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The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
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Dear Readers, The Megillah is a perfect source of inspiration for times such as these. In those days everything seemed upside down. The devastating decree happened at a time when a Yid was Queen and Mordechai occupied a position as a top advisor who had actually saved the kings life. The salvation happened despite a rabid Jew hater being given carte blanche permission to do as he wished. Although it reads as one story, the events recorded in the Megillah actually took place over 13 years! The ups, the downs, the parts that seem to be unrelated, all come together to weave a story of salvation and is the cause of the boundless joy we experience each year on Purim. One would think the proper way to celebrate a seemingly natural order of events would perhaps be a Seudah or reading of the Megillah - but why all the excess joy and celebration unlike any other Yom Tov on the Jewish calendar? This might be the very reason. We typically categorize occurrences
around us as either natural or miraculous. The story of Purim is both as well as neither. One moment it looks miraculous, the next it’s the usual unpredictable happenings at a kings court, and then again a G-dly wonder. All this points to the essence of all being. Of the physical and the spiritual. The mundane and the holy. The Creator Himself. The celebration is therefore both spiritual and physical. Lofty and grounded in this world at the same time. This experience is very much connected with the coming of Moshiach. His coming will be both a world changing spiritual experience as well as occur in the world we know and will be seen with our physical eyes. It follows that the best way to prepare is to raise our human experience and personal life to one filled with Torah learning, doing Mitzvos and random acts of goodness and kindness. Wishing you a most joyous Purim and a wonderful Shabbos!
Shalom
T H E P R E M I E R J E W I S H N E W S PA P E R H I G H L I G H T I N G L A’ S O R T H O D OX C O M M U N I T Y The Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly. FOR HOME DELIVERY, OR TO HAVE THE LATEST ISSUE EMAILED TO YOU FREE OF CHARGE, SEND A MESSAGE TO EDITOR@JEWISHHOMELA.COM
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
The Week In News
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TheHappenings Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
NEFESH International Hosts a Virtual Melave Malka for Its West Coast Members by Yehudis Litvak This past year has been tough for everyone, but especially so for those on the front lines. Some front line workers, such as doctors and nurses, are easy to spot and acknowledge. Others provide much needed help to people in crisis in the privacy of their offices and homes. Among them are mental health professionals, who have been fielding an unusually high amount of calls for help and who have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year to support our community through these challenging times. NEFESH International, a network of Orthodox mental health professionals, hosted a special event this past Motzaei Shabbos to connect and give chizzuk to frum mental health professionals on the west coast. In previous years, NEFESH had hosted various in-person events, where Orthodox mental health professionals from all over the world could attend trainings and network with each other.
Due to pandemic, there have been no in-person events for a year now, and the west coast NEFESH members have been feeling particularly isolated. The LA Connect virtual Melave Malka gave the west coast frum mental health professionals an opportunity to reconnect with the colleagues they’ve met at previous events and to meet mental health professionals who are either new to the area or new to the field. LA Connect was chaired by the NEFESH West committee, consisting of Lizzy Weisinger, Psy.D., Mindy Hajdu, LCSW, and Rebecca Wurzburger, Psy.D. At the event, hosted by LA-based Debbie Fox, LCSW and New York-based Dovid Becker, LCSW, the 27 attendees were randomly assigned to break out rooms and given questions to discuss. Then the attendees met again in the main room and talked about what they learned from these break out sessions.
Among the topics discussed were the favorite and the challenging parts of working in the mental health field, self-care, and inspirational role models. Several attendees mentioned Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, ztz”l, as their inspiration and spoke about his tremendous contribution to the frum community and the world at large. While most attendees are based in Los Angeles, several live in other west coast communities, such as Las Vegas and Silicon Valley. They were especially appre-
ciative of the opportunity to connect with other frum mental health professionals. “There is a need for Jewish networking for a bigger collective purpose,” said Danielle Wischenka, Ph.D., located in Northern California. “What we are seeing is similar, regardless of our specialty.” Several therapists expressed appreciation for a local WhatsApp group for frum mental health professionals. Whenever a frum mental health professional is looking for a specific therapy for a client, or for insurance information, or for a referral, they turn to this active and helpful WhatsApp group. The event concluded with a beautiful musical kumzitz with Elimelech Adler, an east coast-based musician. The attendees were energized and inspired to continue their difficult yet meaningful and rewarding work.
The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
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Current The Week Events In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Queen Esther Revisited –a Heroic Story of Personal Transformation By Alanna Apfel
One of the things that I appreciate most about Judaism is that with each Yom Tov, we have the opportunity to take time and reflect on our lives. With Purim being the anniversary that marks the end of one year in this new post-COVID-19 reality, I find it to be an especially apt time to pause and ask myself: where am I tracking in my life? In my relationship with myself, my children and family and with G-d? Each Yom Tov has unique themes, messages and meaning available for us to tap into, and Purim is no exception. Hester panim, G-d’s concealment and revelation, v’nahafoch hu, a celebration of things getting turned upside down and Esther’s heroic role in the Purim story and our nation’s salvation are key themes of the holiday. As children we are enamored by Queen Esther, our heroine, our very own Persian Jewish princess. It is no wonder we are taken in by the story and we ignore the implausibility of a Jewish orphan girl being chosen to be Queen of a global empire of 127 countries, placed in the very position to save her nation from decreed annihilation. As adults, we understand that life is more complex, that this is not a traditional fairy tale of a beloved princess and that coincidence is G-d’s way of remaining anonymous. But as we take a closer look, Esther’s integral role in the Purim story takes on new light, one deeper than her external heroism and bravery in facing evil Haman and King Achashverosh. Queen Esther’s story is one of personal transformation and inner strength, a story that resonates today, despite the 2,000 years that have passed since Esther overturned Haman’s evil decree. When reading Megillat Esther, a Torah scholar will be reminded of another Biblical story from many many years prior, the story of Yosef Hatzaddik. When one compares the texts side by side, the similarities between the two stories are astounding. The more noticeable parallels are the descriptions of Pharaoh’s and Achashverosh’s parties; the texts’ descriptions of Yosef and Esther as “yefeh toar v’yafeh mareeh;” the language used to describe Mordechai’s refusal to bow to Haman and Yosef’s refusal to oblige Potifar’s wife; the descriptions of Pharaoh’s and Achashverosh’s dreams and Pharaoh’s and Achashverosh’s removal of their rings and appointing of Yosef and Mordechai as their advisors.
