exhilaration of camp.

Who does the Achiezer’s Camp Campaign help?

It assists your very own relatives, your friends, your neighbors – really anyone who is in need of financial assistance so that their children can go to camp.

This campaign hits very close to home.

“People would be surprised, perhaps, if they learned of who applies for assistance,” says Aliza Wartelsky of Achiezer’s Family Crisis Division.

“These are people in our very own

neighborhoods whose children will be stuck at home if we don’t step up to the plate to help them.”

Last year’s Achiezer Camp Campaign was abridged due to Covid, but this year’s campaign is operating at full force, as the need is greater than ever.

“This is a campaign by the community for the community,” explains Boruch Ber Bender, Achiezer’s president. “It’s an extra special campaign, because we are helping people in our own backyards, those who live amongst us, giving every child the precious opportunity to attend camp, making so many children’s dreams come true.”

The campaign provides funding for day camp, sleepaway camp, and also special needs camp, which can be very costly.

“As we carefully and confidentially review the applications coming in,” says Rabbi Bender, “we are witness to so many ‘regular,’ good, hardworking

fathers and mothers who just can’t come up with the money needed to pay for camp. This Camp Campaign makes sure that when the topic of camp arises, the answer is always yes. It is a campaign that touches and impacts every neighborhood across the entirety of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.”

We need the participation of everyone in our community. There are so many applicants, who, as of this moment, will be unable to send their children to camp this summer. It just isn’t an option. This fund, this opportunity, and this community can reverse this difficult predicament for hundreds of children and their families.

Make a child’s dream come true by donating at www.rayze.it/achiezercamp today. The lives you will touch will have an everlasting impact well beyond the summer of 2021.

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Around the Community

Talmidim enjoyed spirited dancing at the Yeshiva Darchei Torah campus in Far Rockaway and in Camp Oraysa at the Shavuos Neilas HaChag

Achiezer at 13: A Talk with Malkie Schorr Part 7 of a Series

At a hospital opening

By Avi Shiff

I

n honor of Achiezer’s 13th year, we are conducting a multi-part series celebrating the various facets of this remarkable organization. For Week #7, we spoke to Malkie Schorr, who oversees Hospital Support for Achiezer.

What is your role at Achiezer?

In Achiezer’s hospital support and patient advocacy department, we deal with any type of help or support that a patient or their family may need in a hospital setting. I assist Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender in helping patients, whether they require medical guidance, kosher food, Shabbos-related assistance, and so on. Whatever a patient needs and whatever request they have, Achiezer is there to do whatever we can.

Do you work with specific hospitals?

We are available to assist anyone anywhere, but our focus is naturally on the hospitals in proximity of Achiezer, such as LIJ, North Shore, South

Nassau, and so on. But we’ve been called to help those in Brooklyn, Monsey, Westchester and beyond, as well.

How does being a registered nurse play a role in your position at Achiezer?

Having a medical background definitely helps me, because I am more familiar with the medical language. Having this unique vantage point has been a benefit in guiding and advocating on behalf of patients and their families.

When do people contact you?

Everyone at Achiezer is on call essentially whenever needed, especially with time-sensitive matters.

That’s incredible. How has Covid-19 impacted your work?

I started working at Achiezer during Covid, when many hospitals still had very limited or no visitation at all. Relatives were understandably concerned. They’d drop off a patient at the hospi-

tal and have very little idea of what was happening next, as they weren’t permitted entry. They wanted to make sure that the patient was receiving the care they needed and was being tended to. We were involved in a lot of advocacy in this regard, working on behalf of the patients and helping to arrange communication between hospital personal and relatives. Even after the heavy Covid period passed, visitation was still barred or severely limited.

We’ve also been very involved in arranging for people to receive the Covid vaccine, making appointments and connecting people as needed.

What in your mind makes Achiezer so unique?

The people who work here are exceptional. I am amazed by their willingness to help others, whether in life-and-death situations and meis mitzvah cases or just going the extra mile to make things a bit more pleasant for a patient or family, like designing the Shabbos meal packages extra nice. It truly is something very special to witness.

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Hundreds Joined in Solidarity in Cedarhurst Park Last Thursday Against Anti-Semitism PHOTOS BY GABE SOLOMON

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Battle for Victory at Shulamith

By Gabi Moskowitz

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he middle schoolers at Shulamith School for Girls had a fun past couple of weeks!

Grades 6-8 each enjoyed an entire day of good-natured competition in “The Battle of the Classes.” On each grade level, the teams were the different classes, and each class had two team captains. Components of the competition included dance, divrei Torah, vid-

eos, teacher appreciation, banner and hallway decor, dodgeball, a basketball tournament, and even cake wars.

“I was so happy when I was chosen as general, and even though my class didn’t win, I still had fun playing games and doing dances.” said one of the team captains from class 8B. The eighth graders enjoyed their battle first, and, in a very close competition, class 8A was victorious. In the days that followed, the other grades in

the middle school also got to participate in Battle of the Classes.

The next few days were very exciting for the eighth graders. First, they enjoyed a surprise trip – bowling at Woodmere Lanes. A week later, a few of the eighth graders got to perform on Zoom for the JCC Holocaust survivors, for the second time this year.

Since the first performance was so special, a new group of eighth graders were chosen to perform. The girls

read poetry to mark Memorial Day, danced, and sang. This time around, the choir was accompanied by Shulamith music teacher Mrs. Rena Greenberg.

The program could not have been a success without the leadership of our Director of Student Activities, Rachel Steiner, and the Chessed Heads, Raizy Bokow, Goldee Diamond, Basya Herman, and Leora Herrmann.

Thousands Tuned into JCCRP Legislative Breakfast

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his past Sunday, thousands community members tuned in to pay tribute to the JCCRP and the devoted elected officials in our community. The Jewish Community Council of Rockaway Peninsula held its annual Legislative Breakfast virtually, and it was a roaring success. From high-ranking elected officials to local community members and even grateful clients who benefit from the organization’s services day-in and day-out, people from all walks of life joined the virtual event to express their appreciation and gratitude for the all-encompassing nature of the work done at the JCCRP. Rabbi Eytan Feiner, rav of the White Shul, opened up the virtual event and passionately expressed, “Olam chessed y’baneh, the world stands on acts of loving kindness. In our day, that is the JCCRP, only possible with the support of our local elected officials.”

Among the many renowned speakers was Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a crucial position for the relationship between America and Israel. The congressman spoke in his unique fashion about the devastating impact COVID-19 had on our community and the JCCRP’s response to

JCCRP Board Member Richard Altabe

Met Council CEO David Greenfield

the pandemic in helping thousands of families during these very challenging times.

The breakfast was a wonderful opportunity to “meet” our new representative in the NYC Council, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers. Although Councilwoman Brooks-Powers was only elected to the City Council very recently, she has “hit the ground running” in focusing on caring for her constituents. The Councilwoman spoke about the partnership that government and the nonprofit has to help the community as the ideal approach to solving many challenges facing community members.

The Councilwoman stated, “I have

Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers

witnessed firsthand the critical work of the JCCRP, connecting families in need with critical social services as well as quality food to ensure that our families are well-nourished and also all of their needs are met.”

Other prominent speakers included Senator Joe Addabbo, Assemblywoman Stacy Pheffer Amato, UJA Federation of NY’s CEO Eric Goldstein, Met Council’s CEO David Greenfield, Senator Todd Kaminsky, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, NYPD Captain Eric Robinson, Senator James Sanders, JCCRP Board President Mordechai Dicker, and longtime board member Richard Altabe.

JCCRP executive director, Moshe

UJA Federation of NY CEO Eric Goldstein

Brandsdorfer, remarked, “The legislative breakfast was an amazing display of unity and achievement. The recognition given to the JCCRP’s services and accomplishments by our elected officials on a city, state and federal level was outstanding. We are so thankful to our elected officials, organizational leaders and community members for their ongoing support.

“Our door is always open to anyone in the community in need of services or any assistance.”

To find out more about the JCCRP services or to sign up as a volunteer, please email info@jccrp.org or visit www.jccrp.org.

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Around the Community

Rabbi Rodkin’s class at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island building and collapsing the walls of Yericho

Sports at SKA

By Liora Sturm

P

eople from all around the world take pride in coming together to watch and play their favorite sports. The same is true of many students in the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls.

This school year brought about many limitations to the sports program at SKA. Although we were lucky to be back in our regular school building and had the opportunity to have in-person classes, our school sadly had to start off the year without its amazing sports program.

From even before the start of the school year, the administration of SKA understood that they could not run the sports program as it usually had in years pre COVID-19. Many student athletes were heartbroken when the decision to postpone many sports was announced, as many girls were looking forward to partaking in the various sports teams that SKA has to offer. As the year went on, students were only granted the ability to be physically active in their oncea-week gym classes, which consisted of a few non-contact, non-competitive sports.

Recently, due to the fact that many Covid restrictions have been lifted and the increase in vaccinations, SKA was finally able to offer sports to the student body. In the week of April 19, SKA was given the all-clear to allow tryouts to commence! At the sound of this an-

nouncement, there was an instant change in the mood of many of our athletes, and there was a tangible buzz of energy wafting through the halls of the building. Students rushed to sign up for tryouts for many of the athletic teams including: basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, soccer and softball. Although many of the sports teams could not engage in inter-school leagues, the teams were cleared to have weekly practices alongside their coaches, in which the students could maintain and strengthen their skills on the courts and fields. Practices for all of these sports teams would occur for the remainder of the year in preparation for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic school year.

There was one SKA athletic team that was fortunate enough to be a part of a competitive, inter-school league, and that was the softball team. Due to the nature of the game (the fact that it is played outdoors

and does not require direct contact), the players on the softball team had the opportunity of joining with many other Yeshiva League teams from both New York and New Jersey in the Rabbi I Poleyeff Girls Softball League this year. This season has been a great one for the Sonics, as the team just finished off the regular season with a 5-3 record and is now heading to the first round of the playoffs! We are so proud of them and wish them much luck!

Mrs. Helene Myers, SKA’s Athletic Director, who has headed the sports program for over twenty years now, is thrilled to see her sports program kicking off once again. She notes that starting the school year off without sports was not ideal but that she has full faith that next September, we will be able to pick off where we left off pre-COVID! Next year, we hope to be completely back to normal and start the year with tryouts for every winter

and spring sport right off the bat. It was unfortunate that we missed almost an entire year of playing competitive sports, but we are ready to get back in the groove once again next fall.

Thank you to all of our SKA coaches for conducting practices alongside our athletes who are so eager to get back in the game and improve their skills for next year.

Thank you to Mrs. Esther Goldfeder (Softball), Mrs. Pammy Salamon (Junior Varsity and Varsity Volleyball), Mrs. Batsheva Aaron (Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball), Mrs. Susie Lewin (Soccer), Batsheva and Leora Itzkowitz (Hockey) and Mrs. Naomi Kaszovitz (Tennis) for coaching the girls these past eight weeks. We are looking forward to an amazing 2021-2022 school year filled with lots of competitive sports.

As Mrs. Myers put it, “Our athletes need their outlet!” so let’s give it to them. Let the games begin!

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MAY Annual Grand Siyum

M

esivta Ateres Yaakov celebrated its annual Grand Siyum, recognizing 95 talmidim who completed an unprecedented 125 Masechtos of Shas, or Sedarim of Mishnayos, over the course of the past two years.

At the eagerly anticipated event, fathers joined the student mesaymim and their rabbeim in the Mesivta’s Shaulson Gymnasium to celebrate this achievement together.

After a beautiful buffet dinner, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, delivered divrei pesicha, commenting on the tremendous pride the Mesivta has in these talmidim. Rabbi Yaffe focused on the commitment, discipline, and self-control necessary to maintain the consistent schedule required to complete a Masechta.

Congratulating each boy and “his Masechtos” by name, he added that the Torah learned by the yeshiva’s talmidim is Toras emes and Toras chaim… not simply an intellectual pursuit.

Rabbi Yaffe then introduced senior Shlomo Tusk, who completed Masechta Beitzah, to deliver divrei Torah. Shlomo spoke about the commitment of learning and how true limud haTorah is not just learning a Masechta but connecting to the Torah and its guidance. He noted that these Siyum accomplishments involve learning a “way of life” filled with passion and simcha. Shlomo thanked his rabbeim for their guidance and tutelage and for giving him a true perspective of limud haTorah.

The guest speaker for the event was Rabbi Bentzion Bamberger, former Rebbe at MAY, who is currently the Mashgiach of Yeshivas Ohr Re-

uven in Monsey. In his passionate and eloquent manner, Rabbi Bamberger spoke about the constant dedication, commitment and diligence necessary to be complete a Masechta. He effusively complimented the talmidim and praised them for the chashivus haTorah that they exhibited. Led by senior Raphael Rahmanim, the 95 Mesaymim then recited the Hadran together.

S’gan Menahel, Rabbi Yossi Bennett, who or-

ganized the event, commented, “We are so proud of, and inspired by, our talmidim and the sheer amount of learning accomplished these past two years – despite the pandemic challenges. It’s simply incredible, and it’s a testament to their commitment to learning, as well as the commitment of our rabbeim to their talmidim.”

The evening closed with leibadik dancing in joyous celebration of Torah.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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Around the Community

Science Week at YOSS

T

his year, Science Week at the Abraham and Sara Silber YOSS Mechina was a little different. Due to Covid restrictions, the standard style science fair was not an option. However, this presented opportunities for students that didn’t exist in the past. Many students conducted their science experiments at home, which afforded them the chance to experiment with materials

they might not be allowed to bring into school. When conducting their experiments, students would record themselves, make PowerPoint slideshows, and be very creative while they filmed for their classmates in school. Some students would narrate in class as the video was being presented, while other students narrated their experiments on the video itself.

Despite not having a formal sci-

ence fair, there wasn’t any drop off in the quality of the projects. From Elisha Zucker’s (7th grade, 1st place) “Effect of video games on sleep” to Yosef Adler’s (8th grade, 1st place) “Selective fire”, the students in the Mechina demonstrated a passion for science with all of their creative and imaginative ideas.

Science Week culminated with an award ceremony in which students

that came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place received a plaque recognizing this special accomplishment. Special thanks to all the members of the YOSS Mechina Science team – Mr. Roseman, Rabbi Schulman, Mrs. Slansky and Mrs. Fitzpatrick – for overseeing the science projects and for pushing the students to expand their scientific horizons.

SHS Fights Anti-Semitism and Supports Israel

A

n estimated 3,500 people attended the pro-Israel rally in Cedarhurst Park last week.

Several organizations and representatives from local schools rallied to show support during a recent increase in anti-Semitism. Shulamith High School had dozens of students and faculty, clad in blue and white and prepared with signs, there. The Israel Activism Club had supplies for all and

were excited to hear SHS Principal Mrs. Sara Munk, who addressed the large crowd. Mrs. Munk said it best: There is a story told of a man, that he shortly before entering the gas chamber asked the Nazi guard if he would switch places with him.

The Nazi guard scoffed: “Jew, you are about to die, why would I switch places with you?” To which the Jew replied: “Don’t worry, neither would I.”

Friends, I come to you here today not out of fear, but with pride. A pride as a member of Am Yisrael who will always come together in hard times.

What our haters may not realize is that the secret to bringing Jews together is to do exactly what they have been doing over the last few weeks. I stand with pride for Israel, who like all other countries in the world, is not perfect but is still an Ohr La’goyim. I stand with you here, in this peaceful rally, and choose to be here 100 times over rather than part of a violent anti-Semitic rally even for one second. It is not always easy to be Jewish, but I would not trade it for anything in the world.

Hate of the Jewish people is not a new phenomenon. In his dealings with Eisav, Yaakov Avinu has taught us how to deal with our enemies. We must bring gifts: curry favor with those who stand up for us, and find a way to garner more allies. It is not the right time to be passive. Take action: write to your representatives, vote, and if you utilize social media, make your presence felt and fight

back against the social media pogrom that we have been the victims of. And of course, daven. Cry to Hashem: we have had enough! Rescue us from this perpetual galut.

We all know how this story ends: all these anti-Semites, whether they sit in Congress or not, will all be just another chapter in Jewish history— another people who tried in vain to destroy us and yet are barely worth recalling. We will come out of this as we always do.

Am Yisrael, lo lefached, Hashem Elokecha holech itcha.

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Around the Community

Chabad Of the Five Towns Annual Dinner: Strength to Strength

R

abbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik and Rabbi Meir and Hadassah Geisinsky excitedly anticipate welcoming back all of Chabad of the Five Towns’ members as well as many members of the community who enjoy Chabad’s programs, classes, events, and services.

On Tuesday, June 15, Chabad of the Five Towns is holding its annual dinner live once again at the Sephardic Temple, 775 Branch Boulevard in Cedarhurst.

Though Chabad has consistently been there to support the community, even while social distancing and following Covid protocols, coming together as friends will be especially rewarding. Chabad has led the way in terms of religious guidance in a pandemic, answering unprecedented questions in observance, finding unique ways to ensure everyone has their needs met and no one gets lost along the way, while also unfortunately handling the unprecedented numbers of funerals and shivah houses.

