May 12 — May 18, 2016
Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn
What’s That Smell Emanating from City Hall?
Pages 9, 10, 11, 13 & 27 Page 15
Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
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718-45-SOLAR 718-45-SOLAR / goldsolargro goldsolargroup.com
De Blasio under Fire amid Recent Allegations
Around the
Community
pg
46
Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Dor L’dor Event Unites Generations
44
Ohel’s Annual Breakfast Inspires Community
80
Is Cash a Relic of the Past? The Pros and Cons of a Cashless Society pg
“Off the Derech” vs. “At Risk” by Rabbi Yonason Martin Page 5
42
Remembering Six Million Kedoshim
– See pages 3 & 31
SEASONS LAWRENCE
330 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559
84
pg
94
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers,
W
hen filling up my car at a gas station that offers “cash or credit, same price,” I pay with cash. I know that I can earn extra points on my credit card at a gas station, but I am wary. A few people I know had their credit cards stolen after using them at gas stations and ever since hearing their story, I pay with cash. I thought about this when reading the article this week on Bitcoins and how we are moving toward becoming a cashless society. In our ever-evolving and ever-changing world, it’s inevitable that at some point down the road it will be pointless to carry cash in your wallet. It may make things simpler – and certainly your purse will be lighter – but I think it will make us vulnerable to thieves lurking behind a screen. For now, when riding the subway commuters are urged to hold tightly onto their wallets and phones. It’s a danger that we can envision and so it makes it easier for us to protect ourselves. But when our money is nebulous, just blips on a screen, what happens when someone with evil intentions pulls the plug? Even with all the security initiatives that are put in place, hackers are becoming smarter and more sophisticated. Just last week it was reported that attackers managed to steal $81 million from Bangladesh’s Central Bank in February. As crazy as that sounds, they were actually aiming to siphon almost $1 billion before they were stopped. These hackers took
advantage of poor security firewalls and loopholes that were left open. At this time, shabby security can lead to devastating results. Another article this week focuses on Mayor de Blasio and the scandals that are swirling around his administration. It’s hard to keep track of all that’s going on but there seems to be one common denominator: money. Many of the probes question if de Blasio accepted funds – or even solicited large amounts of money – in exchange for certain favors. It’s going to be the government’s job to prove that the administration knowingly collected these large sums and helped disguise them to keep things under the radar. For now, they have to follow the money trail and see where it leads. But becoming a cashless society will make investigations like these obsolete. Once Bitcoins become the norm, there won’t be any way to trace cash. There are no breadcrumbs when Bitcoins are used – they leave no footprint. People looking to circumvent the law will have it easy. No longer will they need to form nonprofits or offshore accounts to hide what they’re doing. So becoming cashless is not as simple as it seems. For now, I’m going to keep my twenties in my wallet – until they become Tubmans, that is. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana
Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER
publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR
ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com
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editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857
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classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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eretzhachaim.org
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
WHERE WILL AY! D S E U T THIS
7
YOU BE ON MAY 17? CAHAL will raise
$100,000
for our community children thru a
charidy campaign
4x matching
24 hours
all or nothing
Every donation is multiplied x4. Thank you matchers!
The clock starts ticking 5.17.16 at 12 noon
Your donation is only processed if the campaign succeeds
TOGETHER, wE will mEET THE cHallEnGE! לעילוי נשמתChava Swerdlik ע”הand Tamar (Swerdlik) Maxwell ע”ה חיה תמר ברכה בת יוסף ראובן ~ חוה רבקה בת יוסף ראובן
on campaign day: www.charidy.com/CAHAL Prepledges: 516-295-3666
HAL A C . Y A D #100KTO
CAHAL is an exclusive educational program, initiated, supported and sponsored by the local yeshivas. CAHAL addresses students’ unique learning styles in smaller classes from kindergarten through high school. For over 24 years, hundreds of children have been able to attend the same yeshiva as their siblings and friends, learning the CAHAL program mainstream curriculum, in a professionally staffed, highly individualized program.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll
8
Community Happenings
42
NEWS
116
Global
13
National
28
Odd-but-True Stories
41
What’s That Smell Emanating from City Hall? De Blasio under Fire amid Recent Allegations 80
Is Cash a Relic of the Past? by Nachum Soroka
84
ISRAEL Israel News
21
PEOPLE Giora Epstein, Ace Pilot by Avi Heiligman
110
PARSHA Rabbi Wein
74
JEWISH THOUGHT All Roads Lead to Home by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
75
It’s The Thought That (Also) Counts by Eytan Kobre
76
PARENTING “Off the Derech” vs. “At Risk” by Rabbi Yonason Martin
94
HEALTH & FITNESS Acid Reflux: Causes and Cures by Aliza Beer MS, RD
92
FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: A Feast from the East
98
LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 88
114
Think Positive and Achieve by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff
into the mainstream setting when appropriate. I have spoken with many special education professionals in different communities as well as many within the Department of Education and have heard the same thing from all of them; there is not a program out there that comes close to the model of what has been created here. What is the secret to its success? Perhaps it’s the dedication of a staff that give lev va’nefesh to every single child that has comes through their doors. This culture of caring starts at the top and continues through all levels of the organization. Mrs. Naomi Nadata has been at the helm of CAHAL since its inception and drives with the same passion as if she still has something to prove. Mrs. Alice Felthiemer, who heads the educational department and is one of the top in her field, advocates for each kid as if they were her own. Some of the most incredible and talented special education teachers patiently work with both child and parent in dealing with each precious child’s unique challenges. All this is backed up by an office staff led by its executive director, Mr. Shimmie Ehrenreich, that has to deal with the intricacies and maze of paperwork, IEP’s, scheduling of services, coordination with the schools, and much more. In truth, however, there are really no words that can truly express what amazing work this dedicated staff does and has been doing for all these years. It should be of great comfort to know Continued on page 12
96
From My Private Art Collection: PierreAuguste Renoir 116
Your Money
125
No Soap Needed by Rivki Rosenwald, Esq., CLC
126
HUMOR Centerfold
72
Rocky’s Rant: The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth
114
Uncle Moishy Fun Page
118
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes
100
The State of Disunion by Michael Gerson
108
The Earthquake and the Aftermath by Charles Krauthammer
109
CLASSIFIEDS
Dear Editor, You would never know about it if you didn’t need it, yet never forget it if you ever did. It’s one of the best kept secrets in our community, yet no one has ever tried to hide it. What is it that I am referring to? The beautiful organization that is CAHAL. It’s a school without its own building, because it is in every one of our schools buildings. It’s a program that does not identify with one segment of our community, because it serves every segment of our community. This is the “hidden gem” that is right there, if you only took the time to notice. The truth is, if I wasn’t a proud parent with a child that has benefited from this program, I perhaps would never have noticed myself. Let me take a few steps back and explain. Over 20 years ago, when a much smaller Rockaway/Five Towns community realized the need to create a special education program for “our” children, a meeting was called. As legend goes, every single school in the community had representation in that room and collectively agreed to incorporate what was going to be built through each school giving a piece of theirs. This was the seed that sprouted one of the most unique models of special education ever created. The model is to have a rotation with every school committing to absorbing a class every few years. That means dedicating classroom space, giving access to all the amenities of the school, incorporating the class into the school activities and trips as well as collaborating with CAHAL and working to allow for these children to integrate
120
More than 90 percent of Israelis say they eat hummus at least once a week. Do you like hummus?
62
%
YES
38
%
NO
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Sale Dates: May 15th - 20th 2016
Weekly Goodman’s Rice Vermicelli
32 oz Kellogg’s 9.2 oz Corn Pops, 8.7 oz Apple Jacks or Froot Loops
8 oz
6
2/$
......................................................
5
Canola, Corn, Vegetable - 48 oz $ 49
.................................................
¢ 99 ......................................................
299
Seagram’s, Fanta or Fuze Sodas 2 Liter
.................................................
.................................................
15 oz
Original Chicken, No MSG or with Mini Mandel - 12 Pack
9 oz
Asian Harvest Whole Baby Corn
99¢
5
5/$
Tradition Cup-a-Soup
899
$
.................................................
by the case only .................................................
1.5 Liter
All Purpose or High Gluten - 5 lb
13.2 oz
Glick’s Flour
5
$ 99
2/$
.................................................
.................................................
12 oz
1
$ 99
8 oz $ 99
Special K Pastry Crisps Bars Assorted - 4.4 oz
299
$
Gourmet Glatt Chocolate Cookie Pops
299
$
.................................................
Heinz Chili Sauce
Maxwell House or Sanka Instant Coffee
All Varieties - 10 oz - 15.5 oz
.................................................
1
10 oz
Nabisco Oreo Cookies
.................................................
.................................................
Prigat Diet Grapefruit Juice
Assorted Ice Pops - Sunkist, Mott’s, Minions, Jolly Rancher, Hawaiian Punch
.................................................
$
1
......................................................
2/$
99¢
$ 99
9
French’s Spicy Brown Mustard
5.35 oz - 8.9 oz
6
5/$
12 oz
10 oz
50 oz $ 99
5.5 oz
Nature’s Valley or Fiber One Bars
$
Gefen Stuffed Olives
Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil
Wacky Mac Mac & Cheese
5
.................................................
299
......................................................
5
3/$
19 oz/23.9 oz
3
18.2 oz
3/$
Kool Aid or Country Time Drink Mixes
Wesson Oil
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
Telma Kariot Cereal
.................................................
Haddar Salad Dressing
$
Assorted 16 oz
.................................................
.................................................
12 oz/16 oz
All Sizes - 2 Count - 8 Count
399
5
2/$
Best Bev Hot Cups
5
2/$
Ziploc Containers
5
2/$
4
Farmland Skim Plus Milk 64 oz
Turkey Hill Iced Tea
299 ......................................................
$ 79
All Flavors 64 oz
$
1
Yo Crunch Yogurt All Flavors - 6 oz
.......................................
Sabra Family Size Hummus
¢ 69 ......................................................
All Varieties 16 oz
Friendship Cottage Cheese
299
$
All Varieties - 16 oz $ 99
1
Assorted - 32 oz
4
Super Pretzels
Original or Cinnamon - 13 oz . . .1 ......................................................
$ 99
Gourmet Glatt Checked Broccoli Florets
Cedarhurst STORE HOURS
Except Pizza 8 oz
1 lb
Miller’s Shredded Cheese
Farms Creamery Whipped Cream Cheese 8 oz Cups
5
2/$
1
$ 99
Golden Pierogies
.......................................
.......................................
Assorted 18 Count - 20 Count
24 oz
30 oz
399
5
Kineret Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
4
$
99
299
Yoni’s Cheese Ravioli
699
$
New Items This Week! round, square or boat shaped
Assorted Flavors
NOW 2 locations!
.......................................
5
.......................................
$
32 oz $ 99
Best Select Tart Shells
.......................................
2/$
$
Popsicle Ice Pops
137 Spruce Street
(516) 569-2662
SUN -TUE: 7 AM-9 PM WED: 7 AM-11 PM THURS: 7 AM-12 AM FRIDAY 6:30 AM-2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING
1
.......................................
5
2/$
3
.........................................................
99
Assorted - 16 oz
2/$
13 oz
$
Friendship Sour Cream
Except Reduced Fat - 6 oz
Potato or Cheese 16 oz
10 oz
2/$
Ha’olam Sliced Muenster or Mozzarella
Assorted 59 oz
MorningStar Chick’n Eggo Chocolate Chip Waffles Nuggets
Cavendish French Fries
6
Tree Ripe Orange Juice
Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze Woodmere
STORE HOURS
$ 79
Fleischman’s Stick Margarine
1
$ 99
Bodek Cauliflower Florets 32 oz
699
$
.......................................
Kineret Onion Rings 20 oz
299
$
quick & healthy breakfast!
1030 Railroad Avenue
(516) 295-6901
SUN - THURS: 7 AM-9 PM FRIDAY 7 AM UNTIL 2 HRS. BEFORE CANDLE LIGHTING
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Sale Dates: May 15th - 20th 2016
Specials Frozen Minute $ 1199 lb. Beef Roast Patties
CORNED BEEF DECKEL
849 lb.
$
CHICKEN BREAST
2
$
49
lb.
Top of
$ 99 8 lb. Rib 499 lb. the ................... ................... 12 Pack Small $ 49 ................... Minute Kolichel 8 lb. Steaks $1199 lb. Neck & Skirt ................... Ground $ 79 Family Pack 4 lb. Boneless ................... Beef Neck of Super Family Pack White Meat Veal $1049 lb. ................... Ground $ 49 Roast Untrimmed 5 lb. ................... Chicken Chicken $ 69 Family Pack TO 3 lb. Seasoned/ READY Cutlets ................... Bake or
$
Marinated brill! Super Family Pack Chicken ................... Navel $ 49 Cutlets $749 lb. Pastrami 9 lb. Turkey $ 29 3 lb. White or Dark Meat Legs
With Wing
Post 12 oz Alpha Bits, 11 oz Waffle Crisp, 14.7 oz Golden Crisp or 12.5 oz Honey Comb
6
2/$
......................................................
Ronzoni Pasta
Elbows, Ziti, Ziti Rigati, Penne Rigati, Rotini, Rigatoni - 16 oz
5
5/$
......................................................
Tide 2X Laundry Detergent 69 oz/75 oz
999
$ Peaches
Sweet Strawberries
new crop!
1
$
49
Golden Delicious Apples
Crispy Broccoli
Original Only - 36 oz - 8 Slice
4
5
99¢ lb.
Mendelsohn’s Pizza
5 lb Bag
2/$
2/$
lb.
......................................................
Idaho Potatoes
2/$4
Mini Peeled Carrots
89¢ ea.
7
$ 99 Sleeve Celery
2/$3
..........................
..........................
1 lb Bag ..........................
Bartlett Pears
2/$3 Cello Mushrooms
Corn on the Cob
..........................
..........................
..........................
Green Scallions
Persian $ 59 Cucumbers 1 lb.
99¢ lb.
..........................
Plum Tomatoes
79¢ lb.
79¢ lb.
Sweet Onions
6/$2 3/$1
..........................
Fancy Eggplant
89¢ lb.
Deli & Takeout
/
1 Lb General Tso’s $ Chicken + 1 Lb Fried Rice
1299ea.
Mini Knishes, Mini Egg Rolls or Mini Bourekas Dozen
999ea. Chicken Meatballs Marinara $699lb. Soup & Hot Sandwich
Breaded Lemon Pepper Fillet
649lb.
$
$
1399 $ 99 7
Aliza Beer Nutritional Meals 24 VARIETIES! SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:
899lb.
$
1099
Salmon & Flounder Pinwheels $ 99 lb.
10
Hot Dog Buns
Bunch
Gerbera Daisies 3 Flower Bouquet
5
599 $ 1099 $
order@gourmetglatt.com
1
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1
1999& Up $ 3499 & Up
$
/gourmetglatt
10
10/$
10
10/$
order your shabbos platters early! Sweet Potato Roll $
Pepper Tuna Roll
............................
............................
Tuna Salad Roll
Sushi Sandwich
495
$
............................
1095
$
Orange Dragon Roll 95 $
550
Cabbage Soup
595
$
............................
Spicy Salmon Avocado $ Roll
Mushroom Dip
Flat Onion Board Assorted 7 Layer Package of 8 Large Black & Cakes White Cookie $ 49 $ 49 $ 49 ea. ¢ ea. ea. ea.
Carnations
6 oz
11
now available! full line of gluten-free products!
Pre-Packaged
Greek Style Eggplant
monday only!
99
Mehadrin Leben
All Flavors - 5.3 oz
$
Veal Patties with 3 Side Dishes
Whole Bronzini
Chobani Greek Yogurt
450
$
Macaroni & Cheese 2 lb Container 99 ea.
7
$
18” Pizza
hot all the time! 10 am - 7 pm friday to 3 pm
......................................................
Pre-Packaged
Pre-Packaged
Diet Pizza La Zucchini
Pre-Packaged
Honey Mustard Pasta
Pre-Packaged
Diet Chick Pea Salad Creamed Spinach
Pre-Packaged
At the Counter
299ea. $ 49 3 ea. $ 99 4 ea. $ 49 5 ea. $ 49 4 ea. $ 99 4 ea. $ 49 6 lb. $
We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Continued from 8
that should any child in our community ever need a more individualized setting, we have the best there is to offer. CAHAL is truly “The Communities School.” Proud parents, Hillel & Sarah Rochel Adelman This coming Tuesday, May 17, CAHAL needs your help! They will be holding a 24 hour CHARIDY DAY CAMPAIGN and reaching out to the entire local community. Every donation in that 24 hour period will be quadrupled! Help CAHAL in reaching its goal of $100,000. Dear Editor, This week you highlighted the horrific epidemic of drug use in our community. This not something that is endemic only in our community; the country as a whole is seeing hundreds of people losing their lives to drug use. This is something, though, that our community is scared to address. After all, if we don’t speak about it, it’s not there, right? Sadly, tthat is obviously not true and only exacerbates the problem. We need to speak about it so we can address it and help to quell the tide of tragedies and illness. I understand that some people who are addicted to drugs don’t be-
come addicted because they are in pain. The addiction is a slippery slope, as Dr. Lightman explained. At first, people experiment with different, “lighter” drugs. But then their addiction becomes stronger and their needs become more urgent. Their newfound “friends” are offering them something that will help them fly and then the addiction continues as they are pulled into the swirling void of hard drug abuse. It’s a slippery and deadly slope. Drugs affect so many – at all ages. There are men and women addicted. There are adults and children. We must do something to stop the pain. I’d like to end with one word of caution. Our country, in its liberal state of mind, is beginning to legalize marijuana. Some states are allowing citizens to use it recreationally, others only in a medicinal manner. So it’s hard to explain to people why marijuana is not like candy or cereal or pretzels – after all, it’s legal so it must be OK, right? Wrong! Ever meet someone and think that they look like a “pothead”? Smoking marijuana damages brain cells. Think it’s cool? Well, think again when in 20 years you’ll be sitting on your parents’ couch without a job, blowing smoke rings because you could never focus enough to get
your act together. Don’t try it, don’t do it. Tell your “friends” they can smoke their joints somewhere else because you’re going places – and it’s not to a park bench. With hopes for a brighter future for our community, Y.T. Dear Editor, I would like to point out an editorial error in an article in the “That’s Odd” news column in the May 5-11 edition entitled “The Chicken Tradition.” The article is referencing life in the Canadian Arctic, a region that I believe is often not on the front burner of New York area residents. The couple referenced in the article had originally lived in Kugluktuk, Nunavut (the Eastern Canadian Arctic province) and had moved to Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories (the Western Canadian Arctic province) abbreviated as NWT. The entire Canadian Arctic (with the sole exception of the Yukon Territory on the far Western end bordering Alaska) until recently was solely the domain of the province of NWT; in 1999 the province of Nunavut was created out of the Eastern half of the NWT. At any rate, the article references the capital as Yellowknife, UK. The “UK” should clearly be
corrected to “NWT.” The article mentions how the local franchise of KFC (a non-kosher fried chicken establishment) had closed and the protagonist of the article had to travel 700 kilometers (about 439 miles) to the town of High Level, Alberta, to obtain KFC food (the article does not mention High Level is in Alberta). Two takeaways: 1. Context is often imperative. A reader in this case, as an example, needs to understand that this is a story about life in the Canadian Arctic thus it is important to highlight place names completely and accurately. 2. We living in the New York area often forget that there are places even in our continent of North America like the Canadian Arctic where people live in often harsh conditions and where darkness and extreme cold prevail for months, where even something as ubiquitous as non-kosher fast food KFC chicken is hard to come by. This should be yet another reason for us to be grateful (makir tov) to Hashem for our standard of living and availability of resources. On a side note, according to Wikipedia, there are currently 15 Jews currently residing in Yellowknife, NWT. Kol tuv, Pinchas Saar
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
The Week In News
1995. Mr. Naimi’s oversight of oil policy for the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter, had made him a towering figure in world oil policy.
U.S. and Venezuela Clash “Saudi Vision 2030” Begins
While implementing his new plan for Saudi Arabia, King Salman issued a string of royal decrees and replaced a number of top ministers. The decrees were among the first concrete steps in a plan which was announced late last month to great domestic fanfare by the king’s son, Mohammed bin Salman. The almost-thirty-yearold prince oversees economic policy and runs the Defense Ministry in the kingdom. The plan, known as Saudi Vision 2030, is intended as a guide for the country’s development. It aims in part to reduce Saudi Arabia’s heavy dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and improve the quality of life for Saudi citizens. The ambitious plan is being put into effect at a difficult time for the kingdom. The region is strife with violence. Wars are raging in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and its regional nemesis, Iran, is extending its influence. Low oil prices have also shaken the Saudi economy, causing the government to run huge budget deficits and leaving government contractors falling behind in paying salaries. Many Saudis see Saudi Vision 2030 as a powerful statement of purpose from a royal family that has often failed to communicate its plans or do much to prepare for the future. But many analysts think that the plan’s targets are too aggressive for Saudi Arabia’s bloated and often ineffective bureaucracy. Among those changes that were recently announced was the replacement of the country’s long-serving oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, who is in his 80s and had held the position since
The United States is being accused by Venezuela’s foreign minister of trying to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez has alleged that the U.S. used the secretary of the Organization of American States to try to engineer Venezuela’s suspension from the multinational organization. Rodriguez claims that the OAS’s discussion of whether or not to invoke its Democratic Charter against Venezuela was part of a campaign against Maduro, orchestrated by the United States and Venezuela’s opposition. “This is part of the ongoing and relentless aggression by the United States against Venezuela,” Rodriguez said at a special meeting. Rodriguez requested the meeting as the ambassadors of OAS’s member states began discussions on whether to suspend Venezuela over the treatment of its opposition. The attack continued a drawn out feud that began last year when the Venezuelan government was accused of stifling political dissent, manipulating the media and blocking opposition leaders from running for office. For years, Venezuela has exercised disproportionate influence on the OAS, largely because many members receive subsidized oil under Venezuela’s Petrocaribe program. Maduro, a former foreign minister, has threatened that nations that oppose him could “go dry.” But as oil prices plummeted, the Petrocaribe program weakened. Maduro appears now to be trying to exercise what influence he has left to counter the effort. Allies quickly came to the Venezuelan government’s defense. Diego Pary, the Bolivian ambassador, en-
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
couraged Venezuela to continue its fight against imperialist powers. The Nicaraguan ambassador, Denis Moncada, warned the OAS not to overstep its role of cooperation. “We see no moral standing for the intervention of any states,” Moncada said. Michael Fitzpatrick, interim permanent representative for the United States, said the U.S. government had grown increasingly concerned about Venezuela’s growing shortages of basic goods such as food and medicine and the limited space the government has allowed for opposition voices.
London Elects First Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan delivered a message to all Londoners upon being elected as mayor. He vowed to serve people of all faiths, implying that his personal faith, Islam, would not get in the way of any of his decisions as the leader of one of Europe’s most influential cities. Khan celebrated his landslide election victory on Saturday in a ceremony at an Anglican cathedral
accompanied by Christian and Jewish leaders. The new mayor was welcomed with a standing ovation as he pledged to be an approachable official for his city of 8.2 million. There are about one million residents in London who identify as Muslim.
“I’m determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London has ever seen,” said Khan, the son of Pakistani-born immigrants who became a civil rights lawyer and London’s first Muslim member of Parliament. Many leaders around the world reacted positively to Khan’s victory. In Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto, leader of the opposition Pakistan People’s Party and son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and rival opposition leader Imran Khan tweeted congratulations to Khan. New York Mayor Bill
de Blasio said he was looking forward to working with his “fellow affordable-housing advocate” while Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted that Khan’s “humanity [and] progressivism will benefit Londoners.” On Sunday, in his first official act in office, Khan attended a local Yom HaShoah event where thousands from the London community came together to commemorate the six million who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
Cubans Encounter Many Closed Doors
About 4,000 Cubans will be transported to Mexico in the next several months after Panama signed a deal to transfer the group of U.S.bound Cubans that have been stuck on its territory since March. “Panama will transfer some 3,800 Cubans to Mexico after an agreement with that country,” a Panamanian official announced. Daily flights carrying 154 Cubans began departing from Panama City’s international airport on Monday. The Cubans are responsible to pay the cost of the flight themselves. All flights are directed to Juarez, Mexico, a northern city close to the U.S. border. Panama is not the only Central American country that has blocked Cubans from entering; Costa Rica and Nicaragua have also closed their borders to Cubans. Earlier this year, Costa Rica arranged for thousands of Cuban immigrants to return to El Salvador and Mexico. In March, Panama sent back 1,300 Cubans to Juarez and at the time promised they would not repeat the same operation again. Since then, though, thousands of more potential immigrants arrived causing Panama to go back on its word.
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Canada Battles Extreme Forest Fire
HELPLINE
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In the past, Panama’s foreign minister, Isabel De Saint Malo, called Costa Rica and Nicaragua’s position “contradictory.” Yet here she stands ordering the same operation. Malo said her country now believes it has also become necessary for it to close off access to Cubans “to discourage the flow of migrants.” Most of the immigrants are en route to the U.S., although it is a risky journey since they are often denied entry to the U.S. if discovered.
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As a violent forest fire rages through Canada, officials are preparing for the possibility of it spreading further and doubling in size. A mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta’s main oil sands city of Fort McMurray were underway on Saturday. Thousands of residents were misplaced; later they were escorted by convoy past their properties and saw the devastation. Thankfully no deaths or injuries have been reported. Officials are highly concerned that the blaze could hit major oil sand mines and the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. Chad Morrison of Alberta Wildfire said the massive blaze in the province covered more than 156,000 hectares (385,476 acres) and could be 200,000 to 300,000 hectares (741,300 acres) because of high temperatures, dry conditions and high winds. That’s bigger than the five boroughs of New York City combined. Morrison predicts that they will be battling the fire in the region for months. “In no way is this fire under control,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said. Notley said about 12,000 evacuees have been airlifted from oil sands mine airfields over the past two days and about 7,000 have been evacuated in police escorted highway convoys. Oil sands mines are resistant to fires because they are cleared and have no
vegetation, said Morrison. He said the sites also have very good industrial fire departments, and that the fire wasn’t expected to reach the oil sands mines north of Suncor. The fire and subsequent evacuation will be a blow to the already suffering economy due to the decrease in the price of oil. The Alberta oil sands have the third-largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Its employees mostly reside in Fort McMurray where some neighborhoods have been destroyed. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray and 1,600 homes and buildings were torched. Gas has been turned off, the power grid is damaged and water is not drinkable. Officials said there is no estimated date yet as to when residents can return to the city, but the Alberta government has begun preliminary planning. Morrison said the best case scenario would be for colder temperatures and rainfall, which could prevent the fire from growing. On Monday, drizzle and favorable winds helped firefighters contain some of the fire.
Somali Boys: From Battlefield to Govt Work
Somalia has been home to violence, hunger, and extremism for the last 25 years as the country continues to engage in a vicious, never-ending civil war. In recent years, al-Qaedabacked terrorists kidnapped children and trained them to fight. They forced them to be on the frontlines of the country’s bloody civil conflict. Despite the United Nations’ efforts to have young boys removed from the battlefield, they remained stuck in the middle for many years. The United States has denounced the Islamist militants for using and abusing children to plant bombs and carry out assassinations but the extremists shrugged off the criticism. Eventually, the boys were disarmed, some defecting and others ap-
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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hemently denied in an interview that the boys were forced to work as informants. According to his account, “high-level” child combatants were, and still are, kept in custody because they are dangerous and have valuable knowledge. He said that some of the kids had volunteered to go on missions and identify “important information” which has helped agents prevent attacks. These boys are often detained for months in spite of a 2014 agreement to release children to UNICEF within 72 hours of their escaping alShabab or being apprehended. “If a child joins al-Shabab when he is 9, by the time he is 16, he is a lion,” NISA’s director, Gen. Abdirahman Turyare, said in an interview. “They are able to point to someone and tell us, ‘That guy, he fought with me.’” It is obvious that a young child returning from war would need tremendous support in order to adapt back to normal civil life. The international community has lobbied for a reintegration program. In 2012, the government launched a plan that it said would provide former underage soldiers with psychological help and education. But according to the boys interviewed in Mogadishu, the program they entered was not about rehabilitation. To their surprise, the teens were put to work gathering intelligence.
A New Title for an Old Leader
prehended, but their next role didn’t prove to be a childhood dream either. The children claim that they were then forced to work for the Somali government. Supposedly the boys were used as informants by the country’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). They were paraded through neighborhoods where al-Shabab insurgents were hiding and were told to point out their former comrades.
“They took me sometimes in a car and sometimes on foot and said, ‘Tell us who is al-Shabab,’” recalled one 15-year-old who said he was held by the intelligence agency. “It’s scary because you know everyone can see you working with them.” This accusation can become a very complex issue. If, in fact, the Somali agency did use the children as informants, it would be a blatant violation
of international law. In 2015, UNICEF recorded more than 300 cases of children being used as soldiers by Somali forces. And it raises difficult questions for the U.S. government, which for years has provided substantial funding and training to the Somali agency through the CIA. Somali intelligence agents called the boys “far-muuq,” finger-pointers. But Somalia’s intelligence chief ve-
North Korea’s ruling party congress wrapped up its official agenda on Monday by announcing a new title for Kim Jong Un — party chairman. It’s a subtle move that highlights how the authoritarian country’s first congress in 36 years was aimed at bolstering the young leader and ushering in a new era of leadership. The new title was announced during the roughly 10 minutes that a small group of foreign media, including The Associated Press, was allowed to watch the congress in the ornate House of Culture. Over 100 foreign journalists came to report on the event that began on Friday; 30 of
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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them were allowed to view those ten minutes of the proceedings. Earlier Monday, three BBC journalists were expelled for allegedly “insulting the dignity” of North Korea. As a military band in full uniform played the welcoming song used whenever North Korea’s leader enters a public place, Kim confidently strode onto the stage, generating a long, loud standing ovation from the several thousand delegates attending. In unison the delegates shouted, “Mansae! Mansae!” wishing Kim long life. He and other senior party members took their seats, filling several rows on a stage, below portraits of Kim’s grandfather, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, and father, Kim Jong Il, the walls decked with banners of red with the ruling party’s hammer, sickle and pen logo embossed in gold. Kim Yong Nam, the head of North Korea’s parliament, stood to read a roster of top party positions — calling Kim Jong Un chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea for the first time. Kim had already been head of the party, but with the title of first secretary. His predecessors keep their post-
humous titles. Kim Jong Il remains “eternal general secretary” and Kim Il Sung is still “eternal president.” The congress has touted Kim’s successes on the nuclear front and promised economic improvements to boost the nation’s standard of living. Mostly, however, the congress has put Kim himself front and center in the eyes of the people and the party as the country’s sole leader. By calling a congress — something his father never did — he has also demonstrated what may be a leadership style more like that of his charismatic grandfather, who worked through party organs more than Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Il preferred using his own network of trusted individuals to get things done. Officially bringing more people into his inner circle, Kim filled two vacancies on the powerful Presidium of the party’s central committee. Senior party official Choe Ryong Hae regained a seat that he had lost; once considered Kim Jong Un’s No. 2, he is believed to have been briefly banished to a rural collective farm last year for re-education. Premier Pak Pong Ju was also named to the Presidium. Other members are Kim Jong Un himself; Kim Yong Nam, who as parliament
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leader is the country’s nominal head of state; and Hwang Pyong So, the top political officer of the Korean People’s Army. Kim Yong Nam, 88, stayed on despite speculation from North Korea-watchers that he might lose his position because of his age.
