Five Towns Jewish Home - 6-17-21

June 17, 2021

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Community 41 Spirited Hachnosas Sefer Torah in Honor of Shaya Feiner

57 Celebrating the Future M’dor L’dor

60 JEP REN This Year was 4Hashem

56 A Celebration of Torah at Sh’or Yoshuv Dinner

PAGE 9

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

T

his year, families were able to spend a lot more quality time with their dads.

During quarantine and with remote schedules part of “normal” life, fathers spent a lot more time at home. And that meant that many of them were around when school buses came in the morning and then dropped kids off hours later; when supper for the family was being served; and when homework was being completed. It gave fathers an enlightening insight into how their homes were run when they spent time at work.

It also meant that families had a different view on how fathers spent their days. I remember, growing up, when people asked me what my father did, I didn’t know how to respond. I knew what his title was, but what did he actually do at work? As an environmental chemist, my friends would wonder if he mixed chemicals in a lab or had special beakers in his office. Turns out, there were no esoteric chemicals being mixed in laboratories in his office building. Sure, there were days when he had to go out in the field to measure samples, but a lot of his day – it seemed to me when I visited him at work – involved lots of analysis.

Every summer, my husband’s company invites the children to enjoy a day at the office. There are games and contests and fun summer food for the kids. This year, my children asked if they would be going again to the family fun day. But with his office pre-

paring for a soft opening as people continue to work remotely, the special day is not in the cards this year.

Over the past year, though, it was bringyour-family-to-work day every day. There weren’t games or prizes or candies given out, but kids were very much part of the equation when it came to one’s work day. Mornings were more relaxed because there was no train to catch. After hopping off the school bus, kids were able to stop by to say hi to their fathers in their virtual offices.

So what did they see over the past few months? Well, kids saw that there’s a lot more to parents’ work than just typing up some emails. They saw that work involves deadlines and constant communication with colleagues. They learned that there were clients to answer to and bosses to respond to.

Days revolved around meetings and conferences and achieving work goals.

This Father’s Day, when we express our appreciation to our fathers, there will be an added acknowledgment for all that they do that comes from that extra layer that we were privy to this year. Hopefully, over the coming months, as offices begin to open, we won’t be able to spend as much time together, but for now, let’s celebrate the wonderful fathers in our lives.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

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 Classified Deadline: Monday 5:00PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH CLASSIFIED ADS The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor.

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

Shabbos Zemanim

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

40

Op-Ed: We Must Stop Hate Crimes

67

Congrats Grads!

124 NEWS

34

Global

12

National

28

Odd-but-True Stories

36

ISRAEL Israel News

Faint Discipline by Rafi Sackville

22 81

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

72

Wellsprings of Torah by Rav Moshe Weinberger

74

Delving into the Daf

76

PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

78

TJH Speaks with David Weprin, Candidate for NYC Comptroller 84

122

TJH Speaks with Elizabeth Crowley, Candidate for Queens Borough President 88 Teachers Who Made a Difference 94

All That the American Flag Represents by Avi Heiligman

122

HEALTH & FITNESS Getting Him on Board by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

102

Eating Healthy in Camp by Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

104

Parenting Pearls

108

Dear Editor, We were very moved by the article written about Mr. Josh Skurnick.

Josh was a really special Yid who is already sorely missed. He would join our Youth minyan at the White Shul and inspire the kids with his heartfelt tefillos. He was approachable, warm, and friendly and always looking to put a smile on someone else’s face. When Josh saw that some teenagers were struggling to come on time to shul, he announced at the end of davening that they would receive a free slice of pizza at his store if they would come early to learn before Shacharis. That was Josh. A true ben aliya and always aspiring to grow and do more. He would look to motivate and bring out the best of everyone he encountered.

A young troubled man I knew needed settle down and get a job. Due to his unpredictable mood swings and complex history, it was unlikely any employer would risk giving him a shot at creating a brighter future for himself.

Josh hired him and enabled him to have that opportunity. And it worked.

Josh’s legacy and golden middos lit up the world and will never be forgotten.

Zvi Soroka Inwood, NY Dear Editor, Esther Miller’s plea to heighten our awareness and increase our sensitivity to the divorced women in our community will hopefully elicit a productive response. In addition to

Success Space for Women (a project of the JCCRP), there is a wonderful organization called Sister To Sister which services divorced women in our community. It is a comprehensive resource and support network for single mothers raising children or young divorcees without children.

To receive assistance (or to volunteer), Sister To Sister can be reached at: 718-338-2943.

Gigi Baum Dear Editor, Re:” Jewish Athlete Forced to Eat Pork” (p.29 in last week’s paper) It has emerged that the individual is actually a “Black Hebrew Israelite,” part of a cult that claims to be Jewish but is not considered so by halachic authorities.

Regards, M.H. Dear Editor, If you receive a letter from the Dept. of Labor and did NOT apply for unemployment benefits, it may be a scam due to a large data breach over the last few years. If you receive a letter, the DOL recommends taking steps to check the integrity of your identity and make sure you have not been a victim of identity theft by contacting credit reporting agencies and the DOL fraud center, https://DOL. ny.gov/report-fraud. Also, immediately change passwords and check your credit report. Consider notifying Continued on page 10

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Spatchcock Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken

112

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

98

JWOW! 110 Your Money

133

But I’m Still a Little Boy by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

134

HUMOR

How often do you wear sunscreen?

Centerfold 70 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

114

How Trump Can Flip the Senate by Marc A. Thiessen

118

Inside the Palace Intrigue in Jordan and a Thwarted “Deal of the Century” By David Ignatius 120 CLASSIFIEDS

128

Daily Only in the sun

23 % 48 %

When I remember

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Never

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Continued from page 8

the IRS in case a falsified tax return is filed in your name.

Shoshana Averbach Brooklyn, NY Dear Editor, The attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was more than horrendous. So was the turmoil which affected multiple cities in the country last year. People created chaos by burning federal buildings, looting and killing innocent people including 264 federal, state, military and local enforcement officers.

Creating a commission will only make sense if it is composed of independent candidates who are not being influenced by either party. It must find the culprits and bring them to justice.

To continue fabricating narratives camouflaging the facts is not the answer!

Heinz Mayer Garden City, NY Dear Editor, What is a common taking? One example would be a government taking, where the government seizes a private citizen’s land for a public project.

In such a case the government must

compensate the landowner for the market value of the land, deeming this a quid pro quo transaction.

However, there exists another type of taking with no quid pro quo involved. This is the taking of the Torah by us, the Jews, with the Creator getting nothing in return. No other comparable type of taking exists on record. Is it any coincidence that the Creator also created us out of kindness, out of no obligation?

Besides enjoying the benefit of the bargain, in substance we received a document of perfection. Just to get a glimpse into the majesty, purity and perfection of the Torah, we need only look to the beginning of this week’s parsha to find the built-in remazim.

The verse says, “Zot chukat haTorah... v’yikchu eleicha para aduma temima asher ein ba mum, asher lo ala aleha ol.” We find kicha in the verse which is symbolic of the Torah which is a pure taking for us. The verse then says it’s tamim, complete, a reference to the Torah which is “temima.” It’s so tamim that it has no “mum” – blemish, it’s perfection. And the Torah of perfection has no “ol” – yoke on it. For it is man that accepts the yoke of Heaven upon him, but the Torah in its purest form has no yoke or encumbrance on it.

What a wonderful gift of perfection we received to draw close to the Al-mighty. Not only is the Torah a pure taking for us, but in substance, it’s a pure and perfect document.

Steven Genack Dear Editor, To the woman who lost her hair due to corona and does not know if she should tell her dates and shadchanim that she is wearing a wig, please note that this too shall pass. Many of us experienced lingering symptoms after having corona. Thankfully, we will able to ride out the illness but loss of smell and taste, extreme fatigue, and lethargy lingered. After a few months, though, slowly but surely, things have gone back to normal.

There is no need to make mountains out of molehills. You are experiencing something that will, with G-d’s help, not affect you in a few months.

No need to invite any whisperings or questions. Enjoy not having to blowdry your hair every night for now –

until, iy”H, you get married and will cover your hair once again.

Sincerely, Nava Mermelstein Dear Editor, I know that it’s a very busy time of year for people between graduations, end of school parties, and packing up kids for camp. Even so, if you live in New York City, please take a few minutes to vote. The mayor of New York can truly affect our day-to-day lives.

(Remember the clean, safe streets we experienced under Giuliani and Bloomberg? Oh, how I long for those days!) It takes just a few minutes to vote. When politicians see that our community votes, then they make sure to pay attention to our needs and concerns. A vote on Election Day (or do early voting and vote earlier!) reverberates for the next few years that that person is in office. Let your voice be heard!

Make sure to vote!

A concerned New Yorker

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

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

The Week In News

Auckland is Awesome

Want to know where you should be living? Auckland, New Zealand, has been named the world’s most livable city for 2021, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reported.

The city won the honor due to its successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed public spaces to remain open during the survey period between February 22 and March 21, 2021.

New Zealand had been quick to use lockdowns to contain the spread

of Covid-19 and had shut its borders to most international travelers.

According to The Global Livability Index for this year, the top ten most livable cities in the world are Auckland, New Zealand; Osaka, Japan; Adelaide, Australia; Wellington, New Zealand; Tokyo, Japan; Perth, Australia; Zurich, Switzerland; Geneva, Switzerland; Melbourne, Australia; and Brisbane, Australia. No U.S. cities made the top ten.

The score is based on how the city ranks in various aspects of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

This year, however, EIU included indicators such as stress on healthcare resources, and restrictions on local events and public places.

Simon Baptist, global chief economist at the EIU, told CNBC, “There’s been quite a big shake-up in terms of, certainly the top 10, but also right throughout the ranking, based upon the Covid-19 situation.”

He added, “Asia has some of the world’s most livable cities. It also has some of the least livable.”

The list of least livable cities includes locations such as Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Karachi, Pakistan, as well as Papua New Guinea’s capital

of Port Moresby. The list is updated twice annually.

Adding that he expects European cities to do better in the next survey, Baptist said, “It’ll be interesting to see there, if things in Europe and the U.S. have opened up more, especially in terms of international travel. But (if) things in Australia and New Zealand still have not, then we might find the ranking of Australian and New Zealand cities suffering a bit.”

Cuba Suspends Cash Deposits in Dollars

Cuba announced on Thursday that its banks would temporarily cease accepting cash deposits made in dollars. The new policy will be implemented beginning June 21.

According to Cuba’s Central

Bank, the suspension is due to U.S. sanctions and “extreme” economic measures restricting the use of the currency abroad.

In a statement broadcast on state TV, the Central Bank said, “In view of the obstacles that the U.S. embargo creates for the national bank system to deposit abroad the U.S. dollars that are collected in the country, a decision was made to temporarily suspend deposits in U.S. banknotes in Cuba’s bank and financial system.”

The Bank’s Vice President Yamilé Berra Cires also noted a loss of partnerships with foreign banks, and actions brought against Cuban banks by foreign banks.

“It is ever more difficult for Cuba to find international banking or financing institutions willing to receive, convert or process U.S. currency in cash,” the Central Bank statement stated but noted that it would continue to accept deposits in other currencies.

Transfers will continue without “limitations,” and account holders will still be able to withdraw funds from dollar accounts, the Bank emphasized.

It is not clear how long the suspension will last.

EFRAT

We are devastated at the loss of our beloved leader, who left us bereft, like orphans without a father With profound grief, we announce the passing of one of the most inspirational individuals of our times, a man of vision who blazed a path and showed us the way; a man of great action and kindness

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Who devoted himself heart and soul to saving Jewish children.

In the zechut of his dedication

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babies were saved by EFRAT together with its donors We tearfully mourn his passing together with Jewish communities and friends around the world and commit to continuing his sacred legacy with diligence and dedication.

EFRAT - C.R.I.B.

U.S.A. 1274 49th St. Suite 569 Brooklyn, NY 11219 Committee for the Rescue of Israel’s Babies Tel: 718-697-7022 efrat@efrat.org.il Donations by credit card can be made through our secure website at www.efrat.info

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Russia to Provide Advanced Satellites to Iran

Russia is preparing to supply an advanced satellite system to Iran, providing the rogue power with the ability to track targets across the Middle East, including in Israel, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Russia will provide the Kanopus-V satellite, which is equipped with a high-resolution camera, to Iran. The satellite is marketed for civilian use, but Iranian military officials have made multiple trips to Russia to negotiate the terms of the agreement.

The report, which cited current and former U.S. and Middle Eastern officials briefed on details of the arrangement, said that the satellite would allow Iran continuous monitoring of facilities ranging from Persian Gulf oil refineries and Israeli military bases to Iraqi barracks that house U.S. troops.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told NBC News that the reports are “just fake news.”

“At the very least, I don’t know anything about this kind of thing.

Those who are speaking about it, probably will maybe know more about it. It’s just nonsense, garbage.”

North Macedonia’s Jewish Lawmaker Faces Anti-Semitism

Where Bnei Torah Become Talmidei chachamim

Rasela Mizrahi, a 39-year-old Jewish fertility researcher from North Macedonia, was appointed last year to serve 100 days as a non-

partisan pick for the position of temporary Labor Minister, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported.

At the time, though, Mizrahi “had zero interest in politics,” she told JTA. “But I thought it’d send a good message for women. Plus, like any Jewish daughter, I wanted to make my parents proud.”

However, during a routine press conference in February 2020, as Mizrahi “talked unemployment, stimulus plans, welfare. The usual stuff,” her message was upstaged by a large wooden sign that read “the Republic of Macedonia.”

The country had changed its name the previous year due to pressure from Greece, and the sign placed Mizrahi, who was not a member of a political party, at the center of a debate. Mizrahi emphasized that the sign was “part of the furniture” and said, “The sign was just there. I didn’t have to put it up there.”

Following the incident, journalist Branko Trickovski, who supports the leftist SDSM party, ridiculed Mizrahi on Facebook, claiming she gains strength from “eating hummus made of dead Jews.”

A former official from Mizrahi’s ministry said that Mizrahi was planning to place an Israeli flag at her office.

Yet another SDSM activist claimed Mizrahi was a “Jew who worked for the Nazi occupation in World War II.” Death threats were made “even against my daughter,” Mizrahi said, referring to her two-year-old. “I’m still afraid. Not so much for me but for my daughter. I never thought this could happen in this country, where anti-Semitism never used to be a part of life. It has changed how I see my country.”

It also caused Mizrahi to decide to remain in politics.

“I decided I can’t walk away, I needed to stay and fight,” she said.

Following that decision, Mizrahi joined the VMRO party, becoming the country’s first-ever Jewish parliament lawmaker since North Macedonia broke off from Yugoslavia in 1991.

For her part, Mizrahi said, “I was encouraged to be a doctor. Rahamim to become a lawyer. Why? Because these are professions so vital that the recipients of your services don’t care if you’re Jewish.”

She added that her parents “were terrified when I stepped into politics,” but “they were also very proud.”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

Leak at Chinese Nuclear Power Plant

The U.S. government has spent the past week assessing reports of a leak at a nuclear power plant in China, CNN reported.

The leak was reported by a French company which part owns and helps operate the plant and had warned of “an imminent radiological threat,” U.S. officials and documents seen by CNN showed. The warning also accused China of raising the limits of acceptable radiation outside the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, to avoid it being shut down.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration does not yet believe the facility has reached “crisis level,” a source said.

The French company, Framatome, was also reported as having reached out to the U.S. to obtain a

waiver enabling them to share American technical assistance to resolve the issue at the plant. Such waivers are rarely granted, but one reason it might be granted is an “imminent radiological threat.”

Even though the U.S. could grant the waiver, it would be up to China to decide whether to shut the plant.

According to the power plant, readings for both the plant itself and for its surrounding areas were “normal.”

Sarkozy in Court

France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy denied this week being responsible for massive overspending on his failed 2012 re-election bid, in a second court appearance this year.

Sarkozy had been convicted of corruption in March.

The 66-year-old is on trial in Paris for illegal campaign financing – one of

several cases stemming from a flurry of investigations into his affairs since he lost his presidential immunity.

In March, he became France’s first post-war president to be given a custodial sentence when judges gave him a three-year term – two years of which were suspended – for corruption and influence peddling over his alleged attempts to secure favors from a judge.

Sarkozy has appealed that conviction.

On Tuesday, he made his first appearance at a second trial, which relates to the millions of euros in overspending on his attempt to win a second term in 2012.

Prosecutors say accountants had warned Sarkozy he was set to blow past the 22.5-million-euro ($26.7 million) spending cap. But he insisted on holding more events to try fend off his ultimately victorious Socialist rival Francois Hollande. In the end, his campaign spending came to at least 42.8 million euros.

His Union for a Popular Movement party picked up most of the tab.

“I spent 40 years in politics, it’s my life, I know how campaigns work,” Sarkozy told the court. “Things did not get out of hand.”

He and 13 others are accused of setting up or benefiting from a fake

billing scheme to cover the excess spending.

The case is known as the Bygmalion affair, after the name of the public relations firm hired to orchestrate a blitz of lavish U.S.-style election rallies. Bygmalion executives have admitted to using a system of fake invoices to mask the real cost of the events.

The investigation failed to prove that Sarkozy had any hand in the fraud but the prosecution argues that it was his choice to hold the “elaborate, extravagant rallies” that blew the budget.

Sarkozy is unlikely to sit in jail in connection to the March conviction.

Instead, if he loses his appeal, he will probably end up serving his sentence at home and wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.

G-7 Leaders Hold “Vaccine Summit” G-7 leaders met on Friday for a three-day meeting, promising to donate one billion vaccines to poorer nations, The Washington Post re-

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“I’m looking forward to reinforcing our commitment to multilateralism and working with our allies and partners to build a more fair and inclusive global economy,” U.S. President Joe Biden tweeted. “Let’s get to work.”

The summit included representatives of the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, who met for the first time since 2019.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres welcomed the promise of vaccine donations but warned that the world is still “at war with the virus” and said the contributions are still not enough.

“This is very much welcome, and where we were a few weeks ago we couldn’t imagine that this would materialize,” Guterres said, emphasizing, “We need more than that.”

Biden stated, “We know that raging Covid-19 in other countries holds back global growth, raises instability, and weakens governments. And as we’ve seen in the United States, with the evidence clearer day by the day, the key to reopening and growing economies is to vaccinate your people.”

Krishna Udayakumar, director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, said, “The G-7 commitment to share 1 billion vaccine doses in the next year is a good step forward, but by itself will not be nearly enough.

“While the donation pledges are the biggest to date, which we should acknowledge, what we need is a comprehensive global vaccination strategy, not piecemeal pledges. We will continue to see humanitarian disasters like in India and Brazil until we get more aggressive in our global vaccination strategy.”

Princess On Her Own Princess Amalia, who is the heir to the Dutch throne, has decided for

the next few years not to accept the allowance that she is entitled to receive annually once she turns 18 in December.

Amalia’s allowance is worth some 1.6 million euros ($1.9 million) per year.

The princess sent a hand-written letter to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte informing him of her decision on Friday. She said she would repay the money — which will still be deposited in her account — while she is still a student.

The payment is made up of about 300,000 euros directly to the princess and 1.3 million to cover staff costs and other expenses.

The royal passed all her high school final exams and now is planning to take a gap year before going to university.

“I find it uncomfortable as long as I can offer little in return and other students have it so much more difficult, especially in these uncertain corona times,” the princess wrote.

Rutte wrote back to congratulate Amalia on graduating high school and said he understood and appreciated her decision.

Amalia’s announcement comes at a time of declining popularity for the House of Orange in the Netherlands.

Amalia’s parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, were criticized last year when they took the family on vacation to their holiday home in Greece amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The family cut short the trip and hurried home after a public outcry over the vacation. Although it did not breach coronavirus restrictions, it came just days after the Dutch government introduced what it called a “partial lockdown” in a bid to rein in soaring infections.

AU-UK Trade Agreement This week, Australia and the United Kingdom announced a free trade agreement as Britain begins to forge new economic relationships following its departure from the European Union.

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The main elements of the deal were agreed by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a meeting in Downing Street on Monday night.

rules that fall far short of the benefits of EU membership. Britain has also negotiated with the United States on some issues – including suspending some tariffs – but a broader deal with Washington has not been made.

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This is the first major bilateral free trade agreement brokered by the United Kingdom since it left the European Union in January 2020. Britain has also struck deals with Japan and Norway, but they were based on existing agreements negotiated by the European Union.

The United Kingdom’s ability to negotiate its own trade policy has been billed by the government as a major benefit of Brexit. It is moving ahead with the Australia deal despite opposition from UK farmers and other food and drink producers who are worried the deal could allow cheap imports and set a dangerous precedent.

A spokesperson for Morrison said the countries intend to finalize the new free trade agreement by November and enact it by July 2022.

The deal “is a win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together,” the spokesperson added.

The United Kingdom struck a deal late last year with the European Union that established new trading

Anti-Semitism is flourishing in Western Europe due to fringe ideas and extreme political parties, as farright and far-left hate clash. According to an Israeli study, when those concepts collide, anti-Semitism is hurtled to the fore.

“We are seeing the penetration of the extremes into the political mainstream,” said Adi Kantor, one of the authors of “Contemporary Anti-Semitism in the Political Discourse of Five Western European Countries: Germany, France, Britain, Spain, Ireland.”

The study, a joint project of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv and the Jewish Agency, analyzed expressions of anti-Semitism by politicians and political parties in the five Western European nations between late 2019 and late 2020. The research does not include the spike in anti-Semitism that occurred in Europe and the U.S. during Israel’s 11-day Operation Guardian

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of the Walls against Hamas in May 2021.

“We wanted to try to understand how this phenomenon is on the one hand influenced by deep, global trends and broad social trends, where it is influenced by local characteristics, like Islamists in France, the right-wing in Germany, (former Labour Party leader Jeremy) Corbyn in the UK, and where it is influenced by unanticipated events like the coronavirus or the ‘yellow vest’ protests in France,” said INSS researcher Shahar Eilam, a former high-ranking IDF intelligence officer.

The project investigated anti-Semitism on the far right, which often distorts historical facts, claims victimhood, denies and minimizes the role of its country in the murder of Jews during the Holocaust, and scapegoats minorities, especially immigrants, Muslims, and Jews.

According to the researchers, far-right parties in Western Europe have been portraying themselves as Israel supporters and even defenders of Jews, at the same time that party members continue to use expressions of classic anti-Semitism.

They also examined anti-Semitism on the far left, which is usually disguised as criticism of Israel.

The study found that the most common expressions of anti-Semitism – defined as “malicious attitudes and stereotypes,” “comparison between Israel and Nazis,” and “denial of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination” – are overwhelmingly expressed by politicians on the left.

Across the continent, Europeans are facing the economic, political, ideological and social fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the lockdowns, Europe was marked by polarization between supporters of the European Union and its euro-skeptic opponents. Hot-button issues like refugees, minorities and immigration fueled “radicalization, hatred, and the rapid and unchecked dissemination of lies, fake news, rumors, and conspiracy theories,” the authors said.

Other elements were found in only some of the countries in the study. France and Germany, which were under Nazi control in World War II, both face attempts to revise the history of the Holocaust. In Germany, according to the study, Jews are often described as responsible for every problem and the word “Jew” as a slur remains deeply rooted in common speech. Jewish institutions are under heavy security. Jews often feel

that law enforcement does not care about anti-Semitism, and the burden of investigation often falls on the community itself.

France, Europe’s largest Jewish community, has faced a number of high-profile fatal terror attacks by jihadist groups including Islamic State.

Anti-Semitism has reared its head in the discourse around the “yellow vest” protests, and in the Covid-19 debate. On the right, there is a trend of denying France’s role in deporting Jews during the Holocaust.

The Brexit debate has been the dominant issue in British politics for several years, and anti-Semitism was a common feature of the discourse.

In recent years, the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party faced repeated revelations of anti-Semitism on the part of elected officials and activists, which caused Jews to flee the party.

Spain faces “anti-Semitism without Jews,” as bitter criticism of Israel comes from the left, especially from the Podemos party. The far-left party is now part of the government coalition.

The study found that there is not a lot of anti-Semitism in Ireland, but there is significant hostility toward Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian issue is often seen through the prism of the Irish struggle for independence from the UK, with Israel playing the part of the British occupiers.

In all of these countries, almost every party and politician claims to be a partner in the struggle against anti-Semitism, even those that traffic in anti-Semitic tropes.

“Countries in Europe need to see themselves as responsible for the fact that anti-Semitism exists within it and find as many solutions as possible,” Kantor said.

“Anti-Semitism is not a problem of Jews; we must make that clear. It’s a problem of European society.”

Bennett Takes Over The Knesset on Sunday approved the 36th government of the State of Israel in a narrow 60-59 vote, making Naftali Bennett Israel’s second-youngest prime minister and the country’s first-ever religious prime

minister.

United Arab List MK Saeed Alkharumi abstained from the vote in protest of the planned demolition of illegal Bedouin structures in the Negev.

As former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu left his seat and passed that of Bennett, he shook Bennett’s hand in a gesture symbolizing a peaceful transition.

In his speech before the vote, Bennett promised that the new government will be “reasonable and responsible” and work “for all citizens of Israel.”

Prior to the vote, Yesh Atid’s MK Mickey Levy was chosen to replace the outgoing MK Yariv Levin (Likud) as Knesset Speaker. He was elected 67-52.

The new coalition is comprised of Yesh Atid, with 17 seats; Blue and White, with eight seats; Yisrael Beytenu and Labor, with seven seats each; Yamina, New Hope, and Meretz, with six seats each; and Ra’am, with four seats.

Bennett, the new prime minister, hails from the Yamina party; it is the smallest-ever party to lead the government.

Hamas’s New PM

The Hamas terror group announced on Sunday that a new prime minister will take office in Gaza.

The new PM, Issam al-Da’alis, served as a member of the Hamas politburo and head of its “Information Department,” in addition to serving as adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

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He succeeds Dr. Mohammed Awad, who resigned after just two years for unclear reasons.

The handover ceremony was held on Sunday, parallel to the vote on Israel’s new government and its swearing-in.

Hamas’ announcement closely followed a decision by Egypt to cancel a Cairo meeting of “Palestinian” groups to discuss a joint Hamas-Palestinian Authority government.

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Tehran: “Iran’s Enemies are Gone”

Mrs. Michal Horowitz Mrs. Sarah Lipman Mrs. Rivka Maron Professor Shoshana Schechter

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed doubt that Israel’s policies would change with the country’s change in government.

“Iran’s enemies are gone and powerful Iran is still here,” Reuters quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying. “I don’t think Israel’s policies will change with the new government.”

Israel’s newly-instated Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has warned that Iran “is approaching a critical point” and that “Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”

“Israel is not a party to the [international nuclear] deal and will maintain full freedom to act,” Bennett emphasized.

He has also warned the U.S. that “renewing the nuclear deal is a mistake.”

Bibi Wants to “Rescue Israel” from Bennett

Rabbanit Shani Taragin Mrs. Moriah Weiss

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told opposition parties that he intends “to rescue the people and the State of Israel.”

In a Monday meeting, Netanyahu said that Israel’s new government is united by its “fraud, hate, and power-seeking,” and its parties do not share enough values to last its term.

“It can be overthrown on the

condition that we act together and with iron discipline. If we squabble, we will not achieve it,” Netanyahu said at the meeting, saying that the opposition parties should “shoot [politically] from the armored vehicle outwards, and hit. If we concentrate our effort outwards, we will bring them down.”

He stressed, “If we work toward that goal we will succeed, but if we clash with each other we won’t.”

Meanwhile, MK Yisrael Eichler of the United Torah Judaism party on Tuesday dismissed Netanyahu’s statement, telling Kol Hai Radio that there is not much to fear from the opposition, since “governments fall due to internal issues.”

In his opinion, the United Arab List is likely to bring down the government.

“They understood that they were fooled in the agreement regarding the Negev, which is why [MK Saeed] Alkharumi (United Arab List) abstained yesterday,” he promised in the interview. “If you destroy their homes, they will bring down the government.”

Mask-Free

Israeli lifted its indoor mask requirement on Tuesday, marking the end of one of the only major coronavirus restrictions remaining in Israel.

Still, there are some exceptions to the new rule: Workers or guests who have not been vaccinated or recovered at welfare institutions, longterm care facilities or homes for the elderly; individuals en route to quarantine; and travelers on a flight.

For now, the Health Ministry did not address schools. In the past, it has said that masks would still be required because the majority of those under 16 have yet to be vaccinated. If the declining trend in morbidity continues and the campaign to vaccinate 12- to-15-year-olds, which began last Sunday, succeeds, there would be another discussion to consider dropping the mask requirement in schools as well.

Last Sunday, Israel kicked off its vaccine drive for children aged 12 to

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

15, with 600,000 eligible for inoculation.

Israel’s mass vaccination drive, which has already given both shots to over half the population, along with lockdown measures, brought down the number of new daily cases (based on a weekly average), from 8,600 at the peak of the health crisis to just 19 on Sunday.

At the height of the pandemic, there were 88,000 active cases in the country and 1,228 serious cases; as of Monday, there were 212 active infections and 29 people in serious condition.

Former Mossad Chief Talks

Yossi Cohen, the recently-retired head of the Mossad, spoke on Channel 12’s “Uvda” show about Iran, his plans for the future, his relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and his role in the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

In the interview, Cohen hinted that the Mossad may have blown up Iran’s underground centrifuge facility at Natanz and detailed how the Mossad removed Iran’s nuclear archive from where it had been stored in a Tehran warehouse in safes. He also confirmed that Israel had had its sights on top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

When asked where he would take his host, Ilana Dayan, if given the opportunity, Cohen said he would take her to the cellar at Natanz, where “the centrifuges used to spin,” insisting that the cellar “doesn’t look like it used to look.”

“We say very clearly [to Iran]: We won’t let you get nuclear weapons.

What don’t you understand?”

Dayan, for her part, said that a “huge quantity of explosives” were built into the marble platform used to balance the centrifuges, noting that “the man who was responsible for these explosions, it becomes clear, made sure to supply to the Iranians the marble foundation on

which the centrifuges are placed. As they install this foundation within the Natanz facility, they have no idea that it already includes a huge quantity of explosives.”

Regarding targeted assassinations, Cohen said simply: “If the man constitutes a capability that endangers the citizens of Israel, he must stop existing.” However, “if he is prepared to change profession and not harm us any longer,” then he may be spared.

Cohen also said that it is “not true” that Iran is “closer than ever” to achieving a nuclear bomb.

On his relationship with Netanyahu, Cohen emphasized that his work to expose Iran was not related to Netanyahu; it was necessary because “it was important to us that the world should see [the material]” and “that it resonate with the Iranian leadership, to say to them, ‘Dear friends, 1, you’ve been penetrated; 2, we are watching you; 3 the era of hiding and lies is over.’”

Cohen also said that Netanyahu had never inquired as to whether he was “loyal” to Netanyahu on a personal level but that he knows he “pays a price” for the relationship between them. However, he emphasized, “Mossad work plans are not remotely influenced by the political background.”

Regarding his own future, Cohen said that although he is not planning on running for premiership at the moment, he will not rule it out; polls show that he would be a popular choice among Likud voters, winning 27% of the vote and pushing MK Nir Barkat, who currently leads the polls, down to just 16% from his current 32%.

Nikki Haley Meets with Bibi

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Christians United For Israel (CUFI) founder Pastor John Hagee met with former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday night.

Netanyahu stepped down from his position as prime minister earlier this week, after being replaced by MK Naftali Bennett, who chairs the

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Yamina party.

Haley and Hagee, who are visiting Israel together with their spouses, visited the Western Wall and historic Christian sites prior to stopping by the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem ahead of the Netanyahu family’s return to their private home.

Immediately following the meeting, Haley tweeted a photo from the visit, writing, “Time with Prime Minister Netanyahu is always invaluable.

His contributions to Israeli security and prosperity are historic. We have not heard the last from him.”

At the same time, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted his praise of Netanyahu, writing, “Congratulations Benjamin Netanyahu on your extraordinary tenure as the most successful Prime Minister in the history of the Jewish state. Millions of Americans are grateful for your leadership in Israel & your dedication to strengthening the cherished Alliance between our two Nations.”

Pence added, “Like every American, I welcome the new Israeli Government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and look forward to working together to make the strong bond between our two great Nations even stronger. America Stands With Israel.”

Wall Construction Suspended

U.S. President Joe Biden will return the $2.2 billion invested in construction of a border wall to the Defense Department, a report by US News & World Report said.

Approximately 450 miles of border wall have already been construction, in some areas at a cost of up to $46 million per mile, the Biden administration noted.

The funds are the unspent balance of the $3.6 billion earmarked by former U.S. President Donald Trump for the wall’s construction. The mon-

ey will be used to fund 66 defense projects in 11 states, three territories, and 16 countries.

Meanwhile, the wall’s construction has been suspended by the Defense Department, though the Department of Homeland Security is still obligated to use approximately $1.9 billion allocated by Congress for projects at the border.

Some of the funds will be used to “remediate urgent life, safety, and environmental issues resulting from the previous administration’s border wall construction,” DHS said, adding that all land will be returned to their previous owners if it is not needed for environmental or other remediation projects.

Covid Was Here Earlier

Although lockdowns began in the U.S. in March 2020, new studies suggest that Covid-19 was actually in the United States in December 2019 – weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials.

Although the analysis of blood samples is not definitive, some are recognizing that small numbers of infections may have been in the U.S. before the world woke up to the danger emanating from China.

“The studies are pretty consistent,” said Natalie Thornburg of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“There was probably very rare and sporadic cases here earlier than we were aware of. But it was not widespread and didn’t become widespread until late February,” said Thornburg, principal investigator of the CDC’s respiratory virus immunology team.