Perhaps the most striking parallel is Esther’s response to Mordechai’s request that she approach Achashverosh immediately, “k’asher avaditi avaditi” (if I perish, I perish) and Yaakov’s resigned agreement to let Yehuda take Binyamin back to Egypt, “k’asher shacholti shachalti”(as I have been bereaved so shall I be bereaved). These parallels in the texts are not a coincidence — when Mordechai penned the Purim Megillah thousands of years after Yosef lived, he used specific language and words to echo the story of Yosef in the Purim Megillah. The question is why. Yosef, whose mother died in childbirth, was deeply hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit with scorpions and snakes where he overheard his brothers’ plot to kill him, saved from death by one loyal brother, sold into slavery to various merchant traders (who all spoke different languages!) and transported to Egypt, where he found himself alone in a foreign land, sought after by his slaveowner’s wife and, in not giving into temptation, thrown into an Egyptian jail. When reading these passages, do we pause and put ourselves in Yosef’s shoes and take in the full extent of Yosef’s experience? I imagine when Yosef was sold at age 17, he believed he would never see his father or brother again. And to be put in this position by his own brothers? The pain, suffering and betrayal run deep. Esther was similarly orphaned at a young age, adopted and raised by her uncle and forced to marry a gentile, anti-Semitic king, who had killed his prior wife for lack of obedience. How utterly alone and terrified must Esther have felt in the palace? Having been instructed by her cousin Mordechai to not share her Jewish identity with anyone in the palace, Esther faced isolation on very deep level and pressure in trying win over Achashverosh and overturn his most trusted advisor’s decree to save her people. How did Yosef and Esther rise above these hopeless situations, these seemingly insurmountable challenges, and find the inner strength to prevail? What enables them to each rise above the immense challenges they faced and prevail against all human odds? The answer is profound: Esther and Yosef chose to be the creators of their own reality. They chose to be survivors, and not victims, of their circumstances. Yosef is cast into a foreign jail, with no one to save him. The pasuk states, “v’ayehi
sham b’veit hasohar,” and he remained there in the prison. A truly hopeless situation. But in the next three pesukim, Yosef’s life experiences changes and transforms from the depths of despair and hopelessness to the destiny of becoming the viceroy to the king of Egypt — the very position that enables him to save his brothers and his people from international famine. The verses begin with three pivotal words: “vayehi Hashem et Yosef,” and Hashem was with Yosef…and whatever he did Hashem made successful. A literal “v’nafoch hu.” In the pesukim that follow, Yosef approaches the cupbearer and baker one morning in jail after noticing that they are despairing and asks them why they feel hopeless. And so begins Yosef’s interpretation of dreams and his path to the palace. Importantly, in all his struggles, Yosef does not identify as a victim. A person living with a victim mentality does not notice another’s despair; a person who identifies as a victim is consumed by his own selfpity and suffering. Esther shows the same strength of character when Mordechai instructs her to go to the king and petition him to save her people. Esther understands that to approach the king without being summoned would mean risking death. Like Yosef, Esther identifies as a survivor, not as a victim, and she rises above her own self-preservation and agrees to petition the king with the powerful words, “V’kaasher avadity, avaditity,” if I perish, I perish. Looking back at Yosef’s and Esther’s stories, we can see that the hardships they faced prepared them to achieve greatness. Out of the greatest depths of pain came even greater heights. In reading their stories, we too can understand that our lives can change, transform and turn upside down in an instant. V’nahafoch hu. This transformation occurs in the very moment that we decide no matter how difficult the circumstances we face, we create our own life experience. Our circumstances do not dictate our life experience. This shift often occurs in the moments of our greatest pain and suffering — at the very point when all feels impossible. In that moment we make a choice, to let go and let G-d. There are times when the only thing we can do to gain control of a situation is to realize that we are doing all that is
humanly possible, stop worrying about the “how,” pass the torch to G-d and ask Him to make the impossible happen. When we genuinely believe G-d can bring us a miracle and we are deserving of it, we make the space for it to happen. In relinquishing our control to a higher power, we realize that all along, life has been, and continues to be, happening for us and not to us. This is the Hester Panim of the Purim story; G-d is there and has been there at every step, every challenge and in every moment of salvation. And like Yosef and Esther, when we realize that G-d is with us in our most challenging experiences, we open the door to salvation and allow it to manifest. After that moment, life will never be the same. From prisoner to viceroy. From defeated to victor. V’nahafoch hu. The realization that we are not victims of our circumstances is the lesson that Yosef teaches us and that Mordechai echoes in his precise writing of the Megillah. The Megillah was the last book to be recorded in the Canon by the chachamim — and how apropos. Shedding our victim identity is the very message we need to carry with us through our exile as a nation and, on a micro level, through our personal “galus” – from hopelessness and despair, to emotional freedom. As we begin a second year among COVID-19, I invite you to join me in taking the lesson of Esther and Yosef to heart, to look within and thoughtfully consider the ways that we can be the creators of our own realities this coming year, rather than the victims of our life circumstances. If we can do this, we gift ourselves the greatest gift of all — the gift of inner salvation and a life free from the pain caused by the external conditions over which we have no control. When we identify as creators, we begin to realize that we are truly blessed. Alanna Apfel is the founder and patient advocate at AA Insurance Advocacy, which helps therapy patients, individuals, couples, and children, save thousands of dollars annually on their out of network mental health therapy bills. In the months that AA Insurance Advocacy has been advocating on behalf of patients, clients have collected anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000 a year in reimbursements, depending on the cost and frequency of therapy. For further information, please contact aainsuranceadvocate@gmail.com.
