Five Towns Jewish Home - 12-29-16 by The Jewish Home

December 29, 2016

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

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

YEAR IN REVIEW pg

Anti-Semitism Rears its Ugly Head

Obama & the UN Turn on Israel PESACH VACATION SECTION Page 83

Pages 9, 10, 11, 13, 20 & 57

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; See page 3

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

'‫ְּב'זׂאת‬ ּ‫ִּת ָּו ׁ ְשעו‬ The Gathering of the Gedolei Hador On the auspicious day of Zos Chanukah At the home of

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

relax at a concert. But the world led by Obama (thankfully for only another few weeks) doesn’t see that. “B’chol dor vador omdim aleinu lechalosainu.” Anti-Semitism blinds them to that spirit. Obama sees a people and a nation that is too rigid to give freedom to the poor Palestinians...who vow to kill every Jew. He looks at those who rose from the ashes of six million and built a world power as imperialists not heroes. He doesn’t see that Israel is the only democracy in a region of tyranny and dictatorship; he only sees a nation that is stubborn in its refusal to cede half of its land to its enemies. How come he is so blind? We don’t have to look far; it’s happened to us before, in every generation, and will happen once again. It’s anti-Semitism. It always existed and always will. Should we be frustrated and disappointed? Should we throw up our hands and weep in misery at this blatant viciousness? I say no. I say that despite our checkered history of cruel and inhumane enemies, time and time again we have survived. And we have thrived. Remember that even when things have looked bleak, remember that even when it was so dark that it seemed that salvation wouldn’t be able to pierce through the hopelessness, our redemption was being sown. Much like in the days of the Chashmonaim 2,000 years ago, we will b’ezras Hashem experience miracles in our time.

unday afternoon found me watching a video with my children, “Yaakov Shwekey Live in Caeseria.” Yes, Mr. Shwekey is a wonderful entertainer, but that is not what captured my attention. Rather it was the massive band featuring all types of Israelis – Dati, Chiloni, Chassidic – they were all there. The multi-level stage, the extravagance of which is not often featured in American concerts, was lined with a massive choir, with children wearing all types of yarmulkes. But where you saw the spirit the most was when the video panned the audience. They seemed so lively, so upbeat, so positive. Despite living in a country which is essentially always on the brink of war, where the stress level is constantly amplified, the people there are creative, cheerful and accepting. Maybe on another day I wouldn’t have even stopped to glance at the video but after Obama’s disgraceful ploy of allowing the UN to isolate Israel even further than it always was, I was particularly sensitive to the Israeli spirit. That spirit is ubiquitous throughout Israel – whether it’s the faces of young chayalim protecting the country from mortal enemies, whether it is bnei yeshiva running to be on time for their studies, whether it’s a loquacious nahag who is still animated even after decades of driving the same streets, whether it is the skyscrapers, cities and high-tech farms that a small group of resourceful, determined and inventive Holocaust survivors built in a ravaged and desolate country. And you can even see all that when they sit back and

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

Chanukah Lights, Sights and Delights

128

NEWS

Global

National

Odd-but-True Stories

2016 Year in Review

ISRAEL Israel News

Role Models by Rafi Sackville

UN Resolution: How Obama and the UN Sought to Delegitimize Israel

Bibi: “The Sweet Will Yet Come Forth From the Bitter”

PEOPLE Tank Battles of the Golan Heights and the Miracle of Zvika Greengold by Avi Heiligman 120 PARSHA Rabbi Wein

JEWISH THOUGHT Face Facts by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

Remembering to Forget by Eytan Kobre

HEALTH & FITNESS Reflecting on Miracles by Dr. Hylton I Lightman

Do You Do Resolutions? by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

The Healthy Guide to Chanukah by Aliza Beer, MS RD

Prevention is Better than Cure by Chanie Delman, LCSW

Dear Editor, It’s with shaking hands that I write this note. My hands are shaking because I am angry – and I know that there is nothing I can do with my anger. For years we’ve been cocooned in our sense of security with our ally, the United State of America. We have known that despite the rest of the world, we can always rely on the U.S. to defend us and provide for us as the only democracy stronghold in the Middle East. Think about all the past presidents in recent years. Even Nixon, who was an anti-Semite (think about those tapes), never slashed at Israel’s windpipe. Enter the 44th president of the United States. Yes, he has always insisted that he is a Christian man and not a Muslim. His actions, though, in being so blind to radical Islamists around the globe (“Islam is a peaceful religion”) show us otherwise. And his most recent action, in which he viciously stabbed the nation’s friend in the back, is just another indication of where his heart lies. In the 21st century, some people have been cloaking their Jew-hate in anti-Israel rhetoric. Oh no, we don’t hate Jews; we just hate Israel. Sorry, but no one has ever said that the Jewish nation is stupid. It is very clear that Mr. Obama sees himself aligned with the Muslim world. In fact, reports have

come out that the White House did not just abstain from the vote. The White House actually orchestrated it, wrote it, and pushed for it. And they roused the other nations to vote against the Jewish State. Yes, already the White House has insisted that it isn’t so. Well, it’s hard for us to believe that they weren’t behind it. Anyone remember how the White House so adamantly told the nation that a video – not Islamic terror, remember it’s a peaceful religion – was behind the Benghazi attacks? Remember how we were swayed by promises of Obamacare? Enough of his silver tongue. Look a little closer and you’ll see his tongue is forked. Look a little closer and you’ll see his heart is black. Right now I know that many people are looking forward to January 20, in which a new face will take residence in the Oval Office. Yes, I am happy to see that arrogant man being kicked to the curb. But please remember, this is another reminder that we can only trust, believe and feel secure in the One Above. Only He can – and will – protect us. Sincerely, Chanan H. Dear Editor, There is no one happier than the peanut farmer from Georgia to step Continued on page 12

100

FOOD & LEISURE How Do You Like Your Doughnuts? by Malky Lowinger 106 The Aussie Gourmet: Super Soups

108

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer 102 Mann, LCSW

Your Money

140

The Blessing of Two Pieces of Rye with Turkey by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 142 HUMOR Centerfold

Rocky’s Rant: Tourists Go Home!

124

Uncle Moishy Fun Page

132

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

110

Aleppo and the American Decline by Charles Krauthammer

118

CLASSIFIEDS

135

So you’ve eaten a crazy amount of doughnuts in the past few days. Which doughnuts do you enjoy best?

43 % 32 % 21 % 4 %

Custard

Jelly

Caramel

Not doughnut lover

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Continued from 8

aside and make room for the new king of blunders, Barack Hussein Obama, the man who appeared from nowhere to land in the Oval Office in order to lead our great nation to a state of disunity and chaos. If any one individual is to blame for the bloody defeat of the Democratic Party, I will name the man with a forked silk tongue, Barack Hussein Obama. Throughout his presidency, he was oblivious to who our friends were and who were our enemies. He bowed to a hostile king and dealt with those who openly wished us death. Barack Obama, on many occasions, proclaimed that he would cover Israel’s back, as the only true friend that could be depended on should the need arise. True to his nature of false promises, he meant to stay and cover the back of a friend until had a chance to plunge a knife into the back of whom he promised to protect. This and his other many acts of malice will be highlighted in Obama’s dismal legacy. Sincerely, Joseph Ceder Far Rockaway, NY

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Dear Editor, I loved your idea for a cooking competition at a Chanukah party. We tried it this year at our family party and the kids had a blast decorating cupcakes. We had the typical cupcakes – decorat-

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ed with a dreidel or with candles – and then we had some really creative ones, like the ones that were supposed to be Chana and her seven sons. It was great fun and we all had a great time! Sincerely, Yona Siegal Dear Editor, This week I saw an advertisement for a New Year’s Eve party at restaurant to bring in the new year with music and a DJ. This was a kosher, well-established restaurant and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Yes, there is nothing overtly non-Jewish about bringing in the New Year with music and dancing but where do we draw the line? Why can’t we just enjoy our traditions and customs? Why do we have to adopt the customs of other religions? We all know when the real new year starts and that’s around September. And you know that we bring in the new year in a very different way. If someone wants to get excited about flipping their calendar to 2017, good for them. But don’t make it a formal event – and in a kosher establishment, no less. It’s almost as if the mashgiach is condoning the festivities, G-d forbid. All I can say is, where are your priorities? Take a step back and realize how far away you’ve gone. I.H.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

The Week In News

Extra! Extra! We Read All About It

As the calendar year winds down, it’s time to reflect on 2016 in terms of news, of course. At the conclusion of each year, the Associated Press conducts a poll to rank the past year’s headlines. The list was created eight decades ago, in 1936, when the top story was the resignation of Britain’s King Edward VIII. Last year, the top story was the rapid spread of terror of the Islamic State. The all-time number one story for 2016 is unsurprisingly the U.S. presidential election. Trump’s astonishing victory over Hillary Clinton had even the least politically inclined glued to the news in the days surrounding November 8. Several months before that, the second most dramatic upset occurred with Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. The next most popular news thread after Brexit was an increasing number of black men fatally shot by police officers. The tragedy at an Orlando nightclub that left 49 people dead was the fourth most followed news story. At number five was terror attacks across the globe by Islamic extremists. Next in line were the violent attacks on officials in uniform. Since January 2016, 20 police officers have been targeted. The seventh most talked about headline, according to the AP poll, was the Democratic Party email leaks disclosed by WikiLeaks that revealed embarrassing and questionable details of Clinton’s campaign and supporters. Most recently, the CIA’s accusation that Russia is to blame for the hacking has been popping up in headlines. Syria remained a top story this year. No ceasefire agreement was met, and with Russia’s help, the gov-

ernment forces of President Bashar Assad seized rebel-held portions of the city of Aleppo with a mass number of deaths and destruction. At spot nine was the fate of the Supreme Court after Justice Antonin Scalia’s sudden death in February. Although Obama nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a majority of Republicans in the Senate rejected the nomination, choosing to strategically leave the seat unoccupied instead in the hope that PEOTUS Donald Trump will choose a more conservative-friendly candidate. Of course, 2016 wouldn’t have been 2016 if we didn’t mention Hillary Clinton’s email drama (not to be confused with the Democratic Party email leaks). With her campaign in full swing, the FBI led an investigation into Clinton’s use of a private computer server as secretary of state. The conclusion by FBI Director James Comey was that Clinton is only guilty of carelessness but no criminal activity. Runners-up for the top headlines of 2016 included Europe’s migrant crisis, the death Fidel Castro, and the spread of the Zika virus. Who knows what 2017 will bring?

92 Perish in Russian Plane Crash

On Sunday, a Russian military plane carrying 92 people, including members of the army choir, crashed into the Black Sea just two minutes after taking off from Sochi. The plane stopped in the city of Sochi for refueling. It was headed for Latakia in Syria. On board was Yelizaveta Glinka, known as Dr. Liza, a Russian doctor known for her charity work in war zones, along with nine Russian journalists. All those who were on the plane perished in the crash. President Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning for the victims of the Tu-154 plane. Loved

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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ones laid flowers and lit candles at the shore. On Monday, parts of the plane were recovered by Russian officials; a massive search is still underway. Officials have declared that the investigation is focusing on technical faults or pilot errors – and not terrorism.

More than 3,500 people on 45 ships — including 135 divers from across Russia — were a part of the investigation covering a vast vicinity of more than 4 square miles. Ten helicopters, drones and two deep-water submersibles were being used in the hopes of spotting remains and debris. As of

Tuesday, rescue teams recovered 12 bodies. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said the plane’s flight recorders did not have radio beacons, so locating them in the water would be challenging. On Tuesday, one black box that was not too damaged was

found and brought to Moscow. Another one is hoped to be recovered shortly.

Assad Celebrates Aleppo Victory

The Syrian army is celebrating their complete takeover of Aleppo. On Thursday, as the last few rebel fighters were evacuated from the city, President Bashar al-Assad had his biggest victory since the start of the war. The military claimed to have achieved “the return of safety and security to the city of Aleppo.” They called the victory the conclusion to four years of violent rebel resistance. “This victory constitutes an important turning point,” the army statement said. The week-long operation was the final stage of removing 34,000 people from east Aleppo. However, according to a United Nations’ estimate, thousands more remain behind. “The process for evacuation was traumatic, with crowding, and vulnerable people waiting for hours and exposed to sub-zero temperatures,” U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. This last group of evacuees was besieged since the summer. Since then they’ve been struck by forceful airstrikes, leaving the city in a heap of rubble. The final phase of the evacuation was seen on state media – a convoy carrying nearly 150 people crossed the Ramousah highway junction in south Aleppo to al-Rashideen in the countryside just southwest of the city. A senior United Nations official warned that those evacuated from Aleppo after the crushing government offensive could suffer the same fate in their new place of refuge. “Many of them have gone to Idlib, which could be in theory the next Aleppo,” U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura cautioned.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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Aleppo was partially controlled by terrorist groups, including al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham, since July 2012 and until December 2016. In July 2016, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), assisted by Russia, Iran and its local allies, encircled the city, cutting off all supply routes to the rebel-held eastern districts. In November, the SAA launched an offensive, formally known as Operation Dawn of Victory, to push armed radical groups out of last remaining areas under their control. On December 22, Damascus-led forces announced that Aleppo was fully liberated. Despite the victory in Aleppo, Assad was sure to declare that the war is not even close to over and that his troops will be heading to other rebel-controlled territories.

Finns Lead in Screen Time Think your kid’s on his smartphone way too much? Be happy you’re not living in Finland. The country leads in screen time as com-

pared to all major countries around the globe. In fact, in the first half of 2016, Finns used nearly twice as much mobile data on portable devices as South Koreans, who came in second in a recent comparison of 32 European and Asian countries by Swedish telecommunication specialist Tefficient. Despite the complete silence on public transit (who needs people when you have Pokémon Go?), too much screen time comes with a bundle of health concerns. The city of Helsinki’s department of health and social services recently launched a campaign telling parents to get their priorities straight. In a controversial video that angered many parents, a black raven swoops down and carries away a little girl on a beach while her mother focuses on her smartphone, followed by the message: “Negligence is modern day violence.” But the message only angered and embarrassed Helsinkians who flooded the city with negative feedback, accusing it of criticizing all phone usage and especially women by depicting only the child’s mother in the video. The city, though, said the commercial was intended to highlight the fact

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that some mothers spend too much time on their smartphones instead of playing with their children and that some fathers are largely absent from their children’s lives.

Several factors may explain Finns’ love of smartphones. Since the golden days of Nokia – Finland’s former business crown jewel and once the world’s top handset maker – Finns have been keen to adopt new technology. Harsh cold winters require good infrastructure, and Finland early on built nationwide mobile networks offering good coverage. Finns are considered more introverted in nature. Perhaps connecting via smartphone is more comfortable for them. Fast connections in Finland are also extremely affordable. More than half of all phone and tablet connections in Finland come with

an unlimited data plan for a fixed monthly price, meaning consumers can browse on their phones as much as they like without having to fear a monster invoice at the end of the month. One happy customer of an unlimited data plan is 13-year-old Inam Alam, who showed off a new game he has just downloaded on his smartphone. He sometimes receives hundreds of messages on social media in a single day from his classmates, but he doesn’t think that’s unusual. He says it’s normal. “Nowadays we use our phones even for our assignments at school, like at language classes when we learn new words and then practice them with online games,” he says.

Hijackers Surrender in Malta After threatening to blow up a Libyan plane and forcing it to land in Malta, two hijackers surrendered to the Maltese military last Friday. Authorities have not said whether

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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the pair made any demands before surrendering. One of them waved a green flag outside of the airplane, suggesting a possible allegiance to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.

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Afriqiyah Airways Flight 8U209 was on its way to the Libyan capital of Tripoli when the hijackers diverted it from its course. 111 people were on board the Airbus A320, which had taken off from Sabha, a desert city in southwestern Libya. After the plane landed, the Maltese military led the negotiations with the hijackers, who were threatening the use of hand grenades to blow up the plane. Women were allowed to leave the plane first, followed by the remaining passengers and crew a few hours later. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told authorities that the hijackers are probably of Libyan nationality, and forensic tests have revealed that their “weapons” were very life-like replicas. They had originally requested to land at Burj Al-Arab airport in Alexandria, Egypt, but the Egyptian government did not allow the plane into its airspace. On Sunday, two Libyan men, Moussa Saha and Ahmed Ali, pleaded innocent to charges related to the hijacking. They each face a sentence of life imprisonment. The motives behind the hijacking are still being investigated.

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As authorities continue to piece together the puzzle of the Berlin

truck ramming attack, it has been discovered that Anis Amri, the terrorist, was radicalized in an Italian prison. Amri, a fugitive from Tunisia, arrived on European shores in a migrant boat in April 2011. But he was not squeaky clean and already had a history of crime in his native country for hijacking a van with a gang of thieves. Amri was later arrested in Italy for arson and violent assault at his migrant reception center for minors. Once in prison his family noticed that the once-party boy began to become religious. He requested religious books and began to pray regularly. His fervor caused concern for the Italian Bureau of Prisons, which submitted a report to a government anti-terrorism commission. The report noted Amri’s rapid radicalization and warned that the prisoner was openly expressing extremist views. Supposedly he threatened Christian inmates. At that point Italian authorities attempted to deport Amri. His fingerprints and photo were submitted to the Tunisian consulate, but the authorities there refused to recognize Amri as a citizen, and his true identity was questioned. Between a rock and a hard place, Italy released him after he served his four year prison sentence and informed him that he had just seven days to leave the country or risk being incarcerated again. From there he traveled to Germany. Last Monday, Amri, 24, hijacked a truck and rammed it into a holiday market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring dozens. Germany claims that they had attempted to deport him as well but ran into a similar problem when Tunisia refused to take him back. On Sunday night before the attack, Amri phoned his family in Tunisia as he did every weekend. However, he was particularly animated as his birthday was approaching on Thursday (December 22). “What’s the weather like? Is it raining? What are you having for dinner?” his sister, Sayida Amri, 36, in his hometown of Oueslatia, Tunisia, recalled him asking. According to two officials familiar with the case, Germany had warned of the impending violence. Although they did not reveal the exact wording, an interception supposedly forecasted Amri’s violent plans. Unfortunately the interception was vague and wasn’t concrete enough

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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to warrant intervention. “He never made such a clear statement during this interaction, which could have led to the conclusion that he would become a ‘martyr,’” one of the officials said. Amri was on the U.S. no-fly list a month ago, and Germans had linked him to a radical network. He had been under police surveillance for several months until September of this year because he was suspected of planning a burglary in Berlin to finance the purchase of weapons. After the suspicion yielded no actual criminal activity, authorities wrongly concluded that he was just a small-time drug dealer. It seems that all the red flags were there, but he managed to evade officials’ scrutiny. Security officials across the world are struggling to determine how to discern minor threats from serious threats. In the aftermath of the attack in Berlin it seems like it was a situation that could have been prevented but wasn’t. The world is hoping that next time it will turn out differently.

Saudi Man Jailed for Advocating for Women’s Rights

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out that the man was also behind a wide online campaign to end the guardianship. The defendant admitted pinning up the posters in several mosques, saying he solely launched an “awareness campaign” after finding that some “female relatives were facing injustice at the hands of their families,” a newspaper reported. Thousands of Saudis signed a petition in September urging an end to the guardianship system following a Twitter campaign which the court claims was launched by the defendant. Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive. Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman’s study, travel and other activities. Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the male guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.

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Think women will be getting more freedom in Saudi Arabia any time soon? Think again. This week, a Saudi man was jailed for one year for calling for an end to the Muslim kingdom’s guardianship system that gives men wide controls over women. The man was also fined $8,000 when he was convicted of “inciting to end guardianship of women” in statements he posted on Twitter and in public posters. He was arrested while putting up posters in mosques in Al-Hasa district calling for an end to the globally unique system that subjects women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to male control. During questioning, police found

News outlets all around the globe have been reporting on the recent UN resolution that was passed condemning settlement activity in Israel. Resolution 2334 demands an “immediate halt to all Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” The resolution also calls on all states “to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967,” language which many fear will empower

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

the global anti-Semitic boycott and sanction efforts. The fact that Barack Hussein Obama had the United States’ representative in the UN abstain from the vote has been said to show the president’s true feelings toward Israel. The Israeli government is now saying that they have “ironclad information” that the Obama administration actually helped create and push the resolution and were far more active than just abstainers. David Keyes, the spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu, told Fox News, “We have rather ironclad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place.” The accusation takes the ongoing feud between Netanyahu and Obama over the resolution to the next level. Netanyahu described the passing of the resolution as a “shameful ambush.” The White House has acknowledged that Obama was the one to make the decision to abstain from the vote. However, the administration has insisted that they did not draft the resolution which was initially put forth by Egypt and then was aggressively pursued by Venezuela, Malaysia, Senegal, and New Zealand. White House spokesman Eric Schultz tried to explain in a statement that Obama really does support Israel. “The Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution,” Schultz said. “The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote.” Actions, though, speak louder than words. Netanyahu has been pushing back on the Obama administration extremely hard. “As I told [Secretary of State] John Kerry on Thursday, friends don’t take friends to the Security Council,” Netanyahu said. Keyes called the move an “abandonment of Israel, and an abandonment of a long-standing American policy.” The fear is that the resolution opens up a lot of room for further steps to be taken in the future. Israel has recalled its ambassadors to Senegal and New Zealand – countries that voted and pushed for the resolution – and has cancelled a planned visit to Israel by Senegal’s foreign minister. A planned visit by Ukraine’s prime minister has been canceled as well, after they voted for the resolution as well.

Trump Asked to Weigh In on the Resolution

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What’s in a Name?

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the most common name given to boys in Israel in 2015 was Mohammad; Noa was the most popular girl’s name. According to the information, in 2015, 2,730 Muslim boys were named after the Islamic prophet. One in five Muslims are called Mohammad or Ahmed (15% and 4.6% respectively). The second most common name given to boy babies was Yosef with 1,880 boys being named after the tzaddik. Trailing in third place was Ariel, a name given to 1,792 children. Interestingly, that name was given to 1,253 Jewish boys. The rest of those named Ariel were girls. Among Jewish girls, the most common name was Noa, with 1,445

girls being given the name. It has been the most commonly given name to Jewish girls for 16 years. More than 40,000 girls born in Israel between 1948 and 2015 have been called Noa, falling only behind the names Rachel, Esther, Michal and Sara. Tamar was the second most popular name for girls in 2015 (1,323), followed by Maya (1,144), Abigail (1,141), Talia (1,081), Adele (1,074) Shira (1,058), Ayela (1,038), Yael (1,022) and Sara (972). The most common name among Jews is Noam, with 1,414 named as such in 2015. The next on the list were David, Uri/Ori, Ariel, Eitan, Yosef, Itay, Yonatan, Daniel and Moshe, roughly continuing trends in 2014. Notably, 2015 marked a stark increase in the number of boys called Dror, Yagel and Elroy when compared to previous years. In addition to the name Ariel given to both boys and girls, Noam, Uri/ Ori, Daniel, Yuval, Maayan, Yaheli, Adi, Hadar, Shaked, Hillel, Ofir, Shahar and Shai were all names shared by both genders. Despite the fact that Noa has been the most common name in Israel for the past 16 years, there are also many cities throughout the country in which

the most common name is different. In Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, for instance, Noa does not even rank on the top ten most common names. Indeed, in those two cities, the most frequently heard name is Sara. Adele is the most common in Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Bat Yam while Maya is the most popular in Holon, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Rishon LeZion and Ramat Gan.

Arab MK Arrested

Basel Ghattas, an Arab member of Knesset, has been arrested under suspicion of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian terrorists that have been serving time in Israeli prisons. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein removed Ghattas’s parliamentary immunity

last week and he was then brought in for questioning by police. His charges include fraud, breach of trust, conspiracy to commit a crime, and violations of Israel Prisons Service orders. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote that “after MK Ghattas passed envelopes to a security prisoner in jail, and after the security prisoner attempted to conceal the envelopes on his person, the envelopes were confiscated by the prison service, whereupon 12 cell phones and 16 SIM cards, two cell phone batteries, and headphones were found.” The attorney general added that the MK denied any wrongdoing until he was shown security camera footage of him committing the crimes. He now claims that he had no idea what was in the envelopes he was passing the inmates and thought they contained “literature.” In response, Ghattas wrote a letter to the attorney general saying that the measures taken against him were unprecedented. “[The attorney general] asked the committee to remove my immunity from search and arrest, something that the attorney general has never asked any other MK to do,” he said. “This includes cases whereby MKs were being investigated for

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crimes such as corruption, and even worse allegations. There is no doubt that this extreme step timing and nature is being done in conjunction with the harsh voices coming from the Knesset House Committee, which casts serious concern on the attorney general’s double standards.”

Major Hamas Cell Shut Down The Shin Bet has broken up a 20-member Hamas cell that was plotting to blow themselves up inside major cities including Jerusalem and Haifa. The security agency said that the investigation was run through many departments, including various IDF units, that all came together to take down a cell that was in a state of “high readiness to carry out deadly suicide attacks.” Many of the members had previously served jail time in Israel, according to the Shin Bet. The cell was “hierarchical and organized,” with many of the members involved in the planning of the attack. The suspects revealed that they had set up a lab which produced nearly 15 pounds of TATP explosives for suicide bombing missions. They also had four suicide bombers enlisted and had an arsenal of M-16 rifles for attacks on Israeli civilians. The cell was also well-funded, with a wide array of supporters, both financial and tactical. “This investigation shows, once again, the great efforts made by the terrorist organization Hamas to establish infrastructure in the West Bank with the aim of carrying out attacks against Israel,” the security agency said.

