Five Towns Jewish Home 2-6-20 by The Jewish Home

February 6, 2020

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5 MINUTES FOR $5 BILLION Why It’s Crucial to Vote in the WZO Elections

46 Hundreds Attend JWLC “Love & Laughter” Symposium

pg 94 Rabbi Pesach Lerner: “Vote for Klal Yisrael; Vote for Eretz Yisrael”

44 Warmth & Comradery at BYAM Annual Dinner

THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS Trump Tore it Up, Pelosi Ripped it Up by Nate Davis pg

42 TAG Heads to Albany

PASSOVER VACATION SECTION Starts on page 113

114

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DIRSHU WORLD SIYUM THIS SUNDAY, FE B RUARY 9, 2 0 2 0

LO C ATI ON S

TR AFFIC & SECURIT Y

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102

Heavy traffic is expected throughout the area. Please make sure to head out early for your punctual arrival.

NJPAC 1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102 Newark Symphony Hall 1020 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102

S CHE DULE 4:30 pm

Security Checkpoints Open

5:30 pm

Arena Doors Open

6:15 pm

Tefillas Maariv

6:30 pm

Event Begins

10:30 pm

Program Concludes

TICKE T S & E NTRY

Security will be tight around the venue and inside the event in order to ensure your maximum safety. All buses and cars will be inspected with k-9 units upon arrival. Screening Policy: All patrons will be subject to a metal detector screening and complete security check prior to entering the arena. Guests will be asked to remove any attire or apparatus that conceal their identity. The lengthy security check may delay the entry process, we therefore ask all siyum participants to plan accordingly. Bag Policy: Bags will be prohibited. Handbags, purses and clear bags smaller than 12” x 16” x 6” will be allowed into the venue. All bags will be required to pass through security.

FO OD At Prudential and NJPAC, no outside food is allowed. At Newark Symphony Hall, outside food is allowed in clear bags only. Everyone will be receiving 2 complimentary danishes and 2 bottles of water.

Children under the age of 8 will not be allowed into the stadium.

Dirshu will be providing transportation to the siyum. Monroe & Lakewood: $35 / round trip All Other Locations: $30 | round trip Bus tickets must be reserved at 973-319-4319 or DirshuTransportation.com A free shuttle will be available and circling between all three venues and Newark Penn Station every 15 minutes.

PARKING Parking at Prudential Center: Prudential Center is one of the most easily accessible arenas in the country, with over 3,500 parking spaces within two blocks of its location. Highways surrounding the arena include 280, 78, NJ Turnpike, 1 & 9, 21, 22, Garden State Parkway, 80 and NJ 3. Parking lots will be open from 10:00am. Price for parking at the stadium is $45.00. There are several additional parking facilities within close proximity to Prudential Center.

You will not be able to enter the event without a physical hard copy ticket. Rabbonim, VIP, and event staff will also need a ticket to gain entry. The siyum has a no re-entry policy. Once your ticket is scanned, you will not be able to leave and re-enter the venue.

B USING

PUB LIC TR ANSP ORTATION Prudential Center is easily accessible by NJ Transit trains, PATH, Amtrak, Light Rail and Bus.

Due to the large scale of this event, we will be working on a punctual schedule. Please take care to ensure a timely arrival, so you can fully participate with the siyum program.

Newark Penn Station is located a short two blocks east of the arena. To exit Prudential Center towards Newark Penn Station, use the Investors Bank Tower by heading to the northeast corner of Prudential Center near Sections 20-22, 130-133 or 231-233.

There will be ushers and signage to help you find your seat. Please do not sit down in a seat that does not belong to you.

To access public transit buses to Broad Street Station, exit onto Edison Place or Lafayette Street and go ½ block west to Broad Street.

Parking at NJPAC : • Surrounding Streets • NJPAC Parking Lots A AND C: 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102 • Military Park Garage: Located across the street from NJPAC: 633 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102 Price for Parking: $25.00 Parking at Newark Symphony Hall: • There will be sufficient street parking surrounding the venue. • A heavy security and police detail will be present to ensure your safety and protection.

Questions? Contact us at Questions@DirshuWorldSiyum.org or 888-5-DIRSHU

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

‫ב‬ ‫ט‬ ‫א‬ ‫א‬ ‫ל‬ ‫ר‬ ‫מ‬ ‫ב‬ ‫ו‬ ‫נ‬ ‫י‬ ‫ן‬ The upcoming Dirshu World Siyum on Sunday, February 9, 2020, will be an unforgettable celebration of the bond between Klal Yisrael and our beloved Torah.

The Dirshu World Siyum will mark the monumental accomplishments of the individuals in the Dirshu ranks who have dedicated years to the Dirshu mission of elevating the Torah landscape. Forever.

In order for the tzibbur at large to participate, the inspirational program will be broadcast live: KOL MEVASER: 212-444-1100 KOL BERAMA: 107.9 FM - Lakewood / NewYorkJewishRadio.com JROOT: 88.7 FM - Brooklyn / JrootRadio.com HAMODIA.COM • DIRSHU.CO.IL • C-LIVE.CO.IL

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KOL HALASHON: 718-906-6400 Press * to listen live

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

here are few times in one’s life when one can make a difference – a real difference. We are now being offered an opportunity to really effect change. And it’s funny: we barely have to lift a finger and yet we can be making a tsunami of a difference. For seven weeks, from January 21 until March 11, 2020, the World Zionist Organization holds elections for its congress. The congress takes place every five years in Eretz Yisrael, and there are 152 delegates out of 500 that come from the United States to sit in the congress. Most people don’t know a lot about the WZO and even less know about the elections that are taking place right now. These elections, though, are essential for our survival as a Torah nation. The items being discussed in the congress and the funds being distributed are determined by the delegates who are sitting at the table. So what does that have to do with you? A lot. You see, the only way these delegates can come to the table is if you vote them into their positions. And all you have to do to give them a seat is pick up your phone or head to your computer. The online voting process takes less than five minutes and will cost you a mere $7.50 ($5 if you’re younger than 25). So, we’re not asking you to go out of your house to vote; we’re not asking you to shell out more than you spent on your lunch today. We’re only asking you to take a few moments and to take heart. We’re only asking you to understand the significance of what needs to be done and the importance of your involvement. Oh, and if you can urge your friends and family to vote too, you’d be making more of a difference. This year’s elections are of even more importance because of a new slate running this year, the Eretz Hakodesh slate, being run by Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who lives in Far Rockaway. Rabbi Lerner called me a few months ago and spoke with me about his vision for the Eretz Hakodesh slate. He explained the necessity of a charedi slate in the elections, and he asked me to join him

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and others to commit to running on the Eretz Hakodesh slate. I have to admit: I didn’t know a lot about the WZO, and I certainly wasn’t familiar with the elections. But when I heard that the Eretz Hakodesh slate was created to give the charedi community a voice in the elections – a voice it never really had but is so desperately needed – I immediately signed on. Funds coming out of the WZO and its affiliates support agencies in Israel that offer vital programs to Israelis and Americans. But it’s more than money. It’s about representation and showing the world that Orthodox Jews speak for the Jewish community. You see, Reform has a very strong voice in the Israeli establishment, buoyed by their success in last WZO elections. Anti-Israel factions like J Street and Peter Beinart – those who wish Israel would go away so they could give the Holy Land to the Palestinians – are running in this year’s WZO elections. If these factions, and others like them, are elected to the WZO Congress in strong numbers, then they’re seen as representatives of American Jewry. We cannot allow that to happen. Your vote will determine who will be coming to the table and whose voices will be heard. Your vote will determine if the Kotel will continue to maintain its sanctity. Your vote will determine if necessary funds will be given to Orthodox communities outside the Green Line. Your vote will determine if marriage in Eretz Yisrael will be defined as it always has been. Your vote will determine if Torah values will be taught to Jews around the world or if they will be educated with ideals that are antithesis to a Torah life. There’s a lot at stake, and it’s up to you. You have the power. Don’t wait. Vote today, now, by going to www.eretzhakodesh.org. Shoshana P.S. Feel free to drop me an email telling me you voted – I’d love to see how our community is energized to get out the vote!

Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

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Shoshana Soroka EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Avraham Levine PRODUCTS EDITOR

Haim Kramer EDUCATIONAL EDITOR

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll Community Happenings

8 40

NEWS

Global

National

Odd-but-True Stories

Trump Tore it Up, Pelosi Ripped it Up by Nate Davis 114

President Trump Touts his Record and Honors Great Americans by Tzvi Dear

116

ISRAEL Israel News

Slower Than Snail Mail by Rafi Sackville

5 Minutes for $5 Billion: Why It’s Crucial to Vote in the WZO Elections 9 0 Rabbi Pesach Lerner: “Vote for Klal Yisrael; Vote for Eretz Yisrael”

Rav Doron Perez: “We Need to Fight Back”

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

Looking Back to the Future by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Parsha in Four by Eytan Kobre

PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

Avraham Botzer by Avi Heiligman

126

HEALTH & FITNESS Coronavirus: Everything you need to know by Dr. Hylton I. Lightman

106

Divine Dairy by Aliza Beer, MS RD CDN

108

Why Your Love is Not Enough by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

110

Dear Editor, Your “Dear Reader” article about being in Washington, D.C., glossed over the Trump Administration’s historic reversal of the horrendous Oslo Accords that never moved peace forward in the Middle East but chose instead to focus on Elizabeth Warren, who has a negative view of Israel, which is problematic for Jews. First, Elizabeth Warren is NOT an “ordinary” American because she is a millionaire multiple times over despite the way she dresses. She became wealthy because she LIED from the get-go on her application for law school in which she stated that she was a “Native American.” She continued that lie, advancing her career including being listed by Harvard as a Native American until President Trump called her on it. She had to apologize to the Cherokee Nation for falsely stating that she was of Cherokee origin. The second mention of her in your article is when she was “heading to work” to be part of the Senate jury when she should have recused herself since she had already stated on multiple occasions, before the House impeached the president, that she thought he is an illegitimate president. There is a clear

conflict of interest since she is running for the Democrat ticket, and, therefore, in actuality against him. Furthermore, her stand against this president is also problematic for Jews. President Trump’s policies have been the most pro-Israel and pro-Jewish policies of any modern U.S. president. Instead of focusing on superficial elements such as clothes or manner of speaking, ordinary Americans including those living in the Five Towns, believe that President Trump is doing a good job and will probably be re-elected if superficial things don’t override policy accomplishments. Jan Henock Woodmere, NY Dear Editor, It is time to end the hoaxes against President Trump! For the past three years, this nation has been put through one investigation after another. Time after time, the investigations into Trump have proven to be a waste of money and resources. Americans don’t need investigations into how the Trump administration allotted Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief money or if Trump colluded in any election, Continued on page 10

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Pasta Primavera

112

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 102 Planning for Maximal Productivity by Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff 124 Your Money

132

A Tube of Questions by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 134 HUMOR

Centerfold 76 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

118

Republican Senators are Being Set Up by the House by Marc A. Thiessen

122

CLASSIFIEDS

129

Have you ever eaten an esrog – either as preserves or in sugared form?

YES

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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Continued from page 8

when clearly he did not. Americans want their representatives to focus on issues like lowering prescription drugs, better healthcare, lowering taxes, immigration reform, criminal justice reform, paid family leave, etc. While the Democrats continue their crazy investigations, President Trump and Republicans are continuing to approve Constitutionalist judges, sign trade deals, advance America’s national security interests in space, etc. President Trump labels the current Democrats as the “Do-Nothing” Democrats, and that is exactly what they are. Democrats claim that President Trump is a national security threat, but since when do we delay to send articles of impeachment for 33 days for a “national security threat”? On the contrary, it’s Democrats that are the national security threat! Imagine if there was an actual national security threat, I would sure not want Democrats to be the ones in charge. We are in an election year and the only ones that are colluding in an election or are investigating their political opponents are the Democrats. It’s is pretty ironic that the one thing that Democrats and Putin have in common is that they both despise their political opponents. Maybe there’s been collusion? Sincerely, Donny Simcha Guttman Dear Editor, We all know someone struggling with infertility and we all want to do something about it. Is there a greater zechus than limud Torah? Can you imagine the merit of learning the entire Shas? A week from Sunday, on February 16, our community will be strongly represented in joining 291 lomdim for a vigorous day of learning and together we will finish the entire Shas in one day under one roof! Each lomeid has been preparing his 10 blatt for the past few months. We are represented by two teams, Team Far Rockaway and Team Woodmere. Many people on

these teams are your neighbors, relatives, and friends. The Shasathon was created by the organization called ATIME. This wonderful tzedakah helps these young couples with their struggle providing many services, many too delicate to mention. Couples who have gone through this nisayon have said that they could not have made it without ATIME. The founders of ATIME themselves suffered through infertility at a time when there was no one to talk to and help them. To learn more about this organization, check out their website https://www.atime.org. You too can be a part of this amazing zechus! Go to the shasathon.org website and find who in your neighborhood is learning and sponsor him. When the couples who are suffering see how many people care enough to learn or support, they feel that we really care for them. Thank you for your involvement; we forward to you the unspoken thanks of those couples who are surrounded by too-clean walls and too-quiet rooms every minute of their lives. The hope and dreams your support will enable is more potent than one can fathom. Sincerely, Rabbi Moshe Shonek Member, Team Far Rockaway Dear Editor, I appreciate that you published an article this week on compensation for Holocaust survivors. Though, unfortunately, many of them have passed away, those who are around should be able to live with dignity and respect. Additionally, I urge everyone who has a relationship with a Holocaust survivor to speak with them and hear their story – if it’s not too emotional for them. By passing down their experience, their memory will live on in the next generation. Time is precious. Use the time now to connect with the survivors and listen to the stories that they tell. Chana Weingarten

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

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

The Week In News

PLANT THE SEEDS NOW

FOR 5 YEARS

OF INFLUENCE! ‫מח‬

‫ש‬

VAT SA M

‫’’ו ב ש ב ט‬

‫ט‬

V TE SLATE #4 ORTHODOX ISRAEL COALITION

OUR PHYSICAL SAFETY Expand security funding and provisions to protect Jewish life at US synagogues, yeshiva day schools and Jewish community centers

OUR LAND Supporting continued growth of communities in Eretz Yisrael including the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley

OUR JEWISH IDENTITY Combat BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) and antisemitism with programs that empower our students on college campuses across the US

OUR PURPOSE Fight for funding to perpetuate Torah values that enables more of our children to study in gap year yeshiva/seminary programs and expands the global network of shlichim

JANUARY 21 ‒ MARCH 11, 2020

VOTE SLATE #4 • WWW.VOTEOIC.ORG RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA

‫הסתדרות הרבנים דאמריקה‬

China Attempted to Downplay Virus

CH EA

Public health experts say that by trying to downplay the coronavirus, the Chinese government lost one of its best chances at keeping the disease from becoming an epidemic. Initially, even as the number of cases of the virus climbed, officials continued their claim that there had “likely” been no more infections. Political motivations are believed to have caused this reluctance to go public, as local officials prepared for their annual congresses in January. “This was an issue of inaction,” noted Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations who studies China. “There was no action in Wuhan from the local health department to alert people to the threat.” The first known case of coronavirus was in early December, though the exact date is unknown and details are limited. It took until January 20 for authorities to spring into action, by which time the virus was already a global health emergency, leading to worldwide travel restrictions and shaken financial markets. Back in December, when seven patients at a hospital were struck with a mysterious illness, Dr. Li Wenliang tried to warn his medical school classmates. He wrote that the patients were “quarantined in the emergency department” in an online chat group on December 30. Health officials summoned Dr. Li in the middle of the night, demanding to know why he had shared this information, and three days later, the doctor was compelled by police to sign a statement acknowledging that his warning constituted “illegal behavior.”

The illness is not SARS, the epidemic that began in China in 2002 and ultimately killed almost 800 people, but something similar: a coronavirus that has, at present, killed over 300 people in China and has infected more than 14,380 people globally. In the seven weeks between the virus’s first appearance and the government’s decision to lock down the city of Wuhan, China delayed a concerted public health offensive by downplaying the dangers and silencing those who raised red flags, leaving the city’s 11 million residents unaware of the need to protect themselves. Wuhan’s Mayor Zhou Xianwang later took responsibility for the delay in reporting but stated that he had been prevented from going public by the national law on infectious diseases which only allows provincial governments to declare an epidemic after receiving central government approval. “After I receive information, I can only release it when I’m authorized,” he said.

Unknown Future for UK

The United Kingdom finally left the European Union on Friday after 47 years of membership, a moment many had waited for since the June 2016 Brexit vote was determined by a 52%-48% outcome. In London, tens of thousands of jubilant Britons congregated around Big Ben to count down the final seconds before the exit became official. A few blocks away, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told a raucous crowd that “this is the greatest day in our country’s history.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the departure “a moment of real national renewal and change,” marking a key campaign promise to shepherd the UK out of the EU. Yet, in practice, very little will change, with his country entering an 11-month “transition period” that will see the

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

UK continue following EU rules to strike agreements in matters such as security and trade. Johnson had won December’s election after promising Britons to “get Brexit done,” and in a pre-recorded address shortly before the official exit, stated that “we want this to be the beginning of a new era of friendly cooperation between the EU and an energetic Britain.” The first time that a country has departed the bloc in its 62 years of existence, Brexit signifies one of the EU’s biggest-ever setbacks. French President Emmanuel Macron considered it a “historic alarm signal” that should force the EU to improve itself. “It’s a sad day, let’s not hide it... But it is a day that must also lead us to do things differently,” the French leader said in a televised address. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed that “as the sun rises tomorrow, a new chapter for our union of 27 will start” but also indicated that the UK would experience a loss as well. “Strength does not lie in splendid isolation, but in our unique union,” she said. While the UK always had an uneasy relationship with the EU, the thought of actually exiting only gained strength gradually within the

Conservative Party. A slew of recent polls found that citizens are still divided; overall, larger cities had voted to remain in the EU, while small towns voted to leave. While England and Wales had overall wanted to leave the Union, Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain. As a result, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s National Party government is demanding the right to hold a referendum on independence from the UK, which Johnson is denying. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “heartbroken” about Brexit but insisted that the city would continue to welcome everyone, regardless of “the color of your skin, the color of your flag, the color of your passport.”

Terrorist Attack in London ISIS has claimed responsibility for a stabbing attack in London on Sunday that left three people injured. “The perpetrator of the attack in Streatham district in south London yesterday is a fighter of Islamic State and carried out the attack in response

to calls to attack the citizens of coalition countries,” read the statement posted by ISIS’s Amaq news agency.

Sudesh Amman, 20, had been wearing a fake bomb when he stabbed two people before being shot and killed by police. Investigators say a third person suffered injuries believed to have been caused by broken glass when police officers opened fire. Amman had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in December 2018. He was freed from prison just days before the attack and was staying at a bail hostel in nearby. He was released from prison after serving half of his sentence of three years and four months for publishing graphic terrorist videos online and stockpiling instructions on bomb-making and knife attacks, according to Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi. She said that officers had been

trailing Amman at the time of Sunday’s attack but were unable to head off the bloodshed. A former prisoner who had served time with Amman said that Amman had wanted to copy the murder of MP Jo Cox and told him “the only way to get these filthy kafirs (non-believers) out of Syria is to take out MPs like that white guy did with the lady in 2016.” Gulled Bulhan, a 19-year-old student from Streatham, described the attack to Britain’s Press Association. “I was crossing the road when I saw a man with a machete and silver canisters on his chest being chased by what I assume was an undercover police officer – as they were in civilian clothing,” he recalled. “The man was then shot. I think I heard three gunshots, but I can’t quite remember.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked emergency services responding to the stabbing attack, tweeting that “my thoughts are with the injured and all those affected.” Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that he remains in “close contact” with the police and praised the work of first responders. “Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life – here in London we will never let them succeed,” Khan asserted.

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All across the Middle East, people are hoping to cash in on Lebanon’s shopping spree. In Cyprus, new tour packages include meetings with asset managers. Jewelry stores in Italy are packed. “More and more clients are buying gold coins, chains, bracelets and necklaces, only for their monetary value,” one jeweler told AFP. According to one car dealer, vehicles such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris are surging in popularity while cheaper options remain on his lot unsold. “Sure, these cars gradually lose some of their value but for many buyers, it’s a case of trying not to lose everything,” he said.

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Lebanese Snapping Up Luxury Items As Lebanon’s banking sector teeters on the verge of collapse, its citizens are attempting to keep their money in valuable luxury items instead of in the banks. In recent weeks, wealthy Lebanese have snapped up enormous

quantities of expensive goods. Luxury vehicles, jewelry, paintings and wine – they seek to buy up anything that can retain its value. Currently reeling from a mixture of 150% public debt and a lack of cash reserves, Lebanese banks are limiting how much their citizens can withdraw. For years, Lebanese banks subsisted on cash deposited by its citizens living overseas. With Lebanon’s economy based on imports from abroad, these deposits were vital for

the country’s financial stability. But with the Lebanese pound steadily losing value, these deposits have vanished, contributing to the current financial crisis the country finds itself in. With a daily withdrawal limit of only $1,000, and many expecting the banks to declare bankruptcy in the near future, the only hope for Lebanese residents is purchasing anything that they will be able to sell later on.

After drug lord Pablo Escobar was killed in 1993, the Colombian government took control of his estate and personal zoo. While most of the animals were shipped away, four hippopotamuses were left behind in a pond; today, there are many dozens of them, and Colombia is at a loss as to how to best curb the growing population of giant mammals. The four hippos escaped the ranch and migrated to the Magdelena, Colombia’s main river. While their exact number remains unknown, estimates indicate somewhere between

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

80-100 of them, according University of California ecologist Jonathan Shurin. This exponential growth in just a quarter of a century may prove problematic. David Echeverri, a researcher with the Colombian government’s environmental agency Cornare, which is overseeing management of the animals, stated that the hippos act like an invasive species, and if they remain unchecked will displace endemic animals in the area like otters and manatees. Hippos can also be aggressive and territorial, and though no serious injuries or deaths have yet occurred, they may pose a danger to residents. The government has been investigating ways to sterilize or transfer the hippos into captive facilities. This task is expensive as well as dangerous; the successful transfer to a Colombian zoo in September 2018 of one juvenile hippo cost around 15 million pesos (about $4,500 USD). In their native African habitats, hippos have a measurable effect on the landscape – by feeding on land but excreting waste in water, they serve to transfer nutrients from terrestrial to aquatic environments. Due to their impact on local ecology,

they are considered “ecosystem engineers,” which may prove to substantially impact their introduced habitat as well. The impact may not necessarily be for the worst, however. Jens-Christian Svenning, a biologist with Aarhus University in Denmark, wrote a letter in 2017 in which he and a colleague argued that these hippos might contribute “ecosystem services” to South America including altering the structure of wetlands, funneling nutrients from land to water, and keeping grassy plants in check by eating them. In addition, the hippos are now considered a tourist attraction, bringing in an estimated 50,000 visitors each year.

Chile to Rewrite its Constitution The violent protests in Chile which began in October have left at least 20 dead and 2,500 wounded, with sometimes deadly results. Last week, a police vehicle ran over and killed a 37-year-old man, and

a 22-year-old protester was struck and killed by a public bus.

President Sebastián Piñera has begun offering concessions to protesters, including raising pensions, suspending subway rate increases, and agreeing to rewrite the country’s constitution. The yet-to-be-written document won’t be submitted for approval until late 2021 and is anticipated to tackle protesters’ issues including the recognition of education and health care as basic human rights. Yet there are many who don’t believe the new constitution will adequately meet their concerns. “The constitution has become some sort of panacea,” said Patricio Navia, a Chilean political scientist who teaches at New York University. “People think that with a new one, all the problems of Chile will be resolved and quality of life will

improve. There’s a problem of excessive expectations that is set to become a big challenge for the country in the future.” The Chilean Congress is discussing rules for an April plebiscite in which voters would determine whether and how to rewrite the constitution drafted under Augusto Pinochet in 1980. The constitution has been rewritten several times since then, but this would be the first instance in 40 years in which a completely new document would be drafted, as well as the first time the rewrites were initiated by the people – not by politicians. A poll by the Santiago-based Center of Public Studies showed that more than 55 percent of Chileans support the continuing protests, despite the promise of a new constitution. “One of the main challenges, inequality, won’t be solved with simply approving a new constitution,” said Pablo Villoch, who teaches leadership and conflict at Chile’s Andrés Bello and Catholic universities. “But I think this is a historic opportunity to get closer to a system that is more socially cohesive. “The country has understood

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

that the three decades of neoliberal experiment have ended and a new era in Chile’s history has begun, one of advancing towards a more conscious and socially inclusive model.”

Mexican Militia Recruiting Children

With drug-related violence skyrocketing in Mexico, a vigilante militia is now recruiting children to protect their communities. 2019 was Mexico’s most violent year in its history. A record 34,582 Mexicans were killed, with most victims dying as a result of shootouts between rival cartels. The spike in murders comes despite stepped-up efforts by Mexican President Andres

Manuel Lopez Obrador, popularly known by his initials AMLO, to quash the violence. In a bid to reform Mexico’s famously-corrupt police force, AMLO founded the National Guard. The new federal law enforcement agency began operations this past year and aims to provide Mexicans with a sense of personal safety. However, some have begun taking the law into their own hands. In the Mexican state of Guerro, the outof-control violence has led residents to establish a vigilante militia to police the region. Known as CRAC-PC (short for Regional Coordination of Community Authorities-Community Police), the 200-man group was founded by Bernardino Sánchez Luna in 2014. In recent months, however, the CRAC-PC has been recruiting new talent: not adults, but children as young as 12. The change began eight months ago when the group started accepting teens into its ranks. Lowering the minimum age to 12, CPAC-PC puts the children through a 2-month course that teaches them rudimentary firearms skills. While acknowledging that it

was irregular, CPAC-PC maintains that the 1,000 murders Guerro experienced last year made the policy necessary. Speaking with CNN, both parents and children said that they would prefer the teens remain in school. But with violence spiraling, many felt that they had no choice. “We have to protect our community because at any minute, the criminals can enter,” 15-year-old Edward said.

ISIS Reasserting Under New Leader

The new leader under which ISIS has begun reasserting itself in Iraq and Syria is believed to have been the driving force behind the Yazidi

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genocide, according to a UN Security Council report made public last week. Amir Muhammad Said Abdal Rahman al-Mawla is thought to be the new head of the terror group, although this has not yet been confirmed. Al-Mawla was the deputy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed in a U.S. raid in Syria in October. Back in August, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million for al-Mawla’s capture, stating that the senior ISIS member “helped drive and justify the abduction, slaughter, and trafficking of the Yazidi religious minority in northwest Iraq” and is believed to “oversee some of the group’s global terrorist operations.” The UN report notes that President Trump’s decision last autumn to draw down forces in Syria has possibly created a greater risk of jailbreaks by the thousands of ISIS members currently detained in northern Syria by Kurdish forces. Around 10,000 male fighters remain in these facilities, including 2,000 foreign terrorist fighters. “The current improvised holding arrangement are a recipe for radicalization and despair, especial-

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ited Israel for the World Holocaust Forum, the detour raised speculation that the two leaders had reached a deal to free the Israeli tourist. Speaking at the Kremlin together with Yisaschar’s mother who had flown out to Moscow for the occasion, Netanyahu thanked Putin for agreeing to her early release. “I want to thank you in the name of the entire Israeli people for your quick decision to grant a pardon to Naama Yisaschar,” said the Israeli leader. “This moves all of us and our gratitude is on behalf of all Israeli citizens, from the heart.”

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Iran to Execute “CIA Spy” “I just want to say thank you to everyone,” Yisaschar said at Ben Gurion Airport. “I’m still in shock because of the whole situation. Thank you for everything.” Yisaschar, 27, had spent the last 10 months in a Moscow prison after border guards found 10 grams amount of marijuana in her luggage during a stopover. She denied the charges, noting that she had no access to her luggage during the layaway and later claimed that she was forced to sign a confession written in Russian, a language she does not speak. A few months back, a judge sentenced her to 7.5 years behind bars, an unusually heavy sentence for a foreigner caught with such a small amount of narcotics. The sentence came amid reports that Yisaschar was being held at the orders of Putin in order to pressure Israel on a variety of things. Shortly after meeting Trump at the White House, Netanyahu suddenly announced that he would be making an unscheduled stopover in Moscow on the way back to Israel. Coming only a week after Putin vis-

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ly in the case of minors,” the report warns. While the global threat of ISIS has been significantly reduced since the 2015-2017 period, when the terror group controlled substantial parts of Syria and Iraq, the report indicates that there is still concern regarding the resilience of ISIS and its worldwide satellites. “No one thinks that just with the demise of the physical caliphate that Daesh [ISIS] is finished,” said Jim Jeffrey, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria and the Coalition to Defeat ISIS. According to Jeffrey, there are currently between 14,00018,000 ISIS fighters “active between Syria and Iraq.” Furthermore, the group retains around $100 million in reserves. The coalition’s ability to maintain pressure on ISIS has been complicated following the January 3rd U.S. drone strike at Baghdad International Airport which killed the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and a leading Tehran-backed Iraqi militia commander.

Naama Yisaschar’s ordeal in a Russian prison came to an end last week after Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned the Israeli backpacker on Thursday. Yisaschar returned home to Israel on a plane together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had jetted to Moscow from Washington, D.C., following his meeting with President Donald Trump. Landing to a media circus, Yisaschar said that she would spend the next few days at her family home in Rehovot. “I just want to say thank you to everyone,” Yisaschar said at Ben Gurion Airport. “I’m still in shock because of the whole situation. Thank you for everything.” Yisaschar, 27, had spent the last 10 months in a Moscow prison after border guards found 10 grams amount of marijuana in her luggage during a stopover. She denied the charges, noting that she had no access to her luggage during the layaway and later claimed that she was forced to sign a confession written in Russian, a language she does not speak. A few months back, a judge sen-

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tenced her to 7.5 years behind bars, an unusually heavy sentence for a foreigner caught with such a small amount of narcotics. The sentence came amid reports that Yisaschar was being held at the orders of Putin in order to pressure Israel on a variety of things. Shortly after meeting Trump at the White House, Netanyahu suddenly announced that he would be making an unscheduled stopover in Moscow on the way back to Israel. Coming only a week after Putin visited Israel for the World Holocaust Forum, the detour raised speculation that the two leaders had reached a deal to free the Israeli tourist. Speaking at the Kremlin together with Yisaschar’s mother who had flown out to Moscow for the occasion, Netanyahu thanked Putin for agreeing to her early release. “I want to thank you in the name of the entire Israeli people for your quick decision to grant a pardon to Naama Yisaschar,” said the Israeli leader. “This moves all of us and our gratitude is on behalf of all Israeli citizens, from the heart.”