The pandemic coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019. Officially, the first U.S. infection to be identified was a traveler – a Washington state man who returned from Wuhan on January 15, 2020 and sought help at a clinic on January 19, 2020.

The latest CDC study, published on Tuesday by the journal Clinical

Infectious Diseases, is by a team including researchers at the National Institutes of Health. They analyzed blood samples from more than 24,000 people across the country, collected in the first three months of 2020 as part of a long-term study called “All Of Us” that seeks to track 1 million Americans over years to study health.

Like the CDC study, these researchers looked for antibodies in the blood that are taken as evidence of coronavirus infection, and can be detected as early as two weeks after a person is first infected.

Nine study participants – five from Illinois, and one each from Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – were infected earlier than any COVID-19 case was ever reported in those states.

Chicago on Fire

At least four people were killed and four others were injured on Tuesday morning in the second mass shooting in Chicago in four days, police said.

A barrage of gunfire erupted just before 6 a.m. in the city’s Englewood neighborhood. The shooting followed a disturbance at a home.

Several people were gathering inside the home when the shooting started. Four people suffered critical injuries in the shooting, including a 25-year-old man and a 41-year-old man who were both shot in the back of the head. A woman and a 23-yearold man, who was shot in the back, were also in critical condition at University of Chicago Hospital, police said.

The incident follows a mass shooting on Saturday in Chicago that left a woman, Kimfier Miles, 29, dead and nine adults injured.

Chicago police officials said investigators are searching for two suspects who walked up to a crowd gathered on the sidewalk in a business district in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood and opened fire just after 2 a.m. on Saturday. The nine adults who suffered non-life-threat-

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ening injuries in the shooting ranged in age from 23 to 46, according to police.

Putin: I Can Work with Biden

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday told NBC News that he can work with U.S. President Joe Biden, calling former U.S. President Donald Trump a “colorful” individual.

In the exclusive interview, Putin said, “Well even now, I believe that former U.S. President Mr. Trump is an extraordinary individual, talented individual, otherwise he would not have become U.S. president. He is a colorful individual. You may like him or not. And, he didn’t come from the U.S. establishment. He had not been part of big-time politics before, and some like it, some don’t like

it but that is a fact.”

Biden, Putin told NBC, is “radically different from Trump because President Biden is a career man. He has spent virtually his entire adulthood in politics.

“That’s a different kind of person, and it is my great hope that, yes, there are some advantages, some disadvantages, but there will not be any impulse-based movements on behalf of the sitting U.S. president.”

When asked whether he is a “killer” in the interview, Putin said, “Over my tenure, I’ve gotten used to attacks from all kinds of angles and from all kinds of areas under all kinds of pretext and reasons and of different caliber and fierceness, and none of it surprises me.”

He also said the term “killer” is “Hollywood macho.” When queried about some of his opponents who have been killed in recent years, Putin said, “Look, you know, I don’t want to come across as being rude, but this looks like some kind of indigestion except that it’s verbal indigestion. You’ve mentioned many individuals who indeed suffered and perished at different points in time for various reasons, at the hands of different individuals.”

Cuomo Impeachment Probe

New York lawmakers on Thursday approved a measure allowing state funds to be used to pay for the ongoing impeachment investigation into New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the NY Daily News reported.

The funds may also potentially be used for his trial, the report said.

They would be taken from the $156.9 million currently earmarked for settling lawsuits against the state.

The new funds may be used for “interviews, investigations, and hearing necessary to inform the decisions,” the report added, noting that Cuomo would be barred from seeking reimbursement for money spent representing himself in a potential impeachment trial.

The bill was signed by Cuomo himself on Friday.

In March, lawmakers in the Assembly launched an impeachment probe to investigate claims of misconduct, mishandling of the Covid-19 crisis, and a $5 million book deal.

For his part, Cuomo has rejected calls to resign and is eyeing a fourth term next year.

Novovax 90.4% Efficacy

Novovax, a small American company supported by the U.S. government, announced on Monday the results of its clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine.

The trial took place in the U.S. and Mexico, and showed that the two-dose vaccine provides protection against the novel coronavirus.

The trial included 29,960 subjects, and showed an overall effica-

cy rate of 90.4%, similar to that of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and higher than the efficacy demonstrated by the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

In addition to its efficacy at preventing infection, the Novovax vaccine displayed 100% efficacy at preventing moderate or severe illness.

Meanwhile, the company has said that it may not seek emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) until late in September. CEO Stanley Erck admitted in an interview that they will likely seek authorization elsewhere before seeking FDA approval.

Novovax last year received a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. government, for 100 million future doses. In January, it announced a 15,000-participant trial in Belgium and found that the vaccine had a 96% efficacy rate against the original COVID-19 strain and an 86% efficacy against the British strain.

Side effects of the Novovax vaccine include fatigue, headaches, and similarly minor symptoms.

Lawmakers Take Aim at Big Tech

House lawmakers on Friday introduced antitrust legislation aiming to rein in Big Tech’s power and stave off corporate consolidation, The New York Times reported.

The five bills, which directly target Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, would make it easier to break up businesses which use their dominance to gain additional power, as well as create obstacles aimed at preventing such companies from acquiring smaller rivals.

Representative David Cicilline, Democrat of Rhode Island and chairman of the antitrust subcommittee, said, “Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy. They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers and put folks out of work.

“Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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With Kiddush, Havdalah, and Birkat HaMazon According to the Sephardic Tradition GINDI FAMILY EDITION

‫‘‘ ר‬Many daughters have amassed achievement, but you surpassed them all.’’ ‫ ש‬False is grace and vain is beauty, a God-fearing woman — she should be praised. ‫ ת‬Give her the fruits of her hands and let her be praised in the gates by her very own deeds.

A magnificent full-color volume that captures the beauty of the Sephardic pizmonim • Selected Sephardic pizmonim and piyuttim for Shabbat, with sources for quoted verses and details about each song’s author • Carefully researched Hebrew text and a flowing English translation • Easy-to-follow instructions in English • Yehi Ratzons for Rosh Hashanah meal • Hardcover with over 190 full-color pages • Includes Kiddush and Havdalah of Yamim Tovim

SOME CONTINUE WITH KIDDUSH ON P. 12.

Some have the custom to sing Bar Yoh ̣ ai (p. 26) at this point.

(The Name of HASHEM is a tower of strength; through it a righteous person will race and be strong.1 For through Me your days will be increased, and they will increase years of life for you.2 It is a tree of life to those who grasp it, and its supporters are praiseworthy.3 Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its pathways are peace.4) ATKINU SEUDATA

ּ‫ ַא ְת ִקינּו‬Prepare the feast of perfect faith, BAR YOḤAI the joy of the Holy King.

— — you are fortunate Prepare the feast of the King.

Bar Yochai! You were anointed This is the feast of the Field of Sacred Apples. with oil of joy from your fellows.

(And the Miniature Presence

and the Ancient Holy One Bar Yoḥai! With oil of sacred anointment measure. come to feast with it.) you were anointed from the holy ‫ ֲאַהלְ ָלה‬I shall praise the Name of God with song, of holiness, You bore the headplate, a crown and I shall magnify it with thanksgiving.5 glory. bound upon your head is your HASHEM ̣ ai . . . is my strength and my shield, Bar Yoh in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; did you settle and my heart exulted, with my song I praise Bar Yoḥai! In a goodly dwelling Him.6 fled. on the day you ran, the day you — AZAMER BISHVAḤIN In rocky caves where you stopped Although Arizal composed the following piyyut to be recited during there you acquired the meal, the prevalent practice is to recite it before Kiddush. your glory and your strength.

‫ﬦר‬Yoh ֵ ‫ ֲ ̣אַז‬aiI .will . . cut away [the accusers] with praises, Bar bringing them up through the portals

beams, that are in the Apple Orchard, for they Bar Yoḥai! Like standing acacia are holy. the teachings of God they study.

(1) Mishlẹ 18:10. (2) 9:11. (3) 3:18. (4) 3:17.

(5) Tehillim 69:31. (6) 28:7.

An extraordinary light is the light ♭ ‫ ֲאַז ֵﬦר ִּב ְׁשָב ִחין‬/ Azamer Bishvah of the fire that they kindle — ̣ in. This piyyut is replete you. Kabbalistic allusions. The initials of its verses form the acrostic:with they, your teachers, will teach ‫ֲאנִ י‬ ‫ יא ֶּבן ְׁשלֹמֹה‬.ְ . ‫יִ צְ ָחק‬, I, Yiṣḥak Luria son of Shelomo.

Bar Yoḥai .ָ‫לּור‬ of Apples Bar Yoḥai! You came to a Field and entered it to pick confections: The mystery of Torah like blossoms and flowers — of you. ‘‘Let us create man’’ was said because

7

Bar Yoḥai . . .

strength, Bar Yoḥai! You were girded with and in the war of the fiery Torah up to the gate.

You pulled a sword from its scabbard, you drew it against your enemies.

Bar Yoḥai . . .

the first In each stanza except the last, after the Spanish Inquisition.

Raaya the acrostic of his name (see word after “Bar Yoḥai” forms on custom to sing this pizmon Mehemna, Ekev). It is a prevalent qualities (see Bẹt Menuḥah 25b).

Friday night, for it has wondrous and ‫ַאַז ֵּמר ּבִ ְׁש ָב ִחין‬.

Some sing it between ‫ֵא ֶׁשת ַחיִ ל‬

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

THANK YOU

ported.

The four Democrats, often known as the “Squad,” are accused in the resolution of “defending terrorist organizations and inciting anti-Semitic attacks across the United States.”

from

TO OUR OVER 1,400 4HASHEM DONORS AND MATCHERS AND TO OUR JEP REN SPONSORS

Thanks to you, more Jewish children can experience

The resolution’s backers, Reps.

Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), cite the Squad as referring to Israel as an “apartheid state” and call out Tlaib for accusing Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and Omar for equating the U.S. and Israel to the Taliban and Hamas.

In a press release, Waltz said, “We cannot turn a blind eye to Members of Congress openly defending terrorist attacks by Hamas against our close ally Israel nor their dangerous rhetoric which has contributed to anti-Semitic attacks across the country.”

Banks released a similar statement, noting that the members of the Squad “have repeatedly denigrated America and our closest ally.”

Major Mall Owner Files for Bankruptcy

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powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us.”

Charlotte Slaiman, the competition director for Public Knowledge, a public interest group, said, “These are just the type of new laws we need to really address the problem of gatekeeper power by dominant digital platforms. Big tech firms have so many powerful tools to protect their monopolies. These bills would give antitrust enforcers a few more pow-

DSSJEC The Dovid and Suri Schwartz Jewish Experience Center Dedicated by Isaac and Tova Schwartz 516-374-1528

erful tools to open up digital platform markets for competition.”

“Banning conveniences like Amazon Basics brand batteries, Apple’s Find my Phone tool or Google Maps appearing in Google search results are ideas that would spark a consumer backlash,” noted Adam Kovacevich, the head of Chamber of Progress, a lobbying group with Big Tech members.

INFO@JEPLI.ORG

Will the “Squad” Be Censured?

Three House Republicans on Monday introduced a resolution to censure and condemn four Democratic Representatives: Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), The Hill re-

The Washington Prime Group, which owns over 100 malls across the United States, has filed for bankruptcy. The move is due to pandemic-related shutdowns.

Late on Sunday, the Washington Prime Group, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming the Covid-19 pandemic “created significant challenges” which forced the “necessary” move. Among the causes of bankruptcy were closures and the relaxation of rent to some tenants, as well as some major tenants filing for bankruptcy.

The group now has nearly $1 bil-

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

You’re Invited to

Accelerated Admissions Day at Touro’s Lander Colleges June 28, 2021 Come meet our deans and advisors, bring copies of your transcripts and receive an immediate admissions decision. Learn more about financial aid, scholarships and your potential career path.

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

lion in debt. Shares plummeted 55% in early trading, and the stock is down 60% for the year.

Meanwhile, the group has secured $100 million in new funding to support daily operations and “continue in the ordinary course without interruption,” CNN Business said.

“The company’s financial restructuring will enable Washington Prime to right size its balance sheet and position the company for success going forward. During the financial restructuring, we will continue to work toward maximizing the value of our assets and our operating infrastructure,” CEO Lou Conforti said.

Smell Distortion

Parosmia, a condition that distorts a person’s sense of taste and smell, used to be barely known. Now, due to Covid, the number of people suffering from the condition has swelled.

Many people are wondering how long Covid-linked parosmia will last.

Scientists are not sure and do not have firm timelines for sufferers.

There is room to be optimistic, says Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society and one of the first to sound the alarm of smell loss linked to the pandemic.

“There are daily reports of recovery from long haulers in terms of parosmia improving and patients being left with a fairly good sense of smell,” Hopkins said.

Parosmia is one of several Covid-related problems associated with smell and taste. The partial or complete loss of smell, or anosmia, is often the first symptom of the coronavirus. The loss of taste, or ageusia, can also be a symptom.

Covid is not the only cause for parosmia or anosmia. In an early 2005 French study, the bulk of 56 cases examined were blamed on upper respiratory tract infections.

Today, scientists can point to more than 100 reasons for smell loss and distortion, including viruses, sinusitis, head trauma, chemotherapy, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, explained Dr. Zara M. Patel, a Stanford University associate professor of otolaryngology and director

of endoscopic skull base surgery.

In 2020, parosmia became remarkably widespread, frequently affecting patients with the novel coronavirus who lost their sense of smell and then largely regained it before a distorted sense of smell and taste began.

An article last June in the journal Chemical Senses found that 7 percent of post-Covid patients experienced smell distortion. A later study based on an online survey in Britain found that six months after Covid’s onset, 43 percent of patients who initially had reported losing their sense of smell reported experiencing parosmia, according to an article in the journal Rhinology. The onset occurred a median of 2.5 months after the patients’ loss of smell, the article reported.

Sufferers are also reporting phantosmia, or detecting phantom smells.

Scientists are now studying the nose to find out where phantosmia stems from.

There’s a piece of tissue the size of a postage stamp called the olfactory epithelium, behind the bridge of the nose. It is the literal nerve center for detecting smells, and it sends messages to the brain. When people suffer from colds, that tissue may become blocked and interfere with a person’s sense of smell. But Covid sufferers don’t have any matter blocking that tissue.

Olfactory neurons are held together by supporting cells, called sustentacular cells, that contain a protein called the ACE2 receptor. A study published last July led by Harvard researchers found that the protein acts as a code for the virus to enter and destroy the supporting cells.

As cells repair themselves, they may misconnect, which could send signals to the wrong station in the brain, leading to parosmia and phantosmia.

Maine’s Poisonous Caterpillars Forget cicadas. Maine is being invaded by poisonous caterpillars.

The browntail moth caterpillar has been seen in multiple counties in Maine and is an invasive species found only there and in Cape Cod. The hairs of the moth contain poison and can cause a reaction sim-

ilar to that of poison ivy, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“People are finding them everyplace: on the ground, on the picnic table, on the electrical box, on the corner – you name it,” Jim Britt, spokesman for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, told The New York Times.

The insects are 1½ inches long.

They are dark brown with white stripes and have two orange dots on their backs.

The hairs from the moth can go airborne. When they contact a person’s skin, they can cause a rash that lasts several hours, or for those with sensitive skin, the rash can last several weeks.

If the hairs are inhaled, respiratory distress can be serious, state health officials said.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared the critter a public health nuisance, and the city of Bangor said in a Facebook post that it was formulating a plan to address the infestations popping up around the city and other locations.

State officials said this year's invasion may have worsened because of a warmer spring.

Several municipalities have advised residents to wear goggles, take cool showers, and dry laundry inside until after summer.

Maine isn’t the only state seeing an increase in caterpillars this season. Vermont is experiencing its worst outbreak of leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars since 1991, according to state foresters.

Daily Moment of Silence in FL All K-12 public schools in Florida will hold a moment of silence at the start of the day starting next school year, according to a bill signed into law on Monday by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The governor signed two bills, HB 529 and HB 805, at the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Florida. The other bill, HB 805, ensures that vol-

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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you question their motives, or their honesty, it’s called a personal attack & deemed out of order. No. The Republicans lie, and we need to call them on it every time.”

DeSantis on Monday also emphasized initiatives to support the Jewish community in Florida, including security funding for the state’s Jewish Day Schools, $1.35 million dollars for the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, $400,000 for the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, $100,000 for the Holocaust Task Force, and others.

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during the moment of silence, the law states. A period of “silent prayer or meditation” was optional for school districts in the state prior to the new law.

“It’s important to be able to provide each student the ability every day to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit,” the Republican governor said before signing the bill at the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Florida.

“The idea that you can just push G-d

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unteer ambulance services, including Hatzalah, can operate.

According to the law, which was HB 529 in the Florida legislature, principals of each public school shall require teachers in first-period classrooms in all grades to set aside at least one minute but not more than two minutes daily for the moment of silence. Teachers may not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in

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out of every institution and be successful – I’m sorry; our Founding Fathers did not believe that.”

Opponents of the legislation criticized the bill as requiring prayer in schools, including Democrat State Rep. Omari Hardy who voted against the bill.

“The Republican who sponsored the bill said that it wasn’t about prayer in school. (Of course it was!),” Hardy tweeted Monday. “But when

Chances are you don’t even know what decuplets are – and that’s OK. There have rarely been decuplets, but now, Gosiame Thamara Sithole is the proud mom of ten babies.

The South African woman’s husband, Teboho Tsotetsi, was astonished by the amount of children that his wife was carrying. In scans before the birth, only eight babies were showing.

“It’s seven boys and three girls.

I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much,” he told Pretoria News after the birth.

Ten babies at once would be a world record. Currently, the Guinness World Records is verifying Sithole’s experience.

Lots of babies means lots of records.

A woman who had eight babies in the U.S. in 2009 currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered at a single birth to survive.

Last month, 25-year-old Halima

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Cissé from Mali gave birth to nine babies, who are reportedly doing well at a clinic in Morocco.

Time to buy stock in Pampers.

A Double Eagle for $18.9M

of 12, and later became interested in stamps when my older brother left behind the stamp book he’d started when he went to college. The passion for collecting took root immediately, and today truly marked the culmination of a life’s work.” $18 million all in a day’s work.

Whale of a Tale

Someone’s going coin crazy.

One of the last gold coins ever struck for circulation in the U.S. sold for a record $18.9 million in New York last Tuesday.

The exceptionally rare 1933 “Double Eagle” is now the most valuable coin ever to appear at auction, almost doubling the previous world record, according to Sotheby’s.

The coin has a face value of $20.

It features Liberty on one side and an eagle in flight on the other.

What makes this coin so valuable is the fact that the 1933 edition of the “Double Eagle” never entered circulation, and nearly all of them were returned to the U.S. government and melted down. Only a handful of the coins were spared this fate, and a small number entered the market.

In 1944, a Secret Service investigation declared that any of them found in collectors’ hands would be considered stolen. The coin that was recently sold is the only one that can be legally possessed by a private individual, following a legal battle between the United States Treasury and a former owner.

The sale marks the second time it has broken the auction record for a coin, having last done so in 2002, when it fetched $7.6 million.

The coin was one of three valuable items put up for sale by the shoe designer Stuart Weitzman. The other two – a stamp from a former British colony and a sheet of U.S. postage stamps printed with a unique error – also attracted bids in the millions of dollars.

Collector Weitzman meanwhile said in a press statement that it had “been an honor to be a custodian of these three legendary treasures.”

“I started coin collecting to pass the time in a full leg cast at the age

A lobster diver found himself in a bit of a hole when he encountered a whale off of Cape Cod on Friday morning.

Michael Packard said that after jumping off his boat into the water, he “felt this huge bump and everything went dark.” At first, he feared he was being attacked by a shark.

“And then I felt around and I realized there was no teeth,” he said.

“And then I realized, ‘Oh my G-d I’m in a whale’s mouth…and he’s trying to swallow me.’”

Packard has been lobster diving for 40 years.

Packard said he thought to himself, “This is it, I’m gonna die.” He thought about his kids and wife and felt there was no getting out of the whale’s mouth.

“Then all of a sudden, he went up to the surface and just erupted and started shaking his head. I just got thrown in the air and landed in the water,” Packard recalled. “I was free, and I just floated there. I couldn’t believe…I’m here to tell it.”

Captain Joe Francis witnessed the biblical-like event.

“He’s … lucky to be alive,” Francis said, who was heading a fishing charter nearby. He got a front row seat to the narrow escape.

“Then I saw Mike come flying out of the water feet first with his flippers on and land back in the water,” Francis said. “I jumped aboard the boat. We got him up, got his tank off.

Got him on the deck and calmed him down and he goes, ‘Joe, I was in the mouth of a whale.’ He goes, ‘I can’t believe it, I was in the mouth of a whale, Joe!’” Packard was probably in the big

fish’s mouth for around 30 seconds.

He was hospitalized after the traumatic event and was able to leave the hospital a day later, walking with a limp.

“It was happening so fast,” a stunned Packard said. “My only thought was how to get out of that mouth.”

Peter Corkeron, a senior scientist at the New England Aquarium, said that when humpback whales feed, “they do what we call gulp feeding, and they can open their mouths up incredibly widely.”

“It’s a very unusual accident… this is a one in a – goodness knows what – trillion chance,” he said. “He was just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Corkeron added, “Whales are big and strong, and if something goes wrong when you’re around them, it can be very dangerous,” he said.

Oh, whale-y?

Bugs at the Beach

Beachgoers in southern Maine have been reporting black stains on the bottoms of their feet and have been surprised at what is causing the soot.

The black substance has been hard to wash off and was initially thought to be algae. But John Lillibridge, a recently retired oceanographer from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, examined a sample through a microscope and made a surprising discovery.

“Much to our surprise, it wasn’t some kind of algae or an oil spill like you would expect. It was just a whole bunch of dead bugs in the water,” Lillibridge said.

The insects have wings smaller than a pinpoint, but in such large numbers they cause dark stains when stepped on.

Steve Dickson, a marine geologist with Maine Geological Survey, said, “This is the first time I’ve seen or heard of this in my 35 years. Normally this time of year we get calls about too much seaweed on the

beach and the swarming flies that hang around the decaying seaweed.

This wasn’t that.”

Entomologists are trying to identify the insects and determine where they came from.

Now is not the time to bury your head in the sand.

Go Jump in a Lake

Saturday, June 12 was a big day for Dan O’Conor. The bus driver jumped into Lake Michigan for the 365th day in a row.

“It was during the pandemic, it was during the protest, it was during an election year.... So it was somewhere where I could come down here and block all that noise out and kind of be totally present with me in the lake, and find some moments of Zen,” said the father of three of his unique endeavor.

He continued jumping into the lake through the fall before the hard part: Hacking a hole in the ice on the frozen lake that was big enough for him to jump through during the winter. He said when he got home after one such jump, he found about 20 scrapes and cuts on his body.

O’Conor was encouraged along the way.

“People started asking me what this was benefiting and how they could support — and when I say people, I’m talking strangers online, you know. When I started posting the videos on Twitter and Instagram ... I got more wind in my sails there because people started commenting like, ‘This makes my day, it’s nice to see this,’” he said.

Saturday was special because it was the culmination of doing it for a full year.

“I just wanted to celebrate just that drive to dive for 365,” O’Conor said.

Sounds like he’s jumping for joy.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Around the

Community End-of-the-Year Milestones at Shulamith ECC

A

t Shulamith ECC, we are incredibly grateful to have reached the finish line this year! The children have grown and blossomed under the loving tutelage of their dedicated morot.

Our Nursery celebrated the end of the year with a grand Mesibat Shabbat. Each girl dressed like an Ima complete with a handmade mitpachat and fancy beaded jewelry. The children pretended to light candles for Shabbat with colorfully designed candlesticks and enjoyed scrumptious homemade challah. They enjoyed singing their favorite Shabbat songs while parents and grandparents delightedly watched over Zoom.

A special thank you to their wonderful morot: Morah Tzivia, Morah Sury and Morah Bracha.

The kindergarten classes produced a special music video to share with their families. Accompanied by Morah Karen Daitchman, the children, adorably dressed in blue and white, sang enthusiastically into their

glittery cardboard microphones.

They demonstrated their knowledge of letters and sounds through song, and even did hand motions. Each child received her special moment in the spotlight with a personal interview. The year-end celebrations continued with an exciting Siyum Alef Bet as well as a butterfly party upon releasing their butterflies into the Shulamith ECC Children’s Garden. Special mention to our dedicated kindergarten morot: Morah Tova, Morah Debra and Morah Tzippy, and Morah Gilat, Morah Simona, and Morah Shana.

Our Pre 1A girls celebrated their final year in the ECC building with a grand graduation performance and art exhibit. First, the children took a fun train trip to the Big Shulamith building. They toured the first-grade classrooms and met their future morot, then had an opportunity to practice on the big stage in the auditorium. When the big day finally arrived, the girls were proud to sing for

their parents and grandparents and received special diplomas and gifts.

There was an Eric Carle-inspired art exhibit created by the girls, which reflected hours of hard work and creativity and was truly impressive.

The guests could not stop exclaiming how much the girls have grown and learned. The outstanding dedication of their very special morot was

evident: Morah Chana, Morah Chavi and Morah Elana, Morah Deena, Morah Tzivi and Morah Devorah.

We at Shulamith ECC can only say “Hodu LaHashem ki tov” that we were able to have a full year of in-person learning where the children learned and thrived. We wish everyone a joyful, happy and healthy summer.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Around the Community PHOTOS BY YECHIEL UNGAR

At the Hachnosas Sefer Torah in honor of Shaya Feiner upon reaching the age of bar mitzvah

Get it before it sells out...again! w w w. ya e l i vo g e l . c o m |

yaelivogel

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

On Tuesday, June 14, Senator Todd Kaminsky attended and spoke at Shulamith High School’s graduation. He also presented the NYS Senate Public Service and Leadership Award to graduating senior Ellyana Pilevsky.

Gan Chamesh’s Achdus Graduation Parade

The YOSS eighth grade year culminated with a graduation trip to historic Philadelphia

The Power To Save A Life Is In Your Hands Narcan Training by Chaplain David Kushner Director of Government Relations and Special Projects for Amudim Community Resources

What Is Narcan ?

Narcan is a drug that reverses the effects of a heroin or opioid overdose.

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G

an Chamesh Early Childhood Center ended the school year with a unique achdus-themed graduation parade. In a year that emphasized Covid-related social distancing, distinct pods, separations and partitions, our graduation presented the perfect opportunity to teach the children about the unity of Gan Chamesh and the overall achdus of Klal Yisroel. The classes marched separately into a grand tent, with each child holding a picture of himself with hands extended. The pictures were attached to a large heart banner emblazoned with the Hebrew words “K’Ish echad b’lev echad” – United With One Heart. As each picture was added to the heart, such that the extended hands of the children overlapped with the children at their sides, the concept of

achdus was on full display.

The children and their families joined in a sing-along of V’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha and other achdus-themed songs, led by Gary Wallin of Gary Wallin Entertainment.

Since graduation occurred on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, our beloved Rosh Chodesh puppet, Roshi, made an appearance to wish the children well.

He was followed by two other puppets from Gan Chamesh’s renowned Feelings program. The children enjoyed special treats, and yearbooks and diplomas were distributed following the program. The day was a huge success and brought home the idea that at Gan Chamesh, we are all one family, and Klal Yisroel as a whole is an extension of that family.

Mazal tov to all our graduates!

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

u o y k n a h T . t i t u c t ’ n just does You heard.

You understood.

You cared.

You responded.

You came together as one and surpassed the goal in record time.

You gave close to 1,000 children what just may be the summer of their lifetime.

Your exceptional and heartwarming display of achdus and support for the Achiezer Camp Drive, has earned you the genuine gratitude of hundreds of families from across all corners of our community. 'v ,tn vnhka of,rufan tv,

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

OU Women’s Initiative Launches Alit Summer Beit Midrash Program

T

he Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, is launching its ALIT Summer Virtual Beit Midrash for women through its highly regarded

OU Women’s Initiative. The program will offer live classes and interactive discussions for women all over North America and around the world.

The annual summer program provides in-depth text-based learning on topics related to halacha, Tanach,

Tikkun Hamiddot and Jewish history.

The program will run from July 6-15, offering Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday tracks both during the daytime and evening. It has been dedicated by The Emanuel and Helen Adler Foundation and named the Max

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and Yetty Monderer A”H ALIT Virtual Summer Beit Midrash.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, Rabbanit Shani Taragin will start the day offering an in-depth study of Hilchot Se’udah that will be followed by Mrs. Moriah Weiss’ shiur on “Demystifying Korbanot,” offering a glimpse into the Beit Hamikdash.

Mrs. Rivka Maron will teach an evening course focused on the implications and ramifications of the Spanish Expulsion, offering a study of individuals, communities, religious writings and inquisitorial dossiers.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mrs. Sarah Lipman will start the day with a shiur focused on exploring themes of Sefer Bereishit through the commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch. This will be followed by a shiur from Mrs. Michal Horowitz exploring Tikkun Hamiddot – lessons in self-improvement and betterment through the wisdom of Torah and insights from our sages. Professor Shoshana Schechter will teach an evening course focusing on the profound and lasting messages from Sefer Devarim.

For more information or to register, visit: www.ou.org/women/ alit2021/.

“Our Women’s Initiative has been steadily raising the bar of female scholarship and learning opportunities in our community since its inception. The ALIT program is yet another example of its innovative programming delivered in a way that is convenient and easy to access,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.

“The ALIT program provides a wonderful opportunity for the women in our community to experience a focused period of learning with some of the leading female scholars in our community,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer.

“We are very appreciative to Helen and Manny Adler for dedicating the program in memory of Helen’s parents Max and Yetty Monderer, a”h, who were dedicated to continuing Torah education, including for women. This program continues to provide high-level learning opportunities for women around the world who connect over their love of Torah,” said Founding Director of the OU Women’s Initiative Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Around the Community

Senator Todd Kaminsky attended the Lynbrook JCC Pre K Graduation and presented citations to the graduates

Mazal tov to the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls class of 2021 upon their graduation

IVDU LI Goes to the Zoo

A

s a culmination of the school year, IVDU LI went on a full school trip to the Central Park Zoo. The students had done bus drills to prepare for going on a school bus and were able to showcase all the skills that they learned. They enjoyed seeing all the interesting animals and reading about where they come from. There were many animals that we had never heard of, giving us the ability to look into them more after returning to school.

The students were able to practice their life skills and social skills that we have worked on all year, including staying with the group, waiting on line, and using appropriate voice levels depending on where you are

On Sunday, June 13, Senator Todd Kaminsky attended a rally against antiSemitism at the Nassau County Legislative and Executive Building in Mineola.

L-R: Senator Kaminsky, Israeli Consul-General Israel Nitzan, Senator Anna Kaplan, Todd Richman and Peter Fishkind

(indoor voice vs outdoor voice). After a long COVID year in school, it was a great way to end off the year!

Hero Alert!

Fourth grade girls at TAG raised over $1,600 and purchased toys for the children of Chai lifeline as part of a special Inside Out Curriculum led by Dovi Tomaszewski and Henny Oppen, social workers at TAG. Throughout the program, students learned and developed important skills such as the importance of expressing gratitude, especially during this challenging year. We are so proud of all that the students accomplished this year. This will just be the beginning of the many acts of chessed that they will perform throughout their lives, iyH.

Did you know?

F

irst grader Chaim Schepansky pulled a three-year-old out of a pool last weekend. When his Rebbe at HALB, Rabbi Unger, heard about this huge mitzvah,

he ordered Slurpees for the class and arranged for Hatzalah to come speak to the boys. Chaim was named an official Junior Hatzalah Member!

The first known graduate to have a diploma made was James Ward who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard in 1645

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rabbi May’s 4th graders at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion of Forest Hills had the zechut of meeting Hagaon HaRav Akiva Grunblatt, shlita, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills

HAFTR H.S. Commencement

H

AFTR High School is proud to recognize the graduating Class of 2021 and celebrate the students’ many accomplishments throughout their tenure, and most especially during the last year. The school’s commencement ceremony, held at Hofstra University on Wednesday, June 9, was even more meaningful because of the circumstances in which graduation was conducted: all of the young men and women of the class of 2021 gathered together with their parents, family members, teachers and school leaders for the first and only in-person event of this school year.

Principal Ms. Naomi Lippman recalled that she was struck by this grade’s sweetness, openness and inclusivity. “Four years later, you have blossomed into a group of talented, accomplished, amazing young men and women and you have retained that remarkable good nature. You have formed meaningful, reciprocal friendships that have expanded and extended across the grade. You have been wonderful role models for younger classmen and you have left a wonderful legacy for the students who will follow your path through HAFTR High School,” she remarked.

Ms. Lippman acknowledged that although this class’ last year and a half in high school will always be associated with COVID-19, the graduates did not let the pandemic define or discourage them. She recounted many examples of the gratitude, resilience and empathy that they displayed throughout their senior year. “These qualities – gratitude, resilience, and empathy – are your unique legacy as the graduates of 2021, and they are also a gift for your future,” she told the students. “Long after the pandem-

ic is over, you will be able to summon these extraordinary qualities, these precious inner resources, as you forge your individual paths in your yeshivot, your college communities and your professions.”

Dr. Joshua Wyner, Associate Principal, noted, “Although it is not just your senior year that defines your contributions, the most precise description I have for this remarkable Class of 2021 is that they are truly inspiring. We will always remember the optimism, equanimity and simcha that you displayed during the most complicated times, enhancing our lives and showering us with powerful chizuk. At HAFTR, we feel blessed that you were our seniors, stepping up at just the right moment to lead our yeshiva through the uncertainty presented by the pandemic. Throughout your years in high school, you took advantage of every opportunity, storing up the inspiration as advanced Torah scholars, fervent daveners, proactive ba’alei chessed, and staunch supporters of Israel. In truth, you brought great simcha to our yeshiva when we needed it most and for that we are eternally grateful.”