Three Americans Inducted into Jewish Hall of Fame

Jewish athletes from around the globe were elected into the Jewish

Sports Hall of Fame this week. The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is located at the Wingate Institute campus in Netanya, Israel. As announced by co-chairmen Alan Sherman of Potomac, Maryland, and R. Stephen Rubin of London, this year’s inductees include two American athletes and a New York songwriter, whose tune you may have heard before. Anthony Ervin is the first American on the list. He won a pair of gold medals for swimming this past year at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. He also won a gold and silver medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. Thelma “Tybie” Thall-Sommers is the next American to be inducted. Tybie was a very famous table tennis player in the 1940s. In 1948, she won the world mixed doubles title and was part of the American team that took the world trophy in 1949. Perhaps the most famous American inducted this year was the late Albert Von Tilzer, author of the immortal baseball theme song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” He wrote the song in 1908 and it has remained a staple at every professional ballgame that has been played ever since. Other new members hail from Canada, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, and Russia.

Real Consequences of Fake News

Fake news stories have been the subject of many real news stories in the past few months. From whether they helped decide the presidential election to untrue celebrity death notices, they are having all levels of impacts in this ever-speeding-up world of information. This past week, a fake news story started a tense Twitter confrontation between nuclear powers Israel and Pakistan. A fake news story “broke” claiming that Israel’s former defense minister threatened to launch nuclear

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

weapons at Pakistan if they sent troops to Syria. In response, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif took to Twitter to remind Israel that “Pakistan is a nuclear state too.” A few hours later, Israel’s current Defense Minister also took to Twitter to make clear that the original story, which was posted on the fake news site AWD, was “totally fictitious.” Pakistan did not respond to Israel’s pointing out that the “news story” was published by a fake news outlet. While Pakistan publicly became a nuclear power in 1998, Israel has always maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity. That is, the country has never publicly confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons.

PA: We’ll Take the IDF to the ICC

According to a source high up in the Palestinian Authority, PA President Mahmoud Abbas has been collecting hundreds of names and pictures of IDF soldiers in order to bring them before the International Criminal Court in 2017. “In 2017, we are going to The Hague,” declared Nasser Laham, according to Israeli news outlets, in the wake of the recent UN Security Council decision. “We have hundreds of pages of names of IDF officers. Every pilot and every officer and every soldier — we have his photo, we have his name, and we are waiting for him at The Hague.” The editor of Palestinian Ma’an News agency said that “if we are successful with one, just one, it will be a different world.” Lahan also asked that Palestinians stop with violent attacks on Israelis and allow the PA leadership to use international forces to prosecute Israeli military personnel. “I told my people in a live broadcast — in suits and ties we will take the Israelis to The Hague, we will handcuff

them,” he said. “Don’t use violence, don’t explode. This is a war without bullets. Just wait, give us another chance.” The Palestinians have been trying to prosecute Israel in the international court since the Gaza war in 2014. The ICC was formally asked by the Palestinian Authority in 2015 to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes. Israeli officials have been outspokenly opposed to any ICC investigation but have still said they will cooperate with them in order to convince the court of its level of self-regulation and the competence of the Israeli court system.

Obama Axes Program Monitoring Muslims

Like a person gasping their last breath, the Obama administration is making its final moves as it prepares to head out of the White House and cement its legacy. On Thursday, the administration announced plans to terminate a program that has been inactive since 2011 that tracked mostly Arab and Muslim men. “The Department of Homeland Security is removing outdated regulations pertaining to the National Security Entry-Exit Registration Systems (NSEERS) program, with an immediate effective date,” said Neema Hakim, a department spokesman. He added, the “intervening years have shown that NSEERS is not only obsolete, but that its use would divert limited personnel and resources from more effective measures.” The program required males 16

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

or older from 25 countries to register and be subjected to monitoring. Aside from North Korea, all the countries on the list were Arab or had majority Muslim populations. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman previously called on Obama to dismantle the NSEERS program. In a letter addressed to Obama, Schneiderman wrote that NSEERS, created after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, has not been proven to reduce terrorist activity and instead “undermined trust” in law enforcement and instilled fear in some communities. “We can’t risk giving President-elect Trump the tools to create an unconstitutional religious registry,” Schneiderman said in a separate statement. Schneiderman was very pleased with Obama’s response and decision. “This is a win for civil rights and for smart, effective law enforcement, as well as for the strong coalition of advocacy organizations and others who fought to dismantle this discriminatory tool,” he said. “My office will continue do everything it can to protect the rights of all New Yorkers, and ensure equal justice under the law for all, regardless of religion or national origin.” Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also welcomed the program’s end. “The program was a failed counterterrorism tool, was highly discriminatory, and led to widespread fear and needless dislocation of families across the United States,” he said in a statement. Trump clearly suggested throughout his campaign that he would consider instituting a program that would do just what the dormant program was created to accomplish. Trump advocated for a system that would track Muslim immigrants within the United States. But trusted Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said on CNN’s “New Day” on Thursday that as Trump enters the Oval Office he does not intend to pursue a ban on Muslim immigration solely based on religion, as he had promised during his campaign. “You’re going back to over a year ago in what he said about the [Muslim] ban versus what he said later about it, when he made it much more specific and talked about countries where we know that they’ve got a higher propensity of training and exporting terrorists,” she pointed out.

A Picture of Health

JEP and Camp Nageela present

BUILDING THE FUTURE

ON the HERITAGE OF THE PAST If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then in which state do people eat the most apples? The United Health Foundation generated a ranking of America’s healthiest states. This may sound awfully familiar because the annual list has been released every year for nearly three decades. Still, these reports help keep Americans on their toes (pun intended). It reminds us to eat healthier and to maintain healthier lifestyles. The report is based on many different categories that vary from residents’ behaviors (like smoking and excessive drinking), community and environment (for example, access to clean water and violent crime rates), policy, clinical care, and health outcomes (such as the rate of premature deaths). The data revealed some overall trends as well. An alarming finding is that the rate of cardiovascular deaths increased for the first time since the inception of the report. Additionally, the national obesity rate is 157% higher than in 1990. Time to lay off those doughnuts. On the other side of the spectrum, smoking rates declined 41% across the country to an all-time low. Additionally, more Americans are protected by health insurance now than a half a decade ago. The healthiest state in the nation is Hawaii. However it’s obviously not the beautiful weather that is solely responsible for the state’s overall health because Florida ranked considerably low at number 36. Perhaps it’s all that hula dancing as they dine on Hawaiian pineapples. New York ranked 13 on the list, while California ranked 16. Want to feel great? Consider heading to these states. The healthiest states in the nation are: 1. Hawaii 2. Massachusetts

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Connecticut Minnesota Vermont New Hampshire Washington Utah New Jersey Colorado

The least healthy states are: 1. Mississippi 2. Louisiana 3. Arkansas 4. Alabama 5. Oklahoma 6. Kentucky 7. Tennessee 8. West Virginia 9. South Carolina 10. Georgia

Is Snowden Spying for Russia? Edward Snowden may be nowhere in sight but he is definitely on the minds of the intelligence community. The former National Secu-

rity Agency contractor “has had and continues to have contact” with Russian intelligence services, according to a newly declassified U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee report released last Thursday.

According to the Pentagon, there are 13 undisclosed “high risk” security issues that are effects of Snowden’s actions. Allegedly, according to the report that was completed in September, if China or Russia gain access to this information, “American troops will be at greater risk in any future conflict.” Currently, Snowden, 33, lives in Moscow under an asylum deal. The traitor was vocal about the latest accusations and took to Twitter to say

that the release was “rifled with obvious falsehoods” and presented no evidence that his disclosures were made “with harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow.” In a mostly redacted segment entitled “Foreign Influence,” the House report said that “since Snowden’s arrival in Moscow, he has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services.” It referred to Snowden’s leaks as “the largest and most damaging public release” of classified materials in history of U.S. intelligence. The report went beyond Snowden’s specific case to express concern about the future safety of classified information. The report read, “The committee remains concerned that more than three years after the start of the unauthorized disclosures, NSA, and the IC (Intelligence Community) as a whole, have not done enough to minimize the risk of another massive unauthorized disclosure.” This week, Snowden took to Twitter to help the families that sheltered him when he was hiding in Hong Kong on his way to Russia. The families are hoping to move to Canada.

In his Twitter post, Snowden wrote, “Need a last minute gift for the activist in your life? Help the refugees who kept me safe underground resettle in [Canada.]” The family members sheltered Snowden in 2013 when he was escaping arrest by American authorities for releasing classified information. Snowden eventually made his way to Russia where he is currently staying. Their identities were kept secret until September. Filipina Vanessa Mae Bondalian Rodel and Sri Lankan natives Ajith Pushpakumara and Supun Thilina Kellapatha are seeking asylum in Canada.

National Corruption in Uniform To many New Yorkers, the state of California conjures up images of sunshine, but not all is rosy in the Golden State. Two of California’s biggest law enforcement agencies in Kern County have been dubbed the deadliest

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

WooDmERE & hEWlEtt shABBos sChEDulE

& Five Towns wooDMeRe HewLeTT CeDaRHuRsT

60 Years of Building Torah g

wooDMeRe & HewLeTT

Annual Shabbos of Chizuk ‫שבת קודש פרשת ויחי‬ JAnuARY 13-14, 2017 With the participation of

HAGAon HARAv YERuCHIM oLSHIn ‫שליט”א‬ Rosh YEshivA, BEth mEDRAsh govohA

Honoring the esteemed communal founder,

HAGAon HARAv BInYAMIn KAMEnETZKY ‫שליט”א‬ Rosh YEshivA, YEshivAs toRAs ChAim

for 60 years of dynamic leadership continuing the great Torah partnership of Moreinu HaRav Aharon Kotler & Moreinu HaRav Yaakov Kamenetzky ‫זצ”ל‬

‫אכסניא‬

Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Shmuel (Henry) Schachar at the home of Mr. & Mrs. David Lawrence

‫מנחה וקבלת שבת‬

Congregation Aish Kodesh Rav Moshe Weinberger ‫שליט’’א‬ 894 Woodmere Place 4:40 pm

‫סעודת ליל שבת‬

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Landau

‫עונג שבת‬

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Landau 45 Derby Ave. ¹ 8:15 pm Divrei Pesicha

Rav Zvi Ralbag ‫שליט’’א‬

RAv, Cong. BAis EPhRAim YitzChok

‫שחרית‬

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

Rav Moshe Zev Katzenstein ‫שליט’’א‬ Rosh YEshivA

218 mosher Avenue ¹ 8:00 am

‫מוסף‬

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

‫סעודת שבת‬

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

‫סעודה שלישית‬

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

‫מנחה ושיעור‬

Young Israel of Woodmere Rav Herschel Billet ‫שליט’’א‬ Rav Shalom Axelrod ‫שליט’’א‬ 859 Peninsula Blvd. 4:30 pm

‫אבות ובנים‬

MoTZEI SHABBoS LEARnInG

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

C o m m i t t e e

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

1170 William street ¹ 7:15 pm Divrei Pesicha

Rav Simcha Lefkowitz‫שליט’’א‬ RAv, khAl AnshEi ChEsED

Divrei Bracha

Rav Mordechai Kamenetsky ‫שליט’’א‬

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

police departments in the nation. The conclusion was drawn based on a Guardian investigation that prompted state authorities to look into the matter.

A Slice of Kindness

Last Thursday, California attorney general Kamala Harris announced that a full-on investigation is underway of the Bakersfield police department and the Kern County sheriff’s office following media reports and community complaints alleging “use of excessive force and other serious misconduct.” The two departments have been accused of a culture that tolerates violence, corruption, and impunity and, according to the Guardian, killed people at a significantly higher rate than the average in 2015. In Kern County, where the population is a bit less than 875,000, 14 individuals were killed by authorities. In New York City, which is nearly 10 times as populated, there were only 10 people killed. In 2016, the rate of killings dropped considerably. However, Bakersfield was still in the spotlight this year after an officer shot an unarmed elderly gentleman suffering from dementia. The “patterns and practices” investigations will probe for civil rights violations at both departments, Harris said in a statement, adding, “Excessive use of force and police misconduct erode and undermine the public’s trust in our law enforcement agencies.” Lyle Martin, the police chief in Bakersfield, said in a statement that the department is prepared to fully cooperate with the review. Martin said that a meeting with state officials has been scheduled for the new year to discuss the investigation in detail. “The trust and confidence of the public is vital to the credibility and effectiveness of the Bakersfield police department,” Martin said. Officials expect the two separate investigations to take up to two years to complete.

Josh Katrick has been battling cancer for some time now. Recently, after walking out of his eighth round of chemotherapy, Katrick got some good news: he just won a competition and was now the proud recipient of free pizza for a year. Although Katrick is a pizza lover, he decided that there are others who are more in need of the cheesy, gooey goodness and so he donated his prize – every slice of it – to a local food bank. “You know the saying, ‘When life gives you lemons make lemonade’? Well, when life gives you pizza, give away a slice,” the 36-year-old told CNN on Sunday. Katrick has been feasting at Mario’s Pizza since he was a child and was one of 1,200 people to enter the competition. The winner walked away with 2 large (and they mean large) pizzas and soda every month for the next year. Katrick’s act of kindness continues to grow. When the pizza eatery heard about Katrick’s generosity, they decided to do their share: they doubled the prize so Katrick could donate the pizza and then eat some slices of his own too. “I thought someone would win, they’d be excited, come in and get their pizzas, but a story like this to come out of a contest like that...” Giuseppe Aiello, the son of the family-run pizzeria’s co-owner, told CNN affiliate WFMZ. “It’s better to give than receive, and especially during this time of year,” Aiello said. Katrick recently had surgery for stage 2 colon cancer and has been receiving chemotherapy since September. During his ordeal, he was the recipient of many acts of kindness and was inspired to pay it forward. “After everything I went through these last few months – I

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

ing on a free cruise to the Caribbean next month. The company announced the trip on its Facebook page. “We leave January 8,” company president Gary Bertch told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. “We’ve got four charter aircraft that will be flying directly to Miami Sunday and staying at a nice five-star hotel. Then on Monday, we’ll bus over from the hotel to the port and load up on the ship.”

Bertch told his employees the trip was a reward for them after they helped the company meet its goals for the year. He offered the cruise as an incentive a year ago. “We just tried to get all of our people pumped up a little more to achieve the various goals, both customer-oriented goals and financial goals.” Sure beats a $10 Starbucks card and a box of doughnuts.

Night at Ikea

met so many people and have been receiving so much – I felt I wanted to give back,” Katrick said. “The [people at the] food bank are very thankful. They’re amazed by it. They will put it to good use.” Katrick seems to be the person who can’t stop giving. He confided

in CNN about the pizza he will be receiving: “Maybe I’ll share with my friends on Facebook [and] make a contest of my own to see if anyone would like some pizza.” That’s a slice of nice.

Company Cruise Read this and you’ll want to start working in a cabinet company. In appreciation for its staff, more than 800 employees of Bertch Cabinets in Waterloo, Iowa, will be go-

I love going to Ikea. I enjoy walking through the different sections of the store and gazing upon the tiny homes that seem to fit everything. Ever want to just sink into one of those beds and take a nap? Well, it seems that teems of teens are swarming Ikea stores to camp out and plan gigantic, do-it-yourself sleepovers in the furniture giant after hours. Ikea, though, isn’t too happy about this new development. The trend came about when a video of two teenage boys camping out in Ikea went viral in August. It was titled, “Two idiots at night in Ikea.” Florian Van Hecke and Bram Geirnaert sparked the craze. Their video begins with a meatball dinner

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

BAIS

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ANNIVERSARY ANNI

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A PA R E N T S P R AY E R , A C H I L D ' S D R E A M RABBI NOSSON NEUMAN Menahel MRS. LEAH ZYTMAN Principal MR. AVRAHAM MAYER Executive Director

HONORING

MR. & MRS. MOTTI FOX Guests of Honor

RABBI ZVI BLOOM President DINNER CHAIRMEN YITZI HOROWITZ ELIE MISHAAN JOURNAL CHAIRMEN MOTTI FOX SIMCHA STOLL CAMPAIGN CHAIRMEN DANIEL FRIEDMAN Y O S E F K AT Z DINNER COMMITTEE AR YEH BLUMSTEIN MATI DEAR PINNY FARKAS BUMI FRIED RABBI MOSHE GREENSPAN YEHUDAH LEIB GORDON YITZCHOK MEYSTELMAN DANIEL RABINOWITZ PINCHOS REKANT RABBI PERETZ STRICKMAN R YAN SULLIVAN

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

at a Belgian Ikea store and records their nervousness as they dodge store personnel and whisper about the attributes of the various beds. “This bed is pure heaven. Really, it’s great,” says Geirnaert before he curls up with a bedtime book. They hide again in a wardrobe and sneak out after the store reopens. “My best friend and I love to push the limits. We do not accept status quo. Life is about building experiences and memories,” the duo say in their video’s description on YouTube. “There is a quote that says: ‘Do not regret what you have done, regret what you have not done in your life.’ Life is one big YouTube video.” Now, at least 10 other incidents have been recorded; the most recent incident involved two 14-year-old girls who were caught spending the night at an Ikea in Jonkoping, Sweden. They were not charged due to their young ages, but two 15-yearolds are facing trespassing charges after they were caught in October hiding in cupboards after hours at an Ikea in Malmo, Sweden. “We appreciate that people are interested in Ikea and want to create fun experiences. However, the safety

and security of our co-workers and customers is our highest priority and that’s why we do not allow sleepovers in our stores,” a representative for Ikea U.K. said. He added, “Maybe needless to say that the fun in it is overrated. A long night of sitting still, only to then risk getting into trouble with the law,” he said. Make sure to bring some snacks if you plan on spending the night where hundreds of others spent their day before you. Man cannot survive on Swedish meatballs alone.

for a burglar who broke into a business on three separate occasions to steal power tools and equipment. The thief left behind one item: a half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Authorities dubbed him the “PB&J burglar.” Subsequent DNA testing led to Zachery Munoz’s arrest. He is scheduled to head to trial in February. Lesson learned: always finish your PB&Js.

Tying the Knot The Peanut Butter Bandit

It was solved by PB&J. Police in Wyoming were looking

Last month, Officer Martin Folczyk of Wisconsin pulled over a college student for speeding. We all have our excuses for driving over the speed limit, but this guy’s excuse seemed plausible: he was late for a presentation and needed to find a fellow student to help him with his tie. Well, thankfully Folczyk isn’t just skilled at giving tickets. The police officer tied the student’s tie and adjusted it for him. He then sent him off with a warning to slow down. I sort of wish Folczyk lived around here. I hate knotting my neckties.

Party for 10,000

What were you doing last Monday? If you weren’t at Rubi Ibarra’s quinceanera, you were just one of the

few who didn’t attend. A quinceanera is a party to celebrate a girl’s fifteen birthday in Spanish circles. Rubi’s father’s invitation went viral weeks ago and it seemed that many people thought that he truly wanted them to join in the festivities in the Mexican village. Thousands of people from across Mexico poured into La Joya for the fun. A large billboard that proclaimed “Welcome to my 15th birthday party” with Rubi’s picture towered over the tents and tables filled with food. Rubi’s bash gained national and international notoriety in early December after a local event photographer posted on his Facebook page a video of the girl’s father describing a birthday party complete with food, local bands and horse races. In the video, cowboy hat-wearing Crescencio Ibarra haltingly but proudly describes the party and prizes before announcing that “everyone is cordially invited.” “Hi, how’s it going? We would like to invite you this December 26 to our daughter Rubi Ibarra Garcia’s 15th birthday party in La Joya,” he said. The invite was really only meant for those in the neighboring communities, but when the video was seen by millions, everyone decided to join. 1.3 million people responded on Facebook saying that they would attend. Free party, right? The invitation sparked fun offers from around the globe. Mexican airline Interjet published a promotion offering 30 percent discounts on flights to San Luis Potosi, under the slogan “Are you going to Rubi’s party?” Internet jokesters published photos of troops of turkeys, backhoes stirring giant caldrons of soup and massive crowds “heading for Rubi’s party.” An actor made a parody video of the invite, a singer composed a song for Rubi, and Rubi was even able to appear on a national soap opera. 10,000 people showed up to the event, which included fireworks, a horse race and a concert. Of course, every party has a pooper. Despite the fun and festivities, Mercedes Poire, head of the Center for Public Opinion at the Universidad Del Valle de Mexico, pointed out, “This has taken on completely scandalous proportions. We face the gigantic risk of falling into a society of the absurd.” Apparently, she has never been invited to a Jewish wedding.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

Around the

Community Bnos Bais Yaakov’s Sherry Garber Pre-School Literacy Program – A Winning Combination

ky Writing – it’s not a dangerous, dare-devil activity, but rather a scientifically proven way to help the brain retain information about letters and words. Using the two fingers and the arm through which a nerve runs up to the brain, the Pre1-A students trace letters and sight words in the air. Sky Writing is just one facet of the ultra-sophisticated Pre1-A literacy program put in place by Morah Yehudis Oppen, Pre-

school Director, and led by Mrs. Helen Greenblatt, Pre-School’s Curriculum Coordinator, a reading specialist and one of our first grade general studies teachers. Another integral piece of the literacy program involves the multi-sensory groups run by Mrs. Chani Tepper and Morah Rivky Cohen. Using hands-on activities and a variety of modalities, the girls truly acquire the letters for their own. Basing the program on Wilson’s

Fundations, Mrs. Greenblatt has customized the pre-reading experience for the Pre1-A girls in general and then has differentiated it for specific girls. Those students who are capable of acquiring additional reading skills in Pre1-A are given the glorious opportunity to challenge themselves by joining an enrichment group. These children are reading leveled readers with more complex words than their classmates. They are also introduced to context clues, picture clues, and a host of other tips and techniques. For those children who are struggling with the basic curriculum, we offer them the skill and patience of Morah Shaindy Markowitz who utilizes a multi-sensory approach to help her students gain and retain the appropriate skills. But how can we pinpoint with such accuracy which child should remain wholly in the basic Fundations program, which child should be given advanced work, and which should be given additional support? Enter Morah Atara Zutler, beloved Pre1-A morah. In addition to her usual classroom duties, Morah Atara now administers

bi-weekly assessments. Those evaluations become the rubric by which enrichment and remediation occur. By virtue of the professionals working with both ends of the student population in concert with the dynamic classroom teachers, amazing things have happened! 1) Handwriting is no longer a necessary first grade subject. Our Pre1-A girls enter first grade with clear and beautiful handwriting! 2) Letter blending, which we introduce early in the year, generates its own excitement. Once a student realizes that she can actually read one word, she wants to read ten more! 3) Most of our Pre1-A girls will enter first grade as readers. For those who have not yet mastered reading, support continues in first grade – so that, in short order, they too will be termed “readers.”

State Senator Todd Kaminsky joined in a Chanukah party for less fortunate families at the Atlantic Beach Jewish Center, hosted by the local JCCs, on Tuesday, December 20

Pictured (L to R): Rivki Gefen, Chedva Benelyahou, Adina Kagan, Ariella Deil, Shayna Livian, Shevi Schuster, David Shenker, State Senator Todd Kaminsky, Joel Block, Rabbi Ari Perl, Elianna Samimi, Shira Galler, Michal Hausman, Ruty Mokhtar, and Shira Keilson

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Chanukah Toy Drive: The JCCRP Shines Light into Local Homes

hanukah is in full swing and the Jewish Community Council of Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) has been busy getting the annual toy drive into motion. The Chanukah Toy Drive was the creation of Rochel Baron, a”h. Rochel was battling cancer

and received many gifts of toys for her kids. However, while she suffered with her illness she still had the compassion to wonder why the children of sick moms were the ones to get the toys and not the children of moms who couldn’t afford to buy any gifts for their kids, let alone

Chanukah gifts. Rochel passed away erev Rosh Hashana in 2012, but not before creating the Chanukah Toy Drive, allowing our local kids to feel like a million dollars. Four years later, we still see the tremendous impact she’s had and how one giving, thoughtful person can really create a rippling effect and change in the community. This year, the JCCRP continued in the spirit of giving. The JCCRP gave toys and gift cards to almost 300 local children. The efforts of the JCCRP could not have been accomplished without the incredible support of the UJA-Federation of New York. The JCCRP also benefitted immensely from the participation of Dr. Preminger’s office, Gourmet Glatt, JFK Airport International Synagogue & Emirates Airlines, Rite Lite, Seasons and Seasons Express; these businesses allowed the JCCRP to collect hundreds of toys in their collection bins. A special thank you to Seasons for sponsoring the toy distribution packing event. The JCCRP also wants to thank all the participating schools and shuls that collected toys and spread interest: Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, BBY, DRS High School, HAFTR, Talmud Torah Siach Yitzchok and Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. Residents were so excited to participate and contribute toys to this very meaningful project. Ten coordinators dedicated to the JCCRP Toy Drive have been invaluable by working very hard along with the JCCRP staff, and we want to thank

them for making this a successful endeavor. The coordinators this year were: Sara Austein, Sharon Friedman, Rahely Fruchter, Lara Klein, Daphna Mishaan, Fraidy Osina, Rebecca Richman, Tamar Scharf, Rocky Stern and Lily Weichholz. Thank you for all the time, effort and genuine happiness that you put into the toy drive. Hundreds of kids received wonderful gifts, and it’s all due to these coordinators. Additionally, a big thank you to Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato for participating and contributing to the toy drive. Together as a community, we helped create a Chanukah of pure simcha for those in need, both parents and children alike. The JCCRP thanks those that joined them in this extraordinary community-wide effort to light up Chanukah for countless families in our area. The JCCRP continues to service the community thanks to the ongoing support of the UJA-Federation of New York. The JCCRP is a proud beneficiary agency of UJA Federation of NY. The JCCRP provides a range of services for any clients who need assistance in social services or resource directing within the community. Please contact the JCCRP for further information; they are located at 1525 Central Avenue (entrance on Foam Place), Far Rockaway, NY, 11691. Call the JCCRP at (718) 327-7755 or visit them on the web at www.jccrp.org.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Yeshiva Darchei Torah Dinner to be Held January 15

eshiva Darchei Torah will celebrate its 44th anniversary at its annual dinner on January 15th, when it will pay tribute to eight distinguished families from the Yeshiva community.

