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A PUBLICATION OF THE FIVE TOWNS & QUEENS COMMUNITY MARCH 31 – APRIL 15, 2015 | DISTRIBUTED WEEKLY IN THE FIVE TOWNS, QUEENS & BROOKLYN

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Around the COMMUNITY

Overflow Crowd at Kollel Tirtza Devorah Dinner

Inspiration and Connections at MAY’s Alumni Yarchei Kallah

Special Pesach Section Includes D’vrei Torah, Thoughts on Yom Tov, Recipes, Halacha, Bobker on Pesach, Stories and More

Community Joins Together at Fire Safety Initiative

Special Coverage on Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Siyum Around the Globe

– See inside back cover

– See pages 30

– See pages 3

– 16 PAGE COLOR CENTERFOLD WITH PHOTOS FROM EVERY SIYUM – – See pages 18

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Once-A-Year Eis Ratzon

Erev Pesach For the promise written by Hagaon Hamekubal Harav Shimshon of Ostropoli zt”l

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From the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Community Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

Op-Ed: You Can Make a Difference by Rabbi Pesach Lerner

National

Odd-but-True Stories

Israel Get Up and Play! by Rafi Sackville

21 106

People The First Flight of the IAF by Avi Heiligman 128 Jewish Thought And You Shall Tell Your Son by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff 79 Four Cups. Any Questions? by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz 82 The Passover Paradox by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller

Bobker on Pesach: Time for a Yetziyas Europa? 87 Pesach: A Time for Gratitude by Rabbi Dov Silver

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my parents and siblings at the seder at my parents’ house. My father leads the seder and hands out treats to the little ones when they say a d’var Torah or answer a question or recite the mah nishtana. All my children are so excited to show off what they’ve learned and made for Pesach. And I can’t wait to hear their sweet songs and see their handmade projects. Pesach is a yom tov all about the children; it’s about talking to your children and telling them about the miracles of yetziyas Mitzrayim. But it’s also about listening to them and hearing what’s on their minds. May this yom tov be one of simcha and connection, and may we merit to see the geulah soon. L’shana habah b’Yerushalayim! Wishing you and your family a chag kosher v’sameach, Shoshana

L’Kavod Yom Tov Barrels of Beer on the Riverbank

TJH Chol Hamoed Guide

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Weekly Weather

A Few Minutes with Rabbi Lau

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Halacha Gebrokts and Other Pesach Customs by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits 92

April 1

April 2

FRIDAY April 3

SHABBOS

SUNDAY

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SUNNY

April 4

MONDAY

April 5

April 6

TUESDAY April 7

Parenting Parenting Pearls by Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW 91 Health & Fitness Seder, Trauma and G-d by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD

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Keeping it Simple by David Elazar Simai, MD 116

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Exodus from Calories by Aliza Beer, MS RD 118 Food & Leisure

Shabbos Zemanim

Bringing Sparkle to the Seder by Esther Ottensoser 96

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The Aussie Gourmet: Sushi for Pesach Recipes: A Yummy Twist on Chol Hamoed

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Lifestyles From My Private Art Collection

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Do You Need a Job? by Rabbi Mordechai Kruger

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Your Money

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What’s it All about Anyway? by Rivki Rosenwald, Esq., CLC

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Humor Centerfold

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Uncle Moishy Fun Page

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Do Not Try This at Home by Rocky Zweig

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Political Crossfire Notable Quotes

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Classifieds

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3 Pesach Candle Lighting: 6:24 Shabbos Ends: 8:04 Rabbeinu Tam: 8:35

EDITOR

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CLASSIFIEDS@FIVETOWNS JEWISHHOME.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.

MARCH 31, 2015

your way out the door, no cookies to munch on. Yes, there were macaroons (disclosure: I really do like them!) and chips but my mother didn’t want us snacking on her cakes or brownies erev Pesach: “We won’t have enough for yom tov!” Fast forward a few days and she was selling the few leftover pieces on the eighth day. When I got older, my parents redid their kitchen and their Formica countertops were replaced with granite ones. Even though we kasher our granite counters for Pesach, in my heart I wish that we would still have those silver foil slabs on Pesach. It’s funny, but to me the shiny, crinkly (and at the end of Pesach, truly messy) pieces of aluminum are cozy. They tell you that Pesach is here. For eight days, we’re chometz-free and are surrounded by our family, friends and tons of matzah crumbs. This year, I’m excited to join

Dear Readers, As a little girl, erev Pesach morning was magical. The night before, my father would go around the house with his candle, closing the lights in every room and gesturing to us about this and that. He wouldn’t talk when he did bedikas chometz and went through every space making sure it was chometz-free. The next morning I would wake up late and peek out my window, where my father would be doing biur chometz in the small, metal trashcan in the backyard. And then I would come into the kitchen—and there it was: magic! My regular kitchen was transformed into a silver foil wonderland. And we knew that Pesach was here. We also knew that Pesach was here because it felt like there was nothing to eat—no pizza to pop in the toaster, no cereal to grab on

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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I know you receive many letters that begin with the author stating that he has never written a letter to the editor before, but in my case it is definitely true. Recently, I had an experience that made me feel a responsibility to share my thoughts with the members of our Five Towns community. We are surrounded by so much negativity that I wanted to publicize the positive side of our community as well. Anyone who has ever endured a medical crisis unfortunately knows that time stands still and all sense of normalcy disappears. When my child had a medical scare and I became the recipient of great kindness I realized the true importance of chessed. We were admitted to Long Island Jewish Children’s Hospital and were very unprepared. When

Cover painting, “Through Every Generation,” by Chava Roth. www.judaicafineart.com. 718-627-8583.

my child finally awoke from anesthesia and was allowed to eat he was starving but did not want to eat the hospital food. We were told to go to the Bikur Cholim room. Imagine our surprise to see it fully stocked with our son’s favorite food from Carlos & Gabby’s! It was also full of delicious dairy meals. It was really a lifesaver. This is a feeling that was shared by so many of the patients and their families. I did research and found out who started this program which is one hundred percent donated and volunteer-run. Although she did not want her name mentioned she did provide me with the names of the volunteers who I would like to thank in this forum. Firstly, a big thank you to Adam Kaye of Carlos & Gabby’s who provides fresh, delicious food to both North Shore and LIJ hospitals. Thank you to his manager, Robby, who always makes sure the food is prepared for delivery. Another thank you to the Katz family of Elite Caterers who provide all the delicious dairy meals and sandwiches. There are many wonderful women who volunteer to deliver the food despite their busy schedules. A tremendous thank you to Shoshana Korn

who is there every Monday doling out words of encouragement while feeding everyone. Other volunteers include Sharon Friedman, Atara Habib, Tova Rosenfeld, Nechama Eisenberger, Sara Bozchko, Julie Feinberg and Miriam Lichtman. I sincerely hope that no one will ever need these services but it is so comforting to know that in a crisis we are looking out for each other with such caring and compassion. A Reader Dear Editor, The recent departure of Brian Williams and his replacement Lester Holt may not have any long term impact on the ratings for NBC Evening News. Previous generations grew up around the television set, learning about events of the day. Everyone had their favorite: Cronkite, Mudd, Rather and Schaffer (CBS); Huntley and Brinkley or Brokaw (NBC); and Reynolds, Robinson, Smith, Reasoner, Walters and Jennings (ABC). Today’s generation has many more alternatives to select from including all news radio, cable new stations such as CNBC, CNN and FOX, PBS, BBC,

the Internet and bloggers. A growing population of new immigrants support their own television stations. Local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates along with independent stations have access to satellite broadcasts that cover many of the same stories carried by national news broadcasts. Local news stations sometimes send reporters to other parts of the nation and world for on the spot coverage. Our view of the world has changed over time. This may be due to the Big Three networks no longer having a monopoly on the news. New anchors may not make a difference in who tunes in. How fortunate we are to live in a free society with a wealth of information and news sources to select from. Sincerely, Larry Penner An Open Letter to the Five Towns Community: As a Belle Harbor resident, I have been really annoyed through the past few years that there has been an influx of people from the Five Towns community that has been driving through our neighborhood to go to Brooklyn I have three questions I ask you Five

Readers Poll Do you eat gebrokts on Pesach? 57% Yes 43% No

Letters to the Editor

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Dear Editor, I would like to express my hakaros hatov for the sensitive way in which you handled the Sassoon tragedy. May the family have continued strength and may Hashem grant them refuos and nechamos, as only He can. Wishing you a chag kosher v’sameach, Chaim R.

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Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.

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An Open Letter to Klal Yisroel, I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. I wanted to bring to your attention a very disturbing and disheartening matter that is affecting

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Rabbi Moshe Grossman

many Yiddishe neshamos. As we all know, Yom Tov in general is a very happy/busy/stressful time for all of us. Especially before Pesach, we are busy with preparations, and with the cleaning, shopping, and buying all that is necessary for Pesach. Something important seems to be overlooked and forgotten. Those people in Klal Yisroel who unfortunately are not lucky enough to have a complete family structure often feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of how they should be approaching Yom Tov. Especially Pesach, a Yom Tov where we declare “Kol Dichfin…” we should be keeping these people (widows, widowers, orphans, singles, and divorcees) in mind and invite them well in advance (three weeks prior to Yom Tov) to avoid the anxiety and lonely feelings they experience when everyone around them is caught up in their hustle and bustle of Yom Tov preparations and discussing their own Pesach plans, which often include lots of family and togetherness. Paradoxically, a close friend of mine who is divorced with an only child reported that people excused their lack of a Pesach invitation saying, “I am sorry, we don’t have guests by the Seder; Pesach is family time.” Often, a person’s own extended family turns a blind eye their plight, and happily goes about Yom Tov with their own family and married children. How can they proclaim “Kol Dichfin” when they are ignoring the needs of the people in their own family and community, who need a place to be? Something needs to be done to address this pressing problem. Yom Tov is almost upon us; how many people in your community still don’t know where they will be for this year’s Seder? Sincerely, Anonymous

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Towners: First of all, why do you Five Towners have to drive to Brooklyn in the first place? If you have work in Brooklyn, it’s one thing, but that’s not the reason why you drive through here. When I walk around Far Rockaway when it happens to be garbage day I see boxes from only supermarkets in Brooklyn like Pomegranate and KRM Kollel and very rarely do I see boxes from the Five Towns like Seasons and Gourmet Glatt. My question is why do YOU go the Brooklyn to shop and why can’t YOU shop where YOU live? Why can’t you guys take the Belt Parkway? Why b’davka do you guys have to go through Belle Harbor? Do you know you are harming a Jewish community? Let me explain: Whenever one of you guys drives through our neighborhood you are creating noise pollution, air pollution and cheapening the atmosphere of our neighborhood. People move to Belle Harbor because of its fresh air and quietness; the Satmar Rav zt”l used to summer here because of its fresh air and its quietness. Now that is not the case that the air is fresh. In fact, the air here is worse than the air in Manhattan. People are complaining about the air and about the atmosphere of the neighborhood and it’s all because of people that just don’t care. The Marine Park Bridge was built for the western end of the peninsula— not the eastern end! And you Five Towners have zero right to drive through here just because you guys want to shop in Brooklyn. I have two eitzas (ideas) for you Five Towners: Take the Belt Parkway. It’s free and there is no toll and you’re not harming our community. Shop in the Five Towns! Please take this in mind. I am a resident of Belle Harbor and I ask you with rachmanus to the bottom of my heart to please stop driving through Belle Harbor and please take the Belt instead.

Suri Bender & Pnina Rosenberg

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The Week In News

Global Original Auschwitz Document Discovered at High School

A typewritten page, stained and with its edges burnt, was discovered last month inside a 1923 Polish book

on the history of warfare during a library stock-taking at the 2nd Lyceum in Lodz, about 120 miles from Auschwitz. The page contained a list of Auschwitz prisoners and their inmate numbers. “We have no idea how or when it came to be in this book,” school director Jadwiga Ochocka confessed. Auschwitz museum spokesman Pawel Sawicki told the AP on Wednesday that historians are certain that it is authentic, but they will still test it in order to confirm its authenticity. “The burn marks suggest it was there to the end and was planned for burning,” Sawicki said. The list is dated May 21, 1941 and has the names of 15 inmates brought to Auschwitz that day from Lodz, Poznan and Katowice. The same names are on a longer list of 28 inmates brought in that day, which is held in the museum’s archives. According to historians, eight of the inmates on the list were murdered in Auschwitz. Two Poles – Czeslaw Fratczak and Boleslaw Kita – survived the war but have since died. The fate of the other five on the list, including a Polish Jew and a German, remain a mystery.

It’s Getting Hot over There

Looking for a new vacation spot? Why not try Antarctica? Sure, there aren’t any restaurants and the only people there are actually penguins, but the coldest continent recorded a record-breaking high of 63.5°F on Tuesday. Remember what it felt like in New York? I’ll remind you: mid-30s. Yup. Antarctica has been heating up in recent years. The region’s temperature has risen an average of 5°F in the last half century, according to the British Antarctic Survey. Studies have also documented melting ice along Antarctica’s coasts. Tuesday’s record is all the more impressive considering that it was set just one day after Antarctica had reached a new high of 63.3°F on Monday. Prior to those two record-setting days, the hottest the continent had ever gotten was 62.8°F on April 24, 1961. But the record is not yet official. The reading was logged on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, which may not be considered part of the continent in weather record keeping. The World Meteorological Organization is expected to examine whether the area was indeed in Antarctica or whether it is technically located in Argentina. Maybe you should try to vacation somewhere else. I heard Alaska is getting warmer…

4 Decades of Working as a Man to Provide for her Family It’s been over 40 years since Sisa Abu Daooh literally put on the pants in the family to provide for her fami-

ly. The Egyptian mother dressed as a man—in a traditional male robe and turban—and took up jobs in brickmaking and shoe shining to avoid being harassed in Egypt. Abu Daooh’s husband passed away in the 1970s when she was pregnant was her daughter. Few jobs were available at that time for illiterate women in the traditional society, and she found that by altering her appearance she was able to provide for her family.

“As to protect myself from men and the harshness of their looks and being targeted by them due to traditions, I decided to be a man … and dressed in their clothes and worked alongside them in other villages where no one knows me,” she recently told the media. Last week, the 65-year-old was awarded the “woman breadwinner” award by authorities in her hometown of Luxor and was congratulated in person by the Egyptian president. She was celebrated on Sunday in a ceremony at the Egyptian presidential palace, where she met President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi and received a prize of about $6,500. Wearing a traditional male robe and turban while receiving the award, Abu Daooh was praised by the president as “an exemplary working woman.“ Despite her age and her many years of work, Abu Daooh is still not retiring. Her son-in-law is unable to work and so she helps to contribute to the family’s income. “My mom is the one who still provides for the family,” Abu Dooah’s daughter said, according to Al Arabiya. “She wakes up every day at 6 a.m. to start polishing shoes at the station in Luxor. I carry the work kits for her as she ]is] now advanced in age.” Abu Dooah told The Guardian that she has gotten used to her men’s clothes and intends to spend the rest of her life in them. “I have decided to die in these clothes. I’ve got used to it. It’s my whole life and I can’t leave it now,” she related. Continued on page 14

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The Week In News Safest Cities in the World New cities keep popping up around the world and experts believe that this trend will continue for many decades to come. In the U.S. about 80% of the population lives in a city or suburb.

Along with the development of urban areas come some benefits but also many risks, like violent crime, contagious diseases, and even digital network vulnerabilities. But we all want to live in the safest place possible—with our children playing in the yard and frolicking in the sprinklers in the summer. Which cities are the safest in the world? The Economist Intelligence an-

alyzed four categories. Personal safety, which accounts for violent crime, was analyzed. Health security, which focuses on the city’s life expectancy, was reviewed. Researchers also studied infrastructure safety, this measures factors including road quality, car accidents and pedestrian deaths per year, deaths from natural disasters, and the percentage of the population living in urban slums.

Digital security was also factored in. Which cities are safest worldwide? It seems that not too many cities in the United States made the list, but New York did, so that’s a relief.

1. Tokyo 2. Singapore 3. Osaka, Japan 4. Stockholm, Sweden 5. Amsterdam 6. Sydney, Australia 7. Zurich 8. Toronto 9. Melbourne 11. New York City 12. Hong Kong 13. San Francisco 14. Taipei, Taiwan 15. Montreal 16. Barcelona 17. Chicago 18. Los Angeles 19. London 20. Washington, DC 21. Frankfurt, Germany

Museum Massacre Suspects Arrested

Twenty three suspects in Tunisia have been put in jail for their connection with the recent jihadist massacre at the country’s national museum. On March 18, 21 people were gunned down by two men wearing masks at the Bardo museum in Tunis. Of those killed, 20 were foreign tourists. The arrested men are believed to be part of a single terror cell. They were all Tunisians, and they accounted for

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“80 percent of this cell,” Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli revealed. Another Tunisian, two Moroccans and an Algerian suspected of being members of the cell are still on the run. The Tunisian fugitive, Maher Ben Mouldi Kaidi, is alleged to have provided the automatic weapons to the two gunmen. The head of the cell was among those arrested and identified as Mohamed Emine Guebli. The minister said the operation was mostly organized by an Algerian jihadist named Lokmane Abou Sakhr, one of the leaders of the alQaeda-linked Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade, the main Tunisian armed group active along the border with Algeria. Officials called into question the claim of responsibility for the attack from al-Qaeda’s jihadist rival, the Islamic State group. “Islamic State praised this attack for propaganda and publicity. But on the ground it was Okba Ibn Nafaa which belongs to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb that organized and committed this crime,” interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui said. Okba Ibn Nafaa has not responded since IS claimed responsibility for the attack. Tunisian authorities have blamed Okba Ibn Nafaa for a series of ambushes and attacks against security forces that have left some 60 dead since the end of 2012.

Key Syrian City Falls into Rebel Hands On Saturday, Islamic fighters marched into the city of Idlib in Syria taking almost full control of the northwestern city. The takeover was seen as a powerful blow to President Bashar Assad, whose forces rapidly collapsed after four days of heavy fighting, and a victory to Nusra Front, an arm of al Qaeda. The city is the second provincial capital to fall into opposition hands after Raqqa, now a stronghold of the Islamic State group. Its capture by the Nusra Front underscores the growing power of extremist groups in Syria who now control about half the country. Islamic fighters jubilantly swept in, taking over key buildings and tearing down posters of Assad. Shouts of “Allahu Akbar!” could be heard from the invaders. The Nusra Front is leading a group of ultra-conservative rebels in a major offensive that began earlier this week to take Idlib. They include the hardline Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa groups

and a few smaller groups loosely affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. With the takeover of Idlib, the Nusra Front further cements its hold over an impressive stretch of land it controls from the Turkish border to central and southern Syria. With the world’s attention focused on the Islamic State group, the Nusra Front has quietly consolidated its power in Syria in recent months, crushing moderate rebel groups the West may try to work with while increasingly enforcing its own brutal version of Islamic law. The humiliating losses in Idlib mark the second blow to government forces this week, after rebels, also led by Nusra, captured the ancient and strategic town of Busra Sham in southern Syria. On Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was angry and shamed by the failure of the world to stop Syria’s raging civil war. He promised to step up diplomatic efforts in comments at a summit of Arab leaders in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm elSheikh in Egypt. More than 220,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which began with popular protests amid Arab Spring uprisings in March 2011 and turned into an insurgency following a brutal military crackdown.

Amanda Knox Exonerated

After eight years of tension, Amanda Knox finally received relief last week when she and her former friend celebrated their shock acquittal in the murder case of Meredith Kercher. Eight years ago Kercher was found dead, and American Amanda Knox and Italian Raffaele Sollecito were convicted, then acquitted and then convicted again for her murder. Finally, on Friday, Italy’s top court threw the case out, ending the lengthy legal saga. Ivory Coast drifter Rudy Guede is now the only person doing time for Kercher’s 2007 murder. But judges have ruled that he did not act alone and there is still someone out there responsible for her murder.

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The Week In News prices have seen a surge of several percent since the strikes. Yemen has closed its main ports. The U.S. military has pledged that it will help ensure the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the tip of the Red Sea remains open.

Planning a Vacation? Head to Morocco

Just in time for summer trip planning, TripAdvisor released its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards. Millions of restaurants, hotels, and attractions along with reviews and ratings submitted by users in the last 12 months were analyzed.

Saudi Arabia Strikes at Yemen Rebels

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Gandhi’s team is now simplifying the rules, setting an online application tracking system, shedding excessive bureaucratic caution and launching a new foster-care program. But reform may not come easy, particularly with foreign adoptions. The number of adoptions by foreigners fell from 628 to 271 in the past four years because the government’s priority is to find Indian parents first. India also wants to limit foreign adoptions to less than 20 percent of the total. Earlier this month, a Parliament panel killed a government proposal to boost foreign adoption, saying that option

A united military force is being put together by Arab nations to fight the forces raging in Yemen, according to the Arab League’s Secretary General. The agreement came after warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies struck Shi’ite Muslim rebels fighting to oust Yemen’s president last week. The strike was a major gamble by the world’s top oil exporter to check Iranian influence in its backyard without direct military backing from Washington. “We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling,” Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, told a news conference in Washington. In a day of attacks, warplanes struck Houthi fighters near Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia. There

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There are more than 30 million orphans living in India, yet only about 2,500 were adopted last year, down from 5,700 four years ago. It’s not because perspective parents aren’t looking to adopt; complicated rules, endless delays, overcautious bureaucracy and illegal trafficking are stymying the process. Now, officials like Maneka Gandhi, the minister for women and child welfare, want to change that. “People have to wait for three to four years to adopt. That is inexcusable,” Gandhi said recently. “I want to overhaul the system so it takes not more than four months to adopt.”

was also heavy street fighting in Houta, north of Aden, in which five pro-Houthi fighters and four militiamen were killed. “The task of the force will be rapid military intervention to deal with security threats to Arab nations,” Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the Arab League, told reporters after the meeting in the resort of Sharm El-Sheik. He said that within a month more details would be made available to the public. Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi left his refuge in Aden under Saudi protection and arrived in Saudi Arabia as Houthi rebels battled with forces still loyal to him on the outskirts of the southern port city. The Houthis have taken over much of the country in their campaign to oust Hadi. The Saudi-led military intervention marked a major escalation of the Yemen crisis in which Iran supports the Houthis, and Sunni Muslim monarchies in the Gulf back Hadi and his fellow Sunni loyalists in Yemen’s south. Iran denounced the surprise assault on the Houthis and demanded an immediate halt to Saudi-led military operations. A widening Yemen conflict could pose risks for global oil supplies, and oil

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India Vows to Improve Orphan Adoption Process

must be explored only when there is a problem finding suitable parents within India. Additionally, observers say that there are fewer children coming into licensed adoption agencies because of a thriving illegal market that siphons off abandoned infants from hospitals directly to couples. Those who try to adopt legally face long, frustrating waits. Some lose patience and give up. And others may bribe an official or call a VIP to jump the line. “A large number of children go missing every year in India, and the number of infants is huge,” said Bhuwan Ribhu, a child rights activist with the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which teamed up with police in New Delhi last year to bust illegal children’s homes. Some children even disappear from hospitals with the help of nurses and doctors. “It shows that there is a big illegal adoption market.” Surveillance camera footage installed at hospitals and crowded train stations have in the past three years shown images of infants being stolen in big cities like New Delhi and Mumbai.

THE JEWISH HOME

In her summing up, Sollecito’s lawyer Giulia Bongiorno told the court the case should be dismissed because of a “cascade of errors” committed by both police and previous judges, including DNA contamination and a 40 day delay in collecting a key piece of evidence which had been kicked across the room. None of Amanda Knox’s DNA was found in the room. Lawyers have said they would immediately request compensation for the four years the pair wrongly spent behind bars.

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News Marrakesh, Morocco, was the top-rated destination in the world, with New York City claiming No. 1 in the U.S. Coming in second was Siem Reap, Cambodia, which increased seven spots from last year’s list. Last year the top-rated destination was Istanbul, Turkey, which fell two spots to No. 3 this year. “Winners change from year to year based on feedback from the community of millions,” TripAdvisor spokeswoman Julie Cassetina said of the two fast-risers. “These fantastic destinations offer a myriad of places to discover— from cultural sights, to renowned eateries, and highly rated hotels.” Where should you head to on your next vacation? Consider these ten cities that were winners of this year’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: 1. Marrakesh, Morocco 2. Siem Reap, Cambodia 3. Istanbul, Turkey 4. Hanoi, Vietnam 5. Prague, Czech Republic 6. London, England 7. Rome, Italy 8. Buenos Aires, Argentina 9. Paris, France 10. Cape Town, South Africa

Germanwings Pilot Suffered Psychological Illness

Andreas Lubitz, the Germanwings co-pilot believed to have intentionally crashed a jet into the French Alps, is said to have been suffering from a psychosomatic illness. He was being treated by several neurologists and psychiatrists for his sickness, according to a source close with the investigation. Police have started questioning those close to the first officer on the flight to try and understand what may have caused him to deliberately steer the plane into a mountainside. Investigators are focusing on the 27-yearold’s mental health after they found a doctor’s note among torn-up medical

documents certifying him unfit for work on the day of the crash. Authorities said he hadn’t told Germanwings about his medical condition. According to the New York Times, Lubitz sought treatment for vision problems that may have put an end to his career as a pilot. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the sight problem may have been psychosomatic. Psychosomatic disorders are physical diseases that are thought to have mental causes such as stress and anxiety. Prosecutors believe, based on their initial findings from the cockpit voice recorder, that Lubitz was alone in the cockpit and barred the captain from re-entering as he crashed the Airbus A320, killing himself and 149 passengers and crew. It’s the worst air disaster for Germanwings parent Deutsche Lufthansa AG since the carrier’s refounding in 1955. No suicide note was found on Thursday when police searched Lubitz’s Dusseldorf apartment and his parents’ house about 140 kilometers away. According to prosecutors, there was no evidence of a political or religious motive for his actions. Germanwings and Lufthansa ran full-page advertisements in the largest German newspapers mourning the 150 deceased, expressing their condolences to relatives and friends of those who died, and thanking people who are counseling dependents, helping retrieve bodies, and uncovering evidence.

Israel

17.7 million shekels ($4.49 million) for the yet-to-be built property. While not the most expensive apartment in the country (that honor goes to a NIS 81 million apartment on Tel Aviv’s shoreline), at NIS 84,000 ($21,285) per square meter, it clocks in as the capital’s priciest apartment by area. The 212-square-meter apartment (2,281 square feet) is part of the new luxury Isrotel complex under construction in Jerusalem’s tony German Colony neighborhood. The hotel and apartment complex is slated to open in 2016. The complex has 11 apartments, which average NIS 70,000 per square meter. Two 19th-century German Templer structures are being incorporated into the project. “This is the first time in the company’s history that we’re selling apartments,” Isrotel CEO Lior Yaniv told the Globes business news outlet in 2014. “The apartments, which the buyers will fully own, are completely separate from the hotel building. The residents will have the option of using the hotel’s services, including the spa, fitness room, and swimming pool, but they will have a completely separate building, which includes underground parking with direct access to the apartments, allowing privacy.” Isrotel, which own 17 other hotels in the country, bought the property in 2011 for NIS 127.7 million ($32.4 million).

Released Syrian Prisoner Caught Spying

Highest Price Ever for Apartment Space

Though some people are having a really tough time affording an apartment in Jerusalem, this guy clearly isn’t. An anonymous Jew from Switzerland bought the most expensive apartment per square meter ever sold in Jerusalem last week, shelling out a cool

Siddqui Al Maqt, 48, was recently let out of an Israeli prison. Now, he has been arrested again following a lengthy investigation by police and the Shin Bet. He is being held on charges of espionage after he allegedly passed photocopied materials, reports and observations on IDF activity in the Golan Heights to Syrian intelligence sources. He stands accused of espionage, abetting an enemy during wartime, supporting a terror organization, having contact with a foreign agent and other security

The Week In News

“Father of Rockets” to be Jailed for 21 Years

21 years in jail: that was the verdict handed down on Thursday by the Beersheba District Court for convicted Hamas engineer Dirar Abu Sissi. The infamous rocket maker was nabbed four years ago by Israel. Abu Sissi, known as the “father of rockets,” was convicted as part of a plea bargain that saw him charged with conspiracy to commit murder, arms manufacture, membership in a terror organization and possession of weapons. Prosecutors did not, however, seek an attempted murder charge. The Hamas engineer has been held

A huge summer conference is planned to take place in Hebrew University this summer which will feature 20 Nobel Prize laureates in science, dozens of world renowned scientists, and 400 young people considered the future generation of global science. According to the organizers, the World Science Conference – Israel (WSCI) will be the biggest conference of its kind ever held in the world. The event was initiated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, American Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry Prof. Roger Kornberg, the Ministry of Science, the Prime Minister’s Office and Hebrew University. The event is set to last several days. Its participants will arrive from 60 countries and its organization is expected to cost about $1.25 million. The participants will all stay in the same hotel, which will turn during the conference into a sort of scientific Olympic village

2 Life Terms for Palestinian Murderer

MARCH 31, 2015

Mega Meeting of the Minds

for young and old brilliant minds. “This unprecedented initiative will create a unique Israeli platform for advancing science and will present Israel as a country which promotes innovation, creativity and initiative,” said Yuval Rotem, senior deputy director-general for public diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry. “Our goal is to bring together those who will be the world’s leading scientists in the next 10 or 20 years with those who have already done it, so that they can share their experience and serve as a source of inspiration. The conference’s young participants are a selected group of science prodigies.” According to Rotem, the conference will help strengthen Israel’s image in the world. Prof. Kornberg, one of the organizers, expressed his hope that the event would mark the beginning of a long-term tradition which would bring together brilliant scientists from around the world in Jerusalem every year. Hebrew University President Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson said the university was “proud to play a key role in such an important national project which serves as a wonderful opportunity to expand Israel’s positive image in the academic and scientific fields.”

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in Israel since he was nabbed while traveling in Ukraine in 2011. Abu Sissi was an official with the military college of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and was involved in increasing the range of Kassam rockets from six kilometers to 22 kilometers. His work centered mainly on the rocket’s stabilizer fins and fuel chambers. He was also involved in the production of various types of projectiles, including mortar shells and several types of rockets. Abu Sissi holds a PhD in electric engineering from the Military Academy of Engineering in Ukraine and has also taken courses on the control systems of Scud-type missiles. According to international media outlets, he was abducted while traveling to Kiev by train with his wife, en route to take out a visa and immigrate to Ukraine. He was then flown to Israel accompanied by Israeli agents.

THE JEWISH HOME

offenses. Al Maqt was released from an Israeli prison two and a half years ago after serving a 27-year sentence. He was first imprisoned in 1985 on charges of terrorist activity and was released in August 2012. Police said that he returned to nationalist activity immediately after his release. “He began to spread incitement and promote nationalistic activities in the Golan Heights and the Palestinian Authority,” said the chief of the police investigation team, Superintendent Eli Fuchs. “He supports Hezbollah, Iran and Bashar Assad. He believes the Golan Heights belongs to Syria and that it must be returned to Syria.” According to police sources, Al Maqt admitted to the charges during questioning and also confessed to contacting Medhat Saleh, a Syrian government member known for ties to Syrian intelligence. “He cooperated and confessed to most of the charges against him,” said police. “He speaks to us from an ideological standpoint; he considers himself a Syrian citizen serving his country and believes wholeheartedly that he was doing good.” They added that the large-scale investigation began months before the arrest that included police detectives, police intelligences, the Shin Bet and the IDF.

Two life imprisonment terms were handed down this week to the Palestinian terrorist who killed an Israeli woman and injured two others in an attack in November. The judges stated during the sentencing hearing that “one [life sentence] was given for the murder, and the other for the attempted murders.” “This verdict will never be able to provide relief to the family of the deceased, but it condemns and expresses disgust of the

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News accused’s actions,” the judges added. Maher Hamdi el-Hashalmoun killed Dalia Lemkus, the 26-year-old daughter of immigrants from South Africa while she was hitchhiking from a bus stop outside the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut. She lived in nearby Tekoa. Two men were also injured in the attack. The military court also ordered el-Hashalmoun, a resident of Hebron, to pay nearly NIS 4 million in compensation to the Lemkus family. The terrorist expressed no regret when he was given the right to speak during the trial. “The problem is with you Jews is that you don’t understand that the al-Aqsa mosque is our holiest location. We set our eyes on Jerusalem and are willing to die for it,” he charged. During the attack, el-Hashalmoun first tried to ram his minivan into the three people waiting at the bus stop. When he failed to run them over, he left his car and attacked them with a knife until he was finally shot by a passerby. El-Hashalmoun, affiliated with Islamic Jihad, spent four and a half years in Israeli custody for throwing Molotov cocktails and was released five years ago. During the hearing, Brenda Lemkus, the victim’s mother, turned to the judg-

es and asked them for the death penalty, although death penalties have never been imposed by Israeli judges against terrorists. “I ask that the court decide on the death penalty. Prison for him will be a hotel, after which he will be released, and that’s why the only way to deter is death, so that he will not be released in a future diplomatic deal,” Lemkus said in court.

Anti-Anti-Israel Bill Introduced

New legislation is being sponsored to prevent the boycott of Israel and its exports. Republican Congressmen Doug Lamborn of Colorado and Ron DeSantis

of Florida have written the Boycott Our Enemies, Not Israel Act. Under the act, prospective contractors with the U.S. government would be required to certify that they are not participating in any boycotts against Israel. The bill also includes penalties for false certification, including permanently banning a company from doing business with the government. “Our government business practices should not play any role in harming our greatest ally in the Middle East,” Lamborn said in a statement, adding that the bill was introduced to “thwart efforts by Palestinian organizations to pressure different corporations, companies and educational institutions to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel.” “The BDS movement represents a disgraceful attempt to single out Israel for punitive treatment,” the congressman said.

National Funny Food Felonies There are some laws that almost all Americans are familiar with. “Don’t speed” is well-known, and jaywalking has had plenty of press. But less wellknown are some of the USA’s strange food laws that have made it into the books. Here are some of the oddest food laws from around the country. In Gainesville, Georgia, you have to eat fried chicken with your hands. The chief of police even arrested a 91-yearold lady for using a fork in 2009… before swiftly pardoning her and dubbing her an “Honorary Georgia Poultry Princess.” And, unless you get special permission, it is illegal to convert oysters or oyster shells into lime, chicken meal, or road construction materials. The sale of plastic water bottles is not allowed in Concord, Massachusetts. In San Francisco, another spot that passed similar legislation, it’s only illegal on city-owned property. The ban was pushed by local environmentalists who are committed to conserving fossil fuels and keeping people drinking from the tap. Gulp. Taking waste kitchen grease is an offense in North Carolina, and you could be in real trouble depending on how much you swipe. If the grease is valued at $1,000 or lower (by local grease appraisers, of course) you’ve committed a Class 1 misdemeanor. But if that grease is worth over $1,000, you’ve just committed a felony.

Fish have to be caught in a barrel in Wyoming, where people are prohibited from taking, hurting, or obliterating a fish with a gun. And if you work in a cheese factory in Tennessee, be careful to take regular coffee breaks, as it’s illegal to fall asleep in any room of a “bakeshop, kitchen, dining room, confectionery, creamery, cheese factory, or place where food is prepared for sale, served, or sold.” Wisconsin believes no one should be subjected to margarine, not even incarcerated criminals. Under their regulations, butter substitutes may not be served to “students, patients, or inmates of any state institution” unless a physician orders it for their health. San Francisco is serious about its open-container laws, especially when it comes to baked goods. Carrying any breads or pastries in a basket or “exposed” container could earn you a hefty fine — though at least San Francisco bakers can turn their containers into road construction materials whenever they please.

Senate Minority Leader Reid to Retire

On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced he will not seek re-election for another term. Reid, 75, who was first elected to the Senate in 1986, issued a statement saying that his sole desire is to ensure that Democrats regain control of the Senate next year. He wrote in the statement that it would be “inappropriate for me to soak up all those resources when I could be devoting those resources to the caucus, and that’s what I intend to do.” Reid also revealed that an exercising accident earlier this year left him severeContinued on page 26

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Back in year 1917, two female associates of The Guardian Life Insurance’s field force, Emma Beckmann and Clara Knight earned a dominant place at the prestigious leaders club. The Leaders Club was established that very year of 1917 to distinguish the company’s top sales performers. The two, selected from just eight female producers amongst a large group of male agents, merited their own newsworthy article titled, “A Lesson For Full-Time Men.” It’s the lesson that keeps teaching. Female financial representatives have since proven to be strong contenders in the financial service community.

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have become significant household earners, and more often the key decision makers. The growing dominance of the women’s influence has increased the need for female financial representatives and statistics support that. Did you know that 60%* of women say they are the primary breadwinners in their households? And that over 90%* of women feel they need to be more involved in financial planning?

BE MEANINGFUL Being a financial representative is about being in the business of helping other people. It’s about providing security and stability, insuring people’s future and legacy. It’s about finding the right protection for every individual. It’s about being determined and passionate, it’s about being motivated and inspired to succeed. It’s an opportunity to use the skills you naturally possess, to be in control and essentially run your own business. Do you think you are that woman? Are you the women with great mom or wife skills, integrity, a people person, and looking to do something meaningful while earning a substantial, unlimited income, all at your own hours?

will start with an elite group of ten carefully selected women. All you need is the passion to help people and the desire to succeed. BFG will train its elite group of ten women with one of the top female producers of the industry. Every chosen financial representative will be exquisitely trained, guided thoroughly and supported fully for a full three years of industry initiation. Each of the assiduously selected female associate of The Emma Beckmann Women Association will be assigned a female agent of support to accompany the new associate’s journey, joining in at sales meetings when necessary, or just to give general guidance and support.

AND WHAT’S MORE, Yes, With a lot of hard work you have the potential to net significant earnings. Can you imagine the potential as your experience and determination grows? Call now to set up your interview with BFG’s Boro Park headquarters and a chance to join the Elite 10 of The Emma Beckmann Women’s Association.

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A BIT OF HISTORY

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The Week In News ly bruised and that he is still struggling to regain full sight in his right eye. He explained that the accident had allowed him time to contemplate and he concluded that his primary concern should be the country, the Senate, and the state of Nevada. His term will be complete in 2016 and he plans to retire at that time.

National Guard Specialist Attempted to Join ISIS A 22-year-old Army National Guard specialist was arrested by FBI agents

on Wednesday while on his way overseas to join the Islamic State, federal authorities announced on Thursday. Authorities say the man and his cousin, who was also arrested on Thursday, had been planning an attack on a U.S. military installation. Hasan Edmonds, 22, was arrested by FBI agents on Wednesday after be-

ing accused of attempting to leave the country to join the Islamic State military. Edmonds was an Army National Guard specialist. Authorities revealed that they suspect Edmonds and his cousin, Jonas Edmonds, 29, both U.S. citizens, were in the process of planning an attack to be carried out on a U.S. military installation. Jonas Edmonds, 29, was arrested in his home in Chicago.

The Justice Department said on Thursday that Hasan Edmonds first came to the FBI’s attention in late 2014. According to court documents, by early 2015 he was communicating with an undercover agent working for the FBI. The agent requested Hasan Edmond as a friend on Facebook and the two began communicating. Hasan Edmonds and the agent allegedly discussed avoiding detection by law enforcement, as well as potential places to attack. “It would be hard to pull off a lager (sic) scale attack on the government but police stations and courts are pretty easy and it’s been done before,” Hasan allegedly wrote in one message in late January. Initially all their contact was through Facebook or email but it was eventually moved to a platform that the FBI said is accessible on cellphones. Sooner or later they planned to have Jonas Edmonds carry out a terrorist attack after his cousin had left the country. Then in February, Hasan’s cousin was introduced to another undercover FBI agent by a confidential law enforcement source. Court documents indicate that Jonas Edmonds told the agent that he was still dealing with the fallout of an arrest from when he was younger. His prior conviction, Jonas Edmonds reportedly said, prevented him from traveling outside the U.S., so he had to plan his attack in the country. He also told the agent that they would use his cousin’s army uniforms to carry out the plan. At some point last month, when communicating with the undercover agent, Hasan Edmonds purportedly said, “Honestly, we would love to do something like the brother in Paris did,” an apparent reference to

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The Week In News the attack on the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January. The two cousins met with the agent on Tuesday to discuss the details of their plan. According to court documents, Jonas Edmonds said the attack on the military installation could result in a “body count” of 100 to 150 people, while his cousin estimated it would be closer to 120. At the meeting, they also discussed buying weapons and how to carry out the attack. On Tuesday, the two cousins and the agent allegedly drove to the site they were planning to attack. The target, federal authorities said, was the U.S. military facility where Hasan Edmonds had been training. The exact location, name of the military base, or date of the planned attack was not indicated in court documents. On Wednesday afternoon the two relatives were seen leaving their home in a minivan to drive to the airport. But they never made it to their intended destination. Hasan Edmonds was taken into custody after he went through security, while his cousin was arrested at home.