Bin Laden’s Son Urges Terror
Osama bin Laden’s legacy lives on. This week, his son, Hamza, continued his father’s terrorist dream when he urged jihadists in Syria to unite. The fight, he said, will pave the way to “liberating Palestine.” “The Islamic umma [nation] should focus on jihad in Al-Sham [Syria] … and unite the ranks of mujahedeen there,” said 23-year-old in an audio message posted online. “There is no longer an excuse for those who insist on division and dis-
With our President, Roshei Yeshiva, Rebbeim & Faculty Rabbi elchanan adler
putes now that the whole world has mobilized against Muslims.” Bin Laden’s son said Syria is the “best battlefield” leading to “liberating Al-Quds,” the Arabic name for Jerusalem. “The road to liberating Palestine is today much shorter compared to before the blessed Syrian revolution,” he said. U.S. intelligence officials have said that Hamza was the favorite son of the 9/11 mastermind who had been grooming him to take over as al-Qaeda’s leader. His undated message comes after al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri also urged jihadists in Syria to unite, despite his continued rejection of the rival ISIS group and its proclaimed caliphate. “The matter of unity today is one of life and death,” Zawahiri said in an audio message posted online on Saturday. “Either you unite to live as Muslims with dignity, or you bicker and separate and so are eaten one by one,” he added. Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front is a rival of ISIS, which is an al-Qaeda offshoot whose leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014 declared an Islamic caliphate across territory seized in Iraq and Syria.
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The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
68 Years Strong
The State of Israel is home to 8,522,000 people, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. Considering that the nation only had 806,000 citizens when it was established in 1948, we’ve come a long way. In fact, according to estimates, there will be approximately 11.3 million Israelis by 2035. There are 6,377,000 Jews living in Israel (consisting of 74.8 percent of the population), 1,771,000 Arabs (20.8 percent), and 374,000 who describe themselves as other (non-Arab Christians, members of other religions, who make up 4.4 percent of the population). 75 percent of the Jews living in Israel were born in Israel, compared to only 35 percent when the state was established 68 years ago. Approximately 43 percent of Jews worldwide live in Israel. Back in 1948, only Tel Aviv-Jaffa had more than 100,000 residents. Today, there are 13 cities with more than 100,000 people, eight of them with over 200,000 residents: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv–Jaffa, Haifa, Rishon Lezion, Petah Tikva, Ashdod, Netanya, and Be’er Sheva.
Survey: More Americans Sympathetic to Palestinian Cause According to a new survey, sympathy for Palestinians among Americans is growing. The Pew Research Center also found that Democrats are more than four times as likely as
Republicans to say they sympathize more with the Palestinians than with Israel. Sympathy for the Palestinians is up most sharply among the youngest American adults, growing threefold over the last decade. Twenty-seven percent of millennials say they are more sympathetic to the Palestinians than Israel; in 2006 the figure was 9 percent. Those favoring Israel has held steady at about 43 percent. The survey also shows one of the widest-ever gaps between the two main political parties when it comes to the Middle East. While self-identified Democrats are more likely to favor Israel over the Palestinians (43 percent to 29 percent), they are far less sympathetic toward Israel than either Republicans or Independents. Among self-identified Republicans, 75 percent say they sympathize more with Israel compared to 7 percent sympathizing more for the Palestinians. Among Independents, the sympathies are 52 percent with Israel and 19 percent with the Palestinians.
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Dr. Norman Blumenthal More than 4,000 American adults were asked a range of questions about how they view the United States’ role in the world. Overall, 54 percent say they sympathize more with Israel and 19 percent sympathize more with the Palestinians, with 13 percent saying they sympathize with neither side and 3 percent with both. Compared to a similar survey conducted in July 2014, sympathy for Israel held steady while sympathy for the Palestinians jumped by one-third, to 19 percent today from 14 percent in the earlier survey. Supporters of Hillary Clinton are more likely to favor Israel over the Palestinians (47 percent to 27 percent), while backers of Sen. Bernie Sanders are more likely to favor the Palestinians (39 percent to 33 percent for Israel). On the Republican side, conservative Republicans favor Israel somewhat more than moderate and liberal Republicans do (79 percent vs. 65 percent). The survey shows older Americans overwhelmingly favoring Israel over the Palestinians by a 4-to-1
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portant to them. In footage of a festival in Khan Younis that surfaced last week, Gazan children practiced acts of terror against Israelis and Jews in an annual play.
In the play, a girl dressed as a veiled Palestinian woman pushes an Israeli “policeman” in defiance while weapons are trained on her, children throw stones at “policemen,” and young boys dressed in military fatigues emerge from a “tunnel” to take an “Israeli soldier” prisoner. A girl recites a poem in which she calls upon children to “die as a martyr, and blow up the enemies.” Later, little Gazan boys are seen simulating the abduction of an Israeli soldier via a terror tunnel. After this, the children simulate throwing rocks at praying haredi Jews, and confronting Israeli policemen with the phrase, “The young people of Jerusalem are staging a knife revolution!” Don’t you wonder what these children will grow up to be?
Hamas Captive Spills Tunnel Secrets
margin, and Gen-Xers sympathize with Israel by roughly a 3-to-1 margin. On other issues in the survey, 57 percent of respondents say they want America to deal with its own problems and let other countries sort out their problems on their own, while
37 percent say America should help other countries. Respondents identified ISIS as the top global threat facing America, followed by cyberattacks from other countries, the rapid spread of infectious diseases and refugees from the Middle East.
Is This Child’s Play? Child psychologists can tell you that a lot can be learned from watching children play: you can see their beliefs, their fears, and what’s im-
A recently apprehended member of Hamas has provided the Shin Bet with a lot of information on the Gaza-based terror group’s tunnel activities. After being arrested in April while crossing the border fence into Israel armed with two knives, Mahmoud Atawnah, 29, disclosed during inter-
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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rogation that he intended to kill the first Israeli — soldier or civilian — he encountered. As a member of Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Atawnah provided the Shin Bet with information on tunnel routes in northern Gaza, the group’s use of private homes and institutions to hide tunnel entries and transfer weapons, and details about the materials Hamas uses in excavations. Atawneh described the sophisticated network of tunnels which includes break rooms, showers and dining tables, and divulged a number of names of Hamas members who fought alongside him in the northern branch of the eastern brigade in Hamas’s armed wing. News of the arrest came hours after the Israeli military announced it found a second tunnel in as many months emerging from southern Gaza into Israeli territory. The tunnel, which is slated to be destroyed in the coming days, is 28 meters deep and was located just a few kilometers from where another tunnel was located and destroyed last month, the army said. Following the 50-day conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in summer
2014, Israel invested an estimated NIS 1 billion (approximately $250 million) in developing a detection system to locate such tunnels. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the initial discovery that Israel’s tunnel detection system was the first of its kind in the world, calling the find a “world breakthrough.” The army reportedly used such a system to discover the tunnel, though IDF officials stressed that technology was not the only aspect of the discovery operation, which also included extensive intelligence gathering and boots on the ground.
Abbas Admits to Paying Terrorists Mahmoud Abbas has now admitted that the Palestinian Authority (PA) still pays salaries to terrorists, despite multiple past public assurances it had stopped doing so. Abbas slipped about his organization supporting terrorists while meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister
Borge Brende. Brende had promised during a debate in Norwegian parliament last week to put pressure on Abbas to stop using EU funds to pay the salaries. “In the meeting, I emphasized that this support program in which financial payments are increased the [longer] the prisoners serve time [in prison], is unacceptable and should be abolished,” Brende stated. “I emphasized that with the political and economic challenges that Palestinians now face, it is in their own best interest to abolish this program.” Abbas responded by “repeating assurances that Norwegian funds are not going to finance the program,” implying that the salary program is still up and operational. It was recently discovered that the PA has been scamming the world out of billions of donation dollars. In 2014, the PA claimed that it would not pay jailed terrorists their salaries and instead the payment would be made by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the body behind the PA that had its terror status removed in the 1994 Oslo Accords when the PA was created. Many groups warned that the PA’s announcement was a
“ploy” meant to keep the aid pumping in. But nevertheless, the U.S. and EU member states took the PA at its word and kept forking over donations.
In 2015, after it closed its Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs, the PA suddenly transferred more than double the amount it had moved over to the PLO in previous years, jumping from 294 million shekels in 2014 to 775 million shekels in 2015. The extra 481 million shekels in the 2015 transfer was nearly identical to the 442 million shekel budget previously allocated to the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs before it was closed. That extra funding matched the amount of money the PLO would need to pay terrorist prisoners – indicating the source of the salaries is still the PA funds propped up by Western aid.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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disease than non-survivors, based on their health records.” To do that, researchers examined the health records of 80,000 individuals (living and dead) born between 1919 and 1945. Half the study’s subjects were born in Palestine, and the others were born and lived in Europe, immigrating to Israel only after the Holocaust. The study took into account each patient’s complete medical history, regardless of when they contracted a disease or began suffering from a chronic condition. In almost all categories examined, the survivor group suffered more than the native-born Israelis. The most significant difference between the two groups involved those suffering from high blood pressure. Weight was a bigger problem for survivors; 13,143 were overweight or obese, compared to 10,172 of the native-born Israelis. Kidney disease was also an area where survivors needed more treatment; 18,323 survivors suffered from renal failure, compared to 11,931 native-born Israelis.
Why ISIS Must Be Destroyed in Order to Preserve the West: The View From Israel A question & answer session will follow
Colbeh Restaurant 32 West 39th Street New York, NY 10018 Monday, May 23rd, 2016 7:00pm $95 per individual / $160 per couple (advanced) $110 per individual / $190 per couple (at the door) To RSVP, please email: oss@oursoldiersspeak.org or call 516.672.1917 Dinner and drinks will be provided. Strictly Kosher. Visit OurSoldiersSpeak.org Attendance is strictly limited to RSVP respondents.
Holocaust Survivors Living Longer Than Counterparts A new study of Holocaust survivors living in Israel shows that their lifespan is 5 years longer than
native-born Israelis. The long life is despite higher rates of high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and other maladies among survivors. “The study shows that on average Holocaust survivors suffer more from chronic diseases than native-born Israelis, although the gap is not particularly large,” Professor Nachman Ash, health division director at Maccabee Health Services
and a professor at Ariel University, pointed out. “But as far as why survivors live longer on average, we have no explanation.” Over the past 70 years, multiple studies have examined trauma, depression, and other mental conditions that are known to plague Holocaust survivors. This study was meant to further look at “whether or not survivors suffered from more
Despite the higher incidence of disease, survivors lived longer than native-born Israelis – 79.5 years, vs. 75.4 years. Speculating on the reason for this, Ash said that it was possible that their formative experiences had “toughened” survivors’ bodies and will to live. “We have no explanation for this phenomenon, but one could imagine that we are talking about individuals who, because they were able to survive in the wake of terrible suffering, are able to continue surviving when hit by disease,” he surmised.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Bibi among America’s Most Admired
A list of the top 20 most admired men among Americans has found Benjamin Netanyahu smack in the middle of it. The Israeli leader landed 10th on the list of Americans’ top 20, produced by YouGov, an online survey company based in Britain. Bibi follows the Dalai Lama at 9th place, Donald Trump at 8th, Stephen Hawking at 4th, and Barack Obama at 1st place among Americans. While in the U.S. his ranking is very high, Netanyahu failed to even make it onto any other country’s list. YouGov produced the list of candidates for the lists by asking “panelists” in the 30 countries the question: “Thinking about people alive in the world today, which [man or woman] do you most admire?” From these results, it compiled a list of 20 men and 20 women who won the most nominations. The most admired American Jew on the list is Vermont Sen. (and Democratic presidential contender) Bernie Sanders at 6th place, followed by 16th-placed Jon Stewart. The most admired woman in America is married to the most admired man: Michelle Obama, followed by Hillary Clinton and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Pakistani women’s education activist Malala Yousafzai is fourth. Tech billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates leads the pack globally (and not just in the U.S.), followed by Barack Obama, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Jackie Chan and Stephen Hawking. All three U.S. presidential contenders still in the race made the global top 20 lists: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
New Indictment for Old Nuclear Traitor
Mordechai Vanunu, the spy who leaked secrets from Israel’s nuclear weapons program in the 1980s to British media, was indicted this week for having severely breached the terms of his 2004 release. The former technician in the Dimona nuclear plant is being charged with repeatedly breaching the conditions of his release, which ban him from leaving Israel or giving out any classified information he received during his work in the nuclear research facility. While in prison, Vanunu changed his name to John Crossman. When he was let out, the Israeli government was afraid he would leak more secrets and gave him very strict rules to follow. But despite the terms, in September 2015 Vanunu released classified information in an interview that was forbidden from being broadcast. Vanunu was rearrested after the interview. Vanunu also failed to inform the police 48 hours in advance of his intentions to move into a new apartment. In September 2014 he moved to a different apartment in the same building in Jerusalem where he lived, but did not report to the police as required by his release conditions. The indictment likewise noted that Vanunu met with two foreign citizens from the U.S. in an apartment in eastern Jerusalem, even though he knew they were foreign citizens and his conditions forbid him from meeting with them. His discussion with the two foreigners he met in the international book store at the American Colony Hotel led Vanunu to be detained by security forces. In his first arrest, Vanunu was
Have acid reflux? See what Aliza Beer has to say on page 92
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caught in a Mossad honey trap operation which lured him from London to Italy, where he was captured and transported via boat to stand trial in Israel. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1986, much of it in solitary confinement, on charges of treason and espionage for revealing details of Israel’s nuclear program to the British media.
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We’re told that we must respect people’s feelings – even if they are murderers and thieves. Last week, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs announced it won’t be using the terms “felon” and “convict” when officials refer to individuals convicted of crimes, opting instead for less “disparaging labels,” Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason said. So how should we refer to them? The Office of Justice Programs said they plan to substitute terminology such as “person who committed a crime” and “individual who was incarcerated” in speeches and other communications as part of an effort to remove barriers that officials say hinder progress of those who re-enter society after completing their prison sentences. “I have come to believe that we have a responsibility to reduce not only the physical but also the psychological barriers to reintegration,” Mason wrote in a guest post for The Washington Post. “The labels we affix to those who have served time can drain their sense of self-worth and perpetuate a cycle of crime, the very thing reentry programs are designed to prevent.” The announcement follows a series of initiatives introduced as part of the Justice Department’s first National Reentry Week, through which law enforcement officials hope to reduce recidivism by changing features
of the criminal justice system. A criminal record can prevent people from obtaining employment, housing, higher education or credit, the Justice Department noted. “These often-crippling barriers can contribute to a cycle of incarceration that makes it difficult for even the most well-intentioned individuals to stay on the right path and stay out of the criminal justice system,” states the department’s Roadmap to Reentry Plan, which lays out steps the department plans to take to reduce recidivism. The new directive only applies within the Office of Justice Programs and not across the entire Justice Department. This is not the first time lawmakers have tiptoed around convicts’ feelings. In 2013 Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed an executive order that required city employees to use the term “returning citizen” when referring to a person who has been released from jail or prison. Over the course of National Reentry Week, the Obama administration announced a series of initiatives meant to support ex-offenders in the transition from prison. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch last week reached out to state governors to encourage them to allow prisoners to exchange prison identification cards for state-issued IDs once their sentences are completed. President Obama announced plans to prohibit federal agencies from asking applicants for government jobs about any criminal history until the final phase in the hiring process. Perhaps these offenders should have thought about these consequences before they began their life of crime.
Air Rage Hits the Skies
First class passengers definitely get the star treatment on flights and they surely pay for it. Are you one to glance at them with envy as they recline in their wide leather recliners as you board the plane? Or do you roll
Th is Su nd ay
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
It is our pleasure to cordially invite you to attend the
Annual Five Towns
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Alex and Susan Edelman We look forward to greeting you personally
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your eyes at the foolishness of spending triple the price to reach the same destination? According to a new study, the class division on airplanes can have a real and occasionally dangerous effect on passengers in both sections of a plane. Researchers report that the mere existence of a first class cabin on an aircraft is associated with a high increase in the probability of an air rage incident in economy class, meaning that most of us are probably looking at first class passengers with resentment and a tinge of jealousy. The study, published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is based on data collected by an unnamed large international airline over several years and many thousands of flights. “These companies have a lot of fear about releasing this type of data to the public,” said lead study author Katherine DeCelles, an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto. “People like to bash airlines whenever they can.” Air rage is actually pretty uncommon in general, but researchers found that on planes where economy
class passengers pass through the luxurious first class area on their way to their designated area, the rate of air rage incidents is more than seven times higher than if there were no first class seats at all. Thankfully, air rage is not a trend. “The very definition of the air rage phenomenon is that it has to endanger the safety of the flight,” DeCelles said. “It has to be pretty extreme to warrant documentation.” On average, these air rage incidents occur in economy class just 1.58 times per 1,000 flights. DeCelles said incidents often involve an intoxicated passenger refusing to sit down, or a passenger who has just been told to turn off her phone making a verbal threat to an in-flight worker. For first class, the number drops to just 0.14 per 1,000 flights. Although these incidents are less common than suspected, there are certain patterns. Other factors that impacted the commonality of incidents were how much legroom there was on the plane, how wide the seats were, and even how long a plane had been delayed. In other words, being uncomfortable can lead to a temper tantrum. The authors report that the pres-
ence of first class was associated with greater odds of air rage similar to the effect of a nine-hour, 29-minute flight delay, and when economy passengers boarded the plane from the front, rather than the middle, and had to eyeball the first class luxury they were missing, the chances of air rage was similar to the effect of a 15hour flight delay. Even so, there may be other factors involved. “We don’t have a measure of how much alcohol people were drinking, that might have a bigger effect,” DeCelles pointed out. “Also, we would assume that the hotter the flight is, the more aggressive people will be, but we did not have temperature data.” So what should airlines be doing to help keep things calm? Closing the curtains between the two cabins may be an easy and simple step. “One time I was in economy and they were baking chocolate chip cookies for the first class passengers only,” DeCelles said. “The smell came back and that was hard. Just anything they can do operationally to reduce that type of feeling would be helpful.” Enjoy your complimentary water. I’ll be sipping my champagne…
Russian Hackers Have Your Email and Password
Your email address and password – and all the information associated with it – may be thrown around like a currency. Supposedly usernames and passwords for more than 250 million stolen Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, and other accounts are being swapped around in Russia’s black market. According to Reuters, these stolen accounts were discovered by Hold Security, where researchers found a Russian hacker, dubbed “the Collector,” bragging that he was ready to “give away” these credentials, which totaled 1.17 billion records. The security company eliminated duplicates and found the total number of com-
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promised accounts to be 272.3 million. The bulk of the accounts compromised, 57 million, belong to Mail.ru users, which is Russia’s most popular email service. The email service has 64 million monthly active users, meaning that the breach affects the vast majority of the company’s user base. Of the remaining compromised accounts 40 million are Yahoo Mail users, 33 million are Microsoft Hotmail users, and 24 million are Gmail users. Many of the emails link to employees of some of the largest U.S. banking, manufacturing, and retail companies. Hold Security has been informing affected companies and organizations. Other credentials from email providers in Germany and China are also affected. It has not been confirmed if any of these accounts have actually been breached just yet, but now is a good time to modify your password from tenth grade and create a new, perhaps more sophisticated version.
The Bias of Facebook
What’s trending these days? Well, if you’re on Facebook, chances are you won’t be getting conservative news on your feed. Recently it was revealed by a former Facebook contractor that Facebook has “routinely suppressed news stories of interest to conservative readers.” The company relies on computer algorithms to determine what is “trending,” an influential designation that inevitably boosts traffic for what are deemed the hottest topics. But unbeknownst to much of the public, Facebook hires journalists to tweak these formulas. Tweaking things are problematic; they were suppressing certain news and “injecting” other topics into the trending list, even if they weren’t popular enough to warrant making the cru-
cial list. “I’d come on shift and I’d discover that CPAC or Mitt Romney or Glenn Beck or popular conservative topics wouldn’t be trending because either the curator didn’t recognize the news topic or it was like they had a bias against Ted Cruz,” the unnamed staffer revealed. Facebook has denied any political bias. A spokesperson said in a statement: “We take allegations of bias very seriously. Facebook is a platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum. Trending Topics shows you the popular topics and hashtags that are being talked about on Facebook. There are rigorous guidelines in place for the review team to ensure consistency and neutrality. These guidelines do not permit the suppression of political perspectives,” he claimed. A former curator made notes of stories that were omitted from trending topics. These included the allegations that former IRS official Lois Lerner improperly scrutinized conservative groups, and stories involving Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the Drudge Report and Chris Kyle, the former Navy SEAL who was killed three years ago. Despite Facebook’s claim that it’s completely neutral, its CEO is decidedly less so. Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s founder and CEO, took an obvious shot at Donald Trump last month, saying: “I hear fearful voices calling for building walls and distancing people they label as ‘others.’ I hear them calling for blocking free expression, for slowing immigration, for reducing trade, and in some cases, even for cutting access to the Internet.” Zuckerberg has also signed a legal brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold President Obama’s executive action limiting deportation of illegal immigrants. Additionally, in March, as part of a weekly internal poll, some Facebook employees asked Zuckerberg: “What responsibility does Facebook have to help prevent President Trump in 2017?” That prompted an adamant statement from Facebook: “We as a company are neutral — we have not and will not use our products in a way that attempts to influence how people vote.” With more than 1 billion users worldwide, Facebook wields tremendous influence. The controversy over trending topics could cause some users to question whether the
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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Please join us for a
Breakfast Reception benefiting
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social site is subtly tampering with people’s news feeds to promote or minimize certain political stories or viewpoints.
Melting Down and Out: Trafficking Money
Sunday, May 22, 2016 9:15 A.M. Special Guest Speaker
Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland Noted Author & Lecturer
The Rudansky Home 212 Oakwood Avenue Cedarhurst, NY 11516 Rabbinic Committee Rabbi Shalom Axelrod Rabbi Heshy Billet Rabbi Eytan Feiner Rabbi Yaakov Feitman Rabbi Aryeh Ginzberg Rabbi Daniel Glatstein Rabbi Naftali Jaeger Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
Rabbi Moshe Zev Katzenstein Rabbi Yitzchak Knobel Rabbi Dovid Spiegel Rabbi Asher Stern Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi Naftoli Weitz Rabbi Akiva Willig Rabbi Zalman Wolowik Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe
Rabbi Yehuda Schwartzberg, Founder Rabbi Baruch Gottesman, Head of School Rabbi Naphtali Sudwerts, Principal, Executive Director
Getting drugs into the United States is very difficult. Almost as hard, though, is getting profits from selling drugs out of the U.S. Just ask El Chapo. It has recently been revealed how U.S.-based members of imprisoned Mexican kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s Sinaloa cartel smuggled their money out of the country. According to court records, the cartel bought gold, had it melted down and sold, and then used fake invoices to transfer that money back to Mexico. Allegations in a federal court case in Chicago describe a scheme in which Sinaloa cartel members would have couriers retrieve drug proceeds, and then use that money to buy gold bars and other scrap pieces of the precious metal at Chicago-area jewelry stores. The suspects allegedly had hundreds of boxes of the metal shipped by FedEx to a Florida company between 2011 and 2014 — $98 million worth in total. Gold, once melted, is hard to track, and companies that deal with it don’t face the same regulations that banks do. The Florida company would keep 1% commission and forward the rest of the money to companies in Mexico. The suspected traffickers in Chicago would use forged invoices to make it seem like a Mexico-based company had sold the gold to the Florida company, which in turn justified sending the money from the gold sales back to Mexico. U.S. authorities became suspicious after noticing a spike in the amount of gold moving through Miami, where Lou Bock, a retired U.S.
Homeland Security agent, pointed out that practically no jewelry is made. Americans spent more than $100 billion on drugs in 2010, and while much of that money stays in the U.S., law enforcement efforts — including increased anti-money laundering initiatives — make it hard for traffickers to move their cash across U.S. borders. In addition to melting down gold and reselling it in the U.S., drug traffickers have also been known to buy precious metals and smuggle them, or the cash itself, out of the country in bulk — the same way they bring drugs in. Cartel operatives also rely on more mundane goods for laundering, like the bulk resale in Mexico of clothes bought in Los Angeles.
De Blasio under Fire as Press Secretary Resigns
Mayor de Blasio has been in office for just over two years and some are hoping that he won’t have two more. On Thursday, the mayor’s press secretary publicly announced her resignation after serving for about a year. Karen Hinton insists her resignation has nothing to do with recent probes into the administration. “Karen Hinton has served our administration with skill, with devotion, with a passionate commitment to others, and she will be missed,” de Blasio said in a statement. Many are speculating that Hinton’s resignation came as a result of de Blasio publicly blaming her for a story run by the New York Times about the administration stalling the construction of a third water tunnel. He said his team was unable to do “a good job of explaining something,” indirectly but obviously blaming his spokeswoman for the misunderstanding. Could it be that Hinton is simply fed-up with the public humili-
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
ation from her boss? However, Hinton referred to her resignation in a dignified manner and called her work for the mayor a “privilege.” She expressed her desire to spend more time with her family, specifically her teenage daughter who is entering her senior year of high school in September. “I am missing her a great deal and want to be part of her last year at home before college,” said Hinton. Hinton is expected to leave once the budget is made final, probably in June, approximately a year after she was hired for the position of press secretary for the mayor of New York City.
Paper or Plastic? It’s Going to Cost You
As if kosher groceries aren’t expensive enough, a new bill has been passed that will incur an additional five cents charge for each plastic or paper bag you consume in New York City. The intention is to save trees and curb the use of petroleum products that can linger in landfills for centuries. In New York City, the Sanitation Department estimated that it collects about 10 billion disposable plastic bags each year. The City Council voted 28 to 20 on Thursday to require certain retailers to collect a fee on each carryout bag, paper or plastic, with some exceptions. Under the new legislation, restaurants and street vendors will not be forced to charge for the plastic bags they provide to customers. Other exemptions include: plastic bags used for produce, small paper medicine bags at pharmacies, bags used at state-regulated liquor stores, and bags used by soup kitchens. Those buying groceries with food stamps are also exempt from paying the fee. This new law, backed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, comes after two years of discussion and at least one other attempt by the city’s elected officials to charge a fee or tax on disposable bags. Similar legislation is already active in other states like California and Washington, D.C. In other cities
where similar fees have been introduced, there has been a dramatic decline in the use of plastic bags. De Blasio said during a recent radio interview that people “must stop using plastic bags, for the good of our environment. I think it’ll change the behavior quickly and not hit people’s pocketbooks in any meaningful way.” “The fee is irritating, which is precisely why it works,” said Councilman Brad Lander, a Brooklyn Democrat and, with Councilwoman Margaret Chin, a Manhattan Democrat, a main sponsor of the legislation. “We don’t want to pay it so we’ll bring bags instead. So the fact that it’s irritating irritates a lot of people.” There was much opposition to this bill – many protesting that the cost of living in NYC is already outrageously high. They expressed concerns that this is yet another deterrent for young people to settle in NYC. Additionally, many argued that the use of non-disposable grocery bags is not a reality of the New York City lifestyle, with many spontaneously running errands on their way home from a busy work day. The bill will take effect in October of this year. You have until then to come up with another solution to dispose of your children’s dirty diapers.
Were We Duped into the Iran Nuclear Deal?
