March 12, 2020
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Around the
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Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
Healing in Haifa pg
64
TAG’s 57th Annual Dinner
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90
34 Preparing for Purim Around Town
45 YCQ Celebrates Anniversary Dinner
What Does Your
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CIJE Journeys to the Startup Nation
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Handwriting
Say About You?
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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers, “Do you remember that Purim when everybody was going crazy about coronavirus?” In this wild ride called life that is a question that will come up faster than we think. I’m not forecasting where this situation is going – I am far from being an expert – but I do know that we always have a way of moving past the crisis of the moment. We usually look back at it in hindsight, sigh with relief, and realize that there was a lot of hysteria surrounding current events. One thing that I find helpful in uncertain moments is watching how young children are pretty much oblivious to what is going on. This morning, like every other Shushan Purim morning, each of my children had their mishloach manos nosh laid out on the floor of their rooms in neat piles, as they marveled at their bounty. They seem to have it down to a science – Oodles and snack bags can’t be in the same pile, but Milk Munches and Oreos can. And, of course, soda cans must be stacked up as a pyramid. The younger kids seem to think that at all times they must be chewing on something; otherwise, it’s not real, it’s just a dream. To the kids, there is no stock market crash, no pandemic or non-pandemic pandemic, no elections or back-to-work blues; it’s just them and their candy. They are happy and content because they have so many good things…by the handful. Truthfully, we have the same thing in our lives – a ton of good – it’s just that, unlike children, our focus is more attuned to what can go wrong rather than to
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what is going right. For me, personally, I am fortunate and am focused on the gift that Hashem has given me and my family – a baby girl born just last week. It is often said in Jewish thought that the surest way to understand what emunah looks like is by observing a baby. We see how a baby is totally dependent on its mother to feed it, to wash it and to take care of it. The baby is not able to comprehend that every aspect of its life is being meticulously taken care of and that there is not a thing that is overlooked. It is the same way with us. Hashem takes care of our every need. Since we are not babies, we think we know what is really going on but the truth is that we don’t understand the full picture just as a baby can’t comprehend the enormity of its life and bounty. And so, whenever I hear about the newest pandemic sweeping the world, I look at my newborn, Aliza – a name which means “joy” – and remind myself that Hashem “has this”! As we slowly move away from Purim and proceed to prepare for Pesach and fulfill what Hashem wants of us in this moment, things will slowly turn back to normal, iy”H. Before we know it, we will be sitting around the dinner table with our families and remembering the hysteria that took over the world weeks before. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana
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Shabbos Zemanim
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
6
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll
6
Community Happenings
32
Your TJH Purim Photo Album
90
NEWS Global
10
National
22
Odd-but-True Stories
30
ISRAEL
72
Israel News
18
World Builders
63
Professor Rafael Beyar: Healing in Haifa by Tammy Mark 64
JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha
52
What’s Your Essence? by Rav Moshe Weinberger
54
Parsha in Four by Eytan Kobre
56
The Power of Giving by Shmuel Reichman
58
PEOPLE The Wandering Jew
60
IDF Innovations by Avi Heiligman
88
HEALTH & FITNESS Vegetarian Diet = Weight Loss? by Cindy Weinberger, MS RD CDN
71
We Have Nothing in Common by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn
72
FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Charoset Salad
74
LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 68
Dear Editor, Einstein posited, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” In this parsha we find an anomaly to Einstein’s aphorism. Indeed, in Ki Tisa, every Jew was counted through the permissible means of taking a machatzis hashekel and every Jew counts. The reason for the anomaly relates to the unmatched potential contained in every individual of the Jewish nation. That’s the meaning of Ki Tisa, when you as an individual are “raised up” by being singled out by G-d Who looks to each individual with great affection and expectation. Later in the parsha, we see the word tisa used in a different context, when Moshe asks G-d, “im yisa – if You will bear or forgive” the sins of the Jewish nation. Here the connotation of the word is to bear or forgive. What then is to be learned from the two connotations that sprout out of the same word, tisa, to raise and to bear or forgive? It may be said in the spiritual realm to rise to greatness (tisa) one must be able to bear or forgive (tisa) others’ insults and humiliations directed towards him. Who in life has not been humiliated by others to a point that not reacting seems irrational? That is where greatness lies. If in the mo-
ment of humiliation, one is quiet, he can rise to unparalleled greatness. Steven Genack Dear Editor, I appreciate your pre-Purim issue every year, as you manage to be witty and funny, and still batampte with your humor. I know it’s not easy – and you are able to come up with fresh, funny material year-in, year-out. That is why my family loves TJH – from my husband to my kids. We all were able to get in a chuckle or two – some of us, many, many more – over Shabbos! Thank you for always enhancing our Shabbos kodesh. The Fishman Family Dear Editor, The letter from “Aim Habanim” discussing the photos that typically accompany shidduch profiles moved me so. I totally agree with the author of the letter. We should all be up in arms. The current system is demeaning and totally inappropriate. The value of our daughters and daughters-in-law, current and future, iy”H, absolutely cannot be reduced to a simple photo. For years we are teaching them, Kol kvodah bas melech pnimiyah, the beauty of our daughters, our princesses, lies deep within, and must be protected. Continued on page 8
What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? 76 Your Money
110
109
Possibilities Are on the Way by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 110 HUMOR Centerfold 50
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes
80
So What If They Made the Trains Run on Time? by Rafael Medoff
84
Biden Needs to Admit That He and His Son Made Mistakes by David Ignatius 86 The Future of the Supreme Court is on the Ballot by Marc A. Thiessen 87 CLASSIFIEDS
106
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Continued from page 6
Given the pull of the outside world, including media use, the laws of tzinius are more crucial today than ever. The development of middos tovos, of inner beauty, of integrity and morality, has been impressed upon our girls from the very onset of their growth and maturity. Ideally, this must remain the focus throughout the shidduch process. As adults with life experience, we know that inner beauty, kindness and generosity of spirit is what is necessary to build a beautiful home. May I share with you a poem that says it all. As a camper in Camp Naarah, many years ago, a staff member inscribed this moving poem into my autograph book. These words etched themselves upon my heart and mind already then and I’ve shared them many a time. Look not for beauty nor whiteness of skin- nor a figure so thin But look for a heart that is warm within For beauty will fade, white skin will grow old But a heart that is warm will never grow cold.
Mothers of our future kallahs: stand strong and do not send out photos of your precious daughters. Mothers of our future chassanim: do not demand photos from the shadchanim Shadchanim: no more photos. We’re above and beyond that. In the merit of our efforts to uphold the modesty and the chashivus of our daughters, I’m certain that Hashem Yisbaruch will bless our communities with much reason to celebrate! Miriam Liebermann Dear Editor, Isn’t it a wonder that a small speck can wreak such havoc around the world? How a mere breath of a person can close down countries? With the spread of coronavirus, panic has ensued. Whether the cause for panic is warranted or not, I have taken a message from this situation. Many times, we see our words as inconsequential. We don’t believe that what we say about our friends/ relatives/coworkers behind their backs means anything or will have any effect on anything. Or we don’t realize that what we said to someone
may have hurt them inadvertently. We don’t truly believe in the power of our words. But words are powerful: they can make or break someone. They can shut down businesses; they can make shidduchim. They can build a child up or tear him down. They can create peace between spouses or cause friction between husband and wife. They can be used to beseech Hashem for anything in the world
and implore Him for help. So, maybe, during this time, we can all work on ensuring that our words are there to build and to heal and to help. Perhaps we can all come out of this situation better, happier people. Sincerely, Ruchama Hecht
Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to: editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.
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Ukraine’s Prez Replaces His PM
tional partners and with all appreciation for their help, the citizens of our country on governing boards of our companies are feeling like an ethnic minority,” Zelensky told parliament. “Over the years, we had a lot of governments – the government of technocrats, the government of embezzlers, the government of salvation, the government of ‘strong business executives,’ the government of salvation, etc.,” Zelensky added. “I believe that we will finally have a government for people.”
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kraine’s President Volodmyr Zelensky fired Prime Minister Oleksiy Goncharuk last week after he was recorded criticizing Zelensky’s understanding of economics. “We need new brains, new hearts,” Zelensky said on Wednesday. Goncharuk was replaced by Denis Shmygal, who was sworn in on Wednesday after being approved by the Ukrainian parliament. Shmygal is now Ukraine’s third prime minister in six months. A former governor of Ivano Frankovsk, he has no experience in national politics. Goncharuk had served as prime minister since September and was the country’s youngest-ever person to hold the job. The firing was the start of a mass cabinet shakeup, with Zelensky announcing the next day that he had fired his entire government. In the surprise purge, Zelensky axed Finance Minister Oksana Markarova, Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Ryaboshapka, and Economy Minister Tymofey Mylovanoc. Zelensky, who was elected last year on an anti-corruption platform, said that the reason for the dismissals was their poor record in promoting reforms. In announcing the shake-up, Zelensky harshly criticized the outgoing ministers for failing to effectively battle corruption and blasted them for being overly reliant on Western aid. This, he said, led to a situation in which national companies appointed only foreigners on their boards to attract foreign investment, at the expense of local Ukrainians. “With all respect to our interna-
Last Ebola Patient in Congo Discharged
Last Tuesday, the final Ebola patient being treated in the Democratic Republic of Congo was discharged from a treatment center, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This heralds a hopefully imminent end to the disease’s second-deadliest outbreak, which began in August 2018. WHO Africa region tweeted a video of the patient singing and dancing while health care workers as well as many other people gathered to celebrate. The woman was released from the center in Beni town, one of the “hotspots” of the disease. The WHO estimates 2,226 people were killed in the current outbreak, the tenth in Congo since the virus was discovered in 1976. Alongside the fight against Ebola, violence and armed conflict in Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces were responsible for additional deaths of health workers. In February, four African countries licensed a vaccine against Ebola: Burundi, Ghana, Zambia, and Congo. While praising the “tireless efforts” of agencies in the fight against the disease, WHO regional director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti called for caution and vigilance. “It is not yet the end of Ebola in the
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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China Bans Eating of Some Animals
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As the coronavirus epidemic is believed to have originated from a wildlife market in Wuhan, China is working to outlaw the farming and consumption of certain wild animals. A temporary ban was enacted in late February and is expected to be signed into law later this year. While it remains unclear which animal had initially transferred the virus to humans, possible suggestions include snake, bat, and pangolin (a scaly, ant-eating mammal). Public health experts acknowledge the importance of a ban, but call on Beijing to take it a step further and work on changing cultural attitudes towards use of wildlife in traditional medicine, clothing, and even as pets. Officials had previously worked to contain the trade in 2003, banning the sale of civets (similar to mongoose) after it was determined that the animals had likely been the cause of transferring the SARS virus to humans. The Wuhan seafood market had been selling species such as porcupines, deer, dogs, raccoons, and snakes. Footage uploaded by a Chinese citizen showed animals being slaughtered in the market in front of customers, though the video has since been deleted from Weibo by government censors. Keeping numerous wild animals from different environments in such close proximity is likely what caused the epidemic. “These animals have their own viruses,” said Hong Kong University virologist professor Leo Poon. “These viruses can jump from one species to another species, then
that species may become an amplifier, which increases the amount of virus in the wet market substantially.” When a large number of people visit the markets daily, Poon said the risk of the virus jumping to humans rises sharply. Poon was one of the first scientists to decode the SARS coronavirus during the 2013 epidemic. It was linked to civet cats kept for food in a Guangzhou market, but Poon said it still remains unclear whether SARS was transmitted to the cats from another species. “[Farmed civet cats] didn’t have the virus, suggesting they acquired it in the markets from another animal,” he said. A 2017 report found that the Chinese wildlife trade employed over 1 million people and was worth over $73 billion. Almost 20,000 wildlife farms have been shut down or put under quarantine since the virus hit in December. It is not yet clear what effect this ban may have on the industry as a whole. According to Poon, it will be a big decision whether the government decides to officially end the wildlife trade or will instead work to find safer options. “If this is part of Chinese culture, they still want to consume a particular exotic animal, then the country can decide to keep this culture, that’s okay,” he said. “[But] then they have to come up with another policy – how can we provide clean meat from that exotic animal to the public? Should it be domesticated? Should we do more checking or inspection? Implement some biosecurity measures?” An outright ban could raise further issues. According Ecohealth Alliance president Peter Daszak, if made illegal, the trade would likely create black markets in rural communities where it is easier to hide the animals. If driven underground, the trade could become even more dangerous.
Airlines Hit Hard
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As the number of people infected by the coronavirus rises, country after country have implemented travel bans. With health experts warning that airports are among the most likely places to catch the virus, passengers have stayed home. Now, airports remain eerily empty, and travel agents are seeing a decline in business. The impact has been particularly acute in countries such as Israel that have instituted draconian travel restrictions, with
Ben Gurion Airport expecting 1.5 million fewer passengers for this calendar year. “There are dramatically fewer people flying this week than there were last week,” Airlines for America CEO Nicholas E. Calio noted. “Flights are being taken down because people aren’t getting on airplanes.” The sudden drop in international traffic has been devastating to airlines. Last week, British carrier Flybe became the first one to declare bank-
ruptcy, and many others may be next. In Israel, national carrier El Al has already laid off 20% of its workforce, while Norwegian Air may also soon close its doors. In the United States, a slew of major airlines announced drastic cuts in an effort to stay afloat. Aviation giants United Airlines and JetBlue Airways have already cut hundreds of domestic flights, while American Airlines, Alaskan Airlines, and Delta have waived fees for ticket changes
Russian President Vladimir Putin would love to stay in office indefinitely. The Russian leader revealed his tightly guarded political plans on Tuesday and supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek reelection in 2024 by suspending a law that limits presidents to two consecutive terms. The constitutional change would pave the way for the 67-year-old Putin to stay in office until 2036, if he desires. Former Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, now a lawmaker, proposed either scrapping Russia’s two-term limit for presidents or stopping the clock so the law wouldn’t apply to Putin’s time in office. The Russian leader and the lower house of parliament quickly endorsed the proposal put forward by 83-year-old Tereshkova. Kremlin critics denounced the move as cynical manipulation and called for protests. Lawmakers also passed a set of constitutional amendments proposed by Putin that include defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman and language pledging homage to “ancestors who bequeathed to us their ideals and a
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belief in G-d.” In a speech to lawmakers debating the package of amendments, Putin opposed doing away with the presidential term limit but backed stopping the count and restarting it in 2024, if the Russian Constitution is revised. Putin’s second consecutive six-year term ends in 2024. A nationwide vote on the amendments is scheduled for next month. Putin has been in power for more than 20 years. He is Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. After serving two presidential terms in 20002008, he shifted to the Russian prime minister’s office while protege Dmitry Medvedev served as a placeholder president. Once the length of a presidential term was extended to six years under Medvedev, Putin reclaimed the presidency in 2012 and won another term in 2018. Russia’s leading opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, mocked the proposed change. “Putin has been in power for 20 years, and yet he is going to run for the first time,” Navalny tweeted. A group of opposition activists called for a March 21 protest rally in Moscow that they expect up to
50,000 people to attend. “The country where the government doesn’t change for 20 years has no future,” the activists said in a statement, After the group announced the rally, Moscow authorities quickly banned outdoor events with attendance of more than 5,000 until April 10, saying it was part of precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Italy Announces General Quarantine
Italy has announced a general quarantine all across the country in a bid to halt Europe’s worst coronavirus outbreak.
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The new measures were announced by Prime Minister Giussepe Conte on Monday and will affect upwards of 60 million people. Telling his citizens to “stay home,” the unprecedented general quarantine forbids sporting events, weddings, and religious ceremonies, and shutters places of entertainment such as bars and theaters. “I am going to sign a decree that can be summarized as follows: I stay at home,” Conte said. “The whole of Italy will become a protected zone. “There is no more time. I will take responsibility for these measures. Our future is in our hands,” he added. The quarantine is an expansion of a previous decree in northern Italy that forced 16 million people to stay home. Now, all of Italy will be under quarantine as Italy’s attempts to mitigate the spread of the virus grows increasingly desperate. The announcement came as the number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus in Italy continues to spiral. Italy is struggling to end the continent’s worst outbreak of the coronavirus, which has already killed 463 people and infected 9,172.
ICC to Probe U.S. of War Crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it approved prosecutors to open a probe into alleged war crimes by U.S. and Afghani forces. “The Appeals Chamber found that the Prosecutor is authorized to investigate…the crimes alleged to have been committed on the territory of Afghanistan since 1 May 2003,” said the ICC, “as well as other alleged crimes that have a nexus to the armed conflict in Afghanistan and are sufficiently linked to the situation in Afghanistan and were committed on the territory of other States Parties.” The investigation will be led by ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and will look into charges such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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The probe will focus on conduct by U.S. and Afghani forces, and the CIA. The announcement came only a few days after the United States signed a historic agreement with the Taliban to end nearly 20 years of fighting in the war-stricken country. It also reverses a decision last April by ICC justices which held that the court had no jurisdiction to open a probe into the U.S.’s conduct in Afghanistan. Calling the decision a “breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution, masquerading as a legal body,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed not to cooperate with the court in any way. “We’re going to take all the appropriate actions to ensure that American citizens are not hauled before this political body to settle political vendettas,” Pompeo said. The global court upheld an appeal by prosecutors against a pre-trial chamber’s rejection in April last year of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s request to open a probe in Afghanistan. Pre-trial judges last year acknowledged that widespread crimes have been committed in Afghanistan, but rejected the investigation, saying it would not be in the interests of justice because the likely lack of cooperation meant convictions would ultimately be improbable.
Jerusalem Court Rules Against Church
purchased the lots. The judge also harshly criticized the Jerusalem municipality for dragging out the court battle and fined it NIS 5000. The Greek Orthodox Church, which owns large parts of Jerusalem, had sold the disputed property in 2016 to Nayot Komemiut Investments. The deal sparked an uproar among the 1,500 families living in the given properties due to fears that they would be forced to pay the investor group hundreds of thousands of shekels in order to continue living in their homes. The majority of the lots house residential buildings, numbering more than 1,500 apartments all together. The landlords had been leasing the land from the Jewish National Fund (JNF) without knowing that it belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church. The leases expire in 2051, meaning that the homes will revert from their current owners to the Nayot Kommemiut Investments. In an attempt to freeze the sale from going through, the Jerusalem Municipality claimed that the Greek Orthodox Church owed extraordinary sums in back taxes. The freeze kicked off a dispute with the church, culminating in the unprecedented decision to shutter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in protest last year. Then-Knesset member Rachel Azariah also promoted a deal that would expropriate the homes from Nayot Komemiut Investments, despite warnings from jurists that the bill would not stand up in court. With last week’s court ruling, the investor group now has the legal ability to evict the residents even if they already bought the homes in which they are living.
Serbia to Open Jerusalem Trade Office The Jerusalem District Court ruled in favor of a group of developers last week, ending a long-running property dispute between the municipality and the Greek Orthodox Church. In the ruling, Judge Eli Abarbani ordered the city to register the 140 acres in the Talbieh and Nayot neighborhoods in the name of Nayot Komemiyut Investments, which had
Serbia’s President Alexander Vucic recently announced that his country will open an official diplomatic office in Jerusalem. Serbia will first open a trade office,
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
followed by an official diplomatic office, he said. The country now joins the United States, Australia, Honduras, Guatemala, and others that have opened diplomatic offices in Israel’s capital. The Serbian president first announced the move at last week’s annual AIPAC conference in Washington. “We are going to open very soon not only an office of our Chamber of Commerce, but, together with our Chamber of Commerce, an official state office in Jerusalem with the Serbian official flag alongside our embassy in Tel Aviv,” Vucic said to deafening applause. “That’s our way of showing respect to the Jewish people.” While refraining from providing a timetable, Vucic spoke warmly about his country’s ties with the Jewish state, pointing out Serbia’s support for the Balfour Declaration. He also mentioned President Reuven Rivlin’s state visit in 2016 that saw Serbia name a street after Theodore Herzl as well as the country’s legislation mandating restitution to Holocaust survivors. “We have always been together throughout, and we support each other today,” said Vucic. Israel’s embassy in Belgrade praised the move, saying in a brief statement that it would be “following up” to coordinate the diplomatic representative office’s opening. “We are happy to hear [President Aleksandar] Vucic announcing a plan for the opening of the official Serbian state office in our capital Jerusalem. We encourage others to follow the same direction and join more countries,” tweeted the embassy. The announcement comes amid blossoming relations between the two countries, including legislation passed earlier this month to establish a memorial for the Holocaust victims who perished at Belgrade’s Staro Sajmiste concentration camp.
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The closure means that Israelis and Palestinians are banned from entering and exiting the city south of Jerusalem. Popular tourist sites will also be shuttered to reduce crowding. The move is considered drastic and has not been implemented in any Israeli city despite rising numbers of LOCATION. COMMUNITY. LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE. those infected with the virus. The closure will be enforced by the Palestinian Authority (PA) police and the IDF. The decision to impose such extreme measures came after seven Palestinians working in a Bethlehem hotel were found to be infected with the coronavirus on Thursday. According to Bethlehem official Imad Shahadeh, the virus had been transmitted by a group of Greek tourists who visited the area in late February and have since left the country. “We respect the authorities’ decision because safety comes first,” a Church of the Nativity official said. PA President Mahmoud Abbas The Residence is a new Glatt also declared a state of emergency for Kosher independent living the next 30 days in an attempt to concomplex for adults 55+. tain the virus. The order mandates the closure of all schools and univerCatering to individuals looking sities in the West Bank and forbids to move to a magnificent large gatherings. home in the heart of a Despite the usual enmity between renowned Jewish community. them, Israel and the PA have been working closely to prevent the disease from spreading. Over the past week, • Continental Breakfast & the IDF’s Medical Corps held multiple Dinner drills with PA medics while Israel’s • High-end Upscale Property Health Ministry transferred thouin the heart of Lakewood sands of medical equipment such as • Concierge Service masks, antiseptic, and full bodysuits to the area. • Socialization Program
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Kahol Lavan leader Benny Gantz’s plan to form a minority government backed by the Arab Joint List party appears to be thwarted by an internal rebellion within his faction. According to reports on Monday, Gantz has been secretly negotiating with Join List leader Ahmed Tibi
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to support a Kahol Lavan-led government from outside the coalition. While the Arabs have never joined a government in Israel’s 72-year history, the 15 seats the party racked up in last week’s elections renders Gantz unable to form a coalition without their support.
Gantz’s initiative would see the Joint List support the formation of a government led by him while remaining outside of the coalition. While they would be compensated for their support with budget funds and other measures, the fact that the anti-Zionist party would not take an active role in the government would neutralize the harsh criticism from the Likud over the move. The first law the Kahol Lavan and Joint List coalition would pass would forbid a politician with a pending indictment from serving as prime minister. This bill would prevent Netanya-
hu from running again as the head of the Likud in the future and is seen by Israel’s left as the highest priority. However, Gantz’s plan to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu as Israel’s elected leader sparked an open rebellion by Kahol Lavan lawmakers Yoaz Hendel, Tzvi Hauser, and Hili Tropper. The three MKs, who are known as the more right-wing members of Kahol Lavan, told Gantz that they would not vote for a government that depended on the Joint List’s support. Both Hendel and Hauser are members of the Telem faction, which was founded by ex-Likud Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon. Telem had marketed itself as a secular rightwing Knesset slate and had reiterated throughout the election campaign that it would never join a coalition that included the Joint List. Hauser and Hendel’s refusal enraged Ya’alon, who demanded during a tense meeting on Monday that they resign from the Knesset if they refuse to vote in favor of a Kahol Lavan government supported by the Joint List. Ya’alon’s ultimatum left the pair unmoved, who replied that they were only honoring their promise to voters not to sit in a coalition with the anti-Israel lawmakers.
U.S. Army Backs Off Plans to Buy Iron Dome Trump Tackles Coronavirus
The U.S. Army said that it is backing off plans to purchase two of Israel’s Iron Dome batteries after it faced problems integrating it with current air defense systems. Invented by Rafael, the Iron Dome system shoots incoming shortrange missiles out of the air. Boasting an 85% success rate, it is widely considered the best missile defense system in the world. The U.S. Army had intended to purchase four overall batteries to protect troops on the battlefield. In the initial requisition last year, the U.S. Army had purchased two batteries from Rafael which included 12 launchers, two sensors, a pair of battlement management centers, and 240 interceptors. However, U.S. Army officials decided not to purchase the final two batteries after discovering unforeseen issues during the testing stage. Speaking to the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee last week, General Mike Murray said that multiple problems had cropped up that showed that Iron Dome could not be used with existing radar systems. “It took us longer to acquire those first two batteries than we would have liked,” said Murray. “We believe we cannot integrate them into our air-defense system based upon some interoperability challenges, some cyber[security] challenges and some other challenges,” he added. “So what we ended up having is two stand-alone batteries that will be very capable, but they cannot be integrated.” A key problem with the system was Israel’s refusal to share the source code for fear that it would leak out to non-trusted sources. Other issues included cyber vulnerabilities and issues with its radar system.