Chabad of the Five Towns would like to thank its supporters for helping it all happen. This year’s honorees are: Sharon and Israel Garber Sharon and Israel both grew up in Woodmere. After marrying and settling in Forest Hills, they returned to the Five Towns to raise their children. Sharon and Israel both attended HAFTR elementary and high school. Israel spent his gap year at BMT and graduated from Baruch College. He is currently a Creative Managing Director at Havas Advertising. Sharon attended Machon Gold and graduated from FIT. She is the co-owner of Blue Door Books in Cedarhurst. Sharon and Izzy have been close to Chabad for over 20 years, be it through fundraisers, dinner committee, and a general interest in the wellbeing of the Chabad house. The Garbers have drawn tremendous strength and inspiration from Rabbi Wolowik and Chanie by witnessing their tireless efforts on behalf of the community.

It gives them great pleasure to join this year’s honorees in powering forward Chabad’s legacy of inclusivity, selflessness, and leadership for the good of the community.

Chanie and Alan Greif Chanie is an eighth generation Lubavitcher. She moved to Cedarhurst 25 years ago, just as Chabad 5T was being established. She frequently hosted Rabbi and Chanie Wolowik and Mendel as Shabbat guests prior to them settling into their new neighborhood. Chanie has fond memories of bonding with the Wolowik family. One of the fondest memories Alan and Chanie have is one motzei Shabbat 12 years ago: “Rabbi Wolowik picked us up in his van around midnight and drove us to the Rebbe’s Ohel so we could announce our engagement. A few months later we were zocheh to have Rabbi Wolowik along with Chanie’s father, R’ Leibel Zisman, a”h, as co-mesader kedushin at our wedding.” Chanie attended FIT and got her degree in fashion marketing and owned a children’s wear store in the neighborhood for many years. She is on the National Board of Emunah of America and holds the title of Five Towns chapter president. Alan earned a BA degree from Queens College and received his JD Degree from Hofstra Law School. Currently, Alan works in the hospitality industry as Director of Special Events at Gotham Hall. They are the proud parents of Randi and Daniel Hefter and Rebecca Alenick and grandparents of Remy Hefter.

Rebecca was part of the first graduating class of Gan Chamesh. Their daughters attended Chabad’s bat mitzvah clubs and many of the other wonderful activities that Chabad sponsors. Chanie and Alan are proud to be part of the Chabad family and offer sincere blessing of hakarat hatov to Rabbi and Chani Wolowik and Hadassah and Meir Geisinsky for always being there for them and their family and the entire community.

Benny and Shanna Baron The Barons moved to Woodmere six years ago. They were both immediately drawn to the warm and loving atmosphere of Chabad of the Five Towns. Benny and Shanna, along with their children, Moshe Chaim (14), Yosef (11), DovBer (9), Estee (5), and Menachem Mendel (2), are proud members of Chabad of the Five Towns. Benny grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, where his parents were pillars of the community

helping to build many institutions, most notably the Cheder Lubavitch of Morristown. He is a full-time occupational therapist. Shanna grew up in North Woodmere where her parents were involved members of the Young Israel of North Woodmere and pioneers in the construction of the shul as it stands today. Shanna is a full-time nurse practitioner specializing in pediatric neurosurgery.

“We are continuously inspired by the endless devotion of Rabbi Zalman and Rebbetzin Chanie Wolowik and Rabbi Meir and Rebbetzin Hadassah Geisinsky. Their drive to carry out the mission of the Lubavitch Rebbe, zt”l, is consistently evident. The Five Towns benefits tremendously from all the community programs and outreach and it is an honor for us to have the opportunity in helping make this year’s dinner a success!”

Doni and Rochel Leah Blumenthal: Gan Chamesh Parents of the Year Doni Blumenthal is a creative thinker and a problem solver. He has a wonderful way with people and has a high degree of integrity. He and his family daven at Rabbi Speigel’s Shteeble, where middos are a top priority. He attended the Yeshiva of South Shore, then learned at Mercaz Hatorah in Israel, and Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv in Lawrence. He earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is the founder and CEO Copper Beech Capital. The firm focuses on Debt and Equity Finance for Commercial Real Estate properties, nationwide. He has shared his expertise with family, friends, and clients for many years. Rochel Leah went to Torah Academy for Girls. She and her family davened at the Young Israel of Far Rockaway. She began her early childhood teaching career at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. After years in the classroom, she decided to apply her training to raising her children. She shares her amazing gift in cuisine as well as her flair for design, with family and friends, along with her unparalleled kindness. Doni and Rochel Leah are incredibly devoted parents to their boys, Yaakov, Moshe, Benny and Aaron, who have attended Gan Chamesh and Yeshivah Ketana. Their connection to Chabad grew with their children attending

the warm and caring atmosphere in the rooms of many colors. The morahs are innovative and brought out the best in each child. Doni and Rochel Leah are also active in chessed.

Doni rides in Bike4Chai, with the 5T Riders, for the past eight years. They are also active members and Young Leaders, with the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF). Rochel Leah is constantly doing various chessed projects in the Five Towns, and is appreciated by so many.

In addition, this year, Chabad honors Friendship Circle Presidents who have bettered the lives of those with special needs and their families: Abby Ackerman, Gabriella Grossman, Sophia Hoenig, Elisheva Jaffa, Bracha Kaufman, Julia Klayman, Atara Kleiman, Sophia Koffsky, Noam Maman, Gabrielle Nakkab, Chaya Leah Peltz, Chani Rabinow, Esther Bracha Rumstein, Lily Sassoon, Sophia Thall, Chaya Warren, Shmuel Jacobs, Bentzy Pifko, Dov Rosen, Harrison Schwartz, Zachary Srulovich, Isaac Thurm, and Moishy Zern. Chabad also honors its CTeen leaders who enhance our Jewish youth through engaging programming: Ellie Cohen, Kate Epstein, Aryn Feldman, Noah Kesler, Melanie Poley, Alice Shvartsberg, Orel Stein, Brian Topcu – Alterescu, and Zach Tucker.

Each year, the community looks forward to the dinner, both as a way to support Chabad, and for its elegant and festive ambiance. For that, gratitude is due to Dinner chairmen Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Yitzchak and Penina Batsheva Popack and Mr. and Mrs. Gidon and Alla Shema.

Raffles are being held with many exciting prizes including a week at a Villatell in Orlando* valued at $10,000 and tickets for 6 to Orlando valued at $1,800 sponsored by Jeff and Shira Eisenberg and flywithclass.com, a year of Shabbos bouquets from Jerusalem Florist, a megillah from Machon Stam, a $1,000 Visa gift card donated by Dr. and Mrs. Rubin and Mandy Brecher, a $1,000 Gourmet Glatt shopping spree, and an HP Probook donated

by Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy and Elizabeth Kahn. To reserve or purchase an ad or raffle tickets, visit FiveTownsGala.com.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

67

Around the Community

The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Memorial Day Parade The parade was held on Sunday and commenced on Central Avenue, with a ceremony at Andrew J. Parise Park

PHOTOS BY MARTY KAMORNIK

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Around the Community

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

Around the Community

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JUNE 3, 2021 The Jewish HomeHome OCTOBER 29,|2015 | The Jewish

1.

TJH

*

With a Starting Roster Like That…

Centerfold You Gotta be Kidding Me!

Which one of the following people was not on the Knicks roster when they became an NBA team in 1946?

days on their boat. Yankel did most of the driving

E Leo “Ace” Gottlieb

an emergency. One day out on the lake he said

E Sidney “Sonny” Hertzberg E Oscar “Ossie” Schechtman

Yankel and Sara loved spending the beautiful

but got concerned about what might happen in

to Sara, “Take the wheel, dear. Pretend that I have a migraine headache. You have to get the boat safely to shore and dock it.”

E Ralph Kaplowitz

Sara took the wheel, drove the boat

E Nat Militzok

to shore, and safely docked it.

E Ralph Kaplowitz E Hank Rosenstein E Walt Frazier

Later that evening, Sara walked into the living room where Yankel was lounging on the couch. She sat down next to him and said to him, “Please go into the kitchen, dear. Pretend I’m having a migraine headache and set the table, cook dinner, and wash the dishes.”

Answer: Walt Frazier. Four of the starting five players were Jewish and there were two additional Jews coming off of the bench. (Amar’e Stoudemire may be onto something here!)

Riddle me This?

Deeny’s address has three digits. When she challenged her friends to guess it, they guessed: 135, 780, 785, and 732.

Deeny said, “You’ve each guessed exactly one digit correctly and in its right place!”

What is Deeny’s address?

Answer on next page

The Jewish | JUNE29, 3, 2021 The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER 2015

Knicks Playoff Trivia 1. In honor of the Knicks’ shortlived “playoffs run” a. Patrick Ewing missed a finger roll in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden that eliminated the Knicks in the 1995-1996 season. Who beat them? b. Pistons c. Heat d. Pacers e. Bulls 2. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and the Pacers in 1995, how many points did Reggie Miller score in 8.9 seconds? a. 5 b. 7 c. 8 d. 9

3. How many 3-pointers did John Starks miss in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals? a. 6 b. 7 c. 11 d. 13

5. In which years did the Knicks win the NBA Championship? a. 1970, 1973 b. 1973, 1978 c. 1970, 1978, 1984 d. 1976, 1979, 1985

4. Which Knicks player missed four straight layup attempts in the final seconds of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Bulls, giving the Bulls a 3-2 lead in the series, after the Knicks has originally been up 2-0? a. Charles Oakley b. Anthony Mason c. Greg Anthony d. Charles Smith

Answers: 1. A 2. C- With 18.7 seconds remaining and the Pacers trailing 105–99, Miller took the inbounds pass from Mark Jackson, made a 3-pointer, stole the inbounds pass from Anthony Mason, dribbled back behind the arc and tied the game with another 3, stunning the crowd at Madison Square Garden. On the ensuing possession, Knicks guard John Starks was fouled

by Sam Mitchell. Starks missed both free throws, and although Patrick Ewing managed to get the offensive rebound, his shot was just a bit long and hit the back rim. Miller got the rebound and was fouled with 7.5 seconds left. He made both free throws.

3. C- Starks, who scored 27 points in Game 6, shot 2-for-

4.

5.

6.

7.

6. Which New York Knicks player won the NBA Finals MVP award in 1970 and 1973, then went on to coach the team in 1977-78? a. Phil Jackson b. Willis Reed c. Earl Monroe d. Bill Bradley 7. Who did the Knicks lose to in the 1999 NBA Finals? a. Spurs b. Jazz c. Lakers d. Suns

18 from the field, including 0-for-11 from three-point range in Game 7. Knicks coach Pat Riley famously said after the loss: “You go with your players; you go up with them, and you go down with them.”

D A B A

Scorecard 6-7 correct: You are like John Starks in Game 6 of the 1994 Finals!

4-5 correct: You are not a bad sixth man.

0-3 correct: You are like John Starks in Game 7 of the 1994 Finals!

71 31

Answer to Riddle: 182. The first digit must be 1 or 7. It can’t be 7 as only one digit is correct in each guess. So it’s 1.

The other digits in guess #1 (i.e., 3 and 5) must be incorrect. Therefore, from guess #3, the second digit is 8. Guess #4 has a correct digit which must be its third – the 2.

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

3

Torah Thought

Parshas Shlach

By Rabbi Berel Wein

T

he Land of Israel has always posed a problem for the Jewish people. On one hand, it is and always has been our national homeland, the land promised to us by the L-rd from the days of our forefathers. It is the Holy Land, the most special place on Earth. On the other hand, the record of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, and their behavior and attitudes, has often been a spotty one.

The Law makes demands upon those who live here. It has, to speak,

a very delicate digestive system, and the land rejects, after a period, behavior that is detrimental to creating a viable and moral society. Yet, the attachment of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is so strong that it has been able to survive centuries of separation, conquest, and exile.

Whatever period of history you choose, Jews always Lived in the land of Israel, and some Jews lived there even vicariously. The Jews never forgot that they were strangers in alien countries, and if some of them did

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forget, the societies that they lived in eventually reminded them that they were, after all, only strangers and outsiders. All this serves as a backdrop to the spies who appear in this week’s Torah reading.

Over the centuries, there are many reasons given by the commentators as to why the spies returned with such a negative report, with twisted positive facts into potential calamities and disasters. But one of the main and cogent reasons for this behavior was the ambivalent fear that has always existed within Jew-

am addressing an attitude that exists in almost all sections of the Jewish world outside of the Land of Israel.

That attitude is the commitment involved in living in the Land of Israel, a justified concern regarding the spiritual and social commitment necessary to successfully live as a Jew in the Land of Israel.

It is this challenge, more than anything else, that shook the spies and turned them into slanderers There are many of these same personalities, unfortunately, that still exists today in the Jewish world.

The attachment of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is so strong that it has been able to survive centuries of separation, conquest, and exile.

Disability Insurance Self Employed Health Insurance Long Term Care Insurance Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC Licensed Independent Broker for all types of Insurance Call: 917-543-0497 - Leave a message Mail: Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC P.O. Box # 7655 600 Franklin Ave. Ga Garden City, NY 11530

ish society, i.e., to commit to national existence in the Land of Israel, independent of the blandishments, and seeming advantages of physical life under different circumstances.

The fear and trepidation exhibited by the spies, when Moshe confidently said to bring back a report about the Land of Israel, did not die with that generation of doubters in the desert. I am not speaking here of immigration to the Land of Israel today, or entering the process of Aliyah. Rather, I

There are Jewish organizations as well as individuals who are in the forefront of anti-Israel movements and programs, not politically driven, but rather an expression of the ambivalence that prevails within the souls besetting Jews in our time.

The results of the behavior of the spies should be a sobering reminder regarding the dangers of slandering the Land of Israel and the Jewish population.

Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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From the Fire Parshas Shlach

The Joy of Torah and Eretz Yisroel

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

his is the parsha of Eretz Yisroel. The commentators explain a variety of reasons why Moshe consented to send the spies to Eretz Yisroel. There was no doubt that Hashem would fulfill his promise to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov to give their descendants the land. In addition, there was no doubt that the land was good, a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Shmos 3:8). So why did Moshe agree to send the spies?

The Ramban (on Bamidbar 13:2) explains Moshe’s consent in a beautiful way that also enlightens us to a new perspective of the uniqueness of the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel: “Because Moshe knew that [the land] was rich and good…he told them to pay attention so that they would know this, in order that they tell the nation [so that the nation would] rejoice and be reenergized to ascend [to Eretz

Yisroel] with joy.”

This is somewhat difficult to understand. We know that there is a general principle that one should perform all mitzvos with joy, as the pasuk (Tehillim 100:2) says, “Serve Hashem with joy…” But this refers to a general state of spiritual happiness that one is fulfilling Hashem’s command. This is a value common to all mitzvos that should accompany the performance of any mitzvah. But with regard to particular mitzvos, their purpose is not to give us physical enjoyment, as the Gemara (see, e.g., Eruvin 31a) says, “Mitzvos were not given for physical enjoyment.”

Physical enjoyment from mitzvos would make them “not for the sake of Heaven.”

In contrast, with respect to the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel, the Ramban teaches us that that Moshe

specifically wanted the Jewish people to know that the land was “rich and good” so that they would rejoice and feel great happiness while living in Eretz Yisroel. It seems that Moshe did not only want them to feel a spiritual enjoyment in knowing that they were fulfilling one of Hashem’s mitzvos.

He wanted them to feel a geshmak, a sense of pleasure, from living in the Land of Israel.

This is why Hashem told us that Eretz Yisroel is “a good and expansive land…a land flowing with milk and honey” (Shmos 3:8). It is why Moshe told the spies (Bamidbar 13:20), “Strengthen yourselves and take from the fruit of the land.” He wanted them to see the geshmak of living in Eretz Yisroel. This is why, when Hashem first spoke to Avraham to command him to go to the Land of Israel, He told him (Rashi on Bere-

ishis 12:1), “Go for your good and for your pleasure.”

The unique nature of the mitzvah to enjoy living in Eretz Yisroel is also reflected in the Rambam’s statement (Hilchos Melachim 5:10) that, “The greatest scholars would kiss the borders of Eretz Yisroel, kiss its stones, and roll around in its dirt…” Living in Eretz Yisroel must be incredibly enjoyable! After returning from his visit to Eretz Yisroel, Rebbe Nachman once commented that the land was very beautiful. The listeners assumed he meant that in a spiritual or kabbalistic sense, but he clarified that he was talking about “the streets and the houses.” The fulfillment of the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel must be enjoyable, beautiful, and geshmak!

The Pleasure of Learning Torah There is another mitzvah that is also an exception to the general prin-

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ciple that “mitzvos were not given for physical enjoyment,” and that is the mitzvah to study Torah. In this regard, the Taz writes (Yoreh Deah 221:43) that if, for example, Reuven vows that Shimon may not derive any benefit from him [Reuven], then Shimon may not study Torah from Reuven’s sefer. He explains that this is because “the Torah certainly gladdens the heart… Therefore, this mitzvah [to study Torah] is not comparable to other mitzvos with regard to which we say that they are not given for physical enjoyment. In contrast, this [mitzvah to study Torah] brings a person enjoyment.” Because it offers tangible enjoyment, Shimon may not study from Reuven’s sefer.

