Five Towns Jewish Home - 1-5-17

January 5, 2017

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

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

Pages 9, 10, 11, 13 & 35

Around the

Community

Are We Seeing the Beginning of the Cold War 2.0?

47 How U.S.-Russia Relations have Deteriorated under Obama’s Watch

Songs, Dance and Lots of Doughnuts on Chanukah around Town

pg

76

Healthy Lifestyle Tips to Start Off a Healthy New Year

56 Chanukah Celebrations at the “Kehillah” of Lido and Long Beach

pg

88

Obama’s Final, and Most Shameful, Legacy Moment

by Charles Krauthammer pg 104 Page 19

Pesach Vacation Section Starts on Page 97 – See page 3

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

I

f you look at our readers’ poll this week, you’ll see that not many readers of TJH make resolutions around January 1. And of those who do make resolutions, chances are they are going to be breaking them real soon.

According to statistics, only 8% of those who make resolutions actually achieve their goals.

I don’t feel disheartened by the slim chances of success; it’s better to have started towards your goal than to have not attempted to work towards it at all. In some ways, next time around may be a bit easier for you because of your efforts.

Some of our readers expressed displeasure at being asked this question. Rosh Hashana, for them, is the new year. And yes, I agree.

Rosh Hashana is my new year as well. It’s the time when I assess the previous year and look towards the new year with hope and optimism. It’s the time when I pour my heart out to my Creator and beg Him to grant me a year of bracha, hatzlacha, and kol tuv. When I stand in shul cocooned in my prayers, I am only thinking of the One Above, beseeching Him to remember me in the Book of Life.

But on Rosh Hashana I am not thinking about heading to the gym or organizing my closets. I am not picturing myself getting into a new hobby or getting together with friends.

Goals related to my waistline or my home or my vacations don’t come up during the yomim noraim.

Did you ever buy a new car? Remember the first day you drove it? It was clean and you vowed to yourself that you’d keep it that way. No, kids, you may not eat your snack bags in the car.

How about a new job? On that first day, you came in early – even before your boss.

You carefully wrote notes about everything you were told and you stayed late just to show how enthused you were by the new position.

What about a new notebook? Or a calendar? Aren’t those first few entries written more neatly than the scrawls in the back?

I see January 1 as the first page in that new notebook. It gives me time to reset and to assess what worked the previous year or not.

Sure, I may have skipped out on the gym more often than not, and sure, my kids may have eaten too many chicken nuggets for supper, and sure, I haven’t been able to sort through some of those old clothes yet – but now it’s time! Open the new notebook and start accomplishing those goals. Do it with enthusiasm and with energy.

Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Classifieds: Deadline Mondays 5PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003

P.S. If you’d like to be included in our weekly poll, shoot me an email with the words “add me to the poll!” in the subject line. Don’t you want your opinion to count as well?

The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine.

Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­ sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | January 5 – 12

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

41

NEWS Global

13

National

32

Odd-but-True Stories

38

Are We Seeing the Beginning of the Cold War 2.0?

by Nachum Soroka

76

ISRAEL Israel News

28

A Dance to Remember by Elana Dure

74

PEOPLE Amazing Military Ships by Avi Heiligman

108

PARSHA Rabbi Wein

68

JEWISH THOUGHT

108

Resolutions by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz 70 Life is But a Dream – Only if You’re Sleeping by Eytan Kobre

72

HEALTH & FITNESS

Anger is Really a Choice by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

84

Healthy Lifestyle Tips to Start Off a Healthy New Year by Cindy Weinberger, MS, RD

88

Dear Editor, The story you published this week about a Russian boy’s father getting a bris milah when he was seventy-five-years-old was so inspiring. When do we hear about such mesiras nefesh for Torah and Yiddishkeit in the 21st century? Baruch Hashem we are lucky to live in America, where we can practice our religion freely. We proudly show off our lit menorahs and even hold public lighting ceremonies for all to see.

We are so fortunate to live here. But a story like this made me feel that perhaps we should show Hashem that we are able to be moser nefesh for Him. Maybe we can push ourselves a little more when it comes to tzinius or davening or making sure we make a kiddush Hashem. In that way we can show Hashem that we are able to go that extra step in our avodas Hashem even in times of good and relative freedom.

A Reader Dear Editor, As a Jew, an American and a Democrat I find it hard to understand your belief that Donald Trump is good for us and that Democrats “no longer represent our values or interests.” I normally do not write

to editors but find your perspective disappointing.

We are The People of the Book.

We are grounded in morality and seek Justice. We are taught to welcome the stranger and to never forget we were slaves in Egypt. We believe all peoples are made in the image of Hashem.

Do you honestly believe Donald Trump and his minions represent our Jewish and American values and interests? Do you believe that he really cares about Israel and that his rhetoric will solve the Palestinian problem? Do you believe that David Friedman calling out “Kapos” is good for the Jewish People or for Israel? How can Israel break the stalemate so that our brothers and sisters can live in peace with this kind of approach? I don’t have the answer but Mr. Friedman’s involvement will incite and inflame rather than help solve the problems.

Donald Trump is a demagogue (a political leader who seeks support by appeal to populist desires and prejudices rather than rational argument). His rhetoric has unleashed the basest elements of racism, misogyny, and anti-Semitism of our society and is making this Continued on page 12

Giving it My Best Shot by Dr. Hylton I Lightman 90 FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Blueberry Scones 92

84

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 80

Your Money

116

That’s a Laugh by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

118

HUMOR Centerfold

66

Baffling Bags by Jon Kranz

94

Uncle Moishy Fun Page

110

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

96

Obama’s Final, and Most Shameful, Legacy Moment by Charles Krauthammer 104 CLASSIFIEDS

111

It’s 2017! 45% of Americans usually make resolutions every year. Not to discourage you, but only 8% actually succeed.

Did you make any resolutions this year?

17

%

YES

83

%

NO

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Sale Dates: January 8th - 14th 2017

Weekly 12 oz Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Golden Grahams; 10 oz Trix; 11 oz Cocoa Puffs; 8 oz Kix

5

2/$

Red Pack Tomato Sauce 8 oz

Arizona Teas

1

299

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

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

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

All Flavors - 7.1 oz

Original, Olive Oil, For the Grill or Baking ONLY - 5 oz/6 oz

Original Only - 6 Count

9.5 oz/15 oz

Pam Cooking Spray

2/$

99¢

6

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

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

Except Lasagna, Jumbo Shells, Manicotti, Gluten-Free - 12 oz/16 oz

Assorted - 12 oz

Regular or Light 16 oz

10 oz

Baykx Burst Bites Filled Pastries

399

$

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

Tradition Cup-a-Soup

Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps

Regular or No MSG - All Flavors - 12 Pack

6

$

99

26 oz

La Yogurt

1

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

999

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

Axelrod Cottage Cheese Assorted - 16 oz

4

2/$

Axelrod Sour Cream

Assorted 25 oz

3

799

$

Best Bev Hot Serve Cups

Palmolive Dish Liquid

5

2/$

Skim Plus Milk

Original or Lactose-Free 64 oz

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

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

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

White or Yellow 3 lb

All Varieties - 10 oz

Vegetable, Split Pea, Mushroom 32 oz

299

Eat Well Enjoy Life Hummus

1

$ 99

299

$

Mehadrin Krispy Yogurt

$

Mendelsohn’s Pizza

99¢

5

All Flavors 6 oz

1299

2/$

1.9 oz

2/$

Hefty Trash Bags

$

Assorted - 16 oz

Lipton Onion Soup Mix

12 oz/16 oz

Ha’olam American Cheese

$

Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Assorted - 14.5 oz

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

5

12 Pack

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

All 13 Gallon - 30 Gallon 18 Count - 80 Count

3/$

Mehadrin Chocolate Leben

399

$

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

Assorted 12.8 oz

All Flavors 10 oz

3/$

8 oz

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

Chobani Greek Yogurt Smoothies

All Flavors - 6 oz

1

$ 79

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

1

3

Gourmet Glatt Le Chocolate Viennese Crunch

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

$ 99

2/$

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

Mishpacha Unsalted Whole Wheat Matzo

$ 99

Dole Squish Ems

Frescorti Marinara & Pasta Sauces

299

$

99¢

1

by the case only

239 ................................................. $

Nabisco Chips Ahoy Cookies

All Flavors 6.7 oz/8.4 oz

All Flavors - 7.2 oz

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

Haddar Caesar Salad Dressing

499

$

Nestle Rich Milk Hot Cocoa

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

¢ 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . full . . . . . .line . . . . . super . . . . . . .sale! ........................

10.5 oz

$

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

Ronzoni Pasta

Alprose Swiss Baking Chocolate

Assorted - 10 oz/15 oz

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

1

239

$ 99

399

Quaker Instant Oats

$

$

All Flavors - Gallon

Vegetable or Canola - 48 oz

3/$

Dream Pressels

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

Crisco Oil

Flaum’s Tuna

Homestyle, Vegetable, Spicy - 7 oz

5

2/$

5

5/$

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

Classic Cooking Soups

Achla Hummus 400 Grams

329

$

439

$

All Flavors - 48 oz $ 99

Original Only - 36 oz

Absolute Fruit Sorbet Dr.Praeger Spinach Meal Mart Kishka 16 oz All Flavors - 16 oz or Broccoli Littles

$

$

10 oz

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

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

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

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

All Varieties 6 - 12 Count

10 oz

24 oz

Breyer’s Ice Cream

799

2

Gourmet Glatt Frozen Broccoli

Weight Watcher’s Ice Cream

2 lb $ 99

5

399

$

299

Morningstar Farms Nuggets & Wings

3

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99

3

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99

B’gan Cauliflower Florets

4

$

99

New Items This Week!

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

Kontos Frozen Pizza Crust Woodmere STORE HOURS

399

$

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

Dagim Tilapia 16 oz

399

$

ready to thaw & bake!

1030 Railroad Avenue

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

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

Sale Dates: January 8th - 14th 2017

Specials Large Boneless Chicken $ 29 1 lb.

Kolichel $879 lb. Fillet Bones $ 49 9 lb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Steak Neck & Skirt Family Pack Seasoned ...................

Ground $ 99 Pastrami, 4 lb. Shoulder Beef Beef or $649 lb.

Super Lamb $ . . . . . . . Family . . . . . . . .Pack ....

99 Chops 10 lb. Italian Chuck Burgers ...................

London $ 49 ...................

9 lb. Neck & Skirt Broil $ 29 Beef ................... $ 79 3 lb.

5 lb. Turkey Patties Drumsticks Top of 12 Pack $ 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the Rib ................... lb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 ..

Ground Turkey Square White $ 99 $ 49 Roast $ 99 4 lb.

6 lb.

Cut Chicken 9 lb. Family Pack White Meat Roast

CORNED BEEF TOP OF THE RIB $ 99 8 lb.

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

BEEF NECK BONES $ 49 3 lb.

Untrimmed

CHICKEN CUTLETS $ 89 3 lb.

Super Family Pack

Quaker Life or Cap’n Crunch Cereals 11 oz/13 oz

5

2/$

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

Poland Spring Water Gallon

99¢ ......................................................

Apple & Eve Apple Juice Clear or Natural - 64 oz

4

2/$ Spanish Yellow Peppers

Bag Clementines 3 lb Bag

3

$

99

2

$

ea.

Granny Smith Apples

99¢ lb.

Green & Red Leaf Lettuce

49

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

Italian Kiwi

Bosc Pears

8/$2

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

Plum Tomatoes

79¢ lb.

3

lb.

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

Spanish Orange Peppers

49

2

$

49

Except Flips - 5.3 oz - Pack of 12

999

$

ea.

Spanish lb. Red Peppers

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

2

$

lb.

59¢ lb.

2/$1

12 $ 99 7 lb.

Sweet Chili Grilled Chicken

$

Turkey Pastrami Brown Rice with Vegetables

99 lb.

Macaroni Salad

Quart

order your frozen travel meals!

99 lb. MADE-TO-ORDER FRESH FROZEN FOR

Pepper or Herb Crusted Tuna $ 99 lb.

Assorted Muffins ¢ ea.

99

5

Assorted Character Assorted Club Rolls Small White Package of 2 Cakes Bread

1599ea.

$

599

Mini Carnations

$

Bunch

Holland Tulips Bunch

MICROWAVE OR OVEN Over 25 Varieties to Choose From Including Aliza Beer Meals!

Tilapia Fillets Family Pack $ 99 lb.

15

monday only!

1299 $ 99 4

$

Mushroom Barley Soup

$

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gourmetglattonline.com

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499

$

order your shabbos platters early!

Cucumber Roll

Fresh Hot 18” Pizza

5 399lb.

$

Royal Gefilte Fish

Cello 2/$3 Mushrooms

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/

by the case only

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

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Macintosh 99¢ lb. Cello Carrots Apples

49

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

Spanish 89¢ lb. Onions

Fresh 99¢ lb. Kirbies

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

Chobani Greek Yogurt

5 lb Bag

$

99¢ ea.

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

Yukon Potatoes

1

1

$ 29 ea.

$ 49 ea.

1699

Mini Calla Lilies

$

makes a great gift!

$

Bunch

Floral Arrangements

3499& Up

/gourmetglatt

4

$

50

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Mango Crunch Roll $

495

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Alaska Roll

5

$

50

Spicy Tuna Roll $

595

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

Crunchy Dragon Roll 95 $

10

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

American Dream Roll $ 95

11

now available! full line of gluten-free products! $ 99 Smoky Taco Dip Pre-Packaged 2 ea.

Roasted Pepper Dip Pre-Packaged $ 99 2 ea.

Diet Corn Salad Pre-Packaged $ 49 4 ea.

Diet Pizza La Zucchini Pre-Packaged $ 49 4 ea.

Butternut Squash Soup Pre-Packaged $ 99 4 ea.

Diet Spaghetti Squash Salad new! $ 99 4 lb.

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

11

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Continued from 8

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speech and conduct acceptable and mainstream. He seeks to muzzle the press and has no need for the truth.

Jewish journalists have been threatened and intimidated for reporting the truth. Mr. Trump may not be personally anti-Semitic but has used it to rally supporters.

He is supported by the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacists and all the other nutcases both in America and around the world. Jews around the country are now targets of these people – not just yet in the Five Towns, but wait...

My mother, z”l, was born in a shtetl in Ukraine and lost all of her extended family during WWII. They couldn’t believe the stories they heard about what was happening and chose to stay around. What will it take for us to understand the shift in our society and that we are not exempted from hate and violence?

Acceptance of the Trump movement based upon his purported support of Israel is shortsighted and dangerous to the Jewish People...

Democrats have always stood for the working class and still do... don’t be fooled...we may be better off than our forefathers and enjoy the trappings of success, but we’re still working class and can lose everything in a heartbeat...

Please, do Torah in your work and stand up for our values and beliefs. Think about it before your kids and grandkids see the [news] and ask questions about our next president and how you reported about what is happening today.

All the best, Richard Lipsman Dear Editor, I am writing this letter with tears rolling down my face. I am crying day and night. I live in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns area for many years b”H and have always been impressed by the chessed and kindness that takes place in this community. I too am involved in numerous chessed organizations in the area. Many people know my family and would attest to what we do. The reason that I am crying is because my child was not accepted to high school. He is a ben Torah and a good boy, but he struggles academically. The schools in the area only want to accept boys that are aleph and aleph-plus students. I don’t know why schools don’t want

to give a chance to children who are solid boys from good homes but are weaker students. Is this what Yiddishkeit is all about? Grades, grades, grades? How about middos? Where is menschlechkeit?

I have reached out to the Menahel of our son’s school. We are not the only ones with no school to send our son to in September. I hear there is talk about opening some new high schools in the area. I just don’t know where to turn.

B”H I know Hashem is listening and I cry out to Him. But what should we say to our son who is waiting to get into high school just like his friends who are the alephplus boys?

A Reader Dear Editor, I appreciated your coverage of the UN Security Council’s recent resolution condemning Israel and its settlements. This is not the first time that the UN has shown its disdain for the Jewish State. History, though, has proven that Am Yisroel is not so easily suppressed. We have beaten the odds time and time again.

Just look at the battles of Chanukah, which took place thousands of years ago. A group of students against the mighty Greek army? Remember, this army conquered almost the whole known world at the time. And yet, with Hashem’s help and our trust in Him, we managed to overcome.

Ba’yamim ha’haim ba’zman ha’zeh. Hashem is always with us.

We shall see victory once again and just as the Greeks have disappeared – along with our other enemies throughout the generations – this time shall also be just a subtitle in the pages of the history books.

Sincerely, Irene Shur Dear Editor, Your Year in Review issue was a perfect way to catch up on 2016.

You included many of the events that took place last year and presented them in a clear, entertaining format. Kudos to you for a wonderful publication!

Gadi Hertz P.S. Where did you find all those paintings in the Centerfold?

To think that people call that “art”?

Send me their numbers; I have a few scribblings of mine I’d like to sell.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

The Week In News

Few Hours Reprieve for Overworked Workers

For overworked Japanese employees, leaving a few hours earlier on Friday once a month may just make all the difference. The new campaign, “Premium Friday,” spearheaded by the Japanese government and business groups, will launch on February 24. The program advises businesses to allow their workers to leave at 3pm on Friday once a month.

Its goal is to lighten excessive work hours and spur consumption. About 22% of Japanese workers work a 50hour week consistently.

The nation’s biggest business lobby, Keidanren, wrote to its more than 1,300 member companies encouraging them to join the effort and participate. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko announced, “I’m giving my secretaries a strict order not to put in any appointments after 3pm” on the first Premium Friday.

Chief economist Toshihiro Nagahama at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo says there is a direct correlation between leisure time and spending. He expects that if smalland medium-sized firms participate in Premium Friday consumption could increase by about 124 billion yen ($1.6 billion) on each day of less working hours. Nagahama is concerned about smaller companies. He predicts that they will have a hard time shutting down early and they

may try to make up the missed hours during the week, which would not address the excessive work hours’ issue.

Japan has 16 annual public holidays – more than many other country – but workers generally only use half their annual paid leave days, which averages 18.5 days. Individuals are afraid to take off because most of their colleagues don’t use all of their days off and they are afraid that it will evoke criticism or show a lack of commitment to their jobs.

Just a few months ago, the death of a woman last December was ruled karoshi, death by overwork. She was forced to work 100 hours or more of overtime per month for many months and got as little as two hours of sleep at night. She was told by supervisors to report fewer hours than she actually worked. The Labor Ministry reports that there are about 100 deaths by karoshi in Japan per year. A few hours of reprieve from work won’t do much for workers, but hopefully it will squash the sentiment in the workplace that pushes workers to work excessively.

Now that Premium Fridays will be instituted, what will Japanese workers do with all that free time?

According to a survey by advertising firm Hakuhodo, 32% of Japanese employees plan to travel with that extra free time, 9% plan to eat out, 7% plan to shop, and another 7% plan to go to theme parks – all activities that promote consumption. Another 30% of the workers who answered the survey say they plan to simply relax at home, and another 15% chose the “other” category which included watching movies, playing sports, and reading books.

56 Killed in Brazil Prison Riot

Fighting between two gangs broke out in a Brazilian jail on Sunday afternoon. After the riots calmed down, 56 had lost their lives in a brutal and vicious manner and another 144 prisoners escaped from the prison after

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Family of the North (FDN), a powerful local gang, to rivals from the First Capital Command (PCC), one of Brazil’s largest gangs. The PCC’s base is in Sao Paulo, some 2,700 kilometers (1,650 miles) to the southeast.

“During the negotiations [to end the riot], the prisoners had almost no demands,” Fontes told local radio network Tiradentes. “We think they had already done what they wanted: kill members of the rival organization.”

Just a few months ago, in October, deadly riots broke out at three prisons in Brazil, blamed on fighting between members of the country’s two largest gangs, the PCC and the Red Command (CV). During that episode, rioting inmates took visitors hostage, beheaded rivals and burned others alive, killing 33 people in all, the authorities said.

Brazil’s prisons are often controlled by drug gangs, whose turf wars on the outside are also fought on the inside among inmates.

“There is a silent war of drug trafficking, and the state needs to intervene,” Fontes said. “What did we see in this case? One faction fighting another because each wants more money. The fight is for money and space.”

Overcrowding the prisons is also a big problem. Some 622,000 people were imprisoned in Brazil as of the end of 2014, most of them black males, according to a justice ministry report. That makes it the world’s fourth-largest prison population, the report said, after the United States, China and Russia. Brazil’s prisons need 50 percent more capacity to handle the current number of inmates, the justice ministry report found.

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a long night of fighting. When police finally restored order they found a scene of horror and had to free 12 guards who had been taken hostage.

State public security secretary Sergio Fontes called the carnage “the biggest massacre” ever committed at a prison in the state. In fact, the fight-

ing ranks among the most deadly of numerous prison riots across Latin America in the past decade.

Outside the prison, when all was calm, heavily armed officers hunted for the escapees who fled through a series of tunnels discovered at the Anisio Jobim penitentiary complex.

112 prisoners escaped from that prison and another 72 from the nearby Antonio Trindade Penal Institute.

Just 40 of the escapees were captured

by Monday afternoon.

According to Fontes, the gruesome scene in the prison appeared aimed at sending a message from the

Nature versus nurture is an ageold discussion which continues to be debated amongst the most knowledgeable psychologists. Recent re-

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search on the tendencies of babies reveals that behavior is relevant to the child’s culture, which would indicate that nurture is extremely influential.

Scientists believe that an individual’s personality begins to form from infanthood. The values and norms of culture shape the person from birth.

Washington State University psychologist Dr. Maria Gartstein spent the last half-decade analyzing and studying babies from around the world. She discovered that parents’ different cultural values influenced the temperaments and behavior of their infants.

During the study, Gartstein and colleagues studied Chilean, Polish, South Korean and American babies.

The mothers of 125 to 420 babies in each country filled out a survey about more than 200 behaviors and temperamental qualities in their infants at 6 months and at 1-years-old. The questionnaire included questions about activity level, shyness, sadness, cuddliness, and attention focusing.

The results showed significant and interesting differences across the cultures.

So how did babies from different cultures fare? While American babies tend to be highly social, they also tend

to engage in impulsive behavior more than infants from other countries.

They are also most likely to enjoy highly stimulating activities. “[American babies] have some unique opportunities and challenges, compared to infants growing up in other regions of the world,” Gartstein reflected. “I really appreciate their readiness to engage and share enjoyment ― the baby version of extraversion, if you will.”

According to responses of American mothers, their babies are less likely to display negative emotions and are easy to calm down when upset (clearly they didn’t ask me to answer the survey). Researchers suggest that this may be a learned behavior because American parents discourage children from expressing negative emotions.

“One of my more profound moments occurred when I realized that parent-infant interaction dynamics varied dramatically, even in cultures we think of as being similar,” Gartstein said.

The babies who can focus the best are South Koreans, who proved to have the longest attention spans.

However, the title of “best focused” comes with a territory of being the

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least active. These tendencies reflect the emphasis on behavioral and attentional control in South Korea.

Luckily for South Korean moms, their babies are the cuddliest.

The crankiest babies can be found in Chile. Chilean babies scored the highest in negative mood and emotions. They are also the most active and struggle with concentrating on one task at a time. Researchers chalk this up to South American parents being very animated with their babies.

The saddest babies are born in Poland. Polish babies express the most sadness and also tend to be the most difficult to calm when distressed. Culturally the Polish tend to be extremely open about emotions and wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Of course, this research implies that parental and caregiver influence is extremely powerful. “We have to think broader ... [to include] things like daily routine, what parents view as important for their kids to develop to be happy and healthy adults, what they think is essential with respect to parental responsibilities,” Gartstein explained. “There are surprisingly considerable cross-cultural differences in these areas.”

New Investigation into Jewish Center’s Bombing

An appeals court in Argentina will be re-opening an investigation into accusations that former President Cristina Fernandez played part in a cover-up of Iran’s role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Center in Buenos Aires. The terror attack took the lives of 85 people.

Two years ago, Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor who was to testify before Argentine Congress on Fernandez’s role, was found dead from a gunshot in his bathroom. Though

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the death was officially classified as a suicide, an official investigation into the case has revealed that the shooting was indeed a homicide. Nisman was to testify to the whitewashing of Iran’s role in the attack. He had said that Fernandez worked to clear Iran in order to make a grains-for-oil deal with Tehran.

Iran has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack on the Jewish center in Argentina. A federal appeals court is reportedly signing an order to reopen the case with a new judge.

Since leaving office last year, Fernandez has faced many criminal charges. Last week she was indicted for skimming money that was set aside for public works projects to line her own pockets.

Iran’s Incoming Cash and Gold

coming in too slowly. Though nearly $115 billion in sanctions relief were to come its way, the country has struggled to access its money through traditional channels such as bank transfers that were once off limits. The $10 billion that has already been sent to Iran was moved through third-party countries in the Middle East and Europe. The money was then converted to gold or currency – as long as it was not U.S. dollars – and shipped to Tehran. Iran supposedly gave two reasons for wanting cash and gold: difficulty in wiring money to Tehran and to have quick access to its funds.

Of the roughly $100 billion that is to be released, the U.S. Treasury Department predicts close to half of that is already spoken for by other countries that Iran owes money to.

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Ever wonder just how Iran got all of its money when it signed the nuclear deal with world leaders? Well, here is just a small, 10 billion dollar taste.

In the three years since the preliminary deal was struck, Iran has received more than $10 billion in sanctions relief in cash and gold. The large shipments of loot comes from unfrozen oil funds. Some of the monies were sent in order to open up the stage for negotiations, while the rest of it was shipped after the final deal was signed last January.

Of course, many U.S. lawmakers have pointed out that the glut of cash that was sent to Iran could be used to fund Iran’s less-than-noble allies in the region. You know, people like the Assad regime in Syria, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, and the Houthi political movement in Yemen. “Forking over cash and gold to the world’s leading state sponsor of terror is incredibly dangerous,” said Rep. Ed Royce (R., Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who sponsored a House-passed bill to ban such payments.

Iran, who has long denied sponsoring terrorism, says the monies are

Russia does not seem too ruffled about the recent U.S. sanctions that were placed on them in the wake of their alleged cyber-attacks and meddling in the American presidential elections.

“These American sanctions will in no way influence the work of the General Staff of the Armed Forces’ Main Intelligence Directorate,” First Deputy Head of Russian State Duma Defense Committee Andrei Krasov said, referring to the military intelligence service known as the GRU. “We understand that Obama’s administration will leave soon. But it has once again shown its real face,” Krasov said.