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan $8.3 billion spending bill to fight the coronavirus on Friday. At the signing ceremony held at the White House, Trump said that the mammoth bill showed that his administration is serious about doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of the virus. However, he urged Americans “not to panic” and predicted that authorities would succeed in mitigating the disease in the near future. “We’re doing well, but it’s an unforeseen problem,” said Trump at the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room. The bill will provide funding for federal agencies and state and local governments to battle the coronavirus more effectively. Around $3 billion is destined for efforts to find a vaccine, while another $2 billion will go towards prevention and preparedness. Another $1 billion will be used to procure medical supplies and help struggling community hospitals. The bill also gives immediate financial relief for states dealing with a high number of coronavirus cases, such as the $11.5 million that Washington and California received. “I can tell you we need these funds. We need them now,” Washington Senator Maria Cantwell said in a statement on Thursday. The House and the Senate had fast-tracked the bill on Wednesday, with only two congressmen voting against it. In the Senate, only Kentucky Republican Rand Paul opposed the spending bill, which passed 98-1. The extraordinary sums earmarked in the bill and the quick nature of its passage shows how seriously U.S. lawmakers are taking the coronavirus. Trump had originally asked for only $2.5 billion but legisla-
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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tors in Congress had insisted that on the unprecedented $8.5 billion, more than the $5.4 billion used to fight Ebola in 2014 and the $7 billion for H1N1 in 2009. “We’ve signed the 8.3 billion,” Trump said. “I asked for two and a half and I got 8.3, and I’ll take it.”
YU Team Makes the Sweet 16
Yeshiva University’s basketball team will go to its first-ever “Sweet 16” after its resounding victory over Penn State-Harrisburg on Saturday evening.
Played without any fans in attendance due to fears of the coronavirus, the game saw the Maccabees dominate at 102-83. The star of the game was sophomore guard Ryan Turel, who racked up 41 points to extend YU’s winning streak to 29 games. As the final buzzer rang, the yarmulke-clad athletes hugged on the court while chanting Purim songs. With the victory, the Maccabees will advance to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 tournament for the first time ever and will take on Randolph-Macon College. The win is just the latest for YU’s dream season. After blowing out Worcester-Polytechnic on Friday afternoon, the religiously-observant athletes rushed back to their hotel to make it in time for Shabbat. Right after havdalah, they piled on the bus and raced over to Johns Hopkins Goldfarb Gym. “It means everything,” said forward Gabriel Leifer after the game. Leifer, who led both teams with 20 rebounds, was voted the most outstanding player in the Skyline Conference Tournament on Friday. “From the start of the year, after we lost in the conference final last year, we knew this year was going to be a big year for us.” Now, YU faces its biggest test
when it takes on Virginia’s Randolph-Macon College. Ranked #3 in the NCAA’s Division III, the team is thought to be significantly better than any school that the Maccabees have played up until now this season. “It’s going to be awesome,” Leifer predicted. “It’s an amazing experience, another game, and like we say: ‘We’re just surviving events no matter how hard or how difficult it is.’”
Bloomberg Continues to Take on Trump
Dropping out of the Democratic Party’s presidential race doesn’t mean that Michael Bloomberg is giving up in trying to defeat President Donald Trump. Only a few days after announcing that he was leaving the contest, the former New York City mayor and billionaire told CNN that he was creating a new group dedicated to ousting Trump in 2020. According to Bloomberg, his new group will be focused not only on defeating Trump but will also work to elect down-ballot Democrats. It will also be the main recipient of the massive sums from his $50 billion personal fortune that he has earmarked for the effort. While the group does not yet have a name, it has already started hiring staffers and plans to employ hundreds of people in six swing states: Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Like all Super PACs, Bloomberg’s group will not be allowed to be in any contact with presidential campaigns. Bloomberg had announced the end of his short-lived presidential campaign last Wednesday and endorsed Joe Biden after his dismal showing on Super Tuesday. Despite spending $500 million of his personal wealth on massive ad buys, Bloomberg only won the American Samoa and finished far behind in almost every other state. The poor showing on Super Tues-
day was devastating to the former mayor, who based his entire strategy on ignoring early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire in order to focus on the Super Tuesday states. At its height, Bloomberg’s campaign staff employed a staggering 2,000 people in New York and San Diego, raising questions about what he would do with the juggernaut he built after his early exit.
Warren Walks Away
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has become the latest contender to drop out of the Democratic Party’s presidential race. Warren announced her decision on Thursday, two days after the fiery radical failed to win any states on Super Tuesday. The move was first announced to reporters in a subdued conference call on Thursday morning, followed by a news conference later in the day. “I announced this morning that I am suspending my campaign for president,” Warren said. “I say this with a deep sense of gratitude for every single person who got in this fight, every single person who tried out a new idea, every single person who just moved a little in their notion of what a president of the United States should look like.” A far-left wing candidate known for her radical proposals such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, Warren was briefly the frontrunner to take on President Donald Trump in 2020. She soon faltered, however, amid a rise of support for fellow radical Senator Bernie Sanders. Once favored to win Iowa, Warren finished a disappointing third and never won a single primary. Things didn’t get any better in New Hampshire, where she finished fourth, despite hailing from neighboring Massachusetts. After placing fourth in Nevada and a humiliating fifth in South Carolina, Warren’s last chance for an unlikely comeback was on Super Tuesday. However, she failed to win a single
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contest, including her own home state of Massachusetts. Warren also suffered from the controversy relating to her alleged Native-American heritage as well as an often-off-putting scolding style that put off voters. With her decision to drop out, the presidential contest is now between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, who now leads in delegates after winning a slew of states on Super Tuesday.
Biden Wins MI, MO, & MS
Joe Biden’s victory was spectacular on Tuesday, with him winning the three key primaries in Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi. Although primaries were held in Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington on Tuesday as well, Michigan, Missouri, and
Mississippi had more delegates at stake, ensuring that Bernie Sanders was dealt a serious blow this week. It’s a dramatic reversal of fortune for Biden, whose campaign appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Sanders opened the nomination process with strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, but Biden rebounded in South Carolina and built on that success with a surprise Super Tuesday rout last week. Sanders had been hoping to pull off a victory in Michigan, where his win four years ago lent much-needed credibility to his 2016 primary challenge of Hillary Clinton. The state is also vitally important since President Donald Trump’s win there was so narrow four years ago that Democrats are desperate to show they have the strength to flip it back. With 125 delegates at stake, Michigan got most of the attention on Tuesday. Trump won the state by only about 10,000 votes during the general election in 2016, his closest margin of victory between it, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — the three states that gave Trump the edge in the Electoral College after Clinton won the popular vote.
Top Homeland Security Official Charged
Charles K. Edwards, an ex-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General, has been charged for stealing software and databases from the U.S. government. As Inspector General, Edwards was tasked with rooting out corruption and waste. Yet, according to the indictment, he and his subordinate, Murali Yamazula Venkata, had systematically pilfered expensive material from the Department between 2014 and 2017. Both Edwards and Venkata faced charges of theft of government property and to defraud the United States, theft of government property, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Venkata also faces charges of destroying records. According to the allegations in the indictment, from October 2014 to April 2017, Edwards, Venkata, and others executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by stealing confidential and proprietary software from DHS Office of Inspector General, along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information of Homeland Security and Postal Service employees. “The purpose of the theft was to help Edwards’s company, Delta Business Solutions, sell an enhanced version of DHS-OIG’s software to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a profit. Although Edwards had left the DHS in December 2013, he continued to leverage his relationship with Venkata and other employees to steal the software and the sensitive government databases.”
You Are What You Eat? A new study has provided further evidence that genes may determine an individual’s food preferences. Re-
searchers from the Riken Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Osaka University studied over 160,000 people in Japan and found genetic links for 13 dietary habits, including consumption of alcohol and specific foods. “We know that what we eat defines what we are, but we found that what we are also defines what we eat,” said Yukinori Okada, Senior Visiting Scientist at Riken IMS and professor at Osaka University.
The subject data was drawn from the BioBank Japan Project, which collects DNA and clinical information through means such as interviews and questionnaires and was launched in 2003. The scientists observed variants responsible for the ability to taste bitter flavors, and that individuals without this particular variant tended to consume less alcohol or none at all. They also found positive genetic correlations between eating cheese and eating yogurt, both milk-based foods. The study did not measure environmental factors such as socioeconomic status, culture, and what one’s family eats. “These factors would weigh more than the genetics in some cases,” noted Dr. José Ordovás, director of Nutrition and Genomics at Tufts University in Massachusetts, who was not involved in the study. While this particular study focuses exclusively on Japanese individuals, other researchers have found similar links in different populations. A 2014 study presented at the European Journal of Human Genetics meeting in Milan identified a genetic variant that affects preferences for topping bread with butter or oil. A separate European study from the same year found genetic variants related to the perception of a food item’s saltiness. Yet another study found a form of a bitter receptor gene to contribute to an individual’s enjoyment of coffee, with those perceiving a stronger bitterness savoring their morning joe more.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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ICE Begins 24/7 Surveillance of Sanctuary Cities
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun 24/7 surveillance in so-called “sanctuary cities” nationwide around the homes and workplaces of undocumented immigrants. Sanctuary cities, in which local law enforcement does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, will see hundreds of additional ICE officers in the coming weeks. These cities include New York, Newark, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New Orleans. The agents will be diverted from their usual investigations into criminal and trafficking activity, according to an internal email reviewed by The New York Times. The email stated that the effort began last month and is called “Operation Palladium.” The federal government has been working for years to persuade local jurisdictions to turn over anyone released from jail who is in the U.S. illegally. Some community leaders, meanwhile, have countered that doing so could make their cities less safe by discouraging people from cooperating with law enforcement. The request for backup follows an earlier decision to deploy elite tactical BORTAC agents – immigration SWAT teams normally assigned to risky border smuggling, rescue and intelligence operations – to assist with the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants. According to one official, his bosses had informed their staff to “flood the streets” and make as many arrests as possible. “It should be really no surprise; it’s exactly what we said we would do,” said Henry Lucero, the top government official overseeing the division of ICE that conducts street arrests. “If there’s no cooperation, that’s not going to stop ICE from doing its job. We are still going to try to protect the public as much as we can by arresting and removing criminal
aliens from the communities before they can get another crime or make another victim.” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, an outspoken critic of the current immigration enforcement agenda, has instituted sanctuary policies in her city that ban officials from cooperating with ICE. “I question the level of effectiveness other than scaring people,” she said, explaining that the city would readily turn over wanted individuals to ICE if a warrant or court order signed by a judge was to be provided.” “If you’ve got the facts, and you’ve got the probable cause, get the judge to sign the order... If that happens, then there’s no choice. But we’re not going to do it simply on the basis of an ICE agent’s signature, in a world in which ICE has become highly politicized,” the mayor said.
Trump Replaces Chief of Staff
Following months of speculation, President Donald Trump announced that he is replacing Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Mulvaney will be replaced by former South Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, a Trump stalwart who had already announced last year that he would resign from the House. Mulvaney will become the U.S. Ambassador to Northern Ireland. Trump announced the move in a tweet on Friday from his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida. “I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one,” Trump tweeted. Meadows will now become Trump’s fourth Chief of Staff in only three years, taking a job that is known for its turbulence in the White House. Since taking office in 2016, Trump has already fired Ri-
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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ence Preibus, John Kelly, and now Mulvaney. Rumors of Mulvaney’s imminent ouster had been circling for months amid talk that Trump disliked his passive attitude and inability to bring order to the Oval Office. However, the president reportedly chose to wait until he was acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial before making such a change in the top echelons of government. Now, Meadows will oversee a particularly sensitive period in the West Wing and will be forced to deal with issues such as the 2020 election and the administration’s response to the coronavirus.
Horse Racing Scheme Twenty-seven people involved in the horse racing industry have been indicted for taking part in a scheme to give racehorses performance-enhancing drugs to help them win races around the world. One of the defendants is trainer Jason Servis, who prosecutors say
“doped virtually all horses under his control,” including Maximum Security, the colt that crossed the finish line first at last year’s Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference. Last month, Maximum Security won $10 million in the inaugural Saudi Cup.
The defendants are accused of misleading and defrauding the government agency that regulates the veterinary care for racehorses by disguising the banned drugs with misleading labels. The four indictments accused horse trainers, veterinarians, and drug distributors in the scheme. “These defendants engaged in this conduct not for the love of the sport, and certainly not out of concern for the horses, but for money,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern Dis-
mostly white and female, were then tracked to see how their average exercise regimen affected their overall longevity. As per the findings, older adults who walked at least 150 minutes a day had a 67% lower chance of sudden death. In addition, another study found that elderly women 79 years of age and older who walked at least 2,100 steps a day had a 38% lower chance of dying from a range of heart problems such as heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke. “Finding a way to physically move more in an activity that suits your capabilities and is pleasurable is extremely important for all people, and especially for older people who may have risk factors for cardiovascular diseases,” noted Oakland University Professor Barry Franklin. “Physical activities such as brisk walking can help manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol, improve glucose control among many benefits.”
trict of New York Geoffrey Berman said. “And it was the racehorses that paid the price for the defendants’ greed.” The indictment’s accusations target some of the most prominent trainers and horses in the sport, such as Servis, the trainer of Maximum Security. Another defendant is Jorge Navarro, the trainer of XY Jet, the thoroughbred that won the 2019 Golden Shaheen race in Dubai and its $1.5 million prize. The indictment says Navarro provided performance-enhancing drugs to XY Jet, who died in January 2020 of an apparent heart attack. The types of drugs that were given to horses were meant to “increase their performance beyond their natural abilities,” said William Sweeney Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York office. Drugs that were used could increase red blood cell count, increase stamina and endurance, relieve pain, and reduce joint inflammation, according to the indictment. “What actually happened to the horses amounted to nothing less than abuse,” Sweeney said. “They experienced cardiac issues, overexertion leading to leg fractures, increased risk of injury, and, in some cases, death.” Prosecutors said people who took part in the scheme got richer, including trainers who profit from a horse’s improved racing records, which brings in more prize money than they would then get a cut from.
Fishing for Jewels
Walk More, Live Long
That leasurely walk could potentially be adding years to your life. According to a pair of studies, seniors who walk for at least half an hour every day could be boosting their longevity and overall wellbeing. In the study, which was carried out by the American Heart Association, 1,262 people were given a tracking device for four days a week between 2011 and 2014. The participants, who were
One smart thief in Melbourne, Australia, knows that sometimes you need to wait until you can hook something big. Last week, police in Melbourne said that they are searching for a burglar who used a fishing rod to remove a Versace necklace off a mannequin in a high-end fashion store. After waiting around for a while to ensure that no one was on the street in the early morning hours, he made a hole in the glass window, slid the fishing rod into the store to lift the necklace from the mannequin, and then made off quietly with his loot. “It appears that the burglar was fishing for about three hours before landing his catch,” said police in the
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
statement. Steven Adigrati, the owner of the store, is incredulous about the thief’s ingenuity. “I couldn’t believe it,” Adigrati said. “Three and a half hours, with two rods, trying to get this necklace, was amazing. Hook, line, and sinker, I guess. He did it.” So far, the police have not nabbed the burglar but he left behind a clue: the hook from his fishing line. Hopefully the police will be able to hook this crook.
Mayor’s Race Was a Real Dog Fight
Fair Haven, Vermont, has a new mayor that packs a big bark. After all, the mayor is a dog named Murfee. The top dog won’t get involved in matters pertaining to the day-today running of the town, but will be a figurehead who will appear at town events over the next year. Five hundred people voted in the recent elections which was administered by eighth graders at the local public school. Before the election results were announced, the school’s principal reminded the students, “If your candidate loses, you may feel sad, but that’s OK, but then we will move forward and be happy for the candidate that won.” Murfee, who is a therapy dog, beat out the incumbent goat, Mayor Mara Lincoln, and K-9 Sammy, a town police dog. If you are wondering how Fair Haven elected a dog as mayor, they have a history of electing pretty interesting mayors in Vermont – they even once elected presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as mayor.
Arrested Development North Carolina resident Ruth Bryant was smack in the middle of celebrating her birthday when a po-
lice officer busted in and asked her, “Are you Miss Bryant?” “It all depends on what you want!” the birthday girl replied. “Here’s what I want. I want you!” replied the police officer before promptly arresting her. Her crime? Well, the truth is that Ms. Bryant, age 100, didn’t commit a crime. In honor of her one-centuryon-earth birthday party her family arranged for her to cross off something that has been on her bucket list for a while: getting arrested. Bryant, who was in on the gag, was handcuffed to her walker, paraded out of her assisted living home, and placed in a patrol car. Pretending to put up a fight, she playfully kicked officers.
like that?) So, Mendl – being a teenage boy who gets easily annoyed with his teenage sister (know anyone like that?) – made a promise to her right then and there: When you get married, I will bring a llama to the wedding. Riva, annoyed by her teenage brother’s odd promise, said that, in fact, she hopes that he will bring a llama to her eventual wedding. And so the sibling bickering went.
Well, it turns out that, after getting engaged in October, Riva got married last Sunday. Want to take a guess who was included on the guest list? Easy – you knew Mendl would do it (especially with a name like Mendl!). Mendl rented a llama for a whole
“Don’t kick me; I’ve got a bad knee!” said one deputy, to which Bryant replied, “I’ve got two bad knees!” Bryant was taken off to the county prison where she gleefully declared. “I’m in the jailhouse now! I finally got here!” She was then brought back home to cut her birthday cake. Bryant’s daughter Marian Oakley did not know what to make of the events unfolding. “I know that she is a hundred years old, but I didn’t know that they’d be going this far.” Something tells me that this is not the first time Ms. Bryant’s daughter was a little embarrassed by her mom.
Llama? Llama Lo While taking a road trip with his seventeen-year-old sister, Riva, in 2015, Mendl Weinstock, who is one year younger than his sister, kind of got fed up with her talking about her wedding. Why? Because she didn’t even have any plans of getting engaged or married anytime soon; she was just being a teenage girl talking about her wedding. (Know anyone
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day for $400, persuaded a co-worker to sew a tuxedo for the llama with a yarmulke to match, and showed up at the wedding with it. “Ever since that day I have promised her I would bring a llama,” Mendl told USA Today. “I fulfilled that promise.” The llama hung out in front of the wedding hall (you know that area where the chosson’s single friends usually hang out while talking on their cell phones) and took pictures with guests. “She was shocked at first but more impressed that I kept my promise from five years ago,” Mendl said. “When my brother puts his mind to something, he gets it done. So at some point I had to accept it and decide that it was easier to get in on the joke than to fight it,” Riva said. “I’ve definitely started planning my revenge,” Riva said. “He should sleep with one eye open.” Hey, groom, whoever you are – buckle up, it’s gonna be a crazy ride!
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the
Community
Purim carnival and masquerade at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam
Spreading Purim Cheer
D
ressed in their costumes, the Pre-1A boys of Yeshiva of South Shore delivered mishloach manos to the residents of the Bristal Assisted Living Center in North Woodmere. With musical accompaniment by Rabbi Drebin, the
boys enjoyed singing Purim songs and sharing smiles led by Rebbe Elie Herzberg. Thank you to the nursery children who decorated the bags and the kindergarten children who filled them with food.
Purim Spirit at SKA
S
eniors at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls continued to contribute to the festive Adar atmosphere in the school! In anticipation of the schoolwide Purim chagiga celebrated on Thursday evening, March 5, the twelfth graders composed and performed a song dedicated to the yom tov. Ref-
erencing Hashem’s hidden miracles and SKA’s merrymaking during the month of Adar, the seniors got everyone excited for the chagiga and the forthcoming grade Purim parties the following week. It was a great way to add to the Purim spirit in the school.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
INSPIRING JEWS ... ONE BOOK AT A TIME
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pero stories.” They are unique and engaging, with a “wow” factor that will leave you amazed, surprised, and delighted. Most of all, they will touch your soul and ignite a spark. And that spark will light up your life.
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R
abbi Paysach Krohn knows better than almost anyone how powerful a true story can be. Now, he takes his amazing talent for finding unusual and inspiring stories and combines it with an incisive and absorbing commentary on the Haggadah. So come and join Rabbi Krohn At the Maggid’s Seder, and see how much this Haggadah will enhance and enrich your own Seder as well.
Imagine: Pesach withinman! Reb Aharon Leib Shte Rieder Family Edition
by Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Shteinman
W
ritten by the grandson of both Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt’l and yb’lch, Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita. this unusual Haggadah gives us a fascinating look at Rav Aharon Leib’s Pesach minhagim and his insights into Yetziyas Mitrayim and the Haggadah. Includes dozens of stories of Rav Aharon Leib and his illustrious family. This Haggadah will enrich your Seder, and your life!
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
The Shaar Lev Purim mesiba was held at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Libman
Purim simcha for the CAHAL Pre-1A class at Shulamith
A Deeper Meaning into Purim
S
ixth Grade Advisory was a huge hit this month at HAFTR. This session’s theme was tied to Purim. Each student was given a mask along with many stickers and a sharpie marker. Advisors engaged students in conversations about those aspects of us that everyone sees and knows about us and those parts of ourselves that are more hidden. Students selected stickers that reflected their more visible per-
Simchas Purim at Rabbi Mordechai Stein’s house
sona and stuck them on the outside of their mask. Afterwards, with a sharpie, students wrote on the inner part of their masks the more hidden aspects of themselves, their dreams, fears and personality. Students and advisors then engaged in a lively conversation about the different aspects of our personalities and our true values, goals and dreams. We thank the Middle School faculty advisors and Dr. Yali Werzberger for developing the program.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Central in Washington, D.C.
V
illage of Cedarhurst trustees Myrna Zisman and Daniel Plaut will be running for reelection on Wednesday, March 18. Myrna has served as a trustee for the Village of Cedarhurst since 2007. She is on the board of Kulanu and Keren-Or, among other initiatives, and is a recipient of the Emu-
nah Woman Lifetime Achievement Award, Daniel has served on Village of Cedarhurst’s Architectural Review Board and has lived in Cedarhurst for 23 years. Elections will be held in Village Hall in Cedarhurst on Wednesday, March 18, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
F
rom Sunday to Tuesday, Mrs. Audi Hecht, History department chair at Central, led four students – sophomores Sarah Hamerman and Tamar Weiss and seniors Orah Massihesraelian and Olivia Peller – at the AIPAC Policy Conferences. “The students immersed themselves in the full array of opportunities for advocacy, engagement, and learning at the AIPAC Policy
Conference,” Mrs. Hecht said. “They left inspired and armed with ideas and tools for building a deeper and stronger U.S.-Israel relationship and the importance of bipartisanship in Congress regarding Israel. They are excited to get to work, to lead, and to effectuate meaningful progress in this regard.” The students are looking forward to sharing their experiences with the school body.
Central’s ACE Team Visits LaGuardia
T
he ACE team at Central, Team 40, had the opportunity to tour the ongoing construction project at LaGuardia Airport last week. They heard from several professionals involved in the project. They learned about the main challenge of the construction – to keep the entire airport functioning while still working to improve the airport. At the end of the year, the ACE team will be presenting their redesigned airport plans for LaGuardia Airport, so it was very helpful to learn more about this project in detail from professionals. The ACE team was also able to take a tour of the construction. It was amazing to see the progression from the trip they went on two years ago. They were actually able to stand on the roof of a building that two years ago was just wooden beams and wires. Now there is a complete structure that is fully in use. Thank you to Mrs. Marci Karoll and Jacobs Engineering for organizing this trip.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
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HALB Lev Chana Kindergartners Love to Read
W
e can read sitting! We can read standing! We can read fast! We can read slow! That’s just what our amazing kindergarten children at HALB Lev Chana did as we joined children throughout the United States in a week-long salute to the joy of reading. On Wednesday, our proud readers chose, with guidance from their teachers, a book just right for them. With modeling and help from their teachers, they practiced and prepared how they would best present their selections. The magic of being read to took hold as our 3- and 4-year-olds listened entranced to their kindergarten reading buddies. On Thursday, special guest readers, including Lev Chana therapists, specialty staff, Learning Center personnel, teachers from HALB Elementary School, including Rabbi Adam Englander, HALB Head of School, and Marjorie Wein, HALB Middle School General Studies
Principal, visited our classrooms to share their joy of reading their favorite books.