In order to counteract the erroneous notion maintained by some that Torah study is only for the sake of Heaven if one does not enjoy it, the Avnei Nezer writes in the introduction to his sefer Eglei Tal that the primary fulfillment of the mitzvah to study Torah is to enjoy one’s learning and that this is the only way that the words of Torah will “become absorbed into the blood… This is what it means to study Torah for the sake of Heaven. It is entirely holy because even the enjoyment itself is a mitzvah.” According to the Avnei Nezer, enjoying one’s learning is the primary way one must fulfill the mitzvah of studying Torah!

These two mitzvos involve the two main categories of enjoyment.

The mitzvah to study Torah involves a positive emotional and intellectual enjoyment, and the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel includes a component of physical enjoyment.

The common denominator in these two mitzvos is that neither are circumscribed activities done for the sake of the performance of an obligatory act. Both are much more. They are life itself. With respect to Torah, we say (Maariv), “For they [the words of Torah] are our life and the length of our days.” Without Torah, we are like fish on dry land. The Torah is the wedding ring, the bond connecting the Jewish people and G-d. Can one imagine if a chosson told his kallah under the chuppah, “Just so you know, even though I’m marrying you, it’s nothing personal. I’m doing this because it’s a mitzvah. Sure, I’ll

be happy, just like there is a mitzvah to do any of Hashem’s mitzvos with joy. But it has nothing to do with you.

I do not enjoy you personally in any way.” What kind of marriage would that be!? Hashem expects us to enjoy Torah, to have a geshmak in our

ed by the desirable land.” With all of their justifications, the spies concluded (Bamidbar 13:31), “We cannot ascend.” Calev, on the other hand, cried out (ibid. at 30), “We can surely ascend and take possession of it; we can surely succeed in doing it!” What

The Land of Israel is intertwined with the essence of our lives as Jews.

learning. That is the essence of our relationship with G-d.

And it is the same with the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel. Living there is not simply the ability to have a land of our own, a refuge from persecution, or even a place to unify us as a nation. The Land of Israel is intertwined with the essence of our lives as Jews. As the pasuk (Tehillim 116:9) says, “I will walk before Hashem in the land of life.” The life of the Jewish people and Eretz Yisroel are inseparable. They are one life. One essence.

And the connection between them and the reality that both are the essence of our lives is reflected in the pasuk (Devarim 32:47), “For it [the study of Torah] is your life and through it you will lengthen your days upon the land which you are crossing over the Jordan to possess it.”

This is what Rav Kook describes at the beginning of Oros Me’ofel, as translated by Bezalel Naor, “The Land of Israel is not something external, not an external national asset, a means to the end of collective solidarity and the strengthening of the nation’s existence, physical or even spiritual. The Land of Israel is an essential unit bound by the bondof-life to the People, united by inner characteristics to its existence.”

Eretz Yisroel is part of our lives, physical and spiritual, with all that this entails. It is not a detail of our national reality, but rather it is an inherent part of the richness of our spiritual and physical life.

With this in mind, we can now understand the root of the sin of the spies. As Dovid Hamelech said (Tehillim 106:24), “And they were disgust-

was the difference between them?

The spies put on their white fabric gloves, so to speak, inspected the land, found a speck of dust, turned up their noses and said, “You call this a good land? Is this a beautiful kallah?”

In contrast, Yehoshua and Calev said (ibid. at 14:7), “The land is exceedingly good! She is a beautiful and kind kallah!” (cf. Kesubos 17a).

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Rav Kook, zy”a, in his essay, “The Great Call to Eretz Yisroel,” writes, “[We must] destroy, with the powerful arm of the spirit and with the spiritual holiness of the desirable land, the filth of the spies…” Rav Kook calls upon us “to awaken the ancient love for Zion, to take hold of it, and to settle it with the ropes of man and cords of love.”

May Hashem allow us to learn the Torah and make our lives in Eretz Yisroel with joy, peace, and happiness.

And may Hashem fulfill our request in the blessing of the haftara, “Have mercy on Zion because it is the house of our life. And save those who are sad of spirit and cause them to rejoice soon in our days. Blessed are You Hashem, Who causes Zion to rejoice in those who build it!”

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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Delving into the Daf

Back to Respect

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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wenty-five years ago, there was an established shul that let it be known that they were looking for a new rav. There were many candidates for the one position. According to a source, the eventual winner distinguished himself by starting his Shabbos day sermon with the following anecdote: A congregation organized a trip to Israel. They all booked tickets on the same flight. Unfortunately, their plane was hijacked. The hijackers chose two people at random to be the first victims. The two chosen were the rabbi and a congregant.

The hijacker asked the rabbi for his last request. “Please let me address my congregation for the final time,” the rabbi said. The hijacker turned to the congregant and asked, “And what is your last request?” The congregant replied, “Kill me first.”

Apparently, back in the pre-9/11 days, that joke resonated so well with the crowd that the speaker was chosen as the new rabbi. Along those lines, I once heard the following quip: The last thing that a rabbi wants to do is speak and the last thing a congregation wants is to hear their rabbi speak, yet for some reason they both go through the motions.

If the rabbi does not really want to speak and is just speaking solely to earn a paycheck, perhaps, in certain circumstances, he is not even allowed to speak.

The Mishnah in Yoma (52b) describes the path that the Kohen Gadol used to enter the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. When he emerged from the second curtain that actually opened up to the Kodesh HaKedoshim, he walked facing the south toward the Aron Kodesh (or its designated place). After he performed the Avodah, he walked

backwards out of the Kodesh HaKedoshim with his face still facing the south. The Kohen Gadol was not supposed to turn his back on the Aron. The Gemara says the source for this conduct is derived from the departure of Shlomo HaMelech from the Mishkan in Givon. He did not simply turn his back on the Mishkan; rather, he distanced himself somewhat while walking backwards and only afterwards turned himself around.

The Rambam (Sefer Torah 10:10) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 282:1) rules that this halacha applies to a sefer Torah as well. One should not turn his back on a sefer Torah. The

niency is the same. The Torah scrolls are generally kept over ten tefachim from the ground. This sign of great respect for the Torah is not negated by having a rav facing away from it. Similarly, there is a widespread custom for the congregation to turn towards the back of the shul during the recitation of the last stanza of Lecha Dodi on Friday night. Since they stand that way very briefly, and the Sifrei Torah are in an honored location, this is permitted.

However, the Shaarei Efraim (Pischei Shearim 3:6) cautions one not to view this leniency as a carte blanche. He writes (translated loosely): “It is permitted to deliv-

If a bar mitzvah bachur was looking for an excuse for not delivering his pshetl in shul, he may argue that he does not want to turn his back on the Aron Kodesh.

Rambam was asked if it was permitted for kohanim to bless the congregation with their backs to the Aron Kodesh. He permitted it even if the Aron Kodesh was open. This was due to the fact that the sifrei Torah were raised more than 10 tefachim from the ground. That itself is a sign of respect and dignity. It is a widespread minhag that kohanim recite Birkas Kohanim with their backs to the Aron Kodesh. The Taz likewise permits rabbanim to deliver their sermons with their backs to the Aron Kodesh. The basis for the le-

er a drasha with one’s back to the Aron, as was explained, and so is the custom of many Gedolim, and the custom of the Jewish nation is considered Torah. Nevertheless… someone whose intention is only for self-glorification, to display his keen intellect and vast erudition, or whose intention is solely to receive compensation for his lectures, there is no doubt that he will surely be punished for behaving light-headedly toward something holy. Anyone who guards his soul will distance himself from such conduct.”

Thankfully, our rabbanim have the proper intentions in their drashos to increase mitzvah observance and to impart Hashem’s holy words to those assembled. Therefore, they may speak with their backs to the Aron Kodesh. If a bar mitzvah bachur was looking for an excuse for not delivering his pshetl in shul, he may argue that he does not want to turn his back on the Aron Kodesh.

The bar mitzvah boy can say that his intentions are not to increase Kavod Shamayim and, therefore, according to the Shaarei Efraim, he should not turn his back on the Aron Kodesh.

The Chelkas Yaakov does entertain this argument as perhaps being reasonable. Nevertheless, he concludes that we hope that the experience of giving the drashah will be seared in the young boy’s memory and encourage him to follow the proper path in life. This is so important that the bar mitzvah boy may deliver the drashah with his back to the Aron.

The boy will instead have to feign sickness if he wants to get out of delivering his pshetl.

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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The Wandering

Jew

Malta Where, What, When, & Why

By Hershel Lieber

A view of the walled city of Medina

What’s Malta?

Malta is one of the smallest and most densely populated nations of the world.

Where’s Malta?

Malta is situated in the Mediterranean Sea below Italy and above Libya and Tunisia and is part of Europe.

When Malta?

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur of 2018.

Why Malta?

Because we were never there before. *** altese history is so colorful and complex as is its multiethnic population. Malta was ruled by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, French and British. Though the Muslim religion was predominant under the Arab rule, Christianity became entrenched with the Norman invasion in 1091. Later, in 1565, the famous knights of Malta

M

repelled the Siege of Malta by the Ottomans.

Even the Maltese language is a hybrid of Sicilian and Arabic. Still, everyone speaks English and most know Italian as well.

Malta was a major Allied base during World War II in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Finally, in 1964, it won its independence from the United Kingdom, and in 1974 became a republic.

Jewish history is also part of the island’s fabric of multi-ethnicity.

There were Jews present under most foreign nations that ruled this strategically important bastion of the Sea. There were Jews who arrived there as slaves of their captors. They are even catacombs with Jewish symbols dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods. During the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and Sicily, the Jewish presence in Malta came to an end. Only under French and British rule in the early 1800s did Jews from

England, Turkey, Portugal, Gibraltar and neighboring North Africa return in small numbers. Presently, there are somewhere under two hundred Jews living in Malta, most of them in or near the capital, Valletta.

We arrived from Poland, on the main island, called Malta, on Wednesday, Tzom Gedalya. We settled into the Le Meridien Hotel, facing the beautiful sky-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. As with many of our trips, we inquired about the status of Jewish life in general and about Chabad activities and amenities in particular, before leaving for Malta. What a blessing for our comfort was the presence of the Chabad-owned L’Chaim restaurant, which was open for dinner every night and had the option of reservations for Shabbos meals. I had previously spoken to the Chabad shliach Rabbi Chaim Segal, who was very welcoming and helpful in catering to our needs.

The night we arrived, both Rabbi Se-

gal and his rebbetzin were not at the restaurant, which was a ten-minute walk from our hotel. We were really hungry when we arrived, as we had not eaten all day due to Tzom Gedalya.

We ordered a hot soup and a Middle Eastern-style main dish and topped it off with a cold glass of beer. Truly a mechaye after a full day of traveling and fasting. We then trekked back to our hotel and conked out as soon as our heads touched our pillows.

The next morning after Selichos and Shacharis, we had breakfast on our veranda facing the Sea. Our plans were to walk around the historic center of Valletta and take in the sights.

The most convenient way of traveling was by city bus, whose bus stop was a mere block away from our hotel. The streets and the bus were very congested as can be expected in a nation with over a half million people within a 122-square-mile area. All structures in the city are apartment buildings or high-rises, since the only way one

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021 The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

A view of the harbor of Valletta

At the entrance to the city of Medina

the center of Maltese nobility and religious authority. Since it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is on the top of the list of tourist attractions in Malta. The whole city can be viewed only by pedestrians, as no ve-

With Chabad Rabbi Chaim Segal

can expand living space is by building upwards.

The bus wound around the contours of the coast and maneuvered within the narrow streets until we reach a large plaza which was the entrance to the walled city of Valletta.

We spent over three hours walking the streets, climbing the hills, and nonstop photo snapping. We sat down only momentarily for a cold drink, and then continued on, absorbing the views of historic edifices and magnificent vistas of the harbor. Before heading back, we went to see a fifty-minute film about the Siege of Malta, which brought the island’s history to life.

Back in our room, we ate the chicken and salad lunch which we bought the evening before at the restaurant.

Then we relaxed on the veranda, learning Daf Hayomi and reading.

Late evening, we headed back to L’Chaim for a falafel dinner. We returned by walking along the embankment of the harbor and stopped to say Tashlich, well aware that the time of the year was during the awesome Aseres Yemei Teshuva.

On Friday, we took a taxi to the fortified city of Medina and its contiguous town of Rabat. The city was once the capital of Malta and remains

The streets of Valletta

very nice with everyone introducing themselves, and many guests contributing a dvar Torah or a niggun to enhance the atmosphere. We developed friendships with a few Israelis who were also visiting the island. It was af-

Later, we were taken by a fisherman to see the stunning caves and rock formations surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon.

hicles are allowed in. Besides walking around and taking photos, we took a great informative tour of the palace called Palazzo Falson. The medieval architecture of the city’s buildings predates the Baroque additions of the 18th century. On the way into adjacent Rabat, we toured the first century Roman remains of the Domus Romana and continued on to the century’s old catacombs in the cemetery of Rabat.

This day was truly a step into a distant past.

We rushed back to our hotel in the late afternoon to get ready for Shabbos. Then we walked over to L’Chaim, where Chabad conducted the Friday night davening and the Shabbos seudos. We finally met Rav Chaim Segal and his rebbetzin. We started davening with seven men but by the time we reached Maariv, we had our minyan.

Three American teenagers who were in Uman for Rosh Hashana joined us. The boys had chassidishe backgrounds but seemed quite removed from their origins. The seudah was

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ter midnight when we finally returned to our room.

I had made up with the three boys, two Israelis, and Rav Chaim to meet me by my hotel, so we would walk together to the shul. The shul was in an apartment building about a forty-minute walk away. Without

The palace entrance in Medina

the rav, it would have been difficult to find the place. We waited awhile, but the three teenagers did not show up! The walk was not easy, as most of it was uphill and many of the blocks were very steep. When we arrived in shul, we were joined by some locals who, together with us, added up to eleven people. The problem was that three of the locals were not Jewish.

And so, we davened without a minyan, and though we leined the Torah, there were no aliyos given.

The walk back was, baruch Hashem, downhill, but the sun was beating down stronger than in the morning.

We went straight to the restaurant where Pesi was waiting for me. Not surprisingly, the three boys did show up to the seudah. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the atmosphere was festive. We davened Mincha immediately after eating, and after taking a long nap, returned after Shabbos for Havdalah.

Sunday was our last full day in Malta. We planned to travel to the

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The caves of Comino

Rock formations in Gozo

other two islands that make up this nation, Gozo and Comino. We booked a cruise on a boat that would take us to the other islands.

The trip itself was spectacular! The ocean was sparkling from the sun, and the waters were bursting with energy.

In Gozo, we boarded a bus that took us to its main city, Victoria, which we toured with a guide and then on our own. Later, we were taken by a fisherman to see the stunning caves and

rock formations surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon.

Our last stop was the Caves of Camino situated in the ocean surrounding the island.

This was truly a full day as we left at 10 AM and did not return until 6 PM. Besides treating our eyes to a feast of beauty, the day was extremely calming and relaxing.

We ate dinner again at L’Chaim and bid farewell to our host Rav

Chaim Segal. I also gave him a nice donation for the mikva that he was constructing. Our journey was successful, but we had to immediately

change our mindsets to the upcoming Yom Hadin, as we were heading back to Poland for Yom Kippur.

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

Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

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World

41

Builders

Miracles Do Happen

By Raphael Poch

O

n Thursday evening, May 13, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Avi Nafoussi was visiting a family member in the town of Neve Michael for dinner. At around 8:00 p.m., United Hatzalah’s Dispatch and Command Center alerted Avi to an emergency occurring nearby. The emergency was labeled as an asthma attack, and Avi knew how crucial his presence would be because of experience he had with a family member suffering from asthma.

Avi quickly rushed over to the given address and arrived in under a minute – first at the scene. Avi found a 15-year-old boy lying unconscious on the floor. During a quick vital check, he found that the teenage boy had lost his pulse. Avi launched into full-blown CPR as additional EMTs began arriving at the scene.

After several rounds of chest compressions and assisted ventilation, the 15-year-old boy’s pulse returned and was lost a total of three times before

Dovid, Yonatan, and Avi at the hospital

the ambulance arrived at the scene.

Avi was later told that the ambulance team had fought for the boy’s pulse the whole way to the nearest hospital in Jerusalem. The CPR continued all the way into the ICU where the boy was attached to a ventilator in critical condition.

On Monday evening, just as the

we are doing and rush out to save a life, even if it means getting out of bed in the middle of the night, or leaving the Shabbat table to go save a life.”

During their visit, Avi and David explained to Yonatan how they fought in an attempt to save his life. Yonatan told Avi and David how he was out riding his bike when he felt faint and

The 15-year-old boy’s pulse returned and was lost a total of three times before the ambulance arrived at the scene.