Please join us for an enjoyable and informative
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featuring
Rabbi Allen Schwartz
Rabbi, Cong. Ohab Zedek and Instructor of Bible, Yeshiva University
THE DATING MAZE How Can Rabbis, Parents, and the Community Assist? with words of introduction
Rabbi Shay Schachter
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at the home of
Michelle and Eli Salig
411 Mistletoe Way • Lawrence, NY
Sunday, May 22, 2016 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Opportunity to network with top matchmakers YUConnects is open to the entire Jewish community RSVP appreciated at yuconnects@yu.edu or (516) 603-8141 www.yuconnects.com
Event Committee
Many Americans are still fuming over the Iran nuclear deal that the Obama administration struck with the Iranian regime. There’s about to be some fuel added to that fire. A senior official in the Obama administration acknowledged that facts may have been embellished in order to present the public with a more moderate view of the Iranian regime to gain their support for the agree-
Nicki & Rabbi Sol Appleman • Sara & Benjy Arbesfeld • Cheryl & Jay Bienenfeld Sharon & Avram Blumenthal • Mandy & Rubin Brecher • Ashley & Judah Charnoff Naomi & Ari Davis • Doreen & Beryl Eckstein • Ricki & Joey Genachowski Margie & Rabbi Aaron Glatt • Rivkie & Lance Hirt • Naomi & David Kaszovitz Batya & Jonathan Kaye • Sandy & Eli Klein • Laurie & Robert Koppel Rena & Mark Kwestel • Marilyn & Eliot Lauer • Shani & Jay Lerman Esty & Robert Levinson • Barbara & Tuvia Levkovich • Carol & Jeff Lewisohn Basya & Jonah Lobell • Lynn & Joel Mael • Mindy & Henry Orlinsky Anne & Herb Pasternak • Karen & David Portal • Devorah & Emmanuel Rosner Judy & Allen Rubin • Helena & Jay Rubin • Michelle & Eli Salig Bonnie & Heshie Schertz • Julie & Shabsi Schreier • Bonnie & Avram Sigman Barbara & Mendy Silber • Malky & Jay Spector • Evelyn & Averim Stavsky Helen & Jacob Weichholz • Sharona & Jeff Weinberg • Esther & Baruch Weinstein Rochelle & Joey Weisstuch • Dasi & Moti Weitz
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ment. The revelation came in a profile of Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes written by New York Times reporter David Samuels and published on Thursday. In the same article, former CIA head Leon Panetta wondered whether President Obama had been prepared to use military force to stop the development of an Iranian bomb; he doubts the same resolve exists today. In one particular example of how the public was manipulated, Samuels explained that Americans were told that talks with Iran began in 2013, after the election of the seemingly more moderate Hassan Rouhani. But in fact negotiations were well underway in 2012. The main points of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action had been finalized prior to 2013 under the previous harsher Iranian presidency. It wasn’t until July 2015 that Iran and world powers officially signed the JCPOA, in which Tehran agreed to dismantle weapons producing elements of its nuclear program in return for the lifting of severe economic sanctions. Many conservatives and other world powers, including Israel’s
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ferociously opposed the deal, which they felt was not strong enough in eliminating Iran’s ability to attain nuclear weapons. Rhodes described round-table discussions in which reconciliation with adversaries outplayed appeasing existing allies. “We can do things that challenge the conventional thinking that, you know, ‘AIPAC doesn’t like this,’ or ‘the Israeli government doesn’t like this,’ or ‘the Gulf countries don’t like it,’” Rhodes explained. “It’s the possibility of improved relations with adversaries. It’s nonproliferation.” Samuels, the author of the article, described the time period of the Iran deal as “largely manufactured for the purpose for selling the deal,” based on Rhodes’ testimony. “Even where the particulars of that story are true, the implications that readers and viewers are encouraged to take away from those particulars are often misleading or false,” he continued. The final proposal for an interim agreement that became the basis for JCPOA was completed in March 2013, three months before the “moderate” Rouhani took office as pres-
ident. Obama, though, showed the altered version to the world, including when saying, in a July 14, 2015 speech, “Today, after two years of negotiations, the United States, together with our international partners, has achieved something that decades of animosity has not.”
What’s in a Name?
While some moms-to-be spend their entire pregnancy mulling over baby names, others have their names selected before their first doctor’s appointment. Some moms search for unusual and unique names, while others opt for popular names, and many select meaningful or sentimental names, like those of a deceased loved one.
Every few years a trend emerges and there is a surge in a particular name or style of a name. For the past two years, the most popular boys’ name was Noah and the most popular name given to female babies was Emma. According to the Social Security Administration, this is the second year in a row for Noah and Emma to top the list. In fact it’s actually the third consecutive year for the name Noah. The Social Security Administration is usually the first department provided with newborns’ names as most parents choose to register for Social Security cards in the hospital. They began releasing popularity lists in 1997. Daniel for boys and Madison for girls was deleted from the list this year and two new names were added to the VIP list: Benjamin for boys and Harper for girls. Another name that made an appearance on this year’s list that had not previously been included is the name Charlotte. Experts believe there was a surge in this name since the birth of British royal baby Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana in May 2015. For the most part, the lists for both boys and girls remained mostly the same from last year, except for
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some musical chairs. Most popular names for girls in 2015: 1. Emma 2. Olivia 3. Sophia 4. Ava 5. Isabella 6. Mia 7. Abigail 8. Emily 9. Charlotte 10. Harper Most popular names for boys in 2015: 1. Noah 2. Liam 3. Mason 4. Jacob 5. William 6. Ethan 7. James 8. Alexander 9. Michael 10. Benjamin
CIA Suspects Agent was Poisoned
compound in Abbottabad. Even if the poisoning suspicion is groundless, the idea that the CIA and its station chief considered ISI capable of such an act suggests that the breakdown in trust was even worse than widely assumed. U.S. officials acknowledged that the CIA never saw proof that the 59-year-old Kelton was poisoned or confronted Pakistan with that charge. CIA spokesman Dean Boyd said that privacy considerations “limit what we can say about any individual cases… but we have uncovered no evidence that Pakistani authorities poisoned a U.S. official serving in Pakistan.” Even so, current and former U.S. intelligence officials said that ISI has been linked to numerous plots against journalists, diplomats and other perceived adversaries and that the spy agency’s animosity toward Kelton was intense. Officials said the ISI chief at the time, Ahmed Shuja Pasha, routinely refused to speak with Kelton or even utter his name, referring to the dour CIA station chief as “the cadaver.”
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There is a lot of speculation surrounding the abrupt mid-2011 departure of the CIA’s top man in Pakistan. Two months after Osama bin Laden was killed, Mark Kelton left due to “health concerns and his strained relationship with Islamabad.” U.S. officials have since revealed that the station chief was doubled over in pain when he left due to undiagnosed severe stomach problems. Multiple trips out of the country for treatment proved futile. The cause of his ailment was so mysterious, officials said, that both he and the agency began to suspect that he had been poisoned. While there is no solid proof, the CIA believes that Kelton’s sudden illness was somehow orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, known as the ISI. In 2011, the United States’ relationship with Pakistan was extremely turbulent. The wary alliance was close to collapse when U.S. Navy SEALs descended on the al-Qaeda leader’s
It seems that El Chapo may be coming to the United States – and this time he won’t be digging any tunnels. A Mexican judge has ruled that drug lord Joaquin “ElChapo” Guzman can be extradited to face charges in the United States, the country’s federal court authority said on Monday, days after he was moved to a prison on the U.S. border. Early on Saturday, Guzman was moved to a high security prison in the northern city of Ciudad Juarez on the U.S. border. The extradition is expected to take place mid-year. Guzman, boss of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, was for years the world’s most wanted drug trafficker until his capture by Mexican Marines in February 2014. He then embar-
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
rassed the government by escaping from prison through a tunnel last July. In January he was finally recaptured. El Chapo faces charges ranging from money laundering to drug trafficking, kidnapping and murder in cities that include Chicago, Miami and New York. Juan Pablo Badillo, one of Guzman’s lawyers, said his client’s legal situation was still being processed and that to extradite him now would be a violation of his human rights. Government officials have whispered that the decision to extradite the drug lord is essentially a political decision dependent on the president.
Who’s Really in that Iconic Photo? James Bradley was blessed with an interesting father and he cashed in on it. He wrote a book about his father’s role as a Navy corpsman. In his bestselling book, Flags of Our Fathers, he highlighted his father’s involvement in the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima.
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a famous battle in which the U.S. Marines landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Flags of Our Fathers, first published in 2000, was on bestseller lists for nearly a year. It was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. But in an interview last Tuesday, Bradley admits he no longer believes his father was in the iconic photograph. Last week the Marine Corps announced that it had opened an inquiry into whether some of the six men thought to be in the image had been misidentified. Bradley said that although he maintains that his father, John Bradley, had participated in raising a flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, he had not participated in a second flag-raising the same day, which is the moment depicted in the famous photograph. Bradley explained that
his father had probably thought that the first flag-raising was the one that was captured in the photograph. Sadly all of the men identified in the photograph are deceased. Three of the men died fighting the Japanese on Iwo Jima; John Bradley died in 1994. Mr. Bradley said his initial suspicion that his father was not in the photograph came after studying evidence that was published in a 2014 story in The Omaha World-Herald. He said he had waited a year to examine the evidence in the newspaper article because he was working on a new book in Vietnam and then became ill. He did not come forward with his belief that his father was not in the photograph, he said, because there was little interest from the news media and the Marines. “It wasn’t top of mind,” Mr. Bradley related. “It wasn’t a priority… Now there’s interest in this and I’m talking about it. I didn’t have the energy to carry the water all by myself.” “Here is the true story behind the six flag raisers and the immortal photograph that came to symbolize the power and courage of America during World War II,” reads a summary on the back of a paperback edition of the book. “In Flags of Our Fathers, the son of one of the flag raisers captures
the glory, the heartbreak, and the legacy of the six ordinary boys who came together at a crucial moment in one of history’s bloodiest battles — and lifted the heart and spirit of a nation at war.” The photo was captured by Joe Rosenthal, a photographer for The Associated Press, on February 23, 1945. It was used for headlines throughout the nation and quickly became a symbol of patriotism and controversy. President Harry S. Truman used it to sell bonds to fund the war. Many questioned whether or not the photo had been staged. The iconic photo, though, was the inspiration for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, a statue in which six 32-foot-tall figures are depicted in the positions captured by Mr. Rosenthal. “Rosenthal’s photo captured a single moment in the 36-day battle during which more than 6,500 U.S. servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, and it is representative of the more than 70,000 U.S. Marines, sailors, soldiers and Coast Guardsmen that took part in the battle,” said Maj. Clark Carpenter, a spokesman for the Marines. “We are humbled by the service and sacrifice of all who fought on Iwo Jima.”
Annual Dinner Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Celebrating Yom Yerushalayim Guests of Honor
reservations/ads: shulamith.org/dinner
Menachem & Shayna Landau, שומר ישראלAward Josh & Miri Lifshitz, מחזיקי תורהAward Chaim & Rebecca Schreck, כתר שם טובAward Morah Naomi Hollander, מחנכת השנהAward At our beautiful new Cedarhurst Campus
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Veto Goes Woof
Republican Governor Paul LePage is known in Maine as the state’s alltime veto champion. And he’s proud of his moniker. Recently, the GOP governor named his new dog Veto. The Jack Russell terrier mix is new to the family; the LePage’s previous pup, Baxter, passed on in March. After adopting the new dog, the governor’s office announced on social media that he and first lady Ann LePage “are very excited to welcome their newest addition to the family.” The pet’s name might raise a few eyebrows, though. According to his spokesman, LePage chose the name Veto because his pet “is the mascot of good public policy, defender of the Maine people and protector of hardworking taxpayers from bad legislation.” Apparently, LePage sees himself as a legislator wearing a red cape. For now, the LePages are trying to train their new pup and may not appreciate if Veto vetoes their dog bed and opts instead for their antique chair. But hey, like owner, like pet, right?
Another You
Feeling guilty that you can’t tend
to your mom’s every need now that you’re in college or yeshiva overseas? Fret not. A new invention will give your mother nachas as she kisses your cheek. A recent Groupon deal offered purchasers the opportunity to ship to their mother a 3-D printed replica of themselves. A son or daughter who doesn’t talk back? That’s priceless. Groupon, though, thinks that it’s something that money can buy. The price tag? A mere $30,000. Think about all the things your mom can do with a plastic, life-sized replica of you. She can drive in the carpool lane as she chats on the phone – no little pitchers listening in. She can jump out for the drycleaners as you sit in the “No Standing” zone. And she can urge you to clean your plate as she serves you “your favorite,” kasha varnishkes. So how does the process work? Buyers need to fly to Auburn, Alabama, to be scanned by Swigro, the 3-D printing lab in charge of constructing the model. Once scanned, it takes a few more weeks to post-process, construct and ship the human-sized model to your mother’s house. Won’t she be surprised when your alternate stops by? I’m sure she’ll be speechless – and so will you.
Oh Say Can You See?
Mary Ann Franco opened up her eyes this morning and smiled at the sun peeking through her window. This sight is beautiful on a spring day, but for Franco, it’s even more wonderful. You see, the seventy-year-old is finally able to see after losing her sight 20 years ago. Franco gradually became blind after injuring her spine in a car accident in 1993. “I was fully blind – all I could see was blackness,” she told The Independent. Recently, Franco suffered a fall in her living room in her home in Florida. “My foot caught on a tile, and it flipped me. I hit my head in the back,
and hit it on something else, maybe the fireplace,” she said. What may have seemed like a tragedy turned out to be her salvation. After the fall, which took place in August 2015, Franco was incapacitated and had to wear a neck brace until an operation a few weeks ago. Recovering from four hours of surgery in the hospital, Franco awakened from anesthesia and was amazed – she could see again! “I looked towards the foot of my bed and said, ‘Hey, lady in purple, get me something for pain.’ I was in so much pain, I wasn’t nice – and I’m always nice,” she said. “My niece said: ‘What did you say?’ and I realized I could see. They gave me more medication, and the next morning I could see all the trees, and white houses below from my small window on my side in hospital. “I was the happiest woman in the whole world. It was wonderful. Everyone came in and said: ‘You’re the miracle lady.’” So how had this miracle occurred? Doctors are stumped but they are thinking that an artery that was “unkinked” during surgery could have been restricting blood flow to the part of the brain that controls vision.
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According to Desnard, swiftly after he was hired as a manager at Interparfums – a perfume company in Paris – he found himself stripped of his responsibilities until he was left feeling like he “didn’t exist.” He told France’s BFM television: “I left for work each day with a desperate, sinking feeling. “Then when I arrived I would often break down in tears,” he continued. “But no one noticed because no one really cared whether I was there or not. I was left depressed and ashamed of being paid for doing nothing.” A lawyer for the firm pointed out that Desnard never mentioned being bored throughout his four year tenure. Perhaps it was the dollar signs that kept him quiet. Hey, if they’re looking for a replacement, I’m available – and I’ll even take a slight pay cut.
The Barktenders
The Bore Out
After four years of being bored, Frederic Desnard finally quit. But instead of saying good riddance – or however they say it in French – the 44-year-old turned around and sued his former employer. It turns out that making $400,000 a year just wasn’t satisfying. According to Desnard, he was required to carry out tasks that were “too menial.” Subsequently, he was left feeling “depressed, destroyed and ashamed” and felt forced to resign. This case is the first ever legal claim in France for what its media has coined the term “bore out,” possibly the opposite of what we call “burn out.”
Every dog has its day in this bar. A French beer company opened up a pop-up bar in London last week that was staffed entirely by dogs. Kronenbourg 1664’s Bar D’Alsace-tian was open just one day – May 6 – and featured Alsatian, also known as German Shepherds, serving the company’s beer to customers. The dogs wore small wooden barrels around their necks. When customers opened the barrels, they were able to pull out a cold one. “We’re absolutely delighted to be opening the doors on the world’s first bar staffed by dogs,” Kronenbourg 1664 brand director Ifeoma Dozie exulted. “It provides customers with a truly unique experience and is the ideal way for us to bring the ‘Alsace-tians’ to Kronenbourg fans.” The bark-tenders served the beer from custom lightweight barrels for free during two hour sessions. Bread and cheese were offered as well. Fancy a hair of the dog? Well, perhaps that’s a loaded question.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the
Community Remembering Six Million
Y
eshiva Har Torah was, once again, chosen to participate in a special Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day project coordinated by the “Linking the Shoah” organization. The mission of this organization is to “spread the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust to societies throughout the globe using meaningful social initiatives geared especially for the younger generation. The hope is for young people to initiate a significant tradition in their homes, cities and coun-
tries by lighting a candle and respecting the memory of an individual, who had a name and had a life.” Every YHT student in grades 1-8 received an “I Remember Candle” which had the name of a specific person who perished in the Holocaust. YHT joined schools, scout troops, community centers and IDF soldiers throughout the world in this meaningful project. “I should like someone to remember that I had a life and I had a name.” - a Holocaust victim
Library Love
B
efore Pesach, the Levi Yitzchak Library & Family Center in Cedarhurst celebrated “National Library Week” by having children share what they love best about the Levi Yitzchak Library. The responses were sincere and charming. Here are a few comments, “I love the train!” –TG; “I like all the books and I love book club!” –AB; “I like doing homework here!” –SR. Visit the library and view the rest of our Wall of Hearts responses. The Library is buzzing once again as the new spring sessions begins! The children at A Little Curious - Mommy and Me program are exploring colors this season through play time, music and movement, bubbles, story time & more! Sunday Centers children are exploring a variety of safety rules
through interactive, exciting activities and projects! Helmets, traffic lights, strangers, and fire are some of the topics they are learning about Sunday mornings at the Library. You can still sign your child up for a fun and educational morning! All children in the community are invited to join our Rosh Chodesh Birthday Bash, celebrating all birthdays in the Hebrew month of Iyar. The Birthday Bash will take place this upcoming Monday, May 16 from 5:30-6:15. Special surprise for all the children who have their birthdays this month! For more information about our programs, party rentals, group and camp trips, please call 516-3742665, email info@Lylibrary.org or visit us at 564 Central Ave., Cedarhurst.
Children at A Little Curious hearing about the color blue at storytime
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
OHEL’s Annual Legislative Breakfast Draws Public and Community-Wide Supporters and Inspiration
Bill Mulrow, Secretary to the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, surrounded by elected officials and OHEL board members
Moishe Hellman, OHEL Co-President, Tamara Holder, Fox News commentator, and OHEL board members Elly Kleinman, Mel Zachter, Jack Jaffa, Rivka Wilamowsky, Annette Rubin
P
olicymakers, elected officials, advocates and community activists gathered for the 3rd Annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday morning, April 15. This event strove to acknowledge the breadth of services and the impact OHEL makes in various communities and further break down various stigmas that often impede the decision to get help, most acutely in the area of mental illness. Opening remarks were made by Mel Zachter, Co-President of OHEL. Accompanied in support of OHEL were Co-President Moishe Hellman and David Mandel, CEO. Keynote speakers included Bill Mulrow, Secretary to the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Fox News commentator Tamara Holder and Dr. Gary Belkin,
The Dating Dialogue Page 88
Executive Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Bill Mulrow brought regards on behalf of Governor Cuomo, stating that “it’s a great human trait to take care of the less fortunate,” and commending the work that OHEL performs every day. Mr. Mulrow spoke about the importance of both a balanced budget and the acute need of allocating the necessary resources to human and health services. Tamara Holder, Fox News commentator, spoke personally and passionately about mental health and stigma, conveying, “I will not be silenced.” She recounted family members and friends challenged by psychiatric disabilities, including her grandfather who suffered from mental illness for over 50 years. As Ms. Holder so powerfully stated, “If you have a brain, you have mental health issues,” capturing the painstaking reality of how mental health issues affect us all. Dr. Gary Belkin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, spoke of implementing ThriveNYC and “central goals for a thriving city.” ThriveNYC is a bold new mental health initiative of Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane Mc-
(R-L) Moishe Hellman, OHEL Co-President; Dr. Gary Belkin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Tamara Holder, Fox News commentator; Mel Zachter, OHEL Co-President
Cray, a comprehensive plan of action to ease the burden that mental illness places on individuals, families and communities. Mental illnesses can prevent people from graduating schools, staying employed and constantly reoccupying emergency rooms. OHEL is a proud partner of this initiative and Dr. Belkin strongly expressed that OHEL’s presence is crucial in order for this initiative to be accomplished. The government officials also in attendance that provided remarks were Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Councilmembers David Greenfield, Mark D. Levine, Rory Lancman and Assemblymembers Richard Gottfried and David Weprin. The breakfast was hosted at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in Manhattan, NYC, by Jeff Wiesenfeld, principal of Bernstein. The event was coordinated by Ezra Friedlander. OHEL extends its thanks to the many public officials, OHEL Board
Bill Mulrow, Secretary to the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
members and other benefactors in attendance, who displayed their support for OHEL and the many causes the organization provides and addresses.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Dor L’dor Event Unites Generations Through Torah PHOTOS BY YECHIEL HECHT AND MHB
By Benzion Kaplan
T
he scene at Yeshiva Darchei Torah resembled a family reunion last Sunday – or, more accurately, hundreds of mini-reunions – as talmidim sat down in the cavernous Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid to learn Mishnayos together with their fathers and grandfathers. That fact may not seem so remarkable; after all, parents and grandparents often learn Torah together with their progeny, fulfilling the directive of ‘Vishinantom livanecha,’ but this event was unique, because the Mishnayos were being learned as a zchus for the neshamos of the six million-plus kedoshim of the Holocaust, those holy martyrs of the destruction of Europe. “We assigned each talmid in the fourth and fifth grades a specific perek of Mishnayos to learn with his father and/or grandfather over the Pesach break,” explains Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern, the menahel of the Upper Elementary School and the initiator of this project. “In this way the entire sedarim of Moed and Nezikin were completed collectively four times in the weeks leading up to the event. That’s thousands of Mishnayos.” The event itself gave the participants the opportunity to review what they had learned
together. At the event, Rav Yaakov Bender, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, gave a vivid description of the greatness of the Yiddishe shtub, the family unit and rapport that is unique to the Jewish people and that was on display that morning as three generations gathered for such a lofty purpose. Rabbi Morgenstern eloquently described the heroic feats of the survivors of Churban Europa, who went on to rebuild klal Yisrael in America and elsewhere – and whose labors’ fruits are beautifully represented by children such as those in who were learning at the event. The guest speaker, Rabbi Aaron Goldman, is a rebbi in Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and the grandfather of a talmid. He spoke passionately about the incredible protective power of Torah learning – particularly that of the tinokos shel bais rabban, the yeshiva students, as well as the massive zchus for the elevation of the neshamos of the Holocaust kedoshim that would accrue as a result of that morning’s achievements. Those present were visibly moved by the proceedings. “The idea of mesorah, from generation to generation, is what’s kept klal Yisrael alive,” said Neal Ringel, the grandfa-
Rabbi Elozer Kanner, his son, Yosef Hillel, and grandson, Aron
ther of talmid Yaakov Winzelberg. “I give Rabbi Bender credit for setting this up. It’s very important.” His son-inlaw – Yaakov’s father, David Winzelberg – explained that although they get to learn together on occasions such as Shabbos and yom tov, when the Yeshiva organizes such an event, to “set aside the time just for the mesorah, I think it’s phenomenal.” Grandfathers Yonah Yavne and Mel Zachter each led the crowd in Tehillim, while Dr. Chaim Lichtenstein said the Hadran and Kaddish. The event concluded with raffle drawings and spirited dancing in the Diamond Bais Medrash, as three generations rejoiced in their magnificent achievements and the eternity of Hashem’s Torah and nation. Mel Zachter shared his sentiments with this writer as the event came to a close. “It was beautiful to learn with my grandson Yitzchok and with my son Yehuda. It’s a big nachas.” He reflected on the morning’s theme. “We had in mind all the kedoshim that were niftar, including relatives on my father’s side who never made it out [of the inferno]. Baruch Hashem, we see the growth of klal Yisrael – Hashem should continue to help us all grow.”
Dr. Reuven Swerdlik, his grandson, Ami, and Rav Yaakov Bender
Rabbi Asher Shteierman, fifth grade rebbi; Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern; Yaakov Yitzchok Gans, one of three raffle winners of a new set of Mishnayos; his father, Rabbi Moshe Gans; Rav Yaakov Bender and Rabbi Moshe Bender
Rabbi Dovid Bender and his son Zvi
Rabbi Shloime Sender and his son Yosef Chaim
A view of the crowd at Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Dor L’Dor event
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah
Rabbi Aaron Goldman, Guest Speaker
Aaron Munk and his son, Yechiel Aryeh
Rabbi Yitzchok Hauer and his son Mordechai
Nachum Aber, his son-in-law, Rabbi Meir Braunstein, and grandson, Aryeh
Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern, Menahel of the Yeshiva Darchei Torah Upper Elementary School
Yonah Yavne leading Tehillim
Moshe Teichman and his son, Yehuda
Rabbi Yitzchak Yurman with his son, Aharon
Dr. Chaim Lichtenstein saying the Hadran and Kaddish
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Mel Zachter leading Tehillim
Shlomo Edelstein with his son, Yoily, and grandson, Shmuli
Rabbi Mordechai Gibber with his son, Avrohom
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger with his son-in-law, Dr. Binyomin Tepfer, and grandson, Elchanan
Dr. Zev Carrey and his grandson, Dovid Schulman
Yehoshua Hellman, his son, Moti, and his grandson, Binyomin
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
In an Instant – Hatzalah is There By Tammy Mark
I
n an instant, a quiet Shabbos can become chaotic. In a split second, a child can have an accident; an older person can become ill. Family members become frantic and feel helpless. Hatzalah, our community emergency medical service, is always there to help. No community member would hesitate to call Hatzalah when a loved one is in danger. Everybody knows that Hatzalah will be there for them – in an instant. Receiving upwards of 7,000 calls a year, Hatzalah answers urgent calls at all hours of the day and night, including Shabbos and holidays. The volunteer members of Hatzalah of the Rockaways & Nassau County are always on call at a moment’s notice. They are licensed, equipped and ready to respond to any and all medical emergencies, frequently facing life-threatening emergencies such as choking, heart attacks and strokes. More than just their medical prowess, the heroic volunteers are there in time of need with kindness and empathy. They care for those in need with concern and compassion, as if they were caring for members of their own family. With complete coverage in the Five Towns and Rockaway, and service stretching from Belle Harbor out to West Hempstead, Hatzalah is capable of reaching all local and regional hospitals in record time. One of the many advantages of having a community-based volunteer service is that the Hatzalah members are evenly distributed throughout the region, rather than concentrated in a single dispatch location,
like public EMT services. As soon as an emergency call comes through, Hatzalah members will immediately spring into action. While the two closest available EMTs race to the patient’s side, a third volunteer heads to the ambulance. Response time is typically
vanced care treatments. Approximately 90% of the patients who call Hatzalah for help will ultimately be taken to the hospital and are accompanied by volunteers on the ambulance. The total time for a call can take up to 2 hours and Hatzalah members stay
30 years ago, Hatzalah of the Rockaways and Nassau County has grown and evolved into an organization with over 100 well-trained volunteers, which includes emergency medical technicians, paramedics and physicians. It is the dependability and high level of
More than just their medical prowess, the heroic volunteers are there in time of need with kindness and empathy.
within 2-3 minutes, at a time when even one split second can make all the difference. At the scene, a brief assessment is made to determine if back up is needed. If necessary, the dispatcher will subsequently send out calls to paramedics and doctors in order to administer intravenous fluids and other ad-
as long as it takes to ensure that the patient is safe and in good hands. Anyone who has experienced an emergency, especially on Shabbos or yom tov, has witnessed Hatzalah EMTs respond with complete empathy and sensitivity to personal needs and priorities. From its inception over
competence of these volunteers that uphold Hatzalah’s reputation for being faster and more reliable than 911 public EMT services, where the response time can be double. When we hear about tragic stories in the news about EMS delays, we are reminded how fortunate we are to have a steadfast
community organization such as Hatzalah. Hatzalah is always striving to keep all facilities, ambulances and equipment current and reliable to assure quality service and timely response to an-ever growing population. Construction is well under way for the centrally located new Woodmere garage. They are also looking to acquire new cardiac “thumpers” for every ambulance – the LUCAS Chest Compression System – which will be used to help improve outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest victims. Opportunities are available to donors for other special equipment and ambulance dedications. Over the years, Hatzalah has responded to many thousands of calls and is directly responsible for saving a great many lives. Of all the benefits we enjoy in greater Five Towns community, Hatzalah may perhaps be the most vital one – and something that we may take for granted. “We say the response time is approximately 2 minutes, but usually in just seconds there is somebody knocking on your door,” says volunteer Yechiel Zlotnick. “Hatzalah knows what to do in an instant.” This year’s Hatzalah’s annual BBQ dinner will take place on May 15 at 6:30 PM at the Sands of Atlantic Beach. The BBQ is the organization’s main fundraiser, and the event promises great food, great atmosphere and a great program. Donate online at HatzalahRL.org/BBQ or show your support at the dinner – no reservations are needed.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
MAY Annual Dinner, “Building Our Future”
Menachem Lieber
M
David & Rochel Brier
esivta Ateres Yaakov will celebrate its annual dinner on Sunday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Congregation Ohr Torah in North Woodmere. At that dinner it will honor Mr. Menachem Lieber with the Visionary Leadership Award; Mr. and Mrs. David Brier as Parents of the Year; and Mr. Avi Blisko as Alumnus of the Year. The yeshiva will also establish two new and exciting memorial programs: The Jack Merkin a”h Memorial Scholarship Fund and The Rabbi
Avi Blisko
Elchonon Zomber a”h Arista Society. From the moment a talmid enters the portals of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov he is embraced by a steadfast commitment to his personal and academic success. The Mesivta’s dedicated rabbeim, teachers, and hanhala, led by Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, invest tremendous efforts into each young man. This extraordinary level of personal attention, coupled with high academic standards, are what enables the talmidim to grow and succeed, both during and after their
Jack Merkin a”h
tenure at yeshiva. These efforts help make the goal of “Building our Future” a reality, year after year. Menahel Rabbi Yaffe, commented, “The yeshiva’s annual dinner is an opportune time to acknowledge and express our hakaras ha’tov to these wonderful partners who have invested so much time and effort helping our yeshiva grow into the premier educational and community institution it has become. This year’s honorees truly embody the values of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov’s mission.” Mr. Menachem Lieber Visionary Leadership Award The Visionary Leadership Award will be presented to Mr. Menachem Lieber. Menachem, together with his wife Mariam, are completely devoted to the klal, always going above and beyond to help build our community. As a parent of two MAY talmidim, Ushi (12th grade) and Dovi (10th grade), Menachem and Mariam witness firsthand the huge impact the Mesivta has on their sons and friends. Menachem’s efforts go well beyond his role as a Vice President of the yeshiva and longtime trustee. Although extremely busy in his family and professional life, Menachem regularly finds time to spearhead many initiatives at the Mesivta. His leadership demonstrates the value he and his wife place on MAY’s caring Rabbeim, serious limud haTorah and strong academics. Menachem and Mariam are heavily involved in many other chassadim such as annually serving as dinner chairs for the Chai Lifeline gala. Menachem is also an active board member at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. The Liebers are very close with Rabbi Yaakov Feitman and are active members of Kehilla Bais Yehuda Tzvi (the Red Shul). The Mesivta is fortunate
Rabbi Zomber a”h
to have a deep bond with Menachem and the entire Leiber family. It is a privilege for the Mesivta to honor Menachem at the upcoming dinner. Mr. and Mrs. David Brier Parents of the Year The Briers represent the very best traits of a MAY family, making their avodas Hashem, chinuch habanim, community leadership, and professional careers top priorities in their lives. They are proud parents of Shmuel who is in 11th grade at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, and their daughters, Rina and Ema, who attend TAG. David is a true ben Torah. Upon returning from learning at Yeshiva Mercaz HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel, David continued his learning at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, where he attended the shiur of HaRav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l. Upon graduation from Queens College, David attended Cardoza Law School. As an active member in the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center (Rabbi Ginsburg’s shul), David serves as a baal koreh and baal tefillah. Although extremely busy in his profession as a partner at a Manhattan law firm (Riemer, Braunstein LLP), David has a set schedule of daily learning. Rochel Brier (nee Wanounu) is an amazing educator at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Rochel studied dental hygiene at New York City Tech and attended Brooklyn College, where she received a B.S. in health and nutrition. After working as a licensed Dental Hygienist, Rochel decided to pursue her true passion and become an educator. Rochel is renowned for the care and warmth she lavishes on every child. MAY is honored to present this award to this most appropriate couple.