Rabbi Shmuel Witkin

grew up in Chicago. In addition to her role as rebbetzin, she teaches at Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) in Far Rockaway. The Witkins have two sons in Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Simcha Zelig and Yaakov, and Chaim Henoch will

Rabbi Eliezer Ament

Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel and Chana Rochel Witkin Harbotzas Torah Award The fact that North Woodmere, the popular appellation for parts of Valley Stream, NY, has experienced a massive influx of Torah-oriented families over the last four years is due in no small part to the neighborhood’s many distinguished rabbonim, including Rabbi and Mrs. Witkin. Their shul, Kehillas Bnei Hayeshivos, was founded in the Witkins’ basement and has developed into a thriving community hub of Torah and tefillah and a magnet for families seeking to grow in their avodas Hashem. Rabbi Witkin’s harbotzas Torah is manifested primarily in his role as rav of the shul, delivering drashos and shiurim, learning b’chavrusa with mispallelim and advising them and their families on a personal level. But it doesn’t end there. Before his daily daf yomi shiur at the shul, Rabbi Witkin delivers another, early-morning daf shiur at Agudath Israel of Long Island, in Far Rockaway. He also delivers an occasional Chumash shiur at Congregation Kneseth Israel, the White Shul. Throughout a typical weekday Rabbi Witkin can be found learning at Kollel Avreichim, where he studied as a yungerman. A native of Flatbush, he previously learned under Rav Tzvi Kushelevesky and Rav Dovid Soloveichik in Yerushalayim. Mrs. Witkin, nee Lieberman,

was chosen as co-director together with Rabbi Eliezer Selengut. Under their leadership the camp’s enrollment has grown nearly 500 percent and gained wide renown. Mrs. Leah Ament, nee Compton,

Mr. Shmuel Brudny

be joining next year. They have two daughters, Tziporah and Chaya Leah, talmidos at Bnos Bais Yaakov. Rabbi & Mrs. Eliezer and Leah Ament Rebbi of the Year Born and raised in Montreal, Rabbi Eliezer Ament learned at Yeshiva Gedolah Merkaz Hatorah-Tiferes Mordechai. When his rosh yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, moved to Far Rockaway to serve as Rosh Yeshiva of the newly-established Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, Eliezer followed him. As a talmid, he formed an enduring kesher with Rav Altusky, Rav Bender, and the rest of the Yeshiva Darchei Torah hanhala. After his years of learning at Mir Yerushalayim, Kollel Be’er Yitzchok in Elizabeth, NJ, and Beth Medrash Govoha, Rabbi Ament joined the Aish Dos teacher training program and became a first grade rebbi at Darchei. Rabbi Ament is a true talmid chacham who is beloved by his talmidim, parents and colleagues and has successfully implanted Torah and its ideals in his talmidim over the past decade. His ebullient personality and infectious enthusiasm endear Rabbi Ament to all with whom he comes into contact. Eight years ago, the Yeshiva embarked on an experiment: a second summer day camp, located on its Heyson Road property, which would provide boys with a spirited, funfilled experience in a uniquely Torah’dik environment. Rabbi Ament

Mr. Yosef Wartelsky

a native of Wickliffe, Ohio, works in the administrative offices of the Yeshiva. Their sons, Yissochor Dovid and Yossi, are Darchei talmidim. They also have three daughters: Chana, Esti and Sori. Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel and Rivky Brudny Alumni Leadership Award Shmuel Brudny grew up in Edison, NJ, and learned at the town’s Yeshivas Rabbi Jacob Joseph. He also studied at Darchei’s Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid and has remained in close contact with many of his rabbeim and chaveirim over the ensuing 12 years. He also learned at Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Lakewood. His wife Rivky, nee Katz, is a native of Silver Spring, MD. Together the Brudnys have established their home, first in Lakewood and now in neighboring Jackson, on the foundations that they received from their parents and rabbeim. They have three children: Chana, Nochum Hillel and Dovid. Although Shmuel’s position as vice president of operations at Meridian Capital Group is a very time-consuming one, it has not precluded him from keeping a nightly learning seder. (For about a year, he learned with his fellow Darchei alumnus and classmate, Rav Avrohom Wachsman, twice a week.) He helps run the new minyan that was established near his neighborhood of Jackson, an up-

and-coming suburb of Lakewood, and was an active volunteer for Chai Lifeline for many years. Mr. & Mrs. Yosef and Aliza Wartelsky Alumni Leadership Award Two years ago, Yosef Wartelsky was among the founders of one of Far Rockaway’s newest and fast-growing shuls, Kehillas Bais Yisroel, and he remains a driving force in the success of the kehillah, which is under the leadership of Rav Elysha Sandler. But the Wartelskys’ service to the tzibbur is not limited to their shul. Yosef recently joined the ranks of the dedicated volunteers of Hatzalah and has been involved in numerous sacred causes over the years, from his successful campaign to write a sefer Torah in memory of the victims of the Mercaz Harav massacre, Hy”d, to raising close to $1 million for the families of the kedoshim of Har Nof, Hy”d. During the summer he serves as an assistant head counselor in Camp Munk. Aliza, who supports and encourages her husband’s avodas hakodesh, works for the Achiezer Community Resource Center and is involved in many facets of the organization. She often takes her work beyond the office, helping numerous individuals and families in need of assistance at all hours. Yosef, who works in property management, is a native of Paramus, NJ, and is an alumnus of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo. He also learned at Sh’or Yoshuv, and after his marriage he spent five years studying in Eretz Yisrael. Aliza, nee Devor, grew up in Far Rockaway. Also to be honored at the dinner: Mr. & Mrs. Mordechai and Gyla Schwartz, Guests of Honor; Mr. & Mrs. Eli and Breindi Amsterdam, Parents of the Year; Mr. & Mrs. Shlomo and Blimy Weiss, Kesser Shem Tov Award; and the Hon. & Mrs. Phil and Esther Goldfeder, Hakoras Hatov Award. To place an ad in the journal, to make dinner reservations or for other information, please call 718.868.2300 ext. 237; email dinner@darchei.org; or visit darchei. org/dinner. The journal deadline is January 4.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

Around the Community

MAY Internet Safety Seminar

ast Wednesday evening, the freshman class at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, with their parents, attended an internet safety seminar. This annual mandatory event included informative lectures regarding awareness of the dangers of the internet and how to properly harness its potential. The program was organized by Assistant Menahel/Assistant Principal,

Rabbi Yossi Bennett, M.S., who also emceed the evening. The assembled heard presentations from Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, Ph.D., Menahel of the Mesivta, Dr. Akiva Bergman, founder of Smart Connections, a new internet monitoring and filtering office open in the Five Towns community, and from the keynote speaker, Rabbi Binyamin Tepfer, Ph.D., a local community psychologist who is an expert in the fields

of family therapy and addiction. “It is important to us that challenges facing our talmidim are addressed, not ignored,” commented Rabbi Yaffe. “This is just one example of programs we run at the Mesivta educating students and parents about the social concerns that may affect them.” The recurring theme of the evening, in addition to the dangers and pitfalls of the internet and potential

guidelines and solutions to address them, was that of communication between all involved parties. Students and parents, parents and rabbeim, rabbeim and students can and should be discussing the struggles and challenges children are facing. The evening concluded with a Q & A panel with the presenters which itself was an incredibly informative experience.

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

HAFTR Chanukah House Competition with Nachum Segal

AFTR fifth grade students participated in a pre-Chanukah event hosted by Nachum Segal and cohost Miriam Wallach. Students were excited to cheer on their classmates and teachers as they competed to create the ideal Chanukah house design. Using the new Manishewitz Chanukah House kits, students used teamwork and creativity as they constructed their masterpieces. One team used the work of Jackson Pollock as inspiration for their designs. Another group used polygons and symmetry as the stu-

dents decorated the external walls of the house. Another team was inspired by Chanukah symbols and topped its house with a dreidel chimney. As the groups were perfecting their designs, their classmates answered Chanukah trivia to earn additional decorating items for the teams. At the end of the program, each fifth grade student was treated to a delicious Manishewitz cookie decorating set. Thank you to Miriam Wallach, parent and general manager of the Nachum Segal Network, for bringing the event to HAFTR.

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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35th Annual FR5T Bikur Cholim Brunch

Guest speaker Lori Palatnik, founding director of the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project

undreds of women from The Five Towns and Far Rockaway attended the 35th annual Bikur Cholim Brunch on December 18, 2016, chaired by Marilyn Wolowitz, Tzippy David, and Esther Feigenbaum at the White Shul. Along the corridor to the ballroom,

Chairpersons Esther Feigenbaum, Tzippy David, and Marilyn Wolowitz, with the honorees Chaya and Sidney Lipstein and Elanit Lipstein, with their family

the welcoming committee handed each guest a gift and escorted guests into the beautiful ballroom that was set with a delicious breakfast catered by Sharmel Caterers. To commence the program, Rebbetzin Nava Orlian led the audience in reciting a perek of Tehilim.

Guest speaker Mrs. Lori Palatnik spoke of various needs: the physical which are most out in the open, emotional which often go unnoticed, and spiritual which we are often unaware of. Rav Noach Weinberg, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah, taught that by mirroring Hashem who always gives, we should learn to give. Hashem can provide for all, but leaves some giving for us to fulfill. Bikur Cholim is comprised of a myriad of givers to address those in need. In addition to providing funds for medical expenses, countless volunteers offer rides to doctors’ appointments, prepare and deliver delectable meals for families in crisis, offer smiles and conversation to shut-ins, lend medical equipment for short term use, and more. The list is endless. Mrs. Tzippy David, Co-Chairperson, introduced the guests of honor, the Lipstein family, who are a perfect representation of the chessed done by Bikur Cholim. Husband, wife and daughter were the honorees. Elanit Lipstein picks children up from school and drives them to attend iShine,

where Elanit volunteers. Along with her daughter Elanit, Mrs. Chaya Lipstein tutors children long term, allowing them to keep up with their schoolwork, despite their school absence due to poor health. Together as a couple, Chaya and Sidney Lipstein drive patients to doctors’ appointments and medical treatments, while Chaya escorts the passenger inside with warm wishes. Mr. and Mrs. Lipstein visit children in St. Mary’s Hospital so frequently that when the hospital staff found out that the couple was not visiting their own family, they were astounded. They’ve never before seen such devotion, love and care from volunteers. In the incredible zechus of Bikur Cholim, its volunteers, and our chessed-oriented community, may we soon see the day when our community will no longer need Bikur Cholim, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. To volunteer, contact Bikur Cholim at fr5tbikurcholim.com or call (718) 327-5989 / (516) 371-9662. The Rewards are out of the World!

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community CREDIT: TONY SHLEMOVICH / CHABAD.ORG PHOTO CREDIT: THREE STAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Light up the Nights! Future Ambassador David Friedman lights the Grand Menorah at Andrew J. Parise Park in Cedarhurst Mr. David Friedman, the incoming administration’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel, lights the Chabad of the Five Towns menorah in Cedarhurst Park on December 25, 2016, the second night of Hanukkah. This is the fifteenth year that Friedman, an active member of the community, has lit the public menorah. The celebration is part of Chabad-Lubavitch’s worldwide Chanukah campaign that includes 15,000 large public menorahs in more than 90 counties around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin. The campaign was set into motion by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 1973.

Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, director of Chabad of Five Towns, and Mr. David Friedman dance to Chanukah songs amid a crowd of celebrants at the public Chanukah menorah lighting celebration in Cedarhurst Park.

Rabbi Zalman Wolowik and Mr. David Friedman stand together as they prepare to light a massive menorah as celebrants look on.

Mr. David Friedman tosses Chanukah treats to the crowd.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

Around the Community

YOSS Brings the Chanukah Spirit to HASC

he eighth grade at Yeshiva of South Shore continued their longstanding tradition of visiting HASC, Hebrew Academy for Special Children in Brooklyn, this week. In the spirit of the chag, the

boys spent time dancing with the students of HASC and provided special treats for them in honor of Chanukah. The boys made a tremendous kiddush Hashem on their visit, as they interacted with the HASC talmidim on

their own unique level. The talmidim eagerly look forward to the trip each year, as it provides all of them with a very unique opportunity to put into action many of the hanhagos that their parents and rebbeim instill in

them at home and at YOSS. Many of the rebbeim and those in the administration joined in the trip and played live music for all the HASC students to help lend an extra sense of excitement to the visit.

YHT Yom Tefila V’Torah for Rabbi Kelemer

his past week the Yeshiva Har Torah seventh and eighth grade students participated in a Yom Tehilim V’Torah dedicated for a refuah shleimah for Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, Harav Yehuda ben Rivka Leah. The day began with the recitation of Tehillim and a Mi She’berach. Rabbi Menchel then shared a d’var Torah and painted a moving and beautiful picture of Rabbi Kelemer and the incredible impact that he has on the entire community, including Yeshiva Har Torah. Rabbi Menchel used personal stories to illustrate how much Rabbi Kelemer is needed and how we all look to Rabbi Kelemer to lead us towards lives of Torah, shmirat hamitzvot and chessed. With the charge that, “Now Rabbi Kelemer needs us to help him,” the students went to two mini-learning sessions with their rebbeim and morot who shared with the students new insights into nes Chanukah and its mitzvot and

minhagim. At the final session, the students made Chanukah/refuah shleimah cards to be distributed to

patients in local hospitals. The Yeshiva Har Torah community joins with all of klal Yisrael in the prayer

that Rabbi Kelemer should have a refuah shleimah.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Yeshiva Darchei Torah Middos Mission keeps accomplishing: First and second grade Middos Mission Members at Yeshiva Darchei Torah writing compliment cards to their classmates. This activity is in conjunction with the yeshiva’s Middos Mission program. This month’s middah is “lashon tov,” speaking nicely.

Eighth Grade Visit Day at DRS

ast Wednesday, DRS hosted over 140 prospective eighth grade applicants from 15 different elementary schools for a visit to DRS and a chance to experience what it’s like to be a DRS student for a day. Students from YCQ, HANC, Har Torah, South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana, HAFTR, HALB, Derech HaTorah, and several other elementary schools were warmly greeted at the doors of DRS by administrators and student leaders. Each visiting student received a personal schedule for him to follow throughout their day. Throughout the day, the students had the opportunity to study Gemara on a high school level in Rabbi Kaminetsky’s Gemara Shiur, practice creative writing techniques in Mrs. Wellner and Ms. Fos-

ter’s English class, solve and prove mind-bending mathematics tricks in Ms. Flynn and Mr. Weinstein’s math class, dissect the inner workings of contemporary p’sak halacha in Rabbi Farber’s halacha shiur, and meet and ask questions to Rabbi Storch and Dr. Kirshenbaum in small groups. Following a lunch catered by Carlos & Gabby’s, the students moved to the gym where they were treated to a taste of DRS’s extracurricular student activities, during which they participated in a multimedia trivia game challenging them in areas of Gemara, Tanach, science, math, sports, English, Ivrit, and general knowledge. We are proud of the quality of students that will comprise our ninth grade next year!

MAY SGO Moves Student Services Online

esivta Ateres Yaakov prides itself on having an extremely active and involved Student Government that enhances the experience of learning at the Mesivta. Officers are elected annually after serious campaigns and are given responsibility for numerous student functions, including mishmar dinners, special activities, raffles, school-wide trips, competitions, and tournaments. This year’s G.O. has been particularly active, introducing a monthly snack program, new tournaments and, most recently, launching a new

website devoted to Student Government activities. Under the direction of President Ushi Shreiber, 10th Grade Representative, Yudi Gross, took the initiative to design and implement a student services web portal. The new portal simplifies the process of collecting student food orders, signing up for competitions, and accessing forms. The site also provides yet another vehicle to keep MAY students informed about the myriad activities and events available to them.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Rabbi Baruch Simon and Rabbi Josh Goller at the Young Israel of West Hempstead last Thursday night. Rabbi Simon gave a special Chanukah shiur to the community

Gan Chamesh’s “Illuminating” Chanukah Experience

BLENDING TOGETHER BEAUTY, LIFE, AND HOLINESS

s part of the Chanukah festivities, the young students in Gan Chamesh – Chabad’s early childhood center – visited a unique in-house Light Museum. The children’s faces shone bright as they explored an array of flashlights, lamps and glow sticks. Children were fascinated by the UV light station that made everything around it glow in fluorescent color. They curiously examined light-up sensory bottles and got to light a glow-in-the-dark menorah. Spinning dreidels in the surface of a projector cast shadows on the wall which was truly illuminating. This magnificent activity brought the “Festival of Lights” to a whole new level.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Little Friends’ Kindergarten Aglow with Chanukah Preparation

t Little Friends’ Gan Kindergarten preparation is in full swing for Chanukah! Every child made their own unique menorah encompassing their individual representation of the Festival of Lights. Some menorahs have dreidels and coins, some have Torahs and sefarim, some were made with the child’s name…and they all were made with lots of paint, glue, and love! The highlight of their Chanukah journey was a performance by the Small Wonders Puppet Theatre. Puppets and friends gave a show filled with kumzitz-style guitar playing and a story about Antiochus and the Maccabees that left everyone in awe and wonder. Special emphasis was put on

the mitzvah of sharing and how to be a good friend and show loving kindness.

Bat Mitzvah Celebration at Shulamith

ixth grade students were joined by their mothers and teachers for a very special evening: a gala bat mitzvah celebration. The evening began with a meaningful, uplifting cantata, performed completely in Ivrit and interspersed with heartfelt songs, specifically celebrating the role of Jewish women. A delicious seudat bat mitzvah, catered by Central Perk, was served in our multi-purpose room which was decorated regally for the occasion in shades of purple, lavender and silver.

Mothers and daughters then had the opportunity to participate in three different workshops: they studied Torah together with Morah Chana Schwartz, learned about the mitzvah of challah and braided challot with Morah Shoshana Fischman, and danced joyously with Mrs. Sima Gefen. Thanks to Morah Chani Pollak and Morah Tali Spector for preparing the girls for their cantata and to Morah Chana Schwartz for coordinating every aspect of the event.

“Now it’s easier to understand what we dealt with the past eight years.” - An Israeli official on working with the Obama administration, page 110

Chanukah Workshops were the final flame in our Chanukah menorah. Everyone enjoyed delicious treats

and our little artists made sand art dreidels and menorah puzzles. What fun!

Midreshet Shalhevet Celebrates its Fantastic Teams

he whole school joined in Spirit Day to celebrate the Midreshet Shalhevet Sabers Basketball’s recent wins, as well as the recent success of our Debate, Torah Bowl and Poetry Slam teams, and in anticipation of upcoming basketball games and competitions for the Mock Trial, Debate, and Poetry Slam teams. Go Sabers! Mock trial is a great learning experience in which participants learn about trial, analytical skills, public speaking, and how to think on your feet. The Midreshet Shalhevet Mock Trial team has started breaking down the case for this year’s New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament. It is a complicated case, in which the plaintiff is suing for mali-

cious prosecution. The team analyzed the witnesses and evidence for the defense and prosecution, and started to decide how to bring in the evidence. They have just been awarded their parts for the trial. Senior and Team Captain, Avgayil Lev of Woodmere, senior and co-captain Avigail Borah of Hewlett, senior Sarit Perl of Atlantic Beach, junior Aviva Marmer of Brooklyn, and sophomore Yael Simon of Queens will be the lawyers. The witnesses will be played by junior Riva Petrash of Brooklyn, junior Nechama Schneider of Far Rockaway, junior Leah Miller of West Hempstead, junior Hayley Tanzman of Queens, sophomore Chaya Roffe of Hewlett, and freshman Avigayil Roffe of Hewlett.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The Highest Level of Chessed By Dina Rothman

n Thursday, December 22, I was privileged to join some of my eighth grade classmates in Shulamith on a chessed trip. Our first stop was to Bobbie’s Place, a unique chessed clothing store, which gives free clothing to families who are experiencing financial troubles. The owner of the store spoke to us about how the store works and why she opened it. She explained that because

Bobbie’s Place looks like any other store, complete with a cash register for check out, the children who benefit from the store generally have no idea that they are being given the clothing for free. We took the clothing that people donated and divided it up. We also hung up all the winter clothing. It was a great experience and really made me appreciate all that I have. We then went to the house of Rebbetzin Brog, the daughter of Rabbi

SKA Welcomes Eighth Graders

Avigdor Miller, zt”l. We sat down in her dining room and she told us about her father, Rabbi Miller, and how he made sure that his children received a Jewish education. She told us that when she was a young child, she and her family moved to Europe to get a

Jewish education, and before the Holocaust they returned to America. It was so incredible to be able to speak to such a special person. It was a very memorable trip, and everyone who went gained a lot from the experience.

Ki Heim Chayeinu: Torah Comes to Life for Shulamith Fourth Graders

SKA admission liaison Lisa Fogel with student ambassador Tamar Herschberg

record breaking number of eighth graders from many metropolitan elementary schools recently got a taste of what their high school experience at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls would be like. On Thursday, December 22, SKA student ambassadors welcomed aspiring high schoolers who got a glimpse of what some of the highlights SKA has to offer, along with the warmth and energy it projects. Mrs. Helen Spirn, Head of School, Ms. Raizi Chechik, Principal Grades 10-11, Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft, Associate Principal Grade 9, Mrs. Deena Kobre, Associate Principal Grade 12, and Admission Liaison Ms. Lisa Fogel personally greeted all the girls they had met during the interview process and the Open House. After refreshments, the eighth graders heard from ninth grade student panelists from varying elementary schools who answered questions about SKA and discussed their own experiences since coming to the school. The SKA students happily described what it’s like to

enter a new school, sometimes coming alone from their grade school, and how welcome they were made to feel. Each panelist mentioned how eager everyone was to make new friends and how hard the administration and faculty worked to make them feel comfortable and cared for. “Don’t think you’re the only one who’s nervous,” one panelist said. “Everyone who comes is open to meeting new people and Freshman Retreat the first week of school is a great place to start.” The eighth graders had the opportunity to choose elective classes and student workshops in which they would like to participate, giving them the opportunity to experience the unique and creative classes and programming that are available at SKA. The delightful gift pack and special SKA cookies given out at the close were a tasty reminder of the day, which provided a wonderful preview of what the eighth graders’ high school years at SKA could be. We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2021!

ast Monday, the fourth grade Shulamith girls visited the Living Torah Museum in Boro Park for a hands-on educational experience. They were accompanied by their teachers and by parents Mrs. Rothman, Mrs. Turner, and Mrs. Wachsler. The museum tour began with Torah Animal World, where the girls saw all of the animals listed in the Torah in lifelike form. The girls were intrigued to learn which seven wild animals are actually kosher. The next stop was the Perek Shira

room with all the animals mentioned in Perek Shira on display. Finally, Rabbi Deutsch, the director of the museum, brought the visitors to a room filled with ancient artifacts from various time periods in the Torah. The girls were mesmerized by the world’s smallest kosher Sefer Torah and the oldest menorah. Volunteers were chosen to spin a dreidel from Greek times. This trip brought to life much of what the fourth graders have been learning in limudei kodesh this year.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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What is Behind the Limud HaTorah and Limud Halacha Renaissance in Klal Yisrael? By Yosef Sosnow

abbonim have a unique perspective and often, as a result of their exposure to Yidden from all walks of life both in their kehillos and beyond, are able to notice changing trends in the community before many others. Two prominent Rabbonim, HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, Rav of Beis Medrash Birchas Avrohom of Boro Park and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Nahardaah, and HaRav Shlomo Cynamon, shlita, Rav of Kehal Bnei Torah and Rosh Kollel Dirshu of Flatbush, commented on the recent tremendous increase in both in-depth limud haTorah with accountability as well as limud halacha.