As our beloved Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that
you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Hooray for literacy!
Rabbi Eli Katz, a kohen, presented the eight bigdei kahuna in a very hands-on presentation at the Learn & Live program this week
A Shabbos of Connection
S
habbos, February 28-29, was an exciting one for MTA talmidim and rebbeim! Talmidim in Rabbi Cohn’s freshman shiur, Rabbi Kahn and Rabbi Stone’s freshman shiur, Rabbi Kerner’s sophomore shiur, Rabbi Mendelson’s junior shiur, and Rabbi Emerson’s junior bekius shiur all enjoyed Shiur Shabbatonim at the homes of their rebbeim, while Rabbi Konigsberg hosted the
winners of the Woodmere Weekend prize from MTA’s annual Chanukah auction at his home. Spending quali-
ty time with rebbeim and their families is truly a priceless experience for the yeshiva’s talmidim, as they
continue to watch and learn from the examples their rebbeim set both inside and outside the classroom.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
CIJE Journey to the Startup Nation: 2020 Learn from the Past, Study the Present, Transform the Future
C
IJE (Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education) students from Jewish Day Schools in NY, NJ, FL, CA, and WA gathered recently on the fourth annual CIJE Journey to the Startup Nation. CIJE-Tech students got first-hand exposure to pioneers, hackers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. They visited and met with heads of multibillion-dollar companies who shared their insights for future development of Israel and the world. They participated in workshops at the Technion and had the opportunity to receive advice from renown hi-tech experts. What they experienced was not magic nor a magical ride, but rather a view through a different lens through which they could study world problems, discovering creative solutions through empathy, innovation, and even “chutzpah.” Having the opportunity to meet with, ask questions, and receive advice from some of the most successful and innovative people in the country had a profound effect on everyone participating on the trip. Visiting companies like Mobileye, the global leader in the development of vision technology and autonomous cars, left quite an impression on our future engineers. At the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit, the students had the opportunity to meet hundreds of innovators and to learn about what they are offering the world. Not only did our CIJE students experience present and future technology, but they also had a taste of ancient “technological advances,” as well, while they trekked in darkness and learned how the water tunnels were created under the City of David. CIJE visited the Technion Biorobotics and Biomechanics labs where they have created prosthetics and various “snake robots” used for surgery and also for search and rescue missions. At Mazor Robotics (Medtronics), CIJE students observed a robotic spine surgery demonstration. This company has created and currently manufactures surgical robots with the most precise technologies to assist doctors in spinal surgery, making the surgery safer and faster, and with a significantly shorter recovery time for surgical patients. Some of the challenges that are
facing the world in the future are the shortage of water and food to support the world’s growing population. CIJE students visited one of Israel’s largest water desalination plants, located in Ashkelon. They studied the process and importance of desalination. Aleph Farms, a new food company, is producing a cell-grown meat substitute which is very close to traditional beef that will soon be on the market. Students were quite surprised to learn about a new venture at Hargol, a company that is commercially growing grasshoppers to help meet the lack of inexpensive protein sources for the world. These are only a few of the places that these CIJE students had the opportunity to visit. This experience helped to make CIJE students aware of the endless number of possibilities of important contributions which they can make to the world. They experienced firsthand what the future can bring through innovative thinking and technology and the importance of perseverance and patience to become successful. Since only about 3% of startup companies are successful, they truly understood that failure truly is an option, but to be successful they need to continue to keep on trying. Here is what some of our participants and parents had to say about their experiences at the CIJE Start Up Nation trip: “This trip was such a great experience for our son. The company visits were outstanding, and the trip
was excellent. We are so glad that he participated and believe it has left a lasting impression on him as he looks to study engineering in college.” “I thought it was really fascinating to visit so many high-tech companies and learn about what the world’s future will hold, be it self-driving cars or drones that you can control with your mind. I also really appreciated being able to meet many of the companies’ founders and learn about how they succeeded and failed in the high-tech space. I don’t think the trip would have been the same though if it hadn’t been for the staff and kids on it – I went not knowing anyone and was quickly absorbed into the larger group. Also, the tour guide and the staff who chaperoned somehow made it so that we were always learning, even on the bus and at night activity. I don’t know how they did it, but I will forever appreciate it.” “I really just wanted to say thank you for this amazing opportunity. Over the trip I made so many new friends that will hopefully last a lifetime. The daily schedule was amazing and all the companies we visited were so interesting and influential. My favorite company that we visited was Mazor Robotics. It was the most important part of the trip for me because it made me realize that I want to be a biomedical engineer in the future. It gave me a new goal to reach so I can get into a good school with a good program for that. I just wanted to say thank you because it helped me decide what I want to do with my
future. “ In addition to many other educational programs, CIJE provides more than two hundred Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivot with enriching STEM curricula, supplies, and equipment. Experienced mentors support the teachers through regular school visits and staff development workshops. Throughout the school year, CIJE hosts hackathons, “CIJE Tanks,” robotics competitions, visits to tech companies and universities, and CIJE Innovation Day. At CIJE, we aim to teach our students to focus on the problem rather than the solution and empathizing with the needs of others. Accepting that failures can and will occur, but what is important is learning from these setbacks and continuing to move forward with their ideas is another tenet that we focus on. This is putting empathy first and foremost. By developing this kind of problem-based thinking we have seen students from our CIJE programs grow not only as engineers and innovators. They are becoming creative thinkers in all other areas of their studies but more importantly becoming caring, concerned human beings who truly aspire to make the world a better place for all. Our students learned that the ultimate goal, as noted at the Peres Innovation Center is, in the words of Shimon Peres, “Do not predict the future…create it.” For additional information, please visit our website: www.thecije.org.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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Around the Community TAG’s Aspire 57th Annual Dinner was held on March 3 at The Sands Atlantic Beach
Dr. Ernest & Mrs. Sara Isaacson, Guests of Honor
Ezzy & Leah Davidowitz, Hakaras Hatov Honorees
Rabbi Menachem Adler
Mr. & Mrs. Zack Tomaszweski, Kesser Shem Tov awardees
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Last week, the elementary talmidos of Torah Academy for Girls not only learned about the bigdei kehuna in parsha, they were visited by Rabbi Moshe Zimberg dressed as a Kohen Gadol. The girls asked many questions and enjoyed seeing the parsha come alive.
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Tzedakah Initiative at HAFTR
T
he eighth grade girls at HAFTR Middle School give tzedakah every day, thanking Hashem for something unique each day. Between Sep-
tember and early December, they collected $400 and collectively voted to buy toys that were distributed to children in the hospital and underprivileged children before Cha-
nukah. Since January, the tzedakah initiative has collected another $300. This time, the girls went shopping in Season’s and bought food to donate to The Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry at The S.H.O.P., The Marion & Aaron Gural’s new social services hub, providing nutritional support, basic necessities, guidance, and encouragement to individuals and families facing hardship. The girls then walked to The S.H.O.P. and stocked the shelves with the food they bought. We are very proud of the chessed our students perform and thank Rebbetzin Sori Teitelbaum for organizing and facilitating this meaningful activity.
Shevach HS Commemorates 75 Years Since Liberation
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o link the messages of previous generations to the generations yet unborn, we turn to the young people of the present whose care and creativity will carry our nation forward. This year, Shevach students have joined many thousands of people across the globe in commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps. Through original projects, educational trips, and inspiring events, Shevach students are growing in their knowledge of Klal Yisrael’s past and in their commitment to its future. On February 6, the twelfth grade visited the Museum of Jewish Heritage to view the exhibit “Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away.” The trip was coordinated and chaperoned by Mrs. Chaya Swerdloff, who teaches the senior course in Holocaust studies, and by Mrs. Nechama Mirsky, who is the associate principal for General Studies. The visit began with a presentation by Dr. Paul Radensky, the Museum Educator. Dr. Radensky led an analysis of multiple photographs from the era before the Holocaust. The analysis enabled the students to discover the effects of the onset of the
Holocaust through the images and artifacts of the era. The tour of the exhibit was led by knowledgeable guides who pointed out many examples of spiritual heroism and resistance in the darkest of places. The original objects, video testimony, and telling artwork created a framework for a wider and deeper understanding of the experience of Jews imprisoned in Auschwitz and in other horrific locations in Europe during the war. The highlight of the visit was a poignant yet powerful lecture by Mrs. Bronia Brandman. Mrs. Brandman told the Shevach students about her wonderful family and childhood in Jaworzno, Poland, and her grueling, near-death experiences in Auschwitz. Despite the unimaginable suffering she endured, Mrs. Brandman’s message to the students was one of strength and pride. She encouraged the girls to have bitachon and to also realize that we are more capable than we think we are. She pointed out that the Jewish nation has outlived all the civilizations that have tried to do us harm and how proud we should be to have the Torah. Mrs. Brandman exclaimed that as the students are the leadership of the next generation, it is
Did you know? Pi Day is March 14. But do you know the value of pi?
up to them to be involved, proud Jews. In that way, she said, “We will live forever and that will be our nekama.” This winter, Project Witness held a national competition focusing on the heroic efforts of survivors to rebuild their lives after the devastation of the Holocaust. Aviva’s Keller, a Shevach sophomore, entered her original composition “Sunrise” and won a top award in the music category. The song was inspired by her grandmother, a”h, and it is a song which elicits many emotions. Aviva explains, “I wanted the first part of the song to really represent the fear that people felt after they were liberated. Understanding that piece is crucial to realizing what an incredible feat they accomplished by moving on and rebuilding.” While the song is based on a mashal, a parable, Aviva points out, “This wasn’t just a story; this was the lives of real people – how could I do that justice?” Aviva says the chorus is her favorite part. “While the Holocaust looked like the end for so many people – and for six million Jews it was – there are more Jews now than there were seventy-five years ago. Every day, the survivors woke up from their nightmares to give us a good life, and they did. Every day had looked like sunset to them, but after a while, I think they started to realize it was actually the sunrise.” Several other outstanding submissions created by Shevach students
were also published in Inyan Magazine two weeks ago. These included artistic pieces by Shayna Friedman, Chana Jacob, Ahuva Kazarnovsky, Ettie Langer, and Sarah Malka Weinberg. As we near Zman Cheiruseinu, Shevach will be holding its own inhouse competition in preparation for a special pre-Pesach event focused on the theme of cheirus, freedom. Students will be able to submit divrei Torah, art, and poetry in connection to the statement of the Amoraim that, in each generation, a person is required to view himself as having been liberated from Egypt. Winning submissions will receive a cash prize and notable submissions will also be published, iy”H, in a professionally printed booklet which will be distributed to the students and their families. The event will feature several speakers and include student discussions on the meaning and impact of physical and spiritual freedom. The presentations will highlight Yetzias Mitzrayim, liberation after the Holocaust, and the freedom of Soviet Jewry from the Iron Curtain. Miss Sara Nasirov, who teaches limudei kodesh as well as global history and American government at Shevach, is coordinating this important upcoming event. Shevach extends its wishes to the entire community that together we should share in the ultimate cheirus with the coming of Moshiach, soon in our days.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
CAHAL CONCERT
A SHLOIME DACHS MUSIC PRODUCTION
SUNDAY | MARCH 22 | 7:00PM
S P O N S O R GUEST S : APPEARANCE
AVRAHAM FRIED | SHULEM LEMMER | MOSHE TISCHLER
BY UZI BODNER
SPONSORS: PRE-CONCERT DINNER WITH THE STARS FOR VIP
MR. & MRS. PAUL REINSTEIN
LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Reilly Rd. & Peninsula Blvd, Cedarhurst, NY
Tickets:
$36 • $54 • $72 • VIP
The JEWISH STAR
MOISHE & ESTHER MISHKOWITZ | MR. & MRS. ARYEH GELBARD ALAN & COOKIE GREENE | SARA & YECHIEL ENGEL | LARRY & LISA SIEGEL
PURCHASE TICKETS AT: CAHAL: 540-A Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst JUDAICA PLUS: 445 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst ZELLE: donations@cahal.org WWW.CAHAL.ORG
CATERING
by
LE'ILUI NISHMAS BERTA GLATT
MICHAEL SCHICK
C A T EC RR E AITN G by MICHAEL SCHICK IVE | SUMPTUOUS | LEGENDARY CREATIVE | SUMPTUOUS | LEGENDARY
KAREN & YUSSIE AWENDSTERN
JOSH & KEREN ENGLARD | L'ZECHER NISHMAS SHIMON LICHTMAN
For Ticket Information & Sponsorships Contact
516.295.3666 • Concert@Cahal.org
ESTHER AND JEFF LEB RENA & DAVID MARYLES
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Community joins the 69th annual Sulitz Melava Malka
Addressing the Gap
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ne of the well-known gedolim of recent years once observed, “Many, if not most, of the gedolim I knew had been mischievous in their youth, full of energy and not so well-behaved – including me.” Times have not changed. Even today, walk into any yeshiva and you’ll see them, in the classroom, or in the hall outside the classroom, or in the waiting room outside the principal’s office. Or on the street outside the yeshiva, waiting for their friends to finish the school day. Or somewhere worse than that. Bright kids, talented kids, good, well-meaning kids. There’s a phrase in the Gemara that applies to our times: Achshar dara. It means the generation has improved, things have gotten better. And in regard to the state of chinuch, that’s certainly true. We are blessed with wonderful mosdos for boys and girls of every age that are doing fantastic work to educate our young and set them on a path to success in living full, productive Torah lives. There’s a new generation of highly dedicated, skilled mechanchim and mechanchos who understand what kids need and are able to relate to them, who are inspiring role models as bnei Torah and b’nos Yisroel. They’re guided by experienced, caring principals and school admin-
istrations who have devoted their lives to chinuch. They in turn have committed ba’alei batim who support their efforts and enable schools to grow and thrive. But as is often the case, our great success in this area has also in some ways been our undoing. Our schools are bursting at the seams, with class sizes commonly in the high twenties and thirties. Budgets are strained and resources are stretched thin, and there’s often no funding available for the kids who need something more or something different. Our teachers, some of whom are compelled to work at more than one job to make ends meet, don’t have the time and attention they’d like to give their students beyond the classroom and outside school hours. Today’s rebbeim do their very best to reach every child in the class, using all their ingenuity and love in trying to keep all their students engaged and advancing. But the reality is that it’s nearly impossible to do so, and those who suffer most are the students at the lower and higher ends of the class in terms of abilities. In the larger, better-funded schools, there are at least resources available to help the weaker student, whether it’s resource room, tutoring or a government-funded P3. As for the above-average student, if by na-
ture he’s a boy who follows rules and seeks to please, he may be bored in class but he will manage. But there are other boys who are good kids, full of potential and very bright – too bright for their own good. They can’t just sit quietly when the material doesn’t challenge them, and sometimes they’re full of questions that can’t be answered in a standard classroom setting. Sometimes, these boys might have difficulty sitting or difficult family situation that leads them to act out, and not every rebbi has the ability to handle the challenge. They need something more, something different, which even the best of our schools simply aren’t equipped to provide. Through no fault of either our yeshivos or these boys, we’re losing far too many of them. We’re squandering their great potential to lead functional Torah lives, we’re forfeiting their future contributions to Klal Yisroel, and sometimes we’re losing them to Yiddishkeit entirely. Rabbi Shaya Cohen is a chinuch visionary with a half-century’s track record of identifying the gaps in our educational system and taking the initiative to address them with innovative solutions. And, working with a group of concerned baalei batim, that’s what he’s done in this area,
too, by embarking on a major project to establish in the greater Far Rockaway-Five Towns community a unique high school program for boys coming out of elementary school who are capable of great things but haven’t maximized their abilities in an existing school framework. Combining small classes, individualized attention, highly skilled rebbeim, and a curriculum tailored to these boys’ needs and abilities, this school will be a win-win-win for all involved: For our outstanding mosdos hachinuch, which should not be called upon to sacrifice the excellent education they provide to the majority of their talmidim for the minority of students who really need a school of their own; for these boys, who will find their place in Torah for perhaps the first time in their school careers, and for the community, which will, b’ezras Hashem, be enriched in the coming years as these young men take their rightful place as leaders and solid citizens. Mesivta Zichron Yosef seeks to fill this crucial role and will be servicing ninth graders for the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in finding out more information or applying, please contact Rabbi Gamliel LaBrie at gamliellabrie@gmail.com.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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Around the Community
YCQ Celebrates Anniversary Scholarship Dinner
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otzei Shabbat, February 29, almost 800 parents, community leaders, faculty members, family, and friends gathered to celebrate the 79th Anniversary Dinner of Yeshiva of Central Queens at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation. It was an evening celebrating a distinguished group of honorees. Following an elaborate buffet dinner by RAM Caterers, the guests were welcomed by Israel Glaser, YCQ Chairman of the Board, followed by the recitation of Tehillim by Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, rabbi of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, and a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and Hatikvah by Rabbi Moshe Hamel, JHS assistant principal, singing sensation Dovid Haziza, and surprise guest, alumni parent Dr. Meir Abittan. Councilmember Rory Lancman offered words of support for the yeshiva and a proclamation of accomplishment to each of the honorees. The gathered crowd then enjoyed cutting-edge video technology in a video brought to fruition by Devora Baer-Mandelcorn, director of grants. The video showcased the yeshiva’s milestones with the students sharing a top-10 list of the best parts of their yeshiva including the improvements and upgrades to the physical building; curriculum changes to keep up with the advances in technology and national learning standards; their many experiences socially and spiritually; and the general education they are receiving; as well as their love for their school. In the second part of the video, family, friends, colleagues and rebbeim spoke about the honorees and the amazing accomplishments and selfless energy that each of the award recipients gives to YCQ to help create the warm and nurturing learning environment that makes it a premier yeshiva day school. Rabbi Mark Landsman, principal of YCQ, offered a brief dvar Torah on video and, along with Melissa Cohen,
assistant principal of general studies for the elementary school, introduced the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award, Mrs. Sandra Dua, a long-time fourth grade general studies teacher. Sandra Dua brings to her fourth grade students a sense of pride in each of their accomplishments. She looks at each student as an individual and helps them work to their potential. When you walk into her classroom, there is a sense of a structured and nurturing learning environment. Within her community, here in Kew Gardens Hills, the answer “no” is unheard of. She has and continues to instill in her students and her family a sense of pride as Jews and as community volunteers and members. Simcha Musheyev, VP of YCQ executive board, presented Natalie ‘03 and Shalom Rakhminov with the Parents of the Year Award. He noted how not only do Natalie and Shalom give to YCQ through volunteer work, they also support the community and devote their time to the EMET Outreach Organization and anyone who needs help. Natalie began attending YCQ starting in kindergarten and is still involved as a member of the board of trustees, the PTO, and in the education of all of her children attending YCQ. The Guests of Honor, Ben and
Did you know? On March 20, the sun shines on the equator for the Vernal Equinox, giving us a near 50-50 split of day and night.
Samantha Kramer, an outstanding couple who have been active in the yeshiva and community for many years, were introduced by Dr. Joel Wein, president of the YCQ Board. “When they find an organization they care about, they take all of their energy and pour it into that organization,” he said. The honorees, together with their children, spoke about their dedication and commitment to YCQ and the impact the yeshiva has had on them and their children as YCQ’s “biggest cheerleaders.” Ben works tirelessly for the YCQ executive board as financial secretary and Samantha
is involved in all aspects of the PTO helping to build it into the amazing organization that it is today. Bobby Faigen, friend and board member, said, “Whether school, shul, community, or different tzedakas, Ben and Samantha have this ‘what can I do’ attitude. They step up, and they make you step up.” The evening concluded with a lavish parade of desserts and the Parent Teacher Organization’s Annual Dinner Auction. All in attendance agreed that it was another successful dinner and a special evening they would long remember.
Learning is Delicious!
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he fourth graders of Bais Yaakov of Queens learned and tasted how science plays a part in our daily lives and how delicious scientific results can be! After learning the unit of states of matter and physical and chemical changes, the girls did a “cool” handson activity to bring the concepts to life. They placed bagged liquid mixtures containing milk and vanilla and placed them in larger bags of
ice and salt. They had a great time tossing the bags back and forth and shaking it for as long as their hands could handle the cold. After a while, their liquid mixture turned into a solid – a physical change! What a delicious way to see their science lessons come to life. The girls really enjoyed the special treat. The lessons they learned will stay with them for a long time. We can’t wait for more exciting learning!
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Rabbi Sternhill’s second grade class at Siach Yitzchok celebrated a siyum on Parshas Chaya Sara with Menahel Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlita
Davey’s Way at HANC
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t HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding’s Elementary School in West Hempstead, the focus has always been on the whole child. While schoolchildren spend many hours sitting in chairs during the day, they often seek opportunities to move and utilize all parts of their bodies. In order to enable the children to further develop their bodies physically, a collaborative project evolved into a fitting memorial to a very special father of a cherished staff member, Mrs. Randi Silber. Last fall, during a visit at an Open House in a Public School, Mrs. Silber, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, and Mrs. Trudy Rubinstein, Director of HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead, saw a sensory walk that was created in their Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy area. They both felt that replicating this idea would be greatly beneficial for the students at HANC. As a result, a sensory walk was created in the kindergarten hallway. Children could be seen throughout the day taking a break and performing these physical movements before continuing down the hall to their intended destination. “Movement helps children increase focus and attention. Having opportunities to move around during the day can enable students to do better in school and even achieve higher grades,” explained Mrs. Robyn Linn, occupational therapist from the West Hempstead School District. “Providing children with a structured way to release energy is very beneficial. The exercises we included were designed to increase motor planning, core strength, balance, bilateral coordination, as well as providing relaxation
through stretching and breathing exercises.” In addition to the sensory walk, a sensory station was created upstairs in the first grade hallway. “As the children move through the activities, they utilize many senses and modes in their bodies,” explained Mrs. Silber. “Performing these activities and motions utilizes their visual, kinesthetic, sensory and vestibular systems. Jumping, hopping and balancing strengthen their bodies and enables them to develop core strength. Their eyes, hands and feet must work together to accomplish each activity. Once achieved, they develop a sense of success.” In addition to the physical benefits, the children further develop skills that enhance their learning. Listening skills, following directions and working as a partner all play a part in successfully completing the sensory challenges. Last year, on March 12, 2019, Mrs. Silber’s father died suddenly. Earlier in his life, at the age of 31, Mr. David Zierler had been diagnosed with Guil-
lain-Barre Syndrome. This condition causes inflammation of the nervous system and affects the large muscles in the body. As a result, Mr. Zierler lost feeling in his legs and lost sensation in his hands. After a six week hospitalization, he began a strenuous course of physical therapy to help him regain use of his arms and legs. PT saved him and brought him back to life. Seeing the success of physical therapy in her own family, Mrs. Silber decided that donating the new sensory walk in her father’s memory would be a tremendous way to pay tribute to her special father. Since the sensory walk was so successful, she decided to develop it as a professionally-produced, permanent addition to the school building. In this way, she could memorialize her dear father in a way that would enhance the learning of all of the children at HANC. “Bringing learning alive and using the whole body provides students with a sensory experience that enables them to settle down and begin their class work. It also provides children with a fun break during the day that enhances
their learning without even realizing what they are actually doing.” The new and improved sensory walk is now known as Davey’s Way and was established by the Silber, Hoffman and Zierler families in memory of David Zierler, their beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. When asked why she wanted to establish this project in her father’s memory, Mrs. Silber replied: “This would be a beautiful way to remember him, as well as a way for Jewish children to get some extra help.” To expand the impact of this sensory experience, a second sensory walk was installed in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead. Mrs. Silber’s mother, Marion Zierler, knew of the plans for the second walk, and it was installed while she was hospitalized. She passed away a few short weeks ago; her shloshim was commemorated on February 25, the 30th day of Shevat. The new sensory walk at the Early Childhood Center has been named Bubie and Zadie’s Place, and it serves as a tribute to both of Mrs. Silber’s parents.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
Around the Community Rabbi Werner, rebbe at HALB, with his talmidim on Purim
HANC High School students enjoyed a hamantashen bake before Purim
Sounds Like Purim at Shulamith
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hhh! Do you hear it? Purim is coming at Shulamith Early Childhood Center! Sound plays a very important role in a child’s Purim celebrations. Children need to be very quiet when the Megillah is read and very noisy when they hear Haman’s name! There is singing and dancing and lots of laughter. As they prepared for Purim, our students had a wonderful time studying sound and learning so much in every content area. The children began by listening carefully to the sounds in their environment. It is amazing how many sounds there are when you really listen for them. Some of the kindergarten children made an audio recording of various sounds around the building and then created a sound guessing game for their friends. It is not as easy to identify familiar sounds as you may think! The children enjoyed testing various small objects in sound-testing containers and classifying them as loud or soft. The Pre1-Aers used their budding writing skills to create personal sound graphs. They were then able to read their graphs to determine
which materials to use to fill their raashanim. After testing so many objects, they were ready to be challenged with a sound matching game where they tried to find the sound matches and write down what they thought was in each container. So much fun! The children further honed their knowledge with many books and games and songs about sound. They used their Ivrit skills to play “Tuk Tuk Mi Ani?” They discussed sounds they could make with their bodies, sounds they could make with things around the classroom, and sound patterns. They even discussed how vocal chords help our bodies produce sound. A Purim Parade complete with musical instruments was a joyous explosion of sound. Our sound unit culminated with the visit of Mr. Tuchman who brought a real Megillah to school and lained some of it for the ECC children. The children quietly held the unique raashanim they had created and vigorously shook them every time they heard the name of Haman. We are happy to report that they did an excellent job of producing very loud sounds!