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The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Around the Community Mr. Avi Blisko Alumnus of the Year Avi Blisko was not only a popular and accomplished MAY student, but has continued a very close relationship with the yeshiva ever since. After graduating MAY in 2003, Avi spent his post-high school years learning in Eretz Yisroel at Yeshivat Shaalavim. He returned to New York to study business at Touro College, and then went on to earn an MBA from Bar Ilan University. Avi also learned in the Aish Hatorah kollel, the Mir Yeshiva and gave vaadim in Yeshivat Shaalvim. Avi now utilizes his strong business skills working at Excalibur Systems, which supplies advanced electronics to both American and Israeli defense forces. He lives in Lawrence with his wife Aliza (nee Kollander), son Menachem and newborn baby boy, Noah. Avi is a wonderful example of the type of students that MAY produces by providing “Rabbeim for Life, Education for Life, Torah for Life.” Although graduating many years ago, Avi has remained very close with many of his Rabbeim and often seeks their guidance. He has also maintained a close kesher the Menahel, Rabbi Yaffe, with whom he learns regularly. Avi has followed in the footsteps of his father Mayer Blisko, supporting Torah education and community chessed, here and in Israel, as well as being active members of Hatzolah. Avi exemplifies the MAY goals of building a family and pursuing productive professions, without compromising chessed, Torah learning, and fine middos. MAY is pleased to honor Avi as this year’s Alumnus of the Year. Establishment of the Jack Merkin a”h Memorial Scholarship Fund Jack Merkin a”h was a special man. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, a city with no yeshiva high
school. He decided on his own to leave home at the young age of 14 in order to attend yeshiva, and never looked back. Jack attended Torah Academy in Baltimore, Yeshiva Ner Yisroel and Yeshiva University. Upon graduating from YU, Jack devoted his life to educating the next generation of young boys and girls. Himself a fine product of Jewish day schools, he spent his life giving back to the future of klal Yisroel. Aside from teaching in the Suffern Public School system, Jack a”h taught in many of yeshivas and Bais Yaakovs throughout the Monsey area. In Lawrence, the Merkins found a perfect fit at the Kehillas Ateres Yaakov. Rabbi and Mrs. Mordechai Yaffe and the entire congregation welcomed them with open arms. The heartening warmth, davening, learning and chessed that permeated the institution was exactly what they had been looking for. It was a perfect shidduch. The uniqueness of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov in providing talmidim with a quality Torah education coupled with an excellent secular education was beloved to Jack a”h, and is beloved by his wife ybl”c Pumpy. Adored by all who knew him, Jack a”h’s legacy and lev tov will be perpetuated through the establishment of this scholarship fund. The funds raised for this scholarship will provide financial assistance to students from economically burdened homes, allowing them to get the same excellent, well-rounded education as their peers. Establishment of the Rabbi Elchonon Zomber a”h Arista Society Rabbi Elchonon Zomber a”h’s recent untimely petira was a tremendous shock to the entire MAY family and the Five Towns community, and has left an enormous gap in the lives of those who knew him. His life was closely intertwined with MAY. He
Can the Centerfold Commissioner stump you this time? See page 72
was a member of MAY’s very first graduating class in 1991, and then returned to teach both limudei kodesh and general studies at MAY for the last fourteen years. Rabbi Zomber grew up in the Five Towns and after graduating high school went on to learn at Yeshiva Mercaz Hatorah and the Mir Yeshiva. He continued his professional studies at Queens College and received a degree in mathematics from Excelsior College. Rabbi Zomber was a person of substance, whose caring and devotion for his students shined through his every interaction. He was a consummate and expert educator who taught many subjects, including Chumash, halacha, math, calculus and “night seder.” He also tutored many students, served as a baal koreh on Shabbos, and even coached MAY students in weight training. Rabbi Zomber recognized the respect MAY students have for each other and the unity that enhanced their learning and interactions. He served as a role model of bein adam l’chaveiro middos, his sincere devotion and broad smile having a most
positive influence on the lives of his students. He epitomized the Mesivta’s mission of commitment to both limud haTorah and academic excellence. The MAY Arista awards program recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary effort in specific areas of study, and it is only fitting that this annual recognition of student excellence and achievement bring honor to Rabbi Zomber’s memory. Rabbi Yirmi Lasker, MAY’s Executive Director, noted, “We are very lucky to have such strong supporters of the Mesivta who both champion and personify the goals of the school. It is extremely gratifying that these wonderful honorees are equally proud to support our yeshiva.” By attending the MAY annual dinner on Sunday, May 22nd, you will assure the continuity of the Mesivta as a vibrant Torah center for our community, our families, and our children. For more information, reservations, or dedication opportunities, contact the office at 516-374-6465 or at dinner@ateresyaakov.com.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
HALB Choir Performs and Touches the Heart of Survivor
T
he HALB 5th grade choir performed beautifully under the direction of Sandy Shmuely at the recent community wide Yom HaShoah event. Despite their young age, the children sang and conducted themselves in a menschlich manner and set the tone in the room for what was going to be a very meaningful evening. During the performance, the children, audience and survivors
were engaged and many had their eyes closed, as the songs just touched their hearts.
Dickey Slagter, keynote speaker, concluded her speech by thanking “her angels,” the choir. Mrs. Slagter stated that she lives a
healthy and normal life but there are moments and scenarios that bring her back to the War. When crossing train tracks, the obvious memories of cattle cars and broken cries swiftly come back, and when hearing the voices of young Jewish
children sing, it fills her heart with utter joy. Mrs. Slagter went on to say that when the children sang it allowed her to close her eyes, open her heart, remember those who were lost and to be thankful for what am Yisroel has become.
ilies get the right insurance as well as the referral to see top oncologists. From insurance payments to medical referrals, RCCS does it all with one call. “One Call” was the name of the video featured at all four events. Produced by DMJ Studios in Cedarhurst and directed by former producer for CNN, David Jasse, “The video was amazing and touched the hearts of everyone there,” said Director of Community Development for RCCS, Rabbi Mikey Albala. In the video, supporters heard the heart wrenching story of a father being paralyzed
by a blood clot in his spine and, subsequently, his 10 year-old daughter being diagnosed with stage IV cancer. The video not only brought you into the lives of those helped by RCCS, it explained the intricate details of what RCCS goes through to advocate for their patients. RCCS is a registered 501(c)3. For further information, please contact Rabbi Michael Albala, Director of Community Development, at MikeyA@rccscancer.org.
Shabbatons with shuls, a successful ‘meet the matchmaker’ evening in March and are working on a Shavuos lecture program for young professionals. By supporting organizations like YUConnects, each of us can make an impact and expand opportunities for today’s generation.” YUConnects is also currently planning a singles Shabbaton on June 4th in partnership with DineNMeet and Young Israel of Woodmere. Celebrating more than 250 engagements in just a few years of existence, YUConnects serves as a onestop dating resource for Orthodox singles. While it is housed at Yeshiva
University’s Center for Jewish Future, it is open to all and self-funded. The program is internationally known for its unique social events, educational forums, personalized guidance and targeted match suggestions. By fostering healthy relationship-building towards marriage, YUConnects is making its mark on the Jewish dating arena. There is a one month trial membership promotion during this month. Learn more by emailing yuconnects@yu.edu, visiting www.yuconnects.com or calling 516-603-8141.
Outpourings of Support for RCCS
T
he Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, RCCS, hit the Five Towns/ Far Rockaway this past Sunday, Rosh Chodesh, and the support for one of klal Yisroel’s most important tzedakahs was incredible! With four locations, the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community came out in droves to support the thousands suffering from the machla. Not only is the illness devastating, many of our own neighbors can’t afford to pay for proper treatment or see the specialists needed to rescue them from losing their lives. In the olden days it was not un-
common (and still happens today, unfortunately) for someone to come up to pound on the bima asking for $50K for an operation. Now, with RCCS at the forefront, klal Yisroel is paying for those operations – but not by paying out of pocket, rather paying an average of $18,000 for the family’s medical insurance and having the insurance company pay twenty-fold. Furthermore, without the right insurance, patients may be unable to see the best doctor. With cancer, that could mean the difference between life and death. RCCS rises to the occasion and helps fam-
YUConnects Benefit Breakfast
H
ow can parents and rabbis assist in navigating today’s daunting “dating maze”? How can our community help? A Benefit Breakfast to support YUConnects will take place on Sunday, May 22nd at 9:30 am at the home of Michelle and Eli Salig in Lawrence. Caring community members are welcome to attend to learn more about the YUConnects program while gaining practical tips on assisting their loved ones. There will be an opportunity to network with top-notch matchmakers and see what is new in the dating world. Rabbi Allen Schwartz is the dy-
namic guest speaker who can offer unique insights as the rabbi of Ohab Zedek on the Upper West Side of NYC, an area with the largest community of Modern Orthodox singles. The Young Israel of Woodmere’s Rabbi Shay Schachter will provide words of introduction, there will be interesting short informational films, and the attendees get to enjoy a delicious dairy buffet! Marjorie Glatt, a rebbetzin at the Young Israel of Woodmere and volunteer for YUConnects, points out, “YUConnects has focused many of its recent programs on Long Island and in the Five Towns. We have had
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The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
SINCE BE’ER MIRIAM TZIPORAH HACHNOSAS KALLAH FUND WAS STARTED:
2,500
350
TAG HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS WHO CREATE AND RUN THE BE’ER MIRIAM AUCTIONS
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Y L N O 1 D AY * **D
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the HOLY
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• Sunday, May 22, 2016 •
Machon Sara TAG High School
636 Lanett Ave., Far Rockaway, NY Adult Viewing: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Family Viewing: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Magic Show and Carnival: 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Auction: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
1 for $10 • 3 for $25
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A Girl’s 16. $750 at 17. KitchenAid 18. Dream 925 Sterling & More
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14. 2 tickets to Florida
$10 33. Photography Sessions
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Please indicate how many tickets in each prize box:
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44. Party Goods
45. Magnatiles
46. Playmobil & More
47. Seasons 48. Lottery 49. Surprise Express Tickets
*Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.
1 DA YO * Name _____________________________________________ * DOU NLY YOUR BLE * * TICKE Phone ________________ Email ________________________ SUND TS! A UNTI
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community The Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill Adopt-a-Kollel community shuls, Kew Gardens Synagogue, Khal Nachlas AvosEJC and Khal Adas Yeraim, welcomed their adopted Kollel’s, Kollel Chelev Chitim, Rosh Kollel, Harav Yechiel Michel Stern, for Shabbos and held a Sunday morning Yarchei Kallah in Khal Adas Yereim Queens.
Speaking is Harav Yechiel Michel Stern, Rosh Kollel Chelev Chitim, Tirat Hacarmel, (L) Harav Shlomo Teitelbaum, Rav, Khal Adas Yeraim Queens
Yom Hashoah in Shulamith Lower Division
O
n Thursday, May 5, the third and fourth graders of Shulamith School for Girls took part in a Yom HaShoah commemoration. In addition to lighting candles in memory of the kedoshim, the students performed songs, poems, and stories appropriate to the day. A skit about how the people of Denmark used fishing boats to rescue the Jews of their country was especially enlightening.
Mrs. Yoly Katz, great aunt of third grader Ellie Adler, shared with the students her story of survival as a fourteen-year-old girl. She described her family life and going to yeshiva before the war. She explained that her education was interrupted by the Shoah, but
Holocaust survivor Mrs. Yoli Katz with her two nieces and great niece, third grader Ellie Adler after the war she was fortunate to come to America and resume her studies. She shared her joy at seeing the children of Shulamith learning together in school and instructed the girls to always be happy.
Bat Mitzvah Lectures at Shulamith
R Dr. Doniel Norowitz, Adopt-a-Kollel Gabbai of Khal Adas Yeraim, speaking at the Yarchei Kallah this past Sunday morning
(L-R) In front of Khal Adas Yeraim Queens, R’ Aloni Russek, Adopt-a-Kollel Gabbai, Rabbi Chaim Heller, Adopt-a-Kollel Coordinator, Harav Yechiel Michel Stern, Rosh Kollel, Kollel Chelev Chitim, Tirat Hacarmel, Harav Shlomo Teitelbaum, Rov, Khal Adas Yeraim, R’ Elchonon Kasnett, Adopt-a-Kollel Gabbai, R’ Donny Norowitz, Adopt-a-Kollel Gabbai and Rabbi Yaakov Bernfeld, director of Adopt-a-Kollel
ebbetzin Aviva Feiner addressed the sixth grade students of Shulamith Middle Division on Wednesday, May 4, offering words of inspiration to the girls on the topic of becoming a bat mitzvah. She suggested that girls could make becoming a bat mitzvah truly special by being mindful of the very first mitzvah they do after tzeit hakochavim on their birthdays. Rebbetzin Feiner emphasized to
the girls that they are unique. She explained that baby girls get their names when their fathers are called to the Torah, forging a special bond with Hashem and His Torah. “Your name makes you special and different from everyone else,” Rebbetzin Feiner said. “Your mitzvot are yours by your name.” Rebbetzin Feiner’s engaging content and dramatic delivery had the students totally engaged in her talk.
Rebbetzin Feiner visits Shulamith
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
18 YEARS
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Learn & Live: Hands-on Brachos
The Learn & Live Program is back with a whole new series of “hands on” brachos. The first week was a beautiful and inspiring presentation by Rabbi Maimon Elbaz of “Torah Shows” about the power
of bentching. The boys really got a good feel and new outlook on birchas hamazon. This coming week will be “Just a Handful of Dough.” For more information, email learnandlivefr@gmail.com.
Stella K. Abraham HS For Girls – Class of 2016
M
a member of College Bowl, Model Congress, and Editor in Chief of the weekly Parsha Press. Devory will be attending Columbia University in the fall.
azel tov to the SKA Class of 2016 honorees!
Valedictorian: Aliza Isaacs Aliza Isaacs brings passion and insight to her academic studies, as well as to all the activities she is involved in. A finalist in the Michlalah Ulpaniana Math Competition, Aliza is a valuable member of SKA’s math, debate, and model congress teams. She is also a Write On for Israel representative, learning how to effectively advocate for Israel on the college campus. As captain of the varsity basketball and hockey teams and a dance head in SKA’s annual production, Aliza is not limited by her intellectual pursuits. She was chosen to travel to Berlin to be involved with outreach through an NCSY-SKA Partnership and was voted by her peers to receive the Character Award for three consecutive years. Aliza is a member of the Yachad Youth Leadership Council, working to promote the inclusion of
Sara Bienenstock
Aliza Isaacs
individuals with and without disabilities, and was awarded a Yachad Fellowship this past summer. We wish Aliza much luck next year at MMY in Jerusalem and as she continues her studies at Barnard College. Salutatorian: Devory Lebowitz Devory Lebowitz spent the summer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Summer Academy in Applied Science and Technology at which she was awarded the Anna Dopkin Endowed Scholarship. She also spent a summer as a Junior Scholar at the Center for Jewish History, where she
Devory Lebowitz
researched her lineage. She placed first in chemistry in the Science Olympiad, was a semifinalist in the Michlala Ulpaniada Math Competition, and received a Bronze Certificate for achievement with distinction in the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League. In addition, she won second place in the National Yeshiva University Bronka Weintraub Talmud Competition,and traveled to Israel as part of the Jerusalem Science Contest after independently studying the intersection of physics and Jewish law. Devory was a member of the Champion JUMP Leadership Team,
Keter Shem Tov Awardee: Sara Bienenstock Sara Bienenstock has been voted the Keter Shem Tov Awardee by her peers in the Class of 2016. A Choir Head for Production and an Ambassador for Recruitment, Sara is one of a select number of students studying BC Calculus. She has been a Color War Captain, a Blood Drive Head, a member of the Lobbying Committee, a volunteer who works with the disabled and a member of the MACs Committee. Sara was awarded the peer voted Character Award. Perhaps the most unique aspect of Sara is that she always has a smile on her face, walking with a special grace and always goes out of her way to do something for her peers.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
HAPPY NATIONAL
NURSES’ WEEK
CELEBRATING OUR NURSES’ EXCELLENCE
“NURSING IS A WORK OF THE HEART”
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL E P I S C O PA L H E A LT H S E R V I C E S I N C .
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
A Boy Named 68818 Visits Shulamith
O
n Thursday, May 5, students and faculty of the Shulamith Middle Division were privileged to welcome Mr. Israel Starck, Holocaust survivor and author of A Boy Named 68818, as the keynote speaker at their annual Yom HaShoah commemoration. The event began with a brief introduction by principal Mrs. Rookie Billet, the recitation of Tehillim, and a traditional candle lighting ceremony. Each participant cited the names of their parents or grandparents who had survived and of the kedoshim in their families who had perished. This was followed by Mr. Starck’s address, in which he outlined the stages of the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews and shared details of his own experience. One episode he recounted was how, upon arrival in Auschwitz, a prisoner in charge of emptying the cattle cars asked him his age. When young Srulik
answered that he was fourteen, the man told him to say he was eighteen. When Srulik asked why he should misstate his age, the man said, “In this place, you don’t ask any questions.” Mr. Starck told the mesmerized audience that, without a doubt, that man saved his life. Another part of Mr. Starck’s story involved tefillin. On the train platform in Auschwitz, his father had instructed him not to part with his tefillin, but in the death camp, relinquishing them was inevitable. At the end of the war, when food was being distributed to the newly liberated inmates, instead of joining the line of those waiting to eat, Mr. Starck waited on a line to put on tefillin. He felt that his tefillin were the last thing he had reluctantly given up upon arrival in Auschwitz, and now, after being saved by Hashem, tefillin would be the first mitzvah he would perform. This saved his life, as many died from eating too much
after being starved for so long. Mr. Starck’s address was followed by a PowerPoint presentation about Holocaust heroine Hannah Senesh created by seventh graders Ariella Borah and Priva Halpert who also led a choir in singing “Keli, Keli,” containing the words of one of Senesh’s most famous poems. To close the event, the eighth graders, directed by music teacher Mrs. Tali Spector, sang “Vehi She’amda,” and “Ani Maamin,” invoking the memory of the kedoshim who went to their deaths with their belief in Hashem intact. Shulamith is grateful to Mr. Starck for traveling all the way from his home in Chicago to share his story with us. His account of the hashgacha pratit he witnessed and his incredible emunat Hashem in the face of the unspeakable will resonate for years to come with each of us who were privileged to hear him.
Mr. Israel (Srulek) Starck and his son Mr. David (Dudi) Starck
Stars of Israel Chosen as Finalist in Prestigious Grant
S
tars of Israel Academy is pleased to announce that it has been nominated as one of three national finalists chosen from hundreds of schools competing in the Mayberg Family Foundation, Jewish Education Innovation Challenge. Jewish Education Innovation Challenge, or JEIC, is a grant-making initiative designed to disrupt complacency and encourage innovation in Jewish day school education. By rewarding and collaborating with talented innovators, JEIC seeks to improve the way Jewish values, literacy, practice and belief are transferred to the next generation. If awarded, Stars of Israel will be granted $50,000 towards furthering their unique pedagogic methods. By integrating cooperative learning, immediate feedback, one-on-one tutoring with technology based blended learning using online programs, individually designed apps, and Apple TVs and iPads for each student, Stars of Israel has
created an unparalleled, exciting, learning environment. The ultimate goal of this curriculum is to enable each and every child to master Torah texts. Every child is different; that’s why an individual learning plan is created for each student. This groundbreaking approach to modern day chinuch has been lauded by leading educational organizations such as Torah Umesorah and the Jewish Education Project (formerly the BJE). By providing a fresh, technology-based environment for both Judaic and secular studies, Stars of Israel has been able to captivate the attention of their students in ways no other school can. This unprecedented method is what merited the attention of JEIC, which will hopefully provide the financial backing to further develop this methodology and enable Stars of Israel to share these innovations with day schools across the country. Past winners of this prestigious grant include Manhattan Day School, Oakland Hebrew
Day School, The Hillel Day School of Boca Raton, and Bi-Cultural Day School of Stamford. Stars of Israel Academy is a unique, innovative, boys middle school that accepts public school students from varying religious backgrounds irrespective of their level of formal Jewish education. The school instills them with a foundation of Judaic knowledge and identity. Its mission is to empower its students with the necessary tools to maintain a lifelong connection to classical Jewish text and tradition. Founded four years ago by Rabbi Yehuda Schwartzberg, the yeshiva is headed by Rabbi Baruch Gottesman and Rabbi Naphtali Sudwerts. Their mesiras nefesh to care for the needs of each talmid is the fuel that allows each boy to reach for the stars. Unfortunately, for many families, the decision between public school and yeshiva becomes primarily a financial one. To make the yeshiva option affordable, Stars of
Israel tuition is 60% below the going rate, and many require scholarships beyond that. This hatzalas nefashos of saving and mainstreaming public school children can only be sustained with the generous support of the community. Stars of Israel would like to extend an invitation to the community to attend a Breakfast Reception benefiting the yeshiva on Sunday May 22, at 9:15 A.M. at the home of Henny and Sam Rudansky, 212 Oakwood Avenue in Cedarhurst. Please join this wonderful event to learn more about the yeshiva and enjoy inspirational words of Torah from Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, author of the highly acclaimed “A Time to Laugh, A Time to Listen” series. For more information about the event or the school, please call the school office at 718-989-3940, email office@starsofisrael.org or visit their website, www.starsofisrael. org.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Worldwide Siyumim Held by Daf HaYomi B’Halacha it himself! Similarly,” exclaimed Rav Falk, “we have come out en masse because we recognize Dirshu and Daf HaYomi B’Halacha’s pivotal role in facilitating limud haTorah and yedias halacha.”
By Chaim Gold
“T
onight’s siyum is special. It is a historic event,” said HaGaon HaRav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood. “Although we celebrate many siyumim, baruch Hashem a siyum by so many thousands upon thousands of Yidden on a chelek of Mishnah Berurah, having learned one daf after another on a daily basis, is truly remarkable!” The Rosh Yeshiva then made a candid admission that deeply inspired the crowd of well over a thousand people. “I myself have enjoyed tremendous chizuk since joining the daily limud of Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha!” The Rosh Yeshiva’s heartfelt address was said at the National Siyum on Chelek Aleph of Mishnah Berurah in Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program held at the Ohel Rivka Hall in Passaic, NJ. The siyum attracted a large local crowd along with contingents from Brooklyn, Lakewood and even locales as far as Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Scranton and Philadelphia. The National Siyum in Passaic was one of many worldwide siyumim celebrating the completion of Chelek Aleph including numerous siyumim in Eretz Yisrael, the most prominent of which was attended by the venerated senior Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita; the United Kingdom siyum held in Gateshead, England; siyumim in Paris, France, and Amsterdam, Holland. A Personal Guarantee At the outset of his remarks, Rav Frand paid deference to Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, commenting that the title Nasi is “somewhat of a misnomer. The more appropriate appellation would be ‘revolutionary,’ because he has made a revolution in klal Yisrael. He is truly the revolutionary Torah personality of our generation!” Rav Frand pointed out that “although a siyum is made to celebrate past accomplishments, this siyum is as much about the future as it is about the past. It is not only about the tremendous feat of completing Chelek Aleph of Mishnah Berurah but it is also about looking forward to what we can accomplish in the future. When
HaRav Yehudah Toledano addressing the Dirshu siyum in Paris
HaRav Shmuel Choeuka making the Siyum at the Dirshu event in Passaic
making a siyum one is declaring that he has tasted the sweetness of Torah and is enthused to go further. This is the essence of a siyum, to inspire us to do more.” Rav Yeruchim Olshin, Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood, cited the Mishnah Berurah, “Although every word of limud haTorah is pivotal there is special importance to learning practical halacha that one can implement into daily life. Therefore, today’s Yom Tov is really a special Yom Tov that calls for a celebration of all of klal Yisrael. It is a Yom Tov that not only celebrates increased Torah learning but also increased Torah learning of practical halacha!” In his powerful, prescient remarks at the siyum, Rav Dovid Hofstedter remarked about the tremendous zechus it had been to visit HaGaon HaRav Meir Stern, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Passaic Yeshiva, a yeshiva which has served as a springboard for the remarkable spiritual growth of Passaic as an ihr v’eim b’Yisrael! Rav Dovid hailed the profound achdus in klal Yisrael that Daf HaYomi B’Halacha facilitates as Yidden spanning the entire spectrum of Torah observant Jewry join daily to learn the same daf of Mishnah Berurah. Rav Yonnason Sacks, shlita, Rav of the Agudas Yisrael of Passaic, represented the Rabbanim of Passaic. In his powerful address, he spoke about the greatness of the period between Pesach and Shavuos which the Ramban compares to a Chol Hamoed. Simultaneously, it is a period marred
by mourning the passing of the talmidei Rabbi Akiva. “Achdus,” he thundered, “is the antidote to this aveirah. Dirshu brings together all of klal Yisrael through Torah learning! It is a tremendous zechus for our kehillah to have a chelek in this siyum!” Rav Shmuel Choeuka, Rav of Congregation Ohel Simcha of Deal, was honored with making the siyum. Massive Citywide Siyum in Gateshead, England One of the most invigorating siyumim on Chelek Aleph was held in Gateshead, England. Over 600 people, led by virtually every one of Gateshead’s Rabbanim, packed the largest communal hall to celebrate the siyum. Powerful drashos were delivered by HaGaon HaRav Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, shlita, Rav of Gateshead, HaGaon HaRav Pesach Eliyahu Falk, renowned posek and mechaber sefarim, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi Dirshu, and the special guest speaker, Rav Aharon Lopiansky, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. Rav Falk related a vort in the name of Rav Yitzchok Hutner, “The word modeh can mean both recognition and thanks. A person must first recognize the magnitude of the favor done for him. Only then can he properly give thanks for it. Indeed, the reason the entire congregation says Modim D’Rabbanan during chazaras hashatz is because when it comes to expressing thanks one can’t be yotzeh with someone else. One must express
Amsterdam and Paris Daf HaYomi B’Halacha has also become very popular in Amsterdam, Holland. Rav Dovid Hofstedter and other senior members of Dirshu’s hanhala visited the kehillah, injecting it with profound chizuk. They met with Rav Segal, who gives three Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiurim daily in three different locales. The hanhala of Dirshu was amazed by the diversity of the attendees. Another deeply inspiring moment was the visit to the local frum school. The 6th, 7th and 8th grades are all learning Daf HaYomi B’Halacha in class as their halachic limud. Providentially, the hanhala of Dirshu arrived during the halacha period and had the privilege of seeing the talmidim learning and absorbing the daily limud. There was also a stimulating siyum in Paris, held at Rav Frankfurter’s shul. Drashos were given by Rav Mordechai Rottenberg and Rav Toledano. Chizuk from Members of American Nesius In honor of the completion of Chelek Aleph, Rav Hofstedter met with members of the American Nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha to hear divrei chizuk. He met with the Skulener Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita. The Skulener Rebbe blessed Rav Hofstedter that he should merit to bring all of his plans to increase Torah to fruition. “The world is full of darkness but you are bringing light into the world,” the Rebbe said emotionally. As Daf HaYomi B’Halacha embarks on Chelek Beis, thousands upon thousands are embarking on transformation, as Rav Frand exclaimed, “When you learn the halachos of brachos and the other myriad halachos in Chelek Beis I can guarantee you will never be the same!”
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Around the Community
Gesher Staff Workshop Presented by Team Lieber
G
esher places great value on its relationship with highly sought after related providers in our area. Mrs. Garyn Handler Lieber is a local physical therapist who fits that description. Her connection to Gesher has been ongoing, since being assigned district cases several years ago. Chava Bodner, Director of Gesher, explains the rapport. “We pride ourselves on our commitment and ability to include the skills and suggestions of related service personnel in our classroom setting. Garyn is a top PT and has been a great asset to our program.” The sentiment is mutual, as Mrs. Lieber, together with her colleagues, have often expressed their admiration and appreciation of the Gesher model and the effectiveness of the carryover between provider and educator. Shaya Lieber is a successful social
worker in the neighborhood. He focuses on school-age children and has been very involved with the Diamond summer program. Diamond is a behavior modification program. Recognizing the advantage of its affiliation, the Gesher administration set aside time for Team Lieber to present a workshop to its staff. The title was “Is it Sensory or Behavioral?” The staff was offered tips and tools for recognizing the nuances that may stimulate a child, both positively and negatively. And they were given suggestions for supporting students that struggle with these types of challenges. These are extremely important techniques for the child’s development as well as for maintaining a proper classroom environment. Gesher feels fortunate to have this consistent association with the Liebers.
DRS Seniors Cap off Year with Internships
O
ver the next few weeks, DRS seniors will take a break from the classroom and head out into the professional world as graduation nears. After shiur, students head out to their internships in an array of industries, including education, politics, finance, marketing and law. The program, called the Senior Year Odyssey, gives students an opportunity to explore potential careers and work alongside accomplished professionals in a student’s choice of industry. The program kicked off in November, as students were taught how
to go about researching, applying and interviewing for an internship in the field of their dreams. Students also received guidance and training on how to perform various tasks and participate in assorted projects at their internship. After the seniors complete their internships, they will then come back to school to present what they learned from the experience to a panel of faculty members. The SYO program is the perfect culmination to four years of learning and growth in DRS.
Please join us for a
Breakfast Reception Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 9:30AM in my home, 180 Harborview North, Lawrence N.Y. to welcome
Rabbi Yonason Martin MA, Founder of Hakshiva.