The sanctions, which were imposed by the outgoing Obama administration on the military intelligence service, also ordered 35 Russian diplomats expelled from the U.S. Four Russian individuals and five Russian entities were also sanctioned. Two Russian compounds in the U.S. are being closed. This is the first time the names of Russian officials involved in the hacking have become public on the sanctions list. The U.S. also

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separately sanctioned two Russian individuals, Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev and Alexey Belan, for using cyber-enabled means to allegedly cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.

They’ve long been sought by the FBI. The U.S. intelligence community had previously said that Russia was involved in the cyber-attacks on the Democratic Party which exposed internal emails from the party’s top players. It now described its involvement as “Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities.” The CIA has now concluded that the hacking was intentionally done to help get Donald Trump elected. Intelligence officials have even been quoted as saying “with a high level of confidence” that Vladimir Putin was personally involved in the operation.

“Russia’s cyber-activities were intended to influence the election, erode faith in U.S. democratic institutions, sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, and undermine confidence in the institutions of the U.S. government,” a White House statement said. “These actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the email leaks and Putin press secretary called the U.S.’s response “groundless and illegitimate from the point of view of the international law.” “We absolutely disagree with any groundless assertions and accusations voiced against the Russian side,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He also said that Russia would not take the sanctions lying down, threatening “an adequate and mirror response” that “will make Washington officials feel very uncomfortable as well,” according to the Russian embassy in the U.S. On Tuesday, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange echoed Russia’s assertions and said that Russia was not behind the leaks.

Russia’s first visible action to the imposed sanctions came later on Thursday, when Russian authorities ordered the closure of the Anglo-American School of Moscow. The order from the Russian government closes the school, which serves children of U.S., British and Canadian embassy personnel. The order also closes access to the U.S. embassy vacation house in Serebryany Bor, near Moscow.

Soon after the administration’s announcement, Russia’s embassy in the UK tweeted that Obama’s actions were “Cold War déjà vu” and

described the administration as “hapless.”

President-elect Donald Trump has said he does not feel that Russia interfered and got him elected. He also said that it is time for us “to move on to bigger and better things,” but he is meeting with intelligence officials to clarify the matter “in the interest of our country and its great people.”

ISIS Claims Istanbul Attack

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the New Year’s shooting attack at an Istanbul nightclub which claimed the lives of 39 people. The despicable terror organization boasted on Twitter about being responsible for the first major terrorist attack of 2017. “In continuation of the blessed operations which ISIS carries out against Turkey, a soldier of the brave caliphate attacked one of the most popular nightclubs while Christians were celebrating their holiday,” the statement read.

The killer entered the club shortly after midnight with a machine gun and fired his weapon continuously for 20 minutes, according to eyewitness reports. Although eight people have been detained in connection with the attack, the actual killer has not been brought in. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus announced that they have the fingerprints and picture of the shooter. “We will find him, no delay,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim assured.

Early Turkish media reports suggested the nightclub gunman was probably from either Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan and may have been part of the same cell that staged a June attack on Istanbul Ataturk Airport that killed 45 people.

Referring to the attack, government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus said, “The fact that it was done during the first minutes of 2017 gives an important message. The message is ‘We will go on to menace Turkey in 2017.’ And we say to them, ‘We will break into your caves wherever you

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

are.’”

The Islamic State boasts of having cells in Turkey, regularly issues propaganda in Turkish and is believed to have hundreds of Turks in its ranks. But until now, the main act of aggression it had claimed in Turkey was the March 2016 killing of a Syrian journalist and an attack on riot police in the province of Diyarbakir, which Kurdish militants also claimed. Other attacks in Turkey have been linked to the Islamic State, but without specific claims of responsibility.

To some analysts, the recent claim signaled a shift in Islamic State strategy in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation and NATO member.

“It’s a new phase,” security analyst Michael Horowitz said. “What we saw before was an undeclared war, and now we’re entering an open war.”

The victims in the attack are from all around the globe. People were killed from 14 countries including Israel, India, Morocco, Jordan, Canada, Russia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Dozens of people were also hospitalized with injuries ranging from critical to minor.

William Jacob Raak of Delaware was one of those who was injured in the terror attack. He said he survived by playing dead. “When he shot me I didn’t move – I just let him shoot me,” he said. “I was shot when I was already on the ground. He was shooting people that he had already shot.”

Lian Zaher Nasser was 18-yearsold when she was killed in the attack.

She was an Israeli citizen. Her hometown, the Arab city of Tira, declared a day of mourning after the attack.

Thousands attended her funeral, including members of the Knesset.

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Congo’s Kabila to Step Down – Maybe

Opposition leaders in Congo have signed a deal with President Joseph Kabila’s party that will see him step-

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ping down after the elections which are set to take place at the end of 2017. The deal was made despite Kabila’s refusal to step aside after his mandate ended last week.

Pressure was asserted intensely on both sides by Congo’s Catholic Church, which hopes to avoid

the country sliding into anarchy and possibly another civil war. The agreement hopes to facilitate the first peaceful transfer of power in the country since it claimed its independence from Belgium in 1960. “Today, we are happy to head up a political compromise,” Marcel Utembi,

President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, said last week in front of representatives of Kabila’s party and its main opposition alliance.

So far, the deal is only on paper.

Big problems that still must be overcome include the electoral commission saying that elections may not be

JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

possible before 2018 and that many are very skeptical that Kamila will actually step aside. Many of his supporters have suggested that he change Congo’s constitution to allow him to run for another term, a move very popular in that region of the world.

The primary fear in the country is a repeat of the war that ravaged the nation between 1996 and 2003.

During those seven years, millions were killed and dozens of predatory armed groups were formed, which still plague the country today.

Mein Kampf a Bestseller

Around 85,000 copies of Hitler’s Mein Kampf flew off the shelves last year in Germany, making it a bestseller in the nation. Initially, the publisher intended to only print

4,000 copies but boosted production when demand ran high. The sixth print run for the book will hit bookstores in January of this year.

The Institute of Contemporary History of Munich (IfZ) has said the book’s popularity doesn’t promote far-right ideology; it asserts that the publication had enriched a debate on the renewed rise of “authoritarian political views” in contemporary Western society.

The two-volume murderer’s manifesto had figured on the non-fiction bestseller list in weekly magazine Der Spiegel over much of the last year, and even topped the list for two weeks in April.

The institute also organized a successful series of presentations and debates around Mein Kampf across Germany and in other European cities, which it said allowed it to measure the impact of the new edition.

“It turned out that the fear the publication would promote Hitler’s ideology or even make it socially acceptable and give neo-Nazis a new propaganda platform was totally unfounded,” IfZ director Andreas Wirsching said in a statement. “To the contrary, the debate about Hit-

ler’s worldview and his approach to propaganda offered a chance to look at the causes and consequences of totalitarian ideologies, at a time in which authoritarian political views and rightwing slogans are gaining ground.”

The institute released the annotated version of Mein Kampf last January, just days after the copyright of the manifesto expired.

Bavaria was handed the rights to the book in 1945 when the Allies gave it control of the main Nazi publishing house following Hitler’s defeat.

For 70 years, it refused to allow the inflammatory tract to be republished out of respect for victims of the Nazis and to prevent incitement of hatred.

Hitler, ym”sh, wrote the book in 1924 while imprisoned in Bavaria for treason after his failed Beer Hall Putsch. The book set out two ideas that he put into practice as Germany’s leader going into World War II: annexing neighboring countries to gain “Lebensraum,” or “living space,” for Germans, and his hatred of Jews, which led to the Holocaust.

Some 12.4 million copies were published in Germany. The Nazi state gave a copy to all newlyweds as a wedding gift starting in 1936.

More Threats from N Korea

On Sunday, Kim Jong Un said that his country was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile. If done, it’s possible that the nuclear warhead may be able to reach parts of the United States.

In response, President-elect Donald Trump took to twitter to express his displeasure: “North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen!”

South Korea, North Korea’s neighbor, is obviously concerned about anything nuclear proliferating on the peninsula. The nation said that Trump’s tweet was a “clear

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warning” to North Korea that showed his awareness of the urgency of the threat.

“Because of our active outreach, President-elect Trump and U.S. officials are clearly aware of the gravity and urgency of the North Korean nuclear threat,” ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told a briefing.

“They are maintaining an unwavering stance on the need for sanctions on North Korea and for close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.” It’s possible that a showdown between North Korea and the U.S. will be the first conflict that Trump will have to tackle after January 20. According to a senior U.S. intelligence official, Trump’s first request for a special classified intelligence briefing was for one on North Korea and its nuclear weapons program.

Trump may enlist China in an effort to squash the North Koreans.

“China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but won’t help with North Korea. Nice!”

Trump later tweeted.

China, though, has argued that it has been responsible for pushing for the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula for a while.

“China’s efforts in this regard are perfectly obvious,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a news conference. “As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council we have proactively participated in relevant discussions on the North Korean nuclear issue and have jointly passed several resolutions with other parties.

“This shows China’s responsible attitude.”

China’s nationalist Global Times newspaper took the argument a stage further, saying that Trump was “pandering to irresponsible attitudes” and “stoking the anxieties of some Americans” in his accusations against their country.

Chinese foreign policy experts say the United States was wrong to blame their country, arguing that the fundamental motivation for North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or DPRK, to develop nuclear weapons is American “hostility.”

“The DPRK feels unsafe because the United States wants to overthrow it,” Cai Jian, a professor of Korea studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. “Now the United States blames China, and believes China is irrespon-

sible. This is very ridiculous.”

The United States has long insisted North Korea must disarm before talks can be held and has responded to the country’s nuclear and missile tests by tightening sanctions. The latest round was imposed by the U.N. Security Council in November and supported by China. But despite the sanctions, data shows trade between China and North Korea is still growing.

Kim Jonj-Un has put North Korea’s nuclear weapons policy at the center of his country’s national and security strategy.

Cuba’s Latest Ban

In a somewhat surprising move, Cuba’s National Assembly has banned commemorative statues of Fidel Castro and the naming of any public places after the late dictator.

The rules come in accordance to the revolutionary leader’s wishes that he not foster a cult of personality. Critics, of course, point out that Castro’s name is painted all across the small island country, with his words appearing on billboards and his name being mentioned at almost every public event. Since his death last month, a large poster of a young Fidel in army fatigues holding a rifle has hung from a building in Havana’s Revolution Square.

The law is kind enough not to ban artists from using Castro’s figure in music, cinema, dance, or literature.

Pictures of the late Cuban president are also allowed to be hung in offices, public institutions and places of study.

Castro died on November 25 at the age of 90. He handed over the presidency of the communist state he built to his brother eight years ago. Two mass memorial services were held for the leader after his passing, and the entire country spent nine days commemorating his death.

But don’t go naming any parks after him – that would be too much.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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‫שחרית‬

Yeshiva Gedolah of Five Towns Rav Yitzchok Knobel ‫שליט’’א‬ Rosh kollEl

RavMosheZevKatzenstein ‫שליט’’א‬ Rosh YEshivA

218 mosher Avenue ¹ 8:00 am

‫מוסף‬

Kehilas Yagdil Torah Rav Ariel Edelstein ‫שליט’’א‬ 980 Railroad Ave. Drasha 9:25 am

‫סעודת שבת‬

Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Shmuel (Henry) Schachar 66 Woodmere Blvd. south

‫סעודה שלישית‬

Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Weichholz at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Michael Weichholz 885 Westminster Rd. ¹ 3:00 pm

‫מנחה ושיעור‬

Young Israel of Woodmere Rav Herschel Billet ‫שליט’’א‬ Rav Shalom Axelrod ‫שליט’’א‬ 859 Peninsula Blvd.

4:30 pm

‫אבות ובנים‬

MoTZEI SHABBoS LEARnInG

Yeshiva of South Shore Rav Mordechai Kamenetsky ‫שליט’’א‬ Rosh YEshivA, YEshivAs toRAs ChAim At south shoRE

C o m m i t t e e

Yehuda Biber ¬ uri Dreifus ¬ Avi Dreyfuss ¬ Yitzchok Mordechai Feder Shlomo Gross ¬ Menachem Lieber ¬ Sholom Parnes ¬ Shmuli Schechter Ken Schuckman ¬ Chaim Shmuel (Henry) Schachar ¬ Shlomo Slatus Aron Solomon ¬ Yaakov Spinner ¬ Yitzi Stern ¬ R’ Yosef Richtman Efraim Templeman ¬ naftali Tepfer ¬ Jacob Weichholz

1170 William street ¹ 7:15 pm Divrei Pesicha

Rav Simcha Lefkowitz‫שליט’’א‬ RAv, khAl AnshEi ChEsED

Divrei Bracha

Rav Mordechai Kamenetsky ‫שליט’’א‬

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

F R O M

Farewell Ban Ki-moon

O U R

VOICEMAILS

#25

Mazel tov! Mazel tov!

After six long years of waiting, my sister finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Ban Ki-moon has now officially retired from his position of U.N. Secretary-General after ten years on the job. Ban, a South Korean, is the eighth person to hold the leadership role. He served two five-year terms after being reelected in 2011. The role was assumed by António Guterres of Portugal on January 1, 2017.

I am amazed how – exactly nine months after I subscribed to the Chatzos Segula – we were zoche to this miracle!

M.G., Monroe

‫להצלחת משה‬ ‫בן שרה רבקה‬ '‫וכל משפ‬

Last month, the former secretary-general looked back on his decade as head of the U.N. “I have been trying during the last 10 years, devoting all my time, passion and energy.

But frankly speaking, realistically, I may have to leave many things unfulfilled,” Ban confessed. “We needed to have much more sense of unity, much more global solidarity and compassion, but we have not been able to see this.”

During his tenure, Ban has had many accomplishments and many failures. The U.N. credits Ban with putting sustainable development at the forefront of the global agenda. He was a driving force behind the 2007 Climate Change Summit. Under his leadership, the Millennium Development Goals, which focused on reducing poverty in the first 15 years of the millennium, attracted over $60 billion in pledges from governments, businesses, and other private donors.

Another U.N. initiative that was undertaken during Ban’s tenure is the U.N. Women movement. Created by the General Assembly in 2010, U.N. Women aims to eliminate gender discrimination. “Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth.

Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society,” the organization says on its website. Ban is credited with a 40% increase in the number of women that hold senior management positions at the U.N. Among the many failures of the U.N. under Ban’s watch was the in-

ability to effect change in Syria and the Middle East. Ban admitted last year that the Security Council was failing Syria because of member nations looking out for their own interests. He told the Assembly that “powerful patrons” on both sides of the nearly 6-year-old war “have blood on their hands.” Ban has failed to speak out against the atrocities that were committed early on in the conflict and failed to rebuke Russia for resuming airstrikes during a temporary ceasefire that hit hospitals and aid convoys.

The Middle East conflict has seen no real improvement under Ban’s rule which culminated last week in the passing of Resolution 2334 which condemned Israel for building settlements on land that Palestinians claim to own. Ban will go down in history for failing the only true democracy in the Middle East and for giving into the Palestinians without leaving any room for negotiations between the two sides.

Britain’s Strictest School

Katharine Birbalsingh is regarded as “Britain’s strictest teacher” and she welcomes the title. She is the head teacher at the Michaela community school in Brent, north London. Her unshakeable emphasis on discipline has earned her institution many critics. Birbalsingh says there are social media arguments between pro- and anti-Michaela groups daily.

She also claims to receive hate mail on a regular basis.

“They wish us cancer and things like that, because they don’t like what we are doing,” she says. “People ask me, what’s your biggest challenge running the school? It’s the detractors on the outside. On the inside there are daily challenges. But the detractors on the outside are very time-consuming, emotionally draining. And they are obsessive.”

In the school, between classes, students can be seen walking the

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

hallways in a neat single file line without a sound. The hallways are silent, a stark contrast to the average noisy school hallway between classes. Birbalsingh says the mission of the school that she founded three years ago is to ensure that no student goes off track. She feels the school hallways are where many bad behaviors form, especially during transition times.

“It’s about habit change, and constantly reminding pupils to be respectful,” Birbalsingh says. The main form of discipline is detention. If a student is one minute late they get detention – same goes for a missed homework assignment, not having a working pen or sharpened pencil, or submitting sloppy work.

It may sound harsh to punish a student for being without a pen but Michaela provides pens to all students at the beginning of the year and they are expected to take care of them. There is also a school shop that sells pens at a reduced price that is open each morning. Parents are given constant reminders of the things their children need for class and it is expected to be honored at all times – no excuses.

Students must use a school-issued pencil case made of clear plastic. The student bathrooms do not have mirrors and makeup is banned.

The population of the school is lower and middle class; 30% of pupils are on free school meals.

The school made headlines last year when it was publicized that students whose parents failed to pay for school lunch were forced to eat in a separate room. However, Birbalsingh says that she wasn’t bothered by the criticism. She said, “At

“The bubbies will stop at nothing to achieve this goal and often resort to the most painful form of matriarchal torture: guilt tripping.”

Page 94

other schools if their parents didn’t pay they wouldn’t get any lunch at all. Here they still get lunch, a good lunch.”

Birbalsingh brags, “The children love it here because they know that in comparison to their primary schools or schools where they were before, that they learn so much here, it’s quiet, they are not being bullied.

They can go to the toilet here and not be worried about being bullied.

At other schools you will find children who train themselves not to go to the toilet all day because they are so scared of the bullying that takes place. So they just don’t go to the loo.

That isn’t the case here.”

She also believes in a traditional classroom atmosphere. “We have the teacher standing at the front and imparting knowledge. We believe the teacher knows more than the children. Most teachers in Britain do not believe that. They believe that the children and teachers all know pretty much the same stuff, which is why the children just need to be guided by the teacher as opposed to being taught by the teacher.”

She also claims that there is a strong focus on character. “We teach kindness and gratitude because we think children should be kind to each other and to their teachers and be grateful for everything we do for them,” she said.

The outspoken woman criticizes the British system for underappreciating educators. Birbalsingh explains that teaching is “the most exhilarating, most exciting, most important job in the country.” But instead teachers in Britain were “driven into the ground.”

She adds: “Teachers and parents need support and appreciation.

That doesn’t happen in this country.

Teachers are constantly being vilified in the press, they are constantly being attacked. There are actual examples of teachers getting attacked in the street, and nothing really happens to the assailants. If I’d have had those children in this school, they wouldn’t be attacking anybody. They would be different human beings when they grow up, and that is because they would have learned kindness and gratitude here. You will find in other schools children are not kind at all … because nobody has taught them how to be kind.”

The real results will be weighed when the school produces its first GCSE results, a standardized test that can be compared to ELA exams.

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28

JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Israelis by Numbers

We don’t stop growing. The Central Bureau of Statistics has released their end of the year population numbers for Israel. According to the CBS, Israel, at the end of 2016, had a population of 8,630,000. Last year saw an additional 167,000 people join the Israeli population. If the population trend continues, Israel is projected to have 25 million residents by 2065.

83% of the increase in population was from natural births. The last

17% is from immigration, which was much higher than the number of people leaving Israel. Broken down, that means that 181,000 children were born, 24,000 people made aliyah, and another 12,000 moved to Israel for other reasons.

Where did these new Israelis come from? New olim came from all over the world in 2016. 27 percent came from Russia, 22 percent from Ukraine, 18 percent from France, and 10 percent from the United States. By continent, 77% came from Europe, 17% from the Americas, 4% from Asia and 2%, or about 500 people, came from Africa.

The largest decrease in incoming immigrants was from France. After leading the pack for the past three years, France dropped to third place in 2016 with only 5,000 new olim this year, compared to 7,900 the year before. Even so, we are, thank G-d, growing by leaps and bounds.

Bible Bakei The top prizes in the 2016 World Bible Contest for Adults last week were taken by Yafit Sliman from Is-

rael and Yair Sahak from the United States. Third place went to Dr. Eliezer Abergil of France and Canadian Tzvi Mordichai came in fourth.

Sahak, a musician from New York, called the experience a “dream come true.” He and his wife, Yaelle Frohlich, both competed this year.

In an interview, Sahak said that the “best thing about this whole story – in my opinion – is the love we both have for the Torah.” Both Yair and Yaelle are 28 and live in Manhattan.

They met while studying at Yeshiva University and later married.

The competition was held at the Jerusalem International Convention Center. Education Minister Naftali Bennett made the opening remarks.

“It would be such a missed opportunity if our children cease to be amazed by the Torah which was given to us, if they cease to love it, to not learn it day and night,” said Bennett, “if they cease to internalize it, and cease to be a light unto the nations.”

The contest — sort of a spelling bee, but with biblical verses rather than words — has the contestants answer the minutest of details about the most obscure of biblical books.

Contestants must locate or complete fragments of biblical verses, identify

who said which quotation to whom, or name geographical details of the ancient Land of Israel. Twenty seven people from around the world made it to the finals. Competitors this year hailed from Israel, Australia, Argentina, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the U.S. and other countries.

New Entebbe Info Revealed

New details have been revealed by a French newspaper surrounding the famous Operation Entebbe which was executed in 1976 in Entebbe, Uganda. Newly declassified French government documents propose that Israel did not act entirely without in-

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ternational help in the operation and that Ugandan President Idi Amin did not know about the plane hijacking before it occurred.

On June 27, 1976, an Air France plane that had left Israel for Paris was hijacked by two Palestinians and two German terrorists. The plane stopped in Athens, Greece, then Benghazi, Libya, and finally made its last stop in Entebbe, Uganda – a full 3,800 kilometers away from Israel. The four terrorists were then joined by another three Palestinian terrorists. One week later, elite IDF commando unit Sayeret Matkal, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brother, Lieutenant Colonel Yoni Netanyahu, freed the hostages in a shocking and historic 20 minute rescue operation.

All seven terrorists were killed. All but three of the 248 hostages were saved. Yoni Netanyahu was the only IDF soldier who died in the daring operation.

The newly declassified French documents show that negotiations were held between Somali Ambassador to Uganda Hasni Abdullah Farah (as the terrorists’ representative), Idi Amin (as an intermediary) and French Ambassador to Uganda Pierre-Henri Renard (who represented Israel and France). Other countries involved in the planning of the rescue operation included Kenya, Britain and Germany.

Kenya served as a logistics base for Israel during the operation. The country also provided their airport as a parking spot for Israeli planes after the operation was executed. A British diplomat was present at the rescue, and a German Lufthansa flight, which was scheduled to land at Entebbe during the operation, was cancelled.

The French documents also explain that Ugandan authorities were only made aware of the hijacked plane once it started flying towards Entebbe. Purportedly President Idi Amin arrived at the plane two full hours after it landed and was never allowed to get close to the hijacked vessel.

Netanyahu Responds to Investigation In his first public statements since being questioned by police as a criminal suspect on Monday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

slammed media coverage of several other now-closed corruption cases, vowing that the latest allegations would also prove to be “nothing.”

“Bibitours — nothing! A claim of illicit campaign funding — nothing!

A claim of skewing primary results — nothing! A claim of receiving gifts abroad and funding for flights — nothing!” the prime minister wrote on Facebook, listing past corruption cases against him that Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said on Monday had been closed.

“Years of daily persecution against me and my family have been confirmed yesterday as having been nothing,” Netanyahu added.

After Netanyahu was interrogated for three hours Monday night, Mandelblit confirmed for the first time that he had ordered a criminal investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by the prime minister, issuing a full statement detailing the lead-up to the investigation.

While Mandelblit omitted specifics of the investigation, saying only that Netanyahu was suspected of “receiving improper benefits from businessmen,” he detailed four cases of suspected wrongdoing that were not included in the investigation because of a lack of evidence. They included allegations of illicit campaign finance during the 2009 election, forging results of the Likud primaries in that year, and receiving double payments for flights to speaking engagements abroad.

“Will someone in the media apologize for the thousands of headlines, hours of broadcasting ‘investigative journalism at its best’ that have turned out to be total nonsense? Certainly not [Channel 10 reporter Raviv] Drucker,” Netanyahu retorted. Drucker has been dogged against the Israeli leader.

Netanyahu has, in turn, berated him, sued him and reportedly tried to get him fired.

In what has become known as the “Bibitours” case, Drucker detailed 10 years of the Netanyahu family’s overseas travel expenses that included flights, hotels and meals paid for

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

Israel: We Won’t Give Back Terrorists’ Bodies On Sunday, Israeli declared that it would not be returning the bodies of Hamas terrorists killed while carrying out attacks. Instead, they will bury

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by rich associates. The report showed copies of receipts and a list of potential donors in Netanyahu’s own handwriting.

In reference to the current investigation in his Facebook post, Netanyahu repeated his mantra: “There will be nothing — because there is nothing.”

Mandelblit said that he had first ordered a “probe” into Netanyahu in June 2016 after he was presented with information by the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit which included “a long list of allegations that the prime minister had carried out apparent crimes breaching ethical norms.” Mandelblit decided to move from a probe to a fullblown criminal investigation “after he was presented with the opinion of the state attorney and the head of the police investigations and intelligence unit that the probe had found sufficient evidence justifying investigating the prime minister under caution,” the statement read.

It is unclear if and how the current investigation is linked to a number of cases involving reported financial impropriety by Netanyahu and his family.

In June, Netanyahu acknowledged receiving money from French tycoon Arnaud Mimran, who was sentenced to eight years in jail over a $315 million scam involving the trade of carbon emissions permits and the taxes on them. In May, Israel’s state comptroller released a critical report about Netanyahu’s foreign trips, some with his wife and children, between 2003 and 2005 when he was finance minister. There have been allegations the couple spent public funds on garden furniture and electrical repairs at their private villa in the coastal resort town of Caesarea. Additionally, a former staffer has accused Sara Netanyahu of pocketing cash from deposit refunds for empty bottles returned from the official residence between 2009 and 2013, money that should have gone to the treasury. In 2013, Netanyahu reimbursed the state $1,000 but the staffer has said the figure should have been six times higher.

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them quietly. In turn, Hamas called the directive “evidence of criminality and barbaric occupation” by Israel.

The new law was implemented in renewed effort to pressure Hamas into returning two Israeli civilians and the remains of two soldiers.

Hamas is currently holding the remains of IDF soldiers Staff Sgt. Oron

Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin, whom the army says were killed in the 2014 Gaza war, and is also believed to be detaining Avraham Mengistu and Juma Ibrahim Abu Anima, two Israeli men who crossed into Gaza on their own accord.