“A Person cannot be a Yid without Limud HaTorah!” “Yes, over the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in limud haTorah in our communities,” Rav Gips comments, “but it is also important to note that we have always been the Am haTorah. It is insufficient to dress like a Yid or to eat Jewish foods. Without limud haTorah a person cannot be a Yid! The Yidden and Torah are one. “Historically what has transpired is that after a war, the survivors were so focused on rebuilding Yiddishkeit and their own personal lives that they often worked three jobs just to make ends meet! Unfortunately, many of them were left with little time for learning. Today, baruch Hashem we have more discretionary time – Yidden have Friday, Shabbos, Sunday and other times during the week to learn. Additionally, virtually all of today’s baalei batim are yeshiva graduates with very solid backgrounds in learning while nearly everyone has children and grandchildren learning full time in kollel. They are so surrounded by Torah, they are supporting Torah and they are now saying, ‘Why shouldn’t I learn Torah as well?’ They therefore join learning programs and become talmidei chachomim in their own right.” Rav Gips points out that another factor is the tremendous increase in kavod haTorah that we see in our times. When we see the large, impressive siyumim such as the Daf HaYomi Siyum and the Dirshu siyumim it in-

creases the chashivus of Torah. People realize how choshuv Torah is. In our time we see that lomdei Torah are gaining a tremendous amount of credit and recognition from both men and women for their Torah accomplishments. This spurs them to achieve even greater milestones in learning. How a 1-Hour Shiur Whet the Appetite… Rav Shlomo Cynamon, Rav of Kehal Bnei Torah and Kollel Dirshu of Flatbush, points out, “In our generation we have an erudite, yeshiva-educated public. Even those who are not zocheh to spend their days ensconced in the koslei beis hamedrash understand the concept of limud haTorah. As time goes on, mature individuals do not suffice with perfunctory sedorim just to ‘be yotzeh.’ They want to maximize their time spent learning and have found new ways to learn with lomdus and accountability. This is contributing to the Torah revolution of sorts that we are witnessing.” Rav Cynamon clarifies with something that he observes every day. “I am zocheh to lead the Dirshu Kollel in Flatbush. We get together every morning and learn from 6:30 until 7:30. We learn with a schedule and offer tests. For many of the lomdim, however, that one hour of learning just whet their appetite for more. They recognized how broad Torah is, how vast and how geshmak, and they wanted more. A large group therefore asked me to create another seder after davening that evolved into a two-hour seder from 8:30 until 10:30 am where we learn the same limud as before davening but with more depth and greater breadth. I can’t tell you what this learning has done for them. They have experienced

the essence of geshmak in learning. When one has a maggid shiur who is able to give over the tzurah of the sugya there is no end to how far one can go! My experience is that we are living in a generation with an unprecedented cheshek for learning. They don’t necessarily just want to attend a shiur. They want to learn in a chaburah, they want to toil in learning, they want the give and take of in-depth learning that transforms the seder from an obligation into the highlight of their day!” Rav Gips adds, “Another very significant factor, at least in the Chassidic community, is the fact that virtually every kehillah now has their own Gemara learning program, wherein the entire kehillah picks a masechta and learns it with a schedule, offering tests and a stipend for excellent results. In this case, Dirshu blazed the trail and all of the varied communities saw it as the ultimate successful model to emulate.” The Focus on Halacha Another pivotal development highlighted by the Rabbonim is the marked increase in both learning halacha and practical halachic knowledge. Rav Gips comments, “We currently live in a society where people want to know, ‘What is the bottom line?’ People are ehrlich, they take their mitzvah observance seriously and have therefore become very focused on learning halacha and knowing halacha. Another fascinating insight by Rav Gips is that perhaps the fact that many of the gedolei hador of the previous generation were world renowned poskim and baalei halacha also contributed to this phenomenon. The gedolei hador have a hashpaah on the whole generation and the fact that the great gaonim, Rav Yosef Sholom

Elyashiv, zt”l, Rav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, and Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, were all great poskim may have had a hashpaah.” “Dikduk in Halacha is Not Born in a Vacuum” Rav Shlomo Cynamon explains that “dikduk in halacha is not born in a vacuum. The fact that the entire generation has become more connected to bnei Torah, to learning Torah with iyun creates a keener perspective when it comes to halacha and yiras shomayim as well. Today, people don’t want to learn halacha by rote. They want to understand its depth. It is amazing to see how the members of the shiur respond to an introduction to a difficult se’if presented by the Mishnah Berurah. When the Mishnah Berurah brilliantly explains the reason behind the halacha, the halacha comes alive!” From V’im Tomar to V’yesh Lomar! Rav Cynamon concludes his remarks with a telling anecdote that perhaps encompasses the depth of the Torah and halacha revolution that we have witnessed over the past two decades. He related, “Rav Yisroel Salanter once overheard a person quickly reviewing one Tosafos after another. The person was saying, ‘V’im tomar’ and then immediately ‘v’yesh lomar’ indicating that he was quickly reviewing the questions and answers posed by Tosafos. Rav Yisroel commented, ‘If you don’t stop to think between the ‘im tomar’ and the ‘yesh lomar’ where will you get your yiras shomayim?’ What Rav Yisroel was saying is that yes, you may be able to rattle off a question and perfunctory answer, but if you don’t stop to think how will you realize the importance of what you are learning? How will you truly respect what you are learning and therefore have the requisite yiras shomayim?” Our generation is one that is stopping between the “im tomar”and the “yesh lomar!”

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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YOSS Brings Chanukah Home The rebbeim at Yeshiva of South Shore hosted their talmidim at their homes this week at multiple mesibos. The boys were privileged to get a glimpse into their rebbeim’s homes and shared divrei Torah, stories, delicious food, and sang “Shiros v’sishbachos” for the nes Chanukah.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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A Week at Yeshiva of Central Queens

he first grade students of Yeshiva of Central Queens, their music teacher Mrs. Karen Daitchman, and their morot have been working hard learning and practicing their parts for their siddur plays performed for their families and teachers. They feel very accomplished receiving their first personal siddur. It is amazing to see how the JHS students participating in the Torah Bowl Team have grown in their Yiddishkeit and knowledge of Torah from first graders beginning their journey of learning until now when they compete against other yeshivas in tournaments testing this knowledge. All of their hard work has paid off this week in a competition against students from Manhattan Day School, Ramaz, Yeshiva of Flatbush and Shulamith, where the girls on the YCQ team won 3 out of 4 matches. In athletics, the Boys Varsity Basketball team won 51-25 against Solomon Shechter and 55-43 against Hebrew Academy of Nassau County; and the Girls Varsity Basketball team won

35-23 against Shulamith Long Island and 32-17 against Bnos Malka Academy. The halls around the school have been decorated with Chanukah projects and different activities were scheduled to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The students have been collecting gifts for children through a Chai Lifeline Toy Drive and the fifth grade students had a visit from a Chai Lifeline representative discussing the importance of helping others. In order to help raise funds for the continuation of the afterschool pro-

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grams, class trips, educational programs and teacher appreciation, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at YCQ ran two programs, a Chanukah Market using outside vendors, as

well as a parent-volunteer run Chanukah Boutique that was visited by all students to purchase gifts for family members with all proceeds going to the yeshiva.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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Empowering Educators at Hidden Sparks

idden Sparks will be hosting their 10th year anniversary retreat on January 10 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. The retreat will host over 100 educators from the New York metro area as well as additional educators from Florida, Chicago and Baltimore. The morning will begin at 9 a.m. with an opening address from Mr. Steven Salsberg, the founder of social purpose businesses in the technology, mobile-payment, network-security, and specialty product industries, who will talk about his own journey overcoming difficulties in school. Following this presentation, participants will choose to attend workshops hosted by Hidden Sparks leadership including

Dr. Rona Milch Novick, Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration and Co-Educational Director of Hidden Sparks, as well as Claire Wurtzel, former Chair, Special Education Bank Street College, and Co-Educational Director. Topics will include, “Understanding social issues in the classroom and promoting students’ social development” as well as “What lessons are we teaching our students without realizing it? What are students really learning in our classrooms?” Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help children with learning differences reach their full potential in school and life. Founded in February 2005, Hidden Sparks’ goal is to increase

the capacity of Jewish day schools to address the varied needs of children with learning difficulties, particularly children whose struggles

might otherwise elude identification. Now in its 10th year, Hidden Sparks has trained 190 coaches in 65 Jewish day schools in the New York met-

ro area, Baltimore, MD; Boca Raton, FL; and Chicago, IL; and five Israeli cities, impacting thousands of students each year.

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The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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Roth & Co, Brooklyn’s Largest Accounting Firm, Expands its Leadership with Three New Partners

oth & Co continues to grow its staff in order to meet the accounting needs of the community. Roth & Co, Brooklyn’s largest accounting firm, continues its growth as it recently announced the addition of three new partners. Formerly Senior Managers Moshe Schupper, Moshe Seidenfeld, and Ben Spielman have been with Roth & Co for over 10 years each and have proven their commitment not only to Roth & Co’s values, but to the community and its needs. As of January 2017, they will join current partners Heshy Katz and Alan Botwinick, working together with Co-Managing Partners Abraham Roth and Zacharia Waxler. Moshe Schupper, who was a manager in Roth & Co’s Assurance division, has a unique background which allows him to simultaneously look at a client’s situation from both the tax and financial statement perspectives. This multi-faceted approach helps Mr. Schupper navigate any issues or questions a client may have, and he brings this experience with him to all clients

that he serves. Mr. Schupper said he was “honored to be admitted as a Roth & Co partner, and greatly appreciates this opportunity.” Moshe Seidenfeld helps his clients manage and understand the financial and tax compliance aspects of their businesses. Mr. Seidenfeld serves as a consultant to his clients and has established a solid reputation of excellence in servicing businesses beyond the books, by providing tax strategies and assisting clients to successfully navigate the business world. Moshe commented on his promotion, “When you make sure to always have the best interests of your clients in mind, the results are typically optimal for everyone involved.” Ben Spielman works in Roth & Co’s entrepreneurial services department. Mr. Spielman has extensive expe-

rience servicing the real estate, e-commerce, and health care industries. Mr. Spielman also serves on Roth & Co’s Banking Committee, alongside Mr. Seidenfeld, where they build relationships with banks to help secure financing for businesses. When asked to comment about his promotion, Mr. Spielman said, “I am humbled by this honor, and will continue to put our clients and their needs first.” “At Roth & Co, we believe that our firm is only as good as our team. Our clients rely on our accountants and professionals, and so we actively cultivate an environment that supports both personal and professional growth,” responded Abraham Roth,

when asked about the reason for the promotions. He continued, “This ensures that the potential of each Roth & Co employee is actualized. We are proud of what we have built, and continue to build together.” Zacharia Waxler, who has taken on the role of Co-Managing partner, echoed Mr. Roth’s sentiment. He added, “Roth & Co was created nearly 40 years ago in order to give people opportunity. This includes our clients, who we invest ourselves into; the community, where we always look for opportunities to give back; and especially our hardworking employees, who will always be rewarded for their hard work and commitment

to the Roth & Co vision.” Roth & Co was founded in 1978 by Abe Roth, with a vision of building a firm on a set of values designed not just to create a better future for its clients and employees, but to positively impact our community and the world around us. Nearly four decades later, Roth & Co. is now the largest accounting firm in Brooklyn, with two locations, relationships that span more than three decades, and over eighty specialized employees ready to serve as trusted guides through the complicated maze of the financial world. For more information or to speak with a professional, visit www.rothcocpa.com or call 718-236-1600.

5 Tips for Your Trip to Israel By Jordana Schoor

s winter break approaches, many families will be packing their bags to go to Israel. The following tips can make your trip much more enjoyable! 1. Do things that Israelis do. When locals are looking for an activity to do, they often look to be in nature. Even in winter one can take in the beauty of the land, the winter fauna and the fresh air. Hike, walk or make use of the trails. For Israelis it’s even better when they hike, especially when the hike includes climbing and crawling (maybe some Jewish history and Tanach thrown in). 2. Take advantage of the amazing people. There are incredible educa-

tors and speakers all over the Land. Make sure to catch a shiur in one of the plethora of venues. Jerusalem in particular has an incredible amount of English-speaking opportunities 3. Make Torah come alive. This is the land of the Tanach. There are numerous ways in which biblical scenes can come alive, whether in a museum (Bible Lands/Natural History), outdoor activity or your own reenactment in the place of the historical events. 4. Explore the area of the Kotel in new ways. There is newly discovered archaeology, updated tunnel tours, restaurants (http://www.funinjerusalem.com/between-the-arches/) and new museums. The Kotel is ever-changing and full of life.

5. Check if there are any special festivals or events happening that week. You may be able to incorporate them into your celebrations or know to avoid the traffic. Check out FuninJerusalem’s yearly festivals chart to see what usually takes place in Jerusalem. If you are in Israel over winter break, you can take part in an amazing opportunity to appreciate a combination of the above: Join the Eden Center on January 26, 2017 1-5PM for a half day program of hiking, nature, fun, education, and making Tanach come alive. The hike will include climbing and crawling in caves. Our experienced tour guide Esti Herskowitz will take us to the site of the biblical scenes of David and Goliath, where

your children will reenact a perek of Navi and remember it forever. Shani Taragin, master educator and talmida chachama, will connect Jewish history and Tanach while visiting ancient sites, particularly a mikveh from Bayit Sheni. And while the adults are stimulated by Shani, the kids will do fun hands-on educational crafts. $40pp or $220 family rate (6+) includes tour, lunch and transportation from Jerusalem Space is limited so register now at info@theedencenter.com. The Eden Center combines women’s health, intimacy education and mikveh, in an effort to enhance the lives of Jewish women. www.TheEdenCenter.com

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

Answer to That Cost What?: 1. D – Pablo Picasso, $63.4 million (Sotheby’s); 2. C – Jean-Michel Basquiat, $57.2 million (Christie’s); 3. B – Mark Rothko, $32.6 million (Christie’s); 4. E – Claude Monet, $27 million (Christie’s); 5. A – Agnes Martin, $10.7 million (Christie’s); 6. F – Abstract Spa Gallery Graphic Art on Wrapped Canvas, wayfair.com, $69.99

See answers below 4 6 5 1

A. $10.7 million B. $32.6 million

C. $57.2 million D. $63.4 million

E. $27 million F. $69.99 at wayfair.com

These are some of the most expensive pieces of art sold in 2016. Match the piece with the price.

That Cost What?

TJH

3. V  2. 1.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

TheJewish JewishHome Home| DECEMBER | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The 2016

2016 Sports Review Trivia 1. Match the sports player with the amount of money they made in 2016: a. 1. Kevin Durant 2. Roger Federer 3. Lebron James 4. Lionel Messi 5. Cristiano Ronaldo A. $81.4 million B. $88 million C. $67.8 million D. $77.2 million E. $56.2 million 2. Which horse won the 2016 Preakness? a. Awesome Speed b. Cherry Wine c. Exaggerator d. Uncle Lino 3. Golfer Dustin Johnson won which championship in 2016? a. The Masters

b. U.S. Open c. Open at Royal Birkdale d. British Open 4. How many games did the Yankees win in the 2016 season? a. 84 b. 91 c. 96 d. 101 5. Which team won the 2016 Stanley Cup finals? a. Philadelphia Flyers b. Detroit Red Wings c. Tampa Bay Lightning d. Pittsburgh Penguins 6. Which team won the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball championship? a. Notre Dame b. Villanova c. Kansas d. UConn 7. How many gold medals did

Michael Phelps win in the 2016 Rio Olympics? a. 3 b. 5 c. 7 d. 11 Answers: 1. 1-E; 2-C; 3-D; 4-A; 5-B 2. C 3. B 4. A 5. D 6. B 7. B Scorecard: 6-7 correct: Congrats you are obsessed with sports. You know, many other interesting things happened this year…Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump and Trump. 3-5 correct: You are like a .500 team, not bad, but you are not going anywhere. 0-2 correct: You are the #1 seed in the No Nothing Tournament!

17 Random Predictions for 2017  The person who created the Mannequin Challenge will get back on his psychotropic medication and we won’t have to engage in any more stupidity at every office party  WhatsApp will explode with a thousand dumb memes about Ivanka Trump lighting Shabbos candles in the White House on the first Friday night that Trump is president.  Those who have made a resolution to lose weight in 2017 won’t have to go to the MTA’s Lost & Found to find it.  The New York Times will say something nice about Donald Trump…OK, now you know I’m lying.  In around June of 2017 the leftist millennials will be up to the fifth stage of grief—acceptance— and will all start wearing Make America Great Again hats.  Another 42 restaurants will open in the Five Towns (because, after all, don’t we need variety?).  You will spend a total of 200 hours stuck in Rockaway Turnpike traffic.  It will rain 3 out of 4 weekends in August.  Sleepy’s will have 365 eleven-hour-only mattress sales.  The Knicks will win the NBA Finals (on some kid’s PlayStation).

 There will be an attempt to oust me as Centerfold Commissioner. I am not going anywhere so don’t even think of it.  Kim Jung Un will continue his streak of not taking a shower in four years.  At some point somebody will read a Centerfold list and say, “Wow, that’s so not funny!” (“Dude, you are totally not funny like every week…” “I know, I know, you curmudgeon, settle down.”)  Hillary Clinton will come up with another 38 excuses why she lost.  Like Mimmy and Simmy, Trump and Putin will trade places for a day…Putin to the White House and Trump to the Kremlin.  Now that he is retired, Michael Phelps will give swimming lessons at the Darchei pool.  President Obama will go back to the town he loves so much, Chicago (where there were 4,000 homicides this year). Oops, actually, he has rented a mansion in Washington, D.C., and has bought mansions in Hawaii and California. So long Chicago!

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Torah Thought

Chanukah By Rabbi Berel Wein

here probably is no other holiday on the Jewish calendar that has had as much material written about it than the Chanukah festival. There are many causes and reasons for this seeming anomaly of a relatively minor rabbinic holiday receiving so much attention. The fact that by the nature of the calendar it falls in the month of December, and especially this year when it actually coincides with the holiday of the majority culture in the Western world, is part of the reason that it has achieved such notoriety and attention. Jews never want to be left out of a celebration and thus we have created our own – gifts and all – and this allows us some latitude in participating in the general atmosphere of the month. All of this is perhaps true only on the subconscious level, as it is likely that none of the great scholars of Israel would countenance such an approach publicly. But nevertheless, realistically speaking, one cannot help but feel the resonance of the general culture, at least in the Jewish societies of the Western world. As such, Chanukah been portrayed in a more universal sense than its original commemoration perhaps warranted. In my youth, the general Jewish representation of the holiday was that it was a battle and a triumph for religious freedom. As such, the mainstream Western Jewish society presented it as a victory for democracy over totalitarian rule and completely universal in its mes-

sage and content. This was at a period of time when being Jewish, certainly publicly Jewish, was fraught with financial and social pitfalls in the general society. Even observant Jews did not wear distinctive garb or head coverings publicly and therefore displaying the lights of Chanukah in our front windows was to convey a universal idea and not merely a Jewish commemoration.

Jewish community has achieved over the past half-century has altered this behavior pattern. Most American Jews feel comfortable – except perhaps on the college campuses of the country – in asserting their Jewishness publicly and unabashedly. Here in Israel, which, all rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, is a very Jewish state, Chanukah mainly has returned to its original format and meaning. It represents the strug-

The kindling of our small Chanukah lights symbolizes our determination and commitment to be a free, independent and holy people, devoted to our tradition and our Torah.

Again, in my youth, no one placed their Chanukah candles outside, near the door to their residence. The admonition of the rabbis of Eastern Europe as recorded in their halachic works, that one should not antagonize the general population by a public display of Jewish commemoration, held true even in the land of the free and the home of the brave. The growing strength and intensity of Orthodox Jewish life in the United States and the great amount of acceptance and tolerance that the

gle against false gods, Hellenistic misinterpretations of Judaism and a desire to purify the people and the land through our actions and the Divine miracles that are omnipresent in our personal and national lives. Chanukah here does not stand for pluralistic Judaism, concern for the environment or any of the other new false gods that so invest Western society today and in parts of the Jewish world as well. The Hasmoneans fought against foreign oppression of Israel and paganism and for Jewish

sovereign independence and Torah observance. And that battle has not yet ended. The miracle of Chanukah is an earned miracle, so to speak. There is rabbinic tradition that all of the miracles that appear in the Bible were built into nature, again so to speak, at the inception of the process of Creation. Not so the later miracles that have occurred to us after the closing of the canon of the Bible. Those miracles had to be earned by the sacrifice and actions of the Jews themselves in opposing evil, wrongdoing and paganism. This is an important lesson for us in our times. Though we do not yet have the ability to purify the Temple or light its golden candelabra, the kindling of our small Chanukah lights symbolizes our determination and commitment to be a free, independent and holy people, devoted to our tradition and our Torah. By doing so publicly, even in a society where the general culture stands against much of what we represent, we renew our purpose and mission in life. It is our actions that will bring about the necessary miracles that will be reflected in the Jewish story throughout the ages. We therefore thank G-d not only for the past miracles that Chanukah presents and commemorates but also for the current miracles, seen and unseen, known and unknown, that mark our current existence as well. Happy Chanukah.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Observant Jew

Face Facts By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

magine my surprise when I drove down the street one day to see a smiley face staring back at me from a telephone pole. Now, a plain smiley face would have been one thing, but this one was sad and crying. It turned out to be an advertisement for an organization that helps cancer patients, and they used the hashtag #feelalong to convey that we should endeavor to feel other people’s pain. I was a bit surprised that a group I understood to be comprised of many people who eschew smartphones would use emojis (round yellow faces displaying various emotions used to convey feeling in written electronic text) but I guess that only shows just how pervasive the concept is. It’s certainly a far cry from 1982 when Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Scott Fahlman invented the “emoticon,” a way of identifying a joke without having to write, “I am joking.” He posted on an online bulletin board: “I propose the following character sequence for joke markers: :-) Read it sideways. Actually, it is probably more economical to mark those that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use :-( .” It used to be a game for people to guess what you’d typed sideways and to see how clever and creative you could be, but today’s high-tech animated figures don’t keep you guessing much. That said (and despite the fact that Dr. Fahlman dislikes the new-fangled emojis), the underlying principle is very sound. Studies have shown that when writing e-mails, emoticons such as smiles have produced better results in terms of motivating people to honor requests. They convey a warmth

and relationship bond which works wonders. The funny thing is that with all the cutesie images, we often forget that they are poor alternatives to the real thing: a genuine smile from a real human being! I think people don’t understand the power of the smile. But don’t just take my word for it. In Sing You Righteous, R’ Avigdor Miller, z”l, wrote that in addition to the feeling of respect that a smile engenders, “The smile enters the recipient’s mind and stimulates all the glands to produce their secretions in the most beneficial

off his head. The commentaries say that one who eats dairy on Chanukah will have his sins pardoned. The Bnai Yissaschar even says that it is a merit for healing from sickness. Is this really simply because someone in history used cheese to put some wicked fellow to sleep? I’d like to suggest that the idea is not simply that she fed him cheese to

Did you ever think that when you smile at someone you were actually making them physically healthier and giving them tangible pleasure?

proportions. Every one of the thousands of intricate processes of physical functions is optimally motivated.” Wow. Did you ever think that when you smile at someone you were actually making them physically healthier and giving them tangible pleasure? How about a frown or angry face? Doesn’t that cause your adrenaline to pump in a fight-orflight response? We have tremendous power in our expressions and we must learn to wield it properly. On Chanukah, we eat dairy products because Yehudis fed cheese and wine to Holofernes, a Syrian-Greek general who had besieged her town, and when he was drunk she chopped

put him to sleep, but that this woman risked her life to try and help others. Once she was out of her city, she could have left and gone somewhere else. But she stood her ground in the enemy camp and followed through with her plan to rescue her people, giving her an honored placed in the pantheon of Jewish heroines (pardon the word choice, please.) The blessing Yaakov Avinu gave to Yehuda in Parshas Veyechi included, “U’l’ven shinayim mi’chalav” – teeth white from milk. The Gemara (Kesubos 111b) quotes R’ Yochanan as saying that “one who shows the whites of his teeth to his friend, i.e. he smiles affectionately, is greater than giving

him a glass of milk.” While milk can nourish a person for a day or two, a smile and the good feelings it brings can last much, much longer. Based on what we said, that simply eating dairy and remembering how Yehudis was concerned about her people could bring about atonement and refuah, then how much more so does doing something better than milk, when we’re actually emulating Yehudis’s actions, stand to bring us these fantastic benefits?! I wonder if her name really was Yehudis, or whether she merely exemplified the behavior of a Yehudi, a Jew, by worrying about and trying to help others. Yehuda, Yehudis, Yehudim? It’s not a coincidence, it’s a paradigm for our behavior. Emojis may be here for now, and they may one day be replaced by something else, but let us resolve to never let them replace what they represent: the power of a smile and the importance of human connection and caring. Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/ RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @ RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter. com and put Subscribe in the subject.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Between the Lines