Sarah's The WeekCorner In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Parenting with Joy Sarah Pachter
Ah…silence. It was September 2020. My kids had just started school, and for the first time in several months, I was able to enjoy a quiet meal with no “background” noise. There were no toddlers pulling on my clothing, no popping up from my seat to wipe up a spill. There were no interruptions, bickering, or stopping mid-chew to help a child cut her chicken. My enjoyment was palpable. I realized only once the silence came how sorely I had been missing alone time. Being able to hear myself think was something I didn’t even realize felt so good until it was taken away for months. This lull was short-lived. Since my children had not been around crowds or many other children for so long, their immune systems had weakened. Until school started, every time they played with another child it had been outdoors, at a distance of six feet apart, and masked. Like a ping pong ball that comes right back with lightning speed, all too soon, my kids were home again and the house was bustling. A few of my kids had developed fevers, and we quickly became a symphony of thermometer beeps, midnight whimpers, and sniffly noses. We decided to have everyone tested and covered all our bases by getting the rapid COVID-19 test, as well as the more reliable PCR test. My husband drove our three older children while I stayed home with our two year old and recited tehillim while we sat playing Magna Tiles together. I was singing the perakim in a made-up tune when she suddenly looked at me and said, “Mommy, I have to go to potty!” Knowing this could be one of many trips over the next twenty minutes, I marked my place in the tehillim book and escorted her right away. Nothing happened. We washed hands, dried off, and came right back to the playroom. I continued tehillim, and she continued to build. As expected, two minutes later, she piped up again. “Mommy! I need to go to the potty.” After we went, nothing happened again. We came back to the playroom, and guess what I heard next, just after sitting down? “Mommy, I need to go potty.” “Okay, sure,” I said through gritted teeth and dutifully popped back up. This went on and on. At some point,
she succeeded in using the restroom. I was proud but felt somewhat frustrated. Part of me just wanted to finish the tehillim peacefully. I didn’t really want to spend twenty minutes in the restroom and would have preferred to utilize that crucial time to recite as much prayer as possible while the other children were being tested for coronavirus. But then I remembered a story I had heard a few days prior. Two brothers, the famed Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk and Rabbi Zushe of Anipoli, were falsely accused of stealing and thrown in jail. While locked in the prison cell together they had only each other and a bucket of waste left from past tenants. At the sight of it, one of the rabbis began to cry. “I’m not sad because we are in jail. I know that G-d led me here to this place. I’m crying because I have not yet davened mincha, and there is a disgusting bucket in this cell that forbids me to pray here. How can I serve G-d if I can’t even pray?” The other rabbi smiled and answered, “Just as you served G-d every day, so too now, you are doing His will. You cannot pray as normal, but you are serving G-d in just the same way.” After hearing this, the first rabbi’s sadness transformed into tears of joy. Together with his friend, they sang and danced around the bucket, delighted at the thought of serving G-d according to His will. Hearing their joy, the guards approached the prison cell and witnessed the bizarre scene. Hoping to prevent any form of pleasure for the rabbis they stormed inside and removed the bucket, pleased by depriving the rabbis of their source of joy. Alone again, the rabbis turned towards Jerusalem and said minchah, once again delighted to serve G-d in the best way possible. In Parshat Ki Tavo, it states, “All these curses will come upon you, because you did not serve Hashem with joy and gladness in your heart.”1 From this we learn that it is possible to serve Hashem in truly every circumstance that we find ourselves in, with effort, hard work, and the correct mindset.2 This story resonated with me in my frustration over needing to toilet train my daughter instead of reciting tehillim. Upon reflection, I realized the irony of it all. One of the greatest acts of kindness one can perform is caring for a young child. It is even called a chesed shel emet—a kindness of the highest caliber, because the person you are caring for can never fully repay you. There are few acts of kindness that hold this title. Not only is it a high-level mitzvah, but it was clearly what
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was being “asked” of me in that moment, in my service to Hashem. If my daughter needs me in the bathroom and therefore I can’t pray, then it is what Hashem wants from me in that moment, and that too is service to Hashem. For mothers, there seems to be a regular inability to finish tasks in general. Whether it’s tehillim, cooking, or laundry or working from home, it’s often necessary to stop mid-moment in order to do something for a child. Sometimes, I feel like I can never accomplish anything. And with the children home 24/7 during quarantine, that feeling was heightened. Of course, no one can be expected to parent every moment of the day, and everyone needs a break to rejuvenate and refresh themselves for the enormous task at hand. And certainly, we all have lists and goals for how we want to fill our days and what we hope to accomplish—and how we want to serve Hashem. But the truth is, as Rebbetzin Henny Machlis was known to say, “We all think we are so busy. Truthfully, there is only one thing to do at any given moment. That is ratzon Hashem.” We may often wonder, What does
Hashem want from me? Hashem does call to us throughout the day, but sometimes we simply groan or sigh in response, unwilling to see the spirituality in the mundane task that is required of us. Our physical circumstances are handed to us by Hashem alone, and if that is the case, then it means that it is the best circumstance to serve G-d in. After the experience in the bathroom, I then tried to bring my moment of realization into the rest of the week. Later, I was giving one child a bath at 11:00pm to cool her fever. Despite my exhaustion, I remembered, This is where Hashem wants me to serve Him right now. And when I was hobbling around from my last pregnancy, and my legs hurt from varicose veins? Well, that too is how Hashem wanted me to serve Him. Our physical place, and even physical pain, can also be used in service to Hashem. How often do we wonder, Hashem, what do you want from me? What is my mission? What path do you want me to take? The answers are often right in front of us. Whatever circumstance we find ourselves in at the moment is exactly where Hashem wants us. We can take comfort in serving Hashem exactly where we are, and with what we have at any given moment. Then the joy of parenting—and life— can truly begin.