A Soda Nation Coke or Pepsi? Or neither? Much to former NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s dismay, Americans are still chugging sugary drinks. An annual report by the industry tracker Beverage Digest found that while the overall soda volume slipped 0.9 percent last year, the biggest decrease was in diet soda drinkers and less of a fall in sugary soda drinkers.

This is the tenth consecutive year (2014) that there has been a decline; in 2013 there was a 3% decline in overall soda consumption. Since 2004, there have been campaigns across the nation to spread awareness of the negative

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consequences of excessive sugary drink consumption, like weight gain. Diet sodas aren’t the answer. They contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame that have been labeled as unhealthy. The American Beverage Association, which represents Coke, Pepsi and others, is trying to address the shift away from diet sodas in part by funding studies showing the benefits of the drinks. After Diet Coke hijacked the number two spot from Pepsi in 2010, this year Diet Coke suffered the steepest drop and Mr. Pepsi was able to regain his spot at number two. Coke remained the most popular soda in the U.S., sold close to twice as much as Pepsi (No. 2). John Sicher, publisher of Beverage Digest, attributed the moderation in soda’s decline in 2014 to the continued growth of energy drinks. He also noted that Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group have improved marketing for their soda brands. Regardless of the continuing decline of soda volume, the broader U.S. beverage industry performed better than 2013 with a growth of 1.7 percent, according to Beverage Digest.

That increase includes bottled water sales which is credited for driving the increase for those companies.

Two Missing in NYC Gas Explosion

Manhattan’s East Village was shaken by a blast on Thursday afternoon. Two buildings caught fire and then collapsed after the explosion; two adjacent buildings caught fire as well but remained standing. At the time of the explosion, plumb-

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The Week In News

Overworked? Probably most of you are shouting, “YES!” in your minds but there is actually real, hard proof as to which cities are home to America’s hardest workers. Recently, WalletHub

Pesach is a time for family, a time when we spend hours around the Seder and yom tov table talking, eating and enjoying our children. But are we spend-

“I could literally show you 20 charts, and 19 of them would show no relationship between the amount of parents’ time and children’s outcomes. . . . Nada. Zippo,” said Melissa Milkie, a sociologist at the University of Toronto and one

of the report’s authors. When parents, especially mothers, are stressed, sleep-deprived, guilty or anxious, time spent with their children can actually affect their children detrimentally. “Mothers’ stress, especially when mothers are stressed because of the juggling with work and trying to find time with kids, that may actually be affecting their kids poorly,” said co-author Kei Nomaguchi, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University. Before you send your kids alone on their Pesach trips, despite this study’s results, remember that this is just one report; plenty of studies have shown links between quality parent time — such as reading to a child, sharing meals, talking with them or otherwise engaging with them one-on-one — and positive outcomes for kids. The same is true for parents’ warmth and sensitivity toward their children. But this study says that it’s not the quantity of time that matters. It’s the quality. “In an ideal world, this study would alleviate parents’ guilt about the amount of time they spend,” Milkie said, “and show instead what’s really important for kids.”

Best Wishes For Chag Kosher VeSameach

Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz

27th Assembly District 159-06 71 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11365 718-969-1508

MARCH 31, 2015

Do we Spend Enough Time with Our Children?

ing enough time with our kids? Well, a new study, published in April in the Journal of Marriage and Family, has revealed that we spend more than enough time with our kids. In fact, it appears the amount of time parents spend with their kids between the ages of 3 and 11 has virtually no relationship on how their children turn out, and a minimal effect on adolescents.

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Where do the Hardest Working Americans Live?

examined the 116 most populated cities in the country to see who’s working the hardest. Rankings were based on average weekly hours worked, labor force participation rate, and number of workers with multiple jobs. The truth is, Americans work too much overall. The average American worker is a shocking 400 percent more productive than the average worker in 1950, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regionally, the northwestern section of the U.S. has the highest labor force participation, with states like Washington, Montana and the Dakotas leading the way. Texans worked the longest hours but people in Alaska had some of the highest rates of labor force participation, along with the longest workweeks. These states are home to the hardest working Americans. Tell them to take a vacation. 1. Anchorage, Alaska Average work hours per week: 40.7 Labor force participation: 79.2 percent 2. Virginia Beach, Virginia Average work hours per week: 40.1 Labor force participation: 77.8 percent 3. Plano, Texas Average work hours per week: 40.6 Labor force participation: 78.7 percent 4. Cheyenne, Wyoming Average work hours per week: 39.8 Labor force participation: 78.1 percent 5. Irving, Texas Average work hours per week: 40.1 Labor force participation: 78.5 percent 6. Garland, Texas (tie) Average work hours per week: 39.5 Labor force participation: 78.25 percent 6. Jersey City, New Jersey (tie) Average work hours per week: 39.5 Labor force participation: 75 percent 8. San Francisco, California Average work hours per week: 39.6 Labor force participation: 79.1 percent 9. Denver, Colorado Average work hours per week: 38.9 Labor force participation: 78.5 percent 10. Chesapeake, Virginia Average work hours per week: 39.3 Labor force participation: 75 percent

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ing and gas work was being done in one of the buildings. A Con Edison utility inspector was on the scene just an hour earlier and determined the work was not satisfactory. Inspectors said the service upgrade failed inspection partially because there was insufficient space for installation of a meter in the basement. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials surveyed the devastated scene that injured 19 and left two people missing since the blast. “We are looking into two individuals who are apparently unaccounted for,” said a New York Police Department spokeswoman. One of the missing persons has been identified in local media as Nicholas Figueroa, 23, who was having lunch with a co-worker at a sushi restaurant on the first level of one of the buildings. His co-worker was taken to Bellevue Hospital with injuries. His family told the New York Times that a bank statement showed he had used a debit card to pay $13.04 to Sushi Park that day. Moises Lucon, 27, also missing, worked in one of the restaurants as a busboy. Firefighters and rescue teams continued to search through rubble, some that was still burning by Friday, said a fire department spokesman. “We’re putting out smoldering debris,” he said. Two buildings entirely collapsed, a third mostly collapsed and will have to be razed, and the fourth had severe fire damage but was structurally sound, according to fire officials. The damaged buildings housed 49 apartments, and the American Red Cross said 90 individuals registered for assistance after they were displaced by the blast.

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News But if Milkie’s study makes clear that quality, not quantity, counts, then how much quality time is enough? Milkie’s study doesn’t say. “I’m not aware of any rich and telling literature on whether there’s a ‘sweet spot’ of the right amount of time to spend with kids,” said Matthew Biel, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Georgetown University Medical Center. The amount of time mothers and fathers spend with their children has been climbing since the 1970s. Fathers’ time has nearly tripled from 2.6 hours a week spent with kids in 1965 to 7.2 in 2010. Mothers’ time with children rose from 10.5 hours a week in 1965 to 13.7 in 2010. Interestingly, working mothers today, an earlier groundbreaking study of Milkie’s found, are spending as much time with their children as at-home mothers did in the early 1970s. “I was really surprised,” she said. “And we don’t find mothers’ work hours matter much at all.” With adolescents, though, the study shows, the more time a teen spends with their mother, the fewer instances of delinquent behavior. And the more time teens spend with both their parents together in family time, such as during meals, the less likely they are to abuse drugs and alcohol and engage in other risky or illegal behavior. They also achieve higher math scores. Building relationships, seizing quality moments of connection, not quantity, Milkie said, is what emerging research is showing to be most important for both parent and child well-being. “The amount of time doesn’t matter, but these little pieces of time do,” she said. Her advice to parents? “Just don’t worry so much about time.” And give your children your full, undivided love and attention.

Bergdahl Describes Life as Taliban Prisoner

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has been charged by the U.S. Army for desertion and misbehavior in the face of the enemy in connection with his capture. In the early morning hours of June 30, 2009, Bergdahl, 28, vanished from Combat Outpost Mest-Lalak in Paktika Province in eastern Afghanistan after pulling early morning guard duty. His weapon, ammunition, and body armor were all left behind. The U.S. searched for him for five years until he was released from Taliban custody in a controversial prisoner swap last summer. On Wednesday, a statement was released by his attorney, Eugene Fidell, with a firsthand account of his suffering as a Taliban prisoner. Bergdahl claims he attempted to escape his captors many times The sergeant said his first escape attempt was within hours of his kidnapping, when he was left alone for a few minutes in a village after being interrogated and beaten for dodging questions. “After a while, they put the blindfold back on and threw the blanket over my head. Some moments after that I believed I had a chance to run for it and did,” Bergdahl said. However, according to Bergdahl, he

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didn’t make it far before he was tackled to the ground at the edge of the village and beaten by a group of men. He described being pummeled by fists and knocked in the head with a rifle. His second attempt to escape was later that week when he managed to elude his captors for close to 15 minutes in a populated area. He was found and beaten with a rubber hose. “After my first two escape attempts, for about three months I was chained to a bed spread-eagle and blindfolded,” he recalled. “The blindfold was only taken off a few times a day to allow me to eat and use the latrine.” When his muscles began to weaken and it was difficult for him to walk, his captors unchained one of his hands from above his head and tied it to his side so that he could sit up in bed. He developed sores from the chafing of the chains and they became infected, with the infection spreading to his face and other parts of his body. After those first three months he was never fully chained to a bed again, but he was forced to remain in chains attached to unmovable objects. His imprisoners fed him noodles or rice along with two bottles of water a day. He was beaten often with a copper cable. In one instance, about a year into his captivity, Bergdahl was free for a full nine days until he was found by his captors and beaten brutally. He escaped the building where he was being held. “Without food and only putrid water to drink, my body failed on top of a short mountain close to evening,” he wrote. “After I came to in the dying gray light of the evening, I was found by a large Taliban searching group.” “This is the time that my body reached the worst point of condition and for approximately the next year and a half I would not recover from it,” he recalled. If convicted, the former sergeant can face a lifetime in prison. Additionally, he could also be reduced in rank to private, forfeit all salary, and receive a dishonorable discharge.

Tornado Season Begins in the Midwest To most of us, the upcoming spring season conjures pleasant feelings (or hopes) of lighter jackets and open windows. But with the pleasantness comes tornado season for many regions in the U.S. Tornado season usually begins in

March but due to cold weather patterns, the regions were deprived of warm, moist air which fuels big storms. After a late start this year, the season started with a fierce bang on Wednesday evening when tornadoes hit Tulsa, Oklahoma, just during rush hour.

There was one fatality, more than a dozen injuries, and a whole lot of damage when the tornado rushed in. Tulsa County Sheriff’s Capt. Billy McKelvey said an individual was killed in a mobile home park near suburban Sand Springs. The park that could host about 50 trailers was almost completely destroyed during the storm but it is unknown yet whether the park was directly hit by the tornado or if it was residual winds that crushed the trees there. Tornadoes were spotted on the radar in other parts of Oklahoma and in Arkansas, but thankfully no injuries or severe damage was reported. A small scale tornado passed through Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb in which 24 people lost their lives in a deadly tornado in 2013. This series of storms broke a hiatus of over a month without tornadoes in the nation. Until this week’s storms, there were only about 24 twisters recorded when normally there is an average of 120. According to statistics from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, the last time there were no twisters in March was almost 50 years ago.

Shooting at NSA Leaves 1 Dead On Monday morning, two people in a vehicle attempted to ram a gate at Fort Meade, a military installation in Anne Arundel County that houses the National Security Agency. When they could not break the barrier, the fired at personnel there. One person was killed and at least one other was injured in the attack. No details were immediately avail-

The Week In News

The House is finally getting some work done… On Thursday, a bill was passed to fund Medicare. The $214 billion package will extend healthcare for children of poor families. In an unusual moment of bipartisanship for Congress, the bill was passed with a landslide 392-37 vote.

Florida Boasts Most of America’s Fastest Growing Cities

You’re not the only one who is ready to migrate to Florida after this blustery winter; in fact, the Southern state is home to some of the fastest growing cities in the nation. But it’s not just the weather that’s luring people to the Sunshine State. The state’s welcoming nature, job market, and various construction job opportunities are major attractions for many. It is also a retirement haven to older people looking to hang their hat as they lay in their hammocks. On Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau released new figures revealing that Florida is home to six of the nation’s 20 fastest-growing metro areas from July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2014. In this span of time, the Sunshine State added another 192,000 people and exceeded New York

to become the nation’s third most-populous state with 19.9 million residents. The only two states with bigger populations are California and Texas. “Part of the population growth is everybody is coming back since there are jobs aplenty and construction is on fire,” said Jeff Briggs, planning manager for the City of Winter Park, one of the most affluent communities in metro Orlando. More than half of Florida’s growth last year came from three metropolitan areas: South Florida, Orlando and Tampa. South Florida, an area stretching from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade County with 5.9 million residents, had the eighth-highest population increase in the nation with a jump of 66,000 new residents from July 2013 to July 2014. Metro Orlando, with a population of 2.3 million people, increased by about 50,000 new residents. The Tampa region increased by 41,000 people and now stands at 2.9 million residents.

Distracted Driving Leads to Deaths

Texting and driving is gaining traction as one of the leading causes of automotive death every year, many resulting in fatalities. The AAA Foundation for Traffic

MARCH 31, 2015

Congress Approves Bipartisan Medicare Package

fice says it costs less than keeping the current system in place and increasingly saves money after 10 years. Nevertheless, if even one senator opposes the passing of the bill it can be delayed since it requires unanimous consent.

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“The shooting scene is contained, and we do not believe it is related to terrorism,” said Amy J. Thoreson, a spokeswoman for the FBI. She said the incident is being investigated by the FBI with NSA Police and other law enforcement agencies. Fort Meade has about 11,000 military personnel and another 29,000 civilian employees. It houses other federal agencies in addition to the NSA. Earlier this month, a Beltsville man was arrested in a string of shooting incidents at public buildings around suburban Maryland, including one shooting at a NSA building. Hong Young, 35, a former prison guard, was a suspect in shootings at nine locations. No one was seriously injured in any of the incidents, which also occurred outside stores and along an interstate in Maryland. He told investigators that he was “hearing voices” that told him to fire the shots. Police found 10 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a crossbow in a search of his home.

“If someone came down from Mars today into this chamber, they’d be shocked at this camaraderie,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.). “This is great. You’ve got to admit, this is a good feeling.” “This has been an incredible week,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). “First, Ted Cruz signs up for Obamacare. Now we have this bipartisan compromise on the doc fix, it reauthorizes CHIP and provides money to our community health centers. Who knows? If this is contagious, maybe next week we’ll deal with climate change.” “I would say to the American people, don’t look now but we are actually governing,” said Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.). “Imagine where we’ll be in a year from today, when we’re not trying to come up with another $1 billion Band-Aid.” The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 appeals to all parties. It amends the “doc fix” which until now has been cutting the rates doctors get paid by Medicare. The new proposal will offer gradual increases to doctors. Democrats approve of the bill’s plan to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for two years. Republicans like its $70 billion offset, which stems from structural changes to Medicare, like requiring high-income seniors to pay more and reducing spending on Medigap plans. The plan has been approved by the president and the last hurdle is Senate. But they don’t have very long to think about it being that the current “doc fix” expires on March 31, which means doctors will start being hit with a 20 percent payment cut from Medicare if the Senate doesn’t act fast. Many doctors have informed patients that they will no longer accept their Medicare plans as of April 1. It doesn’t help that most of Congress will be sunning themselves on an exotic beach somewhere far away, as they begin a two week recess this Friday. This leaves the Senate with two choices: unanimously agree to pass the House bill or wait till mid-April to rehash out the details. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hinted on Thursday that she expected the Senate to pass the bill before leaving town. “I believe this will move,” she told reporters. However, there have already been some signs of resistance. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said that he’s not thrilled that the bill contributes to the country’s deficit. He feels there should be time to make changes since the bill adds $141 billion to the deficit over 10 years, though the Congressional Budget Of-

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able after the shooting, but law enforcement officials said police officers with the National Security Agency shot at the two people in the vehicle. One of them was killed. It seemed as if the two men inside the vehicle were dressed as women.

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News Safety recently analyzed nearly 1,700 videos that show the actions of teen drivers in the moments before a crash. They concluded that in 6 out of 10 crashes, distractions were the major contributing factor. This rate is far greater than previous estimates based on police reports. Researchers don’t usually have access to crash videos that show what

drivers were doing in the seconds leading up to the impact as well as a partial view of the road. But the foundation received the videos from Lytx Inc., which offers programs that use videos to coach drivers on improving their behavior and reducing collisions. The presence of distraction was particularly high in accidents involving rear

end collisions and off the road crashes. The most common forms of distraction were talking or otherwise engaging with passengers and using a cellphone, including talking, texting and reviewing messages. Other forms of distraction observed in the videos included drivers looking away from the road at something inside the vehicle: 10 percent;

looking at something outside the vehicle other than the road ahead: 9 percent; singing or moving to music: 8 percent; grooming: 6 percent; and reaching for an object: 6 percent. Teen drivers have the highest crash rate of any age group. About 963,000 drivers age 16 to 19 were involved in police-reported crashes in the U.S. in 2013, the most recent year for available data. These crashes resulted in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths. “The findings of the AAA Report confirm what safety groups have suspected for a long time — distraction is more severe and more common in teen driver crashes than previously found in government data,” said Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Previously, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that all kinds of distractions are a factor in only 14 percent of all teen driver crashes but according to this study in reality it is a factor in 58 percent of accidents. This information should be a wakeup call to all drivers. Be safe, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t be distracted when you drive.

That’s Odd The Clothing Confection

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News adorn the sugary dress—that’s a lot of nosh to haul around. Most of the dress is multi-hued, but Sarah wanted to add a pink heart. She spent three hours sorting through the sprinkles for the pink ones so she could use them to make the heart. “I think the dress looks fantastic, al-

though the sweets made a terrible mess in the house while I was making it. They ended up all over the place,” Sarah related. She first sewed a crop top and constructed a long hooped skirt stiffened with wire. Then she squirted glue on the fabric and delicately placed the sug-

ar strands with a make-up brush. “Loads of them ended up all over the floor and I was always having to vacuum them up. They were all over the house. I am now lacquering the dress to make them completely secure,” she said. It’s good she’s not cleaning for Pesach. The mother of two is planning to

auction off the dress for charity—one sweet thing leads to another. And she’s not new to the sugary clothing thing. She made a dress out of 14,000 Skittles last year which was shipped to Florida where it was to be displayed at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. Believe it or not, it was damaged in transit. “After making one dress out of sweets I got hooked and decided to make another. People think I am mad but I think they look great.” And they taste great too. “I think the dress is well worth the trouble. The dress looks great although admittedly you can’t go out in the rain as the colors would run,” she confessed. Think she can make a dress out of macaroons?

Get Well and Live Well After recovering from surgery, Joseph Amorese of Easton, Pennsylvania, received a get well card from his dad. The card cheered him up a bit, but what he found inside the card made him (almost) jump for joy.

Enclosed in the card was a scratch off ticket. When Amorese scratched off the boxes, magic numbers appeared. “I scratched the ticket and it was a good thing I was already sitting down because I was shocked. I was and still am in complete disbelief,” Amorese, 46, said. He immediately called his dad to verify that he was seeing it right. “I sent him a picture of the ticket and he said, ‘Yup, you won $7,000,000!’” He also called his wife, Jodi, a social worker. “I said, ‘Honey, I think we won $7,000,000.’ And there was silence on the other end for a long time. She was too stunned to talk.” Amorese’s father is retired and loves to play the lottery. When he sends cards—usually for holidays and birthdays—he generally includes a ticket. “Do I usually include a ticket? Yeah,” Amorese’s father said with a laugh. “I’m retired and I have time on

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News my hands. You know, you want them to get something but if they get $100, they’ll be happy. Most of us don’t usually think you’re going to hit the jackpot.” Winning the lottery—that’s a great way to feel better.

oil lamp to mix the stones he’d found during the day with lime and concrete. What made his project even more amazing is that Cheval had no training in carpentry, masonry or architecture.

A little girl hopped on a bus in middle of the night in search for a midnight snack. The four-year-old, garbed in a purple raincoat, slipped out of her house in Philadelphia at 3am and hopped a bus four blocks from her home to calm her craving.

A Home Made of Stone(s) Le Palais Ideal (The Ideal Palace) draws about 150,000 visitors a year. The tourist attraction in Hauterives is made out of stone—stones, that is, found by 19th century postal carrier Ferdinand Cheval, who would walk 18 miles each day delivering mail in the southeastern France village for 30 years. One day, he came upon an interesting-looking rock and decided to build a castle. Cheval started in 1879 and for the next 33 years he collected more and more rocks on his route. Eventually, he had to bring a wheelbarrow along with him to haul his stash. At night, Cheval would work by an

It’s 3am; Do you Know Where Your Children Are?

The result of the patient postman’s 30-year DIY project: an intricately designed palace that was more than 30 feet high and 85 feet long. The palace was finished in 1912. Cheval died 12 years later at 88. Now, the Ideal Palace is a French Historical Monument — and a living reminder to Do-It-Yourselfers everywhere that a dream, patience, a lot of sweat and tons of stones can yield amazing results.

The kind bus driver, Harlan Jenifer, says Anabelle swung her legs in a seat as she chanted, “All I want is a slushie.” Authorities say Anabelle’s family didn’t know she had awoken and unlocked the back door to start her trek during a downpour early Friday.

The little girl—and her family— were lucky. The bus driver is a father of three. He says he was scared for the girl but found her adventure humorous and says he knew she was in good hands. He called the police, who took her to the hospital and reunited her with her mother. Note to the four-year-old adventurer: Anabelle, the slushie store is a great place to go—with your mom.

Right Time, Wrong Place Chicago Cubs Edwin Jackson doesn’t seem to be finding his way too well this year. Last week, the player took the mound in the second inning and was ravaged by the Oakland Athletics when he gave up nine hits and eight runs in less than two innings. But that’s not the only wrong turn he took that day. The 31-year-old pitcher showed up late to spring training that day. Why? Well, he just couldn’t find the place. You see, according to Jackson, as he

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MARCH 31, 2015

The Week In News

“I actually put it in Google Maps and typed in ‘Oakland Athletics spring training complex,’” Jackson said. “It took me to the old one. I know, it’s crazy, but, yeah, that pretty much sums it up.” Finally, after getting his bearings, Jackson made it to Oakland’s new facility, Hohokam Stadium—ten miles

Ashima Shiraishi has just shattered two world records—and she did it in just 10 minutes over her spring break. Breaking rock climbing records for both her age and gender, Shiraishi is thought to the youngest person and the only woman to have ever mastered one of the most technically challenging climbs in the world. The 13-year-old went to Spain this

Despite her bravery, Shiraishi admits to occasionally getting nervous. “I think in climbing everyone gets a little bit scared,” she says. “If there is a hard section, I can feel like I’m going to fall off.” But she has found that it’s not just practicing climbing that helps her succeed, but mental preparation as well. “When I am climbing I try to not think about anything, if I think I start to doubt myself,” she explains. “It’s a mental battle to tell yourself to have the confidence that you can actually do it.” So what’s next? Trying to master a 9b climb, a huge challenge. But Shiraishi is pretty nonchalant about the idea. “Maybe I’ll do it over summer vacation.” This kid’s rock solid. 

MARCH 31, 2015

A Rockin’ Record

week to tackle Open Your Mind Direct, a 140-foot climb that is considered one of the toughest rock faces to master. Shiraishi has had her eye on the feat for the past year. “I really wanted to try it last year when I was in Spain, but I had to get back to school and didn’t have time,” she said. So this year she came with the goal in mind. She worked on the climb for three days, falling occasionally, but getting to understand the complexities of the rock face. It paid off very quickly. “On my fourth day I did it,” she says. So how did she feel when she finished? “I was surprised. I was relieved. I was really stoked!” The young climber got her start when she was just six-years old by scaling rocks in Central Park. By age eight, she had persuaded her parents to enter her in competitions. She quickly proved to both her family and the climbing community that this wasn’t just a hobby. “I won the whole female category instead of just the youth category,” she recalls about her first competition. Since then she practices five days a week at Brooklyn Boulders and The Cliffs in Long Island City.

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away—25 minutes before the game’s first pitch. Relief pitcher Blake Parker pitched through the first inning, filling in as Jackson went through his preparations. “I think I still would have been ready to go,” Jackson said. “But they didn’t want to rush it.” Apparently, though, he wasn’t truly ready, as can be seen from his performance in the second inning. Oakland won the game, 14-2. “A crazy, crazy way to start a day,” Jackson said. Time for Mr. Jackson to recalculate.

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headed out in the morning, he turned to Google Maps for guidance—and ended up at Phoenix Municipal Stadium—the Athletics’ old spring training digs.

Around The Community Siach Yitzchok Tribute Dinner To recognize 35 years of Menahel Rabbi Dovid Sitnick’s leadership and devotion to its mesorah of true Torah chinuch.

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MARCH 31, 2015

Siach Yitzchok’s 34th Annual Dinner will be an evening of tribute to its esteemed Menahel Reb Dovid Sitnick shlita. Friends, supporters and talmidim will gather to pay tribute and mark decades of selfless devotion to the mission assigned to Reb Dovid by his Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l: “To create and uphold an environment where Torah is learned in its purest form – a chinuch that is unyielding to the outside forces that permeate our present day surroundings.” As one of his first talmidim put it, “Reb Dovid has lived, breathed, and selflessly maintained the Cheder for 35 years, and the time has come for us to recognize his tremendous mesirus nefesh.” Siach Yitzchok is an institution whose very essence and identity is that

of a standard-bearer of the classic chinuch mesorah in its full glory. The pride of its parent body, alumni, supporters and admirers is in the Cheder’s ability to meet the challenges of a dramatically changing world without compromising on the fundamentals and flavor of our cherished mesorah. The pure, untainted neshamos of its talmidim are tenderly nurtured by a staff of devoted rabbeim and moros. Although these children are growing up in today’s world, they are still relishing the joys and the warmth of Yiddishkeit and bonding with the kedusha of the Torah they are learning. Please join us on Wednesday May 13 at the White Shul as we pay tribute to this outstanding mosad and its true lifeblood, the esteemed Menahel, Rabbi Dovid Sitnick shlita.

MAY Alumni Yarchei Kallah – A Huge Success! This past week, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov held their annual bein haz’manim Yarchei Kallah on inyanei Pesach. Although primarily geared for alumni returning from Eretz Yisrael for bein haz’manim, the Yarchei Kallah also attracted many members of the greater community. This year’s program drew close to 50 graduated talmidim for shiurim, learning, schmoozing and “catching up.” Each morning following Shacharis, alumni were treated to a lavish breakfast. Seder began with shiurim on the Haggadah delivered by Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbeim, providing insightful divrei Torah for talmidim to share at their own sedarim. Following the Haggadah shiurim, talmidim, together with the 12th grade, were provided ma’areh mekomos with which to prepare for the day’s iyun shiur on different Pesach topics.

end until after 1:00 in the morning! Rabbi Yossi Bennett, Assistant Menahel, commented, “Each year it is one of our most highly anticipated events, and a highlight of our year when our talmidim return either from Eretz Yisroel or from their respective yeshivos or colleges in America. The enormous response from our talmidim to return to learn with their

Lawrence Chometz Burning In preparation for Passover, District 1 Sanitation and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department in conjunction with the Lawrence Dept. of Public Works are providing special services to Lawrence residents to help facilitate final pre-Passover clean out as follows. Sanitation – A special truck will be located in the Lawrence Station LIRR parking lot on Friday, April 3 between the hours of 6:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Residents may bring garbage bags to the truck for disposal. Please line up in orderly fashion and Sanitation personnel will be available to assist. Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Depart-

ment/Lawrence Dept. of Public Works– The Fire Department and the Village DPW will be providing a designated area in the Lawrence Station LIRR parking lot for burning bread products. Hours of service will be on Friday, April 3 between 6:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Bread is to be wrapped in a small paper bag for easy disposal. Items wrapped in plastic bags or containers should not be brought as they will not burn and will delay the entire process. Fire Department personnel will be available to assist the DPW. We urge residents not to make fires at home as these can easily become hazardous.

The Yarchei Kallah also featured a special Thursday night mishmar shiur and kumzits at the Mesivta. Senior Rebbe, Rabbi Elysha Sandler, delivered a shiur about “The role of Ruach HaKodesh in deciding halachic matters.” The shiur drew a crowd of over 100 seniors and alumni. Following the shiur, those in attendance were treated to a delicious cholent and refreshments. The evening progressed into a beautiful kumzits, with live music, singing and divrei Torah. Suffice it to say, the evening was enjoyed by all, illustrated by the fact that it didn’t

MAY Rabbeim is a huge chizuk, both for rebbeim and current talmidim. The fact that they come back to the Mesivta to learn with their Rabbeim on their bein haz’manim bears testimony to the strong connections and relationships that were forged while they were here at the Mesivta, and thereafter.” Recordings and source material for the various shiurim are available on the Yeshiva’s website at www.ateresyaakov. com or through the Yeshiva’s office.

Around The Community

PHOTO CREDITS: NAFTOLI GOLDGRAB PHOTOGRAPHY

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Overflow Crowd at Kollel Tirtza Devorah Dinner

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Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva

Lloyd Keilson introduces his son, Rav Dov Keilson Rav Dovid Bender, Rosh Kollel

It is the crown jewel of a Yeshiva and the pride and joy of a community, and on the first Motzaei Shabbos in Nissan, a crowd of close to 400 people came out in support of its scholars and its achievements: Kollel Tirtza Devorah. The Kollel, celebrating its tenth anniversary, is composed primarily of alumni of Yeshiva Darchei Torah who spend their days and nights plumbing the depths of the Torah and training for leadership. Graduates of the Kollel have gone on to careers in Jewish education, kashrus supervision, social work and other fields, grounded in a foundation of Torah knowledge and ideals. The Kollel also has an afternoon division, Kollel Mechanchim, enabling rabbeim of various yeshivos to enhance their learning and teaching. The dinner paid tribute to the Kollel itself and to three special couples. The program was opened by Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, who introduced Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva, who delivered divrei bracha. Rav Bender then spoke about Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Schwartz, the Eitz Chaim Awardees. Yehuda is an alumnus of the Yeshiva and an active member of its

alumni committee who keeps up a regular chavrusa session at the Kollel with Rav Dovid Bender, the Rosh Kollel. Mr. Lloyd Keilson, co-chairman of the Yeshiva’s board of trustees, spoke about his son and daughter-in-law, Rabbi and Mrs. Dov Keilson, the Kesser Torah Awardees. Rav Keilson is a member of the Kollel Mechanchim and the mashgiach ruchani of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo. Mr. Ronald Lowinger, the president of Yeshiva Darchei Torah and founder of Kollel Tirtza Devorah, spoke about his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Hillel Rosenman, the evening’s guests of honor. He also spoke about his beloved grandmother, Tirtza Devorah Weisz, a”h, the namesake of the Kollel. Short videos were shown about each honoree. The final speaker of the evening was Rav Dovid Bender, the Rosh Kollel. His remarks were followed by a beautiful video depicting the amazing bastion of Torah that is Kollel Tirtza Devorah. Each person in attendance left the dinner uplifted and inspired, secure in the knowledge that they had done their part to enhance and ensure the continuation of limud HaTorah, the raison d’etre of the Jewish people.

The event was held in the David and Goldie Diamond Bais Medrash

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva

Ronald Lowinger, President, introducing his son-in-law, Hillel Rosenman.

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky; Lloyd Keilson; Rav Dov Keilson, Kesser Torah Awardee; Rav Yaakov Bender; and Rav Dovid Bender

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rav Yaakov Bender, Tommy Rosenman, Hillel Rosenman, Ronald Lowinger, Rav Dovid Bender

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky; Yehuda Schwartz, Eitz Chaim Awardee; Rav Yaakov Bender; and Rav Dovid Bender

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Around The Community Bais Yaakov of Queens Celebrates its Winners of the Grannie Annie Family History Competition The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration is a national competition that invites students to discover and share stories from their family’s history. Participation in The Grannie Annie leads young people to strengthen family bonds, encounter history in a more personal way, and hone their writing skills. The mission of The Grannie Annie is to inspire young people to discover, write, and share stories from their family’s history, and to publish collections of their work. Mrs. Evelyn Hefetz, a fourth grade teacher at Bais Yaakov, introduced the competition to the school after her own granddaughter interviewed her for it. Mrs. Hefetz said, “When my granddaughter told me about it, I thought it was a perfect proj-

ect for our girls at BYQ! Mrs. Bergman encouraged me to incorporate it into the 4th grades’ writing curriculum.” “The objective of the project is a

perfect fit for our Bais Yaakov’s students. It threads history, writing, creativity, and connectivity between stu-

dent and family. The girls use their learned skills and strategies to write an engaging, memorable piece that touches the heart and will be treasured forever,” said Mrs. Bergman. In the spirit of celebration, each year some of the stories submitted to The Grannie Annie are selected for publication in a paperback book and on their website. Mrs. Reisbaum, assistant principal, said, “Reading the finished pieces has me believing that all of the teachers and students, who worked long and hard on this project, are winners, and we are especially proud of those girls who represent Bais Yaakov in the upcoming publication!” This year, five Bais Yaakov girls’ entries were selected for publication.

Mrs. Miriam Bashevkin and Mrs. Zahava Rausch, co-teachers of Mrs. Hefetz at Bais Yaakov, were bubbling with excitement over their students’ pieces selection for publication. The winners include: Sarah Davis, Chava Deutscher, Nechama Feintuch, Abigail G. Harris, and Malka Neuman Congratulations girls, we look forward to reading more of your work in the future!

Child Safety Program at the Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater Shlomo “Steven” Sussman This past Sunday night, the Young Israel of Bayswater - Sha’ar Hashomayim hosted a unique Child Safety Program that was attended by over 100 members of the community including both parents and children. The goal of evening was to walk parents and kids through some specific, real-world scenarios and how they should respond and reinforce everything with some role-playing. With Pesach vacations starting and the days getting longer and warmer, there was no better time to do this than now. As Rabbi Eliezer Feuer pointed out, “As we approach chag haPesach, the mitzvah of v’higaditta l’bincha took on an added dimension at the

YIWB - Sh’aar Hashomayim. An impressive crowd of parents and their children gathered to be educated on child safety. The best way to inculcate the lessons of safety to our children is if the parents are educated in this area as well and this message was received loud and clear.” The program began with an introduction to community initiative called “BaysWatch.” Started about three years ago, the goal of BaysWatch was to help homeowners install a special street-facing CCTV camera that is centrally managed and recorded. For homeowners who already have an installed camera, they can add a special device to their system to allow their camera to be part of the BaysWatch

network. The more people who sign up and get connected to the network, the more complete the coverage becomes. Next was the introduction of Eli Chaikin from Pakua Long Island. By leveraging his years of experience as a self-defense expert, Eli was able to cater his presentation to not only the audience of both young and old but also reflective of some of the specific challenges that may face our community. (Just because you said “good Shabbos” to someone are they still a stranger?) Some of the topics that were covered included: where to walk, how to walk and when to cross the street. We also discussed what constitutes dangerous or unusual behavior (an adult

should not be asking a child for help) and how you should respond. The end of the program used several volunteers from the audience to demonstrate what you should do if a person lays a hand on you. As a member of the audience, I would say that the most important takeaway was to drill and drill again. Just like the fire drills you experience in school, if you do not practice a skill it may not be available when you actually need it. For additional information about BaysWatch, email info@bayswatch. org. If you are interested in getting more details about the actual program that was run, feel free to email security@yiwb.org.

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‫התורה נקנית במ״ח דברים‬ T H E TO R A H I S AC Q UI R E D I N F O RT Y E I G HT WAYS

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MARCH 31, 2015

Sh’or Yoshuv

Annual Dinner

Tuesday Evening • May 5, 2015 • 16 Iyar 5775 The Sands Atlantic Beach BUFFET DINNER: 6:30 PM | PROGRAM: 7:45 PM | FOLLOWED BY DESSERT RECEPTION

RABBI & MRS. YAAKOV BARZIDEH

MR. & MRS. MOSHE MAJESKI Guests of Honor

Alumnus of the Year

YALE FISHMAN Journal Chairman

MR. & MRS. JOSEPH ARYEH Kesser Shem Tov Award

MOSHE FEUER MATIS NAYMAN

YOSEF WARTELSKY

Dinner Chairmen

FOR RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 516-239-9002 EXT. 102 FAX: 516-239-9003 • WWW.SHORYOSHUV.ORG • E-MAIL: ADMIN@SHORYOSHUV.ORG SH’OR YOSHUV • ONE CEDAR LAWN AVENUE • LAWRENCE, NY 11559

Alumni Chairman

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Around The Community

ter century, Shlomo Bassalian (’91), Judy Sabzevari Yadgar (’99), Solomon Kapelyus (’00), and Rabbi Rafael Zavulunov (’97). Rabbi Zavulunov who is becoming more and more well-known in the Kew Garden Hills community, will be receiving the Rabbinical Award

at the dinner. Rabbi Zavulunov’s rabbinical career first took root in Ezra Academy in 1993 when he entered the ninth grade. His rabbeim still remember the enthusiasm of this new student to learn and grow in Torah, even at such a young age. One Rebbe recalls how young Rafi memorized half a page of Gemara in order to receive a prized five-dollar bill. One can be certain that it was not only for that small reward which this future star worked diligently to earn, since to this day he has not stopped memorizing and focusing on Torah. Close to twenty years after that incident, our Kew Garden Hills community is currently reaping the fruits of his labors, as Rabbi Zavulunov has become a mainstay in our Torah community. After learning for many years at Yeshivas Ohel Simcha, Rabbi Zavulunov recently opened a new and vibrant shul for the young Sephardic/Bukharian community. This new makom Torah and tefilla has already uplifted many and raised the bar of what a Torah Jew should be. The continuous growth of the shul only reflects the sincerity and seriousness of their commitment to Torah, and of their leader as well. But Rabbi Zavulunov’s efforts do not end with this one project alone. For a number of years he has been one of the leading maggidei shiurim at the CHAZAQ headquarters in Forest Hills. In this role, he delivers many weekly classes to many different types of Jews, all with the same sincerity and clarity, for which he has become known. However it is not just deep Torah wisdom he displays to the students who cross his path, it is also the characteristics of a true ben Torah, whose middos are refined and sensitive to others. Ezra Academy can certainly sing and boast in Rabbi Zavulunov’s honor “Ashreinu sheyesh lanu Graduate kazeh.”

It’s Chol Hamoed already? Check out the TJH Chol Hamoed Guide Page 107

MARCH 31, 2015

teaching Jewish children from all circles and creating lifetime relationships, has been their hallmark of success for the past 47 years. This year’s annual dinner, which will take place on April 26, is honoring four outstanding alumni from the past quar-

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Since its inception in 1968, Ezra Academy has always been known not only for their production of fine bnei Torah and Jewish leadership—even those from less affiliated backgrounds—but also for their everlasting bonds they create with students. This mission, of

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Ezra Dinner Honors KGH’s Rabbi Refael Zavulunov

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MARCH 31, 2015

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51 THE JEWISH HOME

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MARCH 31, 2015

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MARCH 31, 2015

Because You Deserve A Perfect Smile

Around The Community Newlywed Networking and More Yes, we all know that making shidduchim can be as difficult as “splitting the sea” and at this time of the year, everyone wishes they can make miracles happen. Well, everyone certainly can try their best to offer match suggestions, recommend ideas for others and do their part in building future Jewish homes. At YUConnects, Orthodoxy’s premier dating resource, the program not only offers a state-of-the-art matchmaking website – with 193 engagements and hundreds of dates arranged each week. Another mission of the program is to empower communities and individuals to enter the realm of matchmaking, create unique social events for singles and open up even more opportunities for individuals to meet. Available to the entire Jewish population, and not just YU students, YUConnects has the ability to undertake academic research and serve as an educational tool to those entering the dating arena. A happy byproduct allows frequent conversations with those who are unmarried as well as newly married couples as they retain a connection to the program. A few weeks ago, YUConnects interviewed some young married couples who offered practical and simple suggestions to newlyweds (and not so newly-weds!) on “best practices” in fixing up their friends. Here are some pointers and helpful hints that can apply to all: Great Ways for Newly-Marrieds (or anyone!) to make Matches: Start with Your List, Then Make a List! Begin with your wedding or contact list of friends who you know well. Create columns of men and women any way that works best: spreadsheets, phone app, index cards, or old-fashioned paper and pen. Include Only Basics – Make it easy on yourself since you know these people already. Name, age, general background information; you don’t need to write where they spent their summer in freshman year! Just Pick up the Phone – Sometimes people discuss ideas and are well intentioned, but forget to follow through. Once you make the phone call with the suggestion, you are well on your way. It’s a Guy Thing – Oftentimes, suggestions to a man are more successful when coming from a man. Encourage your husband to speak with his friends. Positive and Upbeat – Everyone wants to date someone “special.” When you suggest a match idea, sound positive without being pushy.

