Five Towns Jewish Home - 1-3-19

January 3, 2019

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

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

Mr. Shlomo Mayer, a”h

Rabbi Yecheskel Kaminsky, a”h

A Family Man; A Community Man

A Good Friend to All

See page 7

Around the

Community

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Dr. Lightman: Teaching our Children and Adolescents Resiliency PAGE 18

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

I

to learn, to share a joke.

When a community loses someone, it’s not just their family that mourns. Every one of us are – whether we notice it or not – affected by their passing. When these two members of our community passed away this week, it created a void in our community as a whole. And, as members of the community, it is now incumbent upon us to emulate those same values that Mr. Mayer and Rabbi Kaminsky stood for. Grab hold of the baton that they extended to the next generation and continue to build from there.

It could start with simple things. You can smile at the new person in shul or introduce yourself to them when they look a bit lost.

You can knock on your neighbor’s door – even if they’ve lived on your block for many years – and invite them for a Shabbos meal.

You can extend yourself a bit when someone comes to your home asking for a donation.

You can give your children undivided attention when they come home or at least greet them with a smile as they walk through the door.

They’re simple things, but they’re a start.

Reaching out, extending your focus, thinking about someone else…those are values that our community was built on. And those are values that continue to enhance our community today.

f you’ve lived here for longer than three years, you must have noticed how our streets have become more crowded, our schools have become fuller, and the lines at the grocery store have gotten longer. The Five Towns/Far Rockaway community has been attracting hundreds of people over the past few years who see the community as the perfect place to bring up their growing families.

I venture to say that despite the growing numbers, our community has, at the core, remained the same. I confess – I was not born and bred here, but my husband tells me of what the community was like when he was young. And I see the same ideals in our community today.

The community was founded by those who cared for others. It was founded on a deep love for Yiddishkeit and a love for our fellow Jews. It was founded by people who valued family time and yet took the time to reach out to those in need. It was founded by the principle that hard work breeds success, and humility is de rigueur.

This week, our community lost two integral members who were personifications of those values. Both Mr. Shlomo Mayer, a”h, and Rabbi Yecheskel Kaminsky, a”h, went out of their way to help their neighbors.

Their view of life was not centered inward; instead, their focus was on others, noticing those who were alone, or who needed a job, or who needed a few moments to be heard,

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

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PUBLISHER

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

42

NEWS

133

Global

12

National

28

Odd-but-True Stories

38

ISRAEL Israel News

22

What a Coop by Rafi Sackville

88

PARSHA Rabbi Wein

80

The Fulfillment of Hashem’s Promises by Rav Moshe Weinberger

82

Parsha in Four by Eytan Kobre

84

The “Nature” of Miracles by Shmuel Reichman

86

PEOPLE Mr. Shlomo Mayer, a”h: A Family Man; A Community Man

90

A Good Friend to All: Remembering Rabbi Yecheskel Kaminsky, a”h 96 Art & Artists Shine at 925 Sterling & Art

100

How a Jewish Journalist from Poland Stole Khrushchev’s Speech by Avi Heiligman 124 HEALTH & FITNESS If We’re Lost, Can We Get Found? by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

106

Dangers of the Non-Dietitian and the Non-Diet

by Aliza Beer, MS RD

108

Building Resiliency in Children and Adolescents

by Dr. Hylton I. Lightman

110

Dear Editor, Throughout recorded history, decisions have been made that defy logic. Such appears to be the case with President Trump’s decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria. How does one remove a stabilizing force from a region where local and distant dictators and murderous terrorist gangs are all vying for control of the area? How do we remain silent when Israel is right in the midst of this never-ending insanity? In spite of nearly all military advisers warning against such a move, our president refuses to reconsider. Rabbi Berel Wein’s thoughts on Parshas Shemos helps bring a ray of clarity to this troubling decision. Says Rabbi Wein, “... events that occur are sometimes so unlikely that we cannot fathom as to why they happened... There is a broad parameter that surrounds all human history, and that is the guiding force of Heaven that dictates events.”

Shmuly Kovitz Forest Hills, NY Dear Editor, “In Search of Truth: A Prince’s Story” by Rafi Sackville.

This was an inspiring, wonderful story of Rabbi Natan Gamedze.

It reminds me of a warm folk tale. I kvelled much at the good rebbe’s genius, and your reporter’s tenderness in the article.

Thank you, Stanley Dyrector Dear Editor, I want to commend Chaim Homnick on his article weighing the good vs. evil of Amazon. I think he has presented the argument thoroughly and balanced the pros and cons equitably.

As a consumer in today’s uber fast society, who among us can say she hasn’t benefited from the ease of ordering something on Amazon?

As a relative of someone who is a third party seller, I can say that Amazon is a salvation for someone who cannot manage a 9-5 job, yet still manage a life of independence and dignity by being a contributing member of society by partnering with Amazon. And, being on the inside, so to speak, I know that Amazon generally values its third party sellers and supports their success.

(Of course, there are horror stories sellers have experienced, but on the whole, they are few and far between.)

I have respect and admiration Continued on page 10

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Corn Quiche

112

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 103

108

Tribe Tech Review

128

Your Money

133

An Old Story by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 134

HUMOR Centerfold 78 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

114

The Biggest Problem with the Criminal Justice Reform Bill by Megan McArdle 120 Send Islamic State Fighters Held in Syria to Guantanamo Bay

by Marc A. Thiessen CLASSIFIEDS

122 129

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for the brilliance and innovation of Amazon as a company that seems to anticipate its customers’ needs and have solutions ready at hand to fill those needs. How many other behemoth companies can we point to that have transitioned as quickly as Amazon to the market at today’s lightning speed pace?

It was truly refreshing to see the complete case for Amazon, good

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and bad, presented so succinctly.

Sincerely, Rif ka Saltz Dear Editor, The ongoing federal government shut down reminds me of “Stuck In The Middle With You” by the band Stealers Wheel – the words, “clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you” from the song. It perfectly sums up the chaos and gridlock in

570-587-3300 Washington.

Both the president and Congress need to work together if we are ever going to put our fiscal house in order

and end future threats of furloughs.

We need to return to the time when Congress held budget hearings for each department during the summer. A real balanced budget agency by agency was adopted during an open process. Members of Congress, federal employees, public, watchdog groups and media were afforded sufficient time to understand the contents prior to adoption. Full federal budgets were adopted on time prior to the start of any new Federal Fiscal year on October 1. This was a time when there were no furloughs.

Let’s make a deal. Democrats should give Trump $5 billion for the Wall. Republicans should give Schumer & Democrats $5 billion toward the $29 billion Gateway Tunnel. Both sides will come away happy.

Sincerely, Larry Penner Dear Editor, How funny that Cindy Weinberger writes this week about the dangers to our waistlines with the introduction of dips at every Shabbos table. Just last week, Mr. Chaim Bashevkin wrote in the Mishpacha Magazine about the influx of dips and what each dip “means” when served. Dips, it seems, is becoming as ubiquitous as chicken soup with a kneidel. And our diets are the ones that are suffering!

Shoshanna Remsen Dear Editor, This week, you reported on a company that has named an amphibian after our president because it “sticks its head in the sand” and sees things in “black and white.” As a frum paper, you should have hakaras hatov for all that the president of the United States has done for Jews in the U.S. and in Israel.

Reporting on silly antics from the left is beneath you.

Sincerely, Jordan Hammer

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

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

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

THIS SUNDAY

The Week In News

‫תנו כבוד לתורה‬

The State of Happiness

The Five Towns - Far Rockaway Friends of the

RABBINICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA YESHIVA CHOFETZ CHAIM OF QUEENS

The United States came in 18th on the list, lagging behind Canada (#7), Australia (#10), Israel (#11), and Germany (#15). The United Kingdom nabbed the 19th slot.

On the other side of the happiness scale are 18 African countries such as Zambia, Botswana, and Madagascar, which suffer from overwhelming corruption and a stagnant economy.

According to the study, the unhappiest nation in the world is Venezuela, which is in the midst of a devastating financial crisis and runaway inflation.

After 60 Years, the Cuban Gov’t Begins to Crack

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TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY

A new study suggests that income is less of a factor in personal happiness than previously thought.

According to a new Gallup poll and data from the World Bank, many people in third world countries enjoy high levels of happiness and satisfaction in their lives despite having the lowest average income in the world.

While one’s standard of living has a large impact on one’s happiness, the data showed that other factors influence the happiness index as well.

According to the World Happiness Report for 2018, happiness is more complex than just one variable. Researchers who wrote the report used six variables that contribute to happiness: social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, corruption, GDP per capita, and life expectancy. Among indicators researchers also looked into was the personal safety citizen’s experience, the social safety net, and the overall sense of satisfaction.

Unsurprisingly, the happiest countries in the world are all Nordic; Finland took the top slot. Norway, Denmark, and Iceland came right behind. Switzerland rounded out the top five happiest countries. These are all countries that are well known for their generous social services, superior education, and excellent healthcare.

A country that also reported high levels of happiness is Costa Rica. Despite a low GDP and average income, citizens said that they have high personal satisfaction, overall contentment, and a strong social network that stresses solidarity.

After six decades of draconian Communist rule, Cuba’s repressive regime is showing signs of softening.

Cuba has been a socialist country for over 60 years. Recently, however, it has been taking steps to become more open to the private sector and the business community, something that was previously seen as unthinkable.

Since taking over for Raul Castro as president six months ago, Miguel Diaz-Canel has shown a leadership style that radically differs from his predecessors. Currently, Cuba suffers from stagnant economic growth and the inability to provide for its citizens. However, the new president exposed internal conflicts earlier this year and reversed numerous government decisions that were unpopular.

Diaz-Canel softened the government stance on independent art, removed some government control over the private sector, and promoted a new constitution that creates the post of a prime minister.

William LeoGrande, a Cuban expert at the American University, said that the aforementioned steps are a dramatic change for the island nation. “By revising the regulations governing the private sector and making concessions to the artists on the decree law regulating the arts, the government has shown a responsiveness to organized public pressure that is unprecedented,” he noted.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Diaz-Canal has also pledged to roll back onerous regulation that has crippled the private sector.

Among the regulations he cut is a law limiting the number of chairs allowed at private restaurants, which effectively limits the food establishment’s customer base. Another law that has been erased put a cap on business licenses afforded to individual Cubans.

Despite the changes, Diaz-Canel insists that he is not attempting to do away with Cuba’s Communist nature.

“There’s no reason to believe that corrections are steps backward, or to confuse them with weaknesses when the people are heard,” he said last week. “Revolution is to change everything that should be changed.

None of us is as powerful as all of us together.”

More Power for MBS? King Salman of Saudi Arabia re-structured the kingdom’s cabinet last Thursday, shuffling ministers and security chiefs while keeping the power in the hands of his son and des-

ignated heir, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

Ibrahim Al-Assaf was installed as foreign minister, taking over for Adel al-Jubeir. A slew of senior intelligence personnel were fired, and Prince Abdullah bin Bandar was appointed as the head of the National Guard. Adel al-Jubeir had become the Saudi foreign minister after a successful career as an ambassador to the United States. Jubeir will now be the minister of state for foreign affairs.

Other agencies that had their directors replaced are the Directorate of Public Security and the Information Ministry. The King also ordered a new space agency created to be headed by former astronaut Prince Sultan bin Salman, another one of his sons.

The changes come amid rising international backlash to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier this year. 33-year-old MBS

has been under intense international pressure recently since a team of Saudi undercover agents killed Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul back in October.

Western intelligence agencies concluded that MBS most likely knew about the attack or ordered it himself.

Both the CIA and England’s MI6 say that he was likely behind the grisly killing of Khashoggi. Mohammed bin Salman is also behind a Saudi military campaign in Yemen that has created a humanitarian crisis in that country as they endeavor to battle the Houthi rebels.

The recent cabinet reshuffle appears to have buttressed Mohammed bin Salman’s position. With all of the people promoted to the various cabinet positions being known as close associates of MBS, the crown prince now enjoys almost total control over the Saudi government.

Russia Detains American Russia’s FSB state security service said on Monday that it had detained an American citizen suspect-

ed of spying in Moscow and had opened a criminal case against him.

The FSB said the American had been detained on December 28 but it gave no details of the nature of his alleged espionage.

The English-language service of TASS news agency named the American as Paul Whelan. Paul’s family said that he was in Russia for a wedding.

“Paul is a retired Marine and was visiting Moscow to attend a wedding,” his twin brother, David, told CNN. “We are deeply concerned for his safety and well-being. His innocence is undoubted, and we trust that his rights will be respected.”

Under Russian law, espionage can carry a sentence between 10 and 20 years in prison.

Earlier this month Russian na-

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Yeshiva University High Schools Annual Dinner of Tribute

Join Our Journey MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2019 • ‫תשע״ט‬ 6:30 P.M. • MARINA DEL REY

‫ב׳ שבט‬

tional Maria Butina pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to a conspiracy charge in a deal with prosecutors and admitted to working with a top Russian official to infiltrate American conservative activist groups and politicians as an agent for Moscow.

Russia’s relations with the United States plummeted when Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, and Washington and Western allies imposed a broad range of sanctions on Russian officials, companies and banks.

Food Aid in Yemen Lost and Stolen

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Across Yemen, factions and militias on all sides of the conflict have blocked food aid from going to groups suspected of disloyalty, have diverted it to front-line combat units, or sold it for profit on the black market, according to public records and confidential documents obtained by the AP and interviews with more than 70 aid workers, government officials, and average citizens from six different provinces.

The problem of lost and stolen aid is common in Taiz and other areas controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is supported by the Saudi-led military coalition. It is even more widespread in territories controlled by the Houthi rebels, the struggling government’s main enemy during the nearly four years of warfare that has spawned the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Some observers have attributed the near-famine conditions in much of the country to the coalition’s blockade of ports that supply Houthi-controlled areas. But AP’s investigation found that large amounts of food are making it into the country, but once there, the food often isn’t getting to people who

need it most – raising questions about the ability of United Nations agencies and other big aid organizations to operate effectively in Yemen. The investigation also points to the Houthis who have managed to divert the food aid to their organizations without distributing it to those who are in need.

The UN’s World Food Program has 5,000 distribution sites across the country hoping to distribute food baskets to 10 million people a month but it acknowledges that it can only monitor just 20 percent of the deliveries.

This year, the UN, the United States, Saudi Arabia and others have poured more than $4 billion in food, shelter, medical and other aid into Yemen. That figure has been growing and is expected to keep climbing in 2019.

Despite the surge in help, hunger – and, in some pockets of the country, famine-level starvation – have continued to grow.

An analysis this month by a coalition of global relief groups found that even with the food aid that is coming in, more than half of the population is not getting enough to eat — 15.9 million of Yemen’s 29 million people. They include 10.8 million who are in an “emergency” phase of food insecurity, roughly 5 million who are in a deeper “crisis” phase, and 63,500 who are facing “catastrophe,” a euphemism for famine.

Counting the number of people who have starved to death in Yemen is difficult, because of the challenges of getting into areas shaken by violence and because starving people often officially die from diseases that prey on their weakened conditions. The nonprofit group Save the Children estimates that 85,000 children under the age of 5 have died from starvation or disease since the start of the war.

The war in Yemen began in March 2015 after Houthi rebels swept out of the mountains and occupied northern Yemen, forcing the government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.

After the rebels began pushing farther south, Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states formed a coalition to take on the Houthis, describing their involvement as an effort to stop Iran, which has ties to the Houthis, from gaining sway over Yemen. The coalition launched a rolling campaign of airstrikes and imposed an air, land and sea embargo

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

on the rebel-held north. The Houthis, in turn, have blocked a key access route to Taiz, making it difficult for aid groups to get food and other supplies into the city.

The Houthis, a Zaidi-Shiite religious movement turned rebel militia, control an expanse of northern and western Yemen that is home to more than 70 percent of the country’s population. In these areas, officials and relief workers say, Houthi rebels have moved aggressively to control the flow of food aid, putting pressure on international relief workers with threats of arrest or exile and setting up checkpoints that demand payments of “customs taxes” as trucks carrying aid try to move across rebel territory.

“Since the Houthis came to power, looting has been on a large scale,” said Abdullah al-Hamidi, who served as acting education minister in the Houthi-run government in the north before defecting to the coalition side earlier this year. “This is why the poor get nothing. What really arrives to people is very little.”

A senior UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue, told the AP that enough aid is coming into the country to meet the demands of the hunger crisis but

much of it is stolen.

“If there is no corruption,” he said, “there is no famine.”

Russia’s “Invulnerable” Nuclear Missiles

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country developed a new hypersonic missile system that is “invulnerable” to U.S. defenses. The impenetrable system will enter service in 2019, the Russian leader said after a test of the missile on Wednesday.

“This is a wonderful, excellent gift for the country for the New Year,” state-run news service Tass quotes Putin as saying.

The Avangard hypersonic system

was tested from the Dombarovsky military airbase in southwest Russia, according to Tass. Earlier reports say the Avangard has intercontinental range and the ability to fly as fast as Mach 20, more than 15,000 miles per hour. As it closes in on its target, the missile with a maneuverable gliding warhead can adjust both altitude and direction to avoid defenses and fly low enough to avoid most interceptors.

“It will be practically invulnerable,” Putin said when he boasted of the Avangard during a March address to the Russian Parliament.

While there was no immediate Pentagon or State Department comment on Putin’s announcement, a U.S. official expressed doubt to CNN about the weapon systems which Putin talked about in March, saying the Russians were not close to operational.

Despite skepticism and the likelihood that his announcement is mere bluster, Putin’s declaration indicates Moscow is still pursuing weapons systems that give the Pentagon pause for thought. Besides Russia, the U.S. and China have been working on hypersonic weapons. These weapons will change the face of warfare, if

they are used, G-d forbid.

Beijing said it successfully tested a hypersonic aircraft in August, flying its Starry Sky 2 vehicle at Mach 6. It did not say what plans it has for hypersonic technology other than to contribute to its aerospace industry.

The U.S. Air Force earlier this year awarded a $928 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop a hypersonic missile.

Moscow’s Avangard announcement comes less than a month after Washington said it would stop adhering to a decades-old nuclear treaty in 60 days unless Russia returns to compliance with it.

The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty forced both countries to eliminate groundlaunched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between approximately 300 and 3,400 miles. The U.S. says specifically that Russia violated the INF when it developed and fielded the 9M729 missile system in 2017.

Russia denies violating the pact.

The intercontinental-range Avangard would not have been covered by the INF. But Wednesday’s announcement seems likely to be another thorn in increasingly prickly U.S.-Russia relations.

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Germany’s University of Mannheim has decided to change the name of an affiliated institution due to its connection to an insurance firm that insured SS-owned slave labor camps and workshops. The Dr. Kurt Hamann Foundation will now be renamed the Foundation for the Promotion of Insurance at the University of Mannheim.

Hamann died in 1981 after a long career as the chairman of the Berlin-based Victoria Insurance Company. Under the Third Reich, the company withdrew all mortgages from its Jewish customers and Jewish-owned properties. The ownership of the buildings were transferred over to the Reichsbahn, Hitler’s railway corporation, in 1937.

While not a fervent Nazi, Hamann also headed the House of German Art during the war, an art gallery dedicated to curating works supporting the Nazi narrative.

Hamann’s role in looting Jewish-owned property was first uncovered by Times of Israel journalist Dina Gold, who stumbled across the Dr. Kurt Hamann Foundation while researching her book chronicling her family’s fight to reclaim property confiscated by the Nazis. While the foundation tried to cover Hamann’s involvement with Nazi Germany and prove his innocence, further research showed otherwise. Gold found out that Hamann appeared in a 1944 booklet titled “Who’s who in Nazi Germany” and had won numerous awards from the state.

The final straw came after it was revealed that Hamann’s insurance company held a 10% ownership of the workshops at Auschwitz. Following the development, the university issued a statement saying that Hamann should not serve as a role model for its students and pledged to rename the foundation.

Congo Heads to the Polls

The Democratic Republic of Congo finally went to the polls on Sunday in a hotly contested election that was marred by severe storms and a widespread internet outage.

Current President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 and is finally stepping down. While promising an orderly transfer of power, the elections have deteriorated into a sea of controversy.

Nearly 1.26 million out of the eligible 40 million voters have been denied their rights to vote due to insecurity in the region and the Ebola outbreak. Flooding also prevented many citizens in the country’s south from getting to the polls.

In addition, over 20% of the voting stations opened late, and there were reports of stations being moved in the last minute. A local observer group, Symocel, said that many of its monitors were subjugated to intimation by the local police.

The two main opposition candidates are Felix Tshisekedi, the son of a late opposition leader, and Martin Fayulu, a former oil executive. Fayulu said that the government ordered the internet company to shut down so they wouldn’t have to broadcast his overwhelming victory. The results of the elections will be publicized later this week but observers fear that a contested election could deteriorate into violence.

Bangladesh PM Wins Contested Vote Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won her third consecutive term with a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s disputed election.

Hasina’s party racked up 300

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

parliamentary seats, with the opposition winning only seven. Marred by reports of election fraud throughout the country, the election committee first said it would investigate but then suspiciously retracted its decision.

A BBC correspondent reported seeing full ballot boxes being brought to the polling centers, raising suspicions that Hasina’s party was engaged in ballot box stuffing.

There was also voter and candidate intimidation reported with 47 candidates withdrawing from the race very close to the polling day.

Human Rights Watch South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly publicly cast doubt on the election’s reliability, tweeting that “with serious

allegations of voter intimidation, restrictions on opposition polling agents and several candidates seeking a re-poll, there are concerns about the credibility.”

Opposition leader Kamal Hossain said that the irregularities proved that the election was a farce and called to hold an immediate revote.

“We urge the election commission to void this farcical result immediately,” said Hossain. “We are demanding that a fresh election is held under a neutral government as early as possible.”

Hasina rejected the claims of fraud and insisted that the election was conducted fairly. “On the one hand, they are placing allegations,” said Hasina. “On the other hand, they are attacking our party workers, leaders. That is the tragedy in this country.”

Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority nation, home to more than 160 million people. It has recently been in the news because of the hundreds of thousands of Muslims that have fled Myanmar and are seeking refuge in Bangladesh.

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North Korea has some interesting buildings. Among them is the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel that has towered over North Korea’s capital since 1987 and has broken the world record for being the world’s tallest unoccupied building.

The outside world has always viewed this structure as the epitome of failure of the rogue nation’s society and leadership. As North Korea’s main source of income is the stipend it gets from China, there are many industries and buildings that are suf-

fering from rapid decay due to a lack of government funds available for refurbishment.

Fortunately for this lonely hotel, one designer decided to repurpose the building and transform it into a cultural icon. Light designer Kim Yong II has put up a brilliant display of string lights on the hotel that has turned it into a work of art.

After nightfall, the hotel is illuminated by over 100,000 lights that create various pictures. Accompanied by fireworks, the lights display famous stories, images of the nation’s statues, party symbols, and Communist slogans.

The entire display took five months to create. The hotel tower has three sides – one has the main display and the others light up with simpler designs. The cone-shaped tip of the building has an image of the North Korean flag waving in the wind. More than 40 meters tall, the light show is visible from any point in the city.

The main display shows 17 North Korean political slogans such as “single-minded unity,” “100 battles, 100 victories,” and “harmonious whole.”

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The project has been well-received by the public and enjoys support from Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un himself.

“The response has been great.

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Satellite images show several warehouses in a Syrian army base that were destroyed by an Israeli strike last week.

Israeli jets had pounded a series of targets in Syria this past week, the first major air assault since Russia gave Syria the S-300 air defense system in October. Among the targets hit was the Syrian army’s 4th division headquarters located west of Damascus.

An Israeli official said that the air force attacked three main locations last Tuesday and Wednesday which were primarily storage and logistics facilities that Iran used to ship weapons to Hezbollah. The official spoke on condition of anonymity and the IDF has not commented on the incident yet. Russia criticized the airstrikes and claimed that they endangered civilian flights. The Israeli official, however, said that Israel alerted Russia ahead of time.

More strikes occurred at the Damascus International Airport. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkob stated that the Syrian air defense forces

Israeli rejected a record amount of tourists in 2018 as the Jewish State bolsters its fight against the BDS movement.

According to Israel, 19,000 tourists from the 4 million that visited Israel in 2018 were turned away by immigration officials at Ben Gurion Airport and the Eilat border crossing. Number of those who were denied entry marks a steady increase in recent years. According to a report from the Population and Immigration Authority, 16,534 people were turned away in 2016, a huge increase from the 1,870 who were refused entry in 2011.

The report said that tourists from eastern European countries are met with more scrutiny because they are most likely to work illegally in Israel. They are usually held at the Ben Gurion Airport at a detention center until they are flown home.

In recent months, several American tourists were turned away in the wake of anti-Israel opinions they had posted on social media. The immigration authority often uses social media to help gather background information on visitors and had decided to refuse them entry amidst fears that they were organizing anti-Israel activities.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Famous Israeli Author Amos Oz Dies

Israeli prize-winning author Amos Oz passed away on Friday after a short battle with cancer, his daughter said. The author was 79.

Oz was widely considered to be Israel’s best-known author. He won dozens of awards, including Germany’s Goethe Award and the Israel Prize, and his novels have been translated into 45 languages. Oz had been repeatedly mentioned as a leading candidate for the Nobel Prize as well.

Oz was one of the most vocal left-wing activists and supporters of a two-state solution in Israel. In a 2015 interview, Oz said that “my Zionist starting point has always been simple: we are not alone

in Israel and in Jerusalem, and neither are the Palestinians. We cannot become one happy family.

There is another way: They are not going anywhere, they have nowhere to go; we have nowhere to go.

The house should be divided into two families,” said Oz, who also co-founded the prominent left-wing group Peace Now. One of the author’s most famous works is A Tale of Love and Darkness, which was adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman. It is an autobiographical story that portrayed three generations of Jewish life in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Oz “one of the greatest ever authors” in Israeli history.

“He greatly contributed to the renewal of Hebrew literature, with which he deftly and emotionally expressed important aspects of the Israeli experience,” Netanyahu said.

“Even though we had differences of opinion in many fields, I greatly appreciate his contributions to the Hebrew language and the renewal of Hebrew literature. His words and his writings will continue to accompany us for many years.”

Bennett and Shaked Form a “New Right” Party

Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announced this week that they are spitting from the Jewish Home party to form their own “New Right” party (HaYemin HeHadash).

The split surprised many of the politicians’ colleagues in the Jewish Home party, who said that the move came out of nowhere despite reports that the two lawmakers had been planning this for months.

Bennett and Shaked didn’t start their own party officially but purchased a 12-year old party called “Tzalash” about four months ago.

Attorney Amichai Weinberger said that they purchased it from its original owner in exchange for paying the defunct party’s annual registration fees.

The Orthodox Bennett and the secular Shaked will serve as the co-leaders of this new party. The two stated that they feel that Netanyahu is holding religious Zionists “in his pocket” and that the New Right will seek to regain some of the seats that were lost to the left.

Shaked said that this will be a full partnership between the secular and the Orthodox factions in the country.

“We’ll regain Knesset seats that have slipped from the Likud to the left — to parties that claim to be right wing but are in fact left,” she said. “The party will strengthen the right.”

“I want to be very, very clear,” Bennett said. “The New Right party is right-wing, no buts and no sort-ofs.

In favor of the Land of Israel without compromise, against a Palestinian state, period. If there had been a party like this 13 years ago, the disengagement [from the Gaza Strip] would not have happened.”

Snap polls after Bennett and Shaked left the Jewish Home showed

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their new party gaining as much as 14 seats while their former faction hovers around the electoral threshold.

Gabbay Splits from Livni

On Tuesday, shocking everyone but himself, Labor party leader Avi Gabbay announced that he would be splitting from his partnership with opposition leader Tzipi Livni. The announcement came when Gabbay, with Livni sitting by his side, told MKs that he would be disbanding the Labor-Hatnua partnership that

constituted the Zionist Union. It was clear that Livni had no prior knowledge of the split before the cameras started rolling.

Gabbay said that he had “hoped and believed that the new partnership would lead to our joint growth, to a real connection, and to mutual support. But the smart public has seen that this is not the case, and has drawn away.” He added that he did not get respect from Livni during their time together.