Remembering to Forget By Eytan Kobre

Let the past be content with itself, for man needs forgetfulness as well as memory. -James Stephens

n elderly woman once asked her elderly husband to run down to the corner store to pick up a pint of vanilla ice cream and some chocolate syrup. “Do you want me to write that down for you?” the wife asked. “Eh! It’s only two things,” said the husband dismissively. “It won’t be a problem.” About thirty minutes later, he returned with a package containing cheddar cheese. “I knew you should have written it down,” the disappointed wife answered. “You forgot the crackers!” We tend to regard forgetfulness as a curse, and for good reason. Ordinary forgetfulness is annoying (at best), and the forgetfulness that comes with age or illness can be frightening and downright horrific. Forgetfulness also is closely associated with sin. For example, forget-

ting Torah studies is a sin that causes exile and is grave enough to warrant the death penalty (Menachos 99a; Yoma 38b; Avos 3:10; Sanhedrin 99a). When we leave open our holy books after exiting a room, an angel attacks, causing forgetfulness (Shach, Yoreh Dei’ah 277). In fact, the Greeks first and foremost sought “to make us forget the Torah” (Al HaNissim). But not all forgetfulness is bad. Yosef understood the benefits of forgetfulness. After enduring a lifetime’s worth of hardship, he bore two sons, naming the first Menashe, “because G-d allowed me to forget all my toil and all the house of my father (Bereishis 41:51). Yosef could never have skyrocketed to greatness had he been unable to forget his tribulations and the sanctity of his upbringing and the spiritually-sanitary environment of his youth. It is said that the Brisker Rov could not understand how Yosef could be thankful for forgetting his upbringing until the Brisker Rov’s own experiences during the Holocaust. While ordinarily he couldn’t tolerate being apart from his family for even a short period of time,

during the Holocaust he was able to endure not hearing from or about them for several years. He thus concluded that sometimes forgetting can be a great blessing. The ability to forget is essential to life. Imagine never forgetting suffering or disappointment or a bad taste or every insult, slight, and shortcoming. Every moment and memory in life would be seared with recurring pain. The Greek biographer Plutarch long ago noted how “forgetfulness transforms every occurrence into a non-occurrence.” Forgetting enables us to shed past troubles and painful experiences (Berachos 13a; Tana d’Bdei Eliyahu, Chapter 1). The ability to forget deceased loved ones is a blessing (Pesachim 54b; Berachos 58b; Rabbeinu Bachaye, Bereishis 37:35). “Were it not for the ability to forget fears and hatreds, man would never be free of melancholy” (Chovos HaLevovos, Sha’ar HaBechina, Chapter 5). Or, as the Kotzker Rebbe put it, “The Holy One, Blessed be He, imprinted in you the nature and trait of…forgetting, for your own good, so that you would forget the troubles and afflictions that strike you and would be able to

continue with your life.” Forgetting also pays spiritual dividends. Indeed, there is an entire commandment – shikcha – that depends upon forgetting sheaves in the field and then leaving them for the convert, the orphan, and the widow (Devarim 24:19). Busying ourselves with good deeds can make us forget all about sinning (Avos 2:3). And forgetfulness allows us not to stay mired in our past iniquities – as Rebbe Nachman of Breslov explained: “Most people see forgetting as a problem, but I see it as a great benefit. If you never forgot anything, it would be impossible to serve G-d because remembering everything from the past, you would never be able to lift yourself up to G-d. Whatever you tried to do, you would constantly be disturbed by your memories of the past. But having the power to forget, you do not need to be disturbed by the past…” (Sichos HaRan, No. 26). Before emigrating to the Land of Israel, R’ Zeira observed one hundred fasts in order to forget the Torah he had learned in Babylonia and make way for the different style of learning to which he would devote himself in the Land of Israel (Bava

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Metzia 85a). It also is said that “if not for the breaking of the first tablets, the Torah would never have been forgotten” (Eruvin 54a), and yet, G-d congratulated Moshe for shattering them (Shabbos 87a). All of this demonstrates “that Torah can grow through forgetfulness, to the point where it is possible to receive Divine congratulations for forgetting the Torah…” (Pachad Yitzchak, Chanuka 3). Apparently, forgetfulness provides fertile ground for novel Torah ideas to take root and blossom. But for all its benefits, we must never abuse the gift of forgetfulness to forget G-d Himself (Yeshaya 44:21; Devarim 8:14 and 32:18 [“You ignored the Rock Who gave birth to you, and forgot G-d Who brought you forth.”]). The Dubno Maggid would relate the following parable to dissuade people from doing so. A man once borrowed a large sum of money with no means to repay it, so he asked a friend for advice on what to do. “Here’s what you do,”

said the friend. “When the creditor comes for repayment, look at him as though you’ve never seen him before. Let your mouth loll open and your tongue droop out. Roll your eyes around a bit and twitch every few

I’d never seen him before. I let my mouth loll open and my tongue droop out. I rolled my eyes around a bit and twitched occasionally. I looked straight through him as though he wasn’t there. And it worked – he

Imagine never forgetting suffering or disappointment or a bad taste or every insult, slight, and shortcoming.

seconds. Look straight through him as though he wasn’t there. Pretend to be meshuga.” Several weeks later, the two friends met again. “Nu, how did it go with your creditor?” “I did just what you suggested. When the creditor demanded repayment, I looked at him as though

thought I’d gone meshuga! I really can’t thank you enough. By the way, do you think you could lend me a thousand dollars for six months?” “Sure,” said the friend. “No problem.” Six months later, the friend came knocking on the man’s door asking for repayment of the thousand dol-

lars. There was an animal scratching-sound coming from inside. The door creaked open and he saw his friend, the debtor, with his mouth lolling open and his tongue drooping out. His eyes rolled and he twitched every now and again. His eyes were glazed-over, looking beyond him as though he wasn’t there. “It’s me, you fool! You really are meshuga.” * * * Forgetfulness is a gift G-d gives us so that we can move on from past hardships and failures and keep on living. We would do well not to forget that. Because when we abuse that gift and pretend not to recognize Him, then we really are meshuga.

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

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Israel Today

Role Models By Rafi Sackville

he email attachment opened to a photo of a log book, its pages meticulously divided into eight columns with a red pen and ruler. There were spaces for 42 names, dates, and an entry written in Hebrew, each crammed within the same small space, which meant that the letters of the longer names were bunched together like riders on a crowded subway platform. Every listing was neat. None crossed any red line. My childhood friend Peter Adler, who lives in Neve Daniel in Gush Etzion, had sent it to me. The logbook had belonged to his late father-in-law, Shlomo Kaspi, or Mr. Kaspi, as he was known to us back when we were in 7th grade. He is still fondly remembered today by the more than 3,000 boys he taught bar mitzvah at Mount Scopus College. There Mr. Kaspi occupied a small and intimate office in the junior school. Scanning the page I saw my name next to the number 610, 11/4/70, the date of my bar mitzvah, and the parsha Tazria. I was bracketed between the names of friends with whom I had spent my formative years; Gary Bluzstein had the distinction of being the 613th student Mr. Kaspi had taught. We were

all special to him. The story of Shlomo and Lili Kaspi inspires me still. Shlomo and Lili suffered terribly during the war. Both of them spent time in Auschwitz. Shlomo saw his father and one of his brothers

“hachshara” and made the journey to Israel on a false passport. As a girl Lili had made Aliyah the hard way. After the war she trekked over the Italian Alps before embarking on a boat named the “Yerushalayim Hanetzura.” Caught by the British and depor-

Returning to Israel in her 80s had done nothing to diminish her immaculate Hebrew or her love of the land.

murdered on the death march just before liberation. At 14 Lili was separated from her mother and one of her sisters on the platform at Auschwitz and from a distance watched them marched into the gas chambers. Shlomo was eventually found on a heap of corpses, and by luck one of the liberators noticed him breathing. Close to death he spent a year recuperating in a hospital in Prague. Upon recovery he joined a

ted to Cyprus for almost a year, she eventually made it to Israel where she was soon conscripted to the army. It was in a DP camp where their love story began: Lili was 17; Shlomo, 19. After marrying, they left Israel for Australia, where they settled down in peace, far away from the hell of Europe. After raising a family and teaching till his retirement, Shlomo died in March 1996 and was buried in Melbourne’s

Springvale cemetery. A few years ago Mrs. Kaspi, who had continued living in Melbourne, made her second Aliyah. Returning to Israel in her 80s had done nothing to diminish her immaculate Hebrew or her love of the land. She settled into a comfortable life with her grandchildren living not far away. When her eldest grandson, Nadav, was married, she still had enough spunk to appear on a video playing keyboard and wearing dark glasses. Mrs. Kaspi passed away in the spring of 2015 and was buried in the cemetery behind Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, in Gush Etzion. In her moving eulogy for her mother, Julie described the vibrant and meaningful life her mother had lived. For a 12-year-old precocious boy, I never made much of a student. And yet I excelled at learning my bar mitzvah laining. The tape recorder my parents purchased for the occasion came with two miniature spools that demanded precise threading with pinched fingers. I have vivid memories of playing back verse after verse and exhausting a packet of batteries before managing to put my parsha to memory. Mr. Kaspi’s voice was

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

clear, his Hebrew as precise as any I have heard spoken. Mr. Kaspi was extremely proud of me, as he was of all the boys he taught. His quiet dignity and composure coupled with a true love of his students was in such contrast to some of the physically brutal teachers we faced during a period when corporal punishment was not only accepted but preferred. After I turned 13, after the performance, the parties, and the presents, I don’t think I entered Mr. Kaspi’s office again. He was always courteous, but because his presence in my life was limited and because my parsha is rarely read, we never really maintained contact. When his daughter, Julie, became engaged to Peter, I got to see him more often. I was Peter’s best man and it was during that period that Mrs. Kaspi served me a bowl of soup and a knaidel as large as a cricket ball. My wife Keren has been emulating Lili’s knaidelach over the course of our marriage. Last year Peter informed me that arrangements were being made for Shlomo to be reinterred in Israel next to Lili. Thus it was on another beautiful spring afternoon that Keren and I once again found ourselves at the Kfar Etzion cemetery for a very special and moving ceremony. Many of the friends we had made Aliyah with were there. I counted at least five Mr. Kaspi had taught bar mitzvah. Julie spoke of her parents’ courage. The words she had spoken about her mother a year earlier were etched onto the tombstone. She had been a courageous pioneer at every stage of her life. Always smiling with grace, she had lavished love upon her family without reservation and without expectation. Today that smile is still alive on Julie’s face. Peter and Julie’s sons spoke poignantly of the lessons they had learnt from their grandparents. The words they spoke about their

grandfather were reiterated so beautifully on the shared stone. Shlomo Kaspi had lived a life of grace. He had walked the path of peace and of Torah, which he be-

queathed to thousands of students. From the hell of Europe, to Israel, to Australia, and back to Israel again today Shlomo and Lili Kaspi rest together under the shade in the

hills of Gush Etzion. Yehi zichram baruch. Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

UN Resolution How Obama and the UN Sought to Delegitimize Israel BY SUSAN SCHWAMM

a dramatic break with forty years of American policy, President Obama enabled the UN Security Council to vote last Friday to condemn Israel’s “flagrant violation” of international law by being an “occupying force” on Palestinian lands. Although the U.S. and President Obama have plausible deniability because the United States didn’t actually vote for the measure but abstained from voting, in the Security Council the U.S. has veto power, which means that if it vetoes a resolution, the resolution fails. The U.S. has, for the past forty years, used this veto power to prevent similar resolutions from passing. Even President Obama in 2011 vetoed a similar resolution and prevented other resolutions from being brought to the floor by threatening a veto. However, in his

waning days in office – perhaps at a time when he is the most reflective about his core values – he not only allowed the measure to pass, but, according to Israeli officials, was the impetus behind the resolution.

Resolution Distorts History The resolution states in part that “establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.” The UN’s demand that Israel return to its pre-1967 lines means that it considers neighborhoods such as Ramat Shlomo, Kiryat Sefer, Maale Adumim and the Old City – including the Kosel – to be “occupied” territory. In the past, the Palestinians’ claim to these neighborhoods were not given legitimacy

even amongst international actors who sought to create peace in the region. In fact, the very term “Palestinian territory occupied since 1967” is a blatant fictitious creation and deliberately ignores what took place in the region a mere seventy years ago. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a partition plan which created a Jewish state and an Arab state in the previously British-controlled region. Israel accepted the partition plan; the Arabs rejected it and went to war with Israel. In the course of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Transjordan’s Arab Legion (now Jordan) attempted to capture the entire city of Jerusalem. The western portions of Jerusalem came under Israel’s control and Jordan took control of eastern Jerusalem, including the Jewish Quarter and the Kosel area.

In 1949, an armistice agreement was signed in which Israel controlled western Jerusalem and Jordan controlled eastern Jerusalem. The city was essentially divided between two armed camps separated by barbed wire, concrete walls, minefields and bunkers. That all changed in 1967, when Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and other Arab nations went to war to try to finally destroy the fledgling State of Israel. However, it did not go as planned, and in six days Israel defeated its enemies – which attacked en masse from all sides— and captured the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt; the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan; and the Golan Heights from Syria. At the time of the Six Day War, there was no Palestinian nation and no Palestinian territory. As such, Israel never took

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land from that non-existent entity in 1967. But when it comes to Israel, facts don’t necessarily matter as there are no facts that stand in the way of Jew-hatred.

Ramifications of the Resolution The resolution which passed last week will have no immediate practical ramifications for Israel as it does not include any coercive measures or define sanctions for those who violate it. However, it provides a basis for a pending suit brought in the International Criminal Court in the Hague against Israel. The ICC considers UN resolutions when deciding cases. If the ICC rules against Israel, its leaders – such as Prime Minister Netanyahu and any other ministers, IDF personnel or any individual that

lated in Israel and will be unable to travel to most of the world out of fear of being arrested if they are convicted in the ICC. Furthermore, the resolution states that the international community shall “distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” Thus, the recent resolution may give credibility to those who seek to isolate Israel economically through boycotts and other measures and will certainly give fresh fodder to the BDS movement. The resolution may have far-reaching diplomatic ramifications as well. Firstly, it establishes a global consensus that the Palestinians have a legitimate claim for a return to the 1967 borders. Secondly,

According to officials in Israel, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko only decided to vote in favor of the resolution after being personally convinced to do so by Obama’s secondin-command, Vice President Joe Biden.

the ICC deems engaged in “criminal” activity — may be convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. Although the ICC does not carry out arrests and has no power to detain people, any of its 120 member nations do have such power. Thus, Israeli officials will essentially be iso-

it bolsters the Palestinians’ strategy of achieving their objectives through the UN rather than through direct negotiations with Israel, in which they would be forced to make their own concessions as well, namely disavowing terrorism and recognizing Israelis’ right to exist. After the resolution passed, a

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Liberating the Kosel in 1967

Kiryat Sefer, “occupied territory?”

source in the Palestinian Authority revealed that PA President Mahmoud Abbas has been collecting hundreds of names and pictures of IDF soldiers in order to bring them before the International Criminal Court in 2017. “In 2017, we are going to The Hague,” declared Nasser Laham, a confidante of Abbas. “We have hundreds of pages of names of IDF officers. Every pilot and every officer and every soldier — we have his photo, we have his name, and we are waiting for him at The Hague.” The editor of Palestinian Ma’an News agency said that “if we are successful with one, just one, it will be a different world.” He added, “I told my people in a live broadcast — in suits and ties we will take the Israelis to The Hague, we will handcuff them,” he said. “Don’t use violence, don’t explode. This is a war without bullets. Just wait, give us another chance.”

Who Pushed the Resolution? According to the former Ambassador to the U.S. and Member of the

Knesset Michael Oren, the Israeli government knew for a year that the Obama administration would use the three month window between the U.S. elections and the president’s departure from office to persuade the UN to take anti-Israel measures. But they did not know exactly how it would take place. Last Wednesday, Israel was caught by surprise when an announcement was made that Egypt had introduced an anti-settlement resolution to the UN, which would be voted on the following day. A flutter of diplomatic activity – including contact between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, with whom Netanyahu has a good working relationship – took place to sway Egypt not to present the resolution. That afternoon, President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement calling for a U.S. veto. “As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power speaking at the UN after abstaining from the resolution last week

Lighting the menorah at the Kosel right after the resolution

the United Nations.” By Wednesday evening, Egypt announced that it would not introduce the resolution. But, on Friday, four countries – New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal – brought the resolution up for a vote. When it became apparent that the U.S. would allow the resolution to pass, a great applause erupted. The leading nations of the world could now celebrate the joyous occasion of sticking a dagger in the heart of the Jewish nation. No longer would the U.S. protect Israel from their pitchforks.

Netanyahu Blasts Obama Despite the fact that the resolution was brought up for a vote by four countries, Israeli officials immediately declared with certainty that the real sponsor of the resolution was none other than Barack Obama himself. “President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN,” a senior Israeli official told CNN. “The U.S. administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Is-

raeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory,” he said. Prime Minister Netanyahu lashed out at Obama and declared that “the Obama administration conducted a shameful anti-Israel ambush at the UN.” He announced to his cabinet on Sunday, “From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed.” “We have rather iron-clad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place,” said Netanyahu spokesman David Keyes on Fox News. According to officials in Israel, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko only decided to vote in favor of the resolution after being personally convinced to do so by Obama’s second-in-command, Vice President

Joe Biden. “Biden lobbied Ukraine and, of course, administration officials are too cowardly to admit it,” a senior pro-Israel official told the Washington Free Beacon. “With everything that’s going on involving Russia, Iran, and Syria, this is how the Obama administration chose to spend its precious diplomatic capital. They decided to twist arms and trade favors for a resolution that cuts off Jews from Jerusalem, a city that is Israel’s capital city according to American law.”

Netanyahu Downgrades Diplomatic Relations with Security Council Nations After the vote, Netanyahu ordered a reduction in the diplomatic relations with 12 of the countries on the Security Council – Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Spain, Senegal and New Zealand. The change means that foreign ministers from those countries won’t be received by

the downgrade in relations is mainly a symbolic gesture of Israel’s displeasure. Israel did not take these measures against the U.S., and the other two countries on the Security Council, Venezuela and Malaysia, do not have diplomatic relations with Israel in the first place. Despite the geopolitical setback, Israel remains hopeful that the tide will change when President-elect Trump takes office on January 20th. After the resolution passed, Trump tweeted: “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.” Netanyahu echoed Trump’s sentiment and said, “The decision taken at the UN yesterday was part of the swan song of the old world biased against Israel,” Netanyahu said. “We are entering a new era and as the President-elect Trump said yesterday, this is going to happen much quicker than people think. In this new era there is a high price for those trying to harm Israel.” Hopefully Netanyahu’s words

“Every pilot and every officer and every soldier — we have his photo, we have his name, and we are waiting for him at The Hague.”

Israel and business between Israel and those countries’ embassies will be suspended. However, Israel’s ambassadors to those countries will still stay put in their locations, and Israel will continue their trade and security relations with each of them. Thus,

will come true. One thing is certain, though: on January 20, a true adversary of the State of Israel will no longer dictate U.S. policy towards it, when Barack Hussein Obama exits the White House for the final time.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Bibi

“The Sweet Will Yet Come Forth From the Bitter”

On the first night of Chanukah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following speech at an event in salute of wounded IDF and security forces veterans and victims of terrorism.

itizens of Israel, I would like to reassure you. The resolution that was adopted yesterday at the United Nations is distorted and shameful but we will overcome it. The resolution determines that the Jewish Quarter [in the Old City of Jerusalem] is “occupied territory.” This is delusional. The resolution determines that the Western Wall is “occupied territory.” This too is delusional. There is nothing more absurd than calling the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter occupied territory. There is also an attempt here, which will not succeed, to impose permanent settlement terms

on Israel. You might recall that the last one who tried to do this was Carter, an extremely hostile president to Israel and who just recently said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Carter passed sweeping decisions against us at the UN of a similar kind, and this was also unsuccessful. We opposed this and nothing happened. All American presidents since Carter upheld the American commitment not to try to dictate permanent settlement terms to Israel at the Security Council. And yesterday, in complete contradiction of this commitment, including an explicit commitment by President Obama himself in 2011, the Obama administration carried out a shameful anti-Israel ploy at the UN. I would like to tell you that the resolution that was adopted, not only doesn’t bring peace closer, it drives it further away. It hurts justice; it hurts the truth. Think about this absurdity, half a million human beings are being slaughtered in Syria. Tens of thousands are being butchered in Sudan. The entire Middle East is going up in flames and the Obama administra-

tion and the Security Council choose to gang up on the only democracy in the Middle East – the State of Israel. What a disgrace. My friends, I would like to tell you on the first night of Chanukah that this will not avail them. We reject this resolution outright, just as we rejected the UN resolution that determined that Zionism was racism. It took time but that resolution was rescinded; it will take time but this one will also be rescinded. Now I will tell you how it will be rescinded. It will be rescinded not because of our retreats but because of our steadfastness and that of our allies. I remind you that we withdrew from Gaza, uprooted communities and took people out of their graves. Did this help us at all at the UN? Did this improve our relations at the UN? We were hit with thousands of rockets and at the UN we were hit with the Goldstone report! So I will tell you what is clear, I know, to the vast majority of Israeli citizens: We learned this lesson, and we will not go there. But I also want to tell you something else: We are not alone. I spoke last night with many

American leaders. I was pleased to hear from members of the American Congress, from Democrats and Republicans alike, that they will fight an all-out war against this resolution with all the power at their disposal. I heard the exact same things from our friends in the incoming administration, who said that they will fight an all-out war against this resolution. And I heard this from across the spectrum of American public opinion and American politics – Republicans, Democrats, Jews and non-Jews. As I spoke yesterday with leaders in Congress and the incoming American administration, they told me unequivocally: “We are sick of this and it will not continue. We will change this resolution. We will not allow anyone to harm the State of Israel.” They are declaring their intention to pass legislation to punish countries and bodies that try to harm Israel. They say that this will also include the UN itself. I remind you that the UN receives a quarter, 25%, of its budget from the U.S. alone. In my most recent speech to the UN, in September, I said that a storm

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

was expected in the UN before it gets better there. We knew that this is possible and we expect that it will come. The resolution that was passed at the UN yesterday is part of the swan song of the old world that is biased against Israel, but, my friends, we are entering a new era. And just as President-elect Trump said yesterday, it will happen much sooner than you think. In the new era there is a much higher price for those who try to harm Israel, and that the price will be exacted not only by the U.S., but by Israel as well. Two countries with which we have diplomatic relations cosponsored the resolution against us at the UN; therefore, I ordered yesterday that our ambassadors be recalled from Senegal and from New Zealand. I have ordered that all Israeli assistance to Senegal be halted, and there’s more to come. Those who work with us will benefit because Israel has much to give to the countries of the world. But those who work

against us will lose – because there will be a diplomatic and economic price for their actions against Israel.

in financing for five UN institutions, five UN bodies that are especially hostile to Israel. I have already or-

"The entire Middle East is going up in flames and the Obama administration and the Security Council choose to gang up on the only democracy in the Middle East – the State of Israel. What a disgrace."

Additionally, I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to complete, within a month, a reassessment of all of our contacts with the UN, including Israeli financing of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in the country. But I am not waiting; already now I have ordered to halt approximately NIS 30 million

dered that this be stopped, and there is more to come. We are on a campaign of improving our relations with the nations of the world. And it will take more time, and I have said this as well, until our improved relations with countries on five continents are also reflected in their decisions in UN in-

stitutions. But I would like to tell you something else, and listen closely to what I’m saying. Contrary to what you might expect, it is very likely that last night’s scandalous resolution will accelerate this process because it is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Last night’s resolution is a call to arms for all of our many friends in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world, friends who are sick of the UN’s hostility toward Israel, and they intend to bring about a fundamental change in the UN. Therefore, this evening I tell you in the language of our sources, the sweet will yet come forth from the bitter and those who come to curse will yet bless. Here, on the first night of Chanukah, I stand next to the Maccabees of our times, IDF soldiers and wounded IDF heroes. I salute you and I say to you clearly: The light will dispel the darkness. The spirit of the Maccabees will overcome. Happy Chanukah.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

Reflecting on Miracles By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH, FAAP

he news that the United States abandoned Israel during the United Nations’ vote this past Friday afternoon made me stop and look at the calendar. It was practically erev Chanukah yet it seemed like Tisha B’Av was not so far away. I was dizzy from disbelief. Nonetheless, I plodded on, reminding myself that Hashem runs the world. Period. We are a nation of miracles, l’maala min hateva. And there’s no better time than the present to reflect on this. The biggest miracle of all is that we, the Jewish people, are still here. Despite persecution, torture, assimilation and endless attempts of people and nations seeking our destruction, we are here. We’re even thriving. The infamous Arch of Titus in Rome underscores this point. Standing 51 feet high, the Arch was constructed in 81 A.D. by Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus’ many victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem. The south panel of the Arch depicts the spoils taken from the Beis Hamikdash, with the Menorah as the main focus. Other sacred objects portrayed being carried in triumphal procession include the Gold Trumpets and the fire pans for removing the ashes from the mizbaech. One hates to imagine the smug Titus carrying away our klei kodesh to Rome where they’ve now languished for centuries. In more recent years, the late Ponovezh Rav, Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, zt”l, was in Rome on

business. The story is told that he requested to be taken to the Arch of Titus. In his majestic black frock coat, Rav Kahaneman climbed out of the car and stared at the Arch for a lengthy amount of time. He then raised his finger and, shaking it at the Arch, said something to the effect, “Titus – look at you. You set out to destroy us. Yet you and your civilization are dead and extinct and we, the Jews, are still here.” Look at Jewish history. The Crusades. The expulsion from Spain in

Jew. Making a Torah home. Turning out well-adjusted children who take their place in klal Yisrael and society-at-large. Making a parnassa. Being healthy. Waking up from a deep coma. Learning and spreading Torah. How do miracles – personal and national – happen? Miracles come from Hashem. Period. Yet they depend in no small measure on our hishtadlus and davening. The Anshei Knesset HaGedola

“Titus – look at you. You set out to destroy us. Yet you and your civilization are dead and extinct and we, the Jews, are still here.”