Shavout holiday had ended, Avi was notified that a miracle had occurred and that Yonatan had woken up. Last week, on Monday afternoon, together with Bet Shemesh chapter head of United Hatzalah David Leff, Avi went to the hospital to visit Yonatan.

“We came to encourage Yonatan, and we ourselves were encouraged by him,” commented David Leff. “Seeing Yonatan standing on his own two feet, and speaking to us, was an incredible and uplifting experience. It was one of the moments that gives us as volunteers the strength to drop whatever

couldn’t breathe until he completely lost consciousness and collapsed.

Yonatan thanked the EMTs profusely for saving his life.

“Visiting Yonatan in the hospital was an important moment for me, as an EMT,” added Avi. “Sometimes, responding to emergencies as an EMT is not always easy, both physically and mentally. However, the small moments, like going to see Yonatan in the hospital, are what keep me going and remind me of the miracles I can participate in, all because I am an EMT, and I don’t give up.”

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A Humble Hero Captain Harold Musikoff Speaks About His Experience Bombing Nazi Germany

BY SUSAN SCHWAMM

Captain Musikoff, thank you for sharing your experience with us. Can you give us a little background on your life before the war?

I was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1924. I will be 97 in July.

I was probably around three years old when my parents moved to Brooklyn, NY. I think my father’s brother had a job for him, and that’s why we moved. I still had relatives in Ohio, though, and I went back a number of times. I lived in a kosher home when I was growing up. My mother was kosher. Unfortunately, she passed away when I was about 14.

I was just about ready to start high school when she died. My mother’s sister lived across the street from us in Brooklyn. I spent most of my time at my aunt to begin with because she had children and it was a more lively house. With my father working long hours, I went to live there after my mother died.

I graduated high school when I was 18. When a young man was 18 at the time – in 1942 – he had to regis-

ter for the draft. I didn’t register for the draft because I enlisted in a program that was part of the Army Air Corps. The Air Force wasn’t in existence until after World War II, and so the Air Corps was a branch of the army. In that Air Corps, there was a program called The Aviation Cadet Program. I enlisted in that.

What made you decide to enlist in the Air Corps?

My cousin had gone through that program before. He was four years older than me. When he went through, you had to have two years of college before you went. But of course, when the war was on, they needed people, and so they accepted high school graduates.

The Aviation Cadet Program was, I’d say, about 16 months. The first eight months was just classes. Initially, you went into what they call basic training. Everybody that goes into the military has to go through basic training. That was about four weeks. That’s to introduce somebody to the military, and everybody gets a uniform so everybody looks

the same. You get a lot of vaccines, too. You get what you are supposed to have in the United States. And of course, at that time, they didn’t know if you were going to go to Europe or the Pacific, so you got shots for both.

You got all those shots in one day.

Some boys fainted, but they expected that. I guess there are people who can’t stand needles.

You also have to have on your record that you shoot guns. There were two kinds of rifles. There was a handheld machine gun on a tripod and a pistol. And you have to throw a hand grenade. And so we did all that.

What were your feelings when you were trying out that gun that first time?

Yeah, well, I had never [held one before]. One of the things that was interesting is, I couldn’t hit anything with a gun. Luckily, I was not in a part of the army where I had to use a gun.

You’re not a sharpshooter.

Yes. After that, I went to Syracuse University for about four months tak-

ing classes, many that pertained to flying, like topography, map reading, celestial navigation, meteorology, communications, and other things.

In addition, we learned about why we were in the war to begin with, the history of Germany going back and Japan going back and the history of many other countries.

And of course, you had to exercise every morning, and every Sunday was a parade. You had to learn to march in unison, and you learned military protocol, like saluting officers.

After that, I went to a base in Nashville, Tennessee, that was a classification center. You went through a battery of written tests, physical tests, and dexterity tests to determine if you were going to be on the program for a pilot or a bombardier or a navigator.

One of the most stringent part of the physical tests is for your eyes. For a pilot, they’re not only concerned with 20/20 vision, but also about your peripheral vision and depth perception. They’re very strict. And all through training, they would al-

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ways test my eyes again, wherever I was.

How many people were in the program with you?

I was in a class called 44G. There were probably over 100 cadets in the class.

The testing that they did didn’t take very long. I could have done everything in a couple of days, but it was very crowded with cadets going through.

I once was assigned for KP, Kitchen Police. It was unusual because we generally didn’t get it. And of course, as an officer, you don’t ever get that kind of stuff. So I went to the sergeant – I was a cadet then – and he put me on a machine that peeled potatoes. You put the potato in, and it had a disk that was wavy and it had sandpaper on it, and it actually ripped the skin off the potatoes, as water was flushing on it at the same time. So I put in maybe half a bag of potatoes. They were a 100-pound bag of potatoes. After I put the potatoes in, my friend, another cadet, came over. He was assigned pots and pans. That was the worst.

We got to talking and I forgot about the potatoes. And all of a sudden, I shut the machine off, and I looked at the inside. The potatoes were like mothballs, they were so small. I immediately got rid of them and put other potatoes back in because I was afraid the sergeant wouldn’t be too happy with me.

After Nashville, I went to a place,

Montgomery, Alabama. More classes, aircraft identification, codes, the Morse code.

Then there was a place called Maxwell Field. They patterned that after West Point. When you came in, you were a lowerclassman, and after a month, you became an upperclassman. And again, there was a lot of marching and a lot of classes.

And then, finally, after that, I went to a base in Americus, Georgia, and that was where I had the first plane, a primary trainer, a simple plane, that I had to fly. It was a double-wing like the World War II planes

to Greenwood, Mississippi, for a basic trainer. The plane was a little more complex, with more instruments, a bigger engine, and again, we had the same type of routine.

You start out with an instructor. He teaches you how to do things with this plane. And again, after I don’t recall how many hours – it wasn’t that much – I soloed again. And then you continue. And every so often, there’s a different instructor that gives you a test while he’s up there, and you go through the whole routine of all the things that they want you to do.

“You don’t consider that anything’s going to happen. Nothing happens to 20-year-olds.” and an open cockpit, one for the cadet and one for the instructor. The instructor taught you things. One of the first things, you learn is how to land the plane because once you’re up in the air and something happens, you can’t pull over and call AAA. And then you do acrobatics because, again, they don’t know if you’re going to be a fighter pilot or a bomber pilot, and that also takes about six or seven weeks.

After eight hours of flying with an instructor, one day, we landed.

And he got out of the plane and he said, “OK, give me three takeoffs and landings, and see if you can bring the plane back in one piece.”

You were on your own – sink or swim.

I thought I should have soloed earlier because I was doing everything right.

How hard is it to fly a plane?

I never flew one.

Well, it’s like everything else – repetition. You do the same thing over and over again until you get it good.

And the sooner you get it good, the better you are. I thought I should have soloed maybe after six hours. I was landing the plane the way it was supposed to be.

After that, I went

And then, the next place that I went to was in San Antonio, Texas, a place called Kelly Field, where I had the advanced trainer. I was assigned to a twin-engine plane, which meant I was going to be a bomber pilot of some sort. They didn’t know what at the time. It took about two months.

You partner up with another cadet because, in a bomber, there’s always a pilot and a co-pilot. And so, you start out with two cadets and a plane and an instructor. Eventually, the instructor leaves, and you solo. By this time, you’re acquainted with what you’re supposed to do on a plane. And again, there’s more instruments, more complex things.

Actually, that was the first plane for me that had headlights so you can fly at night. Also, the wheels came up.

On the previous training planes, the wheels didn’t come up.

That took two months and then you graduate from the program.

When you graduate, two things happen. You get your pilot’s wings.

And by an act of Congress, you become an officer and a gentleman. It’s interesting how they say that.

Then I was assigned to a B-17 base in Sioux City, Iowa. I was there for two months. Again, we assembled a crew.

How many people are on a crew?

There are ten members of a crew on a B-17. We have a pilot, a co-pilot,

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a bombardier, a navigator, a flight engineer, a radio operator, and four gunners. They are all on the plane.

There’s also a lot of ground crew that take care of the plane.

After Sioux City, we went to a base outside of Denver, Colorado, practicing formation flying and flying at night. After that, we went to Las Vegas. They took over the airport in Las Vegas because back then – we’re talking about 1944 – outside of the city of Las Vegas it was all desert. It was a great place where the gunners could practice shooting their guns and the bombardier could drop dummy bombs.

After that, we came back to a base in New Jersey, and we stayed overnight. And then we flew to Nova Scotia, and we stayed overnight, refueled, and then we flew over to England.

I was assigned to a bomb group based in England.

When they told you that you’re going to England and going to be putting your training into action, what were your thoughts?

Well, you’re ready to go. Remember, I was 20 years old at the time.

You don’t consider that anything’s going to happen. Nothing happens to 20-year-olds.

The training was interesting and fun. I had never been in a plane, and all of a sudden, I’m flying a big, four-engine bomber.

What was the feeling between the members of your crew?

We had a good crew. They became like a family. I had organized the crew. As I said, we were like a team.

Every member has to do his utmost because we have to be prepared. In combat, things happen, unexpected things you should expect. And so, they all were very good.

Is the pilot sort of like the leader of the crew?

Yes, they become the aircraft commander. As a matter of fact, when you graduate, you’re promoted to second lieutenant. And when I was finished with all the training, before I went to Europe, I was promoted to first lieutenant. That’s the next level.

There were only four officers on the plane: the pilot, the co-pilot, the bombardier, and the navigator. All

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the others are enlisted men.

When we got to England, nothing happened for, I guess, almost a week because it was raining. The rain was not the problem. It’s the target area in Germany. If it’s overcast, the bombardier can’t see the target. The bombardier has a bomb site, and so that’s how he drops the bombs on the target.

How many bombs could the plane hold?

It depended on the type of bomb. Well, most of the time, it was 100-pound bombs, and the bomb bay could hold 20 bombs. On a couple of occasions, we had 500-pound bombs, and so the bomb bay could accommodate four.

There were a couple of occasions when we had incendiary bombs.

The incendiary was a much smaller bomb; it weighed about 10 pounds.

They wrapped eight of them together, so they were about the same size as a 100-pound bomb. And when they were released, the wrapping came off, and all the bombs separated. When an incendiary bomb hits, it starts a fire, and it’s very hard to put out. You can’t put it out with water. The targets of those bombs were primarily factories that were making war materials for the Germans.

Were you bombing Germany itself?

Yes. On a mission, there were probably a couple of hundred planes at the time. My base put up 25 planes, usually, sometimes 24, depending on if

they were all ready to fly. We did a mission almost every day when the weather was permissible to go.

One of the things that you encounter on a mission are German fighter planes that are trying to shoot you down. They don’t want you to be dropping bombs. And that’s the purpose of having gunners. When I got there, the German fighter planes were not a big problem. Their air force had been decimated from previous bombings. In addition, we had a fighter plane, a P-51, that escorted us.

Previously, they didn’t have a fighter plane that had the capacity to go to the target and back. But this newer one – it was probably the most superior fighter plane at the time. In addition to fighter planes trying to shoot you down, there was anti-aircraft fire when you got close to the target and when you left the target. That was a big problem – the anti-aircraft fire.

They shoot a missile up, and it’s designed to explode at the level that the planes are at. We were 20,000 feet, usually. You were assigned an altitude, could have been 19,000 or 21,000, but it was around 20,000.

Because there were so many planes, they didn’t want all the planes at the same level.

If the anti-aircraft bomb exploded, flak, which was shrapnel, flew out at the planes. These were pieces of metal, sharp pieces of metal, that flew out at a high velocity like a bullet.

On our 24th mission, the flak actually blew a hole on the right side of our plane. Unfortunately, it killed my co-pilot instantly. He was hit in the head. The bombardier, navigator, and one of the gunners were seriously wounded.

What was going through your mind at that time?

I was wounded.

I was hit in the back of my right arm. My wound, I guess, was serious, but I could still fly the plane, luckily. I also lost one of the engines, but the plane could fly on three engines.

I knew I had to get the plane back as soon as

possible to get these wounded men into a hospital at the base.

How far was the flight back to England?

The target that time, I think, was Dresden. So it was probably three and a half hours.

I was in pain.

In the first aid kit, they had vials of morphine for the pain, and my flight engineer Captain Musikoff ’s medals wanted to give me a shot, but I refused. I didn’t know what kind of my back. When I leaned against it, effect it would have. I might have there was a slight pain. I didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t a big deal. passed out if I didn’t have pain to My wife and I went to visit an uncle keep me awake. And so I refused. down in Philadelphia. He was a surI was able to bring the plane back geon. He looked at it. And he said, to the base.

“Let me take an X-ray and see what it When you fly back, there’s something there’s a type of pistol that fires is,” and he did. He said, “I see something there. There’s something, a tiny a missile that leaves a yellow line of smoke that tells the ground crew you something.” And he took out a little piece of the shrapnel that was left in need medical help. We did that. And then, the ambulances came up to the from the flak after all these years.

In Europe, I think the surgeon was plane, took the wounded out, took me younger than I was. He probably was out, and we were taken to the hosdrafted also. pital.

I was on furlough for about six Unfortunately, the three who were weeks. And then got a notice to come wounded in my crew died that week. to a veterans’ facility on 6th Avenue Along with your co-pilot, that’s in the 20s. It wasn’t a hospital; it was a lot of losses. a building. One of the floors was a Yes. medical floor. I had to go there a few times, and they finally decided that I You were wounded as well. was fit for duty.

I was in the hospital for three weeks, not because the wound was Did you feel ready to go back? so serious, but because the bandage It isn’t whether I felt ready. They had to be changed every day. tell you. I was told that I was fit for After about, I guess, four days duty. And they were looking for exmaybe, I could take a shower. And perienced pilots because the war in then after the shower, the nurses Europe was just about ended. would change the bandage. The doctor would look at it. I remember they What year was this? put some kind of powder on it; they We’re now talking about 1945. called it sulfa powder.

When I was wounded, it was the end Because I was in bed for about a of ’44. And so this was early in 1945. week, they had to get me up walking. I’m not sure what the month was.

Your legs don’t work like they should You know, we’re talking about over if you’re in bed for that long. They at- 75 ago. rophy somewhat. And so, a couple of nurses used to walk holding onto me.

I’m amazed how you know evBut after a few days, I was OK. And ery base where you trained. then I was sent home to Brooklyn.

It’s unbelievable.

Years ago, I had a little lump on I was sent to New Mexico to fly

The Jewish | JUNE29, 3, 2021 The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER 2015

on a new bomber, a B-29, which was bigger and much more sophisticated. It was also a four-engine bomber and also made by Boeing. The B-17 was made by Boeing. One of the nice things about the B-29 was that it was pressurized. The B-17 wasn’t pressurized. The gunners had guns sticking out of the windows. Up at 20,000 feet over Germany, it was minus 30 degrees. Of course, everybody was 20 years old. We had heavy leather, fleece-lined jackets, pants, and boots.

I spent, oh, I guess it must’ve been three, four weeks training. We, again, assembled a crew. I was promoted to captain at that time.

Eventually, my plane and three other planes flew to Guam. We were going to bomb Japan. I was on Guam for, I think, two weeks, getting the crew ready. Everybody was new. Actually, only me, the flight engineer, and the bombardier, and the navigator had previous combat experience.

Everybody else was just trained on the B-29.

While we were in Guam, the war ended. They had dropped the atomic bombs, and the war ended. We didn’t even know what happened, but I never got into combat in the Pacific. I was in Guam for quite a while.

I guess they didn’t know what to do with us.

What was your feeling when you heard that the war ended?

Well, I was glad. It’s not a happy thing when you find out what happens in combat.

Did you feel like your service helped to end the war?

You don’t think too much about it.

People say, “You are a hero.” I never felt I was a hero. I was the same hero as everybody that put on a uniform and put their life on the line.

The real heroes are the people who gave their lives and those that their lives changed forever because of serious wounds, the loss of a limb, people were blinded… Even while I was in Europe, there was one mission that we went on, and two of the planes from my bomb group didn’t come back. We didn’t know what happened to them. Either they were shot down or the plane exploded.

That’s 20 people that we don’t know what happened to them. And there are many others that I know that didn’t make it.

It was all very traumatic.

Yes. It was.

There’s a funny story that happened when got back from Guam.

When I finally came back, we stopped in a base in California, some place above San Francisco, to refuel.

We came back from Japan over the Pacific, and we landed in California. We were there for a couple of days. And then we flew to a place called Great Bend, Kansas. That’s where they were going to store the planes. When we got there, they were hundreds of planes already, all kinds of planes. We were there for a while.

One day, I was called into the office and one of the officers there, he was a major, told me, “Tomorrow morning, you’re going to be the officer of the day.” Every day they pick an officer for the officer of the day. The officer of the day rides around the base to make sure everything’s OK. On the base, there’s a headquarters.

There’s a hospital. There’s a building where they do laundry. There’s a prison. People have fights in bars – nothing serious. And so, you ride around. And he said to me, “Report at 0600.” That’s 6:00 in the morning.