On Tuesday afternoon, Livni acknowledged that she was blindsided by Gabbay, adding that he could have at least called her before making the announcement publicly.

“Last week, I said that our priorities must be the state, the party, and then myself,” Livni said hours later at a press conference. “What you heard today [in Gabbay’s speech] is what I heard throughout this entire period: Me, me, me.

“I created the Zionist Union as a partnership between Labor and Hatnua along with Isaac Herzog,” she said, referring to the previous Labor leader, who is now the chief of the Jewish Agency for Israel. “My partnership with Herzog brought 24 seats to the party,” she said, refer-

ring to the 2015 elections. “Gabbay was right on one thing today – there was no partnership between us. He doesn’t want a partnership. The way he ended things today proves that.”

She added that she will be moving forward, despite the setback.

Gabbay’s move came after Livni called last week for the country’s centrist and leftist parties to “set our egos aside” and unite in a bid to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an apparent dig at Gabbay, who has reportedly refused to consider a union with another party in which he is not number one, Livni said she would be the first to give up pride of place on a new unity slate. She has since been rumored to be seeking to join forces with the new political party Israel Resilience, founded by former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, who in turn is said to be wary of partnering with her because she is regarded as too left-wing.

Palestinian Sentenced to Life for Selling Land to a Jew

This week, a Palestinian Authority court in Ramallah sentenced a Palestinian American to life in prison for attempting to sell land to Jewish Israelis in Jerusalem. The verdict was announced on Monday when Issam Akel, a resident of East Jerusalem, was given the harsh news. He is allowed to appeal the ruling.

A report on the PA judiciary’s website said an individual with the same initials as Akel was sentenced to life in prison for attempting “to annex part of the Palestinian lands to an alien state.”

Akel, a resident of Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood, is a holder of a blue Israeli identification card. The official said the PA arrested him in October and has since held him in its custody. The PA rarely arrests and carries out judicial pro-

ceedings against residents of Jerusalem who hold Israeli ID cards.

Asked about Akel’s sentencing, a U.S. official said the American government had knowledge of reports about it. “We are aware of reports that a U.S. citizen has been sentenced by a Palestinian court.

When a U.S. citizen is incarcerated abroad, the U.S. government works to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” the official said in a statement.

Palestinian law considers attempting to sell or selling land to Israeli Jews a punishable offense.

According to the law, possible punishments for trying to sell or selling land to Jewish Israelis include various degrees of hard labor and imprisonment as well as execution.

The law requires that PA President Mahmoud Abbas approve any death sentence, and he has not signed off on any executions since 2006.

In November, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman called on Ramallah to release Akel.

“The Pal Authority has been holding US citizen Isaam Akel in prison for ~2 months,” Friedman tweeted on November 28. “His suspected ‘crime’? Selling land to a Jew. Akel’s incarceration is antithetical to the values of the US & to all who advocate the cause of peaceful coexistence. We demand his immediate release.”

There are indications that Israel has attempted to pressure the PA over the issue by arresting members of the group in Jerusalem in recent months.

Since Akel’s arrest, Israel has collared and then released PA Jerusalem Governor Adnan Ghaith a few times.

Israeli security forces have also arrested 32 East Jerusalem residents on suspicion of supporting and serving in the PA security forces. According to a police statement, the suspects were Israeli residents, and some were receiving social benefits from the state while also serving in the PA’s armed forces, which is illegal under the 1994 Gaza-Jericho agreement.

Israel also halted security coordination with the PA in parts of the West Bank adjacent to Jerusalem in recent weeks. Security coordination allows for the PA to operate in villages adjacent to Jerusalem, where it does not have a permanent security presence.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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Picture of Health

With the new year here, it’s time to think about our diets and exercise levels. Hey, health is nothing to sneeze. But before you ditch your New Year’s resolutions before you even start, consider that where you live may be a factor in how healthy you are.

A new report ranks the healthiest – and least healthy – states. Aloha, Hawaii! The study found that Hawaii reclaimed the title of healthiest state in 2018, after dropping to number 2 in 2017. Other exceptionally healthy states include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Utah. If you’re upset you’re not living in the island of pineapples and volcanoes, be happy you’re not in Louisiana.

That state ranked on the bottom of the health totem pole, replacing Mississippi as the state with the greatest health challenges.

The report, titled America’s Health Rankings Annual Report, from the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit division of UnitedHealth Group, has been published every year since 1990. To calculate the rankings, researchers used 35 health measures in the categories of behaviors, community and environment, policy, clinical care, and health outcomes.

Hawaii has lower-than-average rates of obesity – must be all that snorkeling – smoking and frequent mental distress. Low levels of pollution and lots of doctors add to the healthy outlook.

The top 10 healthiest states in the nation are: 1. Hawaii 2. Massachusetts 3. Connecticut 4. Vermont 5. Utah 6. New Hampshire 7. Minnesota 8. Colorado

9. Washington 10. New York On the other side of the scale, here are the states with the worst health in the nation: 50. Louisiana 49. Mississippi 48. Alabama 47. Oklahoma 46. Arkansas 45. Kentucky 44. West Virginia 43. South Carolina 42. Tennessee 41. Indiana 40. Ohio Generally, the healthiest states in the ranking are in the Northeast, with a few in the Midwest and West.

States ranked as least healthy are generally found in the South with the exception of Indiana and Ohio.

There’s not much good news for Americans in this report. For the first time since the study was introduced 28 years ago, it found more than 30 percent of the U.S. adult population is obese. Since 2017, the prevalence of obesity increased 5 percent, from 29.9 percent to 31.3 percent of adults.

Premature deaths are also rising, increasing 3 percent over the past year. The researchers say higher numbers of drug-related deaths, suicide rates, and occupational fatalities are driving this grim trend.

Cardiovascular death rates also continue to increase, rising 2 percent in the latest survey. The number of people reporting frequent mental distress and physical distress are also rising, the report found.

But there are some silver linings in those clouds.

The percentage of children living in poverty decreased from 22.6 percent in 2013 to 18.4 percent in 2018.

Air pollution levels have also been decreasing nationally, dropping 12 percent from 9.5 to 8.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter since 2015. Additionally, there has been an increase in mental health providers and primary care physicians. And more people are getting vaccinated, which helps prevent serious diseases.

Minimum Wage – and Prices – Go Up At least 20 states and almost two dozen cities raised the mini-

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

mum wage to greet the new year.

The state wage hikes range from an extra nickel per hour in Alaska to a $1-an-hour bump in Maine, Massachusetts and for California employers with more than 25 workers.

In New York, the increase was to $11.10 per hour statewide – a 70cent increase from a year ago – with the exception of the New York City area and Long Island. In Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island and Westchester County outside the city, the wage increases to $12 per hour while in New York City it goes up to $13.50.

But just as wages increase, prices for consumers will be rising too.

Take Granny Shaffer’s restaurant in Joplin, Missouri. This week, owner Mike Wiggins was adding 5, 10, or 20 cents to each item on the menu.

The price hikes are necessary to help offset an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 in additional annual pay to Wiggins’ staff as a result of a new minimum wage law that took place on Tuesday.

“For us, it’s very simple. There’s no big pot of money out there to get the money out of” for the required pay raises, Wiggins said.

Interestingly, when diners see the increase in prices – however small they may be – they may end up skimping on waiters’ tips – the very people minimum wage is supposed to be helping.

Economic studies on minimum wage increases have shown that some workers do benefit, while others might see their work hours reduced. Businesses may place a higher value on experienced workers, making it more challenging for entry-level employees to find jobs.

Seattle, the fastest-growing large city in the U.S., has been at the forefront of the movement for higher minimum wages. A local ordinance raised the minimum wage to as much as $11 an hour in 2015, then as much as $13 in 2016, depending on the size of the employer and whether it provided health insurance.

A series of studies by the University of Washington has produced

29

haverdale 3-season trench

evolving conclusions.

In May, the researchers determined that Seattle’s initial increase to $11 an hour had an insignificant effect on employment but that the hike to $13 an hour resulted in “a large drop in employment.” They said the higher minimum wage led to a 6.9 percent decline in the hours worked for those earning under $19 an hour, resulting in a net reduction in paychecks. In October,

however, those same researchers reached a contrasting conclusion.

They said Seattle workers employed at low wages experienced a modest reduction in hours worked after the minimum wage increased, but nonetheless saw a net increase in average pretax earnings of $10 a week. That gain generally went to those who already had been working more hours while those who had been working less saw no significant change in

their overall earnings.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25. New York, California, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., have plans in place to reach $15. Ten other states enacted legislation to see it rise beyond the federal level.

Washington, D.C., has the highest current minimum wage in the nation at $13.25, followed by the state of Washington at $11.50.

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Elizabeth Warren Warms Up for 2020 Senator Elizabeth Warren took a major step on Monday toward an allbut-certain 2020 White House run, seeking to become the Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in the next election on a message of economic equality and

fighting corruption.

The Massachusetts progressive said in a New Year’s Eve email and video message to supporters that she’s launching an exploratory committee for a presidential run, which would give her a potential early edge in fundraising and organization. She said American families were “under attack from every direction,” due to a government that’s “bought and paid for by a bunch of billionaires and giant corporations that think they get to dictate the rules.”

The 70-year-old recently told Bloomberg News, “I’m in this fight for hard-working families. And that means reducing the student loan debt burden, increasing our Social Security payments for those who depend most on it, and the overarching piece, reducing corruption in government,” the senator said.

“Right now, Washington works great for the wealthy and the well-connected; it’s just not working for much of anyone else,” Warren added.

Warren, who handily won a second six-year Senate term in November, said she wants to defend the Affordable Care Act from Republican attacks and “find a system of Medicare available to all that will increase the quality of care while it decreases the cost of all of us.”

Warren has become a polarizing figure due to her aggressive criticisms of Wall Street, her support for raising taxes on rich Americans to mitigate income inequality, and her push to regulate large corporations that she often depicts as preying on ordinary people. That same advocacy, though, endears her to the left base of the Democratic Party.

Warren already has the building blocks of a campaign apparatus – a dedicated staff and a policy platform, outside advocates ready to go to bat for her, a grassroots fundraising operation that’s the envy of her rivals, and a political organization that she used to help Democratic candidates around the country in the 2018 election. She has $12.5 million in her Senate campaign account – more than any of her potential rivals in Congress – and can legally transfer any portion of that to a presidential bid.

Her likely path to the nomination would require winning a mix of women, progressives and non-white voters. Warren is well-positioned in the second nominating contest of New Hampshire, which has a history of backing presidential candidates from neighboring Massachusetts. And Iowa, the first contest, has a Democratic base with populist inclinations, as do other Midwestern states like Michigan.

Warren’s three toughest potential rivals would be Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, California Senator Kamala Harris, and outgoing Texas Representative Beto O’Rourke, who came within 3 points in November of defeating incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz in the red state.

Warren has been called “Pocahontas” by President Trump after she said that was a Native American.

In October, Warren released a DNA

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test showing evidence of her background, a move that only provoked more pushback from the Cherokee Nation and other advocates, who said it’s wrong and inappropriate to claim Native American identity on the basis of blood, especially since the blood tests did not find any conclusive evidence of Warren’s ancestry.

A Small Victory for Otto Warmbier’s Family

A U.S. federal court has ordered North Korea to pay the family of Otto Warmbier $500 million for its role in killing the U.S. student.

Warmbier, a student from Ohio,

was visiting North Korea on a trip in January 2016 when he was snatched up by the North Korean authorities in the airport. He was detained and tortured until he agreed to give a forced confession of his crime: taking a propaganda poster off the wall of a hotel.

Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of slave labor for stealing the propaganda but was eventually released and flown to the U.S. in June 2017 when the North Koreans said he fell into a coma after suffering from botulism. The North Koreans had tortured Warmbier so much during his incarceration that his parents were shown a boy with a massive brain injury that left him blind, deaf and immobile when he returned to the United States. Doctors were not able to find any sign of botulism in the young man. Just six days after landing on U.S. soil, Otto passed away at the age of 21.

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia described the hair-raising torture Otto underwent at a North Korean prison camp before his passing.

“He was blind, deaf, and braindead when North Korea turned him over to U.S. government officials for

his final trip home,” read the memorandum. “Otto’s perfectly straight teeth had been rearranged to be misaligned, further indicative of the use of pliers or other tools to inflict that painful damage, plus the scar on his foot may have been caused by multiple applications of electrical shocks.”

Judge Howell added that North Korea was trying to “to gain leverage as North Korea engaged in highly publicized nuclear and long-range missile tests and the United States developed its North Korea sanctions policy.”

Warmbier’s family thanked the court following the ruling and said that they had chosen to sue North Korea in order to expose the regime’s true face.

“We are thankful that the United States has a fair and open judicial system so that the world can see that the Kim regime is legally and morally responsible for Otto’s death,” said the family in a statement. “We put ourselves and our family through the ordeal of a lawsuit and public trial because we promised Otto that we will never rest until we have justice for him,” the statement reads.

The Dollar Store Backlash

Dollar stores everywhere are experiencing a backlash, as more and more people blame them for causing poor people to eat unhealthy food.

According to detractors, dollar stores commonly open in economically depressed areas where there is poor nutrition and a scarcity of healthy food. The popularity of the said stores causes poor people to buy cheap yet unhealthy food options, further trapping them in a cycle of poverty and ill health.

A recent research study by the Institute of Local Self Reliance (ILSR) found that the number of dollar stores exceeds that of Walmart and McDonald’s put together, and they

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are still growing. Since 2001, the number of Dollar General and Dollar Tree stores have grown from 20,000 to 30,000 nationwide.

The authors of the research study suggest that “while dollar stores sometimes fill a need in cashstrapped communities, growing evidence suggests these stores are not merely a byproduct of economic distress, they’re a cause of it.”

The study found a paradox in how dollar stores affect poor communities. While there is a dire need in poverty-stricken neighborhoods throughout the U.S. for more affordable food options, the spread of the dollar food chain seems to be perpetuating the economic distress of these neighborhoods. Experts believe that the presence of dollar stores can have not only a negative effect on the mental and physical health of the residents but also on the self-worth of the community as a whole. Dollar stores also create fewer jobs on average than regular stores – 9 versus 14.

The low-paying jobs don’t help the community and do not contribute to upwards mobility.

Does Prison Reform Increase Crime?

olution began in 2011 after the U.S. Supreme Court approved a cap on the number of inmates allowed in prison. Many states began to try to lower their prison populations by shifting inmates to county and local jails. They mainly focused on crimes that the law categorized as nonviolent and minor.

Three years later, in 2014, California passed Proposition 47, which turned drug use and most theft convictions from felonies to misdemeanors. It reduced sentences to many low-level drug and property crimes. A year later, overall crime spiked in the state.

There is no simple explanation behind the crime rates in California.

The rates vary county to county, and some of them have been increasing while others remain the same throughout the last decade.

Despite calls for prison reform, and with President Trump having signed a bill last month to reduce the federal prison population, some politicians contend that prison reform efforts are sending the wrong message to criminals.

“There’s no accountability,” said Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove). “People know they can get away with things. That’s contributed to it. That’s really been a big source of frustration. No one’s going to jail anymore.”

N. Carolina’s Election Headache Over the last decade, the State of California has been working hard to decrease its prison population in the hopes of creating a more humane prison model. With the recent increase in crime, however, California might need to reconsider its policies.

In recent years, judges in the Golden State have been decreasing sentences and diverting some prisoners to county prisons to try to solve California’s prison problem.

An analysis by the Marshall Project and the Los Angeles Times shows that California’s crime rates have remained at new historic lows but overall crime spiked around 2012 and 2015, the years immediately following the state’s new prison policies.

California’s prison reform rev-

North Carolina continues to deal with the aftermath of an election in November that was marred by reports of voter fraud.

Last week, North Carolina’s General Assembly voted to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that would allow him to appoint members to the state elections board. The board has refused to certify November’s congressional elections due to

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

irregularities in two counties.

The override means that Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready may have to run again if a panel concludes that voter fraud did indeed occur. The final outcome in the congressional election between Harris and McCready remains up in the air as the elections board refuses to certify the results.

Harris appeared to have won by 905 votes on November 6 but the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement has refused to certify the results amid irregularities in absentee ballots in Bladen and Robeson counties.

Democrats contend that a shady Republican operative paid employees to collect absentee ballots from those two counties in order to nullify their votes.

North Carolina Governor Cooper, meanwhile, has attempted to appoint five new members to an interim board to decide the results of the investigation but Harris refuses to abide by his decision and stated that Cooper doesn’t have the authority to choose new members.

Trump Freezes Pay for Federal Workers

In an unprecedented move, Trump signed an executive order to freeze pay for federal workers in 2019 amid a government shutdown. The government shutdown has continued due to Democrats’ strong opposition to the new wall that Trump is proposing to build on the southern border with Mexico.

The pay freeze is thought to affect approximately 2.1 million federal employees, including some from the executive branch. The Senate had earlier passed a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal workers but the House had not acted on it yet, enabling Trump to freeze federal pay.

Tony Reardon, who heads the Na-

tional Treasury Employees Union, spoke out against the president’s decision saying that “it is shocking that federal employees are taking yet another financial hit.”

“As if missed paychecks and working without pay were not enough, now they have been told that they don’t even deserve a modest pay increase,” he said. Reardon represents 150,000 federal employees at 33 different federal agencies and departments.

“We fully expect the new Congress to enact the modest 1.9 percent adjustment for all of 2019 which passed the Senate and received substantial bipartisan support in the last Congress,” added J. David Cox, who heads the American Federation of Government Employees.

“There is no economic or budgetary justification for the president’s freeze. Lawmakers agree that federal pay must rise not only as a matter of decency but also in order to help agencies attract and retain the federal workforce that America deserves.”

Newspapers Attacked by Virus

The origins of a suspected computer attack that immobilized the Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing newspapers remains unclear. The attack took place on Sunday and caused delivery delays. It was brought to the attention of federal investigators.

The attack also prevented the Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, and other newspapers from publishing paid death notices and classified ads on Sunday but no website news were affected and no customer information was stolen.

The attack was so serious that even the Department of Homeland Security got involved. Katie Waldman, the head of the DHS, said that the agency was “aware of reports of a potential cyber incident” affecting several news outlets and that the department is “working with our gov-

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ernment and industry partners to better understand the situation.”

The Los Angeles Times said that the reported attack appeared to be using the “Ryuk” ransomware, a well-known attack that is highly-targeted, well-resourced and planned.

Some experts believe that it was a simple phishing link scheme and could have happened to anyone but it is still too early to tell.

A Salamander vs. a Dam California is known for its strongest endangered species protection of all the states and it always goes a long way to protect its species, going so far as to halt federal projects that might obliterate them. This case is no different.

The U.S. government has proposed a $1.4 billion project to raise the Shasta Dam in Northern California which has elicited loud objections from several environmental organizations and has led to a lawsuit.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Protection Information Center filed a federal lawsuit last month urging a judge to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether Shas-

ta salamanders should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The center had asked the wildlife service in 2012 to declare the amphibian as either endangered or threatened, which would mean that the salamander would become a serious consideration and a legal impediment to any federal project that would significantly alter its habitat. However, the agency never made a decision.

Under federal law, the agency was required to determine the status of the salamander within one year but six years have passed with no ruling and the center decided to sue.

The government is proposing to raise the Shasta Dam nearly two stories which, according to environmentalists, would destroy the habitat of the salamanders and put them at risk of extinction.

Jenny Loda, an attorney for the environmental group, stated that the “salamanders were historically harmed by the original creation of the dam; the dam turned a pretty small lake into a very large lake and flooded their habitat. They can’t survive in the water like that.”

The battle to raise the dam has been raging for decades with no end in sight.

Harvard & High School

Graduating high school at 16 is a big deal. Graduating Harvard is a

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

big deal – at any age. But graduating high school and Harvard at the same time when you’re 16 is pretty amazing.

Braxton Moral is set to graduate from Ulysses High School in Kansas on May 19, 2019. On May 30, just a few days later, he will attend university ceremonies to receive his Harvard undergraduate degree.

Turns out, Moral is “really, really gifted.” His talents were apparent from a really young age.

Braxton’s father, Carlos Moral, told the Associated Press that he and his wife began to realize their son was extra-special when he was in the third grade.

“They told us: ‘You need to do something. He’s not just gifted. He’s really, really gifted,’” The proud dad said. Braxton’s school then decided to let him skip the 4th grade.

Since middle school, Braxton has been studying at the Harvard extension school, taking many of his courses online and attending classes on campus during summers in high school. He will graduate with a BA, having majored in government with a minor in English.

He says he started taking the

extra classes primarily as a way to challenge himself.

“I was very bored, unchallenged, or I guess that’s what they said,” Braxton says of his early college enrollment. “My mom always says I was depressed and not being stimulated educationally.”

Braxton hopes to eventually head to Harvard Law School to pursue a career in national politics.

Despite his future degrees and career, Braxton is still young at heart. He hangs out with friends, sees movies, and plays video games like World of Warcraft. He certainly never thought that his achievement would garner so much attention.

“I never really anticipated any large response,” Braxton shrugs. “I thought it would help me as a person improve.”

The drive for achievement has been his alone. “There’s certain parts of myself that I really have pride in,” he tells TIME. “I try to be as ambitious as I can be, and my parents are just really supportive.”

Wouldn’t you be supportive if your child graduated Harvard at 16?

It’s a Jewish mother’s dream.

Big Baby

Jennifer and Eric Medlock knew that they were expecting a big baby last month. But they were just as surprised as their doctors when Ali James Medlock was born on December 12 a whopping 14 pounds, 13 ounces.

Twice the size of an average newborn, Ali is the largest child ever delivered at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Texas.

“We did not expect 14 pounds,” Jennifer told USA Today on Friday, December 28. “Nobody did.”

Ali, who arrived via C-section, spent one week in the neonatal intensive care unit due to low blood sugar, low platelet counts and rapid breathing.

“It doesn’t matter how big he is,”

39

Jennifer said while speaking with KTVT. “I’m so blessed.”

Interestingly, Jennifer did not suffer from gestational diabetes, a condition that can cause a baby to grow very big in utero when not properly treated.

“He’s sleeping and eating and he’s just a healthy boy,” Eric told KTVT. “Just a little bit bigger than you would expect.”

Ali is already wearing size 6-month clothing and a size 3 diaper.

New dad Eric quipped, “We skipped [size] zero very quickly!”

According to American Pregnancy, the average newborn weighs seven-and-a-half pounds at birth.

The heaviest baby born to a healthy mother was 22 pounds, 8 ounces in Italy in 1955. That can’t be easy to rock to sleep at night.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

travelers at Terminal C of Philadelphia International Airport a chicken-shaped box labeled “emotional support chicken” that they can take on their flight.

“We know holiday travel can be frustrating, and there’s no better way to ease stress than with a box of delicious Popeyes fried chicken and a good laugh,” Hope Diaz, the company’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

Emotional support animals have been in the headlines recently as a series of high-profile incidents involving unusual species – including a peacock and a fish – led some airlines to tighten their restrictions on the animals.

“We appreciate how comforting emotional support animals are and wanted to create our own version,” Diaz added. “The good news is that our emotional support chicken is

permitted to fly without any restrictions – one less worry for busy travelers!”

Despite the cute, tongue-incheek promotion, the emotional support chicken idea hurt some people’s psyche, and criticism of the stunt on the web circulated.

Perhaps the people complaining are those who are in need of their emotional support squirrels when flying. Please don’t let them sit near me.

A Life of Thrift; a Heart of Gold

Alan Naiman would walk around with duct tape holding his shoes together. He would buy food at the deli

at closing time to obtain cheaper prices. But saving money, it seems, was a sport rather than a necessity.

Naiman died in January 2018 of cancer at the age of 63. His closest friends were amazed when they found out that the Washington social worker left behind an estate of $11 million. Living a life of helping people, Naiman continued his legacy after death: he left all his wealth to children’s charities.

A year has gone by since Naiman passed away, unmarried and childless. He loved kids but also was intensely private, scrimping, investing and working extra jobs to stockpile money that he rarely spent on himself after seeing how unfair life could be for the most vulnerable children, his friends say.

Naiman grew up with an older brother who had a developmental disability. His brother died in 2013, and friends say he was very influenced by his special relative. The year his brother died, Naiman actually spent money on a sport car, a modestly priced Scion FR-S. A former banker, Naiman worked the past two decades at the Department of Social and Health Services, handling after-hours calls. He earned $67,234 and also took on side gigs, sometimes working as many as three jobs. He saved and invested enough to make several millions of dollars and also inherited millions more from his parents, said Shashi Karan, a friend from his banking days.

Thrilled when he finally qualified for senior discounts, Naiman bought his clothes from the grocery store. He loved cars, but for the most of his life, drove beat-up vehicles and seemed to enjoy the solitude and savings of solo road trips, friends say.

Many of the organizations benefiting from Naiman’s enormous gifts said they didn’t know him, though they had crossed paths.

For example, Naiman left $2.5 million to the Pediatric Interim Care Center, a private organization in Washington State that cares for babies born to mothers who abused drugs and helps the children wean off their dependence. The group used some of what was its largest donation ever to pay off a mortgage and buy a new vehicle to transport the 200 babies it accepts from hospitals each year. Naiman had called the center about a newborn while working for the state more than a decade ago, and its founder, Barbara Drennen, showed up in the middle of the night to get the baby.

Naiman gave $900,000 to the Treehouse foster care organization, telling them that he was a foster parent years ago and had brought kids in his care to the group’s popular warehouse, where wards of the state can choose toys and necessities for free.

Treehouse is using Naiman’s money to expand its college and career counseling statewide.

Crossing the Ocean in a Barrel

A Frenchman hopes to catch good waves as he makes a solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean inside a barrel.

Jean-Jacques Savin, 71, departed from El Hierro, part of the Canary Islands, last Wednesday in a bright orange barrel and hopes to reach his destination, the Caribbean, in three months. The truth is, he may never get there. Savin’s vessel is traveling by using just the ocean’s currents, the BBC reported.

Inside the 10-foot long barrel are a bed, kitchen and storage space. A porthole on the floor allows him to watch the ocean life as it passes by.

Savin, a former military parachutist, said he hoped his journey would help oceanographers study ocean currents, as he will be dropping markers along the way. He says the waves can carry him and his barrel about 2,800 miles to the nearest islands of the Caribbean. The barrel was built to resist waves and attacks from orcas.

The adventurer raised the money for the journey’s $68,000 budget through crowdfunding. He took aboard a few luxuries, including a bottle of white wine for New Year’s Eve, a bottle of red wine for his 72nd birthday in January, and foie gras.

Savin told AFP he hoped to land on a French island since the paperwork “would be easier.”

Savin’s most recent post on social media said that the barrel was behaving “really well.”

We’ll make sure to wave as you pass us by.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

AFF EVER, Rosh chodesh assemblies, “Get out of your zone- win an ice cream cone”, team building, dance, double dutch, Friday skits, ro

NIGHT ACTIVITIES included, Sori, indoor pool, huge

Camp Revach registration now open for Summer 2019 For more information email camprevachfr@gmail.com Camp Revach is a BaisYaakov style camp catering to girls entering 4th-8th grade

air conditioned gym, water park, nish nosh, shiur, davening, real -time sports, legendary insane ruach, Coach Jakes, newsletter trivia, trivia

of top concerts, Mrs b, baking and so much more.

showdowns, nish -nosh, extreme art, outdoor pool, Mrs. Singer, Chesed marathon, “Socky-Socks”, BEST ST

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Community HANC Visits the Museum of Jewish Heritage

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his past week, the eighth grade at HANC went on a trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan in preparation for the Names, Not Numbers© Holocaust program.

Upon arriving, they were all split up into different groups with each group assigned their own tour guide. The tour was very informative, and they were taken to different

floors that featured information on the Holocaust, such as what happened prior to the Holocaust and what happened during and after the war. One of the floors featured glass windows all around, which gave a beautiful view of the water and the Statue of Liberty. When you looked down you were able to see a garden of rocks that had trees growing out of them. The garden represented the

thought that just like it doesn’t seem normal for a tree to grow in a rock, it doesn’t seem normal that the Jews were able to bounce back and “grow” during and after the Holocaust. In that room, there was a hologram of a survivor giving testimonies, and you were able to speak into the microphone and he would give you answers as if he were right there in front of you and you were interview-

ing him. Then there was an activity where the eighth graders were given an “artifact” (picture), and they would have to connect it to a part of Jewish resistance during the war.