Valedictorian Daniel Singer is distinguished by his outstanding student leadership as well as his extraordinary academic achievements. President of the Deah chapter of the National Honor Society, Daniel also served as captain of the College Bowl and Torah Bowl teams, co-president of Speech and Debate, and editor-in-chief of the student Torah journal Haftorah. Daniel has volunteered for Tomchei Shabbos and served as a synagogue youth group leader throughout high school.

Next year, Daniel will study in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel, after which he plans to attend the Honors

Valedictorian Daniel Singer

Class Salutatorian Gabriel Kurlander

Program at Yeshiva University.

In his address, Singer commended the HAFTR administration for its hard work during the past year and a half, and for keeping school open for in-person learning. “I am truly impressed and thankful for all of the behind-the-scenes work that you have done,” he noted. “Our grade has dealt with unprecedented challenges and all of the graduates deserve praise for their tremendous strength and adaptability.”

Gabriel Kurlander was honored as class Salutatorian. In addition to his remarkable academic accomplishments, Gabriel has been fully engaged in student life in HAFTR High School.

He served as captain of Torah Bowl, president of Model Congress, and a stellar competitor on HAFTR’s College Bowl, Debate, Chess and Math teams. Gabriel was awarded a gold medal for math research in the Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair and was selected as Student of the Year at last spring’s HAFTR High School Celebration of Excellence. Gabe has volunteered for Tomchei Shabbos and i-Shine. After learning next year at Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel, Gabriel plans to attend the School of Engi-

neering at Binghamton University.

During his remarks, Gabe recalled that he has been a junior scientist in HAFTR High School for four years, heavily invested in his scientific endeavors. “I’ve learned better than anyone that for every one success in the lab there are 10 failures, and those failures are stepping stones to that one success. I’ve failed 100 times in my scientific endeavors, but at the same time I learned 100 things not to do,” he said.

Twenty-nine graduates are the children or grandchildren of alumni of HAFTR, Hillel or HILI. HAFTR congratulates those alumni on the next generation of children to join the distinguished ranks of HAFTR graduates. The HAFTR family is incredibly proud of all the well-deserving young men and women who excel in and out of the classroom, and congratulate the Class of 2021 on their growth in Torah, academics, and the fine characteristics they have honed over the last four years. Their legacy of achdut, unbridled enthusiasm, and love for life will live on in the halls of HAFTR High School, offering inspiration that will promote strength and courage for years to come. Mazal tov!

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Shulamith Middle Division Class of 2021 celebrated with a gala graduation breakfast

Stimulating Science

H

AFTR kindergarteners had a wonderful time learning to think like an engineer.

Our young engineers built the three little pigs’ houses from toothpicks and candy dots. Then the wolf (a blow dryer) tried to blow their houses down! It was fun to figure out how to transform Beebot, our early learning coding robot, into an artist.

Storytime STEM continued with 21 Elephants and Still Counting. Our students made Lego bridges to support all the elephants going across the Brooklyn Bridge. Other favorite

activities were creating marble runs with pool noodles and mazes for our tiny hexbug robots. It is amazing to hear our children reminding each other to plan, build, improve!

The students also had a wonderful experience learning about the lifecycle of butterflies and ants.

Our young scientists observed the ants building tunnels in our ant farm and butterflies emerging from their chrysalis in a butterfly garden. During Lashon, Morah Debbie taught our children The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Hebrew! In

STEM, we made butterfly wings for the Hungry Caterpillar using chro-

matography and created the butterfly lifecycle with food!

Rethinking Mental Health Making Out-of-Network Psychotherapy with your Preferred Therapist Affordable

C

ovid-19 has brought with it an unprecedented need for emotional support, whether it be from family or friends, or a mental health professional, therapist or psychiatrist. Dealing with emotional difficulties and mental illnesses like depression or anxiety, or coping with the challenges of daily life and relationships, the impact of trauma, medical illness or loss, can be a long and difficult journey. Sadly, mental health struggles have the power to suck the joy out of day-to-day life, to hinder our ability to be fully present in each moment, and to prevent us from connecting with our friends, spouses and children in a meaningful way.

For many, seeing a quality, outof-network therapist to work through mental health challenges feels like a luxury that is unaffordable. Adding on an extra expense for therapy for yourself, your spouse or your children may seem untenable. If your preferred therapist does not take your health insurance, we can help you negotiate with your insurance plan to cover your therapy costs with

your preferred, out of network therapist. As insurance advocates, we help psychotherapy patients, individuals, couples and children, negotiate with their insurance plan to collect reimbursements from their health insurance ranging from $150-$400 per session.

“The quality of your life is where you live emotionally.”

– Tony Robbins.

Our quality of life is not governed by our material wealth but by our emotional state. At AA Insurance Advocacy, it is our passion to enhance the quality of your life by helping you afford therapy with a qualified and experienced therapist for as long as you need, without depleting your cash flow or savings.

As your advocate, we negotiate with your insurance plan to cover your mental health therapy costs with your preferred, out of network therapist. For psychotherapy patients (individuals, couples and children) whose preferred therapist is out-of-

network, the savings are significant.

Although many plans cover out-ofnetwork therapy, it is generally at a very low rate, typically $50-70 per session, and is a benefit that is only accessible for a few months of the year once the deductible has been met.

In the months that we have been advocating, our clients have received anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000+ a year in reimbursements, depending on the cost and frequency of therapy, with reimbursements ranging from $150-$350 per session. As an example, I recently negotiated a case for a mother and her 10-year-old daughter who were each seeing their own outof-network therapists. The daughter had successfully completed cancer treatments a few months prior and was struggling with anxiety and behavioral challenges, while her mother was struggling with her own anxiety and how to best support her daughter. I negotiated with their insurance plan, Aetna PPO, to cover each therapist’s fees up to a flat copay so that insurance now reimburses $300 per

session for one therapist, and $250 per session for the second therapist, saving the family over $2,000 per month. The savings for the family are significant. Prior to the case being negotiated the family was not receiving an insurance reimbursement because the plan’s out of network deductible had not been met.

If you are currently in therapy, or are thinking about starting to work with an out-of-network therapist, we welcome the opportunity to help you make therapy affordable.

Alanna Apfel is the founder and patient advocate at AA Insurance Advocacy, which helps therapy patients, individuals, couples, and children, save thousands of dollars annually on their out-of-network mental health therapy bills. Clients of AA Insurance Advocacy have collected anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000 a year in reimbursements, depending on the cost and frequency of therapy. For additional information, please contact aainsuranceadvocate@gmail.com or 323-510-6405.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Scenes from the annual White Shul Dinner from this past week

Congratulations to all of HALB’s Lev Chana Kindergarten graduates

SKA’s RISE Program

O

n Tuesday, June 1, the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls members of the second year cohort of RISE (Reach with Independent learning Scholars and Enriching Experiences) took an exciting and educational trip to United Skates of America. The girls enjoyed

a hands-on STEM experiment about the role of gravity in roller skating.

After a delicious lunch, they enjoyed putting their learning into practice as they skated around the rink!

Following the trip, the RISE scholars had a special program in the evening to present their indepen-

dent learning project that they had worked on throughout the year.

Each girl discussed how RISE impacted her and what was her favorite part of the year-long program. The SKA RISE Program provides an exciting interdisciplinary educational platform for students who are inter-

ested in exploring academic opportunities beyond the classroom with independent learning, visiting scholars and special trips.

Thanks go to Dr. Chana Glatt, SKA Director of RISE, for her guidance and support.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Around the Community

On Sunday, June 13, Senator Todd Kaminsky attended the dedication of Young Israel of Long Beach in Memory of Rabbi Dr. Chaim Aaron Wakslak, zt”l, the synagogue’s longtime rabbi.

L-R: Former Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, Long Beach City Council President John Bendo, Senator Todd Kaminsky, President of Young Israel of Long Beach Nelson Spiess, and Rabbi Binyamin Silver, current rabbi of the synagogue

As a special end of year and Rosh Chodesh treat, the Women’s League of TAG brought the ice cream truck to the school to distribute ice cream cones last Wednesday and Thursday. Special thanks to the Majeski family who cosponsored this sweet ending to a challenging, yet amazing school year.

Achiezer at 13: A Talk with Sruly Miller Part 8 of a Series

By Avi Shiff

I

n honor of Achiezer’s 13th year, we are conducting a multi-part series celebrating the various facets of this remarkable organization. For Week #8, we spoke to Achiezer’s resident health insurance expert, Health Insurance Coordinator Sruly Miller.

What is your role at Achiezer?

I deal with all health insurance matters.

We walk individuals and families through the complex health-insurance enrollment process, enabling them to understand the options, choose the right plan and submit their applications, often saving them thousands of dollars in insurance costs. We are available for follow-up and assist with re-enrollment, as well.

We assist approximately 2,000 families a year, while also providing private insurance guidance and consultations.

Who typically reaches out to you for assis-

tance?

Those in need of insurance – and even those who have insurance but are not satisfied with their current setup. In New York, if a resident can get insurance through their employer, that’s ideal, but even for those receiving coverage through their employer, there may be more affordable options through the marketplace for children and even adults. Those who don’t get insurance through their employer definitely need assistance. So all these people call us, we explore their options, and we help arrange for them to obtain insurance through the health insurance marketplace.

Walk us through that process.

We work by appointment only, so that we can provide each applicant the time and attention they need. I start off with a basic interview to get a sense of the client’s needs. I ask about family size, income, and medical history. I then walk the applicant through the application process, which takes about

10-20 minutes. We discuss all the options, the details of the individual’s current insurance, pricing, and so on.

Wow! Sounds quite comprehensive. Before Achiezer provided this service, who helped people with this kind of thing?

In truth, I was doing this even before I worked for Achiezer. I guided people on insurance matters from 2002 to 2004 and again in 2007. I joined Achiezer in 2010 and have been serving in this capacity ever since.

As far as the demand for assistance, prior to the 2008 economic downturn, I wasn’t that busy. Ever since then, however, it’s been continuously hectic.

I must thank Achiezer’s Hinda Sara Loeb and Rena Pinter, who assist me in the Health Insurance Department.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic impact Achiezer’s Health Insurance Department?

At the beginning, I received more requests than

Sruly Miller

usual, as many people lost their jobs and therefore their insurance. People were very concerned, as there were changes in their finances.

People were looking for free or more affordable insurance plans. This continued through October of last year.

November and December were busy, but they are always the busiest times, because those on purchased coverage need to renew then.

Interestingly, this past February, March and April were relatively quiet, because the government kept automatically extending people’s coverages due to Covid. When I say “quiet,” I mean that instead of booking people three weeks in advance, we were booking just a few days in advance, so there was less pressure. Now, in June, things have picked up again.

Having worked in this

field for many years, what is one important piece of information that you wish people would know?

Many people, when they sit down with me and I show them their health insurance options, have the same exact reaction: “I wish we would have done this earlier!” People often assume that the system can’t work for them or that whatever their insurance setup is now can’t really be changed. But the truth is that, often, there are better options out there. It’s always worth looking at and exploring. Doing it yourself can be overwhelming, but when people do it with us here at Achiezer, it’s quick, it’s clear, and it can result in substantial benefits for the applicant.

You can save a lot of time and money.

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

At the Mamed Kvias Mezuzah at Klein’s New Upstate Location

R’ Daniel Klein, shlita, of Kleins

R’ Aharon Klein and R’ Avigdor Klein of Klein’s ice cream PHOTOS BY: IVAN NORMAN

Yeshiva of Far Rockaway held its 27th Annual Siyum this past Sunday, June 13, 3 Tammuz 5781, where 60 boys finished Mesechta Baba Basra

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

MTA Commencement Ceremony

O

n Wednesday, June 9, MTA celebrated the Commencement Ceremony of its 103rd graduating class at Congregation Keter Torah.

The program opened with inspiring words from Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn, who also acknowledged the 27 families who were experiencing their last MTA graduation as their youngest or only son graduated. These families have been part of the MTA community ranging between 4 and 14 years and will be greatly missed. Rabbi Kahn also paid tribute to Dr. Seth Taylor, who is retiring from his position of Principal for General Studies, after 32 years of service to the yeshiva. Dr. Taylor will remain on staff as a history instructor.

Senior Shimon Wildes of Manhattan’s Upper West Side delivered the Invocation, followed by words of encouragement from Yeshiva University President Dr. Ari Berman (‘87). Salutatorian Shua Feigin of Teanek, NJ,

spoke about the shared experiences of the entire grade and the dedication and hard work they put in over the past four years with the help of their rebbeim and teachers.

“Looking back, MTA has given us so much knowledge and growth, but most importantly, the ability to apply ourselves. It is up to us to use this ability that we have fostered as we move forward into the future and the next stages of our lives,” said Fagin.

Valedictorian Binyamin Fox of Teaneck, NJ, reflected on the Torah learned, education received, relationships built, memories made, and unique opportunities experienced, and encouraged his peers to strive to embody all of the lessons they learned at MTA. “In his essay, aptly titled ‘The Community,’ Rav Soloveitchik noted by way of the example of Adam HaRishon and Chava, that a community, a tzibbur, is neither more important, nor inferior to the individual. Rather,

in an ideal world, the two will coexist and interweave to create a whole far greater than the sum of their parts,” said Fox. “Throughout history, human beings have joined together in communities for pragmatic purposes. But communities are always most successful when the individuals are given freedom – and are even encouraged – to develop and retain their unique personalities and talents. As Shakespeare describes in Hamlet, ‘This above all: to thine own self be true.’

Simply stated, functioning as both individuals and as members of society will enable us to shine the greatest in all of our endeavors. Each of the principles that have been imparted to us during our formative years at MTA exist and function on both the individual and communal levels. It is our duty to continue to foster these fundamental values, wherever we may be, both as unique, individual MTA graduates, and collectively as representatives of the Class of 2021, as we will fondly be

remembered. By doing so, the impact we make, wherever we are in life, will be augmented and magnified, and will serve as a continuing legacy for our grade, united by an eternal bond and commitment to furthering these shared values.”

After a video presentation highlighting each senior, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes (‘76) gave divrei chizzuk and introduced senior Shimi Kaufman of Monsey, NY, who made a Siyum on Maseches Pesachim on behalf of all of his peers who completed it. General Studies Principal Dr. Seth Taylor closed the ceremony and called each talmid to the stage to receive their diploma. Fathers and grandfathers who are MTA alumni were also called to the stage, where they had the privilege of presenting their son/ grandson with their diplomas, enhancing the 103rd Commencement Ceremony with the rich history and tradition that is unique to MTA.

HAFTR Celebrates Israel

D

espite this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade being canceled due to COVID, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) still held the marching competition – virtually – for the over 200 groups who put on such a great show every year!

The 2021 Harvey Kaylie Award for Outstanding

(Virtual) Marching Group honors groups who take the time and effort to creatively #CelebrateIsrael.

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) submitted a video of how it celebrates Israel, even amidst a pandemic, and is proud to have been awarded runner up of The Harvey Kaylie Award for Outstanding Marching

Group. The award honors groups who take the time and effort to creatively Celebrate Israel. It is generously sponsored by Gloria Kaylie in memory of her beloved husband Harvey Kaylie as well as Lotte Bravmann and Imma Kaufthal, individuals who embodied and embraced the values and ideals of celebrating Israel every day.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Around the Community

Gesher’s wonderful graduates

Visiting a Gadol

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abbi Stein’s brought his fifth grade class of Siach Yitzchok to Cliffwood, NJ, this week to visit his Rebbe Harav Shimon Alster, shlita. The class walked away extremely inspired after being asked questions on things they learned throughout the year and hearing divrei chizuk from the Rosh Yeshiva.

The Rosh Yeshiva spoke to the boys about how a Yid never stops growing, otherwise they’ll begin to rot like a fruit begins rotting when it stops growing. After the visit to the Yeshiva, the boys went to the park by the ocean to enjoy lunch.

Connecting with Emotions at HANC

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s the school year comes to a rapid conclusion, the many students in HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead have periodically reflected on the past year and a half with the guidance of Barbara Hollander, HANC/Counterforce Torah UMesorah Social Worker. Since the children were in kindergarten, Mrs. Hollander has been visiting their classrooms to discuss how to manage feelings and express oneself in a constructive manner.

When school shut down due to the pandemic back in March of 2020, Mrs. Hollander, along with school social workers Emi Renov and Daniella Shertz, Zoomed into many virtual classrooms due to concerns about the students and how they were handling all of the changes in their lives.

HANC’s Social Work staff shared inspirational videos, conducted guided discussions and maintained a connection with them to help keep the

children in a positive and hopeful mindset. During sixth grade “check ins,” the students were asked to reflect on their experiences at home with their families during the Covid shut down, the effects of quarantine, and what the positives and negatives were in their new lives during the pandemic.

Once the children returned to school, they discussed their feelings about what had changed in their lives that they could not control, and what they could change with a more flexible attitude towards the challenges they faced. In addition, the social work staff and some of the classroom teachers met with various classes weekly to discuss Ohel’s Resiliency Workbooks with the goal of enhancing coping skills during the pandemic.

Now that the students are concluding their years in elementary school, Mrs. Hollander had students list their ideas about the effect of the pandemic on their lives. Based

on the model developed by Mindful Schools, the children made a list of thorns, roses, and buds. The thorns represented the negative effects, the roses represented the positives, and the buds represented what they hope for in the future. They then compared their lists to what they had written a year ago at the beginning of the pandemic. Mrs. Hollander enabled the students to recognize that even in a bad situation, there can be some positive aspects that come to light.

In their final sessions together, Mrs. Hollander wanted to leave the students with a happy and relaxed feeling. Many children reminisced about their earliest meetings with Mrs. Hollander in kindergarten and first grade, when they participated in the Second Steps program. She had the children sit in mindful silence and listen to the sound of a bell until they couldn’t hear the sound anymore. They mentioned that focusing

on silence and the bell sound made them feel peaceful. She then showed the class a video of the beach, with the ocean waves rolling in and covering the sand. She read them a visualization of a walk on the beach. She asked the students to imagine the sounds of the ocean, the feeling of the sand under their feet, the scents, and the warmth of the sun. She asked them to focus on their breathing, taking deep belly breaths, in and out.

The children became very serene.

It was a calming experience and a meaningful way to end their sessions together.

HANC wishes to thank Mrs. Hollander and her staff for all the care and sensitivity they have shown for the students throughout their years in Elementary School. The coping skills and emotional tools that the students have learned will prove beneficial to them as they meet challenges in their lives in the future.

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At the Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv Dinner

Shalom Task Force Launches Young Leadership Initiatives

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ollowing the success of the pilot year of the Purple Fellowship, Shalom Task Force (STF) is excited to announce the launch of the STF Young Leadership Board and Ambassador Program.

“When our first cohort of the Purple Fellowship was wrapping up, we knew we did not want these students’ involvement with STF to end there.

This new initiative allows for our future leaders to grow the skills they excelled in during the fellowship while deepening their connection with the work of STF,” says Jeffrey Younger, Director of Communications and Program Operations.

What initially started as an idea to recruit a committee of six students grew to a program involving 31 students from 18 schools across the U.S. and Canada. These ambassadors will continue their work with STF to enhance the leadership skills they learned during the initial fellowship.

From this group of highly qualified students, 12 were selected to form our inaugural young leadership board.

Ambassadors are divided into three committees (Education, Outreach, and Fundraising), allowing them to further develop skills in areas they excelled in during their time in the fellowship. The Education committee is in charge of creating educational resources relatable and digestible to teach teens about healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships.

“It’s so important for teens to learn about domestic abuse because prevention starts with education and education starts with us. I feel so lucky to be in a position to learn about this and help teach other teens about these issues so we can really make a change,” says Hannah Amar, Young Leadership Board Co-President.

The Fundraising committee is responsible for engaging teens early on in supporting STF. “The mission of the fundraising committee is not to raise any specific amount for STF,” said Younger. “Our goal is to show the importance of supporting community-based agencies, no matter the amount.”

The Outreach Committee oversees engaging teens in the work of STF and recruiting new students for The Purple Fellowship. The committee hopes that, through their marketing efforts, it will allow for more open conversations on the topic. Tamar Weiss, Young Leadership Board Co- President, says, “Having these conversations can potentially prevent teens from being in unhealthy relationships. By being able to recognize and identify red flags and signs of abusive behavior early on, teens can prevent themselves and others from being in harmful relationships.”

“We have seen a trend where the earlier one is involved with a cause or organization, the stronger their involvement is as they grow older. It is amazing to have a dedicated group of young leaders start their involvement with STF at such an early age,” says Dr. Shoshannah Frydman, Executive Director.

Overall, Shalom Task Force’s Education Department has seen record numbers during the ‘20-‘21 Academ-

ic year. Our Purple Fellows successfully planned Go Purple Days for over 7,600 students across the U.S. and Canada. In total, the STF Education department has reached over 11,000 community members this year through our education awareness workshop, including over 6,000 yeshiva high school students.

Please join Shalom Task Force on July 6, 2021 for Spin to Win Ping Pong Tournament and Barbecue in Woodmere, New York. To register, please visit shalomtaskforce.org/ spin-to-win. Shalom Task Force has been offering support and education to the Jewish community for the last 29 years. If you or your loved one has questions or concerns about relationships, or are currently in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, we are here for you. Please call, text, or WhatsApp the confidential Shalom Task Force Hotline at 888-883-2323 or chat with a live advocate at shalomtaskforce.org.

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Around the Community

M’Dor L’Dor at HALB

HALB’s fifth grade M’dor L’dor program was beautiful. Students spent the night with their mothers and grandmothers, celebrating past generations that gave them the opportunities they have today. It was a night filled with hope, joy and love.

Honorees at Shulamith HS

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hulamith High School presents the honorees for the class of 2021 and congratulates them on their incredible accomplishments.

Mazal tov!

Valedictorian Chaya Warren Chaya’s exemplifies the meaning of intrinsic motivation, exemplifying the highest values of Torah, middot, and character. Her passion for Torah made her an invaluable part of SHS, as a Chabura leader, Chessed Head, and Middot Committee Head. As a member of the Mock Trial Team, Chaya earned her captainship with her steadfast commitment, positive attitude, and passion for justice. In addition to the volunteer work she did at school, Chaya plays an active role in Friendship Circle, both volunteering and coordinating SHS student volunteer activities. Chaya’s affable, approachable personality made her an easy choice as an SHS ambassador for the last three years.

As Chaya says, “SHS developed my love for learning and I formed relationships with faculty and classmates that will last a lifetime. The teachers were all so incredible and helped me discover my love and passion for science.” Chaya is excited to learn in Shaalvim next year followed

by Stern Honors.

Salutatorian Talia Ben-Simhon Talia’s incredible work ethic, exceptional middot, and outstanding talent have enabled her to reach her potential and earn the salutatorian award. Talia has been involved in many SHS activities, especially during her year as GO Vice President, helping create and execute

Valedictorian Chaya Warren

Salutatorian Talia Ben-Simhon

school activities during quarantine, when planning was most difficult and achdut was most important. A community service award honoree for all four years of high school, Talia is always ready to help at a moment’s notice. Notably, Talia is an extremely talented artist who has won several national art awards, including four Silver Key Awards from the National Scholastic Art Competition.

“SHS successfully taught me that in order to learn about the world around me, I have to first learn about myself. With the help of the constant warm and individual attention I received from the teachers and ad-

Salutatorian Noam Maman

Keter Shem Tov Bailey Weiss

ministration, I was able to bring out my best qualities and gain a better sense of self.” Talia will be attending Michlala next year, followed by Cooper Union School of Art. Salutatorian Noam Maman Noam’s love of learning and intellectual curiosity made her a constant presence in any and all learning opportunities. A consistent member of honor roll, Noam was also inducted into the new SHS Honors Society.

What matches Noam’s love for education is her passion for Midinat Yisroel. An active member of the Israel Activism Club for all four years

of high school, Noam has attended AIPAC and Israel rallies at every opportunity. She also made time for chessed, as a former Chessed Ambassador and current President of the Friendship Circle at Chabad of the Five Towns.

Noam reflects, “Since my first day as a freshman, Shulamith’s faculty and students have never failed to bring immense warmth into the classroom. I felt comfortable to ask questions and to express myself.

Throughout each day, I was encouraged to push my academic limits by my supportive teachers. At Shulamith, I’ve created true friendships and mentors that will last far beyond high school.” Noam is most looking forward to living her dream of spending next year in Israel.

Keter Shem Tov Bailey Weiss Bailey Weiss is the well-deserved Keter Shem Tov awardee for the class of 2021. She epitomizes the three crowns described in Pirkei Avot: the crown of Torah, Kehuna and Malchut. She has committed herself to a lifestyle where Torah serves as her guiding light and inspiration. Like Aharon Hakohen, she is ohev shalom v’rodef shalom, a lover and pursuer of peace in her relationships and in herself. And as the famous words teach us, Kol kevuda bas melech penima, Bailey represents herself always as the daughter of the ultimate King in her dress, speech and daily actions. A Middot head who has truly gained the crown of a good name, we are so proud of all that Bailey has accomplished. Bailey will be attending Darchei Bina next year, followed by Touro College.

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JEP REN This Year was 4Hashem

By Jen Reiz

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e all had to wait for many things since the pandemic including JEP’s Real Estate Networking event, now in its sixth year. Last week, JEP/Nageela finally got to host one of the first in-person fun-raisers of the year, and the crowd couldn’t have been more appreciative.

Hosted at the activity-filled Area 53 in Williamsburg, attendees were able to zip-line, wall climb, roller skate, play arcade games, get complimentary B12 shots provided by IV Drips, or just shmooze with old friends and new acquaintances in the industry again. Participants enjoyed the delicious Catering by Michael Schick and Kedem Wines/Spruce D’Vine’s offerings.

Platinum sponsors Meridian Capital Group and Riverside Abstract recommitted to supporting the event,

to play a part in helping JEP/Nageela.

We get to hear firsthand from my siblings, Rifky Pavel and Shlomy Reich, some of the incredible things Nageela accomplishes and we wanted to be a part of it!”

“I cherish the memories at Camp Nageela and jumped at the opportunity to pass that gift onto others,” said Blima Ehrentrau, CEO, The Designers Group, and former Nageela staff member. “It was an added bonus that the event is a place to make valuable connections in the real estate world.”

The Mark Ramer Building People Award was presented to Jeffrey Edelman, Esq. of the Law Office of Jeffrey Edelman, P.C. for his commitment to growing the Jewish people and for his support of JEP/Nageela.

“With this award we remember Mark Ramer, a”h, for his tenacity in business balanced by his kind heart.

Jeffrey Edelman embodies the qual-

Moshe Majeski, Michael Schick, and Rabbi Dovid Shenker

sponsored by Kedem.

At the same time as JEP REN was happening, the 4Hashem virtual team-driven matching campaign to raise $400,000 for JEP programs and its Camp Nageela was coming to a nail-biting close. Thanks to Hash-

Wendy Turetsky, Izzy Wasser, Jeffrey Edelman, The Mark Ramer Building People Awardee for JEP REN 2021, and Michael Schick

Jeffrey Edelman, Meir Krengel, Alex Berger, Steven Vegh, Yoel Zagelbaum, and Gavin Ralbag

Yussie Steier, David Shteierman, and Izzy Wasser

Chaya Klein and Mordechai Klein of One Real Estate with Meyer Mintz and Shmuli Mintz

along with DH Property Holdings; Harborview; Madison; Berdon; Gold Star Restoration; Billet Feit & Preis, P.C.; DJ Associates; Simkowitz Co.; Fire and Building Code Services, Inc.; Westwood; The Berkshire Bank; and Artimus. New sponsors to join JEP REN this year included One Real Estate of Lakewood, NJ, and The Designers Group of Brooklyn.

Chaya Klein, CEO of One Real Estate, said, “We were honored to be able

ities of a responsible attorney, a true mensch and gives of himself to our organization and to the greater community,” said Rabbi Dovid Shenker, founding director of JEP/Nageela.

Mr. Edelman was a raffle prize winner of a special reserve wine. Other unique raffle prizes included an underwater sea scooter, flying drone, Polaroid camera, NES System, Andrew Locke custom-tailored suit, Yankee tickets, and more specialty wines

em, JEP/Nageela was able to succeed at hosting both events at the same time. Both fundraisers fuel the organization to provide the much-needed funding to give hundreds of local children the connection and passion for being Jewish by experiencing the care and inspiration of teen role models also from our neighborhoods.

The events could not have happened without the tireless efforts of JEP/Nageela’s Ohavia Feldman, Ex-

ecutive Director, and Rabbi Yitzchak Wurem, COO, who orchestrated the 4Hashem campaign simultaneously and motivated team leaders. Special thanks to Michael Schick, president of JEP-LI, for keeping it classy and tasty for all attendees. We are indebted to you and our other esteemed board members for all they do behind the scenes and with us at our events, including Shya Hersh Schwartz, chairman of the Suri Schwartz Jewish Individualized Learning Institute, Wendy Turetsky, chairperson of the Camp Nageela board, Meyer Mintz, Esq., and Izzy Wasser.

Thanks to all our generous donors and sponsors, along with our volunteers and staff which include alumni who were greatly impacted by our programming.

“While camp may now be ancient history, the connections and bonds created through the summer experience at Nageela still hold strong even today. It is an inspiration to see so many scattered Nageela-ites coalescing together 4Hashem to support the mission of JEP. So much of my Yiddishkeit has been shaped by these interactions with different members of the JEP family. I’m forever grateful,” said Aaron Fried, a former Nageela camper who later became a staff member and recently ran the Boys programming during the year.

We appreciate your time and how you value us every day. We’re all in it 4Hashem.

For more information about JEP/ Nageela and how to get involved, please contact me at 917-715-2415 or jenr@jepli.org.

Jen Reiz is director of PR & Development for JEP/Nageela.

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Around the Community

Hats Off to a Principal!

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hen a founder retires, there are few words that suffice to pay tribute or say goodbye. Perhaps, even, there are none. When Shulamith School for Girls began with fifty-four girls in grades kindergarten, Pre-1A, first, and second, who could have imagined it would grow exponentially over the next twenty years? With 700 students, nursery-twelfth grade,

Mrs. Joyce Yarmak is leaving behind a lasting legacy. When Mrs. Yarmak, founding principal and Shulamith leader for several decades, quietly announced her retirement, the faculty was aghast. Who would steer the ship after all these years of her outstanding leadership?

Mrs. Yarmak has been at the helm of Shulamith since its inception in the Five Towns. She has educated generations of young Jewish women, formed powerful and lasting relationships with her students, their parents and grandparents, and built character and self-confidence through her excellent communication skills and enlightened leadership. Mrs. Yarmak

is passionate about all learning, secular and Judaic, especially Torah, the Hebrew language, and character education, which she has successfully imparted to all her students and staff.

The entire Shulamith family is sorry to see her leave. She has inspired the dedicated loyalty of the faculty throughout her tenure. What sets Mrs. Yarmak apart is her ability to understand, adapt, and support.

Her interactions with the students are invaluable, and she shows by daily example, how to be positive and hardworking. Her steadfast sense of humor accompanies her wherever she goes. More than anything, Mrs. Yarmak is an empathetic person. She personifies insightful compassion and hakorat hatov, imbuing this in each and every student. The faculty all agree – Mrs. Yarmak makes the staff feel appreciated and valued. Her interest in all those who work with her, students and facultyalike, is constant and genuine.

A most meaningful and beautiful

YOSS Pre 1A Graduates

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azal tov to all our YOSS ECC Pre 1A graduates!

And to their grandparents and parents, and to our amazing su-

per heroes who kept us safe, loved, and having so much fun through this historical year.

tribute dinner was orchestrated by the Lower Division staff to celebrate Mrs. Yarmak and her years of incredible service to Shulamith and to chinuch banot. The program featured original lyrics to the tune of “One in a Million” in praise of Mrs. Yarmak. A grammen recalled her own sense of humor and amusing things that happened over the years. A magnificent, beautifully designed “yearbook” of ads and letters was presented, dedicated to Mr. Yarmak, for having shared his talented and precious wife with the Shulamith family for a total of 43 years, both in Brooklyn, and at Shulamith of the Five Towns. Mrs. Yarmak shared her own gratitude in personal reflections about her career, her time in Shulamith, and her appreciation for her staff. An original portrait by Robyn Rackman was presented as a lasting gift. Finally, a slide show evoked memories from over the years as only photos can! A wonderful evening was had by all.

Mrs. Yarmak’s ability to bring out

the best in her students, staff, and Shulamith has never wavered. Her exceptional leadership, guidance, and commitment to all will be sorely missed. We wish Mrs. Yarmak and her husband the ability to enjoy the relaxing and productive retirement she so richly deserves, and continued joy and nachat from her children and grandchildren. The entire Shulamith family looks forward to having an opportunity to show true hakarat hatov to her next year at the Shulamith dinner on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at the Sands, where we will bestow upon her all of the accolades she so truly deserves!

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Mesivta Athletics Crowns Netzach HaTorah Champions – Twice!

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his past weekend marked the conclusion of both the Mesivta Football League’s (MFL) and the Mesivta Basketball Association’s (MBA) 2020-2021 seasons. In both grueling championship games, Mesivta Netzach HaTorah took on Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, and, in the end, Netzach emerged victorious in both nail-biting match-ups.

Both Leagues ran from the end of the winter and into the spring on

Sunday afternoons and evenings and included local Yeshiva teams playing head-to-head in competitive, menschlech games each week.