1492. The Khmelnytsky Massacres. The Damascus Affair of the 19th century which led to pogroms against Jews throughout Arab lands. Chevron in 1929. The Shoah. The postWorld War II pogrom in Kielce, Poland. The Chabad House in Mumbai. And so forth. Our history is replete with persecution and, Baruch Hashem, we are here. This is a recurring miracle on a national level. There are miracles on the personal level as well. Children being born. Healthy children. Marrying a

constructed in their infinite wisdom the Amidah prayer with a framework for almost every request possible. The late Rabbi Kirzner’s book, The Art of Jewish Prayer, and Rabbi Schwab’s book on prayer are two excellent choices to learn more. In addition to the structured prayer, we can turn to Hashem at any time of day or night and pour our hearts out to Him. Most important, we must to ask for what we want and/or need. As I pen these lines, the Lightman family just experienced a small

miracle. My wife found an online household supply website and placed an order. Isaac, the man who owns the site, asked whether he could deliver the order this evening about 5:30 pm. Isaac came to our door as we were about to begin lighting Chanukah candles, and we invited him to join us. Isaac was thrilled. He was swamped with deliveries and had asked his son to light Chanukah candles in his place with the family at their Brooklyn home. Not even two hours earlier, Isaac had said to his wife, “I’m asking Hashem for a miracle to light candles this evening at the right zman.” You had two miracles tonight, Isaac. You made parnassa, plus got to light candles at the optimal zman. And spending brief moments with the Lightman family is icing on the cake (or the sufganiya). As the sun sets permanently on the Obama administration, there is no doubt that more damage to our precious people and homeland can be wrought. However, our arsenal of prayer, combined with good deeds and Torah learning, will make sure that the Lord of Israel never sleeps nor slumbers. Netzach Yisrael lo yishaker.

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

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CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

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NOTABLE DEATHS >> Elie Wiesel, 87

>> Muhammad Ali, 74

Although Elie Wiesel is best known for his book Night about his experiences as a prisoner of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, he authored 40 other books as well and in 1986 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in speaking out against racism, repression, and violence.

As the Vietnam War raged in 1967, Ali refused to report for the Vietnam War draft based on religious objections. As a result he was arrested and eventually was convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison and fined $10,000, although he remained free while the conviction was appealed. In 1970 the New York State Supreme Court ordered his boxing license reinstated, and he returned to the ring, knocking out Jerry Quarry in October 1970. The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali’s conviction in a unanimous decision

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” “I marvel at the resilience of the Jewish people. Their best characteristic is their desire to remember. No other people has such an obsession with memory.”

>> Shimon Peres, 93

Peres, who served as Israel’s prime minister and president, once said that the secret to his longevity was a bracha from the Chofetz Chaim. “I got to meet the Chofetz Chaim and he blessed me that I’ll go on to greatness and live long.”

“In Israel, a land lacking in natural resources, we learned to appreciate our greatest national advantage: our minds. Through creativity and innovation, we transformed barren deserts into flourishing fields and pioneered new frontiers in science and technology.” “Look, we have existed for 4,000 years – 2,000 years in diaspora, in exile. Nobody in the Middle East speaks their original language but Israel. When we started 64 years ago, we were 650,000 people. So, you know, we are maybe swimming a little bit against the stream, but we continue to swim.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

>> Nancy Reagan, 94

Nancy Reagan was at the center of controversy when it was revealed in 1988 that she had consulted an astrologer to assist in planning the president’s schedule after the attempted assassination of her husband in 1981. Nancy later wrote, “Astrology was simply one of the ways I coped with the fear I felt after my husband almost died... Was astrology one of the reasons [further attempts did not occur]? I don’t really believe it was, but I don’t really believe it wasn’t.”

“A woman is like a tea bag; you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” “I’ve found a letter that was written to me from a girl who was getting married. And she wanted to know the secret of a happy marriage. I said – and I wrote back and said something to the effect that I couldn’t, I had no magic formula. And I never sat down and thought about it, but everything just fell into place with Ronnie and me.”

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>> Arnold Palmer, 87

>> Harper Lee, 87

Palmer, who learned to play golf at age three, won over 90 golf tournaments and was the first person to make $1 million playing golf. He met his wife at a golf tournament in 1954 and married her 3 days later. They remained married until her death in 1999. After retiring from golf he went on to be the consummate product pitchman and earned approximately $20 million a year from those endeavors.

To Kill a Mockingbird made Lee fabulously wealthy. Although her exact finances were not known, it is estimated that she earned approximately $2 million a year off of the book’s royalties. She was intensely private and lived on a simple scale – including using a local laundromat. She was known for giving a lot of charity to her church and other organizations. In 2015, fifty-five years after releasing To Kill a Mockingbird was released, her second book, Go Set a Watchman, which followed the later lives of the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, was released.

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” “Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger.”

>> Antonin Scalia, 79

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” “I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird... I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement.”

>> Fidel Castro, 90

Scalia, who served on the Supreme Court for 30 years, was the first Italian-American on the High Court. He had 9 children and 28 grandchildren. Quick-witted and loquacious, Scalia was among the most persistent, frequent and quotable interrogators of the lawyers who appeared before the Court. During Scalia’s first argument session as a court member, Justice Lewis F. Powell leaned over and asked a colleague, “Do you think he knows that the rest of us are here?” He relished a good fight. In 2004, when an environmental group asked him to step aside from a case involving Vice President Dick Cheney after reports that Scalia and Cheney hunted ducks together, the justice responded with a 21-page memorandum explaining his intention to hear the case. He said, “The nation is in deeper trouble than I had imagined” if people thought a duck-hunting trip could sway his vote.

“Never compromise your principles, unless of course your principles are Adolf Hitler’s, in which case you would be well advised to compromise them as much as you can.” “More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation to form your conscience correctly.”

Despite Castro’s disdain for capitalism and the U.S., he was nobody’s fool. He was known to work long hours, often only going to bed at 3 or 4 a.m. He even met foreign diplomats in these early hours, believing that they would be tired and he could gain the upper hand in negotiations. He claimed he survived 634 attempts or plots to assassinate him, mainly masterminded by the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S.-based exile organizations. Castro was fluent in English, but usually refused to speak it because he considered it to be “the language of his enemies.” He came to power in 1959 and controlled Cuba through force, killing thousands of men, women and children over the years.

“Were Kennedy not a millionaire, illiterate and ignorant, then he would obviously understand that you cannot revolt against the peasants.” “If surviving assassination attempts were an Olympic event, I would win the gold medal.”

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AROUND THE >> Venezuela Turmoil “The Hour of Salsa” isn’t your garden-variety dance music radio show in Venezuela. The DJ is President Nicolas Maduro. Why does he host a radio show? Well, his country is on the verge of a complete economic disaster. Maduro, who is a former bus driver and the handpicked successor Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, is hoping that his DJ skills will change the current trajectory and increase his popularity, although that measure has not yet been successful. Food lines stretch for miles, and animals in zoos are being killed by hungry locals. Maduro, who heads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, recently declared a 60-day state of emergency after alleging that his opposition was conspiring to launch a coup. Venezuela’s collapse – which is possible – would trigger instability throughout Latin America.

>> Brexit On June 23, 2016, British voters, by a 52%-48% margin, approved of a plan for Britain to leave the European Union. The unexpected referendum result – which did not reflect what polls indicated would happen (sounds familiar?) – resulted in Prime Minister David Cameron’s immediate resignation and replacement by Theresa May, who now will work out the terms of Britain’s departure with the EU over the next two year. Voters said they voted for the Brexit because the EU imposed too many rules on businesses and charged billions of pounds a year in membership fees for little in return. They also cited sovereignty and democracy, and they wanted Britain to take back full control of its borders and control immigration (also sounds familiar?).

>> Turkey Coup On July 15, 2016, tanks rolled into Ankara and Istanbul in an apparent coup attempt against Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The coup attempt, which Erdogan blamed on Fethullah Gulen, a reclusive cleric who has asylum in Pennsylvania, USA, was quickly quashed, but not before 290 people were killed and more than 1,400 people were injured. The failed coup only emboldened strongman Erdogan, whose forces rounded up and detained 40,029 collaborators, including 139 generals, and fired 3,000 judges and prosecutors who were seen as opponents of his. Additionally, 80,000 civil servants were suspended, including thousands of teachers and academics, and 4,262 institutions were shut down.

>> Israel UN passes a resolution calling Israel an “occupying power” and demanding that it give up control of all areas “occupied” since 1967, which includes major cities such as Ma’ale Adumim, Ramat Shlomo, Kiryat Sefer, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the Kosel itself. According to Israel, the architect of this resolution was President Barack Hussein Obama. “We have no doubt that the Obama Administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated the texts, and made sure it passed,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu.

>> South Korea Scandal South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who is in her fifth and final year as president, is fighting for her political life after being impeached and stripped of her executive powers. Her troubles stem from a recent disclosure that her close friend was acting as a kind of “shadow president” and making money off of it. Park’s approval rating has fallen to just 9 percent and thousands have taken to the streets of Seoul to demand her resignation. A court will now decide whether she should be kicked out of office.

>> Syrian Civil War Backed by Russia and Iran, embattled Syrian strongman Bashar Assad gained the upper hand against the rebels in his country’s civil war, in which approximately 500,000 people have been killed to date. Russia’s air campaign against the rebels, some of whom were backed by the U.S., led to even frostier relations than already existed between Washington and the Kremlin. Last week, after a several year effort, Assad’s troops regained complete control of the rebel stronghold of Aleppo. This victory indicates that Assad may have quelled the opposition and gained a permanent upper hand in the civil war.

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WORLD 2016 >> Iran Releases 4 U.S. Hostages On January 17, 2016, Iran released 4 U.S. hostages — Washington Post Tehran correspondent Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosrawi-Roodsari — in a “prisoner swap” in which the U.S. released seven Iranians who had been held on sanctions violations. Within days it is disclosed that a cargo plane with $400 million in foreign currencies was secretly sent to Iran on the same day as the hostages were released, but right before their actual release. The Obama administration, though, insisted that it was a coincidence and that the money was part of a settlement of financial dispute that awarded $1.7 billion to Tehran, rather than a ransom payment.

>> Terror in Europe Europe’s open door policy bore its horrific fruits this year. In France, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, of Tunisian descent, plowed a 20-ton truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in Nice during a fireworks celebration on Bastille Day, July 14, killing 85 people and wounding over 200 more. Two American citizens were killed in the attack: Sean Copeland, 51, and his son Brodie, 11, from Austin, Texas. On March 22, radical Islamists detonated three bombs in Brussels, killing 31 and injuring over 300. On December 19, a Tunisian asylum seeker rammed a truck into an outdoor market in Germany, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 50.

>> El Chapo’s Capture >> Duterte’s War on Drugs On May 10, 2016, the bombastic Rodrigo Duterte, who is known as the “Trump of Philippines,” won his country’s presidential elections. The entertaining speaker immediately pledged that he would not go on foreign visits to places where the weather was cold and, more importantly, promised to eradicate crime within 6 months. To the latter’s end, he has exhorted his citizens to “kill drug dealers” themselves and told police that he will support them wholeheartedly in doing so as well. In the past 4 months, approximately 2,500 drug dealers and users have been killed.

On January 8, 2016, six months after his dramatic escape from a Mexico City prison, notorious drug lord El Chapo Guzman was captured by Mexican authorities. The head of the Sinaloa cartel, who was known for his brutal treatment of his opponents yet kindness to the poor, was done in by vanity – authorities located him after he corresponded and eventually met with a Mexican actress and American actor Sean Penn in order to discuss making a movie about his life.

>> Iran Captures 9 U.S. Navy Personnel On January 12, 2016, ten American sailors aboard two U.S. Navy boats were detained overnight on Iran’s Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf after one of the boats experienced mechanical failure and drifted into Iranian-claimed waters. Upon boarding the U.S. boats, the Iranians searched, blindfolded and bound the crew and replaced the U.S. flag with an Iranian flag. Simultaneous with their release, the following day, Iran released pictures of the sailors on their knees with their hands clasped behind their heads as they were being apprehended on their vessels and a video of the sailors apologizing to the Iranians. After an investigation, nine Navy personnel – three of whom were actually on the boats – were disciplined by the Navy and two officers were fired.

>> Rio Olympics >> USA Trump!

Despite the concoction of human sewage, dangerous viruses and bacteria that existed in the waterways of Rio de Janeiro, the summer Olympics went off without a hitch on August 5. The United States won the most medals (46 gold, 121 total) followed by England (27 gold, 67 total). China came in third place (26 gold, 70 total) and Russia came in fourth place (19 gold, 56 total).

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WINNERS & LOSERS OF 2016 Other than the very obvious winners, such as the president-elect and co.,and losers, such as the former first lady/secretary of state and her group, here are the winners and losers of 2016.

Winners >> Marvin and Mae Acosta (California) >> Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt (Florida) >> John and Lisa Robinson (Tennessee) These couples had the 3 winning tickets for the January 12th Powerball jackpot of $1,600,000,000, the largest prize ever for the Powerball.

>> Peyton Manning After playing 18 seasons and being a sure-thing first ballot Hall of Famer the only thing plaguing one of the modern era’s best quarterbacks was that he had only won one Super Bowl. What better way to retire than defeating the heavily-favored Carolina Panthers 24-10 in the Super Bowl?

>> Ben Innes The 26-year-old British health and safety auditor was on EgyptAir flight MS181 when Seif Eldin Mustafa hijacked the Cairo-bound plane from Alexandria and forced it to be redirected to Cyprus because he wanted to see his estranged wife. Ben decided to take a selfie with the hijacker. “I’m not sure why I did it, I just threw caution to the wind... I figured if his bomb was real I’d nothing to lose anyway, so took a chance to get a closer look at it.” The bomb turned out to be a fake. Although not technically a selfie because one of the flight attendants snapped the shot on his behalf, Innes is going directly to the Selfie Hall of Fame!

>> Ken Bone

>> Chicago Cubs “Go Cubs Go… Go Cubs Go… Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today.” Yes, there were many championship teams across a wide array of sports, but no team captured the country like the scrappy Cubs who came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians in seven games, ending their 108-year World Champs drought.

This resident of St. Louis was instantly deemed the winner of the second presidential debate by millions of Americans who appreciated his “Guess Who” qualities, which was only amplified by his attire. Before his 30 seconds of fame was up, he divulged that his outfit was a last minute replacement for his olive green suit, the pants of which he split getting into his car before the debate. He singlehandedly made the red cardigan, white tie and black-rimmed glasses popular again…with people dressing up as, well, Ken Bone.

>> Harriet Tubman The famed African-American abolitionist born into slavery will be the new face on the $20 bill. The leader of the Underground Railroad is replacing the portrait of Andrew Jackson, the nation’s seventh president (who will now be on the back of the twenty).

>> Wall Street The Dow Jones Industrial Average started the year at around 17,000 points and is now flirting with 20,000 points. The NASDAQ Composite opened the year at 5,045 and is now at 5,447.

>> Albert Einstein He was a century ahead of his times. In 1916, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves as part of his theory of general relativity. In Einstein’s theory, space and time are aspects of a single measurable reality called space-time. Matter and energy are two expressions of a single material. In February 2016, in what is being hailed as one of the biggest moments in the history of physics, scientists announced that they have finally detected gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space and time that Einstein predicted a century ago. The finding means astronomers will now be able to hear the soundtrack of the universe and listen as violent collisions reshape the cosmos. Way to go, Einstein, we now know you are one smart dude!

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Losers

>> Rich & Famous of the Panama Papers

>> Colin Kaepernick The 49ers quarterback refuses to stand for the National Anthem and every Sunday he disrespects the nation and those that defend it. Many believe that the NFLs’ slumping ratings are directly because of his actions. On top of that, he is not a very good quarterback and has led his team to a league worse 1-14 record.

>> Anyone who played Pokémon Go Enough said.

On May 9, 2016, 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca, were leaked, showing how the rich and famous used secretive offshore accounts to hide their money and get around paying taxes in their own countries. The document leak, called “The Panama Papers,” implicated 12 world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iceland’s prime minister, who resigned in the aftermath, and others.

>> FBI Director James Comey

>> Ryan Lochte >> Elizabeth Holmes Last year, Holmes, who founded blood-testing company Theranos, had an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion. This June, after company stock prices plummeted due to federal investigations into the legitimacy of the revolutionary tools created by her company, Fortune revised her net worth to $0, zip, zilch, nadda.

>> Abdullahi Abdisalam Borleh He tried blowing up a Somali plane, but instead his bomb blew a hole in the fuselage and sucked him out of the aircraft. Everyone else survived. (Talk about failing suicide bombing school!)

The U.S. Olympic swimmer and three of his teammates were busted for lying about being robbed at gunpoint during the summer Olympics in Rio in order to cover up for their belligerent behavior while drunk at a gas station. The faux pas resulted in Lochte losing his sponsorships with Speedo USA, Ralph Lauren, Airweave and others.

On July 5, Comey was vilified by Republicans after announcing that he wouldn’t indict Hillary Clinton and was praised by Democrats as the consummate professional of the highest integrity. On October 28, he sent Congress a letter stating that he is reopening the investigation into Hillary Clinton at which time he was vilified by Democrats and praised by Republicans. By the time he issued a follow-up letter several days later, in which he indicated that the investigation was now complete, everyone considered him to be wishy-washy and confused. In all likelihood his tenure as FBI Director will end abruptly sometime around January 20 of 2017.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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Dr. Deb

Do You Do Resolutions? By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

e’re not them, right? We don’t do New Year’s resolutions on January 1. After all, we did all that already when we spent a day pounding our chests and fasting back in September. Except that as I recall, Pirkei Avos suggests that you think of every day as the day before your death. So that, technically means you need to look at yourself every day and figure out what you need to correct. So why not do it all over again on January 1? I think Pirkei Avos also says we can learn from everyone. Including “them.” If so, I have a suggestion of what would absolutely turn your life around if you made a point of it: Resolving to learn whatever you need to learn to make your marriage absolutely spectacular. I believe it is possible simply because Hashem said that everything He gives us is “good.” Even when we don’t see how that can be.

In fact, it is precisely then – when we don’t see what is good about a life situation – that we can exercise those wonderful brains He gave us to think that maybe, just maybe, there is a message here directly from the Borei Olam telling me that this problem is the very thing I need to be working on. Isn’t that convenient? Every time something looks dim and dour, especially if it is a pattern that seems to repeat itself in our lives, then we can be pretty sure we are getting a message as to something we ought to be focusing on. It’s almost as if G-d Himself were speaking English out loud to us. Then, of course, the question is: So what do I do about it? Unfortunately, if we knew how to fix things in the first place, we wouldn’t have gotten in trouble to begin with. But this is not as difficult to overcome as all that: If you have no clue

what to do and where to go, get help from someone who does! You go to a shiur because the person teaching it knows more than you do. You go to school to learn a profession and hopefully your instructors know more than you do. (You can always Google reviews of people you’re not sure of.) So I am going to invite you to look me up online for reviews and critiques because I want to let you in on how my newest project is going. You may remember that I told you I was creating a class and that for a limited time I was enrolling people for free. These wonderful individuals have given me tons of feedback on how this course is going. (The latest: I should add some jokes to the classes. Oy! That’s a challenge! But I’ll do it.) Basically, they love it. They’re learning lots of valuable things. And it is not just “information” but skills that they are learning. Skills in how

to behave differently, but also skills in how to changing your thinking and your feelings. Yes, I’ve put a lot into this course. And very soon, I’m opening it up to a new group which will no longer be testing it but actually taking it. Would you like a taste, just a little sample? Please go to http://drdeb. com/course/ and see the video there. It is a replay of a talk I have given a few times as introduction to the course. The video lays out for you three things anyone can do immediately to make their marriage better. Now, of course, you will want to know: But what if my spouse is not willing to cooperate? That is an excellent question. Spouses who don’t participate in courses or therapy have the following possible reasons: 1. They are too angry to want to. 2. They are too hurt to want to. Continued on page 96

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3. They believe they are not the problem; you are. 4. They are terrified to look too closely at themselves. Let’s look at each of these. Anger is a cover emotion for hurt. (I discuss this in the video – go ahead and check it out after Shabbos.) We use it to camouflage the vulnerable feelings associated with being hurt because we are afraid that if we admit hurt we will appear weak and we can be hurt some more. But the takeaway message for you is that whether you intended to or not, you hurt your spouse. That takes care of #1 and #2. Now, #3 is interesting. I always am concerned when a person refuses to participate on the ground that they don’t “need” to learn. That is like saying you don’t need to attend a shiur because you already know everything. Who can just stop learning because they don’t need to anymore? On the other hand, there is a legitimate fear of the appearance of

moral relevancy. If, say, one partner has been short-tempered or cold or inattentive to the other and the other has been a wonderful partner, then that person would not want their attendance to appears as though they “needed” the course as

around eventually. Regarding #4, my course deals directly with empowering people who are afraid that if they go too deep down, they just won’t like themselves. Whether a person would be willing to even take the

If we knew how to fix things in the first place, we wouldn’t have gotten in trouble to begin with.

much as the one with the rudeness or coldness. My position when #3 comes up is to reassure the person requesting help in getting a partner involved: As you change, your spouse will be so excited to find out what you’ve learned and how you’ve learned it that they will (most likely) come

course if they start out with this mindset remains to be seen. Clearly, such a person needs a lot of reassurance. Incidentally, people like this can appear on the outside to be aggressive and self-assured. The giveaway is that they admit they don’t want to look at themselves. The only time in working with

couples in therapy that I have not been successful with both partners is when one or both of them are too frightened of how the other will torment them to feel safe putting down their guard. But the beauty of a course like this is that it begins with determining whether you have enough Self-Love (which most people don’t) and then being given many tools to increase it to the level it should be at. When that happens, a person is stronger inside and eventually no longer frightened because they will no longer be hurt by their tormentor. As you can tell, I’m pretty excited about this course. Feel free to ask me questions about it. And enjoy your New Year’s resolution.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com.