Overall, this was a very meaningful, and informational trip and was a good introduction to the Names, Not Numbers© program.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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MAY’s Career Tour

YOSS Academic Game Show Competition

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areer planning is addressed head-on and hands-on at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. College preparation is incorporated in a meaningful way into the curriculum beginning in ninth grade, giving students the confidence and skills they need to succeed and excel post high school. Classes, both core and elective, are designed to teach meaning for real-life situations.

For twelfth graders, who are on the brink of the next stage of their lives, planning is even more crucial and necessary. As a component to the overall senior program, the Mesivta has begun their 12th Grade Career Tour, inviting parents and alumni from a variety of profession-

al fields to address the senior class and discuss their careers, the path they took to achieve their current positions, and the role their Yiddishkeit plays in their careers. To date, the Tour has already included Mr. Yaakov Goodstein, Esq., an attorney; Mr. Shlomo Feit (Class of 2011), a financial analyst; and Mr. Eddie Silver, an accountant.

“Students really enjoy and appreciate these presentations,” commented Rabbi Sam Rudansky, General Studies principal. “They are engaged, involved and many remain after the presentation to ask follow up questions, which is indicative of their interest.”

he boys at Yeshiva of South Shore’s Abraham and Sara Silber Middle School took their learning to the next level during a challenging and interactive cloudbased academic game show. The 6th grade was divided into teams, giving each player the opportunity to answers questions posted on the

smartboard, with their iPads acting as controllers. The questions ranged from topics in math, science, history and the arts. The energy and friendly competition reached new levels during the winner’s round where Shaya Grunstein edged out the competition by correctly answering a challenging math question.

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam to Honor Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Neuman

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ais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, located in the heart of Far Rockaway, has the zechus to honor Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe and Rivkah Neuman at its dinner this coming Motzei Shabbos. The world of chinuch would not be what it is today without Rabbi and Mrs. Neuman, who, for more than half a century, have completely dedicated themselves to the youngest members of our klal. Working with each child’s

strengths to achieve his or her potential, Rabbi and Mrs. Neuman cultivated and were mechanech many of the parents and grandparents you see today in our communities. Whether at Bais Yaakov of Queens, at Toras Emes, or through 613 Torah Avenue, Rabbi Moshe and Mrs. Rivkah Neuman touched the lives of almost every single family you will meet – families with strong, Torahdik values, with a love for Yiddishkeit that is felt in the

home, and is lived every day. This legacy of chinuch with warmth is renewed each morning, as Rabbi Nosson Neuman stands at the helm of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, guiding his talmidos in the footsteps of those who came before them.

May Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Neuman and Rabbi and Mrs. Nosson Neuman be zocheh to many more healthy and successful years being osek in the chinuch and nurturing of

our children. May they see continued nachas from their students, their children, their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren ad bi’as go’el.

The 7 th annual dinner for Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam will iy”H take place this week, on Motzei Shabbos, Parshas Va’eira, January 5, 2019, at Beth Sholom in Lawrence, NY. Reception at 8:30 PM, program to follow.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

If the repairs to your vehicle cost 75% of the car’s total value, your insurance company MUST pay you the FULL value of your vehicle and NOT repair it. Don’t allow the insurance company to negotiate a lower-priced repair in order to save themselves money!

We work for you, not your insurance company.

If your vehicle is involved in an accident, bring it to us FIRST to ensure that we negotiate fairly on your behalf and don’t repair a vehicle that should not be repaired.

Don’t gamble with your safety or risk your investment in your vehicle.

Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah took to the slopes this week

An Open Letter to the Far Rockaway/Five Towns and Surrounding Communities Dear Friends, I write to you tonight with a sense of purpose, urgency and excitement as we draw closer to Achiezer’s annual Gala, to be held Sunday, January 6th at The Sands Atlantic Beach.

In truth, this event is more than just a dinner. It is a celebration of unity, collaboration and selfless giving.

This year has been a difficult one for our community, which has been plagued by various tragedies and challenges. At the same time, it has been a year of coming together, of working for the betterment of the klal and the yachid, with chessed being performed around the clock, day after day. The support and volunteerism we witnessed across the community this year were unprecedented.

The upcoming event will celebrate the generosity, benevolence and charitable nature of our wonderful community.

We will be paying tribute to amazing individuals who have redefined selflessness and altruism. In addition, the dinner will be dedicated in memory of the unforgettable Dr. Richie Friedman, z”l, whose kindheartedness and sensitivity were truly legendary.

Thank you for your participation in the Gala and I look forward to greeting you personally.

Gratefully, Boruch Ber Bender Please join us this Sunday, January 6, 2019 at the Gala at the Sands Atlantic Beach.

For more information, visit achiezer. org/dinner or call 516.791.4444 ext.

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A Community Chessed Shel Emes: The Levaya of Lenka Markovitz

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his past Friday, in a cemetery in Queens, something so incredible took place. Every so often, more often than we perhaps even realize, Hashem is showing us very clearly that He is right here with us and that He is in charge. On this day, we were lucky to see it and to feel it.

Last week, a resident from Brookhaven Rehab & Health Care Center located in Far Rockaway, Lenka Markovitz- Eisenbergerova, returned her neshama back to her Creator. She survived the atrocities of the Holocaust and used to sing Jewish songs and cry sad tears. Everyone loved Lenka. She was so lovable and so memorable. Every yom tov in the nursing home the staff would say, We need matzah for Pesach for Lenka, We need to light the menorah with Lenka.

She is survived by a daughter, a granddaughter and one great-granddaughter. That is the legacy she has left in this world. However, she left so much more than that at her levaya last Friday, December 28, 2018. The merit that she has is now everlasting to so many of us.

Lenka’s granddaughter, who lives in the Czech Republic, was planning on coming in to bury her grandmother and she would be the only one at the funeral. She mentioned that a friend would come along for support. But how could this Holocaust survivor and Jewish neshama be buried with a solo crowd, and no one to say kaddish for her? It just couldn’t be. Some staff at the nursing home told her they would come as well to show her that respect but there still there was no one to say kaddish.

Those who heard about the situation decided to post it on a Facebook group and on the Five Towns Shul List

for people to come say kaddish and to see if they could get a minyan at the cemetery. They also reached out to Achiezer as well. No one quite knew what a response they would get from this. What happened next is breathtaking, though, as the post went viral.

December 28, 2018: it was pouring rain; it was dark; it was Friday.

Who would come out in the pouring rain on a short erev Shabbos for a total stranger?

But Am Yisroel, a nation of mercy and connection, heard the call. People came – over 150 of them. Fellow Jews.

Men, women, high school kids, their teachers, their friends. Older people, young people, every background and all kinds of levels of observance.

It was a sight one couldn’t even imagine. As people were approaching the cemetery there wasn’t even enough room to get in by car, and many cars had to park alongside the outer walls of the cemetery. There was so much traffic to get in the highway was blocked. Once inside the cemetery, along the road, there were cars everywhere, a long line of bumper-tobumper cars. It was as if it was a funeral of a famous person. Who were all these people? Perhaps there was another levaya going on as well? There were crowds of people, all walking the same direction. “Where are you going?” some people asked each other.

“There is a Holocaust survivor being buried today” was the consistent answer. Most people didn’t even know her name. There was an urgency in the air to get there quickly and to reach the grave on time.

The sight that unfolded was indescribable. There were over 150 people, lots of umbrellas, lots of rain, and also lots of tears. Standing there, per-

forming the services, was dedicated Rabbi Yossi Mendelson from Queens who spoke so beautifully about Lenka. There was singing, “Ani Maamin,” which Lenka used to sing with tears in her eyes (we later learned that Rabbi Mendelson didn’t even know this, he just felt like this was appropriate to sing). There was davening, and yes, baruch Hashem there was kaddish.

Men, women and young boys, volunteers from Achiezer; all were closing their eyes, looking towards the heavens singing and answering.

We later learned that this was quite unusual that so many people showed up to this levaya. Rabbi Mendelson mentioned that he does these levayas all the time, where there is not a lot of family and no one shows up. Sometimes he is there alone. Afterwards, people went over to the rabbi to ask him for Lenka’s Hebrew name so they could say kaddish for her. Several people went over to the granddaughter and asked the same. One person asked, “Does the family have money?

I want to pay for the funeral.”

Perhaps the most inspiring thing about this was that every person felt the responsibility to be there. So many times, people pass the buck to the next person and say someone else will do it. But here, everyone felt a responsibility to be there. One woman mentioned that her mother had also survived the Holocaust. She said, “Of course I was going to come. If it had been nice weather more would have come. But when I saw it was raining, I knew I had to come.” She wasn’t the only person who felt this way or verbalized it. There were phone calls from men saying they will be coming and bringing a friend. We had counted 14. Achiezer was contacted to

bring a minyan; what if some people wouldn’t come out in the rain, was the thought.There was another woman who had called the night before to find out if there was still a minyan. She said ,“My husband and I are coming but if you don’t have a minyan I have two boys who are over bar mitzvah, and I will take them out of school for this mitzvah. I will ask the principal to send some boys over.” What amazing chinuch to teach your children! Kol hakavod.

Lenka’s granddaughter was embraced by so many Jews who came to bury her grandmother. Some hugged her afterwards. Some men said they would say kaddish for her for the year. How could it be that all of this could take place? There is only one answer: Hashem.

There is a message here that we have to remember: everyone who was there felt this unique oneness of being a fellow Jew. One unknown Jew passed away, and we all felt like a family member passed away. We all wanted to scream mi kamcha Yisroel! Days after the levaya, we were talking about it and rehashing it because we were all so touched and inspired. Some of us felt immobilized after the levaya from the effect it had on all of us.

We are inspired because so many of you came; we are inspired because of the responsibility, the respect for an elder and for a Holocaust survivor. We are inspired because we are not alone.

And we are inspired because Hashem has brought us all together to show us: let’s break down the barriers of what separates us and build the bridges of what connects us.

What a beautiful kiddush Hashem!

This should be a zechus for Leah bas Shlomo. Yehi zichra baruch.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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Bring Your Father to School Day SKA Hosts 9th Grade Father-Daughter Breakfast

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athers of ninth graders joined their daughters for a wonderful morning at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls on Tuesday, December 25. During a delicious breakfast buffet, the pairs posed for portraits, which were given out as a memento in a frame with a tefillah at the end of the event.

The fathers – and their daughters – were warmly welcomed by Rabbi Yosef Zakutinsky, SKA Director of Student Programs. In her address, Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, principal, Judaic studies, noted the special partnership between school and home. “We are so happy fathers are able to see how their daughters experience learning at SKA; we are partners with the same mission – to nurture the girls to be the best they can be.” Mrs. Bluma Drebin, principal, general studies, began her remarks by sharing how envious she was of the girls and the hour they had to spend learning with their fathers, remembering the impact her own father had on her learning. “I’m the youngest of three daughters,”

she commented, “and my father always made the time to learn with us because he understood that this too is part of our mesorah.” Representing the freshman grade, Sara Blass delivered a meaningful d’var Torah on women’s empowerment, using the daughter of Pharoah as her role model.

The enthusiastic fathers and daughters then learned together b’chavruta from prepared handouts – Taking the Next Step – and heard a shiur from Rabbi Daniel Eisenbach, SKA Mashgiach Ruchani, about what they just learned. The second half of the program divided the participants into groups to play an entertaining game of “Jeopardy.” The morning was a wonderful bonding experience for all.

SKA’s Father-Daughter Breakfast was generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Judd Boczko, Mr. and Mrs. Tuvia Breuer, Mr. and Mrs. Ari Ellenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Graff, Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Konig, Mr. and Mrs. Avi Muchnick, Mr. and Mrs. Heshy Shtern and Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Sicklick.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The first graders at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam recently received their first siddur

Chessed Shel Emet at HAFTR

Sam Verstandig, a sophomore at MTA and a resident of Kew Gardens Hills, attended Governor Andrew Cuomo’s First 100 Days Address on December 17, where he met the governor. Sam interned at YU’s Office of Government Relations this year and started the NY PAC at MTA to encourage his fellow students to get involved in politics.

YOSS Hollander ECC Reviews Sefer Bereishis

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everal HAFTR High School students took time on Friday to perform an incredible mitzvah.

It was brought to the school’s attention that Leah bat Shlomo Margalit, a”h, a Holocaust survivor and member of our community, passed away and had only one remaining relative able to attend her funeral.

HAFTR students Liel Amenu, Daniel Bengelsdorf, Isaac Greenstein, Corey Listman, Matthew Macanian, Ethan Rabinowitz, Adir Rauchwerger, and Harrison Schwartz, accompanied by HAFTR parents Mrs. Liz

Shwartz and Mrs. Sima Greenstein, attended the funeral and joined the minyan to recite Kaddish in her memory. This is one of the most amazing acts of kindness: meit mitzvah, a true chessed shel emet. What an amazing kiddush Hashem and tribute to the survivor and how wonderful for her granddaughter to see what it means to be a Jew and the outpouring of Jewish unity.

HAFTR cannot be more proud of our students and the incredible middot they show on a daily basis. May we share only smachot in the future.

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ast week, the children of the Hollander ECC at Yeshiva of South Shore took a trip down memory lane. Together they unpacked a suitcase with their moros and found different objects that reminded them about each parsha in Sefer Bereishis. The boys were so excited when they were reminded about the animals on Noach’ teiva, the ladder in Yaakov’s dream, and the amazing creations that Hashem created during Maaseh Bereishis.

All week long the children discussed and created their own pictures of their favorite memory from Sefer Bereishis. At two different

siyumim, the children shared their pictures and explained them to their friends and classmates. The nursery and kindergarten children were dressed as different people or objects from the parshiyos, while the pre-1A children had a more mature siyum in the elementary school, where they dressed in dark pants and white shirts and joined together for singing, dancing, and review questions.

This Sefer Breishis experience encouraged creativity, self-esteem, group work, public speaking, strengthening memories, and, of course, fun.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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DRS’s JUMP Team Runs Father-Son Yom Iyun

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tudents at DRS Yeshiva High School were joined by their fathers for a very special Yom Iyun on January 1, run by DRS’s very own NCSY JUMP Team. Tuesday’s Yom Iyun was titled, “Sanctifying Jew-

ish Life in the 21st Century.”

The morning began with Shacharis, where the fathers had the opportunity to daven with their sons in their respective minyanim. Before “Ashrei,” JUMP members addressed their

respective minyanim about the goal of the day. Following davening, a scrumptious breakfast with cookies and pastries awaited the fathers and sons.

Immediately after breakfast, the first of two sessions

of shiurim began. Students and fathers – along with many siblings, uncles, and grandparents – chose two thirty-minute shiurim out of numerous options offered.

Shiurim were offered by some of the DRS rabbeim who inspired the boys and their parents alike. In accordance with the theme of the Yom Iyun, shiurim were given on: Kedushat HaZman: Making the Most of Every Moment, Kedushat HaDibur: Sanctifying our Speech, Kedushat HaGut, Kedushat Einayim, and other related topics.

The morning was rounded off by an inspirational speech by the keynote speaker, Rav Moshe Weinberger, the Mora D’Asra of Woodmere’s own Congregation Aish Kodesh. Rav Weinberger is known to be one who speaks passionately on the topic of kedusha, and the JUMP team knew it was a no-brainer to ask him to come and address the Yeshiva. Rav Weinberger’s address was entitled, “Kedusha: Is it Within our Reach?” and left the audience uplifted and inspired, coming away from the day with a heightened sense of awareness about the kedusha in our lives every day.

“Today’s event gave us a platform and an opportunity to discuss inyanim which are seldom discussed in the classroom/educational setting,” said JUMP captain and DRS senior Yaakov Fuchs. “It is our hope and our goal to start a kedusha movement; nobody is ever too young to strive for a real connection with Hashem.”

As has been stated, the program was run by DRS’s NCSY JUMP team. NCSY JUMP (Jewish Unity Mentoring Program) is a nationwide program made to inspire high school students to become future leaders of the Jewish people. Each

participating school’s team is challenged to create unique and inspiring programs for their community.

This year’s JUMP Team, run by captains Yaakov Fuchs, Dovi Flug, assistant captain, Dylan Broder, and mentored

by Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff, chose to focus on the topic of kedusha, specifically in the areas of kedushas ha’guf and kedushas einayim, which have not been tackled in the educational setting. The JUMP Team felt these issues which face many high school teenagers today is an often-avoided topic in schools. The team is tackling the issue by approaching it head-on, and not only viewing it from the aspect of “don’ts,” but rather as positively taking an active role to fill our everyday lives with kedusha. In fact, the two captains gave a shiur of their own as an additional option to the numerous shiurim offered by rabbeim at the Yom Iyun.

The Yom Iyun was just one of the DRS Team’s initiatives. The DRS JUMP Team plans to roll out a kedusha curriculum soon and has scheduled a “Yeshiva League” Shabbaton for the first week of March, which will focus on the same topics as their other programs.

The team is also continuing last year’s tefillah initiative by continuing to run the tefillah publication, Avodah Sheb’leiv, for its second and third volume. This, along with other initiatives, allowed DRS to win the NCSY JUMP National Championship last year. With programs like the Yom Iyun, the JUMP team hopes to defend its title and, more importantly, inspire Jews in the Five Towns and in communities around the country.

Written by Dylan Broder, junior at DRS and assistant captain of the DRS JUMP Team

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Gurwin Family of Healthcare Services Completing Construction of Advanced Care Unit to Serve Residents

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urwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is completing construction on a new 12-bed Advanced Care Unit in the 460-bed Commack facility.

The unit will provide a higher level of care to the clinically complex patient, with the goal of enhanced patient outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions. It is scheduled to open in early 2019.

The unit will offer a number of sub-acute care specialties and will be staffed by specially trained registered nurses. Specialized technology will enable the sharing of real-time vital sign data among caregivers and across systems, and high-tech equipment such as rapid lab testing, not often found in the long-term or sub-acute care setting, will also be included.

“Our new Advanced Care Unit

will enhance our ability to care for residents with complex medical needs who do not require an acute care setting,” said Stuart B. Almer, president and CEO of Gurwin. “Area hospitals will also benefit from having a trusted partner caring for their patients. We are excited to add Advanced Care to our growing number of specialty services.”

The Gurwin Family of Healthcare Services was founded in 1988 with the opening of the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and has grown into a renowned healthcare provider which offers a full continuum of healthcare services for the frail and elderly on a 34-acre campus in Commack, NY. The campus is home to the 5-star rated nursing and rehabilitation center which provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, advanced care,

Stuart B. Almer, President & CEO, Gurwin Family of Healthcare Services, goes over blueprints with members of the Gurwin therapeutic team who will help staff the new Advanced Care Unit at Gurwin. Photo courtesy Gurwin Jewish.

ventilator and respiratory care, onsite dialysis and infusion therapy, memory care, and palliative and hospice care, as well as both medical and social Adult Day Programs, and two home care programs. The cam-

pus is also home to Gurwin Jewish Fay J. Lindner Residences assisted living community and the proposed Fountaingate Gardens, an independent living community.

Students of CAHAL Shine in TAG Chumash Play

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he success of the CAHAL program is measured both in small steps and big steps. On a daily basis, the second grade students at Torah Academy for Girls have been building and mastering their limudei kodesh skills in preparation for learning Chumash. Their highly skilled and experienced morah, Mrs. Sheree Samet, has been using research-based programs to teach the girls.

Sunday, December 30, was the date set for their Chumash play

with Morah Witkin’s and Morah Schwartz’s classes. With huge excitement, the students practiced together with their friends, rehearsing their individual speaking parts as well as all the heartfelt songs. Finally, the big day arrived! Before an audience filled with parents, grandparents and siblings, the girls in the CAHAL class joined together and performed with confidence and finesse. After the performance, each girl was awarded her very own Chumash, given to her by

Rabbi Weitman, the Menahel of TAG. Both Morah Menucha Levin, the limudei kodesh principal, and Mrs. Temima Feldman, the general studies principal, have established a close relationship with every student at TAG, and CAHAL is so grateful for the warm welcome and inclusive atmosphere that permeates the building.

Along with their second grade classmates, the girls in the CAHAL class are looking forward to participating in other exciting mainstream events

and projects that are scheduled for the rest of the school year. Special thanks to Mrs. Shani Hildeshaim and Morah Leah Kramer, the students’ CAHAL teachers, for their devotion to the girls and helping every girl to shine with success.

CAHAL, the local yeshiva-based and sponsored community program for children with learning challenges, now in its 27th successful year, provides smaller, more individualized classes in the local yeshivas catering to children’s learning styles, where all the students attend mainstream activities daily, including lunch, recess, specials, assemblies, trips and more. When ready, children attend academic classes as well, with support from CAHAL to ensure success. The experienced and caring CAHAL teachers make it all happen.

CAHAL is currently accepting students. For more information about the CAHAL program and to donate to this great community organization, contact CAHAL at cahal@cahal.org or call (516) 295-3666.

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Remembering Our Dean, Rabbi Moshe Gottesman, z”l

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e at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County continue to mourn the loss of our beloved former dean, Rabbi Moshe Gottesman, z”l, Moshe ben Asher Zelig. We pause on the occasion of Rabbi Gottesman’s shloshim to reflect on his legacy at HANC and throughout our larger community.

Rabbi Gottesman was an integral part of HANC for 60 years, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, dean, and member of our Board of Directors. During his tenure, and following the inspiring example of our founder Rabbi Meyer Fendel, HANC developed its educational programs, expanded its campuses and solidified its well-earned place as a premier educational institution for Torah and general studies on Long Island. Under the direction of Rabbi Gottesman, HANC’s students grew to be valuable contributors to Jewish and American life.

But Rabbi Gottesman’s true impact runs much more deeply than a

recitation of the elements of his impressive resume can reveal. Rabbi Gottesman personified HANC’s core values, tirelessly infusing thousands upon thousands of students, faculty and parents with his heartfelt and infectious love of Torat Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael and Klal Yisrael.

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faculty who brought a new level of excellence to the Torah learning at HANC. Rabbi Gottesman led by example, radiating a fervor for learning – and the sharing of – Torah that was evident in his beaming smile whenever a student offered a d’var Torah or reached a milestone in learning. This enthusiasm now reverberates through generation upon generation of HANC students, and family members of students, who proudly count themselves among Rabbi Gottesman’s direct disciples.

Academic excellence was not enough – one also had to practice sterling middot and character, which Rabbi Gottesman exemplified in all that he did. His central and oft-stated credo was that we should have hakarat hatov – appreciation for the good that is in our lives. HANC students were reminded of this precept at nearly every assembly and event as Rabbi Gottesman thanked and recognized others for their contributions, often for work done behind the scenes.

Rabbi Gottesman’s love, devotion, and passion for Eretz Yisrael, cultivated in his youth, was intertwined with his dedication to Medinat Yisrael. We eagerly learned from Rabbi Gottesman’s retelling of the history of Zionism, from Israel’s early settlements to its flourishing in our modern day. He continued to bond with many of his HANC students in Camp Sdei Chemed in Israel or on his other frequent trips to Israel.

In his unceasing love for Klal Yisrael – for every Jew and, indeed, every person – Rabbi Gottesman was second to none. Rabbi Gottesman served as a fierce advocate for all students to receive a Jewish education, whether or not they had the money for tuition or had a yeshiva background. Rabbi Gottesman worked tirelessly behind the scenes to raise tuition funds for those who could not afford to come to HANC. If a prospective student lacked a yeshiva background and wanted to learn, Rabbi Gottesman ensured that HANC’s New Opportunities Program would find room and provide a welcoming introductory platform for a yearning student to study and achieve. Families with

special needs children who were not in a mainstream yeshiva classroom also found a home at HANC, in the Sunday Smile Program. This weekly program at HANC was Rabbi Gottesman’s signature project. Rabbi Gottesman’s goal was to ensure that all students have the opportunity to be exposed to Torah learning, in a Torah environment.

Rabbi Gottesman was an advocate for each of his students, and he worked closely with them to ensure their success. It is no wonder that many students remained in touch with Rabbi Gottesman and that he regularly participated in their simchot, sometimes even as a proud mesader kiddushin. Rabbi Gottesman’s support extended beyond HANC students, as he also was a loyal supporter and friend to the HANC faculty and served as an inspiration to innumerable HANC parents. Rabbi Gottesman inspired all those around him to embrace Torah learning and values.

Alumni’s memories of Rabbi Gottesman are legendary, including his pushup challenges, his joy-filled visits to early childhood classes, his encouragement of students to pursue freedom for Soviet Jewry, his Friday morning bowling excursions with students, and his greeting of each person with his earnest smile and full attention. The common thread running through all alumni’s vivid recollections of Rabbi Gottesman is that he sought to instill in them his love of life and his love of Torah.

In Parshat Shemot (3:9), Hashem declares, “And now, here, the cries of B’nei Yisrael have come to me.” In all that he did for HANC and the larger Jewish community, it is clear that Rabbi Gottesman understood the importance of these words. He was deeply moved by the cries and needs of so many throughout his nearly 60 years at HANC and worked tirelessly to address and resolve those needs.

We are grateful – and publicly express our hakarat hatov –for all that Rabbi Gottesman has given to HANC throughout many generations. We all have benefited from his wisdom, caring, and his unflagging sense of mission. May his soul be bound in the bond of everlasting life.

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HANC High School Girls Unite on Retreat 2018

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he HANC High School Girls’ Retreat took place on Shabbat Parshat Vayechi, December 2123, at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut, and once again proved to be a highlight of the year. Students bonded with peers and teachers alike and felt an enhanced sense of closeness and connection that the Shabbat experience often brings. The comradery and spirit that the girls exuded was palpable throughout Shabbat and has definitely carried over into school.

Retreat 2018, which was attended by girls in all grades, is certainly a memorable experience which will have a long-lasting impact on all participants.

The theme of the Retreat was “Achdut” and was brilliantly woven through the entire weekend. Starting on Friday creating awesome team videos to the unifying Motzei Shabbat kumzitz, the girls took part in inspiring activities and workshops. Renowned speaker Mrs. Amit Yaghoubi joined for Shabbat. Through her engaging talks on Friday night and her

talk following Seudah Shlishit, Mrs. Yaghoubi’s message captivated and inspired each and every student. The senior girls were privileged to have their very own interactive session with her during Shabbat.

The Shabbat atmosphere was enhanced by the beautiful singing of zmirot led by the heads of chorus, the student-delivered divrei Torah, the workshops conducted by HANC faculty and their spouses, and the participation of many teachers’ families. On

Motzei Shabbat, the girls participated in the HANC’s Got Talent Show in which many of the students displayed their unique talents on stage, featuring a dynamic performance by the girls’ dance team, girls’ chorus, individual acts, and a hilarious video. The entire show was skillfully coordinated and emceed by seniors Shira Cohen and Julia Lieberstein. Following a delicious Melave Malka, the students geared up for a spirited chagigah.

Led by energetic and dynamic HANC

alum (‘98), Naz Aziz, of “iMove with Naz,” the girls danced and sang with incredible excitement and enthusiasm, resulting in a truly spectacular chagigah. The sense of unity that was created over Shabbat was evident when the entire school joined together in a huge circle and danced in unison for their beloved teacher and mechanechet, Ms. Bensoussan, in honor of her upcoming wedding. This was followed by an uplifting kumzitz.

On Sunday morning, after davening and a hearty breakfast the girls boarded the buses with newfound friends and a renewed appreciation for their school, Shabbat, and their teachers. A huge thank you to faculty members Mrs. Leigh Henoch and Ms. Nomi Bensoussan for spearheading the entire Shabbaton. Kudos to Mrs. Jackie Raofim and Mrs. Rebecca Gordon for all their expertise in organizing various parts of the event. Shout out to senior retreat heads, Yasmin Ben-Yosef, Avigial Schwartz, and Gabby Schonberg, for making this retreat a huge success.

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Siach Yitzchok Building Enters Final Phase of Construction

T

he construction at Siach Yitzchok’s new campus is now entering its final phase. Over the past months, many crews have been steadily laboring away on the inside of the those grey cinder blocks, building a complex infrastructure of interior walls, HVAC ductwork, electrical cables, gas and plumbing lines, fire sprinkler lines, and so much more.