No Time? No Problem – Matchmaking takes time and effort (but is worth it). If you don’t have the time now to follow-up on with a good idea, pass it along to someone who can. Update and Refresh – Once or twice a month, take a look at your list and remove those who may be engaged or married. Mark accordingly. Expand your Network – Set someone up even if you are not very close. If it doesn’t work out, use the opportunity to make a new friend and try again. Team-Up With YUConnects – If you have any questions, YUConnects is available to provide resources and mentoring for any relationship. Call anytime 212-960-5400 X 6163. Recycling is Good for the (Dating) World – Did you go out with someone? Not for you? Even if awkward, you may now have a great idea for a friend. Bounce Ideas in Groups – Shabbos meals with friends are perfect occasions for new suggestions, keeping in mind the guidelines of the power of speech. Your Marriage Comes First – Don’t let it consume your life. Make sure to prioritize your time with your spouse. Making matches does take time and effort, but remember, you can talk about other topics at the supper table too! Worried you will Feel Pressured? If requests for assistance can’t always be accommodated, be sure to remind your friends that you care and want for their happiness. People appreciate knowing you are trying and thinking of them. Have Real Passion—and Time? If you find that matchmaking has become part of your blood, consider becoming a YUConnects Connector (matchmaker). Devoting six hours a week is necessary but you will have a wonderful website and resources to focus your efforts. Success is Worth it All! Should Hashem bless you with helping to make a marriage, that feeling of joy and accomplishment is precious! May we all be His partner in building future Jewish homes. YUConnects is a self-funded organization whose budget stems from the generosity of donors. To learn more about the program and ways to assist family and friends, the community is invited to a Benefit Breakfast on Sunday morning, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Jay and Malky Spector in Lawrence. Email yuconnects@yu.edu or call Marjorie Glatt at 516-603-8141 with any questions. Special thanks to Brooke Reich, Kira Rhine and Elana Glatt for contributing to this article.

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Around The Community

55 THE JEWISH HOME 

MARCH 31, 2015

(L-R) Yaniv Meirov, Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz and Shlomo Steiman in Albany advocating for Education Investment Tax Credit (EITC)

SEEING THE ANIMALS FOR KORBANOS

PHOTO BY YDT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Rabbi Nachum Nachumson, a second grade rebbi at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, created a beautiful display featuring miniatures of all the various animals suitable for korbanos, as brought in last week’s Parshas Vayikra.

HALB Lev Chana Children Bake Matzah Our children eagerly entered the SKA gym as they excitedly anticipated what they would shortly be doing: baking matzah! Reb Michoel, Reb Yossi and Reb Shabsi of Chabad presented a dramatic rendition of the background story of Pesach, starting from how the Jewish people originally ended up

in Mitzrayim to our spectacular exit through Hashem’s Divine intervention. We heard how B’nai Yisroel did not have time to let the yeast rise so they just mixed the flour and water and let it bake in the hot desert sun, explaining why we eat crunchy, munchy matzah on Pesach. Reb Michoel explained the process of separating the wheat seeds from the stalk as two helpful assistants blew

and blew the pieces of chaff until only the seeds remained. Each child had an opportunity to flex their muscles and grit their teeth as they turned the handle of the mini flour mill and ground the seeds into flour. Whew! That was hard work! The next step in the matzah baking process began when, with Reb Michoel’s help, we all shouted, “L’shem matzos mitzvah,” after which he explained that we say these words to acknowledge that we are performing the mitzvah of making matzah so that we can be m’kayem the mitzvah of eating matzah on Pesach. More assistants were called upon to draw water from Be’er Miriam and to stand in one of two separate booths labelled kemach (flour) and mayim (water). When Reb Michoel gave the signal and started the special, one of a kind, 18 minute clock, one assistant handed him a pitcher of water, and then the second handed him a pitcher of flour. He mixed the dough very quickly, as the children lined up alongside tables with their rolling pins, waiting for a piece of dough. They quickly rolled out,

flattened and, to keep the dough from rising, made holes with a really cool spikey roller. The children were amazed at how short 18 minutes could be. Hurry! Hurry! They then carried their circu-

lar pieces of dough on their rolling pins to the special matzah oven. Quick as a flash, the matzah was ready! Yum! What a delicious aroma! Our children couldn’t wait to eat their matzah for lunch and they even got to take home their very own box of Shmurah Matzah kosher l’Pesach. Back in their classrooms, many of the children baked challah and filled in Venn diagrams with the differences and similarities between the matzah and challah. The final question the children had to answer was which they thought tasted better. Lucky for them they were able to enjoy the taste of both!

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MARCH 31, 2015

Around The Community MAY Annual Dinner to Honor Outstanding Educator and Parents Mesivta Ateres Yaakov will celebrate its annual dinner on Sunday, April 26th at 6:30 p.m. at Congregation Ohr Torah in North Woodmere. At that dinner it will honor Mr. Gary Schall as Guest of Honor, Dr. and Mrs. Eyal Waldman as Parents of the Year, Rabbi Rafael Stefansky with the Harbatzos Torah Award, and Dr. Eli Shapiro with the Community Service Award. 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 tenure at yeshiva. These efforts help make the goal of “Building the community, one talmid at a time” a reality, year after year. 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 be associated with our institution.” 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 em-

body the values of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov’s mission.”

Rabbi Rafael Stefansky Harbatzos Torah Award

Rabbi Stefansky, a beloved tenth grade Rebbe, has been building talmidim in the Mesivta for more than a decade. He is a musmach of Mir Yerushalayaim and HaRav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, and a graduate of the Ohr Lagola Community Leadership Program. He holds an Israeli Educator license and was a Rebbe in the Derech Institute of Yerushalayim and Program Director of Camp Shuvu. Rabbi Stefansky began his chinuch career as a Rebbe inspiring talmidim in the Y.U. High School in Los Angeles. Rabbi Stefansky’s extraordinary success as a mechanech is not surprising. He was raised in a home completely devoted to chinuch and avodas Hashem. His father, HaRav Yaakov Stefansky, is an accomplished talmid chacham who learned b’chavrusa with Hagoan HaRav Shach zt”l. HaRav Stefansky delivers a daily shiur that

finishes Shas every year. His mother, Rebbetzin Ruthie Stefansky a”h, was a beloved mechaneches for over 30 years, who taught at Shulamith, HILI (currently HAFTR), and then in Bais Yaakov of Ramapo. The Stefanskys reside in Bayswater and are active members in the Agudah of Bayswater and Zichron Aryeh. The Stefanskys’ home is always filled with Shabbos guests, usually comprised of former and current MAY talmidim joining them for an inspiring Shabbos. “We come for the Rebbetzin’s delicious cooking,” claims one former talmid, but it is well known that the boys come for the warm achdus, amazing chizuk, as well as the delicious food! Through his unique teaching style and warm approach, Rabbi Stefansky has developed a strong kesher with countless talmidim throughout the years. He is able to adapt his teaching to cater to each talmid and is a shining example of how hard Mesivta Ateres Yaakov’s Rabbeim work to maximize the potential of their talmidim.

Dr. Eyal & Mrs. Alla Waldman Parents of the Year The Waldmans 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. Dr. Waldman was born in Kiryat Motzkin, Israel, and immigrated to the United States in 1974. He attended graduated UCLA and then attended Temple University Dental School. Dr. Waldman is heavily involved in the Young Israel of West Hempstead, having started the mishnah yomi shiur there, as well as participating in many others. Dr. Waldman is a practicing periodontist in Patchogue, L.I. Alla Waldman (nee Rutner) was born in Munkac, and immigrated to the U.S.in 1978 via Rome. Alla attended Shulamith Elementary and High School and then Michlalah in Eretz Israel. Alla stays heavily involved in community work, having been a PTA President and a leader of AMIT’s West Hempstead chapter. The Waldmans take pride in their hachnosas orchim. They use regularly invite Shabbos guests, even seeking guests through the famous Shabbat. com web site The Waldmans are proud parents of five children ka”h. Yoni, their eldest

son, currently attends Yeshiva University. David (MAY class of 2012) currently attends Mercaz HaTorah. Uriel, a MAY junior, is one of the key prosecutors on MAY’s undefeated Mock Trial team. Gabi, 12, is in 6th grade in Yeshiva of South Shore, and Rena is in 2nd grade at Bais Yaakov of Queens. It is an honor for MAY to present this award to a most appropriate couple.

Molly Klapper & Rose Meth Scholarship Fund The Molly Klapper & Rose Meth Scholarship Fund is being established by their children, Mr. & Dr. Jack Meth. Molly Klapper a”h and Rose Meth a’’h were both extraordinary women who recognized the importance of quality Jewish education, integrating religious and secular studies, as is exemplified by Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. Molly Klapper was a life-long learner. She received a Ph.D. in English Literature from NYU, a law degree from Rutgers University when her daughter was already in medical school, and published three books, to name a few of her accomplishments. She was born Molly Teicher, the youngest of five children. Driven as a baby from Germany with her family, she celebrated her first several birthdays in different countries, until the family escaped over the Alps into Switzerland. Finally arriving in the USA as a teenager, she completed high school in two years at the Bais Yaakov of Williamsburg. She worked as a secretary by day, and went to college at night until she was married. When her eldest daughter was born, she was an exemplar mother by day, and continued her night school, eventually receiving her Ph.D.

Around The Community secular education – Torah and secular education that is epitomized in Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. 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. The Meths encourage the whole community to join them in honoring and perpetuating their memories by contributing to this most worthy scholarship. For more information, reservations, or dedication opportunities, contact the office at 516-374-6465 or at dinner@ ateresyaakov.com.

Emotions Matter PTACH Presents the Science of Education at its 10th Scientific Conference For over 35 years, PTACH has been the leader in Jewish education, giving students with learning differences the opportunity to become empowered and successful learners. PTACH is the only “center based” program, all located within mainstream elementary and high schools. PTACH’s staff utilizes specialized teaching techniques that are individualized for each student, as no one program works for everyone. For the past decade, PTACH has been promoting the importance of fostering a basic understanding of the eight pathways of learning – a neurodevelopmental framework. Having this knowledge of the learning process helps educators recognize their students’ specific dysfunctions and strengths to better manage differences in learning. Building on its reputation for cutting-edge methodology, PTACH now presents the Science of Education, its 10th Scientific Conference, on the topic of “Emotions Matter.” The conference will feature presentations from the renowned Dr. Marc Brackett and Dr. Robin Stern, Directors of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Over the last several years research in education has begun to recognize the role of emotions in the learning process. We understand that no matter how deep the understanding of learning pathways and regardless of how specialized the teaching, having

a child who is emotionally prepared to learn is key. Children with higher emotional intelligence are better prepared to manage their emotional lives so that they can focus, learn, and do their best in school. Participants of this conference will become familiar with RULER, a system which provides teachers with tools and strategies to demonstrate and communicate their emotions during everyday instruction, validate and foster their students’ feelings and thoughts, and use emotions in the classroom to guide student thinking. The four primary tools in RULER, the “Anchors,” which include, The Charter, The Mood Meter, The Meta Moment and The Blueprint, are designed for both personal and professional development, and can be integrated into the school day and adapted to every level of teaching. Utilizing the specific tools outlined by this program, educators and professionals will be able to add a critical, positive dimension to their interactions with their students and surely impart valuable tools for a lifetime. The conference will be take place at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan on Monday, April 27, 2015. For more information or to register, contact PTACH at 718-854-8600, email Conference@PTACH.org, or register online at PTACH.org.

Community members and local officials helped with the Tomchei Shabbos Pesach distribution on Sunday

MARCH 31, 2015

that gunpowder was used during the revolt that blew up one of Auschwitz’s crematoria. Four of the women confessed under torture and were hanged, and the remaining four, one of whom was Rose Meth, who for obvious reasons kept their secret, survived. After the war, Mrs. Meth made it to the USA, married and raised a family. Her children went to yeshiva, bais medrash, college and graduate school. Throughout her life in the United States, Mrs. Meth celebrated every accomplishment that our community made. She and her husband made sure their children received a quality Torah education coupled with an excellent

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ment, and assortment of clubs and extracurricular activities to develop the whole child, that is exactly the school she would have sought for her family. Molly is survived by her husband, Dr. Jacob Klapper who missed high school while in Siberia during World War II, who himself has said he would love to attend MAY. Rose Meth was born nearly 100 years ago to Radomsk Chassidim in Zator, a suburb of Aushpitzen. In the spring of 1944 while a prisoner in Auschwitz, she was recruited (along with seven other women) to steal gunpowder for the underground Jewish resistance. Ultimately, in October 1944,

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Molly was always smiling, upbeat, never complained, and woke up each day looking forward to the day’s accomplishments. She had many hobbies, but above all, she loved to learn, and a new word taught to her at dinner was her best dessert. She fought ovarian cancer for six years and her third publication, a seminal work on mediation techniques for lawyers, was published just three months before her untimely demise. Molly Klapper would have been proud to see her grandson, Zev Meth attend Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. With its excellent Limudei Kodesh Department, superb Secular Studies Depart-

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MARCH 31, 2015

Around The Community Romema: Pinnacle of Haredi Residential Living By Shlomo Ben Yissachar While many Jews worldwide aspire to own a sliver of Jerusalem, there are dwindling numbers of opportunities to match one’s religious and lifestyle needs to a location that embodies the essence of Haredi spiritual quests and quality residential living ─ until now. The Romema neighborhood, at the entrance to the city and in close proximity to the city center, is one of the last sections of Jerusalem to get a “makeover,” making it a haven for investors and for frum families looking to relocate to the Holy City. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who entered City Hall nearly seven years ago, was keen on revamping this neighborhood as part of a grandiose multi-billion-dollar municipal plan to renovate the entire entrance to Jerusalem. Both the mayor and entrepreneurial real estate developers have had eyes on the area, which is in the midst of an amazing transformation. About Romema Perched on the highest plateau in Jerusalem, the name Romema was taken from Tehillim (118:16): “Hashem’s right hand is lifted high (romem).” The original neighborhood was created by YomTov Hamon, who frequently was called upon to mediate ownership disputes between Arab landowners. Shrewdly, Hamon decreed that if there was a dispute about land ownership on the hill, it should be sold on the open market. Jewish developers swooped in and purchased large parcels of land in Romema in order to establish a Jewish neighborhood. The first Jewish residents of Romema were mostly secular. But after 1948, multistory housing projects began to pop up in both Romema and the adjacent Mekor Baruch neighborhood in order to house the growing number of new immigrants, many of whom came from Orthodox backgrounds. Over the years, Romema transformed itself into the center of Haredi life, as grand Hasidic rebbes (largely Gur and Belz) and renowned Litvish sages set up their homes, yeshivas and shuls in and around the neighborhood. However, as time went on, the neighborhood became a run-down commercial district. In the past decade, the city’s Haredi population began to expand at a pace that exceeded available land for construction. Now, various real estate entrepreneurs and Haredi community planners have poured in enormous effort to reinvent the neighborhood. Today, Romema is accentuating the neighborhood’s metamorphosis. It has been praised as a first-class neighborhood

that combines the spirit of Torah, breathtaking landscapes and offers a rich fabric of Jewish life. This vision is to turn the corridor into a strip of upscale housing, beautiful parks, shopping centers and Torah institutions. Inside the neighborhood are many unique housing projects, such as the Jerusalem Heights, the completed Ganei Romema complex and Ha’Achuza, located on the farthest end of the “Romema Strip” and surrounded by luscious green landscape. Nearby sit the Ganei Romema and Ha’Achuza projects, also leading neighborhood regeneration. The Ganei Romema buildings are already completed, with only one penthouse left. Inside Jerusalem Heights As a majestic project located in the heart of the city’s bustling Haredi community, Jerusalem Heights has become the most sought after real estate venture amongst foreign buyers and new immigrants during the past year. The project’s five buildings, spread out over three acres, are being erected on the most elevated point in the Romema neighborhood. Like Ha’Achuza, Jerusalem Heights has an elegant design and gorgeous panoramic views of the city and the Judean Mountains. The neighborhood’s flagship project, Jerusalem Heights’ location and high-quality of exterior and interior construction have spurred a tremendous response from buyers inside and outside of Israel. Nearly half of Jerusalem Heights’ 276 three, four, five and six room apartments have already been snapped up. “The purchasers are a mix of Haredi families, from Anglos who live in Israel, to buyers from places like London, New York and Toronto who wish to invest in a future home in Israel and wish to rent it out or as a residence for their children,” said Yehuda Goldschmidt, Jerusalem Heights’ sales manager. “Uniquely, I call this an ‘Olam Haba’ investment. Why? Because, ‘Olam Hazeh,’ or the current reality in the marketplace, is such that the prices are going to keep going up, like in Manhattan or London. The difference between investing or living in other cities is simple, it’s Jerusalem. You just can’t move the kedusha of Jerusalem. I like to tell frum families that this is the only place where there is no minhag hamakom. Everyone lives and belongs here. It makes no difference if you are Chassidish or Litvish. Romema welcomes everyone from the Haredi world.” The apartments in Jerusalem Heights highlight meticulous design and a supe-

rior level of technical specifications including subfloor heating, central air conditioning, Sukkah balcony, storage room, private parking for residents, a large park and a playground for children. “We have thought of everything in order to make our clients comfortable,” added Goldschmidt. “Jerusalem Heights is close to everything. The project is located directly opposite Malchei Yisroel Street, Romema’s main shopping venue. Almost everything is within walking distance: from the nearby Belz Shul, to the Rav Shefa shopping center, the Cen-

also know what they want and what they are getting. And we have made sure that everything we do is first-class. For instance, there are many construction sites where a buyer has to go to a cramped caravan for a sales meeting. On our site, we feature a beautiful, large meeting room where the client can watch a movie about the project and feel comfortable conducting business.” Azoulay also claimed that word of mouth is also driving the brisk sales. “Shem Tov Mishemen Tov, people are talking about our project and that’s why

tral Bus Station and the Mahane Yehuda market. You can also walk to the Kosel in less than 30 minutes. The project itself also will highlight an external commercial center with various stores and restaurants. Because of all of these elements: location, high-standard of living and access to the religious and Jewish cultural lifestyles of Jerusalem, sales have been extremely brisk. As a matter of fact, Jerusalem Heights has sold faster than any other project in Jerusalem!” Throughout all of Romema, apartments are selling fast. For example, in Ganei Romema, only one penthouse is left. Jerusalem Heights also has been extremely popular. David Azoulay, marketing manager for Jerusalem Heights, added “We are not surprised by how quickly we have been able to sell the apartments. Our clients

there is so much interest,” he said. “Because of limited land reserves in the area, this is one of the last opportunities to invest in truly something valuable. And we are offering relatively affordable prices in one of the most sought after areas in all of Jerusalem.” Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start from about $540,000. Jerusalem Heights, which is being constructed by three of Israel’s most renowned residential real estate developers, Carasso Real Estate, Ta’aman Real Estate and AKA Real Estate, also features a limited number of garden apartments and spectacular penthouses. Jerusalem Heights’ architectural staff will build the interior of each and every apartment according to the specifications of each buyer. The project is expected to be completed mid-2017.

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Around The Community

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Rabbi Feiner presenting an award to Dr and Mrs. Hylton Lightman, Guests of Honor

Person of the Year, Gittie Neufeld, surrounded by her family

An overflow crowd jammed the White Shul Ballroom on Tuesday night, March 24, as the shul celebrated its 93rd anniversary honoring Dr. Hylton and Leah Lightman as Guests of Honor and Rabbi Shay and Rina Schachter with the Harbotzes Torah Award. In a video presentation, Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz, the Rabbi Emeritus, presented a surprise “Person of the Year” award to Mrs. Gittie Neufeld for her tireless work on behalf of the tzibbur. The shul also paid tribute to its longtime shammes, Reverend Yechiel Hecht z”l, by urging those assembled to participate in the shul’s project to write a Sefer Torah in his memory. Mr. Eli Korn served as the dinner chairman. Rabbi Feiner speaking

Marbitz Torah Awardee Rabbi Shay and Rina Schachter with Rabbi and Rebbetzin Feiner and White Shul officers

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Around The Community Not Your Typical Erev Pesach

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MARCH 31, 2015

Then again, the times we are currently living in are not typical either. For several weeks now, our community and its wonderful organizations and rabbonim have found themselves steeped in “Erev Pesach” work. Certainly, here at Achiezer, numerous families are being dramatically helped with yom tov expenses in the most dignified and humble way. Medical and mental health emergencies, health insurance and hospital issues, families in crisis and doing all that we can to be there for our community. And then this. While nobody in our community ever wants to have to spearhead a community service as a reaction, sometimes there is no alternative. While fire safety is certainly a human issue, it is certainly a greater responsibility in our Jewish communities. Stoves, crockpots, hot plates, urns, blechs and so many special devices utilized on Shabbosim and yomim tovim. Certainly, there is no greater mandate than ensuring the safety of our children and our families. In addition, having sufficient smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity that we all must have operating in our homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To that end, the community mission changed this Erev Pesach. Our community banded together to make sure that safety is a top priority. In a beautiful display of communal unity, two simultaneous events with one key focus of safety in mind took place this past Sunday. One event was held at the Achiezer Far Rockaway Office on Beach 9th Street, while the other took

place at the Central Avenue location in Lawrence. Hatzalah, Shomrim, Chaveirim, the JCCRP, the JCC of the Five Towns and Achiezer all joined together to host these critical events. The Fire Department of New York along with the American Red Cross set up an incredible display at the Far Rockaway location. The Woodmere Fire Department along with members of the Lawrence Cedarhurst Department literally held a massive audience spellbound with fire safety techniques, lessons and practical hands-on instructions on installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Shockingly, or shall we say not surprisingly, nearly 200 smoke detectors were distributed with many more requested. We would like to express our gratitude to Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, Councilman Donovan Richards, Senator Joe Addabbo, Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, Councilman Anthony Santino, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Councilman Bruce Blakeman for ensuring the success of these events. As we all know, “He who saves one life is as if he has saved an entire world.” While we all hope that all of these measures will ultimately be strictly precautionary, it will all have been worth it for even one life that can possibly be saved as a result. May the z’chusim of these events be an aliyah for the neshamos of the beautiful Sassoon children who were tragically taken from Klal Yisroel. In addition, all of the smoke detectors distributed were sponsored privately l’iluy nishmas the Sassoon children.

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Around The Community Chai Lifeline/Project Chai Offer Comfort, Solace, Suggestions Following Devastating Midwood Fire

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MARCH 31, 2015

When seven siblings were killed in a horrific fire last Friday night, the vast majority of the observant Jewish world was insulated from the horror until the Sabbath ended after sundown on Saturday. Within minutes, though, phones, emails, and texts sent the devastating news around the world. The seven children, who ranged in age from 7 to 16, lived in Midwood, Brooklyn, and attended neighborhood schools. It seemed like every child in the community knew them. Their distress was intense, as was parents’ confusion about how to adequately talk to youngsters of all ages about the tragedy. For more than 1,000 parents and educators, the number to call or email was Chai Lifeline’s Project CHAI. Project CHAI is the crisis intervention and bereavement division of the international children’s health support network. Its three professionals have logged several

decades of experience helping children cope with trauma between them. The first phone calls and emails were received within minutes of the Sabbath’s end. By coincidence, Chai Lifeline’s staff was at its annual staff retreat on the grounds of Camp Simcha, the organization’s camp for seriously ill children and teens. The staff commandeered empty offices and recruited trained social workers and psychologists from among Chai Lifeline’s staff to assist. Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, a clinical psychologist and director of interventions and community education for Project CHAI, took an overnight flight from his home in Los Angeles to join the team on Sunday morning. Intensive Effort Reaches Children, Educators, Parents By Sunday morning, Chai Lifeline had released a 12 minute video offering suggestions on how to break the sad

news to children and begin the healing process. Within 24 hours, 15,000 people accessed it on Chai Lifeline’s YouTube channel and the Chai Lifeline website. Zahava Farbman, LMSW, and Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Klar, LMSW, Project CHAI, met with principals and staff members at the children’s schools that morning as well. Principals, teachers and staff members appreciated the forum in which they were able to express their own shock and sadness while gaining valuable information on how to help their young charges cope with an unexplainable tragedy. The professionals, assisted by psychologist Dr. Cheryl Book and Bina Sussman, a Chai Lifeline case manager, returned on Monday to meet with classes at the schools that had just lost beloved students and friends. On Monday evening, Chai Lifeline and the Flatbush Jewish Community Council sponsored “Making Sense of

the Tragedy,” an evening for parents and community leaders. Simultaneously streamed on video and audio channels, the broadcast reached over 45,000 people in 25 countries as far away as Japan, Serbia and South Africa. “A tragedy like this unites people around the world in their horror, sorrow, and shock,” observed Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Chai Lifeline’s executive vice president. “Chai Lifeline and Project CHAI focused on the people most directly involved…those who live in the community and whose families interacted with the Sassoons. But as our live streams showed, everyone felt the loss very keenly. To a great extent, we are all family when something like this happens.” Video and written material offering suggestions for responding to this and other traumatic events are available at www.chailifeline.org/live.

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Around The Community

Read Rabbi Pesach Lerner’s Op-Ed on page 76

how each of our sons developed a personal relationship with the rebbeim and grew tremendously in both limud haTorah and bein adam l’chaveiro.” “Each of the talented rebbeim has the ability to take a bochur, see his potential, actualize that potential and turn him into a committed Torah Jew,” says Rabbi Chaim Majerovic, the Mashgiach. Over 175 students, 70 kollel members, 250 chavrusas partners, and hundreds of community members have made Sh’or Yoshuv their home for Torah learning and inspiration. “I have been learning in the mornings in Sh’or Yoshuv for eight years,” says a community member proudly. “I wouldn’t want to start my day any other way.” No matter what time of day you walk into the Beis Medrash, there is always someone there immersed in Torah study. Rabbi Aaron Kagan, the new Executive Vice-President, has experienced firsthand the support and enthusiasm of close to 20 members of the community, many of them alumni, who have stepped forward to join the Board of Directors. “I’m impressed by the large number of baalei baatim and alumni who maintain a close relationship with the Rosh HaYeshiva, the rebbeim and with Sh’or Yoshuv,” he comments. In addition, he adds, a number of alumni have approached him about spearheading alumni activities to maintain the relationship the alumni have with the yeshiva, the rebbeim and with each other.

“With its vast number of learning opportunities, whether it’s at 5 AM, 9 AM, 7 PM, 11 PM or beyond, Sunday morning, or Friday night, at any given moment the ruach, spirit of Torah, permeates this hub of our community,” says Yale Fishman, Dinner Chairman. “Sh’or Yoshuv is such an incredible institution, and its influence as a center of Torah learning is critical. It offers a wide array of classes and community services to the Far Rockaway/ Five Towns community and to the greater Jewish community,” adds Mr. Fishman. “Therefore I urge the community to come out and support Sh’or Yoshuv’s 48th Annual Dinner, to be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the Sands of Atlantic Beach.” This year, Sh’or Yoshuv is paying tribute to three couples who exemplify the values of commitment to Torah learning and community involvement that Sh’or Yoshuv strives to inculcate within its students. Mr. and Mrs. Moshe Majeski will be the Guests of Honor. Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Barzideh will receive Alumnus of the Year award, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Aryeh will receive the Kesser Shem Tov Award. The deadline for ads is Wednesday, April 29. For more information, please call Sh’or Yoshuv at 516-239-9002. Responses can be e-mailed to admin@ shoryoshuv.org or faxed to 516-2399003.

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Keep Israel a Jewish State

me to make learning a permanent part of my life.” “The Rosh HaYeshiva, Shlita, not only took me in as a bochur,” adds Ben Cook, “but he really took me in as a son. He taught me, nurtured me, and was a father figure to me. I still turn to the Rosh HaYeshiva for guidance.” “The purpose of a rebbi is to not only give over the concepts of Torah, but to convey the idea that Torah is your lifeline and you cannot live without it. It’s what you’re going to have with you your whole life,” says the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Naftali Jaeger, Shlita. “Even more than that, in Sh’or Yoshuv, we emphasize that the relationship between a rebbi and a talmid is a relationship that lasts a lifetime, not just for the time the talmid is in yeshiva.” Known for its open door policy, anyone walking into Sh’or Yoshuv is immediately swept up by the genuine warmth and welcome of the rebbeim, staff and students. While that alone engenders an atmosphere of acceptance and appreciation for each and every individual, the wide variety of programs and services Sh’or Yoshuv offers to every segment of the Jewish community and for every age group ensures that there is truly something for everyone – on whatever level of learning he or she is. “We offer shiurim and serves ranging from beginner level to well-advanced as well as programs for working or in college part time. This tremendous range of different shiurim and programs make Sh’or Yoshuv truly unique,” says the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Naftali Jaeger, Shlita. “Sh’or Yoshuv is passionately committed to inspiring each one of its talmidim to actualize their maximum potential in learning Toarh and character development.” The warm and compassionate rebbeim all have distinct personalities allowing every student to develop a relationship with the rebbi that he connects to. “The rebbeim care deeply for every talmid,” says Eli Portal, a student from Woodmere, NY. “I know that even though my rebbi is extremely busy, when I turn to him, he treats me like I am his only concern.” “This is Eli’s third year in Sh’or Yoshuv,” comments David Portal, Eli’s father. “He’s our third son to learn in the yeshiva and we are thrilled to see

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By Leah Goldman In celebration of Sh’or Yoshuv’s unique ability to cater to the needs of a diverse student body and community through its diverse programs and services, the theme of this year’s Annual Dinner is “48 Ways to Acquire Torah.” For 48 years, Sh’or Yoshuv yeshiva has been successfully infusing its diverse student body, alumni and community members with the joy and excitement of Torah learning, saturated with an intoxicating dose of self-esteem and personal achievement. For 48 years, Sh’or Yoshuv has offered shiurim and programs on every level of learning – from beginner to high-level shiurim for b’nei Torah. 48 years ago, Rav Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, opened the doors of Sh’or Yoshuv. With the dynamic love and warmth that he exuded, Rav Shlomo penetrated the hearts of countless young men and began to build a thriving community. He transmitted this passion for Torah and appreciation for the uniqueness of every individual to his talmidim, including the present Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Naftali Jaeger, Shlita, and many of the rebbeim in Sh’or Yoshuv today. A giant in his own right, the Torah of the Rosh HaYeshiva, Shlita, is the synthesis of the Torah of his rebbi, Rav Shlomo zt”l, and the Torah he has honed from years of teaching talmidim – delivered with clarity, brilliance and real-life meaning. Says Yaakov Bishop., a student from Katy, TX, “Seeing the Rosh HaYeshiva’s face light up with his learning and his excitement, makes you want to be part of it. I know when I leave yeshiva, that image will be permanently imprinted and will motivate

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Sh’or Yoshuv Celebrates its Success in Transmitting 48 Ways to Acquire Torah for 48 Years

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Around The Community Understanding Wine Scores By Joshua E. London The very best method for exploring wine is to taste it—as often as possible and preferably with good food, friends and family. Because there are a seemingly endless number of different wines out there, however, specialists or wine critics have emerged to help consumers make sense of it all and make informed wine purchases. These wine critics publish—in newspapers and in specialized wine newsletters and magazines—articles in which they talk about wine, review specific wines and pass judgement over them. Like film, restaurant or book reviews, their efforts are meant to guide consumers into making more informed decisions. Wine reviews tend to award scores or points to a wine, so that readers can, at a glance, determine some very basic information as to how good the wine might be. The logic is straightforward and familiar from an entirely different context. If your child’s quiz is marked on a 10 point scale, for example, you know at a glance if they are doing well when the mark is 8 or 9 out of 10, rather than 6 or 7. Likewise a 5 star resort, when graded on a 5-point scale, is better than a three star resort. So too in wine. There are, of course, detractors to the basic concept of scoring anything in matters of taste. Wine is obviously subjective to a degree, and what I like might not be what you like. On the other hand, this is true of a great many things, yet we can and do still speak to each other meaningfully, intelligently, and to our mutual benefit, about our tastes, our preferences and our experiences. Indeed, what better way to expand our horizons, and learn more about each other than to converse about our individual perceptions and judgements? After all, our social interaction would be rather dull if we didn’t share our judgements with each other. The wine critic simply professionalizes this impulse and to enable quick reference usually develops, or makes use of, some method for rendering a score on the wine under review. Decades ago, in the late 1970s, Mr. Robert M. Parker Jr., a lawyer in Monkton, MD, began “The Wine Advocate,” a consumer newsletter of wine evaluation. Owing to wine’s many variables in quality and character, he decided upon a 100 point scale. Given the similar 100 point scale used in American education, he figured consumers would readily understand that, say, while a 85 point wine might be pretty good, a 90 or 93 point wine would

be even better. Points are awarded for a wine’s appearance, color, aroma, body, flavor, overall quality, and the like. Today, Parker is the world’s most influential wine critic. Other influential publications have adopted this same 100 point wine scale, such as “The Wine Spectator” and “The Wine Enthusiast,” both venerable wine specialty publications designed to give consumers informed, expert opinions on wine. These critics and publications look at wines from all over the globe, evaluating thousands of wines each year. So those wines that merit their praise, much less their lavish praise, are thought to be truly worthwhile. A 90 point or higher score from, say, “The Wine Enthusiast” magazine can be thought of as an award of excellence from the panel of tasters employed by that magazine. In their rankings, for example, a score of 87-89 is deemed “very good” and “well recommended”, while 90-93 score is “Excellent” and “highly recommended” and above that is, well, above that! While every publication’s exact scale differs slightly, they all essentially function in this way. Over the last decade, fortunately, kosher wines have collected some mighty impressive scores and some remarkable praise in the wine press. The latest extremely impressive review comes from “Wine Enthusiast” in their April 2015 issue including over 30 Israeli wines, 16 of which received 90+ scores and none rated lower than an 85! In addition, two wines, Carmel Selected Sauvignon Blanc and Carmel Selected Cabernet Sauvignon, won Editor’s Choice and two were awarded Best Buys by the prestigious magazine. For decades now, wine critics have recognized Israel’s ability to produce world class wines but this review appears to have taken this recognition one step further. The highly rated wines come from virtually all of Israel’s wine growing regions. The Galilee and Judean hills, for years, have been noted regions but now the Upper Negev/Judea, Shomron and other regions have shown they too can produce wines of high regard. “Best Value is a rarity in any review and so when that best value comes from Israel it’s even more astounding, although not surprising to me,” says Jay Buchsbaum, Director of Wine Education for Royal Wine, the importer of Carmel wines. “We always knew our wines could compete on the world stage, now everyone else knows it too,” said Joshua Greenstein, who heads the trade group IWPA, Israel Wine Producers Association.

So if you see a kosher wine with this or that high wine score, it means that some wine expert or panel of experts, folks who spend most of their time evaluating non-kosher wine from around the globe, tasted that kosher wine and thought it deserving of praise. Whether or not you agree is entirely your own prerogative. The scores are not there to tell you what to like, only to suggest that such a wine is one you might like. Maybe even love. Taste for yourself to find out. L’chaim! Our Wine Scores: 93 SHILOH WINERY 2010 Legend Red Blend, Judean Hills $40.00 92 Domaine du Castel 2011 Grand Vin,Bordeaux-style Red Blend Haut-Judeé $75.00 92 Madmon 2012 Soreka Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvigno, Shomron $30.00 92 Editors’ Choice Tzuba 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Judean Hills $30.00 92 Editors’ Choice Alexander 2010 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Galilee $40.00 91 Shiloh Winery 2010 Legend II Red Blend, Judean Hills $40.00 91 Flam 2011 Reserve Syrah, Galilee $50.00 91 Psagot 2011 Edom, Bordeaux-style Red Blend, Judean Hills $38.00 91 Flam 2011 Reserve Merlot, Galilee $70.00 91 Psagot 2011 Psagot Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Jerusalem Hills $75.00 91 Carmel 2011 Appellation Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee $20.00 91 Psagot 2011 Cabernet Franc, Judean Hills $35.00 91 Domaine Netofa 2011 Syrah-Mourvèdre, Galilee $25.00 90 Shiloh Winery 2011 Shor Barbera, Judean Hills $32.00 90 Psagot 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Judean Hills $35.00 90 Tulip Winery 2012 Just Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee $25.00 90 Tulip Winery 2011 Black Tulip Bordeaux-style Red Blend, Galilee $80.00 90 Domaine Netofa 2011 Latour Netofa Estate Bottled Syrah-Mourvèdre, Galilee $45.00 90 Psagot 2012 Merlot, Judean Hills $26.00 90 Alexander 2009 The Great Amarolo Red Blend, Israel $120.00 90 Flam

2012 Classico Bordeaux-style Red Blend, Judean Hills $35.00 90 Segal’s 2009 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon Galil, $75.00 90 Tulip Winery 2011 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee $45.00 90 Tzuba 2012 Chardonnay, Judean Hills $25.00 90 Yatir 2010 Petit Verdot, Judean Hills $45.00 90 Tulip Winery 2011 Mostly Shiraz, Galilee $40.00 90 Barkan 2011 Special Reserve Winemakers’ Choice Merlot, Galilee $25.00 90 Alexander 2012 Sandro Red Blend, Upper Galilee $25.00 90 Barkan 2011 Special Reserve Winemakers’ Choice Shiraz, Galilee $25.00 90 Carmel 2010 Carmel Mediterranean Red Blend, Galilee $60.00 90 Barkan 2012 Special Reserve Winemakers’ Choice Chardonnay, Judean Hills $25.00 89 Shiloh Winery 2012 Chardonnay, Judean Hills $27.00 89Domaine Netofa 2013 Estate Bottled Rosé, Galilee $21.00 89 Domaine Netofa 2013 Estate Bottled Chenin Blanc, Galilee $25.00 89 Best Buy Carmel 2013 Selected Sauvignon Blanc, Galilee $11.00 89 Best Buy Carmel 2013 Selected Cabernet Sauvignon, Shomron $11.00 89 Tulip Winery 2013 White Franc White Blend, Judean Hills $30.00 89 Barkan 2011 Special Reserve Winemakers’ Choice Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee $25.00 88 Tulip Winery 2013 White Tulip White Blend, Galilee $25.00 88 Flam 2013 Rosé, Judean Hills $35.00 88 Montefiore 2011 Karem Moshe Red Blend, Judean Hills $50.00 86 Carmel 2012 Single Vineyard Kayoumi Vineyard White Riesling, Galilee $30.00 86 Shiloh Winery 2011 Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Judean Hills $40.00 85 Tzuba 2010 Metzuda Syrah, Judean Hills $30.00 85 Psagot 2012 Chardonnay, Judean Hills $25.00

Around The Community

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The children at Gan Chamesh, Chabad’s Early Childhood Center, familiarized themselves with the Pesach story firsthand at the school’s annual Yetziyas Mitzrayim Experience. The dramatization of the Pesach story enabled the children to internalize the story and lessons of Pesach and the Haggadah and bring their learning to life. In keeping with the concept of “B’chol dor vador chayav adam leeros es atzmo k’eelu hu yatza mee-Mitzrayim” (in every generation, one must look upon himself as if he personally had gone out of Egypt), this hands-on experience helped the children feel as if they were actually part of the story of Yetziyas Mitzrayim and witness to Hashem’s miracles.