And so I did; I reported. They gave me an armband that said, “OD,” and they gave me a gun with a belt. I don’t

Captain Musikoff’s daughter, Lisa, with her family in a B-17

You were awarded The Purple Heart. Is that for what happened in Dresden?

Yes. When you’re wounded in combat, you’re eligible for a Purple Heart.

Was there a ceremony?

Yes. I never really wanted to wear it when I was still in the service because my four crew were awarded a Purple Heart posthumously, and I was awarded and I’m living. It was very traumatic for me, that we were a close crew, and all of a sudden, they’re not around anymore.

“I just flew in a four-engine bomber but I never drove a car.” think there were any bullets in the gun. Then he told me, “Go down to the motor pool and get a car.” I looked at him, and I didn’t say anything.

I went down; the motor pool was just walking distance. There was a sergeant there, and he knew, every day, that there’s an officer coming, so he had a jeep ready for me. But I looked at him, and I said, “I don’t know how to drive a car.”

He almost fell down laughing. I never had a car. My father never had a car. In the ‘40s, not a lot of people had cars. And back then, everything was a stick shift, nothing automatic. I just flew in a four-engine bomber but I never drove a car.

He showed me how to shift and use the clutch, and I was hopping along until I got the hang of it.

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That is certainly very traumatic. Were there other Jews in the military with you?

Back then, when I mentioned that I went to live with my aunt, she wasn’t kosher. So I guess that was good training for me because, when I went into the military, there was no such thing as kosher. There weren’t that many Jews in the units we were in.

There were some. I encountered a few Jews. There was always a chaplain at the base. Some bases had a rabbi.

They always had a service on Friday night. As a matter of fact, when I was at the base outside of Denver, at a base called Lowry Field, the chaplain was a Catholic priest. He did the Friday night service, all in Hebrew.

One of the things that these chaplains always did, they tried to get you

a dinner invitation to a Jewish family for a Shabbat dinner. That was really nice.

Did your crew know that you were Jewish?

Yes. Of course.

I didn’t really encounter any anti-Semitism. We were all young people. It wasn’t like it is now. Everybody was very busy. They keep you on your toes constantly. I can remember, the basic training was in Atlantic City.

And a couple of times during the month, we had fire drills. We were in a hotel on the boardwalk – the Air Corps took over hotels. If you were asleep, the fire drill was like at 3:00 o’clock in the morning, you put on a coat and shoes – you didn’t even tie them – and you had to go out. And you assembled on the boardwalk. I was there in February. It was cold, but again, I was 18 years old.

What did you do after you left the service?

Well, I took advantage of what they called the GI Bill. They paid for education. I wanted to go to college. When I was still in high school, I never knew that I would go to college right away. My plan was, when I graduated, I would get a job, and then maybe go to college at night.

But here, the government paid for the tuition. Plus they gave me $75 a month for subsistence. So I went to a small college in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Polytech in Downtown Brooklyn.

There are a few reasons why I went. I had been away for over three years, and I decided I just wanted to be home. In addition, one of my boyhood friends wasn’t accepted into

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the army. He had a medical problem, something with his leg, so he was marked what they call 4F. That meant wasn’t physically ready. He became an assistant professor in this school. It was a technical school. I got a BSEE, an electrical engineer school in college.

I started college in ’46, and I actually graduated in ’49 because I got a lot of credits. I got credits for being a veteran. And also, they gave me a lot of credits for the time I spent at Syracuse University.

My last term in college, I sent letters out to General Electric, IBM, Westinghouse, also to Con Edison, and the New York Telephone Company for jobs. And I got a response from all of them telling me, “Come down for an interview.” All the other companies except Con Edison and New York Telephone were out of town.

IBM was upstate New York. I think there was another place upstate.

Westinghouse, I think was in Virginia or something. General Electric was upstate New York.

I got a call from Con Edison. I went down there, and I was accept-

ed, and I worked there one day. That afternoon, when I came home, I had a message to call New York Telephone to come down to them because they wanted to interview me there. And so I did. I worked in Con Edison for one day and – I’m trying to think of what my first pay was – I think it was $22 a

it. My medals were in a cigar box – I used to smoke cigars. My wife found them one day when we were in Florida, so that’s probably 50 years or more that I never spoke about it.

One of the clubs that we belonged to in Florida was a veterans’ club. One day, they were talking about medals.

“I never felt I was a hero. I was the same hero as everybody that put on a uniform and put their life on the line.” week. But then I went down the next day to New York Telephone, and I was accepted. And my pay was $31 a week.

I got a raise overnight.

When did you decide to share your story about your experience in the army?

Well, I really never talked about it. I didn’t talk about it for probably 50 years. My wife didn’t know about

va c a t I o n

And my wife said, “Why don’t you bring your medals down?” So I did.

Another woman there said, “Why don’t you mount the medals?” And she said, “Give them to me. I’ll get them mounted.” And so she did. Of course, she gave me the bill for it. And that’s how the medals got mounted.

When did you decide to share your story with your children

or with other people? What was the impetus?

Well, it was time. And I guess the feeling had worn off a little bit, as it does when a loved one passes. You never forget. Almost every day I think about my daughter, who passed away in 1989.

A few years ago, we were invited to Rabbi Trump’s house for Shabbos lunch one day. During the lunch, they talk about the parsha for the week.

Rabbi Trump asked me, “What did you ever do for that took courage?” I thought that was a peculiar question for me. But apparently, it was something in the parsha that people needed courage to do something. I didn’t know that. I wondered to myself, “Why is he asking me?”

What was your answer?

I said, “Well, I guess it took courage for me to fly my plane into enemy territory, knowing they were going to shoot me down.”

There were other people invited to the meal. Everybody started asking me questions. I guess they didn’t expect that answer.

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

When my son was in yeshiva high school, recently, he was friendly with a neighborhood girl whom he had known since elementary school. He frequently went to her home, and she came to ours. They talked, played games, and sometimes walked in the neighborhood. The friendship continued through high school.

My son’s yeshiva had a strict “no girl” policy. Boys were not allowed to be with any girls anywhere, at any time, for any reason. One Shabbat, my son and his friend were walking in the neighborhood. It seems that one of the school rebbes saw the two and reported him to the principal who told my son and me that he disobeyed the school policy and the next time this happens, they will expel him from the yeshiva.

I was furious. I explained to the principal that all the kids are doing are talking and walking down the street. We know the girl and her family for years. My son and the girl are good friends, and we were hoping that, perhaps, down the line this would lead to a long-term more serious relationship, possibly a shidduch. My pleas fell on deaf ears. The yeshiva would not budge from their policy. We had to be extremely discrete and hide their contacts from the yeshiva and any neighborhood “snoopers.” When they dated, they did so outside the neighborhood lest someone find out.

I hear this similar situation from current yeshiva parents. What would you advise parents on how to handle this policy? Why should kids have to choose between friendships and getting expelled from a yeshiva because of a strict no-girl policy?

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. understand both sides – your role as a parent and the school’s role.

Nonetheless, I believe that if a school makes a policy that is known to parents before they enroll their children, parents must respect it. Parents need to choose a school with their children that matches their lifestyle, hashkafa, and practices. Unfortunately, many families in Jewish communities are aspirational in their choices and are beset with predicaments like differing from the school’s technology, tzinius, and entertainment policies.

In a community where there are several schools, it’s OK for a school to make a policy constraining teenage engagement with members of the opposite gender. The leadership of the school, both professional and lay leaders, have developed an identity and focus for the school and limiting teenage socialization for their own students is a reasonable policy for the population they serve. If it is not something that was articulated from the get-go, then you could complain with some justification.

It is of utmost importance to all of your children that you speak of the school with respect and commitment to compliance. Badmouthing the school is a terrible example which will yield disrespect for you and authorities in the long run. It’s not the chinuch you want to give to your child even if you feel justified. This is not a right or wrong situation. This is a situation where compliance is the issue, not a hashkafic difference because you chose the school knowing its policies and orientation.

You need to sit down with your spouse and your child and think about how to proceed further. Is this the right place for your son? Is this a one-off? Where is your son holding?

Think carefully before you hold the discussion and before you take action.

I

The orientation of a school which is the only choice in a community obviously needs to be more inclusive.

you as a family align, and make the decision where you would like to send your kids to school. This way they can act the way they are being brought up without breaking school policy.

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

H

ave you ever seen a sign outside an establishment stating, “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service”? What would happen, pray tell, if you walked into this establishment without a shirt and shoes? Would the owner’s response (i.e., kicking you out) be warranted? If you own a rental property and a rule on the contract is “no smoking,” what would you do if you found out your renters spent the weekend smoking? (You see, rental properties are on my mind these days as we have started the Edelweiss Vacation Rental in Baltimore.) Now, let’s say you are the renter looking for a property. If you are a chain smoker, would you rent a vacation home that is a non-smoking facility? You would be a fool to do so. Why then, does your son go to a yeshiva school whose rules are strictly against boy/girl relationships if this does not align with your hashkafa? And if the answer is that you want the great yeshiva education, then you will have to be maskim the rules that come with your son being in such a yeshiva.

Note that I am not even talking about the issue at hand – platonic relationships. What I am saying is use common sense to understand why the yeshiva is threatening to expel your son – his actions are going against the school’s rules.

This brings me to an important lesson that boils down to chinuch.

Children are allergic to double standards and inconsistency. A child will grow up very confused if he is being told one thing in yeshiva and another thing at home. You ask: “What would you advise parents on how to handle this policy?” To this I answer, it is not about the policy. Figure out where

The Single Rivka Weinberg

I

am sorry to burst your bubble, but platonic relationships do not exist.

I find it hard to believe that your high school-aged son was simply talking and walking with his good female friend. I know that may sound harsh, but it is most likely the reality, so it is important to put it on the table from the start.

In regard to the yeshiva’s policy, you knew what the yeshiva’s policies were before you decided to enroll your son there. If you did not agree with the yeshiva and the hashkafos they hold by, then you should have sent him elsewhere. I think there is a lot of value in this specific policy, but I am not going to elaborate on that, because I believe there to be a larger issue at hand.

Honestly, I am quite disturbed by how you are handling this entire situation. What message are you sending to your son and this girl by encouraging them to hide from their rebbeim and others in the neighborhood? Do you really believe they are not using the sneaky tactics that you have taught them to get things by you? You are teaching two extremely impressionable adolescent individuals to lie and go behind people’s backs, and in doing so, you are taking away kavod from the yeshiva and the rebbeim instituting these policies. Did you process that?

I also find it fascinating that you pull the shidduchim card. I always love the good old shidduchim card, especially when it is used in the most ridiculous and absurd scenarios. Instead of focusing on your son’s shid-

I always love the good old shidduchim card, especially when it is used in the most ridiculous and absurd scenarios.

duchim in elementary and high school by having him hang out with this girl who you hope to see potential with, I suggest you focus on teaching him what it means to be an honest mensch who does not go behind people’s backs, especially with girls. These are the crucial years that should be spent emphasizing the importance of working on one’s middos and respecting others. You are encouraging your son to be the boy who every Zaidy instructs his granddaughter to avoid.

Trust me, you do not want your son to get the reputation of being the sketchy kid who sneaks around.

I highly recommend you rethink this policy of yours, as it is entirely counterproductive to the chinuch you are giving your son by sending him to a yeshiva that has this policy to begin with. Please do yourself, your son, and this girl a favor by leaving shidduchim up to Hashem. If they are supposed to end up together, then they will, without needing to compromise their values and morals in the process.

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

P

arents have the absolute right to allow, and even encourage, their

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son to socialize with his girlfriend.

Yeshivas have the absolute right to prohibit such socializing and to impose their moral code upon its students.

The very clear and obvious solution is to avoid such conflicts by enrolling children in schools that mirror the family’s hashkafa.

Today, fortunately, every major Jewish community has a wide variety of available yeshivas, ranging from the far-left to the far-right on our religious spectrum. Responsible parents must choose their neighborhood/shul/yeshiva wisely.

Recent events have certainly taught us that all Jews, everywhere, are brothers and sisters; but, creating unnecessary friction by futilely trying to fit a square peg into a round hole is counterproductive. While we might never fully agree with some of our co-religionists, we can, nevertheless, understand and respect their different points of view.

Correspondingly, an Israeli friend of mine recently travelled to Dubai on business. He reports that while his visit was fruitful and respectful, he and his new Arab partners cannot

possibly reconcile their very different cultural backgrounds. Similarly, it is disingenuous for you to expect your son’s strict yeshiva to accept your more lenient point of view.

Rudyard Kipling wrote, in 1889, that it was impossible to reconcile British culture with that of the indigenous population in India, because, “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”

However, Kipling concluded that with good will and understanding, people with very different points of view could, nevertheless, understand and respect each

Pulling It All Together

a r g ue w ith store owners or employees The Navidaters when the rule is enforced. Masks Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists don’t work! Why do I have to wear a mask? This rule is ridiculous already! I have seen people do this and many hank you for writing into our in front of their own chilfamilies will continue column! I believe that many readdren. My feeling is that regardless doing things their way beers may relate to your predicament of personal opinion, and especially cause some of the rules don’t – sending their children to yeshivas in front of children, though we may account for human nature. In and believing that some of the “rules” disagree with a rule, if we enter somesuch situations, I believe it is very are unfair or simply “too much.” The one’s establishment, we must follow important to maintain an open diaschool says we can’t have a TV, but those rules. Of course, this is a logue with children. It can become we watch certain shows in privery imperfect analogy because it is very confusing for children when they vate because that’s ridiculous. The kind of easy to put on a mask for the are taught one thing at school and anyeshiva says he can’t talk to girls, but twenty minutes you will be spending other at home. Children should not all the boys do it. It is not the yeshiin the store. What do you do when be forced to keep secrets as it is not va’s place to tell me how to live my you feel an establishment’s rules are an age-appropriate task. Keeping life in my home. too strict or unrealistic? Though secrets teaches children that there is Families have been doing easier said than done, the bottom something inherently wrong with the things their way in their homes for line truth is that you go to a different child or the home. It also may send a very long time. Many families are establishment. One in which you feel the message that we are better than told to send their children to schools/ you can keep the rules. One in which the rules and we do what we want. yeshivas to the right of where they a child and the child’s family will be We only have to look to the hold with the belief that the child will celebrated; not penalized. Children “mask” to infer a wonderful lesson. walk away from the yeshiva system should feel celebrated at school!

People have different opinions when more to the right or at least holding It is very difficult to stop a it comes to mask wearing. I have like his/her parents. friendship that has taken on a life seen people walk into stores that Let’s be real for a moment. The force. I think that as a parent you clearly state Must Wear a Mask and rules most likely will never change,

T

It can become very confusing for children when they are taught one thing at school and another at home. other, “though they come from the ends of the earth.”

can explain to your son both sides of the coin. Validate his frustration and share your own. (I don’t want to delve too deeply into my opinion of the ramifications of making children sneak to do what people have been doing since the beginning of time, and what sometimes goes on in yeshivas when strict rules like these are enforced. And I won’t get into the psyche of the children who are “caught” and the message it sends them about themselves and Yiddishkeit. Or, how so many children end up off the derech because they feel so penalized, frustrated, unwanted, and angry.)

At the very end of the day, it is my personal belief, based on the many families I have worked with over the years, that children do best in an environment that makes them feel good about themselves...in an environment that is warm and nurturing and understands the needs of the child; al pi darko. If every part of a parent’s body screams This school is stifling my child, then it is the parent’s responsibility to consider how this is impacting the child and think of potential alternatives.

Sincerely, Jennifer Mann

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.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Deb

Is It Over?

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

“I

am in so much pain,” she said.

“I just can’t go on another

day.”

“I’ve tried everything and nothing works, so what is the point of trying anything else?” he said.

You’re right; you shouldn’t suffer.

I don’t believe Hashem wants us to suffer. What would be the point of suffering anyway? What gain is there?

Life is too short. We’re meant to feel excited by every moment we’re alive; excited at just breathing the air, feeling the sunshine, enjoying the rain, too.

We’re not meant to quake at the sound of our spouse’s footsteps.

We’re not meant to feel our eyes wanting to roll as our partner challenges, lectures, or attacks us.

We’re not supposed to swallow criticism just to keep the peace.

Our kids aren’t content to watch us fight or live like strangers in the same house; that is not the way to raise kids to savor life – and love.

We’re not created to “get through” our lifetimes and have nothing joyous to show for it at the end.

“But I tried so much in so many ways,” they replied.

I understand. Let me explain the problems with the things you’ve tried.

“I Tried Explaining ‘Til I’m Blue in the Face” Many people believe that when you speak proper English and the other person is intelligent, all you have to do is explain your intent and – bingo!

– problem solved.

I wish.

I remember a time, back when I was in college, a bunch of us were dis-

cussing what we would do if we were confronted by a robber with a gun.

I thought I might “explain” how he would be ruining his life by keeping this up.

Lots of luck.

I learned quickly that explaining and logic don’t work very often. Logic is good for the world of engineering, computers, rocket science, and research. And that’s about it. It will not help when emotions are involved. And they’re involved in just about every decision we make.