“Boys from other teams sometimes come early or stay late to watch the other games being played that evening,” said Mr. Zack Kessler, Commissioner of the MBA. “That’s part of the novelty of this League. It’s like a community gathering at MAY on Sunday nights.”

“This was not a simple season,” commented Rabbi Yossi Bennett, who organizes the Leagues. “We all know the many challenges this past year brought to our youth. But our players and coaches were resilient.

It is extremely gratifying to have concluded these seasons, having given the bochurim of our community an exciting, kosher outlet, week-in, week-out, while maintaining a safe and responsible environment.”

The League congratulates Mesivta Netzach HaTorah – their coaches, Dovid Kirschenbaum and Yoel Zagelbaum – and all their amazing players and fans!

Mesivta Athletics would like to thank all participating schools – players, coaches and hanhala – for helping make this challenging season so successful and, particularly, MAY for hosting the MBA in their Shaulson Gymnasium.

Achiezer’s Camp Campaign Draws Unprecedented Support Record-Setting Fundraising has Community on a High

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chiezer is an organization everyone loves, and for good reason, but there’s something extra special about the response this year to Achiezer’s Annual Camp Campaign. The response – like the campaign itself – was absolutely extraordinary. In fact, it was like nothing anyone in our community had ever seen before. The campaign, thanks to the support of our selfless community members, will ensure that every child can attend summer camp this year no matter what their parents’ financial state is.

Achiezer launched what most would say was quite a daring campaign. The goal was to raise $250,000 in 36 hours. Impossible? Some might have thought so.

But with a community like ours, nothing is impossible.

Astoundingly, the $250,000 goal was reached in just three hours. You read that right. Three hours.

The overwhelming outpouring of generosity and encouragement from residents across our communi-

ty prompted Achiezer to up the ante, putting forth a bonus goal right away, thereby enabling applicants from the waiting list to access funds. This goal was achieved within six hours. The Achiezer team then added yet a higher goal, hitting that mark as well by the end of the first 24 hours.

Hundreds more donors participated in this year’s campaign than in past ones, a demonstration of the growth of awareness of the need for assistance to those who would otherwise be unable to send their children to camp.

We’ve been through an unprecedented 15 months, with the Covid pandemic and all that it entailed. Children were out of school for months, cooped up at home. Many youth didn’t get to attend camp last summer due to the Covid closures. The need for camp this summer is greater than ever, and Achiezer’s Camp Campaign – indeed, every dollar that was raised as none of these funds go towards Achiezer’s budget – will make certain that any and every child can experience the

growth and exhilaration of camp.

“This campaign is going to assist your very own relatives, your friends, your neighbors – really anyone who is in need of financial assistance so that their children can attend camp,” says Achiezer President Boruch Ber Bender. “These are people in our very own neighborhoods, whose children will be able to experience a fulfilling summer thanks to your generosity.”

The unprecedented speed with which the funds were raised is a testament to the unique relationship that exists between Achiezer and the community it so faithfully serves.

The diversity is likewise so impressive.

“From Far Rockaway, Lawrence and Cedarhurst to Woodmere, Atlantic Beach, Bayswater and everywhere in between every segment of our community was represented in this unified effort to come to the aid of our friends and neighbors,” added Rabbi Bender. “The community is on a high, and our staff is on high due to what has been accomplished here. We have

no words to describe just how special this is.”

The funds raised will pay for day camp, sleepaway camp, and also special needs camp, which can be very costly for parents.

Speaking to those involved in online campaigns and fundraisers, it becomes clear that there has never been anything like this before.

“I am proud to have been given the opportunity to participate in Achiezer’s Camp Campaign and ensure that every Jewish child has a chance to go to camp,” said one donor. “It’s a unique zechus, and really our responsibility, to join together for such an important cause.”

“This was a campaign by the community for the community,” explained Aliza Wartelsky of Achiezer’s Family Crisis Division. “We are helping people in our own backyards, those who live amongst us, giving every child the precious opportunity to attend camp, making so many children’s dreams come true.”

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Around the Community

Soccer Success

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he Five Towns girls’ and boys’ soccer league just finished an amazing season! The players in our 3 boys and 3 girls divisions learn the game fundamentals, teamwork and have a blast while getting a great workout!

Our energetic high school, college and parent coaches and refs do a great job teaching the girls and boys the skills and the rules of the game while still providing a fun experience every week. Over 100 girls and 100 boys got a great workout this season.

NYS Fair at TAG

The eighth grade faculty of Yeshiva Darchei Torah presented Rav Moshe Bender, associate dean, with a gift of hakoras hatov.

L-R: Rav Simcha Horowitz, Rav Eli Wiener, Rav Aryeh L. Richter, Rav Daniel Gavrielov, Rav Dovid Lan, Rav Moshe Bender, Rav Dvoid Eisgrau, Rav Binyomin Sussman, Rav Benyomin Wielgus and Rav Yitzchak Goodman

Connecting to the Past Rabbi Meyer Weitman, Dean of TAG, interacted with students at the zoo

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he fourth grade classes of Torah Academy for Girls produced an amazing New York State Fair to culminate their social studies curriculum. The fair features the Indian tribes who resided in New York, the early colonies, the War of Independence, transportation, Im-

migration, NYS Government and famous tourist stops, all depicted on tri-boards and through creative costumes. Many thanks to all of the outstanding TAG fourth grade teachers and to Miss Miriam Elias who coordinated this special event

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Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato visited the Fair and enjoyed hearing the girls describe their topics relating to New York State

AFTR’s Third Grade M’Dor L’Dor: Generation to Generation program was held outdoors on a beautiful evening last week. Students escorted their parents to the outdoor galleries where they viewed photographs of their family artifacts and learned about the artifacts’ importance, original owners and where they are today. The artifacts included religious symbols, documents, photographs, and items such as tablecloths and photos. The students also created and displayed a coat of arms of their family name.

Third grade student Zoe Pentazakos’ artifact was a horse stirrup that her great-grandfather used to escape from Nazi soldiers. He had his son hang on one side of the horse, placing his foot in the stirrup and his hand on the horse’s mane. The Nazis thought that there was no rider on the horse, and both father and son escaped.

The highlight of the evening was the grade’s musical performance of songs connecting the students to previous generations. Parents were filled with pride for and admiration of their children.

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Tefillah and Breakfast

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ifth grade students culminated their tenure at HAFTR Lower School with a special Tefillah and Breakfast Program last week.

The first and only in-person gathering of the school year joined the students and their guests in davening followed by an outdoor break-

fast. Fifth grade rebbe Rabbi Weiss and his students made a siyum on Masechet Rosh Hashanah. Students shared divrei Torah, participated in

a school dance and daglanut, and watched a montage of their years in the lower school.

Mazal tov to all!

cently lost a child in a tragic accident.

The care and concern that went into providing an array of Yom Tov gifts to the surviving siblings was truly remarkable.

Not long before that, a local medically-challenged child was scheduled for a complex and invasive surgery out-of-state where he would need to spend over six weeks post-surgery in the hospital and rehab center, hundreds of miles away from home. That time, too, Mrs. Safier’s ninth graders stepped in with a magnificent arrayof toys and games to keep him busy for weeks while bedridden.

“I never knew it was possible to

make such a huge difference. Our class not only made 300 Surgi Dolls for Cohen Children’s Hospital, but we also donated care packages to families in need over the year. Through all of these enriching chessed projects, my class made me realize how little acts of kindness can go a long way,” explains Menucha Stadtmauer, another TAG ninth grader.

Mrs. Safier is incredibly grateful to Celia Kotkes for a fantastic SDL project and to all her TAG students for selflessly giving their time and effort to help those in need and truly make a difference in this world.

Making a Difference at TAG

By Efrat Shalom, 9th Grade

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hich 14-year-old girl crochets hats for babies in her local hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)? Meet Cedarhurst resident Celia Kotkes, a ninth grader at MSHS in Far Rockaway, New York.

This year, when Celia was assigned a Student-Directed Learning Project by her English teacher, Mrs. Liane Safier, she decided to take her role of servicing others to a much larger scale: from crocheting hats to making Surgi Dolls.

A Surgi Doll is a medical play doll that a child uses to make sense of his experience in a hospital. Prior to a child going into surgery or having an MRI or any medical procedure, a healthcare professional from the hospital’s Child Life department will use the doll to engage in “pretend” play. The specialist may sit with her patient and apply a fake stethoscope to hear the doll’s heartbeat, take the doll’s temperature, bandage the doll, or even put the doll through a pretend MRI to prepare the child for what is about to transpire. This, in turn, alleviates any stress the child might feel and provides a smooth transition into the child’s next medical phase. The child will then take his doll through his own medical process (surgery, anesthesia, MRI, or other), wake up with the doll, and finally bring his Surgi Doll home as a keepsake.

“I did some research on Surgi Dolls and explored their purposes,

their effects, and how to make them,” says Celia.“I decided that if there are over 100 students in my ninth grade – what if each student committed to making three dolls? That would be over 300 Surgi Doll donations to the local children’s hospital, which would be an incredible and rewarding grade-wide undertaking.”

Celia’s SDL project not only entailed educating her peers about Surgi Dolls and the concept and results of medical play, but she also had to instruct her classmateson how to make them. Through tracing, cutting, sewing, and stuffing, Celia and her peers were able to create and donate 300 handmade Surgi Dolls to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens, New York.

Those fortunate to be students of Mrs. Safier’s are not unfamiliar with such meaningful lessons. “Throughout the year, our teacher has been teaching us how to give and how to be a doer. I love the feeling of helping others and making a difference,” notes TAG ninth grader, Ellie Teichman.

Liel Namdar, another ninth grade student at TAG, agrees. “I’d never heard of Surgi Dolls until Celia presented her SDL project. I was so impressed and excited to do such an amazing act of community service.

In Mrs. Safier’s class, not only do we learn ELA, but we also learn the beauty of giving and kindness.”

A month prior to Celia’s SDL undertaking, every one of Mrs. Safier’s students contributed to a huge care package for a Jewish family that re-

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Gedolei Yisrael Address First Major Post Corona Dirshu Gathering

By Chaim Gold

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here is such a large crowd here, but I feel that there are much more than just a lot of people here tonight. I feel the presence of millions of dafim of Gemara here together with us tonight!

I feel that millions of se’ifim in Shulchan Aruch have joined us tonight, and they are only here because of the organization called Dirshu!”

Those powerful words of HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss, shlita, Gaavad of Beis Din Darchei Horaah, were said at a unique Dirshu gathering held at the Wagschall Hall in Bnei Brak.

What was the nature of this Dirshu Kinus that brought senior gedolim such as HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva, and HaGaon HaRav Menachem Ernster, shlita, Vizhnitzer Rosh Yeshiva and brother-in-law of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, shlita, who came as the personal shaliach to give over the Rebbe’s words? What brought the venerated Sefardic Gaavad of Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elitzur, HaGaon HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, together with HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva and HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, shlita, Rav of Western Bnei Brak? Why was the senior, venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, shlita, scheduled to address the event before he was unfortunately hospitalized and unable to attend?

The answer is simple. Dirshu is a vital institution that represents and facilitates Torah learning for the entire cross-section of Torah Jewry in Eretz Yisroel. With remarkable achdus, Klal Yisroel unites through Dirshu and now, as the Corona virus is, baruch Hashem slowly fading, the time has come to redouble efforts to encourage accountable limud HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel and also to pay tribute to the remarkable chavrei Dirshu who persevered throughout the very difficult Corona period, to learn, be tested and continue their ascent towards becoming the Gedolei Torah of the next generation.

That is what spurred these venerated Gedolei Yisroel, despite their

busy schedules, to come to address an elite group of Dirshu talmidei chachomim who have been religiously learning and been tested throughout the Corona virus period and in the years preceding it, together with vital members of Dirshu’s hanhalah.

An even greater dimension of simcha and hakaras hatov was added by virtue of the fact that Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, was able to participate in person for the first time in a year and a half, with the easing of lockdowns.

“The Kinus, was an emotional event,” said Dirshu senior hanhalah member, Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein.

“It was the first time in one and a half years that we were all together! Even more, however, to a certain degree it signified the concept of tichlah shanah v’kilolsesah – may the year and its klalos end and may the new year and its brachos begin.”

The venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who, for one of the first times since the onset of the pandemic appeared and addressed a public gathering, said, “One of the great things that Dirshu has done is that it has brought a new metzius, a phenomena of yedias haTorah and yedias halacha to yungeleit who would generally never reach such a level. Not only would they not reach such a level, but they would not even dream of trying! It is only in the zechus of Dirshu that they have reached such exalted levels!”

“During the Corona period,” Rav Moshe Hillel continued, “some found it difficult to maintain the highest levels of yedias haTorah as before but now, with life returning to normal, it is time to rededicate ourselves! Yehoshua and Kalev said, ‘Alah naalah, we can go up to Eretz Yisroel, don’t take notice of the naysayers.’”

Rav Menachem Ernster, the Vizhnitzer Rosh Yeshiva, echoed that call as well. He apologized on behalf of his brother-in-law, the Rebbe, shlita, who could not attend for health reasons, and shared the divrei chizuk that the Rebbe had prepared for the event.

“Aside from the tremendous benefit of yedias haTorah afforded by learning and being tested [with Dir-

shu], there is an additional benefit as well. We live in a time when the yetzer hara is running rampant. He presents all kinds of enticements.

There is no better antidote to the yetzer hara than accepting upon oneself the goals of learning and being tested!”

Rav Messoud Ben Shimon, the venerated Sefardic Gaavad of Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elitzur, said, “How do we properly utilize this gift of Torah to enable us to overcome challenges? The answer is Dirshu! Dirshu enables the Torah to spread out and reach so many people. Rav Dovid Hofstedter has merited to not only increase the learning of Torah in Klal Yisroel but the love of Torah as well!”

There was a hush in the hall as Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, rose to address the crowd. Rav Cohen said, “Rav Yisroel Salanter writes that the way Torah has been learned among Klal Yisroel throughout the ages has been in two different areas. The first is learning with great depth.

The second is wide-ranging knowledge. One cannot be a true talmid chochom without yedias haTorah, a wide-ranging knowledge of all areas of Torah, Shas and poskim.

“The ideal of learning the Torah in its depth is something that in our generation has surpassed previous generations. Lomdei Torah invest so much time and effort into understanding the depth of Torah. As a result, the Torah world is flourishing.

“Regarding the second area, however, the area of knowledge of all areas of Torah, the ideal of completing entire sedarim of Shas, the entire Shas or Shulchan Aruch, is not found among us in the way that it was previously. Rav Dovid Hofstedter and Dirshu have merited to strengthen this area in a profound way while simultaneously ensuring that it not come at the expense of the depth and iyun sedorim.

“I am standing here to express my tremendous hakaras hatov on behalf of the olam haTorah to Dirshu and Rav Dovid for establishing and supporting these programs so that so many of us can be koneh Torah in the way they should…”

A highlight of the event was the

HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivering divrei bracha at the Dirshu Asifa

heartfelt drasha of Rav Dovid Hofstedter. Visibly moved, Rav Hofstedter began by expressing his overwhelming feelings of simcha of once again being in Eretz Yisroel after such a long absence and meeting with the Gedolei Yisroel and the beloved chavrei Dirshu.

“A year-and-a-half ago, we celebrated a World Siyum… Almost immediately thereafter, we were struck by a plague. We entered our own teivah, ark… and now, baruch Hashem we are emerging from the teivah. It is imperative, however, that we renew our deep bond with learning, with accountable limud haTorah.

When we attach ourselves to the Torah, the plague has no power over us. Let us attach ourselves again to Kinyan Shas, Kinyan Halacha, Daf HaYomi B’Halachah wherein we are preparing for a World Siyum on the Mishnah Berurah in less than a year!”

Rav Asher Weiss voiced the feelings of so many hundreds present when he said, “Now, after a long period of isolation in an attempt to stop the spread of the mageifah, we have returned! It is time we return to the beis medrash! The Torah hakedosha itself is waiting for us!

“I feel that Dirshu is the greatest and largest organization for the spreading of Torah in our times. The success they have achieved is beyond anything imaginable! The range of the organizations and its myriad programs is remarkable. My bracha is that many more thousands should join so that they too will be able to learn with clarity, hard work and simcha!”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

67 39

Op- d

We Must Stop Hate Crimes.

Here Is How.

By Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein

F

rom the horrific attack of a young man from the Five Towns on the streets of Manhattan just a few weeks ago, to the vicious murder of a great-grandfather at a Monsey Chanukah party just before the calendar flipped to 2020, to the vile incidence of swastikas scrawled in our communities, it is no secret that anti-Semitism and hate crimes of all kinds have been on the rise. That is unacceptable – and we must act now to change course. Bigotry and intolerance must be stamped out.

The statistics are scary: anti-Semitic acts were at historic highs in 2020, with 2,024 such cases reported across our nation, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Sadly, New York led the country in attacks directed at Jews last year, with a total of 336. And when considering the anti-Israel sentiments expressed during the recent conflict, as well as the growing BDS movement, things seem to be out of control.

It is incumbent upon us to put an end to the horrific acts of bigotry – and the tide may be turning. Last month, thousands of Long Islanders attended a rally against anti-Semitism in Cedarhurst Park, and thousands more signed a petition organized by local rabbis, community leaders and the Simon Weisenthal Center urging the state and federal governments to take tangible steps to combat hate crime. Here is an actionable plan: Our law must treat hate crimes with the gravity they demand. To that end, we have introduced legislation empowering judges to set bail on all hate crimes — including misdemeanors. Earlier this year, a man went on a reckless vandalism spree in Riverdale, throwing rocks through the windows of local synagogues. Yet, since the offenses were committed

against property, the defendant was released without the opportunity for the judge to set bail. We cannot allow that to happen — and under our bill, it will not. Under our legislation, any individual who commits a hate crime can have bail set. Period.

Second, it is important to continue investing in fortifying our community’s institutions. That is why we fought tirelessly to continue to fund the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grant program, which has provided tens of millions of dol-

New York led the country in attacks directed at Jews last year, with a total of 336.

We also need to fix a loophole in our law which prevents gang assault from being prosecuted to the fullest extent. Bewilderingly, gang assault is inexplicably omitted from the list of offenses that can be classified as hate crimes. We must fix this and ensure that individuals who perpetrate these vile acts are held to account.

lars to synagogues, yeshivas, camps and community centers to help deter hate crimes.

Though the executive budget proposed slashing this critical program, we fought to restore and fully fund it, and we strongly encourage our shuls and schools to apply for these crucial grants in the coming weeks and

months. Ensuring our institutions are protected against hate crimes is imperative – and that is precisely why we fought for this funding.

Third, educating our children when they are young and impressionable is key. We are pushing for critical legislation to ensure New York schools are teaching students the horrors of the Holocaust and ramping up their efforts to stem bigotry at its source.

Holocaust education is needed more than ever. A survey conducted by the Claims Conference found disturbingly poor levels of Holocaust knowledge among New Yorkers ages 18 to 39. Nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers could not name a concentration camp, while 19 percent believed that Jews caused the Holocaust. This cries out for immediate action.

According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, many teens arrested for hate vandalism admit that they do not even know what the Nazi swastika stands for. But once they are brought to a Holocaust museum, they feel ashamed of their actions and come away with a deep understanding of the unspeakable dangers of hatred.

Lastly, no matter what, we must continue to stand with Israel. When bigots feel empowered to delegitimize the Jewish state and harm our fellow brothers and sisters, the floodgates of anti-Semitism open here in America.

Let us be clear: anti-Zionism is a poorly-disguised form of anti-Semitism, and we must unwaveringly support our nation’s closest ally against those who seek to destroy it – be it with the BDS movement or anything else.

Hate crimes are a scourge on our society, and we need a multifaceted approach to stamp them out. Working together, we can. Our future depends on it.

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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

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

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

1. *

TJH

Centerfold

9 Ways Fatherhood is Different Now Than 100 Years Ago M

In 1921, if a father put a roof over his family’s head, he was a success.

Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that’s just the vacation home.

M

In 1921, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.

Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and record the whole thing on his iPhone.

M

In 1921, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.

Today, kids wouldn’t touch Dad’s clothes even if it meant freezing halfway to death.

M

In 1921, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, “Wake up, it’s time for school.”

Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting, “Wake up, it’s time for hockey practice.”

M

In 1921, “a good day at the market” meant father brought home feed for the horses.

Today, “a good day at the market” means Dad got in early on an IPO.

M

In 1921, when fathers entered the room, children rose to attention.

Today, kids glance up and grunt, “Dad, you’re blocking my view.”

M

1 Way Fatherhood is the Same Now As It Was 100 Years Ago:

M

M

M

In 1921, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.

Today, a father comes home to a note: “David’s at baseball, Sarah’s at gymnastics, I’m at the gym, pizza in fridge.”

In 1921, fathers and sons would have heart-toheart conversations while fishing in a stream.

Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons’ ears and shout, “WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE…” In 1921, if a father had breakfast in bed, it was eggs, cheese, hash-browns and muffins.

Today, it’s Special K, soy milk, dry toast and a lecture on cholesterol.

In 1921, fathers told their children, “When I was a kid, we weren’t spoiled like you guys today.”

Today, fathers tell their children, “When I was a kid, we weren’t spoiled like you guys today.”

Answer to Riddle: Avi is married to Julie, and they have a new kitchen. Brian is married to Mira, and they have a new bathroom. Charles is married to Laura, and they have a new conservatory. David is married to Sarah, and they have new windows.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Riddle me This?

In honor of Father’s Day, four couples had home

improvements

done to their homes.

Avi had not re-

You Gotta be Kidding Me! A grade school teacher was asking students

cently had a new

what their fathers did for a living.

bathroom. Sarah

“Tim, you be first,” she said. “What does your

had not yet done her

father do all day?”

kitchen, but perhaps

Tim stood up and proudly said, “He’s a doctor.”

would update it next.

Brian, who is married to Mira, had not had new windows. Laura delighted in showing photographs of her new conservatory. Neither Charles nor David had a new kitchen. Julie had not had new windows. Avi, who also had not had windows, is not married to Laura and Charles is not married to Sarah.

Who is married to whom and what work had they recently undertaken, assuming that each couple had one improvement and no two couples had the same improvement?

Answer on left page

“That’s wonderful. How about you, Amie?”

Amie shyly stood up, scuffed her feet and said, “My father is a mailman.”

“Thank you, Amie,” said the teacher. “What about your father, Billy?”

Billy proudly stood up and announced, “My father murders people, steals from them, and drives very fast.”

The teacher was aghast and promptly changed the subject. Right after class she immediately called Billy’s father and asked if there might be some explanation.

Billy’s father said, “I’m actually an attorney. But how can I explain a thing like that to a seven-year-old?”

Gosh, he really has his father’s eyes!

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3

Torah Thought

Parshas Chukas

By Rabbi Berel Wein

T

he fate of the generation that left Egypt and came to the Sinai Desert is finally sealed in this week’s Torah reading. Even though we already read in last week’s Torah portion about the disaster and eventual demise of that generation because of the slanderous report of the Spies that visited the land of Is-

rael, Moshe somehow was convinced that he himself would escape their fate. He appears to be confident that he will yet lead his beloved people into the promised land of Israel.

However, as we read in the Torah, the L-rd informs Moshe that he also will not enter the land of Israel. The Torah does give us a reason for this

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harsh decree against the greatest of all prophets and leaders. Moshe chose to strike the rock to bring forth water instead of complying with the heavenly order speak to the rock.

At first glance, we are certainly troubled by this seemingly asymmetrical form of judgment and punishment. The retribution for this sin seems to be far too harsh, especially when we consider the decades of service, sacrifice and loyalty that Moshe

Al-mighty and eternity. Others have pointed out that it was not so much the behavior of Moshe, as it was that this was the appropriate time when Joshua should have taken over the mantle of leadership. Every generation has its leaders, and leaders of previous generations, no matter how great they may have been, are not destined to serve as leaders of later generations.

It is this rule of history and of human nature that governs this sit-

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The leader of each generation is responsible for what happens to that generation.

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previously exhibited in his relationship with the Al-mighty. Simply put, it seems unfair. The punishment does not seem to fit the crime.

This issue has vexed Jewish minds over the ages. It is almost as though the Torah is purposely writing a real cause-and-effect relationship regarding Moshe and the land of Israel. Because of this intuitive feeling of uneasiness about the true nature of this incident, many varied explanations and commentaries have been offered over the ages.

Maimonides described the real crime as being the tendency to become angry, and anger always leads to a ruptured relationship with the

uation. The fact that Moshe struck the rock is not the essential reason that some commentators believe that a new generation demanded new leadership to be successful. Another nuance added to this explanation is that the leader of each generation is responsible for what happens to that generation. Therefore, it is obvious that if the generation that Moshe redeemed from Egypt and led through the Desert of Sinai was not going to merit entering the land of Israel, then its leader, no matter how great and noble a person he may have been, must share the same fate of the generation that he so faithfully led.

Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

YKLI 8th Grade ‫סעודת פרידה‬

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

From the Fire Parshas Chukas

Your Wellsprings Shall Spread Forth

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

he Jewish people experienced two miracles in the desert for which we sang a song to Hashem. The first and most famous was the Song at the Sea (Shmos 15:119). The second and much less wellknown is the song at the well in this week’s parsha (Bamidbar 21:17-20).

The most striking difference between them is the fact that the Song at the Sea begins, “Then Moshe and the children of Israel sang…,” whereas the song at the well begins, “Then the Jewish people sang this song…” with no mention of Moshe Rebbeinu. Why was he left out of this second song?

When the Jewish people sang the Song at the Sea, we were still in our infancy as a nation. “For Israel is a youth and I love him” (Hoshea 11:1). Moshe Rebbeinu led us in the Song at the Sea because we had not yet reached a state of maturity. We could not compose our own song. So he led us in the song word for word,

and we repeated after him. We did not even understand the full depth and importance of what we were experiencing, so Moshe taught us how to sing. He taught us the deeper meaning of what we went through.

Moshe was the adult, and we were the children. As the pasuk homiletically says, “Efraim is a son who is dear to me” (Yirmiyahu 31:19).

But forty years later, in our parsha, just before we were about to enter the land of Israel, our nation had matured. We were then able to compose a song to Hashem on our own.

We no longer needed Moshe to do it for us. We were then able to compose our own song, “Then the Jewish people sang this song, ‘Spring up O well, sing to it!’”

The Sfas Emes explains differently. According to him, Moshe and the Jewish people sang the Song at the Sea together because both were on the same level. But at the end of

the forty years in the desert, after we had done teshuva for the many mistakes we had made, we were on an even higher level than Moshe, as the Gemara (Brachos 34b) says, “Complete tzaddikim cannot stand in the place where baalei teshuva stand.”

Because the Jewish people were on a higher level than Moshe at the end of our time in the desert, the pasuk says that we sang the song at the well without Moshe. We had surpassed him.

We can connect the understanding mentioned earlier, that the Jewish people praised Hashem on their own, without Moshe’s guidance, because we had matured to the point that we were able to compose our own song to G-d, to two beautiful pesukim written by Shlomo Hamelech.

In Mishlei (5:15-16), he compares four stages in a person’s life to four sources of water: “Drink water out of your cistern and running water out

of your well. And your spring will be dispersed outside and streams [rivers] of water will flow in the broad places.” We see here four sources of water: a cistern, a well, a spring, and a river. Each of these four sources of water has different characteristics.

A cistern is not an independent source of water. It only has whatever water people put in it. We cannot take anything from it that we did not place into it. A well, on the other hand, is an independent source of water, but it is limited. The water does not rise above a certain point.

And the only way to access it is for someone to lower a bucket into the well and draw the water out. A spring is qualitatively different. Not only is it an independent source of water, but the water must find a way to come out of the ground. It will search until it finds a way to emerge. And a river is even more powerful. It rush-

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

es across the ground in huge streams and currents and will not be stopped.

These four sources of water also correspond to four stages in an individual’s life. The cistern corresponds to one’s childhood. Before a person begins to think independently, all he has are the thoughts, information, and good qualities imparted to him by his parents, rebbeim, and teachers. He has nothing other than what is put into him, just like a cistern only has whatever water was placed in it.

The next stage of life begins around the time of one’s bar or bas mitzvah. Some people begin to mature at a younger age and many others do not start maturing until much later. Men, in particular, sometimes do not begin to grow up until they are in their forties, and others leave the world without ever forsaking their infantile thinking. Women, thankfully, generally mature at a much younger age.

The well corresponds to this stage in life. It is no coincidence that this transition from childhood into adolescence is called “bar” mitzvah, which is related to the phrase “be’er mitzvah, the well of the mitzvah.” At this stage, the child begins to think independently. He asks deeper questions and starts to draw his own conclusions. But, like a well, his waters do not spring forth on their own.

His parents, rebbeim, and teachers must lower a bucket down into him to draw out his own deeper thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The third stage of life is when things truly begin to get lively. At this stage, a young man or woman becomes like a spring. His or her waters, i.e., unique ideas and ideals, begin to spring forth without any coaxing from parents, rebbeim, or teachers. This young person becomes, as the Mishna in Avos (2:8) says, “an ever-strengthening wellspring.” It is also no coincidence that the word for “ever-strengthening” is misgaber, which has the same letters as misbager, maturing. A young person who reaches this wellspring stage of life cannot contain the good, the idealism, the talent, the knowledge, and the creativity he or she has inside. It must find a means of expression. It must burst forth, and

it does so of its own power. Parents, rebbeim, or teachers need not coax out the waters of this person’s inner greatness.

The final stage is the raging river.

A person who reaches this stage in life has ideas, knowledge and ideals

We were able to end the time in our national life when Moshe, Aharon and Miriam led us and drew out the goodness from within us. That epoch in our history was coming to a close.

So the song at the well was really a goodbye song. We gave thanks

This is similar to the wellspring of creativity, talent, idealism, knowledge, and generosity hidden within the Jewish people.

which he must spread as widely as possible. Someone like this is compelled to teach others, to lead, to write, and to bring major projects to fruition. His waters spread forth and cover all of the expanses of the earth.

The miracle of the well was how Hashem turned a dry rock into a flowing well of water. This is similar to the wellspring of creativity, talent, idealism, knowledge, and generosity hidden within the Jewish people. At the beginning, our parents and teachers – Moshe Rebbeinu and Aharon Hakohein – had to draw our waters, our song, out from us word by word. But over the forty years in the desert, we grew up and matured.

Like any young person transitioning from childhood into adulthood, we caused our teachers untold aggravation and pain during our time in the desert. Those were our teenage years. We were testing the limits and trying form an independent identity from our teachers before we knew how to do so in a constructive way.

But in the end, we became a mature nation, ready to compose our own song to Hashem from our own waters, our own song at the well.

The truth is that when we sang the song at the well, it was not a song praising Hashem for giving us the well for the first time. That had happened forty years earlier. We were on the cusp of entering Eretz Yisroel, and we were soon going to say goodbye to the well, to the water we were given based on the merit of Miriam.

for our teachers’ guidance when we needed it as we prepared for our national adulthood and independence in the only place on earth where we could actualize the full breadth of our inner greatness – in Eretz Yisroel, about which the pasuk (Devarim 8:7) says, “For Hashem your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land with rivers of water, wellsprings, and deep [waters] going forth in the valley and in the mountain.” We were leaving the age of the cistern and the well and entering the time of the wellspring and the raging river.

Because the song at the well functioned as a goodbye ballad to our teachers, it contains a reference to Moshe Rebbeinu and his death. In it, we said (Bamidbar 21:20), “From the heights to the valley in the field of Moav, at the top of the summit, Rosh Hapisgah, that overlooks the wastelands.” And at the end of the Torah (Devarim 34:1), when Moshe was ascending Har Nevo as he was about to leave the world, the pasuk says, “And Moshe went up from the plains of Moav to Har Nevo [to the] top of the summit, Rosh Hapisgah, facing Yericho…” This reference to the top of the summit in the song at the well was therefore a hint at Moshe Rebbeinu, to whom they were about to bid farewell.

The chavrusa of the Sar Shalom of Belz, zy”a, was the great gaon and tzaddik, Rav Shalom Kaminka,

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zy”a. One day, one of Rav Shalom’s chassidim had yahrtzeit, and, as was the custom, he planned to bring some schnapps and kichel on which the other chassidim would make a bracha in memory of the person for whom this chassid was saying kaddish. Unfortunately, he forgot to bring the bag he had prepared with the food. He panicked when he remembered and asked someone next to him, “Oh! Can you ask a young boy to run to my house to get the kichel and schnapps?” But before anyone knew what had happened, the Rebbe, Rav Shalom, threw off his tallis and tefillin and ran to the man’s house to bring what he needed for the yahrtzeit.

The chassid was mortified. When the rebbe returned, he pleaded with him, “Rebbe! Please forgive me! I never meant to ask the Rebbe to get the food for me! I asked someone to get a young boy to do it!”

So the Rebbe answered him, “Let me tell you why I ran to get your kichel and schnapps. Before I became a bar mitzvah, I did not want to grow up. So I made an agreement with the Master of the World. I said I would only grow up on condition that whenever I wanted, I could go back to being a child again. When I heard you say you needed a young boy to bring what you needed from home, I chose that moment to take advantage of the condition I made with Hashem and took it upon myself to run to your house to fetch what you needed, just like a child would.”

All of us have the ability to fulfill our own unique potential and draw from our own inner creativity to illuminate the world. But we also have the ability to do so with the freshness and exuberance of a child, just like Rav Shalom Kaminka. May we all merit to grow up to spread our inner gifts, creativity, thoughts, ideals, knowledge, and talents in the world independently while never losing that sense of childlike wonder and excitement.

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

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Delving into the Daf

What Came First?

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

B

oruch: I learned the Daf very well this week, and I can’t really see how it has relevance to practical halacha.