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Amid a mounting death toll from the coronavirus worldwide, Israel banned all Chinese tourists from its soil until the pandemic gets under control. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said that no Chinese nationals would be admitted “for the time being.” He added that any Israelis who recently returned from visiting China would need to be quarantined before returning to their homes. The policy was put into effect for the first time on Saturday when Israeli border officials refused entry to dozens of Chinese tourists at Ben Gurion Airport. Fearing that they were

infected with the deadly virus, the Chinese travelers were sent on the return flight to Moscow. “During the last 24 hours we stopped the flights from China to Israel. The Minister of Health was the first to do so and joined by other countries,” announced Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Siman Tov on Saturday evening. “We have closed the land crossings and we are working to ensure that anyone who has been in China for the last 14 days will not enter or remain in isolation.” In response to the steps being taken to avoid pandemic in the small country, China’s ambassador to Israel had harsh words. At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Dai Yuming told reporters that the “errors to limit or even ban entries of Chinese citizens” reminded him of “the old days, the old stories that happened in World War Two, the Holocaust, the darkest days in human history.” Dai said: “Millions of Jewish were killed, and many, many Jewish were refused when they tried to seek assistance from other countries. Only very, very few countries opened their door, and among them is China.” The Chinese Embassy in Israel hastily later issued a statement to assuage Dai Yuming’s comments, “There was no intention whatsoever to compare the dark days of the Holocaust with the current situation and the effort taken by the Israeli government to protect its citizens. “We would like to apologize if someone understood our message the wrong way,” the embassy added. The global fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has seen numerous nations, including the U.S., Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and others, imposing stringent travel restrictions on people travelling from China in an effort to contain the disease. In China, the virus has killed more than 300 people; the global tally of those infected has passed 17,000.

Liberman Helped Charedim Avoid IDF A new bombshell report has found that Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman willingly helped a slew of

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haredim avoid the IDF draft despite his virulent anti-religious platform.

Over the past year, Liberman has distinguished himself with his radically anti-haredi stance. Throughout Israel’s three electoral cycles, the Moldovan-born MK insulted haredim as “parasites” while members of his party alleged that religious people posed a greater threat to the country’s wellbeing than Iran. Ruling out any coalition that included the haredi Shas and UTJ factions, Liberman’s consistent refusal to negotiate was a major cause of Israel’s current political impasse. Throughout the year, he repeatedly lashed out at what he called the “freeloaders” who studied Torah instead of enlisting in the IDF. However, a new report suggests that Liberman’s anti-haredi bellicosity was nothing more than a sham. According to a new expose, not only didn’t Liberman crack down on yeshiva students while serving as defense minister, he personally pulled out all the stops to gain draft exemptions for children of senior haredi personalities. As detailed in Haaretz, Liberman personally intervened as defense minister in order to get the coveted exemptions for the relatives of Shas and UTJ lawmakers. During the two years in which he held the office, haredi legislators, pop stars, and businessmen enjoyed open access to his office with his aides receiving instructions to cater to their every demand. The beneficiaries of Liberman’s largesse included the very politicians that he today lambasts, such as Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni, and Shas MK Yoav Ben Tzur. In addition, Liberman also assisted members of the radical Yerushalmi Faction to shirk military service, despite his long history of public vitriol against them. The person responsible for catering to his powerful friends was Avi Abuchatzeira, a senior Defense Ministry advisor for matters relating to

the ultra-Orthodox community. “The haredi Knesset members or their aides would contact Abuchatzeira by direct call, a message or an email, and he would immediately come on board to help,” one source told Haaretz. “It was routine; no one concealed it.” Reached for comment, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit promised to look into the matter but called the allegations “problematic.” Liberman denied the report, saying through a spokesman that the allegations were false and that he never personally helped ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students avoid military service. “The former defense minister has never intervened in any case concerning the exemption from recruitment. Not any by implication,” said Liberman’s office. “Inquiries from the haredi sector regarding enlistment matters, just like inquiries from the rest of the population, are handed without intervention and in accordance with the professional echelon’s decision’s.”

Arab League Rejects Trump Peace Plan

Saying that it failed “to meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people,” the Arab League roundly rejected President Trump’s plan for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A highly influential body representing 22 Arab nations, the Arab League convened in Cairo over the weekend to discuss Trump’s plan known as the “Deal of the Century.” Trump had said earlier in the week that the plan was broadly supported by the Arab world, raising speculation that the League would endorse its parameters. The Arab League unanimously condemned the plan, however, agreeing in a Saturday meeting that it would not adopt the Deal of the Century in any way. In a statement,

all of the League’s 22 members said that the plan “does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people” and pledged “not to ... cooperate” with the U.S. administration to implement this plan. The League added that any solution needed to include a Palestinian State established on Israel’s pre1976 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Before voting whether to approve the plan, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas implored the League to reject its parameters, which he said ended any hope his people had of getting their own state. “They told me Trump wants to send me the deal of the century to read, I said I would not,” Abbas told the assembled Arab foreign ministers. “Trump asked that I speak to him over the phone, so I said, ‘No,’ and that he wants to send me a letter, so I refused to receive it.” The Arab League’s rejection was condemned by a senior U.S. official, noting that continuously rejecting any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would hurt the Palestinian people. “It is only by having a willingness to try a new approach that we will make a breakthrough in a conflict that has left the Palestinian people to suffer for decades,” said the official. “Past Arab League resolutions have placated Palestinian leadership and not led to peace or progress, and it is important to try a new approach or the Palestinian people’s fate will not change.” All of the Palestinian factions immediately opposed the proposed peace plan after Trump unveiled the initiative two days before. While calling for a Palestinian State, the plan conditioned it on the PA recognizing Israel as a Jewish State and demilitarizing Gaza – two conditions the Palestinians adamantly refuse to fulfill. Other parameters unpopular with the Palestinians include keeping Jerusalem united under Israel control and annexing all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria.

their Jewishness. The 60 families had been divided due to differing opinions regarding their halachic status, with some children residing in Israel while their parents were stuck in Ethiopia. While no timetable was given, a senior government official told Channel 12 last week that the mass aliyah would probably take place prior to the Knesset elections in March.

As the government officially decided to allow these families to immigrate over a year ago, the money for the operation will not come out of the current budget. With Israel being run by a caretaker government for over a year, there has not been a new budget passed since 2017, resulting in monetary constraints in almost every ministry. Preparatory work for the operation has been headed by Immigration and Absorption Minister Yoav Gallant and Ethiopian-Israeli MK Gadi Yevarkan. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Interior Ministry have also been involved. Under Israel’s Law of Return, all Jews are entitled to receive Israeli citizenship. However, the Interior Ministry has not recognized the Falash Mura tribe as Jewish due to their forced conversion to Christianity two centuries ago, leaving 8,000 Ethiopian Jews unable to move to the Holy Land.

Warming Ties Between Israel & Sudan

400 Falash Mura to Make Aliyah Israel announced that it will allow 400 Ethiopian Jews to make aliyah despite questions regarding

Dramatically improving ties with a former bitter foe, Prime Minister

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Benjamin Netanyahu met with the transitional leader of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Monday during a whirlwind visit to Uganda. Netanyahu and Burhan met secretly in Entebbe at the residence of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and agreed to gradually normalize relations, according to The Times of Israel. The meeting marks a sharp turnaround for the two countries, once sworn enemies and still technically at war. Sudan – a Muslim-Arab country in northeastern Africa – has recently moved away from Iran’s influence over the latter’s involvement in Yemen, and ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir a year ago. Netanyahu said after the meeting that he believes Sudan is moving in a new and positive direction. The Sudanese leader had expressed interest in modernizing his country and moving it out of international isolation. On Sunday, Burhan was invited to visit Washington by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call, in what would be the first such trip by a Sudanese leader in three decades. Leaving for Uganda on Monday morning, Netanyahu said he hoped to strengthen ties with Uganda, “and I hope that at the end of today, we will have very good news for Israel.” Netanyahu has made expanding ties in Africa a central plank of his foreign policy. In 2019, he re-established ties with Chad and hinted during a visit there that he was working to establish ties with other countries, reportedly including Sudan. According to a report at the time, Israel’s diplomatic push in Africa was driven in part by a desire to ease air travel to Latin America. Using the airspace of traditionally hostile African countries – namely Chad and Sudan – would allow airlines to offer faster, more direct flights between Israel and the continent. Sudan currently does not have a sitting president, as the country is in the middle of a transition process since longtime ruler Bashir was deposed in April 2019. In 2009, Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities committed in Darfur. Burhan is the chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, an 11-member group that is running the country until November 2022, when democratic elections are scheduled.

U.S. Life Expectancy Rises

The average life expectancy in the United States in 2018 jumped to 78 years and 11 months, a rise of 0.1 years and the first time it rose since 2014. Drug overdoses also fell for the first time since 1999, although the levels remained relatively high. While a whopping 67,367 people died of overdoses in 2018, the figure marks a 4.6% drop from the 70,237 who perished the year before. At the same time, the number of drug overdose deaths fell from 70,237 in 2017 to 67,367 in 2018 – a drop of 4.1%, and the first such decline in decades. In 2018, the rate of overdose deaths in the United States was 4.6% lower than in 2017. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the increase in life expectancy means that the devastating opioid epidemic that has rocked the country over the past decade is on the wane. The infant mortality rate also fell by 2.3%, as well as another 5.1% drop in deaths in the 15-24 age range. Overall, the only category that did not witness improvement in mortality was for adults ages 35 to 44 and 55 to 64. Adding to the rise in life expectancy was the drops in deaths resulting from heart disease and cancer. The two biggest killers in the United States, they fell by 0.8% and 2.2%, respectively. The decline of cancer-related deaths was particularly noticeable, with the CDC saying that accounted for 30% of 2018’s increase in life expectancy.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Health Secretary Alex Azar called the news “a real victory” after the data was released on Thursday. “It should be a source of encouragement for all Americans who have been committed to connecting people struggling with substance abuse to treatment and recovery,” Azar said.

Trader with Autism Spared Prison

A futures trader with autism who helped trigger a U.S. stock market “flash crash” in 2010 was spared imprisonment when he was sentenced last week to time served and a year’s home confinement. Navinder Singh Sarao, 41, was sentenced in Chicago federal court before District Judge Virginia Kendall. Sarao expressed remorse, stating that “I will never do anything illegally again.” Sarao had earned tens of millions of dollars over several years, though prosecutors acknowledged that his crimes were not motivated by greed; Sarao has autism and viewed trading as a video game in which he acquired “points.” Despite his accumulation of wealth, Sarao lived modestly in his parents’ London home; his priciest purchase was a second-hand Volkswagen costing less than $10,000. He was described by his attorney Roger Burlingame as a “singularly sunny, childlike, guileless, trusting person who is instantly beloved by all who encounter him, including the FBI agents and prosecutors,” and added that “Navinder Sarao lives outside the reality those without his autism inhabit.” Sarao had spent four months in prison in 2015, the time Judge Kendall referred to as “served.” His lawyers stated that his time in jail was unbearable due to his autism, calling it “a torture of sensory stimulation, sleep deprivation and forced socialization” that caused him to become suicidal. Sarao was later granted bond, allowing him to return to England

while criminal proceedings in the U.S. moved forward. After his extradition to Illinois in 2016, he agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and “spoofing,” or bidding with the intent of quickly canceling the bid to manipulate prices. He returned over $12 million in illegal profits, while also walking prosecutors through the steps of how he had accumulated his profits, helping them to catch other market manipulators. Before his own sentencing, Sarao himself lost millions to individuals who found him particularly gullible and easy to cheat. The 2015 indictment said Sarao manipulated E-Mini S&P, which contributed to the 2010 “flash crash” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 600 points in just five minutes before rebounding, denting investor confidence and leaving many concerned whether the market was rigged.

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The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) announced last week that a 4,309-foot tunnel had been discovered connecting Tijuana to San Diego, the longest known cross-border tunnel along the southwest border. Stretching over three-quarters of a mile, the tunnel averages about 70 feet below ground, with an elevator at the entrance and a rail-and-cart system inside. Mexican law enforcement officials discovered the tunnel’s entrance in August 2019, and the San Diego Tunnel Task Force – comprised of the Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – mapped the tunnel from Mexico. “While subterranean tunnels are not a new occurrence along the California-Mexico border, the sophistication and length of this particular tunnel demonstrates the time-consuming efforts transnational criminal organizations will undertake to facilitate cross-border smuggling,” noted Cardell Morant, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investi-

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the Press.” The veteran lawmaker noted that while it may have been improper, Trump’s attempt to pressure Ukraine to investigate rival Joe Biden did not constitute grounds for impeachment.

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gations in San Diego. The second-longest tunnel in the U.S., discovered in San Diego in 2014, extended 2,966 feet, according to Border Patrol. In 2019, the San Diego sector seized 3,273 pounds of marijuana, 1,284 pounds of cocaine, 3,918 pounds of methamphetamine, and 108 pounds of fentanyl, all decreases from the previous year. Heroin seizures, on the other hand, increased 39% to around 383 pounds. According to Ralph DeSio, spokes-

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person for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in San Diego, the decrease in drug seizures may be due to the fact that many officers last year were diverted from the sector’s checkpoints to the border to respond to waves of families migrating to the U.S. The checkpoints “weren’t completely mothballed” but they also “weren’t as operational as the years before,” he said in December. “We had to minimize those operations to deal with the crisis along the southwest border.”

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Wrong but Not Impeachable Despite casting a key vote to block Democrats from introducing new witnesses in the impeachment proceedings, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander said that President Trump was “wrong” for behaving as he did. “I think he shouldn’t have done it. I think it was wrong,” Alexander said during an interview with NBC’s “Meet

“I think what he did is a long way from treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors. I don’t think it’s the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgment for the people in picking a president,” added Alexander. Later in the interview, Alexander said that the decision whether to remove Trump from office should be left to the voters. “Now it’s up to the American people to say, ‘Okay, good economy, lower taxes, conservative judges, behavior that I might not like, call to Ukraine.’ Weigh that against Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders and pick a president,” he said. The Republican senator, who has held his seat since 2003, cast a deciding vote last week that dismissed an attempt by Senate Democrats to introduce new evidence and testimony into the impeachment proceedings. Democrats had hoped to sway four GOP senators to vote with them and thus allow testimony by former National Security Advisor John Bolton. A member of the Trump administration until he was fired last year, Bolton wrote in a still-unpublished book that the president had personally ordered him to freeze military aid to Ukraine unless they probed former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The bombshell revelations led to an attempt by Democrats to call Bolton to the stand, hoping that his allegations would be the evidence to bring down the president. However, Alexander, along with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, voted to block further testimony, all but ensuring that the Senate will dismiss the articles of impeachment. Having already announced his retirement, Alexander’s lame-duck status had given Democrats false hope that he would switch his vote. “There is no need for more evi-

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dence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the U.S. Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense,” Alexander said in announcing his decision.

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Over 100 million people tuned in on Sunday evening to watch the Kansas City Chiefs come back from behind to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. According to Nielsen, the 102 million Americans who watched Super Bowl LIV marked a slight increase from the 100 million who tuned in last year. The halftime show also saw a 4% ratings increase while the pregame show drew 21 million viewers, the highest since 2016. However, the total was far behind the 114.4 million that saw the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, which remains the most-watched Super Bowl in history. During the game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw three consecutive touchdown passes in the second half to lead his team to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. The 49ers had enjoyed a 10 point lead at halftime until Mahomes led the Chiefs’ countercharge. The win came despite Mahomes throwing two ugly interceptions to start the third quarter. Mahomes was named MVP for his late-game heroics, making the 24-year-old the youngest Super Bowl MVP in NFL history. He is also the second-youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl, following Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roeslethberger’s first victory at only 23 years of age. “We kept believing,” Mahomes said following the game. “That’s what we did all postseason. I felt like if we were down by 10, we weren’t playing our best football. The guys really stepped up. They believed in me. I was making a lot of mistakes out there early. We found a way to win it in the end.” The Chiefs victory is also the first for their head coach Andy Reid,

who never managed to achieve football’s highest honor in his 21 years in coaching. Entering the game as the coach with the most wins in NFL history without winning the Super Bowl, the 61-year-old Reid was exuberant after “finally getting the monkey off my back.” “He’s one of the greatest coaches of all time,” exulted Mahomes after the game. “He already was before we won this game. I don’t think he needed the Lombardi Trophy to prove that. But to do this puts all doubts aside.’’

Rush Limbaugh Diagnosis

On Monday, conservative commentator and radio host Rush Limbaugh announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. “This day has been one of the most difficult days in recent memory for me. I’ve known this moment is coming in the program.... I’m sure that you all know by now that I really don’t like talking about myself and I don’t like making things about me,” Limbaugh said. “I like this program to be about you and the things that matter to all of us. “I have been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer,” Limbaugh said, adding that his diagnosis was confirmed by “two medical institutions back on January 20.” Limbaugh said he first realized something was wrong on his birthday weekend last month. “I thought about not telling anybody; I thought about doing this without anybody knowing, because I don’t like making things about me,” Limbaugh said. “But there are going to be days when I’m not able to be here because I’m undergoing treatment or I’m reacting to treatment.” He added: “I hope I will be talking about this as little as necessary in the coming days, but we have a great bunch of doctors, a great team assembled we’re at full speed ahead of this.” In response to the devastating news, Vice President Mike Pence wished Limbaugh a “swift recovery”

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Before that, in 2001, Limbaugh told his listeners he was “100% totally deaf.” “I cannot hear television. I cannot hear music. I am, for all practical purposes, deaf – and it’s happened in three months,” he said on his show. He said he was diagnosed with autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) and that medications failed to work. Later that year, he received a cochlear implant on one side, which restored some of his hearing, and in 2014, he announced he was getting an implant on the other side. Afterwards, he said, there was 100% improvement. “Coming from total deafness, it is miraculous! How can you not believe in G-d?” Limbaugh said in his show. On his show on Monday, when revealing his diagnosis, Limbaugh invoked his belief in G-d again. He credited his faith for sustaining his health amid his cancer battle. “I told the staff today that I have a deeply personal relationship with G-d that I do not proselytize about, but I do, and I have been working that relationship tremendously,” he said.

Travel Ban Expanded

on twitter and called him a “National Treasure who has made a difference on the airwaves of America for 30 years.” He added, “Rush, Karen and I will be joining millions across this Country in praying for your swift recovery. G-d Bless You!” Limbaugh, 69, is the leading conservative talk radio host, a star of the airwaves for more than three decades having gotten his start in the 1970s. According to Talkers, which tracks

audience numbers for talk radio, Limbaugh is the most-listened to radio host in the country, with 15.5 million listeners tuning in weekly as of December 2019. Originally from Missouri, Limbaugh comes from a family of attorneys but wanted to pursue his own dreams in radio. He launched “The Rush Limbaugh Show” in 1988 and he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame 10 years

later in 1998. Limbaugh has dealt with health crises in the past, including an addiction to opioids. In October 2003, he said on his show that he was addicted to prescription painkillers and planned to go to rehab for 30 days starting after that day’s show. Limbaugh said his addiction stemmed from years of severe back pain heightened by a botched surgery intended to correct those problems.

The Trump administration announced last week that it would expand its travel ban to include six additional countries. The update is scheduled to take effect on February 22 and now includes Nigeria, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar (known as Burma). The decision to include six additional countries comes almost three years after President Trump signed the first travel ban as one of his first moves in office. It eventually landed in the Supreme Court; in 2018 the third version of the ban was upheld in court. The current policy restricts entry into the United States to varying degrees from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea. The updated ban sparked controversy over its targeting of African countries, with critics arguing that

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Jo i n Yo u n g Is r a e l of La w r e n c e C e d a r h u r st a n d To u r o C o l l e g e f o r a P r e s i d e n t’s D a y B r e a k f a st

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MONDAY FEBRUARY 17 • 8:45AM the changes are discriminatory. The administration, meanwhile, holds that the ban is vital to national security and ensures countries meet U.S. security needs by demanding a certain level of identity management and information-sharing requirements. Unlike the original ban, the new restrictions only include categories of immigration visa applicants. Specifically, all immigrants from Eritrea, Burma, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria will be banned. However, only green card

lotteries will be restricted from Sudan and Tanzania, an official said. The restrictions apply to immigrant visas, but not students, other temporary visitors or refugee processing. An estimated 12,398 people could be impacted by the new ban, based on 2018 data. The U.S.’s desired criteria from countries to ensure U.S. security includes electronic passports, reporting of loss or thefts of passports, sharing information to validate travelers, and sharing information on known

or suspected terrorists and criminals. Eritrea, for instance, does not meet the threshold for criminal and terrorist information sharing, while Burma is considered inadequate at tracking lost and stolen passports. A country on either ban can have their restrictions removed at any time by fixing their deficiencies, as Chad experienced in 2018 after improving upon lost and stolen passport reporting and deepening exchange of terrorist information.

$70M to Settle Suits Against NYPD

New York City paid almost $70 million in 2019 to settle lawsuits against its police department – $30 million more than it had paid the previous year for the same alleged offenses. Accusations included assault, excessive use of force, wrongful arrest and imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. Around 1,400 such lawsuits were filed last year. This municipal data doesn’t include situations which were settled out of court between the city and individuals, which, according to the Legal Aid Society of New York, could amount to hundreds of additional cases. “An epidemic of misconduct within the New York City Police Department continues to cost New York City taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year,” charged Corey Stoughton, Attorney-in-Charge of the Special Litigation Unit of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “Yet Police Secrecy Law 50a denies us data about how and why that misconduct occurs and what the NYPD is doing – or more to the point, not doing – about it.” Sgt. David Grieco, 49, was involved in two lawsuits settled last year and over 30 suits overall, costing the city more than $600,000 since he joined the NYPD 14 years ago. He has been accused of illegal searches. On the other hand, he has been lauded by police for getting guns off the street. Grieco is currently involved in yet another suit, in which gun charges linked to a Brooklyn car stop were dismissed because of an alleged illegal search. Pierre Wood, the man driving the car, had not previously had any arrest record and said that this incident cost him his job. According to the Legal Aid Society, the NYPD is the only place where one can be sued as much as Grieco and still keep their job.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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All eyes were on Iowa on Monday as the state held its caucus for the Democratic presidential nominee. But soon it turned to confusion when technical problems delayed the results, prompting presidential candidates to depart before the outcome was clear. Hours after voters at more than 1,600 caucus sites declared their presidential preferences, Democratic officials were scrambling to explain why no results had been released and when they might materialize. “The integrity of the results is paramount,” Iowa Democratic Party spokeswoman Mandy McClure said as candidates, voters and activists waited in frustration and reports circulated about problems with the app that caucus officials used to transmit the results. McClure added: “This is simply a reporting issue; the app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion,” she clarified. “The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.” The glitch was arguably a setback for the campaigns that did well, by depriving them of a chance to declare victory Monday night, and a boon for candidates who fell short, by sowing confusion about the results. Pete Buttigieg headed to New Hampshire on Tuesday declaring victory in Iowa, although Bernie Sanders showed results from his campaign that stated that Sanders won in Iowa with Buttigieg close behind, who was then followed by Elizabeth Warren. Itching to head on to the next state, as the clock neared midnight, the candidates began speaking at their caucus night parties, making allusions to the delays. “It’s going to be a long night, but I’m feeling good,” Joe Biden said. “So listen, it’s too close to call,” Warren told her own supporters. “Iowa, tonight, you showed that big dreams are still possible in America.” Sanders told his crowd wryly, “At some point, the results will be an-

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Iowa Caucus Chaos

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his burrow early in the morning. As he peeked out around 7:25 a.m., the famous woodchuck didn’t see his shadow, predicting spring for the bystanders wearing their winter coats. “Now my forecast on a day that’s a palindrome [02/02/2020] will cause some to cheer and some to moan. So do I hope you think it’s neighborly, for there is no shadow of me, spring it’ll be early, it’s a certainty,” a member of Phil’s Inner Circle read from the groundhog’s prediction scroll to the cheers and applause from the crowd. As the legend goes, if Phil sees his shadow, he considers it an “omen” of six more weeks of bad weather and heads back into his hole. If it’s cloudy and he doesn’t, you can put away that winter coat sooner than expected.

gether – more than 4,700 pounds of ooey, gooey goodness. Guinness noted that it’s become “quite competitive” between the two companies, although we all know it’s good fun. “The Reese’s team believes records, even those just a few weeks old, are meant to be broken,” said Veronica Villasenor, senior director of the Reese’s brand. The Reese’s bar took five days to create and was presented at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsyl-

vania. A team of more than 40 people from The Hershey Company’s research and development center and manufacturing facilities helped bring the chocolate bar to fruition. The candy bar will be distributed to Hershey’s employees, according to Guinness World Records guideline requirements, which says all food-related records have to be donated or consumed. You know, I never met a chocolate I didn’t like.

Groundhog Guesses He’s just a groundhog but maybe he knows more than us when it comes to the weather – or maybe he doesn’t. On Sunday, February 2, thousands of people gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch Punxsutawney Phil emerge from

But of course, his predictions aren’t always correct. Groundhog Day predictions have been going back more than 130 years. In the past decade, Phil has predicted a longer winter seven times and an early spring three times. He was right about 40% of the time, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which says the groundhog shows “no predictive skill.” “You’re better off trying to decide what the rest of February and March will look like by flipping a coin,” noted CNN meteorologist Judson Jones. Others are supporters of the buck-teethed rodent. A.J. Dereume, one of the groundhog’s handlers, insists Phil’s predictions have a 100% accuracy rate – they just get lost in translation. According to lore, the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is the only person who can interpret Phil’s message. Every year, the groundhog sits on his tree stump and conveys his prediction to the club president, who then directs the vice president to read from a scroll that corresponds with the year’s forecast. “Phil is the one deciding whether

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

or not he’s seen the shadow,” Dereume says. “It’s not up to us. All we do is deliver his message.” And it’s hard to understand groundhog-speak.

And it surely is criminal if you don’t take your kids to the zoo.

Monkey Business

Citizen Can’t

An Italian man was denied Swiss citizenship because he failed to correctly answer a question about zoo animals – a decision a federal court in Switzerland has ruled unfair, according to reports. The Italian national had lived in Switzerland for 30 years, working as a successful ice cream vendor, when he and his family applied for citizenship in 2015. He was denied for not being socially and culturally integrated enough. His faults? He didn’t know that bears and wolves share the same enclosure at his local zoo, he got a word wrong in the Swiss national anthem, and showed “minor deficiencies” in understanding local geography. While the applications of the man’s wife and two children were all eventually approved after an appeal in 2018, his was not. On Monday, a federal court ruled that the man had unfairly been denied because some of the questions asked were too specific. He had passed other areas of the test, such as social and civic knowledge – results that should have compensated for his failures in other parts, the court ruled. Unlike the U.S., being born in Switzerland is not grounds enough to be granted citizenship. The naturalization process requires foreigners to live in Switzerland for at least 10 years. Applicants can also be denied citizenship if they have a criminal record.

These villagers are not monkeying around. Residents of Sikandarpur village in India were being terrorized by more than 2,000 wild monkeys who had taken over the town. In an effort to fight back against the wild apes, two villagers are dressing in bear costumes in an attempt to scare the primates after the forest department ignored their pleas for assistance. “We have now started taking turns in wearing the bear costume and roaming around the village,” village head Ram Lalit Verma told the Indo-Asian News Service. “It was a relative who had told me about the idea and it is actually working.” Villagers donated money to buy three costumes from a makeup artist for 1,700 Indian rupees ($23.82) each. The fake bears have led to a decrease in monkey attacks. Previously, at least 150 people had been attacked – including children. “Catching a monkey would cost nearly 600 Indian Rupees ($8.41) and last time we got funds was in 2018 when we had called a rescue team from Mathura,” forest officer MN Singh said when he explained why the forest department couldn’t help the village with their primate problem. Last year, a farmer in Thirthahalli in the state of Karnataka resorted to painting his pet dog with tiger stripes to protect his coffee crop from thieving monkeys. Seems like their efforts at monkeying around is bearing fruit. We’ll bear that in mind.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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Community YOSS Yeshiva Bein Hazmanim

peak to any of the sixty YOSS boys fortunate enough to have participated in this year’s Yeshiva Bein Hazmanim at Yeshiva of South Shore and they’ll tell you that this year’s program was the best (although that is what’s said every year)! Last Tuesday and Wednesday, talmidim entered the building like on any other morning to begin their

day with davening and learning. However, by 10:15 a.m., the day began to resemble anything but ordinary. Each day featured exciting activities. On Tuesday, we boarded our coach bus and headed to Campgaw Mountain where we enjoyed two and a half hours of snowtubing. It’s almost February, and although we’ve hardly seen an inch of snow here in

New York, Campgaw boasted over a foot-and-a-half of the white stuff with perfect conditions for exhilarating snow-tubing fun. Wednesday featured an outing to High Exposure – forty-five-foothigh rock climbing, Ninja warrior obstacle courses, Parkour elements, and more. This trip proved to be a heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping experience for all. Included in

the schedule was a visit to EJ’s Place, where we enjoyed a pizza lunch. The boys (and by extension, the entire yeshiva) were praised for their wonderful behavior wherever they went. A fantastic time was had by all. So mark your calendar...only 360 days to YBH 2021! YBH is a favorite with our students and parents alike because it combines Torah learning with exhilarating fun.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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HaRav Dovid Schustal Inspires at YOSS Motzei Shabbos Learning Program

his past Motzei Shabbos, Yeshiva Toras Chaim - Bais Binyamin at South Shore was privileged to host HaRav Dovid Schustal, shlita, at its Motzei Shabbos Learning Program. The large crowd of tinokos shel Beis Raban and their fathers, friends, and relatives who learn with the children, had the great zchus of seeing Rav Schustal and hearing his penetrating message overflowing with ahavas HaTorah and ahavas Yisroel. Rav Schustal was introduced by Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai

Kamenetzky, who described the impact that Rav Schustal’s grandfather, Hagaon Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, had in planting Torah in America by founding Beis Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood, where Rav Schustal, is one of its roshei yeshiva. Rabbi Kamenetzky mentioned the close kesher he had with Rav Schustal’s father, Hagaon Rav Simcha Schustal, zt”l. Some lucky boys from Bachurei Chemed Yedidei Hashem at YOSS had the opportunity to meet him in his yeshiva in Stamford, Connecticut. Rav Schustal was beaming as he

looked onto the crowd of kinderlach and expressed his delight at seeing such a beautiful gathering of teiyera neshamos filling the Beis Medrash learning Hashem Yisbarach’s Torah. He talked about the mesiras nefesh of Rav Binyamin Kamenetzky and the close connection of the Kotler and Kamenetzky families, starting with the relationship between, Rav Yaakov and his grandfather, Reb Aharon Kotler, zt”l. His message to the olam was crystal clear. “How fortunate we are,” he thun-

dered, “that we are Hashem’s chosen nation, the Am Kadosh, different than the nations around us. Hashem chose us to receive the most special gift ever to be presented in the entire history of the world, His precious Torah!” This week’s program is one that will not soon be forgotten by the many who were fortunate enough to be in attendance. It was a night that our children witnessed the grandeur of Torah. After the program concluded, the boys and fathers lined up to give shalom to Rav Schustal and to receive his warm brachos.

Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato Welcomes TAG to Albany

ast week, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway) hosted Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) students in Albany for their eighth grade annual

trip. The students visited the NYS Assembly floor and toured the capitol. When in the Assembly Chambers, Pheffer Amato spoke about the importance of giving back to the

community, which is emphasized in the well-regarded programs at TAG, and to her own experience serving by giving back. The students were welcomed into the chamber by Ma-

jority Leader Crystal People-Stokes (D-Buffalo) and received a warm round of applause by the members of the New York State Assembly.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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Record-Breaking Crowd at the Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam Annual Dinner

he annual dinner for Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam took place on January 15 at Beth Sholom Synagogue in Lawrence, New York. The overflow crowd attested to the fact that this bais yaakov, whose doors opened only eight years ago, has made an indelible mark on the Five Towns/ Far Rockaway community and has become the school of choice for many parents. The excitement and warmth in the room were palpable from the moment you entered, as people were welcomed personally by the Menahel, Rabbi Nosson Neuman. The mouthwatering and plentiful buffet provided by Scott Fagin of Oasis Catering, combined with the elegant décor by Luminox Events, set the tone for an evening that will be remembered by all who attended. To reinforce BYAM’s mantra that it’s all about the talmidos, the dinner this year opened its doors to its students and scheduled a separate program for them, hosted by Rabbi Yitzy Haber. Replete with a magic show and hostess aprons bearing the BYAM logo, the girls were an integral part of the program and enjoyed seeing a dif-

ferent facet of their “home away from home.” The highlight of the evening for the talmidos was when they presented their menahel with a beautiful gift: An artistic rendition of the Hadran by Yona Weinreb in honor of Rabbi Neuman’s personal Siyum HaShas. The girls also presented Rabbi Neuman with a large card signed by all of the students and staff at BYAM. It was a proud and beautiful moment for all involved! The eighth annual dinner also celebrated the momentous naming of the Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam building in memory of Mrs. Rose Dancziger, a”h. The history and life of this special woman was poignantly portrayed in a video presentation where her life story was told by her beloved children and extended family. Mrs. Dancziger was a Holocaust survivor and family matriarch who left behind generations of children and grandchildren who are shomrei Torah u’mitzvos. Mrs. Dancziger’s legacy will now be enriched and endowed with the zechus of the learning that will take place in the hallowed halls of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam every day. Yehi

zichra baruch. Dr. and Mrs. Moshe and Dalit Kalaie, the recipients of the Guests of Honor award, greeted their friends and family who joined them that evening with their signature warmth and grace. The pages of the dinner journal were filled with words of gratitude and recognition for this very special couple. BYAM is honored to have Adina and Shiri Kalaie as talmidos and is grateful to the Kalaies for entrusting them with their precious daughters and for all that they do for the school. May we continue to share Yiddishe nachas with the Kalaie family! Dr. Rivka Gutkind was presented with the well-deserved Educator of the Year award and many members of the community, family, and friends came to pay tribute to her decades of accomplishments in the field of special education. After her many years of devoted service at the Rabenstein Learning Center, which she founded and directed, Dr. Gutkind brought her wealth of knowledge to what was then the new, budding Bais Yaakov in the community. Together with the principal, Mrs. Leah Zytman, Dr. Gutkind

and her team of therapists have created an environment where every student, no matter what her challenge, is given the tools she needs to succeed and iy”H to reach her full potential. Dr. Gutkind truly makes sure that no stone is unturned for every student who walks through her door. The dinner event was enjoyed by all, and the icing on the cake was the lavish dessert room which left all the guests feeling happy and satisfied with an evening well spent. Known for its parting gifts to dinner guests, the school presented everyone with a monogrammed Havdalah candle to be used in everyone’s home on Motzei Shabbos. Thank you to D&R Central Baking and the Present Mediator for the personalized pastries and parting gift. Thank you again to all who attended the Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam 8th Annual Dinner and to all who gave their support in honor of this landmark event. May you be gebentched with bracha v’hatzlacha in all of your endeavors, and may we continue to see true Yiddishe nachas from all our wonderful children.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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An Evening of Love & Laughter

n Motzei Shabbos, February 1, more than 500 people streamed into Beth Sholom in Lawrence, NY, to partake in “An Evening of Love & Laughter,” a symposium geared towards infusing marriages with positivity and excitement. The evening was a joint event organized by the Gural JCC, the UJA, and the Jewish Women’s Leaders Council of the Five Towns. The goal for the evening was to make it a night out for couples to reconnect with each other in a lighthearted way. The event commenced with comedian Ashley Blaker, who used humor and wit in his performance as he warmed up the crowd. Speakers Dr. David Pelcovitz and Rachel Pill, LMSW, focused on re-centering one’s marriages in a positive, uplifting way. Dr. Pelcovitz reminded attendees that there are common problems that tend to crop up in marriages but that there are simple ways to resolve conflicts – even before they start. Dr. Pelcovitz presented the audience with humorous video clips to make his points. Therapist Rachel Pill engaged the audience with her reminder about smiling at your spouse every day – she asked each person to turn towards their spouses and smile at them at the beginning of her talk. She touched on the five “love languages” in relationships and urged the audience to read about them. She also went through the five stages of marriage and how each stage presents itself with another opportunity to connect on different levels. “You can be happy or be right,” she told those in the audience. Choose happiness, she urged. An elaborate dessert buffet and photo booth rounded out the evening and were conducive to more discussion amongst participants on the topic of marriage. Attendees left the event inspired and re-energized, carrying a refreshing outlook on the most important relationship in their lives. This is the first event of The Jewish Women’s Leaders Council of the Five Towns. Members of the JWLC include: Rebbetzin Rookie Billet, Suri Lenore Davis, Rachayle Deutsch, Dr. Deborah Dienstag,

Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner, Stacey Feldman, Rebbetzin Malki Feigenbaum, Rebbetzin Margie Glatt, Rebbetzin Debbie Greenblatt, Rebbetzin Nancy Hain, Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, Elisheva Kaminetsky, Rebbetzin Shani Lefkowitz, Rebbetzin Nava Orlian, Rachel Pill, Rebbetzin Tova Polakoff, Rebbetzin Paghit Ralbag, Shoshana Soroka Halpern, Leanne Taylor, Rebbetzin Sori Teitelbaum, Rebbetzin Malka Trump, Mindi Werblowski, Rebbetzin Myrna Weinberger, Debra Weinrib, Rebbetzin Chanie Wolowik, Myrna Zisman, and Rebbetzin Tzipporah Weinberger. Sepi Djavaheri, community mobilizer at the UJA-Federation of New York, along with Rachayle Deutsch and Stacey Feldman of the Gural JCC, have worked diligently with the council to help bring their vision to fruition. The next endeavor on the horizon for JWLC is a community-wide

Comedian Ashley Blaker

Dr. David Pelcovitz

Rachel Pill, LMSW

Some members of the Jewish Women’s Leaders Council at the Love & Laughter event

Shabbos focusing on injecting positivity back into marriages. Their vision is to have each shul in the community on one particular Shab-

bos focus on the topic of marriage in a positive, uplifting way. Based on the wonderful feedback received from the Evening of Love & Laugh-

ter symposium, we know that this is something that the community has been waiting for.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

rried a m g tin t e g at s v n h a S h f 43 orp ho t n o m in the Maranan HaGeonim HaTzaddikim Rabbis B. Finkel and E. Biderman shlit"a – "Whoever brings joy to the 43 orphans getting married in Shvat by donating 430 shekel [$129.00] to the Kupat Ha'ir fundraiser,

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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MTA Places Second at CIJE Hack-A-Thon

TA took second place at the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Hack-A-Thon held on Wednesday, January 29 at Yeshiva University. The event brought together 170 students from 18 different schools, who were divided into teams and given five hours and the necessary computer hardware to develop solutions that address environmental problems. MTA’s team created a revolutionary robot that

makes recycling easy and efficient. The robot recognizes the difference between non-recyclable and recyclable items, as well as the different

Makkos Mania at YOSS

ast week, the children at YOSS ECC enjoyed their annual Makkos Mania Exploration. The children explored the makkos that they learned about in Parshas Vaeira and Bo in a hands-on and

calm way. Some of the highlights were frog hopping races, grasshopper rock climbing, veterinarian kits to take care of the animals that were sick, and jumping on “boily” bubble wrap.

types of recyclable items, and sorts each one into its proper receptacle accordingly. MTA’s team members were excit-

ed to use the skills they have been learning in their engineering courses to help problem solve and make a positive impact on the world.

MTA Robotics Team Wins Big at First Tech Challenge Qualifier

By Elishama Marmon

n Sunday, January 26, MTA’s Robotics team put on an incredible performance at the First Tech Challenge Qualifier. The team’s robot outranked more than 30 other robots to take first place during the ranking portion of the event and came in second by only a few points in a nail- biting final match during

the elimination rounds. The team also won an award for innovative design for developing a system that enables the robot to scan the field for a specific game element and then pick it up. Both of MTA’s Robotics teams have now advanced out of the First Tech Challenge qualifying round and will move on to the city-wide championship.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

JEP/Nageela Brings Harmony to the Five Towns Community By Jennifer S. Zwiebel

n February 15, 16, and 22, JEP/Nageela will present Harmony XIII to the community for the very first time. Thousands of women and girls in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway neighborhoods will participate in the exclusive song and dance performances for three nights of near sold-out shows while supporting the long-standing community kiruv organization. For Evy Guttman, the director, chief choreographer, and super-energetic producer of all the girl’s pieces, Harmony is a labor of love, as she effortlessly orchestrates hundreds of young girls from different schools to create a beautifully synchronized performance for all to enjoy. “Being able to have a show like Harmony is an incredible thing in our community,” said Mrs. Guttman, who also teaches grades 9-12 at TAG High School. “It gives the girls the opportunity to shine, make new friends from other schools and grades, and

Harmony’s Kayli Joseph, Batya Travis, and Karen Daitchman

The Kaplan Dance Ensemble from Harmony XII in 2018

most importantly empowers them to use their talents for a cause as wonderful as JEP/Nageela. Harmony has reached unprecedented numbers this year, with over 400 girls performing. We are very excited that we were able to accommodate every girl that wanted to participate. “It would be impossible to pull off without the hard work and hours that my high school assistants put in! They bring the fresh talent, organi-

zation and verve to the production. I am also grateful to the ‘Harmony Alumni’ who are back from seminary and make time in their busy lives to help as well. We even have many of our choreographers who were performers as kids who have the chance to give back by working on Harmony now as young adults. I like how it comes full circle for them.” Adult performers of the Five Towns/Far Rockaway also have a chance to shine once again with the amazingly talented Women’s Choir directed by Karen Daitchman and Kayli Joseph. Three dances are being performed by women this year, two directed by Rivky Weissman and one by Yaffi Kaplan. The women who dance always bring their excellent gifts to the stage with their beautiful and highly original dances. Harmony is the brainchild of Mrs. Batya Travis and her company, Kol Rayus Productions. “Being the founder of Harmony 28 years ago has brought me tremendous joy and nachas,” she says. “Watching women from across the community and beyond using their artistic abilities to bring ‘harmony’ and form lasting friendships is something I could have only dreamed of. Without the tireless efforts of Karen Daitchman, Kayli Joseph, Ricky Molinsky, Shelley Winkler and Evy Guttman, the celebration of talented women young and old, Harmony would not have grown and perhaps had such an impact as it has today. May Hashem continue to bless our efforts and may we see the coming of Moshiach in our days.” Shayna Wasser has been performing in Harmony for the past few years and is now a choir/voice head.

She said the experience gives the girls a chance to shine respectively with their individual talents. “This year is even more meaningful to me as the beneficiary is JEP, an organization that my family has been involved in for many years.” Her father is Israel Wasser, a very active board member for JEP/Nageela. This year, Harmony will benefit JEP/Nageela. The Lawrence-based organization has been presenting the core values of Yiddishkeit to countless children from different walks of life in a fun and inspirational way for over 30 years. Led by Rabbi Dovid Shenker, the beauty of our Jewish lifestyle is brought to kids who otherwise may not have had a Shabbos experience or Torah-observant role models like the many volunteers who come from the Five Towns area to work at Camp Nageela sleepaway camp and year-round programs such as Shabbatons and seasonal retreats. So far, Harmony XIII with JEP/ Nageela includes the following generous sponsors: Gourmet Glatt; Maidenbaum; Pin It Realty; American Cool Air; Spring; SHMA Camps; Steven Krauss, DDS, MPH; Tiffany Dry Cleaners; Green Home Solutions; Vent Right; Fame; Junee & Junee Jr.; Nutrition By Tanya; Mosquito Shield; Rubin Orthodontics; the Jewish Home, and the 5TJT. To sponsor Harmony XIII and give your business exposure to thousands of girls and women in the community, please contact 917-715-2415 for more information. Harmony Playbills will be distributed to all who attend the three performances, February 15, 16 and 22. To purchase Harmony tickets, attain a sponsorship, or to give a shout out in the Playbill to your superstar, please visit jepli.org/harmony.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Fun & Teamwork at JSL Sports Leagues

his past week, the 5 Towns JSL Sports Leagues wrapped up its annual fall/winter season with amazing championship games. Featuring hockey, basketball & soccer leagues, this past season was phenomenal, culminating in excellent teamwork, beautiful middos, competitive gameplay, and exciting matchups. Already in its fourth year, JSL Sports Leagues has taken the community by storm, featuring leagues for close to 500 participants each year, from various parts of the community. “We are both Camp Munk guys,” says founders and directors Tuli Urbach and Nachi Gordon. “We realized there was a void during the long school year where kids, teenagers and even adults were missing the competitive and fun experience of playing sports in a professional, fun, kosher, and

healthy environment that they experience during the summer months. “We know how important and valuable it is for children, teenagers and adults to have healthy, fun, and kosher outlets, and we wanted to provide that niche to as many children and adults in the community as possible. “Baruch Hashem, we have seen

tremendous growth since we founded the league four years ago, and we have received such wonderful feedback from parents, mechanchim, and even the boys themselves of how much of a difference our league has made on their personal growth throughout the school year.” JSL Sports Leagues hosts its games in the Lawrence Middle

School and offers leagues in the fall and spring seasons for boys kindergarten through high school and men 18-years-old and up. For more information and to register for their upcoming spring season, visit their website at 5tjsl. com or email 5townsjsl@gmail.com.

YCQ Hosts Its Annual Yachad Shabbaton

eshiva of Central Queens hosted its annual Yachad Shabbaton on January 31-February

1, Shabbat Parsha Bo, when students, staff and alumni from the yeshiva gathered to share in a Shabbat filled

with learning, ruach, and the making of new friends. Community members opened their homes to house Yachad members and staff, making it possible for them to participate in this amazing Shabbbaton. Yachad, the flagship program of the Orthodox Union’s National Jewish Council for Disabilities, teamed with YCQ to allow for the children in Yachad to have the opportunity to feel included in Shabbat, as well as teach the students of YCQ tolerance, acceptance, and compassion.

and songs run by the Yachad staff. Dvrei Torah were given following each meal by YCQ students and Yachad members, and Shabbat ended with a beautiful Havdalah, followed by a Melave Malka with dancing. Participation by students in the Shabbaton is voluntary. As the grade 8 students start to plan for high school, their next step in their education, a program like this gives them the tools needed for them to be well-rounded students. It teaches acceptance, and understanding and creates a quality

The yearly program affords the opportunity for grade 8 students to get to know Yachad members and to enjoy a spiritual Shabbat with them during meals, learning and socializing through davening together and participating in a variety of activities

within each student where they accept and believe that everyone belongs. These qualities will instill in them what it takes to be leaders and community advocates for Klal Yisroel, as they continue their journey towards the future.

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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Around the Community

Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s seventh grade talmidim of Rav Dovid Frischman with Rav Yisroel Reisman, rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaas, in Brooklyn on Thursday

Annual Reception for Mosdos Munkacs This Sunday

he accomplishments of the Munkacser Mosdos are world renowned, and the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities have always considered it a privilege to be involved in their holy work. Once again, the community excitedly looks forward to the Annual Breakfast in benefit of the Munkacser Mosdos. Supporters are marking the date of Sunday, February 9, to join in the great honor of assisting the Munkacser Mosdos and basking in the presence of the esteemed Munkacser Rebbe. As in years prior, the esteemed Munkacser Rebbe, shlita, will be in attendance during this much-heralded event, delivering words of inspiration and chizuk to all participants. Many cherish the chance to meet with the Rebbe, as he presides over this celebrated occasion in benefit of Mosdos Munkacs – Yeshiva and Kollel Chaim V’Shalom Zichron Tzvi. Since the Rebbe, shlita, rarely appears outside

of his “hoif” in Boro Park, this is an exceptional opportunity for members of the community to meet and hear divrei Torah from the Rebbe. The Munkacser Torah institutions worldwide are a continuation of the vast and elaborate network inaugurated by the previous Munkacser Rebbes. They are expanded and proliferated by today’s esteemed Munkacser Rebbe, shlita, Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich. The current Munkacser Rebbe, shlita, is an illustrious Torah personage, whose wisdom and eminent leadership have imbued the Torah world with grandeur and greatness. The Rebbe is a grandson of Rabbi Chaim Eluzar Spira, zt”l, renowned author of Minchas Eluzar. Chaim V’Shalom Zichron Tzvi, one of the jewels in the crown of Munkacs Torah Institutions worldwide, flourishes under the dynamic governance of the Rebbe’s son-in-law, HaRav HaGaon R’ Yosef Horowitz, shlita. The Rosh Yeshiva, following the guidance

of his father-in-law, is completely devoted toward the spiritual success of his talmidim. This towering edifice of Torah and yiras shamayim has gained much admiration as an establishment that cultivates excellence in each of its students. The event will be hosted once again by Mr. and Mrs. Yussie Ostreicher at their gracious Lawrence home at 184 Wildacre Avenue. The Kollel Chaim V’Shalom Zichron Tzvi is named in memory of Yussie’s beloved father R’ Hershel (Tzvi) Ostreicher, a”h, and the Ostreichers have opened their home for this benefit for many years. The Ostreicher family is deeply rooted to Munkacs by generations of heartfelt devotion, stemming all the way back to the glory days of pre-Holocaust Europe. Yussie’s paternal grandfather, Reb Menachem Ostreicher, a”h, served as one of the Roshei Kehillah in Munkacs and helped spearhead the community under the direction of the previous

Munkacser Rebbe, Rav Chaim Eluzar Spira, zt”l, the revered Minchas Eluzar. That warmth and closeness continue to this day. Yussie and his family maintain a special relationship and a singular connection with the Munkacser Rebbe, shlita. This year’s function is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Helen Ostreicher, a”h, mother of the host, Mr. Yussie Ostreicher, and, as it is in the year of her passing, it is a most meaningful dedication. The featured keynote guest speaker will be Rabbi Leibel Rand, Rosh Kollel Avreichim of Lawrence-Far Rockaway. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. and a delectable repast will be served. What better way to spend a Sunday morning than by helping a great mossad of Torah, while enjoying a delicious meal with like-minded friends. The Ostreicher family looks forward to greeting you.

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

‫בס”ד‬

Five Towns Reception To Benefit

MOSDOS MUNKACS

Yeshiva And Kollel Chaim V’Shalom Zichron Tzvi Dedicated to the memory of Reb Hershel Ostreicher ‫ע"ה‬

at the home of

Mr. & Mrs. Yussie Ostreicher 184 Wildacre Avenue, Lawrence, New York on

February 9th, 2020

Sunday

‫ י"ד שבט תש"פ‬- ‫א' יתרו‬

9:30 a.m. OF

‫הרב הגאון רבי לייב הכהן ראנד שליט"א‬

‫כ"ק מרן אדמו"ר שליט"א ממונקאטש‬

‫ פאר ראקאוועי‬- ‫ראש כולל אברכים ד'לארענס‬

THE MUNKACSER REBBE ‫שליט"א‬

THIS YEARS RECEPTION IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. HELEN OSTREICHER ‫ע“ה‬

‫המסיבה להחזקת התורה מוקדשת‬ ‫לעילוי נשמתה של האשה החשובה‬ ‫מרת חי׳ נחמה בת ר׳ משה יוסף ע״ה עסטרייכער‬ ‫נפטרה ביום י״א אייר תשע״ט לפ״ק‬

We Look Forward To Greeting You Personally

The Committee

RABBINICAL COMMITTEE RABBI YAAKOV BENDER RABBI MEIR BRAUNSTEIN RABBI MOSHE BROWN RABBI EYTAN FEINER RABBI YAAKOV FEITMAN

RABBI TZVI FLAUM RABBI AVROHOM HALPERN RABBI ELISHA HOROWITZ RABBI NAFTALI JAEGER RABBI YEHOSHUA KALISH

RABBI MORDECHAI KAMENETZKY RABBI CHAIM MORDECHAI KATZ RABBI SIMCHA LEFKOWITZ RABBI URI ORLIAN RABBI YAAKOV REISMAN

RABBI YANKEL RUBIN M'SULITZA RABBI DOVID SPIEGEL RABBI MORDECHAI STERN RABBI MOSHE TEITELBAUM RABBI MOSHE WEINBERGER

COMMITTEE BARRY BOKOW ALEX EDELMAN DAVID FRIEDMAN BERISH FUCHS SHABSE FUCHS YITZCHOK GANGER DANNY GERBER YUSSIE GROSS HESHY GRUNBERGER

NOSON JOSEPHY MENDY KLEIN MICHAEL LOPIANSKY DAVID LYONS DAVID MALEK BENNY MANDEL DAVID MANDEL USHER MANDEL HILLEL MOERMAN

BERNIE NAGELBERG CHESKY NEWMAN ARI OSTREICHER DOVID OSTREICHER EPHRAM OSTREICHER MILTON OSTREICHER YUSSIE OSTREICHER TZVI PERL JUDAH PERLSTEIN

MUTTY RIBOWSKY ASHER SCHONKOPF SENDER SCHWARTZ SHYA HERSH SCHWARTZ YITZCHOK STEG YOAV TAUB DAVID VEGH ROBBY VEGH SHALOM VEGH

YAAKOV VEGH DOV WARMAN MOSHE WEISS ELI WILAMOWSKY SHLOMO WILAMOWSKY ZVI WILAMOWSKY SHULIE WOLLMAN KENNETH ZITTER

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Multisensory Alphabet Learning Rabbi Romi Cohen Gives House t HALB Lev Chana, our and had conversations about floating Opening Prayer and sinking items.

teachers are always looking for fun, innovative, and multi-sensory ways to facilitate the learning of new information by our children. In our 4-year-old nursery classes, using Handwriting Without Tears as our guide, the morot introduce the children to alphabet letters through visual, auditory, concrete, and sensory experiences. For example, the children learned about quicksand for the letter Q. They looked at, felt, and combined three ingredients, cornstarch, sand and water, and reported their observations while their morot encouraged them to make connections to prior knowledge. “It looks dirty and black,” it was grainy and felt like porridge, “it felt like the ooblik from last week” were some of their remarks. They then took turns putting their hands in the quicksand

Floating and sinking conversations were also happening when the children watched, enchanted and fascinated, as grapes were placed in two clear containers, one with water and one with seltzer. At first, the grapes lay on the bottom of the bowl and then they began to rise and “dance.” The children, encouraged by their morot, began thinking of reasons why the grapes were dancing. Finally, one boy noticed the bubbles attached to the grape and said that “it looks like there are balloons all over carrying the grape.” Without realizing it, the child was describing the beginnings of the scientific concept of buoyancy. A “quality” and “great” time was had by all! PHOTO CREDIT: OFFICE OF REP. MAX ROSE

An Exciting Expansion

he first phase of DRS Yeshiva High School’s campus expansion campaign is completed! Students saw some of the changes on the campus when they returned from winter vacation as two new parking lots were added to the campus and the new outdoor basketball court was completed, with six hoops. Last Friday, the school inaugurated the new basketball court in a special ceremony. DRS Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky was given the first shot in the new court, and then

delivered some words of chizuk and hoda’ah to those who contributed to the expansion campaign and made this happen. Rabbi Kaminetsky noted that the basketball court could be seen from the Beis Medrash and that the lessons of the Beis Medrash should guide our talmidim the proper way to behave on the court. Following Rabbi Kaminetsky’s words, he played a one-on-one game against DRS Varsity captain Zachary Brown. Rabbi Kaminetsky came up short by just one point!

abbi Avraham Hakohen “Romi” Cohen delivered the opening prayer before the House of Representatives last Thursday. He was hosted by Congressman Max Rose, Member of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. Rabbi Cohen is a Holocaust survivor, activist, and a world-renowned mohel. “I’m especially honored to welcome Rabbi Cohn this week as we remember the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Rabbi Cohn’s career is merely the continuation of a life spent fighting for the Jewish faith,” said Rep. Rose in a speech on the House floor. “Rabbi Cohn saw how a democracy can be corrupted into a fascist dictatorship, and what happens when anti-Semitism is allowed to fester. Sadly, across the country we see rising hatred and anti-Semitism. Rabbi Cohn’s legacy reminds us to never accept bigotry, not when we see it in the street, and not in the halls of Congress.” “At the age of 13, as a young boy, I was condemned to death along

with my entire family by the evil of one man,” said Rabbi Cohn in his Opening Prayer. “I was saved by my Father, the Father of the Universe, who brought me to the shores of this beautiful country, the United States, the land of the free which provided me with a new safe home. Blessed be You, Master of the Universe, who has granted me life and sustenance to this day. Accept with mercy our prayers for our land, our President, Vice President and Congress. And pour out your blessings upon the United States of America.”

Did you know? The Arizal would eat 15 varieties of fruit on Tu B’Shvat.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

New Health Insurance Program at the JCCRP

he importance of health insurance and medical care is well-known to everyone. Health insurance is necessary for individuals to maintain their health and to help cover the costs of medical bills. Statistics show that “one in five (21%) non-elderly adults without coverage said that they went without needed care in the past year because of cost compared to 4% of adults with private coverage and 7% of adults with public coverage” (Toldbert, Orgera, Singer and Daico, 2019). Although health insurance is essential for every person, the health insurance field is not always easy to navigate. For example, many times an individual will encounter an outof-network doctor that is not covered under their insurance, or they may

JCCRP’s Moshe Brandsdorfer advocating on the steps of City Hall

have a large hospital bill that they are unable to pay. Since many different issues can arise while being insured, having someone to help navigate the waters of the health insurance field can be very beneficial. The Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, also known as the JCCRP, is a social service agency providing many different services throughout the community. They are now offering a service called MCCAP - Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program. The program’s goal is to help clients have an easier time when it comes to dealing with coverage issues. MCCAP is aimed at helping New York City residents who are experiencing a loss or an issue in coverage and to assist them to remain covered and ensured.

Councilman Mark Levine, Chair of NYC Council on Health, at the kickoff event

The program was cut after the recession in 2009, leaving a gap in crucial services. The JCCRP leadership was on the forefront of advocating for renewing this program. “We are so appreciative to the Speaker of the NYC Council Corey Johnson (D-3) and to our local Councilmember Donovan Richards (D-31) for restoring these services and investing in our health care,” exclaimed Moshe Brandsdorfer, executive director of the JCCRP. NYC awarded twelve organizations with this reinstated service under the leadership of Community Service Society. MCCAP helps individuals with medical billing issues, loss of coverage, drug coverage issues, appeals and denials for Medicaid and Medi-

care, as well as appeals and grievances for Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan. Individuals will be able to meet with an educated case manager who can assess their situation and guide them in the right direction. This program will enable an individual to acquire the tools necessary to navigate health insurance issues. Moshe Brandsdorfer, executive director of the JCCRP, states, “This is a wonderful service that will help people remain insured and save money.” The MCCAP program will be able to help clients in an efficient and timely manner and will lessen the burden that people experience while encountering a health insurance issue.

Malka Pill, MCCAP coordinator, meets with a community member

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

T h e C e l e b r aT i o n Co n T i n u e s y o u a r e c o r d i a l ly i n v i T e d

ad deadline

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

PHOTO CREDIT: PINCHAS LIPSKY AND NAFTOLI FEITMAN

Chaverim Appreciation Dinner

Rabbi Yaakov Trump, rav of Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst

n Thursday January 30, over 60 members of Chaverim of Five Towns and Rockaways gathered at their annual Member Appreciation Dinner held at Bais Tefila of Inwood. The dinner celebrates the Chaverim participants, all of whom are volunteers who give hours of their time to help motorists in need. During the delicious buffet dinner, Nassau County Executive Laura

Curran and Town of Hempstead 3rd District Council Member Bruce A. Blakeman addressed the members and described their great admiration for Chaverim. We would like to thank Rabbi Boruch B. Bender, Pesach Osina, Village of Cedarhurst Trustee Israel Wasser, Leslie Moulds Deputy Inspector of the 4th Precinct, Scott Cushing representing the Town of Hempstead, and Beth Mehlman,

TOH Councilman Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Unit F50 Ahron Slater, Binyamin Lipsky, Coordinator, and Village of Cedarhurst Trustee Izzy Wasser

Community Liaison to Congresswoman Kathleen Rice’s office, for coming out on a very busy night and stopping by and showing their support for Chaverim. A special mention of appreciation to Rabbi Yaakov Trump, rav of the vibrant community of Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, who gave an inspiring D’var Torah to the members about the importance of the work they do for our community. In addition, Cedarhurst Trustee Israel Wasser gave Chaverim a plaque. Another award was presented to Unit F50, Ahron Slater, who went above and beyond the call of duty this past year. Following the awards and speeches was the highly anticipated entertainment, featuring John Pizzi who performed some mind-boggling

stand-up comedy and ventriloquism which left everyone in laughter and amazement. Most importantly, the members came away inspired, knowing that what they do makes a real difference in the community and is greatly appreciated. 2019 was a very busy and successful year for Chaverim. We received over 3,500 calls – a record for Chaverim – with over 90% of the responses within 5 minutes or less. We also run Defensive Driving Class programs and carseat safety inspection events throughout the year. Chaverim is also planning to continue their program to teach many basic car functionalities to new drivers in high schools throughout the community. Please stay tuned for new developments by following us on social media and our brand-new website.

Rabbi Paysach Krohn spoke at The Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center last week on the topic of “Stop the Hate”

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

BNOS BAIS YAAKOV

26TH ANNUAL DINNER

Honoring

DR. AKIVA AND MRS. MALIA BERGMAN

Guests of Honor

MR. MICHAEL AND MRS. LILY WEICHHOLZ

Parents of t he Year

MR. YOSEF AND MRS. VIVI MOSKOWITZ

Kesser Shem Tov Award MR. SHLOMO AND MRS. HINDI SALAMON

Amudim Award

SEVENTY FIVE YEARS SINCE THE LIBERATION

Paying Tribute to the She’aris Hapleita

OUR GRANDPARENT SURVIVORS

Dinner Chairmen

RABBI BARAK LEVY DAVID SOLOMON

‫כ״ב אדר‬ ‫תש״פ‬

Journal Chairmen AVI FELDMAN DOVID HELFGOTT

03 18 20

Campaign Chairmen YITZI FRIED ADAM OKUN

The Sands Atlantic Beach RECEPTION 6:30

DINNER 7:30

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Science Comes Alive at IVDU LI

Leibi Kagan of The Rebbes Choice at a tasting in Gourmet Glatt in Cedarhurst this week

“Out of the Box” Play at Gan Chamesh

cience has come alive at IVDU Long Island with the students completing hands-on activities to experience the learning that is going on in the classrooms. In Mrs. Goldstein’s class, the students explored how things turn from gas to liquid to solids and back again. They experimented and hypothesized how liquids would react in different temperatures and noted their findings. In Mrs. Karr’s class, the children learned about the blubber

that helps keep polar bears warm. They made their own blubber using margarine and tested the effect it had on their hands in cold water with blubber on and without. The children felt the cold when their hands were in the ice water directly, while their hands were nice and warm when they were “wearing” the blubber on their hands. At IVDU Long Island, learning is visual, hands-on, and often a multi-sensory experience!