We look forward to seeing you there,
Dov Lebovic
Louis Greenspan Pinny Ackerman Zev Brown Yitzy Halpern Adam Mayer Hakshiva is saving the lives of American teenagers at risk in Israel through its unique and innovative programs. As more of our neighbors and families make Aliyah it is critical that they receive the support necessary to thrive.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
The Marshmallow Challenge
W
hat happens if your original idea about how to approach a problem doesn’t work? Fifth graders at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School were asked to think about that question as they trained for and completed a “Marshmallow Challenge.” The students prepared for the challenge by doing logic problems on the computer, which taught them that when solving a problem they may need to rethink their original assumptions and that when attacking a problem they need to keep in mind that “if this, then that.” The students then broke into teams and were challenged to build the tallest free-standing structure – with the marshmallow on top – using 20 pieces of spaghetti, one yard of string, one yard of tape and one marshmallow. The students had only 18 minutes to complete the challenge! The winning team was Zachary Eisenberg, Isaac Goldschmiedt and Judah Ehrenhaus with a structure standing 19 ½ inches tall. Noam Klein, Rebecca Boord and Madeline
The winners
Schwartz came in second place with a structure measuring in at 17 ½ inches tall. In addition to learning to think logically the project taught the stu-
The runners up
dents to respect their teammates as they learned that each team member brought something different to the task. The students also learned never to be afraid of not getting it right the
first time because they can always try another approach. The students all had a great time and the challenge sparked a lot of conversation and new ideas.
ported to the Death Camp Birkenau. From Birkenau, seared in her memory as the last place Mrs. Englander saw her father, Mrs. Englander and her mother were sent to a labor camp in Saxony. Mrs. Englander detailed both the brutal and inhumane treatment in the slave labor camp, where prisoners were forced to work 14 hour exhausting and back-breaking shifts. Towards the end of the war Mrs. Englander and
her mother were evacuated to Austrian concentration camp Mauthausen, where they were liberated by the U.S. army on May 5, 1945, exactly 71 years ago from Yom HaShoah. After Mrs. Englander concluded, DRS Menahel Rabbi Kaminetsky recited the Kel Maleh Rachamim for the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis yimach shemam v’zichram.
lollipop that was handed to a girl had a different student’s name on it. Only when she kindly presented that lollipop and then graciously received her own from a different friend, could each talmida truly enjoy her sweet treat. So, it’s all very entertaining – but how do the girls actually incorporate the middos lessons into their lives? Firstly, Mrs. Kuessous (Menaheles, grades 5-8), Mrs. Neuberg (Menahelels, grades 1-4), Rebbetzin Altusky (Curriculum Coordinator, Limudei Kodesh), and Mrs. Feldberger (Extra-Curricular Coordinator) all brainstormed about the Mishnayos to
choose and the best way to emphasize each particular middah. Secondly, as with all extra-curricular activities, the teachers follow up and reinforce the activity in their respective classes. And finally, the front hall of the BBY building will showcase the ways in which each talmida practiced the middah at home or in school. “ARE YOU ON BOARD? GET YOUR PASS” written boldly, reminds the girls every day to submit their passes on which they describe how they learned and lived the middah. Their passes are posted up at the “boarding gates” for all to see and appreciate.
Yom HaShoah Program at DRS
O
n Yom HaShoah, DRS students were privileged to be addressed by Holocaust survivor Mrs. Trudy Englander and her inspiring story of endurance and survival. Six students opened the program, reading paragraphs that detailed a timeline of Holocaust events and lighting six candles in a remembrance to the collective memory of the 6 million Jews who perished at the hands
of the Nazis. Mrs. Englander then addressed the hushed students, telling of her ordinary childhood in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, nurtured by her businessman father and homemaker mother in a loving middle class family. ln September 1944, the day after Yom Kippur, Mrs. Englander and her family were deported and sent to a labor camp in Slovakia where they stayed for just three days before being trans-
Learn it, Then Live it in BBY
L
earn it, then live it. That is the chinuch that BBY espouses and delivers. That style of chinuch is evident in the elementary school program that was introduced this week. “PASS – Pirkei Avos Success Stories” is this year’s Sefirah project, which annually focuses on aspects of bein adam le’chaveiro. The PASS kick-off was held on Monday, Rosh Chodesh Iyar at assemblies for grades 1-4 and grades 5-8. Morah Aber’s 5th graders performed on the topic of ve’ahavta lerayacha kamocha, and the multi-tal-
ented Morah Shulamis Feldberger taught the girls a song about Pirkei Avos. This song will grow in meaning and depth as two new lines are added each week in accordance with the new Mishnah that the girls will learn. The Rosh Chodesh assembly also featured the newest, just-released Sefirah video from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation as well as heart lollipops which were distributed to all. But licking a heart lolly doesn’t teach anybody much about bein adam le’chaveiro – unless you enjoy your treat the way the BBY girls did. Each
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
OHEL’s New “Listen for a Change” Podcast Series Yields Conversations Never Heard in the Community By Dr. Hindie M. Klein, OHEL Director of Clinical Projects
O
HEL Children’s Home and Family Services has launched a new Podcast series of conversations entitled, “Listen for a Change: Personal Stories that Strengthen our Community.” The “Listening for a Change” podcast concept was inspired by two previous projects. In London, the BBC has a successful radio and podcast program called “The Listening Project” – which in itself was inspired by the American audio project entitled “Story Corps: Sharing and Preserving the Stories of our Lives.” The structure that is followed to create the podcasts are simple. Two people agree to have a conversation about a particular topic. There is no agenda, no rehearsal, no preparation, no special questions provided by us. We just invite them to sit and converse. The conversations are totally spontaneous and unplanned. The individuals who agree to be recorded will not be identified by their real names and will not be seen by the audience since this is an audio presentation. So in essence, individuals are given the opportunity to speak freely and without the fear of being seen, identified or recognized. To date, all those who
have participated have noted how unfettering and emotionally cathartic the experience has been. “Listen for a Change” is not just about people conversing casually while being recorded. Our goals are more profound. The podcasts provide an opportunity for sensitive and emotionally charged topics to be discussed. Although we know of many issues in the community that require serious and sensitive conversation, more often than not, these topics will be avoided because of stigma or fear of damaging a shidduch opportunity. Podcasts that are presented thoughtfully and anonymously can provide a fascinating window into the rich, dramatic and extraordinary experience of everyday people faced with the most usual—or unusual—challenges of life. As Derek Saker, OHEL’s Director of Communications and producer of the program, conveys, “Our hope is that these very personal but enriching stories, will inspire and fortify individuals and families, and encourage others to share their unique life stories.” OHEL’s “Listen for a Change” has already recorded many fascinating conversations. To cite a few: Two twenty-something individuals and friends, Devora and Yonatan, talk about their experience in getting divorced at a very young age. They
Dr. Deb Hirschhorn and her family would like to express their appreciation for the outpouring of kindness and love given to us at the time of Matthew Hirschhorn’s passing. There are no words to convey the feeling of comfort and care that it gave to us, including the meals and the many people who visited, even in Eretz Yisroel. We especially would like to recognize the heroic efforts of Hatzalah on many occasions and the special chessed of the Chevra Kadisha, the White Shul, and Young Israel of Woodmere.
Dr. Hindie M. Klein, OHEL’s Director of Clinical Projects, and Derek Saker, OHEL’s Director of Communications
candidly share their very different experiences both pre- and post-divorce, and the paths that led their respective second happy marriages. Jason and Mark, both members of a Jewish Gamblers Anonymous group, share a most revealing conversation about their gambling addiction and their ongoing battle to confront it. They discuss respectively where it all started, how it can happen to anyone, the impact of gambling on their families, and their respective decisions to finally reach out for professional help Chani and Howard, two individuals with mental illness, have a candid discussion about their desire to get married and their experience with the dating process. They speak frankly about the challenges around stigma, while at the same time strongly maintaining that these very challenges have made them individuals with depth and strength. Avi and Yitzchak talk about their lives as 2Gs: Second Generation Holocaust Survivors. All four of their parents had gone through the War; their mothers at Auschwitz, their fathers at Forced Labor Camps. Their conversation is laced with memories of sorrow and loss, of nightmares and pain, yet also with triumph and hope for a better future. What do all these individuals have in common? All have agreed to share their personal stories in the hope that their experiences and journeys through life will provide profound and evocative inspiration to those who listen. As OHEL’s Dr. Hindie Klein, Clinical Project Director, reflects, “Though for some the conversation can be emo-
tionally draining, the dialogues have been cathartic and liberating at the same time.” “Listen for a Change” invites you to sit back and listen. It provides a healthy reversal of what we are most used to doing: talking more and listening less. Listening requires discipline and the commitment to the process of truly listening, processing and absorbing the conversations of others. We have been given only one mouth, but two ears. Perhaps this means we should be exceptionally mindful of listening to others and learning and growing from their experience. The Podcasts are available on iTunes and at ohelfamily.org/podcasts. Do You Have a Story to Share? Perhaps you would like to share an inspirational story or experience with others in the community. Perhaps you’d like to have a conversation with a particular person and you know that this topic could be helpful—even inspirational—to others. Or perhaps you’d like to share some incredibly happy moments. The opportunities of insightful conversations are endless. This project is about creating a safe and comfortable space for individuals in the community to have the conversation many have always sought to have. Most importantly, come join us at “Listen for a Change.” Join the many people who will be fascinated, empowered and inspired by the dialogues of others. Contact OHEL’s Listen for a Change Team at listenforachange@ ohelfamily.org.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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Around the Community
Shevach Students are Motivated by the “Sweetness of Chessed”
T
o culminate Shevach High School’s journey through “Chessedland,” the theme of their Chessed program this year, the students were rewarded on Thursday, May 5 with a “sweet” and inspiring program. The first part of the program was a teachers’ panel featuring six members of the Shevach faculty, who shared personal stories and thoughts about chessed with the girls. Moderated by Assistant Principal Rebbetzin Chani Grunblatt, the panel touched upon many important aspects of doing chessed while emphasizing the school’s chessed motto this year, “The Sweetness of Giving.” The panel was a large success, as evident by the girls’ positive feedback. Shevach’s Principal Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz shared one of her most difficult chasodim she performed, describing her feelings the very first time she volunteered for the Chevra Kadisha. With sensitivity
and a touch of humor she encouraged the girls with the thought that with perseverance, even difficult chasodim become easier and greatly rewarding. Mrs.Miriam Krohn spoke about the time she made a simcha and realized how difficult it can be to find suitable housing for all the guests that come from out of the neighborhood. She realized this was an important communal need and so she took it upon herself to address it. Now anytime there is a simcha in her neighborhood, the baalei simcha receive a gracious call offering the use of the Krohn home. Mrs. Bina Greenberg shared how it felt to be on the receiving end of chessed. She emphasized the importance of accepting the favors graciously even though we wish we didn’t need them. She clearly portrayed that allowing others to do a chessed for you can in itself be a form of chessed.
Mrs. Debby Meltzer, through sharing a beautiful story about her mother, stressed the importance of not just what one does, but the way one does a chessed. One of the highest forms of chessed one can do is to make the receiver feel as if he is the one doing the chessed for you. Mrs. Chaya Swerdloff highlighted that although it may be difficult, as by nature we are a nation of gomlei chessed, there are times when a person needs to say “no” to doing a chessed. Even though we may want to help someone, it may impact others, and so one must think and possibly ask a Rav sometimes before giving a quick “yes.” Mrs. Cypora Kleinkaufman taught through a beautiful mekor, that often “hishtadel l’hiyos ish” applies to doing chessed. Sometimes a person is faced with a chessed because that is what he has to do in order to get to where he needs to be. She also stressed that chessed usu-
ally comes back to benefit the giver. We may think that we are doing so much for others, but in reality the biggest beneficiary is the doer of the chessed herself. After this enjoyable panel, the Shevach students went outside where they were greeted with a “sweet surprise.” A Rita’s Italian Ices tent was set up right in Shevach’s backyard. Each girl received a cup of ices containing her choice of flavors. The panel and the ices were the perfect treat for the many hours the students devoted towards doing and appreciating the “Sweetness of Chessed” this year. Kudos to Shevach Senior Chessed Heads Chani Gewanter, Aliza Goldman, Tziporah Horowitz, Esther Kessler, and Yocheved Wagner for all their efforts in orchestrating this uplifting event.
WE’RE ALMOST THERE!
Reaching Higher is Within Our Reach
RABBI CHAIM ROSENFELD
Engaging lecturer, Kiruv Rebbe at Sinai Academy Sunday, May 15th, 2016 the 7th of Iyar, at 10 A.M. at Cong. Shaaray Tefilah 25 Central Avenue THIS MONTH’S LECTURE IS BEING SPONSORED BY:
MRS. FLORENCE WASSNER li”n Naava bas Reb Yosef Menachem Mendel JOSH and SHIFFY FOX li”n Rochel Leah bas Reb Yeshaya Zalman
To sponsor a lecture email jgulkowitz@yahoo.com or call Debbie at 516-239-0494
RESERVE THE DATE: CHEVI GARFINKEL –Sunday, JUNE 5 at CKI B”H in our 26th year of unifying the women of our community!
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Students Protest Polish Attempt to Whitewash Polish Murder of Jews In World War II
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tudents and faculty members of the Rambam Mesivta rallied outside the Polish Consulate on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) to call attention to Poland’s recent attempt to rewrite Holocaust history. Dr. Jan Gross, a professor of History at Princeton University, authored a book titled, “Neighbors,” which documented the brutal murder of the Jews in the town of Jedwabne by their own Polish neighbors. In July 1941 the Poles in that town herded 1,300 Jews into a barn, doused it with kerosene and burned all of the Jews trapped inside. Recently, Dr. Gross was quoted as saying, “Poles killed more Jews than Germans,” referring to the activities of the Polish resistance fighters. This indictment of Polish citizenry evoked an outcry by thousands of people in Poland today and the Polish prosecutor is looking into indicting and jailing Dr. Gross for the crime of “in-
Rabbi Zev Friedman holding Dr. Jan Gross’ book, “Neighbors,” at the rally
sulting the state.” According to rally organizer, Rabbi Zev Friedman, “I’ve heard many
survivors speak of the glee their Polish neighbors had when Jews were being mercilessly persecuted. It was reported that eyewitnesses in the Warsaw ghetto saw Poles watching approvingly or even helping out, acting as spotters as German soldiers shot Jews. Today’s rally calls on the Polish government not just to drop charges and exonerate Dr. Gross, but to admit their history and take full responsibility for what its citizens did to their own neighbors during the Holocaust. The attempts of the government of Poland, which holds itself out to be a democracy, to stifle the free speech and historical documentation of an internationally acclaimed professor of history, smacks of charges one would expect to hear emanating from North Korea and other totalitarian regimes.” At the rally students chanted, “Do what’s right – don’t rewrite [history],” “Your land is drenched in blood,” and “Remember Jedwabne.” A handful of nationalistic Polish protesters attempted to deflect
blame and responsibility and spoke about how Poles, in fact, aided Jews during World War II. Rabbi Friedman lauded the heroic efforts of those Poles who were brave enough to help Jews and said that “they are heroes because they were willing to stand up against the tide of their communities. Contrast that to the history of Denmark. In that case, history tells us that it was an overwhelming Danish population that is noted for standing up against Nazi orders to liquidate the Jewish community. The focus there is not on the heroics of certain individuals but rather on the bravery of the entire community.” The students felt strongly that with so many attempts at Holocaust denial and revisionism, it was important to speak out on behalf of Dr. Gross and defend him in the light of the charges against him and to speak out against the Polish government’s campaign to whitewash the murder of Jews in Poland by their Polish neighbors.
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Around the Community
Achiezer to Present SpecialCare+ Expo for the Special Needs Community
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chiezer is bringing a revolution to the special needs community. On Tuesday May 31, 2016, this organization will be hosting SpecialCare+, a unique and innovative event, featuring a vendor expo and workshops, geared specifically towards the unique needs of the special needs community. The event will take place in Congregation Beth Sholom, in Lawrence, New York, starting at 6:30pm. Participants will have the opportunity to gather pertinent information from the various vendors in attendance and also learn directly from professionals in the field. The vendor expo and showcase will include organizations and professionals who work with the special needs community on a daily basis. Parents and caregivers will be given the opportunity to learn about the services and resources available to them. It will serve as a forum for participants to learn more about insurance, legal services, education, emotional and medical support. Other products and services which will be featured include adult planning, advocacy, family resources, specialized equipment and extracurricular programs. Additionally, the SpecialCare+ Expo 2016 will feature dynamic workshop presentations given by experts in the field. These breakout sessions will be divided into parallel sessions, each geared towards specific life stages. Through this method, parents and caregivers will be able to attend lectures most relevant to their needs and interests. . Achiezer has been carefully planning the SpecialCare+ Expo for quite some time already. Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, president of Achiezer, explained, After seeing the incredible success and tremendous positive feedback of its ElderCare Conference, which over the past few years has become known as the premier eldercare event for the Jewish community, Achiezer decided to follow this model and offer an event that would provide answers for those caring for children with special needs. At the end of the event, each attendee will be presented with a valuable resource book. It will include a comprehensive listing of the relevant resources which are available, as well as important information about each of them, including who they service
and the best way to contact them. The SpecialCare+ Expo promises to convey a great deal of relevant, hands-on information which will help ease the burden of those dealing with children that have special needs. Rabbi Bender remarks, “We’re thrilled to
be able to introduce this initiative as a source of resources, information and support. We are hopeful that SpecialCare+ Expo 2016 will be a real success and will truly provide the relief that so many are seeking.”
For more information about the SpecialCare+ Expo 2016, or any of Achiezer’s other programs and resources, please contact them at 516791-4444, email specialcare@achiezer. org, or visit their website at www. achiezer.org.
Eclipse
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
STEARNS & FOSTER
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OCTOBER 29,|2015 | The Jewish MAY 12, 2016 The Jewish HomeHome
1.
TJH ?
Riddle me
that
this?
Centerfold !
You gotta be
kidding
A boy buys a fishing pole
Little Johnny stands alone on the baseball field at
that is 6 feet and 3 inches
home plate, throwing the ball up and taking swings at it.
long. As he goes to get on
But each time, the ball plops to the ground right in front
the bus, the driver stops
of him. Undaunted, the little fellow picks up the ball and
him. The driver tells him
tosses it in the air. Again, he takes a mighty swing, and
he can’t take anything lon-
ger than 6 feet onto the bus. The boy goes back into town, purchases one more thing, and the driver allows the boy on the bus. The boy did not break or even bend his fishing rod. What did the boy buy, and what did he do with it?
again the baseball thuds to the ground. A man watching this sad exhibition speaks up. “Not having much luck, are you, little man?” “What do you mean?” Johnny asks. “Well, I’ve been watching you for 15 minutes, and you haven’t hit one ball.” “Shows how good I am!” the boy snaps back with a wide grin. “I’m a pitcher!”
See answer on next page
So You Think You Can Hit a Knuckleball?
The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER The Jewish | MAY 29, 12, 2015 2016
*
Home Run Trivia
1. Baseball history was made last Sunday night when Mets righthander Bartolo Colon became the oldest player ever — at 42 years, 349 days — to hit his first Major League home run. Who is the oldest Major League player ever to hit a home run? a. Nolan Ryan b. Julio Franco c. Pete Rose d. Omar Vizquel 2. Who was the only player to hit a Major League home run and score an NFL touchdown in the same week? a. Deion Sanders b. Bo Jackson c. Cliff Aberson d. Jim Thorpe 3. The first player to ever hit 50 home runs in a season did it in 1920 by smashing 54, beating the old record of 29. Who was he? a. George Sisler b. “Shoeless” Joe Jackson c. Babe Ruth d. Cy Williams 4. In 1998 two players “miraculously” broke Roger Maris’s long-standing and highly coveted record of 61 home runs. Who were they? a. Ken Griffey Jr. ( Mariners) and Alex Rodriguez (Rangers)
b. Mark McGwire (Cardinals) and Barry Bonds (Giants) c. Mark McGwire (Cardinals) and Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) d. Cecil Fielder (Tigers) and Jose Canseco (Oakland A’s) 5. Only one decade did not have a 50 home run hitter since 1920 for the rest of the century. Which decade was it? a. 1960s b. 1980s c. 1940s d. 1930s 6. In 1993, for only the second time in Major League history, a player drove in 12 runs in a single game. Who was the player who did it in 1993? a. Juan Gonzalez (Rangers) b. Mark Whiten (Cardinals) c. Barry Bonds (Giants) d. Mike Schmidt (Phillies) 7. What position did the first National Leaguer to hit two grand slams in one game play? a. First baseman b. Second baseman c. Third Baseman d. Shortstop e. Left fielder f. Center fielder g. Right Fielder h. Catcher i. Pitcher
Answers 1. BOn May 4, 2007, Mets player Julio Franco became the oldest player ever to hit a home run at 48 years and 254 days old. 2. A 3. C 4. C 5. B 6. B- The first time was in 1925, when St. Louis Cardinal “Sunny Jim” Bottomley hit 2 homers, a double, and 3 singles, driving in 12 runs. Mark Whitten did it in 1996 by hitting 1 Grand Slam (1st inning); 2 three-run homers (6th and 7th innings); and a two-run homer (9th). 7. I- In 1966 Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Tony Cloninger drove in 9 runs in a 17-3 complete game victory over the Giants at Candlestick. Scorecard 6-7 correct: It is high, it is far…it’s a Bartolo Colon! 3-5 correct: If you played in the steroid era, you’d have done better. 0-2 correct: It took Bartolo until he was almost 43 years old to get his first home run. Never give up… One day you just might get one or two questions right in the TJH trivia.
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Answer to riddle: He bought a 6 foot box and put the fishing rod in it diagonally.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Torah Thought
Parshas Kedoshim By Rabbi Berel Wein
T
he demands that the Torah imposes upon us with the large array of commandments that appear in this week’s Torah reading are major and taxing. Nevertheless we have a rule that the Torah never demands the impossible from human beings or of human behavior. As such, I feel that the true challenge implicit in the commandment to be a holy and dedicated person – the idea that is present in the opening words of this week’s Torah reading – is the fact that the
path that leads us to this holy and dedicated state of being are mundane in their nature. We would understand and perhaps even appreciate if the commandments were of an extraordinary measure of self-denial, asceticism or enforced isolation from human society. That is the picture that many of us have of a holy person, someone alone atop a mountain involved in a permanent state of meditation and purification. We are not accustomed to think
of holy people as being the people that we come in contact with on a daily basis in our life experience. We assigned the role of holiness and dedication to G-d to great Torah
Rabbi Elijah, who spent nearly every moment of his waking hours in the study of Torah, seemed to have little room for improvement in his spiritual life.
“Why don’t you go out and stand with the fishmonger in the marketplace of Vilna, in the real world of human interaction, of buying and selling, of temptation and honesty, and let us then see if you would truly be the Gaon of Vilna.”
scholars and other spiritual leaders. We do not think of the storekeeper, the bus driver or any of our service personnel as being obligated to be especially holy. But even a cursory review of this week’s Torah reading will show us that the nature of most of the commandments described concern themselves with everyday life and with regular and ordinary events. Holiness is viewed as not being an exalted state of being out of the reach of the average Jew but rather as a natural and necessary by-product of living a life of Torah observance. There is a legend concerning the great Maggid of Dubno, Rabbi Yaakov Kranz, and his relationship to Rabbi Elijah, the Gaon of Vilna. Rabbi Elijah invited the famed Maggid to visit him and to point out to him how he could improve himself in the service of his Creator.
However, the Maggid said to his host as follows: “You sit here in your study, surrounded by your books, immersed in Torah knowledge and therefore you are the great Gaon of Vilna. But, why don’t you go out and stand with the fishmonger in the marketplace of Vilna, in the real world of human interaction, of buying and selling, of temptation and honesty, and let us then see if you would truly be the Gaon of Vilna.” The legend then tells us that the great Rabbi Elijah wept when he heard this challenge of the Maggid. Holiness was to be found not only in the study room but it had to exist in the fish market as well. We are all bidden to be holy and to sanctify all aspects of our behavior and life and be worthy, at all times, of serving G-d in the proper manner. Shabbat shalom.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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The Observant Jew
All Roads Lead to Home By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
I
went to yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio. Actually, the city where Telshe Yeshiva is located is named Wickliffe. However, besides for the yeshiva and some Kollel families, all the Jewish “stuff” was located in Cleveland Heights (or maybe nearby Beachwood). That’s where many frum families lived, where there were a bunch of shuls, and you could find Jewish shopping such as a grocery store and restaurants. That meant that if you lived near the yeshiva, you still needed to go to the “Heights” frequently. R’ Yankel Cohen, shlita, a mashgiach/advisor in the yeshiva, put it in Talmudic phraseology when he said, “There are a dozen different ways to get to the Heights. Hatzad ha’shaveh shebahen (the common denominator)? They all take about twenty minutes.” It was true. Everyone had their own different nuances about making the trip, and whether you took the highway, went through the county airport, or turned on a specific side street, it always took about twenty minutes even though occasionally you’d cut off a minute or two here or there. On a similar note, I remember once when a teacher in the high school presented students with a mathematical equation that he said college students couldn’t even solve. The boys gleefully took the example to two of the smartest people they knew, both members of the yeshiva staff. One solved the problem algebraically and the other solved it with fractions, but they both got the same right answer.
It struck me that there is no one right way to reach a goal, and so too there is no single right way to come close to Hashem. Some people are inspired by the intellectual intricacy of Torah study, and some by the camaraderie of their peers. Some are moved by nature or music, and others find a path to G-d in introspection and meditation. Some people will find a certain speaker to be intriguing and fantastic while others might find the same lecturer not to be their cup of tea. And that’s OK. Each person has his or her own way to grow and no one can say that just because someone doesn’t follow his approach, they are on the wrong path. This is alluded to in the Gemara at the very end of Mesechta Taanis. There it says that in the future, Hashem will make a circle for the righteous and they will dance around Him and point with their fingers that this is the G-d to Whom they hoped for salvation. Though they approach Hashem from 360 different degrees, they are all equidistant from Him. The common denominator is that they all found their own way to come close to their Creator. There are 613 mitzvos in the Torah. It’s not humanly possible to fulfill all of them. Some are for men, some for women. Some for Kohanim, some for Levi’im, and some for Yisraelim. Some are for married people, and some are for people living in Israel. The way we fulfill the Torah is by coming together and benefiting from the acts of each
Jew in klal Yisrael. By uniting we can achieve the otherwise impossible. The famous Mishna of R’ Chanaya ben Akashya says that because Hashem wanted to give us merit, He gave us a lot of Torah and many mitzvos. How is this beneficial? Isn’t it just more ways to mess up? Not at all.
to each other, but perhaps their shortcoming was a failure to fully appreciate another’s perspective and another approach. Let’s work on growing in our own closeness to Him, and not just appreciating the differences but learning from the enthusiasm of our friends and
Some are moved by nature or music, and others find a path to G-d in introspection and meditation.
Each mitzvah will resonate more with some people than others. Some will throw themselves into visiting the sick, while others will be excited and enthused by teaching Torah or giving tzedaka. Some will put not eating bugs on the top of their list and others will thrive on tefilla or saying Tehillim. Whatever mitzvah touches our soul is the way Hashem gave us to come close to Him and be able to join that circle. It is important for us to recognize that others have valid ways of connecting to Hashem and bringing the Shechina to earth. We must respect and appreciate it. We are now in the weeks of Sefiras Ha’Omer, when the students of Rabbi Akiva died for not according each other proper honor. It is hard to say that these Torah sages were disrespectful
neighbors for their respective favorite mitzvos. Then, b’ezras Hashem, the time of that promised dance will come quickly, and we will all look towards the center, point to the same place and say, “This is our G-d.”
Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/ RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @ RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Between the Lines
It’s The Thought That (Also) Counts By Eytan Kobre
A man is what he thinks about all day long. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
D
uring the Vietnam War, Air Force Colonel George Hall spent seven years locked in a dark, cramped North Vietnamese prison. While most would lose their minds in such circumstances, Hall passed his days by playing golf mentally. His visualizations were detailed –hitting the ball, raking the sand traps, feeling the wind, and, of course, tapping the ball into the hole. Despite his weakened and emaciated state, one of the first things Hall wanted to do upon his release was to play a real round of golf. He was invited to the Greater New Orleans Open where he shot an astounding 76. When a member of the press suggested his performance was a case of beginner’s luck, Hall replied, “Luck? I haven’t 3-putted a green in the last five years!”
Despite his physical deterioration, Hall developed refined muscle memory based purely on controlling his thoughts. That is what “pigul” is about. In its halachic context, pigul refers to a sacrifice eaten or offered with improper intent to consume it beyond its specified time (Vayikra 7:18) or location (Vayikra 19:5-8). If sacrifices are akin to a feast with G-d, pigul represents man’s unilateral decision to change the time or venue. Such improper thoughts are a fitting disqualification since they defeat the very aim of sacrifices, which is to calibrate and purify our thoughts (Sefer HaChinuch, No. 144). Pigul thus places unique emphasis on human thought. Contemporary society does not regard mere thought as a religious or moral issue. Thoughts are private, it is said, and so they cause no harm. But the Torah teaches just the opposite. Actions are significant, to be sure. But thoughts are no less so.
Indeed, because the body is compared to the Tabernacle and the mind to the Holy of Holies, our thoughts are tantamount to actions within the Holy of Holies (Nefesh HaChaim 1:4). It is no surprise then that sinful thoughts are “more difficult” than the sins themselves (Yoma 29a). Physical sin is understandable because the body is physical; the mind, on the other hand, is the manifestation of G-d’s image, and sins of thought are thus graver (Moreh Nevuchim 3:8). Certain thoughts – those of heresy, forbidden relations, and idolatry – carry a specific prohibition (Berachos 12b), which encompasses all thoughts that could lead to the heretical (Rambam, Avoda Zara 2:3). Inasmuch as certain sacrifices were brought to atone for thoughts (Vayikra Rabba 7:3; Tanchuma, Tzav 13; Yerushalmi, Yoma 8:7), clearly “sinful” thought itself is a sin. Thinking good thoughts, on the other hand, can be a fulfillment of positive com-
mandments (Pele Yo’etz, Machshava). Our intention to do good, even if we are later prevented from doing so by reasons beyond our control, is tantamount to having actually done good (Berachos 6a; Kiddushin 40a; Yerushalmi, Pe’ah 1:1). There also is inherent value in keeping G-d in our thoughts at all times (Shabbos 149a). And by doing so, we connect ourselves to Him (Da’as Chochma U’Mussar, Vol. II, pgs. 241, 246). Escaping the Nazis during World War II, the Brisker Rov famously made a harrowing three-day journey from German-occupied Poland to Lithuania. While most others attempting this route were killed by the Nazis, the Brisker Rov managed to pass safely by concentrating completely and unremittingly on one thought: “ain od milvado” – “there is nothing but [Gd].” He encountered danger only when his mind began to wander, only to regain full concentration and merit miraculous salvation. His uninterrupted thoughts of
G-d’s supremacy, he later explained, had created a Divine bond with G-d – one that could not be broken by earthly hazards. But while G-d certainly knows (and holds us accountable for) our thoughts, ultimately, we are impacted most profoundly by our own thoughts. What we think about dictates the kind of people we become. “For as one thinks within himself, so is he” (Mishlei 23:7). By filling our minds with all that is good, we become good (Pele Yo’etz, Machshava; Zohar, Bereishis 155; Chochma U’Mussar, Vol. I, pg. 76). Or, as Dale Carnegie put it, “If I knew what you think, I would know what you are. Our thoughts make us what we are.” As is the custom among Rebbes, R’ Moshe of Kobrin would spend the waning hours of Shabbos with his followers, food, schnapps, song, and, of course, words of Torah. One Shabbos, this gathering was so crowded that many disciples could not find a seat around the oversized table, but they
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
nonetheless stood around hoping to join in song and catch some inspiring words of Torah (and, no doubt, some schnapps). Despite the crowd, the
on several occasions.” Still, R’ Moshe did not recognize him. Finally, R’ Moshe beckoned the man to his side. “I’ve been trying to recall
and then you wanted that. And all I could see was insatiable hunger – not your true identity.” The young man was embarrassed to have had his
“As I’ve been watching you, your mind has been wandering from one desire to another. You craved this and then you wanted that.”