MARCH 31, 2015

SKA: Fashion and Style Meet Modesty – All Win! It was all about “Getting the Look” on Thursday, March 26 at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls! SKA’s MACs (Modesty Awareness Committee by Students) Team put together an incredible program on fashion, style and modesty with very special guest speakers from the Jewish fashion world. Proving that clothing can be in vogue and modest at the same time, the women behind @fashion_isha, @ mimumaxi and @terijon demonstrated to the Juniors and Seniors of SKA the benefits and power of tziniut in their own lives. Social media has made the fashion industry very aware that there are large segments of the population that are interested in more modest fashion than that which is usually available. Postings on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, along with articles in fashion magazines, newspapers and websites,

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Gan Chamesh Ushers in Pesach with a Unique Yetziyas Mitzrayim Experience

SKA students with MimuMaxi founders

have made it clear that there is a ready audience for more modest clothing. Sharon Langert of Fashion-isha.com,

Mimi Hecht and Mushky Notik of MimuMaxi, and the Creative Director of Teri Jon shared their backgrounds and fashion histories with the students, explaining at the same time how one can be fashionable and deeply committed to halacha. The students then split into workshops, giving them the opportunity to communicate with each guest speaker in more detail, ask questions and even get fashion tips! Using an app, the fashion stylists coordinated clothing and accessories in the latest trends while upholding to tziniutdik guidelines. Explain-

ing their philosophy, they helped the girls see that “modesty doesn’t have to be frumpy.” We are grateful to Mrs. Elizabeth Kurtz for helping to make the arrangements for our speakers, Ms. Jordana Bienenfeld, SKA’s Media Coordinator, for producing the day’s striking videos and the marvelous student-edited first edition of MACS Magazine, “GET THE LOOK,” that was handed out, Rabbi Yosef Zakutinsky, Director of Student Programs, and his assistant, Mrs. Yafa Storch for their aid and support, and Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Director of Religious Guidance, who conceived of and organized this amazing event!

Around The Community

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MARCH 31, 2015

Congratulations to the Yeshiva Har Torah Yeshiva League Girls Varsity champions! The YHT Queen Beez, as they’re known, won a resounding victory in the championship and will bring YHT their second girls basketball championship banner and trophy. Congratulations to the entire team and to the coach, Amanda Zelman.

Bnos Bais Yaakov’s Sherry Garber Preschool Special Activities Room PHOTO CREDIT: ARYEH SHTAUBER

Within each preschool classroom, a plethora of activities are presented for the children to engage in. The activities are designed to be productive, either in enhancing motor and academic skills or stimulating imagination and critical thinking. But, as any morah knows, sometimes a change in venue is needed to recharge everyone’s interest and even further enrich the school experience. Thus was born the Sherry Garber Special Activities Room. The brainchild of Preschool Director Morah Yehudis Oppen, this room provides a newness of experience. For the first month, the offering was the jumping joy of two moon bounces. Many of the Moros joined their students on the moon bounce to ensure the safety of the children and to make sure that even the more timid children got actively involved in the fun. The following month, the room offered a different kind of motor experience: two huge ball pits in which the girls slid and slithered, two tables with paint-filled Ziploc bags which they squished and squiggled, rice tables, and shaving cream which they slathered about. For a more academic experience, a variety of magnets was provided for the girls to create patterns and pictures on the huge whiteboard. Currently, the Special Activities Room is covered in white paper. On this expansive surface, the children can use

(R-L) Activists Larry Domnitch, Dr. Paul Brody and daughter Limor Brody, Robin Ticker and Yosef Alon demonstrate in front of offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand insisting on their override vote of President Obama’’ expected veto of the Menendez-Kirk Iran sanctions bill.

Preparing for Pesach

textured paints, water colors, and paint dots to express their artistic selves. After attending a workshop on the Reggio Emilia Educational Methodology, Morah Yehudis decided to give the preschoolers the ultimate “blank canvas” experience. The Special Activities Room offers stimulation, variety, and fun. Even though all classes have gym and/or outside play every day, the Special Activities Room provides a different dimension of fun which a class can enjoy with just their own Morah. Stay tuned for the many more exciting ideas planned for the upcoming months!

The students at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Early Childhood Center and Elementary School in West Hempstead have been busy getting ready for Pesach. Students at both campuses have been learning about the story of Yetziyat Mitzraim and the halachot of Pesach. The students reenacted leaving

Egypt, made haggadot, learned Pesach songs, made matzah covers and haggadah covers and baked matzah. The students prepare for the seder and are very excited to use their haggadot and share their divrei Torah at the seder!

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MARCH 31, 2015

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Around The Community More than Child Play

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MARCH 31, 2015

Play, by its very nature, is educational. Studies show that play brings joy, and it is within this context that learning can occur. This is the goal of Yeshiva Shaarei Zion: to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and playfulness. The 13th annual brachot contest was designed to do just that. It was an event like no other. Learning came to life as the stu-

dents traveled to a land far beyond their imaginations, a land that nurtured vitality and creativity—to their very own YSZ Brachot Land! Since the Brachot Land breakout on Rosh Chodesh Tevet, when the contest was first introduced, the excitement in preparation for the big event had been pulsating throughout the school building. Students were given child-friendly booklets with pictures of every bracha. Brachot cards were splashed on the school walls and life-size game pieces stood erect, greeting students when they arrived to school. Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion’s 1st-8th grade girls were soon heavily absorbed in studying their brachot with their newly revised brachot packets. There are brachot that almost everyone knows, such as the bracha said before eating a carrot or drinking a cup of wine. But the brachot said upon seeing a large gathering of Jews at one time or when hearing good news are not as well known. Students analyzed and reviewed these brachot in earnest for many weeks. Inspired to explore the creative pro-

cess and become engaged participants in their learning, YSZ 7th grade girls took on the responsibility of creating the magnificent life-size form of Candy Land. Under the guidance of the talented, Mrs. Raizel Nissim, assistant principal and coordinator of this event, they diligently replicated the game in its entirety. The school lunchroom was soon surrounded with lollipops and candy canes, gumdrops and candies, just about the size of themselves. Tremendous achdut was displayed among the girls as they worked together, creating beautiful scenery and an intricate game board, spending many hours after school completing the project. After intense preparation, the girls were ready to play! As each player took turns answering brachot questions they moved along the colored game board pieces. The players advanced on the game board, the questions became more difficult. The girls continued moving forward in the game until they reached the incredible Brachot House. The final Brachot heroes who reached the goal and displayed accuracy in every question were Penina Hodaya Maerov, Nava Pinkhasov, Tehila Maksumov, Shoshana Shimunova and Leah Rubinov. “The purpose of our contest this year was not only to help the students remember to say brachot, but to do so by sparking the children’s interest by speaking their language, ” said Mrs. Shoshana Leibowitz, school principal and founder of the school’s brachot contests. “Research provides evidence of the positive effects that play has on various areas of learning. This year’s Brachot Land game kept students actively engaged, fueling motivation and learning in a fun, tangible way,” said Mrs. Nissim. Students are anticipating next year’s contest, but more importantly, they are utilizing the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired that are now deeply rooted in their hearts.

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Dirshu World Siyum

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By Avrohom Pardes It happened when the venerated senior Rosh Yeshiva of the generation, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, walked into the stadium. The lump in the throat felt like a bowling ball, the tears welled up, the moment was a life-altering, world-changing occurrence. As the Rosh Yeshiva – a manifestation of kulo neshama – entered and slowly approached the podium, the realization hit. On 3 Nissan, 5775, Klal Yisrael changed. We all became a bit more neshamadig. We, en masse, made a decision to bring Hashem into our lives in an unprecedented fashion; to live with the cognizance of His presence every day from when we wake up until we go to sleep, weekdays, Shabbos, Yom Tov, always! I had a unique vantage point which I would like to share with you, my dear readers. I had the zechus to attend many of the major siyumim around the globe. Each siyum was a remarkable, singular spiritual experience, with its own distinct atmosphere and flavor. Each one left thousands strengthened in avodas Hashem. Most importantly, in the wake of the siyumim, tens of thousands of Yidden have begun the new machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. The massive siyumim in the Yad Eliyahu and Binyanei Haumah stadiums in Eretz Yisrael raised the attendees to new heights … but the undercurrent was so much more. The rippling emotions were felt in each venue. The attendees of the siyumim in France, South Africa and South America were overwhelmed and uplifted by the experience. They had never experienced such

events in unity with their brethren around the world. In England, the Shabbos had a transformative effect topped off by the sight of an electrified crowd jostling at 2:00 a.m. – the culmination of the melave malka siyum – to buy Dirshu Mishnah Berurahs so they could start the next day! And in America at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, it became clear that Dirshu is a family affair. Not just the men, but the wives and children are equally involved, homes are being transformed as people begin to gain a better knowledge and understanding of halacha. But what is the sod, the secret of Dirshu? What prompted the Gedolei Yisrael – many old, frail and weak – to take the time to celebrate the siyum and be mechazek Yidden? Why have the senior gedolim formed together a nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha encouraging people to learn halacha? The answer is that Dirshu is pure Torah, pure ruchniyus. Dirshu’s main raison d’etre is to be mezakeh Klal Yisrael with limud haTorah, to enrich their learning and prevent Yidden from inadvertently transgressing issurim due to lack of halachic knowledge. Dirshu does not ask anything back from Klal

Yisrael. Its greatest nachas is to see more people learning and growing in Torah and avodas Hashem. A yungerman at the Shabbos table in England explained it beautifully, saying, “Dirshu changed my life. After I left kollel, I couldn’t find satisfaction in learning. Certainly I had a chavrusah for an hour but it was just learning without heart. Then I discovered Dirshu. Now I am learning an average of 6 hours a day Gemara and I am planning on adding Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.” Rav Yissocher Frand, inimitably and succinctly exclaimed, “Dirshu has taught us not only that you have to learn, but that you have to know!” As these words are being written, tens of thousands have undertaken to learn halacha and to know halacha! That is why Rav Shteinman and the gedolim came. That is why Dirshu’s siyumim – the ultimate manifestation of achdus – were collective simchos for all of Klal Yisrael. More than just the simcha of a siyum, the Dirshu siyumim were the simcha of a haschala! The beginning of a mass movement of yedias halacha! Rav Meir Shapiro proposed the Daf HaYomi at the Knessiah Gedolah in 1923, but the first celebration of Daf HaYomi, when Klal Yisrael embraced it, publicly gave thanks for it and joined en masse was seven years later in Lublin. The Daf HaYomi B’Halacha began seven years ago at Dirshu’s 10th anniversary celebration in Eretz Yisrael, but it was truly embraced by all shevatim of Klal Yisrael on 3 Nissan 5775. Ashreichem Yisrael! Ashreichem Dirshu!

MARCH 31, 2015

The Secret of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha The Secret of Dirshu

MARCH 31, 2015 

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Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Siyum in Eretz Yisrael Culmination of Siyumim in Five Countries Senior Gedolei Yisrael Urge Klal Yisrael to Learn Daf HaYomi B’Halacha

Rav Malkiel Kotler

By Chaim Gold “If our mouths were as full of song as the sea is full of water and our tongues as full of joy as the multitudes of the waves…” we would not be able to properly encapsulate the depth of feeling, joy, celebration, phenomenal achdus and inspiration at the Dirshu World Siyumim celebrating the completion of the Machzor Rishon of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Certainly it was a celebration of accomplishment, seven years of

yegiah, toiling in halacha as thousands completed the first cycle, but as much as it was a celebration over the past it was a demonstration of resolve for the future! Rivevos alpehei Yisrael, tens of thousands of Yidden from literally across the world, Eretz Yisrael, North America, Europe, South Africa, South America, Australia, all accepted upon themselves k’ish echad b’lev echad with a Kabbalas HaTorah-like achdus to bring daily halacha and mussar into their

Rav Meir Hershkowitz, Rav Malkiel Kotler

lives. Last week, thousands of new shiurim began Siman Aleph, Se’iph Aleph in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with Mishnah Berurah, tens of thousands of individual learners began the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha seder. A United Kinnus Tzaddikim The worldwide siyumim were essentially the inauguration of a new Daf HaYomi in Klal Yisrael that will enhance halachic observance throughout Klal

Yisrael thereby saving multitudes from millions of issurim, transgressions that they heretofore did not know existed! Perhaps that is why the centenarian senior Gadol Hador, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, troubled himself to come and spoke with such feeling in his short words of bracha. Rav Shteinman said that a gathering such as the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is a “kinnus tsaddikim” that is good for Klal Yisrael, that enriches Klal Yisrael and gives tremendous nachas ruach to Hashem! What will We Answer after 120 Years? The event in Tel Aviv’s Yad Eliyahu stadium opened with Dirshu’s indefatigable director of Public Affairs, Rabbi Shlomo Rozenstein, calling upon HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, shlita, son-in-law of Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, and Rav of Ramat Elchanan, to deliver opening remarks. Rav Zilberstein related that when the Netziv, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, completed writing his magnum opus sefer on the She’iltos of Rav Achai Gaon he made a celebration. The speech he made then reverberated throughout the world. He explained that when he was a young boy he overheard

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Rav Aharon Feldman reciting special kaddish

his parents discussing his future. They said, “He is not that bright. We should apprentice him by a shoemaker and in this way he will be able to sustain himself.” Upon hearing this, the Netziv resolved that he wanted to learn Torah. He applied himself with superhuman hasmadah until he became a gadol hador, a Rosh Yeshiva and author of some of the most important sefarim. The Netziv exclaimed, “Imagine if I would have become a shoemaker! After 120 years I would go up to shamayim thinking I

had lived as G-d fearing shoemaker and they would demand from me, ‘Where is your sefer on the She’iltos of Rav Achai Gaon?!’” Rav Zilberstein, thundered, “Today, because of Dirshu, countless talmidim have completed and been tested on the entire Mishnah Berurah, thousands have completed and been tested on the entire Shas! If not for Dirshu these learners would have come to shamayim and been asked, ‘Where is my Shas? Where is my Shulchan Aruch?!’ How much thanks do

Rav Reuven Feinstein

we owe Dirshu for enabling Klal Yisrael to reach its potential in Torah learning?!” Addressing the siyum on Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, Rav Zilberstein related in the name of his illustrious father-inlaw, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, that there is no greater kiddush Hashem than learning halacha! The Entrance of Seventy Gedolim Rav Zilberstein’s address was followed by one of the highlights of the evening, the entrance of more than seventy Gedolei Yisrael, Roshei Yeshiva, Admorim, and Poskim representing the entire cross-section of Klal Yisrael. Only several select senior gedolim did not come at that time, because they would arrive individually a bit later in the evening. Rav Rozenstein then introduced HaGaon HaRav Yisrael Menachem Alter, shlita, the son of the Gerrer Rebbe, shlita, and explained that the Rebbe, who was participating in the simultaneous siyum at the Binyanei Haumah Convention Center in Yerushalayim for a protracted period of time, sent his son to deliver his words of bracha and guidance. With great yiras hakavod Rav Alter gave over the exact wording of his father, in Yiddish and then Hebrew. What

follows is a free translation. “Learning Mishnah Berurah is daily learning for the purpose of implementing what one learns. The underlying foundation of halacha is to fulfill Hashem’s mitzvos. A person needs knowledge of halacha in every step of his life. That is the only way he can live like a Jew in all areas of life. Chazal teach that Hashem loves the gates of halacha more than shuls and battei midrash. If one engages in what Hashem loves, he will certainly merit all the brachos in ruchniyus and gashmiyus!” Moving Niggunim and Ruach Throughout the evening, the drashos and appearances of Gedolei Yisrael were interspersed with heartwarming niggunim of hisorerus and simcha sung live by some of the greatest baalei menagnim such as R’ Issac Honig, R’ Shloime Cohen, R’ Arele Samet among others, accompanied by a world class orchestra of some 100 musicians. In addition, moving video presentations including Dirshu’s recent visit to the kever of the Chofetz Chaim were shown. Rav Chaim Kanievsky Dancing in Celebration Undoubtedly, what brought the

Rav Yeruchem Olshin

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THE JEWISH HOME HaRav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi HaGaon Harav Yissocher Frand Dirshu speaking at the UK Siyum addressing the UK Dirshu World Siyum

crowd to its feet in passionate chizuk was the entrance of the senior gedolei Yisrael at intervals throughout the next part of the program, beginning with the entrance of the sar haTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita. It is impossible to describe the electric atmosphere as Rav Chaim slowly made his way to the middle of the arena, to the head of the table of the gedolim. One participant said, “I thought the roof would blow open!” With Rav Chaim gracing the head, a radiant smile on his face, the Modzhitzer

(L to R) HaRav Dovid Hofstedter, Modzhitzer Rebbe, Rav of Antwerp

Rebbe, shlita, was called upon to complete chelek vav of Mishnah Berurah. The Rebbe cited the famed words of Tana D’vei Eliyahu that he who learns halacha daily is assured a place in Olam Habaah. The Rebbe said, “If a person wants to live a life of Olam Habaah in this world then he needs to live a life of halachos, a life al pi halacha.” After reciting the hadran in the presence of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Kaddish was recited. Immediately thereafter the music started playing and Rav Chaim painstakingly

The Modzhitzer Rebbe reciting Havdala at the UK Siyum

stood up and began to dance in his place, holding hands with Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi Dirshu, on one side and HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh, on the other. The crowd danced ecstatically, watching Rav Chaim dancing. It was a true manifestation of simchas haTorah! The dancing was seamlessly followed by the venerated nonagenarian Rosh Yeshiva of Kamenitz, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, shlita, who began chelek aleph of Mishnah Ber-

Partial view of the crowd at the UK Dirshu Siyum

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urah, enjoining all to follow the words of the Shulchan Aruch, “To strengthen themselves like a lion in the service of Hashem!” Binyanei Haumah Graced by Live Drashos from Gedolei Yisrael Meanwhile, in Yerushalayim’s Binyanei Haumah Convention Center, thousands gathered to participate in their own siyum and hook-up to the live proceedings in Yad Eliyahu. The Kaliver Rebbe, shlita, was honored with making the siyum. The emotional symbolism as this survivor of Nazi atrocities tearfully recited the Kaddish was not lost on anyone. HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi, shlita, R”M, Mir Yerushalayim, began the new machzor in Binyanei Haumah. He was followed by Rav Dovid Hofstedter who spoke live in Binyanei Haumah and then rushed to join the siyum in Tel Aviv. HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, also addressed the large crowd in Yerushalayim before joining the event in Tel Aviv. Rav Dovid Hofstedter: “Hashem’s Will is Daily Halacha and Mussar” The next major address at Yad Eliyahu was given by the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter. Based on the Gemara in Pesachim and the Maharsha and Alshich, Rav Hofstedter showed that Am Yisrael’s power of achdus has the ability to bring even simple people to the level of bnei neviyim. “I recently had the zechus of davening at the kevarim of the Chofetz Chaim in Radin and of Rav Chaim of Volozhin. We went with rabbanim representing every shevet in Klal Yisrael. We davened on behalf of all lomdei Daf HaYomi B’halacha pres-

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ent and future. The achdus permeating this siyum and the other Daf HaYomi B’Halacha siyumim has been phenomenal in nature. All of Klal Yisrael has come together for a single purpose – to demonstrate the value of learning halachah. The Derishah makes a famous statement cited by the Mishnah Berurah: If a person sets aside time for the study of Gemara and its commentaries, he has not fulfilled the requirement of kevius ittim l’Torah – having a set time for Torah study. A person must also designate a time for the study of practical halacha, for the Derishah explains, “That is the root and essence of our Torah.” “The Mishnah Berurah also rules that a person must have a daily set time for the study of mussar for ‘the greater a person is, the greater is his yetzer hara’ and the antidote for the yetzer hara is the admonitions and teachings of Chazal. “It is thus clear that it is literally the will of Hashem Himself for every individual to set aside a period of time each day for the study of halacha and mussar. Let us all accept upon ourselves to

join Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, to participate in the tests. In this zechus may we merit the ultimate simcha and achdus with the coming of Mashiach.” Rav Badani: The Antidote to Tzaaros is Perhaps Learning Halacha HaGaon HaRav Shimon Baadani, shlita, member of the Nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, said, “One who learns halacha every day is assured a place in Olam Habaah as it says, ‘Halichos olam Lo [the ways of the world are His]’ – do not read the word halichos, but rather halachos.” Rav Baadani explained how the pasuk, “Halichos olam Lo” is mentioned in Sefer Chabakuk where the Navi discusses terrible punishments. The preceding words are, “Everlasting mountains were smashed, eternal hills were laid low, for the ways of the world are His.” “How,” Rav Baadani asked, “do the words of ‘halichos olam Lo’ come into this description of Hashem’s judgment?” He answered, “Perhaps we can say that Chazal derived from this pasuk that one who learns halacha every day

Dayan Binyomin Eckstein greeting the Modzhitzer Rebbe upon his arrival at the Horwood House, site of the UK Siyum

is assured a place in Olam Habaah to teach that even when we are plagued by great tzaaros, great travail and suffering, maybe the antidote is to learn halacha every day.” Rav Edelstein: “Learning Halacha can Transform One’s Spiritual Life” The venerated elder Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, shlita, emotionally addressed

the assembled, “Every one of the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim was written to enrich Klal Yisrael and enhance their observance. Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is doing exactly that.” Rav Edelstein related that halacha can transform one’s spiritual life. “I have had talmidim who were not succeeding in learning and once they started learning halacha they blossomed in other areas of learning as well!” Rav Shteinman’s Entrance, a High Point Words cannot describe what transpired after Rav Edelstein’s address. Rabbi Rozenstein asked the crowd to welcome the senior Rosh Yeshiva of our time, Maran HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita. As the diminutive gadol slowly headed towards his seat at the head, the crowd of lomdei Torah could not contain their excitement. The eruption of simcha and ecstasy defies description as all craned their necks

Completion of the Mishnah Berurah marked by joyous celebration in England

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Harav Yosef Chaim Sitruk, Chief Rabbi of France

to catch a glimpse of the Rosh Yeshiva’s holy countenance. There was a hush as Rav Shteinman, in his soft voice, cited the Gemara, “A gathering of tzaddikim is good for them and good for the world. A gathering of Reshaim is bad for them and bad for the world.” Rav Shteinman said forcefully, “It is good to make gatherings like this! They strengthen us all, especially in [difficult times] like this. In this zechus may all of us merit kol tuv!” HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef and Nasi of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, spoke about the unique quality of the Mishnah Berurah. “When one learns Mishnah Berurah, one can truly understand the underlying premise of the halacha. I always tell my talmidim that although we Sefardim do not rule like the Mishnah Berurah, they should first learn the Mishnah Berurah and then learn the final outcome of the Sefardic poskim. After all, the Mishnah Berurah teaches you how to understand the halacha, not just what the halacha is. Therefore it is wonderful that Dirshu has instituted the learning of Daf HaY-

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omi B’Halacha, daily learning of Mishnah Berurah.” The Sanzer Rebbe gave a comprehensive address pointing out that although they learned Torah in the time of the Churban HaBayis, they did not trouble themselves to reach halachic conclusions and that brought to the Churban. He went on to praise Dirshu for enriching Klal Yisrael with halacha. “Rav Dovid Hofstedter has many zechuyos, but the bringing of halachic observance to the masses on such a scale is a particularly unique zechus!” Following the Sanzer Rebbe, a letter of bracha from Belzer Rebbe who could not attend due to health considerations was read by the Belzer Dayan, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Friedman, shlita. The final address was given by the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, shlita, a member of the Nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, who hailed the importance of learning practical halacha and urged all to join. He said that when a person accepts upon himself to learn and fulfill his halachic obligations he is empowered to beg Hashem for Torah knowledge and dveikus.

Together Harmoniously Following the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s speech there was a beautiful musical interlude. Capitalizing on the remarkable, palpable achdus as all the shivtei Yisrael coalesced under the banner of Torah symbolized by Dirshu, a beautiful sheves achim was held. Moving niggunim and dancing by Rav Dovid together with other gedolim and prominent members of Dirshu’s hanhala were sung as the enthusiastic crowd of more than 13,000 lomdei Dirshu sang and danced along. Rav Hofstedter: “Now is a Golden Opportunity!” At the sheves achim, Rav Dovid got up, microphone in hand and gave a personal, impassioned address, speaking as one brother would speak to another. He said, “The Gemara makes a curious statement concerning the background for the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. Why was the Land lost?’ Hashem Himself explained, ‘For they abandoned My Torah that I placed before them.’ Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: [This means that] they

did not recite the brachos before Torah study.” The Acharonim are puzzled by the Gemara’s statement: Why was there any doubt as to why Eretz Yisrael was lost? Elsewhere, the Gemara states clearly that the reasons for the Churban were well known: “Why was the first Beis Hamikdash destroyed? Because of three things that took place: avodah zarah, immorality, and murder.” The Gemara cites a number of pesukim substantiating that contention. The second Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because of sinas chinam. “The Toras Chaim explains that the chachamim and neviim of the day were certainly well aware that the exile and destruction were caused by those cardinal sins. While they knew this, however, they were also plagued by a question they could not answer: The Jewish People in that generation were involved in Torah learning, and the Torah is the antidote to the yetzer hara. Why didn’t the Torah protect them?” Rav Hofstedter showed that a lack of yiras shamayim was the reason that the Torah they learned did not protect them. “It is not enough to learn. The Bartenura says that the purpose of learning is yiras Hashem. The second Bayis was destroyed because of sinas chinam. That terrible aveirah is also rooted in a ‘yirah deficiency.’ “Morai v’rabbosai,” passionately exclaimed Rav Dovid, “Hashem is waiting for us to connect with Him through yiras chet. Now is the ultimate opportunity. The new cycle of the Daf Yomi B’Halachah program is beginning. We all have a golden opportunity to rise to the level at which fear of sin is the purpose and ultimate goal of our learning.

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The daily learning of the Mishnah Berurah with the relevant supplementary materials will cause our learning to have a practical aim while the study of the other works of the Chofetz Chaim will help us increase our dedication to the mitzvah of v’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha. “Every one of us can recognize for himself that there is truly no other way to achieve this ideal. The only way for us to learn Torah in order to apply it to our actions is to learn halacha so that we will know what we are required to do. And the only way to learn in order to increase our fear of sin is to learn what constitutes a sin. “Right now, we all have an opportunity to set up a learning schedule that revolves around the goal of increasing our fear of sin and our observance of the mitzvos, thus achieving a true connection to the wisdom and kedushah of the Torah and the Master of the Universe Himself. “My friends, this is the time to make that commitment. This is the time to capitalize on the sense of kedushah and joy at this awesome occasion and to join

the ranks of those who follow the Daf Yomi B’Halachah program throughout the world, to create a kiddush Hashem through the study and practice of halacha.” A Week of Siyumim The siyumim in Eretz Yisrael were the culmination of a week of spectacular siyumim worldwide. One of the truly unique siyumim was the one held in Downtown Paris on Sunday. This was the first major Torah event of such magnitude in the history of France! Thousands gathered at Les Docks Des Paris at a siyum headed by HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef and Nasi of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah. The enthusiasm of the crowd at the sight of luminaries such as Rav Cohen and the Kaliver Rebbe, shlita, of Williamsburg was heartwarming. The fact that Dirshu had come to France to enhance the Torah learning of French Jewry was clearly appreciated. The major event was preceded by a meeting with over 50 of France’s prom-

inent Rabbanim and Maggidei Shiur led by Rav Shalom Cohen and Rav Dovid Hofstedter. Rav Cohen and Rav Hofstedter ardently called on France’s spiritual leadership to impart the importance of learning halacha to their congregants and deliver and facilitate shiurim in daily halacha. Keeping Together One Halacha at a Time At the major event, the well-known Maggid, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, spoke very movingly, weaving stories with words of inspiration. He picked up the Dirshu Mishnah Berurah, delineated the sefer’s unique qualities and urged every person who had not yet undertaken to learn Daf HaYomi B’Halacha to join a shiur and transform their spiritual lives for the better! Rabbi Krohn related a powerful story how once at the Pesach Seder, just before “V’he she’amdah,” his threeyear-old grandchild asked if he could sit on his lap. “Of course, I answered affirmatively. When my grandson, with his cherubic voice, joined us in reciting

‘V’he she’amdah,’ I couldn’t hold back my tears. So many nations have tried to destroy us! We have lost so many! When will it end?” I thought. “But if we unify, as echad, as one, they will not succeed.” Rabbi Krohn, his voice cracking with emotion, continued, “The best way to keep together is to learn halacha, keep halachos together and join together as one in the wonderful program, that will enrich Klal Yisrael, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.” France’s Leading Rabbanim Address Event Rav Naftali Levy, Director of Dirshu France, then called upon Rav Yosef Sitruk, former Chief Rabbi of France, who has previously spoken at the Dirshu world siyum and seen Dirshu’s impact from close. Rav Sitruk welcomed Dirshu’s presence in France and called upon French Jewry to access the unique bracha of being part of Dirshu. One milestone was the siyum HaMishnah Berurah made by HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Rottenberg, shlita, one of Paris’s most prominent Rab-

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THE JEWISH HOME banim. Rav Rottenberg hailed the extraordinary nature of Dirshu, an organization whose entire purpose is to be mezakeh es harabbim. He praised Rav Hofstedter for revolutionizing limud haTorah in Eretz Yisrael, America, England and now France! After the siyum the entire assemblage broke out in song. To watch the venerated Rav Shalom Cohen holding Rav Dovid Hofstedter’s hand, the Kaliver Rebbe, who suffers from a debilitating illness that limits his movements,

clearly exerting himself, holding hands in celebration of the simchas haTorah was a sight that left an indelible impression! HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Katz, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Mosdos Yad Mordechai, was honored with beginning the new machzor. Bringing the Geulah by Doing His Will Rav Dovid Hofstedter was then called to speak. The crowd sat riveted

HaGaon HaRav Berel Dov Povarsky, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Badani, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz

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as Rav Hofstedter spoke in Hebrew interspersed with French. Rav Hofstedter said, “The fact that such a large crowd has gathered to celebrate the learning of halacha is a manifestation of Mi Keamcha Yisrael.” Referring to the terrorist attacks on Jews earlier in the winter, Rav Dovid asked, “What is Hashem asking of us? Perhaps what we can do to invoke His rachamim and bring the geulah is to do His Will. The Ramban says that the geulah will come when Klal Yisrael does His Will. By conduct-

ing our lives in accordance with halacha we can bring the geulah.” Rav Dovid concluded, “My dear French Jews, I am so happy to be with you here today! Let us come together as one man with one heart and accept upon ourselves to learn the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha!” The son of the Kaliver Rebbe, shlita then gave over a message in the name of his father and he was followed by the major address of HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, shlita. When Rav Cohen stood up, the crowd erupted in song,

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giving tremendous kavod to this senior Gaon and Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Shalom Cohen: “Dirshu are Sheluchim of Hashem” Rav Cohen said, “Morai v’rabotai, the siyum of Shas ends with the words, ‘He who learns halachos every day is assured a place in Olam Habaah. From here we see that learning Gemara every day is insufficient. A person must learn halacha every day! If not, how will he know how to conduct himself?!” Rav

Cohen, with a strength that belied his age, ended, “Dirshu, by making this program and all of its programs are the sheluchim of Hashem to increase love of Torah and knowledge of Torah!” Creating an Iron Dome of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha The events in Eretz Yisrael and France followed major siyumim in the United States, England and South Africa. In America, the siyum, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel of Stamford, Con-

necticut, was a memorable event. In addition to the more than 1,000 Lomdei Dirshu who were there for Shabbos, hundreds more joined the siyum on motzaei Shabbos. The Hadran was made by the Skverer Dayan, HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz, shlita. HaGaon HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisrael Baltimore, was honored with saying the Kaddish after which the entire assemblage broke out into an ecstatic rikkud. Following the

dancing, HaGaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Staten Island, was asked to start the second machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Rav Dovid Hofstedter then rose and with great feeling proposed the charge of the evening, “Morai v’rabbosai, let us all come together to create a new Iron Dome! A shield of chizuk and shemirah to fulfill the ratzon Hashem, an Iron Dome that will protect us from the invasion of the surrounding culture! We

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ered by HaGaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, who came special on motzaei Shabbos to participate in Dirshu’s simchas haTorah. In his heartfelt remarks, Rav Malkiel said, “The Gemara tells us that, ‘everyone who

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learns daily halacha is assured a place in Olam Habaah, as the pssuk states, halichos olam...’” The Rosh Yeshiva expounded, “When a person learns halacha daily, his every halicha, his every step throughout the day is done in accordance with the

Torah. This is what assures him Olam Habaah.” On Shabbos, important words of chizuk were delivered by HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and Mesivta of Lakewood, and Hagaon Harav Shea Fuhrer,

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shlita, Rosh Kollel Bobov Toronto. An in-depth shiur was given by HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Miller, shlita, Rosh Kollel Avreichim of Toronto and Av Bais Din Bais Horaah of Lakewood. Shalosh Seudos was a profound spiritual experience with powerful messages given by the gedolim who spoke: HaGaon HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisrael of Baltimore, HaGaon HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Choueka, shlita, Rav of Congregation Ohel Simha in Deal, New Jersey, and HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, Rav of Kehal Birchas Avraham, Rosh Yeshivas Yeshiva Nehardaah and Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Maggid Shiur. South Africa’s “Next Stage” The next major siyum was held in South Africa. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein said, “The Dirshu Siyum haschala of the machzor sheini of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha was the ‘next stage’ in the

maturing of the South African frum community.” Dayan Yonasson Abrahams, Dayan on the London Beis Din, said, “There is a famous aphorism, ‘The devil is in the details.’ We say, ‘The Divine is in the details!’ The kedusha of halacha is in the details of halachic observance.” Rav Dovid Hofstedter said, “For a Jew, learning and observing practical halachahis part and parcel of revealing the truth. This is how every Jew can discover his own connection to the Master of the Universe. Now is the time to commit to undertaking Daf HaYomi B’Halacha!” Europe’s Finest Hour Europe had never experienced a Shabbos and Motzaei Shabbos like Shabbos Parshas Vayikra. Held at the Horwood House Hotel, just over an hour from London, the participants were enriched with presence of the Modzhitzer Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Yissocher Frand, shlita, R”M at Yeshiva Ner Yisrael of Baltimore, HaGaon HaRav Aharon

Schiff, shlita, Rav of Antwerp and Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu. The Motzaei Shabbos Siyum was especially inspiring with some 500 guests joining the 500 who spent the entire Shabbos together. The Modzhitzer Rebbe, shlita, was honored with making the haschalah of the new machzor that many thousands across the world recently joined. In his remarks, the Rebbe cited the well-known Tanah Dvei Eliyahu stating, “‘He who learns halacha every day is assured a place in Olam Habaah.’ Eliyahu Hanavi,” said the Rebbe, “has promised Olam Habaah to he who learns halacha, but Dirshu has enabled every individual to access that bracha by providing a framework to learn halacha daily and know and retain what one learns.” Rav Dovid Hofstedter told an emotional story about his mother during the Holocaust that showed how adhering to halacha can bring great yeshuah. He ended his words with an appeal to the thousand attendees, “Let us join together to build a new Daf Yomi, a Daf Ha-

Yomi of shemiras halacha and ahavas Yisrael that will bring shemira, geulah and yeshua and overturn the tide of sinah to ahava and ultimately lead to the bi’as goel.” The Rav of Antwerp, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Schiff, shlita, related that he was asked, “Couldn’t Dirshu have found a better time to make a siyum other than just before Pesach when everyone is so busy?” Rav Schiff answered, “That is exactly the message and secret of Dirshu! Dirshu enables one to find time to learn even when one doesn’t have time! Dirshu has taught people how to steal time that they didn’t know existed. Friday afternoons, motzaei Shabbos, early mornings…” For the British community hearing Rav Yissocher Frand was a rare treat and Rav Frand did not disappoint. His brilliant address encompassed the takeaway message to Klal Yisrael from all of the siyumim. “Tomorrow morning, open up the Mishnah Berurah and start Siman Aleph Se’iph Aleph. Don’t wait! Do it!”

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Dirshu Impact, Live Around the Globe A Diary of Events By: Shimmy Blum Milton Keynes, England It’s hard to imagine anywhere in a Western nation more “in the boondocks” than the Horwood House in Milton Keynes. The Dirshu American delegation’s hour-plus Friday morning drive from London Heathrow Airport took us on dozens of miles of narrow, isolated roads on the English countryside. Beneath the overcast skies was a seemingly endless stretch of deep green farms and pastures. When an occasional cluster of civilization popped up, it was small and contained no building taller than two stories. Even our driver’s all-knowing

Waze struggled to figure out where we were and how we are supposed to reach our destination. We finally did, thankfully. Situated on 300 acres of greenery, Horwood House is a fairly large hotel situated in an incredibly low and ancient looking brick structure. Within a few hours, we were instantly transported into a different world, one that would fit perfectly in the heart of Yerushalayim or Bnei Brak. From All Corners – With One Goal As the afternoon hours progressed, the driveway and parking lot – or “car park,” as they’re called in England – was filled with coach buses, taxis and

personal cars bringing guests for the inaugural European Convention of Dirshu and world Siyum of the first Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha cycle. A stream of young families – anashim, nashim, v’taf - continuously arrived, many already in bigdei Shabbos. Middle-aged and elderly baale batim had a large presence as well. They came from a range of frum communities in England – Stamford Hill, Golders Green, Hendon, Manchester, Gateshead, Edgware – as well as from Antwerp, Eretz Yisroel and other international origins. There were nearly 400 guests over Shabbos. The European community culture is very different from what we’re ac-

customed to seeing in North America or Eretz Yisroel. Major frum communities are a lot smaller and major community events are a lot rarer. It’s not second nature for anyone to cram conventions, dinners and parlor meetings into their calendar. But the Dirshu Shabbos clearly struck a chord. Seats had been sold out a while before the doors opened. There was a heavy representation of chassidim of all stripes, as well as the continent’s yeshiva world, and a blend of clean shaven and trimmed bearded professionals. I bump into a friendly chassidishe yungerman. He introduced himself as Reb Lipa Ostreicher, a Boro Park na-

Spreading the Revolution The Shabbos made an indelible impression upon everyone there. The beauty of learning Torah, reviewing Torah – particularly halacha l’maaseh – was driven home in vivid color at every moment. After Mincha on Shabbos, the Emcee, noted London Badchan Reb Yisroel Stern, announced that the mispallelim should bring their talleisim and sefarim from the tent into the hotel. A lively discussion erupted over whether this constituted hachana l’chol. (The conclusion, as clarified by Dayan Binyamin Eckstein shlit”a, director of Dirshu Europe, was that in this case it was permitted.) On Motzei Shabbos, hundreds of

*** Paris, France France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, which is predominantly Sephardic. In recent years, France has also earned the dubious distinction of being increasingly inhospitable towards its Jews. The country’s entrenched anti-Semitism, compounded by a fast rising radical Muslim population, has come to a head. The Toulouse school massacre, the recent Hyper Cacher Erev Shabbos massacre, a near pogrom on a shul by anti-Israel demonstrators, vandalized Jewish businesses, closed Jewish schools and more… Against this backdrop, we landed

at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport on Sunday morning to be immediately shuttled to the special Dirshu Siyum there. My first time in the country, I was filled with a keen curiosity – almost trepidation – over what it would be like to be part of a major French Orthodox community event. As our taxi made its way from the chic airport and its upscale surrounding hotels and shops to the Docks Pullman hall, the Paris of our imagination looked quite different on the ground. Walls were filled with graffiti. Pedestrians, motorists and children playing soccer in the local park were virtually all of North African origin, amongst whom radicalism is rampant. What do the Jews look like in this environment, literally threatened with their lives at every step? Héros du Quotidien I was struggling to hold back tears at the sight that greeted me. Under heavy police and private security watch – with special security barricades surrounding the building – over 1,500 men, women and children filled the hall. They were diverse, but a solid majority of them bore a stark Jewish appearance: black yarmulkes; many black hats; many beards; many white shirts. One can only imagine the impression it makes in shamayim to see children whose classrooms are guarded by soldiers with machine guns, walking around Paris with thick peyos behind their ears and long white tzitzis dangling towards the floor. These people were living in a different world than the image of French Jews we have from politicians and the media. Though aware of the danger more than anyone, they were not preoccupied with how to fight it politically or whether they want to make Aliyah to Eretz Yisroel. “Our day to day lives are normal, other than that we previously had police guarding us, and now it’s soldiers,” remarks Reb Emmanuel, a middle-aged bearded man, flanked by his 21 year old son, a talmid in Yeshiva Orchos Torah in Bnei Brak. “I tell people that Hashem send us these difficulties as a message that we should be mechazek.” Reb Emmanuel says that this Dir-

MARCH 31, 2015

additional men, bochurim and young boys traveled in from various neighborhoods in England to join in the majestic Siyum Melave Malka in the tent, with live music and captivating addresses by Rav Hofstedter, the Modzitzer Rebbe, Rav Schiff, Rav Frand and others. The importance of knowing halacha – and its pleasantness and accessibility through Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha – was brought out so eloquently. In conversation after conversation over Shabbos, I heard from attendees who became inspired to begin participating in the new Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha cycle. The second Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha cycle is now underway in Europe with an enviable level of energy and momentum. During a Shabbos afternoon conversation, one Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha maggid shiur, Rabbi Dovid Tugendhaft shlit”a, Rav of Khal Nishmas Yisroel in Hendon, pulled out of his pocket the poster announcing his nightly shiurim for the new cycle. By Monday morning, we received word from Rabbi Tugendhaft that attendance at the shiur quadrupled to about 40 men for the new cycle! “The Shabbos generated lots of publicity about Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha,” Rabbi Tugendhaft explains. “I am so excited that more people have the zechus to learn Halacha. It makes such a big impact on people’s lives.” This is a scene that is fast spreading across Europe, along with the rest of the world. Chazak v’amatz.