“Morah, They’re Still in Pajamas”

here was a definite air of excitement in the classrooms of Gan Chamesh, Chabad’s Early Childhood Center, as the preschool began “Box Week.” Inspired by the upcoming holiday of Tu B’Shevat and the idea of taking care of Hashem’s beautiful world by recycling, Gan Chamesh instituted Box Week as a means of letting the children’s imaginations soar as they play and experiment with all different kinds of boxes. The children collected boxes of all shapes and sizes and proudly brought their collections to school. The regular classroom toys were set aside, and the boxes took center stage. The children used the boxes to create massive towers, railroad stations, rocket ships, and houses. Empty food boxes and canisters

lined the shelves of the dramatic play and kitchen areas as well. The box experience appealed to the children’s sense of engineering and architecture, as they judged which boxes work best as a foundation for their structures. Box Week provided a medium for problem solving and cooperation as the children devised their masterpieces together and participated in animated discussions about which boxes should be used to achieve a specific purpose. In light of the success of Box Week, many of the classrooms at Gan Chamesh will be extending the experience well into the next several weeks. Box Week was just one of the many hands-on, exciting activities that the children experienced to help them internalize the beauty of Tu B’Shevat.

rev Shabbos of Parshas Bo is always exciting at the Gesher Early Childhood Center. It is the annual pajama party, recounting and recreating the story of Paraoh in pajamas searching for Moshe in the middle of the night. The children enjoy the experience of a dressed down Friday while

using dramatic play to reinforce what they have learned that week. While the activity is geared for the preschool-age students, this year the lesson was shared by the first grade as well. Aleeza P. told her morah: “Morah, the kids in the yellow room and downstairs forgot to get dressed this morning! They are still in pajamas!”

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

MAY “Phone Home” Ski Trips

Boys from Rabbi Meltzer’s sixth grade class at Yeshiva of South Shore enjoyed a bowling trip for finishing Sefer Bereishis with Shnayim Mikra V’Echad Targum

YOSS “Cook Off” Assists with Integral Math Concepts

his year, the ninth and tenth grades at MAY are cellphone-free, thanks to a unique program now in its second year of operation. At MAY, the term “phone home” has a radical new meaning under a program fully embraced by the talmidim. For many years, MAY required talmidim to deposit phones and other electronic devices in designated cellphone lockers at the beginning of the day. However, that has largely been replaced by the “Phone Home” program, which was the brainchild of the Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Yehuda Horowitz, and the two ninth grade Rabbeim, Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield and Rabbi Avi Schulman. The yeshiva opted against demanding that talmidim keep their cellphones at home, avoiding the consequent resentment and fear of missing out (“FOMO”). Instead, MAY decided to create a culture of voluntarily setting phones aside by offering positive incentives to motivate students. The students’ universal participation was an unprecedented response that demonstrated the power of positive chinuch and took the notion of “out of sight, out of mind” to the next level. The project has built-in incentives to motivate talmidim. A few

weeks ago, the entire ninth grade embarked on an all-expenses paid ski trip to Vermont, which included swimming, kumzitzing, and 4-star hotel accommodations. The talmidim, accompanied by their rabbeim, visited the Okemo Mountain Resort for a well-deserved, fun-filled outing of skiing and snowboarding. “The rebbeim see a difference in their talmidim,” commented Rabbi Horowitz, “It’s not only the ‘not having a phone’ on them. It’s the development of the attitude and mentality that I don’t always have to have instant access to everything and anything at all times. It’s part of being mechanech our talmidim how to use these devices properly.” The tenth grade followed with an all-expenses paid ski trip to Mountain Creek followed by a delicious dinner at Dougie’s in Teaneck. The Mesivta expresses its appreciation to the many MAY parents who see firsthand the benefit and value of this program and helped mitigate the cost of the trips. With learning sedarim and uplifting ruchniyus built into both trips, they served as both rewards and yet another opportunity to apply the signature MAY values and lessons in real-world situations.

here are many concepts in math that are important for day-to-day living and are vital skills students need to develop. Rabbi Burger constantly finds innovative ways to teach these difficult math concepts and skills to his students. Last week was no different. In order to teach the concept of equivalent ratios, Rabbi Burger’s sixth grade class baked Rice Krispies treats! Everyone loves Rice Krispies treats, and when the students heard they would be making them in math class, they were very excited but puzzled about what this has to do with math. Rabbi Burger explained that the students will re-

ceive a Rice Krispies recipe. The recipe had the ingredients for a very large serving, and the boys needed to find the equivalent ratios and divide each of the ingredients by the appropriate measure in order that the recipe come out correct. This involved many skills, including: dividing fractions, mixed number-improper fraction conversion, ratios, equivalent ratios and mixed number division. It was a phenomenal opportunity for the students to practice these skills. After the students had the correct calculations, they got to make and enjoy their delicious Rice Krispies treats!

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rav Chaim Zvi Senter, rosh yeshiva, Yeshiva Aderes HaTorah, Yerushalayim, addressing the talmidim of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo this week

Bridge Building at BYQ

A Spirited Reunion

he Bais Yaakov of Queens eighth grade STEM class’ unit on structural engineering culminated in students designing and building their own bridges. They were given specifications including that the bridge must span 14 inches and support at least 10 pounds. In addition, in the spirit of “real” engineers, they were given a budget of 200 popsicle sticks and a bottle of wood glue. The girls were excited to begin their task and each group submitted at least two design ideas for consideration before settling on the best plan. As construction began, they began to realize that bringing their ideas to actuality may be more difficult than they had initially thought. Each group tackled their unexpected snags through brainstorming and cooperation, even changing their original designs as needed. The end products of the students’ hard work far exceeded their expectations both in strength and aesthetics. Many types of bridges were represented from simple, but sturdy beam bridges to more complex arch and cable stay bridges. Each bridge was tested with weights to observe how many pounds each bridge could support. Many groups added weight until its breaking point to record the maximum weight it could hold.

D Most of the bridges held over fifty pounds. Some were even able to support a student walking across the span! The students agreed that this activity allowed them to learn lessons well beyond engineering skills.

RS is proud of its alumni who spend a year following high school learning in yeshivot in Eretz Yisroel. Every year, Rabbi Kaminetsky, Director of Israel Guidance Rabbi Avi Weber, and DRS Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Aryeh Cohen visit our alumni learning in nearly 20 different yeshivot in Israel to reconnect with them and continue to strengthen the rebbe-talmid relationship for which DRS is so famous. It gives the yeshiva tremendous nachas to see so many alumni growing through their experience in yeshiva abroad. Rabbi Kaminetsky, Rabbi

Weber, and Rabbi Cohen meet with every single student, documenting each of their experiences in order to better serve our students when helping them make their decisions of where to go to yeshiva in the future. DRS is proud that 96% of our alumni decide to spend a year after high school learning in Eretz Yisroel for a year. Rabbi Cohen holds an annual Sholosh Seudos for our alumni, this year hosted by Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. Eighty alumni came to the reunion and sang well beyond Shabbos was over.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

SUNDAY MARCH 22 7:00 PM LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

L A H CA

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

PHOTOS BY NAFTOLI GOLDGRAB

Darchei Torahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4th Grade Sukkah Fair Illuminates the Mishnayos

Fourth grade talmidim singing an original song about Mishnayos Sukkah. At left is Rav Dovid Morgenstern, menahel

Rav Eliahu Milstein with Yosef Mizrahi

Rav Menachem Hildeshaim with Dovid Kranzler

Rav Shalom Rosen with Abie Bernson

Rav Ephraim Seidenfeld with Yehuda Mezei

Rav Nechemia Weiss with Tzvi Wiesel

Rav Moshe Waxman with Rephael Schattner

Rav Yair Weinstein with Simcha Stern

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

ANNIVERSARY GALA

6 2 IL

GUE STS OF HONOR

Dr. Emma Laskin-Baum & Bart Baum BONEH YISRAEL AWARD

Amichai Lourie

WINEMAKER SHILOH WINERY

DOR Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DOR AWARD IN MEMORY OF

Gloria & Morris Grob â&#x20AC;«×¢×´×&#x201D;â&#x20AC;¬

YEDID YE SHA AWARD

KETER SHEM TOV AWARD

Hannah Lewin, Talia Loskove Molly Sigman, Isabella Weisfeld Arielle Yarmish

ACCEPTED BY THE GROB OPPENHEIMER AND POLLACK FAMILIES

Rebeka & Gabriel Boxer

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*Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have changed the date of our 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner to Sunday, April 26th. We appreciate your continued support, and look forward to greeting you at TWA. Honorary Chairs Cherna Moskowitz | RenÃ¨e Serlin & Martin Rothman Dinner Chairs Allison & Jonathan Bellows Journal Chairs Shari & David Shapiro

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community On his recent visit to the Five Towns community, HaGaon Rav Yerucham Olshin, shlita, included a visit to Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. The Lakewood Rosh HaYeshiva joined the Mesivta for Shacharis on Sunday morning and delivered divrei chizuk afterwards. Each talmid had the opportunity to give shalom to the Rosh HaYeshiva who received the talmidim with his signature, genuine warmth and interest. MAY would like to thank Mr. Dovid Solomon for making the arrangements for this visit.

Rabbi Steinberg and his fifth grade talmidim at HALB brought Masechet Sukkah to life! Each student created a model which represented one of the cases in the Mishnah that they are learning about this year. The Sukkah Fair was a hands-on, interactive celebration which demonstrated the hard work and creativity of each of the students.

A Prestigious Honor

n Thursday, Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein personally congratulated Richard (Ricky) Sasson, a senior at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School, who has been nominated to the 2020 United States Presidential Scholars Program, following Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein’s recommendation to the New York State Education Department. Every year, a select group of high school students across the United States receives the prestigious honor of being nominated to the U.S. Presidential Scholar program, which is designed to honor our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. “I am delighted that Ricky Sasson has reached an advanced level in the nomination process following my recommendation for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program,” said Assemblyman Eichenstein. “He is a well-rounded scholar in academics as

well as performance arts and sports, making him the ideal candidate for this program. I congratulate Ricky and his family on this incredible honor and wish him well in the coming process.” The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the president, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

bake ‘nbuy ‘n buy i-Shine Annual

IN MEMORY OF DANIELLA VOGEL A”H

At the home of Bonnie & Heshie Schertz 88 Margaret Ave, Lawrence

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Wednesday, February 19 4:00PM - 9:00PM Thursday, February 20 10:00AM - 7:00PM

Bake something delicious. Buy something wonderful. Bring smiles to i-Shine’s children. Baked goods can be dropped off & purchased at any time during these hours.

For more information contact Stacey Zrihen 516-316-5290 // zrihen@verizon.net

Annette Kaufman, Stacey Zrihen, Sheri Hammer, Coordinators • Andy Lauber, Director www.ishinechailifeline.org Daniella Vogel A”H

WITH A SELECTION OF

T PRIZ

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Midreshet Shalhevet Responds to Anti-Semitism with Chessed

“C

hessed is an integral part of our diverse curriculum where we focus on our students’ academic development as well as their personal growth,” explains Menahelet Mrs. Eisenman. She continues, “Understanding the importance of chessed in our daily lives is critical as Torah observant Jews.” This winter, students from Midreshet Shalhevet (MSH) did just that: learned the significance of chessed and then acted upon this vital life lesson. After hearing about the horrific tragedies that took place in Jersey City and Monsey, the MSH student body rallied together to show their support and appreciation for both the aveilim and the community’s local law enforcement and fire department. Members of the senior class accompanied Assistant Principal Shaindy Lisker to the home of Moshe Deutsch, z”l, to pay their respects to his mother and sisters.

Student Tammy Ziegler explains, “Even though it was extremely difficult to visit the Deutsch family, MSH prepared me on the halachot of visiting someone who is sitting shiva and the greater importance of visiting this family at this tragic time.” “Understanding that we are not

just responsible for our friends within our MSH community, but that Kol Yisrael areivim zeh la zeh, we must also care about all of Klal Yisrael, is a vital lesson that we teach all our students,” explains Mrs. Lisker. Moreover, during shiur klali all MSH students wrote condolence let-

ters to the aveilim, Mr. Rordiguez’s family, and fallen police officer Detective Joseph Seals’ family, as well as letters of gratitude for MSH’s local police precinct and fire department. Additionally, members of the student government brought doughnuts and thank you cards to the local police precinct and fire department expressing their hakarat hatov and thanking them for working to keep the school safe every day. Student government leader and tenth grader Kalya Feldman states, “I never really thought about how we rely on our local fire department to be there for us until one day we had a fire drill with the fire department, and I saw how quickly they arrived on campus. Also, the police department really appreciated our visit and thanked us for recognizing their work.” MSH clearly is a small school with a big heart developing both the minds and souls of its students.

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Klal Yisrael Prepares for Dirshu’s Colossal Celebration of Authentic Torah Achievement HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, Shlita, and Many Senior Gedolei Yisrael to Participate By Chaim Gold

“O

ur Father is making a simcha! This is a simcha of Hashem Yisborach Himself who is saying, ‘chazu banai chavivai – Look at my dear children who forget all their difficulties and immerse themselves in Torah to such an extent that they have taken tests on all of Shas!’” These were the impassioned words of HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, last month at the massive Dirshu World Siyum at the Yad Eliyahu Stadium in Tel Aviv, when he addressed thousands of Yidden who had taken Dirshu tests throughout Shas; among them more than 400 “Shas Yidden” who had

been tested cumulatively on all of Shas! In the United States, however, the Torah accomplishments of heroic lomdei Dirshu, especially the myriad true Shas Yidden who have invested their hearts and neshamos into learning and being tested, have never been celebrated on the grand scale that they deserve. This coming Sunday at the Prudential Arena in Newark, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and at the Newark Symphony Hall, a grand celebration of true Torah accomplishment of lomdei Torah who have learned, toiled, reviewed, reviewed and reviewed yet again and have been tested on Shas, will be celebrated by all of Klal Yisrael led

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by Gedolei Yisrael who represent the entire gamut of Torah Jewry! Indeed, the tens of thousands of men and women attending will collectively celebrate the simcha of our Father in Newark this Sunday. One of the highlights of the event will be the presence of the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, who will be making the journey from Eretz Yisrael specifically to attend and address the siyum. Rav Dovid has seen firsthand the colossal positive impact that learning with Dirshu programs has had on his talmidim and will share his deep impressions as well as the magnitude of the simcha that will celebrate the eternal, unbreakable bond between Klal Yisrael and the Torah Hakedosha. There will be numerous other roshei yeshiva, admorim, rabbonim and dayanim both from the United States and abroad who will be gracing this truly historic event where the simcha of immense Torah achievement will be celebrated. A New Generation of Real Kinyan Shas Yidden The Dirshu World Siyum in America this Sunday will be a celebration of hodaah al ha’avar, thanks for the past – thousands of Shas Yidden was a concept that many thought was nearly extinct, a dream from pre-war Europe before Hitler murdered the towering gaonim of the past – as well as a bakasha and celebration of the asid, the future. Beginning with Masechta Brachos, many thousands of new lomdim have joined Dirshu’s accountable Kinyan Shas program where, as Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, recently said with tremendous emotion, “Chavrei Dirshu don’t ‘do the Daf,’ they don’t ‘learn the Daf,’ they LIVE the Daf! The Daf is their life, it is their very essence, it is the air that they breathe! A Dirshu Yid wakes up in the morning thinking about the Daf

and goes to sleep thinking about the Daf. A Dirshu Yid leaves no crack and crevice in his day for the yetzer hara to enter. He takes advantage of every minute to learn; more, better, deeper. He is not satisfied with a small chelek in Torah, he wants a kinyan and that comes with total commitment to learning.” This will be celebrated this Sunday, at the massive completely soldout events at the Prudential Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and by Dirshu women at the New Jersey Symphony Hall, all in Newark, and by tens of thousands more who will tune in on various platforms to the live-streaming of the World Siyum all over the world. The Front-Line Heroes and the Behind-the-Scenes Heroines The obvious heroes of Dirshu are those Yidden who day in and day out, year in and year out, plug away, learning and chazzering, such as the Yid from Antwerp who was at the recent Dirshu European Siyum in London. This yungerman works in a supermarket and returns home daily at 6:00 p.m. On the week of his Dirshu test, after returning home from work, eating a quick dinner and seeing his wife and children, this yungeman goes to sleep for several hours. At 12:00 a.m., he is back in the bais medrash where he learns for 7-8 hours until Shacharis! This is something that he has done repeatedly for more than 7 years! It wasn’t a one time thing. That yungerman and any other lomdei Dirshu would not be able to do what they do without their equal partners in learning, the heroic Dirshu wives who possess unparalleled love of Torah and are willing to sacrfice so much because they love the Torah so much. Indeed, most of them don’t look at what they do as a sacrifice because the payback in simchas hachaim, love of Torah, and sipuk hanefesh that their hus-

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Around the Community

L-R: HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and HaRav Gershon Edelstein at the recent Dirshu World Siyum in Yad Eliyahu

bands and children derive as a result makes it all worthwhile. At the Newark Symphony Hall, the climactic events at the Prudential Center will be shown live. In addition, the women there will be treated to special programing designed just for them. A keynote address will be given by the prestigious Rebbetzin Sarah Meisels, a daughter of the illustrious Bobover Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Halberstam, zt”l. There will also be a live original musical production made especially for the Dirshu World Siyum

by world renowned inspirational composer and singer Mrs. Miriam Israeli as well as live productions by Mrs. Bracha Jaffe and Mrs. Malky Giniger and much more. Guidance and Support from Senior Gedolei Yisrael The siyum in America is the culmination and climax of an entire series of Dirshu World Siyumim throughout the World, from Yerushalayim to Manchester, from France to Johannesburg, from London to Tel Aviv…where Torah Jews

have gathered to show how much they value accountable limud haTorah and how Dirshu is literally transforming the Torah landscape throughout the world. It is the Gedolei Yisrael from all over the world, however, who are setting the tone by serving as Dirshu’s guiding lights in all matters and showing Klal Yisrael how much they value the complete revolution in limud haTorah that Dirshu has accomplished. The venerated Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, who rarely

ventures from his home, came with great mesiras nefesh to the Dirshu Siyum several weeks ago in Yad Eliyahu. He wrote, “In our times, there is no greater yom tov than today – when thousands of talmidei chachomim in the Dirshu program have completed Shas!” The Sanzer Rebbe, shlita, expressed his joy about the grand scale siyumim, “It is clear that more people are joining the Daf HaYomi because of the large gatherings celebrating the accomplishments of the lomdim. Recently, while traveling to and from America, I saw so many Yidden learning the Daf HaYomi. This wasn’t always the case. Large siyumim facilitate so much limud haTorah!” Perhaps the greatest way to encapsulate the simchas haTorah of the World Siyum to be held this Sunday are the words said by the Gadol Hador, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, at Dirshu’s previous World Siyum when, at the age of 103, he came with mesiras nefesh. He said, “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. It is good,” Rav Shteinman exclaimed forcefully, “to make gatherings like this! They strengthen us all, especially in [difficult times] like this...”

Illuminate Your Home With an Exquisite Hazorfim Candelabra Free silver matchbox holder with every purchase of a candelabra

ow is the time to upgrade your home and your Shabbos with one of Hazorfim’s splendid sterling silver candelabras. Whether you plan to gift yourself or someone special, a Hazorfim candelabra will not fail to add a dimension of grandeur and splendor to the home. All of Hazorfim’s fine silver items are designed exclusively by Hazorfim owner Yakov Merdinger, known as the leading silversmith in the world today. Yakov began his career at the young age of 8, when he first learned the craft from his father, Yosef Merdinger, z”l, who founded Hazorfim in 1952 together with two partners. Indeed, by the

time he was 13, Yakov was already creating dozens of stunning original designs, some of which have become classics and are still being produced today. From its humble beginnings in a tiny room in Holon, and later to a large workshop in Tel Aviv, Hazorfim has grown in leaps in bounds and today produces over 400 new items daily in factories around the world – from Kfar Daniel in Israel, to Turkey and Italy. Yakov’s vision, creativity and business acumen alongside his artistic brilliance have made him a leader in the field. Today, Hazorfim’s fine silver items are found in over three million homes where they are used

to beautify and sanctify Shabbos and Yom Tov. At Hazorfim you will find the largest variety of fine silver candelabras ever, created by the world’s number one silversmith. Visit Hazorfim at our flagship store in Borough Park at 4424 13th Ave, or in Williamsburg at 67 Lee Ave. Hazorfim has also opened three new locations: 1412 Avenue M in Flatbush, 167 E. Kennedy Blvd in Lakewood, and at Regal Silver, 7 Van Buren Drive in Monroe. And now, for a limited-time, with every purchase of a candelabra, receive a sterling silver matchbox holder, absolutely free! Offer valid until February 22 or while quantities last.

FEBRUARY29, 6, 2020 OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home

TJH

Centerfold

Take It or Leaf It...

You gotta be

kidding

Two bats are sitting in a tree. One of them gets hungry for blood, so he flies out.

What do you call a military tree who doesn’t return on time? Absent without leaf.

A short time later, he returns with his whole face covered in blood.

What happens when a tree falls into mud? It leafs an impression.

“Where did you get all that blood?” asked the second bat eagerly. The first bat says, “You see that tree over there?”

What did the teaching tree do when it went overseas? It took a leaf of absence.

“No.”

Why didn’t the tree hunt? It was against his beleafs.

“Me ther.”

What type of fish falls from trees? Jel-leafish.

Brain Teasers Can you crack this?

Riddle me

this?

What’s green, fuzzy, and if it falls out of a tree it will kill you? See answer below

Answer: Trail Mix

Can you find the baby in this image?

nei-

Answer to Riddle Me This: A pool table.

76 30

The Jewish | FEBRUARY 6 The Jewish Home Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

El Capitan Hall of Famer Derek Jeter Trivia 1) How many of the 397 voters for the Hall of fame voted for Jeter to get into the 2020 Hall of Fame class? a. 235

c. 2008 d. 2011 4) How many Gold Gloves does Jeet have? a. 2

b. 323

b. 3

c. 396

d. None

2) In what year did Derek Jeter make his Major League debut? a. 1992

5) In what year did Jeter become captain of the Yankees?

b. Padres

b. 2000

c. 1995

c. Cubs

c. 2003

d. 1996

d. Red Sox

d. 2007

3) In what year did Jeter record his 2,000th hit? a. 2000 b. 2006

d. .352 9) In his junior high school yearbook, what did Jeter predict he would be in 10 years? a. Zoologist b. Shortstop for the Yankees c. Doctor

7) Which team passed up on Jeter, enabling the Yankees to sign him? a. Astros

a. 1996

b. 1994

c. Gatorade High School Player of the Year award

c. .349

d. USA Today’s High School Player of the Year

c. 5

d. 397

b. High School Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association

d. Physical trainer 10) On September 11, 2009, Jeter became the Yankees all-time hit leader. Who did he pass in order to get that title? a. Mickey Mantle

6) While in high school, which of the following awards did Jeet receive? a. B’nai B’rith Award for Scholar Athlete

8) What is Jeet’s highest yearly batting average to date?

b. Yogi Berra c. Babe Ruth d. Lou Gehrig

a. .324 b. .334

 Answers

 Scorecard 7-10 correct: You are one of those who has a life-sized cutout of Jeter in your basement... Yeah, he loves you, too! 3-6 correct: You have a healthy level of Jeter knowledge, while still having a real life.

0-2 correct: You are a true Mets fan! Derek who? We have Pete Alonzo! True, until he becomes a free agent and goes to the Yankees.

77 31

C- Jeter made his Major League debut as a fill-in for injured shortstop Tony Fernandez on May 29, 1995. He batted ninth and went 0-for-5 – C- Only one voter voted against Jeter, causing him to come up one vote short of becoming the second unanimous Hall of Famer, a feat that only his teammate, Mariano Rivera, has accomplished to date.

A- Jeter was scout-

A, B, C, D- Jeter received each of these awards.

5) 4) 3)

C B- In May 26, 2006, almost 11 years to the day after he hit No. 1, Jeter reached 2,000, singling vs. Kansas City Royals righthander Scott Elarton. not a sign of things to come.

C- In 1999, Jeter’s batting average was a career high .349 and he also hit a career high 24 homers. (Those steroids really ed heavily by Hal Newhouser, an employee of the Houston Astros, who was convinced that Jeter would anchor a winning team. Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter’s potential that he quit his job after the Astros passed on him.

10) D 9)

B- Dream big and you too may achieve greatness. In my junior high school yearbook, I predicted that in 10 years I would be the TJH Centerfold Commissioner! work wonders! Just kidding…. I can already feel the wrath of you Jeter fans. It’s a good thing you don’t know where I live!)

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Torah Thought

Parshas Beshalach By Rabbi Berel Wein

iracles occur in all sizes and shapes. Some are major, completely aberrational and beyond natural or rational explanation. Other miracles that occur to us daily in our own lives take the form of being natural events and are part of the rhythm of society and life. Major miracles command our attention, and as we see in this week’s reading of the Torah, even cause us to sing eternal songs that extend through generations of Jewish life

till our very day. Certainly, the splitting of the waters of the sea before the Jewish people, escaping from the Army of the Pharaoh of Egypt, and then for those very waters receding and covering the drowning Egyptian enemy is a miracle of major importance and thus remains indelible in the collective memory of the Jewish people. So, Moshe and his sister Miriam led the Jewish people in song to commemorate this event and to impress

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upon them the awesome quality of this major miracle. We are reminded daily in our prayers of this miracle, and the song of Moshe forms an important part of our daily morning prayer service. This type of miracle was repeated when the Jewish people crossed the river Jordan on their entry into the land of Israel after the death of Moshe and at the beginning of the reign of Joshua. This could be termed less of a miracle than what took place with the Egyptian army, yet it represented the confirmation of

for things to go just right – simply what we call normal life – countless minor miracles must take place. We recite this in our daily prayers as well, and, in fact, we do so three times a day when we acknowledge and thank G-d for these so-called minor miracles that are with us constantly – evening, morning and afternoon. This ability to recognize and give thanks for the minor miracles that constitute our daily existence stems from the fact that we experienced, in our collective memory, the great

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The commemoration and memory of the major miracle should also remind us of the so-called minor miracles that occur to us in our daily lives.

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the divine will to protect the Jewish people and to enable them to enter, inhabit, and settle the land of Israel that would be its eternal homeland over all of the millennia of civilization. However, the commemoration and memory of the major miracle should also remind us of the socalled minor miracles that occur to us in our daily lives. We are accustomed to everything going right as far as our bodies, social interactions, and commercial enterprises are concerned. But it should be obvious that

miracle that made us a People and saved us from the destruction that Pharaoh wished to visit upon us. It is this memory of the great miracle that enables us to recognize the so-called minor miracles that we are living through, especially here in the land of Israel, with the return of Jewish sovereignty. It is important to maintain the ability to recognize and be grateful for the wonders and miracles that the L-rd grants us each and every day of our individual and national lives. Shabbat shalom.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

THE COMMUNITY-WIDE Motzei Shabbos Tanach Shiur Please join us for the 24th season of the Community -Wide Tanach Shiur

SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY • 7:30 PM February 1, 2020 February 8, 2020 February 15, 2020 February 22, 2020

‫פרשת בא‬ ‫פרשת בשלח‬ ‫פרשת יתרו‬ ‫פרשת משפטים‬

February 29, 2020

‫פרשת תרומה‬

Rabbi Shaya Cohen - Perek 77 Rabbi Eliezer Cohen - Perek 78 Rabbi Moshe Brody - Perakim 79-80 Rabbi Eytan Kobre - Perakim 81-82 Rabbi Zvi Ralbag - Perakim 83-84

PROGRAM HOSTED BY: Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst 8 Spruce Street v"g jubn rzghkt ,c kyhb ,nab hukgk

The Tanach Shiur Program is Dedicated in Memory of Rabbi Mordy Kriger z”l,

‫לעלוי נשמת רב מרדכי אהרן בן זאב ז”ל‬ Founder of the Tanach Shiur

Co-Sponsored By:

Agudah of the Five Towns Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel Agudah of West Lawrence Rabbi Moshe Brown Bais Haknesses of N. Woodmere Rabbi A. Lebowitz Bais Medrash D’Cedarhurst Rabbi Dovid Spiegel Chofetz Chaim Torah Center Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Cong. Bais Avrohom Rabbi Osher Stern Cong. Anshei Chessed Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz Cong. Bais Ephraim Yitzchok Rabbi Zvi Ralbag Cong. Bais Tefila Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff Cong. Beth Sholom Rabbi Kenneth Hain Cong. Kneseth Israel Rabbi Eytan Feiner

Cong. Shaaray Tefila Rabbi Uri Orlian HILI Bais Medrash Rabbi Dov Bressler Kehillas Bais Yehuda Rabbi Yaakov Feitman Cong. Tifereth Zvi Rabbi Pinchas Chatzinoff Y.I. of Bayswater Rabbi Eliezer Feuer Y.I. of Far Rockaway Rabbi Shaul Chill Y.I. of Hewlett Rabbi Heshy Blumstein Y.I. of Lawrence-Cedarhurst Rabbi M. Teitelbaum Y.I. of North Woodmere Rabbi Yehuda Septimus Y.I. of Woodmere Rabbi Hershel Billet

A Priority-1 Community Initiative

For more information or dedication opportunities, please call Priority-1 at 516.295.5700.

80 64

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

From the Fire

Parshas Beshalach Looking Back to the Future By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

n the entire span of Jewish history, we attained our highest level in this week’s parsha and in next week’s parsha. At the Song of the Sea in this week’s parsha, the Jewish people said (Shmos 15:2), “This is my G-d, and I will glorify Him.” Rashi explains, “He revealed Himself in His glory to them, and they pointed at Him with their finger. Even a maidservant by the sea saw what the prophets did not see.” Every single Jew achieved the highest level of prophecy. It was a moment like none other. We received the Torah in next week’s parsha, about which the Torah says (Devarim 4:35), “You have been shown in order to know that Hashem is G-d, there is none besides Him.” Rashi explains: “When the Holy One gave the Torah, He opened up the seven firmaments. And just like He tore open the upper worlds, so, too, He tore open the lower worlds and they saw that He is One.” Hashem’s unity was revealed to the entire Jewish people on Sinai. The most frustrating thing about those highs, though, is how shortlived they were. Immediately after the maidservant achieved the highest level of prophecy, she went back to scrubbing floors. And even after the splitting of the sea, the Jewish people were somehow able to complain (Shmos 17:7), “Is Hashem with us

or not?” And even after hearing G-d speak on Sinai and witnessing how He split the seven firmaments so that we would see Him, we worshipped the Golden Calf and continued complaining at every turn. We may have experienced great highs but to what end? What was the point of experiencing them if there was no remnant of them left over afterward?