And now, finally, the monotonous months of middle-phase construction are coming to an end. The patchwork of plumbing pipes, electrical cables and steel shafts are being covered over by smooth sheets of finished sheetrock. The excitement is back in the air! In many areas of the building, shiny ceramic wall tile and beautiful floor tiling have already been installed. The light at the end of the tunnel is already visible.

The design team is making the final selection of paint colors, fixtures and other accents so that the teams of subcontractors can cruise smoothly to the long-awaited occupancy date.

But why are we all so excited about this, even those of us who have no immediate family in the cheder?

Perhaps the answer can be gleaned from a recent video produced in honor of the upcoming Siach Yitzchok Dinner. The video opens with dynamic sights and sounds of the Yeshiva. We see rebbeim and talmidim davening and learning with a visible,

fiery passion and hislahavus. In a few succinct words, Rabbi Avrohom Fruchthandler, a longtime yedid of the menahel of Siach Yitzchok, encapsulated the distinction of this mossad: “Siach Yitzchok represents a chinuch with a direct link to kabbolas Hatorah.” Indeed Rabbi Fruchthandler identifies in Siach Yitzchok the signature imprint of his Rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l, and his mesorah as handed down from the Alter of Slabodka, going all the way back to kabbolas Hatorah.

The Menahel, Rav Dovid Sitnick, adds perspective. “When parents choose Siach Yitzchok for their children, it’s definitely not for the aesthetics of the building or the Yeshiva’s location. Their choice is exclusively about the chinuch they desire for their children. The chinuch of Siach Yitzchok follows a clear vision, conceived by Reb Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l. It is a chinuch that’s built on the premise that every child is capable of learning and absorbing Torah.

It is a chinuch provided by rebbeim who are soaked with Yiddishkeit and who imbue talmidim with the joy and passion of Yiddishkeit through their very essence.”

The video then shifts to Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, on a recent visit to the new building in mid-construction. “This is a holy mossad that

has been producing talmidim with true shleimus in their Yiddishkeit,” says Rabbi Bender. “It is almost an aveirah that our community has not seen to it yet that Siach Yitzchok has a proper home of its own.”

Indeed, the community at large has been increasingly warming up to the project with outstanding generosity.

Dedications both large and small continue to be made. Most recently, the library was dedicated by Mrs. Phyllis Miller, an aunt of a Siach Yitzchok talmid, in memory of her late husband, Mr. David R. Miller, a”h, who just recently passed away after battling a difficult illness.

Reflecting upon her choice of a library as the ultimate tribute to David’s legacy, Mrs. Miller wrote: “After David finished law school, he never stopped learning. He was fascinated by many subjects and enjoyed going to the library where he could access everything from almanacs and history books to autobiographies. He would look up all sorts of subjects and even started reading about his liver disease when he was diagnosed, several years ago, and realized that in fact the only cure for him was a transplant. As he became more limited in mobility, he enjoyed listening to music and learning more about Jewish history and a series of shiurim that were delivered with a re-

David R. Miller, for whom the Siach Yitzchok library is dedicated

fuah shlemah message attached. We look forward to the learning and joy that the library will bring to future talmidim.”

Other recent dedications include two classrooms as well as a physical/ occupational therapy room. There is an enthusiasm in the community for the long-awaited opportunity to finally be able to reciprocate and give back on behalf of this vital mosad hachinuch that has been a communal anchor for close to four decades.

For information on dedication and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rabbi Mordechai Stein at the Yeshiva office at 718.327.6247 or email mstein@siachyitzchok.org.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Educational Consultant Dr. Soifer Joins Gesher Staff

T

he administration of the Gesher Early Childhood Center has always placed great emphasis on continuous staff development and enhanced procedures. Over the last six years, many techniques and strategies have been introduced to the faculty through professional development workshops. The topics and presenters of those presentations have been carefully chosen to enhance the specific programming employed by Gesher.

Upgrading the Gesher product requires a balance of training.

While many strategies have been employed school-wide, individual teachers have attended high level continuing education courses to learn new techniques specific to their classrooms.

In December of 2017, the Gesher administration met with Dr. Lydia H. Soifer to discuss programming.

Dr. Soifer is a world recognized specialist in the areas of literacy and language processing. She is a highly

sought-after presenter who travels the globe lecturing on a wide variety of topics. A trained speech and language pathologist, Dr. Soifer employed a multi-disciplinary model of student support as director of the acclaimed Soifer Center. Her strong

connection with the renowned Winward School and its administration gave her the view of interdisciplinary education from within the classroom and from the outside.

Dr. Soifer spent a day observing the Gesher classes and conferring with the administration to affirm that the educational model was consistent with her approach and that the necessary supports were in place. She was clearly impressed.

The dedication and professionalism of the staff, and the vision of the administration, ensured Dr. Soifer that at Gesher her resources would be valued and effective.

Dr. Soifer joined the Gesher staff to enhance the program in a multifaceted way. Each teacher benefits

from her observations and feedback of their lessons. The teachers have commented that they feel so fortunate to have Dr. Soifer as a resource, providing them with insights specific to their classrooms. She has enhanced the curriculum planning and the delivery of the material.

Her many years of involvement with some of the most respected educational institutions in this geographical area have given her a myriad of best practices to apply on an individualized basis.

Gesher proudly continues to strive to proactively engage with the highest quality resources available in order to provide the community with the most effective programming to support its students.

A prison cell or a hospital bed Page 120

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

Around the Community

Tra n & B sportat abys ion avai itting lable

Rabbi Yoni Posnick brought the melacha of tochein to life this week at Sunday’s Learn & Live program

MTA Hosts Jewish Life on Campus Night

A magical escape where your mind will robust with imagination for women by women Monday through Wednesday January 14th-16th, 2019 At the luxurious Crown Plaza Stamford CT

Joining us: Shimi Adar Jumba's Carousel & Neon Party

Kineret Singing the ‫סלאם‬

O

n Monday night, December 24, MTA hosted a Jewish Life on Campus Night for juniors and seniors and their parents, highlighting the importance of considering Jewish life on campus when making college decisions.

The evening began with an interactive presentation by Rabbi Hart Levine, Founder of Heart To Heart, a student-run organization located on college campuses throughout North America under the umbrella of the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus that offers many forms of Jewish programming.

Rabbi Levine demonstrated the various online tools that he and the OU have developed to help students learn

about the Jewish resources available at more than 270 colleges across the country, from kosher food to the phone number of the local Chabad rabbi, and more.

Following Rabbi Levine’s presentation, a group of MTA alumni, who are currently attending colleges from Yeshiva University to Cooper Union, Brandeis, and Virginia, described the Jewish life and experiences available on each of their campuses. Afterwards, everyone participated in break-out sessions, where alumni answered questions about their respective campuses, and Rabbi Levine worked with participants on researching Jewish life at the colleges they are interested in.

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Madraigos Hosts Reunion for Members of Effective Parenting Groups

O

n December 25, Madraigos convened members of the past five Effective Parenting Groups for review and inspiration.

Based on their relationships with group members, co-facilitators Rena Kutner, MFT, and Rivki Rosenwald, Esq. MFT CLC, felt it would be helpful to parents to arrange an evening dedicated to providing encouragement as they work hard to implement the tools they learned.

Mindi Werblowsky, LMSW, Clinical Director, opened the program by introducing Mrs. Kutner and Mrs. Rosenwald. She thanked them for going above and beyond in helping group members over the past two years, noting that in certain circumstances, in order to address a more complex situation, recommendations were made to access the broader scope of Madraigos’ services.

Mrs. Kutner and Mrs. Rosenwald reinforced key concepts covered in the

parenting groups including the benefit of building and maintaining an ongoing relationship with one’s child as it’s the only way to parent effectively.

Perhaps, more importantly, they empowered parents to address the challenges that present themselves on the long journey of parenting Questions were submitted by parents beforehand on issues of personal concern, such as, “Is punishing my child effective?” and “What are alternatives to punishing?” and “How do we help our children cope with peer pressure as they get older?” and “How do we build our child’s positive self-esteem?”

Parents felt the camaraderie built on a common bond between them.

The warm, secure environment that The Lounge at Madraigos provides set the perfect stage for meeting and mingling. One parent said, “We have to really HEAR our children – Have Empathy And Respect (HEAR) – for

them.” Another parent shared a particular idea that she found helpful which is: forget the past; there is always a future.

Mindi Werblowsky said, “It was inspiring and gratifying to see so many of our parent graduates join us for this reunion. The feedback was extremely positive and by the next morning my inbox was full of letters expressing how much chizuk they got from this event and requesting similar reunions on a much more regular

basis. The true heroes of the event are the parents themselves who returned ready to openly discuss their struggles and continuously learn how to parent more effectively. Yasher koach to each and every one of them for their incredible strength and devotion to their children.”

For more information on Effective Parenting Groups and the Parenting Matters program, please contact Mindi Werblowsky at 516-371-3250 x 112 or mwerblowksy@madraigos.org.

LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINTER 2019 SCHEDULE OF FREE REGENTS REVIEW CLASSES, OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS OF THE LAWRENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT COURSES WILL INCLUDE: Algebra 1 Geometry Earth Science Global History II English

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CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED ON: Saturdays - January 5, 12, & 19 - 8 AM - 12:30 PM Sundays - January 6, 13, & 20 - 8 AM - 12:30 PM For updated schedules & more information, please visit: http://lawrencehighschool.lawrence.org/ Classes will meet at Lawrence High School: 2 Reilly Rd, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 All District #15 students may attend. No reservations required.

ID is required for admittance to Weekend Academy.

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A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

I

f one wanted to keep to the theme to properly describe the exciting Women’s League event held on Motzeoi Shabbos, December 22, you would need a palette of colorful words. This year’s Paint Night for our 4th grade talmidos and their mothers, grandmothers, or aunts “drew” a large crowd and was a resounding success that not only produced lovely pictures but a special opportunity to bond together. A huge yashar koach to TAG’s talented Pre1A Morah, Mrs. D’vora Weinberg, and to her assistant, Mrs. Lemor Rosenfeld, for directing and inspiring our budding artists. Special thanks to the 7 th grade talmidos who helped out at the event: Shira Bobker, Blimi Blumenkrantz, Esti Glaser, Shevy Keilson, Shira Libman, Miriam Litwin, Faigy Potash, Shira Salomon, Rivka Taub, and Henchie Weiss.

Of course, every artist needs inspiration and that was supplied by an amazing group of chairladies who thought of everything to help make this event a true masterpiece. Thanks

to Baylie Bobker Esti Dancziger, Esti Gross, Estie Mendlowitz, Devorah Litwin, Sima Rosenfeld and Miri Roberg.

As all the happy girls left TAG

with their aprons and their works of art, we are sure that many a home will now feature some new art as a reminder of a special night.

coached by his brother Joe. The game was close and Matt was not playing his best game; should Matt be allowed to shoot foul shots for a possible winning basket or should Joe go with the sure thing?

The team chose to gamble on Matt, he scored, and the game was won. Mr. Harary taught them the difference between being “good” and being “great.” Good is doing something special for yourself, letting the “sure thing” player take the basket.

Great is doing something special for others, letting blind brother Matt have a chance to prove he deserved to be a part of the team.

Everyone is excited to begin this adventure of being great together!

The return of our very own teacher and HANC Choir leader Mordechai Shapiro filled the halls with song, dance and joy as staff and students were treated to a spirited concert that brought back fond memories and warm feelings for the years Mordechai Shapiro worked at HANC. There was a circle of love, Mordechai singing, students responding, knowing every single word to every song that brought the whole school to their feet and brought tears of happiness to many an eye.

HANC students understand the importance of random acts of kindness and are ready to embark on their own journeys to doing something GREAT!

Doing Great Things at HANC

O

n Tuesday, the “Ark Initiative Program” was launched at HANC 609 for the students in kindergarten through sixth grade in memory of beloved HANC student, Ilana Pfeffer.

Moishe Hecht, a representative of the Change the World Organization, introduced the HANC children to an amazing program about “Acts of Random Kindness.” Students all received tzedakah boxes that will be donated to Chai Lifeline in the shape of Noah’s Ark to collect money as part of a chessed that they can perform daily. Additionally, they were given an age appropriate book, Lisa’s Incredible School Project, as well as “Ark Cards,” which they will bring to

HANC, listing any amazing kindness that they have performed.

A representative from Chai Lifeline will return to HANC 609 in February to retrieve the tzedakah that the children have collected.

In honor of this meaningful program, the students in the fifth and sixth grades were privileged to hear from renowned motivational speaker Mr. Charlie Harary to help kick off the program. The students sat spellbound as Mr. Harary inspired them with a story about a blind basketball player named Matt Stevens, his brother Joe, and the basketball team that embraced him. Matt was given the opportunity to score the winning basket in a championship game

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Around the Community HAFTR Middle School hosted a special Parent-Child Tefillah and breakfast the morning of December 25. All grades shared a beautiful davening together in the MPR, led by chazzan Kalman Spiess. Molly Klein and Andrew Katz shared inspiring words of divrei Torah. Parents were then invited to share a delicious breakfast of bagels and muffins with their children in the classrooms. It was a wonderful way to start the day!

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MR. & MRS. DOV & ESTHER KARFUNKEL GUESTS OF HONOR

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

THE DARCHEI DINNER AT THE YESHIVA 257 BEACH 17

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5:30 PM BUFFET DINNER 7:00 PM PROGRAM MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO RABBI YEHUDA HARBATER ‫ע“ה‬

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Around the Community

MAY Freshmen “Earn” Mastering Shakla V’Tarya Ba’al Peh

T

he rabbeim at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov know that, for teenagers, a small incentive goes a long way to building long-term learn-

ing habits. Of its myriad learning incentive programs, learning Gemara shakla v’tarya by heart is one of the most popular in the ninth grade.

First Grade Siddur Simcha at Shulamith

A

very special simcha took place in the Shulamith auditorium last Sunday as the first graders received their first siddurim.

In the weeks before the event, Morah Rina taught the girls a variety of songs and Morah Leal worked on choreography, while Morah Hoffman and her assistants, Morah Aliza Pantiliat and Morah Tema Shore, patiently practiced with the girls and taught them their parts. Parents and grandparents were delighted by the presentation, which featured Shabbat-themed songs such as “Shalom Aleichem” and “Lecha Dodi.” The girls performed in pairs and im-

pressed everyone with their heartfelt singing and expressive movements.

Mrs. Joyce Yarmak, principal of the Lower Division, addressed the audience, speaking about hakarat hatov and the importance of transmitting our mesorah to the next generation.

As each talmidah was summoned to the stage to receive her siddur, the pride, confidence, and absolute joy of the ba’alot simcha lit up the auditorium!

The event ended with coffee and refreshments served in the gym, and each girl received a framed photograph, Shulamith lunch bag, and scrumptious cookie.

As talmidim compete to earn token monetary rewards, they also gain tremendous and lasting knowledge of the Gemara they memorize. This

past week, Rabbi Schulman’s ninth grade shiur broke the bank, having learned a combined 50 blatt ba’al peh! Yasher ko’ach!

Light Play at Gan Chamesh

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t Gan Chamesh, Chabad’s Early Childhood Center, playing and learning through light is a daily activity. Children are naturally drawn to light. They love the wonder and the open-ended experiences it provides. Our light cen-

ters are used for art, math, science, teaching academic concepts, literacy, and so many other functions. The possibilities are endless when you add light to learning. Our focus on light play illuminates each student’s day.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

Thank you

Clinical Services Assessments/Referrals

for your generous support in 2018.

We would like to share some highlights with you.

Case Management

455k

Crisis Intervention

$

Support Groups Support Line

Community Resources

community members saved on Therapy and Rehab Services through our referral network (21.5% increase)

Community Education Parenting Matters School Based Services

Youth Programs Holiday Retreats Ignight Ignight Summer Camp

4,943 1,050 hours of Clinical Case Management

people participated in our Support Groups

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%

The Lounge Year Round Events

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schools utilized our School Based Services

Community Leaders consulted with Madraigos on critical matters

increase in Prevention Programming

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increase in parents who benefited from Parenting Matters program

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rivka Lock, Director of Development, at rlock@madraigos.org.

(516) 371-3250, Ext. 102 • Madraigos.org 9 3 6 B r o a d w a y, W o o d m e r e , N Y 1 1 5 9 8

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Brachos at BYQ

Science Comes Alive at IVDU LI

S

T

he Bais Yaakov of Queens Early Childhood children are learning all about brachos in a wonderful, meaningful, hands-on way. The Pre-K classes are focusing on the bracha of Hamotzi. They made bread, French toast, sandwiches, and their own pizza! Reading recipes, measuring out ingredients, and seeing the transformation of ingredients into food all involve a good deal of learning in many important curriculum areas including language arts, math and science. Each child is also creating a brachos book by drawing foods related to each week’s bracha.

The children in Pre1-A are also

immersed in learning about brachos.

This week they are working on borei pri ha’eitz and borei pri ha’adamah.

The best and most memorable way to learn brachos is with real foods, so the girls made fruit skewers and platters. It was very exciting to crack open a coconut and sample the exotic fruit. The children also created beautiful vegetable platters, cooked butternut squash, and enjoyed a variety of melons. The unit expanded many of their palates with new tastes and ways to eat healthfully. Best of all were the smiles throughout the learning process!

cience is coming alive in Mrs. Goldstein’s class at IVDU LI. As part of the well-rounded STEM curriculum, the class learned about the parts of the plant. To illustrate the concept of water traveling up the stem, the students conducted an experiment. Each student received a celery stalk and a cup of water, colored with the color of their choice. Will the color travel up the stalk? The students have already observed the color begin to spread and are now able to visualize how water travels up the stem of a plant to feed the leaves. The students had a great time conducting the experiment and look forward to seeing the continued results.

Based in North Woodmere, IVDU elementary school offers an academic special education program in a warm and professional environment.

With a high staff-to-child ratio and veteran certified special education teachers and therapists, it is currently the only local self-contained special education program serving grades K-5. Dr. Sara Seplowitz, the IVDU principal, describes the program as “an all-inclusive, special education program.” The program is highly individualized to meet the unique needs of each student. In any given day, students may be learning

math, reading, aleph bais, or STEM, and then have therapy in our stateof-the-art sensory gym, all while developing social-emotional skills at opportunities embedded throughout the day. IVDU empowers students with the life skills and tools for success.

To find out more about IVDU LI, or to RSVP for the open house on January 14 at 7:30-8:30 pm, please call Mrs. Miriam Reifer, school administrator, at (718) 758 2999 Ext. 3, or email reiferm@ou.org.

hashkafic Shabbos-related questions answered by their rebbeim. MTA also welcomed a group of eighth graders to the event, where they continued experiencing all of the amazing things the yeshiva has to offer.

MTA will expand further on the theme of Shabbos at its Parent-Son Learning event on Tuesday, January 1st, where parents, talmidim, and rebbeim will explore the topic of Turning Shabbos Into Shabbos Kodesh.

Mishmar Madness at MTA

O

n Thursday, December 27, MTA hosted its second Mishmar Madness of the year, where talmidim experienced the kedusha of Shabbos on Thursday night.

The Shabbos-themed event included

rotating shiurim with MTA rebbeim on the topic of preparing for Shabbos, a delicious Shabbos seudah complete with chulent and kugel, and a Q&A panel, where talmidim had the opportunity to have their halachic and

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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Around the Community

Basketball and Real Estate Networking Event to Benefit Project Extreme

L

eaders of the real estate field came together on Sunday, December 23 at Barclays Center for the First Annual Basketball and Real Estate Networking Event to benefit Project Extreme. Guests enjoyed watching the NY Nets game amidst the luxury of the Extreme VIP Suite and unlimited food and drinks. The event raised much needed funds for Miryam’s House, Project Extreme’s transitional living shelter for young women aged 18 years and older. Miryam’s House, now in its fifth year, was established as an extension of Project Extreme and as an opportunity for young women, 18 years and older, to have a safe place to live. Miryam’s House offers a secure and growth oriented home for those seeking additional encouragement, life skills support and healthy communication skills.

The Real Estate Networking Event was sponsored by 718-INSURANCE, Wisnicki & Associates, and YM Ventures, with additional attendees from Adler Rosenberg and Associates, An-

drew Lock Custom Menswear, Arlee Lighting, Beam Development, Brookhill Properties, Checkalt, CNSLT Real Estate Group, Douglas Elliman, Gruff and Tumble, Hamilton Consulting, Jimena Companies, Leonite Capital, MidRome, Moseson & Associates, Vanguard Capital Funding, and Weissman Realty.

Since 2001, Project Extreme has exceled at helping youth overcome the many obstacles and pitfalls facing today’s adolescents. Boasting a plethora of multifaceted programs, Project Extreme provides innovative solutions and comprehensive social support systems designed to assist teens in coming to terms with their unique set of circumstances, and ultimately, enabling them to blossom into productive members of society.

Project Extreme programs include a multi-disciplinary team of professionals to ensure maximum therapeutic, fun, social, and positive outcomes.

Each program is subject to continuous evaluation and assessment in an

effort to provide the most effective, unique, and relevant programming for our teens. Project Extreme programs include Miryam’s House, Crisis Text Line, Camp Extreme Boys, Camp Extreme Girls, Shabbatons, Yom Tov Retreats, and more.

All Project Extreme programs are designed to interrupt participant’s negative behavior patterns; educate and create opportunities for healthy decision-making and choices; enhance feelings of self-worth; foster introspection; improve social and familial relationships; and identify key issues. Discussion sessions and workshops enable participants to analyze their past choices honestly, address challenges, begin to appreciate their

unique self-worth, and develop concrete coping mechanisms and survival skills. These programs transform lives by helping teens move away from destructive behavior, build self-confidence, and make better choices. Most often, the new outlook and skill sets enable teens to reconnect with their family and to the community.

Many attendees have already begun to work together on new projects and are optimistic about ongoing collaboration. Project Extreme is especially thankful to the the Event Chairmen, Yudi Hochheiser and Naftali Solomon, for their continued guidance and support. For more information about Project Extreme and Miryam’s House, visit www.projectextreme.org.

MOTZEI SHABBOS

JANUARY 12, 7:30PM

SHIDDUCH PANEL IN THE FIVE TOWNS

Make-up Artists and Photographers on site to take complimentary shidduch pictures. Email devorazero@gmail.com to reserve a time slot.

You will have the opportunity to meet the shadchanim after the panel discussion for a fee of $72 (entrance fee included.)

Space is limited. RSVP to mbrseminary@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

Submit specific questions impacting your daughter’s shidduch by January 8, and we will try to include your question in the discussion!

We look forward to greeting you personally!

WHERE:

FEE: $36 Individual , $50 for Mother & Daughter

Across from the Lawrence Long Island Railroad Station.

Proceeds to benefit Machon Basya Rochel Scholarship Fund

Machon Basya Rochel Seminary

PANELISTS

Rebbitzin BrafmanSuri Flegman Rachel Tepfer Yaffa Jungreis Adina Reich WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

All mothers and daughters who are in shidduchim!

Join us as seasoned shadchanim address many of your questions and concerns.

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Gedolei Yisroel Give Chizuk to Lomdei Dirshu in Advance of Siyum on Chelek Gimmel of Mishnah Berurah World Siyum Details to Be Unveiled at Grand Melava Malka at Dirshu Convention

By Chaim Gold

“Y

ou will see, the olam will sit and learn [Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah]. They will be matzliach!” Those were the words of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva, responding to the news of the siyum of Chelek Gimmel of Mishnah Berurah in Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Program and the commencement of Chelek Daled.

Rav Moshe Hillel was responding to the feeling of some that it is difficult to learn Chelek Daled because it contains the complex halachos of Eruvin. Rav Hirsch acknowledged the difficulty while simultaneously conveying the concept that he was very confident that Lomdei Dirshu, would persevere, just as they have been tested on the first three volumes of Mishnah Berurah.

World Siyum Details at Grand Melava Malka The recent meeting with Rav Hirsch, while he was in America, was one of numerous meetings with Gedolei Yisrael in honor of the upcoming siyum on Chelek Gimmel at the Grand Melava Malka to be held during the Dirshu International Convention this coming Shabbos Parshas Bo at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.

At the melava malka, the exciting plans for Dirshu’s World Siyum will be unveiled. The assemblage will hear detailed plans of large gatherings promoting kovod haTorah and recognizing the accomplishments of Lomdei Dirshu.

The siyumim will begin with massive siyumim in Eretz Yisroel, followed by England, France and South Africa, and culminating in an enormous siyum at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, in mid-February, 2020.

Senior members of the Dirshu’s hanhala led by Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, visited with numerous Gedolim both in the Unit-

ed States and Eretz Yisroel, where the Gedolim gave them chizuk in advance of the upcoming siyum on Chelek Gimmel and also gave their brachos for the plans for the World Siyumim to be held next year.

Among the Gedolim visited in America were HaGaon HaRav Matisyohu Salomon, shlita, Mashgiach Beth Medrash Govoha Lakewood, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita (who was in America for a visit), HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel, the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shlita, and the Vienner Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita.

Meetings with leading senior Gedolim in Eretz Yisrael representing the entire cross-section of Charedi Jewry, Litvish, Chassidish and Sefardic, culminated in a deeply moving maamad held at the home of the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch: “Nifla Meod! Nifla Meod!”

At the meeting with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Hofstedter explained how many of the Lomdei Dirshu will be making a siyum for being tested on the entire Shas.

Some have even taken cumulative tests on all of Shas and are true Shas Yidden. “Many of them did not even realize that they had the kochos to learn and be tested on Shas, but the challenge and perseverance of learning with a goal and accountability brought out latent abilities in them that they had not even realized they possessed!”

Rav Moshe Hillel, who was visibly moved, exclaimed, “Nifla meod! Nifla meod!” He then gave his heartfelt bracha that all of the siyumim should be a source of increasing k’vod shomayim without any michsholim. “The main thing,” he stressed, “is to increase k’vod shomayim.”

The venerated Mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Matisyohu Salo-

Rav Dovid Hofstedter consulting with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in advance of the Dirshu siyumim

mon, despite his weakness and compromised health, felt compelled to make time to meet with Dirshu’s hanhala to give his bracha in advance of the siyum and in advance of large World Siyumim to be held next year.

The Rachmastrivka Rebbe: Lomdei Dirshu Emerge with a “Rechush Gadol” The Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, one of the elder Rebbes of our generation, said about the Dirshu learners, “They have acquired a rechush gadol, great [spiritual] wealth!” The Rebbe added that by increasing Torah learning and promoting constant learning, chazara and goal setting, Dirshu serve as a manifestation of the words that we say in davening every day, ‘Yagdil Torah v’yaadir – the Torah is made great and glorious.’”

One of the inspiring meetings was held with Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel. Rav Schustal encapsulated one of the most remarkable aspects of being part of Dirshu with a thought from Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, Mashgiach of the Mir. He said, “When each lomeid is learning on his own with great toil, he may think that he is learning on his own

or with his chavrusah or in a shiur, in truth, however, he is a shutaf, a partner with all of the many thousands of lomdim in Dirshu the world over.

“It is like a person seeing or meeting a brother whom he has never seen before. Just because he has not seen him, does not make him less of a brother. There is a closeness of relationship by virtue that they are all engaged in a joint mitzvah.”

Rav Schustal will be attending the Dirshu Convention this coming Shabbos Parshas Bo and will be delivering a shiur to the entire assemblage. Mareh mekomos will be given in advance of the shiur so that the lomdei Torah will be able to properly prepare.

The Sanz Klausenberger Rebbe, shlita: Dirshu the Achsania of Torah The Sanz Klausenberger Rebbe, shlita, has been an enthusiastic supporter of Lomdei Dirshu for decades. When the hanhala of Dirshu came to visit the Rebbe at his home in Boro Park, the Rebbe was effusive in his excitement about the upcoming siyumim. The fact that Dirshu was enriching Klal Yisrael with true Shas Yidden was a par-

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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BREATHTAKING? ORDER YOURS TODAY!

Rav Dovid Hofstedter discussing the upcoming Dirshu siyumim with the Vienner Rav

ticular source of pleasure and excitement to the Rebbe. The Rebbe explained how it had always been the fervent desire of his father, the previous Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, to enrich Klal Yisrael with young talmidei chachomim who were such bekiim in Shas that they were able to be tested on all of Shas. Dirshu is accomplishing this.