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
An Exemplary Award
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ANC High School congratulates Rena Max for successfully completing the Jerusalem Science Curriculum and for placing second in this prestigious competition. The Jerusalem Science Competition is an international competition for eleventh and twelfth grade Jewish high-school students interested in learning a cutting-edge science topic and its Judaic relevance. Participants study selected readings and video lectures and compete through a series of eight exams and a final proj-
ect with the opportunity to win prize money, a trip to Chicago, and a trip to Israel. This year’s topic was Neuroscience. With the support of Professor Quin Murrel, some of the topics Rena studied were brain anatomy, memory, perception, behavior, learning, neurotheology, and the brain-death controversy in Jewish Law. Rena will be traveling to Chicago to deliver her research presentation at a formal awards ceremony at the Walder Science Center, an international science-research organization. Rena also earned a
trip to Israel, which will take place in May. Rena is a junior enrolled in HANC’s rigorous Beit Midrash and Honors general studies programs. She has
focused on many STEM areas of learning, taking several AP science, math, and engineering courses. We are so proud of Rena and wish her much hatzlacha and con-
tinued success in all of her future endeavors. Mazal tov!
Turn Candy into Kiruv
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The fourth grade students at HANC transformed the gym into a science museum last week when they displayed their projects at the science fair
Vhaarev Na at MTA
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n Tuesday, March 3, MTA talmidim in Rabbi Danto’s freshman shiur had the exciting opportunity to meet with Rabbi Dovid Newman, founder of the Vhaarev Na learning program, which has revolutionized the way that yeshiva high school talmidim are learning. The program focuses on intense chazara b’retzifus, constant review of the material for an extended period of time with no interruptions. Rabbi Danto’s talmidim are participating in the program and were thrilled to meet Rabbi Newman in Monsey. After hearing divrei Torah
and bracha from Rabbi Newman, the talmidim learned their retzifus seder for more than two hours straight without stopping. Rabbi Newman was impressed by their incredible accomplishments and raffled off two sets of shas to the shiur. The talmidim finished the day with a seudah, sponsored by fellow talmid Avrohom Rivkin’s family, celebrating their retzifus seder and the completion of the first perek of Maseches Megillah. The talmidim are excited to continue learning for even longer periods of time and can’t wait for their next retzifus seder!
hat to do with all that extra Purim candy? JEP/ Nageela to the rescue! For the next few weeks you can turn your extra candy into kiruv. JEP/Nageela makes Torah-learning fun for children. The organization can use your excess candy at its many programs. The following schools and shuls have designated containers for candy drop-offs: TAG Elementary; TAG High School; HAFTR Elementary; HALB Elementary; Shulamith Cedarhurst Campus; Shulamith Woodmere Campus; Atares Yaakov; Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam; Bnos
Bais Yaakov; Stella K. Abraham; D.R.S. High School; Yeshivas Toras Caim; Darchei Torah Elementary & Preschool; Siach Yitzchok; Yeshiva Ketana; White Shul; Shaaray Tefila; Young Israel of Lawrence/ Cedarhurst; Young Israel of Woodmere; Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (Red Shul); Bais Medrash of Cedarhurst; and the Young Israel of North Woodmere. Please deposit candy in original wrappers and no homemade goods, please. For more information contact JEP/Nageela at 516-374-1528. Thank you for giving children a sweeter Torah experience!
100 Days Of Gesher Celebration
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he students at Gesher recently celebrated their 100th day of school. Led by the morahs of the Pre1A, the children recognized the milestone and the accomplishments made during that time. Months of happy learning were the basis for the “100 Things We Love About Gesher” writing project. The students put their acquired writing skills to good use, expressing what makes Gesher special to them on a heart shaped note. Combining the notes into a giant heart in the main hallway makes for a collective Thank You for all to appreciate.
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
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Around the Community
Shifting the Soul of a City By Moshe Brown
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he Dirshu World Siyum in Johannesburg, South Africa, was not simply another stop on the Dirshu Siyum HaShas journey. The gathering, attended by nearly 1,500 people, was a historic milestone in this far-flung community’s remarkable story of Jewish resurgence. It was a coming of age, a proof that South Africa is no longer simply the baal teshuva capital of the world but rather has now found its place among the world’s great centers of Torah. The lavish banquet was a fitting backdrop to celebrate this watershed moment. The setting of the event created the mood, with an outdoor marquee stunningly arranged and decorated in honor of the occasion. The candlelit atmosphere was charged with joy and also some amazement that a Torah event in that locale could attract such a massive crowd. “Until now, South Africa was not known to be a Torah center. The idea that so many people would come [to such an event] was so special; it brought the entire community together,” noted renowned maggid Rabbi Paysach Krohn, who was the keynote speaker at the Siyum. “I love the people there; they are tremendous mevakshim who want to grow and are so sincere.” When Dirshu Cape Town director Rabbi Dani Brett called on all those who had completed Shas to come forward to the specially built stage, a hush fell over the crowd as some sixty men of many backgrounds alighted the platform. Many were close to tears at the magnitude of the accomplishment and the scale of the kiddush Hashem. Indeed, just a short time ago, it would have been unimaginable to have such a large group making a siyum in this country. To have so many who were zocheh to be misayem the entire Shas was noth-
ing short of astonishing. In his address to the gathering, South Africa Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein urged the olam to imagine the reaction of HaRav Yitzchak Kosovsky, a brother-in-law of the gadol hador R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, zt”l, and leader in South Africa in the early 20th century, if he were to arrive at the venue on the night of the Siyum. Rabbi Kosovsky saw the community at its nadir, when observance was waning and Torah seemed to be at risk of being lost from South Africa altogether ch”v. He never lost his faith in the power of Torah and confidently asserted that a time would come when Torah would flourish at the bottom of Africa. The Dirshu Siyum was a testimony to his prescience. Dirshu South Africa head Rabbi Ari Taback described the event as “a glimpse of the truth, a taste of how things are supposed to be.” He spoke of the upside-down world in which we live, where great drama and fanfare are given to empty achievements on the sports fields and stadia of the outside world, and how for some reason Hashem has given our generation a taste of an “olam barur,” a world in which matters of true value are feted and celebrated in appropriately grand fashion, ironically in the very temples of those secular accomplishments. The climax of the event was a siyum by HaRav Arran Moshe Cohen, a South African baal teshuva who completed the Talmud as part of the Dirshu Kinyan HaShas program, having been tested closed-book multiple times on all 2,711 pages. His staggering accomplishment in some ways epitomized the revolution that has swept the country over the last few decades and which has culminated in the development of South Africa as a true makom Torah. Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, spoke
Participants dancing at the Johannesburg Dirshu World Siyum
Rabbi Paysach Krohn, keynote speaker at the Johannesburg Dirshu World Siyum
to the gathering about the Torah being an inheritance, not one which comes to a person simply by right of birth but rather through effort and desire. The next day Rav Hofstedter gave an in-depth iyun shiur pesicha on Masechta Brachos in the Johannesburg Kollel, which was attended by the Kollel yungeleit as well as members of the community at large. Rabbi Krohn flew in especially for the Siyum and addressed the olam. He spoke about the power of Daf HaYomi, the crucial role that women play in the acquisition of Torah, and the middos needed to achieve milestones in Torah. The evening concluded with a leibedige musical presentation by Simcha Leiner, channeling the heady feelings of joy late into the night. Traveling around the city on the weekend of the Siyum, Rabbi Krohn reflected on the Torah growth in the area, which is indicative of the tremendous spiritual revolution that has been taking place. He visited a shiur for men learning Masechta Brachos, just one of several shiurim given in Kollel Kvias Ittim under the leadership of Rabbi Taback, and was impressed by the group, who will IY”H make a siyum in the near future. Similarly, in Ohr Sameach, under the guidance of Rabbi Yechezkel Auerbach, he saw a tremendous amount of learning. “Now that there have been 50-60 misaymim, which was unheard of until now, many people will be inspired,” said Rabbi Krohn. In a related event, girls from schools across the spectrum of Orthodoxy joined together in an unprecedented display of achdus to hear Rabbi Krohn speak – moving teachers and principals to tears. For days after the Siyum, members of the Johannesburg community were on a high, and spoke of the event in superlatives unheard of for this normally reserved community. “Spectacular and inspirational”; “a truly amazing and fitting event”; “meaningful, beautiful, choshuv and a massive kiddush Hashem” were just some of the comments, but perhaps the most succinct was the reflection of one of Johannesburg’s rabbanim, who commented that the Siyum “shifted the soul of this city.”
MARCH 12,29, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home
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Centerfold
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I Need a Haircut and My Stylist Doesn’t Make Evening Appointments Bout of Influenza
I Need to Get a Jump Start on Pesach Cleaning Stomach Virus I Can’t Bear Another One of Those 9:00 AM ThreeHour Meetings Morning Sickness
Riddle me this? There are three lightbulbs in a room, and three light switches outside the room. You are outside and want to match up which switch goes with which lightbulb. You can only go into the room once and cannot come back in again. You can do anything you want upon entering the room. You have 10 minutes to figure out which switch goes with which lightbulb. What do you do? See answer below
Answer to Riddle Me This: Turn one of the switches on for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, then shut it off and turn another switch on. Then enter the room. The light that is on, goes with the second switch you hit. Feel the two bulbs that are off. The one that is warm goes with the first switch that was on and the cold bulb obviously corresponds to the switch which was never turned on.
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Homophone...Homophone... Homophone Homophones are words with the same sound that have different spellings and meanings. The blanks in the following sentences can be filled in with three different homophones to make valid sentences. The dashes indicate the number of letters in the words. Can you fill in the blanks? 1. The cut on his _ _ _ _ won’t _ _ _ _ in time for the race, so _ _’ _ _ have to drop out. 2. The man was so upset about being _ _ _ _ that he regularly _ _ _ _ _ _ himself up on the bed and _ _ _ _ _ _ his eyes out. 3. I couldn’t _ _ _ _ _ any of the _ _ _ _ _ _ in the flower shop, because for some strange reason I had 50 _ _ _ _ _ crammed up my nose. 4. A bloodthirsty pirate will wander the _ _ _ _ and essentially _ _ _ _ _ everything he _ _ _ _.
You gotta be
kidding
Maurice, who has all the money and mundane accomplishments there are to achieve, is about to embark on a solo sailing voyage around the globe. This is a risky voyage, but he is ready to take on the windy seas and high waters. Before departing, he gets his affairs in order and draws out a lengthy will. He tells his best friend Sammy, “If I’m not back in two years, I want you to have the contents of my treasured safe. Here is the key.” Sammy solemnly takes the key and bows. Maurice sets sail and almost immediately a massive wind and tornado erupt. He is fortunate to get out of the sea alive and trudges home. His family is shocked that he survived and can’t contain their tears of joy. Whereas he just departed several hours ago, they were certain that he could not have survived the gusty storm. His best friend Sammy is also in tears. He turns to his friend and says, “Maurice, wrong key.”
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4. A bloodthirsty pirate will wander the SEAS and essentially SEIZE everything he SEES. 3. I couldn’t SENSE any of the SCENTS in the flower shop, because for some strange reason I had 50 CENTS crammed up my nose. 2. The man was so upset about being BALD that he regularly BALLED himself up on the bed and BAWLED his eyes out. 1. The cut on his HEEL won’t HEAL in time for the race, so HE’LL have to drop out. Answers:
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Torah Thought
Parshas Ki Sisa By Rabbi Berel Wein
O
ne of the more mystical rituals in the Mishkan was the ketoret – the offering of incense on the altar. The incense, when burned by fire, provided a fragrant cloud of smoke that permeated the tent of the Mishkan. The Torah is very exact and detailed in describing the ingredients and formula that formed the ketoret in the Mishkan and later in the Temple, which produced this powerful fragrance. The Talmud states that
when the incense was being prepared in the Temple in Jerusalem the goats pasturing downwind in Jericho sneezed! There is no doubt that the incense did provide a very strong and pungent fragrance, though nowhere is it mentioned what this fragrance was comparable to. The Talmud adds that if the incense mixture would be combined with honey, then its smell would be so pleasant that it would prove to be irresistible. Why, then,
was no honey added to the formula of the incense? The Torah itself forbade this addition to the incense mixture, by stating explicitly that honey was not to be introduced on the altar. There is a profound lesson to be learned here. The Torah’s instructions are not to be improved upon by human tastes, fads, and currently popular ideas. The mystique of the incense offering is not to be enhanced by human preferences. Jewish history has shown us that all such “improvements” were eventually discarded. The Torah deals with eternity and
were many priests who were unworthy of being the High Priest and obtained their position only by means of corruption and graft. Their corpses literally had to be dragged out of the Temple’s precincts, since they died from the incense offering ritual. We do not find such lethal danger attached to any other duties of the High Priest in the Temple service. But as in the physical world, so, too, is it in the mystical spiritual world – that which has the power to destroy also possesses the power to heal and bless. The incense offering was the source to ensure financial
The Torah’s instructions are not to be improved upon by human tastes, fads, and currectly popular ideas.
not with current moods that always change. The Torah itself is the sole arbiter of what the fragrance of the incense offering should be. The incense offering was also deemed to be dangerous, if not lethal, to those priests performing the service. This was especially true on Yom Kippur when the High Priest himself performed the service upon entering the Holy of Holies with the incense pan and coals in his hands and arms. The Talmud records that during Second Temple times there
prosperity and abundance for the Jewish people. Even today, biblical verses regarding the incense offering are recited daily by many as a prayer for monetary success and physical welfare. It is the mystery of all this that so intrigues us. It remains one of the hidden treasures of the Torah that are not yet revealed to us. The ketoret retains its eternal fragrance of mystery. And we are not to add or detract from its Torah formulation. Shabbat shalom.
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From the Fire
Parshas Ki Sisa What’s Your Essence? By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf
A
fter the incident of the Golden Calf, Hashem is angry and tells Moshe Rabbeinu that he will destroy Bnei Yisroel and make a great nation out of Moshe. Ultimately, Moshe answers Hashem, “V’ata im tisa chatasaem, v’im ain mechaini na m’sefricha asher kasavta” (Shemos 32:32). Rashi on the pasuk explains: if You forgive their aveira, then good, then don’t erase me, but if You can’t let go of this aveira, then erase me… Rashi explains further that Moshe was asking to be erased from the entire Torah so that no one should say about Moshe that he wasn’t k’dai to beseech mercy and compassion for Bnei Yisrael. The Ba’al HaTurim brings the famous Gemara (Makos 11A) which explains why Moshe Rabbeinu’s name was curiously absent from last week’s parsha; Moshe conditionally asked Hashem to erase him from the Torah, but when a tzaddik requests something, even if it only a conditional request, nevertheless, the request stands and comes true to some degree. There is a bigger question here: what’s the inner reason behind the fact that Moshe Rabbeinu wanted to be altogether erased from the Torah if Hash-
em doesn’t forgive the people? What is the connection between the name of Moshe and beseeching for forgiveness? The sifrei mussar explain that the whole idea of Moshe Rabbeinu and everything surrounding him consisted almost entirely of miracles. Even before he was born, his sister, Miriam, prophesized that a savior was going to be born to the Jewish people (Megilla 14A), which was even known to the Egyptian astrologers; the house filled with light when he was born; his miraculous upbringing, first being saved by none other than Pharaoh’s daughter, and the miraculous way in which that was done (Sotah 12B), to being raised on Pharaoh’s lap after Pharaoh, himself, decreed that all Jewish boys be killed only with the intention to kill this one Jewish boy who was destined to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt, who ironically, was raised on his Pharaoh’s own knee. We know that Moshe Rabbeinu has ten different names, names which are known to us, but the name that we always associate with him is Moshe. This is not the name that his parents, the tzaddikim Amram and Yocheved, gave him, but rather the name that Basya,
the daughter of Pharaoh gave him. In Tanach he is even referred to as “Bnei Basya bas Pharaoh” (Divrei Hayamim I, 4:18). She named him Moshe because “min ha’mayim m’shisihu” (Shmos 2:10). Chazal tell us (Sotah 12B) that Basya went down to the Nile to bathe and heard a baby crying. She stretched her hands out to a supernatural length to save the baby crying in the basket. It was for this reason that he was named Moshe. But the baalei dikduk point out that really his name would more appropriately be “Mashui,” which means the one who was drawn from the water, whereas Moshe means the one who draws others from the water. From all the ten names by which Moshe is referred, the name that we always refer to him by is Moshe, and not Mashui. We must understand and feel that this is his whole essence of life, as Chazal have taught that something’s name is its essence. The point is, and what we learn from Moshe’s name, is: you were saved from the water, why? Why were you saved? Why you and not all those other little boys who were thrown into the Nile? To save others! That you, Moshe, will be the Moshia of
Yisrael, the one who be “moshe” others by drawing them out from their “Niles.” And that’s why, from the youngest age and even before you were born, all kinds of miracles surrounded everything about you. Now we can understand what happened in the interchange between Hashem and Moshe Rabbeinu following the sin of the Golden Calf. Hashem tells Moshe the obvious, that the sin of the Golden Calf is a tremendously grievous sin. Moshe says back to Hashem, I know, I understand that this is a big aveira and that only through a miracle could there possibly be any forgiveness for this sin and a continuity for this people. But, Ribbono Shel Olam, this is my entire life’s purpose and essence, my m’tzius. This is the reason that I was saved as a baby in a miraculous manner – only to save Jews. I was taken from the water, from certain death, only in order to be a moshia (savior) to save others! Therefore, like Rashi says, if You forgive them, good, but if not, then erase me from Your Book (the Torah). Because what would be the tachlis of the entire story of how I was saved from drowning and what would be the tachlis of my name being
Moshe if not for my saving others – that’s the whole reason I’m in the sefer in the first place. We see this idea in the Purim story as well. The Gemara (Megilla 13A) explains that Esther’s name was Hadassa. Esther is a Persian name, which is a Persian word for star. Hadassa is her Hebrew name. In Tanach, we see that tzaddikim are also called hadassim (myrtles). It says in Chazal (Rosh Hashana 23A), whoever learns Torah and doesn’t teach it to others, is like a hadas in the desert. Why? What is the whole purpose of the hadassim that we enjoy smelling so much on Sukkos? The point is for the pleasant fragrance that they provide for others! So what would be the purpose of a hadas in the desert? Who could get any benefit from that? What’s the tachlis? That is the inyan of a tzaddik – to be a hadas! Esther’s father died while her mother was pregnant and her mother soon thereafter. She was taken to the palace of Achashveirosh – from the whole
127 countries, she was taken, what a mazal! We see this is the conversation Mordecai and Esther have in the Megillah. Mordecai is saying to Esther (Esther 4:14), do you think that Hashem did all these miracles just for you?! Understandably, Esther did not want to be married to Achashveirosh, but there are all these miracles that show the hand of Hashem in this whole story; do you think that all these miracles occurred for no reason? Your whole purpose of being placed in the role of Queen Esther is to be a savior of Jews. The Ponovezher Rav, Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, survived the war because prior to the war he was on a fundraising trip out of Europe and couldn’t get back in, although he tried. His whole family was wiped out. After the war, he was invited to a bar mitzvah of the only child to survive the Kovno Ghetto. There weren’t too many adults who survived, but this was the only child. And now it was his bar mitzvah. The Ponovezher Rov was slated
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to speak. But he was so excited – he was moving around, kept staring at the bar mitzvah boy and couldn’t sit still. Before he was supposed to speak, he got up and asked for a Chumash. That week was Parshas Shmini which talks about the death of Nadav and Avihu and the parsha details how Moshe Rabbeinu gets angry with Elazar and Isamar, “the nosarim” (ones that were left over – Aaron’s other two sons who were not killed), leimor (saying). The word leimor is extra because generally it is indicative of some command or something to be given over. Rashi says: leimor means that Moshe Rabbeinu was demanding from them: “give me an answer.” But what answer was Moshe looking for? No question was posed. Chazal tell us that not only were Nadav and Avihu killed, but also Elazar and Isamar were supposed to be killed also, but they remained alive in the merit of their father Aaron. Moshe Rabbeinu was asking them, why? Why did Hashem keep you alive? It must be only to increase kavod Shamayim
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in the world. Now answer me! Do you feel that your actions are revealing more kavod Shamayim in the world? With that, the Ponovezher Rov turned to the bar mitzvah boy and said, “You, too, are the only remnant from all the children of the Kovno Ghetto – you were only saved to be mekadesh Hashem, so where is your kiddush shem Shamayim?” The tzaddikim say that this generation is entirely a remnant. When offerings were brought on the altar and some of the pieces of the korbanos fell off before they were burnt, there was a degree of kedusha on those pieces. The tzaddikim say that we, this generation, are those remnants that fell off the mizbeach. Hashem should help that we all answer the call to be mekadesh Hashem, to save others and do what we can for others. Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.
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Parsha
in 4
Parshas Ki Sisa By Eytan Kobre
Weekly Aggada And the Jewish people saw the face of Moshe, that the face of Moshe shined; and Moshe returned the mask onto his face until he came to speak with Him (Shemos 34:35) Why did Moshe merit this? It is comparable to a king whose eldest son went wayward. The king grabbed his son and commanded his vizier to take the boy outside the castle and kill him and feed him to wild animals and dogs. Instead, the vizier took the boy out of the castle and secreted him in a country house.
Thirty days later, the king’s mood improved. He again surrounded himself with family, friends, and servants. But when he searched all around and did not see his eldest son, the king again grew melancholy and was filled with anguish over what he had done. The vizier quickly ran to the country house where he had hidden the boy and brought him once more before his father, the king. The king was so overcome with joy that he removed the crown from his head and placed it upon the vizier. So it was with Moshe. Once he prayed for the salvation of the Jewish people following the sin of the
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Golden Calf, the crown that was intended for the Jewish people who had proclaimed “we will do and we will listen” was placed instead on the head of Moshe (Tana d’Bei Eliyahu 4).
Weekly Mussar And G-d spoke to Moshe, “Go descend because the nation that you raised from the Land of Egypt has become corrupted. They have turned away quickly from the path that I commanded them, they have made for themselves a molten calf, and they bowed to it and they offered sacrifices to it, and they said, ‘This is your god, Israel’” (Shemos 32:7-8) My older son and I recently came across a placard bearing the following Chinese saying: “Hearing about something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.” I noted how all cultures make the same point about the difference between hearing and seeing, but to varying degrees. In the Chinese culture, it seems, seeing is about one hundred times more effective than hearing. In American culture, we say, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” making seeing about a thousand times more effective than hearing. But in our tradition, “aino domeh shmi’a lire’iya” – there is no comparison between hearing and seeing. Moshe’s encounter with the Golden Calf proved as much. When Moshe was still in the Heavens, G-d told him that the Jewish people were sinning with the Golden Calf. And yet Moshe did not shatter the Luchos until he descended “and drew closer to the encampment, and he saw the calf and the dancing” – it was only then that “he threw the Luchos from
his hands” (Shemos 32:19). Here was arguably the most godly man ever – who spoke with G-d “face-to-face” (Shemos 33:11) – hearing from G-d directly that the Jewish people had sinned with the Golden Calf. And yet hearing G-d’s account did not bring him to shatter the Luchos. Only when he witnessed firsthand the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf did Moshe thrown down the Luchos. Because seeing is not just one hundred or one thousand times more impactful than hearing; seeing affects us in an entirely way than hearing. There is truly no comparison between hearing and seeing. So even the most compelling hearing (the most godly man from G-d Himself) could not rival seeing (see Maharsha, Yevamos 62a [Sefer HaIkarim]). What we see, far more than what we hear, becomes a part of us – for good and for bad. When we choose to see good, healthy, beneficial things, those sights have an enduring, positive impact upon us. But we must also be ever-vigilant of seeing negative, harmful, detrimental things, which have the opposite – but not less impactful – influence upon us.