(That’s why medical journals must report financial conflicts of interest for their published research. Even research scientists are prone to be swayed. In fact, any scientific “fact” should be looked on with a jaundiced eye until all conflicts of interest are on the table, something apparently not happening in our current tekufa, but that’s for another time and place.)

According to Antonio Damasio, one of the foremost neuroscientists today, the emotional parts of our brains can be found all over the brain, not just in the amygdala or other parts of the limbic system. And there is no decision that can even be made without an emotional component.

So, back to “trying to explain”: When you explain your feelings, that doesn’t mean that your partner gets it. You would think it’s obvious, but it’s absolutely not. It can be the exact opposite.

Many people are brought up in homes where emotions must be avoided at all costs. Perhaps such people were raised with all the fighting that I described above. Too much drama growing up leads the next generation to run the opposite way.

So that generation doesn’t want to hear about feelings, especially bad ones.

That means that when you try to explain how you feel, they are not listening, or even if they are listening, they literally can’t relate to it because they know nothing about emotions.

Shrinks like to call that “being in denial.”

I prefer saying they simply don’t know the language of emotions. To understand emotions, you have to immerse yourself in experiencing them, a very difficult matter for people who have avoided them at all costs.

So “explaining” doesn’t work.

I Kept Telling My Spouse What I Wanted Now, we’ve moved out of the realm of emotions and into the world of behavior. Behavior, you would think, is a lot easier. You simply change how you respond to things.

Well, that’s another “good luck on that one.”

If a person has spent their entire life yelling, do you really think they could stop just because you asked?

There are lots of reasons why they would not stop.

One is that many behaviors are on automatic. This is called “economy of mind.” Our brains don’t have to ponder what to do when a stone gets thrown our way; we duck. It’s automatic.

But there are other reasons why a person might not readily change behavior.

One big one is that people are scared of losing their sense of identity. When people say, “This is who I am,” what they’re really saying is, “If

I changed that behavior, would I feel like myself?”

They are scared that they would not.

It’s not that they can’t make the switch. For many behaviors, there is a gap in time to think through one’s actions; they’re not automatic and shouldn’t be. Yet, if a person is afraid that they won’t recognize themselves when they act differently, they just might resist.

Then there’s the insecurity problem. Lots of insecure people overcompensate for it by coming down hard on standing their ground.

People like to call that “narcissistic” but when you peek beneath the out-there cover of the narcissist, they turn out to be insecure and will go to any lengths to hide that insecurity, especially from themselves.

So they will fight tooth and nail to not make behavioral changes that they very well could make.

We Went to Therapy and Got Nowhere Couples counseling requires specialized training. The therapist certainly has to understand how to help the individuals in the relationship.

But he or she also has to know how to understand what is going on in a couples conversation.

Very, very often, the people in the conversation are hiding behind their defenses, so what you see and hear – right down to facial expressions and tones of voice – are defensive protector parts rather than the Self (soul) of the people.

How do you get around that?

I remember a long time ago when I was struggling with that very thing.

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I’d have a couple in front of me be vulnerable and honest one minute and then just when I wanted to capitalize on that, the shields would go up.

You can’t work that way.

Therapists will try their hardest to get those defenses down, often by being logical and reasonable, hoping the drama in the room would subside and reason would prevail.

What they didn’t know, apparently, is that a logical, analytical front could be just another protector part, not a person’s true Self.

So how do you know when the Self is present?

Easy.

The Self doesn’t have an agenda. And the Self doesn’t mind being vulnerable because when a person is governed by the Self, they’re at peace with who they are, even their mistakes and past errors.

It is not hard to see through the analytical front to realize you’re not with the real person when you’ve gotten used to recognizing parts, protec-

tors, and the Self of people.

So What Am I Supposed To Do Now? • Assume you both get defensive; each of you must work on yourself first to know who you are, through and through, defenses and all.

• See a therapist who will work with each of you separately until such time as you each have the art and skill under your belt of recognizing when you’re not in Self and moving back into it.

• Under ethical guidelines, that leaves out psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors.

Many say they are not permitted to see each individual in a couple; that is considered a conflict of interest.

Systemically trained marriage therapists, on the other hand, encourage their clients to both visit them because the more deeply connected to each client they are, the more helpful they can be with the marriage as a whole.

What If My Spouse Refuses to Participate?

There are a few excellent reasons for this; don’t assume it means they don’t care or don’t want to improve things: 1. They might have had an un-nerving prior experience with a therapist (or therapists) who berated, criticized, blamed, or simply was unsympathetic and insensitive.

2. They might be afraid to explore hidden recesses of their own hearts; they’re afraid of finding something out that they will be revolted by.

3. They might be afraid that their personal information and vulnerabilities will be conveyed to their partner and used against them.

My solution is to err on the side of extra kindness. Maybe that’s wrong.

I’ve been told it’s wrong; that people will take advantage and lie and manipulate. I agree that could be true. But when I’m in the dark about who a person really is, I have to assume the best.

So my advice is follow the principle

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of being gentle, kind, and loving to get the resistant spouse to see someone whom you totally trust to be kind and at the same time has much to offer in the way of gently challenging each of you to connect with who you really are under the defenses.

If a person is a verbal abuser or an abuser of alcohol and drugs and will not take a step toward getting healthy help, only then would I say it might be over.

Then again, I’ve known many people who refused to work on the marriage until papers were filed and then they made an about-face with the right help.

So the answer is: If you’re taking constructive steps towards the good life you were meant to have, don’t give up.

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.

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Health & F tness

Healthy Cooking Methods

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

C

hoosing heathy ingredients is an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and achieving one’s goals. However, the way we cook our food also plays a significant role in the nutritional quality of the food. Cooking foods improves digestion and the absorption of many nutrients. There are many ways to cook food, and it is important to be aware that the method by which our food is cooked has an impact on the substantive nutritional value of the food. Thus, there are many exciting ways to cook delicious foods that are healthy and nutritious.

Air Fryer: An air fryer is a great appliance to have in your kitchen. It circulates hot air around the food to create a crispy exterior. This is a great alternative to deep frying because it uses 50 times less oil than traditional deep frying! Instead of submerging food in cups of oil to fry it, you only need a tablespoon of oil to use the air fryer.

Deep frying became a very common cooking method – especially by restaurants and fast food chains – because it is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to cook food. Typically, restaurants fry foods in hydrogenated oils, which are very high in trans fats. Restaurants often reuse the hydrogenated oils, and the more the same oil is used, the more oil is absorbed into the foods being fried.

Aside for fried foods being highly caloric and filled with trans-fats, they also may contain a harmful chemical called acrylamide. Acrylamide is a toxic substance that forms in foods cooked at a very high temperature.

When foods are cooked at very high heat, an amino acid in the food called asparagine reacts with sugars to produce acrylamide. Starchy foods like potatoes often have large amounts of

acrylamide because they are high in sugar. Additionally, eating fried foods poses a risk for developing heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

With air frying, you can enjoy your favorite “fried” foods without the extra fat, calories, and harmful compounds found in traditional fried foods.

Air-Fried Everything Chicken Recipe - Slice white chicken cutlets into strips. Marinate the strips in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, olive oil, and a drop of coconut aminos.

- Prepare a bowl of two beaten eggs and another bowl with almond flour.

- Add Everything but The Bagel Spice to the almond flour mixture.

- Coat the chicken strips in the egg mixture and then the almond flour mixture. Lay the strips out on a sheet pan and spray them with olive oil.

- Prepare the air fryer on 400 degrees and cook the chicken until tender and crispy (about 10 minutes).

Air-Fried Cauliflower Recipe - Thaw a frozen bag of cauliflower and squeeze out all the water.

- Combine cauliflower with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic salt, and turmeric.

- Place cauliflower in the air fryer basket and cook until crispy (about 15 minutes).

Microwave Cooking: Using a microwave can be an efficient way to make clean, nutritious meals.

Whether it means heating up a mealprepped dinner or cooking a bowl of oatmeal, microwave cooking can save a lot of time and mess in the kitchen.

Microwaves are electric ovens that heat and cook food by exposing it to electromagnetic radiation. Studies show that microwave cooking preserves many of the vitamins and minerals in foods because they work at a low temperature and have a short cook time.

A great food to prepare in the microwave is a poached egg. Simply put half a cup of water and some salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Crack one egg

in the bowl and place it in the microwave for about 60 seconds. Scoop out the egg and put it on a paper towel to take out some of the moisture.

Dry Heat Cooking: There a few healthy cooking methods that use dry heat. Grilling and broiling both provide a lot of flavor. However, it is important to clean the grill appropriately to reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These dangerous chemicals form from fat dripping on a hot surface, and studies show that these chemicals may cause cancer. Although grilling and broiling are simple ways to cook both meats and vegetables, 40% of B vitamins and minerals can be lost from these cooking processes.

Roasting and baking are also dry heat cooking methods. The terms roasting and baking are basically interchangeable. Baking does not need fat or moisture to cook, so a lot of nutrients are preserved. Roasting focuses on low, slow cooking which preserves nutrients.

Sautéing and Stir Frying: This is a cooking method that can either be very healthy or become very unhealthy, depending on the amount of oil and sauces used. In order to minimize the amount of oil used, use a non-toxic, non-stick pan. This allows for delicious stir fries and sautéed vegetable dishes that are tasty and nutritious. Oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil or peanut oil, are preferable. If a low-smoke point oil (such as olive oil) becomes too hot, it oxidizes and releases free radicals which can lead to inflammation in the body and DNA mutations.

Stir frying and sautéing are fast cooking methods which prevent the loss of vitamin B. However, stir frying reduces the amount of vitamin C in vegetables.

Steaming: This is one of the healthiest cooking methods because it doesn’t require any oil or sauce. It is an amazing way to cook vegetables.

Steaming vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, or string beans can make them more easily digestible compared to eating them raw. To make steamed vegetables tastier, add some spices or vinegar after cooking. Although some of the vitamin C in vegetables is lost from steaming, this is a healthful way to prepare your vegetables. Interestingly, the water used to steam the vegetables contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, so don’t discard it too quickly.

Sous Vide Cooking: A sous vide cooks food in an airtight plastic bag submerged in a temperature-controlled water bath. It ensures foods are cooked exactly to the right temperature. You can turn a lean, otherwise dry piece of meat into a juicy and delicious one. Sous vide cooking retains more nutrients and vitamins than other cooking methods. Expo-

sure to heat, oxygen, and water usually destabilize the nutrients in foods, however, with a sous vide, the nutrients stay in the food because they’re sealed in a package. Aside from locking in all the nutrients, it also locks in great flavor so you won’t need additional salt or flavor additives. It is a safe cooking method because of its

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there are no harmful chemicals being absorbed by the food.

There is no cooking method that completely retains all vitamins and minerals. Air frying is a fantastic alternative to frying and will allow you to make crispy foods with far less oil. Microwave cooking is an efficient time-saver that maintains the food’s

There are many exciting ways to cook delicious foods that are healthy and nutritious.

precision. It pasteurizes food, making it safe to eat. When cooking below 130 degrees, it’s important to sear the meat prior to putting it in the water to kill any bacteria. Additionally, choosing BPA-free plastic bags will ensure

nutrients. Similarly, baking is a great way to minimize the loss of vitamins and minerals. Sautéing and stir frying allows you to create nutritious meals in a time-friendly way. Steaming is the cleanest cooking method,

although it isn’t the best for retaining nutrients. Sous vide cooking seems to be the cooking method which preserves nutrients most efficiently.

Overall, the best way to retain nutrients is to cook at a low temperature with limited water for a short amount of time.

There are so many different healthy cooking methods which can give different flavor profiles to foods. When embarking on a healthy eating lifestyle, it is not just crucial to choose the right foods – rather, choosing the method in which they are cooked might just be as important.

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

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Parenting Pearls

Keeping It Practical

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

B

izarrely, I have both my husband and a teeny, tiny bug to thank for the inspiration behind this article.

A few years ago, it occurred to me how it’s rather hard to live in a frum household and not learn about the daily life of a Torah observant Jew. Everything from daily halacha to the special minhagim of yomim tovim are quickly observed by interested, young eyes. Perhaps this is one reason why so much respect is given to both the formal mesorah and to the informal lessons passed down from our beloved ancestors. The practical lessons observed in the homes of previous generations can often serve as a previously undocumented lesson in halacha, hashkafa or proper middos. Stories of our gedolim are combed through to give us handson ways we too can serve Hashem properly. From these few examples we can see that practical experience and in-person observations have often played a pivotal role in teaching the next generation how to carry on our traditions.

As important as classes, lectures and books can be, they will never replace the role of hands-on teaching. As you read through the pages of TJH, you will see the many ways each

local school brings education to life.

The children observe, act out and manipulate their way through their lessons to get a better understanding of the topic. Not only is it an important educational tool – it’s also a lot of fun! Parents can also bring this powerful and exciting educational tool into their homes.

Recognizing a Practical Experience Judaism is a thriving and living belief system. There are so many ways you can bring this out in your home. Whenever there is an opportunity that falls in your lap to expose your children to practical halacha or a Jewish experience, it’s worth it. It’s so fun for the kids and makes Torah come alive. Often, kids tend to think that what they learn isn’t practical.

They couldn’t be more wrong. I’ll try to include some examples of where you can bring this in. Remember that even if something seems gross to you, it may not be to the kids. I would even suggest an inverse proportional relationship – the grosser it is to you the more the kids will get excited.

Bugs: This article was partially inspired by a bug that was so small I barely noticed it among the rice.

Credit goes to my husband who noted the bag didn’t look as it should and was meticulous when checking.

Not only was there a bug in the bag of rice, but it was alive and moving. I am grateful to him for being so careful and making sure we didn’t have that extra protein in our cholent.

I’ve often made a point of showing the kids when I’ve found bugs in produce. My kids have seen enough insects and insect droppings inside (and outside) dates to know that they need to bring each date to me before consuming. The halachos of bedikas tolaim (checking for bugs) are interesting and relevant when kids realize there really are bugs in food items.

Blood in eggs: When checking eggs, you will, at some point, find a blood spot. Before tossing it in the garbage out of disgust you can make a point to show it to your children.

Demonstrate how you saw it, particularly if it’s in a harder to notice area. They’ll take egg checking more seriously when they know that blood spots really do exist. It also can be the beginning of an interesting biology lesson, but that’s for another article.

Pesach: It was a few years back that I was quickly checking rice (not for Pesach) and discovered a grain

of barley. While Ashkenazim don’t eat rice on Pesach, Sefardim do, but the rice requires strict checking first. With modern technology, you’d think you wouldn’t find such a crossover and that there’s no need to check before Pesach. I was excited for every Sefardi that had to meticulously check rice knowing they weren’t checking in vain. When you find chametz in an unexpected place before Pesach, it’s the perfect time to hold up your trophy and show your children why you spend all that time checking the house for chametz before Pesach.

I could write a book of examples because every yom tov and part of our daily routines have practical lessons as to their applications.

Throughout our daily life, we can see how even the most vague halachos have a practical application.

Creating a Practical Experience There are some areas that don’t come up practically in your own home. Some, because they’re not something we can easily do (i.e. shmitta or parah adumah), and others because they’re not a party of daily life (i.e. matza baking or pidyon haben). In those cases, there are nu-

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merous resources available to make them come to life.

Books: There are books that don’t simply teach halacha but teach it in a way that it’s told as a story or real-life example. There’s a series called “Naftali in the Beis Hamikdash’” that is written so the children (and adults) who read it can feel as if they’re really there during the time of the Beis Hamikdash. All the details about bringing a korban Pesach suddenly become clearer and more relevant when kids recognize that we really performed this at some point. Understanding which branch to use to roast your korban and why that particular species is vague when taught in a class but clearer when taught in this context. Similarly, there are series that bring to life historical events, such as the Churban, Chanukah, and Purim and recreate them in a modern era. These books take time periods and events that are hard for modern kids to understand and make them connected and meaningful.

Educational videos: There are videos on so many Jewish topics that give children the chance to virtually experience something that would otherwise be hard for them to view.

While many kids have been able to go to the matzah bakery, it’s not always feasible. There are many well-made videos that not only show the baking process but also explain as the baking unfolds. When they see in practice how careful matzah bakers are to not accidentally create chametz (i.e., not speaking unless necessary and maintaining a hot oven but cool kneading area), many of the details they learned in class become practical. I’ve even seen videos that were taken of a real chalitza ceremony, along with a description, so you could follow along and see how every aspect of halacha is satisfied throughout.

Storytelling: My great-grandfather was interviewed many years ago, shortly before his death in 1978, and he was asked to describe Jewish life in Russia. This interview has been posted online and was intended to be viewed by anyone, including those who aren’t Jewish or religious.

He had to describe matzah baking to them, and to make his point his

description included how there was a water boy and a flour boy. If you did one job, then you couldn’t do the other; the water boy and flour boy were two completely separate people and jobs. He was able to use practical ex-

sek between the bracha or break of some form but you can do so before or afterwards. I personally think it’s usually better to explain prior to the act, but you do what you can in any given situation. If you’ll be explain-

Storytelling has often been an important way to pass on information to the next generation.

amples and stories from his personal life experience to make clear part of a Jewish tradition to even those that are inexperienced in our traditions.