The decision by the security cabinet followed the release on Satur-

day by the Palestinian group of video footage showing a mock birthday party for Shaul, believed by the army to have been killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Hamas has never admitted that the two soldiers were killed.

Over the weekend, Hamas published two videos aimed at increasing Israeli public pressure on its lead-

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

ers to return the soldiers and that mocked the government’s failure to secure their remains more than two years after the conflict ended.

In the more than two years that Shaul and Goldin have been held in the Gaza Strip, the effort to return the bodies has remained a hot-button issue in Israeli society, with the soldiers’ families making repeated calls for the government to take a harsher stance against the terrorist group in Gaza. Israel has often gone to great lengths to retrieve bodies of soldiers with unknown burial places, setting up a designated unit within the Manpower Directorate to find them and, in some cases, embarking on regular search missions.

For live soldiers, like Gilad Shalit who was captured by Hamas in 2006, and also for bodies of deceased fighters, Israel has often agreed to wildly lopsided exchanges with terrorist groups. To secure the release of Shalit, for instance, Israel set free 1,027 terrorists from its prisons.

The Hamas terror group has long demanded Israel first release hundreds of Palestinians who were rearrested after they were freed in the 2011 Shalit deal before they would even enter into negotiations with Israel over a prisoner exchange.

Shirt, Shoes, and Adult Required

Over the last holiday weekend there were a high number of teen fights in malls across the country.

Teens tend to hang out at malls in large groups, and it often leads to disagreements which can turn violent. The recent surge in teen fights in malls has prompted some mall operators to analyze security policies.

Many are considering implementing new regulations and policies that could restrict when and where teens shop.

Last Tuesday, security task force members from malls across the U.S.

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collaborated on a conference call to discuss strategies for avoiding future chaos. Some ideas discussed included more security presence in malls and even a possible ban on teens coming to the mall without supervision. Stephanie Cegielski, vice president of public relations for the International Council of Shopping Centers, said that the necessity of stricter rules is “becoming somewhat more of a reality.” However, mall operators need to also consider the business aspect of implementing bans or rules. Teens tend to spend a lot in malls and limits could affect retailers’ bottom lines.

“There are a lot of properties that are hesitant to do it,” Cegielski confessed. “We’re all cognizant of what online shopping is doing and they want to keep people coming in. They don’t want to stifle that foot traffic at all.”

One of the largest fights over the four-day holiday weekend was in Aurora, Illinois, where eight teens were charged after what police described as a “large disturbance” that temporarily closed Fox Valley Mall Monday night. On December 24, another fight broke out at the mall that did not appear to be related. Also in Illinois, later that night in Gurnee,

two small groups of teenagers began fighting at Gurnee Mills. All the suspects were identified through security video, but no arrests have yet been made. In New Jersey at Jersey Gardens Mall, more than a thousand people were estimated to be on line for NJ Transit buses after the center was evacuated on one of the busiest days of the year after a fight broke out.

There are malls that already have policies in place. The North Riverside Park Mall near Chicago instigated a “youth escort policy” a few years ago intended to ensure shopper safety. At times, it requires teens and children under 18 to be escorted by an adult at least 21-years-old. Each adult can chaperone up to three people, general manager Harvey Ahitow said. The policy is generally enforced on weekends and specifically high traffic days such as December 26 and October 31 in the evenings from 4 p.m. to closing.

“The shopping center was overrun with youths, especially on Friday and Saturday nights,” Ahitow said.

“And that’s when we decided we needed to do something to maintain a safe shopping environment, and it’s been very effective.”

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Less than Smooth Transition

Obama has roughly two more weeks to enjoy the fluffy mattresses and crisp linens of the White House.

However, he seems more concerned about the short amount of time he has to exercise his power before it expires abruptly on January 20th.

Political experts are saying that Obama’s recent moves are intended to box in Present-elect Donald Trump. Last Thursday’s decision to sanction Russian entities for election-related hacking angered Putin which will make American-Russian relations frostier than they already were.

The Obama administration fired 35 Russian intelligence officials currently in the United States over this

issue and shut down two compounds that were suspected of being used

by Russian intelligence. Trump has repetitively expressed his doubt on claims of Russian election interference. His perspective is that it is in America’s best interest to “get along” with Russia in order to wipe out Islamic terrorists.

The Obama administration also viciously stabbed Israel in the back, a blow that still has Israel’s supporters reeling. Allowing the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlement activity will strongly impact the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The current president also permanently banned oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and barred off 1.6 million acres of Western land to development. He also axed the registration system that was used to track immigrants, particularly Muslims, a practice that Trump openly supported throughout his campaign.

These moves are said to have made the transition period tense and less than pleasant. Adding insult to injury, Obama recently bragged that he could have easily won a third term if the constitution would have allowed it.

In classic Trump fashion, the president-elect wasn’t quiet about his distaste of Obama’s actions. On Wednesday he tweeted, “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks. Thought it was going to be a smooth transition – NOT!” Sean Spicer, Trump’s press secretary appointee, said on Thursday that Obama’s drastic moves could impede the incoming president. In the same vein he praised the president’s team for being “very helpful” with the logistical aspects of the transition.

“Both the regulatory stuff, the executive orders that are on the way out ... that [is] something that I believe, you know, makes it a little bit tougher in terms of the transition on the policy side,” Spicer admitted to conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt.

So much for a smooth transition, Barry.

Bye-Bye Charlie As the Obama administration wraps up, Rep. Charles B. Rangel packs up his office on Capitol Hill for the last time. For almost five decades

Rangel represented the Harlem district he grew up in but now he says it’s time to pass the torch. Rangel is retiring at the age of 86.

“I did not ever think about leaving. I have mixed feelings,” he told The Washington Times. “But the way the political races have turned out, I can’t wait to get out of here. I think the elections have made it less painful for me to leave. One of the things that I’ve always said: ‘If you don’t enjoy each and every day as a public servant and a member of this great Congress, it’s time to get out.’”

Rangel is the second longest-serving member of Congress, but his public service began before his 46 years in office, when he was in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Rangel received a Purple Heart and

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Bronze Star when he courageously led a group of soldiers out from behind enemy lines even though he was severely injured.

Rangel refers to that grave day, saying, “Whatever low points I’ve had, it’s been more than compensated for me being able to count my blessings,” he said. “I can always say that I was shot and almost captured by the Chinese on Nov. 30, 1950. The temperature was 20 below zero, and I had given up and thought I was dead or soon would be — and I survived.

And I haven’t had a bad day since.”

“It’s not a corny expression,” he said, “because when anything looks like it’s going to be a couple shades below making me happy, I can remind myself how lucky I am.”

After his stint in the army, Rangel moved back to Harlem and earned a law degree. Eventually he became an assistant U.S. attorney, then a New York assemblyman, and eventually a congressman.

Rangel will be succeeded by Democrat Adriano Espillat. Espillat will be the first Dominican-American in Congress. Rangel previously beat Espillat twice, most recently in the 2014 primary race. Espillat won a close primary vote this year over Assemblyman Keith Wright, whom Mr. Rangel strongly endorsed to succeed him.

In the interview with The Times, Rangel reflected on his career with a sense of pride, remembering his part in the 1990s, creating the Empowerment Zone Act that assisted in jumpstarting economic renewal in Harlem and other inner cities.

“Quite frankly, it’s been such a terrific journey, and I’ve enjoyed each and every day, and just thinking about retirement has brought new and exciting ideas — raising money for the kids, taking my wife and family places we always wanted to go or go back to. So it could not be a more rewarding journey that I’m taking,” he said.

He spoke with emotion of his namesake Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program, which funds postgraduate education for students, particularly minorities, seeking to enter the U.S. Foreign Service.

“I’ve seen these kids around the world just so excited as they represent not just the State Department but the United States of America,” he said.

“That wasn’t always the case, and we’ve still got a long way to go. But it is so important that foreigners, when

they go to the U.S. Embassy, that they see a piece of America, and I’m seeing it every day with the hundreds of kids that are enrolling in the program and doing their studies, graduating and being assigned all over this world.”

In June of this year, a House ethics committee subpanel found Rangel guilty of 11 of the 13 charges of ethics violations against him. The panel was composed of four Democrats and four Republicans. Throughout the years, Rangel has had the putrid smell of scandal surrounding him.

His most foul smelling of the violations came in connection to a rental property he owned in the Dominican Republic. Rangel eventually admitted that he hadn’t reported any of the $75,000 in rental income he had earned over the years; he blamed his wife and the language barrier for the lack of transparency. Ironically, the violations came out when Rangel was Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee which is responsible for writing the tax laws.

He also was discovered taking a tax break only for people whose primary residence was in Washington, D.C. But if Rangel lived in D.C., he wouldn’t have been able to represent the people of New York. At that time he was occupying four rent controlled apartments in New York. According to NYC law, one doesn’t qualify for rent control unless the apartment is your primary residence. It’s hard to live in four apartments at one time.

Rangel also gave campaign donations to 119 members of Congress, including three of the five Democrats on the House Ethics Committee who were charged with investigating him.

And that’s only a few of the scandals that have been following Rangel throughout the years.

Firms Fined for Involvement in Political Scandal

The aftershocks of disgraced Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s and former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos’ convictions are still rippling. On Wednesday, the state eth-

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Glenwood associates also recommended that an environmental technology firm, Ab Tech Industries, hire Skelos’ troubled son, Adam, as a consultant and also arranged for a title insurance company to pay a referral fee to Adam. Executives of Administrators for the Professions hired Adam Skelos at the request of his father, Dean Skelos, then the senate majority leader, as a program manager for $75,000 plus health benefits.

After Adam was excessively absent from his job, supervisors complained and the firm retained Adam Skelos as a $3,000 per month consultant. This is forbidden since the lobbying act bars firms from offering or providing gifts to public officials – a job falls under that category.

Glenwood admitted it violated the law by failing to submit lobbying registration and reports that revealed its meetings with Skelos.

Both firms agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in related investigations.

Russian Hackers Revealed

ics agency fined two firms a total of $270,000 in connection to the cases.

Powerhouse real estate firm Glenwood Management, which operates many Manhattan buildings, was hit with a $200,000 penalty for multiple violations on the state’s lobbying laws, the Joint Commission on Public

Ethics announced. Additionally, Administration for the Professions was slapped with $70,000 in fines.

Glenwood Management, run by 102-year-old Leonard Litwin, allegedly retained the property tax law firm of Goldberg & Iryami in 2012 and 2013 “knowing that the firm paid

Speaker Silver a referral fee and that Speaker Silver performed no work in connection with the Goldberg firm’s services to Glenwood,” JCOPE said in the settlement agreement. During that time they were lobbying Silver on issues affecting the real estate industry.

On Thursday, the FBI, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, released a joint report on Russian “malicious cyber activity.”

A thorough list of the peculiar secret code names used by Russian hackers was included in the report.

This was in regard to suspicions that Russians hacked into U.S. government and political organization computers in order to sway the outcome of the presidential election.

Some odd secret code names like “Grizzly Steppe”, “Seadaddy,” “Hammertoss,” “Energetic Bear,” and “Carberp” were revealed.

The release came shortly after President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against Russian officials, which included the removal of 35 Russian intelligence officials currently in the United States, in addition to sanctions from the Treasury Department against two other Russian individuals.

In a Thursday statement, Obama said the actions were “not the sum total of our response” and announced his administration would provide a report to Congress in the coming days related to Russia’s “efforts to interfere in our election, as well as malicious cyber-activity related to our election cycle in previous terms.”

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Russia quickly replied, promising that Washington would “receive an answer” if “new hostile steps” were taken.

“This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at U.S. diplomats in Russia,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement. “The Obama administration probably does not care at all about the future of bilateral relations, but history will hardly forgive it for this après-nous-le-deluge attitude.”

Russia has continually insisted on its innocence, and Trump has not accepted the accusation either.

On Wednesday he told the media outside his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “I think we ought to get on with our lives. I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly.

The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on.”

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, said in an interview on Tuesday evening with Sean Hannity that the Russians were definitely not behind the leaks during the presidential election.

Designer Con

She’s a con artist so good that even a judge admired her wily ways.

Praepitcha Smatsorabudh was sentenced to 30 months in prison last week. At the sentencing, Judge Gerald Bruce Lee couldn’t help commenting: “I think what you did was ingenious. It’s just stealing, but the internet has given us so many more ways to steal. … I thought I’d seen everything.”

Smatsorabudh’s scheme came out of her desire to own numerous designer handbags. But she wasn’t going to work for her Gucci, Prada or Fendi satchels. Instead, the 41-year-

old bought real designer bags online and also purchased knockoffs of the same bags from China or Hong Kong at a much lower price. When “returning” the real designer bag to the store in which she purchased it, Smatsorabudh only returned the knockoff, received a refund on the authentic bag, and got to keep the real bag in the end too. In many cases, she sold the real bag online to others on eBay and Instagram.

In all, Smatsorabudh swindled more than $1 million out of 60 stores across the country. Her Instagram account, “richgirlscollection,” was littered with snapshots of her decadent lifestyle.

But so many transactions – at one point, she became T.J. Maxx’s biggest online customer in the world – was bound to raise eyebrows. In March, the feds raised her home and discovered 572 handbags – real and fake.

After her stay in prison, Smatsorabudh will likely be deported to Thailand.

“What I did was so wrong,” she said in court. “I deserve to be in jail.”

Where she’ll probably be called the bag lady.

Phonin’ Golden

Want to upgrade (or maybe downgrade) your iPhone? Check out this newest sensation: a solid gold smartphone, encrusted with diamonds, featuring President-elect Donald Trump’s face. The price? It’s big league. A whopping $151,000.

Goldgenie, a business that adds gold plates to anything, is the company selling the really great phone.

The first Donald gold iPhone was sold in Dubai to a Chinese woman who hoped to give it to Trump after his inauguration. Since then, nine more orders have come in for the phone.

In case you’re concerned that Trump won’t need more than a golden iPhone or two, Goldgenie has other glittering items for sale. Consider a gold-plated racing bike priced at about $350,000. Staff members will even take gold-plating machines to

wealthy individuals’ homes in order to cover their entire bathrooms.

Now that’s the perfect gift for someone who has everything.

Long Overdue

It’s over 40 years, but it’s never too late to return overdue library books. In this case, a son has been the one to make amends.

Jon Kramer of Minnesota found two books while cleaning out his parents’ house in Canada: The New Way of the Wilderness and 365 Meatless Main Dishes that were checked out in 1973 and 1974, respectively, from a Maryland library.

According to Kramer’s calculations, the family owed the library $1,552.30 to cover the nickel-a-day late fee (remember this was 40 years ago!). He sent the Montgomery Public Libraries in Maryland a check along with a note.

“Both of these books have yet the antiquated computer keypunch cards in their sleeves and apparently were never returned,” Kramer said in a letter to the library on Thanksgiving. “We apologize for that oversight and hereby endeavor to correct the wrong by the paying the accumulated late fees.”

He asked to keep the old books as a keepsake.

“We love hearing your childhood memories of the library, but this one is a bit unusual for us!” the library said on Facebook. The money will fund new book purchases.

I’m sure they were missing the 365 Meatless Main Dishes book immensely. Thankfully they can now purchase a new one.

Happy Happy New Year For those of you who wanted to see the ball drop twice this year, PrivateFly offered a trip from Sydney, Australia, to Los Angeles, CA, on December 31 so you could have celebrated January 1 on two different continents.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

The cost to fly you and 17 of your nearest and dearest at 2AM on New Year’s Day from the Land Down Under was a mere $184,500. Wine, champagne and gourmet food – and a bed – were served on the 12 hour flight. Because there’s a 19 hour time difference between the two places, guests would have arrived in LA at 7PM, a few hours before the calendar flipped to 2017.

“It’s the closest we may ever get to time travel,” reported Travel Pulse, which explains why a maximum of 18 passengers would be willing to fork over $10,250 each to make the trip.

Unfortunately for the company, no one has yet been gullible enough to book the one-way flight.

Of course, this type of “time travel” is also available for those flying commercial, although no airlines offered times that would have worked to celebrate the New Year twice. Those flights take 14 hours, as opposed to 12, and, of course, the alcohol doesn’t flow as freely.

Still desperate for two New Years?

For those who had a car, the trip between Badajoz, Spain, and Elvas, Portugal, is only 27 minutes. There is an hour time difference, though. So you could have dropped the ball twice on 2016.

A Flat for a Cat

Looking for an apartment? Make sure it includes a few bedrooms, multiple bathrooms and many places for your cat to lounge. Yes, in Taiwan, people are designing their homes to ensure that their felines are living a life of luxury. And the cats are lapping it up.

You see, some owners realized that their cats were unhappy fitting through cat flaps and searching for sunlight for sunbathing. Now, the cat industry is offering designers who rework homes to make them cat-friendly. That means no more doorways, only archways; numerous windows and shelves for lounging; and many scratching surfaces that are meant for scratching but also look pretty for the humans at home.

In one home, a spiraling staircase meant only for felines towers above.

Cats are then able to to take cat naps way above their owners’ heads.

“People who love their cats really do go a bit crazy for them,” admits Szuti Tsai, founder of ST Studio Design.

One Hong Kong residence takes the cake – or maybe the kibble. The tiny property – only 309 square feet – features a home cinema, bath tub and gym. It also includes a carpeted catwalk that traces the ceiling, a cat ladder, a hidden litter box beneath the bathroom sink, discreet food trays that slide out of kitchen cabinets, and even a private cat den.

Banofee, Dumpling and Tuxedo are the three felines who enjoy these amenities. And, oh yes, there are humans there too.

Sounds like the cat’s meow.

Village for Sale Have an extra $2 million to spare? Perhaps we can interest you in a village. The Canadiana Village north of Montreal is home to 45 homes. There’s just one caveat: 44 of the houses are just for show; only one house is in livable condition.

The village has been something of a tourist trap for years, successfully designed to feel like a 19th-century pioneer settlement that used to attract 30,000 visitors a year.

“You can buy it, but live in it?

You’d have to build homes on it that are livable because these ones are really used for decor,” says a real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Canada.

If you think the village sounds like a movie set, you’d be about right.

It’s been featured in more than 100 movies and TV shows. The listing for the village describes it as having “everything to please the most demanding producers,” from ample parking to an adjacent local airport.

There’s also a saloon, church, general store, covered bridge, taxidermist store, prison, mill, and cemetery.

Sounds like the perfect hideaway – you’ll never be bothered with noisy neighbors.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Community

The talmidim at Yeshiva Har Torah enjoyed a fun week of Chanukah activities. Cafe Chanukah was a success with special treats and music to celebrate the chag. The talmidim in grades 1 -4 went on a trip to the Chanukah Experience in Kew Gardens. The Chanukah spirit in the yeshiva all week was amazing.

My Most Prized Possession

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n Sunday, Class 1G in Shulamith received their siddurim. Rather than have all 71 first graders on stage together, at Shulamith each class was given the opportunity to celebrate on its own.

Parents and grandparents looked on with pride and joy as the girls took to the stage to sing, dance, and proudly receive what will hopefully be their most prized possession – their first siddur.

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Around the Community

CAHAL Chanukah Chessed at the Atlantic Beach Nautilus

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he CAHAL Yeshiva of South Shore eighth grade class truly brought the light and simcha of Chanukah to residents of the Nautilus assisted living facility in Atlantic Beach last week. Rabbi Chananya Grinberg, their rebbe, told a beautiful and moving Chanukah story to the residents set in the dark days of the Holocaust, which resonated deeply with them, many of whom are survivors. The boys introduced themselves and shared their backgrounds. One of the students, a talented musician, played Chanukah songs on a keyboard. The boys, their rebbeim, and teachers sang songs and danced, spreading simcha to all the men and women who attended the program. The highlight of the

event was when the boys were able to connect with the residents in oneon-one conversations. Many of the residents shared their own stories of the Holocaust, and the students listened attentively and asked questions, eager to learn more from these incredible stories of survival. The boys finished this special day with lunch at Carlos and Gabby’s. Each boy showed such enthusiasm and even asked when the class could go back.

The experience was mutually heartfelt and positive for the residents and the boys. Ms. Melody Kassover, the Nautilus Activities Director, called to thank CAHAL for sending the students. “It was a busy week with many visitors, but your

boys were special. They stood out.

The residents loved it!” She said that the residents were eager to connect with the boys again soon. It was such a wonderful treat to be able to give back to the community and spread the light of Chanukah with these special seniors.

Special thanks to their teachers, Rabbi Chananya Grinberg, Rabbi Binyamin Munk, Mr. Justin Lepolstat and Mr. Moshe Salhanick. This is one of many chessed activities that CAHAL students are doing in making this a very special year of chessed.

CAHAL, the local yeshiva-based and sponsored community program for children with learning challenges, now in its 24th year, provides smaller, more individualized class-

es 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) 2953666.

CAHAL Students Bring Chanukah Joy to Ohel and Women’s League Residents

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ith the goal of having children participate in meaningful chessed activities, Chanukah was celebrated in a special way at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam.

All second and third grade students joined in a CAHAL-sponsored Chanukah program at school. The event included decorating Chanukah cookies and filling colorful dreidels with special treats. A highpoint was when the students in the CAHAL class, guided by their teacher, Mrs. Riva Ratner, and teaching assistant Miss Dasi Kamenetsky sang enjoyable Chanukah songs for all the other students. The girls also entertained their friends

with a beautifully choreographed dance performance.

All the students took great pride and joy in working together to prepare the dreidels for others and to bring happiness and excitement to them. Each student designed a unique Chanukah card and wrote her own meaningful message on it. The treatfilled dreidels were then brought to an Ohel Bais Ezra residence in Woodmere and a Women’s League residence in Brooklyn. We thank the teachers at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam and Mrs. Leah Zytman for participating in this very meaningful Chanukah activity.

CAHAL thanks Rabbi Boruch Ber

Bender for his inspiring presentation at a past CAHAL staff development meeting. In response, the CAHAL rabbeim, teachers and teaching assistants decided to expand their chessed projects and activities. Rabbi Bender discussed how Achiezer is involved in various chessed initiatives within our community and how “chessed empowers children and builds self-confidence.” CAHAL is proud to partner with Achiezer in bringing more chessed to our communities.

CAHAL, the local yeshiva-based and sponsored community program for children with learning challenges, now in its 24th year, provides small-

er, 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.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Around the Community

Yeshiva Gedolah Ateres Yaakov (under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe and Rabbi Meir Braunstein) at their Chanukah Mesibah. The guest speaker was Rabbi Aron Stein, Rav of Khal Zichron Moshe Dov.

Just One Call: Achiezer Dinner 2017

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t’s 2am, and Dov and his family have just been admitted to the emergency room following a serious car accident. He’s exhausted, bewildered and in pain. Who can he call for help at this hour? He picks up the phone and dials Achiezer’s Urgent Care Line. He is no longer alone.

In the eight years since its inception, Achiezer has both expanded its services and streamlined its accessibility. At the same time, its call volume has been steadily rising – so much so, that, in fact, staff members have been added solely to meet this need! Achiezer’s mission is not to solve every crisis. Rather, its mission is to be there when a community member reaches out. With JUST ONE CALL, those in need can access a world of help. And that is the beauty of Achiezer.

Achiezer fields calls for a remarkably wide variety of needs and thus, by now, has established many

successful programs to address the most common situations. Below is a sampling of just a few: When a breadwinner can’t make ends meet, he often feels embarrassed, inadequate and as if he has no options. With one call to Achiezer, he can start on the road to financial health and independence – confidentially, of course. Through the Westwood Financial Management Division he can receive assistance in providing his family’s immediate needs and – more importantly – guidance for the long-term so that he can become self-sufficient. Over 200 families have tapped into this kind of help over the last year.

This year, many families and individuals struggled with obtaining health insurance due to changes in the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka “Obamacare”). By reaching out to Achiezer, approximately 1,500 families were set up with the appropriate health insurance. This translates

into peace of mind for those enrolled and tens of thousands of dollars of savings for the community at large.

Throughout the months of open enrollment, Achiezer staff members worked past 10pm each night to ensure that everyone was properly assisted.

What happens when households are faced with unfortunate, sometimes catastrophic, circumstances that require the help of mental-health professionals? Achiezer’s mental-health staff is always available, whether at 2am or twenty minutes before Shabbos, to guide those who require it through difficult circumstances.

Achiezer is always on call, whether for a medical referral, legal counsel, mental health guidance, Shabbos food in the hospital, a ride to a doctor’s office… And when a need doesn’t fit into a particular box, Achiezer will keep answering the phone – until a solution is found.

The purpose of this year’s annual dinner will to celebrate and support Achiezer’s proficiency in being there for anyone, at any time, and for any need – a previous community void which the organization has filled. Whatever the matter, no one should have to feel that they are alone; twenty-four hours a day, there is someone on the other end of the line – not a message, but a real, live person. By supporting Achiezer, you are supporting your community, one phone call at a time.

Join Achiezer in paying tribute to their distinguished honorees, Rabbi and Mrs. Elysha Sandler, Rabbinic Leadership Award; Avi and Pessi Goldstein, Guests of Honor; Mr. Shabsi Schreier, Man of the Year; Joel and Cheryl Baruch, Community Service Award; and Dr. Norman Y. Otsuka, Physician Appreciation Award, on February 26, 2017, in supporting a unified goal to always be on call, with just one call.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Around the Community

A Chanukah Event: Color War at Shulamith Middle Division By: Aliza Friedman, Eighth Grade

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RRIINNGG! Fire drill! On Thursday afternoon, the fifth day of Chanukah, the students of Shulamith streamed out of the building and saw a big red fire truck parked in the yard. G.O Presidents Shaked Harari and Rachel Schwartz and Vice Presidents Lili Paritzky and Shayna Wasser jumped out of the truck and announced, “It’s Color War!” Drenched from the rain, everyone reentered the building excited and ready for an epic color war battle.

In honor of Chanukah, the theme of color war was nissim, and each of the three teams was assigned a team name and a middah to work with.

The red team, nissim shebechol yom imanu (Daily Miracles), was led by Malkie Derdik and Adina Adelman, the green team, nes galui (Open Miracles), was led by Sarah Leiderman and Elisha Schecter, and the blue team, nes nistar (Hidden Miracles), was led

by Aliza Fruchter and Mimi Altmark.

Everyone could feel the achdut in the

air as the captains and generals managed their teams beautifully, giving each team member a chance to participate and contribute her talents.