Light in the Darkness The sages of earlier generations (as well as some non-Jewish sources) compare this dilemma to one walking along a path in the dark. He cannot see anything around him and does not know where to go. But if he sees a flash of lightning, it immediately illuminates his surroundings. Suddenly he sees things in his immediate vicinity and even things that are far away. In that moment, the path before him becomes clear. And even though the lightning flash only lasts for only a moment, the traveler can keep the image of what he saw in his mind and that memory can guide him so he knows which way he should go. Similarly, when a person experiences a temporary period of illumination in his life, the memory of what he saw during that time stays with him. It shows him what life can be like. It can serve as a guide and as a reminder of his ultimate goal and what he can achieve again if he walks toward

the path that he saw during that flash of enlightenment. The maidservant who passed through the sea might return to her daily routine, but she can never really be the same. She can ignore her recollections of that great moment. But she can also remember them at some point in her life. The Zohar (69b) explains a pasuk in Tehillim (89:10), “You rule the grandeur of the sea, when its waves rise, you calm them,” along similar lines. In context, the simple meaning of the pasuk is that Hashem calms, t’shabcham, the waves when they threaten to overtake the people who live by the sea shore. But the Zohar translates the word t’shabcham according to its more common meaning, “praises them,” to explain the pasuk on a deeper level. Whenever a wave rises, it gains a higher view of things, but then it crashes back down again. Hashem praises it for nevertheless trying again to regain the heights it reached before. Even though it does not last, the wave does not become discouraged. Instead, it thinks back on the view it had of the world when it was at its height and it attempts to rise again. But t’shabcham also means “improve them.” When a person attains new heights, even temporarily, it improves his life. It opens him up to infinite new possibilities of greatness and achievement to which he would

never have been exposed if he had remained in the pit of sadness and discouragement. We can also see this lesson reflected in the Zohar’s (117a) explanation of Chavakuk Hanavi’s name. We know that the Shunamis had shown great kindness to Elisha Hanavi, who promised her a son the following year: “At this time next year…you will be embracing a son” (Melachim II 4:17). The Shunamis was so worried that she would be disappointed, she begged Elisha, “Do not let your maidservant down” (ibid.). She did have a child but after a short time, he died (ibid. 20). The Shunamis returned to the Navi to beg for his intervention, and Hashem gave Elisha the power to resurrect the boy by lying on him and embracing him till he warmed up and Hashem put the spirit of life back into his body (ibid. 35). The Zohar explains that the child was in fact Chavakuk Hanavi. And why was he called Chavakuk? Because his name is a double expression of the word for embracing or hugging, chibuk. The first embrace was when his mother embraced Chavakuk upon his birth. And the second embrace was Elisha’s embrace through which he brought Chavakuk back to life. Even though the first embrace was temporary because the child later died, it was still worthwhile because it was only that embrace that enabled

there to be a second embrace. And that second embrace was so powerful that it gave us one of the navi’im who inspired the Jewish people forever. The first embrace for our people was the Song at the Sea and the Sinai experience. That was the moment we stood under the chuppah with G-d. We exulted in the experience of being in G-d’s embrace. And even though the “honeymoon” may not have lasted long, it showed us the holiness of the Jewish people and how precious we are to G-d. It allowed us to see what we can attain and who we are. It gave us something we could always look back to, as a reminder of who we are, where we are going, and what we can achieve if we do not give up. It is the same with marriage. A husband and wife may only bask in the glow of their new love for a longer or shorter period after the chuppah. But eventually the magic fades. So what was the purpose of the “high” of the chasunah if it was only temporary? It always stands as a reminder

of the couple’s love. No matter what is happening years later, they can look back and work on their marriage because they remember the fiery love that they once had. Over the years I have met with a number of addicts who struggle with a variety of substances and activities which threaten to destroy their lives. One of the most heartbreaking things is when someone tells me: “I was clean for over a year. I began seeing how I could begin rebuilding my life. I began to feel that I had some hope of being something. But then one thing and another went wrong, and I fell back into the lowest depths.” The hardest thing for someone in that position is not only the consequences of his actions. It is the feeling that all of the time he was clean was worthless. When someone crashes, he feels as if he had never left. So what was the point of that time under the chuppah; riding the wave; feeling that first embrace of goodness and normalcy?

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My message to people when they are overwhelmed with that feeling is: That time did not go to waste. You may have forgotten what it was like to be healthy. But during that time, you saw what a normal, healthy, exalted life can be like. That was your bolt of lightning in the darkness. Now you can think back on the view you had before your fall. You now see that your goal is within your reach and you can achieve it again if you “get back on the horse” and work, one day at a time, to return to become the person you saw you can be. It is the same for Tu B’Shvat. In the dead of the winter, we taste some of the sweet fruits of the springtime and sing songs about the blossoming land of Israel. But then the next day, our cars and home may be covered by some “historic blizzard.” Tu B’Shvat comes, and then everything crashes back down again into the frosty winter. But the yom tov is still worth celebrating because it reminds us of the goal. It improves our lives by helping

us recall the ultimate goal, the injection of life that bursts forth in the springtime. It is like we say in the Song at the Sea (Shmos 15:17), “You shall bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, directed toward your dwelling-place which you made, G-d, the Mikdash…” We hope not only to return to Hashem’s mountain in Yerushalayim now that we have tasted a bit of what we are working toward. We also ask to be “planted” there, firmly rooted in G-dliness. May Hashem please help us remember not to lose hope when we fall but to use the memory of the light to keep us moving forward until all of us collectively reach the days of Moshiach with the coming of the complete redemption soon in our days.

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

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Parsha

in 4

Parshas Beshalach By Eytan Kobre

Weekly Aggada And it was, when Pharaoh sent out the people, that G-d did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, though it was near; for G-d said, “Lest the people regret when they see war, and they will return to Egypt” (Shemos 13:17) The word “vayehi” in this verse is a compound made of the words “vayhi” – it is woeful. R’ Shimon bar Yochai likened

Pharaoh’s dismissal of the Jewish people from Egypt to one who inherited an undesirable plot of land. The heir declined to develop the land (because it was so undesirable), and he instead chose to sell it in a fire sale. Unlike the heir, the purchaser was quick to develop the land, and he even uncovered mines containing great wealth. Before long, the purchaser managed to build an impressive palace on the land and his wealth grew rapidly. A short while later, the purchas-

er passed through the marketplace, a bevy of servants following close behind. Apparently, the purchaser had amassed considerable wealth from the mines in his newly-acquired lands. When the heir saw all this – which could have been his – he sighed, “Woe! What I lost!” So it was with the Jewish people. When they were in Egypt, they were in servitude with bricks and mortar, and they were undesirable to the Egyptians. But when the Egyptians saw the Jewish people’s impressive formation at the Red Sea – legions that could have been theirs – they began to lament, “Woe! What we dismissed from our land!” (Shir HaShirim Rabba 4:12).

Weekly Mussar And Moshe led the Jewish people from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and they did not find water (Shemos 15:22) There was no shortage of challenges that Hashem threw the way of the Jewish people from the time they left Egypt until they arrived in the Land of Israel. But why did He choose to test them just after they left the triumph of the Red Sea? And why did He choose to test them specifically with thirst and a lack of water? This test and challenge, explains R’ Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, was as purposeful and deliberate as the others. The test of thirst and lack of water came precisely after Krias Yam Suf. What the Jewish people plundered from the Egyptians at the

Yam Suf was greater even than what they carried out of Egypt (which itself was quite the haul). It was specifically on the heels of gathering that great booty that G-d wanted to show the Jewish people that money – even lots of it – cannot buy everything. And how would He demonstrate it? With a fundamental human necessity: water. Man cannot live without water, no matter how much money he has. No matter the treasure trove the Jewish people had scooped up at the Yam Suf, they would still have to place their fate and their faith in G-d. By depriving the Jewish people of water, G-d showed emphatically that, as goes the Mastercard slogan, there are just some things in life that money cannot buy.

Weekly Anecdote This is the thing that Hashem has commanded: “Gather from it, every man according to his eating; an omer per head, according to the number of your persons shall you take it; each man, for those in his tent you shall take it” (Shemos 16:16) The Vilna Gaon’s great-greatgrandfather, R’ Moshe Kramer, was known as an outstanding Torah scholar, even in his youth. As he grew older, R’ Moshe’s reputation as a Torah giant caught the eye of the local lay leaders of Vilna, who tried desperately to appoint him to serve as rav of the city. But R’ Moshe declined. His wife managed a small grocery store from which the family eked out a living and that enabled R’ Moshe to devote himself fully and uninterruptedly to his Torah

studies; serving as rav of the large city, on the other hand, surely would interfere with his Torah studies. And that was just unacceptable. But the lay leaders’ entreaties grew so relentless that R’ Moshe could no longer decline. He relented and agreed to become rav of Vilna. But there was a condition: under no circumstances would R’ Moshe accept any form of payment from the community or its lay leaders. With that stipulation, R’ Moshe accepted the position reluctantly. A short while later, R’ Moshe sensed something was different in his household. The usual sense of financial constriction was melting away, and it was replaced with an aura of satisfaction, almost abundance. When he inquired of his wife, R’ Moshe was dismayed to learn that from the day he was appointed rav, there was a sharp increase in the number of customers to his family’s store. And he was even more dismayed to discover that this pro-

liferation of customers was the result of the lay leaders encouraging the masses to patronize his family’s store. (If they couldn’t pay him directly, they would see to it that they supported him indirectly). R’ Moshe was not pleased. So he confronted his wife. “From now on, please do not keep our store open all day. Instead, open in the morning and remain open only as long as it takes to earn enough on which to subsist for that day. Once this limit is reached, please close the store and permit no more customers inside.” His wife listened and nodded in agreement, but R’ Moshe continued. “In parshas ha’maan, Moshe told the Jewish people, ‘Gather from [the maan], each man according to his eating.’ A Jewish person need not gather more than he requires for that day’s sustenance. Are other shopkeepers to be deprived of customers simply because I have been appointed to serve as rav of Vilna?”

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Weekly Halacha Then sang Moshe and the Jewish people this song to G-d and spoke, saying, “I will sing to Hashem because He is highly exalted; horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea” (Shemos 15:1) The passage of Az Yashir – also known as Shiras Hayam (the Song of the Sea) – traditionally was sung by the Leviim in the Bais HaMikdash as the Afternoon Tamid was being brought on Shabbos (Rosh Hashana 31a; Rambam, Temidin UMussafin 6:9). With the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash (and the loss of the Tamid sacrifice), two distinct customs arose: the custom in Bavel was to recite the Shiras Hayam every Shabbos; the custom in Eretz Yisrael was to recite the Shiras Hayam every day in Psukei d’Zimra (Machzor Vitri No. 265; Sefer Hamanhig, Tefilla No. 24;

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see also Rambam, Tefilla 7:13 [some are accustomed to reciting the Shiras Hayam after Yishtabach; others are not]). One who says the Shiras Hayam every day with great happiness and with clear enunciation of its words and cantillations and imagines himself leaving Egypt, crossing the sea, and being saved by G-d, all his sins are forgiven (Mishna Berura 51:17). On the Shabbos of Parshas Beshalach (“Shabbos Shira”), the accepted custom is to read the Shiras Hayam line-by-line responsively with the shliach tzibbur (Likutei Mahariach). The Weekly Halacha is not meant for practical purposes and is for discussion purposes only. Please consult your own rav for guidance.

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

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FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 6, 6, 2020 2020 || The The Jewish Jewish Home Home

The Wandering

Jew

My Maiden Voyage Part III By Hershel Lieber

t was a cold Tuesday morning on January 3, 1967, when I decided to leave Paris. Although the city was extremely charming, I had already seen the major attractions and was walking around aimlessly without a purpose, feeling somewhat lonely. I decided to go to Antwerp where I had family and my mother had many friends that I could go to visit. I inquired about the train that would leave around midnight that would arrive in Antwerp in the early morning. I checked out of my hotel, left my baggage in storage, and passed the day revisiting Montmartre, viewing the artists and their creations. I also went to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a grand view of the City of Lights. Then I finally took a long-needed shave, since my shaver did not work with the European voltage. I had never gone to a barber outside of my neighborhood, and this was a unique experience for me. Besides a shave and a haircut, the barber spent an hour shampooing, rinsing, oiling, massaging, and spraying my hair. To me, the five-dollar cost was truly an extravagance but I could not go around anymore with a face full of stubble. I returned to the hotel freshly shorn, retrieved my baggage, and went to Gare Nord for my train. When I arrived at the ticket booth, they told me my train was canceled until the morning. They mentioned that there was a train leaving soon to Amsterdam, and I immediately decided to take it. I figured that I would leave most of my burdensome and unnecessary luggage in the Jewish hotel in Amsterdam and travel light to Antwerp after a day or two. I boarded the train and made my way through the narrow aisles from wagon to wag-

on looking for a seat. I was in total shock when I realized that there were no empty seats on the train and that what I had purchased was a standing passenger ticket! I can’t begin to describe the five-hour journey that had me standing in the freezing aisle

called my family in Antwerp and sort of invited myself to stay there from Friday for a couple of days. I arrived in Antwerp on Friday morning. My mother had first cousins, two sisters who were daughters of her uncle who moved to Belgium

I quickly caught the next train to Amsterdam where I finally started breathing the fresh air of freedom.

with many pieces of luggage that I was constantly moving aside while passengers maneuvered through the aisle. I hung my suit bag on the window latch, wore my Shabbos hat, and sat in snatches on my suitcase with constant interruptions. The route involved changing trains in Brussels and again in Rotterdam, which added another four hours to my seemingly never-ending journey. It was ten o’clock in the morning when I finally alighted at the station on Dam Square in Amsterdam. When I arrived at Hotel Elberg, I took the last room available but it was without a private bath. I would have to pay $1.50 to take a bath in a shared bathroom. I plopped down on my bed and fell asleep for over four hours to compensate for the previous sleepless night. When I awoke, I went to shul. It then started snowing, which meant that I would stay in my hotel room for the whole evening. The next day I spent a lot of time looking for gifts to bring home for my family. Then I

before the War, who lived there. Toni was married to Rav Yosel Weiss, the well-known shochet of Antwerp, and Esther was married to a Weissman. I had invited myself to the Weiss’ who were so warm and gracious that I immediately felt at home. On Friday night, I davened at Reb Itzikel Pshervorsker who was a wellknown Rebbe of many Hasidim. I ate the seudah with the Weiss family while the Weissmans came over after the meal. On Shabbos morning, I went with Reb Yosel to the Machzike Hadaas shul, where the famous Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth gave a drasha before Mussaf. I ate the Shabbos day seudah by friends of my parents. Eating shalosh seudos by Reb Itzikel was something special, since he told me about my great-grandfather Reb Yokel Lezer, who he knew from Krakow. Coming back for Melave Malke I was privileged to “chap sherayim” of the customary pieces of garlic from the Rebbe which is a segulah for parnasah. I joined the Weissmans for Sun-

day lunch. All in all, I enjoyed the cozy, Yiddishe atmosphere over my short stay and got to meet and know my parents’ families and friends. On Friday night in Reb Itzikel’s shul I met the well-known Bobover chassid and baal tefilla Reb Shaul Hutterer. I knew Reb Shaul from Bobov, where I was a talmid as well as a chassid of Bobover Rebbe, Reb Shloime, zt”l. What I didn’t know was that Reb Shaul was also a shadchan. He approached me during shalosh seudos with a proposal for a shidduch. He was very laudatory about the girl and her family and said that I shouldn’t lose the opportunity to meet with her. I told him that I had not started dating yet and that I had

Machzikei Hadaas Synagogue in Antwerp

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Reb Itzikel of Pshevorsk

Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth

to ask my mother if I should start. Even so, he was very persistent that I meet the girl and her family. He said that if I would have any further interest, we could call my mother at that time. He applied a lot of pressure until I acquiesced and went to meet the girl and her parents for a formal “beshau” on Sunday afternoon. The truth is that the family was very “baalebatish” and that the girl was pretty and intelligent. She spoke eight languages and was very good company. After the

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6, 2020

My cousins Reb Yossel Weiss and his wife Toni

date, Shaul Hutterer told me that the girl and her parents showed an interest in me and that they wanted me to meet them again. At this point, I called my mother and she was both surprised and worried that I would do something without her input and in a haste. Nevertheless, after speaking to Reb Shaul, she agreed that I could see the girl again. Our next meeting was set for Monday morning, and we again had a pleasant date. When I was leaving

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their house, the girl’s father walked me out and told me that he would take me into his successful diamond business and that I would live a very comfortable life in Antwerp. I was in shock when I realized that both the girl and her family were ready to formalize an engagement after just meeting me twice. I was equally astonished about their plans for me to move to Belgium and go into business with her father. I was still so far away from finalizing this shidduch and even further removed from the idea of living in Antwerp. I gave the shadchan an excuse that I had to consult with my mother, but he maintained that my mother should fly out immediately to Belgium, so she could see for herself the wonderful girl, the noble family, and the great business opportunity that would be mine with this shidduch. I was in quandary as to how to remove the pressure that was facing me. So, I lied. Yes, I lied, and told Reb Shaul that I had a flight back to New York the next morning from Amsterdam which I could not miss. I blamed it on college exams, which was actually true, but they were a few days later. I asked for a photo of the girl to show my mother and said I would discuss this with her and hopefully come back soon to contin-

My great-grandfather, Reb Yakov Yokel Lezer from Krakow (portrait by my mother, Lola Lieber)

ue this shidduch. Reb Shaul finally backed off a bit but insisted that I meet the girl one more time that afternoon. The meeting was very strained, since they seemed to be ready to make things official while I was still hesitating. I left in such a rush, leaving them my umbrella as a souvenir. I quickly caught the next train to Amsterdam where I finally started breathing the fresh air of freedom. The Jewish hotel had no vacancy, so I stayed in a fleabag hotel off the Dam Square. I slept wearing my clothes and shoes since I did not know what would crawl into them during the night. Thankfully, I still had another day in Amsterdam to celebrate my freedom. Truth be said, the girl and the family would have possibly been a match for me but living in Antwerp away from family and friends was something that I could not have imagined doing. I received a beautiful reception and welcome home from all when I finally arrived. I was exhausted but felt exhilarated from this long and interesting journey. My mother and siblings missed me a lot, and it reinforced my decision to live in proximity of my family and friends. As far as a shidduch for me, baruch Hashem, I did very well with my wonderful wife, Pesi!

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

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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Israel Today

Slower than Snail Mail By Rafi Sackville

our years ago, I wrote about the state of the mail service in Ma’alot. Back then we were perplexed by the local council, who had not given us warning about moving the mail collection center – the large, square concrete booths found around the country. The postal service had decided to move it down the road because it was causing traffic problems. It was only after they had cemented it into its new home that they realized it would have to be moved back because there was no access to the electricity grid. Nowadays, the collection center is posing more trouble but for a different reason. A decision was made to rearrange the boxes not according to random placements but by streets. It was with bemusement that residents of the city (I’m assuming other small towns were similarly affected) awoke at the turn of the new decade to find they had been assigned new boxes with new keys. Now, the box above and below mine are assigned to the neighbors living on either side of us. A few weeks earlier, Israel Post made the news, again, for the wrong reason. They had applied and won a tender from Amazon to be the exclusive distributor in Israel. With Amazon offering free shipping throughout the country prior to the end of the year, chaos immediately ensued. Israel Post was overwhelmed by the heavy parcel traffic. So much so that hundreds, if not thousands, of mail items were not being delivered. Waiting for a late parcel is frustrating enough.

To make matters worse, many customers were receiving SMSs telling them their mail had arrived when, in fact, it hadn’t. Some received notices saying that couriers were unable to make deliveries without giving any reason why. Some customers were told their mail had arrived but would not be delivered within the near future. Some arrived at the post office only to find piles of packages waist-high in complete disarray. Many items had been shipped but to wrong addresses. More accurately, they had been shipped to streets with similar names in different cities around the country. Postal data released prior to the end of the year noted over a 350% rise in packages from the previous year. When one mixes the end of year sales to Amazon’s free shipping to Israel, you have a recipe for disaster. One U.S.-based website went so far as to indefinitely suspend its operations with Israel Post because it did not meet their standards. With the understanding of the chaos unfolding throughout the country, I decided to be patient with the book I had ordered in early November. By mid-December I had a sinking feeling I would never read its contents. But then, quite unexpectedly, I received notification that a parcel had arrived. Woo-hoo! I hollered, as I bolted out the door to the post office because logic told me the book I had ordered wouldn’t fit into the small shelf in the collection center. Yossi, our go-to-guy at the post of-

fice, didn’t lift his head while addressing me. He looked hassled and tired. “Your book fits on the shelf. It’s waiting for you now,” he said. So I drove to the center only to find that I couldn’t open my box. Thinking there was something wrong with my key, I went home and took my wife’s key. The trip was a waste of time. Her key also didn’t fit. I heard a cry of disgust coming from the other side of the collection center. It was Zion, who lives four doors away from us. Seems I wasn’t the only one having trouble. Before the day was over, social media groups in the neighborhood were awash in rage against inaccessible post boxes. There was no time to get to the post office again that day, so I held my anger at bay for a day. When I got to the post office the following morning, I found three of my neighbors making similar complaints. Yossi looked more haggard than the previous day. He told me our box had been switched, and he gave me the new number. When I asked him why he hadn’t told me when I was there yesterday, he lifted his head and stared into space somewhere over my right shoulder. He shrugged his shoulders. Thinking the issue was over, I went to get my book only to find the box I’d been assigned open, broken, and empty. Mindful that I might be back, Yossi had given me his phone number. I called only to be told my complaint was ridiculous; the box was locked and the key worked. “What number did I give you?” he asked. I told him 1271. “It’s

fixed. It works.” But it didn’t. And for the next few days I couldn’t get through to Yossi. He might have been in hiding. I did hear that he distributed the mail in our collection center between 13:30 to 14:00 Sundays through Tuesdays. I went down there on the last day of the year, where I found the door leading into the center open. Bags of mail were strewn across the floor and on the small table. I called Yossi, who politely told me he was on his way. At first, he refused to believe me when I informed him that the center was open. He fumed over the phone, angry at Moshe, his second in charge of mail distribution, for having left the door open. Yossi was disheveled and gaunt-looking when he arrived. “Number?!” he barked. “1271,” I replied. “1271? I never said 1271. I told you 1154.” I pulled out the piece of paper he’d given me, in his handwriting. It read 1271. He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “1154,” he repeated. “Check it now.” The key easily opened the box. It was empty. “My book isn’t here,” I complained. “What boo-? Oh, that book. I took it back to the post office. Come by tomorrow morning, and I’ll give it to you.” Exhausted by the saga of it all, I didn’t bother.

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

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

5 Minutes for $5 Billion

WHY IT’S CRUCIAL TO VOTE IN THE WZO ELECTIONS By Susan Schwamm

rom the time that we received the Torah until today, Israel has been at the core of who we are as a nation. In the modern era, we are fortunate that it is not just a place we pine for – it is our home country that we can live in or visit from time to time. But, even though to some extent we have our land, it comes with its hardships. There are so many things about Israel that are not

in our control, and we yearn for the day that will come very soon when it will fully be our land. Nowadays, though, there is so much about Israel that we can control, if we simply choose to do so. The power is in our hands. We can control whether the egalitarian movement of Women of the Wall will gain access to the larger Kotel plaza, changing its character forever. We can control whether a little girl in Sederot has to squirm in fear every

time she walks to school or whether she can feel more secure knowing that the proper defense systems are in place. We can control whether the face of Israel to the world is a beach in Tel Aviv or a Jew praying at a holy site. We can control how matters of geirus and marriage are defined. We can control what our army looks like and who is conscripted into the army. And the list goes on. At this point you may get a sense

that this article is going to be a grandiose call to action – a call for you to become an activist, askan, organizer, fundraiser or a spokesman for your local pro-Israel advocacy group. But it’s not. There is a much simpler way for you to have an immediate impact on the State of Israel. All you need to do is vote in the WZO elections. This opportunity comes around every 5 years and takes just 5 minutes to do.

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You may abashedly be thinking to yourself, “WZO? Sounds familiar. I think I may have heard of that organization once before but I really don’t know what it is...” So let’s talk about the WZO, its role in the foundation of the State of Israel, and its continued importance in shaping Israel today.

The WZO & Why It’s Important The World Zionist Organization (WZO) was founded in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, which was convened by Theodor Herzl in Basle, Switzerland. At the time – half a century before the founding of the State of Israel – the goal of the organization was “to obtain for the Jewish people a publicly recognized, legally secured home in Palestine.” When Herzl declared his vision for a Jewish state, there were only around 40,000 to 50,000 Jews – most of them religious – living in the Holy Land. They were living under Ottoman rule. Jerusalem had an overall Jewish majority, and people were starting to speak Hebrew in the Holy Land. Herzl died in 1904. Thirteen years later, his vision began to take wing when the Balfour Declaration of 1917 announced British support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. The declaration, which was a letter dated November 2, 1917, was written by Britain’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothchild, one of the leaders of the British Jewish community. “His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” the letter read, “and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object.” During this time, the World Zionist Organization had begun to take concrete steps in founding a home for the Jewish people. Through its subsidiary, The Jewish National Fund – still in existence today – it began to acquire land in Palestine as early as 1905 upon which those making aliyah could settle. Subsequently, kibbutzim and moshavim took root on the lands that were purchased. By the time 1970 rolled around, they had ballooned in number from 22 to 707 settlements with a whopping 272,000 inhabitants

BY VOTING IN THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS, YOU WILL BE DECIDING WHO WILL BE DISTRIBUTING MUCH OF THE WZO’S IMMENSE BUDGET.

working the holy soil. Working hand-in-hand, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency – which was founded in 1929 – drove to create educational, social, and health institutions for Jews under British rule. As Jews streamed into the land, the groups endeavored to help them with settlement and with funding to support their immigration. Finally, on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. David Ben Gurion, who was the chairman of the Jewish Agency, became the fledging state’s first prime minister; Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was president of the WZO, was elected president of Israel. Despite the passage of time and a well-established government of the modern state of Israel, the World Zionist Organization continues to play a key role in the Jewish homeland, with around $800 million in funds allocated each year. There are three particular organizations that are funded by the WZO: Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal; Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael; and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Three Branches Keren Hayesod is essentially the worldwide fundraising organization for Israel – operating in more than 40 countries around the world. It was founded in 1920 and is recognized today as a National Institution with special legal status. Throughout the years it has focused on aliyah and has supported the establishment of certain

organizations such as El Al, the Israel Electricity Company, and Hebrew University. When the millions of immigrants come to Israel, many of them are welcomed into Keren Hayesod’s absorption centers. They are taught Hebrew in its ulpans and turn to them when they are looking for career advice. Keren Hayesod also endeavors to help build up communities in the Negev and Galilee, offering incentives to graduates to stay in those communities after graduating and helping those as they start their businesses in the regions. Around 14,000 Lone Soldiers complete their army service every year in Israel. Upon completion, they turn to Keren Hayesod for help with planning their future and for help in returning to civilian life. Keren Hayesod also has a program that is very relevant for Americans who send their children to yeshivos and seminaries in Israel. Years ago, students going to Israel for the year eceived a few thousand dollars each year from Keren Hayesod towards their yeshiva or seminary experience through its Masa program. But now, because Keren Hayesod is controlled by those who don’t value yeshivos and seminaries, the stipend has dwindled down to a mere $200 a year. The Jewish Agency for Israel is the largest Jewish nonprofit organization in the world. It’s best known as helping to foster aliyah and bringing families from the diaspora into Israel. It also serves as a link between the Jewish communities in Israel and around the

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world. The Jewish Agency also works on giving young Jews “Israel experience” trips and sending out Israeli “shluchim” to set up summer camps and day school programs around the world. It is up to the board of directors of organizations like the Jewish Agency that determines who these “shluchim” are. Whether or not the person running these summer camps in Ukraine or Kiev are believers in Torah Judaism are essentially up to them. Another organization under the WZO umbrella is the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (JNFKKL). Founded in 1901, this organization raises monies to purchase land in Israel “for the Jewish people as a whole.” Did you know that a large portion of the State of Israel’s land is not owned by the Israeli government per se, but is actually owned by JNF-KKL? JNF-KKL made its first purchase of a parcel of land in 1903 – 50 acres in Hadera. Eventually, JNF-KKL started purchasing land for kibbutzim and farms and set up agricultural stations. By 1927, 50,000 acres of land with 50 different communities were owned by JNF-KKL. By the time the state was established in 1948, there were 650,000 Jews living in 305 towns across the country; 233 of those towns were built on JNF-KKL land. Nowadays, the JNF-KKL continues to develop the land of the State of Israel but is also involved in creating new reservoirs, erecting parks and building security roads along Israel’s borders.

How the Congress Works The WZO holds its Congress every five years. While 190 of the delegates elected to this Congress come from the Knesset, a large amount – 152 delegates – come from the United States. These delegates are then involved in distributing the WZO’s annual budget of almost $800 million. With elections only coming around every five years, this October, delegates at the WZO Congress will essentially determine the future of almost $5 billion. But truly, the power is yours. The only way that these delegates can come to the table in October is if you give them a voice. You determine who will be sitting at the table and which fac-

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tions of Jewry they represent. By voting in this year’s elections, you will be deciding who will be distributing much of the WZO’s immense budget. Only 56,000 Americans voted in the WZO’s last election in 2015 – that means only 1% of eligible Jews in the United States voted. Want to know who garnered the most votes and had the largest delegation from the United States in the WZO Congress five years ago? Reform received 56 spots; Conservative grabbed 25. The Orthodox parties – that’s me and you – took in a measly 24 slots in last elections. So really, it’s up to you.

Anti-Torah Slates There are 15 slates vying for American Jewish votes in this integral election. It’s important for us to understand who are behind these slates and what they represent so that we can understand what the frum world is up against this time around. Let’s take, for example, Hatikvah. Hatikvah is supported by groups like J Street and New Israel Fund. Its platform pledges to take away funding from entities such as the West Bank settlements which play a role in the “occupation” of the Palestinians. Hatikvah proudly says that it stands to “end to discrimination against women’s full participation in public events, both military and civilian. We stand with Israelis fighting against vigilante ‘modesty patrols’ and other acts of harassment against women.” It supports “full legal and social equality” for people in all communities – including marriage rights for those who flout a Torah lifestyle. One of the most recognizable names on the Hatikvah slate is editor of The Atlantic Peter Beinart. Beinart is unapologetic in his pro-Palestinian views. A few months ago, on CNN, Beinart asserted that it was a “shattering” experience when he first went to the West Bank. He stated, “The only thing I could imagine that could be similar for an American would be going to visit the Jim Crow South…. The consequences are more brutal than we could imagine sitting here.” In an article written by Beinart in The Forward in November 2019, Beinart writes, “Fundamentally, the problem with settlements is neither legal nor geopolitical. It is moral. Israeli

settlements in the West Bank are institutionalized expressions of bigotry. The American and Israeli politicians who legitimize them are the moral equivalent of those politicians who legitimized Jim Crow. It’s time they be treated as such.” He adds, “The West Bank isn’t like New York in 2019. It’s like Mississippi in 1959. It is a territory segregated by law, separate and hideously unequal.” When making these statements, Beinart proudly declares that he is Jewish— a relevant point for only those naïve enough to believe that there is no such thing as a self-hating Jew. If Beinart and his ilk are elected to the WZO Congress, you can bet that any funds that could be allocated to Jews living in settlements will be diverted to pro-Palestinian causes. After all, according to Beinart, the Jews are the ones imposing tyrannical laws on innocent Palestinians. Essentially, Beinart and those like him are opposed to a Jewish Israel. They’d prefer to see Palestinians take over the land that was promised to our forefathers. It’s not just Beinart and J Street who are vying for a seat at the table. There are other nefarious groups as well. Consider MERCAZ USA, which represents the Conservative/Masorti movements. Led by Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin of Northfield, Illinois, it envisions an “open pluralistic Jewish society that celebrates Jewish values and embraces multiple streams of Judaism including the growth of Conservative/Masorti kehillot throughout Israel.” One of its main platforms is how to define marriage and – perhaps even more importantly from a halachic perspective – what the laws of divorce should be.