JoIN our vIrtuaL oPeN houSe 1PM eSt SuNday, MarCh 7, 2021 For more info and to register visit www.jct.ac.il/international
Siona Margrett Program Coordinator siona@jct.ac.il
28: 45-47
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For more info on the Machon Lev Men's International Program contact Gavriel Novick at gnovick@jct.ac.il
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The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
ו’ ספ ר חלק ה מ פ י ת מ ח שנה ב על רו ר ה
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The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
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Feature The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
From Yeshiva to Diplomacy: An Interview with Consul General Dr. Hillel Newman by Sarah Pachter Now more than ever, Israel is in the headlines —for making historical peace agreements, rapidly administering COVID-19 vaccinations, and for technological breakthroughs, among other achievements. Recently, The Jewish Home was privileged to have a conversation with Consul General of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman, to learn more. Sarah Pachter: Thank you Consul General for taking the time to speak with the Jewish Home. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your early life. Consul General Newman: I was born in South Africa, and my father was a rabbi who established one of the largest Orthodox communities in Johannesburg, the Waverley Synagogue. Eventually we moved to Cape Town, where he was the rabbi of the largest community in South Africa, at the time. The majority of Jews in South Africa were very Zionistic, but not extremely religious. I grew up in the home of a rabbi, which had a lot of meaning, as I was one of the few religious Jews living in a secular country. From birth, I could sense that I was a little different. We made Aliyah when I was a teenager, and my life changed. In Israel, I went to a Yeshiva high school in Netanya, and then served in the Hesder program of the military, which combined military service and Yeshiva studies for five years. SP: Can you tell us any stories about the Hesder program or your military experience? Please expand on this path from Yeshiva bachur to diplomat. CGN: It was quite unique that I served in the army alone, as a medic. I accompanied convoys that went to Lebanon. Then they wanted me to be an officer of the medical corps. Since you can’t be an officer and simultaneously stay in the Hesder program, I had to make a decision. Was I going to continue in the Hesder Yeshiva path or break away and go into the military full time? I took counsel at the time with different rabbis and with my father, and in the end, I decided to stick with the Hesder program and not to become an officer. You never know during these crucial moments where each path is going to lead you. In the end, I think the decision to continue the Yeshiva path gave me the background and the foundational skills for life onward. I don’t know what would have happened if I had chosen the other route. Ironically, I believe this choice ultimately led me to diplomacy. SP: At what point did you decide to become a diplomat? Was this a childhood dream? CGN: Being a diplomat was not a childhood dream. In fact I came to the idea at a later stage in life. I thought I would be an academic. The Hesder Yeshiva lasted five years, and at the end of the program, I needed to decide on my path in life. People
thought I would become a rabbi, but I pursued academic studies instead. I attained a PhD in Jewish History and taught at Bar Ilan University in Israel for approximately five years, and I became involved in student politics. I was voted into the Student Council and spent two years in a leadership position. I was then voted into the National Union of Israeli students, which is a very powerful political body in Israel, because they represent the entire student population in Israel. I was appointed as “International Relations Officer”. In that position, we organized unprecedented collaboration with a few countries, places we had never had student exchanges with before. One of them was Turkey. We worked on a few projects like these with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs [the Israeli State Department], and then one of them suggested to me “Why don’t you submit your credentials in as a cadet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?” This was quite a shock to me, since I was teaching already, and I had never thought of going in that direction. I submitted my candidacy, and I was accepted. That changed my life, and suddenly I became a diplomat. Truth is, I’m very happy with that decision, because I prefer to play a part in history and influence it, rather than teach it. I’ve been very lucky. I worked with three Israeli foreign ministers as a policy advisor, and I spent time in intimate circles, at the policymaking table. Later I was appointed Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, two Muslim countries in Central Asia. Now I am fortunate to be the Consul General here. SP: Can you expand on being the only religious child in your school growing up, and then shifting to life in Israel surrounded by Jewish people? CGN: Allow me to stress that while I was raised Orthodox, I attribute great credit and merit to the Conservative and Reform communities, in the way they contribute to the preservation of Jewish identity, especially among communities that might have otherwise lost their Jewish identity. My Orthodox upbringing gave me a unique experience, in which I also learnt to value the knowledge of Jewish tradition and texts, and wasn’t afraid to be alone or unique. Even in Israeli diplomacy, not many religious people go in that direction. The percentage of religious people in diplomacy, both in Israel and the world, is lower than average. There are difficulties, both in keeping Shabbat and kashrut. For example, it was very difficult to get kosher food in Uzbekistan. There was time that there was no Shochet in town. So on one occasion we paid from our own pocket to bring a Shochet, and then we bought live chickens in the local bazaar, and brought them to our courtyard in order to do shechita to have kosher meat. Many reli-
gious people try to avoid the problem, but because of my upbringing, I don’t avoid it, rather I view it as a challenge to be met and overcome. Even in my military service, most of my Hesder colleagues were drafted into platoons serving together. My case was different. They needed medics, so I volunteered. As a medic, I was detached from my environment, and served in the medic corp. I was fine with it. Perhaps there is a common thread that connects these life experiences, from Yeshiva to diplomacy. From my upbringing I was in a unique situation and environment, during my military service I again found myself on a solitary path, and in diplomacy as well. That is the challenge—to be who you are in different societies while being part of those societies. This is a common feature that has guided me throughout my life experiences, not to scare away from challenges but to meet them head on. SP: What exactly is the role of Consul General? Additionally, is it a fair statement to assume that you are different from other consul generals in the sense that you don’t just serve the Israeli community, but rather the Jewish community at large? CGN: The Israelis think that the Consul General is there for them, and the Jewish people think that the Consul General is there for the Jews. The truth is that we are there for everyone. Our main mission is the bilateral relationship between Israel and the United States and influencing public opinion positively towards Israel. That has many aspects: meeting people on an individual level, cultural events, social media, economic ties and reaching out to communities. It’s a multifaceted mission, where we also reach out to different religions and ethnic communities. Everyone is part of our mandate, including the Jews and the Israelis. Israeli diplomats are different from other Consul Generals in the time devoted to the Jewish community and its needs. SP: What types of activities are