Rebbe noticed an unfamiliar face in the corner. “Who is that man?” the Rebbe asked his attendant. “Rebbe, surely you recognize him. He is a pious fellow who comes to your table quite often, and you have even spoken to him
your name without success. Then I realized the problem. You see, a person’s essence is found in the mind. Whatever you think about is what you are. As I’ve been watching you, your mind has been wandering from one desire to another. You craved this
thoughts read so transparently by the Rebbe. And from that day forth, he endeavored to keep his mind focused only on positive things. *** The laws of pigul are introduced by reinforcing the
notion that sacrifices are for our own good (Vayikra 19:5 and R’ Samson Raphael Hirsch ad loc.). Because, in the end, we are the true beneficiaries of healthy, positive thoughts. Our thoughts have great capacity for good or evil. They define who are and who we will become. When we choose to fill our minds with good and positive and virtuous thoughts, our thoughts have an unlimited capacity to help us develop into better, more positive, more virtuous people. Martin Luther King, Jr. told of his childhood experiences riding the bus to Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. In those days, rigid patterns of segregation existed on the buses, so that Negroes had to sit in the backs
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of buses. Whites were seated in the front, and often if whites didn’t get on the bus, those seats were still reserved for whites only, so Negroes had to stand over empty seats. I would end up having to go to the back of that bus with my body, but every time I got on that bus I left my mind up on the front seat. And I said to myself, “One of these days, I’m going to put my body up there where my mind is.” And so he did. Because we always end up where our thoughts begin.
Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, mediator, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@ outlook.com.
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MAY 12, 2016 The Jewish HomeHome OCTOBER 29,|2015 | The Jewish
What’s That Smell Emanating from City Hall? De Blasio under Fire amid Recent Allegations By Susan Schwamm
N
ew Yorkers are pretty familiar with rats. They scurry across the subway platforms as we wait for our train. They drag slices of pizza up subway stairs as they forage for their next meal. They live in the hallways of our darkened buildings. Recently, New Yorkers have been sniffing as they pass by the steps of City Hall. It seems, they say, that they smell a rat. The rat could be New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio – or maybe it’s just the people who surround him. Although the leader has been nonchalant and almost unresponsive to recent scandals flung at him,
the piles of mud have been rising and it’s becoming hard to see over them – even if you’re 6’5”. Indeed, when U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara comes to town, it’s
Silver and Dean Skelos have seen the consequences of Bharara’s shovels. And they’ve felt it, too, as both are sitting behind bars now after Bharara finished
The scandals swirling from City Hall all have one common denominator: money. Indeed, it’s been said that money is the root of all evil. Nothing proves
Indeed, it’s been said that money is the root of all evil. Nothing proves the truth of that axiom more than politics.
almost certain that something is rotting and the stench will be overwhelming once Bharara starts digging. Most recently, Sheldon
with them. Will de Blasio become the latest casualty and soon be wearing orange or will he slide through this episode like his slippery friend Hillary?
the truth of that axiom more than politics. Money corrupts and when making a case against politicians, sometimes all that needs to be done is to follow the
money trail. Flip the calendar a few years and focus on the 2014 State Senate races. Democrats were in desperate need of funds as they struggled to take over the chamber. Enter de Blasio, New York’s fresh, new mayor, who worked to help raise funds for those in hotly contested seats. During that time, he raised in excess of $40 million, largely based on his own direct fundraising meetings with union leaders, real estate developers, law firms and consultants. The money was allegedly channeled into nearly untraceable slush funds where it could be distributed as
The Jewish | MAY 29, 12, 2015 2016 The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER
needed. According to Board of Elections enforcement counsel Risa Sugarman, de Blasio’s top political staff maneuvered – with his participation – to pump contributions in excess of legal limits into three upstate races. Their strategy was simple: if donors were to donate to the candidates themselves, they would have been limited to $10,300. But by structuring the process to funnel the cash through the Democratic County committees of Putnam and Ulster counties, which then handed the cash to the three most needy campaigns, contributions flowed freely, in excess of that legally imposed limit.
According to Sugarman, this was “coordinated at every level and down to minute detail.” No doubt that most campaigns endeavor to squeeze as much as
and lending his best strategists to Democratic campaigns – the Republicans still held onto their majority in 2014. In all probability, de Blasio was deflat-
the long lasting and shadowy struggle he has with New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo. For now, de Blasio himself is not under investiga-
“It’s hard for a business person who has business interests in New York City to tell the mayor no.”
they can out of donors. But planning, developing and concocting schemes to fly beneath the radar are clearly “willful and flagrant” violations of state law. Despite de Blasio’s concerted efforts – cold calling
ed after their win. He was itching to plaster his name throughout the state. A Democrat Senate that was propelled into victory by de Blasio would not only help him gain statewide renown, it would also help him in
tion, although the probe into the State Senate race of 2014 may be hitting close to home. Several of those Democratic candidates have been contacted by FBI agents and those from the prosecutor’s office. Some
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were served with subpoenas last month; others were requested for interviews. In de Blasio’s own election campaign, raising funds may also have been sketchy. Recently, two businessmen were in the news for allegedly offering gifts to the NYPD in exchange for favors. Those two men also contributed heavily to de Blasio’s election campaign. One of them helped raise money and also donated, along with his wife, out of his own funds to the election campaign. The funds were given by a company the businessman owned to The Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit group that supported the mayor’s agenda. De Blasio shut
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The Rivington House, at the center of one of the controversies
down the group last month after watchdog groups loudly protested that it created a “shadow government” guided by businesses and special interest groups. At least nine officers in the NYPD have been transferred or placed on administrative leave as a result of the inquiry. For now, once again, de Blasio himself has still not been fingered. The two businessmen mentioned above are not the only ones to have contributed to The Campaign for One New York. The nonprofit group seems to be the source of many questions for the FBI and the prosecutor’s office. Disclosure forms filed by the group show that it accepted numerous contributions from companies that did business with the city or wanted something from de Blasio’s administration. Is pay-for-play the name of the game in Casa de Blasio? For now, investigators are probing if real estate developers and other donors received preferential treatment from the city in exchange for contributions to the group, which was created to promote the mayor’s policy agenda. Take, for example, Joseph Dussich, who ran a janitorial supply company that was trying to sell the
Probes Probes into into de de Blasio’s Blasio’s election election campaign campaign raises many questions raise many questions
city mint-scented trash bags to repel rats. After Dussich gave $100,000 to The Campaign for One New York, he was subsequently awarded a city contract. No mint flavor can mask the smell of that rat. Hudson Companies, a real estate firm, was awarded a bid to transform a Brooklyn library into a residential skyscraper. To which group did they give $5,000 before they received the bid? The Campaign for One New York. After de Blasio called him personally, developer Don Peebles wrote a check to The Campaign for One New York. At the time, Peebles was about to ask the Landmarks Preservation Commission to approve plans to turn a building his firm owned into condos. “It’s hard for a business person who has business interests in New York City to tell the mayor no,” Peebles admitted. Sure enough, his plans were swiftly approved. De Blasio wasn’t scared to cross party lines when asking for funds. Remember John Catsimatidis? The Gristedes owner who is worth $3.1 billion ran in the Republican primaries in the last mayoral election. Despite their party differences
– and Catsimatidis certainly doesn’t agree with de Blasio’s “progressive agenda” – the businessman handed over $50,000 in the State Senate campaign. He was told to write the check to Putnam Democrats. American Federation of Teachers gave a whopping $350,000 to The Campaign for One New York in 2014. The timing of the gift certainly is suspicious: they gave the money less than a month before the city penned a contract with its public school teachers giving them raises and retroactive pay. City Hall, though, vehemently denied any link and union president Randi Weingarten insisted the donation “was fulfilling a long-standing commitment” by the union to support universal pre-kindergarten, which was at the top of the Campaign for One New York’s priorities list. The money surrounding de Blasio continues to stink. In March of this year, New Yorkers heard of the Rivington House deal in which a former nursing home for AIDS patients on the Lower East Side was sold for $116 million to luxury developers. The sale, though, required a deed change as the buyers were looking to develop the building as resi-
The mayor with his friend, Al Sharpton
dential units. Enter lobbyist James Capalino, who helped steer $50,000 in donations to the mayor, which included funds for his 2017 reelection bid. Subsequently, his client magically obtained the requested deed and the sale was done. In April, subpoenas were issued by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office to those involved in the sale of Rivington House. The investigation focuses on whether the deal – which the city authorized and which de Blasio has called a “mistake” – was approved by the state court. State law requires court approval whenever a not-for-profit facility like Rivington House is converted into a for-profit entity. On Tuesday, de Blasio denied any wrongdoing. Everything, according to him, was done on the up-and-up. “The bottom line: Everything was done appropriately. We are very clear about holding ourselves to high standards,” he said at a City Hall news conference. “We do everything to the letter of the law, disclose everything and do not let it affect our decisions.” On Saturday, the mayor continued to tout his contention that his office is squeaky clean. At the
National Action Network’s Harlem headquarters, the mayor explained the reason behind the recent probes, “Now, brothers and sisters, guess what? When you do something different, opposition emerges. The voices of the status quo find many, many ways to undermine progress, to stand in the way of progress, but we will not be held back.” Apparently, he’s the focus of a witch hunt because of his wonderful, progressive agenda that’s been making so much headway recently. Plastic bags, anyone? Rev. Al Sharpton agreed with de Blasio’s sentiments. “I’ve known Bill de Blasio for 25 years and he operates with integrity and we are not going to react to nothing to rumors,” he said at the event. Certainly, it takes one to know one. For now, New Yorkers are being pummeled from the odors leaking from City Hall. De Blasio will continue to maintain his innocence, hoping that Preet Bharara and his team won’t be knocking on his door early one morning. But it’ll take more than just a can or two of deodorant to quell the smell; it may take a deep cleaning – and perhaps, just perhaps, it’s not one that de Blasio’s squad can survive.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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Is Cash a Relic of the Past? The Pros and Cons of a Cashless Society By Nachum Soroka
Q
uick, who is Satoshi Nakamoto? If you can’t answer that question, you may be living under a technological rock. But then again, that question has been something that has not failed to stump the world’s biggest eggheads and investigative sleuths for the past seven-plus years and counting. Nakamoto, the pseudonym for the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, has been able to keep his or her identity unknown despite the fact that he or she is responsible for the creation of nearly a billion dollars of currency and had been the subject of countless articles and documentaries. This month, an Australian computer programmer, Craig Wright, was the most recent individual to have his claim of being the real Satoshi blown apart by the millions of Bit-
coin enthusiasts worldwide. The mystery of Nakamoto has taken on a search-forthe-Titanic-like intensity in recent years. Publications from the geeky (Wired) to the financially oriented (The Economist) have been continuously following the Bitcoin story, posing topics like, “Who is most likely Satoshi?” But, aside from being another nerdy tech project that should excite the same types who frequent Star Trek conventions, why should Bitcoin attract so much attention from the mainstream? The answer may not lie in the Bitcoin currency per se; it may have to do with the technology that made Bitcoin unique (the “Blockchain”). And it most definitely has to do with the fact that Bitcoin has shown the world that a cashless economy, which runs com-
pletely on digital currency, is not something one can only read about in the sci-fi section of the local library, but is readily attainable and functional right here and now. In fact, there are certain European countries that have completely switched over to being cashless. First, the Blockchain technology. If you think about it, digital currency is something that should have been around for a while already. We live in a time when print media is obsolete (except for the gem you are holding now), CD players are relics of the boring nineties, and even supposed advanced forms of payment like credit cards have had their plastic ancestors replaced by smartphone apps. In a few years, we may all be driven around town in self-driving cars, have
our groceries delivered by drone, and celebrate Pesach on the moon, but for some reason, the five dollar bill in one’s wallet looks awfully similar to one from the era of the Model T. (Only then, Henry Ford paid his workers five dollars a day; today a Ford factory worker can make over $200 per day.) So what has taken Silicon Valley so long to create the iDollar? While technology may create more efficient paths to do things than the old school way in most cases, in some instances, such as currency, it leads to larger problems, such as the risk of counterfeiting. A talented hacker can duplicate most digital files and there’s no guaranteeing that once he pays someone with a digital dollar stored on his home computer he doesn’t keep that dollar’s digital code and
use it again. In order for a digital currency to become trustworthy and accepted by the public it must be absolutely “duplicate proof.” Enter the Blockchain, or a running ledger of every Bitcoin transaction for every single Bitcoin in currency. The Blockchain serves as a kind of verification system that the Bitcoin one claims to be in possession of is really still his and hasn’t been passed on to someone else last week. The ledger is open to the Bitcoin community at large to see and every time a Bitcoin transaction is completed, it must be verified by complex algorithms computed by other members of the Bitcoin network to guarantee the transaction’s authenticity. On a basic level, the Blockchain may be analogous to the property deed recording system used in soci-
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
ety for thousands of years. There really is nothing new under the sun. So much for the wonky stuff, but the invention of the Blockchain concept by Bitcoin’s creator has everyone from Palo Alto to Wall Street rushing to seize the idea and create the Next Big Thing. Nine of the world’s biggest banks, including Goldman Sachs and Barclays, have joined together to utilize the Blockchain concept to recreate the way (actual) money is sent all over the world. Blockchain may replace actual stock exchanges like the Nasdaq of NYSE. Or, like the previously mentioned analogy, it may be used as a global property ownership recording system. No longer would one need to pay hefty title recording fees when purchasing a home. The friendly nerds who enjoy writing Blockchain will do it for free. Put simply, Blockchain technology stands to replace anything in society that currently requires a third-party intermediary. Blockchain is as big as it is disruptive. Bitcoin may bear the promise of being the currency of the future for the tech, libertarian crowd (after all it is a currency created by the people, for the
people, uncontrolled by and unhinged from any sort of government), but on a lesser level, certain countries are moving to an economy that requires little use of actual cold, hard cash, albeit still based on the country’s sovereign currency. Already over fifty percent of
majority of consumers no longer pay with cash, then it would be highly uneconomical for stores to carry cash registers. Businesses would also quickly embrace a payment regime which would eliminate the possibility of employee theft and the nuisance of handling and
benefits through government-issued debit cards and not having to cash full checks monthly. Paradoxically, many proponents of a cashless society laud the magic circle created by keeping cash out of the hands of the poor. True, they concede, the peo-
The Blockchain may be analogous to the property deed recording system used in society for thousands of years. There really is nothing new under the sun.
transactions in the U.S. are completed using credit and debit cards and internet sales are expected to make up 60% of U.S. retail activity this year. Apps like Apple and Android Pay make going wallet-less a breeze for consumers. Peer-topeer payment apps which combine social media and e-commerce such as Venmo continue to gain popularity, particularly with teens and millennials. It seems that it is only a matter of time that the use of cash will fall by the wayside, even if it is not done deliberately. If the great
transporting paper money. Indeed, some European countries, such as Denmark and Scandinavia, no longer require their retailers to accept cash as forms of payment. While such rules may inadvertently discriminate against the poorer members of society – many of whom do not have actual bank accounts at all and rely on old fashioned paper currency –societies are moving towards bringing the lesser privileged into the fray. The U.S. recently revamped its welfare program to give members the option of receiving their
ple who stand to lose most by having little or no function for cash are the poor and under-banked, but less cash in poorer neighborhoods also would mean less burglaries and violence, which in turn would make less cash available for petty criminals to purchase drugs or gang members to buy guns. Critics of a broad societal move to a digital economy, particularly one that is sanctioned by the government, fear that people would lose the benefit of cash’s smaller transactional footprint. If all transactions
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were to occur through digital means, then there is no way to ensure that the government won’t be watching us every time we purchase a gallon of milk or a latte macchiato. While that may be still be true today whenever one uses a credit or debit card, one still has the option of using cash for payment when all else fails. There have already been documented cases of people being denied medical care and other essential services when their electronic payment processing vendors denied them access to their accounts because they were marked as “high risk” by government agencies. Should it be up to an FDIC template to decide whether one can have access to his or her money at any time? The first paper bills appeared during the Tang Dynasty in China 1400 years ago. It took a few hundred years for the trend to catch on there and another five hundred years to spread throughout Europe. American Express was formed in the 1850s, and the first actual charge card was introduced in the 1940s. Currency has been around since the early days of history and has evolved slowly ever since. Is a new revolution around the corner?
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Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Recently my aunt called me up and said that she wanted to set me up with a young woman whose family lives next door to her. My aunt has known this family for a long time and had only the nicest things to say about all of them. Specifically, she spoke to me about their oldest daughter named Rena and felt that the two of us had a lot in common and encouraged me to call her.
So I called Rena and asked her out for a date on a Sunday afternoon. When I went to pick her up, her father answered the door and later on Rena explained that her mother had to run out, but that when we returned from the date, she would love for me to meet her then. OK, a little unusual but I figured that if the date went well, I’d stop in again. If not, I’d make an excuse and move on. We went to Central Park and walked around a lot and had a pleasant time. By the time we got back to her house, we were both tired and thirsty and the offer to stop in, meet her mother and have a drink sounded good. They are a very friendly, laid back family. I wound up sitting around the den with the entire family for a while. It was Rena, her parents, her younger sister Judy, and younger brother. We all schmoozed and had a nice, comfortable time. So here’s the problem and my question. I found myself drawn to Rena’s younger sister Judy! Though I found Rena pleasant enough and easy to be around, Judy seemed to have something special about her that I felt very drawn to. The two sisters are 14 months apart in age and are both appropriately aged for me. After meeting Judy, I don’t want to go out with Rena again. But I would absolutely love to go out with Judy. What should I do? Something about this scenario feels strange to me and yet I only had one date with Rena. Should I act on my feelings and ask my aunt to speak to Judy or her parents or do I just move on altogether?
The feedback from our readers has been remarkable. In order to facilitate further discussion, you can now continue the conversation anonymously on our website. Every Sunday, we will upload the weekend’s most recent edition of What Would You Do If to the dating forum at thenavidaters.com. Join The Navidaters and your fellow TJH readers in a comprehensive dialogue with regard to dating, relationships and marriage. The forum will be moderated daily for everyone’s comfort and safety. See you there! Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise offer resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, but to 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 | MAY 12, 2016 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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The Panel
The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
I
t’s not a matter of feelings at this point. I believe it’s a matter of ethics. You committed to go out with Rena. Go out another two times and give her a fair chance. If that doesn’t go anywhere, see if your aunt suggests Judy. If not, bring it up directly. It will be her job to finesse this at their end. Your aunt may suggest waiting a little before she suggests it if none of Rena’s family members suggest it themselves. It would be more comfortable for everyone if the shadchan doesn’t immediately suggest it. Short term you need to give Rena and yourself a chance before jumping to dating Judy. Without you telling us what about Judy attracts you and
what you are looking for in a mate, I think that your approach to dating seems rather casual and superficial.
Rena gets married, perhaps Judy has a “darker” past or a less than pleasant temperament. In any event, only a heart-to-heart with Auntie will clear the air.
The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A.
T
he answer to your heartfelt dilemma is clear: speak to your aunt. You have to believe that your aunt, neighbor to both Rena and Judy, set you up with Rena after careful, well-meaning consideration. She was spot-on about the lovely family (“only the nicest things to say”). She may be privy to other information. Perhaps Judy is dating someone else, perhaps the family has put a hold on Judy’s dating life until
The Dating Mentor Rochel Chafetz Educator/Mentor
Y
es, I can see how this can feel like a dilemma to you. But I happen to know of some couples who are now married and in all three of these cases, the husband first went out with the sister of the woman they eventually got married to. But that’s not even the point. You have to ask yourself what it was that you liked in the younger sister. Was
This is what I refer to as a “crystal ball” situation. You are stopped in your tracks because you can’t predict the future. it real or just some sort of infatuation? Also, you have to ask yourself if you would have continued to date the older sister had you not met the younger one. Either way, I think you need to step back, date other girls and then see if Judy is still on your mind. If she is – then you should call up your aunt and in a mature way explain to her that you’d like to go out with Judy.
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Remember, everything is bashert. And this too may wind up being a bashert situation. Let’s see where it takes you.
The Single Irit Moshe
F
irst of all, I wouldn’t call this situation “creepy,” but rather
sticky. This is where a shadchan can come in handy to help you maneuver through this delicate situation and help you be victorious in getting a chance to date Judy, depending on how Rena feels about you and the situation. Remember, you don’t want to hurt Rena, nor do you want to create any strife between the two sisters. I suggest you have your aunt inquire with Rena about the date and make sure you prepare
her with your answers based on her responses. In other words, if Rena liked you and wants to go with you again, your aunt needs to be prepared to tell her that you didn’t really feel that you both were shayich for each other. At which point I encourage you to go out with a different girl from an entirely different family. However, if Rena also felt that you weren’t shayich for her, then have your aunt ask how she felt about her sister going out with you and w he t h -
Do you often find yourself having FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)?
er or not she was available and willing to date you, since she is “age appropriate.” By having your aunt do the asking, it will seem as though it was her idea and not yours.
Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
T
his could go so many ways. Watch: “Two sisters, guy comes between them. The sisters never speak again.” Or, “Isn’t life funny? I went out with this guy once, he ended up having a thing for my sister, and they got married and lived happily ever after. I’m so happy for them.” This is what I refer to as a “crystal ball” situation. You are stopped in your tracks because you can’t predict the future. If you were given the guarantee that both Judy and Rena, and maybe even their family, would approve of your desire to date Judy and reject Rena, how would that impact your decision? Let’s start with a good reframing here. I don’t think the situation is necessarily “creepy” as much as it is “uncomfortable.” You’re not married to Rena, you’re not engaged, you’re not even really dating. You went out on one date. If dating could be seen as shopping, engagement waiting on line to pay, and marriage buying the item (yes, I know this process is not as simple as making a purchase…it’s just an
analogy for simplicity’s sake), you then tried the “shirt” on for size and it was “nice enough” but on your way out of the dressing room, you eyed a spectacular shirt! The color, the fit, the fabric…you now need this shirt. The shirt you’re holding in your hand can’t compare. The panel gives some conflicting but all sound advice. I think that is because there is no one right answer in your situation. Sorry, but this isn’t a black and white situation. I think this one comes down to how you handle situations in your life in general. Are you a straight shooter, handling matters head on? In this situation, that would mean heading on over to your aunt who set you up and telling her about your interest in Judy. Or, do you find yourself waiting for the dust to settle, allowing yourself time to process and marinate, or maybe even ruminate? That would mean perhaps dating Rena a few more times to see if there’s something there, backing off altogether from both sisters, or not getting back to your aunt in a
timely fashion. Question: has this type of situation happened to you before? Do you often find yourself having FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? When you have dated in the past, do you find your mind wandering on to the next girl? “Maybe there’s someone better out there. Prettier, smarter, fitter, more exciting, etc.?” If not, erase what you have just read…but if this feels like I am getting warm, then I really encourage you to speak with a professional about your “FOMO” because it is something that can be addressed and potentially resolved. P.S. It usually has something to do with a discomfort with the reality of being emotionally intimate and vulnerable with someone else. Though some may disagree with me, it is my opinion that if after one date you have some sort of power to come between the sisters, then that says more about a flaw in their relationship than anything else. If the family rejects you because of this, then that says something about their dynamic; their perception and adherence to societal norms, their
being more serious than having a lighthearted, go with the flow nature. As a therapist, I really cannot tell you what to do. I do encourage you to think about what is holding you back, what you are afraid of, and really taking a good look at it… and ultimately being comfortable living with your decision. Good luck! Sincerely, Jennifer
Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed, clinical psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up an appointment, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. Jennifer is starting a Marriage Support Initiative for Women; an 8 week support group for married women to celebrate the positive aspects of their marriages and delve into the more private corners of marriage. Difficulties in a marriage can feel isolating. Come find support and make friends. For more information, reach her at the above phone number.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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Health & F tness
Acid Reflux Causes and Cures By Aliza Beer MS, RD
H
eartburn, also known as gastric acid reflux disease, can result from several different scenarios. As we age, the muscle that separates the lower esophagus and the stomach, known as the sphincter, begins to relax, causing food and stomach acid to return to the esophagus. One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the sphincter and the upper part of the stomach move above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from your chest. Normally, the diaphragm helps keep the acid in our stomach, but if you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into the esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. These are other common risk factors for acid reflux disease: • Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal • Being overweight or obese • Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist • Snacking close to bedtime • Smoking
• Being pregnant • Taking certain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, specific muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications What are the symptoms of acid reflux? • Heartburn: This is the most common symptom and is a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, and even up to your throat. • Bloating • Bloody or black stools, or bloody vomiting • Dysphagia: A narrowing of the esophagus which creates the sensation of food being stuck in the throat • Hiccups that don’t let up • Nausea • Weight loss for no apparent reason • Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat In many cases, symptoms may be relieved by changing habits, diet, and lifestyle. The following steps may help reduce reflux: Don’t eat within three hours of bedtime. This allows your stomach to empty and acid production to de-
crease. Don’t lie down right after eating at any time of the day. Elevate the head of your bed 6 inches. Gravity helps prevent reflux. 1. Don’t eat large meals. Eating a lot of food at one time increases the amount of acid needed to digest it. Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. 2. Foods to avoid: Fatty or greasy foods, chocolate, coffee and tea (caffeinated and decaffeinated), mints or mint flavored food, spicy foods, citrus, tomatoes and tomato-based foods, onions, or garlic. These foods decrease the competence of the sphincter. 3. Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol increases the likelihood that acid from your stomach will back up. 4. Stop smoking. Smoking weakens the sphincter and increases reflux. 5. Lose excess weight. Overweight and obese people are much more likely to have reflux than people of healthy weight. 6. Maintain good posture. This
helps food and acid pass through the stomach instead of backing up into the esophagus. 7. Have a little honey. Many people take honey to help relieve their heartburn symptoms. Unrefined, organic honey is very soothing for the esophagus and may help reduce burning pain. Honey helps adjust the body’s PH, neutralizing stomach acids. Try eating a teaspoon of raw honey before each meal and before bed. In most cases, making these lifestyle changes will result in a decrease or possible elimination of symptoms. Some cases, however, do require over the counter or prescription medication, or a more aggressive approach. As with any other medical/health issue, please speak with your doctor about symptoms and treatment options.
Aliza Beer is a registered dietician 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.
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“Off the Derech” vs. “At Risk” By Rabbi Yonason Martin
“O
ff the Derech” and “At Risk” are terms that are oftentimes used interchangeably in the Jewish community. This is understandable given the centrality of religion in our lives; however, this confusion causes us as parents and educators to make mistakes with serious implications when we focus on the wrong issues. Sometimes our efforts can actually exacerbate the problems when we are trying to fix them. This is why it is critical to understand the difference between the two concepts and how to address them. What is the difference between “Off the Derech” and “Children at Risk”? “Off the Derech” refers specifically to the lack of religious observance. The cutoff point between children who are considered “On the Derech” and those considered “Off the Derech” is somewhat unclear but the critical point is that the child is not living in accordance with his or her Jewish family’s and community’s values. “At risk,” on the other hand, is not a religious issue and can be applied even to children who are completely secular. The definition of children at risk that is used widely today in Israel is a significant and enduring problem in one or more of seven categories, all of which render a child “at risk” of not being successful: 1) Physical health and development; 2) Family
dynamics; 3) Learning and skills acquisition; 4) Emotional health and wellbeing; 5) Social integration; 6) Protection against harm by others; 7) Protection against self-destructive behaviors. Children who are at risk also tend to struggle with religious issues but the core issue is not their religious observance but the other underlying issues. We all know it is important to educate and teach our children Judaism from a place of love but sometimes it can be very challenging to understand the critical difference between the religious issues and the emotional, social, education and psychological issues that our children face. I have seen parents who are dealing with a suicidal, depressed child but the issue that most troubles the parents is whether he put on tefillin that day. In cases like those, the “at risk” issues will sabotage the efforts to help with the religious issues. In addition, religious education can only be effective when the child experiences it as coming from real love for him or her. The Gemara in Shabbos (Daf 88) states that the reason the Jewish nation was able to accept the Torah before evaluating what it said is that we knew and felt that Hashem cared for us and protected us while taking us out from Mitzrayim. When the child is suffering acutely in school or struggling desperately socially and the child feels that our main con-
cern is his religious observance then the child sees our religious concerns as being for our own reasons and not out of love for him or her. Sometimes the child is in too much distress to be able to accept the religious education in any meaningful way. It is critical that we invest our resources in identifying and getting the help our children need in all the different areas and to ensure proper professional care when necessary. If we do not do this, then many times our efforts will just make the problem worse. The Rambam in Shmoneh Perakim writes that we can learn refuas hanefesh or the healing of the soul from refuas haguf the healing of the body. The importance of an accurate diagnosis is readily understood when we look at physical health. Our body has many systems, among them, the digestive system, the nervous system, the respiratory system and the immune system. These systems work independently and together to ensure effective functioning. When a system fails, it will affect the functioning of other systems but it is critical to understand what the source of the failure is. If a person is having trouble focusing on their tasks, it may be an attention disorder, or it might be an emotional regulation problem, or it might be simply lack of adequate sleep. In order to address the problem we need to know what is caus-
ing the problem and what to focus on. Sometimes more than one system fails at a time but we can only address one of those issues because the body is not strong to work on more than one system at once. There are a few additional points it is worth making within the religious focus. First, without an active working relationship with a child there is very little that we can do. We love our children and they love us but that does not mean that we are engaged in an active loving relationship. Sometimes there is a wall between us and our children which makes communication fraught with tension and there is a lack of flowing warmth in our interactions with them. In that case, we must first realize that this wall is not necessarily anyone’s fault. It is not helpful to feel guilt that this wall exists. This guilt often can make the wall firmer and more difficult to overcome. We must do our best to cultivate the relationship. We must accept what help we can find for ourselves in this process, and in the interim, allow ourselves to involve other people who can become significant in the life of the child and who will engage with the child in a way that helps him or her deal with whatever issues they are having. In addition we must recognize that what the Torah most often demands of us is that we focus on our
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
own ruchniyos or spirituality and our friend’s gashmiyus or physical and emotional well-being. Unfortunately we often switch this around and worry about everybody else’s ruchniyos and only on our own gashmiyus. This is true with regards to children: if we ensure their gashmiyus is taken care of within reason and we ensure that we are ourselves are doing well in the ruchniyos department then this will help our children be joyfully spiritual.
or to Shabbos in a way that is palpable to the child will have an effect on him or her. In addition, the more he or she can be encouraged to develop their own moral compass and find within them their own sense of meaning and service to Hashem and being of benefit to other people, the more he or she will be on the track of what the Chovos Halevavos considers a valid service of Hashem. (This paragraph relates specifically to what is helpful for the child who
Our commitment and positive connection to Judaism will overflow to our children when our relationship with them is strong.