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The Dirshu Revolution As Shabbos progressed, it became clearer by the minute just how potent the word “Dirshu” is in Europe. For starters, of course, is the actual proliferation of Dirshu shiurim and people taking Dirshu tests in Europe. There are vibrant Dirshu programs in England, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Gibraltar and The Netherlands. That itself is a major feat. At the Shabbos morning Kiddush, I struck up a conversation with Yossi Dunner, a native of Bnei Brak who currently resides in Golders Green and runs a real estate business. As a close former talmid of Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, director of operations of Dirshu Eretz Yisroel, Yossi was involved in Dirshu’s earliest days on the continent. A decade or so ago, Yossi accompanied Reb Avigdor as he worked to set up shop in Europe. They encountered widespread skepticism. One prominent maggid shiur remarked about the prospect of locals taking tests, “No one will come. Well, maybe one person will.” It is one thing to be impressed with the tangible accomplishments of Dirshu – those attending Dirshu shiurim, those taking tests and the enormous amount of Torah learning and knowledge they amass. With each conversation over Shabbos, however, it became clear just how much broader the Dirshu revolution is. There were quite a few at the convention who were not – yet, at least – part of an official Dirshu program, but this was the place they wanted to be. They want to belong under the Dirshu umbrella. This represented Torah and Torah values to them. Davening, which took place in a large, white custom constructed tent, was uplifting and sincere. The front of the makeshift Bais Medrash was graced by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlit”a, Nasi Dirshu; the Modzitzer Rebbe shlit”a of Bnei Brak; Rav Yissocher Frand shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel of Baltimore; and

Rav Aharon Schiff shlit”a, Rav of Antwerp. The cultural and geographical diversity was wide but not even noticeable. Torah and halacha formed the common thread. The seudos – held in separate family, men’s and women’s dining rooms – were both elegantly presented and spiritually vibrant. The Friday night seudah was followed by a beautiful Peiros Tish led by the Modzitzer Rebbe. A choir of yungerleit added beauty to the tefillos and seudos. On Friday evening and on Shabbos early afternoon and late afternoon, there was an intriguing schedule of shiurim, for both men and women, in both Yiddish and English. In addition to a slew of European marbitzei Torah and Rav Frand, there were other highly regarded speakers flown in from overseas, including Rav Menashe Reisman shlit”a, Rav Shraga Kallus shlit”a, and Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller. Divrei Torah was the topic of conversation at every free moment. During Shabbos Mincha, the by-now-customary Dirshu bidding war for aliyos took place. The amount of dafim that attendees were ready to learn, review and be tested within the next year on, gradually went up and up. The bidding was widespread and suspenseful. Several mespallelim expressed concern that it would make us miss the shkia for Shmonei Esrei. It eventually ended at 3,200 blatt for a pair of chavrusos in London. When it came time for the Mi Shebeirach, they upped their “donation” by another 1,000 blatt!

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tive who currently lives in Stamford Hill. “The culture here is very conservative; people tend to stick to their own kehillos,” he explained. “It’s a big chiddush to have so many different types of people in one place.”

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shu event was the ideal chizuk venue. “We’re not used to seeing such a maamad,” he explains. “This makes the Torah very honored and spurs a curiosity for people to want to learn more.” I then spot three chirpy 15- or so year-old yeshiva bochurim conversing in their seats before the program began. You wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if you saw them on 13th Avenue in Boro Park or Clifton Avenue in Lakewood. They identify as Hillel, Shimon and Elchonon, talmidim at the suburban Paris yeshiva of American-raised Rav Kravetz shlit”a. Like their adult peers, the bochurim were wary of being a media spectacle. They were just excited to be part of such a unique Torah event. Other than Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman shlit”a’s historic 2012 visit to Paris, a Torah event of this size and caliber simply doesn’t happen in the country. “Af paam – not even once,” the bochurim affirm. “Anachnu lo regiliim – we’re not used to it; there was so much excitement when we found out it will take place.” Dirshu Offers Chizuk The dais was large and majestic, sparkling with Dirshu’s trademark blue themed lighting, gold logo, lively band, and filled with dozens of leading

local rabbanim and marbitzei Torah shlit”a. Special out-of-town guests at the siyum included Chacham Shalom Cohen shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef of Yerushalayim; the Kaliver Rebbe shlit”a of Williamsburg, despite suffering the effects of a severe stroke R”l; and renowned maggid Rabbi Paysach Krohn. During the previous cycle, there were three live daily Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha shiurim in France, as well as scores of callers who listened to the shiurim each week on the Yad Hachesed hotline. But, once again, Dirshu represented a lot more than that. It was crystal clear that the Jews in the audience derived their fortitude from their emunah and love of Torah. This was a chance to celebrate and strengthen the bond. They heard uplifting and deeply emotional addresses from Rabbi Krohn, Rav Hofstedter, and the Kaliver Rebbe (delivered by his son), expressing a wellspring of love and support for them. A translator repeated the Hebrew speeches at the lectern, piece by piece, in French, but that was barely necessary. The language of the heart speaks to all. Following the Siyum, there was festive dancing to “Nagil v’nasis b’zos haTorah,” “Toras Hashem temima,”

and similar songs. Members of the audience, particularly children and teenagers, literally rushed the dais to greet the rabbanim and request berachos. The spirit was palpable. The emotion was visible. They were inspired. They received potent chizuk for their difficult road ahead. And this was just the beginning. Rabbi Naftali Levy, director of Dirshu France and a ball of energy, says that he is working on expanding the number of Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha shiurim in the country to about thirty during the new cycle. Yes, a tenfold increase. Based on Dirshu’s track record and French Jewry’s reaction to “their” Dirshu Siyum, that is a very achievable goal, b’ezras Hashem. “This will increase kvias ittim l’Torah, give people a grasp of halacha and make it a part of their life,” Rabbi Levy says optimistically. Shortly after the event concluded, we were back in a taxi, headed towards Charles de Gaulle airport, for a flight to yet another country: Eretz Yisroel. As usually happens when you’re under the most pressure, the Air France check-in agents gave Reb Yitzchok Saftlas a run for his money. They forced him to repack his luggage several times in order to avoid even a minimal amount of overweight in either one.

Reb Yitzchok took it all with his characteristic smile and optimism. We were finally on our overnight flight to Ben Gurion airport. The flight was unusually empty and sleepy. The only noise in my section of the plane was a brief conversation I had with a secular French Jewish physician sitting across the aisle. He relayed the frightening anti-Semitism he faces in his native country due to his Jewish name. He was inching to move to Eretz Yisroel; two siblings had already left France. “Today, if I see someone with a yarmulke on the streets of Paris, I consider him to be very brave,” he remarked. I told him about the Dirshu event I just attended, where so many Jews proudly touted their appearance and Torah bona fides in the lion’s den. He replied, “I know; I have some charedi relatives. They’re brave; they’re brave.” Yes, they’re brave, and today I discovered the secret behind their braveness. *** Tel Aviv, Israel In virtually every hashkafa-related lecture of our times, we hear about the challenging “dor yasom” in which we live in today. As accurate as that may be, it was difficult – rather impossible – to fathom that during the hours I spent at, of all places, Nokia Stadium in Tel Aviv. On Tuesday afternoon, the premier Israeli sports stadium’s nearly 12,000 seats were filled to capacity with pure tinnokos shel bais rabban, and black hatted, white shirted bochurim, avreichim and men of all backgrounds and occupations. Outside, the parking lot was filled with coach buses from cities across the Holy Land, each proudly displaying a banner with the Dirshu logo beneath the windshield. Dirshu’s events all over the world attract a special crowd and exude a powerful spiritual energy. But a Dirshu event in artzeinu hakedosha occupies a special place on the map. This is our homeland, the Torah capital of the world, and the capital of Dirshu. Dirshu programs are found in over 70 neighborhoods in Eretz Yisroel. There are over 400 official Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha shiurim across the

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MARCH 31, 2015

land, in addition to countless unofficial ones. During the final Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha tests of the cycle, well over 10,000 individuals took the tests! On the stadium floor, usually occupied by raucous ball players, was a three-sided dais filled with over 200 elite gedolei Yisroel, rabbanim and marbitzei Torah, shlita. The caliber of the gedolim around us; the everyday talmidei chachamim around us; the greatness in Torah of the tinnokos shel bais rabban and yeshiva bochurim around us… The amount of Torah and halacha learned, reviewed and tested on by the thousands around, through various Dirshu programs… The omnipotent combination of Toras Eretz Yisroel and the Dirshu global revolution… While at the media table on the Nokia Stadium floor, a young bachur frantically leans over the fence asking to speak to a Dirshu staff member. It took a few moments to decipher his quick Hebrew: “There were no sefarim in my bag!” The bag on his seat contained the

Danish, water bottle and other paraphernalia greeting all attendees, but not the sefarim: the special Dirshu edition of Chofetz Chaim Hilchos Shemiras Halashon, and the Dirshu Mishnah Berurah containing the perakim being tested on at the first Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha test of the new cycle. The bag meant nothing to him then. He was quickly given the sefarim, and he relaxed. Just above the fence around our table, on the lowest floor of the bleachers, was a special section for handicapped attendees, bochurim and men unfortunately confined to wheelchairs, yet determined to attend this event at all costs. Their strength of character was driven home even further when I saw one of these bochurim struggle with all his might to lift himself a few inches while reciting “Borchu” at the beginning of Maariv. Raising the Crown of Halacha This scene made a particularly powerful impression. Just over two

and half years ago I was at the same place, savoring a nearly identical scene at Dirshu’s Siyum Hashas of Daf Yomi. The Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha program is far newer and still less entrenched than Daf Yomi of Shas. Yet here too was a similar full crowd, a similar cross section of the premier litvishe, chassidishe and Sephardic gedolei Yisroel, shlita, led by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita and Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita. There was a similar energy, a similar enthusiasm. A similar large band, men and boys choirs, awesome stagecraft, specially composed songs, merely embellished the natural feelings of simcha and royalty that was evident every time the crowd erupted into spontaneous applause and dance. Simultaneously, a major Siyum event took place in Binyanei Ha’uma in Yerushalayim for those who could not be accommodated in Nokia Stadium. It was graced by the Gerrer Rebbe and other gedolim shlit”a. A similar scene once again. Gadol after gadol, speaker after speaker, stressed the importance for

every Yid to incorporate a daily limud of halacha l’maaseh into his daily schedule. When you combine the calling of the gedolei Yisroel with Dirshu’s powerful infrastructure and professionalism, the message resonates far and wide. Second only to the reaction to the senior-most gedolim’s entrance into the stadium was the audience’s reaction to Rav Dovid Hofstedter shlita, Nasi Dirshu. Not only to his warm address , but also every time one of the speakers praised his holy work and thanked him for his historic contribution to klal Yisroel’s Torah learning. The applause was distinctly powerful, distinctly spontaneous…distinctly genuine. Dirshu is a hero – an indispensable source of support and chizuk – for the lomdei Torah of Eretz Yisroel. It continues to get stronger. One can only imagine how many more yoshvei Eretz Yisroel will be mesayem all of Mishnah Berurah by the next Dirshu Daf Ha’Yomi B’Halacha Siyum in Eretz Yisroel, b’ezras Hashem. 

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As Reported in the Non-Charedi Press… By Rabbi Nachman Seltzer “Some 12,000 haredi men crammed into the Menorah Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv this week to celebrate the completion of the first seven-year cycle of a study project established by the Dirshu organization, with several thousand more celebrating at a parallel event in Jerusalem.” The Jerusalem Post, 3/26/15 Sounds like the event of the year, but let’s go back in time for a second to gain some perspective. It has been a difficult two years for the Chareidi population of Eretz Yisroel. With their political representation seated in the opposition and many factions in the coalition openly vocal regarding their plans for the ultra Orthodox segment in their midst, the Chareidim of Israel bowed their collective heads and waited for the winds of evil to pass. And they have. (Hopefully.) There is hope in every heart for a fresh start and a general turnaround on the ground. What better way to mark the good

news then with another groundbreaking Dirshu siyum, which arrived at precisely the perfect time. Rav Dovid Hofstedter’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha initiative was finally completed after a seven year period and Klal Yisroel gathered at venues around the world, culminating in last week’s major celebrations at both Tel Aviv’s premier sports arena and Yerushalayim’s Binyanei Hauma convention center – with a

And I quote from the secular press: “Like the Talmud version of the program, those studying in the Daf Yomi B’Halacha initiative complete their study program every seven years. Dirshu states that at least 10,000 people have signed up to the program worldwide.” It is heartwarming to note that even the secular press considers the fact that ten thousand religious men have signed up to study a page of halacha a day, as

The achdus of the participants spoke for itself, coming across in every picture and written word. combined total upwards of fifteen thousand participants. It was time to put the events of the past three election month behind us, time to reignite the achdus within our hearts and to define the sense of brotherhood that unites us. The Dirshu organization has managed to unite so many streams of Jews under the banner of Torah. But in this case, it wasn’t only the overall Orthodox community that recognized the magnitude of what has occurred here – the secular press picked up on the uniqueness of the global events just the same.

something worth reporting. I can’t help but point out that try as the average left wing media might to paint the non-religious public of Israel as anti-Torah and Jewish tradition, the reality is not that way at all. The fact is that the average Israeli respects Torah learning a great deal and is, in many cases, willing to learn Torah with a religious chavrusa/study partner when offered the chance. And I quote, “The rabbis, who entered at different stages, were greeted rapturously with joyful music and the 12,000-strong crowd jumping to their feet, clapping and singing the traditional

song for greeting a Torah sage ‘may the days of the king be increased,’ a prayer for his long life.” The achdus of the participants spoke for itself, coming across in every picture and written word. 12,000 people in one room. 12,000 people devoted to the daily study of Hashem’s code of law. 12,000 people ready and willing to follow the directives handed them by their leaders. Such awesome power cannot be missed – even by those who do not feel particularly interested in reporting the positive points of religious society. Some things speak for themselves. And these events did just that. It has been an amazing couple of days. From South Africa, to England, to France, to the United States and Eretz Yisroel – a multitude of Jews gathered together to proclaim their allegiance to Hashem and His Torah. And in every one of those gatherings, people walked away impressed and thoughtful – and it didn’t matter if they were religious or not. The palpable feelings of achdus and accomplishment in the air at the arena was something everyone was able to relate to – no matter who they were or where they came from. It was a great night for the Jews. All the Jews.

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Op-Ed

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MARCH 31, 2015

Rabbi Pesach Lerner

You Can Make a Difference!

t is common knowledge that in Israel today there is an ongoing battle for the definition and future of Judaism in the Jewish state. Will Torah standards be preserved and funding for Torah study be maintained or increased, or, chas v’shalom, will the very meaning of the word “Judaism” – and critical matters such as conversion, marriage, divorce, Shabbos and kashrus – be watered down to the most liberal of American definitions? What is far less known is that in addition to increasing tefillah/prayer and Torah study, there is a bit of hishtadlus activity, requiring little expense and effort, that each of us can do to help, to make a difference. There is an organization today with direct impact upon the way both private donations and Israeli government funding are spent – hundreds of millions of dollars – on encouraging immigration, settlement in Israel, and Jewish services in Israel and abroad. Its decisions affect whether the shlichim sent by the Israel Jewish Agency to communities around the world are observant or not, the type of conversion encouraged by those and other representatives of Israel, the nature of the “Jewish” education provided to thousands in the former Soviet Union, South America, and small communities in Europe, and many other areas of critical concern.

gressive ideals of social justice, equality and democracy in Israel itself and help build the kind of Jewish state we all know is possible. A Jewish state that holds true to the ideals of religious pluralism, the growth of Reform Judaism in Israel, women’s equality in all areas of life, democracy, a solution to the ongoing conflict and so much more. Not to be outdone, the Mercaz organization, representing the American Conservative movement, plans to leverage a successful performance in this election to change the face of Israel. Given the opportunity, their representatives will demand full recognition of conversions according to their standards, of marriage and even (chas v’shalom) divorces failing halachic requirements and to divert funding from shuls and yeshivos to build and support more Conservative synagogues. Millions of dollars were distributed annually to support the Reform and Conservative movements’ agenda over the past several years, and they hope to receive a larger share of the pie should they win the majority of votes. This is a key moment for Orthodox participation. We can and must make a difference. On the one hand, Israel recently suffered through one of its least friendly governments, in terms of its relationship to Torah study, Torah scholarship, and authentic Judaism, in many decades. The government radically decreased support for Torah, threatened imprisonment for young men who remain in yeshiva, and endangered both authentic Jewish standards and the offices that preserve them. On the other, much of the agitation for these changes came from liberal American movements, ones which claim to represent the majority of American Jews but in actuality now face a lack of interest and involvement from their purported members – only 25% of American Jews are now members of their synagogues and temples, hardly the 90% they claim to represent. It is precisely because these American movements are in decline and losing relevance that they have taken their fight to Israel, hoping to regain recognition and legitimacy on holy ground. We are all well aware that Orthodox Jewry is much younger, expanding rapidly, and that our typical family stays active and within Orthodoxy. Yet what is self-evident to us is unknown to the typical Israeli, the typical member of Knesset, and even to many of those who represent the “Jewish establishment” here in America. Now is the time for the Orthodox community to step forward and show our strength and our commitment. Only 125,000 American Jews registered to vote in the last election, and only 75,000 actually voted. In this election, due to a change in the guidelines, registration and voting are simultaneous. The Reform and Conservative movements are allocating serious financial and manpower resources to acquire votes. The Orthodox community, which is both much more active and much more honestly concerned for Torah and mitzvos, can easily match and exceed their efforts. Our suc-

This is a key moment for Orthodox participation. We can and must make a difference. Their decisions may even affect what the Kosel looks like in the near future. More than this, the organization purports to represent the opinion of world Jewry, and has major influence with Knesset representatives and government officials. The representatives of this organization are understood to be representing percentages of World Jewry. The greater the Orthodox representation in that body, the greater our influence will be upon Knesset decisions affecting millions of Jews in Israel and beyond. This body is the World Zionist Organization, the WZO – and you can help choose its new representatives. This is not simply a situation in which a large sum of money can be spent on behalf of Torah or spent on neutral activities that might or might not be beneficial. On the contrary, if the funds and influence are not used to invest in authentic Judaism and in Torah education, much of their resources will (chas v’shalom) be spent trying to change Jewish tradition and the religious status quo in Israel. To understand the importance of participation, one need look no further than the words of those who would like to see the WZO work against authentic Torah interests. According to the Reform movement, “a successful election... is the single most effective way for the Reform movement to influence policy and shape the society of Israel.” They go on: In short, these elections are the strongest way for U.S. Reform Jews to promote and encourage the pro-

cess in turning out the vote will have a profound effect both in Israel and here in America. Reform and Conservative leaders claim to represent the majority of American Jews. This has been taken as axiomatic for decades, meaning that everyone, including the Jewish and political establishment in both Israel and the United States, believe it to be true. If and when the majority of votes in the WZO election’s American section come from the Orthodox, it will dramatically change this perception. Knesset members will recognize that the Orthodox community is the majority active community in the United States, the one that is deeply committed to the future of Judaism and the welfare of our brethren in the Holy Land. They will understand that the liberal movements are claiming members who are, sadly, disappearing from the Jewish community and losing interest in Israel. Different rabbinic leaders may have differing opinions about whether it is appropriate to vote in this election, which requires that one express support for the Religious Zionist slate (slate #10) and for the Jerusalem program, as described in the registration process. HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh HaYeshiva of Slobodka in Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Eretz Yisrael, told me that we must do everything we can to stop the American Reform movement from obtaining and maintaining a foothold in Eretz Yisrael. And during a recent meeting with Israel’s Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau, he told me that the Torah community’s vote in the WZO elections is extremely important. One member of the Moetzes here in the U.S. said that if he knew that we could take the majority of seats, he would support this effort. It is very possible that we can do so – the only question is whether we shall. I ask you to vote for the Religious Zionist slate (slate #10) to preserve Torah standards and oppose the efforts of the liberal American movements. For every one of us that does not vote, it is their votes that will have greater influence, funding, and repercussions for our brethren in Israel and beyond. Dialogue with your Rabbi and colleagues, with family and friends, and cast your ballot at www.myvoteourisrael.com. Your voice will not only count today, but will have ramifications in Israel, and around the world, for years to come. 

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Jewish Thought

79 82 84 87

And You Shall Tell Your Son by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff Four Cups. Any Questions? by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz The Passover Paradox by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Bobker on Pesach: Time for a Yetziyas Europa? by Joe Bobker

Simchas Yom Tov

94 108

Barrels of Beer on the Riverbank

TJH Chol Hamoed Guide

120 139

A Few Minutes with Rabbi Lau

What’s it All about Anyway? by Rivki Rosenwald, Esq., CLC

Halacha

Gebrokts and Other Pesach Customs by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

Parenting

91 103

Parenting Pearls: Seder Night by Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW Pesach: A Time for Gratitude by Rabbi Dov Silver

Health & Fitness

115 118

Seder, Trauma and G-d by Deb Hirschhorn, PhD Exodus from Calories by Aliza Beer, MS RD

In the Kitchen

96 98 100

Bringing Sparkle to the Seder by Esther Ottensoser Sushi for Pesach by Naomi Nachman A Yummy Twist on Chol Hamoed by Jamie Geller and Tamar Genger

103

A Fulfilled Life

And You Shall Tell Your Son

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The Seder provides us with a unique opportunity to connect deeply with our children, each on their own level, and to inspire them to new levels of greatness

take us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” It was not due to our strength or skills that we achieved our freedom; only through Hashem’s direct intervention could we witness salvation. Moreover, it is at the Seder that we solidify the nexus of thought and action. We do not simply recount what occurred to our forefathers three thousand years ago. Rather, we aim to relive that experience through the reenactment of their glorious experiences, and draw a personal connection to ourselves and our present realities. “A man is obligated to view himself [at the Seder] as if he himself was leaving Egypt.” (Pesachim 116b) One could express understandable concern about this obligation. After all, is it truly fair and realistic to expect parents to achieve things that even the most seasoned and accomplished educator cannot? This question is strengthened further in contemporary society, with the proliferation of Observant parents who were themselves deprived of a foundational Jewish education. How can they be expected to provide so many core values and religious building blocks to their children? Moreover, on what basis can we assume that every father and mother, even the most educated amongst them, are well equipped to make the proper connection with their children? Naturally, it is expected of each of us to become as learned as possible, not only for our own growth, but also to be able to properly answer our children’s questions. But we should also be aware that the Torah sees in each of us the ability to reach out to and connect deeply with all of our children, regardless of which of the four famous categories that they belong to. Again, in the words of Rav Hirsch (pp. 364-365): But just as every father is expected to perform this educational function for his child, so, too, the

Law has made certain that every type of child will be able to benefit from parental instruction. The Word of G-d has made allowance for all children with their infinite variety of intellectual and emotional tendencies. The Law speaks of a child whose desire for knowledge is still altogether dormant; what goes on around him still leaves him indifferent… The Law also speaks of the simple son, whose desire for knowledge has already been awakened…

The Law further speaks of the wise son, who already shows signs of that dutiful attitude toward G-d… and of the wicked son, who, even at an early age, demonstrates the contempt for duty. The Seder provides us with a unique opportunity to connect deeply with our children, each on their own level, and to inspire them to new levels of greatness. Let us hope that we can each make proper use of this special occasion, so that our children will grasp that their own future survival derives from that redemption long ago. “It was because of this that Hashem did for me when I left Egypt.” Rabbi Naphtali Hoff is President of Impactful Coaching and Consulting (ImpactfulCoaching.com), which provides support services to leaders and executives. He can be reached at info@impactfulcoaching.com.

MARCH 31, 2015

he need for continuous and inspired parent-child dialogue is about as deep a Jewish value as you will find. For millennia, we have used such communication as a means of inculcating within our offspring a deep sense of religious connection and understanding, while also keeping them focused on proper behaviors and values. In fact, the concept dates back to our national inception and has served as a basic charge in terms of how we recount our exodus from Egyptian bondage. “And you shall tell your child on this day…” (Shemos 13:8) In the words of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: Tell it to your child… We are asked to accompany the practical observance of every religious precept, which our children see us perform and which we seek to teach them to perform in their turn, with a verbal explanation of its substance and significance. Through our words, our children should learn what these practices and observances mean to us so that they, too, may perceive them with their hearts and minds. (Collected Writings, Vol. VII, pp. 360-361) That obligation, says Rav Hirsch, begins in a child’s earliest days, when his world is filled with immense curiosity and the need for answers. To support his point, Rav Hirsch references the clear, visible distinction between children who are fortunate to enter their first classroom having been raised in a home environment that encourages and properly responds to the simple, oft-repeated question of “mah zos” (what is this?), and those who were reared in an environment that thwarted such interest and relied on the school to provide answers and motivation due to their own limitations (real or imagined) of time, insight or desire. If there is ever a moment in our lives that clearly underscores the crucial role that parents play in the development of their children, it is the Pesach Seder. At the Seder, we cease to discuss the divine as an abstract concept, somewhat removed from our practical reality. It is there, as we sit together surrounded by the many mitzvos of the evening, that we deeply impress upon the inquiring child that “by strength of hand did G-d

THE JEWISH HOME

Rabbi Naphtali Hoff

You Gotta be

Riddle!

Kidding!

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MARCH 31, 2015

80 78

You enter a room which consists of only accountants and lawyers. From your previous dealings with these two professions, you know that accountants always tell the truth about everything, and lawyers always lie about something. Two gentlemen, Sam and Adam, approach you. Sam introduces himself and says, “I am a lawyer, but Adam is an accountant.” Based on what you know from your previous dealings, what are each of the men’s actual professions? Answer on next page

Moishele had been a good Jew all his life. Now, 103 years old, he was very ill and in the hospital. His family was with him. Then his rabbi arrived. As the rabbi walked up to the bed, Moishele's condition began to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on. When the rabbi gave him a pencil and a piece of paper, Moishele used his last ounce of energy to write a short note. Then he died. The rabbi placed the note in his jacket pocket and said prayers. Later, at Moishele’s funeral, as the rabbi was finishing his eulogy, he suddenly remembered the n”te. "I’ve just remembered,” said the rabbi to those present, “that Moishele handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t looked at it yet, but knowing Moishele , I’m sure there’s a word of comfort in it for all of us.” The rabbi opened the note and read it out loud: “Rabbi, you’re standing on my oxygen tube!”

Phun Puns (“Know” Pun Intended) 

A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.



What’s the definition of a will? (It’s a dead giveaway).



Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.



A backwards poet writes inverse.

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A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

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With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.



Need an ark to save two of every animal? I noah guy. 

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.  A man just assaulted me with milk, cream and butter. How dairy.  The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.  Once you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall.  Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.



Acupuncture is a jab well done.



The one who invented the door knocker got a No-bell prize.



He drove his expensive car into a tree and found out how the Mercedes bends.



Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I’ll show you Aflat minor.



When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.



The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.



I don’t trust these stairs because they’re always up to something.



You feel stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.



Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.

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Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.

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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

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He often broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.

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It was an emotional wedding. Even the cake was in tiers.

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Every calendar’s days are numbered.



What did the grape say when it got stepped on? Nothing – but it let out a little whine.

There was once a cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control his pupils.



The man quit his job at the doughnut factory because he was fed up with the hole business.



A lot of money is tainted. It taints yours and it taint mine.

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A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

81 79 THE JEWISH HOME

Citizenship Test



1. How many Amendments are there to the U.S. Constitution? a. 2 b. 12 c. 27 d. 32

6. Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? a. Antonin Scalia b. John Roberts c. Eric Holder d. William Rehnquist

2. How many representatives are there in the House of Representatives? a. 50 b. 362 c. 435 d. 511

7. Who becomes president if both the president and vice president die? a. Senate Majority leader b. Highest surviving Cabinet member c. Speaker of the House d. Whoever Congress elects in an emergency election

3. What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union? a. Louisiana and New Mexico b. Puerto Rico and Guam c. Alaska and Puerto Rico d. Hawaii and Alaska 4. Which one of the following is not a right in the Declaration of Independence? a. Voting b. Liberty c. Pursuit of happiness d. Life 5. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence? a. George Washington b. James Madison c. Thomas Jefferson d. Abraham Lincoln

8. Which one of the following is not one of the thirteen original colonies? a. Georgia b. Vermont c. Delaware d. Maryland 9. Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”? a. Alexander Hamilton b. John Hancock c. Patrick Henry d. George Washington

MARCH 31, 2015

The following questions are from actual U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) tests. To pass the test, respondents must get at least 6 correct. How American are you?

Answer key: 1. C 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. C 8. B 9. C 10. C Citizenship Guide: 8-10 Correct: You are so American that you bleed in red, white and blue (or you are so not American but are studying really hard for the citizenship test). 6-8 Correct: Not perfect but you score high enough to gain citizenship, so welcome to America! (Now when you say “in my country,” I will be totally confused.) 3-6 Correct: You failed the test, but don’t worry , here’s a bonus question: Which Country will feed, house and take care of illegal immigrants who do not pass its citizenship test? U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A.

10. For how many years is each senator elected for? a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8

G OT FU N N Y?

Comm Let the ission er dec Send

your s t

uff t

ide

o fivetow centerfold@ nsjewis hhome. com

ANSWER TO RIDDLE: Both Sam and Adam are lawyers. Since an accountant always tells the truth about everything, he would never say that he is a lawyer. Therefore, Sam must be a lawyer. Since he is telling the truth about being a lawyer, and you know that he always lies about something, he must be lying about the second part of his statement. Therefore, Adam is not an accountant but also a lawyer.

The Observant Jew

Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Four Cups. Any Questions?

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MARCH 31, 2015

man once came to the Beis HaLevi to ask a halachic question. “Is one permitted to use milk for the arba kosos (four cups) on Pesach instead of wine?” R’ Soloveitchik asked if there was some medical reason the man could not drink wine. As he questioned the man, it came out that he could not afford wine. The Rav told him, “No, one may not use milk instead of wine,” and gave him a “loan” of twenty rubles for wine. The Beis HaLevi’s family questioned him after the fellow left. “Wine doesn’t cost so much money. Why did you give him twenty rubles?!” “Didn’t you hear what he said?” asked the Rav. “He asked if he could use milk. Since we don’t mix meat and milk, that means he couldn’t afford meat for the Seder either! That is why I gave him so much; so he had enough money for his true needs.” What the Rav understood was that what people say isn’t necessarily what they mean. Often there is more beneath the surface.

says he will. Could it not be that he’s trying to do the right thing? However, what people say doesn’t

sons is that we should not take things at face value. Eliyahu HaNavi declared to Hashem, “The Jews have aban-

We can turn the rasha within us into the wise chacham who recognizes the blessing of Torah and serving Hashem. tell us the whole story. We need to take into account their body language, prior history, and even life experiences. By getting to know the person, by thinking

doned Your service, and only a handful are left.” Hashem replied, “Perhaps it seems that way to you, but you are wrong.” He therefore made Eliyahu

about what they say and how they say it, we come to a better understanding of what answers we need to give. In essence, the lesson of the four

go to every Seder on Pesach night, and there he sees Jews of all stripes coming together to celebrate the redemption of our nation from Egypt. People who may not look like they care, show that they do. People who seem to be distant are suddenly close on Pesach. We invite anyone who has no place to go to join us at the seder. Why? To remind ourselves that everyone should have a seat at the table. The redemption of Pesach came when the Jewish People were at the 49th level of impurity, almost the point of no return. However, Hashem stepped in and saved us all. It wasn’t just the “tzaddikim” who were saved, because there were no tzaddikim. Rather, it was all the Jews because Hashem saw the future that lay buried deep inside of us. Hashem had made a promise to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov that He would give Eretz Yisrael to their descendants. But how could He do that if

n Pesach we read about the four sons. If you compare their questions, it’s hard to see why one is considered a chacham, or wise son, one a rasha, or wicked son, and one simple. Perhaps the simpleton is truly wise and is using brevity as Chazal suggest. The wicked son is asking the question exactly like the Torah

we were destined to sink so low that we would not be able to become purified? It’s because Hashem knew that He would never give up on us. He would not let us get to that point where we were too far gone and would find the good in us so we could merit the redemption. We drink wine as a sign of freedom. Wine has the power to change us. It emboldens us, mellows us, gladdens us, and makes us see possibilities we didn’t know existed. With each cup we raise, we find new aspects to the redemption and new aspects of ourselves and others. On Pesach we celebrate our freedom; freedom from physical slavery as well as freedom from emotional slavery. We are not tied to our previous perceptions and in an instant we can see things go from the lowest depths to the greatest heights. That potential exists not only within our people as a nation, but within each and every one of us. We can turn the rasha within us into the wise chacham who recognizes the blessing of Torah and serving Hashem. In fact, during the special time of the Pesach seder we can witness the miraculous transformation of people we never imagined could change. We start to see the potential in every Jew and view them in a different light. You see, it just might be that the fellow we thought “had all the answers,” was just looking for the right questions to ask. Did you like this article? There’s plenty more where that came from! Pick up The Observant Jew, a compilation of some of the best articles from the first ten years of this column, at your local bookstore or order it online and bring the inspiration home. Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. 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. © 2014 by Jonathan Gewirtz. All rights reserved.

83 THE JEWISH HOME

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107

The Passover Paradox by Rebbetzin tzipoRah helleR

Some

of the most moving and conspicuous parts of the Passover Seder have a surprising common denominator – the repetition of the number four. There are four cups of wine, four sons, and four questions. And we are moved to ask: Why four? The four sons are, in fact, archetypes, representing the various responses to the miracle of redemption. The four cups of wine correspond to the four words that G-d Himself used to give us an enduring and authentic definition of redemption, namely, “I took you out…” The most famous of all are the four questions. By their nature they are questions that no child would ever ask spontaneously. Why would a child ask why no chometz is eaten, or that bitter herbs are, when nothing has as yet been served? All four inquiries can seem very contrived.

The Nature of the Number Four The usage of this number is far from a mere interesting stylistic device. It is part of the very essence of what is conveyed on Seder night. Philosophizing about a number may be a novel idea to some. However, the great Kabbalist, the Maharal of Prague, teaches that when something is true, it is true on every possible plane. It is true philosophically, linguistically, mathematically and spiritually. And so we learn that the number four is the number more than any other that encapsulates the message of exile and redemption, otherwise it would not be the one used.

The Meaning of Exile

Let us examine first the makeup of what we call exile. From a Judaic perspective, exile means far more than physical expulsion from one’s natural home. The deepest level of exile is estrangement. We were (and to a degree are still) expelled not only from our land, but also from ourselves. Our Sages tell us that the Egyptian exile is the prototype for all the exiles of Jewish history. The Hebrew meaning of the word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, is “restriction.” The physical restrictions that were imposed upon us during the slavery merely reflected the spiritual repression of our self-definition as a people. Our national identity was built on the commitment to recognize G-d in every aspect of our daily life. This was the heritage of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Consider in contrast the denial of G-d that echoed from Pharaoh’s lips when he asked Moshe, “Who is G-d?” In Hebrew, the word for pharaoh, paroh, means “uninhibited.” The ancient pharaohs created a humancentered society in which abandon was confused with freedom. While the restrictions were few, the prison that this lack of restraint generated was a source of spiritual exile. The soul had no place of refuge. It was

buried by the unending litany of material demands made by the body.

Exile of the Soul The number four symbolizes this very real form of exile of the soul. It is the number that symbolizes the material realities that surround us, because the physical world is very much a place in which the number four reverberates. There are four directions (east, west, north, south), four seasons (summer, winter, spring, fall), four basic compounds (fire, water, earth, air). While the conflict between the material world and the spiritual one can lead to the soul entering a state of ever-deepening exile, it can have the opposite effect

We wanted spiritual freedom and, as soon as this longing surfaced in us, G-d began His side of the process of our redemption. as well. Oftentimes we must learn who we are not and who we would never want to be before we discover our true identity. This is, in fact, the beginning of redemption. Our exposure to the sleaze and corruption of ancient Egypt brought us to the brink of extinction. It also brought us to the point of wanting something more for our children and ourselves. We wanted spiritual freedom and, as soon as this longing surfaced in us, G-d began His side of the process of our redemption. Thus, the repression of exile was part and parcel of the redemption!

Number Four and the Haggadah Once this is clear to us, we can understand the usage of the number four in the Haggadah. The four questions address themselves to the paradox of Passover. By implication we ask:

• If we are free, why do we still eat matzah – “the bread of affliction”? • If we want to recall the bitterness of servitude by eating bitter herbs, why do we recline like royalty? • Why do we dip our food luxuriously in what represents our tears? The answer is that the contrasting aspects of the experience were both necessary for our redemption. This is reflected in the four expressions G-d used to describe our liberation (Exodus 6:6-7) 1) “I have taken you out.” 2) “I have rescued you.” Both of these expressions can only have meaning in the context of our being set free from the most oppressive reality that we’d ever had to face. 3) “I have redeemed you.” 4) “I have taken you to Me.” These expressions give us far more information about the nature of redemption; they tell not about an escape “from” Egypt as about a journey “to” our ultimate destination – an intimate and meaningful relationship to G-d. The second step is dependent upon the first one. The exile is as much a part of the process of redemption as the rescue is. This creates a paradox for some of us. It embitters the wicked son. He wants to retreat back into the comforting complacency of spiritual exile. It mystifies the son who no longer believes in answers. We must use the empathy and compassion that a mother would have for her child to free him enough to listen. But the same paradox frees the simple son to redefine what the experience means to him. The freest of all is the wise son. Once the door is open, he asks the most honest question of all, “How shall I serve the G-d who has made me free?” The answers provided by the Haggadah give us the key to true freedom. The Haggadah tells us that we must explain to our children the laws of Passover from beginning to their conclusion. Only by ending ignorance that boxes us into half-truths can we resolve the paradox. May we be worthy of a holiday of true freedom. 

85 THE JEWISH HOME 

MARCH 31, 2015

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SCIENCE FAIR INVESTIGATIONS EXCITE & INFORM

free from the shackles of fascist Islamists, his Washington copycat, reigning as a self-described deity on a narcissistic throne, plots to enable the nihilistic Ayatollahs and Persian peddlers of Holocaust denial to get a nuclear bomb with which they can end the freedom of entire nations with the Third Jewish Commonwealth at the top of the list. If Pesach, the first yom tov of the Jews celebrated by the first people in history to ban slavery, had to be summarized in one word it would be freedom. The culture of serfdom that Moses and Aharon shattered led to this universal truism: liberty and independence as the greatest of all human blessings. That freedom is more than just the absence of servitude. Freedom, not just in memory or nostalgia but as a living, active celebration of a yetzias Mitzrayim now ranks as one of the oldest-known continuously observed holidays in the western world. Its refrain, Zeman Cheruseinu (“Season of our

Freedom”), by a folk who were the first to carry this captivating Theology of Liberation through the gateways of generations, capturing the creative imagination of a Rabbi Akiva who planned his struggle against Roman oppression around Pesach time, of Rabbi Menachem Ziemba who inspired young Warsaw Ghetto Jews to rise up in historic defiance against their Nazi taskmaster at Pesach time, to those refugees from ovens who named their vessel “Exodus” when trying to smash the callous British blockade of the Holy Land. It was the theme of Pesach that drove the forces behind the Bastille, the Fourth of July, Emma Lazarus’ carved poetry in America’s Statue of Liberty, while its matzah missive of hope and inspiration fueled the Let My People Go! Movement that brought down Iron Curtains and saw hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews go to a land of Judaic promise. This is why Pesach towers mightily and majesti-

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h, what irony! A new Pharaoh has arisen that knows not Joseph and plots against the Jews from his White House palace in Washington. Meanwhile, as if in a Purim shpiel, where everything is topsy-turvy, the real Pharaoh, a pious Muslim and head of 90 million Islamists, still lives in Cairo and has become the greatest friend the Jewish state has today. More than 3,000 years ago, Moses was the Godsend of the Jewish people in serfdom; today, El-Sissi, head of our ancient nemesis, is a Godsend of the Jews. He is proof, after the rise and fall of the deadly Muslim Brotherhood’s electoral triumph, that in the land of plagues and splitting seas, miracles still happen as He continues to intervene on behalf of His nation. While the wise Pharaoh on the Nile publicly and courageously lectures his country’s imams to break

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Time for a Yetziyas Europa?