The teams did a superb job of preparing dances, cheers, theme songs, banners, and PowerPoint presentations. They also competed in sporting events, a chidon about Chanukah, and they even brought in toiletries to donate to the Rena Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry, a Division of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns.

Many performances in this year’s color war were dedicated to Hallel Yaffa Ariel, H”yd, a thirteen-year-old girl who was murdered in Israel this past summer. On the night before the terror attack that took her life, Hallel had performed at a dance recital. Traditionally, the students of Shulamith daven together during color war, and this year, in addition to the special tefillot for Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh Tevet, we dedicated our davening to the memory of Hallel so that her neshama would have an aliyah.

There is no way this event could

have happened without a few dedicated staff members at Shulamith. We thank our principal, Mrs. Billet, associate principal, Dr. Gross, Morah Chana, Mrs. Steiner, and all of the other teachers who helped bring this color war to fruition. We also thank Woodmere Fire Marshall Chevy Kail, mother of Shulamith sixth grader Mindy Kail, for bringing the fire engine for our breakout. Sometimes we don’t express enough hakarat hatov to parents and teachers, but we really do appreciate all the effort they invest in us!

As we waited for the results to be tallied and the winning team to be

announced, Mrs. Billet said, “I have been working in the education business for a while, and this is one of the most beautiful color wars I have ever seen.” Congratulations to the red team upon their victory and to all of the team captains and generals for leading their respective teams so masterfully!

Everyone had a good time dressing up in their team colors, and, of course, having no classes for one day. Even though Mrs. Billet only announced one winner, all of the students at Shulamith felt like winners because we all had so much fun!

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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MAY Chanukah Mesiba

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esivta Ateres Yaakov held its annual yeshiva-wide Chanuka Mesiba on Wednesday, the fourth day of yom tov. The event combined limud haTorah with fun, ruach-filled, student-centered activities. This celebration was in addition to talmidim enjoying individual shiur mesibos hosted by their rabbeim throughout Chanukah.

Following a morning of learning, the yeshiva’s nearly 200 talmidim came together for a special buffet lunch of many fried and oily delicacies, and inspiring Chanukah divrei Torah by senior Dovid Lasevski and Yeshiva Gedolah Ra”m, Rabbi Mendy Edelstein. Rabbi Edelstein spoke about the concept of resuming a life of undisturbed avodas Hashem after the most lopsided victory in the history of battles. He compared the victory to the Ateres Yaakov Eagles beating

the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Talmidim then competed eagerly with each other – grade versus grade – in an intense, entertaining and challenging game of “Chanukah Feud,” hosted by Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield, Director of Student Activities, and Rabbi Yossi Bennett, Assistant Menahel.

The competition challenged their knowledge in various areas of Chanukah and MAY trivia. The enthusiasm was palpable and tension rose as the various grades joined together to give the right answers for the “survey says…” When the dust settled, the 10th grade emerged victorious and, as a reward, will enjoy a complimentary breakfast at MAY’s upcoming annual ski trip.

However, the excitement and fun was only just beginning! What ensued was an “electrifying” event. The live musical entertainment drew the crowd onto the dance floor where

talmidim and rabbeim broke out into spirited and leibidik dancing. Walls were shaking, and tables rattling, as talmidim embraced the departing ruchniyus of the yom tov.

“Our talmidim learn and work

Shulamith School for Girls celebrated Chanukah last week with a fun-filled, energetic chagigah. Every grade in the school, from first through tenth, had a chance to visit the gym where Shimi Adar, in her inimitable style, had the girls and their teachers dancing together jubilantly. The eighth grade was thrilled when their friends from Kulanu arrived to join in the festivities. Shimi also brought her special messages of self-esteem and kindness to the girls, encouraging them to be kind to each other, especially to those who might feel excluded from a group. Students were left with memories of a joyous occasion and a powerful message about their ability to make a difference in their world!

hard,” commented the Menahel, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, “but ruach-filled events such as these are important to building a well-rounded ben Torah.

They energize us all to redouble our efforts.”

Eighth graders Bryna Stern and Chaya Malka Bokow celebrate with associate principal Dr. Evelyn Gross

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A Fourth Grader’s Chessed

By Mrs. Menucha Bornstein

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hen misfortune befalls an individual from klal Yisroel, we all feel the pain.

This sympathy spans the globe; from the deepest level of the victim’s anguish to those of us across the world who hear the news and heave a painfilled sigh. As Jews, we agonize over this suffering. We often think: How can we help? What can we do? A sigh, a tear, perhaps. We daven, say Te-

hillim, we talk it out with others but truthfully, it often stays in our hearts and prayers. Undoubtedly, feeling the pain of others is lofty and crucial to the core character trait of k’ish echad b’lev echad, but what next? What can we practically do to alleviate some of the heartache?

A nine-year-old girl can answer that question. Rachel Kolodny, a student in my fourth grade class at Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) in Far Rockaway, truly felt the pain of those

suffering and acted upon it. While the world was reeling from the conflagration of terrorist fires in Eretz Yisroel, Rachel did indeed feel the pain, and she acted upon it.

It began with a typed packet she brought into class to show me about two weeks ago. At first I thought it was a writing project as Rachel is inherently creative, so I took it at the beginning of class and said I’d look at it during a break. I certainly did, several times. I was astounded at what I read.

Some excerpts from the leaflet include: “Dear Friends, I hope you remember when we read about the blaze of fire in Israel… I feel that people living there should have the money to get comfortable and nice homes…

These people should not have to live in pain….a Yid should not have to live in a messy place…. I think that children should have a chance to raise money for these people. That’s why I ask of you to join me in a Chanukah Bake Sale.” (Towards the end, Rachel offers additional tzedakah suggestions such as bringing toys to hospitals.)

This was, in essence, a call to arms to her friends, neighbors, and teachers; it was a plea to her fellow countrymen on this end of the world to pitch in and help raise money for her counterparts across the globe. Here was a fourth grader, a young school-aged girl acting upon her ideals of alleviating other’s pain – mind you, people she has never met – and simultaneously amassing a troop of friends to help in the cause.

True to her word, with her dedicated parents Mr. and Mrs. Naftoli and Miriam Dina Kolodny, siblings Nechama, Leeby, and Shimmy, along with enthusiastic assistance from her classmates, friends, teachers, and neighbors, she made it happen. The

Kolodnys held a bake sale on Sunday, the first day of Chanukah. The baked goods included beautifully decorated cupcakes, Chanukah cookies, and the like, with most costing a quarter to seventy-five cents apiece and only several costing ten dollars. What an accomplishment to raise the tidy sum of two hundred fifty dollars from treats at such humble prices. The money is earmarked for those who lost their homes in the terrorist fires in Eretz Yisroel.

The event brought together many people from Rachel’s neighborhood in Far Rockaway. All those who contributed baked goods, as well as those who aided in setting up and facilitating the event, helped to create a feeling of comradery and lofty purpose which pervaded the Kolodny home.

What a truly brilliant way to spend Chanukah!

All this from a nine-year-old girl, who is sensitive, unassuming, and truthfully even more on the quiet side, but one who made her voice heard for the sake of those in distress. She is one of those who truly feel for others, and DOES something about it. This serves as an inspiration threefold: that not only can we practically make a difference in the lives of others, but we certainly can do it at any age and for our brothers and sisters both afar and in our very own community. Don’t hesitate, worrying that an idea “won’t work out”; every drop of practical empathy helps. I am personally very proud and inspired by Rachel and all of “our” children.

May Hashem keep all of our families warm and safe, always.

Mrs. Menucha Bornstein is a fourth grade educator at Torah Academy for Girls.

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The Light of Chanukah at the Inwood Kollel Chanukah Mesiba

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his past Wednesday, the 5th night of Chanukah, the Inwood Kollel held its annual Chanukah Mesiba at its temporary home at the Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. The Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, and special guest speaker, Rabbi Yechezkel Hartman, graced the Kollel members with divrei Torah and chizuk.

Rabbi Cohen asked a question: on Chanukah we dedicated the Beis HaMikdash, however, we don’t have the Bais HaMikdash in our time, so why are celebrating? The Yevanim were trying to destroy Yiddishkeit, and even though we don’t have the Bais HaMikdash, the fact alone that we have our Yiddishkeit itself is worthy of celebration.

On a deeper level, the Kedushas Halevi asks a different question.

Why do we celebrate the victory of Chanukah, when in fact the Jewish people have had many victories over the centuries? He answers that Chazal saw by prophecy that the hashpah (influence) of Chanukah was going to be felt throughout time.

That is what we feel even today when we go through Chanukah, we gain tremendous spiritual awakening.

We see that even small amounts of light can push away tremendous amounts of darkness. Whereas Purim is only one day, while living through an entire week of Chanukah we are able in our own life to live with Chanukah to take our little bit of light and see that while living our normal life we have the ability to transform the ordinary into the spectacular.

Rabbi Cohen further explained

that this is the embodiment of our Kollel. While many Kollel members find themselves in other pursuits during the day, nevertheless the focal point of their day is the learning that we do together. This focus on learning Torah as a group transforms our entire day.

Rabbi Yechezkel Hartman shared divrei Torah with the Kollel. The Gemara in Yoma asks what the distinction is between Purim and Chanukah. It says that the last miracle we have is Purim, yet chronologically we see that Chanukah was more recent, as Purim was some 200 years earlier! The Gemara answers that Purim is considered the more recent because it was destined to be written down, but Chanukah was not able to be written down. What is this significance of Chanukah not being able to be written down?

We know of the dual miracle of Chanukah: 1) That the candles lasted 8 days, and 2) of our victory in war.

There was a difference of approach between the persecution of Yavan (Greece) and the other nations that persecuted klal Yisroel.

While the rest of the world persecutes us by killing us, the Greeks weren’t interested in destroying our physical nature but rather our spiritual foundation. On a deeper level, Rav Hutner says in Pachad Yitzchok that the Yevanim, by stopping us from doing mitzvos, were taking away our essence. Klal Yisroel, our nation, has two levels of existence.

One level is what we actually do (on the surface), and another level is that aspect of what’s underneath the surface for us (says R’ Tzadok HaCohen).

So when we go to vanquish Yavan, it’s not sufficient to just conquer them in the physical realm that would show we are defending our actions, but we must also demonstrate the inner spiritual holiness of our nation which is signified, according the Maharal, by the neiros Chanukah. The ner represents the neshama and the spirituality of klal Yisroel, as we say Ner Hashem nishmas adam. The lighting of the candles reveals that our relationship to Hashem is far more than merely what we do on the surface.

Yavan misunderstood that our relationship with Hashem was limited to what we do. Chanukah teaches us that we are more than just what we do, but what’s in our heart and the special connection we have with Hashem that is normally concealed.

We need more than just the physical victory; the light of Chanukah shows us the deeper connection of klal Yisroel and Hashem with one another.

The B’nai Yisoscher says one of the reasons that Chanukah is referred to as Chanukah, is because it’s a chinuch and forerunner of the ultimate redemption we are going to have at the arrival of Moshiach.

The beginning of revelation of the hidden is going to be completely revealed at the time of Moshiach. This is a glimpse of the ultimate revelation for when Moshiach comes.

The Inwood Kollel, in its eighth year, learns Monday through Thursday night from 8:15 to 9:50pm followed by Maariv. The Kollel is graciously hosted by the Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island at 321 Doughty Blvd in Inwood and would like to

extend special thanks to Avi Feldman, Moshe Reisman and Yehuda Michaeli for arranging the Chanukah Mesiba. The Kollel is currently learning two tracks: Hilchos Basar B’chalav under the direction of Rosh Chabura Rav Aaron Knobel (and under the guidance of HaRav Feivel Cohen, shlita, possibly leading to semicha) and Perek Arvei Pesachim under the direction of Rosh Chabura Rav Yehuda Schiff. The Kollel has a Thursday night Mishmar after Maariv followed by an Ohr HaChaim parshas hashavua shiur with Rav Yitzchok Gross accompanied by refreshments.

The Kollel is in the final stages of its building campaign and planning a Chanukas Habayis iy”H in spring of 2017. The Kollel is renovating an abandoned shul building at 44 Bayswater Blvd also in Inwood, the former Jewish Community Center of Inwood. There are a number of unique and affordable sponsorship opportunities still available. The Kollel works closely with many local rabbonim to create and maintain a program that strives for Torah learning l’shma for Kollel fellows and for working bnei Torah. In its new home, the Kollel is poised to increase its unique programming 24/7 l’hagdil Torah v’lihadira to serve Inwood and the greater Five Towns community.

For sponsorship opportunities or more information about joining the Kollel, please call Rabbi Shlomo Cohen at (347)224-1152.

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Zack Rosen at YOSS Lessons from the Court Applied to a Torah-True Lifestyle

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ack Rosen, currently learning in Eretz Yisrael in Yeshivas Ohr Sameyach, came to Yeshiva of South Shore to share with the junior high school boys anecdotes from his life as a basketball superstar playing for Penn State University. He shared with the boys the thrill of almost being selected to the N.B.A. by the Orlando Magic, his disappointment of being overpassed in the draft, and his ultimate realization that leading a To-

rah-true life created for himself the most profound happiness that he ever experienced in his life. After speaking to the boys, everyone went into the gym where Zack ran a basketball clinic that focused on enhancing basic skills such as dribbling, shooting, and increasing one’s stamina to play at peak levels. The boys were left inspired by his divrei Torah, his personal story of increased awareness of Hashem, and his amazing basketball skills!

Celebrating Chanukah SKA Style

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t was a very freilichen Chanukah at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls!

The festivities began on Tuesday morning, December 27, when the student body, divided into many groups, enjoyed breakfast and hachnasat orchim at the homes of SKA’s faculty members. It was a wonderful opportunity to bond with teachers and fellow classmates in a relaxed atmosphere. Many students played dreidel and other games, some made cupcakes and sang Chanukah songs, and some even fed geese in a backyard pond!

The spiritual and joyful celebrations of Chanukah in the school continued throughout the week with yom tov lectures for mothers and

“We were laughing. We were singing.

We were having a moment of Jewish unity that seemed to fit more in a movie than in real life.”

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Dr. Mila Klahr and SKA seniors

alumna arranged by SPARKS – a Torah lishma initiative by SKA students – given by Rabbi Isaac Rice, Head of the Torah She’bal Peh Department, limudei kodesh teacher Mrs. Rochel Chafetz, and Associate Principal Mrs. Deena Kobre. Chessed and Chanukah combined with Otzar participants feted by ninth graders, Ivdu students entertained by 10th graders and a clothing drive for Yad Leah spearheaded by 11th graders.

The pre-schoolers at Lev Chana had a leibidik time sharing Chanukah simcha with SKA seniors; it was hard to tell who was having a better time!

“Part of the Chanukah fun in SKA is having a evening party in your teacher’s house,” says 10th grader Elisheva Miller. Both the sophomores and juniors enjoyed amazing food and activities thanks to their grade level advisors and madrichot.

Providing delicious goods and specialty drinks for purchase thanks to our G.O., “Nes Cafe” opened on

Mrs. Helen Spirn and SKA juniors

Thursday and the eagerly awaited annual Chanukah Chagiga and Chanukah Auction capped off the week of merriment. In the “bowling alley,” long rows of colorful boxes offered opportunities to bid on class parties, lunches and outings with faculty members and Shabbos invi-

tations. Since the funds raised go to tzedaka, this has always been a very popular event and bidding is friendly but fierce.

We hope everyone had a happy Chanukah. The students and faculty of SKA certainly did!

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Midreshet Shalhevet Celebrates Chanukah Spirit

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ast Wednesday, Midreshet Shalhevet had its annual Chanukah Chagiga. Organized by our fantastic G.O. members Rivka Raizel Goldshein, Aviva Chait, Shifra

Chait, Maayan Sandowski, and Basya Borenstein, the ballroom was decorated in the school’s blue and orange colors, leading up to another Chanukah surprise. The refreshments gave

the girls a break from the traditional sufganiyot with popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. With the DJ Hillel K playing all the hits, the MSH students were up on the dance floor

and dancing to the music. With all the girls involved in chagiga, the G.O. closed out the party with color war breakout!

The Momentum Builds as TEAM Shabbos Approaches

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ust two weeks remain until the highly anticipated Shabbos that is already galvanizing hundreds of shuls and communities around the country into positive action: TEAM

Shabbos. In its second year following last year’s tremendous success, this year’s Traditional End-of-Life Awareness Movement (TEAM) Shabbos is scheduled for Shabbos, Parshas

Vayechi, January 14, 2017.

A project of the National Association of Chevra Kadisha (NASCK), TEAM Shabbos addresses and discusses the vital concepts and concerns related to end-of-life within the Jewish community. The mission of TEAM Shabbos is resonating strongly within communities all over: to generate positive awareness and provide education and direction regarding the value of life and critical end-of-life decisions.

The momentum and positive energy is overwhelming as the number of participating communities and shuls is increasing every single day. Jews from all over are enthusiastically embracing the opportunity to bring the topic of end-of-life, a subject which is often uncomfortable and therefore avoided, out into the open in an honest, inspiring and positive way. Regardless of the age or demographic of your shul or community, the need for this program is real and significant, whether the information pertains to the shul members themselves or their relatives.

So far 357 shuls in 188 cities have joined the movement for this year’s Shabbos, already exceeding the remarkable amount of participating shuls in 5776. Many hours of work and thought are being devoted to portraying these sensitive issues within the context of the clarity and beauty that the Torah view has to offer. Parshas Vayechi which discusses Yaakov Avinu at the end of his life is replete with sources and lessons.

There are several ways your shul

can participate in TEAM Shabbos. Utilizing the week leading up to TEAM Shabbos by incorporating related material in shiurim and newsletters, and by dedicating the Shabbos drashos, shiurim and divrei Torah to these topics is an excellent way to open the discussion and ensure that the largest number of people will have the chance to be informed and inspired. Communities can still use this special opportunity to collaborate with NASCK and run programs or host renowned lecturers to speak on a vast array of endof-life related topics, further boosting awareness and knowledge.

From shuls in New York, Florida and Toronto to cities in Ohio, Nevada and Tennessee, Jews from all walks of life and backgrounds are joining the initiative. TEAM Shabbos is creating a dramatic shift in the common approach and perspective that people have regarding the issues surrounding of end-of-life care and preparation.

Subjects that were once taboo and concerns and questions that have gone unanswered are now being addressed in a helpful and constructive way.

Has your shul or community joined the growing number of Shuls who are responding enthusiastically to the call of TEAM Shabbos?

To learn more about participating, call 718-847-6280 or visit teamshabbos.org.

Unite with thousands of Jews around the country who have a growing appreciation of: “respect for life – here and hereafter.”

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Unity in Long Beach & Lido Unprecedented Crowds Join in Chanukah Joy

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he Jewish community of Long Beach and Lido Beach joined together on the first night of Chanukah for a special celebration. Over three hundred people spanning all age groups came together to share in the holiday light and joy.

This Chanukah event is part of a continual effort of unity that began in the past summer when the neighborhood rabbis joined together to discuss how the shuls and communities could come together to create a unified “kehilla.” The vision is that all of the shuls in Long Beach and Lido would be able to come together for events and programs throughout the year to make the Jewish community less fragmented and more unified. The Long Beach and Lido commmunity boast well over 4,000 Jews and in a small radius; the power of unifying these Jewish at community events when possible is electrifying.

Saturday evening’s Chanukah event was the first event with input and cooperation from six shuls in Long Beach, spanning all levels of observance. Participating shuls were BACH, Lido Beach Synagogue, Temple Beth El, Temple Emanu El, Temple Israel, and the Young Israel of Long Beach. The fun began with families arriving an hour after Shabbat to do Chanukah crafts and activities. At the same time Chanukah-themed drinks and delicious Chanukah treats were enjoyed by

everyone. Next, the crowd was mesmerized by a fabulous magic show by world-renowned magical wonder, Eric Wilzig. Without a doubt, though, the highlight of the evening

was the grand menorah lighting.

“Seeing all the shul rabbis up there together, singing and lighting the menorah was just so moving,” said Long Beach resident, Rebec-

ca Lazar, “with hundreds of people from the community singing together in unison it was a really beautiful moment for our kehilla.”

The One Site That Has Everything: Launch of New Website is a Game Changer in Kosher Food

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osher.com has just been launched as a new resource for all things kosher, with thousands of recipes, lifestyle articles, and videos. Kosher.com is not only the first to create an extensive online database of magazine and cookbook recipes from such popular magazines as Ami and Mishpacha, but is also producing original recipes and videos.

Kosher.com is for anyone who wants to try new recipes, get new menu ideas, read about kosher travel, or learn new techniques for plating and party planning from experts

like Jamie Geller, Victoria Dwek, Jay Buchsbaum, Renee Muller, Naomi Nachman, Esty Wolbe, Heshy Jay of Scoop & Company, and more.

Not only for finding recipes, Kosher.com is aiming to be one-stop resource for all things related to kosher food. Our Lifestyle section will inspire readers with original and creative tablescapes, holiday themes, and weeknight dinner ideas. And the community section is where people can interact directly with each other, ask questions and get answers from the experts on our site.

What makes Kosher.com even more unique is the community chefs. Not only for published cookbook authors, anyone can become a recipe contributor by applying and submitting their own recipe as a community chef.

Kosher.com is geared for everyone: from the rookie who can’t boil water, all the way up to the gourmet balabusta looking for new and creative ideas to impress company (and even their mother-in-law). For the newcomer to kosher, there is basic information explaining what kosher is all about,

and for the longtime kosher-keeper, we have useful reminders, charts, and news about the latest trends in kosher food, provided by our partnership with the kashrus experts of the OU. As we continue to grow, thanks to our collaborative and open nature, Kosher.com is poised to become the largest, most creative collection of all things connected to kosher cooking.

For more information, contact Leah Gottheim, VP at lgottheim@kosher.com.

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Yeshiva of Central Queens Celebrates Chanukah

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hanukah festivities were in the air at YCQ last week. To begin the celebration, all students danced and sang at a concert

by Shlock Rock. The grade 4 and 5 students attended a chocolate activity, making Chanukah-themed chocolate lollypops. Each kindergarten class performed a Chanukah play for their parents followed by classroom parties.

Students spent time learning about the miracle of the oil and partook in competition that was challenging and fun as the elementary division participated in a school-wide dreidel spin off, ending the week with a big dance party run by Azamra DJ. The administration and PTO

sponsored a staff Chanukah party complete with latkes, sushi and gifts for the faculty showing the hakoras hatov for all of the hard work they put into caring for and teaching the students.

As much fun as all the parties and activities have been, the highlights of the week were the nachat that the faculty and administration had as some of the JHS hosted students from HASC for activities and a party and some of the grade 5 students took a trip to Amazing Savings to purchase toys with money they raised for the sick children through Chai Lifeline.

This lesson in chessed and caring will teach the students a lifelong lesson in how to give to and care for others.

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Chanukah at DRS

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or weeks leading up to Chanukah in DRS, the joy and excitement for the upcoming yom tov can be felt in the hallways. The building is decked out in Chanukah decorations, and the bulletin boards are covered in flyers, with details of all the

exciting events coming up. Last week, DRS celebrated Chanukah in multiple ways. With inspiring Hallels every day, led by students and rabbeim, songs of hallel and hoda’ah were offered to Hashem. Each shiur visited their rebbe’s homes for Chanukah

HAFTR Celebrates a Modern Miracle

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n the fourth night of Chanukah, third grade students participated in the hadlakat nerot ceremony of the “Rocket Chanukiah,” at HAFTR High School.

This chanukiah, welded from rockets targeted at the city of S’derot, was created by artist Yaron Bob and made possible by the Bokor Fam-

ily. Perhaps most poignant was the song, “Mizrach-Ma’arav” about a time when Jews will gather from the four corners of the world and come home to Eretz Yisrael. Thank you to Mrs. Janet Goldman for preparing for students and to their families for joining in the pirsum ha’nes.

Chagigot; and various shiurim visited nursing homes to liven the spirits of the residents, singing songs and dancing for them. A Chanukah Game Show pitted classes against each other in a slew of different challenges and activities, and the school hosted its first ever

Four-Corner Dodgeball game, with every student playing. To cap off the incredible week, the DRS Student Band, accompanied by Rabbi Kaminetsky, broke out into a spontaneous performance in the school lobby as the entire yeshiva danced together.

An Inspiring Yom Iyun at HALB

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hanukah was celebrated in the HALB Middle School through many school-wide and individual class mesibot (parties). Besides increasing the joy on the holiday, the students developed closer bonds with their teachers and within their class. Most importantly, students participated in a Yom Iyun on Chanukah.

The girls heard shiurim from their morot on the topics of Hakarat hatov, Women & Chanuka, Meaning in Maoz Tzur, Secret to Greatness, Chanukah Facts, and Daily Miracles. The rebbeim taught the boys lessons on Why We Give Presents on Chanukah, Mehadrin, Al hanisim, Chanukah Facts, Importance of Lighting Chanukah Candles, Chanukah Gelt, The Miracle of the Oil, and What was the Fight About? These yemei iyun (days of learning) on Chanukah were set up in a way that the students chose the topic and the teacher.

Students learned several important lessons from the day, saying, “I connected because it made me remember that no matter how strong the other army is or how long they keep trying to defeat us, they will never defeat us because we have Hashem

on our side” or commenting, “Jews don’t fight with a sword; they defend with it and fight with light. That is such a meaningful idea to me that it made this session my favorite.”

Furthermore, the yom iyun impacted the students’ perspective of the chag: “I will think about the story of Chanukah, not what presents I’m getting.” “I will view nature as more of a miracle and realize that even the small things are miracles.” “I will try to appreciate more as a Jew.” In summing up the program, one student said it best, “I think this program is a great way to learn a lot about a yom in a meaningful way in one day. I think that we should have this program again because it helps students learn things from the topics they want to learn which will make them want to learn more.”

Chanukah activities permeated the week of Chanukah. Besides the importance of celebrating Chanukah, students and faculty strengthened and deepened relationships with each other. These positive teacher-student relationships draw students into the process of learning and promote their desire to learn.

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HAFTR Families Celebrate Chanukah Together

Yom Central

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warm welcome from Head of School CB Neugroschl and Director of Admissions Aliza Gewirtz. They enjoyed a number of lessons by our esteemed faculty, hailing from disciplines ranging from history to engineering to Navi.