Storytelling has often been an important way to pass on information to the next generation.

Plays/recreat ions: Of ten, classes in school will act out events whether it’s in connection to the parsha, matzah baking or Mishnayos.

This gives the children a chance to experience something they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Not only do we all learn from acting out different scenarios, but this is especially useful with children as they uniquely learn from pretend play and creative interactions. This shouldn’t be limited to school. Before taking the children to shul, a wedding or just to learn parsha, you can also act out with them the ceremony or what did/ will happen. We used this to prepare our children for various religious ceremonies they would soon be experiencing for the first time.

Describe As You Go There are times you won’t be able to involve the children as much, for whatever reason. They can still learn when you describe to them and demonstrate as you perform a mitzvah or minhag. You may be nervous having little ones touch certain items or do anything with fire but they can often still watch from a safe distance and you can still take the time beforehand to explain the steps you will be doing.

Obviously, you can’t explain during the mitzvah if it’ll be a hef-

ing prior to doing something – particularly with younger children – you may want to keep it more simple and less detailed as they may not be able to remember and process all the information if there’s too much of it.

You also have the option of explaining in advance and then going over afterwards to remind your child of

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how you did each part.

If you are able to talk during the mitzvah, then it may be best to first give some information to prepare them and then point out those details as you go. They may not easily make the connection between prior information and each step later as they occur, but if you explain as you go it becomes more real and exciting for them to see what they just learned from you come alive.

We are fortunate that our heritage and traditions can so easily be passed down by simply sharing with our children what we’re often already doing. Our lives are full of concrete ways to serve Hashem, and our children naturally enjoy joining in.

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.

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jewish women of wisdom

Replacement Parts?

By Rebbetzin Faige Horowitz

N

o one is interested in the minutiae of your life like your mother. This is an observation that I made several years ago. It must be a fact because no one has disagreed even though I shared this assertion with so many women over the years.

There actually was one woman who at first averred that a sister is interested in the number of loads of laundry you did after yomtov, the number of side dishes you made before yomtov, the repair guy that didn’t come before yomtov, and the stocking order that finally arrived on yomtov. Sisters only listen so that they can vent themselves, we decided after some discussion. They are not really interested; they have their own stuff they need to share.

I was a long-married woman of about forty when my mother died.

And it took me a while to reach this disheartening conclusion. I think it was the summer that I exercised a lot and lost weight plus inches, and NO ONE NOTICED! Eventually, my mother’s cousin ran into me on the street and commented. She was my mother’s age and peer on several levels. It felt so good, and I told her so.

That’s when I realized that although no one could replace my mother, whatever little bits and pieces of validation I can get from someone else will have to do. And I needed to treasure those positive comments and hold

onto them. They are generally few and far in between.

We all want a cheering squad, someone to tell us “good job!” and someone to care about the particulars of our daily life. It feels good when someone gives you compliments on things you worked really hard to achieve. Even when you are grown up and a mother and grandmother yourself.

We can do something about this want even if we cannot meet the entire

support when we need it. I have told a friend that I needed a cheering squad when I needed to move a project forward that was not my typical thing.

Her response was immediate: “I’ll be your cheering squad!” I have learned that if you are open with a trusted confidant who is tuned in, you get what you ask for. She will not replace my mother, but she will meet that particular need at that time.

No one will replace our mothers.

And there is no such thing as a com-

There is no assortment of Mrs. Potatohead pieces that will replace the mother that is gone from my life.

need. One thing we can do is warmly respond to the affirmation and genuinely express how much it means to us.

This may cause the listener to realize that a small word can really give us uplift. It’s OK to say, “That really felt good. I really needed to hear that.” I do it, and it doesn’t make me feel like a nebbish. I feel honest, and the other person knows that I am responding genuinely.

Another thing we can do is ask for

posite mother. Bits from this one and that one don’t replicate the unconditional loving support from a mother we don’t have. But mentors, warm words of wisdom from trusted people, and insightful individuals, even in brief conversations, can give us what we need when we need that stroking. I treasure that compliment on how good I looked that summer because I needed it and it came. I am grateful.

I call this savoring “kvelling.” Kvel-

ling, taking joy and nachas from something we have experienced, is a healthy thing. To me it is taking repeated helpings of good feeling from something we accomplished or something nice someone said. It makes us feel good when we feel low and strong when we feel weak.

There are other ways one can encourage oneself. For a while, I kept evidence of a certain project at hand for a long while. I didn’t open it often but it was a visual reminder that I am capable and can produce something of quality and substance. It gave me a boost again and again. It couldn’t “fix me” but it certainly helped me.

So let’s focus on where, how, and from whom we can get some of our needs met instead of what we are missing. There is no assortment of Mrs. Potatohead pieces that will replace the mother that is gone from my life. But I can find validation, compliments, and encouragement from some other human relationships. And that’s ok and good.

In memory of my late mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis Perlow, z”l, the Novominsker Rebbetzin, whose yahrzeit is Gimmel Tammuz.

Join the conversation and email list of JWOW! by writing to hello @jewishwomenofwisdom.org.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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In The K

tchen

Spinach Feta-Stuffed Mushrooms Dairy / Yields 8 servings

By Naomi Nachman

Ingredients

b 8 portobello mushrooms, cleaned and gills removed b 1 cup cherry tomatoes on the vine b 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided b 1 medium onion, diced b 2 cloves garlic, minced b 2 tablespoons butter b 1 (24-oz) bag frozen chopped spinach, defrosted b ½ teaspoon kosher salt b ½ cup heavy cream b 1 box (8 oz.) feta cheese, drained and crumbled b 1 teaspoon kosher salt b ¼ cup panko b 1 tablespoon chopped parsley b 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Preparation 1.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place portobello mushroom caps and tomatoes on baking sheet; drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Set aside. Do not turn off oven.

5. Add garlic and butter and sauté for additional 2-3 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, mix panko, parsley and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

7. Add heavy cream and season with salt and pepper. Add feta and tomatoes.

4.

Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing: Heat remaining olive oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add onion; sauté for 5-8 minutes, until lightly browned.

6. Add spinach and cook until the liquid cooks off about 5-8 minutes.

8. Divide stuffing among the portobello mushrooms and top with the seasoned parmesan panko; return to oven. Roast for 15 minutes.

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

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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Notable Quotes

How four left-wing news services reported last week’s guilty verdict of illegal alien Cristhian Bahena Rivera, who senselessly killed college student Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa last year:

Farmworker found guilty of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts.

- CNN

Farm laborer convicted in 2018 stabbing death of Iowa runner.

- AP

Farmworker Convicted of Fatally Stabbing Iowa College Student.

- The New York Times

Iowa Farmworker Found Guilty of Murdering Mollie Tibbetts - The Daily Beast

One of the frustrations I had while I was off is that I was watching this war go on in Israel … and it was frustrating to me because there was no one on liberal media to defend Israel, really.

“Say What?!”

We’ve become this country now that we’re kind of one-sided on this issue. And I’d also like to say off the bat I don’t think kids understand –and when I say kids, I mean the younger generations – you can’t learn history from Instagram…

Tom Cotton keeps repeating a coronavirus I would submit that Israel conspiracy did not stealtheory anybody’s land.already This is that was another thing I’ve heard the last couple of weeks, words like debunked.

- A Washington Post headline fromIFebruary 2020, that “occupiers” and “colonizers” and “apartheid,” which don’t think they recently retracted because it turns out that coronavirus people understand the history there. likely started and transmitted initially from a lab in Wuhan, China

The Jews have been in that area of the world since about 1200 B.C., way before the first Muslim or Arab walked the Earth.... I mean, Jerusalem was their capital. if it’s whobe got there first, it’s–not even YouSocan never woke enough that’s close. The Jews were the the ones who were occupied byiteverybody; problem.

It keeps going, keeps going the Romans took over at some point and then the Persians andthe the further and further and further down Byzantines and then the Ottomans.

So yes, colonization line and if you get there to thewas point where you going on there. Beginningcapitulate, in the 19thwhere century, started return youthey agree to all to these to Palestine, which was never an Arab There demands, it’llcountry. eventually get was to a never point a country called Palestine that was a distinct Arab country… where … white men aren’t allowed to

The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping talk because it’s your privilege to express Doesn’t it behoove the people who rejected the half a loaf and with that. Anyone that knows me knows I’m yourself when other people of color have continue to attack.… Hamas’s charter says they just want to wipe introverted, and anyone that has seen me at been silenced throughout history. It’ll be out Israel. Their negotiation position is, “You all die.” The two-state the tournaments will notice that I’m often “you’re not allowed to go outside because In recent years, it has become an article of faithsolution of the progressive has been on the table a number of times. There could be wearing headphones as that helps dull my so many people were imprisoned for so left that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism and that it is slanderous to Jerusalem an Arab capital in East now if Yasser Arafat had accepted social anxiety many years.” I’m not joking. It really will get assume that someone who hates Israel hates Jews too. that in 2003. He did not.

- Naomi Osaka, the world No. 2 tennis player, upon there. It’s that crazy. I mean we just gotta withdrawing from the French Open and taking a break from Not everyone received the memo.

I mean, they have rejectedbe this and war time timea lot nice towent eachto other, man.and There’s tennis after she was fined for not speaking to the press again. And, you know, as far as Gazathat goes, amazing to me of that of people areit’s taking advantage this Not the people who, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Death the progressives think thatweirdness they’re being progressive bythat taking that in our culture and becomes I am not a natural public speaker and get to the Jews,” according to a witness, assaulted Jewish diners at side of it, the Bella Hadidstheir of the world, these influencers. just thing – their thing is callingIpeople huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles.

Not the people who launched want to say in February ofout thisfor year, a Hamas court ruled that an their privilege, calling people out for world’s media. So here in Paris I was already fireworks in New York’s Diamond District.

Not the people who unmarried woman cannot travel in Gaza without the permission of their position. feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought beattoaexercise man wearing a kippah in Times Square.

Not the Really? That’s - Podcast host Joe Rogan a male guardian. where the progressives are? Bella it brutally was better self-care and skip people walked through London insulting the Jews and Hadid and her friends would run screaming to Tel Aviv if they had to the presswho conferences. shouting, “[Hurt] their daughters.”

Not the people who gathered live in Gaza for one day.

– Ibid.

I think that what we’re seeing now is Joe outside a synagogue in Germany shouting insults. the people – BillNot Maher, HBO and the administration are essentially who at a demonstration in Brussels chanted, “Jews, remember finishing the job. And I think it’ll be an Khaybar. armyHarry is back.”

It’s been 3 Muhammad’s days since Prince has The CVS on my corner has started locking up basic itemsof like interesting test. Ninety percent the folks – Brett Stephens, The New York Times offered another exclusive interview clothing detergent. As so many families can’t make ends meet right who were there in my administration, they regarding how much he and Meghan hate now, I can’t imagine thinking the wayand to solve theon problem of are that continuing building the policies his family. Can somebody check on them?

When he or his Mini-Mes now say they want credit for being right people stealing basic necessities outabout. of desperation is to prosecute we talked - Tweet by Candace Owens on China all along, remember the fact that theythem. were wrong before - Former President Barack Obama in an interview with The New York Times they were right on China.

– Tweet by millionaire actress Cynthia Nixon, who ran as a Democrat for governor of New York Trump was likely - CNN’s Andrew Cuomo responding to the fact that former President correct on coronavirus originating and being released from a lab in Wuhan, China

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

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27

How four left-wing news services reported last week’s guilty verdict of illegal alien Cristhian Bahena Rivera, who senselessly killed college student Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa last year:

One of the frustrations I had while I was off is that I was watching this war go on in Israel … and it was frustrating to me because there was no one on liberal media to defend Israel, really.

Farmworker found guilty of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts.

We’ve become this country now that we’re kind of one-sided on this issue. And I’d also like to say off the bat I don’t think kids understand –and when I say kids, I mean the younger generations – you can’t learn history from Instagram…

- CNN

Farm laborer convicted in 2018 stabbing death of Iowa runner.

- AP

Farmworker Convicted of Fatally Stabbing Iowa College Student.

- The New York Times

Iowa Farmworker Found Guilty of Murdering Mollie Tibbetts - The Daily Beast

The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety - Naomi Osaka, the world No. 2 tennis player, upon withdrawing from the French Open and taking a break from tennis after she was fined for not speaking to the press

I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences.

– Ibid.

I would submit that Israel did not steal anybody’s land. This is another thing I’ve heard the last couple of weeks, words like “occupiers” and “colonizers” and “apartheid,” which I don’t think people understand the history there.

The Jews have been in that area of the world since about 1200 B.C., way before the first Muslim or Arab walked the Earth.... I mean, Jerusalem was their capital. So if it’s who got there first, it’s not even close. The Jews were the ones who were occupied by everybody; the Romans took over at some point and then the Persians and the Byzantines and then the Ottomans. So yes, there was colonization going on there. Beginning in the 19th century, they started to return to Palestine, which was never an Arab country. There was never a country called Palestine that was a distinct Arab country…

Doesn’t it behoove the people who rejected the half a loaf and continue to attack.… Hamas’s charter says they just want to wipe out Israel. Their negotiation position is, “You all die.” The two-state solution has been on the table a number of times. There could be an Arab capital in East Jerusalem now if Yasser Arafat had accepted that in 2003. He did not.

I mean, they have rejected this and went to war time and time again. And, you know, as far as Gaza goes, it’s amazing to me that the progressives think that they’re being progressive by taking that side of it, the Bella Hadids of the world, these influencers. I just want to say in February of this year, a Hamas court ruled that an unmarried woman cannot travel in Gaza without the permission of a male guardian. Really? That’s where the progressives are? Bella Hadid and her friends would run screaming to Tel Aviv if they had to live in Gaza for one day.

– Bill Maher, HBO

It’s been 3 days since Prince Harry has offered another exclusive interview regarding how much he and Meghan hate his family. Can somebody check on them?

- Tweet by Candace Owens

The CVS on my corner has started locking up basic items like clothing detergent. As so many families can’t make ends meet right now, I can’t imagine thinking that the way to solve the problem of people stealing basic necessities out of desperation is to prosecute them.

– Tweet by millionaire actress Cynthia Nixon, who ran as a Democrat for governor of New York

MORE QUOTES

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107

Infrastructure is about helping people get to work and helping businesses thrive because they’ve got workers. We build roads and bridges to do that. We invest in broadband to do that. We need to invest in childcare to do that. Millions of women are out of the workplace right now, and one out of four says the reason I can’t get childcare. We were in a crisis before the pandemic hit. It only got worse during the pandemic. This is our chance to expand our idea of what infrastructure means.

- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) on MSNBC

Crunchy, nutty, earthy, sweet. Like a walnut with wings, covered in chocolate and cinnamon.

- Maryland-based candy company ChouQuette’s CEO Sarah Dwyer talking to Fox News about their newest product: chocolate-covered cicadas

I think…one of the corporate media outlets sent some reporter down, they were trying to make fun…saying, “Oh, these yokels are having kids go to school. How crazy are these people,” right? The crazy people are the ones that are vaccinated and still wearing six masks in New York City.

- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

The Media’s Dereliction of Duty on the Lab Leak Theory

By Marc A. Thiessen

W

ith evidence mounting that the coronavirus might have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, President Joe Biden has reversed course and ordered the U.S. intelligence community to produce a report on the virus’s origins within 90 days – while reporters who until recently could not be bothered to ask tough questions pressed the White House for answers.

Better late than never. For the past year, the media has scorned the idea of an accidental lab release as a far-flung conspiracy theory, declaring it “debunked,” “dangerous” or “doubtful.” In fact, it would have been an extraordinary coincidence for this virus to emerge in Wuhan – home to China’s leading research laboratory studying bat coronaviruses – and have had no connection to the lab.

Thanks to my Post colleague Josh Rogin’s excellent reporting, since April 2020 we have known that in 2018 U.S. diplomats warned of inadequate safety at the Wuhan lab. Just apply the principle of Occam’s razor – the simplest solution is almost always correct – and you have the most likely source of the pandemic.

Since then, more evidence has emerged: Thanks to veteran science reporter Nicholas Wade, writing in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, we know that the Wuhan lab was conducting risky and controversial “gain of function” experiments in which they “set out to create novel coronaviruses with the highest possible infectivity for human cells” – and that researchers were conducting many of these experiments at Biosafety Level 2 (the safety level in your dentist’s office) rather than Biosafety Level 4,

which requires scientists to work in spacesuits. We also know that there is a long history of coronaviruses escaping from labs, including the SARS1 virus, which escaped four times from the Chinese National Institute of Virology in Beijing (as well as labs in Singapore and Taiwan). And last week the Wall Street Journal reported that three researchers at the Wuhan lab sought hospital care in November 2019 – roughly when the pandemic began – with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

By contrast, there is no evidence yet that the virus emerged from nature.