available to the general public? CGN: Activities have changed dramatically due to COVID-19. Usually, much of our activity includes evening galas and big public events. That has all fallen away. Now I hold all appearances via Zoom, which include political briefings on Israel and the relations with the US, cultural events, economic sessions and other events. If I take recent activity as examples – I opened a special session on Economy and Policy, we screened the Israeli entry to the Oscar’s (Asia) to audiences, I was interviewed by two major Christian media outlets and gave a few political briefings. Since Covid19 we’ve initiated solidarity activity and humanitarian assistance. We set up billboards on the I-10 expressing solidarity on behalf of the people of Israel to the people of the Los Angeles region and first responders. We’ve organized many humanitarian projects in the area. If people are interested, they should join our email distribution list (by sending a request to join to info@la.mfa.gov.il) or check our site “Israel in Los Angeles” to receive updates on events. We have also organized virtual cultural events, lectures and briefings, which are certainly open to the public. SP: Do you feel optimistic about your opportunity to make a difference and increase goodwill for Israel, given the anti-Israel propaganda in the media and college campuses? Historically, Jews have been unconditionally supportive of Israel. Today, many Jews are turning against Israel due to politics. How can we counteract this? CGN: Polls show that the backbone of both American political parties is pro-Israel, and so is the majority of the American people. There are extreme Anti-Semitic and anti-Israel elements in all parties. Extremists are in every camp. Withstanding this, BDS has not enjoyed great successes, and most of their resolutions have failed. We are concerned about the damage to the image of Israel by people spreading misinformation and lies. Many innocent people
Feature The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
are swept up in the idea of BDS, while not understanding that this is not legitimate criticism of Israel, but an organization that de-legitimizes Israel and singles it out in a discriminatory manner. The founders are against the existence of the state of Israel, period, in any borders. My advice is to take an interest, learn the facts, get involved and make contact with us in the Consulate to get clarifications. There are many reasons for optimism. As we see, the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world is moving forward. Israel is not isolated, but BDS is. Israel is a leader in innovation and ingenuity, and as a result is an important global player and in high demand. Israel is going from strength to strength. We are moving forward in many ways. We still have enemies, and we must be wary. We also have many allies. SP: I read up a bit on your accomplishments, especially the new peace treaties you were a part of forming. Normalizing relations with the UAE and Bahrain is unchartered territory; can you explain just how pivotal this is? CGN: I was really lucky to play an active part in this, as I visited UAE with Israeli Foreign Minister Katz in 2019. It was one of the last high-level meetings and was confidential at the time. Now such meetings are public and transparent. This process took decades to reach fruition. The Abraham Accords are ushering in a new era in the Middle East. It reflects the disintegration of the Arab League resolution of 1967, breaking the taboo on relations with Israel, and expanding the peace to a wide ideological circle. This peace is not just an armistice or ceasefire agreement. It will be a warm peace between peoples. You can see the warmth and promise of relations in social media, tourism, and diverse fields of cooperation that are being developed by the countries. There have been unprecedented direct Israeli flights bearing Israeli identification. Teams from both sides have drafted dozens of agreements. In a period of two months, or so, we have already set up diplomatic missions in the respective counties of Bahrain, UAE and Morocco. We are moving forward at a rapid pace. These developments highlight what has always been the true root cause of conflict between Israel and the Arab world. The root has always been the rejection of Israel. When they accept Israel, there is peace. The same is true with the Palestinians. Israel, since its re-establishment in 1948, and even before, extended its hand in peace and friendship to the entire Arab and Muslim world. They declined, and adopted the resolution known as the “3 no’s”, refusing to come to terms with Israel’s existence. When they accept our existence, there will be peace. Very simple. The Abraham Accords will also have an impact on the peace paradigm. The conventional paradigm of “land for peace” failed. It failed - Israel relinquished territo-
ry and did not receive peace. Israel vacated the entire Gaza Strip and since then has been attacked with thousands of rockets. The veto power given to the Palestinians gave them the feeling that time is on their side, and all they need to do is pressurize Israel. The Abraham Accords demonstrate that there is a paradigm of “peace for peace”, and the veto power on development in the region should be removed from the hands of the Palestinians. SP: What do you think the next series of peace accords will be? What new partnerships do you look forward to creating? Can you tell us a bit about this process? CGN: We have a short list of countries that have the greatest potential of normalizing relations with Israel. We have witnessed five move forward in the past few months. We are hopeful that additional counties will join. We do not name the countries, because we leave it up to them to make the decision and publicize it. It takes courage on their part. We do encourage them behind the scenes. For the process to move forward and succeed we do need an American Administration that places this issue of normalization on a high priority, encourages behind the scenes and supports the process. Israel stands ready. Our hand is extended in peace and friendship to any country that comes forward. SP: I’m sure after your appointment as Consul General, the Israeli government had goals in mind for you to achieve here. Additionally, I’m sure you have personal aspirations. What are these objectives? CGN: I would say that when I embarked on my mission here, one of my biggest goals was to build a strong bi-Partisan relationship, reaching out to different communities and minority groups, like the African-American and LatinX communities. My ambition is to reach out and touch them in a positive way. Create positive associations with Israel. We have already started implementing this idea. Most recently, we gave out computers to African-American children and to the LatinX community together with “Champions for Peace”, which is a body set up by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. We also partnered with Telacu in setting up a [COVID-19] testing site for the Latino community in East LA, in Boyle Heights. We also gave out computers to LatinX veterans, together with Telacu. We are currently in the process of setting up a computer hub, which will serve a Catholic church, a school and the community in South LA, in partnership with the LAPD Youth Foundation and an NGO Human-I-T. This will be executed as part of a program reaching out to at-risk youth. We prioritize these projects both in budget and our professional teams. Outreach and building partnerships and relationships with these communities is paramount to our mission here. SP: What’s the most interesting in-