The Vienner Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz: “Dirshu Deserves Credit for The Many Similar Programs That Have Sprung Up in its Wake” The Vienner Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita, greeted the hanhala of Dirshu by expressing his personal hakoras hatov. “My own children and grandchildren learn and take the tests in the Dirshu programs. They have derived tremendous benefit in their learning and aliyah in Torah as a result.”

After hearing of the plans for the numerous siyumim to be held at the

Dirshu World Siyum next year, the Rav was very pleased and said, “The truth is, Dirshu deserves credit not just for Dirshu but for the many similar programs that have sprung up in its wake. All of them have their roots in Dirshu.”

As the Lomdei Dirshu anticipate the International Convention to be held on Shabbos Parshas Bo, and the siyum to be held at the Grand Melava Malka seudah, there is much interest among the general public regarding the historic nature of the worldwide siyumim to be held next year culminating in the massive demonstration of kovod haTorah in America with the siyum at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The Melava Malka is open to the public, busses will be provided from major frum centers, and entire assemblage at the grand Melava Malka will hear a detailed outline of the exciting events that will be graced by leading Gedolim from across the world.

Lessons from “Fiddler on the Roof” Page 134

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Yachad Yaldei Yisroel Siyum

A

special group of boys, known as Yachad Yaldei Yisroel, had their annual siyum this week. The group is led by Reb Eli Cheshin who leads them every single Shabbos afternoon for an hour of spirited, geshmakeh Tehillim together.

Boys of all ages come to share in the tremendous zechusim that the group creates week after week. While

some boys are close to the age of bar mitzvah, others start out as young as three years old! Regardless, they all become quickly acclimated to the beautiful Yerushalmi nusach that Reb Eli teaches them so diligently, as well as becoming proficient in the words of Dovid Hamelech.

The event marked the 10th year since the group started, and each week boys are given tickets to ac-

cumulate. There is no raffle held (where some boys go home empty-handed and dejected), rather the boys with the most tickets get to pick a present in order of who accumulated the most over the year. Every boy goes home with a valuable, and cherished, present for their time spent over the year reciting Tehillim on Shabbos afternoons – all, in their spare time. Additionally, each week

every boy gets a super-sized nosh pekelah, and on every Shabbos Mevorchim, R’ Eli treats the boys to a Berrylicious ice cream treat as well.

Mi k’amchah Yisroel, who are so fortunate to have such precious children. The group meets every week in Sh’or Yoshuv 1 hour before Mincha.

All boys are invited to join and create their own zechusim by the millions!

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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OCTOBER 29,2019 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home JANUARY 3,

TJH

Centerfold

Pentagon Points There are 17.5 miles of corridors in the Pentagon.

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

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

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

You gotta be kidding A young officer is working late at the Pentagon one evening.

As he comes out of his office at about 8 P.M. he sees the general standing by the classified document shredder in the hallway, a piece of paper in his hand.

“Do you know how to work this thing?” the general asks. “My secretary’s gone home and I don’t know how to run it.”

“Yes, sir,” says the young officer, who turns on the machine, takes the paper from the general, and feeds it in.

“Now,” says the general, “I just need one copy…”

Answer to Riddle Me This: Hair.

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Although a building of the Pentagon’s size normally would take approximately 4 years to build, the Pentagon took just 16 months to build.

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

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

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

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

Riddle me this?

We are just like people. We grow, we get old, we die off. We come in many different colors. Black, white, brown. We come in an army, there are thousands of us, yet we have no war. But we will still die off over the years. What am I?

?? ?

See answer to the left

The TheJewish JewishHome Home| OCTOBER | JANUARY29, 3, 2015 2019

So You Want to Be the New Secretary of Defense 1. How many branches are there of the U.S. Armed Forces?

3. What is the approximate annual defense budget for the U.S.? a. $715 billion b. $950 billion c. $1.2 trillion d. $2 trillion

a. 3 b. 4 c. 5

4. Which of the following is the largest U.S. military base?

d. 6 2. Approximately how many civilians (non-military) work for the Department of Defense? a. 240,000 b. 700,000 c. 1.2 million d. 3 million

a. Fort Hood (TX) b. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA) c. Fort Bragg (NC) d. Fort Campbell (KY) 5.

In which foreign country is there the largest U.S. military presence? a. Afghanistan b. Israel

c. Germany

d. You fire your aide.

d. Japan 6. On your first day on the job as secretary of defense, while you are in the middle of a secure briefing, your aide tells you that you have a call from a five-star general in the army. What do you do?

7. Which of the following is America’s biggest defense contractor? a. Lockheed Martin b. Boeing c. Northrop Grumman d. General Dynamics

a. Protocol requires you to pick up a five-star general’s call unless you are with the president. b. The Secretary of Defense only makes outbound calls so you call him back. c. You request a secure video conference line.

 Answers

 Wisdom Key 6-7 correct: You get the job as the new Secretary of Defense!

Mad Dog Friedman...Mad Dog Goldberg...Mad Dog Levy...

That’s going to strike fear in the hearts of our adversaries.

3-5 correct: Not bad. You get the job as Deputy Assistant Vice Substitute Replacement Under Under Under Undersecretary of Defense.

0-2 correct: You, my friend, are a five-star general!

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3. A 2. B- The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest employer in the U.S. with 2.15 million active service members and approximately 732,000 civilian employees.

1. C- There are 5 branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.

6. D- There are no living five-star generals in the army. The rank of five5. D- Japan leads the way with approximately 40K U.S. troops stationed there. Germany follows with approximately 34K. Then comes South Korea with 24K. 4. C- Fort Bragg has a population of 238,646, spread over 163,000 acres.

7. A- Lockheed sells military aircraft, missiles, drones, ships and many other things. The government accounts for nearly all of Lockheed’s business. star general was created during World War II and only five generals received the ranking. The last five-star general, Gen. Oma Bradley, died in 1981.

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Torah Thought

Parshas Va’eira

By Rabbi Berel Wein

W

hen the hardships imposed upon the Israelites became oppressive, Moshe complains to Heaven that the promises made to him have not been fulfilled.

He has come to Pharaoh to ask him to free the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage, and Pharaoh laughs at him and tells him to forget it. In addition, the Jewish people themselves are not really believers in Moshe or in the fact that they will be freed. They too complain that since Moshe has come on the scene, the situation has worsened.

Moshe, as a result, complains back to Heaven in the form of a demand, so to speak, that an explanation is warranted. Why is this happening? At the burning bush, he was promised that the Jewish people would be freed and that he would be able to raise them to a great level of spirituality when they would accept the Torah and become an eternal people. These promises apparently remain unfulfilled. This is the problem he raises. It is this complaint that results in the answer that Heaven gives to Moshe in this week’s reading.

It is interesting to note that Heaven does not respond to Moshe’s specific complaints. Rather, Heaven, so to

speak, says, “There were great people before you, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who I was able to deal with.

They never complained. They never asked why. They never pursued the question. Yet, you lack patience right

to so much disaster? It is interesting that again the response from Heaven is that, so to speak, this is not his business. Again, it’s a non-sequitur.

G-d describes how -e created the world, how the universe is main-

Heaven is the Creator, and there isn’t a basis of mutual understanding and rationality.

at the start of your mission.” This is an absolute non-sequitur to the questions and complaints that Moshe has raised.

We find that this is a pattern that exists throughout the holy writings of the Bible. In the Great Book of Iyov, part of the canon of the Bible, Iyov complains to G-d about his treatment. Why is he made to suffer? What is his sin? Why should he be subject

tained, the wonders of nature, the intricacies of science and of medicine and of the human body. None of this answer his questions and God says, so to speak, “You’re never going to understand, you’re never going to know.

You weren’t here at the beginning and you’re not going to be here at the end, so your question really has no basis. I will not respond.”

There’s a great lesson in this.

Throughout human life, personal, and national, things happen to us that have absolutely no rational or even justified cause. Why do these things happen? What is the judgment that is leveled against people and against nations? We would like to understand it. Moshe himself will say, “G-d, tell me about You. Show me you.” Heaven does not respond that way. Heaven remains mysterious. Heaven answers always with a non-sequitur.

Heaven always deals with us but only by saying that we are the created, that Heaven is the Creator, and there isn’t a basis of mutual understanding and rationality. The questions are better left unasked. It is difficult for people to deal with this because everyone wants to know and understand everything. We want it all to make sense, but as the Prophet says, “My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. You will never understand me.” This is the basic lesson that we learn from the incident of Moses returning to fulfill his mission to deliver the Jewish people from Egypt and grant them The Torah. Moses now understands the difference between understanding Heaven and obeying Heaven.

Shabbat shalom.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

From the Fire

Parshas Va’eira The Fulfillment of Hashem’s Promises

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

A

t the beginning of the parsha, Hashem tells Moshe (Shemos 6:3), “I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov with the name ‘Keil Shakai,” but My name YKVK [the four-letter name of Hashem] did not become known to them.”

Rashi explains this pasuk as follows: “It does not say, ‘I did not make My name known to them.’ Rather it says, ‘My name did not become known to them.’

They did not recognize My attribute of truth personified by my name is YKVK, which implied my trustworthiness to fulfill my word; because I made promises to them but did not fulfill them [in their lifetime].”

Rashi makes a similar comment on the pasuk (Shemos 11:2), “Please speak into the ears of the nation and let them borrow, each person from his neighbor...,” where he explains: “The word nah means ‘please’ [as if to say], ‘Please tell the people [to borrow the Egyptians’ wealth] so that the tzaddik Avraham should not say that Hashem fulfilled his promise (Bereishis 15:13)

“And they will enslave them and oppress them” but he did not fulfill His promise “and after that they shall go out with great wealth.”’” What is the meaning of Rashi’s comments on these psukim? Did the Avos have such little faith in Hashem that they needed proofs and reassurances that Hashem would fulfill His promises?

The Avos certainly had perfect faith that Hashem would fulfill His promises. Nevertheless, until one witnesses the fulfillment of a promise with his own eyes, something is still missing.

One cannot sing until he has actually experienced redemption. As the pasuk (Tehilim 13:6) says, “I sing out to Hashem when He does kindness to me.” When can a person sing to Hashem? When He does good with the person. When one actually experiences a redemption, he can sing to Hashem.

The Avos believed that their children would be redeemed, but they did not fully comprehend Hashem’s kindness until His promises began coming to fruition at the time of Moshe.

The time of the Avos was a time of potential, a time of promises, but Moshe’s time was the beginning of the time of the actualization of that potential. There are no songs in the book of Bereishis. In Moshe’s time, where (Mechilta Beshalach 3) “[a simple] maidservant by the sea saw what Yechezkel and the other prophets did not see,” the Jewish people were able to sing about the actualization of Hashem’s kindness, as it says (Shemos 15:1), “Az yashir Moshe, then Moshe sang...”

The Ohev Yisroel of Apt, zy”a, asks why Yaakov Avinu never attempted to kill Eisav his brother by using Hashem’s name, just as Moshe killed the Egyptian later on. He answers that Hashem’s name was not fully revealed in Yaakov Avinu’s time. His time was one of promises, of potential, but not actualization. Yaakov Avinu therefore did not fully comprehend Hashem’s name and could not access its full power – “My name ‘YKVK’ did not become known to them.”

The time of the Avos was a time of

collecting promises for the future (Tehilim 13:6), “I trust in Your kindness,” in Hashem’s promises for the future.

The time of their children, however, was a time of the revelation of the fulfillment of those promises, a full recognition of the truth of Hashem’s kindness, “My heart rejoices in Your salvation.” As the Ramban explains in his introduction to the book of Shemos, “This [the book of Bereishis, the story of the Avos] was a type of formation of their descendants ... to hint and make known everything that would happen to them in the future. After the formation period was completed, another book [Shemos] began with the actualization of those hints.”

The Avos believed in Hashem’s promises, and Hashem even appeared to them with the name Hashem, but they never experienced the actualization of those promises in the physical world. They could not say, “Ashira Hashem ki gamal alai, I sing out to Hashem when He does kindness to me.”

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The prophet Yeshaya (43:21) reveals the purpose of the creation of the Jewish people: “I formed this nation, they will relate My praises.” Our job is to recognize Hashem’s kindness when we witness its actualization and relate His praise.

This difference between the way of the Avos and the way of the children exists today as well on several levels.

The way of the Avos is revealed with respect to children and young adults.

Their lives are filled with promise for the future. Their time is the period of formation, when they clarify their faith and work toward what they can achieve and attain in the future. They daven, learn, and work on their middos, but everything remains in a state of hope and expectation. They do not yet get to enjoy the sweetness of a full Jewish life.

This recognition takes time to attain.

It is the same with the earlier generations. Our parents and grandparents lived through the valley of the shadow of death. All they had was hope for the future. They were unable to sing

to Hashem, even if they believed that everything would turn out for the best.

They had to wait many years before they were able to witness the actualization of their hopes as they began to watch their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren learning Torah and growing up in the right way.

Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l, went through a difficult trial when his flight

one so they singled him out for “special treatment,” making that time extremely difficult and frightening. When he was finally released, he said that only then did he understand what Dovid Hamelech meant when he wrote (Tehilim 142:8), “Take my soul from out of its bondage in order to give thanks to Your name; because of me the righteous will crown You because of the kindness You

Our job is to recognize Hashem’s kindness when we witness its actualization and relate His praise.

was hijacked by terrorists in 1970, and the plane was taken to Jordan. Although the terrorists did not know that he was a famous rabbi, he looked like

do to me.”

At first, Rav Hutner thought that a person should be able to give thanks to Hashem even before he is released from

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bondage. The truth is that (Brachos 60b) “Everything that Hashem does, He does for the good.” But when Rav Hutner went through that hijacking experience, he realized that one cannot fully comprehend Hashem’s kindness until he has actually experienced redemption from danger, after one is released from the bondage. He wanted to be saved from that situation so that he could give thanks to Hashem.

Then, “because of me the righteous will crown You because of the kindness You do to me.” That is the fulfillment of our purpose, “I formed this nation, they will relate My praises.”

May we soon merit to see the actualization of all of Hashem’s promises to us with the arrival of the complete redemption, may it come soon in our days.

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

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Parsha

in 4

Parshas Va’eira

By Eytan Kobre

Weekly Aggada And Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, and he continued to sin; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. (Shemos 9:34) This is the way of the wicked: while in danger, they humble themselves; when the danger subsides, they return to their ruinous ways.

When he was in danger, Nevuchadnetzar [King of Bavel] proclaimed, “Now I, Nevuchadnetzar, praise and extol and honor the King of the Heavens; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those who walk with pride, He is able to demote” (Daniel 4:34). R’ Berechya said in the name of R’ Chalavo in the name of R’ Shmuel bar Nachman: If not for the Holy One Blessed Be He judging the hearts and minds, [it would appear from this verse as though] Nevuchadnetzar praised [G-d] in the same manner Dovid praised [G-d] in Tehillim.

But once Nevuchadnetzar believed he would [remain] in a position of greatness (i.e., that he had survived for a year with being deposed [Etz Yosef]), he began to become haughty again. So the Holy One Blessed Be He said to him, “Wicked one! You are still haughty?” That is, while in danger, the wicked humble themselves; when the danger subsides, they return to their ruinous ways.

And so [it was with Pharaoh]: “And Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, and he continued to sin.”

The nations of the world continue to sin [once danger subsides], but the Jewish people [embody the verse]: “The punishment of your sins is complete, Daughter of Zion; He will no longer exile you” (Eicha 4:24) – i.e., they repent completely (Tanchuma, Va’era 17).

Weekly Mussar Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to the water. (Shemos 7:15) Pharaoh awoke early in the morning to relieve himself along the banks of the Nile River so that he could pass himself off to the Egyptians as a god, free of bodily functions and needs (Shemos Rabba 9:8; Tanchuma, Va’era 14).

The Chofetz Chaim sees in the connection between Pharaoh’s bodily functions and his self-deification as the ultimate display of arrogance: bodily functions are humbling by nature, so denying the need to engage in such bodily functions is the height of narcissism. Indeed, when Chiram, king of Tzor (Tyre), attempted to pass himself off as a deity, Yechezkel Ha’Navi reminded him that he was created with the base need to relieve himself, just as all mankind (Bava Basra 75a; Yechezkel 28:13).

And that is the reason we were created with the need to relieve ourselves not just on a monthly or weekly or daily basis, but several times a day.

It reminds us of our frailty and mortality – no matter the high esteem in which we might hold ourselves.

Weekly Halacha And Moshe said to him, “When I leave the city, I will spread my palms to G-d; the thunder will cease and the hail will be no more, so that you will know that the earth belongs to G-d.”

(Shemos 9:29) Moshe agreed to pray for an end to the Plague of Hail, but he would do so only after leaving Egypt’s metropolitan areas, since they were brimming with idols (Shemos Rabba 12:5).

Based on Moshe Rabbeinu’s insistence on not praying in Egypt’s metropolitan areas, one who is traveling at sunset time preferably should daven Mincha roadside rather than at a nearby inn in a city populated only by non-Jews, so as to avoid having to pray in an inn with idolatrous images (Terumas HaDeshen [R’ Yisrael Isserlin; 1390-1460], No. 6; see also Shelah, Shemos 9:29; Rama, Orach Chaim 94:9; Mishna Berura 94:2930). That preference assumes, however, that other travelers would not interrupt his prayers on the road; if they would, and there is a secluded room in the inn, it would be better to daven at the inn.

One who must pray in a room with a cross or an idolatrous image (e.g., rooms in a Catholic hospital or university) may do so if necessary (see e.g. Responsa Lev Avraham [R’ Avraham Weinfeld; 1930-1987], No. 29). Still, one should either cover the image (Kaf Hachaim, 113:27) or face a different direction (Mishna Berura 94:30; cf. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 113:8).

Weekly Anecdote And I have also heard the cries of the Children of Israel, whom the Egyptians enslave; and I have remembered My covenant (Shemos 6:5) Toward the end of his life, the Ruzhiner Rebbe, R’ Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin (1796-1850), often would enter the local yeshiva, pause the learning, and relate a story meant to impart some wisdom. On one such occasion, he told the following story.

There was once a Jew who spent his life confined to one tiny village.

There were no other Jews in his village, and there was certainly no shul.

So, naturally, this Jew knew almost

nothing of Yiddishkeit.

One year, he was determined to travel to the big city for Rosh Hashana so that he could go to shul. Upon entering a massive shul on the appointed day, he found all its congregants “shukeling” back and forth, to and fro.

So he too “shukeled” back and forth, to and fro.

Then he saw all the congregants crying and screaming. He did not understand the crying and screaming, but he assumed that the congregants had been in shul a long time and must be hungry. So he too cried and screamed.

Then the shul fell silent. He did not understand the silence, but he recalled how, on his way to shul, he had smelled the kugels being prepared for the afternoon meal. He concluded that the congregants had quieted down because they were comforted by the thought of the kugels they would soon eat. So he too was silent.

But then, only minutes later, the congregants again erupted with crying and screaming. Now he was completely baffled, until it dawned upon him: even though the congregants knew their kugel waiting, they simply could not bear to wait any longer – that is the reason they are crying.

The Ruzhiner Rebbe stopped, looked to the Heavens, and declared, “Do you hear that, G-d? They simply could not bear to wait any longer! We, too, cannot bear to wait any longer!”

The Weekly Halacha is not meant for practical purposes and is for discussion purposes only. Please consult your own rav for guidance.

Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.

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Parsha: Think, Feel, Grow

The “Nature” of Miracles

By Shmuel Reichman

I

magine you meet someone, and immediately notice something peculiar: he is incessantly clapping his hands. The next day, you realize that once again, he is constantly clapping his hands. As this pattern continues for several weeks, you realize that he must have some kind of biological disorder, forcing him to act this way. You begin to get used to the strange behavior, accepting this boy’s nature. One day, as usual, you see him clapping his hands. Suddenly, the unexplainable happens: the boy stops clapping his hands, looks right, then left, smiles to himself, waves at you, and then goes back to clapping his hands again. Your first response is absolute shock; a moment later, you begin to realize the fascinating truth: this boy doesn’t have a disorder, and he isn’t being forced to clap his hands. Every moment, he chooses to clap his hands. You just witnessed a brief moment where he chose not to clap his hands. The clapping has always been fully in his control.

This anecdote connects to a very profound idea developed in this week’s parsha.

The Miraculous and the Natural We are complicated beings, living in an even more complex world.

Many people become overwhelmed by the intricacies of life, and would rather live within the confines of simplicity than attempt to navigate

the weaving path towards the truth.

Yet, those driven by imagination, curiosity, and a higher will, venture to embrace the complexities of this world, seeing the true beauty behind the nuance and sophistication of the Torah and our universe. Those striving for the truth constantly question the nature of the world we live in.

In parshas Va’eira, Hashem reveals Himself to the world through miracles and makkos. The laws of nature are broken, the impossible becomes possible; the unfathomable, fathomable. Yet, to fully appreciate and understand the meaning of a miracle, we must first attempt to understand nature itself.

The concept of nature is a wondrous and enigmatic idea. After all, what do we mean when we refer to the natural? Naturally, what goes up tends to come back down. Nature also causes rain storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and appears to be responsible for disease and illness. We tend to give nature credit for most of what happens in this world. Yet, any thoughtful Jew should be troubled by the concept of nature. If Hashem created this world, then how are we supposed to approach nature? Is nature something independent from Hashem? To answer these questions, let us take a few steps back, and begin with the fundamental starting point.

At the end of parshas Bo, the Ramban (Ramban Al Ha’Torah, Bo 13:16) famously mentions three ba-

sic categories of people who don’t believe in Hashem. The first is one who doesn’t believe in Hashem at all.

He believes that the world has always existed, without any creator whatsoever. After all, when you look around, do you see Hashem? You can’t see, hear, touch, smell, or taste Him, so how are you supposed to know that He exists? Furthermore, how can something come from nothing? Such questions have caused many to reject the existence of Hashem altogether.

However, many others are willing to accept Hashem’s existence. After all, since this world is so sophisticated and beautiful, there must have been a Creator. Just spend a few days studying human biology, and you will marvel at the wonder and brilliance of a single human being. The second category of people claim that once Hashem created the world, He left.

As a result, Hashem is unaware of anything happening in this world.

This is referred to as the watchmaker theory: once a watchmaker creates a watch, it runs completely on its own. Now, there are a number of reasons why people would feel abandoned: first of all, like with the previous group, we don’t see Hashem in a revealed manner. It’s only logical that if Hashem is an all-powerful and perfect being, then He is also too important to deal with the finite and limited world that we inhabit.

Furthermore, when you look around the world, you see so much pain,

suffering, bloodshed, and sickness.

Even worse, these terrible things often plague tzaddikim, while so many reshaim seem to live such peaceful and pleasant lives. Why would Hashem allow this to happen if He were running the world?

Others mistakenly think Hashem is like most human beings, who start a project, eventually get tired of it, and move on to something else.

They claim that Hashem must have therefore moved on to some other project, leaving us alone in the universe. These are just a few of the reasons that this second group of people claim that Hashem has left our world to the random and coincidental occurrences of nature.

Finally, the third group claims that Hashem didn’t leave this world but is rather limited and weak, unable to intervene with nature. He knows what’s happening in this world but remains passive. This group claims that Hashem might have been able to create the world, but He can’t control it. Thus, they question Hashem as all a powerful being.

The Ramban explains that Yetzias Metzrayim negated all three of these groups. By performing the ten makkos, Kriyas Yam Suf, and redeeming Klal Yisrael, Hashem shattered each mistaken paradigm – all at once.

Beyond revealing the fact that He exists, knows what’s going on in this world, and is capable of intervening,

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He also revealed his all-encompassing power. Through the miraculous events of Yetzias Mitzrayim, Hashem showed His control over, and ability to uproot, the laws of nature. Nevertheless, the question then becomes: what is nature?

If you take a moment to introspect, you will find that almost everything in this world involves a cause and effect relationship. The world seems to abide by certain rules, with very few exceptions. Why does the sun rise every morning?

Why do seeds grow when you plant them, give them water, and provide sunshine? Why does time always move forward? How does a complex human body maintain homeostasis?

How does such an intricate planet maintain homeostasis? When you take a moment to ponder these questions, you can’t help but wonder: what is causing all this order? Of course, the answer must be: nature.

So this brings us back to our original question: what is nature?

Three Forms of Belief in Hashem R’ Eliyahu Dessler explains that even those who believe in Hashem have different ways of understanding nature. These differences in understanding correlate to three distinct levels of belief.

A) Hashem Created Nature The first level pertains to those who completely believe in Hashem’s existence, but also believe in a concept called nature. They believe that while Hashem may have created nature, it is a self-governing, independent entity that maintains this world.

They say that Hashem is a transcendent being, and exists beyond this world, while nature is the mechanism that governs the physical world.

Typically, such a person believes that if he abides by the rules of cause and effect and works hard, he will be successful in life. Of course, he still realizes that Hashem is the ultimate power and can intervene with nature at any point in time. He will therefore daven to Hashem with tremendous kavana: “Please don’t interfere and mess up my plans.” This person thinks that things will run naturally unless Hashem decides to interfere.

R’ Dessler places this person as the

lowest of the three levels of emunah.

B) Hashem Created and Controls Nature The second level includes the person who thinks that Hashem causes everything in this world to occur.

Like a person writing with a pen, Hashem has complete control over nature and uses it like a tool. This re-

much higher reality.

This third level is the one presented by Ramban in the same passage we mentioned earlier. He explains that the open miracles during Yetzias Mitrayim revealed to the world that nature itself is really a hidden miracle. In other words, there is no fundamental difference between

Nature itself is really a hidden miracle.

sults in a much greater appreciation of Hashem’s presence in the world, as everything that happens in your life is now coming from Hashem.

Accordingly, the experiences in your life will now be filled with spiritual relevance, and hashgacha will take a forefront position in your vernacular.

Yet, this person still views nature as something separate from Hashem, merely used as a tool. One must ask: why does Hashem need a tool? You only need tools when you can’t accomplish the task yourself. You only need a pen because your finger itself can’t write. So, is Hashem Himself limited, in that he needed to create a tool called nature?

C) Nature Itself is the Constant Will of Hashem The third level, the highest level, is one that requires a developed understanding of Hashem and His relationship with this world. One who attains this level understands that nature is simply an illusion, a mask for Hashem’s will. In fact, nature does not exist as an independent identity at all. What we call nature is actually the actualization of Hashem’s will. Hashem is complete Oneness, and therefore nature isn’t separate from Hashem at all.

Rather, nature is just a term we use to identify the events of cause and effect we witness each day. Just like thoughts originate in your mind and come into fruition through action, Hashem constantly wills everything into existence and everything in this world manifests as a result. Thus, this world is really a reflection of a

the amazing miracles and wonders Hashem performed – whereby He uprooted all the laws of nature – and the extraordinary wonders Hashem performs every single day. There is no template or natural system called nature. Rather, Hashem wills the same wonders into existence every second, to make it appear as if there

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is an independent system in place.

We call these constant miracles “nature.” In essence, the only difference between open miracles and nature is the frequency. The miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim only occurred once in history, while the miracles of nature occur every second. Just like the boy from our opening story, l’havdil, whose momentary transition revealed that what appeared to be his nature was actually his constant will, the same is true about nature itself.

Let us be inspired to see past the mask of nature, to find Hashem in every aspect of our lives, and to recognize the miraculous within the natural.

Shmuel Reichman is an inspirational speaker who has spoken internationally at shuls, conferences, and in Jewish communities. You can find more inspirational shiurim, videos, and articles from Shmuel on Facebook and Yutorah. org. For all questions, thoughts, or bookings, please email shmuelreichman678@ gmail.com.

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Israel Today

What a Coop!

By Rafi Sackville

T

he concept of offering individuals or small businesses open space to work in is not new.

WeWork was founded in 2010. It offers dedicated desks, offices and shared spaces that are accessible to “premium amenities,” such as kitchens, showers, a gym, and private meeting areas, all for an affordable monthly fee.

The idea is not new to Israel. There are WeWork spaces in and around Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva. Many of these spaces have started within existing buildings but are refurbished to give them a modern, refreshing look and appeal.