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B O B K E R O N PE SA C H

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188 18 cally in the Jewish calendar over all other yom tovim. It is the only one of three festivals (the other two are Chanuka and Purim) devoted entirely to Jewish national liberation and the only one anchored in the Torah itself. As a source of Judaic inspiration it is thus fons et orgio, exquisitely preeminent, a window through which the vastness of all of Judaism can be glimpsed. Unlike all the multiple Shavuos and Succos injunctions of v’samachta be’chagecha there is no similar halachik dictate for Pesach. For it is obvious. Freedom is synonymous with simcha.

couldn’t cheer the death of Jewish slaves. The night is the mandatory time for the seder tisch, the most important meal in the Jewish cycle, because we tell our children the tale of Redemption that Rav Nachman once described as “rousing people from their sleep,” of how our fortunes go from dim to daylight. Because nighttime is, according to

Slavery is not as bad as the acceptance of being a slave,

he earliest sign of a Diaspora mentality surfaced in Egypt when a staggering 80% of Jews, slaves to their slavery, refused to leave when they had a chance. Only one in five were faithful enough to take up the challenge of emancipation. Herein lies the beauty and mystery of the am segula, that only a handful, a bare minority, an insignificant statistic, can – and often does – dramatically change the course of Jewish history. The majority stayed. And they died during three days of a ninth plague of “thick darkness” that blinded the gentiles so they

of accepting the “yoke” of Egyptian beatings.

Rashi, the “domain of the destroying agencies,” we say a little prayer (Hashkiveinu) that G-d protect us from the terrors of nightfall, a plea based on precedent: all thirteen events listed in the song of Vayehi bachatzi ha’layla take place on Pesach eve, at night. It is from here that Jewish mystics conclude that

the final Redemption, an event which will be U’keor boker yizrach shemesh (“as clear as day”) would appear during the darkness, when all hope seems lost; at a time of heightened fear, insecurity, deep anxiety. Why? So that the Jew could awake to the light and confidence of a new world order and know no more of the dark, inauspicious, “It-came-to-pass-atmidnight” dread. In contrast, the Children of Israel, who desperately sought to be free and who were willing to face the challenges of an inhospitable wilderness, began their journey with “light in all their dwellings.” The light represented hope, optimism; excitement to be done with the Egyptians and their punitive anti-Semitic culture. This is hinted at in the Torah’s choice of words. “I will bring you out from under the bearings of Egypt” (Shemos 6:6). This begs the question: Why do we need to add “the bearings”? The 19th century’s Kotzker Rebbe, R’ Menachem Mendel Morgensztern, one of the most incisive and witty of all Chassidic thinkers (“If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But if I am I because you are you and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you!”) provides an answer. Slavery, he explains, is not as bad as the accep-

89 119 last time I looked I found no Chazal that says we must have a Jewish presence in every anti-Semitic nook in the world. Time for another Exodus, a yetzias Europa. The Promised Land still beckons. No need to wait for

emerged a free man from Auschwitz – only to die the next day.

he Jews of the desert died in freedom rather than live in serfdom. I often wondered: Was it bashert that many Jews suffered and persevered through the Holocaust only to die immediately upon tasting freedom? Was it destined that they die in freedom than in captivity?

How free are the French Jews in the Banlieues who are advised by their own leaders to remove their mezuzahs so as not to be targeted?

Consider the young Rabbi Yosef Perlow of Novominsk who staggered out of Auschwitz a free man on April 15, 1945 – only to die of starvation a few hours later. Did G-d let the rabbi live just long enough to die in freedom rather than in tyranny? Rabbi Zvi Koretz, the chief rabbi of Salonika, Greece, was liberated from Bergen-Belsen – only to die of typhus barely six weeks later. Rabbi Shea Eichenstein, the popular Ziditocher Rebbe, died only days after the war ended. Rabbi Shalom Grunbaum, the last Rav of Mateszalka, Hungary,

Joe Bobker is the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles Jewish Times, author of the popular Torah With a Twist of Humor series, and of the 15-volume Historiography of Orthodox Jews and the Holocaust, due to be published this year. He can be reached at jbobker@gmail.com

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another plague of Biblical-style darkness when eighty percent of Jews died because they couldn’t break free of their Egyptian chains. Why wait for the old choice: Le cercueil ou la valise, “The coffin or the suitcase.”

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hen the “new king who did not know Joseph arose over Egypt” (Sotah 11a), the rabbis of the Talmud debated: Was this really a “new” king (Mernephtah) or did the old king (Rameses 11) simply forget about Joseph? Perhaps it was the same king with “new decrees”? R’ Samuel, the rosh yeshiva of Nehardea, the highest position in Babylon, and his contemporary, Rab, couldn’t agree. Today it is obvious: We have the worst of all worlds in the corridors of Washington. A “new” king with “new” harsh decrees. And more irony. According to the Midrash, the Pharaoh of old would study the times of the tides of the Nile and enter the water precisely the moment it began to rise as if it were rising to honor him. Today’s version once boasted that he alone could stop the oceans from rising. Since the time of the Exodus the language of freedom has been spoken with a Hebrew accent. When this accent recently echoed proudly and firmly in the chambers of a U.S. Congress, the new Pharaoh’s Air Force One went into an ideological tailspin that is still spiraling out of control. “Come, let us deal shrewdly with him,” the Pharaoh of old says as he huddles with his top advisors (Shemos 1:10). Today’s Pharaoh of the western free world does the same. But his idea of shrewdness is to push the baleidik button and whip those “stiff-necked” Jews exercising their freedom to vote freely in their own land, back into “their place” of serfdom. Like all the others in a long Hall of Anti-Semitic Shame, he will soon pass and we will pass-over this reckless man who considers himself as strong as the pyramids but is only a fleeting image in the sands of history. Very few freedom-loving folks are going to be willing to follow his chariots of vanity into the Sea just to get back at the Jews for the chutzpa of electing Netanyahu. They have lines in the sand as well. Long after he has been reduced to a mere footnote in small font, the continued and vibrant existence of an Am Yisrael Chai, by far the greatest miracle of Pesach, will stand tall and proud, proof positive that God does hear our cries. There was once a king who knew not Joseph; let’s make sure we don’t forget him either. Chag Sameach! 

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tance of being a slave, of accepting the “yoke” of Egyptian beatings. Thus it required freedom from these slave-induced “bearings” before true freedom could take hold. This explanation is as relevant today as then. When G-d’s plague of darkness finally lifted, gone were the Jews who wanted to stay in a country that didn’t want them to be free to be Jews nor feel safe as Jews. Those blind to their complacent acceptance of hostile surroundings died in a mental mist of their own, a spiritual stupor that saw but failed to see. Similar “bearings” have come to the fore in the past year, the worst year of antiSemitism in Europe and Britain since the end of World War II. As the burdensome guilt of the Six Million fades, are the Jews in Berlin—yes, Berlin, home of the short Austrian despot that killed one in three Jews in the world— truly free when warned by their own leaders not to wear a yamulke in public? How free are the French Jews in the Banlieues who are advised by their own leaders to remove their mezuzahs so as not to be targeted? Are the Jewish children who learn in yeshivas in Antwerp surrounded by armed gentile guards truly free? How free is the Chabad rabbi of Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden, who admits that his wife and four young children rarely leave their home out of fear. Is any of this sustainable? Life in Egypt wasn’t sustainable either. Those who refused to leave died. Zchor y’mos olam, we are reminded. “Remember the days of old!” So remember this: the Torah uses the term voyager when referring to a future sojourn in Egypt of 400 years. The word means a “temporary dwelling.” In other words, even a long forty decades is considered only transitory in G-d’s eyes because no Jew should ever feel at home in what is not his home. Today, Jews are spat on, harassed, murdered in a kosher French supermarket while buying challahs for Shabbos, shot in Copenhagen synagogues, raped in Paris, and terrorized in a London synagogue – and yet, they stay in the darkness of the enslaved Diaspora mind. The only reliable commodity gushing from European wells over the past 1,000 years has been Judeophobia. The same grounds are now sprouting Muslim Judeophobia with an identical goal: Juden-frei countries. More than half of British Jews say there is no future for them in England. Do they truly feel free? One in seven Greeks admit they hate Jews. Two-thirds of Sweden’s Jews are scared to be publicly identified as Jews. Close your eyes in downtown Hamburg and you can hear Allahu akbar replacing Heil Hitler. Yesterday’s Christ-killers are today’s infidels. Remember: When G-d called us “stiff-necked” it was not a compliment. It should be obvious by now that the seventy year experiment since our ground zero (Auschwitz) of recreating Judaism in countries that don’t want Jews, (Judenhass) has failed. The

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MARCH 31, 2015

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91 Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW

Seder Night

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Parenting Pearls

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Rabbi Staum Responds: It’s hard to give exact parameters because what works for one family may not work for another. But I will share some ideas I have learned along the way and hopefully some will speak to you. We want the Seder to be a positive memory for our children, a memory that will remain with them throughout their lives. We should remember that the mitzvos and ambiance of the night in and of themselves create memories. We need only to ensure that it is a positive experience. One year at the Seder of Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, a student was nervously filling Rav Hutner’s kos with wine when he accidentally spilled some wine on Rav Hutner’s pristine kittel. Without missing a beat, Rav Hutner warmly quipped, “A kittel without a wine stain at the Seder is like a Yom Kippur machzor without tears.” Aside from the beautiful lesson in sensitivity, the anecdote also serves as a reminder that our enjoyment of the Seder has a lot to do with our expectations. If we are expecting our children to sit like angels with their eyes sparkling with regal holiness as we share Torah thoughts over a white tablecloth and perfectly intact matzos, we are probably in for great

disappointment. The usual bickering over seats, spilled wine because of bulky haggados being moved around, and chil-

doesn’t understand why everyone has so much to share during Maggid, but when it comes to Shulchan Oreich or the rest

The leader of the Seder should stress that Hashem did this all for us because He loves us, because we are His children, and we are special. dren becoming increasingly grumpier as the hour gets later are all par for the course and not a lack in our children. Chazal teach us that Seder night is all about arousing the curiosity and interest of our children. The fact is that due to the incredible effort invested by our children’s rabbeim and moros, today many of our children know more vertlach about the haggadah than we do. One of the challenges that emerge from that knowledge is that each child has a plethora of thoughts they would like to

of the seudos during Pesach no one has any divrei Torah to share. Why not share some of the haggadah thoughts then? They don’t expire when Maggid ends. Another way to engage children is for the leader of the Seder or another adult to sneak out and return a few minutes later in a makeshift costume. They may pretend to be Pharaoh, Moshe, or a regular Jew on the night of Yetzias Mitzrayim. They then breathlessly proceed to share their firsthand story to the wideeyed young children seated at the table,

share during the Seder. It’s usually also the case that when one child is sharing his/her thoughts everyone else is getting edgy. It may be a good idea to discuss with the children who enjoy sharing lengthy divrei Torah some fair parameters in advance. In some homes only the father shares divrei Torah during Maggid, although each child is welcome to ask questions and add to the father’s points. In other homes each child is allowed to share one favorite thought after a certain amount of paragraphs. But to allow all children carte blanche to say whatever they want can often lead to restlessness. My father often remarks that he

before bolting out the door. I have done this at our Seder during the last few years. This year my sister-inlaw informed me that her children have been telling their friends about my little acts and that I better be ready with something new for this year. (Before doing the act it’s helpful to remind older children that the act isn’t for them and they shouldn’t sabotage it. It’s even better if they could act along with the adult.) As soon as the little act is over I put my kittel back on and continue the haggadah. Other families have the custom to walk around the table with matzah over the shoulders, pretending to be Klal Yisroel on their way out of Mitzrayim.

Chazal mention dispensing nuts as an incentive to children for asking questions. My older brother brings bags of chocolate chips and marshmallows to the Seder and dispenses handfuls at a time to any child who asks any question throughout the Seder. (I think his children’s dentist recommended it.) Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurebach zt”l was particular to explain every passage of the haggadah in a simple manner that everyone at the table could understand. The explanations weren’t detailed or lengthy. Rav Shlomo Zalman also held that the leader of the Seder must be particular to answer each of the questions of Mah Nishtana. Perhaps most importantly, when the details of the geulah and the makkos are read, the leader of the Seder should stress that Hashem did this all for us because He loves us, because we are His children, and we are special! That is a good juncture to mention how Hashem continues to watch over us every day and in every facet of our lives. His love for us has never wavered. A great way to really drive the point home is by sharing a personal story of hashgacha pratis, or of a family member who lived through their own galus and geulah. It’s also a great time to invite others at the table to share a brief personal anecdote where they felt the yad Hashem. People, especially children, love to listen to stories. I conclude by repeating the point I began with. The Seder is itself a producer of special memories and searing imprint onto our neshamos. All of the ideas mentioned are just means to add to that effect. May we all merit fulfilling all of the mitzvos and halachos properly, including the offering and eating of the korban Pesach. Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is the Rabbi of Kehillat New Hempstead. He is also fifth grade Rebbe and Guidance Counselor in ASHAR in Monsey, and Principal of Mesivta Ohr Naftoli of New Windsor, NY. Rabbi Staum offers parenting classes based on the acclaimed Love & Logic Program. He can be reached at stamtorah@gmail.com. His website is www.stamtorah.info.

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I am always very excited about the Seder, and I always look forward to it for weeks before. But every year I feel somewhat disappointed. In all the derashos I hear before Pesach, the concept of chinch and the importance of speaking to every child is a fundamental theme of the great night. But invariably at the beginning of the Seder our children begin fighting – usually over silly things, like chairs and pillows. Then as the Seder progresses our younger children start becoming tired and cranky, and our older children want to share their myriad divrei Torah on every point in the haggadah. I would love some tips on how to help our Seder be a more enjoyable and uplifting experience for my entire family. It’s a beautiful idea to speak to every child at the Seder and convey the ideas of emunah, but practically how can that be accomplished?

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MARCH 31, 2015

Halachically Speaking

Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

Gebrokts and Other Pesach Customs

ne of the most commonly accepted chumros on Pesach is to avoid gebrokts – matzah which was fully baked and then soaked in water. When did this custom start? How binding is it? Does it apply to children? Can one use a little water? Does a woman follow her husband’s custom? These questions and many others will be answered in this issue. From the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch it is clear that soaked matzah need not be avoided on Pesach (other than using it for the mitzvah of matzah). Nonetheless, the custom of many has become not to soak matzah in water. The Reasons Some say the reason is that we are concerned that a pocket of dry flour might be in the matzah. This flour will turn into chometz if it is subsequently immersed in water. This was not a concern in earlier times, as they kneaded the dough properly. Others suggest that we want people to maintain the taste of matzah in their mouths, and soaking would spoil the flavor. Some say that the prohibition is to avoid a maaris ayin issue, as matzah meal (which is gebrokts) may be confused with regular flour. The custom, followed primarily by those with Chassidic background is to refrain from soaking matzah in any amount of water (see fruit juice below). This was the custom of the Chofetz Chaim zt”l. The custom of the Steipler zt”l was to be stringent as well. Avoiding Gebrokts Many have the custom to cover the matzah all Yom Tov (except the last day) to avoid any contact with waterSome people wipe the containers which contain the matzah in order to avoid any possibility of chometz. Some do not eat matzah with any dish. Those who adhere to this custom do not place the matzah in water, soup, batter, or make fish with matzah meal. The Lenient Opinions The opinion of many poskim is that one does not have to be concerned about this, as our matzahs are very thin and there is no concern of dry flour in the dough. In addition, any dry flour was baked together with the matzah, and once it is baked it cannot become

chometz. Based on this, the custom of many people is to brok on Pesach. What is Included in Gebrokts? Gebrokts is not limited to matzah which becomes wet. Rather, it applies to any food containing matzah or matzah meal that was mixed in liquid or made into a dough or batter and then baked or

the matzah is permitted. The custom of many was to soak matzah in wine and milk (without any added water). According to this opinion, one may make matzah brei (crushed matzah fried in butter and eggs), pancakes made from matzah meal mixed with pure fruit juice and eggs, and cakes made with matzah meal, eggs, and pure fruit juice.

It is quoted in the name of the Arizal that one who is careful with a slight amount of chometz is guaranteed that he will not sin all year. cooked. Examples include matzah balls, kreplach, all cakes and pastries made from a matzah meal batter, and gefilte fish made with matzah meal. Erev Pesach According to some poskim, gebrokts is permitted on Erev Pesach, as cooked matzah is not considered matzah (matzah may not be eaten on Erev Pesach). This is very common when Erev Pesach falls out on Shabbos and one wants to eat shalosh seudos and brok (i.e. kneidlach, kreplach, or gefilte fish made with matzah meal). L’halacha it should only be eaten until the tenth hour of the day. One is not permitted to eat cake made from matzah meal on the entire Erev Pesach. Chicken stuffing made with matzah meal is considered cooked for this purpose, even if it is roasted, because the fat and juices of the chicken have the effect of cooking the matzah. Cakes and cookies made with potato starch are permitted the entire day. Soaking in Fruit Juice The question arises whether the prohibition includes soaking matzah in fruit juice. Some poskim limit the concern to water, which alone can create chometz, but placing fruit juice on

Others extend the prohibition to fruit juice as well. The overwhelming custom today seems that we treat fruit juice like water. This opinion causes some concern regarding charoses, which contains wine. If we treat fruit juice like water, how do we put marror with charoses on the matzah for the korech sandwich? Some say that one should take some dry charoses and put it on and shake some of it off. Some have the custom that one may place the matzah in boiling water even if he does not brok. Utensils A utensil which was used with gebrokts food may be used for non-gebrokts. Nonetheless, the custom of some is to have separate utensils for gebrokts, and only use such a utensil on the last day of Pesach. Some permit food which was cooked in the same pot with gebrokts foods. Women and Children Some say that this stringency does not apply to women and children. A woman who was once stringent, and now finds it hard to do so should be matir neder before abandoning the

custom.

Eating it Right Away Some poskim say that one may soak the matzah in water and eat it right away, since there is not enough time for it to become chometz. Thus, one could dip his matzah in soup and eat it immediately. Spreads Many people have the misconception that one who does not brok may not have a spread on the matzah. However, some permit butter or cheese on matzah. Eggs are permitted as well. Frozen Matzah Frozen matzah may be eaten without a concern of gebrokts. The Last Day of Pesach The custom is to be lenient with gebrokts on the last day of Pesach. Some explain that we signify that those who eat gebrokts the entire yom tov are not doing anything wrong. Others explain that one should have simchas yom tov. Others say that the various dietary customs preclude any possibility of people mingling. We want to accomplish this at least on the last day of Pesach, so we all brok. This was the custom of the Chofetz Chaim zt”l. Muktzah Although many do not use matzah meal that is gebroked on Pesach (except for the last day) it is not muktzah throughout Pesach. Zimun One is allowed to be m’zamin with someone who eats gebrokts even if he does not. Matzah is Hard to Chew One who finds it hard to eat the matzah may dip it in water without soaking it. If the matzah is still too hard one should be matir neder and brok. One may place water in his mouth and then eat the matzah. Cooking and Preparing Gebrokts on Chol Hamoed According to some poskim, one should not cook gebrokts on Chol Hamoed for the last day of yom tov. Others say that one can be lenient, and

to prove these people wrong.

Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits is a former chaver kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and a musmach of Harav Yisroel Belsky shlita. Rabbi Lebovits currently works as the Rabbinical Administrator for the KOF-K Kosher Supervision.

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Carp In previous years, carp was shipped alive from city to city by placing alcohol on a piece of chometz in the fish’s mouth. After it died, the chometz was absorbed. Therefore, many had the custom to refrain from eating carp on Pesach. Although this practice has been discontinued, some people still have the custom. Some have the custom to eat fake fish which is made out of chicken instead. Saying “Bread” Some people have the custom not to say the word “bread” on Pesach. Some had the custom not to mention the word “bagel” as well. Dried Fruits Many have the custom not to eat dried fruits on Pesach since there is a concern that it was dried on the same equipment as bread. Fruit and Vegetables which can be Peeled Some have the custom to only use fruits and vegetable that can be peeled for Pesach. Others say there is no concern for this.

Potato Starch Some have the custom to refrain from eating potato starch, since it looks like wheat. However, the custom is not to be concerned about this, especially since the bag is clearly labeled as potato starch. Oil Many people have the custom not to use oil on Pesach, and make their own oil from chickens. However, some are lenient since there are very good hechsherim that certify oil for Pesach. Utensil on Floor Some have the custom that if any utensil falls on the floor, the utensil is not used for the duration of Pesach. Some apply this custom to matzah or other food that fell on the floor. Haughtiness Each person should hold of his chumros, and it is not considered haughtiness to do so.

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main reason for the added chumros is because even a slight amount chometz is forbidden. The Radvaz addresses why chometz is so stringent that even a slight amount is assur on Pesach, and we have to search, burn and annul it. He explains, “We know chometz on Pesach alludes to the yetzer hara (the leaven in the dough). A person must therefore completely rid himself of the yetzer hara, searching after it in all areas; even the slightest amount cannot be ignored.” He concludes by saying, “This explanation is true and correct.” In addition, it is quoted in the name of the Arizal that one who is careful with a slight amount of chometz is guaranteed that he will not sin all year. Every woman should follow her husband’s chumra. We will list many of them below. Not to Mish (Mix) One of the more famous chumros is not to eat (mish) in other people’s homes (or buy processed foods). In addition, people do not lend utensils to other people on Pesach. Borscht The reason for eating borscht on Pesach is because some amei ha’aretz say that when the posuk forbids fermented food, it means anything which has a sour taste. Therefore, we drink borscht

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this seems to be the custom of many people. Husband and Wife The custom of broking can sometimes cause discord between spouses, with some people refusing to eat at the in-laws’ home. The question arises if the wife has to follow the husband’s custom in this regard or not. The consensus of the poskim is that the wife should follow the custom of her husband, and there is no need to be matir neder beforehand. The husband may choose to allow her to follow her father’s custom. Father’s Custom If the father has the custom not to brok, his child may switch his custom if there is an important need to do so. He should be matir neder in such a case. Sofek If it is questionable whether water touched matzah, one can be lenient and eat the matzah even if he is stringent with gebrokts. OTHER CUSTOMS REGARDING FOOD Besides the custom regarding gebrokts, there are many other customs that apply during the yom tov of Pesach. The

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MARCH 31, 2015

Barrels of Beer on the Riverbank

FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS

One of the central figures in the history of Chassidism was the famed “Seer of Lublin,” Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz (1745-1815), who presided over the spread of Chassidism in Poland and Galicia; many of the great Chassidic masters of the time were his disciples. This story, however, is not about the “Seer” but about his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Kopel of Likova; in fact, it happened many years before the Seer’s birth.

eb Kopel earned a living by purchasing barrels of vodka and beer from the local distillers and selling his wares to the taverns in and around his native village of Likova. It was not an easy life, with the heavy taxes exerted by the government and the hostile environment facing a Jew in 18th-century Europe. Yet his faith and optimism never faltered. Each year, on the morning before Passover, Reb Kopel would sell his chametz to one of his gentile neighbors. Chametz is “leaven” – a category that most famously includes bread but also all food or drink made with fermented grain. The Torah commands the Jews that absolutely “no leaven shall be found in your possession” for the duration of the Passover festival in commemoration of the leaven-free Exodus from Egypt. In the weeks before the festival, the Jewish home is emptied and scrubbed clean of chametz; on the night before Passover, a solemn candle-lit search is conducted for every last breadcrumb hiding between the floorboards. By the next morning, all remaining household chametz is eaten, burned or otherwise disposed of. What about someone like Reb Kopel who deals in leavened foods and has a warehouse full of chametz? For such cases (and for anyone who has chametz they don’t want to dispose of) the rabbis instituted the practice of selling one’s chametz to a non-Jew. Reb Kopel’s neighbors were familiar with the annual ritual. The Jewish liquor dealer would draw up a legally-binding contract with one of them, in which he sells all the contents of his warehouse for a sum equal to their true value. Only a small part of the sum actually changed hands; the balance was written up as an I.O.U. from the purchaser to the seller. After Passover, Reb Kopel would be back, this time to buy back the chametz and return the I.O.U. The purchaser got a tip for his trouble – usually in the form of a generous sampling of the merchandise that had been legally his for eight days and a few hours.

ne year, someone in Likova came up with a novel idea: what if they all refused to buy the Jew’s vodka? In that case he would have to get

rid of it. Why suffice with a bottle or two when they could have it all? When Reb Kopel knocked on a neighbor’s door on the morning of Passover eve, Ivan politely declined to conduct the familiar transaction. Puzzled, he tried another cottage further down the road. It did not take long for him to realize the trap that his gentile neighbors had laid for him. The deadline for getting rid of chametz – an hour before midday – was quickly approaching. There was no time to travel to the next village to find a non-Jewish purchaser. Reb Kopel did not hesitate for a minute. Quickly he emptied the wooden shack behind his house that served as his warehouse. Loading his barrels of chametz on his wagon, he headed down to the river. As his neighbors watched gleefully from a distance, he set them on the riverbank. In a loud voice he announced: “I hereby renounce any claim I have on this property! I proclaim these barrels ownerless, free for the talking for all!” He then rode back home to prepare for the festival. That night, Reb Kopel sat down to the Seder with a joyous heart. When he recited from his Haggadah, “Why do we eat this unleavened bread? Because the dough of our fathers did not have time to become leavened before G-d revealed Himself to them and redeemed them,” he savored the taste of each word in his mouth. All his capital had been invested in those barrels of vodka and beer; indeed, much of it had been bought on credit. He was now penniless, and the future held only the prospect of many years of crushing debt. But his heart was as light and bright as a songbird. He had not a drop of chametz in his possession! For once in his life, he had been given the opportunity to truly demonstrate his love and loyalty to G-d. He had removed all leaven from his possession, as G-d had commanded him. Of course, he had fulfilled many mitzvot in his lifetime,

but never at such a cost – none as precious – as this one! The eight days of Passover passed for Reb Kopel in a state of ecstatic joy. Then the festival was over, and it was time to return to the real world. With thoughtful steps he headed to his warehouse to look through his papers and try to devise some plan to start his business anew. Clustered in the doorway he found a group of extremely disappointed gentiles. “Hey, Kopel!” one of them called, “I thought you were supposed to get rid of your vodka. What’s the point of announcing that it’s ‘free for the taking for all’ if you put those watchdogs there to guard it!” They all began speaking at once, so it took a while for Kopel to learn the details. For the entire duration of the festival, night and day round the clock, the barrels and casks on the riverbank were ringed by a pack of ferocious dogs who allowed no one to approach. Reb Kopel rode to the riverbank. There the barrels stood, untouched.

But he made no move to load them on his wagon. “If I take them back,” he said to himself, “how will I ever know that I had indeed fully and sincerely relinquished my ownership over them before Passover? How could I ever be sure that I had truly fulfilled the mitzvah of removing chametz from my possession? No! I won’t give up my mitzvah, or even allow the slightest shadow of a doubt to fall over it!” One by one, he rolled the barrels down the riverbank until they stood at the very brink of the water. He pulled out the stops in their spigots and waited until every last drop of vodka and beer had merged with the river. Only then did he head back home.  Reprinted with permission from Chabad.org.

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Bringing Sparkle to the Seder BY ESTHER OTTENSOSER

Wine Jackets These beautifully presented wine bottles are a stunning alternative to transferring wine to a silver carafe at the Seder table. A few years ago, I introduced readers to diamond wrapped wine bottles in a Purim article, gluing the diamond wrap to the wine bottle. This new version has the added twist of Velcro, so as you empty one bottle you can quickly reattach it to the next—the perfect addition to your Seder table. You will Need: Diamond wrap—enough to wrap around the wine bottle + another 2” for applying the Velcro ¾” adhesive Velcro (Both sides) Directions: Simply press Velcro stickers to each end of diamond wrap, making sure they stick when overlapping. Wrap the wine jacket around the bottle for instant elegance and panache!

Decorative Spoons Turn any spoon into a designer serving piece with this simple project! You will Need: Spoons 24 gauge beading wire Assorted beads, pearls… Directions: Wind the wire around the spoon handle a couple of times to anchor it, then thread beads onto the wire in the pattern of your choice. Secure wire again when you reach the other end of the handle. Great for adding that personal touch to the Seder plate or for serving dips at the meals!

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MARCH 31, 2015

In The Kitchen

Naomi Nachman

Sushi for Pesach Who doesn’t want to eat sushi all the time, right? For the last 20 years sushi has become a staple at every Jewish simcha and kiddush. Everyone seems to flock around the sushi station and fill up their plates. But for Pesach, we feel the loss of not eating sushi for eight days because rice is not permitted for those who don’t eat kitniyot (grains and legumes such as rice, corn, soybeans, string beans, peas, lentils, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds). When the Orthodox Union certified quinoa for Passover last year, many people were so very excited to eat a this new food group during Pesach after 2,000 years. This answered some questions about what to use as the “rice” for sushi and opened up a possible avenue for kosher for Pesach sushi. However, not everyone uses quinoa due to different minhagim (customs). I wanted to develop a sushi recipe for everyone to use on Pesach. I came up with the idea of using cauliflower. People have been making cauliflower pizza, so I thought, why not use it as the “rice” for the sushi? Once I got to the testing, I was very impressed with the carb-free results. Now my family doesn’t have to be deprived of sushi for eight days! It makes a great appetizer, side dish or serve it as a main meal and watch your popularity soar!

Sushi Cauliflower “Rice” Ingredients

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.

Step by step picture method:

2 large packages frozen Bodek (checked) cauliflower 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp Passover soy sauce 1 tsp Passover vinegar Preparation Grate the frozen checked cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles small crumbs. Place the cauliflower crumbs on a clean dish towel. Since there is a lot of cauliflower, split it in half and use two dish towels. Tightly wrap the cauliflower in a bundle and squeeze it dry. If it’s still cold from being frozen, let it sit out for another 20 minutes and squeeze again. Make sure the cauliflower is very dry. Place the cauliflower in a bowl and add the sugar, Passover soy sauce and Passover vinegar. Mix well and then use it as rice for sushi. Filling Different filling options, which should all be cut into julienne strips (long and thin). Avocado, carrot, cucumber, salmon cooked or raw, tuna, spicy tuna, grilled chicken, sliced steak. Ideas for sushi fillings combinations. Use your imagination and go wild. Charoset roll (dessert roll) Apples, grounds almonds, dash of cinnamon. Chicken Caesar roll Chicken, romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing Grilled steak Avocado, sliced steak and red onion

Basic Steps to Make Sushi Rolls: Prepare cauliflower “rice” as directed above. Put a nori sheet on top of a bamboo mat. Spread the “rice” on top of the nori sheet. Place the ingredients lengthwise on the rice—avocado, carrot, cucumber, fish. Roll up the bamboo mat, pressing forward to shape the sushi into a cylinder. Press the bamboo mat firmly and remove it from the sushi. Cut the rolled sushi into bite-sized pieces. You can cut the sushi better if you wipe the knife with a wet cloth before you slice it.

1. Place the Nori (shiny side down) on a sushi mat. 2. Take the “rice” and with moistened hands press it gently and evenly over the Nori, leaving a ½ to 1 inch space, the furthest end from you (the top) and about 1/4 inch from the end nearest you (the bottom).

3. Take the vegetables and place it lengthwise about 1 inch from the bottom end of the “rice.” 4. Start to roll up the sushi in the mat from the bottom, making sure the vegetables stay in place. Add firm pressure as you continue rolling and keep pulling the end of the sushi mat as you go along.

5. When you finish rolling, moisten the end of the Nori and press to seal along the length. 6. Take a very sharp knife and moisten. Slice the sushi into 6-8 pieces in a saw-like motion, wetting the knife between each slice (if you use a dry knife the Nori will tear).

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In The Kitchen

A YUMMY

twist

ON CHOL HAMOED With so many meals over the eight day holiday, no one is in the mood of another dinner of potatoes. Here are some delicious and different recipes to serve this Chol Hamoed. Whether your family enjoys dairy or meat, they’re bound to enjoy these tasty Pesach dishes.

Zucchini Noodle Alfredo

BY TAMAR GENGER MA, RD This low carb Zucchini Noodle Alfredo is rich and creamy. It makes a great side dish to a main fish dinner or delicious appetizer before a lighter meal. Ingredients W 3 medium zucchini W 1 tablespoon olive oil W 1 tablespoon unsalted butter W 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped W 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel W 2 teaspoons potato starch W 1 cup low-fat milk W 2 ounces (¼ package) cream cheese, cut into ½ inch chunks W 4 tablespoons grated Romano cheese W 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese W 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley W freshly ground pepper to taste Directions Using a good quality julienne peeler, cut the zucchini into long strands (julienne cut, as thin as spaghetti). Place the zucchini julienne in a single layer on top of a double layer of paper towels. Let air dry for 4 hours. Pour the olive oil into a large non-stick sauté pan over medium heat. Add the zucchini julienne and cook, tossing the strands occasionally with tongs, for about 2 minutes. Set aside. To make the sauce, heat the butter in a deep sauté pan over low-medium heat. When the butter has melted and looks foamy, add the garlic and lemon peel and cook for about one minute or until the garlic has softened. Whisk in the potato starch and cook for about one minute. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking the ingredients to keep the sauce smooth. Add salt to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly, until the sauce is smooth and thick. Add the cream cheese and Romano cheese and whisk the ingredients until the cheeses are completely blended into the sauce. Stir in the chopped parsley. Add the sautéed zucchini julienne to the sauce and toss with tongs until well coated. Serve topped with the grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

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BY JAMIE GELLER You will need about 1 to 1 ½ pounds of chicken for this recipe. Bake, grill, sauté or prepare your chicken however you enjoy it best. You can also use leftover chicken for this slightly sweet citrusy salad.

Caulif lower Steaks with Gremolata BY TAMAR GENGER MA, RD These cauliflower steaks are a wonderful main course for Passover or anytime. Great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, it’s a wonderful way to get more veggies in your diet. Ingredients W 1 head cauliflower W 2 tablespoons olive oil W Salt and pepper W 2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce Gremolata W ½ cup walnuts W ½ cup fresh parsley W 1 garlic clove, minced W 1 lemon, zested W Salt and pepper Directions Remove leaves and trip stem end of the cauliflower leaving core intact. Using a large knife cut out 1/2″ steaks from the center of the cauliflower, and cut any remaining smaller steaks out too. Clean accordingly. Preheat oven to 400° degrees F. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skiln let. Cook steaks in hot pan about 2 minutes per side until they are golden brown. Remove to a baking sheet. Halfway through cooking add another tablespoon oil. Once all steaks are browned, place the pan in the oven for about 15 minutes to ensure the steaks are tender. Meanwhile, warm up your tomato sauce and prepare gremolata. Finely chop walnuts, place on a dry baking sheet. Bake 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring once or twice. Cool. Finely chop parsley and place in a small bowl. Add zest and cooled walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper. When ready to serve, spoon tomato sauce onto a plate, top with cauliflower steak and sprinkle with gremolata.

MARCH 31, 2015

Directions In a large bowl, combine oranges, spinach, chicken, tomatoes and almonds. In a small bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and immediately pour over salad. Toss to coat.

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Ingredients 1 cup Mandarin oranges, drained (15-ounce) 1 bag spinach (5-ounce) 2 cooked chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 1 beefsteak tomato, chopped 2 tablespoons sliced almonds ½ cup olive oil 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 tablespoons honey ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

W W W W W W W W W W

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Mandarin Spinach Salad

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Steak with Red Wine Glazed Carrots, Parsnips & Mushrooms Leek & Mushroom Chicken with Herbed Spaghetti Squash BY JAMIE GELLER Ingredients W 1 medium spaghetti squash W 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts W 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided W 4 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced and cleaned W 3 cloves garlic, chopped W 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms W 1 ½ cups chicken broth W ¼ cup white wine W 3 tablespoons margarine W ¼ cup chopped parsley W 3 tablespoons chopped thyme W ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes W kosher salt W freshly ground black pepper

BY JAMIE GELLER Ingredients W 1 tablespoon olive oil W 1 pound skirt steak W 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks W 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks W ½ cup mushrooms, quartered W ½ cup chicken stock W ½ cup dry red wine W 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped parsley W kosher salt W freshly ground black pepper Directions Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and sear until nicely browned, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove and let rest. Add parsnips and carrots and sauté 6 to 8 minutes or until slightly browned and beginning to soften. Add mushrooms and sauté 2 minutes. Add stock and wine and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and sauce is reduced and thickened. Stir in parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Thinly slice steak against the grain and return to pan for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through and coated in sauce. Divide between 4 shallow bowls.

Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Pierce squash all over with a knife and place in a baking dish filled a ¼-inch deep with water. Bake for 1 hour or until tender. While squash is baking, place chicken on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until cooked through. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add leeks and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Add mushrooms and cook 2 more minutes. Add broth and wine and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly reduced. Stir in margarine and parsley and add chicken breasts to coat with sauce. Cut squash in half, remove seeds and use a fork to scrape the flesh into long spaghetti-like strands. Place in a large bowl and toss with remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, parsley, thyme and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve spaghetti squash with chicken drizzled with sauce over top.

Jamie Geller is the only best-selling cookbook author who wants to get you out of the kitchen – not because she doesn’t love food – but because she has tons to do. As “The Bride Who Knew Nothing” Jamie found her niche specializing in fast, fresh, family recipes. Now the “Queen of Kosher” (CBS) and the “Jewish Rachael Ray” (New York Times), she’s the creative force behind JoyofKosher.com and “Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller” magazine . Jamie and her hubby live in Israel with their five busy kids who give her plenty of reasons to get out of the kitchen – quickly. Check out her new book, Joy of Kosher: Fast, Fresh Family Recipes. Tamar Genger lives in New York and is the mother of three amazing children, a Registered Dietitian, professor of Nutrition, and as you can probably guess, a foodie! Tamar loves to travel with her family and visits kosher restaurants wherever she goes. Although she loves the sights, she spends more time talking about the restaurants and food she ate! As a mom and a nutritionist, Tamar tries to balance her passion for healthy cooking with her insatiable desire for chocolate!

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Pesach: A Time for Gratitude it makes a deep and lasting impression on them. We must strive to constantly share and imbue this important attribute in our children. Unfortunately, however, I often observe that our children have come to expect everything they are given without understanding the hardships that had to be overcome in acquiring these things. Instead of entitlement, parents should

health. If we would focus on this lesson, perhaps we would see less hardship and pain within our community. I bless our community to have much nachas from their children. We should be successful in raising good, healthy, and grateful children. Good yom tov. Rabbi Dov Silver is the Founder and Executive Vice President of Madraigos. To contact Rabbi Silver, please call 516-371-3250 ext. 4 or email rds@madraigos.org. To learn more about Madraigos’ programs and services, please visit www.madraigos.org. Madraigos, a 501c-3 not-for-profit organization, offers a wide array of innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults overcome life’s everyday challenges one step at a time Our goal is to provide all of our members with the necessary tools and skills to empower them to live a healthy lifestyle and become the leaders of tomorrow.