cident that happened to you in your career? CGN: One anecdote from my service as a diplomat occurred in Uzbekistan. The President of Uzbekistan is most powerful in his country. All seek his proximity due to the fact that he is the decision-maker. He was giving a speech on Shabbat. As I don’t travel in a car on Shabbat it required a two-hour walk. I decided I would do it, out of respect to the leader and because of the significance of being absent from such a speech. So, we set out walking, with my car and driver travelling alongside for security. The problem is that there are several circles of security around the President, and as you get closer, the circles of security get stricter and stricter. I had Israeli and Uzbek personal security walking with me, and the car driving alongside me. We passed the first and second circle with my diplomatic credentials. We came to the third round, which is already the security of the President himself. At the blockade I say, “I’m the Ambassador to Israel, going to the speech of the President.” The security guard replies, “Well, why don’t you drive in the route of the car?” We told him, “We can’t do that, it’s Shabbat, and we don’t drive in the car.” So after some persuasion, he let us through. At the next circle of security, which is really the private Presidential guard, they refuse us, stating “you must drive in the car on the path, you cannot walk.” Trying to explain and presenting my credentials he responds “No, no way.” We asked who can approve and he responds pointing to a military jeep and says, “My commander.” We looked at each other and said, “Okay, we’ll try it. What can we lose?”. Approaching the commander he gets out of his jeep and asks, “What’s the problem?” We tell him the story. After some time he looks at me with a big smile says, “Shabbat!” And I said, “Yes, Shabbat.” And he says, “Of course, you’re Jewish, you keep the Shabbat.” With that he responds “Go through!” Not only did he allow us through, but he gave us an envoy that accompanied us all the way to the President’s palace! It turned out he had been on a special humanitarian course in Israel by Mashav— Israel’s agency for international development cooperation under the MFA – and thus was introduced to the Jewish culture and tradition. He developed a warm place in his heart for Israel, and understood the issue. SP: That’s amazing! Do you have another? CGN: Another story from Uzbekistan. There were no matzot or wine for Passover. So, we worked together with Jewish organizations like Habad to bring matzot for the Jewish community. You don’t see many Ambassadors around the world dealing with matzot for their population, but we did that. When the matzot got stuck at the border, I traveled all the way to the border and presented myself as the Ambassador of Israel. After a lot of persuasion, they were convinced that it is a religious
item, not a food item. They compared it to Christian Mass, where you eat the cracker and the wine, and we said, “Yes, just like that!”. We got it through. SP: What do you think it is about Israel that fascinates Americans and others so much? CGN: We are a miracle State, and miracles are hard to believe or to swallow sometimes. It’s a miracle that we’ve survived. We are the only nation in the world to renew our existence with the ancient Biblical language, in the Holy Land of Israel, after thousands of years of exile, fulfilling the Biblical prophecy. We have not only survived, but prospered, becoming global leaders in many aspects. This is something which is very difficult to understand. There are those who find this contradictory to their ideology or theology. Some suffer plain and simple anti-Semitism. Those that look at it positively see it as a miracle state. Even now. Israel is the number one country in the scope of vaccinations administered per capita, and we hope to be the first country to eradicate coronavirus. We are a leading power in innovation and ingenuity worldwide, number two to Silicon Valley. We’re number one in R & D investment in innovation. We’re leading some of the most important technological innovations of the world. SP: How can people support Israel after reading this article? Can you provide a few tips? CGN: My recommendations are learn the facts, care about the issues and take a stand. Be connected. Preserve your Jewish identity and strengthen your connection with Israel. If you have any questions, or any problems with the policy of Israel, ask us for clarifications. Understand that Israel is crucial not only for Israel, but for yourself and your Jewish identity. Really, for everyone’s identity. Ahad Ha’am famously said, under the inspiration of our sages, “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” This is a mutual relationship. The more you think that you are helping Israel, Israel is also helping you. The number one correlation for preserving Jewish identity is a connection with Israel. That’s why Birthright is such an important venture. Birthright brings people without any connection to Israel, and it can become one of the strongest, most powerful elements influencing their life. We mourn the loss of Sheldon Adelson, who [generously] supported Birthright. SP: Is there anything else you feel is important to tell the Jewish community and Israelis? CGN: American Jewry should know that Israel cares. Israel is there for them. We must understand that our fate and destiny are bound together. We must stand and support each other.
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Dirshu The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Historic Release of Dirshu “Sefer Hamafteiach” a Groundbreaking Index on the Entire Mishnah Berurah 700-page sefer contains more than 6,000 categories 30,000 subcategories and an English Index By Chaim Gold
Rav Dovid Hofstedter presenting the Mafteiach to HaRav Malkiel Kotler
“We have to make the bracha of Shehechiyanu on such a sefer!” exclaimed HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and the Lakewood Mesivta, when he saw the new Sefer Hamafteiach on the Mishnah Berurah that Dirshu has just released. “Hafla va’feleh!” was the enthusiastic response of HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha of Lakewood. “The velt,” continued Rav Kotler, “owes Dirshu a huge yasher koach for the sefer.” Numerous other Gedolei Yisrael echoed these sentiments when they saw the sefer. The word “historic” is perhaps a word that is overused in our times, but in this case, the word historic is truly applicable and possibly even an understatement. Dirshu’s new Sefer Hamafteiach is a historic breakthrough in the world of halacha and will open the Mishnah Berurah to Klal Yisrael in an unprecedented way. As its name implies, the Sefer Hamfteiach on the Mishnah Berurah, is a comprehensive index on the entire six volumes of the Mishnah Berurah, Mahaduras Dirshu. The 700-page sefer contains more than 6,000 categories and exceeds 30,000 subcategories! When a person needs to find where a certain topic is discussed by the Mishnah Berurah or subsequent poskim brought in the Biurim u’Musafim portion of the Mahaduras Dirshu Mishnah Berurah, all one has to do is open the Mafteiach and look for the topic. Topics are listed in alphabetical order and every topic delineates each time the Mishnah Berurah talks about it or cross-references it in all six volumes of Mishnah Berurah. “Ashreichem! This Is A Peleh” It happens all the time. You are at home when a shailah comes up, you know that