Shimon: The Daf doesn’t have to have any practical relevance. Learning Torah is a mitzvah even if it’s not halacha l’maaseh. Furthermore, the logic behind various scenarios can be applied elsewhere, even if the exact situation discussed in the Gemara doesn’t exist. By the way, I wanted to ask your opinion on an interesting situation.

There are two babies having their bris in the same shul with the same mohel.

One was born Wednesday morning at 5 am. The other was born at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Which baby should have his bris milah first?

Boruch: That’s obvious. The baby born in the morning should have his bris first, since he was born first.

Shimon: Actually, from the Daf this week, we learned that there is no preference. The Gemara discusses a goat that was designated for a korban on Yom Kippur. Another goat was designated for the same exact korban.

The kohen gadol has to choose which one to bring. The Gemara suggests that even though one was purchased earlier and designated earlier, that itself is not a reason to choose that one.

Ultimately, both the original korban and the replacement are not viable until a second lottery is performed.

Therefore, they both become viable at the exact same time. (Rashi Yoma 64a D”H B’idna. This logic is the conclusion according to Rav and the Chachomim.) So too, here, although one baby was born earlier, he cannot have his bris until the morning of the eighth day. The baby that was born later can also have his bris performed

at the same time on the morning of the eighth day. Since the obligations come at the exact same time, there is no preference to perform the bris on the baby that was born first. However, if this will lead to argument and strife, then the bris should be performed on the baby born first. (Birchas Avrohom OC 14) Boruch: It’s interesting you brought that up. This Sunday in shul there are two brissim taking place: one where the baby was sick and could not have a bris earlier; the other baby was born during twilight on Friday. They are not sure if the baby was born on Friday or Friday night (Shabbos), so they are making the bris on Sunday.

to give the baby that recovered from illness a bris until Sunday. Since his obligation started later, his bris should come second. (See Chelkas Yaakov YD 142) Boruch: But going back to your initial case, you said that when the original korban became temporarily disqualified and now you have two viable korbanos, you can choose either one. (According to the Sages.)

That logic is clearly against the Shut Torah Lishma (56). He writes regarding a certain shul that kept their Sifrei Torah in a safe. Before davening, they would take a Sefer Torah out of the safe and put it in the Aron Kodesh. It happened once that they took a Sefer

Ultimately, both the original korban and the replacement are not viable until a second lottery is performed.

Friday wasn’t an option because it may be Day 7. Shabbos wasn’t an option because maybe the baby was born on Friday during the day and the bris can’t take place on Shabbos because that would be Day 9. (Only brissim on the eighth day can take place on Shabbos.)

So the bris is on Sunday. I guess they can pick which baby goes first.

Shimon: Actually, in that case, the Friday/Shabbos baby should have his bris first. There is no question that the obligation to give him a bris either started on Friday or on Shabbos. Because of doubt, the bris is pushed off until Sunday. There was no obligation

Torah out from the safe and brought it to the shul. They decided to roll it to the proper place before davening.

The gabbai noticed that two letters were attached, rendering the Torah pasul. They put it in the Aron Kodesh meanwhile and took a second Torah out from the safe. They rolled that one as well and put it in the Aron Kodesh.

The gabbai mentioned to the Rav that the first Sefer Torah was pasul. He examined it closely and discovered that a combination of shadows and dirt had misled the gabbai. The Sefer Torah was, in fact, kosher. The Torah Lishmah ruled that they must read

from the first Sefer Torah. Since that was taken out of the safe first and was designated for use first, they must use it and not the second replacement Sefer Torah. This clearly contradicts your logic, Shimon. In your case, since one korban was designated first, they should have to use that one.

Shimon: Good point. However, there is a major difference. In my case, the first korban did, in fact, become temporarily disqualified. When it was reinstated, there was already another viable korban as well becoming qualified at the same time. In that case, you are free to choose either korban.

Here, the first Sefer Torah was never disqualified. It was erroneously declared pasul. In fact, it was kosher all along! Therefore, since it was chosen first, you must read from it first.

Boruch: So if I set up my Chanukah menorah with wax candles and then find olive oil which is more mehudar, I should still use the wax candles because I chose it first?

Shimon: According to the Shvua Yaakov, you are correct. However, the Chacham Tzvi disagrees and says since the olive oil is more mehudar, you should not use the wax candles even though it was chosen first. (See Shaarei Teshuva OC 683:1) Boruch: Thanks Shimon, but if I have any halacha l’maaseh questions, I’ll ask my rav and not rely on this article.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.

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The Wandering

Jew

Our Bucharest Weekend

By Hershel Lieber

The Romanian Parliament

T

he first night of Rosh Hashana of 2018 was on Sunday, September 9. Continuing a tradition which I began in 1979, and resumed annually from 1990 onward, I traveled to Warsaw to be the baal tefillah at the Nozyk Synagogue for the Yomim Noraim. During the early years, when we had smaller children at home, I made the journey alone. After our children were married or away in yeshiva, Pesi almost always was my travel mate. We would generally leave a day before Rosh Hashana and return the day after Yom Kippur. During the week of Aseres Yemei Teshuva, we would either travel to other cities in Poland or to other countries in Europe.

During the years that Rosh Hashana was on Sunday night, we were compelled to leave from the United States before Shabbos. There were no late flights on Motzei Shabbos, and we could not risk a journey from the States that would arrive in Poland on Erev Rosh Hashana. We decided that we would go to Europe a few days before Shabbos and fly within Europe to Warsaw on Sunday, Erev Rosh Hashana. This happened in 2015 and again in 2018.

In 2015, we spent four days in Paris, and in 2018, we spent the same amount of time in Bucharest.

The Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest

I had traveled alone to Romania in 1980. At the time, I met the legendary Chief Rabbi Moshe Rosen, who almost singlehandedly made it possible for Jewish life to coexist within the Com-

Bucharest was a city of great contrasts – fading mansions and decrepit hovels side by side

munist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. He was also instrumental in allowing thousands of Jews to emigrate to Israel during his tenure.

Bucharest was a city of great contrasts – fading mansions and decrepit hovels side by side made up the image of this capital city. The pompous uniforms of the military and the police contrasted with the shabby appearance of the general

population. The only people who made an impression on me were the Gypsies dressed in tattered clothing begging for a few coins to feed their large families. Government buildings were imposing with grand plazas, but within a block or two, the streets were made up of broken sections of pavement surrounded by ramshackle huts that were homes to the average citizen. Streetlights were out, and garbage was piled up everywhere. Stores were bereft of any decent merchandise, and even the unappealing food items were in short supply.

In short, Romania was a depressing sight both in terms of the country and its dwindling Jewish population.

Fast forward to Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 5 PM when we were picked up by the hotel car and taken to the Sheraton Bucharest Hotel. Other than twenty minutes at the gym room and eating the sandwiches that we brought along, we called it an early night when we fell fast asleep at 10 PM. As usual, I connected with Chabad before leaving the States to make arrangements for davening, eating and Shabbos seudos. Chabad’s headquarters are in the former Yeshuha Tova Synagogue, which is presently the Chabad Shul and Outreach

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Choral Temple

Center. There is also the Bereshit Restaurant serving lunch and dinner at the same location. Baruch Hashem, our hotel was only one short block away.

On Thursday morning, I went to the shul at 7 AM for Selichos and Shacharis. That’s when I met Rabbi Naftali Deutsch, the very personable

The interior of Choral Temple

Chabad shaliach, who is of Hungarian descent.

He filled me in with valuable information that we would need during our stay. After a quick bite in our hotel room, we went out to conquer the town.

We boarded an open deck bus, which gave us a running narrative about the sights of the city.

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The Tailors Shul, which is now The Jewish Museum

It was very informative and quite interesting and also was a great vantage point for taking photos.

We descended near the gargantuan Parliament building, which is the largest in the world. It was one of Ceausescu’s projects of self-glorification.

While touring the interior of this edifice, we met a

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A historic house in the Village Museum

Chabad shaliach Rabbi Naftali Deutsch

woman from Montreal and a man from Rio de Janeiro with whom we spent the next hour touring the Old Town together. We headed back to Chabad for an Israeli style lunch (pita, soup, beef, rice and okra). Then we headed to the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum which was a true treat for our eyes.

Located in the King Michael I Park, the museum showcases village life in many of the regions in Romania. It contains 272 traditional houses and farms that were brought from towns and farmlands throughout the country. There was even a Jewish home from the year 1860, from the district of Marmures, with Jewish religious artifacts. We spent about two hours of pure enjoyment touring this unique museum. Before leaving, we boarded a boat that took us for a pleasant ride around the Herastrau Park Lake. We took the bus on the way back but got off a few stops too early, which meant a healthy, appetite-rousing walk back to Chabad’s restaurant. Supper was basically a repeat performance of lunch, but we were hungry enough not to care. There was no minyan for Mincha/Maariv, so we returned to our room, where I started writing

A dilapidated house in former Jewish District

material for a lecture that I would be giving in Warsaw.

On Friday morning, after davening at Chabad and breakfast in our room, we met Ivan, the guide who would take us on a walking tour of the former Jewish District of Bucharest. Our first stop was the 150-year-old Choral Temple. This architectural gem is the seat of the Chief Rabbinate of Romania and still has an active choir and chazzan every Shabbos. From there, we headed to the former Polish synagogue and then to the Tailors Shul, which is now a Jewish museum. We were able to see an abandoned shul through a crack in the wooden fence that surrounds it. We went into the JDC Building which presents events in conjunction with Jewish holidays and Israeli themes to the small existing community. They also run a lunch kitchen that caters to the needy. I remembered most of these places from my earlier trip.

One building from that period that was unfortunately razed was the Malbim Shul, where I was the baal tefillah in 1980. We passed the Lauder Foundation School and stopped into the Yiddish Theatre building where a play was in rehearsal. I spoke to the director, reminiscing about my previous visit which included attending a Yiddish play.

Returning to our hotel, we had tuna and tomato in a pita for lunch. Then Pesi’s filling fell out of her tooth, and we were lucky to find a nearby dentist to replace it immediately. We still had time for a one-hour nap before we got ourselves ready for Shabbos.

We rushed over to the Chabad Shul, Yeshuha Tova, to be there before candle lighting on Friday. Rabbi Deutsch asked me to daven Kabbalas Shabbos. I asked him about saying “VeShomeru,” which Nusach Chabad does not say. He told me that he does say it, in deference to his father’s Hungarian chassidishe nusach. I followed suit.

The shul was packed with tourists and people who work or study in Romania, almost all Israelis.

Very few were observant, however, especially the

Sephardic Jews, tradition is still very important.

Celebrating Friday night with tefillos and singing and a communal seudah gave them the connection to Shabbos that they so crave. We sat with a frum family and had a very nice conversation during the sumptuous and plentiful meal.

What a contrast Shabbos Shacharis was! There were two minyanim of mispallelim with a few more men plus some women joining for the seudah. We did not start davening until 10:45 AM. This time, we sat at the seudah with the Deutschs, and we had a great time telling over personal travel stories. Rav Naftali had been in Kishinev so we already had a common theme. He knew some of the people that we knew. We sang zemiros together and developed a camaraderie in a very short time.

After a nap and walk, we returned for Mincha and then Pesi joined me and thirteen men for Shalosh Seudos. We said our goodbyes to the Deutschs right after Havdalah and went back to our room to pack. There was not much of a night left, as our flight to Warsaw was leaving at 5:30 AM. Our weekend stay in Bucharest was very delightful, but our mood was rapidly transforming into a more serious mode, since in less than twenty-four hours we would be entering the Yimei Hadin, starting with Rosh Hashana.

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

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Israel Today

Faint Discipline

By Rafi Sackville

D

uring a Shabbos meal at a friend’s house, the topic of discussion turned to disciplining school children. How, I was asked, did I manage to control the large classes that I taught? While pondering the question, my host – who is also a teacher – mentioned that there are occasions when raising one’s voice is a classroom management necessity.

His eldest daughter, a mother of three young girls, who was visiting from Netanya, reminded him that, when she was small girl, she would faint when he’d raise his voice at her.

Fascinated, I asked her if she had used it as a ruse to mitigate her father’s anger and escape his wrath.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know why it happened. All I can remember is the flow of blood draining southwards from my head, and then everything going black.”

“Did it work?” I asked her.

“Yes, he rarely yelled at me after it occurred a couple of times. But that was a long time ago. It doesn’t happen anymore.”

I’ve been teaching for over 35 years. Early into my professional career I realized that raising my voice as a disciplinary tool was mostly a waste of time and energy.

It is worth noting that, in general, there are differences between Israeli and American students. Some of those differences aren’t exactly subtle. I live in the periphery where over 40% of our students are categorized as learning “challenged.” These students can be as unstable as a house of cards. Some of the students possess a boldness that can often result in uncomfortable classroom situations.

If one’s arsenal includes yelling, it’d best be done if you do it for show and not from anger. The louder you raise your voice in anger, the less likely you are going to be heard. In my neck of the woods, yelling is sometimes an

invitation for a student to yell back in response.

I’ve observed that quick-draw responses by Israeli students are often a manifestation of a lack of confidence: a form of defense that so many young people employ when they feel threatened. When they do yell, they’re sent to the principal for a dressing down, which, in most, instances only puts a temporary halt to hostilities.

It’s not pleasant. For example, Tehila, a senior, will not suffer being told she’s in the wrong. Any hint of castigation by a teacher, and she lashes out without thought. And yet, when the conversation is on her terms – that is, when the teacher defers to her as an equal – she is as pleasant as pleasant can be.

Her friend Li-em reacts similarly, only she does it with a sense of humor. During one lesson, I asked her twice to concentrate on her work. As I was about to do it a third time, she pointed one finger at me and replied with a cunning grin, “I’m listening to you, but I’ve got other things to do.”

Secondly, when I was teaching in New York, the formal distance maintained between students and

teachers always began with them calling me Mr. Sackville. That small formality is an important tool that delineates territory. In most Israeli schools (I exclude yeshivot and girls’ schools), teachers are called by their first names. This familiarity oftentimes leads students to overstep this formal red-line, and once they enter a world of informality, they – not many of them –have one less barrier on their way to a lack of respect.

Thirdly, one cannot underestimate the underlying existential threat that hovers over Israel. Over the last 73 years this has transformed the population into millions of prime ministers, each knowing better than the next what is good for the country and how to solve its ills. This brazenness is as present among teenagers as it is among their parents and grandparents.

Sitting with some parents can be a harrowing experience. Their child may have broken every rule in the book, may have blackened an eye or threatened a teacher. It matters not because some parents will support their children to the hilt. One mother I know screamed at me for not passing her daughter. After it was made

clear to her that this wasn’t the case and that her daughter had, in fact, passed, the mother offered no apology. It was as if she hadn’t yelled at me in the first place.

I’ve known teachers who have come from abroad and have not succeeded in bridging the “expectations” they have of their Israeli students and how they expect them to behave in class.

As simplistic as it sounds, I found the formula for success in the classroom boils down to this: just love all students regardless; show them respect and they will return it in spades; don’t set your expectations too high; never consider your position in a classroom as a vehicle of power. Most importantly, know that teachers have flaws and can improve their performance in class. This will help any teacher to strive to be better.

I couldn’t help thinking about my friend’s daughter and her fits of fainting. In my eyes she was, without being aware of it, educating her father how to deal with her. Her sensitivity might have come at a cost, but those around her quickly discovered how to relate to her without hurting her feelings.

Later that week, my wife asked me to do a household chore – nothing more than to move a vase from point A to B. I was feeling lazy and feigned hearing her. Again, she asked. Again, I ignored her. She then raised her voice a little louder and asked me again. So I fainted. At least I pretended to faint.

Did it work, you might ask? Let me put it this way; the vase, which I quickly moved, looks much better where it is now. I’ll never pull that stunt again.

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

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“You’re Only There to Serve the People” TJH Speaks with David Weprin, Candidate for NYC Comptroller

BY SUSAN SCHWAMM

Assemblyman Weprin, the elections for NYC comptroller are on June 22 but early voting has already started. How has the race been going?

It’s been going very well. We’re building a lot of endorsements that we haven’t announced yet, particularly in the Orthodox Jewish community.

We’ve got the Flatbush Orthodox Coalition’s endorsement and the Borough Park Orthodox Coalition and the Far Rockaway Orthodox Coalition, the Queens Orthodox Coalition – these are not necessarily the names of the coalitions, but the Orthodox leaders and their coalitions in those areas are endorsing us. We’re working on Williamsburg as well. So we’re doing well with the Orthodox Jewish community.

I’ve always had strong support in the South Asian community because that’s been an important part of my constituency, mostly Indian community. And I have very strong support in Queens County because I’m supported by Congressman Greg Meeks and the Queens Democratic Organization. So that’s where we expect to do very well.

You’re running for New York City comptroller, which is a position not just in the borough of Queens. What about support in

the other boroughs in New York City?

Well, that’s why I mentioned all those Orthodox communities in Brooklyn, which there is generally a heavy turnout. Especially in the Hasidic community, they often vote as a bloc.

You’re not new to the political scene. You’ve been a councilman; you’ve been an assemblyman. Tell us a little bit more about your background.

I’m an attorney by training. Then I went into Governor Mario Cuomo’s administration as deputy superintendent of banking for the state, or deputy commissioner for banking for the state. Then I went on to a 25year Wall Street career in municipal finance with major firms, all very relevant experience to the comptroller’s office. The comptroller has a division that handles public finance or bond issues for capital projects, for housing, for schools. So that’s all very relevant experience.

Then I got elected to the City Council in 2001 and immediately became chair of the Finance Committee. I chaired the Finance Committee for eight consecutive years where I balanced eight consecutive budgets without layoffs and without major budget cuts.

The other thing about my tenure as finance chair is that it was during two fiscal crises in the City of New York. The first one was right after 9/11, when I came in with Mayor Bloomberg and we had a multi-billion-dollar deficit because of 9/11.

The city was devastated. Manhattan, especially downtown Manhattan, was devastated. We turned around the economy. We created a lot of programs with the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in the Finance Committee.

But the main thing to note is that I balanced budgets during two fiscal crises. Right now, we’re going to be going through the same thing. We got significant aid from Washington due to Covid-19, so we closed up our gaps in the economy. We closed the gap at the state level, which would have been about five billion, and we closed that in April with the state budget based on the federal stimulus money. And we are going to be closing the City budget because of the federal aid. But that’s only good for a year – it’s a one-time bonus. Because of the devastation of small businesses, the devastation of the tax revenue because of Covid-19, we’re anticipating a four-to-five-billion-dollar deficit every year for the next three or four years. That’s pretty significant, and you need somebody who has actually

balanced budgets and who has made tough decisions to be in the comptroller’s position.

After doing that, I got elected to the Assembly in a special election in February 2010. I’ve been in the Assembly for the last 11 and a half years.

I’ve chaired the Committee on People with Disabilities. I now chair the Corrections Committee, and I’ve been on the Ways and Means Committee, which is a finance committee, most of my time in the Assembly.

I don’t think anybody running for comptroller now or at any time has had that type of background, especially when we’re facing a major fiscal crisis.

Absolutely. You have the experience balancing budgets and supporting the economy in addition to your political background. Tell me about some of the accomplishments that you’re most proud of as assemblyman or as councilman.

Well, as well as councilman, I’m most proud of balancing eight budgets during very tough fiscal times.

As a member of the Assembly for the last 11 years, I’m particularly proud of two pieces of legislation that became law that took me a long time to get. In one case, the bill had been around the Legislature for over 50 years and had

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never really gotten anywhere, and it finally actually became law under my advocacy for about eight or nine years on that particular bill.

What was that bill about?

It’s called the Adoptee Bill of Rights. It allowed adult adoptees, once they become 18 years of age, to have access to their original birth certificates. It’s very meaningful, and it actually changed so many people’s lives.

In New York State, since 1938, original birth certificates are sealed at adoption, which means that they exist and that they’re still maintained by the Department of Health in every county in the state, and in the case of New York City, at the New York City Department of Health. Every county has their own health department throughout the state, but they actually contain the original birth certificates that are sealed. And why is that so key? Because it has the names and addresses of the original birth parents, which is significant because it has enabled adoptees to actually find their birth parents or find out that they have siblings that they didn’t know existed or to get medical history.

That bill has actually changed a lot of lives because it’s reunited families. The Agudath Yisrael was strongly behind the bill because from a halachic Jewish point of view, if you don’t know who your biological parents are, you don’t know whether you’re really Jewish, you don’t know who’s who.

G-d forbid, you don’t want siblings to marry if they don’t know that they’re siblings. There are all sorts of halachic implications. And so, they actually strongly supported the bill as well.

Why was that something that was close to your heart?

Because it changed so many lives.

It wasn’t that I had personal experience with adoption. When the advocates had come to me, I was very surprised that that was the case in New York. I think 12 or 13 states have adopted similar laws to New York’s. This bill that I pushed through changed a lot of lives and is very important to me.

Another piece of legislation that I advocated for, which is important to so many religions and our diverse communities, is the religious garb law which would prohibit discrimination

in all employment, public or private, for wearing religious garb or facial hair for religious reasons. That’s an important bill to the Orthodox Jewish community and the Hasidic community who often have long beards and hats and peyos and are often discriminated against. Particularly when it comes to being a police officer or a firefighter or uniformed agencies, they have all these rules. We’ve changed that.

It’s also very important to the Sikh community. Sikhs have long beards and turbans, and they’ve been discriminated against for many years, and it’s also important to the Muslim community, particularly Muslim women who cover their hair, as Orthodox Jewish women do, but also have been discriminated against for the way they look. As long as your religious dress doesn’t interfere with what you’re doing for your business, you cannot be discriminated against.

In the case of the Sikh community,

grandchildren. They all went to yeshiva except for the little one who’s two, and who will be going soon. I’ve been a strong supporter of tax credits for yeshiva because, obviously, tuition has been a burden on yeshiva parents.

“I chaired the Finance Committee for eight consecutive years where I balanced eight consecutive budgets without layoffs and without major budget cuts.”

the bill arose out of a story involving an operator of the E train who had a beard and turban and wore it during 9/11. The E train went into the World Trade Center. He actually saved lives during 9/11, and then he got fired from the MTA after 9/11. The MTA had received hundreds of calls from the public saying that there was a terrorist driving the E train because he looked like Osama bin Laden with his beard and turban. There was a lot of ignorance by the people. But we changed that in New York State, that he can’t be fired for his religious garb.

Speaking of religion, you are an Orthodox Jew. Yes. I’m frum. My kids all went to yeshiva. I have five children and six

I’ve also fought for programs to allow a college saver-type program, which you can pay with pre-tax dollars – setting aside money for college and taking that out of pre-tax dollars and investing the money out of pretax dollars so you’re not taxed on it.

I have legislation to have that apply to private school and yeshiva tuition, too, because in the case of yeshiva parents, in particular, most feel that they don’t have a choice about sending their children to yeshiva. It’s part of their religion and part of their culture. They’re paying the same taxes that are supposed to cover the public school system, so it seems fair that they should be getting some tax credit for paying what has become increasingly large yeshiva tuitions each and

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every year. It’s become a real burden to middle class families.

There are some candidates for comptroller who are promising voters free air conditioning, free Internet, help with the utility bills. How can they promise something to voters when it’s really not something that the comptroller can give to residents?

Look, most people don’t understand what the comptroller is. I understand the job because when I was on Wall Street for 25 years, I’ve always had the City of New York, or the firm had, as the client, and I’ve always been involved one way or another in the issuance of bonds. I know that part of the job.

I know the asset management part because when I was on Wall Street, I also chaired the Securities Industry Association which dealt with all aspects of Wall Street and Wall Street firms. And that’s another major part of the job.

And the audit function, which is really a check on the mayor, is a major part. What I’ve been saying is I think we should be auditing these large outside contracts which have never been the focus of the controller’s audit, and it should be because the Department of Education alone has an eight billion dollar outside contracting budget. There’s a lot of fraud and waste.

I’m sure they could be discovered by auditing some of these contracts.

Most of them have never been looked at because the city charter requires

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the comptroller to audit some aspect of every city agency only once every four years. To me, that’s not frequent enough. We should be looking to audit at least some aspect of every agency every year. And we should also look to audit the large outside contracts.

The other thing that I plan on doing is that I want to open up an office in every borough. Right now, there’s only one office in the municipal building in downtown Manhattan near City Hall. It’s not accessible to the public, and I think the comptroller’s office should be accessible to the public. We have seven-hundred-sixty employees all in that one place in downtown Manhattan, and we can move some of the employees into borough offices. There’s no reason why we can’t, borough-wide, deal with issues on a borough-by-borough basis.

At those borough offices, I want to help small businesses in those areas to try to bring back small businesses.

Small businesses, which have been devastated by the pandemic, result in over 50 percent of the employment in New York City. And that’s been devastated. Unemployment is at a record high because of the pandemic. It’s going to take a while to get out of it. We have to focus on bringing back small businesses.

Additionally, until we get a handle on public safety, we’re not going to get a handle on bringing New York City back. It’s already had a major effect on the economy. It’s had a major effect on the tax revenue. It’s had a major effect on tourism. We have to reopen New York City, reopen all those buildings in Manhattan, but people have to

feel safe. A lot of people aren’t taking the subway because they’re afraid, and all of these incidents seem to be almost every day – another stabbing or a shooting.

Around 1991, 1992, we had a major public safety crisis, a major crime surge. Brian Watkins was a tourist who came from another state, and he was taking the subway to the US Open. He got stabbed on the subway, and that became a call to arms, so to speak. We have to do something

in Albany last year after the George Floyd murder, but that doesn’t change that we still have to support the police because they’re basically hard-working men and women. There are always a couple of bad apples that we have to deal with. But that doesn’t change that 98 percent of the department is made up of hard-working men and women who deserve our respect.

There’s been a morale issue within the police department, and I’m one of the few people speaking out about that. I actually attended a rally in Queens last summer to support the police.

We can’t forget, as comptroller, the police union’s members make up 20 percent of all the pension money.

The comptroller’s fiduciary obligation is to invest the pension money of all the public employees and police members, whether they are detectives or police officers or sergeants or captains or lieutenants – they make up 20 percent of pension money. I’ve been endorsed by all five unions – the detective union, the captain union, the sergeant union. I’m proud of that.

When you go around the city campaigning, do you think that it’s the majority of New Yorkers

“I’m running for comptroller to put the needs of working class and middle class families front and center.” about the crime situation in New York City. Last week, a 10-year-old boy in Far Rockaway was killed by a stray bullet. It seems to be every week, every day, there’s another thing.

I’m the only one in the comptroller race talking about public safety as a major issue, and that’s one of the reasons why I was endorsed by every police union. I’m getting criticized for that. We had a debate last night and one of my opponents criticized me – how could I accept the endorsement of the heads of the police union because they’re racist and they support police abuse, which is not true. I supported the police reform that we did

who are calling for defunding the police or it’s the loudest New Yorkers who are calling for defunding the police?

I think it’s the loudest, and I think it’s people outside of New York who are somewhat trying to support a movement that is not necessarily a reaction to a situation here. It’s a reaction to a situation all across the country.

New York City’s Police Department now is probably one of the most diverse police departments in the country. Sixty percent of New York City police officers live in the city.

And if you look at the last three, four

or five different police classes, they are majority minority because they made a recruitment effort to recruit in African-American neighborhoods, in Latino neighborhoods, in Asian neighborhoods. They recruited more women.

When I came into the City Council in 2002, I would say the police department was 70 to 80 percent white Irish male. Now, if you look around and you see police officers on the street, they look a lot more like the population of New York City. That’s a good thing because if they are policing different neighborhoods, there’s no reason why there shouldn’t be diversity.

It’s important that we have good community relations with the police.

In my area in Queens, we have regular police precinct council meetings which are conducted in the local precincts and consist of people from the community. They have monthly meetings, and they discuss issues in the community.

If there are small problems, you don’t demonize an entire department and you certainly don’t defund them because look what’s happening in public safety. We’re actually down 3,000 police officers. 1,000 were eliminated when we eliminated the police class last year as part of reducing the police budget by a billion dollars. But the other 2,000 officers have basically retired, some because of the way they’ve been treated. They feel their hands are tied to a certain extent from on top, and that’s creating a problem also. It’s creating a morale problem. The City Council now, led by two of my opponents – you can figure out who they are – are basically looking to cut the police department even more for this budget, which starts July 1. I’m a little concerned about that.

That’s very concerning. You mentioned that the comptroller is an audit over the mayor.

What are your thoughts on the mayor’s race?

Look, I haven’t endorsed anybody.

I’m running my own race citywide. I like some of the candidates more than others. But whoever the mayor is, it’s important to be independent because you have to have a check on the mayor by auditing city agencies, by signing contracts with the city, by dealing

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with lawsuits. At the same time, you have to work with the mayor at times, and the staffs have to work closely together. It’s a balancing act. But I haven’t supported anybody for mayor, if that’s what you’re asking.

You mentioned that you were part of helping New York City’s economy after 9/11 and that it’s important that we help New York City’s economy going forward coming out of this pandemic. In general, there are a lot of benefits given to the lower-income classes but the middle class is overlooked in New York City. Do you feel that New York City is no longer a place for the hard-working middle class?

Part of my stump speech, everywhere I go, I say I’m running for comptroller to put the needs of working class and middle class families front and center because that is a problem: nobody is focusing on the middle class. People keep talking about affordable housing. I don’t think it’s so much a need for homeless housing. We need affordable housing to allow City employees to afford to live in New York City. We want to encourage them. We want to encourage police and firefighters and teachers to live in New York City. But we can’t do that. A lot of policemen and policewomen and firefighters live on Long Island because it’s cheaper in a lot of neighborhoods than living in New York City. We want to make sure that we have affordable housing for the middle class and for New York City employees.

There is a program in the comptroller’s office called the Economically Targeted Investment Program, which has been around since 1980.

It’s a whole division in which you’re allowed to invest up to two percent of the pension funds. Assets in the pension funds now are about twohundred-fifty-three billion dollars – over a quarter of a trillion dollars.

You could invest up to two percent of that in what they call economically targeted investments. Most people are talking about investing them in minority neighborhoods and underserved neighborhoods. What I’ve been talking about is investing that money in the middle class and City

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employees because it’s difficult for City employees to afford to live in the city, and I’d like to see that as a positive thing to invest in our City employees.

You ran for New York City comptroller a few years ago, in 2009. What’s going to be different about this race that you feel that you will be successful this time around?

Well, I’m 11 years more experienced. I have the state legislative experience and so much what the city does is determined by Albany. At that time, we actually had three candidates from Queens, and it kind of split the Queens vote. I have very strong support in Queens now. I’m supported by the Queens Democratic Organization and Congressman Meeks.

And my background has only grown.

I’ve had more years on Wall Street, more years in elective office. We’re doing well as far as endorsements.

We’ve gotten about 30 elected officials on our side. They’re supporting my campaign, as I mentioned, as well as all the five police unions. I’m also supported by the sanitation union, by the corrections union, by the court officers union, by the fire marshals, by the EMS workers. We have about 11 or 12 unions supporting me.

Most people are focused on the mayor’s race. People don’t know what the comptroller does. But I do, and I’m trying to get that message out.

It sounds like you are better geared for success this time around. I know that things are busy, but what do you do to relax?

Well, I’ve got six grandchildren whom I love to spend time with, and that’s probably my favorite relaxation – to spend some time with the grandchildren.

Father’s Day is coming up. I know that your father was in politics as well. What lessons did you learn from your father that you still carry with you?

I learned that it’s important to give back to the community. My father was in government. He was in the Assembly for about 25 years, and he rose to the highest office in the Assembly, the Speaker. He was Speaker

Davening at the Rebbe’s Ohel on the Rebbe’s yahrtzeit on Sunday

of the Assembly before Sheldon Silver.

He taught me to give back, but he also taught me to be down-to-earth, be your own person. A lot of times people will treat you differently because of the office you hold but don’t let that get to your head. You’re only there to serve the people, and it’s important to give back to people and represent the people and not be in it for yourself.

That’s something I’ve lived by in my 20 years in elective office.

David, you are certainly the most qualified candidate out there, and you’re definitely the best man for New York City comptroller. We wish you much success over the next week or so.

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Advocating for Queens TJH Speaks with Elizabeth Crowley, Candidate for Queens Borough President

BY SUSAN SCHWAMM be represented, especially in unsafe construction areas, and I got active with my union. Those early working days also sparked my interest in a political movement moving forward for making a difference for my community.

After studying art preservation, I went on to study architecture and planning and got a graduate degree from Pratt in urban planning. My education truly helped me during the nine years that I served on the Council where we reviewed a tremendous amount of development projects and will help me as I move towards this next phase, G-d willing, if everything goes as planned and I get to represent you and the folks in Queens as the next Queens borough president. Planning is a major role of the borough president.

You were on the City Council for around nine years.

I was elected in a year of a special election. I ran in a special election in 2008 with four candidates, and I came in second. I didn’t win. But then, a few months later, I took out the interim Council member in a general election – which is what I’m trying to do now. This is one of the reasons I’m so persistent. I know that with persistence and hard work you can get different results.

Elizabeth, I know things are very busy as you gear up for elections. How do you feel the race is going?

I feel really good. But as you said, there’s only 24 hours in a day, and there’s always more to do than there’s enough time to do it. When I look at everything that’s happened this past year and all the difficulties so many of us have faced and remember where we were last June, we were in such a difficult time – now at least the pandemic is behind us for the most part. That makes me happy. I’m very optimistic about Queens and the future of the borough.

At the same time, I’m realistic – we do have a lot on our hands that needs to take care of.

You grew up in Queens.

Yes. I come from a big family, very similar to Orthodox families. I was born the 14th out of 15 children and was raised here in Queens. We were a religious family. I was raised Catholic, and I attended Catholic schools for most of my education.