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Health & F tness

The Healthy Guide to Chanukah By Aliza Beer MS, RD

hanukah is finally here, and with it comes eight days and nights of festivities, family, parties, and, of course, fried foods galore. While a little indulgence here and there is acceptable, a week of heavy foods and celebrations will certainly be detrimental for your health and weight loss goals. The Chanukah classics – latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (doughnuts), and chocolate gelt – are filled with unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars. These foods leave you feeling bloated and can quickly add on the pounds after eight long days. Luckily, there are many ways to enjoy the holiday and its traditional foods without getting weighed down by the high fats and calorie-loaded dishes. Here are eight tips to keep you feeling good while enjoying the holiday! 1) Lots of different latkes: One of the hallmarks of Chanukah is the fried potato latke. Luckily, this holiday favorite can be made healthier and still taste just as delicious. Instead of using white potatoes, try different veggie versions of latkes such as zucchini, sweet potato, parsnip, or cauliflower. These alternatives boost the antioxidant and vitamin content of the latkes and will not spike your blood sugar the same way the refined white potatoes do. When the recipe calls for flour, substitute for 100% whole-wheat flour to pack in some healthy fiber. 2) Lightened-up sufganiyot: “Healthy doughnuts” may sound like

an oxymoron but there are actually ways to lighten up these classic desserts! Cut down on fat and calories by baking your doughnuts instead of frying them. Investing in a doughnut pan (for less than 10 dollars in most stores!) allows you to easily bake doughnuts that look and taste just like the original version. Alternatively, use a mini-muffin pan to bake donut holes, which will satisfy that doughnut craving while cutting back on the calories of an entire, fullsized doughnut. Reduce the sugar by topping these doughnuts with a thin glaze of natural jelly as opposed to filling up the inside of the doughnut. 3) Save the oil for the menorah: When picking oils to use, stick to healthier oils. These are oils that are rich in monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, oleic fatty acids, and are low in saturated fats such as olive oil or organic canola oil. Nevertheless, healthy or not, oils still are high in calories. Lightly pan-frying your latkes in Pam as opposed to deep-frying them in loads of oil is a great way to slash extra calories. This will still achieve the same crisp texture as the original version without using eight days’ worth of oil. 4) Choose condiments wisely: If you love your latkes dipped, make sure you are choosing healthier condiments. If you prefer savory, stick to fat-free sour cream as opposed to full fat or try nonfat-Greek yogurt for a protein boost! For those who prefer sweet, the natural, unsweetened applesauce (as opposed to those filled

with added sugar) is your best bet. 5) Balance your plate: While Chanukah parties are likely to be filled with tempting treats, more often than not there are healthier options around that can keep your plate in check. Filling the majority of your plate with colorful vegetables, salads, lean proteins, or whole grains will fill you up and prevent you from overeating the less healthy options. 6) Beware of beverages: Most Chanukah parties will have a whole array of sugary beverages, which are loaded with calories and sugar. Washing down a meal with cups of these beverages does not hydrate you the way water does and just adds to your calorie intake. Water is the best option to keep your calorie and sugar intake at bay while also keeping you hydrated and flushing out toxins from your body. 7) Healthier desserts: When planning the menu, be sure to serve healthful desserts. Fresh cut fruit is a delicious way to finish off the meal and will leave you feeling good too. Instead of chocolate chip cookies baked with margarine, try wholewheat oatmeal raisin cookies with whole-wheat flour and oil instead of artery-clogging margarine. 8) Plan the rest of your day accordingly: Most of the day is not spent at a Chanukah party and luckily that means you have other meal and snack choices throughout the day that can be made according to your regular, healthy diet. Being mindful that you have a Chanukah

party at night can allow you to make sure to stick to healthier options throughout the day when it may be more of a challenge at the party. Additionally, sticking to a good workout regimen will help keep you motivated to eat well throughout the day and will further aid in managing weight gain by burning excess calories. Chanukah is a fun and special time of the year but unfortunately many of the traditional dishes are not the healthiest. Making small changes here and there to modify your favorite recipes and being mindful of what you eat and drink will leave you feeling and looking good after the holiday ends. This year, celebrate the Festival of Lights in a lightened-up way! Have a happy Chanukah! Healthier recipes can be found at http://health.usnews.com/healthn e w s/ h e a l th- w e l ln e s s/ar t i c l e s /07/06/2013/healthy-homemadedoughnut-recipes; http://www.live wellbakeoften.com/09 /08 /2016/ ba ked- c innamon- s ugar- donutholes/; https://health.cleveland c l i n i c . o r g / 1 2 /2 0 1 4 / j e w i s h s u f g a n i y o t- a n d - l a t k e s - m a d e healthy/

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

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Madraigos

Prevention is Better than Cure By Chanie Delman, LCSW

am often asked: why are our youth going off the derech? How do I keep my kids on the derech? What is attributed to the high death rate in the Jewish community in the last year? Why is my child so stressed out? These are real concerns and people want answers. There are men and women working selflessly day in and day out, trying so hard to save one life at a time. Some are on the frontlines, on hotlines, answering emergency calls well into the night hours. Some are the therapists in clinics or in private practice hearing the pain, the suffering, the crying from these individuals in pain. I have had the privilege to work with some of the most humble and selfless people during my time as clinical director of Madraigos. Like so many others in the field we are seeing an increase in volume in the suicide, mental illness, substance abuse, abuse and crisis as a whole. I can’t presume to answer the “why?” There are so many different risk factors and opinions as to why kids don’t succeed, use drugs, or have the pain we are seeing. We can easily stand on the sidelines and debate what the causes are. Or we can look at factors needed to be put in place to prevent it. Our job as professionals trying to help is to put in place enough tools and education with the hope (and prayer) that it would prevent some of the serious calamities from happening. To that end, Madraigos takes a three part prevention approach focusing on community, parents, and individual. On a community level, Madraigos creates and participates in events of awareness and teacher trainings while continuously working with community therapists,

principals and leaders to bring awareness of the various issues to the forefront. Helping parents to build resilient children, ones with strong self-esteem and ones who feel loved, is most effective in creating a healthy adult. If we take a deeper look at psychological research, we see love,

The NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) found that through theory, observation, and behavioral study, scientists have determined that select facets of human behavior can be changed over time. Specifically, the effects of risk factors can be reduced, protective factors

We see love, acceptance, understanding, compassion, empathy, structure, and a non-judgmental home as the most important ingredients that make up a strong, well-adjusted child leading into adulthood.

acceptance, understanding, compassion, empathy, structure, and a non-judgmental home as the most important ingredients that make up a strong, well-adjusted child leading into adulthood. Whether on a oneto-one basis or through our weekly Parenting Support Group, Madraigos gives parents the necessary tools to infuse these qualities into their parent/child relationships. When we work directly with children and adolescents, we face the problems and issues head-on. Talking about it has been proven the most effective prevention out there. Madraigos has designed its unique and highly acclaimed prevention intervention programs and specifically the Madraigos School Based Service Curriculum based on the following research:

can be enhanced or developed, and resources can be accessed. An important avenue for accomplishing this is through prevention interventions that develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in the targeted individual(s). What does prevention look like for a drug overdose, a depressed adolescent, or someone self -harming? This looks like moms and dads sitting with their adolescents talking about drug and alcohol choices and use. This looks like teachers being open and honest with students who have questions. This looks like giving our youth the tools to deal with stress. This is what Madraigos’ School Based Services prevention curriculum looks like. In the last number of years,

Madraigos has taken the initiative to educate our youth and to open safe dialogue with them so that to be able to discuss issues of concern. Bullying, stressors, body image, substance abuse, and social media are just a handful of the topics covered in the Madraigos School Based Prevention Curriculum. Our mental health professionals go into the junior high schools and high schools in the Five Towns and beyond to open the floor to our youth to engage in real discussions, to ask real questions, and to have a safe place to explore concerns on their mind. Our youth have questions and real life challenges. They need help navigating the day-to-day obstacles. Our goal, and what research supports, is that the more we educate our youth on healthy choices, validate real life struggles, and give concrete tools to get the proper help, we prevent the scary slope we are seeing in out crisis work. In these specific cases, prevention is better than cure. For more information about Madraigos’ School Based Services Program, please contact Mrs. Chanie Delman, LCSW, Clinical Director at Madraigos, at (516)3713250 x 2 or email cdelman@ madraigos.org.

Madraigos, a 501c-3 not-for-profit organization, offers a wide array of innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults overcome life’s everyday challenges one step at a time. Our goal is to provide all of our members with the necessary tools and skills to empower them to live a healthy lifestyle and become the leaders of tomorrow.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT IN 2016 We would like to share some highlights with you:

CLINICAL SERVICES 24 Hour Support Line Assessments/Referrals Case Management Crisis Intervention Support Groups COMMUNITY RESOURCES Community Education Educational Enhancement Job Placement School Based Services YOUTH PROGRAMS GNO Holiday Retreats The Lounge Year Round Events 516-371-3250 EXT 5 | WWW.MADRAIGOS.ORG | 936 BROADWAY, WOODMERE, NY 11598

Please have our organization in mind as you make your end of the year donations. for more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact Rabbi Josh Zern at jzern@madraigos.org

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I’m the oldest child in my family and I think my parents, in particular, my mother, is new to the whole shidduch scene. I’m not sure who is advising her, but I think she is overzealous and controlling. Here’s what happened.

When I started dating about six months ago, I left it all in my mother’s hands, as I know most of my friends do. When she finally approved of an idea, she let me know and we moved forward. So far, so good. I have to admit that I’ve gone out on some very nice dates, but nothing that amounted to anything serious. So about a month ago, I bumped into one of my mother’s friends who apparently is trying to set me up with her niece. She asked me if my mother mentioned anything to me. The friend was very excited because she felt we were a perfect match. She started telling me about this woman and I have to admit, she did sound perfect. We share many values and even hobbies. (Though not important in the scheme of things, for instance, we both love to hike.) Anyway, I had never heard anything about her from my mother, and when I got home, I asked my mother why her name never came up and where it’s holding. My mother told me that she wasn’t following through with this idea because this girl and her family live in Baltimore and she will only let me go out with women who live in the tristate area. She doesn’t want me possibly moving out of town. I know I let my mother take control of this situation, but should that be her decision to make? I don’t want to be disrespectful toward her, but I feel like she shouldn’t be the one to decide if a woman should be nixed because of where she lives. Especially if she sounds like someone who could be perfect for me. Since we’re all relatively new to this whole dating thing, I’m curious to know if you think I should make a big deal over this and insist that I be allowed to go out with good women despite where they live?

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. Continued on page 104

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Panel

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

ou need to start an ongoing conversation with your mother about shidduchim. In other words, begin a dialogue and communicate regularly so that there is an ongoing discussion. You will need to hear each other and communicate effectively without “making a big deal.” This is not going to be easy since she is controlling, as you say, and you let her run things thus far. You are an adult and it’s your life that you are preparing for. Your mother can be part of the shidduch process but you and she and your father need to be talking, not operating independently. It is clear from several points in your question that you will need help with this situation. Your father is nowhere in this query. You have not spoken with your mother. She is controlling. And you haven’t had extended conversations about this. You feel challenged by wanting to be respectful yet need to be assertive. Get yourself some help to develop the communication skills you will need to open up the topic for discussion and manage to be heard without being accusatory. You will need to role play and practice. Get thee to a professional and learn to balance derech eretz with your needs to have input and choose your dating priorities and parameters.

The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A.

art of the joy of sitting on this panel is seeing how often the answer to the question lies within

the question. You’re spot on when you ask that you should “be allowed to go out with good women, despite where they live.” To you, Mom, I say: cut the apron strings. You should know better than nixing a shidduch based on geography. Whatever happened to real attributes such as middos, personality, beauty, brains, hashkafa, even – gasp! – family background. Even if Junior married the girl next door, there’s no guarantee he won’t decide to move to Israel or, heaven forbid, leave the tristate area for a city with more affordable housing, professional schools, or better employment opportunities. Bear in mind, Mom, this may be your last chance to advise and guide your bechor on life-altering decisions. Don’t blow his trust and your relationship by acting, in his words, “overzealous and controlling!”

The Dating Mentor Rochel Chafetz, Educator/ Mentor

don’t think you should make a big deal about this. How do you know she’ll be perfect for you? So she likes to hike – wow – that’s a great ingredient for marriage. I can understand your mother wanting to stick to in-town shidduchim for now. It does get complicated and tiring, and because of the traveling back and forth, you may feel pressure just to get engaged. There is much to say about an in-town shidduch. Obviously, if you see after a while that none of the girls you’ve been set up with are up your alley, you can approach the subject with your mom. Don’t make a big deal about this. Talk to your parents and tell them what’s important to you. Ask them what questions they are asking and how

they make their decision. Just make sure you are all on the same page. Good luck!

The Single Tova Wein

think your letter says volumes about a potential problem that exists within the shidduch world. It’s become common for young men and women who want to start dating to put all the responsibility on their parents’ shoulders. Basically, they just show up for the date. I guess this is OK if the parents first

I hope that your mother will understand your needs and start putting you first, which is where you should have been from the start.

and foremost know exactly how to convey what their child is looking for without letting their own desires come into play which may be

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

in conflict with their child’s desires. For instance, maybe it is important to the young man, in addition to everything else, to want an athletic young woman because he truly is an outdoorsy type of guy and though that’s not the basis of a marriage, he doesn’t want to give up this part of his life. But his parents may think this is “narishkeit,” and fail to even mention it to a shadchan. And just as serious is when the

parents act as though the potential marriage is all about themselves and what is most comfortable for their lifestyle, which can lead to ignoring the bigger picture and a possible wonderful shidduch for their child. This too is unfair. So I feel it’s important for you to take back as least some of your power and explain to your mother (respectfully) that you appreciate

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

all of her hard work that she’s been doing on your behalf, however, ultimately you want to be included in all discussions of potential shidduchim before she says “no.” That you no longer want to be totally passive in this journey. And that even if something isn’t matching up to her entire “wish list,” if it’s matching up to your “wish list,” that has to come first. I hope that your mother will understand your needs and start putting you first, which

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I get the sense that your mother’s actions sent you the message loud and clear that you are not part of this process.

is where you should have been from the start.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

f I had the luxury of a face-toface meeting with you, I would be curious to learn more about your relationship with your mother. Is the scenario you described in your e-mail typical mother/son dynamics in your house? Is your mom’s behavior coming as a complete shock to you because she usually accommodates your needs, dreams and wishes? Or does her not taking your opinion into account fit into the trajectory of the relationship? If your mother’s actions are isolated and therefore out of character, I believe you will have an easier time talking about this with her. As you said, you are the first child to date and this is her first time at the shidduch rodeo. She simply may not understand what her role is and where the boundaries lie. And if someone “overzealous and controlling” is advising her, it may be a quick fix. She will be able to hear you, understand you, validate your feelings and maybe even find a new

advisor, if need be. If your mother’s actions are kind of… predictable (Mom is at it again! Or, This is Mom-like!), you may have a harder time conveying your own wants and needs. And if Mom has always been kind of overbearing, you may have always had some difficulties approaching her with important matters. I believe it is very important to approach your mother and express yourself to her. It is important for you to figure out the root of what is bothering you. When I found out that Mom made that decision without speaking to me about it, I felt…. And I felt that way because…. Fill in the blanks. I don’t know what root you came up with, so I could be completely off here. I’m wondering if you are feeling disregarded. Some people are completely OK with their parents in the driver’s seat of their shidduchim. And some people are not. I get the sense

that your mother’s actions sent you the message loud and clear that you are not part of this process. I say, talk to your mom and bring the root of the issue (whatever it is) to her attention in a very respectful manner. A sample script: “Mom, there’s something I want to talk about. I love you and am so grateful for how hard you are working to find me my shidduch. You are doing such an amazing job. I know you love me and want me to be happy. I feel like some of the things that are important to me, or are not important to me, are getting lost. (You can insert details here… moving out of town, hiking etc.) The bottom line is, I want to play a more active role in this process.” While I don’t think you need to “make a big deal” about this, I do think you have every right to share your feelings with your mother. This is your life. And it will be your marriage…in your home, in the state or country where you and your wife choose to live. Please re-

member: while it is wise to heed the advice of the older and wiser generation, ultimately, when the door to your marital home closes, it will be you living inside, not your mother. Sincerely, Jennifer

Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed, clinical psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up an appointment, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. The Navidaters offer Date Debriefing, Dater’s Tool Kit, Engagement Coaching, and of course Dating Coaching. Visit www.thenavidaters.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.

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How Do You Like Your Doughnuts? By Malky Lowinger

Back in the day, life was simpler and that meant you only had to choose between custard and jelly doughnuts for Chanuka. Today, all that has changed. The doughnut industry has exploded, offering dozens of intriguing varieties and tantalizing flavors. It’s anyone’s guess what toppings and fillings you’ll be finding when you attempt to fill your next doughnut craving.

To help you quell your pastry hankering, we canvassed the country in search of the ultimate doughnut. Along the way we found some super-interesting and some super-wacky choices. In honor of the eight nights of Chanukah, we present you with our eight extraordinary doughnuts. Bon appetit!

Levy’s Kosher of Hollywood 3369 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL

It just might be worth traveling to Florida for this one. Chucky from Levy’s Kosher tells us that their pastrami-filled doughnuts are all the rage and people just can’t get enough of them. “It’s a regular doughnut filled with pastrami,” he explains. Customers can decide if they want theirs coated with powdered sugar or plain. Either way, this sounds like the perfect doughnut for a real man. “It’s amazing!” Chucky says.

Gobo’s 5421 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Le Chocolatier 1711 Avenue M, Brooklyn, NY

Although Le Chocolatier is primarily a chocolate gift shop, Fraidy tells us that the store also sells doughnuts on Chanukah in its café area. Their most popular selection? “It’s called the silver dollar,” says Fraidy. “And it’s actually a combination of a doughnut and a pastry. It looks like a doughnut but it’s not deep fried. It’s flakey dough that’s baked with chocolate inside.” And, oh yes, it has a doughnut hole.

Gobo’s offers many different and unusual doughnut varieties, including the “pompom” which is a doughnut shaped like a pompom. But by far the most popular of all, they say, is their Buttered Crumb Cheese doughnut, filled with a “secret” cheesy filling and coated with coconut and chocolate crunch. Don’t bother waiting for Chanukah candle lighting with this one. It’s perfect with your Chanukah morning coffee.

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Bagels N Greens 5113 13th Avenue; 5702 18th Avenue; 1379 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

We would be remiss if our doughnut story didn’t include Bagels N Greens, with three Brooklyn locations. Rivka of BNG tells us that this is where it all began. “Seven years ago,” she says, “we developed the whole doughnut craze. Back then the only doughnuts available were jelly and custard. So we started developing newer flavors.” And the variety just kept growing. With over a dozen unusual flavors, including Sour Blueberry Cheese, Lemonana, and Bamba Peanut Butter, Rivka was having a hard time focusing on which one she considers their most popular doughnut. Eventually she concluded that their bestseller is the Lotus Tiramisu doughnut. Just so you know, it includes espresso cream, lotus coating, tiramisu spaghetti, and chocolate nibs. Sounds like a decadent sugar coma to me.

Chocolatte 792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, NY

Shemi at Chocolatte points out that, when it comes to doughnuts, half the fun is filling them. And so the store offer the concept of the self-infused doughnut. “It’s a do-it-yourself doughnut,” he explains, “but also a gourmet doughnut.” Customers can choose between flavors like crème brûlée, coffee, dulce de leche, caramel, and more. “The toppings are on there already,” he tells us. “But you get to inject the cream on the inside.” His personal favorite? “That would be the praline hazelnut. It’s topped with praline and you put the hazelnut filling inside.”

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Bo & Bon 95 E Kennedy Blvd, Lakewood, NJ

The people at this gourmet bake shop like to get a little funky during the Chanukah season. They offer a variety of doughnuts with a “squeezer” on the side. According to Mrs. Katz, “We have a caramel doughnut that comes with a squeezer so you can fill it with cream yourself.” She recommends the crème brûlée doughnut and the cookies and cream. The best part of the doughnut experience, she feels, is the filling. “It’s fun!” she says.

Hava Java 59 NY 59, Monsey, NY

The people at Hava Java are so busy filling doughnut orders, they barely had time to respond to us. Eventually they let us know that of all their tantalizing flavors, like s’mores, cream-filled lotus, and tiramisu, it’s their cheesecake flavor that really rocks! “It’s super unique,” says a Hava Java spokesperson, “because they are filled with a heavenly cheese mixture.” But we were also intrigued by a product they call “doughnut-chino” which is a combination of a caramelized doughnut and a frappuccino made of ice cream and whipped cream. Think of it as a beverage topped with a doughnut that’s cleverly balanced over the straw. Now you can eat your doughnut and drink it too.

Sublime Doughnuts 2566 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA

The sky’s the limit as far as doughnut flavors go at this doughnut emporium down south, where the Briarcliff Road location at North Druid Hills is certified kosher. Kamal Grant is the founder and creative spirit behind Sublime and he says that the store “presents flavors and textures from around the world on a doughnut canvas.” Customers can choose from a variety of unique flavors like butter toffee, chocolate banana fritter, or dulce de leche. Or, they can dare to opt for the “candied salmon” flavor. Candied salmon? “Oh yeah,” says our salesman. “It’s a recent addition. Candied brown sugar salmon topped with lemon thyme icing.” Hmmm.

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In The K

tchen

Super Soups By Naomi Nachman

There is nothing like the magic of hot soup to warm your soul and fill your belly, especially on a wintry night. It’s so easy to make hearty soups that will keep you warm and satisfied any night of the year. It’s also a great way to use up some of the leftover soup chicken from your chicken soup.

Preparation

Hot and Sour Soup Ingredients ¼ cup (about 6) dried mushrooms ½ cup hot water 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (leftovers from chicken soup is best) 1 TBS sherry 4 cups chicken broth 8 oz. can bamboo shoots 1 cup firm tofu, cut into cubes 3 TBS rice vinegar 2 TBS soy sauce 2 TBS cornstarch ¼ cup water ½ tsp white pepper 1 egg, beaten 1 tsp roasted or toasted sesame oil 3 scallions, chopped into ½-inch pieces

Soak mushrooms in hot water to cover for 30 minutes; drain. Cut off the stems and discard them. Thinly slice caps and set aside. Combine chicken with sherry; let stand for 10 minutes. Combine stock, chicken, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms and bring to a boil. Cook for five minutes. Add tofu and cook gently 1 minute. Add soy sauce, white pepper and vinegar. In a separate bowl, mix water and cornstarch until it become a milky liquid. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the soup, stir gently, bring to a boil and let the soup thicken. Slowly pour the beaten egg into the soup while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and sprinkle with scallions and sesame oil.

Tortellini Chicken Soup Ingredients 1 ½ TBS olive oil 1 large loose carrot, diced 1 cup celery, diced 1 medium onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 quarts chicken broth

1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 12 oz. frozen tomato tortellini by NY Pasta Authority or parve brand of your choice 2-3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken 3 cups fresh spinach or kale

Preparation Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery and onion and sauté 3 - 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds longer. Stir in chicken broth and Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then cover and boil 15 minutes. Add tortellini, cover and boil 6 - 8 minutes longer. Stir in chicken and spinach and cook until heated through and the spinach has wilted, about 2 minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

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

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I did not plan to be here this evening but in light of the UN resolution I thought that there was no better place to light the second Chanukah candle than the Western Wall. According to the UN resolution, the Maccabees did not liberate Jerusalem, they occupied Palestinian territory. According to the UN resolution, the villages that they started out from in the Modi’in area, those villages and that area were “occupied Palestinian territory.” Of course the Palestinians arrived much later. We were in these places. We will return to these places and I ask those same countries that wish us a Happy Chanukah how they could vote for a UN resolution which says that this place, in which we are now celebrating Chanukah, is occupied territory.

The Democratic Party lost not only the presidential election, but also elections in the Congress, where the Republicans now have a majority. Was that my doing too? …They are losing on all fronts and look for someone else to blame. I believe, this is, how should I say, humiliating. One should know how to lose with grace. -Russian President Vladimir Putin when asked at a press conference about Democrat allegations that he interfered in the U.S. elections

Apple’s new operating system gets rid of the feature that tells you how much battery time you have left on your laptop. People will have no idea they’re about to lose power. Or as Democrats put it, “Been there.” – Jimmy Fallon

According to a recent study, Pokémon Go players have collectively walked 5.7 billion miles while using the app. They’ve walked everywhere except into a job interview.

The Western Wall is not occupied. The Jewish Quarter is not occupied. The other places are not occupied either. Therefore, we do not accept, nor can we accept, this resolution. We are certain of our future just as we are certain of our past. And here I would like to light Chanukah candles on behalf of the Glory of Israel. Happy Chanukah. - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after lighting the menorah at the Kosel on the second night of Chanukah

More millennials are looking to get rid of extra piercings and even remove their tattoos. Researchers say it’s due to a new phenomenon occurring among millennials called turning 30. – Jimmy Fallon

– Seth Myers

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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Trump wanted to “make America great again,” where “America” was a metonym for a traditional, industrial, and white America set against a rising tide of racial threats, from Hispanic immigrants and black protesters, to Muslim refugees and the specter of “radical Islamic terrorism.” Roof, in his own telling, wanted to awaken white America to the alleged threat of blacks and other nonwhites. - From alt-left wing website, Slate.com, calling Trump “brother in arms” with Dylann Roof, who was recently convicted of murdering nine African-Americans in a church in South Carolina

There’s something very sad and pitiful about that moment when the Security Council votes for an anti-Israel resolution and the world cheers. It’s the moment that shows all the rot in the UN. Half a million men, women, and children are being murdered in Syria, and this emasculated organization does not even raise a hand to help. But when it comes to harming the Jewish state, why not? Syria they protect. There are no resolutions against it. But against the only democratic country in the Middle East there are dozens of resolutions. It’s just like David Ben Gurion said: “UN, shmum.” We survived Pharaoh, we’ll survive this, too. - Israel’s Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked

Nazis enacted anti-Jewish laws on the eve of Jewish holidays – exactly as @POTUS has done on eve of Hanukkah. Don’t light candles 2night, BHO! – Tweet by Jewish actress and comedian Roseanne Barr who used to be anti-Israel until she educated herself on the topic and realized that everything she thought about Israel/ Palestinians was based on ignorance

He called me into the Oval Office before the election and he said to me, “Alan, I want your support. And I have to tell you, I will always have Israel’s back.” I didn’t realize that what he meant was that he would have their back to stab them in the back. He just stabbed them in the back. – Alan Dershowitz, on Fox News, after the UN resolution passed

First of all, Obama purposefully tried to tie the hands of his successor, which is undemocratic during a lame duck period. It will make it much harder for Trump to bring about a negotiated peace, because the Palestinians will have no incentive to do it. This is not policy; this is pique. This is a president who is angry and is trying to get even. There’s no other way of explaining why the president would allow this kind of overwrought resolution that doesn’t speak only to the expanded settlements, but speaks to the heart of Jewish Jerusalem. - Ibid., on CNN

[Obama] is now clearly the hero of the terrorists. Of Hamas. Of Hezbollah. That’s what our president in the United States is. - New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind

A study has confirmed that eating less increases your lifespan. The study goes on to advise the residents of Wisconsin to get their affairs in order. - Conan O’Brien

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Facebook is testing a new group phone call feature that will let you talk on the phone with up to 50 friends at once. If you want to try it, you go to Facebook, you click on “Features,” and then select “Living Nightmare.” - Jimmy Fallon

So Russia having illegally occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine votes to condemn Israel for “occupied lands.” We are supposed to be impressed. – Tweet by Newt Gingrich

[T]here were Russian troops on the Iowa-Wisconsin border that kept Hillary Clinton from going in. So, that was one thing. - Bloomberg Politics Managing Editor Mark Halperin mocking the claim that Hillary lost the election because of the Russians

It exposes the true face of the [Obama] administration. Now it’s easier to understand what we dealt with the past eight years. - An Israeli official in an interview with the Times of Israel after the UN vote

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I am confident in this vision because I’m confident that if I — if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could’ve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it. - Obama, in an interview with former advisor David Axelrod, claiming that he would have beat Trump in this year’s election

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Political Crossfire

Aleppo and American Decline By Charles Krauthammer

he fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures

from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama’s abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended

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U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: it was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion. This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. Five years ago, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the U.S., at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991. The U.S. could easily have

Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender. They surrendered. Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. That’s what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support

For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

destroyed the regime’s planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war. And would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force – they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in

Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising America’s nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down. Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War. It’s called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the

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world’s greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the U.N. “Are you truly incapable of shame?” thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we don’t know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naiveté, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend ceasefire after another. Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost. Assad was never a friend. But today he’s not even a free agent. He’s been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region. Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states and to shut out American influence. It’s already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasn’t there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance. With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the last eight years. Presidentelect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments and it risks military confrontation with Russia. And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian – from Somalia to Libya – tend to end badly. We may proclaim a “responsibility to protect,” but when no American in-

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terests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home. In Aleppo, the damage is done,

the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it

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Forgotten Her es

Tank Battles of the Golan Heights and the Miracle of Zvika Greengold By Avi Heiligman

nlike the Six Day War in 1967 where Israel launched a preemptive strike on the Egyptians, the Yom Kippur War came as a complete surprise. In one of biggest intelligence blunders since WWII, Israel failed to recognize that an Arab offensive was imminent in the weeks leading up to the war. As a result, only a small number of soldiers were ready to fight on Yom Kippur in 1973. Planes, tanks and soldiers were rushed to the frontlines and even that took time. The soldiers at the front held out for a period of time until reinforcements could be brought up. One area that produced several pitched battles and medal winners was the southern position of the Golan Heights. Here, over a thousand tanks tried to penetrate the Israeli lines but men like Zvika Greengold and other commanders of the tank units were there to stop the advance in spectacular tank battles. The tank battles of the Yom Kippur War are a topic in of its own and there were many heroes that came to the front during one of Israel’s darkest hours. In fact, it was about 72 hours before any relief was brought to the IDF frontlines. Land that was captured during the Six Day War was a buffer zone during the Syrian advance which allowed some defense lines to be established. During these three days of trying to contain the Syrian armored advance, some units, like the Barak 188th Armored Brigade, suffered heavy casualties. Formed during the Israeli War of Independence, the brigade was tasked to defend the southern area of the Golan Heights. It was a bleak sit-

uation for the unit as there were no natural barriers between it and the Syrian tanks. A minefield slowed the advance but soon the brigade took heavy casualties. On the second day of the war, their commander, Colonel Shoham, was killed during a desperate push by the Syrians. Two other brigade officers were killed in the attack as well but what they didn’t know was that the Syrians themselves were in disarray. 112 IDF soldiers belonging to the brigade were killed by war’s end. Only one of six battalions in the brigade fought for the entire battle and that was under Lt. Col. Yair Nafshi. His 36 Centurion tanks actually moved up to avoid Syrian artillery. After defending several attacks, reinforcements arrived and the Syrians were pushed back beyond their starting point. In this fight emerged the legend of Zvika Greengold. (Recently, it has come to light that the events didn’t unfold as it was originally claimed. Usually these conspiracy theories have no basis and the original stories are believed by historians. In the case of Zvika, it is Yair Nafshi saying that the story didn’t quite happen the way he said it did but there could be many reasons why Nafshi is stirring the pot.) Zvika had heard of the attack on the radio and threw on his uniform, hitchhiking to Nafakh. This was the headquarters of the armored brigades and if the Syrians wanted the Heights they had to capture Nafakh as well. While he wasn’t attached to any particular unit since he was an officer, Zvika was given command of a

tank. The Israeli armored brigades had held their own in the first hours by taking advantage of the terrain and minefields. After a few hours, most these brave soldiers had been beat and their tanks were sent to the rear and repaired. Zvika got in one of these repaired tanks and led another two tanks into battle. By 9 p.m. he went to join the Barak Brigade and over the radio the second-in-command called him “Zvika Force.” Other tank crews heard that Zvika Force was coming and were greatly relieved. Little did they know that this was only a three tank formation in beat-up condition. Soon the only tank in action was Zvika and his crew. No Israeli tanks were in front of him and his orders were to shoot at anything he saw because they weren’t friendly. Zvika shot at a silhouette of a tank and it burst into flames to rack up kill number one. On a slope he saw another three enemy tanks and destroyed them in succession. He moved to another spot, as many other Israeli tanks did to great success during the war, and saw a column of thirty tanks and trucks coming at his position. As the lead tank came within twenty meters, Zvika fired. He then used the fire from the burning tank to direct his fire in the darkness. The game of cat and mouse was on and Zvika kept on ducking behind natural boundaries as well as shot-up tanks. He had the advantage of knowing that every tank he saw was an enemy but the Syrians couldn’t be sure that what they were shooting at was Zvika’s Centurion. He killed several more tanks and moved to the slopes where

only the gun and the turret of the tank were visible, thus making him a very small target. After an hour, the Syrians retreated and his kill figure reached double digits. Over the radio Zvika heard desperate pleas for reinforcements with the answer being that there were none. Then he realized his tank was the only one between the Syrians and Nafakh. Zvika went to join ten reservist tanks but they were ambushed and badly mauled. Then Zvika’s tank was hit, killing the driver and wounding the rest of the crew. His clothing had caught fire in the explosion but still this did not stop Zvika’s Force from returning to action. Three tanks survived the ambush and Zvika took control of one of them. The other two left with the casualties, and once again he was alone. It was him against the 51st Syrian Armored Brigade. Then a miracle happened. The Syrians stopped advancing. Their commander for some unknown reason told them to halt until the morning which gave the Israelis time to send in reinforcements. In the lull, more tanks had come up to join Zvika Force and forced the Syrians back two kilometers. After the Barak Brigade commander had been killed, Zvika gave orders to the tanks in the field. After the danger of Nafakh being overrun had passed, Zvika retreated to Aleka, where he collapsed and told a major, “I can’t anymore.” He had fought all night and was credited for twenty kills with another twenty probable (with more possible, the fog of war makes it hard to tally up these Continued on page 122

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totals). After he awoke in a hospital, he found out that the tide had begun to turn at about the time he passed out. Again, this was due to another miracle. The Israelis heard over the Syrian radio, “I see the whole of Galil in front of me. Request permission to proceed.” The answer was “Negative.” His tactics may have convinced the Syrian army staff to conclude that they were fighting a much larger force than just one tank. This gave the Israelis time to fly in reserves

by helicopter, and by October 10 the Syrians were back where they had started. Greengold was awarded the Medal of Valor, Israel’s highest decoration for bravery in battle, as was Lt. Col. Avigdor Kahalani. As the commander of the 77 th Tank Battalion, Kahalani was up against an entire Syrian tank division in the Golan Heights. Through sheer guts and military genius in the first 50 hours of the war, he held back the Syrians in an area

“Rabim beyad me’atim – the many will be delivered in the hands of the few.” This was another Chanukah miracle in Eretz Yisrael thousands of years after the Bais Hamikdash once stood.

that became known as the Valley of Tears. Close to 500 Syrian tanks and other vehicles penetrated the IDF lines but after two days and nights of hard fighting only a few Syrian vehicles made it back to their own lines. With the yad Hashem shining through every part of the battle of the Golan Heights, the brave tankers of the IDF were able to defeat the Syrian juggernaut. Over a thousand Syrian tanks had been destroyed in what is described in Al Hanisim as

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at avi heiligman@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Rocky’s

Rant

Tourists Go Home! By Rocky Zweig

n December 11 I went to a play in New York. It was “Golda’s Balcony,” starring Tovah Feldshuh as Golda Meir, and it was held at Temple Emanu-el on Fifth Avenue and 65th Street. Do you know what New York landmark that’s pretty close to? Trump Tower, that’s what! So, being the reasonably intelligent person that I am, I decided to leave my car home and go by subway. I went to work by subway every day for thirty-five years, but I hadn’t been down there in ages. I’ve seen pretty much everything you can see in subterranean New York: rats dragging cheese danishes across the tracks, Mariachi bands (or, as I prefer to call them, Mexican Alarm Clocks) while I’m trying to chapp arein a ten-minute snooze before getting to the office, and approximately 6,247 homeless guys/girls/indeterminates panhandling for their sick mother, their four kids in the shelter, or just to get a Happy Meal at Mickey D’s. Out-of-Towners mistakenly believe that the greatest shows in New York take place on Broadway, at the Met or the Ballet (Frenchi schlepped me to a ballet once; if Ambien could stick that in a bottle somehow, they’d make a bloody fortune!). Not even close. The best place for entertainment in The Big Apple is underground. All manner of humanity (and semi-humanity) is on glorious display on our transit system. On that particular Sunday eve-

ning, there was a three-hundred pound guy in a ratty t-shirt, torn jeans and clogs sprawled across two seats, right next to the only open seat available. I sat down. Then I stood up. Turned out the aforementioned gentleman was exceptionally fragrant. It was an intriguing blend of old sweat socks, seriously bad rotgut whiskey, and that unmistakable aroma that is one of the perks of not having bathed since the Nixon administration. I

an integral part of my memories of New York Rapid (?) Transit was gone. It was driving me crazy for a few minutes, and then I realized what it was: Dr. Zizmor! There was no more Dr. Jonathan Zizmor! Turns out, he retired last January. How is a new generation of subway riders going to survive without gazing upon the good doctor’s smiling (actually more like smirking) face, imploring you to treat yourself to a chemical peel,

If she was the best example of his work he could come up with, I think I’ll keep my acne, thank you very much!

walked to the other end of the car and was all prepared to stand for the rest of the ride when a young woman looked up and said, “Would you like to sit?” “Omigosh, am I that old?” I thought. “No,” I said, “I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” Have you ever noticed that people always follow up with that insipid, “Are you sure?” Yes! I’m sure! Now stop asking me silly questions so I can concentrate on how much my feet hurt! But there was something bothering me, and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Something was missing;

acne treatment, or mole removal? And who could forget the before and after photos of the alluring Isabel R, who lovingly wrote to Dr. Z, “Thank you for improving my face…thank you for improving my life!” I used to stare at her exceptionally homely visage and try to figure out if her after picture was better or worse, and also this: if she was the best example of his work he could come up with, I think I’ll keep my acne, thank you very much! I got out on 59th Street and Fifth Avenue and was not prepared for

what greeted me: People! Tons and globs and hordes of people! They were window shopping and taking pictures and taking pictures of people window-shopping! They were selfie-ing and ooh-ing and ahh-ing, and there wasn’t all that much to ooh and ahh about! Okay, I guess I understand that if you’re from Kansas seeing Prada up close is kind of a big deal, but once you realize that you’ll have to sell your prized heifer Molly that won the blue ribbon at the last county fair to buy a scarf, isn’t it time to move on so folks with actual places they need to be can pass? All this brought back recollections of what being a salesman in the Diamond District during December was like. There I was, on my way to see a customer on 37 th Street, trying to navigate my way around enough hayseeds to populate a goodsized town in Arkansas. Midtown is waaaay worse than up in the 60s. Sometimes I felt like a running back, trying to find a route through about a thousand linebackers, all intent on stopping me. Or better yet, stomping on me if the opportunity were to present itself. Hey, everybody! I’m just trying to make a living! Can’t you just go spend the afternoon at Macy’s or the M&M store and get out of my way?! And, of course, you know why virtually every denizen of Fly-Over Continued on page 126

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Trump country finds his way to our fair metropolis in December, don’t you? They’re all here to see…THE TREE! That’s right, guys; most of this human congestion is being caused by one farshtunkenah 94-foot tall, 14ton Norway spruce from Oneonta, New York. You know – just like the ones all these bumpkins have growing in the woods right behind their backyards! Look, far be it from me to criticize the minhagim of another religion, but isn’t 94 feet a bit much? That would be like having an esrog the size of a microwave! L’havdil. If we Jews had trees, there’s no way we would choose such an enormous specimen… Can you imagine how many lights you would need? Can you even begin to contemplate what your electric bill would be? And if we had trees, there would be myriad halachos involved: where do you cut the tree, how do you cut it, when do you cut it? Can a goy cut it down for you? Do you make the bracha when you stand the tree up in the

living room or when you string the lights? Can you derive hana’ah from the lights? How many needles can fall off the tree before it becomes pasul? Truth be told, I wasn’t always a very ambitious salesman, although I never went to the movies on company time like I had seen other salesmen do. Well okay, I can’t exactly say never – I can say almost never. See, there was this one time when my boss was overseas and I didn’t have a lot of people to see that day, and I had a lot of extra time on my hands, so… so…okay, just that one time my yeitzer harah got the better of me and I walked into the multiplex theater on Broadway and 47 th Street to see a film. I’m not proud of it mind you, because in retrospect I realized that I was sorta kinda stealing from my boss. But don’t worry; the Ribbono Shel Olam taught me a lesson on that fateful day: on my way out of the theater, I ran straight into my daughter and a few of her friends who were walking in! She looked at me, smiled,

and uttered one word: “BUSTED!” As a redhead, I blush at the drop of a hat. I felt myself turning crimson. Then it occurred to me to ask why they weren’t in school. They came up with some cockamamie story about their teacher not feeling well and dismissing them early or some such narishkeit. As I was walking away, Blimie called to me and asked, “Hey, how was the movie?” “Awesome,” I said, “Bruce Willis is dead!”

Rocky Zweig has been writing since he was sixteen and was the Editor-in-Chief of the late and decidedly unlamented Modieinu, the mimeographed (remember mimeographs?) newspaper of the Tenth Avenue Pirchei of Boro Park, where he wrote everything from stories to news articles to hashkafa articles to... yes (now it can be told!)...letters to the editor. Rocky was sixteen a very long time ago. He is the proud father of three marginally neurotic children. He has been married

three — count ‘em — three times and has finally determined that he’s probably not very good at matrimonial bliss. He lives in his Fortress of Solitude in Flatbush with a small menagerie: Clarice, a European Starling; Rabbi Horatio LeZard, a Bearded Dragon; an aquarium filled with Lake Malawi African Cichlids; and a ten gallon tank that functions as a Home for Unwanted Goldfish, or H.U.G., collected over the years by his grandkids and great nieces and nephews at myriad street fairs and carnivals (rather than face the unpleasant task of flushing these unfortunate piscine creatures when they are eventually, inevitably ignored by their own obnoxious progeny, the parents simply call Uncle Rocky who then feeds them and cares for them until their ultimate natural demise three or four or even ten years down the pike). So apparently Rocky seems to get along better with animals than with his fellow homo sapiens. Or sapienses. Or whatever. Rocky’s column will be appearing every other week in The Jewish Home. Rocky can be reached at anidaati@aol.com.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

Chanukah Lights, Sights & Delights Here are some photos that TJH readers sent in for our Chanukah contest: what Chanukah means to you. Judging from the entries, family, doughnuts, menorahs and lots of joy saturate our homes on Chanukah. Wishing you a continued freilechen Chanukah! Keep snapping those photos!

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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HOUSES FOR SALE Don’t Get Stuck With a Two Story House Ya Know, It’s One Story Before You Buy It But a Second Story After You Own It! Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com LAWRENCE: Gracious & Spacious 9BR, 5 Bath CH Colonial, Huge Eik, Formal Dr, Den, Fin Basement, Set On 1/2 Acre, Prime Location...$1.279M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE: NEW LISTING 3BR, 2.5BA Hi-Ranch, Eik, Formal DR, Den W/Fplc, SD#14, Close To All, So Much Potential…$550K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE: NEW LISTING Prime Location, Beautiful Renovated 4BR, 2.5BA Split level, Wide FDR, Den, Backyard W/Hot Tub, New Roof , Windows, Too Much To List!!!…$849K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: Magnificent Maintained 3BR Ranch In SD#15, Eik, Formal DR, Lot Size 80 x 100, Hw Floors, Large Deck & Backyard, Fenced In Property…$649K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LAWRENCE: Spacious 4BR On One Level, 2.5 Bath Splanch, Private Setting, Waterviews, Fin Basement, Close To All…$925K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | The Jewish Home

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Lovely 2BR Co-op, Elev, Large & Bright Studio, Large 3BR, 2BA, Elevator All Redone 3BR Ranch, Pets Ok, Near All..$165K Elevator, Near All..$89K Bldg, Near All..$2,850/mo Low Taxes.. $599K

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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 HELP WANTED EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE SALES AGENT needed for a HIGH Producing real estate office who is seeking an opportunity to Earn & Learn more!!! Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential. GREAT OPPORTUNITY Looking for class B CDL DRIVER with clutch for a heimishe lumber co. Great pay, Call: 718-369-3141 Ext. 348 Seeking a dedicated, responsible secretary for a boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; elementary school. Requirements: proficiency in Microsoft Word; knowledge of Microsoft Office and QuickBooks is a plus, multi-tasking, including answering phones, delivering messages, making photocopies, typing sheets, and other standard office-related tasks. M-Th, 1:00-5:15. Availablility on Sundays is a plus but not required. To join our team-minded staff, please send your resume to mdgoodman@siachyitzchok.org

HELP WANTED Mazel Tov! Due to simchos, Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway is seeking qualified experienced moros for our Limudei Kodesh Departments 5th grade and junior high level. Assistants needed for Elementary school Limudei Chol department. Please email to mweitman@tagschools.org or call 718-471-8444 ext. 214. Full time sub Jr. High Eng subjects m-t email cdwieder@gmail.com Growing company in the 5 Towns is seeking motivated, confident, out-going employee for full time bookkeeping/accounting. Must have professional bookkeeping experience, and strong teamwork skills Please submit qualified resume to admin@getpeyd.com Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

5TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM TEACHERS. LOCAL DAY CAMP seeking to hire a friendly REGISTRAR/OFFICE MANAGER! Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Programs. Candidate will also deal with collections and accounts payable/receivables. Knowledge of CampMinder preferred. Hours and salary to be discussed. Great work environment! Send resume to registrarcamp@gmail.com

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CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Fax: (212) 480-3691 ~ Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com

ASSOCIATE WANTED Fast growing coaching firm seeks to hire a part-time digital marketing and sales associate to manage marketing initiatives and engage in sales prospecting. This is a work from home position with flexible hours. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Marketing development and management Prospecting clients for service and product sales (leads will be provided) Website and Social Media content management, including editing and uploading video Related skills: This position requires knowledge of online and print marketing techniques, sales experience, creative writing skills, and attention to detail. Submit resume with cover letter and references to: info@impactfulcoaching.com.

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Classifieds

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HELP WANTED

MISC

WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE A MARKETING/SALES SPECIALIST. Job will require your own car and being computer/internet savy. If you consider yourself a marketing professional, this is the position for you. Opportunity to make unlimited income potential. Don’t delay. Give us a call at 917-612-2300

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OVERNIGHT \WEEKEND COUNSELOR Responsible and exp’d staff to live in a beautiful group home & work 3 nights\week 7pm - 9am. Staff are not req’d to remain awake after 11pm. Staff are req’d to work two weekends per month. Free rent & food. Stipend given as well. Great for college girl. For additional info contact Frayde Yudkowsky at 732.948.4636 or fyudkowsky@evolvetreatment.com.

MISC Gift It Forward A Non-Profit Gift Shop 404 Central Avenue (inside ELZEE) A non-profit gift shop whose proceeds help others in need through donations to well deserving charities. We hope you donate your unneeded new gifts to our cause. Household gift items, ceramics, Judaica, crystals, framed art, sterling silver, designer bags, wallets and jewelry (jewelry can be used) Please help us Gift It Forward

Is a woman allowed to eat before she hears Chanukah lecht?

SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com WIG GEMACH Everyone in our community deserves to look great! Donate used wigs and make a world of a difference. For appointments to see wigs or to donate Call Deena 845-304-6668 NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Torah Academy for Girls admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and other school administered programs.

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Your

Money

Warren Buffett’s Real Superpower By Allan Rolnick, CPA

pend an afternoon at any area theater, and you’ll see heroes with superpowers wreaking havoc wherever they go. Superman is faster than a speeding bullet (and leaps tall buildings in a single bound). Superheroes band together to save the world and debate whether they can ignore civilian authorities while they do it. Sometimes they even get married — just witness the Incredibles, an entire family of “Supers” dedicated to battling evil on a daily basis. Every so often, mere mortals reveal they have superpowers, too. Take Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha.” The longtime chairman of Berkshire Hathaway has grown his company’s book value by 19.7% per year for the last 49 years, making him the third-richest man in the world. Most observers would say Buffett’s superpower is his talent for spotting undervalued companies to buy. But is stock picking really the ace up his sleeve? Or could his true

superpower be tax planning? Here’s what’s going on. Most public companies start out by plowing their profits back into their own growth. At some point they become confident enough to reward investors with cash dividends. The typical S&P 500 company pays out about 30% of its earnings to shareholders for a 2% dividend yield. Those dividends encourage more investors to buy in. But they’re taxable as soon as paid and slow a company’s growth, too. Buffett plays a little tighter. He looks for undervalued targets with rich cash flows and solid dividend histories. He buys them, then kills their dividends to redeploy that cash for future acquisitions. Buffett’s own company hasn’t paid a dividend since Lyndon Johnson was president! Buffett owns $65 billion worth of his company’s stock. If he paid a 2% dividend like the typical S&P 500 company, he would have tak-

en $1.2 billion last year, meaning a $280 million tax bill. Plowing those millions in tax savings back into his company’s growth adds even more to Buffett’s net worth! (What would Buffett do with all that income, anyway? He’s famously modest, still living in the same Omaha house he bought for $31,500 back in 1958. And when he bought a private jet, he had the self-awareness to name it “the Indefensible.”) But wait . . . there’s more! Buffett isn’t just avoiding tax on dividends. By locking up all his income inside the business and rewarding investors in the form of higher share prices, he’s converting ordinary income into capital gains. That means that shareholders who hold their stock until death will qualify for “steppedup basis” treatment and escape tax on their gains entirely. Of course, all those billions are still subject to estate tax. But Buffett has a plan for that, too. He’s a legendarily generous philanthro-

pist who’s pledged to donate 99% of what’s left at his death to his friend Bill Gates’s (tax-free) foundation. So the untaxed billions he’s squirreled away will escape the IRS forever. Now that’s a superpower! Buffet’s planning has worked so well that Hillary Clinton even named a campaign proposal after him: the “Buffett Rule,” which would have set a minimum tax rate of 30% on anyone earning over $1 million per year. We can’t promise that saving taxes will compound your dividends into billions. But it’s just common sense that keeping more for yourself contributes to your bottom line. Make sure you have a plan so you can borrow a little of Buffett’s superpower for yourself!

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 29, 2016

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Life C ach

The Blessing of Two Pieces of Rye with Turkey By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

he Sandwich generation used to mean kids who liked two slices of bread with something like peanut butter, cream cheese, or tuna inside. As people became more health conscious they went from white bread to whole wheat, to a single slice, to Melba toast, to no bread altogether! Just throw any protein into a salad and that was the new sandwich. Or, of course, there emerged the health bar, though, who knows what really lurks in the dark recesses of those condensed mini meals?! Now it’s taken on a whole new meaning. It’s an adult with a parent and a child straddling each side of them. This sandwich is not as easy to replace. It is the blessed result of longevity. At one end are the pulls and pressures of being there for your children; on the other side are the parents who were always there for you now needing you more. This sandwich has a blessing on each side. The inside is comprised of an adult connected to each slice of bread and being chewed on by both. The challenge is navigating these blessings with efficiency and sensitivity. No party wants to feel neglected. So how do you keep all the slices of bread happy while not letting the inside spill out onto the floor?

The important thing to remember is neither you nor your child would be here without the investment of your parents – their sleepless nights, runs to the pediatrician, help with that persistent blight – homework – and their all-around worry and care. Is it easy to split yourself into halves or quarters or eighths? Of course not. Each situation makes different demands. But here’s what

then their greater wealth will filter through to all facets of society. What I’m implying is that if you treat the people at the top – in this case our greatest role models and original nurturers – with love and respect, then all the later generations realize this is the way to honor people in generations above them. The benefits thus filter down through all facets of society.

Is it easy to split yourself into halves or quarters or eighths?

separates the men from the boys, so to speak. It’s attitude! Some people have more help, some less, some have more challenges, some less. For some it’s not that difficult, and for some, it’s beyond. But the distinguishing factor is mindset. Of course, whenever and wherever possible getting more people involved is a lifesaver on both ends. Listen, the specifics vary. But the formula for addressing it is the same. It’s kind of like trickle-down economics. Which says that if high earners get an increase in income,

Is this easy by any means? No, of course not. Your time is limited. You cannot be in two places at once. Everyone may complain at times; you may feel pulled in multiple directions and overwhelmed. That is an inevitable part of the sandwich. Its parts are not optional, like adding relish or mayo. Whenever possible, hold your sandwich together with joint activities, and thereby you’ll blend and bond these gifts in your life! General solutions only go so far, but how to navigate your specific situation is something unique to

your family. All I can encourage is, as you go through it, remember one thing that is, when you’re not too exhausted to think at all! Your kids, your parents – they may not be exactly how or where you want them to be. But these slices of bread, at both ends, are the blessings in your life. Whatever brand or consistency they are, they are the bread that holds and enfolds you! So try and keep your attitude one of hakarot hatov, gratitude. And then as you find yourself running between them all, you won’t let yourself dissolve. You’ll tap into that positive trickle-down theory and realize that as you do, you teach. All sandwiches are comprised of components. Some come together better than others. But for you – the one being squeezed in the middle – it’s not always easy. When you can’t control it, try and control your attitude toward it. Then hopefully the same sandwich won’t seem as challenging to eat because you’ll remember that without the pieces of bread on top, you’d never have the pieces of bread below.

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com

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