Dorshei Torah V’Tzion is also running in this year’s WZO election. Don’t be fooled by its name. This group is affiliated with organizations like the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and others on the most liberal end of the “Orthodox” Jewish spectrum – what some would call “Open Orthodoxy.” Rabbi Avi Weiss of YCT (number one on the slate) and Rabba Sara Hurwitz, who is Rabbi Weiss’ first female graduate, are both on this slate. Dorshei Torah V’Tzion’s platform calls for “choices” in numerous matters such as “kashrut supervision, halakhic paths to conversion, weddings, and prayer spaces for all at the Kotel.” In other words, given the opportunity to sit at the negotiating table, Dorshei Torah V’Tzion would work to make sure that kashrus and matters of marriage and geirus in the Holy Land would be radically changed. Additionally, the days of davening at the Kotel with the dignity and tznius that we always had may be washed away by the movement to remove mechitzos between men and women and the requirement to adhere to all of the liberal ideals of wokeness. Rather than walking down the Old City steps and taking in the awesome site of thousands of men dancing Lecha Dodi on Friday night, you may be treated to a view of bongo circles and the waving of diversity flags.

Who Represents Us For those looking to ensure that the Jewish state maintains certain standards with regards to Yiddishkeit, there are a host of slates that are running for seats in the upcoming elections that are in-line with the values of the American Orthodox Jewish community.

The Orthodox Israel Coalition is comprised of nine Modern Orthodox organizations in the U.S. including Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi, AMIT, the Orthodox Union, Yeshiva University, Touro College, Bnei Akiva, Torah MiTzion, National Council of Young Israel, and the Rabbinical Council of America. Among many of its platforms, the OIC pledges to support Orthodox-affiliated institutions worldwide including those in shuls, summer camps and schools. Additionally, it will work to strengthen yeshivot and seminaries aligned with the religious Zionism movement. Masa, a subsidy program that helps to fund yeshiva and seminary post-high school learning, has seen a decrease in funding by the WZO. OIC endeavors to change that and help alleviate the financial burden shouldered by parents sending their children to Israel after high school. OIC supports the development of Israel – including communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights – and looks to send vital funds to the IDF and Sheirut Leumi programs. Rav Doron Perez, chief executive of the Mizrachi worldwide movement, is leading the charge for the OIC this year. He notes, “The contributions of Orthodox Jews to communal organizations and institutions bring to bear an influence far beyond our relative numbers. Success in these elections will greatly bolster the standing and influence of the Orthodox Torah voice.” The ZOA Coalition is comprised of the Zionist Organization of America along with Aish HaTorah, American Friends of Ateret Cohanim, NORPAC, and One Israel Fund, among other organizations. Its goals are to protect Jews worldwide from anti-Semitism, combat BDS, help to settle Judea and Samaria, and strengthen Jewish and Zionist education in Israel and around the world. Among those listed in the ZOA slate are Morton Klein, Mark Levenson, Rabbi Steven Burg, Liz Berney, Steve Orlow, and Shani Hikind.

Eretz Hakodesh & Rabbi Pesach Lerner This year, there is another frum slate running in the WZO elections as well. Eretz Hakodesh was established

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by Far Rockaway resident Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who saw that much of the charedi world was being left out of these important elections and was galvanized to act upon the direction of gedolei Yisroel. “The charedi world doesn’t realize how important these elections are,” he says. “They define so much of what goes on in Israel. It’s frightening – if we don’t show up and vote, then the Reform or Conservative or J Street will be at the negotiating table and will be diverting funds to their causes. “We need to be vocal and we all need to vote. We don’t have a choice to stand back,” Rabbi Lerner states. Rabbi Lerner points out that the charedi world has as much – maybe even more – at stake as any other faction in the Jewish community. Towards that end, he has been in touch with rabbanim in the community and has received the backing of many prominent rabbanim who support the Eretz Hakodesh slate and are urging the charedi world to vote in the elections. Rav Elya Brudny spoke about the importance of the charedi world voting in the WZO elections and supporting the Eretz Hakodesh slate at the 2019 Agudah Convention. Rav Asher Weiss, who recently spoke at the Siyum Hashas in Chicago, has been vocal in his support of the Eretz Hakodesh slate. “It is of extreme importance that every Jew that really cares about what’s happening in Eretz Yisrael, Eretz Hakodesh, should participate in the upcoming elections to the congress,” Rabbi Weiss said in a video message. “This congress has tremendous influence about what’s happening in Eretz Yisrael.” Rabbi Weiss noted that just recently hundreds of thousands of Torah Jews came together for siyumum of daf yomi in hundreds of cities in the United States. “If all those Jews would participate in these elections,” Rabbi Weiss noted, “it could have a tremendous impact on Eretz Yisrael.” He concluded, “So I call upon all of you – everybody – she’yesh b’yado to do whatever it is within your power to see to it that the Torah community has greater representation and the influence of the funds will go to those projects in Eretz Yisrael that will really

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• Select the slate that you want to vote for. • Submit!

The Power in Your Hands

enhance kedushas Ha’aretz and Torah life in Eretz Yisrael.” Rabbi Weiss ended his message urging the charedi world to vote for the Eretz Hakodesh slate. “Please vote for Eretz Hakodesh – that will hasten and bring forth b’yas moshiach tzidkeinu.”

Voting is Quick & Easy The election period for the WZO Congress has already begun. From January 21 until March 11 (Shushan Purim), any Jew living in the United States who did not vote in the Knesset

elections and will turn 18 by June 30, 2020, can vote. Voting is quick and easy. • Go to azm.org/elections. • Click on the button to “Vote Now.” • If you are not registered in the election, fill out your name, address, and email address to register. • There is a $7.50 fee for those older than 26 years of age. Anyone between the ages of 18 to 25 pays a $5 fee. • The site will send you a verification/pin number to use when voting. • Enter your email address and pin number to vote.

RATHER THAN WALKING DOWN THE OLD CITY STEPS AND TAKING IN THE AWESOME SITE OF THOUSANDS OF MEN DANCING LECHA DODI ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU MAY BE TREATED TO A VIEW OF BONGO CIRCLES AND THE WAVING OF DIVERSITY FLAGS.

Truly, the power is yours. The only way that delegates can come to the table in October is if you give them a voice. You determine who will be sitting at the table and which factions of Jewry they represent. Remember, only 56,000 Americans voted in the WZO’s last election in 2015 – that’s only 1% of eligible Jews in the United States. If every one of us makes it their business to take five minutes of their time to vote for the future of the Holy Land, then we can shape the future. So really, it’s up to you. Want to see $5 billion of funds in Israel allocated to frum causes and communities? Take out your phone and vote. Don’t want to have atheism being taught in the name of Judaism in a Jewish state? Take out your phone and vote. Want to silence voices like Peter Beinart and J Street, who are running for the first time this year for the WZO Congress and want to see a “post-state” Israel? Take out your phone and vote. Want to ensure that the Kotel remains a place where the sanctity of the holy site is protected? Take out your phone and vote. Want to protect frum communities over the Green Line and prevent terrorists from infiltrating? Take out your phone and vote. Want to make sure that kashrus, geirus, and divorce are maintained under Orthodox standards? Take out your phone and vote. The power is in your hands. Five minutes. Five billion dollars. You can make a difference. Vote now. Have five minutes? Scan here to vote:

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Rabbi Pesach Lerner:

"Vote for Klal Yisrael; Vote for Eretz Yisrael" By Susan Schwamm

Rabbi Pesach Lerner of Far Rockaway is spearheading the Eretz Hakodesh slate in the WZO elections. The Eretz Hakodesh slate – in its inaugural run for the WZO – is galvanizing the charedi community to vote in this year’s elections. Rabbi Lerner has the support of many rabbanim in the community who see the importance of the charedi community being represented in the WZO elections. Recently, we spoke with Rabbi Lerner about the founding of the Eretz Hakodesh slate and how we can get involved and make our voices heard in this important endeavor.

Rabbi Lerner, you have been in touch with many gedolim who have been very supportive of the Eretz Hakodesh slate. There has been so much positive feedback and support. There are so many rabbanim and gedolim who have encouraged me and have been supportive, telling me that everyone should be voting in the WZO elections for the Eretz Hakodesh slate. When I spoke with Rav Asher Weiss, he knew right away about the World Zionist Organization, the WZO. He told me that we have to do it. Rav Weiss told me about a Gra on the words “din v’cheshbon.” He said that a din means that you’ll be judged on what you did do and that a cheshbon means you’ll be judged on what you could have done but didn’t do. This is one of those times, he said. You have

to vote; you have to be involved. Rav Asher Weiss is in Eretz Yisrael. He’s a gadol b’Yisrael, and he knows what goes on there. And he’s telling everyone to vote. Take a look at the video on the Eretz Hakodesh website, where Rav Asher Weiss urges the charedi community to vote. He says it’s of “extreme importance” that everyone votes. He knows that the charedi community needs the right influence at the WZO and needs the funds going to our causes. And Rav Brudny at the Agudah Convention also said we all need to vote for Eretz Hakodesh. It’s very important that we all get involved. Look, by voting in these elections, we’re not becoming Zionists. It’s no different than our gedolim or askanim getting involved in government issues. It’s about our voices being heard.

I tell people, when we vote for our causes and get involved, we’re not taking on the left. We’re taking on anti-Israel people like J Street, Peter Beinart, Ben-Ami – they’re delegates. We need to push back against them. How did you get involved in forming the new Eretz Hakodesh slate? I have been on slates in the WZO elections three times. The elections take place every five years. Five years ago, though, I realized that we need to get the charedim involved. The charedi community in the United States wasn’t voting – and we have the numbers to really effect change – we can be a huge influence in how funds are distributed and what causes are supported by these funds. I realized this and I started pushing and making

calls, but I was doing it alone. This time around, I met with a few people who realized how important it was to be involved and to make our voices heard. We realized that there is a $5 billion budget over five years that’s under discussion. If you have hundreds of millions of dollars going to the wrong causes – that’s terrible. We had to do something. I spoke with the AZM – the American Zionist Movement – and asked them how to put together a slate. And it wasn’t easy. You know why? No one knew about it. I had to really inform people and tell them about the WZO and why it was important. It was a lot about educating people. But I was able to get it together, and baruch Hashem, we were able to get on the ballot. We’re slate #1, which is really amazing.

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A few months back, I went to Eretz Yisrael to meet with people there. I met with rabbanim, I met with Yaakov Litzman – I got so much positive feedback. They all said that it’s important that we put together a slate for the charedi community.

look in Eretz Yisrael. We all need to ban together. We’re reaching out to the yeshiva world, to the Bukharian community, to Chabad, to the Sephardic community. We all need to work together and vote to really change things.

What issues did you see that made you feel that the charedi community needed to get involved? There are many situations that highlight why we need to get involved. Did you know that there’s a new curriculum in the Israeli public school system on Judaism? It’s coming from a pluralistic standpoint, from the Jewish Agency, and is written by the Reform and New Israel Fund. Can you imagine what these kids are being taught? The antithesis of Torah! And how did this come about? Because the Reform and New Israel Fund have enough control in the Jewish Agency that they’re able to get their people in to create this curriculum in the schools. We need to get our people in there. We need to be able to influence what goes on there. Recently, it was reported that the Jewish Agency is getting involved with Diaspora Jewry. Why are they getting involved? It’s the board at the Jewish Agency that has a lot of influence. And right now, Reform has a huge representation there. They’re the ones getting involved with the Kosel. They want to have a say in conversions. Why? Why should they get involved with conversions with the rabbinate? Because Reform is telling the Jewish Agency to get involved. They want to push their agendas. And their agendas are completely anti-Torah. It’s the same thing with the Kosel. They want to push their agenda. They want to change things up. Look at Masa. Masa is scholarships for yeshiva and seminary students. Now, for yeshiva and seminary students, those scholarships are a mere $200. But it wasn’t always this way. If someone wants to go to Hebrew U or Bar Ilan, they can get a $4,000 scholarship through Masa. And that’s because someone on the Masa committee at the Jewish Agency said to themselves, “Hey, what’s going on? Why are we giving money to the ye-

A vote for the right essentially is a vote against the anti-Torah agenda. Yes. You know, it’s not just about money, distributing funds to different organizations, although that’s certainly important. It’s about influence. It’s about attitude. I can tell you right now that Washington also looks at these elections. They want to see who represents American Jewry. Is it Reform? Conservative? Orthodox? And what happens if the WZO is made up of a majority of frum delegates – iy”H that should happen. What does that tell the Knesset? It shows them that the Reform doesn’t represent the Jews of America. We do. There are consequences. The outcome of these elections is a sign, an indication to Washington, to the Knesset, of the power of American Jewry. And we cannot have Reform defining the agenda for us – not in Israel and certainly not in the United States. Look, like I mentioned before, Reform has a big say now at the Jewish Agency. When the Jewish Agency sends out their shluchim to run summer camps in the Ukraine, who are they sending out? Is the person running the camp teaching brachos or is he coming from the left, teaching things to these non-frum Jews that are against Torah values? There are so many consequences. The money is there. Why can’t the money coming for Diaspora Jews be used towards benefitting Israelis in the U.S.? These funds are being sent directly and indirectly. It’s up to the delegate to determine to which causes they go to; we need to make sure they’re going to the right causes.

Rabbi Lerner with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Kosel

shiva students?” and they significantly decreased the funding over the years. There was no substantial Orthodox representation to counter that, to say that Masa is important to our community. And so, we’re being left out. We’re asking for equal pay, equal say. If you’re going to subsidize a Hebrew U scholarship for $4,000, then do the same for charedi schools. But if we’re not there, we can’t say that. Let’s talk about delegates and representation in the WZO agencies. Sure. There are 500 delegates in the WZO Congress, and elections take place every five years. 190 of those delegates come from the Knesset; the U.S. gets to send 152 delegates. The rest are from other parts of the world. Those delegate posts are translated into positions. For example, if you have three delegates or four delegates, then you’re entitled to a board position in different agencies. And for every position on a national board, you have the right to pick someone from your slate for the executive board. So, in essence, these delegates directly influence what takes place in these agencies. This is very important. That means that these delegates have a say in how funds will be distributed – a total of around $5 billion over 5 years

– and are influential in what causes are promoted. This is very important when it comes to certain issues, like we discussed before. If we’re running against Reform or J Street or the Reconstructionist movement, you can see how their agendas are completely antithesis to a Torah lifestyle. You can see that they don’t want the Kosel to look like it does now; they want to define marriage in a different way or define geirus in another way. We’re talking about Eretz Hakodesh, Eretz Yisrael. This is a country where we need to have certain standards – kashrus, geirus, marriage, Shabbos. Torah Jews need to have a voice. I’m going to tell you that the reason why Reform and Conservative are so strong now is because voter turnout was low last time around. The frum community didn’t come out and vote. How much of a percentage is Reform in the U.S.? It’s not a large percentage. But because they voted in last elections, they have a significant voice in Eretz Yisrael. But we can change things this time around. If we all come out and vote, and realize how important it is to vote, then the voice of Reform and Conservative will be diminished. If we all vote, then our voices representing Torah will be so strong and can really influence how the next five years will

How do these elections directly affect Israelis in Israel? Number one is attitude, as I mentioned, which is extremely important. Let’s go back. If two communities over the Green Line come to the KKL and they want services, the sto-

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Rabbi Lerner receiving a bracha from Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, on a recent visit to Eretz Yisrael

ry goes that if you’re daati, you’ll be pushed to the back door, very often. And if you’re secular, the KKL will be giving you the funds you need. That’s terrible. It’s two communities that both need the funds, and yet there is a different attitude when it comes to charedi communities. It’s as if there’s BDS within the Jewish Agency. Can you believe that? But the people who are running it are being pushed by Reform. If you read the slates of J Street and Beinart and others, they are very clear in saying that their goal is to stop the KKL from giving money to settlements. That’s their agenda. Reform and Conservative say they want to take away power from the “religious zealots.” It’s very clear about what they want. Can we sit back and ignore this? We need to speak up. Like Rav Asher Weiss said, we’re not involved in the World Zionist Organization but for this we need to be involved. Let’s talk about your vision. How many votes are you aiming to get for Eretz Hakodesh? I’m aiming for 50,000 votes. It may be hard, but we can definitely work towards it. We’re working hard to get the word out. Remember, the charedi world never voted in these elections. We need to get the word out, to inform people, to make sure they know that their voices are needed and what these elections are about. Just last month, thousands of frum Jews came together in MetLife Stadium for the Siyum Hashas. If only a small percentage of those people voted, we would have a powerful, powerful voice in the WZO. We’d be

able to help distribute funds and influence the future of Eretz Yisrael. All we need are people to realize how important it is for them to vote. And we can do it! We can work together to get it done. My goal when I started Eretz Hakodesh was that there shouldn’t be anybody in the frum world who doesn’t know that these elections exist and for them to know how important it is to be involved. We need representation. If we don’t vote, and we’re not represented, then the face of American Jewry in Israel to the Knesset and to these organizations will be the Reform, the Conservative, J Street – not us. There are only a few more weeks left to the voting period. Correct. Voting started on January 21 and goes until Shushan Purim, March 11. But people shouldn’t wait until then. They need to vote now. They need to vote, and they need to tell their friends and families to vote. Voting is open to every American Jew over the age of 18 who has not voted in Knesset elections. And it’s so easy to vote. It takes just a few minutes and is only a few dollars. For just $7.50 – a cup of coffee and a bagel – you can give the charedi community a voice. And it’s only $5 if you’re under 25. Eretz Hakodesh is #1 on the slate. Remember, a vote for the right is one less power to the left. And if you don’t vote, then that makes the left’s voice a lot louder. It’s about Shabbos and kashrus and the Kosel. We need to vote for Klal Yisrael. We need to vote for Eretz Yisrael.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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Rav Doron Perez:

“We Need to Fight Back” By Susan Schwamm

Rav Doron Perez is the chief executive of the Mizrachi World Movement. He is leading the Orthodox Israel Coalition-Vote Torah slate in the WZO elections – Slate #4 – which is a coalition of nine major religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox organizations in the U.S. Recently, we spoke with Rav Perez about the import of the WZO elections and why it’s imperative that every Orthodox Jew vote in the elections.

Any Jew can participate in the World Zionist Organization elections, which is currently taking place until March 11. What feedback have you been getting in this year’s elections? Thankfully, there’s renewed interest this time around. Five years ago, the enemy was ignorance and apathy when it came to the elections. Now, there’s an excitement – we are seeing that people are caring. Something has definitely shifted across the board. We’re getting the word out, and we’re hoping that everyone makes sure to vote in the elections – which are so important for the community here and in Israel. The elections come around every five years. It’s the only democratic election, I’d say, where any Jew from around the world is able to participate. In America, the WZO is represented by the American Zionist Movement, the AZM, which is running the elections for the WZO in the U.S. There are 15 slates running in this election. I’m representing one

of them – the Orthodox Israel Coalition-Vote Torah slate. This year, we are getting the word out, and I see that people are concerned about getting their voices heard this time around. Why do you think that is? I think it’s a few things. There is a changing of the guard in some of the organizations involved. There are new people coming in. The second thing is that in Israel there’s been a huge shift in focusing on the Diaspora. A lot of the Zionist movements were very focused on themselves and on aliyah. But now, Diaspora Jewry is definitely becoming an issue in the Israeli public conversation. For instance, for the last seven years, there’s been a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. It’s the first time that the Israeli government has a ministry that is dedicated to diaspora affairs. Another big thing is BDS. I think that BDS has become such a big thing, and Israel’s demilitarization has become such a big thing. It’s all so in-

volved. People are hearing what’s going on and what to get involved – they should get involved. Additionally, Peter Beinart and Jeremy Ben-Ami – they’re running in this election. They’re essentially anti-Israel. They are vociferously, publicly criticizing Israel, pushing Israel into a corner. For them to want to run in a Zionist election to bring a post-Zionist conversation… it’s mind-boggling and it’s terrifying. That’s also going to hopefully push more people to vote. What about the Reform and Conservative slates in the election? I’m glad you brought that up. Reform and Conservative do not have political parties in Israel. Sometimes that gets lost on Americans because Reform and Conservative are so dominant here. But that’s not the case almost anywhere else in the world. I come from Johannesburg, South Africa. There’s no Reform and Conservative there. They’re not factors.

The Jewish Home Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish | FEBRUARY 6

But Reform and Conservative are forever saying to the Israeli government, “We represent Diaspora Jewry. We are the majority.” Truthfully, the only way they get to influence what goes on in Israel is through the World Zionist Organization. The Reform and Conservative give a lot of money, and it gives them a say in what happens in Israel. They really push their members to vote in the WZO elections. Look at what happened with the Kotel. There was already a place for them to pray. That wasn’t the discussion. They wanted to change things up – they wanted it to be equal – a men’s section, a women’s section, and then a “whatever” section. They’re using their position of influence to try and legitimize Reform and Conservative on the same level as Orthodoxy and having the same level of legitimacy in Israel. And how do they do that? Through these elections, because these elections have a tremendous influence. Because the Reform and Conservative and people like Peter Beinart and J Street are energized, we must be energized too. We can’t be complacent. It’s frightening and dangerous to see how people like these would want to get into the Zionist movement. If the Orthodox world is complacent, then other people will be the ones involved, and that can be catastrophic. These things also build momentum. Look at Beinart. He was unknown before 2010 when he wrote his first book, and then he wrote one book after another, and he’s become more vocal. I’m very worried about what J Street will be doing in five years, at the next election. Things can build, and that’s very concerning. They want to bring a different discourse to the establishment. They want to say that Zionism is bankrupt and that it tolerates a long-term occupation and that it’s immoral. We need to be energized to counteract those factions. Exactly. Last time around, five years ago, only 56,000 American Jews voted in the WZO elections. 30,000 were Reform. 10,000 were Conservative. Around 10,000 were Orthodox. The rest were from splinter organizations. What’s interesting

is that ten years ago, in 2005, 75,000 American Jews voted in the elections. There was a huge decrease in voter turnout five years ago. This time around, Reform and Conservative are coming out fighting. They’re really trying to up their votes. On the other side, I see that Rabbi Pesach Lerner is trying to get the Agudah world involved, which is fascinating. Hopefully, it will bring more people out to vote. Something’s shifting; that community wouldn’t necessarily have gotten involved in the WZO but they see the need to get involved today. I really hope that because Reform and Conservative and J Street are energized, our community will realize that they need to be energized as well. We need everyone to come out to vote; we need to push back. The Reform and Conservative see this as their opportunity to impact Israeli policy. We need to fight back. What are some practical examples of how voting in the election can influence Israeli policy? Let me give you a practical example of what happens as a result of these elections. In Israel, there’s a huge initiative being pushed through the Jewish Agency to teach all Israelis in the school system about Jews in the Diaspora – which is nice, right? We all want to know about each other, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la’zeh.” But what does it really mean? With Reform and Conservative involved, it means they’ll be teaching Israeli children about three types of Jews. Yes, there is Orthodoxy, but that’s only one stream. There’s also Reform and Conservative. But why does an Israeli child need to learn this? And then, these kids grow up, and they start to think, “Wait, if there are three streams of Jews, why aren’t they all recognized in Israel? Why can’t they do conversions or officiate at weddings?” Let’s talk about the shluchim that come out of the Jewish Agency. They send them to campuses and to the Hillels on college campuses. The Reform and Conservative invest heavily in these shluchim. They send these Israelis to America. These Israelis

never stepped into a shul in their lives except maybe for a bar mitzvah or a wedding. They come to America, and see Reform and Conservative in America, and then come back to Israel with those ideas of what “Judaism” is like. When they send out these shluchim to make summer camps around the world – Kiev, Ukraine, in Poland – they’re sending shluchim who will be teaching anti-Torah values to Jews around the world, many of them whom are not aware of what Judaism is. That’s very sad. Furthermore, right now, because the JNF is essentially controlled by liberal groups, the JNF does not plant trees over the Green Line – not in Efrat, not in Gush Etzion, not in Chashmonaim, not East Jerusalem. Anything over the Green Line, there’s no development by the JNF being done there. This is what is at stake in these elections. You can directly see how the delegates – and who is voted in – can influence what goes on in Israel. The Masa scholarships are also another tangible effect of these elections. Yes. The Masa scholarships are scholarships for those sending their children to seminaries and yeshivos after high school. Masa started out in connection with trips like Birthright. They saw that they were bringing in kids to Israel for ten days, and it was really impactful and important. But then, they realized that if they brought kids in for longer than ten days – maybe for a few months –that would be more impactful, so they started the Masa scholarships. It was tens of millions of shekels every year that was going to these programs for kids – Reform, Conservative, Orthodox – it didn’t matter. But as the Orthodox influence waned in the Jewish Agency, the people sitting around the table in that committee who were distributing Masa scholarships said, “Hang on. There’s a totally disproportionate amount of Orthodox kids coming here. Why should so much of this funding go to the Orthodox?” So they’ve slowly whittled away at the amount of subsidies.

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In 2011, that stipend was $1,000. Today, in 2020, that stipend is just $200. It used to be thousands. But it’s gone down. Because the Orthodox didn’t come out to vote in the past elections, we had less representation to advocate for us and our needs. But what if the Orthodox were sitting at the table? The Orthodox would be speaking up. And they’d be advocating and saying that this program is important for our community. If we see Masa and other programs like Masa as important programs for our community, we should fight tooth and nail to make sure that we’re represented and sitting at the table and voicing our opinions. It’s a tangible example of, “There’s money available. You’ve just got to know how to access it.” But if you’re not in the game and you’re not coming out to vote, then what you’re really saying is: “This is not important to us.” The Orthodox world is such a powerful and strong world. If we were to see this election as an opportunity to really make a difference, it could be transformative. The Masa program is a tangible program that we could benefit from significantly. The JNF withholding development from Efrat and Gush Etzion – that’s tangible. These are examples of what is happening and what will be impacted by your votes. Let’s talk numbers. Last time around, only 56,000 people voted in the election in the U.S. Thirty-thousand of them voted for Reform. Over the past five years, Reform has received around $20 million. That’s a crazy amount of money. That means that each vote for Reform five years ago translated into $625 worth of programming – which is amazing, considering that you’re asking people to vote one time every five years. I tell people, What if you’re in the stock market and you need to invest $7.50 or $5 to get back $625 in five years? It’s a no-brainer. It’s the same thing here: you need to spend $7.50 to vote ($5 if you’re below 26 years old) and then you receive $625 worth of funds in programs. I don’t see it as a cost; it’s an investment in our community’s future.

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In terms of funding, 100% of Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael’s money and influence come directly from these elections. 100% of the Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael’s board members come from the elections. 50% of control of the Jewish Agency comes from here. If your faction gets, let’s say, 51% control of the board, then you’re able to really influence what goes on. Of course, that won’t happen in Israel because it’s not like in the U.S. with Democrats vs. Republicans. There are always negotiations and factions. But you can understand what I mean. In Israel, it’s all about smaller parties joining together, making coalitions. Are you in a strong position to form a coalition or not? It’s all about how many people and delegates you have. There are 500 delegates in all in the WZO Congress. 152 of them come from the U.S., which is roughly 30%. 190 delegates come from Israel, from the Knesset. And there are 170 of them from the rest

of the Diaspora. Eighteen come from Canada; 20 from France; 6 in South Africa; and 12 in Australia, etc. Essentially, the U.S. is a huge bloc in this election. If the Orthodox community came out really strong in this

If you’re not in the game and you’re not coming out to vote, then what you’re really saying is: “This is not important to us.” election – that could really swing the tide. We’d love to get 51% of the delegates from the U.S. – that would be huge, an amazing transformation!

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small amount of time, a small amount of money. It’s less than the cost of pizza and for less of the time it takes to wait for the pizza to be ready – and

you can impact $5 billion of funding. The coalition we have built is called the Mizrahi Vote Torah campaign, the Orthodox Israel Coalition. We have the OU, YU, Touro, the RCA, AMIT, a broad swath of organizations, that joined together because we need a coalition – that’s our whole success. We believe we can transform the elections if we show the Orthodox world the import of these elections. I think Rabbi Rockove called this “the most important election you’ve never heard of.” While we were living in our bubble, almost a billion dollars has been dedicated to all types of causes that should make us wake up and raise our voices. Nature abhors a vacuum. If we don’t fill it and come to the table, others will. We can’t afford to be apathetic. If we’re apathetic, we’re going to lose. Each one of us needs to go out and vote.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Hi there! I am a 23-year-old woman in the single scene in a big out-oftown community. I have an older sister who is very similar to me in many ways. We both have similar interests and hobbies, and many people say we look similar. My name also starts with the same letter as hers! We went to the same seminary only a year apart from each other. We are both looking for similar things in a guy but have many different personality traits. We got advice that we should both be dating at this point. So far, whenever a guy comes up for my sister that doesn’t work out, she will try and set him up with me if she thinks it will be better for me. What we see happening is that the guys always decline because it would be too strange for them. They feel like it would just be a do-over of the date with my sister. I feel like this is limiting my chances by so many! Everyone who has dated my sister won’t give me a shot – without even having the decency to realize we are different people with very different personalities. The out-of-town thing makes it even harder because the guys are less likely to travel in again, to the same exact state, city, and address, of the place they went last time that didn’t work out. Any advice would be super-helpful... Thanks, Kayla (Name changed)

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions.

Our intention is not to offer any definitive

conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

The Jewish Home Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish | FEBRUARY 6

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The Panel The Rebbetzin

The Shadchan

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ear Kayla, My actionable thoughts about the situation you describe are two-fold. First, there needs to be some frank polite communication with the shadchanim and friends who are setting your sister up. They need to get to know you and your relationship with your sister so that they can be encouraged to give you a chance when guys come to your city to date her. They need to hear from your sister as well. It is common practice for local city shadchanim to arrange a date with another girl once a boy comes out of town to date someone. I have heard this directly from city-sponsored shadchanim when researching an article on outof-town shidduchim. Yes, there are particular challenges for girls from cities that are not in the tri-state area. One city shadchanit told me that she arranges a place to stay, a car, and more for the guys who travel west. In her case, she comes east to meet boys every few months so that she knows whom she is suggesting for whom. So do your hishtadlus in communicating with friends, professionals, and shidduch sources who are suggesting boys for your sister. My second response has to do with faith and patience. Everyone needs to work on those traits when dating. You have already learned to deal with comparisons with your sister since you are so close in age and went to the same school(s). We don’t know what Hashem has in His plan for you but work on accepting that the shaliach may not be your sister’s dates. You may want to focus on davening for her; you know the Chazal about davening for someone else who needs the same thing. You may also want to daven that you be the shaliach for your sister’s shidduch. Hishtadlus and prayer are the way to go in all areas.