My parents valued hard work and education, which is also very similar to the Orthodox community.

We were involved in our communities. As a young person, I watched my parents make a difference, and that inspired me. From early on, when I was a young mom, I had my kids in local schools. I was not happy with the quality of education, so I got involved. When I grew up, I didn’t think, “Oh, one day I would run for office.” My life just led me in that direction. I found my passions, and I was encouraged to run with them by my family.

I was interested in the arts and historic preservation. In college, I studied art restoration and actually worked on active construction sites as a restorative painter in the early part of my career, from around 1999 through 2001. I worked on really important historic landmarks, one of which was the Central Synagogue on 57th and Lexington. It had a devastating fire, and when we did the massive restoration, it turned out to be very beautiful. I worked on theaters and the St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Working on these important buildings helped me to understand just how important not only it is to preserve our history, but also how the industry is vital to the economy – the construction and development industry – and how workers really need to

What were some accomplishments that you feel the most proud of during your time as City Councilwoman?

I took office in 2009. We were going through a very difficult time in the city. It was right after the financial crisis, and we had serious budget cuts. For the early part of my tenure in the Council, there were fights for the budget, against budget cuts, and for programs to remain in place. And so, I had to use the talents I learned growing up in a big family to fight for what is important. I had to fight for the fair share for the district that I represented and to not back down.

One of those earlier fights as a councilmember was when I took on the role of chair of the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee. Many sitting councilmembers had seniority and that was a chair that was not well sought after, partly because of the impending cuts. The mayor wanted to cut 20 firehouses from the budget, and we had to fight. We saved those firehouses a few years later. A few years earlier, right after 9/11, firehouses were closed. But we’ve seen even in just recent weeks in Queens

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know

H #1 YT

I can get COVID from the vaccine.

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M

Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association

H #5 YT

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

H #2 YT

The Science: SARS-CoV-2 infection presents a health risk to everyone. Young people can get seriously ill and even die. Even

The vaccine changes your DNA.

after recovering from COVID-19, they can experience symptoms months after infection and are susceptible to other long-term effects.

The Science: Neither the mRNA nor DNA-based COVID-19 vaccines interact

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with, integrate into, or alter your DNA. H #3 YT

H #6 YT

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

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H #4 YT

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

The Science: The strength and length of natural immunity varies from person to person

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

and cannot be predicted. New variants also make people more vulnerable to reinfection.

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

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

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

H #7 YT

The COVID vaccine causes infertility.

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

The Science: “Herd immunity” doesn’t protect every individual from getting COVID-19 and can drop when individuals start losing immunity or the community is

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

exposed to a new variant.

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

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

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

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

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some terrible fires taking the lives or critically injuring New Yorkers. So it’s important to have local services, and it was important that we saved those firehouses.

In addition to that, there’s a network of private ambulances that often Orthodox families depend on. At one time, their rights to operate within the 911 system was in danger of continuing. I fought to continue to keep them as part of our emergency response. And so, in addition to fighting to save firehouses, I also fought to save ambulance services and especially those private ones that are often notfor-profit but community-based.

Additionally, the amount of dollars that each district got was so uneven and so political back then that I took on the Speaker and challenged her over the course of a few years until a policy got changed, and now every district gets its fair share. So now, whether you’re a councilmember in Far Rockaway or a councilmember in Long Island City, you will be guaranteed five million dollars in capital funding and an expense budget of roughly a million dollars that is protected in the charter.

It’s the same with the borough president’s office.

Right now, it’s at 70 million dollars in capital. And it’s hard to know the exact amounts of discretion, which is slightly more flexible, but when you have those ribbon cuttings or councilmembers say, “Oh, I’m the reason this money happens and that’s why we’re getting such and such,” many of those dollars are protected in the City’s charter because of the legislation that I helped spearhead.

What, in your mind, is the role of the Queens borough president?

First and foremost, we’re the advocate for Queens. Some of what I mentioned was the budget. Yes, the city has a budget and the larger budget outside of what we’re guaranteed to spend is one item, but the larger budget is much broader and affects much more of our everyday life. The police department, what we’re paying in taxes for them to get the revenue to operate that budget, every single city agency from the Department of Parks to the Agency for Children Services to homeless services to the Department of Education – you name it – that 90-plus-billion-dollar budget goes through a process of preliminary budget expense. The borough president has to respond and advocate for the borough. So often, and for so many years, we have been not getting our fair share.

For example, last year, many councilmembers took a position to defund the police and to cut some of the police academy classes, which ultimately reduced the size of the police department. I would not be in support of that, especially when we see rising crime. What they did was completely irresponsible and was a reaction to the political times. There were a lot of anti-police movements. I understand and support the need to reform the police department but a borough president needs to be a leader that can work with all the councilmembers to have a large effect on the budget and work hand in hand

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with the mayor, the next mayor, whoever he or she may be. When you look at the size of our borough, we demand that respect from the next mayor to be at the table where the decisions are being made.

While we might not have a legislative role, we certainly have a ceremonial way of pushing our elbows out there, making sure that Queens is not forgotten.

We need to be there articulating what the priorities are and being forceful about that. And that’s the type of way I’m planning to approach working with the next mayor of New York City.

Queens is the most diverse borough – it’s probably the most diverse area in the whole world. You get almost every language in a small area, which is so fascinating about Queens. But that’s hard to manage when you’re trying to represent everybody. So how would you represent all of the parts of Queens and be able to unite all those diverse factions?

We are so proud of our diversity. It truly is what sets us apart more so than anywhere else in the world, certainly here in the city and in the country.

At the same time, it does come with its difficulties.

Access to the borough president’s office will mean

“Queens was that borough where my grandparents came from Ireland to settle with nothing in their pocket but the dream of America and opportunity.” that the borough president will need a multilingual staff so that we can speak with all our constituents.

We know large portions of the population speak Bengali and Spanish and Chinese and Korean. And so, you need a diverse staff that’s multilingual that can address those needs, as well as being in the community.

Borough Hall is very far away from Far Rockaway. And it could be very far away from Astoria.

We need to move into districts and parts of Queens instead of making everyone come to the office for services. We need that type of mobile office. Constituents needs to know that they could pick up the phone or write an email and their borough presi-

dent is there to work with you, for you.

We need to be in touch with and in communication with community boards. Community Board 14 is a very active community board serving a lot of the families in Far Rockaway. I am the type of person who would side with the leaders of these community boards, especially when big projects are on the horizon. Take, for example, your recent land use decision about Edgemere property, Edgemere Commons, I believe it’s called. They are building thousands and thousands of units without the proper infrastructure, and the majority of the community board voted against it. There’s a problem when that happens. You need to go back to the drawing board and make sure that you can move forward. You’re not going to get everybody on the community board to agree but when you have the majority disagree, you cannot move forward with a project like that.

That’s another area where I differ greatly with the interim borough president.

The developers that often pad pockets of politicians are not funding my campaign. We are 100% grassroots. We received more local contributions than any other candidate running for borough president here in Queens. I’m proud that we have had such a great campaign with strong momentum from local people. You have to wonder when you have a campaign that’s funded, 30 or 40 percent of the dollars, by big real estate donors, are the community’s interests really at heart when big decisions that impact the quality of life take place?

That is my commitment to every single community board within Queens. With 14 boards, 700 members of our community, taking their time volunteering, looking out for the best interests of their neighborhood is a blessing and an asset at the same time. We have a growing borough with serious infrastructure needs, and we must work together with the community to make Queens better.

What are certain issues that you want to

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address right out of the gate when you get to the borough president’s office?

Well, first and foremost, affordability. Queens was that borough where my grandparents came from Ireland to settle here with nothing in their pocket but the dream of America and opportunity.

They became homeowners and had a big family, and that dream of homeownership needs to be alive and real. But with these rising property taxes, our families cannot afford to buy a home and many – especially our seniors on fixed income – can’t afford the rising cost of real estate. The fact of the matter is that we pay an unfair higher amount of real estate taxes in comparison to Brooklyn. A commission that was funded with Council dollars in a budget that I was a part of back in 2017 finally came together and put their plan out last year and said the same: Queens is paying an unfair amount of taxes and shouldn’t. There’s a way to make it fair again by allowing millionaires, such as Bill de Blasio who has two multimillion dollar properties in Brooklyn, to pay his fair share. And millionaires that live around Central Park that are not paying their fair share either. So by them paying what they should, our share should decrease.

That’s a fight I’m willing to take on right away and not to back down from. The next mayor will know that and hopefully be on the same page so that’s not a difficult fight.

I know that you feel very strongly that we need to fix the infrastructure of our transit. But when it comes to transit, people are afraid to take the subways because of the homelessness problem and the lawlessness that pervades. What are your thoughts about these two issues and what will you do about them?

You’re absolutely right. New Yorkers are living in fear.

I have neighbors that are afraid to take the train, and I don’t blame them.

Thirty percent of the Queens residents polled by the MTA said that a month and a half ago, and crime has increased since then. So New Yorkers need to feel safe. Queens residents need to feel safe when they take the train. The problem that you have put forward – and which is a real difficult problem that was difficult before de Blasio became mayor – is our homelessness crisis, which has gone from pretty bad to much worse. The problem is the warehousing of homeless men, mostly. The homeless families we need to do more for, too, because they are the majority of the homeless. But the men are the ones that are making people feel unsafe because many of them have addiction problems and substance abuse problems or mental health issues that are not being treated. They are warehousing them in these big hotels that kick them out during the day. These hotels are not in areas where there are jobs and opportunities, and they’re not providing the wraparound services that these men need in order to not be a menace to society and to re-enter communities with opportunities for jobs and to get ahead and get back on their feet. If they don’t have the health care and the wraparound

“I had to fight for the fair share for the district that I represented and to not back down.”

services, it’s going to continue to be spiraling downward. We need to stop the warehousing. We need permanent housing with wraparound services for those that have these mental health and addiction needs.

For homeless families, we need permanent housing that is affordable in areas close to transit.

We should not be warehousing them, as we’re doing in hotels. The cost is more than one would spend right now on a luxury apartment, the amount of money the de Blasio administration is paying.

When it comes to transit, I have a plan that would open up our Long Island Railroad, although not so much the line that you have in Far Rockaway.

What I would do with that one would bring down the cost more towards a swipe of a MetroCard rather than a full fare, which is really unaffordable and makes it prohibitive for too many people.

We have a network of rail that moves freight in Astoria, in Glendale, and there’s pretty much 20 miles of opportunity with underused property along the right of way that could provide access to new communities with the infrastructure of transit and then give them planned education and schools and housing. We need a working class affordable rate with homeownership still available so that we’re helping to create a city leaders. No matter who you are in Queens, whether you just got here or whether you’ve lived here for generations, that dream of homeownership and not having to pay rent or to live in less stability in your home is real and it’s true. I want more people to be able to achieve that homeownership opportunity here in Queens.

That’s the true American dream. Let’s talk about the legalization of marijuana in New York.

It’s legal. It’s going to be regulated. I think that with all substances, we need to work together and make sure it’s regulated so that our kids are not smoking marijuana or drinking or getting access to illegal drugs or even controlled drugs. The opioid crisis is also because of access to prescription drugs that should be out of the hands of people who gain access to it.

I know that fear in many communities is real.

Many in our immigrant communities, too. They worry that their kids may become addicted and not go to school or become potheads or get into bigger drugs because of it, but I think that as long as we’re regulating these new centers that will open that it shouldn’t be a real fear.

I think that the other problem is the access to opportunities and the jobs that the legalization creates. The borough president should have a hand in helping immigrant and diverse communities find opportunity within that new industry. That’s an area where all the Democrats in this race are on the same page. We don’t really differ too much on that.

I think that the black and brown community has been unfairly targeted and that there’s been a lot of arrest records in those communities for marijuana use. Studies have shown that white people are smoking it and that they’re not getting arrested at the same rate. There’s been generations of wrongs that will hopefully be made right by this new policy. But it’s a government policy, and the government needs to continue to regulate it and stay with it.

You’ve been traveling around Queens and you’ve been meeting people from many different diverse communities. What are some interesting dishes or foods that you’ve sampled that made you say, “Wow, this is something really different”?

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Well, I’ve come to like Turkish food. I’ve never really tried that before.

What’s it like?

It’s very much like Israeli food. I like fish, sea bass. In an Italian restaurant they would call it branzino. But I never knew that about Turkish food.

I could live on a Mediterranean diet because I like fish and vegetables. It’s just hard to find it when you’re in an office in Kew Gardens or on Queens Boulevard. But we do have that luxury. We get spoiled sometimes just with such a diversity of food.

I like coming out to the beach, I’ll tell you that much. I like being on the boardwalk in Rockaway.

The concessions are now open and active, and that wasn’t the case when I was growing up. It’s a much more attractive area, and there’s a lot of economic opportunity out there, too, which I’m excited about.

I actually run the Far Rockaway Boardwalk.

You can see it in my TV commercial. I run from 126th Street all the way down to 30th Street. I pass the nature preserve there. I’ve done a five-mile run on the boardwalk quite a few times.

Is that what you do to decompress?

Yes, although I used to do that more.

Well, now you’re running in a different capacity. You’re a mom to two wonderful boys but are involved in politics. How do you juggle both capacities?

My boys are now 23 and 24. But I think I learned from my mom and my older sisters and realized, “Hey, if they could do it, I could do it.” I had confidence in that, and I realized that you’re not going to do everything perfectly, but your heart is in it and you’re going to give it your best effort. Of course, nothing is more important than your family. But it’s hard to be the best mom sometimes when you have to be at work every day before nine and still get them to school on time.

Looking back, how did I do it? How do we do it?

We do it. We get it done. And it’s a beautiful thing about being able to manage chaotic situations. In the end, it’s having a heart in the right place and believing in yourself.

Do you think that that’s a strength that women bring to the table?

Yes. I think that so often women undervalue their ability to manage and undervalue their own perspective when it comes to decision-making.

When I left the New York City Council, only 11 out of 51 members were women. I helped to start

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an organization called Twenty One in Twenty One, which is this year. We were hoping to get, at minimum, 21 women elected. When you think about it, most of the families today are headed by single women, and a woman’s perspective is not even considered when it comes to a lot of the decision-making that happens in the city. Study after study shows – whether it’s a corporate board, nonprofit board, or any governing board – you make the corporation more profitable and more productive when you have diversity at the table. And that certainly includes gender diversity.

I want readers to know that, as borough president, I’m going to be accessible. I think that that’s the most important thing, especially for us here in Queens. We’re a borough that puts our heads down.

We get to work. We don’t complain a lot. We get things done on our own but we shouldn’t have to.

We should have the support and services of a borough president’s office to turn to when something’s not going right for us in our community, especially when it relates to city services. I will be there. I will be accessible 24/7, no matter what part of Queens.

It was an honor to serve the nine years in the Council, and it’s that same passion and dedication that I will take to the borough president’s office given the opportunity to represent.

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o h W s r e Teach Difference Mapdileed byaRabbi David Abramchik Com

have d rebbeim who an rs e h ac te y an ave re are m with them and h s to a close, the d e e m ct e co n n ar co ye e l o av o ome h r As the sch their students. S d developed ove n o an t n ac w p ro im g s e u o av d h udents had a tremen gently helped ence, as their st ey u th fl in w o ir h e t u th o f o d t n sarily fi iring seen the impac gh, won’t neces u o th s, er porting, and insp th p O su , s. g th in n g o ra m u n co te n the past ction, e ways. in the right dire remains there al d ts n an e d re u e st th ir e ill st th ction is to nudge en so, the conne Ev s. n o ss le ir e them with th rofound impact p a e ad m o h w ucators en about two ed tt ri w ys sa es o e tw The following ar ’ lives. on their students

The Rebbetzin

By Numi (Hunnick) Stein

A

s a thirteen-year-old girl just starting high school at Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov in Chicago, I probably would have preferred a younger, “cooler” more dynamic Ivrit teacher. However, I quickly learned that my assigned teacher was Rebbetzin Ella Soloveitchik, a”h, the wife of Rabbi Ahron Soloveitchik, zt”l, and fondly known by all of her students as “Rebbetzin.” Born and educated in Lithuania, Rebbetzin spoke with a slight accent and carried herself with the reality of a European rebbetzin of old. She came to school dressed in a formal suit or blouse with a matching hat, and she hardly moved away from the desk or chalkboard while teaching. Soon enough, she won us over with

her gentle and loving demeanor, her sincere interest in each student, her determination to involve every student in the discussion or lesson, and her deep passion for the subject at hand.

Over the course of that year, several of my friends and I found reasons to sporadically stop by her house on Shabbat or Sunday afternoon to say hello. She was always glad to see us and welcome us inside. I still carry with me the image of her saintly husband sitting in his wheelchair at the dining room table writing notes and chiddushei Torah. He was undeterred from this sacred task despite being partially paralyzed by a stroke many years earlier.

Seeing Rav Ahron in action helped me to appreciate the stature of our Rebbetzin, his devoted partner, helpmate and caregiver.

When did Rebbetzin change my life? I cannot pinpoint one episode or moment that was life altering. The effect Rebbetzin had on her students, my-

self included, was subtle; she slowly chipped away at the crust of American teenage-hood that encased so much of our souls. Just the fact that we came to love and respect a refined, elderly and scholarly person such as she helped us to mature and rid ourselves of some of the myopia and egocentricity of childhood. And while I did not realize it initially, the lessons and values that Rebbetzin imparted to us had a profound impact – an impact that is still with me today, many years after her passing.

Rebbetzin was my teacher again in the eleventh grade; the subject was Jewish history during the Second Temple era. In twelfth grade, it was back to Ivrit with a focus on Hebrew literature. She was a wellspring of Torah knowledge and a master of Jewish history. While I do not remember much of the content of those lessons, “Devarim hayotz’im min halev nichnasim el halev, Words that come from the heart [of the speaker] penetrate the heart [of the

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

listener].” Her ahavat Yisrael (love of every Jew), ahavat Eretz Yisrael (love of the Land of Israel) and ahavat Lashon HaKodesh (love of the Hebrew language) were constantly being transmitted, no matter what the day’s lesson was meant to cover.

Those three loves have stayed with me, and I’m sure countless other students of her would say the same.

“Mi k’amcha Yisrael, Who is like your nation Yisrael?” and “Yisrael, af al pi shechata, Yisrael hu, A Jew, even when he sins, remains a Jew” were both common expressions of her. Rebbetzin implored us never to say anything negative about another Jew – certainly not in her classroom. One of the first Hebrew pieces she taught us was Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s famous poem of longing for Eretz Yisrael, Libi BaMizrach. “Kol hamitabel al Yerushalayim zocheh v’ro’eh b’simchata, whoever [truly] mourns for [the destruction of] Jerusalem will merit to see her rejoicing” was another ma’amar she repeated many times.

She exposed us to the gamut of political and social views of Medinat Yisrael, with two primary lessons: to treat every Jew with love and respect and to be grateful for the opportunity to walk the streets of Eretz Yisrael, to live there and to learn Torah there – an opportunity many great people before us never had. What about the language – was it Lashon HaKodesh or Ivrit? For Rebbetzin, they

were one and the same. Yes, she wanted Jews to be comfortable with spoken Hebrew. But the Rebbetzin’s Hebrew was not “modern Hebrew.” Her Hebrew was replete with pesukim from the Nevi’im and ma’amarei Chazal, sayings of the Sages, many of which she insisted we memorize. Rebbetzin was also a poet. She wrote a variety of poems in Hebrew, some light and playful, some more heartfelt. In so

She slowly chipped away at the crust of American teenage-hood that encased so much of our souls. many ways, she demonstrated to us the richness of versatility of the Hebrew language.

Toward the end of twelfth grade, for our school’s annual library tea, the entire student body was asked to submit short essays or poems pertaining to the theme of “hero.” My friend Shoshana and I made an acrostic of the words eishet chayil (in He-

My Old Friend, Rabbi Yaakov Wehl

By Rabbi David Orlofsky

W

ithout a doubt, the educator who had the greatest influence on my life was Rabbi Yaakov Wehl. You see, I didn’t grow up in a shomer Shabbos home. My parents never had the advantage of a Torah education and so in their home they maintained those essential elements which they recalled from their youth. Our home was kosher, we had a Pesach seder, we went to shul on the High Holidays, and heaven help you if you went around the house in your stocking feet! There was a constant atmosphere of chessed and tzedakah, but we didn’t have the other aspects of a Torah home.

As number five of six boys, I grew up with brothers who went to the local suburban public school and then afternoon Hebrew School. It is important to remember that when my brothers were going to Hebrew School, it was before the revival of Orthodoxy that began in the 1970s. My students can no sooner imagine a world without ArtScroll than they can imagine growing up without PCs and VCRs. But in the ‘50s and ‘60s, it was generally accepted that Orthodoxy was dead and those who remained were clearly on the defensive. Most of the rabbis I knew were apologetic. “Yes, the Torah says such and

such, but it might still be relevant today,” or “it is possible to reconcile Judaism with science and a secular humanistic approach to life.”

Needless to say, none of this was a match for old time rock’ n roll. Everything would have probably continued as they usually do in such families, but then Hashem decided to take a more active role.

My second brother is a genius. Now, every Jewish boy is a genius, but he went to Brandeis on a full scholarship and graduated first in his class. Then he went to Duke for law school and graduated first in his class. They give out seven special awards: he won five of them. He was offered a clerkship at the Supreme Court, was given a fellowship at Yale.

Now, when he was in sixth grade, he got into a fight with his teacher in public school about Constantine. He finally challenged her to a debate in front of the whole school, and like a fool, she accepted. After my brother won, the principal told my father that he had to send my brother to a private school. Now to my father, a private school meant one thing, a yeshiva. So he

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brew, of course) describing our esteemed Rebbetzin, while incorporating as many of her favorite expressions as we could. Rebbetzin was out of school at that time undergoing medical treatment, and we were unable to share the poem with her. She missed our high school graduation due to her illness and passed away that summer. Yet I was comforted to hear that Rebbetzin’s daughter read our poem to her during the last few days of her life, and it had brought a smile to her face. Though I was out of town at the time of her passing and missed her levayah, I did make it back to Chicago in time to be menachem avel the family. The family described how Rebbetzin was at peace at the end of her life, like Shlomo HaMelech’s Eishet Chayil, “Va-tis’chak l’yom acharon, and smiling, she faced the last day.”

How she had the words of that epic Hebrew poem and prayer, Adon Olam, on her lips: “Vim ruchi g’viyati, Hashem li v’lo ira, And with my spirit, my body as well [I entrust to G-d], G-d is with me, I shall not be afraid.”

How befitting that Rebbetzin passed away during the Nine Days; her neshama always seemed to be in sync with the history of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. I have no doubt that Rebbetzin will rejoice together with the Jewish nation when Yerushalyim is finally rebuilt – may it be speedily in our days.

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looked up the local yeshiva, the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, to enroll my brother for seven grade. But the principal, Rabbi Meyer Fendel, convinced my father to send the three younger boys as well. And so, I found myself in a yeshiva.

Now, as it happens, I wasn’t much of a student (a situation that hasn’t really changed; that’s why I became a teacher). I was a daydreamer and underachiever without a gift for language. I was (and am) easily bored, so when I was thrown into a half day of classes in Hebrew, it was easy for me to tune out. By the end of seventh grade, I managed to get by with “ken” “lo” “shachachti ba’bayit” and “ani rotzeh la’tzait.” I also began to become just slightly anti-social. In seventh grade, I was sent home for refusing to get a haircut. I once drove my class to near riot status over whether Razzles was a gum or a candy. And religion was certainly the furthest thing from my mind.

Then, at the beginning of eighth grade, I found out that I was going to have Rabbi Wehl. Rabbi Wehl was tall, heavy, bald, and well known as the fanatic of the school. My first encounter with him had been in seventh grade, when, right in the middle of a Torah kissing contest with my friend, Alan Harris, I felt a hand take me by the neck and hurl me from the shul (and I was winning, too!).

I don’t remember what he said. It was something about having respect for shul or some other arcane concept, but I remember feeling a sense of fear and a desire to stay out of Rabbi Wehl’s way for the remainder of my yeshiva career, which, if I had my way, would be ending soon.

I had had it. I began petitioning my parents to send me to public school for eighth grade. I told them I wasn’t getting anything out of the classes, I was tired of the long day, and I just wanted to be like everyone else. My father, despite the financial burden of four children in yeshiva, did whatever he could to get me to stay.

But it was really my brother, Gary, who was then in public high school, who convinced me. He told me stories of how when you forget your gym equipment, they put you in the middle of the room and everybody bombards you with balls. Yeshiva wasn’t great, but at least it was safe. So, without much enthu-

siasm, I returned to yeshiva, only to discover my rebbe was the school fanatic, Rabbi Wehl.

I walked into class the first day and waited for the usual torrent of Hebrew irrelevance to begin.

However, Rabbi Wehl surprised me. He began in English.

“Boys, I’m Rabbi Wehl. I’m sure you’ve all heard of me. As you can see, I haven’t grown any hair from last year. And as you can see, I haven’t lost any weight from last year. And my views on life haven’t changed either.”

We Long Island kids, who had never seen a Purim seudah, sat there as our rebbi tried to get us to drink and stop traffic as we danced in the street.

I was flabbergasted. He addressed all of our fears head-on in a slightly self-deprecatory but totally non-apologetic way. I arranged to be in his class for the next three years, and during that time I never found him to be anything but honest and forthright. His approach was: “This is what the Torah says. And if you don’t like it, it’s still what the Torah says.”

Rabbi Wehl was notorious for his tangents. The old joke everyone knew was if you didn’t feel like learning, just ask Rabbi Wehl a hashkafa question.

“Why do we have to do all these mitzvos; I think Torah is boring; my rabbi doesn’t say this.” No sooner had you finished, then whoosh, Rabbi Wehl was off and running. The problem was, some of us listened. I had always prided myself, even when I was young, on being intellectually honest. Prove me wrong, and I was willing to change my view.

I remember when I got married, I used to tell my wife, “I’m the first one to admit when I’m wrong,” and after a while she would respond, “Yes, but convincing yourself you are wrong can take forever!”

So, I listened as Rabbi Wehl spoke (some would say “raved”) day after day, week after week, and slowly, I began to get this uncomfortable feeling that he was right! I began arguing with him on every point, demanding proof, looking for flaws in his logic, but he answered all my attacks with a confidence that came from having truth on our side. I began to get desperate.

I appealed my friends.

“Ignore him,” they told me. “He’s a fanatic.”

“I agree with you,” I said. “Just explain to me why was wrong.”

No one could, and so by my bar mitzvah in the middle of eighth grade, I had become completely shomer Torah and mitzvos.

I could (and still can) listen to Rabbi Wehl for hours. He was fascinating in his directness. Educationally, he was challenging. Twenty-five years later, I can still recite blatt Gemara by heart that Rabbi Wehl forced us to memorize. He would have us over to his house in Boro Park for the Purim seudah. We Long Island kids, who had never seen a Purim seudah, sat there as our rebbi tried to get us to drink and stop traffic as we danced in the street.

Rabbi Wehl was someone you loved or hated but never ignored. I have met people who are b’nei Torah today who credit all to Rabbi Wehl.

Rabbi Wehl had a collection of favorite expressions. One was: “twenty years from now you’ll understand what I’m saying.” Another was, “You might forget everything else you hear in yeshiva, but you’ll never forget your old friend, Rabbi Wehl.”

And, “Rabbosai, if you don’t hear this from me, you won’t hear it from anyone else.”

Twenty-five years later, I can assure you all those statements are true.

Years later, I was speaking to someone I knew from Boro Park, and I mentioned Rabbi Wehl’s name. The fellow made a face. I couldn’t believe he thought Rabbi Wehl was a fanatic. Finally, he confided in me that there were people who looked down on Rabbi Wehl. “He is a big talmid chochom,” the fellow said. “He could teach anywhere. Why does he davka have to teach in a mixed high school?”

I finally had a deeper insight into Rabbi Wehl.

I discovered that he dropped out of New York University Law School to go to the Lakewood Yeshiva and learn under Reb Aharon Kotler zt”l. I found that his wife had a master’s degree in English literature and that his mother was a famous doctor.

I found out that he had helped build Torah in Boro Park before it was Boro Park, and he had contempt for people who only knew how to attack and criticize and weren’t interested in getting their hands dirty, working the ground, so Torah could grow.

One time, he was feeling fed up and he said to me, “Reb Dovid, what do I need this for? All the fighting? I think I’ll take a job in a Bais Yaakov.”

“Come on Rabbi Wehl,” I responded. “How will you handle being around all those frum people all of the time? There’s no challenge.”

Rabbi Wehl gave me a sly smile.

“I see you’ve seen through your old friend, Rabbi Wehl.”

These essays were excerpted from the book, Teachers Who Made a Difference, by Rabbi David Abramchik, which was published this year.

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I need some advice. I’m a 23-year-old single woman with a good job and a college degree. I’m not yeshivish but not really modern. I’m put-together and ambitious. I’m mature and grounded, and have a very positive outlook on life. But...my parents got divorced (more than 15 years ago). I’m not asking for

much; just a solid intelligent guy with a stable career who davens three times a day and learns a few times a week. I want an ambitious man who will support his wife and family. Is that too much to ask for? I find that there are so few men who exist with this criteria, and the ones who are available don’t hear about me. They get so many resumes, and because I don’t come from a perfect family, I get left behind. I’ve tried single events, dating websites, met with many shadchans, etc. I put myself out there. Yet, I still don’t get dates. I haven’t gone out in over a year. I’ve only dated a few men, and most were one-and-dones.

I know for a fact that if I met a guy naturally, he’d want to date me; regardless of my parents’ marital status.

But, all the mechitzas and rules of “modesty” in the Orthodox world prevent singles from meeting. Of course, I’m very happy and living my life to the fullest. However, I’d like to have a companion in life. We’re built to crave a relationship. So, I’m asking you for advice. This system is leaving good women like myself behind. It needs a solution and more than a perek of Tehillim.

Chana*

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 | OCTOBER 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 29, 17, 2021

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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. hana, I am responding to your wish to get married. It is not my practice to hold forth on sociological issues in our community. I like to focus on individual needs and questions.

Nonetheless, I will preface my remarks with a few statements.

People with less-than-storybook families do get married. The system is not out to exclude anyone. The past year has been particularly difficult for those in the dating world. Most people have turned inward, and the normal social networking and events have been on hiatus. I feel bad that you haven’t dated in a year but that, unfortunately, is the case for many during this time of isolation and quarantine.

Perhaps now, when the world is opening up, is the time to become more creative in your networking. Everyone is eager to meet up. Go beyond the normal channels of shadchanim, weekends, and meetups. You are ambitious and your openness about that tells me you are willing to work at your long-term goals. You have a lot of strong qualities and perhaps you should now seek new social opportunities. Join a sports or hobby group.

Or even better, create one. Share it on social media. Find opportunities to connect with people in other communities who share your interests. Volunteering in the right role will give you gratification and a new social circle.

Travel, have fun, and continue to live life to the fullest.

If you find yourself nearing bitterness, it’s time for professional support.

C

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

D

ear Chana, Before I say anything else I

must say this: Let go of your need for control and work on your positivity.

You are using your parents’ divorce as a pawn in the game to find blame in the fact that you are not yet married.

You play the same move with your mechitzah comment.

If only my parents weren’t divorced. If only there were no mechitzas separating men and women at weddings. If only the rules of modesty were changed. If only… If only….

If only……

You are in a painful position and my heart goes out to you, but if I can be honest, you must work on your attitude. Take your frustrations, wrap them up, and turn them into positive actions. Recognize that you are a wonderful young (yes, young!) lady who has everything going for her but an attitude and jadedness tainting it. You sit too much in your sadness. I cannot tell you how many times a month I hear from guys I set up, “I would like a girl who is positive, upbeat, and not jaded.” There is no way your attitude is not affecting your demeanor on dates and at events. You know the character Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh? I used to have an acquaintance like that. To her, this was life; everyone was out to get her. Society was flawed. Frumkeit was constricting. Family was unreliable. Nobody tried hard enough to be her friend. She lived her life on if-onlys. If only everything was different. I can tell you that sadly it has been over 15 years that I have known her and, still, nothing in her life has changed.

She is still sitting sadly in her parents’ home lamenting life.

As a famous author and motivator named Jeff Keller once said in his book, “A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”

To a woman with soiled glasses, everything will be dirty. Clean your glasses, pick yourself up, and reinvent yourself. There is no life circumstance that will prevent you from getting married when you realize that you are not in control – G-d is. Find ways

daily to cognitively thank Hashem for all the good that you have in your life.

Try to get out more, take trips to different communities. Get involved with singles who get together for communal meals; join an organization that allows men and women to work side by side. Go to singles’ events with a positive and confident attitude. People will look at you differently, and you will look at your life differently.

The Single Rivka Weinberg

C

hana, I really hear the struggle in trying to find a with-it, smart, shtark, and career-oriented guy. At time,s it can be difficult when it feels like that balance simply does not exist.

As someone who is also established in a good career, I understand why it can be difficult to find a guy whom you really respect. If anyone has any leads, please feel free to send him my way (rivkaweinberg2@gmail.com).

It is fascinating to me that you attribute your being single to your parents’ divorce and claim that you know for a fact that if you met a guy naturally, he would want to date you. However, you also say that you have attended singles’ events and have no success. It is funny because I have never been to a singles’ event where my sticker said, “Hello, my name is Rivka Weinberg, and my parents are married.” From that it is clear to me that not every guy who meets you, regardless of your family background, wants to date you.

It sounds like you yourself are not comfortable with your family situation, and you have not worked through the emotional baggage that comes along with it. The law of attraction discusses that the soundwaves a person puts out in the world are the ones that will come back to attract him or her. If you feel like you are not getting set up with quality boys, the first thing you should do is a deep internal search.