Weekly Anecdote And He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call in the name of G-d before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will be merciful on whom I will show mercy” (Shemos 33:19) “And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” – even to the undeserving (Berachos 7a). Reb Zusha of Anipoli had one particularly wealthy devotee, who would always give the rebbe a sizeable donation whenever he visited.
This follower saw it as a privilege to bestow his largesse upon the rebbe, and he attributed his material successes to that generosity. One day, the man came to the rebbe’s home to find that he was not there. “Where is the rebbe?” the man asked the rebbetzin. “Oh, he has gone to see the rebbe,” answered the rebbetzin. “The rebbe?” replied the man quizzically. “You mean the rebbe himself has a rebbe?” “Of course,” the rebbetzin replied. “The holy Maggid of Mezritch!” On his way home, the devotee got to thinking. If my material success is due to the largesse I bestow upon my rebbe, and my rebbe himself has a rebbe, surely I will be yet more successful and more prosperous if I shower my generosity upon my rebbe’s rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch. And, confident in his impeccable logic, the man visited Reb Zusha no more; he went, and contributed, only
to the Maggid of Mezritch. After a while, however, he saw not even an uptick in his prosperity; in fact, his success declined. Realizing he must have made some mistake, he returned once again to Reb Zusha. “Please accept my sincere apologies, rebbe, for not visiting in quite some time. But I have a question. Why did my business thrive when I visited you, but since I started to visit your rebbe –who must be even greater than you – success has eluded me?” “You see,” answered Reb Zusha, “I am not a holy man. So when you visited me and shared your wealth with me even though I am not worthy of it, the Heavenly Court did not scrutinize whether you were worthy of the wealth, and so you were granted prosperity. But once you became particular about sharing your wealth only with someone who truly is holy, the Maggid of Mezritch, the Heavenly Court became particular about
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whether you were worthy of wealth to begin with, and when you were scrutinized, you were found to be undeserving.”
Weekly Halacha And Moshe beseeched Hashem his G-d, and he said, “Why, G-d, does Your anger burn against Your people that You brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?” (Shemos 32:11) Inasmuch as the Torah describes Moshe Rabbeinu’s prayers as “beseeching” G-d, we learn that someone who prays twice, back-to-back, must pause between the two prayers such that his mind is clear enough to be able to “beseech” G-d again in the second prayer (Berachos 30b and Rashi ad loc.). (Alternatively, this same rule is derived from the Torah’s description of Moshe Rabbeinu’s prayer, elsewhere (Devarim
3:23), as “beseeching” G-d.) This applies only to back-to-back Shemoneh Esrei (Magen Avraham 105:1; Be’er Heitiv, Orach Chaim 105:1) – e.g., Mussaf immediately following Shacharis or a double Maariv after missing Mincha (Mishna Berura 105:1; Torah Temima, Shemos 32:11). To some, this is also the reason that the Shliach Tzibbur pauses between his own silent Shemoneh Esrei and Chazaras HaShatz (Responsa of Rashba 436). Practically, the time one must wait is the amount of time it takes to walk four cubits (Yerushalmi, Berachos 4:6; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 105:1). The Weekly Halacha is not meant for practical purposes and is for discussion purposes only. Please consult your own rav for guidance. Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.
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Think, Feel, Grow
The Power of Giving By Shmuel Reichman
T
here is a widespread problem that haunts humanity, leaving us lonely and disconnected. Many people live their lives in a state of ego – a state of mind in which one thinks they are an isolated being inside their own body, their own mind, their own world, alone. The consequences of this state of mind are obvious: you feel independent and separate from Hashem. Since everyone else in the world is different and separate from you, you will feel the need to compete with them, to beat them, in order to gain self-worth, in order to convince yourself that you’re good enough. This often means pushing others down just to feel like you’re better than them. You might hate certain people or even hurt them, since they don’t make you feel good or perhaps because they challenge your own self-worth. But most of all, this state of consciousness leaves you lonely, abandoned, empty. However, there is another option.
Living as a Soul Rather than succumbing to separation and isolation, you can choose to live in a state of soul, a state of oneness. This means living with the understanding that while we are each unique individuals, at our spiritual and existential core we are all one. At
root, we are an interconnected self, a single consciousness with a single soul. This is the concept of Klal Yisrael – a singular, unified self. The Rambam states that one who disconnects himself from the Jewish people has no portion in the World to Come. This is intuitive, though. Klal Yisrael is one entity, a single body, a single self. If a leaf falls from a tree, it withers; if a finger is detached from its body, it dies. If you remove yourself from your source of existence, you cease to exist. However, it is clear that most people do not experience this state of oneness. We do not automatically perceive ourselves as part of a cosmic self. In fact, the starting point of every child is ego and selfishness. Research has shown that every child views themselves as the center of the universe and believes that they are all that exists. It is only with time that they come to realize that they are one of but billions of people existing in this world, each with their unique life experience and inner world. However, many people stop their existential and experiential growth at that point. They don’t expand further, breaking down the boundaries of consciousness, realizing that they aren’t an isolated being but are rather a part of a bigger whole. They live the rest of their lives as an ego, alone, hollow inside.
The question becomes: how do we break down the walls of our limited ego, to expand our sense of self outwards? The key to this deep principle lies in the concept of gifts.
Giving The process of collecting funds for the Mishkan, the place where Hashem was most potently manifest in the physical world, is characterized by the voluntary gifts that the Jewish people donated. The emphasis of these donations is their voluntary nature – Hashem commands Moshe to collect from Klal Yisrael whatever their hearts inspire them to give. Rashi (Shemos 25:2) explains that instead of specifying a certain amount, Hashem allowed them to give whatever they personally felt compelled to donate. Why is this so? Why not specify a required amount? To answer this question, let’s look more deeply at the nature of giving. Rav Eliyahu Dessler explains that, naturally, we only love ourselves (Michtav M’Elyahu, Kuntres Ha’chessed). This is not surprising, as each of us only experiences life from our own individual perspective. I can only know what I want, what I need, what I feel. It takes a lifetime of work to understand another person on this
level and to be as committed to their needs as you are to your own. True love, however, is when someone else becomes an extension of your consciousness, when you feel their needs and hopes and dreams as strongly as you do your own. The “love” that most people experience does not compare to this ideal. Just think about the way we throw the word “love” around. Someone might say, “I love chicken,” but then turn around and say, “I love my wife.” Can these two experiences really be compared? When a person says they love chicken, do they really mean that they love chicken? Of course not! If they loved chicken, it wouldn’t be dead on their plate. What they actually mean is that they love the way chicken makes them feel. It’s themselves that they love. The problem, though, is that too often when people speak of love, they are referring to this same kind of love. More often than not, when we say we love someone, we really mean that we love how they make us feel. If this is true, then what is true love and how can we create it?
True Love True love is absolute oneness. It’s when individual pieces connect in such a way that they create something transcendent, greater than the
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sum of the parts. The ideal is for man and wife to experience this oneness, and this ideal was modeled in the very creation of humanity. As the midrash explains, Adam and Chava were originally created as one androgynous being, a physical manifestation of a deeper existential oneness. They were then broken apart and forced to rebuild that original oneness. The ideal and goal, though, that we must learn from this is clear: each one of us is must strive to build deep, existential oneness with our own life’s partner. The Gemara in Yevamos adds a layer of depth this and explains that before a man and wife are born, they exist as a single neshama. When they are born into the world, they are broken apart and exist as two distinct beings. The goal is to then wander the world in search of your soulmate, choose each other, and then rebuild that original oneness. Adam and Chava were created as one before being split apart to model the oneness that we are striving towards as husband and wife. So, if at root we are one, but our natural experience in this world is twoness and multiplicity, then how do we both build and develop an awareness of this oneness? Rav Dessler explains that the mechanism for creating love and oneness is giving (Michtav M’Elyahu, Kuntres Ha’chessed). The logic is as follows: we love ourselves. We also find, though, that parents love their children. Why is this? It’s because children are an extension of their parents. We love anything that has a piece of ourselves in it, as we personally identify with it. This is why we find ourselves loving our ideas, our pets, and all the creative projects that we’ve spent countless hours working on. When we invest ourselves into something, we see a part of ourselves manifest within it, which naturally fosters our love for that object, person, or idea. It’s interesting to observe that parents always love their children more than children love their parents. However, based on Rav Dessler’s explanation of love and giving, this makes perfect sense. Parents give an infinite amount of themselves to their children. Beyond just giving over their physical DNA, they devote
endless time, energy, money, and care to their children. This is also why the Hebrew word for love is ahava. The root of this word is hav, which means
created and manifest through genuine giving. Hashem gave the Jewish people the opportunity to create a bond of oneness and love with Him.
Hashem gave the Jewish people the opportunity to create a bond of oneness and love with Him
to give. Only when you give can you experience true love, true oneness.
The Mishkan The theme of oneness is prevalent throughout Mishkan. Rashi (Shemos 25:31) quotes the midrash which says that the Menorah wasn’t created by connecting many separate pieces of gold but rather from a single block of gold. This idea of oneness and unity appears in many other parts of the Mishkan as well. This is because the Mishkan (and Beis Ha’mikdash) is where the physical world connects to and fuses with the spiritual world. It is the focal point of Hashem’s connection to, and manifestation within, this world. It is the place where all of Klal Yisrael come together to become one, first as a nation, and then with Hashem. The Menorah was created as a single block of gold, reflective of a much deeper pattern. Just as the Menorah begins as a single block of gold before becoming manifest as branches and pieces, the Jewish people are a single soul at root expressed as a multitude of individuals. (The Menorah is also representative of Torah Sheba’al Peh, the concept that embodies this principle as well. Torah Shebiksav is a single static text, while Torah Sheba’al Peh is an infinitely complex and never-ending expression of that oneness in the form of multiplicity, twoness, and details.) The donation process for the Mishkan embodies this process of creating oneness and love. The Jewish people had to give of their own volition, to choose to donate their possessions to Hashem. This is because love and oneness can only be
Only by giving themselves to Hashem, and recognizing Him as the source of their existence, could the Jewish People truly create this bond of love and oneness. It is therefore no coincidence that these donations were directed towards the building of the Mishkan, the very center of oneness and the place where the Jewish people would connect directly to Hashem. Think about your own life. Are
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you walled in? Are you afraid of being loved? Of loving others? Are you living as an ego or as a soul? Are you expanding outwards, giving yourself to others, or are you isolating yourself, living empty and alone? Let us be inspired to give ourselves to those whom we care about, to build genuine love, and to endlessly expand beyond our limited sense of self into true oneness with our family, our friends, all of Klal Yisrael, and, ultimately, Hashem Himself.
Shmuel Reichman is an inspirational speaker, writer, and coach who has lectured internationally at shuls, conferences, and Jewish communities on topics of Jewish thought and Jewish medical ethics. He is the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy (ShmuelReichman.com), the transformative online course that is revolutionizing how we engage in self-development. You can find more inspirational lectures, videos, and articles from Shmuel on his website, ShmuelReichman.com.
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MARCH 12, 12, 2020 2020 || The The Jewish Jewish Home Home MARCH
The Wandering
Jew
The Lewkowicz Family By Hershel Lieber
At the Lauder Summer Camp in 1989. Zvi is holding the Havdalah candle next to his father Karol. Malka is on the left next to Pesi
I
t was the summer of 1989. Pesi and I were invited to help manage the Lauder Summer Retreat for its second year. The previous summer we had thirteen participants for Shabbos, of which six people remained during the week. This year, we were hoping that more people would join our historical mission to introduce Yiddishkeit to the next generation of Polish Jews. The number of participants was not much greater but the seed we planted eventually did produce some lovely fruits. We spent the Shabbos before we started the retreat in Krakow. We davened in the Remu Shul together with a small group of elderly Jews. In the shul, we were introduced to the Lewkowicz family from Wroclaw (formerly Breslau) who came to see their cousin, Chaim Shalem from Israel, who was leading a Jewish tour of Poland. Chaim approached Pesi and asked her to reach out to his cousin Malka to help bring her closer to her roots. Malka was there with her husband Karol and their two children, Monika and Henryk.
A complete Jewish family was rare in Poland, as intermarriage was the general rule by almost all Jews. After spending some time talking with her in a combination of Yiddish and Ger-
Me at the Lauder Winter Camp with Monika, Malka and Zvi in 1990
Malka became very attached to Yiddishkeit. She introduced many mitzvos and traditions into her home. Henryk had his bar mitzvah later that year, and I brought him to
“I promise I will come back to a Torah lifestyle. Just not yet.”
man, Pesi proposed that Malka bring her family and join us at the Summer Camp. Baruch Hashem, the next Shabbos, the whole family joined us as we celebrated a traditional Shabbos from the Friday night candles to the Motzei Shabbos Havdalah candle. That Shabbos began a relationship which spanned over thirty years and continues to the present day.
New York where he had his bris. A few years later, we began the process of having the children sent abroad to study in Jewish schools. Rabbi Schudrich, who subsequently headed the Lauder Foundation and now is Poland’s chief rabbi, arranged for Monika to study at the Maimonides School in Boston while I eventually sent Henryk, who was now called
Zvi, to learn at Dvar Yerushalayim in Israel. Karol, on the other hand, was not keen on all the changes that Malka wanted. The difficulty of maintaining a kosher home and keeping Shabbos was too much for him to accept. The Lewkowiczes joined us each year for both the summer and winter retreats, where Malka’s talents working with little children were remarkable. I spent a Shabbos in Wroclaw, where Malka organized a Shabbaton which I conducted and gave lectures. After high school, Monika, who was an excellent student, continued her education at a seminary in Israel. Zvi changed schools to Machon Brand, which offered a secular education program besides limudei kodesh. Real life presents constant struggles, and the Lewkowiczes had their share of challenges. I recall one such challenge, since it made a very strong impression on me. I had heard that Zvi was slowly drifting from his Yiddishkeit while he was still in Yerushalayim. This was a great source of anguish to his
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Teaching Zvi about the mitvah of tzitzis at the Lauder Summer Camp
mother. When he arrived at the summer camp, he brought along a friend from a Meah Shearim family. This boy had obviously given up on his religious and strict upbringing and was rebelling in a very strong way. I remember when he walked into Kabbalas Shabbos during Lecha Dodi. I offered him a siddur, and he slammed it down on the table and stormed out. I realized the spiritual danger that this friend was caus-
Zvi’s bar mitzvah in Wroclaw with Chief Rabbi Joskowitz z”l in 1990
ing Zvi but held off at the time from talking to him about it. On Sunday, I asked Zvi to accompany me for a walk in the woods. I slowly and cautiously had a heartto-heart discussion about his own decline. I will never forget his words at the time. “Rabbi Lieber, believe me that I want the same for myself, as you want from your family. I want to marry a religious woman, raise children who go to yeshivas, keep a ko-
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Zvi at his wedding in 2004 with Rabbi Chaskel Besser z”l and me
sher home, observe Shabbos and yom tov, and daven every day. I just need a break now,” he told me. “I just can’t do it now. I promise I will come back to a Torah lifestyle. Just not yet.” Famous last words, I thought. Great intentions, but not realistic after falling off the path. In the end, it was I who needed a dose of faith, a measure of bitachon, since he has proven me completely wrong. Zvi returned to Yiddishkeit, got mar-
ried in 2004, and together with his wife, Mazal, established a beautiful religious family and is now living in Beit Shemesh operating a small construction business. Monika also married a year later in Yerushalayim, and we were privileged to be at the chasuna. She is a nurse in the neonatal department at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Israel. Her husband, Zev, originally from California, is a professional computer an-
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIRIAM By Miriam
CALL OR TEXT MIRIAM JACOBOVITS 347–572–8973
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home
alyst. They have two lovely children, and they too live in Beit Shemesh. When Zvi married Mazal, an occupational therapist, they started out living in Brooklyn and had their first few children there. Although he was married to an American, the fact that he entered the USA on a visitor visa which had long expired made him an illegal alien. He was always a daring young man who was not afraid to take risks. Before his marriage, he once left the USA to visit his parents in Poland fully knowing that he would not be allowed to come back. Subsequently, he managed to cross the border into the United States from an unmonitored rural area in Canada. Years later, when Monika had her second child, he wanted to surprise her, so he traveled to Israel for the bris. But this time, when he returned, he was caught and was sent back to Israel. This presented a major problem since Mazal and their children were in Brooklyn and he could not return. After many failed political and diplomatic attempts, Zvi resigned himself to remain in Israel and brought over his family on aliyah.
At the bris for Zvi’s son in 2007. Left to right-Karol, Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer, Zvi, Rabbi Motel Twersky, and me
Monika with her parents at her wedding in 2005
Serving our community for over 30 years
Zvi and Mazal with their children and Malka in Beit Shemesh in 2013
Monika and Zev with their children and with Malka in Beit Shemesh in 2013
Ever since her children left Poland, Malka agonized that she was living apart from them. She was also determined to be in a religious environment where she would be able to fully adapt to a frum lifestyle. As difficult as it was, she separated from Karol, who chose to remain in Poland, and moved to Yerushalayim. Only a few years ago, Karol died. Finally, last year Malka retired from her occupation as a professional kindergarten teacher and moved to Beit Shemesh to be closer to her children and her seven grandchildren. Our families remain very close. They joined us when we married off three grandchildren in Israel for the weddings and sheva brachos. Pesi speaks with Malka every Rosh Chodesh, and we keep in touch with her children from time to time. Malka is always grateful to Pesi for the role she played in starting her and her family on the road to Yiddishkeit. For us, this was an opportunity that the Ribbono Shel Olam granted us, which we shall forever be grateful for.
Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
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Builders
A Couple On And Off an Ambucycle By Raphael Poch
T
om and Nechama Eisenman are both volunteer EMTs with United Hatzalah and are often busy as ever racing to people’s aid with Tom’s ambucycle and in their private vehicle as well. They live together with their three children in Beit Shemesh. On a recent Friday afternoon, Tom was busy with Shabbat preparations when he was alerted to a child who had been struck by a car. Despite it being only 30 minutes before Shabbat, the dedicated volunteer dashed outside, hopped on his ambucycle, and sped to the nearby address, arriving in just 60 seconds. Tom immediately began providing critical lifesaving intervention to the seriously injured 6-year-old boy. Another United Hatzalah ambucycle medic arrived and assisted Tom in bandaging the boy’s wounds, affixing a neck brace for C-spine stabilization, and immobilizing him. About five minutes later, an ambulance crew arrived and joined in the rescue effort. Tom administered oxygen as the team worked feverishly to stabilize the boy’s condition before rapidly transporting him to the nearest trauma center. In another incident, the following Sunday morning, a public bus suddenly jerked to a stop, sending a passenger flying forward. The wom-
an screamed as she crashed down to the bus floor, suffering multiple injuries. Alarmed, co-passengers immediately called for help, and United Hatzalah dispatch alerted its closest volunteers. Tom leaped on his ambucycle once again and raced to the accident scene in record time. As he pulled up to the bus, he was surprised to see a very familiar face: his wife in her orange United Hatzalah vest. Nechama had just celebrated her EMT course graduation the night before and this was
complained of hitting her head and of feeling weak and dizzy. Nechama and Tom reassured the woman as they checked her vitals and treated her wounds. Having stayed with the woman until the arrival of an ambulance, the pair of medics parted ways until they would meet back home later that evening. Since then, they have been responding to calls together almost daily. Tom spoke about responding to calls as a couple. “Responding together as a couple
“Doing something that I enjoy so much, assisting people and saving lives, is so much better when I can do it with the person that I love so much.”
her very first call. The husband-and-wife life-saving duo boarded the bus together and approached the injured victim. The 45-year-old woman had suffered bruising from the fall and
is awesome,” he says. “Doing something that I enjoy so much, assisting people and saving lives, is so much better when I can do it with the person that I love so much. “For years, I’ve been respond-
ing to calls on my own, and now that Nechama has joined, it becomes so much more meaningful to share these experiences with her. We speak the same language, and when we respond, it gives our time together a lot of meaning knowing that we at any moment we can, and often are, pulled away to respond to emergencies.” “What I love about volunteering with my spouse,” Nechama says, “is that it is really cool to see a whole new dimension of my husband’s personality, and him to see a new part of mine. Even though we’ve been married for nine years, volunteering together allowed us to see new parts of each other. It is also a combination of two of my favorite things. I love being able to help people and being equipped to handle a situation that a few months ago I had no idea how to handle. I also love spending time with my husband – and this way we can do both.” She adds, “Just like in our marriage we balance each other out, we can now bring that to the table in the EMT arena. We each have different ways of how we interact with the patients and we complement each other. It becomes a very holistic type of approach. He has his calmness, and I have my empathy. “We make a great tag team.”
MARCH 12,29, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home
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BY TAMMY MARK
Professor Rafael Beyar Talks about Advances in Medicine and Innovations at Rambam Hospital
“Medical practice is not knitting and weaving and the labor of the hands, but it must be inspired with soul and be filled with understanding and equipped with the gift of keen observation…” -Rambam
P
rof. Rafi Beyar, MD, PhD, is a visionary and a man of action and most certainly blessed with the gift of keen observation. A practicing physician, a professor, an author and entrepreneur, Beyar has helped bring ideas, solutions and cures to the State of Israel and the world at-large. From the development of the earliest cardiac stents and the first robotic stent implantation, through supporting stem cell applications and establishing the largest fortified hospital, Beyar has been an undeniable force in the arena of modern medicine. Many of Beyar’s most outstanding achievements manifested during his time at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Rambam is northern Israel’s premier hospital, an institution which prides itself on providing stellar care for the people of Israel while furthering the advancement of medicine worldwide. Established initially as a governmental hospital under British Mandate in 1938 and renamed by David Ben Gurion in 1952, the hospital reflects the principles of Rambam, the revered scholar and physician Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon. Today, the hospital anchors an expansive campus that features a network of interconnected healthcare and research facilities. Beyar has been the heart of the hospital for over 30 years, healing, teaching, innovating and leading with the spirit of the Rambam. One of his most defining roles is as a leader in the field of cardiovascular health, specifically interventional cardiology. “I never stopped practicing, even in my positions as dean and as head of the hospital. I’m an interventional cardiologist so I’m opening blockages in arteries – I call myself a plumber,” he quips. Aside from his personal contributions to the cardiovascular field, Beyar’s education and out-of-thebox thinking have also led to tremendous innovations in several areas of healthcare and technology. “My profile is really combining engineering and medicine,” he notes. “That’s what I’ve done throughout my career.”
STENT STANDARDS Born in Petach Tikvah, Israel, Be-
The Jewish Home | MARCH 29, 12, 2020 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 2015
yar began medical school in Tel Aviv at 18 through the Atuda Academic reserve program of the Israeli Defense Forces, a program which enables high school graduates to attend university prior to military service. He entered the army at 25, serving as a doctor in the Golani Infantry and on the northern border near Lebanon and Syria for close to five years. Beyar then resumed his education, studying biomedical engineering at the Technion Institute. He traveled to the U.S. for a cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins, the first of many stretches at the Maryland institution, before returning to Israel to practice at Rambam. Upon completion of his PhD, Beyar joined the hospital in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the “cath lab,” in 1988 and was later nominated to lead the lab. “These were fascinating times,” he says, “because this was the time that the first stents in the world really started to be developed, and we were part of that development. It was really exciting because the stents really transformed what we do in treating coronary artery disease. Before that, most of the patients went to surgery. If you had blockages, you had to go to bypass surgery. In surgery, we open the chest, you stay in the hospital for seven days, and you have to recover for a month. With stents you go home the next day, you go to work two days after that; it’s really amazing. “Today, 90% of our patients go to stenting rather than surgery – so it’s really transformational what happened.” These initial stents were bare metal mesh stents which soon became the universal treatment for blocked arteries and were later replaced with the newer drug-eluting stents used today. Stent use has extended to address other conditions in the body such as chronic venous insufficiency and peripheral artery disease. The game-changing development was the first of many highlights in Beyar’s career. In 2000, he was elected as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion, serving until 2005. “These were again, really fascinating years because these were the
The Rambam campus on the coast
years that the first stem cells in the world were developed by Professor Itzkowitz from Rambam, and the first heart stem cells by Professor Gepstein, coming from Rambam and the Technion together.” During the last year of his deanship, in 2004, Beyar witnessed the first Nobel Prizes to come out of the
best universities in the world, and the Nobel Laureates became a symbol to all of us doing research.”