While we are in the mindset of gratitude, we are taught to tell the story of our ancestors leaving Egypt to become a nation. new subject material. Why is the quiet, more private setting not recommended? Let’s explore and better understand why this is the case. Rabbi Shimshon Pincus, zt”l, in his remarkable way, explains the significance of communicating and teaching at mealtime. He explains that when a person is hungry and sits down to eat, he feels G-d in his life in the most profound way. Before he eats, he is weak and hungry and feels a lack of energy. Then, in an instant, as he starts to eat, he feels himself getting stronger and energized. At this point, his feelings of gratitude to Hashem are at its peak. It is a time that he can see that G-d is the provider of all food and he can more easily feel Hashem in his life. In the same vein, on the night of the Seder, while we are already at a meal and in the mindset of gratitude, we are taught to tell the story of our ancestors leaving Egypt to become a nation. As a result, we feel gratitude to the Creator of the world. The gratitude flows from our stomachs to our hearts and to the rest of the body. We can actually feel the difference in our bodies in a matter of seconds. This message is appropriate for people of all ages. It is possible to teach gratitude to even very young children. Yes, to communicate to them the need to be grateful is important. But to really drive home this message of gratitude, the most effective way is to teach by example. When our children observe us in this light

strive to teach humility and appreciation. Recognizing that everything in our life comes from Hashem is a feeling that brings much stability and emotional

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lesson is the concept of family meals. Although there is much professional, secular literature written on the subject, it was first introduced by Chazal. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University conducted a study a few years ago on the significance of family dinners. “Kids who live in families that eat together regularly are less likely to be involved in anti-social behaviors.” They reported that “these children [in families that don’t eat together] are 61% more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.” The report lists additional benefits of a family eating together including: 1. Bonding time

2. Time for family updates 3. Opportunity to resolve family conflicts 4. Time to model good manners 5. Healthier diets So, the argument and need for family dinners is quite clear. However, I can also understand the argument that a Bais Medresh or a library might be much more conducive to concentrating and learning

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s we wind down from the winter and spring emerges, there is much excitement in the air. With much delight, we see the grass and trees turn green and the beautiful flowers sprout everywhere. It is time for a new beginning. The Torah marks this occasion with the yom tov of Pesach, the holiday of open miracles. The climax of all of our preparation is the first night of Pesach. It is a time when we sit around the Seder table with our children around us. We encourage their questions and we respond with loving and understandable answers, each on his or her personal level. Teaching our children about the miracles Hashem has done for us and the forming of the Jewish Nation is a focus of the evening. I find it fascinating that the Hagaddah clearly states that the obligation of teaching the story of Yitziyas Mitzrayim must take place at the Seder table when matzah and marror are placed before you. Why not in shul or in any other place or time? Perhaps, a nice walk in the park would be a beneficial place to communicate with our children. There is a very significant message that we must learn from this Chazal. This

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Rabbi Dov Silver

The Rocky Rant

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Rocky Zweig

Do Not Try This at Home

hen I was younger, so much younger than today (hat tip: Lennon-McCartney, 1965), I was a bit of a hothead. I would make excuses, saying I was a redhead, half Hungarian, and a Levi. And while I believe there actually is some (inconclusive) research linking red hair with a lousy temper, the rest of the stuff was pretty much hogwash. I was just an immature lunatic who needed to grow up. Problem was, I grew up into a grown-up lunatic. It took me a long time, working on myself, ruining some relationships along the way, until I could finally, honestly say that I had that old cauldron that was always there, bubbling just beneath the surface of my psyche, under control. Almost. That little almost is the subject of this column. Through a lot of work and even more siyata d’Shmaya, I have made tremendous progress controlling my temper. But there is one glaring exception, and it would behoove me (note: nothing to do with cutting off a horse’s feet) to fix it, because: A: It’s dangerous, and ergo, B. It’s extremely stupid. It’s what I call “The Jew Factor.” Meaning, I can walk away from just about anything, but if someone of the gentile persuasion makes a crack about my Hebraic heritage, I will be in his face in a heartbeat. Doesn’t matter who or what that face happens to be at-

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tached to. Little old lady? Yup. 6’4”, 235 pound linebacker? Absolutely. Am I gonna get hurt someday? Is Obama gonna pray to Allah five times

80% of the traffic there is made up of frum people. My mazal, the guy behind me belonged to the other 20%. A very irate, crazy, vocal member of the

Seeing as how I tend to shower several times a month whether I need it or not, I felt compelled to take umbrage, and, just so you know, I very rarely take umbrage unless it’s just lying around and nobody else wants it. today? So here’s what happened a few weeks ago. Do you know Flatbush? I was driving westbound on Avenue O from Bedford toward Coney Island Avenue. Avenue O is one way in that direction. Right before it hits Coney, the left lane becomes a turning lane and the right lane is for going straight or turning right. This is at the corner where The Hat Box is, got the picture? Anyway, so I’m cruising along in the left lane, minding my own business, listening to Rush or Hannity, daydreaming a bit, when I realize I need to go straight, so I need to merge right, admittedly a little late. Normally this is not a problem, since probably

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other 20%. I managed to squeeze in, but suffice it to say that he was rather displeased, and was intent on demonstrating said displeasure any which way he could: he leaned on his horn, he flashed his brights, he…um…gestured some gestures, he rolled down his window and made some noises that could almost be mistaken for human. Then he upped the ante by getting out of his car. I know. I should have kept my windows rolled up, made sure my doors were locked, looked straight ahead and waited for the light to change. Didn’t do that. Instead I got out of my car too, turned around, and said, “What’s your problem?” I think during what followed he most definitely must have told me what his problem was. Most likely it had nothing to do with his mother telling him not to eat Cheetos on the couch, or his friend calling him a slob, or the zit on his upper left cheek. It probably had something to do with the way in which I was operating my motor vehicle. I really wasn’t paying much attention to his response, because he finished it by spitting at me. There was a good thirty feet between us, so I came away completely unspat upon, but then he called me a Jew. Now you may ask, so what? Aren’t you indeed one of the Chosen People? And to that I will answer proudly, yes of course; indeed I am. The problem was that my new acquaintance saw fit

to add an adjective, describing the particular type of Jew I am, and the aforementioned adjective referred to my hygiene. And seeing as how I tend to shower several times a month whether I need it or not, I felt compelled to take umbrage, and, just so you know, I very rarely take umbrage unless it’s just lying around and nobody else wants it. I got back in my car and we both drove to Ocean Parkway where we once again hit a red light. It was here that I noticed that he had a sign on top of his car. I pulled over (into the wrong lane) and saw he was a delivery boy for Frank’s Pizza (718-339-0277, in case you’re into pepperoni). I started writing down Uncle Frankie’s phone number. Once again, my nemesis rolled down his window and said a veritable spate of unsavory things. Oh, and spat again. Here’s the rest of the Mensa-caliber conversation that took place before the light changed: “Hey, Meatball, I gonna call Uncle Frankie and you gonna lose your job.” “Big [adjective] deal. I could get anudder [adjective] job inna minute.” “Y’know what? You’re right. I bet you can get anudder job as a pizza boy inna minute.” Oh, a word about the moniker Meatball. That was l’zeicher nishmas an Italian bulvan of the same name who used to hang out across the street from my house on East 9th between K & L, in back of PS 99, drink beer and listen to his boom box (remember boom boxes?), who supposedly died in jail. This genius bore a striking resemblance to good ol’ Meatball. Anyway, even though Meatball acted quite cavalierly about losing his employment, he was apparently quite upset, because he started chasing me. I was supposed to be going to Shop Rite. I don’t remember what I needed. Doesn’t really matter though, because even when I come in for just four or five items, I invariably walk out with half the store. My favorite part is watching the husbands shop. I can spot a shopping husband at a hundred yards: he’s the one with a list in one hand and a cellphone in the other (“but they don’t have the kind without

dictable colorful language and started grabbing at my right hand, which now held the pepper-spray. But there were two things he hadn’t counted on: first of all, to keep my weight down so I’m able to take the occasional breath, I work out at Bally’s (FYI: Now 24 Hour Fitness) five or six times a week,

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.

What does the number four symbolize on Pesach? Read what Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller writes on the power of Pesach on page 84

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for a while and we decided not to pursue it, seeing as how I didn’t know if Uncle Frankie’s cousin was Louie “the Peanut” Petrone,” whose uncle Nunzio works for the DMV who could find me through my plate number and come to my house and steal all my Marino’s ices, even the rainbow! But they told me to have my bloody hand looked at just to have a record of it, should I ever change my mind. So I called Hatzoloh, and after I told them the whole sordid tale and they stopped laughing and high-fiving me, they wrote it up, gave me a copy, and presumably went

home and ate dinner. So the question of the hour, of course is: if the same situation presented itself again, would I react the same way? Of course not…I’m out of pepper-spray! But seriously? I don’t know. I think the best thing for me would be to start listening to NPR; that way I’d be able to pay a lot more attention to my driving.

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so I am a lot stronger than I look, and my forearm muscles have responded particularly well. And second of all, with the amount of adrenaline coursing through my body at that moment, my grip was like an iron vise, so there was no way he was wresting that thing away from me. But he did manage to dig his dirty fingernails into my skin. When he fell away from my car and was writhing in the gutter behind me, I started driving home, bleeding on my shirt and sweater. Just out of curiosity, I called 311 (not 911) to ask what the procedure

would be if I wanted to report an assault (i.e., would I walk into my local precinct, etc.). Have you been assaulted, sir? she insisted on knowing. Before I knew it she had connected me to 911 and about five minutes after I got home, two cops rang my bell. The officers and I kicked it around

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pulp!”). I didn’t go to Shop Rite. I should have gone to Shop Rite. After all, what could Meatball have done to me in Shop Rite’s parking lot, a location with more Jews than downtown Des Moines? Nothing. But I was having too much fun. Also, I had a plan. We drove around a little while until we came to the corner of Ocean Parkway’s service road and Avenue P. I stopped at the stop sign. Meatball took this opportunity to get out of his car and run up to mine. I rolled down my driver’s side window (!). Meatball started pummeling my arm. To this day I don’t know why he didn’t punch me in the face. Or open the door, drag me out and start kicking me about the head and torso. I really didn’t think about that at the moment. I was too busy not feeling him punching my left arm, enveloped as it was in a shirt, a sweater, a sport jacket and a heavy winter coat. So I let him hit me for maybe fifteen seconds. That’s when I pepper sprayed him. Did you know Amazon sells pepper spray? Well, it does. And a while back I got to thinking about that “Jew Factor” that I mentioned earlier and how it was going to get me into trouble someday. So I invested ten bucks and Amazon-Primed a canister right into my glove compartment. So when The Great Meatball Incident started, I had leaned over and was ready, locked and loaded. Meatball used some perfectly pre-

Israel Today

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Rafi Sackville

Get Up and Play!

rving passed the ball to Koren, who laid it up for Jordan, who slammed it through the basket. Ma’alot High School 10, The Spirit of Victory 0. The home crowd of students watching the game was muted as their classmates’ baskets went in one after another. Then they missed a shot that was grabbed by the defense who rolled down the court. A simple lay-up and it was 10-2. The cheering for the opposition was deafening. Some students stood up to applaud. The visitors play in a different kind of basketball league. It’s a league that I pray none of our students ever need to join. When we entered the court five young men were sitting in a row in the middle of the court in wheelchairs. They are handicapped and play basketball locked onto specially modified wheelchairs. They are The Spirit of Victory and we had walked through the rain, via Ilanot, the neighborhood I live in, then around Lake Montfort and into the basketball arena to watch them give an exhibition. They are led by Arad, a 29-year-old former soldier, who, while on a night maneuver with his Egoz Golani combat unit and laden with a fifty kilo pack on his back, fell into a hole and lost the use of both of his legs. Rather than suffer amputation he spent five years in rehabilitation in order to keep them.

gap in score closed until our boys were behind on the scoreboard. Arad called a halt to the game. Three of the players wheeled over to the sidelines and got out of their chairs. Arad invited three boys to get into them. Watching Niv, Ido and Noam try to maneuver the chairs was comical. They were asked to race to center court, stop, and do a 180 degree turn. Niv was pipped at the post by Ido, but as they stopped and were pivoting ,their wheelchairs clashed and they both spilled onto the court. Try as they might they couldn’t right themselves. Noam wheeled around them pumping his fists in a victory dance. Half an hour had passed quickly. The stands emptied as we were all invited onto the court. The 11th and 12th graders gathered at different ends. Arad and Barak wheeled towards us and waited until we were all seated. He told us how his handicap has changed his life. He was quick to point out that it in no way controlled him. The story of his many operations and rehabilitation would have sounded terrible had I read about it in a magazine. Listening to him tell it in a matterof-fact manner made it seem nothing more than an annoyance that had to be gotten out of the way so he could get on with life. He completed his personal story by announcing he had married two weeks earlier. He had made a vow years earlier that he would walk to his chuppah. With the help of a modified back and leg brace he managed to stand next to his wife. The students gave him a warm round of applause. Barak eloquently explained how all players in the basketball, tennis, football or swimming leagues had overcome huge hurdles to deal with their handicaps. He had trekked over Europe. Barak had initially found it difficult dealing with his immobility. It wasn’t until he got out and discovered just how many other people are in the same situation that he began making sense of his reality. He pointed to Almog at the other end of the court: “The short guy with the long, black hair. He was driving without a seatbelt and talking to his girlfriend on his cellphone. He lost control of his car. And here he is some 40 operations later.” Barak had been wounded by a roadside bomb. His legs didn’t function, but he had turned his life around after being forced into doing 60 hours of chesed at school. He had turned his handicap into 10 years of giving back by helping others like him. One day he went to watch a basketball game on wheels. One of his friends told him to get onto the chair. He strapped himself in, his friend threw a ball at him, and said, “Get used to it!” “And that...,” and here he paused for a moment for emphasis, “and that is why we are here today.” There was a look of bemusement on many faces. Barak paused again. “None of you want to end up like any of us, do you? You are all at the age when you’re getting behind the wheel. Some of you have a license already.”

The story of his many operations and rehabilitation would have sounded terrible had I read about it in a magazine. He introduced the other players. As each name was called, the players rolled out and performed stunts with their wheelchairs that defied belief. Arad asked students to identify the differences to regular wheelchairs. Hands shot up. The wheels were inverted, there is a protective bar on the front, the back brace is low, small wheels protect players from backward falls, and a belt ties them in. Almog, the oldest player, spun his wheelchair around until it tipped over. The collective gasp in the stands was quickly muffled as he immediately righted himself. “The game goes on when this happens, and it happens a lot. Clashes of chairs is the norm. When we play basketball you develop a sense of fearlessness,” explained Arad. He rolled out closer to the stands and stopped inches away from a row of boys sitting on a bench. “Anyone want to play against us?” The bench in front of him jumped up in unison as students bounced onto the court. After culling their number with a flick of his hand. Irving, Noam, Jordan, Ido and Niv stood behind him. “Let’s play ball!” yelled Arad. Within moments the game was on with our five boys pitted against the five in the chairs. The score was one-sided until Arad held up play and changed the rules. The boys were restricted from shooting at the basket until all five of them had touched the ball in succession. This quickly changed the balance of the game and the

Thus began a moving lecture about driving safety that was forceful and hopefully full of more meaning to the students than being spoken to by a policeman working in traffic. The students were mostly attentive, but like most things in their lives, living in the moment. Some of them were taking selfies, others were looking off into the distance. Yet there were more listening than not. I noticed just how many couldn’t take their eyes off the wheelchairs. It was still raining when we walked outside. Irving caught up with me to say how exciting it had been to play against them. We walked around the lake until we got to the road that leads up to school. Several seniors had parked their cars at the bottom of the road. They started driving by us, one of them a little too fast to my liking. I stood in the middle of the road until she stopped. “This is a back road, Rotem. Why are you in such a rush?” Rotem was sitting behind the wheel. She smiled at me but showed little concern. “Nu, Rafi. I’m a safe driver. Don’t worry,” she said. I stepped out of her way as she drove up the hill far more slowly. When life lessons are taught to large groups it is difficult to know which messages stick and which don’t. Is shock and awe necessary to get teenagers to drive with greater care? Would the critical moment in Almog’s life, the moment when he lost control of his car, have been avoided had he been present when a group of wheelchaired athletes spoke to him before he got his license? What is clear is the creative manner in which The Spirit of Victory inspired us all to think differently about life and the time we spend driving. Ido, one of the two students who had raced to the center of the court and fallen off the wheelchair, caught up with me as we were walking into school. Ido is wild by nature, a fun-loving, young man who dares where others fear. I asked him what it was like to be in that wheelchair. He took a considered pause before replying. “It was great fun, but it’s not something I would want to get used to,” he said.  Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, lives in Ma’alot in Western Galil. He teaches in the local high school.

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Places to Go, Things to Do

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guide

This year, Pesach comes out right when spring begins on the calendar. Don’t be fooled—it’s still a little chilly out there but nothing warms you up more than enjoying quality time together. Take advantage of the weather and spend time with the family during chol hamoed—indoors or outdoors. TJH has compiled a list of ideas, activities and places to go for you to enjoy this time spent together. Make sure to pack enough food (macaroons, matzah and marshmallows!) and music for the road and have fun!

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Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center 431 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901 631-208-9200 Prospect Park Zoo 450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 718-399-7339 Bronx Zoo 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460 718220-5103 Queens Zoo 53-51 111th Street, Flushing, NY 11368 718-271-1500 Central Park Zoo 64th Street & 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10065 212-861-6030 Long Island Game Farm 489 Chapman Boulevard, Manorville, NY 11949 631-878-6644

Scenic Attractions Central Park Boating, biking, the Great Lawn, model-boat sailing, carriage rides, carousel Between 5th & 8th Avenues and 59th & 106th Streets 212-360-3444 Bryant Park 6th Avenue, between W40-42 Street, New York, NY 10018 212-768-4242 New York Highline Gansevoort St. to West 30 St. between Washington St. and 11 Ave., New York, NY 212-500-6035 Brooklyn Bridge Park 1 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 718-222-9939 Fort Tyron Park Riverside Drive to Broadway, W 192 Street to Dyckman Street, New York, NY

MARCH 31, 2015

New York Aquarium 602 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224 718-265-3474

Old Bethpage 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804 516- 572-8400

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White Post Farms 250 Old County Road, Melville, NY 11747 631-351-9373

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Zoos and Farms

New York Circle Line Pier 83 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 212-563-3200

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens 900 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 718-623-7200 Brooklyn Heights Promenade Downtown Brooklyn—Remsen Street to Orange Street along the East River South Street Seaport 89 South St., New York, NY 10038 212-732-7678 The New York Botanical Garden 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458 718-817-8700 The Amish Village 199 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks, PA 17572 717-687-8511

chol hamoed guide/ AdventureLand ad 1/4 chol hamoed guide/ AdventureLand ad 1/4

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Legoland Discovery Center Westchester 39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 866-243-0779 Chuck E. Cheese 162 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550 516-483-3166 Kids N Shape 162-26 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, NY 11414 718-848-2052 Funzone 229 Route 110, Farmingdale, NY 11735 631-847-0100 New York Skyride Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10118 212-279-9777 Discovery Times Square 226 W 44th St., New York, NY 10036 866-987-9692 East 44th Street (Between 7th & 8th Avenues)

Woodmere Lanes 948 Broadway, Woodmere, NY 11598 516-374-9870

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Pier 86, 12th Avenue and 46th Street New York, NY 212-245-0072 9/11 Memorial and Museum 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10006 212-266-5211 Sony Wonder Technology 550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 212-833-8100 New York Hall of Science 47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368 718-699-0005 Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 212-423-3200 Living Torah Museum 1601 41 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218 718-851-3215 Long Island Children’s Museum 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 516-224-5800 Brooklyn Children’s Museum 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-735-4400 Jewish Children’s Museum 792 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-467-0600 Children’s Museum of Manhattan 212 W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024 212-721-1234 American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 212-769-5100

The Franklin Institute 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-448-1200 TJH assumes no responsibility for the kashrus, atmosphere, safety or accuracy of any event or attraction listed here. Please call before you go. Have fun!

MARCH 31, 2015

Museums

Crayola Factory 30 Centre Square, Easton, PA 18042 1-866-875-5263

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Strike 10 Lanes 6161 Strickland Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11234 718-763-6800

Liberty Science Center Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305 201-200-1000

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Chelsea Piers Hudson River – Piers 59-62, New York, NY 212-336-6800

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Dr. Deb

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Seder, Trauma and G-d

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freedom as we re-experience our past slavery. Maybe it’s like that all the time. Maybe when they say G-d puts the re-

it make us appreciate the good in our lives more? Yes, in fact I’ve often heard from people that their troubles completely changed their outlook on

Every year when we sit down to experience the Seder, Hashem is one more time healing us from those old wounds. fuah (healing) in place before the makka (hit), it’s like that for all sorts of bad experiences. Maybe we just can’t see it because we exist on a different time frame than G-d. Here we sit in our comfortable homes, having trou-

ble re-experiencing yitzias Mitzrayim, yet it was real for our ancestors, as real as the 20th century version of the same thing was for our grandparents. The many centuries in between have erased the pain, the trauma. There is a book out there called The Blessing of the Skinned Knee and it seems to be making a similar point: that good can come from bad, or maybe that the bad wasn’t bad in the first place. Perhaps this is even true for unfathomable tragedies as our community just experienced this week, but we most likely won’t see the refuah in our lifetimes. Instead, it seems that we are to struggle and grapple with the makkos in our lives on our own first. Does that make us stronger? Usually. Does that make us more attuned to other people’s suffering? Definitely. Does

life – for the better. Aside from the pain one must endure while going through all this, that process is not easy. It requires tools to get through it. Some of us were given these tools in our homes growing up; others were not. If Hashem did indeed put the refuah in place before the makka, then how do we understand the situation of people who do not have the resources they need to get through their tragedies – the outlook, the faith, the strength, and the support? It seems as if those people are put at a disadvantage. We have a clue to resolving this in what seems to be a contradiction. In Parshas Beshalach, the Torah says, “Ani Hashem rofecha” (I am G-d, your Healer, 15:26). But a short while later, it also says, “V’rapo yerapei,” repeating the injunction to heal (Shemos, 21:19). Chazal interpreted this repetition to mean that we should seek the help of people who are instruments of G-d. In doing this, G-d keeps His role in the healing hidden and, in turn, it compels us to seek Him out in times of need. That means that we have two obligations when we are sick, troubled, or traumatized. One, of course, is to turn to Hashem in prayer. But the other is the more pragmatic one of seeking help when necessary – pikuach nefesh. In fact, the Rambam, himself a physician, says that not taking the advice of a doctor when sick is as foolish as davening to be satiated when you are hungry instead of eating!

That implies that if you don’t already have the skills to cope with tzaaros (troubles), then seeing a doctor or a therapist is actually one of the tools that G-d Himself has provided you. That is, just as a person who grew up in a family where emotional resilience and a positive attitude were passed down as wonderful coping skills, so too, the requirement to seek the help of professions as indicated in Shemos is another tool that Hashem has given to us. This creates a more even playing field between those who grew up in families with tools and those who didn’t. In the end, we all have access to the same tools. One of the amazing tools that researchers now recognize is the fact that we can actually change the emotional tone of memories. This area is called reconsolidation research. Apparently, there is a protein in the brain connected with each memory which re-activates when a person emotionally re-experiences that memory. In a state of re-activation, the emotions surrounding the experience can be changed. Hashem did give us the refuah after all. I will be speaking more about this on Pesach at Sharmel Caterers’ program at the Doubletree in Somerset, N.J. If you will be there, I will see you then! If not, don’t feel badly as I finally have gotten the technical help I needed (see I need it too, sometimes!) to record my talks for Torah Anytime. Wishing you a simchadik and inspiring Pesach. Enjoy your freedom!

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn, a Marriage & Family Therapist and best-selling author of The Healing Is Mutual: Marriage Empowerment Tools to Rebuild Trust and Respect—Together, is proud to announce that readers of The Jewish Home will receive a $50 discount on every visit to her Woodmere office. Attend the Food For Thought lectures at Traditions Restaurant in Lawrence on Tuesdays at 12:30 PM. (There is a lovely optional lunch menu for $12 cash.) Any questions, call 646-54-DRDEB or check out her website at http://drdeb.com. All stories in Dr. Deb’s articles are fabricated.

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knew a family that lost their home three weeks before Pesach. They had an idea this was going to happen. It was the era of underwater mortgages. That was before the time of houses literally being underwater which is a completely different story. So they did what they had to do: They packed their belongings b’chipazone (in a hurry) to safeguard what possessions they could in a storage unit and scrambled to find a new place to live with their little children. Amidst chaos and fear, they found something for themselves through the grace of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. There were rooms for the children and a reasonable kitchen in which to prepare for Pesach. There were legal issues, unsorted boxes of belongings, and chaos. But as that family sat down to the Seder on the first night of Pesach, looking around at their sturdy walls and knowing that they were not out in the street after all, I believe that each and every one of them felt as if they had been personally rescued from Mitzrayim. Maybe, in some weird way, this bad experience was a good thing. They lost a house and they gained a Seder that felt real – a rarity. Seder is the enactment of personal and national trauma (except that this particular trauma ends well). Can you imagine what it must have been like getting two million people out of Mitzrayim? We can’t get our kids on the school bus and here we had to take kids, belongings, the gold and stuff we “borrowed” from the Mitzrim, while shlepping matzos over our shoulders! We left the dead behind – the ones who did not want to go as well as the Mitzrim. We left behind the tortures we knew for the unknown. That’s traumatic. What is interesting is that every year when we sit down to experience the Seder, Hashem is one more time healing us from those old wounds. That is because, in the act of reliving the flight from our Egyptian holocaust, we are reminded that we are now free. We feel the exuberance of our present

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Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

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Health & Fitness

David Elazar Simai, MD

Keeping it Simple Dear Parents, We are about to embark on one of the happiest Jewish holidays of the year. This year, however, when we burn our chometz, some of us may look at the flames with a vastly different, painful image of the recent fiery tragedy that has befallen our dear brothers and sisters. Our hearts are sobbing together with the grieving family. There is one prayer in my heart – just as we saw the destructive, lethal flames in Midwood last week, may we see the holy flames of the rebuilding of our Temple, as the verse is said on Tisha B’Av, “Because with fire you have consumed her, and with fire you will in the future restore her.” May we see the pure souls that were taken away from us in a new light of redemption. This week, I want to share with you an important case that occurred before the Passover holiday. Engraved in my

mind are a few essential lessons that I took away from it. I will mention these lessons later on. As many of my stories start, my dear father (who inspired me to become a physician by his love and dedication to his patients) once sat me down and

ing case: A 3-week-old baby presented to the ER with persistent vomiting. The mom said that he vomited after each feeding. The baby also seemed a little uncomfortable before these episodes. The mother was extremely concerned that

Whether it’s a simple cold or a severe pneumonia, we always rely on one thing, the ongoing help from G-d, the ultimate healer. shared the following story: Back in medical school in Iran, the head of the Department of Pediatrics gathered all the medical students at grand rounds and presented the follow-

something is awfully wrong with her new baby. What do you suggest the diagnosis is? Immediately, a few bright students raised their hands and offered a wide array of diagnoses, showing how well versed they are in all the rare and obscure diseases of the GI tract such as Hirschsprung’s disease, pyloric stenosis, and intestinal malrotation. The professor dismissed all of them. The true diagnosis, he said, was a very simple problem. The hole in the bottle from which the baby was drinking was too large! The baby was drinking too fast. His little stomach could not accommodate all the milk, and thus, he spit up a large amount after each meal. When I think about my residency training at LIJ-Cohen’s Children Hospital, I recall that during my first year rotation in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, one of the attendings, Dr. Shendi, had a reputation of being a genius. He would think about the most uncommon diseases that we barely even learned about. However, I quickly learned that when a patient presented with any suspicious symptoms, Dr. Shendi would order many more tests than any of his colleagues! The rest of the residents called this the “Shendi-Gram” or as many of you call it, “the million dollar workup.” We all liked Dr. Shendi a lot. He was extremely humble and very pleasant. But we all knew that when he was in charge of the floor, our jobs would be that much harder. We had

to draw more blood tests and schedule many more MRI’s, sonograms and CT scans for our patients. Of course, being an oncologist demands much more caution than a general pediatrician, and by no means would I criticize Dr. Shendi, but from a young age, I heard my father describe a different era of medicine—an era where doctors would base their diagnosis on a thorough history and physical exam, rather than order countless tests and subsequently chase them unnecessarily. This old approach yielded physicians that developed special diagnostic skills that are now approaching extinction. Often, when I encounter a difficult case, my thoughts are: how would my father approach this case? Can I think outside the box? And how could I avoid the slippery slope of the “million dollar workup”? About six years ago, after a busy Sunday marathon at my office approximately ten days prior to Passover, I entered the examination room with a great smile. I was happy to see this patient for two reasons. The first was because

she spoke Yiddish, which allowed me to recall my limited (medical) Yiddish vocabulary that I earned in my six years working in Kiryas Yoel. The second reason I smiled was because she was my last patient of the day, and by default, the last patient always gets the biggest smile from me – to show G-d how happy I am for all the help He has given me that day at the office. Her mother, a great and experienced one, described that the 8-yearold girl had been limping for about two months. There was no history of any trauma or fall to suggest a sprain, and there were no signs of fever or weight

first one being listen to your father’s guidance: think of simple solutions before jumping to worrisome, awful diseases. The next lesson was never shy away from asking for Divine Intervention. Whether it’s a simple cold or a severe pneumonia, we always rely on one thing, the ongoing help from G-d, the ultimate healer and the generous giver of life, health and wisdom. Wishing you a happy, healthy and kosher zissen Pesach, David Elazar Simai, MD Dr. David Simai is a Board Certified Pediatrician from the Five Towns. He is a full time attending in his own private practice since 2007 in Cedarhurst, New York. In addition, he is an Attending Physician at LIJ-Cohen Children’s Hospital, North-Shore Manhasset University Hospital and South Nassau Communities Hospital. He can be contacted for consultation at 516 374-2228 or via email at davidsimai@yahoo.com. NOTE: name, gender, geographical area and other identifying information were deliberately altered in this article in order to protect the patient’s privacy. This article is not intended to help diagnose or treat any specific disease. Always consult your personal physician before diagnosing or treating yourself or your child for any of the above mentioned illnesses.

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I get the goose bumps when I think about how quickly the answer came. With a huge smile I asked the mother: where does your daughter go to school? In Williamsburg, she replied. And how long is the bus ride to school? About 45 minutes each way was the mom’s answer. Little girl, do you always sit on the same seat on the bus? Yes. Does it happen to be next to the window? Yes. OK then, I said. All you need to do is to change your seat and sit back on a comfortable pillow. You have been resting sideways in the window seat in a position that forced your hips to press against the wall of the bus, and you must now recline in the aisle seat. And there, it all made sense. I was so confident that this was it that I proceeded to tear up the prescription for the hip sonogram that I wrote and told the mom: try my suggestion for one week. If she does not improve, I will continue with some other tests. In one week, I called the mother to check on the precious girl and to my delight she lost her elevator pass! She was back in the yard playing with her friends -and the hip pains were completely gone! On that day, I learned a few important lessons that I constantly remind myself while practicing medicine. The

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Next, the thought of sending the patient for more imaging studies crossed my mind – maybe an MRI to evaluate the condition of the muscles? Or a bone scan to make sure that there is no tumor in the hip? Or possibly a quick sonogram to look at the area from a different view. But the longer I spoke to the mom the more desperate I felt – was I starting to perform a million dollar workup here? On one hand, if there was something awfully dangerous I thought, she would have more symptoms – such as weight loss, fevers, spreading pains… After all, it’s been there for a few months now. On the other hand, her pains were getting more severe and she was developing some weakness; the poor girl could not climb up the stairs in her school – something had to be done here! And on the other, other hand (like in Tevya from “Fiddler on the Roof”), this was my last patient of the day, I was already an hour late to take my kids to their Sunday afternoon games, what should I do? At this point, I paused and thought in my heart. Please G-d, do not make me send this mother, ten days before Passover, to do unnecessary tests. Please let me know what’s wrong here; we need to precisely define the diagnosis so she could get the right treatment.

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loss to suggest a growth. A different doctor from Brooklyn (who happened to be my good friend who encouraged me to become a pediatrician) has seen her in the meantime. He referred her for x-rays which were negative, and performed a few strep tests that were also negative. Over the course of the two months, her pains have gotten so bad that she could not climb up the stairs, so she had a special “elevator pass” for her school. She was a perfectly healthy girl before this happened, and, other than Motrin, she did not take any medicines. At this point, the mother was very nervous – and understandably so. Many of you have heard that bone pains could be an ominous sign of an underlying cancer, especially the ones that get progressively worse. I went on to examine the girl and felt tenderness at the top part of her right hip alone. There was no swelling or mass felt, and the area was not hot or red. She was able to move the right leg in all directions without limitations or pains, but she did have a considerable limp when she walked. I approached the case with some suspicion that there was a trauma that was forgotten, maybe she hit her side by a door handle or railing? But the mom and the patient insisted that there was none of that, and this left me perplexed.

Forgotten Heroes

Avi Heiligman

The First Flight of the IAF

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ost of the best air forces in the world slowly grew into the powers that they are now. Starting in WWI, several countries experimented with planes in combat first as reconnaissance then as bomber and fighters. 35 years later the use of planes in combat was quite extensive and was even responsible for ending WWII. After the war, more countries wanted air power and turned to the belligerents of WWII for planes and expertise. Israel became a country in 1948

Ezer Weizman with his plane

but had very little help in forming an air force. Instead they relied upon second-hand planes and pilots from around the world sympathetic to the Jewish cause. The world was amazed to see that first air action over Israel on May 29, 1948 to stop Egyptian troops from attacking Tel Aviv. There were four pilots in knockoff Czech Me-109s (Messerschmitt-109, the main fighter of the German Air Force of WWII) called Avia S-199: Lou Lenart, Eddie Cohen, Modi Alon and Ezer Weizman. There were supposed to be more planes but these were the only ones to arrive in Israel in time for takeoff. The irony of the planes was that Me-109 was one of the enemy’s main weapons, and Spitfires and Hurricanes were the best British planes. The Egyptians were equipped with the British planes while the Israelis were barely able to patch a few S-199 together with old Messerschmitt parts. Several crashed in training and only four planes were serviceable for that first fight. Hungarian-born Lou Lenart had moved to the U.S. as a child and during WWII was a pilot in the Marines. He took part in the fight over Okinawa and bombed the Japanese home islands.

After seven years in the military, Lou settled in Los Angeles where he learned that the members of his family who had stayed in Europe had perished in Auschwitz. This made his desire to fight after WWII even stronger and when he heard that Israel, then called Palestine, was looking for veterans, he signed up. Since he was a veteran he was allowed buy surplus aircraft and was given money to purchase a C-46 cargo plane. Lenart was then flown to Europe for training in the S-199 with several other pilots and arrived in Israel in April 1948. Ezer Weizman was a Tel Aviv native and married Moshe Dayan’s sister-in-law. During WWII, Ezer joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) and served in India. He returned to Palestine to join the Irgun, and in 1948 was sent by the Haganah to learn to fly the S-199 in Czechoslovakia. Another former member of the RAF, Modi Alon, was in the air that day for the Israelis. Modi was from Tzfas and in 1940 joined the British with the hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. That realization took place three years later but he quit the air force after the war because of tensions between the Yishuv and the British. As a talented pilot, he was in the first batch of pilots to train in the S-199. The fourth member of the squadron to fight the Egyptians that day was South African Eddie Cohen. Eddie had served with the South African Air Force during WWII and fought in Italy. Before the Arabs attacked Israel from all sides, Eddie had flown resupply missions with other pilots including Ezer Weizman. They flew with Sherut Avir, which was the Haganah’s aerial branch, and after the declaration of the state they became the 101 Squadron.

owards the end of May, the Arabs were advancing on both Tel Aviv and Yerushalayim. The outnumbered Israeli Givati Brigade managed to temporarily halt the advance on Tel Aviv by blowing up a bridge that was important to the Egyp-

tian advance. The Egyptians were desperately trying to fix the bridge and had 6,000 troops, hundreds of vehicles and a lot anti-aircraft weapons in the area protecting the engineers fixing the bridge. However, despite all those defenses, they weren’t expecting an air attack. The Israelis sent their only four planes, led by Lenart who Lou Lenart (left), Giddy Lichtman and Modi Alon posing with D-107 was their only pilot with fighter experience, into the fray equipped with 150 lb. bombs and a while to make the planes airworthy again. loaded machine guns. Lenart continued as the commander As expected, the planes had problems from the start of the attack. The of the 101 Squadron for a few months guns jammed and the bomb bay doors leading several missions. After anothrefused to budge. The Egyptians sent up er pilot was killed in combat under his a ferocious amount of flak (anti-aircraft command, he was transferred to headfire) and downed Eddie Cohen’s plane. quarters for a ground command. After He was the IAF’s first casualty but the the war, Lenart ferried Iraqi Jews to Isother three pressed forth with the attack. rael in cargo planes. Modi Alon took over the squadron They dropped their bombs on targets of opportunity and in Lenart’s case, that after Lenart and shot down three enemeant on a cluster of trucks. Minimal my planes. Alon and Weizman were on damage was inflicted but the psycholog- a mission on October 16, 1948 when ical effect on the Egyptians was huge. Alon’s plane started smoking and the Thinking that this raid was just the tip of landing gear failed. The plane burst into the iceberg and that dozens more were flame upon impact and Modi was killed. Ezer Weizman enjoyed a long cato come, they dispersed, and Tel Aviv reer in the air force and afterwards became a politician. After the first raid, he participated in many more missions and later served in many high positions on the general staff. Retiring from the military in 1969, he went into politics and served as Israel’s seventh president from 1977- 1980. The success of the IAF’s first action was not lost upon the three surviving pilots. The raid was the first of many that lead to the IAF being recognized as one of the Modi Alon (center) with David Ben-Gurion world’s finest air forces. As Lenaduring the prime minister's visit to 101 Squadron rt put it, “We cannot afford to be less than the best … We have been was safe. Today the name of the bridge fighting wars practically every day and is “Ad Halom” (Until Here), marking we are fighting for our lives.” the place where the advance stopped. Modi Alon nursed his damaged plane back to the base and when he Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The landed one of the tires burst on impact. Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments His wing also hit the ground and was and suggestions.for future columns and can damaged. Lenart and Weizman had less be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com. dramatic landings but it would take

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A Few Minutes with Rabbi Lau BY NAFTALI HALPERN

PHOTO CREDIT IRA THOMAS CREATIONS

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When Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau recently came to town, TJH was able to spend a few minutes with the former Chief Rabbi of Israel and current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. You often mention that Jews lived comfortably in Poland for a thousand years. People often wonder if things today in America are like they were then. I can’t say. I don’t know the situation here. I’m not one who likes creating fear or panic. What happened in Poland is a fact— we were there for a thousand years and we were comfortable. But, the Holocaust was unique. You can’t compare it to anything else. You were a student of Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, whose twentieth yahrtzeit just passed; what was one character trait that he had that made him so special and unique? First of all, he was a good combination of a rav and a rosh yeshiva and a posek. Usually a rosh yeshiva is a rosh yeshiva and a rav is a rav. Reb Shlomo Zalman was a rosh yeshiva his whole life. In fact, that was the only thing that he permitted them to write on his matzeiva—that he was the Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Torah for 50 years. But, he was actually the greatest posek of his generation as well. Regarding his personality, he was always concerned for others and thinking about others. That was his special uniqueness. I will give you one example. Six months before he passed away he was very weak and sick. The doctor did not permit him to go to the first selichos and not even to the selichos of Zchor Bris on erev Rosh Hashana. He didn’t go. But, on Erev Rosh Hashana during the afternoon he disappeared from his home. At that time, his son, Reb Baruch, lived with him. He came back from shopping on erev yom tov and his father was missing. Reb Shlomo Zalman was not even supposed to be out of bed. Where could he be? He wondered. He looked all around the apartment and Reb Shlomo Zalman was not there. He was concerned

that maybe his father was taken to the hospital, so he called Shaarei Tzedek Hospital and they said that Reb Shlomo Zalman was not there. He ran outside and asked the neighbors if they saw him, and they didn’t. You could imagine what a scene it was. Everyone was wondering where Reb Shlomo Zalman was. All of a sudden, Reb Shlomo Zalman came home and climbed up the eighteen stairs into his apartment.

I studied in Yerushalayim sixty years ago; who would have dreamed that it would be like it is today? Reb Baruch ran up to him and said, “Tatte, vu is deir given?” [Father, where were you?] Reb Shlomo Zalman answered, “You know, every year on erev Rosh Hashana I have a list of old people, sick people and lonely people that I go to visit to be mechazek them and bless them with a Chasiva v’chasima tova.” Reb Baruch was taken aback and asked, “You went to all of those people today?” Reb Shlomo Zalman responded, “I only went to one. There is an old man who lives on the fourth floor in an old building on Rechov Agripas. He’s a lonely, lonely man. And every year I go to wish him a good yom tov.” Reb Baruch replied, “But the doctor told you that you can’t even go to selichos.” Reb Shlomo Zalman looked at him and said,

“Don’t you understand the difference—selichos is between me and the Ribbono Shel Olam, it’s between me and Him. He knows that I am weak; He knows that I am sick; He knows the orders of the doctor, so He will forgive me. But that old man doesn’t know my situation. I thought about him. What will he think when it will be sunset and Rosh Hashana arrives and for the first time I did not come to him to wish him a Gut Gibenther Yar? It means I neglected him, it means I forgot about him, it means he is not important. So I must go to him.” Reb Baruch heard the message, but still was perplexed. “Abba,” he asked, “how did you get up the four flights of stairs?” Reb Shlomo Zalman explained, “The neighbors know that on erev Rosh Hashana I come to visit this man. Some of them are not frum, there are all types in the building. Every year, the neighbors in the building put out chairs in front of their apartments so that I can sit. So on every half of floor, there was a chair and I was able to rest. In their zechus I was able to reach the fourth floor and visit the man.” That is an unbelievable story. On another note, many people love Israel and are interested in real estate there, but there are people who are nervous about safety issues and the future in Israel. Despite all the battles and all of the wars, look at what happened to Yerushalayim. I studied in Yerushalayim sixty years ago; who would have dreamed that it would be like it is today? When you walk in Yerushalayim today it is amazing to see how developed it is, with projects like Merom Yerushalayim. It’s amazing. It’s not even the same city! It’s leibidig. It’s green! You see grass! It’s unbelievable. Thank you so much for your time, Rabbi Lau. We enjoyed speaking with you. 