A new company has recently begun offering customers the same type of work conditions, but with a twist.

Called “Luleem” (poultry coops), they have come up with a concept that is unique, with a flair of a genius.

Let me first begin with our friends, Penina and Yehuda Schwartz, who have lived in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion for 47 years. From their living room one has a long view of Alon Shvut and the Gush Etzion road. The shorter view has never encouraged much excite-

ment: a row of poultry coops, each exactly 109-by-15 yards long. Those asbestos-roofed coops bring back memories of middle of the night collections to the slaughterhouse, of the midwinter working conditions that were exacerbated by open sides, the terrible smell, and a concrete floor as

face.

The entrance is in the middle of the building. One walks through tinted glass doors, not squeaky metal doors that pose a danger when it’s windy, but state-of-the-art doors. Before you is a kitchen with marble-top counters, a large fish tank that sits in a sitting

I had come on the very day they were dedicating the building.

cold and hard as a block of ice.

On our recent visit to the kibbutz, Penina asked if we’d like to see those very coops, luleem. I looked at her with a look that said, “Huh? Have you lost your senses? Why would anyone want to see a lul, particularly that one?”

Penina insisted I take the two-minute walk and see a sight she was sure would wipe that look of ridicule off my

room area, and several cubicles dedicated for private phone conversations.

I was greeted by Lilach, the general manager, who welcomed me to Luleem, the latest concept in open work space. I had come on the very day they were dedicating the building. The public had been invited, so I was free to look around.

A corridor runs down the left. On both sides are offices and conference

rooms for small companies. They are roomy, comfortable, and very modern tech. I have a predilection for looking things over from top to bottom.

I looked up at the open ceiling and down to the floor. I was instantly taken back forty years.

It was in there that I recall my friend Pesach playing a practical joke way back in the 1970s. This coop was only used for raising turkeys for consumption. At the time, we were working in other luleem with turkeys that were artificially inseminated. With his typical good humor, Pesach took one egg and strategically placed it where the fish tank sits today. The egg was found, and word quickly spread about a miracle of nature having taken place in the male turkey coop.

It was the floor that had triggered those memories. It looked exactly the same as it had back then. I asked Lilach if I was mistaken. No, she said, this was the very same floor that had been laid down in the early 1970s. The developers believed it would be a reminder of what the building had been built for. The floor had been scrubbed

and coated with what looked to be a silicone finish.

At the end of the corridor there is a large work area with small workspaces the like of which you might find in a library. The ceiling is open, and despite the wintry day outside, the area was warm.

It is not difficult to get a sense why an individual would benefit from such a working environment. For one, working at home always poses drawbacks. People with small families might find working from a spare bedroom too close to the kitchen, the children, or the house chores. Furthermore, the lul is not situated in the city. The laidback atmosphere of the suburbs – in this case, the quiet of the Judean Hills – without the bleakness of a city office block is enticing.

There is no restriction of hours; Shabbat aside, the lul remains open 24/6.

There are small showers, the possibility of cubicles with beds, and the warm, friendly atmosphere that can only be conducive to better productivity.

Walking back down the corridor to the middle of the lul, I crossed into the section presently being completed.

A roof is being installed, along with construction of smaller work areas between seven and nine square meters.

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I looked outside and noticed that the roof of the second lul had been taken off. I was told that, because it had been made of asbestos and because there was every chance that it, too, might be developed into a working

space, the decision had been made to discard the roof to give everyone currently renting space a better piece of mind.

From the north to the south of the country, thousands of poultry coops dot the horizon. For many kibbutzim and moshavim, they were economically viable a generation ago but are no longer worthwhile today. Many lay desolate and empty, the only reminder of their presence being the clanging of their ubiquitous metal doors. Kfar Etzion has looked forward and turned an empty lul into a vision of what the future of business might look like.

Who would have thought of turning smelly, old poultry coops into working spaces? The idea makes perfect sense. An empty lul today could very easily become the goose (or turkey) that lays the golden egg tomorrow.

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

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

MR. SHLOMO MAYER, A”H A Family Man; A Community Man

BY JONATHAN MUSMAN

When

I was getting to know my father-in-law, Shlomo Mayer, I was repeatedly impressed with how many people wanted to take a minute or two of their time to chat with him or walk across a room to greet him. I found trips to the Young Israel of Woodmere with him particularly amusing. Ordinarily, it seemed to me that people dashed past one another in the midst of their respective rushed morning routines. Intriguingly, their pressured pace changed when they saw my father-in-law walk through the halls of the shul. “Hey, Shlomo!” they would call out. Many of them struck up entire conversations. It seemed as if everyone had something better to do until they had a chance to spend a minute with Shlomo Mayer.

T

he community has lost one of its leaders, his friends have been dispossessed of their larger than life confidant, and a family is bereft of its beloved father.

My father-in-law, Shlomo Mayer, a”h, was niftar this past Shabbos. To sift through the stinging disorientation that lingers in the aftermath of his loss and coherently describe the magnitude of the man is an impossible task at the present moment, perhaps it always will be. My father-in-law’s impact on the greater Five Towns community is immeasurable, and so much of its culture echoes his personality that shaped it.

This is not a matter of opinion; these are the indisputable facts.

There are countless stories of his legendary chessed and kindness. With the help of his siblings, there are en-

tire yeshivas, baatei medrash, and chessed organizations that bear his father’s name or operate largely on his shoulders. Rabbanim and roshei yeshiva had him on speed dial, as well as some of the most influential people on Wall Street. However, the vignettes that I selected to publicize may surprise some of you. These previously mentioned aspects of his life, while meaningful, in his mind did not define him nor did they begin to reflect his individuality. So you see, elaborating on these relationships and accomplishments misses the point. Indeed, I think he would have been bothered by the fact that I mentioned them.

Most of us strive to be able to say we did the things that he did and knew the people that he knew while privately recognizing the need to minimize the

dissonance between our public actions and less commendable private behavior. My father-in-law had no such struggle. All of his public accolades were manifestations of him merely being himself. He was unabashedly authentic and happened to do some extraordinary things along the way. At least that is the way I think he would look at it.

Here are a few stories of another sort: My father-in-law used a “unique” method of discipline. In other words, he did not use any form of discipline that would be recognizable to most parents. I cannot count how many times a conversation at the Shabbos table would turn to this topic, and my wife and her siblings would remark in unison, “I can’t remember Daddy

yelling – ever.” They sat in silence for a moment reviewing the archives of their interactions with him in their minds and always arrived at the same inconceivable conclusion. He never once raised his voice at them in anger.

NEVER. I always enjoyed watching them come to this realization. It was as if their appreciation for him was renewed every time they returned to this discovery. Of course, the next logical question was, “So how did he get us to behave?” His magic was that “he just looked at you.” He had tears forming in his eyes and gave a look that conveyed the message: “you are better than this.”

My father-in-law’s unflappable demeanor was well suited for the chaos of “the pit” on the commodities exchange.

I recall many friends who remarked

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With his wife, Naomi, and some of his children and grandchildren

At his daughter’s 30th birthday party

A photo of Shlomo at his daughter’s wedding

This past Chanukah

With his beautiful family

after meeting him, “Oh my gosh! He is too cool.” He was not as collected when it came to his children being out and about during the evening. He could not fall asleep until everyone was home for the night but did not give his kids a firm curfew. This practice sometimes left my father-in-law awake waiting for his kids to come home until 3 a.m. or later despite several calls assuring him that they will be home safely. He did not mind the wait. No matter the hour, he simply waited for everyone to come

home, wished them a good night, shut the hallway lights, and went to sleep.

Although my father-in-law did not wear a gartel during the rest of the year, he wore one on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This gartel originally belonged to Rav Hutner. My fatherin-law’s father received semicha from Rav Hutner and maintained a close relationship with him. Before my fatherin-law’s bris, his father was nervous and forgot to bring his gartel to shul.

Rav Hutner gave him his own gartel to

use instead. That garment became the equivalent of a kittel to my father-inlaw and staple of his Yomim Noraim wardrobe binding him to his father and the gedolim of our past during the holiest of times.

About ten years ago, people were incessantly knocking on my father-inlaw’s door to collect tzedakah. He kept a stack of five and ten dollar bills in a drawer off the kitchen. The system was that whoever answered the door gave either amount. My father-in-law learned the habits of the various people who doled out the cash. One week, my wife and I were in New York for Shabbos, so I happened to be available to open the door for a particular person. My father-in-law called down to me from upstairs and directed me to give him twenty dollars. He explained that for several weeks before, someone

THAT GARMENT BECAME THE EQUIVALENT OF A KITTEL TO MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND STAPLE OF HIS YOMIM NORAIM WARDROBE BINDING HIM TO HIS FATHER AND THE GEDOLIM OF OUR PAST DURING THE HOLIEST OF TIMES.

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Shlomo with his son-in-law, Jeffery Zoldan, and his grandsons at an upsherin

with a default five-dollar distribution habit had opened the door and my father-in-law wanted to make sure that this person in need would not suffer because of those circumstances.

My eldest son started to learn Gemara during the last months of my father-in-law’s life. He and his classmates celebrated their hascholas Gemara this past October. At that stage of his illness, my father-in-law had few moments of relief, but of course, he made the trip to Baltimore for the event. After the boys received their Gemaras in the cheder’s beis medrash, we continued to their classroom to learn the first Mishna of perek Eilu Metzios together. The room was claustrophobic. There was not much space left after the desks, children, parents, and grandparents were accounted for. My father-in-law hobbled into the room on

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OCTOBER 29,2019 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home JANUARY 3,

With the family

At the recent hascholas Gemara event

With his daughter, Lani, and his grandson

Learning with his grandson

his cane and lowered himself slowly into a chair beside my son. The rebbi who had been reading and explaining the Mishna stopped to ask his first question. After a moment of silence, my son’s hand shot up and offered the answer without a hint of equivocation in his voice. The look on my father-inlaw’s face conveyed a profound feeling of satisfaction. This was not about nachas, although I am quite sure he felt that too. My father-in-law viewed his grandchildren’s connection to Torah study and Jewish values as his greatest achievement. He believed that he could never understate the fact that all the descendants of the two individuals of his father’s family that escaped the Holocaust were proactive and deeply committed shomrei Torah u’mitzvos.

My father-in-law had an uncanny knack for giving the women in the

family gifts that they loved. Several times I watched him give my mother-in-law a present and was stunned how every piece of jewelry he bought for her was a hit. The longer that I am married, the more I have become convinced that this was some sort of rebbishe mofes. This past Chanukah, the final weeks of my father-in-law’s life, the entire family gathered together for the long weekend. He gave my wife and sisters-in-law each a pair of earrings; they loved them. In addition to appreciating the gift, they all commented on how the style of each set of earrings seemed to match the personality of the recipient.

This past Friday, my father-in-law called me at 6:45 am from the hospital.

He had decided that he was ready to stop treatment and wanted to discuss with me the best way to inform my

wife of the decision. Before revealing the reason for his call, he prefaced his question with several contextualizing remarks about how he had not been feeling well and that he had been in the hospital for a several weeks to make me feel at ease and segue into such an upsetting conversation.

I think he would be fine with the fact that I shared these stories about him but it’s hard for me to know for certain. Recognition was not motivating or the least bit appealing to him.

He just cherished spending time with his family. If we were to have had the

discussion, I think it would have gone something like this: “Hey, Jon.” “Hi, Dad.” “You know that thing you wrote about me?”

“Uh huh.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Well, thanks.”

“I’m joking. I think you did a great job.”

“Ha [smiles] – that means a lot.”

“Good. So take care, babe. I love you a lot.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

MY FATHER-IN-LAW VIEWED HIS GRANDCHILDREN’S CONNECTION TO TORAH STUDY AND JEWISH VALUES AS HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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A

G

rien d to F d oo A

remembering

ll

Rabbi Yecheskel Kaminsky, a"h

By Naftali Halpern

W

ith a clenched fist deep in my pocket, clutching my $10 bill, I step up to the counter – if you could call it that – to pay for my Mishnayos. Although I feel nestled in the warmth of Kitov, after having braced the mean 1980’s Mott Avenue, my muscles are still reflexively tense.

They don’t realize that this store has no time for petty hold-ups.

I marvel at the man behind the counter.

He seems to have more papers sticking out of his pocket than pages of a phonebook. And he’s on three phones at once.

I take this as an opportunity to catch up on the latest gossip in Far Rockaway. Good gossip: Who is starting a new Daf Yomi shiur… Which shul needs more siddurim… Whose son is on the way to Eretz Yisroel and needs an emergency delivery of the newest Kitzos before heading for his plane.

As always, I notice the quickness with which this man is moving. He seems to run down to the basement and return to the counter, all while I’m standing there and watching him on the phone.

Then thump, thump, click…

In a flash he manages to finish his phone calls and turns his undivided attention to me, a 12-year-old boy. With his ever-present Chicago accent and a sing-song drawl he inquires…

“Nu?...What?…Huh?” Does he think we were in middle of a conversation? Is he fishing for some information? Is he trying to get me to buy more merchandise?

It quickly clicks – no. We are simply best friends.

I may be a young child, but to him, there is a constant dialogue between us…

Nu…how are things going at school?

What…are you learning well?

Huh...how are your parents?

It was shorthand, Rabbi Kaminsky-style – meaningful and time-economical.

Over the next three decades, that was a conversation that I continued to have with Rabbi Kaminsky every time I ran into him, and every time I felt like he considered me a great friend. After his passing, I learned that it was a conversation that hundreds of people around Far Rockaway had with him as well over the past four decades.

And each of those people feel like they lost a great friend.

T

he admonition that one’s career is hardly a measure of one’s true success in life is usually true.

But for me, reflecting on Rabbi Kaminsky leads me to thoughts of Kitov.

The seforim store was a breeding grounds for Yiddishkeit and Torah. Several years ago, when Kitov closed, after 35 years in business, I had the opportu-

seforim store. What I noticed then was that Rabbi Kaminsky had no interest in reminiscing about his successful career and wasn’t interested in talking about sales tactics with me. Rather, his focus was on the numerous ways that people helped him along the way. He wanted to share those stories because he hoped to perpetuate those type of chassadim

He had long hair and looked out of sorts when Rabbi Kaminsky walked into the store and started schmoozing with him. nity to sit down with Rabbi Kaminsky and talk about his iconic Far Rockaway

within the community which he felt so much a part of.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

Rabbi Kaminsky related that before starting Kitov, he was the administrator at a local yeshiva. After several years he got the “itch” to move on to be able to better support his growing family. But he did not know what career to go into. For nine months he searched for the right opportunity. And for nine months the yeshiva he had previously worked for left him on the payroll.

The yeshiva was grateful for his years of service and paid him until he found another source of parnassa.

After several months of looking, Rabbi Kaminsky decided to purchase Minzer’s Judaica Store on Mott Avenue.

But where would he come up with the money for the store? As if imparting a lesson on what Jews do for each other, Rabbi Kaminsky told me that a friend gave him an interest-free loan so that he could purchase the store.

Rabbi Kaminsky renamed the store and changed its focus from Judaica items to seforim and Jewish books.

As someone who learned in Telshe of Cleveland and Lakewood, Rabbi Kaminsky had a love for learning and a

one.

He reminded me of a story told of the Kotzker Rebbe, zt”l. One time a chassid went to the Rebbe and complained that his store only got 10 customers that day but the store next door got 20 customers. The following day the man had a similar complaint.

After several days, the Rebbe admonished the storeowner, “The reason his store is more successful than your

The man would get calls from all sorts of unrecognizable numbers just Rabbi Kaminsky not giving up on a good friend. geshmak for seforim. As such, he knew that focusing on seforim was more in line with his interests. Through hard work, providing great service, and creating meaningful relationships, Kitov quickly blossomed.

One of Rabbi Kaminsky’s proudest career achievements was earning the title of “The Agudah’s Book Man,” which was bestowed upon him by Rabbi Moshe Sherer, zt”l.

When we spoke, Rabbi Kaminsky related to me one of the principles that guided his decisions: to succeed in business you must focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses – and not your competitor’s strengths. The pages of many business books are filled with the “how to” of this business principle. Somehow, I doubt Rabbi Kaminsky read any of those books; to him it was a Torahdik ideal, not a business

store is because he only worries about one store, his own. You, on the other hand, are busy worrying about two stores, yours and his.”

Rabbi Kaminsky told me that since he knew that his strength was seforim, when other stores opened and specialized in Judaica items, he did not change his business model. In fact, although technically the local seforim/ Judaica stores were in competition with each other, many of them had a good working relationship with each other and would even call each other when one of them needed an item for a customer which the other store may have had. What he didn’t tell me at the time, but what I’ve come to learn since his passing, is that when a new seforim store opened in the neighborhood he would give them a list of all the distributors and all the necessary

information for them to get up and running as expeditiously as possible.

Rabbi Kaminsky obviously believed that his parnassa came from Hashem, but there may have been another cheshbon at play: the choice between thinking about his parnassa and doing another Yid a tova was a no-brainer for him.

At the time, I asked Rabbi Kaminsky what it felt like to retire, and his

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response was another paradigm by which to live. He reflected that what amazed him the most about the experience was looking back and seeing how fast time goes by.

“The Mesilas Yeshorim talks about how time flies and we must use our time wisely, but it’s hard to see that when you are young and starting out,” he told me, “but when you retire and close up shop, you see how fast it all went.”

I had asked Rabbi Kaminsky what he would have done differently, and he replied that aside for minor changes, there was not much he would have changed.

“I opened at 10:00 AM and closed at 5:30 PM every night, and I made a parnassa. It was a tremendous bracha. Why would I change that?” he noted.

He was thankful that he was able to not only have a satisfying career, but was able to learn, watch his children grow, and perform chassadim, such as make shidduchim (he made over a dozen).

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T

he truth is, though, what made Rabbi Kaminsky a central figure in the community goes beyond Kitov and beyond the fact that he was an ever-present lomed Torah at various batei medrashim and shiurim around the neighborhood. That was certainly a part of it. But it was also his unique blend of persistence, concern for others, and ayin tov that made him stand out. There was no official position; it was simply one man doing what he could for the people he came across, whether it was in the beis medrash or the supermarket, whether it was a good friend that he knew for thirty years or a good friend that he had just met.

For some it was a chavrusashaff.

One man recalled sitting in the Agudah and feeling lonely, after having just moved to the neighborhood. Rabbi Kaminsky introduced himself to the man and, upon learning that he was from out-of-town, he declared, “You’re from out-of-town, I’m from out-of-town.

Great! Let’s learn together!”

Just like that, this man was chavrusas…and good friends with a central community figure.

For others it was a Shabbos seudah. When a new family moved to town, they would often get a loud knock on their door. “Shalom aleichem! I’m Yecheskel Kaminsky. I see you are new to the neighborhood.

Come for a Shabbos meal this week.”

In fact, recently, a young man moved to town, and Rabbi Kaminsky quickly befriended him. Over the ensuing months the man spent many Shabbos

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meals at the Kaminsky home.

After Rabbi Kaminsky passed away, the man reflected that he was not even aware that all those times that he was at the Kaminsky home for a seudah, Rabbi Kaminsky was battling his illness.

And still for others, it was a breakfast. One man recalls how he met Rabbi Kaminsky when he was a drifting teenager and working in a local store. He had long hair and looked out of sorts when Rabbi Kaminsky walked into the store and started

schmoozing with him. “Let’s go for breakfast,” Rabbi Kaminsky said.

They sat over breakfast and became good friends. The young man then went oversees for a while, and Rabbi Kaminsky stayed in touch. The man recalls how there were times when he didn’t want to be influenced towards Yiddishkeit so he would not pick up Rabbi Kaminsky’s calls.

And that is when Rabbi Kaminsky’s persistence kicked in, and the man would get calls from all sorts of unrecognizable numbers…just Rabbi Kaminsky not giving up on a good friend.

R

abbi Kaminsky’s legacy lives on with his wonderful family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And it will live on every time we emulate our good friend and reach out to others….

Nu…how are things going for you?

What...is there anything you need?

Huh…when are you coming for a Shabbos meal?

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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Art & Artists Shine at

925 Sterling & Art

By Tammy Mark

“Every artist was first an amateur.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

W

hen Esty and Chaim Holzberg first started their silver business, they had no idea where it would take them. At the time, they had no knowledge of the precious metal market or experience with running a business, yet they knew they were captivated by the beautiful and distinctive silver pieces they had received as wedding gifts.

They decided that they wanted to bring these more unique silver and Judaica styles to the Five Towns to shine alongside the traditional style pieces they had both grown up with.

The Holzbergs dove in head first; they opened their shop on Cedarhurst’s Central Avenue and began their education and their journey.

The novice newlyweds soon became experts as they filled their boutique with fine silver and Judaica pieces. 925 Sterling grew into a go-to destination for those searching for something special – with exceptional items such as the “Stanley Cup” Kiddush cup.

Although Esty and Chaim were passionate about the merchandise, they were also very much attuned to their customers’ needs. They paid close attention to the varying trends and tastes as well as to the changing markets.

“We realized that a successful business included growth and adaption. We’re always learning,” says Chaim. “Seven years ago, when silver market prices got very high, we

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

shifted into aluminum and featured Judaica in colored metal.”

As time went by, the Holzbergs brought in more of the metal art, as these colorful modern pieces were more attainable for many of their young clientele. They then partnered with one of the metal artists and expanded to a second store adjacent to their silver shop.

As Esty and Chaim successfully ran the two showrooms, they unintentionally ended up with a few pieces of Judaica fine art – paintings that had been dropped off for consignment. They took notice as customers began spending more and more time admiring the artwork. As they became increasingly aware of the larger world of art and design, the Holzbergs found themselves being drawn further into the world of fine art, and another chapter began as their business evolved once again.

“Two years ago, we removed all of the metal items and replaced them with artwork, but it was a small store that couldn’t accommodate that many paintings,” Chaim recalls. There were so many paintings that customers would have to sift through those that were leaning against the walls on the floor.

T

his past September, the Holzbergs opened their newest store two doors down from their original location. 925 Sterling & Art is an expansive gallery-style store where they showcase carefully curated collections of both sterling silver and fine art, with a few metal pieces remaining.

They now have numerous walls lined with artwork and a museum-like feel, with many customers coming in simply to peruse the art.

“This is our first time set up as a gallery. The move was really about giving space for art to shine and grow,” explains Chaim. “The plan is to have as much as a selection as possible. Most art galleries in Israel showcase one to four artists per gallery. We have well over a dozen artists in here.” Though there are only a few pieces in the gallery from each artist, Chaim and Esty are constantly in touch with the artists about their new pieces.

Their current collection includes a breathtaking variety of styles and rich colors, mostly modern and contemporary, with a selection of traditional hei-

mishe pieces mixed in. Street scenes and panoramic landscapes of Israel, Torah stories and all kinds of Judaic imagery all come to life through the vibrant artwork.

Pricing is also a very important factor in the art business. Chaim explains that the prices at the popular tourist destinations in Israel are almost always higher, and he wants his customers feeling comfortable purchasing their art back in the States. Since many of the artists featured at 925 are from Israel, customers are still able to support Israeli artists while getting a broad selection and good value at a local merchant.

“We’re trying to keep prices as low as we can for our customers – and for the artists as well,” says Chaim. “Offering significant savings means that the artists are enthusiastic because their pieces are moving. I want to take care of the artist. I respect them and I value them – and I treat my artists who are struggling fairly.”

Esty and Chaim enthusiastically discuss the art intimately like longtime experts, sharing the design details of the magnificent pieces as well as the personal stories of the artists behind them. As they became more familiar with the Jewish art world they became closely connected with the artists; some artists are supporting Torah learning through their art, some are planning their children’s weddings, and others are fighting foreclosures and other hardships.

“I feel like sometimes we’re Hashem’s messengers to provide these artists with parnassa. I really feel it sometimes,” shares Esty. She tells of one artist who was crying to them about her dire financial situation and how they were able to sell one of the artist’s paintings within a week or two.

“We just had a different artist where we just sold it on the day we received it. We called her and told her that the piece sold. She said she’d been so worried, and now she sees that it’s going to be another avenue of parnassa for her.”

They now carry the work of close to 20 artists, each with their own style.

There is new art coming in all the time, with plans to keep on adding more artists. Though many of those showcased at 925 are from Israel, the gallery features talent from across the U.S. and around the world – as well as local

Esty Holzberg with artist Rosa Katzenelson in the 925 gallery

The Stanley Cup kiddush cup

A painting of Jerusalem by Ora Nissim

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A depiction of the Kotel by Brachi Horen

artists like Brocha Teichman and Alex Greenfield.

One of the prominent artists featured at 925 is Rosa Katzenelson. Originally from Argentina, she currently lives in New Jersey. Her art is vivid and intense with a tremendous attention to detail. “People are super-drawn to her stuff. It’s no secret she’s the top of what

we carry,” Chaim enthuses. Keeping in line with their belief in supporting the artist as well as the art, the Holzbergs have hosted several of their artists at the store since its opening, with Katzenelson visiting most recently.

Still staying on top of the silver trends, the Holzbergs say the latest styles tend towards modern, clean and contemporary. “The store looks totally different from when we first started in terms of the collection – it’s all sleek and modern with a lot more artists.

We’ve picked up dozens of artists along the way,” Chaim notes. “We have a way more varied collection from when we first started. With the art we will do the same thing. It takes time, and we’re off to a great start.”

“What we’re bringing to the table in art is our background in business. We were in the silver business for 12 years before we went into art full force – that’s a very strong retail background,” adds Esty. “Maybe to some extent that’s how were different. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work and how

“Every time they look at their piece of art it brings them joy.” to keep our customers happy.”

The Holzbergs have been known to make house calls, bringing a few pieces along so clients can see what the art looks like in their space. The framing is an integral part of the artwork as well, and the Holzbergs offer help and advice on framing, with a wide array of choices.

“First and foremost, the frame should complement the piece,” Esty explains, “and within that we find something that is going to work in the room.”

Both Esty and Chaim grew up surrounded by traditional design, but they both came to appreciate fine design in

all styles.

“We’ve learned so far is that art is just so subjective, and just because I love something doesn’t mean you’re going to,” says Esty. “The goal is to be able to offer a selection and a variety of styles and give people a broader choice to be able to find something that they love that fits their budget and space.”

Esty’s expert advice on art is simple. “People should find something that makes them happy…just something that makes them happy seeing it hanging on their wall in their home. Then every time they look at their piece of art it brings them joy.”

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I grew up in a simple home – I had hardworking parents, who taught me good values. We never had money for extras, but we felt rich in love and were content. My mother had many words of wisdom that have influenced me during my life, and I hold her sayings very dear to me.

One of her pieces of advice was that I should never marry anyone who has rich parents because the price someone has to pay is not worth any help or generosity that may come their way. It’s better to struggle than to feel “owned,” she said. As a result, I shied away from shidduchim that started out with, “He comes from a very comfortable home.” For me that was code for danger. But, somehow, a wonderful guy kind of slipped through the cracks, and we recently started dating. We did not know that he came from a very wealthy family before we said yes to the idea.

I’m very nervous now. On one hand, he seems like a very fine young man, and my parents agree. But we are all concerned about what it might mean to marry into a family that can afford to take their family away for yom tovim and vacations, buy homes for their children that are walking distance to their homes, pay for (and determine which) yeshivas their grandchildren will attend, etc. How do we deal with this situation? Though my mother is correct more often than not, could this be the exception and I would be walking away from something wonderful?

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. ll absolutes are suspect when it comes to things like shidduchim. It has to be about the individual you are dating. But you also have to reflect on your ability to deal with a different family culture. Different attitudes towards money can be a source of great conflict even when it is there in abundance. Give yourself time, date the fellow further, and bring up the topic in different ways.

See if he will feel comfortable in a different environment. Is it OK with him if you haven’t had the same vacation experiences, familiarity with high-end restaurants, etc., and might seem insecure?

Ditto for yourself: explore your comfort level and confidence level with those that have way more than you. Think about your past experiences – do you feel obligated or do you feel natural with friends that treat you? Will you feel like you “owe” a family that may do much for you? Can you cope with being suspected as a gold digger? Can you feel proud of your family and its values?

Are there expectations on both sides that need to be discussed?