Although you describe yourself as ma-

The soundwaves a person puts out in the world are the ones that will come back to attract him or her.

ture and someone who has a positive outlook on life, do you deep down really believe that? Before you go pointing fingers and blaming the “rules of modesty in the Orthodox world,” I suggest you go to therapy to work through these issues. Why are you always going on one-and-dones? Why doesn’t your resume get presented to the type of boy you are looking for? I am sorry to say, but I do not believe based off how you phrased your question that this is solely based on your parents’ divorce. If you are not confident with who you are and enough for yourself, then how can you expect a guy to see that within you?

Food for thought: I once heard that a person’s ambition usually stems as a coping mechanism for a life challenge one has faced. There is tremendous positive and negative impact when a person is ambitious, so pinpointing one’s intention and channeling ambition appropriately in every situation is crucial.

And you are right; you definitely should be saying more than just one perek of Tehillim if you want Hashem to help you get clarity throughout this process. He is the ultimate Shadchan, so if you do not acknowledge that first and try to take matters into your own hands, you will surely fail. Maybe now is the time to put your hands up and turn to Hashem because clearly your intense hands-on method has not been working. As individuals, we each need to find our own balance between hishtadlus and tefillah. It can

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be a scary, long road if tefillah is forgotten and hishtadlus is kicked into overdrive.

I wish you much hatzlacha and hope you pick up that Tehillim, which you may have been disregarding up until now.

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Y

ou sound like a very educated and interesting young lady who is doing everything right and who has very reasonable goals and expectations.

The mystery here is why you are experiencing these problems.

Please don’t be insulted if I suggest that your parents’ divorce is not what’s keeping you from getting dates.

From a purely mathematical point of view, there are an equal number of young men and young women whose parents have divorced. And, from what I can discern, men in their midto late-20s don’t usually reject a dating recommendation simply because the girl’s parents are divorced.

Because you report that you have not had any success at singles’ events, and that you have experienced a number of “one-and-done” dates, the problem might be in how you present yourself.

I hope you are not offended if I offer the following suggestions: Ask a shadchan for honest feed-

back as to why you are getting turned down by eligible men, not only before but also after you have met them.

It’s possible that a shadchan simply doesn’t want to hurt your feelings and is reluctant to offer a negative critique unless directly asked to do so.

Meet with a dating coach and ask her to be brutally honest with you.

Maybe you need to dress differently.

Maybe you need to fix an unattractive smile. Maybe you have bad breath.

Consider moving to a community where young singles get together for co-ed Shabbos meals. Meeting like that, without a shidduch resume, and without the pressure of a stressful singles’ event, might be useful.

Perhaps dating men who are a bit older might be helpful. They are often

ple fe e l i ng left behind or ignored, waiting sometimes months in beThe Navidaters tween shidduch dates.

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists (Of course, there would be tremendous value in creating a kosher venue for Orthodox men and ear Chana, women to meet. I have are wired for connection I’m so sorry that you are having actually thought of creating proand attachment. I am this experience in shidduchim. It’s gramming in which I could bring so glad to hear that you are awful and unfair to be judged and my skill set to help set people up. living your fullest and best life then excluded due to your parents’ That would entail teaming up with a while dating. divorce, a decision that had nothing reputable Jewish organization or reDating, both in the Orthodox to do with you and may ultimatespected rav.) and secular world, is very challengly have been the healthiest thing in If you haven’t worked with a dating and complicated for many peothe world for your family. To add to ing coach, I advise setting up a sesple. Each world brings about its this are all the mechitzas you speak sion just to make sure there is abown unique challenges. The secular of in Orthodox dating. Perhaps if solutely nothing on your end to be world is brimming with dating apps guys could get to meet you without working on. I’m sure you’ve done so and trying to be noticed amongst inall the barriers, you would be able to already, but just in case, it’s worth finite amounts of suitors; with men meet your bashert sooner rather than mentioning.... and women feeling disposable. The later. I certainly can understand your Talk to all of your friends and tell Orthodox world leaves many peodesire to be with your beloved as we

Pulling It All Together

D

A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

more open-minded, having had more life experiences.

Good luck!

them you are dating. Oftentimes, people will have small Shabbos meals with a few single men and women at their homes. Find out about every event that is going on. Join all the Facebook groups geared toward singles and dating. Call rebbeim from shuls. If you are uncomfortable doing so, try to find someone to do it on your behalf. Join Saw You at Sinai.

I agree that a year in between dates is a very long time, and something feels stuck to me. Let’s try to jiggle this open a bit and create a realistic avenue for you to meet guys.

My gut tells me that you need to work with a dating coach, so I thought I’d share that sense with you.

And finally...if anyone is interested in reaching out to Chana or learning more about her, please contact me and I will get you in touch with her!

Wishing you all the best, Chana!

I hope you meet your bashert very soon!

Sincerely, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

4.5” x 11.25”

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‫בס״ד‬

JUNE 2021

HEAVENLY HEALED How can one describe the pain and hysteria of a mother whose young child was diagnosed with a terrible tumor? The situation was grave. The doctors explained that few people recover from a growth as terrible as the one this child had.

But here she was, calling to report on the happy seudas hoda’ah that her family had celebrated, thanking Hashem for the had they nissim above-and-beyond witnessed.

“All along,” the mother said, “I had full trust in Hashem that we could overturn this gezeirah. Even though the doctors were pessimistically preparing us for the worst, I knew that our tefillos – and those of your special Tehillim minyan – would help. I felt secure, relying squarely on Hashem.

“We visited a great professor who suspected a malignant growth in our child’s hand. The specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering said that we first needed to take a biopsy.

“Unbelievable as it sounds, the results of the procedure were entirely different than all tests we had previously taken. The growth was benign! The doctors were amazed… but I wasn’t.”

WEEKLY COLUMN OF RECENT EPISODES

BY TEHILLIM KOLLEL Sign up for our annual mermbership:

718.705.7174 Info@TehillimKollel.org www.TehillimKollel.org

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Deb

Getting Him Onboard

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

I

f a man doesn’t want to work with his wife professionally on their marriage, what is she to do? Well, we can answer that question with some other questions: Why is it that 70% of divorces are initiated by women?

Why is it that when people decide on divorce, less than 25% of them have first gone to marital therapy?

Why is it that studies repeatedly indicate that it is the wife (if anyone)

who seeks therapy for marriage problems rather than it being a mutually agreed-upon step?

Well, the answer is very sad, actually.

It seems that men who are told the marriage is in trouble were “feeling a sense of failure and fear of judgment,” according to 2018 research in the journal, Contemporary Family Therapy.

Naturally, this would lead to defensive maneuvers such as blame,

withdrawal, or aggression. Which, of course, would invite frustration and counterattacks back.

Why did the men feel the sense of failure in the first place? Why did the women not feel that sense of failure?

According to Terry Real, whom I mentioned in the last article here, the reason is that, from the day they are born, women are conditioned to serve.

They’re taught to be caretakers and to put their own needs last or totally off the list.

For that reason, when the moment comes that the woman decides after 20 years that she’s had enough, she can honestly say that she devoted herself to her family in many ways and is guiltfree regarding possible failure because she made that effort.

On the other hand, men are raised in our society to be providers, protectors, and do their jobs without feeling pain. Pain is feminine, and men aren’t allowed to admit to having it. They’re allowed anger, for sure. But not pain.

So they can’t “read” the messages women give them about their pain.

Men have gotten the idea that they are happy when they’re numb. They distract themselves from their emptiness with work, addictions, and the computer; they can’t feel joyous or enthusiastic about their relationships.

Not only don’t they understand the messages from their wives about the pain they’re in, but they minimize it. After all, they learned to minimize their own pain – and it worked! They don’t feel pain! Therefore, pooh-poohing the pain of their wives is simply applying to them the rule they always applied to themselves. How would they

know otherwise?

Why, then, would they feel failure if their wives want professional help?

Ah. This gets us back to their childhood socialization. Not only are they taught to deny their own pain, but the message boys in our society are given is to never feel good about who they are. When they’re dismissively told to not make a big deal out of the unfairness and hurts they receive, the tone in which that message is conveyed implies that there is most definitely something wrong with them for even bringing it up.

It’s the rare parent who comforts little boys. But even when the pain is dismissed, it’s the rare parent who shows any understanding that the pain they’re suffering is normal to feel.

Somehow, it becomes a problem that they even feel it.

In other words, there’s a difference between a parent’s stoically saying, “Yeah, I know it hurts, but you have to forget about it,” which would, at least, acknowledge the truth that the child was mistreated, versus an angry “get over it,” which implies that the child did something wrong to even feel the pain.

Boys are always wrong.

Well, they’re wrong when they don’t perform. Our society sets men up to only have value when they perform, according to Real. When they don’t perform, they’re as worthless as girls. Which, in turn, leads to a sense of shame. (Notice: nobody has any real value.)

On the other hand, if they make the effort and they do perform, then they can escape from the discomfort

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of feeling shame. They do it by flying into a false sense of grandiosity. It’s false because it, again, is only based on performance, not on who they are.

Now, if we loop back to the original question here, which is how to get men into therapy when they have such a strong, natural reluctance, we can understand that reluctance. It’s based on a fear of shame. Or it’s based on the false grandiosity of convincing themselves that they don’t need it.

Both are powerful motivators not to enter therapy.

The woman’s position is not one bit easier.

On the one hand, she doesn’t want to hurt her husband by bringing him down into shame. On the other hand, his grandiosity and rejection of the truth are so angering she could scream.

But then again, she is afraid of him in that mode. So she stops in her tracks.

There is only one way to get a man into therapy who’s been avoiding the subject.

It will not come from anger because

without them.

The way to get him into therapy, then, comes from you summoning up your kindness and willingness to be authentic at the same time. You have to be in Self for this.

What do I mean?

that will simply prompt his defensiveness and attacks.

It will not come from shaming him because that will either cause him to flee through addictions, shutting down, depression, or inappropriate alliances.

Your compassion has to speak honestly to your spouse about his (not your) pain.

The “you” that speaks to him can’t be in a place of victim mode and suffering. Rather, you must feel good in your own skin, happy to be you, not emotionally drawn into the false worlds that your partner inhabits.

That, in turn, opens space for your compassion. Your compassion has to speak honestly to your spouse about his (not your) pain. It must be authen-

It will not come from pleading because that automatically casts him in the dominant role where he feels free to say, “No.” And it will not come from your shutting down and giving up because he is still more comfortable in his state of denial than you are in your state of seeing the problem and hating it. You feel your feelings, and he makes do

tic but focused on his needs to also be authentic and live life to its fullest.

With those feelings foremost in your mind, you can say, “It’s time we turned around the problems in our marriage.”

When he “won’t” listen, it’s because he’s used to hearing complaints, attacks, criticism, even contempt. Those are the very opposite of the honest compassion that is called for. It may be that you’ve never complained, attacked, or criticized. Then you have a lot going for you. All you need is the courage to say what you need to say.

None of this is easy. It’s not easy for wives who are in pain, nor for the husbands who desperately don’t want to feel their shame. But it is doable, and I am here to help.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want help with your marriage, begin by signing up to watch her Masterclass at https://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.

crime is on the rise, but Donovan Richards and Jimmy Van Bramer want to defund the police. er… said the “Richards, Van Bram ough–and were not

NYPD cuts were not ents.” real cu

7/1/20

witter ards on T

Rich Donovan sQNS rd a @DRich

no need There’s ayor to M C Y N for @ illion on m 5 2 $ d spen . ice class l o p w e an 5/8/20

“ “

“I want to thank Speaker Johnson for his work on ensuring that we do cancel two police classes” –Donovan Richards, 6/30/20

“I made a pledge not to vote for this budget unless it cut the budget of the NYPD by at least a billion dollars” – Jimmy Van Bramer, 6/30/20

“Richards and City Councilmember Jim my Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) voted to deduct $1 bill ion from the NYPD’s budget from the city’s 202 0 budget 6/3/21

.”

We can’t afford reckless politicians

Donovan Richards & Jimmy Van Bramer.

PAID FOR BY ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR QUEENS

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

Eating Healthy in Camp

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

I

t’s here! The magical time of year, otherwise known as summer. It’s now the time of year when we are busy packing up our kids and sending them to summer camp. Sleepaway camp is an incredible opportunity for children to gain independence, foster creativity, and create lasting memories. When children are living at home, we ensure all their needs are met, both emotionally and physically. We encourage our children to do their homework, eat healthfully, and maintain proper hygiene. When we send our children to summer camp, we relinquish the majority of these responsibilities to the capable hands of the camp staff and trust that our children will be happy and healthy.

However, we should still help our children maximize their summer by subtly encouraging healthy habits, even though they are far from home.

Summer is also the time most children experience a growth spurt so it is important that they eat healthy, nutritious foods.

There are so many things we can do to ensure our children have a fun and healthy summer. The biggest gift we can give our children is enabling them to feel their best so they can make the most of their summer.

1. Encourage them to drink a lot of water: Fluids are vital for a safe and healthy summer. There are many ways you can motivate your children to drink a lot of water. Purchasing an exciting and age-appropriate water bottle will help your children remember to drink. Whether it’s a self-cleaning option or a bedazzled unicorn tumbler, kids will feel cool

having a unique accessory that’s also conducive to their health. Explain to your children the benefits of drinking water and how it can help them have a successful summer.

Be sure to provide your child with plenty of fluids they love, even if it isn’t necessarily water. While water is the ideal option, the overall goal is to ensure they’re drinking the fluids they need. Aside from all the benefits of drinking water, being properly hydrated will decrease the risk of heatstroke and dehydration. Sweating depletes water and electrolytes, so we must replenish them by drinking water.

Make sure your children have enough water bottles or a refillable cup to bring with them to activities.

Before they leave for camp, explain to them the importance of staying hydrated and encourage them to choose water as much as they can.

2. Encourage them to eat fruits or vegetables with their meals: A classic summer camp lunch meal usually includes pizza or pasta.

Camps also provide cut-up salad, and other healthy side dishes of various vegetables or fruits. Oftentimes, these fruits and vegetables are overlooked by children. They usually opt for the pastry as an afternoon snack instead of the fruit. Similarly, at meals, children rather eat their pasta or pizza and nothing else. It is important to explain to your children that fruits and vegetables should not be ignored and that they should try to include them at their meals. However, it is also important to keep in mind that children should not be forced into rig-

id dieting and that it is okay that they eat the classic camp pastas and pizzas. Even so, encourage them to look for healthy foods too and let them know that in the summertime, they will grow a lot and should be eating diverse foods to facilitate that growth.

3. Encourage them to diversify their plates: At every camp meal, there are usually a variety of healthy choices available for both campers and staff. The camp serves tuna, fresh corn, Israeli salad, and healthy grains that children choose to ignore. Explain to your children that these foods will give them more energy to participate in the many activities going on in camp each day. It may be difficult for children to understand that they should include protein, vegetables, healthy fats, and carbohydrates at each meal. And this shouldn’t be a focus while they are enjoying their summer. Instead, encourage your children to make their plate a rainbow. Explain to them that if they eat a rainbow, they will get all the nutrients they need to have energy. As parents, we want to motivate them to make healthy choices so that they feel satisfied and energized.

4. Encourage them to stay active: Oftentimes, children opt to sit in the bunkhouse and play on their Gameboy or listen to music rather than play sports. However, aside from the importance of group involvement, playing sports will have many other benefits. These can include motor skill development, vision, self-confidence, sportsmanship, and, most importantly, fun! Explain to them that when the weather is beautiful, they

should use the opportunity to learn how to play new sports and connect with their friends.

There are so many activities that camps offer for kids that don’t love sports or are not particularly athletic.

Swimming, walking, dancing, jump roping, and hula hooping are great alternatives. Let your children find the activity they enjoy and motivate them to stick to it while they’re in camp.

5. Pack them healthy snacks: At this time of the year, you’ll often see parents and children in the grocery store buying all their snacks for sleepaway camp. Children come up to camp with boxes of food that would almost make people forget that camp feeds them. As you shop for food and snacks with your child for camp, help them make good choices and pack a well-balanced snack box.

Some healthy snacks you can pack for them can include low-fat popcorn such as Sunrise Popcorn or Skinny Pop. Fruit snacks such as Matt’s Munchies, That’s It Bars, Bare apple chips, or traditional dried or dehydrated fruit are great options as well.

There are many healthier alternatives to processed snack bags and these can include cassava chips, baked sweet potato chips, rice cakes, and Hippeas chickpea puffs.

Bars are also a great option to make sure your kids are getting enough protein, especially if they are picky eaters. If the camp allows nuts, Lara Bars, Made Good Bars, and RX bars could be good options. You can also purchase packs of almonds or other nuts they like.

Tradition soups are probably one

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

of the most common summer camp favorites. Unfortunately, many of them are filled with MSG and are highly processed. Instead of telling your child not to buy any, buy them a few MSG-free tradition soups from Geffen, instead of a case of them.

6. Advocate for healthy options: As parents, we have the responsibility to ensure our children experience a healthy and cheerful summer at sleepaway camp. Although camps have significantly improved at providing healthier meals in general, parental encouragement can help a lot. Many children are picky eaters and often opt for snacks instead of camp meals. Reach out to the camp mother or head of the camp to make sure there are nutritious options available for your children. For example, a BBQ should not only include hamburgers and hot dogs, but also grilled chicken if possible. More unsweetened cereals such as Cheerios or Rice Krispies should also be offered. Parents should ask that any

dietary restrictions including food allergies and intolerances should be accommodated. Children at this young age should be focused on enjoying their time at camp and not have to worry that there are foods they like available.

Advocate for healthy options available at the camp canteen and

cause they taste delicious.

As parents, there are many subtle ways we can teach our children the importance of making good food choices. When they are at camp, they are focused on building friendships, independence, and great memories.

We can highlight the importance of

As parents, we want to motivate them to make healthy choices so that they feel satisfied and energized.

fresh fruits available for snacks.

Many children don’t even realize that they enjoy fresh and healthy foods because they aren’t in charge of preparing their meals and snacks.

Many times, if fresh fruits are available, children will choose them be-

drinking enough water, eating nutritious foods, and staying active by purchasing a fun water bottle, good quality snacks, and their favorite sports gear. Behind the scenes, we can even advocate that the camp also provides healthier options and

21

accommodate picky eaters and those with food allergies.

The most important role we have as parents is to encourage children to have a joyful summer filled with incredible experiences and memories. Children should focus on enjoying their summer and taking in every moment before they go back to school. While it is good if they join their friends in eating the famous camp lasagna and pizza, we can also encourage healthy foods that can help provide them with the nutrients they need to be active and grow. The most important thing, though, is that they are happy, feel good, and have an amazing time!

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

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Parenting Pearls

Father’s Day

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

F

athers play a large role in a child’s life that is often underappreciated.

There is a story told about Rabbi Eliezer Silver, zt”l. Rabbi Silver was well-known for the lengths he went to save Jews from the Holocaust and assist the survivors afterwards. A couple with two young children came from the ashes of Europe and arrived on American shores. They had no one in their families who survived the war, and they went to Cincinnati, OH, where they knew Rabbi Silver would help them. They stayed in an apartment above Rabbi Silver’s home. Soon afterwards, the husband died and the young widow was left alone with two children.

Rabbi Silver turned to the bereaved woman and told her that he would step in as the children’s father.

Rabbi Silver meant those words when he said them. It was known that the Rav never slept properly, but one day he was briefly resting and as the Rav tried to lay down the two young orphans came into his room, bounced on his stomach and played with his beard. When their mother found out, she was horrified that her children had used the gadol as a human trampoline. Rabbi Silver quickly stopped her apology and said that children can jump on their father and that he was serving as their father.

I heard this story a few years ago, and it made quite an impact on me. The obvious lesson is that Rabbi Silver understood that a father’s role is so much more than taken at first glance. Fathers play a unique role and that is what we honor on Father’s Day (and every day!). As parents, there is so much more than just serving food and paying the bills. The bonding and playfulness are important to a child’s development, and fathers have their own unique style that needs to be appreciated.

Throughout this article when I refer to “fathers” I am not only referring to the biological father but to anyone who steps up to that role in a child’s life. There are many ways to step into that role including through adoption, as a stepfather, grandfather, uncle, mentor, or as Rabbi Silver did above. Anyone who fulfills that important role in a child’s life

my family will attest, Rabbi Silver took his fatherly role seriously and was there for our family for the rest of his life. To this day, our family treasures the unique connection we had with Rabbi Silver. I have a son named “Eliezer” for this very reason. Thank you to my father and to my cousin Joey who verified the story as they personally heard it from

They have their own unique way of having fun, and kids love it.

should know how important they are to that child and his/her development. Through my extended family, I’ve been able to see the many powerful ways a man can be this important person in a child’s life.

There is a second, less obvious reason that I found the opening story so special. I confirmed the story not from a book but from within our family itself. The aforementioned widow was my Bubby Bina after the too-early passing of my Zaidy Yosef. My father was one of the two young orphans jumping on his new, substitute father, Rabbi Silver. As

my grandmother numerous times.

Honestly, I’m not sure fathers need my article on how to be fathers but I’ll throw a few points in anyway. The truth is that this article isn’t just for fathers but for others to appreciate the fatherly role. We can step back and appreciate how unique each parent or adult is in a child’s life and allow that to flourish.

Beyond the Obvious We tend to get caught up in the details of daily life. There is so much that goes on that we can easily forget to step back and have a little

fun. To be honest, there are times that it’s unrealistic to do more than the bare minimum because we’re in “crisis mode.” That being said, we shouldn’t forget to go beyond that and add some enjoyment to our days. Kids thrive on attention and playfulness.

From all that I’ve seen, fathers have a special way of doing this.

They have their own unique way of having fun, and kids love it. As much as I might do the occasional airplane ride, I can’t do it with the same flair as my husband. Whether it’s Simchas Torah dancing or flying through the living room, there is something different and exciting that fathers do and kids love and thrive on. It’s important to appreciate how much children require these lesser-known needs. We can easily underestimate how much children benefit from the various life experiences they encounter.

Fathers view the world differently than mothers, and kids benefit from having a bond with their fathers and what only that adult can provide. One-on-one time is so important and gives children a chance to have special time with their father. Walks, errands or games are all ways to enhance the father-child bond. Private bonding time with a father should be considered no less important than bonding time with a mother. It may look different, but it’s no less important.

Take a Step Back I think that often others get nervous when they see how fast fathers can make kids fly. Unless it’s reaching dangerous or risky levels, step back and let fathers be fathers. If you’re unsure if it’s dangerous, then you can ask a pediatrician or physical therapist. Otherwise, step back and let the giggles begin. It’s good to remember that fathers (and others) can do things differently but that dif-

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

Rabbi Eliezer Silver at the 1954 birthday party of Rivka Goldberg and Abe Alper in Cincinnati, Ohio

dler. Even if they laugh, it can still be dangerous. Ask a professional what is safe and at which point it becomes dangerous. Watch your child’s face throughout. If you see he/she is starting to look scared or nervous, then tone it down.

Sometimes kids need a bit more support to feel secure. This can easily be done by supporting them further, whether it’s their back, neck or legs. Watch for their reaction so you can respect their needs as you play. Have fun and enjoy being a kid again when you interact with your own. The more fun you have, the more fun they’ll have – just do it safely.

Sara’s father, Mr. Abe Alper, with Sara’s son, Eliezer Yehuda, who is named after Rabbi Eliezer Silver, zt”l

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our community who may not have someone to take them to shul, a father-child event or other seminal moments in their young lives. Don’t underestimate the part you can play in someone else’s child’s growth and development.

Fathers, however they came into a child’s life, are irreplaceable and the relationship should be respected and treasured. Let’s all take the time to appreciate the fathers in our and our children’s lives. We wouldn’t be the same without them. On a personal note, thank you to the men in my family who have given of themselves every moment to be there for the next generation.

An Important Note ferent isn’t bad. Let them do their thing and allow the children to revel in the attention only fathers provide.

Everyone has their way of doing things and we easily tend to discount the way others do it. If there can be 70 faces to the Torah, then

there can be more than one way to interact with or speak to a child.

Safety Fathers, this paragraph is a few safety guidelines addressed directly to you. Never shake a baby or tod-

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are many children who don’t have someone currently in their life to play that paternal role.

You don’t need to be the next Rabbi Silver to step up to the plate and recognize that there are children in

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education.

She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@ gmail.com.

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jewish women of wisdom

Am I Rude?

How An Insult Led to Growth

By Miriam Hendeles

“Y

ou are the most despicable, disgraceful, and rude person! I think you need to change your attitude, and I wish you luck!” And then she hung up the phone.

Ouch! Upon hearing this voicemail message from a woman whom I had never met, I felt misunderstood and unfairly blamed. I wanted desperately to explain myself and my position to her. I looked for her e-mail address in order to respond.

Blinking away the tears, I thought of the teaching of the sages: Those who are embarrassed and do not embarrass, who hear their faults and don’t return the rebuke… are like the sun going forth in its glory (Talmud, Shabbat 88b). I took a deep breath.

I felt misunderstood and unfairly blamed The phone call was apparently triggered by a short conversation I’d had with this woman regarding a gemach (free loan service) that I organize for our community. Upon hearing about my service, the woman had contacted me, wishing to donate some items – strollers, cribs and car seats. I had told her during our 56-second conversation that at this time I could not accept any more

stuff, as the bedroom where I store the items is completely full.

As part of that 56-second conversation, the woman assured me that her cribs and car seats were in impeccable condition and said that she could not understand why I was not taking them. I began to explain to her again about the lack of space in the room, but the woman yelled, “Why are you screaming at me?” and then hung up the phone.

I didn’t think my tone had been raised, but I’d had the conversation on a cellphone, and you can never be sure of the volume when it comes to a cellphone. And yes, I do tend to have a loud voice. Still, her message seemed somewhat extreme – what with the name-calling and angry voice.

Well, there is a motto that “it’s better to be loved than to be right… apologize.” So I sat down at my computer (I’d found her e-mail address) and, in a carefully composed e-mail, I expressed my regrets at not being able to accept her donations at this time and my appreciation to her for wanting to contribute. I also referred her to an acquaintance of mine who also has a gemach, and suggested that perhaps that person would take her items. I apologized for our mis-

communication and my loud voice.

The reply: “Miriam, I am not impressed. You are trying to rationalize away your rudeness to me this morning. People are donating out of the kindness of their hearts, and you treated me disgracefully! I have a sour taste in my mouth for the Orthodox community in general right now! I will not deal with any of your friends or give any of you any business, but rather with others who have decent manners!”

I wrote another quick e-mail to her, explaining that this gemach is a not-for-profit organization that I run out of my own home. But another fast and furious reply bounced into my inbox: “Please do not e-mail me again. I really do not care about your business and how you run it. You were rude and disgraceful to me this morning . . .”

Those who are embarrassed and do not embarrass, who hear their faults and don’t return the rebuke…

Maybe she is right. That must be why I’m so bothered by this Maybe I really could let her insults go in one ear and out the other.

But the woman’s words rang in my ears that entire day, and into the night.

Maybe she is right. That must

be why I’m so bothered by this. Yes, I’m too abrupt. I need to tone down my voice. Maybe I should find out her home address and send her an apology note in the mail. Maybe I’m not running the gemach properly?

Maybe I should give it up altogether? Maybe this is a message for me…

And so began my process of righting the wrong. No, I did not contact the woman again; however, I made a spiritual accounting within myself. I began the process by thinking back to why I’d started the gemach in the first place, several years ago.

A friend of mine, a wonderful, kind woman from the other side of town, had been running the gemach up until then. Now she was giving it up, and she’d asked me to take over her items.

I was inspired by this woman and others like her; they always seemed to have enough time for everyone and were always bringing joy to others. I, too, wanted to do that. And so, I told my friend yes.

I began storing, loaning out, and taking returns and donations of various categories of baby gear. People borrowed for long-term periods, as well as for the short-term. My phone was constantly ringing with those in need of my gemach, and I felt grati-

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

fied to be providing the service.

But maybe – just maybe – I was experiencing burnout now? Maybe I was overdoing the do-gooder behavior and was therefore becoming tired and frustrated…and sounding like it, too, especially over the phone?

Since I believe nothing happens for naught, and events are orchestrated from Above, after this incident I set out to modify my “business” of helping others. I made some amendments to my gemach’s policies and parameters. The following steps helped to prevent further burnout and misunderstandings between myself and my “clients.”

• Setting limits and boundaries: I made up to set (and stick to!) specific hours during the week (listed on my answering machine) when I’d be available to answer questions regarding the gemach. No more 24/6 availability.

• Control the mode of communication: I set up my answering machine to refer people to a ge-

mach e-mail address and website, so that people could contact me easily for quick questions. I also made sure to put information about the gemach, such as its rules and policies, what the gemach carries, and what it accepts for donations, etc., on the web-

necessarily immediately. This would allow my gemach work to fit within the time schedule I could allot for it.

• A Meaningful Name: I chose to add to the existing name, to bring even more meaning and purpose to what I was doing. The gemach, “LA

When we spread ourselves too thin, we don’t help anyone.

site, thus eliminating the necessity for phone calls.

After this incident, I set out to modify my “business” of helping others • Remember – this is a side activity: To remind myself of this, I decided that messages left on my machine would be returned in the evening or by the next day but not

Baby Gear,” was given an additional name of Yad Aliza (The Hand of Joy), in memory of my daughter, Aliza Leah, of blessed memory, bat Chaim Shlomo, who died in infancy more than 25 years ago, a few days before Yom Kippur. It seemed apt to give the gemach a meaningful name.

• Mindfulness: I made up that when speaking to or emailing peo-

9 111

ple who use the gemach, I would pay extra attention to being friendly and pleasant at all times, to the best of my ability.

When we spread ourselves too thin, we don’t help anyone. By taking care of our own needs, and giving ourselves adequate personal time, we will be full enough to not only provide for others, but to do so with joy as well. And that, for sure, is the best act of kindness.

Miriam Hendeles, MT-BC is a Los Angeles based music therapist for hospice patients, and a writer whose topics include her experiences and growth as a a Jewish woman, grandmother, and midlifer. Miriam is joining JWOW! as a team member, and looks forward to collaborating for creative solutions for the midlife population. She is the author of Best Foot Forward (Israel Bookshop Publications, 2021) and Mazel Tov! It’s a Bubby! (Israel Bookshop Publications, 2012).

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In The K

tchen

Spatchcock Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken

By Naomi Nachman

This is my favorite way to prepare and cook a whole chicken.

On my cooking show, “Sunny Side Up” on

Kosher.com, I had my friend, Ahuva Gottdiener (@homegrownkosher on Instagram), show us how to make her delicious sheet pan spatchcock chicken recipe. Ahuva shows us how to remove

the backbone and cook the chicken flattened out and butterflied for even cooking. As an

added bonus, this recipe also includes a builtin side dish. It really is a “winner, winner chicken dinner!”

Ingredients

b 1 whole chicken, spatchcocked (watch Ahuva’s appearance on my show “Sunny Side Up!” on Kosher.com to learn how to do this or buy it already spatchcocked at Gourmet Glatt) b 1-pound tiny baby potatoes (or 1-pound regular baby potatoes cut into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch pieces) b 1-pound real baby carrots (NOT baby cut carrots) cut if necessary so no part is more than ½-inch thick

b 7 shallots, quartered b 1/3 cup minced parsley b 10 sprigs thyme, 5 left whole, leaves removed from 5 b 6 whole peeled cloves garlic, smashed b Zest of 1 lemon b 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided b Kosher salt b Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation 1.

Mix parsley, lemon zest and thyme leaves that were removed from the stem and set aside.

2. Place carrots, shallots, potatoes, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper on a baking sheet and drizzle with two tablespoons olive oil. Mix well and spread out evenly. Place garlic cloves and whole sprigs of thyme on top of vegetables in the center third of the pan.

3. Drizzle spatchcocked chicken with remaining two tablespoons olive oil and rub into both sides of chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Rub with herbs and lemon zest on both sides and under skin where you can (reserving about two tablespoons of the herb mixture).

4.

Place chicken, skin side up, in the center of the pan, rearranging the thyme sprigs and garlic cloves if necessary so they are underneath the chicken. Sprinkle reserved herb mixture over vegetables that are not covered by the chicken.

5. Bake at 400°F for 50 minutes to one hour, until chicken breast is 165°F at thickest part.

6. Carve chicken and squeeze lemon juice over everything before serving.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

The internet was down for almost an hour today. Multiple major websites crashed this morning due to an outage at a company I’d never heard of before, a cloud services company called Fastly, which sounds like it was named by Donald Trump demanding a Diet Coke.

— Jimmy Kimmel

Amazon, CNN, The New York Times, Pinterest, Twitch, Google, eBay and more went offline for 50 minutes. It led to the world’s most productive hour of time in the last 30 years.

— Ibid.

I could win four championships by myself.

- Shaquille O’Neal, who won four titles during his NBA career, during a heated exchange with Charles Barkley, seemingly disregarding his deceased teammate, Kobe Bryant

It was during the pandemic, it was during the protest, it was during an election year.... So it was somewhere where I could come down here and block all that noise out and kind of be totally present with me in the lake, and find some moments of Zen. - Dan O’Conor after jumping into Lake Michigan on Saturday for the 365th straight day— including many days during which he had to chop a hole in the ice in order to do his jump

I didn’t wear a mask for seven months.

- Valentina Miozzo of Italy who moved to the far north of Norway, within the Arctic Circle, and lived in isolation throughout the pandemic

President Biden attended the NATO summit today and met with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Said Biden, “I think I’m taking all three of those.”