We will probably never find a smoking gun proving a lab leak, because the Chinese regime has almost certainly destroyed all evidence at the Wuhan lab. The Chinese Communist Party will never cooperate in an impartial investigation because so long as it remains possible that the virus emerged from nature, then it could be an act of G-d for which Beijing cannot be held fully responsible – their lies and cover-up notwithstanding. But if the virus emerged

from a Chinese government lab because of lax safety and irresponsible research practices, then it is no longer an act of G-d, but an act of state – and the Chinese regime is directly responsible for unleashing a pandemic that has killed millions.

It is obvious why the Chinese regime wanted to dismiss a lab leak.

But why was the media so eager to dismiss it? Perhaps because the most vocal advocates of the theory were President Donald Trump and his supporters, like Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. And in the run-up to the 2020 election, any effort to blame China for the damage done by the virus was treated as an attempt to deflect responsibility from Trump as the villain of the COVID-19 story.

Another reason could be that the lab leak hypothesis threatens to ensnare the media’s anointed hero, Dr. Anthony Fauci. It turns out that Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, awarded a grant for studying bat coronavirus to the U.S.-based EcoHealth Alliance, which then subcon-

tracted the research to the Wuhan lab. Fauci admits this, but insists that the money did not support gain of function research. But as Wade points out, that is exactly what the Wuhan institute was doing. Indeed, the grant proposals from Shi Zhengli – the “Bat Woman” at the Wuhan lab – which are a matter of public record specified that she planned to use the money for gain-of-function research. Fauci is on record supporting such research. And the NIAID was supporting research in Wuhan even though the U.S. government had placed a moratorium on gain of function research.

As Wade puts it, “If the SARS2 virus did indeed escape from the Wuhan institute, then the NIH will find itself in the terrible position of having funded a disastrous experiment that led to the death of more than 3 million worldwide, including more than half a million of its own citizens.” At a bare minimum, NIAID was funding dangerous research at a lab using minimal safety precautions.

Fauci has yet to respond to a letter from Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., demanding answers. “We need to declassify all the intelligence, we need all the email traffic related to these grants,” Gallagher tells me.

The U.S. public health bureaucracy has no interest in following a trail that could lead back to itself. Neither does the Chinese Communist regime.

This is why we needed the free press to do its job. All the facts Wade uncovered were there for any intrepid reporter to find. But none did so. That was a shameful dereliction of duty.

It’s time to start digging. (c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

In Warfare, the Future is Now

By David Ignatius

W

e’re standing outside an empty brick warehouse in Alexandria, Va., but it could just as easily be a hidden command center for hostile forces in Iraq, Afghanistan or some battlefield of the future. Our challenge is: How are we going find out who’s inside without exposing ourselves to gunfire?

An operator named Jack Ambridge removes a small quadcopter drone, less than a foot square, from his backpack and soon its tiny rotors are buzzing. “Nova 1,” as the drone is called, ascends to the nearest open window and surveys the warehouse, room by room, using artificial intelligence software called Hivemind that’s embedded in the drone. It doesn’t need to connect with a server at headquarters; it’s fully autonomous.

The tiny drone emerges from the building several minutes later with a detailed map of the structure and imaging that shows it’s empty. Mission accomplished – a job that, in a real-life combat situation, could get soldiers killed.

Welcome to the rapidly advancing world of autonomous weapons – the cheap, highly effective systems that are revolutionizing militaries around the world. These new unmanned platforms can make U.S. forces much safer, at far lower cost than aircraft carriers and fighter jets. But beware: They’re being deployed by our potential adversaries faster than the Pentagon can keep up, and they increase the risk of conflict by making it easier and less bloody for the attacker.

Nova 1 was created by a high-tech start-up called Shield AI, which was

co-founded by ex-Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng after he returned from Afghanistan in 2015. Tseng’s unit had suffered casualties in an operation in Uruzgan province when he couldn’t target a hostile building because he didn’t know if civilians were inside.

Tseng knew that AI could solve this problem. He got a degree from Harvard Business School, grew his company, and hired Ambridge, a former Air Force special tactics officer, and others.

potentially hostile territory. Christian Brose, the chief strategy officer of a start-up called Anduril Industries, hands me some virtual reality goggles. In their 3-D images, I can see the terrain, in real time, through the fusion of different sensors mounted on autonomous systems in the target zone.

I focus on a suspicious object and query the AI-enabled operating system, called Lattice: Where was that object 30 minutes ago? Two hours

Mission accomplished – a job that, in a real-life combat situation, could get soldiers killed.

Shield AI’s systems are now deployed in combat locations abroad.

The real breakthrough is that its AI brain is at the “edge,” in the quadcopter itself. It doesn’t have to communicate with a server back at headquarters – a link that would probably be jammed in a real conflict.

Let’s take another real-world military problem: force protection and perimeter defense. Soldiers regularly get killed manning checkpoints and scouting potential threats “outside the wire.” I recently watched a demonstration of a high-tech solution to that one, too.

We’re in an office building in downtown Washington, D.C., but it could be a command post anywhere.

We’re worried about the security of

ago? Based on AI predictions, where is it going next? The system shows me, with earlier imagery and future plotting.

The live feed I’m watching comes from Anduril’s test range in Southern California, but the technology has already been sold to the Pentagon and deployed to operational zones for force protection, and to Customs and Border Protection for monitoring U.S. frontiers. Anduril was founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, a California entrepreneur who created Oculus Rift, the VR system that’s credited with revolutionizing that display technology.

Brose, who spent years campaigning for military reform as staff director of the Senate Armed Services

Committee for the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is now “walking the talk” at Anduril. The key advantage of the autonomous AI systems, he explains, is that “rather than lots of humans operating one system, we have one human operating many systems.” In other words, rather than having a big, vulnerable aircraft carrier, we have swarms of hard-to-target drones.

For a final real-world problem, think about a Marine Corps squad out in the desert. It’s a tiny unit, just 12 Marines and a squad leader. But a new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program called Squad X is experimenting with ways to use autonomous ground and air vehicles to augment the team’s situational awareness, reach and impact.

Defense giant Lockheed Martin is prime contractor for the program, and a company called BAE Systems is creating an AI system to fuse data from the sensors and allow quicker, better decisions by the squad on the ground. (Disclosure: My wife, a BAE Systems software engineer, was part of the Squad X project.)

Wars of the future may look like video games, as operators control faraway swarms of autonomous systems, but the lethality on the ground will be devastating. What’s encouraging is that people like Tseng and Brose are taking their frustration with the human cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and turning that knowledge into new systems that will keep U.S. troops safer, at lower cost – even as they combat future adversaries. (c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

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Forgotten Her es

Special Forces Units

By Avi Heiligman

Members of Merrill’s Marauders

A U.S. flag on a destroyed bunker two days after Pointe du Hoc was captured by U.S. Army Rangers in World War II

S

ome of the most secretive units in the American military are the special forces. They came into being during the 20th century,

although there were some specialized units during earlier conflicts and in particular the Civil War. As technology and weapons advanced,

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Members of the First Special Service Force

the need for unconventional warfare units arose, and today these capabilities have grown so much that there is a special operations command in addition to specialized units that each branch of the military maintains. As many of the operations performed by special operation units are declassified, they don’t usually make frontpage news. Here are some of the lesser-known units from World War II that give a glimpse of the scope of missions of special forces operators.

Several special forces units were formed during World War II, but it was the First Special Service Force to have the unique distinction of having soldiers from two countries. Both Americans and Canadians served with the force during its years of operations from 1942-1944. The idea behind the unit was to create a large unit capable of fighting in harsh winter conditions. Their first mission was to the inhospitable island of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska. The Japanese had vacated the island without the Americans noticing, so the force didn’t see action there so they were sent to Italy.

Known by the enemy as the Devil’s Brigade, they were very active in the mountainous regions of Italy in a campaign that saw them capture several key objectives. They were used to secure objectives like bridges behind enemy lines that would lead the way for the regular army. Later, they were

sent to southern France during Operation Dragoon and captured five ports. In December 1944, the First Special Service Force was disbanded, and the members were sent to other units.

While the First Special Service Force was fighting the enemy in harsh winter conditions, another special forces unit was battling the Japanese in the unrelenting jungle conditions of Burma. About 3,000 American soldiers were selected and trained for the unit called the 5307 th Composite Unit (Provisional). The mission was codenamed Galahad, and the soldiers affectionately called themselves Merrill’s Marauders. In February 1944, 2,750 Marauders began a 1,000mile trek behind Japanese lines to begin operations in Burma. Kachin Scouts were attached to the units to lead them through the dense jungle.

During the trek, the Marauders engaged the Japanese in several minor engagements and five larger battles.

In most of the battles, the Allies were outnumbered but managed to inflict more casualties than they sustained themselves. Disease and battlefield casualties dwindled down their numbers to a third of their full strength, but that didn’t stop the Marauders from reaching their target. Myitkyina Airfield in Northern Burma was needed to land supply airplanes for units in China.

The Kachin Scouts were Burmese

troops trained by American officers with the OSS, the American spy agency during the war. The American unit was called Detachment 101, and they were to perform several missions including guiding Merrill’s Marauders.

Among their many duties, they were to gather intelligence, disrupt Japanese supply and communication lines, identify targets for the air corps, and rescue downed pilots. Since the terrain was difficult for vehicles to pass, Allied troops had to pass through on foot. Together with local and Chinese forces, they inflicted severe casualties on the Japanese and forced them out of Burma.

The U.S. Navy had several special forces units operating during the war including the Underwater Demolition Teams which eventually morphed into the Navy SEALs. The Beach Jumpers were another tactical unit that saw a lot of action in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Beach Jumpers were tasked with deception and diversion during

amphibious landings to divert the enemy’s attention from the actual landings. The members were experts in small boat handling and could operate sophisticated equipment. Just a small number of Beach Jumpers

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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an entire division away from the real landing zone due to the ruse created by the Beach Jumpers who sustained no casualties in the mission.

Several other special forces groups operated during the war, in-

Together with local and Chinese forces, they inflicted severe casualties on the Japanese and forced them out of Burma.

could make it appear that a huge amphibious operation was taking place.

During Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, over 100 miles from the actual landings they utilized sound boats as well as a smokescreen, a searchlight, rockets and small arms fire to appear that a landing was imminent. The German defenders kept

cluding the well-known Rangers.

The Navy had their own scouts and raiders that provided reconnaissance and raiding capabilities. They went on many missions and saw action in North Africa, Normandy, the Pacific, and China. The Alamo Scouts were a special reconnaissance unit of the 6th Army and saw action in New Guin-

ea and the Philippines. In over 100 missions they didn’t lose a man and provided vital reconnaissance in the raid to free the Allied prisoners of the Cabanatuan prison camp.

Some missions require specialized units that are trained in specific types of operation to execute successfully.

Many countries worldwide have special forces units and learn from previous special operations units on how to operate. The American units during World War II learned quickly from other units like the British Commandos, and they themselves were able to pass on the legacy. While many of these units are now defunct, their stories live on. Their operators are forgotten heroes for the danger they faced while in combat.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

HELP WANTED

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JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Your

15

Money

Free Advice

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

P

eople have loved advice columns, in print and elsewhere, since Daniel Defoe launched the “Scandalous Club” back in 1704.

Since then, we’ve lobbed questions to Abby, Ann, Polly, Prudence, Miss Manners, Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, and even Frasier Crane. (“I’m listening.”)

But few letters stand out like the one “Future Jailbird” sent last week to MarketWatch.com’s “Moneyist” columnist, who covers “the ethics and etiquette of your financial affairs.”

Here are some highlights: “Throughout our entire marriage, my wife and I jointly, upon our accountant’s advice, defrauded the government by hiding income.…

We are now divorcing.... I say she’s only entitled to our joint retirement, properties and holdings, and half of our joint business assets…. Yes, I know. This sounds ridiculous, and yes, I know, we could both be in jail. I recommended no one do any digging, but she’s adamant that she gets more, and [who cares about] the consequences of both our actions during the marriage to mutually defraud the government.”

Wow. Hard to know where to start here, right? But let’s dig in and give it a try.

Mrs. Jailbird sounds like a de-

light – a whiskey sour without the whiskey. Jailbird himself is clearly no prize, either. He sees nothing unfair in stealing from taxpayers – but doesn’t want to share any of the loot with his literal partner-in-crime. He might want to rewatch the “Lufthansa heist” sequence from Martin Scorsese’s

the Department of Justice’s Twitter feed, @TheJusticeDept, he’ll see a fairly steady stream of press releases introducing readers to accountants who help their clients cheat.

(Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well.)

MarketWatch’s columnist advised getting a new accountant, a lawyer, and a mediator. “Your wife

We don’t remember the kids on the playground chanting “swipers keepers, losers weepers,” do you?

comedy Goodfellas to learn what happens when co-conspirators get greedy for their share of a score.

(Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well.)

We don’t remember the kids on the playground chanting “swipers keepers, losers weepers,” do you?

It’s clear that Mrs. Jailbird’s new spouse has no idea what sort of ride he’s in for. Still, he probably deserves whatever he gets. As for the unnamed accountant, if he follows

appears to have you over a barrel.

She knows you well enough to take this gamble. The worst that can happen is you say no. What your wife does next is anyone’s gamble.” Still, he cautioned, if Mrs. Jailbird really does decide to Thelma-and-Louise her way into legend, “You both signed your tax returns, and you must take equal responsibility for that.” (Spoiler alert: it’s not gonna end well.)

Mr. & Mrs. Future Jailbird aren’t the only couple turning to the Moneyist with their problems. ExWife writes, “My ex-husband has a life insurance policy on me – and jokes he’ll be ‘Suspect No. 1’ if I die.

Other than haunting him, what can I do?” And Stuck writes, “My boyfriend talked me into depositing my paychecks into his bank account and paying for a car in his name. What can I do?” We suspect things won’t end well for them, either.

There’s gotta be a moral here, somewhere. Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas? Keep your friends close and enemies closer?

We’re just sorry it’s anonymous, meaning we probably won’t learn how it ends. In the meantime, you can count on us to help you deliver the actual savings our lovebirds wanted, without all those sleepless nights, felony indictments, divorce lawyer bills, or public embarrassment!

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.

4.5” x 11.25” The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021

Newborns/Baby /Milestones/Family Box Shoots

‫בס״ד‬

JUNE 2021

A NEW CHILD, A RENEWED MEMBERSHIP If you have an annual membership with Tehillim Kollel, you may have received a phone call – with greetings from the Tehillim minyan – or perhaps an invitation to renew your membership for another year.

When a Tehillim Kollel rep placed one such phone call to a member, he was asked to call back a week later.

The next week, we called again. “I get a mazel tov!” the man on the other end said excitedly.

What was the simchah? This family had just been blessed with a second child, some ten years after their wedding.

We waited for him to share his story.

“It is exactly one year since I signed up! I paid because I wanted the zechus of the entire Tehillim recited by a minyan every day… You see, we had baruch Hashem been blessed with a child, but the years were passing and we were desperate to give him a sibling. Our single-child home was growing quiet and we so badly wanted to bring another neshama’la into the world.

“We tried everything, but nothing helped. Until, one day, we decided to turn to the oldest segulah.

My wife and I decided to strike this reputed business deal with the refined yungerleit of Tehillim Kollel…

“And we certainly want to renew our membership for another year! We cannot thank you enough!”

WEEKLY COLUMN OF RECENT EPISODES

BY TEHILLIM KOLLEL Sign up for our annual mermbership:

718.705.7174 347.572.8973 Instagram: miriamjacobovitsphotography

117

Info@TehillimKollel.org www.TehillimKollel.org

118 42

JUNE 3, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

Sun’s Up Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

I

f you don’t have a barbecue, it never happened.

It’s all about the burnt meat.

Sounds a lot like Passover, since without having the burnt offering, you didn’t celebrate the holiday.

Honestly, if you don’t at least eat one really well-done hot dog or hamburger or burnt chicken piece, did you really celebrate Memorial Day?!

Rain or shine, you can smell those barbecues up and running as you saunter through the streets. This is what heralds in summer.

Sure, it’s even better if you get to swim or go to the beach. Maybe go out for that bike ride or hit a few golf balls.

And though it’s just about the beginning of all the summer activities you can see some people already fretting that summer’s almost over!

What’s with us? We wait all winter for the warm weather and summer fun, and the minute it shows its head, we’re worrying that it’s almost gone.

Be in the moment!

When you get on the massage table, don’t think about the last one you had or the next one, you’ll get – just be there for each excruciatingly delicious muscle-easing maneuver.

That’s what the next few months need to be. Some days may not be the exact weather we want, yet the goal

is to embrace it all as a rejuvenating time of the year.

Take walks.

Play sports.

Sit outside.

Hang with friends.

Make parties.

Live life.

Leave your heavy gear inside. Embrace the fresh air, the outdoors. And

barbecue away.

That’s the meat of it all. Fill up on good times, good friends, and a healthy dose of vitamin D.

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach.

She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.

PLANNING IS YOUR STABILITY IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

‫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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Call Us for an appointment — The appointment can be at our office or your home, at your convenience:

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All halachic documents are under the supervision of the Bais HaVaad in Lakewood.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 3, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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