Our commitment and positive connection to Judaism will overflow to our children when our relationship with them is strong. The Rabbeinu Bachaya in his discussion on Avodas Hashaem (Chovos Halevavos, third section) illuminates the concept of a distinction between two separate systems of serving Hashem. Rabbeinu Bachaya describes that there are two sources for the service of Hashem: the Torah and the person’s own inner desire to serve Hashem. The first one includes the laws and rules of the Shulchan Aruch, the boundaries of the Jewish religion; the second is the person’s own personal choices to serve Hashem in the ways that he or she feels is meaningful. Rabbeinu Bachaya describes the importance of each one of these systems, and the benefits that each one has over the other. When we wish to cultivate in our youth a deeper connection to Judaism, especially those who have already stepped out of the bounds of halacha for whatever reason, whether from temptation, rebellion or feeling it as irrelevant, we must show them first by example our own deep personal connection to the Jewish way of serving Hashem. Our own deep connection to tefilla
struggles and does not address the issue of what types of behaviors we allow in our own homes and how those behaviors affect other children in the house. That is an important issue and needs proper guidance on an individual basis.) The most important thing we must recognize is that the narrow focus of the “Off the Derech” model is often not helpful and makes it exceedingly difficult to help our children. We must have a broader focus and take seriously other issues and factors in our children’s struggles besides the religious aspects. We have seen so many times that when parents and educators are able to successfully address and resolve the underlying issues that children face, then parents will have the joy of seeing their children find their own unique and secure derech within Judaism. May we all have tremendous nachas from our children.
Rabbi Yonason Martin is the director of Hakshiva, an organization that is saving the lives of American teenagers living in Israel through its unique and innovative programs.
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A Fulfilled L fe
Think Positive and Achieve By Rabbi Naphtali Hoff
“If you think you are beaten, you are… If you want to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t… Success begins with a fellow’s will… The man who wins is the man who thinks he can.” -Walter D. Wintle
W
hen Ford CEO Alan Mulally was president at Boeing, it was widely expected that he would be made CEO after a decade of successes at the company, which included shepherding of the aircraft maker through a vibrant recovery following the heavy impact of 9/11. Understandably, Mulally was devastated when Boeing passed him over for the top job. But he refused to harp on the negative because, as he said, “a bad attitude simply erases everyone else’s memory of the incredible progress achieved.” Why become “the bitter guy” and tarnish his great progress, he thought, when he could remain in everyone’s eyes as a proud, successful leader? He took the high road and was promptly recruited by Ford to re-ignite the massive automobile manufacturer. * * * One of the biggest challenges for leaders, particularly newer ones, is to remain positive in the face of inevitable setbacks. So many things happen that can derail us from what we are trying to achieve, such as changing market conditions, weak sales figures, low worker productivity or
morale, and more. Leaders who begin with great optimism and energy could easily lose the wind from their sails and spiral into a downward funk when they start to experience obstacles, setbacks and self-doubt. Compounding matters is that many of us can be overly harsh and unjust to ourselves in a way that we would never be with others. This can cause stress and despondency, resulting in lower self-confidence. One way that leaders can help themselves to see beyond the moment is to engage in positive thinking. This means that you believe that the best is going to happen in every situation rather than the worst. Positive thinking helps you to approach unpleasantness in a more productive way and deal with the things that must be attended to so that you can move forward as quickly as possible. Positive thinking is not naiveté; nor does it suggest that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant situations. It simply expresses the belief that you will find a way forward in every situation in a manner that is most healthily productive. This may sound simple enough but for many of us this can be far from easy to implement. Many folks are inclined to see their glasses as half empty. For them, the optimism and positive press that accompanied them on their way in will not sustain their attitudes and energy levels for very long unless they can find a way to adjust their thinking. How can we remain positive in the face of adversity? Start by identifying and challenging your negative thoughts. Say, for example, you pin-
point the following concerns: • Feelings that you are not fully prepared for this position. • Worries about how others will react to your processes, decisions and/or change initiatives. • A lurking anxiety that things outside your control will undermine your efforts. Now, ask yourself whether each one is reasonable and stands up to a deeper analysis. Let’s practice this using the above list. • Preparation – Look yourself in the mirror and ask whether you have trained thoroughly for this position in your schooling and through your professional experiences. If not, now would be an ideal time to secure a coach or a mentor to help you work through bumps and challenges. Otherwise, you should be just fine. • Others’ reactions – People will generally respond favorably if they feel that you are well prepared, that you listened well to their thoughts and concerns, and that you made your best efforts to succeed. Do the right things and be confident that your people will support you. • What about the things that I can’t control? – No leader can fully plan for every eventuality. However, if you’ve done contingency planning and considered common risks you should be well prepared for what’s to come. Fears can easily grip us at moments of uncertainty. When you challenge your fears through careful, rational analysis, it becomes much easier to isolate the real issues and determine whether there is any merit to the fear. Where there is, take ap-
propriate action. Otherwise, rest easy knowing that you’ve done everything you can to be successful. Here are some other strategies that can help us think and behave in a more positive and optimistic way: • Embrace a healthier lifestyle – Regular exercise can positively affect mood and reduce stress. Maintain a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. • Become more self-aware – Intermittently throughout the day, stop and evaluate what you’re thinking. Keep notes over a two-week period to see what kind of trends you can identify. • Take it slow – If you see that are not as optimistic as you would like to be, start small by focusing on one area to approach in a more positive way. • Laugh it off – Stress can make us tighten up and hunker down. Laughing has the opposite effect. It loosens us and allows us to let go and see things for what they really are. To quote Lord Byron, “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” • Surround yourself with positive people – Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people. Their energy is contagious and their sunny outlook will change the way that you look at things. Negative people feed your anxieties and stress levels. They may also make you doubt your ability to succeed. Rabbi Naphtali Hoff is an executive coach and president of Impactful Coaching and Consulting (ImpactfulCoaching.com). He can be reached at 212-470-6139 or at nhoff@impactfulcoaching.com.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
L A RE
Face Time WITH YOUR
s n e e T
WHAT Parenting Workshops Mindi Werblowsky, LMSW
Director of Adolescent Programming at Madraigos will run a series of 4 parenting workshops for the community to help parents connect with their teens
TOPICS INCLUDE Creating An Attuned Relationship With Your Child Fostering Respect In Our Children Learning The Art Of Empathy Implementing Healthy Boundaries
WHEN May 9, 16, 23 & 30th at 8:30 pm
WHERE Madraigos 936 Broadway, Woodmere, NY 11598
limited space available
For more information please contact Mindi Werblowsky at (516)371-3250 ext. 113 or email mwerblowsky@madraigos.org 936 Broadway, Woodmere, New York 11598 | P: (516) 371-3250 F: (516) 612-4515 | www.madraigos.org
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In The K
tchen
A Feast from the East By Naomi Nachman
This summer I will be working with Susie Fishbein in her Culinary Institute which is going to be housed in Camp Shoshanim/Camp Nesher, which are under the umbrella of the New Jersey Y Camps. The Culinary Institute was established and designed by Susie and she asked me to come up for a week to the camp and teach culinary arts courses to the attendees of the camp who have enrolled in the Culinary Institute. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when she asked me to join her in this new endeavor! As I was creating the curriculum for the courses that I will be teaching, I developed a class called “Modern Day Israeli Cuisine.” With Yom Haatzmaut around the corner, I thought it would be a great week to share my brand new recipes. The recipes below are perfect for a Shabbat lunch or Seudat Shlishit.
Za’atar Chips Ingredients 4 pitas ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons za’atar 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions Preheat oven to 400°F. Split pitas and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with oil and sprinkle with za’atar and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Let cool, then break into bite-size pieces.
Dressing 1 whole lemon, juiced Olive oil Kosher salt to taste Ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon sumac
Directions Prepare all vegetables in a bowl and add cheese on top. Mix the dressing together and pour over salad. Right before serving, place a handful of fresh chickpeas on the center of the bowl as a garnish.
Roasted Chickpeas Ingredients
Modern Israeli Salad Ingredients 3-4 tomatoes, chopped 2-3 Persian cucumbers, skin on, chopped ½ red onion, chopped 1 can chickpeas, roasted (recipe below) ½ yellow pepper, finely chopped 1 avocado, diced ½ cup crumbled feta by Natural and Kosher Cheeses (optional) ¼ cup assorted fresh herbs – mint, parsley, cilantro – finely minced
1 (12 ounce) can chickpeas, drained 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt Garlic powder Smoked paprika Cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions Preheat oven to 450°F. Blot chickpeas with a paper towel to dry them. In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil, and season to taste with salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, if using. Spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until browned and crunchy. Watch carefully the last few minutes to avoid burning.
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 | MAY 12, 2016
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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
A report came out last week that members of ISIS are trying to fake doctor’s notes to get themselves out of front line duty. Imagine a member of ISIS calling in like, “Hey guys, I have actually got a bit of a cough and don’t think I can go to the suicide bombing today.” - James Corden
It’s weird to think that this organization, which is so dangerous, has employees who are just like, “Oh, Mondays.” – Ibid
There is a new trend in U.K. corporate policy where employees are being given paid time off so that they can acclimate a new pet to their home. They’re calling it “pawternity” leave… Paid time off for pets should not be a thing. Here is how that discussion should go: “Excuse me, boss, I want to get a new dog, but I will need a week off to bond with the animal.” And your boss goes, “Oh, OK, cool. You’re fired.” - James Corden
You don’t need a pet to get time off, you could also just move to Venezuela where the president announced today that they are moving to a two-day workweek. And this news is incredible because not only does a two-day workweek sound amazing, I now know one thing about Venezuela. A two-day workweek really does sound great because it makes for the perfect amount of office small talk. Like, day one: “How was your weekend?” Day two: “Any big plans for the weekend?” - Ibid.
We have less than 100 days to go until the summer Olympics. It’s less than 100 days until people at home in sweatpants eating potato chips are like, “I could do that.”
Justice Ginsburg, I’m very, very, very sorry. - Noel Francisco, Esq. after accidentally referring to Justice Ginsburg as Justice O’Conner, who retired from the Supreme Court a decade ago
Donald Trump observed Cinco de Mayo. He posted this on Facebook, “Happy Cinco de Mayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” There you go. All is forgiven. He even built a little wall around the Mexican salad so it doesn’t get on his American desk. - Jimmy Kimmel
- Jimmy Fallon
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I sent myself down a downward spiral… Honestly, I felt like at one point I didn’t want to see another day. I felt like it should be over. – Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps talking about his battle with depression, in an interview on the Today Show
A company will make a life-size 3D printed model of yourself that you can send to your mom for $30,000. It’s a great way of telling your mom I’d rather spend $30,000 than visit you in person. – Jimmy Fallon
I apologize. Forgiveness is one of the greatest qualities that human beings have – is the quality of a compassionate leader. You have to be humble. You have to be compassionate. You have to love thy neighbor… I invite him to come to Mexico and to see what Mexico is all about. - Former Mexican President Vicente Fox, in a Breitbart News interview, apologizing for cursing out Trump several months ago
After speaking out against Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall, former Mexican President Vicente Fox has invited Trump to Mexico as a peace offering. Fox was like, “When you land, just look for my driver, El Chapo.”
The way in which most Americans have heard the story of the Iran deal presented — that the Obama administration began seriously engaging with Iranian officials in 2013 in order to take advantage of a new political reality in Iran, which came about because of elections that brought moderates to power in that country — was largely manufactured for the purpose for selling the deal. - From a New York Times profile about Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, who boasted to the Times that he led the charge to spin the Iran deal in order to manipulate the public
We created an echo chamber. They were saying things that validated what we had given them to say. – Ben Rhodes explaining to the New York Times how he got naïve journalists to propagate the White House’s spin about the Iran deal
Can you state categorically that no senior official in this administration has ever lied publicly about any aspect of the Iran nuclear deal? - Kevin Corke, of Fox News, to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, in light of the claims made by Rhodes
- Jimmy Fallon
Then Trump invited Vicente Fox to Trump Tower Grill to see what real Mexican food tastes like. - Ibid.
No. - Earnest’s response
I mean, it would be nice if the FBI moved it along. - Bernie Sanders’ wife, Jane, discussing the Hillary email investigation, in an interview on the Fox Business Network
That’s a pet peeve of mine. People who have been successful and don’t realize they’ve been lucky. That G-d may have blessed them; it wasn’t nothing you did. So don’t have an attitude. – President Obama addressing graduates at Howard University
Everybody is getting into the spirit for Mother’s Day, even Donald Trump, who tweeted: “Happy Mother’s Day! The best tuna casserole is made at Trump Tower Grill. I love mothers.” -Jimmy Fallon
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Donald Trump is implying that Ted Cruz’s father had something to do with the Kennedy assassination. Even worse, Ted Cruz’s father had something to do with Ted Cruz.
A federal regulation is now requiring that airports serving over 10,000 passengers per year have an area in every terminal where pets can go to the bathroom. Or as it’s called in LaGuardia, all of LaGuardia. – Jimmy Fallon
– Conan O’Brien
Just before Cruz exited the race, Donald Trump implied that Ted Cruz’s dad may have been involved in the Kennedy assassination. This is very unlike Trump. Usually, he thoroughly investigates a story before repeating it to millions of people.
The backs of the United States government turned on them, while a health care crisis grows, a humanitarian crisis grows, the Zika crisis grows. By the way, brothers and sisters, do you think by any chance it could be because they’re people of color? - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio criticizing the U.S. for not bailing out Puerto Rico in a speech at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Harlem
– James Corden
Today in Indiana, Ted Cruz called Donald Trump “a pathological liar,” “a narcissist,” “utterly immoral,” and “a serial philanderer.” Then Cruz turned to Trump and said, “Teach me, Master!”
I may have underestimated the tone of how I was telling the jokes. - Comedian and Nightly Show host Larry Wilmore after his speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner fell flat
– Conan O’Brien
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I know people aren’t sure right now what a President Trump will be like. But things will be fine. I’m not running for president to make things unstable for the country. — Donald Trump
Donald Trump said his vice presidential pick might be one of his presidential rivals. When asked which one, Trump said, “I haven’t decided yet if it’s the liar, the loser, or the fat pig.” – Conan O’Brien
This new policy statement replaces unnecessarily disparaging labels with terms like “person who committed a crime” and “individual who was incarcerated.” – From a Justice Department announcement that they will no longer use words like “felon” or “convict”
Trump had a big win. Indiana is a basketball state. He’s worried that if he spent too much time there, people might try to grab his orange head and try to dribble it. – Jimmy Kimmel
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Political Crossfire
The State of Disunion By Michael Gerson
T
he 2016 presidential race already counts an extraordinary accomplishment: It has made the 2000 election seem like the good old days. Before Bush v. Gore became a Supreme Court controversy, the contest seemed to demonstrate that American politics was modernizing in a hopeful direction. Clintonism (including Al Gore’s slightly revised version) had helped Democrats come to terms with what was right about Reaganism, particularly on crime, trade, welfare and basic economics. George W. Bush was Reagan-like on taxes and trade, but set out to compete with Clintonism on domestic policy – proposing conservative and free market methods to improve educational outcomes for minority children and provide prescription drug coverage in Medicare. It seemed as if 21st-century versions of liberalism and conservatism were conducting plausible arguments about how best to govern in response to new economic realities. A decade and a half later, the parties have turned hard against both visions. The left has systematically forced Hillary Clinton to uphold the banner of anti-Clintonism on crime, trade, welfare and basic economics. The right was content, at first, to reject Bush’s compassionate conservatism. Now a significant portion of the GOP base, under Donald Trump’s leadership, is rejecting Reaganism in favor of nativism, protectionism and isolationism. Both Clintonism and Reaganism, no doubt, needed updating. But
the parties have gone further, essentially abandoning the two most compelling, successful governing visions of the last few decades. With the influence of Bernie Sanders and the success of Trump, American politics has launched into uncharted ideological waters. The seas are pretty choppy. We are seeing the interplay of (1) fear caused by rapid economic change, (2) deep political polarization, (3) declining trust in almost all institutions and (4) strong resentment against political and economic elites. The result is a political atmosphere charged with radicalism and heavy with threats. How in the world did we get to this state of disunion? One unexpected, compelling explanation comes from Yuval Levin, in his new book, “The Fractured Republic.” Levin faults a “perverse and excessive nostalgia” by baby boom politicians for America in the 1950s and 1960s. For liberals, this was a golden age of job security, growing wages, high tax rates and relative economic equality. For conservatives, it was a promised land of family stability, community strength and conservative social norms. Levin describes this as a “consolidating America” in which industrialization, restricted immigration and the shocks of depression and war led to greater social, political and economic cohesion than America had ever seen. But this postwar period was also an inflection point. The second half of the 20th century saw the “deconsolidation of America,” with
growing social libertarianism, vastly expanded immigration, the globalization of labor markets, the growth of information technology and general abundance. These were centrifugal forces that made both our economy and culture far less cohesive and centralized. Both right and left, in Levin’s account, miss the cohesion of midcentury America, and yet both are also relieved (in different ways) to be freed from those forces. “The right
Levin warns of a real risk: a kind of general deconsolidation that becomes extreme individualism, leaving men and women isolated, aimless and alone. The answer, however, is not to recapture the culture and reimpose economic or social cohesion (which Levin regards as a hopeless task). It is to cultivate community in the space between the individual and the government. “The middle layers of society,” argues Levin, “where people see each other
The goal is not to make America great ... again. It is to make America great in a distinctly 21st-century way.
generally longs for cultural consolidation,” Levin told me, “but is glad for the economic deconsolidation. And the left longs for economic cohesion but is glad of the cultural liberation.” Each side is convinced the other has achieved the greater victory and thus believes the country is going to be doomed. This backward looking approach has deformed American politics. “Because both parties are channeling that nostalgia,” argues Levin, “their objectives and priorities tend to be embodied less in concrete policy proposals and more in vague and aimless frustration, which often manifests itself as populist anger.”
face to face, offer a middle ground between radical individualism and extreme centralization.” Instead of desperately trying to go back in time to recover lost unity, Levin urges citizens to look forward – as well as downward, to improve the cultural patch around them. This future orientation may seem like an odd message for a conservative – and it is all the more powerful for coming from one. The goal is not to make America great ... again. It is to make America great in a distinctly 21st-century way. (c) 2016, Writers Group
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Political Crossfire
The Earthquake and the Aftermath By Charles Krauthammer
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hat lies behind Donald Trump’s nomination victory? Received wisdom among conservatives is that he, the outsider, sensed, marshaled and came to represent a massive revolt of the Republican rank and file against the “establishment.” This is the narrative: GOP political leaders made promises of all kinds and received in return, during President Obama’s years, major electoral victories that gave them the House, the Senate, 12 new governorships and 30 state houses. Yet they didn’t deliver. Exit polls consistently showed that a majority of GOP primary voters (60 percent in some states) feel “betrayed” by their leaders. Not just let down or disappointed. Betrayed. By RINOs who, corrupted by donors and lobbyists, sold out. Did they repeal Obamacare? No. Did they defund Planned Parenthood? No. Did they stop President Obama’s tax-and-spend hyperliberalism? No. Whether from incompetence or venality, they let Obama walk all over them. But then comes the paradox. If insufficient resistance to Obama’s liberalism created this sense of betrayal, why in a field of 17 did Republican voters choose the least conservative
candidate? A man who until yesterday was himself a liberal. Who donated money to those very same Democrats to whom the GOP establishment is said to have caved, including Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton. Trump has expressed sympathy for a singlepayer system of socialized medicine, far to the left of Obamacare. Trump lists health care as one of the federal government’s three main responsibilities (after national security); Republicans adamantly oppose federal intervention in health care. He also lists education, which Republicans believe should instead be left to the states. As for Planned Parenthood, the very same conservatives who railed against the Republican establishment for failing to defund it now rally around a candidate who sings the praises of its good works (save for the provision of abortion). More fundamentally, Trump has no affinity whatsoever for the central thrust of modern conservatism – a return to less and smaller government. If the establishment has insufficiently resisted Obama’s Big Government policies, the beneficiary should logically have been the most consis-
tent, indeed most radical, anti-government conservative of the bunch, Ted Cruz. Cruz’s entire career has consisted of promoting teaparty constitutionalism in revolt against party leaders who had joined “the Washington cartel.” Yet when Cruz got to his one-onone with Trump at the Indiana OK Corral, Republicans chose Trump and his nonconservative, idiosyncratic populism. Which makes Indiana a truly historic inflection point. It marks the most radical transformation of the political philosophy of a major political party in our lifetime. The Democrats continue their trajectory of ever-expansive liberalism from the New Deal through the Great Society through Obama and Clinton today. While the GOP, the nation’s conservative party, its ideology refined and crystallized by Ronald Reagan, has just gone populist. It’s an ideological earthquake. How radical a reorientation? Said Trump last week: “Folks, I’m a conservative. But at this point, who cares?” Who cares? Wasn’t caring about conservatism the very essence of the talk radio, tea party, grass-roots revolt against the so-called establishment? They cheered Cruz when he led the govern-
ment shutdown in the name of conservative principles. Yet when the race came down to Cruz and Trump, these opinion-shaping conservatives who once doted on Cruz affected a studied Trump-leaning neutrality. Trump won. True, the charismatically challenged Cruz was up against a prepackaged celebrity, an already famous showman.
conservative or otherwise. He lauds his own “flexibility,” his freedom from political or philosophical consistency. And he elevates unpredictability to a foreign policy doctrine. The ideological realignment is stark. On major issues – such as the central question of retaining America’s global pre-eminence as leader of
How radical a reorientation? Said Trump last week: “Folks, I’m a conservative. But at this point, who cares?”
True, Trump appealed to the economic anxiety of a squeezed middle class and the status anxiety of a formerly dominant white working class. But the prevailing conservative narrative – of antiestablishment fury – was different and is now exposed as a convenient fable. If Trump is a great big middle finger aimed at a Republican establishment that has abandoned its principles, isn’t it curious that the party has chosen a man without any? Trump doesn’t even pretend to have any,
the free world, sustainer of Western alliances and protector of the post-World War II order – the GOP candidate stands decidedly to the left of the Democrat. And who knows on what else. On entitlements? On health care? On taxes? We will soon find out. But as Trump himself says of being a conservative – at this point, who cares? As of Tuesday night, certainly not the GOP.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Forgotten Her es
Giora Epstein Ace Pilot By Avi Heiligman
Epstein with his jet
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major part of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Even before the country was in existence, there was realization that to be on par with the neighboring Arabs a formidable air force was needed. In the early days of the State of Israel, the air force was tiny with old and leftover planes. However, the tenacity and bravery of these pilots knew no bounds and became a trademark for future Israeli pilots. Two decades after the Israeli War of Independence (1948-1949), the best pilot in jet history emerged during the Six Day War. Giora Epstein was born in Israel in 1938. He joined the IDF during the Suez Crisis in 1956 and became a paratrooper. After being rejected from flight school because of a heart condition, he left the military three years later. Three years later he returned and was finally accepted for flight training. During flight school he
Giora Epstein with his son
earned the nickname Hawkeye for his exceptional ability to spot enemy aircraft as far away as 24 miles. Epstein flew in the French-built Dassault Mirage IIICJ known in Israel as the Shahak. It was the first plane in the IAF’s arsenal to be equipped with air-to-air missiles and was the choice fighter to start off the Israeli preemptive strike on Egyptian targets in 1967. Many of the pilots, including Epstein, didn’t trust the accuracy of the missiles and opted for cannon fire if the opportunity presented itself. The Six Day War started on June 5, 1967 with close to 200 jets pounding Egyptian airbases and other key targets like radar sites. The strike took out most of the Egyptian air power in the first few hours of the war but there were still a few Soviet-built planes that Egypt could count upon to fight back. On June 6, Epstein got his first crack at an Egyp-
tian Sukoi-7. With another Mirage piloted by Amos Lapidot, the pair headed for El Arish where a tank battle was unfolding below in the city. Three Sukoi-7s tried to attack but two were shot down by IAF Mirage IIIs. Epstein describes what happened next, “I moved in behind the Sukoi and kept on chasing it. I saw that I was slowly narrowing the distance between us. We are flying at very low altitude, about 50 feet at a speed of about 700 knots, over the dunes south of Bardawil, going west. When I had made it to a range of about 400 meters I raised the trigger and tried a short burst. Nothing came out. I checked the switches and found the cannon button in ‘off’ position. I pressed the button back on. The range had closed down to about 200 meters, meanwhile, and I shot a short burst, right in the middle of the range. Immediately, there was a tremendous explosion in the tail, and
The Mirage III
his entire tail unit disappeared. The Sukoi seemed to stop [in mid-air], tilted its nose up sharply, turned over and crashed into the ground, without a bail-out. There was a huge explosion. I pulled upward immediately in order to avoid the blast and turned back home.” This was his first of a record-breaking 17 kills in a jet fighter. The next day, June 7, 1967, was important as the IDF recaptured the Kosel from the Arabs and liberated Yerushalayim. Epstein got his second kill during the War of Attrition in 1969. It was a MiG-17 that seemed to elude other IAF pilots before Epstein went in for the kill. On November 9, 1969, he got his third kill which was another Sukoi-7. On March 25, 1970, he shot down two MiG-21 fighters. In all of these encounters the IAF tactics called for fighting in pairs so that if one plane would get into trouble the wingman would be able to help him.
The second MiG-21 was his fifth kill, making him an aerial ace. In 1973, Israel was fighting for survival again but this time they were attacked without warning on Yom Kippur. The IAF was unprepared and were severely hampered by Soviet-made S u r f ac e - to -A i r -M i s s i le s (SAM). By the time Epstein entered the fight on October 18, the threat from SAMs had diminished and his first kill was a helicopter. The next day he was flying the IAI Nesher (a takeoff of the Mirage V) and shot down two Sukoi-7s. This time he used a missile to shoot down one of the fighters. Epstein returned to base on the 19th and readied his Nesher for further action if needed in the afternoon. He was called upon again and shot down two more jets for a total of four for the day. On October 20, Epstein’s formation was near the Great Bitter Lake and was called
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
to station after hearing that a large enemy formation of MiG-21 jets were coming. Epstein recounted the event: We were scrambled in an orderly quartet towards the lake. We reached the area and saw nothing. The controller told us to continue westward. And then, to our southwest, I saw a pair of MiGs pulling from south to north. We dumped our detachable fuel tanks and took a hard right turn towards them. Then I saw something that looked like a whole field of mushrooms sprouting up before my eyes; the whole area to our northwest was filling up with MiG21-s pulling into battle. The first pair
we had seen was meant to lure us into battle. I immediately came down on the first pair. I fired a missile at the rear [plane] and it blew up. Edres, my Number Two, announced that he was taking on another pair. He fired and then experienced a stalling propellant. I instructed him to go home. I went after the second MiG. As I was chasing him I saw Geva pass me, sitting on the tail of a MiG at about 200 meters. I asked him why he wasn’t shooting him down. He said that he was trying, but kept missing him. Later on, he reported that he had gotten a bit farther away from the MiG, launched a missile and hit it. Kal also chased a MiG fired
and hit it. [He] was not sure whether he had brought it down or not, but his fuel was depleted and he also left the battle. I was on my own now, chasing after the crazy MiG with ten other MiGs all around me. Finally, I succeeded in hitting it with the cannon and it exploded. I turned left and saw a pair of MiGs closing in on me from behind and shooting like mad from a range of about 500 [meters], at a near 90 degree angle. I broke hard to one side and they flew past me like a pair of missiles. I turned after them straight away, intending to shoot them down, and saw flashes of light ahead. I looked and saw a pair launching
head-on missiles at me from a range of about 400 meters. These missiles missed, so Epstein went after another MiG and blew it up with cannon fire. After his fourth kill of the day he returned to his base at Refidim and had to be pulled from his plane as he was too exhausted to exit the plane under his own power. He was at that base for a total of 48 hours and shot down an incredible eight fighters and one helicopter during that time. On October 24, Epstein shot down another three MiG-21s for a total of 17 kills in his career. No other pilot in history has downed more aircraft in a jet. For the twelve aircraft he downed during the Yom Kippur War, Epstein was awarded the Medal of Dis-
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tinguished Service. He later went on to command squadrons of Mirage and Kfir fighters before training to fight in the F-16 Falcon. Retiring after 35 in the air force he flew commercial flights for El Al and was interviewed for several TV documentaries. Fighter aces are becoming a thing of the past due to the rising use of drones and less manned planes being used by opposing forces. Epstein’s record will probably stand for a long time as he was a flying hero during two of Israel’s wars for survival.