the Mishnah Berurah addresses the topic somewhere, but where? How can you find it? The new Dirshu Mafteiach, is the answer. It has opened the Mishnah Berurah and piskei halacha of the major poskim of our time in a way that has never been done before. It is for that reason that the Gedolei Yisrael who recently saw the sefer expressed such tremendous joy and amazement at the accomplishment of such a feat! The venerated Rachmastrivka Rebbe, shlita, of Boro Park, repeated over and over, “What a zechus haTorah!” HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Yerachmiel, joyously said, “Ashreichem, fortunate are you! This is a peleh, a wonder! It will be a tremendous to’eles.” In order to properly encapsulate the groundbreaking nature of what the Sefer Hamafteiach is and the tremendous value that it has for the world of Torah and halacha, we must go back in history about a decade. A decade ago, Dirshu began to release what was then, a totally new project that would have a transformative impact on the world of halacha. Dirshu began to publish the Dirshu edition of the Mishnah Berurah. The unique facet of the new edition of the Mishnah Berurah was the Biurim U’Musafim, the commentary alongside each page of Mishnah Berurah containing questions and answers brought by more recent poskim related to the words of the Mishnah Berurah. For example, if the Mishnah Berurah spoke about the halachos of cooking food on Shabbos, every modern-day scenario in the kitchen that is addressed by the poskim is included. Understandably, however, the Mishnah Berurah and even more so Dirshu Mishnah Berurah, with the addition of the Biurim U’Musafim, contains many tens of thousands of halachic rulings. Given the complexities of life today, how is it pos-
HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel reviewing the new Mafteiach on the Dirshu Mishnah Berurah
sible to observe halacha, refrain from issurim, prohibitions and fulfill mitzvos in the best possible way?! Every G-d fearing Yid encounters shailos in daily life, but it is often challenging to find the exact psak halacha among the tens of thousands of halachos contained within the Mishnah Berurah. In addition, a person might conceivably be seeking a halacha relevant to the laws of Purim… but the answer to that shailah can be found in the laws of Rosh Hashanah! Or even if it is contained in the laws of Purim, the source is in the Shaar Hatziun or the Biur Halacha in a location where the many learners would not think of looking. What happens when you are looking for a halacha in hilchos tefillah but the psak is found in hilchos Rosh Chodesh? Until now, unless a person was a tremendous expert in all six chalakim of Mishnah Berurah and was blessed with a terrific memory, he simply would not have found the halacha. The Sefer Hamafteiach has changed that! Is it any wonder that the Skulener Rebbe, shlita, said, that this goes into the category of a fulfillment of the possuk that says, “Ki lo sishachach m’pi zaro – Torah will not be forgotten from Klal Yisroel.” The Seminal English Index Another trailblazing innovation from Dirshu is include at the back of the sefer nearly 100 pages of English primary references guiding the reader to thousands of other references in the Hebrew part of the sefer. Let’s say for example that a person wants to know the halachic status of paying for items with a “check”. Many don’t know how to say check in Hebrew. He goes to the letter C in the English index and finds the word check. The English sends the reader to page 459 in the Hebrew section of the Mafteiach and there, one
can find five different halachic scenarios about paying with a check: 1. Being that when it comes to the four species on Sukkos, one must “own” them to be yotzeh, is buying with a check considered ownership? 2. What about writing a check on Chol Hamoed? Permitted or not? 3. Can one sell one’s chametz with a check? Let’s say the check is not cashed before Pesach starts. Is the chametz considered sold? 4. What about giving matanos l’evyonim with a check? The mafteiach promises to be a vital tool in both enabling Klal Yisrael to find the optimum path to observe halacha and to ensure that Yidden do not challilah unknowingly transgress issurei d’oraisah and issurei d’rabannan, Torah mandated prohibitions and rabbinic prohibitions. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that this mafteiach is being published at a time when many Yidden are living somewhat in isolation and cannot access the dibuk chaveirim, the interaction with others that is such a fundamental component of the halachic process. Indeed, now that the Sefer Hamafteiach is available in seforim stores everywhere, anyone who will pick up the remarkable mafteiach and begins to enjoy the tremendous benefit that it provides will echo the pivotal words of HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Ausband, shlita, who couldn’t contain his amazement upon seeing the sefer, “What a to’eles! What a zikui harrabim!” Perhaps the prominent Sephardic posek from Eretz Yisrael, HaGaon Harav Messoud Ben Shimon shlita, put it most succinctly when he remarked, “As new mutations and plagues are spreading, you’re a spreading the Mishnah Berurah! You have no idea, how much joy this sefer Hamafteiach brings me, because it opens up the Mishnah Berurah, a sefer that is, the aleph bais for each Jew!”
The Week In News
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
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The Week In News
The Week In News
Iran Transferred Underground Missile Launchers
A new report reveals that Iran successfully transferred underground launchers for ballistic missiles to Syria in a top-secret operation. Quoting a senior Syrian security official, the Arabic-language Al Hura television station reported that Shi’ite militias supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brought missile launchers from Iraqi territories and deployed them at Syria’s Imam Ali base and another warehouse near the Ayyash area in the western countryside. The missile launchers arrived via a border crossing near the Imam Ali base that is controlled by the Afghani militia Fatemiyoun Division and Hezbollah. The report added that IRGC labored to shroud the arms shipment in secrecy to avoid Israeli airstrikes and informed only a handful of senior Syrian generals. The launchers enable Damascus to fire missiles at the Jewish State without being spotted first by Israeli satellites. The covert transfers were spurred by years of successful Israeli air raids that foiled repeated Iranian attempts to send advanced weaponry to Syria and Hezbollah. According to the source, the platforms that arrived at the Imam Ali base are not yet outfitted with missiles, which will come in a later shipment. “The platforms have been placed in underground stores for fear of being targeted,” the Syrian security official said. “Special silos will be built for them so that the launch will be from above the ground, and then the platform will return to its underground location.” Currently the largest base in Syria, Imam Ali serves as a hub
of Iranian activity. It includes large warehouses and secret tunnels and has been subjected to dozens of Israeli airstrikes since 2013. Previous media reports have said that the base houses thousands of Iranian soldiers and has over 50 missile silos with internal tunnels dug under large warehouses to enable it to move weapons and personnel hidden from Israel’s prying eyes. The base extends over an area of tens of kilometers, includes 30 km of internal roads, and is linked to the “T4” base, which is 300 km away, through desert roads, which include Iranian installations. Firing rockets from underground is a strategy that the “Revolutionary Guard” has previously talked about on several occasions, as its militia in Iraq applied it by targeting military sites of the international coalition. The deployment of the missile platforms comes at a time when Tehran continues to strengthen its influence in the regions of northeastern Syria, especially in the city of Albu Kamal and up to the city of Al-Mayadeen.