HOSPITAL UNDERGROUND In 2005, after his term at Technion, Beyar was called upon to run Rambam Hospital, holding the position of director and CEO for 13 years,
“IT’S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, IT’S LIFE.” Israeli institution when Technion researchers Professors Hershko and Ciechanover from the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their analysis of protein degradation. “Proteins are being made, produced by this double helix, but nobody knew how proteins are degraded, when they end their life and how new proteins are made in the body,” Beyar explains. “If you look today in the mirror and you look a month later in the mirror, you’ll see usually the same person, but actually a completely different person -- all of the proteins have changed. They do not wear out, but they are actively chopped to their ingredients and re-assembled. So this really put Technion up on the world list of the
recently passing the baton to current director, Dr. Michael Halberthal. Beyar was not only instrumental in advancing the medicine at the institution in this role but in expanding the development of the facilities as well. Though still under construction, the sprawling campus on the Haifa Bay currently boasts healing, research and teaching facilities, including the University of Haifa School Of Nursing and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Amidst Rambam’s medical facilities that include the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital, The Joseph Fishman Oncology Center, and the Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital stands the Helmsley Health Discovery Tower. The tower will provide research labs for Rambam, the Technion and
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the University of Haifa, essentially breaking the walls between these institutions and offering opportunities for research to be more rapidly transformed into technology. Some of the most unique work coming out of Haifa campus is the collaboration between the research and application, another aspect of innovation that Beyar has been instrumental in facilitating. He shares, “We’ve founded some innovative companies out of Rambam to take ideas of physicians and turn them into companies. On top of that, we also founded a collaborative medical device and digital health incubator that brings in companies from all over Israel to come and partner with us.” Below all of the action aboveground is the famous fortified underground hospital, one of Beyar’s most outstanding projects. Beyar recalls the treacherous situation he found himself in when he stepped into his new role as director. ”The first thing I encountered was the Second Lebanon War, five months after I started. We were under fire; under missile attack for a whole month. This was a challenge. We had to run the hospital under fire – and this is the major hospital of the north of Israel. We had to deal with both protecting the staff and the patients from the heavy missiles that were coming from the north, we had to take care of running the actual medicine and we had to take care of the families of the workers.” At the end of a long month under fire, Beyar organized a major mission to have a protected facility for the hospital. “The hospital was completely unprotected – there were no facilities and we had to put patients in corridors in improvised shelters – there was nowhere to treat the patients, no safe locations, people were just hiding anywhere,” he says. “We knew we had to make it safe.” Beyar’s vision and leadership skills notwithstanding, his relentless perseverance ultimately brought the idea into existence. “Everybody told me ‘we don’t need it, we don’t have the money, we can’t do it’ – so we decided to do it on our own. We got a major donation and we started to plan for
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Dr. Beyar presenting the Rambam Award to President Peres in 2016
800 beds, for just what the hospital needed.” After a year, Beyar asked for matching funds from the government, who initially told him such a facility wasn’t needed. Once officials saw it was already in progress, though, Beyar was directed to double the project size to include 2,000 beds to serve the entire north of the country in order to receive the funds; Beyar accepted the challenge. It was a daunting years-long undertaking with many hurdles to clear, but in 2014 the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital finally opened. It is the largest in the world of its kind and the only one is Israel. The facility consists of three levels of underground parking accommodating 1,500 cars, with the bottom two floors able to transform into a completely protected fully functional hospital. “The threat in the north is much bigger than what it was in 2006,” Beyar cautions. “There’s a huge threat and we have to be prepared.”
HOSPITAL WITH A HEART With all of the institutional ideas that Beyar has actualized, he remains close to the human aspect of medicine. “Running the hospital is not only the buildings; it’s running the care, actually making sure that you nominate the best leaders to the medical departments, that you have devoted staff -- so it’s really all about people. And we’re very successful in getting the best doctors and the most
passionate personnel to Rambam in every field.He adds, “Another thing which is very special about our hospital is having Jews and Arabs working together, shoulder to shoulder. Arabs are not restricted in their promotion – they can be professors, they can be heads of departments and people love it. We also treat our neighbors, and we regularly treat children from Gaza and from the West Bank for cancer, kidney diseases and other complex problems.” This collaborative atmosphere at Rambam serves as a global example of Israel’s humanitarian values. In July 2014, during the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, The Lancet medical journal published an open letter accusing Israel of committing massacres and war crimes and ignited a storm of protest. Editor Richard Horton was invited to Israel to visit with Beyar and his team at Rambam and witness Jewish-Arab medical cooperation firsthand. At the end of the three-day visit, Horton said his trip was “a turning point.” A positive relationship was forged; Horton expressed his regret and later devoted an entire journal issue to healthcare in Israel. Beyar describes the ambitious attitude that permeates Rambam. “The atmosphere there is an atmosphere of ‘fight for life,’ and also of innovation. You can see it from all fields, whether it’s internal medicine, whether it’s surgery, whether it’s cardiology – people see that Israel has been a startup nation and this shows how
In the stent lab
we can become a startup medical nation. There are many examples – one of the examples is the collaboration with the company named InSightec working to treat tremors and other Parkinson’s symptoms. The idea is that the physicians and the hospitals can collaborate with the industry – that’s how you really change the way we treat patients.” Beyar is excited about the future and shares some of the burgeoning innovations in healthcare. “In cardiovascular, the tendency is to be less invasive. All cases that can be done through a catheter we do through a catheter – you can even replace heart valves through the groin and don’t need to open the chest,” he notes. “Robotics is another field that we’re going to see more and more in our surgical fields because we’ve shown that the less open we do the procedure, the less we cut, the better the outcome, and the quicker the outcome.” Beyar has been heavily involved in the field of robotics, helping to found Corindus, a Rambam/ Technion company that was the first in the world to use robotics for coronary interventions. Beyar holds hope for the field of oncology. “The field of cancer is still unsolved but there are many new therapies that are on the horizon,” he says. “Among them is immune therapy, but one of the major challenges there is the huge cost that it incurs. It’s a clinical challenge because we need to treat the patients, but then once
you find a solution, a solution is extremely expensive, so it becomes an economic challenge. It’s something we’ll have to manage in the future. “Another thing which is fascinating is the field of digital health. Nobody writes in files anymore or on paper; everything is done digitally.” Beyar explains the magnitude of this digital evolution, which goes well beyond convenience. “We have a huge data set, 20 years of cancer patients given many types of treatments. If you drill into this data, and you do it wisely with artificial intelligence, it can tell the next patient what the best treatment is based on the 20 years of experience that have been accumulated.” Digital medicine also includes the capabilities of remote sensing. “Today, if we put a pacemaker in a patient, this pacemaker speaks to the doctor through the internet and accumulates data which goes to the cloud and it’s analyzed in the cloud. It monitors the patient out of the hospital, not just in the hospital. This is going to change the way we do medicine. Our goal is to limit the number of patient admissions to the hospital and be able to treat the patient before it deteriorates to a situation where he has to be rushed to the hospital.” For many years, Beyar encouraged neurologists at Rambam to develop this model for use in treating strokes, insisting that a similar technique could be utilized for opening vessels in the brain. Since there was no data and there are different
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risks involved, there was hesitation. Today neurologists have aligned with Beyar’s ideation; doctors have the capability to get the clot out within the hour and prevent extensive damage to the brain. “During my years of service, I saw a complete transformation of disciplines; cardiology transformed completely from 100% surgery bypass to stents – the same now is today happening for strokes.” Through it all, Beyar considers himself a healer first. “My great passion is treating patients. I love it. Especially in the cath lab, because it’s acute. I remember many times I’d have to make a decision in seconds, otherwise the patient crashes. You sweat, but you have to remain calm. It’s a matter of life and death, but most of the time, it’s life. To see somebody with chest pain, he’s really crashing, you put a stent in them in a very complex location and then he walks out of the cath lab and the next day he goes home – it gives me one of the greatest pleasures.”
B
eyar displays a constant enthusiasm for his work and a seemingly ceaseless energy. Between his various roles and responsibilities he has authored over 220 sci-
night, with a clinical day in between. Beyar is married with four children, some who have inherited his love of science, including a hematologist, a nurse, engineering students, and a veterinarian who loves to sing. In his rare downtime Beyar loves to
“I’M AN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST SO I’M OPENING BLOCKAGES IN ARTERIES – I CALL MYSELF A PLUMBER.” entific publications and 15 books and sits on multiple national healthcare committees. His typical week includes meetings from morning until
ski. The secret to doing it all he says is “discipline – and to know when to take off.” Currently serving as Director
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Emeritus and President of the International Friends Associations of Rambam, the spirit of the Rambam continues to guide Beyar’s work. “Rambam is the belief in combination of mind and body. One of the principles is ‘we treat the body, we treat the mind,’ and we do it in the most compassionate and loving way. “The principles of the Maimonides, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, are very much aligned with what we do at Rambam.” Though he speaks passionately of all of the achievements, Beyar remains humble and always emphasizes the collaborative efforts. He loves to see what others do under his watch – the best outcome for him is when they come back with their results. “I think that’s my role really, to enable other people to do things, and remove obstacles rather than create obstacles. “I think that’s why we’ve been so successful.”
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MARCH 12, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
My husband and I got married three months ago, and things have been good, except my resentment for my in-laws. They agreed to help support us and, once we were married, tacked on a bunch of conditions – conditions like having my husband working at my father-in-law’s warehouse, doing paperwork, some household favors, etc. Also, they require a weekly in-person run-down on how and what we are using our support money on. It’s way too much for me and my husband, but we are tied to it now. Personally, I think this is very unfair and because of it my husband wants to start taking a job rather than learn full-time at first, which was the original plan. He really does not want to be dependent on all these requirements.
We have a lot of resentment, but it bothers me more than it bothers him. He is more practical – he feels that since it is his parents’ money, they can do what they want with it, give us conditions, or take it away. I also see his older siblings being supported out of town for many years who do not have the same conditions because they do not live in the same area. I feel like they blindsided us. My husband does not like when I bring up the topic because, after all, they are his parents. How can I let go of the resentment I feel? Are my feelings of resentment even valid? Thank you, Tziporah*
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.
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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ziporah, this is a very serious issue that is impacting your relationship with your new husband. Your feelings are important and valid. So are his. Your in-laws changed the deal on you and this is impacting your short- and long-term practical plans. Get to a good experienced therapist ASAP to navigate this minefield of feelings, decisions, and manipulation. It will be a challenge to develop communication tools with which you both can feel validated and supported by one another. Learning the language of supporting one another when your feelings are different is an important skill to acquire, even if you are being forced into it. Letting go of your feelings of resentment will be a process, but with help, this challenge that your in-laws threw your way will breed growth and closeness. That’s the most important thing. Communicating with your in-laws now is not your priority as a couple. Your relationship as a couple comes first. How to deal with them and talk to them is a long-term goal.
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The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. our times. That’s how many “resentments” I counted in your question. I take issue with that word because of your faulty attitude. Your “resentment” is a direct byproduct of “entitlement.” No child should feel so entitled, so privileged, so deserving of a parent’s financial support that he/she becomes resentful if that support comes with “conditions” or “requirements” or “accountability.” You may be a newlywed, but it’s not too early for you to learn that marriage is not a free ride; between rent, food, and clothing, it can get rather expensive. And there’s no such thing as free
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money either; even Mastercard demands minimum payment. How wonderfully generous of your in-laws to offer to support their son in learning. How very mature, sensitive, and responsible of your husband to help his parents who are older, perhaps closer to retirement, than when the outof-town siblings got married. Maybe your in-laws find themselves in a different financial situation than before. (As we have witnessed in recent weeks, it doesn’t take much – an obscure microorganism, for example – to cause global economic catastrophe.) Your husband may be intimately familiar with the details of his parents’ spreadsheet. While he may not share these details with you, he may have unilaterally decided not to burden them with undue expense and obligation. Could this knowledge explain his sudden decision to leave kollel? So it’s time for some frank conversation with your husband. This time, you’ll switch up the vocabulary. Instead of critical, negative words like “resentment” and “blindsided,” substitute “appreciation,” “gratitude” and “teamwork.” You are indeed lucky to be married to a sensitive, responsible partner and you are both the masters of your very own bayis ne’eman. If you are both strongly committed to kollel life – with or without full support – together you can strategize on the best ways to make it work. And the benefit: a stronger, more satisfying, more fulfilling start to your marriage.
amount of money per month to pay for necessities, it is indisputably expected. As soon as you are tied to someone by support, you are automatically bound by their terms. Was it good middos on your in-laws’ part to pull the rug from under their newlywed children? No. Was it sly and sneaky the way they set up conditions only after the wedding? Yes. The bottom line is, though: their money, their terms. This may be hard to swallow, but the moment you agreed to live rent-free on the in-laws’ tab, you signed off on the proverbial “completely independent couple” waiver. This is definitely one of the untold, dark sides to the misguided blissful imagery of being completely financially dependent on family for endless amounts of years. There is something so nice about working together with your husband to support yourselves, not being tied to anyone else. I actually agree with your husband. If he is already being thrown into the working world by doing things for his parents in exchange for support, thereby being tied to their demands, why not encourage him to take a part-time job instead? Your husband can be a working ben Torah. The foundation with your husband is the most important thing here; do whatever you feel you need to strengthen it, even if it means paying your own bills. Hatzlacha!
The Zaidy
The Shadchan Michelle Mond ow, I am so sorry you are going through this at such a vulnerable, new, and exciting time of your life. This is what rabbanim, kallah teachers, and mentors worldwide mean when they quote, “The secret to happiness is low expectations.” But how is a couple expected to maintain low expectations when they are attached by the golden chain? The answer is: they don’t. When a couple is expecting a certain
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Dr. Jeffrey Galler mong the saddest experiences that I can recall is attending a bris, bar mitzvah, or wedding, where it is all too obvious that the children do not get along with their in-laws. Sadder still, is when you hear guests whispering, “Oh, they’ve hated each other for years and years.” And, from what I often see, the feuding parties can’t even remember what originally caused this everlasting hatred. Smart parents advise their married children, “Whatever happens, make
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Your relationship as a couple comes first.
sure that you get along with your inlaws. And, never, ever complain to your spouse about your in-laws.” Easier said than done, right? What you are describing in your letter to us are toxic seeds that can either flourish into a full-grown poisonous relationship or can be nipped in the bud. So, what can you do about it? Fake it Remember how you often disagreed strongly with the opinions expressed by your high school social studies teacher yet you were smart enough to dutifully write, on your essays and on your tests, exactly what the teacher wanted to hear, right? This is no different. Swallow your pride and force yourself to smile and say, “Thanks, Mom and Dad. We love you. We appreciate what you’re doing.” This doesn’t mean that you should accept their opinions as gospel. On the contrary, you could and should develop your own mature worldview and live your lives as you see fit. Just don’t make it a source of friction between you and your in-laws. See the world through their eyes Keeping the peace and maintaining shalom is largely dependent upon our ability to understand why other folks see things differently than we do. Specifically, in your case: They see themselves acting very intelligently, trying to teach fiscal responsibility to their children; you see that them trying to control your lives by imposing onerous, useless, and intrusive requirements. They see themselves offering their son a golden opportunity to start working in the family business; you see them insisting that your husband
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remain under their control and never be able to be independent. They see themselves selflessly offering financial support from their lifetime of savings, hard work, and sacrifice; you see them acting deceitfully and not quite living up to what you
expected. They see their son discussing misunderstandings or miscommunications with them, as evidence of how their daughter-in-law has turned him against them; you see asking your husband to be the one to
address difficulties with his parents, as a kind and gentle way for you to very diplomatically avoid conflict. The list can go on and on, but you get the point. Your attitudes and your in-laws’ attitudes can and will evolve for the better, over the years. It’s your job to make sure, that during this difficult transition period, they
The secret to happiness is low expectations.
evolve in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect.
Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
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azel tov on your new marriage! Shana rishona (first year of marriage) is a transitional period ripe with both beautiful and unnerving newness. I am glad to hear there is “good,” but your situation is unsettling, to say the least, and yes, your feelings are valid. In many orthodox and modern orthodox circles, parental financial support seems to be the norm. And maybe I only know about the situations that aren’t “perfect” because of the nature of my work (let’s be real… no one comes to see me to tell me how wonderful life is), so I have a lot to say about this, so please bear with me. He who holds the money, holds the power. The person or parties responsible to pay the bills are entitled to know where their money is going. This is life. And even if they aren’t entitled to this, human nature can make the most boundaried and healthy parent or inlaw curious about where their money is going. The stories I have heard working in the community I work in have often made my head spin. More often than not, being supported or “helped” comes with a heavy emotional price tag. Couples feel “owned,” as if their lives are being dictated. They often feel that they can’t say “no” to the supporting parents. The healthiest of financial support situations are unhealthy, because, by adulthood, individuals and couples should be on their own, supporting themselves. Back to you, Tziporah. If you and your husband didn’t have a sit-down
with your inlaws before the wedding to discuss exactly what this financial support would look like and what the “price tag” would be, that may be why you are in this situation. Perhaps you wouldn’t have agreed to this. These discussions are crucial, and they are why I advise every engaged couple to get themselves into premarital therapy. It is the healthiest, most loving gift you can give to your marriage and a very wise investment in your future. However, if you did have the discussion and the rules were flipped, then you were duped. And I am sorry. I can’t imagine the sacrifice involved to have to give up the kollel life you both have dreamt of. But you need to do some serious thinking. The dream comes with serious repercussions for you – repercussions of your life being controlled. Is there another way to make the dream come true? If not, I advise you to think of realistic ways to incorporate learning into your husband’s day while he works full-time so that your marriage isn’t under the tutelage of your in-laws. What happens when, G-d willing, you and your husband have a child and are being supported by them? Will the baby’s time be bought or demanded? Will you be told to nurse or to bottle feed? Where would it end? You and your husband need to seriously think about this. How
will your in-laws’ “involvement” impact your shalom bayis? Maybe seek the guidance of your rav. Together, figure out what is most important to you as a couple and what it is that you can practically do to create that vision. I don’t have a crystal ball, but based on working with human beings and seeing things play out over time (and you may be the exception), these kinds of resentments typically grow. They do not go away. You and your husband have the opportunity at this young stage of your marriage to turn this situation around. I don’t know what that would look like; that new vision will come from the two of you. It has to work for the two of you. I highly recommend that you work with a marital therapist now to get this situation completely under control. I like that your husband has the willingness and desire to work. It shows that he is a self-aware man who understands the gravity of his parents’
demands. I have a hunch that the married siblings may have moved away because they experienced what you are experiencing, or they knew to avoid it altogether. Tziporah, being a new kallah is nerve-wracking but this situation is not bigger than you are! You and your husband are going to figure this out together! All the best, Jennifer Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516-224-7779, ext. 2. 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.
Hi Readers! Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback. Jennifer
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Health & F tness
Vegetarian Diet=Weight Loss? By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN
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veryone is eager to find the best diet for weight loss. Many are inclined to try the latest diet fads. One increasingly popular diet plan is the vegetarian diet. There are different varieties of the diet: the ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products; the lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs; the ovo-lacto vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products;
the pesco-vegetarian diet includes fish; and the vegan diet excludes all meat products. Some adopt a vegetarian diet due to various beliefs, however, many are trying a vegetarian diet lately solely for the purpose of weight loss. Does a vegetarian diet directly cause weight loss? Research has shown that a plantbased diet may be the most effective weight loss plan. Research in obser-
vational studies show that vegetarians generally have lower body weights compared with individuals following other dietary plans. This suggests that a vegetarian diet may be useful for preventing and/or treating weight problems. Many studies were done to assess whether a vegetarian diet promoted weight loss independent of all of other factors. Results indicated that plantbased diets are consistently associated with weight loss. Vegetarian diets also showed to have benefits for cardiovascular health, blood pressure, diabetes, and other health issues. Research has also shown that vegans tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than meat-eaters. A study performed by Turner- McGrievy followed 63 people on vegan, vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous diets for eight weeks. Results showed that vegans and vegetarians lost an average of 8.2-9.9lbs, while the meat eaters lost an average of 5.1lbs. Another study showed that those who followed a vegan diet lost significantly more weight than those who followed a low-fat diet that included animal products. So what is the secret weight loss ingredient in a vegetarian diet? Since a vegan diet is generally low in fat, that alone explains why vegans drop more pounds. But Dr. Turner-McGreivy feels that there is something more behind the reasoning; vegans are on a diet that restricts certain foods and not calories. “The idea of being able to be on a diet where you can eat till you’re full and not have to self-monitor, even
though it seems very extreme, is appealing to certain people. Some people find it very liberating,” he notes. Another key reason why vegetarians lose more weight is the high amount of fiber consumed in the diet. Fiber sweeps through the intestines and brushes away all the “bad” stuff. Fiber helps lower cholesterol levels, makes one feel fuller for longer, and helps regulate bowel movements. On a vegetarian diet, one is generally consuming high amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains which are all high in fiber. Animal products, on the other hand, don’t contain fiber. If you decide to go vegan, make sure you consume adequate amounts of protein, calcium, and other important nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Choose a variety of foods, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds and, if eaten, dairy products and eggs. Remember, a healthy vegetarian weight loss diet will help you to lose weight at the fastest possible rate. Make sure to consult a registered dietitian before starting a vegetarian weight loss diet.
Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN, is a Master’s level Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. She graduated CUNY Brooklyn College receiving a Bachelor’s in Science and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences. She is currently a private nutrition consultant and conducts nutrition workshops in assisted livings, senior centers, and nursing homes. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@ gmail.com or 917-623-6237. Follow us on instagram @EatBetterandFeelBetter.
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Dr. Deb
We Have Nothing in Common By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
“W
e have nothing in common,” Alice said with some exasperation. She’d already said this, and it must have seemed to her that I was a moron because she had to repeat herself. (All stories are made up.) “Was that always the case,” I asked, trying again. “Oh, no,” Alice said. “When we
first dated, it was as if there wasn’t enough time to tell each other everything. There was so much to talk about.” You could hear Alice letting out a deep sigh. I paused the conversation, waiting for Alice to realize what she’d just said. She did. And she didn’t like it. She wanted
to reject it. So she quickly followed with, “It just goes to show you how blind I really was to who this guy really is.” She sat there with a look of smug satisfaction on her face. “Wait up, Alice,” I commented. “If you were talking and you had things to talk about, then you did. You can’t say that you were blind. Those were real conversations and you were definitely into them.” Alice looked deflated. “That is true,” she agreed. “But then everything changed.” “How so?” I asked, softly. She took a deep breath. “Somewhere along the way, it just did. His work became the most important thing to him. And I run my own business, so that, of course, took up lots of my time. And we have three children, too. So…” This was tiring for Alice; that was clear. She sat kind of crumpled in the seat. Life had taken the air out of her. “Alice, wouldn’t it be great to get back to how it once was rather than giving up your whole past, your whole history together?” “Oh, that’s impossible,” she said abruptly. It is so frustrating when people tell me my job. Do I tell architects how to build buildings, reading teachers how to do their magic on first graders? How in the world could Alice know that it’s impossible? Just because whatever she tried didn’t work? Or because the half dozen therapists she and George went to already told her it wouldn’t work? So I took a deep breath. I didn’t say anything. I just looked at Alice and
smiled slightly. She looked back at me. “It’s not impossible?” she asked, totally perplexed. “No,” I said. “It’s not.” The reasons people do not believe it’s possible to get the love and the inlove back are: 1. When there’s too much water under the bridge, people believe that the bad stuff between them has tainted their feelings. I remember one person telling her husband, “If you worked on yourself and you turned into Mother Theresa, I still would not want you.” I realize that is a harsh statement, but this woman wanted her husband to understand just how badly tainted in her eyes he was. He stood for pain; he was pain itself. From her perspective, nothing could erase that. 2. People can’t imagine what they could possibly learn to do different that would cause the fundamental changes they need. This is particularly true after people have gone to one or several therapists and found no answers. What else could possibly be used to convince the person they’re with to make the necessary changes if all that therapy didn’t do it? Both of these are legitimate concerns. However, neither one of them holds any water. Let’s look at each closely for a few moments.