Michelle Mond ow, the situation you’re in sounds so frustrating. This is not something you stated outright, but more subtly, however, it seems like you might be a bit envious of your sister. She seems to get a lot of suggestions, and further frustrating is that your personal suggestions seem to be limited because of it. It is so hard to really internalize this in a world where one must do so much hishtadlus, but keep remembering this one important fact: you are not in control – Hashem is. There are more options out there than the guys your sister has dated. My advice to you is to travel out of your community. Spend Shabbosim in different states and meet shadchanim from all over. Take advantage of singles Shabbatons and events. Network yourself independently from your sister. Women get so wrapped up in the concept of all the guys there are to date who are not dating them that they lose sight of the fact that they only do need to find and choose their one and only bashert. I hope both you and your sister are at the other end of this very soon!

The Single Rena Friedman ayla, feeling like you’re competing with your sister for guys brings dating to a whole new level. The situation you’re in sounds complicated, and it is impressive that you and your sister, let’s call her Kira, are willing to share the guys you’ve dated. This is not something that should be taken for granted. To all of the men out there, if someone suggests their sister to you, take her seriously. I understand that throwing sisters into the mix can make things difficult for the sisters and guys. However, we all need to be

mature about dating. She knows her sister better than anyone and would not want to put her in harm’s way. It could be that what you are looking for is found in one sister and not the other. For example, my sister and I are similar in a lot of ways but very different in others. I am confident that that will be reflected in who we both ultimately marry. There are a few things that you and Kira could do if you are both on board. Sit down and figure out exactly what the nuances are that differentiate the two of you. Make sure that you both know how to properly articulate those differences in terms of your descriptions of yourselves and what you are each looking for in a husband. Be clear on the traits that you need versus Kira. This will give people the opportunity to suggest the sister that makes the most sense for a possible shidduch.

Hishtadlus and prayer are the way to go.

When looking into a boy, ask references specific questions that would help you understand if the boy would be better for you or Kira. If the boy is suggested to Kira but sounds shayach for you, have Kira suggest you to the shadchan before they go out. This will eliminate a level of awkwardness for the guy since he will only be going out with one of you instead of going out with one and then being suggested to the other. With this method, be sure that both you and Kira are on the same page and always allow the sister to

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whom the boy was suggested to have the ultimate say. Feeling like you’re competing with Kira for guys is going to take a toll on your dating experience and your relationship with her. It is best to make sure that any tensions that come because you feel like “this is limiting [your] chances by so [much]” are dealt with properly and do not come between the two of you. Be extra careful to be open with each other and constantly check in with one another. These guys will all come and go, but you will have each other forever.

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler aidy, do you see the dress she’s

“Z

wearing? Do you remember that I wore it at Jody’s bas mitzvah?” With a bunch of daughters and granddaughters, b”H, I am familiar with the concept of hand-me-down dresses. And, I am equally comfortable with the usefulness of recycled Artscroll Gemaras, textbooks, and even used cars. I have to admit that hand-medown shidduch dates is a new one for me. It’s great that two sisters care for each other, watch out for each other, and, of course, know each other’s personality to the point where each is comfortable knowing her sister’s shidduch preferences. However, it’s easy to understand why a young man would feel very awkward coming to the same home for what would seem like a doover date. Even the best shadchan

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters

I have to admit that hand-me-down shidduch dates is a new one for me.

salesmanship would have a tough time selling that idea to a young man. I do have some suggestions for you, though. Better pre-screening You do a good job describing how you and your sister have very different personality traits. May I respectfully suggest that you and your sister do a better job communicating your unique qualities and attributes to prospective shadchanim before they set up dates for you. Going on a date is a fine way of getting to learn about a young man’s personality and whether it does or does not mesh well with a prospective spouse. But wouldn’t it make much more sense for the shadchan, or whoever is setting you up, to try and choose, before the actual date, whether the young man would be more suitable for you or for your sister? No a mou nt of pre-screening, pre-date investigating, or researching can ever be definitive but it might help guide the young man to the more

suitable sister beforehand. Take a field trip It is understandable how living “out of town” limits your local shidduch opportunities. Why don’t you and your sister plan a one- or twoweek trip to New York? Before you go, you can set up several meet and greets (I’m afraid to suggest two different dates in the same week!) and perhaps plan on attending one of the rabbinically sanctioned and highly respectable events for singles. YUCONNECTS (www.yuconnects.com) is highly recommended. And, when you and your sister marry, b”eH, try not to use the same hand-me-down wedding gown.

coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516-224-7779, ext. 2. Visit www.the-

navidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@ gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

hat a frustrating situation. Aside from asking your sister to speak to shadchanim on your behalf and explain how open she is to her dates dating you, I think your internal work is to separate your dating expectations from your sister. Like Michelle, the shadchan, I am curious about your dating life separate from your sister. Are you relying on your sister for dates or are you going out separate and distinct from her going out? If you already are dating a satisfying amount, then wonderful. If not, the suggestions made by the panelists are solid and worthy of following through. I see firsthand how downright tiring shidduch dating can be for so many people. The truth is, however, that it takes one person. One. Try not to focus on the guys your sister is dating and whether or not those men will date you. Unfortunately, there

isn’t much you can do about those specific guys. Refocus on what you can do to date more, date smarter, or whatever your needs are. It seems as though you and your sister have a beautiful relationship. Oftentimes sisters close in age can develop a rivalry at all different stages of life. Competition abounds. You and your sister support each other and go to bat for each other. How beautiful! Wishing you both well on your unique and individual dating journeys. All the best, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship

Hi Readers! Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback. Jennifer

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Health & F tness

Coronavirus Everything you need to know and then some By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

owadays, you would have to have your head in the sand simultaneous with living under a rock not to have heard about the coronavirus. Loads of information and misinformation are swarming about as scientists across the globe are grappling with how to deal with and arrest it. Here is your guide to what you need to know. The new coronavirus, which is also known as 2019-nCoV, is an upper respiratory virus that has grabbed world headlines for its virulence, lethalness, and fast-spreading pace. Its symptoms typically include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Rooted in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the virus has already spread to more than 17,300 people in 24 countries across the world. As of this writing, there are eleven confirmed cases in the United States. The novel coronavirus has been categorized by WHO (World Health Organization) as a pandemic – a new disease strain spreading beyond a local epidemic into a large regional or worldwide event. Examples of 21st century pandemics include SARS, H1N1, and MERS. How did 2019-nCoV come to be? Scientists believe the genome se-

quence of 2019-nCoV was 96% identical to coronaviruses found in bats. In other words, bats are the likely hosts of the disease. Interestingly, it is supposed that SARS developed from bats, although it spread to civet cats before infecting humans during the 2003 outbreak. Most of the initial cases of coronavirus occurred in people who worked at or visited the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, where a variety of wild animals were sold. Usually coronavirus spreads from mammal to mammal and it is rare that animal coronaviruses infect people. It has happened before, though. What’s particularly concerning about 2019-nCoV is that it has become a human-to-human transmitted virus. Typically, human-to-human transmission occurs when people are among close contacts, usually within 6 feet of one another. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets which occur when a person coughs and/or sneezes. This is similar to how flu and other respiratory germs are spread. At present, it is not clear if a person can get 2019-nCoV by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Interesting side note: the virus remains active up to 48 hours on contact

surfaces and up to 7 days in carpets. An insidious point about 2019nCoV is that there are reports of the virus spreading from an infected patient with no symptoms to a close contact. This differs from most respiratory viruses when, typically, people are thought to be the most contagious when they are at their sickest. Now one understands the fear of the coronavirus and the monitoring of travelers for fevers or placing those travelers originating from China in quarantine. I emphasize here how easily viruses can spread from person-to-person albeit with variability. Some viruses are highly contagious (measles: remember that from last year?), while others are less so. Scientists globally are working 24/7 to learn more about the transmissibility and severity of 2019-nCoV. Most people present initially without any symptoms. In 2002, the virus mutated in China and was the causative agent of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) with a 10% mortality of those infected. In 2012, it resurfaced as the cause of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) with a 30% mortality rate. Then, camels played a role. How does one protect themselves and their loved ones from the coronavirus?

Getting the flu shot is the first line of defense. The coronavirus differs from the flu virus which is a serious virus itself. Yes, there has been a lot of flu even with the flu vaccine this year. The vaccine nonetheless mitigates the flu and symptoms are less. Practice good health habits. These include (and are not limited to): • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when washing isn’t an option. Send small bottles of hand sanitizer to school with your children. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Consider wearing a disposable face mask. • Stay home when you are sick. Many parents work outside the home and don’t have child care lined up when children are home sick. I’m sorry but please don’t send your sick children to school or daycare. You don’t want other people sending their sick children into school and exposing your children to nasty germs. Staying home also includes work, errands (you can shop online), and travel. • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then immediately throw the tis-

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

sue in the trash. Alternatively, sneeze or cough into your sleeve (and be sure to put the top in the laundry when you get home). • Clean and disinfect often-touched surfaces like doorknobs, doors to toilet stalls in schools, cellphones, and keyboards. Perhaps respectfully ask your children’s schools if school bathrooms

can be cleaned at increased intervals throughout the day. Bring Lysol or other disinfectant wipes wherever you go and send your children with wipes so all can wipe before and after using objects, bathrooms, etc. • Be vigilant about rest, sleep, and eating nutritiously. Drink, drink, drink water (hot and cold).

• About cellphones (again) – clean them regularly with an alcohol swab! • For those with younger children who have siblings in schools, please change the clothes of the school-going children upon returning home from school. • Separate family members’ toothbrushes into different holders.

As always, daven.

Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

Washing Your Hands the RIGHT Way (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Why? Because hands could become re-contaminated if placed in a basin of standing water that has been contaminated through previous use, clean running water should be used. However, washing with non-potable water when necessary may still improve health. The temperature of the water does not appear to affect microbe removal; however, warmer water may cause more skin irritation and is more environmentally costly. Turning off the faucet after wetting hands saves water, and there are few data to prove whether significant numbers of germs are transferred between hands and the faucet. Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs. To date, studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap. As a result, FDA issued a final rule in September 2016 that 19 ingredients in common “antibacterial” soaps, including triclosan, were no more effective than non-antibacterial soap and water, and thus these products are no longer able to be marketed to the general public. This rule does not affect hand sanitizers, wipes, or antibacterial products used in healthcare settings. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Why? Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin. Microbes are present on all surfaces of the hand, often in particularly high concentration under the nails, so the entire hand should be scrubbed. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. Why? Determining the optimal length of time for handwashing is difficult because few studies about the health impacts of altering handwashing times have been done. Of those that exist, nearly all have measured reductions in overall numbers of microbes, only a small proportion of which can cause illness, and have not measured impacts on health. Solely reducing numbers of microbes on hands is not necessarily linked to better health. The optimal length of time for handwashing is also likely to depend on many factors, including the type and amount of soil on the hands and the

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setting of the person washing hands. For example, surgeons are likely to come into contact with disease-causing germs and risk spreading serious infections to vulnerable patients, so they may need to wash hands longer than a woman before she prepares her own lunch at home. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that washing hands for about 15-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods. Accordingly, many countries and global organizations have adopted recommendations to wash hands for about 20 seconds (some recommend an additional 20-30 seconds for drying). Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Why? Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbes – including disease-causing germs – from skin so they can then be rinsed off of hands. Rinsing the soap away also minimizes skin irritation. While some recommendations include using a paper towel to turn off the faucet after hands have been rinsed, this practice leads to an increased use of water and paper towels, and there are no studies to show that it improves health. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Why? Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands; therefore, hands should be dried after washing. However, the best way to dry hands remains unclear because few studies about hand drying exist, and the results of these studies conflict. Additionally, most of these studies compare overall concentrations of microbes, not just disease-causing germs, on hands following different hand-drying methods. It has not been shown that removing microbes from hands is linked to better health. Nonetheless, studies suggest that using a clean towel or air-drying hands are best.

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Health & F tness

The Divine Dairy Diagnosis & Treatment of Lactose Intolerance By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

food intolerance, also called a food sensitivity, is not the same as an allergy. An intolerance has to do with the body’s inability to digest a specific food or ingredient, which results in gastro-

intestinal distress, while an allergy is an immune reaction to a certain food. Allergies can cause digestive issues too, but they can also cause hives, itching, trouble breathing, and even changes in heart rate and

blood pressure. Food intolerances are much more common than true food allergies; research suggest that they’ve increased over the past 50 years. They are usually not life-threatening the way an allergic reaction can be, but they can be seriously debilitating to quality of life. One of the most common food intolerances is to lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. The human body breaks down lactose with the help of an enzyme produced in the small intestine called lactase. But some people don’t produce enough lactase, especially as they get older. Currently, about 75% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant to some extent. The ability to produce lactase is governed by a gene called LCT gene. Some people are born with a mutation in this gene that interferes with lactase production, even as infants. These babies can’t even digest breast milk and need dairy-free formulas to stay healthy and thrive. For most people, however, lactose intolerance comes on later in childhood or in adulthood, when the LCT gene is switched off. When this happens, the lactose behaves more like a laxative and causes abdominal distress like gas, bloating, pain, nausea, and diarrhea. This occurs because the small intestine can no longer break down the lactose, so now the bacteria in the large intestine is trying to do the job instead. This gastric dis-

tress usually occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking dairy. Some people have trouble with any amount and any type of dairy, while others can tolerate some dairy products like cheese and yogurt, which have already gone through a fermentation process that breaks down most of their lactose. Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed with a blood test, a breath test, or a stool test. In addition, most physicians will ask their patients to avoid all dairy for 2-4 weeks to see how they feel. When someone is diagnosed as being lactose intolerant, this now means that they need to avoid milk and milk products, including cow’s milk, goat’s milk, all cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and butter. Foods that may have some dairy in it include: cookies and cakes, breads, cereals, chocolate, and quiches. Some find that overthe-counter lactase enzymes help them digest dairy products without symptoms. The majority of those with lactose intolerance need to look for alternatives to dairy milk. The following are the most popular: • Almond Milk: This is made from a mixture of finely ground almonds and water and is my personal favorite. It is almost free of allergens and contains neither lactose, soy proteins, nor gluten, although it does have anti-inflammatory prop-

The Jewish Home Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish | FEBRUARY 6

erties. Most commercial almond milks range from 35-90 calories per cup, but beware, many of them are loaded with sugar! Look for an unsweetened version. The lower calorie versions will have much less protein than regular milk (only 1 gram for the almond milk as compared to 8 grams for cow milk), so don’t rely on almond milk as a good source of protein. • Soy Milk: This is the most nutritionally similar to dairy milk. Soy milk is made by soaking and blending soybeans and straining out the leftover pulp. It is filled with protein, fiber, and antioxidants. However, some people are allergic to soy, or wish to avoid soy for various reasons. Since most soy is genetically modified, look for organic versions of soy milk to avoid that issue. • Pea Milk: This is the new kid on the block and is made from pea protein isolate, water, and other emulsifiers like algal oil, sunflower oil, and guar and gellan gums. It’s as creamy as soy milk with a less nutty taste. The use of algal oil provides DHA, a key omega-3 fatty acid that’s linked to immunity, heart health, and cognition. The unsweetened versions have 8 grams of protein a cup, so it’s a good source of protein. • Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is made from water and coconut cream and has a tropical taste compared to other plant-based milks. Nutritionally, coconut milk is higher in fat and lower in carbohydrates than nut- or grain-based milks. Just one cup has 4 grams of saturated fat, or 20% of our daily value, so use this milk in moderation. • Oat Milk: The trendiest milk of the bunch, oat milk is creamy with a light flavor. It contains added fiber, which may make it more filling than the other alternative milks. It does, however, have more calories and carbohydrates than unsweetened almond milk, so use in moderation as well. • Hemp Milk: This milk is made by blending water with the seeds of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. This plant is also used to produce marijuana. However, hemp milk and other products made from hemp seeds do not cause mind-altering effects like marijuana and con-

tain only trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC. Hemp milk is highly nutritious and loaded with protein and healthy fats. Most of the fat is unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s, which are essential for building new tissue and membranes in the body. It’s also one of the few plant-based complete proteins, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids that we need to consume. It is also free of soy and gluten, so it is a good choice for those that need to avoid these components. The main objection to hemp milk is the taste; it’s ultra nutty flavor can seem bitter to many people accustomed to the sweeter taste of the other plantbased alternatives. Dairy foods are excellent sources of calcium, but eating dairy isn’t essential and it is still possible to have a very healthy diet by including other foods that are high in calcium. The recommended intake for calcium is 1,000 mg per day. Some good non-dairy sources of calcium include: calcium-fortified foods like breads, or almond, soy or oat milk; canned fish with bones, like sardines; fortified tofu; and cooked collard greens. If you are not consuming enough of these foods, then supplementation should be considered and discussed with your physician. Being diagnosed with lactose intolerance is certainly not the end of the world but will require some lifestyle/dietary changes. The food industry has responded well, and the supermarkets are flooded with dairy-free options for milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. But pay attention to the sugar! Many of these products are loaded with sugar, so look for the unsweetened versions. It is certainly possible to eat tasty, satisfying, and healthy dairy-free meals by selecting the right combination of dairy-free products.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 29, 2015 2015 || The The Jewish Jewish Home Home OCTOBER

Dr. Deb

Why Your Love is Not Enough for Your Spouse to Change By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

econd only to “we don’t communicate” as a reason marriages are not doing well is “I have no voice in this relationship.” People don’t feel heard. Sally tells Solly, “I’ve discussed this with you a thousand times and I don’t understand why you won’t just do it.

You know I love you. I do so much for you! Why can’t you do this one thing for me?” If only it were that easy: You ask and they do. That would eliminate all marriage counselors, I think. When they don’t do, then you feel unheard. You start to get depressed and hope-

less. But why don’t they just do it, anyway? I can think of five reasons, and most importantly, I’d like to share some thoughts on what to do about each.

1. They Don’t Get It You thought you spoke in plain English; what’s not to get? What they didn’t get, apparently, is how important it is. Not all requests are of equal value. And here’s the really annoying part: If you don’t feel heard, you’re likely to up the level of request. Meaning, you start to request more often and for more things. This is logical: If your spouse is not in the habit of responding, then it makes sense to ask more often to increase the probability of getting some response. But people are not roulette wheels. If you ask often for a variety of things, your spouse is quite likely to figure none of it is too important. After all, if there are so many things you’re asking for, then how could all of them be of equal value? So now they really tune you out. They don’t see the value in any of it. I’ve heard this before, multiple times, “Just wait. I will honor that request. And another one will pop up. There will be no end to it.” This shows that all requests are the same from their perspective. You can explain each one carefully, but it still boils down to them not getting how all these different things could be equally of great importance. What to do about it: You might consider doing some heavy-duty reflecting on your list of important things and see

if they all fit into one category. What this accomplishes is that instead of your spouse feeling hounded and taken advantage of by having large and endless lists of ways that they are supposed to change, there’s really one major category that, if corrected, affects all items within it. Let’s take an example: Sally doesn’t like Solly spending above a certain threshold of money in the stock market without consulting her. She also doesn’t like Solly getting into arguments so often with respectable people in the community. And finally, she doesn’t like his messiness and confusion about his papers. All of this sounds like totally different things, right? Well, they’re really not. They all constitute a lack of “planfulness.” Or, to put it in not so kindly terms, impulsiveness. (They’re all symptoms of ADHD.) If Sally can figure this out, she can sit down with him and discuss his “impulsiveness” rather than each disparate thing. And she can suggest he get a consult with a neurologist on it, to get a confirmed diagnosis. Note, too, that if Solly is really ADHD, his brain just works differently than Sally’s. This means he really could not see what was bothersome to her about each of the things on her list. After all, this is how he is and she basically is chipping away at a part of his identity. Suggestion #2: Sally can make another list of all the good qualities that seem to be part of Solly’s personality and share this with him first to fend

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

off any bad feelings he might have in hearing her complaint.

2. They May Feel Like You’re Unfair Of course, you love them and they know it. But when you ask for a change in who they are or how they go about things, they may feel it is in conflict with their needs and wants. If, for example, Sam repeatedly asks Susan to clean the kitchen after she cooks. She feels that since she does all the family meal-planning and preparation, it is only fair that Sam should clean up for her. If he won’t do it because he works full-time and she doesn’t work, then she may still feel that she’s entitled to take a break and take it easy after all that work. She may want to leave the dishes in the sink for the next day. This very thought disgusts Sam. How can you leave dishes overnight? The thought boggles his mind. For that reason, he keeps insisting that Susan do better. But her view remains unchanged: When do I get downtime? I end up working as much as he does, hour for hour. And tomorrow is another day and another meal to prepare. What to do about this: I don’t know if Sam and Susan can listen to each other without thinking about how unfair and demanding the other person is, but if they can, they should discuss these honest and true feelings. If that can’t happen because neither person will feel heard, then here is a thought I would suggest each of them entertain: Are they playing victim? Do they feel they got the short end of the stick? How often does each of them do one extra thing for the other person? Yes, I’m saying to do what the other wants and then one more thing besides, or two more things. Research shows that when people focus on giving rather than pulling out their bean-counters and trying to figure out who did more, they’re going to be happier.

3. Some People Feel Pushed Just from Being Asked I’ve noticed a funny switcheroo. It has two versions. One is that Person #1 cannot ask for anything because that means that Person #2 must have been doing it “wrong” if Person #1 needed to ask. And if they were doing it wrong,

then that means that asking was really not asking at all; it was a criticism. The second version of this same thing is that if Person #1 not only asks, but repeatedly asks, then that constitutes being pushed which is a higher level injury than criticism; it’s controlling. I realize this is extremely frustrating to Person #1. All they want to do is bring up their own needs and wants – which is perfectly legitimate. We all have them and are entitled to express them. When bringing up these perfectly reasonable needs and wants becomes interpreted as criticizing or controlling, Person #1 wants to throw up their hands in the air and say, “I give up!” The entire thing feels grossly unfair to Person #1. They remain tied up, unable to bring up legitimate concerns because their motives are being twisted around. But Person #2 simply can’t hear

backfire as real criticism. What you can say is: “We don’t seem to be happy; perhaps we should see a therapist.” If that doesn’t work, threatening to leave (if you mean it) is an option that is an absolute last resort.

4. They Want to Fix the Problem But are Clueless Then there is the well-intentioned spouse who speaks a different language. Well, it’s English, but the words have different definitions. Like “I’m disappointed in you” means “You’re the lowest of the low, a total failure, and I have zero respect left for you, not even a drop!” Or the mildly sarcastic, “So you’re walking off with my pen and I will never see it again” means “You are so immature, it’s shocking; you are so irresponsible I can never count on you,” and of course, calls forth rage in response.

When people focus on giving rather than pulling out their bean-counters and trying to figure out who did more, they’re going to be happier.

anything that has the least implication that they have done something wrong or omitted to do something right. Their self-concept is that fragile. What’s more, Person #1 does not have the power to build up Person #2; only Person #2 does. No one else can do it for them. No amount of cheerleading, praising, loving, validating, or even agreeing will work. Again, the reason is that the lack – the deep, dark, desperate lack – is inside of Person #2, inside their very soul. What to do: Person #2 needs the tools to gain back the sense of self that they lost long, long ago. Person #2 doesn’t want to recognize that they lost a sense of self because that very recognition is too disturbing, too scary. It is easier – and safer – to lash out at Person #1. So generally speaking, saying they need therapy will

Or, “I need you to take the kids now so I can get my workout,” means, “If you don’t take the kids this very second, I will die of heart failure because if I have one second less of my workout that I’m supposed to, it will be the end of my life!” You can repeat what you want till the cows come home but it simply doesn’t mean the same thing to the listener as it does to you. Repeating doesn’t work because the revised definitions of words have never been entered into any mutual dictionary. In fact, neither person even realizes consciously that this is going on because they thought that their definition was the standard one and did not need translating. What to do about it: When you’re fighting, listen to the words that have been used. Listen when there are hurt

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feelings. Listen when someone asks for something and be very, very sure you do understand. If you don’t, ask for an explanation. If that frustrates them, show them this article.

5. They are Afraid of Losing Themselves You may think that what you’re asking is logical and normal. The problem is that from their perspective, you’ve asked for a lot. And they feel like they’ve gotten lost in the process. Let’s say you’re an orderly, timely person. You think that is “normal.” That’s the way to be. And if you ask your spouse to also be orderly and timely, you’re doing them a favor. After all, it’s “better,” right? Except that your spouse was a free spirit before you met. They did things on impulse and didn’t spend time planning. They didn’t believe in order because it took too much time to create and that stole time from just “being.” Your spouse liked to take nature walks and ride a bike. Your spouse preferred that to cleaning the kitchen. Too much time cleaning up wastes valuable time you could spend enjoying life. But your spouse loves you and wants to please you. So they give up time from preferred activities in order to create the order and harmony you’ve asked for. However, there is a point that eventually comes when it actually becomes frightening to comply with one more thing because they feel they are losing their very identity. And the truth is, being orderly and neat does not please them. It doesn’t do for their insides what it does for yours. What to do about this: In relationships like this there is a lack of appreciation of another perspective on life. There is a lack of respect for that other perspective. These are the two qualities that need to be developed. When both people develop them, then – and only then – can such things as how time will be spent and how much order is needed and who should create it be discussed calmly and with a clear head. If you are struggling with any of this, I’m happy to help. Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want help with your marriage, begin by signing up to watch her Masterclass at https://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

In The K

tchen

Pasta Primavera By Naomi Nachman

I have spent many years teaching cooking at various summer camps. This summer, I am working on NCSY Euro Go and teaching the girls cooking in Italy. This is one of the Italian recipes we are going to be cooking along with many other authentic dishes including pasta, sauces, and pizza. When I tested this recipe for my family, it was delizioso – delicious in Italian.

Ingredients Pasta 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips 2 medium zucchini, or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips 2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips 3 portabella mushrooms 1 eggplant, sliced ¼ cup olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs 1 pound bowtie pasta 15 cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup grated Parmesan

Dressing 3 cloves of garlic ½ cup olive oil ½ cup red wine vinegar 2 tsp oregano Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation Preheat oven to 450°F. On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl or cruet. Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixture in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Add dressing and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

By Nate Davis

IF THE 2020

STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS Trump Tore it Up, Pelosi Ripped it Up

He refused her handshake. She tore up his speech. The last time they saw each other before that was when she decided to impeach him to satisfy her tantruming base and he responded by calling her a third-rate politician.

this sounds like a WWE event, well, everyone was in costume – she and her minions were wearing white (for some symbolic reason, which only they know) and he wore the standard power-red tie which reflected perfectly off of the big American flag draped on the wall behind the podium. The ref? Well, he was the guy with the perfectly coifed white hair who sat there pence-ively making small talk with her to be nice but cheering on cue for him. If that doesn’t sound too impartial, it’s because that was not his role – like in any wrestling match, the ref is also part of the act. So, who won the round? Sometimes, the game is won even before the first pitch is thrown out. Sometimes it’s not even a fair game. In this game, Trump came in batting .750 and on the greatest hitting streak of his career; Pelosi came in with her entire team battling the coronavirus. Despite delivering the State of the Union address in the House chamber of Congress, the president clearly has the home court advantage, as he peers down from the podium and tugs at the strings of the mighty and powerful of Washington, who all believe deep in their souls that they are the ones who should really be giving the address – applause now, stand up now, turn around and salute that person now. The only role of the Speaker of the House – when on opposite side of the political aisle of the president – is to feign boredom and lack of interest. As the president lobs perfectly crafted political missiles through the TV to the various constituent bases needed to win the next election, the Speaker of the House is supposed to count sheep in his or her head. In Ms. Pelosi’s case, on Tuesday night, she opted out of the “I’m so bored” look and chose a more compelling one. Imagine you were trying to communicate with someone that you really need a Chapstick, like now, instantly, because your lips are cracking up like the Liberty Bell. But you are unable to talk or even use your hands – you can only gesture by twirling your tongue in your closed mouth. Well, that was the look that Ms. Pelosi opted for throughout the president’s nearly hour-and-a-half address.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The president came into Congress to deliver his speech galloping on the brand-new Gallup poll that shook Washington a mere twelve hours before his speech –his approval rating at 49%, which is his highest-ever approval rating and higher than Obama’s approval was at the same time in his presidency. As you may recall, Obama went on to be defeated by the dog-beater Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential elections. Actually, no, that didn’t happen. Obama trounced Romney eight years ago. Romney settled for becoming a senator and will forever have a bruised ego because of it, which is why he is such a royal pain. But that’s another story for another day. Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand, came into the State of the Union Address squished in the middle of the front seat of a 1980s station wagon sputtering on its final flat tires, with Adam Schiff in the driver’s seat and Jerry Nadler chomping on Cheese Doodles on her right. (“Why do I always get stuck in the middle?” “Yes, Yanky, I will rewind the tape if I can get my arm unstuck!”) Pelosi’s only recourse? “No serious and somber impeachment pen for you, Nadler, if you continue wiping your orange fingers on my white jacket.” All of this made what actually happened in the room at the State of the Union pretty irrelevant. The truth is, even if Trump would have delivered a dud, it would have been hard to forget that in the 24 hours before the address, the entirety of the Democrat Party crashed and burned when they botched the Iowa caucus up so bad that they might as well start investigating themselves for possible collusion with Harry Dunne in “Dumb & Dumber.”

ut it turns out that Trump did a great job. First, let’s go through the checklist of what could have gone wrong: 1) Every once in a while, just to remind us that he is not always on his game, Trump gets a mean case of the sniffles as he leans into the microphone. You know, like in the first presidential debate when we all put on our rhinoplastiologist caps and were like, “Yep, definitely a deviated

septum…and he just lost his chance of winning the presidency because of it.” His campaign was resurrected in the second debate when his sniffles were replaced by his promise to “lock her up.”

political career (hi, Marco Rubio); Trump is, at times, a cautious sipper himself. He has, at times, used second-date caution sips while on the big stage, which certainly doesn’t portray strength and confidence. But that

Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand, came into the State of the Union Address squished in the middle of the front seat of a 1980s station wagon sputtering on its final flat tires, with Adam Schiff in the driver’s seat and Jerry Nadler chomping on Cheese Doodles on her right. 2) Then there is always the possibility of a water incident – only in Washington is water such a landmine. Sipping too cautiously can doom your

didn’t happen on Tuesday night. 3) The president could have overly cheered for himself while grinning widely and pumping his fists.

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Although he basked in the moment when he stepped up the podium and cheered for himself a little bit, he didn’t overdo it. It was the perfect amount to troll the Dems who were sitting on their hands. 4) Of course, the bookies were taking bets on whether Trump would bring up impeachment and the fact that at 4 p.m. the following day he would be A-C-Q-U-I-T-T-E-D. Conventional wisdom was that it would not be wise for him to mention anything about it. Considering that conventional wisdom has been a real guiding light in his life (wink, wink), the smart money said that he would bring it up. Others thought that even if he didn’t plan on bringing it up, he would simply be unable to resist blurting it out because he is the most undisciplined, childish orange man ever who is also very, very bad. Hmm…turns out he stayed far away from it – sometimes what you don’t say is even more powerful than what you do say.

he actual address can be summed up pretty simply: my policies work (true); the economy is booming (true); the Democrats today are socialists who will take away your healthcare and make America look like Venezuela (true); and my 2020 campaign starts now (duh). Through the use of various guests in the audience, the president basically told Democrats: let me introduce you to Tony Rankins, an African-American man who turned his life around through a program that I put in place; Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who I am promoting to Brigadier General in honor of his 100th birthday; and Janiyah Davis, an African-American fourth grader from Philadelphia to whom I gave a scholarship to a charter school. Now that I’ve siphoned off enough of the black vote, you might as well not even waste your time with Crazy Bernie, Little Michael, Pocahontas, and Lying Joe. I’ll see you at my next inauguration…which will be bigger than Obama’s, even if it’s not. It’s no wonder Pelosi reacted by ripping up the speech. The problem is, though, that ripping up the scorecard doesn’t change the score.