Prince Philip Hospitalized
Prince Philip, 99, is responding to treatment for an infection but will remain hospitalized for the next few days. The 99-yearold husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth was admitted to the hospital on February 16 “after feeling unwell” with an ailment not related to COVID-19. “He is comfortable and responding to treatment but is not expected to leave hospital for several days,” the palace said without naming the type or severity of the infection. The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen received their coronavirus vaccinations in January. They had been staying in Windsor Castle during the pandemic. The U.K. has the highest death toll from coronavirus in Europe. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth married on November 20, 1947. They have four children together: heir to the throne, Prince
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Charles, born in 1948; Princess Anne, born in 1950; Prince Andrew, born in 1960; and Prince Edward, born in 1964 — along with dozens of grand and great-grandchildren. Prince Philip retired from public duties in 2017 and is the longest-serving royal consort in British history. He was last hospitalized in December 2019, when he spent four nights in the hospital for what the palace said was planned treatment of a pre-existing condition, although it did not reveal what that condition was.
FB Fight in Australia Australia attempted to take on Facebook, but now it seems like it may be backing down. This week, Facebook said it will restore news pages in Australia after the government agreed to changes to a planned media code that the company said would allow it to retain greater control over what appears on its platform. The announcement caps months of bitter dispute between the American tech firm and Canberra, which had been working on legislation that would force tech platforms to pay publishers for news content. The initial version of the legislation would have allowed media outlets to bargain either individually or collectively with Facebook and Google — and to enter binding arbitration if the parties couldn’t reach an agreement. On Tuesday, the Australian government said it would amend the code to include a provision that “must take into account whether a digital platform has made a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Australian news industry through reaching commercial agreements with news media businesses.” Arbitration, meanwhile, will now only be used as a “last resort” following a period of “good faith” mediation. “The government has clarified we will retain the ability to decide if news appears on Facebook so that we won’t automatically be subject to a forced negotiation,” Campbell Brown, Facebook’s vice president for global news partnerships, said in a statement. She added that the agreement “will allow us to support the publishers we choose to, including small and local publishers.” Last week, Facebook (FB) barred Australians
from finding or sharing news on its service. The decision – which appeared to be the most restrictive move the company has ever taken against content publishers – forced the pages of media organizations and even some unrelated essential services to go dark. Google, meanwhile, had already been trying to get ahead of the new legislation by announcing partnerships with some of the country’s largest media organizations, including Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and Seven West Media. Facebook revealed its own deal with Seven on Tuesday.
Israel Buying Vaccines for Syria Israeli reportedly promised to purchase Russian COVID-19 vaccines for the Syrian regime in exchange for releasing a former charedi woman who crossed into Syria. Mediated by Russia, the prisoner swap last week saw Israel free two shepherds who were arrested for spying on Israel on behalf of Iran. The woman had already been returned to Israel last Thursday on a private jet that brought her back from Moscow and is currently being interrogated by the Shin Bet. But according to reports, it wasn’t just humans that were exchanged between the countries. Israel also agreed to purchase millions of doses of Russia’s Sputnik IV COVID-19 vaccine for Syria. The unprecedented clause was requested both by Moscow, which seeks to distribute its vaccine worldwide, and the cash-strapped Assad government, which is unable to afford an inoculation campaign. While refusing to confirm or deny the reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Saturday evening that Israel wouldn’t give Syria any of its own COVID-19 vaccines it purchased from Pfizer. “I can say that not even one Israeli vaccine dose went to this thing,” Bibi asserted. “We brought the woman home – I’m happy we did it – but beyond that I’m not adding anything because that was what Russia requested.” Damascus, via the official news agency (SANA), also denied the existence of a secret clause in the exchange deal. A gag order has been placed over the prisoner swap that pre-
vents the media from reporting any additional details. The girl in question grew up in a charedi household in Kiryat Sefer and crossed the border on her own volition earlier this month. The 25-year-old had previously attempted to enter Gaza twice but had been turned back by IDF soldiers. She had expressed her desire to enter enemy territory on her personal Facebook page, writing that “no fence will stop me.” According to the IDF, the woman entered Syria via a hilly area adjoining Mount Hermon that does not have a border fence.
Torah Returned to Holland
After 80 years, a Torah scroll confiscated by the Nazis has been returned to its synagogue in Holland. The scroll is said to be fully intact despite being stored in less-than-optimal conditions over the past eight decades. Jewish scribes are currently examining it to determine whether it is fit for use. The scroll had disappeared from the synagogue after the Nazis invaded Dordrecht, a city in Western Netherlands, and had not been seen since. Originally, it was kept by Meijer Michiel Cohen, a Dutch Jew who ended the war with severe trauma from the horrors he witnessed. After Aart Bezemer bought Cohen’s metal factory from him, he gave the scroll to Kees Pennings as a gift. The elderly teacher kept the Torah scroll in his home until he passed away in 2001. Following Pennings’ death, his widow notified local historian Kees Weltevrede of the scroll’s existence, and he approached Jewish community leaders about the find. According to Weltevrede, the local Jewish community was shocked to hear that the scroll was still intact. “For decades, no one knew what happened to the scroll in Dordrecht. It was simply presumed lost, like so many other religious artifacts lost in the Holocaust,” he said. Only 60 Jews from the hundreds who lived in Dordrecht survived the Holocaust. The community in the city ceased to exist in the 1980s.
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home
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