While you keep dating, discuss these things with a professional and the young man once things get serious. Don’t drop him because of your mother’s rule.

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(and his family) whose financial status eluded your mother’s radar, may be exceptional, in every sense of the word.

If you drop this shidduch you may be shortchanging yourself. Despite your mother’s admonitions about the wealthy, it may not spoil some vast eternal plan if you lived in a mortgage-free home in a beautiful neighborhood; if your children attended yeshiva, tuition-free; if you spent Pesach in Palm Springs.

If you have any cause for concern – and this should be the area of your focus – it should be more about a family’s reputation for generosity, of spirit and menschlechkeit, more than largesse. We’ve all heard of mechutanim of means who dictate every aspect of their children’s lives with their checkbooks and others who give freely, b’sever panim yafos, no strings attached. Does your suitor’s family fall into the latter category? Pay attention. As your romance progresses, observe the way he talks about his parents and how much their opinion figures into his discussion of future plans – career, home and marriage. Meet with them.

Where do they fall on the Accepting vs. Arrogant Richter Scale?

Take your time; do your homework; listen with all your senses. It may not be long before you can comfortably make a decision you can live with…happily ever after.

The Shadchan The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. our mother is very wise. She has taught you many lessons, including the Golden Rule – “He Who Owneth the Gold, Rules.”

I take issue with that rule and many other broad-brush generalization and biases, because, quote the Sage: for every rule there is an exception. And this fine, young man

Y

Michelle Mond xtrapolating from your description, the young man seems to pass the first test: he seems unspoiled, refined, not entitled, not dependent on over-the-top materialism, has a foundation based on Torah, and, most importantly, not connected to his parents by a bottomless credit card account. He has a plan to become financially independent and is not reliant on his parents’

E

bank accounts. If this is indeed the case, then you’ve cleared the biggest hurdle.

The fact that his young man “slipped through the cracks” is reassuring. It means that while the family may be wealthy, they don’t live an excessive lifestyle nor do they flaunt their wealth. He might come from a family with values very similar to yours. Remember, one can be “spoiled by circumstance” without becoming “spoiled in personality.”

As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the characteristics the young man finds appealing in you is the bare-bones, rich-inlove upbringing with which you were brought up and within which he wants to nurture his own children.

In response to your quandary, I have the perfect solution: ask him.

Yes, you should absolutely pose your

Where do they fall on the Accepting vs.

Arrogant Richter Scale?

questions directly to him, almost verbatim from the written question.

If he is of good character, then he will be prepared to be asked that question and will have an appropriate answer which should satisfy you. This might blossom into a deep meaningful conversation where you two realize that you share very similar (not necessarily exactly the

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same!) values on these issues. On the other hand, if he doesn’t feel comfortable answering, or if his answer indicates that yes, you’d be on a short leash made of Ben Franklins, then you have full clarity that this is not the young man for you.

Here’s to hearing some good news!

The Single Tova Wein our mother is making a generalization based on what some-

Y

times happens when someone of lesser means marries into a family of significantly greater means and that family uses their higher economic status as an opportunity to call all the shots.

Does this ever happen? Certainly – we’ve all seen many families where somehow all the married children coincidentally seem to be living within a two-block radius of their parents. Have the parents paid for their homes? Most likely.

But there are plenty of wealthy, generous parents out there who help and give to their children with hands wide open, not expecting anything in return. They do

Pulling It All Together

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it because it is who they are – kind, generous individuals.

And by the way, there are plenty of parents who give next to nothing or nothing at all to their children and still believe they have the right to call the shots regarding where they live, how they live, etc. And somehow, the married children listen!

Get to know this young man. Ask him about his parents. Get a sense of who they are as people – are they generous, controlling, respectful toward their children, etc.? It’s possible they are wealthy and keep it all to themselves, expecting their children to make it on their own without any help from their parents. And what about this young man? What are his intentions? Even if his parents are accustomed to giving to and subsequently con-

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You are experiencing a dissonance between your mother’s beliefs and your own.

trolling their children, is that a path that he would be comfortable with?

Rather than basing any decisions on generalizations do your own due diligence. Ask questions, listen carefully to the answers, and at that point, decide for yourself whether the life he would have to offer is one that you would be happy living.

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

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ontinue dating. Keep your eyes open and pay attention to his relationship with his family. Notice the way he talks (or doesn’t) about his family’s wealth. As you get to know him, and spend time with his family, trust that you will see the signs of controlling parents and of a man who is willing to be controlled.

You come from a beautiful home and family, rich with love and contentment. In this beautiful home, your mother instilled within you a value and life-view that marrying into a wealthy family will be ripe with problems. (No one can deny that there are wealthy families who are incredibly controlling over their children’s lives. In my opinion, when the need to control is extreme – you will have Shabbos lunch with us twice a month. You will live within a fiveblock radius of our home. We will have a say as to where our grandchildren go to school. If you break any of these rules, there will be conse-

quences such as cutting you off or guilting you – there is typically a personality issue within one or both parents that is manifesting itself through the medium of money.

There are plenty of people without money who feel the need to be in control of their adult children’s lives as well.) Though your mother had the best of intentions, I believe she may have engrained her own bias within you. To make a sweeping generality that wealthy families are controlling is a certain kind of prejudice. You will have to work very hard now to separate yourself from your mother’s thinking. What are your thoughts on the matter?

We all grow up in someone else’s home, exposed to someone else’s ideas. Sometimes these ideas are healthy and help us grow. But sometimes the ideas are not healthy. And

we find ourselves confused or experiencing anxiety about life situations that force us to challenge these ideas. By writing into our panel with your thoughtful question, I am fairly certain that you are already experiencing a dissonance between your mother’s beliefs and your own.

I wonder where your mother’s concern is rooted. Did your mother have a bad experience of her own? Is your mother insecure about “losing” you to a rich family who will be able to provide you and her grandchildren with what she cannot? Maybe she has heard or witnessed one horror story too many and she is simply trying to protect you.

Whatever decision you reach, be sure it is yours. Have faith in yourself that you will be able to see red flags, if there are any. (Remember: right now, there aren’t any! He’s the same great guy he was before you found out his parents are wealthy.) Questioning the values your mother has instilled in you does not mean you don’t love and respect her or that you are being disobedient. It simply means that you are an adult who is expressing

an awareness that she is ultimately responsible for her decisions, life choices, and world views.

All the best, Jennifer PS – Just my two cents… Being that your mom has certain beliefs about wealthy people and the way they manipulate their children, my advice is that should you continue dating this man, you speak with someone outside of the family about any concerns or issues that arise.

That someone could be a wise friend, a Rebbetzin, a mentor, a therapist or a dating coach.

Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

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Dr. Deb

If We’re Lost, Can We Get Found?

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

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omeone asked me why I work with abusive people, and I told them that I really enjoy seeing people transform before my eyes.

I love my work. To see people who are scared of life, uncertain of where they’re going or even where they’d like to go get clarity and energy is a thrill to me.

On the other hand, a rabbi I’d learned with back in Florida pointed out that when Moshiach comes I’ll be out of work because people will have that clarity in the first place. They’ll know what life is about, where they’re going, and their place in the world.

And they’ll be happy with all of it.

I will admit that, at the time, I became a little doubtful as to how much I really wanted Moshiach. After all, I would not have a role in helping people heal since they wouldn’t be in trouble to begin with. Well, thankfully, that shiur was a long time ago and I’ve grown since then. Yes, I can state on the record that I’d be ecstatic that Moshiach came so that people could finally find themselves, even without my assistance.

There’s way, way too much confusion and misery. There are too many people wishing they could end it all.

All the therapists in the world are not enough to stem this scourge of unhappiness. Even with tens of thousands of therapists helping people find their way, it wouldn’t be enough. I see that now. So I’ve gotten some clarity of my own.

But there may be another approach to helping turn things around.

A teacher asked me what I would do to restore self-esteem in children.

I responded that the situation is completely different with children than with adults because if teachers and parents simply refrain from harming their charges, there won’t be a problem of damaged self-esteem to begin with. I gave him a random list of how not to humiliate a child in front of the class or why it’s better to spend the extra ten minutes marking checks on right answers rather than big, red X’s on wrong ones.

But today, I think Rabbi Fohrman touched on one more. One more way that teachers can stop turning kids off and start turning them on. It’s big, it’s important, and it’s easy.

He’s been obsessed with Creation for quite a few years. He wrote a book about it, and if you haven’t read it, you should. But he’s been onto new materi-

al to explain Creation lately. He noted that meforshim have learned from the first version of Creation that Elokim is G-d as Commander, Powerful Creator of the Universe. That’s an impressive G-d, but – and this “but” is critical – that G-d is out of reach.

The second chapter of Bereishis tells version two of Creation and it uses the words Yud-Kay-Vav-Kay Elokim. This is the only place in Torah, apparently, where the two concepts for Hashem co-exist together.

In this version, G-d allows “Heaven and Earth” to be the “parents” of Creation and presents a gentler view of Who He is. He is the Father, here.

From this, as we proceed in reading Tanach, we understand the Yud-KayVav-Kay meaning of G-d to be one of rachamim, kindness.

And now for the punchline: although we could more easily relate to a G-d that is Parent-like and brimming with mercy and kindness, what is the G-d that is all too often the image invoked by our parents and teachers? The Powerful, but distant One instead.

They are both G-d. G-d is One, after all. Yet, it’s so hard for humans to comprehend that One-ness that it is

far easier to select just one of the versions, and we generally select Elokim as the G-d we recognize and try to relate to.

This is where problems come in that I see in my office. Here’s a list of problems that derive from that very thing, that improper teaching of Who G-d is by leaving out the all-important Yud-Kay-Vav-Kay aspect of our G-d: • “I don’t believe G-d loves me or even cares about me.”

• “Relationship? No, I don’t have a relationship with G-d.”

• “I can’t daven. Like, Who is listening?”

• “No, I don’t feel like G-d is with me. I’m all alone.”

• “I want nothing to do with Torah or Judaism. It’s all about a harsh Being telling me I’m wrong.”

• “I wish I could relate to G-d; that would give my life a sense of meaning.

But I can’t.”

• “I feel like a fraud. I go to shul.

I daven. I even go to shiur. But I can’t connect to it.”

You might wonder what this has to do with marriage counseling or regular parenting. (I can hear someone say, “Dr. Deb, can’t you stick to the regular therapy stuff like, ‘Don’t yell at

each other?’”) The reality is that this has everything to do with marriage and parenting.

How do you build a marriage and a home if you’re not in it?

To be “in” it, you have to feel whole; you have to have a sense of purpose for your life. You have to like who you are and agree that you were put here for a reason, a good reason. And that cannot happen in a G-d-absent world.

If a person yearns for a feeling of G-d in his life when he “just can’t” seem to incorporate it and, as a result, he can’t get married and can’t perform in his job, or he can’t guide the children he has, then marriage counseling and parenting cannot get going without solving this problem first.

So, to make my work easier, here are some of the things that I wish parents and teachers would do differently: • Teach about the G-d of rachamim as part of the G-d we must fear. Our awe should not be because we are afraid of repercussions for

being bad (something I was brought up to believe) but because we would not want to betray the G-d who put us here with love for us and belief in our ability to do wonderful things with this precious life He gave us.

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follow halachos because “you better or else!” but because it’s how we show our Creator our appreciation for all He does for us.

• Teach our children that our G-d is always there for us; He never leaves

Teach our children that the challenges and difficulties we have faced may help us or help someone else along the way.

• Imitate G-d by training children through love. Don’t hold up punishments as threats.

• Imitate G-d by believing in our children just as He surely believes in us.

• Teach our children that G-d loves them; teach them that we don’t

our side. He always listens. If we don’t feel listened to it’s because of us not believing it, but He is.

• Teach our children that the challenges and difficulties we have faced may help us or help someone else along the way; it’s not up to us to figure out why we were given them, but

it is up to us to know for certain that they were not a “sign” of punishment or that G-d doesn’t care for us.

If any of this is difficult because you, yourself are struggling with it, I get that. But work hard on getting past it – for your own sake and that of your children – so that you can really reap the maximum benefits of just being alive.

Do all this, and it will make my job easier. Every therapist will appreciate you.

And perhaps Moshiach will actually come sooner.

Dr. Deb is a Marriage & Family Therapist.

Book a consultation with her to get clarity on the issues in your marriage and learn about her innovative program at: https:// drdeb.com/book. To book a call with Dr. Deb, go to her scheduler, https://drdeb. com/book, but if you want more information about her new program, please first watch the Masterclass on “Getting The Marriage You Want” at http://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.

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Health & F tness

Dangers of the Non-Dietitian and the NonDiet

By Aliza Beer MS, RD

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e live in the age of information overload and with it comes misinformation.

This becomes particularly tricky when it comes to nutrition advice.

There’s no shortage of fancy titles and acronyms for people to slap next onto their names. Having the knowledge to weed through nutrition-related advice is crucial not only for healthy diet but for your safety, as well.

Many people think the term nutritionist and dietitian are interchangeable. Well, there’s a popular saying amongst us in the field: all dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are dietitians. Today, the term “nutritionist” has spawned all sorts of elegant names. Titles like “holistic health coaches” to “certified nutrition counselors,” it’s hard to know who to trust. Following a diet “prescribed” by someone who is not trained or accredited professionally is unsafe.

So, what’s the difference between a registered dietitian and a (maybe even “certified”) nutritionist? It all comes down to a couple of fundamental differences: 1. Accreditation – There is no formal, regulated term “nutritionist.”

Anyone can technically call themselves any of the aforementioned titles. Your favorite foodie Instagrammer can insert “health coach” in her bio right next to “unicorn lover” and no one will think twice. Very often, certifications require very little effort and time and they are almost always unregulated. On the other hand, reg-

istered dietitians who have an R.D. next to their name – which is accepted standard in the medical community – must be accredited by ACEND, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. This brings me to my next point.

2. Education – The process to become an accredited and registered dietitian is rigorous and similar to that of a registered nurse, or physician’s assistant, or physical or speech therapist. It can be summed

ily researched information that is solid and proven. With the exception of some, untrained nutritionists or health coaches may advise a client based on a diet that worked for themselves or something they read.

They often prescribe the same diet for everyone, not taking into account height, weight, age, sex, medications, and medical history. Dietitians are trained to evaluate evidence and interpret research so they can provide the best and most appropriate care

All dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are dietitians.

up in a 3-step process. First, an approved four-year bachelors degree in nutrition must be completed. Upon graduation, students must enroll in a clinical program where they receive substantial work and patient experience in a supervised setting. Lastly, the final step is to pass the CDR exam.

Alternatively, a nutritionist may take a 3- to 6-month course to get a certification. A registered dietitian receives a layered and well-developed education that encompasses all aspects of the field including biochemistry, food science, and psychology.

3. Research-based Advice – Most dietitians deal only with heav-

for each individual. What works for one client will not necessarily work for another. All of our bodies are different, and the care we receive must reflect those differences and needs.

To make a recommendation, a dietitian will not just look at what worked for someone else but rather use scientific knowledge to decide what will be best for you.

Because the distinction between reputable and irreputable sources has become quite blurry, unfounded nutrition advice has popped up all over.

However, it’s important to recognize what’s safe and what’s not. Those ads

on the side of your computer screen claiming a magical berry has doctors stunned or to drink this to take ten years off your face are probably not safe and probably not true. There is no magic pill. Those ads may seem obvious but other popular fads have people in a trance. Here are a couple fads and myths that are not only useless but possibly dangerous, as well: 1. The Sugar Swap – Sugar is sugar is sugar. Adding honey to a muffin instead of sugar won’t slow the rise of your blood sugar. It’s true that maple syrup and coconut sugar have a few more nutrients than their white counterpart but it’s nothing to write home about. A better piece of advice would be to swap added sugars with fruit instead. Blueberries or cherries in muffins add natural sweetness which allow you to add less sweetener. The same goes for other foods like oatmeal and smoothies.

2. Juicing – To juice or not to juice, that is the question. Well, was the question. I can tell you right now, juicing is not a great way to lose weight. In fact, it’s a really bad way. Some will go as far as saying it’s unhealthy. There is no such thing as “detoxifying” your body – it already has an intricate system in place for that job. Juicing is essentially a starvation diet. Your body doesn’t appreciate the 3-day extreme calorie cut it gets when you juice. It throws you off balance by not providing enough protein, fats, or fiber. Plus, the weight you lose is not sustainable and will creep back on the second you start

eating regular food. Juice is really just water with sugar and vitamins that will spike your blood glucose levels. You’re much better off with apple slices and a grapefruit as a snack.

And don’t get me wrong, a yummy tonic of ginger, kale, and orange is delicious and nutritious in moderation but to spend your Monday through Friday on juice alone? Skip it!

3. Low Calorie Diets – This one is perhaps the worst of all. Like juicing, the theme here is restriction.

Today, many unaccredited and untrained nutritionists will advise a very calorie restrictive diet for weight loss because, at the end of the day, the pounds will shed. However, for an individual of average weight, a diet like this will not provide the body with adequate nutrients and may jeopardize certain functions. Lack of nutrients and low bone density in some women are two proven results of a very calorie restrictive diet.

This is a dangerous road. The term “hangry”? It’s actually pretty scien-

tific. Lack of nutrients and calories causes headaches, constipation, and fatigue – all factors that contribute to irritability. Longer term effects of low-cal diets include hair loss, osteoporosis, gallstones and infertility.

Loss of menstrual cycle is also very common in diets like these.

I have had many patients come to me after they lost significant weight with a non-dietitian and had to have their gallbladders removed! An unqualified nutritionist may only take the client’s goal of weight loss into account without realizing that other biological systems are being compromised as a result. A dietitian has a deep understanding of biochemistry and how food interacts with the body not only on a caloric level but on a nourishment level, as well. They will create a more sustainable diet that is well-developed and specific to your body’s needs. Excess pounds will still come off but the results will last and be easier to maintain.

The list of non-evidence-based

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nutrition is endless. Gluten-free?

Not for everyone, and not necessarily healthier. Drink eight cups of water a day? Yes, but perhaps your body needs even more than that. Fad diets like the ketogenic or paleo diet have very little science backing them and are instead marketed with isolated cases of success. The evidence is inconclusive. Often, they just have passionate supporters who use talking points that sound convincing to pursue the masses. Just because you know ten people who successfully lost weight with someone who is not properly trained does not mean that it is safe, that they will not suffer any side effects, or that they will be able to maintain that loss. Many medications require specific food restrictions, or avoidances, such as if someone is on a statin medication they cannot consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

You wouldn’t go to someone with the title “medical coach” for a diagnosis, but only to a medically trained

physician, and the same should apply to your diet. Additionally, no hospital, nursing home, school, or doctor would ever employ someone who isn’t a registered dietitian.

Weight-loss is a medical change on your body and does not always indicate appropriate nutrition. Doing it properly is crucial to your health.

Don’t just jump on the bandwagon, although it may be challenging when information is constantly being pushed at you from all angles. There is no way to prevent this, but the best defense is educating yourself on what information is reliable and where to find it. That way, when the next fad diet or “diet coach” comes along, you’ll be prepared.

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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Health & F tness

Building Resiliency in Children and Adolescents

By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

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oday’s world is filled with stress and uncertainty. The recent tsunami in Indonesia. The terrorist attacks in Israel. Fires in California. The Pittsburgh massacre. And the increasing number of attacks on visibly Jewish Jews. Is it any wonder that children, adolescents and adults of all ages are riddled with anxiety?

The unfortunate fact is stress is here to stay, especially in the Orthodox Jewish world. We lead incredibly busy schedules and are always on the go. The schedules are packed, please G-d with simchas. Peer pressure is ever-present. Teens worry about being accepted into the “right” seminaries and yeshivas. The ever-present striving for perfection. Let’s not even go near shidduchim or divorce.

Yet stress can be an important tool that can aid in our survival. This is why our children need to be resilient to succeed in life. They need to develop muscles in order to navigate life and grow into mentally and emotionally healthy functioning adults who are contributing members of society.

They need resilience.

Resilience is the ability to successfully adapt to stressors. It means maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity. It is the ability to “bounce back” from challenges and different experiences.

The good news: resilient people have learned resilience. In fact, it’s an ongoing lesson throughout life. They don’t deny their feelings and whitewash that something is painful. Rather, they find ways to move forward and to tackle challenges with a positive attitude that’s pregnant with hope.

Kids who are being raised to be resilient are more likely to take healthy risks because they don’t fear falling short of expectations. Brimming with curiosity and courage, they know (and accept) the outermost boundary of their comfort zones and step over that boundary to grow further. This helps them to reach for their long-term goals and to solve problems independently.

The more they do this and bounce back from “issues,” the more they internalize the message that they are strong and capable.

How do we cultivate resilience in

our children?

Build a strong emotional connection that underscores supportiveness with each child. There’s no shortcut to this one. It means spending oneon-one time with your kids as a group and with each one individually. Children (and others) develop coping skills within the context of caring relationships. These relationships provide the personalized responsiveness, scaffolding and protection that buffer children from developmental disruption.

Going to the grocery store? Take along a child. Neither one of you should use electronic “toys” during the duration of your trip together. When a child knows he has the unconditional support of Mommy and/or Abba or another family member (or even a teacher or another trusted adult), they feel it’s okay to seek guidance and attempt to work through difficult situations.

Positive connections allow adults to model coping and problem-solving skills to children. Children thrive when they know there is an adult in their life who believes in them and loves them unconditionally. That’s

empowering.

It is also important that you help your child to build his character because resilience requires character.

Character comes from developing a solid set of morals and values to determine right from wrong. It means demonstrating a caring attitude towards others. Help your child to see himself as a caring person.

Allowing the expression of the gamut of emotions will make children feel comfortable in reaching out during difficult times. It will result in building emotional security in your home.

Your home has differences of opinion and might even have conflict?

That’s normal. Address conflict openly in the family to resolve problems.

Create a common area and time where the family can share: think “Shabbos table” and plan it so you maximize the together time so each family member has a moment or two to shine. Fostering healthy relationships will only reinforce positive messages which children need.

In addition to developing a connec-

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tion with your child, help him to build confidence. Focus on the best in him so he can see that as well. Express the best qualities, i.e., fairness, integrity, persistence and kindness. Recognize what he has done and does well. Praise honestly about specific achievements.

Please do not push a child to take on more than he can handle realistically.

Teach your children problem-solving skills and to seek help. Constant, rugged self-reliance is for the movies.

We all need help at times and that does not make us incompetent. It’s important for children to recognize when they need help and to know that they can have it. Don’t hand your children the solutions or give them stepby-step instructions about what to do.

Actively brainstorm solutions with them which then engages them in the process of solving problems. Eventually, they will use these skills in other situations. Encourage your child to develop a list of ideas and then weigh the pros and cons of each one. He will develop the feeling of competence, of knowing that he can handle a situation effectively.

It’s so easy to slip into solving the problems for our children when they come to us with questions. It’s even easier to lecture or explain. A better long-term working strategy is to ask questions. Bounce the questions back at him so he can learn to think in a more expansive way.

Further, help your child to develop an “emotions vocabulary.” When stress kicks in, emotions heat up like a boiling kettle that whistles (okay, I’ve dated myself). Teach your child that all feelings are important. Labelling feelings means he can make sense of what he is experiencing. It’s alright to feel jealous or anxious or sad, etc.

Reassure him that bad feelings usually pass.

A “hot” moment is a good time to demonstrate coping skills. Deep breathing exercises can be used by people of all ages to relax and to calm themselves. Remaining calm means processing a situation clearly. It’s big when a person learns to exercise control over his reactions.

What happens if your child makes, gulp, a mistake? It is not the end of the world. We all make mistakes. Embrace your child and the mistake. If parents focus on end results only, kids

Dr. Lightman at the exhibit

become enmeshed in the pass/fail cycle, the black-and-white of either succeeding or not. This causes risk avoidance. Failure avoiders lack resilience and tend to be highly anxious people.

Accepting mistakes – including your

I am not alone. Yes, there is a positive correlation between resilience and optimism.

This segues to the next point: building a positive outlook on life helps to build resilience. We wake up

Children thrive when they know there is an adult in their life who believes in them and loves them unconditionally.

own – promotes a growth mindset and gives children and teens the message that mistakes are learning opportunities.

You made a mistake? Tell your children about it and how you recovered from it. Show resiliency by modelling coping skills or speaking through emotions. Label your emotions and talk through your problem-solving process. And remember – only Hashem is perfect.

A mindset of resiliency believes: I am not my mistake(s). I can try again.

each morning saying, “Modeh Ani.” It’s a great place to start. I am grateful for the ability to wake up and do mitzvos and gemilas chasadim. Some people write in a daily gratitude journal several things for which they are grateful. It is called hakaras hatov.

Promote healthy risk-taking. A healthy risk is something that pushes a child to go outside of his comfort zone but results in little, if any, harm if they are unsuccessful. Perhaps it’s initiating a conversation with a shy peer or trying out for concert. When a child

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avoids risk, he might internalize the message that he is not strong enough to handle challenges. Bull dust. Encourage him to embrace risks, and he will learn to push himself.

Speaking of health, taking a walk or engaging in some kind of outdoor or any physical activity during times of stress is a great stress reliever. And it’s healthy.

You, Mommy and Daddy or Ema and Tatty, you have a BIG role here.

In addition to every point listed above, it’s important that YOU role model resiliency because you are the best teacher. Demonstrate the importance of community and healthy relationships. Encourage your child to develop his spiritual self by focusing on what he has been gifted with, such as good health, a functioning brain, the ability to walk and talk, etc. Model positive coping strategies on a regular basis and guide your child to develop positive and effective ones for himself.

The world in which we live is changing rapidly and the pace quickens constantly. Investing in ourselves and our children to develop resiliency will go a long way to assuring the future of our local and greater communities.

As always, daven.

Postscript: After this was written, my wife and I visited the Center for Jewish History to see the exhibition on the Kindertransport, an organized series of rescue efforts between 1939 and 1940 which brought 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi Germany to Great Britain. Layered with much meaning, the exhibit evokes much thought and emotions with the resilience of many of the children and their parents resonating. Many Kindertransport “alumni” moved on to create meaningful lives. Alas, there’s testimony from those who did not have that same resilience. It’s a worthwhile trip to the Center for Jewish History to the Kindertransport exhibit. And, please G-d, may we never have to make the choices these parents had to make.

Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

In The K

tchen

Corn Quiche

By Naomi Nachman

This is one of the first dishes I started making 25 years ago as a young bride. It’s quick and easy and a crowd-pleaser. I’ve made them in mini quiche crusts too, which really appeals to the kids.

Ingredients 16 oz. can creamed corn 11 oz. can corn ¼ cup canola oil 2 eggs ½ cup flour ½ teaspoon baking powder Salt and white pepper to taste Frozen 9-inch pie shells

Preparation Mix all ingredients (except for the pie shell) together in a bowl. Pour into shell. Bake at 350° for 45 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.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

The Senate passed a new criminal justice reform bill that allows judges to reduce sentences for certain low-level crimes. It turns out that the bill also defines a bunch of new crimes that deserve jail time.

For example: You can get up to 1 year in prison for getting in a packed elevator and only going up one floor.

There have been plenty of monsters in the past, plenty of them. But you can’t find one who was dedicated, with passion, to destroying the prospects for organized human life. Hitler was horrible enough, but not that.

- Leftist professor Noam Chomsky in an interview with Democracy Now, positing that by not agreeing with all of the left’s positions on global warming, President Trump’s “dedication” to destroying human life is more intense than Adolf Hitler’s

I would point to the fact that it took Roosevelt many, many years to get America willing to go into World War II and fight the Nazis. We have an enemy, though different, but perhaps very much devastating in a similar way and we have to fight climate change, and the president has got to lead on that.

- Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) on NBC’s “Meet the Press”

My New Year’s resolution is to make sure that the Republican Party dies.

- An actress announcing her New Year’s resolution during CNN’s countdown to 2019

Well, I don’t know, you’d have to ask her psychiatrist.

- President Trump, when asked on Fox News if he thought that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) could win the presidency

You can get up to 3 years in prison for getting to the front of the TSA line and saying, “Wait, we have to take our shoes off?”

You can get up to 6 years for not covering your mouth when you cough and saying, “Don’t worry, I’m not contagious anymore.”