Our current students were gracious as always, greeting our visitors with smiles and helpful advice. Says Mrs. Gewirtz, “The new applicants are wonderful girls, and we are so excited to have them join us for a day!”

ith record numbers of applicants for the Class of 2021, Yeshiva University High School for Girls is more popular than ever! Over 140 girls from twenty-three elementary schools from all over the Tri-State Area attended our annual Yom Central for a taste of the creativity, academic rigor, and communal warmth for which Central is known. Our guests joined us bright and early for a meaningful davening before a delicious breakfast and a

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singing and dancing. The chagigah was graciously sponsored by the following sponsors: PTA, The Wallach Family in memory of Matityahu ben Tzvi haCohen on his yahrtzeit; Ronite and Matthew Margulies, Smadar & and Avi Preston, Chani and Jack Jeter, and Chava and Avrohom Popack. Thank you to Shanna Schein, Miriam Kestenbaum and the committee for setting up and distributing levivot and sufganiot.

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warm HAFTR feeling was felt at the annual Family Chanukah Chagigah. Rabbi Kupchik, Menahel N-8, lit the giant chanukiah with the help of fifth grade student Joey Cohen. The audience chimed in with Hanerot Halalu and Maoz Tzur. Morah Tali’s 3rd and 4th grade M.I. Time dance performance was spectacular. Uri Davidi and the EvanAl Band had the students, faculty, parents and even grandparents

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HANC Chag HaChumash

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he auditorium at HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead was filled with excitement as the parents, grandparents and siblings of the second grade students waited with great anticipation for the children’s Chag Hachumash Play. Accompanied by the inspiring music of the rising star music teacher, Rabbi Mordechai Shapiro, the children marched in with their Torah crowns on their heads and enthusiasm emanating from their faces. As the children took their places on stage, the audience was struck by the beauty of the backdrop hanging behind them. Har Sinai towered above their heads, and the mountain was adorned by flowers that were created by the students as a culmination of a lesson about the artist Georgia O’Keefe. It was a beautiful example of how HANC integrates all aspects of the curriculum, tying art and design into our limudei kodesh and special activities.

Throughout this electrifying performance, the children sang a series of songs praising Hashem and focus-

ing on the importance of doing mitzvot. As each child delivered his/her individual speaking parts and sang solos, the children’s enthusiasm was felt throughout the room. Even though it was a standing room only crowd, the attendees in the back of the room and those standing in the aisles were able to see on the large jumbo-sized television screens that were located throughout the auditorium.

In his warm remarks to the students, Rabbi Yaakov Sadigh, HANC 609’s principal, told the children that while up until this point they have been learning about Torah, they will now be able to learn Torah from their own Chumash. Barbara Deutsch, HANC 609’s associate principal, expressed her pride in the students and remarked, “During these very difficult times, it is more important than ever to prepare the

next generation of children who will be committed to the land and people of Israel.”

It was a truly spectacular event and the children brought tremendous nachat to everyone who was in attendance. Many thanks to the second grade teachers, Morah Michal Wasser and Morah Miriam Ross, as well as Mrs. Nancy Greenberg, Morah Daniella Zimerman, Morah Judy Simon and Morah Ahuva Noy for all of their hard work in preparing the children for this memorable occasion. Thank you to Rabbi Mordechai Shapiro for teaching the children the meaningful songs. His magnificent accompaniment added so much to the program. Special thanks also go to Mrs. Rachel Brandler, HANC’s art teacher, for her creative and beautiful Har Sinai mural; the HANC PTA for its continued support; the collation committee for the delicious snacks and cakes; and the generous Chumash sponsors for the beautiful personalized covers that created a truly special gift of lifelong learning for our students.

Midreshet HANC Chanukah Reunion

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his past October, Midreshet HANC was launched under the direction of the beloved mechanechet and assistant director of Israel guidance, Mrs. Linda Nathan. The goal of this program has been to provide a venue for the graduates of classes of 2014 and 2015 to reconnect with HANC and the Torah learning they experienced while in high school.

Currently, these alumni convene every Thursday evening at 8:30 pm to enjoy a shiur on a timely topic, followed by traditional Thursday evening, erev Shabbat refreshments.

Inspired by delicious helpings of cholent, kishka and other delicacies, these gathering are filled with Torah discussion, laughter, and schmoozing.

The inaugural semester of Torah classes culminated with an inspiring, invigorating, and delightful Chanukah gathering hosted by the Menahel, Rabbi Shlomo Adelman, and his wife Chany in their home. This event drew close to 40 HANC young

women.

This is a testament to the strong bond that students still feel towards their rabbeim, morot, and administrators, as well as the desire to remain connected. Students were

treated to sushi, doughnuts and a wonderful Chanukah shiur given by Rabbi Yisroel Weingot. It was beautiful to see the strong bond that still exists between alumnae and their teachers. Shabbat invitations were

extended and many made plans to follow up and continue to attend Midreshet HANC programs.

Looking forward to Semester II of Midreshet HANC!

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Chanukah Parent Participation Day at Gesher

O

n Chanukah we celebrate the continuation of the mesorah in klal Yisroel. In that spirit the Gesher staff prepared their classes for a special day with parents.

The children excitedly presented

their performances to the delight of their adoring guests. They then had the opportunity to share in a fun Chanukah-themed craft project. Edible menorahs and dreidels were a big hit. As were the decoratable picture frames, bracelets, handmade

dreidels, spin art, and more.

Most enjoyable was the tremendous nachas that the parents reaped, seeing their children succeeding under the caring eyes of such talented and dedicated staff. Grandparents were also treated to a nachas-gram,

as Chanukah pictures of their precious grandchildren were delivered to enhance their Chanukah décor.

Gesher is proud to see the flame of Torah continue to burn strong!

Shevach Shabbaton Infuses its Students with Pride

O

n Parshas Vayetzei, Shevach High School joined together for a Shabbaton at the Lakehouse Hotel in Upstate New York.

“Sheasani Kirtzono,” the role and pride of a Jewish woman, was selected as the theme of the Shabbos. The students explored the meaning of being a bas Yisroel and internalized the unique responsibility given to them. In his sefer, “With Hearts Full of Faith,” Rav Mattisyahu Solomon, shlita, explains that the primary role of women is to raise a family b’darchei Hashem. The lyrics to the Shabbaton theme song, composed by Elka Kassirer, Batya Russek, and Rina Rambod, reflected the concept of Sheasani Kirtzono. Our role models, the Imahos, the Nevios, Sarah Schenirer, and Rebbetzin Kanievsky, all focused on conducting their lives according to ratzon Hashem, as well as concentrating on what was best for klal Yisroel.

On Erev Shabbos there was an inspiring video prepared by Dina Leah Garber, assisted by Rochel Pearlman, stressing the importance of the role of a woman in the home. The girls also decorated mirrors designed by Elisheva Marcus with the words “Sheasani Kirtzono” painted on the top, to remind them of their value as bnos Yisroel. A booklet prepared by Sarah Tropper, Adina Mirsky, and Rivki Elias explained the theme with short

biographies of women from Tanach as well as anecdotes from recent choshuva women. A magnet created by Rivki Elias stated important qualities that contribute to a girl’s dignity as a bas Yisroel. Every table had a vase of beautiful flowers in addition to a portrait of a woman benching licht, drawn by Batsheva Twerky and Leah Shapiro.

To welcome in Shabbos the girls were treated to a choir organized by the seniors. After an uplifting Kabbolas Shabbos there was an opening address given by Shevach’s principal Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz. She impressed upon the girls that the awesome responsibility placed upon them is inherent in their genes from their illustrious heritage. We just need to look back at our family tree beginning with the Imahos and recognize the traits instilled in each of us. The students were then privileged to hear divrei chizuk from Rabbi Paysach Krohn, husband of staff member Mrs. Miriam Krohn. Rabbi Krohn explained the enormous possibilities available to each girl in order to fulfill her role as a bas Yisroel. He cited examples of women who through their personal experiences made a difference in klal Yisroel. Each girl has an opportunity to find her special niche to make her mark on klal Yisroel.

At the Friday Night Oneg the girls sang zemiros and enjoyed divrei To-

rah. Workshops on the topic were given by Shevach’s illustrious staff which culminated with a game prepared by Chavie Steinberg and Nechama Slotkin. A banner painted by Avigayil Landau, Elisheva Marcus, Miriam Robinson and Adira Lew was then presented depicting the impact of mothers on their children from generation to generation. The Oneg closed with an entertaining and humorous talent show produced by Dorit Elias and Zohar Tal portraying the resounding theme that being a Bas Yisroel is the best talent.

Shabbos morning davening was followed with divrei chizuk by Shevach faculty member Rabbi Moshe Taub. He reinforced the concept of women’s unique role in impacting others and explained how his own mother encouraged him to be a Rav. Shabbos afternoon the annual teacher’s panel took place. The girls eagerly await the panel year after year and were very inspired by the teachers’ personal stories and insights as to what Sheasani Kirtzono means to them. Special thanks to Adina Finkel and Dina Schonfeld for preparing thought-provoking questions.

Seuda Shlishis was enhanced by divrei hisorirus from Rabbi Yonoson Hirtz, husband of Rebbitzen Hirtz.

Motzei Shabbos was the magnificent culmination of a very motivating Shabbos. The girls had a great

time dancing as well as enjoying each grade’s presentation. A dance choreographed by Atara Nat described the joy a girl has in realizing her potential as a bas Yisroel. The theme song and musical accompaniment, composed by Shani Sommers, Esther Shira Chait, Avigayil Landau, and Atara Nat, rang with the resounding message of “I’m a Jewish girl, I have a mission, my focus is always to do the ratzon of Hashem.”

The moving theme song truly instilled in the girls a sense of nobility in being a bas Yisroel.

Such an inspiring Shabbaton could not have happened without the dedicated organizing and attention to detail of the very capable Mrs. Devorah Kovitz, educational administrator of Shevach. Mrs. Debbie Meltzer, a beloved teacher and mentor to the students of Shevach High School, honed the Shabbaton theme. The two spent myriads of hours ensuring that excellence was achieved in every aspect of the Shabbos. And indeed they were very successful. A big yasher koach to the G.O. heads Elky Kasirer, Atara Nat, Ahuva Portnoy and Tikvah Ney for all their hard work and efforts to ensure a most memorable Shabbaton at the Lakehouse where they were able to enjoy “The Great Outdoors.” Thank you to Esther Amsel, Chaya Esti Deitsch and Avigayil Kramer for contributing to this article.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Around the Community

Yachad to Offer More Programs and Services in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway Area

Shulamith HS Celebrates Chanukah with Yachad

T

he Yachad programmatic season has been in full swing with the first half of the year seeing over 20 weekend Shabbatons and numerous events around the country, with hundreds of individuals with disabilities and peer groups enjoying the experiences together. On December 10, Parshat Va’Yetze, Yachad joined the Young Israel of Woodmere Teen Minyan for an inclusive tefillah. This was a beautiful initiative spearheaded

by Rabbi Ahron Rosenthal, Director of Yachad-NY, bringing together local Yachad members and high school students for a Shabbat morning of davening, kiddush and chaburah. It was a beautiful opportunity of inclusion that is the hallmark of all that Yachad stands for: inclusion of individuals with disabilities into all areas of Jewish life. Many thanks to Rabbi Avi Weber, rabbi of the Teen Minyan, who led and facilitated the inclusive minyan. The next date for the inclusive minyan will be on January 14, Parshat Vayechei. Yachad hopes to continue the model of inclusive tefillah at other shuls in the community, ensuring that individuals of all abilities have their place in Jewish life.

In other related news, this past week Yachad introduced the newest member of their amazing team, Meira Samet. Meira will be joining Yachad as the Program Coordinator for the

Long Island area including the Five Towns and Far Rockaway. Meira will be involved primarily in increasing programmatic offerings in the local area, parent support groups, vocational services and general increased community engagement.

To hear more about Yachad’s amazing work and to meet the leadership of Yachad, please join them on Motzei Shabbat, January 7, 2017, for a community Melava Malka featuring sushi, wine tasting and music at the Okun residence, 826 Central Avenue in Woodmere. They look forward to greeting the entire Five Towns/Far Rockaway community at what is sure to be a beautiful evening. For more information please contact Rosenthala@ou.org.

W

hat better way to start off the celebration of Chanukah than a Chanukah party with Yachad?

Last Thursday night, Shulamith High School for Girls hosted Senior Yachad for some Chanukah treats and karaoke! Yachad is an organization focused on inclusion, which

provides social, emotional, academic, and psychological support for individuals with special needs. The girls sang, laughed, ate, and danced.

Thank you to all of the girls who came and brought so much energy and to Yachad for really enhancing our Chanukah.

co-founder, with Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, where he currently serves as general editor. At ArtScroll he first received recognition as the author of the “Overviews,” the broad-ranging introductions to scores of ArtScroll volumes.

Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Esq. will represent the third generation of Holocaust survivors. Rabbi Glatt is the assistant to the rabbi of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. A sought after Maggid Shiur, Rabbi Glatt gives many shiurim throughout the KGH neighborhood. His shiurim are also regularly featured on OU Torah and YU Torah. Ephraim is also an attorney at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres &

Friedman, LLP, a national law firm.

A triple graduate of Yeshiva University, Ephraim received his B.A. from Yeshiva College in 2006, his semicha from RIETS in 2009, and his J.D. from Cardozo School of Law in 2012. Ephraim lives in KGH with his wife Chana, a teacher at SKA High School for Girls, and their children, Leah, Shoshana, Sara, Eliezer, and Yitzchak.

Yom HaKaddish HaKlali

A

sara B’Teves has been dedicated as Yom HaKaddish HaKlali, a day to commemorate the Holocaust and say kaddish for the many victims whose yahrtzeits are unknown.

Rabbi Nosson Scherman will be the guest speaker at the ninth Annual Queens Asara B’Teves Program on Sunday evening, January 8, 2017 at 7:30PM hosted by the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.

Rabbi Nosson Scherman was born in Newark, NJ, in 1935. At the age of 10, he became a dormitory student at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, where he completed high school and Beth Medrash. Then he entered Beth Medrash Elyon in Monsey, NY, the post-gradu-

ate division of Torah Vodaath, where he was ordained after ten years in the Beth Medrash and Kollel.

He joined the staff of Yeshiva Torah Temima in Flatbush in 1963, and served for eight years as rebbe, teacher, assistant Hebrew principal and general studies principal. In 1971 he became Menahel of Yeshiva and Mesivta Karlin Stolin, in Boro Park, where he served for six years.

He has lectured on the Holocaust and recorded 150 segments on the subject, which have many thousands of listeners, for the Torah Communications Network. He has also recorded about 80% on the Mishnah for TCN. In 1976, Rabbi Scherman became

The program will begin at 7:30PM on Sunday, January 8, 2017.

The Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills is located at 150-05 70th Road.

Parking will be available in the YCQ lot. For more information, please call 718-440-5352.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

TJH You gotta be

kidding

Moishele, the hypochondriac, bumps into his doctor at the supermarket and says, “Doc! I’ve been meaning to tell you. Remember those voices I kept on hearing in my head? I haven’t heard them in over a week!”

“Wow! What wonderful news, Moishele. I’m so happy for you!” exclaims the doctor.

“Wonderful?” replies Moishele. “You don’t think it means I’m losing my hearing?”

Centerfold Perfect Pills WARNING: These medications are prescription only. No need to say that they shall be only taken on a full stomach, as they certainly will

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DIRECTRA - A dose of this drug given to men before leaving on car trips caused 72 percent of them to stop and ask directions when they got lost, compared to a control group of 0.2 percent.

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PROJECTRA - Men given this experimental new drug were far more likely to finish a household repair project before starting a new one.

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COMPLIMENTRA - In clinical trials, 82 percent of men administered this drug were willing to compliment those around them more (as long as the compliment was returned two-fold).

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NEGA-SPORTASONE - This drug had the strange effect of making men want to turn off sports and converse with other family members.

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PRYACILIN - About to fail its clinical trial, this drug gave men in the test group an irresistible urge to dig into the personal business of other people. Note: Apparent overdose turned three test subjects into “special prosecutors.”

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CHILDCARA - Men taking this drug reported a sudden willingness to do childcare tasks, such as taking naps with their children. (Will not affect unwillingness to bathe, change diapers, feed, clean toys, etc.)

LAZYTRA- For those who lounge on the couch excessively (more than three hours a night) and don’t do a stitch of housework. This drug will get them off of the couch in an instant. (To be taken along with a half cup of orange juice which shall be spilled on the pillows.)

EGOMANIAX- This concoction is perfect for that guy who has an enlarged ego, which causes complications such as the inability to connect to people, listen to others or let anyone be better at anything than they are.

MOTORMUCIL- Many young men suffer from “lead in the right foot syndrome” which makes their right foot especially heavy while driving. A dose of this will ease up the tension on their right foot so they will no longer speed down Central Avenue like it’s the Autobahn.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

Your Body Trivia 1. Approximately how many miles of blood vessels are there in the average adult body? a. 4 miles b. 12 miles c. 37 miles d. 100,000 miles

4. Approximately how many different colors can the human eye distinguish? a. 10,000 b. 100,000 c. 1,000,000 d. 10,000,000

2. How much weight can a block of bone, the size of a matchbox, support? a. 13 pounds b. 57 pounds c. 80 pounds d. 164 pounds e. 320 pounds f. 18,000 pounds

5. What percentage of the body’s bones are in the feet? a. 25% b. 40% c. 55% d. 70%

3. How many atoms is a human being made up of? a. 7,000,000 b. 70,000,000 c. 700,000,000 d. 7,000,000,000 e. 700,000,000,000 f. 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,0 00,000,000

6. What percentage of the body is water? a. 20% b. 45% c. 60% d. 70% 7. At what rate of speed does air travel through the nose when a person sneezes? a. 20 MPH b. 35 MPH

c. 60 MPH d. 100 MPH Answers: 1. D- If you took all the blood vessels out of an average child and laid them out in one line, the line would stretch over 60,000 miles. An adult’s would be close to 100,000 miles long.

2. F - Bone is stronger than steel 3. F - That’s “7 billion billion billion” 4. D 5. A 6. D 7. D Wisdom Key: 0-2 Correct: Don’t worry, your brain cells may have frozen for a moment. Happens to everyone, except me.

3-5 Correct: You’re using 50 percent of your brain cells, not bad.

6-7 Correct: You’re really using all your 100 billion brain cells well.

Riddle me this?

Michael was walking past a building when he heard someone scream, “No, John, don’t do it!” Suddenly the water sprinklers went off. He ran inside and saw a doctor, a lawyer, and a milkman as the building filled with water. One of them had purposely pulled the water valve to flood the building. Michael later told investigators that he is certain that the milkman was the culprit.

How does he know?

See answer below

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Answer to Riddle: The milkman must have been “John.” The doctor and lawyer were females.

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Torah Thought

Parshas Vayigash

By Rabbi Berel Wein

A

s the dramatic story of Joseph and his brothers comes to its climax in this week’s Torah reading, one is struck by the comparison between Judah and Joseph, the main antagonists in this final act of the biblical narrative. Joseph is the righteous one, the person who lives by dreams, the one who resists temptation and pays a dear price for so doing.

The brothers did him wrong,

very wrong. Even though there are many justifications for their behavior towards Joseph, the simple narrative of the story as portrayed for us in the Bible – and their own admission that they were cruel towards their brother – places them in an awkwardly guilty situation.

And Judah is the brother that advises selling Joseph as a slave.

As such, he appears to have a special burden upon him in the whole

LIVING IN HASHEM’S LAP

Letting Go of Control and Da’as

story of the disunity in the family of Jacob. And his behavior with Tamar raises questions of morality and probity. So, from the reading of this narrative alone, one could easily come to the conclusion that the future of the Jewish people lies with Joseph and not with Judah, that the greatness of the piety of Joseph should certainly override the leadership qualities and strength of Judah.

Yet we find from the blessings of Jacob onwards that Judah is the leader of the Jewish people through the dynasty of King David. The Jewish people are called by his name and he and his descendants are the

leader must clearly understand what the failings and shortcomings are and work one’s leadership through that framework of imperfection.

This does not mean that we should overlook shortcomings and previous sins of those who aspire to leadership currently. But it does mean that past errors are not necessarily fatal to the cause of current leadership and even national greatness.

Judah’s greatness lies in his willingness to assume the burden of his actions and words and to attempt to rectify past wrongdoings. We see that in his reaction to the judgment of Tamar, where he vindicates her at his own expense and shame. We

Somehow, in order to be a truly successful leader, one must first have tasted failings and defeat, physically and even spiritually.

CHEVI GARFINKEL

Dynamic lecturer at Ohr Naava, throughout the U.S. and Israel; Director of Camp Frontier; Hashkafa teacher at Bruria and Shulamis High Schools

Sunday, January 8, 2016, ASARA B’TEVES, at 10 A.M. at Cong. Beth Sholom – Beis Medrash 390 Broadway, Lawrence THIS MONTH’S LECTURE IS BEING SPONSORED BY:

Louis and Debra Greenspan

li”n Miriam Ella bas Yisroel Eliezer Hacohen BE A SHVAT

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RESERVE the DATE – Jan. 29th, 2 Shvat, for

UNDERSTANDING OUR CHILDREN Thru Glimpses into Tanach Goldy Rosenberg, founder of Rachel’s Place To sponsor a lecture email jgulkowitz@yahoo.com or call Debbie at 516-239-0494 B”H in our 28th year of unifying the women of our community!

catalyst of survival, which has characterized Jewish life throughout the ages.

Why is this so? The Talmud indicates to us that leadership does not necessarily belong to those whose closets are bare of skeletons. Somehow, in order to be a truly successful leader, one must first have tasted failings and defeat, physically and even spiritually. The perfect person, the most righteous of people, is not necessarily the right choice for leadership.

Because the nation and the people are never perfect, therefore the

see that in his defense of Benjamin and his willingness to allow himself to become a slave in order to save his brother. He had vouched for him and personally guaranteed to return him to his father.

Leadership is taking responsibility and owning up to commitments and situations that are difficult and taxing but inescapable. That becomes the true test of leadership and that is what defines Judah as the leader of the brothers and eventually the leader of Israel through all of its generations.

Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

‫י בה דרך‬ ‫ששי מרן רבי אברהם יפה’ןאזיצ’’תן‬ ’’‫ע‬ ‫ל‬ Yeshiva of Far Rockaway

Annual Dinner

DR. & MRS. eFRayiM nuDMan Guests of Honor

Mr. Chaim Hershkovich

Dinner Chairman

Journal Chairman

Dinner Committee

At the Yeshiva Campus 802 Hicksville Road Far Rockaway, New York

RaBBi & MRS. Tuvia SilveRSTein Esteemed Parent Awardees

Mr. Moshe Majeski

Dr. Yitzchak Branschweig Mr. Nesanel Feller Mr. Motti Fox Mr. Charles Harary Mr. Dov Warman

Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Beshalach February 11, 2017 Tu B'shvat 5777

Mr. Yossi Deutsch Alumni Committee Chairman

Mr. Shmuel Backenroth Mr. Pinchas Vogel Mr. Daniel Wolfson Alumni Committee

RaBBi & MRS. MoShe Shonek Marbitzei Torah Awardees

Yeshiva of Far Rockaway 802 Hicksville Road Far Rockaway, NY 11691 P: (718) 327-7600 F: (718) 327-1430 E: dinner@yofr.org W: www.yofr.org Yaakov & Ilana Melohn campus in memory of Reb Yosef Melohn z’’l

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

The Observant Jew

Resolutions

By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

T

he end of 2016 brought a pall to the word “resolution.”

In recent context it doesn’t mean that a problem was resolved, as it might, but rather that a group of people got together at the United Nations and expressed a common belief that Israel should not exist as a country or a people. It is ironic that nations that are the worst violators of human rights in the world gang up to attack Israel, but baruch Hashem, the Navi already told us that the whole world would be against us before Moshiach comes.

Even President Obama, in a position where most presidents just play a waiting game (hence the term “lame duck”) to Inauguration Day, took actions to shake-up the world stage before he left office.

As a typical new year, 2017 arrives with the usual resolutions to eat better, lose weight, sleep more, or whatever else people generally cite as their “New Year’s Resolutions.”

Hopefully, the UN resolutions will have as much staying power as the typical NYRs, and by the time you read this it will be meaningless.

What do these two pieces have in common? They speak to what we can actually do to effect change in ourselves and thereby in the world.

The first point is that making a resolution at the beginning of the year has a serious drawback. When you sit in January and look toward December, it seems like you have a lot of time. You can achieve a lot in that time, but if you do it that way, the odds are that you will procrastinate until it’s time to make your resolutions for next year.

The Satmar Rav has a famous

explanation of the verse that says, “Hashem’s eyes are upon [the Land] from the beginning of THE year to the end of [the] year.” At Rosh Hashana, we say, “This is going to be THE year that I…” but sadly, when we come to the next Rosh Hashana, the year that passed was just another year when things didn’t get done.

However, you’ll find most of the personal improvement takes place in Elul, the last month before Rosh Hashana. That’s because when you

achieve it if Hashem hasn’t decreed it to be so. However, I want to learn from their example.

If we want to resolve to do something we can’t say, “I’ll wait for the new year, the new month, or the new week.” We have to look at ourselves as if we are facing down a deadline.

How many people thought they had an entire 2016 to achieve things but were wrong? How many of us think we will have no issues getting to 2018, 2038, or 2078?

We have to look at ourselves as if we are facing down a deadline.

see a deadline ahead of you, it motivates you to take action.

I received numerous requests for tzedaka that reminded me it was my last chance to make a difference in 2016 (and claim the associated tax credit, of course.) Why don’t I get those messages at the beginning of the year? Obviously, because it’s not so motivating. “I have plenty of time to do good. If I don’t get to it this week, I’ll get to it next week.” And so the time slips away.

The president knows his days in office are numbered so he’s maximizing his power. The UN knows it too, so they took the opportunity to make their resolution with a like-minded United States on hand.

I’m not that worried about their resolutions because no matter what others try to do to us, they can’t

Here’s what I propose: make yourself resolutions, but do it intelligently.

Don’t plan to do something for a long time. Plan to do it as much as you can. I recently completed eighteen years of my weekly parsha sheet (and with HaShem’s help I hope to continue for many more years.)

However, I didn’t set out to write it for eighteen years, ten years, or even five years. I wrote it once, then said, “Let’s see if I can do it again.” Then again, and again.