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the Union f o 2 e 020 t a St

es id en

olitical theater was on full display on Tuesday night when President Donald Trump delivered his final State of the Union Address before the 2020 election. With the ongoing impeachment in Congress getting set to wrap up with a Trump acquittal a mere fifteen hours after the speech and the economy firing on all cylinders, the stage was clearly set for a Trump victory lap. The usual pageantry of the evening was amplified by the fact that President Trump and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are in a feud not only over impeachment but also because of a White House meeting back in October 2019 which ended badly, with Pelosi and Senator Schumer storming out of the White House in a fit of rage. Indeed, the interactions on Tuesday night did not disappoint – upon stepping up to the podium, Mr. Trump appeared to ignore Ms. Pelosi’s attempted handshake when he handed her the ceremonial copy of his address, although it appeared unclear whether that rebuff was intentional. What is more clear is that promptly upon the conclusion of the address, as the Republican side of Congress applauded wildly, Ms. Pelosi stood behind the president and angrily tore up her copy of the address. The tone of the address was a clear signal that President Trump fully intends on running on his record in the 2020 elections.

ru m

p To uts his

Record and Honor

A at e r sG

a ic r e

By Tzvi Dear “My fellow citizens, three years ago we launched the great American comeback,” the president began. “Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results. Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again,” Trump said. “America’s enemies are on the run, America’s fortunes are on the rise, and America’s future is blazing bright. The years of economic decay are over. The days of our country being used, taken advantage of and even scorned by other nations are long behind us.” After ticking off the economic accomplishments of the last three years, the president declared, “Our agenda is relentlessly pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth and, most of all, pro-American.” As has become custom, this State of the Union address featured several poignant moments in which the president pointed out and addressed specific guests in the crowd, some of whom were there to help amplify the president’s point or to prove a promise kept. While touting America’s role as leader of a 59-nation diplomatic coalition against the socialist dictator of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, the president noted that the legitimate leader of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, was, in fact, in the gallery. This drew an extended bipartisan standing ovation. Perhaps indicating that he intends

on building on his uptick in support amongst African-Americans, the president highlighted that African-American unemployment has reached the lowest level in history. He also introduced several African-Americans in the gallery, including Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, who served in World War II, the Korean War, and in Vietnam. The president saluted McGee, whom he promoted to Brigadier General in honor of his 100th birthday. Trump also introduced Janiyah Davis, a fourth grader from Philadelphia who was denied the ability to go to a charter school of her choice because of legislation vetoed by the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. Addressing Janiyah and her single mom, Stephanie, the president said, “Janiyah, I have good news for you because I am pleased to inform you that your long wait is over. I can proudly announce tonight that an opportunity scholarship has become available. It’s going to you and you will soon be heading to the school of your choice.” There were several other surprising moments in the speech. The president noted the presence of talk-show icon Rush Limbaugh, who this week informed his millions of conservative listeners that he has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. In the hours before the president’s speech, the media had reported that in the coming weeks the president

planned on awarding Rush the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the country. “Here, tonight, is a special man beloved by millions of Americans, who just received a stage four advanced cancer diagnosis. This is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet,” Trump said, as Rush sat near Melania Trump in the gallery. The president then shocked Rush by bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on him right then and there, with Melania placing the ribbon around his neck as the chamber waited in silence. A visibly moved Rush then pumped his fists towards the president while all of the Republicans in the room cheered wildly. Perhaps the most tear-jerker moment came during the address when the president introduced military-spouse Amy Williams from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and her two children, 6-year-old Eliana and 3-yearold Rowan. Trump spoke about how courageous military families are and how Amy’s husband for the past seven months has been on his fourth deployment in Afghanistan. As her little children charmingly leaned on the upper gallery railing, the president thanked Amy for her sacrifice. Then he added, “But Amy, there is one more thing: tonight, we have a very special surprise. I am thrilled to inform you that your husband is back from deployment. He

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

is here with us tonight. And we couldn’t keep him waiting any longer. Welcome home, Sergeant Williams.” With that, Sergeant Williams entered the gallery to be reunited with his family for the first time in seven months. The president also put his opponents on notice that he will not shy away from some of the hot button issues he raised in 2016 for which he drew the ire of the left. He spoke about how the border wall is being built and paid tribute to deputy chief of Border Patrol Agent Raul Ortiz, who was present. Trump also called out Democrats for creating sanctuary cities and states around the nation. “Just 29 days ago, a criminal alien freed by the sanctuary city of New York was charged with the brutal rape and murder of a 92-year-old woman. The killer had been previously arrested for assault, but under New York’s sanctuary policies, he was set free,” Trump said. “If the city had honored ICE’s detainer request, his victim would still be alive today.” He added, “The state of California passed an outrageous law declaring their whole state to be a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants. A very terrible sanctuary with catastrophic results. Here is just one tragic example. In December 2018, California police detained an illegal alien with five prior arrests, including convictions for robbery and assault. But as required by California’s sanctuary law, local authorities released him. Days later, the criminal alien went on a gruesome spree of deadly violence. He viciously shot one man going about his daily work. He approached a woman sitting in her car and shot her in the arm and in the chest. He walked into a convenience store and wildly fired his weapon. He hijacked a truck and smashed into vehicles, critically injuring innocent victims. One of the victims is a terrible, terrible situation – died – 51-year-old American named Rocky Jones. “Rocky was at a gas station when this vile criminal fired eight bullets at him from close range, murdering him in cold blood. Rocky left behind a devoted family, including his brothers, who loved him more than anything else in the world.” In the audience was one of Rocky’s grieving brothers who stood up tearfully and gestured his ap-

100-year-old Tuskagee airman Charles McGee saluting President Trump with his 13-year-old grandson at his side

Rush Limbaugh after receiving his Medal of Honor

Sgt Townsend Williams surprised his family when he was reunited with them during Trump’s address

Jody Jones, brother of Rocky, who was killed by an illegal immigrant in California in 2018, was invited to the State of the Union by President Trump

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preciation towards the president. Mr. Trump looked towards him and said, “Jody, our hearts weep for your loss, and we will not rest until you have justice.” The president called out his opponents directly and said, “To those watching at home tonight. I want you to know we will never let socialism destroy American healthcare.” Trump painted a stark contrast between his views and the left. “Over 130 legislators in this chamber have endorsed legislation that would bankrupt our nation by providing free taxpayer-funded health care to millions of illegal aliens, forcing taxpayers to subsidize free care for anyone in the world who unlawfully crosses our borders. These proposals would raid the Medicare benefits of our seniors, while acting as a powerful lure for illegal immigration. That is what is happening in California and other states,” Trump said. “Their systems are totally out of control, costing taxpayers vast and unaffordable amounts of money. If forcing American taxpayers to provide unlimited free health care to illegal aliens sounds fair to you, then stand with the radical left. But if you believe that we should defend American patients and American seniors, then stand with me and pass legislation to prohibit free government health care for illegal aliens.”

emocrats were clearly upset by Mr. Trump’s address. When asked by reporters what she thought of the speech, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) replied, “I tore it up,” before adding that it was “the courteous thing to do given the alternative.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) angrily said after the address, “If I wanted to attend a MAGA rally, I would attend a MAGA rally.” Republicans, on the other hand, were thrilled with the address. From the chants of “four more years! Four more years!” at the beginning of the speech to a grinning Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) telling the president, “Great job! Great job!” the Republican Party repeatedly applauded and basked in the moment.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Given the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, apps, digital video and streaming music, which has infiltrated most aspects of daily life, distracted walking and street crossing will be a road safety issue for the foreseeable future. - From a University of Calgary study on pedestrian safety

If Democrats can’t run a caucus, can’t run an impeachment, can’t fire an intelligence committee chair who lies constantly, how could they run healthcare? - Newt Gingrich in a tweet after the Democratic Party in Iowa messed up the Iowa caucus results

“We will continue to monitor the ongoing developments,” the President said in his post. “We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7!” Who are these experts? They’re largely the same sorts of white men (and a couple women on the sidelines) who’ve dominated the Trump administration from the very beginning. By contrast, former President Barack Obama’s circle of advisers in the face of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was hardly so monochromatic. Neither was it so abysmal in terms of gender diversity. (Of course, to contextualize, Obama’s administration, on the whole, was far more diverse than Trump’s.) - From a CNN article titled “Coronavirus task force another example of Trump administration’s lack of diversity”

I’ve still got a lot of things I want to do. I certainly don’t have any reason to want to go curl up in a corner someplace with a green banana and hope it gets ripe. - Jack Nicklaus, 18-time golf major champion

Everyone has seen the warning. At the bottom of the email, it says: “Please consider the environment before printing.” But for those who care about global warming, you might want to consider not writing so many emails in the first place.

This party needs to wake up and make sure that we talk about things that are relevant to people…. We don’t need to become the British Labour Party. That’s a bad thing. It’s not going well over there. – Democrat strategist James Carville talking about the state of the Democrat Party

The new U.S. plan undercuts prospects for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. If implemented, the plan will doom the only viable solution to this longrunning conflict, the two-state solution. - Former President Jimmy Carter, who is one of Israel’s most vocal American critics

Trump could offer Alaska to the Russians in exchange for support in the next election. Or decide to move to Mar-a-Lago personally and let Jared Kushner run the country, delegating to him the decision whether to go to war. - House Impeachment Manager and House Oversight Chairman Adam Schiff arguing to the Senate what the legal ramifications of a Trump impeachment acquittal may be

- Emily Chasan, Bloomberg

MORE QUOTES

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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I’ve become more religious. - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaking at a recent conference about his Jewish faith

I think there’s a comfort in knowing and having confidence that there are things bigger than you… You have to believe in things that are bigger than yourself. - Ibid

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game, and a fantastic comeback, under immense pressure. You represented the Great State of Kansas and, in fact, the entire USA, so very well. Our Country is PROUD OF YOU! - President Trump’s initial tweet after the Super Bowl, which was quickly replaced by a tweet recognizing the correct hometown of the Chiefs – Kansas City, Missouri

Trump knew that. He just didn’t want to try and spell Missouri. He’s like, “M-I-Z-Z — I’ll just put Kansas.”

No one in the world grew up the way Donald Trump grew up. His parents obviously did something just horribly wrong to create this creature that we are now living with. - MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell

— Jimmy Fallon

Think you can use the HOV lane with Skeletor riding shotgun? You’re dead wrong. - Tweet by the Arizona Department of Public Safety after a 62-year-old driver was cited for driving in the HOV lane with Skeletor, a fictional character from media franchise “Masters of the Universe,” sitting in his front seat

During an interview on Saturday night, one of my guests said something that made me laugh. And while in the moment, I found that joke humorous. And I didn’t catch everything that was said. Just to make it perfectly clear, I was laughing at the joke and not at any group of people. - CNN’s Don Lemon after a clip of his show went viral showing him tearing up in laughter while talking with a panelist about how dumb Trump supporters are

Animals are not pets – they are not your cheap burglar alarm or something which allows you to go out for a walk. They are not ours as decorations or toys; they are living beings. - PETA President Ingrid Newkirk

I just got up every morning and one day I looked around and I was 103. How I got there I don’t know. - Art Green, age 103, who is still part of a Baltimore bowling league that meets every Wednesday, talking to a local TV station about his longevity

I told the staff today that I have a deeply personal relationship with G-d that I do not proselytize about, but I do, and I have been working that relationship tremendously. - Conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh while announcing his lung cancer diagnosis on the air

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6 OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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If they’re inviting us, I’ll be there. It’s quite an honor. - Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talking about a potential White House visit after his team won the Super Bowl

Because he’s a very bright guy. - 2020 hopeful Joe Biden when asked by Savannah Guthrie on the “Today Show” why his son Hunter – who has no experience in the energy sector and has no connection to Ukraine and is known to have drug problems – got paid millions of dollars on the board of a Ukrainian energy company

He goes through a decision-tree faster than anyone I’ve seen, to get where he thinks the situation is going to go. He thinks differently than anyone else I’ve represented.

Fjj

- Former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn at a Federalist Society Conference talking about President Trump

I’m a black male… That’s how I feel. - Captain J. Ortiz, a Miami cop, at a Miami City Commission Hearing last week after he was caught lying about his race on his 2014 lieutenant’s exam and his 2017 captain’s application. He is not black

It might be helpful to have a president and government that understand technology so this sort of thing doesn’t happen. - 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang blaming President Trump for the Iowa Democratic Party’s software crash that messed up the Iowa caucuses

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

Republican Senators are Being Set Up by the House By Marc A. Thiessen

arning to GOP senators: You’re being set up. Hou s e D emo c r at s planned this week’s standoff over witnesses from the very start of their impeachment inquiry. If you doubt that, just ask yourself a simple question: Why did House Democrats not only fail to litigate executive privilege issues before sending their impeachment articles to the Senate but also block a federal court from issuing a ruling to decide whether the president could claim privilege? In October, the House subpoenaed deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman to testify in the impeachment investigation. After the White House invoked immunity to preclude Kupperman’s testimony, he filed a lawsuit to ask the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to resolve the conflict between the two branches of government. John Bolton’s counsel publicly resolved to be guided by the court’s ruling in Kupperman’s case. But before the court could hear arguments, House Democrats short-circuited the judicial review. On November 6, they withdrew Kupperman’s subpoena, and then asked the court to declare Kupperman’s case moot – which would prevent a decision on the merits. On December 30, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon did so. In his memorandum, he noted that “balancing Congress’s well-established power to investigate with a President’s need to have a small group of national se-

curity advisers who have some form of immunity from compelled Congressional testimony” was a serious dilemma that the courts would eventually need to resolve. Leon was unable to resolve that dilemma because House Democrats actively prevented him from doing so. As White House Deputy Counsel Patrick Philbin explained to the Senate on Wednesday, House Democrats “were going to get a decision…that would go to the merits of the issue. The House

executive privilege was valid. It would have destroyed the Democrats’ case for obstruction. To prevent that from happening, they decided to block judicial review – and then impeached the president for seeking the very judicial review that they had stymied! Then, after preventing the court from ruling on whether the president could order his top aides not to testify, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced that she was holding back the articles of impeachment as lever-

They want to turn the Senate into a political circus.

managers withdrew the subpoena. The House of Representatives decided they wanted to moot out the case so they wouldn’t get a decision.” Why did Democrats prevent the court from ruling on the merits of the president’s claim of executive privilege? Because the ruling could have undermined their impeachment case. On December 18, the House passed two articles of impeachment, one of which charged President Trump with obstruction of Congress for refusing to provide witnesses and documents. Imagine if the court then ruled just days later that the president’s claim of

age to force the Senate to call those witnesses. Her goal was transparently political: to force this week’s sham witness fight so that Democrats either could charge Senate Republicans with “voting for a coverup” or saddle them with months of litigation over executive privilege that the House prevented the court from settling. This episode proves that the push for witnesses is not an honest search for truth, but a dishonest political power play – one that was planned from the very start of the impeachment process. Not only are House Democrats using impeachment as a political weap-

on against the president; they also are using it as a political weapon against Senate Republicans as well. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, revealed that when she asked the House impeachment managers why the House didn’t reissue subpoenas after passing the resolution authorizing the impeachment inquiry and granting subpoena power to the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, the House managers dismissed her question as a “red herring.” No, it is not. It further exposed that the House’s demand for the Senate to call witnesses is a political ploy. Democrats did not want to resolve questions of executive privilege before the Senate trial because they want to create a spectacle in the Senate. They want the visual of the president’s defense team objecting to allowing Bolton to answer specific questions on the grounds that they would divulge privileged information. They want to force Republican senators to vote to sustain those objections or even overrule Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. on matters of executive privilege. They want to turn the Senate into a political circus. Why would Senate Republicans go along with this scam? If House managers want to hear from Bolton, they can subpoena him to appear in the House. But if senators vote to hear witnesses, they are not aiding the search for truth. They are playing right into the Democrats’ hands. (c) 2020, Washington Post Writers Group

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

A Fulfilled L fe

Planning for Maximal Productivity By Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff

orkplace productivity is a huge challenge for nearly every company, business, and organization. Leaders struggle to get their own work done (and do the right work,) while also guiding, empowering, and motivating their people to achieve maximal productivity. While the projections vary, estimates suggest that businesses worldwide lose hundreds of millions – if not billions – of dollars annually due to underproduction. To help my clients address this important issue, I have divided the path to increased productivity into five steps: 1. Plan it – Plan the process in advance to get really clear on task, process, and outcome. 2. Share it – Involve others in the work through meetings, communication, and delegation. 3. Do it – Get the work done by removing distractors and optimizing your time and energy. 4. Sustain it – Develop a mindset and self-care approach that ensures continuity. 5. Lead it – Leverage leadership position to motivate others, create a healthy work environment, and engage others in meaningful work. Each “step” contains five action items, for a total of 25 items. In this article I will address Step 1: “Plan It.” The planning process is in many ways the hardest part of a task. After all, we are so conditioned to do that

oftentimes we just want to roll up our sleeves and get things done. The problem is that the work we do is not necessarily structured for success, nor is it the work that will produce the best or most impactful result. Planning forces us to carefully consider our options before jumping in and doing. Here are the five steps of the planning stage. 1. Identify the RIGHT tasks – These are the tasks that will produce the optimal results and address the most critical issues you face. These are often referred to as “big rocks,” as in the priorities that you first need to place in your “jar” (i.e. complete) before filling other things around it (the metaphorical pebbles, sand and water.) To do this, consider using the Eisenhower Matrix to guide you. The matrix places every task in a quadrant, from “Do” (tasks that are both urgent and important, such as a time-sensitive customer request), to Plan (non-urgent but important – this is where your strategic and visionary pieces fit), to Delegate (urgent but not important items, such as responding to inbound communication), to Eliminate (or at least limit, like time wasters.) Remember the Pareto Principle (also called the 80/20 Rule,) which suggests that 80% of our outcomes comes from 20% of our efforts. Choosing the right place to focus our efforts matters more than we oftentimes think. 2. Manage and prioritize your todo list – There is a big debate about the value of keeping a to-do list. If you use

one, make it most useful by prioritizing the items on it based on the following considerations: (1) Which items, if completed, will have the biggest positive impact on you and your work/company? These should be prioritized. (See Pareto Principle above.) (2) Keep the list short and manageable. (3) Remove the “ever present” items that never seem to get done but just pushed further down the list. (4) Schedule tasks on your calendar to ensure proper focus. 3. Set positive, actionable goals – Goals that drive action are stated in the positive (what you will do as opposed to stop doing) and “S.M.A.R.T.” S.M.A.R.T. Goals is a goal-setting system that helps people set goals that produce results. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable/ Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound. The most important part of the goal is that it is “specific.” This represents the Who, What, Why, and How of the S.M.A.R.T. model. (Who will do the work; what you (or they) will do; why that is important; how you will achieve the goal; and how the goal will make you feel.) 4. Organize your workspace – Whether you consider yourself organized or not, research is clear that we get more done when we know where things are. This is true with our physical things (papers, files, gadgets, etc.)

as well as our virtual ones. Not only can things be found more easily but there is also a psychological benefit of maintaining a neat workspace. Our external order creates internal order and allows us to do more and better manage challenges in stride. In contrast, a messy workspace sends a subliminal message that your work isn’t important or that the process you’re involved in isn’t critical. 5. Determine what’s needed – Assess what is needed, in terms of materials, knowledge and skills, to get the job done. Perhaps you’re lacking a sufficiently powerful computer or CRM option. Maybe you need to learn something additional. Whatever it is, position yourself in advance to hit the ground running so that you experience the fewest interruptions and setbacks possible before getting started. Now that we have laid out our “plan” for the work, subsequent articles will walk us through the process of sharing, doing, sustaining, and leading it over time.

Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is an executive coach who helps busy leaders be more productive so that they can scale profits with less stress and get home at a decent hour. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call 212.470.6139 or email nh@impactfulcoaching.com. Check out his new leadership book, “Becoming the New Boss”, on Amazon. Download his free productivity blueprint at ImpactfulCoaching.com/ Productivity-Blueprint.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Forgotten Her es

Avraham Botzer and His Operations During the War of Attrition By Avi Heiligman

pecial operations date back centuries. During World War II, most of the belligerents created special units for specialized missions, and in the postwar years these units evolved to counter modern day threats. Any first world country with a decent sized military has special forces units in addition to their regular military units. Many of the Israeli Palmach operators in these units were involved during World War II in some capacity and when Israel was founded in 1948 were able to create the backbone for the IDF. Special operations soon became an important piece of Israeli operations. In 1969, three missions directed by the commander of the navy helped Israel maintain a commanding presence during the War of Attrition. Avraham Botzer was born in 1929 in Poland, and his family moved to Eretz Yisrael seven years later. After high school, in 1946, Botzer joined the naval branch of the Palmach called the Palyam. For the next two years he was involved in helping Holocaust survivors and refugees in getting past the British blockade and into the Holy Land. It was a dangerous business as the British deemed all those helping to bring in refugees as criminals. Botzer was arrested and was deported to Cyprus but was released after two weeks because of his age. As with many of his fellow Palyam members, Botzer was among those who joined the IDF Navy on the outbreak of

the Israeli War of Independence in May 1948. He first served in the naval sabotage unit and then onboard the navy’s flagship. The A-16 INS Eilat had been an American icebreaker in the Coast Guard before being bought by the Haganah in 1947, where she carried refugees to Eretz Yisrael. After the war, Botzer continued to serve in the navy and in 1952 was promoted to captain. A year later, he was instrumental in the navy’s assistance in their response to an earthquake in the Greek Islands of Ionia. In 1954,

without a fight. In 1968, he was promoted again. Aluf Botzer was given command of the Israeli Navy, which was now entering a period of uneasy calm. Between the Six Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, there was a cold war of sorts called the War of Attrition. Botzer commanded a few special operations during this time. The Green Island Raid was conducted by the Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet 13 – the Israeli equivalent to the Navy SEALs – on July 19, 1969. The

The Israelis had slipped in scores of sailors dressed in civilian clothes and were preparing a midnight party and the French weren’t invited.

he became head of the operations branch and was sent to Great Britain to purchase destroyers. During the Sinai Campaign in 1956, Botzer was the commander who took command of an Egyptian destroyer that surrendered after being disabled. During the Six Day War, he was the commander of the Red Sea Fleet which captured the Egyptian port city Sharm el-Sheikh

first wave of Shayetet 13 commandos came in eight minutes behind schedule, and, after securing their equipment, they started inland. Some commandos were given the task of cutting the barbed wire, while others took out a sentry. The gunshots alerted another sentry to the infiltration, who threw a grenade at the Israelis. The Shayetet 13 took their first casualties then, as it

became a full-fledged battle. The commandos tried to throw grenades, but many of them and other equipment, like radios, were inoperable because they were submerged in water. After a seventeen-minute delay, the Sayeret Matkal showed up and turned the battle in favor of the attackers. They went into the fortress itself, cleaning out each room using CQB (close quarter battle) tactics. An important radar station was destroyed, and 80 Egyptian elite commandos were killed. The holes in the Russian-made Egyptian radar were exploited by the Israeli Air Force, and the island was able to be evacuated by the enemy. Operation Raviv took place on September 9, 1969 along the Egyptian side of the Red Sea near Suez. The navy played an important part in the Israeli victory as they landed armor and men disguised as Egyptians on the coast without incident. The battle caused Egyptian President Gamal Nasser to have a heart attack, as it gave the Israelis superiority in the region. Twelve miles away and two days before the operation, on September 7, 1969, an Egyptian torpedo boat was anchored at the port of Ras Sadat when a sudden explosion opened a large hole in its hull and it started to sink. Another torpedo boat was on its way to help when another blast caused a giant gap in the bottom of the second boat. Not surprisingly, this was the work of Shayetet 13 under the over command

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of Botzer. Shayetet 13 suffered three casualties during this mission when the self-destruct mechanism on one of their underwater boats accidentally went off as the commandos were making their way back across the Gulf of Suez. The third operation which helped the Israeli Navy gain superiority in the region had nothing to do with the Egyptians or even required a shot to be fired. The Cherbourg Project came into being when the French imposed an arms embargo on Israel. Israel had previously ordered three missile boats from France, and even though they were paid for, the French wouldn’t let them leave the port of Cherbourg, France. Israel desperately needed the boats, and the Mossad and the navy convinced Prime Minister Golda Meir to give the go-ahead for an operation to retrieve them but it had to be done legally. In order to do it lawfully – the operators translated this word very loosely – the navy sold the boats to a Norwegian firm

Three of the “Cherbourg” boats safely docked in Haifa

that was operated by a very pro-Israel owner. In a not-so-public meeting, he nullified the sale and Israel was then free to command the boats. The next step was to deceive the French about the future of the boats. What the French didn’t know was that the Israelis had slipped in scores of sailors dressed in civilian clothes and were preparing a midnight party and the French weren’t invited. The boats left port every night for short voyages into the Atlantic so that when they were missing from port no one would

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notice anything was amiss until it was too late. Other preparations were being taken care of in the weeks before the departure. Food for the eight-day journey was being secretly stocked on the boats. It was bought in small quantities from local groceries. On December 24, the boats were fully stocked, and the crews comprised of 80 Israeli sailors was ready. They were set to leave port on December 25, 1969, at 12 a.m. but a strong storm forced the departure to be delayed. At 2 a.m., the commander

received news that there would soon be a break in the weather further out to sea so they left in a Force 9 storm. The boats were separated because of the storm but were reunited off the coast of Portugal. The French authorities did not find out about the ruse until a reporter noticed that the boats missing. After a week at sea, the unarmed boats were nearing Haifa and were given air escort by the air force. They had traveled well over 3,000 miles in dangerous waters, encountered American and even Soviet ships and planes, and then were given a warm welcome by the Israeli population. These three operations undertaken by the Israeli Navy and under the overall command of Avraham Botzer gave Israel an advantage over the Egyptians during the War of Attrition. Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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Classifieds HOUSES FOR SALE

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The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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Your

Money

Careful What You Wish For By Allan Rolnick, CPA

t’s 2020, and yet in today’s Disneyfied America, little girls still dream of becoming princesses. Really, what’s not to like about it? You get all the pomp and circumstance of the royal court without the inconvenient stress of actually running the country. You get to show off the crown jewels. You even get to lead the paparazzi everywhere you go, so they can compete to make snarky comments about your dress or snap a pic of you picking out groceries. Actress Meghan Markle got to live the dream when she married Prince Harry to become Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex. Apparently, though, princessing is a lot like Season Three of The Crown — it overpromises and underdelivers. Now she and Harry are giving up their “Royal Highness” titles, vacating the palace to become working blokes and planning to spend more time in North America. Next stop, Canada: out with the Royal Philharmonic, polo and high tea, in with Nickelback, hockey, and poutine. Naturally, the big move means big changes for the couple’s finances. People like us spilled gallons of ink writing about how Megan’s mar-

riage would affect her taxes. So now that the Sussexes have announced “Megxit,” you get to spend hours reading about them all over again. Spoiler alert: they’re still going to be a royal pain. The couple have been drawing 95% of their state income — esti-

Meghan (built on her acting career). The move will mean giving up their Sovereign Grant income, and possibly the Duchy as well. So, off to work they go! Fortunately, they’re expected to command six-figure speaking fees. As a U.S. citizen, Meghan will keep paying U.S.

Out with the Royal Philharmonic, polo and high tea, in with hockey and poutine.

mated at around $2.5 million per year — from Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall income. They draw a few more quid from the tax-free Sovereign Grant, which the government pays the Queen for royal family operations. They also earn income from their own assets, estimated at $25 million for Harry (built on inheritances from the Queen Mum and Princess Di) and $5 million for

tax no matter where in the world she speaks. However, if she spends more than six months abroad, she can exclude $107,600 of foreign income from her U.S. tax. That may sound like a lot to us — but for a princess, it barely covers the ladies’ maid and gas for the Bentley. Meghan also needs to consider state taxes. (You probably thought princesses are too pretty to worry

about that.) They were still deductible when she left but now that deduction is capped at $10,000 per year (£7,665). She’s already moved her company, Frim Fram Inc., from California to Delaware, where she’ll avoid the Golden State’s 8.84% corporate tax. Harry remains a Brit, which gives him more ways to plan where he lives and works. His British income is taxed at 45% on anything over £150,000. If he spends enough time in Canada, he’ll pay 33% on his Canadian income over $214,368. But if he spends too much time here, in the United States, everything becomes subject to our tax. (Don’t get too used to the California sun!) We realize you aren’t making room in your family budget for tiaras and scepters. But you don’t have to be a royal to take advantage of planning to pay less tax. That’s where we come in. So count on us to help, without shipping you off to Canada! 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.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

A Tube of Questions By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

ottles make us true believers while tubes seem to make us committed doubters. Did you ever notice that when the Listerine is done, we have no difficulty parting with the bottle? We just turn and drop it into the garbage! OK, maybe, some people pour in a tiny shpritz of water to access the remaining bit, but then, even they toss it easily. The toothpaste, on the other hand, is a whole different story! A week after it appears to be empty, we are still battling for the last, little drop. We seem to think it’s still stashed away in there somewhere. The tube is 2-by-nothing, but we’re not giving it up! Why is that? What is the mechanism at work? Is it “seeing is believing”? And since we can’t see the end of it, we are not sure it’s done? Or is it “history repeats itself”? Last time, there was still a little more in there; maybe there’s still some hiding in there? Or, is it our endless drive for a challenge? Does the malleable structure of the tube lore us in and make us think that we know we can

eke out another drop? Or perhaps we’re just plain cheap? If there’s more in there, why should I give it up? You know, like leaving the ketchup, mustard, or honey upside down for a while just to get the last little bit out before parting with the container. Think of the round containers of

Perhaps, it’s the eternal thought that, in an emergency, we can squeeze out a tiny little drip. This mangled, miniature memento of what used to be a dispenser has us convinced it has endless magical potential. Are these, then, instruments of faith or frustration, I ask?

This mangled, miniature memento of what used to be a dispenser has us convinced it has enless magical potential.

diaper cream versus the tubes you’ve had. One, you circle with your index finger an extra time to get the final sticky remains out, while the other you keep in you diaper bag practically till your kid attends college! Why?

Are we just convinced there’s always more in there or are we thinking we just didn’t squeeze hard enough? Could it be just a risk-reward analysis? Are we holding on because, after all, by the time we fin-

ish attacking them they take up so little space that there is no big risk to leave them around and there’s always the possible reward of their hidden possibilities? Bottles offer no mystery. They are clear, they are parted with in basically pristine condition, while tubes are challenging – they look like you’ve gone 10 rounds with them by the time you’re finished with them. What does all this say about us as human beings? Is it something deep like: do we always want more and more? Or is it simple, like: are we just too lazy to switch? Or is it real cosmic thinking, like: what we can easily see and understand makes us ready believers but what we can’t makes us grappling doubters?! Hmmmm…imagine…. All these profound thoughts from a simple, diminishing tube of toothpaste! Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.

The Jewish Home | FEBRUARY 6

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | The Jewish Home

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