Objection #1 - The Person Himself or Herself Is Tainted In the story above, I totally got this woman’s point. I told my own story to show her how well I understood. One
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day I had used a jar of salsa that had gone bad. It took a few bites for me to realize it and then I was sick. Very sick. After that, for months, I would not buy salsa. When you think of this, it’s very irrational. The new jar wouldn’t be spoiled. But that is how human emotion works: the “taint” of the spoiled jar carried over to the entire category of food. In spite of this, I happily eat salsa today. What happened? We operate with our emotions. According to brain research by neuroscientists, every part of the brain is interconnected with emotional inputs. Daniel Siegel called thought and emotion “inseparable” and any attempt to create a boundary between them “artificial.” There is a huge benefit to this. It means that with new experiences, the thoughts and the emotion are open to change. So when the bad moment with the
spoiled salsa was a distant memory, I was perfectly happy to try it again – and enjoy it. Now it is true that if I ate bad salsa every day and was sick every day, then the negative valence of it would be awfully high and the task of overcoming it would be quite challenging.
says that to change a reputation, a person has to go to the extreme opposite of what they used to be. So if someone was always angry, let’s say, it’s not enough to be able to calm down. Rather, he or she would have to show up as extremely soft-spoken, quiet, and gentle. Because that would
With new experiences, the thoughts and the emotions are open to change. Luckily, people aren’t really salsa. It’s not a big loss to go eat something else. It’s a bigger loss to break up a family. And the way to “un-taint” a person who has caused pain is to go beyond no longer causing pain. (We would hope for that at the very least.) What we’re looking for here is a radical change in the person. The Gemara
transform the person in such a radical way that the “taint” would be gone. Which brings me to the second objection people have.
Objection #2: People Can’t Change Radically Enough Like the old lightbulb joke, they can change if they want to. They really
can. All they need is the correct tools. Anxious people can become calm; people who were disconnected from their feelings can become connected; angry people can also become calm; depressed people can become happy. I’ve seen it over and over again. The tools are the subject of many self-help books. The reason why it’s so hard to buy a book and somehow learn its message in a way that people can make it their own is because of all the nuances that can’t be in the book. People generally need a guiding hand with applying broad principles. But the tools are definitely there. We live in a world of hope because of all the research that has been done on human behavior and emotions and how they may be improved and healed. Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want help with your marriage, begin by signing up to watch her Masterclass at https://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.
Can You Answer These Estate Planning Questions?
בס״ד
Should we be concerned about Halacha with our Estate Planning? How can we protect our children’s inheritance? Who will make our financial and medical decisions, if we can’t? Are we or our parents prepared for the expense of long-term care? Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law Planning (Medicaid Planning), require counsel who is experienced, professional, and above all, caring. Monet Binder Law, P.C. has earned a reputation, through over 21 years in practice, for working with clients with patience, understanding and compassion - assisting them in realizing their goals to protect themselves and their loved ones, in the best way possible. “Monet possesses the rare combination of being very knowledgeable, very thorough and very caring. She made what seemed like an overwhelming process, much simpler and less fearful. I highly recommend her.” – Alan Proctor – Serving Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island
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718.514.7575 info@mbinderlaw.com www.mbinderlaw.com
All halachic documents are under the supervision of the Bais HaVaad in Lakewood.
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In The K
tchen
Charoset Salad Pareve • Yields 8 servings By Naomi Nachman
I wanted to include a version of charoset in my book, but I decided to take it a step further, so I created this charoset-inspired salad, with all of the flavors you expect to find: cinnamon, wine, nuts, apples, and more. During our photo shoot preparation, the kitchen support staff all raved about this salad and kept wanting to remake it just so they could enjoy it again and again. Ingredients Candied Almonds 1 cup blanched, sliced almonds ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Dressing ½ cup cream Malaga or sweet red wine ½ cup balsamic vinegar ¾ cup oil 2 Tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Pinch cayenne pepper
Salad 5-6 ounces baby spinach or choice of lettuce 3 Granny Smith apples, with peel, diced 8 dried dates, pitted and diced
Preparation Prepare candied almonds: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add almonds, sugar, and cinnamon; cook for approximately five minutes, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved — do not overcook or the sugar will burn. Spread the nuts in a single layer on prepared baking pan; set aside to cool. Prepare the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a container; cover tightly and shake to combine. Assemble the salad: Add spinach, apples, dates, and candied almonds to a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with desired amount of dressing (you will have extra); toss to combine. Prepare Ahead: Nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. Dressing can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for about a week. Cook’s tips: Be careful when working with the candied almonds, as hot sugar can cause a painful burn. This recipe makes a large quantity of dressing. Keep any extra in the fridge and use it to dress salads all week. Recipe by Naomi Nachman from Perfect For Pesach, shared with permission by Artscroll Mesorah. 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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Handwriting What Does Your
Say About You?
This article explores the science of graphology, interpreting handwriting to reveal the personality of the writer. Essentially, it is the brain that is actually doing the writing. If one switches hands, puts a twig between their toes at the beach, places a pencil in their mouth, or uses any means to write, the primary aspects of their handwriting remain the very same. The slant of the lines and the letters, the relative size of the script, the formation of the letters, the space between the letters and the words, and hundreds of others indices will not change! To the untrained eye it might seem to be different, but – like a fingerprint – it is still uniquely attributable to the same writer. Some will say that their handwriting or signatures differs. However, among the many variables that constitute our handwriting it varies very little. To demonstrate some of these principles, the following is an analysis of the two most powerful leaders in the world and their handwriting. So, this is in tribute to our president and his nemesis. Note: All conclusions are derived solely from what their handwriting reveals.
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by Dr. Ari Korenblit
he science of graphology/handwriting analysis reveals every facet of the writer’s personality – their level of integrity, mental and physical health, measure of intelligence, degree of self-control, personal inclinations, etc. Examining both President Donald Trump’s handwriting and the handwriting of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, along with their signatures, can tell us a lot about their personality and inclinations. President Donald Trump is highly intelligent, driven, competitive, and exudes charisma. He can embrace the stage magnificently and – yes, almost – magically ignite the audience. Donald Trump is a competitor. Every interaction, in his mind, is essentially pitting him against an adversary. He views himself as a veritable gladiator and a natural survivor with a fighting instinct and a
considerable strength of spirit. Always on the alert, he possesses an ability to cope better than most with the obstacles and hardships encountered. This strong fighting spirit and fox-like survival instincts along with a cunning, scheming nature encourage him to consider himself smarter and faster than most, a virtual one-man army when intent on succeeding in objectives. This tough, warrior-like spirit motivates him to pursues objectives with much intensity and little hesitation; no stopping till he succeeds. Gifted with a domineering will and great energy, he often exalts in optimism. Trump prides himself in being a master salesman and a fast-thinker who loves to outsmart his adversaries. This sense of pride borders on vanity. He considers himself a genius, constantly steps ahead of opponents or business rivals. He is primarily organized, de-
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tail-oriented, and a prodigious forward-planner, a clear thinker with everything in place in his head. Trump takes pride in claiming to being ruled and guided by his head, and not his heart. He does think everything through, though, and in a crisis can be depended on. He has a natural instinct to lead, takes responsibly seriously, and would fearlessly protect loved ones in face of danger. Interestingly, Trump is an avid collector, yet he watches every penny he spends. He is not generous by nature. He can be quite compulsive and a perfectionist. Being most assertive and headstrong, he gives the appearance of stubbornness and arrogance.
He views himself as a veritable gladiator and a natural survivor with a fighting instinct and a considerable strength of spirit. Trump thrives on constant praise and attention, bordering on adulation. Sadly, he lacks the proper valor to express personal needs. The need to feel superior is there to compensate for underlying feelings of inadequacy developed during early years, the product of a domineering parent-figure. Though his aggressive competitive nature may serve him well in many areas, in personal relationships, it makes it undoubtedly diffi-
cult. A compulsive drive to control and an excessive aggressive temperament rapidly intimidate weaker beings into submission. When thwarted, Trump can become extremely angry and belligerent. A determined strong desire for control means he invariably rules the home environment with a heavy hand, very demanding and possessive. He is always ready to argue and will rarely be the one to give in or apologize first, and is unlikely to consider a compromise as an alternative. When his temper surfaces, it shows itself by being unpleasant, judgmental, and fault-finding. His biting sarcastic tongue hurts people with sharp words. His aggression can also be expressed physically. He can be drawn to self-destructive habits i.e. overeating, drinking, or smoking. An overactive sympathetic nervous system – fight/flight response – makes him inclined to become stressed and irritable at times. Trump goes to great lengths to hide weakness and won’t ever show vulnerability. This is for him a strategic approach. Quite capable of hiding the truth in order to escape from a pressured situation or difficult dilemma, if all else fails, he can tell lies in a bold-faced, blatant, and thoroughly convincing manner. He can have double standards and be quite hypocritical and unjust at times. Trump tends to be overly concerned with himself and his own daily activities. His self-assurance borders on presumptuousness and conceit and often makes great issues of trivial things. The greatest danger to him is sheer boredom and a difficulty in delaying gratification. He cannot achieve a harmonious realism within because he lacks a mature detachment and philosophical attitudes. When wronged, there is absolutely no forgiving and forgetting but a marked tendency to bear grudges. He nurtures grievances for too long and will remember every little detail and occasion when he has been hurt in some way. This behavior has roots which stretch back in the past. Unlike his handwriting, which is quite legible, parts of Trump’s signature are cryptic and unreadable,
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A sample of President Donald Trump’s handwriting
which indicates that he communicates his thoughts and not his identity – he’s very secretive. The partial encircling in the signature (the last stroke circles back) is a sign of anxiety, building a protective shelter/enclosure, a self- withdrawal from social relationships which are greatly mistrusted. (For years, he adamantly refused to shake hands with the ready pretext that it spread germs.) It is now so habitual that his signature has become a kind of hieroglyphic, like the signature of an artist or doctor.
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n the other side of the world, based on his handwriting, it can be extrapolated that Russian President Vladimir Putin oozes tension liked a cocked rifle ready for discharge. The extreme angularity of the script shows this. He is restless, and the ultimate danger to him is boredom. The ends of the words taper down and resemble bullets. He wants to escape the demands of routine, is excitable, and is quickly stirred to action. The very forceful movement to the right indicates this. He can sometimes lose him-
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A sample of President Vladimir Putin’s handwriting
self to external influence. There are lapses in the strong letter and word formations. He is quite contentious and highly critical, which can border on presumptuousness and conceit. Fish-hook like formations abound in his handwriting. There is always a generous measure of determination, firmness, and aggressiveness. The powerful thrusts in his script shows that he can often make a great issue of trivial things. The “p” formation indicates a critical and pedantic writer. Putin is a born leader and sees himself as a supreme father figure with full responsibility for all that happens under his watch. The letter formations that seem to shield other letters and the enveloping/protective stroke in the signature indicate this.
He operates with a self-written code of law and fiercely defends it as his guide to justice and jurisprudence. Some of the letters are strongly vertical, alluding to a carefully weighed and judicial approach. Putin is a penetrating, fast and intuitive thinker who sizes up a situation and grasps facts instantly; he has a very keen and rapid comprehension. He also has a critical investigative mind which explores and devours knowledge, always asking questions and seeking answers. He is intellectually thirsty with an eagerness to learn. Indicated by the very sharp formations in the “m” and “n,” Putin is quick and decisive. Despite seemingly wholesome self-confidence and a sensible adjustment in life, he tends to underrate
himself and suffers from inferiority feelings. Putin’s signature, which is how the writer wants to appear to the world, is made considerably larger than his handwriting, indicating his need to overcompensate for innate feeling of inferiority. He finds little joy in daily life and prefers to cope with his own problems. He exhibits volumes of vanity while posing as a practical and down-to-earth personality. The retraced lower zone letters indicate this. There is a repression of unconscious material from early childhood. Particularly, painful early childhood trauma may remain unconscious, but is a constant source of tension for Putin. This is shown by the unhealthy lower zone formations in his handwriting. This yields a loss of energy to the ego and a blocked responsiveness, so that close relationships with him are most difficult due to a defensiveness and severe repression of unconscious emotional needs. Shown by the lack of loops in the lower zone and the distance between his words – which indicates the level of comfort with closeness to others – and renders them veritable islands. Contrary to a 2008 report by a Pentagon think tank, which claims that Putin has Asperger’s syndrome, “an autistic disorder which affects all of his decisions,” his handwriting offers no indication of that. Most of those on the Asperger’s continuum tend to have poor motor skills and poor hand-eye coordination, problems with visual/spatial recognition and writing that appears messy. But Putin’s handwriting indicates superb hand-eye coordination, no surprise for one who holds a black belt in judo. In addition, they report that he “carries a neurological abnormality, and neurological development was significantly interrupted in infancy.” While it may have a later epigenist, despite his repeated attempts to appear fit, robust and of good health, there is a musculature and neurological impairment he suffers from. There are many malformations in the letters throughout his handwriting. Encircling the signature can indicate a determined need to hide information about the writer from prying eyes – no surprise for a former KGB lieutenant colonel. The continual
looping is a concerted effort to soften an image and practice a form of meditative yoga. Both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have marked distinctions between their handwriting and their
Putin’s signature, which is how the writer wants to appear to the world, is made considerably larger than his handwriting, indicating his need to overcompensate for innate feeling of inferiority. signatures which indicates they are both not the same in public life as in private life – a striking discrepancy between presentation of self and actual self.
Dr. Ari Korenblit is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, a graphologist/ handwriting expert, and a Supreme Court-certified document examiner. He lectures on and teaches handwriting analysis, and analyzes handwriting for self understanding, personnel selection, marriage choice, forgeries, etc. He can be contacted at 212-721-4608 or at dr.arikorenblit@gmail.com.
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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
I’m honored to be here. I’m an Army guy. So, being able to play here is like Mecca. It’s a key place to go and be accepted. It’s good for my ego. - WWII veteran Pete DuPre, age 96, who is known as “Harmonica Pete,” talking to CBS after playing harmonica at the Army vs. Navy basketball game in West Point
If I’m on a plane, I play the harmonica. If I’m on a train, I play the harmonica. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I play my harmonica, and I play myself back to sleep. - Ibid., talking about his hobby
Last night was Super Tuesday and today for Mike Bloomberg it was, “Oh my G-d, I wasted a billion dollars Wednesday.” — Jimmy Fallon
Biden’s cognitive issues have been evident for some time but just watch the same media who for four years have been declaring Donald Trump mentally and physically unfit for office have a collective meltdown when Biden’s mental faculties are questioned. - SKY News Australia “Outsiders” host Rita Panahi
Bloomberg spent half a billion dollars and all he got was a nationally televised atomic wedgie from Elizabeth Warren in the debates. — Seth Meyers
Can you imagine that man in a presidential debate with Donald Trump? There’s not enough popcorn in the world.
You’re going to have a point within two months where you cannot have big events together… [Trump] is not going to be able to have his rallies, and it is going to psychologically — the office is isolating enough, and his inability to get the admiration, the adulation from that crowds is going to psychologically torment him, and his isolation is going to get more intense and his tweets are going to get more vicious.
- Ibid.
- Rahm Emmanuel, former Obama Chief of Staff and Democrat bigwig
- Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White in an interview with CBS
Trump got rid of our pandemic specialist two years ago and has defunded the Centers for Disease Control because he continues to ignore science. – Barbara Streisand, in a Variety magazine article about why Trump is a “one-man weapon of mass destruction,” lying fully about the president firing the pandemic specialist and defunding the CDC
For the record, if I do get the coronavirus, I’m attending every MAGA rally I can. - Tweet by Candi CdeBaca, a Denver City Democrat councilwoman
I’ll be the first to make fun of it, shall we say. It is what I do. And I feel very lucky that I was able to get this job. I love what I do.
In my world, there are no words like falling and crashing. To say that he fell…and is now worth $1.7 billion instead of $3.2 billion? A lot of people would die to be in his shoes…. It will be hard to spend that even [in] a full lifetime. - Dr. Avivit Neumann, WeWork founder Adam Neumann’s mother, talking to the Israeli media about her son’s ouster from WeWork
MORE QUOTES
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I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. - Sen. Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), at a rally outside the U.S Supreme Court, threatening the two new justices about consequences if they don’t decide abortion cases as he wants them to
With President Trump publicly attacking a judge, now would be the time for Chief Justice Roberts to speak up. Now would be the time for the Chief Justice to directly and specifically defend the independence of the federal judiciary. I hope he will see fit to, and do it today. – Ibid., last month, when Trump criticized a federal judge over how the Roger Stone case was handled
On Wednesday morning, the Democrats’ Senate minority leader stirred up the mob outside the Supreme Court, unabashedly threatening Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangers. All Members of the Court will continue to do their jobs without fear or favor, from whatever quarter. - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts, issuing a rare rebuke in response to vile and threatening comments by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Yesterday, Joe Biden won three states he didn’t even visit. That’s true, yeah. That explains Biden’s new campaign slogan: “Vote for me or I’ll come talk to you.” — Conan O’Brien
Turns out it was a smart move to have him talk to voters as little as possible. — Seth Meyers
Yes, customer service? I just received a package that I very much did not order. How can I return it, free of charge? - Joe Biden’s spokesman’s tweet in response to former FBI Director James Comey endorsing Biden
If we take it just one day at a time, with a positive attitude, anything is possible. - Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek talking about surviving his first year of pancreatic cancer
The coronavirus panic is dumb. - A short and to-the-point tweet by Tesla CEO Elon Musk
We have a perfectly coordinated and finetuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus. We moved VERY early to close borders to certain areas, which was a Godsend. V.P. is doing a great job. The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to make us look bad. Sad! - President Trump in a tweet
Folks who want to nominate a Democrat, a lifelong Democrat, a proud Democrat, an O’Biden-Bama Democrat, join us! - Democrat frontrunner Joe [O’]Biden at a Missouri rally
MORE QUOTES
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Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. The U.S. population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over – I feel like a $1 million check would be life-changing for people – yet he wasted it all on ads and still lost. - MSNBC’s Brian Williams (the correct amount that each American would have gotten if the $500 million would have been split up evenly would have been $1.53 per person… almost enough to buy a Coke. Not bad, but certainly not as good as $1 million)
I dislike the Founding Fathers immensely. I hate when people are like, G-d has never created such a great group of men than the Founding Fathers. Yeah, the ‘92 Bulls. That’s a perfect metaphor for the United States. When I was a boy, the United States was like Michael Jordan in 1992. Now the United States is like Michael Jordan now. - John Mulaney, Saturday Night Live
The victory is even sweeter, because it was against all odds and we were eulogized. We turned the lemons into lemonade.
Honestly, I can’t say I blame Elizabeth Warren for dropping out. If there was ever a time you’d want to stop shaking millions of hands, this might be it.
– Prime Minister Netanyahu at his election victory speech last week
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Political Crossfire
So What If They Made the Trains Run on Time? By Rafael Medoff
Empty shelves and bread lines behind the Iron Curtain
T
he controversy over Sen. Bernie Sanders’ praise of some policies of the Cuban and Soviet regimes speaks to a broader question that has long attracted public interest: Should our view of authoritarian governments be affected by the fact that their trains run on time? The old saying about punctual trains often is intended as shorthand for brutal dictators who take some actions that improve the lives of their citizens. In the case of Sanders, however, he has sometimes invoked the term quite literally. With regard to Cuba, Sanders this week praised Castro’s Communist regime for increasing the literacy rate of the Cuban population. Only after being prodded by the interviewer – Anderson Cooper of 60 Minutes – did Sanders say that he “condemns” the imprisonment of political dissidents in Cuba. Concerning the Soviet Union, it was the trains that attracted Sanders’ strong interest and effusive praise. On June 13, 1988, Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, held an hourlong press conference there, together with ten activists (including his wife, Jane), to share their impressions of the USSR, from which they had just returned. Sanders spoke first. He heaped praise on the “friendship and openness” of the “extremely generous and warm” Soviet officials who hosted them, and he hailed the Soviet government’s cultural programs for youth, which, he said, “go far beyond what we
have in this country.” Sanders focused on the trains in particular. “In Moscow we were extremely impressed by their public transportation system,” he said. “In fact, it was the cleanest, most effective mass transit system that I’ve ever seen in my life…The stations themselves were absolutely beautiful, including many works of art, chandeliers that were beautiful, it was a very, very effective system.” Sanders, who spoke again toward the end of the press conference, did not mention the plight of the three million Soviet Jews who were being persecuted and prevented from emigrating. Nor did any of the other speakers at the press conference – with one very brief but revealing exception. Burlington attorney Howard Seaver emphasized that ordinary Russians were willing to speak with the delegation. In that context, he made a passing reference – just one sentence – to the fact that among the individuals whom they met were “a couple of Jewish young men” who “were unhappy with the system” and therefore “were interested in emigrating.” The explanation that the pair were “unhappy with the system” made it sound as if they were a couple of disgruntled capitalists, not Jews who were oppressed because of the regime’s anti-Jewish policies. Sanders’ silence on the subject, and Seaver’s misrepresentation of it, were telling. The crux of the problem with Sanders’ perspective is not whether Cuban
literacy rates actually have increased or if Soviet trains really ran on time. The problem is that apologists for such regimes use insignificant points about literacy and trains in order to distract attention from their human rights abuses. Recall the case of America’s ambassador to Fascist Italy from 1933 to 1936, Breckinridge Long, who greatly admired many of the policies implemented by Benito Mussolini. Long reported to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the streets were “well-paved and clean,” the black-shirted stormtroopers “are dapper and well dressed and stand up straight” and “the trains are punctual, well-equipped, and fast.” FDR joined Long in focusing on the trains and disregarding Mussolini’s suppression of human rights. “I am much interested and deeply impressed by what he has accomplished and by his evidenced honest purpose of restoring Italy and seeking to prevent general European trouble,” Roosevelt wrote back to Ambassador Long. In another letter, FDR referred to Mussolini (in 1933) as “the admirable Italian gentleman.” Roosevelt’s private admiration for the Italian dictator may have influenced his policy of silence regarding Mussolini’s human rights abuses. For example, FDR said nothing about Mussolini’s repression of political dissidents, nor did Roosevelt condemn the intensifying mistreatment of Italy’s Jews in the late 1930s. At the president’s September 2, 1938 press conference, a reporter asked, “Have you any comment
to make on Italy’s order for the expulsion of about 22,000 Jews who’ve been there since 1919?” FDR replied, “No,” and moved to another subject. In 1935 and 1938, President Roosevelt even compelled Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes to remove critical references to the Italian dictator in speeches that Ickes planned to give. In one instance, Roosevelt instructed Ickes to drop a line in which he was going to point out that Italian universities were “permitted to teach only what the government permits them to teach.” In the other instance, the president allowed Ickes to criticize fascism in general but pressed him to refrain from referring, directly or indirectly, to the dictators in Germany and Italy. Public awareness of Franklin Roosevelt’s private view of Mussolini has long been overshadowed by the fact that the U.S. ended up going to war against Fascist Italy. Senator Sanders, however, could find himself confronted by voters – especially in Florida and New York – who personally experienced persecution by the Cuban or Soviet regimes and may not be so quick to forgive or forget. This essay originally appeared in the Washington Examiner and is reprinted by permission of the author. Dr. Medoff is director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, in Washington, D.C., and author of more than 20 books about the Holocaust, Zionism, and American Jewish history.
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Political Crossfire
Biden Needs to Admit That He and His Son Made Mistakes By David Ignatius
F
ormer Vice President Joe Biden’s astonishing political success over the past week has felt like a bandwagon for sensible politics. But to keep it rolling toward the general election in November, Biden will have to do something his rival President Trump would never consider: admit that he and his son made mistakes. Trump’s allies are already aiming their next artillery barrage at Biden for his alleged conflicts of interest with his son Hunter’s business activities in Ukraine. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announced this week that he’s preparing a subpoena for a witness who worked at Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company that paid Hunter handsomely as director while his father was leading Ukraine anti-corruption efforts for the Obama administration. We all know that Johnson’s foray is just the beginning. Trump and his allies have been preparing this assault for more than a year. The impeachment investigation documented that Trump wanted damaging information about Biden so badly that he temporarily cut off military aid to Ukraine to try to obtain it. Biden’s denials of wrongdoing have been entirely accurate, but they haven’t been enough. They don’t acknowledge something that’s clear to many Republicans and Democrats: Hunter should have quit the Burisma board, or his father should have withdrawn from the lead role on Ukraine. The two didn’t mix. Biden didn’t do anything corrupt,
but his patchwork of careful statements doesn’t address perceptions. Biden and his son are going to have a confessional moment on this, sooner or later. Better sooner. For this is actually a story that most Americans can relate to. It’s about a loving father and a son whose life was falling apart. It’s about families in pain and the difficulty of keeping faith with people we love. It brings out what’s most likable in Biden,
would be a fatal brain cancer. Hunter was “in bad shape” at the time and “fragile,” the close Biden friend told me. Hunter was warned to avoid Burisma. “I begged Hunter to walk away,” one man who counseled Hunter in 2014 told me. It was obvious to him that the controversial Ukrainian company wanted to buff its reputation by adding the Biden name to its board.