You can get life in prison for calling and leaving a voicemail, when you could have just texted.

-Jimmy Fallon

How many people’s hearts sank when they saw the Dow went up 1,000 points because they really hoped Trump had plunged us into a bear market that would cause GOP legislators to turn on him and support removal after impeachment?

- Never-Trumper John Podhoretz of the Weekly Standard

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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To all those saying we “haven’t accomplished anything,” here’s *some* of 2018: 1. Won primary while outspent 10-1 2. Pushed #GreenNewDeal to natl convo 3. Shone new lvl transparency to gov ...all before swearing in.

Admit you hold us to a higher standard than others & move on.

-Tweet by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat Socialist-Queens/Bronx)

I absolutely believe I will.

- 41-year-old Patriots quarterback Tom Brady when asked – after his team clinched the AFC East for a record 10th straight season – whether he plans on continuing to play football next year

I know I’ve talked about it for a long time; I have goals to not only play next year, but beyond that. I’m going to try to do it as best I possibly can. I’m going to give it everything I have, like I always have. It will certainly be a challenge. I don’t take any of these things for granted, but I hope I can keep playing, and I hope I can keep playing at a championship level.

- Ibid.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE HATERS AND THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA! 2019 WILL BE A FANTASTIC YEAR FOR THOSE NOT SUFFERING FROM TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME. JUST CALM DOWN AND ENJOY THE RIDE, GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR OUR COUNTRY!

It was never really clear if the Costanzas were Jewish or Italian or what they were.

- Jerry Stiller, at a recent event in New York, talking about his character on “Seinfeld”

Jason, Estelle [Harris, who played Estelle Costanza] and I were given the name Costanza, which sounds Italian, but there were episodes where I cooked Jewish food and ate knishes and kasha varnishkes in bed.

- Ibid.

When people asked me about this, I would simply say it was because we were a Jewish family in the witness protection program.

- Ibid

I think anyone that goes into the halftime show is in effect directly violating those that want to raise the question that the NFL should come to terms with what they have done and continue to do to Colin Kaepernick and those that protest on criminal justice issues.

- Al Sharpton, urging entertainers to boycott the NFL

- The all-caps tweet by President Trump on New Year’s morning

As a decent person, I will have to do it one day.

-Russian President Vladimir Putin when asked at his annual end-ofthe-year press conference whether he plans on ever remarrying

Trump says he will find a way to get $5 billion dollars for a wall. This explains why Don Jr. was spotted on a sidewalk next to a bell and a red kettle.

– Jimmy Fallon

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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This isn’t about the Wall, everybody knows that a Wall will work perfectly (In Israel the Wall works 99.9%). This is only about the Dems not letting Donald Trump & the Republicans have a win. They may have the 10 Senate votes, but we have the issue, Border Security. 2020!

- President Trump, in a tweet

A tiny Jewish democracy – imperfect but vibrant, with a free press, free elections, a boisterous parliament, minorities working at the highest levels of government, etc. etc. – received 21 UN condemnations. Syria and North Korea, one each.

Totalitarian China, none.

–Tweet by New York Post op-ed editor Sohrab Ahmari, reflecting on 2018

#TimesSquare tradition rings in the #NewYear by dropping the big ball … If ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger.

- Tweet by the official Twitter-handle of the U.S. Strategic Command, which focuses on strategic deterrence and nuclear operations. (The Tweet was quickly deleted)

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OCTOBER 29,2019 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home JANUARY 3,

Political Crossfire

The Biggest Problem with the Criminal Justice Reform Bill

By Megan McArdle

S

ome years ago, I found myself locked in a holding cell in a Hawaii courthouse. To the best of my recollection, a grim

combination toilet and sink stood in one corner, and there were a couple of benches along the walls. Other than that, nothing – not even toilet

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go to a long-term residential rehab program, or go to prison for many years. This seemed no choice at all – and yet, to my astonishment, the man was yelling that he didn’t need rehab and wasn’t going to go. Wearily, the judge sentenced him to prison and turned to his next case.

For years afterward, I turned that scene over in my mind, trying

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paper, which had to be requested, a few sheets at a time, from the deputies. It was very dark, and extremely small, and unutterably bleak, in a way impossible to convey without locking you inside.

I spent about a year in that cell, by which I mean five to 10 minutes.

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For years afterward, I turned that scene over in my mind, trying to understand what kind of person chooses a cell over a hospital bed.

to report on an innovative probation program that was successfully diverting large numbers of people from prison. During an interview, one of the deputies offered to let me see a cell from the inside.

Not long after the deputy let me out, I sat in a nearby courtroom and watched a man argue with the judge. The man had repeatedly violated his probation, and the judge was explaining that he had a choice:

to understand what kind of person chooses a cell over a hospital bed.

And I have been doing so again since last week, when Congress passed a landmark criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act. The bill, which will decrease sentences in the federal prison system, had a broad range of support across the political spectrum. But it also had vehement opponents, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.,

who wrote last month, “If the bill is passed, thousands of federal offenders, including violent felons and sex offenders, will be released.”

I suspect that the senator was thinking of men such as the one I saw in that courtroom, the ones we used to quaintly call the “incorrigibles.” The incorrigibles are the subjects of all the worries that surface whenever someone proposes reducing incarceration: how many there are, what they will do if we release them.

Nor are those worries baseless.

Criminal justice reform means taking a chance on people who haven’t proved themselves very trustworthy.

Many will violate that trust.

But against that, we have to balance the cost of keeping someone in a cage. Not just the obvious costs, such as the tens of thousands of dollars spent per prisoner per year; the shattered families and communities; the suffering of the prisoners.

No, we also have to weigh the cost to society of making prison routine, which is that prison becomes less effective as a deterrent.

During the Great Depression, George Orwell observed that mass unemployment makes it impossible to maintain the norm that people should work; a community can’t stigmatize a condition that afflicts a clear majority of its members. A similar logic applies to mass incarceration: if a substantial fraction of your neighborhood’s population has done jailtime, it will seem both less scary and less shameful.

As with the community, so with the individual. It’s a horrifying prospect to be locked away from every pleasant or decent thing. But it’s probably most horrifying before you’ve spent years in that condition, networking with other criminals and learning the ropes. Which may be one reason that mounting evidence shows harsh sentences make people more likely to commit future crimes.

So you can think, as I do, that most people in prison probably deserve to be there, while still thinking, as I do, that we should find some way to keep most of them out. The biggest problem with the First Step Act isn’t that it lets too many peo-

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ple out of prison, but that it still lets too many go in. Prison needs to be a desperate last resort, not the first.

Which brings me back to Hawaii, because years later, I finally did understand what I’d seen there.

I figured it out while lunching with

residents of a Utah halfway house, all of whom had done serious prison time. As we ate, I related my story, my continuing bewilderment.

“I would have been begging that judge to keep me out of that cell,” I said. “I would have done anything.”

One of my lunch companions smiled tolerantly.

“The first night you spend in prison is the worst night of your life,” he explained. “But the second night … that’s just your life.” (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

Send Islamic State Fighters Held in Syria to Guantanamo Bay

By Marc A. Thiessen

P

resident Trump’s decision to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria is already having unintended consequences. The U.S. departure could lead to the release of 1,100 Islamic State fighters now held in detention camps in northeastern Syria – creating a dangerous new terrorist threat to the West.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – the Kurdish and Arab proxy forces whom the United States armed and trained to fight the Islamic State – do not have the capacity to guard and feed so many terrorists without U.S. support. The Post reports that their home countries “are refusing to repatriate their citizens, citing the risk that they would spread radical ideology or perhaps carry out attacks back home.” If the SDF is abandoned by its U.S. patrons, it might have no choice but to release them.

How much damage could these terrorists cause? To put it in perspective, the Islamic State had only about 700 fighters left when President Barack Obama withdrew U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011 – yet from that tiny nucleus, the Islamic State grew into the world’s largest, most powerful terrorist network, until Trump unleashed our military to beat the group back. Imagine what destruction an influx of 1,100 terrorists into the global ecosystem could wreak. The Islamic State detainees hail from 32 countries, including many believed to be from Europe. As a Syrian Kurdish for-

eign affairs official noted, the U.S. withdrawal would create “a security vacuum that these criminals could exploit to escape and pose a danger to all of us,” adding that “they could make their way back to their home countries and carry out bombings.”

The optimal solution would be for Trump to reconsider his withdrawal plan so that we can keep these detainees in Syria under the watchful eye of U.S. intelligence and Special Operations forces. But there is also another possible solution –

against ISIS and al-Qaeda, we continue to have all the necessary power to detain terrorists – wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them. And in many cases for them it will now be Guantanamo Bay.” In March, Congress responded by approving more than $200 million in new construction for Guantanamo Bay as part of the omnibus spending bill. And this spring, the Pentagon formally authorized the station to receive new detainees who pose a “continuing, significant threat.”

Trump should give any complaining countries an ultimatum: either take your nationals back, or they are headed to Guantanamo.

one that would help the president keep another campaign promise: Send them to Guantanamo Bay. In January, President Trump issued an executive order that authorized the U.S. military and intelligence community to “transport additional detainees to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay when lawful and necessary to protect the Nation.” During his State of the Union address, Trump asked Congress “to ensure that, in the fight

There is little doubt that a number of the Islamic State fighters now held in Syria would make excellent candidates for detention at Guantanamo Bay. Trump should order the intelligence community to conduct a threat assessment for each of the detainees to see which ones would qualify for transfer. No doubt, a decision to move some of the prisoners from Syria to Guantanamo would create an uproar in Europe, particularly from countries whose citizens

would be transferred. These would be the very same countries currently refusing to take custody of their citizens who went to fight for the Islamic State. Trump should give any complaining countries an ultimatum: either take your nationals back, or they are headed to Guantanamo.

Transfer to Guantanamo is a less than optimal solution because right now high-value detainees held on the battlefield in Syria do not have access to lawyers and cannot challenge their detentions in court, which means they can be effectively interrogated for intelligence purposes. But once transferred to Guantanamo, they would immediately get lawyers and the right of habeas corpus – which dramatically reduces their intelligence value.

Instead of transferring these terrorists, we should keep them where they are – and continue supporting the SDF until the estimated 30,000 Islamic State fighters still at large in Iraq or Syria are all killed or captured. The Islamic State is not defeated – not by a long shot.

But this much is clear: we cannot allow more than a thousand dangerous terrorists to be released into the world so that they can return to the fight. They must be kept off the battlefield. Better to keep them in Syria than in Guantanamo, to be sure.

But better to keep them in Guantanamo than release them to carry out jihad against the West. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Forgotten Her es

How a Jewish Journalist from Poland Stole Krushchev’s Speech

By Avi Heiligman

Victor Grayevsky

I

n the first decade of its existence, Israel tried in many ways to become relevant in the eyes of certain Western world powers. An opportunity arose on February 25, 1956 when a four-hour speech was given by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to the 20th Congress of the Communist Party.

What was said was a mystery to the West, as all reporters and diplomats were kicked out before the speech was delivered. For this reason, Western countries and their intelligence organizations were more than curious as to what transpired during the speech. They knew that Khrushchev denounced Stalin and his actions of barbarism. If the West could get their hands on the speech, they could let the rest of the world know the truth about communism. They needed the speech badly, but the problem was that it remained a top-secret document, so the CIA put out a huge reward for a copy.

Little did they know that the Shin-Bet,

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev

also known as Shabak, under Amos Manor was about to give them a gift with the help of a Polish journalist that warmed the relations for both intelligence organizations for years to come.

Amos Manor was born as Arthur Mendlowitz in 1918 in Transylvania, which is present-day Romania. Right before World War II broke out, Amos went to study engineering in France before returning home. Transylvania was taken over by Hungary during World War II, and Amos was drafted into the Hungarian Army. In 1944, he was sent to Auschwitz with the rest of his family and then was sent to Mauthausen. Amos survived the war but the rest of his family perished.

Following the war, Amos wanted to make aliyah and joined secret groups in organizing ships of immigrants to Israel. At first he was active in the Mossad office in Bucharest and in 1949 used forged passports so he and his wife could finally move to Israel.

He was fluent in Hebrew, English, French, Romanian, Yiddish, German and Hungarian and took a position in the non-Arab Affairs Department.

Amos eventually became head of the counter-espionage department and in 1952 was appointed deputy head of the Shin-Bet. A year later he became the head of the agency and served in that capacity until 1963. The CIA thought his meteoric rise in Shabak was suspect and at first weren’t convinced he wasn’t a KGB plant. His work in obtaining Khrushchev’s speech changed that perception.

The one security lapse in the Russian effort to keep Khrushchev’s speech secret was that they had delivered copies of the speech to Eastern Bloc countries. Poland’s Communist party leader, Edward Ochab, had his copy on the desk of his secretary, Lucia Baranowski, who was waiting to the end of the day to file the speech.

Lucia’s boyfriend, Victor Grayevsky,

came into to visit her at the time but she was too busy to leave. Victor Grayevsky was born Victor Spielman in Krakow in 1925. Since he was a journalist for the Communist Party, he changed his name to Grayevsky so that he wouldn’t arouse suspicion because he was Jewish. His family had moved to Israel in 1949, and in 1955, he went there to visit his sick father. He was planning to move to Israel as soon as his visa was approved. Even though Victor had no formal spy training, he had Zionist sympathies and would do anything to help his future country. As he was about to leave his girlfriend’s office, he saw the red-bound speech marked with the words “top-secret” on her desk. He asked Lucia if he could borrow it for an hour. Lucia agreed and asked that he return it at the end of the day. At that time, Victor didn’t know that the Shin-Bet or the CIA badly wanted the speech.

On the way back to his apartment,

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Grayevsky read the document and was shocked to read about all the atrocities that Stalin had carried out. On the way back to return it, he stopped at the Israeli embassy to see his friend Yaakov Barmor, who was also a member of the Shin-Bet. Grayevsky later said that Barmor “went pale, he went red, he went black, because he knew better than I what it was…that everyone throughout the world was looking for this speech.” Barmor asked Victor to borrow it and within an hour and a half had copied the speech. Grayevsky then brought the document back to Lucia’s office.

Barmor immediately flew to Vienna, Austria, and handed the speech to Amos Manor. Manor then flew to Israel and showed it to Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, who told Manor to give it to Allen Dulles, the director of the CIA. The four-hour, 26,000word speech was carefully examined by the CIA before determining that it was genuine and not a fake planted by the Soviets. Within a few weeks, the

speech was “leaked” to the New York Times and the world finally learned of the horrors done by the early Communists. It was broadcast across Europe by radio, sparking a worldwide sensation. The speech became a major propaganda tool in American foreign

CIA experts later determined that the revolt in Hungary in October 1956 was a direct result of the distribution of the speech.

policy. CIA experts later determined that the revolt in Hungary in October 1956 was a direct result of the distribution of the speech.

Grayevsky moved to Jerusalem

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information and other secrets and was even awarded a medal for his heroism to the motherland. Grayevsky was so good that the Russians never suspected that they were being duped. In re-

ality, Grayevsky was a double agent (a spy for one country who has allegiances to another), and as soon as the KGB recruited him, he went to the Shin-Bet and they gave him falsified information to pass on to the Russians.

Following his service in the Shin-Bet, Manor went to work as the Israeli representative for a Swiss bank. Manor was awarded the Herzl Prize for 1981 for his contributions to strengthening Israeli security.

Both Grayevsky and Manor were integral parts of Israeli espionage in the first decades of the country’s existence. It was only after both of their deaths in 2007 did some newspapers pick up the incredible story of how the Jewish journalist from Poland stole Khrushchev’s speech.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Tribe Tech Review

A Wyze Camera for Shabbos

By Dov Pavel

I

n my previous column, we looked at the Wyze Cam smart camera which retails for $19.99 at www.wyzecam.com. We discussed the camera’s robust functionality, attractive price point and (unlike higher priced cameras) its free 14-day cloud storage. In part, Wyze achieves this price point by only storing video in the cloud in 12-second clips after the camera detects motion. We raised the issue of motion detection sensors that trigger events in your home on Shabbos and promised to provide a solution. In this article, we’ll explore a solution that may be a foundation for many smart home applications.

I mentioned in the last column that while the Wyze Cam app does allow for turning off the motion detection at certain times during the day, it does not allow you to choose the day of the week, or to choose times based on sunset for Shabbos. Plugging the camera into a smart switch that turns the entire camera off for Shabbos is a solution but one that leaves you without recording activity, negating the primary purpose of a security camera.

Addressing the 24/7 recording requirement turns out to be easy. The Wyze Cam offers an option to install a micro SD card and set the camera to record continuously. This changes the camera’s reliance on just motion; instead it records 24/7. The size of your SD card will dictate the length of playback available as the camera will overwrite older recordings as it needs space. A 32 GB SD Card will give you

a few days of continuous recording. If you simply turn off the motion detection and choose continuous recordings, most halachic authorities would agree that this is permissible on Shabbos.

(Please consult your rabbi to determine the practical halacha for your household.) The motion detection, however, is a key feature that you would only want to turn off on Shabbos and yom tov but the app itself will not allow this.

I placed a development request to the company to at least allow day of the week scheduling and sunrise and sunset times for motion detection, but at this time the app still does not offer this. Additionally, this would only address Shabbos but not yom tov which, of course, occurs on weekdays as well.

Recently, the Wyze Cam enabled IFTTT connectivity which I believe can resolve all the camera’s Shabbos and yom tov issues concerning motion detection. IFTTT stands for If-This-Then-That and it allows many devices to integrate with other services. In our case, the “If” will be if it is Shabbos or yom tov and the “Then That” will be to turn off the Wyze Cam motion sensing. We can also create the reverse which is to turn the motion sensor back on Motzei Shabbos.

IFTTT is a free app that can be loaded onto any Apple or Android device. Once you sign in, there are a growing number of services and devices you can integrate. In our case, we will be integrating a Google Calendar pre-loaded with candle lighting and havdala times for both Shabbos and

yom tov.

I created a series of public Google calendars pre-loaded with all candle lighting and havdala dates and times for several years. These calendars and IFTTT can be integrated to address Shabbos and yom tov issues with the Wyze Cam and potentially many other devices. There are no other events on these calendars besides Shabbos and yom tov. It will not tell you when Tisha B’Av is or when Chanukah falls out, as we only want notifications for days when melacha is prohibited. I created a calendar for several time zones. There is one for New York Metro, Chicago, LA, etc. and, of course, one for Jerusalem.

If you need another time zone, send me an email (tribetechreview@gmail. com), and I will be happy to add it.

To add the appropriate Tribe Tech Review Public Google Calendar to your personal calendar, please see detailed instructions and links on my blog at tribetechreview.wordpress.com.

I also created two applets on IFTTT as TribeTechReview: one to link the Google Calendar and turn off the Wyze Cam motion detection for Shabbos and yom tov and then another applet to turn them back on after havdala. You can search for the TribeTechreview applets by searching for the keywords “Shabbos” or “Yom Tov.” To integrate IFTTT with both the Google Calendar and Wyze Cam you will need to login to both services on the IFTTT Platform. The app will prompt you for the appropriate login when required. I set up the default candle lighting applet

to trigger 15 minutes before the listed candle lighting time to provide a buffer so that small execution delays or minor time zone differences should not be an issue. I also tested both the candle lighting and havdala applets over several weeks and it worked flawlessly and ran within a few minutes of the scheduled time. This solution will work even if your phone is powered off.

The IFTTT integration is truly a potential breakthrough for shomer Shabbos consumers of smart home technology. I would like to see even more hardware companies integrate it as it can be the basis of solving the many Shabbos issues that seem to be emerging in home automation. With the Wyze Cam’s IFTTT integration, I can give the camera a high Tribe Tech Level 4 of 5 Rating for being Shabbos and yom tov compliant with third party integration. In fact, good things do come in small packages.

Shabbos shalom!

Dov Pavel is a tech enthusiast who reviews personal technology and home automation through the lens of a shomer Shabbos consumer. He is not affiliated with any of the companies whose products he reviews and the opinions he expresses are solely his own. Dov is not a halachic authority and readers should consult their own rabbi as needed. Dov lives in Teaneck with his wife and three children. Previous articles an be found at TribeTechReview.com. Follow @ TribeTechReview on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 3, 2019

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TheJewish JewishHome Home| OCTOBER | JANUARY29, 3, 2015 2019 The

Your

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Money

Great Moments in Tax Litigation

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

S

ome of the greatest stories in America reach their dramatic finale in a courtroom. Who doesn’t admire Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch standing up to racism in Jim Crow-era Alabama in To Kill A Mockingbird? Who can forget Tom Cruise baiting Jack Nicholson into bellowing out that yes, he did order the Code Red at the end of A Few Good Men? And who can’t imagine the smile of relief on O.J. Simpson’s face when the jury announced they had found him not guilty? (Good thing he’s finally out of jail so he can pick up his search for the real killers!)

Funny thing about those stirring courtroom dramas, though . . . they never involve tax cases. Don’t novelists see the conflict inherent in a “battle of the appraisers” debating golf course valuations in a conservation easement case? Can’t Hollywood producers tease out the complex dramas underlying a typical multinational transfer pricing dispute? What playwright wouldn’t dream of meditating on the cross-salient tankgrenuities raised by “Section 393 transfers” between counter-impactful entities after a Section 754 election? (Relax, we made that last one up.

Those aren’t even real words.)

But tax questions do occasionally sneak into an actual court. So join us now for this week’s story, which begins on the banks of the Ohio River.

Back in 1850, Cincinnati was the sixth-largest city in America, nicknamed “Porkopolis” for the area’s meatpacking industry. (Can you imagine the

— especially when the team gives away player bobblehead dolls.

That, in turn, brings us to the Titanic struggle that just reached its ninth inning in Ohio Supreme Court: do the Reds have to pay use tax on the value of those bobbleheads? The state tax commissioner argued the team had bought

In the words of longtime radio announcer Marty Brennaman, “This one belongs to the Reds!”

smell?) Today, Cincinnati, along with rivertown rivals like Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Kansas City, is navigating the transition to a 21st-century economy. But only Cincinnati is the home of professional baseball. And while today’s Cincinnati Reds may be a pale shadow of the 1970s “Big Red Machine,” fans still flock to the riverfront Great American Ballpark on game day

them to give away to fans, in which case the team owed the tax. The Reds responded that they had bought them to resell as part of the overall ticket, in which case they would qualify for the “sale-for-resale” exemption under ORC §5739.01(E). The Board of Tax Appeals called the Reds “out,” and demanded $80,000 in back tax.

Naturally, the team challenged the

ruling on the field. That’s when the replay reviewers at the Court stepped in.

Last month, they issued their call. By a 5-2 count, the Justices yanked the commissioner from the mound. Instead, as Chief Justice Fisher wrote, “the unique promotional items were an explicit part of the bargain, along with the right to attend the game, that the fans obtained in exchange for paying the ticket fee.”

That promise qualified the play as a resale. In the words of longtime radio announcer Marty Brennaman, “This one belongs to the Reds!”

We’ve said before that every financial choice you make has some tax consequence. This week’s story proves that can be true even when you’re not making a choice! And while nobody is getting rich by eliminating bobblehead taxes from their life, the lesson remains that proactive planning is the key to paying less. So make sure you prepare your planning opportunities for 2019 and beyond!

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.

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JANUARY OCTOBER 3, 29,2019 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home

Life C ach

An Old Story

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

S

o many people have been saying, “Go see this show, ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’” In Yiddish, no less! Do I look like I’m from the old country?! But they say there are subtitles and the flavor of it, in this mother tongue, is so interesting and authentic.

For me, listening to people talk about this show reminded me of a famous dispute from it. And got me thinking: “It is a horse!” “It is a mule!”

“It is a horse!” “It is a mule!”

“Horse!” “Mule!” “Horse!”

“Mule!”

For some, this may be a familiar line. It’s a classic argument from the show “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The wise rabbi in the play is called in to solve disputes. He listens to the first side and says, “You are right.” Then he listens to the second side and he says, “You are right, too.” A confused onlooker queries, “Rabbi, how can they both be right?”

And the rabbi answers, “You are right too.”

What a beautiful perspective.

Everyone has a valid point from where they are coming from.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone

could recognize that there could be more than one right?!

Because this – fighting over who is right – is sometimes just plain wrong.

When we are trying to move forward or work together, continuing to repeat what’s right for you fails to recognize that something else may be right for someone else. This

where significant fighting with the other and only recognizing their own truth. A resolution starts when one recognizes the other’s truth is right for the other person. And then, they can move to the next step: how do we now find a way to connect?

Let’s take a simple example: one person works best by going to bed early and then getting up early to get

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could recognize that there could be more than one right?!

keeps people from connecting, resolving, and moving forward.

The rabbi in “Fiddler on the Roof” makes a great point, albeit, through humor: two people can be right from where they are coming from – informed by their history, taste, needs, etc. But one gets no-

things done. Another person works best staying up late into the night, using their second wind energy, in a quiet environment. So how do they work together when necessary?

Neither is necessarily the right way to work. It’s just their right way.

This is where connection starts!

It could be shaky getting there.

Just like a fiddler balancing on a roof. But we don’t want to just teeter forever. We want to find some stability. So we look for collaborations.

Sometimes the collaboration plays out so that we take turns. For instance, it can be a “horse” this time and a “mule” the next. Sometimes the collaboration happens by each giving in a bit and creating a shared result: a “morse” or a “hule.”

The important thing is not only to recognize that there can be two rights but also to find the “third right.” That is, what is right for the “we.”

Remember the lesson of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Remember that “in the little village of Anatevka everybody is a fiddler on the roof.” And in our respective environments, so are we all. We are all trying to find stability.

If we are stuck seeing only our horse, then we are just a stubborn mule!

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

TheJewish JewishHome Home| OCTOBER | JANUARY29, 3, 2019 The 2015

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JANUARY 3, 2019 | The Jewish Home

g in all of in ic r p y a d y r Best eve Long Island! & s n e e u Q , Brooklyn AY!

(

Free Parking

ERY D V E S T C U D O NEW PR

TM

much

Over 150 Spaces!

More for Less

Prices Good Sunday, January 6th through Friday, January 11th, 2019

Price Rite Tomato Sauce

1

3/$

Gefen Cup-a-Soup

9

$ 99 12 Pack

8 oz

California Delights Sour Belts

Imperial Delight Garbanzo Beans/ Chic Peas

59¢

Assorted

1

3/$

14 oz

Geneve Dark Chocolate with Nougat Filling

1

$ 49 3.5 oz

Sabra Hummus with Pretzels

10

10/$

4.56 oz

KolSave Frozen Bake Off Challah

5

$ 99 2 Pack

Silver Tip Roast

6

$ 49 LB

Sweet Nectarines

1

$ 99 LB

Chocolate Cookie Poppers

4

$ 39

LB

1.76 oz

GoGo Squeeze Applesauce All Flavors

1

$ 99 4 Pack Yehuda Gefilte Fish

Original or Sweet

2

$ 99 24 oz

Season Sardines

Meal Mart Beef Franks

Skinless & Boneless in Olive Oil - UPC 02216

$ 79 4.37 oz

Regular or Reduced Fat

Walla Salads & Dips

Norman’s Avenue A Flour Poppers All Purpose or Unbleached Yogurt

1

3

$ 99 12 oz

Tuna or Egg Salad, Tehini, Matbucha, Turkish, Spanish Eggplant, Babaganoush

5

2/$

8 oz

Meal Mart Breaded Chicken Nuggets

1499

$

64 oz

Beef Stew

4

$ 89 LB

Pink Grapefruit

1

$ All 99Flavors 5 LB 10/$

10

Merrick Deep Dish Pie Shells

2

$ 49 2 Pack Chicken Bones

89¢

LB

Spanish Onions

5/$

2

59¢

Breaded Fish Shapes

Assorted Wraps

4

$ 99 LB

5.3 oz

LB

4

$ 99 EA

Keilim Mikveh on Premises | Pre-Shabbos Buffet Every Thursday & Friday!

Savings Plaza | 11 Lawrence Lane, Lawrence, NY | (516) 371-6200 | info@kolsavemarket.com | /kolsavemarket Hours: Sunday-Tuesday: 9am-7pm | Wednesday: 9am-10pm | Thursday: 9am-11pm | Friday: 8am-till 2 hours before Shabbos We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.