Give yourself stark deadlines that motivate you. If you’re davening, imagine that when you complete Shemona Esrei, your time on this planet will be up. How much more focus you will have on the words! You will likely slow down and think about what you’re saying. Or, if

someone asks you for a favor and it may be the last choice you will ever get to make. Wouldn’t that mindset make you think twice about turning down a favor? The reason we usually don’t is because we see time as a never-ending resource. Putting up your own stop signs will help you achieve in the moment.

Choose resolutions that take effect immediately. If you resolve to lose twenty pounds, it may take you a long time to get there – if ever. If you don’t, you may feel like a failure.

However, if you resolve to daven better, learn more, give more charity or give it in a better way, then simply by making the resolution you have achieved turning yourself into a more thoughtful person with a mission.

The best part of this is that these resolutions don’t need to wait. They don’t start on anyone else’s timeline but yours. So ask yourself what you will improve today – because when it comes to leading your life, you are never a lame duck.

Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Between the Lines

Life is But a Dream Only if You’re Sleeping

By Eytan Kobre

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.– Paul Valery

T

here once was a young boy, the son of an itinerant horse trainer, whose education was continually interrupted because his father was always traveling from town to town training horses.

In high school, the boy was asked to write a paper about his dreams for the future. Putting a great deal of effort into the assignment, he wrote a seven-page paper describing his aspiration of owning a horse ranch, even drawing a map of a sprawling ranch and a detailed floor plan for a mansion within its grounds.

Two days after handing it in, the boy’s paper was returned with a large red “F” on the first page and a note to see the teacher.

After class, the teacher explained the reason for the failing grade. This is an unrealistic dream for someone like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant, poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a great deal of money. This dream is just too unrealistic. The teacher did agree, however, to reconsider the grade if the paper was rewritten with a more attainable aspiration.

After earnest soul-searching and careful thought, the boy turned in

the same paper, with no changes at all.

“You keep the F,” he told the teacher. “I’ll keep my dream.”

Although often regarded as idealistic, dreaming is one of the most sensible things we can do. Woodrow Wilson was correct when he opined, “We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers.”

The Torah contains no shortage of significant dreams. Yaakov dreamed about his destiny (Bereishis 28:12-15; Bereishis 31:10-13).

G-d appeared in dreams to Avimelech to warn him not to harm Sara (Bereishis 20:3-7) and to Lavan to warn him not to fight Yaakov (Bereishis 31:24). Pharaoh’s butler and baker dreamed about their fates (Bereishis 40:10-16). Yosef dreamed about his brothers and parents bowing to him (Bereishis 37:29), and Pharaoh dreamed about the fate of his land and people (Bereishis 41:24; Shoftim 7:13; Daniel 2:31-35).

Time revealed the truth and significance of these latter dreams. Yosef’s brothers did bow to him, and Egypt enjoyed seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Bereishis 42:6; Bereishis 46, 47).

But how meaningful are our dreams?

On the one hand, no dream is without some amount of nonsense

(Berachos 55a), and “the words of dreams neither elevate nor cause descent” (Gittin 52a; Sanhedrin 30a; Horayos 13b; Bereishis Rabba 89:8; Tosefta, Ma’aser Sheini 5:6).

We do not make halachic rulings based upon dreams (She’iltos of Rav Achai Gaon, Mikeitz, No. 29; Rambam, Ma’aser Sheni 6:6; Rambam, Zechia U’Matana 10:7; but see Shita Mekubetzes, Bava Metzia 107b). Indeed, ample authority suggests that our dreams are utterly meaningless (Zecharya 10:2; Koheles 5:6; Pele Yo’etz, Chalom).

On the other hand, dreams are regarded as part prophecy (Berachos 57b; Moreh Nevuchim 2:3638, 41-45; Maharsha, Berachos 55b).

And, inasmuch as we treat dreams seriously – reciting a special prayer (Hamapil) to guard against bad dreams and seeking to nullify them with personal fast days (Berachos 31b; Shabbos 11a; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 220:2) or a special prayer during the blessing of the Kohanim (Berachos 55b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 130) – the implication is that our dreams are not insignificant.

Dreams are what we choose to make of them (Michtav M’Eliyahu, Vol 4, pgs. 166-167; Sefer Chassidim 451).

“All dreams follow the mouth,” i.e., the significance of a dream de-

pends upon the interpretation given it after the fact (Berachos 55b). There was even a dream interpreter named Bar Hedya who interpreted dreams positively when paid and negatively when unpaid (Berachos 56a; Michtav M’Eliyahu, Vol 4, pg. 167). And, still nowadays, one who has a bad dream can perform a “dream rectification,” where the dreamer gathers three friends to declare that the dream “is good and will be good” (Berachos 55b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 220:1).

All this is so not because the interpreter possesses paranormal powers but because the interpretation becomes a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy by which the dreamer acts on the dream as interpreted positively (Abarbanel, Bereishis 40:24; Rabbeinu Bachaye, Bereishis 41:1).

It is what we make of our dreams that truly counts.

A man once told the Lubavitcher Rebbe of a dream he’d had, in which he saw the Rebbe and kissed his hand, but the hand disappeared.

“May it be G-d’s will that all your dreams be for good,” the Rebbe responded. “But involve yourself not in dreams but in reality, spreading Yiddishkeit and doing good.”

So, by all means, dream – heck, dream big. Indeed, it is only the “bad” Jew who does not dream at least once in seven days (Berachos

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

14a). We were not meant to be complacent. We were meant to yearn, to strive, to hope, to aspire. We were meant to dream.

But make those dreams reality.

To all who wished to join his ranks, Reb Bunim of P’shischa would relate the story of a poor Krakow man named R’ Yitzchak. One night, R’ Yitzchak dreamed about a treasure trove buried beneath a bridge in Prague. It’s nothing but a silly, meaningless dream, he thought. At least until it recurred the next night.

And the night after. Unable to ignore the dream any longer, R’ Yitzchak set out for Prague in pursuit of the treasure.

There, he saw the bridge exactly as it had appeared in his dream.

But the bridge was guarded by soldiers, and they would never permit him to dig beneath the bridge.

Day after day, R’ Yitzchak returned to the bridge, hoping the soldiers would not be there; day after day, R’

Yitzchak returned to his inn emptyhanded.

The soldiers eventually grew suspicious of R’ Yitzchak’s loitering.

“Jew!” they summoned him. “What is your business here?”

R’ Yitzchak immediately understood the import of the soldier’s words – the treasure was buried beneath the oven in his own home.

R’ Yitzchak returned to Krakow, dug up the considerable treasure un-

“Fool!” one of them barked. “If I were stupid enough to chase silly dreams I would be in Krakow right now digging under the oven of some Jew named Isaac.”

When R’ Yitzchak told them of his dream, the soldiers laughed.

“Fool!” one of them barked. “If I were stupid enough to chase silly dreams I would be in Krakow right now digging under the oven of some Jew named Isaac.”

derneath his oven, and lived out his days in comfort.

Reb Bunim explained that it is not enough simply to have dreams – one must chase those dreams, digging deep within oneself to find the meaning.

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* * * Too many people are content with letting their dreams remain dreams.

And while they’re busy dreaming, the people who truly are happy and successful and engaged are busy doing.

As the inimitable Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Because it is not so much whether our dreams are real, but whether we have the fortitude to make them so.

Oh, and as for the horse trainer’s son? He grew up and eventually hosted his “realist” teacher together with his latest crop of students… in his 6,000-square-foot mansion in the middle of his 300-acre horse ranch, with the “F” paper framed and hanging over the fireplace.

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

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

On the Streets of

Israel

A Dance to Remember

By Elana Dure

I

’ve always loved scavenger hunts, but I’ve never participated in one as exciting or fulfilling as last month’s adventure.

It was a typical Sunday afternoon and my cohort of 23 Petach Tikva teaching fellows gathered for a meeting in the local park.

“Boy, do I have a surprise for you,” our counselor, or madricha, Rosie said with a grin. She had already broken us up into four teams, but we didn’t know why. “Everybody, look at your phones.”

Sure enough, we each received a WhatsApp message – which is more commonly used in Israel than SMS – explaining our citywide challenge: we had two hours to complete a list of tasks ranging from wearing a soldier’s barrette (which I successfully accomplished) to counting how many falafel shops there were on Chaim Ozer, the main road (my group spotted six).

There was one assignment, however, that was worth a great deal more than the rest – it scored 1,000 points while the others only offered 400 to 800 points each – and it involved dancing the Hora with five strangers.

Since we were a competitive

bunch, my team naturally decided to focus our energy on this task. We ran to the shuk, eager to seek out our unassuming participants.

At first, it was difficult to convince passersby to play our game.

And, understandably so. We were a bunch of crazed Americans who overenthusiastically approached random Israelis – no matter their

amused customer to dance with us on video.

“Hava nagilah, hava nagillah, hava nagilah v’nismicha…”

The sound of the Jewish anthem filled the marketplace as I, along with five new and four old friends, began the circle dance.

We were laughing. We were singing. We were having a moment

It didn’t last long – only a minute or so – but in that time every participant and onlooker had a smile on his or her face.

age, religious status or gender – and asked them in broken Hebrew if they’d be willing to sing and dance with us on film.

After our third or fourth attempt, we hit the jackpot. A local vendor appreciated our positivity and excitement and decided to join our quest of finding willing dancers. After a few minutes of loud heckling, he managed to convince three other hesitant sellers and an

of Jewish unity that seemed to fit more in a movie than in real life.

And I loved it. It didn’t last long – only a minute or so – but in that time every participant and onlooker had a smile on his or her face.

After the joyous moment passed, my teammates and I turned to the shuk exit, ready to tackle our next task.

“Regah, wait!” We heard a familiar voice call from behind. As we

turned around, we saw the vendor running toward us, bearing gifts of fruit, soda and baked goods. He thanked us for our spontaneity and said he appreciated the little bit of excitement we brought to his everyday routine. We, in turn, reversed the gratitude and thanked him for his help and generosity.

After that, my team rushed to complete the other tasks, but we ultimately fell short in the tally and placed second in the competition.

Despite the loss, none of us were disappointed. Even if a second team outranked us in points, they didn’t beat us in spirit. My teammates and I left the shuk that day with an exuberance we hadn’t felt in a long time. We experienced a moment of harmony and happiness with people we never met before; we experienced the true meaning of achdut or togetherness.

And in my opinion, nothing can beat that.

Elana Dure is a resident of Woodmere and recent graduate of the University of Maryland. She is currently teaching English in Petach Tikva through Masa’s Israel Teaching Fellows program.

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Are We Seeing the Beginning of the Cold War 2.0?

How U.S.-Russia Relations have Deteriorated under Obama’s Watch

BY NACHUM SOROKA

P

resident Obama’s expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the U.S. government’s closure of two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland may be the beginnings of the Cold War 2.0 if not for the fact that in less than two weeks the new U.S. president will have much warmer feelings towards the former Soviet Union than the current administration. Throughout the Obama presidency, and even during the Bush administration, Russia under Vladimir

Putin has been the United States’ foreign policy wildcard, the country that keeps policymakers looking over their shoulders, never certain of its intentions.

Over the course of the second half of the twentieth century, even in the last twenty years after the Cold War, the U.S. has learned to deal with the Russians in the cautious, Reaganesque fashion of doveryai, no proveryai: trust, but verify.

Indeed, while Obama imposed sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies

and technology companies thought to be behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee over the summer, namely the powerful foreign intelligence agency, the GRU, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Russian interests four times since 2014. And although the most recent hacks on U.S. government officials stole the most headlines, the Pentagon tagged hackers from Russia as early as 1996, a mere five years after the fall of the Soviet Union, including one breach

The Jewish Home | JANUARY29, 5, 2015 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER

Even Ronald Reagan knew to “trust, but verify” when it came to the Russians

in 1998 which allowed Russian intelligence access to military information in the amount of “a stack of printed copier paper three times the height of the Washington Monument.” So sanctions aren’t new when it comes to Russia.

A Necessary Evil It should be obvious to anyone who follows the news headlines on a regular basis that the Russians, particularly under Putin, are a conniving bunch of deceitful, self-interested players. They grant asylum to enemies of democracy, provide funding and military aid to terrorist organizations and despotic leaders, and blatantly annex lands which do not belong to them. President Putin has been known to throw his political rivals in prison, wrongfully seize internationally owned businesses, and poison those who speak out against him. But all this has not stopped world leaders, including American ones, from reaching out to Russia in order to harbor warm relations with the country.

Having a working relationship with Russia can be considered a necessary evil. As the world’s two largest owners of nuclear weapons, a conflict between the U.S. and Russia can wipe humankind off the face of the earth in short time.

Additionally, Russia’s massive size – its borders span across Europe, Central and East Asia, and the Arctic – allow it influence on many countries which are vital to the maintenance of democracy and Western interest in the world. And, in truth, Russia has been a vital ally in the effort to quell the influence of Islamist movements in some of the world’s most volatile regions such as in the successful

Obama famously told Romney during a debate that the “1980s called” and they wanted their foreign policy back

defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the country maintains strong ties with Tehran and Pyonyang, the two most dangerous regimes in the world today. And as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia’s vote is necessary in order for key global security measures to pass.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States

John Kerry accused Romney of getting his facts about Russia straight from Rocky IV. and Russia have shared a functioning relationship. During the Bush presidency, the two nations did have some serious disagreements – most notably one regarding the U.S. installing a missile defense system in Poland – but the countries and their leaders remained cordial with one another. And by the time Barack Obama took office, the U.S. struck a reconciliatory tone in order to mend whatever strain was placed between the two powers, with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton clumsily offering up a “reset” button (which actually spelled “overload” in Russian) to Sergey Lavrov, her Russian counterpart.

Both the U.S. and Russia then set out on

a campaign to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weaponry.

1980s Foreign Policy?

President Obama seemed to have been relishing the generally complacent dealings between the U.S. and Russia, and during his 2012 reelection campaign, he and his camp repeatedly mocked Mitt Romney’s assertion that Russia was the United States “number one geopolitical foe.” Obama famously threw his “the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War’s been over for 20 years” zinger at Romney during the third presidential debate that year. And John Kerry accused Romney of getting his facts about Russia straight from Rocky IV. In hindsight, looking back over the last term of Obama’s presidency, his team’s bluster about Russia is on the level of his comparing ISIS to a JV team. The past four years have showcased how far Vladimir Putin will go up against U.S. interests and how deceitful Russia can be.

It seems that there is not a global crisis occurring these days without Russia and Putin somehow in the mix. As much as Obama’s dismissal of the Russian threat was campaign puffery, U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated so much recently that the president needed to enact law and order on Russian diplomats a mere three weeks before he leaves office.

Russia Stirs the Pot How did things get to be this bad?

The beginning of this new round of enmity may be linked back to the blatant annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea by the Russians in 2014 after its

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JANUARY 5, OCTOBER 29,2017 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home

The disdain the two world leaders have for each other is apparent in their policies and sentiments

straw man, Victor Yanukovich, was deposed as Ukrainian president. The U.S. responded by revoking Russia’s acceptance to the G8 political forum, a move whose severity was downplayed by Putin, who continued to stir unrest in the region. Eventually, the U.S. and its allies were forced to impose a number of sanctions on Russian firms and individuals with close ties to Putin. Russia had officially become a pariah to the West.

There is also the ongoing civil war in Syria. The world is currently aghast at the massive civilian casualties brought about by Russian airstrikes on the city of Aleppo as the Syrian Army attempted to regain control of the city from rebel forces. Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Putin’s government has backed its longtime ally Bashar Assad’s forces without regard to any potential collateral damage. Back in 2012, President Obama warned President Assad that the use of chemical weapons on his country’s civilian population would trigger a U.S. military response. But Obama’s promise was a hollow threat, and Assad got away with murdering his own people. Many experts believe that Putin was emboldened to take a more confrontational role in Syria when President Obama failed to make good on his vow not to allow Assad to cross the “red line” of using chemical weapons on helpless civilians.

The latest bout of Russian-induced heartburn for the U.S. and the Obama administration has to do with hacking, or to put it in classic terms, espionage.

The Russian attitude towards U.S. cyber-security has always been dismissive, and there may be no better exam-

ple of this than their asylum of Edward Snowden, who provided the press with thousands of classified government documents in 2013. The U.S. government is of the opinion that Snowden compromised national security and emboldened terrorists worldwide. Obama elected to cancel a planned meeting with Putin in 2013 after Russia extended its offer of asylum to the traitor.

This past June, the Washington Post reported that Russian hackers infiltrated the servers of the Democratic National Committee. The hackers were only assumed to be Russian: they went by names like guccifer 2.0 and DC Leaks, but a cybersecurity firm called CrowdStrike was able to confirm that the hackers were indeed not lone individuals, but were a group of Russian agents working for groups such as the Russian GRU. Leaked emails from Guccifer led to the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz and may have caused the disaffection of many erstwhile Bernie Sanders supporters from the Hillary Clinton camp. The most disturbing revelation of all was that the Russian hacking campaign, using the alias “Shadow Brokers,” succeeded in gaining access to some NSA servers.

What Will the Future Bring?

The U.S. has found itself outmaneuvered by Putin and his gang for the past four years. Relations with Russia have reached their lowest point since the 1980s. Indeed, ties with many of the U.S.’s allies have worn thin under Obama’s watch, including Egypt, Israel, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Tur-

Putin always has his ally Assad’s back

key, while former foes like Cuba and Iran have been brought near.

In contrast with President Obama’s diplomatic doctrine, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to make good on reclaiming many of these relationships. During his campaign, Trump insinuated he would allow Russia to remain in Crimea and lift the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its actions there. Most recently, he called into question the U.S. government’s assertion that it was indeed Russia which hacked into the DNC’s server accounts and indirectly influenced the U.S. election. “It could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don’t know, and so they cannot be sure of the situation,” he said on December 31.

Echoing this sentiment, this week, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sat down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity and insisted, “We can say, we have said, repeatedly that over the last two months that our source is not the Russian government and it is not a state party,” Assange said. He added that the claim of Russia being behind the release of 50,000 emails during the presidential campaign was made as an effort to “delegitimize” Donald Trump.

Trump has continually waxed pro-Putin, calling him a “real leader” and a “really smart man.” Clearly, Putin welcomes Trump’s isolationist policies which would allow him more leeway to influence world affairs. The question remains if Trump’s presidency will succeed in hitting the reset button on U.S.-Kremlin ties or lead everyone back into the cold 1980s.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I grew up in a typically nice home. I always felt that my parents had a good marriage and I’m sure like most couples, they would occasionally have a disagreement or even a little fight, but all in all they got along and laughed a lot together and seemed to be very happy together.

I’ve been dating now for over two years. The right guy for me just hasn’t come along yet. Sometimes I get nervous about it, but I try to keep my head about me and believe that I’m doing all the right things. I know what I want and need and that it’s just a matter of time until Mr. Right comes along.

Recently, my parents seem to be arguing all the time about the fact that I’m not married. They seem to be blaming each other in such ridiculous way. They each seem to need to be able to figure out whose fault it is and why I’m not married yet. My father will accuse my mother of picking the wrong men for me to go out with. My mother will accuse my father of giving me the wrong advice about how I should act on a date.

I know that it isn’t anyone’s fault. When it’s the right time, it will happen. But the fighting has changed the whole atmosphere in my home. I can’t stand it and feel so sorry for my younger siblings who also have to live in such a tense atmosphere. It’s no longer the relaxed, happy home I grew up in. Everyone seems to be tense and angry.

How do I get my parents to calm down, stop attacking each other and be the parents they both were? I’m feeling guilty even though I think I’m the only sane one right now between the three of us – but I do feel it’s all my fault!

Any suggestions?

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.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

81 47

The Panel

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

S

ort this out with a team including a rabbi and a therapist. You need to rid yourself of guilt but more importantly live in a harmonious home led by parents who work as a team. The level of rancor and stress in the house is damaging to all and a recipe for a hasty escape from an unpleasant environment.

They are setting a terrible example for married life as they deal with the challenge of shidduchim. In other words, this situation is a recipe for a disastrous marriage for you.

A rabbi will probably be effective in bringing these points out to your parents. Then he will probably recommend family therapy to get everyone to communicate properly, deal with their own stress, and restore a healthy environment. There may be some deeper underlying issues beneath the blame game. A rabbi can be very pivotal in getting your parents to recognize that they need help for all aspects of the presenting problem – their relationship, their reaction to stress, and helping you get married. However, you cannot be the peacemaker or obvious catalyst for going to family therapy.

Go talk to the rabbi and open up completely to him. He can then sit down with your parents to discuss with them how shidduchim are going. Because he will have been primed by you, he will get them to open up about what is going on.

Make sure that he will not disclose that you turned to him for help.

Stay in touch with the rabbi and the therapist for the long term. You will need some support during the shidduch process and your parents may be too stressed (even if they

figure out how to talk to each other) about getting you to the chuppah to help you sort things out. Stick with your professional team and use them as shidduch coaches since your parents seem to need to deal primarily with their own immediate emotions.

The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A.

L

et me assure you, looking for your shidduch, while challenging, is hardly enough to de-stabilize a solid marriage.

While it’s unclear what the true source of your parents’ frustration (possibly financial, medical or emotional), I beg you not to take the blame for the toxic atmosphere in your home.

It’s almost axiomatic that children feel guilty when their parents fight.

An extreme example is when parents divorce, their children often rationalize that if they were better behaved, their parents would have stayed together.

If their shalom bayis needs a tune-up, leave that to the professionals. In the meantime, you may wish to invite your parents to pizza or coffee. Reassure your folks that you are grateful for all the efforts they put into finding your zivug. Remind them that, despite their frustration at not finding The One, you remain happy, upbeat and confident that, in time, Mr. Right will ring your doorbell.

During the meeting, you may allude to the fact that sometimes you feel bad for your siblings because “with all the calling and checking there is less time for the fun stuff we used to do.” Wrap up the conversation with plans for a family outing – just like the good old days.

The Dating Mentor Rochel Chafetz, Educator/Mentor

I

f you are ready to get married, then you are ready to sit down with your parents and have a conversation. Tell them how you feel and what you have been observing, how it’s affecting the home, and how it sounds like the arguments are about you.

Then ask them if you can take some of the responsibility off of their shoulders.

Maybe you should be doing some or all of the calling and follow-up questions. Maybe you need to be more of an active participant. Offer that and say that you are willing to take the pressure off of them and how important it is to all of you that they don’t fight over this.

More than that I can’t tell you what to do. You’re not their marriage counsellor and you shouldn’t be, though possibly, if they hear how it’s affecting you, it may be enough to wake them up. So don’t be afraid to have a dialogue with them. It’s important for all of you. Hatzlacha!

The Single Tova Wein

I

’m glad to hear that you seem to be very healthy, despite the fighting and tension you are experiencing and are able to feel confident about yourself and your future, despite the negative atmosphere that you describe taking place in your home lately.

Sadly, when a young woman, in particular, has been dating for years, many parents tend to get bent out of shape, their worst fears tak-

Instead of working together and supporting each other as teammates, they are using each other as punching bags to release their stress.

ing over their logical thoughts. The anxiety they seem to experience is bolstered when they think about their 33-year-old niece who is still single or their neighbor’s son who is unwed and living at home at age 40.

They worry that their child will possibly wind up the same way. I think our society encourages these fears with all the talk about the “shidduch crisis.” There is almost a collective paranoia that has engulfed so many families.

My first bit of advice is that you should try your hardest to be around positive people. Don’t hang out with friends who share the same panicky message. You’re in a good place and you want to stay in a good place. There is no reason why you shouldn’t feel great about your future.

Regarding your parents, I think you need to have some words with them. Explain to them that they are doing everything right and there is no reason to point fingers at themselves or each other. However, when you and your siblings hear them fighting over your single status, it is hurtful to everyone in the household and unfair. If they can’t get a grip on their fears, they need to find a professional to help them work out their stuff. They owe it to you and to your siblings to create a calm, loving atmosphere at home.

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JANUARY 5, OCTOBER 29,2017 2015| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

H

ow do I get my parents to calm down….? I am going to present a suggestion or two, but before I do, I must tell you the following. We can’t “get” people to do anything. If your parents are going to change, it will be because they are motivated to change; because they want to change. You didn’t do anything to create this situation and ultimately you can’t stop this situation. That will be the decision of your parents. Do they want to continue arguing and creating tension in the home or do they want to

stop for the well-being of their children? They are engaged in a dance that many couples fall prey to when they are experiencing stress: the blame game, as the Rebbetzin mentioned in her response. You shouldn’t say that to her! That is why she is single! No, you’re picking the wrong guys for her to date! You are the reason she is still single!

Instead of working together and supporting each other as teammates,

they are using each other as punching bags to release their stress. In a way, it is also easier to blame each other than to accept the truth: this is really not in our hands. We can’t fix this one for our little girl. Whatever the case, one thing is for certain: their fighting isn’t about you. I do hope your parents stop turning on each other and begin to turn toward each other. (I am writing this just in case they are reading this.)

I second Tova Wein’s astute comment about your healthy view of dating, even in your stressful home environment. You may want to try having a heart-to-heart with your parents. Tell them that their fighting is stressing you out! Tell them you are worried about your siblings receiving unhealthy messaging about dating and relationships. Try not to “get into” their stuff too much. Focus on how the impact their blame game is having on you. Don’t hold back when it comes to your feelings. Tell them you do not want to marry someone in a desperate attempt to escape the tension in the house. This is not an attempt to change them, this is an attempt at communicating with them.

Then tell them it would mean so much to you if they planned a lighthearted day for the entire family. You can go on a picnic, go ice skating, have a fun movie/pizza day (whatever the family likes). The one rule is no talking about dating or marriage whatsoever. Let’s remember that we are a family and that it is OK to have some fun! I definitely second Sarah Schwartz-Schreiber’s notion of having a wonderful family day!

Hopefully that’ll do the trick. If your parents cannot hear your plea, or cannot stop their fighting, then invite your parents to see a therapist with you. Make sure the therapist has experience in family therapy. If both your parents are flexible and open, this could be resolved in a handful of sessions. Maybe even one. How-

My first bit of advice is that you should try your hardest to be around positive people.

ever, if both or one are more rigid, or if there is a marital issue, the family therapist will either excuse you from the therapy or will refer your parents to another therapist to help them as a couple. If your family has a trusted rabbi whose counsel they seek, then speaking with him may be a wonderful avenue for you as well.