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Notable Quotes

89 Compiled by Nate Davis

“Say What?” The President of the United States is lashing out at Israel just like Haman lashed out at the Jews. – Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat, speaking at Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue

Maybe we can get a freedom fighter to come in and do a training camp for students. - An undercover journalist for conservative activist James O’Keefe, talking to Cornell University’s dean of student affairs Joseph Scaffido about opportunities to promote ISIS on campus

Blackberry and Samsung are working together on a new project to build a high-security tablet. The way it works is this: It says “Blackberry” on the back and nobody wants to steal it. - Seth Myers Every doctor I see says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t. So there must be a mistake somewhere. - 114-year-old Elizabeth Sullivan on her 40 year habit of drinking three Dr. Peppers a day Only in a life or death scenario can you have mental clearness to know that you cannot feel guilty for surviving. Had I had a fraction of a thought that I could have done something differently, acted differently, so that both of us would have survived, then I would have a heavier weight on my shoulders. - George Zimmerman, in a newly released video, discussing the Trayvon Martin shooting

Ted Cruz said today that if elected president, he’ll tell the truth and do what he said he’d do. And guys, I know we’ve been burned 44 times on this, but I have a good feeling about this guy. – Seth Myers

You would be allowed to do something like that. –Scaffido’s response I think we are just going to see the ongoing attempt to investigate Hillary Clinton, be it her hair or her emails. - Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi

It took 11 years for NASA’s Mars Rover to go 26 miles. Or as my grandma calls that, “driving.” - Jimmy Fallon

I need you to draw me a contract. Don’t spend a lot of time on it. Draft it and send it to me and David so we can review your work. I need the contract to be for me to sell my soul to the devil. - An assignment Google’s Sergey Brin gave to a lawyer interviewing for Google, according to a new book about the company (The attorney wrote the contract and got the job) It’s rumored that Obama recently purchased a house in Hawaii that was featured on the show “Magnum P.I.” Not to be outdone, Biden is moving into SpongeBob’s Pineapple. - Jimmy Fallon

Allies have differences, but when allies like Israel, when you have a difference with them and it is public, it emboldens their enemies to launch more rockets out of southern Lebanon and Gaza, to launch more terrorist attacks, to go to international forums and delegitimize Israel’s right to exist. This is outrageous, it is irresponsible, it is dangerous, and it betrays the commitment this nation has made to the right of a Jewish state to exist in peace. If America doesn’t stand with Israel, who would we stand with? - Senator Marco Rubio blasting President Obama’s recent treatment of Israel Ted Cruz says he used to like rock music but after 9/11, he prefers country [music]. Upon hearing this, al Qaeda said, “That was the plan.” - Conan O’Brien

According to a new poll, exactly 50 percent of Americans view President Obama’s presidency as a success. While the other half of Americans are actually candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. - Jimmy Fallon The presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families. - Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who is considering running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, on ABC If you press a spring too hard, it will recoil. - Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Western pressure pushed his nation to act in Ukraine

MORE QUOTES

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*Please bring your own Kosher L’Pesach lunch to

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When & Where Monday, April 6th and Tuesday April 7th. We leave from Liberty Bell parking lot (behind the Sonol Gas Station) at 8:20AM prompt, Return approximately 6:30PM

cost $65 per person $55 students studying in Israel and children 12 and under

For more inFo/ reservations Send Email to daytrips@oneisraelfund.org Us - Contact Ruthie Kohn: 516.239.9202 x10 israel – Contact Ayala Laub Waltuch: 054-920-9704 www.oneisraelfund.org/daytrips

MARCH 31, 2015

tuESdAy

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with Eve Harow

THE JEWISH HOME

PESACH triPS 5775-2015

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I’m sorry, we’re talking about energy. It’s a great story. So, hopefully you’ll focus on it… This is a really important story. - President Obama to a reporter who tried to ask him about the Iran negotiations while he was promoting a new energy regulation And there are often more than one at a time, sir. - The reporter’s response

Ted Cruz is the first official candidate for the 2016 presidential election. As history has shown, the first declared candidate always goes on to win the election — except in 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1968, 1964, 1960, 1956 . . . – David Letterman

I did not believe it was appropriate to go speak to J Street, a group that basically has anti-Israeli sentiments, but I have a vast array of people advising me, and I’m honored that Jim Baker is doing so. The fact that I have people that I might not agree with me on every subject advising me shows leadership, frankly. I don’t think we need monolithic thinking here. - Jeb Bush’s statement about James Baker’s rant against Israel at the J Street Convention

ISIL is direct outgrowth of al Qaeda in Iraq that grew out of our invasion, which is an example of unintended consequences — which is why we should generally aim before we shoot. – President Obama in an interview earlier this week with VICE News

During a recent interview, President Obama revealed that he doesn’t always get enough sleep. And I think I speak for everyone when I say, “Good! We pay you to worry about stuff so we can sleep. That’s why you are the president. “ - Jimmy Fallon

To me that’s absurd, because he’s been president for six years. ISIS didn’t even start in Iraq; it started in Syria. - House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

President Obama was photographed wearing a fitness tracker that features a GPS, heart monitor, and step counter. Not to be outdone, Joe Biden was photographed wearing a necklace with his name, address, and allergies in case he gets lost. – Jimmy Fallon

You know, I came up with things like health care — it turned out OK. It started off with some prototypes. - President Obama talking to children at the White House science fair

President Obama admitted that he doesn’t get enough sleep. But doctors said he should find little tricks to doze off, like counting intruders jumping over the White House fence. – Ibid

Remember when South Africa was misbehaving? We organized a boycott of South Africa. We should be boycotting Saudi Arabia and not taking money from Saudi Arabia’s government. – Senator Rand Paul

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All I want is a slushie. - 4-year-old Annabelle, who wandered out of her house at 3AM and got on a Philadelphia city bus, to the bus driver, who promptly called police to locate her parents

The order was incorrect. - Why a Grand Rapids, Mich., woman fired her Glock pistol into a McDonald’s drivethrough window; police said the restaurant forgot to put bacon on her cheeseburger

Prince Charles visited President Obama at the White House yesterday. They each had a good laugh and then shook ears. – Jimmy Fallon

Hillary Clinton was actually inducted into the Irish American Hall of Fame yesterday. Hillary said she’s very proud of her Irish heritage or her Italian heritage or her Asian heritage. Whatever it takes to seal the deal with you guys. I’ve got to get into that Oval Office. – Jimmy Fallon

Dick Cheney said in a … interview this week that Barack Obama is the worst president of his lifetime. Come on, you can’t tell me Obama is worse than Martin Van Buren. - Seth Myers

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Why do we have to wait until I’m dead to get together? -Richard Povah, 95, of England, who had his family throw him a wake even though he is still alive

President Obama has decided that he wants his presidential library to be in Chicago, not Hawaii. Today Hawaii’s governor said, “Great, who’s going to want to come to Hawaii now?” – Conan O’Brien

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If we build these devices to take care of everything for us, eventually they’ll think faster than us and they’ll get rid of the slow humans to run companies more efficiently. - Apple co-founder and programming whiz Steve Wozniak discussing computer robots

I am all about new beginnings—a new grandchild, another new hairstyle, a new e-mail account. Why not a new relationship with the press? So here it goes: no more secrecy. No more zone of privacy. After all, what good did that do me? - Hillary Clinton joking at a recent Washington event for journalists (during which she took no questions)

THE JEWISH HOME

When the Supreme Leader of Iran is continuing – in the middle of these negotiations – is continuing to make statements like “death to America,” how is that not problematic for you? How is that not something – why are you just willing to let that – let it slide, basically, and you are holding the prime minister of Israel to comments that he made and has since changed? - Reporter Matt Lee questioning State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki about the Obama administration’s naiveté regarding Iran

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Today is the 20th birthday of the Starbucks Frappuccino. The CEO of Starbucks wrote in his book about the story of the Frappuccino: “It’s experimental, it’s adventurous, it fires people up and engages their imagination.” Does it, though? Seems like a coffee milkshake to me. – Jimmy Kimmel Yesterday presidential candidate Ted Cruz said that he will in fact be signing up for Obamacare despite saying earlier that he wants to repeal every word of it. It’s a good thing he’s signing up, because Cruz just went to the hospital in hypocritical condition. – Jimmy Fallon

Ted Cruz raised over a million dollars after announcing that he’s running for president. Which is why today RadioShack announced that it is also running for president. – Jimmy Fallon Mitt Romney said this week that his biggest campaign mistake in 2012 was not communicating well with minorities. The only minority he did well with was Romney voters. – Seth Myers

Inshallah [If Allah wills it]. –Secretary of Defense John Kerry to a woman who saw him in a store and asked whether the deal with Iran will go through

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, and President Rouhani has said that Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon. - President Obama in a recorded statement in honor of Nowruz, a Iranian holiday, explaining why he believes a deal could be reached with Iran (No such fatwa has ever been issued)

The U.S. negotiating team are mainly there to speak on Iran’s behalf. - Iranian journalist, Amir Hossein Motaghi, to a TV station after just defecting from the Iranian delegation while abroad for the nuclear talks

McDonald’s is introducing a Big Mac clothing line. Of course there already is a clothing line for Big Mac lovers. It’s called a hospital gown. – Conan O’Brien

Yesterday President Obama addressed climate change by signing an executive order to cut the country’s gas emissions by 40 percent over the next 10 years. Then he said, “And if it fails, who cares? I’ll be halfway to Mars by then.” – Jimmy Fallon

I took my glasses off, I’m looking at it, I was pretty shocked to say the least. I had surgery so I didn’t jump up and down, but in my mind I was jumping up and down. - Joseph Amorese, 46, of Easton, Pennsylvania, who won $7 million in a scratch-off card that his father gave him in a get well card while he was recovering from surgery

MARCH 31, 2015

I think one reason it will happen is because I want him to be. - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) boasting about anointing Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to succeed him, in an interview with KNPR in Las Vegas on Friday

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Trade is so easy and so non-complicated. It’s so non-complicated… we’re being taken advantage of because we’re being led by fools. We’re being led by people who don’t have a clue. China is devaluing their currency… The way you’re tough is they sell all of their products in this country, and if they don’t behave and act fairly we start taxing all their products coming into this country. It’s very simple. There’s no choice because we’re not going to have a country if we don’t. We’re rebuilding China, totally rebuilding China. – Donald Trump in an interview with Breitbart News, discussing a potential 2016 presidential run

127 THE JEWISH HOME

I don’t have any problem with the Palestinians having a state, but does it need to be within the confines of Israeli territory? Is that necessary, or can you sort of slip that area down into Egypt? Right below Israel, they have some amount of territory, and it can be adjacent. They can benefit from the many agricultural advances that were made by Israel, because if you fly over that area, you can easily see the demarcation between Egypt and Israel in terms of one being desert and one being verdant. Technology could transform that area. So why does it need to be in an area where there’s going to be temptation for Hamas to continue firing missiles at relatively close range to Israel? - Possible 2016 Republican candidate Ben Carson in an interview with Bloomberg News

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Hire Education

Rabbi Mordechai Kruger

Do You Need a Job?

he first, most critical step in a job search is to identify the job that you most want to do. Now, there is a subtle assumption lurking in that sentence: that there is a job that you want to do. For far too many people, the job search is doomed from the start because the truth is that there really isn’t a job they want to do. For as much as they need a job, for whatever reasons, they really don’t want one. So I’m making up a new word for them. They are not really job searchers, but job “needers.” Sometimes the job needer has a very real conflict between the many demands in her life. (This hits women way harder than men.) She has taken off several years to raise her family or to take care of a parent and now she needs to go back to work to help pay the bills. But the demands of homemaking are no less real, and she’s having a very hard time seeing how she can spend however many hours a week at work and still keep up at home. From the moment you meet her you can sense the discomfort. And any potential employer is going to sense it, too. The last thing any employer wants is a worker whose mind is elsewhere; distracted workers are at best unproductive and at worst dangerous. So when I meet a job needer of this type, I can be sympathetic, but I also have to help her reach a point where she can leave her concerns at home and arrive at work ready to do a great job. Another type of job needer problem is much harder to solve, because

this client is sure that he’s doing everything right. Often, the first hint of trouble is a resume that tells of a series of jobs in different types of work, each of which didn’t last very long.

job…” This is a recipe for true misery. So they come to see me and they say they want to get back to their field, and we draw up a plan. Which goes nowhere. Because the truth is that they’re

For as much as they need a job, for whatever reasons, they really don’t want one. The job needer tells me that his last boss was anti-Semitic and he had to quit. The one before that treated him so unfairly that he complained to a higher-up, who fired him. And he has an interview next Monday, but that certainly won’t work out because that boss is a friend of his old boss who is surely saying lashon hara about him, and on and on…See the pattern? It’s always somebody else’s fault. There’s nothing he can do. This job needer just feels helpless. He’s waiting for someone else to solve his problem. A lot of hard-working, talented people lost their jobs in the downturn of ’08-’09. And many ended up taking lower paying jobs that didn’t fit their skills at all. They ended up with a triple whammy of a job they hate, a salary that doesn’t pay the bills, and atrophied skills that give them no way out. And for good measure, a spouse or caring friend that urges them to “… be a Man. Just stick with it, do what you have to do, be glad you’ve got a

scared. They’re scared that they can no longer compete, that someone who should help them will let them down, that it just won’t work. And, helpful as always, nice people remind them that there’s so much age discrimination, nobody will hire an older worker, there’s really no point in trying. Their initiative extinguished, these clients also become, sadly, job needers. These clients are very surprised when I tell them that I don’t believe in age discrimination. Or at least, that it is really very rare. Most often, what gets called age discrimination is really ability discrimination, or flexibility discrimination, or “fire in the belly” discrimination. I don’t believe that most employers really care how old a worker is; they care very much how “old” a worker acts. When the grey starts arriving around the temples, very often a certain air of entitlement, a sense of “I’ve paid my dues, the younger guys can do the heavy lifting” comes along as well. If an older job hunter feels this way, his job hunt won’t go very far. But a real job hunter will understand that there is a stereotype about older workers out there, and he will have to prove it wrong. Then there is that tenure-track adolescent known as a “slacker.” This job needer sometimes hangs around a yeshiva, sometimes sits at home on the

couch. Some go through the motions of job search, some don’t even try. Somehow, this fellow got caught in an extended childhood and just doesn’t seem to have a way out. Lacking a work ethic and a drive to succeed, slackers get called many things. “Employee” is not one of them. All of these job “needers” say that they want to find a job. Their attitude, demeanor, even the words they use in cover letters, resumes, and face-toface meetings say that they need a job, but they are not ready to deliver real commitment and real value to their employer. Until they take responsibility for shaping their own future, their job search can’t even begin. Anyone who has not been able

to find the job that’s right for them should be looking for guidance. Not “expert advice” that leads down the same dead-end streets, but real insight that opens new options, that reveals a “pathway” never seen before. But they must also carefully consider their own motivations and attitudes that may be leading them to failure before they even start. That’s how a “job needer” can become a real job hunter, ready to take the steps that lead to success.

Rabbi Mordechai Kruger is the Director of Pathways to Parnassa, an organization dedicated to educating our community in all aspects of career choice and job search. Individual coaching is available. He can be reached at myparnassa@gmail.com.

129 THE JEWISH HOME 

MARCH 31, 2015

THE JEWISH HOME

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Hire Education

Rabbi Mordechai Kruger

Do You Need a Job?

ing a very hard time seeing how she can spend however many hours a week at work and still keep up at home. From the moment you meet her you can sense the discomfort. And any potential em-

Another type of job needer problem is much harder to solve, because this client is sure that he’s doing everything right. Often, the first hint of trouble is a resume that tells of a series of jobs in

For as much as they need a job, for whatever reasons, they really don’t want one. ployer is going to sense it, too. The last thing any employer wants is a worker whose mind is elsewhere; distracted workers are at best unproductive and at worst dangerous. So when I meet a job needer of this type, I can be sympathetic, but I also have to help her reach a point where she can leave her concerns at home and arrive at work ready to do a great job.

different types of work, each of which didn’t last very long. The job needer tells me that his last boss was anti-Semitic and he had to quit. The one before that treated him so unfairly that he complained to a higher-up, who fired him. And he has an interview next Monday, but that certainly won’t work out because that boss is a friend of his old boss who is surely saying lashon hara about him, and on and on…See the pattern? It’s always somebody else’s fault. There’s nothing he can do. This job needer just feels helpless. He’s waiting for someone else to solve his problem. A lot of hard-working, talented people lost their jobs in the downturn of ’08-’09. And many ended up taking lower paying jobs that didn’t fit their skills at all. They ended up with a triple whammy of a job they hate, a salary that doesn’t pay the bills, and atrophied skills that give them no way out. And for good measure, a spouse or caring friend that urges them to “…be a Man. Just stick with it, do what you have to do, be glad you’ve got a job…” This is a recipe for true misery. So they come to see me and they say they want to get back to their field, and we draw up a plan. Which goes nowhere. Because the truth is that they’re scared. They’re scared that they can no longer compete, that someone who should help them will let them down, that it just won’t work. And, helpful as always, nice people remind them that there’s so much age discrimination, nobody will hire an older worker, there’s really no point in trying. Their initiative extinguished, these clients also become, sadly, job needers. These clients are very surprised when I tell them that I don’t believe in age discrimination. Or at least, that it is really very rare. Most often, what

gets called age discrimination is really ability discrimination, or flexibility discrimination, or “fire in the belly” discrimination. I don’t believe that most employers really care how old a worker is; they care very much how “old” a worker acts. When the grey starts arriving around the temples, very often a certain air of entitlement, a sense of “I’ve paid my dues, the younger guys can do the heavy lifting” comes along as well. If an older job hunter feels this way, his job hunt won’t go very far. But a real job hunter will understand that there is a stereotype about older workers out there, and he will have to prove it wrong. Then there is that tenure-track adolescent known as a “slacker.” This job needer sometimes hangs around a yeshiva, sometimes sits at home on the couch. Some go through the motions of job search, some don’t even try. Somehow, this fellow got caught in an extended childhood and just doesn’t seem to have a way out. Lacking a work ethic and a drive to succeed, slackers get called many things. “Employee” is not one of them. All of these job “needers” say that they want to find a job. Their attitude, demeanor, even the words they use in cover letters, resumes, and face-to-face meetings say that they need a job, but they are not ready to deliver real commitment and real value to their employer. Until they take responsibility for shaping their own future, their job search can’t even begin. Anyone who has not been able to find the job that’s right for them should be looking for guidance. Not “expert advice” that leads down the same deadend streets, but real insight that opens new options, that reveals a “pathway” never seen before. But they must also carefully consider their own motivations and attitudes that may be leading them to failure before they even start. That’s how a “job needer” can become a real job hunter, ready to take the steps that lead to success. Rabbi Mordechai Kruger is the Director of Pathways to Parnassa, an organization dedicated to educating our community in all aspects of career choice and job search. Individual coaching is available. He can be reached at myparnassa@gmail.com.

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From My Private Art Collection

Rebbetzin Naomi N. Herzberg

The Artistic Seder Plate

eder plates come in many styles. I love the artistic expressions which are found in each unique design. Some are modern, some are traditional and some are replicas of ancient designs which have been passed down in history for generations. They come in a multitude of materials such as sterling silver, silver plated, copper, brass, pewter, wood, nickel, ceramic, glass, porcelain, accented with enamel, 14kt gold or sterling silver, etc. They

also come with special areas designated for the various symbols which we place on the Seder plate or with separate cups. I love the 3-tier silver-plated Seder plates and those made from other materials with a specific place set aside behind doors for the matzos. The ka’ara, as it is referred to in Hebrew, beautifies the Seder table with its significant presentation. Usually there are magnificent designs on the plate which depict symbols of importance. Zeroa (a roasted bone) is displayed by the artist as a picture of a bone which

has been roasted. This picture is a representation of the offering brought on Pesach. Beitzah (an egg) is displayed by the artist as a hardboiled egg which is a representation of the offering made for this yom tov along with the other offerings brought on Pesach. Maror (bitter herbs) is displayed by the artist as a picture of a horseradish/or romaine lettuce. This picture is a representation of all the bitter years which the Jewish people suffered. Charoset (a dip made with fruit) is displayed by the artist as a mixture of nuts, apples, cinnamon and wine. This picture is a representation of the mortar used by the Jewish people while they were slaves building in Mitzrayim. Karpas (a vegetable) is displayed by the artist as a potato which is a representation of the difficult years which the Jewish people suffered. The potato is dipped into salty water which represents the salty tears which were shed by the Jews during this difficult time. Chazeret ( R o maine lettuce) is displayed by the artist as romaine lettuce and is a representation of how the Jews were treated. When the stem of romaine lettuce remains in the ground it becomes bitter just like the bitter herbs. This is how we were treated by the Egyptians. As we recount all the stories of our rich heritage and gaze at the many styles of Seder plates designed by artists around the world, there is one common denominator: all of the previously mentioned remain forever the integral art used for the design of the Seder plate. The symbolism used in the creative process is very meaningful and carefully mapped out in the art-

ists’ works. Artists use their ingenuity to create magnificent works of art with the use of colors, designs and mediums which produce breathtaking pieces of Judaica art. The Seder plates are the centerpiece of the Seder table. The artistic expression of the numerous artistic renditions used for these Seder plates beautifies the homes of all the Jewish people and make us very proud. Museums and Judaica stores worldwide carry so many original and unusual designs. The intriguing study of Seder plates could keep one busy forever. You might even begin collecting them as a hobby. You will be surprised how fascinating it is once your search begins. Enjoy! Wishing a chag kasher v’sameach to all my readers. 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. Presently she is the Director of Operations at Shulamith School for Girls. Please feel free to email nherzberg@ optonline.net with questions and suggestions for future columns.

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What’s it All about Anyway?

“H

ing clerk in the post-colonial equivalent of a windowless cubicle acknowledged the conventional wisdom that a Congressman could travel 20 miles a day. Then he took a quill pen to foolscap, divided those 20 miles into $8, and came up with 40 cents per mile. By 1848, though, steamships plied the waters and railroads were fast replacing canals. The 40 cent rate was a relic. And Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune and a Congressman himself, was outraged. On December 22, 1848, he released an expose blowing the whistle on those who claimed more miles than they really traveled. And who should we find on that list? Sandwiched between future Vice Presidents Hannibal Hamlin and Andrew Johnson, was a one-term Whig from Aaron Schock’s old district named Abraham Lincoln, who claimed $677 in excess reimbursement. That may not sound like much, but it works out to about $18,700 in today’s dollars. The “mileage swindle” scandal, as Greeley dubbed it, would have made a great story on House of Cards. Congressman after congressman took to the floor to denounce Greeley in colorfully florid nineteenth-century style. (This was the era of “the caning of Charles Sumner,” after all.) The House passed a bill limiting miles to “the shortest continuous mail route,” and Congress lowered the rate to 20 cents. But even today, members of Congress still get a pretty generous travel allowance. Current rates range from 96 cents to $1.32 per mile — pretty sweet, compared to what our friends at the IRS give us. What do you think? Should young Representative Lincoln have resigned his seat over his inflated expenses? Or was his future bright enough to justify giving him a second chance? Ironically, once “Honest Abe” eliminated his own mileage entirely (by moving into a big white house with a convenient home office), he signed the first federal income tax into law. But if Lincoln hadn’t done it, someone else would have. This year, if you want to pay less, make sure you have a plan…and don’t forget to deduct the miles you drive in your company car while dreaming of what you’ll buy with your tax refund. Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

ey could you please Pass-over the salt.” “Slow down you’ve got to Pass-over the speed bump on the road.” “Pass-over the answers; I was too tired to study last night.” You see, “Passover” can have many applications. We are about to Pass-over 7,000 new calories into our bodies, nine tons of matzah to our kishkas, and 5,000 years of Jewish history to our families and guests. Haggadah?! “Ha-gga-dah go to sleep already” is a big cry at our Seder table. But luckily it’s usually from the guests who have never been there before. Everyone who has survived one of our marathon Seders before knows it’s a night to cherish and remember! The singing, the dancing, the stories, the bonding, the leaning, the dipping, the laughing and the kazayising. Yes, the kazayising is a ritual in and of itself. We pass around measurement charts to make sure we are eating enough of every single crumb of matzah and morsel of ritual food. We scrape and strain fresh marror and then have survival contests. The intensity of the fist pounding and guttural coughing as the victims attempt to keep breathing while swallowing this bitter, bitter herb is only outdone by the intensity of the redness of their faces! We sit in a square circle, whatever that means, so that all the participants can see and hear one another throughout the night. Every kid shows up with their trunk load of divrei Torah (insights into the Haggadah) that they could never have finished reading, even if they wandered the desert for all 40 years! Somewhere along the night they are truly shocked by the realization that they will not get to share them all. They must have informed them in school that they were actually going to be reliving the entire Exodus— hour for hour! Then, at around midnight, we bring out the 10 course meal. The amount and variety we supply are not required – but for this gang, if they sat at the table for

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his time of year, taxpayers across America are scrambling to put together their last year’s mileage records. First you’ve got to total up how many miles you drove for your trade or business. Then you’ve got to add up all the costs of operating your vehicle — depreciation, interest or lease payments, gasoline, maintenance and repairs, registration, and even your satellite radio bill. Then you’ll multiply those expenses by your “business use percentage” to calculate your actual deduction. (Are we having fun yet?) Alternatively, you can just take the IRS standard mileage allowance, which stands at 57.5 cents per mile for 2015. Problem: it’s the same amount for every car on the road, from gas-sipping Priuses to road-hogging SUVs. And you still have to track your miles. But at least it avoids the hassle of tracking all those receipts! Keeping good mileage records can be important even if you’re not just looking for more tax deductions. Illinois Representative Aaron Schock learned that lesson the hard way last week. The congressman was already under fire for dropping $40,000 to decorate his office, Downton Abbey-style, and for accepting favors like private plane trips from well-heeled donors. Then we learned his mileage didn’t add up. From 2010 through 2014, he billed Uncle Sam and his campaign for 170,520 miles he put on his Chevy Tahoe. But when he traded in the truck last year, there were only 81,860 miles on the odometer. Oops! Schock resigned his seat just hours after the story broke, which means he’ll get to spend more “quality time” with his attorneys. (Yeah, another Illinois politician looking at a ride on the Incarceration Express — we were stunned, too.) Schock is hardly the first politician to find himself in hot water over expense reimbursements. So who was the first? (No, not Martin Van Buren, but that’s an awfully good guess.) Back in 1816, Congress began reimbursing members 40 cents per mile for travel between home and Washington “by the usually traveled route.” And how did Congress arrive at that rate? Did they carefully calculate the cost of depreciating the buggies, boarding and feeding the horses, and oiling all that antique brass hardware? Well, not exactly. Congressmen made $8 per day back then. Apparently some enterpris-

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this long they want to be rewarded for it. Believe it or not, despite having consumed more greens than a cow does in a lifetime as part of the order of the night, they are ready for the meal! The endless dishes are served and everyone parties together. Later, stuffed like turkeys, we resume the closing ceremonies and dance and sing the night away. So what is it exactly we are Passing Over in this night of sharing our history of our having been carried on the wings of eagles from slavery? And what is it that we are getting out of our sitting together, eating commemorative foods, and sharing songs and stories of our journey to freedom? Here it is ...We are Passing-over to the next generation the secret of our survival. Being a family. Remembering who we are and who helped us get here. We are passing over the secret of never forgetting and having gratitude for the goodness one extends to us. G-d passed over the houses of the Jewish people when He was carrying out the last plague of killing the oldest child. He saved our children! It is the children who are the continuity of the nation and all its beautiful values and traditions that are here to make the entire world a better place. We are all someone’s child. It is our job to keep the traditions going. So Passover all night, all you’ve got to give, and don’t Pass out! Have a beautiful Passover! Passing love from our home to yours!

It’s a night to cherish and remember: The singing, the dancing, the stories, the bonding, the leaning, the dipping, the laughing and the kazayis-ing.

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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TJH Classifieds SERVICES

SERVICES

Buying or Refinancing a Home? Pre-Approval letters that brokers trust! Put as little as 3% down. Borrow up to 90% with no MI! We can beat any written offer! Specializing in very difficult scenarios Call Daniel at Landmark Funding Group. NMLS#367291 at 718-663-7202 All loans arranged through 3rd party lenders.

Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

DJ YOSSY MUSIC and LIGHTING for any event, the crowd will love it. Djyossy.com 845 774 5949

SHAITEL MACHER

located in Far Rockaway looking for full time hair dresser experienced in styling and cutting Please call or text 347-409-6907 Morah Adina’s CAMP ZEES-KAYITZ for 3-4 year olds *A FEW SPOTS LEFT* Centrally located in Far Rockaway Call (718) 471-5283 Keep Grandma’s spirits up with my weekly visits 1-1/2 hr sessions. We play games, craft & chat. To schedule, call Slavie 718-510-4213. Email slavie@outlook.com

Experience Math Teacher Available to Tutor All subjects, algebra, geometry, Math A, Math B, Trigonometry, Calculus etc. Guaranteed improvement, first hour free. Shomer Shabbat. Call Yossi at 516-581-3930

HAIR & MAKE UP BY BRACHA BRAVER Party Specials, All Shaitel services available, Master colorist. Shaitel Care courses available Special prices with mention of this ad as well as Pesach Specials Best Prices Guaranteed, Years of Experience, References available Call main phone or text cell 516-943-0133 or 646-915-2527 The Children’s Clothing Gemach in Cedarhurst Is fully stocked for boys/girls in sizes newborn-teen To make an appointment please call/text 516-712-7735

SERVICES Psychotherapist

Depression, anxiety, marriage, low self-esteem, Adults/Children Professional/Confidential Kenneth J. Levin, LCSW Insurance Accepted (516) 546-9170 Keep Calm and Get Organized! Organizer. home. closet. playroom. kitchen. garage. Call today to get started - Special Low Rates Call Miriam 347-684-0338 Photos 4 your Simcha Professional Photography and Video We love what we do and it shows in our work! Competitively priced! Check out our website & specials. www.photos4yoursimcha.com or call Yaakov 718-868-1800

Yiddish Home Study Program: The new book Yiddish in 10 Lessons along with 2 CD’s has just been released to easily learn to read, write and speak the Yiddish language. Call Chaim at 516 924 7694 or www.conversationalyiddish,com You can also sign up to receive a Free Weekly Taste of Yiddish

950 Broadway

Woodmere, NY 11598 www.pugatch.com

BARRY PUGATCH

C o m m e r c i a l P r o p e r t i e s Fo r S A L E

“Kosher” Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy The Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/ women Private sessions/ Women’s Tai Chi www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715 Hair Course Learn how to wash and style hair and wigs Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009 Struggling with Shalom Bayis? The Shalom Bayis Hotline 732-523-1112 Caring rabbanim answering your questions for free. So far very positive results BS’D! Can you use the help of a professional and knowledgeable chef at your home this Pesach? Waiters also available Take off the stress and call Eli at 646-270-0559

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE LAWRENCE: Beautiful Sprawling 3BR, 3BA Exp -Ranch Set On 1/2 Acre In Lawrence Estate Area, LR, Granite Eik, FDR, Stone Fplc, Lg Den, Lux MBR Suite, SD#15, Much More…$1.249M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

Carol Braunstein

(516) 2 9 5 - 3 0 0 0 www.pugatch.com

SERVICES

Call or Text

(516) 592-2206

cbraunstein@pugatch.com

MEDICAL CO-OP FOR SALE

 3,000

+/- SF  7 Exam Rooms  2 Consult Offices & Much More!!!

Lovely 4BR Exp-Ranch On O/S Property, Lovely 4BR, 2.5 Bath Cape, Eik, FDR, Eik, LR, FDR, Den, SD#14…$489K Den W/Fplc, Patio, SD#14…$390K

BUILDING FOR SALE

 5,500 +/- SF  Private Parking  Offices & Warehouse  Fantastic Location

If You Are Interested In Buying, Selling Or Leasing Call The Local Commercial EXPERTS 516-295-3000

Outstanding CH Colonial, 3BR, 2.5BA, Fabulous Exp-Split, 4BR, 3.5BA, Eik, Eik, FDR, Fin Bsmt, SD#14…$649K FDR, Den, Fin Bsmt, Deck…$649K

CALL ME FOR A FREE M A R K E T A N A LY S I S F O R YOUR HOME!!!

LO OK I N G T O B U Y OR SE LL? C A LL M E T O DAY ! !!

TJH Classifieds

141 THE JEWISH HOME

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

FAR ROCKAWAY 2 Family house in heart of Far Rockaway Please call 646 523 4458 BORO PARK FOR SALE 54th St. (Bet. 11th & 12th Ave.,) 2 family, attached, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, built-in closets, Kosher Kitchen & Passover Kitchen, Mint Condition. Asking 1.6 Mil. Serious buyers only. Email: Goingrealty@Gmail.com FAR ROCKAWAY MINTON ST. NOW SHOWING Completely renovated corner property 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, model kitchen, living room, dining room, backyard Call Yochi 212-470-3856 WinZone Realty

PLAINVIEW

HEWLETT: 1,500 +/- SF Former Beauty Salon, Bright Open Floor Plan, Municipal Parking, Near LIRR Station, Close To All, For Lease… Call For More Details - (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com 4 Houses. Brnd New Construction. 4 rs. 5BR, 3 full bths + 2 half bths. EIK, LR/DR, den area oﬀ kit. Lndry on 2nd r. Full bsmnt w/ half bath. 4th oor has prvte brs and bth. Prvte drvwy. Call Chaya Moller for a showing. 516-506-3347

ISLAND PARK: 7,000 +/- SF Building W/Ample Parking, Can Be Divided, Near LIRR, For Sale/Lease… Call For More Details - (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

OCEANSIDE: 1,000 +/- SF Retail Store, High Traffic Location, For Lease $2500 per Month…Call For More Details - (516) 295-3000 - www.pugatch.com

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

$625K

FAR ROCKAWAY Young, legal, 2 family semi-detached, 3 over 4 bedrooms. 5 full baths. 1st oor is a duplex with a huge eat in kitchen w/radiant heat. Large master bedroom with bath..W/D hookup in both apts. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 $699K

56 MURIEL

BELLE HARBOR Build your dream house facing the ocean in Belle Harbor on very desirable block. Places of worship close by. Call Kathy (917) 306-1610

LAWRENCE

Stunning renovation completed. Gorgeous cntr hall. 5 lrg bds. Mstr suite w/ sitting rm. Gourmet Kosher Kitchen with Great Room. LR w/ Frplc, huge custom DR. 4 full bths & full bsmnt. Call Sherri for further details . 516-297-7995

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES FOR SALE

Short sales, bank-owned, foreclosures, auction properties, land. Single-family or multi-family. Inventory is always changing. CASH ONLY. Call Melissa @ 347-757-0224.

APARTMENT RENTALS

OFFICES

FAR ROCKAWAY

CEDARHURST TOP LOCATIONS

Available For Rent (from April 1) 2 bedroom apartment in Far Rockaway (near Bnos Bais Yakov) Ideal for new-wed, young couple, or 2-3 roommate girls Call 516-225-4558

FAR ROCKAWAY B13th ST. /Plainview 2 Bedrooms, full bathroom, Kitchen, Dining room /living room, Porch, Call Yochi 212-470-3856 WinZone Realty

#1 Far Rockaway and 5 Towns Rental Specialists

M ILKY FORST PROPERTIES INC. 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst NY 11516

Milky Forst nc. Properties IAvrohom "Avi" Sobel

Licensed 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst, NY 11516

Avrohom “Avi” Sobel Office: 516.239.0306

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Cell:

347.524.6530

Office: 516.239.0306 Cell: 347.524.6530

Email: asobel18@gmail.com milkyforstproperties.com

Real Estate Salesperson

Email: asobel18@gmail.com milkyforstproperties.com

MARCH 31, 2015

NORTH WOODMERE: Price Reduced!!! Spacious & Bright 4BR Brookfield Split, 3 Full Baths, Eik, Formal DR, Lower Level Den W/Brick Mantle & Fplc, Lg Bedrooms All On One Floor, SD#15…$659K Call Carol Braunstein - (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

WOODMERE Office/Retail Space For Rent Ground Flr: 2500 +/- sq’ available plus partial basement $2,950. and Second Flr: 1700 +/- sq’ available for $1,950. Hi traffic location front street and rear parking lot parking, front & rear entrance Village Plaza Realty * Sonja 516-840-5124

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NORTH WOODMERE: Oversized Home & Property In SD#15, 3BR, 2.5 Bath Split, Updated Kitchen, Formal DR, Lg Rooms, Low Taxes, Near All…$645K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

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TJH Classifieds REAL ESTATE FOR RENT Cedarhurst Apartment Share Available for Frum Female 2 bedroom apartment in lovely area, 2nd floor of house Shomer Shabbat, kosher & pet friendly $800 monthly + security Please call: (917) 330-5470

HELP WANTED Fast-paced office in the 5 Towns is seeking an entry-level employee to handle administrative and clerical tasks. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, email, etc Please email resume to admin@getpeyd.com for more information.

SALARIED SALES POSITION ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS

Fidelity Payment, a nationwide electronic payment technology co. is hiring limited number of regional account execs with sales exper. Base salary (up to $1000 weekly) + lifetime residuals. Fidelity provides businesses with; credit card processing, online payments, check services, POS systems, invoicing, accounting integration, Gift programs, ATM machines Etc. Full training + support. Apply @ www.fidelitypayment.com/salescareer

HELP WANTED BUYER / MERCHANDISER

B’klyn electronics & appliance co. seeking Buyer/Merchandiser. Experience in purchasing and negotiating with vendors & understanding the nature of internet competition is required. Internet Savvy—Fluent English – Organized and Detail Oriented. One year buying, selling experience –Understanding internet competition. Will need to manage inventories, and prepare PO’s based on projections. Business oriented? Go-getter? Come grow with us! Jobs@focuscamera.com 6TH GRADE REBBE needed for new Yeshiva of South Shore class. Dynamic, Organized, Caring & Experienced. Note if interested in available substitute position. Email resume & references (subject title “Rebbe Position”) to Rabbi Rafi Draiman, Menahel Mechina, at rd@yoss.org Salon in Cedarhurst is looking For a friendly, experience hair dresser, part time. Please send resume to: saraeidel@aol.com GENERAL STUDIES, JH MATH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS FOR SEPT. ‘15. M-Th afternoons. 5 Towns area boys’ school. Email candidateteacher@gmail.com

HELP WANTED CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers for Title I in Boro Park and Williamsburg 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 Due to simchos, Torah Academy for Girls, Far Rockaway seeking qualified, experienced elementary & jr high moras. Fax resume to 718-868-4612 attn: Rabbi Weitman

MISC. Looking for donation of car or minivan in good running condition. Tax exempt receipt available for full market value. Please call 347-342-8196 YNM/5towns Sheital Gemach is in desperate need of wig donations . Anyone who has wigs/falls they no longer need- There are many women who you can make very happy . Tizku l’mitzvos! Please contact 347-408-8354 for details .

MISC. BAYSWATER JEWISH LIBRARY IS NOW OPEN

A wide selection of both the latest and classic novels, Biographies, Short stories, Holocaust, self-help, cookbooks, And more! OPEN MONDAYS FROM 6:30-7:30 PM AND FRIDAYS FROM 2:00-3:00 PM $25 yearly membership (718) 327-0604

Can You Sell? Looking to make some extra cash? On-The-Marc is hiring motivated part time sales people. Six to 8 hours a week with unlimited income potential. Must have/own car. For more information Call Marc at 917-612-2300

Do you know of any gemachs in our area? Include them in our TJH gemach list! Email: FR5TGemachs@gmail.com

TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here. Every Thursday Weekly Classified 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 Deadline Monday 5:00pm

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The

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