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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Rocky’s
Rant
The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth By Rocky Zweig
The following is translated from the original vlorak, except for several words which are not. Captain Mzrikbot: Mother ship to Quog, Mother ship to Quog, come in please, Quog. Quog: Yes, I’m here, Captain Mzrikbot, sir. CM: Well, Quog, our time here is just about done. Have you come to any conclusions? Quog: Yes. Their produce is delicious! They have this thing called a banana? It’s just amaz… CM: No, dummy, I don’t care about their food! Do you have anything to report about your mission? Quog: My mission…my mission… Could you remind me? CM (exasperated): QUOG! You were supposed to determine if there’s intelligent life down there on Earth! Quog: Oh yeah. Right. CM: And? Quog: It’s complicated. CM: Complicated? How can it be complicated? Isn’t it a yes or no question? Quog: No. CM: No? Quog: No. CM: Explain, please.
Quog: There is intelligent life here, but not all over. There are pockets here and there, but mostly they’re pretty stupid. CM: Where did you land again? Quog: Right where we set the coordinates. A place called Washington, D.C. It was supposed to be where all the smart people were.
thing, but I was told he was too busy. CM: Did you use your disguise? Quog: Of course. I looked exactly like…wait…it’s here in my notes somewhere…okay, here it is…I used the “Al Sharpton” disguise, which was supposed to work without a hitch. CM: And you still couldn’t get in? What did they say he was busy doing?
Quog, have you been jordling the bailukost again? CM: And? Quog: (giggles) CM: What’s that supposed to mean? Quog: It means there are some smart ones here, but the place is also full of crazy people and greedy people and just plain stupid people. CM: Isn’t that where their leader lives? Quog: Yes. CM: So did you at least go to see him? Quog: I tried but they wouldn’t let me in. They apologized and every-
Quog: The way they explained it, he was out on a field somewhere hitting a little white orb with a stick and trying to make it go into a hole. He was doing that over and over and over again. CM: And he’s their leader? Quog: Apparently many people think it’s better when he’s out hitting the orb. Things tend to run smoother somehow. CM: Weird. Okay, so tell me more about the discrepancies in their intellect. Quog: Well, they invent all kinds
of cool stuff, really high-tech, even by our standards. CM: Like what? Quog: Like brux nems. CM: They have brux nems? Quog: Yup. CM: Okay, I’m impressed. Quog: I mean you can’t fold them or insert them in your quantum clavicle, but you can carry on a conversation by talking into the mouth part and listening with the ear part, and they even have a rudimentary texting system. The truth is, they’re pretty neat little machines. CM: So what’s the problem? Quog: The brux nem unit is not the problem. The user is the problem. Here’s a conversation that was being texted between two young Earthlings that I picked up on my translinking lexifier: Seth: Yo. Brian: Bro. Seth: Waddup? Brian: Same ol, dude, u? Seth: Chillin. Brian: Yeah. Seth: Yo, got any beer? Brian: Nah. U? Seth: Dude, I keep gettin carded. Brian: Bummer.
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
Seth: Right. Well, later, man. CM: Wait. What language is that? Quog: Like this. English. CM: But it’s mwembosio. Quog: In English that’s called gibberish. CM: But why? Quog: See, that’s what I mean. They seem to be capable of great things, but they waste their time and their minds on nonsense. They tend to walk around doing nothing. They go to ridiculous jobs, drive ridiculous vehicles, a lot of them don’t get along with their wives or kids, and spend their spare time watching a stupid video box instead of going outside and taking advantage of this stunningly beautiful planet. Earth is gorgeous, Captain, and not only do they not appreciate it, they foul it, pollute it, and take it completely for granted. It’s disgusting! CM: So what else do you have to report? Quog: Well, they come in different colors. CM: Get out! Quog: Yup. CM: That is so cool! Quog: Actually, it’s not cool at all. CM: Why not? Wouldn’t it be great if we weren’t all the same ugly shade of gray? Quog: Yeah, I’ve been trying to figure that out since I got here, but the different colors usually don’t get along. CM: But that’s ridiculous. Quog: See? That’s what I mean about questionable brainpower. CM: Boy are they dumb! Anything else? Quog: Um…lemme see; Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They kill each other. Kind of a lot. CM: Quog, have you been jordling the bailukost again? Quog: Sir, I keep telling you I don’t do that anymore. I went to meetings and everything! CM: Yeah, but this stuff is so hard to believe. Quog: Right? CM: What do you mean they kill each other? You mean like…permanently? On purpose? Quog: It’s always permanent down here, and it’s usually on purpose.
CM: Why in the name of Flahrnak would anyone want to harm someone else? Don’t they have morals? Ethics? Values? And never mind all that; don’t they have laws? Quog: Yes. But there are some really bad people down here. Some will kill you if you don’t believe what they believe. CM: But that’s insane! Quog: That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you! And here’s something about their judgement: they’re in the process of electing a new leader. CM: What’s wrong with the old one? Quog: How much time do you have? CM: Well, I… Quog: Never mind. They’re electing a new one because the old one’s time is up. CM: So, I guess they’ve gathered their best and their brightest, huh? Quog: (giggles) CM: Would you stop with the giggling already? What’s so funny? Quog: Well, one would think that they would pick the best of the best, right? Well, I gotta tell you, if this pathetic bunch is the best they could come up with, I don’t know how much longer they’re gonna last. CM: Why, who did they come up with? Quog: Okay. One is an egomaniacal, narcissistic lunatic; one is a conniving, lying thief who’s never accomplished anything in her life; one is a Communist who’s so old he’s got maybe four or five synapses still firing in his…
CM: Wait. What’s a Communist? Quog: Oh, only someone who believes in a system that doesn’t work that it took this place forty-five years to defeat. CM: Sheesh. So you said there are pockets of intelligence. What did you mean by that? Quog: I was just getting to that. Luckily, there’s this one group of people called Juice. CM: Juice? Quog: Yes, Juice. I don’t understand why either. CM: Doesn’t that translate as… Quog: Yrentzoo, yes. It means Yrenztoo. CM: So why are they named after… Quog: Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe because they’re always on the move, you know, liquid. I have no idea. CM: So tell me about the Juice. Quog: Well, there aren’t a lot of them, but they’re all over the place. There are large concentrations of them in New York and a place called… um…called Israel. And wherever they are, things tend to be better. They’re very smart, they study all the time, and they worship their Flahrnak with genuine sincerity. They have closeknit families and communities, and they invent stuff; most of the technological innovations Earth has made has been because of this tiny group of folks. They’re a humble, unassuming, happy people. CM: Wow! I’ll bet all the other Earthlings really love them and look up to them.
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Quog: Um…no. Not even a little. CM: But you said… Quog: Yeah, I know. I don’t get it, either, but a lot of people hate them. Maybe they’re just jealous. Not long ago a guy tried to wipe them out completely and killed six million of them. CM: Quog? Quog: Captain? CM: Get back in your pod and get back up here pronto. Who knows? Maybe that delicious produce is tainted. Maybe it’s in the drinking water. You’re gonna have to be disinfected and debriefed as soon as you get back and… Quog: Captain? CM: Yes, Quog? Quog: I wear boxers. CM: GET UP HERE NOW!
Rocky Zweig has been writing since he was sixteen and was the Editor-in-Chief of the late and decidedly unlamented Modieinu, the mimeographed (remember mimeographs?) newspaper of the Tenth Avenue Pirchei of Boro Park, where he wrote everything from stories to news articles to hashkafa articles to... yes (now it can be told!)...letters to the editor. Rocky was sixteen a very long time ago. He is the proud father of three marginally neurotic children. He has been married three — count ‘em — three times and has finally determined that he’s probably not very good at matrimonial bliss. He lives in his Fortress of Solitude in Flatbush with a small menagerie: Clarice, a European Starling; Rabbi Horatio LeZard, a Bearded Dragon; an aquarium filled with Lake Malawi African Cichlids; and a ten gallon tank that functions as a Home for Unwanted Goldfish, or H.U.G., collected over the years by his grandkids and great nieces and nephews at myriad street fairs and carnivals (rather than face the unpleasant task of flushing these unfortunate piscine creatures when they are eventually, inevitably ignored by their own obnoxious progeny, the parents simply call Uncle Rocky who then feeds them and cares for them until their ultimate natural demise three or four or even ten years down the pike). So apparently Rocky seems to get along better with animals than with his fellow homo sapiens. Or sapienses. Or whatever. Rocky’s column will be appearing every other week in The Jewish Home. Rocky can be reached at anidaati@aol. com.
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From My Private Art Collection
Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841- 1919 By Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg
Doges’ Palace, Venice Les Grands Boulevards Two Sisters
Self portrait, 1899
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s a young girl, I was intrigued by the artworks created by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. His paintings of young girls doing everyday activities were realistic and charming. The girls looked happy and content, especially in the picture titled, “Two Young Girls at the Piano.”
When I took piano lessons, I imagined that I was the dark haired girl. The picture depicted a simple event that I could relate to. His paintings displayed human qualities that were inspirational. Pierre was the sixth child born to a simple seamstress and a tailor who were hard workers. When the family moved to Paris for a short time from 1844-1846, he lived near the famous art museum, the Louvre. He would try copying the famous paintings hanging in order to practice the skills of drawing and painting. Renoir began learning how to create hand-painted porcelain at the age of thirteen which was popular in Limoges, France. A famous type of china is called Limoges. Whenever he had some free time he practiced drawing. At the age of twenty-one he began studying how to paint in various art studios. For a short time he took a break from painting when he served in the army.
Two Young Girls at the Piano
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, together with Monet, used small strokes of color to create the illusion of color mixing. He also experimented with sunlight and the light which would reflect on each color by painting outdoors. This style of painting later became known as the Impressionist style, which was quite different than the style of painting originally done in France, and created much conflict amongst artists. Many Impressionist pictures were done outdoors and of landscapes. Despite the fact that he was considered one of the founders of Impressionism, Renoir preferred being more traditional so he went back to painting pictures of young girls, scenes of people in their everyday life, and placed a tremendous emphasis on his choice of colors. These colors were applied to his beautiful floral scenes, classical paintings, and indoor scenes of everyday happenings. Many of his paintings referred back to the same two girls for the subjects of
his paintings. As stated by Renoir about himself: “I was a very diligent student; I ground away in the academic way … But I never obtained the slightest honorable mention and my professors were unanimous in finding my painting wretched.” Renoir continued painting until his death. At the end of his life he battled with illness and was confined to a wheelchair, but was still alive when in 1919 the Louvre purchased one of his paintings. That gave him much deserved honor and pleasure. Renoir created approximately two hundred works of art. Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg is a professional art educator, artist and designer. Among her known artwork is a floral sculpture presented to Tipper Gore, Blair House, Washington, D.C. Please feel free to email nherzberg@hotmail.com with questions and suggestions for future columns.
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MAY 12, 2016 | The Jewish Home
MAZE
UncleÊMoishyÊboughtÊaÊnewÊjacket.ÊHeÊlearnedÊinÊParshasÊ KedoshimÊthatÊitÊmustÊbeÊcheckedÊforÊShaÕatnez.Ê CanÊyouÊhelpÊhimÊfindÊtheÊShaÕatnezÊtester?
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HEWLETT: 3BR, 2BA Colonial, Enclosed Florida Room, Eik, Formal DR, Full Finished Basement, Convenient To All…$455K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
FAR ROCKAWAY HOUSE FOR SALE:
New and exciting universal pre-k under the loving heimish guidance of Morah Fran from Gan Ami. Now taking applications for September 2016. Reasonably priced, great central location, and extended hours available. For more information contact Fran Diamond directly at 5164266925
Located in the heart of Far Rockaway near Bnos Bais Yaakov, Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, Sulitza Beis Medrash, and Rabbi Groner’s yeshiva. Fully detached. Large yard + driveway. 4 spacious bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Granite kitchen with all major appliances. Refinished hardwood floor in LR/ DR. Generous closets in each bedroom. Master bathroom with jacuzzi. Finished basement. Intercom and alarm system. Great neighbors! Address: 396 Beach 12th Street Price: 750K
HOUSES FOR SALE
Call Ephraim Perlstein at 646-346-0269 for viewing appointments and inquiries.
ATLANTIC BEACH 200 Feet of Unobstructed Open Bay The Unique Joining of Two Homes by a magnificent Indoor Heated Pool & fully Equipped Gym. 10 Bedrooms, 12 Baths, 3 Gas Fireplaces, Open Concept and Formal Living Spaces, Radiant Heated Floors, Finished Basements, Steel Bulkheads, 3 Piers, Mahogany Decking & Terraces, boat slip, Elevator, Handicap Accessible, CAC, Generator, State-of-the-Art Systems. By Appointment only CHRISTINE LYNCH Lic, Assoc. R.E. Broker 516-398-5888 Cell christinemarielynch@yahoo.com Petrey AB Real Estate
TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here.
Weekly Classifed Ads Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................ $20 $10 2 weeks .............. $35 $17.50 4 weeks .............. $60 $30 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info
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Charming 2BR, Eik, LR/DR Sunny & Spacious 2BR, Move Right In! 4BR, 2BA Great Potential Investment, Near Beach..$2,495/mo 2BA, Near All..$269,995 Ranch, SD#14.. $499K 6BR, 5BA, Eik..$649K
Updtd 4BR, 2.5BA Split, 4BR, 3BA Col, Lg Eik, Spacious 4BR Splanch, Custom Renovated 4+BR, New Kitch, SD#20..$699K Prime Location..$799,900 Eik, Basement..$899K 3BA Exp-Ranch..$985K
Carol Braunstein
Susan Pugatch
(516) 592-2206
295-3000
Call or Text
cbraunstein@pugatch.com
(516)
www.pugatch.com
spugatch@pugatch.com
H EWL ET T: 1 1 8 6 E . B r o a d w a y ( 1 2 - 2 ) $725K LAWRENCE: 2 6 0 C e n t r a l Ave ( 1 2 - 3 ) R E G E N C Y LYNBROOK: 185 Atlantic Ave #C3 (12:30-2) $179,900 N.WOODMERE: 6 6 Ro s e d a l e R d ( 1 - 2 : 3 0 ) $499K
2,300+/- SF Space - For Lease High End Finish-Ample Parking BELOW MARKET VALUE!!!
Beautiful 2nd Flr - For Lease Elevator Bldg –Ample Parking Full Handicap Access
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
APT FOR RENT
INWOOD Commercial mixed use building + Lot. Private parking, corner property, high traffic area 1st floor offices, 2nd floor: 2 Apts. Asking 849k. Call 212-470-3856 Yochi @ WinZone Re
CEDARHURST: 2,300 +/- SF Office Space W/Great On-Site Parking, Multiple Private Offices, High End Finish, For Lease… Call Randy For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood! Lots of options. Tons of parking. WIll divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100
FAR ROCKAWAY 3 Bedrooms – New Construction Central air, oak floors, granite kitchen, elevator building. Asking $2350 Call Yossi 917-337-6262
CEDARHURST: 1650 +/- SF Soho Like Loft Space With 3 Offices, Municipal Parking, Ideal For Office Or Showroom. For Lease… For More Details Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
EAST ROCKAWAY: 6200 +/- SF Building with Retail Spaces, Basement, Some Parking, Near Municipal Lot & Major Highways, Great Location, High Visibility, For Sale/ Lease…Call Ian For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
ROCKVILLE CENTRE: Beautiful 2nd Floor Office Space in Elevator Bldg, Ample Municipal Parking Nearby, Fully Handicap Accessible, Great Location, For Lease…Call Randy for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
CEDARHURST: 500-3000 +/- SF Retail Space Available in the Heart of Cedarhurst, For Lease... Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
LAWRENCE: PROFESSIONAL SUITE in the Plaza Bldg, Central Ave, 24hr Doorman, 3 Treatment Rms, Reception & Waiting Area. For Sale… Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking. Call Sam @ 516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080
LONG BEACH: 1428+/- Sf Professional Space with 5 Offices, 2 W/Water, Waiting Room, Bathrooms, Reception Area. Hvac. 5 Parking Spots, For Lease… Call for More Details - Broker (516) 792-6698
ATLANTIC BEACH – HOUSE RENTAL Charming 2BR House, Near Beach, Eik, LR/DR, On Lovely Quiet Street, Close To All.. Also Available for Winter Sept ’16 - May ‘17… For More Details Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
OCEANSIDE: Mixed Use Building, Investor or User Property, 5 Commercial Tenants, 3 Residential Apartments, New Stucco Façade & More, For Sale… Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
v
Office Space Available In Heart of Far Rockaway
Large Office Space Available in Heart of Far Rockaway. Multiple rooms. Fireplace. Lots of parking. Please call Yitzy @917-929-3241
APT FOR RENT
ON SEAGIRT AVENUE 2 & 3 bedroom. Newly renovated. Washer and dryer hook up. Granite countertops. More info call or text 917-602-2914
HELP WANTED THE GANGER EARLY CHILDHOOD OF TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS seeks experienced, qualified, warm teachers and assistant teachers for the Sept. term. Great work environment, salary commensurate with experience. Please fax resume to sgoldfeder@tagschools.org Anshei Shalom of West Hempstead, Modern Orthodox synagogue of 250+ families, seeks Youth Director for thriving Youth Department starting in time to plan 2016/2017 year Minimum two years youth program management experience required. Send resumes to applicants@anshei.org
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 APT FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Great summer job opportunity. Great pay, and overtime is available. Job description: • Field Service Technician for a Green Company - all products are safe and non-toxic. • All training provided. • Job available from May - September. • Fun and positive company, good pay. • Work for a professional company in a structured and progressive work environment. Qualifications: • Need to be physically fit able to lift 50 lbs. consistently • A valid and clean driver’s license. • Strong work ethic. • Good communication skills. • Able to work well without direct supervision. • Be responsible and courteous. • Ok with working indoors and outdoors in higher temperature conditions. For more information: Call - 516-206-1600 Email - serviceny@ greenhomesolutions.com Make sure to reference the “Field Service Technician”.
Yeshiva Tifereth Moshe looking for a head teacher for our UPK class located in Kew Gardens Masters & certification in Early Childhood preferred- Top Salary email resume to pessiewargon@gmail.com
CLERICAL POSITION F/T for Queens office Proper candidate will have: good computer skills, ability to multitask and office experience. Prior early intervention experience a plus. Will Train. Competitive comp. pkg. Fax Resume 718-261-3702 Att. Bella Or email: cara.challenge2@thejnet.com
LIMUDAI KODESH TEACHER for 1st-2nd Grade Girls CAHAL class Located in Far Rockaway, P/T morning position Starting May 9th - through the end of the school year E-mail resume to shira@cahal.org or fax to 516-295-2899
Due to expansion: General Studies middle school & JH teachers for Sept. ‘16. 5 Towns area boys’ school, PM hours, M. - Th. candidateteacher@gmail.com EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE SALES AGENT needed for a HIGH Producing real estate office who is seeking an opportunity to Earn & Learn more!!! Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential
LIMUDAI KODESH TEACHER for 6th Grade Girls CAHAL class Located in Lawrence, P/T afternoon position Starting May 9th - through the end of the school year E-mail resume to shira@cahal.org or fax to 516-295-2899
SERVICE COORDINATOR POSITION BA in Health or Human Services or 2 yrs of SC exper. Or a combination of exper. & education Earn Upwards of 45,000 to 55,000 annually Great Work Environment Challenge E. I. Center, Queens E: cara.challenge2@thejnet.com, F: 718-261-3702 An Equal Opportunity Employer
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND ASSISTANTS CAHAL has openings for Special Education teachers and assistants, Sept. 2016, P/T and F/T for lower and middle school classes, Secular Studies, and Limudai Kodesh E-mail resume to shira@cahal.org or fax to 516-295-2899
GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co. Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348 Far Rockaway Mesivta looking for EXPERIENCED TEACHERS in ELA, Math and Social Studies for September, Grades 9 -12, afternoons only: Please e¬mail resume to: mesivtayamhatorah@gmail.com TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT TEACHERS wanted for coming school year for Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam in Far Rockaway. Send resume to teachingpositions1@gmail.com
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Classifieds
classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
PART TIME AND FULL TIME BOOKKEEPING POSITION Fast growing accounting and consulting firm seeks a qualified individual to assist our accounting staff in providing bookkeeping services for our clients. Qualified individuals will have the opportunity to join our employee friendly culture At least 2 years working experience Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, QuickBooks a MUST Email – info@smallbizoutsource.com
Are you tired of your present job or out of work and looking for a job where you can make good money and be your own boss? We are looking to hire a marketing/sales specialist. Job will require your own car and being computer/internet savy. If you consider yourself a marketing professional, this is the position for you. Opportunity to make unlimited income potential, Don’t delay. Give us a call at 917-612-2300
SEEKING TEACHER ASSISTANTS for special education preschool in Far Rockaway. $10.50 an hour Email resume to scohen@onourwaylc.org YESHIVA SECRETARY Yeshiva near Brooklyn/5 Towns Seeking help during Dinner Campaign. Detail oriented and ability to multi task Yeshiva experience a plus Morning Hours, Immediately after Pesach Send Resume to officepositionhire@ gmail.com 5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. Exc working env’t, supportive admin, exc pay Lic’d & experienced preferred. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com We are looking to hire a MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST Job requirements: Your own car and internet savvy. Hob has unlimited income potential. Don’t delay, give us a call at 917-612-2300 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS (PTA’S) & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ASSISTANTS (COTA’S) For 200+ bed Nursing Home in Queens. Must have Hospital or Nursing Home experience. Please email resume to promrehab@aol.com Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com General Studies teachers for Sept. ‘16 due to expansion. 5 Towns area boys’ school. Middle school teachers: M.-Th, 2-4:30 pm. JH male teachers: M.-Th., 2:45-5 pm. candidateteacher@gmail.com.
Life CAPTURE
I M A G E S LTD PHOTOGRAPHY I VIDEO
GABRIEL SOLOMON
GABE@LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM 516.499.9620 WWW.LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM
CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers for Title I in Boro Park andWilliamsburg Chassidic boys schools *College/Yeshiva Degree Required *Strong desire to help children learn *Excellent organizational skills *Small group instruction *Competitive salary Email resume: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com. Fax (718) 381-3493 DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL to work with men with autism and other disabilities in a residential setting in Long Island. Available shifts include morning, afternoon, evening and overnight. High pay rate, plus benefit package. Contact OHEL Bais Ezra 718-686-3102 or email your resume to resumes@ohelfamily.org/careers
SITUATION WANTED LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE seeks position in homecare with the elderly or pediatric care. I am skilled, caring and dependable. Please call me at 631-759-0025
MISC DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK, VAN OR SUV Help ill children and get $1200 gift card and $1500 tax deduction 718-974-9428 SPACE AVAILABLE FOR 3 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUP IN FAR ROCKAWAY. EXCELLENT MORAHS. PLEASE CALL (516) 406-2980
SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com Tutors desperately needed for Zichron Etel, a gemach providing free tutoring to those who cannot afford it. Now in Brooklyn and the Five Towns! Kindly visit our website at www.zichronetel.com
• Leibedik One Man Band/Singer • DJ with DANCE MOTIVATORS • Projector/Screen Rentals • Full Orchestra • Karaoke • Shabbos Ruach A Capella Singers
The Jewish Home | MAY 12, 2016
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Money
Born to Run By Allan Rolnick, CPA
L
ots of states get a bad rap. California is too flaky. New Yorkers are too unfriendly. North Dakota is too cold. (Wait a minute … you mean we’ve got two Dakotas?) But there’s one state that may get the worst rap of all, and that’s New Jersey. Too many Americans hear the name and think of clogged freeways, bumbling second-rate mobsters, knuckleheads at the shore, or the one miserable night they spent at the Newark Airport Radisson. Now New Jersey may be headed for a fiscal crisis — and it’s all one man’s fault. Is it blustering Governor Chris Christie, whose approval ratings are hovering somewhere between “Zika virus” and “psoriasis”? Is it freshman Senator Cory Booker, stirring up controversy in Washington? Is it native son and local favorite Bruce Springsteen, threatening to write songs about neighboring Delaware? No, no, and no. New Jersey’s budget is threatened by one modest-looking man that most Garden Staters have never heard of. His name is David Tepper. He manages a hedge fund called Appaloosa Partners. And his great offense is moving himself, his business, and his tax dollars to one
of those sunny tax havens we all love to point fingers at. The Garden State is famed for its high taxes. The top personal rate is 8.97% and kicks in on incomes over $500,000. According to the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services,
garten teachers combined? Tepper is one of those guys. In fact, he’s been the fattest cat of them all, three times in the last five years. Just how much are we talking? Try $4 billion in 2009, $2.2 billion in 2012, and $3.5 billion in 2013. All
Sure, the weather’s nice. But the tax climate is even nicer — 0 degrees of tax on personal income and 0% chance of estate tax!
returns with incomes over $1 million account for about a third of all individual collections. And those individual collections, in turn, account for 40% of the state’s revenue. Follow the math and that means the government in Trenton depends on its one-percenters — especially the Wall Streeters — for nearly one dollar out of every eight it spends. But David Tepper is no ordinary Wall Street fat cat. Remember when Hillary Clinton grumbled that the top 25 hedge fund managers make more than all of America’s kinder-
told, he’s raked in a jaw-dropping $15 billion over the last decade. And at nearly 9%, the state income tax on that haul crosses the billion dollar line. That’s enough to pay for a municipal airport, a suburban highway spur, or a modest little hydroelectric dam. Now New Jersey sees all those glorious glittering tax dollars about to vanish. Tepper, who turns 59 in September, is doing what plenty of other Jersey guys his age do when they get tired of winter — he’s flying south for good. And which sunny is-
land tax haven did he pick? Miami Beach, of course! (You mean you didn’t realize Florida is a bona fide tax haven?) Sure, the weather’s nice. But the tax climate is even nicer — 0 degrees of tax on personal income and 0% chance of estate tax! New Jersey isn’t the only state to worry about its 0.0001%-ers flying the coop. Last year, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Service announced that they were “keeping an eye” on their top 100 taxpayers, including more hedge funders like Steve Cohen, who paid roughly $150 million in state income tax all by himself in 2014. How would you feel if you thought the tax man was stalking you like a jealous ex? It would probably creep you out. So make sure you have a plan to keep as much as you legally can, no matter where you earn it. Keep it straight, unless you want your picture on the tax collector’s wall!
Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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Life C ach
No Soap Needed! By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
M
en know little about this – until that one day. It’s more of a private female thing. Yet, one exclusive male is subjected to this ritual, usually once in his life, and it’s certainly an overwhelming eye opener for him. For women, they become almost experts at it. Its features, nuances, and rituals. They are all planned out and executed with originality and flair by different groups of women. Still, they have a similar flow. Here is where the rubber meets the road. Can they possibly get someone to a location at one of the busiest times in her life without her having an inkling of why in the world she has to be there? This is a challenge taken up time and time again by 15 of her closest friends. And often, if they do it amazingly well, they can absolutely pull it off! Until like, five minutes before! The question I never get is why every meeting, email and text is so secretive. The theme, the date, the location is thought out with a plot that completely throws her off in order to somehow stun her – despite the inevitability of the event! And then every single guest – the planners included – make no effort to place their means of transport anywhere other than right outside the secret meeting place. Why all the weeks of “shhh”-ing and “it’s a sur-
prise”-ing, just to blow it five minutes before she walks through the door?! I mean, seriously, I’ve heard of colorblind, but vehicle blind?! Then she is subjected to the pressure of having to act completely caught off guard as thirty of her closest relatives jump out and shout, “Surprise!” while flashing cameras to catch the moment. And to add insult to injury they all ask, “So did you have any idea?” Wouldn’t you if twenty-five familiar cars were in your driveway?! Now, that’s the best case scenario. Sometimes she’s known for weeks, and she still must feign complete shock or the ritual is ruined. Such is the tradition of the wedding shower… Gifts must be bought and wrapped Food and dessert delegated and dropped off Themes invented Recipe cards written And, of course, embarrassing moments created… There must be chewing and chatter, and then that ultimate moment of “Opening the Gifts!” Everyone gathers and “oohs” and “ahhs” to the unwrapping of Kitchen Aids and chulent pots with more enthusiasm than when the couple got engaged. I guess the engagement lasts a nightime, but the meals go on and on…. Oh wow! There’s the hisand-her slippers (or robe) … “So cute!” The Quick & Easy Cook-
book … “So needed!” (Honestly, if they were smart they’d fill it with restaurant phone numbers!) And the embarrassing box from some store filled with something she’s unwilling to pull from the box, or her great grandmother’s flannel nightgown, depending on the sense of humor of the crowd. The assembly line that goes on during this part of the party is probably more impressive than General Motors at the height of its automation. At least two people hand the gift, one finds the card, another writes down what’s in the box and from whom it’s from, while three busy little bees are fast at work creating the most outrageous headpiece any milliner ever manufactured. And that’s done just so this beautiful bride can take a picture looking like a gift wrapped geek in her shower memorabilia. No one knows why this is done, but it’s a must. Maybe because once she’s worn that concoction, covering her head seems a breeze! And then the most important part of the ordeal kicks in. Does the man she is marrying even have any idea who she is? Prerecorded questions are asked to him at some time prior to this event: about who she is, what she likes, and how she thinks. Then, right there in front of her mom, his mom, and all her closest relatives and friends, she has to find
out if he’s been listening to anything she’s said for the past three months. Questions like: What’s her favorite food? How many kids does she want? Where is her favorite hangout? She tells the crowd the answer, and then everyone turns to the screen to see if he knew the right answer. Sometimes he’s right on the money, other times he hasn’t a clue! But the good news is, whether he totally aced it, or bombed it, he shows up with a bouquet of roses and lovingly hands it to his bride-tobe. Once again, right in front of her mom, his mom, and thirty of her closest friends and relatives. So how can she be upset with him, even if he blew it?! After all, if he knew the answers, she’s so proud of him. And, if not, she’s got a lifetime ahead to tell him all of the right answers over and over again while they’re puttering together in their kitchen using the newly ac-
quired handy dandy three in one mixer or waiting for their Keurig to cool! Presumably, if he keeps his smile on and his humility intact, he has survived his one and only shower – at least his one and only soapless one – and the wedding is still on! After all, it’s not really knowing the answers at this moment that matters. It’s really knowing not to answer so quickly, for the rest of his life, that will make this day a success for him! So, let the pots accumulate, the dishes pile up, the house supplies keep coming in…this is part of the rite of passage for her…for him…. to a life showered with many great surprises ahead.
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com
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