I hope things don’t come to this, but if they cannot stop fighting and the tension is just too much for you to bear, you may want to look into moving out of the house. There are lots of frum young women who take apartments together. Sometimes this involves getting a part-time job to pay for your share. Another option would be to ask a relative or close friend if you can move in temporarily just to take some time away from the chaos at home. You seem like such a together, terrific young woman and I would hate to see you rush into a marriage simply to get out of your house. I want you to approach marriage from a place of positivity, strength and calm. Hopefully the buck will stop with Plan A! Good luck!

Sincerely, Jennifer P.S. Feel free to show this to Mom and Dad! Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families Hewlett, NY. To learn more about The Navidaters, visit www.TheNavidaters. com. To set up an appointment, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. 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.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Deb

Anger is Really a Choice

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

M

y grandson, just four months shy of two-yearsold, doesn’t have a very high vocabulary (yet) but what he lacks in words, he makes up for with body language. There he was crying by the door. It was no use: his mother would not return for at least three hours. But, oh, he wanted her! And he surely wanted me, or whoever was in charge (me, I guess), to know.

You know, and I know, that there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. But he didn’t. He was quite sure that if he just made his point clear, he would get what he wanted – mommy! – because up until now in his sweet, short life, that is exactly how things went down: He’d let you know, and you would definitely comply. “Yes, sir! At your command, Sir!” “Look, here’s Elmo!” I said excitedly, trying the age-old method of distraction. “See! On my computer!”

His left shoulder blade pulled itself up toward his ear while his head bent toward it, his cheek gently brushing his shoulder. His eyebrows furrowed. His mouth curled downward at the edges.

He was not buying any of this.

But I pretended to ignore his silent protests. “Listen to Elmo singing,” I said encouragingly.

However, unlike days of old, when he could be distracted from

his fixed attachment to what he wanted, it was clear that all his memory neurons had been hard at work developing themselves the way they were supposed to (b”H!) and he did not forget this time. Because I wasn’t “listening,” he made sure, just in case my brain wasn’t working properly, to let me know, loudly and clearly that I was not delivering something he wanted: he threw himself down on the floor with a shriek and let out bloodcurdling howls. For 55 minutes. (I clocked it. Sigh.) Until he fell asleep.

Poor little boy.

OUR HARDWIRING SEEMS OUT OF OUR CONTROL I can imagine that in a family where harried parents continue to give in (when it is humanly possible) so as to stop the shrieking (or the kicking of mommy’s legs, or the biting of mommy’s skin), a child could go into automatic tantrum without ever realizing that they could prevent it if they wanted to.

At two, children in homes where parents have unbounded patience are told, “Use your words,” and the child eventually learns that it is still possible to get what he wants by calming down his automatic nervous system and hunting for the right words.

But, if his desires are not indulged, he can still remain angry.

He may have learned that he will be in deep trouble if he expresses that anger in any way resembling anger, but that does not, for one moment, stop the feeling inside of being angry. Years later, he may come in with his wife for marriage counseling to see me and he is convinced that his anger is out of his control.

“It’s how I feel!” he might say. “Should I stifle my feelings?

Shouldn’t I be real in my relationship?”

And of course he should! No fake relationships wanted here. There would be no point to that.

The thought never occurs to either of them that their feelings are actually under their own control.

THE BENEFIT OF ANGER I mean, do you really want to remain angry? What’s the benefit of that?

The truth is it has the same benefit as it had for my little grandson: it sends a message. Loudly and clearly. It is, after all, not only a feeling, but a form of communication.

And I find that people will maintain anger for decades. To me, that means that, like with my grandson who learned that his anger was impotent because his mother was not coming home no matter how loudly he screamed, when the anger doesn’t work to get what you want, it still serves as a vehement form of protest against the way things are.

I get that.

We all need a “voice.” As Dylan Thomas said, referring to approaching death, “Do not go gentle into that good night. /Old age should burn and rage at close of day/Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Sometimes we just have to protest. Sometimes protest seems to be all that we have left that falls under our control.

But is it all?

Is it possible to have a voice that somehow is happy with what we didn’t expect or want in the first place?

BRAIN RESEARCH We now know that neurons communicate with one another in the brain through the timing of relays of incredibly rapid electrical impulses. We also know that what we call thoughts and what we call emotions interact throughout this impulse-relay process. While it is true that the “seat” of emotions may be in one particular area (the limbic system; in particular, the amygdala), emotions influence thinking throughout the brain, no matter how logical and rational we think our thinking is.

This fact gives us a clue as to how thoughts can influence those emotions back.

Divorce lawyers have been familiar with a phenomenon in which Continued on page 86

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

old memories that were once solid-gold good somehow get tarnished from negative experiences.

The proof that those memories were originally positive often comes up in the form of documents that were written at the time of those experiences. Friends were told what a wonderful time they had; how happy they were. Little gifts with warm messages are uncovered in the back of a drawer.

Neuroscience now explains how this happens. It turns out that any time you pull up an old memory, a protein in the neuron softens up and is ready to reconnect in a different way; it is called “labile.” This period of lability lasts six hours.

Precisely. Then, the protein reconsolidates and, depending on the mood you were in when you recollected the past event, the memory can reconsolidate differently than it originally was. That is, the memory can be colored by your mood.

We can Harness our Choices

It gives therapists great joy to help clients harness their bechira, to give them voice, to empower them. Therefore, it is no surprise that they have come up with a number of ways to utilize this brain research to convert bad feelings to

because you want to be certain the person who didn’t give it to you knows without a doubt how you feel?

The process of aiming for true happiness begins with making the choice, the decision, as to what you

The process of aiming for true happiness begins with making the choice, the decision, as to what you want.

good ones. Note: this is not faking and it is not brainwashing. Bechira is always your free choice.

The question is: what do you choose? Do you choose to remain miserable and angry (as so many people seem to do) just because you didn’t get what you wanted or

want: to hang onto a lousy feeling so that you can prove your victimhood, or recognize that perhaps you had something to learn from the situation that did not go your way and therefore are willing to embrace it in all its yuckiness – and see what you can learn.

Think of it this way: anger must be subject to our bechira or the Ramban would not have written a letter to his son nearly a thousand years ago – long before therapy was a glint in Freud’s eye – cautioning against it. A good dozen years before neuroscience started to get a handle on memory reconsolidation, an expositor of the Iggeres HaRamban advises the reader to not merely study it “with his eyes alone – he must open his heart as well.”

So, yes, my grandson with all babies, is hardwired to “express his anger,” but we adults have the freedom to choose whether we want to express it or – even feel it – or not.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com.

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

Healthy Lifestyle Tips to Start Off a Healthy New Year

By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN

N

ow that Chanukah is in the rearview mirror, everybody is eager to get rid of all those doughnuts that we have gained in just one week! Here are some tips to help you make small, simple changes to your diet and daily routine in order to drop those pounds.

1. Start the day off with a balanced breakfast high in protein to help curve your cravings for the day.

For example, try a low fat yogurt with fruit, a high fiber cereal with skim milk, an egg white omelet or oatmeal.  Make sure to pay attention to the portion size when eating cereal.

Most serving sizes are ¾ cup, so be mindful when pouring.

2. Once you finish your healthy balanced breakfast, do not leave the house in the morning without having a plan for dinner. Once you walk through that door hungry after a long, exhausting day, it all goes downhill from there. Spontaneous eating often results in poor food choices.  Make sure your dinner is planned and will be ready to eat within an hour of getting home. If not possible, make sure you have a healthy snack option planned to fill you up long enough to hold out until dinner.

3. Find ways to keep moving, especially if you have a sedentary job.

Try standing instead of sitting if you

can’t fit any physical activity into your schedule. Try to do at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity 2-3 times a week.  Walking briskly, jogging or biking outside is a great option to enjoy the beautiful fresh air before the cold weather comes our way.

4. Aim to have 8-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Vegetables can be eaten fresh, roasted, grilled or steamed. Fruits are healthiest when eaten fresh, since dried fruits are high

are also a great snack in between meals since they are low in calories. Fruits can be eaten as snacks, as part of a meal, thrown into a salad or for dessert!

5. Increase your fiber. Most Americans don’t get nearly enough fiber. The American Heart Association recommends 25-35g/day. Fiber promotes satiety and prolongs hunger by making you feel fuller for longer.

Fiber also promotes regular bowel activity and helps lower cholesterol

Make sure your dinner is planned and will be ready to eat within an hour of getting home.

in sugar. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight off free radicals in our cells that can cause damage to our bodies. These beneficial antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E help protect our body from heart disease and other illnesses.  Try to incorporate vegetables into each meal. Vegetables

levels thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Include whole grains in your diet in order to get adequate amounts of fiber.  Increasing your daily fruit and vegetable intake will also help you meet the daily fiber recommendations.

6. Consume 2-3 servings of fatty fish per week in order to get adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids that

are found in fish and have been shown to reduce triglyceride levels which in turn lower one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 also serves as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Furthermore, research has shown omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  If you don’t eat fish, omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in flaxseeds. Ground flaxseeds can be mixed into a yogurt, a smoothie or cereals.

7. Drink water. Water will fill you up and prevent you from overeating.

Hopefully these healthy lifestyle tips will start you off on a healthy new year.

Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN, is a Master’s level Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. She graduated CUNY Brooklyn College in 2013 receiving a Bachelor’s in Science and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences. Her Dietetic Internship was completed under Brooklyn College primarily in Ditmas Park Care Center and Boro Park Center where she developed clinical and education skills to treat patients with comprehensive nutrition care. She is currently a dietitian at Boro Park Center and a private nutrition consultant. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

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Health & F tness

Giving it My Best Shot Flu Vaccines Save Lives

By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH, FAAP

I

advise and encourage my patients to get the flu vaccine. It is not perfect and there have been many cases of flu this season even after being vaccinated, but it can be lifesaving.

The flu vaccine is made of dead flu viruses. Since they’re dead, you can’t catch the flu from them. When you get a vaccine, it takes about two weeks for your body to be ready to fight the flu virus. In addition, many viruses mimic flu symptoms. Nonetheless, the flu vaccine mitigates against stronger symptoms and a person becoming even sicker. Lest we forget, the flu can kill people.

Thank you to Serese Marotta, Chief Operating Officer of Families Fighting Flu (FFF), for allowing me to share her heart wrenching account of losing her beautiful son to the flu.

Flu season has begun and like other years, we can’t predict how severe this season will be, but we do know that annual flu vaccinations are our best defense. Unlike the common cold, influenza is a serious and highly contagious disease that tends to develop quickly, especially in children, and can lead to hospitalization or even death. Every year in the U.S., approximately 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized, and on average, 100 children die from infection with influenza or its complications. So often we hear “it’s just the flu,” but we need to take the flu seriously. How do I know this? Because my healthy, 5-year-old son, Joseph, lost his life to H1N1 flu in October 2009. I have always been

pro-vaccination and Joseph and his sister received their annual flu vaccinations in September 2009, but H1N1 wasn’t in the vaccine that year. Sadly, the H1N1 vaccine didn’t become available in our community until two weeks after Joseph’s death.

JOSEPH’S STORY Joseph’s story began innocently enough. He was attending kindergarten in the fall of 2009 and threw up on the school bus.

Later that day, Joseph continued to throw up and became increasingly lethargic. We called our pediatrician who suggested we take Joseph to the local urgent care.

Upon arrival, they found Joseph’s blood oxygen level to be very low and immediately transported him to the local children’s hospital. The rapid flu test came back negative and Joseph was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia.

Several days into his hospital stay, the doctors informed us that Joseph’s culture was growing influenza, which was likely H1N1, but not to worry – it was “just the flu” and they’d start him on antiviral medications. Joseph’s condition over the next several days was relatively stable. Various specialists came and went; all of Joseph’s tests appeared normal and we were even discussing his discharge with the doctors.

All of that changed on the ninth day of our hospital stay. Joseph’s blood pressure suddenly plummeted, and we were sent back to the ICU. The doctors couldn’t re-

ally figure out what was causing Joseph’s low blood pressure, but they didn’t seem overly alarmed.

More testing went on throughout the night, while I tried to distract Joseph with cartoons and discussions about his Halloween costume.

The doctor came to me early on the morning of Oct. 18 to say she wanted to put Joseph on a ventilator because his heart and respiration rates were so high and his little body needed a rest.

The doctor emphasized it was not a big deal, but Joseph would be unconscious while on the ventilator. I calmly called my husband, who was at home with our young daughter, and asked him to come to the hospital. Minutes later, while I was standing next to Joseph’s bed, he suddenly coded.

The next scene was like something on a TV show – doctors and nurses rushing into Joseph’s room. I backed into the hallway so they could do their job, but honestly, I had no idea what was happening. As the minutes ticked away, I began to realize that something was seriously wrong.

I continued to wait outside Joseph’s hospital room and finally, the attending doctor came to me, sobbing, and asked me to follow her into Joseph’s room because she needed me to talk to him.

Looking back, I think she thought if modern medicine couldn’t save this child, perhaps the sound of his mother’s voice could. I entered Joseph’s room and held his hand as the doctors and nurses

continued to work on him. Finally, the doctor turned to me and said, “I’m so sorry.” My precious son lost his life to influenza that day, and my life was irrevocably changed as a result.

My story is not unique. I have met many parents who’ve lost a child to the flu or had a child suffer serious medical complications as a result of the flu. I want parents to understand how critically important it is for all children and their families to get their flu vaccinations each and every year. The flu vaccine is the best protection we have in our fight against influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months of age and older.

I also want people to understand that getting an annual flu vaccination not only protects you and your family, but it also helps protect others in your community by limiting the potential for an outbreak.

FAMILIES FIGHTING FLU As a result of my loss, I became involved with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), which is a national, non-profit organization comprised of families whose children have suffered serious medical complications or died from influenza, as well as other advocates and healthcare professionals committed to flu prevention. I have since become the Chief Operating Officer at FFF.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

Together, every day in honor of our children, we work to increase awareness about the seriousness of influenza in the hope that no other family has to endure the devastating effects of this serious disease. Every year, FFF focuses on educational outreach using various platforms to inform others about the dangers of the flu and to advocate for annual flu vaccinations. Our mission is to reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to flu, and our vision is that no child or family member is lost to this vaccine-preventable disease.

My takeaway from the account of this personal tragedy is: 1. Everyone ages 6 months and above needs the flu vaccine.

2. Children age 2 years and younger who come down with the flu are more likely to have serious complications. As a result, both the American Academy of Pediatrics

(AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend the flu vaccine for just about everyone who are at least 6 months old.

3. Any person with a chronic illness, heart disease, diabetes, on steroids or immunosuppressives must be vaccinated.

spreading the flu.

6. Flu season generally runs from October through May. It’s only January. Get the flu vaccine as soon as you can to protect yourself.

And if you get the flu?

If you start feeling sick and are older than 65, are pregnant, have

My precious son lost his life to influenza that day, and my life was irrevocably changed as a result.

4. In addition, babysitters, housekeepers, teachers, rebbes, morahs, therapists and others who work with children should also be vaccinated.

5. Even if you’re healthy, your co-workers, friends, or family may not be. Getting vaccinated protects you and them from catching and

conditions like asthma or diabetes, or have a child younger than 5 who is sick, call your doctor right away. Ask about antiviral medicines. Theoretically, they can shorten the flu by 1 or 2 days and prevent serious problems like pneumonia. However, the liquid is very unpalatable to the young and can be expensive, if not covered by

91

insurance.

It’s best if you take the medication as soon as you have symptoms like fever, sneezing, body aches, stuffiness, or coughing. If you aren’t likely to have medical problems, you probably don’t need this type of medicine.

I’ve had my flu vaccine. So, too, have my wife and our children and grandchildren. Join us.

To learn more about FFF, please visit http://www.familiesfightingflu.org/.

This website offers educational resources related to flu prevention and stories from families who have lost loved ones to the flu.

Dr. Hylton Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at www.totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at #light manpeds or visit him on Facebook.

BLENDING TOGETHER BEAUTY, LIFE, AND HOLINESS

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

In The K

tchen

By Naomi Nachman

There is nothing better on a cold blustery day than a hot cup of tea and a scone to warm you up. My mum used to make us these fresh hot scones for afternoon tea while we were growing up in Australia. They also make great hostess gifts when you are going out for a brunch or a dairy meal. Everybody loves homemade baked goods and these are so easy to make. Sometimes when I have a business meeting, I take some with me to “butter up” my clients.

Blueberry Scones Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup butter, chilled 1 cup fresh blueberries ¾ cup half-and-half cream 1 egg

Preparation Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut butter into mixture of flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add blueberries and toss to mix.

In separate bowl beat together the cream and egg and slowly pour into dry ingredients, stirring with a rubber scraper until dough forms. Knead just until it comes together, 4 or 5 times. Don’t over-handle or it will become dense.

Divide dough in half. On lightly floured board, shape each half into a 6-inch round. Cut into 6 wedges.

Bake on ungreased sheet about 20 minutes at 375°F. Serve warm.

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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Good Hum r

Baffling Bags

By Jon Kranz

W

hy do Jews keep their tallis bags in those clear plastic protective covers?

Why do we treat our tallasim like the “Boy in the Plastic Bubble?”

Perhaps this plastic fetish began a generation or two ago when our grandparents or even parents covered their sofas in similar seethrough plastic protection. I’m pretty sure that back then, tallis bags did not receive such bubble-wrap treatment, but the “cult of plasticality” somehow spread. So now we shield our shawls with such extreme prophylactic protection that they could easily survive a flood or a cruise on the Titanic.

Of course, our tallasim deserve special care, but that is exactly why we store them in those nice zippered tallis bags that are often velvety and personalized. I really don’t have a problem with that. And yes, I know those lovely tallis bags are not waterproof, but unless you surf to shul, your tallis should be just fine.

So my question is: Why do we then need to store our tallis bags in yet another bag, a clear plastic zippered bag? Isn’t that excessive?

In the world of engineering, such use of multiple protective layers is known as “redundancy.” Most oil tankers and hydroelectric dams use redundancy. So do space shuttles and nuclear plants. Of course, a nuclear meltdown is nothing compared to the emotional meltdown your dear grandmother would have if she saw a nasty cholent stain on the tallis bag she spent eight months knitting for you.

And therein lies the answer. The second tallis bag we use—the clear plastic bag—is not really designed to protect the tallis. No, no, no. Its sole purpose is to protect the inner tallis bag, which of course is like putting your suitcase in a giant Ziploc.

I know, I know. Your tallis bag has sentimental value. Your grandmother hand-sewed it as her last earthly act. She spent over a year working on your tallis bag, develop-

had it personalized? No problem. My grandson will change his name.”

But even if all tallis bags, made or bought, warrant extra protection, why must we use a see-through plastic cover? Why do we need to display the inner tallis bag like it’s the Mona Lisa? Can’t we just use an opaque or even translucent plastic bag from the grocery store?

More importantly, why are these secondary see-through tallis bag

Of course, a nuclear meltdown is nothing compared to the emotional meltdown your dear grandmother would have if she saw a nasty cholent stain on the tallis bag she spent eight months knitting for you.

ing severe carpal tunnel syndrome that may not have directly resulted in her demise, but certainly didn’t help. Your grammy did all of that so that her darling grandson would have the most beautiful tallis bag in the entire land. What a heartwarming tale.

Of course, some of us have store bought tallis bags with less-endearing back stories: “Hi, I’d like to buy a tallis bag for my grandson. Price range? The cheaper, the better. No zipper? No worries, I’ll give him a safety pin.

Oh, it’s used and the prior owner

covers so ubiquitous? Where do these plastic protectors come from? Who is behind this conspiracy of transparency, this clear plastic tactic?

I have a hunch. My sneaking suspicion is that an international cartel of brilliant bubbies has secretly flooded the market with those clear plastic tallis-bag protectors. But why would the bubbies do this? Think about it. It’s obvious.

In many cases, the bubbies are the ones literally losing precious years of their lives making us those personalized tallis bags, so they very much want them displayed for the

entire world to admire. But the bubbies are not stupid. They know that those lovely tallis bags, if left unprotected, will take a beating. And even if your tallis bag was given to you by your mother, wife, or someone else, the bubbies still care. That’s what makes them bubbies.

So the bubbies banded together to form a tallis-bag mafia, officially known as the “Sicilian Savtas,” but on the street lovingly referred to as the “Old Bags.” The Bubbie Mafia has one goal: to ensure that every new tallis bag receives a corresponding clear plastic protector. The bubbies will stop at nothing to achieve this goal and often resort to the most painful form of matriarchal torture: guilt tripping. And believe me, the bubbies also have complete control over all of the Judaica stores. How did that happen, you ask? Well, just like “The Godfather” was famous for making “an offer you can’t refuse,” the bubbies are notorious for making a brisket you can’t refuse.

I’m pretty sure that the Bubbie Mafia’s activities are illegal and that the tallis-using community should do something about this “fringe” organization. However, I for one am not about to turn the bubbies over to the authorities because I hear that the bubbies may deal in both plastic and plastique, and I really don’t want them sending me a tallis bag that is ticking. (Kaboom!)

Bottom line: I’m sorry for exposing the Bubbie Mafia tallis-bag scandal, but there’s no turning back now.

As the classic idiom fittingly goes, “The cat’s outta the bag.”

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I’m sad about the crashed Russian military jet. The TU-154 could have carried up to 180 military personnel instead of just 92!

– Tweet by Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), after a Russian military jet, which was carrying the Russian military choir and numerous civilians, crashed

Trump’s driver’s license casts doubt on height claims.

- Headline on left-wing political site, Politico

I know that a lot of the talk in the press for the first few days was how outrageous it is for a presidentelect to weigh in and breach this policy of one president at a time. But what I actually think is outrageous is for an outgoing administration, in the waning days of its presidency, to radically shift U.S. policy without the knowledge or support of the incoming administration.

- Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer, on MSNBC

Where you really have to fault the outgoing president is on his disastrous approach to the Middle East which I can bluntly sum up in six words, which is: praise Islam, ignore Christians, blame Jews.

- Fox News strategic analyst Lt. Col. Ralph Peters

Wrigley Rose

Donald Trump and his doctor claim he’s 6-foot-3, but his New York driver’s license says he’s actually an inch shorter. A copy of Trump’s license, obtained by POLITICO through an open-records request, lists the president-elect at 6-foot-2.

– Opening paragraph of Politico article

It’s very important, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier the old fashioned way because I’ll tell you what, no computer is safe. I don’t care what they say, no computer is safe. I have a boy who’s ten-years-old, he can do anything with a computer.

You want something to really go without detection, write it out and have it sent by courier.

– Trump, when asked about cyber-security

– Name of the first baby born in Chicago in 2017. She went home in a Cubs-colored car seat

MORE QUOTES

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21

We do not…believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue – in this case the construction of settlements – when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex. And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally.

- Spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May, criticizing John Kerry for calling the Netanyahu government the “most right-wing in Israel’s history”

Israel can either be Jewish or democratic. It cannot be both.

- John Kerry during his rambling 70+ minute speech about why the Obama administration abandoned Israel at the UN

All I Want for [the holiday] is White Genocide.

- Tweet by liberal Drexel University professor George Ciccariello-Maher

Presidential Tweets Happy New Year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don’t know what to do. Love!

North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen! @CNN just released a book called “Unprecedented” which explore the 2016 race & victory. Hope it does well but used worst cover photo of me!

The “Intelligence” briefing on socalled “Russian hacking” was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!

I would get a job as a bartender at night and a sales job during the day, and I would start working. To be a billionaire, you have got to get lucky… Could I become a multimillionaire again? I have no doubt.

- Billionaire Mark Cuban, in an interview for a recent episode of the podcast “How I Built This,” responding to what he would do if he had to start all over

So when the Chinese hacked OPM [U.S. government’s Office of Personnel Management] in 2015, 21-plusmillion current and former government employees and contractors had their personal data stolen by the Chinese. Why did the White House do nothing publicly in reaction to that hack, which, in some ways, was even more widespread than what we saw here from the Russians?

– ABC’s Jon Karl to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest

It is true that there was no public announcement about our response, but I can’t speak to what response may have been initiated in private.

– Earnest’s response

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A request to the gentleman who shoplifted from one of our local pawn shops today. Sir, you must have forgot that you gave the clerk your driver’s license with ALL of your personal information as well as providing him with your fingerprint when completing the pawn ticket before you stole from him which, by the way, was also all on camera. Please at least try to hide. The judge has already signed the warrant. When you make it this easy it takes all the fun out of chasing bad guys!

– Facebook posting by the Marietta County (Georgia) police department

Son of a gun. We may lose this election.

- Joe Biden, in an interview with the LA Times, recalling what he thought after watching a Trump rally on TV

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We can say, we have said, repeatedly over the last two months that our source is not the Russian government and it is not a state party.

- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, on Fox News with Sean Hannity, refuting claims that the Clinton campaign emails released by WikiLeaks came from the Russians

You know, this is not Woodstock. It’s not Summer Jam. It’s not a concert. It’s not about celebrities.

- Boris Epshteyn, head of Trump’s inaugural committee, when asked by CNN about celebrities not willing to perform at Trump’s inauguration

If something happens to him, then it happens to him. It’s like all the rest of us, no? That’s why we have a vice president and a speaker of the House and a whole line of people. They can just keep dying.

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

Obama’s Final, Most Shameful, Legacy Moment

By Charles Krauthammer

T

“When the chips are down, I have Israel’s back.” - Barack Obama, AIPAC conference, March 4, 2012

he audience – overwhelmingly Jewish, passionately pro-Israel and supremely gullible – applauded wildly. Four years later – his last election behind him, with a month to go in office and with no need to fool Jew or gentile

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again – Obama took the measure of Israel’s back and slid a knife into it.

People don’t quite understand the damage done to Israel by the U.S. abstention that permitted passage of a Security Council resolution condemning Israel over settlements. The administration pretends this is nothing but a restatement of long-standing U.S. opposition to settlements.

Nonsense. For the last 35 years, every administration, including a

bas, “we are waiting for him at The Hague.” I.e., the International Criminal Court.

Moreover, the resolution undermines the very foundation of a half-century of American Middle East policy. What becomes of “land for peace” if the territories Israel was to have traded for peace are, in advance, declared to be Palestinian land to which Israel has no claim?

The peace parameters enunciat-

That it should be declared foreign to the Jewish people is as if the Security Council declared Mecca and Medina to be territory to which Islam has no claim.

re-election-seeking Obama himself in 2011, has protected Israel with the U.S. veto because such a Security Council resolution gives immense legal ammunition to every boycotter, anti-Semite and zealous European prosecutor to penalize and punish Israelis.