This corrupt gang should disclose its role in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and the explosions at the enrichment site in Natanz. They stole important documents from Torquzabad and the Iranian Space Agency. These are no jokes. Extremely important documents have been stolen, and the country’s security has been compromised…They carried out a major operation in Torquzabad. They gave several vanloads of documents to Israel. It was not just one piece of paper. There were several vans. How did they manage to get several vans out of the country with all the checkpoints in this country?

-Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a video, claiming that Israel has infiltrated the highest level of Iranian intelligence and security agencies, resulting in serious intelligence breaches

— Seth Meyers

MORE QUOTES [

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

WE'RE ALMOST THERE....

"ONE WHO SAVES

A SINGLE LIFE

IS AKIN TO SAVING THE

WHOLE WORLD."

DO YOUR PART TO SAVE A LIFE! Make sure to take the vaccine!

All New Yorkers age 16 and older are eligible for vaccination.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine.

WEAR A MASK Until you are fully vaccinated, wearing a mask outside your home prevents the spread of the virus to your family, friends and neighbors.

STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK Only leave for medical care and testing or other essentials.

AVOID LARGE INDOOR GATHERINGS This is another way the virus spreads quickly.

GET TESTED If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

There is a recurrent theme on the far left that things have never been worse. Kevin Hart expressed a view many hold when he told The New York Times, “You’re witnessing white power and white privilege at an all-time high.” This is one of the big problems with wokeness, that what you say doesn’t have to make sense or jive with the facts or ever be challenged, lest the challenge itself be conflated with racism.

But saying white power and privilege is at an all-time high is just ridiculous. Higher than a century ago, the year of the Tulsa race massacre? Higher than the years when the KKK rode unchecked and Jim Crow went unchallenged? Higher than the 1960s when The Supremes and Willie Mays still couldn’t stay in the same hotel as the white people they were working with? Higher than during slavery?

– Bill Maher, HBO

This progressive allergy to acknowledging societal advances is self-defeating. Because progress, and hope that we can achieve it, is the product we’re selling, and having a warped view of reality leads to policies that are warped.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black. I could sense I was moving, and I could feel the whale squeezing with the muscles in his mouth. I was completely inside the whale; it was completely black. I thought to myself, “There’s no way I’m getting out of here. I’m done, I’m dead.”

- Commercial lobster diver Michael Packard, 56, of Massachusetts, talking to the Cape Cod Times about an incident last week when he was swallowed by a whale and spit out, resulting in serious injuries

– Ibid.

Good luck to Biden in dealing with President Putin – don’t fall asleep during the meeting, and please give him my warmest regards!

- Statement by Donald Trump in advance of Pres. Biden’s meeting with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday

In what way are you Jews? Not Shabbat, not conversion…nothing. In what way are you Jewish? How is this state Jewish? How is it different from France?

- United Torah Judaism leader Moshe Gafni chiding the new Israeli coalition

MORE QUOTES

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourselves?

-Queen Elizabeth during a photo-op with world leaders at the G-7 Summit

We have been enjoying ourselves in spite of appearances.

- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in response

It’s important to be able to provide each student the ability every day to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit. The idea that you can just push G-d out of every institution and be successful – I’m sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that.

- Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican, before signing a bill mandating a moment of silence in all Florida public schools at the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Florida, this week

You may have wondered, as the world’s biggest industrialized democracies meet this week to discuss imminent global crises, who’s going to represent the United States, us, at this year’s G-7 Summit? Joe Biden can’t do it, obviously. We don’t want to be mean, but you know why he can’t.

He just can’t. Kamala Harris could go, but she’s tied up right now getting yelled at

by Guatemalan farmers. So who? Well, thankfully, there’s a doctor in the house: Dr. Jill.

– Tucker Carlson, Fox News

A chance? There’s a novel respiratory coronavirus overtaking Wuhan, China, what do we do? Oh, you know, who we could ask? The Wuhan novel respiratory coronavirus lab. The disease is the same name as the lab! That’s just a little too weird!

- Jimmy Stewart when asked by Stephen Colbert if there is a chance that coronavirus was released from the Wuhan lab in China

I’ve heard what Bennett said [about standing firm against Iran], and I’m concerned, because Bennett does the opposite of what he promises. He will fight Iran the same way he won’t sit with [Yesh Atid leader Yair] Lapid, Labor and Ra’am.

– Parting Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his last speech to the Knesset, assailing his successor

I’m surprised that we have not yet been accused of provoking the Black Lives Matter movement. That would have been a good line of attack.

– Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with NBC

Of course not. We don’t have this kind of habit, of assassinating anybody. That’s one. Number two is I want to ask you: Did you order the assassination of the woman who walked into the Congress and who was shot and killed by a policeman? Do you know that 450 individuals were arrested after entering the Congress? And they didn’t go there to steal a laptop. They came with political demands. 450 people…have been detained. They’re facing – they’re looking…they’re looking at jail time, between 15 and 25 years. And they came to the Congress with political demands. Isn’t that persecution for political opinions?

– Putin, during his NBC interview, when asked if he ordered the assassination of his political rival and if he clamps down on political dissent

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Political Crossfire

How Trump Can Flip the Senate with One Phone Call

By Marc A. Thiessen

W

e are told that there are two types of Republicans today: those who accept that Donald Trump is the leader of the party and those who are in denial. Well, if Trump is really the head of the party, there is an easy way for him to demonstrate it – by making one simple, magnanimous phone call to Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., and persuading him to flip the Senate to GOP control.

It is in Manchin’s interest to switch parties. He wants bipartisanship, but right now, he is under unrelenting pressure from Democrats to vote for their radical agenda.

How many times has Manchin been asked if he is really, absolutely, 100 percent sure he would never vote to eliminate the filibuster? As a Republican, he would never be asked that question again. There would be no shock or outrage over his announcement that he will oppose the Democrats’ partisan election bill, because if Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., were majority leader, that bill would never make it to the Senate floor. The same goes for D.C. statehood, court-packing and other far-left priorities that progressives are pushing Manchin to support. Once he switches parties, all that pressure disappears.

As a Republican, Manchin would still be the swing vote in the Senate but in a much stronger position to pursue bipartisanship. In return for switching parties, he could secure

promises from McConnell to bring some of his key priorities to the Senate floor. With the left’s radical agenda off the table, he would be in a position to forge real compromise on issues he cares about, from infrastructure to energy. In contrast with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s iron-fisted control over his committee chairmen, McConnell gives Republican committee chairmen full authority to run their committees as they see fit. And Manchin could still cross the aisle and vote with Democrats whenever he

159,000 votes. In 2018, his margin was fewer than 20,000. This does not bode well for his prospects in 2024 as a Democrat. As a Republican, he could win in a landslide.

So, what keeps Manchin in the Democratic fold? Simple. As a Democrat, he is assured his party’s Senate nomination. But if he becomes a Republican, he could face a primary challenger angry over his votes to convict Trump in his impeachment trials. Trump has made clear his intention to exact vengeance on any senator who voted for his removal. So, if Manchin defects, he faces the real prospect that Trump could support his primary opponent and deny him the nomination.

With a simple phone call, Trump could throw Schumer out of the majority leader’s office and render House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., powerless

chose to, just as Republicans such as Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) routinely do. He could remain a maverick, but a much more powerful one.

Manchin would also be more likely to win reelection as a Republican. Today, he is an anachronism – a Democrat in one of the reddest, most pro-Trump states in the union. In 2012, Manchin won by a comfortable

This is where the former president comes in: Trump could alleviate that concern with a single phone call. He could tell Manchin that if he switches parties and hands Senate control to the GOP, all will be forgiven – Trump would oppose any primary challengers and campaign enthusiastically for Manchin. By contrast, if Manchin runs as a Democrat, Trump would campaign against him, which could

prove decisive in a state Trump won in 2020 by a nearly 70-to-30 margin.

Trump could ask Manchin: Do you really think “sleepy Joe Biden” is going to help you win in West Virginia?

Wouldn’t you rather have me endorsing you and my MAGA movement pulling for you rather than against you?

This is something that only Trump can do. McConnell can offer Manchin Senate perks and policy concessions, but he has no sway with the MAGA voters in West Virginia. Only Trump can clear the field for Manchin and persuade his loyal base to vote for him.

Will Trump do this? The conventional wisdom says no – that Trump is more concerned with personal loyalty than the fate of his party. But Trump can be magnanimous when he wants to be. Moreover, persuading Manchin to switch parties would also be an enormous demonstration of power. With a simple phone call, Trump could throw Schumer out of the majority leader’s office and render House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., powerless. Wouldn’t that be far more satisfying than working to defeat Manchin in 2024? And with Manchin as a Republican, Democrats could no longer enact radical legislation reversing Trump’s legacy on taxes, immigration, trade and energy, among other areas.

In other words, it is in Trump’s interest to bury the hatchet with Manchin. All he has to do is pick up the phone. (c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

Inside the Palace Intrigue in Jordan and a Thwarted “Deal of the Century”

By David Ignatius

P

resident Donald Trump had a dizzying dream for a diplomatic “deal of the century” for Arab-Israeli peace that would unite his allies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It never happened, in large part because Jordan’s King Abdullah II would not bend to pressure and make concessions on the status of Jerusalem and other issues affecting the Palestinians. His resistance came at a price: Abdullah’s kingdom has been shaken by tremors over the past several years, encouraged by the squeeze from top political leaders in the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah’s troubles erupted into public view in early April, when the king’s security forces detained three prominent Jordanians he suspected of plotting to destabilize his regime: Prince Hamzah, the former crown prince groomed by his American-born mother for the throne; Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a relative of the king and a powerful tribal leader; and Bassem Awadallah, a former Jordanian minister who had become a confidant of the Saudi crown prince, who’s often known by his initials, MBS. A Jordanian prosecutor referred charges against bin Zaid and Awadallah to the State Security Court on June 2, but the details weren’t disclosed publicly.

A Jordanian investigative report on the case, shared with me by a

knowledgeable former Western intelligence official, claims that the alleged plotters’ actions “do not amount to a coup in the legal and political sense, but they were an attempt to threaten Jordan’s stability and incite sedition.”

Hamzah wasn’t charged. The investigative report says he and his family “are at their home under His Majesty’s [Abdullah’s] care.” The report argues that Hamzah “never accepted” his 2004 removal as crown prince and sought to “present himself as an alternative” to his half-brother, the king.

The Jordanian report continues: “Awadallah was working to promote the ‘deal of the century’ and weaken Jordan’s position and the King’s position on Palestine and the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.”

Hamzah, bin Zaid and Awadallah couldn’t be reached for comment, and efforts to contact attorneys who speak publicly on their behalf weren’t successful.

The Jordanian turmoil surprised observers, some of whom suspected that Abdullah was overreacting to family politics. But a careful reconstruction of the story, gathered from U.S., British, Saudi, Israeli and Jordanian sources, shows that the pressure on the king was real and had been building since Trump began pushing for his mega-peace plan, with Netanyahu and MBS as key allies. In retrospect, this was a plot hiding in plain sight.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-inlaw and chief adviser on the negotiations, embraced Netanyahu and MBS – but grew increasingly antagonistic toward the Jordanian king.

“It became a belief of Trump that the king was a hindrance to the peace process,” says one former senior CIA official.

Trump’s campaign for normalization of Arab relations with Israel yielded the so-called Abraham Accords that forged new links between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

But the prize Trump and Kushner wanted most was Saudi Arabia – and to clear the way, they tried to muscle Jordan, for decades one of the United States’ closest Arab allies.

At the center of this story is Jerusalem, Israel’s political capital and a religious treasure for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy owes much of its legitimacy to its role as custodian of the al-Aqsa Mosque there.

Abdullah has described protection of the shrine as a “red line” for Jordan. Over the past three years, Abdullah felt that Trump, Netanyahu and MBS were all trying to displace him from that role, according to an American who knows the king well.

The Jordanian monarch’s status as the United States’ best friend in the Arab world began to change with the rise of MBS, after his father, King Salman, took the Saudi throne in 2015. MBS was an instant celebrity in the United States, with his Vision 2030 plan for modernizing his kingdom, his moves to curtail the Saudi religious establishment, and his brash charm. The bandwagon accelerated when Trump became

president, even as MBS suppressed dissidents and purged rivals. Then came the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Post contributing columnist, in October 2018, a mission the CIA says MBS approved.

Joining the MBS entourage was Awadallah, a Jordanian who had served as minister of planning and chief of the royal court. He had become a controversial figure in Jordan, as critics argued that he had benefited financially from his closeness to the king. King Abdullah encouraged him to move to Riyadh, where he made a new start advising MBS on privatization and modernization.

Kushner, a real estate tycoon, hoped that economic incentives could persuade the Palestinians (and Jordanians) to support Trump’s peace bid. But King Abdullah, after traveling to Washington for a briefing, made sharply critical comments. In a YouTube video dated

March 26, 2019, and translated by The Post, he said: “I, as a Hashemite, how could I backtrack or let go of Jerusalem? Impossible. ... People talk about the ‘deal of the century,’

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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regime. The evidence they gathered hasn’t yet been tested in Jordanian courts or international forums, so it’s hard to make final judgments.

But the quick moves by the United

Over the past three years, Abdullah felt that Trump, Netanyahu and MBS were all trying to displace him from that role, according to an American who knows the king well.

or an alternative homeland. How? Do we not get a voice?”

As pressure increased on the Jordanian monarch at home and abroad, his security services began investigating possible threats to his

States and other Western nations to embrace Abdullah after reports of the alleged plot surfaced suggest they took the king’s worries seriously.

Awadallah and bin Zaid were

arrested April 3, along with at least a dozen others, and Hamzah was placed under what amounted to house arrest.

Representatives of Israel’s intelligence and security services, Mossad and Shin Bet, sent private messages to the Jordanian monarch, disavowing any role in the alleged plot. The theme, according to a former U.S. intelligence official who has read the messages, was: “This is not us. It’s coming from in front of us” – presumably meaning Netanyahu.

King Abdullah’s advisers expect him to arrive in the United States in late June. His visit to the White House will illustrate once again a truth about members of the Hashemite dynasty: Amid the endless turmoil of Middle East politics, they are survivors.

(c) 2021, Washington Post Writers Group

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Forgotten Her es

All That the American Flag Represents

By Avi Heiligman

A monument in tribute to Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photo of raising the flag on Iwo Jima

F

lags identifying nationalities, militaries or any type of organization date back thousands of years. The Shevatim (Jewish tribes) used flags in the desert while they traveled and while encamping.

Throughout history, flags were used by armies in battle and were used by ships while entering and leaving port to identify their country of origin. When the American Continental Congress met in July 1776, a flag had been used to represent their new country, but it was almost a year later that Congress officially adopted the Stars and Stripes as the national flag. On June 14, 1777, the Flag Resolution passed Congress, and many years later that day became known as Flag Day. Flying the flag in battle is an important aspect to the organization of an army as smoke and loud sounds sometimes make it difficult for a soldier to identify his unit or even friend from foe. The “Battle Cry of Freedom,” also known as “Rally ‘Round the Flag,” is a Civil War era song that the soldiers sang during battle that shows patriotism to the flag and its meaning to soldiers on the front.

Less than two months after the resolution to adopt the flag, it flew in flew in battle for the first time at Fort Schuyler during the Siege of Fort Stanwix. As the siege progressed, soldiers came to defend the American fort in New York and brought word of the congressional resolution. There is debate as to which design was flown by the victorious

The Star-Spangled Garrison Banner on display

British truce ship. He then knew that the fort was still in American hands and was inspired to write his famous poem. That flag is now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. During the Civil War, regiments had their own flags, or colors, as they were called. Often, if a flag bearer was wounded or killed, another soldier would step up and pick up the

There is a legend that soldiers cut up their shirts to actually make the flag.

defenders, and there is a legend that soldiers cut up their shirts to actually make the flag.

The flag flying at Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812 famously inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Mary Pickersgill was the one who stitched the very large flag together, and on the morning of September 14, 1814, Key was able to see the battered flag flying from his position on a

flag even though he knew he could be targeted by enemy bullets. Sergeant William Carney of Company C of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment was present at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1863 during the attack on Fort Wagner. His unit’s color guard was hit, and right before the flag hit the ground, Carney grabbed it and held it high. Despite receiving several wounds himself, Carney protected the flag as he struggled up the

hill and eventually planted the flag in the sand. As he was treated for his wounds he said, “Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!” His actions that day earned him the Medal of Honor that was awarded to him in 1900. It was the last Medal of Honor awarded for actions during the Civil War; his award preceded any other African-American recipient of the medal.

At the start of the Civil War, the flag that had been flown at Fort Sumter was on a flagpole that was felled by shot. An officer retrieved the flag and hoisted it on top of another pole.

After the garrison surrendered, the Union troops were allowed to take the flag with them, and it made its way to New York for a patriotic rally.

It then was taken around the Northern states to raise money for the war effort. Four years after the Fort Sumter surrender, the Union commander returned with the flag and raised it in triumph at the fort. The flag is still at Fort Sumter today.

Following the Battle of San Juan Hill in July 1898, Colonel and future President Theodore Roosevelt raised the flag on the summit with his unit of Rough Riders.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 29, 17, 2021

The flag flying at Fort McHenry

One of the most iconic images from World War II was the flag-raising on the island of Iwo Jima in 1945. On the fourth day of battle, battered marines finally reached the top of Mount Surabachi. The next day, February 23, a patrol made it to the summit and raised a flag. A photo was taken of this historic event but an admiral wanted the flag as a souvenir. Another, bigger flag was brought to the top, and Jewish photographer Joe Rosenthal caught the

image that would soon win a Pulitzer Prize. Six marines raised the flag then, and within two days, the image was soon printed in newspapers worldwide. Both flags are now at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia.

There are many regulations as to how the American flag is presented by the military. Today, servicemen and women wear a flag patch on the right side of their uniform – the flag is actually backwards to someone

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Fort Sumter’s 33-star flag

facing the soldier. The reason for this is to make it look like it is flying in the breeze while the soldier is moving forward. In the past, when a flag bearer was on horseback, the flag would stream backwards while the horse was moving forward.

The flag means a lot to many people, especially those who have served the U.S. in battle. It represents freedom and instills pride to those in uniform. Many acts of heroism to protect the flag and defend freedom

have been published, and these heroes deserve to be remembered.

From the top of San Juan Hill to the North Pole to Iwo Jima to the moon, the American flag has represented all that the United States stands for.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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Mazal Tov! Class of 2021

Mazel tov Yechiel on your graduation from YDT! We are so proud of you!! Keep shteiging and giving us loads of nachas!

Congrats Dovi on graduating eighth grade!

We’re all so proud of you!

Good luck in high school!

To Our Dear Son Binyamin!

Mazal tov on your graduation from Johns Hopkins! We are so proud of you and all your myriad accomplishments. May you and Rikki continue to build a Torah home amu”sh.

Love, Abba, Mommy & Family

To Our Dear Daughter Adina! Mazal Tov on your graduation from Wurzweiler! You managed to pull it all off!! May you use your many talents to help the klal! We are so proud of you. May you and Ari continue to build your Torah home in good health and happiness!

Love, Abba, Mommy & Family!

To Our Dear Daughter Yael!

Graduating from seminary is also a graduation! We are so happy to have you home this summer! May you continue m’chayil l’chayil

and use your many talents to help others. We are so proud of you!

Love, Abba, Mommy & Family!

To Our Dear Daughter Bryna! Mazal Tov on your graduation from TAG High School! You have accomplished so much with your talent and skill and we are so proud of you!

May you continue m’chayil l’chayil on your road ahead and have much success in seminary next year!

Love, Abba, Mommy & Family!

To Our Dear YD, Mazal tov on your graduation from YKLI! We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. May you have much success in high school, and continue to be a great source of bracha and nachas!

Love, Abba, Mommy & Family!

Dear Chesky, Mazal tov!

We are so proud of you.

You’re an awesome kid!

Good luck in MAY!

Mazal tov Mikhaela on graduating from HALB! We are all so proud of you!

Wishing lots of success at SKA!

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Mazal tov Akiva on your graduation from Yeshiva of South Shore. May you continue to be a source of nachas for us and all of Klal Yisroel.

Love, Mama and Zaidy

Mazal tov to our son Avi Feldman upon graduating from DRS High School. May you have much success in all your future endeavors.

Love, Mommy & Daddy, Chani, Devorah and Shoshi

Congratulations Judy Hirsch on this momentous occasion. You have always made us proud!

Wishing you much success in high school.

Love, Your adoring family

In honor of Eliyahu Dovid, who makes us so proud. We can’t to see what you will continue to accomplish.

Love, Daddy & Mommy, Miri, Moishy and Rikki

Mazal tov Sruli on your high school graduation! We are so proud of the person you have become, and we look forward to seeing you grow and reach your full potential. We wish you much success in all your future endeavors!

Love always, Mommy, Abba and Nechama

Mazal tov to Simi Tomaszewski for graduating from Gan Chamesh

Mazal tov to Levana Tomaszewski on graduating TAG high school! Mazal tov to Yitzchak Meir Tomaszewski on graduating Darchei eighth grade!

Mazal tov Tzivi on your twelfth grade graduation!

We will miss you next year!

Love, Daddy, Mommy, Nachum, Ayala, and Sara

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Congratulations to Tzvi on graduating kindergarten.

We are so proud of you!!

Mazal tov to Gabi Moskowitz on your graduation from Shulamith Middle school. We are so proud of you and love you.

Love, Mommy, Abba, Racheli, Eli, Sari, Yoni, Michali and Yaakov

Mazal tov Shmuel Chaim on your graduation! We are looking forward to your continued success in high school and beyond. May you always bring us much nachas!

Love, Abba, Mommy, Aviva, Shlomo, Shira, and Aliza

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Mazal tov Dovid!

We are so proud of the beautiful boy you are becoming. May you continue to give us all much nachas.

Love, Mommy, Tatty, and the Gang!

Mazal tov to Akiva White on your eighth grade graduation from Yeshiva Darchei Torah. We are so proud of all that you have accomplished, and may you continue to impress us all every day.

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Doniel, Malki, and Mordy White

Mazal tov to Jeremy Haviv on his graduation from HAFTR High School.

We love you and are always so proud of you.

Love, Mommy and Dad

Mazal tov Mimi (Kaplan) Mozes on her graduation from Touro PA school! We are so proud of you!

Mazal tov to Shmuel Fuchs and Faye Hirt!!!

IyH continue on the wonderful path you are on – we are super-proud of you guys ! From all your not-so-secret admirers!!!

Mazal tov to Oshey Orlansky on finishing eighth grade! We are so proud of you!

Mazal tov Rachel Kaplan on graduating TAG eighth grade! We are so proud of you!

Mazal tov to Shlomo on his Nursery graduation from Gesher

Dear Chaim, Mazal tov! We are so proud of you!

Love, Ema and Abba & co.

Mazal tov to Yaakov Keilson and Devorah Rosenman!! We are so proud of you guys! Love, Aunt Fagie and Uncle Yosef

Mazal tov to Simcha on his Chumash Mesiba and finishing Pre-1A at Siach Yitzchok

The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

SERVICES

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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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PRICE REDUCED: Sprawling 4BR, 4BA Exp-Ranch, Oversized Rooms, LR W/Fplc, Formal Dining Rm, Large Den, Master Suite, Full Finished Basement, Storage Room & Office, Deck, Fabulous Property…$1.078M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

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All applicants are requested to submit their resume and pay requirements to newyorksnf@gmail.com Hebrew Academy of Long Beach seeks a part time afternoon Rebbe to teach 4th grade boys. Competitive salary and collaborative work environment.

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

HELP WANTED Education Asst. Admin.

Education Assistant Administrator for Yeshiva-based Special Ed Program. Must have educational experience, good organizational, supervisory, and interpersonal skills, classroom management sk ills, computer skills and flexible hours. 5-Towns/Far Rock SpecialEd Program.

E-mail resume to nnadata@gmail.com.

HALB's Lev Chana Early Childhood Center is looking for warm, loving Assistant Teachers pursuing a degree in education or related fields.

Resumes to rgreen@halb.org Yeshiva Ketana of Queens is seeking a Junior HIgh social studies teacher.

Mon.-Thurs. 2:30-5:30.

Warm environment, good salary.

Please call 917-742-8909 or email resume to rlswia@aol.com Torah Academy for Girls has full time and part time secretarial positions available for qualified candidates.

Please send resumes to sreisbaum@tagschools.org Part Time Social Worker Cahal is seeking a licensed school psychologist or social worker to provide individual counseling, staff and parent support, and social skills program.

Part time position (3 days a week) to start at the end of August.

Please send resume and cover letter to shira@cahal.org DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 5-Towns non-profit seeking energetic person to plan and coordinate fundraising events, cultivate relationships with donors and Rabbinic and community leaders, disseminate positive PR. PT or FT. E-Mail Resume and cover letter to dirdevjob@gmail.com.

Yeshivath Gesher/Gesher ECC a growing school is looking for a • First Grade English teacher (special education or speech/ language background) • Preschool Teacher (special education or speech/language background) • Teacher Assistant for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year Please submit resumes jobs@gesher-ecc.org

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HELP WANTED SHEVACH HIGH SCHOOL is seeking a Global Studies teacher, Algebra teacher.

Please email resume to Office@shevachhs.org CAHAL is seeking P/T Limudei Kodesh teachers for Grade 1-2 and Middle School.in a Bais Yaakov school in Far Rockaway.

Send resume to shira@cahal.org.

Call 516-295-3666 for information.

Local Five Towns school is seeking an administrative assistant to run its office.

Candidate should be proficient in both computer hardware and software, as well as have a background in design software.

Applicant should be creative, personable, with good grammar and writing skills. Competitive salary.

Email resume to: office@ykli.org Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island in the Five Towns, seeks experienced, dynamic and qualified teacher for 2 periods of 8th grade English Language Arts and a licenced, dynamic teacher 2 periods of 7th Grade Math for afternoon position (M-Th).

To join our professional staff, please email resume to office@ykli.org ASSISTANT TEACHERS CAHAL, the Special Education Program in our community Yeshivas is seeking Assistant Teachers for the 2021-22 school year. FT or PT, AM or PM. Classes are located in yeshivas in the Five Towns/Far Rockaway schools.

Send Resume to shira@cahal.org or call 516-295-3666 for information.

The HALB Lower School (grades 1-5) is seeking FT and PT Assistant Teachers for 2021-2022.

Candidates should be warm and committed aspiring teachers to support our students and faculty, while gaining handson-experience in a collaborative learning environment.

Resumes to grusgo@halb.org

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HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Yeshivath Gesher is looking to fill an Administrative position for the upcoming school year. Responsibilities include overseeing all non-academic components of the school. such as managing the budget, building maintenance, payroll, government programs and funding etc.

Applicants should display commitment, excellent organizational abilities, and strong communication skills.

Please send resumes to jobs@gesher-ecc.org

Five Towns/Far Rockaway area school seeking third and fourth grade general studies teachers for the '21-'22 school year, Monday through Thursday afternoons.

Supportive, warm environment.

Competitive salary.

Please send your resume to teachersearch11@gmail.com

ASSISTANTS NEEDED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON SESSION. Email: fivetownseducators@gmail.com

BAIS YAAKOV IN FAR ROCKAWAY seeking permanent substitute for Preschool and Elementary school.

Please call 718-868-3232 ext 211

SHULAMITH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN CEDARHURST, NY, a warm, supportive, collegial, growth promoting environment, has the following openings: Middle School Science Teacher: Professional, dynamic, highly skilled 6th or 7th grade science teacher with relevant degrees who is experienced in middle school earth science, biology, chemistry or physics and STEM. STEM teacher: Professional, dynamic, highly skilled individual to teach a once-a-week specialty class to grades 1-8 advancing the students' technological skills including Google Suite, Coding, Robotics.

6th and 7th Grade Chumash teacher: Fluent Hebrew speaker and writer who is dynamic, creative, committed, compassionate and passionate with relevant degrees and teaching experience to build skills and inspire life-long learning.

6th and 7th Grade Math teacher: Professional, dynamic, highly skilled 6th or 7th grade math teacher with relevant degrees and familiar with NYS standards.

Salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience.

Please send resumes to egross@shulamith.org

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 17, 2021

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Your

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Money

And Baby Makes Five

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

I

n 1979, China launched what would become the world’s toughest population control measure, the “one-child policy.” Families with just one child got rewarded with a “one-child glory certificate” and five yuan per month (about as exciting as a stack of free-food coupons).

There were always exceptions: in most areas, you could apply for a second child if your first was a daughter. However, as China’s people grew older and more affluent, the government raised the limit to two children to stave off economic risks from the aging populace.

Last month, still dismayed by a fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman, China raised the limit to three kids per family. But just giving parents permission to have more isn’t enough. Kids are expensive in China just like they are here. (They’re sticky, too.) So the government also rolled out a package of financial incentives, including tax and housing support and limits on “sky-high” dowries.

Naturally, that got us thinking about the role that taxes play in family planning. The USDA estimates that the average “affluent” family (earning over $107,000) spends $372,210 to raise a child from birth to age 17. That’s before college, grad

school, and maybe a wedding (but fortunately not a dowry). While our tax code offers up a few specific goodies for parents, they don’t add up to $372,210. But let’s take a look at how our tax code does help families carry that load.

Here in the United States, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 elim-

a slap in the face to parents. For example, child support payments are nondeductible and nontaxable.

Since child support is usually paid by the ex with the higher income, this means the money for the children is usually taxed at that parent’s higher rate.

Some tax breaks for children are capped even for bigger families. For

The USDA estimates that the average “affluent” family (earning over $107,000) spends $372,210 to raise a child from birth to age 17.

inated the personal exemptions we used to take for granted. At the same time, it doubled standard deductions, lowered overall rates, and boosted the Child Tax Credit. Most working families wound up coming out ahead, except those in high-tax states who saw deductions for state and local income and property taxes slashed to just $10,000.

Some policies have always been

example, the Child and Dependent Care Credit currently gives working families up to $4,000 for daycare expenses for one child, $8,000 for two children, but nothing beyond that. Similarly, when it comes to college, the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit limits you to $10,000 in eligible tuition expenses per year, no matter how many scholars you’re financing.

Speaking of college, paying that bill is a hugely different challenge for us than for Chinese families.

Chinese universities typically cost $3,000 to $10,000 per year, with only one (Beijing’s Central Academy of Drama) charging more than $16,000. Here in the U.S., the rack rate at the University of Chicago runs $80,163. It’s just a matter of time before some school with the chops to get away with it cracks the six-figure line and does it with a straight face. Forget about covering that bill with your run-of-themill 529 plan!

We’re certainly not here to tell you how many children you should have. Our job is to help you take advantage of every opportunity the tax code gives to keep more for them and their pricey schools, sports, hobbies, and other activities. So call us when you have questions, and enjoy your time with them until they think they’ve outgrown needing your money!

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

But I’m Still a Little Boy

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

A

little girl was in the supermarket. So was I! In a shopping cart. Her – not me!

But I did have a little grandson in my shopping cart. Three years old.

The little girl yelled out, “Hey, look at that little boy. He’s not wearing a mask.” (No adults were actually wearing them at this point, but she was). Nevertheless, without skipping a beat, or looking up, he just responded by saying, “I’m just a little boy; I don’t need one.” She was actually three years old herself.

It reminded me of the other night when he and a 5-year-old granddaughter slept over at my house. She had exclaimed to him as he deposited his pacifier in his mouth, “You’re still using a paci?!” To which he immediately replied, “I’m just a little boy.

I still can.”

He was kind of right. He is really, still, just a little boy.

Yet, hearing this line again started me thinking. Maybe this is the root of many of the relationship issues between men and women.

She expects more from him. And he thinks, But, I’m just a little boy.

He feels proud if he chips in with chores at all.

She feels: If I’m doing it, why aren’t you?!

He feels that he is a little lost in

the kitchen.

She feels it’s second nature to her to putter around there. He’s eaten for years; why isn’t it second nature for him?!

He feels diapers are to be ordered in bulk from Amazon then ignored till reordering is necessary.

She thinks: Am I the only one with olfactory glands?!

phenomenon when it comes to these arenas. And therein starts the discord.

She wants a man not just in the workforce but right alongside in all tasks.

Did you ever observe little boy-girl twins interact? Take a look next time if you haven’t. She’s running the show and raising him. And he’s going right

If we are pregnant, then, we are changing the diapers, we are making the dinners, and we are cleaning up the house!

In this generation, though, the tolerance for the masculine sentiment of innocence when it comes to being a part of the home or the child care seemed to have gone out the window when the new line came in, declaring, “We are pregnant.”

If WE are pregnant, then, we are changing the diapers, we are making the dinners, and we are cleaning up the house!

Yet, some men think they can tuck their chins under naively and kind of stay with the I’m-just-a-little-boy

along, glad to have the guidance.

So, it seems somehow girls mature and nurture early. And they keep going from there. Yet, at some point, they want the full partnership.

Someone to do it all with them That’s not to say she’s only looking for a work partner to get things done!

She also needs emotional support as well. A recognition through understanding, appreciation, and accolades of all she takes on and carries, even if the doing comes more naturally to her.

And then what he needs from her is that, as he makes his attempts in return, he needs to experience tolerance, and patience, and compliments because it doesn’t necessarily come naturally to him!

If both people play it right and figure out who they need to be then the man – who had some traces of just “being a little boy” when he got into the relationship –will grow up pretty quickly, and the woman – who had some concerns, as things unfolded, that she might be navigating a lot alone – will see her mate start to be a lot more advanced as they join forces and move forward more connected together.

Every little person should get to enjoy being a little person. There are lots of years ahead to grow up. And lots of demands as they do so, either from themselves or the world around them.

But, once you take on a partner, one must remember that in order to make it good, each has to understand what age and stage they are expected to be at to make things work.

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 | JUNE 17, 2021

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JUNE 17, 2021 | The Jewish Home

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