Biden and his son are going to have a confessional moment on this, sooner or later.
if he would let himself explain the story honestly. Tearing off this scab is just what Biden hasn’t been willing to do. “Anything that smacks of throwing his son under the bus is to him a non-starter,” explains a member of the Biden inner circle. Hunter’s story was well narrated by Adam Entous in the New Yorker last July. The piece described a young man with drug, alcohol, and marital problems, who joined the Burisma board in 2014 after his beloved brother Beau had the first lesion removed from what
That’s not an unusual thing with corporate boards – many directors are hired for their connections – but it’s a dubious practice, at best. But Hunter persisted. “I don’t have a choice,” he told the man who advised him against Burisma. He explained that his brother was sick, his father had political ambitions, and “I need to make money.” Biden has told aides that he wasn’t aware that Hunter had joined the Burisma board until after it had happened. At that time, he had already taken the administration lead on
Ukrainian corruption. What should he have done? A former Biden aide says that White House ethics policy was to avoid interaction with independent adult children in any such employment matters. Was that wise? The answer to me is clearly not. Trump and Rudolph Giuliani, his personal lawyer, have been pressing Ukrainians since 2018 for dirt about Biden and his son. Giuliani obtained details about the Burisma matter in January 2019 interviews with former prosecutors Viktor Shokin and Yuri Lutsenko (who themselves have been subjects of corruption accusations). Republicans will be replaying versions of this dubious dossier all summer and fall, along with allegations about Hunter’s business dealings in China while his father was vice president. Hunter himself has stated the obvious: “In retrospect, look, I think that it was poor judgment on my part” to take the Burisma position, he told ABC News last October, adding: “Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way.” But Joe Biden still bristles. There’s a deep wound here, one that goes back to his first wife’s death when Hunter was a child, his son Beau’s death, and maybe to a father’s regret at being unable to help mend a hurting child. This drama is the stuff of real life and, ultimately, of healing and renewal. Biden needs to start telling it, for Hunter’s sake as much as for his own. (c) 2020, Washington Post Writers Group
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Political Crossfire
The Future of the Supreme Court is on the Ballot By Marc A. Thiessen
S
enate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is correctly under fire for threatening Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. But what did Schumer really mean when, on Wednesday, he warned the justices “you won’t know what hit you” if they vote the wrong way on an abortion case? Here is what Schumer said: “I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.” That drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., who issued a statement declaring that “threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous.” At first, Schumer refused to apologize but rather said through a spokesman that he was making “a reference to the political price Republicans will pay for putting them on the court.” No, he wasn’t. He didn’t say Republicans will “pay the price” or that Republicans “won’t know what hit you.” He directed those threats squarely at the two justices. On Thursday, Schumer said, “I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat.” Of course he was. So, what was he threatening – what “political price” did Schumer have in mind for the Supreme Court justices? He was almost certainly warning Gorsuch and Kavanaugh that if they did
not vote as he saw fit, Senate Democrats, when they are in the majority, would follow through on their threats to “restructure” the court by packing it with liberal justices and eliminating its conservative majority. It wouldn’t be the first time Senate Democrats have made such threats. Last August, Schumer’s second in command, Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., threatened to restructure the court if the justices took up a gun case. In a
In other words, this is the second time in seven months that Senate Democratic leaders have tried to intimidate the court to rule their way on a case, issuing threats of political reprisal. These repeated threats should be taken seriously – because if Democrats win the White House and the Senate in November, they will have the power to follow through. The election could be one of the most consequential in modern history
The election could be one of the most consequential in modern history when it comes to shaping the Supreme Court’s future.
legal brief, Durbin, along with Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), warned in an amicus brief: “The Supreme Court is not well. And the people know it. Perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be ‘restructured in order to reduce the influence of politics.’” As all 53 Senate Republicans wrote in a letter to the court, “the implication is as plain as day: Dismiss this case, or we’ll pack the Court.”
when it comes to shaping the Supreme Court’s future. Those on the left are apoplectic because they know that if President Trump is reelected and Republicans keep control of the Senate, there is a strong possibility that they will have the chance to expand the court’s conservative majority. The left also knows that if Democrats win, their best hope is to replace liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer – keeping those seats in the court’s liberal bloc. From the left’s perspective, that
isn’t good enough, because it wouldn’t change the court’s ideological makeup. Democrats know that they won’t be able to advance the battle for an activist liberal court unless they expand the court’s size. Former Vice President Joe Biden has said he opposes expanding the court. He also opposed taxpayer funding of abortion until last June, when he realized he could not win the Democratic nomination without changing his position. The judicial left will almost certainly demand that he similarly reverse his position on court-packing. As for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., he has declared his intention, if elected, to push for rotating justices off the Supreme Court and replacing them with lower-court judges. “A federal judge has a lifetime appointment,” Sanders told MSNBC last month, but the Constitution “doesn’t say that lifetime appointment has got to be on the Supreme Court – it’s got to be on a federal court.” This much is certain. If Democrats win in November, their base will not be satisfied with simply replacing aging liberal justices with younger ones. They have watched with horror as Trump has transformed the federal judiciary. They will not accept the status quo and what they consider an illegitimate conservative majority on the Supreme Court. In other words, regardless of who the Democrats nominate, the future of the Supreme Court is on the ballot in November. (c) 2020, Washington Post Writers Group
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Forgotten Her es
IDF Innovations By Avi Heiligman
Soldiers wearing the Mitznefet
M
any of the world’s innovations and inventions came from a need from the military. Frequently, these needs occur from a battle not going well or requests from the frontline soldiers. Israel constantly has soldiers fighting a defensive battle from threats on several fronts. New
technology is always in development to help protect the IDF. Here are some of those innovations and inventions that have seen action on the frontlines. In the past century, medical advances have saved countless lives that before would have been lost due to battlefield wounds. From blood trans-
fusions and penicillin in World War II to blood-clotting bandages, medical professionals are always thinking of new things. Israel has always been on the frontlines on the battlefield and medical technologies so it isn’t surprising that many ways to save lives come from the Holy Land. The Israeli Bandage was invented in the 1990s by medic Bernard Bar-Natan who realized that the bandages they were using in the 1980s were manufactured during World War II. The Israeli Bandage is an elastic bandage with a non-adhesive pad inside the wrapping. There is a pressure bar that stops the bleeding
ly to militaries, rescue workers, and civilian paramedics. In 2011, the Israel Bandage was credited with saving the life of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head. Some Israeli inventions have changed the landscape of battle, and in one particular innovation, it literally was created for that purpose. The Mitznefet is that weird-looking material on the helmet of IDF soldiers. It is used to break the shadow of the helmet at long distances, making it difficult to identify the presence of a soldier. It also protects the soldier from the sun and
The Israel Bandage was credited with saving the life of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head.
quickly and a closure bar that allows the bandage to stay in place. One hand is all that is needed to save the life of a fellow soldier that is wounded. This bandage allows for battlefield treatment that previously would require a patient to be taken to a hospital, cutting down the time to treat wounds. They were first used in combat by the U.S. in Bosnia in 1996. It is used worldwide now – two million are distributed year-
can be removed easily when not in use. As with many Israeli inventions, American troops also use the Mitznefet. Knowing what the enemy is up to behind closed doors is something that previously required soldiers to put themselves in dangerous situations. In 2008, a small startup in Kfar Netter invented a product that enabled soldiers and other operators to do something that only comic book characters pre-
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
viously had the power to do. The company Camero was the pioneer of Sense through the Wall (STTW) solutions. Using radar and imaging algorithms, the Xaver gives the operator a picture of what is behind a wall. It has been used in military and police situations worldwide. In the same category as the Camero, the CornerShot is an innovative gun that allows the shooter to see around corners without exposing any part of the shooter to the enemy. In the past, there have been guns with bent barrels but to aim them properly was tricky. Invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan, the CornerShot has a camera and optics on the exposed part of the system while the operator uses a screen to see what is around a corner. The CornerShot can be mounted on several types of weapons systems and comes equipped with night vision technology. With American investors and interest, it served during Operation Iraqi Freedom starting in 2003 and is used by law enforcement in the United States. Other coun-
The Israel Bandage in use
tries, such as China, Russia and Iran, have all made similar versions of the weapon. The CornerShot has several variants including a grenade launcher and an anti-tank weapon system. Soon a mountable version of the M-16 will be made available by the company. Here are few more innovations that companies in Israel have devel-
oped over the years. Heads Up Display for fighter planes was developed by Elbit Systems and allows pilots aim their weapons just by looking at the target. There are over 5,000 of these systems on operational aircraft in both the military and civilian sectors. The Trophy is a vehicle rocket protection system developed by Rafael that pro-
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tects tanks and other vehicles from incoming RPGs. There is also the Injured Personnel Carrier developed by Agilite that allows an injured person to be carried on a rescuer’s back without using hands. Not only is this popular in military situations but fire departments have trained and used this device. Israel has become a leader in military exports. Every year, several new products that originate from the IDF hit the global market. Many of the innovations and products are made with American funding and technological assistance, and hopefully this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Author’s note: This is the third in our series of military innovations. For the previous two articles on the Civil War and World War I, please email me at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
Fivetowns
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com.
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Your TJH Purim Photo Album
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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT SHAARAY TEFILA’S PURIM BREAK-THE-FAST PARTY
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Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT DR. HYLTON LIGHTMAN’S HOUSE
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT DR. HYLTON LIGHTMAN’S HOUSE
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Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT THE YESHIVA KETANA PURIM MESIBA ON SUNDAY
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT THE YESHIVA KETANA PURIM MESIBA ON SUNDAY
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Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT THE KUTNER HOME
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020
Your TJH Purim Photo Album SIMCHAS PURIM AT THE PURIM MESIBA AT K’HAL MEVAKSHEI HASHEM
• FREE Pickup and Delivery always! • Wash & Fold Laundry Service • Expert Tailoring, Same Day Work Available • Special Discounts for Rabbis. Teachers. Hatzolah and Chaverim • Shomer Shabbos Owned and Operated
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003
SERVICES
SERVICES
HOUSES FOR SALE
Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/women Group/private sessions Gift Cards Available www. Peacefulpresence.com 516 -371 -3715
GERBER MOVING FULL SERVICE MOVING Packing Moving Supplies Local Long Distance ~ Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422
370 FELTER AV. HEWLETT 70x150 lot BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!! Also next door lot available for sale Call 516-206-2005 AllGoingRealty.com
HAIR COURSE Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009
FOR SALE IN LONG BEACH Beachside Classic Tudor Newly Renovated 4 BR, 4 Baths, 2 FP, Bsmt, Deck, Garage, 6000 SF lot, $899K Beach West Realty 516-287-9735
Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242 MOONBOUNCE FOR RENT $100/day Holds up to 500lbs. Perfect fun for ages 3-8 Call or text 516-220-0616 to reserve your date
SHALOM HANDYMAN Plumbing, heating, boiler, installation, sewer, locks, dryer vent cleaning and more… CALL 917-217-3676
Small ads at work
Classifieds
HOUSES FOR SALE PRICE REDUCED: Sprawling 4BR, 4BA Exp-Ranch, Oversized Rooms, LR W/Fplc, Formal Dining Rm, Large Den, Master Suite, Full Finished Basement, Storage Room & Office, Deck, Fabulous Property…$1.078M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE HOUSE FOR SALE 942 CAROL AVE IN SADDLE RIDGE 6 beds 4 baths. Perfect for large family.
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
3,200 sq ft living space. Taxes approximately 19k ASKING 919K Call or text Josh 917-923-0011 for showing FOR SALE IN WOODMERE Legal 3 Family on 100 x 100, Bsmt, 3 Car Garage, Brick Driveway, $849K Beach West Realty 516-287-9880
Cedar Avenue Hewlett Bay Park NY
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$3,295,000
LISTED BY THE #1 LOCAL BROKERAGE
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Classifieds HOUSES FOR SALE CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES? MORTGAGE? Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!
COMMERCIAL RE INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood! Lots of options. Tons of parking. Will divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100 SF MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE Available, Reception Area, Waiting Room, Kitchenette, 2 Consult, 4 Exam Rooms, 2 Bathrooms, 30 Car On-Site Parking, For Lease … Call Ian for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
WOODMERE
COMMERCIAL RE
APT FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
STORES/OFFICES for LEASE: Bayview Ave. Can be used as offices or 2 stores. Low rent. Private Bathrooms. Reserved parking. Available immediately. Please call 516-206-1100 or email: mark@mbequitygroup.com.
WOODMERE: BEST BUY Spacious 2BR Apartment, Washer/Dryer In Bldg, Elevator Bldg, Open Floor Plan, 1st Floor, Close To All...$199K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
SUMMER JOB Store in Upstate New York seeking store manager for summer months. Applicant must be a people-person, organized and responsible. Email resume to: writers613@gmail.com
NEWLY RENOVATED OFFICE FOR RENT in spacious office suite in Lawrence. Ideal for therapist (O/T, speech, psychotherapy). Waiting room and in-suite bathroom included. Available April 1st. Please call 516-698-3320 for more information. EAST ROCKAWAY: Retail Stores on Busy Corner, 1000SF& Up Available, Great High Visibility Location, For Lease… Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
HOUSE FOR RENT LAWRENCE AVE. 6/7 bedroom , 6 bathroom, oversized property, LR,DR, huge kitchen , 2 car garage and much more!$6500/mo. Call or text 917-337-0962
VACATION RENTALS VACATION IN JERUSALEM: Beautiful 3 bedroom apartment with porch and view available for short term in the Kaduri – Jerusalem Heights project on the 8th floor. Shisha Realty 718-408-8070 vacation@shisharealty.com VACATION IN JERUSALEM: Beautiful Short-term rentals in Jerusalem (Sharei Chesed, Romema, Hanevi'im – City Center) Contact today for great service: Shisha Realty 718-408-8070 vacation@shisharealty.com
SUMMER RENTALS
YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND SEEKS A WARM DEDICATED PRE-1A TEACHER to join our fantastic team for the upcoming school year. Afternoons M-Th. Experience required. Competitive salary! Please email resume to preschool@ykli.org
DUE TO CANCELLATION 1 UNIT AVAILABLE S Fallsburg, Willow Woods B section Rent/sale, Beautiful, fully furnished duplex, porches, great condition. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, upgraded. Call/Text 917-270-6032
VALLEY STREAM
N. Woodmere
Free standing building, parking, great for medical office or pre-school ask $799K Call Miri (646)515-8813
SALESPERSON WANTED Clothing store in the Five Towns looking to hire a temporary worker from Purim to Pesach. Must have good people skills and ability to work in fastpaced environment. Email resume to BigIdeasMarketing@ gmail.com
Newly renov. all inclusive office near LIRR, singles & Suites, util, conf room, kitchen, parking Call Raizie (917) 903-1778 or Sarah 347-524-9147
Beautiful exp 5br 4bth high ranch w/ 3 lvls of living space, many updates throughout. Sarah (347)524-9147 $999K
Far rockaWay
Completely renovated 4 br, 2.5 bath home with new kit and baths, rights to priv beach. Malka (516)967-1967 $679K
Woodmere
4 br col in heart of Academy sect. Lovely sunroom, bsmnt and fantastic attic. Racheli (917) 902-3661 $749K
LaWreNce
Brick SH colonial 4brs, 2.5bth, new hardwood flrs, centrally located. Call Bryna 516-322-4831 Reduced $3950/month
cedarhurst
16-year-old col in the center of town w/ 9’ ceilings throughout, kosher eik, den, CAC, full fin. basement, walk to all. $1.099M
Far rockaWay
Updated 2-family home with updates kitchen and baths, large finished basement. Malka (516)967-1967
LaWreNce
Stately 7 bedroom 4.5 bath colonial on vast property adjacent to the Rockaway Hunt Club. $1.29M
cedarhurst
Mint cond. renovated 5 bedroom split overlooking the creek . new systems, low taxes Call Chana (516)449-9692 $899K
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MILLER COMMERCIAL 680CENTRAL 5X3.qxp_2018 11/26/18 3:32 PM Page 1
Classifieds HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Looking to hire sales people to train as NY & NJ Public Adjusters. No experience necessary, flexible hours. Call 973-951-1534
5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM GEN ED TEACHERS Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com
SPECIAL ED DIRECTOR Responsibility: Curriculum Designer Individual curriculum as needed Staff training Innovative, visionary Requirement: Masters Special Ed and Education Administration or SLP Backgroup Email Resume: specialedresume2018@gmail.com YDE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL is expanding and adding another grade for 2020-2021 academic year! Searching for passionate, experienced educators for our innovative, inspiring, student-centered school. Full & part time positions available in: Limude Kodesh, English, Hebrew Language, Math, Social Studies, Science, Computers, Physical Education. Compensation and benefits are competitive, reliable and commensurate with experience. Interested candidates please email resumes and cover letters: GHSresumes@ydeschool.org SHULAMITH EARLY CHILDHOOD is looking to hire a full time teacher assistant for the current school year. Please email resume to earlychildhood@shulamith.org
Seeking full time OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST for Special Education school located in Brooklyn. Experienced preferred. Competitive salary. Room for growth. resumes@yadyisroelschool.org
ASSISTANT TEACHERS CAHAL is seeking part time or full time Assistant Teachers for Judaic Studies (AM) and/or General Studies (PM) for the 2019-20 school year. Send resume to shira@cahal.org or Fax 516-295-2899. Call 516-295-3666 for more information. “NEW FIVE TOWNS RESTAURANT IS LOOKING TO HIRE THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: Experienced grill man Laffa maker, Dishwasher, Delivery guy Please email Ronazohar@hotmail.com Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway seeking permanent substitute for Preschool and Elementary school. Please call 718-868-3232 ext 211
REGISTERED NURSE openings to work with adults who have developmental disabilities within residential settings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Long Island. Current NYS RN, min 2 years hospital exp. OHEL: 855-OHEL JOB www.ohelfamily.org/careers 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
ASSISTANTS NEEDED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON SESSION. Email: fivetownseducators@gmail.com
MISC ARE YOU IN NEED OF A LIVER TRANSPLANT? LIVER DONOR AVAILABLE! If you are blood type A or AB and in need of a liver transplant call Chaya Lipschutz, Kidney & Liver Shadchan (917) 627-8336, or email KidneyMitzvah@aol.com LOST DIAMOND BRACELET in Boro Park area (possibly also Five Towns)on Sunday, February 23. If found, please call or text 516-697-9496
Gerber Bedding “Sleep Like A Baby”
Reach Your Target Market
Classifieds
Showroom located in Bayswater
Call or text Dena 718-536-4978
The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2020 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
Your
109 15
Money
Overzealous By Allan Rolnick, CPA
F
our years ago, a consortium of European journalists broke a story based on 11.5 million documents leaked from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The exposé detailed how the firm’s clients across the world used offshore shell companies to hide assets and evade taxes. (Remember, tax avoidance = legal; tax evasion = go to jail.) The story, naturally dubbed “the Panama papers,” named names and focused new attention on what British author Somerset Maugham dubbed “sunny places for shady people.” When the scandal first broke, Iceland’s Prime Minister stepped down after he was exposed as a client. Vladimir Putin’s best friend, a concert cellist, faced harsh scrutiny over his billions. (He said they were donations from rich Russians to buy instruments for young musicians. Riiiight.) Hollywood turned it into a movie starring Meryl Streep. But stories like this tend to hit like dropping a rock in a pond. After the first big splash, a series of smaller ripples continue spreading outward. This week’s story involves one of those ripples hitting an American courthouse. Our hero, Dick Gaffey, is a CPA working just outside of Boston. (Well,
not for much longer.) His firm’s website says, “We work vigorously to lower our clients’ taxes, improve their businesses, and preserve their estates.” That’s just marketing hype for most accountants, who spend their days more or less putting numbers in boxes. But Dick really did work vigorously. He went the extra
U.S. and thus owed U.S. tax on his worldwide income. Von der Goltz, a banking heir and venture capitalist who fled Guatemala to escape civil war, probably loved his $2.5 million beachfront condo on Key Biscayne. Apparently, though, he didn’t love paying the taxes that helped make Florida a safer place to live.
Ask any scientist and they’ll tell you the two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.
mile, including places where other accountants know not to tread. (You know those old 15th- and 16th-century world maps, where the edges said, “Here Be Dragons”? That’s where Gaffey went.) Gaffey’s clients included a colorful gentleman named Harald Joachim von der Goltz, a German-born Guatemalan citizen who lived in the
Von der Goltz used Mossack Fonseca to establish a family trust and private foundation controlled through a series of holding companies. That’s not illegal, so long as the real owner acknowledges their interest. But von der Goltz claimed his 100-year-old mother was the owner. And Gaffey signed bank documents falsely claiming the foundation
wasn’t subject to U.S. withholding. Then the story broke. When investigators came sniffing around, von der Goltz sold his condo to his children’s trust for $100 and skedaddled. U.S. officials eventually arrested him in London. Gaffey must have known he was next. He was arrested on December 4, 2019, and trial was scheduled to start on March 6. No doubt he planned to defend himself vigorously. Then von der Goltz pled guilty. Oops. Last week, Gaffey pled guilty to eight felony counts. On June 29, he’ll find out how much time he can expect to spend surrounded by “inmates” instead of “clients.” Ask any scientist and they’ll tell you the two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. Von der Goltz and Gaffey chose stupidity, and they chose poorly. But you don’t have to hide your money to pay less tax. You just need advisors who understand how to use the tax code to your maximum advantage. Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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MARCH 12,29, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home
Life C ach
Possibilities are on the Way By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC
S
o, by now Purim has been here and gone. Or maybe, if we are lucky, Moshiach has come already, and we are reading this in some alternate, completely blessed universe. But, even if it didn’t arrive yet,
doesn’t Purim remind us that G-d can change everything in a blink of an eye? So, let’s all blink and try to see things from a different vantage point. Your messy kitchen is luckily a happening spot.
NOBODY
DESERVES TO BE
ABUSED
Shalom Task Force receives thousands of phone calls offering a confidential place to turn to for help, resources and support. You’re not alone. We’re here to help. CONFIDENTIAL ANONYMOUS HOTLINE:
(No Caller ID)
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Your difficult child is an energetic human being. Your challenging spouse is your stimulus to grow. Your weight problem is an opportunity to try new types of food. Your crying baby is your dependable alarm clock. Your rambunctious child is a cheap personal trainer. Your running toilet is a chance to support your local plumber. You see how it works? There’s a potentially bright side to every challenge. Your challenge is to find the bright side.
It’s certainly not easy! I take that back. Let me be brutally honest. It’s usually very easy – when it’s the other guy’s issue! We always seem to be able to put their stuff into perfect perspective without a problem. It’s when it’s our own problem that we find ourselves in crisis mode. My recommendation: put some Purim power into your life. Things can look bleak but in a moment be turned upside down. And even if thing don’t change, the message is that there’s a Power behind what you see that’s running
There’s a potentially bright side to every challenge.
Like cleaning for Pesach could be a lot of work or a good excuse to discard those endless Purim treats. A collapsed bed is better back support. A leaking roof is an extra shower A flat tire is a chance to let Chaverim do a mitzvah. A cancelled flight is more time with your loved ones. A down market is a chance for it to go up again.
the show. If it needs to be changed, it will happen. If not, that’s the right plan for you. Have some faith in it. Remember that the “p” in Purim stands for perspective. And it’s ushering in the “p” in Passover – possibilities! 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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Keilim Mikveh on Premises | Pre-Shabbos Buffet Every Thursday & Friday! Savings Plaza | 11 Lawrence Lane, Lawrence, NY | (516) 371-6200 | info@kolsavemarket.com | /kolsavemarket Hours: Sunday-Tuesday: 9am-7pm | Wednesday: 9am-10pm | Thursday: 9am-11pm | Friday: 8am-�ll 2 hours before Shabbos We reserve the right to limit quan��es. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.