An ordinary Israeli who lives or works in the Old City of Jerusalem becomes an international pariah, a potential outlaw. To say nothing of the soldiers of Israel’s citizen army.

“Every pilot and every officer and every soldier,” said a confidant of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Ab-

ed so ostentatiously by Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday are nearly identical to the Clinton parameters that Yasser Arafat was offered and rejected in 2000 and that Abbas was offered by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008. Abbas, too, walked away.

Kerry mentioned none of this because it undermines his blame-Israel narrative. Yet Palestinian rejectionism works. The Security Council just declared the territories legally Palestinian – without the Palestinians having to concede anything, let alone peace.

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The administration claims a kind of passive innocence on the text of the resolution, as if it had come upon it at the last moment. We are to believe that the ostensible sponsors – New Zealand, Senegal, Malaysia and a Venezuela that cannot provide its own people with toilet paper, let alone food – had for months been sweating the details of Jewish housing in East Jerusalem.

Nothing new here, protests deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes: “When we see the facts on the ground, again deep into the West Bank, beyond the separation barrier, we feel compelled to speak up against those actions.”

This is a deception. Everyone knows that remote outposts are not the issue. Under any peace, they will be swept away. Even the right-wing Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who lives in one of these West Bank Settlements, has stated publicly that “I even agree to vacate my settlement if there really will be a twostate solution.” Where’s the obstacle to peace?

A second category of settlement is the close-in blocs that border 1967 Israel. Here, too, we know in advance how these will be disposed of: They’ll become Israeli territory and, in exchange, Israel will swap over some of its land to a Palestinian state. Where’s the obstacle to peace here?

It’s the third category of “settlement” that is the most contentious and that Security Council resolution 2334 explicitly condemns: East Jerusalem. This is not just scandalous; it’s absurd. America acquiesces to a declaration that, as a matter of international law, the Jewish state has no claim on the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, indeed the entire Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. They belong to Palestine.

The Temple Mount is the most sacred site in all of Judaism. That it should be declared foreign to the Jewish people is as if the Security Council declared Mecca and Medina to be territory to which Islam has no claim. Such is the Orwellian universe Israel inhabits.

At the very least, Obama should have insisted that any reference to

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deep-seated antipathy to Israel that simply awaited a safe political interval for public expression.

Another legacy moment for Barack Obama. And his most shameful.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Forgotten Her es

Amazing Military Ships

By Avi Heiligman

A SEAL Delivery Vehicle team strike

The USS Echo

S

ince the dawn of warfare there has always been the need for ships. Built out of necessity ships are vital parts of a military’s ability to actually fight. The two main purposes of ships before the 20th century were as warships (to take part in the battle) and to transport troops.

Newer designs allowed navies to do much more including reconnaissance, tankers, minelayers and minesweepers, aircraft carriers, special missions and many other duties that would have been deemed impossible by ships before the Civil War. Here are some of the more interesting ships that have been a part of the American military.

An auxiliary ship is defined as any naval vessel that performs a duty to

The USCGC in full sail

USS Independence from General Dynamics

The commander and the outgoing commander of the USS Constitution, dressed in War of 1812 garb

help out other vessels of the military.

Notice that the word navy is missing from this definition as the army and coast guard also have naval vessels.

One ship that stands out for not much other than being the subject of the TV series The Wackiest Ship in the Army is the USS Echo. The all-wooden schooner was built in New Zealand in 1905 without any motors. Fifteen years later they were placed on the ship and in 1942 she was lent to the U.S. as part of the reverse Lend-Lease deal. Since wood doesn’t show up on radar she was easily able to avoid detection by the Japanese for three years. Used as a reconnaissance and delivering ship she was able to blend in with native ships while logging 40,000 nautical miles as a member

USS Kearsarge, a crane ship, circa 1936

of the U.S. Army. Eventually the Echo was returned to New Zealand and became a popular tourist attraction as a bar and museum.

Almost every ship that is currently commissioned by the U.S. is propelled by some type of motor or engine. The two exceptions are the USS Constitution and the USCGC Eagle.

The Constitution is a fascinating ship because it was launched in 1798. Yes, that date is correct, and the wooden hulled frigate, nicknamed Old Ironsides, is a fully commissioned U.S. Navy ship. While all of her current crew are active members of the Navy they dress in War of 1812-era battle clothes as it’s used as a parade ship.

The Horst Wessel was built for Nazi Germany in 1936. After WWII

ended the U.S. took control over the ship and renamed it the USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter) Eagle. It has been tradition to train Coast Guard cadets on a sailing ship and the Eagle has provided that opportunity since 1946. Trainees are taught various tasks and the 57-man permanent crew are their teachers during the two- to six-week training sessions.

The USS Kearsarge was a fearful battleship in the years prior to WWI. However, by the time the Great War started she was considered old and used only as a training ship. Then, in the 1920s, she was in a class all of her own as a crane was placed on her decks. One of her more interesting assignments was to help raise

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

The USS Constitution

the USS Squalus. The Squalus was a submarine that sunk off the coast of New Hampshire during a test dive.

33 submariners managed to survive using a new type of breathing device.

Once the survivors were rescued – 26 sailors died during the accident – the Kearsarge was on hand to lift the submarine from the depths.

The Kearsarge was decommissioned in 1955 and has the distinction of being the first crane ship in U.S. Navy history. Nine other crane ships were commissioned after WWII and none are still in active service.

The dawn of flight has been typically accredited to the Wright Brothers flying their airplane in 1903.

While this is true for aircraft that are heavier-than-air, other contraptions have flown powered by a lighterthan-air source. To simplify matters for the reader hot air balloons have been around for a lot longer than airplanes, and in the early 1920s the U.S. built a carrier to house these balloons at sea. Curiously named USS Wright, the one-of-a-kind ship was around for the interwar period and soon was converted into a seaplane tender.

Recently the navy commissioned a stealth destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, which had technology first used on a ship named the USS Sea Shadow. Built in the 1980s by Lockheed, the Sea Shadow was an experimental ship that had a very unique hull design. Instead of trying to explain the ship’s design, a picture will do the trick. It was intended only to test the feasibility of a stealth ship and was never commissioned into the navy, although it is listed on their registrar.

The ship had a crew of twelve and was revealed to the public in 1993. In 2012 it was sold for scrap.

Most combat ships don’t have the ability of getting close to shore for combat operations. In the past, big ships stayed out at sea and lobbed shells inland with the hope of hitting the target or smaller, less powerful boats would get in close to try and do the job. A new type of ship was needed for battle, and in the past ten years the littoral combat ship (LCS) was introduced. Two classes were built.

The USS Freedom class is built by Lockheed using the traditional hull that is seen on most ships. General Dynamics designed the USS Independence and its unique trimaran design. These can carry two MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and can transport an assorted array of land vehicles, equipment and troops. Sporting the latest radar technology and missile systems the LCS can get into the objective area, perform its mission, and move away quickly. The number of these ships to be built has changed based on the secretary of defense of the U.S.; the current number is 26, with 12 already commissioned.

As with airplanes, not all ships built are meant to fight the enemy.

Some have the job of getting troops to shore which was the case of the WWII-era Higgins boats. Maritime combat units have been experimenting with “submersible canoes” since WWII to get commandos to their target undetected. The Navy SEALs have their own version named the SEAL Delivery Vehicle or SDV. The SDV are launched from submarines, surface craft or dropped from C-130 Hercules planes. The SCUBA-wearing crew of four – a pilot, co-pilot and two other combat swimmers – then make headway to their target. The SDV is a battery-powered vessel that

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US Navy Sea Shadow stealth craft

goes slow underwater but has a range of 36 miles. 25 were built with three being sold to the British for use by their Special Boat Service.

These are just some of the unique ships that have graced the American military. Innovators in many branches of governments are always looking at crazy ideas to see if they are feasible to produce. Ensuring we have an edge over the enemy is major reason why these ships were created. New

types of ships like these were never thought to be feasible and were easily dismissed, making the servicemen and women who operate these ships history makers.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at avi heiligman@gmail.com.

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Classifieds SERVICES Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242 The Children’s Clothing Gemach in Cedarhurst is fully stocked for boys/girls in sizes newborn-teen.

To make an appointment please call/text 516-712-7735 Struggling with Shalom Bayis?

The Shalom Bayis Hotline 732-523-1112. Caring rabbanim answering your questions for free.

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CALL 917-217-3676 NAVIEN REPAIR SERVICE Inc. 24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE 516-586-4233 lic/ins Michael Goldstein Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/women Group/private sessions Gift Cards Available www. Peacefulpresence.com 516 -371 -3715

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Classifieds

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

LAWRENCE: Spacious 4BR On One Level, 2.5 Bath Splanch, Private Setting, Waterviews, Fin Basement, Close To All…$925K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LAWRENCE: PRICE REDUCED Gracious & Spacious 9BR, 5 Bath CH Colonial, Huge Eik, Formal Dr, Den, Fin Basement, Set On 1/2 Acre, Prime Location...$1.250M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE: NEW LISTING Prime Location, Beautiful Renovated 4BR, 2.5BA Split level, Wide FDR, Den, Backyard W/Hot Tub, New Roof, Windows, Too Much to List!!!…$849K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: PRICE REDUCED All Redone 3BR, 2 New Bath Open Concept Ranch, Custom Kitchen, New Plumbing & Heating, Anderson Windows & Central Air, Low Taxes, Close To All…$599K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com HEWLETT HARBOR: Magnificent 5BR, 4.5BA Split Level, Formal DR, Eik, Den, Great Opportunity in Hewlett Harbor, Close To All…$879K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL RE INWOOD The Bayview Building Many options available including 5000 Square foot high ceiling 1st floor showroom/ office / mixed use space.

2nd Floor office spaces with Waterview and views of NYC skyline. 1200 sq ft, 2000 sq ft and 6000 sq ft spaces available. Parking, Mincha minyan and great neighbors. Owner will customize and design space to your needs.

Call or text 516-567-0100

HOUSES FOR SALE INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood!

Lots of options. Tons of parking.

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Call 516-567-0100 CEDARHURST: Office Spaces, 3,400SF Ground Floor & 3,200SF Lower Level W/4 Bathrooms, Kitchenette, & On-Site Parking, Great for Any Professional Use, Can Be Divided into 1000SF or 1200SF For Lease... Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 EAST ROCKAWAY: 6,200 +/- SF Building with Retail Spaces, Basement, Some Parking, Near Municipal Lot & Major Highways, Great Location, High Visibility, For Sale/ Lease…Call Ian For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL RE HEMPSTEAD: 1600 +/- SF Professional Office Space in Beautiful Elevator Bldg with Excellent Parking, For Lease…Call Lori For More Details (516) 295-3000 www. pugatch.com LYNBROOK: 2,948 +/- SF Medical/Professional Bldg, Office on 1stFlr, Duplex Apt + Bsmt, 2 Car Garage W/Area for 6 Cars, Former Dental Office, For Lease… Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 ROSEDALE: 750 +/- SF Retail Store W/4 Parking Spots, 10’ Ceilings, Great High-Traffic Location on Woodmere/Rosedale Border, For Lease…Call Randy For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE

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

Call/text now for complimentary market analysis of your residential or commercial property.

516-655-3636 Cheryl “Chedva” Slansky, MBA Licensed Associate RE Broker, RealtyConnect USA The #1 Real Estate Office 2015 FY by LIBN

WOODMERE: Follow The Leader To Woodmere, Now Is The Time To Act!!! No Metered Parking, Various Retail/Office Spaces Available, For Sale/Lease...

Call For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL RE

APT FOR SALE

VALLEY STREAM : Various Sized Retail Spaces in Emerson Plaza, Up to 1,800+/-SF, Plenty of Parking, For Lease…

Call Lori for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

Large One Bedroom Apt. in Lawrence Close to train, underground parking, spacious living room/dining area.

Motivated seller $118,000.

Call 917-299-8082

WANTAGH Various Sized Retail Spaces, Ample On-Site Parking, Great Location, For Lease…Call Alan or Randy for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

2 BEDROOM APT AVAILABLE FURNISHED Newly renovated basement apartment with high ceilings, airy and light.

Brand new kitchen and appliances.

All rooms have split air conditioner.

Full bathroom. Rent includes gas and electricity, air conditioner and heat.

Please call Ricki 347-248-9160

CO-OP FOR SALE WOODMERE: PET FRIENDLY BLDG Well Maintained 1 Bedroom Apt On 5th Floor in Elevator Bldg, Bright & Sunny, Eik, Washer/Dryer In Basement, Close To All…$129K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: BEST BUY PRICE REDUCED - SMALL PETS OK – Beautiful Corner Unit in Elevator Bldg, 2BR, 5 Closets, All Large Rooms, Sunny & Spacious, Close To All...$165K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

APT FOR RENT

WOODMERE: NEW EXCLUSIVE Brand New Totally Renovated, Quartz Countertops, Stainless Steel Appliances, New Cabinetry, HW Floors, New Windows, Marble & Stone Bathroom, Recessed Lighting, W/D In Bldg, Close To Railroad & Shopping, Possible Second Bedroom, Heat & Water Included…1 Or 2YR Lease…$1,895/mo.

Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

APT FOR RENT TO RENT: SMALL OFFICE SUITE with private bathroom in Far Rockaway on Beach 9 St. Newly renovated. Private entrance.

Call 516-551-4888 for information

STUDIO APARTMENT FOR RENT in Far Rockaway on Beach 9 St. Newly renovated. Private entrance.

Call 516-551-4888 for information CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking.

Call Sam @ 516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080

Brand New Office Studio for Rent In Heart of Far Rockaway  Features:

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 Separate Private Entrance  Unlimited Parking  Well maintained outdoor area

Great for Therapy Office or any type!

For more information please call:

917-929-3241

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Lovely 2BR Co-op, Elev, Renovated 1BR Apt, Eik, Renovated 1BR Apt, Eik, 3BR,2.5BA Hi-Ranch,Eik, Pets Ok, Near All..$165K Close To LIRR..$1,895/mo Close To All..$1,995/mo Den,Patio,SD#14..$550K

Magnificent 3BR Ranch, Renov 4BR, 2.5BA Split, 5BR, 4.5BA Split, Eik, 9BR,4.5BA CH Colonial Lot Size 80x100..$649K FDR, Den, SD#15..$849K FDR, Den, SD#14..$879K On X-Lg Ppty..$1.250M

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(516)

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cbraunstein@pugatch.com

295-3000

www.pugatch.com

spugatch@pugatch.com

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 Two 900 SF Spaces W/Parking  Medical/Professional Us e

 1,100 +/-SF Retail Store W/Bsmt  New to Market!!! Great Location

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 HELP WANTED PART TIME AND FULL TIME BOOKKEEPING POSITION Fast growing accounting and consulting firm seeks a qualified individual to assist our accounting staff in providing bookkeeping services for our clients. Qualified individuals will have the opportunity to join our employee friendly culture At least 2 years working experience Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, QuickBooks a MUST Email – info@smallbizoutsource.com CLERICAL POSITION F/T for Queens office Proper candidate will have: good computer skills, ability to multitask and office experience.

Prior early intervention experience a plus. Will Train.

Competitive comp. pkg.

Fax Resume 718-261-3702 Att. Bella Or email: cara.challenge2@thejnet.com Mezzo - BP, Ced. Friendly, fashionable and people loving saleswoman needed for sundays and afternoon hours.

Email service@shopmezzo.com

HELP WANTED GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co.

Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348 Seeking a dedicated, responsible secretary for a boys’ elementary school.

Requirements: proficiency in Microsoft Word; knowledge of Microsoft Office and QuickBooks is a plus, multi-tasking, including answering phones, delivering messages, making photocopies, typing sheets, and other standard office-related tasks.

M-Th, 1:00-5:15.

Availablility on Sundays is a plus but not required.

To join our team-minded staff, please send your resume to mdgoodman@siachyitzchok.org Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. LOCAL DAY CAMP seeking to hire a friendly REGISTRAR/OFFICE MANAGER! Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Programs.

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Send resume to registrarcamp@gmail.com

BOYS YESHIVA PRESCHOOL Seeking Warm Experienced Morah 5 Towns/FR Area Exciting Opportunity!

Please email resume with references to morahseek@gmail.com

CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Fax: (212) 480-3691 ~ Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com

DIGITAL MARKETING AND SALES ASSOCIATE WANTED Fast growing coaching firm seeks to hire a part-time digital marketing and sales associate to manage marketing initiatives and engage in sales prospecting. This is a work from home position with flexible hours.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Marketing development and management Prospecting clients for service and product sales (leads will be provided) Website and Social Media content management, including editing and uploading video Related skills: This position requires knowledge of online and print marketing techniques, sales experience, creative writing skills, and attention to detail.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

Classifieds

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

HELP WANTED Mazel Tov! Due to simchos, Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway is seeking qualified experienced moros for our Limudei Kodesh Departments 5th grade and junior high level.

Assistants needed for Elementary school Limudei Chol department.

Please email to mweitman@tagschools. org or call 718-471-8444 ext. 214. Full time sub Jr. High Eng subjects m-t email cdwieder@gmail.com Immediate Opening for warm, capable Pre-School assistant at Ganger Early Childhood Division of TAG. please send resume to csender@gmail.com WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE A MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST. Job will require your own car and being computer/internet savy.

If you consider yourself a marketing professional, this is the position for you. Opportunity to make unlimited income potential.

Don’t delay.

Give us a call at 917-612-2300 Experienced Real Estate Sales agent needed for a HIGH Producing real estate office who is seeking an opportunity to Earn & Learn more!!!

Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential.

OVERNIGHT \WEEKEND COUNSELOR Responsible and exp’d staff to live in a beautiful group home & work 3 nights\week 7pm - 9am. Staff are not req’d to remain awake after 11pm.

Staff are req’d to work two weekends per month. Free rent & food. Stipend given as well. Great for college girl.

For additional info contact Frayde Yudkowsky at 732.948.4636 or fyudkowsky@evolvetreatment.com

MISC SHEITEL BOX GMACH Sheitel boxes of all sizes for short term use.

Please contact 718-753-3264

SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com

MISC LOST AND FOUND: Someone left a piece of jewelry last week at The Coffee Bar and Restaurant in Lawrence, NY. It has been found and if you can identify what it is and can describe it, please message the restaurant or call the store and ask for Tuly. Thank you.

Restaurant is located at: 345 Central Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone: (516) 791-5200 Gift It Forward A Non-Profit Gift Shop 404 Central Avenue (inside ELZEE) A non-profit gift shop whose proceeds help others in need through donations to well deserving charities.

We hope you donate your unneeded new gifts to our cause.

Household gift items, ceramics, Judaica, crystals, framed art, sterling silver, designer bags, wallets and jewelry (jewelry can be used) Please help us Gift It Forward

ELZEE The Ultimate in Modest Fashion.

Under new management!

404 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst 516-569-4700 Visit our backroom clearance section Skirts 2 for $40, Tops 2 for $25, Dresses 50% off!

Bring this ad in for 10% off your purchase.

Not to be combined and excludes sale items WIG GEMACH Everyone in our community deserves to look great! Donate used wigs and make a world of a difference.

For appointments to see wigs or to donate Call Deena 845-304-6668

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Your

Money

Will it Blend?

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

I

f you’ve spent any time on the internet, you know it’s a vast rabbit hole of places to waste precious minutes of your life. “Will it Blend?” is one of those places, a video series showing off the Blendtec line of blenders. The videos feature the company’s founder, smiling in a white lab coat and safety goggles, dropping the day’s experiment into one of his company’s appliances. Not surprisingly, avocados, credit cards, and Big Mac Extra-Value meals all blend just fine — but iPhones, golf clubs, and an English-German dictionary on CD-ROM don’t fare nearly so well. (“Don’t try this at home,” they warn.)

Taxpayers play a similar game.

It’s not as fun to watch as a Justin Bieber doll in a blender, but it’s potentially far more profitable. That game, of course, is “Will it Deduct?”

The results don’t go viral in the same way as the “Will it Blend?” videos.

But they do wind up on the internet, in the form of Tax Court opinions.

This week’s “Will it Deduct?” story features Herbie Vest, a CPA who launched H.D. Vest, an investment advisory firm for fellow CPAs. He took the company public and stayed

on until 2001, when he sold out to Wells Fargo for $125 million. By that point, he found himself looking for a new challenge in life. He found it in his own past. When Vest was just two years old, his father was found dead in the bathroom of his Texas shop.

he played “Will it Deduct?” The IRS pureed his claim on the grounds that he hadn’t embarked on his effort for profit. So he applied for a do-over and took his case to the Tax Court.

Two months ago, the Court released its opinion. Would Vest’s deduction

Vest spent $6.4 million, pursuing the case as doggedly as any fictional detective.

Investigators ruled it a suicide, but in 2003, he received an anonymous letter alleging murder. So Vest began investigating this coldest of cases.

Vest spent $6.4 million, pursuing the case as doggedly as any fictional detective. In 2007, he tried to salvage that effort with a book or movie, hiring a writer to tell his story and a PR firm to market it. But Vest never found a killer, and the story never found a buyer.

You can probably guess what Vest did with his pile of bills. That’s right,

fare better than a toilet plunger in a blender? Here’s what the judge said:

By January 2008 [Vest] had been investigating his father’s death for five years. As of that time, his investigative activities had not generated a single dollar of revenue. Those activities generated no income during 2008, 2009, or 2010, and [Vest] had no reasonable prospect of generating future income. Petitioner never developed a business plan for commercializing his father’s story. He has no professional

background in writing, book publishing, or media. He did not modify the scale or scope of his investigative activities during 2008-2010 in an effort to minimize the substantial losses he was incurring.

Sadly for Vest, his investigation did not deduct, and now he owes the IRS $4 million in tax.

Don’t let Vest’s disappointment stop you from playing “Will it Deduct?” Section One of the tax code imposes a tax on every taxpayer and sets forth the various rates. Think of it as a “red light” on the road to financial independence. But the rest of the code outlines hundreds of exceptions to that tax — the deductions, credits, loopholes, and strategies that give a “green light” for taxpayers to pulse, chop, and liquefy their tax bills. So make sure to take advantage of those green lights and start planning today.

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

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

You are cordially invited to a Special Networking Event by the JEWISH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (a networking group) and

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM Location: Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 7011 150th St., Flushing, NY 11367 Raffle Drawing sponsored by:

Publisher's Report

Yaakov Serle

Celebrating the QJL's 5-Year Anniversary Words of Welcome

Rabbi Moshe Faskowitz Rabbi of the Torah Center of Hillcrest and Rosh Yeshiva of Madregas Ha'Adam

Delicious Buffet Catered by

Introductory Remarks

Scott Stringer New York City Comptroller Guest Speaker

Duvi Honig Wine Tasting by

Founder and Director of the Jewish Chamber of Commerce Emcee

Yaniv Meirov

Director of the CHAZAQ organization Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

For more information and reservations, Call 718-880-2622 or email:QueensJewishLink@gmail.com.

NYS Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz Bohorodzaner Group

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Life C ach

That’s a Laugh!

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

T

wo interesting comments this weekend got me thinking.

“Today was a great day,” said my mom, “because we laughed a lot!”

“I learned this week from my daughter,” said my sis, “that whether you feel happy and then smile, or smile then feel happy, the exact same mechanisms and channels are in use.” What exactly that means I’m not sure, but it sounds to me like even if you’re not feeling that terrific, you can try and smile and you may get some happiness neurotransmitters released. Which seems a good idea, since it might start you on your way to laughter. And that, my mom – a very wise woman – says helps you have a great day!

And who doesn’t want a great day? What with “news” always meaning “bad news!” And our classic childhood protectors, the police, being redefined as the bad guys. And general anxiety at its peak, to the point where we might want to amend the word society to “sanxiety.” Who can resist some extra opportunities for laughter in their life?!

A good giggle or a great “hahaha” seems to release a lot of pent-up tension. Which many have, if not close to the surface, hidden in the recesses

of their mind. Being able to just blast out a laugh may be a lot more fun than hours of therapy, which may still be necessary. Though if addressed with a little levity, might not seem as daunting. It certainly could be a useful tool to have at your command to try and replace crying, disconnecting, drinking, or worse.

together.

Step 4: Give it your all – and hold it!

There, you’ve done it, you should be in a full scale smile at this point.

Stick with it. And let the endorphins flow.

Neuropeptides are activated with this simple action. These tiny mole-

And who doesn’t want a great day?

So how do we get to smile? And then can that really bring us all the way to laughing?

Warning: Do not try this at home alone. I mean, do not try this on a subway with sketchy characters.

Follow these steps: Step one: Elongate your lips out to the sides. This you’ll notice also presents some awareness in your eyes.

Step two: Slowly begin to show your upper teeth.

Step three: Now exaggerate it and show your bottom teeth as well.

Caution: Do not separate your tongue from your palate. You may want to also check your molars are

cules cause neurons (no, not morons, neurons) to communicate. “Feel good neurotransmitters” are released, such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. They help relax your body.

They can slow the heart down or lower blood pressure. Endorphins are a natural pain reliever, so let them course through your body. And serotonin acts as an antidepressant, so let it flow through your mind. Best of all, all this is produced with no messy side effects!

Furthermore, the journal of Neuropsychologia reported that seeing a smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region that pro-

cesses sensory reward. This means when you see a smiling face you suddenly feel rewarded! So follow all the steps above, and run – do not walk – to a mirror immediately. You’ll see a smiling face right away, upfront and personal!

Studies also show that smiles are contagious. They showed that when people saw a smiling face it took effort for them to frown. They automatically mimicked the smiling facial expression.

Finally, studies show people reported “smiling people” to be better looking than other faces. Wow. That’s a lot less trouble than all the grooming we usually require to be so beautiful.

It seems like smiling saves a lot of money, time, and trouble by greatly reducing the need for pills, therapists, doctors, manicures, makeup, and hairdressers. So smiling really sounds like a win-win!

Now if all that isn’t something to laugh about, I don’t know what is.

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach.

She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 5, 2017

THE WERNER BROTHERS of KMR Present

WINTER BREAK 2017

Palm Springs, CA - Miramonte Resort & Spa

January 29 - February 9, 2017 { Stay up to eleven nights }

KMR Speakers & Presenters : | Rabbi Shea Werner | Rabbi Shimshon Sherer Food & Beverage Director: Michael Schick Under the Rabbinical Supervision of Rabbi R Dorfman

WINTER 2017 WITH THE WERNER BROTHERS

1-888-567-0100 or 718-778-4241 | WWW.KMRTOURS.COM

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JANUARY 5, 2017 | The Jewish Home